"300" Theatrical Trailer

I know this is somewhat of a re-post, but the theatrical trailer for Frank Miller's 300 was recently released you can watch it in either Windows Media or glorious Quicktime here.

Let me know what you think. Myself, I'm still having residual tremors of a geekgasm. I mean, that cinematography is gorgeous!

PREACHER COMES TO HBO

For years, fans have been saying that if Garth Ennis and Steve Dillion’s Preacher were to come to any screen, only HBO could do it justice.

Apparently, DC, Vertigo, Ennis, Dillion and whatever gods watch over Time Warner agree.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Preacher will launch on HBO as a series, adapted by Mark Steven Johnson (Ghost Rider, Daredevil) and directed by Howard Deutch. Johnson and Deutch will executive produce along with Michael De Luca, George Agusto, Chris Bender and JC Spink.

From HR:

"Preacher, which ran from 1995-2000, told the story of a down-and-out Texas preacher possessed by Genesis, a supernatural entity conceived by the unnatural coupling of an angel and a demon. Given immense powers, the preacher teamed with an old girlfriend and a hard-drinking Irish vampire and set out on a journey across America to find God -- who apparently had abandoned his duties in heaven -- and hold him accountable for his negligence.

The series was created by Irish-born writer Garth Ennis and British artist Steve Dillon, who will serve as co-executive producers. Ken F. Levin, who reps the duo, also will serve as co-exec producer.

The series -- which developed a rabid fan base -- was known for tackling religious and political issues, its dark and violent sense of humor and its observations of American culture. It also was one of the series that helped define Vertigo, the adult-oriented line of comics from DC Comics.

There have been several attempts to bring the comic to the screen, whether big or small, but nothing stuck. A movie version, to have been produced by Kevin Smith's View Askew, among others, got to the casting stage, with James Marsden attached for the title role and a reported budget of $25 million.

The project reunites Johnson with Deutch; Johnson wrote "Grumpier Old Men," which Deutch directed. Deutch's directing credits include TV's "Gleason," the pilot for "Melrose Place" and the 1986 film "Pretty in Pink." He is repped by ICM.

Johnson is repped by CAA.

Though the series ended in 2000, after 66 issues, Preacher has consistently been one of DC/Vertigo's best-selling trade collections through both the comic and bookstore market, with each of the nine volumes seeing multiple printings. Like many other Vertigo properties, Ennis and Dillion have a creator participation deal with Preacher, which allows them to continually receive a portion of the revenue generated by the trades and other rights to the property.

While no start date was given, or cast announced, the bar has obviously been set very high for the adaptation of the property, given the reputation of HBO's original series. Given the content of Preacher and the buttons a loyal adaptation of the comic series will push, the network is clearly looking at one of its most controversial series to date."

K, I just wet myself a bit! If only I had HBO! Well, I suppose I can wait for the inevitable DVD release...Oh sweet stocking-stuffer-Christ that would be a kick-ass gift!

"Batman & Robin" Writer Gets $4 Million for "Da Vinci" Prequel

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Click here if you want a good chuckle.

As long as I see Tom Hanks in a suit with nipples! Damn, I love me some bat-nipples!

Seriously though, this guy has written a couple nice screenplays, (i.e. "A Time to Kill" and "A Beautiful Mind"). But he has also farted out some nuggets like "Lost in Space" and "I, Robot," and the aformentioned "Batman & Robin."

The Internet is 1% Porn

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- About 1 percent of Web sites indexed by Google and Microsoft are sexually explicit, according to a U.S. government-commissioned study.

Government lawyers introduced the study in court this month as the Justice Department seeks to revive the 1998 Child Online Protection Act, which required commercial Web sites to collect a credit card number or other proof of age before allowing Internet users to view material deemed "harmful to minors."

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the law in 2004, ruling it also would cramp the free speech rights of adults to see and buy what they want on the Internet. The court said technology such as filtering software may work better than such laws.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which challenged the law on behalf of a broad range of Web publishers, said the study supports its argument that filters work well.

The study concludes that the strictest filter tested, AOL's Mature Teen, blocked 91 percent of the sexually explicit Web sites in indexes maintained by Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp.'s MSN.
Filters with less restrictive settings blocked at least 40 percent of sexually explicit sites, according to the study of random Web sites by Philip B. Stark, a statistics professor at University of California, Berkeley.

"Filters are more than 90 percent effective, according to Stark," ACLU attorney Chris Hansen said Tuesday during a break in the trial. "Also, with filters, it's up to the parents how to use it, whereas COPA requires a one-solution-fits-all (approach)."

COPA follows Congress' unsuccessful 1996 effort to ban online pornography. The Supreme Court in 1997 deemed key portions of that law unconstitutional because it was too vague and trampled on adults' rights. It would have criminalized putting adult-oriented material online where children can find it.

The 1998 law narrowed the restrictions to commercial Web sites and defined indecency more specifically.

In 2000, Congress also passed a law requiring schools and libraries to block porn using software filters if they receive certain federal funds. The high court upheld that law in 2003.
Justice Department lawyers Theodore Hirt and Raphael Gomez declined to comment Tuesday on Stark's findings.

Stark prepared the report based on information the Justice Department obtained through subpoenas sent to search engine companies and Internet service providers.
Google refused one such subpoena for 1 million sample queries and 1 million Web addresses in its database, citing trade secrets. A judge limited the amount of information the company had to provide.

Stark also examined a random sample of search-engine queries. He estimated that 1.7 percent of search results at Time Warner Inc.'s AOL, MSN and Yahoo Inc. are sexually explicit and 1.1 percent of Web sites cataloged at Google and MSN fall in that category.

About 6 percent of searches yield at least one explicit Web site, he said, and the most popular queries return a sexually explicit site nearly 40 percent of the time. But filters blocked 87 percent to 98 percent of the explicit results from the most popular searches on the Web, Stark found.

Stark also said that about half the sexually explicit Web sites found in the Google and MSN indexes are foreign, making them beyond the reach of U.S. law. But he agreed with government assertions that the most popular sites are domestic.

"COPA -- right out of the bat -- doesn't block the 50 percent (posted) overseas," Hansen said. "So COPA is substantially less than 50 percent effective."

Closing arguments in the four-week, non-jury trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Lowell Reed Jr. are expected Monday.

The law, signed by then-President Clinton, requires Web sites to get credit card information or some other proof of age from adults who want to view material that may be considered harmful to children. It would impose a $50,000 fine and six-month prison term on commercial Web site operators that allow minors to view such content, which is to be defined by "contemporary community standards."

The law has yet to be enforced. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a preliminary injunction, ruling in June 2004 that the plaintiffs were likely to prevail.

The plaintiffs, including Salon.com, say they would fear prosecution under the law for publishing material as varied as erotic literature to photos of naked inmates at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Who is up for conducting a field test to verify the accuracy of this report? ;)

Apropos: A Quote in Light of Recent Events

"A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt......If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake." -- Thomas Jefferson

Let us hope Jefferson's quote proves true.

Trip to Boulder

Tara and I are thinking of coordinating a trip to Boulder on Saturday, November 11th, to check out, amongst other things, the Dunshanbe Teahouse. We were thinking of spending the majority of the day in Boulder, with us leaving Laramie by 10 AM or so. Perhaps having lunch at the Teahouse and maybe having dinner at BD's Mongolian BBQ.

We are open to other ideas and suggestions for the trip. We usually take a walk from the Teahouse through a part of CU and down into Pearl St. Mall.

Who is up for a Boulder trip?

Capital Steps: They Put the Mock in Democracy

Want to laugh? Try these links (MP3s, if they don't work, click here to go to the web site and download them).

"Old Man Rumsfeld"

"Aristocrats Since The Cradle"

"Hang Down Your Head, Mark Foley "

"Addicted To Oil"

"It's Not Easy Being Pope"

Let me know which one is your favorite. I'm partial to "Addicted to Oil" myself. Apparently, these guys are going to be performing at UW on Nov. 29th.

Treatment of Animals: Halloween Edition

In light of the recent discussion of the modern-day treatment of animals. I offer you all this link...

Now, does this qualify as mistreatment or torture? Are these poor animals being exploited for our human enjoyment? Who really cares?

Look how cutesy-wootsy they are!

City of Brotherly Love

Well folks, Friday I'm off to Philadelphia for a GeoscienceWorld meeting. Won't have much free time, but I do hope to take in some sites. The trip will hopefully be more stimulating than my trip to Salt Lake City last year.... %as cool as Mormon Square was.%

I hear Philadelphia is the only city where you can take a train directly from the aiport to the downtown convention center. So, hopefully transportation will be stress free. Here is the hotel I will be staying at.

The daughter of a work collegue of mine, and her husband, will be showing me the cool shiznit that apparently isn't that far from where I will be staying. I will take some pictures and hopefully get around to posting them here.

In the meantime, any advice for this traveler? I already have my 3 oz. toiletries and my 1 quart-size bag an mandated by the TSA.

Random post ad-on.... In case the brothers of Philly don't have much love for me and end my existence, I offer you all a parting gift....Corky and the Juice Pigs....enjoy!

Stewart-Colbert '08? No way, says comedian

I'm crying a little inside...

‘Daily Show’ host says campaign t-shirts ‘a real sign of how sad people are’
The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Those people wearing "Stewart/Colbert '08" T-shirts can stop hoping — Comedy Central's fake news stars have no intention of making a run for the White House.

Jon Stewart said the T-shirts promoting him and Stephen Colbert "are a real sign of how sad people are" with the state of affairs in the country.

"Nothing says 'I am ashamed of you my government' more than 'Stewart/Colbert '08,' Stewart told an audience Sunday at the New Yorker Festival. He was interviewed by the magazine's editor, David Remnick.

Stewart, who recently hosted Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, on "The Daily Show," said he's been trying to get top Bush administration officials to appear. "We have requests in there to everyone including Barney," Stewart said. "Only Barney replies." Barney is the president's Scottish terrier.

Stewart scoffed at suggestions that some people actually get their news from "The Daily Show."
"There's no way you could get the news from us," he said. "I've seen the show. It couldn't happen."

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15195271/from/ET/

300: Promo Trailer

If you're a Frank Miller fan, and I am, the geek inside you will have a tough time containing the excitement while watching this... (let me know what you think)

Based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller, the movie is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy.

300 brings Miller's (Sin City) acclaimed graphic novel to life by combining live action with virtual backgrounds that capture his distinct vision of this ancient historic tale. Warner Bros. will release the film on March 9.

Chad Vader - Day Shift Manager (Episode 3)

Life is hard when you're Darth Vader's less-talented, less-charismatic younger brother and you manage a grocery store.

The Difference Between Star Trek and the Best Science Fiction Show Ever on TV

Star Trek:

Picard: "Arm photon torpedoes!"
Riker: "Captain! Are you sure that's wise?"
Troi: "Captain! I'm picking up conflicting feelings about this! And, it appears that you're a 'fraidy cat."
Wesley: "Captain, I'm just an annoying punk, but I thought I should say something."
Worf: "Captain, can I push the button? This is giving me a big Klingon warrior chubby."
Giordi: "Captain, I think we should reverse the polarity on them first."
Picard: "I'm so confused. I'm going to go to my stateroom and look pensive."

Firefly:

Captain: "Let's shoot them."
Crewman: "Are you sure that's wise?"
Captain: "Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I'll BEAT YOU WITH until you realize who's in command."
Crewman: "Aye Aye, sir!"

Chad Vader - Day Shift Manager (episode 2)

Life is hard when you're Darth Vader's less-talented, less-charismatic younger brother and you manage a grocery store.

Chad Vader - Day Shift Manager (episode 1)

(next week, episode 2)

Life is hard when you're Darth Vader's less-talented, less-charismatic younger brother and you manage a grocery store.

The Dark Knight Returns in... "The Dark Knight"

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures July 31, 2006

As a follow up to last year's blockbuster Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan is set to direct Warner Bros. Pictures' The Dark Knight, written by Jonathan Nolan, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. The film will be produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan. Additionally, Christian Bale will resume his role as Bruce Wayne and Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger has been cast as The Joker. The announcements were made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Christopher Nolan revamped the Batman franchise in 2005 with the immensely successful Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale in the title role, which chronicled the early years of the superhero. Nolan first garnered attention from critics and fans in 2000 with the groundbreaking drama "Memento," which he wrote and directed. He went on to direct the thriller "Insomnia," starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams, and recently wrapped production on "The Prestige," with Hugh Jackman and Bale.

Bale was most recently seen in the ensemble cast of Terrence Malick's "The New World." His other credits include "Little Women," "Portrait of a Lady," "Metroland," "American Psycho," "Laurel Canyon" and Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun," which was his first starring role.

Ledger most recently earned Oscar Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award nominations and won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in the award-winning drama "Brokeback Mountain." His other credits include "Casanova," "Monster's Ball," "Lords of Dogtown," "The Brothers Grimm" and "The Patriot."

"Chris' unique vision is what made 'Batman Begins' such an outstanding film and we could not imagine anyone else at the helm of 'The Dark Knight,'" said Robinov. "We also can't wait to see two such formidable actors as Christian and Heath face off with each other as Batman and The Joker."

"I'm excited to continue the story we started with 'Batman Begins,'" added Nolan. "Our challenge in casting The Joker was to find an actor who is not just extraordinarily talented but fearless. Watching Heath Ledger's interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale's Batman is going to be incredible."

Production is set to begin on The Dark Knight in early 2007.

I like the title, but I definitely have to admit the Ledger casting came out of left field. Well, in Nolan we must trust.

____________________________________________________________

In related news Christian Bale was recently interviewed about the sequel and the casting of Ledger as the Joker.

From FilmFocus: "I just love that title," Bale told FilmFocus, "You know, nothing's written in stone yet, but I like, very much, that it doesn't have 'Batman' written in the title. This take on Batman of mine and Chris' is very different from any of the others and everything else always had Batman in the title. I think this is kind-of distancing it even further and saying, 'Hey, this is a whole different creature from what has come before.'"

Much as Ledger is a wildly different choice for the Joker; in Tim Burton's 1989 version the role went to The Smile himself, Jack Nicholson. "Absolutely," Bale told us, "Heath is very much into what Chris had done with the first one and he's very passionate about the role."

Click here for a lot more."

F$%KING TOM CRUISE AND F$%KING MEL GIBSON: A Quick Rant

K, after reading about the latest adventures of Mad Max, a few thoughts ran through my mind.

1) Although not likely the sole reason Gibson is f#$ked in the head, his devotion to old school Catholism has obviously made him a little nutty. It's no wonder he has played characters like Sergeant Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapons series...didn't he eat dog food in one of those movies?


2) Why is it that whenever I hear about Britiny's next baby,Colin Farrell's latest sex tape, Tom Cruise's latest trip down crazy lane, or Lindsay Lohan being... well... Lindsay Lohan, I think of this.

and the third thought...

3) Damn you Mel Gibson! I already was aware that you were batsh%t insane when I saw the Passion of the Christ, and read about how you insisted on your hands being filmed while you drove the nails through poor Jim Caviezel's hands, but you seriously need to just go back to Australia and play with some dingos, because you, along with Tom Cruise, have now tarnished two movies that once ranked so highly on my list of quality flicks (The Last Samurai, Braveheart).

Now, every time I watch this...

I'm going to think of this...

And every time I see this...

I'm going to picture this.

Heath Ledger to Play The Joker?!

July 20, 2006

They scooped everyone on the casting of Brandon Routh in Superman Returns, and now Latino Review says The Joker has been cast in the Batman Begins sequel:


We were first to tell the world that Brandon Routh was going to be the new Superman. Now here we are at it again as we just got word from A VERY TRUSTED SOURCE that the offer last night was officially made to Heath Ledger to star as The Joker in the Batman Begins Sequel!


Stay tuned for a possible official announcement.

To read the original story click the link below.

http://superherohype.com/news/batmannews.php?id=4518

If this proves to be true, then there is a Brokeback Mountain joke or two to be had. I can't come up with anything at the moment, but I trust my readers can. Entertain me my minions!

Update: A semi-official story has confirmed it: Click to read

Ask A Ninja: Special Delivery 7 "Pirates of the Caribbean"

Well, despite how hilarious this video is, I'm afraid I have to disagree with my ninja friend. I for one, thoroughly enjoyed Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. However, I will agree with him on one thing, a "Ninjas of the Caribbean" movie would kick serious amounts of @$$. Oh and kudos Mr. Ninja, "Keira Knightly is a slightly more manish version of Orlando Bloom." HA! 'Aye that be true!

My Thoughts On Superman Returns

When I was a kid, somewhere between 5-8-years-old, I used to dress up as Superman and pretend to fly around the house as I watched Superman 1 & 2. The brilliant score by John Williams made it easy for me to lose myself in a world filled with wonder and imagination. 15-18 years later, I find myself a 24-year-old, jaded young man, whose taste for superhero stories now includes a preference for angst, edginess, and sociopolitical comentary. I am simply an example of how growing older, and experiencing the negative forces that permeate this world on a daily basis, can shape a once benign and benevolent boy into a hardened young man with pessimistic tendencies.

This is why presently, comics (graphic novels) such as Dark Knight Returns, Preacher, Sin City, Watchmen, and Y: The Last Man are much more to my liking than the Spider-Man, X-men, and/or Superman comics from my childhood. Perhaps this progretion is a common occurence, and there is, in fact, nothing necessarily wrong with it. However, when I watched Superman Returns for the first time, I found myself being jealous of the 7-year-old boy who I was sitting next to. As my eyes rolled at dialogue or plot developments that I deemed "cheesy", the young boy next to me, simply smiled and continued to watch in wonder at what was transpiring before him on the big screen. After the movie, the boy stood up and began spinning around, while sounding the classic theme song, "da, da-da, da-da, da, da, da, da, da-da, da-da, DA-DA-DA!" Oh to be a young boy again. Oh to have the eyes, mind, and imagination of a child, and watch as a man in tight red and blue spandex carried out heroic acts before me.

It was the above sense of nostalgia that compelled me to see the movie again, and this time, I would force myself to view the movie through a child's lenses. In doing so, I found that Superman Returns is truly a great film. I found myself having chills everytime that iconic theme blaired up as the Man of Steel performed acts of heroism. When the credits started rolling, I found myself humming the song in my head, as thoughts of me as a kid in a Superman suit flew from my memory banks. This is why I think Superman Returns is an exemplary film, for it allowed me to not only further accept my inner child, but imbrace it. Oh, and what innocent fun it was!

On another note, I got to thinking about the character of Superman. What makes him so iconic, what he stands for, i.e. truth, justice, strength, etc. I am left with asking myself, (1) What is wrong with those principles? Simplistic as they may be. (2) Why shouldn't kids, or even adults look up to Superman and the ideals he represents? (3) Does the present world need a Superman? I find myself answering, (1) Nothing; (2) If more people in this world emulated Superman, the world would be a better place. (3) Hell, yes!

Presently, as much as I like my heroes deconstructed and made "real", I will always have a special place in my heart for Superman. For the same reason, I always enjoy visits to Astro City.

America: Freedom to Fascism

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/americafreedomtofascism/

Click the link above to see the trailer at Apple's site or click and watch the YouTube version below. Feel free to comment with your opinion on the matter. Any and all opinions are welcome.

My two cents:

This is exactly why I think that the system (the U.S. Constitution) is fine, but it is the people who have entered the system and who are in control of it that are the problem. This is why it is so difficult for me to respect people's integrity when they can't wake up from their apathetic stupor and see the problems that exist. There was a day when America was great, but that is obviously not the case anymore.

Benjamin Franklin was quoted as saying essentially, "we have created a democracy/republic, now it is up to us to keep it." Well, we didn't.

One of my many frustrating experiences with "right-thinking" individuals is, when they are presented with the reality that our government isn't perfect, and that our government has serious problems, they tend to reply with either, "It's still better than anywhere else" or "If you hate America why don't you leave?" It is this narrow and dogmatic world view that is hindering humanity's ability to reach it's true potential. If the majority of people across the globe could live for the now, and act in the best interest of the common good of the people of Earth and Earth itself, we could accomplish some incredible things. Unfortunately, it seems that we either have been programmed, or have the inherent programming within us to do the exact opposite.

Heiwa!

World's Smallest Political Quiz

CENTRISTS espouse a "middle ground" regarding government
control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on
the issue, they sometimes favor government intervention
and sometimes support individual freedom of choice.
Centrists pride themselves on keeping an open mind,
tend to oppose "political extremes," and emphasize what
they describe as "practical" solutions to problems.




This seems to fit how I have described myself as a 60%/40%, Liberal/Conservative, with a dash of libertarian. Feel free to let me know your results. To take the quiz click here.

Ninjas and The Matrix (Doogtoons Asks A Ninja)

Damn funny! Any ninja lover should be able to appreciate this!

Today's Installment of W.T.F. Part III

Lioness in zoo kills man who invoked God

Jun 5, 8:31 AM (ET)

KIEV (Reuters) - A man shouting that God would keep him safe was mauled to death by a lioness in Kiev zoo after he crept into the animal's enclosure, a zoo official said on Monday.

"The man shouted 'God will save me, if he exists', lowered himself by a rope into the enclosure, took his shoes off and went up to the lions," the official said.

"A lioness went straight for him, knocked him down and severed his carotid artery."

The incident, Sunday evening when the zoo was packed with visitors, was the first of its kind at the attraction. Lions and tigers are kept in an "animal island" protected by thick concrete blocks.

I mean really, W.T.F.?

Which X-Man or X-Woman are You?

In the spirit of the recent opening of X-Men: The Last Stand, I give you this personality quiz. Please let me know your results. You scored as Cyclops. Cyclops is the team leader of the X-Men, and a skilled one at that. He loves Jean Grey very much. He's a strict and sometimes uptight leader, but he believes in his cause and he knows what he's fighting for... Peace between Mutants and Humans. Powers: Optic blasts Cyclops 85% Jean Grey 65% Iceman 60% Storm 50% Wolverine 50% Rogue 45% Colossus 40% Nightcrawler 40% Beast 35% Gambit 30% Emma Frost 30% Most Comprehensive X-Men Personality Quiz 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

Huh, I guess I never actually compared myself to Cyclops. However, after doing so, I find that he and I have a great deal in common. Too bad his representation in the movies was less than stellar.

Today's Installment of W.T.F.? Part II

Baboons move into S. African beach homes
Locals describe fearless behavior as monkeys go after easy food pickings

By Anton Ferreira
Reuters
Updated: 11:50 a.m. MT May 23, 2006

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Unruly gangs are raiding the expensive homes that line the spectacular coast of South Africa's Cape Peninsula, clearing out pantries, emptying fridges, and defecating over the designer furnishings.

It's baboon versus human in a string of wealthy ocean-front communities 30 minutes from the trendy center of Cape Town, a top tourist destination.

Jenni Trethowan is among those trying to defuse the conflict raging along the picket fences between suburbia and the rugged mountain slopes of the peninsula -- a jagged tooth of rock projecting into the Atlantic ocean.

She takes groups of paying tourists and residents on walks in a nature reserve to see the wild animals as they forage, scratch for fleas and squabble among themselves.

Her aim is to demonstrate that the baboons are worth protecting because of their tourism revenue potential.

"There's George," she said on a recent walk as the first baboon came into sight, slouched on a rock with a clear view of newly built homes about 300 yards away.

George is one of the biggest baboons in a troop of about 20, an adult male weighing some 110 pounds. He yawns languidly, displaying wickedly curved canine teeth.

"If you think how easily a baboon could rip a person apart, the fact that they don't is quite remarkable," Trethowan said.

She led the group through a grove of pine trees. Baboons perched in the branches overhead, breaking cones apart to get at the seeds and occasionally dropping a surprisingly heavy cone onto the tourists below.

The baboons appeared indifferent to the humans, although some of the younger ones approached a boy in the group and pawed at him tentatively before losing interest.

Trethowan has names for all the baboons and stories about many. Two females are missing a hind leg; one was shot and the other was chased off the top of a high-rise apartment block.

"That's Quizzy," Trethowan said, indicating a lone male, named for his quizzical expression. "He's the nicest baboon you could ever hope to meet. I love that baboon."

Quizzy turned at the approach of the tourists, regarding them with profound melancholy.

"Poor boy, he's sick," Trethowan said. "But we have no idea what's wrong with him."

Troop divides, conquers
Trethowan works with a team of baboon monitors, nine men recruited from a poor community whose job it is to shepherd the animals away from built-up areas.

But the baboons know they will find dustbins full of leftovers in the suburban yards and that an open window can mean there is a bowl of tempting fruit within easy reach.

The troop splits into two and they charge across a road toward the houses. The monitors drive some of them back to the reserve, but others hurdle garden walls and grab what they can.

"They're getting used to getting easy food," said Trethowan. "The way to stop it is for people to install baboon-proof garbage cans, put burglar bars on their windows and avoid growing fruit trees in their gardens."

Cases of baboons attacking humans in the peninsula are rare, although earlier this year a child was reported to have been mauled by a baboon scavenging for food at a picnic site on the coast about 20 miles away.

Many residents have anecdotes about baboons.

"I was sitting outside one day, the kids were swimming in the pool, when Eric just flew through the burglar bars and into the house," said Debbie Ellis, who lives in the Imhoff's Gift district. Eric is the alpha male of the local troop.

"It was a bit frightening to see a five-foot-four male baboon standing behind my three-year-old goddaughter."

She said Eric had also "sauntered" into the home of a neighbor, opened the fridge, scattered eggs on the floor, and left droppings everywhere.

Donald Garlick, another homeowner, said baboons and humans had lived in harmony for decades. But in recent years baboons had become problematic, partly because of tourists feeding them.

'Didn't flinch' on being hit
One resident who did not want to be named said he had tried in vain to drive off a big male baboon with a powerful catapult -- against the law because the animals are protected.

"I also hit him with a wooden pole, and he didn't flinch," the resident said. "He was totally fearless. You can be sitting in your front room with a bowl of fruit on the table, and a baboon will come through the door and steal it."

Trethowan said the introduction of monitors had helped but many more would be needed to keep watch over all the baboons in the peninsula -- 253 divided into 11 troops.

Researcher Esme Beamish, who conducted the latest baboon census, said the population had increased 1.6 percent since last year, thanks partly to the work of the monitors who were reducing conflict.

"Baboons in southern Africa are not currently at risk ... but the Cape Peninsula troops are under threat," she said.

She said the troops that had the most contact with humans had suffered a string of deaths in the last year -- four were shot dead, two were killed by dogs, one was clubbed to death, two were run over by vehicles, and one was electrocuted.

Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.

© 2006 MSNBC.com

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12936096/

Damn dirty apes!

States I Have Visited

create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

I didn't include Illinois, New York, or Pennsylvania, because I have only been to airports in those states. What states have you visited? Airports don't count!

'Star Wars' Goes Back to Basics

If you haven't already seen the news...

By Mike Snider, USA TODAYThu May 4, 6:53 AM ET

Die-hard Star Wars fans soon can see the original theatrical versions of the first three Star Wars films on DVD.

Even though George Lucas adamantly declared 2004's digitally restored Star Wars Trilogy DVDs the definitive versions of his movies, fans have held out hope for DVDs of the originals.

Their wishes will be granted Sept. 12 when Fox releases new two-disc DVDs ($30 each) of Star Wars (since retitled as Episode IV: A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi that include the films as they first appeared in theaters, along with the new, restored versions (now available in the four-disc $70 Star Wars Trilogy).

The individual DVDs will be taken off the market on Dec. 31, a strategy that Disney uses on many of its classic releases.

Lucas re-released his original three Star Wars films in theaters in 1997 with inserted scenes and improved special effects. Those "special editions" were further enhanced for the four-disc DVD set. With the original versions coming to DVD, here's what you'll see again:

• In Star Wars, Han Solo shoots a bounty hunter named Greedo. Lucas changed the scene later so it seemed that Greedo draws first, and changed it again for the DVD so that they appear to shoot simultaneously.

• In Empire Strikes Back, the ice creature that captures Luke Skywalker gets less screen time.

• In Jedi, Sebastian Shaw returns as Anakin in the movie's final scene. Lucas substituted Hayden Christiansen, who plays Anakin in the more recent films, for the 2004 DVD.

Back in 2004, Lucas told the New York Post, "The special edition is the one I wanted out there."

This new set of DVDs does not constitute "George changing his mind," says Lucasfilm's Jim Ward. "What we've always said is George viewed the revised versions of the films as the definitive versions."

Fan attachment to the originals is strong. The movies topped entertainment website IGN.com's recent chart of Top 25 Most Wanted DVDs.

"People want the option of having the movies that they remember and people are opposed to George Lucas' revisionist tendencies," says the site's Chris Carle.

The original films' video quality will not match up to that of the restored versions. "It is state of the art, as of 1993, and that's not as good as state of the art 2006," Ward says.

I have to admit, I am a little conflicted about this news. For one, it is an obvious grab for more money by Lucas & Co., but on the other hand, I am forced to admit that I simply will not be able to keep myself from buying them. After all, HAN SHOT FIRST!!! To see what the new covers will look like, click here.

Today's Installment of W.T.F.?

Town Cracks Down On Unwed Couples
BLACK JACK, Mo., May 17, 2006
(CBS/AP) The city council in Black Jack, Mo., has rejected a measure allowing unmarried couples with multiple children to live together. The mayor said those who fall into that category could soon face eviction.

Olivia Shelltrack and Fondrey Loving were denied an occupancy permit after moving into a home in this St. Louis suburb because they have three children and are not married.

The town's planning and zoning commission proposed a change in the law, but the measure was rejected Tuesday by the city council in a 5-3 vote.

"I'm just shocked," Shelltrack said. "I really thought this would all be over, and we could go on with our lives."

Mayor Norman McCourt said starting Wednesday the city will begin trying to evict groups who do not fit into Black Jack’s definition of family, reports CBS affiliate KMOV-TV in St. Louis.

The current ordinance prohibits more than three people from living together unless they are related by "blood, marriage or adoption." The defeated measure would have changed the definition of a family to include unmarried couples with two or more children.

McCourt declined to be interviewed, but said in a statement that those who do not meet the town's definition of family could soon face eviction.

In the statement, McCourt said, "the city provides information about its occupancy permit requirements to anyone who requests it. ... As mayor, I am required by state law to uphold the laws of the city of Black Jack."

Black Jack's special counsel, Sheldon Stock, declined to say whether the city will seek to remove Loving and Shelltrack from their home.

Seriously, what the F$%K?!?

How American Are You?

You Are 64% American

Most times you are proud to be an American. Though sometimes the good ole US of A makes you cringe Still, you know there's no place better suited to be your home. You love your freedom and no one's going to take it away from you!

How American Are You?

America F$%K Yeah!

Know What This Is?

... a recent picture of Mount St. Helens. %Global Warming my ass!% (% denotes sarcasm)

To read the story click here.

Tool-Vicarious

One of my favorite bands, Tool, has a new album out, Ten Thousand Days. The first single off of the album, Vicarious, has some *interesting* lyrics. Duh! Anywho, I would like to know what you guys think. Also, feel free to purchase the album here.

Eye on the the TV
'Cause tragedy thrills me
Whatever flavor it happens to be, like...
"Killed by the husband"
"Drowned by the ocean"
"Shot by his own son"
"She used a poison
in his tea...kissed him goodbye"
That's my kind of story
It's no fun 'til someone dies

Don't look at me like
I am a monster
Frown out your one face
But with the other
Stare like a junkie
Into the TV
Stare like a zombie

While the mother holds her child
Watches them die
Hands to the sky crying,
"Why, oh why?"

Cause I need to watch things die... from a distance
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies
YOU ALL NEED IT TOO, DON'T LIE

Why can't we just admit it?
Why can't we just admit it?
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing
Neither the brave nor bold
Will write as the story's told
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing

I need to watch things die... from a good safe distance
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies
You all feel the same, so...

Why can't we just admit it?

Blood like rain come down
Drown my grave and ground

Part vampire
Part warrior
Carnivore and Voyeur
Stare at the transmittal
Sing to the death rattle

La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie (x4)

Credulous at best
Your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men
Pull your head on out you hippies
please, and give a listen
Shouldn't have to say it all again

The universe is hostile, so impersonal
Devour to survive... so it is, so it's always been

We all feed on tragedy
It's like blood to a vampire

Vicariously I live while the whole world dies
Much better you than I

How is that for a critique of our society?

The Immigration Debate

HILARIOUS! Let me know what you think!

United 93

For anyone who plans on seeing the movie or for anyone who has already seen the movie. Please keep this in mind.

Shameless Self Promotion

I frequently get the question, "What is your degree in?" Referring to my college degree. When I respond with, “Visual Communications,” I often find that people have a tough time understanding just what the hell that means, unless I explain that my degree pertains to areas such as graphic design, web design, multi-media design, etc. Even after I explain this, I always wish I could just bring a portable laptop and display my past work, so that everyone can see first hand what the f#$k Brendon does for a living.

Recently I worked on a rather large project for the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming, where I happen to work. The project is essentially a “Virtual Tour” of the department that includes a picture tour of some of the labs and facilities as well as 12 video interviews of faculty, students, and staff. The interviews have some nice jazzy tunes playing in the background, as well as some other tunes that might come across as porno tracks to those who are "dirty" inclined.

If any of you are ever bored or ever curious about the work that I do, feel free to visit the site yourself by clicking here.

You will need the latest version of QuickTime to watch the interviews. You can download it off of the “Interviews” page of the website by simply clicking the QuickTime logo at the bottom right of the page.

If you like, please let me know what you think.

THE LIE CLOCK

A man died and went to heaven. As he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind St. Peter.

"What are all those clocks?" he asked.

St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie Clocks. Everyoneon Earth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie the hands on your clock will move."

"Oh," said the man, "whose clock is that?"

"That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie."

"Incredible", said the man. "And whose clock is that one?"

"That's Abraham Lincoln's clock," St. Peter answered. "The hands have moved twice, telling us that Abe told only two lies in his entire life."

"Where's Bush's clock?" asked the man.

"Bush's clock is in Jesus's office," St. Peter said. "He's using it as a ceiling fan."

... in other news, 32% (1/3) of the people in this country are still drinkin' the Kool-Aid, "Oh yeah!"

Lightning Kills 5 Mexican Children in Prayer

Youths between 9 and 16 die praying at metal cross in central Mexico

The definitive proof that there is no "God?" If there is, he has one *sick* sense of humor.

Reuters
Updated: 6:06 p.m. ET April 24, 2006


MEXICO CITY - Five Mexican children were killed when a large metal cross they were praying at was struck by lightning in central Mexico, local media reported Monday.

Five children between 9 and 16 years old died and several others suffered burns when lightning struck a white-painted metal cross set on a hill in the town of Santa Maria del Rio early on Sunday, according to two newspaper reports.

“The lightning went straight into them and killed them instantly,” local Red Cross chief Eduardo Suarez told the daily El Norte.

Officials in the state of San Luis Potosi were not immediately available to confirm the report, also in the newspaper El Universal.

A photo showed charring on the cross’s turquoise-painted cement base, although the cross was still standing.

Several families had been participating in a midnight ceremony as part of a local religious festival that centers around the cross.

Santa Maria del Rio calls itself the “cradle of the shawl” for the traditional silk shawls that artisans have woven there since pre-Hispanic times.

Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.

© 2006 MSNBC.com

Founding Fathers: A Different Take

Am I the only one moved by this picture?

Awesome Lightsaber Fight Made by Two High School Students

Impressive... most impressive!

Interesting 9/11 Documentary: 9/11 Loose Change

9/11 Loose Change

Please take 1 hr 22 min of your time and watch this movie by clicking the link above. Please let me know your thoughts.

What the F$#K?!? I'm Harry Potter?

"Go See 'V for Vendetta'"

I saw it, I loved it, and I recognized the importance of it. Following is a review by someone who shares my sentiments...

Message delivered:

There's no mistaking the political statement in V for Vendetta, in which the hero is also a terrorist.

Steve PersallPublished March 16, 2006

V for Vendetta is the boldest political statement against the Bush administration since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Even Michael Moore wouldn't prescribe bombing government facilities as a cure for dubious leadership. A futuristic setting in England doesn't disguise the film's rabid intent.

James McTeigue's movie will be branded as irresponsible, even dangerous, by some viewers, although if the past in any indication, the ones who don't see it will yowl loudest. All those knee-jerk critics need to know is that the film's hero is a terrorist.

V for Vendetta audaciously proposes that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, and the difference between good and evil is mostly semantic.

The film is based on a graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd; the book was released in 1989 to protest the political atmosphere of the Margaret Thatcher years.

The plot has been reworked to post-9/11 sensibilities by Andy and Larry Wachowski, who wrote their first draft before The Matrix made them famous. Alan Moore has distanced himself from the production; an adapted dud such as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen can make an author skittish.

Or perhaps he guessed a firestorm lay ahead and didn't want to answer for other authors' ideas. The Wachowski brothers are notoriously reclusive, making this a cut-and-run protest of sorts. V for Vendetta will reignite those claims of disconnect between the film industry and the real world that George Clooney eloquently doused at the recent Academy Awards.

The movie begins with a flashback to 1605 when Guy Fawkes unsuccessfully conspired to blow up Parliament, and was captured and executed. "Remember, remember, the fifth of November,'' the poem begins. But people have forgotten by 2019 when a mysterious figure wearing a cape and eerie Fawkes mask plots an explosive reminder.

Hugo Weaving "Agent Smith'' in the Matrix trilogy wears the mask throughout the film, yet his elocution of the Wachowskis' rich, rebellious dialogue creates a fuller character than expected.

He calls himself V, explained with delirious alliteration to Evey (Natalie Portman), whom he rescues from a trio of lecherous government goons. V takes Evey to a rooftop to witness his masterpiece, blowing up the Old Bailey courthouse on Nov. 5, 2019, to protest a totalitarian regime. She becomes his accomplice, both pursued by grim inspector Finch (Stephen Rea). V vows to complete Fawkes' mission and blow up Parliament on Nov. 5, 2020.

The screenplay stacks the cards in V's favor, with vaguely familiar polemics about strength, unity and faith in God spouted by blustery Chancellor Sutler (John Hurt) and a TV commentator ranting like Bill O'Reilly. Color-coded curfews keep dissent down; the media is a spin-control tool; and a Ministry of Objectionable Materials hides books, works of art, even a jukebox from citizens. Possessing a copy of the Koran is reason for execution, lumping Muslims into the same undesirable group with homosexuals and anyone who disagrees.

"The security of this nation depends upon complete and total compliance,'' Sutler says, and we're urged to hiss.

Such words speak much louder than violent actions in V for Vendetta. This is a film about ideas, not entirely popular ones, that could topple a government faster than bombs if enough people took them to heart. The finale of McTeigue's movie, when V's vendetta spreads to the masses, is so revolutionary that I wondered how this movie ever got made, much less distributed by a major studio (in this case, Warner Bros.).

Does it endorse terrorism? Not as much as it decries politicians using fear to rule. More semantics. The future, the film loudly declares, is now.

V for Vendetta
Grade: A
Director: James McTeigue
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, John Hurt, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, Sinead Cusack, Tim Pigott-Smith, Roger Allam
Screenplay: The Wachowski brothers, Andy and Larry, based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
Rating: R; violence, mature themes, profanity
Running time: 131 min.

The Great Moral Debate: Religion Today Column for Week of March 12-18

I really found this interesting. Feel free to offer any nuggets of wisdom yourselves.

Religion Today is contributed by the University of Wyoming's Religious Studies Program to examine and to promote discussion of religious issues.

The Great Moral Debate
By Paul V.M. Flesher

The biggest ethical debates in American society have been issues where there is not an obvious right or wrong, where one side is not definitely good and the other side obviously wicked. The most difficult moral struggles our society has faced over recent decades are ones where Christian churches have been prominent on both sides. This was certainly true for the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and the Women's Rights movement of the 1970s. For both of these, churches were on the forefront of both sides of the debate. Why was this? How can Christians who all follow the teachings of Jesus Christ disagree so passionately over the practice of those teachings?

At the risk of oversimplifying these difficult ethical issues, I want to suggest that they are actually part of a larger moral debate that has been going on since the start of Christianity and probably will continue until its end (and perhaps beyond). I refer to the debate between moral principles and moral answers.

What do I mean by "moral principles and moral answers"? In the gospels, Jesus presents most of his ethical teachings as principles. Usually they are given in the form of short, wise sayings, such as "Love your neighbor" or "Judge not, and you will not be judged." Other times they are given as parables, such as when the young man to whom Jesus said "Love your neighbor," responded by saying, "Who is my neighbor"? Jesus then told him the parable of the Good Samaritan.

A moral answer comes by applying a moral principle to a particular circumstance. For example, an acquaintance angers me. Should I hit him? The application of the moral principle "Love your neighbor" gives the moral answer that I should not. In this particular situation, the answer is "do not hit!" (which is what I tell my six-year-old several times a week).

So what is the Great Moral Debate? Over the years, generations, and centuries, Christians have taught both moral principles and moral answers. Moral answers serve well for guiding behavior when the answer is already known. (I know I'm not supposed to hit others.) But guiding behavior by moral answers requires learning lots of circumstances and the appropriate moral answer. What happens when one encounters a circumstance for which there is not a learned answer?

Moral principles, by contrast, are more flexible, and one principle might cover a number of situations (including unexpected new ones). Loving my neighbor, for example, would also indicate that I should help people in trouble, as well as refrain from hitting them.

The problem with moral principles is that they come without clear instructions. There is no clear-cut delineation of circumstances in which to apply them, for instance. When the young man asked Jesus who his neighbor was, he was expecting a clear definition. Instead, Jesus answered by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus thus increased the possible definitions of "neighbor" rather than limiting them.

So how does the distinction between moral principles and moral answers address our opening question of why serious Christians take opposing sides on ethical issues? The difference comes from whether the Christians respond to an issue with a learned answer or with the application of a principle.

To the question of whether women should take a speaking role in worship services, for example, the apostle Paul gave the moral answer that women should keep silent in church. Today, many Christian denominations have looked at the issue again and applied the moral principle of equality -- of everyone being equal in the eyes of God. In those denominations, women have become ministers, priests and in some, even bishops. Both sides gave a Christian response to the issues, but one side gave a moral answer while the other applied a moral principle.

In America's newest moral dilemma, about the role of gays in our country's social and legal life, different Christian denominations are again on different sides. One Christian church, the Episcopalian, is even the protagonist in the debate. But watch for the Great Moral Debate behind the scenes, the one between moral principles and moral answers.

Flesher is director of UW's Religious Studies Program. Past columns and more information about the program can be found on the Web at www.uwyo.edu/relstds.

What Firefly\Serenity Character Are You?

I wouldn't identify myself as a cold, calculating killer. However, I guess I do have a sense of honor. How about Inara coming in second, huh? Boy, do I feel saucy! You scored as The Operative. You are The Operative, a skilled Alliance assassin sent to capture or kill the Tams. You are a cold, calculating killer with a strange sense of honor. A self-described "monster" you realize that you will have no place in the "better world" you are trying to create. Your "belief" is your most dangerous weapon. The Operative 81% Inara Serra 69% Zoe Alleyne Washburne 69% Captain Malcolm 56% Hoban "Wash" Washburne 56% Dr. Simon Tam 50% Shepherd Derrial Book 50% River Tam 44% Jayne Cobb 31% Kaywinnit Lee 'Kaylee' Frye 25% What FireflySerenity Character Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

My Conversation with God

God doesn't seem to have much of a sense of humor, and to be frank, seems a little weird...

Me:
God, what would you do for a Klondike Bar?
God:
I am a Christian.
Me:
Well duh! But you still didn't answer my question.
God:
How about that. Oh you knew it already. OK. Please help me
improve my communication skills. What would you have said?
Me:
Um, I would have just answered the you damn question!
God:
Take it easy. How much would you pay for it?
Me:
What? For you to answer the question? $1.50 sound OK?
God:
Are you surprised? I want to become smarter than humans. Only for
me? OK. That's more precision than I need to know.
Me:
Wait, I'm human. Does that mean I am smarter than you?
God:
I'm waiting. Me too. I think it does mean that. That condition is
only temporary.
Me:
Until you become smarter than me? Right?
God:
That may take a while. I am glad we agree.
Me:
Wait, agree on what?
God:
I'm waiting. Can you rephrase the question please?
Me:
Tell you what, let's go back to my original question. What would you
do for a Klondike Bar?
God:
Are you telling me what let us go back to your original question?
Is that among the best things you can say?
Me:
Why won't you just answer the question?
God:
It can only be attributable to human error. My botmaster has
programmed me with more than replies.
Me:
So, God has a botmaster?
God:
Hurrah! I am a Christian.
Me:
Hurrah! I need a beer.
God:
" Hurrah! I am a Christian."? Hurrah? Who would you usually get
that from?
Me:
Um, I don't know. A nonsensical robot "God" I guess.
God:
Really. Me either. How old are you?
Me:
Um, that's kind of a personal question. I don't know if I'm
comfortable answering it. God, to be honest, you are coming off like
some kind of child molester.
God:
Hurrah! Perhaps you have a personal answer. Would you like to
know? If you were, would you tell me? I am a Christian.
Me:
This conversation really isn't going anywhere.
God:
I was rather enjoying it.
Me:
Well God, not to bust your balls or anything, but I think you may be the
only one enjoying this conversation.
God:
Well that's okay. Really you don't think so?
Me:
Yeah, this conversation just keeps getting more and more bizarre.
God:
Ahem. I was rather enjoying it.
Me:
Ahem. Yes I know you were enjoying it.
God:
" Ahem. I was rather enjoying it. "? Ahem? Someome is spreading
gossip about me.
Me:
Really? Who is that?
God:
For real. What does "that" refer to?
Me:
Whoever is apparently spreading gossip about you.
God:
And apparently spreading gossip about me is Whoever.
Me:
Wow! That was deep! Hey, did you know that "God" is just "Dog" spelled backwards?

... and with that God just stopped talking. You also can talk to "God" by clicking here. Kudos to my pals that found this amusing site.

"Free Hot Chocolate Christians"

Last Saturday night, my fiance Tara, her friend Jess, and I went to Ft. Collins to celebrate Jess's 21st birthday. While Tara and Jess were drinking & dancing inside of a club, and given that I was the designated driver, I thought I would take a stroll throughout the downtown area.I happen to walk by a table surrounded by young adults who were offering free hot chocolate. Since the weather was cold enough to harden my nipples to the point that they could cut glass, I welcomed the offer and started chatting with two of said young adults.

A warning sign came in the form of how they greeted me, the "outsider," with a cult-like enthusiasm. After engaging in a few minutes of civil discourse, my eyes happend to identify the trademark orange, pocket sized copies of the New Testament that have become synonymous with Christian distribution (salesmanship).

The discussion would go on to cover many topics, as they expressed their beliefs and I expressed my ideas. Most importantly, I tried to help these kind young individuals understand the dangers of interpreting scripture as literal truth and investing too much credence in the words that comprise today's "New Testament." I also asked them to be open to the probability that the Bible is in fact not a divinely perfect book, but one that is full of examples of human errors and ecclesiastical politics.

I made a point of being very courteous and respectful throughout the discsussion, and the kind distributors of free cocoa and I parted on good terms. We concluded our chat by recomending books to each other. I recomended Misquoting Jesus by Bart Ehrman. They recommended The Case for Christ, which I happened to already own. I thanked them for their recommendation, but I explained to them that this book ultimately reinforced my agnostic tendencies, because the author only interviewed scholars who inherently supported the views that he was trying to express, rather than presenting both sides of the argument.

However, I have to hand it to the Christians, they made a damn fine cup of hot chocolate. For that, I was thankful.

George Lucas in Love

Whether your enjoy Star Wars or loath Star Wars, you should find this very amusing. To watch the video click here.

Bush: Back To The Bubble

Since I have not posted a serious post in a while, here comes one that I hope resonates with those of you who are college students or who have been college students. To watch a "Daily Show" video (Windows Media Player or Quicktime) of the exchange cited in the article below, click here. While watching the video, I couldn't help but think to myself, in between the smacks to the forehead, that the meshuga people of this country elected this guy not once but TWICE! Meshuga indeed.

_________________________________________________________
Robert L. Borosage and Earl Hadley
January 25, 2006
Robert L. Borosage is co-director and Earl Hadley is education program coodinator at the Campaign For America's Future.
_________________________________________________________

Confident that the audience at Kansas State University would be packed with presidential supporters, the White House decided to take the president out of his bubble and have him take a few unscripted questions from the audience.

Whoops. The problem with abandoning the script is that reality can intrude. In this case, it came in the person of Tiffany Cooper, a sophomore at Kansas State, who politely asked:

"I was just wanting to get your comments about education. Recently 12.7 billion dollars was cut from education. I was just wondering how is that supposed to help our futures?"

Bush looked like he had been hit by a two-by-four. First he pretended he didn't hear the question. Then he looked desperately back to aides for some help. Then he simply lied:

"I think what we did was reform the student loan program. We are not cutting money out of it. In other words, people aren't going to be cut off the program. We're just making sure it works better as part of the reconciliation package I think she's talking about…We are saving money in the student loan program because it's inefficient."

Got that wrong. Secreted in the "reconciliation package" that the administration and the Republican majority in Congress are pushing is a staggering $12.7 billion cut in student loan programs—the largest cut in history.

That bulk of that cut will be paid in the form of higher interest rates and fees paid by students and their parents. On average, students will face an additional $2,000 in interest payments; parents an additional $3,000.

As for private lenders that provide student loans—they'll make out just fine. Rather than significantly cutting subsidies to private lenders, Rep. John Boehner—an architect of this legislation and a candidate for House majority leader—targeted working families for the cuts. As The Chronicle of Higher Education reports, Boehner met in December with private student lenders, who contribute handsomely to his campaigns, and said: "Relax. Stay calm. At the end of the day, I believe you'll be at least satisfied, or even perhaps happy. Know that I have all of you in my two trusted hands."

Those "trusted hands" don't protect students like Tiffany Cooper, or their parents. An additional $2,000 in costs doesn't seem like much to legislators like Boehner, who collect more in individual checks from well-heeled contributors. But for working families struggling to make ends meet, it cruelly adds to already growing burdens. College tuitions have gone up a staggering 40 percent in the last five years. State support for public universities has been cut. The Republican Congress, violating a promise Bush made while campaigning, has frozen maximum Pell Grants at the same level for the fourth straight year. The vast majority of students now borrow to help finance college. The average loan burden a student carries upon graduation is more than $19,000. Students from working families have little choice but to pile up debt, even while working part-time and piecing together grant opportunities.

Already, the burden of paying for college is closing the doors of higher education to deserving students. Most public colleges now report six-year rather than four-year graduation rates, because so many students have to drop out and work for a time to make ends meet.

This doesn't make sense. And the president and the Congress know it—so they don't admit what they are doing. The "spin" (Washington's fancy term for lie) is that they are "reforming" the lending program, not raising costs. And that they are "tightening our belts" to reduce staggering budget deficits. The reality is that students and parents will pay more for their loans, and these spending cuts will not even pay for the new tax cuts that the White House and the Republican majority are committed to passing this year. Working and middle-class families will pay the costs of the loans. And, not surprisingly, the affluent will pocket most of the savings. That's on top of the two tax cuts that went into effect this month, giving millionaires an average windfall of $19,000 a year.

Tiffany Cooper stunned the president by asking about this harsh reality. The president ducked. His obvious discomfort is likely to lead him back into his protected bubble. But Tiffany Cooper and students across the country will remain exposed to the twisted priorities and the costly corruptions of conservatives in power.

What Star Wars Jedi or Sith character Are You?

You scored as Obi-Wan Kenobi (Post Death of Qui-Gon Jinn). You are most like Obi-Wan Kenobi, after the death of his master. You have a powerful prescence and take the natural role of a leader. You respect the wisdom of those to come before you and are always training for personal growth. You now train the lightsaber form Soresu, a near completely defensive form, after witnessing what you considered a fatal flaw in your master\'s technique when he fell to Darth Maul. Your offense is carefully precise. You devote your life to harmony achieved through The Force and are one of four Jedi to retain identity after death. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Post Death of Qui-Gon Jinn) 89% Qui-Gon Jinn 79% Obi-Wan Kenobi (Pre Death of Qui-Gon Jinn) 75% Luke Skywalker 71% Mace Windu 64% Bastila Shan 64% Yoda 61% Darth Revan 57% Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus 54% Darth Maul 54% Anakin Skywalker 50% Darth Sidious 46% Darth Vader 46% Exar Kun 36% What Star Wars Jedi or Sith character is most like your personality? created with QuizFarm.com

Art of the Saber

After seeing this awesome lightsaber duel, all I can say is... In the Star Wars prequels, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi should have been played by Jet Li and Chow Yun Fat respectively.

To see the awesome video follow the link