Bella- absolutely wonderful.

This past Friday night my wife and parents wanted me to go with them to see the movie, Bella. I was less than enthusiastic about seeing this particular movie as normally I am not too keen on dramas. Well, I obliged them and went along. When the movie first started I still was not very thrilled about being there. I slowly began enjoying the movie little by little. Roughly twenty minutes in I was completely drawn in. I loved the way the plot unfolded and how you felt so close to the characters. You felt their pain, you laughed with them, you even cried with them. Yes, I cried with them.

Director, Alejandro Monteverde outdid himself this time. Bella was sharp, thought inspiring, and touching. I found myself battling my own emotions throughout the film. Often, I was sitting in my seat asking myself the same questions the characters were asking themselves. What would I do? How would I feel? Who will know? Why? Bella was just an absolutely wonderful film. It has my support as a moviegoer and a person.

I would advise everyone to make some time in your busy lives to see this film. It deals with real-life issues in a real way. If you have teenagers at home- take them to this movie. Afterwards, take them out for a coke and talk to them. Get their feelings, impressions, and thoughts. You may just be surprised what you hear.


See the Official site here.

Burma, Monks,Demonstrations, Violence, Murder... Where's the outrage and responce?!

During these last few days the problems in Burma have really come to light for the whole world to see- again. The military government there has crossed the line with the recent massacre's and crackdowns on their citizens. Murdering, violence, arrests, human abuses, etc have escalated beyond anything that should be allowed or tolerated by other nations. We cannot ignore that the Burmese government has committed unforgivable atrocities and human abuses. Yes, many in our country and abroad have "taken the time" to give public comments to the world via media outlets, but that's not action. It's high-time that someone, anyone do something about this. We as a world are just standing on the sidewalk of life while watching as many thousands of others are being run over and killed in the street. Where do we draw the line? When is enough, enough? I am thinking a frightening thought- what if they had oil we needed? I think we would, then, have an excuse to go in and depose the leaders who are ordering these killings and crackdowns. Funny thought, really, that this may really come down to, "What do they have that we need?". If the Burmese had some kind of resource that First World countries needed or relied upon I think that we would be more prone to act on this. Another great example is North Korea. People are getting killed for the most ridiculous reasons, they are imprisoned for looking at the wrong person the wrong way, the masses are starving and have nobody to speak for them, but we just sit around and do nothing. Why? Well, what does North Korea have that we need? Nothing. So, let's just ignore them. Darfur and other atrocities caused by rebels and decades of inter-cultural/inter-tribal warfare. We have yet to intervene and quell the fighting with a mass immobilisation of troops to actively pursue the murderers. Iraq. They have oil. So, we go in to remove a dictator that can't begin to come close to the other leaders of the aforementioned atrocities, but Iraq does have oil. Interesting. Some of you will disagree with me on everything. Some will at least think about what I am saying. Still others will see the truth in what my thoughts are.


Good reading: Free Burma

Halo, Halo, Halo...

Halo is obviously has a world-wide cult following- this cannot be argued. I was playing Halo 2 the other day with some friends when it dawned on me- how do people get so good? I have been playing for a quite a while, but cannot imagine how much some people play to where they can run around with a sniper rifle and "no-scope" players right and left. If you are not too familiar with Halo then let me explain. "No-scoping" is when you run around with a big 'ole sniper rifle and don't need to use the scope to aim and pick people off with one shot. It's nearly impossible to do this accurately and efficiently yet some people are great at it. Amongst my friends I would say I am about in the middle when it comes to skill at Halo. One of my friends, Lockvine, is unbelievable when it comes to grenades. Plasma grenades, in particular, are his favourites. Plasma grenades, also commonly known "sticky grenades," essentially stick to a player or vehicle and have a few second delay before they blow your world to pieces. Lockvine can consistently lob a grenade at you from across the map or right in front of your face- it doesn't matter- he will kill you with one. Another favourite tactic of his is to beat you at your own game- by this I mean- he will figure out your tactic and use it against you. This is not to say that his tactic is dirty, but it does suck to be beat at your own game.

Lockvine has one fatal flaw- he sucks with energy swords. "Sucks" here is used loosely as he could kill about anyone with these wonderful, undulating purple blades of delight, but I have a sort of knack at owning people with these beautiful hand-held objects of death.

Our battles still rage.


On a second note, I found a terrific site- XBConnect.com. The creators of the site have written a top-of-the-line program that allows you to legally trick the Xbox into thinking it is playing a local LAN game when, in fact, you are connecting via the internet to other players around the world- and it is FREE! Yes, that's right- FREE! They have a Premium package (XBCONNECT PRO) that can be purchased for $14.95(US) that gives you a few extra features that the standard free package does not. I have heard of a couple of other "free" internet gaming tunneling titles for Xbox, but most of my friends said they pretty much blow. I find that XBConnect is fast, easy to use, and provides you with a multitude of gaming choices and options. I also believe that they can pride themselves with a great community. One of the reasons I did not end up purchasing Xbox Live was that most of the people I encountered in the Halo rooms were rude, arrogant, cheating, glitch-using pieces of garbage. I did encounter a few nice folks, but for the most part the previous statement holds true. XBConnect users have all been quite kind, albeit VERY skilled at Halo, and willing to put up with someone who does not have the time to play hundreds of hours a month and can't get to fifty kills in ten minutes. I would suggest this software to anyone looking to either get around M$'s stupid fees, the jerks in most of the community rooms, or if you are just wanting to join a better community (in my opinion). Also, I would say that the $14.95 is a small fee to pay for an awesome online gaming experience- also- XBConnect supports an array of titles (please see below). I, for one, am considering upgrading to the Premium package.


XBConnect Supported Titles

Iran, any other country+Nuclear Capability= Fair in my book.

I am quite sure I am going to take a lot of heat for my beliefs, but I don't really care. This is going to be quick today... Basically, I do not see a problem with other countries have nuclear capabilities. Before you start in on me- yes, I do see your side of the story- if a country demonstrates that they may use their nuclear weapons for ill-intent then we don't want them to have them. Blah, blah, blah. Personally, my belief is we have to see the world as one even playing field. If one country (i.e.: the U.S.) can have nuclear weapons then everyone else should be able to as well. I think that the U.S. and the joke that is the United Nations saying who can and cannot have weapons is completely ridiculous. I have heard it all before in regards to, "Well, we would not use them irresponsibly like they would..." I don't even want to hear it. Have you not seen the news or turned on the radio? Look at the Iraq invasion. That was irresponsible and pointless. What if someone decides they want to extend their empire and we don't want them to? Well, let's just whip out 'ole Big Bertha and shoot her at them. How the heck are they to defend themselves? We are extending our empire and sphere of influence. Seriously. If Iran wants to make bombs- let them. If you want to strike at them for doing so- well, that's your right. Either do something about it or sit down and shut up. There should not be some big Club of the Rich Guys (United Nations) telling the little guy what to do. It has always been about empires. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. Every empire wants more land and superiority. That's the way it works.

Please don't get me wrong- this is not just about Iran- quite frankly I don't care too much for Iran or the way they do things. I actually hope someone does attack them. I am just sick and tired of reading all about empty threats and countries whining about, "this guy did this, and they did that". Really, come on folks. If someone is doing something to you, your borders, or developing something with the intention of using it in an unfair or unbalanced attack- don't whine. Blow them sky high with what you have before they have what you don't or don't want them to. Stop crying to the lazies and crazies that are the United Nations. Just take matters into your own hands and find the guys that agree with you. Pick yourself a nice strong team and start playing Battleship with them.


Since we have already invaded Iraq and are still dealing with suicide bombers and other cowardly combatants we should just stop wasting time and level the place. Evacuate and search anyone who does not want to be a crispy fritter and just bomb the crap out of every city that has played a part in attacks, start the rebuilding process and then proceed to flatten any other city that attacks take place in. People can pro-create their population will eventually recover. Once this is done just hand the keys over to the Bush-installed government and let them sort things out. Simple, saves American lives, and if things continue we just blow up the entire country. Problem solved and nipped in the bud.

News article about Iran's developments

Cities of the Underworld

Okay, so- one of my favourite TV shows at present is Cities of the Underworld. The show, in short, is about literally just that- cities (or ruins) that are below ground that the every day person has no clue are there beneath their feet. The show started off on the right foot. It had great content, great locales, and an awesome host in Eric Geller. Eric was enthusiastic, exciting to listen to and watch, and had something about him that just fit the show and the crowd that watched it, at least I thought... Well, apparently, the History Channel higher-ups did not care for the host that at least 85% of the viewers liked and came back watching week after week. They decided to bring in "new talent" in Don Wildman. Yes, that's right- they brought in the Head and Shoulders guy to replace the incredible Eric Geller.

Sure, Eric sometimes became a wee bit loud and maybe even a bit forced in his words or acting, but I can't say that I would not act in the same manner! I am so captivated by history, other cultures, and the unknown that I, too, sometimes become over zealous.

I am not saying that I don't like Don Wildman, I am just saying that I don't think he is right for the part and that the History Channel could do well with leaving the programming alone for once. Or, at least listen to the majority of the people that post on their forums. I believe that forums are a great place for the decision makers (or at least information compilers) to gather a wealth of information. The people that post on forums are the ones that really keep the shows going and the opinions of the majority in a forum nine times out of ten represent 90-95% of the opinions of the viewing audience. I'm sure that any of you that are reading this and post on forums would agree. An entity, whether it be a TV station or any other company, should listen to the forums and model programming or products after what is wanted from the people in the forums. If this is done, I would be willing to bet the product or program would be successful.

Praise!

My little sister and her friend have pretty much settled into their new home in East Asia. They are there teaching and living their lives the way Dad wants them to. I am so proud of them! I ask that you all talk to Dad for them and ask that he send lots of good mail to them.

They are eating quite a bit of "unusual" food, but are managing well! My little sister is a coffee freak and just bought a Love Coffee shirt with a bunch of different cups of coffee all over it. If you knew her you would know how fitting that shirt really is for her!

Growing up in a town named after the big jolly guy...

Well, I was sitting on facebook earlier going through some profiles when I noticed that some of my friends from the town I grew up in created a group that I would have loved to have had when I was a kid. The group is called Yes, I actually live in a town named after a fictional character... and cracks me up. When I was a kid my friends and I that lived in the Village (Christmas Lake Village) were teased just about every time we left our general area and someone asked us where we were from. I hated people asking me this as I knew that I was going to have to put up with jokes and laughter. On occasion, I had to sit and explain to people that I was not kidding. I grew to hate the questions- I would avoid them at all cost. Sure, some of my best years were spent in Santa Claus, but I still hate the teasing and explaining that goes along with being from there. It's just a city name for crying out loud! Sorry- had to vent for a second. In all honesty, it was and is probably the best place to raise your kids. The city is gated, VERY low crime rate (if any at all), and it is one of the few places where you can feel safe leaving your doors unlocked. Kids can even ride their bikes around without parents having to worry about them...

Homeland Security or Homeland Spying? You be the judge.

Several of my friends and I are consistently debating just which it is- Homeland Security or Homeland Spying? My personal opinion is that there is no Homeland Security without homeland borders. Earlier, I spoke about Bush's new thrill- the Amnesty Bill. This, in a way, goes along with that. Please explain to me why we are spending billions upon billions of dollars on Homeland Security, yet if I go down to Nogales, Arizona I can just chill in a lawn chair and watch illegals running through the tunnels coming into the U.S. every ten minutes? I mean, come on. Is that Homeland Security? No, it's not. Homeland Security could give a flying flip about our border problem. They care too much about spying and potential terrorist threats than they do about actual homeland security. If the agency was really worried about homeland security they would take care of our borders. Let the CIA and FBI worry about terrorism. Get with the program people! I could run to Wal Mart and for $200 purchase a Remington knock-off and a box of shells and take care of the problem with our borders. I don't need the billions of dollars- though come to think of it I would like a new motorcycle... If the terrorists had half a brain (which I am glad they don't) they would come come through so easily like all the others- through our borders. Screw all the hard work of getting visas or passports- just come through our weak borders. I would love to take some pot-shots at them. Why don't we spend all that money on our trusty fence (preferably, a wall) and a few cheap guns at your local store.

Now, back to the subject- I, personally, have nothing to hide, but few things annoy me more than having people listen to my conversations. Not because of privacy, but because I am sure there is something better they could be doing. I have no expectation of privacy when I speak on the phone or when I e-mail anyone. I do, however, think it is completely stupid and a wast of my money that our government is paying people to listen to us. Even if it is just for keywords. I feel that if they want to listen to calls coming into our country from other marked places then- go for it, but you darn well better believe they should have a search warrant! There is a justice system and proper routes in place for a reason. They should not be able to just listen to anyone at anytime. There should be a proper investigation and all the "t's" should be crossed before they start to tap or listen. The President and his minions thinking they are above the law should be held to account. There should, in no way, be UNLAWFUL listening or SPYING going on, yet, that is what he promotes and stands behind.

A great news article that shows the depth and carelessness of Homeland Security spying is here.

I very much enjoyed this, "A spokesman for the Customs and Border Protection division said he couldn’t speak directly to Goodman’s case but acknowledged that the agency can, will and does open mail coming to U.S. citizens that originates from a foreign country whenever it’s deemed necessary."

So, who deems it necessary? Where is the search warrant? Do they need one? Many questions left unanswered in my book. What deems it necessary? Maybe the potential for a good love story so they pop open the envelope? Maybe they just want to know how little Johnny has been doing in his baseball games.

Apparently, Homeland Security is free to do whatever they want- with very little supervision. If they want to spy on me or anyone else in America- they can- when they have the permission of a PUBLIC court. Getting the permission in private does not fly. Things need to be done in the open.

Sorry for the rant, but this is just one of my hot buttons. Until Homeland Security is open to proper supervision and audits they are going to be known by most people I know as the Homeland Spying Agency and up for a lot of scrutiny. I don't care what they do outside our soil, but in the U.S. you can't just go around and do what you please. If a guy just says, "Hey, I think I will tap her phone because there may be something fishy going on." and does- he gets arrested and goes to jail. If Homeland Security does it just because they feel like it then it's just fine because they, well... apparently can.

Homeland Security breaking the law.

I support the CIA, FBI, and the Secret Service- I think what they do is good and they have proper direction. What I do not support is a complete and blatant slap in the face from my own government saying they will spy on us, open our mail, and infiltrate every part of our lives because they want to and can- with or without cause or reason. That is not right and that is not legal.

End of story.

Utterly Ridiculous!

Ridiculous!

The story below is a complete and utter waste. Another feminist whining because they want what others have. This artictle is about a lady who tried suing Goodyear because men were being paid more than her even though she was doing the same job. Well, listen up lady- welcome to the real world! Everywhere I have ever worked there have been people, men and women, who were being paid more than me even though we were all performind the same job. We even had the same job titles and descriptions. Does this mean I can go around and sue every company I have ever worked for and cite some kind of discrimination? Heck no! Thus is life- people will be paid more than you- end of story. This issue probably would not have even made headlines had she not been a woman and Ginsburg being a feminist herself. Ginsburg needs to lay off the femi-nazi crap and jump back in the ring supporting and upholding the values that our Constitution contains. "What's the Constitution?", she asks. Well, it is actually the piece of paper that she currently uses to wipe her nose with- because that's how much she cares about it. Wake up, Ginsburg! Start doing your job and stop letting your wacko beliefs get in the way. This case should have never made it to the Supreme Court.


-Jas

__________
Over Ginsburg's Dissent, Court Limits Bias Suits

By Robert Barnes
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 30, 2007; A01

A Supreme Court once again split by the thinnest of margins ruled yesterday that workers may not sue their employers over unequal pay caused by discrimination alleged to have occurred years earlier.

The court ruled 5 to 4 that Lilly Ledbetter, the lone female supervisor at a tire plant in Gadsden, Ala., did not file her lawsuit against Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in the timely manner specified by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The decision moved Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to read a dissent from the bench, a usually rare practice that she has now employed twice in the past six weeks to criticize the majority for opinions that she said undermine women's rights.

Speaking for the three other dissenting justices, Ginsburg's voice was as precise and emotionless as if she were reading a banking decision, but the words were stinging.

"In our view, the court does not comprehend, or is indifferent to, the insidious way in which women can be victims of pay discrimination," she said.

Last month, Ginsburg rebuked the same five-justice majority for upholding the federal Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act and for language in the opinion that she said reflected "ancient notions about women's place in the family and under the Constitution -- ideas that have long since been discredited."

Yesterday she said that "Title VII was meant to govern real-world employment practices, and that world is what the court today ignores." She called for Congress to correct what she sees as the court's mistake.

In a case that Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said was easily decided on the statute "as written," her statement from the bench was noteworthy.

Marcia Greenberger, co-president of the National Women's Law Center, said Ginsburg's attention-getting dissents are a "clarion call to the American people that this slim majority of the court is headed in the wrong direction." She noted Ginsburg's background as a feminist legal activist who helped establish women's legal rights and added: "To see them being dismantled is especially troubling."

While Greenberger and others said the court's decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. was a "setback for women and a setback for civil rights," business groups applauded the "fair decision" that, in the words of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "eliminates a potential wind-fall against employers by employees trying to dredge up stale pay claims."

A jury had originally awarded Ledbetter more than $3.5 million because it found "more likely than not" that sex discrimination during her 19-year career led to her being paid substantially less than her male counterparts.

An appeals court reversed, saying the law requires that a suit be filed within 180 days "after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred," and Ledbetter could not prove discrimination within that time period. She had argued that she was discriminated against throughout her career, receiving smaller raises than the men received, and that each paycheck that was less was a new violation.

Alito wrote for the majority that "current effects alone can't breathe life into prior, uncharged discrimination." He was joined by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. Thomas is a former chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

"We apply the statute as written, and this means that any unlawful employment practice, including those involving compensation, must be presented . . . within the period prescribed by the statute," Alito said.

Robin Conrad, executive vice president of the National Chamber Litigation Center, said: "If the court ruled the opposite way, employers could have been hauled into court on decades-old claims of discrimination."

But Ginsburg, joined by Justices John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter and Stephen G. Breyer, said the decision sets up a sometimes impossible barrier. "Pay disparities often occur, as they did in Ledbetter's case, in small increments; only over time is there strong cause to suspect that discrimination is at work," she wrote.

Even when unequal pay is discovered, she wrote, women may be reluctant to go to federal court over small amounts: "An employee like Ledbetter, trying to succeed in a male-dominated workplace, in a job filled only by men before she was hired, understandably may be anxious to avoid making waves."

Ginsburg's empathetic statement added that "the same denial of relief" would apply to those alleging discrimination based on race, religion, age, national origin or disability.

Ledbetter, like Ginsburg a woman in her 70s, said she was "disappointed, very, very disappointed" with the decision. "I worked a lot of years doing the hard work and not to get paid as much as the men will affect me every day in the future" in the form of lower retirement benefits, she said.

Judith L. Lichtman, a senior adviser to the National Partnership for Women and Families, said that is what Ginsburg's dissents speak to.

"She talks about the real-world consequences of Supreme Court decisions on the lives of women," Lichtman said.

Ginsburg has been the court's lone female member since Alito replaced Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in January 2006, and both women have expressed consternation about that in interviews since then.

"The word I would use to describe my position on the bench is 'lonely,' " Ginsburg told USA Today this year. Asked what difference O'Connor's departure would make, Ginsburg said only: "This term may be very revealing."

Richard Lazarus, co-director of Georgetown University Law Center's Supreme Court Institute, said that reading a dissent from the bench is significant for a justice. "It's a different order of magnitude of dissent," he said.

Lazarus said Ginsburg's dissents "may be signifying an increasing frustration."

from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/29/AR2007052900740_pf.html

Fishing.

I took my oldest daughter to a local lake to fish on Saturday. She is a typical four year olde- if you don't keep things constantly exciting- they loose interest. I baited her hook with a worm and had literally just cast her pole and picked mine up to cast when her bobber just disappeared! I was astonished! She was so very excited. I let her start reeling in, but the fish was too big for her to do it alone. So, we reeled it in together. After a quick fight we brought the fish up. To my amazement it was a cute little catfish. To her it must have seemed a whale! Prior to her catching the fish she kept saying how she was going to catch a giant whale- well, in a way, her wish came true. The fish was a little shorter than her leg. It was so cute how thrilled she was to get a fish.

Later on, it started to rain. I just happen to keep a disposable poncho in my bag in case of heavy rain. I had to put it on her and then cut it to fit. Soon after, Sarah came to pick her up and she was as cheery as could be and told Mommy all about it!

I encourage you to spend some one-on-one time with each of your children because you may not just learn more about them, but learn something about yourself. This trip reminded me that it's not how many fish you catch, but who you are spending time with. Catching fish when fishing with others is just a perk to me anymore. I would rather build and strengthen relationships than solely focus on catching something.