As Americans, we bitch and complain way too much. Even with a shitty President and a shitty economy, we don't know how good we have it until something horrible happens elsewhere in the world.
Take Hurricane Katrina for example. The whole country, and the south in particular, raised hell because no one did anything to protect New Orleans when they knew it would someday happen. When it did happen, we were appaled at the lack of response on both state and federal levels. At least 1,836 people dies because of Katrina.
Now, you've all seen the news story about Cyclone Nargis that hit Burma. A cyclone is basically a hurricane. A meteorologist would say there are differences, but you and I both know that they're very similar. 22,000 people are confirmed dead with another 41,000 people missing. Those numbers will go up. Think about that for a minute. Twenty Two Thousand.
Yes, our country has seen better days, I'll admit that. However, even with the slow response of the goverenment, ONLY 1,836 people died in Katrina. At least the people in Katrina had houses that didn't fold up and become shrapnel in winds over 75 mph. At least the folks in Katrina weren't so god damned poor that they had to cram their entire families in those piss-poor shacks just to have some kind of a roof over their heads.
We consider Katrina to be one of this country's worst natural disasters. The Indian/Burmese region has lost at least 470,000 people to cyclones in the last 35 years or so, and that's just the total from FOUR cyclones. That's not even counting the tsunami in 2004. In fact, on the list of the 10 worst natural disasters in history, none of them are in the United States.
25,000 people died of starvation every day in 2003. That's over nine million dead in a single year. Think about that, and then tell me that we as a country have a reason to bitch.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The death of Christ! YAY!!!!
I’m not a highly religious individual, but nonetheless, I was thinking about the Easter holiday while eating lunch today. Specifically, I was thinking about Good Friday. Good Friday is the day when Jesus died upon the cross. Let me cement the point here: Jesus. Died.
Why the fuck would you call it Good Friday? Honestly, I’m pretty sure that, at least for Christians, Jesus dying isn’t something especially good. Some may say it caused good things later, but I doubt the death itself was very good.
Maybe it should be called something else. Bad Friday? Conditions Less than Favorable Friday? This Being Nailed to a Cross Shit Really Fucking Hurts Friday? I’m not saying my suggestions are the best, I’m just saying that “Good” doesn’t really capture the mood of the day quite right.
I was doing a bit of research on Good Friday and learned that different cultures have different names for the day. In much of Eastern Europe, it’s called Great Friday, an even shittier name. In Latin America, it’s called Holy Friday. That’s not too bad. In the Nordic countries, it’s called Long Friday. Once again, not too shabby. The Arab peoples are a bit closer because some of them call it Sad Friday. That seems pretty spot-on. It’s the Chinese though that really describe it properly. Their name for Good Friday translates to “Day of Christ’s Suffering.” There you fucking go! Leave it to the Chinese to actually make sense. It would have been a Good Friday if Jesus had been Chinese. They would have tried to catch him to nail him to the cross, and he would have gone kung-fu on their asses. If that had happened, we wouldn’t have crucifixes hanging in churches, we’d have little statues of Jesus with a pair of Nunchaku.
That actually inspires me to form my own offshoot of Christianity. The Church of the Risen Asskicker. You like the sound of that don’t you? Yes, I know you do.
Why the fuck would you call it Good Friday? Honestly, I’m pretty sure that, at least for Christians, Jesus dying isn’t something especially good. Some may say it caused good things later, but I doubt the death itself was very good.
Maybe it should be called something else. Bad Friday? Conditions Less than Favorable Friday? This Being Nailed to a Cross Shit Really Fucking Hurts Friday? I’m not saying my suggestions are the best, I’m just saying that “Good” doesn’t really capture the mood of the day quite right.
I was doing a bit of research on Good Friday and learned that different cultures have different names for the day. In much of Eastern Europe, it’s called Great Friday, an even shittier name. In Latin America, it’s called Holy Friday. That’s not too bad. In the Nordic countries, it’s called Long Friday. Once again, not too shabby. The Arab peoples are a bit closer because some of them call it Sad Friday. That seems pretty spot-on. It’s the Chinese though that really describe it properly. Their name for Good Friday translates to “Day of Christ’s Suffering.” There you fucking go! Leave it to the Chinese to actually make sense. It would have been a Good Friday if Jesus had been Chinese. They would have tried to catch him to nail him to the cross, and he would have gone kung-fu on their asses. If that had happened, we wouldn’t have crucifixes hanging in churches, we’d have little statues of Jesus with a pair of Nunchaku.
That actually inspires me to form my own offshoot of Christianity. The Church of the Risen Asskicker. You like the sound of that don’t you? Yes, I know you do.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Wow, just wow.
Usually I don't talk about stupid things like celebrity news, usually.
I thought the Spears family couldn't go any lower after the escapades of Britney over the last few months. However, her 16 year old sister is now pregnant.
16. Is anyone in that family not a whore?
Seriously, these girls, no matter how much money they have, are no different than the girls who lived down the street in a trailer park in my hometown. That family had 2 stupid ass girls too, and one of them was a pregnant 16 year old.
I thought the Spears family couldn't go any lower after the escapades of Britney over the last few months. However, her 16 year old sister is now pregnant.
16. Is anyone in that family not a whore?
Seriously, these girls, no matter how much money they have, are no different than the girls who lived down the street in a trailer park in my hometown. That family had 2 stupid ass girls too, and one of them was a pregnant 16 year old.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Did I really miss out?
Last night, I had a chance to ge see a free advance screening of the new film Sweeny Todd. I chose not to go, partially because I took the day off sick and didn't feel up to it, but also because I don't give a shit.
Wow, a Tim Burton film starring Johnny Depp? That's something that the filmgoing public has yet to see! Give me a fucking break. Tim Burton must look at every role that needs to be cast in his films and say, "Johnny Depp would be great in all of these roles. He doesn't really fit this part, but I'll make sure it's rewritten so that he does fit!"
Yes, this film has really good reviews, but I'm just getting tired of watching Tim Burton films that feel like Tim Burton films. Seriously dude, try something new. Maybe go a different direction with your next film and show everyone that you're not just some hack who keeps doing the same goddamn thing over and over because you don't know how to make any other type of film.
So no, I don't regret my decision last night. I don't think I missed the next big revolution in filmmaking.
Wow, a Tim Burton film starring Johnny Depp? That's something that the filmgoing public has yet to see! Give me a fucking break. Tim Burton must look at every role that needs to be cast in his films and say, "Johnny Depp would be great in all of these roles. He doesn't really fit this part, but I'll make sure it's rewritten so that he does fit!"
Yes, this film has really good reviews, but I'm just getting tired of watching Tim Burton films that feel like Tim Burton films. Seriously dude, try something new. Maybe go a different direction with your next film and show everyone that you're not just some hack who keeps doing the same goddamn thing over and over because you don't know how to make any other type of film.
So no, I don't regret my decision last night. I don't think I missed the next big revolution in filmmaking.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
I've Neglected You, and I'm Sorry
I know I've been absent for a while. Nothing horrible happened to me, I'm just a lazy fuck.
First of all, the wedding date is set. July 12th of 2008. We always thought it would be July 12th, but we hadn't actually done what we needed to do to confirm it until a week ago.
Secondly, I'd like to take a minute to talk about the tragedy in Omaha last week. Specifically, I'd like to say a word or two about the guy that did the shooting. It's one thing to commit suicide, I mean it's his choice to end his life or not, but that's not what he did. Instead, he made the decision for 8 other people. Instead of just ending his pathetic life, he felt that taking people with him was the best thing to do. You know why he did this? I know. He did this because it wasn't about killing himself. It was never about killing himself. What is was about is a fucked-up piece of shit who wanted others to hurt. Killing himself was just a way to ensure that he didn't have to own up to what he did. It was a way for him to bypass the consequences and responsibility that everyone else has to deal with. It isn't the P.C. thing to say, but that guy was a worthless bastard and I'm glad he's dead.
Now, I transition to Oprah. She has nothing to do with the previous paragraph, so don't assume that I would also like to see Oprah dead. She's powerful enough to monitor my internet usage, and if she thinks I want her dead, she'll take me out first. What I don't agree with is her very obvious backing of Barack Obama. I guess her power and influence is why I don't like the situation. You see, when it comes to popular people in the media, there are a number of people who take their opinions to seriously. People who, despite facts or other conflicting opinions, will blindly take the advice and run with it. To me, Oprah openly backing a presidential candidate is like a news anchor openly backing a candidate: it just shouldn't be done. Like a news anchor, she should keep her political views out of her broadcasts. People should look at all the facts before voting, but I can assure you that her opinion will cause a number of women to vote for Obama, whether they agree with him or not. I say women not to be sexist, but Oprah's primary audience is women, that's just a fact. Maybe I'm being too goddamn bitchy, but I think Oprah should leave the political endorsements to political experts and allow people to make up their own minds.
Something else that I've recently grown more aware of is the state of healthcare in the U.S. I keep hearing politicians talk of universal healthcare and the problems with the current systems, and until a month ago, I really didn't take much notice of it. However, now I see what everyone is making a fuss over. I went to the emergency room about a month ago because I was having quite the painful ordeal with a tooth of mine that has been cracked for many a year. I'm too damn stupid to actually get it taken care of by a dentist. Because of this tooth, my gums and cheek on my left side really started to swell up and it hurt like a bitch. I actually have a pretty high pain tolerance, so for me to go to the hospital says a lot. I was at there for an hour, most of the time was spent waiting. When the doctor did treat me, all he did was lance the swollen area, drain the puss and blood by squeezing my cheek a few times, and write me perscriptions for antibiotics and painkillers.
I wouldn't have gone to the hospital had I not had health insurance, like many Americans don't have. Well, I got the bill last week from the hospital. It turns out that for the 10 minutes or so I was being treated, I owe the hospital $485. 485 fucking dollars to get poked in the gums? WHAT THE FUCK? Had I not had insurance, it would have cost near $1000. Keep in mind, I have insurance, a job, and no dependents to care for. If I wasn't financially stable, I couldn't pay for this treatment. To me, being charged this much for so little is damn near illegal. If not illegal, than most certainly horribly immoral. It isn't like there is only 1 hospital to care for all of Denver. It wasn't like the emergency room was full of people. It's simply the hospital charging as much as they want for services you can't possibly turn down without possible deadly consequences.
On the other hand, I went to the dentist yesterday and had that tooth, and another one removed. The dentist literally spent over an hour and a half performing what amounts to surgery on me. You know what that surgery cost me with my insurance? $38. Thirty eight dollars for surgery at the dentist while the hospital wants damn near $500 for a 10 second stabbing. So, I guess what I'm saying is tht I understand now. I get why people are upset at the state of healthcare in the U.S. And, I truly feel sorry for all those people out there who put off going to hospitals because they know they can't do that and pay the rent at the same time. I feel sorry for the people who do go to the hospital with their sick child not knowing if they'll be able to feed their child after the bill comes. I can't believe that, in this country where everything is supposed to be so damn great, this is acceptable.
I'm done complaining now, I really am. I'd actually like to give my thoughts about the film I saw yesterday: The Golden Compass. Normallt, I try to avoid fantasy films marketed to children, or any film marketed to children, but I decided to give this one a shot. Part of this decision was the film's rating of PG-13, instead of the vomit-induced G rating that is given to most children's films. The Golden Compass is rated PG-13 for a reason. Even though it certainly wasn't too "cutesy" or anything, I did find myself wondering why it had the PG-13 rating, at least up until a scene about halfway in that surprised me a bit with its brutality.
But, did I like the film? Yes actually, I did, and for a few reasons. First of all, I was dreading that this film would be another "kid sucked into a fantasy world where everything is new and strange" type of film. Keep in mind, I've never read these books so I had no idea what to expect. It turns out that the main character lives in this fantasy world, so that pleased me greatly. Secondly, and more importantly, was that the film didn't beat us over the head with this fantasy world. Yes, the world was indeed strange and otherworldly, but there weren't any "Hey look at this, isn't this so strange and cool? I bet you didn't expect to see this!" moments. The filmmakers didn't showcase this world for us. They simply treated it as if we were already accustomed to this reality.
No, the film wasn't perfect, and I can name a number of things that could have been done better, but I came out of the theater thinking that I had seen a fairly good film, not that I had just seen a fairly good children's film. And honestly, the film isn't intended for young children, and I think a lot of parents might make that mistake. Sure, it will be their fault for not paying attention to the PG-13 rating, but you know as well as I do, they'll bitch and moan that they were misled and blah blah blah.
I'll end with a few DVD recommendations:
Futurama: Bender's Big Score came out about 2 weeks ago. What sucks is that most places are selling it for $20. I can buy a season of Futurama for 20 bucks, so a single Futurama film for the same price seems like we're being raped ever so slightly. However, it's a funny film and I suggest buying it to support Futurama and by doing so, let Fox know that canceling it was a dumb ass idea.
Live Free or Die Hard also came out a few weeks back. If you're going to watch it, make sure you watch the Unrated version.
The last Pirates of the Caribbean film was released last Tuesday. It's a damn fine film despite what others may tell you.
Battlestar Galactica: Razor is in stores now. If you haven't seen any of this series now, just wait and watch it all on DVD in its entirety when the 4th, and final, season hits DVD sometime in the next 2 years.
Speaking of Battlestar Galactica, on December 26th, Battlestar Galactica 1980 is released. Do not buy this. If you buy this, I will pay someone to shank you with a sharpened toothbrush handle. All I have to say is: Cylons on motorbikes. Seriously, big robots on choppers.
It's 3 a.m. and I'm going to bed.
First of all, the wedding date is set. July 12th of 2008. We always thought it would be July 12th, but we hadn't actually done what we needed to do to confirm it until a week ago.
Secondly, I'd like to take a minute to talk about the tragedy in Omaha last week. Specifically, I'd like to say a word or two about the guy that did the shooting. It's one thing to commit suicide, I mean it's his choice to end his life or not, but that's not what he did. Instead, he made the decision for 8 other people. Instead of just ending his pathetic life, he felt that taking people with him was the best thing to do. You know why he did this? I know. He did this because it wasn't about killing himself. It was never about killing himself. What is was about is a fucked-up piece of shit who wanted others to hurt. Killing himself was just a way to ensure that he didn't have to own up to what he did. It was a way for him to bypass the consequences and responsibility that everyone else has to deal with. It isn't the P.C. thing to say, but that guy was a worthless bastard and I'm glad he's dead.
Now, I transition to Oprah. She has nothing to do with the previous paragraph, so don't assume that I would also like to see Oprah dead. She's powerful enough to monitor my internet usage, and if she thinks I want her dead, she'll take me out first. What I don't agree with is her very obvious backing of Barack Obama. I guess her power and influence is why I don't like the situation. You see, when it comes to popular people in the media, there are a number of people who take their opinions to seriously. People who, despite facts or other conflicting opinions, will blindly take the advice and run with it. To me, Oprah openly backing a presidential candidate is like a news anchor openly backing a candidate: it just shouldn't be done. Like a news anchor, she should keep her political views out of her broadcasts. People should look at all the facts before voting, but I can assure you that her opinion will cause a number of women to vote for Obama, whether they agree with him or not. I say women not to be sexist, but Oprah's primary audience is women, that's just a fact. Maybe I'm being too goddamn bitchy, but I think Oprah should leave the political endorsements to political experts and allow people to make up their own minds.
Something else that I've recently grown more aware of is the state of healthcare in the U.S. I keep hearing politicians talk of universal healthcare and the problems with the current systems, and until a month ago, I really didn't take much notice of it. However, now I see what everyone is making a fuss over. I went to the emergency room about a month ago because I was having quite the painful ordeal with a tooth of mine that has been cracked for many a year. I'm too damn stupid to actually get it taken care of by a dentist. Because of this tooth, my gums and cheek on my left side really started to swell up and it hurt like a bitch. I actually have a pretty high pain tolerance, so for me to go to the hospital says a lot. I was at there for an hour, most of the time was spent waiting. When the doctor did treat me, all he did was lance the swollen area, drain the puss and blood by squeezing my cheek a few times, and write me perscriptions for antibiotics and painkillers.
I wouldn't have gone to the hospital had I not had health insurance, like many Americans don't have. Well, I got the bill last week from the hospital. It turns out that for the 10 minutes or so I was being treated, I owe the hospital $485. 485 fucking dollars to get poked in the gums? WHAT THE FUCK? Had I not had insurance, it would have cost near $1000. Keep in mind, I have insurance, a job, and no dependents to care for. If I wasn't financially stable, I couldn't pay for this treatment. To me, being charged this much for so little is damn near illegal. If not illegal, than most certainly horribly immoral. It isn't like there is only 1 hospital to care for all of Denver. It wasn't like the emergency room was full of people. It's simply the hospital charging as much as they want for services you can't possibly turn down without possible deadly consequences.
On the other hand, I went to the dentist yesterday and had that tooth, and another one removed. The dentist literally spent over an hour and a half performing what amounts to surgery on me. You know what that surgery cost me with my insurance? $38. Thirty eight dollars for surgery at the dentist while the hospital wants damn near $500 for a 10 second stabbing. So, I guess what I'm saying is tht I understand now. I get why people are upset at the state of healthcare in the U.S. And, I truly feel sorry for all those people out there who put off going to hospitals because they know they can't do that and pay the rent at the same time. I feel sorry for the people who do go to the hospital with their sick child not knowing if they'll be able to feed their child after the bill comes. I can't believe that, in this country where everything is supposed to be so damn great, this is acceptable.
I'm done complaining now, I really am. I'd actually like to give my thoughts about the film I saw yesterday: The Golden Compass. Normallt, I try to avoid fantasy films marketed to children, or any film marketed to children, but I decided to give this one a shot. Part of this decision was the film's rating of PG-13, instead of the vomit-induced G rating that is given to most children's films. The Golden Compass is rated PG-13 for a reason. Even though it certainly wasn't too "cutesy" or anything, I did find myself wondering why it had the PG-13 rating, at least up until a scene about halfway in that surprised me a bit with its brutality.
But, did I like the film? Yes actually, I did, and for a few reasons. First of all, I was dreading that this film would be another "kid sucked into a fantasy world where everything is new and strange" type of film. Keep in mind, I've never read these books so I had no idea what to expect. It turns out that the main character lives in this fantasy world, so that pleased me greatly. Secondly, and more importantly, was that the film didn't beat us over the head with this fantasy world. Yes, the world was indeed strange and otherworldly, but there weren't any "Hey look at this, isn't this so strange and cool? I bet you didn't expect to see this!" moments. The filmmakers didn't showcase this world for us. They simply treated it as if we were already accustomed to this reality.
No, the film wasn't perfect, and I can name a number of things that could have been done better, but I came out of the theater thinking that I had seen a fairly good film, not that I had just seen a fairly good children's film. And honestly, the film isn't intended for young children, and I think a lot of parents might make that mistake. Sure, it will be their fault for not paying attention to the PG-13 rating, but you know as well as I do, they'll bitch and moan that they were misled and blah blah blah.
I'll end with a few DVD recommendations:
Futurama: Bender's Big Score came out about 2 weeks ago. What sucks is that most places are selling it for $20. I can buy a season of Futurama for 20 bucks, so a single Futurama film for the same price seems like we're being raped ever so slightly. However, it's a funny film and I suggest buying it to support Futurama and by doing so, let Fox know that canceling it was a dumb ass idea.
Live Free or Die Hard also came out a few weeks back. If you're going to watch it, make sure you watch the Unrated version.
The last Pirates of the Caribbean film was released last Tuesday. It's a damn fine film despite what others may tell you.
Battlestar Galactica: Razor is in stores now. If you haven't seen any of this series now, just wait and watch it all on DVD in its entirety when the 4th, and final, season hits DVD sometime in the next 2 years.
Speaking of Battlestar Galactica, on December 26th, Battlestar Galactica 1980 is released. Do not buy this. If you buy this, I will pay someone to shank you with a sharpened toothbrush handle. All I have to say is: Cylons on motorbikes. Seriously, big robots on choppers.
It's 3 a.m. and I'm going to bed.
Monday, August 20, 2007
I gone done Gradumakated!
I have my Master's Degree now. Finally. For once, I'm done with school and NOT looking towards more schooling. People have told me I should go on for a doctorate's degree, but fuck that I say. Sure, I'd like to be called Dr. Crow, but I'd also like to be called Ruler of the Universe. I doubt either will ever happen.
It was a good weekend. I had a nice little BBQ at my apartment, watched the Bourne Ultimatum, and relaxed a bit, which has been quite difficult to do lately. I also did some clothes shopping. The woman who was my field mentor/boss at my internship site gave me a gift card to Macy's on Wednesday. A $100 gift card. Now that's generous right there. I was expecting the gift card to be no more than $25. 25 seems to be the standard gift card amount nowadays. Another friend if mine gave me a Wii game as a gift. That was pretty damn cool too. Personally, I didn't expect anyone to givce me jackshit for my graduation. It's not like I got married or anything stupid like that.
However, if anyone else wants to give me gifts, I will continue to accept them. It would be rude not to.
It was a good weekend. I had a nice little BBQ at my apartment, watched the Bourne Ultimatum, and relaxed a bit, which has been quite difficult to do lately. I also did some clothes shopping. The woman who was my field mentor/boss at my internship site gave me a gift card to Macy's on Wednesday. A $100 gift card. Now that's generous right there. I was expecting the gift card to be no more than $25. 25 seems to be the standard gift card amount nowadays. Another friend if mine gave me a Wii game as a gift. That was pretty damn cool too. Personally, I didn't expect anyone to givce me jackshit for my graduation. It's not like I got married or anything stupid like that.
However, if anyone else wants to give me gifts, I will continue to accept them. It would be rude not to.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Lackluster Video
I used to like Blockbuster, I really did. For a time, I could go into a Blockbuster to rent a movie, and also pick up a cool action figure or a pack of trading cards. Well, they got rid of the toys and trading cards quite some time ago. And, as of yesterday, it seems as though they’ve gotten rid of their movies too.
You see, Blockbuster also used to have this “guaranteed in stock” policy that, as the title suggests, means the chances of getting the new movie you wanted was pretty good. They don’t have this feature anymore, so going to Blockbuster yesterday was an effort resulting only in futility and rage. EVERY copy of EVERY movie I wanted to see was rented. Every time I saw an empty shelf, I thought about other movies I may want to see, and lo and behold, those too were gone. After 10 minutes of this, I was ready to dash someone’s brains upon the carpet.
I understand the whole concept of supply and demand, but what good is a store that can’t supply ANYTHING I’m looking for? I wouldn’t shop at a grocery store that was sold out of every food item I was looking for.
To give you some perspective on how bad the rental situation was, I noticed someone had rented Highlander 2: The Quickening. When you have to resort to renting that because everything else is gone, you know the store blows.
And one more thing: Blockbuster claims that they have “No late fees.” That’s odd, because when we went to rent the 2 films we finally chose, they said we owed $6 for movies we previously rented. They claimed they were “restocking fees.” First of all, they were late by no more than a week. And second, a restocking fee IS a late fee. We were charged a FEE because we returned the films LATEr than we were supposed to. It doesn’t matter what the fuck you call it, it’s still a motherfucking late fee and it pisses me the hell off.
So, fuck them. I’m not going back to their store, and I won’t use their online service either. Not that I was planning on it anyway, but now I certainly won’t. I’ll Netflix or, God forbid, RedBox my movies before I go back to their den of filth.Monday, July 30, 2007
I have no idea how to respond
So I leave the apartment to go to work this morning. Before hopping in the Cavalier, I wander over to my truck to see if I left my work badge in it. Mind you, the passenger window on the truck is still broken out, so anyone can fuck with it if they want to.
I see a loaf of bread on my passenger seat.
Someone put a loaf of sliced bread in my truck. I haven't bought bread in over a month, so it wasn't me. Sam hasn't gone to the store in quite a while, and certainly not in my truck, so it wasn't her.
I just don't know what to say.
I see a loaf of bread on my passenger seat.
Someone put a loaf of sliced bread in my truck. I haven't bought bread in over a month, so it wasn't me. Sam hasn't gone to the store in quite a while, and certainly not in my truck, so it wasn't her.
I just don't know what to say.
Monday, July 23, 2007
AMC
The cable channel, not the auto maker who gave us the Pacer.
Although both suck, I hate the cable channel just a little bit more tonight. Do you know what AMC stands for? It stands for American Movie Classics.
American Movie CLASSICS. Not just American Movies, American Movie CLASSICS. Of all the movies that they could be showing, do you know what they're showing as I'm flipping through the channels now?
Catwoman.
WHAT
THE
FUCK?
Although both suck, I hate the cable channel just a little bit more tonight. Do you know what AMC stands for? It stands for American Movie Classics.
American Movie CLASSICS. Not just American Movies, American Movie CLASSICS. Of all the movies that they could be showing, do you know what they're showing as I'm flipping through the channels now?
Catwoman.
WHAT
THE
FUCK?
Thursday, July 12, 2007
NEW BLOG!!! AHHH!!!
So I haven’t done this whole “blog” thing in quite some time. Truthfully, I’ve been quite busy, and also, I haven’t really had anything important happen to me that warrants blogging about. I do have a few things I’d like to bitch about today however.
First, I’m sure you’ve all seen, or read, the news stories about the Seven New Wonders of the World list that was released. What I have to say about it is quite simple: The list sucks. The list sucks for one major reason: The whole list is nothing more than buildings, or structures of some kind.
So, in order for something to be a man-made wonder, it has to be a building or a structure? So, the Christ Redeemer Statue in Brazil is more of a wonder than, let’s say, the Internet, or fucking Penicillin?! The Internet has literally changed the world is almost every way, including communication and finance. Penicillin has saved countless lives since it was discovered in the early 20th century. Yet, these things aren’t buildings, so they can’t be considered for the 7 Wonders list.
I can think of discovery after discovery that could be considered an amazing wonder. Space flight and the Human Genome Project are two I can think of off the top of my head that are scientific in nature. What about structures that actually serve a purpose, like the system of dikes that keep half of the Netherlands from being flooded by the North Sea?
The writings of Shakespeare? Nope, not a building, so sorry.
The next thing on my agenda of bitching is this little news story I read the other day:
So members of the NAACP want to take the word Nigger “out of their minds” by holding a mock burial for it? What the fuck?! I guess there’s nothing like burying your head in the god damn sand and pretending it isn’t an issue anymore. The Michigan Gov. had this to say about it: "Let's say good riddance to this vestige of slavery and racism, and say hello to a society that embraces all its people,"
So holding a dumb-ass mock burial for a word is going to be some amazing event that will herald a new, better society where everyone loves everyone and free puppies are to be had by all? Well, at least you dumbshits are optimistic. This isn’t going to stop people from using the word. It isn’t going to stop hate. And it sure isn’t going to erase history.
As you can read in the story, the Chairman of the NAACP added this: "This is not an acceptable term for anyone to use," he said. "We need to make sure that no one denigrates people no matter who they are. We need to protect the denigration of our people by our people." Why the fuck isn’t it acceptable? Sure, it may not be the nicest word, but it’s a part of history, and there is a little thing called freedom of speech. If a KKK member in his big white pointy hat wants to scream about how niggers are polutin’ this countries’ gene pool, then he has every god damn right to say it, no matter how wrong he may be, no matter how stupid he sounds saying it. If a black man calls another black man “nigger” as a term of friendship, then how is that wrong? If neither are offended, then what the hell is the problem?
I’d sure like to never hear the phrase “Sean Crow has a really small dick” ever again, but burying it won’t stop people from saying it, and repeating it, and laughing at me while I quietly sob to myself.
My last order of bitching has to do with a local story here in the Denver area. A woman is flying the United States flag upside down in a silent protest to the war. Her Home Owners Association is telling her she must take it down or fly it correctly, otherwise she’ll be fined quite a lot of money. Obviously her HOA hasn’t heard of Freedom of Speech either, much like the NAACP. Maybe they’ve heard of it, but just don’t realize how god damn important it is.
There are many shitty arguments I’ve heard against this woman’s silent protest, and this is perhaps the worst one, that I’ve heard at least 3 people, all former soldiers, say:
“It’s disrespectful because I fought for that flag.”
Newsflash: If you fought for the flag, then you fought for the wrong god damn thing. Did we decide to go to war in 1941 because the Japanese bombed our flags at Pearl Harbor? Did we go to war in Iraq because Saddam Hussein had one of our flags on his desk and was poking it with a stick? FUCK NO. We go to war to protect (and in some cases, spread) the beliefs and values that are the foundation for this country. The flag is a fucking piece of cloth that identifies an area of land as belonging to the United States.
I worked with an old Vietnam vet once, and although he hated the idea of people burning the flag, he told me that he went to war and fought to protect the rights of the people, and that burning the flag was one of those rights. Even he, who watched friends die next to him, isn't so damn jaded as to think the flag itself is the living embodiment of the country as a whole.
“Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism” is a quote often misattributed to Thomas Jefferson. However, the idea is still true. This woman’s choice to fly the flag upside down is her way of protesting, and no matter if it’s viewed favorably or not, protest and dissent was viewed as a necessary function, as Thomas Jefferson DID once say:
“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then.”
I guess this particular HOA association doesn’t realize that it’s operating here in the United States and not a fascist society where hanging a flag upside down would be illegal. And, if you really want to get technical about disrespecting the U.S. flag, what about the guys you see at the swimming pools wearing U.S. flag designed Speedos? I think wrapping up your junk in the American flag is way more disrespectful than a peaceful, quiet protest.
Stupid fuckers the lot of ‘em, I tell you.
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