One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest?

We've all heard the axiom regarding an ounce of prevention that's worth a pound of cure.

But what in the world is going on with the hysteria and spate of organizational shutdowns in the wake of a handful of swine flu infections, and one death from the virus?

Are we daft?

It seems to me that our great nation, which declared its independence 233 years ago, fought a bitter war seven score and some years ago to remain whole, and has come to the aid of others around the world to prevent Imperialist domination and wholesale genocide, is currently succeeding in doing what no foreign enemy has been able to do. We are destroying ourselves.

From the inside.

If we have lost the moral rectitude and confidence that made us the envy of the world, if we are spending ourselves into oblivion, if we are now running in fear of our own shadows, can we still consider ourselves leaders of the free world?

Or are we willing sheep heading for the slaughter?

Careening from one crisis to another, maybe this is just the latest smokescreen, designed to divert our attention from the real rape that is occurring on the body politic of this nation. But, I'm not one to wish to subscribe to conspiracy cynicism. Skepticism, yes, but cynicism, no.

So, I can't attribute this audacious hype to the current administration in Washington, D.C.

But it is emblematic of a culture that would willingly enslave itself as ours appears to be doing.

The Donald's Movie Reviews

If you've read my blog for any length of time, 1) I thank you, and 2) You know that I rarely see any first-run movies. So, when I offer a movie review, it's really more of an exposition of my thoughts than true cinema critique.

With all the rain last weekend, the kids and I rented six DVDs. But we only got around to watching three of them. Being a cheapskate, I stayed up late to watch the other three before I had to return them on Wednesday and Thursday. The titles were: Fighting With Anger, Cowboy Up, and Must Love Dogs.

The first, a Willie Nelson indie project, receives two thumbs down, if only because I have as many hands. From 2007, it must've gone to DVD faster than you can read to the end of this sentence. If there was a plot, it was too subtle for me to discern, and multiple martial arts sequences bore me to sleep (except for [the next President of Texas] Chuck Norris', because they're campy). I like Willie, been to several of his concerts, but this movie just sucked.

Cowboy Up was better. I don't watch 24, but I do generally like Kiefer Sutherland. Having enjoyed Splash and Roxanne, I was surprised that Darryl Hannah didn't have a tush scene - I thought it was in her contract. Oh well. And Molly Ringwald was also in the movie, if it makes any difference. Basically an examination of family dynamics and exorcising old demons, set against a backdrop of bulls and blood in the rodeo arena. Maybe I missed it, but certainly Chris LeDoux and Garth would've been right at home in the soundtrack. Extra points for cameos by Donnie Gay and Pam Minnick. As a result of watching this movie, I may have to head up to Justin this weekend to get me a PBR shirt at the western outlet store.

Now, I'll probably take some heat for Must Love Dogs. Yeah, I suppose it's a bit of a chick flick, and no, I'm not going to turn in my man card. Great cast: Diane Lane, John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins (Big), Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music, Dragnet), and Stockard Channing (Grease). I've enjoyed and tended to identify with Cusack's characters in The Sure Thing and Say Anything, and felt the same about this movie. Diane Lane, like Robin Wright Penn in Message in a Bottle, shines as a non-slutty, intelligent, beautiful woman. Yeah, I'd watch a movie any day with Lane or RWP over one with Pamela Anderson, and no, I'm not turning in my man card. Anyway, I liked this movie - two thumbs up.

For the record, I have never seen Terms of Endearment or Steel Magnolias.

A REAL mouse

A friend of mine marches to his own drummer. I am not sure if he is eclectic or eccentric.

A few years ago, when he bought a motorcycle, he got a half-helmet and cemented a skunk pelt to it, replete with the striped tail dangling from the back of the helmet. Made for lots of stares as he motored down the highway, as well as a distinctive eau when he brought the helmet into the office during rainstorms.

Last year, he updated his headgear with the head of a zebra, the short cropped mane looking like a mohawk, from a co-worker's zebra skin rug. Again, lots of stares from motorists.

So, for my friend, I will suggest the following upgrade to his office accoutrements:

Dude! What in the name of Zorro?

Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Back to Basics

Recently I made mention of my least favorite commercial.

So, I went looking for one I like - the one with the Miller Beer deliveryman (who's said to be from the D/FW area) yanking his company's beer out of a snobby establishment. I couldn't find that one, but here's another in a similar vein:

Good Friday

h/t - Matthew 28:6, Mark 16:4-6, Luke 24:2-6, John 20:1

Somali Pirates...So Little Time

I think this is my third post on the subject of Somali pirates.

In case you've missed the others, I'll recap: I favor arming commercial vessels with high-powered rifles (.338 Lapua, .50 BMG) and encourage maritime crews to practice marksmanship when the pirates come a-calling in their dinghies.

Anyway, the Somalis have lately captured an American-flagged vessel. Thankfully, our intrepid Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has boldly called for world action to "end the scourge of piracy" as U.S. warships raced to confront the pirates.

"Specifically, we are now focused on this particular act of piracy and the seizure of a ship that carries 21 American citizens. More generally, we think the world must come together to end the scourge of piracy," she said.

Maybe if she buys the world a Coke, it'll happen.


But I think well-armed cargo ship crews would be much more effective.


Edit: This following was in the same Fox News article featuring Secretary Clinton's comments: "The U.S. is gearing up for a standoff with the band of pirates who hijacked a U.S.-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia as a Navy warship reportedly arrived at the scene early Thursday."

The quote is Fox News', not Clinton's, but what I fail to grasp is why the UNITED STATES NAVY is gearing up for a STANDOFF. I mean, aren't these the folks who bombarded Iwo Jima & Okinawa and fought the Battle of Midway and stuff? Shouldn't they be preparing to blow those pipsqueak pirates to pieces instead of readying for a standoff?

Just wondering.

Don't Tread On Him!

Here's a man who took responsibility for his own safety.