Moveon.Org PSA from 2008

So, when can we expect MoveOn.Org to reissue this commercial to comment on President Obama's $12 Trillion deficit (which is expected to grow to $22 Trillion by 2019)? And how long before people start saying that the Bush years are actually starting to look a whole lot better now?

Where have I been?

I've been kind of away from blogging these past few weeks. Really, I've been too busy to do much of anything that doesn't pertain to work or the house. *sigh* Sometimes I really hate having a real life.

It doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about things and current events, tho. After it became apparent that he was within striking distance of the Senate seat, I started following the Scott Brown/Martha Coakley race in Massachusetts pretty closely. I was glad to see that Brown pulled that one out, because I think it bodes well for Mark Kirk here in Illinois. Coakley was a moron, pure and simple; she practically gave that campaign away to Brown, and clearly deserved to lose. While I don't expect the Democrats to make that mistake (taking any seat for granted) again this year, I also don't think this is shaping up to be a good year for them. Although I also suspect the Republicans will be disappointed if they expect an impending landslide in their favor. There's still ten months before the midterm elections, and as Massachusetts has proven, political fortunes can change in as little as ten days.

Over on the fandom side... Teen Titans #79 comes out this week. I'm more than a little hestitant about new writer Felicia Henderson's take on the characters, but god, anything has got to be better than the mess Judd Winick made of Titans. I just read a preview of the issue on Comic Book Resources (known colloquially as "CBR"), and while I'm encouraged I still have reservations. I don't like the way she's making Beast Boy out to be something of a jerk, and all the other characters feel just a little off. Hopefully the rest of the issue is better, or that she improves as she becomes more comfortable writing in the medium. Failing that, move J.T. Krul onto the title; he's been doing an excellent job with the characters lately in various fill-in issues and mini series.

I've been watching lots of NCIS lately. I never watched this series much until late last year, when my daughter and wife got me hooked (my daughter is a big Abby fan). This is one of those shows you watch less for the story and more for the characters, because its the way they interact with one another that's the real star. I've been setting my DVR to record every episode that gets repeated on USA Network, and then watch three or four episodes while I'm folding laundry or otherwise doing housework. After a couple of months of this I think I've seen about 3/4 of the series. I think I'll be rather disappointed when I get to the end of the backlog, because watching the series like this has been quite fun. But I still have CSI and CSI: Miami to catch up on, so I think those will probably be the next shows that I concentrate on. Its nice having a DVR with lots of space.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. The Winter Olympics are coming up. That's going to be taking up a lot of my DVR space. I've always enjoyed the winter Olympics far more than the summer ones; I think its because the events are crazier and the athletes are more insane.

I had hoped to do a road trip to Alaska this year, but that's probably not going to happen due to money issues. Really, I expect that an Alaskan trip would mean about six weeks on the road: one week driving there (which means one week driving back at the end), and since I don't want to drive there just to have to turn around again a few days later, I expect I'd stay there for a month seeing the sights. I really would like to take the Dalton Highway up to Prudhoe Bay/Deadhorse, just to say I've gone as far as you can within the road system. I'd also like to camp in Denali National Park and elsewhere. But another problem with doing this trip are the kids; while I do think they're old enough to handle the trip (with some protest), I don't think they're mature enough to appreciate it. The boys insist on spending all of their time playing video games when we're on vacation, and Megan insists on arguing with the boys and being irritated by the slightest things. I don't think I could take that for six weeks straight. Thus, I suspect Alaska is going to have to wait until another day.

Instead, I suspect I'll we'll be going somewhere like California, perhaps Arizona and Nevada. Some camping will be taking place -- I'll certainly be dragging the camper with me -- but perhaps not as much as we did last year. I would really love it if I could pitch the camper someplace like Moab and just lounge around there for a week, but I think the kids would be driven mad by boredom within a day.

So, I guess that's what's on my mind. Boring, boring, boring.

We're screwed.

A new report that reviewed 200 years of economic data from 44 nations has reached an ominous conclusion for the world’s largest economy: Almost without exception, countries that are as highly indebted as the United States is today grow at sub-par rates.

Link: Data raise caution over national debt

Best Hallelujah Chorus Ever

Best performance of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus (from his Messiah oratorio) EVER:

Blog Objectives for 2010

Looking back. I note with amusement that, after four months of more or less regular blogging, I have managed to get exactly ONE comment on one of my posts that wasn't spam, and that I have managed to gain exactly ONE blog follower.

I hope to DOUBLE that result this year! ;-)

Space Cruiser Yamato LIVE ACTION Movie!

The latest animated film just got released. However, that isn't the only bit of Space Cruiser Yamato goodness to look forward to. Coming to Japanese theaters in December, 2010...

Doctor Who: First Look at Matt Smith

The BBC has released the trailer for the upcoming season of Doctor Who, with newcomer Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor (bye-bye David Tennant, *sniff, sniff*):



Gonna watch Part Two of "The End of Time" tonight on BBC America. Really looking forward to it.

Arise, Sir Patrick & Sir Peter

Patrick "Jean Luc Picard" Stewart has made Queen Elizabeth's Honors List for 2009, and is to be knighted.

Also knighted was film director Peter Jackson, best known for the Lord of the Rings films.

Congratulations to both gentlemen!

Illinois GOP Statement on Andy "Scumbag" Martin's attack on Mark Kirk

The Illinois Republican Party will have none of Andrew Martin's crap:

"The Illinois Republican Party disavows the statements made today by Mr. Andrew Martin in his statewide radio advertisements. His statements today are consistent with his history of bizarre behavior and often times hate-filled speech which has no place in the Illinois Republican Party. Mr. Martin will no longer be recognized as a legitimate Republican Candidate by the Illinois Republican Party."

Pat Brady, Illinois Republican Party Chairman

GOP Statement on Andy Martin

According to the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune, Martin's real name is Anthony R. Martin-Trigona, and that he has had a history of making bizarre claims. He was once denied a law license in the State of Illinois because the Illinois Bar Character & Fitness Committee found him unfit and unsuitable to be a lawyer, which considering some of the people they have accepted, tells you all you need to know about him. Oh yeah, he's also apparently a Birther, one of the first to loudly question President Barrack Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate.

Scumbag. Prior to this, he was polling at around 2% among Republicans. Now I doubt he'll get even a tenth of that.

Marvel/DC Season Three: Zero Hour #1

Usual disclaimer: This is going to make absolutely no sense to those who aren't comics fans (or who haven't been following Itsjustomerandomguy's other videos).

Mud starts flying in the Illinois Republican US Senate Race

I knew this was going to happen in the closing weeks before the primary.

Desperate to get somewhere above 5% in the race for the Republican nomination for US Senate, Andy Martin is attacking Mark Kirk... by claiming that Mark Kirk is gay.

Now, I've actually met and talked with Kirk.  I have no idea if he is gay or not.  But guess what?  I don't flipp'in care.  Its nobodies business but Mark Kirk's.  Even if he was, it certainly wouldn't change my opinion that I think he's the best man for the job.  If anything, the only thing that's changed is that I now believe Mr. Martin to be the last person who should get the job.  So keep running those ads, Mr. Martin; prove to the world just how big of a scum sucking dirtbag you are.

Mark Kirk for US Senate!!!

December 25, 2009

Merry

Christmas

To All!

Best Titans Moment 2009

My nomination for the best moment in a  Titans comic for 2009: Beast Boy defeats Black Lantern Terra.

Blackest Night Titans #3

Written by JT Krul; art by Ed Benes & Rob Hunter

Later on Gar acknowledges that Terra was "not worth it", and finally puts her behind him.

Here's hoping that sticks.

New 10000Pennies

ObamaCare and Mission Creep

One, two, three, everybody now... "I am going to be in so much trouble when my in-laws discover this blog..."

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven,

by Joseph Karl Stieler

Today is the birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), one of the greatest composers who ever lived.  So let us take this moment to enjoy a performance by one of the most gifted interpreters of his music of all time:

Liberal Fascism on the March

Venezualian dictator Hugo Chavez gets a hero's welcome by the Climate change delegates in Copenhagen. They also warmly greet mass-murderer Pres. Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

Which pretty much tells you all you need to know about the Hopenchangen crowd.

Seig Heil!

The Hockey Stick In Perspective

An interesting video, based on a post on the Watts Up With That? blog:

An Open Note to Whoever Is In Charge of Protocol at the White House

You suck at your job.

Look. I'm just a know-nothing schlub who sometimes studies history and occasionally dabbles in politics. But even I know that, when you win the Nobel Peace Prize, its EXPECTED that you at least spend a little time with the King of Norway over tea and lutefisk.

Especially when, after having been given the Nobel Peace Prize based on the thinnest of achievements, you promptly turn around and deploy 34,000 more troops into a war zone.

I don't care if you think getting Health Care through congress is important. This is the rest of the world we're talking about. Appearances matter. And flying in, picking up the prize, giving a little speech, and then heading home is NOT the way to ingratiate yourself with your hosts. Surely you could spend even a day doing the positive foreign relations thing, especially in this modern age when arm-twisting reluctant senators is little more than a cell phone away.

This was a bone-headed, unnecessary move that will do little to dispel the reputation of arrogance that President Obama says he wants to change.

Merry Christmas from the BBC!

BBC1's ident commercials for the 2009 holiday season have a distinctly Doctor Who theme to them...