Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Guess Who
Phil and I saw Guess Who on Sunday. I rate it 3.5 (out of 5) stars. It was a funny movie and it had a good story. I'm looking forward to seeing Sin City this weekend.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Save the Boys Scouts
I have signed a petition at Grassfire.org to save the Boys Scouts of America and I encourage everyone to do the same. Here is what the petition is about:
In June of 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had the authority and right to set the criteria for their leadership, because they were a private organization. The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by a man who was told by the Scouts that he could not hold a position of authority over young boys because he was a homosexual.
Since then, the Scouts have come under blistering attack from the ACLU that has resulted in a loss of funding from numerous United Way chapters across the nation, and discriminatory attempts to exclude the Scouts from federal, state, and local facilities. With dwindling resources to parry such attacks, many Scout councils and programs that benefit our communities are being shut down, and most others struggle to survive.
In today’s culture, with single-parent homes, increased drug use and violence with teens, the Scouts remain a beacon that guides and directs young boys into becoming tomorrow’s leaders. Grassfire’s very first petition was to benefit the Scouts. We understand the importance and relevance of Scouting. As such, we are urging Congress to draft legislation that promotes and protects the Scouts—allowing them to fulfill their mission without distraction from outside attack.
I encourage everyone to go sign the petition at Grassfire.org to save the Boy Scouts of America!
In June of 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had the authority and right to set the criteria for their leadership, because they were a private organization. The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by a man who was told by the Scouts that he could not hold a position of authority over young boys because he was a homosexual.
Since then, the Scouts have come under blistering attack from the ACLU that has resulted in a loss of funding from numerous United Way chapters across the nation, and discriminatory attempts to exclude the Scouts from federal, state, and local facilities. With dwindling resources to parry such attacks, many Scout councils and programs that benefit our communities are being shut down, and most others struggle to survive.
In today’s culture, with single-parent homes, increased drug use and violence with teens, the Scouts remain a beacon that guides and directs young boys into becoming tomorrow’s leaders. Grassfire’s very first petition was to benefit the Scouts. We understand the importance and relevance of Scouting. As such, we are urging Congress to draft legislation that promotes and protects the Scouts—allowing them to fulfill their mission without distraction from outside attack.
I encourage everyone to go sign the petition at Grassfire.org to save the Boy Scouts of America!
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
The Ring Two
On Sunday Phil and I saw The Ring Two. I rate it 2 (out of 5) stars. I didn't like The Ring, but Phil wanted to see The Ring Two and there wasn't anything else I wanted to see. I don't like most horror movies - they're not scary, they're depressing, and most of them are stupid.
When the World Dials 911
Here is another poem by Russ Vaughn:
When the World Dials 911
Disaster strikes a world away
We get the call, what do we say?
We move at once, to ease their plight,
To aid them through their darkest night.
But come shrill cries from carping Press,
That’s not enough to fix this mess.
We know that, fools, but give us room,
To counter Mother Nature’s doom.
America gives to those in need,
With no regard to faith or creed.
We’re there for all when need is great
A helping hand to any state,
That’s fallen under Nature’s wrath
And needs a lift back to the path.
So what they may have mocked our ways?
We’ll turn our cheek ‘til better days.
But there are those who hate us so,
They’ll carp and snipe and hit us low,
Who’ll bend disaster to their needs,
And try to choke us on our deeds.
They’ll play their dirty liberal tricks,
For them it’s only politics.
In the face of massive human pain,
They only think of their own gain.
But the world knows sure whom it must call,
When disaster strikes, when nations fall.
America is the beaming light
That fades, dispels disaster’s night,
And standing firm provides relief
To salve the pain, allay the grief.
So to Hell with what our critics say,
America’s fine, still leads the way.
When the World Dials 911
Disaster strikes a world away
We get the call, what do we say?
We move at once, to ease their plight,
To aid them through their darkest night.
But come shrill cries from carping Press,
That’s not enough to fix this mess.
We know that, fools, but give us room,
To counter Mother Nature’s doom.
America gives to those in need,
With no regard to faith or creed.
We’re there for all when need is great
A helping hand to any state,
That’s fallen under Nature’s wrath
And needs a lift back to the path.
So what they may have mocked our ways?
We’ll turn our cheek ‘til better days.
But there are those who hate us so,
They’ll carp and snipe and hit us low,
Who’ll bend disaster to their needs,
And try to choke us on our deeds.
They’ll play their dirty liberal tricks,
For them it’s only politics.
In the face of massive human pain,
They only think of their own gain.
But the world knows sure whom it must call,
When disaster strikes, when nations fall.
America is the beaming light
That fades, dispels disaster’s night,
And standing firm provides relief
To salve the pain, allay the grief.
So to Hell with what our critics say,
America’s fine, still leads the way.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Hostage
Phil and I saw Hostage on Sunday. I give it 4.5 (out of 5) stars. It was well written. Bruce Willis is one of my favorite actors (Bruce Willis is also the Nationonal Spokesperson for Children in Foster Care). Jimmy Bennett and Ben Foster played their roles well. Hostage is based on the book by Robert Crais.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
A Gigantic Boiler
I've been watching the 2nd season of Smallville on DVD through my subscription to Blockbuster Online. The other night, Lex Luthor quoted Winston Churchill. I Googled the quote and here it is (taken from an article at The Chuchill Center):
Silly people - and there were many, not only in enemy countries - might discount the force of the United States. Some said they were soft, others that they would never be united. They would fool around at a distance. They would never come to grips. They would never stand blood-letting. Their democracy and system of recurrent elections would paralyze their war effort. They would be just a vague blur on the horizon to friend or foe. Now we should see the weakness of this numerous but remote, wealthy, and talkative people. But I had studied the American Civil War, fought out to the last desperate inch. American blood flowed in my veins. I thought of a remark which Edward Grey had made to me more than thirty years before - that the United States is like "a gigantic boiler. Once the fire is lighted under it there is no limit to the power it can generate."
He said this in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. It made me think of our war on terrorism. The terrorists lit a fire under "a gigantic boiler", and now they are seeing that "there is no limit to the power it can generate".
Silly people - and there were many, not only in enemy countries - might discount the force of the United States. Some said they were soft, others that they would never be united. They would fool around at a distance. They would never come to grips. They would never stand blood-letting. Their democracy and system of recurrent elections would paralyze their war effort. They would be just a vague blur on the horizon to friend or foe. Now we should see the weakness of this numerous but remote, wealthy, and talkative people. But I had studied the American Civil War, fought out to the last desperate inch. American blood flowed in my veins. I thought of a remark which Edward Grey had made to me more than thirty years before - that the United States is like "a gigantic boiler. Once the fire is lighted under it there is no limit to the power it can generate."
He said this in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. It made me think of our war on terrorism. The terrorists lit a fire under "a gigantic boiler", and now they are seeing that "there is no limit to the power it can generate".
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
The Jacket & Be Cool
On Saturday Phil and I watched The Jacket. I give it 3.5 (out of 5) stars. It was a trippy movie.
Yesterday (Monday) we saw Be Cool. It was a cool movie. I give it 4 (out of 5) stars. John Travolta and Uma Thurman are great actors. Christina Milian and Uma Thurman are gorgeous. Keila Collins, who had a small role, is also gorgeous. It was a very funny movie.
Yesterday (Monday) we saw Be Cool. It was a cool movie. I give it 4 (out of 5) stars. John Travolta and Uma Thurman are great actors. Christina Milian and Uma Thurman are gorgeous. Keila Collins, who had a small role, is also gorgeous. It was a very funny movie.
"What do you tell a guy with two black eyes?"
"Nothing. He's already been told twice."
Saturday, March 05, 2005
F.A.S.T. Defense Women's Self Defense Class @ M.T.I.K.
The Muay Thai Institute of Kunponli is hosting a F.A.S.T. Defense Women's Self Defense Seminar. This 9 hour event will go from 6-9 P.M. on Friday, March 18th and from 10 A.M.-4 P.M. on Saturday, March 19th. The cost is only $65 for M.T.I.K. members and $95 for non-members. I highly recommend this class for women. Other self defense classes deal with the "Combat" aspect of self-defense (some better than others), but this is one of the few that allows the student to fight full force against an armored assailant. This class also deals with the "Awareness" and "Boundaries" aspects of self defense. Most self defense classes don't deal with these important aspects of self defense.
About F.A.S.T. Defense:
The #1 factor in effective self-defense is dealing with the fear and adrenaline rush that naturally arises in a stressful situation. Studies of people in the high adrenal state show that the normal internal reactions to stress inhibit our ability to think rationally or to exercise complicated motor skills. F.A.S.T. Defense methodology is therefore based on a step-by-step progression of easily learned and simply applied techniques in increasingly more intense scenarios.
Students learn about the ABCs of self-defense:
Awareness
Most attacks on women are committed by someone they know. Social rules and personal styles are significant factors in a woman's inability to protect herself. F.A.S.T. coaches present boundary scenarios, like giving a hug to someone you really don't want to be hugged by. Why do we allow this?
"I didn't want to hurt his feelings."
"I didn't want to make a scene."
"It just seemed easier to do it and get it over with."
With many women who have been raped or assaulted, these same voices inside kept them from taking defensive action early in the situation, allowing it to escalate. This is a common factor in date rape and domestic abuse. If you can't say no to a hug when you really don't want to be hugged, how will you say no to an attacker intent on hurting you?
Combat
After awareness drills and boundary-setting scenarios, F.A.S.T. Defense focuses on combat mentality and practice drills. Students learn a series of effective striking techniques that are used first in "shadowboxing," then against pads, then against an armored assailant or "bulletman." Each scenario gets progressively more intense until the student is fighting full force against the attacker. The student is learning the techniques under high adrenal stress, and research shows this locks the action into the body memory, and if the student were ever to find herself in an attack situation, the techniques would return immediately.
In F.A.S.T. Defense, learn how to:
About F.A.S.T. Defense:
The #1 factor in effective self-defense is dealing with the fear and adrenaline rush that naturally arises in a stressful situation. Studies of people in the high adrenal state show that the normal internal reactions to stress inhibit our ability to think rationally or to exercise complicated motor skills. F.A.S.T. Defense methodology is therefore based on a step-by-step progression of easily learned and simply applied techniques in increasingly more intense scenarios.
Students learn about the ABCs of self-defense:
Awareness
- Awareness of your external environment. Don't be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Awareness of your own personal communication style. Do you have a passive demeanor, making yourself an easy victim? Do you have an aggressive demeanor, a person who tends to provoke and escalate situations?
Most attacks on women are committed by someone they know. Social rules and personal styles are significant factors in a woman's inability to protect herself. F.A.S.T. coaches present boundary scenarios, like giving a hug to someone you really don't want to be hugged by. Why do we allow this?
"I didn't want to hurt his feelings."
"I didn't want to make a scene."
"It just seemed easier to do it and get it over with."
With many women who have been raped or assaulted, these same voices inside kept them from taking defensive action early in the situation, allowing it to escalate. This is a common factor in date rape and domestic abuse. If you can't say no to a hug when you really don't want to be hugged, how will you say no to an attacker intent on hurting you?
Combat
After awareness drills and boundary-setting scenarios, F.A.S.T. Defense focuses on combat mentality and practice drills. Students learn a series of effective striking techniques that are used first in "shadowboxing," then against pads, then against an armored assailant or "bulletman." Each scenario gets progressively more intense until the student is fighting full force against the attacker. The student is learning the techniques under high adrenal stress, and research shows this locks the action into the body memory, and if the student were ever to find herself in an attack situation, the techniques would return immediately.
In F.A.S.T. Defense, learn how to:
- Handle the fear and adrenaline rush that naturally arise in a stressful situation.
- Fend off an attacker with simple techniques in intense scenarios.
- Use the power of your voice and body language.
- Find and utilize the power of your fear, not be paralyzed by it.
Call Head Instructor Julie Adams @ (801) 474-3136 to sign-up for this class. Every class sells out, so call today!
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Cursed
Sunday Night I saw Cursed with Phil. I give it 1.5 (out of 5) stars. The plot was lame, the special effects were lame, and the actors were lame.
I'm looking forward to seeing Be Cool and The Jacket this weekend. I also want to see Hostage next weekend. In April I'm definitely going to watch Sin City and The Interpreter.
I'm looking forward to seeing Be Cool and The Jacket this weekend. I also want to see Hostage next weekend. In April I'm definitely going to watch Sin City and The Interpreter.
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