Getting in touch with my inner geek
So I've seen Star Trek twice now. Loved it as much the second time as I did the first. I expect I'll see it at least once more in the theaters, maybe twice depending on how long a run it has. The last time I had any desire to see a movie in the theater more than once was Star Wars, over 30 years ago. I don't remember how many times I went back to the theater for that one. Around ten, I think.
Lord of the Rings came close, but while I certainly had no objections to seeing it more than once, I wasn't making plans as such. I do have the extended versions of all three LOTR movies and I've watched them multiple times since. Once Star Trek has finished its run I will anxiously await its release on Blu-ray so I can do the same with it. Don't expect me to be camping out in front of Best Buy so I can get one of the first copies, though. I'm not that bad.
I'm not sure I can even express why I loved it so much. No spoilers here, so don't panic. (Though I can't imagine any real Star Trek fan who hasn't seen it yet.) Maybe it was the perfect balance of old and new: just enough melodrama and swagger to nod to the original series, but not so much that it was obnoxious or hokey; generous amounts of references to past episodes/movies, some which only die hard fans will catch, but some which even my girls recognized; and enough back story to make us make us feel like we're finally getting to know the characters.
I'm not even really sure why I've been a Star Trek fan my whole life. Have you ever gone back to watch the original series? Ouch. Still, something about the story captured the imagination of a young kid and hasn't let go. I'm sure it appealed to my latent sense of adventure, but I couldn't tell you why Star Trek—of all the adventure stories out there—is the only one that has stood the test of time.
You have to give the folks at Paramount credit. It takes a lot of foresight and commitment to keep a series like this going. Just look at Star Wars. George killed it. I saw Episode III more out of obligation than anything else. I didn't even bother with the last animation monstrosity. So hats off to you Paramount. Here's hoping you can keep it up.
Beyond pathetic
Apparently Republicans think if they thump the Bible long enough Jesus will appear and grant them three wishes. Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) has introduced a bill to name 2010 The Year of the Bible. Oh, but it gets even better.
'This doesn’t have anything to do with Christianity,' he said in an interview with POLITICO. Rather, he says, it seeks to recognize that the Bible played an integral role in the building of the United States, including providing the basis for our freedom of religion that allows Muslims, Hindus and even atheists to vocalize their own beliefs' (Yahoo News).
<blink>
I'm not sure which is more mind boggling: that this yahoo thinks this is the kind of thing Congress should be spending time on, or that he actually believes that crap.
Once again, folks, the Founding Fathers were NOT Christian. Some were actually quite hostile toward Christianity. You want to know why? Because Christianity has a history of "my way or the highway." Highway to Heaven that is. The sword usually figured in there somehow.
The Bible was used to justify colonialism. The Bible was used to frame poverty as an issue of moral fiber (or the lack thereof.) The Bible was used to justify slavery. The Bible was used to justify the persecution and slaughter of First Peoples. The Bible was used to justify the persecution and slaughter of early Mormons. The Bible is used to justify the continued marginalization of GLBT citizens and their relationships.
Oh, the Bible has played a large role in the history of our nation. That is true. Not sure that's something to be proud of, though.
Robin Williams on Bill Gates
Mr. Gates, when did you realize you were creating a monopoly?"
"Monopoly is just a game, Senator. I'm trying to control the f***ing world. Don't you see Windows Millenium, me, it's all leading to information technology. Soon it will be Total Information Technology, TIT. And when you're sucking on the TIT, I have you by the motherboard."
A bit dated, but still relevant.
