Tracking down obscure novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs had become a bit of a hobby for me. His dated simplistic prose and writing techniques are beneath the notice of the modern reader enamored with high falootin' "literature" from sources like Dan Brown and J. K. Rowling. Furthermore many of his books are in the public domain. What publisher worth his salt would publish a free book. But I maintain that his joyful energetic writing of fantastical literature is without parallel.
The only place I could find the Moon Trilogy was on the Australian Gutenberg Project web page.
There are three novellas in the series. Each is quite short and, despite the name given the series, most of the narrative takes place on Earth.
The first book, The Moon Maid, is a fairly derivative ERB work. The heroes travel to a hidden realm located in the center of the moon. Strange animals and barbaric alien races are encountered. The protagonist, a guy named Julian the 5th, comes across a beautiful alien with whom he falls in love and goes to great lengths to rescue. There are some cool scenes and the book has a much darker tone than other ERB works. The ending is pretty traumatic. The bad guys are obviously inspired by the Bolsheviks of the Russian revolution and the Moon Maid herself is analogous to Princess Anastasia.
The second book, The Moon Men, takes place on Earth and the hero is Julian the 9th. By this time the Moon Men called Kalkars have taken over the Earth and reduced the native population to slave status. This book chronicles Julian's attempts to throw off his shackles and is an obvious dig at Russian communism. Again, the ending ain't so happy.
The final book, The Red Hawk, is narrated by Julian the 20th a.k.a. the Red Hawk. Life in America has reverted to the stone age. The evil Kalkars are on the run and the Flag worshiping remnants of the Ancient U. S. of A are prepping to push them in to the sea.
John Carter of Mars is mentioned in the first book. But contact is lost by the second book. The sweep of time is a cool affect as is the distinctly different settings of the three books. ERB attributes the ills of socialism to a racial quality of the Kalkars which doesn't really work for me. The series is not one of ERB's best but it does get better as it goes along and eventually defines itself as something unique and different from his other "planetary romances".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moon_Maid
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tons of new CDs
So I took a bunch of my old CDs to the local CD store and traded them for store credit. Which I then promptly turned into other CDs. I'm now awash in so many new CDs it's been difficult to listen to them all. But listen I did (mostly) and here's some comments on them:
Bob Marley - Exodus
A lot of the songs from this album end up on greatest hits releases. This makes the album seem like a light-hearted party affair. With the exception of "Turn You Lights Down Low" these songs are very good. There's a light side to the album but also a very serious side.
Bob Marley - Survival
This album has my favorite Bob Marly song, "Ride Natty Ride". Overall it has Bob Marley taking up the cause of injustice in Africa. Great CD, but probably not as good overall as Exodus.
Black Sabbath - Black Box
This is a box set of the first eight Black Sabbath albums when Ozzie Osbourne was the lead singer. The albums are Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Master of Reality, No. 4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabotage, Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die! The slow heavy guitar riffs have a tendency to drag but the guitar solos elevate things. I don't think they ever did anything better than Paranoid, their second album. Though I have yet to actually listen to all of them.
U2 - War
I had War already, but I wanted to hear the remastered version. And it's pretty good. Not too loud and seems to maintain the dynamic range of the original with more clarity. This is a really good album. One of the best U2 ever did.
Pink Floyd - Saucer Full of Secrets
The second Pink Floyd album. There were four other albums released between this one and their big hit Dark Side of the Moon. The sound is much weirder and harder to listen to but it's growing on me.
Pink Floyd - Relics
A collection of songs from Pink Floyd's early days. Three songs come from their first two albums, a couple from the soundtrack for a movie called "Muse" and a lot of early singles and rarities. Not quite as hard to swallow as Saucer and there is some really awesome stuff, particularly the "Muse" songs. But if you are only familiar with later Pink Floyd this will not sound familiar.
Madonna - American Life
Madonna makes a political statement. I'm a fan of this period of Madonna's music which includes her two previous albums. I love the electronica beats harnessed by Madonna's poppy melodies. I love it when artists take on political themes. The scathing title track is almost too over the top with it's satirical faux rap but I dig it. I have the edited version of the album.
Yes - Close to the Edge
How come I've never heard a Yes song before? I love this album and it's probably my favorite of this batch of CDs. It's overblown prog rock and I only bought it based on my love of the prog rock band Jethro Tull. There were only three songs on the original album, but they ranged from 10 minutes to over 20. I love this over the top stuff. It rocks but it's not heavy like Black Sabbath or even Jethro Tull.
Bob Marley - Exodus
A lot of the songs from this album end up on greatest hits releases. This makes the album seem like a light-hearted party affair. With the exception of "Turn You Lights Down Low" these songs are very good. There's a light side to the album but also a very serious side.
Bob Marley - Survival
This album has my favorite Bob Marly song, "Ride Natty Ride". Overall it has Bob Marley taking up the cause of injustice in Africa. Great CD, but probably not as good overall as Exodus.
Black Sabbath - Black Box
This is a box set of the first eight Black Sabbath albums when Ozzie Osbourne was the lead singer. The albums are Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Master of Reality, No. 4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabotage, Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die! The slow heavy guitar riffs have a tendency to drag but the guitar solos elevate things. I don't think they ever did anything better than Paranoid, their second album. Though I have yet to actually listen to all of them.
U2 - War
I had War already, but I wanted to hear the remastered version. And it's pretty good. Not too loud and seems to maintain the dynamic range of the original with more clarity. This is a really good album. One of the best U2 ever did.
Pink Floyd - Saucer Full of Secrets
The second Pink Floyd album. There were four other albums released between this one and their big hit Dark Side of the Moon. The sound is much weirder and harder to listen to but it's growing on me.
Pink Floyd - Relics
A collection of songs from Pink Floyd's early days. Three songs come from their first two albums, a couple from the soundtrack for a movie called "Muse" and a lot of early singles and rarities. Not quite as hard to swallow as Saucer and there is some really awesome stuff, particularly the "Muse" songs. But if you are only familiar with later Pink Floyd this will not sound familiar.
Madonna - American Life
Madonna makes a political statement. I'm a fan of this period of Madonna's music which includes her two previous albums. I love the electronica beats harnessed by Madonna's poppy melodies. I love it when artists take on political themes. The scathing title track is almost too over the top with it's satirical faux rap but I dig it. I have the edited version of the album.
Yes - Close to the Edge
How come I've never heard a Yes song before? I love this album and it's probably my favorite of this batch of CDs. It's overblown prog rock and I only bought it based on my love of the prog rock band Jethro Tull. There were only three songs on the original album, but they ranged from 10 minutes to over 20. I love this over the top stuff. It rocks but it's not heavy like Black Sabbath or even Jethro Tull.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Mormon Folk Music
I've been listening to a lot of Bob Marley recently and I'm impressed by his ability to write songs on a variety of topics: religion, social issues, politics and even romance. Sometimes he even mixes several of these topics in one song. But at all times he manages to keep from sounding shallow. Every song he sings like he means it from the bottom of his soul. Johnny Cash is the same way and this quality likewise makes his music timeless.
This got me thinking about folk music since I kind of lump Johnny and Bob in the folk music category, in modern pop/folk Bob Dylan-y sort of way.
Thinking about folk music made me wonder if there is any Mormon folk music, so I did a quick internet search and found this gem:
Link
The above is a link to a page with an MP3 file you can download. The MP3 is of a folk singer doing a little demonstration of Utah/Mormon folk songs from the 1800s (and one song from the 1960s). The songs range from silly to sobering. My favorite revelation were the real words to "The Handcart Song".
Currently, the LDS Children's Songbook has only the following lyrics:
"When pioneers came to the west,
With courage strong they met the test.
They pushed their handcarts all day long,
and as they pushed they sang this song:
"For some must push and some must pull
As we go marching up the hill.
And merrily on our way we go,
Until we reach the Valley-o."
I've always loved this song but it seemed like there should be more to it. After hearing the version in the MP3, I found some other verses on line. I've clumped all the verses together and edited some of the language to be more consistent. Now there's a real song!
The Handcart Song
Ye saints who dwell on Europe’s shore,
Prepare yourselves and many more
To leave behind your native land,
For sure God’s judgments are at hand.
For we must cross the raging main
Before the promised land we gain,
And with the faithful make a start
To cross the plains with our handcarts.
Chorus
For some must push and some must pull
As we go marching up the hill;
So merrily on the way we go
Until we reach the Valley-o!
That land that boasts of liberty,
I never again would wish to see,
Where poor men toil and want for bread
And rich men's dogs are better fed.
This land that boasts of modern light,
We know it's all as dark as night,
And so from it we make a start
To cross the plains in our handcarts.
Chorus
As on the roads our carts we'll pull,
‘Twould very much surprise the world
To see the old and feeble dame
Thus lend a hand to pull the same!
And maidens fair will dance and sing,
Young men more happy than a king,
And children too will laugh and play;
Their strength increasing day by day.
Chorus
And long before the valley’s gained,
We will be met upon the plains
With music sweet and friends so dear
And fresh supplies our hearts to cheer.
And then with music and with song
How cheerfully we’ll march along
And thank the day we made a start
To cross the plains with our handcart.
Chorus
When we get there amongst the rest,
Obedient be and we'll be blessed,
And in our chambers be shut in
While judgments cleanse the world from sin.
For we do know it must be so,
God's servants spoke it long ago.
And so it's time to make a start
To cross the plains in our handcarts
Chorus
This got me thinking about folk music since I kind of lump Johnny and Bob in the folk music category, in modern pop/folk Bob Dylan-y sort of way.
Thinking about folk music made me wonder if there is any Mormon folk music, so I did a quick internet search and found this gem:
Link
The above is a link to a page with an MP3 file you can download. The MP3 is of a folk singer doing a little demonstration of Utah/Mormon folk songs from the 1800s (and one song from the 1960s). The songs range from silly to sobering. My favorite revelation were the real words to "The Handcart Song".
Currently, the LDS Children's Songbook has only the following lyrics:
"When pioneers came to the west,
With courage strong they met the test.
They pushed their handcarts all day long,
and as they pushed they sang this song:
"For some must push and some must pull
As we go marching up the hill.
And merrily on our way we go,
Until we reach the Valley-o."
I've always loved this song but it seemed like there should be more to it. After hearing the version in the MP3, I found some other verses on line. I've clumped all the verses together and edited some of the language to be more consistent. Now there's a real song!
The Handcart Song
Ye saints who dwell on Europe’s shore,
Prepare yourselves and many more
To leave behind your native land,
For sure God’s judgments are at hand.
For we must cross the raging main
Before the promised land we gain,
And with the faithful make a start
To cross the plains with our handcarts.
Chorus
For some must push and some must pull
As we go marching up the hill;
So merrily on the way we go
Until we reach the Valley-o!
That land that boasts of liberty,
I never again would wish to see,
Where poor men toil and want for bread
And rich men's dogs are better fed.
This land that boasts of modern light,
We know it's all as dark as night,
And so from it we make a start
To cross the plains in our handcarts.
Chorus
As on the roads our carts we'll pull,
‘Twould very much surprise the world
To see the old and feeble dame
Thus lend a hand to pull the same!
And maidens fair will dance and sing,
Young men more happy than a king,
And children too will laugh and play;
Their strength increasing day by day.
Chorus
And long before the valley’s gained,
We will be met upon the plains
With music sweet and friends so dear
And fresh supplies our hearts to cheer.
And then with music and with song
How cheerfully we’ll march along
And thank the day we made a start
To cross the plains with our handcart.
Chorus
When we get there amongst the rest,
Obedient be and we'll be blessed,
And in our chambers be shut in
While judgments cleanse the world from sin.
For we do know it must be so,
God's servants spoke it long ago.
And so it's time to make a start
To cross the plains in our handcarts
Chorus
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Movie Quiz, a la Tom's Movie Quiz.
(note: I edited the post with links to the movies on IMDB if you want to cheat.)
I made this quiz based on my brother's. This is a list of quotations from movies I like. The trick is to figure out what movies they come from.
1. Click to see movie
“You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.”
2. Click to see movie
“Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is.”
3. Click to see movie
“Stay home and eat all the freakin' chips...”
“…, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.”
“Since when,…? You have the worst reflexes of all time.”
“Try and hit me…”
“What?”
“I said come down here and see what happens if you try and hit me.”
4. Click to see movie
“I'm a little concerned right now. About... your salvation and stuff. How come you have not been baptized?”
“Because I never got around to it ok? I dunno why you always have to be judging me because I only believe in science.”
5. Click to see movie
“I suddenly remembered my Charlemagne. Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky...”
6. Click to see movie
“And still I dreamed on, further into the future than I had ever dreamed before … And this was cloudier cause it was years, years away. But I saw an old couple being visited by their children, and all their grandchildren too. The old couple weren't screwed up. And neither were their kids or their grandkids. And I don't know. You tell me. This whole dream, was it wishful thinking? Was I just fleeing reality like I know I'm liable to do? … And it seemed real. It seemed like us and it seemed like, well, our home. If not Arizona, then a land not too far away. Where all parents are strong and wise and capable and all children are happy and beloved. I don't know. Maybe it was Utah.”
7. Click to see movie
“I'm afraid. I'm afraid … my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I'm a... fraid … My instructor was Mr. Langley, and he taught me to sing a song. If you'd like to hear it I can sing it for you.”
“Yes, I'd like to hear it... Sing it for me.”
“It's called ‘Daisy.’ [singing] ‘Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage. But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.’”
8. Click to see movie
“You were enlightened?”
”No. I didn't feel the bliss of enlightenment. Instead... I was surrounded by an endless sorrow.”
9.* Click to see movie
“They’re degenerate! They should be killed! But we’re not Germans…”
“Then who are you?”
“They made us do it!” “We’re not German! We’re not German!” “I’m one of you!”
10. Click to see movie
“What I wouldn't give for a large sock with horse manure in it! Whaddya do when you get stuck in a movie line with a guy like this behind you?”
“Wait a minute, why can't I give my opinion? It's a free country!”
“He can give it... do you have to give it so loud? I mean, aren't you ashamed to pontificate like that? And the funny part of it is, Marshall McLuhan, you don't know anything about Marshall McLuhan!”
“Oh, really? Well, it just so happens I teach a class at Columbia called ‘TV, Media and Culture.’ So I think my insights into Mr. McLuhan, well, have a great deal of validity!”
“Oh, do ya? Well, that's funny, because I happen to have Mr. McLuhan right here, so, so, yeah, just let me...” [pulls McLuhan out from behind a nearby poster] “come over here for a second... tell him!”
“I heard what you were saying! You know nothing of my work! … How you got to teach a course in anything is totally amazing!”
“Boy, if life were only like this!”
11. Click to see movie
“For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a triumph - a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.”
12.*Click to see movie
“Did you call pest control?”
“Babe, they're birds. You don't want a bunch of dead baby birds up there, do you?”
“They don't sound like birds.”
“She thinks there are rats in the attic.”
13. Click to see movie
“We must work in the world, your eminence. The world is thus.”
“No, Señor Hontar. Thus have we made the world... thus have I made it.”
14. Click to see movie
“What is in those sacks they are carrying?”
“Nitrates and phosphate for ammunition. The seeds of war. They're loading a full cargo of death. And when that ship takes it home the world will die a little more. I was once one of those pitiful wretches you see down there. Look at it again, professor, I don't want you to forget what you've seen here today.”
“I've seen enough.”
“It's burned everlastingly in my memory.”
15. Click to see movie
“Look. This... is all a mistake. I'm just a compound interest program. I work at a savings and loan! I can't play these video games!”
“Sure you can, pal. Look like a natural athlete if I ever saw one.”
“Who, me? Are you kidding? No, I run out to check on T-bill rates, I get outta breath. Hey, look, you guys are gonna make my user, Mr. Henderson, very angry. He's a full-branch manager.”
“Great. Another religious nut.”
16. Click to see movie
“You're right, I did lose a million dollars last year. I expect to lose a million dollars this year. I expect to lose a million dollars *next* year. You know, Mr. Thatcher, at the rate of a million dollars a year, I'll have to close this place in... 60 years.”
17. Click to see movie
“Mr. President, we are rapidly approaching a moment of truth both for ourselves as human beings and for the life of our nation. Now, truth is not always a pleasant thing. But it is necessary now to make a choice, to choose between two admittedly regrettable, but nevertheless *distinguishable*, postwar environments: one where you got twenty million people killed, and the other where you got a hundred and fifty million people killed.”
“You're talking about mass murder, General, not war!”
“Mr. President, I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed. But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks.”
18. Click to see movie
“Will you deliver Spain from bondage?”
“Upon my honor and my life.”
“Then you shall take this ring to remind you of your promise. You shall wear it when you find Eden, and when you return, I shall be your Eve. Together we will live forever.”
19. Click to see movie
“Can I get you something?
“'S'mofo butter layin' me to da' BONE! Jackin' me up... tight me!”
“I'm sorry, I don't understand.”
“Cutty say 'e can't HANG!”
“Oh stewardess! I speak jive.”
“Oh, good.”
“He said that he's in great pain and he wants to know if you can help him.”
“All right. Would you tell him to just relax and I'll be back as soon as I can with some medicine?”
“Jus' hang loose, blood. She gonna catch ya up on da' rebound on da' med side.”
“What it is, big mama? My mama no raise no dummies. I dug her rap!”
“Cut me some slack, Jack! Chump don' want no help, chump don't GET da' help!”
20. Click to see movie
“Nobody’s asking you to be a hero.”
“Yeah? Then you sit up in that turret, baby.”
“No, ‘cause your gonna be up there, baby, and I'll be right outside showing you where to go.”
“Yeah? Crazy. Like, so many positive waves maybe we can't lose. You’re on.”
* Bonus points if you can get the movies marked with an asterisk.
I made this quiz based on my brother's. This is a list of quotations from movies I like. The trick is to figure out what movies they come from.
1. Click to see movie
“You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.”
2. Click to see movie
“Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is.”
3. Click to see movie
“Stay home and eat all the freakin' chips...”
“…, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.”
“Since when,…? You have the worst reflexes of all time.”
“Try and hit me…”
“What?”
“I said come down here and see what happens if you try and hit me.”
4. Click to see movie
“I'm a little concerned right now. About... your salvation and stuff. How come you have not been baptized?”
“Because I never got around to it ok? I dunno why you always have to be judging me because I only believe in science.”
5. Click to see movie
“I suddenly remembered my Charlemagne. Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky...”
6. Click to see movie
“And still I dreamed on, further into the future than I had ever dreamed before … And this was cloudier cause it was years, years away. But I saw an old couple being visited by their children, and all their grandchildren too. The old couple weren't screwed up. And neither were their kids or their grandkids. And I don't know. You tell me. This whole dream, was it wishful thinking? Was I just fleeing reality like I know I'm liable to do? … And it seemed real. It seemed like us and it seemed like, well, our home. If not Arizona, then a land not too far away. Where all parents are strong and wise and capable and all children are happy and beloved. I don't know. Maybe it was Utah.”
7. Click to see movie
“I'm afraid. I'm afraid … my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I'm a... fraid … My instructor was Mr. Langley, and he taught me to sing a song. If you'd like to hear it I can sing it for you.”
“Yes, I'd like to hear it... Sing it for me.”
“It's called ‘Daisy.’ [singing] ‘Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage. But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.’”
8. Click to see movie
“You were enlightened?”
”No. I didn't feel the bliss of enlightenment. Instead... I was surrounded by an endless sorrow.”
9.* Click to see movie
“They’re degenerate! They should be killed! But we’re not Germans…”
“Then who are you?”
“They made us do it!” “We’re not German! We’re not German!” “I’m one of you!”
10. Click to see movie
“What I wouldn't give for a large sock with horse manure in it! Whaddya do when you get stuck in a movie line with a guy like this behind you?”
“Wait a minute, why can't I give my opinion? It's a free country!”
“He can give it... do you have to give it so loud? I mean, aren't you ashamed to pontificate like that? And the funny part of it is, Marshall McLuhan, you don't know anything about Marshall McLuhan!”
“Oh, really? Well, it just so happens I teach a class at Columbia called ‘TV, Media and Culture.’ So I think my insights into Mr. McLuhan, well, have a great deal of validity!”
“Oh, do ya? Well, that's funny, because I happen to have Mr. McLuhan right here, so, so, yeah, just let me...” [pulls McLuhan out from behind a nearby poster] “come over here for a second... tell him!”
“I heard what you were saying! You know nothing of my work! … How you got to teach a course in anything is totally amazing!”
“Boy, if life were only like this!”
11. Click to see movie
“For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a triumph - a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.”
12.*Click to see movie
“Did you call pest control?”
“Babe, they're birds. You don't want a bunch of dead baby birds up there, do you?”
“They don't sound like birds.”
“She thinks there are rats in the attic.”
13. Click to see movie
“We must work in the world, your eminence. The world is thus.”
“No, Señor Hontar. Thus have we made the world... thus have I made it.”
14. Click to see movie
“What is in those sacks they are carrying?”
“Nitrates and phosphate for ammunition. The seeds of war. They're loading a full cargo of death. And when that ship takes it home the world will die a little more. I was once one of those pitiful wretches you see down there. Look at it again, professor, I don't want you to forget what you've seen here today.”
“I've seen enough.”
“It's burned everlastingly in my memory.”
15. Click to see movie
“Look. This... is all a mistake. I'm just a compound interest program. I work at a savings and loan! I can't play these video games!”
“Sure you can, pal. Look like a natural athlete if I ever saw one.”
“Who, me? Are you kidding? No, I run out to check on T-bill rates, I get outta breath. Hey, look, you guys are gonna make my user, Mr. Henderson, very angry. He's a full-branch manager.”
“Great. Another religious nut.”
16. Click to see movie
“You're right, I did lose a million dollars last year. I expect to lose a million dollars this year. I expect to lose a million dollars *next* year. You know, Mr. Thatcher, at the rate of a million dollars a year, I'll have to close this place in... 60 years.”
17. Click to see movie
“Mr. President, we are rapidly approaching a moment of truth both for ourselves as human beings and for the life of our nation. Now, truth is not always a pleasant thing. But it is necessary now to make a choice, to choose between two admittedly regrettable, but nevertheless *distinguishable*, postwar environments: one where you got twenty million people killed, and the other where you got a hundred and fifty million people killed.”
“You're talking about mass murder, General, not war!”
“Mr. President, I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed. But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks.”
18. Click to see movie
“Will you deliver Spain from bondage?”
“Upon my honor and my life.”
“Then you shall take this ring to remind you of your promise. You shall wear it when you find Eden, and when you return, I shall be your Eve. Together we will live forever.”
19. Click to see movie
“Can I get you something?
“'S'mofo butter layin' me to da' BONE! Jackin' me up... tight me!”
“I'm sorry, I don't understand.”
“Cutty say 'e can't HANG!”
“Oh stewardess! I speak jive.”
“Oh, good.”
“He said that he's in great pain and he wants to know if you can help him.”
“All right. Would you tell him to just relax and I'll be back as soon as I can with some medicine?”
“Jus' hang loose, blood. She gonna catch ya up on da' rebound on da' med side.”
“What it is, big mama? My mama no raise no dummies. I dug her rap!”
“Cut me some slack, Jack! Chump don' want no help, chump don't GET da' help!”
20. Click to see movie
“Nobody’s asking you to be a hero.”
“Yeah? Then you sit up in that turret, baby.”
“No, ‘cause your gonna be up there, baby, and I'll be right outside showing you where to go.”
“Yeah? Crazy. Like, so many positive waves maybe we can't lose. You’re on.”
* Bonus points if you can get the movies marked with an asterisk.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Jupiter and Venus in Sagitarius
Sorry for the Astrological sounding title. If you look just south of where the sun sets (wait about .5 to 1 hour after sunset) Venus and Jupiter will be the brightest objects in the sky. It's especially pretty when the orange glow of sunset is still somewhat visible on the horizon. Preacher always points it out to me when we walk down to the mail box.
The night sky has various effects on me. Sometimes it frightens me; other times it's exciting; at times it fills me with peace.
Sometimes I lie down on my back and it feels like I'm stuck to the bottom of a ball and the entire universe is below me.
The first star Preacher ever recognized individually was Arcturus. Vega was another star he was able to recognize. I really like the star Deneb in Cygnus. And Gemma in Corona Borealis makes me think of my wife.
I'm also irrationally drawn to songs about stars. Metallica sings a song called "Astronomy" (originally by Nick Cave, I believe) that I can't help but like. Johnny Cash's version of "Field of Diamonds in the Sky" is likewise irresistible. But the best song about stars is a song by Joey Ayala called "Talambuhay". The words are in Tagalog. I've often tried to translate it, but it always sounds lame when I do so you'll just have to trust me.
Originally posted on my blog:
rayito2702-tdrh.blogspot.com/2008/11/jupiter-and-venus-in-sagitarius.html
The night sky has various effects on me. Sometimes it frightens me; other times it's exciting; at times it fills me with peace.
Sometimes I lie down on my back and it feels like I'm stuck to the bottom of a ball and the entire universe is below me.
The first star Preacher ever recognized individually was Arcturus. Vega was another star he was able to recognize. I really like the star Deneb in Cygnus. And Gemma in Corona Borealis makes me think of my wife.
I'm also irrationally drawn to songs about stars. Metallica sings a song called "Astronomy" (originally by Nick Cave, I believe) that I can't help but like. Johnny Cash's version of "Field of Diamonds in the Sky" is likewise irresistible. But the best song about stars is a song by Joey Ayala called "Talambuhay". The words are in Tagalog. I've often tried to translate it, but it always sounds lame when I do so you'll just have to trust me.
Originally posted on my blog:
rayito2702-tdrh.blogspot.com/2008/11/jupiter-and-venus-in-sagitarius.html
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Personal Political Manifesto
Originally posted on my blog: http://rayito2702-tdrh.blogspot.com/2008/10/personal-political-manifesto.html
Below are some rambling thoughts on my personal political views.
I think that insomuch as humans interact, government in necessary and can't help but exist. There will always be formal and informal rules that govern human interaction.
Government is a reflection of the people it governs and is, in fact, made up of people that it governs. Bad constituency is the primary motivating factor that leads to bad government. Likewise, independence and ethics grounded in the individual leads to an ideal government.
Less important are political philosophical movements. Democrats and Repubicans, Communists and Libertarians all claim their system is the bomb. And they are basically all correct. Political philosophy is less important than individual commitment on a society-wide basis to upholding societal laws. If such a commitment exists, anything will "work".
It is merely a question of what kind of society is desired by the people.
Here are some elements of government desired by this person.
First and foremost I look for fiscal responsiblity and transperancy. I don't think it's necessary for the government to ever go in to debt. Defecit spending and inability to stick to a budget is evidence that the people we have elected do not know what they are doing. If we can't trust our representatives to handle money we can't trust them to do anything else.
If congress wants to authorize going to war, for example, then it should increase government income to pay for that war by either re-allocating existing funds or by increasing taxes and other sources of governmental income. If the American people don't want to reallocate funds or pay more taxes then it is a safe bet that the American people do not really want to fight.
I am much less concerned about the amount of taxes I pay than I am about the respect with which the money I donate to the government is treated. But an irresponsible government is a government I don't want to give money to.
Simply balacing the budget will, in my opinion, fix most of the percieved inadequacies in government.
Government is fundamentally a part of all human interaction. It is, by defintion, the rules that govern human interaction. My greatest investment, the government's greatest investment and the world's greatest investment in the future is our children. No other investment comes close. A society that is conducive to empowering future generations is fundamental to our progress.
Embracing infantacide in the form of legalizing abortion of convinience is the first and foremost of child-hating policies that goverment should discard.
Endorsing standard marriage institutions over non-standard ones is also important.
I am a huge fan of environmental and resource conservation. Environmental issues pervade society and in many ways are larger than communities, states and even nations. Thus, it is appropriate to deal with these issues at the highest levels of government.
Issues of government should be handled at the lowest possible level.
As Abraham Lincoln said, government is "of the people, by the people and for the people". People resolve issues, not governments. We are all responsible for the state of the country we live in.
I don't buy in to any political parties. I'm politically independent. I vote for canditates on issues and ignore their party affiliations as much as possible. However a tendency for a canditate to mindlessly vote a party line is a sure turn off.
Below are some rambling thoughts on my personal political views.
I think that insomuch as humans interact, government in necessary and can't help but exist. There will always be formal and informal rules that govern human interaction.
Government is a reflection of the people it governs and is, in fact, made up of people that it governs. Bad constituency is the primary motivating factor that leads to bad government. Likewise, independence and ethics grounded in the individual leads to an ideal government.
Less important are political philosophical movements. Democrats and Repubicans, Communists and Libertarians all claim their system is the bomb. And they are basically all correct. Political philosophy is less important than individual commitment on a society-wide basis to upholding societal laws. If such a commitment exists, anything will "work".
It is merely a question of what kind of society is desired by the people.
Here are some elements of government desired by this person.
First and foremost I look for fiscal responsiblity and transperancy. I don't think it's necessary for the government to ever go in to debt. Defecit spending and inability to stick to a budget is evidence that the people we have elected do not know what they are doing. If we can't trust our representatives to handle money we can't trust them to do anything else.
If congress wants to authorize going to war, for example, then it should increase government income to pay for that war by either re-allocating existing funds or by increasing taxes and other sources of governmental income. If the American people don't want to reallocate funds or pay more taxes then it is a safe bet that the American people do not really want to fight.
I am much less concerned about the amount of taxes I pay than I am about the respect with which the money I donate to the government is treated. But an irresponsible government is a government I don't want to give money to.
Simply balacing the budget will, in my opinion, fix most of the percieved inadequacies in government.
Government is fundamentally a part of all human interaction. It is, by defintion, the rules that govern human interaction. My greatest investment, the government's greatest investment and the world's greatest investment in the future is our children. No other investment comes close. A society that is conducive to empowering future generations is fundamental to our progress.
Embracing infantacide in the form of legalizing abortion of convinience is the first and foremost of child-hating policies that goverment should discard.
Endorsing standard marriage institutions over non-standard ones is also important.
I am a huge fan of environmental and resource conservation. Environmental issues pervade society and in many ways are larger than communities, states and even nations. Thus, it is appropriate to deal with these issues at the highest levels of government.
Issues of government should be handled at the lowest possible level.
As Abraham Lincoln said, government is "of the people, by the people and for the people". People resolve issues, not governments. We are all responsible for the state of the country we live in.
I don't buy in to any political parties. I'm politically independent. I vote for canditates on issues and ignore their party affiliations as much as possible. However a tendency for a canditate to mindlessly vote a party line is a sure turn off.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Offensive Board Games
There are a number of games I've seen that have offended people such that they will not play them.
I'm not talking about games like Juden Raus or Up Against the Wall... that, while offensive to people now days, are more an artifact of their times then they are a game created with modern sensibilites.
And I'm not even talking about intententionally offensive games like Ghettopoly.
I'm talking about games meant for a mainstream audience (insomuch as there is a mainstream audience for niche board games).
There's the obvious games about WWII that draw ire. In fact I've seen accusations calling the all war game hobbiest as facist wannabes. WWII games are in particular frowned upon in some quarters because they allow players to "play" the Nazis. There's a lot of hemming an hawing about how appropriate this is. But check out the most recent edition of Axis & Allies and you will not see a single swastika. In the original version you'd think Erwin Rommel led the third Reich.
Some frown on war games in general about all the death. And I have to admit, playing a game of Paths of Glory weirds me out due to the amount of carnage represented. WWI must have sucked.
But these offenses caused by war games do not surprise me at all.
Let's go for something a little less obvious: Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, players try to build buildings and develope plantations in and around colonial era San Juan, Puerto Rico. There's no war, no violence but you do have to "hire" "colonists" that come in on a "colonist" ship. The colonists are represented by little brown disks (make sure you read some of the comments on that picture!).
Puerto Rico defenders say that the colonists are also employed in offices, universities, etc. And therefore the little brown disks represent generic workers. Supposedly the prototype of the game that was used before it was published had blue disks as workers. Nevertheless, many people refuse to play the game for due to this little "colonist" issue.
Now for something that completely surprised me: Imperial. Imperial is a stock market game where players, rather than investing in companies, invest in pre-WWI era European countries. A company's value is a function of how well developed its military and industrial capacity is. A player holding a stock majority in a country can even use its military to attack a neighboring country in order to reduce that county's stock value.
So how does this novel take on the stock market game genre offend? Well, people associate this game's theme with the ideas put forth in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Go figure.
I find it fascinating to see what people, myself included, find to be offensive.
I'm not talking about games like Juden Raus or Up Against the Wall... that, while offensive to people now days, are more an artifact of their times then they are a game created with modern sensibilites.
And I'm not even talking about intententionally offensive games like Ghettopoly.
I'm talking about games meant for a mainstream audience (insomuch as there is a mainstream audience for niche board games).
There's the obvious games about WWII that draw ire. In fact I've seen accusations calling the all war game hobbiest as facist wannabes. WWII games are in particular frowned upon in some quarters because they allow players to "play" the Nazis. There's a lot of hemming an hawing about how appropriate this is. But check out the most recent edition of Axis & Allies and you will not see a single swastika. In the original version you'd think Erwin Rommel led the third Reich.
Some frown on war games in general about all the death. And I have to admit, playing a game of Paths of Glory weirds me out due to the amount of carnage represented. WWI must have sucked.
But these offenses caused by war games do not surprise me at all.
Let's go for something a little less obvious: Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, players try to build buildings and develope plantations in and around colonial era San Juan, Puerto Rico. There's no war, no violence but you do have to "hire" "colonists" that come in on a "colonist" ship. The colonists are represented by little brown disks (make sure you read some of the comments on that picture!).
Puerto Rico defenders say that the colonists are also employed in offices, universities, etc. And therefore the little brown disks represent generic workers. Supposedly the prototype of the game that was used before it was published had blue disks as workers. Nevertheless, many people refuse to play the game for due to this little "colonist" issue.
Now for something that completely surprised me: Imperial. Imperial is a stock market game where players, rather than investing in companies, invest in pre-WWI era European countries. A company's value is a function of how well developed its military and industrial capacity is. A player holding a stock majority in a country can even use its military to attack a neighboring country in order to reduce that county's stock value.
So how does this novel take on the stock market game genre offend? Well, people associate this game's theme with the ideas put forth in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Go figure.
I find it fascinating to see what people, myself included, find to be offensive.
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