Labels: movies, music, u2

"Obama told the 20 or so of us at breakfast that 'his first trip as President would be to Indonesia - the world's most populous Muslim country,'" Leary recalled.

"He then said when he got off [Air Force One], he would say 'xxxxxxxx' - which we, of course, didn't understand," Leary emailed. "He said that it was Indonesian (which he speaks) for, 'I am back, dudes.'"

"A few weeks ago an American I met at a friends house asked a much repeated query, 'Why do you the Muslims hate the Americans?' To which I answered in the same way as all the preceding instances in which this question was posed to me: 'We don’t hate the Americans, we might disagree with a certain US policy and dislike recent American actions in the Muslim world but we surely don’t hate the American people.'

The American who interrogated me was clearly not convinced with my answer and secretly I wasn't either. The truth is that at present the Muslims hate America and now, they hate not only its policymakers but most of the American people since they have proven recently without a shadow of doubt that they agree with their elite by voting back into office. [...]"

"What were you thinking when you threw the Qur'an in the toilet or when you used religion as a means of torture? I fail to see the efficacy of such actions in the so-called war on terror. These methods only point to a deep sickness in your society to which it will take decades for us and the rest of the world to understand its cause and to measure its destructive results. No, the question which someday will have to be answered is why, why do you the Americans hate us the Muslims so much?"

Labels: America, Catholics, diplomacy, idiots, movies, Obama, politics, religion

Labels: half life, movies, procrastination, video games

Labels: gays, movies

I feel really wierd sitting in my own skin, as though it's not my own, like watching a very boring television program. I am simply waiting for the narration to clue me in on my very strange new story. You could call it a Matrix Moment if you'd want, though that's a bit dramatic.

These moments are useful for their disassociated and analytical perspective on my life - conveying the urgency with which I need to get better (I've been sick), get some work done and maybe foremost, get a new but equally well -paid job that I do not loathe.

Of course the irony of it is that I often find the book's world a far more comforting and seductive place than my own; it is a real tragedy that this still applies when I am reading an academic-toned horror story! Its irony is that I do not wish to use that proper and analytical perspective but rather I would curl up and continue reading with my back to my life's continued decay.

Currently reading : The Historian By Elizabeth Kostova

Labels: books, movies, random, sick

As an additional aside, Rachel wants to teach our (future) kids to say, "My spleen!" instead of "ow!" -- figures they'll get more attention that way.

Currently listening : Get Behind Me Satan By The White Stripes Release date: 12:00 AM

Labels: kids, movies, random, spleen

Today I realised that the closest I've ever come to tripping acid was when I saw Beavis and Butthead Do America's White Zombie sequence in the theaters when it came out. But isn't that close enough?

I heard a 4/4 meter elevator music version of Take 5 by Dave Brubeck in Taco Bell today and am having a hard time not stalking and murdering whoever did it. For those of you who don't know - shame on you - Take 5 was a very famous jazz standard, and one of the only songs commonly played on the radio that is in 5/4 time (that is, it has five beats per measure).

Currently listening : Americano By Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers Release date: 12:00 AM

Labels: caffeine, drugs, jazz, movies, music

She went to the U of A the same time I did, and went into the theater. I didn't see her a lot, but went to her shows (though often she never knew - I never did work up that nerve) when I could and have always suspected she'd do well. Since I've been looking up my old friends and aquaintences, I looked her up.

And she's been on "The O.C.", and "That 70's Show", and she's got a new movie. Awesome?! YES! Go Catherine! Woot! I wonder if I can even still contact her.

I also found Steph, whom I also had a terrible crush in my early years at UA, but hung out with me and introduced me to more super cool things than I could properly list. This is fun. I just hope they'll remember me.

Currently reading : BLACK SHRIKE By Alistair Maclean

Labels: Brophy, college, friends, movies, nostalgia, school, stories, true, TV

Also, in anime especially (think Ruroni Kenshin), it's easy to tell how 'tough' the person is by how much trouble the artists and creators took to create an interesting backstory and/or visage. A masked nobody is going to die no matter what - while the complex, detailed character won't go out for quite a while. The list I have of hero:villain ratios goes like this:

>100:1 - Fodder
50:1 - Nameless, faceless mook
25:1 - Mook (group name)
15:1 - Punk
7:1 - Goon
4:1 - Agent
2:1 - Henchman
1:1 - Villain
1:2 - Leader
1:4 - Boss
1:>5 - Archvillain

It seems about right to me. Of course, there are times that the distinctions get a bit fuzzy .. Agent Smith in the Matrix movies went from Villain to Fodder, at least for Neo.

Currently listening : Use Your Illusion 2 By Guns N Roses

Labels: anime, movies, random, rant, rules, stories