| Our dictator, Bush... |
[Sep. 28th, 2006|07:07 pm] |
From Wil Wheaton (www.wilwheaton.net)
I agree with everything he said here, and I repost it for you...
"As I write this, the United States Senate is engaged in a bit of political theater, while they pretend to debate whether or not they will make torture an American value. They are pretending to debate whether or not to give one person -- in this case the president -- the ability remove rights that we've all taken for granted under our Constitution for over two centuries from anyone he (or she, someday) identifies, without any accountability or oversight. They are pretending to debate whether our Democracy even matters, any more.
The legislation before the Senate today would ban torture, but let Bush define it; would allow the president to imprison indefinitely anyone he decides falls under a wide-ranging new definition of unlawful combatant; would suspend the Great Writ of habeas corpus; would immunize retroactively those who may have engaged in torture. And that's just for starters. . . .
Today's vote will show more clearly than ever before that, when push comes to shove, the Republicans who control Congress are in lock step behind the president, and the Democrats -- who could block him, if they chose to do so -- are too afraid to put up a real fight.
This is far too much power for one person to have, and is antithetical to everything America and freedom and Democracy stand for. In fact, this is the sort of power that someone like, say, Saddam Hussein had. Or Stalin. Or Pinochet.
I haven't written much about politics here in recent memory, because there are others who say what I want to say and they do it much better than I do: Glenn Greenwald, Josh Marshall, John Cole, and Digby, for example. But even though I've become entirely disgusted with what used to be my government and I don't have a whole lot of faith in the congress or the president to listen to me (actually, I don't have a lot of faith in the president listening to anyone who doesn't tell him exactly what he wants to hear,) I still believe in the underlying principles of Democracy. I still believe that it is the responsibility of every American, whether they feel adequately represented by the current congress or not, to stand up for their beliefs, even when they speak them to deaf ears in the halls of power. Even -- no, especially -- when those beliefs are unpopular.
My government is supposed to represent me, and as an American citizen, I must accept responsibility for the things my country does in my name. It is with that responsibility in mind that I feel compelled to write the following, not for congress who have already ignored my calls and letters, but for my own conscience, and for my children, should they one day ask me, "What happened then? Why didn't anyone try to do anything?"
What the House did yesterday, the Senate looks to do today, and the President will surely enact as soon as possible, is a direct assault on American values, and contrary to everything our country stands for. Though cynically and cowardly enacted as a purely political tool during an election, those who supported this bill do not speak for me, do not act in my name, and do not reflect my values.
Torture is not an American value. Torture is a totalitarian, sadistic value. Suspending access to courts and the right to face your accuser is not what Americans do. It is what tyrannical dictators and despots do, not a democratic republic like the one I was brought up in and love. Time and again, torture has proved unreliable to prevent or solve crimes, and it reduces our country to the level of the very terrorists we are supposedly fighting.
I believe in the right to a speedy and fair trial for everyone, even the most repugnant of defendants. No, especially for the most repugnant of defendants, because if we, as a society, can't guarantee the most hideously accused among us that right, what is it worth to the rest of us?
George Bush and his enablers in the congress -- Democrat and Republican -- has done more damage to our country, and our once impeccable moral standing in the world than all the terrorists combined. President Bush and his Republican allies in congress like to say that "they hate us for our freedom," but President Bush and his Republican allies in congress have spent the last five years working very hard to take that freedom away from the people they supposedly work for, and vest that power in something they call the Unitary Executive. If the Democrats won't stand up to stop torture, what will they stand up for? If Congress won't do its constitutional duty now, then when?
I am disgusted with, and ashamed of my government.
Shame on President Bush. Shame on his Republican allies in congress, and shame on the spineless, cowardly Democrats who did not stand up to them. Shame on them all, and shame on all of us if we do not turn out by the millions in the next election to put men and women into congress who will have the courage to do their constitutional duty, and defend the Republic from all enemies, foreign and domestic."
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| Rejection |
[Jul. 17th, 2006|01:27 pm] |
Some days, I think I cannot take any more. It is no secret that I do not like my job at Hutch, and have not for a long time. I have been applying elsewhere since January, hardcore applying to damn near anywhere since the end of April. I couldn't count how many applications I have placed, and I think I have had about 5-6 interviews only out of all that. If that is not bad enough, I only was offered one job, which I declined, because it was over $2 less an hr. and a shitty ass job. I would barely have been able to make ends meet, let alone moving from one hated job to another. Well, let's add another rejection today. I needed to turn in this backround check paper today, and I did so at abotu 11am. By 12:44 I had an email saying I did not get it, wow, that was fast. I apparently have done NOTHING in my 9 years of work history, since I cannot seem to get a decent fucking job. Not even a GOOD job, but a DECENT one. I had a decent one at A&B but I was trying to branch out from grocery store and shipping into a field where I MAY be able to get a foot in at a company where I could advance over the years, or at least have good pay with good hours.
Well, forget about that, apparently no one wants to hire my ass, and you know what? After so many rejections, it just fucking takes it's toll on you. It's just makes you feel a lot about your self worth. No one will even give you a chance. I dispise my job and hate it, but I cannot leave and take an $8/hr. job slinging burgers. One, I couldn't make ends meet, Two, it's a career step BACKWARDS, which seems to be where I am heading, backwards. I can never get ahead. Whenever I was given raises anywhere, cost of my living goes up that and more, so I have always been behind, like apparently many of other Americans. No, my situation is no unique I know that, but I have a place to vent off some steam (here). I cannto find that all important balance of good pay, good hours, good benefits, and a job I can stand. I knwo not everyone likes to work, or their jobs, but most people can STAND it. I could stand A&B, I kind of liked it. But I had no career, shipping was a dead end for me, and the pay was not good and the vacation was prety bad. I almost wish I never left there, cause the pay at Hutch is good, but I fucking hate the hours and the job.
Am I repeating things? Probably... I guess I feel worthless in a job point of view. Am I that unhireable? What the fuck have I done with my life that I can't get in somewhere decent? I guess nothing, at that is the problem...
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| Nachooooooooooooooooooooooo! |
[Jun. 29th, 2006|12:27 pm] |
Well, I saw Nacho Libre today. It was ok. Funny at times, MOST of the funny moments were in the trailers. There are also some gross moments too. It was a fun, ok movie, probably would rent it for a fun night but wouldn't buy it. Kind of disappointed but like I said, just a really no-thought funny movie. Best part: "Nachooooooooooooooooooooo!"
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| Spiderman 3 Trailer / Superman Returns Review |
[Jun. 29th, 2006|07:46 am] |
There was a trailer for Spiderman 3 at the beginning of Superman Returns last night. Awsome. It confirms that the black costume is Venom, and it seems like Spiderman does not even know that he has it on. He is looking at his reflection in a building, the red costume is the reflection even though he is wearing the black one. Little bit of Sandman shown, I think some BRIEF quick shots of the Goblin. I am going to watch the trailer again later today from Apple.com since they have it up. It looks like it could be the best one yet.
Ok, Superman Returns... There are some spoilers here, and I am making them in BLUE type. Why? So you have to drag your mouse overthe words to highlight them to read the spoiler parts. Simple? Ok... I am trying not to tell the story of the movie, just my impressions, so not a whole bunch of spoilers, but some...
I LOVED the movie. Though it was VERY true to the originals, Donna thought it was long and boring. Clocking in at slightly over 150 minutes, I thought it was epic and the best movie/story I have seen in a long time. The opening credits done in the same was as the old movies was pretty sweet. Keven Spacey was AMAZING as Lex Luthor, I would argue that he did a better job than Hackman. Yes, I said it. The guy who plays Superman did an ok job, Kate B. as Lois Lane I think did well, although the whole kid issue is kind of messed up. When did she get a chance to bang Superman? He supposidly just left without saying goodbye, so did she sleep with Clark? No, because she told Superman at the end that the kid was his, so, sex happened when?? I guess that was my only major gripe, and if that was the major one, than there really isn't much to complain about here. The old footage and words of Brando was a nice touch, really made it feel like a continuation of the movies, and it made me get goosebumps when I heard it. It just sounded, right, you know? The movie took it's time, didn't try to rush anything, or make it completely action - oriented, which made it a great STORY. Lex's genius is very evident since he finds the Fortress, and finds out how to operate it to teach HIM about Krypton. Making new land with the crystals was a good idea, made better when Lex mixed the crystals with Kryptonite so the new land would be harmful to Superman. Brilliant! The scene when Superman is getting the shit kicked out of him by Lex and his thugs was done really well. Not rushing, just them savoring the moment. Having Lex get the final stab in with the shard of Kryptonite was a nice touch. One small thing I did not like was that Lex seems to always get the shaft by the dumb women he parades around with. He would have had more crystals to do more damage if not for her!!!
Well, like I said, I do not want to re-tell the movie, just give some opinions about it. Great story, great acting, especially by Spacey, great epic feel to the movie. If you have not seen it, please do so. I think you will enjoy it. Easily the best movie I have seen going out to a movie since Batman Begins.
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| Superman Returns |
[Jun. 28th, 2006|04:38 pm] |
Seeing Superman Returns at 6:55pm with Donna. SCORE!!!
Also seeing Nacho Libre tomorrow with Craig and Mallory.
I will write a SMALL review when I get home from each movie. I have never done this before, so they may not be the best you have ever read, but I will try...
(EDIT)
For some reason, the pictures are screwed up right now....
http://www.younggotti.com/pictures/
Find Pictures named SupermanReturns and NachoLibre
The direct links w/ LiveJournal are messed up right now... :(
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