Guns in America

So, does the Obama Administration want to take your guns away?  Do Democrats or other Liberals want to take your guns away?  NO

No administration or mainstream political party in the United States wants to prohibit or eliminate gun ownership.  That is just a smoke screen and an obstacle to any type of discussion on any type of gun safety issue.

The current tragedy in Orlando is due to our view of gun safety in this country.  This is not about terrorism or immigration.  The idiot that killed over 50 people was born in Queens, NY and just as American as anyone else.  He was probably in need of mental therapy, but in reality, he was a fucked up, homophobic, volatile young male in our modern society.  He went out and bought two guns and shot a bunch of people.

Is that right?  Are we becoming numb to this type of thing?

Our society in the United States is currently one where you can go buy a military style assault weapon and shoot a bunch of people.  PERIOD

All of the talk of religion, hate, nationality (this last guy was American as are most shooters), is just bluster around a population that is desperately trying to find an easy excuse for any of these incidents.  The long answer involves a culture of permissive gun use.

What can we do about this?  The common sense answer is to develop some common sense gun safety regulations.  We should institute background checks, prohibit sales to questionable people (i.e., people on the no fly list), ban the sale of military style assault weapons to the general public, and institute a safety and training program that a prospective gun owner must conduct prior to the purchase of a firearm.

None of those suggestions would take people's guns away.  None of those suggestions would register your guns.  And, sadly, none of those suggestions will ever be enacted.  How many more people have to die before common sense can take hold?

Another Year Older and What Have I Done...

All my aspirations have shriveled in the sun
I'm crippled by guilt
Blinded by science
I've been waiting for tomorrow all of my life

So, it's another year in the books and I'm turning yet another page.  I have a lot in life to be thankful for.  I have great family and friends and I'm working on building a degree of serenity into my life.

Over the past year, I've been dealing with health issues and family dynamics.  I've tried to remain positive.  I've reconnected with many old friends and have come to realize that there are people in my life who's spirit has probably accompanied me through multiple lifetimes.  Yes, I'm a hippie at heart and I believe that our souls are old and that magic really does exist.

If you are reading this, you are probably someone I care about.  Thank you for being there.

Now onto the reflective part of our journey...  A nice thing about this past year is that I got closer to my extended family. I think that my sister and I are now closer than we've been in a while and it's great to see how others are doing as well.  The worst part of this (and Vicky bears the brunt of it all) is that my mom is deteriorating and not long for this world.  We are making the best of it, having her in an in-home hospice situation with 24/7 nursing care, however, it is sad.

At any rate, I'm opening the door on the 56th year of my existence and I see some positive roads ahead.  I hope that things work out and we see a year of peace, love, and prosperity (see, I am a hippie)... or Trump could get elected and then we are looking at Armageddon.

Interesting times ahead either way.

Most Anticipated Movies of 2016

So, last year I posted a blog entry of my 10 most anticipated movies of 2015.  There were a lot of good ones and some stinkers on that list.  The real stinker from last year was Jupiter Ascending.  OMG, that was bad, but the taste was washed away by movies like Mad Max, Kingsmen and Star Wars.  I didn't think Jurassic World was great but it was fun.

This year I'm not going to post trailers for all of them (my #1 is above).  So without more of my bullshit, here's the list:

1) Deadpool - They look like they broke the code on this one.  The marketing campaign alone is awesome.

2) Hail Cesar - Coen Brothers, Clooney, ... looks great.  I'm in

3) Rogue One - A war film showing how many Bothians died to get the death star plans

4) Doctor Strange - Cumberbatch in a Marvel film with magic

5) Captain America: Civil War - Avengers 2.5  looks good

6) The Jungle Book - This one looks so good, with great voice actors

7) Star Trek: Beyond - Yeah, I'm a sucker for a trek movie

8) Warcraft - months of my life were wasted in this game... the movie looks good

9) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - I hope it's good

10) Batman v Superman - I hope I come out of this and didn't hate it.

Socialism ... You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

So, it's a political season and Bernie Sanders, our fun loving independent Senator from Vermont has been calling himself a Democratic Socialist.  Many on the right have said we are descending into socialism.  Some even equate the Nazi party to the concept of socialism, which is akin to saying; 'Mormons are Christians, therefore all Christians are Mormon.'

So, here's the definition:  Socialism is a political ideology and movement which has proposed a set of social and economic measures, policies and systems characterized by social ownership and democratic control of the means of production.

Our Democracy has socialistic elements.  Our infrastructure and defense structure are a form of socialism.  Our civil service works for the people.  Get over the word.  It's not  evil.  It's baked into our democratic process.  We are not ever going to become a communistic state nor are we (unless we elect Trump) going to become a fascist state.

Our choices on the Democratic side are a Centrist hawk who used to support Barry Goldwater and an independent Senator with more of a labor focus.  The Republican side has Trump, who will probably be the party's nominee.  He's a self-serving nut job who plays to the lowest common denominator in the Republican party.  They also have some decent candidates in Bush, Kasich, and Rubio, but all of them are fairly conservative, but not a wild card like Trump.

The bottom line though is that even in the right wing of the Republican party, there are socialistic elements.  There is a need and role for government, or social programs that the state must manage.  People need to get off of the term socialism and focus on the issues.  Stupid slogans and demagoguery do nothing but whip up the base and speak to the unintelligent.

So my wish for the new year is a reasoned debate on real issues.  Pfft... I can dream.

Reflections of an Aging Hipster

So, I’m 54 years old.  I know it doesn’t seem like I’m that old.  At least it doesn’t to me.  I mean, for the most part, I dress in black t-shirts and shorts, listen to music that is too loud, and post on Facebook too much.  But, I am 54 and prone to bouts of reflection.  That is why this blog entry is about that; reflection on being beyond mid-life and moving forward with a positive attitude.

I’ve always been an optimist.  I try to see the good in what lies ahead of me.  I realize that there are negative forces out there, but I can’t see the need to expend energy to dwell on them (other than to understand the source and avoid the trap).  I think that there can be beauty in everything, but then again some would say that I’m overly sentimental.

I was listening to a song on a new album I just purchased (linked here) and it covers the age old idea of building a time machine and going back in your past to change your future.  This is an interesting thought exercise and believe me, when time machine technology becomes available, I’m running back to a couple of places to make sure that I sufficiently mess up my future.

What?  If you go back to more than one point in your past, won’t only the furthest point have any lasting effect?  Possibly, but I like to think of time as a bowl of spaghetti, rather than a single ribbon.  There are so many points in my past where decisions pushed me one way, when multiple other ways were available.  Do those other paths exist in alternate realities?  I would love to think so.  I would also love to think that all of those paths tend to lead in the same general direction; a path toward happiness.

So, going back, I might realize that what I perceived as ignorance and poor self-image was just fear.  I might have spoken more to that amazing individual I met at a party in the early 90s.  I might have realized that some of the people I lost contact with were really people that I needed in my life all along.  I might have been able to influence my parents decisions on various issues (primarily seeing the value in mutual funds, but I digress).  All of these trips to the past would create a slightly different future, but in the end, would I be in a fundamentally different place?  I hope not.

Things seem to work out if you let them.  The important people in your life end up being there.  At least that’s how I see it.  I’m 54 years old, but I think young.  I have old man ailments.  I’m overweight, and I could get down on myself and let the poor self-image of the past overwhelm me.  But, I have hope.  I know that the future will be positive.  I know that the people in my life that I call friend are wonderful and important to me.  I believe that in that variety of futures in this multiverse, those same friends will influence my life.

So, what does this all mean?  It means that as I reflect, I feel happy and positive.  I hope my family and friends know how much I value and love them.  Bah, call this the ramblings of a middle aged hipster and just leave me be on this end of summer morning.  I’ll soon be back to inappropriate jokes, music videos that harken back too much to the 70s, and posting on Facebook like a 20-something girl.

Top 10 Anticipated Movies of 2015

2015 promises to be a good year for movies, and if you page through this blog, you will gather that I do enjoy a movie now and then.  So, without further ado, here are my top picks for most anticipated movies of 2015...

#10 - Jurassic World:  This franchise is somewhat old and tired, but with Chris Pratt coming off that great performance in Guardians, I'm intrigued.

#9 - Ant Man:  Marvel has a great track record.  That plus Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas seems a good fit.  I'm in after seeing the trailer.

#8 - Inside Out:  It's a Pixar movie... nuff said.

#7 - The Kingsmen:  Okay this hits for me on a lot of levels.  It has Samuel L. Jackson as a bad guy.  I'm in.

#6 - Tommorowland:  Combine Disney, George Clooney, and what looks like an interesting sci-fi story and I'm in.

#5 - Jupiter Ascending - Brought to you by the folks who brought you the Matrix.  It looks really pretty.  I wonder at what point Sean Bean dies in this movie.

#4 - James Bond ‘Specter”:  I'm a sucker for a good (and even not so good) Bond movies, and this one sounds like it could bring us full circle back to the Connery Bond.

#3 - Avengers: Age of Ultron:  In a year where a new Joss Wheedon Avengers movie comes out and it's only #3 on my most anticipated, shows a potentially great year at the movies.

#2 - Mad Max: Fury Road: This trailer looks awesome in so many ways.  I was caught off guard when I saw it, but I'm totally looking forward to this movie.

#1 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens: It's kind of anti-climatic that this is #1 on the list.  It's almost a forgone conclusion and easily dismissed.  Also, you have to wait until December for release, but I LOVED the trailer and am really looking forward to this movie.

So, what do you think?  2015 looks like a good year.  Mad Max seems a big surprise to me.  I'm really looking forward to that movie.

The top 10 movies that define me

The holiday season is full of top ten lists.  Therefore, here's my top ten movies that made me the geek boy that I am.

First some honorable mentions:


Tropic Thunder:

There are a lot of comedies on my list.  This one is hilarious and has a spectacular ensemble cast.   The Tom Cruise performance almost put it on the top ten.


Brazil:  

Terry Gillian is a genius.  Brazil is a classic from my youth and was only edged out by 12 Monkeys (The Fisher King was also in contention).

Galaxy Quest:  

This is one of the most quotable movies I've seen.  Never give up.  Never surrender.


Idiocracy:

When this movie came out it was very much out there in terms of a dystopian future.  Now it looks about spot on.


 True Lies:

One of the best Arnold movies ever.  Nuff said.


Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back:

Should be in the top ten, but the Wrath of Kahn edges it out slightly.


Seven:

This is one of the best movies  and probably my number 11 overall.  I love the suspense and the twist ending. ...  Don't open the box.


The Edge of Tomorrow:

In an era where Hollywood doesn't take chances, comes this truly original and truly wonderful science fiction movie.  I love everything about this film.

Okay and now on to the top 10:

10: Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn

By far the best (IMHO) of the Star Trek movies.  At the time it legitimized the original series.


9: A Hard Day's Night

I'm a big Beatles fan and this movie truly captures Beatlemania and the vibe of the band.  It is also an excellent movie in its own rite.

8 ; The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou

I love Wes Anderson movies.  They are sweet and quirky and full of child like wonder.  Life Aquatic is my favorite.  Bill Murray just knocks it out of the park with this movie.


7: O Brother, Where Art Thou? 

The Cohen Brothers have also made so many good movies.  This retelling of the story of Ulysses is spot on in the way that it captures Americana.  The performances of Clooney and Tim Blake Nelson are stand outs in my opinion.


6: The Avengers

This was the best interpretation of a comic book ever.  Joss Wheedon got everything right in this movie and it cemented the Marvel name as one associated with quality.


5: Young Frankenstein 

Mel Brooks is a comedic genius.  This movie has it all, with the great interplay between Terri Garr and Gene Wilder.  A classic in my mind.


4: Twelve Monkeys 

Dystopian science fiction is one of my favorite types of story.  This work is excellent, with a great Bruce Willis performance.


3: Princess Mononoke

Hayao Miyazaki is a master of animation.  His movies are wonderful pieces of art.  This is my favorite.  I love the message and the tone.  Truly beautiful.


2: The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension

I don't know how many times I've seen this movie.  Too many but not enough.  This movie not only defines the 80s but is eminently quotable and so much fun.  This is my undisputed number 2.


1: Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb 

My undisputed number 1, ever since I've seen it, was this wonderful Kubrick film.  This movie has everything I want to see in a movie.  I love it a lot :)

There you have it.