Clear the Air - Stem Cells

Nobody is against stem cell research - not even the most fundamental christian, muslim, jew, or whatever. Is that hard for you to believe? It probably is considering the amount of misinformation and propaganda being dispensed to skulls full of mush who proudly drink the kool-aid and spit it back in your face. George Bush is not against stem cell research, Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) is not against stem cell research, MO Governor Matt Blunt is not against stem cell research - in spite of what you may have heard about these people. Nobody is against stem cell research. The only thing some people don't like is FEDERAL FUNDING for NEW EMBRYONIC STEM CELL LINES, which could be construed as creating human life for the purpose of destroying it in the name of research. They don't see any reason to create new embryo 'lines' when there are inexhaustable stem cell resources that don't involve 'creating babies to kill them for research'. Lots of people are also afraid that stem cell research will be a gateway to human cloning - which actually is a contentious issue.

You may ask 'If that's true, why is this such a contraversial topic?' Let me tell you. The political left in this country has made a standard operating procedure out of building (and knocking down) straw men in debates with people on the right. In our 'sound-byte society' mush-skulls can be tricked into believing radical ideas with strategicly placed 'quotes' that are completely out of context and assertions that the 'quotes' mean something very different. Then they make commercials like the one featuring Fox where he 'forgot' to take his medication and all but accuses conservatives of making him sick and wanting him to die. This is a new low, even for Hollywood types.

It is quaint to talk about honesty in the middle of the most heated campaign for midterm elections in the last few decades, but I felt like the air needed to be cleared around this topic.

Call Him Drunken Ira Hayes

Well folks, I've decided to do a movie review.

Last weekend I went to the theater (for the first time in months) to see a movie. We decided to see the new Clint Eastwood joint 'Flags of our Fathers'. Truthfully I didn't know what to expect from this movie. I knew it was about the battle for Iwo Jima, and the Marines who raised the flag over Mt. Suribachi. I did not, however, know that the movie would focus just as much on a political campaign to raise money for the war effort. At least half of the movie was set in the US and followed the surviving flag raisers as they toured the country trying to sell war bonds. While I do agree that the financial situation of the US and allies in early 1945 was of historical signifigance, I do not agree that it makes a good movie. The stunts that the surviving Marines were asked to do were strange - such as climbing a pretend 'mountain' and planting a flag for a fund raiser at Soldier Field in Chicago - and it was not what I expected to take from the movie.

The actual battle scenes were graphic and realistic, but only a small part of the movie. The battle for Iwo Jima was a month-long struggle which DID NOT culminate in the flag raising on Suribachi - in fact, that took place on day 5 of the 30 day battle. This movie was most certainly not about the fight for Iwo Jima, but about the social signifigance of the picture taken of the Marines on Suribachi. Also, the parts of the movie which were set in the US focussed mainly on how Ira Hayes was constantly drunk. I guess Eastwood wanted to tell the story of the Pima Indian who fought for the US and was then not even given equal status in his home country. It was a sad movie.

As far as war movies go, this one ranks poorly on my list. It was better than 'Saving Private Ryan', but not as good as 'Glory', 'Gods and Generals', or 'The Thin Red Line'.

Declaration of Best Posts

Ladies and Gentlemen. When, in the course of blogging events, it becomes necessary for one blogger to recognize acheivements made by other bloggers, so that the greater than equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the recognition.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that not all blog posts are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable qualities, such as logic, reason, and a quest for truth. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, I pledge to my fellow bloggers my opinion, my comment, and my sacred honor.

Top 5 blog posts of all time:

5: NYC = ME ME ME
I chose this post because it was really the first time that people had disagreements that they felt needed to be aired for the world to see. Although the debate was diminished by personal attacks, this post opened the door for better posts with more civilized debate.

4: And Now for Something Completely Different...
I decided to choose this post because of the opinions stated in the post as well as the opinions stated in the comments. Everything was well thought out and there weren't any personal attacks.

3: The number 3 post of all time was actually 2 posts. They were posted by Amber on BlackPetunia sometime early this year. The posts and comment debate focused on homelessness - causes and cures. The debate was very heated and everybody was passionate about their opinions - this resulted in a record setting number of comments. The biggest tragedy is that the posts are lost forever.

2: Happy Birthday
This post is by far the best and most fitting tribute, or 'ode' to somebody in blogging history. The thoughts are well organized, and the feelings expressed could be described as nothing but completely honest.

1: I haven't forgotten 9/11...
This post is the most relevant blog post in history - for everybody. As I said in my comment on this post; I'm glad you remember 9/11 [Spoony]. I'm glad that you've been able to maintian composure through a very emotional time for all of us and deliver us an objective portrayal of events. Congratulations on #1 Spoony.

Honorable mentions go to: Memories, like fingerprints..., Graphic artist..., I'm gonna make it..., Ramdom unrelated sketches, and Meet the Baxters

Turning Over

My car has defied all predictions. Earlier this week it turned over 100,000 miles. I feel the need to tell it's story.

Over two and less than 3 years ago I was not driving my Buick. I was actually driving a Cadillac, which I loved very much. Long story short, the Caddy started leaking coolant from around the head so I decided I needed a new car rather that putting a new engine in the Caddy. I look around online for a few days and happen upon this 8 year old Buick Skylark with only 35,000 miles on it. Better than the low miles, the price was only $3,000. I went to look at the car and found pretty much what I expected. It was in fair to poor shape on the exterior (hail damage, scratches, faded paint), and good to fair condition on the interior (burn holes, missing trim, faded cloth). I immediately thought that this was a car for me. I [haggled] the guy down to $2,850 and drove away in a purple Buick.

I'm not saying that the car has been great. In fact, I've had some serious problems with it. I'd be willing to bet that the problems I've had with my car would have turned any reader of this blog away from it. I, however, was not going to be dismayed by problems you might expect from a car that has sat still for an undetermined period, had 'flood' damage, been broken into, and generally treated like it was not loved. I've stayed with the car through think and thin, and she has finally rewarded my perseverance with a big milestone.

Now I can't wait to get rid of it. Hopefully I'll be able to do that next summer.

Greg Graffin, Gospel Singer

Oh what do my wondering ears did appear? Gospel music from THE MOST unlikely source. Greg Graffin, best known as the lead singer of Bad Religion, has released an album of 'folk' songs with a strong religious overtone. This is the very same guy who, for over 20 years, sang songs like 'Don't Pray on Me', 'The Voice of God is Government', and 'Flat Earth Society' to name a few. In a recent album titled 'The Empire Strikes First' the songs 'Athiest Peace' and 'God's Love' are most certainly not singing praises to the 'Lord'. Yet now he's singing songs that praise Jesus Christ. Here's an excerpt from the Bad Religion song 'Don't Pray on Me':

Now I don't know what stopped
Jesus Christ from turning
every hungry stone into bread
and I don't remember hearing how Moses
reacted when the innocent first born sons lay dead
well I guess God was a lot more demonstrative back when
he flamboyantly parted the sea,
now everybody's praying,
don't pray on me

Now, here are the lyrics for the song 'Talk About Suffering' from the Greg Graffin album 'Cold as the Clay':

Talk about sufferin' here below and let's keep a'lovin' Jesus
Talk about sufferin' here below and let's keep a'followin' Jesus

Oh can't you hear it brothers and don't you want to go?
And leave this world of sorrow and trouble here below

The gospel train is coming, now don't you want to go?
And leave this world of sorrow and trouble here below

I've given the new album one listen. I like most of the songs. It's wierd to hear him sing that way though. If you're interested you can listen to two of the songs on his myspace page.