The New Speakeasy
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October 31, 2006
October 30, 2006
Top 10 Horror Movies
In the spirit of Halloween, I have decided to give you my top 10 horror movie list. If you haven’t seen some of these, you might want to take a visit to your local rental store. Let me know what your top horror movies are.
10. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
What would you do if everyone you knew was suddenly changing? They became cold and unfeeling images of the people you cared about. A great look at the individual against the masses.
What makes this movie work so well is they set up a history that you could believe. Violence with a purpose and a disturbing look at what our sins may cost us.
I love this movie for its feeling of suffocation. The severe cold lends to the icy feeling between the characters. The ending is a wonderful departure from the norm.
Is there any better movie that shows the downward spiral into insanity? All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. That scene alone is better than most movies.
6. Jaws (1975)
Generations have had their days at the beach ruined because of this movie. Honestly, can you go swimming in the ocean without thinking of the music? I can’t even take a bath without thinking of it. Also, Shaw’s monologue about the Indianapolis is masterful.
5. Alien (1979)
This movie single-handedly brought horror back to Sci-Fi. How many movies have copied this formula since? This is the complete opposite of the clean hospital look of Star Wars. The sets are like oil drilling platforms in space.
4. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The birth of the modern slasher movie. Low budget, but that makes it even more believable. Tame by today’s standards, however quite disturbing in the images of the grotesque.
What happens when you mix the Three Stooges with Night of the Living Dead? You get the Evil Dead series. This is by far the best of the three. Its clever use of camerawork and awesome character, Ash, makes this a classic. Groovy.
The deep seeded Christian beliefs in the American psyche were the launching pad for this incredible movie. Brilliant imagery coupled with idea of Satan manifesting itself in a 12-year-old girl is an endless source of chills.
1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Everything that every zombie flick wants to be is based on this movie. In fact, any movie where the characters are trapped somewhere while the antagonist looms about is based on this movie. What is so frightening is the realism, that this could happen somehow. Also, I love watching the psychology of the group trying to survive. Makes you wonder who is more dangerous, the zombies or the people right next to you.
Iran Strike Brewing?
Debka has a military report citing naval maneuvers in the Persian Gulf are a prelude to an attack on Iran before the election.
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Our Tehran sources report that last Thursday, Oct. 26, Iranian officials were seriously rattled by a rumor that an Iranian spy plane had located the USS Boxer heading for the Persian Gulf. It prompted fears of an imminent American military assault to lift Republican prospects in the coming US midterm elections of Nov. 7. |
Source: http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=1223
I have two reasons for posting this; first, after reading the Debka article I saw it mentioned on Hot Air, which pointed out the chatter over this possibility. Second, that it fit in with something I read from a trusted political analyst who speculated an attack on Iran in 2007 but he mentioned a naval blockade would come first.
Either way it looks like something is brewing.
October 26, 2006
A Proper Memorial
An additional 18 pieces of human remains were discovered yesterday at Ground Zero, pushing the grisly tally during a four-day search to 114, city officials said. - New York Daily News
On October 19, human remains were found at Ground Zero. Of the 2,749 people killed on September 11, 1,150 have not been identified.
This past September marked the five year anniversary of the terrorist attack also bringing criticism of the slow progress in building a proper memorial. Commercials urge us to realize the time is right coupling that sentiment with inviting your personal memories of that day. But in view of the recent discoveries at the World Trade Center site, I wonder if the time is right.
I've long been in favor of a simple memorial to honor the lives lost. This is hallowed ground, which still contains, as proved by recent findings, the remains of the dead.
My vision is a memorial much like the World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. I'd like to see headstones for everyone murdered that day, treating the site as it truly is; a burial ground. It also captures the magnitude of the event by visually displaying 2,749 symbols of a fallen loved one.
Many say that we need to rebuild the towers to show the terrorists we can't be defeated. However, the path to victory or defeat will not be traveled on the height of a building, it is in the hearts of our children who must always remember what happened on September 11, 2001.
I'd like to know what you think is an appropriate memorial.
October 24, 2006
Torture Revisited
A few weeks ago I wrote about the interrogation methods used on terror suspects, specifically my post discussed the changing definition of torture and how the methods used currently, in my opinion, fail to fit into my definition of torture.
Kirsten Powers of PowersPoint agrees:
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To me torture is amputating limbs or digits, ripping out fingernails, drilling holes in feet, starving people...you know, the things Iraqi insurgents and the Hussein clan do/did to people). |
She also provides a link to an example of waterboarding, the controversial yet highly effective method used on Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, who gave up info on a plot to destroy the Liberty Tower in L.A.
Once again, I believe these methods are perfectly acceptable if used for interrogation purposes and not for revenge. As many have pointed out, our enemies have done far worse to civilians for what seems to be the sheer pleasure of killing.
Via: Hot Air
October 22, 2006
NY Times Admits Wrongdoing
Months after the fact, The New York Times editor, Byron Calame, admits it was wrong to publish information on the government's terrorist banking surveillance program. Michelle Malkin has the details and adds:
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You and every other Chicken Little, anti-Bush editor at the Times who put lives at risk and undermined counterterrorism operations by giving your bogus justifications "too much weight." |
Source: http://michellemalkin.com/archives/006173.htm
Amazingly, Calame's blames his poor judgment on the Bush administration, claiming "the vicious criticism of The Times by the Bush administration to trigger[ed] my instinctive affinity for the underdog and enduring faith in a free press". Translation: I wanted to show them what happens when you criticize The New York Times.
Will this confession get the headlines and play it deserves? I think not.
October 20, 2006
2006 New York Mets
By the time the game was over, I had just about chewed my left thumb off and my hands hurt from clenching my fists so tightly. No permanent damage done, though with games like the one last night, the damage is all in the heart.
The Mets lost game 7 of the NLCS to the Cardinals, but they never lost the fight that got them there. When Endy Chavez made what may be the best defensive play in franchise history, given the situation, robbing Scott Rolen of a home run, I thought the game had turned. But after threatening in the bottom of that inning, the Mets couldn't plate the runs.
Even to the very last at-bat, to the very last strike, there was hope…fight. Oliver Perez, who some were saying was the worst game 7 started in baseball history, probably turned his career around with six innings of 1 run ball. Met fans should take some comfort in knowing that we have two young pitchers in Perez and game 6 starter John Maine, who when asked to save their team's season (our team) showed up ready and pitched their hearts out.
As I look out the window, it is a rainy and dreary day in New York, reflecting the mood of many Met fans. The pain in my hands is gone but it's going to take a little longer for the heartache to disappear.
October 18, 2006
Voting Your Wallet
The economy is doing well; wages are up, unemployment down, gas and oil prices are down to the point that OPEC has decided to cut production. The DOW broke 12,000 in intra-day trading today and consumer confidence is high.
Newsbusters points out that you're unlikely to hear about this in the MSM leading up to the elections.
There is one factor Republicans have going for them in spite of the media's efforts; people vote their wallets.
October 16, 2006
If She Didn't Have Bad Luck...
Some say Kathleen Caronna is lucky. She is the woman who escaped serious injury when Cory Lidle's plane crashed into her apartment. But I suppose that is all just a matter of perspective.
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A woman whose apartment was burned in the high-rise crash of New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle's plane was the victim of another frightening, bizarre and high-profile Manhattan accident years earlier, when a lamppost knocked over by a parade float seriously injured her. Kathleen Caronna and her family were unhurt in Wednesday's crash, which killed Lidle and his flight instructor, Tyler Stanger. |
Source: http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/97016,CST-NWS-twice15.article
Really, what are the odds? She survived both incidents, so I guess she's lucky in that respect, but I don't want to be anywhere near her in a lightening storm.
October 13, 2006
Hijacking Human Rights
Dennis Prager, of Townhall.com, was talkimg about a Washington Post editorial Thursday, in which it describes the complete and utter failue of the U.N.'s new Human Rights Council.
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The council, which completed its second formal session last week in Geneva, has turned out to be far worse than its predecessor -- not just a "shadow" but a travesty that the United Nations can ill afford. For all its faults, the previous U.N. commission occasionally discussed and condemned the regimes most responsible for human rights crimes, such as those in Belarus and Burma. China used to feel compelled to burnish its record before the annual meeting. The new council, in contrast, has so far taken action on only one country, which has dominated the debate at both of its regular meetings and been the sole subject of two extraordinary sessions: Israel. |
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/11/AR2006101101592.html
Darfur, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and Burma are all inconsequential for to the Human Rights Council, led by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Israel is the only evil in the world.
According to Wikipeda, the primary goals of the OIC are "to promote solidarity among all member states; to consolidate cooperation among member states in economic, social, cultural, scientific, and other fields of activity; to endeavor to eliminate racial segregation and discrimination and to oppose colonialism in all its forms; to support the Palestinian people in their struggle to regain their national rights and to return to their homeland; and, to support all Muslim people in their struggle to safeguard their dignity, independence and national rights."
In other words, promoting self interest. On the top of that list seems to be doing anything to malign and destroy Israel, all other plights be damned. It really tells you something about the leaders of these countries, that when given a chance to do something good and noble, they choose a base, malicious, self-serving agenda.
October 11, 2006
Breaking: Small Plane Crash in NY
Reports are coming in that a small plane has crashed into a building on the upper east side of Manhattan. Speculation is it is a helicoptor and no foul play involved, as it is a overcast day here in NY. I'll update as I find out more.
524 E. 72 is the address of the building.
Washington is saying there is no reason to believe it is terrorism.
**UPDATE**
Here is a link with a screencap of some video.
http://wcbstv.com/national/topstories_story_284145246.html
Photo taken from WCBSTV.com
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A small aircraft crashed into a high-rise on the Upper East Side, setting off a fire and startling New Yorkers, police said. There were conflicting reports on whether the aircraft was a small plane or a helicopter. Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi said an aircraft struck struck the 20th floor of a building on East 72nd Street. Witnesses said the crash caused a loud noise, and burning and falling debris was seen. Flames were seen shooting out of the windows. Video from the scene showed at least three apartments in the high rise fully engulfed in flames. |
Source: http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/11/D8KMK4380.html
Fighter jets scrambled as a precaution. Market falls on terrorism worries but has now rebounded to pre-plane crash levels as fears have eased.
**UPDATE**
New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle apparently was on the plane.
Cut and Run and Then…?
September 29, 2006, Media Matters For America Headline: "ABC, CBS, CNN aired Bush's "cut and run" attack on Democrats, ignored Democratic response"
Media Matters went on to report that the gist of the "response", by Harry Reid, was: "If George Bush is so confident that his national security policies are working, he should release the entire National Intelligence Estimate on terrorism and let the American people decide for themselves. The fact that he won't speaks volumes about how the failure of his policies has made the American people less safe. George Bush has no credibility left on national security. No matter how many stump speeches he gives on the campaign trail, the American people can see the damage his tough talk has done to America's safety. It's time to be tough and smart so we can change course and give Americans the real security they deserve."
Most sane Americans wish there were no "War on Terror" and want nothing more than a sensible plan to end it and let Peace and the Happy Bosom Family reign. They will support a "cut and run" solution if a plan is presented that clearly outlines its benefits and risks.
For example, a short-term benefit of a quick exit from Iraq would likely be to save many American soldiers lives, (perhaps at the cost of a bloodbath for Iraqis). But, what of the longer term? How will defeating America cause the jihadists to become peace-loving live-and-let-live world citizens? Have there been any such signals from any Islamist? Would they no longer hate Jews, Christians or any non-Muslims? Will they limit their aggression to their own countries?
Since everybody loves a winner, could America's defeat inspire even more recruits to Al Qaeda? With our forces gone, they'd certainly be in less danger.
A "tough and smart" answer to these questions would have been a stirring response to the President's message. It "fairly boggles the mind" that Mr. Reid wasn't prepared to disclose his new course.
-Zorroaster
October 09, 2006
YouTube's $1.65 Billion Price Tag
Google to buy YouTube for $1.6 billion.
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Google, the Internet's leading search engine, announced Monday that it is buying popular online video site YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock. YouTube, which was founded in February 2005, has quickly become the most well-known of several online video sites. More than 100 million videos, many of which are short videos created by the site's users, are downloaded a day on the site. |
Source: http://biz.yahoo.com/cnnm/061009/100906_googleyoutube_deal.html?.v=1
Raising Terrorists
MEMRI has a story on an Islamic website that is carrying screenshots of a Hamas produced program designed to condition young minds to be future terrorists.
I guess this is their version of Sesame Street.
Photo taken from MEMRI
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The images show various methods which are supposedly effective in imbuing children with terrorist aspirations. The first image is a montage showing an infant in the center, with a picture of Osama bin Laden on the right, and the image of Yahya Ayyash, the legendary Hamas explosives engineer, on the left. The infant is wearing a green Kata'ib Al-Qassam (Al-Qassam Brigades) ribbon on his forehead. Below that is a picture of three horsemen and a caption saying "The horses' backs were our cradles, and on them we followed our ancestors [in Jihad]." |
October 08, 2006
Homosexual Recruitment
October 7, 2006 New York Times Headline: Spitzer Vows to Push for Gay Marriage
Whatever the merits of the "homosexual rights" arguments, one thing is certain-the media, politicians and educator's mainstreaming of homosexuality makes it much easier for its adherents to recruit among kids. Since it is taught as a "normal", socially acceptable life style, who can resist the entreaty, "How can you know you don't like it until you try it?" --Especially when you're young, experimental and inexperienced. And, even if kids turn out not to like it, they still will have had the homosexual experience and possibly exposed to its more dangerous aspects. While it may be true that AIDS is not an exclusively gay disease, it is surely true that the proportion of AIDS victims is much higher in the homosexual community than for heterosexuals. So, why have we decided to make gay "try it, you'll like it" recruitment easier?
-Zorroaster
October 05, 2006
Rubber Chicken Alert: Streisand
Barbara Streisand, a connoisseur of the rubber chicken, displayed hers at the Wachovia Center in Philly. You knew this was coming. Nothing gets the crowd going like a good swipe at the POTUS.
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Barbra Streisand opened her first U.S. tour in 12 years on Wednesday with a show that ridiculed her political nemesis, President George W. Bush. Before a capacity crowd of some 16,000 people at South Philadelphia's Wachovia Center, Streisand gave assured renditions of standards from her long career as a singer and actress including "Funny Girl," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Love Soft as an Easy Chair," and "Somewhere." The show also featured a skit where an actor playing Bush uttered such lines as, "I'm concerned about the national debt, so I'm selling Canada," and "If I cared about the polls I would have run for president of Poland." |
October 04, 2006
Oh Now You Think of This?
George Lucas has decided to call it quits when it comes to feature films, unfortunately the damage is done. He managed to turn one of the most beloved movie trilogies into a joke.
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"We don't want to make movies. We're about to get into television. As far as Lucasfilm is concerned, we've moved away from the feature film thing, because it's too expensive and it's too risky. "I think the secret to the future is quantity," Lucas told Daily Variety. "Because that's where it's going to end up." |
Source: http://www.variety.com/VR1117951284.html
Yes, quantity is the secret, as much crap as you can pump out.
October 02, 2006
The Blab Factor
When it comes to conspiracy theories, I've always held to the belief that nobody can keep their mouth shut. I call it The Blab Factor.
In a world with book deals, television appearances, and exclusive story payoffs that all can lead to instant fame, sometimes brief other times extended well beyond what is justifiably tolerable, the temptation to blab is just too much.
Warren Kozak's article The Conspiratorial Mind covers this aspect of conspiracy theories and looks at what might be going on in the minds of people who believe these theories.
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[T]he one thing I am sure of is that people will always talk and people in Washington talk more than most. It's usually out of ego, less often from guilt. Now imagine a conspiracy on the magnitude of the Kennedy assassination that has not leaked for 43 years involving, according to conspiracy theorists: the CIA, Lyndon Johnson, the mafia, the Cubans, the Russians, the extreme right wing, the extreme left wing, and Southern segregationists. It defies human nature - and logic. But logic is completely irrelevant when it comes to conspiracy thinking. |
Plea Bargain Bill Ritter
Listening to the Hugh Hewitt show the other day I learned of a unfolding scandal involving the Bill Ritter actions as Denver's DA where he "plea bargained alien felons charged with serious crimes to the non-deportable offense of trespass on agricultural lands".
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What Ritter cannot explain away is a policy that purposefully used an obscure and absurd charge --trespass on agricultural land-- as a means of keeping alien felons from being deported. Employing this tactic not only undermines the legitimacy of the prosecutor's office --"agricultural trespass" is a "crime" completely different from the crimes the felons were charged with, not a "lesser included" offense-- the purposeful frustration of the deportation laws kept criminals in the country who ought to have been sent to their home country. |
Source: http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/g/01bacd1f-b81b-449d-a185-2fb226bc2abc
Apparently, the number of cases with Ritter's handiwork is approaching 200 and it may go above that. You can read Hugh Hewitt's full post and the article in the Denver Post for all the info.