Kudos Doonesbury

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Certainly, Doonesbury is a liberal strip, but occasionally they have a good point. I know college students like this. And yet another reason I don't believe in the draft... chickenhawks make my husband look good. Lip service is one thing, foot service is another.

We Praise Thee O God

Since I'm not going to be in our Lutheran church this Thanksgiving:

"We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer Creator" by Julia Cory

"We praise Thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator,
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring;
We lay it before Thee, we kneel and adore Thee,
We bless Thy holy Name, glad praises we sing.

"We worship Thee, God of our fathers, we bless Thee;
Through life’s storm and tempest our guide have Thou been;
When perils overtake us, escape Thou will make us,
And with Thy help, O Lord, our battles we win.

"With voices united our praises we offer,
To Thee, great Jehovah, glad anthems we raise.
Thy strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us,
To Thee, our great Redeemer, forever be praise."

Happy Thanksgiving!

The 100th Psalm (ESV, copyright 1995)
"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

"Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

"For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations."

A Terrorist Driven Life

Worldnetdaily has two points of view on the Rick Warren visit to Syria. Joseph Farrah, the editor of Worldnetdaily; and an article with Rick Warren’s response. So, take your pick.

Here’s my take:
1. Rick Warren was in Syria as a tourist; not a diplomatic envoy, not as a missionary or evangelist, not on a mission of mercy.
2. Rick Warren was warned by the US State Department that he would be used in propaganda if he met with the president of Syria.
3. Rick Warren, because he did not follow the advice of the State Department to stay away, put himself in a position where he will be a tool to recruit terrorists and funding that will harm our service members and maybe even our country.

And when Rick Warren said: “I also know that anyone who speaks publicly all the time is bound to say something dumb every now and then. So I ask for your patience and forgiveness in advance because I’m sure it will happen! Every day I'm amazed that God uses someone as flawed as I am. You should be too. Just don't believe everything you read by bloggers or hear in the media”

Did he say something “dumb” or did he behave in a treacherous manner? The “I’m so naïve and innocent of the ways of the world” act does not work for someone as politically and media savvy as Rick Warren. He was acting as a tourist, he was warned what his actions would do, he ignored the warning, and now he expects us to think he’s just dumb?

There is no way he is this clueless. And we should not be. The blood of American service members is on his head, for his thoughtless actions, and there is no way I will support him at all.

You know what would be funny?

Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” is one of those wronged woman gets violent revenge on cheating boyfriend songs. Now, the difference between this, and the Dixie Chicks’ “Earl Had to Die” is that you can have amusing fun with “Earl.” The video, in and of itself is hilarious. “Before He Cheats” requires a dark video because of the passionate anger felt by the wronged woman.

So, since I have little better to do, I decided that I would come up with an idea that would make this song either ironic or funny if I were a music video producer.

During the chorus, I’d, of course, have the wronged woman vandalizing his truck. But, during the verses, when the guy is supposed to be cheating, I’d have him sitting in a bar playing poker with the guys. Yeah, I’d have the woman vandalizing the guy's truck for no apparent reason. Or, better still, I’d have a guy with an identical truck at the bar with the blonde, while the violent woman’s man is at his buddy’s house playing poker; and she’s vandalizing the wrong guy’s truck! Then, during that last line, where she sings, “Cause the next time that he cheats...Oh, you know it won't be on me,” I’d have her being arrested and cuffed by some cops and carried away as her boyfriend’s watching and shaking his head, relieved that he’s not with that violent psycho anymore.

And, furthermore, let’s say you’re a guy who is on a first date with a cute girl. What would you do if you found out that she totaled her last boyfriend’s truck in a fit of jealous rage? If you're looking to ruin your possibilities of being with any man, that's the way to do it.

I’m not justifying cheating. And even though I have my own inner rage demon, I take it out on the treadmill, and my low fat, low sugar diet helps a great deal. Such rage as expressed above is uncalled for. Garth Brooks addressed such rage once in a song about a truck driver, but the truck driver that murdered the cheating wife and her lover ended up in jail. Food for thought. Bad if a man gets violent revenge, while OK if a woman does?

Happy Veteran's Day

And my thanks to the following fine gentlemen:
Dad, Grandpa, Uncle Clair, Bill, Grandpa K, Uncle Todd, Sidney, Chap. Day, Raati, Fish, Montana, Gramnis, Dixen, Ach, and the rest of the serving men and women, espcially the Desert Bulls.

And my very special thanks to my own personal soldier, Joshy. I love you, I'm proud of you, and I'm counting the days!

And a nod to Fraters Libertas for their Veterans Day Salutes .

Well...

Well, I'm getting a little tired, so I'm not going to start another movie. I hear booing and hissing from the Beanie Kitties... sigh... and Jumpy kitty wanted to help me comment. We'll take care of that another night this week.

So, I'm just going to e-mail with my husband, IM with my sister, and call it an early night.

I hope you've enjoyed the little distration from politics as usual.

Pride and Prejudice

Well, right from the start, it is quite a bit like the BBC mini with Colin Firth. The opening ball scene is more lively in this version, however. There seems to be a greater age difference between Lizzie and Jane. Perhaps because there is an age difference between the two actresses.

The silence when Darcy and Bingley enter is unnatural.

Oh, no, this will NEVER do. Mr. Darcy is NOT good looking in this version. I don’t care how good the acting is. Mr. Darcy MUST be good looking. This is so sad.

But this Caroline Bingley is very lovely and it does make for a better competition between her and Lizzie. Perhaps this redeems Mr. Darcy's poor looks?

This Mrs. Bennet is delightfully rude and not the characture as in the mini. But, Lizzie in this movie seems inappropraite. She would never have sought revenge on Darcy at the first ball, and she would have been more kind in her post ball teasing of Jane. I'm not fond of this Lizzie or this Mr. Darcy. Perhaps it was just meant to be that they end up together.
If you were to take my recommendation now, just watch the BBC version with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and leave this alone. But, alas, I will subject myself to it to give you a fair review.

The cinematography and the scenery are much better in this one.

This Mr. Bingley is girly looking and would never have looked in on Jane's room while she was ill. Though the introduction to the militia is cool as they do a military parade. And I do love a military parade.

And you know, Caroline Bingley is fabulous in this version as is Mrs. Bennet. Caroline has such a chemistry with the part and the cast, much better then mini actress.

Oh, Mr. Collins is perfect! I LOVE this Mr. Collins. I would love to hear him preach a puritan sermon. Perfectly monotone! This Mr. Collins has a good chemistry with Lizzie and I kind of wish they would get together.

And I don’t like this Wickham at all. Certainly, Wickham is supposed to be forward, but this Wickham is inappropriately forward and Lizzie is inappropriately unreserved. And Wickham had the gall to say that the Sr. Mr. Darcy loved Wickham BETTER. Bull. What a prick.

Lady Catherine comes to see Elizabeth in the middle of the night.

It adds to the rudeness of the visit. But again, Lady Catherine is cast much better here, and she is realistic in placing her complaints. And Lizzie almost cries when she says that she isn’t engaged to Darcy. Actually that is well done. And Lizzie casts Lady Catherine out into the darkness and Lady Catherine throws a hissy. And then the Bennets want to know what the deal is because everyone was listening at the door.

This Caroline doesn't even pretend to be nice!

And during the Bingley ball, Lizzie is acting exactly like her younger sisters by actively seeking out Wickham. And this Mr. Collins is a good dancer and he is very smarmy and a very good creep.

And furthermore, the Lizzie/Darcy dance should have electricity to it, but this one was horribly BLAND. The main characters are out of character and BLAND. BLAND. BLAND.

And Mr. Collins is bold enough to ask for a private audience with Lizzie in front of the whole family. Yes. This is a good Mr. Collins. Mr. Collins should not be bashful or shy.

The Collins proposal:

He is somewhat awkward, and very appropriately so for a proposal. You almost cheer for Lizzie to say, “Yes.” Oh, and he is very properly differential in a proper manner to Lady Catherine. Not as superficially as the mini-series Mr. Collins. And truly genuine in his affections. And Mr. Collins is truly very hurt that Lizzie turned him down. No, this is the best Mr. Collins I have seen. This Lizzie should have said, “Yes,” if she knew what was good for her. He’s better looking then this Mr. Darcy.

Charlotte Lucas is not as loveable. And she is negatively realistic to marrying Mr. Collins. The mini Charlotte is pleasantly realistic to marrying Mr. Collins. I prefer mini Charlotte.

Oh, and the Collins's are truly grateful in this version for Lady Catherine.

To touch on some things that my commentors want…

The uniforms are nice, but rarely seen. And this Mr. Darcy is not as snobish as Colin Firth's portrayal.

Lady Catherine is impertinent and she isn’t a caricature as the mini-series Lady Catherine.

You know, I quite prefer this supporting cast…
You also know, this Lizzie really does bring modern air to the production and in an inappropriate manner. Yeah, this Lizzie is a brat and not a coquette.

Fitzwilliam is more of a buddy and confident then a prospective suitor to Lizzie, which is disappointing and downplays her part.

Oh, the Darcy proposal.
No, not passionate at all. No love for Lizzie and no self loathing at choosing an “inferior woman.” And you know, Lizzie is just way too modern. Women in the era were more submissive to men and did not pick fights as often. I *really* prefer the mini where Lizzie and Darcy are concerned. I just want to smack both these actors, and perhaps the casting director. Poor. Bland. Poor. Not faithful to the nature of the characters at all.

The one very important thing this Darcy is superior is in the letter narration.

This Aunt Gardner is older, and wiser. I do like her a great deal.

And they go to Pemberly…

And it is a fabulous prospect. Supposedly, the location they used for Pemberly is indeed the Jane Austin inspiration. And Elizabeth does love the beauty of the estate. She falls in love with the sculptures. She falls in love with the time spent in making the collection. It is a sculpture that the family sees in the art gallery and not a painting.

And Georgianna is at home when the Gardners visit. As is Darcy. And Lizzie interrupts them. Georgianna seems younger then in the mini. The conversation between Darcy and Lizzie is strained but the chemistry is just not there. Knightly is NOT Lizzie. Perhaps this Darcy would be a decent enough Darcy had Knightly not been Lizzie.

The friendship between Gerogrianna and Lizzie is immediate. I like that. Again, the supporting cast is great, the main characters are poorly cast.

And the elopement…

Lizzie gets the note. Darcy is there as are the Gardners and Darcy immediately takes blame.

The two are supposed to be inches from engagement and there is STILL no chemistry. But at least Darcy leaps to the rescue.

Lydia is insipid in a haughty manner and not in a childish manner. You know in Emma Thomson’s “Sense and Sensibility,” and Imogen Stubs’s portrayal of Lucy? Insipid like that. It’s delightful.

And Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy practice Bingley's proposal and how it will work. It's one of the few things I would add to the mini.

And the Bennets all listen at the door.

I think in this version, the Bennets actually like eachother, and that's nice.

OK and after the Lady Catherine scene, Lizzie just yells at her family, "For once in your life, just leave me alone." And the entire movie, everyone leaves her alone. What a brat.

Lizzie and Darcy meet in the middle of a dewy field. Totally inappropriate for the culture at the time, considering they are all land owners. But this is actually the only time that I like this Lizzie and Darcy together. If it were only a different story, perhaps they would be appropraitely cast together.

And Lizzie actually tells her dad the truth about what Darcy did. And Darcy is pacing outside the entire time with the Bennet women snooping.

My over all thoughts:

The movie has its strong points, namely a superior supporting cast. The movie has its inferior points, namely, poorly cast lead actors. I think for a different interpretation of the supporting cast, it is a must see. But when I read Jane Austin’s work, I will still picture a man more like Colin Firth’s portrayal as Darcy and a woman more like Jennifer Ehle for Lizzie.

The closing dialogue was reflective of a more modern spin on the character of Elizabeth Bennet. And if you like a more modern personality cast in period dramas, you will probably like this performance better then the 1995 BBC Mini Series. If you want a more complete and in depth performance, the BBC Mini Series is for you.

Because the characters of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are central to the movie, if they are poorly cast or there is little chemistry, that can throw the movie. I personally prefer the BBC version and will keep that as my primary Pride and Prejudice viewing mode, however, there is a time and a place for this version. The supporting cast and the cinematography make the movie a must see.

My good voting deed

So, after I had just started working out on the treadmill, my occasional workout buddy LT came in and we were talking about the election. She said she wished she could have voted. I asked, "Well, the polls are still open." Turns out she didn't get her license changed and the utility bills are in her roommate's name. So, I vouched for her.

I talked AWR into voting and I took LT to the polls.

I am starting my election coverage free posting late. And now I bring to you... “Pride and Prejudice”

For your election coverage free enjoyment

I will be live blogging the following movies, per the request of my husband, my sister, and the beanie kitties:

“Pride and Prejudice”
“The Aristocats”

You will have had over a year to see P&P and two hundred years to read the book, so I don’t feel bad about spoiling it for you. And you’ve had over thirty to see “The Aristocats” so there is no harm there. But if you *still* do not want me to spoil it, don’t tune in.

So, here’s what I have to do after work:
Go rent P&P
Work out on the treadmill
And then I will start the movies.

Should time permit, I also got a last minute request for: “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.”

Of course, since I just realized my Josh can’t live stream radio, I’m going to down load one of those election ticker thingies and keep tabs on it so he won’t feel left out.

Who didn’t mention the election today?

Dennis Prager
Mike Adams
Roger Schlesinger
Peter J. Williams
Stephanie Coontz

And the Star Tribune published a Sherlock Holmes story.

And my civic duty is done...

I was voter number 65 in my precinct. And I am wearing my special, red "I voted" sticker. Plus, when I was out with my mil wife friend AWR, I talked her into voting and laid out the issues. Though I was not able to convince her that freeing Dog the Bounty Hunter should be of primary concern, I at least convinced her that voting would be a good thing to do.

Here’s the political post…

So, Mitch has this good post on why conservatives should plug their nose and pull for the GOP. It’s better then the, “Just shut up already and plug your nose and vote” thing that seems to be prevailing among commentary.

And if you want election result coverage, here’s the info.

And even though I will vote (every time I talk politics lately, my mom worries that I won’t), I still stand by my post from Sunday that my civic duty will be over after I cast my ballot.

So, the big plans for tonight are:
Going to eat and church with AWR
Coming home and e-mailing my husband

And tomorrow:
Random light hearted entertainment because I can have random light hearted entertainment. My soldier told me I can.

Live Blogging…

Yes, I will be live blogging on Tuesday. However, I’m going to leave the political blogging to the experts. So, in hopes of providing a safe and political commentary free zone to those who would rather not hear me re-hash the issues of the day, I will be live blogging one of the following:
-“Anne of Green Gables” (the Kevin Sulivan mini-series, my reviews of the books could come at a later date)
-“Pride and Prejudice” (likely I’d give the new movie version a try)
-A series of Marilyn Monroe movies
-A random TV show
-A blow by blow of a book as I am reading it.
-Or something else, by request.

Someone from church is always puzzled that I don’t have anything to say about what’s going on in Iraq. Sure, I remain on the margin of being informed. And, I’m quite aware of the issues surrounding the election. But, I go to bed alone because of Iraq and I wake up alone because of Iraq. I shouldn’t have to think about it all the time. And I’m kind of tired of politics as usual.

So, tune in on Tuesday for the “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” coverage. Oooo, that’s another good live blogging idea...

(Yes, I still plan on voting.)

I stand corrected....

As HermionyGonzo pointed out so graciously during an earlier phone conversation; The Muppets are also more important then politics.

The unofficial response

So, the MN National Guard has unofficially responded to John Kerry's remarks. Please note that even though I saw the picture yesterday, it took me a full hour to find links to the picture. Google-ing this did not work. Silly Liz for not checking Shot In the Dark first... sigh.

Pick your media outlet:
Shot in the Dark
Powerline
New York Post
Charlie Sykes who broke the story in the first place