Writer's Block

First, the obvious: I haven't posted in quite a while. No excuse will be offered. As I'm sure most writers can attest to, sometimes you just don't have anything of value or note to talk about. Also, the "real world" tends to intrude upon the writer's world too often, and usually at the most inopportune times.

In the "real world," I have been unemployed for over four years now. Since the death of my grandmother this past January (whose care took up the majority of my time the past four years), most of my waking moments have been spent in the dignity-crushing search for employment in a, for lack of a better term, shitty economy. Things, however, have begun to look up... last week, I had a pleasant two interviews with a major American employer. The pre-employment process having been completed, I know only need wait for the completion of a background check, which can take up to two weeks to complete. I, of course, am waiting with bated breath, itching to not only work again, but to feel the glorious feeling that only comes with having money in your pocket that you, yourself, earned.

I have also tried to make time each week to work on my fiction writing. To date, I have several short story ideas in the Fantasy and Horror veins, as well as a Western novel and a semi-autobiographical novel in the works. The hard part is choosing which project to work on at any given time. Also, keeping a certain level of inspiration has proved a problem, as at times I have sunk into periods of deep melancholy which make it harder to roust the desire to write within me. I press on, however, because I truly feel that I have the ability to produce works that others will want to read, but also because the sales of those works will earn me even more money.

That may seem rather crass to most people, but so be it. I love money. I love the opportunities that money helps to provide. I love the thought that, with money, I can provide the things that I (and, had I one, my family) need and desire. Gene Simmons (of KISS fame) said it best: The love of money is not the root of all evil. The lack of money is.

At any rate, that is what has been happening with me lately. Wish me luck with my above activities. If all goes well, my posts here may be very infrequent, indeed. But rest assured that, when I feel I have something worthwhile to say, you will be able to read it here first.

Dick Clark 1929-2012

Those of us who are old enough to remember when Saturday morning TV was THE place to be every week have lost a friend.

Dick Clark (born November 30, 1929) was a fixture of American popular entertainment for over fifty years, particularly through the Saturday morning program American Bandstand. He also was the host of several game shows, the most famous of which was The ($10,000/$20,000/$25,000/$100,000) Pyramid. Through the music programs he hosted/produced, he helped introduce America to many of it's most famous acts, from KISS to Michael Jackson to Madonna. It didn't matter the genre, if Dick Clark liked you, you appeared on Bandstand or his successful annual special Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

In the 80s, he produced and co-hosted (alongside the late, great Ed McMahon) TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes, where TV's best mistakes and blunders were taken out of the vault and aired for all to see. They also played some brilliant practical jokes on some of the most popular celebrities of the day, which were recorded via hidden camera for air on the program. The (in my opinion) talentless hack known as Ashton Kutcher would later rip off the latter idea for his MTV program Punk'd.

In 2004, Clark suffered a debilitating stroke and was forced to miss that year's New Year's Eve special. The following year, he made his return to the telecast after having to teach himself how to speak all over again. He would continue to appear on the annual telecast over the next several years, with primary hosting duties being assumed by (in my opinion) another talentless hack- Ryan Seacrest. Dick Clark died today, April 18, 2012, following a heart attack. He was 82 years old.

I remember well, after my weekly dose of cartoons, watching Bandstand as a lead-in to my weekly dose of professional wrestling and monster movies (Japanese and otherwise). I miss those days greatly. I will miss Dick Clark just as greatly.

Rock on in the great beyond...

Random Thoughts: April 16, 2012

Earlier tonight, on Fox News's Special Report, political commentator extraordinaire Charles Krauthammer stated that Democrats stand on principle only if a Republican is in office. Ne'er a truer word...
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I have always respected and admired Bill Cosby for being one of the few entertainers that actually tells it like it is. I am all the more disappointed in him, therefore, for his gravitation to an easy answer to the motivation as to the Trayvon Martin shooting by stating that, essentially, the gun was to blame. He even made the statement that if someone was supposed to be protecting him, he didn't want them to have a gun. I'm sure the policemen in Mr. Cosby's neighborhood will be glad to hear that. I feel that Mr. Cosby may not be in a good position to comment on anything involving firearms due to his natural bias against them as a result of his only son, Ennis, being shot to death some years ago. I would remind Mr. Cosby that, in the hands of lawful owners, crimes are much more likely to be stopped with guns than committed. I would also remind everyone that to ignore Trayvon's history of misbehavior, while using old photographs to depict him, is to be the real racist in all of this. My big fear is that George Zimmerman will never be able to get a fair trial. But then, when a dog-and-pony-show such as this is set up as a result of a lynch-mob mentality, fairness isn't really the point, is it?

Random Thoughts: April 10, 2012

I see that Rick Santorum has dropped out of the Republican Presidential primary race. Perhaps if he had done so a few months ago and supported the true conservative in the race (Newt Gingrich), we conservative Republicans wouldn't be faced with the prospect of, once again, having to hold our noses and vote for a wishy-washy moderate. Here's hoping Santorum does the right thing and talks his set of delegates into voting for Speaker Gingrich at the convention...
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Anyone who knows me knows that I love KISS, but not enough to watch "Dancing With The Stars." I will, however, seek out their two performances from the show on the 'net. One can never have enough KISS in their lives...
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I'm starting to get the feeling that the mainstream media's coverage/analysis of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman is their attempt to gin up a race war in order to aid in the reelection of their Messiah, one Dear Leader. What other explanation can there be for trying this case in the court of public opinion instead of a court of law? Why else would NBC (who is firmly in Dear Leader's back pocket) doctor a 911 tape in order to present Mr. Zimmerman in the worst possible light? Why else ignore Martin's record of bad behavior, and only show a five-year-old picture of Martin, in order to present him in the best possible light? Why else would the two biggest race pimps in America (Sharpton and Jackson) rear their ugly heads? Why is the New Black Panther Party's placing of a bounty on George Zimmerman being soundly ignored by the mainstream media? Why else would Dear Leader, in response to a planted question (the ONLY one he answered) at a press conference, say that "if [he] had a son, he would look just like Trayvon?" Why would the supposed President of the United States even comment on something that was not a federal law enforcement issue at all? Something is rotten, and not just in Denmark...
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The more TV spots for the upcoming "Avengers" movie that I see, the more I get the feeling that this may be the first truly entertaining project that Joss Whedon (the most over-rated person in Hollywood) has been involved with since the original "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" movie with Kristy Swanson...

Happy Passover/Easter

While I am not a religious person, I respect the practices and holidays of the true religions of the world. In that spirit, I would like to wish any and all Jewish readers of Cerebral Dissidence a Happy Passover, as well as wishing a Happy Easter to the Christian readers. Inconsistencies (and there are many) aside, the messages of the Jewish and Christian scriptures are universal, providing a template for civilized society that is unparalleled. It's a shame that Organized Religion's role as a Mafia-esque entity, combined with the "my-God-can-whip-your-God" mentality, is driving people away from something that should be so simple and helpful to us as human beings.

So again, Happy Passover, Happy Easter, and how about we all try just being a little bit nicer to each other year 'round? Believe me, I know it's hard to do... people basically suck, after all. But it couldn't hurt, could it?

Question With Boldness?

A few days ago, I postulated a personal theory on a Facebook Tea Party page. The theory was a simple one: that since a big reason Rick Santorum did so well in certain states was due to support from Evangelical Christians, and because Santorum is very open about his Catholic faith, that Evangelicals aren't backing him because he is the most conservative, or because he displays strong leadership. My theory is that they are backing Santorum simply because they feel that he is the most Christian candidate in the race. I added that being a Christian, be it strong, phoney, or otherwise, did not necessarily make one a leader.

Shortly thereafter, the floodgates opened. I was unloaded upon by people claiming that I hated Christians (and, by extension, Jews), that I was an atheist, that I was EVIL, that I was Wiccan, that I was a Democrat plant working for Dear Leader's campaign, and sundry other ridiculous notions. NOT ONE of these so-called "Christian" individuals actually argued the merits of what I had posted. They simply attacked me personally. Even when I gave them an out by asking them why they felt the need to reply to a post which they felt didn't apply to them with such vitriol, even pointing out their own hypocrisy in doing so, the attacks continued.

A day or so later, I added a new post to the same page, calling out these self-described "Godly" people on their lack of good Christian values (coming from a Christian family, I know a thing or two about them). Needless to say, they didn't like that at all. And through all of this, not one attempt to prove what I posted to be incorrect... just knee-jerk emotionalism, personal attacks, and attempting to deflect from the issue by somehow making me the issue. I can, therefore, only conclude that I must have struck a nerve with those people. After all, why would anyone get so defensive about an observation that they claim didn't apply to them, unless it really did on some level?

I suppose that it's perfectly OK to question the motives of anyone you wish, as long as that person isn't an Evangelical Christian.

How deliciously hypocritical.

It Ain't Over

With the garnering of endorsements from former President George H.W. Bush, Senator Marco Rubio, and Representative Paul Ryan, it seems the Republican establishment is attempting to revive the already-disproven theory that former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is the inevitable Republican nominee for President. Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, however, has vowed to remain in the race no matter what, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich's campaign is restructuring for a "floor-fight" strategy at the Convention.

The point being that this is a long way from being over. With only about half of the delegates awarded so far, neither Gingrich nor Santorum are anywhere close to reaching the "magic number" of 1144 needed to clinch the nomination (Republican party gadfly Ron Paul remains dead last, as usual). Then again, neither is Romney. Plus, Romney's unfavorable rating has increased. Which says to me that the electorate's search for the "not-Romney" candidate is alive and well.

So I say, let's take it to the convention. After all, the last time we "coalesced around the inevitable nominee," we ended up with John McCain, who is as moderate as they come... and we all know how that turned out, don't we?

Spring Cleaning

A list of things that should be done away with, preferably forthwith:

"LOL"

"LMFAO--" The slang AND the group.

"Squeee!"

Socialism/Communism

The unrealistic belief that we will ever rid the world of bullying, hatred, racism, war, etc.. As long as there are humans on this planet, these things will exist.

Revisionism-- particularly as regards the War For Southern Independence and the Lincoln Myth.

Madonna's career-- seriously, it stopped being cute a long time ago, honey.

The Tim Burton/Johnny Depp partnership

Disney-- if you won't market your movies properly, what's the point of even making them?

Religious charlatans-- and not just the ones on TV.

More to come, I'm sure...

Book Review: Abuse of Power by Michael Savage

I think a new genre is in order: the "thriller-written-by-talk-radio-host" genre. "Abuse of Power" is, overall, a much better book than Glenn Beck's "Overton Window." This is primarily due to it actually being thrilling. Dr. Savage presents a much more action-packed novel than Beck that relies, not upon conspiracy theory, but actual existential threat for it's source of tension. The characters here are much more fully realized than in "Overton," with believable back stories and motivations for what they do (or, indeed, what they don't do).

Dr. Savage also manages to weave small history lessons into the narrative, making the book even more interesting. The action's locale moves around frequently, giving the plot an international scope. While, to some extent, the main character (Jack Hatfield) could be seen as a greatly idealized version of Dr. Savage himself, it did nothing to lessen his believability in my eyes (just as the knowledge that Conan the Barbarian was an idealized version of Robert E. Howard doesn't lessen Conan's appeal). And that is where I think "Abuse" succeeds where "Overton" does not... you believe in, and sympathize with, Dr. Savage's characters much more than Beck's... which is essential to any thriller.

For anyone who has or would pass this up because of preconceived notions about Dr. Savage, I would say that you are doing yourself a disservice by doing so. Dr. Savage has, with this first novel, proven himself as an adept writer of fiction. I hope to read more novels from him in the future.

Random Thoughts: March 26, 2012

It's really annoying when you find out that people are talking about you behind your back. It's even more annoying when people speak ill of you to others, with you present, as though you weren't even there.
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Oral arguments for and against Obamacare began today in the Supreme Court. Let's hope this travesty of a law is struck down... not just for our sakes, but for the sakes of our children's and grandchildren's futures, as well.
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For someone who has no record to run on, and whose biggest "achievement" is hated by the majority of American citizens, Obama sure seems confident of his reelection. Now, I'm no conspiracy theorist, but this makes me wonder if he and his cronies know something that the rest of us don't?
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I see "The Hunger Games" is a success. I have absolutely no desire to see it. After reviewing the basic premise of the story, I found that I liked it better the first time around... when it was called "The Running Man."
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If today's children want to read truly great fantasy, they should be reading all the Robert E. Howard, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and Edgar Rice Burroughs they can get their grubby little hands on. Far, far better stuff than what is passing for fantasy these days.
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I love reading about religions of the world, past and present. It never ceases to amaze me what some people are willing to believe. I generally consider myself non-religious, although I do believe that there is a God of some sort. However, if I were to decide to practice a religion, it would probably be Odinism. I like it's family-and-friends-first philosophy... which is especially suited to me, as my friends ARE my family.

Book Review: The Overton Window by Glenn Beck

I didn't really expect much from this one, I have to admit. Beck has fallen out of favor with me in recent months as he has descended into Alex-Jones-without-the-Jew-hatred territory. His finger-in-the-wind endorsements of just about every Republican Presidential candidate, culminating in a predictable siding with fellow Mormon Mitt Romney, has been another source of frustration. Still, I decided I'd give this a go... and I'm glad I did.

Although described as a "thriller," there is very little real action in the book. This is made up for by a well-executed sense of intrigue, using real-life as a backdrop, to some degree. Although some of the main characters are thinly-veiled versions of actual individuals (some bordering on outright caricatures), the "it CAN happen here" feel the story possesses tends to override the flaws in characterization.

In short, give it a shot... no matter your political persuasion. It's a fast, easy read (I finished it in three days) that, I feel, is a good first attempt in this genre. I hope Beck gives the thriller genre another go. With "Overton Window," he has shown a good deal of potential.

More About Me Part 2

When I was born, I was a mess by all accounts. I'm told I had a double hernia and an extremely rapid heartbeat. The doctors had to stop my heart and restart it electrically, which was still a fairly new procedure in 1972. I wasn't expected to survive. Looking back on my life now, especially the past few years, I sometimes wish I hadn't.

It's becoming more and more apparent to me that I must have raped a nun in a past life. That's about the only thing I could have done heinous enough to justify the miserable turn my life has taken in the past few years. The weird thing is, I actually welcome it, in a way. The more obstacles, the more adversity, the more misery that gets heaped upon me is only going to make my eventual triumph all the more sweet. The best can't be hidden away forever, and the cream really does always rise to the top.

I was always taught to believe that I wasn't better than anyone else, but that's not true. I am better than everyone and everything that stands in my way. I guess I've known it all along. And, in due course, they'll know it, too.

To paraphrase the liner notes to one of my favorite band's albums, " I only wish to live long enough to piss on the graves of my enemies."

Random Thoughts: March 19, 2012

Much like the "contraception issue," the gay marriage issue is not about civil rights. It is about religious freedom.
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I read that a Disney executive said that the company expected a loss on "John Carter." Apparently... since they made absolutely NO effort to market it properly. Which, of course, begs the question: Why would any company spend so much to make a film that they, admittedly, expected a loss on?
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After viewing a recently-released promo photo from the upcoming "Lone Ranger" movie (also a Disney production), I have come to the conclusion that it will be a stinkeroo. With the Ranger (Armie Hammer) in a black three-piece suit and Texas Ranger badge, and Tonto (Johnny Depp) in corpsepaint with a dead bird on his head, I believe that Disney's lack of respect for the source material will leave them with a real flop, once again at their own hands. At least now 1981's "Legend of the Lone Ranger" won't be remembered as the worst LR depiction ever.
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Apparently, the next series of the flagship BBC program (and greatest television series of all-time) Doctor Who is to feature a Western-themed episode with scenes shot in Almeria, Spain, where some of the best (and worst) Spaghetti Westerns were filmed. As if I needed another reason to be excited about DW...

How Not To Rig A Primary

There are reports that Democrats have been voting for Rick Santorum in states with an open primary system, because they believe that he will be the easiest person for Dear Leader to beat in the general election. Whether they are right or wrong is a debatable point, but the real issue here is the rigging of a political party's primary by the opposing party. I posted the following in a Facebook group last night. As Ted Nugent would say, "It's so simple, it's stupid." I said:

"This primary season is all the evidence needed to push for a National Primary... where every state votes on the same day and we get rid of this antiquated "caucus" Bovine Scatology once and for all. You must vote in your own party's primary, and "independents" have to shut up and take whatever us non-wishy-washy types give them to choose from. And absolutely NO changing party affiliation within six months of any election. Just for good measure, we should also make it illegal for candidates or potential candidates to engage in anything that could even remotely be construed as campaigning before six months prior to any national election."

Feel free to add to this list in the comments section...

The Point

Lately, I find myself wondering "what's the point?" What's the point of trying to do the right thing, help those who need it and shoot for success? From where I sit, I can see none. Not when doing all the above only serves to get you shat upon with a vengeance by those who would fancy themselves your betters. Nice guys really do finish last, it seems.

The only things that keep me going are my friends-- my real friends. They know who they are, or at least, they should by now. More than one of them is in the same boat... knowing that they will spend their entire lives striving for what, in the end, will be nothing. And all the while, those who were born with horseshoes up their asses will skate through life without a care in the world.

That leads me to the other thing that keeps me going-- the chance, no matter how miniscule, that one day I will be able to stick it to the pampered... to somehow, someway, make them feel as tiny and powerless and impotent as I feel now. That chance does exist, so long as I remain alive... so long as I draw breath and hot Irish/Cherokee blood continues to flow through my veins. No matter how long it takes, no matter what I must endure along the way, I know that, just as the proverbial dog, my day, too, will come.

Get ready.

A Recommendation

Great performances, great costumes, great effects, 3D that doesn't seem intrusive, an excellent adaptation of a classic story, and the foxiest Martian princess you are ever likely to encounter... on screen or otherwise!

I cannot stress this enough: GO SEE "JOHN CARTER." You will not be disappointed.

Peyton Manning: What's The Big Deal?

The following is my opinion, formed over many years of having Peyton Manning shoved down my throat by my fellow Tennesseans.

Can anyone explain to me why anyone should give a rat's hairy hindquarters about Peyton Manning? I mean, this is the guy who is deified by fans and alumni of the University of Tennessee, yet couldn't deliver a National Championship to them. Yet, he gets a major thoroughfare in Knoxville named for him. His successor, Tee Martin, won UT a National Championship, yet is treated as an afterthought. Another one of those "things that make you go 'hmm'..."

The fact of the matter is that since the death of Steve McNair, Peyton Manning has assumed the mantle of most overrated and most irrelevant quarterback in the NFL.

The fact of the matter is that, no matter how much unwarranted and misguided praise is heaped upon him by sycophantic fans and journalists, he will never be able to surpass the level of mediocrity achieved by his footnote-in-football-history father.

The fact of the matter is that, when everything is said and done, it doesn't matter what Peyton Manning has ever done or will ever do. He will still have to go to his grave knowing in his heart that his little brother is demonstrably better than he will ever be.

Cue the pitchforks and torches...

Random Thoughts: March 7, 2012

The Mitt Romney campaign is now saying that it would take an "act of God" for their candidate to not get the Republican Presidential Nomination.

"Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name..."
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My heartfelt condolences go out to Mrs. Louise Cantrell, wife of the late Chief Warrant Officer (and Green Beret) Edward Cantrell, who died recently while unsuccessfully trying to save his two daughters (ages 6 & 4) from their burning home. CWO Cantrell is the very definition of the word "hero."
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Since withdrawing its advertising from Rush Limbaugh's radio program in the wake of "Flukegate," Carbonite's stock has dropped almost 12% from Monday's market opening. And it serves them right.
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Apparently, it's now racist to chant "USA" at sporting events in Texas, as it might offend teams with minority players. Just think about that for a bit...
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Former governor Sarah Palin says that she voted for Newt Gingrich in her home state of Alaska's Republican Presidential Primary, which means that she still has larger testicles than at least 90% of men in the Republican party.
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Twenty-four-year-old Amanda Clayton from Lincoln Park, Michigan won $1M from the Michigan State Lottery this past fall, yet still collects and uses approximately $200 per month in food stamps. She says it's OK because she took her winnings as a lump-sum payment, which halved the prize, and that "I feel it's OK because, I mean, I have no income and I have bills to pay. I have two houses."

TWO HOUSES? With "NO INCOME?!"

In my opinion, it appears as though Sandra Fluke has a new buddy in the "liberal-"progressive" prostitute" pool.

War Of Words: My Opinion

Much hay has been made of Rush Limbaugh's labeling of one Sandra Fluke a "slut" last week. Well, let's take a closer look at poor little Sandra Fluke:

1) First, she was referred to as "Susan Fluke." Then, all of a sudden, her name was "Sandra."

2) First, she was a 20-something law school student. Later on in the week, it was revealed that she was, in fact, 30 years old and that it wasn't clear if she was actually still attending law school or not.

3) It was also revealed that she is a hardcore feminist/activist who, allegedly, was specifically invited to the hearings by failed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

4) She claimed she would have to spend about $3,000 on contraception over a three year law school stint... which would average out to her engaging in sexual intercourse three times daily over the course of each year.

5) She received a personal call of support from no less than Dear Leader. That's odd... I don't remember Barry doing the same for conservative radio talk show host Laura Ingraham when she was called a slut by liberal talk show hack Ed Schultz a while back...

Now, notwithstanding the fact that the issue here is not contraception, but whether or not the federal government has the authority to force religious institutions to violate their basic tenets and beliefs (they don't), the fundamental question is this: what are we supposed to call a woman who fits the above five criteria?

Slut? Maybe. Liar? Quite possibly. Prostitute for a phony liberal/"progressive" agenda?

Most definitely.

Ronnie Montrose 1947-2012

The Rock genre has lost another legend. Ronnie Montrose, guitarist extraordinaire, died on March 3rd, 2012 at the age of 64. The cause was prostate cancer which he had battled for several years.

Montrose was born on November 29, 1947 and grew up in San Fransisco, California before running away to Colorado at age 16. In 1969, he started a band called Sawbuck with bassist Bill Church. During the recording of what was to be the first Sawbuck album, producer David Rubinson arranged for Ronnie to audition for the legendary Van Morrison. Ronnie then played on Morrison's album "Tupelo Honey."

Following this, Ronnie would briefly play with Boz Scaggs before joining the Edgar Winter Group in 1972. He featured on the EWG album "They Only Come Out At Night," which featured the hits "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride." Ronnie would then leave EWG to form his own band, the appropriately-monikered Montrose, in 1973. The classic Montrose line-up featured the aforementioned Bill Church on bass, Denny Carmassi on drums, and the then-unknown Sammy Hagar on vocals. The first Montrose album featured such classics as "Rock Candy," "Bad Motor Scooter," and "Space Station #5." A second album, 1974s "Paper Money," would follow before Hagar would leave the band in pursuit of a solo career. Ronnie would record under the Montrose and Ronnie Montrose banners until also forming the band Gamma in 1979, which would record three albums throughout the 80s and 90s, and a fourth in 2005.

The original Montrose line-up (Ronnie, Church and Carmassi) would reunite to appear on Sammy Hagar's solo album "Marching To Mars," on the song entitled "Leaving The Warmth Of The Womb." They also played as special guests at several Sammy Hagar concerts in 2004 and 2005. Ronnie also performed regularly from 2002 to the present under the Montrose banner with rotating bassists and drummers, and with Keith St. John on lead vocals. Also, over the years, he did session work with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Gary Wright, and the Neville Brothers, among others.

While on tour in late 2009, he revealed that he had been fighting prostate cancer, but that he had, apparently, beaten it. It seems now that that was wishful thinking.

Ronnie Montrose was one of those musicians who was well-known to the Rock community, but not as well known among the general public. I've always thought that was a shame, as this master of the Gibson Les Paul was every bit as talented as, if not more talented than, his more famous contemporaries. He wasn't a particularly flashy player, but he was always solid- delivering exactly what each song needed. Rock-n-Roll is going to be much worse off without him.

R.I.P. Ronnie Montrose. Rock on in the Great Beyond.

(Biographical information from Wikipedia)

Ride Into Glory

Dark clouds fill the sky
No worse could things for me be
I kneel and ask the Gods why
Why have thou forsaken me
But strength is intrinsically mine
I know not the meaning of quit
I will break the shackles that bind
In despair I refuse to sit

        I will arise from out of the mire
        Those who oppress me will soon feel the fire
        I will bring all of my hatred to bear
        And my cries of vengeance will ring thru the air
        As I ride into glory

Under the hot midday sun
I strike my transgressors down one by one
My sword, mace, and axe on a bloodthirsty binge
As I travel on unleashing revenge
So many assumed that they had me beat
But now they all choke on bitter defeat
It's been said ev'ry dog has its day
But 'tis only you who can show you the way

        I will arise from out of the mire
        Those who oppress me will now feel the fire
        I will bring all of my power to bear
        And my cries of vengeance will ring thru the air

        As I ride into glory

Andrew Breitbart 1969-2012

News of Breitbart's death came as a total shock to me, as I'm sure it did to most who were aware of him. He was one of the very few people these days who seemed willing to help lead the Conservative movement. His vision of utilizing pop culture, social media, and the internet in general to aid in the movement's appeal to young people was pioneering and sorely needed. I remember watching his many appearances on various television shows. His disheveled appearance and almost manic-depressive delivery, while entertaining, belied just how smart and on top of things he really was. He was one of those people, of which there are few, who seemed to genuinely not give a damn about what others thought of him. His priority was getting to the truth as best he could, and ensuring the continuance of the Conservative movement. He wasn't, as most establishment Republicans are, afraid of going after the other side the way they go after us. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet the man, but in his media appearances he always seemed to be someone I had known all my life...

Yesterday, I stated that one should enjoy life, and everything in it, as much as possible, as you never know when your number may be up. By most accounts I have read, Breitbart did just that. That should be the biggest lesson we take from the life and death of this Conservative warrior.

R.I.P. Andrew Breitbart.

Life, In General

There's a lot of emphasis being placed these days on health and "wellness (whatever that is)." One of my very best friends, in fact, doesn't eat meat, constantly studies nutritional information, and rags me constantly, albiet good-naturedly, about what I shove down my gullet. I, therefore, tease him no end about having the dietary habits of a rabbit. My belief is simple: what point is there to life if you can't enjoy something as simple as what you eat? You only get one time around, and no matter what you do, your death is inevitable. It just makes no sense to me to avoid the things, especially food, that make me happy in pursuit of an impossible goal. Besides, the way the world is going these days, who would really want to spend any more time on it than absolutely necessary?
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A basic undeniable truth is that men will never understand women. That's because women are too complex to ever truly figure out. Another undeniable truth is that women will never understand men. This, however, is because a woman's mind is such a complex and, at times, contradictory thing, they aren't able to even entertain the notion that we men are, actually, very simple creatures. All men really want out of life are: good food, good beer/liquor, and good sex. If we get those things, we are very happy. If, however, we are constantly hounded about sharing our thoughts and feelings, we will not be. Believe it or not, ladies, sometimes (ofttimes) we actually do stare into space without a single thought rattling around our brains. It's just how we are.

Alone

I dream about you all the time. You, the only two people who ever really gave a damn about me. Oh, I have friends... well, I have many acquaintances. I can count my real friends on less than five fingers. Few in number they may be, but they are loyal... more loyal than I deserve. Every dream is different. You each die a different death. But the end result is always the same.

I'm only existing now. Stuck living with a "father" who respects me so little, who hates me so much, that he does everything he can to up my misery quotient. He knows that I'm in a tight spot. I moved in to his home to do his job for him, to take care of his mother so that he wouldn't have to be bothered with it. I've never really felt as though I were welcome there, though. After all, wasn't I pawned off on you both when it was apparent to him that a kid would cramp his style? And now, with his worthless girlfriend having insinuated herself into the living arrangements since the death of his mother, it seems as though everything possible is being done to run me out of the house and onto the street of my own volition, so he can save face among those who may still be watching.

I've never minded the "pawning off," though. You two were the best parents anyone could have had. I learned more from you both than from anyone else, damn near. My only regret is that you both died without being proud of me. I apologize for that. If it's any consolation, I will probably die without being proud of myself. I will die without having left any lasting mark on the world or anyone in it. I will die as I was born- anonymous.

I will die as I have lived since you both went away.

Alone.

Random Thoughts: February 26, 2012

Dear Leader claims that "there is no magic bullet" to lower gasoline prices. That is a lie. The United States and Canada have enough oil and oil shale reserves to fuel the entire world for the next century. The "magic bullet," O Anointed One, is to drill and refine on our own coasts and within our own borders.
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I may have covered this before, however, it bears repeating what with the Daytona 500 being postponed today. Simply put, auto racing is NOT a sport (cue the redneck mob with pitchforks and torches). Allow me to explain. Sports test the ability of living things, most notably humans. If you take the absolute worst driver on a particular circuit and place him behind the wheel of the best car with the best pit crew on said circuit, he at least stands a chance, no matter how remote, of winning the race. If, however, you place the absolute best driver behind the wheel of the absolute worst car with the worst pit crew, it's safe to say that he, in all likelihood, will not win. Therefore, you are testing the machine more than the man. Therefore, auto racing can't possibly be a sport. I'm sorry, that's how it works.
-----------------------------------------
On a related front, I also do not consider golf to be a sport, as it lacks the degree of strenuousness needed to qualify as one (cue the rich people with pitchforks and torches).
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This will be old news to some, but the Center for Consumer Freedom has released documents that show that PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) killed more than 95% of the pets in its care last year and has, since 1998, killed more than 27,000 animals. Last year's figures break down to 1,911 dogs and cats killed, with homes found for a mere 24 pets. It has also been determined that PETA employees kill 84% of animals in their custody within 24 hours of receipt. "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals," indeed... (Facts and figures from a story by Alexandra Myers @ The Daily Caller.)
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Today's Drudge Report headline regarding the Oscars: "THE DULLEST SHOW ON EARTH!" That's news to anyone?
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Another Drudge story: "Columbus, GA (CBSAtlanta): A former Columbus police officer admitted in court that he robbed a bank last year so he can get health benefits being in a federal prison." He also said "that he was facing 'severe health problems' and homelessness..." Welcome to Obamaville, population US.

Riding Side By Side With Death

On a battlefield littered with bodies
A lone warrior kneels down in prayer
Thanking the gods who have seen fit to keep him alive
As he drove the dictator from his fortified lair
His prayer completed he raises his head
How many more conflicts will he have to face
Neck and neck with Death everywhere he rides
But always managing somehow to win the race

            Ride on great warrior
            Into the setting sun
            Ride on great warrior
            Til your battles all are done

He knows that one day he too will have to die
And then the valkyries to Valhalla with him will fly
The gods all will judge him and only then will he see
If he has earned his rest or must fight on through all eternity

             So ride on great warrior
             Into the setting sun
             Ride on great warrior
             Til your battles all are done

            Riding side by side with Death

The March Of The Troopers Of Death

As the drums begin to sound I march to meet my death
The man in black awaits me- he wants my final breath
You all say I'm the loser but I feel as though I've won
I spilled your neighbor's blood- I took your only son
Your daughter's innocence I took and defiled
And now I stand before you beaten and reviled
I suppose you have won-
                                       wait! A trumpet sounds from on high
As my army of power descends
                                                 racing to be by my side

                  On they ride with
                  Bloodlust in their eyes
                  All you can do is watch and
                  Prepare yourselves to die
                  Vengeance they bear as their
                  Swords sing thru the air
                  Then fountains of blood will fly
                  Headless bodies lay everywhere

And so they break my bonds and carry me to safety
And behind us the earth drinks the blood of those that were
                                                               sworn to hate me
The hooves of the war steeds grind the broken bones into dust
The weapons of steel have now satisfied their lust
The women left are now just pleasure slaves for my troopers
They know they will die when they're finished with
                                              they're resigned to their futures
And now back in my armor with hammer and axe by my side
I slaughter the rest of the village     Now we're ready to ride

                 On we ride with
                 Bloodlust in our eyes
                 All you can do now is wait and
                 Ready yourselves to die
                 Vengeance we bear as our
                 Swords sail thru the air
                 Then fountains of blood they will fly
                 Gory corpses strewn everywhere                   

Trust In Steel

Come to me son and sit on my knee
Carnage and death as far as the eye can see
This is your future      this is your fight
Showing your manhood       proving your might
Many will come with maces in hand
From nearby villages      from far-away lands
You will have to slay them      destroy them you must
For no one else on earth
                                      my son
                                                  can you trust
               Not man
               Not woman
               Not beast
               Only steel

               Trust in your steel, my son
               Trust in your steel

So hear my words, son      and heed them well
Rise into Valhalla or descend into Hell
Whatever your future      whatever your path
Always remember what helped you to unleash your wrath
For death you hunger      for blood you lust
And nothing else on this earth
                                             my son
                                                         can you trust
                Not man
                Not woman
                Not beast
                Only steel

                Trust in your steel, my son
                Trust in your steel
                Trust in your steel, my son

                Trust in your steel

Vengeance Is Mine

I come before you now with steel in my hand
High on your mountain of power
                                         I'm here to make my stand
You butchered my people
                                        you took my father's sword
And I am here now to give you your just reward

                Just who do you think you are
                I've waited so many years
                                              I've traveled so very far
                And now with my ragged sword in hand
                I will make you bleed
                                                 drag your corpse all across this land
                Beg for mercy you scum-sucking son of a dog
                Get down on your knees
                                                      lay your head across this log
                There's nowhere to run and nowhere you can hide
                At last I have won
                                            vengeance is mine

And now the peasants rejoice as your head crowns my pole
I feel a great sense of elation
                                            at last I am whole
All the lackeys who served you so long now cower and run
As your mountain of power burns
                                                   the flames try to touch the sun

                You did not count on my spirit
                                                              on my will to live
                You begged so hard for mercy
                                                              none did I give
                There was nowhere to run
                                                         nowhere you could hide
                At last I have won
                                             vengeance is mine

And the peasants rejoice and I wait for another time
When I'm needed again

                      VENGEANCE IS MINE!

God Of Thunder

Thunder roll and cold rain fall
With skies as black as night
Casting a gloomy pall
On everything in sight
Trumpets sound and horse hooves pound
Into battle ride
Strike them down and drag them 'round
All to avenge our pride

          Ancient god of thunder
                                             O Almighty Thor
          Bring vengeance upon our enemies
                                              to settle the score
          Strike with your mighty hammer
                                              bring forth wind and rain
          Give them sorrow and misery
                                              and we shall bring them pain

Today You Die

The blood runs red across the steppes
                                          as the midday sun beats down
Swords clash and battle cries are sounded
                                          severed heads and limbs lay all around
I see you stand before me         your intent is clear
                                          a look of bloodlust is deep in your eyes
I must use all my skill                I can not back down
                                          I must make certain that you do not survive
          You thought you had me but I have turned the tide
          My blade will swing, your head will fall by your side
          And now you know yesterday is dead and gone
          Kiss tomorrow goodbye
                                                for today
                                                               you die

A Warriors Lament

I hear the moans and cries of anguish from those nearly dead
As I swing my mighty hammer of war above my head
I see a skull splinter as blood mixes with dirt
A gaping wound on my side but I feel not the hurt
A war cry comes from my brethren- their bloodlust has been fed
And all around I see swords and axes dripping red
            Let the valkyries fly
            We all were born to die
            Carry my soul far away
            In Valhalla let me stay...
                                                forever

            Now it is time for me to die
            Odin watches with one good eye
            With my last breath now I pray
            In Valhalla may I stay...

            Forever

Random Thoughts: February 17, 2012

Could someone please explain to me exactly why Channing Tatum keeps getting work? The guy's so wooden he makes Al Gore look like Gilbert Gottfried.
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Watched "Taxi Driver" again the other night, for the first time in a long while. I'd forgotten how great that flick is. Still my favorite DeNiro film.
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Having frustrated myself attempting to write a Western (who would have thought it would be so hard?), I have begun work on an idea for a semi-autobiographical novel. Can't tell you much about it at this point, but I'm excited.
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Sometimes I wish I were still in the Army (even with the crappy Campaigner-In-Chief we're currently saddled with). It was the only time in my life that I felt I was doing something important.
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New James Bond movie this November... who else is excited?
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I long for someone to bring a decent, adult-oriented science museum to the Nashville area. Our current one is nothing more than a glorified kiddie attraction.
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If babies would stay babies their entire lives, I wouldn't mind having a couple of my own.

More About Me

My favorite colors are black, blue, green and red.
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I can listen to just about any type of music, but modern Country and modern Rap/Hip-Hop have to be the worst excuses for music going today.
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My favorite television shows are Doctor Who, Justified, any show in the Law & Order franchise and Original Star Trek. I will also watch just about any British comedy.
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Some of my favorite movies are 2001: A Space Odyssey, Flash Gordon (1980), Seven Samurai, Umberto D., and almost any Western you could name. I am especially partial to Spaghetti Westerns.
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Favorite Rock band: KISS
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Favorite Heavy Metal band: Manowar
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Favorite Punk Rock band: FEAR
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I feel that Warner Brothers made the best cartoons ever (Looney Toons, Merrie Melodies).

More to come...

Politics & Such

Note to Dear Leader and his liberal good-time buddies: abortion and contraception are not "health care." They are simply a means by which one can have one's cake and eat it, too (or kill it, as the case may be).
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I'll never understand why America's black community consistently supports a political party (Democrat) that has done absolutely nothing to benefit them in it's entire existence. I suspect, though, that it's for the same reason they blindly follow the Jacksons, Sharptons, Farrakhans and other assorted race baiters/poverty pimps that have sold their own people into a new form of slavery (dependence upon government) in exchange for seats at the table of power.
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I have been asked, as I'm sure others of you have been, how I can justify being in favor of the death penalty, yet be against abortion. The answer is simple: the death penalty is the execution, after conviction in a court of law, of a guilty individual who made a conscious decision to put him/her self in that position. Abortion, on the other hand, is the murder of an innocent life who has done nothing to warrant it-- usually as an expedient method of birth-control-after-the-fact.
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I've noticed that Al Gore's "Current TV" network has not only given hyper-partisan BSNBC cast-offs Keith Olbermann and Cenk Uygur airtime, they have also recently given failed former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm her own show titled "The War Room." Which begs a couple of questions: firstly, what happened to that "new civility" her buddy Obama was preaching last year? Secondly, I wonder how long it will take her to run her show into the ground the way she did Michigan?

Ugh...

So... tomorrow is Valentine's Day.

Whoopie.

Like I need a special day every year to remind me that I'm going to die alone. They say "there's someone for everyone," but that's simply not true. I believe that some of us simply don't have another half, better or otherwise. Some of us, no matter what, will never have a deep, meaningful relationship with someone of the opposite sex. And that's OK. I've come to terms with that. I just wonder why Hallmark, American Greetings and all the other members of the Fake Holiday Industry feel the need to rub it in once a year.

Just my two cents...

Random Thoughts: February 12, 2012

I sure do like that there "Sling Blade" movie... mm hm...
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With each successive season, "Justified" just gets better and better. Great writing and brilliant performances- especially Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens and Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder. Best series on American television right now.
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I keep hearing about an "economic recovery." Much like Bigfoot, I have yet to see it. If anyone spots it, please let me know.
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Does the world really need a "Napoleon Dynamite" cartoon series?
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Rugby will always be a manlier sport than American Football.
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Speaking of American Football, it is way past time that KISS play the Super Bowl halftime show.
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Speaking of KISS, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will lack validity unless and until they are inducted.
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It's cold here in Tennessee tonight. Looks like a Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate Cocoa night.

Whitney Houston 1963-2012

In the interest of full disclosure, I must state that I have never been a Whitney Houston fan. Hers was not the style of music I tend to enjoy. I have, however, always acknowledged her talent (but let's face it, no one will ever sing "I Will Always Love You" as well as Dolly Parton). While the cause of death has not been released as of yet, I think it's not outside the realm of possibility that it was the result of her long period of drug abuse... either a relapse/overdose or long-term physical effects of such an extended period of previous abuse.

The temptation to imply that this is, somehow, Bobby Brown's fault may be strong within most of those who followed the two's turbulent, drug-laden marriage. I don't see it that way. Ms. Houston simply, as I see it, was one of those individuals who are natural-born addicts. It wouldn't have mattered who had introduced her to drugs. In her line of work, drugs are a prevalent force. The fact that she fell so far so fast is testament to an ingrained addictive personality. Those types of people aren't able to control their demons in the long term, and even if they find the wherewithal to eventually suppress them, the effects on their physical health have already taken root and, ultimately, are their undoing.

While, as already stated, I have never been a fan of her music, I am still saddened by the news of her death. It troubles me to see talented individuals reduced to cautionary tales because, no matter how much success they achieve, they still have a void in their lives that they think can be filled with substances and activities that only end up contributing to their own demise. At least now, perhaps, she has found the peace she sought for so long.

Armchair Psychiatrist: Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" As Metaphor(?)

I'm not sure if this idea has been floated before (if so, I apologize in advance for stepping on any toes), but I thought of the following last night as I listened to RHS for the umpteenth time. What if RHS is, on some subconscious level, Willie's metaphor for his own career at the time? Up 'til this album, Willie had released a few albums as a recording artist, with varying degrees of success. Indeed, Willie's success had primarily been as a songwriter only (Hello Walls, Crazy, Night Life, etc.). Willie had also been frustrated with the lack of creative control he was allowed due to the restrictions of the "Nashville Sound" that artists were expected to adhere to at that time.

My interpretation is that the Preacher represented "Outlaw Willie-" the Willie he, deep down, felt himself to be. The adulterous wife represented "Nashville Willie-" the Willie he had tried to be in order to achieve success during his time writing and recording in Music City. The other man of the story represented the Nashville Country Music Establishment who seduced him into trying to be something he, as a performer, wasn't. The new lady that the Preacher takes up with toward the end of the story, I feel, represents the way he hoped his fans would feel toward himself and the new musical direction he was embarking upon. The Preacher's murder of his wife and the "other man" represented Willie's need to "kill off" Nashville Willie in order to move in the direction he wished. It also represented his deep desire to stick it to the Nashville Country Establishment who, as he must have seen it, held him back by persuading him to "go along to get along."

Or, quite possibly, I just have way too much time on my hands...

Everyday

Here we go again
Traveling once more down
The road we know
                              only too well
Nowhere
                our destination
Nothing
                our prize
Awash in a sea of mediocrity
Standard
Everyday
Existence

New World 3

How much longer
                           'til the end of
                                               the world?
It can't come fast enough
                                      for some of us

New World 2

The jaws of corruption clamp down tightly
Crushing utterly
Those who would do the right thing
Honor
Integrity
Loyalty
Honesty
             are now the dirtiest words
                                    in the English
                                             language
And I stare at this world
In a strange combination of awe and horror
And I try to realize
                             my place in it all
What need is there for an honorable man
In the land of the corporate giants?
What call is there for honesty
In the realm of the money gods?
To them I say this:
Successful you may be
                                   even beyond the dreams
                                                             of avarice
But at least my sleep is sound
And my dreams
                         not
                               fitful

New World

See the worker bee as he completes
                                             his task
Silent
Efficient
And vastly unappreciated
-------------------------------------
Higher education
      Trendy clothes
            Plastic smile
All weapons of the enemy

With what shall I fight back?
-------------------------------------
Honor
      Integrity
           Loyalty
All principles that guide my life

What the fuck happened to the rest of you?

Ache

Tortured sleep
                      I ache for you
Haunted dreams
                      I ache for you
All alone
                      I ache for you
Gun in mouth
                      I ache for you

Reality

Swirling around
Swimming around
Trying desperately not to
                                      be dragged down
Into the deep, murky sea
                                      of Reality
--------------------------------------------
The colors dance and swirl before my eyes
As the harsh weight of Reality
                                             crushes me
                                                    utterly

Duplicity

Look at me and say the
One word I want to hear so
Very much. Your
Eyes sparkle in the moon's glow and

I drink in your beauty.
Say the word-say

Anything. Your silence makes me want to

Cower in the corner of the
Room. If
Only I
Could make you understand- you'd
Know how much I love you.

Random Thoughts: February 2, 2012

Every time I see Mitt Romney, I get the urge to punch him right in the mouth... on general principle. To be fair, I get the same urge when I see any smarmy individual.
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Speaking of politics, I think it's way past time for both parties to switch to a National Primary model. Everyone in every state voting on the same day. Why should either party allow the other party, the media, and independents to choose their party's candidate for them, which is what happens in the current long, drawn-out process?
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Mel Gibson's "Hamlet" is not nearly the abortion I've always heard it was. My favorite, however, is still Olivier's, with David Tennant's a close second. That may change one day, as I have yet to see Kenneth Branaugh's.
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On a similar note, I watched "Hour of the Gun" last night. Not a bad telling of the "O.K. Corral/Vendetta Ride" legend, although I will always prefer "Tombstone." James Garner (as Wyatt Earp) gave a great performance, as did Jason Robards as a more subdued Doc Holliday.
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Modern "Country Music" is, without doubt, the worst garbage I have ever heard in my life (and I remember Metallica's "St. Anger"). An assault on my audial canals and an insult to my intelligence.
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It doesn't matter how old I get, I still mark out for the Lone Ranger.

Little Angel

Little angel
Allow me to traverse your ethereal realm
As you introduce me to sights and sounds
                                     left unexperienced by
                                                    normal men
Let us be one with each other
As well as everything else
As we lead each other
                                  to paradise

O.K.

When he felt the rope tighten
And all his breath left him
In that split second
                             he knew
That everything would be OK
From that point on

To You

Lies
All you ever gave me
Pain
All you've left me with
Hate
Seems to overload me
Rage
All I want to give
                          To you

"Son"

"Son"
         you call me
"Son"
         you keep calling me
Stop it
You lost that right
                           a long time ago
Where were you
                          in my formative years
Where were you
                          when I needed you most
Getting drunk      most likely
That's all you've ever really cared about
The alcohol
It's hold is strong
                          too strong
No way for me to compete

Goddess: A Trilogy

Eyes that sparkle as a lake at sunrise
Teeth as white as the purest ivory
Hair like the finest silk
A goddess amongst us
                                  that you are
And oh, so much more
------------------------------------
I see her smile
                      a goddess' smile
It lifts me up
                   and strengthens me
------------------------------------
The goddess is a myth
The whore, reality

Miscellania

City after dark
Watch the swarm of lights dance across
                      the skyline
As you steel yourself for the night's adventure
---------------------------------------------
The smooth, fluid lines of her shape beckon to me
And draw me in as a sailor to a Siren's call

The female form
God's greatest creation
---------------------------------------------
Kaleidoscope
In my brain
Perpetual freefall in a land of colors
Going nowhere
---------------------------------------------
I look into the mirror and see
An empty shell
Where a man used to be
---------------------------------------------
The angel becomes the devil
When the lights are all turned out

In The Darkness

Darkness
In my mind
Thick and heavy
Like stormclouds
In the darkness
All my pain
All my rage
All my hate
Are you sure you want me to share it with you
I don't think you can handle it
It's a hard enough job for me

Random Thoughts

I read today that Simon Cowell is going to launch yet another TV show. Hasn't this colossal douchebag (my opinion) done enough to destroy popular culture already?
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Whether Newt Gingrich actually "worked with" Ronald Reagan to do anything isn't really the point. The point is that, record-wise, Newt is far more conservative than the Republican Establishment's pick (Romney), and is at least as conservative as Santorum. And Ron Paul is still an anti-Semitic lunatic (again, my opinion).
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I am looking forward to the "Avengers" movie, almost as much as I am looking forward to "The Dark Knight Rises." Don't screw it up, Whedon.
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After almost seven years, I finally watched the "Sin City" movie. I can't help but think that if Frank Miller had had a co-director like Robert Rodriguez on "The Spirit," it might have done a little better at the box office. Some advance press actually introducing the character to those who may not have heard of him wouldn't have hurt, either ("Sin City" is great, by the way).
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The rumor is going around that KISS and Motley Crue will tour together in the Fall. If true, this could be the biggest tour of the year. On a related note, I personally feel that the current KISS lineup (Gene, Paul, Tommy Thayer, and Eric Singer) is the strongest one since the late '80s lineup of Gene, Paul, Bruce Kulick, and the late, great Eric Carr.
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If you're a Shakespeare fan and have not seen Akira Kurosawa's various adaptations (particularly "Throne of Blood," his version of Macbeth), you really owe it to yourself to check them out. "Ran" is a pretty good version of King Lear. I have yet to see "The Bad Sleep Well (Hamlet)," but have read some good things about it.

The New Breed

Taste the blood of your neighbours
Breathe in the vile stench of decay
Feel the power course thru your body
Now you're poised to revolutionize the world

Screams

Hear the screams
The beautiful screams
The screams of agony and torment
The screams of misery and pain
The screams of the lost and forsaken
The screams never go away
The screams are always there
Echoing
Resonating
Inside my head

Thoughts on a "Legend"

Those who know me personally know that football holds no interest for me, whatsoever. However, I feel a need to point out a few facts about the now-deceased Joe "JoePa" Paterno.

Anyone who would victimize a child is the lowest of the low, and deserves nothing less than a long, drawn-out, painful death... preferably at the hands of the victim's family. Those who would engage in a cover-up of such heinous activity are equally guilty, and deserve the same punishment.

Joe Paterno helped to cover up multiple acts of child molestation during his tenure as Head Coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions. That, and that alone, cancels out any and every good thing he may have done in his life. It's been said that character is "those things one does when one believes that no one is watching." I think it's safe to say that Joe Paterno failed the character test miserably. He is not worthy of anyone's sympathy, respect, or admiration.

If Hell exists, I hope he remembered to pack some asbestos underwear.

A Quick Observation

If, as some "experts" are predicting, Barnes and Noble is on it's last legs, it would be an absolutely devastating blow to book lovers. Don't get me wrong... I love Amazon.com. I have done a lot of business with them, and will in the future, I'm sure. Sometimes, though, you just get a hankering to go down to the bookstore and have a browse... whether you make a purchase or not.

I know, I know... "step into the future, Rob. Digital is the only way to go." I just can't do it. There is, to me, something almost inhuman about e-books. Part of the thrill of book buying is holding it in your hands/resting it in your lap, the turning of the pages, the "new book smell." It's just not the same thing, staring at a screen. Screens have a coldness to them that is hard for newjack "readers," who refused to read much at all until the advent of the e-book, to understand. Convenience is a wonderful thing, true. Sometimes, though, not so much.

And Another Thing...

...how come all the emphasis on cancer in American media is on female cancers, particularly breast cancer? The message I get from this is that men and their health are, somehow, not as important in the grand scheme of things. I think that, by now, people are more "aware" of breast cancer than ever before. Prostate and testicular cancer? Not so much, if the (lack of) media coverage is any indication. Kind of sexist, if you ask me...

Double Standard

One of the reasons often given for one being pro-abortion is that "a woman has the right to decide what to do with her own body." Let's examine this a bit more fully...

If the above is true then, logically, the same must follow for men. Carrying this strain of logic to it's natural conclusion, then, men should be able to walk down Main Street at high noon, buck-naked, while masturbating furiously, on any day they so desire. As it stands, however, that would be an arrestable offense.

An even better example: men should have the right to have sex with any woman they wish, whenever they wish, wherever they wish, even if the woman doesn't wish to. After all, said man is only exercising his right to decide what to do with his own body, right?

"OF COURSE NOT!" the abortion fans would rail, and rightly so. Legalizing rape is unthinkable in a civilized society. That begs this question:
What, exactly makes the legal murder of an innocent life perfectly OK in the eyes of the pro-abortion crowd when those same people agree that public masturbation and legal rape (as an extension of their own rationalization for the acceptance of abortion) would be abominations?

Envy

Looking around I see them all
The couples locked in romantic embraces
The smiles of the successful
Their sheer joy at being alive
While I sit here
Alone
Trapped in the hellish nightmare that is
                                                          my
                                                          very
                                                          existence

Apologies

I apologize for the lack of posts over the past few days. On January 5, after an extended illness, my sole surviving grandmother died at the age of 84. I had been living with her for the past few years, helping to care for her as she descended into the darkness of macular degeneration. She also suffered from COPD and, since late October, a fractured vertebra. She is now, thankfully, free of pain and has rejoined her parents and sisters in the Great Beyond. I learned a lot from her, and I shall miss her greatly. Please bear with me as I go through the mourning process. I hope to resume semi-regular posts before long.

Her Existence

The haggard-looking woman
                                            only 45
Looks as though she's 70
Sleeping in doorways and
                                        cardboard boxes
Rummaging through dumpsters for
                                                    her daily bread
Her only sin
                   her 40 of malt liquor
Her only crime
                       her existence

Geekdom

A simple question that no one has ever been able to answer:

Why is it that a man can walk around in public wearing his favorite athlete's jersey and no one thinks twice about it, yet, let the same man walk around in public wearing a Starfleet uniform and everyone else makes fun of him?

Everyone is a geek for something...