Stop Loss a loser... what a surprise

Hollywood just doesn't get it. I know Hollywood is in California, which means it is on American soil, thus the inhabitants are American. But what makes them think making yet another movie about the American troops or Americans in general being the bad guys will be compelling enough that Americans will want to see it? Us Americans want to see movies that allow us to escape our everyday lives and we are willing to pay for this escapism. But a movie about a couple whiners who were asked to fulfill their obligations that they themselves willingly volunteered for doesnt make any sense.

Here is a clip from Nikki Fink's Deadline Hollywood (via Drudge)

Although the drama from MTV Films was the best-reviewed movie opening this weekend, Paramount wasn't expecting much because no Iraq war-themed movie has yet to perform at the box office. "It's not looking good," a studio source told me before the weekend. "No one wants to see Iraq war movies. No matter what we put out there in terms of great cast or trailers, people were completely turned off. It's a function of the marketplace not being ready to address this conflict in a dramatic way because the war itself is something that's unresolved yet. It's a shame because it's a good movie that's just ahead of its time."

If Paramount wasn't expecting too much, why did they make the movie in the first place? Because they live in Hollywood and they believe everyone is entitled to their opinion regardless of the cost. this and other movies coming out of Hollywood about the war are just examples of how completely out of touch with reality they are. During WWII, there was plenty of movies from Hollywood that were big hits simply because it showed America fighting the good fight and winning. Iraq is the good fight and we are winning, but Hollywood doesn't see this, thus they are producing garbage.

If Paramount was serious about making money (which any good business should do) then they would make movies that people would actually want to see. I have an idea: Why don't they make a movie about American Soldiers as hero's? there are plenty of examples they could use, just ask Micheal Yon.

Holding back the tide

There are two lines of thought I am going to pursue and try to equate somewhere down the road. these are 'global warming' and the 'Oil Crisis'. I have these in quotes because both of these topics have been topics of many news articles. I have come to believe that both are man-made contrivances.

Those who think a few million grains of sand can hold back the tides can also believe that man has caused our world to 'heat up'. There is no question that the average temperature has risen in the last few decades, but this has happened in the past as well... about every 1,500 years. The fact that the Sun goes through relative warm and cold periods (like summer and winter) has the ultimate impact on Earth's weather. There may also be a correlation between sunspots to our temperature. There was a period of time in the 1600's when there was virtually no sunspots. at the same time, there was a 'little ice age' happening on earth. At the moment, we are nearing the end of the 'summer' period. In fact, the Earth's average temperature has DECREASED over the last few years according to NASA's Aqua satellite data. Why don't we hear any of this? It doesn't fit with the media's doom and gloom nor does it fit with the socialistic views of environmentalists who want to confiscate wealth to save the planet (that doesn't need saving).

As for the oil crisis, I'm going to speculate a bit, with no factual backup. In other words, I'm going to use Al Gore's methods for defining a problem. Why is the price of oil high? There is the laws of supply and demand, and at the moment, the demand is very high due to the emerging markets of China and India consuming more oil than ever before. There is also a constant threat to the supply because of where in the world the oil riches are. Our world's oil supply is controlled by those with 15th century thoughts and societies. They reap the rewards of the oil riches and don't share it among their populations. The richest countries in the world have the poorest people. I'm talking about the Middle East Arab and Persian countries. To get their populations from revolt and bringing their countries into the 21st century, they foster a deep seeded hatred of the Western Culture.

Anyway, I don't believe this is why the price of oil is so high. Let's back up for a moment. In 2003/2004, there was a very rich person trying to influence the Presidential election. George Soros believed that given enough money, he can influence the population into electing Democrats through direct funding and funding groups like moveon.org. He failed for one major reason: the economy was doing fine despite all of the hardships against it (War, Natural disasters, and other events).

What if there was someone that had enough money to influence the American economy? How would someone go about doing this? The answer is actually quite simple. The oil prices are set not so much based upon supply/demand in the present but on speculation in the futures market. If I had enough money to burn, I could buy barrels of oil for $120 if I wanted to, and that would be the price. I would do this by raising prices gradually over a period of time so as not to raise too much suspicion.

As a result, the prices of everything associated to oil prices would rise, and in America, that is just about everything from fuel to plastics etc. If gas prices goes up, so do delivery charges which ultimately get passed on to the consumer. This alone will cause inflation because now prices on everything including bread, milk and eggs are going to rise. this will cause everyone to notice that their pocketbook is getting emptier, and when this happens, they'll look for someone to blame. The media has been beating this drum now for a very long time with the help of democrats to ensure the blame is squarely on the republicans.

Once a democrat is elected President, the prices of oil will miraculously drop to normal levels and prices will fall somewhat, but not all the way back to levels from 2006. This is the conspiracy that is much easier to pull off that the Global Warming scam.

finding work

Finding a new job is about as much effort as it is to actually have a job! For about 2 weeks, I couldn't use my voice much due to surgery. But it's not like the phone is ringing off the hook.

I'm in the process of re-doing my resume for the 4rth time now. this time, Ive hired a professional. depending on the results, I'll hold off on giving myself the 'v-8' head slap.

Im not a vegetable!

The surgery was a success. This was the fist time on anesthetics, and t was really weird. The guy put a mask over my face... and 30 seconds later (as far as I could tell) I was being roused awake by a cute nurse, with a pain in my throat. I was then moved upstairs into recovery where they hooked me into a bunch of machines. It was about 4:30 already, and I hadn't eaten since 10pm the night before. I was loopy, but hungry. they finally gave me some ice cream, Italian ices, jello and ice cubes to go along with the morphine.

the night shift started about 8pm, and I still had no desire to pee. they were getting worried. the night nurse was about the cutest Indian chick I have ever seen. So, just for her, I gave peeing the ole college try. I had to stand next to the bed and piss into a jug because I was plugged into the machines. It was hard enough with all of the wires, but she kept on interrupting every 30 seconds. I finally bullied her to go away. I squirted out a few thimble fulls, just enough to ease the pressure. It was all I could do with her interrupting.

About an hour later, they gave me another shot of morphine and soon after, I had to pee. I knew the drill, so I again bullied her to go away. I then overheard a conversation between her and another nurse that went something like this:

Other Nurse: 'What is he doing?'
My cute nurse: 'He is trying to pee?'
Other nurse; 'didn't he just get morphine?'
My cute Nurse: 'Yes'
Other nurse: ' He is going to piss all over the room!'

Needless to say, both nurses came running in and interrupted a very weak start. (So much for attempt #2). But this time, I noticed that the room had a head tucked away under the sink. I told the nurse to just let me sit on the head; this will resolve several issues as well as their concern about hosing down the room. So they unplugged me from the contraptions and left me alone for 10 minutes. What a relief! This became the drill every other hour for the rest of the night.

There was an older guy in the room next to mine. He was moaning and carrying on and from where I sat (being on morphine, remember) he was either in a great deal of pain, or was having some fun with a nurse. Between him carrying on, and my peeing, I got very little sleep.

I got home today about noon after stopping at the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions. Percoset in a liquid form that I need to take every four hours.

It hurts to swallow, otherwise I'm fine. I just won't operate any heavy machinery for the next few days.

Surgery Today

today, for the first time in my life, I'm going to a hospital to be a patient. (I won't count the time I had to get a fish hook removed, but that is another story) I'm getting my tonsils out. surgery is at 1:30 today, and I'll be knocked out for the procedure.

I've never been knocked out before and I really didn't think much of it until the hospital put a living will document in front of me. then I got to thinking about 'what if', as in 'what if I don't wake up' or 'what if I'm somehow allergic to the anesthesia?'

So with careful thought, I filled out the living will to basically say if a cucumber has a higher IQ than me, then pull the plug. I know this a bit blaze, but I can't worry about all of the 'what ifs'. that is how people can go insane.

The decision to pull the plug will be made by my significant other. She and I discussed it so she understands my intentions. Also, she understands horticulture and the nature of plants so she is the best person I know who can quantify the relative IQ of any vegetable. Plus, there is no financial impact one way or the other for her as my kids will inherit everything. (I really need to formalize a will, I'll do this soon as I still feel I'm immortal)

If all goes well (and there is no reason to believe otherwise), I'll be home tomorrow eating Italian Ices and drinking my meals for the next week.