Day: October 22, 2005

  • Nationwide Events Being Planned for 2,000 Death

    Disgusting … but not at all surprising.

    The anti-war group American Friends Service Committe is planning hundreds of event across the U.S. to mark the pending passing of the 2,000th death by American service personnel in the Iraqi theater (hat tips to LGF and General Quarters). Details about the events can be found on the AFSC site.

    Soon we’ll be reaching another horrific milestone in the war in Iraq – the death of the 2,000th U.S. service member. AFSC, Military Families Speak Out, Gold Star Families for Peace, and Iraq Veterans Against the War are calling for people across the U.S. to stand up and say that the needless killing of U.S. troops and Iraqis must stop and that the resources funding this war are needed for other things.

    The AFSC is calling for candlelight vigils and public actions. While I disagree with LGF’s characterization of these as parties, I must agree to referring to those participating as ghouls. For those who superficially claim to support the troops, these anti-war elements are quick to jump on any allegation, supported or completely imaginary, against our troops and quite eager to use any nice round casualty figure to their advantage. In short, these people, as a group, sicken me.

    Here is a list of planned event locations, including a dozen sites in Texas. If anyone is interested in a counter-demonstration at a DFW-area location, send me an email. Time is short, as CNN currently shows American military deaths in Iraq at 1,993, as of this writing.

    Meanwhile, Wikipedia currently has the death toll at 2,108, as of this writing, for the one-day battle of Antietam. Oh yeah, that’s just for the Union side. Just a little perspective for ya.

  • Sci Fi Movie Meme

    A little mindless listing meme while listening to the Aggies playing K-State and watching the Texas Tech-Texas game. I got it from Llama Butcher Robert, who got it from ObscuroRant, who got it from … nah, you can track it back further if you desire. The meme consists of a listing of science fiction movies, and I’ve bolded the ones I’ve personally seen.

    The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension!
    Akira
    Alien
    Aliens

    Alphaville
    Back to the Future
    Blade Runner

    Brazil
    Bride of Frankenstein
    Brother From Another Planet
    A Clockwork Orange
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    Contact

    The Damned
    Destination Moon
    The Day The Earth Stood Still
    Delicatessen
    Escape From New York
    ET: The Extraterrestrial

    Flash Gordon: Space Soldiers (serial)
    The Fly (1985 version)
    Forbidden Planet

    Ghost in the Shell
    Gojira/Godzilla
    The Incredibles
    Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 version)
    Jurassic Park
    Mad Max 2/The Road Warrior
    The Matrix

    Metropolis
    On the Beach
    Planet of the Apes (1968 version)
    Robocop
    Sleeper

    Solaris (1972 version)
    Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
    Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
    Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

    The Stepford Wives
    Superman
    Terminator 2: Judgement Day

    The Thing From Another World
    Things to Come
    Tron
    12 Monkeys
    28 Days Later
    20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
    2001: A Space Odyssey

    La Voyage Dans la Lune
    War of the Worlds (1953 version)

    Of the movies on this list that I’ve missed, I feel I really need to see the following: The Day the Earth Stood Still, Metropolis and On the Beach.

  • Some Final NLCS Thoughts

    As the hours tick down before the opening of the 2005 World Series, I wanted to throw down a few final thoughts on the Houston Astros’ accomplishments this season.

    First, I think this is an awesome image, one that I’d begun to believe I would never see.

    Astros 2005 NL Champs

    Second, I don’t need a World Series victory by the ‘Stros. Oh, I’d love one and I’ll certainly be rooting for one, but I’m perfectly content with Houston just getting to the match-up with the ChiSox. I’m happy that long-time Astros icons Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell will finally play a game in baseball’s primest of prime time. I’m happy for the franchise’s exorcism of the ghosts of 1980, 1986 and 2004 when they came oh so very close by a team that has shown tremendous resillience all season long. I’m happy for the city of Houston and that a World Series game will finally be played in the Lone Star state.

    No, I don’t expect the Astros to win the series, though I can hope. With Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt on the mound, there’s always hope. Still, I’m just enjoying the National League pennant. In fact, I may have to pick up one of those.

    Astros 2005 NL Pennant

    Oh yeah, third, it’s particulary tasty that the Astros success came at the expense of the Cardinals and continued the Curse of Keith.