Eric Miller's weblog

Our new president -- some thoughts

2009-01-22T13:06:00.000-08:00

First off, I offer congratulations to President Obama. If for no other reason, just hearing someone speak clearly and like an adult is a breath of fresh air. Fortunately, there are many other reasons to be optimistic about Mr. O (small 1776 reference :-)). The first of these that he is a symbol of what we can do when we rid ourselves of the bile of our history. The second is that he does not seem to be afraid of telling the American people some hard truths. As my friend Gene once said, one of the reasons that Ronald Reagan was so popular is that he never seemed to tell the American people anything they didn't want to hear. This led to, in a small part, the mess that we're in today. In his address, Obama admonished us to "put away childish things," and then proceeded to outline carefully the many challenges that we face. A third reason to be excited about Obama is that, unlike his predecessor (who more and more reminded me of Zapp Brannigan, with the rest of the country being a sighing Kif), he is interested in inclusiveness and having a very big tent. Call me a geek or a fanboy, but I couldn't help but hear some of the Star Trek/Roddenberry philosophy when Obama observed:

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."

For me, this was the most stirring part of the address.

Again, as my friend Gene reminded me, we must be very careful not to engage in a cult of personality regarding Obama. He hasn't yet done anything (although it's very encouraging that he today gave orders to close Gitmo), and he has to prove himself up to this enormous task. I'm very hopeful at this point though, and actually excited by our government for the first time in a very long time!

Bye bye Bushie!

2009-01-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

Well well, what a speech! This man seems to pathologically unable to admit mistakes or even errors in judgment... at least on purpose. There is one passage in his address last night that was unintentionally damning:

"As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation. And I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe."

This seems to imply that he didn't receive those briefings before 9/11, because his life didn't return to normal. Of all of the "Bushisms" that abound, this is my favorite.

Yes We Can!

2008-11-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

I still can't believe it! Even though California passed that vile Proposition 8, this was still an amazing, historic night. I'm 41 years old, and I never thought I'd see this happen: a liberal, big city, young, African-American politician elected President of the United States, at a time of war. This is just fantastic! In yesterday's Washington Post, Richard Cohen something in his column that actually made me tear up. Here is the passage:

My fellow Americans, we have overcome.

I'll finish by including Barack's speech from last night. What an amazing time for this country!

Mavericks

2008-10-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

I lost count last night of how much Sarah Palin referred to herself and McCain as mavericks. If you have to keep telling people that you are a maverick, tough, a winner, etc., you probably actually aren't. Real mavericks, etc. don't have to remind people; their actions speak for themselves.

Maybe it won't happen again....

2008-09-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, isn't it amazing that when serious matters, like say the stock market falling nearly 1000 points in two days, how issues like lipstick become, shall we say, banal. I've been thinking that what we Obama supporters needed was a way to get McCain on the defensive, and, by golly, he does it for us himself :-). In a week of some very bad news, McCain and Palin seem to be thrashing around, looking for something to say, and keep ending up just looking foolish. I know there's much time to go, and four debates to come, but, perhaps the moral to the old Aesop fable might be true - slow and steady wins the race.

This can't happen again....

2008-09-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

Please tell me that this isn't going to happen again. How is it possible that a dimwit like Sarah Palin can become an instant icon that moves huge numbers of women to McCain's side? And how is it possible that the Republicans can keep throwing out more and more egregious lies, and people keep believing them? Obama's tax plan will cut taxes for most "ordinary" Americans, but somehow the Republicans have convinced many people that Obama will raise them.

The best skill the Republicans have is changing the subject. What to do about the war? Discuss who was right about the surge. Problems with McCain's tax plans? Accuse Obama of being sexist. Palin doesn't know what the Bush Doctrine is? Charles Gibson was unfair to her. People, this has GOT TO STOP!!!!

Elitism

2008-05-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit of a political junkie, and, over the last month I have become extremely frustrated at the throwing around of the word "elitist." This is ridiculous in so many ways. First, none of the three candidates are remotely near to being a "common" person. Neither Obama bowling, Clinton drinking, nor McCain's "Straight Talk Express" can hide the fact that all three candidates left being "common people" long ago. Second, it always seems like a liability for a candidate to appear in any way intellectual. To be elected, it appears that a candidate must subsume any intellectual gifts under a guise of likable mediocrity, or someone who never tells anyone any bad news. All of these petty, gossipy kinds of "issues" do nothing but make everyone involved look ridiculous, as well as the country.

Detail in "John Adams"

2008-03-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

I hate to be a nit picker at such a wonderful production as HBO's John Adams mini-series, but I did notice a mistake in the second episode. During the second Continental Congress, we see George Washington in uniform. This was true; however, in the mini-series, we see him wearing his Continental uniform, when in reality he wore his Virginia regiment uniform. Also, Washington was only 43 years old at this time; in the mini-series he looks at least 60 years old. I realize that this is just a mini-series, but its "making of" documentary went to great lengths to describe its historical accuracy. I wonder why, then, they would make these two fairly easy to check mistakes.

My endorsement

2008-02-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

Well, after a lot of thought, I've decided that I'm supporting Barak Obama. I like Clinton, and if she is the party's nominee, I'll gladly support her (incidentally, I'm so happy to have seen such an historic moment-- Clinton and Obama, a woman and an African-American man, debating each other with both of them having a real shot at the presidency. It was a special moment.). However, Obama, to me, has a touch of inspiration that Clinton doesn't have, and that's why I'm throwing my support to him.

Futurama's Big Score!

2007-12-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to write about the return of Futurama. The first of four DVD only films was released less than two weeks ago, and, my my, was it fantastic! It was witty, clever, and crammed full of things for die hard fans. The only complaint I can possibly think of is that Leela was a little under utilized, but that may be made up for in the following volumes. From what was presented in this disc, it seems that this is Volume One of a four volume story. However, as usual with Futurama, it's the little details that make it shine, such as Nibbler's lament that the "Kitten Class" fighters weren't successful, or spotting the seven leaf clover that Fry is wearing in the past. This was outstanding, and I hope the next volumes are just as good!

How cool is the iMac?

2007-11-30T14:06:00.000-08:00

Back in September, I bought a brand new iMac. It cost over $3000, but I saved up all summer, and I really love it! Over the holiday weekend, I was testing its built in camera. I got my 11 year old nephew and his friend to mess around in front of the camera. They staged a mock fight, then went off. I decided to fiddle with iMovie, and within a half hour, it had music and sound effects. It was so easy to do. The kids liked it so much that they did a sequel, which we choreographed, and then I burned them a very professional looking DVD with the iDVD program. I've had a Mac since the very first one in 1984, but this one is in a whole different league. I love it!

Despotism, properly scheduled

2007-11-08T11:45:00.001-08:00

From today's Washington Post, "Elections [in Pakistan] were due in January, but when emergency rule was imposed, government officials raised the possibility of postponing them by as much as a year. The Bush administration has called for the vote to move ahead, and on Thursday applauded Musharraf's announcement. 'We think it is a good thing that President Musharraf has clarified the election date for the Pakistani people,' White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement."

[C]larified the election date!!!! The Bush administration acts as if Musharraf's trashing of their constitution was a simple scheduling problem?! I haven't been doing a lot of posting recently, but this just demands it! Probably the next time Blackwater kills someone unprovoked, the will say "Blackwater cleared up local misunderstandings."

I'm back!!!!

2007-10-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hey there, I've returned. It's been a long time; let me catch up. The country is moving very quickly to Orwell's future. I read in the Washington Post yesterday that the Iraq war is now the 2nd most expensive war in our history, adjusted for inflation! Just obscene.

Last month I bought a new iMac, and I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's the most powerful version available, but since I purchased it on September 21, I'm not eligible to get a free upgrade to Leopard. I'll just have to buy it.

We're having our "Shocktober Classics" month at www.classic-horror.com. Each week we're reviewing films of four different directors. I wrote four reviews and a biography of Wes Crave for this event. Come and have a look-see!

I will be posting again soon :-)!

Aha! Now we've found it!

2007-07-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

It took long enough, but the Bushies have finally found the answer... al-Qaeda is why we are in Iraq. I can't honestly believe that they are trying to play the old fear card AGAIN! How many times will they keep playing the same tune until we're driven absolutely crazy by it?!

"I'll show you what horror means!"

2007-06-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

That's a quote from the 1931 version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Our website classic-horror.com just did a Jekyll and Hyde week. I wrote two reviews for it. Take a look and see!

It keeps getting worse....

2007-06-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

From today's Washington Post... this ugly story just speaks for itself,

"Karen Stevens, Tovah Calderon and Teresa Kwong had a lot in common. They had good performance ratings as career lawyers in the Justice Department's civil rights division. And they were minority women transferred out of their jobs two years ago -- over the objections of their immediate supervisors -- by Bradley Schlozman, then the acting assistant attorney general for civil rights.

Schlozman ordered supervisors to tell the women that they had performance problems or that the office was overstaffed. But one lawyer, Conor Dugan, told colleagues that the recent Bush appointee had confided that his real motive was to 'make room for some good Americans' in that high-impact office, according to four lawyers who said they heard the account from Dugan.

Bradley Schlozman is accused of favoring political conservatives in hiring decisions when he was acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's civil rights division. He has since left the division.
Bradley Schlozman is accused of favoring political conservatives in hiring decisions when he was acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's civil rights division. He has since left the division.

In another politically tinged conversation recounted by former colleagues, Schlozman asked a supervisor if a career lawyer who had voted for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a onetime political rival of President Bush, could still be trusted."

Can't they at least try to be subtle?

Come visit!

2007-06-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

Our horror movie website, www.classic-horror.com comes online today with a fresh new look and lots of great new features. In a few days we are going to have a spread on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde films. I've written two reviews for this feature (1931's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde starring Frederic March, and 1989's Edge of Sanity starring Anthony Perkins). Come give it a look see!

Hot Wheels!

2007-06-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

Wow... as a person in an electric wheelchair, this news item gave me chills....

"PAW PAW, Mich. - A truck driver whose rig snagged a man in his wheelchair and unknowingly pushed him at speeds up to 50 mph for miles will not face any criminal charges, authorities said.

Van Buren County prosecutor Juris Kaps said investigators determined the semi accidentally hit the wheelchair, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported Tuesday.

Ben Carpenter, 21, of was attempting to pass in front of the truck June. 6 when the light at an intersection turned green and the 52-year-old driver, who was not identified, started to move.

The wheelchair turned forward and its handles got lodged in the grille in Paw Paw, about 140 miles west of Detroit. The rig continued picking up speed and pushing the wheelchair, with Carpenter strapped in it, down the highway until pulling into the parking lot of a trucking company.

Police said the wheelchair was pushed about four miles, but Donald Carpenter, the man's father, said the actual distance was about half that.

Ben Carpenter, who lives near Kalamazoo and has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, was not injured."

I also have Muscular Dystrophy, and this would give me nightmares!

Bush's warm enviornment

2007-06-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

I've been trying not to do only political blogs, but I came across an article by Rupert Cornwell in The Independent, and I thought it was wonderful. He parses the president's half-baked token speech on curbing global warming. Here's an excerpt:

"From the President's speech in Washington yesterday:

'In recent years, science has deepened our understanding of climate change and opened new possibilities for confronting it.'

Translation: In recent years, my refusal to acknowledge the reality and seriousness of global warming has turned me into a laughing-stock and contributed to my record low poll ratings. So now I have to look interested.

'The United States takes this issue seriously.'

Translation: Al Gore takes this issue seriously, his movie was a hit, and it's causing me no end of grief.

'By the end of next year, America and other nations will set a long-term goal for reducing greenhouse gases.'

Translation: By the end of next year, I'll be weeks away from the end of my presidency and this can be someone else's problem.

'To develop this goal, the United States will convene a series of meetings of nations that produce the most greenhouse gasses, including nations with rapidly growing economies such as India and China.'

Translation: We will look as busy as we can without doing anything."

This is a perfect example of how this president seems to believe that sounding tough and statesman-like will somehow solve a problem. The whole article can be found at:

http://environment.independent.co.uk/climate_change/article2600484.ece

40 Years Ago Today... plus one

2007-06-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' seminal album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This album isn't quite the Beatles' best. Revolver is their best, followed by the White album. However, it's undoubtedly a great album and certainly their most influential. John's songs are the best (I've never been a big fan of "Getting Better"), particularly "Mr. Kite" and "Lucy." "Within you without you" is wonderful (if not quite as good as "Love You To" or "The Inner Light") and "When I'm 64" is the best Macca song. The best song on the album is one of Lennon and McCartney's best songs ever, "A Day in the Life." This was the first Beatles record I ever owned, and I always have a splendid time listening to it!

I'd much rather be wrong

2007-05-31T10:57:00.000-07:00

Back when we were running up to the war in Iraq, I said to some friends that I believed this would involve us in a civil war for the next 50 years. Today in the Washington Post I read:

"President Bush envisions a long-term U.S. troop presence in Iraq similar to the one in South Korea where American forces have helped keep an uneasy peace for more than 50 years, the White House said Wednesday.

... [Tony] Snow said it was impossible to say if U.S. troops would remain in Iraq for some 50 years, as they have in South Korea. 'I don't know,' he said.'"It is an unanswerable question. But I'm not making that suggestion. ... The war on terror is a long war.'"

When I estimated 50 years, I thought I was exaggerating. I really hope I'm wrong on this one... at this rate, we're talking over 50,000 US casualties, and who knows how many more Iraqi casualties in that time!

It's been a while

2007-05-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been so long, but I've been sick. I haven't really been up to doing too much web stuff. However, I'm still here :-)!

Everything old is new again

2007-05-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting thought yesterday-- the mid 2000s seems a lot like the early '70s. "Gonzogate" has many similarities to Watergate; it now has it's own "Wednesday Night Massacre." Also, the war in Iraq is as bad as, if not worse than Vietnam. About the only significant difference is that Nixon, as awful and paranoid as he was, at least appeared to have some intelligence. Bush is about witless, with the nice-for-him consequence that he's not paranoid at all. Everything is great, just ask him!

Please please give me a break

2007-05-10T14:45:00.000-07:00

The MPAA today said that depiction of smoking can now affect a film's ratings! If it is glamorized or pervasive, a PG-13 movie can be given an R rating. Are we sure that we're in the 21st century? I've never smoked a cigarette or anything else in my whole life, but I've seen countless movies where the characters do. It must be a miracle! Those evil Hollywood smokers didn't turn me! The most annoying upshot of this is that now, watered down, teen horror movies that used to be PG-13 can be R rated. It's going to be so bland that one day a film like Arachnophobia will be considered a gore fest!

Another reason to hate Fox!

2007-05-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

I just found out today that Fox won't produce any more NYPD Blue DVDs! "Poor sales," they claim, of seasons 1-4. This frustrates me to no end. Jeez, you can buy Dukes of Hazzard or Wonder Woman but not Blue!? Well, as I said, just another reason to hate Fox!