:: Gandalf23's Blog ::

:: Tuesday, September 30, 2003 ::

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The Saudi Religious Police have a handy web form for cowards and informers that they provide for the purpose of turning in heretics, free speech adherents and little girls with Barbie dolls.

The first box is for your name, the second, a drop down menu, is for your town. The first four are: Mecca, The City of Lights, Riyadh, and Jeddah. I don't know wha tthe rest are. The third is for your email address, and the fourth is for the sin committed. The sins listed are:
1. Someone not attending daily prayers
2. Flirting
3. Loitering
4. Selling Stolen Goods (is stealing itself ok?)
5. Immoral Observations (what the heck does this mean?)
6. Engaging in Western Habits (Holding your wife's hand in public, kissing or hugging her would all be examples of this. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are others.)
7. Other
Then in the large box you tell them who committed the sin, when, the usual informer type stuff. Something like: "Fraulein Gunter is hiding a family of Jews in her attic at 31 Hemmelstrasse."

Well, perhaps not that message exactly but the sentiment is the same. So are the results. While it's not possible for an inanimate object to be evil, this comes pretty close. Remember, these are the same thugs who let little girls burn to death rather than let them outside without head coverings

The button on the right is "Submit." The button on the left is "Reset."

After they receive the message the religious police then goes out and arrest them or fine them or beat them, depending on what the situation warrants.

Remember, Saudi recently decreed that Barbie dolls were immoral and would corrupt their youth.

Ah, the fun I can have with this. A real chance to express myself in inventive and creative ways to the thugs over there. Kinda like this:

Sin reported by: Dr Fahd bin Abdulrahman bin Sulaiman Balghunaim

Location: Mecca

Balghunaim@saudi.gov.sa

Type of Sin: Other

To whom it may concern.

Whilst examining the loins of my Filipino servants for evidence of apostasy, I happened to glance out of the second story window of my compound and espy Sheikh Saleh bin Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh in the street below, mightily struggling to pull a glossy red women's corset, one of the real quality ones, with a lace-up front, adjustable straps and optional garter attachments, from the hindquarters of a large pig.

The blessed imam was hampered in his attempt in that he was attempting to do so one- handed, his left hand being in possession of a half empty bottle of Grey Goose Vodka, which he alternately drank from or poured from above onto the swine's genitalia. The revered imam was also in a state of dishabille, his robe having fallen down around his ankles. This enabled me to observe his tumescent state once I had set my telescope to its largest magnification.

Please remonstrate with the imam for me, as the stock animals are nervous for days after his one of his visits.

Peace be upon you,

Dr Fahd bin Abdulrahman bin Sulaiman Balghunaim - Minister of Agriculture

Here's a handy list of names to use. Use them unstintingly!

King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz - The Prime Minister, The King

Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud - The First Deputy Prime Minister, Crown Prince and Commander of the National Guard

Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz - Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General

Dr Fahd bin Abdulrahman bin Sulaiman Balghunaim - Minister of Agriculture

Dr Muhammad bin Ali Al-Fayez - Minister of Civil Service

Dr Hashim bin Abdullah bin Hashim Al-Yamani - Minister of Commerce and Industry

Engineer Muhammad Jameel bin Ahmed Mulla - Minister of Communications and Information Technology

Dr Fouad bin Abdul Salaam bin Muhammad Al Farsy - Minister of Culture and Information

Dr Khalid bin Muhammad Al-Qusaibi - Ministry of Economy and Planning

Dr Muhammad bin Ahmed Al-Rasheed - Minister of Education

Dr Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Assaf- Minister of Finance

Prince Saud Al Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud - Minister of Foreign Affairs

Dr Iyad bin Ameen Madani - Minister of Hajj

Dr Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Mane' - Minister of Health

Dr Khalid bin Muhammad Al-Anqari - Minister of Higher Education

Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud - Minister of Interior

Sheikh Saleh bin Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh- Minister for Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Dawa and Guidance

Dr Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh- Minister of Justice

Dr Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Namlah- Minister of Labor and Social Affairs

Prince Mite'b bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud - Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs

Engineer Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Naimi - Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources

Dr Jubarah bin Eid Al-Suraiseri- Minister of Transport

Dr Ghazi bin Abdulrahman Al Gosaibi - Minister of Water and Electricity

Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz - Minister of State, Cabinet Member, and Chief of the Court of Cabinet's Presidency

Dr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Khuwaiter - Minister of State

Dr. Mutlab bin Abdullah Al-Nafeesah - Minister of State and Cabinet's Member

Dr. Musa'ed bin Mohammed Al-E'ban - Minister of State and Cabinet's Member

Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Yosef Zainal - Minister of State and Cabinet's Member

Remember, every fake message sent to these evil bastards is one that might cause them to overlook a real one, and make a innocent Saudi a little more free. At the very least it leaves them with less time to hastle young girls over their barbie dolls.


On a semi-related note, I like this t-shirt


:: gandalf23 3:18:00 PM [+] ::
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It looks like the Violence Policy Center (used to be Handgun Control Inc)(run by Mrs. Brady[not Florence Henderson]) has a new website up: banassaultweapons.org.

hmm...seems to me that they got banned back in 1994.

Ah, I see, they want to make sure that they stay banned. Back in 1994 Congress put a 10 year limit on the law. I hope and have called my congresspeople to express my feelings, that it just dies and they don't pass another ban. I see no good that came out of the ban. Looking at the banassaultweapons.org site, they see no good either. They said the law was easily circumvented and that now there are more assault weapons than ever. Funny, I don't ever hear of them being used in crimes.

Anyway, I'm looking at their site and I notice that they have a picture mislabeled.



At the bottom left is a Mitchell Arms or Armscorp (both imported the same rifle) AK-22, NOT an AK-47.

Here is a picture of an AK22:



And here is a picture of a real AK-47:



Notice the differences? The AK-22 has a much thicker handguard and thinner barrel. Also the angle of the buttstocks is noticably different. Also look at the magazines.

You'd think they'd do a little bit of research and at least have a correct picture. If it's wrong, makes you wonder what else is wrong on their site.




:: gandalf23 2:04:00 PM [+] ::
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hmmmm....maybe my next case mod will look like this.

or not.


UPDATE:

Definately not. The next case I build will be Star Wars related.

Like this Imperial Star Destroyer PC Case.

Or this Millenium Falcon.

Drool.....



:: gandalf23 8:21:00 AM [+] ::
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This is definatley on my list of things to build: a bowling-ball mortar!


I'd figure out how to make legs for it so I wouldn't have to use an old chair and a board to sight it in. Other than the legs, it sounds easy to build. hmmmmm.....



:: gandalf23 1:21:00 PM [+] ::
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What the heck is wrong with these people? Giving instructions on how to pleasure yourself to 9 year olds?

It includes a cartoon of a girl fondling herself in a bath.

The 16-page guide — called 4 You — also contains explicit diagrams of how to manipulate female genitals.

It tells youngsters it’s normal to be attracted to people of the same gender.

The book was published yesterday by the [Brittish]Government- funded sexual health charity fpa.

However, fpa chief executive Anne Weyman said: “This booklet will help dispel playground myths.”

What playground myths? The ones about getting cooties from kissing a girl? Over here in America the FPA could be charged with child pornography. A drawing of a child fondling herself, yup, that's kiddie porn. WTF were they thinking?


:: gandalf23 12:46:00 PM [+] ::
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Speaking of knifes, I've started work on knife number 2. This one is a more traditional lockback, vs the liner lock of the previous knife. I'm going to make jigged bone handles for it. Might dye them red or maybe brown or black. Not sure yet. I have several bone pieces being dyed right now as tests. I'll see how they turn out, then go from there.


:: gandalf23 9:57:00 AM [+] ::
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If you know anyone who's throwing out an old piano, let me know. I'd like to harvest the ivory keys for use on knife handles. Yeah, I know it's rather unlikely that a) anyone is throwing out a piano, and b) that said piano would have ivory keys, but you ever know. Thanks!




:: gandalf23 9:33:00 AM [+] ::
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Did you know that there is a country between France and Spain? Andorra was co-ruled by the head of France and a Bishop in Spain for 700-odd years, till 1993 when they became a parlimentary democracy. 1993!!!!!


:: gandalf23 5:30:00 PM [+] ::
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Dallas/Fort Worth animal adoption links

It's so sad when people don't take care of their pets. Or abondon them. I would never think of moving to an apartment that would not allow pets. I don't see how any dog owner would. Anyway, if you are looking for a dog (or cat, if you must) check out the places listed above first.


Look at this one:



Who would abondon such a cute little thing?




:: gandalf23 9:25:00 PM [+] ::
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I liked this after-action report from Iraq. I've got several Lee-Enfields, even have some Iraqi ammo for them. Think I'll take a few with me to the range next time. The rest of the report is good, too.


We were in an over-watch position after the battle of Al Samawah. I was watching through the thermals (it was night) and I see this Iraqi attempting to sneak up on us. He gets about 75 meters away, when all of a sudden this bull comes out of nowhere and demolishes the guy. Really lays him out and thrashes him. The whole platoon is watching and is in absolute hysterics.

Then somehow, the guy manages to stab the bull and it bellows and runs away. Using his rifle as a crutch, he then starts back towards my vehicle! He then falls down and begins to crawl towards us. When he is about 35 meters away he aims the rifle at us so we killed him with the coax. It was a really nice .303 British, so I kept it for a while. Later in the war I was shooting RPG guys from 200-plus meters away. When that .303 hit them they stayed down for good.
:: gandalf23 1:42:00 PM [+] ::
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The things pervs will do to get attention

Reflecto-pr0n. Who'd'a thunk it?


:: gandalf23 10:14:00 AM [+] ::
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:: gandalf23 10:10:00 AM [+] ::
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Don't take away my rights
Because you can't control your kid

DUMBASS
It's Lack of Parenting
NOT
Video Games

Grand Theft Auto and its three sequels are designed in Britain and have topped the UK and US games charts, selling more than 20 million copies in the past five years.

And how many of those 2x10^7 kids became killers?




:: gandalf23 8:57:00 AM [+] ::
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Wow!

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe. ceehiro.


:: gandalf23 4:43:00 PM [+] ::
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Some of y'all have pointed out that I shoudn't have purchased a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution as they are both available online.

But that's missing the point. It's very tough to curl up and read my computer screen. Yes, I could print out the text, but usually the formatting is screwy when you do that and even if it isn't, it'll be on letter sized paper, instead of nice and book-sized. People are accustomed to reading from books. I know I am. I like the idea of being able to take whatever I'm reading into bed or onto the couch or out on the porch and not have to worry about cables and lugging around huge monitors and such. If you fall asleep while reading from a laptop or PDA and it falls out of your hands to the floor, well, there goes a lot of money. A book on the other hand just gets a few pages bent, maybe the spine breaks, but it's still useable.

Besides, the edition I bought has both in one volume and is leather bound. Ohhh...leather bound book.....


:: gandalf23 8:37:00 AM [+] ::
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Well poop!

Andrew Vachss, one of my favorite writers, came out with a new book, Only Child, a YEAR AGO and I just today found out about it!

grrrrr....

Anyway, a quick trip over to Amazon.com and it's headed my way, along with a new electric drill (mine is leaking oil, or some sort of brown lubricant, all over the place and it's not economically viable to have it repaired) and a book on knives and a copy of the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

If you haven't read Vachss before, well, you should. But be forewarned, he does not pull any punches.

From an interview:

DE: There are a number of shows that deal a little bit with some of the work that you do, there is that Law and Order SVU.

AV: Yeah, that's a sitcom.

DE: I was just wondering if you've ever done any consulting or any one ask you to do any writing on the show?

AV: No, occasionally people in Hollywood have sent me scripts and asked me to take a look at it. And I sent it back and said this is so unrealistic I can't deal with it. So no, I've certainly been asked to look at property and I've looked at the property and I didn't feel like there was anything I could do with it.

Law and Order SVU, the show that many people find too disturbing and realistic, is a sitcom. Compared to his writing, it certainly is. And I know from previous interviews I've read that he still has to tone down the books somewhat. His first book, A Bomb Built in Hell, written in 1973 I think was never published as it was seen as too unrealistic and too hard-hoiled and extreme.

Most of y'all have probably read some of his articles in Parade, the Sunday paper magazine.

Here's a pretty good write up of him, from the Anchorage Press:

Originally published in The Anchorage Press, November 6, 2002

Before Andrew Vachss became a lawyer and best-selling author, his sundry career included work as a labor organizer, a social services caseworker, the director of a maximum-security youth prison and a sexually-transmitted disease investigator for the U.S. Public Health Service. When Vachss worked for the feds, syphilis was his thing. He talked to people who had it, talked to people who gave it to them, and then talked to the people who gave it to them.

"It was a hell of a job," he said in a recent phone interview from Portland, Oregon, where he was promoting his latest book, Only Child. "I saw some horrifying stuff."

What horrified Vachss most was what adults did to children, he said. He saw one infant with a venereal disease. He saw another nearly torn apart by rape. It threw him into a permanent state of controlled rage.

Vachss was also horrified by what he saw in Africa. In 1969 he oversaw an aid agency on the front lines of the Nigerian civil war, where he contracted malaria and got his nerves good and fried.

So he was horrified, mad, and fried—a combination that would send most people to the couch with a bowl of oatmeal. It sent Vachss to the typewriter.

Writing wasn't new to him. Before Flood, the first of a series of 14 novels featuring Burke, a mercenary, he'd written a textbook about juvenile justice, although it never reached outside the criminal justice system.

"I longed for a bigger congregation," he writes in his introduction to Flood, published in 1985. But he did not yearn for fame; he avoids the parties, the author's lunches. "I don't have time for all of that," he said. "I'm trying to make a difference."

Vachss wanted a bigger audience so that he could make a difference in the way the world treats child abuse.

His books took a while to catch on. His portrayals are unusually frank, taking an unblinking look at the underbelly of the underbelly, the horrible ways that people hurt children. Vachss has written about pedophiles who work in daycare centers, child pornography on the internet, illegal organ harvesting, the serial murder of teenage prostitutes, AIDS, gay- bashing and a suburban S&M ring. Only Child takes readers through a distasteful world of underground film production in New York.

Reviewers were not kind to his first novels, he recalled. "They said, What kind of sick, crazy mind would fantasize about such things?"

But critics don't sell books. Readers sell books. Word of mouth sells books. And Vachss' books had people chattering.

Now people wait impatiently for another Burke book, and the reviewers have come around, calling his work "edgy" and "raw and hungry," saying his plots "pierce like bullets" and "churn with energy and a memorable gallery of the walking wounded." Now the reviewers say he "fills a void" and shines "light into the darkest recesses."

Alaska is Vachss' last stop on a two-week tour.

"I've heard people say that Alaska, with all its fresh air, doesn't have any problems," he said. "I know better. Alaska's got child abuse problems just like everywhere else. Alaska should be a media stop. It's an important place. It hasn't made up its mind about a lot of things yet, and that makes it real attractive. If I can just get one member of the audience to listen, it will be worth it."

Vachss is a busy man. In addition to the 14 Burke novels, he's written another textbook, numerous articles, comic books, two books of short stories and song lyrics. He's also a full- time lawyer who only represents children—a luxury he can afford now that his books are successful.

"I'm a full-time lawyer and part-time writer," he said. "I write bits and pieces at a time. I've never had the luxury to sit down and just write a book. I don't want that luxury. My material comes out of my life, my job, on the streets. There's no tour bus that goes through my world. You have to live it. I wouldn't be living it if all I did was write."

You can find out almost everything you want to know about Vachss on his website (www.vachss.com), which includes information on his legal and political activities, newspaper articles on convicted child molesters, his speeches and interviews and the correct pronouncement of his name ("vax," like "fax"). But there are some things the website leaves out. It won't tell you, for instance, that the author wears an eye patch because of a childhood injury. And it won't tell you that one of the characters in his books, Wolfe—a former sex crimes prosecutor—is modeled after his wife.

Vachss' website also won't tell you that he has a few things in common with his protagonist, Burke, such as a love of racehorses, women and dogs. But unlike Vachss, Burke is "nothing but a criminal," Vachss said. He lies, cheats and steals, he's been in and out of prison and has sex with prostitutes. Burke is different from other tough-guy protagonists, who are generally descended from the archetypes forged by Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett. Burke isn't redeemable. He has no soft core; he's all hardened exterior. He's simply this: a criminal who loves his dog and hates child molesters.

"I had no interest in imitating all the Chandler clones out there," Vachss said. "If I presented you with the typical private eye—always sensitive, always handsome—you wouldn't believe in him or in his world."

Another thing Vachss' website won't tell you: if you read his latest book, Only Child, you might find yourself a little lost. Granted, it's part of a series, and it's always hard to jump into the last book in a series. But it doesn't help that Vachss refuses to play catch-up with his readers.

Still, even if there were a guide to Vachss plots and characters—which include Mama, a Chinese restaurant owner; Max, a deaf-mute giant; Michelle, a transvestite; and a pair of lesbian "power exchangers"—there's something else going on in his novels that's both confusing and ultimately satisfying. There's a vernacular unique to the underworld he writes about. Vachss stubbornly refuses to let Burke step out of character and interpret. Here's the way he introduces a character called Gateman:

"Last time down, the jury hung on homicide. Gateman claimed the other guy was making his move. Self-defense. The other guy was strapped, but he never cleared leather. Gateman's a cutie. Told the DA he had to sit anyway, might as well sit on The Rock until they tried him again. They have a staredown, and the DA blinked. Kept dropping the offer. When it got down to Man Two, Gateman took the lucky seven, did his half-plus."

I m still not sure what "cleared leather" means. Nor do I understand how sitting "on The Rock" constitutes a threat to the DA. And where is "The Rock," anyway? Alcatraz? Maybe, but Gateman's in New York. And what does it mean to do a half-plus? Half your sentence plus time off for good behavior? Maybe. But Burke and Vachss aren't telling. Vachss prefers his characters straight up—no splash of water, not even a few rocks.

"I write the way people in that world talk," he said. "Do you really think that (the kinds of) people in an Elmore Leonard novel talk that way? I'll sacrifice a few readers to get authenticity."

To his credit, Vachss doesn't strive for authenticity by barraging the reader with lurid details. He doesn't need to. Yet in addition to the street talk his books come with plenty of allusions to nasty situations. You're not going to leave skipping. He doesn't want you to. He's going for rage. He doesn't want you to like him, he wants you to be like him.

© 2002 Anchorage Press.

Children know the truth
Love is not an emotion
Love is behavior


:: gandalf23 7:54:00 AM [+] ::
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REI is having their Scratch and Dent sale next Saturday.

"Saturday 9/20 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Scratch and Dent Sale "

If you need any camping gear, you should head over there and see what they have. Most of it is damaged, but should be repairable. Last time I went to one I got a tent for $40 (new would be $150) that just needed a little repair done on the screen door (a tube of goop and some duct tape were all it took to fix it) and a Therma-Rest for $10 (had a slice in it, but otherwise in great condition, a $5 repair kit fixed it right up. New Therma-Rests of that type run $60. I also got a brand new pair of climbing shoes that was discontinued for $15 or so. Good deals all. If you plan on going, show up around 8am, as the line gets crazy long. Expect the good deals to be gone by about 10:15am or so.




:: gandalf23 7:36:00 PM [+] ::
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And at what cost? Did jackbooted storm troopers descend in the night from black helicopters to take away those voicing dissent? Or do the most vile and baseless accusations fly hither and yon, blown ever larger by a terrified and complicit media elite? Did hundreds of thousands of Muslims have their businesses torched, their families terrorized and beaten, the rest hauled off to concentration camps, or are you far safer, both physically and emotionally, as a Muslim in the US then you would be in any middle eastern country – safer and less harassed, without question – than Jews are in France today?


:: gandalf23 1:20:00 PM [+] ::
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Interesting article over at Time.com on Saudi Arabia and what they are doing (or not doing) to combat terrorism.


:: gandalf23 9:29:00 AM [+] ::
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911 Remembered: Rick Rescorla was a soldier

Have some kleenex handy.


:: gandalf23 3:14:00 PM [+] ::
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:: gandalf23 12:06:00 PM [+] ::
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must...buy...lamp

I think it would look very cool next to my mini suit of armor and swords and such.


:: gandalf23 11:51:00 AM [+] ::
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Interesting article on the possibility of hackers playing a role in the August 14th blackout. I really liked this phrase:

"security by antiquity"




:: gandalf23 2:44:00 PM [+] ::
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Looks like there is a silver lining to the heat wave that hit Europe this summer. Their crops are failing left and right. Ours are not. We can sell them all the surplus crops we have. I think we should push for some reforms first, before we agree to sell the crops. For example, Russia needs to lower their price for oil if they want any grain. The rest of Europe needs to ease of on the Anti-Americanism if they want any corn. Stuff like that.
:: gandalf23 11:29:00 AM [+] ::
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:: gandalf23 7:52:00 AM [+] ::
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Underworld looks kinda cool. But it may not make it to the theaters. White Wolf, the publishers of the Vampire and Werewolf RPGs is suing Sony. They think Sony ripped off their game "Love of Monsters."

The best quote on this is from Penny Arcade:

"To be honest, as regards Underworld, I thought of Romeo and Juliet before I thought of the World of Darkness. The lawsuit claims that the movie draws heavily from a story called Love Of Monsters - I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but the idea of Vampires and Werewolves loving each other ain't that special. I don't doubt that it would make a very fine movie, or story - Romeo and Juliet is a Goddamn timeless template. I saw it set in Ireland with an all female cast and it still worked, one family was all lesbians and one was all dinosaurs. You just can't fuck it up. You dab your eyes at the end and wonder what is so wrong about the love of a lesbian for a dinosaur. "






:: gandalf23 8:21:00 PM [+] ::
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:: gandalf23 8:59:00 AM [+] ::
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This is My Song
Lyrics: Lloyd Stone
Music: Jean Sibelius

This is my song, O God of all the nations,
a song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
here are my hopes, my dreams my holy shrine;
but other hearts in other lands are beating
with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine;
but other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, thou God of all the Nations,
a song of peace for their land and for mine.


:: gandalf23 10:27:00 AM [+] ::
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A blonde calls her boyfriend and says: "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get it started."

Her boyfriend asks: "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?"

The blonde says: "According to the picture on the box, it's a tiger."

Her boyfriend decides to go over and help with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then turns to her and says:

"First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a tiger."

He holds her hand softly, leads her to a chair and says: "Secondly, I'd advise you to relax. Let's have a cup of coffee, and then ...."

he sighs...

...."let's put all these Frosted Flakes back in the box."


:: gandalf23 11:46:00 AM [+] ::
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It seems that the French have had over 11,000 (eleven thousand) heat related deaths this summer. 11,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

According to this article, they don't have Air Conditioning in Hospitals. WTF are they thinking? A/C was invented over 100 years ago, why isn't in their hospitals at least?

:: gandalf23 8:52:00 AM [+] ::
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All the beauty pageant contestants are taught to wish for "world peace." But in fact, freedom and progress have ever developed only in lands of ongoing struggle -- albeit shot and shell can usually be supplanted, between pirate suppression raids, by the "creative destruction" of healthy commercial trade and competition: war under a different guise.

But that's not the kind of robust, chaotic, pluralistic "peace" the victim disarmament gang have in mind. No, their vision of a peaceful world has been common to Caesar, to Stalin, to Hitler and Mao: a world at peace ... because no peasant dares rise from his knees as they ride past.

Read the whole thing. It's good.
:: gandalf23 8:34:00 AM [+] ::
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A woman won the national national rifle championship at Camp Perry this year.

Shooting her M-16A2, Spc. Liana Bombardier, a U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit service rifle shooter, won the Service Rifle National Long Range Rifle Championship at Camp Perry, Ohio. Bombardier garnered the Billy C. Atkins Trophy as the highest scoring service rifle shooter in the National Highpower Rifle Long Range Championships Aug. 15 - 18.




:: gandalf23 7:36:00 AM [+] ::
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