Alphabetical Movie – Jamaica Inn
I can pretty much bet this post will get about ten views because nobody has heard of Jamaica Inn. The film is an early Hitchcock talkie and I don’t think it is fantastic, although it does have Maureen O’Hara in it and I’ve always been a little bit in love with Maureen O’Hara.
The thing with Jamaica Inn is that she is, for me, too young.
The Unassailable Logic of Ignorance
So the quote of the day goes to a creationist on Facebook who just said the following:
When we observe the fossil record we will see only two pieces of evidence with which to make a rational and logical conclusion:
1. Fossils of extinct creatures and,
2. Fossils of creatures that are still living today.From this observable evidence it can easily be seen that ALL the creatures still living today have not changed after “millions of years”. They have somehow mysteriously forgotten to evolve and look identical to their fossil counterpart.
If you, like me, have a logical and rational brain, your response will be something like this:
What the fuck? Are you stupid, crazy or both?????
It seems pretty clear that I never stop talking
Last week, I sat down with Levi Weinhagen and recorded an episode of Pratfalls of Parenting. I’ve been doing a lot of podcasting lately but I’m usually the host. It was fun being the subject. I believe I said interesting and amusing things but I haven’t had a chance to listen to the finished podcast yet. You can listen for yourself!
A Very Special Birthday Episode of Geeks Without God!
Today is my birthday. It is also time for a new episode of Geeks Without God! Of course, I took some time to geek about the fact that the Indiana Jones Blu-Ray set was released for my birthday. We also talked about the manned space program in the wake of Neil Armstrongs passing and we had our first set of listener submitted answers to our five questions! It made us feel all important and stuff! Go over and have a listen!
Alphabetical Movie Project – Jackie Chan’s First Strike
It had been a long time since I’d watched this particular Jackie Chan epic.
So long, in fact, that I spent at least 3/4 of the film thinking that I was watching Rumble in the Bronx.
As you may have guessed, it had also been a pretty long time since I’d seen Rumble in the Bronx.
Shit that Pissed me off This Week – 9/14
Christian Mother Looks for Advice after her Daughter Comes out as an Atheist
Here’s the problem we face in this country. When a child comes out as an atheist, a parent immediately views the situation as a parental failure.
This woman says she tried to instill her children with “good Christian values” and the problem I see is the fundamental question of what “good Christian values” might be.
If she wants her daughter to treat others with respect, she can do that if she is an atheist.
If she wants her daughter to value her life and strive to live it as best she can, she can do that if she is an atheist.
If she wants her daughter to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation, she can do that if she is an atheist. She probably won’t but she can.
Instead of being upset, this young woman’s mother should be proud. Her daughter is growing up and making her own choices. No parent will like every choice that their child makes but at some point, we all need to allow our children to make them. If her thinking wasn’t so clouded by her religion, she might recognize that she hasn’t failed raising her daughter. She succeeded.
Another Podcast? What is it with me?
I’m a bit behind on this one but last week’s Renaissance Music Podcast was recorded live at CONvergence 2012. The Dregs performed two live songs for the podcast and I also told a story about a time I tore up my knee for comedy. The good folks at the podcast regularly feature Dregs music so if you are a fan of the Dregs or you want to hear some funny stories about working at the Renaissance Festival, please check them out.
Alphabetical Movie – Jackie Brown
At CONvergence 2012, I was on a panel that explored Quentin Tarantino as a feminist filmmaker. While the panel offered no answers, it inspired some spirited discussion on Tarantino and also on what makes a film a “feminist” film.
I mean, is Kill Bill a feminist film because it has a female protagonist who can kick all sorts of ass? Maybe.
On the other hand, the entire film began because of Beatrix’s identity as a mother. Is that feminism? Even as a feminist, I’m not sure I know the answer to that question. I think the answer depends on the person answering the question.
Alphabetical Movie – It’s a Wonderful Life
Every time I watch It’s a Wonderful Life, I wonder how they managed to get that ending past the Hays office.
For those unaware of the Hays code, it was a strict set of guidelines that was meant to ensure that American films were morally “acceptable.” One of the more important parts of the code was that criminal behavior could not go unpunished. Bad guys ended up in jail or dead. Period.
Quick aside: I know it is silly to warn about spoilers for a movie almost everyone has seen but if you haven’t actually seen the film yet and you don’t want the ending spoiled, I’d suggest you don’t read on.
Alphabetical Movie – It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
We all have them, right? The movies that we are supposed to like but we just…don’t?
Take Ben Hur, for instance. Man do I dislike that film. That awesome chariot race? It’s definitely better than the pod race in The Phantom Menace but that is faint praise indeed. I just think it’s long. Really long.
I don’t dislike It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World the way I dislike Ben Hur but try as I might, I sure don’t like it.
Grail Diary 