Happy Memorial Day. As we participate in cookouts and the like, it is important to take a moment to recognize how blessed we are, and those that sacrificed for so much. I am so thankful that despite all the friends that I have who entered the service, none do I have to remember today.
I know that everyone has their own traditions. Mine is usually simple. I stay home and watch channels like AMC and TMC which air movies honoring the fallen, like Sands of Iwo Jima, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Midway, and especially The Longest Day. I also have DVDs like The Great Escape and The Great Raid. I've also repeatedly watched Band of Brothers. You may notice a theme, World War II, the Greatest Generation. So much darkness in the world from both Germany and Japan. Many don't realize that the Japanese were more brutal, more racist than the Nazis.
Anyway, these are things that I use to remember those who sacrificed everything for the ideal of freedom. I highly recommend the same to others.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
100th entry
I've been told that it is customary for the 100th blog entry to be something special. In preparation, I went and reread some of my previous entry. I really did wrestle with this, wanting to hold to this custom. I thought about looking back at my first entry. I also considered looking at my most viewed. I also considered a synopsis of my entries.
In the end, I thought I would tell a story.
In 1415, the French and English were at war. It was known as the Hundred Years War. At the time, England had territories in what is modern day France. They continually battled over there territories. Following a failed negotiation, England, led by King Henry V, invaded Normany. They besieged Harfleur. From February until September, they surrounded the city. Though they did take the city, the English lost as many soldiers to dysentery as battle.
The English were forced to flee when the french roused an army. They marched across Normandy toward the port of Calais, where they could rest safely or even flee to England proper. The french blocked their crossing of the River Somme, forcing them south. With further delay from carrying so many diseased soldiers, they were eventually surrounded near Agincourt.
Henry V camped with his troops at one end of a wheat field, with woods flanking on either side. His forces were outnumbered six to one. The French has approximately 36,000, most of whom were professional soldiers. This was the feudal age, when the Knight was the top soldier. They had both calvary, the deadliest of soldiers, and ground troops. Both were equiped with mail, made of little metal links woven together and covered with plate of armor, making the wearer nearly invincible. They also carried longswords and the cavalry had hand carved lances, each of which took nearly a year to produce. These were the special forces, tanks, and and bombers of their day all in one package. They were the deadliest soldiers on earth.
In contrast, Henry V left the bulk of his army at home. Instead, he brought a civilian force. In the feudal age, the lords, the landowners, were the professional soldiers. They believed that their position gave them the responsibility to defend those under them, so they were the soldiers. It was even illegal for a non-noble to possess a sword. King Henry V brought men of the Yoeman (middle) class. These civilians were taught to use the longbow, knife, and stave. The longbow arrows were redesigned with a square tip that could pierce armor. The staves where wooden posts, sharpened at both ends, which they would hammer into the ground. These would halt a calvary charge by impaling the horses. The knives were a last resort. If a knight approached, they would divide into teams of three to try to tackle the knight and either go for weak points or cut the leather straps holding on the plate armor. When outnumbered six to one, require three to one to get a single kill is not ideal.
To make it worse, as the sun set, it began to rain. Imagine being sick, cold, away from home for most of a year, and it starts to rain. You know shortly after dawn you will be fighting for survival. They could hear the laughter of French soldiers laughing, taunting, even pointing out which people they will kill. It was the longest most terrifying night of thier lives.
In walks King Henry the Fifth, walking through the camp to speak to his men. Shakespeare recorded his words like this. (edited)
This quote has been used to describe the famous 101st Airbourne Easy Company during WWII, nicknamed Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. The reason this quote was especially meaningful is because of who spoke it. This wasn't a friend. It wasn't a coworker. This was the king. He was a man of noble blood, whom they believed God had given the divine right to rule both England and France. Royalty called them brother, and thereby equal. Royalty called commoners brother.
With this in mind, they slept the night. They bravery lined up for battle. In this day, the king, waited in the back were he would be safest. Henry put on his battle crown (a helmet with a crown welded to it) and lined up the middle almost challenging the french to target him instead of his brothers. And they waited. And waited. The french lined up and started taunting. Henry bravely ordered a charge. As the French watch, the archers pulled their staves marched forward, and drove them back into the ground. Then they calmly pulled their bows, and now in range, began firing.
The French, of course, began their charge now that they were taking casualties. Here's what they didn't count on. With the rain, the heavy armor and heavy horses sunk in the mud. They were sitting ducks. The french took heavy losses, though they also inflicted some.
Henry's actual brother was killed, and the french tried to haul off the body to desecrate it. Henry ended up leaving the lines, planting a foot on his brother's carcass, and fighting off the French. This act also was an unexpected blessing, because his whole army could see him fighting, boosting their moral. Eventually the English won the day.
This story means a lot to me. It is not just the age of chivalry, but also speaks of equality for all mankind for the first time in that age. This is a powerful story. For me personally, it reminds me that the King of Kings came to fight alongside me, going out in front, and because of Him I can stand and fight. Despite seemingly overwhelming odds, my band of brothers will have the victory.
In the end, I thought I would tell a story.
In 1415, the French and English were at war. It was known as the Hundred Years War. At the time, England had territories in what is modern day France. They continually battled over there territories. Following a failed negotiation, England, led by King Henry V, invaded Normany. They besieged Harfleur. From February until September, they surrounded the city. Though they did take the city, the English lost as many soldiers to dysentery as battle.
The English were forced to flee when the french roused an army. They marched across Normandy toward the port of Calais, where they could rest safely or even flee to England proper. The french blocked their crossing of the River Somme, forcing them south. With further delay from carrying so many diseased soldiers, they were eventually surrounded near Agincourt.
Henry V camped with his troops at one end of a wheat field, with woods flanking on either side. His forces were outnumbered six to one. The French has approximately 36,000, most of whom were professional soldiers. This was the feudal age, when the Knight was the top soldier. They had both calvary, the deadliest of soldiers, and ground troops. Both were equiped with mail, made of little metal links woven together and covered with plate of armor, making the wearer nearly invincible. They also carried longswords and the cavalry had hand carved lances, each of which took nearly a year to produce. These were the special forces, tanks, and and bombers of their day all in one package. They were the deadliest soldiers on earth.
In contrast, Henry V left the bulk of his army at home. Instead, he brought a civilian force. In the feudal age, the lords, the landowners, were the professional soldiers. They believed that their position gave them the responsibility to defend those under them, so they were the soldiers. It was even illegal for a non-noble to possess a sword. King Henry V brought men of the Yoeman (middle) class. These civilians were taught to use the longbow, knife, and stave. The longbow arrows were redesigned with a square tip that could pierce armor. The staves where wooden posts, sharpened at both ends, which they would hammer into the ground. These would halt a calvary charge by impaling the horses. The knives were a last resort. If a knight approached, they would divide into teams of three to try to tackle the knight and either go for weak points or cut the leather straps holding on the plate armor. When outnumbered six to one, require three to one to get a single kill is not ideal.
To make it worse, as the sun set, it began to rain. Imagine being sick, cold, away from home for most of a year, and it starts to rain. You know shortly after dawn you will be fighting for survival. They could hear the laughter of French soldiers laughing, taunting, even pointing out which people they will kill. It was the longest most terrifying night of thier lives.
In walks King Henry the Fifth, walking through the camp to speak to his men. Shakespeare recorded his words like this. (edited)
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother...
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap..."
This quote has been used to describe the famous 101st Airbourne Easy Company during WWII, nicknamed Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. The reason this quote was especially meaningful is because of who spoke it. This wasn't a friend. It wasn't a coworker. This was the king. He was a man of noble blood, whom they believed God had given the divine right to rule both England and France. Royalty called them brother, and thereby equal. Royalty called commoners brother.
With this in mind, they slept the night. They bravery lined up for battle. In this day, the king, waited in the back were he would be safest. Henry put on his battle crown (a helmet with a crown welded to it) and lined up the middle almost challenging the french to target him instead of his brothers. And they waited. And waited. The french lined up and started taunting. Henry bravely ordered a charge. As the French watch, the archers pulled their staves marched forward, and drove them back into the ground. Then they calmly pulled their bows, and now in range, began firing.
The French, of course, began their charge now that they were taking casualties. Here's what they didn't count on. With the rain, the heavy armor and heavy horses sunk in the mud. They were sitting ducks. The french took heavy losses, though they also inflicted some.
Henry's actual brother was killed, and the french tried to haul off the body to desecrate it. Henry ended up leaving the lines, planting a foot on his brother's carcass, and fighting off the French. This act also was an unexpected blessing, because his whole army could see him fighting, boosting their moral. Eventually the English won the day.
This story means a lot to me. It is not just the age of chivalry, but also speaks of equality for all mankind for the first time in that age. This is a powerful story. For me personally, it reminds me that the King of Kings came to fight alongside me, going out in front, and because of Him I can stand and fight. Despite seemingly overwhelming odds, my band of brothers will have the victory.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Hell: We can't afford to get it wrong.
There's been a lot of controvery about hell lately. This video by Francis Chan is an amazing perspective.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Woo Hoo!
My laptop is now fixed! That makes all my life easier. It also means that I can return to my most relaxing hobby, writing fiction. No I won't be published anytime soon, so I'm not just using this blog to plug a book. I write for fun, not fame or profit.
I can plug something. I have a twitter (twitter.com/knight4today). Anytime I write an update, it will notify you if you follow me there. By the way, you can also send an e-mail to me (same address @gmail.com) and if you want I'll try to remember to e-mail reminders or even if you have something that you want my take on feel free to send requests.
I can plug something. I have a twitter (twitter.com/knight4today). Anytime I write an update, it will notify you if you follow me there. By the way, you can also send an e-mail to me (same address @gmail.com) and if you want I'll try to remember to e-mail reminders or even if you have something that you want my take on feel free to send requests.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Loss of freedom
So I write from time to time about how modern law destroys freedom enforces violations of the Constitution. Here's another for you. The Indiana Supreme Court heard a case. Police were called for a domestic abuse situation. The cops confronted the man, who told them they could not enter his house. One officer went in anyway, and when the man trying to prevent entry shoved the officer, he was tased and arrested.
Here's the problem. They had no warrant. They had no probable cause. Aparently the officers had scene too many cops shows, where the good guy cop breaks the law to get the job done.
What the court ruled, 3-2, was that you have no right to resist an officer who is illegally entering your home. They said this will prevent violence against police officers. They claim you should just appeal to the courts if they do something illegal. With that, a uniformed officer (or someone POSING as an officer) can enter your home, rob you, beat you, and arrest you, and until you get your day in court, you rot in jail. And you'll never get your stuff back. Because you can't prove it, and who is going to trust you over a cop.
Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, protection from illegal search and siezure, these are some of the main reasons our founding father fought a revolution. Oh, how they would weep if they could see how our Constitution is used as toilet paper.
Many might think I'm nuts, or at least overreacting. But this is a pattern. Try getting a speedy trial (6th Amendment), which means if unfairly arrested, you're going to rot for a while. Going to plead the fifth? That's fine, unless a sopena is issued. Freedom of assembly? Get a permit first. Freedom of speech? Not if it ain't PC. And the government can listen in on all of it, without a warrant (thank Bush. Grrr... Stupid Patriot Act). Freedom of religion? They've talked about passing laws requiring ministers like me to have to perform gay marriages. How come I can refuse a wedding for straight people, but not homosexuals? Oh, and of course, evangelism and prayer are banned. Right to keep and bare arms? Get a permit, register the weapon, and keep it locked in a safe at home. Federal government has powers limited to what the Constitution gives them? Yeah, they do everything but.
Ever heard the old fable about putting the frog in boiling water? (Warning! This is a fable! Putting a frog in boiling water will kill it! Do not attempt!) They have turned up the heat, boiling away our rights. Safety is the opposite of freedom. Freedom is risk. In McCarthyism, they gave up all their freedom to get protected from "the communists." Now, we want protected from everyone. It is sad.
Here's the problem. They had no warrant. They had no probable cause. Aparently the officers had scene too many cops shows, where the good guy cop breaks the law to get the job done.
What the court ruled, 3-2, was that you have no right to resist an officer who is illegally entering your home. They said this will prevent violence against police officers. They claim you should just appeal to the courts if they do something illegal. With that, a uniformed officer (or someone POSING as an officer) can enter your home, rob you, beat you, and arrest you, and until you get your day in court, you rot in jail. And you'll never get your stuff back. Because you can't prove it, and who is going to trust you over a cop.
Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, protection from illegal search and siezure, these are some of the main reasons our founding father fought a revolution. Oh, how they would weep if they could see how our Constitution is used as toilet paper.
Many might think I'm nuts, or at least overreacting. But this is a pattern. Try getting a speedy trial (6th Amendment), which means if unfairly arrested, you're going to rot for a while. Going to plead the fifth? That's fine, unless a sopena is issued. Freedom of assembly? Get a permit first. Freedom of speech? Not if it ain't PC. And the government can listen in on all of it, without a warrant (thank Bush. Grrr... Stupid Patriot Act). Freedom of religion? They've talked about passing laws requiring ministers like me to have to perform gay marriages. How come I can refuse a wedding for straight people, but not homosexuals? Oh, and of course, evangelism and prayer are banned. Right to keep and bare arms? Get a permit, register the weapon, and keep it locked in a safe at home. Federal government has powers limited to what the Constitution gives them? Yeah, they do everything but.
Ever heard the old fable about putting the frog in boiling water? (Warning! This is a fable! Putting a frog in boiling water will kill it! Do not attempt!) They have turned up the heat, boiling away our rights. Safety is the opposite of freedom. Freedom is risk. In McCarthyism, they gave up all their freedom to get protected from "the communists." Now, we want protected from everyone. It is sad.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Ugh...
So no laptop yet so I'm still limited in my blogableness. So below I have a forward that my uncle sent me. Enjoy!
Go Buckeyes!
The year is 2016 and the United States has just elected the first woman, an Ohio State graduate, as President of the United States, Susan Buckeye.
A few days after the election the president-elect calls her father and says, 'So, Dad, I assume you will be coming to my inauguration?'' I don't think so. It's a 20 hour drive, your mother isn't as young as she used to be, and my arthritis is acting up again. ''Don't worry about it Dad, I'll send Air Force One to pick you up and take you home. And a limousine will pick you up at your door.''
I don't know. Everybody will be so fancy. What would your mother wear?' Oh Dad, replies Susan, 'I'll make sure she has a wonderful gown custom-made by the best designer in New York.
''Honey,' Dad complains, 'you know I can't eat those rich foods you and your friends like to eat.' The President-to-be responds, 'Don't worry Dad. The entire affair is going to be handled by the best caterer in New York, I'll ensure your meals are salt free Dad, I really want you to come.'
So Dad reluctantly agrees and on January 20, 2017, Susan Buckeye is being sworn in as President of the United States, with her Mom and Dad in the front row for her big moment. Dad notices the Senator sitting next to him and leans to him and whispers with undeniable pride, 'You see that woman there with her hand on the Bible, becoming President of the United States?' The Senator whispers back, 'Yes I do.' Dad says proudly, 'Her brother played football at Ohio State.'
Go Buckeyes!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Thor Odinson, the Thunderer.
I saw Thor this weekend. And, well, I have mixed feelings about it. Let me start with it's problems.
#1 "Have at Thee!" This was Thor's tagline, which was ommitted entirely from the movie (even though there were a few places it would have worked). In fact, he never said "thee." Or "aye," "nay," "verily," call Earth its proper Norse name "Midgard" or many other words that are common Thor language. The writers thought that the MTV generation is too stupid to understand Old English. While it is true that I despise Shakespeare, that has more to do with it being stupid and not caring. However, a modernized Old English is Thor's iconic language. Forget the MTV generation. Appeal to the nerds. After all, we nerds are the ones who actually have money and show up to midnight showings, as well as blogging about movies that we watch. So I say to thee, nay. Nay to your dumbing down the language of Thor.
#2 Helmet. Ok, this may seem like a little one, but he only wore his iconic winged helmet for a grand total of three seconds. Even when he became Thor again, the rest of his clothes appeared, but not the signature helmet.
#3 Natalie Portman. Seriously? Why did you have to have her? No one takes her seriously as an actress anymore, and so this detracts from the movie. It's partially not her fault. Blame George Lucas. He's the one who wrote crappy dialogue like "I truly... deeply... love you (for no reason other than it says so in the script)" and "Killing younglings?" And to get out of being trapped by her roll in the Star Wars "George wants more money" Prequel Trilogy, she did movies like "No Strings Attached" and "The Black Swan" which shows that she has basically no morals whatsoever. So again I say to thee, nay.
#4 Jane Foster. She was a nurse, not a conspiracy theorist in the comics. Thor fell in love with her because he could see her desire to help the mortals despite their frailty. Now, he fell in love with her for no reason other than it says so in the script. Again, dumbing it down for the MTV generation.
#5 Driver's liscense. Ok, again, this is nitpicking, but he had a fake liscense when Foster and company were trying to break him out. It was for NY. It should have been for Detroit, MI. Part of Thor's uniqueness is that he was the only Detroit-based superhero ever (at least until joining the Avengers in NYC).
#6 Asgardians. Again, this is nitpicky, but two of the Asgardians didn't fit. I understand they were trying to be PC, but a black guy and a chinese guy don't exactly look Scandinavian.
#7 Frost Giants. Again, nitpicky, but the "giants" weren't that much bigger than the humans-sized gods.
Now for the plus side.
#1 Mjolnir. At least they did call Thor's hammer by the proper name.
#2 Donald Blake. They refered to Thor as Donald Blake for his fake identity. It was first introduced when Foster gave Thor clothes, with a Dr. Donald Blake nametag on it. This was for the nerds. Thor asked who he was, and Foster replied "an ex boyfriend." I mentioned Jane Foster was a nurse in the comic. In the comic, when Thor angered Odin, Odin didn't just cast him to Midgard and make him mortal. He put him in the body of Dr. Donald Blake (and wiped his memories of being an Asgardian), a disabled man who was an MD in MI who helped people. It was by this that Thor learned to care about others, and he and Jane fell in love. In times of danger, the good doctor would turn into the Thunder God, and slowly regained his memory, though now gaining Blake's character (Blake's cane would turn into Mjolnir). Once Odin knew that Thor learned his lesson, he again seperated the two beings. I knew that they weren't going to have this side story, so verily I thank thee Marvel for including the reference.
#3 Anthony Hopkins and company. No one could have made a better Odin that Anthony Hopkins. Their Thor and Loki were also great. For my money, whoever did the casting only made one mistake (above) which I'm guessing was the studio's decision, believing she would be a draw (again, the opposite for my money).
#4 Cameo. SPOILER ALERT! I loved the surprise cameo of a particular SHIELD Agent. When Thor was trashing a SHIELD outpost, Agent Colson asked for an eye in the sky. An agent goes in and looks at the guns, then reached up and grabs a bow. Agent Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye. Hawkeye was raised in the circus as a trick bowman, then recruited to SHIELD as an operative, eventually partnering with Black Widow. Hawkeye has a rebellious streak and hates taking orders. Eventually Widow sets Hawkeye up as a supposed double agent, when in fact she was working for Hydra (the criminal organization behind Nazi rise, Capt's foe, and the arch-enemy of SHIELD). Fury ordered Hawkeye to let it go after he proved his innocence and her guilt, but he went off to get her anyway, which ends up with him joining the Avengers. This cameo was a surprise to me, and is almost enough to make up for not having "HAVE AT THEE!" in the movie. Almost.
#5 Asgardians. What is not to like about the Norse gods? I mean, anything Viking has got to be cool. Ninjas are a tired cliche. Pirates lost their coolness when the later two POTC movies made everyone Captains (especially Orlando Bloom and his lamo girlfriend. My favorite of the franchise is still Barbosa). Vikings are still cool.
Overall, I give it a B+ (though my negative list is longer, the pluses outweight it). Yes, I will get it on DVD. If you are nerdy enough to like comic book movies, but not so much as to care about the lack of his signature line, you should like it. If you ask me if you should see it, I say to thee, "Verily, aye," for both Asgard and Midgard!
#1 "Have at Thee!" This was Thor's tagline, which was ommitted entirely from the movie (even though there were a few places it would have worked). In fact, he never said "thee." Or "aye," "nay," "verily," call Earth its proper Norse name "Midgard" or many other words that are common Thor language. The writers thought that the MTV generation is too stupid to understand Old English. While it is true that I despise Shakespeare, that has more to do with it being stupid and not caring. However, a modernized Old English is Thor's iconic language. Forget the MTV generation. Appeal to the nerds. After all, we nerds are the ones who actually have money and show up to midnight showings, as well as blogging about movies that we watch. So I say to thee, nay. Nay to your dumbing down the language of Thor.
#2 Helmet. Ok, this may seem like a little one, but he only wore his iconic winged helmet for a grand total of three seconds. Even when he became Thor again, the rest of his clothes appeared, but not the signature helmet.
#3 Natalie Portman. Seriously? Why did you have to have her? No one takes her seriously as an actress anymore, and so this detracts from the movie. It's partially not her fault. Blame George Lucas. He's the one who wrote crappy dialogue like "I truly... deeply... love you (for no reason other than it says so in the script)" and "Killing younglings?" And to get out of being trapped by her roll in the Star Wars "George wants more money" Prequel Trilogy, she did movies like "No Strings Attached" and "The Black Swan" which shows that she has basically no morals whatsoever. So again I say to thee, nay.
#4 Jane Foster. She was a nurse, not a conspiracy theorist in the comics. Thor fell in love with her because he could see her desire to help the mortals despite their frailty. Now, he fell in love with her for no reason other than it says so in the script. Again, dumbing it down for the MTV generation.
#5 Driver's liscense. Ok, again, this is nitpicking, but he had a fake liscense when Foster and company were trying to break him out. It was for NY. It should have been for Detroit, MI. Part of Thor's uniqueness is that he was the only Detroit-based superhero ever (at least until joining the Avengers in NYC).
#6 Asgardians. Again, this is nitpicky, but two of the Asgardians didn't fit. I understand they were trying to be PC, but a black guy and a chinese guy don't exactly look Scandinavian.
#7 Frost Giants. Again, nitpicky, but the "giants" weren't that much bigger than the humans-sized gods.
Now for the plus side.
#1 Mjolnir. At least they did call Thor's hammer by the proper name.
#2 Donald Blake. They refered to Thor as Donald Blake for his fake identity. It was first introduced when Foster gave Thor clothes, with a Dr. Donald Blake nametag on it. This was for the nerds. Thor asked who he was, and Foster replied "an ex boyfriend." I mentioned Jane Foster was a nurse in the comic. In the comic, when Thor angered Odin, Odin didn't just cast him to Midgard and make him mortal. He put him in the body of Dr. Donald Blake (and wiped his memories of being an Asgardian), a disabled man who was an MD in MI who helped people. It was by this that Thor learned to care about others, and he and Jane fell in love. In times of danger, the good doctor would turn into the Thunder God, and slowly regained his memory, though now gaining Blake's character (Blake's cane would turn into Mjolnir). Once Odin knew that Thor learned his lesson, he again seperated the two beings. I knew that they weren't going to have this side story, so verily I thank thee Marvel for including the reference.
#3 Anthony Hopkins and company. No one could have made a better Odin that Anthony Hopkins. Their Thor and Loki were also great. For my money, whoever did the casting only made one mistake (above) which I'm guessing was the studio's decision, believing she would be a draw (again, the opposite for my money).
#4 Cameo. SPOILER ALERT! I loved the surprise cameo of a particular SHIELD Agent. When Thor was trashing a SHIELD outpost, Agent Colson asked for an eye in the sky. An agent goes in and looks at the guns, then reached up and grabs a bow. Agent Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye. Hawkeye was raised in the circus as a trick bowman, then recruited to SHIELD as an operative, eventually partnering with Black Widow. Hawkeye has a rebellious streak and hates taking orders. Eventually Widow sets Hawkeye up as a supposed double agent, when in fact she was working for Hydra (the criminal organization behind Nazi rise, Capt's foe, and the arch-enemy of SHIELD). Fury ordered Hawkeye to let it go after he proved his innocence and her guilt, but he went off to get her anyway, which ends up with him joining the Avengers. This cameo was a surprise to me, and is almost enough to make up for not having "HAVE AT THEE!" in the movie. Almost.
#5 Asgardians. What is not to like about the Norse gods? I mean, anything Viking has got to be cool. Ninjas are a tired cliche. Pirates lost their coolness when the later two POTC movies made everyone Captains (especially Orlando Bloom and his lamo girlfriend. My favorite of the franchise is still Barbosa). Vikings are still cool.
Overall, I give it a B+ (though my negative list is longer, the pluses outweight it). Yes, I will get it on DVD. If you are nerdy enough to like comic book movies, but not so much as to care about the lack of his signature line, you should like it. If you ask me if you should see it, I say to thee, "Verily, aye," for both Asgard and Midgard!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Pure Genius
This is the best video I have ever scene, so I had to share. Enjoy.
Post your favorite quotes below.
Post your favorite quotes below.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Osama bin Laden
Everyone remembers where they were when they heard that terrorists had hijacked four airplanes and were using them as weapons. I remember a friend telling me after leaving Algebra 2 at 10:05. I told him someone was messing with him when he told me that terrorists had rammed airplanes in the World Trade Center. I told him no one was dumb enough to attack the United States. Then I walked into my US History class to see a television showing a single smoking tower (the other had just fallen). I remember hearing Peter Jennings explain terrorists had rammed airplanes into the WTC and the Pentagon. I remember them showing a split screen, and saying these were the first images of the damage to the Pentagon. I remember them saying a fourth plane was overtaken by the hostages and downed in PA. I remember looking out the window, trying to see if there were more planes out there headed for us. I remember and eerily empty sky, no clouds and no planes (unusual considering our proximity to an airport). I remember days later when Pres. Bush made an announcement that Stealth Bombers had bombed a country I had never heard of before, and walking into that same US History class to try to find Afghanistan on a globe.
Yesterday morning, I awoke early and pulled up twitter on an iPhone. I saw tweets that made no sense, something about Pres. Obama making a speech and people staying up late to celebrate. I turned my TV on to Fox news, who had the headline "UBL killed in Pakistan." Fox has always transliterated "Osama" as "Usama." I knew instantly was "UBL" stood for. I knew bin Laden was dead.
I must say, this was emotional for me. I never thought I'd live to see the day. I thought he'd die of old age. My phone rang, a friend headed to work. He was calling to tell me what I just learned. I watched TV as I talked to him. I shed a tear when they showed the Air Force Academy breaking out into singing the National Anthem.
I'm not the patriot that I used to be. As my loyalty to God increases, my loyalty to a country decreases. But, something within me was lifted up. Not that a man was dead. Not that I hated him. But that justice for something so evil was taken care of. I heard jokes about Jack Bauer and John McClain (speficically, "Yippie-kay-aye bin Laden").
Then I saw this quote.
I knew I'd see that quote. Christians celebrating death is not what Jesus wanted. But I don't think using this passage as a weapon was what he wanted either. You also have to consider this (and many other passages on God's judgement and justice).
Navy Seals where that sword, an agent of God's wrath on bin Laden. But there is a balance to this. Though I am glad that justice is done, I bore no ill will toward the man. The opposite, actually. I could not have done it. My love, for this man, my enemy, would have prevented me. Being a Christian, I look to bin Laden and must recognize that he was deserving of hell, and by pulling the trigger I would have sent him to hell. I am not willing to send him there. Because I am also deserving of hell, but Jesus extended his grace to me.
I can't help but think this whole time about bin Laden. One thing that cannot be denied is that he was a charismatic leader and recruiter. People flocked to him. What if, instead of being an agent of hate, he would have been an agent of love? What if, instead of being an ambassador of descruction, he would have been an ambassador of restoration? What if, instead of being a man of death, he would have been a man of life? What if, instead of being a terrorist, he would have been a missionary? What if, instead of being a weapon of Satan, he would have been a tool of God? What if, instead of creating suicide bombers, he would have made disciples of Jesus?
It is strange to think about how this world could have changed if someone had reached Osama bin Laden for Jesus. I am grieved that he went to hell. I grieve for him, as well as for the man that he could have been in Christ Jesus, as a new creation as I am. I know that though God is willing and able to punish him for his sins, that God was also willing to forgive and cleanse him of those same sins. God gifted bin Laden to draw people to himself. If he would have used that ability to draw people to the cross, imagine how our world would be.
So I pause, and though a small part of be celebrates justice, it is not as big as the part of me that grieves the what if's.
Yesterday morning, I awoke early and pulled up twitter on an iPhone. I saw tweets that made no sense, something about Pres. Obama making a speech and people staying up late to celebrate. I turned my TV on to Fox news, who had the headline "UBL killed in Pakistan." Fox has always transliterated "Osama" as "Usama." I knew instantly was "UBL" stood for. I knew bin Laden was dead.
I must say, this was emotional for me. I never thought I'd live to see the day. I thought he'd die of old age. My phone rang, a friend headed to work. He was calling to tell me what I just learned. I watched TV as I talked to him. I shed a tear when they showed the Air Force Academy breaking out into singing the National Anthem.
I'm not the patriot that I used to be. As my loyalty to God increases, my loyalty to a country decreases. But, something within me was lifted up. Not that a man was dead. Not that I hated him. But that justice for something so evil was taken care of. I heard jokes about Jack Bauer and John McClain (speficically, "Yippie-kay-aye bin Laden").
Then I saw this quote.
Matthew 5:43-45
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
NIV
I knew I'd see that quote. Christians celebrating death is not what Jesus wanted. But I don't think using this passage as a weapon was what he wanted either. You also have to consider this (and many other passages on God's judgement and justice).
Romans 13:3-4
"For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer."
NIV
Navy Seals where that sword, an agent of God's wrath on bin Laden. But there is a balance to this. Though I am glad that justice is done, I bore no ill will toward the man. The opposite, actually. I could not have done it. My love, for this man, my enemy, would have prevented me. Being a Christian, I look to bin Laden and must recognize that he was deserving of hell, and by pulling the trigger I would have sent him to hell. I am not willing to send him there. Because I am also deserving of hell, but Jesus extended his grace to me.
I can't help but think this whole time about bin Laden. One thing that cannot be denied is that he was a charismatic leader and recruiter. People flocked to him. What if, instead of being an agent of hate, he would have been an agent of love? What if, instead of being an ambassador of descruction, he would have been an ambassador of restoration? What if, instead of being a man of death, he would have been a man of life? What if, instead of being a terrorist, he would have been a missionary? What if, instead of being a weapon of Satan, he would have been a tool of God? What if, instead of creating suicide bombers, he would have made disciples of Jesus?
It is strange to think about how this world could have changed if someone had reached Osama bin Laden for Jesus. I am grieved that he went to hell. I grieve for him, as well as for the man that he could have been in Christ Jesus, as a new creation as I am. I know that though God is willing and able to punish him for his sins, that God was also willing to forgive and cleanse him of those same sins. God gifted bin Laden to draw people to himself. If he would have used that ability to draw people to the cross, imagine how our world would be.
So I pause, and though a small part of be celebrates justice, it is not as big as the part of me that grieves the what if's.
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