A Day In The Life
Up at 6:15, as the littlest grisby was fussin. Couldn't get back to sleep as I felt a pain similar to when I had a kidney stone about 10 years ago. Not fun. The recollection of which is enough to make me want to hide away and pray for the sweet relief death would bring. Fortunately, for me, the moment subsided and the day went on.
Off to the office and two appointments. Good meetings make the day go quick, which is nice heading into a long holiday weekend. Speaking of which, personally thank a veteran this weekend. Turns out my good friend, Lt. Anderson, a.k.a., Chappy, who happens to be serving with the Marines 3/2 in Iraq, was the subject of a
USA Today article on Tuesday. Check him out, he's in the Life section and was the subject of a previous post in February. A great reminder of the sacrifices our brave men and women are making each and every day.
If only those seven republican senators had been so brave. Because of their bumbling incompetence, we are still
talking about this. C'mon already! GET IT DONE. This is just an ambassador! Imagine the hell that we will have to endure once a supreme court position becomes vacant. As Squirrel, astutely pointed out, this is both a bad and dumbfounding precedent. Oh well! I guess, politician acutally does = self-serving crook. At least that is how I'm feeling today, at this very moment. If they can't confirm an ambassador who shouldn't even be an issue, they are never going to confirm a non-leftist, mainstream American (and by that I mean conservative), to the highest court in the land. Pathetic.
At any rate, this weekend I plan on enjoying my kids. Sure I'll play Star Wars for hours on end, but hey, six was a good year for me too! I'll do a little work around the basement, enjoy some good food, drink as much water and cranberry juice as I can stomach, thank as many veterans as I can, and fly my flag-assuming it quits raining.
Have a blessed holiday everyone!
The "Not-So-Great" Compromise
This is a sad day for the Republicans in the Senate. They have officially abdicated their power as the majority to the Democrats. By taking a wait-and-see approach and not pushing for the Constitutional Option earlier, Majority Leader Bill Frist's authority has been greatly weakened. The Senator McCain and the other moderate Republicans worked out their own compromise also shows us that the Majority Whip is more like a licorice whip than a bull whip. The Majority Whip needs to take a lesson from Francis Urquhart (the character from "House of Cards," who has the Whip in the House of Commons). Mr. Urquhart could keep his party members in line. That is the job of the whip. As Mr. Urquhart used to say, "its time to put a little stick about." Now, unfortunately, its going to take a pretty big stick to keep the party members in line (if they can be kept in line at all).
The Republicans, by their lack of getting legislation and issues pushed through the Senate since they regained their majority, have failed to act like the majority party. With this compromise, they have not only proven their inability to be the majority party, they have basically handed the reins of power over to the Democrats.
I fear for what the future holds in that chamber. The battle for future Supreme Court justices will be much more difficult and the Republican Senators have no one to blame but themselves.
I knew I drank Diet Coke for a reason
As many of our readers are now aware, PepsiCo President and CFO Indra Nooyi has inserted her foot into her mouth and in the process has angered quite a few people.
Hugh Hewitt seems to be leading the charge for a Pepsi boycott.
Let me first comment on her description of America as the middle finger of the world’s hand. It was stupid. She could have instructed the graduates on not being bad Americans when they are conducting business out in the world without thinking up this stupid analogy. It was just dumb on her part. I also have another problem with her statement. It was vulgar. I know what she was doing. She wanted to show these young MBA graduates that she was “hip” and “with it.” Graduations are formal events. They are not events where you want to give anyone the finger, let alone discuss it. By doing so, Ms. Nooyi lowered the whole ceremony. Let’s leave that digit where it belongs … out on the highways (just kidding people).
Now I would like to make a few comments about the boycott. I’m not a big fan of boycotts and corporate protests. From an economic stand point I question their effectiveness unless they are organized and large. I know that corporations and, more specifically, the people who run them do stupid things. If I boycotted every company where an executive did or said something stupid, then I would have to start growing my own food and raising my own livestock.
Am I advocating a boycott of Pepsi? No. Am I saying you shouldn’t boycott them? No. If you feel strongly about it, go ahead. I am a fan of the competitive free market. I recently had a problem with MCI and because of that I switched my long distance service. Consumers are free to select the products and services that they desire. Personally, I drink mainly Coke products. I prefer Poweraid to Gatorade. I usually buy Old Dutch cheese curls rather than Cheetos. So, PepsiCo really doesn’t get a lot of my money to begin with. I may think about that before purchasing any of their products, But, if while dining with the Grisby clan I am offered some Doritos and some Mountain Dew to wash them down, I will not launch into a speech berating my hosts for purchasing such products.
And let’s be perfectly honest. Despite the statements released by PepsiCo, they really don’t care about your feed back on this issue. Yes, I know they say that in their statements, but that is only because they have to for customer service purposes. They realize that Ms. Nooyi said something stupid. But, they really don’t want to hear from you about it. Because, to them, it is just causing them to use extra resources to man their phone banks. By the way, if you are going to call to complain about this, please do not take it out on the customer service representative. It is not their fault and that person can do nothing about it. So, at least be nice.
So, have a Coke and a smile.
On The Environment
Now
this is something you don't read every day!
A Great Thing About America
Okay. After my previous post regarding Star Wars Episode III Revenge Of The Sith, it is clear that I'm offically a Star Wars geek. That being said, as has been the case with every movie in the Star Wars Franchise (with the exception of Episode I), my brother & I go opening weekend. In this case, brother & brother in-law Grisby went to see the film opening night. What a scene! The parking lot contained quite the motely crew. As we pulled in, two fans were having a lightsaber duel, which was being proctored by Spiderman. Morpheus also happened to be there, and stood in line in front of me. But here is the really cool part.................
We patroned the
Woodbury 10 theater for our screening and it is the experience this theater offers that is the subject of my post title. Clearly there are many great things about America, but one such thing is the enterprising opportunity of the small business. It is truly what makes capitalism work.
As of late, corporate America is much maligned and balley-hooed, and in many cases rightly so. In spite of this, it is the small business owner that turns the crank of the economy, creating new jobs, ingenious products, better delivery systems and thus better buying experiences for the consumer.
So......the
Woodbury 10 is owned by a gentleman named Nathan, a.k.a, The Plaza Guy. This sharp minded entrepreneur knows how to make a movie going experience. Ticket prices? Affordable. Concession prices? Best value for the dollar in town-hands down. But does it stop there? No. As one might imagine, this film has been highly anticipated, and the excitement in the crowd was electric. A few minutes before curtain, the owner comes into the theater and quiets the restless crowd. The air was thick with anticipation, and Mr. Plaza Guy starts by asking the obvious question like are you excited or something like that. Crowd goes nuts. Next he starts asking trivia questions. As fans answered these questions correctly, they were rewarded by the owner with Star Wars memorabilia, namely toys. The already electric crowd goes virtually apoplectic. Someone lets out a wookie cry and another toy is given. The grand prize was a vintage Tie Fighter. Everyone in the theater is having a rollicking good time and so the lights go down and the show starts. This is how I want to start a movie like this.
My point? This was a great gesture that made this movie going experience even better. If you want to go to the mega-chains--that's your perogative. But if you want a real value, a great experience and the satisfaction of supporting a local small businessman, this is your place.
For Armchairpundits consumer reports.........this is Grisby signing off.
Final Word Regarding Newsweek
I would post on this but it is so obvious to me that it almost defies explanation. Nonetheless,
this interminable sage, has hit another homerun & there exists nothing I wish to add. Read it.
How Do You Say It? Ah Yes...............The Show
Drums. Fanfare. A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far Far Away.........
For those of us growing up in the 70's and 80's, few films capture the imagination like the Star Wars franchise. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the best sequel ever made in cinema, was The Empire Strikes Back, but I am digressing.
The prequels have been met with anticipation and some criticism, but there is much hype about the latest & final installment (due May 19) entitled
Revenge Of The Sith. I have been extremely excited for this film as it finally puts to rest the method of transforamtion whereby Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader. Incidentally, that is something I've wondered about since I was probably 8 years old. I have downloaded the trailer and read the hype. This has done much to fuel my anticipation.
I have been unbelievably fortunate this week, as a friend of mine, who happens to be an industry insider took me to see an exhibitors' screening of the film. It was....well....to put it bluntly SWEET! Ok, I know I sound like a hormonal teenager when I say that, but sweet jiminey cricket --I enjoyed myself. First, Hayden Christensen's (Anakin) acting has improved. 2) as you would expect the effects were dazzling, 3) it was over 2 hours, and my two favorite aspects would be the lightsaber battles and the well-written dialouge concerning Anakin's seduction. I found it to be a powerful symbol of the subtlety with which people/societies compromise their values for the sake of something good (fill in what you want here) only to find out years later that the bag of goods being held is not what was ever intended or imagined. If you will--it pictures the craftiness of sin.
This is a dark film and most certainly deserves the PG-13 rating that it is slated to be given. There is nothing gratuitous in the film's violence, as it certainly created the desired effect of telling the larger story. In fact, it is stirring at times, and I found myself feeling bad for characters in the film. Such sympathies enhanced the experience of the film. Even so this does not change the fact that this is not a film for young children and as such my oldest child will not be seeing it (much to his disappointment I can assure you).
Of course when you grow up with a saga such as this, it tends to take on a mythos of it's own, becoming larger than perhaps it should be, which can make it difficult to rise to expectations. That being said, it is hard to not be a little critical, and there are a few lines in the film which seemed out of place to me. But for anyone who grew up reading Marvel titles like G.I. Joe, and are familiar with the concept of the editor's
"No Prize," such minor issues can easily be explained away or rationalized. None the less, this film clearly lived up to my expectations and I look forward to seeing it again on opening night. I think that Star Wars fans around the world will agree with me when I say that this was clearly the best of the three prequels and does not disappoint.
I give it 4 and half out of five stars.
Post Script: Warning! Read the first comment on this post before proceeding.
Review #1Review #2
Problematic American Mentality
I should have known better, but alas, I wasn't really paying attention, so you know how it is going to end--my eyes incredulously glued to the television with the eventual shaking of the head in disgust. To what you ask?
Well, it wasn't one of America's finest moments, but first, a little amorous back-drop. The beautiful Mrs. Grisby and I were deeply engrossed in conversation on our living room couch. I had come up from inspecting my handiwork [on a remodel project in the basement] and had planted myself next to the Missus. She had been watching tv and so it was on in the background, providing a screening function for our snoring children. Normally, I dislike conversing with a television on for inevitabley something will catch my eye or ear and dang it if my efficient male mind doesn't tune out all other environmental stimuli. Namely, my wife's voice. As you might imagine, that doesn't usually go over very well. Who knew that such a refined woman could throw a remote control hard enough to create a welt?
In all actuality, this time was different. And by different, I mean that I was focused like a sign-language interpreter at an evangelistic meeting. I mean, I was zeroed in and could not be swayed. Then the unthinkable happened. My lovely wife, with her laudable, multi-tasking feminine mind, stopped talking and looked at the television. What's this? Severe weather? The Twins' score or Vikings' draft portentions? Uh...no. My circadian rhythms must have been off for it was that campy
news magazine,
A Current Affair.
And this was there top story, click here for video.
"The staff of Fairmount Park Elementary School shot videotape of the kindergarten girl being handcuffed behind her back, and put in leg restraints by police officers after an alleged tantrum in class. The staff also has video of little Jai-isha Akins punching an assistant principal, kicking and scattering objects on the floor. The child was allegedly upset because her teacher would not let her play a learning game with jellybeans.Two training officers and two probationary officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department arrived on the scene. They put a pair of metal handcuffs on her wrists, and when she resisted, they bound her wrists with plastic cuffs.St. Petersburg Police maintain that their manner of restraint and the arrest of the five year old was appropriate. The state attorney refused to prosecute the little girl. Jai-isha's mother has hired an attorney." The show had the girl, her mother, & the
Reverend Jesse Jackson on that evening's broadcast. Mom sat sullen and stiff--defiantly proud. Jai-isha was charming and engaging, ever the
Pollyanna. The reverend praised the girl for being a cute and adorable "baby." How could the police/school brutalize her so? He wonders aloud. Mother nods, child takes issue with being called a baby. They have an exchange that goes something like this:
"What will you do next?" asks the host.
"I'm trying to get legal representation" the mother responds.
The reverend quips, "we will help get you connected to some attorney's in your area, but due to the legalities, we cannot call them for you, but I've already spoken to some on your behalf--but you'll have to call."
Translation: "I'm going to help you sue the pants off those facist bastards! In fact, we'll make 'em think it's the second coming of Johnnie Cochran!"
And this my dear readers, is exactly what's wrong with this country. You have an out of control brat of a five year old; a mother who can't muster enough inner strength to actually be a parent and give the child the spanking she so clearly and richly deserves; an activist minister who fuels the fire by perpetuating the myth that such an adorable child couldn't possibly be so horrible or that her mother couldn't possibly have any culpability in how her child turns out; and thus no one takes any responsibility for their own or Jai-isha's life. Ultimately, it ends up being the state's fault that the child was "
punished". So, the state must pay and pay dearly. And by state, I mean the citizenry of St. Petersburg. So much for
it takes a village! Unless, of course, the village needs to pony up the dough.
Listen, I'm not being a hard case here. For those of us with children, we've all been there. The child acts like a monster and horrifies us in public, but really! Gentle, but FIRM, UNRELENTING CONSISTENCY curtails such outbursts to one time occurrences for most people who
actively parent. I mean c'mon, hitting adults? The child was unbridled. She deserved to be handcuffed. Who's in control here?
But hey! Instead of teaching the child to be a disciplined, temperate, self-controlled, responsible human being, how about teaching her to be selfish, preoccupied with her own interests above all else, and to skate by on her looks and charm since that is soooooo important. Should anyone care if this child becomes a sociopath? The citizens of St. Petersburg should because their representatives will probably promise this family the pot of gold so they'll go away. I for one hope someone stands up to them.
