Clone Wars

Okay I read the early reviews on Ain't it Cool News, a site I usually consider pretty reliable, and the reviews on Clone Wars were just scathing.  Yikes after the perusal I just was in no mood to see it.  But I had some free time and decided to give it a shot and although it isn't Best Picture quality, I had some fun and frankly that is all that I am looking at for 2 hours of my time and money.

In fact I almost preferred these characters in animation versus real life actors because then I don't have to watch real people try to survive a Lucas written script.  I mean at least silly lines said by crudely drawn characters make a decent match.  I almost wish Lucas had done this with the newer trilogy.

Anyway reading the reviews from those of us who grew up with Star Wars, I begin to find them a bit pathetic.  They whine and moan that it ain't the Star Wars we grew up with and insult Lucas saying he is ruining the franchise but frankly Lucas could careless with us.  He's gotten our money, and he is shooting for the next generation.  My kids loved the new trilogy so why do we let it bother us anymore?  Enjoy the stories, realize it is designed to be for 12 year olds and move.  I do believe that a part of the Lucas empire is keeping us older fans intrigued through its video games.  I mean Force Unleashed is definitely a harder look at the SW universe.  Anyway I am looking forward to the Cartoon network premiere of a weekly SW show.  It will be fun although why is it on at 9 PM on a Friday?  This ain't for adults!

Haiku Wednesday

Patriotism

More than flag waving
Love of country, pride in heart
Would you die for it?

Edgar Rice Burroughs - Warlord of Mars

Quick turnaround on this one because of the cliffhanger in Book 2! Had to determine the status of the Princess! While reading this one, it seemed to me that some similarities with the Star Wars franchise existed. I mean the word "Sith" is mentioned a few times. I wonder if anyone has done a comparison? Anyhoo, the swashbuckling continues and you can tell that ERB probably meant this to be a nice trilogy (Book 4 I believe centers on his son and wife). All the colors of Mar's men are finally established and at the very end our hero is crowned warlord of the world! These books are the essence of sci-fi pulp. Just good fun. These books would make a great movie. I know Pixar is slated to go forth and make an animated film (which could be better) but a real life actress as the esteemed Dejah is just too much to pass up...think Leia's bikini for an entire movie!

Rox Talk

A 3-3 week against the Giants and Padres. The Roxs currently stand at 64-74. Six games back from division leading D-backs in third place. Currently 36-30 at home and 28-44 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored by its opponents 646-703 (expected wins is 64 versus historical wins at 65). On pace for 75 wins with 758 runs scored and 819 runs against.

Weekly WPA leaders (overall as well):
Well no real movement last weekend to try and make a run. They had two opportunities with the Dodgers beating the D-Backs but the Roxs couldn't beat the Padres. They could have been within 4 of the division but with 24 to play they are still 6 out. At this point they need to go 17 - 7 to finish .500 and finish with some respectability.

Air Force Football

Yup hard to believe another college football season is already here. First weekend cupcake games are upon us. AF is definitely in a rebuilding mode. Lots of young players getting their collective feet's wet. Calhoun's second season to start making strides. Last year was a great year but with experience of a 4 year starter at quarterback one can kind of assume success. This year might be a bit tougher. Looking at the season I think a 7 - 5 record is achievable with a one game being a swing game. My breakdown:

S Utah W

@ Wyoming L

@ Houston L

Utah L

Navy W

@ SD St W

@ UNLV W

New Mex W

@ Army W

CSU W

BYU L

@TCU L

Definitely some early losses but a good middle and a tough finish. Maybe we can make BYU ride a bit interesting. Calhoun showed some great promise last year, let's see what he can do this year!

Democratic National Convention

This isn't a us vs. them post. Politics as whole is just plain messed up. Picking a President probably has our founding father's rolling in their graves. My opinion is that a President really doesn't do much at all but they become the face of our nation. The President represents us. I have not listened to our current President in 8 years. His speech and mannerisms make me cringe. His beliefs and how he has put America to shame is unconscionable. Three things have really bothered me with the current administration 1) Post 9-11, we had the world at our finger tips, we could have made real strides in establishing dialogue with the Western World and Islam and what do we do with the good will? Bomb two Islamic countries...great diplomacy 2) Managing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina...this just showed the utter lack of compassion and leadership that this man had. It also showed just how out of touch this man was. A good leader can't do it all but he (she) certainly puts people with a clue into positions that they can excel in and 3) the Supreme Court mess. I've always respected the concept of a body of people that are beyond politics and who make decisions based on a body of concepts that have stood the test of time...unfortunately we now have a group that enjoys the limelight and the ability to flex muscles in our government.

So therefore, why Obama? Why not...a charismatic person, a man I wouldn't mind listening to, a person who can bring back some creditability to the office, a younger person for a new generation...the list can go on. Bottom line is America is in shambles. We are torn in two, making decisions based on emotions, and with the expectation that we deserve it all. We are living in a dream world unable or unwilling to make the hard decisions like the future of energy, future of American ingenuity, the growing immigrant and Islam issues, war in Southwest Asia, education, economics, and health care. These are all real issues yet half the country is worried about teaching evolution in our classrooms and thus allowing fear to justify our government in trampling the constitution. Doesn't anything bother us anymore? We package all of our problems in buzz words and fancy packaging (buy green!) yet are unable to really give up anything.

By the time we are adults and are allowed to make the decisions it is already over for us. The world we live in today is the decisions our parents made for us. My kids will live in a world based on the decisions I make. Electing Obama in November won't do a thing for me but maybe some of his decisions will make a difference for my children. Paying $4 for gas right now really isn't all that great but do we just dig up our nation to make a miniscule difference or do we invest time and money in making a solution that our kids will reap. Are we so selfish as a nation that we don't even care anymore? Money for the future? What good might it be if our nation rots from within and the greed destroys it all. Why is the lifecycle of happiness so short today. Just because information speeds by doesn't mean that we can take the time to make the hard decision for tomorrow.

Obama can't change the course of this nation but he can certainly help it in another direction by providing at least the concept that change is possible. Good leadership brings out the best in people because you feel like it is expected of you. You want to make a change, you trust your leader that he his doing everything possible to make things better for you. A true leader demands more of you and you aren't offended. Does the current adminstration demand anything from you? Demand accountability, demand respect, and demand a better future for our kids.

Haiku Wednesday

Republicans

Out of the shadow
of Reagan/Bush governing
Touch off for McCain?

This Week in Comics

New Avengers #44

Okay the back story is getting old.  Lets finish Secret Invasion and move on. So Mr Fantastic screw it all up but what exactly is "it".  Ughhhh let's move on.  So will the New New Avengers have Thor, Capt A, and Iron Man in it? What is going to be the doh moment?  There has to be some issue...I bet it has something to do with Iron Man and Spider Woman.  I am sure Bendis will have some oh sh&t moment...

Daredevil #110

Not a terribly satisfying conclusion.  Think the book was kind of gearing up for the return of Bullseye or Lady Bullseye.  Hope this is a good story and not just some ploy to garner readership.  Wonder if Dakota will continue to have a play?  Hmmmm

Ultimate Spider-Man #125

oh hum.  This story line just isn't grabbing me and asking me to read it with anything remotely nearing, I care...I mean why do spidey writer's think that the venom is what we want.  It is a boirng concept...I like that it ties to Peter's father and why not follow that rather than the whole bit with it taking over Spidey....I still think the whole secret invasion is taking away from Bendis's other books like this one and Powers...

X-Force #6

I am done on this one.  I loved the concept at first but it just isn't the X-men that I know.  It seems that we are just trying for some gratuitous fight crap.  Throw in the fact that the villains just don't mean much too me and it is all over the board.  By the issue I just don't care...maybe later...

Rox Talk

Another 4-2 week against the Dodgers and Reds. The Roxs currently stand at 61-71. Eight games back from division leading D-backs in third place. Currently 36-30 at home and 25-41 on the road, the Roxs have been outscored by its opponents 620-680 (expected wins is 60 versus historical wins at 62). On pace for 75 wins with 761 runs scored and 827 runs against.

Weekly WPA leaders (overall as well):

Well 30 games to play with 15 at home and 15 on the road. If they statistically play out the year then they will go 14 - 16. They have 9 games against the Giants (4), 6 against the Padres (3), 3 against Houston (2), 3 against Atlanta (2), 3 against LA (1), and 6 against the D-backs (1). The number in parenthesis is the wins we should have if we statistically play out the rest of the year. So basically all signs point to a 74 - 75 win season. Trying to be positive, I think they can probably take 2 more wins agains the Giants and three more from the D-Backs which would mean 17 - 13 down the stretch. Could we go 20 - 10 down the strectch and get to .500? That would be awesome but starting pitching consistency would really be needed. 12 starts from our 4th and 5th starter! By the way the Denver Post has an interesting story from Woody Paige who brought forth that the Roxs have the best division record since June 3! Whoppee if we could just throw out those pesky first two months of the season!

This Week in Comics

Secret Invasion #5
This actually came out the previous week but I was traveling and therefore I will talk about now! Looks like we crossed the hump so to speak. Earth and her heroes have been been beat up enough...now it is time for as the Thing would say, "Clobberin' Time" Reed is back in business and Tony ain't a skrull. Three issues to go...who is going to kick it and who is going to come out swinging. Can you taste the Spider Woman / Iron Man brouhaha?

Uncanny X-men #501

Good now that the "event" is over we can move on and start telling good stories again. Not for sure but I think this fits the mode of "this isn't your Father's X-men anymore".  Between the Emma and Scott sexual exploration and the fact that it would appear Scott wants to add to the mutant population I just have a hard time accepting this (of course it could be just Land art work).  In the end the show stopper was the Red Queen...hmmm could it be Madeleine is back?

Captain America #41

Brubaker continues to put a great story together.  Love the end "I'm Captain America"