Photocopy Quality

I recently watched Let Me In, the American remake of the Swedish vampire film, Let The Right One In. I watched it with some hesitation as the original Swedish movie was outstanding and American remakes of foreign films have a sketchy track record at best.

As far as film quality goes, I was pleasantly surprised. Let Me In is quite a good movie, which isn't that surprising since it's almost exactly the same as the original. The only differences i could remember was that the American version had more graphic killings and made Abby(Eli) much more monstrous. I would also complain that some of the originals subtlety was removed such as a scene (minor spoilers) was changed from a suicide in the original to an accidental death in the American version.

That's small potatoes in the big picture though. If Let The Right One In was a 9.5 then Let Me In is an 8.5. The real issue is why was the movie made at all? Aside from it being in English, it's essentially the same movie. Is that change really enough of a reason to remake an entire movie? I realize that Americans have far less reason to see subtitles movies as Hollywood churns out enough films to keep moviegoers satisfied. From what I understand subtitling and dubbed movies are far more common in Europe where they have a greater diversity of languages and less movies being made.

Maybe we should adapt the same idea of dubbing here. Rather than waste the great performances of the Swedish actors, why not just hire Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas, etc. to do a really good voice over for the Swedish version and release that in theaters? The movie only made $12 million in its theater run, it seems reasonable that a dubbed version of that could've made just as much without all the cost of actually making the movie, which was around $20 million.

Hollywood is set to deluge the public with a flood of sequels and remakes this year because they know that those films will make money. If they got a little more creative with movies and dubbed an outstanding foreign film for the public rather than blow $20 million on a completely unneeded remake they would have more financial flexibility to make more creative movies instead of just making surefire moneymaking sequels of dubious quality. This would be devastating to the Michael Bays of the world but might be better for the rest of us.

Treasonous Disgrace

Now we know exactly how much fake civility a dead 9 year old and and a Congresswoman's blown out brain is worth.

Not even two months.

Rep. Giffords and others were shot on January 8, 2011, copious lectures by liberals about civility and how mean spirited politics caused it ensued and a month + 10 days later, it's all over. The despicable demonstrations in Madison, WI proved once and for all how little liberals actually care about they things they say or the democratic process. It's hard to know where to begin analyzing the Carnival of the Macabre going on in cheeseland. Is it the disregard for democratic principles? The absolutely unwarranted hate speech or the elitism? As always, we'll do our best.

ELITISM - One of the common refrains during all of this is how the new government in WI sprang this on the unions without even talking to them. First of all, labor unions are not the elected representatives of the people and the government isn't obligated to talk to them about anything. In this case, that reasoning is even more absurd. In Wisconsin, there is a constitutional requirement to balance the budget. Every Republican who ran an election said one way they were going to do that was to make unions pay more of their benefits package, up to a whopping 12%, and that they would do away with many of the contractual binds that have been in place. Everyone knew this. I live in Colorado and I knew exactly what Gov. Walker and the new Congress was going to do. So did the unions. So did the voters when they sent a republican wave to Congress so they could do just as they said. All of these outraged protesters are either the stupidest people in politics or liars. I suspect liars but I guess they can choose for themselves.

DEMOCRACY OF HATE - The most sickening thing about all this is the hate. Protesters calling Walker a dictator. Calling him a Nazi, fascist, murderer. Putting up signs with him in the cross hairs, a more threatening thing than Sara Palin's map, given that her map wasn't accompanied by a mob. Some of these shameless hate profiteers have been equating themselves with the Cairo demonstraters. Yes, the gay bashing, female raping Cairo protesters. The only way the comparison makes any sense is if these Wisconsin liberals are comparing themselves to the authoritarian loving Muslim Brotherhood, then it's spot on. They way this legislation came about is the definition of how our system is supposed to work. Going into an election, there was a huge budget problem the state was legally obligated to fix. Democrats presented their ideas, Republicans presented theirs which included a cut to public union powers and costs. Never mind that the union members would still be way better off than their employers, the people, a cut is still a cut. The people, the people who pay for everything, considered both proposals and the deep blue Wisconsin sent a wave of conservatives forth to enact their plan. Which they did. The House drafted and passed a bill, the Senate was about to do the same and send it to the Governor when all those cowards on the left, fled town. The ran away from democracy. Because they hate it. Liberals hate nothing more than the people trying to control the actions of government. This is no different when those cowardly Texan liberals ran to New Mexico rather than vote on a redistricting bill. Now we hear all this nonsense about how it was courageous. I'm sure if all the Republicans fled the country rather than vote on Obamacare, I'm sure liberals would have been disappointed but impressed with their principles. Yeah right. It's not principled, it's disgraceful. The people rejected the Democrats now the Democrats are rejecting the people. Everyone should be ashamed that this is how our system works now. Apparently, working hard to win people over with your ideas is too hard. No we just take our ball and go home. Pathetic.

UNION BUSTER - So, is this an attempt to destroy unions? Hardly. Sure, they are going to lose the ability to collectively bargain some aspects of their contract. Want to guess what they still get to negotiate? THEIR SALARY. Yep, they can still make twice as much a civilians. They can still get paid $38 an hr. for a job that's only worth $18. They still get way better medical benefits than you are I will on the outside. They also get way better pensions than the private sector gets. Or doesn't get since most companies no longer offer pensions anymore. All the bill asks is that they pay for some of these perks themselves. No matter how it all shakes out, all these union members will be better off than the people that pay them. They just want to be really, really better off, instead of just really better off.

CONCLUSION - This bill will eventually pass, it's just a matter of time. The Dems just don't have the numbers in government to stop it. These union members are also working against the will of the people. Democrats nationwide are always under the impression that most Americans are just dying to unionize. Unfortunately for them, union membership is the lowest it's ever been and it's by choice. States across the country are sending members to Congress to cut costs starting with union contracts. Deep blue Wisconsin, deep blue New Jersey and deep blue Massachusetts have all had to tackle this problem because the citizens demanded it.

And what do we make of these teacher/protesters? All along they've told us they are worth special treatment because they sacrifice their lives to educate children. They tell us that every teacher is a hero. That teaching is the most important job you can have. I'm sure that's a matter of opinion that varies depending on the fire conditions in your house, criminal rate in your neighborhood or your need for utilities. The sad fact is that reality doesn't back this up. Every year these heroes churn out dumber and dumber students. They refuse to let us fire the worst of them or promote the best. The try to kill any alternative education opportunities. They abandon their students to fight for their undeserved freebies. They demand more and more money and prestige for their subpar performance while redirecting any all blame away from themselves.

They are selfish and self interested. In many respects they are the educational version of the NRA. The NRA has taken a stance that no matter how reasonable the proposal, they will not agree to any alteration in their right to arms. The NEA is the same way, just replacing guns with high salaries, free pensions, cheap healthcare and jobs for life with no expectation of performance. Worst of all, these Big Education operatives have monopolized the system and process so that the truly wonderful teachers and reformers cannot be heard or exert any influence.

I hope that Gov. Walker and the Legislature have been paying attention to New Jersey. Gov. Christie has been fighting this fight for months now. By sticking to his guns, confident in the knowledge that he had the public's support, he has broken these union machines and put Jersey back on the path to fiscal stability. The new government has the same support too. If they hold on, they can break the logjam as well, to the benefit of us all.

Say Wha?

I read the story about the Nuggets trading Melo to the Lakers and I am confused.

Not so much that they Nugs are gonna move him somewhere besides the Knicks. Really, is Wilson Chandler, Corey Brewer and a 1 enough to get anyone excited? No way.

But why, why does anybody think Andrew Bynum is worth anything at all?

The man cannot play basketball without getting hurt. He runs like Ralph Sampson with the blown out knees. He is the love child of Greg Oden and Yao Ming.

I defy anybody to actually watch him run up and down the court and tell me he can man the middle for the next five years.

I know Denver feels like they need to get some kind of name to replace Melo while the team rebuilds but Bynum isn't going to placate angry fans. He's gonna play 3 games, tear a quad and the fans will turn on him. Denver would be far better off getting nothing but expirings and draft picks than taking back Bynum and hoping to build around him.

Maybe the best deal you can get is a rent a year offer from the Mavericks, maybe it's Wilson Chandler. That seems like a sad commentary on the situation Melo has put Denver in but that's the reality. If the Nugs are smart, they take it and go and hope for a lockout.

Your Move, Genocide

I guess the Hollywood elite can find new T-shirts to wear.

Now that South Sudan has voted 99% in favor of separating from the rest of Sudan, the assumption seems to be that all that ethnic clashing is a thing of the past.

Sure. Because in Africa more government means more stability, right? Right.

I can see why the southerners in the country would want to do this, after all, that part of the country has all the oil while the north has all the what exactly? Poverty? Machete factories? God only knows.

We do know one thing though and that's what happens when an oil rich little state is right next to a hell hole looking for a boost. Iraq invaded Kuwait for that sweet black oil and Iraq already had tons of their own oil. This was in the face of the American army and the fact that they just got brutalized for a decade by Iran. Sooner or later, North Sudan is going to realize that they are the ugly chick in a group that includes Ethiopia for gods sake and when they do, it's gonna get ugly.

When you think about it, splitting things in two doesn't really solve problems. Some Americans tried it and we got the Civil War. Ireland? No peace. Korea? Nope. John and Kate? Nope. That divorce just turned one collective, bitchy douche bag into two insufferable cancers. Maybe we should just focus on solving one problem before we turn it into two.

Eeeeeeh, Not Quite

There has been much speculation concerning the violence in Egypt. What kind of uprising is this? A yearning for Democracy? A hostile, Taliban-esque takeover? Should Obama support the action, why is their still violence if Mubarak is leaving, will Drakar be able to stay in business without the large middle eastern nation in full buying effect? They questions make your head spin.

Today however, one of those questions was answered by the pro-Mubarak faction who stormed Cairo riding camels and wielding whips.

Riding camels. Wielding whips.

This revolt may be a lot of things but a popular movement for democracy it isn't. I'm sorry but riding around on camels whipping people like some bizarro Paul Revere just screams "Not Ready for Freedom" Unfortunately, it also signals to people like the Muslim Brotherhood that Sharia law might have finally won the day.

History shows us that this is the case. Revolution in Rwanda done with machetes. No liberty. French revolution, all guillotine, all terrifying. Spanish Civil War? Yikes. It's the same as if the American Revolution was completely conducted by the people responsible for the Salem Witch Trials.

The only question left is just how kooky this thing is going to get.