Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Michael Crichton RIP
Best-Selling Author Michael Crichton Dies
"Jurassic Park" Author And "ER" Creator Succumbs To Cancer. He Was 66.
(CBS) Best-selling author and filmaker Michael Crichton died unexpectedly in Los Angeles Tuesday, after a courageous and private battle against cancer, his family said in a statement. He was 66.
Crichton was a brand-name author, known for his stories of disaster and systematic breakdown, such as the rampant microbe of "The Andromeda Strain" or dinosaurs running amok in "Jurassic Park," one of his many million-selling books that became major Hollywood movies.
Crichton also created the hospital drama "ER" for television. His most recent novel, "Next," about genetics and law, was published in December 2006.
"While the world knew him as a great story teller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us -- and entertained us all while doing so -- his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes," the statement said. "He did this with a wry sense of humor that those who were privileged to know him personally will never forget."
Through his books, Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way all could understand.
"He will be profoundly missed by those whose lives he touched, but he leaves behind the greatest gifts of a thirst for knowledge, the desire to understand, and the wisdom to use our minds to better our world," the statement added.
Born in Chicago Oct. 23, 1942, Crichton graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College, received his MD from Harvard Medical School, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, researching public policy with Jacob Bronowski. He taught courses in anthropology at Cambridge University and writing at MIT.
Crichton's 2004 bestseller, "State of Fear," acknowledged the world was growing warmer, but challenged extreme anthropogenic warming scenarios. His views were strongly condemned by environmentalists, who alleged that the author was hurting efforts to pass legislation to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.
Crichton's first bestseller, "The Andromeda Strain," was published while he was still a medical student. He later worked full time on film and writing. One of the most popular writers in the world, his books have been translated into thirty-six languages, and thirteen have been made into films.
Crichton won an Emmy, a Peabody, and a Writer's Guild of America Award for "ER." In 2002, a newly discovered ankylosaur was named for him: Crichtonsaurus bohlini.
A private funeral service is expected, but no further details will be released to the public.
As I was gathering books for a display at work, I realized I had read quite a few of them: Terminal Man, Eaters of the Dead, Andromeda Strain, Rising Sun, Jurassic Park, Sphere, and Congo.
He was a giant of the literary world, the film world, and the world of science. His work against the false science of the global warming religion was admirable as well. A true Renaissance man, he will be missed.
Happy Guy Fawkes Day!
Remember Remember the 5th of November
Gunpowder treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...
Why the Republican Party Has Failed
The Republican Party has fallen apart for two primary reasons over the past several years: big spending and corruption.
They have tarnished their reputation by spending more than democrats, and becoming beholden to lobbyists. The Contract With America generation betrayed the people who voted for them, and were rightly tossed out of office in 2006, and because they lost the base with their poor behavior, lost the game to an organized, energized opposition in the form of the Obama movement.
It is time for Republicans to find their roots in limited government and constitutionalism, once they have done that -- and convinced the people they mean it -- they will return to power.
I am already seeing some bad signs. The McCain campaign is beginning to blame Palin, instead of realizing that she helped more than she hurt -- and that after the September economic meltdown, there wasn't much anyone could do to help McCain win.
Instead of looking at the facts, they are looking for blame. Best way to divide a party, and the best way to fail. The Democrats successfully united after a bitter feud between Hillary and Barack, the Republican Party needs to learn the same lesson.
(Crossposted over at MMORPG.com)
They have tarnished their reputation by spending more than democrats, and becoming beholden to lobbyists. The Contract With America generation betrayed the people who voted for them, and were rightly tossed out of office in 2006, and because they lost the base with their poor behavior, lost the game to an organized, energized opposition in the form of the Obama movement.
It is time for Republicans to find their roots in limited government and constitutionalism, once they have done that -- and convinced the people they mean it -- they will return to power.
I am already seeing some bad signs. The McCain campaign is beginning to blame Palin, instead of realizing that she helped more than she hurt -- and that after the September economic meltdown, there wasn't much anyone could do to help McCain win.
Instead of looking at the facts, they are looking for blame. Best way to divide a party, and the best way to fail. The Democrats successfully united after a bitter feud between Hillary and Barack, the Republican Party needs to learn the same lesson.
(Crossposted over at MMORPG.com)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Now That It Is Official
McCain has conceded with a gracious speech, it is time to celebrate a truly historical moment in our nation's great history. We have elected our first African-American president, and that is a truly wonderful thing.
At this moment I feel there are a few things that need to be considered.
We are a nation still at war. And, although the media and the Democrats have spent the last several years trying to undermine us in the war out of the petty hatred of President Bush, cheering every setback in Iraq, using every American death as an excuse to declare surrender, and otherwise endangering us in the biggest struggle in our history -- I hope and pray Republicans DO NOT DO THE SAME.
The time has come to set aside the crap and unite behind our new President and continue with this struggle, which will probably outlast him.
Hopefully, now that Democrats will own this war, this great struggle, they will really try and win it with the rest of us. I predict they will, and that will be the greatest thing about Obama and his super-majority.
I also hope and pray that Obama learns from Mr. Clinton, and does not over-reach as Clinton did in his first two years. I hope he governs as a pragmatic centrist, doesn't raise taxes enough to harm the economy, and doesn't over regulate us. I hope he isn't fooled by the global warming fascists, and avoids harming us over a chimera.
I have hope for a certain change. Let us unite and fight the evil we face. Please.
At this moment I feel there are a few things that need to be considered.
We are a nation still at war. And, although the media and the Democrats have spent the last several years trying to undermine us in the war out of the petty hatred of President Bush, cheering every setback in Iraq, using every American death as an excuse to declare surrender, and otherwise endangering us in the biggest struggle in our history -- I hope and pray Republicans DO NOT DO THE SAME.
The time has come to set aside the crap and unite behind our new President and continue with this struggle, which will probably outlast him.
Hopefully, now that Democrats will own this war, this great struggle, they will really try and win it with the rest of us. I predict they will, and that will be the greatest thing about Obama and his super-majority.
I also hope and pray that Obama learns from Mr. Clinton, and does not over-reach as Clinton did in his first two years. I hope he governs as a pragmatic centrist, doesn't raise taxes enough to harm the economy, and doesn't over regulate us. I hope he isn't fooled by the global warming fascists, and avoids harming us over a chimera.
I have hope for a certain change. Let us unite and fight the evil we face. Please.
I Think I'll Call It For Obama
Now that Fox has given Ohio to Obama, I think it's safe for me to call the election. Unless there is some strange mavericky miracle, Obama is our next president.
Let us hope he is nothing like he has said he was going to be, and nothing like his record. Let us hope for hypocrisy, and not his apparent commitment to socialism. Pray for pragmatism, and start holding his feet to the fire.
He will have a super majority; if anything goes wrong, it'll be all the Democratic Party's fault.
Well, being a libertarian means never having to say you are sorry.
Let us hope he is nothing like he has said he was going to be, and nothing like his record. Let us hope for hypocrisy, and not his apparent commitment to socialism. Pray for pragmatism, and start holding his feet to the fire.
He will have a super majority; if anything goes wrong, it'll be all the Democratic Party's fault.
Well, being a libertarian means never having to say you are sorry.
And So It Begins!
Will it be a long night or a short night? Close or a blowout? Only time will tell...
National Overview
National Overview
Election Day Endorsement
Here we go, the moment you've all been waiting for (yeah, right). Who will I actually endorse?
Okay, let's start with Obama. No way. No F'in way. Most socialistic guy to ever get near the white house? No way, no how.
The man who thinks we are at war with al qaeda and not with something bigger? The man who thinks the war is in Afghanistan and not in Iraq, not in the Philippines, not in Africa, not in Europe, not in Kazakhstan, Not in the rest of the world? Obama is a non starter.
The man who will let the democratic congress give us the fairness doctrine? No way.
The man who would certainly appoint legislators from the bench supreme court justices? No way.
Now, McCain. Better than Obama at all levels, but still a big government republican, still a man who will destroy the economy for some bad environmental science.
He is marginally better than Obama on the economy, but only marginally. he, like Obama, are good on immigration. They want more legal immigration, and we need that.
On the war, McCain is right on, and if that were the only issue, I'd vote for him. But there's more, much more.
He's still no better than Obama on civil liberties, although he would probably veto a fairness doctrine. He certainly won't repeal the Patriot Act, which has been a nightmare.
Nader? Nope. See Obama. Although better on civil liberties, a nightmare on economics.
McKinney. See Nader and Obama.
Ron Paul. Right on everything but the war and immigration. My second choice.
Bob Barr: a clear winner. I don't agree with him on the war, but he seems more reasonable than Ron Paul. same thing with immigration. Like Ron, 100% on the economy and civil liberties. I've been voting Libertarian most of my life, because I agree with them on the basic issues.
This year, my hawkish disposition isn't gonna change me. If I lived in a battleground state, I'd probably be voting for Mccain, and if YOU do, I hope you vote for McCain, because I'd rather have him in the White House than Obama. But if you live in Obamaland like me, time to send a message again that you really want CHANGE, and not more of the same. I want FREEDOM.
Bob Barr for President 2008.
And now let me close with the best campaign video I have ever seen:
Okay, let's start with Obama. No way. No F'in way. Most socialistic guy to ever get near the white house? No way, no how.
The man who thinks we are at war with al qaeda and not with something bigger? The man who thinks the war is in Afghanistan and not in Iraq, not in the Philippines, not in Africa, not in Europe, not in Kazakhstan, Not in the rest of the world? Obama is a non starter.
The man who will let the democratic congress give us the fairness doctrine? No way.
The man who would certainly appoint legislators from the bench supreme court justices? No way.
Now, McCain. Better than Obama at all levels, but still a big government republican, still a man who will destroy the economy for some bad environmental science.
He is marginally better than Obama on the economy, but only marginally. he, like Obama, are good on immigration. They want more legal immigration, and we need that.
On the war, McCain is right on, and if that were the only issue, I'd vote for him. But there's more, much more.
He's still no better than Obama on civil liberties, although he would probably veto a fairness doctrine. He certainly won't repeal the Patriot Act, which has been a nightmare.
Nader? Nope. See Obama. Although better on civil liberties, a nightmare on economics.
McKinney. See Nader and Obama.
Ron Paul. Right on everything but the war and immigration. My second choice.
Bob Barr: a clear winner. I don't agree with him on the war, but he seems more reasonable than Ron Paul. same thing with immigration. Like Ron, 100% on the economy and civil liberties. I've been voting Libertarian most of my life, because I agree with them on the basic issues.
This year, my hawkish disposition isn't gonna change me. If I lived in a battleground state, I'd probably be voting for Mccain, and if YOU do, I hope you vote for McCain, because I'd rather have him in the White House than Obama. But if you live in Obamaland like me, time to send a message again that you really want CHANGE, and not more of the same. I want FREEDOM.
Bob Barr for President 2008.
And now let me close with the best campaign video I have ever seen:
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