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scottobear
So, what did I think of V?
Well, on ts own it was entertaining enough. they could've cut some fat and added some meat... but it was acceptable when not viewed next to the source material. Hardly a masterpiece, but not a dud, either. Six of ten. Better than average, but not much.
As an adaptation, it missed the boat. I feel that it added a few elements, but Moore was right to ask his name off of the film. Despite over a decade and a half lag between reading and watching, the discrepancies were pretty glaring (especially the last third of the film).
That's all I really have to say about the movie off the top of my head.
As for revolution, I have my doubts about folks in a first-world country standing up en masse against a country's armed forces. Too many of us live within an "acceptable range of comfort", and as long as we can eat, sleep, have orgasms and watch TV under a climate-controlled roof.... most of us won't fight the system for fear of losing those things. We're too comfortable, too complacent, and too selfish to look at the bigger picture for the most part. Many of us speak out about issues. A few of us throw money or time into pet projects, but things don't really change. There won't be a revolution, because most of us won't be bothered to act until it is too late. Bread and Circuses, and all that.
example - less than a third of the USA's population is happy with the competencies of our president and staff... but he'll keep his job until the term expires. Laziness of at least 66% of the population is my only guess. What's worse is that I figure the next guy will be merely "almost as bad" or "well, he's better than what we had before". Mediocrity is the best we can hope for, it seems. I can be considered a cynic by some, but I'm not going to give up and just assume everyone who runs for office just sucks. We just have to change the rewards system... make it worthwhile to work in the interests of everyone, not just folks with money. If anyone works that out, let me know.
I'm no better than most... if it came down to it, I'm not laying down in front of a tank. If a revolution ever comes, I'm taking the cat and heading offsite.
Speaking of my dislike of authority figures abusing power at the cost of my liberty - I've had my living space invaded twice, and had a gun held to my head both times, by people who supposedly are there to serve and protect.
They serve and protect me by putting my life at risk, and invading my home.
To this day, there's a piece of my hindbrain that wants to kill every single one of those cops who pointed a gun at me because a non-violent junkie who shares my last name tried to steal a boat worth less than $5000. It tells me that they don't mind putting me in danger if it means they have the drop on a bad guy who is actively running away... or me, a person that answered the door politely, and met all of their requests. If you've never been held at gunpoint, I'm not sure I can explain what it's like to think that you could die at any moment - a sneeze, a twitch, some guy had an argument with his wife, whatever.
People make mistakes at work. I'm positive that I make a couple every day. I might even make a mistake someday that could (through my lack of getting to the person in time) contribute to the death of a child. But... I don't have a procedure in place that involves at least five gunmen to put an innocent in harm's way "just to be safe". Things need to change, but odds are that they won't. see above. Additionally, I suspect that most cops are like most politicians - start off trying to do some good. Unfortunately, to be a successful cop, you either have to be a jerk, have infinite patience with other jerks, or both. Unfortunately, to be a jerk is the path of least resistance.
I think that I'm a good person, and that my existence makes the world a little bit better place to be. I help others wherever I can. I try to do work that's constructive, to educate, and to be caring. I wonder how many people sit down, and reflect on their lives? It seems like most people coast most of the time.
Newt Sez - enough of that ramble.
Regarding Walkabout-
I went back to Boca on walkabout on my second attempt to find
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uberbastard's buddy's comic store, Boca Comics. I found it.
Sadly, despite the sign and website saying it's open... it's changing over to new management. And was closed. No Comic books for Scotto that day! That's ok... I have plenty at home.
Nonplussed, I walked to a park I used to hang out in back when I lived in Boca, years ago. The hurricanes or city ordinances cleared a lot of the trees. While roaming around, I spotted some goodies on a bench - A Nancy Drew book older than me (Publish date inside said 1966), and an adult bible study guide. Random Scotto factoid - I've read all of the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift and Nancy Drew mysteries published before 1980.
A backyard shot with colored carp. I *just* missed a huge soft shell turtle that lives in the lake, too. He was sunning himself by the bridge, but slid into the water and swam away before I could get in position.
I think I'll visit the tree zoo next weekend... and hopefully, I'll have a nicer camera by then, too. I'm due for a little techno-treat. I hope the weather holds out for a few more weeks.
Minor good deed, cleaned up the bus stop of all litter while waiting for the bus to arrive. I should remember to keep a grocery bag on me, in case of overfull trash cans.
Ah, Nertz. Monday meeting! Until later, dear journal!
1 year ago - Easter, Deadbolt, Danny recap, K, piccies, personality test, heard from everway gamers, kitties video, walking octopus, waterbus,
2 years ago - Procrastination, Henchman, search warrants/LA, booger eaters, vacuum cleaners, Brian Blessed, heroclix, zombie pinups
3 years ago - jkg, TAG, souls, Bahá'í, soul & body, leaving FMM
4 years ago - dream, dented the door with my mitt, sleepy and grumpy, how I sleep w/newt, small hands=rude, army men, Dan Bfast, lab grown meat, dali museum, secret fun spot, 2 dead celebs
5 years ago - lj bump, baby newt pic, one ring, mush, thebot, palm art, John Denver
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Date: 2006-03-27 11:51 am (UTC)I loved the Tom Swift books as a kid.. I had a bunch of them but stupidly sold them to a used bookstore for next to nothing because I wanted to rent movies and needed some extra money..
Tom Swift for Howard the Duck.. not a fair trade
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Date: 2006-03-27 01:07 pm (UTC)Oh, tom swift for the howard the duck movie?
vulgarian!
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Date: 2006-03-27 03:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-27 06:21 pm (UTC)Why were you nonplussed? (And as an aside, why can't minused be a synonym?)
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Date: 2006-03-27 06:40 pm (UTC)I'd rather be nonplussed than divisive!
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Date: 2006-03-27 07:01 pm (UTC)And I'm loving the parade of newtcons, by the way! Yay, Newtie!
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Date: 2006-03-27 07:07 pm (UTC)odd protest.. like refusing to wear yellow on easter?
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Date: 2006-03-27 12:53 pm (UTC)I think one of the problems with "masses" overthrowing the highest level official in our country is that it rends the social/political/governmental organization that we have forever vulnerable to potential future attacks whether the highest is corrupt or incompetent. Of course there are always mechanisms in the system that allow for impeachment--but doubtful that'll happen in current political climate--even though lying about diddling an intern is far less slimy than other *cough* actions/inactions.
It is hard to live sometimes by your convictions. I actually had a shop owner call me yesterday and ask why I never came to the shop anymore--an uncomfortable situation since I had to tell her that I didn't approve of her choice to send a letter* to all residents endorsing the mayor and I was voting with my pocket book. As a result of the last election I now do not go to most of the businesses in my town---this means at least a 15 minutes drive for comparable services---yeah its hard for most people to keep that up.
* (The last election the mayor promises all the business in town breaks and goodness--as a result most of the businesses signed a letter that went out to all residents supporting his re-election. Well most of those business owners didn't even LIVE in our town and only profited from the kind of out-of-check development that the mayor was promoting--meanwhile residents suffered from traffic congestion, shoddy cable due to kickbacks and overflowing town sewers, not to mention development on wetland areas.)
Ah I'll shut up now!
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Date: 2006-03-27 02:22 pm (UTC)I tend to agree... and my issue with Clinton wasn't that he got oral sex, but that he lied under oath about it. (Not to mention our current mess)
you voting with your pocketbook is very commendable, and a strong incentive I think!
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Date: 2006-03-27 02:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-27 02:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-27 08:25 pm (UTC)Lying on a grander scale, yeah our current Prez certainly has done that, thing is fear is a powerful thing and the brunt of the nation just doesn’t seem to care.
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Date: 2006-03-28 03:17 pm (UTC)I think Apathy is a better deterrant to action than fear. "Meh, amercan idol is on.. why bother complaining?"
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Date: 2006-03-28 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 03:40 pm (UTC)seeing folks Voting for someone, just because they're on "thier team", without taking the character into account is very painful.
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Date: 2006-03-28 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 03:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 04:18 pm (UTC)She doesn’t think Hillary will win though, because to many folks hate her. I will usually point out that there are numerous sound reasons for disliking Hillary, but not to pick on PM but like all of us to some degree, she only hears what she wants to, though her radio has a very narrow band on some subjects.
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Date: 2006-03-28 04:26 pm (UTC)I'm not so sure Hillary can't win. There are a lot of folks that have that "anyone but the red team" camp now... though, I was flummoxed that gwb got as many votes last election time.
I've got folks in my office who are hard core hillary, and when I ask 'em "ok... tell me three good things she did for new york while in office?"
and then the silence comes. usually, they can't name one thing.
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Date: 2006-03-28 05:01 pm (UTC)Unfortunately, like Socrates noticed, many folks often hold opinions without really examining the reasons why. It’s like they chosen a side and have decided to go with it because they feel like they should or feel like they need to, but it’s really more of a reaction than anything thought out or examined.
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Date: 2006-03-28 05:46 pm (UTC)Ol' Socko was on to something there.
I wonder if gunfire in the distance would be such a bad thing.
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Date: 2006-03-28 04:02 pm (UTC)I sometimes wonder if we'll cross paths, sooner or later, and how that might unfold.
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Date: 2006-03-28 04:34 pm (UTC)I'm sure things would play out just fine if a little strained and uncomfy.
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Date: 2006-03-28 04:44 pm (UTC)I figure odds are slim that we'll ever stumble into one another... I rarely go to town center, and my boca trips are pretty brief, unless I'm on the bike.
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Date: 2006-03-28 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 05:40 pm (UTC)Sort of like spidey's first encounter with paste pot pete. "What did you say your name was, again?"
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Date: 2006-03-27 02:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-27 02:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-27 02:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-27 02:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-27 03:15 pm (UTC)good thoughts!
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Date: 2006-03-27 07:09 pm (UTC)Out of curiosity...do you not drive? I see the words bus and walk an awful lot on here....
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Date: 2006-03-27 07:19 pm (UTC)Yup, I'm a pedestrian rather than a car-driver. I prefer to walk or be driven by mass-transit to points elsewhere.
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Date: 2006-03-27 07:59 pm (UTC)I do miss having time to read and nap during travel though...of course, I get to sleep much later now.
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Date: 2006-03-27 08:12 pm (UTC)I actually stopped driving after surgery, and just never went back. I got used to it.
I do most of my reading on the bus up and back... 2 hours on the bus? where were you living back then? I usually get from work to deerfield inside of 90 minutes, and that's across the county!
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Date: 2006-03-27 08:37 pm (UTC)Luckily I had my massage linens with me. (Extra Large Bath Sheet and set of twin sheets. Saved my life I'm pretty sure.)
I lived in northwest Coral Springs and went to about Federal and Oakland. I may have over estimated the time...it has been about 10 years, but it was a long ass ride with a transfer.
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Date: 2006-03-28 03:18 pm (UTC)Glad you survived!
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Date: 2006-03-27 08:40 pm (UTC)What kind of surgery?
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Date: 2006-03-28 03:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 04:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 04:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-27 08:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 03:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 03:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 03:42 pm (UTC)I don't think about it very often, but when my event comes to mind, I still want to rip his lungs out.
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Date: 2006-03-28 04:10 pm (UTC)The thing that irks me the most is how his actions could have gone wrong, by he not identifying himself, as I was starting to walk back to the cab some guy behind me cries out at for me to stop while shinning a flash light on me, he had no uniform on, I looked back and saw the gun, there was a part of me that considered making a break for it, but luckily I chose not to, he then told me to turn around hands held out and put down what I was carrying, I had a coke, at this point was pretty sure he wasn’t acting like a mugger, and they don’t usually shine flashlights on you, but in the moment you just don’t know for sure in any case I must love my soda because I chose to argue with him about a little, “It’s just a plastic coke bottle” and tried to find out what was going on. He just insisted more forcefully that I drop it, so being he had the gun and all I toss it aside. He then told me to lie down, at that point I was weighing my options I didn’t want to lie down for some mugger to put a bullet in my head, and continued to try to find out what was going on, he just kept repeating himself more forcefully it was at this point I saw that the other cops show up around the corner, so I did as I was told as I now knew for sure they were cops and knew this would get sorted out.
Afterwards he was storming around all pumped up like he was some jock that has just scored a touchdown, as it became clearer that this was all a mistake he seemed to get ticked off and eventually wandered off. The other cops were much friendlier and seemed to suspect his was nothing from the get go by the way we were acting.
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Date: 2006-03-28 04:15 pm (UTC)Even if he'd shown some sort of ID, I think I'd have been leery, without actual other-cop backup, at that point.
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Date: 2006-03-28 07:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 11:04 am (UTC)