Fighting For Liberty

“…what I do have, are a very particular set of skills …”

Have a look at the trailer, and then I’ll give some thoughts on this flick:

I can sum up this movie in two words.

1) Unapologetic.

2) FREAKINOMGBESTMOVIEEVER

I saw this movie linked on some “conservative movies” site and that had me a little wary because to some people conservative = preachy. I knew the basic premise – guy’s daughter gets kidnapped, guy has some uber-mad Ninja Skillz and goes after the baddies to get his girl back.

Really, that’s it. And it’s simplicity (the movie is a quick 1:30) is why it’s fantastic. The first half-hour gets you ready for the last hour. There’s no huge plot twist, there’s nothing fancy in it, there’s no moral hand-wringing, it’s truly a Point A to Point B movie – the kind that Hollywood refuses to make anymore. It’s straight to the point like a sledgehammer to your forehead.

What’s amazing about it is the manner in which Liam Neeson takes you on that straight line from A to B. He’s the biggest badass EVER and it’s the kind of movie that will have you picking up your jaw once in awhile. Dude. Don’t mess with Daddy’s daughter.

There are plenty of movies where bad guys get spared or there’s some measure of compassion shown for them. This isn’t one of those movies. As a matter of fact, for me, it was highly refreshing to see the baddies get – without any mercy whatsoever – exactly what they deserved.

I’ve seen other reviews of the movie calling it “morally questionable”. I couldn’t disagree more. It’s a revenge thriller about a guy getting his daughter back. If you feel bad for criminals that’s on you. I’ve also seen it called “predictable”. Well, yeah, of course it is. Running a quarter-mile in a dragster is predictable too – you go fast – but that doesn’t mean it’s boring or unenjoyable. So, you can keep your tortured hero that spares scumbags because of compassion for humanity …

As for me?

Hand over the popcorn, I enjoy watching bad guys get exactly what they deserve.

Super-mega-enthusiastic ten-thumbs up!

David Uncategorized

This reminds me of this:

David Uncategorized

It works, for the most part. I mean, I’m not ready to pack the ammo bag and go on a 7-state killing spree because of driver installation issues.

It’s not quite as “just works” as Ubuntu is, granted, my rig is pretty crazy with dual GTX cards on an SLI board, but it still took a bit more “try it again and reboot” than I would’ve liked.

So far, so good. Let’s hope it stays that way.

David Uncategorized

Two words that go together as well as “No” and “Shit”.

Ironically, climate change appears to have stalled in the run-up to the upcoming world summit in the Danish capital, where thousands of politicians, bureaucrats, scientists, business leaders and environmental activists plan to negotiate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Politicians. Bureaucrats. Scientists. Business leaders. Environmental activists. All heroes, no doubt, ready to save the world from the ironic threat of being exceedingly average. Or just all ready to put their collective heads together to figure out a way to make America pay for their industrialization.

David ZOMG WE'RE GONNA DIE!!!11!one!

… well I’ve got news for you, I’m not in Ulthar, so if my cat chews through one more wire attached to a pricey piece of electronic equipment, I’m going to bayonet the sucker.

Argh!

David KITTEH!

David Uncategorized

“Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.”

H. L. Mencken

I love that quote.

It so perfectly sums up moments in life where you’ve got a decision to make to either go all in, or back off.

My regular reader(s) are familiar with my efforts to earn one of these:

Now, I’ve been in other martial arts schools and I’ve talked to martial arts students of different types. Some schools are very limited-contact, some even no-contact. Some disciplines (the type of art they practice, that is), are very centered on perfecting movements and the traditional aspect of martial arts.

The school I attend, is not one of these schools. My teacher was a boxer for 6 years. We’re full contact. I’d say we’re pretty evenly split on the traditional and combat. Ever watch those MMA cage-fightin’ guys? I do a LOT of that.

Aaaah, combat.

My goal is to become a Sensei - a teacher of Martial Arts. And perhaps, one day open my own school and teach people to overcome the fears that I’ve managed to overcome in my journey through the art and it’s hard training. I’ve become a more comfortable, confident, and self-assured person through all of this.

But goals … come at a price.

See, I’m a nice guy. I’m pretty tall and have a good deal of natural strength, so there’s an intimidation factor when I work with people for the first time. As a firearms enthusiast I know the deal – different weights and statures always tilt the playing field in favor of the big guy unless you’ve got a LOT of skill, or a weapon. I’m the big guy and I know it.

But now, I’m at a crossroads. I’m a nice guy, and I don’t want to hurt anybody, but at the same time, it’s now time for me to kick my training up a notch. To go all out during class instead of taking it easier on my opponents.

Basically, it’s time for me to hoist the black flag. My hope is that nobody I normally work with that I’ve come to befriend takes anything personally. I’m not setting out to be a jerk, but I’ve reached that time where I’m realizing – if I don’t go all out and show that I can really do this, then what’s the point? To always hold back? In my class, I’m the lowest rank. I train with black belts and higher-degree brown belts. As the low guy on the totem pole it’s my time to shake things up, and show that I’m that force to be reckoned with, so to speak.

I’m nervous, but I’m eager. The leash is off, so to speak. All with the blessing of my Sensei who told me, “If I were you, I wouldn’t hold back one bit.”

I’m going to end up hurting somebody (much as my nose was broken, someone else is going to get a booboo issued by yours truly), but we don’t train to fight in order to avoid pain and contact. As a matter of fact when you hold back is when you normally get hurt!

At any rate, the next few weeks as I shed my empathic self and begin beating the everloving crap out of people should be wildly entertaining. Look for some updates, starting with tomorrow’s class …

David Martial Arts, Me

… if he yanked it from my cold, dead hands.

I stumbled across this. And it caught my attention because … well, it’s a bunch of Republican big-names calling the newly elected Mayor of Manchester, NH.

The list of callers (and, presumably, callers-to-be):

George Pataki
Mitt Romney
Tim Pawlenty
Sarah Palin

I know exactly jack-nothing about Pawlenty. I know enough about Pataki to know that he’s that rare Republican who’s cast directly from the McCain mold. Ditto Romney.

No thank you, neither of them will get my vote under any circumstances. Yes, even if it’s Romney-Obama in the next election. Especially if it’s Pataki-Obama. Ugh. Why not just run Jeb Bush and kill the party once and for all?

I’m expecting big things from Palin and I hope she continues taking this administration to task and building her network of supporters and donors. She’s doing things the right way right now – she’s not in the limelight, but she’s visible to those who matter – those with generally conservative positions who are pissed off at the status quo. I don’t agree with her on everything, of course, I don’t think that candidate exists, but she’s far superior to any “moderately right” scumbag who favors shrinking civil liberties, and big government.

It’s going to be fun to see who comes out of this field, or if there’s some unknown waiting in the wings.

David Political Garbage

I’m no analyst here, but I do have a few thoughts on some of the goings-on last night. Five particular events caught my attention:

NY-23

Hoffman lost it. I can’t help but think to myself, if you would’ve told Reagan in 1989 that in 20 years, the Republican party is going to run a candidate that’s way out in left field (so to speak). That fellow Republicans will support her, an actual conservative will have to run as a 3rd party, the Republican candidate will drop out after being fully funded by the R party and promptly endorse the Dem in the race, I’m certain he would’ve quipped that the R party won’t exist at that time. And he’d be right.

What a corrupt sack of crap this party is. They fell victim to what the Dems have been doing better for longer – lying through their teeth so they can shift party and principle according to the slightest political winds.

No doubt NY-23 will be called what it is – a loss for a conservative candidate. But it’s more of a hollow win for Democrats and a victory for your average conservative tea-party monster the media is so terrified of.

A victory? How? Look at the attention this race received. It was called “infighting” but it’s nothing of the sort. It was a case of your typical moderate RINO getting themselves trampled and that’s a good thing. If you’re a liberty-minded patriot like me, you need to realize that there are two wars going on at once: Liberty vs. Socialism in the form of Democrats, and Liberty vs. Tyranny from within in the form of these “moderate” Gingrich/Graham/McCain/Snowe Republicans.

Virginia:

What can you say … dude got his ass whooped.

New Jersey:

This one was fascinating. With an endless supply of cash and Obama, Gore, and Clinton campaigning for him in a state that’s about as locked-down Left as you can get, the chunky white boy scores a win anyway.

I know exactly nothing about Christie’s politics, so he could be one of those RINO moderates I despise but I’ll say this – he’s a straight shooter and that whole, “Why don’t you man-up and call me fat” thing was a genius quip that showed the “inclusion party” for what it is.

If they can manage to significantly lower property taxes in that state, you might see it hang out in the Red column for quite some time … but man there’s a lot of work to do in the armpit of America.

Bloomberg:

He squeaked out a victory in NY. First, he’s running as an independent. A NY independent falls somewhere on the political spectrum between Mussolini and Karl Marx. Right now Bloomberg has enough rich people in that city to keep the poor people paid and voting for him. Keep raising those taxes though, and when some of that wealth disappears, there’s going to be nobody to fund all those “special programs” and that city’s going to have a real rough ride. I want to keep an eye on this one for a few years, it should be interesting.

Gay Marriage:

Gay Marriage has been put on the ballot in 31 states. In 31 states when put to popular vote, it has failed. That’s a pretty bad record right there. In Maine, it came close, but I think anywhere voters are told their bigots if they don’t vote one way or another, they’re going to dig in their heels and tell name-callers to go fark themselves. It’s the American way.

If the L/G community wants to make headway with acceptance, they need to drop the notion that everybody that doesn’t agree with them is a bigoted caveman. They’re like PETA. I love animals just like the next guy, but telling me I’m a murdering asshole because I like an occasional burger just makes me hate your organization that much more.

Here you have a group of people that lobbied hard for Hate Crimes legislation which is embarrassing in how much logical conflict it causes, and now surely you’re going to hear about how Maine is filled with backwater religious troglodytes who should be arrested for hurting people’s feelings.

When you’re 0 for 31 – something even the Detroit Lions could not accomplish – it’s time to take a look in the mirror and change your strategy. “Hating my lifestyle should be a crime!” is not a winning argument.

And there you have it. Punditry from someone who does not resemble a pundit. Or something.

David Political Garbage