The Blog with No Name

It’s good to hear somebody speak up about the fed’s wild spending spree. I thought Republicans were all about reducing government spending and shrinking the darn budget. Slinging money around like this will only be a temporary fix at best.

I’d like to write something more than just a laundry list of things for which I’m thankful. That is:

1. My family
2. My beautiful girlfriend
3. My opportunities
4. My potential
5. My dashing good looks and charming personality
6. My lip balm

See, that’s boring. True but boring. However, since it is Thanksgiving, it seems inappropriate to write about anything but Thanks and Things-thankful-for. I suppose I could dwell on how bad things could be so as to help us be thankful for what we do have, but do we really need any reminder of how bad our lives could be? Or perhaps I could ruminate about the importance of giving thanks. But, unless somebody was raised in a barn, that’s a lesson that has been expounded upon since our early years. I think it would probably be best to just be thankful and leave it at that.

Happy Thanksgiving from Alaska, everybody!

How the English-speaking peoples through their unwisdom, carelessness, and good nature, allowed the wicked to rearm.

That is the theme of The Gathering Storm the first volume of Winston Churchill’s monumental work, The Second World War. In this volume, Churchill discusses the inter-war period of 1919-1939 (roughly). In the first few chapters, he pinpoints what he believes were the “follies” of the Victors and follows the chain of events that led the world from the War to End all Wars to the greatest destruction mankind has ever inflicted upon itself. In some ways it eerily resembles current world affairs.

After the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the First World War, Germany had its military might gutted. Its standing army was limited to 100,000 men, it could have no air power, and its navy was severely restricted as well. To ensure that Germany did not overstep its bounds the League of Nations established the Inter-Allied Control Commission. However, Germany, intent on becoming a world power again, was successful in stretching or breaking the Treaty in “many covert and minor ways.” The Allies knew this, but the Control Commission was pulled out of Germany in January 1927 regardless. By the mid-1930’s Germany, under the bloody grip of Hitler, was openly violating all restrictions placed on its military, including the production of the foremost air force in the world.

Furthermore, there were disturbing political rumblings in Germany as well. It was cycling through elections at an alarming rate, the hopes of the country were pinned on a rapidly aging Field-Marshal von Hindenburg, internal strife and conflict were growing, and the economy was spinning out of control. Adolf Hitler, the “expression of the most virulent hatreds that have ever corroded the human breast,” rose from his lowly position as a failed artist and corporal in 1919 to Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Hitler made no attempts to hide what he believed and what he wanted for his Homeland. He

Meanwhile, the Victors of World War 1 made no attempt to control and subordinate Germany. Churchill constantly reminds the reader that they were given many moments in which they could have intervened and peacefully swayed Germany away from its warpath, but the victors were satisfied with inaction. The United States drew into its cocoon, brooding and struggling with its own economic peril. Russia was embroiled in revolutions. France watched the developing nightmare in Germany with fear but was powerless to do anything on its own. Britain had become enraptured in the ideal that the victors should be disarmed so that they would be of equal military power with the vanquished. In pursuance of this ideal they “steadfastly closed their eyes and ears to the disquieting symptoms in Europe.” During the Disarmament Conference of 1933, Britain put a great deal of pressure upon France to arrive at an “equality in arms” with Germany and largely succeeded. However, just as the final details were being worked out, Germany, under Hitler withdrew from the conference, intent on forging a new army despite any piece of paper it signed.

Churchill was highly critical of his country men at the time.

This was one of those awful periods which recur in our history, when the noble British nation seems to fall from its high estate, loses all trace of sense or purpose, and appears to cower from the menace of foreign peril, frothing pious platitudes while foemen forge their arms.

They had ignored the signs. They allowed the only international organ of power to be made irrelevant. And while an evil man girded up for war, they dismantled their own military might for the sake of equality. At the conclusion of the fifth chapter, Churchill has a scathing indictment of the British government that did nothing to prevent the coming bloodshed:

Delight in smooth-sounding platitudes, refusal to face unpleasant facts, desire for popularity and electoral success . . ., genuine love of peace and pathetic belief that love can be its sole foundation, . . . the strong and violent pacifism which at this time dominated the Labour-Socialist Party, the utter devotion of the Liberals to sentiment apart from reality . . . : all of these constituted a picture of British fatuity and fecklessness which, though devoid of guile, was not devoid of guilt, and, though free from wickedness or evil design, played a definite part in the unleashing upon the world of horrors and miseries which, even so far as they have unfolded, are already beyond comparison in human experience.

By drawing attention to this unfortunate period in world history, I am not meaning to say that we are on a direct course for World War Three. My point is that we should not be drawn into chronological snobbery and ignore the lessons of the past. The human condition and the advancement of civility is not so great as we are wont to believe. Evil men still gain power and they must be dealt with firmly and decisively. And sometimes diplomacy is ineffective in removing these men from power, especially when the international organs of power are reduced to irrelevancy. When it is apparent that words will be ineffective, non-aggressive and peace-loving nations must be prepared to combat bellicose nations that threaten the greater peace. I firmly believe it is only the strength of the good and their will to use that strength that preserves us from the domination by evil men.

Chris Wickham and I had good luck hunting today. He got three chukar, and I got to tool around in my truck on a dirt road. It was great to put the 4×4 to work. We have a good idea where the birds hang out now, so I think we’ll be even luckier next time we go out.

I have two photos up now from today (and one older one), and I’ll have more coming as soon as I get pictures from Wickham.

Ahhhh, yet another reason why it’s good to have a Mac.

“As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take which course he will; he will be sure to repent it.” - Socrates

The black-robed Supreme Oligarchy in Massachusetts handed down to the hoi polloi their ruling on gay marriage. The important part:

The question before us is whether, consistent with the Massachusetts Constitution, the Commonwealth may deny the protections, benefits, and obligations conferred by civil marriage to two individuals of the same sex who wish to marry. We conclude that it may not.

The common people are saying this. The poll discussed was targeted at religious persons, but the discussion also mentions the broader public opinion.

The President said this.

Lately I’ve been on a libertarian kick, so that confuses my own response. The larger issue I can address is whether this is going to be a watershed ruling much like Roe v. Wade. Ultimately, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts affects the whole nation due to the “full faith and credit clause of the Constitution. If a gay couple flies to Massachusetts, gets married, and then flies back home, the home state must honor that marriage, extending all benefits and recognition. So, in light of this, I believe this very well could be a watershed ruling. However, there are a couple of ways this can be avoided. There can be a constitutional amendment on the part of Massachusetts or the United States. I’m not sure if either of these are imminent or even possible. It takes a lot to add amendments.

I’m sure I’ll add some more thoughts later.

Just so nobody forgets:

Brand New sucks live.
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Currently listening to Embers and Envelopes by Mae

Well, gee, I barely know where to start.

I should have taken it as a sign when their merch dude was a total butthole to me. I simply asked how much the CD was, and he spat back, “I’ll talk to you when I’m open!” Oh, well, sorry, Mr. Merch-dude, I didn’t realize it was so freakin’ hard to tell me a CD is $10.

I had been looking forward to seeing Brand New ever since this past summer. I love their Deja Entendu album. I nearly listened to it to death. Half of the album is excellent songs (the other half is only so-so). I was pretty jazzed to finally hear some of these great songs in concert.

Well, along came the singer, and things went downhill from there. I’ll put it plain and simple: the dude can’t sing. He couldn’t sustain any notes, he always seemed out of breath, and he ran his words together. He sounded nothing like his studio sound. It was horrible. Not only could he not sing, but he was stinkin’ annoying between songs. He kept asking, “Is the house burning down?” NO, it’s not, now shut the heck up and play, idiot. Luckily, he kept his mouth shut most of the time.

You know, it’s almost as if before they went on tour, they determined how they could mangle a song but still have it sound remotely like the original tune. They were butchers, hacks. They were so bad that I couldn’t take it any more, so Jess and I left before it was over. Until tonight, I had never left a show early because the music was so bad.

Now, look, I’ve been to a lot of shows. I’ve seen a lot of bands. I’ve heard a lot of singers. This, by far, was the worst live performance I’ve ever experienced.

Beware Brand New. Buy the album. Do not see them live.

“States flourish if philosophers rule, or if rulers are philosophers.” - Emperor Marcus Aurelius

Maybe I should do the country a favor and run for the Presidency when I hit 35. Barnett for President in 2016?

There are two major reasons why I appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed this movie. First, this is how movies should do heroes. Even the young boys are excellent heroes. The heroes embodied all the virtues of a true hero: valor, courage, loyalty, a sense of duty, and strength of character. But at the same time, they weren’t soaked in testosterone-fueled machismo (a la Rambo or John Matrix). Though these types of action figures have their place and time, they dwell solely in the fictional world, causing no aspiration on our parts. The heroes in Master and Commander were human and as such some had fear, some made poor decisions, some suffered great pain, and some succumbed to pride. In short, they were real heroes who not only encourage us to do great deeds but to be great people. The heroes of Matrix: Revolutions are pale and pathetic when juxtaposed with the heroes of this movie.

I also appreciated the lack of snobbish modernity. There was no mockery of religiosity or devotion to God and country. There was no ignorant dismissal of royalty. There was no self-righteous condemnation of hierarchy. Basically, the ideals and sentiments of the super-enlightened 21st Century United States were not present. Which was so refreshing. I believe this absence will help make this movie timeless, unlike so much other crap coming out of Hollywood.

There was one scene I especially enjoyed. Night has fallen, and one of the lieutenants, who is no more than 18 years old, is given the mission of setting up a decoy for the French vessel to follow so the good guys could escape. He has to float on a hastily constructed raft, light four lanterns, and then hold onto a rope so he could be pulled back to the ship. He bravely embarks on his mission as the French frigates continues to fire. Cannonballs are whizzing and splashing all around him, any one of them could instantly kill him or destroy the decoy. However, he succeeds in lighting the lanterns and is pulled back to the ship. As he is hoisted over the last rail, the captain grabs him, looks him in the eyes, and says, “Now tell me that wasn’t fun.” That just gave my heart a thrill.

Pros: Fantastic acting and characters, superb score, exciting battle scenes, the French are the bad guys, it’s a high-seas adventure!
Cons: A few slow scenes, two queasy surgery scenes, the presence of the French.
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Currently listening to Breaking the Silence from the album “Parallel Dreams” by Lorenna McKennitt

A friend of mine is looking to buy a house, so one day I grabbed a flyer for a nearby house that was for sale. It looked like a nice enough house (except for the pale minty green paint job). It was a little smaller, had a decent view, and located in a good area. Not too bad. Not too bad until you look at the price: $500,000. That little surprise started my brain-wheels spinning, and I’ve come to the conclusion that Seattle is not where I want to spend too much more time. I had already decided a long time ago that I wouldn’t be staying in Seattle permanently, but now it seems my exit will be moved up about 10 years.

It’s just too expensive to live here. It’s ridiculous. I could take that money for that little house up on Queen Anne, go to Alaska, buy a house twice as big on property ten times bigger. Renting an apartment is like burning money, and I don’t relish the idea of paying an inflated price for a run-down house/condo. Furthermore, jobs here are in the pits. Granted this is probably only for the short term as economic indicators are looking better, but it’s still disheartening. I had a chat with a lawyer the other day, and I asked him what was the hardest part about being a lawyer in general. He said it was trying to find work. I told him I didn’t want to hear that. Also, I hate sales tax. If I could move someplace where there is no stupid sales tax, I’d be happy.

Anyway, if I go to grad school the only chance I have to stay in the Seattle area is if I get accepted at UW. I’m not sure what my chances are of getting into the program.

Zao is back together. They’re kinda like the Michael Jordan of hardcore music to me: the Greatest who doesn’t know how to retire. Supposedly they broke up for good last spring, but apparently all that happened was they got a new singer and a new label. They even have their old guitarist Russ Cogdell in the lineup. Russ is awesome. They have a new album coming out next year, which will be sweet.

I saw them live last Saturday night. This was probably the sixth time I’ve seen them live. I remember a few years back when it seemed like their ultimate demise was perpetually imminent, I thought I’d only be lucky enough to see them once in concert. I guess I was wrong. Unfortunately, this last show wasn’t the best show I’ve seen, but I believe there are two good reasons for it. Apparently, pretty much everybody on the tour had gotten sick. In fact, Zao had cancelled their appearance at the last tour stop because they were too sick to play. I think one of them actually went to the hospital. The other reason is that I think the new vocalist still needs to be broken in. He was much more showy and less serious than the previous vocalist. I’m not sure how that will change the band dynamics in the long run. Anyway, I have a brief movie clip of them here. I apologize for the quality of the sound.

I just spent a long time pounding my way though an update and a troubleshooting for my DVD database thingee. Now the images are there again, and they won’t be going away.

I’ve also been trying to solve a problem on the backend of this blog software. I CHMODed the crap out of a folder, applied a patch, and uttered some curses. Nothing works. I gave up and pleaded for help. I’m convinced it’s a bug in the code, and it would be hopeless for me to try to find it and fix it.

I should have a small movie and a bunch of pics coming later tonight. Right now I need to take a break.
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Currently listening to Bicycle from the album “Wings to Fly” by Plankeye.

Due to certain events outside of my control (i.e. my girlfriend consuming every single moment of my precious free time), this is a little later than I wanted it to be. Of course, the internet is pretty much flooded with reviews Matrix: Revolutions. Most of them have had a negative slant. Anyway, here’s a few quick thoughts of mine.

First, the philosophy in the third installment is all but gone. A lot of people don’t like this. Frankly, I don’t care. I’ve never thought the philosophy of the Matrix was anything special. Instead of philosophical Gordian knots and metaphysical grapplings, Matrix 3 relies on nice little platitudes about love, women being good pilots, and bravado. This is fine. It’s a sci-fi movie. Nobody should really watch sci-fi movies for lessons on life. Granted, some of the lines are borderline cheesy, which detracts from the seriousness of the movie.

For me, the highlight of the movie is the huge battle at Zion. Personally, I think seeing it is worth the price of admission. As a sci-fi buff, I believe the main battle sequence is the best sci-fi battle I’ve ever seen. It was intense and exciting. The desperate humans were faced with overwhelming odds, but they make a good show of themselves. The number of explosions and bullets flying is wonderful. Unfortunately, several of the key characters in the battle were obvious and trite stories of The-underdog-rises-up-and-does-a-great-deed variety. Every time it cut away to these characters and their heroic deeds I wanted to cringe. This leads me to my first major complaint with the movie.

Nearly all the heroes in the movie seem to be blatant attempts to avoid the traditional hero model. By traditional hero model I mean a man of strength, vision, virtue, and selflessness. Of all the characters involved I can only think of two traditional heros and the rest (5+) were . . . well, PC heros. There’s nothing wrong with having women and scared little boys be heros, but the way it was handled seemed so obviously motivated by our present political climate. I believe the worst character decision the Wachowski brothers made was to basically gut Morpheus’ role. Throughout the movie he is definitely in the back seat, only rising up to occasionally be an apologist for Neo. The character of Morpheus, played by Lawrence Fishburne, was a great hero and leader in the first and second movies. Why did they cut him down in the third?

My second major complaint is the that the end seems to be a total cop out, leaving far more questions than answers. I’m not sure I can say much without spoiling the movie, so let me just say this. The end seems to be both slapped together and an indication that the Wachowski brothers just couldn’t figure out how to tie up all the loose strings and END the series. Unfortunately, most unfortunately, they left the door open for a 4th movie. I, for one, hope it never comes out.

Pros: Fantastic battle scene, great martial arts sequences, outstanding special effects, Hugo Weaving, explosions, APUs, no dance party, no weird sex scene, cool soundtrack.
Cons: Occasional cheesy lines, lame ending, the decline of Morpheus, some cringe-worthy characters.