Here are my picks for Oscar night. These don't reflect personal taste because... well most of the films nominated this year just don't excite me like Lord of the Rings did a couple of years ago. I just hope I can do well in the various pools I've entered.
Best Picture: Brokeback Mountain
Best Director: Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain
Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote
Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line
Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti for Cinderella Man
Best Supporting Actress: Michelle Williams for Brokeback Mountain
Best Original Screenplay: Crash - Paul Haggis
Best Adapted Screenplay: Brokeback Mountain - Larry McMurtry
Cinematography: The New World
Editing: Crash
Art Direction: Memoirs of a Geisha
Costume Design: Memoirs of a Geisha
Original Score: Brokeback Mountain
Original Song: "In the Deep" - Crash
Best Makeup: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Best Sound: Walk the Line
Best Sound Editing: King Kong
Best Visual Effects: King Kong
Best Animated Feature Film: Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Best Foreign Language Film: Tsotsi (South Africa)
Best Documentary Feature: Marche de l'empereur, La
Best Documentary Short: God Sleeps in Rwanda
Best Live Action Short: Our Time Is Up
Best Animated Short: 9
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Monday, February 27, 2006
Islam and the West
Here are some more thoughts on Islam and its relations with Western culture courtesy of my father.
“I have not come to send peace, but a sword.” -Matt. 10:34
Much has been reported this last week of the outrage of the Muslim world over the work of a European cartoonist. It is a tragic story of hatred and violence in which many innocent people have paid an awful price. These are perilous times in which a great drama is being played out on the world stage and no one knows for certain where these events will take us. We are not immune from the events of the world. Fifteen African churches burned this week because of a Danish cartoon. That is why the Psalmist reminds us to ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem.’ As Jerusalem goes, so go we.
What I find interesting is that in this whole Muslim World vs. the West controversy is that each side seems to be challenging the other at their weakest point. Surely the intolerance of the Muslim world as expressed in placards reading “Butcher those who mock Islam” is a total embarrassment to moderate Muslims everywhere or confirmation that Islam is a dangerous threat to world peace. No one would concern themselves with the Muslim religion if it were not for this propensity for violence on the part of those that claim to hold the fundamentals of the faith most dearly, these who dare to openly proclaim, “Europe, your 9/11 is coming.”
The weakness of the West is embodied in Europe’s cold and empty cathedrals, its lack of any interest in matters of faith, and its callous secularism that is quickly morphing into intolerance towards all religion. It truly cannot understand how anyone would take matters of faith seriously. It piously defends the right of expression and the freedom of the press. And yet these rights and freedoms are but hollow instruments of a hollow people who believe in nothing and have nothing to say. Mockery is the only thing which excites them to creativity and action.
What we are witnessing is a grand tilt of religion in its most extreme and absolutist form going up against old and intractable atheism. But this is not a militant atheism that believes in a higher Utopia such as Marxism. This is your old, tired, garden-variety version of secularism that aims at nothing and hits it square. It is the same secularism that would wrap its comfortable arms around our families declaring that the “good life” is all that matters. Under its spell, comfort and affluence, peace and prosperity, personal fulfillment become the chief end of man. Justice becomes the hobby of the more intellectually acute (‘equal rights for the disenfranchised’) or ecology a religion for those demanding purpose (‘save the whales’), but truth is discarded as just so much historical flotsam of a more primitive and combative age.
The enemy of our families lies not only in some religious extremists who would bring everyone in submission to its bondage but also in the siren call of ‘life at the mall’: a never ending circle of vacuous entertainment, materialism, consumption, and lives of comfort and ease that never question the why and where of anything. Christ came not to bring peace but a sword. And that sword is the sword of truth that cuts our lives in so many ways. It causes us to bleed in many different forms of self-sacrifice, dedication, self-denial, moral purity, care for our brother, mission, and belief in ideas that are real and have consequence. Truth is our only real defense against those who our world has given the neutral and sanitary label of ‘terrorists.’ Secularism will crumble and cower before their onslaught. May you lift God’s Truth high every day and instill in young minds the part they must play in this great world drama.
Mercy and Truth,
Mr. Moe
(February 23, 2006)
“I have not come to send peace, but a sword.” -Matt. 10:34
Much has been reported this last week of the outrage of the Muslim world over the work of a European cartoonist. It is a tragic story of hatred and violence in which many innocent people have paid an awful price. These are perilous times in which a great drama is being played out on the world stage and no one knows for certain where these events will take us. We are not immune from the events of the world. Fifteen African churches burned this week because of a Danish cartoon. That is why the Psalmist reminds us to ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem.’ As Jerusalem goes, so go we.
What I find interesting is that in this whole Muslim World vs. the West controversy is that each side seems to be challenging the other at their weakest point. Surely the intolerance of the Muslim world as expressed in placards reading “Butcher those who mock Islam” is a total embarrassment to moderate Muslims everywhere or confirmation that Islam is a dangerous threat to world peace. No one would concern themselves with the Muslim religion if it were not for this propensity for violence on the part of those that claim to hold the fundamentals of the faith most dearly, these who dare to openly proclaim, “Europe, your 9/11 is coming.”
The weakness of the West is embodied in Europe’s cold and empty cathedrals, its lack of any interest in matters of faith, and its callous secularism that is quickly morphing into intolerance towards all religion. It truly cannot understand how anyone would take matters of faith seriously. It piously defends the right of expression and the freedom of the press. And yet these rights and freedoms are but hollow instruments of a hollow people who believe in nothing and have nothing to say. Mockery is the only thing which excites them to creativity and action.
What we are witnessing is a grand tilt of religion in its most extreme and absolutist form going up against old and intractable atheism. But this is not a militant atheism that believes in a higher Utopia such as Marxism. This is your old, tired, garden-variety version of secularism that aims at nothing and hits it square. It is the same secularism that would wrap its comfortable arms around our families declaring that the “good life” is all that matters. Under its spell, comfort and affluence, peace and prosperity, personal fulfillment become the chief end of man. Justice becomes the hobby of the more intellectually acute (‘equal rights for the disenfranchised’) or ecology a religion for those demanding purpose (‘save the whales’), but truth is discarded as just so much historical flotsam of a more primitive and combative age.
The enemy of our families lies not only in some religious extremists who would bring everyone in submission to its bondage but also in the siren call of ‘life at the mall’: a never ending circle of vacuous entertainment, materialism, consumption, and lives of comfort and ease that never question the why and where of anything. Christ came not to bring peace but a sword. And that sword is the sword of truth that cuts our lives in so many ways. It causes us to bleed in many different forms of self-sacrifice, dedication, self-denial, moral purity, care for our brother, mission, and belief in ideas that are real and have consequence. Truth is our only real defense against those who our world has given the neutral and sanitary label of ‘terrorists.’ Secularism will crumble and cower before their onslaught. May you lift God’s Truth high every day and instill in young minds the part they must play in this great world drama.
Mercy and Truth,
Mr. Moe
(February 23, 2006)
Monday, February 13, 2006
Top 10 Greatest Quips from Ronald Reagan
Posted Jan 20, 2006 courtesy of Human Events Online
10. "Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."
—Remarks at a business conference, Los Angeles, March 2, 1977
9. "You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans."
—The Observer, March 29, 1981
8. “Thomas Jefferson once said, "We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying."
—Circa 1988
7. "I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting."
—Said often during his presidency, 1981-1989
6. "How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin."
—Remarks in Arlington, Virginia, September 25, 1987
5. "The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
—Remarks to the White House Conference on Small Business, August 15, 1986
4. “I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.”
—Said often during his presidency, 1981-1989
3. "All great change in America begins at the dinner table."
—Farewell Address to the Nation, The White House, January 11, 1989
2. "I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born."
—The New York Times, September 22, 1980
1. "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
— First Inaugural Address, January 21, 1981
10. "Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."
—Remarks at a business conference, Los Angeles, March 2, 1977
9. "You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans."
—The Observer, March 29, 1981
8. “Thomas Jefferson once said, "We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying."
—Circa 1988
7. "I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting."
—Said often during his presidency, 1981-1989
6. "How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin."
—Remarks in Arlington, Virginia, September 25, 1987
5. "The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
—Remarks to the White House Conference on Small Business, August 15, 1986
4. “I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.”
—Said often during his presidency, 1981-1989
3. "All great change in America begins at the dinner table."
—Farewell Address to the Nation, The White House, January 11, 1989
2. "I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born."
—The New York Times, September 22, 1980
1. "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
— First Inaugural Address, January 21, 1981
Ann Coulter on the cartoon controversy
Here's a great article from Ann Coulter.com that exposes all the political correctness surrounding Islam. As one talk show host put it, the islamists want to convert the whole world and their not afraid to use force to do it. It is time our leaders recognized this as a fact.
CALVIN AND HOBBES — AND MUHAMMAD
by Ann Coulter
February 8, 2006
As my regular readers know, I've long been skeptical of the "Religion of Peace" moniker for Muslims — for at least 3,000 reasons right off the top of my head. I think the evidence is going my way this week.
The culture editor of a newspaper in Denmark suspected writers and cartoonists were engaging in self-censorship when it came to the Religion of Peace. It was subtle things, like a Danish comedian's statement, paraphrased by The New York Times, "that he had no problem urinating on the Bible but that he would not dare do the same to the Quran."
So, after verifying that his life insurance premiums were paid up, the editor expressly requested cartoons of Muhammad from every cartoonist with a Danish cartoon syndicate. Out of 40 cartoonists, only 10 accepted the invitation, most of them submitting utterly neutral drawings with no political content whatsoever.
But three cartoons made political points.
One showed Muhammad turning away suicide bombers from the gates of heaven, saying "Stop, stop — we ran out of virgins!" — which I believe was a commentary on Muslims' predilection for violence. Another was a cartoon of Muhammad with horns, which I believe was a commentary on Muslims' predilection for violence. The third showed Muhammad with a turban in the shape of a bomb, which I believe was an expression of post-industrial ennui in a secular — oops, no, wait: It was more of a commentary on Muslims' predilection for violence.
In order to express their displeasure with the idea that Muslims are violent, thousands of Muslims around the world engaged in rioting, arson, mob savagery, flag-burning, murder and mayhem, among other peaceful acts of nonviolence.
Muslims are the only people who make feminists seem laid-back.
The little darlings brandish placards with typical Religion of Peace slogans, such as: "Behead Those Who Insult Islam," "Europe, you will pay, extermination is on the way" and "Butcher those who mock Islam." They warn Europe of their own impending 9/11 with signs that say: "Europe: Your 9/11 will come" — which is ironic, because they almost had me convinced the Jews were behind the 9/11 attack.
The rioting Muslims claim they are upset because Islam prohibits any depictions of Muhammad — though the text is ambiguous on beheadings, suicide bombings and flying planes into skyscrapers.
The belief that Islam forbids portrayals of Muhammad is recently acquired. Back when Muslims created things, rather than blowing them up, they made paintings, frescoes, miniatures and prints of Muhammad.
But apparently the Quran is like the Constitution: It's a "living document," capable of sprouting all-new provisions at will. Muslims ought to start claiming the Quran also prohibits indoor plumbing, to explain their lack of it.
Other interpretations of the Quran forbid images of humans or animals, which makes even a child's coloring book blasphemous. That's why the Taliban blew up those priceless Buddhist statues, bless their innocent, peace-loving little hearts.
Largely unnoticed in this spectacle is the blinding fact that one nation is missing from the long list of Muslim countries (by which I mean France and England) with hundreds of crazy Muslims experiencing bipolar rage over some cartoons: Iraq. Hey — maybe this democracy thing does work! The barbaric behavior of Europe's Muslims suggests that the European welfare state may not be attracting your top-notch Muslims.
Making the rash assumption for purposes of discussion that Islam is a religion and not a car-burning cult, even a real religion can't go bossing around other people like this.
Catholics aren't short on rules, but they couldn't care less if non-Catholics use birth control. Conservative Jews have no interest in forbidding other people from mixing meat and dairy. Protestants don't make a peep about other people eating food off one another's plates. (Just stay away from our plates — that's disgusting.)
But Muslims think they can issue decrees about what images can appear in newspaper cartoons. Who do they think they are, liberals?
COPYRIGHT 2006 ANN COULTER
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Random musings
Its been awhile since I last posted here are some random musings on what is current with us:
TV Report
We've been watching an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Bleak House which stars Gillian Anderson (of X-Files fame). Janell and I are self admitted nerds and Masterpiece Theater is one of the only television programs we watch with any regularity these days.
Social Life
Speaking of the X-Files, Janell and I dressed up as Scully and Mulder for our church's Valentine's banquet last Saturday. The theme was famous couples. Among the other "famous couples" in attendance were Han Solo and Princess Leia, Sonny and Cher, Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson, Gomez and Morticia Addams, and Robin Hood and Maid Marion. Lots of fun and laughs.
Game Report
We've been hosting a regular game night at our place every other Friday night. Here is a list of some of the games we've played: The Princes of Florence, Razzia!, TransEuropa, Ingenious, Blokus, Piratenbillard and of course Settlers of Cataan.
Links of the week
Thanks to Jeff for these links:
Anonymous Muslim Man Complaint Box
Brokeback to the Future
While your at it check out Jeff's Feb 8 post on everyone's favorite left-wing wacko Cindy Sheehan
TV Report
We've been watching an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Bleak House which stars Gillian Anderson (of X-Files fame). Janell and I are self admitted nerds and Masterpiece Theater is one of the only television programs we watch with any regularity these days.
Social LifeSpeaking of the X-Files, Janell and I dressed up as Scully and Mulder for our church's Valentine's banquet last Saturday. The theme was famous couples. Among the other "famous couples" in attendance were Han Solo and Princess Leia, Sonny and Cher, Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson, Gomez and Morticia Addams, and Robin Hood and Maid Marion. Lots of fun and laughs.
Game Report
We've been hosting a regular game night at our place every other Friday night. Here is a list of some of the games we've played: The Princes of Florence, Razzia!, TransEuropa, Ingenious, Blokus, Piratenbillard and of course Settlers of Cataan. Links of the week
Thanks to Jeff for these links:
Anonymous Muslim Man Complaint Box
Brokeback to the Future
While your at it check out Jeff's Feb 8 post on everyone's favorite left-wing wacko Cindy Sheehan
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