Merry Christmas!

Fair Winds and Following Seas

or

Miles to Go Before I Sleep

Well, it's down to tonight. Tonight is the last night we'll spend in our house here. I'll miss it a lot. It's a great house and I really liked living here. Our family is relocating up to IL and hopefully after a short while we'll find someplace up there in IL that'll be just as good (if not better) than what we've all had here.

The movers come tomorrow. This whole weekend was very hectic. We'll be all set once they get here.

We'll spend tomorrow night at a HoJo and leave for IL on Wednesday right after the closing on the house is complete.

Might be a few days before I update again.

CNN.com - Robert Novak leaving CNN - Dec 16, 2005: "Commentator Robert Novak, who hasn't been seen on CNN since swearing and storming off the set in August, will leave the network after 25 years and join Fox News Channel as a contributor next month"

Novak going to Fox News...no big suprise. In the 'Crossfire' days, I have to say that the Right wasn't helped much by Novak. He seemed a little aged and bumbling at times, particularly when set against Paul Begala.

Church & State || National Jewish Democratic Council: "Democratic members asked the Republican author of the resolution, Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), if she would permit the symbols of Chanukah and other holidays to be included in the protection of the resolution -- and she refused."

Boy, this is a crazy world we live in.

I found this to be a great capper to it all.

Dingell’s HOLIDAY Jingle for O’Reilly and House GOP

Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (MI-15) recited the following poem on the floor of the US House of Representatives concerning House Resolution 579, which expressed the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected. “Preserving Christmas” has been a frequent topic for conservative talk show hosts, including Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly:

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House

No bills were passed ‘bout which Fox News could grouse;

Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,

So vacations in St. Barts soon would be near;

Katrina kids were nestled all snug in motel beds,

While visions of school and home danced in their heads;

In Iraq our soldiers needed supplies and a plan,

Plus nuclear weapons were being built in Iran;

Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell;

Americans feared we were on a fast track to…well…

Wait--- we need a distraction--- something divisive and wily;

A fabrication straight from the mouth of O’Reilly

We can pretend that Christmas is under attack

Hold a vote to save it--- then pat ourselves on the back;

Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger

Wake up Congress, they’re in no danger!

This time of year we see Christmas every where we go,

From churches, to homes, to schools, and yes…even Costco;

What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy,

When this is the season to unite us with joy

At Christmas time we’re taught to unite,

We don’t need a made-up reason to fight

So on O’Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter, and those right wing blogs;

You should just sit back, relax…have a few egg nogs!

‘Tis the holiday season: enjoy it a pinch

With all our real problems, do we honestly need another Grinch?

So to my friends and my colleagues I say with delight,

A merry Christmas to all,

and to Bill O’Reilly…Happy Holidays.

In a Red State

Just got an automated call from the 'Florida for the Preservation of Marriage' coalition or whatever wanting to inform me about important things going on with the 'Preservation of Marriage Ammendment'.

I can only assume this is to drum up support for an ammendment that would ban gay marriage in the United States under the auspices of 'preserving' the 'traditional' meaning of 'marriage'.

Yeah...it's time to go.

Kongfrontation

We went to see King Kong last night. Beforehand we had a nice dinner at Earl of Sandwich. I had wanted Chili's but Court said that they have Chili's in IL and it'd be our last time eating at EoS for a while so we went there.

It was an 8pm showing. I enjoyed the film, though like some others I felt it was a big long. I think there were several scenes in the first third of the movie that could have been cut. Also, I felt the spider/insect attack scene could have been trimmed some.

A lot of great visuals. This film has one of the most amazing sequences I've ever seen , Kong vs. 3 T-rex, and one of the dumbest, a brontosaurus stampede and subsequent pile up.

Kong looked fantastic, I have to say. I feel the T-rex bar (set by Jurassic Park) was not really met here...only because I think the full-size (animatronic) T-rex in JP was so astounding.

I liked the actors in their rolls. Brody did a nice job, I thought. Naomi Watts was a great Ann Darrow. I even liked seeing Kyle Chandler (an old 'Early Edition' favorite) though I was a bit puzzled by his character since he goes from a coward--->hero--->coward during the course of the film. If there was a weak point in casting I thought it was probably Jack Black...though Black's normal theatrics lent themselves well to the role at times.

There were a few clunker lines like the first mate (a character I was sad to see go) giving Jimmy advice, something like "You've got to get an education, Jimmy! That's what's important!"

There were a few times where the suspension of disbelief just did not work for me. Ann climbing to the top (yes, the TOP as in look up and there's only sky and look around you and there's nothing) of the Empire State Building and standing there with nothing to hold on to...Jack doing the same thing and the both of them standing on the top of one of the tallest buildings in the world like they were standing in the middle of a Target parking lot. Also, when Jack rescues Ann he grabs the foot of a giant bat-like creature that flies them down from Kong's lookout point...that's a little harder to believe than the rest of the movie.

They definitely made Kong a more sympathetic character. It'd be hard to watch a certain 'ice skating' scene and not feel something for him. I didn't get teary or cry or anything at the end, but it was sad. Makes you wish they'd just left Kong alone on that island.

At one point you see some Kong-ish skeletons at Kong's lookout point were kind of an indication that a sequel might be possible at some point.

The visuals of the Kong's rampage through New York were amazing. I felt the planes looked a little fake (why not use real biplanes and cut them in somehow?) but the city itself looked *Amazing*.

I'd give it a 7. I just think that the way the beginning was dragged out detracts from the film too much.

Movie & TV News @ IMDb.com - Studio Briefing: "the two sides are also discussing the possibility of Disney buying Pixar outright and, in effect making it Disney's animated division"


This would be the smartest decision Disney has made in YEARS.

I have seen the Falcon, and it is mine.

During her 'day after Thanksgiving' shopping, Court picked up the LEGO Millennium Falcon. It was half price so she got it at $50. Originally it was for me, but later she decided against it and was going to sell it to a friend so that friend could give it as a gift for somebody else. Of course, I was surprised to see it in the loot when she came back from shopping and even more surprised that it wasn't for me. Anyways.

Time passes...

The Falcon is still in her car. I ask her why it's still there and she said she keeps forgetting to give it to the friend.

Time passes...

It is still there.

Time passes...

Still there.

Time passes...

Then, last weekend, we exchange gifts with our Florida friends, and it's also a 'last goodbye' of sorts since some we won't again before we move. In loading the stuff into the car, I see it again.

Me: "Ok. I've seen that one too many times. It is mine now."


And it'll be put together once we get back to IL and situated.


EDIT

I should ammend this story to state that I had told Court multiple (dozens of) times that I didn't want it because I'd never have room for it even though I really did want it.

Heard in our house yesterday...

Court: "Things are so crazy, it's like I think it's Thursday when it's Wednesday."

Me: "Uh...actually it's Tuesday."

Baby on Board

Belated congrats to Cousin Beth and her husband George on the birth of their son Braiden Alexander, born Dec 10, 2005 10:45am (mountain time) 7lbs 12oz 21.25 inches.

Lots of love to the newest member of our family!

Yahoo! TV News & Gossip -: "At least on Fox. Producer Brian Grazer told CNN last week that he is working feverishly to move the sitcom to another home.

'I think we'll get picked up by some other network, possibly,' he said. 'You never know."

We can but hope.

CNN.com - Snow storms freeze center of country - Dec 8, 2005

Old Man Winter is bringing his A-game.

He'll find me ready.

The Sign of Four

FOUR JOBS YOU'VE HAD IN YOUR LIFE

Ace Hardware guy
Central Service Tech at Alexian
White Hen Pantry man
Whatever it is I do now

FOUR MOVIES YOU COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER
The Empire Strikes Back
The Shawshank Redemption
The Untouchables
Office Space


FOUR CITIES/TOWNS YOU'VE LIVED IN
Bartlett, IL
Carol Stream, IL
Elk Grove Village, IL
Orlando, FL

FOUR TV SHOWS YOU LOVE TO WATCH
Smallville
Stargate SG-1
The Office
Battlestar Galactica

FOUR PLACES YOU'VE BEEN ON VACATION
Orlando, FL (har har)
Las Vegas, NV
San Francisco, CA
Anaheim, CA


FOUR WEBSITES YOU VISIT DAILY
my sister's blog
The Ravensoft EF Board
Trekbbs
CNN.com


FOUR OF YOUR FAVOURITE FOODS
Porkchops and applesauce (that's swell)
Ham and cheese on rye (no seeds)
Barnaby's Pizza (coming soon to a meal near me)
peanut butter and banana (don't knock it til you try it baby)



FOUR PLACES YOU'D RATHER BE RIGHT NOW
asleep
on this tour
Cub game
Bears game

National Geographic: Remembering Pearl Harbor

Another generation's 9/11.



Apart from that, it is also the birthday of my cousin Beth (preggers, big time!) and my Grandpa Rick (The I to my III).

CNN.com - The many facets of Tookie Williams - Dec 3, 2005: "Williams says he's not the same man who co-founded the Crips, not the man convicted of blowing four people away with a shotgun in 1979 during robberies that netted little more than gas money."

oh yeah? Well those four people you murdered aren't the same either. You know why? BECAUSE THEY'RE DEAD.

Oh Deer

Some time ago some people cut down some of the bigger trees that formed the berm between our backyard area and the pond behind us. Now it's just a loose configuration of bushes. Last night, as I was getting ready to close up the back room, I saw Hooper and Boots staring at something outside. It was a deer. Actually, there were two of them. I asked Court to bring a flashlight and we could see their eyes glow green in the light. It was pretty amazing since they weren't that far away. Now that the berm has been cut down they can go between areas pretty easily. I wouldn't be surprise if one came up to the back door if we put food out. (don't tempt me)

I had seen a deer in the area around that back pond a long time ago when I was looking out our back bedroom's window. Now that Court's seen them too it's proof I'm not nuts. Funny thing was, the father of a family who came by to view the house asked if we'd ever had any 'beasts' in our backyard. heh heh

Bob and David - It's Official!: "Combine that with your sucker appeal to the knee-jerk white Christian patriot in us all who would much rather hear 87 fart jokes than hear a joke in which the President (the current one, not the last one) or the Pope, or Born-Again Christians, or Lee Greenwood get called on their shit for being the hypocrites that they are, and I think we've got a winner!"

Hilarious David Cross hatchet job on one of those idiot 'blue collar' comedy dopes.

Warp Speed ahead...: June 2005: "CKB still top dog!!

Well, Rich G has managed to put together his rig but guess what?? It came up short in the benchmarks when compared to the CKB (CUNSOT Killer Box). His machine scored a measly 8528 on the 3dMark 2003 benchmark, which is less that my 11103. So, there you have it, CKB is still the top dog! Woof! Woof!"

Unfortunately, the 'top dog' has been put to sleep. In what has been termed 'just a slight hiccup' by its owner, the CKB went offline last night due to some kind of internal error. What a damn shame!

Let's all take a moment of silent to reflect on the CKB...ok, that's enough. CUNSOT II reigns supreme once again!

Current CKB 3dMark 2003 score: 0

CNN.com - Wendie Jo Sperber dead of cancer - Dec 1, 2005

Cancer. :(