Movie Review: Skyfall

Just a short post today.

Agnes and I don't go to the movies very often. Agnes usually doesn't like to go because the sound is always too loud, and she usually leaves with a headache after getting her head dolbyized for two hours. I don't go very often because the theater is usually full of ass clowns who can't quit using their phones or chatting with each other, and look at you like you're the idiot if you ask them to cut it out. The last movie I saw in a theater was Prometheus, and neither of us could remember what the last one we saw in a theater together was.

But we decided yesterday to grit our teeth and go to the local multiplex to see Skyfall, the new James Bond movie.

And we're glad we did.

We've seen and more-or-less enjoyed all of the James Bond movies, although they grew more and more far-fetched and overly cheeky with time. When Daniel Craig took the role in Casino Royale in 2006, I was happy that the series seemed to be getting a bit more back to its roots - he was a man I could see as a ruthless, cold-blooded killer with a veneer of polish and sophistication ... the first Bond since Sean Connery in Dr No that came across to me that way. The second movie with Craig as Bond, Quantum of Solace, was disappointing - Craig was excellent and the movie was visually exciting, but the film itself was a disconnected mess with no discernable plot.

Which brings us to the local cineplex yesterday, and our decision to see Skyfall.

Here are the key points (with spoilers avoided, so feel free to read on):

1. Solid, understandable plot based on revenge.

2. Good, believable action scenes (well except, perhaps, for that motorcycle chase at the beginning).

3. Javier Bardem as a great, make-your-skin-crawl psychopathic villain.

4. More emphasis on character development and backstory than any other Bond movie.

5. Wonderful cinematography.

6. Generally great, tight dialog without an overload of tiresome tongue-in-cheek Bond one-liners (although they're there). The best line in the movie went to Albert Finney as Kinkade, the groundskeeper at the Skyfall estate - "Welcome to Scotland" (you'll need to see the movie to understand).

7. Two words: "Eve Moneypenny."

8. Ben Whishaw as the new "Q" - "I can do more damage on my laptop in my pyjamas than you can do in a year in the field."

That's enough for now. If you're looking for an entertaining, well-acted, well-directed, and well-filmed action flick, look no further. Bilbo gives it two thumbs up ... but only because I only have two thumbs.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

P.S. - We got the senior discount on the tickets. I can feel decrepit to save $3.00.

B.

Veterans' Day, 2012

Today is the American holiday we call Veterans' Day - the day we set aside to honor those who have served in the armed forces, and especially those who have served during wartime. It was originally known as Armistice Day, and was celebrated on November 11th to mark the day in 1918 on which the armistice ending the First World War was signed ...

It was changed to Veterans' Day after the end of World War II to honor those who had served in all the nation's wars. It is related to the American holiday of Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday of May, which honors those who have died in military service.

Every young boy plays at being a soldier, and toy guns are a part of growing up in this country. What's lost on most people, though, is that playing war games as a child is fun, while playing at real war as an adult is something quite different ...

On this Veterans' Day, take a moment from your holiday shopping and remember the sacrifices made by those who have served the nation in its wars. In 23 years of service, I never once heard a shot fired in anger ... many others weren't so lucky, and they deserve your thanks and support.

And as George Orwell once said*:

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men** stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Thank a veteran. You owe him (or her) more than you know.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

* This is a popular quote, but may actually have originated as a paraphrase of a line in Orwell's 1945 essay "Notes on Nationalism," where he wrote, "Those who 'abjure' violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf." I think both versions are excellent.

** Of course, this now includes women, but you get the idea.

Cartoon Saturday

What a week it's been ...

President Obama was reelected in an election that was an unexpected (especially by Republican pundits and media outlets) electoral landslide; CIA director David Petraeus has resigned in the wake of exposure of an extramarital affair; seven Navy SEALs have been disciplined for revealing classified information while assisting a video game developer; Brooke Burke Charvet, co-host of the popular show Dancing with the Stars, is suffering from thyroid cancer; and Iran claims to have shot down a US reconnaissance drone.

But enough of all that ... let's get to the cartoons!

Scientists grappling with the problems of sending humans on a trip to Mars are looking for ways to help keep the astronauts busy and prevent boredom on a voyage that would last many months ...

It's very important to read the label before you take the medicine ...

Republicans and Democrats don't seem to be able to agree on how to go about saving the economy; perhaps they might be able to start with something simple, like this ...

There are also the expected reactions from each side to the other's suggestions ...

Each side has its own view of how to fix the economy, and each one uses some pretty questionable assumptions ...

My friend Dave in Germany sent me this cartoon which rather sums up the reactions to the election ...

Sometimes, you have to put things in terms a child of the 21^st century can understand ...

There are budget problems everywhere, and cash-strapped cities are no exception. They are working hard to find new and creative ways to raise funds ...

Yes, this is what political discourse has come down to ...

As I get older, this is pretty much how it looks ...

And that's it for this week's edition of Cartoon Saturday. On the agenda for this weekend: raking the leaves that are now up to the second-floor windows. If you're old enough to remember when we did such things, you will remember the wonderful autumn smell of burning leaves ... nowadays, the only burning leaves you get to smell are the ones around the knots of smokers clustered outside buildings, which don't smell anywhere near as nice. It's sad.

Have a good day and a great weekend. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

An Open Letter to the Democratic Party

Yesterday I shared with you my open letter to the GOP, in which I explained my opinion of where the party has gone wrong and what it can do to win me back. Today, I offer similar advice to the Democrats ...

Dear Democratic Party,

My name is Bilbo. I was a staunch Republican for more than 30 years, although I voted for President Obama in 2008, and again in 2012. But I have to tell you that I voted for him this year not because I think he's a great president, but because I thought he was the lesser of two evils. I cast my vote for the President less because I support all his policies, and more because the Republican party drove me away. If you want to keep my vote in the future, you'll have to earn it - just as the Republicans need to do to win me back. Here's what you can do ...

- Will Rogers once said, "I am not a member of an organized political party. I'm a Democrat." He was right then, and he'd be right now. You don't know what you stand for, and so you can't deliver a coherent message. Today's Republicans may have questionable policies, but they're really good at simplifying issues and relentlessly driving home a few memorable bumper-sticker points (think tax cuts and Obamacare). You need to be able to do the same.

- It's good to appeal to minorities, but don't let that lead you to excusing illegality ... illegal immigration is ... well ... illegal - don't sugar coat it with euphemisms like undocumented immigrants. What's your realistic plan for revising immigration laws and ensuring that those who want the benefits of citizenship earn them honestly? 

- Raising taxes on the rich is not a sound economic policy, any more than is the Republican fantasy that lowering taxes will generate more government income. Republicans are partially right when they say we don't have a revenue problem, but a spending problem. The truth is that we have both problems, and we need to deal with them together. We need a tax system that generates the right amount of revenue and looks like somebody designed it on purpose. What's your plan for reforming the tax code to ensure that it generates sufficient revenue while remaining fair* at all income levels? And on the spending side, what specific programs are you willing to give up or restructure to fix the present while protecting the future?

- America is evolving. This provides more potential members to your party, but many of them join more because they are attracted to the social programs and benefits you promise than by what is expected of them as productive citizens. You need a message that reminds your followers that they have responsibilities as well as rights.

- Yes, we need to take care of those who are less fortunate, but we must be able to afford it. I believe the Republicans have grossly overstated their belief in a growing culture of dependency, but there's some truth behind the bluster. The GOP makes too much of it, and you don't make enough. There's no such thing as a free lunch: what is your plan to protect the weak while ensuring that cherished social programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security remain solvent?

- Stop catering to your most irresponsible fringe elements. It's stupid for the GOP, and it's stupid for you.

- You and the Republicans both need to stop the pro-life vs pro-choice ass clownery. I believe abortion is wrong, except in the rare cases most of us recognize (incest, rape, life of the mother) ... but the real choice needs to be exercised well before an unexpected pregnancy makes abortion an option. What is your plan for educating our children to help them make the choices that will avoid unwanted pregnancies?

- Forget the nanny-nanny-boo-boo, reverse-Golden-Rule approach to negotiation: I'm going to do unto you because you did unto me. The problems we face are too big for schoolyard pettiness - grit your teeth, work with the Republicans, and be ready to compromise when necessary. Republicans, the same applies to you. Both of you need to grow up and act like responsible adults more interested in solving problems than in cheap political advantage.

That'll do for a start. President Obama won the election, and all true Americans of good will - regardless of party - wish him well and look forward to pulling together and working with him to solve the difficult problems we face. You need to do your part.

Sincerely,

Bilbo

What's your message to the Democratic Party**? Leave a comment.

Have a good day. See you tomorrow for Cartoon Saturday ... more thoughts then.

* Of course, the definition of what's "fair" depends on where you sit on the economic ladder.

** If all it involves is stupid name-calling, forget it.

An Open Letter to the GOP

As much as I'd like to put the miserable memories of the 2012 presidential campaign behind me, I have to take one more swing at that still-twitching, almost-dead horse* ...

Now that Governor Romney and the GOP have lost the election, the finger-pointing has begun as Republicans look for a reason why they have lost the White House for a second straight time. There are plenty of post-mortem analyses out there (check here, here, and here, for example), but I have my own thoughts on why the Republican Party is its own worst enemy. Here is my open letter to the GOP ...

Dear Republican Party,

My name is Bilbo, and I was once a staunch Republican. My first vote in a presidential campaign was cast for Richard Nixon in 1972, and I voted straight Republican until you drove me away.

I hope you heard that ... I was a Republican for more than 30 years, but today's GOP of wingnuts and extreme policies drove me away. You can win me back, but it won't be easy. Here are a few things for you to think about as you lick your electoral wounds and think about ways to get back into power:

- America is changing. It's less conservative and less ... well ... white than you think. Evolve with it. Understand that you have a very different electorate to which you must appeal. You can appeal to it, but not if you keep up the asinine antics of the last few years. I'm opposed to illegal immigration, too ... but demonizing immigrants in general is not a way to endear yourself to a rapidly changing electorate. I've actually produced a workable plan to address the problem ... why can't you?

- Note that I used the term evolve in the previous section. If you continue to pander to ludicrous extremists who deny accepted science in favor of religious dogma, you will continue to march resolutely into the 18th century. When a Republican member of Congress - who sits on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology (!) - calls the theory of evolution "lies from the pit of hell," you are not poising America for future leadership in science and technology ... you're setting us up to compete with scientific powerhouses like Burkina Faso.

- The basic conservative values of fiscal responsibility, sound family values, and good citizenship have never lost their appeal ... but you do a terrible job of selling them. Xenophobia, religious intolerance, and extreme right-wing vitriol do not convince people that your ideas have merit. 

- Have a real, believable story to tell, and be ready to defend it with solid facts rather than smoke and mirrors. The lady who came to my door the night before the election and tried to convince me to vote for Governor Romney didn't score any points by all but calling me stupid when I pressed for details of how he planned to fulfill his promises, and she couldn't provide them.

- Just because someone doesn't toe your line doesn't mean he hates America. Democrats don't hate America. They love it every bit as much as you do ... they just have a different vision. Demonizing your opposition is no way to get them to agree with you.

- Stop letting ignorant ass clowns like Grover Norquist lead you around by the nose. Nobody likes to pay taxes, but governments can't function without revenue, and a coherent tax policy that raises the necessary revenue is a requirement of good government. You can't solve the current fiscal crisis simply by slashing spending ruthlessly, just as you can't solve it by jacking up taxes and increasing spending. Sound fiscal policy requires a rational balancing of income (taxes) and control of  spending. Tell Mr Norquist to go to hell and start acting like serious financial managers.

- Yes, "job creators" are important. So are workers. If you don't take care of the working/middle class, businesses won't have anyone to manufacture for or sell to, and they'll go out of business ... which won't create many jobs and will keep making you look like clueless twits. You need to learn to care for both management and labor. 

- People don't expect free health care ... they expect health care that is available and affordable. The businesses you care so much about won't operate well if their workers are not healthy, and people who have to spend all their money on health care won't be contributing much to the rest of the economy. Don't like the Affordable Care Act? Then get off your noisy, bitching asses and offer a better plan**.

- Not all regulation is evil and job-killing^TM. Much of it is needed to enforce standards of workplace safety, protect the rights of workers***, and protect the environment (you do like air that's breathable and water that's drinkable, don't you?). Yes, some regulations are dumb and need to be jettisoned, but don't be stupid and throw out the baby with the regulatory bathwater.

- You believe in God. Good for you. Feel free to go to church and worship as you want, but quit trying to force your beliefs down my throat. The Constitution provides for freedom of worship (check out the First Amendment) ... which does not mean that you can impose your system of belief on everyone else. Want to live in a theocracy? See how well it works in garden spots like Saudi Arabia and Iran.

I could go on, but you get the idea. You, GOP, have driven me away with your all-or-nothing, xenophobic, intemperate attitudes and your apparent belief that I am too stupid to realize that your emperor has no economic policy clothes. Quit the my-way-or-the-highway approach to governance, work with the Democrats, and start acting like the party to which I was once proud to belong.

Sincerely,

Bilbo

Tomorrow, in the interest of fairness, we'll look at my open letter to the Democrats.

Have a good day. More thoughts then.

Bilbo

* Sorry, Fiona.

** And your plan had better not include "tax credits," because the nation needs that tax revenue to pay for other things.

*** They do have some, after all.

The People Have Spoken ... in a Whisper

The election is, thankfully, over. President Obama has won reelection, Governor Romney has conceded defeat, and the reinforced regiments of lawyers that had fanned out to take advantage of any irregularities have gone back to chasing ambulances and dreaming up bizarre class-action lawsuits.

The popular vote was not decisive, with the President winning reelection by two percentage points - 50% to 48%. He did, however win decisively in the Electoral College, with 303 electoral votes to 206.

The narrowness of the popular vote, and the retention of split control of Congress between the two parties, means that we can probably expect four more years of the same hyperpartisan gridlock we've grown used to in the last two years. President Obama can claim victory, but not a clear popular mandate for his agenda, and the Republicans retain enough strength to continue to play a spoiling game in Congress. And politics will remain bitterly divided right down to the household level ...

The newly reelected president faces a daunting slate of seemingly intractable problems without a solid team to back him up. It's back to business as usual ... unfortunately. Good luck, Mr President ... you're going to need it.

And I leave you with the immortal words of campaign strategist, political consultant, and one-time failed candidate for the California state senate Dick Tuck:

"The people have spoken, the bastards."

Have a good day. Enjoy television and radio without a bunch of mendacious and annoying political ads. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

The End of the World As We Know It

Yes, Dear Readers, it's been a long eighteen months or so of endless debates, mind-numbing statistics, distortions (and outright lies), quotes taken out of context, accusations of horrifying levels of voter fraud, vast amounts of money wasted on air time (most of it just hot air), leaflets, roadside signs, robo calls, and all the other physical and moral detritus of a political campaign.

Now it's up to us.

I'll be going to the polls on the way to work to vote in the most depressing and disheartening election since I cast my first vote for president in 1972 (I voted for Richard Nixon). The Republican Party has driven me away and the Democrats have nothing to offer. The election offers a stark choice between two fundamentally different views not only of the nation's problems, but of reality itself. Rabid partisans of both sides predict a horrifying apocalypse if the other guy is elected, which doesn't bode well for their ability to work together after the electoral dust settles ...

REM has the right idea ...

And President Franklin Roosevelt summed up the current campaign very well ... in 1936 ...

It's going to be tough to vote, but you've got to do it.

Good luck.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

The Return of Son of Great Moments in Editing, Part II, the Sequel Revisited

Election day is tomorrow, and I need something simple and entertaining. How about a few more great moments in editing? ...

I know that there is serious debate about the merits of sex education in school, but it's possible to take things too far ...

I'm glad we have some guidelines as to what constitutes suspicious activity ... 

If you need to feed a crowd, here's a good recipe ...

I was never much of a math whiz, but even I know that half off 2.90 is ... uh ... not 1.97 ...

I seriously need to hire this painter ...

I don't think they'll be hiring this fellow to entertain at the next Ladies Garden & Poetry Club ...

Yep, that's a significant misspelling ...

As was this one ...

"Exibits" must be those bite sized servings of zebra, gibbon, deer, and antelope ...

And that's it for this edition of Great Moments in Editing. Don't forget that tomorrow is election day, and in a race as close as this one appears to be, every vote counts. Do your civic duty - get out and vote, no matter who you choose to vote for*.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

* Check out this wonderful summary of the contending positions of the two parties (as compiled from Facebook posts) at John's blog. It will help you separate the wheat from the chaff so that you can cast an informed vote for the chaff.

B.

The Differences Between Left and Right

Heads up, information junkies!

Yesterday my friend Ed introduced me (via a Facebook post) to a marvelously interesting website: Information is Beautiful, dedicated to the visualization of data. You may recall that I have written before about Dr Edward Tufte, whose website and wonderful books are also dedicated to the effective depiction of data ... my daughter and I have also taken his one-day course on Presenting Data and Information, which is very informative and helps you better understand what data is trying to tell you, and how to use it to effectively communicate your ideas.

The particular chart from Information is Beautiful that Ed shared was one of the best, most even-handed depictions of the differences between left/liberal and right/conservative philosophies that I've ever seen, and it's worth your time in taking a few minutes to check out ... here it is - click it to big it, as Mike would say ...

You can other cool charts (and order full-sized .pdf's of them) here.

As we approach Tuesday's election, it's more important than ever to think about and understand the fundamentally different approaches to government ... and to life ... taken by those with conservative and liberal philosophies. I think it's fair to say that very few people are completely liberal or completely conservative - many of my friends tend to describe themselves, as I do myself, as politically/economically conservative and socially liberal ... but what does that really mean in terms of an approach to governance? A lot of people who scream bloody murder at what they perceive as Big Government's heavy-handed intrusion into their lives are perfectly happy to accept the assistance that same evil government provides in times of disaster ...

There are things we as Americans expect our government to do for us, and things we want it to stay away from ... and the problem is that we don't all agree on where those dividing lines are. It's much easier to bitterly complain about the evils of government than to agree on what the Constitution actually says and means.

And now, Dear Readers, it's over to you ... do you think the chart fairly depicts the difference between liberals and conservatives, left and right? Leave a comment. Inquiring minds want to know!

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo


P.S. - In a related topic, there was a very interesting and sobering edition of the NPR show This American Life yesterday. Titled "Red State, Blue State," it was a look at how the my-way-or-the-highway scorched earth politics of the present day have poisoned friendships and led to fundamentally different views not just of the problems we face, but of reality itself. If you haven't heard it, go to the link and listen, and then shake your head in sorrow at what has happened to a country that used to value the ability to come together, discuss issues, and solve problems.

B.

Cartoon Saturday

It's Saturday. The election is on Tuesday. Stock the bar now.

The New York City Marathon originally scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled in the wake of Hurricane Sandy; a leopard in Nepal is suspected of killing and eating at least 15 people; China has test-flown a new stealth fighter jet; Walt Disney has purchased the Star Wars franchise, leading to expectations of another series of films set long ago in a galaxy far, far away; and the official jobs report for October showed ... well ... it depends on which party is doing the spinning*.

Quick, nurse, bring out the cartoons - stat!

As we approach the end of the year, it's time to prepare for our annual investment account statements. This is how I expect mine to go ...

I always suspected that this is what the term grace period meant ...

If the GOP wins the election next week, we can expect a great many changes in a great many programs we've grown used to ... here are a couple of things we can expect as the GOP takes aim at the Affordable Health Care Act ...

and ...

Sometimes, the doctor gives you some good news ...

The Sopranos have been off the tube for a while, but criminality goes on, both in the amateur and the professional/governmental arenas. Here are two cartoons taking off on organized crime** ...

and ...

In retrospect, it seems that this was a pretty obvious takeoff on the classic final scene from Gone with the Wind ...

There are art historians, and there are art historians ...

Finally for this week, I'm headed down to this place for a few drinks ... 

And that's it for the last Cartoon Saturday before the election. Be sure to vote ... it's your civic duty, even if the choices aren't necessarily the best we might be able to hope for out of a population of over 300 million. No matter who you cast your vote for, vote. You know my endorsement ...

Have a good day and a great weekend. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

* Check out Angelique's take on political statistics here.

** As opposed to disorganized crime, aka "Congress."