Virtue Is Knowledge . com

Knowing me and knowing you there are more than a few closet ABBA fans who listen happily to their ipods, ready to make excuses as to how these songs got on there. Few could have turned Swedish folk music into iconic pop songs, but Benny and Bjorn did and we’ve been tapping toes and singing along since the early 70′s. Now there is a movie attempting to incorporate ABBAriginal songs into a traditional movie musical format. Mamma Mia has been a big hit on Broadway for years and the this movie adaptation only makes me want to see the Broadway show all the more. It’s not a bad movie, but it’s not very good either. The effort to film a greek island detracts from the story and the music. The shots are beautiful, but they tended to distract from the emotion and energy that the characters were projecting. This is a problem all film versions of stage shows can suffer. Live shows really are an interactive experience between the audience and performers. There is an exchange that can’t be duplicated on a big screen. Despite the awkwardness of the production, the film is fun and will draw you into it. Ok, Pierce Brosnan shouldn’t try to sing, but he is the quintessential romantic figure for many middle aged folks. You want him to get his girl. If you like the songs, you’ll like the movie. If you want to make points with your significant other, take him or her and you’ll have a good time and maybe a ‘get out of jail free’ card to use at a later date. As for me, I have a dream….to see the Broadway show at the Winter Garden Theatre before it closes.

The movie lives up to the hype. I was thoroughly entertained for two and a half hours. There was less back story and more action in this one. It is assumed you know the Batman story and they make no effort to bring newbies up to speed. Heath Ledger’s Joker carries the movie throughout. I was worried that his last role was being built up as a tribute, but he creates maybe the greatest movie villain of all time. Yes, it rivals Xavier Bardem in No Country for Old Men.This is an Oscar worthy performance. Everyone else is a supporting actor and they are pretty good. Christian Bale as Batman is arguably the weakest link. He suffers from the Batman costume curse. He spends most his screen time in the cumbersome costume and uses the annoying ‘Dark Knight’ voice (I guess to keep us from guessing he’s Bruce Wayne, who he is?). Maybe it was too long. They could have cut it down a bit, but you’d have to sacrifice some Joker moments, and that would be a waste. With the money this is going to pull in, there will be another installment in a few years. It will be very difficult to top this one.

Everyone should have a black rifle. It’s usually a version of the military service rifle and in this country that means a AR-15. There are a myriad of companies making AR-15 style weapon systems these days. The choice is personal and each manufacturer has features they claim makes theirs better. Being a poor civil servant, I couldn’t just go out and pick up the latest from Sabre Defence, Rock River, S&W, or a Semi-custom piece from Les Baer or Wilson Tactical. I’ll have to wait for lottery winnings to afford those. Luckily for me, a few years ago I stumbled upon a used AR-15 at a local gun shop. Checking it out I found it was an original Colt AR-15 Match Target Lightweight. It was used, but I couldn’t find any wear on the thing. It was like new in my opinion. It was bargain priced and all original, so I took my prancing pony home. Built during the dark Assault Weapon Ban years it had a fixed stock and was lacking the evil bayonet lug and flash suppressor. Being a Colt I can count on a magnafluxed barrel and bolt carrier. Some may not think that important, but it’s added assurance that there are no defects in those critical parts. The lightweight 16″ pencil barrel is a feature to me. I doubt I’ll be heating it up in any sustained firing (Zombie outbreaks have dropped off in recent years) and it lends to a overall balance I find comfortable. I added a collapsible stock, carbine forend with rails, and a First Samco pistol grip. I have an EOTech sight, but haven’t found a mount I like with the fixed carry handle. Again, being a Colt it has a 1:7 twist barrel. I would prefer 1:8 or 1:9 just for the wider range of bullets that can work with it. Lighter bullets (like cheaper surplus 55gr loads) may be over stabilized or even come apart in flight. The standard 62gr bullets are fine and it appears everyone likes the heavier bullets these days. I have a supply of greek surplus 55gr rounds and haven’t seen any keyholing or jackets separating, but accuracy is not the greatest. I’ve used it in rifle side matches at local USPSA events and it hasn’t embarassed me. I’ll eventually get a new flattop rifle of some type; piston operated with all the gadgets mounted and in some exotic new caliber. Until then I’ll be comfortable with my Colt. It will be more than enough for any likely doomsday scenario I’m going to face.

The Folio Society had a discount sale recently and I couldn’t resist adding a few more books to the library. The Brothers Karamazoz I had to get. A small edition of Blake’s Songs of Innocence & of Experience. It’s about 4×6 inches and has prints of Blake’s original colored plates for each poem. It is delightful. Einstein’s Relativity is a surprise, but it was inexpensive and I hope to delve into it sometime soon. The picture shows some of my Folio books. (click for a full size Hi-res image) I fear there will be more before too long.

Pixar knows how to make beautiful animated features. Wall-E is a technical masterpiece and is the cutting edge in digital animation. You can’t help but be astounded at all the details and depth of imagery. Disney/Pixar has made a great effort in turning a mobile trash compactor into a convincing emotive being. The story is a simple lonely boy meets girl-loses girl-rescues girl-saves mankind archetype. There is a kind of dark noir about it. Sort of a Mad Max/Bladerunner meets looney Tunes feel and look. The dreary Earth we initially see is spectacularly grim and dismal. Only an eccentric robot could find it appealing. When he follows his sweetheart to the ‘mothership’ we see a cartoon portrayal of humanity at its most sedentary. (already I’ve seen news reports of protests from calorically challenged advocacy groups) The moral of the story hits you with little subtlety. Man=Bad; Robots=Bad; Robots who somehow develop human feelings by watching old Disney musicals=Good; and without Man on the Earth, Gaia will recover…given 700 years or so. Wall-E is a movie to see and experience, don’t think too much about it.

Finally, a movie this Summer that assumes you are smart enough to get it. Guillermo del Toro wrote and directed this feature and you can tell he was making a movie he wanted to see, not what he thought the public or investors wanted in order to make money. The story was good, the dialog intelligent and darkly funny. The visuals are extraordinary as you would expect from del Toro. He takes great care in his creatures and with CGI effects he can bring to the screen his director’s vision. Perlman has a charisma that can’t be ignored. You can’t help but root for the lovable demon. I can’t watch the old Beauty & the Beast shows, but I understand why so many did. The Wu-shu acrobatic fights are de rigor these days and I’m a sucker for good sword and spear demonstrations. I even saw an actor move around without her finger on the trigger of her Glock, a nod to a semblance of proper gun handling. I don’t think Hellboy will be part of the Avenger Project, but this super hero movie is as good as the Hulk and very close to Ironman, in my opinion. I went to a matinee, but I would not have been disappointed paying full price for Hellboy II: The Golden Army.

Get Smart was not very. Maybe it’s because I’m old enough to remember the TV show and how funny it was. Buck Henry was clever and edgy. Don Adams had a unique delivery and great timing. It was clear the movie was catering to a wider audience and would not dare to risk offending any recognized ‘group’. You can quip about the CIA and a psychotic VP with a pacemaker or portray the President reading a book to schoolchildren at the moment of crisis, but you are hardly pushing the envelope there. There was a wealth of talented comedic actors in this film and they were let down by a boring formulaic script that was not an homage to a groundbreaking TV comedy, but an insult to my intelligence and an embarrassment to the comedy genre. Don’t pay to see this movie. Wait for ‘on demand’ and hope for a $1.99 special. Then you won’t think you wasted much money, only time.

I received a few new Folio editions recently. The latest in the Poets series is Shelley and it is a beautiful volume. It has 64 of his more popular works and includes both short and longer pieces. The fonts are large and easy to read. The format is 7.5″ x 11.25″. The only criticism I can make is the selection of poems could be greater, but the editors have to draw the line somewhere. I also got Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell. An account of his experiences during the Spanish Civil War. Robinson Crusoe is another exquisite Folio book. The Folio Society has spoiled me when it comes to buying books. Once you go Folio, it’s very hard to go back to plain hardbacks with loose, ugly dust jackets. Check out their great intoductory offers: www.foliosociety.com

Late June is vacation season and this year, like last year and hopefully next year too, Massad Ayoob came to the Harrisburg Hunters and Anglers Assoc. to conduct his entry level class: Judicious Use of Deadly Force. Jack Brady was the local coordinator and host. He did a great job with logistics and support. Mas has a loyal following, some may say a cult, (I wouldn’t try to kidnap and deprogram any of us!) who come out to help with the classes. This year Ken Kelly came up from Virginia to share his experience and help out. He’s a true Modern Warrior. (www.mwarrior.com) Dr. Tony Semone is a Neuro-Forensic-Psychologist who’s lectures are enlightening and inspiring. He went from a Marine to a Ph.d, so you know he must be special. Speaking of special, Gail Pepin came with Mas and helped out. Without her you wouldn’t be reading this. Gail really encouraged me to start a blog and get a podcast going. She can shoot too, as I’ll explain later. Myself I have 22+ years of military and corrections experience. I took my first LFI class in 1997 and thought it was, and is, essential training for any responsible citizen who chooses to exercise his/her Right to go about armed.
Almost 30 individuals recognized their responsibility to themselves, their loved ones, and society in general to learn about managing the use of force and the necessary skills to make them safe, competent shooters. Maybe even more important, they were shown the legalities involved and the aftermath of deadly force encounters. This, I think, is the real eye opener for folks. LFI-I is mostly lecture and video presentation. You will shoot some everyday , but most folks will not expend all of the 500 rounds they bring with them. This particular group was older on average than previous classes I’ve helped with. Only one woman too. The mix of weapons was interesting. Many baby Glocks and a mix of XD’s, Sigs, 1911′s of various makes and sizes and a couple of revolvers. One problem with older folks is a lifetime of sometimes bad habits that can unconsciously develop. We noticed a lot of fingers getting on triggers before they should be. There is no compromising on safety and all the range officers cajoled, whispered, yelled and may have even threatened removal of offending digits as necessary. By day two everyone was self-conscious of there fingers and muzzles and bad habits were replaced with safe conscious competence when handling the weapons.

The staff shot the qualification course first to demonstrate the course of fire. Mas used a Colt Detective Special 2″ fixed sighted revolver. I used my S&W 686+ 3″ with adjustable sights. Gail shot a Glock Practical/tactical and Jack and Ken had a Glock and HK respectively. We were using IPSC targets. It was my lucky day because Mas through a round about an eighth of an inch out of the “A” zone and scored a mere 299 out 300 on the 60 round qual. I managed a 300 and earned an autographed $5. Gail managed a 300 too and her group was 2 centimeters smaller than mine, so she gets top honors and bragging rights (til next year!) To be fair to Mas he was using a 2″ revolver with fixed sights. Had we used B-27 targets, we’d all have cleaned the course and Mas’s group would have easily have been the smallest. Out of the class the high score was 299 shot with a Springfield Armory LDA commander length .45 auto. Everyone qualified and passed the dreaded written exam. Four 10 hour days plus homework readings and dryfire practice. Folks were worn out. One reason I help with these classes is to meet so many fine people. They come from all over. They have a desire to learn. They have made a decision to take an active interest and control over their personal security. Anyone who chooses to use a firearm for protection has a responsibility to learn safe gun handling and shooting techniques. Maybe even more important is the legal and moral issues of when you may or may not use that weapon. You owe it yourself and your family to get this type of training. It may empower you. It may dissuade you from carrying a gun. It will educate you and then you can decide for yourself what is best. Hope to see some returns next year. Mas says there may be enough interest to do LFI-II.

Overall a decent action movie. The twists were somewhat predictable, but not ridiculously obvious. The gun play was cartoonish, but they went to some trouble to showcase some custom weapons like what appeared to be a Safari Arms Match Master heavily engraved and lots of wilson ten round magazines. The acting was good, as were the effects. I hope all the young thugs try to curve their bullets like in the movie. Easily worth a matinee.

The Waiting Room

Colorful wallpaper borders cannot brighten the waiting room.
Sterile and impersonal, hospitals are inhospitable…inhuman.
Volunteers dictate directions over and over
About cell phones, smoking areas, and free coffee.

Sitting stoically alone, or in familial enclaves
Tired faces gaze blindly at a television,
Newspapers, or each other…all waiting…waiting.
The atmosphere is wearying.

They wait. Wondering when word will come.
When a Doctor, spoken to maybe once or twice,
Will be ushered before them, surgical mask pulled below the chin,
Stethoscope around the neck, obligatory white coat…

Waiting for the pronouncement, a benediction, relief.
Waiting to hear that “everything went very well.”

—

METAPHYSICS

What is it to be Rational?

To be Logical? To be Reasonable?

To be Human?

Rationality is an illusion, a sophist straitjacket

Logic is a myth, a fable, a fairy tale.

And Reason, Pure Reason!

Critique until convinced we can know anything.

Maybe Socrates knew. That is why he drank Hemlock.

The Truth?

We are Desire.

Pure Appetite.

Let us critique that!

Know it. Accept it.

All else is metaphysical masturbation.

1/4/2007

—-

Way of the Rodent?

Driving I see two muskrats in the road

One sniffing and nudging the other.

One will obviously never move again.

Mother, Father, Lover, Daughter?

It doesn’t much matter I suppose.

Driving by he or she scurries away.

In the mirror I see the muskrat return,

Once again nudging, staring, puzzled.

I briefly think about Muskrat Theology.

It’s not so funny I realize.

Concerning death do I know any

more than a muskrat?

—

I have a Martin DC-16RGTE sitting next to me. I have a Carvin jumbo acoustic and an Alvarez Fusion FD60csb for back-up. They are all acoustic/electric. I have a Mexican Telecaster made when mexican was still pretty bad about 20 years ago and a Schecter diamond series electric that hasn’t been out of the case in years. I’ve been known to show up at open mics just to make the other folks sound better. Making music, even mediocre music, is a stress reducer for me. It certainly hath charms to soothe my savage breast.

I believe the Right of self-defense is as unalienable a Right as Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Indeed, without it Life and Liberty become arbitrary at best. Rights may be unalienable, but they do not necessarily come free. Responsibility is the cost. Individuals must accept the responsibility of their actions and the consequences. My personal safety is my responsibility. To expect others to take on that responsibility is fool hardy. We must make certain concessions as social creatures for the good of the order, so to speak, but we should never concede the basic Right and individual responsibility we have to preserve ourselves. To that end, I believe the 2nd amendment of the constitution of the United States of America is a fundamental Civil Right. Any authority that deprives normal law abiding individuals of the means to protect themselves from the predators that exist in all human societies, must be questioned. Society has nothing to fear from the responsible, armed citizen.

I currently run a HP m8120n. (Refurbished from Newegg for $600 delivered. I couldn’t build a new box for anywhere near that.) It has an Intel quadcore Q6600 at 2.4ghz, 3gb RAM, 2x320gb HD’s, Hauppauge digital tuner card, and I threw in a Radeon 3650 video card because I didn’t want to bother with a new PSU. I have an HP Media Vault for media storage/back-up and it has 800gb of storage. I have several Seagate external USB drives ranging from 250-500gb. I’m trying to get started ripping hundreds of CD’s. I use a 24″ BenQ Super PVA LCD monitor because I hate the color shift and viewing angles on most consumer panels. I run Vista because that’s what it came with and I haven’t had a problem with it. I actually like it.
I use the media center a lot now. I still have a 32″ CRT for my livingroom home theatre. I run a composite out from the PC to it and use the HP remote to stream content. Works fine for standard def and video podcasts. Hope to upgrade to a HDTV soon.

Guntalk

Is that a gun in your pocket,
Or are you just glad to see me?

Actually, it’s a Smith & Wesson
Model 36 Chief’s Special in an
Uncle Mike’s pocket holster worn
In the weak side front pocket.
It’s a backup to the .357 or .45
I normally carry in a strong side
Concealment holster behind the hip.

Two guns? You feel the need to carry
Two guns? What are you afraid of?

Nothing really, I’ve got the guns!
I also have smoke alarms, a fire extinguisher,
Extra keys for my car and front door too.
Don’t you bring a first aid kit when camping?
Don’t you have a spare tire in the trunk? Why?
On vacation, do you have more than one
Credit card in case one is lost or stolen?

Sensible precautions certainly make sense,
But why the guns? Is it trouble you expect?

I don’t expect a flat tire. Still, I have the tools
To deal with it should it ever happen.
I don’t expect trouble, and don’t look for it.
The tool on my hip is for the unexpected, immediate
And otherwise unavoidable threat of death
Or grave bodily harm to the innocent.
Any means are justified to end such a threat.

I know that no one really wins a gunfight.
If ever forced to defend self or loved ones,
Life will never be the same. If fortunate,
You’ll not be charged, the civil suit won’t bankrupt you
and the nightmares will come less and less frequently.
You’ll be marked like Cain, and people will whisper.
You’re not the winner, you just lost less.