Movie reviews

First, Goblet of Fire:

Once you accept that the movie isn't going to contain all of the book, you can accept that what they did put in was done well.
A thrilling film which showcased how well the kids are maturing into actors :D

Second, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Once you can ignore Johnny Depp trying to be Michael Jackson, the movie is visually stunning. Although hearing English accents referring to chocolate as "candy" does grate on the nerves quite a bit. The original is still a million times better...
Tim Burton made the movie a little darker than it should have been, and Danny Elfman's music reminded me a little too much of their collaboration in Batman to put things into the right mood for a kids movie.

Tonight, War of the Worlds :D

News Watch

Women 'get blame for being raped'
I can't believe people still go around sprouting this level of bullshit. How can you blame the victim? The blame lies squarely on the rapist. It's his hangups that cause him to do it, regardless of how a woman is dressed, or her state of inebriation. This pisses me off so much its not funny.

Sharon calls for early election
I don't trust Ariel Sharon. He's making all these noises of leaving the right wing party, but have you read his CV? He's a former terrorist made legitimate by a government that found him useful for killing civilians. He'll need to do a hell of a lot more to atone for his sins I feel.

Bush administration engaged in "covert propaganda"
For me, an old story retrodden, but a long and interesting article, if you feel like reading...

(no subject)

"But they can rule by fraud, and by fraud eventually acquire access to the tools they need to finish off the job of killing the constitution."
"What sort of tools?"
"More stringent security measures. Universal electronic surveillance. No-knock laws. Stop and frisk laws. Government inspection of first-class mail. Automatic fingerprinting, photographing, blood tests, an urinalysis of any person arrested before he is charged with a crime. A law making it unlawful to resist even unlawful arrest. Laws establishing detention camps for potential subversives. Gun control laws. Restrictions on travel."

Does any of this sound familiar? When do you think this was written?

And on to another book, The Religion War by Scott Adams.

Can you answer the following questions? I'll share my answers later :)

1. If you suspected you were deluded, how could you find out for sure?


2. Are humans the product of a skilled or unskilled designer?


3. Would an omnipotent being need to think in the way that people understand it? Or is thinking unnecessary for a timeless indestructible being whose preferences are the same as reality


4. Why would God be so unclear about which book or books he authored?


5. Is consciousness anything more than a continual process of imagining, acting, observing the impact of an action, and imagining again with new information?


6. The dictionary defines "faith" as belief without evidence. It defines "stupidity" as unreasoned thinking. Is belief without evidence a form of unreasoned thinking?


7. Can the impact of your actions rippling into the future be considered an immortal soul?


8. Could atheists and believers accept the same definition of God?


9. If God's so smart, why do we fart?