dakwegmo.com » vexations

Hannity’s Innanity

marcus — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:38:01 +0000

This past Friday, against my better judgment, I found myself listening to talk radio again. I was on my way out of town and wanted the frequent traffic reports to avoid any significant delays in getting out of the city. In between traffic reports, I endured Sean Hannity vapid political commentary.

Predictably, Hannity was railing Barack Obama. The topic of the day was that Obama was arrogant and elitist. One caller asked what was wrong with a president who believed he was more than just a common man, pointing out that George Washington believed that the president should be better than the common man. Hannity essentially ignored the point the caller was trying to make, and launched into a series of anti-Obama talking points, “Was George Washington friends with unrepentant terrorists? Was George Washington friends with someone who bombed the pentagon? Did George Washington ever say he wasn’t proud of America?” By the time he was done going through the list I was laughing so hard I nearly got into an accident.

Let’s think about this for a moment,

Was George Washington friends with unrepentant terrorists?

I’m sure if you had asked the British, they would have considered George Washington among the chief conspirators. The guerrilla tactics adopted by the Army under his command were considered unorthodox, by his contemporaries, and would probably be labeled terrorism by today’s media.

Was George Washington friends with someone who bombed the pentagon?

Since the Pentagon is a modern military structure, it’s a little absurd to ask the question. However, Washington oversaw attacks against his country’s military forces that inflicted casualties in the thousands. I think it’s safe to say, if the British had had an equivalent to the Pentagon in North America in the 1770s, there’s a good chance Washington would have tried to attack it.

Did George Washington ever say he wasn’t proud of America?

Probably not as such. However, for much of his life America wasn’t his country, Britain was. And there is plenty of evidence of things he said dispariging both King and Country. Again, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to assume that if George Washington had been proud of his country, he wouldn’t have led a violent revolt against it.

I know he’s got an agenda to push, but it’s things like this that make it seem like he isn’t even trying. Come on, if you’re asking for three hours a day, don’t you think you should at least come up with a new line every once in a while.

In all fairness though, I did laugh quite a bit, so I guess it was entertaining, which is really what he’s getting paid to do.

Point of Information

marcus — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:29:11 +0000

Today is not St. Patrick’s Day. When March 17th falls during Holy Week, the Catholic church will move St. Patrick’s day. This year St. Patrick’s day was moved to March 15.

Yes, it’s a personality flaw that I feel the need to point out things like this. No, I don’t believe anyone actually cares that today isn’t St. Patrick’s Day. I also know how many people actually read my blog, so this was almost entirely for my own edification anyway.

No life.

marcus — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:23:39 +0000

So, I got this quiz on myspace that said if you had seen more than 75 movies in my life then you didn’t have a life. I had seen about 80 of the movies on the list. Then I started to make a list of all the movies had seen. Apparently I really have no life, because I’m over ~~450~~ 500, and I know there are still many more that I haven’t listed yet. I’ll keep updating the list as a see new movies, or remember ones that I’ve seen, but so far here’s my list.

Sixth Sense
Unbreakable
Signs
The Village
Lady in the Water
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Star Wars — A new hope
Star Wars — Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars — Return of the Jedi
Star Wars — Phantom Menace
Star Wars — Attack of the Clones
Star Wars — Revenge of the Sith
Indiana Jones — Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones — Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones — Last Crusade
Pirates of the Caribbean — Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean — Dead Man’s Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean — At Worlds End
Back to the Future I
Back to the Future II
Back to the Future III
Oceans 11
Oceans 12
Oceans 13
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
X Men
X2
X Men: The Last Stand
Spider-man
Spider-man 2
Spider-man 3
Superman Returns
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python the Life of Brian
Monty Python the Meaning of Life
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
It’s a Wonderful Life
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppet Movie
The Muppet’s take Manhattan
The Great Muppet Caper
Labyrinth
Disney’s Robin Hood
Fight Club
Most of Mel Brook’s stuff
Shawshank Redemption
Dead Poet’s Society
Animal House
A River Runs Through it.
Schindler’s List
A Beautiful Life
Office Space
Lord of the Rings
The Usual Suspects
American History X
Toy Story I
Toy Story II
Monsters Inc.
The Incredibles
Cars
Gladiator
Glory
Almost Famous
Henry V
Dead Again
Groundhog Day
Breakfast Club
Say Anything
The Blues Brothers
Dances with Wolves
Labyrinth
Cable Guy
Amistad
Shrek
Shrek 2
Shrek the Third
Charlie’s Angels
Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle
Lost in Translation
Rushmore
Wild Things
Ed Wood
Groundhog Day
What about Bob?
The Man Who Knew Too Little
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters II
Scrooged
Stripes
Caddyshack
Sin City
Corpse Bride
Charlie and the Choclate Factory (Original)
Charlie and the Choclate Factory (Remake)
Sleepy Hollow
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Don Juan DeMarco
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
Benny and Joon
Edward Scissorhands
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Platoon
El Mariachi
Desperado
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Nacho Libre
King Arthur
Love Actually
Quills
Shakespeare in Love
Elizabeth
Les Misérables
Mystery Men
Meet the Parents
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Dodgeball
Zoolander
There’s Something About Mary
Keeping the Faith
Zero Effect
Happy Gilmore
Reality Bites
Reign Over Me
Click
The Longest Yard (Original)
The Longest Yard (Remake)
50 First Dates
Anger Management
Mr. Deeds
Punch Drunk Love
Big Daddy
The Waterboy
The Wedding Singer
Billy Madison
Spanglish
Tommy Boy
Pearl Harbor
Loser
Grosse Point Blank
My Girl
Sneakers
Spies Like Us
Trading Places
American Pie
American Pie 2
American Wedding
Saving Silverman
The Whole Nine Yards
The Whole Ten Yards
One Fine Day
Good Night, and Good Luck
The Perfect Storm
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Three Kings
The Big Lebowski
Fargo
The Hudsucker Proxy
Raising Arizona
Batman
Batman Returns
Batman Forever
Batman and Robin
Batman Begins
The Prestige
The Illusionist
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Kingdom of Heaven
The Italian Job
Death to Smoochy
Fight Club
The People vs. Larry Flynt
Primal Fear
Rounders
The Score
The Brothers Grimm
The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Supremacy
The Bourne Ultimatum
Finding Forrester
The Legend of Bagger Vance
The Majestic
Dogma
Saving Private Ryan
Good Will Hunting
Chasing Amy
Courage Under Fire
Field of Dreams
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Bruce Almighty
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Me, Myself & Irene
Man on the Moon
The Truman Show
Liar Liar
The Cable Guy
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Dumb & Dumber
The Mask
Heavenly Creatures
Hideous Kinky
Titanic
Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh’s Version)
Harry Potter I
Harry Potter II
Harry Potter III
Harry Potter IV
Frakenstein
Much Ado About Nothing
Henry V
Swing Kids
Primary Colors
Sense and Sensibility
Remains of the Day
Howard’s End
The Crucible
The Last of the Mohicans
Girl Inerrupted
Dracula
Heathers
Beetle Juice
The Rock
Dragonheart
First Knight
Medicine Man
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Highlander
The Hunt for Red October
The Untouchables
Entrapment
Mission Impossible: I
Mission Impossible: II
Mission Impossible: III
Con Air
Rosewood
Striptease
Pulp Fiction
Dave
Lord of War
National Treasure
Windtalkers
The Family Man
Gone in 60 Seconds
Face/Off
Guarding Tess
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek: The Search for Spock
Star Trek: The Voyage Home
Star Trek: The Final Frontier
Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country
Star Trek: Generations
Star Trek: First Contact
Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Nemesis
LA Story
Bringing Down the House
Father of the Bride
Father of the Bride Part II
Parenthood
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Roxanne
Little Shop of Horrors
Three Amigos
All of Me
The Jerk
The Man with Two Brains
Boogie Nights
License to Drive
Twins
Wayne’s World
Wayne’s World 2
So I Married an Axe Murderer
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: Goldmember
Without a Paddle
American Beauty
While You Were Sleeping
Miss Congeniality
Murder by Numbers
Speed
The Net
Hope Floats
Crash
Garden State
The Grudge
The Ring
Lake Placid
Independence Day
Sleepless in Seattle
Spaceballs
The Pursuit of Happyness
Hitch
Bad Boys
Bad Boys II
Men in Black
Men in Black II
Enemy of the State
Rules of Engagement
Double Jeopardy
Volcano
The Fugitive
Under Siege
K-19: The Widowmaker
What Lies Beneath
Air Force One
Sabrina (The Remake)
Clear and Present Danger
Patriot Games
Little Miss Sunshine
We Were Soldiers
As Good as It Gets
Someone Like You…
Invincible
Planet of the Apes
Renaissance Man
Planet of the Apes (Remake)
What Women Want
The Patriot
Chicken Run
Payback
Lethal Weapon I
Lethal Weapon II
Lethal Weapon III
Lethal Weapon IV
Conspiracy Theory
Ransom
Braveheart
Pocohontas
Maverick
The Man Without a Face
Forever Young
Air America
Hamlet (Zeffirelli Version w/ Mel Gibson)
Mad Max
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Angels in the Outfield
War of the Worlds
The Last Samurai
Minority Report
Vanilla Sky
Jerry Maguire
The Firm
A Few Good Men
Far and Away
Days of Thunder
Rain Man
Top Gun
Cocktail
Risky Business
The Outsiders
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid Part II
The Karate Kid Part III
My Cousin Vinny
Employee of the Month
Thank You for Smoking
Contact
Inventing the Abbots
Armageddon
Stealing Beauty
That Thing You Do
The Polar Express
Road to Perdition
Cast Away
The Green Mile
Apollo 13
Forrest Gump
Philadelphia
Big
The Money Pit
Bachelor Party
Splash
The Man in the Iron Mask
Romeo + Juliet
Igby Goes Down
Home for the Holidays
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Antitrust
Arlington Road
Nothing to Lose
IQ
Twister
Bull Durham
Mission to Mars
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Blades of Glory
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Wedding Crashers
Old School
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Clerks
Mall Rats
Daredevil
The Sum of All Fears
Changing Lanes
Boiler Room
School Ties
Basic
S.W.A.T.
The Red Violin
The Negotiator
Out of Sight
Sphere
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Coming to America
Pulp Fiction
Reservoir Dogs
Jurassic Park
Die Hard
Die Hard 2: Die Harder
Die Hard 3: Die Hard with a Vengence
Live Free Or Die Hard
The Fifth Element
The Jackal
Tears of the Sun
The Kid
Swordfish
The General’s Daughter
A Civil Action
Broken Arrow
Get Shorty
Phenomenon
Michael
Butterfly Effect
The Guardian
Dude, Where’s My Car?
For Love of The Game
The Postman
Waterworld
The Bodyguard
Pushing Tin
Runaway Jury
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Fat Man and Little Boy
Say Anything
Stand By Me
Better Off Dead
Sixteen Candles
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Weird Science
Election
Godzilla
The Lion King
Biloxi Blues
Ladyhawke
War Games
Project X
She’s Having a Baby
Hollow Man
The River Wild
Flatliners
Tremors
Footloose
Friday the 13th
Animal House
Accepted
BloodRayne
Annapolis
Ultraviolet
Crank
300
Knocked Up
The Devil Wears Prada
Ratatouille
Transformers
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
The Simpsons Movie
Stardust
Stranger Than Fiction
3:10 to Yuma
Good Luck Chuck
Dan in Real Life
Martian Child
I Am Legend
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
P.S. I Love You
Definitely, Maybe
Jumper
The Other Boleyn Girl
21
Stop-loss
Smart People
Iron Man
Son of Rambow
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The Happening
The Incredible Hulk
Wall-E
Wanted
Hancock
The Dark Knight
Tropic Thunder
Burn After Reading
No Country for Old Men
Slumdog Millionaire
Casino Royale
Quantum of Solace
Yes Man
Taken
Push
Happy Feet
We Are Marshall

Fun with telemarketers

marcus — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 03:45:56 +0000

It seems impossible to avoid getting calls from telemarketers. My phone number is on the do not call list. I don’t give out my phone number to any business that really doesn’t need it, yet I still end up getting between five and seven calls from telemarketers every night. My wife and I usually screen any calls from unknown or toll free numbers, because if the caller has legitimate business with us they will leave a message. Tonight was a little different though, I answered one of the calls. Well, I picked up the phone anyway, but I let them listen to my son. He was screaming at having been awakened by the phone ringing. I don’t know how long the telemarketer waited before hanging up, but I hope it was long enough to think about how rude their job really is. I like to think of it as a grass roots effort to drive the telemarketers out of business. If I can convince enough of the telemarketers to quit their jobs it’ll drive up the salaries and cut into the profit margins of the companies engaged in such practices.

That’s my dream anyway.

ipod annoyance

marcus — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 02:45:01 +0000

I think it’s desperation that leads me to write about such mundane topics, but I have a theory that if I just keep writing badly my muse will find me and put an end to end. So…

I plugged in my iPod today and was greeted with a pleasant error message, “iTunes has detected an iPod in recovery mode – Use iTunes to restore”. For anyone that doesn’t know, “restore” is basically ipod lingo for reformat that hard drive and reinstall the OS. Seeing as I have nearly 40 GB of music on this thing I wasn’t looking forward to go through the process of transferring all that music so I went looking for a work around. A quick search of Google revealed this page. Don’t bother reading it, it says essentially the same thing the error message said. But it goes on to say that if you continue to get the error after restoring you should try changing the drive letter in Windows. So I ask myself, why should I delete all of my music when the apple support says that might not fix the problem. Skipping step one, I removed the ipod drive letter in windows and assigned a new one. I then plugged it in and voilà; iTunes recognizes it without errors.

If I had been a casual user and followed the directions in the error message, I would have wasted the better part of an evening transferring music back to my mp3 player. Consumer technology companies employ this one step approach to fixing problems because it does work, and it’s cheap to implement.

Ice Cold…

marcus — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 03:14:39 +0000

I was at the Braves game today and as I was walking back to my car there were guys selling beverages out of coolers along the sidewalks to the parking lots. Each of them was tempting passers-by with a product they claimed to be ice cold. Now, many liquids have freezing points well below that of water, so it is possible to have certain beverages at or below 32°F. But these merchants were peddling bottled water. The announcement “Ice Cold Water!” was simply ridiculous.

Pleonasm

marcus — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 04:23:07 +0000

pleonasm: the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea.

I’ve developed a pet peeve recently. It involves mostly sports commentators, but plenty of other people, including business managers, who are keen on adopting phrases from sports commentators. It is the use of the phrase “question mark” to denote an unknown. Such as the sentence, “The big question mark is whether Joe Pitcher will be able to make his next start.” The annoying thing to me is that it adds an extraneous word where it’s not needed. Adding mark after question simply adds another word and does nothing to add to the sentiment expressed. How is the first example any different than “The big question is whether Joe Pitcher will be able to make his next start”? Even the expression, “He is still a question mark” makes more sense, and is more meaningful as “He is still questionable.” Why use six words when four will do?

The only thing that I can think is that it sounds trendy and hip.

It’s superfluous and annoying.

Weathermen should keep their opinions to themselves

marcus — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 22:53:56 +0000

There’s a weatherman on AM 750 in Atlanta who has what he calls the Mellish Meter, its an arbitrary scale of how good the weather is going to be on a given day. The problem is, what he thinks is great weather is not necessarily what I think is great weather. Yesterday was a day that most people would have called ugly weather, low clouds, steady light rain with occasional heavy bursts, but I happen to love days like that. It was in fact a perfect 10 in my book. I also happen to love days when there is not a cloud to be seen and the sky is a crisp blue. Hence, my frustration with weathermen who inject there opinions into forecasts. It would be the same as a business reporter saying “It’s a great day if you own XYZ stock” it’s a pretty lousy day if you just sold XYZ stock, so just report the facts. If it’s going to be a rainy day just say so.

And for anyone who might say that they do it to be interesting, listen to a Kirk Mellish Forecast just once. He’s anything but interesting.