The Anger Game

Since the last post was all about a movie, I thought I'd digress and post something up that's in the 'theater of the real'.

It's interesting to see the blatant race baiting and hatred that's come out of the White House during the past four years. A black man takes the highest office in the United States and then makes racial division his administration's legacy - anything to get a vote.

Review: Hunger Games (Movie)

I arrived at the theater this (Saturday) morning for the first showing and viewed the heavily acclaimed feature film, "The Hunger Games". 

About the Film - based on the best-selling novel.

The nation of Panem has risen out of the ruins of what was once known as North America. Due to an unsuccessful uprising by the districts of Panem, a raffle (known as the "reaping") is held to choose one boy and one girl (ranging from ages 12–18) from each of the twelve remaining districts to participate in the Hunger Games, a competition in which each contestant (known as the "tributes") battles to the death until only one is left. The winner or victor receives fame and fortune. The Hunger Games are a yearly reminder to the 12 districts of the Capitol's authority and punishment for their rebellion over 70 years ago.

In the poverty-stricken District 12, sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen cares for her mother and her sister, Primrose.  Each year, since the age of 12, Katniss' name has been placed in the reaping more than once. In return for taking this extra annual risk, she receives extra grain and oil for her family. In addition, Katniss has been illegally hunting for food outside the boundary fences of District 12.

NO SPOILERS

Essentially it's a movie about hunting and being hunted and it's well done. I recommend that you see the movie. The plot steadily (if a bit predictably) advances to its conclusion.  Teenagers would enjoy the movie as well as adults. 

WARNING

If you're a big fan of the mainstream media or government, you may be offended by the way that they are portrayed. If you feel that the mainstream media is less than it should be, you may feel that the movie does them justice - served cold. 

50K

My FJCruiser is not a daily driver - however, 5 years and 50,000 miles later there have been some great times with this rig.

I didn't pay any attention to signs.

I made new friends like the late, great Mike Paulson, who died of cancer 12 months after this photo was taken.

And I broke a few rocks along the way.

Why am I screwed up?

As a child I saw Tarzan nearly naked on television, Cinderella arrived home after midnight, Pinnochio told lies, Aladdin was a thief, Batman drove over 200 miles per hour, Snow White lived in a house with seven perverted guys, Popeye smoked a pipe and had tattoos, Pac Man ran around to digital music and popped pills that enhanced his performance - it's not my fault. I blame my programming.

My baby picture.

Then they added flesh to the cyborg body and things got even more out of control.

My personality is so magnetic that I can't carry credit cards.
(I'm the only person in history ever to ace a Rorschach Test.)

But in the end, I'm just a misunderstood result of television programming. As such, I might become US President one day because I'm so effective at blaming others for the "so-called faults" that they see in me.

Age - One

My Grandson, Cannon, is turning ONE.

Sunday, he'll have the opportunity to spread his birthday cake all over his face...

Tan and Tall

(h/t WoFat)

Usually, for me, it would be sort of the other way around.

However, I think that the message is clear, Diet Coke is good when you need to be satisfied and refreshed.

It's not inclusive.

What have I been up to?

Not quite a mug shot in the Worker's Paradise

And there have been times in Mexico when 

people have taken exception to my driving

And I've smiled for the camera in the Middle East

Speeding Things Up

What sort of music do you play in your car when you're excepting the posted (legal) speed?

YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG (AC/DC)


Or the CANADIAN version -- Shania Twain


I do like Shania Twain and got on a Twain Youtube journey so I decided to post this one too. Even though it's not really good for driving fast. LINK

Slowing things Down

A century ago, it took weeks to get from Europe to the US. Now we jump on a jet (private or commercial) and we're across the pond in hours, entertained by music, a movie or we simply sleep during the transit. 

When I was young we had no cell phones and if somebody wanted to contact you instantly, they simply couldn't.

Today if my Internet speed isn't darned near "instant", I am vastly dissatisfied.

This is not a rant on the good old days and the bad life in 'the modern'. 

It's about the need to discover what it is that we find valuable and to pursue it. Discovering that requires that we take the time to consider a great deal and it's necessary that we slow down the hectic pace of life to do that. You can still do it, but somehow it's harder today than it was a century ago because we've sped up everything and the planet runs captive to the 24 hour news cycle.

The breakneck speed of life that we're all now tied to will break not our necks, but our ability to decide what is valuable because of the speed with which we confront each decision matrix. 

The next time you have a day off work or go on vacation, don't just turn off the cell phone -- leave it behind. Oh, I know that you simply CAN'T do that. But twenty years ago everyone didn't have one and somehow, they muddled through.

Risk in the Real

It's one thing to risk your own life in a field operation.

It's quite another to ask your people to risk their lives while you stand back and watch what happens. It isn't cute and it isn't pretty. Sometimes these things have to happen. Frankly, having stood in both places, it's easier to be the operator than it is to be the boss.

One of the people who works with me is a bit of a nonconformist. We had a disagreement. I suggested that if there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it's another nonconformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity. Conformists have difficulties wrapping their heads around decisions made based on what is present. It takes a real nonconformist to understand decisions made based upon what is absent.

Two of my people had an experience within the past few days which brought them to the understanding that even though I (the boss) might seem to be crazy at first blush, I'm usually right. It's good to work for a guy with a track record of being right when your life and the lives of your family hang in the balance. But it doesn't mean that the boss will be right all of the time.

And when you're the boss, you have to live with what you order people to do.

People in my business die alone. Our deaths are unsung; our motives unclear. We live and die in deception and guile, where all genius rests not in truth but subterfuge. We cannot do a thing clean, of itself. So we die slowly. Every challenged moment of each belabored day is barbed and thorned with memory of the things we cannot tell. We die defenseless with naught to avenge us but the mute records of what we observed in the strange lands that swallow us. 

I hope that my guys make it through this one. But nobody will know how it will turns out until it has turned out.