Saturday, November 19, 2011

Movie Talk: Spielberg references in Super 8

From an article for SpielbergFanclub.com

DVD comes out on Tuesday

Set in small-town America circa the late ’70s, the film skillfully combines elements from the master’s greatest hits: a shaggy preteen hero coping with parental absence; a stirring, John Williams–y score (courtesy of Michael Giacchino); and plenty of close encounters. What’s missing, even with Mr. E.T. himself in the producer’s chair, is the sense that all this nostalgia means much to anyone involved.

Super 8 may be a deeply cynical act of tribute art, but for any dyed-in-the-wool Spielberg fanatic, there’s pleasure to be had in spotting its various references and callbacks. In keeping with the spirit of Abrams’s uncanny copy job, let’s take a close, minute-by-minute (and spoiler-intensive) look at the film’s most blatantly Spielbergian moments.

1:25 Our hero, Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney), makes his first appearance. He’s a slightly older, sadder variation on E.T.’s Elliott, who also suffered from the loss of a parent. As in Spielberg’s film, Joe is introduced outside the circle of kids; he’s the lonely survivor of a broken home.

17:17 Super 8’s inciting incident is an F/X-heavy re-creation of the model-train derailment Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) uses to demonstrate a math principle to his son in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. And the truck that barrels into the oncoming train is a dead ringer for the one Neary drives when he makes his first UFO sighting—at a railroad crossing, no less.
20:32 Elle Fanning’s survey of the wreckage from the train derailment recalls a shot from War of the Worlds, during which Fanning’s older sister, Dakota, gawks at the fiery remains of a downed airplane.

26:29 Mirroring the establishing shots of both E.T. and Close Encounters, Abrams offers a sprawling, nighttime overview of his small-town setting.

28:40 Joe and Charles (Riley Griffiths) ride bikes through town, evoking the big chase at the end of E.T.

34:39 Joe’s father, Deputy Lamb (Kyle Chandler), is a proxy for Roy Scheider’s alarmed sheriff in Jaws. In this scene, he tries to convince his skeptical boss that trouble is brewing.
37:03 A gas-station clerk listens to his Walkman while the town sheriff is attacked by…something in the parking lot. It’s reminiscent of the scene in The Lost World: Jurassic Park in which Peter Stormare meets a grisly demise not far from his oblivious, headphone-wearing buddy.
45:39 In another Jaws shout-out, Deputy Lamb holds a town meeting to address public concerns. If only he had a Quint to hunt down the rampaging monster in his community.

1:19:50 The alien assault on a bus dimly echoes the T. rex–on-vehicle attack scenes in both Jurassic Park and The Lost World.

1:26:05 Is this suburban-war-zone set piece, with Charles kneeling to help a wounded friend amid gunfire and explosions, a PG-13 allusion to Saving Private Ryan?

1:38:20 The community-farewell climax of Super 8 may remind you of Close Encounters’ utopian finale, but the UFO that eventually takes flight looks more like the one in E.T. Sadly, the magic of both movies is conspicuously absent here.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Half of citizens on some sort of government assistance

There is no way to end entitlements and stop the pending doomsday bankruptcy when THIS MANY people are relying on the government!!!


WSJ: Nearly half, 48.5%, of the population lived in a household that received some type of government benefit in the first quarter of 2010, according to Census data. Those numbers have risen since the middle of the recession when 44.4% lived households receiving benefits in the third quarter of 2008.

The share of people relying on government benefits has reached a historic high, in large part from the deep recession and meager recovery, but also because of the expansion of government programs over the years.

Another 14.5% lived in homes where someone was on Medicare (the health care program for the elderly). Nearly 16% lived in households receiving Social Security.

High unemployment and increased reliance on government programs has also shrunk the nation’s share of taxpayers. Some 46.4% of households will pay no federal income tax this year, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. That’s up from 39.9% in 2007, the year the recession began.

Just 18.1% of households pay neither payroll nor federal income taxes and they are predominantly the nation’s elderly and poorest families.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

US wants no fly zone for moon

According to Science, by the end of this month NASA is expected to come up with a set of “recommendations” for spacecraft and astronauts visiting the “U.S. government property on the moon.” Of course, these recommendations will not be legally binding as the 1967 Outer Space Treaty makes it clear that the lunar surface has no owner.

Despite the lack of ownership, NASA is hopeful that other countries will respect the U.S. sentiments. Incidentally, the restriction list contains more than the historical sites. For instance, the list includes studying discarded food and abandoned astronaut faeces.

Read more:

Monday, September 5, 2011

Ron Paul Agrees With Americans: Two Party System Is Broken

During the Florida Liberty Summit, Presidential candidate Ron Paul rallied supporters, cited errors of the current and previous administration, emphasizing why his leadership would correct the course of America. (Check out this article here)

“The evidence is in, their views have failed and our views, our ideals are appropriate to be put in place.”

Paul discussed the failures of the government bailout and how shifting that debt from the failed businesses to the consumers was nearly criminal and warning that there is no end to this behavior as “They will just raise the debt ceiling.”

“We don’t have a two party system. We have a one party system…they endorse the same ideals and the same policies.”

“Humanity has a long history of authoritative figures in society: dictators, czars, Kings….but we have to stop. Don’t depend on the bureaucrats and politicians to decide what’s best.”

The Texan drew some applause when challenged on how he’d get the two parties to cut the spending he’d propse: $1 trillion – THIS YEAR!

“Get ‘em to cut each others’ baby programs. Tell the Democrats to cut 500 billion of the Republicans’ favorite programs and do the same for the other group.”

“They always offer a five year plan…a ten year plan…Well, this is the only year that counts.”

Sounds better than some of the recycled sound bites you will hear from the President and party favorites across the aisle.

Pastor addressing sex & the church

What a great article, check it out here

From a Christian Post article by Audrey Barrick, South Carolina megachurch pastor Perry Noble has stepped out to address a huge problem in the church – sex.

“Let’s just be honest. Sexual immorality is in the house,” he told his congregation, adding that he has seen sexual immorality at each of the three churches he has served.

“We can’t get mad at people that aren’t Christians because they act like they’re not Christians. But what we can do is talk about the mess we have in our own house and try to get it cleaned up.”

Perry started the two-week “Sex in the Church” series last weekend and will be concluding it on Sunday, Sept. 4.

Though an uncomfortable subject, he made it clear that the church should not be silent about sex especially considering the Bible “says a lot about the subject of sex.”

“The world is not silent about the subject of sex. They’re talking about it.”

Starting with the men, Perry urged those who have a playlist of songs that degrade women to delete them immediately.

“If we have a song on our iTunes playlist that refers to a woman as a bitch or a whore, we don’t listen to it. In fact, we delete it today because a godly man would never refer to a woman as a bitch or a whore,” the pastor said without hesitation.

read more http://deskofbrian.com/2011/09/south-carolina-trying-to-clean-up-sex-in-the-church/

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Randall Whitney, Abortionist testifies: babies sometimes born alive, left to wiggle around & die

In Orlando, during a disturbing testimony during court proceedings against a well-known Florida abortionist, a fellow abortionist reportedly admitted that some aborted children are delivered alive and left “wiggling around in the toilet,” where they are allowed to die.

The testimony occurred during proceedings against abortionist James Pendergraft, who was forced to pay over $36 million last week for a botched procedure that left its intended target alive, but severely disabled.


Pendergraft, who was convicted of felony extortion in 2001, was told by an Orlando County jury to pay $18 million in the civil suit itself and another $18 million in punitive damages, totaling over $36 million.

The jurors listened as abortionist Randall Whitney, one of Pendergrast’s partners, stated that yes, babies are delivered in the toilet all the time and many times are still alive, wiggling around in the toilet.

Horrifying imagery.

My biggest problem with abortion, especially the use of RU486, is the incredible disregard for life. It's more difficult to check out at a Super Wal-Mart on a Saturday than get an abortion.

The recent stats indicated that they is only 1 adoption for every 2300+ abortions - God help us! (read report here)

Now with Obamacare providing Federal Funding we will now have the government paving the way for this to become more commonplace.


Source LifeSiteNews


Saturday, August 13, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Mr President, please stop blaming everyone else for the economy

Read the entire article on DeskofBrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/08/president-obama-blames-economy/

There is not an ounce of leadership coming out of the mouth our President these days. Speaking last night at a Democratic fundraiser, where families paid $15,000 to have their picture taken with the celebrity President, Mr Obama defended his economic record and said problems in Europe were affecting the U.S. and still blaming the Bush administration.

‘We do have a serious problem in terms of debt and deficit, and much of it I inherited,’ Mr Obama said

Yep, “inherited” – translation: It was Bush’s fault.

Even though President Obama was in the Senate before campaigning and then taking the lead on the TARP Bill – it was Bush’s fault.

It was Bush’s fault that the $700 billion Stimulus did nothing but add to the debt balance sheets.
It was Bush’s fault that President Obama submitted budgets with $1-3.5 trillion dollar deficits?
Well, let’s be fair…he goes on to blame Europe.

‘What’s absolutely true, even before these last couple days in the stock market, is that recovery wasn’t happening fast enough,’ he said. ‘When you have problems in Europe and in Spain and in Italy and in Greece, those problems wash over into our shores.’

So again, after getting the greenlight to spend, spend, spend with the elevated debt ceiling, the President continues to lay the foundation of blame and accusations.

So, much for leadership….and I thought the last guy was bad.

Monday, August 8, 2011

US Post Office nearly broke again

The report on Friday from the US Post Office was masked by the downturn in the Dow Jones, but the report stated:

The US Postal Service warned on Friday that it could default on payments it owes the federal government...The government’s mail service said it lost $3.1 billion in the period from April to June, blaming “the anemic state of the economy” and the growing popularity of electronic communications over old-fashioned letters.

Well, the Feds should just cut them off.

$3.1 billion shortfall in the real world = YOU'RE FIRED!


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Oops...Steven Spielberg gets carried away in yacht

Daily Mail: When you own a £220m luxury yacht, a 172 euro fine is hardly going to break the bank. But paying up without causing a fuss has certainly earned Steven Spielberg a few new fans among Italian coastguards.

Billionaire Spielberg, 64, was holidaying with actress Gwyneth Paltrow on his yacht Seven Seas when he was hit with the fine for venturing too close to the Sardinian coastline on his speedboat tender.

The director apparently breached the 900ft exclusion zone from the shoreline at La Maddalena, a picturesque beauty spot off the north east coast of Sardinia, which is renowned as being a millionaire’s playground.

Angry sunbathers called coastguards to complain about the noise from the tender’s powerful outboard motor and they quickly appeared on the scene to confront him.
The contrite film director, whose films include Jaws, Shindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, immediately apologised telling coastguards: ‘I’m sorry. I’m Steven Spielberg. I didn’t know the rules. It’s only right I pay.’

http://spielbergfanclub.com/2011/07/855/

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Obama patronizes America’s citizens: we’re not ‘professional politicians’

President Obama’s opponents have always described him as elitist, arrogant and condescending. Today, as the debt ceiling deadline looms, the President proved that his opposition may not be that far from the mark.

This is how the Washington Post described the scene:

In the course of the president’s press conference on raising the debt ceiling today, a questioner noted that 69 percent of the American public do not support raising the debt ceiling.

There is, President Obama responded, a difference between the public and professional politicians.

That’s good to know!


Well, let me distinguish between professional politicians and the public at large. The public is not paying close attention to the ins and outs of how a Treasury option goes. They shouldn’t. They’re worrying about their family; they’re worrying about their jobs; they’re worrying about their neighborhood. They’ve got a lot of other things on their plate. We’re paid to worry about it.”

I don’t think excessive spending escapes Americans…they’ve been doing it for years.

Of course, the President reverted to some ‘debt ceiling scare tactics’ :

“And that’s the fact. If we don’t raise the debt ceiling and we see a crisis of confidence in the markets, and suddenly interest rates are going up significantly, and everybody is paying higher interest rates on their car loans, on their mortgages, on their credit cards, and that’s sucking up a whole bunch of additional money out of the pockets of the American people, I promise you they won’t like that.

Read more: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/07/obama-patronizes-americas-citizens-professional-politicians/

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Bill Maher leads the liberal sexist attacks on Michele Bachmann & Sarah Palin

Over the last few years if you muttered the slight disagreement with President Obama, you were quickly branded a “racist”. In fact, a close friend of mine admitted that was the progressive perspective during the primary with Hillary Clinton.

Now, let’s fast forward and we will discover the blatant hypocrisy of the leftist who pretend to be tolerant and above the name calling. Bill Maher has been the torch bearer, leading the mainstream progressive attacks on Sarah Palin and now, Michele Bachmann.

Early last week Maher said on CNN’s Piers Morgan Show he wished Palin moved up in the polls:

“I would need a gun to my head. I hope Sarah Palin gets in so that they split the MILF vote.”

Yep, the MILF reference added to the pop culture lexicon from “American Pie”: “Mom I’D Like To F–k.”

Morgan found it humorous and let Maher continue unchallenged.

But I guess Bachmann, I don’t know. Who could say? Because, at least she’s somebody who can read. You know, she has a job. She was a lawyer. She’s in Congress. She’s not someone who just sits there and reads the prayers on her Blackberry like Sarah Palin. I mean, you know, we’re splitting hairs here.

Maher is the posterchild of liberal denial: “He’s not even a liberal!” – Maher says of President Obama.

“You know I love him,” Maher said. “You know you can’t not. I mean coming in after Bush, first of all, you have him there, you have a guy you can relate to. He’s intelligent, he can speak English. I don’t think about George Bush at all anymore, which is great. He’s like an uncle who molested me and I blocked it out. You know? And you could just tell, you know, you’d like to have dinner with Obama. He’s an erudite guy, he’s a constitutional law professor.”

Yes, he compared the former President to child molestation.

Maher returned to the sex theme on his HBO show attacking Bachmann Christian counseling clinic, well actually, attacking Michele Bachmann’s husband. Comic Marc Maron, part of the panel, says:

“I hope [he] takes all that rage that comes from repression and denial into the bedroom with her…and I hope he f***s her angrily, because that’s how I would.”

Sex advice columnist Dan Savage on the panel decided to diffuse the sexism bomb by throwing another Republican candidate under the insult bus:

“I sometimes think about f***ing the s*** out of Rick Santorum…I’m up for whipping up some Santorum in Santorum.”

Yes, that’s the same Dan Savage who said: “I wish (Republicans) were all f***ing dead”

A day or two later Maher attempts to address the sexism allegations:

And finally, New Rule: Republicans have to stop thinking up intricate psychological explanations for why liberals don’t like Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann. Let me save you all some time. Are you ready? Because they’re crazy people, people who are not that bright and full of awful ideas. Pretty much the exact same reasons we didn’t care for George Bush and made jokes about him. So trust me, it’s not because they have breast. It’s because they are boobs.

Now, I’m not saying that sexism doesn’t exist and isn’t real. And we can’t, but we can’t throw around the word “sexist” just to stop people like me from pointing out that Michele Bachmann, now running second for the Republican presidential nomination, isn’t a dangerous nincompoop. And when I point out that Sarah Palin is a vainglorious braggart, a liar, a whiner, a professional victim, a scold, a know-it-all, a chiseler, a bully who sells patriotism like a pimp, and the leader of a strange family of inbred weirdos straight out of “The Hills Have Eyes,” that’s not sexist. I’m saying it because it’s true, not because it’s true of a woman.

So it’s clear to, Maher viciously attacks Palin and Bachmann not because he hates women, but because he hates the conservative positions in which these two women firmly believe. He has no respect for them, so dropping sexist insults or profanity is entirely acceptable.

My new question then is quite simple: why can’t Maher similarly “get it” that Tea Party supporters or anyone who strongly opposes President Obama not because he’s black, but because they hate the liberal positions in which Obama firmly believes?

read the original post at DeskofBrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/07/bill-leads-liberal-sexist-attacks-michele-bachmann-sarah-palin/

Monday, June 27, 2011

Dear Michele Bachmann, careful what you say…the liberals make lists

Dear Michele Bachmann, careful what you say…the liberals make lists

I find it amusing that the political divide love to only monitor their political enemies, keeping scorecards only on the opposition. President Bush is viewed as a bumbling simpleton who could barely get through a speech while President Obama’s miscues, especially away from his teleprompter, are only quoted by the extreme right.

So, now that Michele Bachman has officially announced her run for President, the liberals raced to put together a list of her errors called “The 9 Craziest Things Michele Bachmann has ever said”

“What I love about New Hampshire and what we have in common is our extreme love of liberty…You’re the state where the shot heard round the world in Lexington and Concord.” ~ March 12, 2011 speech to the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire.

Note: The 1776 Battles of Lexington and Concord took place in Massachusetts.

“We will talk a little bit about what has transpired in the last 18 months and would we count what has transpired into turning our country into a nation of slaves.” ~ July 9 2010 Western Conservative Summit in Denver.

On The First Black RNC Chairman: “Michael Steele! You be da man! You be da man!” ~ 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference

On The Census:

“I know for my family, the only question that we will be answering is how many people are in our home. We won’t be answering any information beyond that, because the Constitution doesn’t require any information beyond that.” – Interview with the Washington Times, June 17, 2009.

Note: The Constitution doesn’t say that. It’s illegal to not fill out the entire Census.

More On The Census:

“Take this into consideration. If we look at American history, between 1942 and 1947, the data that was collected by the Census Bureau was handed over to the FBI and other organizations at the request of President Roosevelt, and that’s how the Japanese were rounded up and put into the internment camps. I’m not saying that…that’s what the Administration is planning to do…”

On Government Spending:

“During the last 100 days we have seen an orgy. It would make any local smorgasbord embarrassed…The government spent its wad by April 26.” ~ Tax Freedom Day Rally, May 2, 2009

On The Swine Flu:

“I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out then under another Democrat president, Jimmy Carter. I’m not blaming this on President Obama, I just think it’s an interesting coincidence.” ~ Interview with Pajamas Media, April 27, 2009.

Note: The 1976 swine flu outbreak occurred during Gerald Ford’s presidency. Ronald Reagan was president during another, smaller, outbreak in 1988.

Read more, the whole article: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/06/dear-michele-bachmann-careful-what-you-say-the-liberals-make-lists/

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Catwoman, a black eye, & masked man on ‘Dark Knight Rises’ set

Check out the original posts on DeskofBrian: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/06/catwoman-a-black-eye-masked-man-on-dark-knight-rises-set/

Christopher Nolan’s third Batman film, “The Dark Knight Rises” consumes fans’ attention as news breaks on the Internet. After a week where star Anne Hathaway accidentally injured a stuntman and a new set photo goes viral, “Rises” again stirs up fans as extras on need in Pittsburgh. The audition process for extras was in full swing on Friday and are scheduled through next week.

The Omni Hotel is the setting of Batman fervor as the ad stated “prisoners/thugs, guards, police officers, business men & women and sports fans” as SWD Casting posted the open call with “no acting experience needed.”

“The Dark Knight Rises” continues to streak into movie headlines as Anne Hathaway, Selina Kyle and her alter ego Catwoman, went over the top while during a fight scene.

A source told The Sun: “Anne got a bit carried away during a fight scene and mistakenly shoved the butt of a gun right into the actor’s eye socket. He came away with a massive black eye. Anne was mortified. It was all in good humor but the poor guy took quite a pummelling.”

The Dark Knight Rises recently launched a new casting call asking for ‘prisoners and thugs’ to star in the film.

A casting call for a Warner Bros. production mysteriously titled “Magnus Rex” seeks extras to play “victims and perpetrators within a city besieged by crime and corruption. Take part in the urban action adventure ripping through the streets of Pittsburgh from July 28 through Aug. 21.”

“Magnus Rex” is believed to be the working title for “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Lastly, this week intrigue swirled around the ambiguous masked stuntman photo posted on Den of Geek. This photo was taken during the shoot at Croydon, London.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Donald Duck to celebrate his 77th birthday

June 9th marks the birthday of the iconic cartoon character created from the imagination of Walt Disney – Donald Duck. Donald’s first appearance came in “The Wise Little Hen” which debuted June 9, 1934.



Today Walt Disney is widely regarded as a creative genius, but he endured failure after failure being told his ideas wouldn’t work. Then in 1928, after relocating to Los Angeles, Walt sold his car to fund his dream to bring a cartoon rodent to life – that was Mickey Mouse.

Disney triumphed when “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” became a box office hit after banks refused to finance his project and grand ideas for animation. The aspirations continued with the development of amusement parks and television programs.

"Somehow I can't believe there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C's. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy and the greatest of these is Confidence. When you believe a thing, believe it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably." - Walt Disney

So, while Mickey gets many of the headlines, a candle can be blown out to celebrate one of the other Disney creations: Happy Birthday Donald Fauntleroy Duck!


About the author:

Brandon detoured from pursuing a degree in history but never lost his love of knowledge embracing the famous George Santayana quote: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Brandon currently writes the National Comic Book Examiner, the Tampa Bay Comic Book Examiner as well as the National American history Examiner.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Hillary Clinton compares Arizona shooter to Islamic Extremists

Read on Desk of Brian: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/01/hillary-clinton-compares-arizona-shooter-to-islamic-extremists/

Democrats, more than Republicans, seem more willing to go overseas and make outlandish statements and pretend we don’t know or won’t find out.

Our Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, openly raised the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) on a trip to the Arab world, then compared the shooter Jared Lee Loughner to Muslim extremists. The State Department clarified that she was not saying Loughner should be treated as a terrorist.

“We have extremists in my country. A wonderful, incredibly brave young woman Congress member, Congresswoman Gifford[s], was just shot by an extremist in our country.”

Clinton made these remarks during an “interview” with students in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

“The extremists and their voices, the crazy voices that sometimes get on the TV, that’s not who we are, that’s not who you are, and what we have to do is get through that and make it clear that that doesn’t represent either American or Arab ideas or opinions.”

Now the EXTREMISTS are on TV?!?!

I wonder who she’s referring to?

The student during the interview had asked Clinton why many in the United States target the entire Arab world when assigning blame for the 9/11 attacks. The Secretary of State didn’t set the record straight by stating that WE NEVER MADE THAT ACCUSATION, oh no…Clinton drew a comparison between Arab terrorists that perpetrate violence and Loughner as well as those EXTREMISTS on TV.

The State Department clarified that she was not saying Loughner should be treated as a terrorist.

MSNBC, Olberman rants on Tea Party

Read article on Deskofbrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/11/keith-olbermann-rants-over-tea-parties-further-reveals-vile-hypocrisy-of-far-left/

I found the post described as “A near-perfect 20-minute summary of the right-wing crazies who might triumph today”:

It is as if a group of moderately talented performers has walked on stage at a comedy club on improv night. Each hears a shout from the audience, consisting of a bizarre but just barely plausible fear or hatred or neurosis or prejudice.

And the entertainment of the evening is for each to take their thin, absurd premise, and build upon it a campaign for governor or congressman or senator. The problem is, of course, when it turns out there is no audience shouting out gags, just a cabal of corporations and the US Chamber of Commerce and political insider bloodsuckers like Karl Rove and Dick Armey and the Chicken Little Chorus of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.

And the instructions are not to improvise a comedy sketch, but to elect a group of unqualified, unstable individuals who will do what they are told, in exchange for money and power, and march this nation as far backward as they can get, backward to Jim Crow, or backward to the breadlines of the Thirties, or backward to hanging union organizers, or backward to the trusts and the robber barons.

Result: the Tea Party. Vote backward, vote Tea Party. And if you are somehow indifferent to what is planned for next Tuesday, it is nothing short of an attempt to use democracy to end this democracy, to buy America wholesale and pave over the freedoms and the care we take of one another, which have combined to keep us the envy of the world.

You do not think your freedom is at stake next Tuesday?


The US Chamber of Commerce is now the enemy?

Beck and Limbaugh are Chicken Littles yet Olbermann claims the midterm victory will now lead to “backward to Jim Crow, or backward to the breadlines of the Thirties, or backward to hanging union organizers, or backward to the trusts and the robber barons.” — Really?

Beck, Limbaugh and others are hardly heroes in this campaign, proving to be late to the declaration of a socialist President with government takeover and control at the pinnacle of his agenda. No, hardly Chicken Littles, but how is that different that the King MSNBC fearmonger?

Olbermann’s fellow MSNBC anchor Lawrence O’Donnell proclaimed with pride his socialist commitments. Read here

Sure the staff at MSNBC fed the ESPN host Olbermann plenty of sound bites and innuendo for their liberal viewers to fear the loss of Social Security (“Bush’s scam to privatize” and Wall Street will “wipe out your retirement money”) or the possible ban on abortions. This Chicken Little mischaracterizes Rich Iott’s “reenactment of WWII scenes” as

“ran around in a Nazi uniform celebrating their military tactics” Read Iott story here

Olbermann and his MSNBC cronies completely lie about the inheritance tax implying it’s for only the uber-rich: Federal Inheritance Tax

I personally love the cringe induced pause as the association between Social Security and Ponzi scheme crosses over Olbermann liberal lips. I’ve made it clear how I feel Read here or here

This is why we are doomed. Social Security and other programs, glorified by the left, no matter if they are bankrupt or unsustainable, will be protected and defended. Olbermann says “Unconstitutional” as though it’s a four letter word – obviously NEVER reading or understanding what’s truly in the Constitution.

“Congress ending funding” strikes fear into the hearts and minds of liberals…why? Because it’s THEIR JOB and THEIR responsibility. I personally don’t believe any of these campaign promises will come to pass and the sound bites will just continue to fly in vain.

Thanks again for the lesson Mr. Olbermann. You have indeed schooled us all, yes indeed.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Legacy of Betty White on her 89th Birthday

Read the complete article : http://deskofbrian.com/2011/01/the-legacy-of-betty-white-on-her-89th-birthday-videos-quotes/

Born in the small Illinois town to Horace and Tess, Betty Marion White has amassed an amazing and lengthy resume including seven Emmy awards. From 1922 to 2010 the accolades continue to pile up as AP named her Entertainer of the Year in 2010. “It’s ridiculous,” White says of the honor, in an interview from her home in Los Angeles. “They haven’t caught on to me, and I hope they never do.”

Humility and grace…White is an expert and model of both.

How does an 88 year-old actress from “The Golden Girls”, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” win over the audiences in 2010? First, her success on the new show “Hot in Cleveland” has critics raving. Most important though, is her appearance on Saturday Night Live, a response to a Facebook petition, which was described by Entertainment Weekly as:

“Betty was funny, vulgar and totally charming.”

The feisty Sue Ann Nivens (the Happy Homemaker) from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to the naive and kindhearted Rose on “The Golden Girls” to appearing on game shows “I’ve Got a Secret” or “Match Game”: Betty White has done it all.

So to honor White on her birthday, I compiled a long list of clips and examples of her greatness to share with friends, to put a smile on your face or remember forgotten moments from an amazing career.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Arthur Suydam, artist for "Marvel Zombies", is coming to Tampa

The Tampa Bay Comic Book Convention will feature Arthur Suydam, artist on "Batman", "Conan" and most notoriously, "Marvel Zombies" comic book titles.

From his website: "Arthur Suydam burst onto the scene in the seven-ties. Recently honored with the coveted Spectrum Award for Excellence in Illustration, Suydam’s immense body of written and illustrative work comprises an aesthetic that is as uniquely distinguishable as it is organic and poetic. Recent releases include Bedtime Stories for the Incarcerated; Arthur Suydam: The Art of the Barbarian; Skin Deep; Visions; Mudwogs, and The Adventures of Cholly and Flytrap—published worldwide and currently in pre-production for film."

Suydam's popularity skyrocketed with the series of covers for "Marvel Zombies" which were all homages to famous Marvel comic covers in the past. Some other fan favories are:

* Wolverine: Origins #10 (Variant cover)
* Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth
* Batman vs Predator
* Shrapnel
* Fantastic Four # 554 (Variant cover)
* Vampirella

The convention is Sunday, February 20th from 10am to 4pm. For more information see the convention's website: http://www.tampabaycomiccon.com/

To read the original post or follow regular updates: http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-tampa-bay/arthur-suydam-artist-for-marvel-zombies-is-coming-to-tampa

January 20, 1961 John F Kennedy inaugural address

Fifty years ago, one of the most popular Presidents took office.

Read his entire speech (and a couple of photos) here : http://deskofbrian.com/2010/12/john-f-kennedy-inaugural-address-january-20-1961/

Review: "Batman: The Dark Knight #1"

Batman: The Dark Knight #1 by David Finch (writer and artist), Scott Williams (inks)

Bruce Wayne has been missing until recently, so David Finch's number goal is to re-establish Batman, Bruce Wayne and reset the stage in Gotham for the Cape Crusader. The first issue is rather simple: someone from Bruce Wayne's childhood is missing so there's a crime to be solved. The new character, Dawn Golden, is palatable, but runs the risk of landing comparisons to Hush (a childhood friend who in turn became another Bat-villain.)

In fact, the dark, gritty feel of the art reminds the reader of the "Hush" storyline as the Finch drawn Batman seems like be inspired by the Jim Lee incarnation. Please don't misintepret my comparisoin: Finch's quality of art lives up to the hype with his detailed panels and sharp lines - all designed to explode off of the page.

The trail leads to Killer Croc, who has been injecting Venom to boost his strength. Finch's version of Croc is simply amazing: a monster reminiscent of the human at birth. While there's another villain who gets a redesign, it's best to leave that spoiler for a later date.

DC is handling the Batman mythology well, especially for fans of the Christopher Nolan film series. Finch's art is still his strength, so if you want a Grant Morrison story, please read "Batman Inc". "The Dark Knight" is rather simple: there has been a kidnapping and Batman will systematically battle through the rogue gallery of Bat villains to find the culprit.

For that reason, to see Finch's interpretation of the Batman universe even if it's in a relatively safe storyline, makes this a recommended read and follow-up in issue #2.

Read original post or follow on Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-tampa-bay/review-batman-the-dark-knight-1-review

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Hillary Clinton compares Arizona shooter to Islamic Extremists

Democrats, more than Republicans, seem more willing to go overseas and make outlandish statements and pretend we don’t know or won’t find out.

Our Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, openly raised the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) on a trip to the Arab world, then compared the shooter Jared Lee Loughner to Muslim extremists. The State Department clarified that she was not saying Loughner should be treated as a terrorist.

“We have extremists in my country. A wonderful, incredibly brave young woman Congress member, Congresswoman Gifford[s], was just shot by an extremist in our country.”

Clinton made these remarks during an “interview” with students in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

“The extremists and their voices, the crazy voices that sometimes get on the TV, that’s not who we are, that’s not who you are, and what we have to do is get through that and make it clear that that doesn’t represent either American or Arab ideas or opinions.”

Now the EXTREMISTS are on TV?!?!

I wonder who she’s referring to?

The student during the interview had asked Clinton why many in the United States target the entire Arab world when assigning blame for the 9/11 attacks. The Secretary of State didn’t set the record straight by stating that WE NEVER MADE THAT ACCUSATION, oh no…Clinton drew a comparison between Arab terrorists that perpetrate violence and Loughner as well as those EXTREMISTS on TV.

The State Department clarified that she was not saying Loughner should be treated as a terrorist.

Pathetic.

Read more Hillary quotes: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/06/hillary-clinton-quotes/