How Religious People Think

John Hawkins considers the troubles that liberals are having with understanding religious voters. He pretty much nails it in his consideration. But part of the problem is that it seems that the majority of these people who now want to "get to understand" us, don't actually know us. If they want to understand a Christian voter, then maybe they just need to go out and meet one, spend some time with one, and actually treat one like a human being instead of some strange creature. They might be amazed at what they learn.

Even NBC Hates MS

We all knew it was coming. It was just a matter of time. The "multimedia partnership" that was supposed to combine NBC's excellent reporting with Microsoft's... uh... monopolistic tendencies? Well, anyway, the result has been a channel where the average number of viewers appears to be 3. Not a 3 share. Just 3. Finally, NBC has seen the light and is severing the MS from its channel.

The new channel will be called NBC News Channel, according to the Internet's Drudge Report — apparently losing its connection to software giant Microsoft. The change has long been rumored to be in the works. Last March, it was reported that NBC and Microsoft (the "MS" part of MSNBC) were negotiating to sever their nine-year partnership for the channel...An MSNBC spokeswoman yesterday labeled the report "nothing more than an Internet rumor."

Maybe now, finally, the pressure to create an Apple-Disney channel will abate.

You Call That a Threat?

I'm stunned by the coverage today of the "news" that terorists would attack the White House or the Vatican if their leaders told them to. This is shocking to who, exactly?

You mean, if terrorist murderers were told to attack by their leaders, they actually would? Wow! Thank you Fox and CNN! I understand the terrorists so much better now. Seriously, how pathetic is it that this passes as "breaking news?"

Here's a tip to the MSM. The terrorists will do whatever their leaders tell them to. They would love to hurt America or any institution of another religion. They are violent, vile people who believe that they have the right to cause other people to suffer. I thought we had learned this years ago, but apparently that's not the case.

REVIEW: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

Those who have been reading Mod-Blog for a while know I am a big Douglas Adam's fan. I have read the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy books many times. I own the TV series on VHS and DVD. I own all of the Hitchhikers Guide radio series on CD that you can get in this country. I have even read his Dirk Gently and "Last Chance to See" books, which were of decidedly less quality. So, I was quite excited by the movie, and somewhat disconcerted by persistent negative reviews. Well, CRChair and I saw the movie this Saturday.

I'll first give the bottom line for those without time to read the rest. If you have never read the books, seen ther TV series, or heard H2G2 on TV, it is a pleasant but not especially funny movie. If you know H2G2 in any of its incarnations, you will enjoy it a lot more and it is probably a must-see. But the movie has one major weakness that not even the video game had - there are NO laugh-out-loud moments for the audience. It is not a waste of your time, but not a film to drop everything to see.

And now for those with more patience. The movie generally follows the plot from the other versions - Arthur Dent, a relentlessly average Briton, is shocked to learn his best friend is in fact an alien and that the Earth is about to be destroyed. The friend, Ford Prefect, saved Arthur from certain death only to introduce him to several less-certain-but-still-very-likely deaths at the hands of Vogons, intergalactic popes, planet-designers, and others. And, as the man says, "Hilarity ensues." But, as mentioned earlier, not nearly enough hilarity in this case.

The director did make some interesting choices in casting. Remembering that H2G2 is a completely British creation, it is strange to think that except for Martin Freeman playing Arthur Dent, not one main actor is British. But it works well for Mos Def playing Ford Prefect (though a Ford Prefect almost unrecognizable compared to the others) and Zooey Dechanel playing Trillian (a normal girl with a thirst for the extraordinary). Sam Rockwell as Zaphod Beeblebroz - president of the Galaxy - is unfortunate giving a horrible parody of George W. Bush that completely misses the point of the character. Oh, and choosing Jim Henson's creature shop for most of the aliens in the movie - over CGI shops like ILM - was inspired. The Vogons have never looked worse - in the best possible way.

So, to sum up, this is not a must-see movie, but it is a relentlessly pleasant one. If you find yourself searching for a movie, go for it. But if you are wondering whether to take time of out of your busy life, wait for the release of Star Wars, Episode 3.

NYTimes vs. "South Park Conservatives"

I am not a fan of Trey Parker and Matt Stone. (Although I admit that watching certain scenes from BASEKETBALL is a guilty pleasure. "Steeeeeeve - PERRY!") But since the publication of the book South Park Conservatives: The Revolt Against the Liberal Media Bias, both sides have been trying to lay claim to the affections of the creators of South Park and Team America. Now, the NYTimes is weighing in and taking great joy in noting the latest ribbing the Right has taken from Parker/Stone.

In the March 30 episode, Kenny, a kid whose periodic death is a "South Park" ritual, lands in a hospital in a "persistent vegetative state" and is fed through a tube. The last page of his living will is missing. Demonstrators and media hordes descend. Though heavenly angels decree that "God intended Kenny to die" rather than be "kept alive artificially," they are thwarted by Satan, whose demonic aide advises him to "do what we always do - use the Republicans." Soon demagogic Republican politicians are spewing sound bites ("Removing the feeding tube is murder") scripted in Hell. But as in the Schiavo case, they don't prevail. Kenny is allowed to die in peace once his missing final wish is found: "If I should ever be in a vegetative state and kept alive on life support, please for the love of God don't ever show me in that condition on national television."

This is a good item to debate on this site, as the opinion of those who post here ranges from overt love for South Park (Ward) to general enjoyment (CRChair) to antipathy (Nomad). Let me ask all of our posters and readers. Is South Park a generally conservative program, or is it more like the Simpsons who will make fun of anyone to get a laugh?

Oops! Did I saw "kidnapped"? I meant "cold feet".

Did you hear the one about the missing bride? The fiance' speculated she had been kidnapped. The police suspected the fiance' of murder. The 600 guests just wondered whether they should return the wedding gifts, or cancel their airplane tickets. Then, the bride called 911. "I have been kidnapped!" she proclaimed. Now, the truth has come out. She just got cold feet and ran for the hills.

Jennifer Wilbanks, 32, was picked up by police after a bus trip that took her through Las Vegas, Nev., to a payphone outside an Albuquerque 7-Eleven where she called her fiance, John Mason, and 911 late Friday and said she had been freed by kidnappers.
Family members began celebrating outside the couple's home in Duluth, Ga., (search) but hours later, Wilbanks admitted her disappearance was voluntary.
She was "scared and concerned about her impending marriage and decided she needed some time alone," Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said.
Police said there would be no criminal charges, although more than 100 officers led a search that involved several hundred volunteers, including many wedding guests and members of the bridal party.

The worst sign is that she is still planning on going thru with the wedding. Let's be frank here. (Hi, Frank!) If she's so overwhelmed by the pressure of the ceremony that it drives her to fraud, maybe she is not really ready to be married. If I were the groom, I would have to think maybe it is time to call a time-out, and let her think about things. Then again, if I were the groom, I would have already invited 600 guests who took time out to search for a runaway bride, and who really want a party to make it all worthwhile.

Mmm... Star Wars Music Video...

If you are not afraid of some SERIOUS spoilers - well, not much dialogue that you have not already heard in the trailers but lots of new visuals - then StarWars.Com has up a cool new music video which puts the fall of Anakin Skywalker to John Williams's patented music. This is not the same as seeing the movie, but it does keep the old whistle thoroughly whetted.