Bush Assassination Premiers

A new film is being premiered at the Toronto Film Festival that depicts president G.W. Bush being assassinated and the results of this event. Supposedly the film depicts Bush's death as a good thing. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this film. On the one hand I believe in freedom of speech, which means they should be free to make the film. On the other hand as commenter Tommy Marx says:

There is a huge difference between freedom of speech and ugliness for profit. Making a movie that imagines the death of a living person, especially one who - regardless of how you feel about him - holds a position that should be respected, disgusts me.

Is this yet another sign of the obsession of liberals with the elimination of President Bush at whatever cost. Or is this just someone taking a point of view that is sure to make a few bucks and cause controversy. I think it's the former more than the latter.

Prices still sliding!

Prices still sliding!
Originally uploaded by nomad7674.

I saw an article yesterday predicting prices closer to $2 than $3 by Thanksgiving. I am skeptical, but hopeful.

The quest for the next Wonder Woman

Most of us at Mod-Blog are fans of Superhero movies, and some even of the comics. One of the questions swirling around the comic-movie press is who will play Wonder Woman in the upcoming WW movie. An odd report today is saying that it is this year's American Idol runner up. I find this highly unlikely, but then again I never thought CSI would be a popular television show. Interestingly enough the only person in the list of possible actresses that could make a good Wonder Woman is Rebecca Romijn - but then she's already a superhero - or antihero depending on how you look at it - from the X-Men movie.

Free Music Downloads that are legal...really

In an interesting move Universal Music Group is planning on offering free downloads of their catalog as well as trying to get several other label's catalogs. The idea is to get people to come to the website to watch ads which will unlock the music to be downloaded. DRM in the downloads will prevent burning and will lock up the music if you don't go back to the site to watch ads. I'm not sure that I will go in for this idea. I'm still fine paying 99¢ for my songs with unlimited use. Call me cynical, but I'm betting this DRM will be cracked within 2 weeks of being introduced, thus ruining the new business model.

Forgive and Forget... Or Just Forgive

Jesus had a lot to say about forgiveness. How often? 70 times 7 (or 77 depending on your translation). Why? Forgive so that you may be forgiven. When? Whenever it is asked of you. It is obviously an important principle, and one that Christians are asked to embrace with all their hearts. This I know.

But I have been wondering recently, when "forgive" should be paired with "forget". It is an expression in our culture to "forgive and forget" when a friend wrongs you, implying that not only do you not demand repayment for harm but also that a grudge is not held in the lon term. But really, the concept goes deeper. It says in scripture that when we repent, our sins are as far separated from us as the East is from the West. The implication seems to be that not only has God forgiven the sin, but that that He has driven it from His thoughts altogether.

I have a friend who wronged me a long time ago. It was not a serious sin, but something which changed my view of them in a significant way. I forgave them the same day, and have not held it against them in future dealings. But it did change our relationship, and has caused me to keep them at some distance since then. Again, it was not a breaking of fellowship (wow, that sounds churchy!). But it has been a barrier between us. What I have started to wonder about is whether God asks more of me than forgiveness here. I am wondering if forgetting is also required. Not forgetting as in destroying brain cells, but rather acting as though the event never happened and trying to build the relationship as though it never did.

Now, obviously, this can not be universally applied (which is part of the problem in my thinking about this). If a man hits his wife, she can be expected to forgive him. But she should never forget, because she needs to protect herself and potentially her children. I have another friend from college who had mental issues, who would repeatedly cycle from being your best friend to your most abusive enemy and back again. That I should never "forget" because I need to be ready to raise the defenses when the "evil side" came out, even if I resolve to forgive each time. And there are other more obvious examples - you can forgive an addict their behavior, but you must never forget because it takes only a moment of weakness for the addictive behavior to resume.

So, the question is really whether it is EVER proper to "forget" along with the "forgive." And if so, what are the criteria for the forgetting to happen? Is it a one-time sin? Is it a sin which does not go to character? Is it a sin for which full restitution has been made? Or does the wise man always remember, and never forget?

I could use some advice on this one.

NJ and CT Top the List of Richest States

According to a recent census study, New Jersey (where I was born) is the #1 richest state in the nation and Connecticut (where I live now) is #2. The irony is that both states are also among the list with the poorest cities in the country. New Jersey tops that list as well with the city of Camden, long known in the region for its extreme poverty and social problems.

Why does it seem like in America the richest and poorest are always side by side? Is it an inherent fact of democratic economics or a quirk of American culture?

Farscape vs SG1

I know currently Muse and Ward are offline, but I thought they'd enjoy this parody of Farscape from a recent Stargate SG-1 commercial. I apologize for everyone else who won't care in the least.