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Review: District Nine: Innovative Sci-fi
2009-08-16 21:39:00
(you can look at the TV hostess for a while until the trailer) "Where did the aliens come from?" is not the question that came to my mind as I watched District 9. I wondered, "Where did District 9 come from?" It has no obvious precedent in either plot or tone, which is why it's not only a great movie, but will be considered a brilliant burst of creativity in a comic book-dominated film age. In District 9, an alien craft strands itself over the South African city of Johannesburg (itself an interesting choice and self-acknowledged as such in the narration). The government herds the aliens into a shanty town where they spend their life acquiring cat food from Nigerian gangsters, mostly; some "prawns" have larger plans. The Multi-National United (MNU), a private company charged with taking care of the aliens, wants to relocate them to a newer facility farther away from Johannesburg. The president of MNU's chooses his son in law, the nerdy Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley), to ...
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Most Americans not ready for Health Care debate, says TV news
2009-08-14 19:31:00
Health care is complicated and boring. That's probably why the press is focusing on the rowdier town hall crowds and sensational statements by Sarah Palin instead of the plan itself. As usual, it's hard to say whether people prefer this to the real issue or the media just think they do. Whom does this benefit? It could be that the White House knows that the more people learn about the plan the more they'll dislike it so it prefers the distraction. Meanwhile, CNN has banned talk radio personalities from coming on and commenting on the issue. Talk show hosts differ in their approach, intelligence, and knowledge. I guess a blanket ban based on a stereotype is easier than examining such distinctions. I don't listen to all of talk radio, but the shows that I've listened to have done a much better job of covering the issue than television. Finally, disinformation is inevitable. Let's correct those. The bill is the thing. SHARETHIS.addEntry( { t...
More About: News , Health , Health Care , Debate , Care

Hillary making the world love us again
2009-08-11 06:11:00
Wow! I'd like to see Barbara Boxer and Hillary go at it. SHARETHIS.addEntry( { title : 'Hillary making the world love us again', url : 'http://www.nelsonguirado.com/index.php/a symmetric/2009/08/10/hillary-making-the-w orld-love-us-again'}, { button: true } ) ; Powered by b2evolution.
More About: International , World , Love , The World

McCain taking Asymmetric advice- Carter's second term
2008-06-10 17:17:00
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an interview with Carl Cameron today, Sen. McCain introduced some new pushback to Sen. Obama’s assertion that the GOPer represents a Bush third term. The presumptive Republican nominee instead argues that the Illinois Democrat is promoting policies that would mean a second term for President Carter. “You know one of his favorite phrases is that I would be a Bush third term. Well I think maybe his proposals could be a Carter second term,” McCain told Fox. from here. McCain took my advice. No doubt McCain staffers, at this very moment, are furiously pouring over the Asymmetric archives for more strategy tips. OK. Good, Mr. McCain. Stick with me- I'll get you to the White House.Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Advice , Taking , Term

The racist past of the minimum wage
2008-06-10 03:26:00
At a 1957 hearing on increasing the minimum wage, a northern U.S. Senator who favored the increase stated: “Of course, having on the market a rather large source of cheap labor depresses wages outside of that group, too—the wages of the white worker who has to compete. And when an employer can substitute a colored worker at a lower wage—and there are, as you pointed out, these hundreds of thousands looking for decent work—it affects the whole wage structure of an area, doesn’t it?” Who was the senator? Here’s a hint: just four years later he was the President. His name: John F. Kennedy. Jonah Goldberg talks about how the minimum wage started as a way to give white workers an advantage in his book, Liberal Fascism. Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning by Jonah Goldberg Anyways, the minimum wage is increasing again in July. It'll probably cause unemployment to go higher a...
More About: Past , Minimum Wage , Racist , Minimum

Movie Review: You Don't Mess With the Zohan
2008-06-09 21:13:00
Zohan belongs to that much-maligned category of comedy where the focus of all of the humor is the self-oblivious strangeness of the character. Recent examples of this sub-genre include the Austin Powers, Deuce Bigalow, and Ace Ventura movies, each tellingly known by its protagonist's name. Extreme stereotyping, oddly superhuman powers (Zohan can catch bullets with his teeth and fish with his but; Ace could communicate with animals.), and inside jokes (Bigalow's sex act references left middle schoolers around the world asking, "What's a 'dirty Sanchez?'") are characteristic of this type and may be the reason they're often derided by sophisticated types. Me? I like them if the character is compelling (Delta Farce's Larry the Cable Guy is an example of a failed character-driven comedy.). Zohan (Adam Sandler), the Israeli super counter-terrorist-sex machine-hair stylist is interesting enough to make the movie work. The inside jokes are so-so. His pubic hair fetishism (his own)...
More About: Movie , Movie Review , Review , Mess

Jindal's secret advantage
2008-06-09 08:22:00
Like many Republicans, I'm rooting for either Jindal or Palin as McCain's running mate. People have already written about Palin and Jindal's intelligence and reformer credentials. Both have lovely families. However, there's one factor that I haven't seen talked about anywhere. Based on recent history, Bobby Jindal will almost certainly avoid embarrassing vice-presidential spelling mistakes: The famous picture and the start of the "gotcha" left.Powered by b2evolution.
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McCain's teeth and the would-be healers of the nation
2008-06-09 04:48:00
From the side that wants to bring America together. Visit Hot Air. Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Nation , Teeth , The Nation

Obama and Democrats to limit the size of American homes
2008-06-09 04:25:00
A pilot program in Barack Obama 's back yard. has had positive emission results, according to Barack Obama. Citing the wild success of CAFE standards for automobiles, presidential candidate Barack Obama and the Democratic party have drawn up plans to limit the size of American homes. According to the proposal, Americans will be limited to a maximum of 250 square feet per person: "A smaller house means less heating and cooling costs, less building materials, especially wood that, in their tree form, recycles the greenhouse emissions that cause global warming and concrete that comes from our precious rocks. Smaller houses means less encroachment of ancient native-American burial grounds. Working together, we can impose these and other important regulations. Pioneers in California have already made progress by eliminating vestiges of our polluting past. They've ended such environmental mini-holocausts as wood-burning fire places, lawnmowers, selfish comfortableness, and light bulb...
More About: Democrats , Homes , Size

Ebay finally changes feedback policy
2008-06-08 23:16:00
Here's the new ebay screen. For years, the most absurd thing on the internet has been the fact that ebay sellers could hold perfect buyers hostage with the threat of negative feedback. Imagine: you buy a turntable and it comes broken (I don't have to imagine.). The man refuses to give satisfaction, but knowing how to game the system, hasn't given you your feedback despite your prompt payment. You let the matter drop rather than have your low total feedback number suffer disproportionately compared to his larger one. It was a ridiculous system that prevented honesty and held down feedback scores. The buyer's responsibility is to pay. If he pays, he's a good ebayer. If he doesn't, he should never have the merchandise to rate. According to the new rules, a seller can only leave positive feedback. He pays- boom! feedback. I guess if the guy pays late, you can decline to leave any feedback whatsoever. The buyer can still leave negative or positive. In addition, he can use star...
More About: Ebay , Policy , Feedback , Finally

Who's better: Sarah Palin or Bobby Jindal?
2008-06-08 22:25:00
Choice please (ladies first): Sarah Palin or Bobby Jindal Powered by b2evolution.

Ross Andrew McGinnis : Medal of Honor winner
2008-06-03 02:28:00
R.I.P. Official citation. The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis United States Army For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2 .50-caliber Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on 4 December 2006. That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While Private McGinnis was manning the M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the...
More About: Winner , Andrew

Bo Diddley (Elias Bates) dead at 79
2008-06-02 19:11:00
One of my favorites. Not only a great musician and songwriter, but a devoted husband and good guy. I'll have more later, but you can enjoy the video below. Powered by b2evolution.
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A reply to the Packer's fall of conservatism in the New Yorker
2008-05-31 06:11:00
My friends at Magnasquids posted this and, since I think it's typical of a certain mind-set, I thought I'd reply. George Packer's a delusional idiot (I don't know if he's an idiot, but I thought I'd ape his argument style.). Let me elaborate: Democrats think that a general discontent caused mainly by the Iraq war (or arguing the Iraq war) and things unrelated to ideology like responses to disasters (Did Ray Nagin's or Kathleen Blanco's pro-government policies help?) gas prices- unrelated except that leftist solutions would make them much worse by not drilling more oil- that has given Democrats a slight advantage this election year means the downfall of conservatism. Let's see. What liberal solutions are people dying to try? 1. Health care. People want to spend more money for less care so that everybody has the same plan? The public may be unhappy with the cost of health care, but that doesn't mean they're willing to try a completely ideological solution (I say "comp...
More About: Conservatism , The New Yorker , Fall

A musical tour of Cuban cities with Beny More.
2008-05-31 00:05:00
**updated** Map of Cuba, pre-revolution, with its original provinces: Pinar del Rio, La Habana, Matanzas, Las Villas, Camaguey, Oriente. Beny More loved Cuba. I can arrive at such a conclusion through simple deduction: People devote their energy and try to be close to what they love. Beny More left a lucrative career in Mexican music and film to return to Cuba (foot-vote). He also stayed in Cuba after the revolution of 1959 while many of the best Cuban singers, like Celia Cruz, left. Beny More sang about Cuba- alot. Many singers sang about Cuba in general and some sang about cities, but Beny is the only one who paid musical tribute to more than one city. Not only that, but he often gave those non-universal and potentially less lucrative tribute songs his best melodies and music. Therefore, Beny More loved Cuba. With that in mind, let's take a tour of Cuba with Beny as our guide. You can get the albums below. All aboard the Guagua (autobus for my non-Cuban brothers): Read more ...
More About: Musical , Cities , Tour

Lost season finale
2008-05-30 23:25:00
The last episode of Lost didn't contain any great revelations or increase our understanding of either the island or characters. I didn't find the island's movement very dramatic (I'm sure Hillary Clinton wishes she could have moved Puerto Rico to the coast of North Carolina a couple of weeks back.). That the corpse was Locke's didn't deliver the punch the dramatic direction suggested it should have. Sawyer jumping out of the helicopter was almost too much, but the camera reminding us that Hurley was the more logical choice, contrasting heroism with mere goodheartedness, made the scene effective. The episode wore on me in the second hour. Instead of feeling regret that the series was ending, I wanted it to hurry up and do so. I was happy for Penny and Desmond. I didn't get the whole baby-Kate-Jack thing.Powered by b2evolution.
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I won't be reviewing Sex in the City this weekend
2008-05-30 19:57:00
I thought I'd do something less painful than watching Sex in the City like viewing a loop of the Olbermann-McClellan interview while vultures pick at my liver. I may be normal, insensitive, or both, but I usually can't stand female-female buddy movies like Beaches, Boys on the Side, Thelma and Louise, etc. Something about those "Oh, I'm so naughty (or wild)" and "Oh my God, I can't believe you said that" jokes that grate. also, I wonder if women look at Sex in the City like men look at James Bond movies: As the screen manifestation of their exciting, idealized, life fantasy- the kind of existence that's unattainable for 90% of women (99.9% worldwide), "What a fun job! The men!, The shoes!" I don't usually watch horror movies like The Strangers either-much less one that's gotten such poor reviews . It's time to fire up the DVD player. Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Weekend , Reviewing , In the City

What's a better cast: Facts of Life or Sex in the City?
2008-05-30 17:06:00
Choice please. Sex in the City : Sex in the City Cast Facts of Life : Facts of Life Sex and the City - The Complete First SeasonPowered by b2evolution.

Obama and Michael Pfleger
2008-05-30 16:13:00
Rev. Michael Pfleger is certainly more exciting than my priest. Take away the hysterics and you have a pretty middle-of-left discourse: 1. White people today have benefited (and continue to do so) from past racism. 2. Whites should acknowledge that fact and continue to pay some kind of price to even it out- affirmative action, etc. 3. Hillary Clinton felt "entitled" to the presidency. It's an opinion that I've heard from the right and the left many times, although it people may not say that it's specifically because she's white. So, besides the "going native" speaking style, I don't see anything he said as a big deal. Obama "distanced" himself, adding to his under-bus carnage.Powered by b2evolution.

Scott McClellan
2008-05-29 17:02:00
Conservatives seem to have concluded that because McClellan is sub-par professionally and personally that he has nothing to say- the classic throw dirt in the air and hope that it blocks out the truth. Democrats, on the other hand, think that because McClellan said something against Bush, it's important. Wexler, a congressman who can't find enough things to waste his time on, wants McClellan to testify. McClellan said three things of note: 1. He saw Rove talk to Scooter Libby. I'm continually puzzled why anybody thinks the whole Valerie Plame affair is any more important than Brittney Spears' choice of underwear. Anyways, he thinks that because two people talked together that they must have been talking about what was on Scott McClellan's mind. 2. The second thing is Katrina. Yes, Bush failed at public relations and possible made some bad decisions. OK. 3. Bush tried to spin the war. It doesn't sound very noble, but I kind of expect politicians to "sell" the things t...

Samantha Carter of Stargate for McCain's vice president.
2008-05-28 17:42:00
Can Hillary of Kathleen Sibelius work a leather cat uniform like Samantha Carter ? Michael Medved goes over McCain's running mate choices today on Townhall. I'm grateful to Medved for his sound analysis, but he neglects one outside-the-box choice, former Stargate SG-1 team member Samantha Carter. The Asymmetric staff (thanks, honey) has prepared the following addendum to Medved's list: Pros: 1. Military experience. Carter has served her country on all seven continents including Antarctica and two galaxies including the battleground galaxy of Andromeda- no chicken hawk here. She's single-handedly taken down whole Goa'uld mother ships, and we owe her our very existence several times over. 2. Multiculture. Carter's not multi-racial, she's multispeciel. As she's blended with the Tokral Goa'uld Jolinar, Carter knows what it's like to be a minority. 3. Smarts. Ph.D. in astrophysics (Beat that, Mr. Harvard.). Samantha Carter has developed alternate sources of power from Na...
More About: President , Vice President , Vice

I wonder what Democrats would be saying about Hillary if...
2008-05-28 02:45:00
...Barack Obama had dropped out. Would they still attack her with such hatred? Call her a liar, complicit in assassination attempts, cold, calculating, a witch?Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Democrats , Hillary

Barack Obama and the Auschwitz gaffe
2008-05-28 01:10:00
"I had a uncle who was one of the, who was part of the first American troops to go into Auschwitz and liberate the concentration camps," Obama said, slowly and methodically. "And the story in my family is that when he came home, he just went into the attic, and he didn't leave the house for six months. Alright? Now, obviously something had affected him deeply, but at the time, there just weren't the kinds of facilities to help somebody work through that kind of pain." This is not the lie you're looking for. This isn't the 2008 version of Al Gore's internet invention or the Obama version of Cliton's Bosnia lie. In the first, Gore just looked dumb, not a liar and in the second, Clinton was talking about her own experience, not that of a family member. Let me translate what Obama said: "Somebody in my family helped liberate a Nazi camp (He probably knew of Auschwitz from the movies or some diversity seminar.), he was greatly affected by it, and we need more spending on gover...
More About: Barack Obama , Barack

Obama to raise ghost army- attack oil companies
2008-05-27 17:04:00
Obama addresses the troops. Gaining inspiration from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Barack Obama plans to "raise an unbeatable army of the fallen" to go after "unscrupulous lenders, oil companies, forces of division in politics, supporters of Bush's failed policies, voices of the past, the hopeless, and Pakistan." Obama will recruit the army by using his "healing powers to free the soldiers of their earthly obligations." Obama says the unusual recruitment technique is necessary after the G.I. Bill enticing soldiers to leave the service. Barack Obama will do away with the "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy in force since the time of Aragorn in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields Addressing the troops, Obama began: On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes — and I see many of them in the audience here today — our sense of patriotism is particularly strong. The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Platinum Series S...
More About: Companies , Ghost , Obama , Army , Attack

Ballad of the Green Berets Barry Sandler and others.
2008-05-27 15:16:00
I love this song. It's plaintive recognition of people willing to die for their country (and encourage their son to think similarly) is the closest to a martial virtue post-forties popular music gets. Bonus! In Spanish too. Andrew Sisters Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. The 1940s- When strait white men danced: Johnny Horton and the Battle of 1812. Honoring those new Americans who fought the British in that most senseless of American wars. Cadence, a military phenomenon I don't often miss. Shockingly un-PC. Next week: the best anti-war songs, although you can say these are, in a way.Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Green , Ballad , Barry

Indiana Jones whips box office competition
2008-05-27 15:10:00
If Harrison Ford can be Indiana Jones, John McCain can be president. 1 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) $126M $151M 2 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) $28.6M $96.7M 3 Iron Man (2008) $25.6M $258M 4 What Happens in Vegas... (2008) $11.2M $56.4M 5 Speed Racer (2008) $5.21M $37.4M 6 Baby Mama (2008) $4.21M $53M 7 Made of Honor (2008) $4.2M $39.9M 8 Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) $2.2M $58.7M 9 Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008) $1.2M $36.2M 10 The Visitor (2007/I) $917K $4.57M I'm a little disappointed that Narnia dropped off so much, but it still did OK. It looks like we're getting more superhero- comic book movies. Yeah?Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Office , Competition , Whips

Canoga Park Memorial Day parade
2008-05-27 02:45:00
I was settling in for a nice afternoon of surfing and listening to music when my conscience panged. "It was Memorial Day and I should do something besides blog about it, action being twice as valuable as thought (unless you're Plato or something). Besides, I have my paternal responsibilities, examples to give, etc.." I looked on the internet and saw that Canoga Park in the Valley above Los Angeles was having a parade and decided to attend. It's nice to see that a couple thousand of my fellow citizens and another couple thousand potential citizens (Both the crowd and the marchers were demographically representative of Los Angeles.) out of 10,000,000 can make it to one of these events. It was a good effort by those involved and I appreciate that people take time to plan these things. Mexican cowboys with the American flag on parade. I forgive Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa his ineffectiveness on this day as he extends his hand to me. American Cowboys With Wikipedia, it's now im...
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63rd fallen comrades memorial
2008-05-27 00:33:00
I planned on paying tribute to all of my comrades from the 63rd who have died while on deployment, but I didn't finish. It seems as though their tribute pages aren't available outside of the unit either. Anyways, better some than none, right? I apologize to those missing. Go here for some 63rd's (and some others') best.Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Memorial , Fallen

Caribbean songs for Memorial Day- Beny More and Daniel Santos
2008-05-26 17:54:00
Throughout our history, Hipanics have participated in America's wars, fighting and dying alongside their fellow Americans, performing, as a group, excellently, and earning more than their fair share of decorations. I've had the pleasure to work with many Puerto Rican soldiers during my time in the Army. I was able to find a couple of songs that serve as a musical testament to their sacrifice. Daniel Santos was the most popular Puerto Rican performer of his time. He had a wonderful baritone that would effortlessly slide into and out of phrases in a uniquely languid slur. He himself did not serve, but he captured the relationship many soldiers have with the bugle in "El Corneta," or the Bugle. Those who have served understand the feeling of being roused out of sleep by that infernal instrument. The next song, "Despedida," is about a soldier getting ready to deploy (Korea, I'm guessing) and whose primary concern is who will take care of his mother. The last one h...
More About: Songs , Caribbean , Memorial Day , Memorial

A jobs program that will cost Americans nothing
2008-05-26 01:43:00
Check that. It will actually make Americans richer and more secure. Come to think of it, it will annoy some very bad people in the world to boot. The answer is: Allow American corporations to explore for oil on American ground and off-shore (Maybe we can get some of the Caribbean oil before the Chinese drink our milkshake.). Such a policy will: 1. Lower energy prices which will, in turn, enable Americans to keep more money with which they can then buy more health care or save for college or organic foods or whatever. 2. Provide thousands of high-paying jobs. We may even need more low-skilled immigrant labor. 3. Fill the treasury with even more billions of dollars from the oil corporations. If we really want to improve the environment and reduce the already low unemployment rate, how about building nuclear power plants? Nahhh, too easy, right? There's no fun in societal improvement when the government's not directly involved.Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Jobs , Cost , Program