Thursday, December 01, 2005

Chariots of the Quads


I was going to write up a review and comment on Murderball, but the hell with that.
Rent this movie. Just do it.

It seems the best movies to be made in the last several years have been documentaries. In the hands of competent film makers you can get seriously poignant insights in ways you least suspect. When some hyped up big production mainstream flick comes out I feel like it's my duty to see the damned thing, but I look forward to documentaries now. And I'm very seldom disappointed.

Others:
Bush's Brain
Word Wars
Mad Hot Ballroom
March of the Penguins
Control Room
Spellbound


All the eye candy in the world couldn't save "War of the Worlds".

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So a light clicked on in Von Rumsfeld's head and he realized no one should say "insurgents" when speaking of those with whom we fight in Iraq. He wants us to use the clunky "enemies of the legitimate Iraqi government." I recall the 10 minutes of fame given to 'struggle against violent extremism' which was supposed to replace "the war on terror".
Maybe little boots and his blood soaked cabal think they can show up in front of captive audiences and spew their lies and believe the world approves. Maybe they think just renaming white phosphorous as an illuminating tool keeps them from being vile war criminals. Maybe they think re-branding their crimes and renaming opponents keeps the stink off them.
Just keep smearing lipstick on that pig.

Update - Blogenlust has this quick history of naming those, um, people over there:

1980-1991: “Allies
1991-September 10, 2001: “Enemies”
September 11, 2001 - March 2003: “Terrorists”
March 2003 - June 2003: “Saddam Fedayeen”, “Regime Death Squads”
June 2003 - April 2004: “Loyalists” (changed because it had too much of a postive connotation), “Former Regime Elements” (changed because the acronym FRE sounded too much like “free”), “Rebels” (changed because it was too neutral, perhaps even a bit positive)
April 2004 - November 29, 2005: “Insurgents” (changed because it lent “more legitimacy than they seem to merit.”)
November 30, 2005 - Present : “Enemies of the Legitimate Iraqi Government”
Up next: “Iraqi Cong” and “Former Enemies, Now Allies of Iran
Cost of the War in Iraq
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