I was thinking about "The Poseidon Adventure"
this morning. Not because I'm going on a cruise ship, or because I want to watch this really good film from the early 1970s right now. It was a song from the soundtrack that was on my mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KClpLzFftU
Maybe it's just the fact I did not sleep well last night. The victims of yesterday's horrific events in Santa Monica were on my mind. The song above makes reference to finding a place that's safe and warm. Warm we have. Safe is now even more in question than ever before with each passing day. Would you drive around with your car doors unlocked? Go to bed with any door or window unlocked? I worry that the line between prudence and paranoia will become even more blurred than it already is.
I'm willing to wager that at least one person will suggest fencing off the entire campus of SMC and requiring people who enter to do so at strategic points that are guarded, and that have metal detectors. Back in the late 1980s, I had to pass through a metal detector every time I went to the VA for medical treatment. No more. The metal detectors are gone, replaced by unarmed guards. They do make you turn out your pockets if you go to the emergency room. By the time you get to that checkpoint, if you had it in your heart to do harm, it would be too late for them to stop you anyway. Are they paranoid, prudent or just unconcerned? Somewhere between the last two I would think.
We are frustrated. That is because we have no one to punish. When a multiple murder takes place and the killer winds up dead, there is no justice. No retribution. Even if police or someone else takes the life of the killer, it wasn't done with balancing the scales of justice in mind. It was done to keep people safe.
I'm angry. I'm frustrated. And I would give a lot to never have to watch another of those scenes on television ever again.
* * *
Ready to re-learn your U.S. geography? You may have to at least modify it. There are some rural counties in the northern part of Colorado that are exploring the notion of seceding from the state and forming their own. The new state would be named North Colorado. It is possible and in fact, there is precedent. It hasn't happened since 1863, but prior to then Vermont was formed from land in New York, Kentucky was formed from land in Virginia, Tennessee was formed from land in North Carolina, Maine from land in Massachusetts and West Virginia from Virginia (the last time that happened).
It does require approval of the state legislature of Colorado and a vote in the U.S. Congress. What's driving this? The rural counties involved are very conservative, but there's been a shift in the state's political structure toward a more liberal agenda. At least that's how those conservatives in the eight counties looking at the idea.
* * *
Would you believe me if I told you that Dolph Lungren is smarter than Bill Clinton? Former porn star Asia Carrera is smarter than Madonna? Cindy Crawford is smarter than Hilary Rodham Clinton? It's all true, if lists of famous people who are "geniuses" are to be believed. In fact, these lists indicate that actor James Wood is the celebrity with the highest IQ, at 180.
* * *
This Date in History:
On this date in 632, Muhammad dies in Medina.
On this date in 793, Vikings invade England.
On this date in 1789, James Madison introduces 12 proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution into the House of Representatives. 10 will be approved and become the Bill of Rights.
On this date in 1861, Tennessee secedes from the Union.
On this date in 1912, Carl Lammle incorporates Universal Pictures.
On this date in 1948, Milton Berle hosts the debut of "Texaco Star Theater".
On this date in 1949, George Orwell's "1984" is published.
On this date in 1966, Topeka, KS is hit by a F5 tornado. 16 are killed, hundreds injured.
On this date in 1967, during the Six Day War, the USS Liberty incident occurs. 34 aboard are killed.
On this date in 1995, US Air Force pilot Scott O'Grady is rescued in Bosnia.
Famous Folk Born on This Date:
Frank Lloyd Wright
Thomas J. Higgins
Byron White
Suharto
LeRoy Nieman
Lyn Nofziger
Barbara Bush
Jerry Stiller
Joan Rivers
Bernie Casey
Chuck Negron
Boz Scaggs
Bonnie Tyler
Sonia Braga
Griffin Dunne
Rob Pilatus
Julianna Margulies
Marcos Siega
Teresa Strasser
Lindsay Davenport
Today's movie quote comes from "The Silence of the Lambs":
Murray: Is it true what they're sayin', he's some kinda vampire?
Clarice Starling: They don't have a name for what he is.
#2
Hannibal Lecter: [on telephone] I do wish we could chat longer, but... I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye.
Clarice Starling: Dr. Lecter?... Dr. Lecter?... Dr. Lecter?... Dr. Lecter?...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KClpLzFftU
Maybe it's just the fact I did not sleep well last night. The victims of yesterday's horrific events in Santa Monica were on my mind. The song above makes reference to finding a place that's safe and warm. Warm we have. Safe is now even more in question than ever before with each passing day. Would you drive around with your car doors unlocked? Go to bed with any door or window unlocked? I worry that the line between prudence and paranoia will become even more blurred than it already is.
I'm willing to wager that at least one person will suggest fencing off the entire campus of SMC and requiring people who enter to do so at strategic points that are guarded, and that have metal detectors. Back in the late 1980s, I had to pass through a metal detector every time I went to the VA for medical treatment. No more. The metal detectors are gone, replaced by unarmed guards. They do make you turn out your pockets if you go to the emergency room. By the time you get to that checkpoint, if you had it in your heart to do harm, it would be too late for them to stop you anyway. Are they paranoid, prudent or just unconcerned? Somewhere between the last two I would think.
We are frustrated. That is because we have no one to punish. When a multiple murder takes place and the killer winds up dead, there is no justice. No retribution. Even if police or someone else takes the life of the killer, it wasn't done with balancing the scales of justice in mind. It was done to keep people safe.
I'm angry. I'm frustrated. And I would give a lot to never have to watch another of those scenes on television ever again.
* * *
Ready to re-learn your U.S. geography? You may have to at least modify it. There are some rural counties in the northern part of Colorado that are exploring the notion of seceding from the state and forming their own. The new state would be named North Colorado. It is possible and in fact, there is precedent. It hasn't happened since 1863, but prior to then Vermont was formed from land in New York, Kentucky was formed from land in Virginia, Tennessee was formed from land in North Carolina, Maine from land in Massachusetts and West Virginia from Virginia (the last time that happened).
It does require approval of the state legislature of Colorado and a vote in the U.S. Congress. What's driving this? The rural counties involved are very conservative, but there's been a shift in the state's political structure toward a more liberal agenda. At least that's how those conservatives in the eight counties looking at the idea.
* * *
Would you believe me if I told you that Dolph Lungren is smarter than Bill Clinton? Former porn star Asia Carrera is smarter than Madonna? Cindy Crawford is smarter than Hilary Rodham Clinton? It's all true, if lists of famous people who are "geniuses" are to be believed. In fact, these lists indicate that actor James Wood is the celebrity with the highest IQ, at 180.
* * *
This Date in History:
On this date in 632, Muhammad dies in Medina.
On this date in 793, Vikings invade England.
On this date in 1789, James Madison introduces 12 proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution into the House of Representatives. 10 will be approved and become the Bill of Rights.
On this date in 1861, Tennessee secedes from the Union.
On this date in 1912, Carl Lammle incorporates Universal Pictures.
On this date in 1948, Milton Berle hosts the debut of "Texaco Star Theater".
On this date in 1949, George Orwell's "1984" is published.
On this date in 1966, Topeka, KS is hit by a F5 tornado. 16 are killed, hundreds injured.
On this date in 1967, during the Six Day War, the USS Liberty incident occurs. 34 aboard are killed.
On this date in 1995, US Air Force pilot Scott O'Grady is rescued in Bosnia.
Famous Folk Born on This Date:
Frank Lloyd Wright
Thomas J. Higgins
Byron White
Suharto
LeRoy Nieman
Lyn Nofziger
Barbara Bush
Jerry Stiller
Joan Rivers
Bernie Casey
Chuck Negron
Boz Scaggs
Bonnie Tyler
Sonia Braga
Griffin Dunne
Rob Pilatus
Julianna Margulies
Marcos Siega
Teresa Strasser
Lindsay Davenport
Today's movie quote comes from "The Silence of the Lambs":
Murray: Is it true what they're sayin', he's some kinda vampire?
Clarice Starling: They don't have a name for what he is.
#2
Hannibal Lecter: [on telephone] I do wish we could chat longer, but... I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye.
Clarice Starling: Dr. Lecter?... Dr. Lecter?... Dr. Lecter?... Dr. Lecter?...
posted by me at 2:02 PM
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