Friday, 31 Oct 2003

US 3-star General Byykin’s comments about fighting Satan in the mideast and about Islam not being a true religion continue to get a lot of press attention. I think the continuing attention is mostly due to the fact that despite Bush and the White House’s attempts to say that the general’s views are his own PERSONAL views and are not official views or US policy, no one has said his speech is inappropriate or tried to limit his speech. Everyone involved tries to tout out the “free-speech” clause (which is incredibly hypocritical given the current admin’s attempts to roll back so many personal freedoms US citizens enjoy) and to make the case that he can say whatever he wants - that there is no way to restrict his remarks. The problem with this excuse is clearly explained in an article in aljazeerah. This quote sums up the crux of the problem…

“no less a Pentagon authority than Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld defended Boykin�s �outstanding record� of military service, and insisted that he couldn�t prevent military officials like Boykin from making controversial statements: �We�re a free people. And that�s the wonderful thing about our country.�

But Rumsfeld is wrong. Can the Pentagon stop Boykin from talking? Yes, and easily. Rumsfeld�s claim is correct only in theory � at least to some extent, a person�s constitutional rights, including the right to freedom of speech, are not forfeited upon enlistment or conscription into the US armed forces. But in fact all military personnel, including generals of all �star� ranks such as three-star Boykin, are governed by a special group of laws that sometimes restricts both soldiers� freedoms of behavior and expression � the US Code of Military Justice. And the code and the legal cases that discuss it make clear that in the military, you can�t always say what you want.

Unless what you�re saying pleases the Pentagon.

If your speech pleases the Pentagon, they let you keep talking. Church groups, Rotary Clubs, universities, and even Fortune 500 companies. But if the Pentagon doesn�t like your speech, they can order you to shut up. And if you don�t shut up, whether you�re in the public square or at a prayer breakfast or in a barracks, they can do far worse to you, like take away your rank and pay, and throw you into jail for years.” [link]

Thursday, 30 Oct 2003

Do you remember when advertising and branding was supposed to just “work”, the time when a logo or color scheme was chosen for what it was supposed to symbolize or the feelings it was supposed to evoke, when ads didn’t *tell* you how you were supposed to feel? I do, but I must be a dinosaur, advertising has gone beyond trying to insinuate itself under our skin (although it does still try to do that) apparently in case we don’t get the subtle cues or feel the right things advertisers feel need to explain what we are supposed to feel when we look at their logo. This example popped into my inbox today - it’s from Palm Computing. The last line is the significant one.

” Our new name signals an important new beginning from an established and respected base. palmOne builds on the brand promise and popularity of the Palm name, while indicating our resolve to continue to be the driving force of innovation in our space. The logo colors of deep red and vibrant orange convey energy, enthusiasm and power.”

Wednesday, 29 Oct 2003

Too silly for words. Granted it was a late at night viewing, and I might have dozed off once or twice but still - it was a howl. But this was just so bizarre - it has to be one of the oddest constructed films (as in disjointed plot) I have ever seen. I **loved** it.

This is the “official” plot synopsis that is on the DVD case. **minor spoiler follows**

“Synopsis: During World War II, Jackie Chan joins a crack commando unit assembled to retake a fortune stolen by the enemy during a destructive raid. The group is led by the mysterious “Devil Sergeant”, who ruthlessly leads the men through rampant vicious battles. Jackie soon finds himself caught in a deadly double-cross, and fights a battle unrivaled in screen violence. With the untimely death of most of his comrades, Jackie fights a final duel to avenge their death. ”

This description of the plot is as far as I could tell almost completely ficticious. I say “as far as I can tell” because the audio is incredibly low and the overdubbing often illegible.

** spoilers follow ***

Some differences?

Jackie does not really join the “crack commando unit”

The “Crack commando unit” appears to be more a collection of circus lunatics than anything resembling a crack commando unit - though I must admit the scenes where all 7-8 of them drive around in a single jeep hanging off the sides reminded me of the Banana Splits saturday morning TV show so that might have inordinately influenced my perception.

The “Commando Unit” is not on a mission to recover stolen money, I can’t even quite figure out how money got involved since it wasn’t really mentioned until almost the end.

The leader is not called “Devil Sargeant”, he is called just “Captain” - I didn’t notice anything mysterious about him.

The Captain doesn’t actually lead them through or into *any* battles.

Some similarities between the actual plot and the description on the box?

The movie is set during World War II

Jackie Chan is in the movie

There is a commando unit assembled to go on an important mission.

Jackie Chan does come in contact with the Commando Unit.

There is a large amount of money involved in some character’s motivations.

There was a destructive raid.

There were vicious battles.

Jackie does find himself in a deadly double-cross, and does fight a violent battle.

My unofficial plot synopsis would be:

During world war II, two con artists (Jackie Chan and his female companion) repeatedly cross paths with a commando squad on a secret mission. What happens when you combine a dishonest cop, an Elvis impersonator with a jealous con-artist-expert-fighter lover companion, an escape artist, a comical not-quite gay pair of soldiers who dress in ancient armor, their taciturn captain and another guy who I can’t remember into a “crack commando squad” and send them off to rescue kidnapped allied generals during world war II? Well, along the way they must battle mysterious masked riders, an effiminate male ruler of an amazon kingdom and his amazon hoards, a jealous female amazon, haunted houses, ghosts, magicians, nazis in muscle cars and bulldozers, and their own greed, so the result is of course that hilarious hijinx, and bloody mayhem ensues.

Wednesday, 29 Oct 2003

“Fantasy Mission Force” (old Jackie Chan)
“24″ (TV season premiere)

Wednesday, 29 Oct 2003

Watching an old Jackie Chan movie (”Fantasy Mission Force”) late at night. Laughing out loud at the pure silliness.