Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Remember the movie Idiocracy?

In Idiocracy an average man in an Army experiment is supposed to be kept in hibernation for 1 year, but they mess up and he sleeps for 500 years. He discovers a society so incredibly dumbed-down that he's easily the most intelligent person alive.

This is how it starts
Via the DefCon blog comes that news that Texas governor Rick Perry has appointed a creationist to head the Texas State Board of Education.

I’ll give you a moment to clean off your screen. Yes, you read that right.

At first I thought, "No, not even a politician in Texas could possibly do something that dumb, that contrary to reality, that horrifying to their kids. DefCon Blog must have gotten it wrong!" ... continues at BadAstronomy
When the dumbing down is coming from the people expected to educate us...we are doomed.

[Cat wants to make sure you know about the cat picture at the bottom of the BadAstronomy post I linked to]

Monday, July 16, 2007

Brownback's idea of religious liberty

On presidential candidate Sen. Brownback's MySpace page, there is a page for "Brownback - On the Issues". Under the "Religious Liberty" section Brownback says...
"... The First Amendment protects the freedom to practice the religion of one's choice. That freedom is under attack by groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, who profit financially from lawsuits brought against cities and towns that display religious symbols. ...."
I'm confused. Is religious liberty something individuals have, or something the government has?
"... I introduced the Public Expression of Religion Act last year to prevent groups like the ACLU from collecting attorneys' fees in religious freedom cases. Our country was founded on the idea that its citizens should be free to express their religious beliefs without government interference. ..."
So we have the freedom to express our beliefs without government interference, but the government should be immune from paying my costs to defend my rights when it does interfere?
"... I will continue the fight to protect that freedom."
Please don't.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Free Movies in the Twin Cities

2010 Free Movies in the Twin Cities can be found here Below is a post from 2007.

There are a few FREE MOVIES in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota this summer. You know you want to go see The Killer Shrews while sitting in the courtyard at the Bell...
July
11 - O Brother, Where Art Thou? - S
12 - My Big Fat Greek Wedding - D
13 - The Thin Man - F
16 - All That Heaven Allows - W
18 - Goonies - S
19 - Akeelah and the Bee - D
20 - Casino Royale - F
23 - There’s Always Tomorrow - W
25 - Ghostbusters - S
26 - Father of the Bride - D
27 - Much Ado About Nothing - F
30 - The Tarnished Angels - W
August
1 - On the Waterfront - S
2 - Sabrina - D
6 - Written on the Wind - W
9 - A Cinderella Story - D
13 - Imitation of Life - W
16 - Attack of the Giant Leeches - B
20 - Magnificent Obsession - W
23 - The Killer Shrews - B
30 - The Wasp Woman - B

September
6 - The Giant Gila Monster - B
 

W = Walker Summer Music & Movies - Mondays
The Walker’s beloved summer favorite returns for its 31st season of sizzling music and classic films under the stars. The movie theme this year is "films directed by Douglas Sirk". The lush 1950s Hollywood films of director Douglas Sirk document the public’s growing discontent with the social conventions of the time. He was drawn to stories in which the characters struggle to claim their right to live as they’d like, often flying in the face of disapproving, nosy neighbors, friends, and family. Sirk illustrated the strength it takes to rise above the harpies who blindly enforce society’s empty morality.

S = Stevens Square Community Organization Cinema and Civics - Wednesdays
Cinema and Civics (formerly Music and Movies) is a summer film series sponsored by Stevens Square Community Organization, curated by Stevens Square Center for the Arts, and held in Stevens Square Park. This year's series is entitled "Come Together!" The theme centers around the idea that any group of people, either large or small, can change the world (or, at least, their little part of it.) We wanted to go back-if only for an evening-to a simpler time-a time when a group of people could gather together and just be...happy. At least for a little while...

D = Music & Movies in District del Sol - Thursdays
Now in its fifth year, “Music & Movies in District del Sol” returns to Saint Paul’s West Side every Thursday for 8 weeks this summer. Held in Castillo Park on St. Paul’s West Side, this free series will feature a variety of live, local bands and well-known films. This year the event includes activities during the musical performances. The activities start at 7:00 pm, music starts at 7:30 pm, all followed by a film starting at dusk.

B = Bell Museum Summer Sci-Fi Series - Thursdays
In a special summer edition of Science on Screen, the Bell Museum and Take-Up Productions will present animal-themed sci-fi films on an outdoor screen in the Bell Museum courtyard. Come early to see live animals and learn about the real behaviors and biology of the featured creatures. In the event of rain, films will be moved indoors to the Bell Museum auditorium and will begin at 8:30 p.m.

F = Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library - Fridays
Watch six weeks of films, all based on books, comics or plays, in the Kellogg Boulevard Courtyard of Central Library, 90 W. 4th Street, Saint Paul.

Did I miss any...I'd hate to miss out on a free deal?!

What kind of wives can be beaten?

I was doing some Google Video hunting and came across an interesting video....

Types of wifes that can be beaten, according to the Koran

"...and because when you purchase an electric appliance or a car you get a manual...explaining how to use it. The Creator of Man had sent down this book (the Koran) in order to show Man which ways he must choose". Apparently we in the West are still in our "days of ignorance" and can't acknowledge the "wondrous verses" that explain when we can beat our wives.


And then by clicking on the related videos area I found this one...

Cat Stevens signing "Hard Headed Women"

Cat Stevens has gone by the name Yusuf Islam after he converted to Islam in 1977, which explains why it was only a couple related videos away from the other one.


Sunday, July 1, 2007