Liberal Translator

I read a blog on MSNBC today that has given me a great opportunity to use my Liberal Translator. The blog discusses the current Democratic campaign strategy of urging people not to vote with their emotions, specifically anger. Very interesting tact for a party that relies on emotion, not logic, to get their people elected. But, that's a topic for another blog.

So, here's how this works...I find things that liberals say in the media and then I translate it to tell you what the liberal really means.

First, this quote from former President Bill Clinton:

"People are angry," former President Bill Clinton said yesterday at a campaign event for Washington state incumbent Sen. Patty Murray. "But when you make a decision when you're mad about anything, not just politics -- there's an 80 percent chance you make a mistake."

Translation - you little people seem really ticked off, so rather than exercise your Constitutionally guaranteed right to vote, just stay home.

And now this quote from our current President, Barack Obama:

"Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now, and facts and science and argument do not seem to be winning the day all the time, is because we're hard-wired not to always think clearly when we're scared," Obama told Democratic donors at a fundraiser in Massachusetts last week. "And the country is scared."

Translation - I'm so much smarter than all of you pathetic uneducated slobs. I'm so smart that there is no way you weak minded fools can possibly understand the genius of my policies. In fact, the depth of my brain power has so astonished your feeble minds, that the only way you can respond to it is with fear. And it is that fear that blinds you to my brilliance.

And then finally this, from Professor Eric Herzik of the Department of Political Science at the University of Nevada Reno. Professor Herzik is discussing the Harry Reid/Sharron Angle race. Senator Reid has repeatedly categorized Angle's views as "extreme". Professor Herzik said the following when discussing the message of a recent Harry Reid ad:

"You're mad at Obama. So you're going to let Sharron Angle be your senator? You may be angry about the economy, but the alternative is not a good alternative" for many voters in the state who think that Angle is "just too crazy."

Translation - Anyone who disagrees with a Democratic policy is crazy and doesn't know what is good for them. Trust us, we know what's best for you, even if you disagree with us.

That's all I have tonight folks. Hopefully we'll get some more opportunities for me to use this translation skill I have in the near future.

Mmmm....Chicken

I've always been a fan of fried chicken. When I was a kid we used to go to Kentucky Fried Chicken when it was still called Kentucky Fried Chicken. Eventually we decided that was too greasy and switched to our local grocery store for our fried chicken. When I was in high school I worked at Hardee's when it had fried chicken. That was good fried chicken. I actually got really good at making it. In fact one of my best days of work at Hardee's was when we were providing supper to the fire fighters who were battling a forest fire in the Black Hills. I made over 500 pieces of fried chicken that day.

So, where am I going with all of this. Well, I've been craving fried chicken lately, but our local grocery store makes terrible fried chicken, and KFC is still really greasy. Today my 7 year old and I went to Culver's for lunch. My dad had told me that Culver's fried chicken was outstanding, and he wasn't exaggerating. The chicken was so juicy and the breading was good but not overwhelming. Ok, and here's the most amazing thing, the mashed potatoes had lumps in it...so it wasn't a mashed potatoes mix. Or Culver's has found a mix that leaves lumps to make you think it's real. Anyway, they were really good too.

I think I have a new favorite fried chicken. I already have probably eaten more Culver's food than I should have in my life, and this just gives me another reason to visit on of my favorite chain restaurants.

Movie Review: Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Well, tonight I finally took the plunge and saw a movie in 3D. Ok, I've seen 3D movies at Disney World and a few other places, but this was my first full length feature in 3D. I had heard that "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" was even better than "Avatar" in 3D, but I can't say for sure because I am still boycotting "Avatar".

First off, the movie. "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" was actually a really good movie. I'd give it a solid 4 stars, and my son might tell you it's a 5 star movie. The story moves pretty fast, and centers around young Soren, a barn owl who escapes captivity and searches out the legendary Guardians of Ga'Hoole to stop the evil owls who captured him in the first place. Along the way, Soren grows up and becomes the kind of owl he always dreamt about being. There are a couple of comic relief owls inserted as well, so it made for a good movie.

The 3D was really cool. It was like looking through a window, rather than having random things fly out at you. I eventually forgot I was wearing the glasses and just enjoyed the show. I'm not sure I'd like to see everything in 3D, but it really worked for this movie. Two thumbs up for the 3D.

I'm not sure how much longer the 3D theaters will be showing "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole", as our theater only has 2 showings left, but if you get a chance and you don't mind forking out the extra money, it's worth seeing this one in a 3D theater.

Movie Review: The Losers

Netflix was predicting 3.5 stars for me on "The Losers" and they finally missed badly on a prediction. This one is a 2 star movie. Maybe the fact that my wife and kids have been rating movies now that we can stream Netflix on the Wii is finally screwing up my predictions.

"The Losers" was a poor attempt at an A-Team style movie. But when compared with this summer's "A-Team", it lacked action, and tried way to hard to have a plot that just wasn't that good. The acting was terrible as well. The only redeeming factor for me was Chris Evans' character...he played his typical, funny, wise-cracking character.

I'd suggest skipping this one and watching "A-Team" instead.

Blissfully Ignorant

With that title, I bet you thought this was going to be an Obama post. Well, you'd be wrong...this is a post about umpiring in baseball. The playoffs are upon us, and once again, the umpires are getting way too much attention for their bad calls. So far, one could argue that 3 playoff games have been decided by screwed up calls by the different umpires.

The one case I saw was during the Twins/Yankees series, and is discussed in this story from Yahoo Sports. Basically there was an obvious strike that the home plate umpire called a ball. The batter should have been out. Instead, on the next pitch Lance Berkman of the Yankees hit what ended up being the game winning double. The Twins are getting used to this from the umpires these days (a similar bad call cost them a game last year in the playoffs against the Yankees).

From the Twins/Yankees game, using technology that is readily available to all, Yahoo Sports determined that there were 31 incorrect calls made on balls and strikes by the home plate umpire. Let's assume that the batters don't swing that often and the umpire is forced to make a judgement call on balls and strikes 200 times in a game (that's probably really high, but it makes the math easy). That means that this particular umpire is wrong 15.5% of the time, or to equate that to grading, he gets a low B. The postseason is supposed to use baseball's best umpires...are you telling me that the best guys are only getting the equivalent of a low B? Ridiculous!

The technology for instant replay is available. The TV audience knows right away whether or not a call is right or wrong. Baseball owes it to the fans and the teams to get the calls right. All they need is a 5th umpire in a booth somewhere reviewing each play. The data is available nearly real time and wouldn't affect the flow of the game. There is so much standing around in baseball anyway, that there would be plenty of time most games to reverse bad calls. Until baseball makes this change, its umpires will continue to be a big part of the story, and that's not what any of us want.

Movie Review: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lighting Thief

"Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief" is good as a stand alone movie. As a movie, I rate it nearly 4 stars, probably 3.75. Overall the story was good, the action was good, and the characters were likable.

The only problem is, it was hard to look at "The Lightning Thief" as just a movie. Not when I've read all 5 of the "Percy Jackson & The Olympians" books, and not when I really liked those books. While the movie makes a nice 2 hour story, the book was so much better, even if it didn't have the thrill a minute excitement of the book.

This almost always happens when a book is translated to a movie. Very rarely do you get a "Lord of the Rings" or even the "Harry Potter" films. Instead, you usually get something that is loosely based on the book, which is why I rarely watch the movie versions of books that I like.

So, here's my recommendation. If you are capable of accepting "Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief" as just a movie, or if you haven't read the book, go ahead and watch this movie. Otherwise, skip it and read the books.

Book Reviews: Hunger Games Trilogy #2 and #3

"Catching Fire": This was my favorite book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins. "Catching Fire" was a great bridge between "Hunger Games" and "Mockingjay". This book was longer than "Hunger Games" and I appreciated the extra detail. We learn much more about our heroes, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, and we meet some fun new characters, including my personal favorite, Finnick O'Dair. Overall, this was a really good book, but be sure you have access to "Mockingjay" right away because there is quite the cliffhanger.




"Mockingjay": After reading "Catching Fire" I was a little disappointed with "Mockingjay", the conclusion to the Hunger Games trilogy. It's not that "Mockingjay" was a bad book, it just didn't live up to the quality of "Catching Fire". I felt like some of the momentum was lost and the story was a little disjointed. I did enjoy the end of the book though, I just wish Suzanne Collins would have gotten us to that ending a little differently.

Overall, I did enjoy the Hunger Games trilogy. I think it's an appropriate series for teenagers on up. If you like post apocalyptic style stories, give these books a shot. I'd really like to discuss them with someone else who has read them.