Role Playing a Human Being

So I do know some people that have had problems in their lives. I know a kid that got high on meth and knocked someone’s windows out of their house, he got a felony for that. I know a guy who did time in prison and joined the Aryan Nations, although now he is just a dad who drives truck with four kids. I went to high school with a dude named Randy Roth http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1992/9204240068.asp , I had him in auto shop, since I didn’t have a car at first I worked on his 57 chevy shorty. But to look on the front page of the PI and a number of other papers like the Huffington Post and see a woman I used to know in cuffs charged with first degree murder, is somewhat bizarre. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090613/NEWS01/706139922/-1/RSS02

Shawna was always a trouble maker and didn’t take too many things very seriously. When I worked with her she was always in HR, although I don’t think she was actually fired. One time she baked brownies and brought them to work and they had rubbers baked inside them, you can imagine how that went over!!

She had stopped here a couple times at my place on the way to Snoqualmie area to visit her mother. I try and look back at the person I thought I used to know a bit and ask myself~ did I ever see or imagine she could or would ever become a cold blooded murderer? The kind that kills kids, so they won’t be witnesses? The answer is no, hell no.

She had two kids and when she wanted to split up with her current husband she decided to leave her son with him (he wasn’t the father), I asked why? She said her son liked living with him. He is currently in prison now for selling guns illegally among other things. I guess she just never learned the whole humanity thing, about loving and actually caring about other people.

Well you should be happy now Shawna, you are on the front page of the paper! You don’t have to punch the clock and everyone knows your name now. I would imagine that in your own mind you can somehow justify what you did because it seems your mind has become a warped record of a thing that doesn’t work anymore like a brain should work. It is just so sad there are people like you, sneaking around in the midst of people like the rest of us, the most of us, who try and do our best to get along with people and live the right way, do the right thing.

The WIsdom of Solomon can solve the Boeing Tanker Fiasco

The Military Tanker Battle between Airbus and Boeing has been going on for some time now and nothing is happening; people talk and talk and talk and nothing is happening.
At first of course Boeing was found guilty of ethics violations and fired two of its top employees, (who went to jail), and then the next round Airbus won amid concerns the air Force did not tell Boeing it wanted a larger tanker. Now it is up for bid yet again. This all started approximately 2002 and there is no end in sight. The problem is the current re-fueling tankers the Air Force is running were built in the 1950’s and the other thing is the USA needs the jobs NOW, as in yesterday.
At first I thought, you know what? These are American jobs and should be kept in America, are defensive technology shouldn’t be spread around. Now I have changed my mind, I think the order should be split in half.
By doing the King Solomon division, many problems with this messy affair would be solved. For one, no matter who wins at this point the other conglomerate will whine and scream for years, and the problem is they will most likely be right.
Secondly, this thing needs to be expedited so the Air Force can get their planes and so jobs can be created immediately. Also, by splitting it I think the maximum amount of US jobs would be created, the Air Bus plane will be assembled in Alabama. Although I have not much sympathy at all for our confederate flag waving friends and their right-to-work states, (slave state) mentality it is what is best for the country as a whole. The 767 line could be re-energized and the Boeing Everett facility could be fully utilized with four wide body lines going at once.

Since Boeing off loaded everything they thought they could feasibly get away with on the 787 (turned out far more than they could get away with), they can’t complain about giving away US jobs ever again (incredibly stupid and shortsighted on their part). If the 787 flies this month (HA!) the Everett facility will be buzzing busy and the 747-8 is still being launched. I don’t think trying to come up with a new 777 tanker makes sense right now.

Also I would really like Air Bus to have the pain and discomfort of trying to deal with the US military establishment. It would just hurt them in trying to fix the A380 and launch the A350 new plane at the same time. Dealing with the Air Force and trying to train the southern boys to be somewhat useful would keep them in a whirl for sure. It would provide endless hours of viewing enjoyment, also they have claimed Air Bus would build freighters at the same US facility.
So I say split the order and let’s all move on and get back to work!

If I had only Ten Movies to Watch (for all time)

A friend and I who discuss movies frequently at work have kicked around the idea of the “top ten favorite movies” to pick as the only movies we could watch the rest of our lives. This would be like the desert island scenario, where these movies would be the only choices available. So in that vein this list might be different than some others. A movie might be truly great but not have the kind of staying power where you could watch it again and again, still getting something out of it. Looking at IMDB.Com and seeing Shawshank Redemption, Schindler’s List and Pulp Fiction in their top five I can’t see these particular movies being something to watch over and over.
Also it would seem a person would want a little variety. Even if a huge science fiction fan I don’t think you would want more than five in that one category. SO hopefully you can see my thinking here and come along for the ride and make your own picks. (These are in no particular order just part of the ten).

1. Blade Runner (1982)
To me a true classic, with great actors and a steamy wet, futuristic netherworld with lots of cool atmosphere. I really think a re-visit sequel (27 years later), would be great here as in the end Harrison Ford took off with Sean Young to escape and start over. Ridley Scott’s director cut does not have the Harrison Ford narration and it changes the feel (there are seven different versions of this film). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner

2. When Harry met Sally (1989)
This movie is not highly rated although several scenes have been quoted in popular culture ad infinitum. Directed by Rob Reiner, written by Nora Ephron with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as the stars. Favorite line from Carrie Fischer “tell me I’ll never be out there again”….Film asks the question can men and women attracted to each other just be friends?

3. The Godfather Part 2 (1974)
The Godfather series is big and rich, being wonderfully slow and thorough storytelling. Out of the three movies I like this one best showing the history of Don Corelone going back to the 20’s in flashback sequences, I feel it is better and more interesting than the first. Supposedly, Francis Ford Coppolla says that there should have only been one movie the other two were cash grabs. http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/movie-news/5450-coppola-qthe-godfatherq-should-have-stayed-one-movie.html

4. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Here again I liked the second of three movies the best. I thought the battle scenes were bigger and more sweeping. The last (third), movie in my opinion was too long, especially the last third with Frodo climbing the mountain which I thought would never end!

5. Princess Bride (1987)

This movie is somewhat silly and a bit of a sleeper it seems to have something for everyone. Everything from Billy Crystal, to Andre the Giant, it is a movie that is often quoted. A classic fairy tale with fighting rodents of unusual size included for your enjoyment.

6. Caddy Shack (1980)
One of the silliest movies ever made, it is endlessly silly and repeatable. I originally wrote that for Monty Python and the Holy Grail but it fits this movie too. Although shown constantly on TV I can always watch a few minutes and see Bill Murray’s bit about the Dali Lama and get a chuckle.

7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Many have said this is the best movie ever made, especially pre-Godfather days. Directed by David Lean this movie has a fantastic cast: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056172/ It was filmed back in the days of the real cast of thousands and location shooting. A truly sweeping epic of 216 minutes (directors cut).

8. Aliens (1986)
Once again the second movie of the series turns out best in my opinion. Paul Reiser is creepy, Bill Paxton is super whiny, and all around science fiction blasting takes place. The many characters and their development make this a fun ride for me.

9. As Good as it Gets (1997)
My favorite Jack Nicholson character catches a dog pissing in the hallway of his tony apartment building for one of the best film starts ever. Love this movie.

10. Unforgiven (1992)
Clint Eastwood’s best movie in my opinion and maybe the best western ever made. It shows the darker side when maybe there is no bright side to matters. Realistic and gritty, it shows realness absent most Hollywood westerns.

Honorable Mention:
Taxi Driver (1976)
Wizard of Oz (1939) The wife’s favorite
Casablanca, Maltese Falcon, African Queen
Commando or Total Recall
Vertigo or The Birds
All about Eve
True Grit
The Big Lebowski, Fargo Raising Arizona

Well that was tough I almost made some last minute changes. If I make the list a year from now it would change, but for now, if I was stuck forever with just ten movies (and ten movies only), I will pick these.
2 romantic comedies
2 science fiction
2 fairy tales
1 goof
1 western
2 serious sweeping epics

Let me know what you think?