And then there was one, too!

Last night, the youth of our church, Covenant Presbyterian put on their spring Dinner Theater Play. The title was"And then there was one, too!" This is a sequel to the play they did last spring, called "And then there was one." The premise of both plays is nearly identical to the similarly titled book and play by Agatha Christie. A group of people are lured to a remote location for various reasons, and then bumped off, one by one. Or so it seems.

Our daughter Sandy played Margaret LaRue in both plays. Last year she was the first character "killed" and went through much of the play being covered by a blanket, disguised as a lamp, or being carried ( and dropped accidentally ) by other characters.

This time, she was the first to arrive for the festivities, and didn't become a "corpse" until much later in the play. At that point she was brought into the scene in a shopping cart, covered by a blanket!

Both plays were hysterically funny, with a lot of silly one liners, and double entendres. At the end of both plays it is discovered that no one has actually been killed, they have been brought together to write a mystery play to earn $10,000.00 each.

Sandy and all of the kids had a great time. We had dinner first, and then went down into the Parlor for the play. Ticket sales are to help earn money for youth trips with the church. It was a great cause, and a fun night.

Oops, This is a day late! (But not a dollar short...)

New releases this week
Click on the film's title to read a full review.
Next
A man can see two minutes into the future in this sci-fi thriller that is both fun to watch and think about.
The Condemned
Action flick about a live broadcast of convicts fighting to the death for their freedom lacks heart and smarts.
Black Book
Director Paul Verhoeven delivers a brazenly entertaining war movie of a Jewish singer who joins the resistance.
Something to Cheer About
Tribute to the first all-black school to become state champs captures the coach's wisdom before his death.
Diggers
Four friends cling to their livelihood against corporate forces in the 1970s. Think of it as a chick flick for men.
Old Joy
At the end of this tale of two old friends on a camping trip, you understand them, and maybe yourself, better.
Dog Problem
A lonely man who is bad at relationships get a dog. Turns out he isn't much better with pets than humans.
Wind Chill
Two college students find trouble when their car breaks down on the way home. This film was not screened in advance for critics.
The Invisible
Two teens find that others are not able to see the real them: one is dead, the other has been neglected. This film was not screened in advance for critics.
Kickin' It Old Skool
A breakdancer (Jamie Kennedy) wakes from a coma with the hopes of reviving his career. This film did not screen in advance for critics.
More movie reviews
Read about all the movies now playing in local theaters.

President of Southern Baptist Thoelogical Seminary: "Virginia Tech Male students should have protected their women!"

Last Wednesday, April 18th, 2007, two days after the worst campus shooting in US history, the President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, addressed male students. He told them that in a situation like the Virginia Tech shootings, he would expect them to charge the assailant, sacrificing their lives if necessary.

What?

Dr. Paige Patterson stated in an address to male students "All you had to do was have six or eight {students} rush him right at that time, and 32 people wouldn't have died." In a statement issued later, Dr. Patterson said he wasn't criticizing the conduct of any of the survivors, and in fact praised Liviu Librescu, the Israeli Professor and Holocaust survivor who gave his life barricading the door to his classroom so that students could escape.

"Since I was not at Virginia Tech when {the shootings} occurred, any judgment on my part would be inappropriate, " Dr Patterson said. "But it is not inappropriate for me to ask my students and faculty to be prepared to act as courageously as the Israeli professor. We cannot bring back the dead, but we can determine in our hearts if there is even the slightest chance we ever find ourselves in such an unfortunate situation, we will be prepared to prevent some of the carnage to the best of our ability"

He went on to elaborate why Christian men should rush an assailant in such a situation:

"My own perspective is that Christians - who believe that Heaven is their real home and that they are prepared for eternity as a result of a life changed by Christ - are even more obligated to act courageously and sacrificially. And I am still just old-fashioned enough to believe that men are responsible to protect women and children."

Sgt Allen Barron of the department of Security and University Police at Texas A&M University would not recommend that someone without training charge an armed assailant.

However Bruce Prescott, a moderate Baptist minister who has often been at odds with Dr. Patterson supported Patterson's ridiculous ideas. Prescott said: "I do think it wise for persons who are willing to voluntarily sacrifice themselves to be prepared to respond aggressively if they find themselves confronted by a gunman like the one at Virgina Tech"

So according to these two morons, unarmed men should rush a nut-job armed to the teeth to protect women and children? While the idea sounds chivalrous on the surface, it is idiocy if you think about it. Suppose you rush a guy who is armed, and you get shot, then he gets pissed and kills even more people. Seung-Hui Cho was already deranged. Do you really think he could have been subdued by unarmed students without training, and protective gear? Why do you think SWAT teams don't go running into a building where hostages are being held? When the opportunity presents itself, they toss in tear gas, or flash-bang grenades, to distract or blind the gunman so the can go in and disarm him.

Consider this possibility also. Suppose male students had rushed Cho as Patterson suggests. Suppose further that he was not acting alone. What if there were two or more assailants at Virginia Tech? Wouldn't that have likely gotten more people killed? What if Cho had wired the campus with explosives like Klebold and Harris did at Columbine? What do you suppose would have happened then?

I don't have an answer for the best way to act in a situation like this, but having unarmed people rush an armed assailant is foolish at best.

Of course the conversation must turn to Flight 93. Several passengers rushed the terrorists and brought down the plane in a field, rather then allowing it to crash into the White House or the Capitol, or another heavily populated building. Lives were saved. However, passengers on that plane had been in touch with loved ones who had told them of the WTC attacks. The knew they were going to die, and they wanted to try to save lives on the ground. Their willing sacrifice was one of courage, knowing full well they would not survive. That is the difference.

To suggest that men should have rushed Cho and to suggest that if they had 32 people would still be alive diminishes those who died, and those who survived, regardless of what Patterson says. I pray that Dr. Patterson will think before he opens his mouth again. His comments are nothing short of pouring salt in a tragically raw wound.

Virginia Tech Tragedy - The Aftermath

We now know a bit more about Seung-Hui Cho. We know that he was a troubled, mentally ill loner. We know that 2 years ago, VT University Health officials attempted to help him, and he was deemed "mentally unstable, a danger to himself and others." Then he was released. We know that despite this he was allowed to legally purchase firearms. So much for the gun control lobby!

Why was this sick young man not given the help he so desperately needed? How did he slip through the cracks? Obviously, we need to drastically fix the mental health system in this country. I do not have the answers, only more questions.

Even Cho's family says he had problems as a child. His parents were concerned that he might be autistic. Yet he passed through the public school system. Professors at VT all say that much of his work was substandard and frightening. Yet he was about to graduate in less than two months. Why? So he would no longer be the problem of this prestigious University?

Then there is the manifesto that he sent to NBC, during the two hours hiatus between the first shootings, and the final. NBC aired some of the video that he sent, showing the world a twisted, rambling diatribe against his imagined demons. He claimed that:

" I didn't have to do this. I could have left, I could have fled. But no, I will no longer run. If not for me, for my children, for my brothers and sisters, the that you (EXPLETIVE DELETED), I did it for them.You had 100 billion chances and ways to have avoided today but you decided to spill my blood. You forced me into a corner and gave me only one option. The decision was yours. Now you have blood on your hands that will never wash off. You just loved crucifying me. You loved inducing cancer in my head, terrorizing my heart and ripping my soul all this time. "

NBC has been castigated for airing any of the so-called manifesto. Some of the families of the victims were appalled that the decision to air the clips was made. In hindsight, perhaps they should have run a text crawl with the words and not shown the pictures of the angry Cho brandishing guns. Perhaps they would have been better off posting the pictures and video links up on the network website.

Additionally I have seen family members being accosted by the media, and tearfully saying how much their loved ones meant to them. I hope I am never in the position that these people are in, but if I ever was, and someone came up to me with a camera and microphone,. and started asking me stupid questions at the worst moment of my life, the reporter would walk away very awkwardly and painfully with a camera of microphone ( or both) up their asses!

Cheap & Easy Blog

Here ya go, the Friday Movie Guide:
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New releases this week
Click on the film's title to read a full review.
Hot Fuzz
Hollywood spoofs would do well to emulate this affectionate English send-up of American cop movies.
In the Land of Women
Fine acting all around as a young man serves as a sounding board for a woman and her two daughters.
Fracture
Watching pros Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins spar is an entertaining battle of wills and styles.
Year of the Dog
Molly Shannon is funny, sad and heartbreaking as a secretary whose life changes after her dog dies.
Vacancy
Tale of a couple stranded at a dangerous hotel holds some appeal but wears out its welcome.
More movie reviews
Read about all the movies now playing in local theaters.

Virginia Tech Tragedy

Today is a dark day for one of the country's most well know institutes of higher education, Virginia Tech. In what is now being called the worst incident of mass murder in United States History, 33 People are dead.The dead include at least one of the gunmen who perpetrated this tragic event. Police are looking for a "person of interest" Apparently around 7:15 this morning, a man, who may or may not have been a student entered a dormitory and killed two people.

About two hours later, on a part of the Campus that is a half mile away from the site of the first killings, more shots rang out. When it was over, a total of 33 people were dead including one of the purported gunmen. On the news tonight, I heard that the dead man may have been a Chinese National, official are still uncertain of his status and why he was at the university.

Many students are angered because the only warnings that went out were sent via e-mail. Officials did not make use of the campus Public Address system.

While I realize that they may have been trying to avert panic, and in fact the first shootings were initially thought to be a domestic dispute, I have to wonder if they could have advised students to stay in their dorm rooms, and not move about needlessly.

Many questions go unanswered tonight. One thing is certain though, the victims, their families, and the families of the gunmen need our prayers. I feel for the family or families of the man or men involved in this horrific shooting. They will be asking themselves questions just as police, and families of the victims will be asking. Why did this happen?

In the days and weeks ahead, we will no doubt learn a bit more of how these events unfolded. The question of why may never be known.

Friday Movie Guide

I know, some Fridays, all I publish is this. I will try to get a real blog written and posted a bit later today!!!!
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New releases this week
Click on the film's title to read a full review.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film...
Adaptation of the Adult Swim show that explores the origins of the Force could be subtitled "For Fans Only."
Boy Culture
A reclusive, older client causes a gay hustler to look at the lives of those around him in this slick drama.
Perfect Stranger
A journalist investigates the death of a friend in this undeniably stylish but rarely suspenseful thriller.
Pathfinder
Primitive and bloody tale follows a Viking raised by American Indians who must battle his homeland.
After the Wedding
Melodrama conveys its scenario with enough intensity and forceful acting to overpower audiences.
Disturbia
It's no Rear Window, but this thriller is far smarter than most big studio flicks with teen protagonists.
Slow Burn
A District Attorney gets involved in a showdown with a gang leader. This film was not screened in advance for critics.
Redline
If you like exotic cars and not much else, this one's probably for you. This film was not screened in advance for critics.
More movie reviews
Read about all the movies now playing in local theaters.

At Last! Will the BabyDaddy Please stand up!

The long national nightmare is finally over! Well, not really, but we finally know who DA BabyDaddy is!The DNA results are finally in. Is it (Drum roll) Howard K Schlep? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Is it (Drum roll)Prince Frederick Ahole? ( Zsa Zsa Gabor's Hubby)Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (A side bit here, he claimed to have been thinking of Zsa Zsa while he was doing Anna Nicole.... Hmmm Let's see 80 something wife with sagging parts, vs. Bleached Blonde Chubbette with huge fake boobs? DO you believe that? I didn't think so! Of course, Zsa Zsa is senile, while Anna Nicole was an airhead, so the pillow talk was probably about the same!) Is it some homeless guy who got Lucky in between Howard, Larry, Freddie, and The Entire NCAA Basketball team roster? Nope! And the winner is: Larry Butthead!!! Larry's the BabyDaddy!!!!

To his credit, Larry was gracious about it. He stood there facing the cameras, saying HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I TOLD YOU SO HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! Well, not quite. But close. He is obviously so proud to be the father of the money... I mean Dannilyn.. He'll be thanking his accountants for years that he forgot to put on the condom that night!

I still say this poor kid is gonna put a team of therapists kids through college. When she gets old enough to know about all of the hoopla she will probably go to Tibet, and become a recluse. Who could blame her!

Too stupid to live!

Okay, from the title, you may assume that I am going to rant about someone that did something really. really, really stupid. I am. Unfortunately, the stupid idiot I am going to rant about is me.

What, pray tell, stupid thing did I do? Well, let me tell you. We got a really cold snap here in North Texas. Sue and I had picked up a bunch of scrap wood and twigs on our walks around the neighborhood over the last few weeks, and decided to have a fire tonight. A couple of the pieces of wood that Sue had brought into the house were a bit too long to put in the fireplace, so I took them out into the garage to cut or break them. One piece was particularly brittle, so I figured that I could just break it by leaning it up against something and using my foot to break it in the middle.

Here is where the stupidity comes in. I have been using an empty Kitty Litter container, as a platform to saw these pieces of wood. Initially, I planned to lean the one piece against the container, and snap it in the middle with my foot.

Then I got the oh so brilliant idea to stand one foot on the wood on top of the container, and use my other foot to break the wood. Remember, I told you this container was empty!

Naturally, as soon as I put my weight on the wood and the top of the empty container, and picked up my other foot to break the wood, the container did two things pretty much simultaneously,. It crumpled from my weight, and went flying out from under me. All I could think of as I was going down was... "Shit, that was really pretty freakin' stupid!"
In fact after I hit, and I was trying to assess whether I had broken anything other than the container, and my pride, I believe I said just that! Sue heard the thud, and my "Oh shit, that was really stupid!" from the garage. She came out, and found me standing, clutching my arm, and looked at me as if to say... You guessed it. "Well, that was really pretty stupid!" And it really was.

Cheap & Easy Blog ( The Friday Movie Guide, that is!)

Here ya go. The movies that are opening today....

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New releases this week
Click on the film's title to read a full review.
Grindhouse
If your head's in the right place, this pair of exploitation films can be a heckuva lot of fun.
The Hoax
Richard Gere gets his best role ever as an author who cooks up a bogus biography of Howard Hughes.
First Snow
Guy Pearce's strong performance anchors this well-crafted thriller of psychic predictions that come true.
The Wind that Shakes the Barley
Cannes top-prize winner concerns a derailed freedom fight in which brother fights brother for the same cause.
Into Great Silence
Documentary about the Grand Chartreuse monastery isn't about zeal, devotion or faith, but simple happiness.
Avenue Montaigne
Fluffy soufflé of a film follows a sprite who takes a job at a cafe and proceeds to affect the lives of the clientele.
Inland Empire
David Lynch's latest is even more plotless than his other work, but it will seriously change your mood for hours.
The Reaping
Religious allusions in this supernatural thriller don't register as strongly as The Omen and Rosemary's Baby.
Are We Done Yet?
No cleverness was exerted as Ice Cube settles down with the mother of the brats from Are We There Yet?
The Night of the White Pants
Pointless, badly acted and rushed tale follows a Dallas millionaire during a wild night on the town.
Firehouse Dog (opened Wednesday)
When a firefighter's son brings a canine movie star to the firehouse, the dog brightens everyone's spirits.
More movie reviews
Read about all the movies now playing in local theaters.

Who da Babydaddy!

Well, Tuesday we were supposed to find out who Anna Nicole's Babydaddy is. There was another court hearing on Tuesday, purportedly to reveal the DNA results, but all they came up with was that they would reveal the DNA results next... You guessed it. Tuesday!

This story has grown some major legs. I mean first they argue for a month over where to bury the poor dead broad. The Babydaddy debacle has gone way over the top. You have Larry Butthead, the photographer, you have Howard K. Schmuck, then if that isn;t enough theres Zsa Zsa Gabor's hubby Prince Ahole all claiming the money I mean the kid is theirs.

I will laugh my ass off when the father turns out to be some homeless guy she was boffing. I want to to see the look on these morons faces when it turns out not to be any of them!I would probably pay to see that!

Trees - Not down for the count!

Several days ago I told you all about the little bastards down the street that decided to wreck our newly planted trees. Believe it or not, most of them are recovering.

One that they missed was a Crape-myrtle bush. That one is still growing pretty well. Today I noticed that one of the ones that got broken off the other day is beginning to bud again. Which is cool as it had leaves beginning to grow on it till they broke it off.

Another one in the middle of the yard, the first one they broke, is now also showing signs of leaves forming. Our Crabapple tree in the back yard, ( which they couldn't get to fortunately...) is doing really well. It has doubled in height.

We replanted the one Golden Raintree from the front Median strip. ( we had two there, one was pulled out and broken off, the roots may still be in the ground, the other one was pulled out, roots and all. That's the one we replanted in the back yard today. We have hopes that it will survive... We will keep you informed.

A new Blog to look at

I just added a blog for you to take a look at. A friend of ours is blogging up on My Space about the dangers of Teen Drinking and Driving. I have gone up and taken a look at it myself, and it looks interesting. So if you are so inclined... Straighten up and go check it out. If you have an opinion, drop by and say what's on your mind.