By jonny on 11/19/2008 12:45 PM

I have officially boycotted Campbell 16 Cinema! I was complaining just the other day that they have raised their prices, and mentioned that I don't see the need to go there anymore now that the new theater has opened downtown and I can walk to it. I even made the comment that I doubt I go there again anytime soon. The thought that I wouldn't be going to Campbell 16 very often was simply an issue of convenience. Why drive to a movie when I can now walk to a movie? But things changed today! Oh,did things change! Now, not only am I not going there because there is a closer theater... I am boycotting it! I am not going there on purpose! Here is why...

So, I was riding down campbell with Admin today on our way to pick up some delicious Chipotle and my eyes wandered out the passenger side window and what do I see? A gigantic mural of galloping horses painted down the whole street facing wall of the theater! It's is this hideous painting of horses that makes me think I should be  in some podunk town in Oklahoma wearing spurs, smoking a marlboro and complaining about how the coyotes keep gettin' my chickens. 1) I don't like horses in general. 2) I'm afraid of horses. 3) I don't find horses to be majestic, beautiful, pretty or any of the other words that people use to describe horses. 4)Horses are powerful beasts that can mame and injure people. 5)What in the world do horses galloping have to do with a movie theater or with Springfield?

I would understand the point of the mural if I were able to gaze out my window and see wild horses grazing in the lush Springfield greenery......but I can't. We do not have a wild stallion population here...so why would they paint that?

Campbell 16 crossed a line by painting that junk on their walls...the only way they are going to change my mind about this boycott is if I find out that the painting was part of some "make a wish foundation" wish-come-true thing for some person who's only dream was to paint a huge horse on a wall!

So long Campbell 16...."wild horses" couldn't drag me back!

* The only stipulation to all this is that my boycott won't actually begin until after I use my two free Campbell 16 movie passes that I got when I had to leave a movie early. But oh I swear....once I use them...I'm done. And when I use them you can bet I am not going to purchase any concessions while I am there and the $15.00 I usually spend playing Dance-Dance-Revolution? You can be dang sure that it's staying in my moonwalking, running man doing pocket!

Hello College Station 14, meet your new Daddy!

By jonny on 10/15/2008 9:56 PM

Well, hopefully many of you were able to watch the final debate of this election cycle. If not, I hope the you get on you tube and watch clips or log on to your favorite news site and read about it tomorrow. I have enjoyed paying attention to both campaigns even if I haven't agreed with some of the views of either candidate. I have been disappointed at times by some of the topics that the campagins have used to attack each other. The percentage of ads that each candidate (since their official nominations) have used to attack each other  has disturbed me, 61% of Obama's and 73% of McCain's. To be honest, this should disturb all of us. The low road should never be the one that leads to the top. But, nonetheless both candidates did well overall. From what I have read and watched in the news both candidates had some pretty clear goals that they needed to achieve tonight. John McCain needed to do his best to distance himself from the Bush administration, and his effort showed. At one point he said, "I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against him then you should have run for president 4 years ago." Like I said, his effort showed. Whether it was enough to achieve the goal or not is up to us voters. For his part, Barack Obama had two clear objectives: keep his composure while still clarifying the details of his positions, and to clear up some of the details of the attacks that have been leveled against him by the McCain campaign (i.e. William Ayers, and the allegations that he "pals around with terrorists"). I think that he did both well. John McCain brought up his association with William Ayers as if it would hurt Barack Obama, but if anything, I think it only gave him the chance to clear up some misinformation put out by both the McCain campaign and the GOP. 

All in all I feel that both achieved their objectives, and did well in sticking to their strategies. Whether their strategies worked, is up to you and I. Regardless of what party or candidate you align yourself with, or what issues you think matter or not we all have the right and responsibility to vote. As of today a poll conducted by CNN shows that the to candidates are practically tied in the state of Missouri. John McCain at 48% and Barack Obama at 49%. So, if have have a candidate in mind, they need your vote.

Finally, I have enjoyed blogging about these campaigns and my thoughts on the election. I know that I haven't made it a secret that I my vote is for Barack Obama. I also know that a good portion of my friends and fellow blogger would disagree with me on who would be the best choice for the job of President. I hope that the opinions that I have expressed over the last few weeks haven't offended them in any way. Just as we all have the right to our own opinions, we all have the same right to express them and I have sincerely enjoyed some of the discussions that have resulted from not only my blogs, but some of the DTB'ers. More than anything, blogging about the election has allowed me the chance to vent frustrations, but at the same time pass on information that I have learned and think others should know about. Thanks for putting up with my long blogs! For cryin' out loud....vote!

By jonny on 10/14/2008 4:54 PM

In my blog post titled, "John McCain....General of Generalism" I made a prediction that Barack Obama would be ahead in the national polls by 11 percent as of today. I said that if I was wrong I would admit it. Well, I was wrong. He is up by 9 and 10 in some polls but not 11. So, here I am, a man of my word admitting that I was wrong. Forgive.

 

By jonny on 10/11/2008 9:02 PM

I read this article a few moments ago on foxnews.com and for a second I thought, "what? This doesn't take place", but sadly it does and it is. I tried to imagine what it would be like, but because of the freedoms I enjoy, I couldn't even imagine it. Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ that we won't meet until heaven have earned martyts crowns this week. My heart and prayers go out to those that are experiencing persecution for their faith in Christ. I hope that all who read this take a moment to go to God on these believers behalf.

BAGHDAD —  Hundreds of terrified Christian families have fled Mosul to escape extremist attacks that have increased despite months of U.S. and Iraqi military operations to secure the northern Iraqi city, political and religious officials said Saturday.

Some 3,000 Christians have fled the city over the past week alone in a "major displacement," said Duraid Mohammed Kashmoula, the governor of northern Iraq's Ninevah province. He said most have left for churches, monasteries and the homes of relatives in nearby Christian villages and towns.

"The Christians were subjected to abduction attempts and paid ransom, but now they are subjected to a killing campaign," Kashmoula said, adding he believed "Al Qaeda" elements were to blame and called for a renewed drive to root them out.

Political and religious leaders interviewed said the change in tactics may reflect a desire on the part of extremists to forcibly evict all Christians from Iraq's third largest city.

Earlier this week, Chaldean Archbishop Louis Sako said he was worried about what he termed a "campaign of killings and deportations against the Christian citizens in Mosul."

Mosul police have reported finding the bullet-riddled bodies of seven Christians in separate attacks so far this month, the latest a day laborer found on Wednesday. On Saturday, militants blew up three abandoned Christian homes in eastern Mosul, police said.

Father Bolis Jacob of Mosul's Mar Afram Church said he was at a loss to understand the violence. "We respect the Islamic religion and the Muslim clerics," he said. "We don't know under what religion's pretexts these terrorists work."

The violence in Mosul occurs despite U.S.-Iraqi operations launched over the summer aimed at routing Al Qaeda in Iraq and other insurgents from remaining strongholds north of the capital.

The killings come as Christian leaders are lobbying parliament to pass a law setting aside a number of seats for minorities, such as Christians, in upcoming provincial elections, fearing they could be further marginalized in the predominantly Muslim country.

Iraq's Christian community has been estimated at 3 percent of Iraq's 26 million people, or about 800,000, and has a significant presence in the northern Ninevah province.

In Mosul, where Christians have lived for some 1,800 years, a number of centuries-old churches still stand.

Joseph Jacob, a professor at Mosul University, said there were nearly 20,000 Christians in the city before the 2003 U.S. invasion. But over half have since left for neighboring towns, or new countries, he said.

Islamic extremists have frequently targeted Christians since the invasion, forcing tens of thousands to flee Iraq. Attacks had tapered off amid a drastic decline in overall violence nationwide, but that appears to be changing with the deaths this month.

On Saturday, Bashir Azoz, a 45-year-old carpenter, said he was forced to flee his home in the city's eastern Noor area after gunmen warned a neighbor the day before to leave or face death.

"Where is the government and its security forces as these crimes take place every day?" asked Azoz, who is now staying with his wife and three children in a monastery in the Christian-majority town of Qarqoush, east of Mosul.

Separately on Saturday, a U.S. soldier died when a bomb exploded near his vehicle outside Amarah, southeast of Baghdad. The U.S. military said it was withholding soldier's name until it notified next of kin.

By jonny on 10/10/2008 7:15 PM

If you know me well, you know I have always been a fan of gangstas. I've always liked rap music, although in recent years that has finally died down since I realize that the messages the songs put out are terrible. Deep down though, I have always secretly wished I was a G. If you don't believe me, ask Admin or his wife. They probably weren't thrilled when their daughter was 3 or 4 and I taught her to say "fo'shizzle". But the other day, I realized the disadvantage the gangsta's and their wannabes put themselves at. Two examples:

1. I was in line to have a couple of keys made (I keep locking myself outside of my apt. Thank you to my Neighbors Dan and Nicole for letting me in!) and there was a "G thang"(that doesn't stand for gentleman) in line in front of me and because his pants were so baggy you could hardly see his airforce ones, plus he had to hold his FUBU's up with one hand the whole time. He took his cell phone out and tried to make a call by putting his phone on the counter and dialing with his index finger while he held his pants up with his other hand. Then when it came time to take his wallet out it took him forever to get his money out with one hand. He kept trying until finally he pushed himself up against the counter and used it to hold up his pants so he could get his money.

2. I was driving home from that encounter and this guy goes running across Kansas Expressway. He was taking huge strides and holding his pants up with one hand. While running something fell out of his back pocket. It was probably a wad of cash he earned from recording his album (album drops Nov. 1, I'm sho' it's hot) and he darted back to get it...holding his pants up the whole time. I thought, "it really is a hard knock life for a gangsta. Dang playa!"

It occurred to me, these guys live life with one hand. It's like they choose to operate with only one good appendage. As if runnin' from the po-po, playin' the game and stickin' it to the man isn't hard enough. These guys only got one hand!

So, to all my homie's gettin money playin' playa's just like honey - I use my good hand to take my shirt off, twist it round my head and spin it like a helicopter.

Dang it feels good to be a gangsta.

By jonny on 10/7/2008 9:05 PM

As I watched the debate, I heard the Senator from Arizona repeat himself over and over when faced with questions on different topics.

Questions about the economy....

The Senator said, "I know how to fix this. I can fix this."

Questions about Healthcare...

The Senator said, "I know how to fix this. I can fix this."

Questions about Foreign policy (specifically the mess in Iraq)...

The senator said, "I know how to fix this. I can fix this."

I got excited, I thought, "Alright(!) someone knows how to fix these things." But, a crazy thing happened...he never said how to fix these things.

When the topic of the environment came up, he said that we have to look at cleaner energy. But then, while answering another question, he emphatically said "Drill!". The purpose of drilling is to get oil; the purpose of oil is for burning; burning more oil is not good for the environment (Thank goodness Barack Obama pointed that out in his response). Alternative energies are good for the environment and help reduce our dependance on foreign oil, which means we can buy less from some of the less friendly countries in the world. It's win-win for the world! A better environment and less money for extreme governments that oppose one of their biggest customers (the U.S.) every chance they get. Consider this: Hugo Chavez (President of Venezuela) is one crazy son of a gun! In public forums, he curses (literally using cuss words) the U.S. and spreads lies about us. A few weeks ago, he kicked the U.S ambassador out of the country and he is friendly with some of the scariest government leaders in the world:Vladmir Putin and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (also leaders of governments that are largely supported by oil profits) What do we do about it? We curse him with our lips, and tell the U.N to impose sanctions against him for not aiding our war on drugs in his country, but buy oil from him like crazy! We are his country's 4th largest customer. The U.S ceasing to buy oil from Venezuela would hurt his government far worse than any sanctions that the U.N could ever impose! The key to that is to rely less on oil in general. One thing that both candidates are correct about is that energy is a security issue just as much as it is an environment issue. It's just that one candidate (Barack Obama) seems to understand that better than the other (John McCain). John McCain says about energy and the environment "I can fix it..." If that's the case, he didn't say how. In my eyes, the victory tonight was Barack Obama's. I will give John McCain credit where credit is due though... he didn't use the word "Maverick" once. Good job Senator, good job!

Crazy Prediction... Today Barack Obama was ahead in national polls by 8 percent.  This time next week he'll be up by 11 or more. Let's see what happens. If I'm wrong, I'll post a blog saying "sorry".

P.S. Between now and the election we will spend 10 billion dollars on the war in Iraq, all the while lamenting the fact that our economy is ailing.

By jonny on 10/2/2008 5:14 PM

This statement of concern with the nation's growing fierce loyalty to  political parties was so important to President Washington that he chose to include this statement in his farewell speech in 1796.

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetuated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent depsotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty."

                                                                     -George Washington

I guess his fear was that ultimately people would put "their" party's success ahead of what would actually be best for the country. That they would become so obsessed with partisan victory that they would fail to think about whether the outcome of their success would actually have the best outcome for the country as a whole. A conversation that I had with someone yesterday highlights the truth of the fact that people are succeptible to this attitude. I was speaking with someone about both the candidates and their running mates and the discussion turned to some of the individual candidates viewpoints. The person I was speaking with said, "I don't agree with alot of my candidate's viewpoints, but I am voting for him because I chose my party years ago." I thought to myself, "If only he could hear the absurdity of that comment." Then I wondered how many other Americans hold that same viewpoint...then I became afraid...then I peed my pants.

By jonny on 9/29/2008 10:47 PM

By jonny on 9/28/2008 10:47 PM

By jonny on 9/25/2008 9:25 PM

I am almost afraid to ask this, but....was anyone else dissapointed in the season premiere of The Office?

I know, I know...how dare I say such a thing!

I was so excited for the hour long premiere, but I was dissapointed as the show progressed and I realized, that it wasn't producing the kind of "belly laughs" that it usually does. Instead I realized that I was hardly chuckling as the show progressed. At one point I almost dozed off, although I don't blame the show for that, I blame zeal for falling asleep on the cough syrup that my doctor prescribed the other day!

I am interested to see what everyone else though of the show. Let me know.

By jonny on 9/11/2008 2:04 PM

 

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By jonny on 9/8/2008 6:35 PM

So, here we find ourselves as a country in the midst of the election year and I am struggling to not fall into a state of disenchantment. I had decided several months ago to stay informed of the political process that is a Presidential election. I have kept up with the news, I have subscribed to both John McCain and Barack Obama's e-mail list, I got the text from the Obama campaign at two in the morning announcing that he had chosen Joe Biden as his running mate and I immediately got on the internet to read about Sarah Palin when she was announced. I watched what I could of both the conventions and I have listened to my friends and family debate  over who is the best candidate. As the campaign season has heated up, something occured to me...are either of the candidates really behaving like we want our President to? I hear democrats singing the praise of Obama, I hear Republicans sing the glories of John McCain and they all say how great they are, but then when I listen to the candidates, I can't make heads or tales of what their "plan" is to bring change to the current state of our country. All I hear is mudslinging and one candidate calling the other a liar or stating how unequipped the other candidate is. All I hear is one party tearing down another. I was put off by both the Republican convention and the Democratic convention's bashing of the other party. These people really go for the throat! It occured to me that when the time comes that I raise children, I will encourage them to be positive, to love like Christ and not to ever speak negative about someone else for the sake of achieving a position or status. Both of these men and their campaigns are behaving like the kind of children that I avoided on the playground! The kind that would say mean things about someone only to make themselves look better. I catch myself thinking..."when in the heck did this become acceptable"....no, no...."when did this become the way to become a President." How is it that we as Christians (Republican or Democrat, yes you can be either of those and still be a Christ follower.) are okay with this? Even to the point that we will mimick it in the way we speak of the candidate that we don't favor. From what I have heard from my Christian friends you would think that Barack Obama is the devil and John MCain walks on water, but in reality both of them are equally