Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Hollywood’s Conservative Film Festival

The 2005 Liberty Film Festival was held this October 21-23, 2005 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. The Liberty Film Festival showcases films that celebrate the traditional American values of free speech, patriotism, and religious freedom. Visit the Libertas blog for discussion and information.

Damsel and I were recently in Monument Valley, Utah; since we’re big fans of John Wayne and John Ford, we especially enjoyed the article at Libertas entitled The Real John Ford & John Wayne.

Damsel exclaimed “Omigod, it looks fake!” when we got to Monument Valley on our first trip there. Libertas seems to share her view of the seemingly impossible beauty of this wonderful area:

And then there’s this single spot in the valley. This breathtaking spot. And if you take the tour it’s the last one on your stop because it’s the single most beautiful thing you’ll ever see. At the end of a long day, you drive for miles in a bumpy open bus on dusty roads. You’ve already seen natural beauty beyond belief and now you’re tired and hungry and sun burnt and pretty much had enough. But then you arrive at this place where if you’ve seen The Searchers a hundred times you immediately recognize. But in the movie you thought it was a special effect because it seemed too perfect to be real. But now you’re actually here, and it still seems too perfect to be real.

You stand on this spot and look over the entire valley because God laid it out like nothing any man ever could. And you think to yourself: He must’ve spent one of his six days just on this. You can see the monuments and the valleys but can never quite take it all in no matter how long you look; no matter how hard you try. It is unlike anything elsewhere. It is unforgettable. It is impossible to describe. It is the most beautiful thing the Navajo own and it is named after John Ford. “John Ford Point” is what it’s called, and it’s here you’ll meet an even bigger tribute to The Duke than any monument or view.

23 Oct 2005 by Arts California Entertainment

Urgent CENTCOM Press Releases

CENTCOM has asked us to publish the following two press releases:

October 19, 2005
Release Number: 05-10-71

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CENTCOM CONDEMNS ALLEGATIONS OF DESECRATION

MacDill AFB, FL — Recent media reports out of Afghanistan have alleged that U.S. forces were involved in an incident involving the desecration of the bodies of deceased enemy combatants.

Under no circumstances does U.S. Central Command condone the desecration, abuse or inappropriate treatment of enemy combatants. Such actions are contrary to U.S. policy as well as the Geneva Convention.

The Army Criminal Investigation Division has initiated an investigation into the alleged misconduct. Should that investigation uncover actions by U.S. personnel that were contrary to the Geneva Convention and U.S. policy, legal and disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with the U.S. Code of Military Justice.

Press Release 1

October 19, 2005
Release Number: 05-10-72

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. INVESTIGATES ALLEGATION OF LAW OF WAR VIOLATION

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The Army Criminal Investigation Division has initiated an investigation into alleged misconduct by U.S. service members, including the burning of dead enemy combatant bodies under inappropriate circumstances.

“This command takes all allegations of misconduct or inappropriate behavior seriously and has directed an investigation into circumstances surrounding this allegation,” said Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya, Combined Joint Task Force-76 Commander. “If the allegation is substantiated, the appropriate course of action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and corrective action will be taken.”

Service members are expected to abide by the highest standards of behavior and the law, he said.

“This command does not condone the mistreatment of enemy combatants or the desecration of their religious and cultural beliefs,” Kamiya said.

“This alleged action is repugnant to our common values, is contrary to our commands approved tactical operating procedures, and is not sanctioned by this command. Our efforts to thoroughly investigate this allegation are a reflection of our commitment to the Government of Afghanistan and the Afghan people.”


Press Release 2

19 Oct 2005 by Islamic Terrorism Military

Beware of Quantum Ducks – Quark Quark

As a borderline nerd, I found NOVA‘s “The Elegant Universe” website both intriguing and time consuming. If you’re the least bit nerdy, don’t do this at work, or it will suck you in . . . and there are some strings attached.

Warning! Scientific content!

An excerpt from the website:

A Theory of Everything? Some physicists believe string theory may unify the forces of nature by Brian Greene.

The fundamental particles of the universe that physicists have identified—electrons, neutrinos, quarks, and so on—are the “letters” of all matter. Just like their linguistic counterparts, they appear to have no further internal substructure. String theory proclaims otherwise. According to string theory, if we could examine these particles with even greater precision—a precision many orders of magnitude beyond our present technological capacity—we would find that each is not pointlike but instead consists of a tiny, one-dimensional loop. Like an infinitely thin rubber band, each particle contains a vibrating, oscillating, dancing filament that physicists have named a string.

Man, this is sooooo interesting! There are several interactive demonstrations that allow my three-dimensional brain visualize in some small way how there can be ten spatial and two temporal dimensions.

Mind boggling! Explore NOVA’s The Elegant Universe.

18 Oct 2005 by Science

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