All I have to do is...

Last night I had the strangest, most vivid dream in a long time. And it involved many of my hobbies/intrests at once. I wish I could remember more of the plot line, but I'll try to sum up what I do remember.

I was sending my minions from the game Overlord to attack a group of Stormtroopers. As you would imagine, during this time I was consulting with my gypsy kumpania as to the best strategy, specifically, new member Veronica Mars.

Don't judge me.

Theme

Previously in this blog I had a theme. Every post had a title from an R.E.M. song that I tried to tie in with the subject matter. I moved away from that, in much the way I loved all things R.E.M. and slowly moved away from fanaticism in that band to just liking them. Now I feel like I need something else to fill that gap.

I had a chat with a friend about a month ago and she told me she hopes I don't get into a relationship soon. On its face, that seems like a d!ck thing to say, but the reasons behind it are anything but. She doesn't want to see me rush into a relationship without finding someone who is really good for me. I don't have that right now, I don't see it on the horizon, and, most terrifyingly, in order to find this, I need to hunt outside the pack. The tribe doesn't contian that person at this time, so I need to reach out and meet new people. While I think of myself as a social animal, I, as most peple do, get nervous meeting new folk, especially if I'm thinking about dating them.

So, dear readers, I look to you for help. What's my next step?

Things I find Interesting

Let's start with stuff I like:

A lot of folk I know can get a little obsessed with historical accuracy, but a bit for creative license in my mind is OK. Sometimes, though, it goes too far. Checjk out some of the worst offenders.

I love all things film. Even more I love films within films and fake trailers. For proof of this, check out what's coming soon from Elmwood Productions: The Master of Funk Fu. Now add to this my ridiculous love of Quentin Tarintino and you have Nation's Pride, or as I prefer to call it, Pure Gold!

Netflix is going to allow users to stream to the iPhone soon. How cool is that?

Machete is finally getting made as a feature film, with a great cast. Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Alba, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin, Steven Seagal, Robert DeNiro, Jonah Hill, and, of course, Danny Trejo.

And things I could do without:

Spielberg has decided to remake Harvey. Really, Steve?

OK, people, get this straight. Barack Hussein Obama was born in Hawaii and is the President. I'm sorry if you don't like it, but that's the way it is. EVERYONE with legitimate authority agrees. You Birthers are nuts.

Heckling Democratic Congressmen & women who are holding Town Hall meetings. You don't have to like the person, you don't have to like their politics and policies, but, really, have some respect. Engage them in the process, debate, don't shout, and heckle.

And while we're on the subject, the whole Tea Party folk. Please remember the orginal Boston Tea Party was a bunch of rich guys who didn't like that they were making less money because of taxes. So are you. When you're backed by Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh, you're not a people's movement.

Calling President Obama racist. Both Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck of Fox News. Is it really so wrong of me to expect better?

Back?

I have been horrible about updating lately, so let me do that now.

Been doing a lot of work with Elmwood lately. I directed and wrote 3 shorts that we filmed back on 7/26 as well as a short that Kelly wrote. As part of that I'm learning how to edit, and while I'm no Spielberg or anything, I'm learning the ins and outs of Microsoft Movie Maker. To see what I've learned check out the trailer for Lock and Load over at The Lock and Load Blog.

The Master of Funk-Fu is our other project, a ridiculous parody of all things explotive in film. 3 parts blaxploitation, 2.6 parts Kung-Fu flick, 1 part ridiculous wigs, all ridiculous. The website for that is coming soon.

Real life is going slow. Trying to get on my feet. We'll see where I land.

Update

I'd like to get back to posting here regularly, but it just hasn't been in me with everything else going on.

The house has a contract on it. When all is said and done I will have lost between $5000 and $10000 on the house just this year and destroyed my credit. I'm trying to get the last $4000 of this so that I can get out from under the albatross that the divorce has been.

This Friday I throw some grass seed in the back yard as part of the contract.

When I figure out where the money is coming from, I'll post more. I've got some loans for now. So, help me out, click on the ad links, that pays me.

Rambling

This post is going to be rambling, so just deal with it.

One year ago today, Jenn asked me for a divorce. I'm not dealing well with that at all. I've been depressed for the past 2 weeks, in part because of the anniversary, in part because I can't keep going the way I am monetarily. I'm still paying rent and mortgage and bills in two homes. Promised sources of income aren't coming as promised, and I'm freaking out. I could really use a rich uncle or a Powerball win.

I'm not sure when or if I'll be updating again.

Some of you may want to help. I don't know what you can do. Don't invite me out, I can't afford it.

Late

I know they say better late than never, I'm not always sure about that. Either way, I'm late posting... again. I promised some real commentary today, so here it is.

You've all heard by now the curfuffle involved with the inauguration and the Oath of Office. It was taken twice by the President just to make sure because Chief Justice John Roberts flub. When he retook the oath, President Obama (its going to take a while to get sick of typing that), started off by saying: "we're going to do it very slowly." This is good, this is an amusing historical anecdote.

Here's what wasn't really talked about; part of the oath stated on January 20th, may have, in fact, been illegal. On December 31, 2008 American Attorney and Emergency Medical Physician (is there anything this guy can't do?) Michael Newdow along with 17 other people and 10 seperate groups filed an injunction against Chief Justice Roberts. The contention of the suit was that it was illegal for him to add the words "so help me God" at the end of the Oath. At no time did they claim it was illegal for President Obama to confirm the Oath by adding those four words at the end, only that the one administering the Oath could not require it.

Both Article Two, Section One, Clause Eight and the 22nd Amendment make reference to the President assuming the duties of the office. For purposes of this discussion I'll only be reviewing Article Two, since Amendment 22 only talks about timing of assuming office. This section requires this specifically:

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Of note is the possibility of Affirmation in place of Oath. An Oath is typically considered to have religious impact. Since 1695 British law has included the ability to affirm rather than swear, primarily as a concern over Quakers who refused to swear due to religious objections. This is also used by atheists who wish to avoid the same religious implications.

So, this has not been difinitively ruled on yet. The Circuit Court stopped the injunction from proceeding, in part because US District Court Judge Reggie Walton in an oral ruling believed he did not have the authority to stop the Chief Justice from prompting the words, or to keep Obama from saying them. There will be an appeal.

So, what do you think?

Just as a side note, Franklin Pierce, in possibly the best thing he ever did while in office, affirmed rather than swore.