Some girls are tougher than others

But my girlfriend is the toughest. Voldoll and I decided, rather hastily Saturday afternoon, that we would go to the mountains and hike. The weather outside was dreary but our spirits were up so we set out to the Great Smoky Mountains. We chose to hike to Andrew's Bald, a nice exposed area that enjoys a beautiful view at 6,600 feet. If you've never hiked to it you must know that the path is incredibly rocky and sometimes painful, but its short at only 1.8 miles. We reached the Sugarlands Visitor Center and bought a day-hike map and set out toward the starting point of the trail.

While I was driving Voldoll told me she couldn't remember if she had put her hiking boots in the car before we left. I told her she probably did but couldn't see them in the back seat. So I pulled over and we both searched desperately for her hiking boots. Nothing. Voldoll had on a pair of Crocs, and knock off Wal Mart versions at that. Crocs are comfortable and heelless, but when it comes to hiking you might as well be wearing flip flops. We got back in the car and I offered to turn around ( I wasn't to keen on her hiking in Crocs) but she was adamant, we go and we hike no matter what. To her credit she was unrelenting in her desire to finish the trail even when the slimy mud was ankle deep and rocks jutted out all around the trail. My girlfriend hiked four miles in Crocs across some nasty terrain but not once did she complain although she came close to breaking an ankle. It turned out to be a wonderful time together. I'm so very proud of her and I was very impressed by her tenacity.

Campaign with Bob Corker

**Warning-silly hippie nudity in this post**

Currently I am on sabbatical, i.e. I'm unemployed. More on that later. While I'm not at work I thought it best to participate in something I have a good deal of interest in, politics. I've always enjoy following national and local politics so I wondered to myself if I could volunteer with a political campaign since we are in the midst of a Republican primary here in the great state of Tennessee. Enter Bob Corker. I am a conservative in many areas however I like to call myself a South Park Conservative. Mr. Corker's stances are closest to my beliefs and values and I knew very little about Ed Bryant and I can't stand Van Hilleary. So the choice was clear. Last Thursday night the three candidates had a debate at West High School and it was there that I had my first campaign experience.

I arrived at West High School in the evening, the debate was scheduled to begin in an hour. The heat and humidity were depressing but the three individuals dressed up as chickens made the hour pass by fast. Three men ( I think they were guys) were dressed up in chicken suits standing in front of the school holding signs that read "we flew down here because Bob Corker was too chicken to debate the candidates". That sign was referencing some non televised debates that Mr. Corker decided not to attend and campaign elsewhere. No matter, the chickens lasted all of fifteen minutes in the sun before they had to move underneath an entrance under the shade in order to cool off. When I arrived I happily grabbed a 'Bob Corker for Senate' sign and held it up high, meanwhile I probably sweat off about three pounds of water weight. About thirty minutes before the debate I was still holding that sign up and someone spoke up "here he comes" and as I lowered the sign Mr. Corker was walking straight towards me and he shook my hand (nice firm handshake by the way) and thanked my for helping out. He made a point to shake everyone's hand (about 45 of us) and say thank you. I thought that was a very nice gesture. I got to know some of the campaign workers and they were very cordial and relaxed. I couldn't say the same for the war protestors though.

Around the same time we set up some hippies came out in front of us and planted their little 'No Illegal Wars/No war for Oil" signs. From a personal st andpoint, I am so sick and tired of arguing about Iraq so I did my best to ignore them. That lasted about five minutes. A little hippie granny kept telling the folks walking by to "Vote Democrat. No more illegal wars". That's sweet. As I walked by I knew they were going to say something to me, I was white, I had a short hair cut, and I was with the Corker campaign. No one said much, one guy asked me if I supported an illegal war which I responded, "darn straight I do and I served there so don't preach to me about the legalities of war". I expected a smart response but he said something unintelligible like "whatever I don't care, lets not argue, make love not war". I didn't pay much attention, it was time for the debate to begin.

The debate included all three candidates and was hosted by a local tv and radio station. Some people complained that the candidates did nothing to differentiate between themselves which is hardly surprising since all three are conservatives but if you pay close attention you will notice some differences. For instance, Van Hilleary likes to make up words when he speaks. Words like "gobblygook" and "yukatty yukk". Van Hilleray came across to me as confused, unintelligent, and scattered. Ed Bryant was very impressive. He was stoic and firm but lacked the kind of panache that it will take to defeat Harold Ford, Jr. , the Democratic candidate for the Senate. Mr. Corker had a witty demeanor and came across very well rehearsed which some might not like but, for me it's a sign that his campaign and he himself are very well organized and practiced.

It was a great time and I hope to volunteer some more this week. Additionally early voting has started and voting will begin on August 5th. I'll post more when I volunteer again.

Trackbacks added. Now use them!

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to VOLBOY.

Every dog has his day

Winston is your typical puppy; He likes to go to the bathroom everywhere and loves to bark at people, cars, and inanimate garbage bins. However he saves his best for when he attacks the dreaded water sprinkler!!! Watch below.

Horse Blogging

I spent a wonderful weekend with Voldoll riding horses. She's feeling a good bit better now. I'm trying my best to learn how to horse-back ride properly, but it takes a good deal of patience and strong thigh muscles...oh and good posture.

To the left is Susie and on the right is Oscar. Both are Arabian horses and both hate being separated from each other.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is an adventure-filled flim with some great moments but if your looking for substantial plot, keep digging and you might get lucky.

Dead Man’s Chest, directed by Gore Verbinski is the second movie in a trilogy of movies based on the Disney theme park ride, Pirates of the Caribbean. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer was wise enough to deliver more of what worked best from the first movie, Captain Jack Sparrow, played handsomely by Johnny Depp. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley return as Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, respectively. Captain Sparrow finds himself in a bind as he must pay a debt to the notorious pirate of the sea (literally) Davy Jones. True to form Sparrow tries to squeeze his way out of the debt by searching for a chest that contains something intimately connected to Davy Jones. But before the action can begin, and it really doesn’t until Davy Jones shows up, Will and Elizabeth have their wedding crashed ceremoniously by an agent of the East India Trading company demanding an artifact that, of course, only Captain Sparrow has in his possession.

At some points in the movie the plot becomes convoluted and busy. Seeing the first movie before watching the second would help since so many characters and story points are brought back. Most enjoyable is watching Davy Jones, played by Bill Nighy, in what must be a seamless combination of makeup, costume, and special effects. I just loved watching him and his crew in action. Fans of Orlando Bloom will be disappointed as his character never really evolves in this movie, in fact he might de-evolve, as he becomes increasingly gullible throughout the film. Knightley can’t even serve as simple eye candy since she’s dressed as a boy for most of the movie. Only until the very end of the film does she contribute to the story by committing an act of sheer treason. Most awkward is the love triangle that forms between the three with no promised resolution till the third movie. In fact there is no ending to this film at all, the last moments are spent in solemn remembrance of a friend lost and then, bam!, it’s time to go and rescue him…..in the third movie.

Overall an enjoyable movie and worth the price of admission to a matinee, but only go if you want to see more Jack Sparrow and Johnny Depp at his best.

Much ado about North Korea

It's been several days since the North Korean’s launched missiles toward Japan and apparently even Hawaii. So naturally since I've been in the military, people ask my reaction. Well, I don't have a strong reaction here. Having nukes brings a sense of legitimacy to your regime in the world order and they are the great equalizer in world politics (see India and Pakistan) or should I say great neuter-izer. Few options are available here with the exceptions of sanctions. Sanctions will accomplish little because there is little left to sanction. The DPRK's economy is so bad that they have resorted to some drastic measures. Stealing trains now, how can you sanction something like that?

A friend of mine asked me, "since we can bomb the shit out of them why do they even do this?". Good question. An incentive package was offered to Iran recently with the expectation that they end their nuclear armament program. North Korea is trying, desperately, to have something similar handed to them . Kim Jong ll's actions make little sense to many but his intention is clear. He wants to become a major military power in the Asian community. He wants legitimacy in the world order and has seen India, Pakistan and others accomplish that by going nuclear.

So what can we do? We can continue to work with our partners in the region (Russia, China, Japan, South Korea) and report North Korea to the Security Council and send Mr. Kim Jong ll a very nasty letter from the United Nations. Maybe Hanz Bwix could deliver it person.

Austin Bay has more about North Korea's negotiation strategy.

Sickness is not fun for anyone

Last night I talked with Voldoll and she told me she felt sick and was running a fever. This morning I might try to stop by and see her and make her feel as best as I can.

Superman Returns

I saw Superman Returns on opening day. I will never grow too old or get used to seeing a movie on opening day. I love it. This day was even more special for me because I grew up with Christopher Reeve as Superman and I had the toys, underwear, blankets, and appropriately themed Superman parties.

The title, Superman Returns serves as both movie title and story. Superman, played by Brandon Routh, has been away from Earth for over five years searching the remnants of Krypton for any survivors. Upon his return he discovers a world and some close friends that have moved on. Clark Kent returns to the Daily Planet to find Lois Lane, played by Kate Bosworth, has had a child and is engaged to the editor’s nephew. Arch enemy Lex Luthor, played devilishly by Kevin Spacey, has in his unique diabolical fashion wretched away a fortune from a dying woman. What ensues over the course of two plus hours is a movie that transported me back to my childhood and but never completely satisfied my inner comic book geekyness.

The opening credits began flying at me like the originals and I was immediately transported back to my youth. I was psyched to see Superman fly above the stars and wait to be called into action. Unfortunately this does not happen for the first thirty minutes of the movie which at times seemed painstakingly slow. Just like King Kong, this movie could've been shortened by twenty minutes and still worked well, perhaps even better. Superman's return in the movie happens in an effects laden scene involving a shuttle launch that has gone terribly wrong. Indeed, the effects are so good (and they should be with a $250 million price tag) that you will believe a man can fly. The movie was filmed in sequential order to you can watch Routh grow into the part and watch his confidence soar, literally, by the third act. Routh and Bosworth have chemistry which I cannot say for Bosworth and James Marsden who played Richard White, her fiancé. Still by the end of the movie you grow fond of Richard White (I found myself rooting for himl) as he is unflinching in risking his life to save his family. Marsden's makes us believe that any human can be a hero without super powers.

The biggest disappointment I had with the movie dealt with Luthor’s not so ingenious plan. Luthor has discovered the Fortress of Solitude and its secrets. Kevin Spacey delivers in the role as should be expected from a fine actor but Lex's plot seemed far fetched and silly. Create a new land mass that people will want to live on. The only problem with this is the land mass is ugly and unhabitable, no one will be able to by it because its creation will destroy 1/3 of the world's population, and said destruction will cripple the world's economy thus rendering real estate a market nobody can invest in. This is what we call in the Marines, good initiative, bad judgement.

Kate Bosworth is entirely too young to play the role of Lois. I found it hard to believe she could manage a fiancé, a son, and a career as a journalist. How did she manage to win a Pulitzer with all that and she's only in her mid twenties? Seems implausible.

Highlights of the movie were the exceptional piece of acting from Tristan Lake Lebeau who played Jason White, Lois's son, and a scene in which he protects his mother by demonstrating some other worldly strength. A final touching scene in which the father becomes the son and the son becomes the father, where Superman finds what he was looking for, gives the movie a loving touch that Director Bryan Singer should be credited with delivering.

Superman Returns is a fine movie in the end but with some flaws and a lengthy run time.

Honor Them

The Red Pill has a post that discusses his experience of watching an Air Force commissioning ceremony here. What is most telling, and you might miss it, was that he was once a student in the same ROTC class but was unable to graduate with them. He witnessed men and women that he trained with take an oath to defend the Constitution, a simple piece of paper, that has helped reshape the world. It's ironic that an individual should take an oath to protect anything other than the written word. Taking an oath to protect the King and Queen or to serve a vain Imperator would make more sense to me, but to protect all enemies from the Constitution, the document that records our deepest held beliefs is truly revolutionary even in today's world.