Thursday Update - God and Country Edition

(The Boy and I survived the multiplex showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" practically unscathed, except for the beating we took on a SMALL popcorn and a SMALL drink.  I've got to say first that I enjoyed Spiderman more than this film.  Dark Knight is not only dark, it's a bit depressing.  There's a heck of lot of violence and thundering explosions, and though the "Bane" character was very impressive, the multiple beatings Batman receives from this monster throughout the movie is a bit much, in my opinion.  I didn't leave the theater in high spirits - no "wow," no "great movie," just a dazed two-and-a-half-hour exhaustion.  On the plus side, the FX are fantastic, but aren't they always these days?  Definitely not recommended for pre-teens, I give it 3 stars, down from 4 because of the violence.  What ever happened to Adam West?  But I digress ... )

• In trying to figure out the hows and whys of the madness that was played out in the movie theater in Colorado, pundits from all sides have pointed out how truly awful life and all its pressures can be, and when it gets too much for some people they just snap and go out and buy assault weapons and kill as many innocent people as possible.  We live in a violent society hell bent on leaving a trail of dead burnt babies in its wake, and we just can't do anything about it.  Mark Morford has one word for that idea:  Bullshit.  He looks forward to the day when someone storms into a midnight screening of a sweet romantic comedy and kisses everyone full on the mouth.
• The Boy Scouts of America voted the other day to once again remain in the Dark Ages by reaffirming the organization's ban on gays.  This in spite of the fact scouting looks to be one of the "gayest" groups in town.  Maybe it's the scarf and natty shorts with knee high socks.  At any rate, a group of Boy Scouts in full uniform appears to be a gathering of nazi queens.  I doubt if any self-respecting gay person would WANT to join this organization.  We give the Boy Scouts of America this month's Bad Hat Thumbs Down Award.
• "The Republican speaker at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Reno, Nev., was slashing the president with jingoistic jingles: Obama is ashamed of America, an apologist sapping the greatness of a country that is the greatest force for good the world has ever known, a weakling marring the American Century by gutting the military and the economy. And, on top of that, the Obama White House doesn’t know how to keep stuff secret." Maureen Dowd says it was like listening to Dick Cheney.  "Hiding In Plain Sight."
• Mitt Romney and his out-of-touch foot-in-mouth disease, spent a spot of time in jolly old England this week, and almost everything he said was controversial or just plain stupid.  He even hinted at racism by inferring that he would have better relations with Great Britain because of his "anglo-saxon" blood lines.  Even the normally stoic British were aghast. 
• You still don't believe the middle class in this country is about to be completely wiped out?  How many poor people are there in America?  Take a deep breath and click here.