How Boring

Google is being sued by a couple for their street view feature on google maps.

Responding to an invasion of privacy lawsuit filed by Aaron and Christine Boring, Google has countered that the couple "live in a residential community in the twenty-first-century United States, where every step upon private property is not deemed by law to be an actionable trespass." In a motion to dismiss the Borings's federal complaint, Google's six-lawyer team asserts that, "Today's satellite-image technology means that even in today's desert, complete privacy does not exist. In any event, Plaintiffs live far from the desert and are far from hermits."

Man... google maps rules. Don't be so Boring.

kekeke

Robots in Disguise

I saw Transformers last night and would just like to say two things:

1. Slapstick humor with giant robots capable of destroying a small army is great. It's definitely way better than normal Will Ferrellesque slapstick humor.

2. Megan Fox is aptly named.

What happened to the Brandon we used to know?

I went to the grocery store the other day and picked up a six-pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. As I went to pay for it, the cashier asked me if I was of age. I pulled out my id and handed it to her. She peered at the id for a moment, and commented to my girlfriend, "What happened to the Brandon we used to know?"

I thought it was pretty funny. I guess I really need to get a new driver's license. The 16 year old look just isn't working for me anymore.

Batman and Politics: Part II

As a Democrat who loves Batman, I've had some interesting discussions on just what sort of party affiliation Batman would hold. Would the caped crusader vote Democrat or would he vote Republican?

On the one hand, Bruce Wayne is a billionaire, immediately suggesting strong evidence that he would vote Republican. But then again, I am pretty sure that when Warren Buffett casts his vote in November, it will be for Barack Obama. But Batman is also pretty hard on crime, a typically Republican issue. It seems during Christopher Nolan's Batman films that it is the whiny liberal pundits who criticize Batman the most.

But then again, Batman is Gotham's favorite son, a city with what I am sure is a strong tradition in Democratic politics. Also, most people tend to vote the way their parents do and Bruce Wayne's parents were notable philanthropists who acknowledged that infrastructure and Government support were necessary to combating poverty in Gotham--a cause they dedicated themselves to.

All in all, there are compelling arguments to both sides for Batman being either a Republican or Democrat. But the most likely answer? Batman is probably a non-party line voter with a strong independent streak.

Batman and Politics

I was recently perusing news on the web when I came across an editorial in the Wall Street Journal comparing Bush to Batman. The author argues that the Dark Knight is a covertly right wing film, which shows that it is necessary to take a hard line on terrorism.

Brandishing terms like "Islamo-fascism" while renouncing "moral relativism," the author seems to have missed (as he would hate for me to say) the nuance of the film. Batman's fight against the forces of evil in Gotham in the Dark Knight is not as simple as the author seems to conclude.

He writes...

"The Dark Knight" is making a fortune depicting the values and necessities that the Bush administration cannot seem to articulate for beans.

Yes, while the Dark Knight does have Batman invading people's privacy through their cell phones in order to stop the Joker, the cost of Batman's personal "war on terror" is high. It is acknowledged in the film that Batman's crusade on crime has evoked an increasingly horrifying and escalating response, culminating with the psychotic terrorism of the Joker.

As long as Batman exists, so will villains like the Joker. That is why Batman places so much hope on Harvey Dent, Gotham's District Attorney. Real men and women are necessary to end the crusade that Batman began--not the uncompromising tactics of Batman... or George W. Bush.

Harry F.

I received a phone call from an old friend this morning letting me know that his great uncle had passed. The friend, who was raised for a while by his great aunt and uncle, and I spent a large part of our childhood growing up in their walls. I am so grateful for their patience with us. Iking and Harry always treated me with such love and respect. Harry was a good man and he will be missed.

The whole event has not really sunk in yet.