So apparently Avatar is either anti-corporate, lefty environmental propaganda or a cause for major depression and suicidal thoughts.  I, however, maintain the official position of, “What the hell people?  It’s just a freaking movie.”

To address the conservatives who view the movie as some horrible anti-American statement:  Stop that.  You are probably the same people who boycotted Disney because you insisted that the word “sex” was inserted into The Lion King.  Have you nothing better to do with your time than read into movies to make them fit your agenda?

I was reading one article in which the author commented, “The conclusion does ask the audience to root for the defeat of American soldiers at the hands of an insurgency.”  I have two issues with this statement: 1.) The “insurgency” is not an insurgency.  They are defending their homeland which has been invaded by foreigners. 2.) The “American soldiers” are not American soldiers.  They are mercenaries hired by a company which has no known affiliation with any country, America or otherwise.  But nice try, dumbass.

To address the other, more depressed view, I say: Stop that.  What the hell is wrong with you people?  A movie makes you depressed and suicidal?  You contemplate whether suicide will give you a rebirth into a fictional world?  That guy in the picture with an entire pizza? I just don’t get it.  If you kill yourself you will not be reborn on the planet of Pandora, as much as you may wish the contrary, because that planet and all its ideology is made up.  Not real.  Pretend.  If the movie affected you that much you only have two real choices here: 1.) Realize it’s just a movie and get the hell over it, or 2.) Strap on a pair and do what you can to make the world a better place.  Killing yourself won’t achieve either.  Well, unless you’re a dumbass.  That might fulfill the second choice.

In other less depressing/leftist propaganda news, Mr. W got me a Kindle for Christmas.  I still feel torn between the minimalistic possibilities this presents and my love of owning/reading printed books but Amazon’s selection of free classic books has been helping [I have downloaded about seventy of them so far.]  I am also kind of tickled at the idea of reading War and Peace or Ivanhoe on my Kindle [both of which I have].

And Wedding News-in-Brief:
*Bridesmaid dresses have been chosen.  Here’s a picture–the color should be “Holly”.
*Deposit goes down for the location on the 15th, so our tentative date of October 14th will soon be permanent.

Tell me if this makes sense to you:
I have student loans for school. These are federal loans and either will generate interest when I’m done with school or are already generating interest, depending on type. My company reimburses me 80% of my educational costs and [after an initial $5,000 tax-free allotment per year] any reimbursement payments are taxed. So, basically, I am paying the federal government in order to repay them. I can’t help but feel screwed here.

In less the-government-is-screwing-me news, over the weekend I purchased Batman: Arkham Asylum and Guitar Hero 5, the latter of which I didn’t even know had come out already. I am behind the times! The clerk checking me out tried to sell me Rock Band: The Beatles and it was all I could do to keep from saying, “Puh-lease. Go peddle your crazy someplace else.” Rock Band is simply an inferior product. If you prefer it to Guitar Hero I won’t hold it against you, though. Okay, that’s a lie. I will hold it against you. You and your substandard decision-making skills.

Currently Reading: Strangers in Paradise, vol 2.
Excited About: getting my indoor countertop grill. I am having an End of Summer Cookout Extravaganza on Saturday with turkey hotdogs, whole wheat buns, and apple pie! I’m not sure where the “extravaganza” part comes in–maybe with the potato salad.

Teri: “So if you were going to kill off an entire people group in a Hitler-esque global genocide, who would it be?”

Paige: “Hmm.  I’ll have to think about that.  Same question to you while I’m thinking.”

Teri: “Japan.  They’re too smart.”

Paige: “You know, India and Korea are passing them now.”

Teri: “Then I change my answer to India.  They’re too smart.”

Paige: “That’s a lot of people, Teri.  You’re very ambitious.”

Teri: “Well, that’s the problem–there are too many of them.  If they keep breeding, pretty soon the whole world will smell like curry.  And they have gods and goddesses with all those arms.  I just don’t get it.”

Paige: “I think I’d do Korea.  They’re all like, ‘Oh, we have nukes!’  I’d say, ‘Well, here’s our nuke!’ and wipe ‘em out with it.”

Teri: “Nice.”