Russellings

Miscellaneous musings from the perspective of a lefty (both senses) atheist with a warped sense of humor.

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Location: Madison, WI, United States

I am a geek, but I do have some redeeming social skills. I love other people's dogs, cats, and kids. Snow sucks, but I'm willing to put up with it just to live in Madison.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

On Hillary Getting Out

I really don't understand the big push on the part of so many Democrats to get Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race before it's over.

In 1984, Reagan was way ahead of Mondale in the polls and totally crushed him in the election. But we HELD the election, didn't we?

In 1964, Johnson was way ahead of Goldwater and totally crushed him in the election. But we HELD the election, didn't we?

In 1948, Dewey was way ahead of Truman and, um, well, uh ... Good thing we HELD the election, wasn't it?

In 2000, Al Gore caved in before the last vote was counted in Florida instead of fighting to the bitter end, and what did we get? 4 years of George W. Bush.

In 2004, John Kerry caved in before the last vote was counted in Ohio instead of fighting to the bitter end, and what did we get? 4 MORE years of George W. Bush.

We're Democrats. The name isn't coincidental. We believe in the democratic process. We believe in holding the elections and counting the votes -- ALL of the votes.

If we get to the convention and the ballots are cast, I fully expect that it'll come down something like 2600 for Obama and 2400 for Clinton, and the candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner -- JUST AS IN EVERY OTHER ELECTION IN AMERICA! And Democrats will then rally around that winner, just as they always do.

I despise monarchy, hereditary rule, divine right -- all of that garbage. I want the Democrats to hold an election, not a coronation.

I don't blame Hillary Clinton for not caving in. I'm sick of Democrats who are all too eager to throw in the towel.

And how could she face her supporters if, after all the sacrifices they've made on her behalf, she had the chance to get the most votes ever cast for a woman at a major-party convention, and she dropped out at the last minute? They stuck by her thru thick and thin, but she bails on them before the final whistle? That would totally suck.

Understand, I'm not a Hillary Clinton supporter. I thot she was notably the worst of the entire field of Democratic candidates at the start of this election cycle, and nothing much since then has made me change my mind.

But she's run a good, hard campaign -- a campaign intended to win, a campaign with huge, widespread, grass-roots support from loyal, hard-working Democrats -- and she deserves to have that achievement recognized on the floor of the convention she's been pointing toward.

So let's do what Democrats are SUPPOSED to do: Hold the election, count all the votes, and declare the winner on that basis.

And give Hillary her moment in the sun. She's earned it, she deserves it, and her image will stick for decades with millions of little girls and young women, one of whom WILL grow up to be our first woman president.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

SF&F Films of 2007

I haven't posted much to my blogs lately because I've been getting ready for WisCon, the world's leading feminist science-fiction convention. However, it occurred to me that I could make some of that preparation do double duty by posting it here. So below is my list of the SF and fantasy films of 2007, which I'll be presenting at 2 different WisCon panels.

I use a 9-point rating scale, based on what I'd recommend to adult SF&F fans:
-All of you should see these:
 • 9 superlative
 • 8 dandy
 • 7 good
-This stuff is up to you:
 • 6 fair
 • 5 average
 • 4 poor
-Avoid these with increasing degrees of revulsion:
 • 3 bad
 • 2 awful
 • 1 execrable

9 Blade Runner: The Final Cut R 1:57 Science Fiction rerelease Biggie cynics
9 Bridge to Terabithia PG 1:35 Fantasy Fairy Tales original 3rd String romantics feminists
9 Stardust 13 2:08 Fantasy Fairy Tales original Biggie romantics
8 The Golden Compass PG 1:54 Other Talking Animals original Biggie feminists
8 Next 13 1:36 Science Fiction original 3rd String
8 Pirates of the Caribbean [3]: At World’s End 13 2:48 Other Adventure sequel Biggie
8 Ratatouille G 1:51 Other Talking Animals original Biggie
8 Spider-Man 3 13 2:19 Fantasy Comics & Pulps sequel Biggie
7 Enchanted PG 1:47 Fantasy Fairy Tales original 2nd String
7 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [5] 13 2:16 Fantasy Supernatural sequel Biggie
7 Meet the Robinsons G 1:34 Science Fiction original 2nd String romantics
7 Shrek the 3rd PG 1:33 Fantasy Fairy Tales sequel Biggie romantics
7 The Simpsons Movie 13 1:27 Other Comedy original Biggie
7 Surf’s Up PG 1:25 Other Talking Animals original 3rd String
6 Fido R 1:31 Other Comedy original 3rd String
6 I Am Legend 13 1:40 Science Fiction remake Biggie
6 The Invisible 13 1:42 Fantasy Supernatural original 3rd String
6 Planet Terror [1st feature in Grindhouse] R 1:31 Science Fiction formula 3rd String
5 Bee Movie PG 1:30 Other Talking Animals original 2nd String
5 Beowulf 13 1:53 Fantasy Sword & Sorcery original 2nd String
5 Blood and Chocolate 13 1:38 Fantasy Supernatural formula 3rd String
5 The Condemned R 1:53 Borderline original Barg Bsmt cynics
5 Fantastic 4 [2]: Rise of the Silver Surfer PG 1:32 Fantasy Comics & Pulps sequel Biggie
5 Ghost Rider 13 1:50 Fantasy Comics & Pulps crossover 3rd String
5 The Mist R 2:06 Fantasy Supernatural formula 3rd String
5 Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium G 1:33 Other Adventure original 2nd String
5 Premonition 13 1:36 Science Fiction original 3rd String
5 Transformers 13 2:23 Other Adventure crossover Biggie
4 1408 13 1:44 Fantasy Supernatural original 3rd String
4 30 Days of Night R 1:53 Fantasy Supernatural formula Barg Bsmt
4 Angel-A R 1:28 Fantasy Supernatural original 3rd String
4 Black Sheep 13 1:25 Science Fiction formula Barg Bsmt
4 Fred Claus PG 1:56 Other Comedy formula 3rd String
4 Hitman R 1:32 Borderline crossover 3rd String chauvinists
4 The Invasion 13 1:39 Science Fiction remake 2nd String
4 The Last Mimzy PG 1:36 Science Fiction original Barg Bsmt
4 The Reaping R 1:39 Fantasy Supernatural formula 3rd String
4 Resident Evil [3]: Extinction R 1:35 Science Fiction sequel 3rd String cynics feminists
4 Underdog PG 1:22 Other Talking Animals crossover 3rd String
4 The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep PG 1:52 Other Adventure original 3rd String
3 28 Weeks Later R 1:40 Science Fiction sequel 3rd String cynics
3 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem R 1:34 Science Fiction sequel 3rd String
3 Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters R 1:25 Other Talking Animals original Barg Bsmt
3 Good Luck Chuck R 1:36 Borderline original 3rd String chauvinists
3 The Host R 2:00 Science Fiction formula 3rd String
3 I Know Who Killed Me R 1:45 Other Drama original 3rd String
3 The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising [1] PG 1:34 Fantasy Supernatural original 3rd String
3 Sunshine R 1:47 Science Fiction original 3rd String
3 TMNT PG 1:27 Fantasy Comics & Pulps sequel 3rd String
2 Alvin and the Chipmunks PG 1:31 Other Talking Animals crossover 3rd String
2 D-War [Dragon Wars] 13 1:30 Fantasy Supernatural original 3rd String
2 Evan Almighty PG 1:35 Fantasy Supernatural sequel 2nd String
2 Paprika R 1:30 Science Fiction original 3rd String
2 Skin Walkers 13 1:32 Fantasy Supernatural formula Barg Bsmt
1 The Abandoned R 1:40 Fantasy Supernatural formula Barg Bsmt
1 The Hills Have Eyes 2 R 1:29 Science Fiction sequel Barg Bsmt
1 Southland Tales R 2:25 Science Fiction original Barg Bsmt
– The Last Winter R 1:39 Science Fiction original Barg Bsmt