Nearly a Trillion Reasons to Hate War

At a glance I've come up with a low estimate of 7, 282,000,000 reasons to despise war and the money spent on it.

A flag draped over a coffin, another soldier is dead...We've got our marching orders...We've crossed too many borders, military suicide...War killing sons and daughters, another failed attack...Politicians confuse me, I watch the body count rise, why are the children all marching into the desert to die?

Those are singer Ozzy Osbourne's lyrics from his song "Black Rain" released in May, 2007.

My thoughts and condolences go out the family and friends of the more than 6,700 U.S. soldiers that have lost their lives since the Afghan and Iraq, wars began in 2001 and 2003. The website icausaties.org confirms these sad facts.

Certain billionaires are profiting from war, business as usual. When you have no soul, conscience and are driven purely on greed and power, the deaths of tens of thousands of young men and women vastly aged between 19 and 24-years-old mean absolutely nothing. After all, these business demons are not entering combat themselves and are not sending their own children to die while making huge amounts of money in the war business.  

 In 2010 the U.S. spent nearly $700 billion on its military. Journalist Howard Steven Friedman's November, 2011 article "Five Countries With the Highest Military Expenditure" on the web; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-steven-friedman/military-spending-united-states_b_1118851.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-steven-friedman/military-spending-united-states_b_1118851.html clarifies these facts.

Friedman's article states that the U.S. spends more money on its military than China, the U.K., France and Russia combined. Incidentally these four countries rank 2-5 in military spending retrospectively and the U.S. spent six times the amount on its military then number two China. President Donald Trump still wants to increase our military, it's ludricrious. 

With the money spent on war, a low estimate of 21 million Americans could have graduated four year colleges for free. Obviously no government believes that 'knowledge is power.'

In all my reference checks between 50,000 and more than 58,000 U.S. soldiers died in the Vietnam War and at least two-million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians including women and children died while American soldiers were there. Some politicians to this day call that war, the Vietnam Conflict. Wow, my idea of a conflict is when a man's wife wants to see "Machete Kills Again" and the man wants to see "Love Begets Flowers" while standing in a box office line.

How about war crimes that result in brutal raping, pillaging and murder of civilians that get washed away in red tape? The few war crimes that get reported seem to yield very little or no punishment for those involved. The very day I turned 4-years-old in March of 1968, U.S. soldiers under the order of Lt. William L. Calley Jr massacred an estimated 500 unarmed men, women and children in the town of My Lai, South Vietnam.

 The New York Times nearly 50 year-old article; "U.S. Soldiers Massacre Vietnamese Civilians at My Lai" on the web; http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/march-16-1968-u-s-soldiers-massacre-vietnamese-civilians-at-my-lai/ states bodies were mutilated and young women raped. Calley Jr was sentenced to just three and a half years of house arrest for these horrific crimes and no one else involved received any punishment.

Currently in Operation Dessert Freedom (war), many middle eastern civilians are being killed for no reason other than the fact some U.S soldiers are ruthless murderers.

Drop Weapons are something mainstream news remains hush about.

Drop Weapons in a nutshell are a legal way for U.S. soldiers to kill unarmed middle eastern civilians. The article "Soldiers Discuss Using Drop Weapons To Cover Up Killing Innocent Iraqi Civilians" details how some U.S. military personal carry spare weapons for the sole purpose of planting them near Iraqi and Afghan civilians once they have murdered them. This article can be found at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/02/soldiers-discuss-using-dr_n_104682.html.

While I'm on the subject of civilian war casualties, there is of course the ending of World War II in which the U.S. government decimated at least 220,000 people, (mostly civilians) in a three day span with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

Now the big concern, at least in many of today's headlines; North Korea and the countries quest for weapons of mass destruction. I personally am not concerned about North Korea, or its leader Kim Wong Un.

I adhere to what Bill Maher recently said on one of this year’s programs, "Real Time with Bill Maher.” Maher claims Jong Un is 28-years-old and has two children with two different women. Maher's point of Jong Un not wanting to world to end is a good one.

I'd like to add that Jong Un like his deceased father was is an avid NBA fan. The NBA finals don't start until June 6 and won’t end until June 13 or 20. Then the 2013-2014 NBA season starts in November. Unless there is an indefinite NBA strike, I say North Korea is not a threat.

Kooks with nukes in the middle east? Now I have at least 7, 282,000,001 reasons to hate war.

"The Hangover Part III" Holds it's Own"

"The Hangover Part III" starts out fast with the laughs, slows in the middle and concludes on a raucously humorous note, so don't stop watching when the first series of credits starts rolling.

The storyline is completely different from the first two "Hangover" films. No wedding or bachelor party to attend in the beginning and the screen writers Todd Phillips and Craig Mazin got much too serious at times.

"The Hangover 3" is not nearly as good or funny as the first one, but it warranted a solid three star rating from me. I was lost from time to time when the movie had flash backs from the first two "Hangover’s."  I completely understood the references to the first and fabulous "Hangover," but the part II flashbacks lost me. "The Hangover Part II," was arguably the worst comedy ever made, hence I quit watching it and found something much more entertaining to do such as counting dead leaves in pond water.  

Within the first few minute of part 3, Alan (Zach Galifianakis) accidently kills a giraffe on the freeway causing an automobile pile-up on and his father Sid (Jeffrey Tambor) dies of a heart attack soon after.

Alan is coaxed into attending an intervention clinic in Arizona if his comrade’s drive him there from southern California.  Along the road trip, Doug (Justin Bartha) is kidnapped and the trio from the first two "Hangover" movies have three days to find Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) who ripped off Marshal (John Goodman) and exchange Mr. Chow for Doug. If Alan, Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms) fail to get Mr. Chow to Marshal, Doug will be shot by Marshal.

The middle of the movie has few laughs and Marshal is too serious of a character for the movie, but the laughs return and the bizarre dirty humor from the first "Hangover" is twistedly restored.
Unlike the second "Hangover" ("Lameover"), part 3 is originally entertaining, crass and funny. My advice is to hold from seeing it in the theaters and watch it at home, but check it out.

Insane Double Murderer is Legally Free in Santa Rosa

Double murderer Mathew Beck is back on the streets less than 15 years after viciously stabbing two women to death.

Paul Payne's article in Sonoma County's Press Democrat on Monday, "Slim Chance of Release With Insanity Defense" states Beck is currently living in Santa Rosa in a board and care facility. He takes medication, attends regular therapy sessions and participates in group meetings about his drug and alcohol addictions Payne's article claims. 

More than 13 years ago Beck stabbed 38-year-old Sandra Napier 28 times to death then brandished the same knife on her 63-year-mother Marcella Napier 12 or 17 times depending on which Payne article you read, killing her as well.

Payne wrote about Beck's possible release with minimal supervision in May, 2012 which details the murders. Last year's article "Family of Rohnert Park killer Upset About His Release" can be found on the following web site; http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120523/ARTICLES/120529796?p=2&tc=pg    Monday's article and last year's claim Beck told his arresting officer that he was an angel of God and the mother and daughter he barbarously killed were evil spirits.

Just one conviction for driving under the influence and you're ineligible to be a bus driver for Laidlaw transit in Santa Rosa for 15 years. Viciously murder two people for an insane reason and you’re free in less time.

Beck's own family assert he is not ready for release and want nothing to do with him. Beck’s uncle was going to marry Sandra Napier according to Payne’s articles.

The obviously heinous crimes against the two Napier's should have warranted more justice for the victims as well as their family and friends. Beck is free to roam around unsupervised as long as he takes his medication and attends his therapy classes. 

I take medication for potent heartburn and esophagus problems. If I forget my pill one day, I may have a hard time swallowing food and get some rough heart burn. If Beck forgets his medication he might go on a killing spree. Payne’s article on Monday claims Beck is thinking of attending barber school.

Exactly what the world needs, a double murder that used a knife to kill his victims and have legal access to sharp objects such as a straight razor. If Beck becomes a barber, maybe I can grow a beard again and have him shave it off while I’m wearing an Iron Maiden number of the beast T-shirt.   

James Holmes, the man who gunned down dozens of people in Aurora, Colo. last year is going for the insanity plea as well. I'd bet the mortgage Holmes doesn't go free, but the right amount of money, a fantastic lawyer, and Holmes might one day roam the streets again.

How many sane people become angels of God and commit horrific crimes for their own delusions? How many sane people collect massive amounts of guns and ammunition to open fire on an unarmed crowd for nefarious pleasures?

The courts have made it clear that juking a bunch of young evil minds to randomly kill innocent people and cut a fetus out of an eight month pregnant women while she is still alive is an act of sanity. I'm referring to the Charles Manson murders of the 60s and what his demented crew did to Shannon Tate during that horrific period.

Manson is still in prison and none of his posse who were tried and sentenced has been release from jail. So please someone in the law with power please deem Beck to be of sound mind so he can be locked up.

How many more extremely dangerous criminals are lurking in the streets because the courts released them by reason of insanity? I hope Beck remembers to take his medicine.    



  

"Star Trek Into Darkness" Even With Adult Themes Stays Appropiate For All Ages; It's for the Big Screen

"Star Trek Into Darkness" 3-D weaves the fabric of the original 60s television show into today's movie technology with well timed humor and intriguing characters.

Fans of the original "Star Trek" TV show should really enjoy Thursday’s release of "Star Trek Into Darkness." This is the second "Star Trek" movie featuring Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk, a playboy with heart, wisdom and soul.

"...Into Darkness" jumps right into the action as Kirk (Pine) and Dr. (Bones) Leonard McCoy (Karl Urban) are being chased by dozens of white faced tribesmen’s hurling spears at them from an island far from Earth. Their goal is to get back the USS Enterprise which is resting beneath the ocean and retrieve First Officer Mr. Spock (Zachary Quinto) who’s inside an active volcano.  

The story and special effects are over the top at times, but it works. Spock is wearing a special futuristic suit, which covers him from head to toe so he can withstand the intense heat of the massively flowing lava. His mission is to set off a device that will freeze the lava when the volcano erupts, thus saving the island and the lives of the natives who are trying to kill Kirk and Bones. Isn't that a good Christian thing to do?!

Soon after this crisis, a bomb is deliberately set off in London's future sometime in the 2260s, killing dozens of people including women and children. Harsh realities clearly ran through the imaginations of screen writers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof in this part of the story.

It turns out the reoccurring villain Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) was the mastermind behind the tragic London bombing. Khan also manages to hornswoggle Kirk, Spock and several other federation officers into the same building so he can kill them all at once. Khan kills a few major characters and immediately flees to a planet in Klingons territory.

In order for the Kirk and his crew to capture Khan, they risk starting an all out war with the Klingons. As the story begins its decent into conclusion, it's possible Khan is not the villain he is perceived to be. Khan, Kirk and Chief Engineer Scotty (Simon Pegg) team up to fight against attacking Klingons.

Predictability fades in out of this movie with insightful curves which keeps the viewer(s) interested the whole way.   

Some very unique twists in the storyline and the writers staying in tune with the friendly rivalry between Spock and Bones from the original "Star Trek" TV series worked well. The writers effectively modernized the characters such as having Spock dating the foxy Lieutenant Uhura. (Zoe Saldana)

I give this film a solid three and half star rating and recommend seeing it on the big screen in 3-D.

 

 

The Novel "The Disciple of Las Vegas" is a Miserable Mystery Not Worth the Read

"The Disciple of Las Vegas" was first spawned to the general public outside the U.S in 2011, and released to America in February.

Word around the campfire has it that Ian Hamilton has written six novels about the character Ava Lee, a sleuth and accountant who solves mysteries. After reading the second book in a series of five or six to date, "The Disciple of Las Vegas" is clearly a bust.

Tommy Ordonez, one of the richest men in the Philippines, has been robbed of $50 million, so he hires the Canadian-Chinese woman, Lee and her uncle in Hong Kong to recover his money.

"The Disciple of Las Vegas" sparks some interest when Hamilton refers to the illegal gambling dens in Las Vegas. Because I've read this book I'd do a lot of research before doing any online gambling.

The mystery of whom, or what group of people stole Ordonez's money and if Lee can escape the contract on her life by some lame thugs becomes a mystery as to why this book was even written.

Hamilton is several centuries behind his time thinking a strong willed, whimsical lesbian woman is unique. Lee's character, a minority in her sexual preference and skilled at martial arts might have been cutting edge in the 1500s, but in today’s fiction, so what?

Lee's cerebral lusts have nothing to do with the story and her being adept at martial arts is seldom used is this story.

Lee follows her leads through San Francisco, Costa Rica and ultimately to sin city. Lee’s character is clever enough to warrant a one and half star rating for the book, but the other characters in the novel, including Uncle were as intriguing as a single speck of dust in a key pad.

Personally I think Hamilton wrote this book to display how well traveled he is, and good for him, but his fancy way of writing a travel guide didn't work for me. I have the desire to read the other five Lee novels as much as I have an ardor to pee on an electric fence.    

Three More Poems From Izzy Schurr's Dead Poems

              Girl to Woman

Young flowered eye cutie. She’s riding on the

bright side of time before she emerges into a

lady. A true lady. Passion pure, primitive lure.

                                                  Izzy Schurr

              Medicine Lake

Transparent fog cascaded across the lakes

surface while acrylic star light ejaculated against

the black sky. Sluice moon beams ricocheted

lucid light off the tall branches and conceived

shafts of light amongst the small forest trail.

The small motor on the fishing boat echoed in

the dissipated dawn. An eagle emerged from the

sun rise and scoped the shallow depths of the lake

for breakfast. Spinning lures attracted large trout.

The fresh catch of the day permeated the camp site 

as well seasoned  fish sizzled on the barbeque.

The lil’blue AM /FM radio spewed out the latest sports

                                    facts while cold beer lubricated my throat from a

                                    robust cigar.

                                                                                        Izzy Schurr

                                                          War II

                                    Teenagers fresh out of high school marching to

murder which governments call war. Combat

roads lined with fear. Often death is near. Pillage

and rape covered in red tape. Civilian housing,

women and children destroyed by “smart” bombs.

Coincidence our first troops in 2003 where shipped

to the main oil fields?  Poison power suggests we nuke

their ass and take their gas.

Sometimes I’m ashamed to drive.

                                                                                    Izzy Schurr / Steve Joyner / ?