True Grit vs True Grit

   I'm having a hard time with coming up with a title for this, so I guess this one will have to do.

   Now, as all y'all know, I love a good western and think that John Wayne is one of our greatest heroes. That being said, I'd like to offer my thoughts on a movie I saw last night which some are calling a "remake" of a classic. I am going to have to disagree on that point for several reasons. Now, before y'all get all up in arms; this is not a critique, only a comparison.

•    In the John Wayne version, the central character is Rooster Cogburn; whereas in this version, Maddie is the main character. This allows Rooster to be Rooster if you get my drift.
• I think the casting in the Coen Brothers version is more appropriate than the Henry Hathaway version. Be honest here, except for Duke and some of the minor characters, it wasn't that good. Kim Darby was too old to play Maddie and Glenn Campbell was at best, terrible as La Beouf. However, Robert Duvall was outstanding as Lucky Ned Pepper.
• There is a more developed relationship between Maddie and Rooster in the Coen version. There are several scenes that allow this to come through. In the original, this relationship never seemed to quite click. Maybe it was because of the fact Kim Darby and  Duke never quite hit it off on a personal basis.
• The backdrops in both movies are outstanding in their own way. In the original, the scenery is crisp and pristine. In the new version, it's much grittier which is in line with where this movie takes us.

   Those are just a few of the points that might be up for conjecture. I'm sure there are more, but to be honest, I quit trying to compare them and settled in to watch what in my opinion, is a really good movie. One final thought here; There is nothing wrong with someone  remaking something. How many times have we seen different versions of the same story? Should we have stopped with the originals of Shakespeare's? How about the remakes on the stage as well? Each version should be judged on its own merits and not compared to the other versions. But then, if we did that, what would we have to talk about?

 

An Inconvenient Christmas?

   It seems that as the Progessives' war on the Religious Front wages forward as city after city gives into a rabid minorty to take the "Christ" out of Christmas; they have become emboldened enough to even open a second front centering on the big guy himself, Santa Claus! Picture this if you will:

An Inconvenient Christmas

   Santa is now a target for the Liberals and Progressives that want to control every process of our daily lives. He is fighting lawsuits from the ACLU for his hiring practice of only using elves and not having enough "diversity" in the workplace. The unions  are on his case for not using union workers and paying his employees a living wage. The EPA is trying to close him down because of allegations that his toy factory is destroying the Polar Cap and endangering the polar bears. The FAA is after him for flying 24 hours straight while being sleep deprived, endeangering the safety of air travelers.

   Now, here's where it really gets sticky. Children's Protective Services is wondering why he is always giving little boys and girls candy for sitting in his lap and why he discriminates by giving good kids toys and naughty kids a lump of coal;for in the eyes of the government, the naughty kids can't help being a product of the environment.

   Even the SPCA is getting into the act. They are thinking of taking him to court for abusing reindeer by making them pull such a heavy sleigh. Why can't he use something "green?" such as an electric sleigh to deliver toys?

   Now, the kicker, Santa has incurred the wrath of the First Lady herself because of his habit of eating nothing but milk and cookies. Imagine that, Santa eating all those cookies! What kind of example is that for children? To be overweight is a cardinal sin for a First Lady that feels only the government knows what best for our kids to eat, regardless of the fact that the cost of one of their State Dinners would keep most families in groceries for a lifetime!

   I'm sure it won't be long until Santa will have to appear before a Congressional Comittee to explain all these accusations, but the upside of this will be that we will have a new look in Congress and he might have a fighting chance.....

 

Now, Y'all all know that this is just a piece of fiction.....

For Now!

Merry Christmas!

Dear Santa....

Well, it's been a while since I sent a  letter to Santa Claus, but desperate times call for desperate measures, so here goes:

Dear Santa,
  I hope you are well and feeling generous this Christmas for though this list isn't long it might be kinda difficult to fill. But here goes.

1. Secure Borders- It doesn't seem like the government is capable of doing this yet is willing to sue a state that tries to do it on their own, so if you could help on that one, I'd be really grateful.
2. A Rollback of Federal Spending to at least levels of FY 2005.
3. Pay cuts for all members of the Legislative Branch. In fact, let's make it performance based, like the private sector.
4. Defunding "Obama-Care" until it can be repealed.
5. Kill "Cap and Tax" once and for all.
6. An email to Speaker Boehner reminding him that his job is only temporary and will be yanked out from under him if he forgets the people that entrusted him with his new position.
7. Remind the Supreme Court that United States  is indeed founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs, regardless of what the ACLU says.
8. Either diction lessons or a bib for Barney Frank
9. A Sandals Resort vacation for Nancy Pelosi's husband. God knows he could use one after having to put up with that scary b***h for so many years.
10. A  federal prison cell with a nice view for Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters.
11. A fair and simplified tax code.
12. A one way ticket to OHare Airport for the Obama family on January 21st 2013. Let's see how they like getting felt up before boarding!

   Now, Santa, I know you won't be  able to fill this list because it will be up to the people of these United States to accomplish this. But, it did feel good to get it off my chest and I thank you for listening and look forward again to leaving BBQ'ed Brisket and Sweet Tea for you again. I know you are accustomed to milk and cookies, but when you cross that Red River, you're in Texas and to get across it you're gonna need something that'll stick with ya!
Your Friend
Ed Carter

PS
If you could arrange it, my last Christmas wish is that none of our Servicemen and women become a casualty of any kind on Christmas. Christmas should be a time of joy and faith and not a day to mourn.

Merry Christmas all yall!