Redistributive Romance

Well, I must say that Chelsea looked rather lovely in her wedding gown. She ordered up two Vera Wang dresses (one for the wedding and one for the party) whilst the mother of the bride wore an Oscar de la Renta dress. 400 guests, and by most accounts, the bride's father kept his peripherals to himself.

The ballpark figure for the cost of the wedding was reported to be about 2-3 million - that's M-I-L-L-I-O-N, not thousands.

Which of course leads me to ask out loud - how's that redistribution of your wealth coming along?

Truly though, that's exactly the kind of generous spending that's pretty appropriate if you ask me - YOUR OWN. However, that's not the kind of wealth redistribution that these progressives like to hawk ad nauseum - alas, they want to redistribute your (i.e., taxpayer) money.

Well, best of luck to the bride and groom, and God bless the rest of us peons.

Indulging One's Own Self

Why should a writer who writes a movie that totally shreds such obvious history to satisfy his/her own creative penning of a story bother me? After all, history is nothing but a social construct, right?

I just finished watching Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds. It had the typical - and expected - Tarantino violence - as well as his quirky, boyish, movie-loving schmaltz, but aside from a few interesting performances - er, well one - that of Christoph Waltz, the total rip of history was something I could not overlook.

Boy, I've been hitting a patch of bad movies lately.

I also saw John Wayne in The Train Robbers. Yikes, he just phoned this performance in, didn't he?

The story was supposed to be centered around some convoluted robbery, but really, it was all about watching the stunning Ann-Margaret put on a pair of tight red jeans. Granted, she looks awesome. It seemed everything and everybody else was just gravy.

Aside from a weirdly placed prairie dog scene, the movie was a cookie-cutout western that dragged on a bit too long. Gosh, I think I have about 140 more John Wayne movies to go. Onward!

Papillon.. Schmapillion...

Holy smokes... I just finished watching Papillon with Dustin Hoffman and the gorgeous Steve McQueen. What a disappointing movie!!!

I found it interesting enough - at least up to the point where McQueen's character gets hit by those arrows. Then, the movie totally loses me when he wakes up at the beach camp with all those half naked women. What the hell??!!

I kept thinking he was dreaming again. I sat there waiting for his character to wake up from that farcical dream and be back in solitary confinement or something, but no - the movie kept getting more and more ridiculous. I might also add that even though the Papillon character kept growing a beard, his hair would NEVER grow an inch. Oy!

Any who, I can at least cross that film off my 'classic' list of movies I haven't seen.

Onward!

Who's this guy named John Wayne?

Usually, I would be too embarrassed to say that I didn't know such-and-such about something so terribly obvious (which is actually most of the time), but in this case - I am just glad I finally discovered this treasure. That treasure is the great John Wayne.

I saw Stagecoach a few weeks ago. Wow. My eyes became fixated on this iconic being.

Next, I saw The Quiet Man. Holy hell - I am in love - not just with him but him with the utterly lovely Maureen O'Hara. Then, last night, it was McLintock!

Oh yes! I love this man. Indubitably so.

I am buying the biography John Wayne: American cause I want to learn more about this man. I may grow to love him more, or I may grow to dislike or hate him. But one thing's for sure - I want more!!

God help us

After church, Bruce and I usually take the kids out for lunch to a local kid-friendly restaurant. Well, yesterday as we were walking back to our car, I noticed a bumper sticker affixed to the back window of the car parked next to ours - it read "Keep your laws off my body!" Then, I noticed there was a baby seat in the back seat of the car. Wow. What irony!

I've always had issues with that particular pro-abortion bumper stinker, er sticker. It's a ridiculous statement. The sticker would make more sense if it was referring to something like suicide and not the killing of an unborn baby.

Liberalism a la Survivor

I'm a fan of Survivor. I haven't seen every season - maybe just a handful. But, the times I HAVE seen it - I've enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the last 2 seasons. Why? Russell.

This guy played the game. He made no excuses - he was who he was and he played them ALL. Did he win? No. Well, he won fan favorite both times, but that's beside the point.

He was called a villain and a loathsome human being by a bunch of folks - including my husband. I liked the fact that he was a villain. He knew it, and he had no qualms about it nor did he ever stray or hesitate.

Russell never pretended he was anything more than a player. That's not to say that I condone his tactics. His techniques may not have been moral or right, but it was just refreshing to see someone put themselves out there - sores and all. Simple. Obvious. Honest.

Rupert, on the other hand, was a "hero". Whatever. He's a liberal. Well, he's a perfect example of a liberal. In his jury address to Russell, Rupert went on a tear and chastised Russell in such a veracious but venomous tone - you could literally feel the hatred.

Rupert then went on to say how he himself lied and manipulated BUT... and therein lies the heart of liberalism - the but. It's not that lying and manipulation is bad per se - in fact, it's kinda evil - it's just that when a liberal adopts those traits - they're justified. Their motives are good - ergo the means justify the ends. The worst part of it is the fact that most folks give that kind of dung a pass. No stink there!

Onward!

The Love is Gone

Sparked by a true interest to get to know you better, I made the first move. The more I learned about you, the more I wanted to know. Every new chapter was a revelation. You made my head spin with all your drama. Every page - a sweet, sweet taste of the real you. Mexico, I was charmed. I was beguiled. I was lusting for the next morsel.

Daily, I found myself adding more and more related Mexican history books to my Amazon reading wish list. Then, with only 100 more pages to go, quite suddenly, the romance was over. Oh, Fire and Blood: A History of Mexico, will I ever finish you now?

Nothing turned my stomach more than the last few weeks of watching the Mexican novela playing out in my beloved United States of America. The disgustingly biased and partisan media - consistently portraying illegal aliens as suffering victims of racist Americanos. It was truly embarrassing and shameful to hear actual Americans lamenting a law that they had not even bothered to read - calling the law nazi and gestapo.

Then, the 5th of May mexi-milieu at Live Oak High School - students getting sent home because they were wearing an American flag. Truly flabbergasting!

Mexico, have you not learned anything from your own history? Have you not learned that you are your own worst enemy? Have you not noticed that your own countrymen are leaving you in droves? You're like that 45 year old heterosexual guy who can't understand why he's still single. The jig is up pal. Take a good look in the mirror. You suck.

A Pro-Choicer's 'You Betcha' Moment

The Daily Texan, the student newspaper from my beloved alma mater, The University of Texas, headlined the Palin speech as Abortion foes fired up by Palin and included a photo of 3 lackadaisical female protesters.

The lasses had the usual phoned-in, hand-made posters displaying the obligatory hanger and "if the embryo" and "choice" statements. The paper went on to note that while 900 had responded to the Facebook promo to protest the Palin appearance, less than 50 actually showed up and a majority of them were men.

Which of course leads me to ask - when it comes to a woman's right to "choose", why is a man's opinion considered not important or relevant? But, if the man is supportive and encouraging of a woman's "right to abort", his opinion is valued and welcomed? So, am I to assume that SUPPORT for abortion is the deciding factor as to whether a man's opinion is relevant or not? You betcha!

I guess when your moral compass has no inclination or notion of where north really is, you can pretty much go anywhere without worrying whether you've arrived at the right destination - cause every destination is right!

Onward!

Palin in the House

Last night I attended An Evening with Sarah Palin at the Austin Convention Center. It was presented by Heroic Media. It was fun - not just because I got to see and hear one of my favorite conservative gals, but I got to hang and chat with like-minded folks about issues I find exciting and engaging - politics, pro-baby rights and Sarah.

I met some very lovely, smart and passionate ladies. There was a lady with her daughter who had come from San Antonio. She was Catholic and we discussed abortion and the various cliché and red herring arguments that the "pro-choice" crowd likes to use ad nauseam. I directed her to the Life Training Institute website because that site offers great arguments and debate strategies.

As for the speech itself, Gov. Rick Perry introduced Sarah. Truth be known, I am not a big fan of Rick Perry. There's just a certain je ne sais quoi about him that irks me to no end. It also doesn't help that he's an Aggie, and I don't like Aggies.

Sarah's speech was very thoughtful and funny. She's a very good speaker - personable and genuine. She clearly had a very real connection with the audience. The only negative of the whole evening - other than the pricey sandwiches - was the fact that we were not allowed to take pictures.

Any who, after her speech, there was a brief Q&A session with Palin, Perry and Raymond Arroyo. After about 15-20 minutes, Palin and Perry left the stage. Shortly thereafter, a lone (and obligatory) lefty protester got up - shouted some unintelligible blurbs - and was promptly escorted out of the building. I was too far away to hear exactly what she said, but I am pretty sure it was something like - "It was Bush's fault!"

Suck It Up

My two centavos on the illegal immigration laws of blessed Arizona

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ap2TZkCU0SSg

The article states:
Mexican President Felipe Calderon said April 26 that his country’s citizens are “angered and saddened” by the Arizona law, which he said “doesn’t adequately guarantee respect for people’s fundamental rights.”

Awww. Do you need a hug?? Maybe some tequila?

What a bold-faced asshat or maybe he just assumes we won't bother to educate ourselves - neither the Mexican Constitution [English] nor the Mexican Population Laws [pdf in Spanish] are Draconian per se, but they're also not all kumbayah either. If they can't afford the same kind of respect for THEIR illegal immigrants - like, uh, say - being able to protest against the Mexican government - they need to just shut up about our laws - see Chapter 3 of Mexican Constitution.

Don't get all cozy about the poll numbers...
They [Obama & the Democrats] are going to cram illegal immigration down our throats just like they did "healthcare" - come hell or high water - they will try and blindside us again with - "it's a dead issue" or "we don't have the votes" - but just like Jason of Friday the 13th fame - that bitch is coming back up... and it's going to catch us with our pants down.

And while I'm at it...
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S. Carolina) has GOT to go. Yeah, kick out the Democrats - that's easy - you see a 'D' by their name - done - I ain't voting for the asshat, but it's those RINOs that have inflicted the wounds from within - it's time to detoxify and purge.

Cause I can...
I am taking full-cheese liberties with an excerpt of dialogue between Henry and Eleanor from one of my favorite movies of all time - The Lion in Winter:

E: "Your sons [i.e., RINOs] are part of you [i.e., GOP]."
H: "Like warts and goiters, and I'm [i.e., voters are] having them removed."
E: "We've made them. They're our boys [i.e., RINOs]."
H: "I know, and good God, look at them."

Onward!

The Convenient Silence of Truth

Never - at any time in my life (until now that is) - have I ever heard any mention - by either the media or any of my teachers or professors - of the fact that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a registered Republican.

Oh, really?

You'd think that little factoid would be important to note. Here's a good article detailing said fact:

Why Martin Luther King Was Republican
by Frances Rice
08/16/2006

Perfidia

Because daily blogging will kill my Mafia Wars leveling, I am blogging intermittently. As for today, being Sunday, I am going to write about a song I am totally in love with - Perfidia. The song was published in 1939 and was written by Alberto Dominguez. I found limited information on Alberto - he was born in the state of Chiapas in Mexico in 1911 and he died in 1975.

Perfidia is Spanish for perfidy. Literally, the word means treachery or state of being faithless or disloyal. So, you can well imagine the focus of the song - love and betrayal.

The Spanish lyrics are:

Nadie comprende lo que sufro yo
Canto pues ya no puedo sollozar
Solo temblando de ansiedad estoy
Todos me miran y se van

Mujer, si puedes tu con Dios hablar
Preguntale si yo alguna vez
Te he dejado de adorar

Y el mar espejo de mi corazon
Las veces que me ha visto llorar
La perfidia de tu amor

Te he buscado por doquiera que yo voy
Y no te puedo hallar
Para que quiero otros besos
Si tus labios no me quieren ya besar

Y tu quien sabe por donde andaras
Quien sabe que aventura tendras
Que lejos estas de mi
**********

IMHO, the English lyrics - by Milton Leeds - don't do the song justice. Rather, the translation loses some of its depth. It sounds a little too cutesy especially the 'gods of love' line.

The English lyrics:

To you
My heart cries out "Perfidia"
For I find you, the love of my life
In somebody else's arms

Your eyes are echoing "Perfidia"
Forgetful of the promise of love
You're sharing another's charms

With a sad lament my dreams are faded like a broken melody
While the gods of love look down and laugh
At what romantic fools we mortals be

And now
I find my love was not for you
And so I take it back with a sigh
Perfidia's won
Goodbye
**********
Blah! Wah Wah!

The literal translation of the Spanish lyrics are more like this:

No one understands how much I suffer.
I sing for I can no longer cry.
Quivering with anxiety is all I do.
Everyone that sees me leaves.

Woman, if you can speak with God,
please ask Him if I've ever stopped loving you.

The sea - reflection of my heart.
The times that it's seen me cry over your treachery.

I've looked for you everywhere I go, but I can't find you.
Why do I want another's lips when your lips won't kiss mine?

And you, who knows where you are?
Who knows what adventures you're having so far away from me.
**********

Very different, huh? Truthfully though, if someone READ those words to me, my first reaction would be, "What are you... 16?" But, slap a mariachi band behind it and add a beautiful voice or two, and it's absolute art!

The song has been widely used and covered. It has been featured in movies like Casablanca, Now, Voyager, and Mambo Kings.

It's been recorded as an instrumental by the likes of The Ventures and Glen Miller.

The English version is also performed by Princeton's oldest cappella group - the Nassoons.

English versions notwithstanding, the Spanish versions are the best. It's been covered by the great Nat King Cole. There's a cheesy 80s sounding version by Luis Miguel and a pretty good doo-wop version by Trini Lopez. My favorite version is by the Trio Los Panchos (Canciones del Corazon - available off iTunes), but the version by Los Tres Caballeros is pretty good too.

Just for fun, I am adding a link to a version by sexy Spanish wench Sara Montiel. It's a womanly take on the song that's a little Ann-Margaret in its feel, but a good song is a good song.

Enjoy!

Book Blurb

I was strolling through some of the book titles off the ISI website - Intercollegiate Studies Institute - and came upon this book title:

A Consumer’s Guide to the Apocalypse
Why There Is No Cultural War in America and Why We Will Perish Nonetheless
--Eduardo Velásquez

Wow. Can it be?? A conservative-y book with a depressing book title NOT written by Steyn? Heh. The description states that the author's thesis "...is that when we peer into contemporary artists’ creative depiction of our sensibilities we discover that the antagonisms that fuel the current cultural wars stem from the same source."

Not a very original thesis if you ask me, but what really put a fork in this book for me was the mention of Coldplay. No thanks.

Anyhoo, my current book-leanings are focused on Mexican history - the Aztec wench in me I guess - so this won't be going on my 'to-read' list any time soon. If anybody out there has a book suggestion - be it historical or political - drop me a line! I am currently reading Fire and Blood: A History of Mexico by T.R. Fehrenbach.

YCT - Day 2

I'm going to be skipping around the topics and speakers from day 2. This post focuses on the first speaker and the lunch keynote.

Political Trends
The first speaker of the day was Matt Gamble - research assistant at Baselice & Associates, Inc. It was a flashback to statistics class, but I bucked the zzzs and paid attention - enough to give you a basic synopsis - the dems are in trouble and the GOP is gaining ground. Amen.

Lunch Keynote - Michelle Malkin
A conservative goddess. My knees were literally wobbly when I walked up to her - and yes, she is THAT attractive! She signed my conservative ladies calendar, and she graciously took a picture with me - your humble Aztec wench. Boy, what a lady! Seriously. Truly nice and accommodating. She rocked. We didn't speak much, but I did manage to tell her that she acted and looked nothing like the 'knuckle-dragging, Islamohomophobic, mysoginistic bigot' the msm often portray her as.

Her speech.
Well, if I wasn't in love with her after our autograph encounter, I certainly was after the speech. She spoke of the overt corruption of the current regime, er administration. She spoke of activism and courage.

A YCT member asked her the question I had wanted to ask - how does she (the YCT member) - as a hispanic, spread the word? Malkin's response was - focus on the message - i.e., conservative principles - and NOT the messenger. Beautiful.

YCT 2010

I think the title implies a yearly deal, but it's new to me. It's the Young Conservatives of Texas - a "non-partisan conservative youth organization" - and its activists are - you guessed it - conservatives. It was their 30th deal and it was a weekend filled with conservative speakers. I don't recall how I found out about YCT, but I ended up on their email list. I had been ripe for a conservative anything, so when I found out Michelle Malkin was one of the speakers, I got that "thrill up my leg" and registered. Now, I knew going in that I would not know anybody at the conference, but I wasn't going to let my social apprehensions keep me away.

04.09.2010. The first day. Friday was a meet and greet pachanga. I met a few of the alumni, but I basically did a snack drive-by and scurried home. The most annoying thing about that evening - other than my social retardation - was the uppity drink guy who got all upset at my request for a glass of ice water. Seriously folks, it's not in my nature to pony up $3 for bottled water if I can help it. That was it for Friday.

God bless America!

It's my first post and I'm already nervous. I have that 'pre-test' kind of feeling - the kind I used to get right before a test I knew I hadn't studied nearly long enough for... but hey, this isn't going on my transcript, so let's give it a go shall we?

Welcome and by all means... make yourself at home!