The most pressing item I’ve been reading about is the aftermath of the election in Iran. To put it mildly, the news is stunning. First, you have the apparent theft of the election (Does ANYONE know who really won???), then, the protests (a right we take for granted), and now the crackdown by the Gov’t. You can read updates here at The Huffington Post and all related posts here.

The people want change and the Gov’t and their supporters are oppressing them. The Gov’t is trying to control info that comes and goes from the people. Between phone and the Internet, the Gov’t (thankfully!) doesn’t seem to be having much luck blocking the info. What info does get out, paints a stark picture and makes our issues seem trivial. Here in the U.S., next time you see a protest and complain about it, thank your lucky stars that people here CAN protest and that you can complain about it. Not everyone is as fortunate.

I have no idea how far this will go, but I think the world should pay close attention as, one way or another, history is happening now.

On a much lighter note: I’m trying to get out to take photos again with varying success. I’m reading Joe McNally’s “The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes” and getting a lot of tips and inspiration from it. It has a lot of good info, is well written, and entertaining too. I highly recommend it.

I’m also brushing up on Photoshop Elements. Between magazine articles and a book or two, I’m adding to my limited skill set.

Work is the good. Things are stable and the occasional late night call is happening less frequently.

Music I’m listening to now:
Nothing at the moment.

I find I have mixed feelings about the final episode, which I will discuss after the break.

I really liked the show but agree with the decision to end it. The best stories have a beginning and an end and while I have some issues with the ending, Battlestar Galactica had a decent ending.

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Where do I begin? Overall, I liked the episode, I just find the ultimate ending just a little disappointing.

The first half of the episode was amazing. The plan to get Hera back was certainly original and daring.  Jumping right by the Colony and ramming the ship into it?The flash backs were interesting and worked well into the story too.

The second half was seriously odd in many ways. The survivors decide to completely  ditch Technology? That sounds like a great idea up until people start to die from simple infections.  What would they do for shelter or clothing? The baseship had manufacturing capability so wouldn’t they utilize it for shelter prior to the Centurions taking it away?

It would have made more sense to me if they 1st established settlements and just went low tech. With no maintenance or resources, the old technology would have died off and not been replaced.  That would mean that after a generation or two, they’d be in a bronze age at best. After 150K years, it would have the same result.

My thoughts:
Boomer: Well, that was not unexpected. Nice of her to get a clue and save Hera, albeit a bit late. After all, what did she think Cavil had planed? That had to be a little weird for Grace Park to shoot herself.

Starbuck: Huh. Was she ever there? Or just a ghost? That  was really Odd and will leave people debating it for years.

Lee Adama: IMO, his suggestion was way out of character and ultimately would doom the ~38K survivors to disease and famine. How did he get from keeping the Civilization together to “Lets go our separate ways”? Like I said, really out of character for him.

Admiral Adama: IMO, also out of character. I can understand him going off when Laura Roslin died, but going off and becoming a hermit? With a Raptor and Never see his son again? I’m not seeing it.

The Final Five:
Tory: Well, she had it coming and standing next to Galen was obviously NOT a good idea.
Galen: Him taking a “I Just want to be alone” was an extreme reaction too.
Saul and Ellen Tigh: From the looks of it, they went to a different location from Admiral Adama. After spending so many years by the Admiral’s side Saul would go his separate way and never see his old friend again?
Sam Anders: His  fate was sad, but left Starbuck able to continue her life or in her case, just disappear.

The Rebel Centurions:  Still out there. Maybe a special down the road?

The Rebel Cylons: Did they ever manage to reproduce? If not, did they just die off? Seems likely.

The Other Cylons: Are all the Ones, Four’s and Five’s all gone? The episode did not show any enemy Baseships in it, but the previous episode mentioned others jumping in. Granted, if they can’t reproduce, they are gone within a 100 years. John Cavil’s demise was a little unexpected by me but within character.

The Fleet:  Diving into the Sun leaving only what the survivors can carry? With no one objecting?

Karl and Sharon Agathon: They teased us with that one. It looked like Karl was a goner but he in fact makes it.

Baltar’s Virtual Six and Caprica-Six’s Virtual Baltar: Ok, they are real and apparently Angels. Huh.

Hera: She’s Mitochondrial Eve?!? That’s her great destiny? Another “Odd”. Here we thought she would have an affect on the future of the Cylon Civilization.

Honestly, I thought it would end differently with only Baltar, Caprica Six, and Hera being the sole survivors especially with the Opera House sequence and everyone dying to get them free.

All the main players survived the final battle (Who parks a colony orbiting a Black Hole?) and was half expecting the Black Hole to play into Starbucks fate.

While I’m glad they found a 2nd “Earth”. The fly by of the 1st earth shows a recognizable North America and this one has a recognizable Australia and Africa (I may have missed North America). Naturally, it’s a paradise but it has uncivilized Humans on it. Very Dues Ex Machina, IMO.

It was definitely Different and I bet fans debate it for years to come.

I rebooted the Cable Box before I called TWC, and I called the Automated help line and it was reset again. After that did not work, I spoke to Albert.

Honestly, It’s people like Albert that keep me with Time Warner Cable. He had me reset it again by unpluging it, which did not work. The earliest he a was able to get someone out here is on Friday, but he was able to Credit me for the down time.

He was professional, polite and very helpful and he’s the reason why I’m sticking with Time Warner Cable for now.

Music I’m listening to now:
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Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s just Shocking, I know. From the New York Times Blog the entry labeled “What’s Spanish for ‘Lies’?“:

Block immigration reform? The Democrats?

Mr. Obama opposing a path to citizenship?

Welcome to the night-is-day, down-is-up, world of the McCain campaign.

The NY Time Blog has the original video and a translation. I think the above video from “America’s Voice” says it all.  Being Hispanic, I sincerely hope the Hispanic Community doesn’t fall for this. Honestly, I used to have a lot of respect for Sen. McCain but I’m really approaching the point where I think he’ll approve and say anything to get elected as President.

Was Sen. McCain really the victim of dirty politics in the 2000 campaign? It would seem he learned the lessons well. He seems more than able to have his campaign use any dirty political trick, including a ‘Push Poll’ targeting Jewish voters. You might remember one particular ‘Push Poll’ from the 2000 campaign. Specifically:

South Carolina voters were asked. “Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?” They had no interest in the actual percentages in the poll, the goal was to spread misinformation about McCain. The claim was particularly vicious, since McCain was campaigning with his adopted Bangladeshi daughter. The sight of the little dark skinned girl made the seed planted earlier grow and John McCain lost South Carolina, effectively ending his run for the presidency.

BTW: In Spanish, ‘lies’ is ‘mentiras’. I imagine the McCain campaign is fully aware of this.

Music I’m listening to now:
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Click here to view the embedded video.

Anyone really surprised by this?? I mean, GOP Fox News has been nothing but a Parrot of GOP talking points for years. It’s like a script that Fox “News” people follow every four years. I’m sure they will continue to do this and people will continue to fall for these lies and innuendo.

Related: I’m still wondering what Lie the McCain campaign will use next.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

You just can’t make this up.  Carly Fiorina, one of Sen. McCain’s Economic advisor and apparent spokesperson thinks Gov. Palin AND Sen. McCain can’t run a Major corporation.
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Huh? Carly Fiorina thinks Gov. Palin AND Sen. McCain can’t run a Major corporation but somehow CAN run the U.S. Government???

I’m thinking she’s done making public statements for the campaign for a while.

Music I’m listening to now:
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Music I’m listening to know:
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Saw this on The Huffington Post: “Obama Takes First Direct Shot At Palin”.

Awesome! Now that’s what I call “Straight Talk”! I bet the GOP calls him “Sexist” for pointing out the truth. The GOP has had control of Congress from 1995 to 2006. Sen. McCain voted with Pres. GW Bush over 90% of the time. When Sen. McCain speaks of “Washington Insiders” he really means himself and his campaign.

Personally, I’m glad Sen. Obama is  responding to their campaign rhetoric and out right falsehoods. Most recently, apparently some McCain supporters Stole Flags from the DNC and claimed they were thrown out. The Flags were NOT thrown out, but why let the truth stand in  the way of a cheap McCain campaign Stunt?

And people think we need four more years of crap like this? Riiiiigggggtttt….

Music I’m listening to now:
Nothing at the moment.