gdp's Comments

Big Hollywood : Direct Link Between Anti-Military Film and Dead Soldiers – Will Hollywood Notice?

Fri, 2 Sep 2011 17:52:17 +0000

“For Atheists, they support each other's lies for their Machiavellian purpose.” BS. It has nothing at all to do with atheism. I think you’re tying progressive ideology with atheism, and the two don’t go hand in hand (correlation is not causation). I personally know plenty of Hollywood liberals who are Christians and are wrong on all kinds of issues, and a number of atheists and agnostics who are solidly conservative on fiscal, foreign policy and even moral issues.

Big Hollywood : Kickstarter: Web Fundraising Begins for Ayn Rand Documentary

Wed, 4 May 2011 18:06:51 +0000

"She wasn't for charity of any sort." Nonsense. She never said anything of the kind. She did write that charity should be voluntary and limited. But, the bulk of her statements on charity had to do with confiscation of people's wealth to be given to others, particularly the resentment it breads among people. As I've stated before, there is much to be critical of Rand in her personal life and how she treated people in her circle. But, it's always amazing to me how poorly informed people are, especially her critics, about her philosophy and what she actually wrote on numerous subjects. It's not like what she wrote is hard to find. A lot of it is easy to find online (like here: http://bit.ly/dlFKff and here: http://atlasshrugged.com/ )

Big Hollywood : Kickstarter: Web Fundraising Begins for Ayn Rand Documentary

Wed, 4 May 2011 17:55:15 +0000

I'm not a Randroid by any stretch. But, can you point to where Rand compared herself favorably to Nietzche even once, let alone often? As for the rest of your statement, it's full of assertion and irrelevance. "Ooh, she took (some) Medicare! Therefore, even though she paid into the system, anything she says should be dismissed." Honestly, that's pretty lazy thinking.

Big Hollywood : Larry McMurtry: Oscar-Winning Screenwriter Joins the 'Blame Political Rhetoric' Chorus

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 23:49:40 +0000

McMurtry is being an idiot here not because he's an atheist, which has no more to do with his op ed than Sarah Palin did with Loughner's murder spree, but because he's a knee jerk leftist.

Big Hollywood : What Will the PC-Police Do When the 'Narnia' Films Confront Islam?

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 18:45:59 +0000

Unfortunately, Golden Compass, so far, performed better than Voyage of the Dawn Treader ($388 mil worldwide vs. $298 mil worldwide, although Compass cost more to produce). Alas, I think many comments here are correct: the last two films underperformed given their costs, which means it's unlikely any more movies will be made. It's a shame, really, as I think Voyage is thematically and emotionally a far better film than Caspian. Hopefully I'll be proven wrong and they will make more.

Big Hollywood : 'True Grit' Review: A More Than Worthy Remake of a John Wayne Classic

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:00:12 +0000

If your reply to me is valid, that also means you don't know what's in their minds either, yes? My comment is based primarily on the Coen Brothers' film being essentially apolitical. I can't think of any instance where their movies preach a particular political line (even though I suspect they're liberal). Which is why I think your idea is silly. What possible evidence do you have that these filmmakers did this remake, even in part, as a big f/u to conservatives and/or John Wayne? Here's an idea: why don't we both wait until the film comes out and judge it based upon an actual viewing.

Big Hollywood : 'True Grit' Review: A More Than Worthy Remake of a John Wayne Classic

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:09:58 +0000

Ah. Never mind, then. Although, your statement does make me wonder why you'd bother posting on a site dedicated to discussing movies/entertainment.

Big Hollywood : 'True Grit' Review: A More Than Worthy Remake of a John Wayne Classic

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:02:21 +0000

Agreed. I found her pretty annoying, although I think it worked with her character. Love the movie (although I don't think it's "perfect," certainly not as great as some other Wayne westerns). The Duke is obviously having a great time. But, man she was grating.

Big Hollywood : 'True Grit' Review: A More Than Worthy Remake of a John Wayne Classic

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:56:34 +0000

You should drop it. That's ridiculous. If this was an anti-war film about Iraq or Afghanistan, or some pro-union diatribe, perhaps you'd have a point. But, honestly, I don't know where you get this silly idea.

Big Hollywood : 'True Grit' Review: A More Than Worthy Remake of a John Wayne Classic

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:53:45 +0000

Or maybe it was actually a stunning bit of cinematography. That movie looks marvelous.

Big Journalism : Slate Reporter Misses Entire Point of Palin WSJ Critique

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:23:38 +0000

I didn't catch any context in your comment that indicated it was a joke (especially when you said 5 fold is closer, even though 5 fold is a 5 times increase, or 500%). Sorry. I did look at the links. While I agree with the WSJ link and the CNN link is very useful, they don't provide any proof for the wild predictions on the NIA site. Nothing in them changes my initial comment, which was predictions of huge inflation like the NIA predict are not based in reality and won't help our cause. Besides, cost increases of 30% - 60% are enough to get me mad anyway. Those increases are indeed a result of bad Fed/govt policy. No need to exaggerate the way NIA does in that report. And yes, CA is a mess. I can't believe we just elected Jerry Brown. Again. And don't get me started on Boxer. *sigh*

Big Journalism : Slate Reporter Misses Entire Point of Palin WSJ Critique

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:38:15 +0000

What do you get when you multiply $2.3 x 1000%? You get $23. And ten fold IS 1000%. 10 x 2.3 = 23. See? That's the figure they gave as a prediction for the price of a loaf of bread. Here is the exact paragraph you cited: NIA projects that at the average U.S. grocery store it will soon cost $11.43 for one ear of corn, $23.05 for a 24 oz loaf of wheat bread, $62.21 for a 32 oz package of Domino Granulated Sugar, $24.31 for a 32 fl oz container of soy milk, $77.71 for a 11.30 oz container of Folgers Classic Roast Coffee, $45.71 for a 64 fl oz container of Minute Maid Orange Juice, and $15.50 for a Hershey's Milk Chocolate 1.55 oz candy bar. Take a look at those predictions. Let's just take the last one. A 1.55 oz Hershey's candy bar right now costs less than $1. Yet, they predict it will cost 15 times that. I'm supposed to take these seriously!?

Big Journalism : Slate Reporter Misses Entire Point of Palin WSJ Critique

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:32:00 +0000

Their inflation projections at that link are nearly 1000% on average for the food examples given. So, I it's safe to say they're exaggerated.

Big Journalism : Slate Reporter Misses Entire Point of Palin WSJ Critique

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:26:07 +0000

Your finding it through the WSJ means nothing (appeal to authority). I didn't say the site was bogus, merely that their projections are dubious. Their projections are substantially higher than the 40% - 50% that occurred during the great depression. Where I live in the LA area a 24oz. loaf of name brand whole wheat bread is currently around $2.50 - $3, depending upon the brand. The site you link to suggests that price will increase to $23. That's a vastly larger increase than 50%, and their report describing how they arrive at these projections is spotty at best. Look, I think we need to not just audit the Fed, but end it. That said, it does our side no good to make claims that can only be described as hyperbole.

Big Journalism : Slate Reporter Misses Entire Point of Palin WSJ Critique

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:20:04 +0000

I think Dickerson's wrong and agree with Palin about the bad effects of quantitative easing. But the price projections at the link are nonsense. Bread will increase in price tenfold!? The report at the link is equally dubious.

Big Hollywood : Jenny McCarthy: When Celebrity Advocacy Turns Deadly

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 06:36:01 +0000

That link simply defines what an unavoidably unsafe product is. It says nothing about vaccines being legally classified as unavoidably unsafe. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 moved most of the lawsuits to VICP, not all of them. So, the claim that . And $2 billion is not $2 trillion. Not by a long shot. You can't claim victims have no recourse on the one hand and then point to how much money has been paid out in claims on the other. Don't you see the disconnect? Granted, it's a big number. But, name one specific case where compensation was paid because a petitioner proved autism was caused by a vaccine in a child who wasn't genetically predisposed for autism. Look at the large increase in claims filed in the period 2002 - 2005. Why the sudden increase? Curious. Also, what do you think filing a claim is, if not going to court? The difference is the decisions are made by federal judges after accepting a claim and being presented evidence by both sides. Take a look at these recent cases: http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/node/5026 The first one mentions that 5000 cases have been filed since 1986. Might that be one reason why things are moving so slowly, given such a large number? Also, did it ever occur to you that some lawsuits might be driven by greedy attorneys taking advantage of many parents with autistic children?

Big Hollywood : Jenny McCarthy: When Celebrity Advocacy Turns Deadly

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:56:46 +0000

Thimerosal metabolizes into ethylmercury, not methylmercury. Very different.

Big Hollywood : Jenny McCarthy: When Celebrity Advocacy Turns Deadly

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:36:53 +0000

The vaccine causes autism crowd makes extraordinary claims. This requires extraordinary evidence. Instead, much of what we get is correlation, anecdotal, or citations of studies that are either based on discredited work like Andrew Wakefield, or studies that don't actually prove what they think (not unlike the global warming crowd, itself filled with reputable scientists). Take a look around this site and the links therein with an objective, open mind. http://antiantivax.flurf.net/

Big Hollywood : Jenny McCarthy: When Celebrity Advocacy Turns Deadly

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:23:57 +0000

What does that have to do with my request?

Big Hollywood : Jenny McCarthy: When Celebrity Advocacy Turns Deadly

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:20:01 +0000

Jepson works with Thoughtful House, an alternative autism clinic founded by discredited Andrew Wakefield. He may be a good medical doctor, and I feel bad his son has autism. But, his book is less than rigorous in its science. http://autism-news-beat.com/archives/10#more-10