I've put up a working (beta) version of a new program I'm working on. It's aDVD collection system that's more geared towards DVD collectors than disc traders. You can see it here: Cine-File.
It has my current collection which was imported from AviManager (and I added a script for doing just that to the package).

We saw an advance screening* tonight of Runaway Jury the latest film adaptation of a John Grisham novel. I'm gonna jump right in here and tell you that I'm about to gush about this movie. It was absolutely riveting. Even at 127 minutes it never lost my attention.

My main impetus for seeing this film was the fact that John Cusack is in it. Cusack is the goodness. Remember that. High Fidelity, Being John Malkovich, Grosse Point Blank, The Grifters, Say Anything, Stand By Me and, yes, Identity. The Cusack is the goodness. On top of that there's the pitting of Gene Hackman against Dustin Hoffman. Gotta be good. Right? Damn straight. The performances by all three of these heavy-hitting leading men and their admirable co-star Rachel Weisz (the mom from the Mummy movies, yo) are all top notch and, by god, Hackman out to get an Oscar nod out of this. Oh! And it has Spence**... errr... I mean Jermy Piven in a well-played secondary role.

I can't really report on the audio or cinematography as I was enraptured by the story and characters. Of course, this is a compliment to the cinematographer, composer and audio personnel. I'm certain the music played a part in my enjoyment, but it didn't draw attention away from the film. Same with the photography.

So... go see it. It's a damned good film. I'd give it 4 out of 5 monkeys***.

* - Rememeber... we're in Australia where movies often hit the theatres about the time they come out on DVD in the states. I shouldn't complain here, though, since this screening is only a week or two behind the US.
** - You know, Ellen's cousin Spence on "Ellen".
*** - Stars are so over-done. Besides, everything's better with monkeys.

Indiana Jones in Odd World

Click it.
Go here and here if this makes absolutely no sense to you. It... uhhh... might still not make any sense... heh ;)

OK... when exactly did we all get thrust into a Joseph Heller novel?
Bush says save foreign endangered species... by letting Americans hunt them.

Dubya says it's time we got back to slaughtering cool and nearly extinct species in foreign countries so we can once again claim our God-given right to owning an elephant foot umbrella stand.

"How do we save them, sir?"
"Why, by killing them, of course."
"So... the more we kill..."
"The more that will be saved."

I'm thoroughly sick of having to share this world with small-minded people. I don't believe, as some would assert, that everyone's opinion is as worthwhile as every other and should be given equal shrift. Stupid people's superstitions and delusions should be discarded immediately. They should have the right to express their opinion and have it heard, but that doesn't mean it should be given some patronised illusion of importance when it is clearly... well, stupid. Especially when religion gets involved. So here is my vitriolic rant at those sorts of people where they've attempted to address gay unions. Let's have a look, shall we? Presumptious jerks are in bold.

Allowing gay marriages means that children will be intentionally brought into these same-sex families and be motherless or fatherless.

It's already happening and has been happening for years. Do you think gay families have been waiting for your OK before going ahead? Some really great kids have entered the world as a result, I might add. Just ask the American Pediatrics Association.

Gay couples already have all the rights that heterosexual couples do.

Gay couples do not even have the basic rights of family visitation or consultation should one of them fall ill or be otherwise hospitalised. Gay couples do not have the same rights of property, taxation, veteran's benefits, federal hiring preferences, social security or pension should their partner die.

Marriage is a religious institution ordained by God.

Then you'd best stop using our legal system for it because our Constitution guarantees that matters of religion will not be endorsed by the State. If marriage is purely a religious construct, then do it in your church and don't expect any special legal recognition. Then you'll know what it's like to be denied. Religious separation is not something that can be done in a "pick and choose" fashion. We, in the meantime, would like our government to recognise our civil unions with the same respect yours are. This is our government too.

But God said...

Stop right there. Did you really read that last bit? Your, or anyone elses, religious views do not and cannot color the legal issue in any way. They do not concern me and cannot concern the courts. You must and will keep your religious views out of the legal system. They have no bearing on this. Besides, I don't believe in your God. Why would I give a damn what you think he said?

America is a Christian nation founded by...

Again, stop right there. Go read a book or two about those who founded the country. You don't know what you're talking about. Christianity is not the foundation for America, freedom from persecution _by_ religion, including Christianity, is. Perhaps you should read more from Thomas Jefferson, who said, "I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature." Or perhaps Abraham Lincoln who once proclaimed, "The Bible is not my Book and Christianity is not my religion."

We will be heard and we will be taken seriously. Your God or your insecurities be damned.

Obviously I'm pissed off. And I'm sure what I've just written is colored by my rage, but I'm sick of it. Who do they think they are?

Fuckers...

What's happening where you live?