Happy Independence Day! And Other Fun Stuff!!

If you love America, you celebrate this day. This was the moment we declared our Independence from England, ending government ties to an oppressive and outdated monarchy. And setting a new standard for all people to follow - All men are created equal. And while it has taken some time for that idea to fully materialize, this day was the spark that lit the fuse.

The Founding Fathers would go on to win our Independence through a hard fought war, and then create a government, a Democratic Republic, to protect the rights of all citizens.

87 years later, by coincidence, two major Civil War battles ended. The same day the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania ended, July 3, 1863, the Confederate defenders surrendered at Vicksburg, MS. (Terms offered on 3rd, accepted on the 4th) Union forces surrounded the city, the last major CSA obstacle on the Mississippi River, and for 47 days shelled the defenders and citizens. Older homes have cannonballs stuck in walls from the siege.

At one point, Union General Grant began digging a canal to divert the river away from Vicksburg, but later abandoned the endeavor - the work can still be seen. Its the most interesting Civil War battlefield I have visited. And its an incredible story. I'm really surprised it has not found its way into a major motion picture. July 4, 1863 did not end the Civil War, but the conclusion was never in doubt after this weekend.

Found on Twitter:

I cannot even begin to express how frustrating and devastating and terrifying it is to be a climate scientist in a society run by climate deniers

— Peter Kalmus (@ClimateHuman) July 2, 2022

This is an employee (paid by taxpayers) of NASA. He describes himself as a client scientist, but his activities are much more like agitation, than research. And if he is doing it on our dime, he should be dismissed immediately. He has encouraged kids to walk out of school, and chained himself and others to JP Morgan, for the latter he was arrested.

If Red Flag laws were a thing, he's the type you would report. If he gets frustrated, devastated, and terrified, because normal people dismiss his ridiculous claims, I would keep all weapons out of his possession. The guy is unhinged. Referring to those who don't agree with his alarmist claptrap as climate deniers, reveals he is not interested in honest debate. He wants to shut down any alternate views, no matter how well researched.

For better or worse, I've been on this planet far longer than Pete. And I have heard every prophecy of doom "climate scientists" like Pete have released, In every case, the date passes and nothing happens. In religion, that person is called a false prophet. Anyone engaging in such activities should be locked up.

MGM/UA better be developing a series a films for Paloma (Ana de Armas). In the handful of minutes she was on screen, she made No Time To Die worth watching. You want a strong female who can kick butt and look good - you have found her. She is the Gal Gadot of spy films. I'm not suggesting she is the new 007, but if the new 007 is a woman, she should get a very close look.

Instead, Lashana Lynch was set forth as a possible replacement. In the film, they make it seem that she assumed the 007 code name since Bond had stepped aside. Towards the end, she offers it back to Bond - probably the right move.

If she is to be the new 007, the writers of NTTD did not help her at all. Because every female in the film upstages her, some like Ana, do it with just minutes on screen! During the major fight scene, she is down the street on a 2nd story porch. They couldn't even be bothered with a close-up of her action, but we do hear her grunts while she is fighting. Meanwhile, the camera clearly favors Bond and Paloma taking on everyone in one of the better coordinated fights seen with Bond and a female accomplice.

The sexy swagger, so much a part of the Bond character, is completely missing. Bond follows Lynch to the bedroom, and you just know nothing is going to happen. Why? There is not one spark between them. You can almost hear a sigh of relief from Daniel Craig when he realizes that the bedroom visit is platonic. Bond had more chemistry with Judi Dench than with Lynch! Even the female extras exhibit more sex appeal than Lynch - was this scripted this way on purpose? Were producers seeking a backlash from fans so they could claim racism or patriarchy? I hope not because I would take Naomie Harris in a heartbeat as a possible 007 replacement. She's sharp.

Good luck with Lynch. I wanted to like her character and performance. I think she was undermined by the script and limited time on screen. If given a chance, a better script, and more screen time, Lynch just might prove everyone wrong. 

Or maybe just hire Charlie Hunnam and let the Bond series continue as we have come to expect. Nothing says we can't have more than one 00# character saving the world - maybe one of every gender and flavor!

Speaking of bad casting and unforgettable characters, does anyone, without searching Google, remember the name of the villain, or who was cast to play that part? Like many recent adversaries in the Bond franchise, totally forgettable.

Check out my new post (Part 2) - Women Pastors - Paul's Advice, Or Liberty For Female Pastors?