Review: Sleeper Cell

We just finished watching the first season of Sleeper Cell last night. I thought it was excellent. I was concerned that most of the terrorists being white would stretch credibility to the breaking point, but it didn't. For me, it just added to the scariness. In fact, that is my problem with movies like Sum Of All Fears, where the screen writers replace scary Islamists with boring neo-Nazi's or even more boring Haliburton executives. They take away the scary for the sake of political correctness.

Also, the acting was great. The accents were amazing. Or maybe my standards were lowered by having just seen Lantana. Anthony LaPaglia's on again, off again Australian accent was just a distraction in an otherwise good movie.

My only complaint is that I cannot recommend this to my mother because of the graphic sex that shows up in almost every episode. It's actually more graphic than the violence, which, considering the topic, is strange.

The Most Patient Man on Earth

Did you see this clip of Tony Snow dealing with the White House press corps' bizarre fascination with Laura Bush's skin? I guess it's their job to wildly shake the tree and hope that something falls out. But I wonder if they take themselves as seriously as they appear to. How could they? Do they really that annoying the press secretary enough will cause him to admit the whole ChimpyMcHitlerBushHaliburtonImperialWarForOil Conspiracy. Which apparently now revolves around Laura's skin condition. Whatever they're paying him, it's not enough.

Anti-Jihadi Rap

Hot Air has a rap video that is making me alternately hopeful and nervous. The lyrics are here for those of us that don't speak rap. First verse:

I speak peace when peace is spoken, But I speak war when your hate is provoking, The season is open 24-7-365, Man up yo time to ride, No need to hide behind slogans of deceit, Claiming that you're a religion of peace, We just don't believe you, We can clearly see through, The madness that you're feeding your people, Jihad the cry of your unholy war, Using the willing, the weak and poor, From birth drowning in propaganda, rhetoric and slander, All we can say is damn ya

That's the part that makes me hopeful. If Joe Rap Artist on the street can see the problem, maybe all hope is not lost for Joe Politician in Congress. Now the part that makes me nervous:

I'm wild with mine, Bring that style with mine, F**k with my family I'll end your line, Just the way it is, Just the way it be, Do you understand? No matter if you're woman or man, or child, My profile is crazy, That s**t you do doesn't amaze me, I'm ready to blaze thee

I certainly understand the sentiment. But I hope Joe Politician gets clue before the situation spins out of control. I don't think we terribly close to pogroms or even vigilante justice. We're relatively safe from that here in America because we perceive that our government is strong enough to take care of us. But what if that perception is shattered? Consider the performance of all levels of government during Katrina and then consider how long it would take faith in government to falter after a major and/or sustained terrorist assault on our country. No one knows what the tipping point is, but I'm sure there is one.

The Cinnamon Bear

Living Books For The Ears is devoted to making available online old radio show from the 40's. I listened to a dramatization of the Time Machine tonight while I was making dinner. Pretty entertaining, only 1/2 hour time commitment.

They have also made available The Cinnamon Bear, a 26 episode fantasy story for kids. Each episode is only 15 minutes long. The idea is to listen to one episode each night until Christmas. I played the first episode for Mia tonight, but I think it will take a few more days to see if she's following along. Anyway, if your kids aren't too media savvy (it's very Leave It To Beaver-esque), they might enjoy it. It has to be more edifying than A Very Minty Christmas.

(Via Praiseworthy Things)

Update: I told my mom about The Cinnamon Bear and she remembers listening to it as a little girl. Cool.