Benghazi Congressional Investigations-"They're employees of we the voters" Topic.

Apologize for walking out on the Benghazi hearing: You chose to 'excuse' yourself from Benghazi hearing before the parents of Sean Smith and Tyrone Woods testified. There is no excuse for this behavior. You have been elected to represent the American people, and by walking out on the families of our fallen heroes, you did a disservice to your office and to those whom you serve. It is for that reason that I am asking you to apologize, both the parents you walked out on, and to the public as a whole. We all make mistakes, but it is how we accept them that makes us able to move on as people and heal as a society. Please own your actions and apologize!

Reps Tony Cardenas (D-CA)
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Danny Davis (D-IL)
Gerald Connolly (D-VA)
Jim Cooper (D-TN)
John Tierney (D-MA)
Mark Pocan (D-WI)
Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM)
Peter Welch (D-VT)
Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
Steven Horsford (D-NV)
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
William Lacy Clay (D-MO)
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

If you're like us, you want to tell these people to apologize for disrespecting fallen Americans like that. And you can do it right from here.

Is the GOOD Internet Etiquette DEAD ???!!

Anonymous stalkers/bullies love to be hidden by the Internet.

For many years now, I have seen and experienced how the Internet has gone from bad to worse. Our society is becoming more coarse, not nice, harsh and negative. The nice people seem to be always on the losing end with confrontations with combative opponents.

SICK People who derive satisfaction from negative attention.

It might be a mistaken posted comment that de-evolves into a hateful rant, an free updated softeware program that once updated into your puter kills your previously working computer operating system, it might be when lazy Bloggers continually post only their Blog link in your comments section only to repeatedly poach your large Blog traffic after being asked to politely stop, it might be negatively creative stalkers who seek out & steal your favorite online photos only to Photoshop them into malicious insulting photo attacks directed towards yourself, it could be when copyright pirates knowingly & continually thieve your online videos or news articles without asking or permission and re-use them with your authorship mentioned, or whatever ????!!!!??? Sometimes it's on personal Blog's comments section, sometimes it's on public forum threads, sometimes it's on social media sites, or sometimes it's in your personal email.

Social commentors say the Internet is great. I agree when it's used responsibily and users are fair. Commentators say it's 'The Wild West'. Meaning that it's dangerous and needs taming by the Internet citizens. I believe that. The trouble is that some Internet citizens don't want to play fair with others. Much like the olde schoolyard quip. Internet bullys, stalkers, trolls, malilcious posters, computer user shallow egomaniacs of the minute take full advantage of their online animinity and instant communication power of the interconnected users online.

Of course there comes to my mind all kinds of sayings and cliches` to assist the attacked online citizen's damaged feelings like: "Don't FEED the trolls", "Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength", "Character is what you are when no one is watching", "Some people do odd things to get even", "Profanity is the effort of a feeble mind to express itself forcefully", "Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way', and many more....

**Why not a critique of the Internet troll themselves, (which regrettably finds a great separation between everyones non-combative reality and troll's own disfunctional personal bagage perceptions), thus relegating the majority of Internet innocent users to a life under pain of such unbalanced stalkers, trolls, and Internet bullies?
Two reasons: fear, and envy.
Trolls perform Houdini-like intellectual twists to dodge my questions, which are always gentle, but cut right through to their very clear — and almost programmed — envy. I ask trolls why they're obsessed with someone they never met BUT believe every smear or gissip from malicious 3rd pary others, as it would not take long to find other dishonest trolls everywhere allocated to the Internet world's envious do-nothings gossip mongers. I tell them that using they're logic and thinking, smear merchants should be laughed off the Internet for ridiculousness. And trolls should have their unwavering support and jobs in the many grocery tabloids like the 'National Tatler'. I now ask trolls who show such a knee-jerk reaction to anyone asking a simple question, one that cuts to the heart of all this nonsense: **Why do you hate people online?
They first get angry, but then quickly point out some vague fantasy story about they or their family was slighted in the long forgotten past.
To which I reply, “If this happened, tell me more specifics? So I can ocrrect the problem.” It is a none-too-subtle question, but it makes the point: Despising Internet people at random the way people are despised in much of the troll world is all about their jealousy and insecurity. And most HATE anywhere in the world has its origin in envy. In the end, my point is that trolls are “Big HATERS. But have little personal accomplishments.”
Let's make the Online experience a greater good asset. When you have been contacted to stop your bad behavior by your victim or opponent, why can't many just stop??? Why can't we all just get along ??????

The re-defining of societies marriage contract is NOT over...LEARN why.

The re-defining of societie's marriage contract is NOT over...LEARN why.

Listen and learn about correct judicial procedures that make law, not lawlessness. audio LINK:
http://tunein.com/topic/?TopicId=47973738

Prop 8 isn't addressed and is not over.



 

Progressive Liberal President Obama AdM being Transparent & Hopeful ???!!!!!???



U.S. Military : Monsters, conquerors, colonialists, or WHAT ??!!??

 

NOT any of those.

Just liberators- selfless, wounded, maimed, killed, honorable...

(see Video)

 

 

Christmas Airline Muslim Shoe Bomber gets Prison and Some Advice !!!



Richard C. Reid- convicted terrorist

The judge said and sentenced the Muslim Shoe Bomber saying:

"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you. On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)

On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years, again to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000, that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.

The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you, five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further. This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.

Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice. You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it, or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier, you are not-----, you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: 'You're no big deal. 'You are no big deal.


What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have, as honestly as I know how, tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty, and admit you are guilty, of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.


It seems to me, you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.


We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.

Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice, is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers, will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will. Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down."





Why America's Military Must stay No #1

Why America's Military Must Be Strong - Prager University



Govt tyranny using the IRS ??

Dr. Karen Kenny testifies before Congress on how IRS targeted her Tea Party Patriots group



Govt interfering with free speech, freedom to assemble, freedom to associate ?? Do you see the problem here ??!!

Becky Gerritson gives testimony to Ways and Means Committee on IRS targeting her Tea Party club in Georgia

 

Is there any left confidential in your personal life ??? Why is there a double standard now in Washington between Leftist using Govt against their opponents ??

John Eastman (Nationa Organization for Marriage) gives Congressional testimony about his groups financial supporter's list being 'leaked' and then pubblished onto their opponent's website and abuse occuring.

 

Leftists & Liberals are being hypocrites using hateful and racist against opponents.

 

Is something ominously new and occuring during the Obama AdM watch ??

 

 

 



Fun futuristic look from 50's to driving travel in 1970s made by GM Motorama !

Great fun and nostalgia

Jim Carrey makes a BIG career mistake with his anti-2nd Amendment "Cold Dead Hands" music video

It's really quite gratifying when someone who you *know* is a complete a$$hole stands up and says so, loudly and clearly. It takes all the pressure off you to prove it.

You can fool some of the people all of the time. And you can fool all of the people some of the time. But most of the time they'll just make fools of themselves, and save you the trouble "Some of US learn from other peoples' mistakes. The rest of YOU happen to be the other people".

California now bankrupt and Illegals take but send home $ to Mexico, BILLIONS !

Illegal aliens account for 60% of California's social assistance programs(food stamps, health care, housing, welfare and others). That is less for the citizens and residents. 
Illegal aliens send to their homeland, Mexico.....Billions of dollars.

Now, with the economy of Mexico, their billions of dollars subsidy is Number One income for Mexico over Oil, tourism, and official US Govt aid(the original leaders).
Do you see a problem here?
A rude re-distributon of Californian resources into a 3rd world country, Mexico and the citizen taxpayers are sick of it and we bankrupt for it ! Many don't mind a giving a temporary 'hand-up', not a perpetual 'hand-out'. Many don't mind helping the 'helpless', but now we're just helping the 'clueless'. With dwindling charitable social assistance in this bad economy, let's stop this, waste, and fraud. Keep asssitance wholely for legal guests and citizens.

Gays proudly stated they were 'Different', NOW they want to be the 'Same' with marriage laws.

Gays proudly stated they were 'Different', NOW the want to be the 'Same' with Govt. marriage laws ??

Dennis Prager How the LEFT thinks

video LINK:http://youtu.be/7bvq1GFXLgg

Parger explains the unclear thinking of the Leftist

Prop 8, civil union =s marriage since '89

Civil Union versus Marriage for same-sex

A civil union is a legally recognized union similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples with rights, benefits, and responsibilities similar (in some countries, identical) to opposite-sex civil marriage.
Vote no for same sex marriage in the arguement over the use of the term Marriage; However, the solution as in many euro countries...Civil Union for same sex marriages. LINK: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/oct/20/civil-union-versus-marriage-for-same-sex/

Gay marriage with Obama differing views

====

The TRUE established facts' about gay 'unions'. BACKGROUND....

FIRST= Defense of Marriage Act - The Defense of Marriage Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996, after moving through a legislative fast track...
LINK: Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act

DOMA federal act


SECOND= CNN - Anti gay marriage act clears Congress - Sept. 10, 1996- Senators voted 85-14 for the Defense of Marriage Act. The House overwhelmingly passed the bill in July, and President Clinton has said he will sign it. He did ...
LINK: Http://www.cnn.com/US/9609/10/gay.marriage


DOMA and Pres Clinton




THIRD= California Proposition 22 (2000) PASSSED- Prior to 1977, California Civil Code section 4100 (predecessor to what is now codified at California Family Code section 300) defined marriage as: "a
LINK: Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_22_(2000)

 

THEN....

FOURTH= California Marriage Amendment Qualifies for November Ballot - Jun 3, 2008 Over 1.1 million voters who signed the marriage petition in time for the ... CEO of the California Family Council and Chairman of the ....
LINK: Http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08060302.html




FIFTH= Protect Marriage- the official Web site for the California Marriage Protection Act. Million california voters who signed the marriage petition in time for the November election. ...LINK: Http://www.protectmarriage.com/



Federal laws, state laws..... what does it take for 'man and woman' marriage? All cultural societies since the beginning of time ONLY recognize a family marriage when TWO different sexes marry ONLY. Stop thinking emotionally. The progressive liberals think they know more that all those thousands of prophets, leaders, and lawyers? I don't think so.

What is marriage and why is it so important ?

=
In this Prop 8, a "yes" vote will finally establish that in Calif that "marriages" are only between one man and one woman..and nothing else. It is sad that this common sense matter had to go this proposition route even after Federal laws passed and signed; and a multitude of other successful CA citizen's public legal actions spelled this matter out so well, PREVIOUSLY.
Jerry Brown did his best to adversely and arbitrarily re-write Prop 8 into new crude and adversarial languge printed in the voter's handbook to effect a negative outcome on the voters reading the proposition wording here.

We have the loud gay lobby to thank for this.
Gay civil unions are still uneffecte

But think of this, why is it that at some point homosexuals insist that they have no interest in anyone's opinion of them and don't want such 'approval' from heteros. Years ago homosexuals stated they didn't want to be mainstreamed with such institutional "marriage" issues because such hetero issues are uninteresting to them and their lifestyle.
Now, gays hold stop-the-presses news conferences or contribute/approve to the publishing of grandiose news storys on their gay issues that include this 'marriages'' issue even though civil unions are the same legally for years. VERY Disengenous of those nice folks? They wanted to be left alone and different, now they want to be the same as 'breeders'. WHY?

=
The point is Prop 8 should be redundant and unnecessary due to legistation actions that occured well before this.
HOWEVER, the radical progressive over emotional homosexual political lobby, supported by the leading media savy gay actors and TV personalities have bludgened and arm-twisted this DONE matter into the public's mis-imformed guilt trip collective mind, won't let this drop.
This is Gestapo judicial tactics against the working person's family and religious organizations.

=
There is no need for gay 'marriage', civil unions equals the same rights and priviledges of marriage for people who wish to create a union with another person of the same sex. It's already the LAW.
PERIOD.
The proposition finally defines the marriage as only between a man and a woman. SIMPLE.

Some factual education on Gay marriage given to Mahr

=

Protect Marriage
May 26, 2009


Hello,
Our hard work has paid off – the California Supreme Court just upheld Proposition 8! Marriage in California has been validated by our highest Court as being only between a man and a woman. Our prayers have been answered!

We owe a great debt of gratitude to you and our army of supporters. Without your help, this victory could not have been possible. You gave generously of your time and resources, and this victory is yours!

We also owe a great debt of gratitude to our outstanding attorneys who worked tirelessly preparing our briefs and argument before the California Supreme Court. Kenneth W. Starr and Andrew Pugno were our lead attorneys, and organized a strong contingent of attorneys who worked with them behind the scenes. They did a masterful job.

The Court’s decision is very long and complex. We will be analyzing it throughout the day and reacting publicly via a press conference at noon and likely dozens of interviews thereafter. Andrew Pugno will be writing a detailed analysis of the opinion, which we will get to you as soon as possible.

Now we must turn our attention to protecting this victory. We can expect angry protests by homosexual activists, just as they protested the people’s vote last November. Take heart that this activity actually backfires for them. Support for gay marriage has declined since the election, and support for traditional marriage increased, partly because of the protests the gay community has launched.

Still, we must move forward into a new phase of this battle. Our opponents have vowed to qualify a new measure to the 2010 ballot to overturn Prop 8. ProtectMarriage.com is moving forward with efforts to fund education and outreach to citizens on the importance of traditional marriage. We begin this effort from scratch and must raise several million dollars to get our message out.

Your contributions sustained us during this long, hard fight to win approval of Proposition 8. We’re in a new phase now and ask for your continued support. Please click here to make a contribution to the ProtectMarriage.com Action Fund to preserve our Prop 8 victory.

Again, thank you for your work. You’ve won a great victory!
Sincerely,
Ron Prentice, Chairman
ProtectMarriage.com
www.protectmarriage.com 

Gay icon vs radio host 


Maybe this is better and not so crude as the Gay marriage Lobby...

Progressive Liberal's confusion about anti-gun laws and "Assault Rifles"

Just some thoughts...

What's going on in Libya: Benghazi killings- now grave desecration

Libya: Cemetary of british war dead/victims destroyed by Muslim Mob

 

Isn't this prohibited in the Koran?

 

 

Mass Murders caused by Mental patients on DRUGS !

President Ron Reagan's COMMON SENSE in Govt.

The Progressive/Liberal Media and the Obama Govt. are after law abiding citizens to make it hard for them to defend themselves. It's called self defence. Every American has that right.
You know...2nd Amendment stuff.
Medi and Govt. are using a public tragedy of mass murders and school child massacre in true Progressive Sol Alinsky style "Never let a good tragedy go to waste!" to push their Progressive BIGGER GOVERNMENT agenda. They are wiping up emotion, but NO Facts. But there was other common denominator factors to these mental patient crimes and it's NOT 'guns'. It's drugs. Register the Mental Patients NOW!





A question for John 'Thalek/Dr. Henglaar' of Hidden Frontier Whiting..



Whiting won't answer or confirm these questions about his work....although he is well aware of them and BRAGS openly to those people naive of the real truth HERE...

In this IMDB listing for Mr. Whiting, IMDB says his Hidden Frontier fan video hobby is a "TV Series".


Has it ever aired on TV?

When?

Were is that TV series airing on TV?

What TV network?

Is the TV show UNION or non-UNION?

Which UNION?



He's listed ALSO 'an actor' and 'a director'....This brings to mind another direct question....

The major actor's unions(SAG/AFTRA/EQUITY and etc.) have thousands of professional unionized members that have to pass stringent membership requirements: suppling producers letters, providing screen credits, supplying clips of their work on camera, presenting their contractual requirements, getting paid for their performance work by union signatory producers, coming up with major membership entrance fees + dues, demonstrating weeks of acting on camera, and many MORE requirement to numerous to mention here.


Is Mr. Whiting a SAG or AFTRA union affiliated performer? If not, why not?Especially when he posts and publicises in his personal appearances as a performer member of this hobbiest fan video?



Is Mr. Whiting a DGA or otherwise a union affiliated director? If not, why not? Especially when he posts and publicises in his personal appearances as a director of this hobbiest fan video?



Whiting (self proclaimed Hidden Frontier miracle man: performer, make-up man, director, prop designer & maker and  ??!!) on the right

INquiring minds wish to know the truth. UNfortunately, Mr. Whiting has said things that: that are not true ONLINE before, in the press and in forums in connection to his resume and with his home/club movie fan video hobby pursuits.



EXAMPLE and PROOF if his past whopper lies about his credits:
Whiting LIES exposed !

STOP THE GUN HYSTERIA, learn and get educated.

The Progressive White House, Senate and news media would have you think that this is the next assault rifle crisis to worry about. IT"S NOW unthinking and unquestioning HYSTERIA on a topic!
This is an myth but just as misleading, confusing, and false as their many statements and news media's reports to the uneducated concerned public. GET educated. Here's a video to clear up the confusion with the facts that many responsible gun owners have known for years, but the politicans and news media won't tell you because it doesn't serve their radical agenda. Do the 'leg work' and get informed. DON'T be unknowing unvoting sheep. Please watch this Video LINK:

The TRUTH about Assault Rifles

If YOU need to..Take the Fanboy 'Sanity' Creed here

Too many fans think the movie they thrill to learn everything about are made just for them. They are wrong. These productive films are made to sell tickets and for the producer's likes. Even the creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, has corrected this fanatical idea at past Star Trek conventions. He strongly corrected them saying, 'I make this for me!" There is a lack of context and prespective from childish vocal combative fans, so this Creed content is to wake-up and clear-up fandom.

The Fan/Fandom 'Sanity' Creed..




I. I admit and affirm that fandom can, has and will exist without me. I am NOT important to it. What fannish things that I can do, someone else could very easily take over. Even if the fandom is tiny, there are probably many more fans of whom I simply have not heard of that video produce/write/draw/dream things better that would impress & surprise me. Fandom would NOT fall apart without me.



II. I admit and affirm that NO matter what I've contributed to it, fandom owes me absolutely NOTHING. I will NOT look for fandom fame, nor will I expect a certain special type of treatment from anyone else in the fandom. If people are pleased with me, let them; if people dislike me and my fannish works let them. I certainly will NOT threaten to leave fandom and nor expect anyone to care.



III. I admit and affirm that NO matter what sort of "credentials" I have in the real 'mundane' working world, but in fandom, I am merely just another "fan". I might be a fan video production crewmember, a published author, a famous artist, or hell, Brad Pitt, but in fandom, if I am NOT the original creator of the genre canon materials, I am merely a ordinary follower and I will always remember that matter.

IV. I admit and affirm that fandom is a thing created and kept alive by more than one person. People will disagree with me; I will disagree with people. Although I reserve the right to leave the premises or disagree/rant/make snide comments in private, I will never flame someone publicly or personally for their fandom opinions. If there is discussion in public, it will be civil and I will keep the peace without off topic personal attacks.


V. I admit and affirm that there will always be parts of fandom that I dislike; I also admit and affirm that there will always be parts of fandom that dislike me; these parts, I will choose to ignore and allow to be heard. There will always be people who will never see things my way, NO matter what anyone says or does, and there will always be people who keep producing lackluster fandom works with which I completely disagree. Again, although I reserve the right to leave the premises or disagree/rant/make snide comments in private, I will make NO move to actually stop them or their freedoms. They have the right to imagine their versions of characters, just as I have the right to imagine mine.



VI. I admit and affirm that, just as fandom owes me NOTHING, neither do other fans. It doesn't matter who I am; just because I created a community or some people who agree with my portrayal of 'Character A' does NOT give me rights to anything special in the fandom. If I receive praise, I will always remember that it is given freely, NOT expected or due; if I receive criticism, I will take it and remember that criticism, too, is freely given. Regardless of which it is, I will always feel thankful to others.



VII. I admit and affirm that fandom is fandom and how certain people act/how certain people's tastes run in fandom might have NO relation to them in real life. Although I reserve the right to like or dislike someone based on their OOC/non-fandom-related comments, I will neither judge nor form opinions about someone as a person purely through fandom persuits. Just as slash writers are not always homosexuals and RPers are not always self-inserts, I admit and affirm that the fandom image I know and the real life-person that I do NOT, may be completely different people.



VIII. I admit and affirm that there will be other fans that I dislike personally; I also admit and affirm that there will be other fans that dislike me personally; these fans, I will learn to ignore or be considerate of. Again, although I reserve the right to leave the premises or disagree/rant/make snide comments in private, I will make NO move to actually confront them if they have done NO confrontation. Even though I have may have them kicked out of communities, bulletin boards and forums, but I will always remember that they have as much right to be in the actual fandom as I do. And I will always remember that I do have that right.



IX. I admit and affirm that just as I am in fandom to have fun, other people are in fandom for the exact same reason, and I will try to remember that. I will NEVER do anything to actively try to stop other people's fun, regardless of how much I may disagree with what they are doing. Clause reserving the right to leave the premises or disagree/rant/make comments in private still holds here, but I will never tell another fan to stop having safe fun in the way they want to have fun. And I will never pay any attention when someone tells me to stop having fun myself.



X. I admit and affirm that just as everyone else is a person, that I am a person, too. No matter what other fans may think of me from what they have seen in fandom, I will never let that persona/image/reputation get in the way of being myself if/when I should communicate with them outside of fandom. If they respect me, I will thank them, and if they dislike me, I will accept it, but these things I will strictly keep in fandom only and will NOT allow them to interfere with my friendships or my real life.



XI. I admit and affirm that there are people uninterested in my fandom and I will NOT press my fandom issues upon them. I will NOT speak of certain fandoms to those that have no interest in them, nor will I pressure anyone to look at/read/otherwise be forced to come up with reactions to things that they couldn't care less about. I know that fandoms are very specific things, that being pressured into looking at them are highly uncomfortable, and I will NOT impose that way upon others.



XII. I admit and affirm that, in the end, real life is real life and fandom is only fandom. If fandom begins to affects my real life in negative ways, I will remember that I have the option to simply leave and if it gets bad enough, I will. If I am truly unhappy or depressed with a certain fandom or the way a certain fandom is going, I will remember that I have the option of simply creating another community for people who share the same interests as me, or the option of just staying and refusing to go with the flow. I will remember that fandom is a simple trade of time with fun, and that if the fun is not worth the cost, I will remember that I am merely wasting time. Above all else, I will remember that remaining in fandom is an entirely voluntary action.  

 

The Facts about Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek, Star Wars

Even MEGASTARS miss the Mark!

There’s a saying in the film world that “actors turn down more roles than they accept.” Whilst this may be accurate, turning down countless roles isn’t always a fruiful exercise. Some of the films that actors disregard transpire in becoming massive critical and profitable sensations. What’s worse for an actor is when they instead opt to partake in a project which results in becoming a colossal critical and commercial flop. An example of such a catastrophic decision would be Will Smith’s choice to turn down the legendary role of Neo in The Matrix, in favour of appearing in Wayward Western Wild Wild West.




Multiple times was Daniel Day-Lewis presented with the role of Aragorn in Lord of The Rings and much to the frustration of Peter Jackson, multiple times he declined. We all know that Daniel Day Lewis is widely reknowned as being one of the most choosy actors in film history, appearing in under 20 films throughout his 35 year career. With this in mind, it was always going to be improbable that Day-Lewis would pledge himself to three films at one time, so perhaps the makers of The Lord Of The Rings approached him for the role more in hope than in expectation.



Should he have accepted it, this legendary role really could have catapulted Tom Selleck from the modest stardom of Television, to the dizzy heights of being a big time movie star. For one reason or another Selleck, despite being a very talented actor, has never quite made it in the film arena. His performances on famed shows such as Magnum PI and Friends have recieved widespread critical praise, however for the most part, these performances have not transpired onto the big screen. But in 1982, Selleck’s TV heroics finally caught the eye of a certain Steven Spielberg, who thought that he’d be perfect as the celebrated adventurer Indiana Jones.



Evidently, snubbing the role of Jason Bourne hasn’t exactly hindered Brad Pitt’s scintillating career to date. Since declining the role, he has become one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, figuring in several other prominent films during the mid noughties, such as Ocean’s Eleven, Inglourious Basterds and Mr and Mrs Smith, and Oscar nominations for Moneyball and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.



Believe it or not but Keanu Reeves was actually the 6th or 7th choice to portray Neo in the Matrix. I admit this does seem unlikely, given the highly astute casting, but it is true that Reeves was not even in the frame as the favoured choice of the Wachowski’s. Amongst the priorities was Men in Black star, Will Smith. (Others considered were the likes of Nicolas Cage and Leonardo Di Caprio.)



As fate would have it, two life-changing roles fell on the lap of actor Tom Hanks simultaneously. Hanks was first choice for the role of Andy Dufrasne in the 1994 classic The Shawshank Redemption, a film often considered to be the best of the 90s and one of the best of all time. Despite being keen to do the movie, he turned the film down because he was too commited to Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump, therefore he regrettably had to decline. (He of course went on to win an Oscar for his performance in Forrest Gump, a film which also won Best Picture, beating Shawshank to the major awards that year.)



The now often overlooked Shakespeare in Love star Gwyneth Paltrow was at one time James Cameron’s preferred choice for the blockbuster character of Rose in the 1997 epic picture Titanic. Unbelievably Paltrow in a moment of unmitigated madness, rebuffed this legendary opportunity, simply stating that it just wasn’t “her cup of tea.” (Which pleads the question, “if thats not her cup of tea, then what is?”)



I’m starting to wonder where Harrison Ford’s career would be now, should Al Pacino and Tom Selleck have accepted his most famed roles of Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Probably nowhere. They have been the defining roles of Ford’s career and without them in his armory, his film resumé looks rather mediocre.



Jack Nicholson will be remembered as one of the greatest film actors of all time. He was The Joker in the original Batman movie, Jack Torrance in The Shining, and the eccentric R.P McMurphy in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest. But how fantastic would it be if Nicholson could insert into his legendary resumé the role of Michael Corleone in the Godfather Trilogy. Sadly, this dream of many a film buff, never materialized in real life. Nicholson decided that is wasn’t the role for him, and declined, in the belief that he was too old to play Corleone, and instead he commited to the 1973 comedy “The Last Detail,” (a role which won him an Oscar nomination.)



Captain Jack Sparrow has to be considered as one of the most legendary cinematic characters of the 21st Century. Johnny Depp puts in such a ground-breaking performance in bringing this off-kilter pirateer to life, that you’d have to possess a very vivid imagination to visualize anyone else in the role. So with this in mind, it is perhaps somewhat surprising that Johnny Depp wasn’t actually the first choice for Jack Sparrow. Yes, initially director Gore Verbinksi offered Jim Carrey (another oddball of Hollywood) the role of Jack Sparrow. Unfortunately for Carrey, production schedule of The Curse of The Black Pearl coinicided with the shoot of Bruce Almighty, presenting him with no choice but to pass up the role that could easily have proved exceedingly lucrative for his career.



Meg Ryan will forever be remembered as one half of the famous twosome between herself and Tom Hanks in You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle. Whilst Hanks was able to progress on from the Rom-com arena and further his career, Ryan was not, and despite being a very capable actress, she’s never quite made it in terms of critically acclaimed performances in major Oscar worthy films. Al Pacino (him again!) also turned down the Richard Gere role, though it’s hard to imagine the film working so well with him in it.



Evidently the role of Harvey Dent isn’t exactly the standout character in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight.” The storyline surrounding Dent plays very much the second fiddle to the epic encounter between the Joker and Batman. So in this sense, you could argue that the role of Harvey Dent isn’t exactly legendary cinematic character material. Matt Damon was Christopher Nolan’s first choice for the role of Harvey Dent, however it seems like the Jason Bourne star wasn’t too keen on collaborating with the British/American filmmaker, as he turned down the movie due to a minor (and still unknown) “scheduling conflict!”.



Michelle Pfeiffer is very much the actress of yesteryear. She is famed primarily for her performances in late 80’s and early 90’s pictures, such as Dangerous Liasions, Batman Returns and The Fabulous Baker Boys, (for which she both received Oscar nominations). This lucrative period in her career could have been even more fruitful, should she have accepted the legendary role of Clarice Sterling in Silence Of The Lambs. However she foolishly turned down this part, in the assertion that the film was so violent and sadistic that it would become a commerical flop. So as a result of this painful misjudgement, she has had to agonizingly watch in silence, as Jodie Foster (her replacement) put in an Academy Award winning turn as the eminent FBI Agent.



Sir Ian McKellen put in such a resounding performance as the erudite wizard Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings, that the makers of Harry Potter, (after the death of Richard Harris,) were desperate to see him return to the world of Wizardry and play the equally legendary sorcerer of Albus Dumbledore. However understandably, McKellen was not zealous in playing such a comparable role to that of The Lord Of The Rings and he is quoted as saying this: “I’ve had enough trouble living up to one legend, It’d too much of an ask to live up to another one.”



So when the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy in “The Blind Side” came through her letterbox, you’d assume she’d be hasty in latching onto an opportunity to resurrect her film career and once again be a strong contender in the Oscar season. After all, success in this role, could have been the platform to revitilized prominence in Hollywood! However, for some unknown reason, Julia Roberts shunned a chance to appear in this film. With a drab period of 12 years without an Academy Award nomination to her name, this decision seemed like a strange one. Instead, the role went to Sandra Bullock, who put in a miraculously heartfelt performance as Leigh, culminating in an Oscar for her portrayal…



Michael Madsen is very much a long overlooked and forgotten actor. In fact, in recent years he has been so sidelined from Hollywood that he resorted to appearing in the new series of Celebrity Big Brother, amongst the all-star cast of Frankie Cocozza and Ryan Giggs’ ex wife. Madsen is probably most famous for his roles in the Tarantino films such as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs and Budd in the Kill Bill Volumes. However neither of those roles defined his career, like the role of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction would have. Pulp Fiction is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time and John Travolta’s portrayal of Vincent Vega in Tarantino’s cult hit was the point in which he managed to turn around his spiralling career.



Never has there been such an epic role in the history of cinema than that of Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings. Sir Ian McKellen puts in such a virtuoso display as the sagacious wizard, that imagining someone else in the role is actually rather testing. But someone else in the role it nearly was. Ex-007 Sean Connery was Peter Jackson’s preferred choice for Gandalf. In fact Jackson wanted Connery so desperately, it was reported that he was repeatedly offered in excess of $6 million per film! However Sean Connery wasn’t tempted by these financial enticements and passed on this legendary role in Tolkein’s fantasy trilogy, on account of the fact that he couldn’t fathom the “complexity” of the plot. He is quoted as saying this: “I read the book. I read the script. I saw the movie. I still don’t understand it.” Despite this bizarre reasoning from Connery, this still has to go down as one of Connery’s worst film decisions of all time. In fact, turning down this legendary role cost the Scotsman $450 million if you include the 15% box office profits that he was



For many months, Liam Neeson was scheduled to play Lincoln in this epic Steven Spielberg biopic of the inspirational American President. However after hours and hours of research into the role, Neeson (mistakenly) determined that he was too old to do the heroic American leader the justice he deserved. There is also evidence to suggest that Neeson was frustrated with the tardiness nature of the project, as he had been ascribed to the film since 2005 and by 2010, it still looked no closer to being made.



Mark Wahlberg has many strengths as an actor, but perhaps playing a self confessed gay man isn’t one of them. He himself admitted that he was a bit “creeped out” by the whole gay theme running through “Brokeback Mountain”, which was most probably the reason behind him declining the role. Yes, Wahlberg was the first choice for the role of Jack Twist in Ang Lee’s homosexual spectacle, however, after he vehemently vetoed the character and the film, the role ended up going to Jake Gyllenhaal, an actor who seems more confident in his own manliness that he can play a gay man without embarrassment.



Mel Gibson has already verified that he can credibly play the lead in epic historical dramas, when he portrayed heroic Scotsman William Wallace in Oscar winning hit Braveheart. So when he was approached by director Ridley Scott, concerning the lead role in Gladiator, it was presumed that Gibson would welcome the role with open arms and relish the opportunity to once again play the role of enigmatic warrior.



There is not a more legendary role in the history of cinema than that of 007, James Bond. There have been a grand total of 23 Bond films, complete with five 5 very different actors and in my opinion, it is no coincidence that the worst Bond to date has been George Lazenby. Any particular reason? Oh that’s right, he’s Australian. So with this in mind, it’s hard to believe that fellow Australian star Hugh Jackman was offered the role of James Bond in Casino Royale.