The DaVinci Code

Finished this the other day, and have been thinking about it.

First of all, to those who know me and are shocked that I hadn't read it yet.. Yes, it took me this long. See, I'm allergic to the words New York Times Best Seller. From harsh experience, I've come to associate placement on the list with formulaic John Grisham or Tom Clancy novels, or that most hated of forms, the "beach book." But Seabiscut cracked my armor, and I read enough about The DaVinci Code (in alt.atheism of all places) to take my most recent royalty check and grab a copy. Hardcover for 30% off? Sold!

So, did I like it? I loved it. C'mon! It has Grail quests, symbology, the Prieuré de Sion, plot twists and intelligent gunplay! Excellent book, well written and gripping. The romance was a little forced, but at least the author left that hanging.. it could be a "wartime romance" that won't go anywhere. That's what I'd like.

As a gamer, this gave me many ideas, especially for my Illuminated Traveller universe. I've also added a couple of places to visit if I ever get over to Europe.

Excellent book. Check it out.

Stand up for the First Amendment

Meme suggested by dafydd

"I believe that the president's leadership in the actions taken in Iraq demonstrate an incompetence in terms of knowledge, judgment and experience in making the decisions that would have been necessary to truly accomplish the mission without the deaths to our troops and the cost to our taxpayers."
--House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi

One of the Emperor's particularly nasty minions, the House Majority leader [Tom DeLay], responded:

"Nancy Pelosi should apologize for her irresponsible, dangerous rhetoric. She apparently is so caught up in partisan hatred for President Bush that her words are putting American lives at risk."

(Source: CNN)

That's right, folks, it's now official: criticize our so-called President and you are endangering American lives.

But a better president than Dubya said this:

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt (1918)

I suggest the following meme: Everyone who is so inclined, write down that Roosevelt quote on a postcard and send it to the dear House Majority Leader at either of the following addresses:

The Hon. Tom DeLay
242 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515

The Hon. Tom DeLay
Office of the House Majority Leader
H-107 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Then post this info in your journal and see if we can generate a big, fat reminder that dissent and criticism are not treason.

Because you should be able to criticize the president no matter what political party he's associated with.