Joshua Taj Bozeman
I'm Joshua Taj Bozeman, the writer of The Blue Site. I've been running this site since 2001 and can't seem to stop. Sometimes I get into it and write a lot, sometimes I tend to neglect the whole endeavor when I get super busy, but rest assured, I feel like I'll be doing this until somebody makes me stop. I'm currently in school for film and video in Evansville, Indiana...next fall, I plan to move to the southwest somewhere- New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, maybe California (?) to get a bachelor's in film...hopefully a masters in something related to cinematography. I'd love to direct, but my goal is to start my own small production company and make feature-length films for a reasonable price that don't suck and don't look like they were made on a budget of 10 cents and a box of oreos for the actors. A boy can dream...
Homepage: http://www.thebluesite.com
Posts by Joshua Taj Bozeman
Firewall Videos (Bill Whittle)
Feb 20th
Two videos from Bill Whittle’s youtube channel…The first concerning Obama’s massive spending to get reelected to a second term and the second on the whole notion of class warfare.
Book Review: Lee Goldberg’s McGrave is Badass Fun
Feb 10th
Lee Goldberg’s book, McGrave was free on Amazon the other day, so I snatched it up. Last night I was browsing through the over 500 books on my kindle fire, and the wonderful book cover for McGrave just popped out at me. (the cover, pictured to the left is kind of badass to say the least). The book basically screamed, “read me, damn you.” So, I obliged.
Holy crap, this book is insanely fun. I’m not the world’s fastest reader, and with a lot of books, I get easily distracted and take forever to finish. But, I could not put this one down. Sure, I started reading it at 12:30AM, knowing I had to be up at 6AM for classes, but what the heck. I can hate my life tomorrow for the fun I’m having right now.
McGrave isn’t high art. It’s not the type of book you’d see listed in Stuffy Victorian Novels Monthly, and thank God for that. It’s fun for the sake of fun. It’s high impact, high adrenaline, and high class all the way.
McGrave is a cop who is always right in front of havoc. Mainly because he’s the kind of guy who wreaks havoc like waffle irons wreak…uhh waffles. He’s a badass cop who doesn’t answer to any higher authority but the law itself. He causes shootouts, insane car crashes, and millions of dollars worth of damages. Probably why they call him Tidal Wave McGrave.
In this book, McGrave causes a few million dollars worth of damage trying to chase down some German thieves. In the process, he gets fired from the force, pisses off his ex-partner, faces a number of lawsuits, might possibly be charged with attempted murder, and creates an enemy in the form of a German crime ringleader whom he tracks to Berlin. In Berlin there’s another chase after some solid detective work, and things pretty much conclude nicely. No fluff, just solid, additive action from start to finish.
It’s a quick read, and it feels almost like an episode from a 1980′s cop show. The writing style, the characters, the dialogue- the entire time I read it, I kept imagining this on the screen. Would make a fantastic movie series. Think Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop, make him about 100 times more badass, toss in some spectacular explosions, and you’ve got something sort of like McGrave.
How can you not adore a book that includes the line, “The only thing missing is Robert Palmer’s reanimated corpse and it would be the 1980′s all over again.” That alone is, in my book, worth the small price of admission. Just one question for Mr. Goldberg- can we please have some more?
9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ Circular Reasoning on Prop 8
Feb 7th
Judicial activism is alive and well, and we’d be silly to even try to deny it after today’s decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals who ruled today that California’s voter-approved ballot Proposition 8 (banning gay marriage in the state) was unconstitutional.
I’m no attorney, so I’m working on the legal analysis already given. Basically the court ruled that because the “right” of gays to marry existed before prop 8, and they didn’t see any legitimate state interest promoted by banning that “right,” then such a proposition was unconstitutional.
This is some sad circular reasoning. Now, remember Prop 8 only came about because the California State Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage was a “right.” It was certainly, up to that point, illegal for gays to marry, thus the right was, in fact, a new right altogether.
The appeals court, today, ruled that because the right existed, it could not be taken away.
Think about that. An instance of judicial activism on the part of the CA Supreme Court created a new “right.” Voters initiated a procedure to amend the state Constitution to clarify that issue. Then, an appeals court comes along and says that since the right existed, it should stay. Yes, the right existed because the courts suddenly decided a year earlier that the right existed!
What this ruling means is that courts can now make any rulings they so desire in terms of new constitutional “rights,” and the citizens of the state have no redress when it comes to changing that. Why wouldn’t judges across the state just start writing, into the law, new rights everyday? Then the appeals courts can simply declare the right existed, and that’s why we can’t take it away?
Absurd logic on the part of the supreme court of the state and the court of appeals.
The One All About the Glorious Stephen Fry
Jan 31st
I was reading some British news stories, and I saw a 2010 BAFTA speech from Stephen Fry where he went on to attack Dr. Who as not a show for adults.
I then found some commentary written on the issue where someone agreed with Fry.
And while we’re at it, let’s toss in an episode of QI featuring Jeremy Clarkson and the Bible.
Rude Awakening (Showtime Series) w/ Tim Curry
Jan 31st
I actually forgot Tim Curry was ever in this show, let alone in a bunch of episodes…this guy has uploaded a number of episodes featuring Curry. Now, if we can just get someone to upload the rest of them, as the torrents are all unseeded at this point.
Rick Perry to Drop Out of Race, What It Means for the Country
Jan 19th
Rick Perry announced he will exit the presidential race. He entered the primary race late, quickly rocketed to the top, and then plummeted after some not-so-stellar debate performances. What does this mean for the GOP, and more broadly what does it mean for all of us?
I’d argue this is, in fact, bad news for all of us. The fact that he came in early, was sky high for a bit, then plummeted is proof that we are now stuck with a two year presidential campaign every two years, which is just stupid and means next to nothing will ever get done well in the process. Do we honestly want to live in a world where we’re perpetually choosing a president, the candidates never stopping to actual DO something, always obsessed with the next pointless TV “debate” or looking good for the cameras?
It also means that the GOP has all but completely abandoned its ideology of conservatism. Mitt Romney is simply not a conservative on most matters. He changes with the political winds, and it makes him look as if he has no true convictions.
It also means that we’re now living in a country that is obsessed with image. Style over substance. You aren’t the greatest debater, well by heaven, you must be an idiot then who could never be a great president…except we know Perry was a great governor who had a lot of success. Nevermind that substance, we’re more obsessed with who speaks the best and has the best comebacks at these so-called “debates.”
This election and last are a turning point for the GOP. I doubt actually Romney can win. No one likes him. Mainly because there’s nothing to like. He’s Al Gore in mormon drab. He’s boring, he’s stiff, he’s robotic, he has no chemistry and no personality. I’m at a loss as to how on earth so many people are backing the guy, because what on earth is there to be passionate about with him?
He’s facing a “historic” president like none other we have ever seen (at least his die hard supporters think so.) A president of immense and powerful “change.” In 2008, if you listened to his supporters and the mainstream media- Obama was a man who is not only a mini-god, but also very much like the real God Himself. How do you fight that with Robot Romney who can’t seem to find any true convictions?
The people have spoken about who they want as leaders, and what sort of country in which they want to live- we’ve officially become the American Idol nation. Records no longer matter. Actions no longer matter. All that matters is who can sing the prettiest song for a willfully ignorant electorate. And that’s bad news not just for conservatives but for all Americans.
Check Out the Economics Discussion Page
Jan 17th
I’ve created an economics discussion page on wordpress.com. I was going to initially put it on here, but I wanted the URL to reflect the theme and separate it a bit from TheBlueSite content.
Check it out if you’re interested in learning about economics and discussing it in order to get a better grasp on it. I’m currently studying economics at Western Kentucky University with plans to get a BA in econ and a BA in film production. Might then proceed into the econ masters program or perhaps an MBA. Not really sure just yet. So, I’m trying to gather any other econ students and maybe we can ask questions, pose problems, etc to learn more than we would in classes alone.
Check it out if you get a chance, tell me what you think…
Trouble’s Up in Alphabet Town (Hilarious Podcast)
Apr 17th
Check out the brand new podcast from Jared Jeffries. It’s a hilarious serial comedy featuring detective Spencer Marx (voiced by Jeffries) and his ridiculous sleuthing. First episode was brilliant…and the second episode is supposed to be in the next couple of days.
Listen to a preview of episode 1 here and then go and download the entire first episode for your listening pleasure.
EXCERPT – Trouble’s Up in Alphabet Town Episode 1 by AlphabetTown
Visit the official Trouble’s Up in Alphabet City site now to download the podcast- with links to the itunes store where you can get it as well.
Retired at 35 (New TV Land Sitcom)
Jan 9th
Just watched the pilot of TV Land’s newest original sitcom, RETIRED AT 35. Didn’t expect too much going in, but I gotta say- this was pretty funny stuff. It started off slow, and there were some insane audience reactions at some lame jokes…that always worries me, because I feel like it’s either canned laughter, in which case it’s probably not truly funny, or it’s an audience full of lunatics who’d laugh at anything, in which case it’s…well, just creepy.
The plot rundown in a nutshell- 35 year old David comes home to his parents’ house in Florida. They’re retired and living in a community of sorts, David works in NYC for a manufacturer of chop sticks and toothpicks, and he’s always being hounded by his boss on the phone, even while in Florida for his mom’s birthday. David realizes in Florida he’s relaxed and calm, so he quits his job and decides to basically move in with his parents.
It’s a nice storyline, and it feels old-fashioned. There were some semi-risque jokes, but nothing vulgar or anything really. Then again, the twist at the end most assuredly been a big no-no 40 years ago on TV, but it was funny and it just felt wholesome throughout. The pilot’s twist at the end was pretty hilarious, and I found myself laughing out loud.
I have yet to catch any of TV Land’s other sitcom, Hot In Cleveland, and I doubt I will, but I will definitely be tuning in each week for Retired at 35.
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