GM IPO crushes Republican predictions

Image via Wikipedia

By Clare Baldwin and Soyoung Kim

NEW YORK | Wed Nov 17, 2010 6:38pm EST

(Reuters) - General Motors Co GM.UL pulled off the biggest initial public offering in U.S. history on Wednesday, raising $20.1 billion after pricing shares at the top of the proposed range in response to huge investor demand.

GM sold 478 million common shares at $33 each, raising $15.77 billion, as well as $4.35 billion in preferred shares, more than the initially planned $4 billion. More of the article here.

And click here for quotes from Republicans tearing down the deal that kept GM going. Note they are all silent today. Unlike Bush's TARP, management was thrown out as GM re-tooled.

Republicans Warned That GM Rescue Was ‘Road Toward Socialism,’ ‘Predictable’ Disaster'

By Pat Garofalo at 12:50 pm   http://thinkprogress.org/
Rep. John Boehner (R-OH): “Does anyone really believe that politicians and bureaucrats in Washington can successfully steer a multi-national corporation to economic viability?” [6/1/09]
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL): “It’s basically going to be a government-owned, government-run company. …It’s the road toward socialism.” [5/29/09]
Image via WikipediaRNC Chairman Michael Steele: “No matter how much the President spins GM’s bankruptcy as good for the economy, it is nothing more than another government grab of a private company and another handout to the union cronies who helped bankroll his presidential campaign.” [6/1/2009]
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC): “Now the government has forced taxpayers to buy these failing companies without any plausible plan for profitability. Does anyone think the same government that plans to double the national debt in five years will turn GM around in the same time?” [6/2/09]
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA): “Unfortunately, this is just another sad chapter in President Obama’s eager campaign to interject his administration in the private sector’s business dealings.” [6/2/09]
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX): The auto company rescues “have been the leading edge of the Obama administration’s war on capitalism.” [7/22/09]
Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ): When government gets involved in a company, “the disaster that follows is predictable.” [7/22/09]
Read the entire article here.

Ichi, review

Ichi, the Blind Swordsmistress.

Image via Wikipedia

Director: Fumihiko Sori

Writer: Kan Shimosawa

Ichi: Haruka Ayase

Banki: Shido Nakamura

Toma: Takao Osawa

Toraji: Yosuke Kobosuka

The story begins at an establishment run by a blind woman, which houses a second. A man comes by to do business, and intended to rip off the establishment’s owner by not paying. She decided not to stand for this, and told him to pay her. He decided not to, and took to stepping upon her with two of his roughneck buddies.
They then notice the second woman, and decide to take her for what she’s worth. An unrelated samurai then happens upon the situation, and commands the bandits to stand down. They refuse, and prepare to do battle with whoever stands against them. Much to their amazement, the blind woman stands to face them, wielding a sword that was hidden within a stick.
She makes short work of all three.

Afterwards, the two leave the establishment. On the path, they speak of many things(Such as shoes and ships, and sailing wax. Of cabbages and kings.).  He remarks that the skirmish lost him a ten ryo promissory note, and claims that he did verily save her skin. She claims it was the other way around, to which she is told he could’ve taken them on.

They eventually make it to a town.  She insists upon finding a place to gamble, where the pair then head. It is revealed that she is the ultimate cheater at said form of gambling, and thusly wins him exactly ten ryo. A late meeting in the streets revealed her intentions, but also reveals that the roughnecks in the gambling area would not allow him to leave with his prize.

He attempts to defend himself, but finds he cannot draw his sword. Again, the woman slays every enemy with relative ease. Moments later, members of the local family happen upon the scene, and assume that the man is the one responsible. Desperate for an end to the bandits, they hire him.

At a feast held to honor their new found weapon, the woman show up yet again. This time, she is there for entertainment, and plays the group a song.  It is short lived due to the sorrowful nature, and she is commanded to play a more upbeat song. Overall, the greatest asset gained from the evening was her name, “Ichi”.

Afterwards, he seeks her out at the lake. He fishes, and they chat about the song that she didn’t get to finish. She tells him it’s about a girl abandoned by her father who would give anything just to see his face. The conversation didn’t last long beside that, and as they were walking back the man challenged the woman to a duel with sticks.

He won. It’s indeed a fact that he can handle himself in a fight, but is restricted by the fact he It cannot draw his blade.

The next day an inspector arrived, and on his back there was a hope for a peaceful solution to the bandit problem. This hope was quelled by a sudden raid, in which the male protagonist was easily defeated, and the inspector was frightened into inaction. Ichi looked upon the scene and overheard mention of her fighting style, and a man with one similar. Thusly, she requested that she be taken along with the bandits to find what they were speaking of.

Back at their camp, she met with and fought the bandit leader. It was entirely one sided. After defeating her, the bandit leader remarked that a man with a similar fighting style, presumably her father, had been struck down by disease. The bandits then imprison her, and go about doing nothing in particular.

It doesn’t take long for the male protagonist to rescue her.

Outraged by these actions, the bandits attack the town. A unified resistance is raised against them, and the bandits are evenly matched. The protagonist is then set to face off against the bandit leader, finding the strength to draw his blade. The duel ends in the protagonist’s death, after he severely injured the bandit. Ichi then happens upon the scene, finds her new friend to be dead, and finishes the battle he had started.

Her path ends as it started, with her wandering alone. However, this time a new destination is set: To return the man’s sword to his family.

Sam Glass: Ichi...

Divine_Malevolence: Dubs are the work of evil minds.

Sam Glass: Yea, I didn't like the voices.. you can't get the emotions that we have been getting out of the other movies.. and the voices didn't seem to match the characters...

Divine_Malevolence: Not really at all. @.@

Sam Glass: especially the bandits.. yakuza... and Toma. So Mr. Japanese - what is the difference between Toma and Tonma?

Divine_Malevolence: Toma's a name. Tonma was an insult, wasn't it?

Sam Glass: Yea, how?

Divine_Malevolence: I 'unno. He just didn't like being called it.

Sam Glass: Hmm.. yea and the kid kept saying it

Divine_Malevolence: Incessant child.

Sam Glass: So what ab out Ichi's opening line.. something about not really wanting love.. but a warm body at night was a necessity to keep her warm?

Divine_Malevolence: Lonely people are lonely.

Sam Glass: Yea, but she was a goze? Not lonely.. but her profession, when they have an affair.. are thrown out

Divine_Malevolence: Which doesn't mean all that much.....  Blind people will kick ya right in the -, ya know?

Sam Glass: lol, but to defend themselves.. didn't you feel for her?

Divine_Malevolence: Goze isn't a profession. It's pretty much "blind woman".

Sam Glass: Ahh

Divine_Malevolence: I felt bad for the people she was defending against.

Divine_Malevolence: Braindead monkeys.

Sam Glass: ? You were pulling for the bandits?

Divine_Malevolence: Naw. Just pitying them.

Sam Glass: Wonder how they became that way? Parents?

Divine_Malevolence: It's a hard knock life, for us!

Sam Glass: Us- are you a bandit?

Divine_Malevolence: Nawwww.

Sam Glass: ookkkkeeeyyy... and so what did u like about this movie?

Divine_Malevolence: The main swordsmaster wasn't the best at everything.


Divine_Malevolence: Ichi. She got owned.

Sam Glass: OK, so it was comforting for you to know when wasn't the best at everything?

Divine_Malevolence: Naw. It's just a break from the usual.

Sam Glass: Would you be worried she might miss and chop off something else?

Divine_Malevolence: Nope.

Sam Glass: So she was that good. or was it the backhanded technique.. kind of limits her, doesn't it?

Divine_Malevolence: The blind oft' see more than those with sight. Limitations weren't plentiful.

Sam Glass: But she always cut with the sword blade facing forward and cut up. Rather than the normal blade cutting down.. she seemed to limit her moves to one area.. and do them very well.. but gave up others

Divine_Malevolence: Simple and fast. If something works, why change it?

Sam Glass: Yea, it seemed as if the one guy who beat her.. got to see how she fought first.. that seems to be a good strategy.. but she remembered later and anticipated his moves... what was his name?

Divine_Malevolence: Burned guy.

Sam Glass: Banke..yea.. gruesome..and what about how the father greeted his son when he brought Ichi home..

Divine_Malevolence: The guy was druuuunk.

Sam Glass: "Are you lying to bring women home again?!"

Divine_Malevolence: >.> Such an odd pair.

Sam Glass: And the dice? She could hear them?

Divine_Malevolence: Gotta love super sense cheating.

Sam Glass: But is it cheating? I thought it was impossible... but samurai movies do stretch things in other areas

Divine_Malevolence: Weirder things have been done.

Sam Glass: if you have a super power is it cheating?

Divine_Malevolence: I wouldn't say so.

Sam Glass: OK.... then... so Toma is hired by the yakuza who runs an inn..  are they bad guys too?

Divine_Malevolence: Honest gang members, I'd say. The pops seemed alright.

Sam Glass: Honest... yea.. guess that is Japan.. what about those tattoos?

Divine_Malevolence: Tattoos are awesome so long as they're not on the face.

Sam Glass: U have any?

Divine_Malevolence: Nein.

Sam Glass: U know that tattoo removal is the most popular cosmetic surgery in the US.. been that way for many years...

Divine_Malevolence: 0,o

Sam Glass: Banke had the quote.. "once person fallen cannot ever go back to being respected especially one who is seeped in blood." True? Grasshopper?

Divine_Malevolence: That's ego talking. A loss can be overcome if you still have a head.

Sam Glass: Really? Do you think someone running for President can have that kind of background?

Divine_Malevolence: I don't think people would mind if Obama got beat up.  I mean, if he killed a bunch of people, then he'd be in some trouble. But I don't think that's what Mr. burn victim meant.

Sam Glass: Then what did he mean?

Divine_Malevolence: One who loses a battle loses the respect they'd otherwise have.

Sam Glass: I thought he left his past employ as a samurai because he made a mistake..and can't go back...

Divine_Malevolence: Hm?

Sam Glass: samurai have a code

Divine_Malevolence: Naw, he got burned and got kicked out because he was ugly.

Sam Glass: u'd better go back and watch that part again my friend...

Divine_Malevolence: Hm?

Divine_Malevolence: Or the main guy? Where he broke the sword and blinded his old woman?

Sam Glass: Banke.. how he became a bandit leader and not samurai

Divine_Malevolence: Banki got burned. Remember his face at the end?

Sam Glass: there were lots of things in the movie.. i think you missed this one too. U don't seem thrilled by this movie.. what was wrong with it?

Divine_Malevolence: Hm? It was a good movie. Just not as classic as some.

Sam Glass: OK. then anything you want to bring up?

Divine_Malevolence: Ichi's motivation!  As mirrored by her song.

Sam Glass: the mother?

Divine_Malevolence: Hm?  The blind swordswoman.

Sam Glass: what was the song.. there was the one she sang at the end.. and was going to sing to Toma.. what was it?

Divine_Malevolence: Not sure about the lyrics, but it was about a child who was cast away. She holds no resentment about it, and only wishes to see her parent's face.: Which tied into how she was traveling about lookin' for her pops.  And the entire reason she did anything about the bandit problem.

Sam Glass: well.. yes.. and to save Toma... but is that the song she sang at the end?

Divine_Malevolence: I believe it was. And saving Toma came second. She wanted news about the guy with her fighting style.

Sam Glass: Yea.. but the blind master swordsman at the inn didn't seem to be the one she was looking for...

Divine_Malevolence: He wasn't. Banki mentioned he knew someone that used her fighting style.  The person who taught her that style was apparently the only one who could use it.  Thus Banki implied he knew her father. Who she was looking for.

Sam Glass: Yea, I thought that was toe case too.. and why Banke beat Ichi the first fight.

Divine_Malevolence: Banke had previous knowledge of her style, and knew how to counter it.

Sam Glass: yea... OK.. anything else?

Divine_Malevolence: Not that I can think of.

Sam Glass: OK, Last Samurai next week...

Scarborough Calls Graham’s Iran Warmongering ‘Neoconservatism On Crack’

Image via WikipediaThis weekend, speaking at a security conference in Canada, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said the U.S. should consider military strikes on Iran over its reported nuclear program. Graham said “we’re probably even past that point” in which a conventional limited airstrike would succeed in eliminating Iran’s nuclear program and that the best course would be to “neuter that regime“:

GRAHAM: Instead of a surgical strike on their nuclear infrastructure, I think we’re to the point now that you have to really neuter the regime’s ability to wage war against us and our allies. And that’s a different military scenario. It’s not a ground invasion but it certainly destroys the ability of the regime to strike back. More.

Election Ends

And the election ended as Americans had been prepared for government split. We heard reports of various scenarios from complete Republican control of Congress, to Democrats hoping to hold on and win, and to what we eventually obtained - a split where Republicans have the House and Democrats the Senate. What does it all mean?

1) The country is still a strong democracy - what isn’t working can be voted out with a chance to change course. It is also a last gasp for the old guard to get their programs in before things change. Notice how all the House Republican leaders are older white with business ties? Well, one thing about the Obama win was the understanding that America will no longer be majority white going forward, so in many ways Boehner’s team looks like a flash of the past. And, that last chance is good for America because the debate doesn’t stop just because of an election - give these guys a chance to show what they have.

2) Voters are interested in the economy and jobs - no matter about the Tea Party rhetoric - incumbents and professional politicians won for both parties. Voters in the mid-west returned several Republicans to congress that had been voted out two years earlier. Alaska retained their sitting Senator and long-term congressman despite calls for changing Washington. It seems as if the problems that started this economic mess aren’t over and won’t be for some time.

3) What is going to happen within the Republican Party over the next two years? Whatever it is will be historic, whatever it is. We see Rand Paul wanting to bring in the Tea Party for Washington meetings just as Boehner names his country club leadership. Will Sarah Palin take the party and run for President giving Americans a chance to vote for someone where more than 60% of Americans say is unqualified? Fascinating what happens when uneducated people are fed short half truths and outright lies.

4) Jon Stewart/Keith Olbermann - liberal ignorance? Chamberlain? Maybe not that bad, but let’s remember that if Republicans and Tea Baggers are the enemy and have another agenda, and have shown they will do almost anything, then appeasement just might not work. And maybe I’m getting the wrong thing out of the message here, please enlighten me, but more civility to a bully didn’t work in elementary school and probably won’t work here. What we need to do here is respond here in kind, and then cooperate when the bullies do. It’s all in Robert Axelrod’s, The Evolution of Cooperation, where game players studied what the best strategy would be with someone that doesn’t share your goals. And, to briefly sum it up, the winning strategy is to respond in kind, and then cooperate as long as the other side does it. So, don’t put down those guns yet - we’ve seen the warnings, but hopefully it won’t get that far if we start now with the program.

Kagemusha, review

Director - Akira Kurosawa

Writers - Masato Ide, Akira Kurosawa

Tatsuya Nakadai as Takeda Shingen/Kagemusha

Tsutomu Yamazaki as Takeda Nobukado

Kenichi Hagiwara as Takeda Katsuyori

Jinpachi Nezu as Tsuchiya Sohachiro

Hideji Otaki as Yamagata Masakage

Daisuke Ryu as Oda Nobunaga

Masayuki Yui as Tokugawa Ieyasu

Kaori Momoi as Otsuyanokata

Mitsuko Baisho as Oyunokata

Hideo Murota as Baba Nobufusa

Takayuki Shiho as Naito Masatoyo

Koji Shimizu as Atobe Katsusuke

Noburo Shimizu as Hara Masatane

Sen Yamamoto as Oyamada Nobushige

Shuhei Sugimori as Kōsaka Masanobu

Takashi Shimura as Taguchi Gyobu

Kagemusha is a movie about a powerful Samurai Lord in 16th Century Japan, who is mortally wounded during a castle siege as he listens to a flute player. A double then takes the lord’s place, and fools the household, most of the staff and his enemies - for three years.

The movie starts with Lord Shingen, his top counselor and brother Nobukado, and a thief who is being considered to be trained as another double. The interview with the thief doesn’t seem to go well until Shingen says to keep him, due to his candor. In the exchange Shingen says he will do anything to rule, and even drove out his own father and killed his brother to get to where he is. The thief noted that he had stolen a few coins, but had hardly done as many evil things Shingen.

Image via Wikipedia

Takeda Harunobu (Shingen)

After the credits, we see a castle under siege. Lord Shingen’s crew have surrounded and cut off the water from his opponent Oda. One of his allies, Asekura leaves for the winter angering Shingen, and one of his generals calls him a “miniature monkey” basically tells him not to cry about his problems. They discuss the water cutoff and how it should work and destroy morale in one night. They plan for Shingen to listen to the flute player and if he doesn’t shows up then it will be almost over.

Image via Wikipedia

Oda Nobunaga

But Shingen is shot by a sniper as the flute was played, and while he is taken away, he dies. On the way, Shingen has a chance to give his oral will to his generals to keep his death secret for three years, and never leave their domain.

Meanwhile, the thief takes on his role as double passing in review of his troops. Spies verify Shingen as alive and in control of his troops. Back at his castle, Oda is furious when told about Shingen and doesn’t believe it. Shingen, is in a big jar back at his place. The thief broke into the jar, thinking something valuable was inside and discovers the truth, and afterwards Shingen is burried in Lake Sura.

Meeting the household is a more difficult task. The thief meets heir to the realm, grandson Lord Katsuri who says upon meeting the thief - “you are not my grandfather” and “I am no longer afraid of you” the latter of which gains broad lauthger.  Meanwhile, his son, Katsuyori is jealous. - he has been passed over for grandson Katsuri.

Shingen is the mountain, and is a part of his army or wind, forest and fire. The family line is: 1) shift of the wind; 2) quiet as the forest; 3) fierce as the fire; and, 4) immovable as a mountain. Shingen is that mountain and his double the thief is playing the part.

At this point, one of Shingen’s allies decides to attack an outlying fort to see what happens. The clan holds a meeting to discuss what to do. The thief has instructions to only speak at the end of the meeting when prompted. The meeting goes as planed until Katsuyori voices support for an attack, in contrast to the rest of the generals, and asks the thief what he thinks they should do. The thief responds by saying the mountain should not move - thereby cutting off his son, and making him lose face.

While Oda goes on to fight another battle leaving his castle, Katsuyori decides to attack it alone, and against the clan’s wishes. The generals decide they have to support Katsuyori by sending troops. In the end, the castle was taken and Katsuyori’s feelings are further hurt when Shingen, as played by the thief, is given credit.

When the thief returns to Shingen’s house he becomes overconfident and is thrown off the black stallion only the deceased Lord could ride. The mistresses come to the aid of the thief and quickly discover he doesn’t have Shigen’s battle scar.

The thief is dismissed at that point and chased from the palace by the guards.

Shingen’s funeral is next which is transmitted to Oda who sings”

Even the 50 years of a man’s life
Is short compared to that of this world
Life is but a dream, a vision, an illusion
Life, once given, cannot last forever

At that point Katsuyori leaves the lake with 30,000 men. Oda notes that the mountain has moved.” The generals are rebuffed one last time, and then join Katsuyori.

Where the wind, fire, forest, and mountain are slaughtered.


Sam Glass: Kagemushta

Divine_Malevolence: 'Twas an interesting decision, setting up the general's listening point just outside the enemy castle's walls.

Sam Glass: yea.. he was the lord... outside the walls... and was shot by a sniper.. what did u think about the way he was shot?

Divine_Malevolence: He made it too easy. Set up white flags and everything. Might as well have yelled "Shoot here!"

Sam Glass: but the sniper.. all he did was tie a string to the end of his rifle when he saw the chair.. and then later in the night balanced the musket at the same spot.. shot and then heard the commotion

Divine_Malevolence: But it wasn't a lucky shot. He knew someone important was going to be there.

Sam Glass: ok, then it was an extremely smart shot in the dark.

Divine_Malevolence: True. But it was a shot that shouldn't have been made possible.

Sam Glass: yea.. dumb of the lord Shingen... and what about how his general talked to him before.. called him a minature monkey!

Divine_Malevolence: Mountain monkey!

Sam Glass: oh yea.. but again.. a trusted man speaking his mind

Divine_Malevolence: Shingen liked honest people. Thus why he chose his generals, and his double.

Divine_Malevolence: An "Honest thief."

Sam Glass: yea.. the next double...seems to be a theme in Samurai movies... and what did u think about Oda?

Divine_Malevolence: He was slightly cocky.....

Sam Glass: yea.. did u catch he was Catholic?  the hat on a pole?

Divine_Malevolence: That was amusing. "Why are there these three white guys here!?"

Sam Glass: Later on historically I seem to recall they were purged. OK, so Shingen dies but has an oral will that they will keep it a secret for three years.. and not move... good idea? Practical?

Divine_Malevolence: His will is to leave his opponents in the dark, so that they won't attack his lands when they are weak. It gave his people time to strengthen themselves after his death.

Sam Glass: OK, that was the idea... but did he have one double or two. Was Nakebuno a kind of double too?

Divine_Malevolence: Nakebuno was his brother, no?

Sam Glass: ohh... they almost had the same mannerisms and looked alike.. ok.. then the spies verified Shingen was with his troops.. but they also say the coffin jar in the lake...

Divine_Malevolence: They thought for a moment that Shingen had been buried in the lake.  But then the generals stated they were sacrificing sake to the lake gods.

Sam Glass: but they were right!

Divine_Malevolence: But they never reported it!

Sam Glass: Yea.. and then the Thief had to meet Tokemaru.. the grandson and heir.. and his black stallion

Divine_Malevolence: And he wasn't scary enough.

Sam Glass: lol...they skipped the stallion.. and the mistresses? he tries to tell them the truth and they laugh.

Divine_Malevolence: "He must not exert himself!"

Sam Glass: yea.. but they think he was joking..  and his son

Divine_Malevolence: They did. I was confused at the end of that scene.

Sam Glass: Katsuori has been passed over for the grandson.. is not happy to have to be polite to the thief for three years

Divine_Malevolence: He was a very angry fellow.
[10:57:37 AM] Sam Glass: Yea.. so Oda doesn't believe any of this.. thinks Shingen is dead so attacks outlying fortresses..

Divine_Malevolence: He feels something is off! But he can't quite put his finger on it

Sam Glass: I thought it was a good strategy to see what they would do... but it ends up with a clan meeting... where the thief has to perform as Shingen

Divine_Malevolence: "Do not move!" He was put on the spot and performed admirably. Then the son went and attacked a castle without consulting anyone.

Sam Glass: Yes.. Katsuori doesn't foillow the script for the meeting the generals want and provolks the thief.. an attempt to show he is a fraud.. but the thief can only think of not moving the mountain.. which is a slap in Katsuori's face because he wanted to attack

Divine_Malevolence: Katsuyouri was a hothead. More of an antagonist than Oda.

Sam Glass: Katsuori was publicly humiliated by the thief, no? Son wanted to attack.. thief played his line and wouldn't move..made son more angry

Divine_Malevolence: Son couldn't attack. But did anyway. Then everybody else move and won the battle by scaring the enemy.

Sam Glass: But Katsuori had his own army.. so he could and did attack.. the rest of the clan then was put in a difficult position...

Divine_Malevolence: An extremely difficult position. Multiple times, in fact.

Sam Glass: impetuous?

Divine_Malevolence: Hotheaded.

Sam Glass: and roughly handled.. I would understand his anger.. passed over for his son as far as ruling.. and then publicly humiliated when they were being attached.. not defending their territory.. I would probably be mad too.. and hotheaded..

Divine_Malevolence: But it wouldn't be a good idea to put everybody else's hard work at risk like that.

Sam Glass: Yea.. but for someone raised as a leader it is hard to be treated that way... So the rest of the clan.. fire.. wind... forest.. and mountain follow

Divine_Malevolence: Wind, forest, fire, mountain.

Sam Glass: yea

Divine_Malevolence: Cavalry strike like the wind.

Sam Glass: swift as wind

Divine_Malevolence: Infantry advance like the forest.

Sam Glass: quiet as the forest

Divine_Malevolence: Third group strikes like the fire.

Sam Glass: fierce as fire

Divine_Malevolence: And the leader stands resolute like a mountain.

Sam Glass: immovable as the mountain.. so they attack together and take the castle.. Shingen had never been able to do it...and the son?

I believe the enemy ended up fleeing.

Sam Glass: Yep. and Katsuroi is even more angry...because a dead man gets credit

Divine_Malevolence: Very angry. Can't get out of his pops's shadow.

Sam Glass: So they go back to the castle and the thief?

Divine_Malevolence: This where he falls of the horse?

Sam Glass: overconfident..decides he is better than he really is and gets off message and starts making mistakes.. and falls off stallion

Divine_Malevolence: And then the mistresses notice he doesn't have the battle scar.

Sam Glass: those pesky women! always notice those pesky things like body traits

Divine_Malevolence: I would've inflicted a similar scar if I was among the generals.  Would've made sense.

Sam Glass: yea.. good point.. it would have come up at some time

Divine_Malevolence: Yup yup.

Sam Glass: so they have the funeral... and Oda sings!

When the 50 years of a man's life
is short compared to that of this world
life is but a dream, a vision, an illusion
life, once given., cannot last forever

Divine_Malevolence: Everybody's sad about it. The double wants to see the kid.

Sam Glass: yea.. a common theme in these movies

Divine_Malevolence: And the son decides to be a moron.

Sam Glass: And the mountain moves!

Divine_Malevolence: And it crumbles like a mountain would if it ever did move.

Sam Glass: Oda: "the mountain has moved.."  and they are slaughtered...

Divine_Malevolence: Horribly so.

Sam Glass: so what did you get out of the movie?

Divine_Malevolence: Being someones double is rough.

Sam Glass: yea.. lots of things to think about and as you said they could have done more.. I see the Buddhist themes again.. about life and death.. they are all so fearless...and have thought through it.. the women were not powerful again.. but played key roles

Divine_Malevolence: The only people who noticed.

Sam Glass: only ones who probably could.. wonder why they didn't bring them in like his retainers.. can't trust them? like generals? does that say something about what they think about women?

Divine_Malevolence: I'm assuming the double tried to bring them in.

Sam Glass: he did but they laughed at him... ok.. anything else?  nope?

Sam Glass: Ichi or Last Samurai next?

Divine_Malevolence: Last first.

Sam Glass: OK..   Last Samurai is only on DVD - so it'll take a week to get it to you.. u ok with Ichi this week?

Divine_Malevolence: Very well.