First, we had to get there an hour early to stand in some ridiculous line. Then once inside the theater we had to deal with obnoxious little kids hooting, hollering and just being generally obnoxious (by "little kids" I'm actually referring to high schoolers and such, since it was a 9:45 p.m. showing). Then, of course, the geniuses who run the theater decide it's a great idea to turn off the ventilation/air-conditioning in the (jam-packed) theater so for the entire movie we are all sitting there sweating like pigs in the uncomfortable, straight-backed chairs. The no a/c thing probably made that my worst movie-going experience ever. I should have got up and complained, but I was too lazy to climb over all the people between me and the aisle. I'll take a DVD in my room, in my pj's with snacks that don't cost an arm and a leg any day. The only positive thing about going to that god awful theater was the fact that it was in a mall and I bought 4 and a half pounds of those sour coke bottles. Yes, four and a half pounds.

So, what did I think of the movie itself you might be wondering. Honestly, not much. I never saw the original Star Wars movies and after watching Episode I a few years ago I didn't really get what all the hoopla was for. Episode III was better than Episode I, I guess. The dialogue was cheesy, the acting was subpar and I don't know...in my humble opinion it was just too simple? Paul explained to me that you already know from the original movies that Darth Vader went to the dark side because he loses those he loves...but I mean...it was like Annakin just had a massive temper tantrum (don't even get me started on wondering what Natalie Portman's character was doing with someone with such obvious attachment, mood and overall maturity issues) that threw the universe into chaos. Why didn't someone slap that kid and tell him to stop being such a huge baby. Why didn't Natalie Portman's character do it?

Anyway, enough of that, I guess I just don't "get" Star Wars. Maybe someday I will watch the originals (I've actually always wanted to but for some reason I have not gotten ahold of them) and I'll love it the way everyone else does. But I was very unimpressed by Episode III (and Episode I, never even saw Episode II I was so unimpressed). Actually, wait, the special effects were pretty cool, but they certainly weren't worth sitting in that sweltering theater for two and a half hours.

For those of you who have seen the movie (and for those of you who haven't don't worry, I'm not ruining anything) did you guys notice the part where Obi and Annakin are arguing and Obi goes "But he's evil!" and Annakin says something like "Well, from my perspective, the Jedi Council is evil!" I was like wow Annakin sounds like a liberal! You know...moral relativism and all that hogwash, who's really evil, us or the terrorists crap. Just thought I'd point that out since a lot of people have been saying Episode III bashes Republicans or something along those lines? I guess there could have been some of that but considering this story was written long before Dubya was in office I'll give George Lucas the benefit of the doubt.

Today has been a very slow Friday for me so I've been reading up on the Pepsi controversy. I don't have much to add really but I'd like to talk about it anyway because if I'm going to bother boycotting a company/product I'd like it to mean something and in order for it to mean something other people have to see the need to boycott the company/product as well, which they can't if they don't know what the story is to begin with. So if you don't know whatsup with Pepsi, please check out the link. Basically Pepsi's CFO gave a pretty poorly thought out graduation speech at Columbia this past weekend in which she likened the US to the world's middle finger and claims that we are in fact giving the world the middle finger. Pretty ironic I'd say considering she was chiding us Americans for not being sensitive enough in our cross-culture communications. And now, because I am not feeling very articulate today (despite this very long post) here is a letter to Pepsi from an Eric Egland that is posted in one of the powerline posts.

I found Ms. Nooyi's graduation comments offensive, not to mention off-base, because the central theme of her speech was that America is, in essence, "flipping off the world."

I am in Iraq, and served previously in Afghanistan. Many Americans have given their lives to liberate those nations from tyranny. In that light, I offer a few examples of "fingers" in those places that might present Ms. Nooyi a more substantive representation of American presence abroad than a trivial story of a rude traveler.

For example, she could ride on a combat patrol here and use her fingers to return the waves that I see on every mission from some of the over eight million Iraqis whose fingers were stained with purple ink following voting in the first democratic elections after decades of tyranny. She might notice her fingers moistened by sweat as she unconsciously gripped her armrest, noticing a tinge of fear from attack by a roadside bomb--the same fear felt by myself and every other American on Iraq’s roads.

In Afghanistan, many children and parents stick their thumbs straight up when Americans pass, demonstrating gratefulness for no longer living under the Taliban. I drove by Kabul University a while back and saw two young girls using their fingers to carry the books that represent the freedom to pursue education now enjoyed by Afghan women.

Now, a question that begs an answer: Does Ms. Nooyi consider that freedom an example of America "giving the world the finger," or "giving the world a hand?"

In the meantime, I will stop consuming Pepsico products and encourage others to do the same. Please remember, it is this country, and the brave men and women who defend it, that provided the free enterprise system that allowed your company to become a global corporate power. I would hope that Pepsi senior executives would show more respect for this great country. Perhaps the troops who enjoy your products would hope so as well.

I respectfully ask for a serious response, not the "promised land" public relations pabulum response offered on behalf of Ms. Nooyi. Please mail it to my address here in Baghdad.

I hope he gets a serious response. He certainly deserves one.