This book came out in 2000, and I read it a long time ago. I recently picked it up to read again and realized how relevant much of the information still is. I guess that speaks highly of Bill O’Reilly’s straight-talk and analysis of America.

Many times I hear people preface their opinion with an, “I don’t agree with everything he says…” Well Duh! Who in the world do you agree with 100% of the time. It goes without saying that if you’re a thinking person, you will have developed your own belief systems and will never agree with somebody all the time.

That being said, I find myself in agreement with much of Mr. O’Reilly’s analysis of the good, bad, and ridiculous in this country. The problems of class, money, corruption and power are truly some of the things I highly resonate with.

One of the reasons I really enjoy reading & watching Bill O’Reilly on his TV show is that he is a guy who really comes from a blue-collar background, has worked hard to achieve his success and yet has not forgotten his roots. He still sticks up for the “little guy” because he comes from those same humble roots, and understands the problems intimately.

Three of the most important things pointed out in this book to me are:

1. The real separation in this country is not race or culture, but CLASS.
   Poor, Middle, Upper, the Rich… no matter which class you come from, it shapes your thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Because of the education you get, the people you know, the attitudes and philosophies you grow up with, etc. it is one of the hardest things to crossover from one class to another. It also divides the elite from the “common people”… and unfortunately many of the elite are ruling this country. No wonder things are such a mess.
    
2. Integrity, honesty and sticking up for the truth are worth fighting for.
   There is no denying it will be a fight. You don’t have to be as outspoken as Bill, or speak your mind so blatantly as he did growing up… but standing up for what is right is both desireable and difficult. People are never happy when called out for improper behavior, and sticking to your morals can cause conflicts at the job and with caustic individuals. But it makes you a better person, and you will find a place that you are celebrated for who you are.
    
3. Education is critically important… so you can reject the ridiculous!
   School is just your launching pad. Your real education comes after you’ve got all the basics. If you simply allow television, movies, network news and popular culture to dictate your “education” you are in big trouble. Their is always more than one side of the story, and their are many options today to compare stories and find the truth.
    

Read books, look at history, study the great thinkers. Don’t limit yourself to the popular culture of the day without using common sense and a broader perspective.

If you don’t know where to begin… why not start with this book. No, you won’t “agree with everything” but that’s the point! Educate yourself and form your own views that you can firmly stand on. I think Bill O’Reilly has done a great job at doling out a huge dose of common sense. I look forward to reporting on his other books as well.

“Disappointing!”
Oh George Lucas… why must you ruin beloved movies with “modern” drek and nonsense.

You know, it might have been the writer or Spielberg, but I place the blame firmly on Lucas because he did the exact same thing with Star Wars – and thus had to prove himself otherwise.

Is Indy 4 a good movie? – YES
Does Indy 4 carry on the franchise? – BARELY

There are JUST enough elements in Indy 4 to make it feel like a real Indiana Jones adventure. Harrison Ford is a joy to watch as he embodies the charm, quirky smile, and confidence of Dr. Jones no matter what his age. And Shia as “Mutt” does a great job as a young upstart kid.

As far as “Action” movies go.. this is a good one. Some fun chase scenes (ie. the motorcycle on campus), a bit of spelunking and fighting, some good old-fashioned stunts. But as far as being an “Indiana Jones” movie… I can only say “Disappointing!”

Here’s just a few things that make this Indy the bottom of the Jones barrel:

1. Believability - C’mon. Indiana Jones is older.. so how can he take so many punches, falls, etc. without seeming to feel any of it. At least in the earlier movies, he was sore after some of those tough chases… now he’s just another invincible action hero superstar. Yuck.
2. Cute Lucas Creatures - From ewoks to Jar Jar Binks to now having tiny monkeys in trees with big eyes. I groaned aloud in the theater when Mutt gets stuck in a tree, only to be rescued by such pleasant creatures. And swinging from tree-to-tree with them – ugh!
3. WHAT?!? No Booby Traps - Have you forgotten what makes an Indiana Jones movie so cool? The booby traps, man! Indiana’s big skill was somehow surviving where others had always been caught. I kept waiting for traps during this whole movie, and there were none. DUH!
4. No Scary Villains - Yeah, we have those Nazi guys again.. but for some reason, they never scared me one bit. And the leader, Cate Blanchett, I never believed for a second she would hurt Indiana. Without a real menace… you can’t have legitimate suspense. Too bad.
5. Poor Script - What was that big ol’ box at the beginning of the movie? Why did the skull need to be returned? Why was everybody double-crossing Indy? How could the skull be so easy to find in the first place? (see #3) And everybody talks a lot and “figures it out” too quickly!

So unfortunately, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was not at all what fans have been hoping for. Sure, its decent enough and you’ll probably want to see it… but if you’re hoping for a return to the glory of Raiders or even Last Crusade, not going to happen.