This metaphor by Republican Senator Rick Santorum strikes me as silly at best. Is it really a good idea to compare the brutal and real atrocities taking place in Iraq to a fantasy novel series? I’ve read and enjoyed Lord of the Rings (and seen the movies), but bringing up “hobbits” to describe war is in really poor taste, if you ask me.

I don’t think that Senator Santorum and I agree on a whole lot, though I will confess that I don’t know I huge amount about his voting record. What bothers me most about this analogy is its equating the U.S. with the “good guys.” I’m not objecting to the notion that the terrorists are evil, but I do think that this is an example of the arrogant world view and foreign policy that Americans have advocated since 9-11 which is continuing to alienate us from the rest of the world. Is America a noble country? On our best days, yes. Are we a nation of fallible people who make mistakes and do rotten things from time to time? Yes. Are both those things true for many other countries in the world, too? Yes.

I also object to the idea that the war in Iraq has reduced the risk of terrorism on U.S. soil. If anything, I think the war has served to isolate us from world nations and to fuel anti-U.S. fervor around the globe. There was a way, I honestly believe, to intervene as a response to 9-11 without destroying the compassion and goodwill that the rest of the world felt toward America, but the path we’ve followed wasn’t it.

Or is it James Bond 6.0? This much is certain: Daniel Craig will debut as James Bond next month in Casino Royale. I’m eager to see this film, but I’m also anxious about it. The filmmakers have chosen to “reboot” the storied James Bond franchise after 20 official installments.

I was initially disappointed to hear about this development, and I still don’t care for how Pierce Brosnan, who I would rank second only to Sean Connery in his success as Bond, was fired from the role. Nonetheless, while I am a major fan of the Bond films, they have become more ridiculous with each release, and I am excited about an attempt to revitalize the franchise by starting over. From the limited graphics I’ve seen, this appears to be an attempt to recast Bond in the same style that Batman Begins did for the caped crusader.

If that is the approach, it may very well succeed. I’d be even more enthusiastic about a take on the role similar to the reimagined Battlestar Galactica, a series that has amazed me from its outset at its imaginative, creative, suspensful and powerful storytelling. A success on that level is unlikely, but I am hoping at least for something in the vein of the Batman revival. A focus on realism and on character development are long overdue for a great but weary movie franchise. We’ll see whether that combination can deliver in about four weeks.

As an aside, while I have read repeatedly that Craig is an excellent actor (a fact not necessarily true about all of his predecessors), I am concerned about increasing descriptions of him as the “Best bond ever.” I am willing to allow for this possibility, but this early on, this sounds like hyperbole and possible promotional intent to me.

I fully believe that there is a market for this device.

The Preds topped the Islanders last night 2-1 in a shootout, and I’ll gladly take the two points. I watched most of the game, and I do think the team is headed back in the right direction. I think Mike Dunham and Tomas Vokoun played excellent games in goal. On defense, the Preds did look better, though they still need to make smart plays clearing the zone and to be ready for quick transitions when they turn over the puck. This portion of today’s Tennessean story sums it up well:

“I was not overly excited about our game,” Sullivan said. “We’re getting there, but we’re just trying to find that proper balance between offense and defense.”

One area in which the Predators have made strides is in limiting the opposition’s odd-man rushes. And when the Predators have broken down defensively, they’re now getting top-quality goaltending from Tomas Vokoun.

Vokoun has looked very sharp during the last two games, in my opinion. If the Preds can continue to shore up their defense, they will be able to continue their winning streak. I am encouraged to see them win on a night when they did not dominate their opponent. That ability played a major role in the team’s success last year, and hopefully it will again this time around. I’m also happy to see one of our leaders (Sullivan) not being content with earning the win and looking for ways to improve.