U.S. Offical who resigned over Afghan War- Matthew Hoh

This is Awesome.  You don't have to agree with the guy, but let's look at this.  He served as a Marine Captain in Iraq (and claims he enjoyed hearing about his unit "whacking a bunch of Iraqis") and now is the (former) Senior Civilian Representative for the U.S. Government in Zabul Province, Afghanistan.  His reasons- the people we're fighting don't want -anyone- else to be there, not even other Afghanis.  Nevermind the US who supports a "corrupt local government" (his words).  Also, this is a civil war that's at least 35 years old (see "Charlie Wilson's War for the Hollywoodized fict-history of the Russo-Afghan conflicts in the 80s).  I think you can hear his big brass 'uns clacking as he walks down the hall.    This story is all over the place right now.  BadassesWithMoustaches is cutting-freaking-edge on this story, but check someplace else for developments because I'm too busy/lazy to update this all that often.   Here's his 4 page resignation letter: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/hp/ssi/wpc/ResignationLetter.pdf?sid=ST2009102603447

Paul Haggis- "Crash" Director

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/crash39-director-paul-haggis-quits-scientology-ap I wasn't a huge fan of "Crash."  I thught it was a little schmaltzy and simplistic- so that's not why this guy gets a badass stamp of approval today.  Homeslice quit Scientology (sure, I'll capitalize it) which is, I hope, a sign of things to come for the "church" that isn't.  But more than that his reason for quitting: Scientology's stance against gay marriage.  Now it would have been awesome if he just said, "well, after 35 years I realized this was bullshit" but it may be better that he said (I paraphrase), "I can't sit idly by and let you guys consent to discrimination against gay people... it's especially hypocritical, because this town is known as a Mecca for gays, and my two sound guys have been together since before I started making movies."  So, no more Scientolo because of gay rights, plus a little face stubble in the pic equals the badass stamp of approval.