Published writer, compulsive reader, Old School Whovian, Match Game enthusiast, NKOTB fan, data hoarder, and - surprisingly, given that list - married with four kids. Welcome to my take on life, fatherhood, entertainment, and whatever strikes my fancy. Enjoy!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Atlas Shrugged Pt 1
i watched "Atlas Shrugged Pt 1" yest. Objectively, it was an ok film that struggled at times to find enough action to warrant its length. Subjectively, it was great to see a film that correctly warns of a near future where the governments whims trump private property, free markets, and worst of all initiative. Lisa stated a few times that "that could never happen". Wait and see. Wait and see.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
30 Minutes or Less
We rented the DVD for '30 Minutes or Less' from Netfix. Aptly named film. We made it all of ten minutes before giving up on this mindless turd.
Adele
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British singer Adele made Billboard history on Friday when she became the first female singer to be named top artist, have the top album, "21," and score the top single, "Rolling in the Deep," all in one year.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Who said I'm Difficult?
out to eat w/ Lisa. Well, she's eating, I'm sulking. I was told it is too early 4 lunch fare, and so I refused nething but coffee. Listening now to Lisa's commentary about how difficult I am and how I better not be facebooking . . .
Jerry Robinson
Jerry Robinson, the creator of The Joker, Robin, Two-Face, Alfred, and other staples of Batman lore is dead. He was 89. RIP.
Some People
en route to wrk, arguing about yest X Factor result w/ two Simon hatahs. Some people . . .
When Tribal Sovereignty Challenges Democracy: American Indian Education and the Democratic Ideal
@ my Dad's request I read and offered my opinion on "When Tribal Sovereignty Challenges Democracy: American Indian Education and the Democratic Ideal" by K Tsianina Lomawaima & Teresa L McCarty [Amer. Educational Research Journal Summer 2002 V30 #2). I agree with the authors that tribal education is far below par and needs to change, but found much of the paper a simple recitation of ills. More time on proposed solutions might have been nice. In short, no different than most papers I read in Education.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Paul
Just finished watching "Paul" a comedy about two Brits on a road trip across America who pick up an alien on the lam. I liked it quite a bit until after the halfway point, when people started being killed and/or shot (uh, it is supposed to be a comedy, right?) and they tossed in a senseless, typically Hollywood attack on Christianity. (how, uh, exactly does the existence of an ET disprove God? Wouldn't a universe full of intelligent species evolving independently lend weight to the idea of ID at work?) C+
Pujols to the Angels
BREAKING NEWS: Albert Pujols is going to the Angels - 10 years, $250 million. Booyah. The Central just a whole lot friendlier for the Brewers.
The Rocker
BTW, our movie last night was "The Rocker" with Rainn Wilson as a guy who spends 20 years in a funk after being dumped by a band on the brink of superstardom, only to get a second chance behind the kit for his nephew's band. I expected the movie to be awful and was pleasantly surprised. It isn't going to resonate in my heart forever or anything, but it was a moderately funny, mildly sweet feel good story.
Feast of the Immaculate Conceptio
Just back from Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It felt good - I needed that. Now a quick breakfast and off to work . .
Quote
William Temple replied to his critics who regarded answered prayer as no more than coincidence, “When I pray, coincidences happen; when I don’t, they don’t.”
- David Watson, Called & Committed, (Harold Shaw Publishers, Wheaton, IL; 1982), p. 83
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Fingers Crossed
Trying to vote for Melanie Amaro but all circuits are busy . . . Good on you America. She's a star.
Harry Morgan
Harry Morgan (aka Col. Potter on MASH) has died at age 96. RIP sir, I enjoyed your work.
The Journal-Sentinel just asked me to do an extended column for publication on Christmas Day. Quoting the email from the editor: "You seem to have a knack for writing holiday columns with just the right feel." Flattered and all, blah blah, but mighty sick of being good enough to be sought out for publication and yet never considered for regular work.
My Thoughts
Former IL Gov Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison today on corruption charges. Blech. I'm all for punishing the guilty, but to my mind imprisoning someone for a non-violent crime seems like a waste of resources. Stab someone, rape, murder, even risk someone's death (by drunk driving or by carrying a weapon during a crime) and by all means lock 'em up, but short of that there have to be more cost-effective & intelligent solutions.
We Remember
70 years ago today my maternal grandparent's were on a date at the Riverside Theater. The movie was stopped, the lights came on, and an announcement was made that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. They both knew my Great Uncle Leo (grandma's brother) was stationed there that morning. He was part of the crew of the USS Vestal, moored alongside the Arizona. Luckily, he survived, but of course 2000 Americans did not. To all the men at Pearl that day, thank you for your service. We'll always remember.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Falling Dishwasher
When I picked up LuLu nd her friend from Arts & Crafts Club today after work, a full size dishwasher, some five gallon buckets, and other junk fell off the back of a truck driving directly ahead of us. I saw it about to fall and so we avoided it all, but the guy took off without stopping and I took off after him, exchanging some words at a stop sign a half mile away. There's nothing else to the story, except to say Lu and her friend, being 8, thought it was the greatest trip of their lives.
St Nick's
St Nick's morn went well, with everyone in a good mood and loving their stockings. Booklights, winter caps (featured), dry erase boards, an outfit, a book (doll for Junie), candy, and odds and ends. A good haul and as I said they loved it. Lisa got makeup and a nice candle. Heck, I got a new pair of slippers myself.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
We just finished watching "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". It was much, much better than your average comedy/rom-comedy, Kudos to Segel for a funny, well-crafted script that made the characters real and complex, each with their own flaws and strengths. I was really impressed (and the great cast didn't hurt). A + (Lisa was less keen on it, but ya ain't hear to read her opinions, are ya?;)
Monday, December 5, 2011
St Nick is Coming!
The stockings are full and laid out by the fireplace. An unintentional compliment from the kids tonight: one of them asked why we bothered with the stockings since "there's always too much to fit in them anyway". For that, a big thank you to Lisa, who I swear works all year long to compile an impressive hoard of goodies for the holidays.
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