Swimming at JJ's Pool

Smiley's new bike

You read a few weeks ago that Little Man finally learned to ride a bike; alas, the bike he owned was now too small, and Lisa found a bike on Craiglist that was rugged, manly, and cool - and all for $25. 

Oh, it took some getting used to; this Chopper-esque bike is big enough to last him a few years. 

But as you can see after a few days - and a much needed haircut, he mastered it!

Enjoy it buddy-buddy! We love you!

Man of Steel

My former co-worker Patrick Markfort. wrote an insightful review of "Man of Steel", a review that may forever be known as the birthplace of the term "Rubble Porn", which he defines as the relentless and pointless destruction of propety. BRILLIANT phrase to capture a new pet peeve of mine. I said it before after "Avengers:, and I'll say it again after having watched "Man of Steel" Thursday night - it is ridiculous and almost irresponsible to portray the destruction of a city as if it has no consequence.

 In 2001, with more than a half hour notice, the two towers fell with a loss of 2000 lives. I'm supposed to believe that an eighth of New York/Metropolis is wiped out johnny-on-the-spot  by guys in tights and meh, the death toll might squeak past that of a bad commuter accident.   I estimated the Avengers climax would have produced 50,000 casualties; MOS certainly equalled that. I guess you have to destroy the village to save the village 

Enough already.          

                                                                                                                                               

As to the rest of the film, it was certainly no "Phantom Menace", so fans of the character can breath easy. It was a watchable, moderately entertaining film. It just wasn't a very good one. Some SPOILERS lay ahead, so tread lightly. 

I thought the Krypton scenes looked like something out of a Dune/Riders of Pern mash-up, and I can't say it adds to my respect of that esteemed civilization when they are openly aware that the planet is doomed to explode and are content to just sit down and wait. No "Jor-el you're a doomsayer" here, just a lil' "sure we screwed up the core, but what were we supposed to do?" Blech. 

Jonathon Kent, the true moral compass and role model of Superman - how bad a world would this be if that capsule had landed in the backyard of, say, Chris Brown? - is here reduced to a moral relativist. He suggests that perhaps his son should have let a group of schoolchildren drown, worries more about what will happen to our view of the universe than using his son's gift, and dies in the dumbest, cheesiest way possible. A -it's Kansas. You don't have to stand there yelling at people to run from a tornado. They understand John. B - it's a dog, not a human. It's not worth your life.  C - your son is invincible. Why are you the one out there again? D - what's with the quit at the end, and the 'stop' sign? Are you a suicidal Diana Ross?

Zod has none of the creepy menace of Terence Stamp, but criminy, who does? 

I liked Amy Adams as Lois Lane. I have yet to hear a compelling reason why anyone should feel otherwise. 

Henry Cavill was an ok Superman, but at times I felt he was playing up the "gee golly Mrs. Cleaver" act. And I thought he looked better with the beard. 

I think the film sacrificed humor and heart in a failed effort to match the intensity of the Dark Knight trilogy, a vital mistake as the two franchises have vastly different centrepieces.  Clark Kent is the heart of Superman, and his Superman persona is merely a means of expressing the worldview of Clark; Batman is the heart and tortured soul of what was once Bruce Wayne, and it is Wayne himself who is the mask for Batman. The Dark Knight films were dark and intense because they sought to portray and eventually overcome that darkness in Bruce. It works in that context. With Superman there is no such internal conflict, and I would argue that trying to force one onto the character - his fifteen year walkabout being the best example - is silly. 

As Patrick wrote, the movie hit one tone and one tone only, and the fight scenes seemed pointless and endless. 

At least this version of Superman, however, was proud and vocal about his American heritage, and didn't ignore that where he was raised shaped who he became. 

All in all, as reboots go, I liked Superman Returns better. 

Grade: C+

Quote

No human being is free to decide whether he will go through life without suffering and trial. These constitute as much the essence of life as shadows resulting from sunlight. Our choice is only to decide how we will react to them. - Archbishop Fulton Sheen

World War Z

Watched "World War Z" yesterday. It adds nothing to the genre and ignores the book it was based on but you know what? It was loads of fun. Brad Pitt is great at playing a concerned, involved father - art imitating life? - and the action was plentiful. I dug it. Grade: B+

Chill on the Hill

A few weeks ago we attended Chill on the Hill, a weekly free music concert at a local park. Team Slap went with our friend JJ and her daughter, but soon ran into some of YaYa's friends too. We had a blast, and without further adieu, here's some pics from that evening. 

Fireworks

Watched a great fireworks display from the comfort of my own porch. Yes, yes, people can have different opinions on such things, but in my mind if one day a year you can't get revved up for a parade, bbq, John Phillip Sousa, and fireworks, welllllll . . . I suppose even then there's room on this globe even for people like you ;)

Congrats CC Sabathia!

Congrats to CC Sabathia on his 200th career win!

Gettysburg 150 years on

Today marks a century and a half since Union forces triumphed at Gettysburg. That battle, 150 years ago, staved off the defeat and dissolution of our nation; tomorrow is the 150th anniversary of Grant's victory at Vicksburg, which ensured that the victory of that same nation was all but inevitable. To the men who fought in both battles - especially those who fought and died in blue, in the name of freedom and country - I salute you.

Smiley is going to see NKOTB tonight!

Just got up from a nap with Smiley, in preparation for his first ever concert - NKOTB at Summerfest tonight!

update: According to a text from Lisa, 98 degrees just took their bow and the crowd is waiting for New Kids to take the stage . . . .

The Purge

YaYa and I just finished "The Purge", and while it clearly has an underlying agenda the story stands up just fine on its own. There are some annoying moments - kids running off for no reason but to advance the plot, for instance - but some surprises too. Grace rates it a B+, I'd nudge it up to an A-

An example of Junie's artwork from College for Kids (her Geocaching class)

Warm Bodies

I just finished watching "Warm Bodies"  and I loved it. A zombie/human romance told from the zombie's POV? Hells yeah. Cute, funny, and endearing, plus the female lead was yum. I probably shouldn't have let the kids watch it, what with the moderate amounts of brain eating, but wth - they all loved it too! Grade: A

More of YaYa's Art

Smiley and Junie

Here are two pics of my lil' ones at Denny's on Kids Eat Free night.

The Last Exorcism 2

Just finished watching "The Last Exorcism 2";a tepid, pointless waste of ninety minutes. Epic fail.

Girl Scout Camp!

We dropped the girls off at Girl Scout camp today. Maybe LuLu's "eew bug" screeches will be a bit more muted when she gets back LOL - Lisa 

Mommy and Junie

Congrats to the Heat

A belated FB congrats to the Miami Heat and the great Lebron James.  A lot of people don't like the guy, but blah - I love him and here's hoping for a Three-Heat next year!

Some pics of Junie

A Frustrating Update

You may remember that PNC cashed my mortgage check but applied it to the wrong account, then declared me in default and started hounding me. They admitted their error and took steps to correct it - they've moved the $ to my account & contacted teh credit bureau- but inexplicably they continue to harass me, as if one dept isn't talking to another. A sharp letter yesterday, a man *knocking on my door* today, all saying I have to call PNC to resolve my defaulted loan. Phone calls to PNC just end with them saying the problem is corrected. WTH?  

LOL