I am going to take this opportunity to give a movie review. I don’t go to the theater all that often so don’t worry, you won’t have to suffer through this often.
Some friends and I went to see Avatar last night. We drove all the way out to Macedonia and paid $12 a head so we could see it in 3D. I’d never actually sat through a movie in a theater with 3D glasses before, and the experience was interesting. I had a massive headache for a while after I took the glasses off. Further, they don’t stay on your face very well when you are already wearing normal glasses. Guess I should get that contacts prescription renewed.
Centered around an ex-marine that has lost the use of his legs, and his brother, the movie follows him to the alien world of Pandora, where he is part of the Avatar program. He and several scientists are “linked” to lab-grown bodies that are designed to be like the native people of Pandora. Through his avatar, Jake Sully begins to understand the natives and ultimately has to choose between them, and greedy business and military men determined to destroy the avatar program and the natives.
The movie itself more than lived up to its hype. It was action-packed, and filled with butt-kicking stunts and special effects. The credits, accordingly, were very, very long.
In addition to being absolutely fantastic in the action and special effects department, the movie was impressive for its scope. It created an entirely new world and new race of people (something sci-fi movies have been doing for generations now), and they were totally and completely believable. I’ve read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi (not everything, but a lot) and I give Avatar full points for breaking the mold.
In addition for great world building and imagination, the movie shows the darkest and lightest sides of humanity. The movie showcased not only the human capacity for great evil and greed, but also the human capacity for great good. It showed us at our most intolerant worst, as well as our accepting and embracing best.
I won’t spoil the storyline, but I will say that it has some interesting turns, although ultimately it ends up exactly how the viewer knows it has to in order to have a satisfying, happy ending. I would say that happily ever after is a bit cliché, but for the movie to have ended any other way, in my opinion, would have been a great disappointment. Sometimes you just have to have that happily ever after. In this case, at least, the happily ever after was bought at a cost. No freebie rides for the heroes.
All and all it was a fantastic movie, and I completely recommend it. I will add, however, not to ignore the PG-13 rating. View it before you take the kids. Worth the $12 to see it in 3D? Absolutely. Two thumbs, five stars, and a standing ovation.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
No Encouragement Needed
There is a lot about Congress’ health care reform debacle that people are upset about. There’s a lot to be upset about, on both sides of the aisle. For the conservatives the whole thing is insane, and they’re feeling not only ignored, but shut out of the entire process. For liberals, the bill that seems to be emerging is not what they wanted. A perfect example would be Howard Dean calling for far left Dems to “kill the bill.”
And let us not forget the campaign promises that this debate would be on C-SPAN from beginning to end.
However, I submit that what should be ticking off the American people the most is not the backroom deals, smear tactics, or partisanship (although those are all wonderful points) but the earmarks, pork barrel, etc that has so far been tossed around to… encourage senators and representatives to vote the way Congressional leadership wants them to. I hesitate to use the phrases “bribe” and “buy votes” in an attempt to give our elected officials the benefit of the doubt, but quite honestly… that’s sure what it feels like to me.
A piece of reform this important, something that will completely change such a large portion of our economy, and indeed, our day-to-day life, should be completely devoid of all earmarks. There should be absolutely nothing in this bill that does not apply to all the states equally. Period, end of story. The Federal government is responsible for the welfare of the entire country, not the welfare of individual states. That’s what state governments are for. If your state government can’t take care of it’s people, then encourage them to boot the clowns out next election. But something this critical to the entire nation should be voted on purely on its merits and not extra encouragement that has been put in place for specific districts and states.
I have one thing to say to Congress. Shame on you. Shame on every single one of you who dares to vote for a bill stuffed with goodies for your state or district at the expense of others. The ramifications of this bill will effect all of us, and deserve your undivided attention. Shame. On. You.
And let us not forget the campaign promises that this debate would be on C-SPAN from beginning to end.
However, I submit that what should be ticking off the American people the most is not the backroom deals, smear tactics, or partisanship (although those are all wonderful points) but the earmarks, pork barrel, etc that has so far been tossed around to… encourage senators and representatives to vote the way Congressional leadership wants them to. I hesitate to use the phrases “bribe” and “buy votes” in an attempt to give our elected officials the benefit of the doubt, but quite honestly… that’s sure what it feels like to me.
A piece of reform this important, something that will completely change such a large portion of our economy, and indeed, our day-to-day life, should be completely devoid of all earmarks. There should be absolutely nothing in this bill that does not apply to all the states equally. Period, end of story. The Federal government is responsible for the welfare of the entire country, not the welfare of individual states. That’s what state governments are for. If your state government can’t take care of it’s people, then encourage them to boot the clowns out next election. But something this critical to the entire nation should be voted on purely on its merits and not extra encouragement that has been put in place for specific districts and states.
I have one thing to say to Congress. Shame on you. Shame on every single one of you who dares to vote for a bill stuffed with goodies for your state or district at the expense of others. The ramifications of this bill will effect all of us, and deserve your undivided attention. Shame. On. You.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
By Way of Explanation...
There is nothing I hate more than shopping alone. Don’t get me wrong. I do love to shop. I just hate doing it by myself. My mother, of course, just plain hates leaving the house in general. The result? I end up doing not only my shopping, but also her shopping, all by myself. My remedy? Talk on my cellular phone. A lot. All through Wal-Mart. I am probably by far and large the most obnoxious person the Streetsboro Super Wal-Mart has ever had the displeasure of serving. People actually stare at me, as I laugh at seemingly nothing and rant about how Mom sent me to buy her Christmas cards. (Which, by the way, Mom, how am I supposed to know what you want to say to these people? I can barely pick out my own Christmas greetings!).
It was during one of these many shopping excursions (the Christmas card one, actually) that a very good friend of mine said “you should totally start a blog about your relationship with your mother. You’re hilarious. You could call it ‘My Mother Sent Me.’” And so the blog was born!
Now, while my relationship with my mother is indeed a very complex and often frustrating aspect of my life (and an amusing one) I didn’t feel that it was sufficient material for a blog. Even a bi-weekly one. So, I have decided that once every couple of weeks I will do a “My Mother Sent Me” as one of my regular… uh… segments, I guess. Yes, this is for you, oh best friend of mine. I just hope my mother never reads it…
Another frequent topic will likely be the various frustrations that come with being on, near, around, with-in-a-hundred-miles of a university. In this particular case, I will be show-casing student life on two different campus. I’m not going to name any names yet. For now they are Campus #1 and Campus #2. Some time in the future I’ll see if any of my readers (wait, what readers?) can guess which two fine *choke* institutions of higher learning I am referring to. Hint: they are both in Ohio, so don’t go guessing something four of five states away, kay?
Politics, current events, and history are three unavoidable subjects for me. Fair warning, I am a conservative, and don’t apologize for it. However, I maintain a certain code of respect. I do not use derogatory terms for any politician or public figure (with the very possible exception of fool). If and when I do receive comments on my posts, I ask for the same respectful disagreement. Anything else will be deleted.
That said, I’m going to finish this first informational little posting. Starting tomorrow I’ll come up with something much more interesting and insightful to blog about. I’ve been hitting the history books, what musty old fact have I dug up?
It was during one of these many shopping excursions (the Christmas card one, actually) that a very good friend of mine said “you should totally start a blog about your relationship with your mother. You’re hilarious. You could call it ‘My Mother Sent Me.’” And so the blog was born!
Now, while my relationship with my mother is indeed a very complex and often frustrating aspect of my life (and an amusing one) I didn’t feel that it was sufficient material for a blog. Even a bi-weekly one. So, I have decided that once every couple of weeks I will do a “My Mother Sent Me” as one of my regular… uh… segments, I guess. Yes, this is for you, oh best friend of mine. I just hope my mother never reads it…
Another frequent topic will likely be the various frustrations that come with being on, near, around, with-in-a-hundred-miles of a university. In this particular case, I will be show-casing student life on two different campus. I’m not going to name any names yet. For now they are Campus #1 and Campus #2. Some time in the future I’ll see if any of my readers (wait, what readers?) can guess which two fine *choke* institutions of higher learning I am referring to. Hint: they are both in Ohio, so don’t go guessing something four of five states away, kay?
Politics, current events, and history are three unavoidable subjects for me. Fair warning, I am a conservative, and don’t apologize for it. However, I maintain a certain code of respect. I do not use derogatory terms for any politician or public figure (with the very possible exception of fool). If and when I do receive comments on my posts, I ask for the same respectful disagreement. Anything else will be deleted.
That said, I’m going to finish this first informational little posting. Starting tomorrow I’ll come up with something much more interesting and insightful to blog about. I’ve been hitting the history books, what musty old fact have I dug up?
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