Veggie Rocks!

Veggie Rocks!

1. VeggieTales Theme Song, Rebecca St. James
2. I Love My Lips, Stevenson
3. Promised Land, Sanctus Real
4. In the Belly of the Whale, Newsboys
5. The Water Buffalo Song, Superchic[k]
6. I'm So Blue, Paul Colman
7. The Hairbrush Song (live), Audio Adrenaline
8. The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, relient K
9. I Can Be Your Friend, The O.C. Supertones
10. His Cheeseburger, TAIT
11. Stand, Skillet

This is gonna be great. :)

On the lighter side...

Got a little caught up on my TV viewing last night. I kept up with my normal videotaping schedule just 'cuz I knew I'd need an escape from reality, finally found the time yesterday.

1. NYPD Blue . . . okay episode. I totally understand the reasons Esai Morales left the show--too little to do. But he knew that going in, didn't he? Heck, they gave him more than they ever gave James McDaniel. But, COME ON! EDDIE GIBSON??? Just don't get this. Comic relief for a few episodes, yeah. But . . . a whole season and change? Bocho et al. better know what they're doing. Sure, things turned out with Schroeder and Gosselaar, so they probably do. But Gibson's pushing it.

2. The Practice. Excellent, excellent, excellent episode. James Spader has saved this show.

3. Alias The language I want to use to describe this episode would violate my conscience and lose me most of my readers . . . Lauren Reed is finally something more than a plot complication to keep the Sydney/Vaugh love story fresh. I absolutely loved the Sydney POV/Lauren POV take on the ep . . . the yin and yang thing they did with the car chases . . . Marshall strung out on new-child-induced-lack-of-sleep/caffeine, Arvin's "revelation" (or new deception) . . . fantastic, fantastic, fantastic. This is just what I needed!

wah-hoo!

He's home!!!

Best I've felt in days. Yeah, there's no real diagnosis/prognosis/pickyournosis yet. It's still a serious problem--he'll likely not have a large appetite ever (which will be nice when he's 15!). He probably won't grow as big as his brothers. Etc. Etc.

I don't care.

He's alive. That's enough.

there but for the grace of God . . .

Y'know that phrase "there but for the grace of God go I?" Well, here a little tale of my past few days, that I'm calling "there for the grace of God go I."

Tuesday I was happy to announce to my friends and family about the birth of my son: God was very kind to us: all ten fingers and all ten toes present and accounted for. The little tyke weighed in at a mere 8 lbs. 14 oz. and measures 21 inches long.

(somewhat sarcastically I now note, I didn't bother to count kidneys that day)

Friday we go in for the checkup and circumcision. He's down to 7 lbs 11 oz (later that day in the hospital he's at 7 lbs 6 oz], very jaundiced and um, well. Can't remember the technical term for this, but the hole where "pee pee" is supposed to come out? Well, it's not exactly in the right place and it's bigger than it should be. They usually can't find this 'til they start the circumcision, and that's true this time, so they stitch him back up and when he's about one, they'll use the foreskin to do a little reconstructive surgery (that was the plan on Friday anyway, before the rest . . . who knows now).

So anyway, they admit him to get some light therapy for the jaundice and an IV to get the weight back up. Being thorough, they take a blood sample and YIKES! kidney-related stuff is off the charts . . . So we get an ultrasound. 1 kidney is covered with cysts and very small. The other looks fine, but isn't doing the job.

Fast forward to today. The light therapy did it's job, as did the IV. The kidney stuff is better, but far from great. We may be talking dialysis in years to come. We may be talking transplant. The doc (who's a greater blessing than I could've imagined) had a good talk with my wife tonight. Said it's not a life or death issue, it's a quality of life issue. Which frankly at this point in time is enough for me. Looks like he gets to come home tomorrow, which is a huge relief. We'll see the specialist in a week and a half and start to plan out the next few years... :)

Anyhow, the last few days have seen tests of faith, and my report card could look better. But by the grace of God, I'm getting better at simply trusting Him. God's grace is richer to me, the prayers of the saints mean more to me now than before . . . because of the grace of God, I went there.

Birth, etc.

Well, as I mentioned on Monday, my wife had our third son on Tuesday. It was a fairly event-less delivery. It was very quick, that's for sure. Anyhow, we then had a relaxing 24 hours just hanging around at the hospital. Anyhow, everyone's home now, and doing great.

I finished my novel Tuesday night (Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon . . . not recommended), so I was pretty bored Wednesday morning--wife was sleeping, as was the boy. No cable in the hospital, so I was trying to find Regis interesting...which wasn't working too well when the nurse came in, asked if they could take some pictures of him to use for advertising--billboards, website, newpaper ads, etc. "Sure, why not?"

So the boy and I spent an hour with the hospital's PR gal using her really nice digital camera to take photos of one of the more photogenic nurses and him. The took a few of me, too. And got some quotes from me to maybe use in a newspaper ad . . ."the involved dad's perspective."

In the end, they went with another couple of kids for the billboards--I think a nice Aryan 4 yr old girl posing with an Aryan mom and baby. . . But they burned a CD of the 40 or so pictures they took of him for me, and he might get in the papers.

On the plus side, I guess that means his 15 minutes might come when he'll be old enough to appreciate it.

Just for fun, here's one of the pics off the CD (I'm sure none of the pics with yours truly will be used in advertising)

update

Just got word that the Idaho educatin laws mentioned on 2/26 have been defeated--one on the House floor, the other in committee. Yay!

Must read

Michelle Malkin: The new face of the lawless left.

A few hours to go...

Get to hold my 3rd son/4th child tomorrow.

Cool.

Tough lesson

My eldest learned a tough lesson (for me, at least--I think for him, too) Saturday.

He stole a couple of toys from my mother's house. Not a giant crime or anything. But it's, I guess "the biggest" of his life. His mother discovers this over breakfast and they have a little talk. Then he came in and woke me up and we had a talk. We cover confession, repentance, and restitution. So we say a little prayer, I hope he meant it.

Then we go to Grammy's house so he can return it, confess, etc. I know he meant that part--he cares more about disappointing her than his mom or dad.

Tough job, but a good way to spend a few hours.

Passion-ate Thoughts

Here's an article I wrote for my church's newsletter on a movie you might have heard of, The Passion of the Christ. I truly hope that's the last thing I ever write about it.

I'm sure it won't be.

Poof!

Above you see the remains of a fatefull ball--the ball Steve Bartman accidentally touched, setting off the tragic loss of the Chicago Cubs to the Florida Marlins.

F/X experts from Hollywood used a combination of pressure, heat and explosives in a bulletproof tank on the poor thing.

Now, I don't get into the superstitions surrounding baseball . . .but man, they're fun!

Penance

Well, to make myself feel a little better about my inaction on the anti-Homeschool legislation (see below), I just sent off a couple of emails to my Congressional Reps. in response to:
House Bill 740: Lowers Compulsory Attendance Age, Mandates Kindergarten "comparable instruction."

Now, on the one hand this isn't that big of deal (a bill still in committee that would extend the mandatory age from 16 to 17 would be, since my eldest will complete things at 16), but it's the principle . . . LET THE PARENTS DECIDE!

Upgrade

Well, I added the ability to add comments to my wonderful, thought-provoking and wise posts. Aaaaand until I post something along those lines, feel free to comment on the silly stuff that usually appears here just so I know it works.

yeeeeah!

If this blog had audio capabilities, you'd be hearing that silly Howard Dean scream right now. Just got this from the Home School Legal Defense Assoc.:

A victory for Idaho homeschoolers! Senator Joe Stegner has withdrawn
Senate Bill 1233 after homeschoolers in Idaho rose up to express
their opposition to the bill. The entire senate concurred in his
motion.

Some senate offices received over 600 emails in the space of two
weeks from homeschoolers opposing the bill. Withdrawing the bill is
the "simple recognition that this bill is divisive," said Sen.
Stegner. "It has generated more animosity than I ever anticipated."

Credit goes to Idaho Christian Home Educators for spearheading the
opposition and to HSLDA members who took time out of their busy
schedules to contact their senators about the bill.
----
I'm relieved for two reasons . . 1. Stupid, stupid law. Proably would've made me a law-breaker, honestly 2. I forgot to write/call/fax my opposition.

false alarm

spent a few hours at the hospital tonight--didn't get a baby, but I did get really tired.

brain's fried now . . . had much to say today, but no ability to say it.

missed it by that much

Leave it to World mag's blog to point me to something I should've been aware of already. The other day, they linked to No Holds Barred a blog written by someone on staff at Spokeane's Spokesman-Review, which was the newspaper I regularly subscribed to in college. I occasionally used this subscription to read things other than Dave Barry and the comics.

And now I see I missed this guy? Sheesh...

The Fox is Coming

Are you ready to go...
From Darkness to Shadow...?

Well, even if you are, site's isn't ready for you to go . . . but it will be soon, I trust. Keep an eye on this one folks . . .

Browsin' in Style

Not sure why I put it off for so long, but a couple of days ago, I upgraded from Mozilla 1.4 to 1.6. I tried out Firefox last week, it was okay, but I like the full version a little better. Not that I had any problems with 1.4 to speak of, but seems that 1/6 has a little more kick to it. Lovin' it.

If you Windows users are still using the ol' clunker browser that came with your OS, follow one of the links above and enter a faster, non-monopoly related, world.

Batman Costume

Been too busy to come up with anything to say over the last couple of days, but thought I'd drop a quick blurb about the costume in Batman: Intimidation, from SuperHero Hype!: "It is made of silicone and a material similar to the 'Spider-Man' costume. It has a armored look to it around the chest area. There is no yellow oval--the Bat symbol is like it is in the current comics. It may be part of the chest armor. The suit is dark, but not totally black. From the description that I got, it's dark gray. The cape, cowl, boots, and gloves are black. I've heard two descriptions for the ears. One report said that they are shorter than they were in the previous films. Someone else told me that they are 'Kane-style;' based on the orginal look of Batman back from 1939. I've also heard two reports on the eyes. I've heard it had lenses, and I've heard it didn't. I'm sure that costuming experienced[sic} with both. The utility belt will have pockets, but with a sleek look to it (nothing like what Adam West wore)."

The more I hear about this the more I'm excited....

(I'm such a geek!)

A few questions for John Kerry

A few questions for John Kerry. George Will is one of those guys you read and you can't help but think he knows everything there is to know.

Praising McCain-Feingold restrictions on political contributions, you said: ``This bill reduces the power of the checkbook and I will therefore support it." In December you saved your sagging campaign by writing it a $6.4 million check. Why is your checkbook's unfettered freedom wholesome?

lol . . . .

early Punisher Review

Ain't It Cool News - THE PUNISHER!!

It honestly wouldn't have mattered what the guy said, this is on the top of my "To See" list. But, good to read anyway.

I am such a dork

that's really all I have to say right now . . . not going to offer any evidence in support of it, just boldly declare it.

gotta try to reboot my brain

America: You are Stupid

Didn't really have anything to say today that was worth reading (and how is that any different from days you don't shut up? you ask), but I had to vent a little.

Matthew rocks, I like the guy--one of my faves all along. BUT there is no way that he sang better than Lisa last night!

sniff, so beautiful it brings a tear to my eye

Call it a cold business move.
Call in empire building.
Call it money corrupting sports.
Call it what you will.

A-ROD IS A YANKEE!!

I saw one picture of him today in a tie matching his new pinstipes . . . where can I get that tie???

Truth in Advertising

Well, I got my copy of Debating Calvinism today. And as it ws reported on www.aomin.org recently:

It's Big, It's Thick, It's Sorta Fluffy
"It is thick (427 pages), but it is typeset rather loosely (i.e., considerably less text on a page than most of the books I am accustomed to reading, or writing), hence my description as 'fluffy.'"

Hopefully I can do more than look at the title page soon . . .

My assistant

My almost two year daughter has decided to become my assistant. I can't sit at the computer anymore without her being right there--either at my right hand, so I can't move my mouse, or on my lap "helping" me type.

I know, I know, it's sweet. I'll miss these times in 15 years (probably sooner).

But darn it--it's getting nigh impossible to accomplish anything.

busy week

Okay, I've got three grocery stores to draft.
1 Sunday School Lesson to plan
1 sermon to write
2-3 articles to write, another 2 to edit
5 days of homeschool classes to teach
misc. other duties

oh yeah, I'll be sleeping a lot

the latest sensation that's sweeping the nation

Hold on to your hats, folks--we've now confirmed THREE readers. Whoa. it's enough to make a guy weep with joy.

Y'know, if weeping with joy wasn't a sign of a girly-man . . .

rats .. . not surprised, but rats anyway

Hannitization Tour 2004 won't be coming to Idaho.

Ah well, it's for the best: I won't be tempted call him a Romanist when I met him F2F. 8-)

50 First Dates

Well, yesterday, for the 8th anniversary of the day I proposed to my wife, we went to see the Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore movie 50 First Dates. Fun, sweet, silly movie. Two thumbs up.

All the Sandler movie regulars were there--some interesting casting there. Sean Astin . . . wonderful, wonderful job--and I didn't think of Samwise once. Adam was great. Drew . . . we all know about her and her life--way too much about both--but on screen when she turns it on, she's this perfect, sweet, innocent gal you just want to take home (y'know, if you didn't already have someone much better there already). I'm going to stop while I'm only this far behind . . .

The soundtrack . . wow. Basically 80's tunes (subliminal Wedding Singer cues) covered in a Hawaiian style. Note to self: go to Amazon . . .

Quite possibly the best part for me was this really quick tip of the hat to Chris Farley. My wife didn't even notice it, but it was there for those who know it. Very nice touch. (won't spoil it for any of my readers who want to see if they can find it).

torn

Okay, something on the lighter side: The Yankees may be getting A-Rod. On the one hand, the idea of the Yankees having Jeter and A-Rod playing side-by-side is enough to make this fanboy happy for months (and takes some of the sting about losing Pettitte--please note I did say some). I mean, the guy considered to be the best player in the League . . . bring on Boston!

But, blast it! To get A-Rod we've gotta say good-bye to Soriano. And I just don't want to do it . . watching him over the last couple of seasons has been so much fun. I don't want things to relegate him to the sidelines. No offense, Rangers, but a guy like A-Rod is gonna shine and make headlines even with you. No so sure about Soriano. :<

Meditation on the Law

Quick one this week.

Paul (following Moses) tells us that “all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Gal 5:14) Every one who complains against, rebels against and chafes at the Law seems to neglect that simple fact. The Law is to Love.

Thought for tonight

"Thus we have the Ten Commandments, a compend of divine doctrine, as to what we are to do in order that our whole life may be pleasing to God, and the true fountain and channel from and in which everything must arise and flow that is to be a good work, so that outside of the Ten Commandments no work or thing can be good or pleasing to God, however great or precious it be in the eyes of the world." -- Martin Luther

Words Fail Me

FOXNews.com - Foxlife - Barbie and Ken: It's Over

This is one of those times

That I sit in front of my computer and channel Beavis and Butthead.

Marvel Comics Interactive DVDs "huh huh . . this is cool." "yeah, yeah, cool, yeah."

to steal a line from Pascal

"I have only made [that entry about Breakpoint and the Passion] longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter."

Since when is this our job???

In the past I've said nice things about Chuck Colson's Breakpoint commentaries, so it's with a clear conscience that I can rant against him. In today's Breakpoint, Who Killed Jesus? Setting the Record Straight, Colson addresses the latest issue of Newsweek (which will probably hit my mailbox today) which had the cover story "Who killed Jesus?" This was, of course, inspired by Mel Gibson's 2nd Commandment shattering film.

This morning on Today I saw Katie Couric lob soft-ball questions at the Newsweek writer on the same topic (and saw more of the movie than I ever, ever wanted to). This alone started my day off on a bad footing--it would've been much worse if Diane Sawyer hadn't mollified me by lobbing soft-ball questions at Adam Sandler on Good Morning, America.

On Today, the Newsweek guy said some silliness about Pilate not being the kind of person who would be bullied into crucifying Jesus by a bunch of Jews, and made some nasty remarks about the hyper-literalistic nature of Gibson's movie--silly man, thinking that the Gospel writers knew what actually happened at the Cross without the perspective of 21st century "scholarship." The point he seemed to be making was that we shouldn't blame the Jews for the death--it was Pilate. See, the Jews shouldn't be blamed for it--so nobody should hate them, just hate that Pilate guy.

Here's a better idea--those who watch the movie should realize that everyone who isn't a Roman in the movie probably is a Jew--"bad guys" and "good guys" alike! So yeah, there are probably people to villainize as well as those to proclaim as hero. Furthermore, we need to realize that Pilate had a hand in it, the Jewish leaders had a hand in it, the Jewish mob that cried for the release of Barabbas had a hand in it, and GOD ALMIGHTY had a hand in it (you might say He predestined it if you're one of those silly types that take the Bible at face value). This is NO reason to HATE any group of people who happen to be descended from Pilate, the Romans, the Jewish leaders of the day, the Jewish mob or anybody else.

The book of Acts recounts the early church praying, "...for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." (Acts 4:27-28) And did they call down fire from Heaven on these people, did they call for their deaths? No. Instead, they asked that God would enable them to keep proclaiming the Gospel to these people. If you're gonna hate the Jews for this, you'd better be ready to hate everyone mentioned in those verses (including the One they were praying to).

Colson's point in reaction to the Newsweek question was, "The Jews didn't cause the death of Jesus, nor did the Romans. They were merely instruments carrying out what God had decreed. He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross so that the sins of mankind might be forgiven. And those who take Scripture seriously have always known who killed Jesus: You and I and all other sinful human beings did so. So enough of this foolish controversy." Now up to that point, he's right. (and says it with less sarcasm than I did) And according to Gibson, that was his point as well.

Now all my bile for the day would've been saved for the ninny at Newsweek, if Colson had stopped there. Or if he'd only gone on to say, "be ready with a biblical answer for your Jewish friends who hear all of this propaganda, most of it stirred up by professional activists."

It was the stuff in between those two quotes that got me going: "My advice to Christians is that you make it abundantly clear to your friends and neighbors that we are the ones responsible and then take them to see the film. Let them experience the passion and explain to them why it was necessary for Jesus to go to the cross." (emphasis mine) Take them to see the film? Why not just use what you've already said as your answer? Better yet--USE THE BIBLE with them. Give them one, read them the passages, study it with them!!!

And then he topped it off by concluding with: "So, three cheers for Mel Gibson. And thanks to Newsweek for asking the right question, even if it does not have the right answer. But now it is up to us Christians to do our job to educate our neighbors and flood the movie theaters." It's the JOB of Christians to flood the movie theaters? Where are we told to do that? Must be somewhere in 4th Corinthians 15 (never spent that much time reading that portion of Paul's letters).

Here, Christian, here is your job--proclaim the gospel, preach Christ and Him crucified--we don't need some silly little (blasphemous) movie to do our job when we have the Bible.

Troubling idea

Stumbled upon this quotation:
"I did (make) a few dietary concessions. My Achilles heel of food is the apple fritter. But I'm very proud of my butt. I have a good, tight hockey butt. It's the beer belly I'm a little self-conscious about."

--GORDON CLAPP, who plays Medavoy on "NYPD Blue," about his upcoming nude scene on the show, quote in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

1. Just by reading this I have already spent WAY more time thinking about Gordon Clapps butt then I ever, ever, ever wanted to.
2. Glad Greg's gonna get more screentime (they've been short-changing the character lately) . . . not sure this is the way I would've picked. But then again, he's about the only one left.

It ain't much, but it's a start

Looks like I'll probably be working for the Idaho State Tax Commission starting in mid-May. Just some Data Entry stuff, nothing major--but it's something.

Haven't done Data Entry since March 2000--their requirements were over 10,000 Keystrokes Per Hour at 90% accuracy. I tested at 11,700 KPB/99% accurate . . . shouldn't brag, but being that out of practice, I'm quite pleased. God is good.

Perspective, or the lack thereof

My wife asked me last night if I realized that w/in three weeks we would likely have a baby. And while I know the probable date as well as she does, it really hasn't dawned on me yet (even after that conversation).

I don't know if it's because I've got so many little things on my plate that I can't look that far ahead, or what.

I'm gonna be a dad (again) in three weeks . . . I should probably have some sort of reaction to that.

Census

Yes, I did state in the "Finished Hostage" (below) entry that I have two--that has actually been confirmed.

Shocking, ain't it? At this rate of growth, we'll have 3 by July.

Now, if I could just get my wife to read this.

Finished Hostage

Well, I know all of my two readers are eagerly awaiting to find out what I thought of Hostage. Kept up the pacing, kept up the suspense .... but, I'm not sure how satisfying the ending was.

I don't know how he could've resolved everything differently than he did without going into melodrama, so he ended it right. But I didn't fear for a second that anything else was going to happen.

All in all, tho--great read. Crais is capable of better, but it was still pretty good.

The All-Spin Zone

Friend was just telling me that he heard some guys on NPR news discussing the murder of that girl in Florida.

One guy says, "Everybody is up in arms about this but Bush has murdered 50000 people." And the other guy chimes win with "It's just racism."

good grief . . . . this is just sick.

hope yet for the Grand Ol' Party

GOP slams Bush policies at retreat - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics

Feels really good to read this on the Gipper's Birthday . . .

Those were the days

Okay, I've never bought any of the "good ol' days" kind of arguments about things being better in yesteryear. Society and culture, etc. had just as much sin in the Leave it to Beaver days as it does in the Sex and the City era.

But when you read things like this, you reconsider:

"I tell you, brethren, you could not do any better than to go and get that old Presbyterian catechism on the Ten Commandments and study it and teach it to every one of your children. I tell you those Ten Commandments constitute the standard of righteousness in heaven, and they will remain the standard of righteousness over the lowest hell. There never, never will be a time when any of those ten words will lose any of their obligatory force. That is why, all over this earth, rulers and statesmen lift their hats when they go to Matthew Sinai, when they look at those Ten Commandments, as the sublimest expression of the principles of law the human ear ever heard, the human eye ever saw, the human heart ever conceived of." -- Baptist Professor B.H. Carroll

Not sure when he wrote that, sure wasn't in the last 10 years.

Mandatory reading

my bad, meant to post this last week:

Crosswalk.com - weblogs: "The Newest Teen Girl Fad--Bisexual Chic"

Reinforcement

Got a call at lunch today, the State Tax Commission wants me to get tested for their night shift.

Then my eldest's Bible lesson for today was God's provision of manna in the wilderness--teaching Israel to trust Him to care for them.

I think I might be being taught something.....

ah, Scooter-Girl, we hardly knew ye

After two full seasons of semi-self-righteous boycotting, I've started watching American Idol this year. Not religiously, but frequently.

Just a couple of things to say about it: 1. Am bummed that Scooter-Girl got cut last night. Didn't think she could've gone all the way, but she was fun, and I wanted to see if she could've found her stride.

2. (and the seed of this is from my wonderful wife) The initial try-outs particularly, but some in the weeding out down to the final 32 showed this to a degree. We see the fruits of subjectivism and "you can be anything you want to be" that have been crammed down the throats of our youth in government schools for quite some time now.

How so?

Well, I think it's fairly safe to say that these three judges are pros when it comes to music--who can sing, who can't, etc. Even if they weren't before (and I think Paul Abdul's qualifications can be questioned on the basis of the Forever Your Girl album--and we shall not speak of Spellbound)*--suffering through the last couple of years on the panel clearly qualifies them as experts. When they say someone cannot sing--especially when all three say it--it's pretty certain that said person cannot sing. It's as true as 2+2=4. But how many will argue against them? "Well, that's just your opinion." "I know I can sing, you're wrong." No, no, no. There is objective truth, and one such truth is that not everyone can sing--you're one of us who can't!

Secondly, we need to face the fact that we can't be anything we want to be. I will never, ever, ever be a MLB player. For many reasons, I never could've been. There are physical, emotional, mental, intellecutal limitiations on each of us. My mind is not capable of thinking in certain ways. Howard Dean's temperment does not fit him to be President. The current CA governor, for all his skill/popularity/money can't be either--because of the Law of the Land. And even if person X had all the personality, all the talent, all the temperment to be a pop singer (or whatever), you still need the training, the opportunities, and the "luck" or "breaks" or whatever you call all the little things that can spring up in our path to get us to the record contract. Life is tough, wear a helmet.

*Okay, okay, in the interest of fair disclosure: I purchased both Forever Your Girl and Shut Up & Dance when I was in High School, which I think proves I know what I'm talking about.

Jehovah Jireh

Okay, two days ago I hit rock bottom (well, close to it anyway). Full of self-pity and woe-is-me because I haven't found a job since leaving my last position in Oct. Bank account's running on fumes, my kids don't understand why Daddy's being so grinchy lately (which probably means that daddy hadn't been grinchy enough when income was better), and I've got some major (and minor) expenses coming up. Whatever shall I do???

Well, ya silly, maybe you could trust in God a little? Believe that the prayers of your family and the saints that are around you will work? Am sure I read somewhere, "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread."

About 15 minutes ago, my former employer emailed me asking if I wanted to do some contract work starting in a couple of weeks . . . "oh ye of little faith"

Couple of fiction notes

1. Someone in IRC just pointed me at ShadowPDF.net, a collection of classic pulps of The Shadow. Takes me back to when I was a kid and listened to the radio shows on tape/radio . . . too cool.

2. Update on Hostage. I was very tempted to pull an all nighter for this one. It's very different in flavor and pacing than the Elvis Cole series. I've stopped missing them, and have been drawn into Chief Tulley's world. The set up Crais creates in the first hundred pages or so is brilliant. This is all going to go horribly, horribly bad. Which means it will be incredibly fun to read. Only question is how dark Crais will let it go . . . .

my guess is very.

Now that's what I call noir

Started Robert Crais' Hostage last night. I didn't get very far into it before my arch-nemesis, Sleep, won another round in our ongoing battle.

First stand-alone novel I've read by him. I can already tell I'm going to miss Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Not that it's a bad book--but any novel that opens up with a double-murder/suicuide could really use some old friends in it to help you cope, y'know?

Ohh, while writing this I read that the movie based on this book started filming a couple of weeks ago. Bruce Willis stars. That could be cool....

Swiftly go the daaaaaaayyyyyyyssss...

My eldest signed up for T-ball last night. He's pretty excited. Mom and Dad are pretty excited.

Today, Cal Ripkin League. Tomorrow, getting a check from Steinbrenner.

GeekPunk.com

Just stumbled upon a news brief about this comic--Super Hero Happy Hour . This is brilliant!

Yeah, The Tick had an episode like this, and there've been other brief things along these lines within an established series--but a whole series of this? Brilliant.

Starting the Day with a Laugh

Ann Coulter's latest begins this way: "After the New Hampshire primary, Dennis Kucinich's new slogan is: '.001 Percent of America Can't Be Wrong!' John Edwards' new slogan is: 'Vote for Me or We'll See You in Court.' Joe Lieberman's new slogan is: 'Sixth Place Is Not an Option.' (Bumper sticker version: 'Ask Me About My Delegate.') Al Sharpton's new slogan is 'Hello? Room Service?' Wesley Clark's new slogan is: 'Leading America's War on Fetuses.' Howard Dean's new slogan is: 'I Want to Be Your President ... And So Do I!'

That leaves John Kerry (new slogan: 'Nous Sommes Nombre Un!')"

Read the entire column: Just a gigolo

Blast from the Past

Doonesbury's Take on John Kerry

Yeah, sure, it's from '71, but still funny.

thanks to worldmagblog for this ...

Anyone have some sedatives to spare?

My kids have found a flood of excess energy the last couple of days. I have no idea where it came from, but I do know that I'm about to be driven insane by it.

It started yesterday on the way to church--Interstate's icy and slick, wife is reading me my sermon notes on the way to help me review, and the 4 and 5 year old are jumping all over the place and babbling at very high volume. (how they're jumping yet strapped into their booster seats I haven't figured out). All in all a fun time.

And they haven't calmed down yet . . . I've begged/commanded them to calm down several million times today and it works for about .5 seconds. Wit's End? That's about 5 yards to my left . . .

Wow . . .

Colleges Noticing Home Schooled Student . . . this is just too strange: mainstream press with a positive story about Homeschooling. Guess the AP didn't get the memo . . .

TV, TV, TV

Few scattered thoughts on my TV obsessions.

Alias--this show . . . man. It gets stranger, and stranger all the time. But even when you're not sure what's going on, it's a blast to watch.

Smallville--guilty pleasure in a way. Too much eye candy. But, man, when they put together a good episode, it's really, really good! And, hey, a Pete Ross story was the focus of this week's episdoe . . .can't go wrong with that.

Ed--looks like the nice, strange ride is ending in Feb. Heck, I didn't figure it would last a whole season, but I'm gonna miss Stuckyville.

Monk--great show from the start, keeps getting better and better. The episode with John Turturro as his brother was one of the best things I've seen in months.

NYPD Blue--please, please, please ABC, bring it back soon!

10 Commandments monument

Okay, there's some controversy in Boise because the City Council voted on Tuesday to move a 10 Commandments monument from a city park. For the heck of it, I'll throw my 2 cents out there.

As I understand it, Fred Phelps (the supposed Christian whose sole purpose in life is to rabble-rouse)* wanted to put some statue in a Boise park. Knowing Phelps (not personally, but I've run into his progeny online), it was offensive to many, many people with a thin veneer of Christianity painted on top of it. Anyway, to justify the fact that they'll don't want him to, the city's removing all such statues/monuments. There's some sort of threatened lawsuit, too, from people out of state (you need to read When Blue States Attack if you haven't yet). Don't know if it's related to Phelps or not. There are probably some other reasons, too, but that's what I've heard.

Now, the radio news today stated that this issue was put on the City Council meeting agenda at 5:30 last Friday (right before a 3 day weekend). Then Tuesday they had the meeting, refused to let any citizens talk about it during the meeting and voted to remove it. Originally it was scheduled to be moved today. As the lawyer for the group trying to keep the monument in place, "What's the urgency?" Why indeed are they rushing this?

Now, from a religious point of view I don't care if they have the statue there or not--the LAW is still binding on everyone whether they know it or not. It does say a great deal about the moral and spiritual state of this nation, however. I fear for my kids. Now when it comes to the legal reasoning behind this trend, let me quote from that above mentioned article (very coincidentally, btw):

"The alleged legal basis for removing all of these Ten Commandments monuments is the establishment clause of the First Amendment. That clause provides: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." The vigilant observer will note instantly that none of the monuments cases involves Congress, a law or an establishment of religion.

Monuments are not "laws," the Plattsmouth, Neb., public park is not "Congress," and the Ten Commandments are not a religion. To the contrary, all three major religions believe in Moses and the Ten Commandments. Liberals might as well say the establishment clause prohibits Republicans from breathing, as that it prohibits a Ten Commandments display. But over the past few years, courts have ordered the removal of dozens and dozens of Ten Commandments displays"

well, maybe that was 4 cents in the end.

* is that spelled right?

Now that's planning ahead

Sci Fi Wire reports that work on Shrek 3 is already underway. Not only is that planning ahead, but that's a lot of confidence in #2!

Blocked

Robert B. Parker is known for saying he doesn't believe in writer's block--it's his job, you just go in and do it--you never hear of a plumber getting plumber's block. Eh, maybe.

But I cannot seem to write anything this week--sermon, email, article, blog, nuttin'--just empty screen . . . .

bah

Excuses, thy name is HC Newton

Just received some bad news about a friend. I feel like an utter failure. It's been a couple of months since I've seen him--and I'm about the only friend he has in the area. Now, my presence in his life would not have prevented the problems he's having--but maybe, just maybe it could've lessened it. Yeah, yeah, I have a bazillion reasons for not having made it out to see him, and at least 80% are legitimate.

The fact that I have such a list makes me mad. It shows me that now matter how important I think people are to me, I can find many things that are moreso. And it isn't just him, come to think of it. I have similar reasons for not seeing my grandmother, or aunt, or other grandmother, or some other friends--or for doing something to help out complete and utter strangers at a shelter, or CPC, or . . .

man, I suck.

This is great . . .

Someone obviously has way too much time on their hands, but at least they use it for the betterment of society.

Go check out this flash video to Weird Al's "Angry White Boy Polka". Yeah, it takes awhile, but it can be done fine with dialup. . . .

Thought for the Lord's Day

from Barne's Notes on Eph. 4:1

To “walk worthy of that calling,” is to live as becomes a Christian, an heir of glory; to live as Christ did. It is:

(1) To bear our religion with us to all places, companies, employments. Not merely to be a Christian on the Sabbath, and at the communion table, and in our own land, but every day, and everywhere, and in any land where we may be placed. We are to live religion, and not merely to profess it. We are to be Christians in the counting-room, as well as in the closet; on the farm as well as at the communion table; among strangers, and in a foreign land, as well as in our own country and in the sanctuary.
(2) It is to do nothing inconsistent with the most elevated Christian character. In temper, feeling, plan, we are to give expression to no emotion, and use no language, and perform no deed, that shall be inconsistent with the most elevated Christian character.
(3) It is to do “right always:” to be just to all; to tell the simple truth; to defraud no one; to maintain a correct standard of morals; to be known to be honest. There is a correct standard of character and conduct; and a Christian should be a man so living, that we may always know “exactly where to find him.” He should so live, that we shall have no doubts that, however others may act, we shall find “him” to be the unflinching advocate of temperance, chastity, honesty, and of every good work - of every plan that is really suited to alleviate human woe, and benefit a dying world.
(4) It is to live as one should who expects soon to be “in heaven.” Such a man will feel that the earth is not his home; that he is a stranger and a pilgrim here; that riches, honors, and pleasures are of comparatively little importance; that he ought to watch and pray, and that he ought to be holy. A man who feels that he may die at any moment, will watch and pray. A man who realizes that “tomorrow” he may be in heaven, will feel that he ought to be holy. He who begins a day on earth, feeling that at its close he may be among the angels of God, and the spirits of just men made perfect; that before its close he may have seen the Saviour glorified, and the burning throne of God, will feel the importance of living a holy life, and of being wholly devoted to the service of God. Pure should be the eyes that are soon to look on the throne of God; pure the hands that are soon to strike the harps of praise in heaven; pure the feet that are to walk the “golden streets above.”

Needing a lesson?

Here's draft one of my exhortation to go along with the reading of the Law this week, this is kind of odd, I tend to make them up on the fly (and as a result, they tend to sound pretty much the same). Need to do this more in the future.

The idea of the law as something to spur us to Christ is something we?re all familiar with, maybe even used to. But how many of us seek out the Law so that it will drive us to Christ? David prays ?Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.? (Ps. 139:23-24). Job as well asks God, ?How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.? (13:23)

We all know at times that we?ve drifted from Christ, from our first love. We know that our hearts have gotten a little harder, a little colder. And what do we so often do? We try to warm our hearts ourselves, try to beat them a little to soften them up. We pray that God would rekindle the love we had, but so often we ignore the means that God himself gave us to do that. When we go to the Law, ask the Schoolmaster for a lesson, we will discover anew our sin and our great need of mercy?and that will always drive us to Christ, enflaming our faith, our love and devotion toward him.

Poor Lex

Smallville's back (phew! I can breathe again). Fairly satisfying episode. I like the Clark/Lana split--it'll be temporary, I know, which is part of the reason I like it. Reason #2 to like it is Ma Kent's meddling . . . great mom.

The Lex storyline was interesting, a little on the silly side, but I can live with it. Gave Michael Rosenbaum some great stuff to do tho' . . . best actor on the show--hands down.

Best part of all was the Blast-from-the-Past trio (or is that quartet?)...Clark's vanquished foes going for a little revenge. It was great to see them in the opening scene, nice to see that Clark learned enough from his previous exposure leech-boy that he could take care of him in a few minutes . . .

Homeschoolers vs. Big Brother

Michelle Malkin hits the nail right on the head in Homeschoolers vs. Big Brother. The whole thing is gold, particularly the last two paragraphs (here's the final 'graph):

A crackdown on innocent homeschooling families to cure the incompetence of government child-welfare agencies is like a smoker lopping off his ear to treat metastatic lung cancer. It's a bloody wrong cure conceived by a fool who caused his own disease.

saddest thing for me is, my parents would fall on the other side . . .

Nice article

Just stumbled upon this during a google search for something totally unrelated . . . Boundless-Professors and Puritans

Footnote

Glad to see that Fraiser's not going the Michael Jordan route (see yesterday's "Rocketing Back . . . ") and calling it quits while still fresh--fresher actually than the last couple of years. Smart move from a generally smart show, so I shouldn't be surprised.

Disturbing

Actor-Writer Spalding Gray Reported Missing in NY

I was just looking online the other day for new material from him, and now I read this. He was a big influence in life a few years ago, actually, I should probably dig out his tapes/books again and go through them. Might help my blogging . . .

This is the single greatest piece of news I've read in months

Sci Fi Wire -- Hitchhiker Stars Set

No additional comment is necessary.

Text for the week

Ephesians 4:1-6 :
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (NKJV)

Anyone who has any brilliant insights into this passage that I shouldn't leave out of my exhortation to the congregation next Lord's Day is encouraged to pass them on.

Rocketing Back . . .

Don't know if it was the presence of Andy Petite, competitive drive, or the love of the game. But Roger Clemens announced he's un-retiring. I hope, I hope this isn't a mistake. I'd hate for him to leave before it was time, but even more, I'd hate for him to stick around longer than he should. Like, say a certain basketball player turned baseball player turned basketball player turned owner turned . . . and so on.

Oh, and Jeff Nelson is joining the Rangers.

I may just have to move to Texas......

Checkin' in

Haven't had much to say in a couple of days. Well, did my exhortation on Eph 3:14-21 today. I'm usually a read the script kind of guy, but I've been loosening up lately. But today (for various reasons) I only used a thorough outline. It went okay, but there were two verses that inexplicably I had little to say, no matter how hard I tried,

"that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith"

There's a lot there, I know it, but as I prepped this week, I just couldn't put anything into words--was kind a counting on inspiration striking while I delivered it this morning. Of course, no inspiration came . . .

Anyhow, other than that, it went pretty well. Glory to God. Quite a few people told me it was beneficial for them--which is a nice change, the last few exhortations were pretty useless I fear.

'Course now we're done with the "indicative" part of the letter, on to the "imperative." I get to spend the next couple of months telling people what to do. Yippee!! **

**=(just a joke, folks)

Ahhhh . . . brilliant

A friend of mine calls Guiness "Chocolate Milk for Grown Ups." Now I wouldn't say that, in fact, I resent the notion that Chocolate Milk is just for kids (in fact, a good Hershey's Creamy Chocolate Milk Shake often hits the spot).

However, when drinking a Guiness, as I am now, one knows that there is a Creator, and he is good . . . .

Welcome Audrey!!!!!

Like to take a moment to welcome little Audrey to this wonder little ball of dirt we call Earth. Hearty congratulations to her Mom and Dad. Praise the Lord for her safe arrival!!

(btw, Al, I expect a really nice cigar next time I see ya)

Note to self: SET THE VCR!

Now don't ask me why Sci Fi Wire covers Alias all the time--loose definition of Sci Fi, I guess (I'm not complaining however), but today they report that this week's episode will answer all the questions we've had about what happened between Seasons 2 and 3--and of course, will totally upend the rest of the season.
This is one of the many reasons I love the show--just when yhou start to get comfortable (even if you don't fully understand what you're comfortable with) they yank the carpet out from under you. Granted, even if they stopped doing that and just kept a straight linear story going, or didn't even do story arcs, just a silly adventure a week thing, I'd watch it just for Victor Garber and Kevin Weisman. But I'm pretty sure I don't have to worry about that for at least 2 more years.

Here's the Sci Fi story:New Alias Answers Alll

Big Step

My 4 year old read today. Not the reading like, "hey I recognize that logo," or "someone told me what this word is" but real, actual, sounding-out reading.

He thinks it's cool and all, and he knows I'm thrilled, but he's not sure he gets the fuss I'm making.

one day to go . . .

Lord willing, my best friend will be having a baby tomorrow (well, his wife will anyway). I'm more excited for them than I about my own new son's immanent birth.

True Godliness

In another installment of letting other people do my writing for me, here’s a selection from Willem Teellink. So many of the conversations I have where someone is telling me that they don’t try to be godly or obedient or practice righteousness or whatever as they believe in Total Depravity, or that since Christ is the only one who can do good, or whatever. (the number of whatever’s there shows how close I listen to this flummery—it’s all the same). And, of course, they think that because I think that Christian life is about practicing godliness, or that I think “the Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man” (WSC Q1) I must not hold to Total Depravity, etc.

Teellink’s book hits hard with the duty of being obedient—feels at times too hard (that’d be my old man still lurking about). I wish I could think like this when I’m talking to my antinomian friends (whether they’re self-consciously so or otherwise)

First, he notes that “true godliness is a gift of God by which man is made willing and able to serve God.” Get that, a gift of God—not something we dig up from within! (Sounds a whole lot like WSC Q35 to me.)

Later he says (and this is the point the point I’ve been trying to get to):
“We must therefore begin to practice all this [godliness], not in our own strength, which means absolutely nothing, but in the power of our Lord ands Savior Jesus Christ, who is the strength of our life and by whom we can do all things. See how the godly Paul counsels us: “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Eph. 6:10). This was his own practice, as it was of all the godly in his time. He therefore says, “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3). Take not that before we believed we were powerless and totally unable to do good, and after we believe we are not “sufficient [able] of ourselves to think any thin as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [ability] is of God” (2 Cor. 3:5). Therefore, the good that is in us through regeneration serves only to make us more and more inclined to expect and to cultivate the good help and power of God. He strengthens us and works all our works for us, even he who “is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8)
Take careful note of this, for surely many a man begins the practice of godliness and then gives up in discouragement and withdraws from his work, Since he began it in his own strength, he makes a mess of things. It’s exactly the same thing as when a little child, in his own strength, wants to build a big castle. It is a fact that our own strength means nothing in the building up of the Christian life. Unless the power of the Almighty comes upon us, we cannot building anything that will last. That is why we call it godliness; it reminds us that without God and his holy help we would never be able to accomplish this work.”

NASA Cover-up???

From Peter David's blog: For those interested in seeing a Mars photo that NASA is trying to keep under wraps, go here.

Can't Ever Happen--It'd be toooo good

Yesterday someone posted a link to an old Credenda/Agenda article (one that I didn't find terribly helpful, either). But I got to looking through the rest of the issue and was reminded of this great piece. If Doug Wilson was nominated for Secretary of Education . . lol.

"I am opposed to prayer in the government schools for the same reason I am opposed to drinking fountains, lockers, classrooms and children there." AMEN

Safe Love

“It seems to me now that the plain state of being human is dramatic enough for anyone; you don’t need to be a heroin addict or a performance poet to experience extremity. You just have to love someone.”

This is one of the conclusions reached by the protagonist in Nick Hornby’s How to be Good—for some reason it struck me more than many of the others. One reason it may have stood out is that it sounds like a conclusion reached by protagonists in Hornby’s other novels—the fantastic High Fidelity, and the heart-warming About a Boy. Love—romantic or friendship—is about taking a risk. A risk of injury, a risk of nothing ever changing, a risk that you’re missing something better, and so on.

And while I can’t think of any other examples at the moment (to my embarrassment, because this makes my argument harder to make), this is a theme common in recent TV shows, movies, songs, etc. To open up to someone is a dangerous thing, we’re told.

I halfway wonder if the appeal (and it is usually discussed in this way) of Love and Relationships as risky has something to do with the popularity Open Theism’s “God Who Risks” (á la John Sanders) . . .

But ultimately, I think this shows a problem with our zeitgeist. It’s too individualistic, not covenantal perspective on these things. Now, my Baptist friends, hold on—I think you won’t be offended here. If you covenant to love someone—either as a spouse or a “bosom companion” (to use a Puritan phrase) there’s a safety there that isn’t possible in other instances. Here’s where the courtship-only folks make their strongest case.

My wife and I have made a covenant—there’s no risk there, it’s safe. There’s where the whole richer/poorer, better/worse, disease/health thing comes in. If one of us changes into a “different person” well, that’s covered. Ditto for missing something better (as my wife is), or getting hurt—‘cuz you’ll get over it if you work at it.

Same thing goes for friends—a friend and I had a falling out some time ago—and we pretty much don’t speak for a year, which is made easier by us living 5 hours apart. A couple of years before that, I went through this Promise Keeper-Knock Off phase (about the same time as PK took off, so it was just a competitor then) and I’d made a covenant with him, as I recall lifting Jonathan and David’s language. Anyway, when my friend had gotten some major things straitened out in his life, he knew that he could resume our friendship safely. Within a matter of weeks our relationship was probably as close as it’d been before.

Now when I started thinking about this quotation a couple days ago, the application was pretty clear to me, and I think I haven’t translated my thinking too well to the page. But hopefully you see it. Real love—whatever form it takes—isn’t risky, it isn’t dangerous. Commitment is an integral part of love. And nothing’s safer than commitment.

oh sure . . .

the same day that I finally take the plunge and post one of these "What _______ are you?" tests, my favorite Internet comic does this to me . . .
1/6/04's DORK TOWER

Today's Breakpoint

I frequently get tired of Colson's reading perspectives (usually can see them coming a mile away), but sometimes he really hits one out of the ball park. This is worth the read just for the picture of the Bushes.
BreakPoint | At the Foot of the Cross

Personality Test (yes, I have a personality!)

Took yet another of those ubiquitous personality tests--this one is almost as fun as "what Batman villain are you?" (I'm the Joker, lost the link, sorry). Anyway, for those who were interested, I'm a:

Hobbit


To which race of Middle Earth do you belong?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks to Julie for the link.

Poor girl

Got a 21 month old princess who won't get off my lap. She's not feeling too good today and demands to stay perched here.

Really, really hard to get anything done this way--and I don't care. :)

Political Truism

"Americans have a tendency to think the problem with politics lies with their candidates and not themselves. The truth is Americans deserve the blame for the state of our politics and the state of our media."

Yeah, yeah, I know--it's been said many times before. But it's true (and continues to be true, which is why people have to keep saying it). Jonah Goldberg was the most recent one to say it, and he said it in one of the more entertaining ways I've seen.

from Earthlink's latest newsletter

The Cover Project . . . this is just cool.

Basic Math Skills Displayed

For those keeping score at home, yes I have now used the word "resolve" in 2 consecutive posts. Well, as of this one, three.

Marking a little more time . . .

Aaack, way too busy to do a real post (have a couple in mind I'd like to make). But to show (myself) that I really have some resolve, thought I'd throw this up.

Marking Time

Need to write something to keep my resolve up for blogging. Also, if I don't, I open myself up to charges of hypocrisy from my pal Alex, who has apparently forgotten his blogger.com password. :)

Nothing happened today.

No awesome or brilliant insights came to me.

Didn't even think of something funny to say.

But I've written six sentences.

Casting Wisdom from the Peanut Gallery

Okay, now that Return of the King is out (I need to see it about a dozen more times in the theaters), it's time to turn my eye towards future movies. Punisher as link looks good, Spider-Man 2 as link is a shoe in for great flick, Episode III . . .eh, well, the FX will look nice.

Christopher Nolan's Batman. Nolan's not going to go the way of Joel Schumacher--that's almost a guarantee. I also doubt he'll let himself get carried away as Burton did in Returns and came close to doing with Batman.

According to a story on Superhero Hype! today, the cast is coming together and they provided a listing.

The cast are
Christian Bale as Batman (I have great hope!)
Michael Caine as Alfred (eh, not to shabby)
Judson Caspian as Viggo Mortensen (oh ho! this could be good! But I figured him for older)
Cillian Murphy as Harvey Dent (no clue about this dude)
Katie Holmes as Rachel Caspian (this makes me very nervous)
Chris Cooper as Gordon (imdb has about a dozen Coopers, so I don't know what I think of this one)
Elle Fanning as Barbara (she's just a kid--as long as she ain't Jake Lloyd, I'm not going to complain)

SHH also stated they were looking for two villains and will have the casting on that done soon. Now, why, why, why are they going with two villains? Learn from history!!
Batman--best of the series--1 villain, played very well, developed very well.
Batman Returns--not bad--1.5 villains (Catwoman didn't really count long term), both pretty well developed, both played very well.
Batman Forever--2 villains, neither played or developed well. Batman & Robin--2.5 villains (Bane was really more of a henchman), half-developed, played like a joke.

What lesson is there in all this? One hero + One bad guy=One good movie. Anything more than that and you don't have the time to deal well with the material. X2 had too many people in the movie and we didn't get as much as we all wanted with all the characters--it hurt the film (granted, still a good movie, but parts felt weak). Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2? One villain. See, they know!

Common Thread?

:) If you look to your left at the "At The Moment" box, you'll see I'm reading 2 books: The Path of True Godliness by Willem Teellinck and How to Be Good by Nick Hornby.

If you look at the titles, you might be tempted to think I'm reading two books on the same theme. I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth.

A Month and A Half Later . . .

Okay, new template, new commitment to blogging.

How long you give this try? Me, 3 weeks tops.

I'm pretty excited about the new Punisher movie--far more than the Lundgren travesty, for sure.
But when I saw this picture . . . wow. Could you ask for something more perfect?

Mad Harry Rackham is my pirate name. What's yours?

eh, what's a month between friends, right?

Krispy Kreme opened up its first Idaho store this week. Dropped by this morning for a couple o' glazed and a very bold cup o' joe.

As Homer says, "mmmmmmmm, doooo-nuts".

Are they a cure for cancer, manna from heaven, the end-all of civilization? Nope. Are they the greatest taste-sensation on the planet? Nope. But are they a bleepin' good doughnut? Ohh yeah.

And sometimes that's as good as it gets.

I'm trying--trying really, really hard--to get excited about the next Star Wars movie. Can't seem to care about it much. I know I'm much more excited about the DVD release about The Two Towers than I am the big-screen release of Episode III.

Opus is coming back!

According to Ain't It Cool News--Opus is back on the funny pages soon (this may be enough to drive me to get a newspaper subscription). And in a movie--that could be good, or bad. Not sure what yet.