I have updated my Favorite Movies list to 2008. Strangely enough, I haven't written a review for any of the movies on this list! But don't worry, I plan on writing reviews for some of these in the coming weeks, such as Get Smart, Tropic Thunder, Burn After Reading and a review for a movie that Maggie and I went to see on Christmas, The Reader. Stay tuned!
Favorite Movies of 2008
Burn After Reading (4/4)
Cloverfield (3/4)
Get Smart (3/4)
Ghost Town (3.5/4)
In Bruges (3.5/4)
Iron Man (3/4)
The Dark Knight (3/4)
Tropic Thunder (3.5/4)
WALL-E (3/4)
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Who Cares?
In an interview with PEOPLE, Sarah Palin informed the interviewer that her oldest daughter and her fiance are "hard at work and keeping up with school". Palin's oldest daughter, Bristol, gave birth to her baby, Tripp, on Saturday and said that she intends to finish high school and get her diploma, even though she is now a teenage mother.
I congratulate Bristol and her fiance on the birth of their newborn baby and wish them all the best as they strive to raise him, and that Bristol intends to finish high school. This will surely be a daunting task for her as I can only imagine how the new few years will be as she tries to raise a baby and finish high school!
However, this is not the point of my post. What I found curious about the article is what Governor Palin (former Republican vice-presidential candidate) said to the interviewer. "You need to know that both Levi and Bristol are working their butts off to parent and going to school and working at the same time." She goes on to say that she wants to make sure that is made clear because "any suggestion otherwise 'harms Bristol's reputation and Levi's reputation and their chances for good work opportunities."
First of all, I don't need to know. I haven't given the subject of Palin's pregnant teen daughter any thought in a couple of months, especially since it's been out of the news. There's just no need for Palin to raise it once again, especially when I don't remember seeing any articles this past week (outside of the linked PEOPLE article) announcing the birth of her grandson. There is not much of a desire in the public to know about this aspect of the governor's life, or there shouldn't be anyway, unless you're a die-hard Palin fan or a die-hard Palin critic. Everyone else in between could care less. Me? I could care less. But it's that statement that we "need to know" that assumes that everyone must know.
Second, while apparently Levi has left high school to pursuit training to become an electrician, Bristol is continuing high school. Governor Palin seems to think that if Bristol's intentions aren't made clear, her chances for future opportunities will be damaged. I don't know where Bristol is at in her high school career, but given she is 17 or 18, I assume that she is a senior and due to graduate this spring. If that's the case, when she finishes school this year she will receive her high school diploma. Thus, where is the damage to her reputation? If anything, it will show that she has the strength and determination and the willingness to not only work hard to finish school, but do so while raising a newborn baby. If anything, that will help Bristol's reputation! Bristol probably should not be looking for work anytime soon anyway if she's both raising a newborn and finishing high school. So how will it hurt her chances for future opportunities? Bristol shouldn't need her mother to go out there and assure the public that she is going to work hard so that her opportunities won't be hindered. Bristol's work and own personal accomplishments should speak for themselves.
Truth be told, I view it nothing more than Sarah Palin's continuing quest to repair her reputation and to start preparing for the 2012 election. The reason we "need" to know is because Palin wants to assure the public that family values are a high priority in her family. While as uncovered as it was, the birth of a grandson out of wedlock for Governor Palin would have people scoffing and shaking their heads and criticizing her as a parent, so Governor Palin wants people to know and she wants to change so that people say, "Oh, that's good of them to do!"
The way I see it, it's all about damage control, even though I thought the baby had been born weeks ago, to be honest! While I think it's great that Bristol is working hard at school (though I find the way the statement is worded puzzling; would Bristol already be back in school and don't Alaskan schools have Christmas break?), Governor Palin really doesn't need to get out there and be the voice for her daughter. Politican and future Presidential candidate or not, Governor Palin should still be a mother first and recognize that she doesn't need to discuss her family's personal lives in the public domain, even if it is to help prevent "damage" to their reptuations.
Governor Palin, just let your daughter work hard the way she says she's going to. Have faith that she will be able to handle the responsibilities of parenting and high school education at the same time without needing mom to vouch for her. I think you'll find that, in the end, if she finishes high school while being a teenage mother, she should have plenty of opportunities on her own. Besides, she will still have the advantage of being the daughter of Sarah Palin's daughter. That couldn't hurt too much either, couldn't it?
I congratulate Bristol and her fiance on the birth of their newborn baby and wish them all the best as they strive to raise him, and that Bristol intends to finish high school. This will surely be a daunting task for her as I can only imagine how the new few years will be as she tries to raise a baby and finish high school!
However, this is not the point of my post. What I found curious about the article is what Governor Palin (former Republican vice-presidential candidate) said to the interviewer. "You need to know that both Levi and Bristol are working their butts off to parent and going to school and working at the same time." She goes on to say that she wants to make sure that is made clear because "any suggestion otherwise 'harms Bristol's reputation and Levi's reputation and their chances for good work opportunities."
First of all, I don't need to know. I haven't given the subject of Palin's pregnant teen daughter any thought in a couple of months, especially since it's been out of the news. There's just no need for Palin to raise it once again, especially when I don't remember seeing any articles this past week (outside of the linked PEOPLE article) announcing the birth of her grandson. There is not much of a desire in the public to know about this aspect of the governor's life, or there shouldn't be anyway, unless you're a die-hard Palin fan or a die-hard Palin critic. Everyone else in between could care less. Me? I could care less. But it's that statement that we "need to know" that assumes that everyone must know.
Second, while apparently Levi has left high school to pursuit training to become an electrician, Bristol is continuing high school. Governor Palin seems to think that if Bristol's intentions aren't made clear, her chances for future opportunities will be damaged. I don't know where Bristol is at in her high school career, but given she is 17 or 18, I assume that she is a senior and due to graduate this spring. If that's the case, when she finishes school this year she will receive her high school diploma. Thus, where is the damage to her reputation? If anything, it will show that she has the strength and determination and the willingness to not only work hard to finish school, but do so while raising a newborn baby. If anything, that will help Bristol's reputation! Bristol probably should not be looking for work anytime soon anyway if she's both raising a newborn and finishing high school. So how will it hurt her chances for future opportunities? Bristol shouldn't need her mother to go out there and assure the public that she is going to work hard so that her opportunities won't be hindered. Bristol's work and own personal accomplishments should speak for themselves.
Truth be told, I view it nothing more than Sarah Palin's continuing quest to repair her reputation and to start preparing for the 2012 election. The reason we "need" to know is because Palin wants to assure the public that family values are a high priority in her family. While as uncovered as it was, the birth of a grandson out of wedlock for Governor Palin would have people scoffing and shaking their heads and criticizing her as a parent, so Governor Palin wants people to know and she wants to change so that people say, "Oh, that's good of them to do!"
The way I see it, it's all about damage control, even though I thought the baby had been born weeks ago, to be honest! While I think it's great that Bristol is working hard at school (though I find the way the statement is worded puzzling; would Bristol already be back in school and don't Alaskan schools have Christmas break?), Governor Palin really doesn't need to get out there and be the voice for her daughter. Politican and future Presidential candidate or not, Governor Palin should still be a mother first and recognize that she doesn't need to discuss her family's personal lives in the public domain, even if it is to help prevent "damage" to their reptuations.
Governor Palin, just let your daughter work hard the way she says she's going to. Have faith that she will be able to handle the responsibilities of parenting and high school education at the same time without needing mom to vouch for her. I think you'll find that, in the end, if she finishes high school while being a teenage mother, she should have plenty of opportunities on her own. Besides, she will still have the advantage of being the daughter of Sarah Palin's daughter. That couldn't hurt too much either, couldn't it?
Keepin' Up with Ally #1
Maggie and I have been the proud owners of Ally for almost two weeks now, and I must say she has changed a lot! It seems like only yesterday she was really small, and while she's still quite small, she has grown a lot since we first got her!
Ally's energy level has multiplied by an unimaginable factor, she is teething like you would not believe, which means that she is nibbling and biting anything she can get in her mouth, and she's eating and pooping like there's no tomorrow! And sure enough, Molly is still scared of Ally!
I have yet to catch her in the act on camera, but rumor has it that Ally is quite taken with the dog she sees in the mirror, to the point where she's pawing and licking at her, trying to get her to play! I've yet to get a picture of it happening, but don't worry, one is on its way! Although, I did get a couple pictures of Ally trying to play with one of those electronic toy dogs that moves and barks when you play with it. Ally was quite surprised when the toy dog started barking at her!
Ally's energy level has multiplied by an unimaginable factor, she is teething like you would not believe, which means that she is nibbling and biting anything she can get in her mouth, and she's eating and pooping like there's no tomorrow! And sure enough, Molly is still scared of Ally!
I have yet to catch her in the act on camera, but rumor has it that Ally is quite taken with the dog she sees in the mirror, to the point where she's pawing and licking at her, trying to get her to play! I've yet to get a picture of it happening, but don't worry, one is on its way! Although, I did get a couple pictures of Ally trying to play with one of those electronic toy dogs that moves and barks when you play with it. Ally was quite surprised when the toy dog started barking at her!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Product Placement
Monday afternoon, I took my class of 6- to 12-year-olds from my job to the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum in Dulles, Va. This was not my first trip to this museum, but it is the first where I took pictures.
There museum is not far from the Dulles Airport and features a mock air traffic control tower that allows you to watch airplanes as they land and take-off from the airport.
While there are a number of impressive exhibits and displays throughout the museum...
...I was most impressed by the very subtle product placement and advertisements found throughout the museum.
Yes, Bud Light gets two planes and a flight suit!
So that's why the museum is free! I always wondered where they got their funding!
By the way, this post meets my dad's challenge of 20 posts by the New Year, and not a moment too soon!
There museum is not far from the Dulles Airport and features a mock air traffic control tower that allows you to watch airplanes as they land and take-off from the airport.
While there are a number of impressive exhibits and displays throughout the museum...
...I was most impressed by the very subtle product placement and advertisements found throughout the museum.
Yes, Bud Light gets two planes and a flight suit!
So that's why the museum is free! I always wondered where they got their funding!
By the way, this post meets my dad's challenge of 20 posts by the New Year, and not a moment too soon!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Our New Baby: Ally
Maggie and I have an announcement to make; Just in time for Christmas we received our first baby...Ally.
We'd been wanting a dog for a good while now. I haven't had a dog (Fred) since Winnipeg almost thirteen years ago, and Maggie hasn't had a dog (Cinnamon) in almost five years, and we both felt like it was time for us to get a dog. So as a Christmas gift, Maggie's parents gave us money find a dog, and after a long, strenuous search, we came across Ally in Harrisonburg, Virginia, a good two hour drive away. But I must say, the drive was worth it.
Ally's a five-week golden retriever puppy who was born on November 15th, 2008. She's very affectionate and playful, and is at that age where she's teething, so she nibbles quite a lot. We got her last Saturday night, and in the first week, we've seen her grow already. Her daily routines consists of rotations of sleep, eat, pee, poop and a little bit of play. We're working on potty training, and she's already slowly starting to pick up on that. Just yesterday, she went to the back door at Maggie's house (where we've been taking her outside) and started sniffing around, knowing that's the area for her to go at. The first night we had her she settled right into her little puppy bed! She's a very brave, curious dog. Maggie's sister has a miniature schnauzer who is normally a bully, but Molly (the mini-schnauzer) is scared of Ally! At one point, Ally was chasing Molly around the living room!
Ally is absolutely CAP (cute, adorable and precious) and she's brought a lot of joy into the lives of Maggie and me. While she is quite a handful, we love her very much and everyone who has met Ally in both our families has fallen in love with her.
We look forward to many years of love and joy with Ally!
We'd been wanting a dog for a good while now. I haven't had a dog (Fred) since Winnipeg almost thirteen years ago, and Maggie hasn't had a dog (Cinnamon) in almost five years, and we both felt like it was time for us to get a dog. So as a Christmas gift, Maggie's parents gave us money find a dog, and after a long, strenuous search, we came across Ally in Harrisonburg, Virginia, a good two hour drive away. But I must say, the drive was worth it.
Ally's a five-week golden retriever puppy who was born on November 15th, 2008. She's very affectionate and playful, and is at that age where she's teething, so she nibbles quite a lot. We got her last Saturday night, and in the first week, we've seen her grow already. Her daily routines consists of rotations of sleep, eat, pee, poop and a little bit of play. We're working on potty training, and she's already slowly starting to pick up on that. Just yesterday, she went to the back door at Maggie's house (where we've been taking her outside) and started sniffing around, knowing that's the area for her to go at. The first night we had her she settled right into her little puppy bed! She's a very brave, curious dog. Maggie's sister has a miniature schnauzer who is normally a bully, but Molly (the mini-schnauzer) is scared of Ally! At one point, Ally was chasing Molly around the living room!
Ally is absolutely CAP (cute, adorable and precious) and she's brought a lot of joy into the lives of Maggie and me. While she is quite a handful, we love her very much and everyone who has met Ally in both our families has fallen in love with her.
We look forward to many years of love and joy with Ally!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Not-So-Smart Smart Car
I can across this funny video of an attempt by a "Smart" car driver to parallel park. I guess it doesn't matter what the size of your car is, parallel parking is tough!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
William Shatner's Tribute to George Lucas
I came across this video a good while back and it didn't occur to me to post it until now. I've always gotten a kick out of this as William Shatner delivers in a way that only Shatner can! I love the looks on the faces of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford as Shatner walks onto the stage! They're trying to figure out just what in the world is going on!
Also, all I can say is; dancing stormtroopers!
Also, all I can say is; dancing stormtroopers!
Monday, December 8, 2008
A Star Trek IV Blooper Reel
I just watched Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home this afternoon and while surfing on youtube I came across this video! Enjoy!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
2012 Presidential Polls: The Race Begins
Barack Obama isn't sworn in for his first term as President for another six weeks and there is already polling out for the 2012 election. I came across this story while on the Internet and couldn't help but shake my head in disgust.
We've just been through the longest election in history and already the next one is beginning! For anyone keeping track, it started the week after Obama won when Palin starting making the media rounds to repair her reputation, and as my mom posted a few weeks ago, Rudy Guliani has already opened his fundraising website for a 2012 run. It's really sad that this is the state of American politics; a nonstop campaign.
Nothing will ever be accomplished if all people ever do is look to the next election four years from now and spend that entire time campaigning. While I understand that it's all about getting your message out fastest to gain that "front-runner" status, in the end it doesn't matter who the front-runner is. If you look at this election that ended only a month ago, neither of this year's candidates were their party's front-runner a year ago!
It's my honest hope that this constant campaign-mode backfires and forces these people to actually try to get things done and work to solve the problems of their people before they worry about their own political ambitions.
We've just been through the longest election in history and already the next one is beginning! For anyone keeping track, it started the week after Obama won when Palin starting making the media rounds to repair her reputation, and as my mom posted a few weeks ago, Rudy Guliani has already opened his fundraising website for a 2012 run. It's really sad that this is the state of American politics; a nonstop campaign.
Nothing will ever be accomplished if all people ever do is look to the next election four years from now and spend that entire time campaigning. While I understand that it's all about getting your message out fastest to gain that "front-runner" status, in the end it doesn't matter who the front-runner is. If you look at this election that ended only a month ago, neither of this year's candidates were their party's front-runner a year ago!
It's my honest hope that this constant campaign-mode backfires and forces these people to actually try to get things done and work to solve the problems of their people before they worry about their own political ambitions.
The Christmas Quiz
Time to add my answers to the latest questionnaire floating about the family blogs.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper, but if it's a really small gift or one that is awkward to wrap, I go with the gift bag.
2. Real tree or artificial?
I prefer artificial. The real ones smell.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Whenever Mom and Dad say it's time.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Whenever Mom and Dad say it's time.
5. Do you like eggnog?
I've never really tried it.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Hard to say really.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
Normally my dad, but also some times that Secret Santa from work you get sucked into.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
Maggie; she always says exactly what she wants.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
According to my mom, two.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I just get cards and hand them to people.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A CD player I got from Corps Officers a few years back; it was the third year in a row I'd gotten one from them.
12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Hard to say, but I really like The Christmas Story.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Anytime before Christmas when I have the money to do it.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Mashed potatoes.
16. Lights on the tree.
Yes.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer! Also, like several versions of Jingle Bells.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home.
Whatever my parents say we're doing.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen...but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer!
20. An angel or a star on top of the tree?
Angel.
21. Open the presents on Christmas eve or Christmas morning?
Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Anything to do with shopping; the congested malls, the traffic, the crazy dis-respectful maniac-like shoppers...
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
Whatever the color of our tree is.
24. Favorite dessert for Christmas dinner?
Ice cream.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
A GPS and some money.
26. Any special Christmas traditions?
Opening presents.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper, but if it's a really small gift or one that is awkward to wrap, I go with the gift bag.
2. Real tree or artificial?
I prefer artificial. The real ones smell.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Whenever Mom and Dad say it's time.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Whenever Mom and Dad say it's time.
5. Do you like eggnog?
I've never really tried it.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Hard to say really.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
Normally my dad, but also some times that Secret Santa from work you get sucked into.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
Maggie; she always says exactly what she wants.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
According to my mom, two.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I just get cards and hand them to people.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A CD player I got from Corps Officers a few years back; it was the third year in a row I'd gotten one from them.
12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Hard to say, but I really like The Christmas Story.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Anytime before Christmas when I have the money to do it.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Mashed potatoes.
16. Lights on the tree.
Yes.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer! Also, like several versions of Jingle Bells.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home.
Whatever my parents say we're doing.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen...but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer!
20. An angel or a star on top of the tree?
Angel.
21. Open the presents on Christmas eve or Christmas morning?
Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Anything to do with shopping; the congested malls, the traffic, the crazy dis-respectful maniac-like shoppers...
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
Whatever the color of our tree is.
24. Favorite dessert for Christmas dinner?
Ice cream.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
A GPS and some money.
26. Any special Christmas traditions?
Opening presents.
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