tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59567003004245007932023-11-16T02:48:21.015-08:00Picks of SteeleS Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-54207318556720834042011-10-09T19:43:00.000-07:002011-10-09T19:50:18.301-07:00Movies #? - Get Low<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uaIGTAKBOrh4bno7obZRm17WEuRrj36DiTyNCpdxtMIXe_c_oWW9kvrbWYikxPzVmg7vtyjrvCUhxW-7dB_5eQxGMlDMdJeBIvhOtTcls7NAsHvZoslIRwypjHY11Gh_LBQNzH5e17w/s1600/Get+Low.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uaIGTAKBOrh4bno7obZRm17WEuRrj36DiTyNCpdxtMIXe_c_oWW9kvrbWYikxPzVmg7vtyjrvCUhxW-7dB_5eQxGMlDMdJeBIvhOtTcls7NAsHvZoslIRwypjHY11Gh_LBQNzH5e17w/s320/Get+Low.png" width="215" /></a></div>
The movies I like best are the ones that I can relate too. For example, I have a thing for "A Christmas Carol", especially as I quickly approach old-geezer-hood. I freely admit there are things that I hate about "A Christmas Carol", but mostly I like the story about the bitter old man. I relate.<br />
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It is nice that there are movies about such from time to time. And such good stories too. "Get Low" is a new favorite. It does not hurt that I find peace in the solid country simplicity of the characters, and that the lead guy is Robert Duvall. What is it about that drawl that makes such a good story teller? He reminds me of my dad as well.<br />
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This is a story about mistakes and regrets, and finding a way to forgive self. It is a story about a man that does not want forgiveness. He wants to go on hating himself for what he has done. He never wants to stop hating himself.<br />
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I find that odd. Forgiving something in the past seems pretty easy. What is hard to forgive is a character that hasn't changed. What would one do if they hated who they were? Good story, amazing - AMAZING cast, great photography, well done. I can't say enough.S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-23314658541900670082011-05-20T10:58:00.000-07:002011-10-09T19:44:12.972-07:00Movies #? - My Best Friend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAI0HgxVhmODq1u9DyVSU2xmMR1-puV_JpEnxZfqszFoApqdc5LE6zk36QU_BMVkFBULeF7hxw2Icsz4eZ8M5CL0kF54LINSpaCjs2_MbxxTzSMxo1F1Ti7ws18NjkG3ExHhq2fdhw-0/s1600/mybestfriend_posterbig.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608859631121454498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAI0HgxVhmODq1u9DyVSU2xmMR1-puV_JpEnxZfqszFoApqdc5LE6zk36QU_BMVkFBULeF7hxw2Icsz4eZ8M5CL0kF54LINSpaCjs2_MbxxTzSMxo1F1Ti7ws18NjkG3ExHhq2fdhw-0/s320/mybestfriend_posterbig.jpg" style="float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 216px;" /></a><br />
<br />I'm getting better with the sub-titles. One of my greatest difficulties in watching movie is the scheduled "conflict". I wait for it to happen and wonder if it will be something I can stand.<br />
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I put myself right in the movie... and given that I'm pretty much a hermit, this movie hit somewhat close to home. At one point it was too <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ridiculous</span> to "relate", but then I was thinking... I've been an idiot at times in my life (more than I'll admit). I was then "back" in the movie sweating over the conflict.</div>
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But it turned out to be a favorite film of all times. It has been a while since I've added anything to the list. Maybe I'm more particular, or maybe I just don't see enough good movies.</div>
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THIS is a must see... at least for anyone remotely like me.</div>
S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-50865014160343006712010-12-25T19:01:00.000-08:002010-12-25T19:08:41.863-08:00Movies - #? Extraordinary Measures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqUPvWFnpwcAZAmkLTncynl4ko6Gp68qJWllCqM1skDyo5lNC8RGireAO1g7GQvMKRS2Fq5YAoZB8JMipZ_106dqDRLwIyCmdofNVD2MCJXCUu0lEUk0OrKhFcYYMuDu4MJ25chaCLiU/s1600/SHO5_Movies_Carousel_ExtraordinaryMeasures.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554822578151600706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqUPvWFnpwcAZAmkLTncynl4ko6Gp68qJWllCqM1skDyo5lNC8RGireAO1g7GQvMKRS2Fq5YAoZB8JMipZ_106dqDRLwIyCmdofNVD2MCJXCUu0lEUk0OrKhFcYYMuDu4MJ25chaCLiU/s320/SHO5_Movies_Carousel_ExtraordinaryMeasures.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Oh... thankful for "guilt free" holidays when I can bury myself in a warm blanket and enjoy a movie from start to finish. I did not expect to like this movie, but I did. Brandon Fraser seemed poorly cast as a "high pressure" sales guy, but otherwise he was believable - even pleasant to watch. He's a friendly <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">doof</span>.<br /><br />Harrison Ford is an amazing actor; it helps that he is well cast in his parts. He is nice to watch as well. While I'm confident that the view of drug companies was poorly developed, the movie does make someone start to think.<br /><br />Likewise, this was another movie about "hope". I'm so damn sick of dreadful endings that it is nice when the story demonstrates some sort of success in the face of a hard life. THANK GOD! Sometimes <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Hollywood</span> does try to let the viewer feel good in the end.</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-90664678863051180892010-12-24T11:50:00.001-08:002010-12-24T12:07:29.076-08:00Movies - #? Defiance<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-es1o-jvoV90PG2X1l8FTF1DWFPsgWK1oC5Sp6kg_acuwuDnU0ClAQrcHWtKxyvzhYCebDxkDUfCH2RNgIM2g-PEDo0dBQGAvQZBTAUSRNfMNkeIN09G43M9uZoqXekv9471PsjihgzE/s1600/defiance-movie-poster.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554342634375352818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-es1o-jvoV90PG2X1l8FTF1DWFPsgWK1oC5Sp6kg_acuwuDnU0ClAQrcHWtKxyvzhYCebDxkDUfCH2RNgIM2g-PEDo0dBQGAvQZBTAUSRNfMNkeIN09G43M9uZoqXekv9471PsjihgzE/s320/defiance-movie-poster.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I'll spoil it for you now... it works out in the end. It seems like the quest for "reality" has it so that hope is eliminated in our lives. But sometimes, things do work out. One just has to deal with the difficulty and wait.. Highly recommended.</div><br /><br /><div>Daniel Craig & Liev Schreiber were outstanding; as well as the two that played the other two brothers. Oh... what a relief to feel like sometimes things can work out.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppXzWpfvMXagUZAuj5mgFlvtyNNwOOjtn9ISSdrWQ3Qw5bws7Gwr9Hh6OqU7oUb9FS-PG-xaHRGDgmiDeXkDj-odXJpje9SgkLYYTdp8kokV19Z1Daty5q6ThncH6b4v54IgjXX_UfnY/s1600/daniel_craig_and_liev_schreiber_defiance_movie_image__1_.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554342719979679618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppXzWpfvMXagUZAuj5mgFlvtyNNwOOjtn9ISSdrWQ3Qw5bws7Gwr9Hh6OqU7oUb9FS-PG-xaHRGDgmiDeXkDj-odXJpje9SgkLYYTdp8kokV19Z1Daty5q6ThncH6b4v54IgjXX_UfnY/s320/daniel_craig_and_liev_schreiber_defiance_movie_image__1_.jpg" /></a></div></div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-78339421797663993092010-10-29T22:25:00.000-07:002010-10-29T22:38:04.550-07:00Movies - #? Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMEzLqV10UlNnYP1lVv0zEGMpKlfuCCNa8LIjfvkRmX-kAdkfAOmMohD8rP6gEGSbtU8vpwGccw2KTcf-zGxSIv8fl_14cblFKREWJIMRKPCZbjp3O1TNGInorIhIOezve30iBwVxYFQ/s1600/Merryxmas3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533708623618321522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMEzLqV10UlNnYP1lVv0zEGMpKlfuCCNa8LIjfvkRmX-kAdkfAOmMohD8rP6gEGSbtU8vpwGccw2KTcf-zGxSIv8fl_14cblFKREWJIMRKPCZbjp3O1TNGInorIhIOezve30iBwVxYFQ/s200/Merryxmas3.jpg" /></a> <div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_56EHSkhe1rSJqFLWFrgRpMPj75DYz_GQrnLAjKGYSZbHjXcsQvozQZR9_PT7E7fJibRqMjHNCZkfoR0vuoggRMP8GEQX8wHIWkyjUYHVZhCJrbraTHde3j724bUDDjPt9s0323THF4o/s1600/merryxmas1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533708407046586722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_56EHSkhe1rSJqFLWFrgRpMPj75DYz_GQrnLAjKGYSZbHjXcsQvozQZR9_PT7E7fJibRqMjHNCZkfoR0vuoggRMP8GEQX8wHIWkyjUYHVZhCJrbraTHde3j724bUDDjPt9s0323THF4o/s200/merryxmas1.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I am not sure what to say. Maybe I'm just tired and thereby emotionally <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">whipped</span> into feeling <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">att</span>ached to this movie. I hate - hate war movies. I'll watch from time to time only to be reminded of the worst of human behavior - or so it seems in contemplation.</div><br /><div>And then I am left utterly confused when all my doubts are opened like a bloody wound. At one moment I am confused by life and what God is trying to teach; and the very next moment assured that it is the first and great, and second like unto it. I wonder how it is possible that we could learn - I feel like we, me... all of us are almost too stupid to see and to hear.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4atvU6fXqGicnHXxUa1BJxIrNBDQxX15zkyAbKuwy0r2TUM_nToEDURizFC9UTjRbmMeSV7nev97AgvT4YkmP51vlhjyx8zIaouAYZikUgUkwe_YBTYg2PbxnpuSnpMLPEvKEIc3MpA/s1600/merryxmas4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533708705642616946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4atvU6fXqGicnHXxUa1BJxIrNBDQxX15zkyAbKuwy0r2TUM_nToEDURizFC9UTjRbmMeSV7nev97AgvT4YkmP51vlhjyx8zIaouAYZikUgUkwe_YBTYg2PbxnpuSnpMLPEvKEIc3MpA/s200/merryxmas4.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Yet the blind shall see and the deaf shall hear.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533708527954656098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4C-msqommHGwJYafgkFf9nHlgh1fCfk0k1I1r7oW1S6zDtR687-yohyphenhyphenyIunwX5usBdG_dJPqfoaOnVNUoVZe-zTwi5NCjeT_KakxjNhkaYG4vRTwzbQe5gKxsEpv1wZ6fsuJjfDm40A/s200/merryxmas2.jpg" /></div></div></div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-9209677656034254072010-10-29T10:42:00.000-07:002010-10-29T11:05:57.780-07:00Movies - #? Enron, The Smartest Guys in the Room<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6DiAx7qnBzTW3uK5s3z1cfRbq7MdqVM4urI6HDkBwR2tC7Mqh0mhe7e-1krkeTIB_Dxnq-I8-S8NCU4CcxSAoOUu6MbuHOkXGn3hey6xhNAUXy4NJntJ03oF-vE16RwDUHMpx5dUjKU/s1600/enron%2520logo.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 223px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533529194437935810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6DiAx7qnBzTW3uK5s3z1cfRbq7MdqVM4urI6HDkBwR2tC7Mqh0mhe7e-1krkeTIB_Dxnq-I8-S8NCU4CcxSAoOUu6MbuHOkXGn3hey6xhNAUXy4NJntJ03oF-vE16RwDUHMpx5dUjKU/s320/enron%2520logo.jpg" /></a><br /><div>When the news happens, I mostly avoid it. Stories are incomplete, and it is "she said / he said". After a while, great documentaries come out - true history, and typically with a far better view of the reality.<br /><br />This documentary was a shocking revelation to me. It was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">shocking</span> because... I could see how it happened. People asked for and got "variances" and began to think it was okay exist as the exception, believing in fact that they were "exceptional". For years they were showered with money and glory - which helped them to forget that perception is not reality.<br /><br />The company value was based on the "idea", <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">un-executed</span>. I've long said that good ideas are crap; it is the man that knows how to execute that is the hero. And then I thank God that I seem to have absorbed some of the financial morality that comes from being a CPA... and saddened that all too many do not.<br /><br />I have come to enjoy documentaries... a picture of "time", a story of truth. I would highly recommend this movie... I would even go so far as to call it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">riveting</span>.</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-22553482895425589992010-10-12T08:12:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:20:36.599-07:00Movies #? - The Madness of King George<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7ZU24l9TGUTDNQIKE7ezV59g0r1c-du4L2_w-66pJ-5DBAOBKs3PRTlAACHezb9gUFsK8t0RcAYgoHpWk0wwmQPlkHpXUIDpIsaCCuivxtbMIwAsjcgZ5U3tMW9pJYC-z5KgofR2qE4/s1600/kinggeorge.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527179713973014530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7ZU24l9TGUTDNQIKE7ezV59g0r1c-du4L2_w-66pJ-5DBAOBKs3PRTlAACHezb9gUFsK8t0RcAYgoHpWk0wwmQPlkHpXUIDpIsaCCuivxtbMIwAsjcgZ5U3tMW9pJYC-z5KgofR2qE4/s400/kinggeorge.jpg" /></a> <div>Partly due to my own questionable sanity, I particularly enjoyed this hopeful film. I did not realize it was a serious film when I picked it up at the library. It was quite good. I would recommend it.<br /></div><div>I enjoyed the period in England, and the acting and the clothing. I particularly enjoyed Nigel Hawthorne who played King George.</div><br /><div></div><div>The ending made one think twice about writing people off to the nut-house.</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-71269342689355347842010-09-17T17:30:00.000-07:002010-09-17T18:00:21.245-07:00Movies #? - Bobby<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQCoDFnIgH_ifu1TVgHIHZ4wQXwYfvBUYhKXJg3Dg9HUuLZ5-2_TyGqbPyIo_NNbcXUpQo_sZup8b_usfDxAZCmyYS9MwJXvjI10qi8hvRcBZAny-O43UN2B9WUuMQmrP5ZMcJ5J8awg/s1600/Freddy+Rodriguez.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518051987167232802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQCoDFnIgH_ifu1TVgHIHZ4wQXwYfvBUYhKXJg3Dg9HUuLZ5-2_TyGqbPyIo_NNbcXUpQo_sZup8b_usfDxAZCmyYS9MwJXvjI10qi8hvRcBZAny-O43UN2B9WUuMQmrP5ZMcJ5J8awg/s320/Freddy+Rodriguez.jpg" /></a><br /><div>It has been a dry spell... maybe my expectations are higher, or I'm failing to find the good books and movies that inspire me to go back to my blog...<br /><br />Today's pick for a movie is "Bobby". I wonder how much of the movie is based on some sort of history; but it is all about the day that Robert Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in 1968. It is one of those historical accounts that picks up on the impact of everyday folk; not just the "well known", but those who were there.<br /><br />It is a fast paced story that covers a host of participants. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">movie</span> was loaded with an all-star cast - Freddy Rodriguez, Anthony Hopkins, Helen Hunt, Lindsay <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lohan</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Demi</span> Moore, Sharon Stone, Elijah Wood... which was a critical <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">component</span> of the story. The familiar faces helped you to adapt to a story of many sub-stories. One was able to connect quickly.<br /><br />What happens is the perspective of "having been there". If tobacco kills 1,200 people a day, why is this story so memorable? Sometimes I have felt that too much drama for one death is a slap in the face of all those that died in a drunk-driving accidents, or from cancer. But this story was able to capture the violence of it all... how quickly everything can come to a close; and how some public figures carry so much hope in the hearts and minds of the people. I get it... I see why this was so painful; perhaps because it is one reality <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">among</span> many.<br /><br />I'm grateful I saw the movie.</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-12563438179159805722010-03-15T16:41:00.000-07:002010-03-15T16:50:11.381-07:00Movies - #? The Bank Job<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5V9N7uofZVEeQqt16KRtZvmP8FAQfH3bdimKRMeoMEyAJ1mM5_Yq0B7jxDqvYm-dCHKOHXAcdNJ_PEVoBafZ9iV6gHTkXKW7WKqVZnzWikNsS372rFVw453I1u6_ZPnvvwdL9xruYiQ/s1600-h/bankjob.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 106px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449012019744477266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5V9N7uofZVEeQqt16KRtZvmP8FAQfH3bdimKRMeoMEyAJ1mM5_Yq0B7jxDqvYm-dCHKOHXAcdNJ_PEVoBafZ9iV6gHTkXKW7WKqVZnzWikNsS372rFVw453I1u6_ZPnvvwdL9xruYiQ/s320/bankjob.jpg" /></a> <div>Sometimes movies based on fact just don't work... but if they do, they are typically my favorite. Truth is stranger than fiction.</div><div></div><br /><div>This very complicated story happened in the 70's in London. Jason <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Statham</span> is a favorite; the guy is like a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">robot</span> with some built-in personality. He is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">likable</span>. And the "action stuff" is just fun. Mostly his movies are fun because they always have a happy ending where the good guy wins.</div><div></div><br /><div>It is tough when the movie needs to conform to reality at some level. At one point in the movie, I had to close my eyes... and I am rolling around the sofa in pain (hard to watch some stuff). But for me, the movie was complex. And it was fun. CRAZY ending. It is a good "renter" movie because I watched it twice just to better understand how it all came together. HIGHLY recommend it!</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-9663045879449468032010-01-28T10:40:00.000-08:002010-01-28T10:46:51.318-08:00Movies - #? The Dish<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlr7vuEYWHahfOKz18r9mh-rZ88DbqYFkGKv4snaqBP7mevLfiBlwXI7XDhcGJ1qAEOdUaFZ5iUBhVDc_OVuKSQNWOOh2H0rYqAKOm-poUT_TZuNzzTi0T-HEDVg4oqzSRJ-R_HWs2lM/s1600-h/the+dish.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 216px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431863893169879762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlr7vuEYWHahfOKz18r9mh-rZ88DbqYFkGKv4snaqBP7mevLfiBlwXI7XDhcGJ1qAEOdUaFZ5iUBhVDc_OVuKSQNWOOh2H0rYqAKOm-poUT_TZuNzzTi0T-HEDVg4oqzSRJ-R_HWs2lM/s320/the+dish.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I wonder why it is that movies based on English speaking people outside the U.S. is so appealing? Is it that we seem to capture the best of "them" and the worst of "us"?</div><br /><div></div><div>This touching movie was based on a true story. It involved the Apollo 11 trip to the moon... "one small step for man...".</div><br /><div></div><div>It is amazing to me that we each seem to forget that we are a part of this big world; for good or for bad. It was nice to see a movie that was a tribute to those who would rarely see when history is made. It was a well done movie; not over played - fun, yet still a "thriller" as it actually happened.</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-56379992080055369802009-11-14T11:38:00.000-08:002009-11-14T12:04:15.218-08:00Goals - Under Stair Closet/DeskOkay, the second part of this project to help me deal with the slow season was my desk/closet under the stairs. It is fun to make things better... <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzJhSp9vgO3XnRMnD9wxBasY_YgMQM8KIfPtnevvZo5XB9jpqSquUH2LTX3f66DB6oU1hDs1RYwaFP4ciD9hg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-71634151355348999892009-11-14T06:22:00.001-08:002009-11-14T11:38:23.268-08:00Goals - Display RackMoney is tight and I have to drive myself to stay motivated. It is not like I have money in the bank account that dictates that I make good use of extra funds.<br /><br />So, I have been "green". I have recycled just about everything in an effort to waste nothing. I've had two projects I needed to complete. One was a large rack card display rack in the lobby of the motel. I made use of about 17 inches of dead space in the wall. I cut into it to give guests of the motel ample information about the area. First, I'm happy when guests are happy. If they are bored, I just feel bad. Second, if they find enough to do, they stay longer or come back more often. It is my job to inspire them to get the biggest bang for their buck.<br /><br />So, I had some lights left over from a project several years ago and a ton of scrap wood. I had some left over electrical stuff and the time to work on it. So, I determined to get the job done. It took all my "other time" (not doing regular motel work or civic stuff) for about two weeks. While is is NOT professional, it is VERY cool. It most likely took less than $90 in paint and extra supplies and it is USEFUL... and looks fairly good even if I say so myself. So... here's the home video.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzdmD_MmTewanMBQi5zQjAuaoX4WI_j_vg5zRpU1oJ5jIielvS5l6cKTT_7CdLRygNMunjjrCwruqyHm4S43A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-78368673165405542042009-09-14T13:39:00.000-07:002009-09-14T13:53:46.799-07:00Chatham Fair - All is well that ends well...<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk5lH742LleXseWsTAUZRT1woJVPvYRuIWtmpYfmHG9z9-GWVmddsO_dlJqQfw-ceaDMkqecOkng00uV2Pxp6tOIA3ICe2b2nD7866l98SK9i38b4rxOwTNdDkrL3RDYYUXb1gKeS058/s1600-h/100_2025.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381426898686437442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk5lH742LleXseWsTAUZRT1woJVPvYRuIWtmpYfmHG9z9-GWVmddsO_dlJqQfw-ceaDMkqecOkng00uV2Pxp6tOIA3ICe2b2nD7866l98SK9i38b4rxOwTNdDkrL3RDYYUXb1gKeS058/s320/100_2025.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3QOjE8xvW3yx5RSq-VHjiU7p43XtzTbE87qth0q-cRJdDutJJSi14gf4qfueAZTnuQ_zgY83vsHTzt1cxDwlrEdIu5OZTs_p2vQ4BPUKcHRNyfSEkWDf_Gba50ysvcCej8l-uqhzV80/s1600-h/100_2030.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381426896049251074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3QOjE8xvW3yx5RSq-VHjiU7p43XtzTbE87qth0q-cRJdDutJJSi14gf4qfueAZTnuQ_zgY83vsHTzt1cxDwlrEdIu5OZTs_p2vQ4BPUKcHRNyfSEkWDf_Gba50ysvcCej8l-uqhzV80/s320/100_2030.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9w2bgqg7d7eEJ89PHxrtn3GiOaCcyTf6ELzvbsnUCW_9RliOzqMs9eQt5RLeb_FsaPyiVywTppEOuDlatcUYlsD_5DW_wBwBuj7uOuQOp1YT48LZPNu_9lFdkvRjYAjsLXR4AJ5PGvM/s1600-h/100_2028.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381428903154428274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9w2bgqg7d7eEJ89PHxrtn3GiOaCcyTf6ELzvbsnUCW_9RliOzqMs9eQt5RLeb_FsaPyiVywTppEOuDlatcUYlsD_5DW_wBwBuj7uOuQOp1YT48LZPNu_9lFdkvRjYAjsLXR4AJ5PGvM/s320/100_2028.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div>Hey, fair is history now... Bruce, Terry & the missionaries moved the booth to its final resting place. I paid for the booth materials and did all the work I could... it saved us the cost of a tent, and I got the left overs... and I'm grateful. I think it looks very peaceful compared to the confusion of the fair. I think it served its purpose well, and now hopefully it will be enjoyed by the guests of my motel for many more years.</div><div></div><div>I think the booth was my "serving" opportunity of 2009. It was fun... I'm glad I was able to be a part of it... Steele</div></div></div></div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-77917354959712089602009-08-14T08:44:00.000-07:002009-08-14T09:38:39.422-07:00Movies - #? Danny Deckchair<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qaOeUEFdEPNN3NfCnJx8UbGV3BtJu-uQHdn6E-f5wA1AP6Za22rLFaYv_LqjroZfeKNiJUJLmh16hTBg51FvRavOwIN4vJ-UTHH35UDvl69FbgMPN9cs0mYjqtqt080hD92Tz8B_oc0/s1600-h/Danny+deckchair.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 201px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369859723319272290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qaOeUEFdEPNN3NfCnJx8UbGV3BtJu-uQHdn6E-f5wA1AP6Za22rLFaYv_LqjroZfeKNiJUJLmh16hTBg51FvRavOwIN4vJ-UTHH35UDvl69FbgMPN9cs0mYjqtqt080hD92Tz8B_oc0/s320/Danny+deckchair.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I seem to have this "accent" <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fetish</span>... if they speak English, but with some sort of accent I seem to be far more amused. I wonder why that is?</div><br /><div></div><div>At any rate, Danny Deckchair was crazy... one can't help but feel some love for the irresponsible star of the movie. Maybe he is lazy... or maybe he just never found his spot in life.</div><br /><div></div><div>And it is always nice to watch a movie about someone that is a little "off" and see how they find their way. Interesting characters... fun idea.</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-11922026842043253102009-08-02T17:09:00.000-07:002009-08-02T17:16:41.591-07:00Movies - #? Run Fat Boy, Run<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8r6unfSYD36sNtdB61ske_FBXvdXgMMtm7M0knpJTDQ7XbpsW16152OWEzL9OSkmu6tRgL-u-FsKsEY72CybpnPQX-0miC1T2_E2hMHrtTyQDRLbbMjM07T2c_FJ5gngOEloZS0UGU7Y/s1600-h/run_fatboy_run_xl_01--film-B.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365524742914171234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8r6unfSYD36sNtdB61ske_FBXvdXgMMtm7M0knpJTDQ7XbpsW16152OWEzL9OSkmu6tRgL-u-FsKsEY72CybpnPQX-0miC1T2_E2hMHrtTyQDRLbbMjM07T2c_FJ5gngOEloZS0UGU7Y/s320/run_fatboy_run_xl_01--film-B.jpg" /></a><br /><div>A friend said I look like Simon <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pegg</span>. I figure it is because I have the same belly this guy has in the film. I love this guy. He makes me laugh... and that is not an easy assignment for me.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The movie shows <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pegg</span> as this pathetic guy... they try to mask the massive personality this guy carries. I've seen him in a few other movies I liked... such as "Hot Fuzz". Yeah, his movies can be rank, but not so bad that one is horrified with the filth... only mildly sick at times. It is just enough to keep it edgy.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The plot? Nothing exciting... there were a few excellent lines... such as when <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pegg</span> (Dennis) tries to explain why he dumped the girl... saying it felt better to mess up one day rather than ruin a life. I actually choked up a little with that.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>All I can say is... more, more more.</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-3443942335877426902009-07-14T06:04:00.000-07:002009-07-14T06:53:33.222-07:00Books - #? Titan, the life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOAZvxxyKT5Xv2icYats-5rRaXJegpIVbG4s7kL8xv2Ctib-hK0SHxbaqf2kH08kUP8O7nGp9OwbgcHAfD_3BWkZBP_sRpqt8iG1qbPmgHSaUWaiuOY18UziV6KkIfsh7MqVUfqtconU/s1600-h/Titan.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 120px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358311055028988162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOAZvxxyKT5Xv2icYats-5rRaXJegpIVbG4s7kL8xv2Ctib-hK0SHxbaqf2kH08kUP8O7nGp9OwbgcHAfD_3BWkZBP_sRpqt8iG1qbPmgHSaUWaiuOY18UziV6KkIfsh7MqVUfqtconU/s200/Titan.jpg" /></a> <div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQ45cgMkBkXm1X_CBmWeASylj0AW_IWjvRh1k381lBA-pnc2POBnT3k2JOjjkyzM7I1TzxDiZ0AJv-etZHdaHmpN9fyBBh6VovBDCay13msTWiILe08q33V7eIK3xy8YYOj3iLrZW7_Y/s1600-h/John+D+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358310765288975314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQ45cgMkBkXm1X_CBmWeASylj0AW_IWjvRh1k381lBA-pnc2POBnT3k2JOjjkyzM7I1TzxDiZ0AJv-etZHdaHmpN9fyBBh6VovBDCay13msTWiILe08q33V7eIK3xy8YYOj3iLrZW7_Y/s200/John+D+2.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I seem to have become a little obsessed with "real life" - at least for those noble few. Fiction looses the appeal because without question, truth is stranger than fiction. So would be the case with John D., Sr.</div><br /><div>This was an excellent book written about what is known without any un-due judgements on the man. Some nice thoughts conclude that he lived his imperfect life clearly by his own choices. Good example. And he lived his last years a little lonely... still desiring to live to be 100. He lived to be almost 98 years old.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 145px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358312915130582434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDJNLi7IEQI7g5OdMlDD-6vzuIEeEe1k8b2HO81KCYN4hwYNxiWCs4p0lNC4831CtRLmgaigeuBrtVBVaHEZf2EFepaGOo7JrIBRRocmqYKYKX5_j6z2WTr6-s_KmW1mEIZRAUmC5UlY/s200/John+D+4.jpg" /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfWcvL1vqFTFB6DFNjzfuRnowqzotxjMZ0X8Vr8tUgcrywSsCgzcaf0fcqH1PRphJysHR6iOKQXTD6kIpal2XfIr5DXHdLoq9AEE-_Cm7pcdvD3DNkTZlHn1JszoscfmGKO8OI1XlpOs/s1600-h/John+D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 163px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358310459856774754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfWcvL1vqFTFB6DFNjzfuRnowqzotxjMZ0X8Vr8tUgcrywSsCgzcaf0fcqH1PRphJysHR6iOKQXTD6kIpal2XfIr5DXHdLoq9AEE-_Cm7pcdvD3DNkTZlHn1JszoscfmGKO8OI1XlpOs/s200/John+D.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Also interesting is that people still condemn him for his business practices. Correctly no heavy judgments were passed in the book, but was he really so wrong? He made deals that worked in the favor of his company for the lowest possible shipping. Was he suppose to "try" to pay more? It was legal, even if a little odd. But why must a man communicate deals freely made between consenting parties? He would undercut competition by pricing them out of the market. I think it was kind of cool... isn't the nature of business that the best man wins? He played hardball. I'm just not sure I think what he did was wrong. Another interesting thing is that he regularly paid off elected officials. This too was co<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-wdHVgMroOZWAqfH1Mt3r4qIPA90jG7qUfvI4tLkiXv2_MMjMZJE_D1quU8OYz6RstXVireitBqGThtcYRmITJb6BHMMWQdjQrPXIPMuliDxxBTQccyIXJ6xHMQmWDvCTm5zdwAa6KM/s1600-h/Sr+and+Jr.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358310931273982322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-wdHVgMroOZWAqfH1Mt3r4qIPA90jG7qUfvI4tLkiXv2_MMjMZJE_D1quU8OYz6RstXVireitBqGThtcYRmITJb6BHMMWQdjQrPXIPMuliDxxBTQccyIXJ6xHMQmWDvCTm5zdwAa6KM/s200/Sr+and+Jr.jpg" /></a>mmon for the period. But people condemn John D., and fail to place any of the burden on the officials. I'm not sure if I would have done what he did, but sometimes I think I work too hard for the competition. Perhaps I should focus more on winning the game?</div><br /><div>Because he played hard, people (including me) often question his religious devotion. He was Baptist and always supported the Church. Yet he seemed so greedy in his work? How could this be? Well, I don't know for sure. John D. may have made an excuse that he felt God wanted him to make this money because there was a work for him to do - in giving away this money. It seems that he gave away at least a third, maybe much more... maybe like half. Given the money he had, he spend a very small percentage on himself.</div><br /><div>Some other interesting things... he was a golfer. He didn't like to read... he knew how many shares of stock he owned in dozens of companies. He was incredibly organized. He was comfortable acting as an advisor... he did not feel the need to do the work himself.</div><br /><div>I'm so grateful for this man and this book. Perhaps I need to feel more comfortable making more money, and looking after myself. I relate to this man... not to the same degree of success, but certainly in how he reasoned.</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDJ7A62beXHI9sE37x4qRqOJY2DqMvd0FLZFqCiETl3Py4JEhOieEoLTZrn3XPDrmSmPg6UFy-cGB-J01W5LFcs739roAEQKHlqQBa3s1mL_g345jcZhZ_Sc3IPKoFWu4rrgjjjSMifo/s1600-h/Kykuit.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358308597846113954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDJ7A62beXHI9sE37x4qRqOJY2DqMvd0FLZFqCiETl3Py4JEhOieEoLTZrn3XPDrmSmPg6UFy-cGB-J01W5LFcs739roAEQKHlqQBa3s1mL_g345jcZhZ_Sc3IPKoFWu4rrgjjjSMifo/s200/Kykuit.jpg" /></a> <div>Finally, I read this book as a reference from a tour guide at Kykuit, John D.s' home in Tarrytown, New York. Now I've read the book, I'd like to return.</div></div></div></div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-64441837712516412592009-06-30T19:13:00.000-07:002009-06-30T19:16:17.902-07:00Movies - #? Winter Passing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-4SIjA25p_qJPmQBqDwMjq33ulS7Z_QbZjaZh6GjWhf_2j-RIFTAHbUf-R_J6vWE_buE0Cdb9imdITP3Zzl0UuYyXZ-c0Py-CP1LyqmluT4YyuFAmYgv_AlmpW6fctaR2ahJWrem-6g/s1600-h/zooey_deschanel.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 286px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353309825435776354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-4SIjA25p_qJPmQBqDwMjq33ulS7Z_QbZjaZh6GjWhf_2j-RIFTAHbUf-R_J6vWE_buE0Cdb9imdITP3Zzl0UuYyXZ-c0Py-CP1LyqmluT4YyuFAmYgv_AlmpW6fctaR2ahJWrem-6g/s320/zooey_deschanel.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I first saw Zooey Deschanel in the movie Mumford. That movie sticks with me almost everyday as a fun, yet introspective look at life… even if borderline shallow.<br /><br />In Mumford, Zooey played what was suppose to be a supporting role among a full cast of excellent performances. To me, Mumford was very well done… yet to me, Zooey managed to steal the show with her performance. She seems to play this ultimately honest, yet peacefully sad character.<br /><br />She does the same in “Winter Passing”. She is so pleasant to watch. I crave the gentle peacefulness of her being. I think this movie was too sad to want to watch again… there was a part played by a kitten that still crushes the air out of my lungs when I recall. And the loss within the story is too painful to consider. Yes Zooey offers this peaceful acceptance that seems to reach into my soul and offer me hope… the hope that one day I too can submit to the good in the bold and ugly face of the bad. Oh, I would recommend this movie… while painful, it is filled with hopeful peace.</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-64965525846329923702009-06-23T04:23:00.000-07:002009-06-23T04:32:06.473-07:00Movies - #? Meet Bill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIokdjrBTaJxKxxdvPLv0b7KBRA1RAwcWfP9L5fVo5OM_CwgNZUix3t8T8n_AjVHp5XeShPhe7HahuCaOSDtNGVVUJt4kOL4KCSPWyhdEZSz5LImyVauVk5Vb6LH-tWhZXXAI-l7-yaWA/s1600-h/meet+bill.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 126px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 84px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350484345353998466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIokdjrBTaJxKxxdvPLv0b7KBRA1RAwcWfP9L5fVo5OM_CwgNZUix3t8T8n_AjVHp5XeShPhe7HahuCaOSDtNGVVUJt4kOL4KCSPWyhdEZSz5LImyVauVk5Vb6LH-tWhZXXAI-l7-yaWA/s200/meet+bill.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Okay, I appreciate Aaron <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eckhart</span> perhaps more than he is due, but I find the guy to be great fun to watch. While he has all the Hollywood good looks, he really knows how to ham it up. You never know what character this guy is going to play - especially if the roles were left up to him. I think he is cast far better in small budget films or when he does not play the lead (he was great in Nurse Betty).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This time Aaron plays a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">doof</span> that "married up" and got stuck working for his father in law with the family bank. His wife is a good looking <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">doof</span> that screws around on him.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The story takes many anti-Hollywood twists (meaning a new plot) to work out a better life for Bill. My big problem is that "breaking free" of an old life often includes sex with beautiful strangers and doing pot. Whatever... that part is typical Hollywood.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I would recommend the movie.</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-10785683706176612482009-06-11T20:05:00.000-07:002009-06-11T20:15:44.154-07:00Movies - #? Ghost Town<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcUKGnRbqhFcXePKljgHmCs0DTKwUV4SAsnoap1WeU3OrGcLhs42aeGD6A2RAG_Kl6KzsfPB3KglbKyxwkKqlJekinC1gCUtFt7SKCQveunD2CRtRecImtzuJDXAcvmNXVBcaEUEbbc8/s1600-h/ghost_town.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346274426178364354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcUKGnRbqhFcXePKljgHmCs0DTKwUV4SAsnoap1WeU3OrGcLhs42aeGD6A2RAG_Kl6KzsfPB3KglbKyxwkKqlJekinC1gCUtFt7SKCQveunD2CRtRecImtzuJDXAcvmNXVBcaEUEbbc8/s200/ghost_town.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Not too long after my Father died, I had a very vivid dream about him. I think I was in an airport. I came around a corner and I saw him... and I thought, what is he doing here, he is dead?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>He was waring this cap that he wore before - to hide himself from me, maybe everyone.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I think I hurried after him and he turned and said "you weren't suppose to know". I woke from the dream and thought it odd... it seemed very real. I felt really good in spite of some silly dream where he never really died... he was just in witness protection.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And now, 25 years later I think about it again and I think "how nice it would be to have some witness that there is something more?".</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The airport was not an airport - it was just a place of transition, some "in-between" place. My father was not dead, but I was not suppose to "know". But somehow I did, and that is why the dream seemed real. And that is why I felt so good.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Who is to say?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It was a very nice movie. Maybe we do know... maybe the separation is just so sad that we couldn't go on living now knowing it would be so long before we could be together again. Maybe we could not learn about trust and hope if it all came so easily.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Why is it that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Hollywood</span> sometimes comes out with these hopeful movies when they seem to scoff at it far more often than they "go with it".</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Yep, this is a movie I would highly recommend.</div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-13883508078155405142009-06-09T21:15:00.000-07:002009-06-09T21:29:35.248-07:00Movie - #? In the Company of MenIt has been a long dry spell... I have not seen many movies or read many books that I've enjoyed that much. I've tired... and either I'm "down" or maybe I am just out of luck.<br /><br />This movie... I don't know what to think. It was "mean" spirited. It was interesting that it was rated "R" - not for violence or sex, but for being mean. It even said so on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Internet</span>.<br /><br />I love this Aaron <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eckhart</span>. He's in my Church, maybe. If his movies are any indication, he has ventured off the "path". But I figure he picks some movies simply for the unique story. This movie would have been for that reason.<br /><br />His character is angry at society and how women can be hateful to men in general. The sexes really are not that good to each other; there is a basis within the story for the "mean" behavior the sexes force on each other.<br /><br />Generally we do not see men try to justify their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">vindictive</span> behavior... but that is what this movie did. I remain confused, but also somewhat grateful for a different story. At times the movie seemed a bit clumsy, but overall Aaron played the part well. While his character was consistent in his negative behaviors, it was surprising how things were played out.<br /><br />My hope is that this hateful view that men have of women, and women have of men is only bad perception. It was sad to see this "evil" played out with so little regard for the feelings of others. I'm just not sure that many people are like this... although I guess that some are.<br /><br />I don't think it is a bad thing to to accept the possibility that people can be so awful. But I also think it would be a bad idea to believe that people are normally so evil.<br /><br />Very good story (meaning unique or interesting, not "nice), fairly well done... hard to see, but not a waste of time.S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-66619277742674172572009-03-13T11:37:00.000-07:002009-03-13T11:43:36.768-07:00Movie - #? Hot Fuzz<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEcKBWgDsMBoPieQSK4WOShEbgw36YL0WAKaV2YSSCT9T092lr6h4K2VWOON0wisqGw6LGHPzKepjq-ySgv1hJBjn0lU0BMypwkEdxpG5mNIf4XzruABf0N45nECCWbOtsEZIUTWVOPw/s1600-h/Hot+fuzz.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312744753759553554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEcKBWgDsMBoPieQSK4WOShEbgw36YL0WAKaV2YSSCT9T092lr6h4K2VWOON0wisqGw6LGHPzKepjq-ySgv1hJBjn0lU0BMypwkEdxpG5mNIf4XzruABf0N45nECCWbOtsEZIUTWVOPw/s320/Hot+fuzz.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay, this is NOT the kind of movie I would normally think I would like. I don't even know how it got in my hands. It was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">advertised</span> as a slapstick, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">irreverent</span>, semi-violent movie about cops... NOT my speed.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Some people see this movie and laugh non-stop. I didn't get that. Rather I was amused... REALLY amused. I found myself really enjoying the two main characters. One was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">doof</span> and the other was a stick-up-the-backside sort of guy. But it was a really fun break. Fun sound work, goofy photography (but with some class). The story line was original... not so much so that it was outstanding or anything... most of this movie was in the British dry humor that is more enjoyable than gut-wrenching.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I don't by many movies... I see a movie once and I'm pretty much done. However I think I'll buy this one.</span></div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-18005081871928643082009-03-04T06:28:00.000-08:002009-03-04T06:44:48.622-08:00Movies - #? "A Good Year"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqFdxFgWQQvDRXIlVBbVOLvPxHthW3NS3sL6KidOEcKgITyRMt1lAAmlUOCejRoMeeNbc9F51fvETghCinJuUDeW9taH_dN5QDH_J5ee2F367rAPQq3uSHnTcYkwxvuMAyH7WCvqfIEo/s1600-h/good_year_ver2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309342098223752290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 216px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqFdxFgWQQvDRXIlVBbVOLvPxHthW3NS3sL6KidOEcKgITyRMt1lAAmlUOCejRoMeeNbc9F51fvETghCinJuUDeW9taH_dN5QDH_J5ee2F367rAPQq3uSHnTcYkwxvuMAyH7WCvqfIEo/s320/good_year_ver2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>"A Beautiful Mind", "A Good Year". Russell Crowe can make some seriously weird movies. He's a natural at "weird". In this one he plays a rather egotistical loon that is fine cheating his way into the big money.<br /><br />And here is a story where man meets his self-centered objectives in light of a "happier time". It is a nice story.<br /><br />But this story, like a "Christmas Carol" (another of my favorites) wouldn't be interesting at all if the key character had been POOR. Have you ever considered that? What would Ebeneezer have been without his money? What would he have had to give? What difference would his change had made? Maybe he would have been a nicer person, but the story would not be nearly as entertaining.<br /><br />I'd say the best part of this story was the photography and the setting. I loved the excellent & interesting photography. I want to watch again just for that reason. The story was simple, but had some nice ideas that I don't want to give away. However, for my own memory, I'll mention a "letter found", a "letter acknowledge" and the writer thereof. It was a touching part of the story that might well have been overlooked because the magic of this movie was the hidden acts of grace in a very human (imperfect) world.<br /><br />I would SO recommend this movie to anyone that is caught up in the race of life. Sometimes we are like the rat on the wheel forgetting to enjoy all the good that is around us. </div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-34524581774048356802009-02-14T04:42:00.000-08:002009-02-14T08:45:39.002-08:00Books - #? Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tdNidlbkxyEyXQIXR9x4Ft4c8cbBIeo9rZDJO7tQoq8BzoyW6wVbmxQ5KWhVdH_L5NNxk3vqOj3i9OsYflXge4b1DDVPnM4kYkXmEUB-BiZhqf9p9mDDn58GrwdgG7zpJvcCxAFrsUA/s1600-h/Santa_maria_del_fiore_-_retouched.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302634075437949858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tdNidlbkxyEyXQIXR9x4Ft4c8cbBIeo9rZDJO7tQoq8BzoyW6wVbmxQ5KWhVdH_L5NNxk3vqOj3i9OsYflXge4b1DDVPnM4kYkXmEUB-BiZhqf9p9mDDn58GrwdgG7zpJvcCxAFrsUA/s320/Santa_maria_del_fiore_-_retouched.jpg" border="0" /></a>It surely must be difficult to write a factual book about events occurring in Florence in the late 1300s and 1400s. While there is history to be read, there isn’t much.<br /><br />Filippo Brunelleschi was the architect / builder for the dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. He won the commission and invested over 25 years in the endeavor. He invented ox assisted equipment to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds of rock in a days work. He dared to study and reason the history of building and then invent new ways of construction. His mark was made with fierce secrecy of his ideas knowing that “copyright” was not yet an effective protection of ones’ ideas. He was doubted, later earned trust, made mistakes, paid for them, and agonized to do it all over again. He was arrogant. He earned respect, but not loyalty.<br /><br />He was a successful man for his time, but it seems he lived and died in the same household most of his life. Contemporaries lived far beyond Filippo’s humble life style.<br /><br />My favorite story had something to do with a man that Filippo knew. It seems he went to the man’s house, bolted the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Rcq1C83Pl8zi9grInvWgm9XPOze98dQSNgNOZczgchQnCVuq9ZQUz-bf_9Ee05Na7QUfHXZIFJ-BNrAQzQUg-xa_WWjNGUdwtY5y0aWNEBOp0kFGm2vOXZmIiPxAgmC7Vr8HwASd4iw/s1600-h/View_of_the_Duomo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302633961902042338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Rcq1C83Pl8zi9grInvWgm9XPOze98dQSNgNOZczgchQnCVuq9ZQUz-bf_9Ee05Na7QUfHXZIFJ-BNrAQzQUg-xa_WWjNGUdwtY5y0aWNEBOp0kFGm2vOXZmIiPxAgmC7Vr8HwASd4iw/s320/View_of_the_Duomo.jpg" border="0" /></a>door when he knew the man was coming home. When the man tried to get in, Filippo mocked the man – using the man’s voice and told him to go away… the man was confused hearing his own voice… and left. It seems the jest included capturing the man and pretending he was another man. Family of the “other man” pretended that he was of their family. After being put in jail for a pretended crime, he was finally released. Then the “other man” confessed to a dream that he was the man Fillipo was fooling. YES, hard to follow… but the man actually came to believe that the spirits of the two men were switched for the night. While it is hard to say if any of it is true, it would stand to reason that an inventor might well create such an elaborate scheme. It is strange Hollywood has never used this story…<br />There is one other interesting story where Fillipo invented a boat that would transport marble and other heavy building materials. He won this commission, the boat was built and it was a total disaster from the start. The equivalent of 10 years wages for Fillipo was lost… AND he paid for it himself. It represented a third of all that he had. How many people would have been willing to do the same? Perhaps the times required that he had no choice, but regardless… he paid it, and continued to dedicate the remainder of his life to the chapel and the famous dome he designed and constructed.<br /><br />Fillipo was commissioned decades after the chapel had been started; his job was to build the dome. While it is not the Astrodome, it was the greatest of his time, and considering the materials used and the tools & equipment available, it is still the best in the world. The width of the dome is over 140 feet; compare that to the U.S. Capitol which is only 95 feet. <div><br /><div>And all this was from a time when disease could easily claim the lives of 80% of the population in a single season of the year. The book was dry reading, but only 160 pages. It is a quick read, I’d recommend it.</div></div>S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-3386317392095199232009-02-10T14:50:00.000-08:002009-02-14T09:05:48.870-08:00Movies - #? Frost / Nixon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ilX4As3J9uYRUlRuGhTUcb923iW9OeL2QmJwf-vFphTYV1uAmwVv4E6GmLQMqbgL4Ke0QZDP-0y3kV5-EDAeB_Mz4ZqtCIC_hUsPOU8kNvmBX3uRcdSY5JGdjL8_M-yOY5NXwqUCgsI/s1600-h/Nixon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302697531062648386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 187px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ilX4As3J9uYRUlRuGhTUcb923iW9OeL2QmJwf-vFphTYV1uAmwVv4E6GmLQMqbgL4Ke0QZDP-0y3kV5-EDAeB_Mz4ZqtCIC_hUsPOU8kNvmBX3uRcdSY5JGdjL8_M-yOY5NXwqUCgsI/s320/Nixon.jpg" border="0" /></a> I just saw Frost / Nixon. I suppose there are a million understandable reasons why some stories seem to get to me more than others. This story got to me.<br /><br />I went by myself as I wanted to soak in the history and the significance. I half expected a biased, hateful show. I had my guard up. After all... I was there. I was with thousands of people in Washington D.C. the day that Nixon resigned... I saw the helicopter fly directly over my head. It is hard to be objective about something when one was there...<br /><br />But it was a good story; well told. I left seeing that vision and dreams are risky, but fun. I saw that the chance to “come clean” can be a renewing opportunity in life. It is amazing to me that people do not take advantage of any opportunity to make things right if given half a chance.<br /><br />The movie should be seen on big screen. The story needs that kind of focus. I'd rate this very high up as a movie to see.S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956700300424500793.post-87338060703899220972009-01-27T16:42:00.000-08:002009-01-27T16:55:46.592-08:00Books - #? Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns GoodwinI thank God for excellent literature. Once again, my life has been changed - at least for as long as I have the memory to thereby benefit.<br /><br />I attribute my undertaking to study this book to my ever powerful Stake President, President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Standage</span>. His influence was all it took for me to tackle the 750 page marvel.<br /><br />I thank God for Lincoln's life where he demonstrated that "the hand can't say to the foot, I have no need of thee", as we are all a part of the body of Christ. President Lincoln had the foresight and the leadership to coordinate leadership with a wide range of personalities and as a result - he pulled the nation together in the midst of a great struggle.<br /><br />As a Southerner, I'm not sure I ever had a real education on President Lincoln. This wonderful book gave me insight to better understand.<br /><br />Had I lived in President Lincoln's day, I would like to believe that I would have loved him for what he taught and for how he lead. I hope that I would have. But thanks to those who have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">immortalized</span> his name, I have the chance to love him now... and all those who worked and labored to see his vision come.<br /><br />But I think the joy of having read this book will <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">multiply</span> in all my remaining days.S Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06872846702850439617noreply@blogger.com0