This blog is where it's all starting. If you already subscribe to this blog you should check out my movie review blog as well.
Add it to your subscription if you'd like.
http://misbmovies.blogspot.com/
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
DVD Gifts Set
A couple of weeks ago, President Obama presented British Prime Minister Gordon Brown with a gift of 25 American Films selected by the American Film Institute. Evidently the British media was in an uproar and the American media needs to fill 24 hours of news so they report on anything and generate the appropriate emotion.
By the way here is the list of the 25 Films
- “2001: A Space Odyssey”
- “Casablanca”
- “Chinatown”
- “Citizen Kane”
- “City Lights”
- “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”
- “It’s a Wonderful Life”
- “Lawrence of Arabia”
- “On the Waterfront”
- “Psycho”
- “Raging Bull”
- “Schindler’s List”
- “Singin’ in the Rain”
- “Some Like It Hot”
- “Star Wars: Episode IV”
- “Sunset Boulevard”
- “The General”
- “The Godfather”
- “The Graduate”
- “The Grapes of Wrath”
- “The Searchers”
- “The Wizard of Oz”
- “To Kill a Mockingbird”
- “Vertigo
I think you would be hard pressed to describe these films as anything but great, classic, or at the very least important. By important I mean important to our culture and people's lives. These are the films that launched careers and made icons. These are the movie that are quoted time and time again by people at parties or in the signature area of their emails. These are the movies that people list as their favorites on facebook or watch on a lazy afternoon. These are the movies that new and old couples watch together.
These are our American Films.
And somehow they are an unacceptable gift? If President Obama were to present Prime Minister Brown with the original collected works of Mark Twain would that have been acceptable?
Film is a part of our culutre and it needs to be treated with that respect. We all go to movies and a lot of us rent from Netlfix or Blockbuster. How many of us had our early dates with a significant other at a movie?
Film is one of the collective events that we can all share. The collective laughter, screams, and moments of wonder that are shared by a film audience are precious and nearly all of us have experienced them.
My support for the President aside, I don't understand this backlash. but, I'm not surprised by it.
As part of our general education we study great literature. There are certain books that we all probably read in High School or in under grad. They are books like, Huckleybery Finn, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Great Expectations, The Lord of the Flies, and so on. These books are considered important to out culture. I remember reading Great Expectations as a freshman in high school and Mrs. Bruce teaching us about Victorian Culutre to enchance are appreciation of the book. She talked about the life of Charles Dickens before we read the book so we hand an idea where he came from which in turned helped us understand his stories and characters. She taught us about the literary techniques he used, why, and how they made an impact.
That respect and recognition has not been paid to film. I had to wait until my senior year in high school before I was able to take one class that focused on film. How much could I have learned about hisotry and American culutre if I had watched The Godfather, Citizen Kane, or To Kill A Mocking Bird before then?
Maybe one day we will see the importance of the study of film be in proportion to the hours we all spend watching films.
( I also know that the DVDs the President gave the Prime Minister were Region 1 and DVDs and players are Region 2 in the Uk. Here's the thing, back in 2003 m sister order 28 Days Later from the UK and was able to watch it on her DVD player that played both Region 1 and 2. I would hope that the Prime Minster of Britian would have acces to better equipment then my sister.)
By the way here is the list of the 25 Films
- “2001: A Space Odyssey”
- “Casablanca”
- “Chinatown”
- “Citizen Kane”
- “City Lights”
- “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”
- “It’s a Wonderful Life”
- “Lawrence of Arabia”
- “On the Waterfront”
- “Psycho”
- “Raging Bull”
- “Schindler’s List”
- “Singin’ in the Rain”
- “Some Like It Hot”
- “Star Wars: Episode IV”
- “Sunset Boulevard”
- “The General”
- “The Godfather”
- “The Graduate”
- “The Grapes of Wrath”
- “The Searchers”
- “The Wizard of Oz”
- “To Kill a Mockingbird”
- “Vertigo
I think you would be hard pressed to describe these films as anything but great, classic, or at the very least important. By important I mean important to our culture and people's lives. These are the films that launched careers and made icons. These are the movie that are quoted time and time again by people at parties or in the signature area of their emails. These are the movies that people list as their favorites on facebook or watch on a lazy afternoon. These are the movies that new and old couples watch together.
These are our American Films.
And somehow they are an unacceptable gift? If President Obama were to present Prime Minister Brown with the original collected works of Mark Twain would that have been acceptable?
Film is a part of our culutre and it needs to be treated with that respect. We all go to movies and a lot of us rent from Netlfix or Blockbuster. How many of us had our early dates with a significant other at a movie?
Film is one of the collective events that we can all share. The collective laughter, screams, and moments of wonder that are shared by a film audience are precious and nearly all of us have experienced them.
My support for the President aside, I don't understand this backlash. but, I'm not surprised by it.
As part of our general education we study great literature. There are certain books that we all probably read in High School or in under grad. They are books like, Huckleybery Finn, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Great Expectations, The Lord of the Flies, and so on. These books are considered important to out culture. I remember reading Great Expectations as a freshman in high school and Mrs. Bruce teaching us about Victorian Culutre to enchance are appreciation of the book. She talked about the life of Charles Dickens before we read the book so we hand an idea where he came from which in turned helped us understand his stories and characters. She taught us about the literary techniques he used, why, and how they made an impact.
That respect and recognition has not been paid to film. I had to wait until my senior year in high school before I was able to take one class that focused on film. How much could I have learned about hisotry and American culutre if I had watched The Godfather, Citizen Kane, or To Kill A Mocking Bird before then?
Maybe one day we will see the importance of the study of film be in proportion to the hours we all spend watching films.
( I also know that the DVDs the President gave the Prime Minister were Region 1 and DVDs and players are Region 2 in the Uk. Here's the thing, back in 2003 m sister order 28 Days Later from the UK and was able to watch it on her DVD player that played both Region 1 and 2. I would hope that the Prime Minster of Britian would have acces to better equipment then my sister.)
Friday, March 20, 2009
Pictures
So I was killing time at...well let's just say I was killing time.
Anyway, I was looking at some of the pictures that I used as my profile at certain websites and it hit me. These are ridiculous pictures. Which is the precise reason why I picked them. However, they may not be ridiculous for the reason I picked them. I like to use "ironic" pictures of myself doing odd things or dressed in odd clothes but it might actually come off as sincere.
For instance this is a picture of me in front of the light house.
In no way is this picture of me looking like a model from a romance novel (albeit a scrawny model from the cover) supposed to be sincere. While taking this picture I was trying to look stoic and heroic (p.s. mission accomplished) but in no way was it to be sincere. I put it up because I thought it was funny. Somebody else might think that I look like a real a-hole.
Or take this picture of me dressed as a firefighter.
One with a keen eye might notice that the jacket says, "VanKersen." I wasn't trying to give the impression that I was a firefighter. I was wondering if people were going to ask me why the jacket had my name on it. Well, the answer is the jacket does have my last name on it because it belonged to my sister. I feel I should make it know that my sister is much shorter than me and the jacket did not fit me. I had to squeeze into it. Had I walked into an inferno everything from the waist down would have been subject to burning.
Again, I did want to stike a heroic pose (and I did I'm 2 for 2) but not pass myself of as a firefighter. I thought it would be funny for people to see me in this photo.
I must confess that sometimes I do try and rock the camera.
And in those cases I hands down succeed. The camera has been rocked you're welcome.
Anyway, I was looking at some of the pictures that I used as my profile at certain websites and it hit me. These are ridiculous pictures. Which is the precise reason why I picked them. However, they may not be ridiculous for the reason I picked them. I like to use "ironic" pictures of myself doing odd things or dressed in odd clothes but it might actually come off as sincere.
For instance this is a picture of me in front of the light house.
In no way is this picture of me looking like a model from a romance novel (albeit a scrawny model from the cover) supposed to be sincere. While taking this picture I was trying to look stoic and heroic (p.s. mission accomplished) but in no way was it to be sincere. I put it up because I thought it was funny. Somebody else might think that I look like a real a-hole.
Or take this picture of me dressed as a firefighter.
One with a keen eye might notice that the jacket says, "VanKersen." I wasn't trying to give the impression that I was a firefighter. I was wondering if people were going to ask me why the jacket had my name on it. Well, the answer is the jacket does have my last name on it because it belonged to my sister. I feel I should make it know that my sister is much shorter than me and the jacket did not fit me. I had to squeeze into it. Had I walked into an inferno everything from the waist down would have been subject to burning.
Again, I did want to stike a heroic pose (and I did I'm 2 for 2) but not pass myself of as a firefighter. I thought it would be funny for people to see me in this photo.
I must confess that sometimes I do try and rock the camera.
And in those cases I hands down succeed. The camera has been rocked you're welcome.
FACT
FACT:
I'm happier on Fridays because for two days I can do whatever.
FACT:
I'm happier in the spring.
FACT:
I'm less happy in the cold winter.
FACT:
I'm less happy on Monday because I'm four days of doing what I want to be doing.
FACT:
I love spending time with Laura.
FACT:
When I write or when I'm creating something I lose track of time and it never feels like work.
FACT:
I very much enjoy Lost.
FACT:
I love spending time with my friends
CONCLUSION:
Living in Hawaii, working with lost, spending time with my friends, and spending time with Laura would be the bee's knees.
I'm happier on Fridays because for two days I can do whatever.
FACT:
I'm happier in the spring.
FACT:
I'm less happy in the cold winter.
FACT:
I'm less happy on Monday because I'm four days of doing what I want to be doing.
FACT:
I love spending time with Laura.
FACT:
When I write or when I'm creating something I lose track of time and it never feels like work.
FACT:
I very much enjoy Lost.
FACT:
I love spending time with my friends
CONCLUSION:
Living in Hawaii, working with lost, spending time with my friends, and spending time with Laura would be the bee's knees.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Bobble Heads and Bustracker
In this post I'm going to present something that I really don't like and counter balance it with something that I really enjoy. Upon finishing this blog hopefully you the reader, will feel balanced.
I really don't like bobble heads. They are just simply stupid. They don't serve any purpose what's so ever. I mean how does something with a giant head and small body be anything but disconcerning? Yet, these things are huge with people and I don't understand it.
My basic problem with these things comes down to the fact that they take anything that is cool and make it stupid.
Allow me to demonstrate by taking three cool characters and making them uncool by "bobble heading" them.
Darth Vader, Iron Man, and Batman
Darth Vader
dumb
Ironman
stupid
Batman
offensive
Okay now on to something that I enjoy.
My disdain for the CTA is well known, It gets me to where I need to go but it's not really users friendly. It's not so much a service as something that exists. It seems to be run without much common sense which is troubling because the CTA president was recently put in charge of Chicago Public Schools.
That being said the CTA Bustracker is pretty cool. I started using it recently for the Clark 22 bus. It takes me about three mintues to walk from my front door to the bus stop on the corner of Granville and Clark and if I time it right I get there with time to spare.
If I have to be somewhere at 7:00 then at 6:30 I will log onto the bus tracker at www.ctabustracker.com and check to see how much time I have until it arrives on the corner. I have noticed that at anytime I'm anywhere from 2 mintues away to 25 mintues away. It really beats having to walk down Clark feeling like a hitchhiker waiting for my ride.
If your bus is on CTA bustracker then I highly recommend using it.
I really don't like bobble heads. They are just simply stupid. They don't serve any purpose what's so ever. I mean how does something with a giant head and small body be anything but disconcerning? Yet, these things are huge with people and I don't understand it.
My basic problem with these things comes down to the fact that they take anything that is cool and make it stupid.
Allow me to demonstrate by taking three cool characters and making them uncool by "bobble heading" them.
Darth Vader, Iron Man, and Batman
Darth Vader
dumb
Ironman
stupid
Batman
offensive
Okay now on to something that I enjoy.
My disdain for the CTA is well known, It gets me to where I need to go but it's not really users friendly. It's not so much a service as something that exists. It seems to be run without much common sense which is troubling because the CTA president was recently put in charge of Chicago Public Schools.
That being said the CTA Bustracker is pretty cool. I started using it recently for the Clark 22 bus. It takes me about three mintues to walk from my front door to the bus stop on the corner of Granville and Clark and if I time it right I get there with time to spare.
If I have to be somewhere at 7:00 then at 6:30 I will log onto the bus tracker at www.ctabustracker.com and check to see how much time I have until it arrives on the corner. I have noticed that at anytime I'm anywhere from 2 mintues away to 25 mintues away. It really beats having to walk down Clark feeling like a hitchhiker waiting for my ride.
If your bus is on CTA bustracker then I highly recommend using it.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Madoff
Last week I heard that Bernie Madoff, the architect of the biggest Ponzi scheme ever, might possibly get a plea bargain. Upon hearing that I thought about writing a blog titled, "Bernie Madoff= Asshole." Then I had a bit of a internal struggle, well two internal struggles. The second and less pressing was, "do I really want to use the word asshole on my blog?"
The first and the one that made me pause for thought was in regards to my faith and the response to a man like Madoff. I'm a Christian and Jesus laid out two very straight forward rules, Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. There is some other stuff that really lends itself to debate and conversation but those two are pretty simple.
I thought about it for a little bit and arrived to this conclusion, I'd pray for him and visit him in prison and provide for basic needs but what that guy did was evil. I mean he took BILLIONS of dollars from people, BILLIONS! Some of those people loss their entire retierment funds. It's get worse though, much worse. Some of those people that he swindled for BILLIONS! of dollars were using their investments for charities including Steven Speilberg and Elie Wiesel. I'm sure you know Steven Speilberg and can guess that his charity had to do with the Holocaust. However, in case you haven't heard of Elie Wiesel he is a holocaust survivor who lost all the assets for the Elie Wiesel Foundation because of Madoff. Yep, that's right Bernie Madoff took money from a holocaust survivor and his foundation. That is something a Nazi would do.
When a guy broke into my house this past July I tried to sympathize with him. I mean sure I was pissed and was glad that he was arrested but I could at least sympathize with him. I thought he might have had a tough life and made bad decisions and the long and the short of it is I get it. I don't understand this I don't understand how greed can get this out of control.
Anyway, today Madoff had his day in court and as expected he pleaded guilty. The judge sent him right to jail and he will stay their till sentencing. Today officials with the case stated that there will be no plea bargin.
He was brought into the court house wearing a bullet proof vest in case somebody tried to take a shot at him. Evidently, he spent much of his time in the courtroom avoiding eye contact with the three investors who were there, even when one tried to get him too. Also he apologized, whether or not it was sincere I don't know but he said:
So back to my original dilema. I think that the crimes that Bernie Madoff commited are heinous. I don't use the word "heinous" often but this seems like an opportunity. These are heinous crimes and there is no excuses only a reason. The reason is greed and let's be honest we all experience it. We might not feel it in the billion dollar range but we feel it. Then I thought about a passage that says something along the lines of "do not judge or you too will be judged," and another that said, "...at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself because you who pass judgment do the same things."
Now, I have never swindled people out of billions, hundreds, or even tens of dollars, but I have acted on greed. The question becomes what is judging? Well I think judging myself better or worse than him is not the right direction to be in. I think telling myself because I never took that much money then him I'm better than him isn't on the right track. I think judging his crimes and being satisfied with justice is the right direction to be in. I think judging his crimes and not going down the same path is on the right track.
Ultimately caring about somebody and providing basic needs because they are a person is what is needed here. I'm satisfied with the judgment and the fact that he will repay his debt to society is good. I think he should go to prison. But I don't wish him ill or hope anything terrible happens to him. I hope that his victims are healed and taken care of for his crimes. I pray that me makes amends to them. I hope he rights himself with God and finds new life there.
Finally, if he every does call me and asks me to visit with him I will. Oh I don't think he will due to the fact that we never met and I would never be able to do anything for him. Still my point remains he may have the actions of a asshole I shouldn't treat him as such.
The first and the one that made me pause for thought was in regards to my faith and the response to a man like Madoff. I'm a Christian and Jesus laid out two very straight forward rules, Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. There is some other stuff that really lends itself to debate and conversation but those two are pretty simple.
I thought about it for a little bit and arrived to this conclusion, I'd pray for him and visit him in prison and provide for basic needs but what that guy did was evil. I mean he took BILLIONS of dollars from people, BILLIONS! Some of those people loss their entire retierment funds. It's get worse though, much worse. Some of those people that he swindled for BILLIONS! of dollars were using their investments for charities including Steven Speilberg and Elie Wiesel. I'm sure you know Steven Speilberg and can guess that his charity had to do with the Holocaust. However, in case you haven't heard of Elie Wiesel he is a holocaust survivor who lost all the assets for the Elie Wiesel Foundation because of Madoff. Yep, that's right Bernie Madoff took money from a holocaust survivor and his foundation. That is something a Nazi would do.
When a guy broke into my house this past July I tried to sympathize with him. I mean sure I was pissed and was glad that he was arrested but I could at least sympathize with him. I thought he might have had a tough life and made bad decisions and the long and the short of it is I get it. I don't understand this I don't understand how greed can get this out of control.
Anyway, today Madoff had his day in court and as expected he pleaded guilty. The judge sent him right to jail and he will stay their till sentencing. Today officials with the case stated that there will be no plea bargin.
He was brought into the court house wearing a bullet proof vest in case somebody tried to take a shot at him. Evidently, he spent much of his time in the courtroom avoiding eye contact with the three investors who were there, even when one tried to get him too. Also he apologized, whether or not it was sincere I don't know but he said:
"I am actually grateful for this opportunity to publicly comment about my crimes, for which I am deeply sorry and ashamed," he said.
"As the years went by, I realized my risk and this day would inevitably come. I cannot adequately express how sorry I am for my crimes."
So back to my original dilema. I think that the crimes that Bernie Madoff commited are heinous. I don't use the word "heinous" often but this seems like an opportunity. These are heinous crimes and there is no excuses only a reason. The reason is greed and let's be honest we all experience it. We might not feel it in the billion dollar range but we feel it. Then I thought about a passage that says something along the lines of "do not judge or you too will be judged," and another that said, "...at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself because you who pass judgment do the same things."
Now, I have never swindled people out of billions, hundreds, or even tens of dollars, but I have acted on greed. The question becomes what is judging? Well I think judging myself better or worse than him is not the right direction to be in. I think telling myself because I never took that much money then him I'm better than him isn't on the right track. I think judging his crimes and being satisfied with justice is the right direction to be in. I think judging his crimes and not going down the same path is on the right track.
Ultimately caring about somebody and providing basic needs because they are a person is what is needed here. I'm satisfied with the judgment and the fact that he will repay his debt to society is good. I think he should go to prison. But I don't wish him ill or hope anything terrible happens to him. I hope that his victims are healed and taken care of for his crimes. I pray that me makes amends to them. I hope he rights himself with God and finds new life there.
Finally, if he every does call me and asks me to visit with him I will. Oh I don't think he will due to the fact that we never met and I would never be able to do anything for him. Still my point remains he may have the actions of a asshole I shouldn't treat him as such.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Fond Memories
Yesterday I heard that Paul Harvey had died. He was 90 years old and as Phil Rosenthal at the Chicago Tribune notes, "he was two years older than commercial radio."
I have not heard Paul Harvey's show for almost six years now but for a couple of summers I listening to his show nearly every day. I have very fond memories of Mr. Paul Harvey.
When I was 19 years old I worked on the road crew for the City of Norton Shores. I started that job when I was fresh out of high school. I had just spent the month prior to this job being celebrated and congratulated for completeing twelve years of school. The middle aged men that I worked with were not impressed...at all. I took a lot of heat that summer and was humbled, to say the least. For the next nine months I found myself replaying some events from that summer becoming more and more determined to work harder the next year.
Long story short I was successful.
That second summer I found that I was more eager to get to know the guys on the crew. I realized that some of them had probably pulled for me to come back the next summer, which kind of surprised me. A friend of mine on a different crew was actually not invited back and after hearing about that I was pretty grateful to be invited to return.
One of the guys that I imagined had pulled for me (or maybe would like to imagine) was Ron. He was a really grizzled son of a gun in his late forties/early fiftes but he had a good heart. He wouldn't take any crap from anybody but was also one of the first people to chip in and help on any project. He had actually gone to the University of Michigan straight out of High School to practice Medicine but had to come back home to help his dad pay the bills. He was a pretty smart guy and seemed to know a little bit about everything but not in the obnoxious way. He wouldn't present his knowledge in a "let me show you what I know," way but instead would "did you know about this," kind of way.
He was the one who listened to Paul Harvey every day. On the days that I would find myself riding around with him we would get our lunch before noon and make sure we were settled by the time the show started. At first I would find myself sort of zoning out during the broadcast and trying to get in my afternoon lunch break nap. As time went on I started to become more and more interested in the show. Over time I started to look forward to the show and would stay awake for the whole braodcast before I took my afternoon lunch nap.
After the summer was over I would find myself occasionally tuning into his show but it never felt the same. It was something that really felt like it belonged to the summer and shoveling asphalt. None of the other elements were in order.
So when I heard that Paul Harvey died my mind went back to the fond memories I had of doing road construction work and everything that came with it.
I have not heard Paul Harvey's show for almost six years now but for a couple of summers I listening to his show nearly every day. I have very fond memories of Mr. Paul Harvey.
When I was 19 years old I worked on the road crew for the City of Norton Shores. I started that job when I was fresh out of high school. I had just spent the month prior to this job being celebrated and congratulated for completeing twelve years of school. The middle aged men that I worked with were not impressed...at all. I took a lot of heat that summer and was humbled, to say the least. For the next nine months I found myself replaying some events from that summer becoming more and more determined to work harder the next year.
Long story short I was successful.
That second summer I found that I was more eager to get to know the guys on the crew. I realized that some of them had probably pulled for me to come back the next summer, which kind of surprised me. A friend of mine on a different crew was actually not invited back and after hearing about that I was pretty grateful to be invited to return.
One of the guys that I imagined had pulled for me (or maybe would like to imagine) was Ron. He was a really grizzled son of a gun in his late forties/early fiftes but he had a good heart. He wouldn't take any crap from anybody but was also one of the first people to chip in and help on any project. He had actually gone to the University of Michigan straight out of High School to practice Medicine but had to come back home to help his dad pay the bills. He was a pretty smart guy and seemed to know a little bit about everything but not in the obnoxious way. He wouldn't present his knowledge in a "let me show you what I know," way but instead would "did you know about this," kind of way.
He was the one who listened to Paul Harvey every day. On the days that I would find myself riding around with him we would get our lunch before noon and make sure we were settled by the time the show started. At first I would find myself sort of zoning out during the broadcast and trying to get in my afternoon lunch break nap. As time went on I started to become more and more interested in the show. Over time I started to look forward to the show and would stay awake for the whole braodcast before I took my afternoon lunch nap.
After the summer was over I would find myself occasionally tuning into his show but it never felt the same. It was something that really felt like it belonged to the summer and shoveling asphalt. None of the other elements were in order.
So when I heard that Paul Harvey died my mind went back to the fond memories I had of doing road construction work and everything that came with it.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Rest
I really need a vacation.
I'm nearing that breaking point and I'm not sure if I can see relief on the horizon. I'm not really sure where this is coming from but I have go to to do something about it soon.
At the very least it's causing me to post blogs without a theme, idea, or even coherent thought. I'm just saying that I need to recharge and soon.
Does anybody have a time share?
I'm nearing that breaking point and I'm not sure if I can see relief on the horizon. I'm not really sure where this is coming from but I have go to to do something about it soon.
At the very least it's causing me to post blogs without a theme, idea, or even coherent thought. I'm just saying that I need to recharge and soon.
Does anybody have a time share?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
