War of the Worlds

With my recent newfound delight in Netflix, and so many strange and exciting holiday films hitting theatres, I've considered starting up a movie critique blog. I've found that I thoroughly enjoy commenting and reviewing films for my friends to read. And, since I enjoy more obscure films at times, (thanks to Netflix), I would love to review them for people to read.

However, I find it trying at times to manage one blog, much less two. But, keep checking back in the near future for this new blog development.

That being said, I had the privelage of watching Steven Speilberg's brand new version of War of the Worlds last night. Unfortunately, I had to rent it through Blockbuster. But, I guess that's another blog entry entirely.

We all remember the weirdness that happened when this film came out. Tom Cruise began going insane, going crazy on Oprah and embarassing Speilberg. He got into a verbal fight with Matt Lauer on Good Morning America, or one of those morning shows. I actually got up early to watch that one. People were actually worried about Cruise's mental well-being, and everyone was asking questions about his feirce loyalty to the Scientology cult. And, Cruise was squirted in the face with a water gun at the London premiere of War of the Worlds, and handled it with surprising grace and poise. Then, who could forget the whole Katie Holmes publicity mess? I got sick of hearing about it. With Tom Cruise providing a one-man walking circus, it seemed like War of the Worlds was sabatoged and upstaged from the beginning. Even near the end of the publicity run, Steven Speilberg expressed concern for Cruise's over-the-top Scientology rants. Speilberg was hesitant to continue supporting Tom, even though WOTW was about to hit theatres.

What an introduction for a summer blockbuster. With all of that said, I don't think the movie itself got a fair shake. People were so distracted and preoccupied (and rightfully so) by all the strange things going on, most people didn't even care about War of the Worlds by the time it came out. However, when I saw it on a giant big screen Sony, the dust had long since settled with the "real life" soap opera surrounding it. So, I felt that I could fairly evaluate this film, and enjoy it for what it was.

Tom Cruise, like him or loathe him, gets a solid B- from me for his performance in this one. I don't always like him, but when the right role comes along, he's perfect. The character of Ray seems like it's almost on the outer fringes of Tom's ability at times, but the performance is delivered nicely. Dakota Fanning is good. The guy that plays Ray's son is great. I have mixed feelings about Tim Robbins in it. He plays a semi-crazy ex-cab driver who fled to the country to escape the alien attacks. Robbins' character is vaguely similar to the one he played in Mystic River, which is why I sort of feel mixed about it. Overall, he's great, though.

The story focuses on this one family unit, as the world comes under attack by aliens. There is not the same grand scope as, say, Deep Impact, or Independence Day. The characters are darker, and more personal. To me, I enjoyed that aspect of it.

The writing is fairly good. It's not weighed down with too much pointless dialouge, and there are no cheesey one-liners that often plague "end-of-the-world" films like this one.

Now, about the direction. Speilberg has created some weird ones his last few times out of the gate. Minority Report, in my opinion, is the worst Speilberg film ever. Many people didn't like A.I., but I was interested in it. With that being said, I think Speilberg sort of had something to prove to himself with War of the Worlds. (Even though he surpassed having anything to prove to the general public after E.T. !!!) I think he wanted to prove to himself that he's still culturally relevant. He wanted to prove to himself that he can still crank out giant blockbusters, with style and unique vision. In those regards, War of the Worlds is successful.

It is also beautifully filmed. Speilberg seems very specific about the type of imagery in every scene. I was taken by the colorful tones and sweeping landscapes. Also, the special effects are truly spectacular.

There are a few things that weigh this film down, however, and keep it from being a real classic. First, it lacks a feeling of being truly epic. The focus is on one family, which was the obvious intent. But, it tends to hold back the full potential. Another thing that weighs it down is the neverendingly dark tone. It could've stood a little more humor, a lighter note here and there. It was just such a downer. Personally, it wasn't too dark for my taste. But, for a mass audience, I can understand how it's a bummer. And, the ending. I won't give it away, but the way it ends had me asking, "So,...what's the point?" And, that may be the biggest flaw of this film. What's the point?

pirates

About a year ago, I had the chance to be an extra in Pirates of the Caribbean parts 2 and 3. Disney is filming both sequels at once. It would've meant being transported to the Caribbean for about six months, and very little pay. My friend and I considered this prospect very seriously. The prospect of being in these movies and being in the Caribbean was very tempting.

Ultimately, however, I made the decision to move back to Tennessee around that time. So, no extra work for me!

Today, on the radio, I heard that the cast and crew filming in the Caribbean has been attacked by actual pirates. Looters, or some kind of random thugs, have been stealing, breaking things, and threatening lives. A few actors (extras, I'm assuming) have quit and left the island for fear of their lives! I'm glad that gig didn't work out.

class is in session

Well, Thanksgiving is mere hours away. It's that wonderful time of seeing family, stuffing your face, and sinking into a deep abyss of mindless stupidity as you doze in front of the television watching football.

I gained a Bachelors degree from a quality private college institution. I've had years and years of school growing up. My intelligence may be in question, but the years of sitting in the classroom are without dispute. Yet, sadly, my knowledge of Thanksgiving history is limited. If I wrote a chapter in a History textbook about Thanksgiving, it would go as follows:

Some people in England were tired of being pushed around by the church of England. So, compounded with a general weariness and disdain for their lifestyle, they climbed aboard three ships: The Mayflower, Santa Maria, and the...uh...it'll come to me in a minute.

So, after months of sickness and hardship, they reached America. They all had hats, and buckles on their shoes. Most of their outfits were black. After fighting Native Americans (or, "Indians"), and teaching them how to scalp people, things kind of settled down.

At some vague point, the "pilgrims" had an outdoor picnic kind of thing, where they had turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce. I think they invited some Indians.

I hope your Thanksgiving is full of joy, family togetherness, and a vague misguided ignorance about its history, just as mine will be.

Jim Henson

Jim Henson's story is one of destiny. Having an interest in television in the mid-50's, he was involved in theatre at the University of Maryland. A local NBC affiliate there invited Jim and a friend (Jane, who he later married) to perform a five minute segment on a late night news show. The show lasted for a few years, and during that time Jim crafted and experimented with the Muppets concept. He coined the term "Muppet" during those years by combining the word puppet with marionette.

As these bizarre late night puppets gained popularity, more characters were created. The Muppets world also expanded, reaching to television shows, TV special appearances (including the first season of SNL in the 70's), and eventually becoming a giant enertainment conglomerate.

There are several things that inspire me about the Muppets. First, Jim Henson genuinely added depth, emotion, and creativity to his characters. They seem to have so much life! I feel as if Kermit and Miss Piggy are real living people! Secondly, there is a true gentleness and kindness to the whole Muppet world. Jim Henson, quite deliberately, strove to create an optimistic world that reflected love, caring, and humor. Thirdly, Jim Henson's creations are totally original. He did not create these characters in order to "break in" to show biz. He was interested in television, but he was not greedy or power hungry. He did not follow a formula in creating the Muppets. It was a true artistic creation rooted in his genuine passions and imagination.

I think that's why his lovable creatures connect with so many millions of people. Jim Henson has made a big impact on the culture of the world, with pure imagination and passion. That is inspiring, and worth commemorating.

Gameboy Micro

Have you heard of the new Nintendo Gameboy micro? It's the latest from Nintendo. With Gameboy sales in somewhat of a slump lately, and with the holidays coming up, they released this little bad boy.

I played one yesterday in a video game store. I knew it was going to be small, but seriously, the thing is tiny. It's the same size as my cell phone. It could easily fit in my shirt pocket. And, the graphics and screen quality are amazing. They're only $80, which is relatively cheap for a piece of brand new video game hardware. They look like a lot of fun. They take Gameboy Advance games. Which means, you could play Super Mario Brothers 3 on it! Or, old Atari games. It's mindblowing, really.

netflix, I guess

It's a rainy day here in East Tennessee. Nothing too eventful has happened lately. At least, nothing I could articulate in my presently groggy state.

I am somewhat enjoying Netflix. If you're not familiar with it, it's video rental over the internet. After my friend Mike preached it to me for a few years, and my friend Andy gave me a free month, I finally broke down and decided to try it. So far, I am fairly satisfied. On a scale of 1-10, I guess I would give it a 7.

The upside:
1. Well-designed web site.
2. Fantastic selection.
3. Convenience of not leaving my house to go to the video rental place.
4. It's cheap (10 dollars per month).
5. I'm fighting the corporate beast. (I think we all know which video rental beast I speak of.)
6. I can brag to my friends that I have Netflix, so my social status goes up a couple of points.

The downside
1. Sometimes it takes the DVD's several days to arrive in the mail, even though it's only supposed to take one day.
2. Video renting is not as spontaneous.
3. No more weird, smelly video rental stores!!!
4. I only get one DVD at a time.
5. I often have to watch the movies at awkward or inconvenient times in order to get them back in the mail.
6. I'm wasting all my time watching pointless schlock.

Overall, though, I'm satisfied with it. Click here to see their site.

southern cuisine

Living in the south certainly has its ups and downs. There are things to love and things to loathe, like any place. One of the biggest down sides of living in the region I live in is that it is fairly boring most of the time. I have great friends and family, but staring at empty cow fields takes a toll after a while.

One of the greatest things about living in the south is the quality of food. Southern cuisine is unapologetically decadent, and sometimes over-the-top. Much southern food is also really good for you. The south has certainly come along way with technology in the last twenty years ago, what with our e-lectricity and shoes and whatnot. With cell phones and the internet, it's truly turning into a global community.

Today I was reminded of my southern roots. My parents recently joined a little Baptist church in the small town of Athens, TN. The people there are wonderful. However, they are certainly extremely southern. My parents told me the story of their experiences in their sunday school class. Before the "class" started, the members of the class sat around and "chewed the fat" for a few minutes. One older woman was telling everyone how beautiful her new shotgun was. She was telling them all about the pearl handle. No, really.

My mother also recently got a church cookbook. If you're not familiar, most churches in the south have cookbooks filled with recipes submitted from women in the church. My mom was quite impressed with the East Athens Baptist Church cookbook, until running across one entry of particular interest.

Now, I know some of you faithful blog readers are not as familiar with the south. And, in fact, you've probably already cracked up at this blog entry at some of the absurdities described in small town life. Indeed, it is a de-light. However, this one takes the cake. For you see, there is an entry in this cookbook for Baked Possum. That's the point where I may lose some of you. But, trust me, it's real. This is NOT A JOKE. It is in this cookbook, submitted by a man named Jerome.

Baked Possum

Catch a live possum. Put it in a pen for 7 days. Feed it cornmeal dough and fresh water. Kill, skin, and dress it. Wash thoroughly. Place in a roaster pan, sald and pepper thorougly inside and out. Place 7 or 8 medium-sized clean sweet potatoes around meat. Cover with roaster lid or aluminum foil, bake in oven at 350 degrees for 3 hours or until done.

Wow. Most times, I'm proud to be from Tennessee. There is a rich history here. And, the roots of American pop culture in Tennessee are amazing. There is also a lot of beautiful scenery and wonderful natural landmarks. However, when I read about baked possum, it puts things back into perspective for me!!

I want my MTV!

I am a young guy. 26 years old. I don't really feel old, and in fact I feel younger than my age most of the time. However, there are a handful of things that make me feel the perspective of my age. One of these things is MTV.

It seems like MTV used to be for all ages when it first came out. Crusty old rockers, as well as young teenagers were captivated by the new music video format. Now, when I watch some of those old early 80's videos, they're so incredibly cheesey, I can't believe they were on TV. They seemed so fun and charming. At the time, they were "edgy". And, as a kid, I used to watch MTV when I wasn't supposed to! I remember watching Michael Jackson videos when they were new! I know, it seems like an eternity ago.

Then, there was the middle school phase. This was the phase when MTV got much darker. They were showing Metallica, and grundge hit the scene. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Green Day, and a whole host of heavy metal and early 90's alternative videos ruled MTV. Late night MTV was filled with an array of low budget, and absolutely bizarre animated shows and theme shows. Not the least of which was Beavis and Butthead. Then, Dr. Dre made a little video called "G Thang", and the world was changed forever. (Or, at least pop culture changed!) Now, the gangsta rap video was mainstream. All of these developments seemes monumental to my young mind. In retrospect, it seems impossible that my parents, and my friends' parents, were pretty much completely oblivious to these giant shifts in pop culture.

I enjoyed MTV when I was in high school, somewhat. It got a bit stale to me my junior and senior years of high school. I never got into "Puff Daddy" videos, and rock never recovered from the loss of grundge.

Now, at age 26, MTV seems quite foreign to me. I mean, I enjoy "Cribs", I vaguely liked "Ozzbournes" during its prime. And now, I have to admit, I have occassionally watched (and laughed at) Laguna Beach. But, for the most part, most MTV shows are really boring to me. What was once edgy has now swelled into a worldwide corporation. There are no real shows on MTV anymore that are that bold, or dark, like the early 90's. I guess I'm just getting old.

Everyone on there looks so young. TRL, a show that screams "after school entertainment", is filled with a studio audience of fifteen year old screaming girls. And, I'm pretty sure I'm older than every VJ on there. Exit Carson Daly, enter new generation of mediocre MTV puppets. They're all fairly bland, and their clothes look more like costumes than "cool" hipster rock clothes. I don't know any of the bands on the countdown, and I rarely know any of the guests that visit the show. Truly, the MTV train has left without me in recent years.

Gone are the days of home video camera quality videos, and obscure late-night shows. Am I getting old?

eat your vegetables

I recently read a fascinating article in the latest issue of National Geographic. In the article, Dan Buettner visits three different countries, with three different communities of people who have unusually high average life spans. The communities varied from Loma Linda, California to Sardinia, Italy, and, finally, Okinawa, Japan. Three communities that are literally worlds apart, yet they each hold a longer-than-average life span.

Even though these three cultures vary greatly, there are a handful of common traits. First, emotional, physical, spiritual, and financial support from family is a common binding trait. Each community values their elders, and extended families look out for each other. They each encourage a healthy work ethic. Not too much workaholic attitude, not too much laziness. Just enough.

But what's the biggest common factor? You guessed it. In each of these three communities, the diet of their cultures is made mostly of vegetables. Each community also eats vegetables they grow themselves. And, the gardening itself provides physical exercise, mental fulfillment, and spiritual satisfaction. And, good old fashioned healthy vegetables. Here is an exerpt from the article:

"When she's not watching sumo wrestling on TV, Yasu Itoman, 100, gets her own exercise by growing onions, tomatoes, carrots, and other herbs and vegetables in her garden. They give her natural antioxidants that may help prevent cancer."

In the Adventist community of Loma Linda, Caifornia, where one community of extra-old people reside, Marge Jetton (101 years old) had this to say about her diet and long-life:

"I haven't eaten meat in 50 years, and I never eat between meals."

There is a somewhat interesting online page on the National Geographic site about this article. Hopefully it will convince you to eat your vegetables! It has certainly inspired me.

Click here to check it out.

more blog adventures

Faithful blog readers! An apology is certainly in order. I have neglected my blog for several days now. In fact, I think it has been almost two weeks since I wrote on this blog. There are several reasons for this.

I got a new job at a Super Target, and I have been working crazy hours. And, in my off time, I seem to be trying to squeeze in every amount of errand-running I can manage. And on my days off, I have successfully found other diversions from blog writing.

Another reason, and the main reason, for neglecting my blog is simply an old-fashioned lack of inspiration. Sure, several things have happened that are probably blog-worthy. I started a new job, I went to a Halloween party, I may be auditioning for a professional show, and I've gone through changes and introspective phases that are more than blog-worthy. However, I've found that my drive, and my motivation for blog writing has been dried up. It has been dried up by wrestlings with my self-esteem, and emotional confusions. Sometimes digging around the extra and distracting thoughts and feelings in order to draw out the real meaning or feeling behind something proves to be far too much work for a blog entry. But, it may be a healthy exercise nonetheless.

Since I started this blog, the idea was to relay exciting stories to my friends from afar. To that end, my blog was very successful and emotionally cathartic. But, now honesty seems to painful.
I feel like a sheep that has wandered from the flock. And, for far too long, I've been trying to find my way back. There are occurances and developments in my life that are pulling me toward that end, but in the mean time, I feel confused and discouraged. I'm sure you can relate.

A friend of mine from college once wrote a play called "Wading Through Peanut Butter." A funny name. But, also an apt description of how my own development feels most of the time.

I hope you'll forgive my frank honesty, and indulge my emotional pleas for reassurance. I don't mean to be the perpetual martyr. Or, the constant complainer. My goal is to simply be baringly honest and straightforward. But, enough. I think I've made my point.

Stay tuned for more blog adventures!

Proud to be American?

Being an American, it can be really easy to take it for granted. I'm not one for making others feel guilty. I don't think anyone should feel guilty for living in America. But, we should certainly appreciate living here.

A little while ago, I took an online test. It was the American citizenship test. I guess people who are trying to become American citizens are given various tests, and this is one. You can take it here, for fun, to see if you would pass! Sadly, I only got half of them right the first time I took it. I kind of rushed through it, though. But, these are things any clod should know.

studio city web site

Finally, Studio City has an official web site. I applaud the Chamber of Commerce for finally making one. I don't know what took so long, but I'm glad they did it. It's got a nice layout, and some great links. Also, the historical information about Studio City is of particular interest. Click here to check it out!

short attention span

I have more horror recommendations! Today is one of my favorite categories. I like to call it short attention span. These are the films that are diced up into three or four separate short stories. These are my favorite to watch, and to recommend to friends.

Short Attention Span

Creepshow 2
This little delight offers a story called "The Raft", based on a Stephen King short story of the same name. It also has a really cool story about a run-0ver hitchhiker. I also like the in-between segways of animation. Don't expect good acting, or even particularly good writing, even though Stephen King wrote one of them. But, it's still a winner. Click here.

Campfire Tales
This overlooked mid-90's gem has some really great moments. It features Ron Livingston from Office Space. It's about a group of teens who wreck their car on this woodsy back road. Then, they have to wait for help, since they're "in the middle of nowhere." So, to pass the time, they share ghost stories. There's a story about newlyweds attacked by "something" in their RV. Then, the story of a derranged internet killer. And last, the legendary ghost story of the guy who stays in a farm house overnnight. It's moderately low budget, and loads of fun. Click here.

Waxwork
This one is a little different from the other two in this category. However, I think it deserves a place in the short attention span category. It's the fantastically 80's tale about a group of college students who are invited to the grand opening of a wax museum. Of course, the wax museum party is at midnight, on a strange neighborhood street. When they show up, they are greeted by various freaks. Then, of course, the different wax exhibits prompt the different episodes of horror, including all the classics. Vampires, werewolves, and zombies await these hapless teens. Click here.

seriously scary

A couple of days ago, I made some horror recommendations under the "college crowd" category. Well, I've got some more coming your way!

Seriously Scary
This category is for those of you who enjoy watching movies that are purely for the scare factor. Maybe you like getting with your boyfriend/girlfriend, and turning out the lights with one of these terrors. Many people disagree on what really, really scares them, but these three are some of the scariest I've ever seen.

Carrie
Sissie Spacek is really great! And, freaky. She can sort of set stuff on fire with her mind. But, the weirdest and scariest part of this film is the mom. Ooh, boy, is she freaky. Scares me every time.
Click here to read more about Carrie.

The Exorcist
I declare this the single scariest film I have ever seen. In fact, I'm not even really sure why I'm recommending it. In fact, I'm never going to watch it ever again. It gave me nightmares. You have to respect what it is in order to be scared by it. I once attempted to watch it with a group of college students. So, we all got distracted with talking to each other and chit chatting. So, when really scary parts came up, no one really knew what was happening. But, trust me. It's terrifying. Click here for the official web site.

The Sentinel
This story of a young woman moving into a new apartment is a rather obscure little gem from the 70's. I'm recommending it because, even though it's not super-terrifying, it's still pretty cool. Click here to read more about it.

nature

Like an old friend, nature can embrace us. Being still and quiet in nature can remind us of what's really important. As we slow down, and truly observe our surroundings, physical changes begin to happen. We breathe deeper. Our hearts slow. We feel, hear, and see things around us in more detail. We begin to reflect. Things come to the surface in the mind that we can sort through. Overall, getting alone in nature is a healthy meditation that we should all try.

Horror recommendations

As the bewitching hour of Halloween grows near, you may already be preparing for the Hallow's Eve festivities. October is a wonderful time to celebrate the weird, obscure, freaky, and of course scary, side of life. One of the best aspects of Halloween is getting together with a group of friends to watch scary movies. Sadly, however, most people don't know the best scary movies out there. Or, even where to begin. Most people are greatly misguided by pop culture when it comes to horror films. And, most people will just watch whatever is most popular at the time. (A.K.A.-"Boogeyman", "Ring 2.") Now, these aren't necessarily bad movies. But, there is a wondrous archive of horror films out there that most people don't know or care about. So, I wanted to write this blog in dedictation to one of my favorite art forms: The horror film. And, in most cases, the 1980's horror film.

You might say I've already been doing research in this area for quite some time now. I am, by no means, an expert on horror films. But, I have seen tons of them. It sort of became a hobby of mine. There is a certain humor in laughing at bad horror, and that's the allure for me. Another allure is discovering rare and obscure treasures that you could never discover without doing some serious searching. With this research, I will attempt to guide you to the best horror films to watch this October. And, don't worry. I won't steer you wrong. There are different types of horror films you may want to watch, depending on the situation. I am only all too aware of this. I'm sensitive to the disdain the average person may hold toward horror films. But, don't worry. There's something for everyone.

Here are my top picks for this year's Halloween fright fun:

The College Crowd:
The college crowd is a category I'm creating for people who want to watch horror for the campy value. You know, they get a kick out of bad acting, low budget special effects, etc. You don't literally have to be a college student to enjoy these picks. But, "college crowd" simply describes the type of film. These tend to be a bit more crude at times. Maybe a bit more violent. So, if you're not into that, college crowd films aren't for you. However, if you want to see something different to watch with your friends, and you want a good laugh, then look no further.

Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn
Hilarious slapstick that could rival the Three Stooges. It's also a Bruce Campbell classic. Click here to read about the movie. Click here to visit Bruce Campbell's official page. Roger Ebert sums it up best in his review.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
It's important to note that I'm talking about the original TCM here. If you've seen the newer 2003 verison, please don't judge the original based on it. The original is a genuine work of art. In fact, you can click here to read a blog I wrote on it back in the summer. Click here for the rotten tomatoes TCM page.

The Lost Boys
An incredible 80's vampire flick, featuring Corey Feldam AND Corey Haim! Thoroughly entertaining, and overly "cool." It's one of my favorite 80's horror movies, and it's sure to be a hit with the "college crowd" who have never seen it. Click here to read about it.

More recommendations for Halloween coming up soon, with other categories!

best birthday ever

I think my greatest birthday celebration would have to be my 11th birthday party. Why, I remember it as if it were yesterday. (This is the part where the wavy lines take you back to 1990.)

A group of my guy friends (No icky girls) met, with my Dad, at Pizza Hut. It was a wondrously late 80's way to begin the festivities. Pizza Hut, being 80's as it is, was a wonderful post-Chucky Cheese, pre-"I don't care anymore" restaurant of perfection for young boys. It's got the atmosphere, it's got the caffeine-charged Coke. And, of course, it is the prime spot to gorge your young body on greasy pepperoni pizza. (Cowabunga, dude!) Then my Dad handed out 2 dollar bills as party favors. (Brilliant, Dad!)

After a dinner of bliss, we left the Pizza Hut and headed to the movie theater. For you see, this was no ordinary day. This was the friday that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted on the big silver screen. That's right. And, we would be the first to witness its glory. Being intelligent as we were, my Dad and I had already purchased the tickets earlier that day. We purchased enough tickets for the whole rowdy goofy group of us young boys hungry to see some cinematic violence.

Upon reaching the theater, the parking lot was packed. The line at the ticket booth was unbelievable. As we strolled through the entrance, I encountered a friend of mine from school, Will. His face seemed astonished when he saw us walking past the line. "How do you already have tickets?!" He asked, amazed. I simply told him, quite proudly, that we had purchased the tickets earlier that afternoon. So, the whole horde waltzed in, unscathed by the fact that the 7:00 PM showing of TMNT was sold out.

The cinematic glee that ensued was unforgettable. The theater was already jam packed, so we couldn't all sit together. We had to seperate, in different rows. As the movie extravaganza began, I soaked it up like a dying desert wanderer slurps up a puddle of cold water. My excitement level and caffeine level reached new heights as the ninja turtles "kicked butt" onscreen.

After the movie, we headed back to my house to finish up the night with more traditional ceremony. I tore open an array of gifts. (mostly TMNT paraphernalia.) Then, we gorged our young bodies once again on sugary birthday cake.

Ah, don't we all sometimes wish times could be simpler? Those days were fantastic. Of course, being an adult is fun, too. But, random childhood memories are a de-light. As far as birthday celebrations, this one is in the top three I guess.

A great place to live

I had some friends over for dinner last night and it was great. We watched Ed Wood, and followed that with Glen or Glenda. (Ed Wood is considered by many as the "worst director of all time." I kind of agree.) We had chicken, corn, and rolls. A delicious, very hearty southern meal. We followed it up with pumpkin pie for dessert. Yummy!

I discovered this really cool web site a few years back. My friend Tim told me about it. If you've ever wondered where the best place in country to live would be, look no further. This web site provides a completely free test that evaluates your personal preferences in a town. Then, it gives you quite a comprehensive list of cities/towns based on the criteria you specify in your test answers. It's a great learning thing, and can be eye opening.

Click here for the "Find Your Spot" site.

Hurricane victims

As we all know, hurricane relief continues. And, as far as we all know, it will most likely continue for years to come. And, I also know that there are varying views and opiniong about how this crisis was handled by the government. In my low budget opinion, there are political leanings on both sides that could stand to benefit from putting political spin on the situation. One thing we almost all agree on, however, is how the government, both on local and federal levels, botched things up. I won't go into detail about my opinion about Mayors and such, but we all know what happened.

Now that some time has passed since this tragic hurricane Katrina, the relief continues for the victims who lost their homes. We all have things we can do, whether we help rebuild firsthand, or give financially to the Red Cross. Me? I was considering going on a trip to Mississippi with my alma matter college, Carson-Newman, to help out. Now, I'm reconsidering. I may not logistically be able to get all the elements together in order to go. But, I've been left with questions. How much comfort am I willing to give up for others? How much actual work am I willing to do for others? Am I not serving people, just because I'm not going on a trip? As I look out my window at this dreary rainy evening, which has been blown in by the latest hurricane, these heavy issues weigh on me.

Even if you only give a few dollars to the Red Cross, at least we can all contribute in one way or another.

Garbage Pail Kids

I, along with many other children in the 1980's, collected those disgusting little Garbage Pail Kids cards. I think they were .50 cents per pack, and contained two or four cards and a piece of gum. The cards featured creative and overtly disgusting children with odd "pun" names, and graphic depictions of their "special feature." Little did I know, as an 8 year old, that they had actually created a live action Garbage Pail Kids movie.

So, nearly twenty years later, I have caught my first glimpse of the liva action schlock. And let me tell you, it's incredible. They released this movie on DVD just this year (don't ask my why) so many people will probably see it for the first time. Or, the second time, if they saw it at some obscure time in their childhood.

As a fan of 80's schlock horror, I soaked in every scene of this low budget masterpiece with giddy enchantment. It has a lighthearted humor, and an edge of 8-year-old-boy grossness. I gawked in disbelief when the bizarre live-action Garbage Pail Kids broke into a musical number. I laughed out loud in awe of some of the hokey one-liners. Some of the visual gags stunned me with their over-the-top cheesiness. The 80's fashion of one of the movie's main characters, ("Tangerine" is her name) nearly had me rolling on the floor with laughter. And, her boyfriend and "main bully" looked a lot like Steve-O from MTV.

The low budget and clunky puppetry of the Garbage Pail Kids is almost embarassing. Yet, near the end, I caught myself actually believing that these bizarre little buggers were real. Talk about suspension of disbelief! I had to laugh at myself. Overall, this movie is an 80's B-movie joy, and you should do yourself a favor by watching it.

Click here to read about The Garbage Pail Kids movie on rotten tomatoes.