Boat House

I mentioned in my profile that photography is one of my hobbies. So I thought I'd post an image every now and again. Hope you enjoy.This image was taken in Central Park in NYC. While this isn't the famous Loeb Boathouse, I felt the title Boat House still fit. This was taken on a trip in May 2008 with a Canon 20d w/ kit lense 18-55mm. 1/200sec, f/8, 55mm, ISO200.

(Click on the image for a larger view if you like.)

Joe The Plumber For President!

Ugh--this is my second post as of late concerning politics. I really need to be careful here, I may end up with a social conscience--eek! Regardless, I'm certainly not the savvy political blogger that so VERY many of my fellow bloggers are. In fact, if you're looking for partisan eloquence or thinly veiled venom--er, cynicism, you should probably just move along. I'm just a regular ole American, trying to make sense of WTF is going on in this election, and how my lonely little vote can make the biggest difference.

I'm not afraid to admit I've always voted straight Republican. This is hardly a surprise I'm sure, especially if you know anything about me. I grew up on a farm. I'm a Christian, Baptist in fact. I'm male. I live in the South. I love to shoot guns. Not a big shock I have Republican tendencies I would imagine. And in the beginning I was a sure supporter of McCain. In fact I thought the nomination of Palin as VP candidate was brilliant.

And then the wheels fell off the apple cart. I'm not sure exactly when; I can't put my finger on a single event. But the overall tone of the campaign changed for the ugly. I shudder when I hear all the sabre rattling and the personal attacks. More and more McCain/Palin are sounding shrill and nasty. Frankly, I'm embarrassed for the way they are acting.

But lest you think I've flip-flopped and am supporting Obama, that simply isn't the case. The Democrat's campaign has been undeniably ugly, and from the start. I mean really. Accusing Palin's husband of incest? Or suggesting that McCain gave up vital military secrets while being tortured as a POW? What the hell kind of people have the audacity to say things like that? So really I guess this issue for is expecting MY candidates' campaign be held to a higher standard.

I think what America could really use right now is a young, confident President that is polished and well-spoken. In my opinion, the USA has some major relationship mending to do with the other countries of the world. We've acted like a head-strong petulant child for quite long enough I think. So of the the two Presidential candidates, obviously McCain comes up short here compared to Obama.

I wish I could get a feel for who Obama is. But I'm having a hard time finding that. It's like he's created this nebulous persona that everyone is high on. I mean talk about drinking the Kool-aid--the vast majority of those who claim to be Obama supporters that I've actually spoken with really can't tell me why they'll be voting for him. After listening to the man speak, debate, stump, byte sound, I still don't know who he is. And as such, I can't tell how he's going to react when that bump in the road comes along.

The job of running our country is so large and complex I firmly believe that one person cannot do the job adequately. Presidents have long relied on their closest advisers and support staff to do this impossible job. So, the campaign issue becomes just as complex. Now I have to consider which candidate will surround themselves with the best people. And I have absolutely no idea how to even begin to ascertain that...

What's a regular ole American to do?

Martian Child

Let me just say a couple things before I let you know what I think of this movie. Sort of get my biases out in the open so you can appreciate where I'm coming from when I review this film for you.

Important Point #1: I REALLY like John Cusack, and more importantly, I like his later work the best.

Important Point #2: I like quirky movies. Movies like Smart People, Stranger Than Fiction, Reign Over Me all appealed very much to me.

Important Point #3: I can really identify with characters that are a little damaged from their childhoods. Usually these characters are too intelligent, or too creative, or too wise for their own good, and end up ostracized from and by their peers. I'll leave you to guess which one I was.

That being said, this is a quirky John Cusack film whose main characters have all been damaged, (some more than others,) growing up as free spirits. So yeah, of course I'm going to like it. And I did.

The film is an endearing tale of a widower science fiction writer (Cusack) that chooses to adopt a troubled young boy. Kids deal with the trauma in their lives in many different ways, but suffice it say most don't create an alternate life for themselves on another planet. The young boy, (played by Bobby Coleman,) is so messed up the only way he can deal with reality is through an elaborate fantasy world in which he's actually an alien visiting from Mars.

I honestly don't think there is any other actor that could have pulled off this character besides Cusack. Cusack's often distracted, and at times frantic acting style fits perfectly here. And honestly I believe Cusack's personal views of the world come shining through, from what I've read of his life away from the wide screen. One has to wonder if maybe that isn't the hallmark of a character played so genuinely well--that no other actor can be imagined playing the role.

To round out the cast Amanda Peet provides an appropriately quirky love interest, and Joan Cusack reprises her over-zealous mother-figure role from Raising Helen to perfection. Oliver Platt, Richard Schiff, and even Anjelica Huston make their appearances.

The movie is rated PG, and I let my 9 y/o watch it with us. There is only mild cursing, and in appropriate situations. This is life, not gratuitous debauchery.

All in all this is a really sweet story that will leave the viewer pondering the true meaning of family and unconditional love.

I give the film an A-.

Shooter

I watched this movie a long time ago and really enjoyed it. I've taken up precision shooting since I saw it, so when I ordered it up on Netflix to watch again, seeing it was a different experience. I am very much a beginner to precision shooting, but I've learned a great deal, and there were several miscues in the movie. Overall though it wasn't so bad as to distract me.

The movie has a pretty good story and the plot, although predictable, marches right along. Mark Wahlberg plays a retired scout-sniper accused of an assassination attempt on the President. But all is not as it seems. Wahlberg has been set up, and even the true target of the assassination attempt is in question. Wahlberg manages to escape, and the action is set in motion as he attempts to clear his name. I've actually enjoyed watching Mark Wahlberg, he's a much better actor than many give him credit for. I'm not sure we'll see an Oscar in his future, but he's no Ahnawld either.

Danny Glover appears as a character we're not used to seeing him play. the movie doesn't really allow as much development of his character as I'd like to see, but the parts we do see, he's a downright creepy bad guy.

The stunning Kate Mara provides the female love interest, and most male viewers will agree that we could do with seeing a whole lot more of her!

This film is rated R, but it's honestly a very tame R in my opinion. There is some graphic violence as one might expect in a movie about a sniper, but certainly not to the degree of Saving Private Ryan or Gladiator. No sex scenes, but as beautiful as Kate Mara is, I'll leave that up to you as being a plus or a minus.

I give this movie a B+.

263

School Days

So far things are going well. I've made it through the first round of exams, save one, and I've got straight A's. Hope that holds.

We had a mentor come talk to our Nursing Concepts class. He's just a year ahead of us, started nursing school in January 2008. Nursing is his second career after retiring from the USMC after 21 years. His plan of attack was to start networking by becoming involved in some of the nursing professional organizations. I think that's a great idea, and most have student memberships that are cheaper. I think I am going to join the AACN--the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Since that is the field I'd really like to go into, it's a good fit I think. They also offer a scholarship that rarely gets awarded because no one applies for it!! The membership requirements state that for a student membership one must be currently enrolled in a nursing program. I think I'm going to wait for my acceptance letter, (assuming I get one,) and enroll then. My wife is already a member, so the biggest challenge I think is to get only one newsletter sent to the house each month.

For my online pharmacology class we're required to put together a 'hot-topic blog' as a group assignment. The topics are assigned and my group got 'antibiotic resistance' as our topic. Luckily for me this meshes well with my anti-drug-unless-it's-really-really-necessary beliefs. You can visit our blog at The Antibiotic Rebellion. Leave some comments please! And just ignore the fact it looks exactly like this blog--it turns out that blue and orange are the school colors! Hahah!

It's going to be a tough thing to balance my holistic beliefs with the allopathic concepts that will be presented in nursing school. For example one of the hot-topic blogs I mentioned above discusses childhood vaccinations. After doing a great deal of research, (objective research, not propaganda research,) my kids are not vaccinated. It is a frustrating thing to read a student blog like that and see how much misinformation is out there that people accept as truth. It's really unfortunate. Not to mention it can be really inflammatory--some of the information that particular blog presents paints those parents who choose not to vaccinate their children as endangering them, and as such are bad parents. Nothing could be further from the truth. But I have to be careful. There is really no need to tip my hand. I hope to keep my mouth shut unless someone directly asks me my views on the subject. We'll see how that goes. Got to stay under the radar. Grr.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale

I thought I'd start recording my thoughts about different beers as I drink them. I never drank beer growing up--my first drink of any type of alcohol was well after my 21st birthday. Even then, girlie drinks like wine coolers and rum and vodka diluted with sodas were the flavors of the day--what can I say, I was uncultured.

I didn't like beer at all, but that had a lot more to do with the fact that I was just drinking bad beer--think ice brews... A summer working for the US Forest Service with evenings spent in hole in the wall bars in nostalgic little towns like Mancos, Rico, Telluride, and Dolores at 9 and 10 thousand feet above sea level in the mighty Colorado Rockies cultured my palate. I am by no means an expert, and would never claim to be one, but I've tasted enough to know what I like, and why.

Which brings me to the beer for today, Sam Adams Summer Ale. For a long time I have tried to like Sam Adams--I mean what's not to like? The company gives of that micro-brew homey feeling with many different seasonal ales. I tried the original Sam Adams Boston Lager several times early in my drinking career. And I just didn't like it. For me it has a thick raspy aftertaste. It just didn't go down smoothly.

Fast forward 5 or 6 years, and you'll find me standing in front of the beer cooler at Kroger looking for something not as light as a hefeweisen, but definitely lighter than a lager. I saw the Summer Ale, and I thought, why not?

Pop the top on a bottle and the bouquet smells of the tang of citrus and the warmth of pepper and summer wheat intermingle. My guess is the peppery scent comes from the grains of paradise used during spicing. The ale pours smoothly into a glass, and the color is warmly golden--darker than I expected from a 'summer' ale.

At first sip I'm struck by the crispness of this ale. The citrus zest bites quickly announcing the arrival to the tongue, followed quickly by the warmth of pepper. Only then does the smoothness of the wheat follow, and it makes for a great finish. And most importantly, none of the thick raspy aftertaste I have previously found with Sam Adams.

The beer pairs well with lighter fare. Over the course of the six pack I paired it with salads and grilled fish. I particularly enjoyed this ale with fresh rosemary bread straight out of the oven. The face of this particular beer is easily overwhelmed by strong tomato-y Italian dishes however.

Over all I'd have to say I was greatly impressed. This is a lively ale that I enjoyed very much. I'll definitely be back, and may even venture into other Sam Adams selections.

I give it a solid B.

263

The Ridiculousness Of It All

(**Disclaimer** I rarely if ever discuss politics. I simply don't know enough to intelligently speak on most topics regarding politics. I certainly don't claim any premeditated knowledge here, only gut basic reaction.)

As a common everyday American, I have to say it's an interesting time. And by interesting I mean downright farking INSANE. I mean seriously, WTF is going on?!?

Quite frankly, I'm aghast at the situation we're in. We, the common everyday Americans have been asleep at the wheel far too long. While we were so cozily napping amidst dreams of sugar plum fairies and immortally burgeoning stock markets, we've steadily and hungrily accepted the steaming piles of bullshit the financial community and our politicians have fed us.

People that we elected, and trusted, to have our best interests at heart have shown otherwise. They have instead lined their own pockets, and padding their bank accounts--and at the expense of you and me.

And to you, Corporate America, and Mr. & Mrs. Politician, I hear you getting worked up in righteous indignation and limbering up your "I didn't do it, I'm part of the solution not the problem" rubber pointing fingers. And if you would, ever so kindly, shut the FUCK up!

I am tired of the excuses. I am tired of the posturing. I am tired of the measures. I am tired of speeches. I am tired of the pathologically rich and greedy deciding what happens to the rest of us.

I want some action. Real, credible, thought-out, hard-work, roll-up-our-sleeves and FIX THIS ACTION.

Because so help me GOD, I, and all the other common everyday Americans you have systematically and smilingly DICKED over, will vote your sorry asses out of office.

I've read several articles and blog posts about Main Street backlash to what's been happening on Wall Street. Let me just say, back lash doesn't even approach the anger I'm feeling.

I am seriously fed up.

And I don't think I'm alone.

Happy Birthday Mom.

Happy Birthday Drofen's Mom.