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Spielberg and the Obsession of the Fractured Family

I was exposed to this today article today which highlights Steven Spielberg’s obsession in his films; namely the repairing (seen on many levels) of the fractured family.

So here is the IMDB listing of all Spielberg’s released movies…Let’s see if it’s true.

 

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Munich

War of the Worlds

The Terminal

Catch Me If You Can

Minority Report

Artificial Intelligence: AI

Saving Private Ryan

Amistad

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Schindler’s List

Jurassic Park

Hook

Always

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Empire of the Sun

The Color Purple

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Twilight Zone: The Movie (segment 2)

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Raiders of the Lost Ark

1941

Close Encounters of the Third Kinds

Jaws

The Sugarland Express

 

Yeah, I’m going to have to agree with this assessment.  There is one or two that I’m trying to remember this particular theme being played out in, and strangely enough a few I just haven’t seen (how sad), but yeah it’s true. 

 

What about you?  Can you see the theme of “repairing fractured families”?  Any movies you don’t see it in?

Johnny Carson Cannot Be Replaced

As Leno looks to retirement, and Conan continues to prepare for the Today show, and Fallon makes plans to replace Conan, I was please to read Mental Floss Blogs today and their post on Johnny Carson.
Here is one clip they showed...

Also make sure you listen to the clip with Jimmy Stewart reading a poem about this dog named Beau. It might make you cry...it did Johnny.
Funniest man I ever knew of who came from Norfolk, Nebraska. Heck funniest person I ever knew of who came from Nebraska.

Wii-Fit Looks Good With Anything From IKEA

This was informative and hilarious.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Awesome-ness!

Today I took off from work to go see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (is that sad and pathetic or just devoted?). And I thought it would be cool to take my dad.
I still have vivid memories of my dad taking me and my brothers to see the Temple of Doom when we lived on Guam. Around that time I had purchased with some birthday or Christmas money the book with cassette of Raiders of the Lost Ark, which I listened to over and over again. So even as a first or second grader (I don't remember which) I was a major Indy fan.
The theater we would often go to on Guam was this open aired theater. We would also see the Karate Kid and Rock IV there...two other freakin' amazing movies. The theater had four walls but no ceiling. Which meant while we were watching the movie would could quickly glance up and see the stars.
When we saw Temple of Doom there I remember it raining on us and my brothers and dad all huddled under a large umbrella together. Somehow this made the movie more amazing.
But before we hit the theater my dad and I had lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. I mention this for a couple of reasons. Anastasia, our waitress, had our table , another table of about 40 people and another large table on the patio. Unfortunately we weren't well taken care of, and while I get frustrated with that I feel bad for Anastasia. Why would the hostess seat us in her section? And why can't someone else have taken our table, even though we were in her section?
I had the chicken wrap with the wedges, and the wedges were cold. Not my favorite trip to the BW3.
Oh back to why I mentioned this lunch trip in the beginning... Can anyone tell me why Buffalo Wild Wings was once called BW3? BW2 would make sense, but BW3...I need answers.
So the movie...
Awesome!
I don't want to spoil anything, and I promise not so mention any details. Promise.
I do want to prepare some of you though... My promise will not be broken...trust me keep reading...
I read that Lucas and Spielberg and company intentionally made the previous Indy movies, because they were set in the 1930s, to mimics the Saturday morning movies of the 1930s and it's themes.
Whereas this current film...stay with me a promise is a promise, set in the 1950s (come on you saw the preview...you knew that), mimics the movies and themes of the 1950s.
It intentionally won't have the same feel as the previous movies...that's what I'm saying.
If you bear that in mind...you'll love it too.

Tragic

This is really sad.
Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter killed by car in driveway
I don't know about you, but I getting really tired of senseless tragic deaths and I can't wait until the day when there will be no more.

Glimpsing Your Upcoming Death

I read yesterday that P.T. Barnum, when he had grown gravely ill, had his obituary printed prior to his passing so that he could enjoy it. 

If you are interested you can read it HERE.  It is really interesting; the man lived an amazing life, worthy of the circus.

 

This got me thinking though…

 

If I could have a sneak peak at my obituary what would I want it to say?

 

Maybe this caught my eye because several churches I know of have been doing 30 Days [or One Month] to Live sermon themed series.

 

So I’m thinking of writing a short obit for myself, possibly using rhyme. 

 

What words should I include?

-          Faithful?

-          Honest?

-          Wise?

-          Devilishly Good Looking?

1.7 Percent Chance

How does this happen?
Who do you go with?
Beasley of Kansas State or Rose of Memphis?

Looking For Some Clarity

What’s the rule on chewing gum during a fast?

Allowed?

Not Allowed?

Failing is for Winners

I've been really dumbfounded recently, as I've tried to recruit students to attend Oak Hills Student Ministries Mexico Mission trip, by the number of parents who just flat out told me that they won't allow their children to attend.
But then again I'm not, as our youth ministry is made up largely (90%?) of home schooled students. They are completely afraid of their children being put in any situation that might endanger (challenge) their child.
So when I invite the parents to attend with their child, I get the same fearful response.

The puzzling thing is that Max Lucado just did a series entitled Fearless.

I don't like to question parents or say their wrong, unless the issue is straight up heresy or illegal. But I do think these parents are crippling their children, or building up a future rebellious attitude.

I've been challenging these parents to at least attend the information meeting this Sunday between services.

My job will be to create enough confidence and assurance in our adult leaders, these students and our plans that these parents will allow their children to risk. Pray for me as I really want to build not attack.

Any helpful thoughts or suggestions.

See more funny videos at CollegeHumor

p.s. I think I should clarify that I don't necessarily have any issues with home schooling in general. But I disagree with home schooling as a means of separating from culture. I feel the response I receive more often that not, when asking why someone home schools, is fear of public influence not better education. Also I'm not sure if I think education minus social interaction is really worth it either.

Tidbits and Other Fun Facts #1

I think reading a Sports Illustrated cover to cover a bigger success than reading an actual book.

I get my SI every Thursday.
Danica is the current cover holder.

Who thinks she'll win this coming Sunday?

Letting My Nerd Flag Fly

Okay so I recently said that in my apartment I'm the sports guy and Chris is the Nerdy SciFi guy, but I have to agree with Chris... This looks better than the last three movies.

Apparently Your Chants Didn't Work

Here is some video of Dodger fans chanting at Carlos Lee, of the Houston Astros, "You suck."

The Astros, in case some of you readers didn't know (other's I assume are still licking their wounds), swept the Dodgers in this series. One of those games, after no hits through seven, the 'stros piled on eight runs to win.

It's been a good week to be a Astros fan!

Holy Bovine

That's just a huge cow. At first I thought, "That's a lot of hamburgers." But then I realized it's a dairy cow, (at least I think...what do I know? I was never in 4H) so I said "That a lot of milk!"

Chilli, a British cow that is more than 6 feet tall, may enter the Guinness World Records as the world's tallest cow. The animal weighs more than a ton and is the size of a small elephant.
According to http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/popup?id=2205608

"...'cause knowing is half the battle..."

Recently Entertainment Weekly posted these photos on their website. From the upcoming G.I. Joe movie. What do you think? Did they do a good job a recreating the characters?Channing Tatum as Duke
Christopher Eccleston as DestroSienna Miller as The Baroness
Ray Park as Snake EyesDennis Quaid as Gen. HawkAdewale Akinnouye-Agbaje as Heavy Duty

Rachel Nichols as Scarlet

Byung-hun Lee as Storm Shadow

Said Taghmaoui

Looks What's Coming to the Big Screen

The Fraggles!


Also I heard that Jason Segel of How I Met Your Mother and Forgetting Sarah Marshall is going to create a new Muppet's movie.
I hope it's something like the Dracula Opera in FSM. That would be an awesome role for Kermit.

Receiving Recognition Recklessly

So I know that when you receive some sort of public recognition or praise, especially as a Christ follower, you're supposed to be humble and gracious. Probably say something like, "It's all for Jesus" and point up to heaven.

I guess I still struggling with that.
Because Shaun Groves, musician and Compassion International hero, specifically mentioned me and my blog on his Shlog today.

Heck yeah! That's awesome. I somehow feel it really important to tell you tonight.

Yeah, sure, it's in recognition of the fact that I've link my blog to his...but I'm gonna take it.

Don't take that from me...

Droppin' the Super Funny Awkward Laughs

I saw this video today and thought I'd share it.
It was on Andrew Osenga's blog.
You may know Andrew from the former band The Normals.
Or his current work with Caedmon's Call.
Or maybe just his own stuff.
Anyways he's working on a new album and this video is from some of the making of it.
Enjoy.

Answers to Everyday Grammar Questions

Today on the Mental Floss blog there was a post that dealt with many common grammar questions.  I particularly found this interesting, because it addressed a pet peeve issue of grammar for me.  Allow me to save you the time of visiting the site by just copying it below.

 

Q: “I feel like I remember having read in my old college Chicago Manual of Style that there are a select few proper names for which the possessive is ’ and not ’s. I think one was Jesus (as in ‘He followed Jesus’ teachings,’ not ‘He followed Jesus’s teachings’). I think it was the same for Moses and Sophocles … am I making this up?”—Posted by lala on 5/8

 

A: You remember correctly! The usual practice in making names possessive is to add an apostrophe plus s. But there’s an exception. When a Biblical or classical name ends in s, the custom is to add just the apostrophe: Jesus’ disciples, Hercules’ strength, Xerxes’ writings, Archimedes’ principle.

We also drop the s and use only the apostrophe in certain idiomatic expressions with the word “sake” (this avoids a pileup of sibilants). Examples: “for goodness’ sake,” “for conscience’ sake,” “for righteousness’ sake,” “for convenience’ sake.”

 

The strange thing is I’m horrible at grammar.  I do believe I have some struggles with dyslexia, which I’ve learned to combat by quickly viewing a sentence and never really noticing what I actually read.  I have to focus on the bigger idea more than the small details otherwise I get lost.  So I can not say that I’m perfect in all areas of grammar, but when people verbalize this above mistake it grinds my gears.  I even heard the king of Christian literature, Max Lucado, say “Jesus’s” before.

 

Anyways I post this because when I complain about it and people ask for the grammatical rule I’m not qualified enough to give a good answer.  Hopefully this helps.

 

If you have other grammar questions you can visit the grammarphobia site.

 

Every Had One Of Those Days?...

http://view.break.com/501813 - Watch more free videos

I have before. Those days suck!