To cry for....

Two items tonight, neither of which are earth-shattering or of deep insight.

First is a movie item. My wife and I were "without kids" on Friday and following a very nice date in Boston, we decided to continue it by grabbing a movie. Sort of a last minute thing and we really didn't consider deeply the various options available, but we had seen the previews for "Marley & Me" and it seemed enjoyable enough. Owen Wilson and Jennnifer Aniston -- how deep could such a flick really be?

So we entered the movie with relatively low expectations, merely looking for some mindless entertainment and enjoyment. And that's how the story certainly started. Without giving away anything to those who plan to go see the story, let me just say that it was NOT what we expected. It was good and it wasn't deep, but it was not mindless, I suppose. For those who have seen it (and I gather from the numbers reported, quite a few have), I wonder if they were able to keep their emotions in check.

Which brings me to my second point for today; mindless entertainment that is to cry for! Our darling daughter terribly spoiled our son by giving him Guitar Hero World Tour for his XBox 360. He has had the system for a while and became a fervent action hero in a couple of games, such as the Halo series and some car chasing games, as well as flight games. I've tried my hand at some of these games and while they were mildly entertaining, I could not get engrossed in them.

But this Guitar Hero thing is different. First of all, the soundtrack is great with a lot of rock tunes from the seventies and eighties. Then there is the idea that you are actually creating music as part of this game is very appealing and strangely addictive. I've found it hard to put the guitar down and the only good reason is the fatigue that builds up in my left wrist and fingers as a result of the extended play. Finally, there is the competitive element of not only beating each individual gig, but going head to head with my (much) better son in a game we both seem to enjoy.

So here is to (two) things to cry for ... Marley & Me and Guitar Hero. What a way to end 2008, a year that was to cry for too!

What is this I see......?

I found an interesting website here related to visual illusions. Muhsashum blogged about it and was selected as a blogger of note. I thought these three images were worth repeating....if you are seeing dots or waves, no worries -- it wasn't the eggnog.







Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!!

And there Twas.....

My friend Cliff blogged about the political correctness of Christmas Trees in one of his recent posts. There is an apparent continuing discourse in Corporate America, as well as in the Halls of Power, about the proper naming convention for a symbol of Christmas cheer -- the good 'ol Tannenbaum. Be that as it may, I was reminded that no one has contemplated renaming the menorah and my Jewish friends seem to be quite happy to help us celebrate the spirit of the season. We eat latkas and they come over for our Christmas brunch and everyone is happy.

In keeping with the season, the overall title of the blog, and my own perverse sense of humor, I decided to do a little investigative work on the American origins of the St. Nick phenomenon, just in case we need to rename him as well. My first source (wikipedia -- is there anyone who does NOT love it!) led me to remember the "TWas the Night Before Christmas."

You can see the connection, right? And it is this poem that is credited with the current concept of Santa and all that goes with it. Is that a good thing? I guess that depends who you ask, but for me, I truly enjoy the spirit and the concept embodied within that poem. It's a little bit about mystery, a little about cheer, a little about wishful thinking, and a little about dedication and commitment. Santa is a working man and not afraid to get his hands dirty (forget about the veiled breaking and entering reference -- that's the mystery part).

For those who prefer a more sober Christian interpretation (i.e., less commercialized), I respect their desire and traditions as well. No need for everyone to celebrate everything the same way, is there? It seems to me that in this season of ice storms, snow storms, and economic turmoil, a little cheer and good will toward all will go a long, long way toward resolving any perceived conflict in the naming rights to a Tree!

Now What.....

A couple of random thoughts for tonight:

Fed Interest rates at 0-1/4%...
Stimulus package of $850B - $1000B under consideration...
OPEC voes to cut oil production by 2M barrels/day...
Folks at work finally got their power back today (day 6), but not everyone was so "lucky"...
Number One Son is home from college for the holidays....
Number One Daughter is on the mend from her Novo-bout...
Tiger can hit the ball again...
You can now own your own Space Shuttle, although you will have to wait a couple of years...
And this is apparently the worst shopping season in decades, with weird weather all over the place, and gloom firmly control of the American psyche...

But...we are only 1 week away from Christmas, three days from Hanukkah, and still in control of our own happiness and destiny. When I look at my kids, I am proud and amazed at their convictions, desires, hopes, and dreams. They love life, their friends, this country, and their parents. They have great hopes for their futures and great plans for their success. In this season of reflection and hope, they are nothing else if not hopeful. And they are right!

So here's to Hope...

Cheers!

Speaking of "crisis"

Just when you think the weather guys actually know what they are doing, you are once again reminded that they don't. My reason for NOT having blogged the last couple of days has ultimately little to do with the accuracy of a forecast and a lot more with my lack of preparation to deal with the loss of electrical power for a couple of days.

The ice storm that knocked out the power (and by extension our cable and phone service) in the larger New England Region (over 1 million customers without power and as of this writing over 250,000 are still in the dark) brought into stark focus how dependent we (I) are on our creature comforts. Not that we suffered; we have family in the area and relocated the kids and ourselves to various hospitable locales to enjoy holiday cheer and companionship, as well as warmth and light. But there are many, many folks in today's day and age whose daily existence does not include the luxury of running water, reliable electrical service, or warm and dry shelter.

Having experienced first hand the disruption caused by the loss of these conveniences I'd taken for granted has given me a new appreciation for the privileges we enjoy. Being an American, living free, with abundance and daily comforts, led me to a sense of entitlement I am afraid. It is clear to me that there is no entitlement; it takes hard work by a dedicated group of folks to keep those "entitlements' available. Be those folks the soldiers who keep us free, law enforcement or emergency workers who keep us safe, or the electrical and cable repair crews, who worked in cold and misarable conditions to restore "my" power, I am grateful for and humbled by their continued service to our well-being.

A heartfelt THANK YOU and it is great to be back!!

The Next Crisis

While I am by no means an avid diver or naturalist, I do marvel at the beauty and biodiversity found beneath the water's surface. A fifth of the world's coral reefs, one of the most extraordinary sights I've seen, is currently considered lost. These structures, oases in a vast water waste land, are under attack from rising water acidity (due to CO2 absorption) and rising water temperatures. Now I know that in the past I have voiced my thoughts about the human role in global warming (not in this blog) and I will go on record here to state unequivocally that I believe we are the primary reason for our current changes in climate. The report accompanying the global survey claims we need to limit climate change to the absolute minimum and substantially cut emissions if we want to save coral reefs.

DUH!!!

I wholeheartely agree and I am willing to do my part. But we do have bigger problems than the disappearing coral reefs, their undeniable beauty notwithstanding. It seems to me that the preservation of the reefs would be a very welcome side effect of the more strategic imperatives of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and creating a new, more sustainable, economic model that will preserve our leadership role in the world. With "pay-option" mortgages coming as the next wave of defaults and foreclosures, unemployment claims at a 26-year high, extremists in Belgium (of all places), and snow in New Orleans, it is hard to figure out where our next crisis will come from. I wonder if FDR's inaugural quote (paraphrased) still holds true; that all we have to fear is fear itself.

I surely hope so.....

Who Cares....

I read this post on MSNBC about a name I thought we had left behind...Joe the Plumber is back in the news with his "anger" at John McCain (see here).

And I say: Who Cares?? Not only do I not care why Joe is supposedly not a real fan of McCain, or that he is a true believer in Sarah Palin, I am puzzled why any of this should be news today in the first place. Joe's 15 minutes are long gone, his upcoming book notwithstanding. Which reminds me, I cannot believe there is an audience out there that would be willing to pay to read his manifesto....

Leslie's 50th

For all who'd like to re-live the moments.....