Scanning the news

Unlike some people, I'm not a news junkie. So when I scan the news and post about it, that usually means I'm bored.

Here are some stories from the last 10 days or so that caught my eye.

I'm terribly disappointed in you science officianados and so-called "experts" not even noticing the passing on May 20th of one of your own. So here, here, here and here are bits on the life and famed "experiment" of one Stanley Miller.

It's a sad day today for New Hampshire, but one not totally unexpected, as one more thread of the moral fiber of our society unravels.

In tribute to Rev. Billy Graham, 88, the entire cadre of living ex-US Presidents (Jimmy Carter, GHW Bush, and Bill Clinton) were on hand for the grand opening of his museum and library in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Talk about a serious population problem. Imagine being one of these.


Here are some other, rather odd stories that I came across. Read about:

A proposed alien themed amusement park in Roswell, New Mexico.

or

The capture of Reggie, the hip and elusive L.A. alligator.

or

A frivolous lawsuit regarding vomit.

or

How about a false bomb threat (thankfully).

On a more serious note, you all should know how seriously I appreciate and value books. So it bothers me when someone wants to burn them.

Have you heard this joke?

A man walks into a bar with a paper bag.
He sits down and places the bag on the counter.
The bartender walks up and asks what's in the bag.

The man reaches into the bag and pulls out a little man,
about one foot high and sets him on the counter.

He reaches back into the bag and pulls out a small piano,
setting it on the counter as well.

He reaches into the bag once again and pulls out a tiny
piano bench, which he places in front of the piano.

The little man sits down at the piano, and starts playing
a beautiful piece by Mozart!

"Where on earth did you get that?" says the bartender.

The man responds by reaching into the paper bag.
This time he pulls out a magic lamp.
He hands it to the bartender and says:

"Here. Rub it."

So the bartender rubs the lamp, and suddenly there's
a gust of smoke, and a beautiful genie is standing before him.

"I will grant you one Wish.
Just one wish...each person is only allowed one!"

The bartender gets real excited.

Without hesitating he says, "I want a million bucks!"

A few moments later, a duck walks into the bar. It is soon
followed by another duck, then another.
Pretty soon, the entire bar is filled with ducks and they keep coming!

The bartender turns to the man and says,
"Y'know, I think your Genie's a little deaf. I asked for a million bucks, not a million ducks."

"No shit!!" says the man,

"Do you really think I asked for a 12 inch pianist?"

Find the rabbit

I saw a wild rabbit in the neighbor's yard last night. I saw two of them in the yard just a few days ago. This crappy picture was taken the other day with my cell phone camera. I wasn't more than 25 feet away from it but the picture makes it look much farther away. I could not get any closer before the bunny hopped to safety into some nearby bushes. I think I know where one rabbit's nest is in the yard. I'm not going to tell V and M about it though because I'm afraid that they might disturb the nest and drive the critters away.

Marquise Hill (1982-2007)

Marquise Hill, 24, a New Orleans native and New England Patriots player was found dead on Monday after his body was recovered on Late Pontchartrain in Louisiana. Hill and a female companion were involved in a jet ski accident on Sunday and Hill was reported missing.

Here's the story from espn.com and reaction from the Patriots web site.


Hill was a back up player for the Patriots and was questionable to make the team this fall. It seems, though, that he was an outstanding individual off the field from everything I've read. He spent a lot of time and money helping in the recovery effort after Hurricane Katrina.

It saddens me when I read about someone who dies so young. It's just another reminder that life is so fragile and you never know when your time will come.

Creation Museum opens today

For creationists and supporters of the historicity of Genesis like myself, today's opening of the Creation Museum is big news. For the past year or so I've been reading updates on the museum's construction and target date for the grand opening in the AiG newsletter I receive.

Ken Ham, director of Answers in Genesis, spoke at my church in April 2006 and was promoting the museum, then in the beginning stages of construction.

I, for one, can't wait to visit it for myself. They've spared no expense on the museum, raising the entire cost of the project through donations.

There was an article in yesterdays Boston Globe about it, which is worth a read.

SNMR 3.10: "Star Wars VI - Return of the Jedi"

The final film for this special SNMR weekend is "Star Wars VI - Return of the Jedi" (1983, PG, 136 minutes), starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Billy Dee Williams, David Prowse, James Earl Jones, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz and Sebastian Shaw. The film was directed by Richard Marquand.

I've watched this film just as many times as the others, as you no doubt have guessed and will watch it many more times in my lifetime, to be sure. I can remember standing in the lobby of the packed Showcase Cinema waiting to see this film on the first weekend of it's release. I'm talking wall to wall people. It wouldn't surprise me if they had this film showing on three or four screens simultaneously to meet the demand of people wanting to see it.

From the DVD's dust case:

In the spectacular final chapter of the Star Wars saga, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia must travel to Tatooine to free Han Solo by infiltrating the wretched stronghold of Jabba the Hutt, the galaxy's most loathsome gangster. Reunited, the rebels team up with tribes of Ewoks to combat the Imperial forces on the forest moon of Endor. Meanwhile, the Emperor and Darth Vader conspire to turn Luke to the dark side, and young Skywalker is determined to rekindle the spirit of the Jedi within his father. The Galactic Civil War culminates in in the ultimate showdown, as the Rebel forces gather to attack the seemingly defenseless and incomplete second Death Star in the battle that will determine the fate of the galaxy.

From Martin and Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2007, p. 1073:

Third film in the [original] Star Wars series centers on the all-out attempt by the Rebel forces - led by Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo and Lando Calrissian - to turn back the tidal wave of interplanetary domination by the evil Galactic Empire and its forces, led by Darth Vader.

This absolutely fantabulous conclusion to the Star Wars saga has always been my favorite of the three original films. Guess I'm a sucker for happy endings. What more can I say that I haven't already said in one of the other two reviews? The story is strong, the performances are memorable and a whole generation of kids left the theater happy. As with Empire, I'm not sure I like the latest special edition cameo of Hayden Christiansen as Anakin during the Endor celebration scene at the end of the film, even though it is the pre-dark side Anakin. Minor complaint aside, it truly can't be stated in definable terms how much of an impact these three films have had on my generation and on the movie industry as a whole. I really don't think George Lucas, in his wildest dreams, could have imagined what kind of legacy this simple little story would have. So it shouldn't surprise you that this film also gets five out of five stars.

SNMR 3.9: "Star Wars V - The Empire Strikes Back"

The second film in this special SNMR weekend is "Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back" (1980, PG, 124 minutes), starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, David Prowse, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz and James Earl Jones. The film was directed by Irving Kershner.

I've watched this film probably just as many times as the original film and no doubt will watch it many more times. The great thing about these films is that no matter how many times I see them or realize that I know the story backwards and forwards, it still seems like the first time. The story is so compelling.

From the DVD's dust case:

It is a dark time for the Rebellion. After a devastating attack on their ice base on the frozen planet of Hoth, the Rebels are scattered by Imperial pursuit. Luke Skywalker seeks out the mysterious Jedi Master Yoda in the swamps of Dagobah, while Han Solo and Princess Leia outrun the Imperial fleet to the beautiful Cloud City of Bespin. In an attempt to convert Luke to the dark side, the evil Darth Vader lures young Skywalker into a trap. In the midst of a fierce light saber duel with the Sith Lord, Luke faces a terrible truth about the Skywalker legacy.

From Martin & Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2007, p. 1073:

In George Lucas's follow up to Star Wars, Billy Dee Williams joins Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), and the gang in the fight against the forces of the Empire, led by Darth Vader. It's more action-packed fun in that faraway galaxy a long time ago.

Obviously, I love all of these movies. However, this one has always been my least favorite of the original trilogy. There are many Star Wars fans that will tell you just the opposite - that this is the best film of the original movies. No matter where your viewpoint lies, this film is still awesome. My favorite scene is the asteroid chase scene and of course the light saber battle between Vader and Luke. I'm not sure if I like the hologram replacement of the original emperor with Ian MacDiarmid in the '97 Special Edition, even though story-wise it makes sense. But I suppose if I can handle the other improvements and enhancements Lucas made, then I really ought to be able to deal with this one too. The script is again tightly written and the cast is again superb. This film also gets five out of five stars.

SNMR 3.8: "Star Wars IV - A New Hope"

Tonight begins a special weekend for SNMR as we commemorate and celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the theatrical release of the original STAR WARS (May 25, 1977) film. I'll review the three films from the original trilogy this weekend, one film per day.

So then, tonight's SNMR feature is "Star Wars IV: A New Hope" (1977, PG, 123 minutes), starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Alec Guiness, Peter Cushing, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew and the voice of James Earl Jones. The film was written and directed by George Lucas. I'm watching the 1997 Special Edition re-release.

I've seen this film hundreds of times in my life and probably will hundreds more. This is one of my favorite films of all time.

From the DVD's dust case:

A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY... The Jedi Knights have been exterminated and the Empire rules the galaxy with an iron fist. A small group of rebels have dared to fight back by stealing the secret plans to the Empire's mightiest weapon, the Death Star battle station. The Emperor's most trusted servant, Darth Vader, must find the plans and locate the secret rebel base. Princess Leia, a captive rebel leader, sends out a distress signal that is intercepted by a simple farm boy, Luke Skywalker. Seizing his destiny, Luke takes up the challenge to rescue the princess and help the rebellion overthrow the Empire, along with such unforgettable allies as the wise Obi-Wan Kenobi, the cocky Han Solo, the loyal Chewbacca, and the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO.

From Martin and Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2007, p. 1073:

May the force be with you! Writer-director George Lucas blended the best of vintage pulp science fiction , old-fashioned cliffhangers, and classic fantasy to come up with the ultimate adventure "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away."

This is one of the greatest films ever made and it's legacy firmly established in film lore. It is groundbreaking in so many ways, from special effects to the orchestral soundtrack and overall movie theater sound experience. Before this film, movie related toys were very rare if ever made, now they are commonplace. Nowadays, we take such movie special effects for granted, which is why, to many people, the trilogy of prequels was just ho-hum. Lucas is really a movie pioneer and it's surprising to me that he's never won any major Academy Awards for his work. Someday, when he's older and much grayer, he'll receive one of those Thalberg Lifetime Achievement Awards. He was the first to re-release his movies on DVD with the 1997 Spacial Edition release of the original trilogy. Before that you never saw directors going back to revisit their past films. Last fall Lucas re-released the trilogy on DVD again, this time packaging the original theatrical releases along with the 1997 special editions. The man is brilliant and a visionary.

Overall, the story is excellent and the characters are memorable. How many people incorporate lines from these movies in subtle ways during casual conversation? Sometimes the acting is a bit cheesy, though (hello C-3PO). Even after thirty years the opening theme music, in my opinion the best movie theme music ever written (thank you John Williams and LSO), gets my blood pumping every time I hear it.

Obviously, this film gets five out of five stars. To rate it less is tantamount to treason. If you don't own these films yourself by now, there's no hope for you. None.

Penny pinching at the pump

So it's time for my occasional rant about gas prices.

This Memorial Day weekend kicks off the unofficial start to the summer driving season. Gas prices have been on the upswing since January. I recall filling my tank one time in January at a station in Goffstown, New Hampshire for $2.01/gallon. At the time that irked me, because 500 yards down the road there was another station selling at $1.99/gallon. Now prices here are averaging over $3, close to a 50% increase. The last time I filled my tank I paid $2.91.

I understand the ebbs and tides of economics and supply vs. demand but this is crazy. It's sad when you have a fuel efficient vehicle and you still pay close to $30 for a fill-up.

One thing I've learned and always try to do is keep an eye on the gas gauge and never let it get lower than 1/4 of a tank.

A news report I saw on television last night gave a few hints on how to get the most gas mileage per fill.

a) make sure the tires are filled to the proper air pressure level.
b) make sure that you check and change the oil in your engine regularly.

I think there may have been a few more but that's all I can remember right now.

Two stories dealing with the gas price increases are here and here.

---

Just thought I'd let you know that my grandfather would have been 98 today, were he still among the living. Still thinking about you, grandpa. See you someday.

Now you have it, now you don't

As you know, I've been out of work for quite some time and have been working with several employment agencies who are out there looking for opportunities for me.

Yesterday I had a phone interview that was set up through one of these staffing agencies with a software company here in town. The interview took place at 16:30 and lasted for approximately half an hour. When the interview was finished, I was asked to call my contact back at the agency to let her know how I thought the interview went and thus let her know if the job was something that appealed to me so she could relay my interest.

Being mightily short on cash, I told her that the job did interest me and maxing $x per hour, while not as much as I need, was better than making nothing at all. She told me that, since it was late in the day, she didn't expect to get any feedback back from the company until sometime on Wednesday.

Quarter to six, the phone rings and it's the woman from the staffing agency. She excitedly asks me what I'm doing at 09:00 on Wednesday. I reply quickly that I hadn't planned on doing anything (anything productive, that is). She then tells me that I'll be working at my new job!! Congrats follow and she then proceeds to lay out the details: what time to get there, what the dress code is, etc. and that she'll meet me there in the morning because there are a few pieces of paperwork that I need to fill out (hello W-4) again.

Obviously, I'm real excited to get back to work and I happily relay the story to every member of my family.

Today I get there fifteen minutes early (a robust 15 minute non-highway commute with traffic) and am told by the receptionist to have a seat in the lobby lounge. Right at nine the staffing people come and I fill out the necessary forms. The manager lady I spoke with last night comes down to escort me, with visitor badge/door key in hand up to the third floor.

The day goes by uneventfully and I perform the tasks required of me, being shown what to do and how to do it by another woman I'd be working with. The job is not rocket science and I pick it up quickly. During the course of the morning, the IT guy sets me up with a computer, email, etc. The whole shebang.

Aside from asking appropriate questions when necessary to do the work, I say little. The only things I asked were what time lunch was, how long it lasts and what time is the workday done? All important questions and necessary for me to know. At 16:00 when I was allowed to leave, I turned in my visitor badge to the manager lady, figuring they'd have a permanent one for me in the morning, said good night - see you tomorrow, yada, yada, yada and headed for the elevator with my lunch bag and book bag in hand.

After a grueling 20 minute commute (with more traffic than in the morning) I get back home. Half an hour later the phone rings and it's the staffing lady. She's calling, not to ask me how the day went, but to tell me that the company decided that I would not be a good fit for them long-term and thanked me for my time.

I asked staffing lady what the reasons were for my abrupt dismissal and the only reason I got (that she was given) was that I was not whom they were looking for. I inquired with her again later, pressing for a better answer. None was provided.

Now, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes, but I can't figure out why or how a company would be so gung-ho about me on Tuesday afternoon and decide on Wednesday, after one day's work that I'm not a good fit?

How does that work, exactly?

So it's back to the drawing board for me.

Good thing I have another interview scheduled for Tuesday morning. An interview with a company that, while a bit farther away, holds much more promise than this one day experience did.

Truth be told, I couldn't really see myself as a long term fit at that position with the software company anyway. However I kept that thought a-rattlin' around in my head. I figured that I'd be able to finish out the week before any judgment was rendered on my "fit."

Stuff happens for a reason, this I know.

It doesn't make it any less frustrating though.

This also bothers me, in general about "workplace etiquette": Why is it that courtesy calls for an employee to give notice, usually two weeks, before leaving a job, to not leave them hanging. But they can say to an employee, with no notice, that they're firing you? Don't let the door hit you on the way out type stuff. How does that not inconvenience me and leave me hanging? Who in the heck invented that rule? Can someone give me a logical explanation that makes sense?

That is why, generally at the jobs I've had, I don't give notice. Why should I be loyal to a company who won't show me the same courtesy in return?

It would be one thing if your boss came up to you and said, "Hey, we're going to fire your butt in two weeks, so you better start looking for another job."

If that happened then I can see giving notice.

----

Happy 63rd Birthday, Dad.

Double Digits, part II

The doctor made it back in by 01:00 and apologized for being held up with another delivery on the same floor. I nodded to the doc and shrugged, as if to say, "what can you do?" When doc again examined K, she was at 9 cm! No Cesarean section would be needed after all! The level of pitosin was increased again and I believe they introduced another medication into the IV bottle.

Then things began to heat up quickly. Within another hour and a half, labor pains increased significantly and came closer together. At the 02:30 examination, she was finally at 10 centimeters and the doctor could feel the crown. We were so close. The doc had me coaching K with her breathing while I was holding one of her legs and trying to encourage her to push, while another nurse held back her other leg. The doc was right there in the middle and for some reason I thought of Johnny Bench and salad spoons.

As the head came out there was a faint tearing sound and more bright streams of blood. Just a few more pushes. Just a few more minutes. Before I knew it, the doctor held up for all, especially K, to see a brand new person and the loud gasp for air that followed, as the baby let out its first cry. It was 03:10 and my eyes immediately focused on the baby's lower abdomen and immediately I knew. I announced in a loud voice, "K, we have a daughter! We have a daughter! V has finally come!"

K, tired as she was, looked at me with that look of utter tenderness and total satisfaction at her accomplishment, a look that I'll never forget. I leaned over and gave K a short kiss and told her that I loved her.

Meanwhile the superb doc and nursing staff were doing their jobs. The smiling doc reached out to me with what looked like giant hedge clippers. "Would daddy like to cut the cord?" Wordlessly I nodded and took the clippers and performed the ever important cut. Then the doc put the baby on K's belly and the mother/daughter bonding truly began.

When the doc had stopped the bleeding, she began to mend the tear. The nurse came over and took V to the supply cart. I went over to the cart with the nurses, who were cleaning up my daughter and congratulating the new dad. I grabbed the telephone in the room, dialed her parents house and handed K the phone so she could tell them that they were officially first time grandparents. Since it was the middle of the night, the call didn't last too long. I then called my parents to tell them the news. They were grandparents again. That call didn't last long either.

When V was ready, they wheeled her over to the nursery where official length and weight measurements were taken and ink was applied to the foot to record the official print. Officially V weighed seven pounds eleven ounces and was twenty one inches tall. (If only I was a gambling man!!)

K said that she was tired, obviously, and wanted to get some sleep. She told me that I should go home and get some sleep myself. I kissed K good night and told her that before I left, I was going to go to the nursery and hold V for a few more minutes.

We had decided earlier that I would come back to the hospital around 10ish, so we both could get a decent night's sleep.

On my way to the hospital later that morning, I stopped at the mall to get gifts for everyone. K got a plush bathrobe, I got myself an airbrushed t-shirt which had a picture of Fred Flintstone and Pebbles on the front along with the words, "Daddy's Little Girl" and on the back of the white shirt I had the artist write all of the pertinent info. V got some stuffed animal. I still have that shirt and to the best of my knowledge, K still wears that robe. Lord knows where that toy went.

I also stopped off at the gas station next to the hospital and bought every different kind of newspaper I could find for that day. Those papers are safely wrapped and in storage for the day when V will be old enough to appreciate them.

This happened ten years ago today. That's right, my oldest child is now officially a double digit girl. I still have a hard time dealing with this. Unbelievable.

H A P P Y
1 0 t h
B I R T H D A Y,
V ! ! !

Double Digits, part I

We went to her ob-gyn appointment on Wednesday the 14th as we were supposed to. The due date had arrived, except there was no sign of labor. None. Instead of being rushed to the hospital, as I had envisioned would be the case, we were able to take our time getting there. The doctor examined my wife and everything appeared normal.

"Okay," she said as the appointment was coming to an end. "Barring any sudden bouts of labor over the next seven days, I'll see you back here next week. Be here at 06:30."

We nodded our heads in acknowledgement as we walked out the door, thanking the doctor for all of the excellent care and advice that she had provided us over the last nine months.

As I helped K into the car, she leaned over to me and said, "I can't wait for this to be over."

Once I had sat down behind the wheel and fastened my seat belt, I reassured her that indeed it would be over in seven short days. Then the fun would begin for both of us.

Sure enough the next seven days were as uneventful as we'd feared they would be. We made sure to get to bed early on Tuesday evening because we knew the next day would be the most eventful day of our two and a half year old marriage.

After munching down a quick breakfast, we headed for the hospital. it was 06:00 and I was still trying to get the sleepers out of my eyes. The roads leading into downtown Nashua had not seen the bulk of the daily morning congestion that is a happy combination of commuter traffic and local residents heading out for various work destinations. It was a pleasant and otherwise uneventful ride and we arrived at the hospital in 18 minutes. Plenty of time to find a good spot in the hospital's adjacent parking garage.

After K had been successfully checked into her room, which would also double as the birthing suite, a nurse came in to take her vitals and that of the baby. Within 20 minutes the sac was broken and pitosin, thru an IV bag, was pumping through her veins. So far, so good - everything was normal. The baby's heartbeat was strong. The nurse gave each of us a chance to listen through the stethoscope and we could see the EKG readout on the monitor and on the printed pages being spit out below.

We were not sure how long the pre-labor stage would last, so we made sure to bring the essentials: plenty of reading material for each of us, a deck of cards and a cribbage board.

Around 08:00 the doctor came in to make sure K was comfortable and even asked how I was doing. She listened to the baby's heartbeat and checked the dilation of the cervix to see how much progress was being made. She reassured us that everything was fine, and estimated that by early afternoon we'd have a new addition to our family.

Long before now we had decided on a boy's name and a girl's name because we did not know, did not want to know, the baby's sex until it was born. Coming up with a suitable boys name was easy, since I had always wanted a junior and K had wanted to use her father's name, since he had no sons of his own. Compromise here was easy. I would not get my junior, but both her dad's name and my first name would be used. The only question was which would be used as the first name. The order we decided on, coincidentally happened to be the name of a restaurant in downtown Nashua.

Choosing a girls name proved to be a much more formidable task, because each of us liked different names and didn't like the other's suggestions. There were no commonalities. We bought a book of baby names, as most first time parents do, and went through every name at least twice, if not three times. Then it happened: when we put this particular combination of names together it clicked. We looked at each other with that knowing look - a sensation I'll never forget. The look that both of us knew made sense, as if that combination of names was already hers and we had just temporarily forgotten it.

For a first child, knowing the sex pre-birth is not really that important a piece of information. The most important thing we were concerned about was the health of the baby and did it have the proper amount of limbs, fingers and toes. The baby's room was done in neutral greens, so that boy or girl, we'd be prepared.

As the day progressed onward, there was little or no change and contractions were few and far between. I can't even tell you how many laps around the maternity floor we made that day, with the intent of helping the labor process along. We probably walked over two miles, slowly pushing the mobile IV stand along as we went. In between laps we played different card games and made good use of the cribbage board. Between the two of us, we read most of the magazines lying around and I read at least one of the books I had brought in its entirety.

Meals were brought in for both of us, ordered from a limited cafeteria menu. K even got to take a nap as I flipped through the television channels. As the morning became afternoon and the afternoon became evening there was little progress to report after each examination. Steadily throughout the day the nurses increased the level of pitosin flowing through the IV hoping to speed up the process.

Around 22:30 the doctor herself came in and checked K out. All of the necessary vital signs were normal but she was only between 7 and 8 centimeters. Labor pains were there but not as frequent as you like near the end of the pregnancy. She still had more than two cm to go. The doctor made the announcement that if no significant progress was made by midnight, then K would need to have a Cesarean section. I could see the color drain from her face, what color there was left, anyway. She had so badly wanted to deliver her first baby vaginally. At some point during the proceedings, the anesthesiologist came in to administer the much sought after epidural. When it began to take effect, any discomfort K was feeling was gone.

To be continued...

Red Sox @ Yankees

Entering this three game series in New York, the Red Sox lead the season series 5-1 and are 10 1/2 games up on the Yankees in the AL East standings. This series represents games 7-9 in the eighteen game season series, with games 10-12 to be played June 1-3 in Boston.

Here are the pitching matchups for the series, with links added for game summaries upon completion of each game.

May 21: @ Yankees 6, Boston 2 [WP=Wang (3-3), LP=Wakefield (4-5)]
Wakefield vs. Wang

May 22: Boston 7, @ New York 3 [WP=Tavarez (3-4), LP=Mussina (2-3)]
Tavarez v. Mussina

May 23: @ Yankees 8, Boston 3 [WP=Pettite (3-3), LP=Schilling (4-2)]
Schilling v. Pettite

SNMR 3.7: "Blood Diamond"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Blood Diamond" (2006, R, 143 minutes) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Sheen, Arnold Vosloo. The film was directed by Edward Zwick.

This is one of those films that came out last year that I wanted to see in the movie theater but never got around to it, slacker that I am. So I'm watching it for the very first time tonight. Let's hope I'm not disappointed.

From the DVD's dust case:

AN ex-mercenary turned smuggler (Leonardo DiCaprio). A Mende fisherman (Djimon Hounsou). Amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone, these men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman's son, conscripted as a child soldier in the brutal rebel forces ripping a swath of torture and bloodshed across the alternately beautiful and ravaged countryside. Directed by Edward Zwick (Glory, The Last Samurai), this urgent, intensely moving adventure shapes gripping human stories and heart-pounding action into a modern epic of profound impact.

From Muze, Inc:

Set in Sierra Leone, Blood Diamond explores the role of diamond trading in the African civil war of the late 1990s. Narrowly escaping death when his village is invaded by R.U.F. militia, farmer Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) is enslaved at a diamond mine and has his family taken from him. When he discovers an unusually large stone he buries it, knowing it may be his only tool for retrieving his family. While Vandy is imprisoned, white African diamond smuggler Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) overhears an angry R.U.F. leader shouting at the farmer about the missing diamond, and he gets Vandy out of jail, then bribes him with the promise that he will help find Vandy’s family in return for half the diamond’s worth. Bonded by a common goal, the two men clash over drastically different values, but manage to stick together in pursuit of the prize. Also playing a part is fearless American journalist Maddie Bowen (Jennifer Connolly), whose flirtations with Archer and obsession with the truth land her in the middle of the bloody action. As the three embark on a dangerous journey filled with close calls, unlikely bonds form that threaten to change Archer’s unfeeling ways. Meanwhile, a plotline following Vandy’s beloved son shows us the horror being done to and by child soldiers at the hands of the so-called freedom-fighting rebel forces. Addressing his serious subject with passion and skill, director Edward Zwick (The Last Samurai) delivers impressive action sequences that feel horrifically real without seeming excessive. While some critics have taken stabs at the film for its Hollywood elements, no one can argue against Blood Diamond's noble intentions or its stellar performances. To most viewers, the film is likely to provide a disturbing and educational look at a world many know little about.

I certainly wasn't disappointed. I thought this was an excellent film overall, though it did drag in places and thus was a little to long for my liking. I think the story could have been successfully told in two hours or slightly under without losing any of the dramatic effect. The starring cast does quite well. I was impressed with Leonardo DiCaprio's performance, though annoyed in the way that his charachter dies near the end of the film. Can anyone say tourniquet? Djimon Hounsou was excellent, and Jennifer Connelly has come a long way since her "Labyrinth" role of 21 years ago, which is the only other film of hers that I think I've seen. Overall, the script is good. There is plenty of blood and violence, which helps make the child-soldier story line much more realistic. I'll give this film four out of five stars.

Preakness Stakes at Pimlico

Can Street Sense win the second leg of the Triple Crown today? I certainly hope so. If the horse doesn't win, it will make for a less than dramatic Belmont Stakes on June 9th. There's a much better chance of it though, odds-wise, since there are only nine horses running in today's race, unlike the 20 horses who ran the Derby two weeks ago. Of course, Street Sense is the favorite, followed by Hard Spun and Curlin. Post time is at 18:09. Let's just hope that a similar nightmare from last year's Preakness does not happen again, to Street Sense or any of the other horses.

*** 132nd Running of the Preakness Stakes ***
Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland
Saturday, May 19
Distance: 1 3/16 Miles
Post Time: 6:09 p.m. (ET)
Purse: $1 million

Post Horse

1 Mint Slewlep
2 Xchanger
3 Circular Quay
4 Curlin
5 King of the Roxy
6 Flying First Class
7 Hard Spun
8 Street Sense
9 C P West

18:30 Update: Curlin edged Street Sense by a nose in a very exciting race. Hard Spun placed third. Street Sense came from the back of the pack again to briefly take the lead but could not hold it. Curlin's victory, fastest in Preakness history at 1:53.46, means that the Triple Crown winning drought will continue into 2008. If these same horses run again at Belmont in three weeks it should make for an exciting finish to the Triple Crown races.

Here's the story from espn.com

Friday reflections

I had an interview this morning with another staffing agency (that makes five I've interviewed with so far) and the second interview with company #3 from last Wednesday. At company #3 I interviewed with the department manager and one of his leads. The weird part about the second interview was that the lead recognized me. He started working at the agency I worked for from 1997-1999. He worked part time in the evenings towards the end of my time there while I was a full-time day shifter. Whether he remembered me because I'm such a memorable guy (I am?) or because he had the benefit of reviewing my resume and noticed the commonality, I'll never know. I'm also not sure if knowing this guy will help or hurt me in their hiring decision. I'd like to think it couldn't hurt but who knows. No official offers were made, but when asked, the manager told me that he wouldn't wait too long to make a decision so as to not leave me hanging. I'll hear back from the first woman I met with when a decision (and hopefully an offer) is made.

Last night, M was invited to his best friend's birthday party at a candle pin bowling alley a few towns over from where he lives. I met ex and V there, so that ex could go out with her girlfriends and I would take the kids for the weekend, as usual. While the party was going on, V and I were able to bowl a few strings. I won the first game and V won the second.

On baseball: After today's games, the nine-time defending AL East champion Yankees (18-22) fell 10 games behind division-leading Boston. The Yankees had not been double digits back in the AL East since they trailed the Red Sox by 10 games after play on Sept. 22, 1995, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Now, in a worst-case scenario, if the Yankees lose to the Mets again on Saturday and Sunday and if the Red Sox sweep the Braves in three over the weekend, that would put the Yankees 12 1/2 games behind the Red Sox entering their three game series at Yankee Stadium starting on Monday. Now lets assume that the Red Sox were able to sweep the three games at Yankee Stadium. If that happens, the Yankees would be 15 1/2 games out of first place less than a week before Memorial Day. I don't think that it's likely that the Yankees will get swept by the Red Sox next week, but the pressure is clearly on them, and it won't matter how Roger Clemens does.. I do think, however unfair it may be, that the Yankees will need to sweep the Red Sox or at minimum win two of the three to save Joe Torre's job. We haven't heard anything publicly from George Steinbrenner, the Yankees owner, yet - but he certainly can't be happy with what has transpired with his team so far this season.

On Monday, I'll post on the pitching match ups for the series and update it as the games unfold.

Gotta love Texas

Here's a story that is bound to ruffle the feathers of atheists and non-Christians who happen to read this blog.

Let's just remember, people, that these classes are electives, and are not mandatory for everyone to take. Those who sign up for the classes obviously have no problem with them.

I think it's good that a class like this is being offered in this day and age. Bravo.

Because I've got nothing else for you today...

I thought I'd leave you with some quotes and sayings to ponder. You know, deep philosophical stuff.

"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter." -- Mark Twain

"The evolutionists seem to know everything about the missing link except the fact that it's missing." -- G.K. Chesterton

"When you're feeling blue, just remember to breathe again."

"Better to be over the hill than under it."

"Never tell your (mom/girlfriend/wife) that her diet isn't working."

"We learn the ropes of life by untying its knots."

"A friend is one who knows all about you and loves you just the same."

"Politeness is the art of choosing the thoughts you express"

"When you are wrong, change. When you are right, try to be easy to live with."

"When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty."

"If you shoot a mime, should you use a silencer?"

Jerry Falwell (1933-2007) dies at 73

Jerry Falwell died today in Lynchburg, Virginia. For better or worse, Falwell was one of the most influential and controversial religious leaders in 20th century America. How will he be remembered? What will his final legacy be? He founded the Moral Majority in 1979 and Liberty University in 1971. Thomas Road Baptist Church, which he founded in 1956, grew from 35 members to well over 24,000. I think his legacy should be defined by those who knew him personally and not necessarily by his public persona. I'll be more interested to read what other contemporary and notable religious leaders opinions, impressions and feelings are about Rev. Falwell than what the general media's opinions will be.

Sure, he said some stupid and controversial things in his life, the whole gay purple teletubby issue thing comes to mind. Many people make stupid comments every now and then and unfortunately, religious figures aren't exempt from that. While I didn't always agree with Falwell's beliefs or statements, I do think he was a good family man, a man of God whose heart was in the right place and a man who was not afraid to share his beliefs, even if they were not popular. His influence within the religious right will be missed.

Here is just one of the stories circulating in the news today regarding Falwell's death.

SNMR 3.6: "Grosse Pointe Blank"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Grosse Pointe Blank" (1997, R, 107 minutes), starring John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, Jeremy Piven, Joan Cusack and Hank Azaria. The film was directed by George Armitage.

The first time I watched this movie was about six years ago, when ex and I rented it from the video store. I've always liked John Cusack's films and Minnie Driver is a very underrated actress.

From the DVD's dust case:

Here's the killer comedy hit that's loaded with outrageous fun! For Martin Blank (John Cusack - Serendipity, High Fidelity), a hit man stuck in a career rut, attending his 10-year high school reunion is about the last thing he's in the mood for. But when the prospects of rekindling an old flame (Minnie Driver - Good Will Hunting, Return To Me) and pulling off one final job convince him to go, things are looking up...that is, until Martin's arch-rival (Dan Aykroyd) shows up aiming to blow the competition away! For hilarious comedy entertainment that's packed with action, Grosse Pointe Blank is a surefire knockout!

From Martin and Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2007, p. 468:

This dark hued romp is a career maker for John Cusack, a meticulous assasin who finds businees conflicting with pleasure while atending his ten year high school reunion. When not dodging bullets, Cusack tries to patch things up with the girl he jilted long ago at the high school prom. The script is sharp and sassy, the action fast and furious and the comic tone too funny for words.

I really enjoyed this movie. The script is well written with some snappy exchanges between characters. Dan Aykroyd is excellent in his small role. The premise of the story is interesting, Cusack's hit man struggling with moral issues. This film is an enjoyable piece of entertainment. I'll give it three and a half out of five stars.

Measure progress in small amounts

I got a call yesterday from yet another staffing agency who saw my resume on line and wanted to set up a meeting with me for today, which we did. The office from which the recruiter called me was located in downtown Boston, though their corporate headquarters is in a town outside the city. So into downtown Boston I went this morning. Clearly it was a better experience this time, based on the fact that the last time I had to venture into the Hub of the Universe it was February, which meant windy and cold (9 degres Farenheit).

I can use the subway in Boston well enough, but once on the surface in a downtown area with traffic and skyscrapers and unmarked streets, we're talking a recipe for my getting lost. I only had minor problems in that regard this morning. Stuck in traffic on my way in I thought I'd be late for my appointment, but I was actually 15 minutes early. Good thing I had some reading material available while waiting.

While I was in my meeting, my cell phone vibrated and beeped, letting me know that I missed a call and had a new voice mail. Turns out the call was from the woman I met with at interview #3 on Wednesday. She wanted to talk to me to set up a second interview for next week with the hiring manager and the team lead for that department. Said meeting will take place next Friday at 14:00.

So while I haven't yet secured a job, prospects are beginning to look up. We'll measure the progress in small amounts and hope for the best.

Quote of the Day (because I feel like adding one...): "It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours." -Harry S. Truman

Three more interviews

I managed to have three job interviews today, though only one was actually scheduled.

The first one (scheduled) was for a sales job and is a paid-on-commission only position. That probably won't work for the short term for me because cash flow is extremely limited and I need to make money now. And I'm not really confident in my abilities as a salesperson. I lack the in-person schmooziness that all obnoxious but effective salespeople have. Suffice it to say that, while the money would be great, I'm probably going to disregard this, even if they want to hire me. There's really only one sales job I'd bet I could do. Again though, I'm not sure I'm cut out for sales.

The second interview was with yet another staffing agency whose name I found while searching through a job posting website. I had emailed my resume in response to the posting but had the email sent back to me as undeliverable. Their office happened to be right up the street from interview #1, so I figured I had nothing to lose by going in and attempting to talk to someone.

Interview #3 was indirectly on my way home and was based on an ad they had placed on another one of the employment sites I've been checking. The person in question had emailed me back in response to my inquiry and I had sent her two return emails and placed a call to her office phone with no response. The person I went to see there did squeeze me in for about 15 minutes, which was good, since I came unannounced and she was not really prepared for me. The good part about this job would be that it's a direct hire position and I'd be eligible for benefits from day one. That would be a plus for me.

I'll reserve judgment on how I did at #2 or #3 and wait to see if any offers are thrown my direction. So I'll just keep plugging away looking for other jobs in the mean time.

I wish last week's interview had turned out better. Still don't know what I did to blow it...

----

Dice-K pitches again tonight for the Red Sox at Toronto. I hope his recent short spans of wildness will cease tonight. Still, my Sox are doing extremely well so far and I hope it continues tonight. The game starts at 19:07. Red Sox won 9-3.

Another new blogging experience

Sir scribe-o-rama asked me the other day if I'd want to contribute to a blog solely where we give our opinions about movies and stuff. I told him that I love to tell people what I think - even if they don't want to hear it or just won't listen. That's why we bother blogging - because we want to be heard!

So we've got a new blog that is up and will be rolling shortly. I invite you to check it out:

Scribe and Green on the BIG screen

On Roger and the Yankees

When Roger Clemens made the announcement today that he signed with the Yankees for 2007, I was not really surprised. I suspected it would happen during the offseason when one of Roger's best friends, Andy Pettite, signed back with New York after three seasons in Houston.

Am I upset that Clemens decided to sign with New York over my Red Sox?

Not really. I've always been a Clemens fan from his early years with the Red Sox and I always will be. I'm a Clemens fan because of the way he played while he was here and never making excuses. I met Clemems once at a baseball card show in the early 90's. He autographed two cards for me that are still valued parts of my Red Sox collection.

I'd be dishonest if I told you that I wished he'd decided to play for Boston (or even Houston) instead of going back to New York. But it is what it is.

Will Clemens help the Yankees win this season? The jury is still out on that but he will make that team much better and will make the remaining games with the Red Sox far more interesting. He'd better help them win, what with the rediculous salary and bonus perks he's getting.

Like I wrote last year when Johnny Damon chose to sign with the Yanks over re-signing with the Red Sox; I wish them well - just not when they play my team.

I remember when Dwight Evans, one of my favorite Sox players of all time, signed with the Orioles for his last season. That first game he played at Fenway in a foreign uniform, I was in the right field stands. When Dewey came out to play defense, we in the stands rightfully gave him a standing ovation and he tipped his cap in acknowledgement. Everything Dewey did that day drew cheers. He could have sneezed to thunderous applause if he'd wanted to.

One time when Carlton Fisk (another of my favorite former Red Sox players), then with the Chicago White Sox, came to Fenway I was in the stands to the left of home plate. It was around the time he was about to set the Major League home run record for catchers, and he hit a home run during the game. We in the stands cheered wildly for him because of what he'd done while playing for the Red Sox.

Five questions

A few weeks ago while wandering around the blogosphere, I happened to find ramblin' girl's blog. She had just posted the answers to five questions that she had been asked by another blogger. I commented that I'd be willing to give it a go myself, and actually forgot that I did so until I was rambling around in blogland again this morning.

Here's how it works: She asked me five questions, which I've answered below. To anyone who feels like playing, leave a comment and I will then ask you five questions, which you must answer on a post in your blog. And so on, etc.

So, here goes...

1. If you could truly live anywhere in the world, where would you move to, and why? Who else would you need to move with you to make it absolutely ideal?

Well, I've visited a few foreign countries and while they were neat experiences, I wouldn't want to live in any of those places. So I'd want to stay in the United States. My most favorite place to visit (so far) is Washington, DC. But I wouldn't want to live in DC proper. So say anywhere in either Maryland or Virginia that was within a two-hour drive of DC would be fine with me. Why? Because the winters there are much milder and they don't usually get as much snow as we do in the Northeast. A second choice would be somewhere in Texas, near either Dallas, Houston or San Antonio, primarily because the real estate is so much more less expensive there than here. And I do love hot summer days.

2. What's the most memorable thing your kids have said to you? A phrase, a question, the answer to a question?

My kids are really remarkable and so smart. Many things they tell me really blow me away. My daughter, who will be 10 in a few weeks, uses words well beyond her age. Not only uses the words, but uses them in sentences in their proper context. My son, who is 7, is beginning to be that way, too. I find it fascinating to see what their divergent interests are and love it when we talk about subjects that interest them.

3. You list "Sliding Doors" as one of your favorite movies (mine too!), is there a moment in your life that you think changed the path you were on? For better? for worse?

Honestly, I'd have to say several years ago, when I was reading the "Left Behind" series of books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. The fictional story, based on the events in the biblical book of Revelation, made me stop and reexamine my Christian faith and what direction I was headed in in that aspect of my life. Coming to the realization that I did strengthened my faith and enabled me to be more open and confident about my beliefs. Now I can share them more willingly than I had ever been willing to before. Though it is a work still under construction..

4. You're obviously a baseball fan. If you had a corn field in Iowa, what three players would you most want to show up to play? ("If you build it they will come.")

Only three? They would have to be three of the greatest hitters of all-time: Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. But then I'd need somebody who could pitch to them...

5. What's the coolest thing you've seen for sale on ebay? What's the most ridiculous?

I can't really answer this question because I don't just go wandering around on ebay just for the sake of looking. When I do use ebay, I'm either looking for a specific item or checking on any items I might have listed for sale myself.

SNMR 3.5: "To Have and Have Not"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "To Have and Have Not" (1944, NR, 100 minutes, B&W), starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Walter Brennan, Dolores Moran, and Hoagey Carmichael. The film was directed by Howard Hawks.

I checked this movie out from the Nashua Public Library and had never watched it before a few weeks ago. Never even heard of it, in fact. Bogey and Bacall are fantastic.

From the DVD's dust case:

Help the Free French? Not world-weary Harry Morgan (Humphrey Bogart). But he changes his mind when a sultry siren named Marie asks, "Anybody got a match?" That red-hot match is Bogart and 19 year old Lauren Bacall in her acting debut. Full of intrigue and racy banter (certain whistling instructions), this thriller excites further interest for what it has and has not. Cannily directed by Howard Hawks and smartly written by William Faulkner and Jules Furthman, it doesn't have much similarity to Ernest Hemingway's novel. And it strongly resembles Casablanca: French resistance fighters, a bluesy piano man (Hoagy Carmichael) and a Martinique bar like Rick's Cafe' Americain. But foremost, it has Bogart and Bacall, carrying on with a passion that smolders from the tips of their cigarettes clear to their souls.

From Martin & Porter's DVD and Video Guide 2007, p.1159:

Director Howard Hawks once bet Ernest Hemingway he could make a good film from one of the author's worst books. Needless to say, he won the bet with this exquisite entertainment, which teamed Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall for the first time.

I can now see and understand why Bogey and Bacall have such great film chemistry in all of their films. I could never tell that this was Bacall's first film - you'd think she was a grizzly veteran like Bogart. The script is snappy and fast paced. Bacall's sultry shimmer towards the end of the film is very nice... The supporting cast is good. This enjoyable little movie is definitely worthwhile to rent or buy if you can find it. I'll give this classic film five out of five stars.

Derby Day at Churchill Downs

I really don't care about horse racing, except on the days that the Triple Crown races are run.

As always, the first Saturday in May is the running of the Kentucky Derby. Today we'll find out which horse will be the Triple Crown contender for 2007.

There hasn't been a Triple Crown winning horse since 1978, which I believe is the longest drought in Triple Crown history.

*** 133rd Running of the Kentucky Derby ***
Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
Saturday, May 5th
Distance: 1 1/4 Miles
Post Time: 6:04 p.m. (ET)
Purse: $2 million Guaranteed

Post Horse
1 --- Sedgefield
2 --- Curlin
3 --- Zanjero
4 --- Storm in May
5 --- Imawildandcrazyguy
6 --- Cowtown Cat
7 --- Street Sense
8 --- Hard Spun
9 --- Liquidity
10 --- Teuflesberg
11 --- Bwana Bull
12 --- Nobiz Like Shobiz
13 --- Sam P.
14 --- Scat Daddy
15 --- Tiago
16 --- Circular Quay
17 --- Stormello
18 --- Any Given Saturday
19 --- Dominican
20 --- Great Hunter

Colts & Geldings Carry 126 Pounds

UPDATE: 6:20 pm = Street Sense (pictured at left with jockey Calvin Borel) is the winner, Hard Spun placed 2nd and Curlin came in third.

Here's a race recap, thanks to espn.com.

One noted spectator at today's race was first time guest, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England.

On to Pimlico in two weeks!

No good news on the job front

The AP is reporting today on the latest unemployment rate and other key economic indicators. The overall job market does not look good due in part to a sluggish economy. (Thanks, W!!!!)

In other news, according to the temp agency that facilitated the interview I had on Wednesday, the interviewing company has apparently decided not to offer me a position. I'm still trying to get feedback from the employer through the temp agency on their reasoning, so I can improve on the next interview I have, whenever that might be.

Quite frankly I'm very surprised that I was not offered a position. I think I gave a good showing of myself during the interview and felt confident that I could do the job well, if given the opportunity. Also quite surprising considering the urgency with which the interviewer came across as wanting to fill several similar positions quickly to handle the ever increasing workload of an expanding company.

There is a job out there for me somewhere that will allow me to get the cash flow going in the right direction again. It seems that I must continue to explore the possibilities and feasibility of self-employment...

Job Interview today

I've got a job interview today that looks promising. It's the first one I've had in quite a while, so I'm a wee-bit nervous. I'll provide more details as I'm able.

14:16 PM update: Well, the job interview went well from my perspective. It's a position that my previous work experience has made me well suited for. I got the interview through a temp agency and the interviewer left me with the impression that while they are looking for temps right now, these positions could full well become permanent hires due to a merger this month and the need for more people to get a handle o the additional work load. As most people seem to be in her position, she's the only person doing the job and seems overwhelmed by the amount of work on her plate. Now it's up to them to decide if they want to hire me or not. I think I'd do well at this job.... but then I'm biased towards myself - as I should be.

Books of the Month - May 2007

I've decided that this blog needs a new regular feature which will now appear on the first of every month. And since I love to read, I want to share with you what I'm reading. So I'll promote two books every month and on some occasions three or more as circumstances allow. Every book promoted here I have read personally and comes highly recommended from yours truly - just for you! Links will also be provided for each book, so that you can purchase a copy for yourself.

To kick off this new feature in high style are two of the most recent books that I've read, the first by acclaimed scientist and biblical scholar Dr. Henry Morris.

"Is the Bible merely a collection of religious myths, or does it reflect real history? Drawing on a wide range of disciplines, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and geology, the "Father of Modern Creationism" reveals the absurdity of evolution and demonstrates conclusively that facts derived from scientific observations are accurately recorded in Scripture. A solid defense of creationism for science-oriented students!"
Order a copy for yourself at amazon.com or from cbd.com.

The second book I recommend this month is edited by John Ashton and Michael Westacott.

"John Ashton, the editor who brought us In Six Days: Why Fifty Scientists Choose to Believe in Creation and On the Seventh Day: Why the Faith of 40 Scientists Rests in the God of the Bible, has done it again with this compelling new book. Ashton brings together the evidence of 24 scholars from the fields of science, archaeology, and philosophy to present an irrefutable argument for the existence of God.

Experts such as Werner Gitt (In the Beginning Was Information), and Andrew Snelling (The Answers Book) combine their knowledge in their respective fields and present a compelling and persuasive case to skeptics. Although written by experts, this persuasive book is easily understood by the layperson. An excellent tool for Christians who want to broaden their knowledge of apologetics and learn to defend their faith more easily, this book is an essential for any Christian or church library."
Order a copy for yourself from either amazon.com or cbd.com.