So I just got back from watching the opening of Iron Man 2 locally at the midnight showing. I've made my fair share of midnight film openings -- I think this one ranks as one of the best I've attended (the most recent Star Trek was the best, for those who are curious).
This movie was a dream for me -- lots of technology, a veritable geek cornucopia, abetted by a few subtle (and some not-so-subtle) Walt Disney references, including a film that is so much a copy of the Walt introducing EPCOT concept video that if Marvel weren't owned by Disney, it would be in danger of being sued for infringement. That said, it was splendidly done and the cinematography and special effects were engaging and extremely realistic. If our computer interfaces could do half of what Tony's did in this film, we'd have arrived at that Sci-Fi mecca of the "future world."
Also present in the film (and only if you were really paying attention) -- a tune from none other than the half the brother-composing team of "A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" and "It's a Small World", Richard Sherman. I heard the song start during the credits and it had a Disney park-esque feel to it -- and then the credits confirmed it -- Dick Sherman wrote a Carousel of Progress-style tune for this superhero-universe pic. Unbelievable. It's Disney chic meets high-tech geek. I think I had a moment somewhere along the line.
Oh -- and it didn't hurt that Pepper Potts and Natalie the new assistant nearly got into blows -- and Natalie nearly got out of her clothes. But I digress. :-)
SO -- in summation -- the review in the USA Today is way off-base; this film had believable characters who played the parts very well. There were a few bits that were just over the top, but in Stark's world, it fits in and doesn't distract. I, for one, am salivating for the day I can model with 3D graphics the way they did in this film -- even if all I ever use it for is replaying this movie (and Scarlett Johannsen's scenes in particular).
GO see Iron Man 2!
http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.php?article=29108
Friday, May 7, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
A Ray of Light...
And no, not the song by Madonna.
The President gave a commencement speech the other night calling for civility and an end to partisan-only politics. That by itself wouldn't be shock-inducing -- but that mainstream media outlets are posting stories like this is -- supporting the President and his call to end the madness. I am hopeful that this is the first of many rays of light -- let's focus on getting things done for the good of all!
The President gave a commencement speech the other night calling for civility and an end to partisan-only politics. That by itself wouldn't be shock-inducing -- but that mainstream media outlets are posting stories like this is -- supporting the President and his call to end the madness. I am hopeful that this is the first of many rays of light -- let's focus on getting things done for the good of all!
Giving back...
I work for Pearson -- and our Foundation has started a new EXCELLENT program called "We Give Books" where when you read a book online (to yourself, to a child, etc.), they give a real book to a child in need. It's a brilliant cause, and quite simple, really -- so take a peek and do what you can to give back?http://www.wegivebooks.org
Incredibly haunting...
Just when I give the lefties and righties a hard time, I find a song that makes me want to take sides again.
If you've never listened to the song "The Island", written by Paul Brady, most recently performed by Celtic Thunder -- you owe yourself the listen. The lyrics are haunting and challenging -- and Keith's voice lamenting sorrowfully will pull at your heartstrings in ways that perhaps no other song ever has. Here's a YouTube link to it -- check out the other Celtic Thunder stuff whilst you're there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dr3ZmSZ8yOW8&sa=U&ei=nkjgS_CnMY_cNZqygL4H&oi=video_result&ct=res&cad=12643405470278760815&ved=0CCEQtwIwBA&cd=5&usg=AFQjCNEf9aT_msQNktwTVk9sDUJtzUB5hg
Excerpt of Lyrics:
Women and children dying in the street
And we're still at it in our own place
Still tryin’ to reach the future through the past
Still tryin’ to carve tomorrow from a tombstone...
Up here we sacrifice our children
To feed the worn-out dreams of yesterday
And teach them dying will lead us into glory...
Now I know us plain folks don't see all the story
And I know this peace and love's just copping out
And I guess these young boys dying in the ditches
Is just what being free is all about
And how this twisted wreckage down on main street
Will bring us all together in the end
And we'll go marching down the road to freedom... Freedom... Freedom.............
If you've never listened to the song "The Island", written by Paul Brady, most recently performed by Celtic Thunder -- you owe yourself the listen. The lyrics are haunting and challenging -- and Keith's voice lamenting sorrowfully will pull at your heartstrings in ways that perhaps no other song ever has. Here's a YouTube link to it -- check out the other Celtic Thunder stuff whilst you're there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dr3ZmSZ8yOW8&sa=U&ei=nkjgS_CnMY_cNZqygL4H&oi=video_result&ct=res&cad=12643405470278760815&ved=0CCEQtwIwBA&cd=5&usg=AFQjCNEf9aT_msQNktwTVk9sDUJtzUB5hg
Excerpt of Lyrics:
Women and children dying in the street
And we're still at it in our own place
Still tryin’ to reach the future through the past
Still tryin’ to carve tomorrow from a tombstone...
Up here we sacrifice our children
To feed the worn-out dreams of yesterday
And teach them dying will lead us into glory...
Now I know us plain folks don't see all the story
And I know this peace and love's just copping out
And I guess these young boys dying in the ditches
Is just what being free is all about
And how this twisted wreckage down on main street
Will bring us all together in the end
And we'll go marching down the road to freedom... Freedom... Freedom.............
Monday, May 3, 2010
No, I can't get behind that...
I just received an e-mail from MoveOn. I subscribe to the list because I like to hear great ideas, regardless of the source. MoveOn is a very left-leaning, liberal group and so it comes as no surprise that I disagree with several of their ideals. For those who are unaware, I'm a moderate, and I find both polar regions to be far too chilly (left OR right).
But it's e-mails like these that make me wonder how we can ever get anything done. Here's a quote from the e-mail from Justin at MoveOn:
"Dreaming of a clean energy future? Dream on. Thanks to the energy companies, legislation being debated in the Senate right now would actually expand nukes, offshore drilling, and coal.
Want to make sure every job pays a living wage and that all workers can choose the protection of a union? Probably impossible, as long as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spends nearly $150 million per year on lobbying alone—not even counting campaign contributions.1
How 'bout closing the widening gap between the rich and the poor? How 'bout investing enough in education so every child gets a decent education and every family can afford college? How 'bout making workplaces really work for people with families, including paid sick leave and parental leave?
Right now these proposals would get you laughed out of the room in Washington. Because they all face overwhelming opposition from powerful, entrenched interests. "
What just kills me about this is the "My way or no-way" approach that both sides are shown to take. What's left out is the moderate voter -- me. And that chafes me a bit.
I dream of a clean energy future. Unfortunately, I also dream of space travel, being a rock star, and solving all world hunger. Like all of these dreams (with the exception of being a rock star), the best steps we take are the seemingly small ones. We can't eliminate oil and coal immediately. But we can implement a clean(er) and safe(r) nuclear program that allows us to generate electricity. It should be a short-term gap cover until we can find a better solution. We should be spending money on that medium and longer term solution now, but in the interim, we should be working toward a mutually agreeable middle ground -- nuclear seems to be the least of the possible evils at the moment -- but neither side is willing to get us there.
Do I want every job to pay a living wage? That's a tough question to answer. Should someone be able to make a living for flipping burgers? Should people be able to use unions to force a job to pay more than that job is worth (read: ALL jobs at the car companies, particularly on the production line)? Of course not! Unions have jacked the price of labor to the point where the work is being sent wherever they're not. Unions are self-fulfilling prophesies of doom and Seth Godin and numerous other brilliant people foretell an even more dire future for those who stake their livelihoods on these dying organizations. I won't get started on lobbying -- I think the entire practice should be banned, the offenders tried for treason, etc. I also think we should eliminate lawyers and journalists who are more interested in their ratings than the truth.
Do I want to close the widening gap between the rich and the poor? Again, tough question. I don't, if it means the rich just throwing money at the poor. This is not a good investment! If people don't earn their way, they won't appreciate it. The perfect example are rich kids -- they (for the most part) are smarmy, worthless little snots who take every bit of good fortune for granted -- and why shouldn't they? They don't know what it means to earn a living, and they can't appreciate what it means to do so. The same happens when you drop money on an unsuspecting poor person -- they don't know how to handle that situation. I can attest that as I've moved up the proverbial corporate and financial ladder, I've had my own foolishness exercised with newfound monies. I am still in more debt than I should be because of some of these decisions. I'm underwater on my house because of it. We would make the situation worse for many of these folks if we pulled this on them. Should we help them get better jobs? Sure! As long as they can provide value to those jobs and companies. Why wouldn't we give people a hand up? Again -- that's the middle ground: A hand up, not a hand out. Lefties want to give a hand out, righties want to keep it all for their greedy selves. I do totally agree with Justin on improving access to college -- but not on making it free for everyone. Who's going to foot the tab on that? Other nations have done it -- but they have way higher tax rates to make it happen (see: Norway). Is this a valid use of tax money? Sure! But what's going to make the education system as good as it is now? What kind of competition will there be? This all ties back to one of the main problems with socialism in any form -- barring intrinsic motivation (which has been proven unreliable in a general population) -- what motivates people when they have all their needs met and don't have to work to get anything they need? It's a riddle for the ages.
Should we force companies to provide benefits on the most basic of jobs? Maybe. But who's going to pay for that? The consumers? We're already talking about moving jobs out of the country (see unions above) -- if we increase the cost of items to offset the additional costs, we lose more jobs. This is actually very simple math. It is beyond the reach of most lefties, though. That or they want to paint over it and move on to "But it's better because everybody's equal!" The righties say "Bah, humbug" to the whole thing -- employees are cogs in the machine and nothing more. These are fallacious assumptions as well.
So when MoveOn (or anyone else on the fringe) asks if I can get behind them, vote their way, throw money at them, etc. -- no, I can't get behind at all. When you (and all the rest of the fringe) start to realize that concession and compromise are the language of the vast majority of the country, THEN we'll get behind you and start to follow and believe that this country is capable of working together and not pointless, petty bickering --- until then, NO.
But it's e-mails like these that make me wonder how we can ever get anything done. Here's a quote from the e-mail from Justin at MoveOn:
"Dreaming of a clean energy future? Dream on. Thanks to the energy companies, legislation being debated in the Senate right now would actually expand nukes, offshore drilling, and coal.
Want to make sure every job pays a living wage and that all workers can choose the protection of a union? Probably impossible, as long as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spends nearly $150 million per year on lobbying alone—not even counting campaign contributions.1
How 'bout closing the widening gap between the rich and the poor? How 'bout investing enough in education so every child gets a decent education and every family can afford college? How 'bout making workplaces really work for people with families, including paid sick leave and parental leave?
Right now these proposals would get you laughed out of the room in Washington. Because they all face overwhelming opposition from powerful, entrenched interests. "
What just kills me about this is the "My way or no-way" approach that both sides are shown to take. What's left out is the moderate voter -- me. And that chafes me a bit.
I dream of a clean energy future. Unfortunately, I also dream of space travel, being a rock star, and solving all world hunger. Like all of these dreams (with the exception of being a rock star), the best steps we take are the seemingly small ones. We can't eliminate oil and coal immediately. But we can implement a clean(er) and safe(r) nuclear program that allows us to generate electricity. It should be a short-term gap cover until we can find a better solution. We should be spending money on that medium and longer term solution now, but in the interim, we should be working toward a mutually agreeable middle ground -- nuclear seems to be the least of the possible evils at the moment -- but neither side is willing to get us there.
Do I want every job to pay a living wage? That's a tough question to answer. Should someone be able to make a living for flipping burgers? Should people be able to use unions to force a job to pay more than that job is worth (read: ALL jobs at the car companies, particularly on the production line)? Of course not! Unions have jacked the price of labor to the point where the work is being sent wherever they're not. Unions are self-fulfilling prophesies of doom and Seth Godin and numerous other brilliant people foretell an even more dire future for those who stake their livelihoods on these dying organizations. I won't get started on lobbying -- I think the entire practice should be banned, the offenders tried for treason, etc. I also think we should eliminate lawyers and journalists who are more interested in their ratings than the truth.
Do I want to close the widening gap between the rich and the poor? Again, tough question. I don't, if it means the rich just throwing money at the poor. This is not a good investment! If people don't earn their way, they won't appreciate it. The perfect example are rich kids -- they (for the most part) are smarmy, worthless little snots who take every bit of good fortune for granted -- and why shouldn't they? They don't know what it means to earn a living, and they can't appreciate what it means to do so. The same happens when you drop money on an unsuspecting poor person -- they don't know how to handle that situation. I can attest that as I've moved up the proverbial corporate and financial ladder, I've had my own foolishness exercised with newfound monies. I am still in more debt than I should be because of some of these decisions. I'm underwater on my house because of it. We would make the situation worse for many of these folks if we pulled this on them. Should we help them get better jobs? Sure! As long as they can provide value to those jobs and companies. Why wouldn't we give people a hand up? Again -- that's the middle ground: A hand up, not a hand out. Lefties want to give a hand out, righties want to keep it all for their greedy selves. I do totally agree with Justin on improving access to college -- but not on making it free for everyone. Who's going to foot the tab on that? Other nations have done it -- but they have way higher tax rates to make it happen (see: Norway). Is this a valid use of tax money? Sure! But what's going to make the education system as good as it is now? What kind of competition will there be? This all ties back to one of the main problems with socialism in any form -- barring intrinsic motivation (which has been proven unreliable in a general population) -- what motivates people when they have all their needs met and don't have to work to get anything they need? It's a riddle for the ages.
Should we force companies to provide benefits on the most basic of jobs? Maybe. But who's going to pay for that? The consumers? We're already talking about moving jobs out of the country (see unions above) -- if we increase the cost of items to offset the additional costs, we lose more jobs. This is actually very simple math. It is beyond the reach of most lefties, though. That or they want to paint over it and move on to "But it's better because everybody's equal!" The righties say "Bah, humbug" to the whole thing -- employees are cogs in the machine and nothing more. These are fallacious assumptions as well.
So when MoveOn (or anyone else on the fringe) asks if I can get behind them, vote their way, throw money at them, etc. -- no, I can't get behind at all. When you (and all the rest of the fringe) start to realize that concession and compromise are the language of the vast majority of the country, THEN we'll get behind you and start to follow and believe that this country is capable of working together and not pointless, petty bickering --- until then, NO.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Repost: Seth Godin shares a Linchpin session
To help offset Seth's bandwidth, I'm hosting this file on my server -- feel free to pass along and share with friends, per Seth on his blog here:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/04/aprillinchpin.html
To download the session, click here:
http://www.webcruiser.org/sethgodin_linchpin/linchpinsessionsethgodinapril.mp3
or browse the directory there to save to your machine locally.
Seth Godin is a ray of light into an occasionally bleak business and political world -- he really helps to frame the discussion for how to improve things. Now we just need to get the word out. How can you help make the world better? Are you a Linchpin?
Joe
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/04/aprillinchpin.html
To download the session, click here:
http://www.webcruiser.org/sethgodin_linchpin/linchpinsessionsethgodinapril.mp3
or browse the directory there to save to your machine locally.
Seth Godin is a ray of light into an occasionally bleak business and political world -- he really helps to frame the discussion for how to improve things. Now we just need to get the word out. How can you help make the world better? Are you a Linchpin?
Joe
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Disappointed...
I am so disappointed in our political system. I am disappointed with our country. I'm disheartened by the lack of intelligent conversation (not debate, necessarily) about the problems that plague our nation. I'm disgusted by the threats being made on the lives of our elected officials. Regardless of whether I think these people are vermin (many of them are) or how I feel about the whole health care situation and how it's being rammed forcibly down our throats, I'm disappointed that we can't do better than this.
We are a largely intelligent people. We communicate and create new ways of communicating (including this blog, all the technologies that make it possible, etc.) daily. And yet for all the tools and words at our disposal, we settle on the most barbaric of methods -- threats on individuals' lives, their families, their homes, etc.
This isn't an attack on any particular group. I don't care who is perpetrating these acts, whether it's a Tea Party or PETA. It's wrong. Out-shouting the person next to you doesn't make you right. It just makes you louder -- and in my case, less likely to be saying something of any value.
It's time to end the sophomoric prattling and sword-rattling; it's time to discuss, to decide a best path and to take action together.
It's time to end the us vs. them mentality; it's time to realize that compromising what we believe in is not the only way to move forward, to realize that it is possible to come together and find the best possible path for the common good.
People -- let's start being what we said we were -- "United States" -- with a common goal.
Take a look here -- what do these words mean to you?
We are a largely intelligent people. We communicate and create new ways of communicating (including this blog, all the technologies that make it possible, etc.) daily. And yet for all the tools and words at our disposal, we settle on the most barbaric of methods -- threats on individuals' lives, their families, their homes, etc.
This isn't an attack on any particular group. I don't care who is perpetrating these acts, whether it's a Tea Party or PETA. It's wrong. Out-shouting the person next to you doesn't make you right. It just makes you louder -- and in my case, less likely to be saying something of any value.
It's time to end the sophomoric prattling and sword-rattling; it's time to discuss, to decide a best path and to take action together.
It's time to end the us vs. them mentality; it's time to realize that compromising what we believe in is not the only way to move forward, to realize that it is possible to come together and find the best possible path for the common good.
People -- let's start being what we said we were -- "United States" -- with a common goal.
Take a look here -- what do these words mean to you?
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