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The Procrastinator’s Guide to Inglourious Basterds

Posted by ooohsomethingshiny on June 14, 2011 in Uncategorized

I am undoubtedly the last person to see this movie. Here are a few of my observations:

Best on screen exchange:

Col. Hans Landa: Do you control the nicknames your enemies bestow on you? “Aldo the Apache” and “the Little Man”?
Pfc. Smithson Utivich: [confused] What do you mean “the Little Man”?
Col. Hans Landa: Germans’ nickname for you.
Pfc. Smithson Utivich: The Germans’ nickname for me is “the Little Man”?
Col. Hans Landa: And as if to make my point, I’m a little surprised how tall you were in real life. I mean, you’re a little fellow, but not circus-midget little, as your reputation would suggest.

Best off-screen exchange:

Me: Ah! He meant literal scalps? I thought he meant metaphorical scalps!

Daughter: Yeah, I guess I should have warned you.

Donny probably could have gotten more power into his swing by paying more attention to his stance.

The only thing funnier than Aldo’s American accent was his Italian accent. I can’t believe they were trying to pass for native Italians.

Putting Emmanuelle/Shoshana in that Nazi red dress for the movie premiere scene was genius.

The use of David Bowie’s Gasoline was jarringly anachronistic, but perfectly placed.

Rabbia e Tarantella by Ennio Morricone played over the closing credits gave me ample opportunity to play air cello. I’m going to have to get the sheet music.

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Ninja Weightlifting

Posted by ooohsomethingshiny on June 11, 2011 in Uncategorized

I have a question about guys at the gym. Why do they try to sneak up on the weights? I’ll see a guy set up a machine and walk away a few steps before attempting to lift. Or he’ll circle the machine between sets, like the weights are not going to be as heavy if they don’t see him coming. Usually a woman will walk up to machine, set it up, do her business and move on. Is there something we are missing by skipping all the drama?

Maybe it’s some sort of ninja training.

Feel free to answer this if you know. The guys that I see doing this have clearly lifted a weight or two before, so maybe they are onto something.

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Ice Road Trucker Mania

Posted by ooohsomethingshiny on June 7, 2011 in Uncategorized

I don’t know why I am so fascinated with Ice Road Truckers. I love Hugh’s big laugh, Alex’s jovial Catholicism, Lisa’s juxtaposition of toughness and femininity. I could do without Rick’s whining, but he’s back with his own truck, so he will have only himself to blame for any shortcomings.

They are driving multiple locations this season including a newly frozen swampy area that is heavily rutted and uneven because the surface constantly thaws and refreezes. Hugh was bouncing around the cab like a rag doll. This road is incredibly tough on the rigs as well.

There are some newbies this year. A know it all from Alabama and a woman from NYC who is chomping at the bit to take a shot at the ice roads and sporting a Kenworth tattoo on the nape of her neck . She was pretty surprised at how steep the roads are. I hope she makes it. We could use a little more “girl power.” Lisa is feistier than ever and has dyed her hair red to match her “fiery personality” ( her words) so she should be fun to watch.

Not sure if the Alabama trucker is going to cut it. He showed up with 25 years experience, a chip on his shoulder and an inability to take criticism. He thought that he was being micromanaged because the gentleman assessing his driving insisted that he get out of the middle of the road and move to the right.

This premiere showed promise. I still loved the first year best and the Indian edition did nothing for me at all, but I think this has the potential to be a good season.

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XMen — Definitely First Class

Posted by ooohsomethingshiny on June 5, 2011 in Uncategorized

We went to see the new XMen today — XMen First Class. This was a great movie for someone like me whose entire XMen experience is with the movie series. It is a prequel to the rest of the franchise and does a really good job of setting up the story of the origin of the mutants. The story of how Magneto and Xavier became enemies was interesting and demonstrates how fine the line between good an evil can be.

The historical context made it seem believable, set as it was against the backdrop of WWII and the Cold War/ Cuban Missle Crisis. Casting was fun. Kevin Bacon as a Nazi and January Jones as Emma Frost. Keep your eyes open for a couple of cameos, one of whom delivered one of the best lines in the movie. Also loved the origin of The Beast.

This is one of the most cerebral of the XMen movies, which may be disappointing to some action fans, but there was plenty of action at the climax.

By the way, don’t wait through the credits for an intriguing hint of what is to come in the next movie, there is none. There is how ever a staggering list of credits. I think I may have seen my name up there. They should have just listed the seven people in the contiguous United States who were not involved in the movie.

I would definitely highly recommend this movie.

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Wookies Revisited

Posted by ooohsomethingshiny on June 4, 2011 in Uncategorized

I can finally upload the sound that my gym door makes that sounds like a Wookie. Tell me if you agree.

Wookie Noise

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Let Me Tell You the Tale of Impaled Shrek

Posted by ooohsomethingshiny on June 3, 2011 in Uncategorized

I live in an older development that is surrounded by a narrow band of thick foliage and mature trees. Maybe four years ago, I notice that nailed to one of the trees, at about eye level was a Shrek doll.

This doll stayed in place though at least two Buffalo winters, then one day, it was gone as mysteriously as it came. In its place was a stuffed Shrek Donkey.

Again it steadfastly kept its post though blustery winters, rainy springs and summer heat.

Several days ago, the donkey disappeared only to be replaced by a poster of Eminem. The poster will surely not be as robust as the stuffed creatures were, but I can’t wait to see what’s next.

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Wookie of the Year

Posted by ooohsomethingshiny on June 2, 2011 in Uncategorized

So, I already put this on my FB status, but the door at my gym makes a sound like a Wookie when it closes. I reported it to the front desk where I got some interesting looks. I recorded it with my iPhone, but I can’t figure out how to get the  sound file onto the internet in any fashion. If anyone knows, give me a heads up. I can’t have stood outside the gym for five minutes holding my phone to the hinges for five minutes for nothing can I?

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Utah Scarf (#5)

Posted by ooohsomethingshiny on March 12, 2011 in Scarf

Okay, I don’t usually post scarves in progress, but since SOMEBODY already spoiled the surprise, here is number five. This one should be completed this weekend and west of the Rockies by next.

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Scarf #4

Posted by ooohsomethingshiny on March 11, 2011 in Scarf

This is scarf four. As you can tell, I’ll terribly behind, but that’s life. This one is actually a rich cranberry color, but the flash made it look pinky. It lives out of state now.

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Lenten Sacrifice

Posted by ooohsomethingshiny on March 10, 2011 in Uncategorized

Since I was a child, Lent has been about sacrifice. “What are you giving up for Lent?” Now the church is emphasizing “What are you Doing for Lent?” I would argue that there is room for both.

It’s great to give up something for Lent that is a source of pleasure, whether it is drinking coffee, buying lottery tickets or eating Twinkies. Every time you have to skip your little pleasure, its a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice and a mini prayer. And after forty days, you can have your treat back.

What if instead, you give up something more serious? Something that is truly a vice, a compulsion. Gambling, smoking, drinking maybe? Only you know what is a real problem for you. Something that pulls you away from God. Something you maybe shouldn’t go back to when those forty days are up. Something that may have you on your knees praying for strength every day. “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24). What is your other master?

Conversely, why not add something to your life that will draw you closer to God, a positive habit that you may want to keep up long beyond Lent. Daily Mass maybe, reading the Scriptures, Adoration or Ignation Daily Exercises.

Or look outside of yourself for a Ministry or Charitable work that calls to you. Maybe you want to save the money you would have spent on a can of soda or pack of cigarettes every day and give it to your favorite charity. Or sign up for a soup kitchen or meals on wheels. You’ll know what’s right for you.

If you remove something that draws you away from God and add something that draws you closer to God, you’re off to a good start for Lent.

http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/fast-pray-give

Operation Rice Bowl

http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

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