Isn't strange how alive we feel when we are in love? It's a dangerous place. It's a world in which you are vulnerable. I look back on words I wrote as a boy. An innocent boy with a mind for love clean and pure like a untouched glittering star in the night sky. I recall laying in bed listening to music in a bunk bed as an only child. I was ripe for the picking, waiting to be plucked. Enter love.
Love... what is love? Ask a hundred people and you'll be buried in confusion. It is like asking people to define what God is to them. The world we live in is so self-absorbed that defining love isn't worth the wasted breath invested in speaking those words. It's better to express it through actions or states of being.
But one thing we can all agree on. There is a fine line between love and hate.
How can that be? If what I wrote above is true, then the answers come easy. So many of us don't know what love is. We don't know how to love. We don't know any other love than self love. So many of us make love what want it to be for our-self. We put demands on others we wouldn't expect from our self. So when we don't get what we want the way we want it, we can be self-righteous and attack the very thing we desired. It can be as simple as a means to combat rejection or as complicated as giving up on yourself.
Either way you shift the blame of your own failure towards the one you once desired. It's why little girls in elementary school talk nasty about little boys that don't like them. It's why men who are lazy and won't work for love hit their women the don't know enough to cherish.
But these are not the only examples of love turning to hate.
The title The Dark Knight is very important. The first re-boot of Batman released in 2005 featuring Christian Bale as Batman laid foundation for what was to come in the new franchise through it's gritty realism in the style of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Frank Miller wrote The Dark Knight Returns storyline in 1986 with absolute acclaim by readers and critics everywhere. It was more of a 'mature' audience read than other Batman comics. For many avid Batman readers the Dark Knight series marked the harshest version of Batman that could be read. This 2008 movie The Dark Knight is not at all the based on the 1986 Frank Miller story. The similarities end with the style, but are none-the-less every reason for the Batman we know today. The Batman we see now in both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are a brave step by DC to represent Batman at his most real and most serious.
What is it that makes the character Batman appealing in the first place? When it comes to graphic novel (comic book) characters or heroic characters in general it comes down to him having no super-powers. None, nada, neinte, ZERO. So how do you make a super-hero movie with a super-hero that has no super powers? The answer is everything must be as close to plausible as possible in order for the movie goer to suspend disbelief. This is the foundation of director Chris Nolan's approach to re-starting the Batman franchise on the big screen.
The Dark Knight is perhaps the best superhero movie made to date, yet it does have flaws. Maggie Gyllenhaal is perhaps one. While Gyllenhaal is a more realistic choice and less distracting assistant District Attorney she is only an acceptable love interest because the character is a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne's. Gyllenhaal has great acting ability of course, I loved her in Secretary but she is not a starlet I see as a love interest worthy of Batman.
Not so many years ago Batman's Bruce Wayne character was played with the best edge by of all people comedian Michael Keaton. Perhaps Val Kilmer was the best tragically wounded Batman, yet Christian Bale has met all sides of Batman with a quality few others will match. If there is any criticism I have of Christian Bale's Batman it is how he speaks as Batman in his horse angry tone. His Dark Knight is only dark and one dimensional. I don't get a sense of feeling other than anger when Batman speaks.
Meanwhile the late Heath Ledger tapped into Mark Hammel's animated Joker with the true character of the Joker that comic book readers have been waiting to see on screen for years. Heath Ledger's Joker is stellar on every level. It is not that Heath Ledger brought something to the Joker character as much as he plays the character in the manner in which he truly is throughout the graphic novel versions that Batman readers know. The Joker is a genius psychotic. Ledger's Joker will have you laughing and horrified within seconds. Ledger's timing is impeccable as he interacts with other characters in the Gotham underworld. Only once during the film (and this was during my second screening) did I try and see through the acting to the actor and that was only because the hype prior to the films release of Ledger's death had me thinking about it. Another realistic feature of this Batman film is that they don't kill off key villains. True to the real Batman he catches them and sends them to Arkham. With the continuation of the Joker, Heath Ledger will be sorely missed. One day when another Joker makes a play... there will be wild speculation of who can fill Heath Ledger's shoes. There will be great anticipation if anyone can pull it off.
When it comes to drinks you serve at home, it is hard to find something refreshing and sometimes sweet.There are no drinks you can buy in the grocery without ‘fructose’ or apple juice as their main sweetening agent.The affordable healthy choices are limited to Concord grape juice and orange juice.
Enter green tea.While teas in general are thought to detoxify your body, green tea has been one of the more highly emphasized teas in recent years primarily because it has more flavonoids, and it oxidizes less which in turn means more antioxidants. Why?While both Green Tea and Black tea come from the same Camellia Sinesis plant; Green tea encounters less abuse in the preparation process.It’s steamed and dried quickly thus leaving the leaves… green. White tea is green tea less the caffeine.Caffeine by the way is what gives coffee and tea its bitter taste.
A picnic was rained out today. The kids are playing with things and getting into things for fun.
My youngest son comes in wearing my shirt down to his knees.. "Look daddy. I'm gonna grow up to be just like you!"
This sticks in my throat with honor and just then his older brother steps in behind him... "I'm gonna get there first."
You don't have tears, just s warm smile inside. A train of thought runs along inside me. I mostly think about how I've put everything I am into these boys. I just want them to find their way and do everything I've ever done, better.
A minute later you get... "Daddy, can you make me a paper airplane?" May they not grow up too fast.
There are a number of issues both candidates are strong on, and I still have not determined my vote for the general election. This conversation is obviously telling; between Obama and the UK's Prime Minister David Cameron. Some say it was staged. Cynics abound. I'm a bit wiser than that. Remember, this conversation was not meant to be on the record and was picked up by a nearby ABC News boom microphone. Both parties seemingly had no idea they were being recorded. Read for yourself:
"You should be on the beach," Cameron told Obama. "You need a break. Well, you need to be able to keep your head together." "You've got to refresh yourself," agreed Obama.
"Do you have a break at all?" asked Cameron.
"I have not," said Obama. "I am going to take a week in August. But I agree with you that somebody, somebody who had worked in the White House who -- not Clinton himself, but somebody who had been close to the process -- said that, should we be successful, that actually the most important thing you need to do is to have big chunks of time during the day when all you're doing is thinking. And the biggest mistake that a lot of these folks make is just feeling as if you have to be -- " "These guys just chalk your diary up," said Cameron, referring to a packed schedule.
"Right," Obama said. "In 15 minute increments …"
"We call it the dentist's waiting room," Cameron said. "You have to scrap that because you've got to have time." "And, well, and you start making mistakes," Obama said, "or you lose the big picture. Or you lose a sense of, I think you lose a feel-- " "Your feeling," interrupted Cameron. "And that is exactly ... more»
Aside from the bastardization of the English word (K's for C's) this article proves once and again that people can be very cruel when they close their minds to the truth.
Sometimes I see news like this and I am without words. As a parent that had to fight for the right to even be with my kids I pray hard that this child turns up safe. If not, may justice be served. I can't imagine my children now much older having gone missing at age three to never be found. If you have children, imagine your child vanishing. Doesn't it seem unbearable?
I warn you this news piece is tragic. It may be hard to view. It is NOT graphic.
The last person to pass a counterfeit is the person stuck with it. No one wants to be the last one holding an ersatz bill (sourdough). Neither banks or merchants receiving one are obligated to reimburse or compensate the party passing the bill. (U.S. Code Title 18, Section 471). Knowingly passing funny money is criminal. Meanwhile new bills such as the new $5.00 bill are on the streets now. You don't need to be a numismatist to keep yourself out out trouble.
How do you tell if the money in your pocket is real? The United States Secret Service has tips on detecting funny money. You can buy a special marker that when applied to real currency it leaves a yellow mark that fades. If it is a fraud, a dark or black ink stroke will remain on the bill. It appears the U S Reserve has a web site dedicated to keeping citizens updated on our currency. It's called the MoneyFactory.gov. Here you can read up or download materials on how to steer clear of phony bills.
There are in fact many security features built into modern bills. I've been to the Federal Reserve in Philadelphia and there you can learn more about it. Of course you can take an instructional course on identifying counterfeit money elsewhere.
Today I'd like to introduce a new section not unlike other secure areas of my blog. Today I'm introducing Top Secret (pun intended).
I write a lot of articles. Many I just don't think I want to publish due to the serious nature of the content. I've got a great number of old and new articles I've been saving in drafts for sometime and I'm going to publish them to the Top Secret section of my blog.
I won't put them all up in one day. I'd rather give you something to read on a steady basis. To start off, I've written an article just today to start it off. To wet your appetite here is the title and a few lines...
With lies you may go ahead in the world, but you can never go back
On the surface we all feel that being lied to or lied about has no positive effect. The reality is there is one positive. A lie may take the liar forward, but they can't go back from it. People that lie, lay a foundation from which they have to operate. In time, the truth sets you free as you don't have to operate around anything but the truth as it relates to your own personal life.
Living with a liar in your life is troubling. You cannot just rely on a higher order of thinking to combat the lies. The solution to the unwashed is to get away from a liar, and you should once you learn of the true lack of integrity in their character. Yet that answer is never as easy to those of us trapped in the surroundings of a liar. For example, the liar in your life may be a sister or spouse. The liar could be a co-worker. ... more»
Think of the money spent to arrest and prosecute and suddenly you consider... Should we arrest someone for taking .42 cents from a mall fountain? Hey... I'm not saying it wasn't a crime but so is spitting on the sidewalk in some states. My father always advised me, "Son, you gotta pick your battles." That logic is not wasted on justice if you ask me.
Every now and again you see me post about low carb and avoiding complex carbs. A couple years ago I divorced. I've always maintained that out of blue comes green and one good thing that came out of my divorce was my renewed interest in my own health. At first it was because I couldn't eat. I was heartbroken, ask any divorcee and most all lost weight simply because they accidental starved themselves. LOL But once I lost 20 or so pounds that I had been wanting to lose for sometime I swore to myself I'd never let that happen again (among other things). LOL
Now don't get me wrong. I wasn't a bad eater for years. I simply didn't pay enough attention and part of me didn't care enough. While I didn't give my kids soda, I didn't know that apple juice has more sugar than soda! But I was beginning to key in on what was more healthy for me and my children.
Enter the Atkins diet. No I didn't go Atkins. But I did draw from it an important lesson. Keep the carbs low, more than the complex carbs... I consider the simple carbs. I didn't have to avoid them completely but by trying to avoid them I would be keeping enough out of my diet to allow me a better chance to stabilize my fat burning. The girlfriend scoffed, the kids got annoyed that it meant less juice, but everyone realized eventually, I wasn't turning back.
You want the body to burn fat first if you want to lose weight. To do that you have to take away the things the body would normally burn first in order to get straight to burning fat. Not easy I know. But if you cut back on the simple ... more»
This is how the laws of attraction work. When men innocuously treat love with respect and own up to wanting a relationship with a woman... they find you less appealing, too easy, a push-over. Then when you are finally broken, become fiercely independent and desire your freedom... well the women come out of the woodwork, they find you hot. They find you sexy. They find you better than other men. They find you complete them... Oh...
This song comes from Lloyd Cole's 91' release, Don't Get Weird On Me Babe. I put this album in my MUST HAVE collection if I'm left alone on this world after a nuclear Holocaust, or stranded on a desert island with electricity. LOL One day I'll write a review on the song, Man Enough which is one of my personal favs. It's also a great message song. It's about someone that dated all the worst and feels they've made it to the best. See... I'm not void of romance!
So here I pay tribute to the laws of attraction with Lloyd Cole's, She's A Girl And I'm A Man.
He said she didn't understand and so she guessed he was deep He swore he'd never been to college and was too tall to be So as she led him to the slaughter Thinking she'd be laughing last
Now the lady in the question is his better half She's gotta be the stupidest girl I've ever seen She don't care who, why, where I've been She's got a right to be, with all that's wrong with me
But she doesn't wanna understand that she's a girl and I'm a man He thought that women and drink would make a man out of him But the extent of his studies left a jaded man So ... more»
It stems from someone with a huge ego and low self-esteem. When the tables turn, you better be able to take it as well as you give it. Show up to the party, and ruin it for everyone that didn't know just how less they are than you. Cool just is and usually the person acting the hot shot is really spineless and weak. In short... you just don't know how un-cool you really are, ignorance was bliss and now I'm about to learn you a lesson. It was your party, I've shown up and you have no choice to watch me in my glory. What a fun way to live.
THERE'S A GOOD REASON THESE TABLES ARE NUMBERED HONEY, YOU JUST HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF IT YET
Please, leave all overcoats, canes and top hats with the doorman. From that moment you'll be out of place and underdressed. I'm wrecking this evening already and loving every minute of it. Ruining this banquet for the mildly inspiring and...
When you're in black slacks with accentuating, off-white, pinstripes Whoa, everything goes according to plan.
I'm the new cancer, never looked better, you can't stand it. Because you say so under your breath. You're reading lips "When did he get all confident?"Haven't you heard that I'm the new cancer? Never looked better, and you can't stand it!
Next is a trip to the, the ladies room in vain, and I bet you just can't keep up with these fashionistas, and Tonight, tonight you are, you are a whispering campaign. I bet to them your name is "Cheap", I bet to them you look like shh...
Talk to the mirror, oh, choke back tears. And keep telling yourself that "I'm a diva!" Oh and the smokes in that cigarette box on the table, they just so happen to be laced with nitroglycerin.
I'm the new cancer, never looked better, you can't stand it. Because you say so under your breath. You're reading lips "When did he get all confident?"
Haven't you heard that I'm the new cancer? Never looked better, and you can't stand it!
And I know, and I know, it just doesn't feel like a night out with no one sizing you up. I've never been so surreptitious, so of course you'll be distracted when I spike the punch.
I may not vote for the guy and I don't believe in global warming, but I do flat out agree America needs to stop trashing the planet with smog and chemicals as well as get off of oil. Not just foreign oil, but oil in general. If we have to use it, leave it for the jet planes and the likes. Otherwise our homes and cars should be rid of oil. I know other countries polute too, but we can't control them. If we do the right thing, eventually others would recognize the advantages.
Today I read an article featuring Al Gore in regards to clean energy. Gore is heartfelt, I'll give him that. So in today's AP article where Gore insists we move to 'clean' electricity. I agree. No adjectives or adverbs here other than to say I agree.
I've been at this for some time. It's not a hard way of life. Eating a lot of veggies make's it easy. Cut out the high-fructose, cut down on breads and complex carbs all over...
It is rare perhaps... today I am without words. You just have to read it for yourself and try to wrap your head around it.
This is not so much a stupid headline as it is high-lighting the stupidity of what is becoming of our world. Ignore it... one day when it happens to you, you'll understand.
What is especially sad is that a reporter considered this "newsworthy". You know, my youngest son passed gas in the hallway this morning instead of at the breakfast table. I'd like to submit that as news today. It's just as valuable and credible.
Reading the article there are so many sides to debate, but frankly it just isn't worth it. It's stupid. Stupid news for these modern times we live in where actual news is lost.
Nope... I couldn't resist... take for instance the comments posted to the article. One person was astute enough to catch just ONE reason alone that researchers didn't consider; one I know to be true as I lived in the south. "They drink larger amounts of sweet tea in the stone belt of the south. Large amounts of tea are know to cause kidney stones."
I struggle as a sane and rational man when I consistently read tripe like this.
Thank God for comments like this one: "Let's look at the bright side of this whole thing. For every new kidney stone patient we will have one less frost bite patient." I've made a new best friend.
I'll close with this last comment which sums it up for me, "I would find it even more funny if we were not trying to use money to solve a problem that doesn't even exist."
I'm sure if I tried hard enough I could get my local government to waste money on mirrors to reflect light around a very old and large tree in my backyard to grow grass under it as a playground is there without grass for the children to run ... more»
I know... I know... I dote on my kids. Suffer through this or enjoy it immensely...
This weekend we had friends over for a movie I had to order over the Internet to enjoy. I first saw this when I was a tween-ager. It's a bizarre kids musical called Bugsy Malone. The wiki link gives a lot of details of course.
The lot of us are all over the room, blankets, pillows, snacks... Say what you will but for us, movie night is a real family bonding thing. We have other things we enjoy, movie night is just one of them. My youngest starts goofing with us all and quickly remembers a couple verses at the end that collectively get sung together without embarrassment... "You give a little love and it all comes back to you... La, la, la, la-la, la-la..." I finish for em, "You're gonna be remembered for the things you say and do... La, la, la, la-la, la-la". My older son yields the fate of the hook and sings along aside everyone.
I struggle hard to find movies for family movie night. We've long ago did Star Wars and such... We've even done the Indiana Jones trilogy only to really enjoy the fourth and final Indy movie. I can assure you, for kids under 14, this movie is great family fun.
Stick out the entire song to hear, "You give a little love and it all comes back to you... La, la, la, la-la, la-la..." it is well worth it. This video starts out with the movies closing fight scene which is a mayhem cream pie fight.
For those of you that recognize this and don't know where from... Yes... Coke did a Grand Theft Auto type mock commercial which if you understand the point ... more»
I love these ads. For some people these ads remind dads to get involved or not to be afraid to be involved. For me... it's the other way around. I am surprised when my neighbors complement me on being such an involved dad. I've been doing it for 11 years. I'm not surprised by the ad, I'm surprised that everyone watching them is surprised.
This first ad is one I don't want to set up. Let is surprise you. It's great. And please, don't be surprised to think a father can do this. If you are surprised... go out and rent Dan In Real Life.
As for this next ad. I have to say men be careful. This behavior can be condemned as immature. I know.. I've had it spun that way in my own life. Sometimes you can't win in the court of public opinion. People can be so easily led by deception.
This is the best product search engine I've used. Searching things from, "square cut trunks" to "inline skates" to "blank cds" it really rounds things up from many sources.
What is really good is that even when on a site like let's say Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, or Bergdorf Goodman, it will find products in their catalog that are not even listed withing the specific sites searches.
Check out http://www.thefind.com and test it out on some obscure product of your own liking. I'm sure this will be your google of shopping engines.
Now here is what I'm talking about. I'm behind this 100%. I love the idea of an electric car, but to power one by water... you don't have to imagine it. This is groundbreaking. Let's see who tries to stop them. Here is their website: http://caronwater.org/
People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they needed to search is within .
The Editor of Pink Magazine Cynthia Good allegedly defaced a Men At Work sign by spray painting "wo" in front of the word men. Good says "It is a little bit bias to say 'Men Working, women are working too." So approximately 50 signs ranging from $22.00 to $144.00 each are going to be replaced.
I agree Men At Work is a misnomer, but the metaphorical extension of this term is by no way meant as an insult to women. What's next a ban on the phrase.. "Are we not men?" LOL My point to all this minutia getting stirred up is a case of Americans with far too much time on their hands. Look at me. Some say I blog too much. But things are never always what they appear. Did you know 95% of my articles are written at night after my kids are in bed and I have free time? I set my articles to post later. It works especially well when we go on trips and I want to give the illusion of being home. But I digress. It's good to have a blog where you don't have to answer to an editor for drifting off topic. LOL
And this is NOT a video of the day. I played this song for a friend today and they didn't realize the point of it. So here it is with the words.
I don't want to appear as if I'm judging anyone. I can't live your life but I can share my own experience. The fact is my brother is gone from this world because of suicide. It took a toll on me and if I can help one person understand how much it affects others, then perhaps I may save a life.
This song is undatable by my favorite Georgia girl Jennifer Paige. This is one of the best written pop songs in the past 20 years. The lyrics are perfect, the hook is catchy as hell, music is undatable, and the singing by Jennifer is precision best.
I see ya blowin' me a kiss It doesn't take a scientist To understand what's going on baby If you see something in my eye Let's not over analyze Don't go too deep with it baby
So let it be what it'll be Don't make a fuss and get crazy over you and me Here's what I'll do I'll play loose Run like we have a day with destiny
It's just a little crush (crush) Not like I faint every time we touch It's just some little thing (crush) Not like everything I do depends on you Sha-la-la-la, Sha-la-la-la
It's raising my adrenaline You're banging on a heart of tin Please don't make too much of it baby You say the word "forevermore" That's not what I'm looking for All I can commit to is "maybe"
So let it be what it'll be Don't make a fuss and get crazy over you and me Here's what I'll do I'll pay loose Run like we have a day with destiny
It's just a little crush (crush) Not like I faint every time we touch It's just some little thing (crush) Not like everything I do depends on you Sha-la-la-la, Sha-la-la-la
Vanilla skies (vanilla skies) White picket fences in your eyes A vision of you and me
It's just a little crush (crush) Not like I faint every time we touch It's just some little thing (crush) Not like everything I do depends on you Sha-la-la-la Not like I faint every time we touch It's just ... more»
How many of us admit to people watching? You know, when you are waiting for a table, or standing in line behind someone, or simply taking a break on a park bench watching the world pass by. Sometimes I catch myself thinking about the people I don't know. The strangers I never meet or hardly come in contact if at all. more»
Excellent cover of the Pet Shop Boys' tune Domino Dancing by the Swedish duo West End Girls.
Call me names, tell me I'm stuck in the 80's. Whatever. The Pet Shop Boys are the fourth largest selling dance hit machine in America... Ever. I'm glad to see West End Girls pay tribute to the boys.
The poll actually points out that Americans are the biggest spending and biggest tippers. It also points out that Americans are no longer traveling but the article above doesn't dwell on that. Instead it rationalizes that Americans travel less so our budget to spend is greater. You buying this? With gas prices sky high, our dollar worth garbage overseas and our spending power down due to our economic woes, the rest of the world can get used to less Americans traveling abroad.
This article takes great effort in rationalizing that the French get such high quality service at home, they expect it abroad.
While that may be true... the fact is the article does all it can to rationalize why the French scored poorest in the poll.
Here is my take. The French are no worse than any of us. When we have money the lower classes of our culture can travel and inevitably expose the world to our less refined side. That can be an American, an Englishman, Frenchman, Dutch, you name it.
When I see anyone anywhere that is a tourist, I don't think much of them. I get it. They are not at home and our country is something to compared and examined and either appreciated or ridiculed by its differences. The only tourist I have a problem with are New Yorkers, those obnoxious bastards.
That was a joke. Please put your pen in protest down. :)
This week a reader sent a thank you e-mail of sorts spelling out how they had identified a blame-shifter in their own life and are moving on. They thanked me for my article about blame-shifters. In that conversation the subject of being in something you belong in came about. For more on blame shifters read my original article Blame Shifting, Your Apology Won't Be Necessary.
Today I would like to visit the idea of who is right for you?
In a nutshell, I found that you can't fix broken people. If there is character flaw in the person you are with that you can't stand, what do you do?
Managing Little League has it's ups and downs. This week was an up. I was fortunate to have been selected as an All-Star manager and was able to a part of a wonderful experience with a great bunch of kids. We won all our games and after our win on July the 3rd, the kids insisted I get dunked.
I can tell you the ice-bath dunk I took in the video above was cold, but hardly as cold as you would think. I suppose the honor of having it done makes it all worth while. It meant a lot to the kids to give me the cooler dunk and I know this was their way of showing me their appreciation and approval. Ironic eh?
I think the final score was 7-4 but frankly the score didn't matter. It was that the kids were able to experience the feeling of being champs. My son and I shared an amazing experience together and he flattered me in the car on the way home telling me I should be a Major League Coach. He went on later in our ride to tell me that it would be great if I manage him again next year. Those few words hit me hard. He doesn't know it, but it made everything worthwhile. I love my son dearly.
I'm considering starting a Delaware Skate club. Safe runs around the local cities where local establishments benefit at both ends. Start and end points such as ice-cream shops, outdoor eats and such. What do you think? Good idea? Bad idea?
Delaware is not exactly known for it's summer time fun. I mean we have Rehoboth but frankly that story is getting old. We have a ski club, we have a rowing club. I think inline skaters have an opening here.
I'll most likely post a web site discussion board along with it. Now for a name... I'm thinking Infinity Skate Club... Other good names come to mind...
If you have any interest in proper modern Jazz, then you cannot go wrong with the evolution of Swing Out Sister.
I remember working late nights in my office back in 2002 listening to this song. I'd often get caught up on her song thinking... "Where did you go wrong?" I'd answer her... "I'll tell you where you went wrong!"
But the fact is it's a sad song. Not unlike a true blues song is sad in nature... Jazz tunes are often introspective about lost love.
<P>If you have any interest in proper modern Jazz, then you cannot go wrong with the evolution of Swing Out Sister.</P>
I remember working late nights in my office back in 2002 listening to this song. I'd often get caught up on this song thinking... "Where did you go wrong?"
While you may not drive to this song, or listen at dinner with the kids... if you find yourself alone in your thoughts, it's a powerful Jazz tune. I recommend the album highly.
But the fact is it's a sad song. Not unlike a true blues song is sad in nature... Jazz tunes are often introspective about lost love.
I could have loved you but I couldn't lie Even if you asked me to I could have fooled you from the very start Carried on deceiving you But time let me down Turned my whole world around and I stayed for too long Where the hell did I go wrong? Won't you tell me I didn't want you to know Where the hell did I go wrong?
You saw right through me but you didn't care Love was just a game to you You started something that I couldn't stop Even if you asked me to I was lost in your smile... more»
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children. To earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a better place, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or redeemed social condition. To know one life even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
Ever heard of hangover? Of course you have. It happens in sports too. Our team suffered what appeared to be a game two hangover from game one last evening.
From our win we established we'd be home team tonight which proved to be vital in the outcome.
In the first inning my son didn't have his best stuff but it was alright. They scored two runs in the top half of the first. We then answered back three to take the lead 3-2.
The second inning my son felt out of sorts and let me know. Our opponent scored two more runs. This time we sputtered and scored none. At the end of two innings it was 4-2 in favor of our opponents. It looked as if we were not so great as we burned another pitcher with two left in reserve. In little league you only get so many pitches per pitcher and less if you want to use them again later.
In the third inning we moved to our fifth pitcher. We had one more left with three innings to go. He was not doing well, he walked batter after batter and they scored five runs which in little league is the maximum allowed in the Minors. We didn't give up and answered back with three runs of our own all on hits. The score now was 9-6 in favor of our opponents. Could we mount a come back? Would our last pitcher stop the bleeding?
Our last pitcher was on his game. We shut them down in the fourth inning, they scored none. We Then scored five runs from drawing walks, stealing bases and some key hits. The game was now official and we were up 11-9.
The other team now had their reserve pitchers in and ... more»
We won. :) Final score 13-1. It was an amazing feeling to have such a large group of talented kids playing under me. My boys having the time of their lives. With our whole family attending, there was one heck of a crowd on hand.
After the game my father told me that the parents had good things to say about me in how I get the kids to respond and how I interact with them.
So this season is not over yet. Our next game is... tonight! Needless to say every kid is excited about playing back to back days and all week long. See you there! 6pm!
The title The Dark Knight is very important. The first re-boot of Batman released in 2005 featuring Christian Bale as Batman laid foundation for what was to come in the new franchise through it's gritty realism in the style of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Frank Miller wrote The Dark Knight Returns storyline in 1986 with absolute acclaim by readers and critics everywhere. It was more of a 'mature' audience read than other Batman comics. For many avid Batman readers the Dark Knight series marked the harshest version of Batman that could be read. This 2008 movie The Dark Knight is not at all the based on the 1986 Frank Miller story. The similarities end with the style, but are none-the-less every reason for the Batman we know today. The Batman we see now in both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are a brave step by DC to represent Batman at his most real and most serious. 
Meanwhile the late Heath Ledger tapped into Mark Hammel's animated Joker with the true character of the Joker that comic book readers have been waiting to see on screen for years. Heath Ledger's Joker is stellar on every level. It is not that Heath Ledger brought something to the Joker character as much as he plays the character in the manner in which he truly is throughout the graphic novel versions that Batman readers know. The Joker is a genius psychotic. Ledger's Joker will have you laughing and horrified within seconds. Ledger's timing is impeccable as he interacts with other characters in the Gotham underworld. Only once during the film (and this was during my second screening) did I try and see through the acting to the actor and that was only because the hype prior to the films release of Ledger's death had me thinking about it. Another realistic feature of this Batman film is that they don't kill off key villains. True to the real Batman he catches them and sends them to Arkham. With the continuation of the Joker, Heath Ledger will be sorely missed. One day when another Joker makes a play... there will be wild speculation of who can fill Heath Ledger's shoes. There will be great anticipation if anyone can pull it off. 