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Coming Soon

Took the family to the movies this afternoon, and here are some of the movies that either had previews or posters.

  • The Who: Quadrophenia – The Complete Story – If you’re a Who fan, this is probably the biggest behind the music film you’ll ever see.  Looks interesting, but I’m not paying theater prices for it.
  • Looper – Bruce Willis learns that you shouldn’t fool with Father Time.  Looks like another Bruce Willis movie that I’ll watch on cable.
  • Dredd 3D – The trailer looks really cool, might spring for a matinee just to see the special effects on the big screen.  But I’m not getting my hopes up for yet another comic book movie.
  • Anchorman 2 – Didn’t like the original, won’t see the sequel.  Seriously, am I the only person in North America that thinks Will Ferrell must have sold his soul or something to get people to watch his dreck?
  • The Campaign – Another Will Ferrell movie.  Seriously, does he have pictures of a studio exec banging a goat on the desk of the owner or something?  Pass and look disapprovingly  upon the theater for showing it.
  • The Watch – Neighborhood schlubs form a neighborhood watch against the forces of interstellar evil.  Pass.  First reason:  Ben Stiller.  Second reason: the gun guy is portrayed as a cop wanna-be with anger issues who still lives at home with his mom.  Why pay to be insulted?
  • Dragons:  Riders of Berk – An upcoming TV show based on “How to Train Your Dragon”.  Looks like something we’ll enjoy, but I can watch commercials for TV shows at home for free.
  • Katy Perry 3D – Katy Perry wants everyone to know that she’s just another girl, and that she can identify with all of the teenagers who come to her shows.  I’m sure she can, provided that they’re a rich, pretty, brunette who likes to grind on-stage and talk about her Christian upbringing.  Pass.
  • The Hobbit:  An Unexpected Journey – Can’t hardly wait for December.  Seriously, if the hair on the back of your neck doesn’t stand up when you hear the dwarves singing in the trailer, turn in your nerd card.
  • Oz, The Great and Powerful – The back story of the Wizard of Oz.  Not too big on prequels, but this one looks intriguing.
  • Despicable Me II – Loved the original, hopeful for the sequel.  Definitely going to be taking Boo to see this one.
  • Ice Age:  Continental Drift – This one was playing in the theater next door, and was the close second in our list of movies we wanted to see.  Loved the first two, so we’ll probably end up owning this one.
  • Wreck-It Ralph – A video game bad guy decides to chuck it and find a new game after 30 years in the arcade.  The trailer was chock full of cultural references, so if you grew up with an Atari 2600, NES, Genesis, Playstation, or Wii, you might enjoy this one.
  • Finding Nemo 3D – Re-release of the hit from a decade ago.  We own the DVD, but we’ll probably end up taking the kids to see this one.  I wonder if this is how the animation studios are going to milk the cow for a while?  Re-releasing a 3D version of a CGI movie has to be cheaper than making a new one.
  • Monsters University – A sequel to the hit from a decade ago.  We love the original, so my hopes are up for this one.  I hope it doesn’t become one of those sequels that sane people refuse to acknowledge exist.

One final thought for the owners of movie theaters – I am sick unto death of paying $8 a person for matinee tickets, plus $10+ for a $1.50 worth of popcorn and soda, then having to sit through 15 minutes of commercials, especially for cable TV shows.  If I want to know what Ted Turner is putting on his networks, I’ll stay home and do it for free.  You’re already bending me over the stump to get my seat in the seat.  The least you could do is not try to get me to stay home and watch TV.

 

 

by daddybear71 on August 4, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in movie

Posted by daddybear71 on August 4, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/08/04/coming-soon-3/

Blogs Roundup

  • LabRat lists out some new scents that she’s trying.  All of them sound intriguing, but she’s right, a perfume or cologne can smell absolutely different when applied to different people.  I prefer to have to be dancing cheek to cheek with a lady before I can smell her perfume.  But a woman who smells like a cinnamon roll would get me to sit up and take notice.
  • Over at The Agitator, a former member of the DEA and current member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition introduces himself and does an excellent job articulating a position that supports ending the War on Drugs.
  • Borepatch points out that the sleeping giant is waking up, and we’re pissed.  Hopefully the current political class realizes that the way things have always been done is ending and accepts oblivion gracefully.  I know, I’m a starry-eyed optimist.
  • Robb Allen wins the Internetz with his attempt to hold the Great Ecumenical Gun Get Together.  The comments are as good as the post.
  • Wirecutter is back, and the blogosphere is a better place for it.  He also relates a story about how good things happen to good people, and that we take care of our own.
  • Oleg Volk has one of the most beautiful photographs I’ve ever seen.
  • Pissed owes me a new monitor.  And yeah, don’t get between me and my cubs, and Thor help you if you make one of them squeal.
by daddybear71 on August 4, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in blogs

Posted by daddybear71 on August 4, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/08/04/blogs-roundup-16/

Today’s Earworm

Today, it’s a classic.

 

by daddybear71 on August 4, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Earworm

Posted by daddybear71 on August 4, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/08/04/todays-earworm-199/

30 Days of Abraham Lincoln – Day 1

This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing Government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it. — 1861

My Take – The government derives its powers from the people.  People do not derive their rights from the government.  Too many of our contemporaries have forgotten that.  Our system was built in such a way that we can change our government, either tactically through elections or strategically through amending the Constitution.  The latter is difficult by design, while the former is as easy as marking a ballot.  When those avenues are closed to the people, all that is left for them is revolution.  Politicians make peaceful change impossible at their own peril.

by daddybear71 on August 4, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Abraham Lincoln

Posted by daddybear71 on August 4, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/08/04/30-days-of-abraham-lincoln-day-1/

News Roundup

  • From the “Spitting on a Fish” Department – Kofi Annan has decided to resign from the U.N. effort to bring peace to Syria.  Apparently he came to the realization that you cannot bring peace between people who desperately want to watch the other one swing from a lamp-post.  Hopefully the U.N. will leave well enough alone, let the strongest survive, and get on with their semi-annual “Dictators of December” Holiday Special, which will be broadcast by Ted Turner on all of his cable television stations on March 27.
  • From the “River in Egypt” Department – Former Senator Larry Craig, who has made using the restroom at the Minneapolis airport a strange experience for thousands of men, is contesting an FEC claim that he illegally used campaign funds to pay legal fees after his arrest for soliciting sex at the airport.  His logic is that since he did what he did while he was travelling to Washington to attend the Senate, the legal costs to defend his actions were reimbursable.  That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, Larry Craig was tapping to the oldies on our time.  Apparently his wide stance is only rivaled by his wide definition of “the people’s business”.
  • From the “Skynet” Department – Our future robot masters are taking their first aerial baby steps at NAS Patuxent River.  Engineers there are trying to figure out how to program an X-47B unmanned aerial vehicle how to take off and land on an aircraft carrier without human intervention.  I assume that success criteria include being able to buzz the tower in even the worst of weather conditions.  I for one welcome our new mechanical overlords.
  • From the “Get to the Chopper!” Department – Arnold Schwarzenegger, former governor of California, actor, and body builder, has donated $20 million dollars to create a think tank at the University of Spoiled Children that will be devoted to problems with government, the environment, and other policy issues.  Basically, he’s paying to have a group of smart people come together to talk about all the problems that he either caused or exacerbated during his tenure in Sacramento. Apparently, Mr. Schwarzenegger will also be teaching a class as a full professor at the university, so you freshman PoliSci majors have that going for you.  As for those of you who have devoted your lives to teaching and hope someday to be awarded a professorship, good luck with that, unless of course, you have $20 million lying around to grease the skids a bit.
  • From the “Dim Sum” Department – A group of Chinese tourists escaped getting into trouble for luring a mother bear and her cubs closer to their van with meat by leaving the country before the authorities could catch up with them.  This one gets the DaddyBear Dumbass of the Day award.  Nothing beats those vacation shots of Uncle Lu having his stump bandaged up after he thought he had run out of meat for the bear, until the bear disagreed and pointed out that Uncle Lu was made of meat.
  • From the “Symbolic” Department – The mayor of London got stuck recently when he was trying out a zip line ride at the Olympics.  Ironically, a massive government response was unnecessary to save him, as an old lady who remembered the Blitz was in the crowd, and convinced the nanny-state supporter that he could get himself down or at least keep a stiff upper lip and not cry like a baby until the fire brigade arrived.  No word yet on how the mayor actually got down, as British first responders are known to stand by and watch instead of intervene when they encounter a situation they are not certified for, and I cannot imagine they were trained to get Socialists off of high wires.
by daddybear71 on August 3, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in news

Posted by daddybear71 on August 3, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/08/03/news-roundup-144/

Quote of the Day

Vegan, it’s what’s for dinner. — Weer’d, on last night’s Squirrel Report

I have to agree.  Like I said a few days ago, some of my favorite dishes are made with strict vegans.  Of course, omnivores are quite tasty when properly cured and smoked.

by daddybear71 on August 3, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Quote of the Day

Posted by daddybear71 on August 3, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/08/03/quote-of-the-day-85/

30 Days of Marcus Aurelius – Day 30

Whatever is in any way beautiful hath its source of beauty in itself, and is complete in itself; praise forms no part of it. So it is none the worse nor the better for being praised. — Meditations, Book IV

My Take – A rose by any other name, would smell as sweet.

Seriously, something is not desireable because I find it desireable. It was desireable long before I came along.  Also, if I’m a good person, it’s not because other people recognize it and praise me, it’s because I want to be a good person.

by daddybear71 on August 3, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Marcus Aurelius

Posted by daddybear71 on August 3, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/08/03/30-days-of-marcus-aurelius-day-30/

Today’s Earworm

I guess it wouldn’t kill me….

by daddybear71 on August 3, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Earworm

Posted by daddybear71 on August 3, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/08/03/todays-earworm-198/

Don’t You Dare

Against my own better judgement, I signed up for Facebook a while ago.  It took my wife, several family members, and a plethora of friends to convince me that I needed to “connect” with everyone.  To be honest, it’s been a good place to exchange pictures of the kids and exchange pithy but non-consequential comments.  I’ve refrained from using it to play games and annoy people, but I’m aware of the many applications available.

I’ve also restricted the amount of information I give Facebook, because a wise man once told me that if I’m not paying to use a service, then I’m not the customer, I’m the product.

But you do have to give a few things, like name and location.  I gave those so that family would be able to find me on the service, but now I’m starting to regret not doing a bit of fibbing.

You see, in their infinite wisdom, Facebook is allowing a company to mine the information on Facebook so that the Democratic Party can figure out who they can bother looking for donations.  The way it works appears to be that people can allow the company to download their list of ‘friends’ and their locations, compare that list to the list of people already donating to the party, then hit the ones with more sense than to give money to the Democrats up for a donation.

So, let me say this:  Don’t any of you individuals with a sick sense of humor even consider it.  I swear, if I get a single phone call from a Democratic operative looking for me to open my wallet, I will find out who clued them to my existence, and I will find you.  You’ll be lucky if I just get you drunk and leave you naked and penniless in Tegucigalpa.  If I’m feeling charitable, I might not write “Your mother’s a whore” in Spanish on your forehead before I leave you in that drainage ditch.

What would induce someone to give their list of friends to a political spammer?  Just when I think I can’t be surprised anymore, this kind of thing climbs out of the sewer of slime to kick me in the butt.

by daddybear71 on August 2, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Politics, WTF

Posted by daddybear71 on August 2, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/08/02/dont-you-dare/

30 Days of Marcus Aurelius – Day 29

Think on this doctrine,—that reasoning beings were created for one another’s sake; that to be patient is a branch of justice, and that men sin without intending it. – Meditations, Book IV

My Take – If there is a purpose for us to be here, it should be to be of use to others.  I’m not saying that every person ought to devote their lives to serving the poor and tending the sick in the third world, but I feel it is my place to be a support to those in my life who need it.  I’m not the most touchy feely guy, but I do feel an obligation to be there for someone when it’s necessary.

Patience is one of the hardest things to teach a child, and it’s one of those things that as an adult I continually find myself having to redevelop.  I look at being patient as payback for all those who have been and continue to be patient with me.  It’s not easy, but it’s part of being polite.

As for other’s doing wrong without knowing it, that’s pretty much self explanatory.  A lot of people, even those who try to be observant of the world, do wrong without realizing it or setting out to follow that path.  Maybe it’s incidental to what they do, maybe it’s incidental to what they don’t do.  The difference between a good person and a twit is that when it is brought to their attention, the twit doesn’t apologize and finds a reason to say they were in the right.

by daddybear71 on August 2, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Marcus Aurelius

Posted by daddybear71 on August 2, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/08/02/30-days-of-marcus-aurelius-day-29/

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