LA Dining: African but not Ethiopian Cuisine
My latest post is up over at LA Foodblogging where I highlight Ngoma Restaurant.
Yosemite Trip Report
We stayed at a rental home in the Yosemite Four Seasons development in West Yosemite. Highly recommended as the people running the place are helpful and friendly. Also, it is economical, as our group was 12 people which made dividing up costs for lodging and food a nice benefit.
For hiking excursions, be sure to check out this list.
On Thursday, we visited Bridalveil Fall. The fall was so thunderous that you can't actually get to the usual vista point without getting drenched!
We visited the Lower Yosemite Fall. At the lookout point at the base, it is wet though not like Bridalveil. We then took a hike to the first lookout point of Upper Yosemite Fall. There is some elevation gain in this hike but it isn't too far. Columbia Rock is about 1 mile where you get a great view of the Yosemite Valley. Another 1/2 mile, you get to a vista point to see Upper Yosemite Fall.
On Friday, we walked to Mirror Lake. The web page says it is a 5 mile round trip. It is fairly level so we took it nice and easy and looked all around at the glorious scenary. For the afternoon, we went to Yosemite Lodge which has a bike rental shop next door. We biked around the Eastern part of the Valley for about 90 minutes. The rate is $7.50/hour and they charge per half hour. These bikes are one-speed and the brake is by reverse pedaling. It took a little getting used to!
On Saturday, we tackled the Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall hike. For the route up, we used the Mist Trail and got drenched!! And for the route down, we used the John Muir trail which is a little longer but you don't get soaked.
Some friends went to Ahwahnee to get some drinks and relax. I'll have to try that next time!
Here are still more photos from Yosemite. Photos from earlier posts can be found here and here
Upper Yosemite Fall!
Mirror Lake
Top of Nevada Fall!
Getting to this famed fall was a pilgrimage of sorts for me. For one thing, I have this Ansel Adams poster hanging in my apartment. I wanted to see the famed Nevada Fall with my own eyes. And secondly, I had two "health episodes" last year described here and here. Because of those incidents, I was a little nervous as to my ability to tackle something a bit strenuous. I am happy to report, I made the hike up and back (although slowly!) without any problems!
Nevada Fall viewed from the John Muir Trail
For hiking excursions, be sure to check out this list.
On Thursday, we visited Bridalveil Fall. The fall was so thunderous that you can't actually get to the usual vista point without getting drenched!
We visited the Lower Yosemite Fall. At the lookout point at the base, it is wet though not like Bridalveil. We then took a hike to the first lookout point of Upper Yosemite Fall. There is some elevation gain in this hike but it isn't too far. Columbia Rock is about 1 mile where you get a great view of the Yosemite Valley. Another 1/2 mile, you get to a vista point to see Upper Yosemite Fall.
On Friday, we walked to Mirror Lake. The web page says it is a 5 mile round trip. It is fairly level so we took it nice and easy and looked all around at the glorious scenary. For the afternoon, we went to Yosemite Lodge which has a bike rental shop next door. We biked around the Eastern part of the Valley for about 90 minutes. The rate is $7.50/hour and they charge per half hour. These bikes are one-speed and the brake is by reverse pedaling. It took a little getting used to!
On Saturday, we tackled the Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall hike. For the route up, we used the Mist Trail and got drenched!! And for the route down, we used the John Muir trail which is a little longer but you don't get soaked.
Some friends went to Ahwahnee to get some drinks and relax. I'll have to try that next time!
Here are still more photos from Yosemite. Photos from earlier posts can be found here and here
Upper Yosemite Fall!
Mirror Lake
Top of Nevada Fall!
Getting to this famed fall was a pilgrimage of sorts for me. For one thing, I have this Ansel Adams poster hanging in my apartment. I wanted to see the famed Nevada Fall with my own eyes. And secondly, I had two "health episodes" last year described here and here. Because of those incidents, I was a little nervous as to my ability to tackle something a bit strenuous. I am happy to report, I made the hike up and back (although slowly!) without any problems!
Nevada Fall viewed from the John Muir Trail
LA Dining: Korean foodblogging
My latest post is up over at LA.foodblogging. I briefly describe dining at a Korean restaurant on Wilshire Blvd. Enjoy!
More Photos from Yosemite
We went up the Mist Trail to get to Nevada Falls.
Here is a view of the famed Half Dome while on the trail to the Upper Yosemite Falls.
Dear Readers:
Know much about scanners?
Any advice on how to color correct these images?
They seem a bit off compared to the original transparencies?
Thanks!
Here is a view of the famed Half Dome while on the trail to the Upper Yosemite Falls.
Dear Readers:
Know much about scanners?
Any advice on how to color correct these images?
They seem a bit off compared to the original transparencies?
Thanks!
Strengthen the Good: Susan Tom & The Tom Family Education Trust
The premise of the Strengthen the Good network of bloggers is: raising awareness for small charities around the world. Every so often this space highlights a new “micro-charity”—a small, inspiring charity, one with a real face and where $1 makes a difference—and the bloggers in the network link to that post, sending traffic, and awareness, the charity’s way.
The latest to be profiled is the story of Susan Tom. Be sure to check it out and pass the link along to anyone you feel would be inspired and encouraged.
The latest to be profiled is the story of Susan Tom. Be sure to check it out and pass the link along to anyone you feel would be inspired and encouraged.
Some photos from Yosemite
The mist trail along side Vernal Falls was more like the thunderstorm trail!
So pack a change of clothes in the pack to switch to and let your wet ones dry out while sunbathing on top of Vernal Falls which is behind me in the photo below.
I made it to the top of Nevada Falls! Photos of the famed Nevada Falls hopefully to come in a future blog post. I didn't take any with the digital camera. I've dropped off my films at Chrome and "R" and Fotek.
At the top of the falls you see the sign that says 4.5 miles to Half Dome. Perhaps a future holiday trip.
Here is one of the critters I saw as I rested on the John Muir trail on the way back down from Nevada Falls.
One last look at the Vernal Falls as dusk arrives.
So pack a change of clothes in the pack to switch to and let your wet ones dry out while sunbathing on top of Vernal Falls which is behind me in the photo below.
I made it to the top of Nevada Falls! Photos of the famed Nevada Falls hopefully to come in a future blog post. I didn't take any with the digital camera. I've dropped off my films at Chrome and "R" and Fotek.
At the top of the falls you see the sign that says 4.5 miles to Half Dome. Perhaps a future holiday trip.
Here is one of the critters I saw as I rested on the John Muir trail on the way back down from Nevada Falls.
One last look at the Vernal Falls as dusk arrives.
Ambling off to holiday ...
Hope to see this in person ...
Image source: http://nps.gov/yose/news/highwater/yfalls1b.jpg
Hope to blog back with photos next week ...
Image source: http://nps.gov/yose/news/highwater/yfalls1b.jpg
Hope to blog back with photos next week ...
LA Scene: LA Taste of the Nation, June 5, 2005
My latest post is up over at LA.foodblogging.com. It is about the upcoming event to raise funds for anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs here and around the world.
LA Times Festival of Books: Science Book Blogging
Larry Mantle was the moderator for the 2pm session on science themed books.
The panelists were:
Charles Wohlforth who won an LA Times Book Prize for The Whale and the Supercomputer: On the Northern Front of Climate Change,
Alan Tennant, author of On the Wing: To the Edge of the Earth with the Peregrine Falcon,
George Johnson talked about his books, A Shortcut Through Time: The Path to the Quantum Computer and his soon to be released Miss Leavitt's Stars: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe
Brian Fagan described his just finished book Chaco Canyon.
Mantle allowed each author a few minutes to plug their respective books.
Fagan: Am an anthropology professor at UCSB and have written a lot about archeology. Chaco Canyon is in New Mexico and has been studied for over 100 years by scientists. The book is an overview of the work done there. It is a study of how a group of people had to abandon a locale due to climate change.
Johnson: My book "Shortcut through time" is about quantum computing. I've spent my life as a science journalist looking at different topics. My next book is about Leavitt who was a woman astronomer at Harvard about 70 years ago. It was her work and ideas that addressed the question: is the Milky Way the whole universe or not?
Tennet: My book is an adventure story of following the peregrine falcon on its migration. They travel from the Gulf of Mexico/South America to the Arctic. The narrative allows me to discuss the environmental issues and problems we saw along the route of the migration.
Wohlforth: Have lived in Anchorage and been interested in the natives of Alaska who have survived for 1000+ years. How have things changed for them? Has global warming affected their lives? Spent lots of time getting to know the whale hunters of Barrow and how they face the dangers of polar bears and ice islands.
Mantle: What do you think of global warming? Is it cyclical or man-made?
Wohlforth: Probably both. The percent contribution by natural cycles versus human activity is a difficult scientific question. However, there is also the policy question of what should be done regardless of the origin of global warming.
Fagan: I've studied medieval era fishing and the oscillations of herring population in the North Sea. Those people had to make decisions about what to do based on their "gut" reaction to what they were seeing. We are faced with a similar situation regarding global warming.
Mantle: So how do civilizations make choices in these situations?
Fagan: In studying hunting and subsistence agricultural societies we find they make intuitive judgments.
Tennet: I agree with what has been said. Man's role is variable in impact but the bottom line is we have to respond.
Mantle: George Johnson, what is there to fear about technology?
Johnson: In the case of quantum computing, it may allow problems to be solved that are impossible today. There would be concerns about data security and code cracking. But one thing you have to understand about technology is that what is theoretically possible is often not the same as what reality turns out to be.
Mantle: How do politics and science mix?
Wohlforth: I didn't want to write an "warning book" which is a common environmental book genre. I want to be truthful and accurate and allow the reader to decide. In my book, I describe that the native Alaskans do think global warming is occurring and that they want to open up ANWAR. I've been criticized for not being pro-environment enough in my book.
Tennet: I was criticized for using all sorts of gasoline fueled transportation to follow the falcons! I put an epilogue in my book where I'm more explicit about environmental issues. The book is an adventure book.
Fagan: Political realities drove decision in ancient cultures just like today.
Johnson: There is also the whole realm of politics within science in terms of personalities. I did a biography of Dr. Gellman and Dr. Feymann. In science there are huge personal jealousies. In high energy physics these people are really smart and they fight over do quarks really exist?
Mantle then open it up for audience questions.
AQ: Do you see humans as part of nature?
Wohlforth: That's an interesting perspective. The native Alaskans don't see humans as separate from nature. We think of going to the wilderness but they think of the wilderness as their home.
AQ: What do the panelists think of Michael Crichton and his views on global warming and environmental issues?
Wohlforth: My own view is that ANWAR might not be as sensitive as some think. Let's be honest and say that climate change modeling is a highly variable and inexact thing. It really can't predict but maybe provide a range of possible outcomes.
AQ: What do you think of the intelligent design and evolution controversy?
Johnson: Whenever I write on that subject I get lots of email from both sides!
AQ: How do you write about something as difficult as quantum computing?
Johnson: I definitely try to keep it simple. I look at some of the key papers and the references they cite. I call and email the scientists I identify. They are almost always happy to talk about their work to me. I write up my book chapters and . I find 3 or 4 scientists who I got to know from my research for the book and ask them to look it over.
Mantle: How do you decide on the level of detail?
Fagan: You gain experience as you write more and more. Also, you begin to identify which scientists make sense when they explain things and you follow their lead.
Related posts:
Everyday Italian cooking session
Talking Baseball with Plaschke and Deford
LAT Festival of Books initial blog post
The panelists were:
Charles Wohlforth who won an LA Times Book Prize for The Whale and the Supercomputer: On the Northern Front of Climate Change,
Alan Tennant, author of On the Wing: To the Edge of the Earth with the Peregrine Falcon,
George Johnson talked about his books, A Shortcut Through Time: The Path to the Quantum Computer and his soon to be released Miss Leavitt's Stars: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe
Brian Fagan described his just finished book Chaco Canyon.
Mantle allowed each author a few minutes to plug their respective books.
Fagan: Am an anthropology professor at UCSB and have written a lot about archeology. Chaco Canyon is in New Mexico and has been studied for over 100 years by scientists. The book is an overview of the work done there. It is a study of how a group of people had to abandon a locale due to climate change.
Johnson: My book "Shortcut through time" is about quantum computing. I've spent my life as a science journalist looking at different topics. My next book is about Leavitt who was a woman astronomer at Harvard about 70 years ago. It was her work and ideas that addressed the question: is the Milky Way the whole universe or not?
Tennet: My book is an adventure story of following the peregrine falcon on its migration. They travel from the Gulf of Mexico/South America to the Arctic. The narrative allows me to discuss the environmental issues and problems we saw along the route of the migration.
Wohlforth: Have lived in Anchorage and been interested in the natives of Alaska who have survived for 1000+ years. How have things changed for them? Has global warming affected their lives? Spent lots of time getting to know the whale hunters of Barrow and how they face the dangers of polar bears and ice islands.
Mantle: What do you think of global warming? Is it cyclical or man-made?
Wohlforth: Probably both. The percent contribution by natural cycles versus human activity is a difficult scientific question. However, there is also the policy question of what should be done regardless of the origin of global warming.
Fagan: I've studied medieval era fishing and the oscillations of herring population in the North Sea. Those people had to make decisions about what to do based on their "gut" reaction to what they were seeing. We are faced with a similar situation regarding global warming.
Mantle: So how do civilizations make choices in these situations?
Fagan: In studying hunting and subsistence agricultural societies we find they make intuitive judgments.
Tennet: I agree with what has been said. Man's role is variable in impact but the bottom line is we have to respond.
Mantle: George Johnson, what is there to fear about technology?
Johnson: In the case of quantum computing, it may allow problems to be solved that are impossible today. There would be concerns about data security and code cracking. But one thing you have to understand about technology is that what is theoretically possible is often not the same as what reality turns out to be.
Mantle: How do politics and science mix?
Wohlforth: I didn't want to write an "warning book" which is a common environmental book genre. I want to be truthful and accurate and allow the reader to decide. In my book, I describe that the native Alaskans do think global warming is occurring and that they want to open up ANWAR. I've been criticized for not being pro-environment enough in my book.
Tennet: I was criticized for using all sorts of gasoline fueled transportation to follow the falcons! I put an epilogue in my book where I'm more explicit about environmental issues. The book is an adventure book.
Fagan: Political realities drove decision in ancient cultures just like today.
Johnson: There is also the whole realm of politics within science in terms of personalities. I did a biography of Dr. Gellman and Dr. Feymann. In science there are huge personal jealousies. In high energy physics these people are really smart and they fight over do quarks really exist?
Mantle then open it up for audience questions.
AQ: Do you see humans as part of nature?
Wohlforth: That's an interesting perspective. The native Alaskans don't see humans as separate from nature. We think of going to the wilderness but they think of the wilderness as their home.
AQ: What do the panelists think of Michael Crichton and his views on global warming and environmental issues?
Wohlforth: My own view is that ANWAR might not be as sensitive as some think. Let's be honest and say that climate change modeling is a highly variable and inexact thing. It really can't predict but maybe provide a range of possible outcomes.
AQ: What do you think of the intelligent design and evolution controversy?
Johnson: Whenever I write on that subject I get lots of email from both sides!
AQ: How do you write about something as difficult as quantum computing?
Johnson: I definitely try to keep it simple. I look at some of the key papers and the references they cite. I call and email the scientists I identify. They are almost always happy to talk about their work to me. I write up my book chapters and . I find 3 or 4 scientists who I got to know from my research for the book and ask them to look it over.
Mantle: How do you decide on the level of detail?
Fagan: You gain experience as you write more and more. Also, you begin to identify which scientists make sense when they explain things and you follow their lead.
Related posts:
Everyday Italian cooking session
Talking Baseball with Plaschke and Deford
LAT Festival of Books initial blog post
LA Scene: 168 Hour Project Film Festival, May 13-14, 2005
The 168 Hour Project is in its third year. The concept is to produce short subject films of about 10 minutes working under three constraints: (1) the film is to be based on a passage of the Bible drawn at random (2) pre-production is limited to one-week and (3) production-post-production is limited to one-week. One week is 168 hours long.
The Film Festival has grown each year and this year it was even featured in a KNBC-4 news story and drew a team of film makers from Canada and Italy as well as over fifty others.
All finished films were shown at the festival all day Friday and Saturday. I opted to attend the final evening screening of the top 10 films which was followed by an awards ceremony.
What follows are my observations about the 10 films. I'll comment on my reactions to the film as storytelling and then briefly on how I felt it illustrated the Bible verse it is based on.
"Man of the Hour" Matthew 7:13-14
Synopsis: Man receives his US citizenship and attends a party in his honor.
Reactions: Some really funny moments but at times I found it hard to hear the dialog so that kind of hurt my interest in the film.
Integration: At first, I couldn't figure out the connection to the Bible passage. But after the film was over I realized they had made a modern day parable to illustrate the point that people often don't understand the significance of a given moment: they just see the party but don't see the meaning.
"Wall of Jericho" Matthew 18:21-22
Synopsis: Three generations of women tied by a tragic event set the stage for a tale about forgiveness.
Reactions: Easily one of the most emotional of the films of the evening because the story is tragic and the performances so strong. The visual symbols of the film are direct and effective.
Integration; A very direct reading of the passage.
"Harvest" Matthew 10:16
Synopsis: Strange man visits mom and daughter of a broken home and leaves behind inspiration.
Reactions: Has a spokey X-File-ish look and feel. Nice music to help further that atmosphere. However, I don't know why but for some reason it just didn't work for me.
Integration: Didn't get the connection to the verse.
"Ready or Not" Matthew 24:6-7
Synopsis: Man is obsessed with following world events and is fearful.
Reactions: Probably one of the most striking films of the evening in terms of visual style. It sets itself up in the horror-suspense genre. I'm glad it is a short film because you can only sustain that knife on the edge tension before the audience becomes immune. Because they read the Bible verse prior to the film, you knew there would be a point when the film would "flip" from its very atmospheric mood and hit home the point and it did so in fine fashion in the last 2 minutes.
Integration: A very direct reading of the passage and I think the "flip" was very effective and hammers home what it really means to get ready for the return of Jesus.
"Pieces" Matthew 7:6
Synopsis: Office worker tries to do good deeds but suffers the consequences.
Reactions: I thought it was the most hilarious of the evenings films. The physical humor is terrific. The paper shredder humor both direct and visual were just great. The lead actor on it has terrific timing and facial expressions.
Integration: A murky passage. The film makers opted to highlight the back half of the passage and did so with great humor. The ending was great because it leads you to a place of tension feeling guilty pleasure yet waiting for the "Christian" payoff which comes in the nick of time.
"The Stranger" Mark 9:45-46
Synopsis: Man has dark family secret and finally faces up to it.
Reactions: Psycho-drama genre that starts well in the set up well but finished weak. Very good acting and interesting camera angles but the whole seemed to be less than the sum of its parts.
Integration: Another murky passage. There is some tie in through specific details in the plot line but the overall tale doesn't seem to help illuminate a difficult passage.
"Entereza" Matthew 5:37
Synopsis: Guy who lies big and small finally gets his just due when he is $800 in debt.
Reactions: Very funny. Lead actor has a comedic gift.
Integration: A direct reading of the passage.
"The Commission" Mark 16:15
Synopsis: Studio heads try to figure out how to revive the Jesus franchise of movies.
Reactions: Mixed feelings. Great visuals and atmosphere setting. Powerful point that we try to "package" Jesus a certain way and how that is a bad thing. However, the whole "The Big Sheep" satire was a little over the top. I don't mind satire but when it draws upon the confused ideas propagated by "Da Vinci Code" you maybe paying too high a price for laughs. Also, because I live in a neighborhood with a lot of Orthodox Jews, I was troubled by some of the casting choices for the studio board members. Even the hint of anti-Semitism really detracts from the important message of the story. Jesus ministering to the theme music of "Shaft" was very funny.
Integration: The passage is about proclaiming Jesus and the film tell us how we are messing that up.
"A Temp for All Seasons" Matthew 5:10
Synopsis: A temp refuses to tell a lie for the boss and all sorts of hilarity and drama ensues.
Reactions: Easily one of the feel good movies of the night that hits so close to where we all live. Great performance by the lead actor and the supporting cast.
Integration: A direct reading of the passage.
"Better of Said" Matthew 12:11-12
Synopsis: A young man with Tourette's Syndrome is healed but now he has a new problem.
Reactions: Very funny. Great physical humor by the lead actor. Pokes fun at the often lack of spontaneity of Christians.
Integration: A direct reading of the passage.
Supporting Actor - Kevin Lineham, "Man of the Hour"
Original Score - Ed Smart, "Temp for All Seasons"
Cinematography - Cliff Jones, "Harvest"
Editor - Josh Greene, "Commission"
Supporting Actress - Beth Payne, "Notes"
Production Design - Joseph Middlekoop, "Ready or Not"
Sound Editor - Kenneth Johnson, "Ready or Not"
Actress - Karen Geraghty, "Walls of Jericho"
Scripture Integration - Keith Ray Putman, "Temp for All Seasons"
Screenplay - Josh Greene, "Commission"
Direction - Keith Ray Putman, "Temp for All Seasons"
Actor - Robert Wu, "Temp for All Seasons"
Comedy - Josh Greene, "Commission"
Short Film - Michael Toay, "Temp for All Seasons"
I pretty much agree with the awards committee in recognizing the overall excellence of "Temp for All Seasons" and the strong production values in "Ready or Not." I'm obviously much less sold on "Commission" for the reasons I've mentioned and really felt "Pieces" was the stronger comedy. Karen Geraghty for her part in "Walls of Jericho" was a lock to win.
UPDATE: Click here to see QuickTime clips of excerpts from films of the 168 Project.
UPDATE: If you think making a movie in 2 weeks is crazy, these people will do it in 48 hours! HT to N.Z. Bear.
The Film Festival has grown each year and this year it was even featured in a KNBC-4 news story and drew a team of film makers from Canada and Italy as well as over fifty others.
All finished films were shown at the festival all day Friday and Saturday. I opted to attend the final evening screening of the top 10 films which was followed by an awards ceremony.
What follows are my observations about the 10 films. I'll comment on my reactions to the film as storytelling and then briefly on how I felt it illustrated the Bible verse it is based on.
"Man of the Hour" Matthew 7:13-14
Synopsis: Man receives his US citizenship and attends a party in his honor.
Reactions: Some really funny moments but at times I found it hard to hear the dialog so that kind of hurt my interest in the film.
Integration: At first, I couldn't figure out the connection to the Bible passage. But after the film was over I realized they had made a modern day parable to illustrate the point that people often don't understand the significance of a given moment: they just see the party but don't see the meaning.
"Wall of Jericho" Matthew 18:21-22
Synopsis: Three generations of women tied by a tragic event set the stage for a tale about forgiveness.
Reactions: Easily one of the most emotional of the films of the evening because the story is tragic and the performances so strong. The visual symbols of the film are direct and effective.
Integration; A very direct reading of the passage.
"Harvest" Matthew 10:16
Synopsis: Strange man visits mom and daughter of a broken home and leaves behind inspiration.
Reactions: Has a spokey X-File-ish look and feel. Nice music to help further that atmosphere. However, I don't know why but for some reason it just didn't work for me.
Integration: Didn't get the connection to the verse.
"Ready or Not" Matthew 24:6-7
Synopsis: Man is obsessed with following world events and is fearful.
Reactions: Probably one of the most striking films of the evening in terms of visual style. It sets itself up in the horror-suspense genre. I'm glad it is a short film because you can only sustain that knife on the edge tension before the audience becomes immune. Because they read the Bible verse prior to the film, you knew there would be a point when the film would "flip" from its very atmospheric mood and hit home the point and it did so in fine fashion in the last 2 minutes.
Integration: A very direct reading of the passage and I think the "flip" was very effective and hammers home what it really means to get ready for the return of Jesus.
"Pieces" Matthew 7:6
Synopsis: Office worker tries to do good deeds but suffers the consequences.
Reactions: I thought it was the most hilarious of the evenings films. The physical humor is terrific. The paper shredder humor both direct and visual were just great. The lead actor on it has terrific timing and facial expressions.
Integration: A murky passage. The film makers opted to highlight the back half of the passage and did so with great humor. The ending was great because it leads you to a place of tension feeling guilty pleasure yet waiting for the "Christian" payoff which comes in the nick of time.
"The Stranger" Mark 9:45-46
Synopsis: Man has dark family secret and finally faces up to it.
Reactions: Psycho-drama genre that starts well in the set up well but finished weak. Very good acting and interesting camera angles but the whole seemed to be less than the sum of its parts.
Integration: Another murky passage. There is some tie in through specific details in the plot line but the overall tale doesn't seem to help illuminate a difficult passage.
"Entereza" Matthew 5:37
Synopsis: Guy who lies big and small finally gets his just due when he is $800 in debt.
Reactions: Very funny. Lead actor has a comedic gift.
Integration: A direct reading of the passage.
"The Commission" Mark 16:15
Synopsis: Studio heads try to figure out how to revive the Jesus franchise of movies.
Reactions: Mixed feelings. Great visuals and atmosphere setting. Powerful point that we try to "package" Jesus a certain way and how that is a bad thing. However, the whole "The Big Sheep" satire was a little over the top. I don't mind satire but when it draws upon the confused ideas propagated by "Da Vinci Code" you maybe paying too high a price for laughs. Also, because I live in a neighborhood with a lot of Orthodox Jews, I was troubled by some of the casting choices for the studio board members. Even the hint of anti-Semitism really detracts from the important message of the story. Jesus ministering to the theme music of "Shaft" was very funny.
Integration: The passage is about proclaiming Jesus and the film tell us how we are messing that up.
"A Temp for All Seasons" Matthew 5:10
Synopsis: A temp refuses to tell a lie for the boss and all sorts of hilarity and drama ensues.
Reactions: Easily one of the feel good movies of the night that hits so close to where we all live. Great performance by the lead actor and the supporting cast.
Integration: A direct reading of the passage.
"Better of Said" Matthew 12:11-12
Synopsis: A young man with Tourette's Syndrome is healed but now he has a new problem.
Reactions: Very funny. Great physical humor by the lead actor. Pokes fun at the often lack of spontaneity of Christians.
Integration: A direct reading of the passage.
Awards:
Supporting Actor - Kevin Lineham, "Man of the Hour"
Original Score - Ed Smart, "Temp for All Seasons"
Cinematography - Cliff Jones, "Harvest"
Editor - Josh Greene, "Commission"
Supporting Actress - Beth Payne, "Notes"
Production Design - Joseph Middlekoop, "Ready or Not"
Sound Editor - Kenneth Johnson, "Ready or Not"
Actress - Karen Geraghty, "Walls of Jericho"
Scripture Integration - Keith Ray Putman, "Temp for All Seasons"
Screenplay - Josh Greene, "Commission"
Direction - Keith Ray Putman, "Temp for All Seasons"
Actor - Robert Wu, "Temp for All Seasons"
Comedy - Josh Greene, "Commission"
Short Film - Michael Toay, "Temp for All Seasons"
I pretty much agree with the awards committee in recognizing the overall excellence of "Temp for All Seasons" and the strong production values in "Ready or Not." I'm obviously much less sold on "Commission" for the reasons I've mentioned and really felt "Pieces" was the stronger comedy. Karen Geraghty for her part in "Walls of Jericho" was a lock to win.
UPDATE: Click here to see QuickTime clips of excerpts from films of the 168 Project.
UPDATE: If you think making a movie in 2 weeks is crazy, these people will do it in 48 hours! HT to N.Z. Bear.
Atlanta 5 Dodgers 2: Three Words
Three Words ... LEFT ON BASE.
Went to my fourth game of the season. The loss was due to the failure to get base runners home as the Dodgers left 10 on base. I mentioned in an earlier post that this 13-game stretch will tell us where this team is. Indeed, at the half-way mark, the Dodgers have gone 2-5. Three games against Florida and three against the Angels remain. We shall see if the Dodgers can turn it around. Of the two problems, pitching giving up the home run and the big inning or failure to get the timely hit, I think pitching is the bigger problem.
Went to my fourth game of the season. The loss was due to the failure to get base runners home as the Dodgers left 10 on base. I mentioned in an earlier post that this 13-game stretch will tell us where this team is. Indeed, at the half-way mark, the Dodgers have gone 2-5. Three games against Florida and three against the Angels remain. We shall see if the Dodgers can turn it around. Of the two problems, pitching giving up the home run and the big inning or failure to get the timely hit, I think pitching is the bigger problem.
@ the Movies: Kicking and Screaming
Will Ferrell has a gift for falling down, making faces and talking in strange ways. In this film to showcase his comedic gifts, he is teamed up with Robert Duvall who plays Ferrell's character's father and Mike Ditka as Mike Ditka. Stir in a cast of cute kids ...
... and a story about father's and son's and an underdog team and you have yourself a comedy with a good heart.
The premise of the film has Duvall and Ferrell as the gruff athletic father and the goofy non-athletic son. Duvall coaches the soccer team of his son from a second marriage while Ferrell coaches his son on another team. Ferrell gets it into his head to try to beat his father and enlists Ditka for help and comedy ensues.
The film is often over the top with exaggerated action and dialog but that is the whole fun of it as it pokes fun at sport movie cliche moments, suburban family life and a running gag on the perils of coffee drinking.
Critics may raise their noses at the film and sniff, "It is formulaic and unoriginal."
To which I say, why do we watch sports?
At its core, sports is hitting a ball, kicking a ball or throwing a ball within the parameters of the rules of the game. Nothing original at all about that. But what makes sports interesting is how the particular players play out that particular game.
In this movie, Ferrell's zany charm and physical humor gifts work very well and had our audience laughing out loud. Duvall and Ditka are terrific. And just got to love the kids.
I would also venture to say that some fathers and sons who see the film might find their hearts tugged at during some of the nice cross-generational moments in the film.
Kicking and Screaming is, as I say earlier, a comedy with a good heart, and it scores in meeting its gooooooooooooaaaaaaaallllllllll! Sorry, I couldn't resist.
2.5 stars out of 4 and a thumbs up from Rene's Rambling Reviews.
Disclosure: I saw the film at a pre-release screening for press and listeners of KIIS-FM and I was a guest of Grace Hill Media.
Image source: Yahoo! Movie Production Stills web page.
LA Dining: The Hunt for Red Mole
Mole is a sauce used in some Mexican dishes. To read more about it, see my latest over at LA.foodblogging.com.
How good are the Dodgers?
Four big series coming up. 4 against St. Louis at St. Louis then back to Dodger's stadium for 3 against Atlanta, 3 against Florida and 3 against the Angels.
If the Dodgers can split these 13 games then I think they are right on track.
Middle relief has been a bit shaky of late. That situation should improve when Gagne returns in a couple of weeks. Penny looks to be the #1 starter fans were hoping for. Lowe finally a bad outing but otherwise has been solid. Weaver and Perez are good when they are good and get pounded when they are bad. Erickson the fifth starter hasn't done much but then again, you don't expect too much from that spot in the rotation.
Jason Philips, the late acquisition at catcher has been a great pick up.
A lot more offense on this year's team. Having Penny and Lowe anchor the rotation could make DePodesta look like a genius. Go Dodgers!
If the Dodgers can split these 13 games then I think they are right on track.
Middle relief has been a bit shaky of late. That situation should improve when Gagne returns in a couple of weeks. Penny looks to be the #1 starter fans were hoping for. Lowe finally a bad outing but otherwise has been solid. Weaver and Perez are good when they are good and get pounded when they are bad. Erickson the fifth starter hasn't done much but then again, you don't expect too much from that spot in the rotation.
Jason Philips, the late acquisition at catcher has been a great pick up.
A lot more offense on this year's team. Having Penny and Lowe anchor the rotation could make DePodesta look like a genius. Go Dodgers!
LA Scene: Revlon 5K
Probably the biggest running event in Los Angeles is the Revlon 5K.
It draws 50,000+ walkers, joggers, runners and stroller pushers all to raise money to fight and to raise awareness of women's cancers.
I participated in support of the Gilda Radner Cancer Detection Program.
Here is the LA Coliseum before the race.
During the run, it is so overwhelming to see so many women in purple hats which signify they have survived cancer. Many of the runners had the names of loved ones on their t-shirts who are battling cancer. However, most heart wrenching was seeing so many where the name of the person is written down with the year of their birth and death.
I would say there are more women participants than men. And many of the runners, men and women, are in groups.
However, most sobering are the male solo runners who have these words written on the tags on the back of their shirts: I run in memory of my wife, name surname, 19XX - 19YY. I see them run silently and alone with their memories and their hopes that their daughters, sisters and other women in their lives will someday not be lost to cancer.
Mixed with such private remembrances is the celebration of life that there are indeed so many women wearing purple hats... cancer survivors who have full heads of hair, a smile on their faces, gratitude in their hearts and the energy to walk or run the 5K.
And the joy of entering into the LA Coliseum at the end of the run is such a great feeling ... the sound of cheering people ... the band playing upbeat music ... the crowds of people all different yet united for one purpose ...
I had to include this photo from the day. This is our team's youngest participant with the properly proud mom.
To LIFE!
It draws 50,000+ walkers, joggers, runners and stroller pushers all to raise money to fight and to raise awareness of women's cancers.
I participated in support of the Gilda Radner Cancer Detection Program.
Here is the LA Coliseum before the race.
During the run, it is so overwhelming to see so many women in purple hats which signify they have survived cancer. Many of the runners had the names of loved ones on their t-shirts who are battling cancer. However, most heart wrenching was seeing so many where the name of the person is written down with the year of their birth and death.
I would say there are more women participants than men. And many of the runners, men and women, are in groups.
However, most sobering are the male solo runners who have these words written on the tags on the back of their shirts: I run in memory of my wife, name surname, 19XX - 19YY. I see them run silently and alone with their memories and their hopes that their daughters, sisters and other women in their lives will someday not be lost to cancer.
Mixed with such private remembrances is the celebration of life that there are indeed so many women wearing purple hats... cancer survivors who have full heads of hair, a smile on their faces, gratitude in their hearts and the energy to walk or run the 5K.
And the joy of entering into the LA Coliseum at the end of the run is such a great feeling ... the sound of cheering people ... the band playing upbeat music ... the crowds of people all different yet united for one purpose ...
I had to include this photo from the day. This is our team's youngest participant with the properly proud mom.
To LIFE!
LA Dining: Porterhouse Bistro
I've joined the collaborative foodbloggers over at LA Foodblogging and my first post there is to report on Porterhouse Bistro.
It is a great steakhouse!
It is a great steakhouse!
At the movies: Kingdom of Heaven
In brief: 2.5 stars out of 4, thumbs up with reservations.
At greater length:
Scott knows how to do battle scenes. I have seen Gladiator and Blackhawk Down and the action sequences in those films had me wanting to bob and weave to avoid the dangers and that was so in Kingdom of Heaven. The R rating was well deserved for violence.
Orlando Bloom fans should be happy as he gets to be the main man here. He still looks a bit young for such a big role but I felt he did reasonably well. It was nice to see him get the "Aragorn" role and give the rousing speeches to rally the troops.
Eva Green is alluring but the romance wasn't compelling to me. The romance seemed obligatory and didn't add much.
The Neeson-Bloom father-son relationship worked for me. There wasn't a lot of screen time to build that relationship but it was effective. Give Neeson lots of credit for a super performance here.
Post movie discussions will touch on the history of the Crusades. One wonders how good is the "history" in the film? I suspect most viewers are like me in knowing little to nothing about the Crusades. I'll leave the historical analysis to others. As I come across history web links, I'll be sure to update this post.
As a religious and family values conscious viewer there are many things to talk about after the movie. One issue with much contemporary weight is how do people of differing religious faith interact?
In the film, the bad guys are the Christian factions (Templar Knights and their supporters in the King's court) who want war. The good guys are the Christian King of Jerusalem (young but dying of leprosy) and the Muslim leader Saladin both of whom desire to keep the peace and allow access for all faiths to the shrines in Jerusalem.
Here is where I don't know how well Scott and company did their history homework. Movies tend to simplify historical characters. But for this review, until I have more history information, I'll take these characterizations as correct.
As a Christian, I don't approve of all that is done under the banner of Christianity today and certainly object to what the bad guys in the film do in the name of Christianity. We (Christians) should not defend the indefensible. We should also point out that that those factions weren't all of Christianity then and don't characterize Christianity today.
Living in our modern context, I see today's bad guys as the Muslim factions that conduct terrorism. I know that that faction doesn't represent all of Islam. I'm sure some in the Christian and Muslim communities will complain about the movie for this slight or that stereotype. However, if the film stirs a dialog about making moral distinction among so called adherents of faith who do evil versus the ones who are trying to live out their faith genuinely then that is a good thing.
Another area for discussion would be how should religious people view the historical artifacts of their religious faiths? All three monotheistic faiths have shrines to their religions in Jerusalem. How important are the places of our faiths? Are these places worth waging war over?
I feel the film gives mixed messages on this point. I don't want to spoil the movie for my dear readers by going into why I feel this way but if you see the film you will know what I mean. Perhaps the ambiguity on this is intentional reflecting the mixed feelings people have on this point.
I can only speak for Christianity in regards to the historicity of that faith. Indeed, Christianity contains a code of conduct and religious rituals that are independent of Jerusalem, the "Kingdom of Heaven" of the movie's title. However, it must be pointed out that Christianity's key theological dogma (Jesus dying on the Cross and Resurrecting) is premised on historical events in Jerusalem. Personally, I hope someday to visit Jerusalem and other areas in the Middle East described by both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. But, if I don't ever get to go, my faith would be intact because when Jesus said, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, he meant it in the sense the KING is here.
Finally, I think the film could generate interesting discussion about decision-making and qualities of leadership. Each character was faced with tough choices and they don't always make good ones. Scott and company muddled how religious faith informs their decisions but just because the moviemakers do doesn't mean we need to also when we do post-movie chit chat.
I’m recommending the film with the caveat on violence and encouragement to discuss issues raised in the film and some fact checking on the history of the Crusades.
Disclosure: I saw the film at a pre-release screening for the press and was a guest of Grace Hill Media.
Images sourced from Yahoo! Movies Production Stills Page for Kingdom of Heaven.
At greater length:
Scott knows how to do battle scenes. I have seen Gladiator and Blackhawk Down and the action sequences in those films had me wanting to bob and weave to avoid the dangers and that was so in Kingdom of Heaven. The R rating was well deserved for violence.
Orlando Bloom fans should be happy as he gets to be the main man here. He still looks a bit young for such a big role but I felt he did reasonably well. It was nice to see him get the "Aragorn" role and give the rousing speeches to rally the troops.
Eva Green is alluring but the romance wasn't compelling to me. The romance seemed obligatory and didn't add much.
The Neeson-Bloom father-son relationship worked for me. There wasn't a lot of screen time to build that relationship but it was effective. Give Neeson lots of credit for a super performance here.
Post movie discussions will touch on the history of the Crusades. One wonders how good is the "history" in the film? I suspect most viewers are like me in knowing little to nothing about the Crusades. I'll leave the historical analysis to others. As I come across history web links, I'll be sure to update this post.
As a religious and family values conscious viewer there are many things to talk about after the movie. One issue with much contemporary weight is how do people of differing religious faith interact?
In the film, the bad guys are the Christian factions (Templar Knights and their supporters in the King's court) who want war. The good guys are the Christian King of Jerusalem (young but dying of leprosy) and the Muslim leader Saladin both of whom desire to keep the peace and allow access for all faiths to the shrines in Jerusalem.
Here is where I don't know how well Scott and company did their history homework. Movies tend to simplify historical characters. But for this review, until I have more history information, I'll take these characterizations as correct.
As a Christian, I don't approve of all that is done under the banner of Christianity today and certainly object to what the bad guys in the film do in the name of Christianity. We (Christians) should not defend the indefensible. We should also point out that that those factions weren't all of Christianity then and don't characterize Christianity today.
Living in our modern context, I see today's bad guys as the Muslim factions that conduct terrorism. I know that that faction doesn't represent all of Islam. I'm sure some in the Christian and Muslim communities will complain about the movie for this slight or that stereotype. However, if the film stirs a dialog about making moral distinction among so called adherents of faith who do evil versus the ones who are trying to live out their faith genuinely then that is a good thing.
Another area for discussion would be how should religious people view the historical artifacts of their religious faiths? All three monotheistic faiths have shrines to their religions in Jerusalem. How important are the places of our faiths? Are these places worth waging war over?
I feel the film gives mixed messages on this point. I don't want to spoil the movie for my dear readers by going into why I feel this way but if you see the film you will know what I mean. Perhaps the ambiguity on this is intentional reflecting the mixed feelings people have on this point.
I can only speak for Christianity in regards to the historicity of that faith. Indeed, Christianity contains a code of conduct and religious rituals that are independent of Jerusalem, the "Kingdom of Heaven" of the movie's title. However, it must be pointed out that Christianity's key theological dogma (Jesus dying on the Cross and Resurrecting) is premised on historical events in Jerusalem. Personally, I hope someday to visit Jerusalem and other areas in the Middle East described by both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. But, if I don't ever get to go, my faith would be intact because when Jesus said, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, he meant it in the sense the KING is here.
Finally, I think the film could generate interesting discussion about decision-making and qualities of leadership. Each character was faced with tough choices and they don't always make good ones. Scott and company muddled how religious faith informs their decisions but just because the moviemakers do doesn't mean we need to also when we do post-movie chit chat.
I’m recommending the film with the caveat on violence and encouragement to discuss issues raised in the film and some fact checking on the history of the Crusades.
Disclosure: I saw the film at a pre-release screening for the press and was a guest of Grace Hill Media.
Images sourced from Yahoo! Movies Production Stills Page for Kingdom of Heaven.
Kids say the darnest things!
In youth group recently the subject was relationships.
Some of the guys put it this way in highly logical fashion:
love of money = evil
time = money
girls = time + money
evil = love of girls
Suffice to say guys and gals had a good laugh over that one!
Our two youth leaders closed out our discussion time by taking us to the Bible all the way back to Genesis.
In brief, we find out that God created us, God has a mission for us and God provides companionship. Unfortunately, what happens is that people (us) make finding companionship the mission in life and that is off point and leads to all sorts of grief. Our relationship with God must be primary and all other relationships flow from that priority.
Some of the guys put it this way in highly logical fashion:
love of money = evil
time = money
girls = time + money
evil = love of girls
Suffice to say guys and gals had a good laugh over that one!
Our two youth leaders closed out our discussion time by taking us to the Bible all the way back to Genesis.
In brief, we find out that God created us, God has a mission for us and God provides companionship. Unfortunately, what happens is that people (us) make finding companionship the mission in life and that is off point and leads to all sorts of grief. Our relationship with God must be primary and all other relationships flow from that priority.
Dodgers 2 Rockies 1
Went to my third game of the season. It was very close with a dramatic ninth inning finish.
Briefly, the Dodgers won 2-1.
However, the Dodgers sure made it exciting by leaving the bases loaded on two occasions after only cashing in one run on each time. In the end, the box score says the Dodgers left 10 on base!
Anyway, the Dodgers got to the top of the ninth and Brazoban came in to get the save. He promptly walked the first batter, Atkins!
Then Gonzalez came up as a pinch hitter. In a bizarre series of events, he lost the grip of the bat and it flew toward the mound not once, not twice but three times! On the third, he struck out while Atkins went for the steal of second base. The umpire ruled Gonzalez out on strikes and Atkins out due to interference. The crowd was buzzing and I could see some extra security guys go onto the field and some players were jawing at each other.
Mohr came up and was immediately hit by the first pitch and again the crowd roared and there was some yapping among the players at the apparent retaliation.
Greene came up and Brazoban uncorked a wild pitch allowing Mohr to advance to second. Eventually, Brazoban got Greene down to his last strike and finally induced a long fly-ball to left fielder Ledee thus notching his eight save of the season.
Dodgers win!
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