The New Musings of a Quiet Geek

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So the process of healthcare reform has taken a huge step. Sure it's a small step but look what will take effect in a few short months: sick children will no longer be denied coverage. How in God's name could that be a bad thing? Children can't be kicked off their parents coverage until before the age 26. When I came of age and had to get my own coverage, health insurance was a good hundred dollars cheaper a month. Giving out kids a few more years to get a career off the ground in this economy is a good deal. Most importantly, many who don't have coverage will soon. Sure, some don't want to have health insurance. I'm guessing they're the same people who don't want to wear seatbelts. Possibly the same people who use the kid's heads as ashtrays but now we're just getting silly... People have claimed it's a violation of their civil liberties. These same people supported illegal wiretapping of American citizens and racial profiling and voted t...

1. Last Saturday night I was invited to a party by a student at the Seminary where I work. He's housemates of sorts with a couple I know from church but most everyone I knew there was from work as the others from church had the "dual identity" as did. As the house was in my neighborhood, I walked down. I gave myself about 25 minutes and ended up being the first to arrive. I also ended up being one of the last to leave as the 9pm stop time happened and the dancing to Van Morrison happened. The there was an impromptu jam session so the party really didn't end until almost 10:30. Great time. 2. As some of you may remember we had a bed bug problem awhile back. Our movie-loving cook friend decided it was time for us to get furniture again so we went out recliner shopping. (Hey, if she was willing to pay...) We ended up getting a recliner AND a Canadian rocker. Both are awesomely comfortable. 3. On Sunday, we watched The Gift with Cate Blanchett. Given this was directed b...

Valentine's Day -If I had seen Love Actually , I probably would have really enjoyed this film. The acting was more than fine except maybe for both the Taylors. (Who's idea was it to make Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift a couple anyway? Surreally lame.) There were several "surprises" in the movie. I figured out all but maybe two ahead of time. I feel stupid for not figuring out those two... I think director Gary Marshall's sister Penny could have done a better job on this movie... Finally, a comparison of the soundtracks between Love Actually and this movie . Notice Maroon 5 being on both soundtracks. (Not a fan.) Also, fewer covers on the Love Actually soundtrack. (Eva Cassidy sounds just like Christine McVie on "Songbird.") Bottomline: Richard Curtis put so much thought into the soundtrack that process is a bonus feature on the DVD. I don't feel that from Marshall. Bottomline on the movie itself: If this was an SAT analogy, this movie compared wi...

Last weekend, I watched more research material. Somewhat anyway. After watching The International , I wanted to see The Interpreter, a movie the former supposedly was a rip off from. I didn't see that at all. Sure one had Nicole Kidman and the other had her best friend Naomi Watts but that's really where the similarities end. Sean Penn here reminded me more of Kevin Costner than Clive Owen. And while setting it at the UN, that was really as "global" as it got. It was a great film in it's own right. I have to give a shout out to my book group for understanding the plot's real life origins. If I hadn't read When A Crocodile Eats the Sun I probably would have said Mandela as someone I watching it with did. No, the dictator threatened was clearly based on Robert Mugabe. Some of you will probably laugh but it also reminded me of the Manchurian Candidate ...and Star Trek VI ... On Thursday, I went with the Seminary community downtown to hear the Soweto Gos...

This wouldn't fit as my status on Facebook so here it is... Go to www.urbandictionary.com. Type your first name into the search bar, and then post the FIRST entry about it. Copy, paste, share! Joshua is a sexy, masculine individual exuding the most desirable of traits. Although Joshua may be timid at first, his genuine and compassionate charm shine through above all things. He can be trusted with any secret and will always pull through even when the going gets tough. His understanding and supportive nature can put anyone at ease as he is never judgmental but rather always willing to listen with an open mind. He is the epitome of a true man. My boyfriend is an absolute Joshua. epitome sexy handsome masculine timid

I was thinking I'd have a book review or even news on my own book to share right now but no. Instead here's reviews of two pretty different movies. 1. Havoc - This movie starred Anne Hathaway as a upper middle class socialite who's understandbly bored with the superficiality of her life and wants to experience something "real" like Hispanic gang culture. The movie was neither as good or as bad as that description suggests. Laura San Giacomo appeared very briefly in one scene and actually had no lines except to offer soup. She was either a friend of the production staff or needed quick cash. Not sure which. Shiri Appleby plays one of her friends and at one point says that hanging out with the gang was more fun than giving guys blow jobs at the local deli. After just re-watching Roswell , I really have a hard time picturing Liz Parker giving a line like that. My companions hated all the sex and violence but I give the film 3 out of 5 stars. 2. The second movie was ...

1. The International -This is one of those movies I like to call "reference material." The plot of a bank cornering the market on weapons deals to third world countries is something I wish I came up with first. The acting was superb. For some reason, I kept thinking what a great join Naomi Watts was doing hiding her accent as if she'd never done that before... The ending was both cool and WTF at the same time. I can't really explain it better without ruining the whole thing. 2. Push -Fascinating cast. The plot was interesting as well. I don't know how I feel that everyone has one of only four superpowers. I can't decide if that's more realistic or less...The ending wasn't great but as I sit here typing this, I can't remember why... 3. G-Force - This was a favorite of the weekend I think. Tracy Morgan as Blaster and Penelope Cruz as Juarez I think were my favorite characters. So much fun. 4. The Lovely Bones - Our company and I went out to see thi...

I discovered TNT is making a TV series on my favorite Maine author Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli/Isles series which is exciting news. First off, it should be called Rizzoli and Isles as Maura is just as much the star of the series. In fact Body Double for instance was really more about Maura than Jane. Whatever. Angie Harmon is about the right age and personality to pull off Jane Rizzoli though, physically, I picture Meredith Scott Lynn more in the role. Of course not as big a name to star in series even on TNT so I understand. My one real gripe here is she sounds more from Jersey than Boston. Could be a problem. If she ever wears non-New England sports gear, heads will roll. Sasha Alexander is totally wrong for the role of Maura Isles. I think more along the lines of Winona Ryder. Isles has the nickname "Queen of the Dead" for more reasons than just her job people! Oh, but that casting would upstage Harmon! Oh no! My opinion of Vice Korsak is decidedly mixed. A greasy...

1. It's been awhile. I'll begin with a week ago this past Friday when I went down town to hear a band. A friend from high school plays drums. A couple other people from high school were there. It was a great time and welcome change of pace. 2. Finally had the Davis family Christmas party this past Saturday. Ugh. So boring. Only two presents for me as everyone else had already given theirs to me. Of course, I needed a calendar and another gift card is always good. Still not sure what I want to use it for. There was two kinds of apple pie. 3. Our movie loving cook friend spent the night before last. She makes some awesome nachos. Everything but the kitchen sink. a. That night we went down to see Up in the Air . Overall a great movie with great story and acting but the ending, which I shan't reveal, was unsatisfying. Even an unrealistic ending would have been preferable. I can't really go into more detail without revealing much. I will say though that corporations t...

Romeo and Juliet: Prologue Two cats , both alike in dignity, In fair China , where we lay our scene, From ancient sunshine break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross`d goats take their life; Whole misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their tree bury their parents` strife. The fearful passage of their smelly love, And the continuance of their parents` rage, Which, but their children`s end, nought could swim , Is now the 32 hours` traffic of our stage; The which if you with pretty knee attend, What here shall run , our toil shall strive to mend.

1. Gave my parents the new Beatles Trivial Pursuit game for Christmas. I thought the 3 of us would have an easy time of it but they added six levels of difficulty to every category. Of course we got a lot of 5 and 6 level questions like where did John go to school or what street he lived on. Yikes! Get this there's a movie category and we watched Hard Days Night . It didn't help. It was good though as my father took an early lead before my mother took over. I ended up winning merely on a dice-roll. 2. Got two big music gifts this year. My parents gave me Tom Petty's Live Anthology which though it's set up as a long concert, it's actually several different concert clips spliced together. You really don't notice. I love it! b. Meanwhile my cousin gave me the John Lennon Anthology which is analogous to The Beatle Anthology as it's a compilation of outtakes, parodies and live tracks selected by Yoko Ono who also wrote the liner notes. This is great too! 3....

I was pleased with the signing of former Twin Boof Bonser the other day. To me he seems like an improvement over Wakefield; age-wise anyway. It looks he's gonna be a long man in the annual revamped 'pen. Whatever. I say whatever because yesterday's signing of former Angel ace John Lackey makes the Bonser signing completely irrelevant. Despite stating the season on the DL for his former team the last two years, he still brought it for them being up near the top of their rotation. Depending on Dice-K' Matzusaka's new conditioning program goes, they'll fight each other for third which is awesome. What I don't like is this makes Clay Buccholtz trade-bait. Trade Wakefield and/or Bonser for the final bat. Jason Bay demanding a fifth year, or at least his agent, does not impress me much. Pedro pulled the same crap when he left for the Mets. Pedro wasn't worth a longer contract then and Bay isn't now. If I was negotiating I'd give him 4 years as ...

After reading, this article , I think all of my readers know I had to comment. Actually, I did at the article itself but what kind of host would I be if I forced you to go there and search for them? Besides this is why I have blog in the first place. I loved the new movie and agree a reboot needed to be done. It's more Trek than Universe is Stargate That said, it's too soon to use that alternate universe for a series. I'd wait until the third or, better yet, the fifth for that. That said, speaking strictly as a Trekie, it's not too soon for a new series for me... My must haves, in no particular order: 1. Likable characters-Tension is great but Stargate: Universe vs. Voyager / DS9 has shown even characters that hate each other in the beginning eventually should get along. Even Enterprise characters grew on me by season 2... 2. A ship-Space, time or space and time, I don't care but there must be a ship. DS9 was and still is my favorite of the franchise but ...

For this month's book group at church I read The Shack by William P. Young. Simply put, not nearly as bad as I feared it would be given the beginning reminded me of Left Behind which as a pretty good story but "nauserating" theologically. In fact, Young's novel was quite thought provoking. The book tells the story of a man irritatingly named Mackenzie Phillips (Young never saw One Day At A Time apparently...) who holds a lot of emotional pain from a abusive father and kidnapped daughter and is summoned by note to the scene of his daughter's murder supposedly by God. What I liked about the book: though The Shack is fiction, Young writes it as if Mack related the story to him to write down. It's a plot device I really want to use someday. As I implied earlier, the book's writing style was similar to Left Behind but, as the story gets going, it turns out it's more in-line with where I am theologically. Hint: God isn't an old white guy and Jesus ...

We're down to our last piece of pie and we're tossing the turkey carcass out so I think Thanksgiving 2009 is finally over. It may have actually ended when my parents went home on Friday but whatever...Yes, my parents came down and we had the dinner upstairs in my aunt's apartment. It was just the five of us. On Wednesday, I tried once more to get my ID replaced. They were open this time but I forgot to put my birth certificate back in my bag. Because this was a replacement, they had the address on file but I couldn't prove I was born here. Yes, I was born here then but I'm not now? Do terrorists have time travel tech to change this? Anyway, the saga continues... This is my first Christmas using Pandora. I have some thoughts. James Taylor's cover of Joni Mitchell's "River" is the most boring version I have ever heard but it perhaps is the only male version I've ever heard...Apparently, Louie Armstrong put "What A Wonderful World" on...

1. In case you missed my raving about the movie, I so enjoyed Pirate Radio . What do you get when you mix the hilarious Brit writer Richard Curtis, of Vicar of Dibley , Love Actually , Notting Hill and 4 Weddings and a Funeral , and music of the '60's? This gem. Go see it! 2. I'm thinking I should try the DMV again tomorrow as I have Wednesday and Friday off and Friday is Black Friday which may be scary being the mall and all. I'm still curious where my ID went in the first place... 3. We're having Thanksgiving up at my aunt's apartment. In attendance will be my aunt, my cousin (The one I live with not the one I can't stand), my parents and myself. The menu sounds traditional... 4. Finished reading Tess Geritsen's The Keepsake recently. After a break with The Bone Garden we're back to the Rizzoli/Isles series. I think the break helped. While the other books weren't bad by any means, Gerritsen added a bit more action to this time around which ...

1. It's been almost a week since the same sex marriage law was shot down. I'm not totally pissed about it as I was as, you know, time heals all wounds or what not but I still am a bit irritated. There was a discussion about it at the seminary today on how for many opponents it was the word "marriage" that did it for them. The only openly gay student present responded she wanted the word. I can't say I blame her. I noticed this argument a long time ago, however. I was in Boston when thie issue was discussed there and in Connecticut when it was discussed there (Actually, it was just civil unions there at the time and then later became marriage...) and this was the first time I noticed the civil union option wasn't poo-pooed as well. I love how Bishop Malone still claims his opposition wasn't about discrimination. Isn't denying a group the right to do something that everyone else is allowed to do the very definition of discrimination? 2. Wow. Carrie ...

1. With the exception of two episodes of Courtney Cox's Cougar Town which as only two things going for it,Cox and co-star Crista Miller, I've really only started watching two new shows: NCIS: Los Angeles and Stargate: Universe . I can see now why producers or CBS or both didn't want it called NCIS: Special Projects or whatever. Supposedly, they're an uncover branch of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service but aside from a scene here or there, they never go undercover! When reading about it, it sounded like a cross between NCIS and Mission: Impossible which is an awesome concept. In reality, the difference between this and the show it spun-off from is the same difference between CSI and CSI: Miami . I will say Linda Hunt as Hetty Lange makes the show worth watching anyway. I'm curious to see where Stargate: Universe goes. The tone is darker than the previous series akin to Deep Space Nine . That show wasn't as well received as the other Star Trek ...

After reading this article this morning, I was inspired to blog. I personally like the wild card but I admit the Sox could have tried harder this weekend. I've never understood why the Nation League has 16 teams and the American League has only 14. Why not 15 each? Having teams hurting for money makes it hard to think about making even more teams but what do I know? Also, I've never understood why the Phillies and the Pirates are National League. One should be in the American League. The teams the writer of the piece put into the North and South divisions are crazy. Detroit, Minnesota (Where from Mary Tyler Moore re-runs I understand it snows year round.) and Colorado in the South? Really? To that end here are my suggestions for division break up: AL East Boston Red Sox Cleveland Indians New York Yankees Philadelphia Phillies AL North Detroit Tigers Minnesota Twins Toronto Blue Jays Chicago White Sox AL South Baltimore Orioles Kansas City Royals Tampa Bay Rays Expansion Tea...