Watchmen et al

I haven't had much to say lately. I have not been feeling well and haven't had the time to write anything interesting.

Bob and I went to see Watchmen, twice. First we saw it at midnight Thursday night. It was over at 5 minutes to 3 in the morning. Then we had to get up with the kids at 6:30 am. Two of the kids ended up staying home sick (which seems to happen every time we take off from work). We met up with two friends to see Watchmen at 10 am. I saw new things the second time we saw it. I don't think I am going to see a movie at midnight again, because it is a pain to get up early afterward.

Watchmen movie is awesome! But it is long. I don't know how well it will do at the box office long term, because mostly comic book fans and adventure fans are going to watch it.

There are only a few slight differences from the book, but nothing too major (for example: Laurie does not smoke in the movie). I am supposed to take my sons this weekend, but I don't know if I will take the thirteen-year-old. It is extremely violent, which is more shocking in the video format than in the comic. I can't wait to watch the Black Freighter. I missed having it in the movie.

Notable Movies of 2008

(Note: This list is subjective and is chosen only from the movies I have seen.)

Best Movie: Gran Torinono

Best Family Movie: Wall-E

Best Comedy: Yes Man

Summer Blockbuster: Dark Knight

Best Special Effects: Iron Man

Most over-hyped: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Disappointing sequel: Indiana Jones

Pointless Remake: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Just for Fun: Be Kind Rewind

Most Innovative: Speed Racer

Better than expected: Iron Man

Best Car Chase: Wanted

Best Actor: Heath Ledger (Dark Knight)

Best Actress: Ahney Her (Gran Torino)

Best Animated Film: Wall-E

Best Action Sequence: Truck Scene in Dark Knight

"Having trouble paying your bills? We can help!"

I bet you've seen and heard those words a thousand times in cheesy, emotion-provoking advertisements. But don't be fooled. These companies charge large fees to "lower your debt", and you will probably just end up with more debt than you started with. They most often work with the creditors by paying them late and months later making offers to payoff at much lower amounts than owed (if they keep up with your account), all the while still charging you the same amount of money.

You are better off using strategies on your own to pay off your bills. Don't be afraid of your debt. Take the emotion out of the equation. Take charge of your finances.

1. Don't open any more lines of credit and stop using the credit cards/credit lines you currently have. Cash only (or bank debit card only).


2. Pay essential first: food, electric, mortgage/rent.


3. Get current on your bills. If you do not have enough money coming in, get a second job (this doesn't have to be permanent).


4. Write out a budget each month and follow that budget. When the money runs out. Stop spending.
   

You can get yourself out of the mess and back on your feet again. But don't let yourself be taken in by scams. It takes a lot of work, but you can do it.

Reference: Dave Ramsey

Photo by Jenn_Jenn. Some rights reserved.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for freedom, health, family, life, friends, food, joy, movies, my job, nature, BSA, Dave Ramsey, the Internet, art, photography, comedy, everyday joys.

picture created with Graffiti application

E=mc2 Corroborated

Yesterday, theoretical physicists proved Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081120/sc_afp/sciencephysicseinstein_081120235605

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iYftcP0kR2mf032kK3WFVR9k_O2A

Vote!

Don't forget to vote today in this historic and important election!

My Top 20 Favorite Songs

Last week, my husband and I were talking about what our top 10 songs are. I had so many that I wanted in my top 10 that I had to make a top 20. Here they are, just for s and g's.

1. Back in Black - AC/DC
2. Nobody's Listening - Linkin Park
3. Hotel California - Eagles
4. Tom Sawyer - Rush
5. Baba O'Riley - The Who
6. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
7. Cowboy - Kid Rock
8. AM Radio - Everclear
9. Veteran of the Psychic Wars - Blue Oyster Cult
10. Orion - Metallica
11. Thunderstruck - AC/DC
12. Seven Bridges Road - Eagles
13. Unforgiven II - Metallica
14. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer - George Thorogood and the Destroyers
15. Landslide - Stevie Nicks
16. Paint it Black - The Rolling Stones
17. Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
18. I Stand Alone - Godsmack
19. Rooms on Fire - Stevie Nics
20. Rock 'n Me - Steve Miller Band

My top Albums (in no particular order):

• Full Moon Fever - Tom Petty
• Songs from an American Movie - Everclear
• Master of Puppets - Metallica
• Meteora - Linkin Park
• Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park
• Supernatural - Santana
• Devil without a Cause - Kid Rock
• Workshop of the Telescopes - Blue Oyster Cult
• Who Made Who - AC/DC
• Green - REM
• So - Peter Gabriel

My favorite bands, in case you couldn't tell (in no particular order):

• AC/DC
• Rush
• The Who
• The Rolling Stones
• Eagles
• The Steve Miller Band
• Led Zeppelin
• Tom Petty
• Everclear
• Metallica
• Linkin Park
• Kid Rock

See How Your Senators Voted on the Bailout

Senate vote for HR 1424, the "Senate Bailout".

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00213

Both of my senators voted for it, so guess who I am going to vote against when they are up for re-election.

Notes on Sarah Palin - Charlie Gibson Interview

My rough notes from the Palin/Gibson interview:

economy:
-put govt on side of people-halt the growth of government
-in Wasilla-cut property tax-increased sale tax-cut small business inventory taxes-started with a balanced budget and ended with a deficit for sports arena
-Alaska:-temporarily eliminated state fuel tax

what would you change in Bush economic plan?
-change oversight of quasi-government agencies (such as fannie mae and freddie mac)
-reduce taxes, reform spending, change oversight
-vet programs should not be touched
---
-describes self as washington outsider with no allegiances to power brokers.
-paid 30,000 for a lobbyist to washington
---
-roe v. wade should be overturned on the state level-abortion only in the case of the woman's life endangered (McCain for abortion permitted in case of incest and rape)
-against embryonic stem cell research (McCain for)
-avoided question about whether being gay is learned or genetic
-against more gun control
-says she is experienced enough and has enough ability to be vice president and possibly president
---
-avoided national security and foreign policy question, saying being more energy independent would be great for national security
---
-played basketball in high school

GOP Selection of Palin is Highly Insulting

I have been in a bad mood since the announcement was made. I find the selection of Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential nominee to be highly insulting. What are we supposed to infer by her nomination? She has only been the governor of Alaska for less than 2 years. Before that, she was a mayor. She does not have near enough experience for the position. So why was she chosen? Because she is a woman? There are plenty of female Republicans who are qualified for the job. This just disgusts me. And it seems that all the Republican politicians are just going along with it, like this is a genius move. Ugh! Let's see, she's not as qualified as Barak Obama, Obama's not as experienced as George W. Bush was when he took office-and I did not vote for Bush-because he was not qualified enough!

What was McCain thinking? Was he thinking? Is he just going with what other people are telling him to do, or was this his idea? If it was his idea, it does not bode well for him.