Thursday, August 31, 2006

He'll always be the definitive Pa Kent

Well, Glenn Ford has passed away. For those of you who are really into classic films, he's probably best known for his role in "Gilda." A film best remembered for the scene where Rita Hayworth did that signature hair flip that became an iconographic moment for her, in fact so iconographic it's used in "The Shawshank Redemption."

I personally remember him for two films, "Superman" where he played Pa Kent. (If you look in on the mantle of the scenes in the Kent house in "Superman Returns" you can see a picture of Glenn Ford as Pa Kent there.) I also know him from "Midway" where he played Admiral Spruance, commander of the US Task Force that whipped the Japanese Fleet.

I've seen some of his older stuff, but I will always identify him with the first two roles I ever saw him play. He was a good solid actor, not flashy. I really can't think of anyone today would would be able to take his place as an understated lead, Maybe Tom Hanks now, or David Straitharn (sp?) (The guy who played Edward R. Murrow in "Good Night and Good Luck.")

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Yes, it's scary, but I love the headline.

Ok, "Otter Attacks Pregnant Woman" caught my attention, but make it "Deranged Otter Attacks Pregnant Woman" and BOOM! Now you got me locked in!

Monday, August 28, 2006

Festivus for Allofus

Well, it's over. The 10 year reunion of the formation of the UMBC Gang. Whew. Everyone seems to have had a good time and it was great to see EVERYONE back together. It's been too long since something like that happened.

Here's a pic:





That's everyone. Thanks Dave for posting this.
During the festivities a discussion started about going to Cooperstown, NY next July for Cal Ripken's HOF Induction. That should be either a blast or the end of friendships...

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Well...

I've neglected the blog a bit. I've been playing Civ III. It's always fun to be invaded by someone with muskets...at least when you have mechanized infantry, F-15s and modern armor. Heh.

I had a good time at the movie. My dad, uncle and cousin went. We had an hour to kill so we walked around the museum, I must go back. It was great!

This week has been meh. I'm just looking forward to the weekend when the whole UMBC Gang will re-unite for a picnic. There are more of us now than when we graduated so it should be a great group picture.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Looks like they heard about the 918th

Tomorrow I'm going to see one of my favorite movies of all time on the big screen.



12 O'Clock High is going to be shown at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center. I'm looking forward to it eagerly. I don't get to see many old movies as they were meant to be shown. This one is going to be in their Imax theater. Perhaps they can play with the lenses and make it show large enought to encompass the screen.

It's a good story with good writing, great acting and well put together. For some reason I just like to watch it. I guess it's because of the major theme, leadership.

The 918th Bomb Group is getting its ass handed to them in the skies over Europe. They're among the first groups of B-17's to deploy to fight the Nazis and are just being pummelled. A combination of bad luck and mistakes generate more casualties for them than any of the other groups. The group CO overidentifies with his men, they love him for it, but it's burning him out. So he gets replaced by Gregory Peck's General Frank Savage.

The movie gets real good from that point on.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Nuts

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/15281558.htm

I'm a patient man Focker...

"Wacky Neighbor said...
I will take you down, I will take you down to Chinatown.

10:18 AM"

Ok, WN's talkin smack. It's definitely football season.
For those of you who don't know, WN and THFH were college roommates, Quiz Bowl teammmates, and co-authors of a historical research paper on Memorial Stadium.
We also briefly managed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and ran a small airline in the Andes.

WN is also a huge fan of The Baltimore Ravens (aka-The Baltimore-Washington Metropolitian Area's Team of Diminishing Expectations.) THFH is a die-hard fan of The Washington Redskins (aka-future Super Bowl XLI Champs)
For many years I have made a small "sporting wager" with WN stating that the Redskins will either make it to or win the Superbowl.
This year I expect to win.
So bring it on WN. Let's see what happens to Baltimore when your precious McNair blows out a knee or tears an ACL or MCL again. Where's your Billick now, see?

I await your response.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Shout-out!

On this post "International Left-Handers Day" Monday I want to give a shout-out to all my homies who use the south paw!

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Ummm...

I'll take "Duh!" for $200 Alex.

Good news

Ok, my friend may be working stuff out and it may not be something that I did. I hope things improve for this person. I'm not going to press the issue though, it would probably make things worse.

The B&O Society event in Brunswick went well. Still have some things to fix, but overall it was great! Huzzah!!!

and...
why I love the Midwest

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Bad Things...

Alas, I think Mythbusters has jumped the shark...Kari is in FHM.

That and the myths this week were lame-ish. Not really myths, a postage stamp can destabilize a helicoper and the mentos and coke thing.

Pity, there go my Wednesdays on the Discovery Channel.

Even more serious, a friend has unexplicably cut off all email communication with me, I'm hesitant to call. I suppose I'm out of the "Circle of Trust." I'm not sure what I did to merit this exile, but I'm just too tired to fight it. And if I don't deserve an explination email at the very least, well...fine. Despite this acceptance I'm incredibly bummed. I hate to lose touch with friends and I'm exceedingly happy that the gang from college has stuck together for these 10 years since our first meetings.

Still, I'm in a funk now. Probably won't get out of it until the BORHS Brunswick Mini-Con starts Saturday morning. I'm running that event so there will be plenty of things to distract me from this.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Yay

I have a new box! 3.0 Ghz! Huzzah!!!

Also football is on Thursday and Friday in prime time!
Huzzah!!!

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Can you hear that?

It's someone's knees getting blown out.
Yeah baby!
PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL STARTS THIS WEEKEND!!!
Scrimmage with the Skins and Ravens AND the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

Oh this brings joy to my heart. Football, fall, cooler weather and the inevitable monday night football games that run past midnight. All just weeks away. Weeks I tell you! I just love this time of the year. College ball, pro ball, playoffs...high school games that empty the streets and fill the stands of small towns across america. Yes, the nearest town is home to a damn fine high school football team and Friday nights will be under the lights.
I love it. A DAY! A DAY of pro sports on TV. Real sports not Indy Racing or Tennis or Golf or Soccer. (Yeah, that's right, Soccer sucks! I can't get into it, I don't have the patience for it and god dammit I hate ties.) No siree...American Football 12 plus hours of good times in front of the TV or a good three at a game.

Truly this is a golden age.

YEARGH!

Work has been absofreakinlotely CRAZY!
1.2 hours of OT AND I go in tomorrow.
This is a government job and I'm not working with hardware!
WTF?
WTF People?

Whew...
Glad that's over.
Now for a non-venting entry, please see above.