Rush, the Movie not the republican

I have always been a car race fan of any type.  As movies go they are usually cheesy.  In 1966 I eagerly  awaited for "Grand Prix" starring James Garner.  It was in wide screen color and the photography and sound and music were GREAT.  The story was limp. It was was about the hero driver versus the evil driver. Good guy -bad guy.

"Rush" on the other hand is a TRUE STORY that is told by Ron Howard.  This movie is as authentic as can be made and not be a documentary.  I read up on the movie and he worked very hard to be accurate. This story is about Formula 1 racing and two drivers that rose through the ranks to be champions and enemies. But unlike "Grand Prix" it is hard to tell who is good and who is bad,  They are polar opposites. Part of the time I liked neither and part of the time I was a fan. They were hard to live with or work with.  One was a playboy party animal while the other was straight lace and extremely focused. James Hunt vs Niki Lauda.

Ron Howard weaves a great story about two driven men and their demons, disappointments and accomplishments.  It is a great true story but not a tame story.  It is "R" for all the reasons. It is raw, full of action and and an horrific wreck/hospital scene.

I liked it though. It will be in the awards.

I give it **** stars  2013 movie 41.

A Taste of Irrationality

I finally finished reading "A Taste of Irrationality" by Dan Ariely. I say finally because I "read" read it and not listened.  The book is a fascinating book about our decision making skills and the lack of.

Here is an example of how mistrusting we are these days: He set up a booth at a strip shopping center manned by grad students. It consisted of a table, a sign stating "FREE MONEY" and a stack of bills: sometimes 1 dollar stacks, other times $10, $20 or even $50.

They checked the reaction of passers-by.  Here is how it went:

"MAN:(warily approaching the booth and eyeing the $50 bills)  Is this a trick?

Student: (Smiling) Absolutely not.

MAN: Is there something I have to sign?

Student: Nothing to sign.

MAN: There is a catch.

Student: No.

MAN: Is this for real?

Student: Yes. Help yourself! One to a customer.

Reassured, the man would look around and help himself to a bill. He would then hold it up for a second, as if waiting for something to happen. Then, he would turn around and begin to walk away. His pace would eventually pick up, and he would disappear around the corner."

 When $1 was offered, only 1 percent of those who passed by even stopped.

But even when they offered $50 only 19% of passers-by took a bill.

19%!

We are a mistrusting lot!

Taken "Prisoner"

When the preview for the movie, "Prisoners" started showing, my wife and I looked at each other and said, "NO!  Too Tense, Too Unseemly".   As time passed we started talking about the talented cast. Then we started hearing about how well directed it was and then people started saying there are academy award  performances here.

Today we went to see it!

We were all right.  Great Movie- Very Tense, Great performances, Great directing.  Very well told story.

Yes, you will be tense and uneasy for most of the movie, but at the end you will be glad you went.

Not for the young, because it involves acting not action.

Hugh Jackman and  Jake Gyllenhall will be nominated for awards but the entire cast was selected with care.  Carol and I talked about how the emotions shown by  the cast dealing with worrying about lost children was spot on.

I give it ****stars.

2013 Movie #40 (Yes I saw 38 and 39) no comment.

I have a new elder!

A lot of the media are talking about Pope Francis and his interview this week where he said: "We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods." Francis says, "This is not possible. I have not spoken much about these things, and I was reprimanded for that. But when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context.  The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time."

As one theologian stated about the Pope: He says it was striking that Francis compared the church to a field hospital, a spiritual place for healing in the face of today's moral and social dilemmas. (USA Today)

I like what I heard and Francis is a leader that is willing to shake things up.  He knows that Christianity is not about telling the lost what we are against. We are about telling the lost about Jesus.

I do find it interesting that many Churches have slowly turned from spending its time pleasing the saved, to directing their efforts toward serving the lost.  Seems like Jesus may have touched on that. Seems like those that modeled him like MLK and Mother Teresa gave great examples.

I keep wondering how many more sunday school classes I need before I become a servant?

How many more books do I need to read by Tozier or C.S. Lewis or Bonhoffer to get the point?

Francis:  "It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugar! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else."

"The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small minded rules. The most important thing is the first proclamation:  Jesus Christ has saved you. And the ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all."

That is one good elder.

OOPS!

Last night we went to the Fort Gibson High School game.  During the first Quarter, a lady tapped on Carol's shoulder and said, "I hate to tell you, but my daughter spilled her cheese nachos on to your back side!"  Yes, she did. yellow cheese on black pants.  Yikes!

We both laughed and told the lady that it was no big deal.  We had a story to top that.

Back in the 1980's for about 10 years we had 4 tickets in the VIP section of Oklahoma State University's Press Box for the football games. (Not bragging just important to the story.)  At the games they served quick meals to all and at one game the served Hoagies with all the trimmings.  We and our guests got our food and went back to our seats.  Carol took one bite of her sandwich and Miracle Whip shot out of the end of it and plastered the hair of the lady in front of her.  The lady's hair was so heavily "hair sprayed and puffy" that she didn't feel it.  Carol and her friend was freaking out and Carol pointed to me what had happened.  She then tapped on the person's shoulder and told the lady what happened.

This lady did not take it as well and got up very indignant and none to understanding.  Carol and the Lady headed to the ladies room.

The lady setting in front of us was the First Lady of Oklahoma, Governor Davis Walter's wife!

Our brush with the Big Dogs!  Check that: The Bitch Dog!

FYI:  At the next game, the Governor set elsewhere.

From another blog

Question:  

How do you get the Republican Party to become reluctant about bombing a Middle Eastern nation?

Answer:

Have Obama propose it.

Tongue firmly in cheek here, but this may be the first time the Republican obstructionism toward Obama is actually aligning with the Kingdom of God.

Middle Eastern hawks are turning into doves.

Richard Beck

Experimental Theology

cartoon fix

I like sarcasm as much as the next....what?

I traded emails today with a "person" I work with.  He sent me an email with questions about three or four projects.  I summarized the status of the work, covering his query.  He though chose to send the following email: 

 "Mike-  Please reply to my questions - they are the ones with question marks.  It would be very helpful."

Speaking of bad mood swings!

Yes, I had a myriad of responses but I did not go there.

Just wait till its your turn

I am reading another "Jack Reacher" book and in the story he describes meeting an "elderly" couple. The Husband is 60 and to hear the writer explain, he is feeble and refers to him as an old man and all.  Yikes!

I cleared 60 a while back and while I wouldn't want to play full court basketball any more, I don't see my self as "over the hill".  Crap, my Mother is almost 93 and she still drives, does yard work, etc.
When she goes over the hill, I still have 30 years!

I also work with young thirty-somethings that tell me that they wouldn't want to take such grueling drives that I do to the panhandle?

I have witnessed a few situations lately that clearly implies that some want younger eyes on certain situations. Younger eyes than mine.  Then they propose something that I did 20 years ago!

Us "Boomers" will not go quietly.