:: Privatjokr ::

From Cellarnotes.net

There are lots of variables regarding the wine type, method of production, age of bottle and on and on. There are all those considerations and exceptions but for 95% of the wine that most people drink, the answer is pretty simple.

Three (3) days. Around here, we keep wines up to 3 days after the bottle has been opened. Once a bottle of wine is opened, the oxygen in the air starts a process that initially softens the flavors and opens up the aromas of the wine. As this process (oxidation) continues over many hours and days, the wine is ultimately made undrinkable. The trick is to use the wine before it becomes unpalatable or to pour it out before bad wine is served to guests.

You can (and usually should) refrigerate recorked bottes. You can buy stoppers and gadgets to create a slight vaccuum in the bottle. You can get systems that put a layer of inert gas in the bottle. All these items and efforts are aimed at slowing the oxidation that will eventually destroy the wine.

What makes the whole thing tricky is that the wine will not go immediately from good to bad. The wine will, at a point, begin to progressively develop tastes that are unpleasant. Just like milk that is going bad, each person has a different point at which they identify the beverage as having gone bad.

If you want to play it safe (and who doesn't with either milk or wine), then just use the 3 day rule. Recork and refrigerate the bottle for up to three days. With red wines, pull the bottle from the refrigerator at least 1/2 hour before you want to use it so it will warm to a desirable serving temperature in the mid 60's F. With white wines or roses, just pull and pour when you need them.

Keeping opened wines beyond 3 days is like playing golf in a lightning storm. You may get through but you are tempting the fates. If you keep a table wine for more than 3 days, you will be serving a wine that has lost most of the characteristics that are prized. The aroma will start to change and much of the fresh fruit smells and tastes will subside. At worst, you'll be serving a wine that has oxidized too much and is partly or entirely bad.

Dessert wines like Sauternes, most everyday Ports and most Sherries can last much longer but those are special cases. Just play it safe with the 3 day rule. It is a good practice to write the date the bottle was opened on the label if there is a chance of confusion.

After all, what was the whole wide world but a place for people to yearn for their hearts' impossible desires, for those desires to become entrenched in defiance of logic, plausibility, and even the passage of time, as eternal as polished marble?

1. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

2. Wonderland

3. Top Secret!

4. The Saint

5. Tombstone

(Honorable Mention: Top Gun, Spartan)

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I saw a great concert last night at The Meadow Brook Music Festival. I missed the opening act (The Fruit Bats) so I cannot speak to how well their set went, but saw all of Ray LaMontagne and Guster.

This was my first time hearing anything by Ray LaMontagne, which was cool. It was nice to hear an artist's work for the first time live for a change. Going in I knew very little about him. The best lead I had suggested a comparison to Van Morrison. I would not agree with the comparison, but his gritty voice did remind me some of the new Gomez album. I am still not convinced that my comparison is any more accurate than Van Morrison, but it was the best I could come up with when I wondered whose voice I thought sounded so familiar to Ray LaMontagne's.

Some of the songs he played were very good. I think I will check out his album Trouble for at least a second listen. I think my favorite was Forever My Friend (lyrics).

The Guster set was great. They are so much fun live. I have not seen them on in 4-5 years, so I was a bit worried that with this new record deal (and this fourth band member?!?) that things would be different, and not for the better. I am not a huge fan of their latest album Ganging Up On The Sun, but went to the show with an open mind. I was overwhelmingly pleasantly surprised. Not only did the songs from the new album sound better live, but Guster played many of their older songs. Too many bands today will tour solely to promote their latest album and play only the new songs during the primary set and then play one or two old favorites during the encore set. Guster rocked the (unfortunately relatively unpacked) house with hits new and old from the moment they came out on stage. Ryan's distinct voice really is made for the stage. He projects so well for sounding like somewhat of a dork (sorry...).

Guster seems to just have fun on stage. When the band appears to be having such a great time performing, the show is that much better. They're funny, though not too much so. Some bands get up and try a little too hard, but Guster knew its boundaries. They spent about an hour and a half on stage. That included their main set and essentially two encores. They bring a ton of energy on stage and leave you completely entertained (and not just from Brian's bongo drumming).

Check out the remaining tour dates for a show near you.

Pictures from the show are available here. I do apologize in advance for the Guster pics. I only took a few because they were turning out so poorly. The stage was backlit which was not good lighting for me from where we sat. (At least not for what little I know how to use my camera for.) (Luckily?) it was still light out when Ray LaMontagne was on stage.

Travis Bickle: The days go on and on...they don't end. All my life needed was a sense of someplace to go. I don't believe that one should devote his life to morbid self-attention, I believe that one should become a person like other people.

creation - "forever breathes the lonely word"

how like a bird - "nycs"

set up - "better & quiet"

108 - "Even her eyes were constantly changing. They could be clear, bright blue and then suddenly darken and become almost gray. At times they would flicker with light, and I would swear that I could see them changing, with white clouds passing across her pupils, and the next second they would look like ice. She would stare at me or at some point far beyond me, or at nothing, with her eyes locked and still, not tick-tocking back and forth but dead calm, and the blues would darken and become as vacant and useless as empty swimming pools. I began to take note of her mood and the color and texture of her eyes to see whether there was some sort of correlation, some sort of code that I could use to better understand her."

41573 - "nycs"

a day before sunday - "stroszek

bbc2

80"

ik -- 1 of 3 - "yuki nae wears jil sander"

let no man... -

1. hullo stranger
3. mirage
4. look over the hills and far away
7. ophelia's song
17. the city's cry
21. stargazer
30. odyssey
34. spin

translated from the french - "paul"

gadabout -

Pull the curtains to the sill,
Darken the rooms, cut all the wires.
Crush the embers as they fall
From the dying fires:
Things are not going well.

91664 -

"My journey down to Alexandria was not without adventure, and carried me through scenes which, in other circumstances, it might have been worth while to describe. Thinking, however, that I have already sufficiently trespassed on the patience of the reader, I am unwilling to overload my volume with any matter that does not directly relate to the solution of the great problem which I went to solve."

They say love and money don't mix, but you can't blame Harry Lockhart for trying. He's been whisked from a life of petty crime to Hollywood, where he'll audition for the role of a movie detective and be tutored for the part by a private eye. Now all Harry has to do is convince the dream girl he meets that he's an actual detective. And try not to stumble over the corpses as reel life abruptly gives way to the real.

Lights, camera, plenty of action! Shane Black (Lethal Weapon) provides the screenplay and makes his directing debut in a clever fusion of buddy movie and hardboiled noir produced by Joel Silver. Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan play the thrust-together trio -- a naive schemer, a tough-as-nails gay detective, and a hopeful actress clinging to her dream. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Watch Watch.

A semi-ridiculous plot born out of the old pulp detective stories. Semi-ridiculous but wildly entertaining. The cast, the writing, and the direction were more than enough to turn unrealistic into fun on screen.

Robert Downey, Jr. impresses me time after time. Any chemical dependencies in his past aside, I think he has a lot of talent. He turns in a very enjoyable performance as Harry Lockhart. I would be hard pressed to decide if I like his work here better than in Wonder Boys, which, partially due to his influence, is a movie I love.

Michelle Monaghan is a relatively unknown name, though she makes heads turn. She was certainly a knockout in this movie, but she may be a bit too much like Liv Tyler for me, in looks, innocence, and mannerisms.

The show was absolutely stolen by Val Kilmer. When you watch the movie you wonder if he can sustain the exalted level of sarcastic wit and incredible timing. Some credit is due to Robert Downey, Jr. for his part in how well they worked together, but Val was great. This just might be his best performance, if I may be so bold.

There will be a time or two where you wonder if the suspense is overdone, but by the end of the movie you will probably be too entertained to remember. The writing was probably the best part; from Robert Downey, Jr.'s monologues as narrator to his constant banter with Val Kilmer, I was impressed. It was a unique film and I appreciate seeing something that is a break from the norm, especially when it is as funny and fun to watch as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

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[W]e just got word from A VERY TRUSTED SOURCE that the offer last night was officially made to Heath Ledger to star as The Joker in the Batman Begins Sequel!
- Superherohype quoting Latino Review.

As I just mentioned how much I prefer DC villains, and named The Joker specifically, and wrote such a glowing review of Batman Begins, they are throwing this news in my face. I have stated before, in other write-ups, that Mr. Ledger is horrible. You know how there are actors specifically because of whom you will see a movie? I will actually go see a movie just because Heath Ledger is NOT in it.

The casting choice does make some sense in keeping in line with Cillian Murphy's role as Dr. Crane in Batman Begins. Use a younger actor with a creepy look in his eye rather than an established bad-guy personality. Much debate has gone on in and around the rumor mills about who would next plague Gotham City. I am still extremely excited for the next Batman movie (which comes out in 2008) and I will plan to keep an open mind for Mr. Ledger. Maybe it is seeing him as my favorite bad guy that will change my opinion of him. Maybe after Batman Begins 2 I will sing Heath Ledger's praises.

But probably not.

UPDATE: Cinematical reports Ledger has signed. Also, the movie has a name!!! The Dark Knight.

Superman Returns is playing locally at the IMAX theater, though I did not see it in IMAX due to timing issues. I do not think seeing it on the regular screen had any negative effect on my experience, however.

Adrenaline. If I had to pick a one-word theme for the movie, that would be it. Edge or your seat, heart-pounding adrenaline. If you have watched the preview for the movie, you may be familiar with a scene involving Superman and an airplane. It is maybe 30 minutes into the movie and I kid you not, they could have ended it right there and I would have paid to see it a second time. That is not to say the movie was downhill from that point on, but it was worth the price of admission, even in the days of increased movie ticket prices.

I had heard reports that Superman Returns was too much of a love story and not enough of what we should expect from a Superman movie: Superman fighting crime and saving the day. The (awkward) love story rekindled between our caped hero and Lois Lane was obvious, but not overbearing. There were scenes devoted to it entirely, but this was not the first Superman movie to do it. Let's not forget the rest of the movie, however. Bryan Singer did a great job of incorporating all of Superman's powers over the course of the film. We see plenty of flying, impenetrable skin, super-human strength, heat vision and super breath. But don't leave out the tights and the cape; Superman was well represented throughout the film.

I liked how well Brandon Routh maintained the dichotomy of the character he played, selling the Clark Kent secret identity. He stayed clumsy as Clark and was, for the most part, strong and confident as Superman. I was among those in the camp who thought Tom Welling probably should have gotten the part when "Mr. Unknown" Brandon Routh was announced. Sorry Tom, but Brandon ended up being a good casting choice. Tom Welling may have been a little too "teen drama" and not enough "comic-book superhero" for the part.

Kevin Spacey is no Gene Hackman, but he did well as Lex Luthor. Watching Lex in action I did have the realization that though I typically prefer Marvel books, I like DC villains much better. My favorites are The Joker (big surprise), The Riddler and Lex Luthor. DC villains, to me, seem much more... complex. Lex Luthor is a bit over the top and he does require some over-acting and forced lines as well as some just-right facial expressions to fully portray his quirks. Spacey kept his composure and I really think he nailed the part.

So I really did like the movie, but I did have a few small gripes. You probably would not believe I wrote this if there wasn't a flaw or two pointed out...

_____

Did they make Kate Bosworth look like Natalie Portman on purpose? Or did it just happen naturally? Don't get me wrong, she looked better as Lois Lane than she has in any other role I have seen her in. All I am saying is that after Natalie does a movie or two with a shaved head, maybe Hollywood is trying to snatch her look back from her before she has a chance to make another movie with hair.

I love that James Marsden continues to get roles in comic book films as the guy who has the girl who is at least arguably in love with someone else (think Cyclops). I understand he followed Writer/Producer/Director Bryan Singer from the X-Men series to Superman, but he is now sufficiently typecast.

Was Brandon Routh's "Clark Kent" hair a tribute to Jason Schwartzman?

Kal Penn goes from a late night craving for White Castle burgers to playing Lex Luthor's goon? Really? It does not seem like the most natural transition to me. At least I am pretty sure he did not have a single speaking part.

_____

Petty criticisms aside, I really liked Superman Returns. The movie had a few slow scenes, primarily right at the beginning, but they served well enough to build up to the climax. The casting was great, even down to Sam Huntington as Jimmy Olsen. I hope I can find time to see it again...in IMAX this time.

I like that Bryan Singer has already announced his plans/desire to make a sequel to Superman Returns. A few sites (Cinematical and Comingsoon) have early news about the follow-up. If only we didn't have to wait until 2009...

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The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs

Part memoir and part education (or lack thereof), The Know-It-All chronicles NPR contributor A.J. Jacobs' hilarious, enlightening, and seemingly impossible quest to read the Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z.

To fill the ever-widening gaps in his Ivy League education, A.J. Jacobs sets for himself the daunting task of reading all thirty-two volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica. His wife, Julie, tells him it's a waste of time, his friends believe he is losing his mind, and his father, a brilliant attorney who had once attempted the same feat and quit somewhere around Borneo, is encouraging but, shall we say, unconvinced.

With self-deprecating wit and disarming frankness, The Know-It-All recounts the unexpected and comically disruptive effects Operation Encyclopedia has on every part of Jacobs' life -- from his newly minted marriage to his complicated relationship with his father and the rest of his charmingly eccentric New York family to his day job as an editor at Esquire. Jacobs' project tests the outer limits of his stamina and forces him to explore the real meaning of intelligence as he endeavors to join Mensa, win a spot on Jeopardy!, and absorb 33,000 pages of learning. On his journey he stumbles upon some of the strangest, funniest, and most profound facts about every topic under the sun, all while battling fatigue, ridicule, and the paralyzing fear that attends his first real life responsibility -- the impending birth of his first child.

The Know-It-All is an ingenius, mightily entertaining memoir of one man's intellect, neuroses, and obsessions and a soul-searching, ultimately touching struggle between the all-consuming quest for factual knowledge and the undeniable gift of hard-won wisdom.

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Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School

Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) heads up an all-star cast as Frank Keane, a grieving widower who's convinced he'll never know happiness again. But everything changes when he stops to help Steve Mills (John Goodman, The Big Lebowski), a stranger who's been injured in a serious car wreck. Determined to fulfill the dying man's last wish, Frank races to a dance school hoping to keep a date with Steve's long lost love -- only to find romance waiting to sweep him off his feet in this humorous, warm-hearted drama that's a must-have for any independent film collection.

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Authors James Patterson and Andrew Gross have teamed up yet again. The two men worked together in the past to bring us four books: 2nd Chance, 3rd Degree, Lifeguard, and The Jester. The first two, titles from The Women's Murder Club, were decent books. I am not sure how much involvement Andrew Gross had in the books, but if the size of his name on the book covers is any indication, it was not much. By comparison, one might assume he had much more influence in Lifeguard and The Jester. I have not read Lifeguard yet, but The Jester is probably my favorite of James Patterson's books (of which I have read most). It may be without merit, but I attribute my extreme enjoyment of The Jester as James Patterson's writing to Andrew Gross's help. I have been looking forward to reading Lifeguard for the same reason and now I can look forward to their latest effort, too.

Andie DeGrasse, an aspiring actress and single mom, is not your typical juror. Hoping to get dismissed from the pool, she tells the judge that most of her legal knowledge comes from a bit part curling around a stripper's pole in The Sopranos. But she still ends up as juror #11 in a landmark trial against a notorious mob boss.

THE JUDGE IS TERRIFIED OF THE DEFENDANT.
The case quickly becomes the new Trial of the Century. Mafia don Dominic Cavello, known as the Electrician, is linked to hundreds of gruesome, unspeakable crimes. Senior FBI agent Nick Pellisante has been tracking him for years. He knows Cavello's power reaches far beyond the courtroom, but the FBI's evidence against the ruthless killer is iron-clad. Conviction is a sure thing.

SO IS THE JURY.
As the jury is about to reach a verdict, the Electrician makes one devastating move that no one could have predicted. The entire nation is reeling, and Andie's world is shattered. For her, the hunt for the Electrician becomes personal, and she and Pellisante come together in an unbreakable bond: they will exact justice-at any cost.

THE VERDICT: RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.
James Patterson spins an all-out heart-pounding legal thriller that pits two people against the most vicious and powerful mobster since John Gotti. Judge & Jury is a stunning feat by "one of America's most influential authors" (New York Times)

Judge & Jury will be available on July 31, 2006.

Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch series, will be on tour in late 2006, mainly sticking to warmer states as the weather turns. The new book he will be promoting, Echo Park, will be available on October 9, 2006. Echo Park is the twelfth Harry Bosch novel.

Visit MichaelConnelly.com for tour dates and locations. The list is complete with phone numbers for the locations from which you may order signed copies if your home town is not a stop on the tour.

I had the pleasure of attending the O.A.R. concert at the Meadow Brook Music Festival over the weekend. O.A.R. was appearing with special guest Jack's Mannequin. Due to extenuating circumstances we, unfortunately, were late to the show and missed that act and a song or two of O.A.R.'s set.

Unless they started with a few amazing songs that we missed, I am underwhelmed overall by the playlist for the night. Sure they played Crazy Game of Poker, which was the highlight of the evening, but they reached into their bag of tricks and pulled out some lesser songs to play. That and a ONE-SONG ENCORE were my main gripes with the concert. They played Love and Memories for the lone encore song, which would be expected..., along with two other songs. Are the days of the three-song encore long gone? Has it been that long since my last concert?

O.A.R. is not a show you got to if you want to be wildly entertained by outrageous acts by audience members or constant quirky interaction amongst band members, but they do have a full host of great songs. I just wish they had played more of the better songs.

As is the cookie-cutter venue design, Meadow Brook is set up in pavilion with lawn seats. We had pavilion seats, which was nice since we had to show up late. It rained pretty steadily through most of the show which was great for the people on the lawn and in the last 10 (or so) rows in the pavilion (which included us). I am not being sarcastic with that. It actually added a common bond among concert-goers apart from an appreciation for the band. Now we all like O.A.R. and we are soaking wet, let's enjoy the show! Ok, so I am not explaining it very well, but it was fun.

The show was a lot of fun. I am very glad we were able to go. If you are interested in the pictures I took at the show, go HERE.

Secondhand Lions

Rather than release a two-disc set, the makers of the Secondhand Lions DVD opted for the double-sided disc. This Easter Egg is on the backside of the DVD. Before or after you watch the movie, flip over the disc for additional special features. Highlight "On The Set with Secondhand Lions (26:06)" and move to the left to see a yellow flower icon appear on the dog's chest. Press enter/select to see a few takes of the scene where Walter (Haley Joel Osment) places a well aimed kick to Stan's groin. The different takes show the different things that Stan (Nicky Katt) says as he falls to the floor post-kick.

When will a production studio pop up that specializes in Comic Book Hero movies? Similar to how Dreamworks and Pixar have found their niche, let someone come in while the getting is good. These movies are a graphics expert's dream come true and the effects have largely been a disappointment.

These characters are mutants and super heroes. They have special powers that can only be apparent on the big screen through special effects. People today love special effects and comic book hero films. Strike while the iron is hot. With so many spin off series being made, I cannot see the hesitancy behind this idea.

Do not tell me I am the first person to think of this. Who knows, maybe one already exists that I just do not know about.

The FDA has found a "cure" to the common "disease" shared by mutants. It is up to Magneto's Brotherhood to stop the drug from being used to eradicate the population of mutants. The drug will allegedly be used on a voluntary basis only so the X-Men would like to help keep the peace. The Brotherhood is more skeptical and anticipates it being used with malicious intent. It is war the ensues.

Well at least war was what the trailer and previews lead you to believe. My thoughts on the movie ahead of time were simple: the plot will be severely lacking, but with a mutant war I will be able to sit there in my geeky glory and try to pick out which mutants I recognize from the TV series and the old comic books. That which was delivered fell well short of that which was promised/expected.

The actual "war" scene was only cool because Wolverine and Beast went crazy. Their choreographed fight scenes were fun to watch. Beyond that, there was nothing. The "war" scene lasted only a few minutes and it consisted of Magneto and Pyro sending Juggernaut into the building and unleashing an infantry of lesser mutants against the opposition while they stood back lobbed exploding cars.

Before I go on with my analysis, I really need the answer to a question. Are they making another X-Men movie? There has been speculation in both directions. Yes, there will be a fourth installment; we're not done yet. No, the X-Men group movies are over, make way for solo stories (it was called The LAST Stand for a reason...).

If there will be no fourth movie, then I think the ending and much of the story throughout X-Men 3 was incredibly pointless. You will have to ask me separately for my more pointed spoiler complaints.

They took such care in introducing Warren Worthington A/K/A Archangel, yet he was very under-used and remained entirely excluded from the action.

There was talk about a reduced budget for X-Men 3, and yet we see so much time and money wasted on a prolonged scene where Magneto uproots half of the Golden Gate Bridge and flies it across the water... Just take a boat. Or rewrite the script to Worthington labs is on the mainland so they can walk.

Why did they get our geek hopes up with a teaser fight scene with a Sentinal...only to dash said hopes because it was just a fight simulation in the Danger Room?

The fun of the books and TV show for me is that they were basically like a Street Fighter video game where each cut scene would pit two mutants with comparable powers against each other and they would fight. The movies really try to add a real world element that takes the fun away. The creators have hundreds of mutants at their disposal and they opt against introducing so many of them. The story could write itself if someone would just do a little research into characters.

The movie was decent enough. I can say that I have seen it and participate in the angst-filled discussions going forward. That is about all I took away from X-Men 3: The Last Stand.

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1. A Bronx Tale

2. Goodfellas

3. Godfather Trilogy

4. Reservoir Dogs

5. Donnie Brasco

(Honorable Mention: Once Upon a Time in America)

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Ethan Powell: We have only one thing to give up. Our dominion. We don't own the world. We're not kings yet. Not gods. Can we give that up? Too precious, all that control? Too tempting, being a god?

I was entertained. That said, there was a lot that was left to be desired from this film. I would not try to dissuade anyone from seeing this movie, but I would add the simple advisement that this falls under the sweeping generalization that the sequel is almost never as good as the original.

It always amazes me when a sequel falls short, not just of the expectations of greatness after such a good original film (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl), but of the level of the first film. I figure they should at least be able to make it as good as the first, if not better.

"Black Pearl" was so visually awe-inspiring. The moon-light effects, which should have earned the film an Oscar if not for the Lord of the Rings conspiracy, were vastly superior to the effects in "2." The effects in "2" were basically limited to Davy Jones's crew and those scenes were too dark to appreciate the level of detail. It was as if the mentality was to steal a character from Star Wars, call him Davy Jones and spend all of the time and money making him look real, which they did. It was just not enough to impress me.

What worked in "Black Pearl"?
Johnny Depp was flawless as the charismatic, smooth-talking Pirate Captain Jack Sparrow.

What was changed in "2"?
Depp was still flawless, but he had much less camera time. He did not have many, if any, chances to talk himself out of anything or others into anything. His logic, though perfect in his own eyes, is a little skewed. This leads to confusion in other characters, and laughs for the audience.

They also added too many sweeping panoramic views. Yes, you are filming the Caribbean, we know. And yes, we would all like to go there someday. It is some of the most blatant product placement I have ever seen. I just hope the Caribbean tourism authority paid a pretty penny for those scenes.

The movie was 2.5 hours long and in that time, officially, nothing happens. The story goes nowhere. There were many things built in to simply make the movie drag on and on without progressing the plot. Davy Jones grants Captain Jack 3 days to get him 100 souls in exchange for his own, why? So Jack can actually provide him with 100 souls? No, just to add a few extra scenes that are completely inconsequential to the plot, though they make the movie longer. What about the sword fight scene on the mill's water wheel? Did it look cool? Sure, it looked cool. But did it need to go for so long? No, it did not. The fight between Norrington and Will Turner has absolutely nothing to do with the storyline, yet we must endure a drawn-out fencing sequence between them.

I understand the lack of closure from the standpoint that "2" and "3" are two parts of the same movie, but I think they left a few too many loose ends. Wait, another comparison to Lord of the Rings? I think they are leaving too much for the third and final installment. There will just be too much to cover. What is the main plot in "3" going to be? Is it to help Jack? Or is it to still rid the sea of Davy Jones? And what about that annoying little British fellow? I'm sure he'll have a hand in the last movie as well...

I know I did not take it easy on the movie and you may be having a hard time believing that it is actually worth seeing, but like I said it is entertaining. Especially if you have a longer attention span than I.

Oh, did I forget to mention how absolutely amazing Keira Knightley looked? Weird. KeiraJokr. It has a nice ring to it.

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While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Landon receives an urgent late-night phone call. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, a baffling cipher found near the body. As Langdon and a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci - clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.

The stakes are raised when Langdon uncovers a startling link: The late curator was involved in the Prior of Sion - an actual secret society whose member included Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, among others. Langdon suspects they are on the hunt for a breathtaking historical secret, one that has proved through the centuries to be as enlightening as it is dangerous. In a frantic race through Paris, and beyond, Langdon and Neveu find themselves matching wits with a faceless powerbroker who appears to anticipate their every move. Unless the can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle, the Priory's secret - and an explosive ancient truth - will be lost forever.

Breaking the mold of traditional suspense novels, The Da Vinci Code is simultaneously lightning-paced, intelligent, and intricately layered with remarkable research and detail. From the opening pages to the unpredictable and stunning conclusion, bestselling author Dan Brown proves himself a master storyteller.

For the longest time I put off reading Dan Brown's most popular novel. I am sure I was one of the last to read it. Opinions I read and heard before I read it only served to delay me further. Non-readers would say everyone should read it basically because....everyone else had read it. Readers would say that the writing was sub-par and if you had not read the book you should not waste your time. With such enthusiastic recommendations as those, I hope no one blames me for my hesitancy. The only one who should be disappointed with me for not reading it sooner is me. But it is easy to say that now that I have read the book.

Cast my early doubts about this book aside, it was brilliant. The conspiracy theories themselves are centuries old, but piecing them together in such a way and wrapping a story around them was masterfully done. I feel like an over-proud parent gushing with praise for a child's modest accomplishment, but The Da Vinci Code was the best book I have read in a long time.

The book was full of suspense and intrigue. I love a good conspiracy, especially one directed towards organized religion. I can see how Catholics might not appreciate Mr. Brown's book, but remember that the details are centuries old. He did not create them, he just wrote a hit book about them.

The book wrapped up well. I was afraid that he would rush the ending or worse yet, leave the book somewhat incomplete. I will not go into any detail about the ending, but I will say that I was very satisfied with it. I have my closure.

I like Robert Langdon as a protagonist. I like how Brown had him fumble around and trip over himself in a few situations. He is a professor and not an international adventurer. The book has somewhat of an Indiana Jones feel to it, but the leading men are not two peas in a pod...yet. Who knows, maybe when I read Angels & Demons I will feel differently.

I have heard from many sources that Angels & Demons is actually the better book. I am excited to read it, though I must admit I am not sure it can top The Da Vinci Code in my mind.

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You can't possibly judge your ability to control something until you've experienced the extremities of its capabilities.

Since I have never been to see the World Cup, I sure wish I knew someone who has been and made an online journal of the places they went and things they saw complete with pictures and videos...

What's this you say? I DO know someone who went to the World Cup this year in Germany? And (his brother) DID make an online photo essay of their trip?

http://worldcupscrapbook.blogspot.com/

Cool.

The rap world has turned into too much of a business. With the record label pyramid scheme where each artist signs his buddies from the hood for one hit song that allows them to make $7 while there is windfall profit across the top, the emphasis is not on the hit record anymore, it's all on the hit single. What will sell for 15 minutes and then we'll move on to the next hood rat who has one good hook in him. That and as much as Atlanta stormed onto the scene it has bastardized the face of the game to the point where loud redundant beats play over a repetitive hook and there is no more flow. What is catchy sells. Not who has talent.

In that regard: Watch out for reggaeton. It is the next hip-hop phenomanon.

Joe Kavalier, a young Jewish artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdini-esque escape, has just smuggled himself out of Nazi-invaded Prague and landed in New York City. His Brooklyn cousin Sammy Clay is looking for a partner to create heroes, stories, and art for the latest novelty to hit America -- the comic book. Drawing on their own fears and dreams, Kavalier and Clay create the Escapist, the Monitor, and Luna Moth, inspired by the beautiful Rosa Saks, who will become linked by powerful ties to both men. With exhilarating style and grace, Michael Chabon tells and unforgettable story about American romance and possibility.

Joe Kavalier and Sammy Clay seek to carve out their piece of the budding American Dream. In a time when the true American Spirit lies in opportunity, the two boys make a proposal to Sammy's boss to begin making comic books. They offer to write and draw the books if the man will fund their adventure. The man agrees and before the next weekend is over, their serial superhero The Escapist is born. As the book continues from the 1930s into the 40s, the war in Europe plays a greater and greater role in the story. Joe, who left his family in Europe, is affected most of all.

When the book transitioned away from comic books I thought that it was unnecessary and absurd. I thought the author droned on about the comics too long and that the contrast between old and new was too sharp. I thought that Chabon had two, maybe even three, book ideas in his head and rather than write them separately he held a private ceremony and married them into one. By the time the book was finished I could see clearly how wrong I had been. He did not talk too long about their lives as comic book creators, he did not transition too quickly into the war, he did not do anything wrong. It all came together perfectly. It was wildly imaginative and an incredibly touching story. Have faith. As you lose yourself in Michael Chabon's writing, you are in capable hands.

This is the type of book that makes you glad that people recommend books. My friend's mother, whose opinions have incalculable value to me, suggested a long time ago that I read this book. For months I put it off due to the length of the novel. I was afraid that at 636 pages the book would be too long, based on subject matter, for me to zip through. I waited and I waited. Enough was enough, I said, and I decided it was time. It was actually past time. I should have read this book before so I could pass her recommendation on to others.

I had not read Mr. Chabon's work before, though I am a big fan of the movie adaptation of his book Wonder Boys, which I am adding to my to-read list. I keep reading in search of books like The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.

Side note: Michael Chabon has teamed with other writers and artists to provide Michael Chabon Presents. . .The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, Volume 1, a comic adventure which brings to life the comic book characters introduced in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.

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Match Point is "a winning combination of sex, mystery, brilliant writing and first-rate acting that all adds up to one of the most erotic and exhilarating movies in years." (Maxim).

Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is being torn apart by his desire for two very different women. Marrying Chloe (Emily Mortimer) will bring him a life of wealth and success, but his true passion lies with his brother-in-law's fiancée, the stunningly sensuous but unpredictable Nola (Scarlett Johansson). Pulsing with tension, Match Point rides the dangerous line between ambition and obsession to an ending as surprising as it is chilling.

I do not know exactly what I had expected the title to mean, but whatever it was, I was wrong. I think I had imagined something having to do with matches and fire. The title, I thought, was perfect for the film. It is a reference to the game of tennis where either in your favor or against you, the fate of the match potentially rests in the outcome of this one point. It could go either way. The theme from the movie that each situation, each conversation, could go either way depending on nothing more than a whim, was pulled together with those two words which combine as figurehead for the movie. I liked that a lot. And over the 2 hours and 4 minutes at which Match Point weighs in, I liked almost nothing else.

I did like the performance by Matthew Goode who played Tom Hewett. He is sort of...if Hugh Grant and Tom Cavanagh had a baby. Charming, British and yet gangly and awkward.

I was not at all impressed with Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Though as I recall, the good things I had heard from my sister-in-law may not have mentioned anything beyond his good looks. I thought his acting was forced and choppy. As the movie began I thought his acting would ruin the movie. Then I remembered that Scarlett Johansson was in it, too. (That means it would be her acting that would stand out as the low-point.) He seemed overly dramatic at times as if his talent may be more fitting for on-stage rather than on-screen. Besides, he looks and sounds a little too much like Joaquin Phoenix (think about it).

Just as she does in all of her movies, Ms. Johansson underwhelmed me yet again. Her delivery seems completely devoid of emotion and a passion for her craft. It is probably best noted from her performance in In Good Company, but it surfaced again here. I have seen the same lists as you, where she is listed near the top of the hottest and the sexiest actors. I have read the same articles as you, where she is touted as the first and only actress to define our generation with her grace and natural ability while the camera rolls. I just have not seen it for myself. To me she is best suited for awkward, angsty teen roles like the one she played in Ghost World.

I was just reading an IMDb forum spoiler discussion on the movie and someone pointed out an interesting parallel between one of the characters in the film and a book read by one of the characters. I love subtle references like this, even when, like this one, I have not read the book. Kudos to Woody Allen for that.

I wish I could give Mr. Allen more credit in my thoughts on his work. I have not seen what many consider his best films, but of the others I have seen I have not been a fan. To that point, however, some have gone so far as to call Match Point his crowning achievement. I guess I just do not understand his genius. So many people talk about what the man is able to do and it must be entirely over my head.

The synopsis provided with the DVD mentions mystery where the only real mystery was when was the movie going to finally end. It also includes a quote that refers to Match Point as one of the most erotic movies in years. The most erotic point was when Rhys-Meyers was saturating Ms. Johansson with massage oil. She's completely covered from the viewer's standpoint and looks like she needs a magazine to cure her boredom. It looked like the cover from a cheap steamy-romance novel. I say cheap because I bet Rhys-Meyers's scrawny frame doesn't tip the scales at more than 160 pounds.

Regardless of lofty promises and salesmanship on behalf of the promoters of the DVD, the movie was a disappointment. I cannot remember a time when I have had such an urge to get up and turn off a movie. And I probably would have had I not been entertaining guests. Match Point, or as I affectionately refer to it: "The Movie That Never Ends," seemed to really drag on and on.

For more specific conversation related to spoiler information, please see the forum topic on the subject.

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Not everyone deserves 15 minutes of fame...

MVI_0791.AVI 60 MB

I did not follow Gomez much through their first few albums. I was very familiar with them because my brother is a big fan, but I never spent much time listening to them. From what I am able to gather, How We Operate is slower than the four albums previously released by the quintet from the UK. Ben Ottewell, Ian Ball, and Tom Gray all try their hand at lead vocals. The tag-team approach works well in some instances, but poorly in others. There are a few great songs on it, but the album as a whole is decent but not great. To me it is an album that if on, I'll listen to it, but I will not necessarily suggest it get played (in its entirety anyway). This album is an example of why iTunes is so practical. Gone are the days when we would buy this album just to have the few good songs. Now we can just buy them individually and spare ourselves the rest.

01. Notice This is a solid first track. Lead singer Ben Ottewell softens his (signature) gritty voice well for this slower song. There is some twangy guitar in the background that may be a bit much for this song, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say good song.

02. See The World This is probably my favorite song right now. I cannot seem to get enough of it. This is just a great "feel good" track that can lift you out of most, if not any, slumps - if only for 4 minutes... Favorite song right now, but maybe only my second favorite track on the album. Go figure.

03. How We Operate This album's title track may have been better placed at the beginning or end of the CD. I think the change in mood from track two to three and then to number four is too up and down. The song is ok; nothing remarkable, good or bad.

04. Hamoa Beach This is a good song. It seems to grow on me more each time I hear it. I really enjoy the lyrics in this song, maybe the most (start to finish) of all the songs on this album.

05. Girlshapedlovedrug This is my pick for best song on the album. I like the slow feel of the album brought to a boil a little with this song. The tempo is picked up a bit from the other tracks and it works well. This is a good foot-tapper.

06. Chasing Ghosts With Alcohol My suggestion would have been to release the album with only eleven tracks and leave this one off. The song starts poorly and seems to only get worse. Remember the tempo I talked about on the last track? Gone. Zero. When is something going to happen in this song?! Careful what you wish for...because you get an earful of screechy guitar feedback to wake you up from the gentle slumber the first two minutes of the song forced you into.

07. Tear Your Love Apart This is another song that is growing on me. I cannot put my finger on it yet, but it sounds a little too much like something hidden in the back of my mind. Until I can pinpoint it, the song gets thumbs up. Hard to imagine they picked up the pace since the last song...

08. Charley Patton Songs This song is decent. I think the lead sounds a little too much like Ben Gibbard, of Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service, for my taste. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the work he does on both projects, but I don't want to have to listen to Gomez to enjoy his sound.

09. Woman! Man! This is another track that showcases the lead vocals well. The song does so well until the chorus. "Shalalala woman. Shalalala man." Does nothing for me. Some reviews I have read celebrate this as the band's ability to not take themselves seriously. Unfortunately I don't take them seriously either for the same simple hook.

10. All Too Much This song is decent. I like the pace and the vocals, but the guitar is a little too dominant at times. Turn it down a littl