All that Gliters is not Gold

~Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm!
Lisa: That’s specious reasoning, dad.
Homer: Why thank you, honey.
Lisa: By your logic, I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Hmm. How does it work?
Lisa:It doesn’t work; it’s just a stupid rock!
Homer:Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don’t see any tigers around, do you?
Homer: Hmm... Lisa, I want to buy your rock.


The Golden Compass based on the children story by Phillip Pullman is an unlikely hero’s journey into the darkest rooms of the unrelenting mind and soul. The film is about a director who failed to juggle several different plot points, character motivations, and CGI talking animals. A would be epic adventure turned epic Failure as they say.
The first problem the film has is every character goes on and on about Dust with the utmost urgency? What is dust you ask? I don’t know. The story never really tells you. Nicole Kidman playing a very capable Mrs. Coulter wants to read the world of dust so my guess is it has something to do with Scientology.
Mrs. Coulter the head of an evil organization kidnaps poor bucked tooth awkward looking British kids to separate them from there CGI animal companions? Why would she do such a thing? Your guess is as good as mine.
Don’t worry though the brave and courageous Lyra is off to save these poor kids and make things right. She is a very special courageous and gifted child? Why? Because we are told she is. She also has the uncanny ability to read the Golden compass. What does it do? Why it tells the truth! What truth is that you ask? Why your guess is as good as mine. Lyra often reads the compass and we get to see some dusty images of things that the audience already knows anyways. For example, the characters kidnapping children are bad. GOOD THING FOR THAT COMPASS TO LET US KNOW!
Along the way Lyra befriends a lot of characters that are much more interesting in there other movies. Sam Elliot as a (you guess it) cowboy. He claims to be an aeronaut but he wears a cowboy hat talks with a Sam Elliot accent and of course has a six shooter. Also befriending an Ice Bear named Iorek who is a very un amusing Drunk. She helps him get his armor back so he decides to pay her back by becoming her Chewbacca as it were. The relationship the bear and child have in the story is very heart warming and you can’t help but feel disappointed at the loss of depth in this train wreck of a film.
So off Lyra goes to discover the secret of missing children, dust, and the worlds in parallel universe. All the characters she meets can not stress enough how important dust and parallel universes and even Lyra herself all are. Why they are so important? Well apparently we the audience aren’t cool enough to know why.
The film really loses it’s way after the Bear WWE match settles and Lyra finds the missing kids. How to escape this prison of British kids! WHY THE FRONT DOOR! Lyra clearly had to ask the compass how to get out of this one. If only I had a compass to ask why New Line would bankrupt themselves with this garbage. Then again maybe some things are better left unknown.
For those of you wondering why I haven’t mentioned Daniel Craig? The reason Is he has a bit part and is of little importance. I’ll beat a dead horse and tell you not to worry though, we are told he is very important. The actual character Lord Asriel Is very important to the plot but I guess the director was never told why.

Worst Film I’ve seen this year.

Going Stir Crazy

So we have been having a lot winter... more so then we are used to in Seattle area. In fact it is snowing right now as I type. The snow is not really that big a deal to a Canadian girl like me but to all of the Seattle people this is big stuff... The limited amount of plows that they have here don't get the job done and people don't seem to understand that cars+hills+ice+not so good drivers = a lot of accidents!!! The WADOT has asked people to just stay home but Brad's job does not pay him if he isn't there and they seem to like to wait until he is already on his way to cancel work. So he has been taking the Subaru to work and leaving the Echo at home.... well sort of at home he couldn't get it into the parking lot so it is across the street. To say the least Sam and I have been going a little stir crazy... He loves to get into anything he shouldn't... Here is what he was into when I was on the phone with Brad. Yep that's the baking soda box.... and look how proud he is that he is making it "snow" inside... At least he is happy and hey my carpet smells good now...hahaha

Life's Adventures Tag Brad

What I've done is BOLD

1. Started your own blog on Live Journal! I hate movies there to
2. Slept under the stars my Apartments under the stars
3. Played in a band Rock Band for the wii ALEX GRINDER!
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity Im a regular George Clooney
7. Been to Disneyland yes...and its meh
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo I still be singing solo's all the time.
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch Everything is art though my eyes, so it counts.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning The super Shits must have been a result of this one
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables everyone had this project in Elementary school
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight I still have those with my wifey
22. Hitch-hiked I've gotten lost several times
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill at least one time a month
24. Built a snow fort Zubright Zubrie Snow Fort Mountain!
25. Held a lamb Dead and Alive
26. Gone skinny dipping With limited Shrinkage
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse of the Heart
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset Not on purpose, I was overnight security and it happend
31. Hit a home run Reigning Wii champion
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara falls in person Yes my good buddy Niagara falls all the time
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors What Mormons haven't been to Utah?
35. Seen an Amish community Read above explination
36. Taught yourself a new language EN CHI CHAN CHAN CHAN
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied I'm Low Maintenance
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing Every kid climbs rocks
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke My family has a karaoke machine
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant Poor man's gotta eat to man
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight Yes but it was not Sexy at all
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling In a pool, Maui will vouch for me
52. Kissed in the rain It's Washington. Kissed in Sunshine is the more unlikely
53. Played in the mud I am king of Mud Mountain
54. Gone to a drive-in theater Tomato Juice Powah
55. Been in a movie Just my Arms
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business Business of Sexy Husband and Business is Booming
58. Taken a martial arts class yes, I got all the way up to Yellow Stripe.
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen I live to serve
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma Your Blood will Spill!
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter It had a clown face. Me and my pops at the air show
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy I still have my Sand Shrew pokemon card
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar Rich Parents
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle-
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper School Newspaper HA, yes I'm a loser
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox Didn't I ever tell you how I got these scars? Why So Serious
89. Saved someone's life Friendship Saves lives!
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club How else can I share my Brilliance?
93. Lost a loved one- At Tahoe, she as found wondering around the lake. Crazy wondering Maycee. Oh and Austin my cousin Died. My son's middle name is Austin
94. Had a baby-My wife has but I stayed away from the business end. I passed a kidney stone named Urethra Franklyn
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone I still own a Cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee Several Bees, I rocked the hive with rage and anger. Sad story

Life's Adventures Tag Amy

What I've done is BOLD

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars- like for the whole summer one year
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch-hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort- I’m Canadian after all
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted-well my granma had one done of me and my sister.. It’s at my mom’s place
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling-I went scuba diving in a pool in landlocked Alberta
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie- The fabulous "Afternoon of the Retarded Dead" costarring Camilla Aikau
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business-does a lemon-aid stand count?
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle-
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one-
94. Had a baby-it's hard but for me the pregnancy is the really hard part
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Our Christmas Tree

Here is our Christmas tree. I have to say that I think it looks pretty good. Brad and I bought this tree for $10 our first Christmas. It's has served us well. Sam loves to crawl under it and look up into it. He has been pretty good at not touching it to much and when he does take off an ornament he either tries to put it back on or he will say "uh-oh" and brings it over to us. Maybe some year we will get a real tree again but for our time in rentals this one seems to do the job in style.

Sam

Last Monday was the annual Martin grandson pics. For her Christmas cards Bev (Brad's mom) takes all of her grandson's (that's all she has... our new baby will be grandson # 6) to get pictures done and sends that out as her cards. Last year we went to Babies'r'us and they sucked! They took like one pic of each of the kids and were like 'there you go...' so to say the least we didn't go back to them this year. We went to the picture people. They were really good.... expensive but good. So here is the newest professional pic of Sam. Isn't he just the cutest?!?!

Robot Parade

Once there were brook trout in the streams in the mountains. You could see them standing in the amber current where the white edges of their fins wimpled softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in your hand. Polished and muscular and torsional. On their backs were vermiculate patterns that were maps of the world in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a thing which could not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery. -Comrac McCarthy. THE ROAD.

Wall-e is the cinematic achievement full of beautiful ironic scenery lovable characters (or is it a lovable character) and solitude of epic proportions. Wall-e (the cutest non fuzzy Pixar creation to date) is built to serve a human race that has seemingly disappeared after leaving there mess behind. Perhaps our eccentric Robot hosted a house party while his parents were a way? Oh Wall-e don’t you know best friends never stay to clean up? What ever the reason the earth is in a complete mess and Wall-e is left all on his own (if anything is cuter then charming eccentric its lonely charming eccentric) to clean up the filth. Sounds like a green peace Tour de force right? Well it is and it sickens me however in this garbage maze of save the environment propaganda hides the delicious cheese of Sci Fi Brilliance.

The kipple effect! Miles and miles of garbage piles converted into a skyline of Trash Buildings, did Wall-e build all these or is he in Seattle? Mechanical Maintenance engineers and a single cockroach the only thing left civilized? Is Wall-e Lonely? Can a robot dream of electric sheep? Is there really this much tribute to Phillip K Dick and Richard Matheson's stories this early on? Even if you haven’t read the works of those two Sci Fi Horror juggernauts you can still appreciate the irony. That is until Eve shows up then we are introduced to the work of Isaac Asimov and Arthur C Clarke. Eve I think is suppose to be categorized as a “girl” robot. She has sudden mood swings and blasts anything and everything though has a touch of remorse when destroying an allready destroyed cruise liner, oh the irony! She and Wall-e hit it off but unfortunately for Wall-e Eve is more interested in her Directive then living with him in his junk yard planet. That’s right, Eve is a working Girl.

Eventually we blast off into space and find out the mystery of where everyone alive went (something cars didn’t care to mention) it’s a utopian society where everyone is cared for and work is a thing of the past. Truly a far better life then anyone could ever hope for, or is it? Very Isaac Asimov, very Sci Fi!

After these occurrences we get into the heart of the story by which I mean the feel good Disney bait and switch. The silent slow and cinematic pace is replaced by rushed dialogue (there’s dialogue now) earth history montages a Bologna space captain representing every single human character that didn’t receive a voice actor credit and a Very disappointing all be it touching ending to an other wise fan boy shout out to sci fi genius. Kind of reminds me of the time I watched A.I. and I Am Legend. Such potential *sigh*

Whats this? I must have missed the point? You Cleary don’t believe in the power of Love Bradly you cynical old fool you. The connection (I believe its DSL) of Eve and Wall-e fits right up there with Belle and the beast in heart string pulling fuzzy warm ness! Lonely old adorable Wall-e showed us all that a connection of love changes the heart (or hard drive) of a person into something better to something beautiful! Truly a message that out shines the over bearing Hippie green peace crap right? Well I’m going to have to disagree with you and agree with our old psychotic friend Friedrich Nietszche “The lonely one offers his hand too quickly to whomever he encounters.”

Other then the third act I would say this is the best Pixar film to date. Its absolutly marvelous in appaerance and charming in character development (that is befor the Oscar Meyer Weiners show up) but like pervious Pixar films it seems to throw an ocean of endless depth in your face asking you to "JUMP IN THE WATERS FINE" only to find yourself with two broken legs on a shallow reef of unimaginative feel good crap endings. Thanks Pixar for the shallow puddle of an ending but I think I'll stick to drowning in your ocean of brilliance begennings.

definatly reccomend a viewing just not a repeted one.