Tearful Reunion

A returning U.S. sailor returns home from 7 month deployment to surprise his son during his kingergarten class. (NBC Today Show Video)

Wow!

Dobson Slams Thompson

Here's another "sinner" to throw into the fire today:
James Dobson Says Thompson Not Christian Enough To Be Prez

Dobson declared that Sen. Fred Thompson, star of NBC's Law & Order and possble Republican candidate for President, was "not a Christian" and therefore should not be supported by the Christian base of the party. Thompson's spokesperson said that he was in fact baptized into the Church of Christ. Dobson counters that Thompson is not Evangelical and does not talk openly about his faith.

I was already outraged over the virtual campaign of some right-wing ideologues bashing U.S. Senator David Vitter (LA) for supporting Rudy Guiliani for President. The Dead Pelican and others have been on a crusade to slam Guiliani for his record on social issues and throw Vitter under the bus for his support, although he has been praised by the same critics, up until now, as a fantastic Senator and advocate for the welfare of Louisiana.

I was set to pull the lever for Guiliani just to spite them, until I sat up and took notice of Thompson as a possible candidate. Thompson has a conservative stand on social issues, but he doesn't carry the water for the Christian right, which is all the more reason for me to support him. We need a President to lead this country, not a Pastor to patronize his parishoners. Dobson should stick with telling mom's how to potty train their kids on his radio show. Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Jesse Jackson, Richard Land, and the gang embarass the hell out of many who have until now identified themselves as "Christian." I think the label has got a bum reputation. I'm all for calling ourselves something else. There's no way to get them to switch to "hypocrits" for the sake of truth in advertising.

The Church is Pro-Hell

Pope Says Hell and Damnation Are Real and Eternal
The Times, London, in The Australian

Ok, I'm done. Honestly, I'm through. I just had a conversation about this very subject with my friend yesterday. I'm not sure if I'm going to end up "throwing the baby out with the bathwater." There might be some remnant or core of Christianity that I adhere to throughout my journey, but this concept of God holding people over the flames as a motivation for people to love Him baffles my mind. I don't understand how educated people in a world of science can continue to propogate this stuff week after week. The only reason I held on to it as long as did was that I never allowed my mind to contemplate an alternate worldview. When viewed from an objective vantage point, a lot of this stuff just sounds silly and begs the question how the church expects to be taken seriously and affect our culture positively. Well, maybe they don't. Maybe they could give a damn about redeeming the culture. After all, it's all going to burn up anyway. They're too busy getting people right for the next life that they've forsaken this one. That doesn't sound very Christ-like to me.

Why does everything have to be "us vs. them," insiders and outsiders? Why can't the focus be on the commonality of all of God's creation? Why can't the focus be on the immense love that embraces every person regardless of race, color, creed, or failure? Why can't the focus be on serving one another and lifting each other up to reach their full potential? Why can't the focus be on Jesus Christ who modeled for us what it is to be a human on this planet and set an example that we should follow?

I watched a documentary on Amma yesterday, called Darshan. She has been a Ghandi-like figure in India for more than 30 years. She is known mostly for hugging people. Seriously. She's embraced over 20,000 people in a day many times over. It's really something to watch. She teaches kindness to all people and creatures. She feeds the hungry and has established orphanages and hospitals all over India. She spends three to four months of each year on a road trip trying to see as many people as possible. It's amazing that you give hugs away and people line up by the thousands. Maybe Joel Osteen is on to something after all.

I think we've been too critical of the wrong people for too long. Have you noticed that Jesus reserved his sharpest criticism for the religious establishment of His day, those that claimed to be better than everyone else, those that claimed to be in the know? For the failures, the screw ups, the rejects, the untouchables, there was only grace... grace by the bucketfuls. He lifted people by believing the best in them and pointing them to a better life, to their potential. Wow, what a difference! But who am I to argue with established religious dogma?

Movie Round Up

I've seen quite a few movies the last few days between the Blockbuster movie program and HBO. I thought I should share a few thoughts on them:

Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music documentary by Robert Elfstrom
I love all things Johnny Cash. I've read several biographies, including one by Rolling Stone magazine which was an amazing photo journey. This documentary was not an all encompassing birth to death, rags to riches epic. It was filmed by British filmmaker Robert Elfstrom in the late 1960's as he traveled with Johnny and June. Johnny was so impressed with Elfstrom's work that he later asked him to produce his film about Jesus Christ, The Gospel Road. This movie is archival footage from live concerts, recording sessions, Johnny's return visit to his hometown, and rare personal moments and reflections. Fantastic!

Conversations With God with Henry Czerny
I had this movie in my queue but moved it up after my friend commented on it on his blog. I thought the movie provided a very human portrayal of a man who fell upon hard times and into homelessness and struggled to climb his way back out. I did not buy into the spirituality. It seemed to lack substance and drive book sales or something. Overall, I was glad I watched it.

Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas
Ok, how many movies have there been about courageous teachers who transform the lives of inner city kids? I didn't rent this one, but when I started watching the beginning I had to stay up to watch the whole movie. I'm not a big Antonio Banderas fan, but he did an excellent job of acting in the movie. I guess the whole ballroom dancing thing was a large enough curiosity hook to separate it from the other movies about troubled inner city kids. Definately worth watching!

Proof with Gweneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, & Jake Gyllenhaal
I missed the first few minutes of this one, but it was really good. It's a little similar to A Beautiful Mind but definately stands apart. Gweneth Paltrow was amazing in this movie. Jake Gyllenhaal was ok. Anthony Hopkins' appearances are limited but he's old, heavy, and going crazy in the film, so he provides some depth. He's Paltrow's aging mathematical genius father who is losing his mind. Paltrow's scenes jump back and forth to her time of caring for him and moving forward after he dies. In the process she's wrestling with her own sanity and genius. A very good drama. I recommend it.

Skeleton Key with Kate Hudson and Gena Rowlands
I saw this one over a year ago and just watched it again today. I enjoy movies filmed in or set in Louisiana, especially if they're good. This is a darker movie about old New Orleans and voodoo, and it has some amazing plot twists. It's not a horror film but a great suspense thriller. It's grade A entertainment that will keep you hooked.

Wandering in New Orleans

Downtown New Orleans

I've been working down in Slidell, LA for a few weeks and have had to make a few trips into New Orleans. I've tried to avoid downtown as much as possible. The one way streets with no left turns or u-turns are a little overhwhelming. I think it took me over thirty minutes to get from the front of Tulane University Hospital around the block to get into the parking garage. I managed to get into town a little early before lunch and decided to drive around a bit. The only place that I seem be able to find my way around easily is the "Vieux Carre."

French Quarter

I haven't been to the French Quarter since Katrina. I was surprised to find so many tourists and so much activity. I couldn't resist stopping. I walked the river bank for a little bit then went down to French Market and was lured into an outdoor cafe by live blues music. I had a shrimp poboy and thoroughly enjoyed the music and atmosphere. With thirty minutes to spare before my meeting I wandered down the road to Cafe Du Monde to have cafe au lait and beignets. What a terriffic escape from the day, and a far cry from the frustration of driving in circles!

Riverfront

We've all heard so much discussion about New Orleans since Katrina, but I have to say that we all need to withhold our criticism and cynicism until we take a trip there for ourselves. It is a place all to itself that still has a charm and magic that cannot afford to be lost. I stopped at a red light behind an athletic looking guy my age in a car with two stickers on his back windshield. One said, "Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran" and the other "Forget Iraq. Rebuild New Orleans!" Seems like he's more than qualified and justified in his opinion. After today, I can't help but think he's right.

St. Louis Cathedral

Rocky Balboa

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that! - Rocky Balboa

Wow! What an absolutely great movie! I was impressed to learn that Sly wrote and directed this film himself. He is just terriffic in this film. He is a seasoned professional that you cannot help but love. There are so many throw backs being released lately, you never know what to expect, but this was a real class act. I also enjoyed the Rocky movies when I was younger, but this one is quite different. With the exception of the final fight, which was filmed brilliantly, it wasn't really a "boxing" movie. It is a story of a man coming to terms with the death of the love of his life, the twilight years of his own life, and strengthening a fractured relationship with his only son. Sly was heartwarming in the movie. It was impossible not to feel for his character and want to know someone just like him. From a technical perspective the cinematography of the big fight was an amazing combination of a real fight on HBO and filming techniques akin to Sin City. It's really something to see. Overall, it's just a really good quality film that has a powerful message about the worth of every person and finding the courage to never give up. Five Stars, all the way!

Wine & Spirits Blog

For a time I kept a separate blog to journal my wine discoveries. It was mostly a personal journal to help me discern what I liked most about different wines that I tried, and I thought it would be nice to share it with others. It soon fell under neglect mostly because I was trying so many wines so frequently I couldn't keep up with journaling. This blog has also been my priority. Since the handy new labels feature that blogger added, it's become simplest to merge them into one and label my posts accordingly, so this blog will also feature my tasting notes. I can't imagine how many people actually come here to read my posts, but, no matter what brought you here, you'll be seeing more posts about wine & spirits. I'm also adding a "What's Uncorked" item to note what I have uncorked at the moment.

The bottle I'm finishing now is a 2005 Sutter Home Moscato from Napa Valley. I first tried a Moscato d'Asti from the Piedmont region in northern Italy, famous for their Moscato d'Asti and recently famous for the 2006 Olympic Winter games held in Torino. There is a little gift shop in Covington, LA called the Grape Vine. The owners personally import cases of Italian wine to sell in their shop and gladly offered a friend and I a taste test last summer while passing through. My favorite wine of theirs was a Barbera d'Asti, a dryer red wine. After tasting the heavier cousin, the Moscato d'Asti tasted like liquid candy. I found this American Moscato several months ago and saved it until recently, because I don't drink much white wine in the winter. With the spring-like weather my passion for red wines has subsided for a time and the only white I had to open was this Sutter Home Moscato.

Moscato is one of the lighter white wines you'll find, known mostly as an after dinner wine. It's even lighter than Sauvignon Blanc. It's very delicate, mild, and very sweet. I found the Sutter Home to be slightly less sweet than the Piedmont. It has the aroma and slight twang of grapefruit, similar to Sauvignon Blanc. When you can't find a good Piedmont Moscato d'Asti for less than $20, the Sutter Home is the way to go for under $8. Cheers!

Casino Royale

I have seen many but not all James Bond movies over the years and generally have enjoyed them, at least up until Pierce Brosan, so I was a bit skeptical about a new Bond franchise featuring Daniel Craig, but I thoroughly enjoyed Casino Royale. The movie is a bit of a marathon; I think it was over 3 hours long but definately a must see. I think Daniel Craig is a slightly darker character than his predecessors and comes across more believable when interacting with the opposite sex. The first half hour is one of the most action packed I've seen, especially when you consider it's mostly acrobatic physical action without a bunch of explosions and hi-tech gadgets. The plot is very engaging, but just when you think the movie is over another twist develops. I think I anticipated the ending at least three different times after the first hour and a half. You definately get your money's worth out of this one. There are some major defining moments in the end that alter the Bond character and complicate him even further, which makes you anticipate a sequel. I'll be waiting.

The Prestige

I highly recommend the movie The Prestige, if only for the star-studded cast: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Crane, Piper Perabo, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie, and Andy Serkis. I recently saw Andy Serkis in Longford, and he's slated to appear in several more upcoming movies. It's sort of become a Where's Waldo? fascination of mine to spot him in other movies since LOTR. Who in the world thought of pairing Andy Serkis and David Bowie as the "mad scientists" in the secluded forest? How cool is that? How could you not enjoy a movie about magicians, even if it follows closely on the heels of The Illusionist (I'm also a big Edward Norton fan). I also enjoyed the movie for the amazing plot twists. It's definately worth adding to your Blockbuster queue.

The Perfect Ending

Bay St. Louis, MS

I'm working down in Slidell for a few weeks and staying in Bay St. Louis, MS. I spent the day Monday driving down and listening to a few audiobooks I had, Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra and Meditation for Optimum Health by Andrew Weil and Jon Kabat-Zinn. I was feeling pretty contemplative, and, though I was very tired, I wandered down to the shoreline just before sunset. I threw on a jacket and walked the beach listening to Enya on my iPod till the light faded away. If only everyday could end so sublimely.