Review: Holy Ghost

I got to see the documentary, Holy Ghost. I was extremely excited to see it. After it was all said and done, I wasn't as impressed. It felt jumbled. Jumping from a scene where the crew is filming to interviews that would say encouraging snippets about the Holy Spirit.
The most interesting story was a trip to India. The Indian Christians there feared for their lives and where not very bold in their faith. When the Americans show up with a guitar and the Spirit, everything open up for them. The Indian Christians were amazed by their boldness and acceptance by the locals. The Indian Christians believed the Americans would be beaten and killed in the streets. It never happened but for one small altercation and even Jesus didn't bat 1000 when he preached.
They showed healings and conversions on the streets of Salt Lake City, Monaco, and a Korn concert.
Some scenes where very intense and amazing as to how they would follow direction by the Holy Spirit to people that needed God's love. Those are worth seeing and I believe this movie is very much worth seeing. My critique of the movie is the structure and message. I can not identify the director's message he wanted audiences to take away. I can identify what I would have done but there is no single thread that pulls the entire movie together. It's everything and powerful and a big mess. Go see it and pick through a stock pile of beauty.

Scott Roche's 300x300x300 Challenge

The challenge is to take a 300px x 300px picture and write a 300 word story about it. 3 winners get a pick of the litter from his Amazon store of his books. Most likely ebooks, so get your Kindle charged. This is my entry.

Beans in a Jar

When you look at the beans in the large glass jar and the beans look back; you know it's going to be one of those days. I try not to notice. It's best not to notice. It will only start an argument, “I don't know why I keep you,” I muttered to myself.

“Because we're brothers, Allen,” he answered.

“I don't believe you are. You just look like him. Daniel is dead! 12 years ago.”

“I couldn't leave you. I love you. You're my brother. Go ahead ask me anything.”

“We've done this a thousand times, Daniel. You know a lot about us but. . .you're a face in a jar of beans. Clearly not my brother. He hated beans. Maybe even jars, I don't know what you are but you need to leave and never bother me again. Or so help me I will drop you this time.”

“You did do that on purpose. I knew it!”

Daniel's likeness dissolves into the beans and disappears.

A knock at the door pulls Daniel into reality. He smiles because he has a feeling he knows who it is.

“Beth! You're early, good , I'm ready,” Allen grabs his phone and keys and motions to the door.

Beth, Allen's girlfriend, steps inside,” We have time, babe. Let's sit and talk until it's time for the movie. I was thinking of Mexican dinner tonight,” Beth walks into the kitchen.

“Great! Where at? Tacos Ensenada?”

“No, I was thinking of making dinner here,” Beth grabs the large jar of beans. Daniel's worried face appears to her from within the jar. She sees the specter and screams. Dropping the jar. Beans and glass scatter on impact with the floor.

The funeral in the back yard was nice.

God's not Dead

Good news to fans of Christian movies, Gateway Church will be screening them more in the near future. I had the pleasure of watching God's not Dead on the big screen. It was not a pleasure because it was an awesome movie, on the contrary, it was horrible but I get to that soon.
Gateway now has a Facebook page for all the info if you want to check out the next movie. I sure hope they are getting the viewing license for these films. I will check into this and get back to you. If they are not, I will fight for them to do this right. These movie makers deserve their money. I talking $200 and all is good.
*edit* It has been confirmed that licensing is being paid for movies shown and to be shown. 
What do I think about God's Not Dead? First of all, Dean "Superman" Cain and Kevin "Hercules" Sorbo are in it. They do as good a job as they ever have but they never share any screen time. A waste of opportunity if I ever saw. Here's the trailer so you can get a taste of what I'm talking about here.



Summary provide by IMDB: College philosophy professor Mr. Radisson's curriculum is challenged by his new student, Josh, who believes God exists.

This was the core story and it was well done. There were a lot. I mean a lot of subplots that really didn't add to the movie and with time and care could be developed into interesting movies themselves but here in this movie, it's too much. The movie is nearly two hours long and I felt every moment. The screenplay is really good and would only be better with some editing and getting down to the core of the movie.
My best problem with Christian movies is usually the story but this was well done. The next problem with Christian movies is the cinematography. This movie does not pass the grade. It's shot very straight forward with very little creativity and the coloring is drab. It looks a lot like a TV movie. It could be because of budget restraints but that shouldn't kill creativity. They should take a lesson from Robert Rodriguez. He does so much on the cheap.
I must also warn you that there at least 3 scenes that will make you cry. Hats off to the director for pulling that emotional hat trick. I think they were too close together and too often and I felt manipulated.
Overall, this is not an awful movie in the Christian Movie spectrum. I give it 3.75 out of 5. But that is only in the context of being a Christian movie. As a movie alone? Horrible. Pass on this unless you are a big fan of Dean Cain or Kevin Sorbo.

Space Oddity (David Bowie + Kristen Wiig) - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

What is my current favorite movie? The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Why? Because I can Identify with the the character, Walter. He has a brilliant and wonder life inside his head much like I do. I dream of making it a reality much like Walter. In the movie it comes down to a moment in Walter's life where he must decide, will he ride the helicopter or not. If he does not. Life the same. If he does. Life is never the same. What is cool is the moment where he does decide and it's his imagination that pushes him. Wild and crazy imagination. Where dreams are crazy and thought to be unobtainable. Unobtainium is only in the movies.

Yard Sailing

I took my oldest out to yard sales and there was a lot of baby clothes out there. I found some good stuff though. For my youngest, I got a stack of Pokemon and a squishy Rawhide baseball. When we went to the Rawhide game last weekend, he really wanted one. He should be happy. My oldest found a hardback copy of Ender;s Game.
For me, I found two cds; The Best of Bobby Darin Vol. 2 and The Kingston Trio, Greatest Hits. Yeah, not the usual but my kind of music. I'm odd that way. Never heard of Bobby Darin you say? Let me help you.
And The Kingston Trio?
 I got three books too. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, Screw-Jack by Hunter S. Thomson and Uprising by Erwin McManus.
It was a good morning.

Fun Fact about Visalia

Visalia is pretty old. How old is she? When kids were in school there was no history class. *rim shot*
Back to the fun fact of the day. Visalia is older than Canada. Yes, Canada. The whole thing. Canada wasn't established until July 1st, 1867 What do you think of that, eh? So, Happy Birthday, Canada!

Lincoln Oval Park

As of today of legacy hinges on me being the creator of the Mexican Hairbrush. If my mother were alive, I would have to apologize to her for that. So far that is my children's inheritance.
I have been thinking of a better way out of this and I have landed on an old dream of mine.
Movie Making.
I was inspired by a speech giving by Jim Carrey about his father.

So here I go into the unknown. I will produce, God willing, a documentary on the Lincoln Oval Park. I've done some research so far and this is going to be quite a project. But here is what I know so far:

• The park has the worst reputation in Visalia.
• It hasn't always been that way.
• Visalia's first dedicated high school was built on the oval.
• That high school moved to a newer building and was rededicated as an elementary school.
• That building burnt down with all the children in the basement and was the basis for the horror movie Nightmare on Elm Street.
• I made up that last fact except for the burning down part. No children were hurt in the writing of this blog.
• The oval district has always had, schools, restaurants and homes.
• The area was a middle class area up until the 50s.
• Since the 50s it has had a reputation as a bad part of town.
• What my movie will be about is why the change from a family friendly part of town to crime central and what is Visalia doing to change it back.

So, that is what is up with me. Wish me luck on this adventure.

Family Photo of Halloween

What you see here is my Dad, Mother, daughter and son. This was taken by my wife most likely in 2002. My son was dressed as Spider Man, as you can tell and my daughter was a princess. My Mother might have been a mime. No telling. What is fun to see this picture is that i never knew or completely forgot its existence. To see it is like finding treasure. Not the kind worth money but worth time. Because time passes and never comes back but this time time was captured and held and I got to relive a moment that was lost.
It's very cool to see them all and how exciting it was for them to first be there. My kids loved their grandparents and my parents loved my kids.
Time is valuable. Use it wisely.

The Mexican Hairbrush

Have you ever been 43 years old and not impressed with what you've done with your life. If you have, then you will know what it's like to be me otherwise you don't know what it's like to be me.
Cue Tom Petty song.

Those who do know, let's hold hands and look upon those who don't and sigh. Because we know what you are headed for and you don't have a clue. Here's a link to a clue .
Today as I was laying in bed waiting for the inevitable 2nd alarm for me to get up. Yes, I have two alarms. First one is to get up and get the kids out the door for school. I then consume media for awhile then I return to bed and...
Now that we are all up to speed, back to my thoughts. The second alarm goes off and I am fuddling for the phone that is so alarming. I then just lay there and reflect on how I can make more money because that is and always has been my thought since the day I learned money makes my life more chocolatey. But, I never have enough. Life sucks. Money sucks. Someone perform a mercy killing on me.
That is when my brain scream at me. I real inaudible scream in my head. It screams, "The Mexican Hairbrush." Strange, I know. But before I could recover from this, I hear my wife's voice yell back inquisitively, "What's that?"
So, to recap. A voice of unknown origin likes to yell in my head as well as my wife's doppelganger apparently lives in my head too and has conversations that I am not apart of in my own thoughts.
Odd?
Yes.
But back to the major elephant in my head room.
What is The Mexican Hairbrush? My first thought is sexual of course.
This is were we take a dark turn so if you are of the gentle type go read something else.
My first thought of what The Mexican Hairbrush is someone dragging their scrotum or all of their genitals across someone's hair in an attempt to comb it. If that isn't an actual thing, I invented it. That is my legacy. It ain't much but it's what I got so far. I sure hope my life improves because if it doesn't, one of my family members will have to summarize my entire life as the guy who invented The Mexican Hairbrush and as a tribute they will ask for everyone to pull out there junk and brush each others hair. I can see family and friends in black weeping and dragging their goodies on each others' hair.
What a memorial. I hope they all get arrested.
I can't allow that to happen. I have to be more than that guy. I'll think more on this but for now. buh-bye.
I gotta go. He's out there and I gotta go to work.

RSA Shorts - The ABCs of Persuasion

I Thought All Butter Dishes Were Boring Until I Saw This One

I've been on the look out for a butter dish for years. I've seen many but what I am looking for is a one with a handle. Sounds simple but I've yet to find one. My wife made me one by using crafting glue and a knob but it was not meant for this world and it died a horrible death only glass and a hard surface can experience.
I was out walking and I went to the thrift store near by and I found this butter dish. I thought it was too cool but they want $5 and some change for it. It wasn't that cool. I will wait it out and if no one buys it and they mark it down, I'm buying it.