Complete the Album by iTunes

I just found out that iTunes now has the the Complete the Album feature which enables you to not have to buy the whole album over again if you own part of it already. To me this is just another example of Apple staying on top of making it easy for consumers to purchase music, and I for one will continue to support the Apple store. It rocks (literally!). Lately I've been listening to some great tunes like

• "Time Won't Let Me Go" by The Bravery,


• "Just a Little (submarines remix)" by Leigh Nash,


• "In Case of Emergency" by Cool Hand Luke, and


• "Shambala" by Three Dog Night.

I discovered the last song by watching an episode of Lost the other day and loving the jamming music on it. While Three Dog Night isn't a new band, it was to me, and I have freshly discovered their music. On the spiritual side, I really like

• "Made to Love" by Toby Mac,


• "Wash Over Me" by David Ruis, and


• "Hope of the Nations" by Brian Doerksen.

All highly recommended if you have a spare gift card and are looking for some great music. Of course, music being a very subjective thing in many ways, I can't guaranteed my picks will be compatible with your tastes, but I'm not charging any money for them either. Of course if I was, I doubt this blog would continue. Until next time!

Who Framed Roger Rabbit Review

I finally have seen this dated movie that combined cartoons with real acting. It is puzzling to guess what the writers/directors were aiming for with this one. It isn't quite a kids movie, yet not quite a movie for primarily adults. I have watched Pete's Dragon many a time, and this was definitely more heavy on the cartoon integration. Basically Roger is some cartoon that gets framed by an evil mastermind (Christopher Lloyd). He looks a lot like the Slugworth (Christopher Lloyd) from the old Willy Wonka movie. It reminded me a bit of the movie Dick Tracy with all the detective work and not quite believable bad guys. Cute movie and if I recall one of the first movies where the writer's tried to put in some adult humor in the framework of a kids movie. Not sure it fits, but it did win 4 Academy Awards. Interesting for the effects if nothing else.

Fried Green Tomatoes Review

I think I can sum up this movie in three words: DON'T SEE IT!. Boring, depressing and not worth your time unless you want to watch a sad story about an abused wife. I even thought Steel Magnolias was better than this - and that's saying something!

Every Day is wonderful

Well it has been almost a month since I nearly didn't wake up. For those who don't know, about a month ago, I went unconscience from a low blood sugar. It happened around 7 AM and if it weren't for my wife, and for God's mercy I may not be here today writing this entry.

How it happened, we aren't sure. No real strange changes ocurred the night before, but I do know I woke up with 4-5 paramedics asking me if I knew where I was. I told them the city I live in, and they asked more specifically where I was, and then I got a nice ambulance ride (similar to the one on the right) to the ER room. Evidently, I stopped responding to my wife's questions and went completely unconscience until they were able to give me an IV of sugar to boost my blood sugar back up. I can truly say that experiences like that give you a whole new outlook on life. It made me wonder why I spend so much leisure time doing things that aren't going to matter in 5-10 years, if I may not even have tomorrow. It also really helped me be grateful to my wife, my city's ambulance/fire fighter crew, and the Lord for preventing that day from being the last. In Hebrews 9:27, 28 it says:

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

I can't avoid the appointment. None of us can. Ten out of ten die. However, I can be ready to meet God and stand before Him confident that I have believed in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Praise God for life here, and for eternal life. I am grateful that I have some more time here, but its wonderful to not be afraid to die when my apointment comes. God is good.

Batteries Not Included Review

Ok this movie is classic 80s material but it was on the movie channels so I taped it and was surprised to find out that Steven Spielberg directed it. I guess this movie would fall more into the family-friendly space/alien movies than War of the Worlds or Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The spaceships in this movie are definitely designed to be more cute than strange. They even tend to imply genders with the little UFOs and they have baby UFOs. Not necessarily believable, but as I say I think Spielberg was going for cute more than thought-provoking. If he was going for thought-provoking maybe he should think a little more about extraterrestrial life. It basically is the story of these tiny spaceships that have a knack for fixing things, and help an elderly couple keep their apartment from getting torn down. There are some comic moments and all in all it is a fun movie to relax to. I would definitely not say it is academy award level material, but a good movie where good triumphs over evil.

Jack vs. Jack

Time to talk a little TV. I've been thinking about two popular TV shows and I thought I would share why I came to give up on 24, and have started to be hooked on LOST. I started out loving 24. Couldn't get enough of the show. Jack Bauer doing the impossible, risking his life and bending the rules for the greater good. What's not to like? That was for seasons 1, and 2. Then season 3. More of the same. People get killed, arms get chopped off to save other lives, and Bauer does the impossible once again. After season 4 the recipe started to wear thin. Jack continues to get totured and to torture others to prevent the world from ending. Hmmm, anyone tired of cliffhangers? So I gradually lost interest to the point where I don't continue keeping up on the show. It started out great in my opinion, but how long can an adrenaline-fest last before you begin to wonder how the next episode will go to great lengths to keep you in suspense?

Now to another Jack. Not Jack Bauer, but the Jack character in Lost who is a kind-hearted doctor who is always trying to do the right thing, yet struggles to resolve past issues with his dad on top on trying to survive on an abadoned island. But Lost is far from being all about Jack and Jack alone. I was gradually drawn into the flashbacks of all the characters in this show - Kate, Sawyer (did I spell that right?), Sahid, Locke, and don't forget Hurley. All coming from different backgrounds yet all contributing something to survival on a mysterious island. Some episodes are tense, some are intriguing, and some are just fun (like Hurley jump-starting a van and riding around for a good time) - but you really gain an appreciation for character development and for a well written storyline. Not that 24 is a bad series. It isn't. I just have been enjoying the complexity and character development of Lost so much more. I'll let Jack Bauer continue saving the world. I'm sure he'll be there tomorrow.

Swingers Review

OK, again another movie that everyone probably has seen at one time or another and that I have just viewed for the first time. I found this movie, extremely witty, funny, and well written about a guy who is trying to get over his girlfriend of 6 years with his buddies. They try to take him out to some clubs to get his mind off it. Throughout the movie, there is some classic dialogue (very well-written script) and the lines are hilarious. I think I found this movie so funny because it is so relatable. There are so many parts where you could see yourself in the same situations or feeling the same way. I would give this movie 2 thumbs up if it weren't for the constant use of profanity. The situations, dialogue and acting are all very well done, yet the writers had to include obscenity almost to the extreme level to make a point that these guys are willing to say anything to make their point. The movie does really show an accurate view (at least somewhat) of the mixed emotions that guys can go through as they seek to move on after breaking up with a girlfriend. Very funny - yet definitely true-to-life in many places. If you can wade through the profanity, the movie is a comical look at the way some men (or most men) move on in the dating scene.