I’d like to address a few things, re: Nils, myself, and movies. He and I have disagreed before about Roger Ebert. Nils has said Ebert is too easy on movies, I love Ebert because he reviews the way I would: he first tries to understand the vision and intent of the film, and then analyzes whether the execution works. This is why I believe his reviews tend toward the positive… he’s focusing on the positive because that is his style. Regardless, I think Nils and I can agree with Ebert’s take on The Dark Knight:
Because these actors and others are so powerful, and because the movie does not allow its spectacular special effects to upstage the humans, we’re surprised how deeply the drama affects us. Eckhart does an especially good job as Harvey Dent, whose character is transformed by a horrible fate into a bitter monster. It is customary in a comic book movie to maintain a certain knowing distance from the action, to view everything through a sophisticated screen. “The Dark Knight” slips around those defenses and engages us.
Sounds like it could be a good movie, no? Oh, and when I read Ebert’s reviews before the movie, I try to skip over all the plot details I can… it’s almost better to read them after the movie.
A father who tried to protect his 12-year-old daughter after she was groped while leaving Valleyfair amusement park was beaten, stomped in the face and kicked by a group of young men, police said.
The 41-year-old victim, identified in a criminal complaint only by his initials, was unconscious when police arrived. He suffered skull fractures and possible bleeding on the brain, the documents said.
What the hell is this, A Clockwork Orange? Dammit, Minnesota. Get it together.
I had one chance to do this shot — I had to diffuse the flash and guess the exposure. Turned out about as creepy as it appeared in real life; it was a tour de force in whatever limited photo skills I possess.
An example of Georgian Revival architecture, it holds a famous Tiffany glass mosaic, “The Dream Garden,” made for Curtis by the Louis C. Tiffany Studios. The 260-color mosaic was based on a painting by Maxfield Parrish. In 1998, the mosaic was sold to casino owner Steve Wynn, who planned to move it to one of his casinos. This was blocked by local historians and art lovers who raised $3.5 million to prevent the move.
Honestly, check this thing out. Looks nothing like the stained glass we’re all accustomed to seeing.
My alma mader, St. Thomas, is upgrading its email system. Though I use a dedicated desktop email program, sometimes I do have to check email through a web browser — so, with some trepidation, I clicked over to the tutorial for the new version of Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access.
Oh my God.
It’s a snowstorm of buttons. At least the “Light Client,” which it looks like is the only one I’ll be able to use, has fewer stupid little widgets.
