On the raft.

chillin'...old man style.

"Cash" vs. Cash

VS.

I am a fan of Johnny Cash. I happen to also be a fan of Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. I, however, hated "Walk the Line." I anticipated seeing this film many months in advance, and ended up renting it the first few days after it was released. I was gripped all the way through, and then, pow, it was over....all fall, no redemption.

It took a while for me to even listen to a Johnny Cash album after watching that. I mean, part of the draw to Cash is the "outsider" or "rebellious" aura that surrounds Cash's life, but there is more to the man in black than just the black.

I recently picked up Cash: The autobiography from our public library, and flew through its 300ish pages. This is the literary equivalent to what Cash has created musically since 1955; a collection of stories that cut through the bullshit and "tell it like it is."

The stories alone are interesting, but it is Cash's heart that beats throughout these tales and gives them life. For example, the reader can sense that though Cash loves all his children, he TREASURES the relationship that he has with his only son, John Carter Cash. *As the father of two boys, these stories/passages really hit home*

A critic would (and has) read this autobiography and made comments about how the book feels disjointed, unorganized, and amateurish...but this is what gives the book its charm. The reader gains the sense that he is sitting with Johnny Cash and listening to him tell story after story sitting on his porch in Jamaica, Tennessee, or Florida. You can almost feel the sun shining on your face as you listen to this man share about family, music, faith, pills, fame, love, and friends.

This is the Johnny Cash that the world should remember.

Review: Green Street Hooligans

"Hooligans" is a great, gritty British movie, but how to describe it in one SAT-style analogy...oh, I know.

Green Street Hooligans: "football" :: Trainspotting: "heroin."

Ok, so I came up with that while watching the movie and thought it was pretty funny. The two films are similar for some reason...though I can't place it, must just be the cammeraderie and the (not similar at all) accents involved.

Some of the critics have mentioned that this film is pretty bankrupt due to its lack of a moral, or rather that it does have a moral..."We learn that violence is bad, except when it feels good, or helps solve our problems." Gary Thompson, Philadelphia Daily News.

Something, though, about this movie really involves the audience. Upon sitting here and reflecting a little, I'm upset that the writer/director/filmmaker did a poor job of fleshing out these really gripping and deep characters in favor of a good smash-up.

Elijah Wood gives a great performance as the "Yank" who gets involved with the Green Street Elite. I didn''t know if I could stand seeing Frodo in another non-Tolkien role...in my mind, I have that battling Shelob grimace pasted on any of the photos I've seen since...but he turns from shy, cowardly yankee to a football hooligan with a swagger very nicely. Brilliant performance.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
RIYL: Transpotting; Snatch; Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels; etc, and it must be mentioned although I haven't seen it, yet, the original football hooligan film, The Firm (1988).

Shaka bra! (Lucas attempting to teach his bro the"hang loose" greeting)

Holding hands

For those of you waiting to hear.

Baby boy #2 came into our lives this morning (Fri, 6/16/06) at 12:10am.

Nathan Kainalu Horsman was born weighing 8lbs 2 ounces. JoAnna received an epidural and delivered the baby as though it was no big deal, after only 10-15 minutes of pushing. We were smiling and chatting in between pushes....kinda surreal looking back.

Both momma and baby are healthy, JoAnna received some medication shortly after the birth to help with nausea and this made her completely incoherent. It was a little sad because she didn't get to hold Nathan very long as she was falling asleep. Dadda was able to have some real good "bonding" time with Nathan while she recovered.

Lucas spent the night with babysitters and was brought to the hospital early this morning to meet his new little brother. He seemed as happy about the situation as any (near) 2 1/2 year old could be. When Lucas and Daddy came home to sleep on Friday night, Lucas said, "Baby baby Nathan, love you." unprompted...so cute.

A word about the name. We felt the need to have some Hawaiian influence on Nathan's name because he was born here. There is some speculation if we will stay, but in all likelihood he will be living the majority of his childhood on the mainland. We wanted him to have a reminder of where he was born. The name "Kainalu" is Hawaiian and means, simply: ocean waves. Also, as a pronunciation guide...ky nall oo.

First bath

Happy Daddy

The whole family

Welcome Nathan Kainalu Horsman

Awww

So....now what?

Daddy and Nathan 2

Daddy and Nathan

The family

Resting Comfortably

Big brother.

Review: Match Point

Woody Allen has finally left New York. His newest picture takes place far away (physically, at least) in London. One wonders why even bother with the new location, but oh well.

The film is beautifully shot and cast (with Johansson, Rhys-Myers, and Ewen Bremner that many will recognize as "Spud" from Trainspotting). The plot is similar to many of Woody Allen's previous films (especially 1992's Husbands and Wives, but there's something different about this film. It's a good Woody Allen movie (i.e. slow-moving, dramatic, high society) until the tryst becomes a major part of the film (as it typically does in an Allen film). This feels different, however, and the tagline, "A marvelously sexy thriller" doesn't disappoint. There is some intrigue in this film that shouldn't be given away, so it's more difficult to discuss this movie in its entirety. However, it is important to note this: Woody Allen, for all of his moral shortcomings in life and in art, is a brilliant storyteller, quite possibly the greatest of our time.

The philosophical point of this movie (and be assured there is a point to this movie), is played out very clearly, purposefully. The film is bookended by two similar images; one of a tennis ball and one of a ring, on which side will they fall? One can almost hear Allen speaking Rhys-Myers last line, to the extent of, it all comes down to luck.

Be advised that though this is a brilliant film, it is a Woody Allen film, and should be viewed through that lens. (i.e. if you have trouble watching a film about extramarital involvement and other moral deficiencies, stay away from Allen's catalogue).

Rating: 4 out of 5
RIYL (recommended if you like): Anything directed by Woody Allen, The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Happy 4th Anniversary

Very pregnant

Check out the block work

Going to visit daddy at work

Kualoa Point State Recreation Area

Naptime in the dryer?

BALL PIT!

Check out the belly on prego!

Fun @ Chuck E. Cheese's

Brandon was back...now he's gone. We had fun.

Lucas with stick.

Chinaman's Hat

Ahhh, Hawaii

Kite Flying

Photo of our cool nephew Evan (Jennie and Brenden's son)

Baby Nathan at 32 weeks...3-D profile, his nose is in the middle of the frame, left eye up to the right.

Film Review

Good question. The first time I heard about this film (possibly from stevansheets.com), I thought to myself, “I bet this makes Christian music look really stupid.” And, secretly, I hoped it would. As I watched the film that Vickie Hunter and Heather Whinna (professing non-Christians) put together, I was surprised by my reaction.

Christian music is something that has been one of the striking points for my cynicism regarding the Christian religion and the church. I’ve come from a place where all I was ALLOWED to listen to was Christian music, and from there I began to make a CHOICE to listen to only Christian music as I was in college. Then some things began to change. First, the quality of the music began to bother me. I was exposed to really good “secular” music, which just blew the quality of the best Christian music out of the water. Second, the lyrics in Christian music, though usually well meaning, were trite at best, and heretical at worst. Several years have past in this process, and now I scroll through my iTunes collection of over 2000 songs and there are a few smatterings of music by artists who happen to be Christians (Pedro, Damien, Chamberlain, etc), but NO “Christian music.”

The balance has shifted.

I’ve begun to notice this lack of balance in many areas of my life, but music is the most obvious.

Oh yeah, the film.

I have been to Cornerstone (the festival where the majority of the shows and interviews take place), so there was some nostalgia related to seeing the sights, and hearing some old favorites (MxPx, OC Supertones, Zao). I think the filmmakers did an excellent job letting the interviewees talk and not spin or edit (what I like to call Mooring) what they had to say.

In a culture as big as Christian music there are bound to be differing points of view, but even through the differences, all of the interviewees seem to “get it.” They understand that many people don’t understand Christian music, they understand that people would be dubious of anyone trying to “get a message across” instead of just “perform.” Not one person comes across as ignorant or as a Bible-thumper. When “Christians” show up on TV or in film, they are usually exploited for some facet of their belief that is “whack-o” by the world’s standards. That doesn’t happen in this film, surprisingly.

There are those who dissent from within, who hedge whether they are in or out. David Bazan (Pedro the Lion) makes great points about bringing people together who love music, letting Christians and non-Christians enjoy music together, forming relationships. Bazan also a demonstrates a clear cynicism about the Christian music scene, though he continues to perform at Cornerstone festival (he didn’t perform last year, the first time in several years). Many of Pedro the Lion’s fans have seen this transition and rise in cynicism from David’s point of view, both in his lyrics and his between song banter/Q&A periods.

Overall, this film does a great job showing the reality of Christian music: that most people in the scene are sincere, most are asking the questions about why they do what they do, most strive for excellence in what they produce, and most importantly most of the people in the scene are likeable people. Sean Howe reviewed this film for Spin magazine and stated, “Even an atheist will be less fearful of the God-fearing.” Yes, and those of us who forgot how valuable, life-affecting, and meaningful Christian music can be…we will remember.

Simpsons Movie

Yes, it is true.
Check it out.

ALIEN CORPSE

The time has come for the ultimate rock critic to rise from the shadows and exert his dominion over all those who would oppose him.

See link in sidebar, or get there by this.

Strong Bad

Go to www.homestarrunner.com right now to experience the funny.

See Strong Bad and laugh.

Start with the Strong Bad emails section.

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those aren't ocean waves, and we're not in Venice.

now that's vacation in Hawaii weather

tree-hugger

Swimming

Awwwww

Penguins in Hawaii?

Swimming lessons

Asleep in popop's arms

Humback Whale

yea! Whale watching.