Alex and the Big Game

 Each autumn, I take each of the grandkids, individually, to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a Huskers home game. Last fall Alex (then age 9) had a new digital camera. The game was really exciting and the Huskers didn't win until the final minutes. Alex got lonesome for his Mom so we called her on the way home. Mom quickly asked Alex how he liked the game and he got so excited he forgot he was lonely. 

Pooh Destroys Her Crib

Pooh has been with us for just over six months now and it's hard to imagine the world without her or how we were able to survive so complacently before she came into our lives. She's been able to manipulate small objects for a while now, but she's getting more adept at dragging bigger things back and forth. Here she has recently awakened from a nap and while she waited for me to get her up she began playing.
You can see that she's managed to drag the crib bumper over her head and then wrapped it with her blanket. She's also obviously very pleased with her accomplishments -- or perhaps she's just glad that I've come to rescue her. (The bandages on her thighs are covering the shots she got at the doctor's yesterday.)
Here, after another nap, Pooh has reached a new pinnacle in her blitzkreig on the crib furnishings. Not only has she rearranged the crib bumper and her blanket and partially dismantled her toy arch, she has also rotated herself 90 degrees. A supreme achievement for one nap. 

Pooh and the Shape-O Ball

  Pooh is learning to manipulae the world. Watching her explore is as much fun as can possibly be legal. Here she is playing with a very old, and very broken, Shape-O Ball, a Tupperware toy that very nearly survived our three children and three older grandchildren.

It's obvious her horizons are broadening, because she is ignoring the teething ring on the floor to her right, and she's not trying to eat the Shape-O Ball. Also note she loves the camera, and I think the camera loves her back. 

Sky Captain?

So, my 7-year old grandson is home with strep (fortunately the baby is asleep), and we're watching "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," which I note from the cable guide is rated three stars. THREE stars? I don't think so!

First, "Sky Captain" was apparently filmed with a nylon stocking over the camera lens (read soft focus) -- either that or the focus puller should be shot. Neither color nor black and white, it's tinted in a sort of sepia tone (doubtless the bright idea of someone who thinks it gives the "world of tomorrow" a period look). This is oupled to a weak story line, and then shot without sets entirely against a blue screen. The entire film is one giant, out of focus, computer graphic. Perhaps this "brave" approach to cinema results in the three-star rating. Sorry. It's stupid!

There are fuzzy, computer generated taxi cabs, airplanes, giant robots, and on and on ad infinitum. Let's face it, if you're going to make a cartoon, why hire live actors? It's a waste of the minimal talents of the actors. Not to mention the totally unbelievable aspects. For instance, Sky Captain has his own private armed force and pilots a P-40 Warbird with a range of thousands of miles that maneuvers like a helicopter and flies faster than a jet. The "world of tomorrow" bears an amazing resemblance to the 1940s, complete with pseudo-Nazis. I should suspend disbelief? I couldn't suspend disbelief at this movie if I were on LSD! My grandson just left to watch cartoons. I think he's got the right idea.

Remember when CG was used to enhance reality? Thanks to George Lucas CG now replaces reality. The film industry is just one step from using computerized actors; then we'll witness the final blending of life with cartoon.

For a fun look at the concept of CG actors, watch the 1981 film "Lookers," with Susan Dey, Albert Finney, and James Coburn.)

Thanks, Simpsons. Bleahh.