Movies - I want my kids to see

I am on too many email lists. I must spend close to 45 min. each day scanning and deleting the various digests, summaries, ads, promotions, news, and 'in-case-you-are-wondering' briefs. My day started relatively light today, with some of my favorites; Academica's Top Ten, Inside Higher Ed, and Faculty Focus. One email in the inbox that I did spend a bit of time on was from Universal Studios. The email was a showcase of various Blu-ray, DVDs that are being featured as part of the 100th anniversary of Universal. As I was scanning the email it occurred to me that there are several movies on the list that I really enjoyed (as a much younger person), and that my kids have not seen.

This has me thinking; what movies from my youth (or since) do I want (or would be okay with) my kids watching? Here begins a list. (This list is not ordered! Movies added as I think of them -- remember, I started with that email from Universal, but I have expanded the list beyond that.)

Movies my kids should/could/would watch now:

• Back to the Future trilogy
• Jurassic Park trilogy
• 
  

Movies my kids should/could/might want to, watch...when they are a wee bit older (yes Dawson, you are not old enough yet!):

• Scarface (1983), and why not, Scarface (1932)
• The Sting
• Meet the Parents trilogy
• Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho, Birds, Rear Window, Vertigo....others?)
• various Spielberg films (Schindler's List among them)
• 
  

Post created: Sept. 5, 2012. Updates on:

Is this the end of the newspaper? New post over at Flat Earth

I have re-posted a neat video about the Rocky Mountain Post which is closing shop for good. Period. No digital edition. No more print. Done.

http://daveh-flatearththingswethoughtweknew.blogspot.com/newspaper

Heel Trouble

I often wonder why I am a sports fan. So much so that I have a wee bit of a rant over at Flat Earth. The past two weekends my favorite College Basketball team, the North Carolina Tar Heels have struggled. First, a complete upset at home by the (then unranked, since #17, and soon to be closer to 25) Boston College Eagles. And this weekend, losing a tough road game @Wake Forest (ranked #4, to the Heels #3). I find a little hope in some words by Eddy Landreth at rivals.com.

Yet while UNC fans may gnash their teeth and wail at these two losses and the way the Tar Heels played, who knows what may happen in the long run. UNC overcame a monumental number of injuries a year ago to win a school-record 36 games against just three losses, and yet when the Tar Heels needed the toughness the most against Kansas at the Final Four, it was missing.

Perhaps UNC can reverse the pattern after facing some tougher teams in the ACC this time around. Boston College and Wake Forest are considerably better than they were a year ago.

Former coach Dean Smith used to say the best teams are forged in the heat of adversity. North Carolina is sitting in one hot, bubbling cauldron at the moment. That much is for sure.

"It's what it is," Williams said. "We're 0-2, and we've got to try to play better, be more effective. I told the kids, Bobby [Frasor], Tyler and Danny [Green], their freshman year we were 3-3 [in the league] at one time and ended up 12-4. It is a long season.

"I'm still looking at the big picture and know we can get a heck of a lot better. There is no question the conference race is our No. 1 goal, but it's not over with after just two games."

As a fan of the Heels since high school (pushing 25 years now) I will not give up hope. But it is hard to watch a group of individuals who I have never met -- but represent a team I follow -- struggle when their collective experiences should have prepared them for this.

Come on team! You can do this. We can do this! (I'll keep cheering - you play better.)

Remembrance Day

I am not necessarily a fan of re-posting, but when I say this posted on My name is Kate and she had mentioned finding it on another site I realized this was a good opportunity to re-post.

I am always moved by Remembrance Day. When I was a high school teacher in Fort McMurray our school's drama teacher, Karen Towsley, always did an amazing job putting on a dramatic (usually music playing in the background, well, loud enough to move us - and usually Chris DeBurg's "Borderline') well the students moved through silhouettes of a story of the song - soldiers heading off to war and then only a small number returning at the end. I always cried. No surpirse to those who know me - this video also caused tears to well up. I'm such a softy!

Tar Heels - Pre-season favorites...and now the star is injured

To catch everyone up to speed. Here are some links to the Heels being ranked #1 and/or being heavy favorites as pre-season lists come out:

newsobserver.com | College notes: Tar Heels ranked No. 1 by coaches

Daily Tar Heel - Tar Heels ranked unanimous No. 1

Heels Ranked #1 In Preseason Coaches' Poll

And now today it is announced (on Halloween) that the star player, Tyler Hansborough is out (for an unspecified period of time) with a stress reaction condition (which is something short of a stress fracture...but could lead to one if not rested.)

TSN.ca TSN.ca

Hansbrough's return from injury indefinite The Associated Press - 32 minutes ago CHAPEL HILL, NC (AP) — The father of reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough said Friday it's unclear if the North Carolina star will miss any ... HANSBROUGH INJURY SETS UNC BACK FOXSports.com Tyler Hansbrough out indefinitely with a shin injury; Tar Heels No ... Chicago Sun-Times Hansbrough sidelined indefinitely with shin injury Sports Network Maui News - United Press International all 337 news articles »

UNC down but not out without Hanbrough
ESPN - 17 minutes ago (search conducted at 4:15 p.m. MST, Oct. 31, 2008)
Pinpointing an exact return for Tyler Hansbrough, who is out with a stress reaction condition in his right shin, will be a fluid process. ...

I love Tar Heel drama.

Goodbye my friend: Janet Kohlsmith

Sad news today. I learned that a good friend from high school passed away last Friday. From what I can read (mostly on Facebook) it appears that she died in a car accident. Here is the obituary from the Edmonton Journal: Janet Phillips PHILLIPS, Janet Ilene (nee Kohlsmith) December 20, 1972 - September 12, 2008 Janet passed away suddenly on Friday, September 12th, 2008 at age 35. She is loving and forever remembered by husband Brett, children, Brett Jr., Brandon and Kelsi; mother Frances Kohlsmith, brother David, wife Eunice and children Madison and Jared; sister Tracey, daughter Briana and Brian McWhirter and father Glen Kohlsmith; Mike and Dawn Yurkovitch, children Tom and Jessica, grandmother Olga Palmer and brother Paul Phillips. As well as the countless friends she has forever touched. Visitation will take place on Friday, September 19th 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. at Park Place Funeral Home, 51 Broadway Boulevard, Sherwood Park, Alberta with celebration of her life on September 20th at 10:00 a.m. Private family burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Janet's memory can be made to: Athabasca Gymnastics Club (Sue) 780-675-9530 Brett Jr's School - Whispering Hills Primary School for children's activities. 780-675-4546 and/or Athabasca Golf & Country Club Ladies Night

The 2008 Academic Ranking of World Universities

Well UofT made it (#24 overall, #19 in North America), so did UBC (28/35), McGill (42/60), McMaster (54/89), UofA (59-77/101-151), and Université de Montréal (59-77/101-151). The last two are not specifically ranked, only placed in a category range.

http://www.arwu.org/rank2008/EN2008.htm

What is interesting is that the web site is copyright by the Center for World-Class Universities (a Chinese organization). And they describe the purpose as finding the gap between Chinese universities and world-class ones. The top Chinese university is the National Taiwan Univ. (17-22/152-200) followed by Chinese Univ. Hong Kong (23-41/201-302). The first mainland China university is Nanjing Univ. (23-41/201-302). Admittedly so, the ranking are for their sake of establishing standards for themselves and best practices and allow them to model, learn, or pull from the top universities. The rankings were not meant for any other purpose.

Sure is interesting to read.

Time flies - are we having fun yet?

I can not believe how quickly time flies - in all aspects of life, and specifically in the blogosphere. It has been so long since I last posted and although I have thought to myself on many occasions it is time to blog again - time did not wait.

My friend Dave has recently convinced me the two of us need a blog that we can contribute together on. He has already posted seven or so entries and he is still waiting for my first. Now that I have finally gotten Scribefire configured I am hoping that first entry will come soon. Check it out here: http://daveh-flatearththingswethoughtweknew.blogspot.com/

Blackberry Bloggin'

Who ever thought it would be so hard to maintain a blog pressence? At least I am able to post from my mobile device. How else would I ever keep this thing alive?

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The best coffee table ever

This has to be the best coffee table ever. I can not wait until my house could have several of these - countertops, walls in the living room, etc. Check it out.