a few pics

Thanks to Brandon and Steph for the sweet sweatshirt! Josiah likes it alot!

Currently Reading To Live in Peace: Biblical Faith and the Changing Inner City By Mark R. Gornik see related

Best Bit Movie Roles of All Time (that I have seen)

I have been thinking a lot lately about bit roles in films.  Mainly because oftentimes those bit parts are the ones that stick with us the most. So I have begun compiling a list of the best bit parts in films I have seen.  I would say all time, but that might be a bit hyperbolic and I generally like to speak in realities.

Honorable Mention:

John C. McGinley/Paul Willson “Bob Slydell and Bob Porter” Office Space

-         You can’t help but laugh at these guys….plus John C. McGinley loving Michael Bolton?! To quote Matt M., It’s so random!

Top 5 bit roles in films I have seen…

Number 5: Sean Whalen “Heckler” That Thing You Do

-         This is the dorky kid who you are sure wants to date girls, but might want to date the band too. Steve Zahn refers to him as “our fan.” He is so completely uncool, and yet acts like the coolest kid in the room. His best line is a tie between “We came here to meet girls and dance and we can’t meet girls unless we dance.” and “Neato!” Well said. I also like the fact he didn’t even get a real name in the film. Plus anyone who likes Mariachi music as much as this guy does has something going right.

Number 4: Paul Benedict “Roy Loomis” Waiting for Guffman

-         Roy Loomis is the everyman. That is why we love him. And we love him all the more because Roy unknowingly leads on the entire cast of “Red, White and Blaine.” He almost single-handedly causes the reprisal of “Covered Wagons” which is just racy enough to make you think twice before going out behind the barn. Roy gets the Blaine, MO five star treatment, a courtesy he thinks is due everyone that mosies into the small, yet amply protected (snipers etc.), rural town. However, he does think that they have a shot to go to Broadway, but what does he know, he’s from Demming.

Number 3: Burt Lancaster “Doc ‘Moonlight’ Graham” Field of Dreams

-         My only dramatic role on the list. This is a great role and he is only on camera for about 5-6 total minutes.  To hear him describe a triple…well, it is perfect.

Number 2: Paul Benedict “Martin Berg” A Mighty Wind

-         It take an incredible man to make this list twice and Paul Benedict is that man.  As folk music historian/renaissance man, Martin Berg, Paul astutely notes the magnitude of the kiss between Mitch and Mickey…it was a great moment “in the history of humans.” and he dropped the h in humans…he is a cinematic wonder.

Number 1: Stephen Tobolowsky “Ned Ryerson” Groundhog Day

-         Without question, Stephen Tobolowsky is the man who tops this list.  Had I actually made a list about the top bit parts in all movie history, no one would rank higher than Needle Nose Ned, Ned the Head…remember, he dated your sister until you told him not to? Bing!  Watch out for that first step…it’s a ________ (come on, you know the line)

Please add your own to this list, I think we should create a master list.

Currently Listening Sky Blue Sky By Wilco see related

Josiah Stanley is here

Well, we were scheduled for c-section at noon on New Year's Eve.  Our son, Josiah Stanley, must have heard 12 and thought 12 midnight and so he decided to come a little early.  At 2:41 a.m. we finally had this young squire, and it is safe to say that we are pretty much loving him.  This morning he held his head up and looked at me while we chilled as mom got unplugged from all her wires and needles etc.  Ann is doing great, and we will head home on Thursday, where I am told, reality crashes in :)

I'm a fan...although, I am going to need to get much less attached to sleep, I can tell

Currently Reading Unfettered Hope: A Call to Faithful Living in an Affluent Society By Marva J. Dawn see related

why i have to believe roger clemens

i'm not saying he didn't do it, or that there is no way he could have done it.  i am simply saying that i have to believe him. 

as i am listening to sports radio and reading the articles online and whatnot, i can't help but compare this to another famous american witchhunt.  when joe mccarthy was going after communists the same cloud of anxious suspicion and public indictment hung over the sky as does today.  think about it.  mccarthy wanted names, essentially, the mitchell report gave us so much more than names, but that is all we care about. these names were given to mitchell by 2, count them 2, sources both of which worked deals for immunity or lesser punishments. when mccarthy was going after pinkos he also used promises of immunity if in fact his informants would simply give him some names.  in fact, mccarthy would turn down names that weren't big enough for him, he wanted the biggest names and would go after the biggest personalities. it only makes sense that someone who is promised immunity from mitchell would then give them the biggest fish there is. clemens. all it would take for this guy to get the promised freedom is to mention the biggest name of all and he is in.  mitchell has his report. so without a shred of proof, other than the word of a guy who would be extremely motivated to get his name out of the spotlight by naming someone who's star is much bigger, we have roger clemens name. we as the general public had the same response as the during the communist scare as well. we don't want proof, we just want names that we can burn in verbal effigy when convienent for us. our judge and jury sensors are so finely attuned that we pass judgment without considering the fact that the case against clemens is really not strong, considering the source. we rant for him to speak and when he does we try to show how his denial is really a legalized admission.

i applaud r.c. for not coming right out and speaking up. his rep was defamed, he doesn't owe us anything, it is unfortunate that we use his lack of defense as a sign of guilt.

baseball has not made me sad, sure i'm disappointed by steriods, but the culture of suspicion by which we impune people without proof and name names to save ourselves, arises a much deeper sadness in me. if roger clemens took steroids, that is extremely unfortunate, but it is more unfortunate, and more embarrassing as a human, that we rush to convict someone (someone who, by the way, is probably the best there is, was or will be) without even listening to them stand up for themselves.  for shame.

the mccarthy...sorry mitchell report (can anyone tell a difference anyway) should go away, not because i want to sweep steroids under the rug, but because it brings out something very ugly in all of us.

Currently Listening Yankee Hotel Foxtrot By Wilco see related

another team bites the dust