Computers: Explorer

What is it with Internet Explorer anyway? I like to occasionally look at my blog in other browsers to see how it looks. Internet Explorer consistently renders it differently that the other browsers I use (Firefox and Safari).

It seems to be taking the navigation bar and centering it in an attempt to avoid the "Make Poverty History" banner that I have in the upper right corner. In doing so it comes down into the title section of the blog.

I quit using Explorer a while back, so I hope most of you who might stop by here are not using it, either. If so, I apologize for the poorly rendered page. I don't know what to do about it, though, because I do not want to get rid of either the Make Poverty History banner, or the navigation bar.

Movie: Cinderella Man

We watched Cinderella Man for the first time last night (at bit behind the rest of the world, I know).

To start, I'll have to admit that I just do not understand boxing, or why anyone would want to box. It amounts to senseless violence in my mind. So, obviously, I spent a good part of this movie with my eyes covered. It is a good story though, and I appreciated the integrity with which James Braddock conducted his life outside of the ring.

Food: Make mine a pint of lager shandy

While living in the UK, I was delighted to discover the lager shandy. This is a combination of lemonade (British lemonade is like sprite only not as sweet) and lager (beer). I've always liked beer well enough, but really enjoy a shandy more. Recently I discovered Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat lager. It makes a very nice shandy. If you'd like to try it for yourself, you can ask a bartender to make you one, though they almost always make a face. To try it at home, combine a 8 ounce can of Sprite with a 12 ounce bottle of beer. (Besides the Cherry Wheat, Harp, made by Guiness works nicely, too.) Sprite first, then the beer. It will be a little bit sweeter than a British shandy, but very nice. Enjoy!

Quote: Religious Discomfort

One popular definition of religion has been as an opiate, that its purpose was to make people comfortable in the world ... but any of the major religions, seriously understood, clearly makes you uncomfortable in the world.

-- Marilynne Robinson, author of Gilead, in Sojourners, June 2006

Groan: Sappy Poems

The kids and I are going to be volunteering again this year with a local kindergarten class. The start up meeting was last week, after which we were given a copy of this poem:

Being a Vounteer
It's not for money, It's not for fame,
It's not for any personal gain.
It's just for love of fellow man,
It's just to lend a helping hand.
It's just to give a tithe of self,
That's something you can't buy with wealth.
It's not for medals won with pride,
It's for that feeling deep inside.
It's that reward down in your heart,
It's that feeling that you've been a part
Of helping others far and near
That makes you be a volunteer!
---(Author Unknown)

I'm afraid I just can not get myself to like poems like this. Not only does it rub me wrong, it contradicts itself -- after saying it's not for personal gain, it then says that it is (I'm pretty sure doing something for a feeling deep inside is personal gain; just not the monetary type).

If I were to write a poem about volunteering (don't panic, I won't) it would say something along the lines of:
1) it's our responsibility to try to help others
2) my kids need to learn to do it
3) getting up early enough to go stinks
4) little kids wear me out (I need to learn from Bev who seems to have mountains of patience)
5) getting along with the other volunteers can be difficult at times
6) a lot of times it would be easier just to not do it

Linkage: Models

London fashion should ban thin models - minister - Yahoo! News UK

Now that's good news.

Words: ganosis

We were playing Balderdash the other day and the word ganoisis came up. I have to admit that I did not believe it was a real word. I'm still not sure that I do. Here's the definition:

ganosis n. - reducing shine of marble, especially on naked parts of statue.

It's not in any of my dictionaries, and Dictionary.com doesn't have an entry for it. Merriam Webster acts like they have one, but it's in the pay section, so I can't confirm that they do. All the entries I've seen for it look exactly like the Balderdash card. I'd like to see some etymology and find it someplace besides Luciferous Logolepsy before I'm convinced that it is a word.

I suppose that is one of the nice things about just playing this game with a dictionary. At least you know the word really is an actual word and can prove it to disbelieving participants!

Life: Or the Lack of It

Today my little brother would have been 41 years old. It's hard to know what to do when it is the birthday of someone who has died, so I muddle along and do my best. I will send my folks an e-mail, and remind my family that it is his birthday. I'll put this link to my blog entry of his obituary. And, I'll spend some time remembering.

Here's to you, Ed. We miss you.

Movie: A Walk to Remember

This movie is based on the book of the same name by Nicolas Sparks. I read the book a long time ago so was interested in seeing the movie. If I'm remembering correctly, they've changed the ending from the book to the movie. (I like the book ending better.)

I was impressed with the positive light in which the main character's faith was portrayed. She made me want to be a better person, which is amazing considering it was Mandy Moore acting out the part!

This is definitely a chick flick, and you'll certainly need some tissues unless your heart is made out of ice.

Linkage: In the News

'Potential' home buyer accused of robbery

This is not what you want to hear about as you are preparing to sell your home.

The Crocodile Hunter dies

And, that's a sad thing.

Movie: The Thing About My Folks

A while back I saw an interview with Paul Reiser about this movie, and when I saw it at the library the other day I thought it might be enjoyable to watch. The movie stars Peter Falk, Paul Reiser, Olympia Dukakis, and Elizabeth Perkins, and is essentially the story of a father and son. They are on a spur of the moment road trip and are hashing out together the reasons why the mother has just left the father. At the same time they are doing some of the father/son things they never did when the son was young. It's not a fast paced movie, but it is very funny and thought provoking, too. Worth watching, I think.