Oz

I watched the Wizard of Oz for about the thirtieth time on Tuesday night. It didn't quite have the magic it has had for me in the past, but it's still an amazing movie.

But I was thinking about the influence of Oz on David Lynch's work, especially Wild at Heart and Mulholland Dr. Check out his web site, it's... well... perhaps what you should expect from Lynch.

Orchard

In case you missed it, here are the pictures from my son's kindergarden field trip.

In political news, Tom DeLay has now been indicted. Certainly not unexpected with the trouble Jack Abramoff has been in lately, and DeLay had a number of embarassing ties with Abramoff. Still, I can't remember a congressman being indicted who was majority leader at the time during my lifetime. I once heard a Sports Illustrated golf writer on the radio talking about meeting DeLay and how DeLay wanted to go on and on talking about golf. I can see how he was seduced into accepting that very expensive golf trip to Scotland.

Photography

Been having fun taking family pictures recently. Walgreens offers some cheap and convenient services.

Two resources if you are interested in photography are the nikonians group and tips from the top floor. The former, while ostensibly devoted to Nikon, is a rich resource for all people interested in photography. The latter can be downloaded as a podcast from itunes.

Newspaper

My son wanted to start his own newspaper online yesterday. You can see it here.

Art Projects

Yesterday I picked up a matted and framed art project that my son, Michal did in kindergarden a couple weeks ago from a local art gallery and framing store. Monika liked it hanging on the wall so much that she told me I had to go back to the store and get her favorite project that Michal did last year -- a giraffe -- and get it matted and framed.

Pictures

Just this week my local Walgreens now allows me to upload digital images over the web and pick up prints in the store. Pretty nifty.

Roger Ebert and Toronto

Here's a quote from Ebert's essay just before the Toronto film festival starts. I personally like the last line.

I have already seen most of these movies. What lies ahead for me? Last year at this time “Ray,” “Kinsey,” “Yes,” “Palindromes,” “The Sea Inside,” “Undertow” and “Hotel Rwanda” were only rumors to me. I write on Wednesday night, and will see three or four new movies tomorrow, and be astonished by completely unexpected treasures. I permit myself to be delighted until I reflect that in the real world, titles like this do not open every weekend, or play everywhere, or get much support, and there are perfectly nice people who are going to see “Deuce Bigalow, European Gigolo” under the impression that it is a movie.

Thoughts on Our Government's Response to Recent Events on the Gulf Coast

Daniel Schorr had a very perceptive commentary recently on the radio.

He started with a quote and then amended it:

Government is the enemy, until you need a friend... and then your friend may turn out to be dysfunctional.

Here are some of the ways that our government failed us, and let thousands die recently:

Michael Brown, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is a political amateur who was unable to coordinate the many government agencies involved in rescue operations. How did Michael Brown manage to become head of FEMA when his previous experience was judging horses?

Brown seemed to learn of the large number of people waiting in the New Orleans convention center only after news agencies knew of this. And when he was told by reporters he didn't seem to believe them.

The USS Batan, filled with supplied that could have helped victims, lay anchored off the gulf coast for several days without orders.

Wal-Mart tried to deliver three truckloads of drinking water to Jefferson Parish and was turned away by FEMA.

There are strong criticisms of Brown here and here if you care to read more.