Noggin Thought

I was looking forward to The Hurt Locker ever since I saw the preview many months ago. And I think every one else was too because I had to wait a long time to get it from Netflix. I’ll start by saying, I like movies about war. I don’t really want to explain why. I could try to give a lengthy explanation about it but it doesn’t matter. I’ve never been to war, and I don’t want to go. So don’t call your local recruiter and tell ‘em about me. Needless to say (don’t quite understand that phrase, but I think it fits here), I really wanted to see this.

The plot is very simple, a glimpse into the life of an elite Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit in Iraq. We see what they deal with on any given mission. The man watching you from the balcony could be the bomber. The man herding goats could be a sniper. Then there’s the bomb in front of you that could blow up. The director does a wonderful job of putting us in the field with the EOD unit and showing what they have to do to cope. Everybody isn’t built the same. Some need the adrenaline rush to feel alive. Some don’t know whether they can make the hard decisions. And others still can’t figure out where they are in their lives and don’t realize that it’s time to take that next step.

Having never been to war (and still not wanting to go), I think the world we are shown is very real. And if this is what they have to go through in 1 month, I couldn’t imagine being stationed their for 1 year. I have the utmost respect for these people that do, everyday, what I couldn’t imagine doing once in my life.

Brilliantly directed by Kathryn Bigelow, with top performances by Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie.

See it.

Children of Men takes place only a few years in the future (about 21 at the time of release). It’s a harsh world that Alfonso Cuaron has created but not unlikely given the events leading up to it. It’s been 18 years since the last birth and humanity is facing extinction as everyone continues to age. Out of this dystopian, war-torn landscape appears a young woman who is 8 months pregnant. The underground rebel group called the The Fishes wants to keep her away from the government’s prying eyes. And the mysterious scientific, research group called The Human Project wants to study her to save mankind. This all hinges on Theo Faron played well by Clive Owen. He is an activist turned cubicle drone and turns into the unlikely protector of humanity’s future.

Cuaron is successful at creating a future that no one would want, and he weaves through it with this story of savior and protector that is ultimately believable because it has to succeed. I appreciated a realistic world where cars may not start when trying to make a fast getaway; where you can’t find shoes that fit because you didn’t have time to pack; where you lose a few friends along the way. Little things like that helped to draw me in and make me want to see them survive. It also had one of the more moving scenes that I’ve come across in a movie, where they walk right through an intense fire fight between rebels and soldiers.

The movie also stars Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Juliane Moore.

See it.

Yesterday was much better all around and it started with Souplantation for lunch. I had none of the same after CrossFit workout pains as on Monday. I could eat there 2-3 times a week and be happy. One of the best parts is that I ate more food for this lunch but still felt much better. I even had some bread. Deal with that Jody Maroni!! If you’ve never had Souplantation ya gotta try it. They’re in 15 of our 50 states so hopefully you have one near you.

Definitely sore today…that’s what happens when you do 150 deadlifts (135 lbs) and 150 push-ups in 15 minutes. But it’s a good sore. It’s an ‘I accomplished something so I should be sore’ kind of sore. Normally I would be CrossFitting again tomorrow but it’s off to Mammoth for another snow-filled weekend excursion. No Ooh this weekend, well she hasn’t gone once this season, but there’s always next season.

Lastly, I have been assured by my friend that his Toyota Camry will not unintentionally accelerate during this trip.

I don’t like having to learn a lesson more than once, but today I re-learned a simple one the hard way: Don’t eat a crappy lunch when you have a tough CrossFit met-con (metabolic conditioning) workout. My performance was shitty, after the workout I felt shitty, and I probably need to go have a shitty. While Jody Maroni’s Sausage Kingdom can be tasty (if you like sausage), it’s just not worth it. The #1 is the Jody’s Sausage Special. It comes with any sausage sandwich, regular fries, & regular soda. Why did I do that?…You know, even while I was eating the #1 I was saying to myself, I probably shouldn’t be doing this, it’s gonna cause #2.

I still got a decent time (all met-con workouts are timed), but I think I could’ve done better. It’s not enough for me to do well by overcoming my stupidly created obstacle. But I understand that sometimes we have to be smacked upside the head cause we lose focus. That’s what today was, but it wasn’t my head that got smacked because everything else hurts…It’s fine. It’s over, and I won’t make this mistake again.

Jody Maroni’s: 0
CrossFit: 1

Tomorrow may be a nice salad with grilled chicken or some simple tacos.

Syriana appealed to me because I’ve been interested in political thrillers ever since watching Body of Lies. While that was focused on terrorism in the Middle East this was about oil, the earth’s liquid gold.

I was a tad confused in the first 30 minutes while we’re introduced to all the players. There are 2 big American oil companies, the CIA, the Department of Justice, a Middle Eastern government (can’t remember which one), a legal merger oversight firm, the nation of islam, and Christopher Plummer as the powerful old white man. And everybody has to answer to somebody (except Christopher Plummer). The 2 oil companies are trying to complete a merger which will make one of the most profitable companies in the world. They have to answer to the legal firm performing the investigation. The legal firm has to answer to the Department of Justice, which means they have to produce some sort of evidence of wrong doing, so that the public thinks everyone is doing they’re jobs and catching criminals.

You would think the CIA is all powerful, but even it has a master (in this case, an undisclosed government body, or maybe it was the people but that doesn’t sound right; when does the CIA ever answer to the peopel?). One of it’s agents, on a mission for the CIA, gets in a tight situation and what is the first thing it does?…investigates the agent on accusations of espionage. Have to answer to somebody.

The Middle Eastern goverment on one hand wants to grow it’s economy for the benefit of it’s people and the future of their nation. And on the other, is so money hungry it can’t see straight. Then the nation of Islam represented in the film by young followers only answers to God. And they’re actions, while quite drastic, are only questionable by God. In some ways that’s unfair, but in this movie I don’t really have issue with it.

I liked George Clooney as agent Bob Barnes, who tried to do his job without question until he started to see the big picture. Alexander Siddig as Middle Eastern Prince Nasir Al-Subaai, who truly wants his people to succeed. Matt Damon is an oil stock broker turned private consultant to the prince while simultaneously coming to grips with a family tragedy. And Jeffery Wright is the lawyer investigating the oil merger. He is quite stoic in his presentation (in half of the movie but very few lines or emotions) but is important in advancing the story.

The world we are shown is very real. Actions have consequences. Everyone has his own agenda.

See it.

Remember when I said follow the money because of the article supporting milk consumption. This simple info-graphic shows where the money is. And the single line of text after the graphic says it all.

So, yes we may have to spend a little more money to eat healthier, but so what. Wouldn’t you rather spend the money now on healthier food instead of later on health care? And what else are we doing with our money anyway? New gadgets? Shoes in a different color? Another latte? All that’s for naught if we develop diabetes. We can’t wear shoes if our feet get amputated, can’t have lattes because of the sugar, and gadgets won’t matter if we can’t see.

So, yes, this is why you’re fat.

My friend Kaa wears fruit scented deodorant. I guess I’m not surprised that companies make fruit scented deodorant. There are plenty of fruit scented lotions, and candles, and…fruit. But deodorant seems different than lotion. I don’t know why. It makes me think the next step is fruit flavored deodorant…which probably already exists. I’ll ask Kaa if she’s ever tried that. Maybe she wears the fruity scent for her husband. He probably wants her to smell flavorful. Now I wonder if her’s is flavored.

Angels & Demons was a suspensful mystery. It may be listed as a thriller on Netflix but it wasn’t very thrilling. I did read the book, and I know the ending but so what. I also read the Harry Potter books (some more than once) and I know all those endings, but those movies seemed more engaging.

It was successful at keeping the mystery all the way until the end. But I think it would have been more interesting if the Catholic church lost. Yes, I disagree with the Catholic church but that’s my choice. Tom Hanks as always gives a solid performance. The assassin was my favorite character. He was a professional that completed his mission while minimizing collateral damage. He had rules that he did not compromise unless absolutely necessary. I appreciated a character with that kind of efficiency. It’s the engineer in me.

It was supposed to be a rollercoaster ride, but it seemed rushed.

Also starred Ewan McGregor, but it’s hard to top Obi-Wan…and he didn’t.

I say skip it.

I was in Mammoth this weekend (2/26-2/28). The forecast showed a storm for Friday night. Not sure when it was supposed to happen on Friday night, but we hoped we could make it into town before the storm…we didn’t. Except for one other trip which, sadly, ended before it started due to snow just north of Mojave, CA and me not having the right sized chains, I hadn’t seen this kind of snow on the road before. It was coming down in large, almost centimeter in diameter, flakes. I wasn’t the one driving, so I couldn’t really feel the car sliding that much, but being from sunny southern California it’s not something I’m used to. But the good thing was that we knew the next day would be a great snow day.

Saturday on chair 22 was one of the best snowboarding days I’ve had at Mammoth. Plenty of areas of untouched powder. Lots of good tree runs. And it wasn’t outrageously cold…in the morning. The group decided to eat lunch at Mill Cafe because it “has the best food”. I protested lightly because, while the food is good, you usually have to sit outside to eat. It was snowing at this point. So what happens? We go. We get the food. We sit outside to eat. It was damn cold! Just as I said it would be. After that I decided I didn’t need to continue when I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore. So I headed back to the condo. I can’t complain cause I had great riding and no injuries while another member of our group wasn’t so lucky. He had a good riding day up until the point where he collided with a skier and broke his arm. That’s all of the story that I know. Couldn’t tell you who’s fault it was, but a broken arm is a broken arm and it sucks. He’s okay now but the next 2 months are going to be rough.

Sunday wasn’t nearly as good as Saturday, but the top of the mountain was open. Occasionally when the clouds would clear we had beautiful views of the town of Mammoth Lakes, CA and the eastern sierra mountains. I didn’t take my camera this time so no pictures, but I have one more trip so maybe then. I enjoyed a few runs on the steeps and then watched the second half of the Laker game. The Winter Olympics gold medal hockey game was also on but we didn’t win that so it doesn’t matter. I only acknowledge closers and the Lakers are closers.

One thing that this trip made me remember is shit happens. I’m a fairly cautious snowboarder but at any time some asshole skier could come out of nowhere and try to take me out. So for you new up and coming snowboarders, watch out for skiers. They’re kind of wild and some of them are assholes. Just kidding…about the wild part.