Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

I was very dissapointed by Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. It felt more like a demo of expensive effects than a coherent movie. Much of "At World's End" could have been edited out and the result would have been a more compelling.

I think, sometimes directors want to give their movie a sense of magic by creating a world where anything can happen. The problem is that you end up with a world where nothing matters.

Is the heroine in trouble? Don't worry. Anything can happen!

Is the bad guy about to win? It's ok. Anything can happen.

There are so many arbitrary rules and so much random magic-- people dying, comming back life, being cursed and having curses lifted-- that I couldn't care about any predicament. Which is a shame. If they had whittled out the "after life" subplot, the "goddess of the sea" subplot and the "secret pirate meeting" subplot, then what remained could have been a fun pirate story.

New Years Resolutions....

1. Make a new resolution each month.
2. Follow up with resolution each month.
3. Wake up at 7am each morning and exercise for 20 minutes.
4. Don't goof at work. But, schedule some personal goofing off time at the end of each day.

'Weird' Al Part 2.

Ok, I have listened to 'Weird' Al again. I've noticed how clearly he sings. It is much easier to understand the words in a 'Weird' Al song than in the original. This is subversive-- the next time you hear the original, the 'Weird' Al words pop into your head.

But he doesn't age well...

Ok, so I did enjoy all the Weird 'Al' albums. But, I have no urge to listen to them again.

Straight Outta Lynwood.

I now have a Zune Pass. I've downloaded dozens of albums. Mostly I'll listen to half of the album and then delete it.

I have downloaded every 'Weird' Al Yankovic album. I am impressed. I am surprised how impressed I am. Most of his songs are the straight on spoofs that he is so well known for. There are also some genuinely creative songs in there. I laughed out loud as I listened to "Weasel Stomping Day."

'Weird' Al a suprizingly talented singer. While his voice is not beautiful, it is well trained and versitile. When he parodies a song, his vocal style is spot on and his voice is every bit as strong as the original. This is not discount comedy. This is not some guy making fun of popular songs. He clearly puts much thought, professionalism and polish into it.

Super Capitalism.

I'm trying to go through "Super Capitalism" by Robert B. Reich.

I am dissapointed that I find it slow going. I always enjoy listening to Robert B. Reich when he is on NPR. So, I'm supprized at my less than positive reaction to his book.

The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World

The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World by Alan Greenspan.

Half memoir, half economic overview, this book is good.

Mr Greenspan has had quite the life. He was friends with Ayn Ran. He was a professional musician. He dated Barber Walters.

He also is an unapologetic lassie faire capitalist and he makes a very good argument for it. I am now less ambivalent about lassie faire capitalism than I once was.

I have to admit that capitalism works for me and I take full advantage of it. I work hard and I take what I think are smart business risks. My ambivalence stems from capitalism's more ruthless side-- in a meritocracy not everyone will have merit. The market prices for necessities may be above what some people earn. What do you do with those people?

The response to that is essentially "Your concern is valid, but not as bad as you'd think. You don't have to work that hard to earn enough for room and board. Other types of economies and governments have not solved that problem either. Finally, capitalism is responsible for most of today's prosperity. Not socialism. Not capitalism with a socialist safety net. And certainly not Communism."

Agree with him or not, he is certainly a smart man.