tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49904799705214309932024-03-05T18:15:37.227-08:00All Quiet OnNathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18188911059085881580noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990479970521430993.post-1500700691716969462008-07-22T11:32:00.000-07:002008-11-04T11:09:12.781-08:00HancockOkay, this one's interesting too.<br /><br />Hancock is clearly the USA. He is a superhero (superpower), he has the eagle hat, and then there's his name--think Declaration of Independence.<br /><br />(Interestingly Dark Knight paints the US as a troubled superhero as well.)<br /><br />Here's the message I got from this movie: The US used to be a force for good, but now has become self-absorbed, jaded, and hopeless. Part of the blame seems to go to the world for lack of support, and part seems to go to the US itself, just for having a bad attitude.<br /><br />The message seems to be that with a little support and a good PR campaign, the US can regain it's stature and self-confidence as a moral powerhouse. Overall, a pretty positive outlook.<br /><br />I can't decide if the girlfriend superhero is supposed to be a metaphor. Maybe even a certain country? Most of the analogy in this flick seems to fall apart if you go very far with it. Any thoughts? What am I missing?Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18188911059085881580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990479970521430993.post-83566485084058289152008-07-21T11:34:00.000-07:002008-11-04T11:10:33.882-08:00The Dark Knight<!--[endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:1871533214; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:695362086 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Now this was an interesting movie. It seemed pretty political to me.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"> </span><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal">Batman is a metaphor for America, and the Joker represents Islamic terrorism. There are a lot of clues to this in their characters and it’s important to keep in mind as you watch the movie.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Batman is portrayed with a seriously flawed character. He doesn’t do things b/c they are right. Rather he tends to react emotionally in a reckless manner, to satisfy his selfish interests.</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal">When he beats up the Joker in his prison cell, Batman is acting out of personal anger, not justice. He is not trying to get information to save innocent citizens, but is only frantically trying to save the girl he loves. It is made clear that he is in a state of rage—that he is out of control.</p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal">Also, he makes the wrong choice. He selfishly chooses rescuing his girl over Dent, who is the hope to save all of Gotham.<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Interestingly, Gotham acknowledges that Batman’s dirty work was necessary, but now they want Harvey Dent and a new era. </span><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->At the end, the authorities of Gotham say something like “Batman will have to pay for his crimes eventually.” Keeping the movie’s metaphors in mind, I think this is actually a pretty sinister statement.</p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Then there is the “sonar” issue between Batman and Morgan Freeman. It appears to argue both sides of the “government spying on citizens” debate, but ultimately gives the moral high ground to Morgan F. who represents the liberal position. Morgan does agree to do it “just this once,” but it’s still clearly the wrong thing to do and he announces his resignation. Pointedly, the invention later goes haywire on Batman and almost gets him killed.</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal">On a side note—Joker destroying the batmobile with a bazooka represents 9/11. Batman is baffled, afraid and full of self-doubt after encountering the Joker. He can deal with street criminals, but not terrorists. He plans to resign—to just give up. Kind of lame, to say the least.<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal">Also, note that at the end of the movie, Batman departs in the much more modest (and vulnerable) batcycle. </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><br /></p><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p> <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">One more thing: I think at times in the movie Batman specifically represents the Bush administration rather than the US in general.</span><br /><br /></span>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18188911059085881580noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990479970521430993.post-69970493898810877982007-08-10T21:21:00.001-07:002007-08-10T21:34:57.779-07:00Graveyard at Macey's<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7dF0n8_A_uAvhoqrjh5JVdYyTrbG6gZjF8BMeUudLPkbeYqRjZPHqKMt-0a8g1JmqlPhBsxNCuzPvGVMetKqAHt1tWuOY6S0P3ph9ZtIDn2SdOBJ6yhouifYCQyExUhPUy9lRMtiSgab/s1600-h/macey's+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7dF0n8_A_uAvhoqrjh5JVdYyTrbG6gZjF8BMeUudLPkbeYqRjZPHqKMt-0a8g1JmqlPhBsxNCuzPvGVMetKqAHt1tWuOY6S0P3ph9ZtIDn2SdOBJ6yhouifYCQyExUhPUy9lRMtiSgab/s320/macey's+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097294734978103874" border="0" /></a>Me and Bolen have been working at a<br />grocery store called Macey's. <br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JdReYRSEfuwi1bqj164FC9Hchx0QzBDwKPj_g73WPpxmmibANrZXL7-ye2ybhtKpTo9iwfuL7bP7FFvfp4dLa30WPVeq0yV9AW75-iNRdYa1YdZ87BXum4_jy0YIhgZuFLokaRROcRVf/s1600-h/macey's+014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JdReYRSEfuwi1bqj164FC9Hchx0QzBDwKPj_g73WPpxmmibANrZXL7-ye2ybhtKpTo9iwfuL7bP7FFvfp4dLa30WPVeq0yV9AW75-iNRdYa1YdZ87BXum4_jy0YIhgZuFLokaRROcRVf/s320/macey's+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097294743568038482" border="0" /></a>Our job title is Night Stocker--sounds kind of sinister, eh? Basically,<br />we just move boxes around all night. I actually really enjoy it. I'm<br />just not used to working graveyard yet.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9PmPrJJTLO2FXHijnynZpsPrLJGiqlzxbCz49Py4W1TY7oaPB1bAOGUxctrHw4k-53gjFy1m1FlaNDE0B7faEjacZeM_wXzVtK1FgCg8AJDryQBN6yZymvW7B_LaHN4ehfl1j2ElmWtK/s1600-h/macey's+019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9PmPrJJTLO2FXHijnynZpsPrLJGiqlzxbCz49Py4W1TY7oaPB1bAOGUxctrHw4k-53gjFy1m1FlaNDE0B7faEjacZeM_wXzVtK1FgCg8AJDryQBN6yZymvW7B_LaHN4ehfl1j2ElmWtK/s320/macey's+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097294752157973090" border="0" /></a>We work with some very interesting people. One<br />guy called in sick last week and said he couldn't come<br />to work on account of his gingivitis. (I'm serious.)<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KGtLvpZiNbNhPbTOV19gTLC5SrnVTnv9I4qcpOBZmKmWgAWcbCRmlP9eeo6ZLEGRcRYldW98qxvBLCGbAmpvNUnHnplHcWZtFOELnJ7taKL0hrgKerOq1rB_UVvkl17I_hMjNKH__8uq/s1600-h/macey's+020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KGtLvpZiNbNhPbTOV19gTLC5SrnVTnv9I4qcpOBZmKmWgAWcbCRmlP9eeo6ZLEGRcRYldW98qxvBLCGbAmpvNUnHnplHcWZtFOELnJ7taKL0hrgKerOq1rB_UVvkl17I_hMjNKH__8uq/s320/macey's+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097294756452940402" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18188911059085881580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990479970521430993.post-56161372574960241532007-08-10T18:12:00.002-07:002007-08-10T18:28:53.609-07:00Sisters Invade Provo<span><span></span></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiOOqXtkVPVLgq8TQxJCcoZjNSDqtsS1IFKEEoP1uyMLkslrRvfeFn2K7l9gYDXHMBw8QkH1KsvzCN5DQDOIFzkTfCzM3n96gCaPX3N186AvpwuSdCbZgXD6OQxQ89BG5BBaea5vgpIH7/s1600-h/sushi+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiOOqXtkVPVLgq8TQxJCcoZjNSDqtsS1IFKEEoP1uyMLkslrRvfeFn2K7l9gYDXHMBw8QkH1KsvzCN5DQDOIFzkTfCzM3n96gCaPX3N186AvpwuSdCbZgXD6OQxQ89BG5BBaea5vgpIH7/s320/sushi+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097245196825311746" border="0" /></a>At an all-you-can-eat sushi place in provo.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWMZpei3wBn5onqLvTfvOOEV6Xcu9d-ILexyPzBDo9jem4sagTti6hsH6dJeBW2BOIHzsp423Sf4YBo6mJfcJKsuZuc-JObvUHTtSmEEVZXCE3-SSTYCOaKpWpKizS05t1lQvL8ZBoUkb/s1600-h/sushi+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWMZpei3wBn5onqLvTfvOOEV6Xcu9d-ILexyPzBDo9jem4sagTti6hsH6dJeBW2BOIHzsp423Sf4YBo6mJfcJKsuZuc-JObvUHTtSmEEVZXCE3-SSTYCOaKpWpKizS05t1lQvL8ZBoUkb/s320/sushi+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097246223322495506" border="0" /></a>Lindsey appears to be the most normal...<br />but she is not.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdpCI35EKGJjjgJHJbUSlh21mGfk5LoFSnqVV7ZZnoc1EwPACk5_Hw3IKTYiASHYa1BDe-OMkMCzjptz8Ki-Uuccuf48jhFpO4-GwIjFssiTWduksaG-zb_QTqCSDK69fxKnX3VqC_tH_/s1600-h/sushi+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdpCI35EKGJjjgJHJbUSlh21mGfk5LoFSnqVV7ZZnoc1EwPACk5_Hw3IKTYiASHYa1BDe-OMkMCzjptz8Ki-Uuccuf48jhFpO4-GwIjFssiTWduksaG-zb_QTqCSDK69fxKnX3VqC_tH_/s320/sushi+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097247026481379874" border="0" /></a>Okay, maybe she is...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLOhHl6qwnA3tpcR4u5v9pff_q5Y62Le4Wua6BnlSiyv3GcPIUrSJwjmYSKeRC8SXQLMHDhcYMfk6Tydp5TWAJy_OPBkHxkxZiRhW-9_A_Tw_7bdP7KjC9wyKUGSQFly7AkQrdwtjzPQI/s1600-h/sushi+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLOhHl6qwnA3tpcR4u5v9pff_q5Y62Le4Wua6BnlSiyv3GcPIUrSJwjmYSKeRC8SXQLMHDhcYMfk6Tydp5TWAJy_OPBkHxkxZiRhW-9_A_Tw_7bdP7KjC9wyKUGSQFly7AkQrdwtjzPQI/s320/sushi+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097247421618371122" border="0" /></a>Somehow, no one left a tip.<br /></div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18188911059085881580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990479970521430993.post-25635053907104513072007-07-22T11:20:00.000-07:002007-07-22T11:40:51.646-07:00How to Capture a Mouse<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-IgppxboVM-17-3L6zX6CRINZ6OMlQ-nuFyecWXltI5cletTubEpRDf9UlvB34udpfg3TgWQQBzREBqqtbZwEkKIeqD_v66Dhd9VWzMhHCIcR9bwAn1SDxxMqqqQ02l1WVPikhUiWtxB/s1600-h/mouse+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-IgppxboVM-17-3L6zX6CRINZ6OMlQ-nuFyecWXltI5cletTubEpRDf9UlvB34udpfg3TgWQQBzREBqqtbZwEkKIeqD_v66Dhd9VWzMhHCIcR9bwAn1SDxxMqqqQ02l1WVPikhUiWtxB/s320/mouse+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090091095570168290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After the broom didn't work...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujAdFxXfVeRt0lQQWKf6h8-OG3WcRP-fnQ70giWOujrSMugQKHs6nMhyphenhyphensaZiSdbM882YUTgvGJu1sEA-lHV8olncunkuuv9b7lnx4V340MKx3D1HTaUNqV1uBqKFyFZWSTI0Xsdp24JZq/s1600-h/mouse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujAdFxXfVeRt0lQQWKf6h8-OG3WcRP-fnQ70giWOujrSMugQKHs6nMhyphenhyphensaZiSdbM882YUTgvGJu1sEA-lHV8olncunkuuv9b7lnx4V340MKx3D1HTaUNqV1uBqKFyFZWSTI0Xsdp24JZq/s320/mouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090091744110230002" border="0" /></a>We turned to a tried and true method--peanut butter. <br />We used to catch 5-15 mice a night with this setup when<br />I worked at Olympic National Park.<br /><br /></div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18188911059085881580noreply@blogger.com3