Left Lace Untied

Growing Grass

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:07:20 -0400

We are growing grass and marigolds in my after school program. We put one of each in the light and the other not near a window. One of my very young and naive students asked:

Student: “What type of grass are we growing? Hehe.”

Me: “Kentucky Blue Grass. What type did you think we were growing?”

Student: “I don’t know. Bulbasaur?”

I thought she was talking about weed and very upset that she would even joke about that because she is too young and sweet. Luckily she is obsessed with Pokemon and anime and not weed.

Vallejo is scary.

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:05:09 -0400

Vallejo is scary.

Garbage Games! We made at Benicia Middle School marble ramps out...

Tue, 07 May 2013 20:24:08 -0400

Garbage Games! We made at Benicia Middle School marble ramps out of the recycled snack wrappers and leftovers from other projects. #greatteaching

I’m ready for Orange Friday, too bad I won’t be at...

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:23:36 -0400

I’m ready for Orange Friday, too bad I won’t be at the game. #BeatLA

Conversation with a Student

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:40:14 -0400

Me: I got 100 percent on my quiz!

Student: Are you really in college?

Me: Yes, I am getting another degree because my first was so useful.

Student: You’re not in high school?

Me: No, I graduated high school. Why would I go back?

Student: To get your diploma.

Me: I have one, I graduated from college.

Student: Yeah but, doesn’t your diploma expire and you have to renew it?

Me: No.

Today’s science lesson on where baby tigers come from.

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:32:13 -0400

Today’s science lesson on where baby tigers come from.

Wreck-It Ralph

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:36:48 -0400

Wreck-It Ralph was cool for a kids’ movie. Cars, Brave and the Muppets have all put me on suicide watch. This movie is watchable and has funny parts. John C. Reilly is good in everything, Jack McBrayer perfect for this part, Sarah Silverman is alright and Jane Lynch is way too old for the voice she portrays. I watch this not for me, but for my son. If it gets the above listed movies off the television I am pleased. We now have a steady rotation of Aladdin and this movie.

I will rate this an 80 out of 100. It has hard to compare this to non-kid movies. For a kids movie I would give it a 95 out of 100. I have already purchased the Blu-ray/DVD combo.

The Lists

All Movie List:
1. This is 40
2. Looper
3. Django Unchained
4. Perks of Being a Wallflower
5. Celeste and Jesse Forever
6. Pitch Perfect
7. Wreck-It Ralph
8. Ted
9. Oz the Great and Powerful

New Movies:
1. This is 40
2. Django Unchained
3. Oz the Great and Powerful

Older Movies (Anything not seen in theaters)
1. Looper
2. Perks of Being a Wallflower
3. Celeste and Jesse Forever
4. Pitch Perfect
5. Wreck-It Ralph
6. Ted

Thank you Disney’s official Wreck-It Ralph website for the photo.

Oz the Great and Powerful

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:20:35 -0400

Oz The Great and Powerful was a great and powerful blah movie. There was nothing special I walked away from the movie with. It confirmed what I knew: James Franco is obnoxious and over, Zach Braff is a monkey, no CGI will ever compete with a good puppet or costume and I love Mila Kunis. Fortunately, I also learned: Michelle Williams looks old, Rachel Weisz could replace Anne Hathaway in any future movie and this movie and Wicked are two completely different prequels.

My rating for this movie is a 35 out of 100. This is lower than Ted. I at least laughed a little more at that movie. The two common elements of my least favorite movies of the year are CGI and Mila Kunis. Mila Kunis is a surprise, but I am so sick of everything looking so fake in movies. Star Wars IV, V, and VI are amazing with no CGI. Please try a goddamn puppet or costume. I am sure I will see at least parts of this movie again because my wife enjoyed it and will probably buy it. I just hope I can avoid that large mouth, squinty eyed, ridiculous smile of James Franco.

The Lists

All Movie List:
1. This is 40
2. Looper
3. Django Unchained
4. Perks of Being a Wallflower
5. Celeste and Jesse Forever
6. Pitch Perfect
7. Ted
8. Oz the Great and Powerful

New Movies:
1. This is 40
2. Django Unchained
3. Oz the Great and Powerful

Older Movies (Anything not seen in theaters)
1. Looper
2. Perks of Being a Wallflower
3. Celeste and Jesse Forever
4. Pitch Perfect
5. Ted

Thank you Disney’s official Oz the Great and Powerful website for the photo.

Photo

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:10:20 -0400

Play time

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:57:22 -0400

Play time

Perks of Being a Wallflower

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:26:00 -0500

This soohoho would have been my movie like 10 years ago, but I am 26 and my teen angst has turned to adult cynicism. I never read the book and therefore do not have the emotional connection of the people who I know that have fallen in love with the movie. I am not saying the movie sucked, because it did not, but it did not evoke the emotional response that it should have.

The movie follows the emotional transition of Logan Lerman (Charlie) to high school. He is a friendless freshmen that finds the coolest people in school to make friends with. Anyone who was not the cool kid or who was lost in high school can relate to Charlie. His issues go beyond that of a normal teen, but he is relatable.

I really wanted to see this movie for one reason, Emma Watson. Could she perform in a movie not saving Harry Potter’s ass? Yes she could. She is pretty awesome. Her acting is good and her smile is worth her being cast alone. Ezra Miller (Patrick) was Watson’s (Sam) stepbrother. This is the first time I have seen him in a movie and I am impressed. I can see him being the indie film king with his awkwardness and his ability to act.

My rating for this movie is a 87 out of 100. I have no intention of buying or watching this film again, but I am sure it will end up in my house. My wife enjoyed it much more than I did. She loved the book and connected to the music in the movie. There is no need to rush to rent this, but there is a need to make time for it at some point.

The Lists

All Movie List:
1. This is 40
2. Looper
3. Django Unchained
4. Perks of Being a Wallflower
5. Celeste and Jesse Forever
6. Pitch Perfect
7. Ted

New Movies:
1. This is 40
2. Django Unchained

Older Movies (Anything not seen in theaters)
1. Looper
2. Perks of Being a Wallflower
3. Celeste and Jesse Forever
4. Pitch Perfect
5. Ted

Thank you Perks of Being a Wallflower official site for the photo.

Celeste and Jesse Forever

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:54:30 -0500

This movie is the perfect Redbox pick-up when that piece of shit movie rental system does not have the movie you want. Celeste and Jesse Forever is a toned down Andy Samberg romantic comedy. It had its silly and funny, but had a story line. Celeste is played by, my number one most underrated actress, Rashida Jones. People should just start putting her in tons of movies and television shows. She is funny and easy on the eyes.

Jones and Samberg play a divorced couple that never really split. Samberg lives in a studio behind Jones’ home. They hang out, talk and go on double dates as if they never divorced. They are true best friends. Typical boy/girl shenanigans ensue and someone gets pregnant. Side note: Celeste’s occupation is something like a social commentator and trends forecaster. It sounds like the coolest job ever!

My rating for this movie is an 86 out of 100. Good, but not great. It is worth a watch when all of the movies you really want to rent are gone.

The Lists

All Movie List:
1. This is 40
2. Looper
3. Django Unchained
4. Celeste and Jesse Forever
5. Pitch Perfect
6. Ted

New Movies:
1. This is 40
2. Django Unchained

Older Movies (Anything not seen in theaters)
1. Looper
2. Celeste and Jesse Forever
3. Pitch Perfect
4. Ted

Thank you 500 Club for the photo.

Love Between Two Guys The first time I heard Dr Dre’s and...

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:52:14 -0500

Love Between Two Guys

The first time I heard Dr Dre’s and Eminem’s new song “I need a Doctor” I immediately made the connection that it was just an angrier version of J.D. and Turk’s song “Guy Love” from season 6 of Scrubs.

J.D.: Let’s face the facts about me and you, a love unspecified
 though I’m proud to call you “chocolate bear” 
the crowd will always talk and stare.

 Turk: I feel exactly those feelings too 
and that’s why I keep them inside 
‘cause this bear can’t bear the world’s disdain
 and sometimes it’s easier to hide.

J.D. & Turk: Than explain our guy love, that’s all it is 
guy love he’s mine I’m his 
there’s nothing gay about it in our eyes.

The audience did not need six seasons and a song to see their love.

Dr. Dre and Eminem followed their hearts too and sang “I Need A Doctor.”

Eminem: It was you who believed in me

When everyone was telling you don’t sign me

Everyone at the fucking label, let’s tell the truth

You risked your career for me, I know it as well as you

Nobody wanted to fuck with the white boy Dre

I’m crying in this booth

You saved my life, now maybe it’s my turn to save yours

But I can never repay you, what you did for me is way more

But I ain’t giving up faith, and you ain’t giving up on me

Get up Dre, I’m dying, I need you, come back for fuck’s sake

Dr. Dre: It literally feels like a lifetime ago

But I still remember the shit like it was just yesterday though

You walked in, yellow jumpsuit, whole room, cracked jokes

But once you got inside the booth, told you like smoke

Went through friends, some of them I put on

But they just left, they said they was riding to the death

But where the fuck are they now, now that I need them

I don’t see none of them, all I see is Slim

Fuck all you fair-weather friends, all I need is him

This is the link to “I need a Doctor.” http://youtu.be/VA770wpLX-Q

This is the link to “Guy Love.” http://youtu.be/lL4L4Uv5rf0

I dedicate this to my special friend.

Thank you fanpop.com and zimbio.com for the photos.

How to Fix the NFL Pro Bowl

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:54:12 -0500

The NFL Pro Bowl is a game that means nothing but puts millions of dollars on the line for the players. If a player gets hurt it could spell disaster for their career. The game is boring and not the same NFL product.

To fix the Pro Bowl I propose a seven-on-seven passing league tournament. In these games there is no tackling, much like in the current Pro Bowl. Each division will put together a team to compete in the tournament. The divisions with the Super Bowl representatives will have a bye in to the second round of the tournament because they will not have the players the week before the Super Bowl. It will be AFC vs. AFC and NFC vs. NFC to start with the winning AFC and NFC squaring off for the title.

The games will feature flashy offensive plays, high scoring and trash talking. Nike will get a chance to exhibit more than the NFL uniform because they will be in shorts and divisional jerseys.

Not to leave out offensive and defensive lineman – they will compete in a skills competition. They will have passing, receiving and running competitions that will be hysterical to watch 300 plus pound men trying to do.

If anyone cares about kickers – they can play a game of horse or trick shot kicking.

This solution is low injury risk, does not put an embarrassing NFL product on national television and could be as entertaining to watch as the dunk contest.

You are welcome NFL. You are welcome to hire me. Contact me for a resume.

Ted I am not going to bother with a long review as you should...

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 09:40:00 -0500

Ted

I am not going to bother with a long review as you should not bother with Ted. Mila Kunis and Mark Wahlberg need to start making better movie selections. They are both better than this. It would have been nice if Seth MacFarlane did not use his Peter Griffin voice for Teddy. This was not my type of humor, as I have not enjoyed Family Guy for years. There were a few laughs, but not enough to justify watching the movie or the sequel.

My rating is a 36 out of a 100. I will not purchase this movie or watch it again.

The Lists

All Media List:

1. This is 40

2. Looper

3. Django Unchained

4. Pitch Perfect

5. Ted

New Movies:

1. This is 40

2. Django Unchained

Older Movies (Anything not seen in theaters)

1. Looper

2. Pitch Perfect

3. Ted

Thank you CCN.com for the photo.

Pitch Perfect I am embarrassed at how much I laughed at and...

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:53:00 -0500

Pitch Perfect

I am embarrassed at how much I laughed at and enjoyed Pitch Perfect. The storyline was basic and predictable, it kind of a ca-sucked. The movie turned tons of words into a cappella words, it was a ca-obnoxious. Anna Kendrick (Beca) and Rebel Wilson (Fat Amy) carried the movie. Kendrick played her usual witty character with snap comebacks and “too cool” attitude. Wilson played the self-named character Fat Amy. She named herself that so “twig bitches” would not call her that behind her back. Every moment of her on screen was funny.

My rating for this movie is an 86 out of 100. I would not consider purchasing the movie unless it was in a discount bin and I would only watch it again if it was on television and nothing else was on. I do want to see the line-o-rama for Fat Amy, but not enough to buy it. Pitch Perfect is a great one-time rental.

The Lists

All Media List:

1. This is 40

2. Looper

3. Django Unchained

4. Pitch Perfect

New Movies:

1. This is 40

2. Django Unchained

Older Movies (Anything not seen in theaters)

1. Looper

2. Pitch Perfect

Thank you pitchperfectmovie.com for the photo.

The Carrie Diaries Carrie Bradshaw is...

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:45:00 -0500

The Carrie Diaries

Carrie Bradshaw is fucking back! Sex and the City meets Gossip Girl and it is set in the ’80s, yes please. The CW’s The Carrie Diaries is a prequel to Sex and the City. It is the origin story of the character that got us excited and made us fall in love.

In six seasons and two movies she never uttered a word of parents, siblings or other family. She never even had some distant cousin hit her up for a room or a drink. The Carrie Diaries immediately introduce us to her emotional sister, executive dad and let us know her mother died of cancer.

The opening school scene is a little “Summer Nights” from Grease, but I just cannot get over the giddiness I feel for a new teen drama with a character I already love. The acting is suspect, as in any teen show, but it still out performed Dawson’s Creek’s acting, which had six seasons.

Carrie is played by AnnaSophia Robb. She looks like she will fill the Manolo Blahniks just fine.

The sweet surprise for me was Knives Chau as one of Carrie’s inner circle! Knives is from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but the name I am guessing she prefers is Ellen Wong. She describes her first sexual experience as a hotdog going into a keyhole. Curiously, IMDB has her character “The Mouse” only being in one episode. A CW interview, Google image search and context of the show leads me to believe she will be a regular.

On the gross side Martha Jones (Freeman Agyeman) of Doctor Who looks to have a reoccurring role as her Manhattan mentor.

I will be watching the entire season for sure. I love teen television drama. This is definitely not everyone’s genre. Based on the pilot I will rate this 95 out of 100.

And in case you cared she wore a scrunchie. It was in the privacy of her home in Connecticut and not in a hip downtown New York restaurant.

Thank you cwtv.com for the photos.

Matrix Ramona. “The image translators work for the...

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:06:33 -0500

Matrix Ramona.

“The image translators work for the construct program. But there’s way too much information to decode the Matrix. You get used to it. I…I don’t even see the code. All I see is the blue-headed girl with goggles, roller blades and a giant hammer. Hey, you a… want a drink?”

Looper Time travel is cool. The Doctor, Marty McFly and Joe and...

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:05:00 -0500

Looper

Time travel is cool. The Doctor, Marty McFly and Joe and Old Joe have all shown us how cool any story with time travel is. Joe is portrayed by the amazing Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the older version of himself is played by all-time action star Bruce Willis. Sara (Emily Blunt) and her son Cid (Pierce Gagnon) do not suck either, they are actually pretty awesome.

The movie is not to be spoiled and needs to be watched. The story is key. The idea and the world the writer/director, Rian Johnson, made was what made this film engaging and a must see film. From the first time Joe opens his mouth and begins to tell the story of his shortsighted profession the hook is firmly lodged in your mouth. There is no reason to not see this movie. The settings, scenes and action sequences are visually appealing. The dialogue is quality.

I was left arguing the infinite possibilities to solve Joe’s problem and to have an alternate ending to the film. Old Joe put it best in the movie: “I don’t want to talk about time travel because if we start talking about it then we’re going to be here all day talking about it, making diagrams with straws.”

I will rate this movie a 98 out of 100. I fully intend on purchasing this movie so I can watch it repeatedly. This movie falls in line with Fight Club and Inception, it cannot be seen once.

The Lists

All Media List:

1. This is 40

2. Looper

3. Django Unchained

New Movies:

1. This is 40

2. Django Unchained

Older Movies (Anything not seen in theaters)

1. Looper

The photos is from whatculture.com . Thank you.

Django Unchained Django. The ‘D’ is silent. –Django Another...

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 20:55:33 -0500

Django Unchained

Django. The ‘D’ is silent. –Django

Another period piece from Quentin Tarantino had me worried. I was not a fan of Inglorious Bastards. The only good thing to come from that movie was the Jew Hunter, or as his parents named him Christoph Waltz. Tarantino again took advantage of Waltz’s talent in Django as bounty hunter, Doctor King Schultz. Schultz took in Jamie Foxx (Django) to help with a bounty. The two worked well together spreading blood around the South. Foxx and Waltz were good, but seeing the little orphan boy from Growing Pains as the villain was why you need to see the movie. Leonardo DiCaprio is a vicious plantation owner who specializes in Mandingo fighting (UFC to the death).

Tarantino succeeded as he always does in creating heroic characters and dirty villains. The blood and gore was mild in comparison to his priors, but the language more than made up for it. Unsurprisingly the music was perfect in every situation. The audience is given a good long look at Foxx with music playing and it elicited a stirring of excitement in me that is not usual for a simple scene.

I give this movie a 95 out of 100. I will purchase this movie more to continue my collection of Tarantino films than to watch 20 times. I see myself watching it three to four times more.

Favorite New Movie of the Year Ranking (This will be updated all year with every new movie)

1. This is 40

2. Django Unchained

The photo is from multiculturalfamilia.com . Thank you.