GetndCarVC

After watching Batman Begins last week, there were many portions of the movie that I really enjoyed, yet there were even more parts that bothered me. Overall, the movie was entertaining and action packed, and I'd invite everyone to the theatres to see it again.

Parts of the movie that bothered me was the fighting with the fast camera motions. It keeps true to the original batman cartoons with the 'ouphs', 'bam', and 'whap'. Unfortunately, I couldn't see any of the fighting. But it's okay, because it set my imagination free.

The movie had an excellent storyline. It lives true to the title of begins. Starting from the very beginning with Bruce's parents, we discover how they die (in hollywoods version), and the way Bruce deals with his parents death. Christian Bale was perfect as batman.

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby ! bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.

There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."
"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.

"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.

"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of." And that he did.

Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.

What saved his life this time? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name?

Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody's watching.

Sing like nobody's listening.

Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

Just recently, I found out that one of my roommates enlisted as a Marine was called to begin training to head out to Iraq. Since, there has not been any major change in the way I see him. I certainly don't feel much different other than the fact I'm deeply sorry he's going to have to leave. But about a half hour ago, I had one of the most vivid dreams ever. Not to mention I actually remembered the scene.

What I saw was a Iraqi plane suicide crash right into the likes of a tank. As the tank attempted to manuever out of the path of the plane, it was clear that the tank was doomed. I saw men being jumping out of the top hatch of the tank, but it was too late. One of the tank drivers rolled across the tank. Suddenly, the tank began to drop and the area around the tank became a sinkhole similar to quicksand. Despite the danger, other marines were jumping on the tank desperately hoping to save the tank driver. That's when I woke up.

Usually, I would have forgotten the dream, but just the fact that now my roommate has to go to Iraq as a truck driver made the situtation more fearful. Perhaps I don't show change emotionally on the surface, but deep down, I'm more worried about my roommate than even I myself realize. This war that President Bush has gotten America into, and his lack of a exit strategy has disappointed me. My roommate is the first person I know personally headed to Iraq. It's scarier than it seems. I'll pray daily for his safety. I want him to come home.

For those of you with friends or family out in Iraq, may they return safely.

Todays entry was spawned by dinner at Buca di Beppo, where three pasta dishes and appetizer costed our party of eight college students about $140 (including tip and tax). While paying, it flashed before my mind how amazing it is that we could exchange all $140 worth of food for a mere few sheets of paper. After all, paper currency is in itself worthless. It's only when the people exchanging the paper believe in its worth.

I believe many American fail to realize the power behind money. Money has such a primary role in our American culture, yet we fail to realize how much money is actually worth. We know it feels good to have cold hard cash in a wallet or purse, but how much is that really worth? How much do you think it cost the government to produce the two twenty dollar bills? Yet everyone is willing to work like a slave to attain it. Furthermore, we spend every cent of it trying to forget the long hard day spent earning it!

Do you know the difference between a house and a home? Here is how Dictionary.com defines the two words:

House - A structure serving as a dwelling for one or more persons, especially for a family.
Home - A place where one lives; a residence.

To me, these two words have far different meanings. I completely agree that a house is a structure for one to live in. But home can be defined in other ways. Surely a home is also a structure where one lives, but it is more than that. A home is a place where the people you love and care for live. After a long difficult day, you can go home to the ones you love and be greeted. Whether it be a husband or wife, roommate, or just a friend at home, they are the ones who make a house a home. This just demonstrates how important it is to invest in community. If after a long day of work you have nothing but an empty house, there is no home. So however you want to do it, invest greatly in your friends! Let them know you love them, and encourage them day in day out.