Inventors

Saw this today and thought of the similarities between farmers and baseball coaches.

Here is the baseball coach and his contribution.

Thank you Ranndy Pina for the inspiration.

1 versus 2

VS.




When a film remake comes to the screen, many choose which version they like better. When I teach Romeo and Juliet I show both versions because each has strengths the other doesn't. The fact that they use the same original language is a certain help in comparing the two films. Think in terms of multi-generational comparisons of the tragedy.

When the Coen brothers remade True Grit I was interested. I'm one to read reviews and articles before seeing movies. Maybe my mind has become so feeble that I forget what I read when I am watching the movie. Or maybe the movie is so good that I get lost in the story and forget. So when I read that none of the main characters watched the original movie with John Wayne, Glen Campbell and Kim Darby my interest was piqued. I had enjoyed the movie when I saw it in high school. I saw the movie not to see a western or a John Wayne movie, but because I had cherished the book by Charles Portis.



When I read that this new film didn't use the first screenplay, but used the book and dialog from the book as its base, I knew I had to see the movie. Brad tried to talk his brothers into seeing it over Christmas, even saying it would be a Garver men adventure, they wouldn't bite. I agreed and we saw the movie recently. It so happened that TMC had the original on at the same time, so we TIVO'ed it to watch after going to the theater.

The new version is great. I expected to have the language be realistic to the time period. Other than "Son of a female dog" and "fatherless child" I remember only one instance of swearing. That was refreshing and more realistic. As one reviewer said in the late 1880's most people were illiterate or close. Their source of learning language was the King James Bible, that somewhat stilted version of antiquated English. The movie captured that, at least to me.

The girl, and she was a girl instead of a young woman, playing Mattie Ross is worth the ticket price alone. What a precociously wonderful example of someone on a mission that will not be denied. Determined just as someone growing up on the frontier would be. And the language is something an English teacher would enjoy.

Jeff Bridges plays a great Rooster Cogburn; irreverent, cheeky, not suffering fools, and yet respectful when it is earned. Mattie earns that respect. Matt Damon plays a good Texas Ranger, diligent and determined.

After coming home I felt it would be hard to do better than what we had just seen. I was wrong. Take for granted John Wayne being his somewhat stiff self, the first movie is also good. John Wayne does a good Rooster Cogburn, certainly good enough in his time to warrant a sequel with Katherine Hepburn. The language was pretty spot on also. It was an enjoyable to watch.

I have to admit that I was prejudiced by the articles I had read. Though it wasn't too long before I realized I was wrong about the first being inferior to the second version. The first stands on it's merits. For its time.

The one item that stands out the most to me is that the second version is technically advanced. I would guess that the first used the best film had to offer at the time and so too would the Coen brothers. Lighting and night scenes were better. They should be. 41 years should make a difference in how a movie looks and it does. The rest is semantics.

See the new version, but don't be afraid to watch the first either.

Addendum to Previous Voice Post

As I sat in church this morning, I was thinking of our world instead of worshiping, forgive me. The pastor, Tom Elson, has been teaching through Revelations. Not the cheeriest book of the Bible for Christians, and downright scary or nonsense to non-Christians. Tom's message continually has been that this is a book of hope and ultimately God wins.

Today was the first part of chapter 6 and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Each of the four are examples of God's judgment that will be exacted on the earth. The second horse, the red one, caught my thoughts today.

Revelation 6:4--And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

Coincidence, or Providence? It does seem to be speaking of a time where man is more interested in hurting others than helping others. But aren't we called to the the light to others? That is also one of Pastor Elson's messages repeatedly.

Maybe that is the relevant question to be asked. Who is showing light and who is not?

Where Has the Sun Gone?

Courtesy of the UCSB Geology Department

Under that white, we reside. It's that time of the year. Haven't seen the sun in a few weeks and with the recent record rains the moisture in the soil is high. Thus we will be this way for a while. Rain is on the way late this week, so maybe a bit of sun before the set.

Where Have All the Calm Voices Gone?

My heart goes out to the families of those dead and wounded in the Arizona madness yesterday. Rumors abound to the reason for the shooting, but let's stop and help those suffering to heal, even if just a bit. Those attacked all were doing what they believed was correct, and doing this work with honor and fairness. They don't deserve what happened. Let us remember that fact.

But my heart hurts more for our country. All sides politically have staked out their turf. The Left has pointed out Sarah Palin's gunsight targeting of Congresswoman Giffords. The Right has pointed out the Daily Kos' posting of the shooter's rants on Facebook and other places. Some are blaming the Tea Party. The Tea Party is showing sympathy to the victim's family. Blame seems to be getting placed everywhere except on the shooter. Where are the calm, reasonable, wise voices?

Where are the voices trying to have reasonable discourse on difficult subjects? And not losing their minds to evil in the process? It seems some of these wise people that we should be talking with were shot yesterday. A respected judge and a 9-year old just starting her political career won't be speaking their wisdom any longer. We all suffer when events like this happen. The voices we hear are too often the talking heads wrangling for the spotlight. We have to endure more words from people vying to occupy space, fill airtime or present their viewpoint rather than speak wisdom. And we all suffer.

Just as the Prince says at the end of Romeo and Juliet, "All are punished!"

Thoughts Before School Starts Again

I haven't been writing much, but have been reading. English teachers, even a part-time one like me, don't get much outside reading done during school because they are reading student essays. Breaks, vacations, intersessions are used for reading.

I came across these two blog posts and they both seem to hit on some points I've been pondering. The first is a theis that seems to sum up many reasons I ride a bike. This is Barb Chamberlain of Spokane, WA and presented at Ignite Spokane.



I get kidded and mocked by my family when I drive with them, sometimes even rightfully. Many of these comments are based on the habits I've formed by riding a bike and how a vehicle, no matter what kind, should travel down the road and interact with others. Riding a bike changes how you look at the world.

Patrice at Rural Revolution posted about simplicity and specifically Christian simplicity.

Some good thoughts, but one idea seemed to be running throughout the post--choice. We as humans have choices to make. I read that a teacher makes 2000-3000 choices a day in their classroom for example. But the choices mentioned here are about our personal decisions. The determinations we make that direct what we do and where we go. You know, how we live our life. Some points in the blog may seem a bit strong to some people, but think about how we look at the world. Isn't it because of choices we make and decisions others make for us? Our parents choosing the way they live, based upon many factors, are filtered and form how we live and think for years after we are out from under their roof. Patrice writes about more than just choices, but that thread runs throughout.

So regardless of how weird my family thinks I am, or how many smiles I get riding my bike in the rain with an umbrella, or how often my colleagues shake their heads; I'll still ride my bike. Because of choices I make for me and my family. As Frost said, "And that has made all the difference."

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