The book of faces and the human condition

     As I've looked around at the posts my friends make of facebook, I can't help but wonder what goes on with in their head. I have seen them meet somebody, fall in love, fall apart, and then repeat the cycle. I have one friend who is either single or engaged depending on which month it is. I have another friend who had her heart broken, pleads for a break from the pain, and then posts about some great guy she met before going back into the valley of the shadow of death. I suppose if I were 20 and hot, my phone would ring a lot more too, but I'm probably getting off point. Another friend has a boyfriend but has slowly erased his presence from her page while simultaneously posting motivational speeches or poems about loss and heartache.
     I also wonder if these people are truly happy or just crying out for help. I've often been tempted to try an experiment where I post that I've met somebody new and life is oh so cheery. The next day I post that I've started drinking heavily. Finally, on the third day, I post that I'm shooting heroin. It would be interesting to see which one got the most likes and comments. I also wonder what the results would be if I changed the order of the posts around.
     If I led off with the booze, then love and finally horse, would the comments stay the same? Would they be positive, condemning or supportive? I like to think those who really knew me would encourage me to slow down my drinking, question the authenticity of any post I make claiming to find love, and realize by the time I'm admitting to shooting horse that there's a punch line coming around the corner.
     Those who knew me from just being online would probably like the heavy drinking post, send congratulatory comments on the love post and quote Requiem For A Dream on the H post.
     It's interesting, I think, that society will accept an alcoholic, as long as they don't drink and drive. They will embrace the idea of love, despite the fact that's it's ruined more lives than organized religion, and they will condemn an intravenous drug user despite the fact that the only person he's really hurting is himself.
     Off hand, I'd say that the system needs some fixing because all three of these cases need help. I wish I had a solution to the problem but right now I'm just learning to identify the problem. If anybody has any thoughts on this, I'm interested in hearing them.

Snow White and The Huntsman

  First time director Rupert Sanders brings a somewhat creative spin on the Snow White story to the screen. The story seems to be self aware that it's just another retelling and seems to take steps to hold the audiences attention. For starters, the evil queen gets a back story. This not only makes for a more interesting character, it also explains how we the audience are supposed to buy into Kristen Stewart being "fairer than" Charlize Theron. 

     Chris Hemsworth does a good job as The Huntsman. His character is emotionally wounded which makes his initial allegiance with the evil queen believable. Her betrayal seems a bit forced because you see it coming from the moment the promise leaves her lips. 

     I'm not saying this movie is exceptionally good but it is better than I would have given it credit for. If you had an interest in seeing it, you'll probably enjoy it. If you didn't, it probably won't turn you around. 

The People vs. George Lucas

     This documentary, written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe, is presented in a court room style as he interviews people from all walks of life about the impact George Lucas has had on their life. It mostly focuses on Lucas' directing career with the main emphasis on the Star Wars films since that is where people really become passionate about their love or hatred of the man. The film paints in very broad strokes over his producing career but dwells on Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. It's surprising how many people lay blame for the lameness of this film solely at Lucas' feet. Steven Spielberg was there too folks, he's just as guilty.
     Yeah, I guess I'd have to count myself one of the people to vs. George Lucas. I can appreciate some of the alterations he made with his "special editions" , and if he wanted to release them just to show the public what his original vision was, that would be fine. The fact that he has replaced the originals with these special editions is a little offensive. There is a part of the documentary that covers just how much he's reversed his thinking on this matter.
     I've looked forward to this movie ever since i heard it was making the rounds through the festival circuit. It's nice to see a movie that can live up to the promise from a good title. You should make time to check this out.

The Coffee Diaries chapter 11

Coffee Girls Filling Station
     It's impressive the volume of business this coffee shop, a little off the beaten path, can do on a Sunday morning. At 29th and McGee, you don't realize it's there unless you're looking for it. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The best part of all is that you get a free refill on brewed coffee. The beans are roasted locally by a guy called Oddly Correct. When asked for a recommendation, the barista turned me on to their Ethiopian blend. It has a good flavor but nothing that makes it stand out. You'll get your moneys worth.

The Coffee Diaries chapter 10

K. City Coffeehouse and Wine Bar
     Located in The River Market area and independently owned, K. City's claim to fame in the coffee world is the White Mocha. Using espresso they roast themselves, it also contains white chocolate sauce, skim milk and topped off with whipped cream.
     The white chocolate is more of an after taste and doesn't overpower the flavor of the espresso, while the steamed milk helps balance the sharpness. Over all, it's a pretty good cup but the search continues...

The Coffee Diaries chapter 9

Dunn Brothers- Overland Park
     It's nice to know that despite being a franchise, there are differences in the two locations. The Overland Park location recommends the Full City Blend which is a medium roast from Peru. It has a nice, smooth flavor that's very even. It's exactly what you'd expect from a medium roast.
     The shop has a different lay out and feel to it. There are couches in the middle of the room that surround a fireplace. There are tables and chairs along the walls and a magazine rack next to the couches. The Full City Blend ain't bad but the search continues...

The Coffee Diaries chapter 8

Dunn Brothers-Red Bridge
     The recommended coffee at this fine establishment is a light blend Ethiopian. It's simple and has the slight, bitter taste to it that lets you know it didn't just come out of a can.
     The shop itself has a nice layout, nothing fancy. There's the counter as you walk in and the condiments at the end of it. There are a few tables and chairs scattered throughout. There are also some big, comfortable chairs with end tables and reading lamps next to them. That was a nice touch since I do like to catch up on some reading when I visit a coffee shop. The over all experience wasn't bad but the search does continue...