"Spam spam spam spam....spammity spam!"

(For those of you who don't know what the title means, it's a Monty Python skit.)

Anyway, occasionally I get spam but not a lot of it like other people. But here's one I got today that just made me laugh. Here's one of the oldest internet hoaxes...only this time with a new twist. The following is the email...word for word.

--------------------------------
Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Alexander A Flockhart
Board of Director Officer of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd.I have a Secured
business suggestion for you of $30,000,000,00.
Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Col. Hosam Hassan who was with
the Iraqi forces and also business man made a numbered fixed deposit
for 18 calendar months, with a value of Thirty million United State
Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity several notices was sent to
him,even during the war early this year.Notification was sent and still
no
response came from him. We later find out that Col. Hosam Hassan along
with his wife and only daughter had been killed during the war.
Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as
a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Col. Hosam Hassan so that
you will be able to receive his funds.Once the funds have been
transferred to your nominated bank account we shall share in the ratio
of 60% for me, 40% for you, Should you be interested please send me
information,s
below,please send me information,s below,

1. Full names and Age
2. Private phone number
3. Current residential address.
Reply back if interested with any of my private email below;

info.alexander98hk@yahoo.com.hk
--------------------------------

Who in their right mind would take this seriously and give out their information? Unfortunately some people still believe these things when they come around. I think it's hilarious that this guy claims to be on a Board of Directors, but yet doesn't have the ability to write a sentence with clarity, correct spelling, or proper grammer.

These things are so funny to read sometimes.

At the movies

INVASION - This is a remake of the classic "INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS," the classic story of a virus outbreak that is infecting the entire world, and turning everyone into alien entities. For a rental I thought this was actually pretty decent, but I'm glad I didn't pay theater money for it. It's mildly entertaining. There are some fun scenes that have some chills. Overall, it's nothing special...and nothing you haven't seen before. But again...it was good enough for a rental.

GRINDHOUSE - Billed as a double feature, this is actually two movies in one. Both movies are shot and edited in the mold of the old drive-in horror films that were popular in the 70's. These films were nicknamed "Grindhouse" films because they were churned out one after the other...with little focus on story or budget. Both movies here are meant to be fun, and not taken seriously. The first feature, "Planet Terror," was directed by Robert Rodriguez. I know it sounds very 90's of me to say this, but I like Rodriguez as a filmmaker. I respect the fact that he shoots, directs, edits, and even scores. "Death Proof" was directed by Quentin Tarantino. I know this won't sound very 90's of me, but I can't stand Tarantino anymore. I remember loving PULP FICTION, but now he's a one trick pony, and let's face it...we've seen the trick already. But overall both movies here are fun to watch. The action/horror scenes are both purposely campy and over-the-top. There's even some trailers spliced in between for some fake movies that were pretty funny to watch. Both directors basically have one trick up their sleeve...so you know what you're getting here.

HARRY POTTER & THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX - I'm probably not the right person to ask about this movie. Jenny and I have read all the Potter books, and this book was my LEAST favorite. I read the whole thing, but I couldn't wait until I was through with it. I guess it's not bad, but it's kind of boring. There's not a lot that happens here. Sure the effects are good, and the ending offers the usual confrontation with Voldemor....(uh, I won't say it). But for the most part the movie is just kind of slow and tedious. I would recommend it only for those who are trying to follow the story. The next two books (the last two) should make for better films.

THE LIVES OF OTHERS - Here is a German film set in East Berlin in the early 80's. We follow a Stasi agent as he spies on a playwright and his lover who is an actress. The agent suspects that the playwright may be writing anti-communist material, so he begins monitoring the couple's daily comings and goings. This is a very good film. The pace of the film may be be slow for some, but the pacing is actually perfect. You just sit back and soak in the espionage and atmosphere. I find 80's East Berlin fascinating, and this movie gives you a great feel for the tension in the city during that time.

THE HOST - Here is an old fashioned monster movie from Asia, but this time it's not from Tokyo. It's from South Korea. "THE HOST" is simply about a giant tadpole/monster thing that terroizes Korea. Yes it's cheesy...and yes it's rediculous. But sometimes it's okay for a movie to be fun and nothing more. This is one of those films. My only complaint was that it was about 30 minutes too long. I got kind of bored with it near the end. But overall it's fun.

RESCUE DAWN - My brother-in-law got me this movie for Christmas. I really enjoyed it. It's basically the story of a man who is trapped behind enemy lines during the Vietnam war and how he tries to escape his captors. The cinematography is just gorgeous in some of the scenes here. Very moving story that is definately worth watching. Thanks Mat!

BLUE IN THE FACE - One of my all-time favorite films is "SMOKE." Okay, now that you're through scratching your head I'll go on. No, seriously...stop laughing. I don't know why...it just is. "SMOKE" has always connected with me, and I've always dreamed of writing something that would be similar to it in style. So here we are with "BLUE IN THE FACE," the sequel to "SMOKE." Here we see a few of the same characters from the first one, (Harvey Keitel, etc.) but most of the movie is filled with new faces. Strike 1 for me. Unlike "SMOKE," here we don't follow a story at all. It's just one New Yorker talking to another about this and that. Not that I mind that sometimes, but here it just didn't interest me. Strike 2. And finally most of the movie talks about how great Brooklyn is, how people from Brooklyn are the best, and how everyone should wish they lived in Brooklyn. Strike 3. Overall, I wanted to like this movie, but I just can't. After seeing the greatness of "SMOKE," I was really disappointed here.

Happy 4th Birthday!

Happy Birthday little guy...

Easter is here!

When we arrived back at the house from Chicago, we discovered the Easter bunny visited our house while we were gone. So the kids got to hunt for easter eggs when they got home.

"My kind of town...Chicago is!"

To celebrate Ben's 4th birthday we decided to take a quick weekend trip to Chicago. We took Ben to the Field Museum to see all the dinosaurs, to the Shedd Aquarium to see all the fish, and overall the sights and sounds of Chicago. Jenny and I have been to Chicago a few times over the years, but this was Ben's and Megan's first time. They both had a fun time.

Here's our first day in Chicago....snow.

Off to the Field Museum.

Ben loves dinosaurs, so seeing the famous T-REX here (named "SUE" after its discoverer) really blew him away.


Here are the lions made famous in the movie "GHOST AND THE DARKNESS."

More dinosaurs. Ben and I had a lot of fun walking all around naming the dinosaurs and talking about them. We read books on dinosaurs all the time, so he was able to identify quite a few.








Time to go swimming...





Dinner at our Chicago favorite...GINO'S EAST.








Exploring the Shedd Aquarium.






While Jenny and Megan went shopping on Magnificent Mile, Ben and I spent Saturday afternoon trying to get to the top of the John Hancock tower. But the observatory on top had a wait of over an hour, and Ben was getting tired and hungry. But he was insistent about getting to the top. So I considered taking him up to the "lounge" which is the floor just under the observatory, but it's a lounge/bar kind of place. I asked the ticket agent if it was kid friendly and she said it pretty much was...and that it was non-smoking. That sounded good to me, so we headed for the elevator to take us to the lounge. There we encountered a 30 minute wait just to get to the elevator. Right then I pretty much gave up, but Ben kept talking about getting to the top. So we waited for the elevator, and finally got up to the top in the "lounge." Once up there the place was completely full. I found two seats and a table away's from the windows, and Ben was content with the obstructed view of the scenery. Well...shortly after we arrived a group of people who were leaving got up from their table (right by the window) and they asked Ben if he would like to sit by the window. His eyes grew wide. I'm sure everyone around us got upset, but Ben was pretty lucky. So we moved right by the window. It was great. We shared some chips and guacamole, had our afternoon cocktails, and took in the view. We loved it. We both got to feel like big shots...if only for a little while.



A "jazz-dinner" kind of place in NAVY PIER.


Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!



Time to say goodbye to Chicago.


Well...that's the trip. I love Chicago. One of the few perks to living in Michigan is being within a day's drive to Chicago. It's such a fun, unique city. You get the big city life as you do in New York City, but without the attitudes and stress. You can get first class museums, theaters, and culture, and the restaurant selection is enormous.