On The Road Again!

Despite the quickly rising prices for gas, we're still planning the Great Roadtrip of 2008 beginning Monday June 2. We'll be making various classic roadtrip stops, including the Scalp of Custer's Nephew in Wichita, Lincoln's Head in Laramie, Wyoming and the World's Tallest Mennonite but we'll also be stopping by a little place called Mt. Rushmore where some kook sculpted some Presidents' heads. But the highlight of the trip is Preston, Idaho where one of the greatest movies of all time was filmed: Napoleon Dynamite.

When we get back we'll be updating everyone on the sights and sounds of the trip here on the blog. It'll be like you went with us. Except you won't have to pay for the gas...

Random Image of the Week #1

Cassie & Friends... in 3D! You'll have to get your 3D glasses for this one!

Hey Batta Batta Batta!

On May 17 Nici wrote:

Cooper had his first t-ball game this morning! Crazy he's old enough to be playing sports!! It was pretty cute. No one knew what they were doing and all the kids were running to the wrong bases and fighting over the ball. Just wanted to share some pics! Hope everyone is doing well.

Factoid of the Day!

There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet.

Congratulations Alex!

Image provided by soonerguys.com!

Dance Revolution!

Cassie Rocks! That's all there is to it. Alcott Middle School had their Spring Choir concert Friday night and Cassie Duncan was one of the highlights as she performed the Tutti Frutti ala Little Richard, Michael Jackson's Thriller and the robot to Mr. Roboto! I taught her everything she knows...

Best Comic Movie Ever?

Could Iron Man, the newest live-action movie release from Marvel Studios, be the best comic book movie adaptation of all time? In order to take claim to one of the grandest no-prizes of them all, it would have to best among others: Spiderman (2002), X-Men (2000), Batman (1989) and (some would say the grand-daddy of them all) Superman (1978) starring Christopher Reeve. Comic book movies have been rather hit and miss throughout their fairly long cinematic history (Captain America appeared on the big screen as early as 1944 not to mention pulp magazine's The Shadow, et al). I was sorely disappointed in the recent attempts at bringing my favorites from childhood to the filmgoing public, the Fantastic Four. Sure, they were fun movies, and the sequel did a great job at portraying the cosmic Silver Surfer, but in the end they missed the mark. Don't even get me started on the Surfer's boss, Galactus!

Perhaps my allegiance to the Fantastic Four was its ultimate downfall. Since the movie-makers didn't match my ideal FF - they were doomed to fail. Maybe that's why I loved Iron Man so much. Yeah, I was a comic book geek as a kid - and a Marvel Comics comic book geek to boot - but Iron Man was never one of my favorites. I pretty much stuck with the FF. So I don't know what they messed up in the new film adaptation starring Robert Downey Jr. in the title role. Ignorance is bliss and Iron Man rocks!

Downey plays a perfectly greasy Tony Stark, military arms manufacturer and billionaire playboy who finds a conscience after being kidnapped by terrorists. He wreaks vengeance on the evildoers in the most awesomest costume/machinery ever. Tony Stark is Iron Man.

Is it better than the Fantastic Four? Tons! Spiderman? Obviously! X-men? Batman? Easily! But is Robert Downey Jr. in titanium alloy armor better than Christopher Reeve in spandex? All I can say is: Go see Iron Man and find out for yourself!

Graduation

Alex is graduating on Friday, May 9, at 7 pm at the University of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium; and also participating in the College of Arts and Sciences convocation at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 10. He will receive his B.A. in Economics. Ya'll come to whatever you can.

(The above photograph depicts the current college graduate attire -- a "business casual" of sorts).