The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo

I saw The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo last night. Visually, it's vivid, to say the least. Gone is the grittiness of the original Swedish version. But, heh, film makers are entitled to their own point of view. The new version is extremely graphic so beware. The most stunning part of the movie is the opening credits set to The Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin as performed by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails fame. It's a long movie, but worth seeing.

***.25 out of 5.

Happy New Year

http://youtu.be/E7O-CfJohk8

Merry Christmas

Peace Love Joy

Merry Christmas Eve - Musical Candy

I am a little late to the party with the Black Keys. They're my new musical obsession. Here's a taste.

HUGO 3D

Yes, I am shouting about Hugo 3D. Go see it. All you will be able to say is WOW.

Tatum and Piper

Awesome photo of Tatum and Piper courtesy of Jill.

Congrats Jim on your new role as head spritz maker.

Leo

August 1994 to December 7, 2010

Lenin and Hilariousness

The Randalls and I went to the annual Lenin Lighting in Fremont last night. It was, as usual, a very tame and unrevolutionary event. Although, grievances were aired by some in the audience. One woman wanted libraries to not be closed on Friday, Sundays etc. One boy said that his dad brought him to the event. A man said his computer was too old to play the latest version of some game that I had not heard of. The entire game phenom has completely passed me by. Anyway, as usual, it was underwhelming, but oh so Fremont.

We had dinner at El Camino, Try their Mole Negro. It is delicious. After dinner we watched Horrible Bosses. I haven't laughed so much since seeing The Hangover. So, if you don't mind crassness, obscenities and just plane awfulness, it's a must see.

See the Fremont Blog (link above for better photos of the event)

First Post - Five years ago

Below is the first post of WarroadRoots. A lot has transpired over these last five years. Yes, the five year anniversary of the blog is approaching. Very few faces were on Facebook; Twitter had hardly tweeted; Tatum, Piper, Asher other souls of the next generation had not been born into the family (my family knowledge is lacking) and blogging was sort of cutting edge. Feel free to breakaway from your facebooking and tweeting to add to the five years of blog history. I'll continue to post.

Jill and I have been cooking up a project for 2012. We'll get you involved once we get our act together. Be well.

December 28, 2006

What's this about
I was thinking about all the cousins, aunts, uncles, children, partners, spouses, grandparents and on and on this holiday season and realized that there was a tool we could use to keep in touch with each other. Hence, WarroadRoots. Yes, all one word! We may not have been born there or even have visited, but all roads of the extended family lead back there. So, if you want to connect with someone, let the world know you are still alive and kicking or maybe find that long lost favorite relative, sign-on and update WarroadRoots. It's an experiment. Plus, I got a new macbook for Christmas and I can't stop using it.

Enjoy!

Jim Wilson

Chihuly

There is a new Chihuly Garden being installed at Seattle Center where the fun forest used to be. I was walking by the construction site yesterday and took this shot.

Looks Good

Roger Christian

I was saddened by the news that Roger died yesterday, November 9, 2011. I have especially fond memories of him from when I worked at the stick factory. He was a quiet gentle soul with a tender heart. A very giving person. I'll always remember the twinkle in his eye when he smiled.

Grand Forks Herald

An Autumn Audio Essay (not by me)

Click here and then "click here to play audio"

I have known Kathleen for about 30 years. A wonderful woman.

Happy Halloween

Rum Diary

I saw Rum Diary last night. The just released movie of Hunter S Thompson's novel of the same name. Thompson was known for the Gonzo style of journalism. The movie tag line is "Absolutely nothing in moderation." That sums it up quite nicely. The movie is nicely filmed. The acting is superb. I only mentally drifted away once. It's worth seeing.

****

Coming Attractions:
I decried the remaking of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Americans don't like subtitles and all that... However, the preview for the movie is very engaging. Especially the use of Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song I will definitely see it. Eye candy extraordinaire Daniel Craig plays the reporter. Enough said.

Here's the link.

Art

The Uptown Theater in lower Queen Anne (my neighborhood) closed last Spring. Another example of a local business not being able to survive the changing times. However, the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) saved the Uptown Theater and is using it as a permanent facility. The grand opening is this week. One of the movies they are featuring this week is The Godfather. It's one of my top five favorite movies. I believe the last time I saw in on the big screen was in 1973 in Boise Idaho (long story for another time). Anyway, it was thrilling to see it in a theater. They are showing it again on Thursday evening. I might have to go again.

Beyond five stars.

Alaskan Way Viaduct

EVERYONE in the Seattle area knows that the Alaskan Way Viaduct, used by 110,000 car a day during the week, is closed for 9 days in order for part of it to be torn down. I walked to Pike Place Market yesterday and walked over the empty and quiet viaduct. Perhaps these pigeons were guarding the quiet.

A Passage

Here is a passage from a book I am reading. Alan Furst writes mystery novels set in WWII. The are all wonderful. I just had to post this paragraph.

"That said, he returned to his lunch. Mercier drank some champagne, then, suddenly, and for no reason he could think of, he was very conscious of the life around him, the Parisian chatter and laughter that filled the smoky air of the restaurant. A strange awareness; not enjoyment, more apprehension. Like the dogs, he thought. Sometimes, at rest, they would raise their heads, alert to something distant, then, after a moment, lie back down again, always with a kind of sigh. What would happen to these people, he wondered, if war came here?"

- The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst

Finish!

Portland Marathon: 26.2 miles in 4:57:38.

26.2

The training has been done (with a few runs missed here and there)

The water routine and sport goo stations have been mapped out

The packet has been picked up

The pasta has been eaten

The playlist is complete

The coffee pot is set for 4:50am

The Benadryl has been taken (so I can actually sleep)

And in 9 hours I will begin my first marathon.

I'll post a picture, or at least some sort of proof that I made it tomorrow night.

Thanks for all the cheers from near and far.

And Cheers to Theone, who died three years ago tomorrow.

This race is for me, but I couldn't be doing it without all the wonderful people in my life.

Lots of Love.
Hans

Westlake today, Oct 5

Occupy Seattle Video

Video from my visit to Occupy Seattle yesterday. Target was sharing the park with the demonstrators. The world is so rich with irony. Anyway, here is my video.



I'll get off my soap box. For now.

Making Sense

Hopefully, the movement can stay on topic. This guy nails it. In my humble opinion.

First Photo from Occupy Seattle

It will be interesting to see if this movement gets any traction. Here is aphoto from Seattle's Westlake Park. I took a couple of video's but need to edit them before I post.

Occupy

I thought I would check out Occupy Seattle at Westlake Park this afternoon. I'll will post pics later.

In the mean time. Check this out.

Dam Fascinating

Here's a link in case it doesn't show up.

http://bcove.me/58po7u78

Two Posts In One Day

It's fire season. This is a great time lapse video of the Olympic Mountains and the Big Hump fire. Hang in there, it gets interesting about half way through. Courtesy of Cliff Mass's blog.

http://www.drdale.com/lapse/lapse110906s.mov

Signs of Summer

Summer finally arrived a few weeks ago. I went water skiing on Labor Day this year at Lake Cushman. The video was taken with a phone so it's not that great.

While running,

Weeks ago while running, I came across this on the side of the road.

I found the meaning of the four of hearts on the internets.

FOUR OF HEARTS - INSPIRATION - That spark of genius that arises when one is touched by love.

Fog

Just seems like life sometimes.

I just had to share

I just had to share. I support the cuase 100% but personally can't ever imagine putting this on my car. Also, the driver was male.

Because...

I went to a Men's spiritual retreat this weekend. Saturday morning started out with a 6am hike up Little Mt. Si. I liked this picture of three of the fellows on the summit.

The Help

See it! It’s an important film.

As much as my inner cynic wants to throw cold water on my idealism, I can’t help but think that this film underscores, highlights and exclaims the amazing reality of a President named Barack Obama.

4.5 out of 5.

New Friend from Houseboat Trip

We left some bass carcasses out and had a new friend show up to enjoy the remains.

Fargo Excitement

Progress continues in Fargo! Hard to believe that things keep moving when one is on vacation, however, this is pictoral evidence that things do indeed stay in motion.

Captain America

Now that I have your attention.

It occurred to me while watching the latest superhero movie, Captain America, that superhero movies are the westerns of this time. A lot of them with the same plot. I am sure it's not an original thought. It's just I was thinking about that instead of paying attention to the movie.

Nice art direction. Respectable acting. Over the top jingoism.

2.75 out of 5.

Preview alert:
The Help - Next week. Hope it's as good as the previews.
Mission Impossible - I'm there opening night. Call me a sucker for a lot of explosions, evil government officials and a lot of dangling from ropes.

Seattle

Cigars and Wine N Stuff

We will be thinking of all of you as we boat along on Rainy Lake! I'm sure we'll have lots of fond memories of times past -- and hope to create some new ones as well. Rest assured, we have snacks and beer aplenty so shouldn't have to make runs to Island View.

A song I am stuck on

ht

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Midnight in Paris

A delightful film from Woody Allen. Owen Wilson does a surprisingly good job. Wonderful jab at the "tea party"

4.5 * 5

It's a truly wonderful sunny day in Seattle. It's the sort of day that people say, "let's move here."

Tree of Life

Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain.

An existential romp through life's major musings. "Oh, I get it. No, wait. I don't. Yes. No. Yes. No. Maybe."

3.14 * out of 5

Road Trip

The Storms have been on the road! We made it to Yellowstone. Asher really liked the bison. I hope this doesn't mean he wants to go to NDSU!

Happy Birthday, Jim

Hope you have a great day! Thanks for keeping Warroad Roots going!

Bombardier's View

This is a picture from my B-17 ride. A view from the bombardier's seat.

summer fun

Burn baby Burn

I went over to Vashon on July 1st to help my dear friends Shafel and Shelley burn their 2 and 1/2 year old brush pile. We decided Friday night that the Christmas tree that was in the pile should be burned to purge the past. When I visit them, we play a lot of pinochle and a dice game named Farkle. Whoever wins a game gets a star! One thing led to another and we decided to make a star for the top of the tree and burn it. Shafel, quite the artist, made the star out of a paper towel roll and egg carton.

This was the result.

Random Photo

I look forward to the inside story on the star that continues to appear in Random Photo!

Beginners

The movie, Beginners, with Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer is marvelous. It appears to be only playing in art houses. Anyway, catch if you can.

4.6 * out of 5

http://www.focusfeatures.com/beginners/

Before and After

A fun set of before and after pictures.

Charley before the groomer:



Charley After:

Bridemaids

3.99 stars out of 5. I couldn't quite get it to 4. I laughed, I cried it wasn't The Hangover. However, a much better chance for a funny sequel.

And a photo because photos are fun.

Oh, that Rusty.

Summer

Going for a ride on a B-17 bomber!

For my birthday Tonya bought me a ticket to ride on the Aluminum Overcast, a WWII vintage B-17 bomber! Is that cool or what!