Guest Post:"Greenberg" Movie Review

Editor's Note: The latest Neilson survey of blog readers shows an alarming drop in the key 25-45 female demographic here at The Window Manager.  In an effort to boost readership in the segment that Director Mitch's finds the most, uh, interesting, we have asked guest blogger "Eden" to review a chick flick.


Greenberg: A Review

So when Mitch asked me to share a few thoughts about a recent viewing of Noah Baumbach’s Greenburg I was a little reticent. I’m more mercurial than a teenager and just can’t decide if I liked it. (please no comments on my maturity, Director, I get enough from my friends). (Mitch:  Moi? Comment on your maturity?).

Greenberg is a movie that seems to straddle the line between what is funny to watch and what is almost painful to watch and you’re never quite sure whether you should laugh or sigh. The eponymous character played by Ben Stiller is totally self absorbed to the point where his lack of self-awareness is mocked by those around him.

In contrast you have Florence, Greenberg’s love interest, who is considerate to the point of being a doormat. She’s the girl on the freeway that when asked to merge is praying to be let in versus just finding a gap and going for it. Florence does seem to have a bead on Greenberg, however, and you realize that she sees him for the broken person that he is and likes him anyway. She even utters probably the most profound dialog in the movie when she says “hurt people hurt people”.

Theirs is an awkward romance and the sex scenes are not at all sexy- think of a National Geographic animal show but with people. As the movie meanders along (oh boy does it meander) and as you catch glimpses of Greenberg’s mental processes you do start to develop hope that maybe he’s not a total tool. At the end he does take some positive steps towards maturity but you’re never really convinced that he’s going to make the big leap from Loserville.

In the end I was neutral about the movie and rate it a 3 out of 5 stars.

(Mitch: So, guys, if a chick gives a chick-flick a "3", it means "avoid" - unless it's a first date, you are in the dog house, or think you might get lucky).

Awwww Movie For The Kids: How to Tame Your Dragon

I took Little Miss Director (8) to see this and it is the perfect movie for the 6-10 age group, AND I was entertained the entire time. While the plot was predictable, it was quick-paced, had good action sequences, and NO singing (which causes immediate eye rolls and possible convulsions in yours truly).

I shelled out the extra $5 per ticket to see it in 3D, and I can't say that it added to the experience. While the visuals were impressive, you are not "in" the movie - you were still watching it way over on the screen, it just has some added depth. If you are on a budget I would recommend taking the munchkins to the "regular" showing.

About the only negative thing I would say about this movie is the *very* subtle "if we only understood our enemies we could all get along" meme. There is nothing wrong with this message (it is a tenant of Christianity after all), but it can be detrimental to your kids out in the real world where there are millions wanting to kill people for simply being Christian (or anything not their particular religion).

Four out of five stars for kids, 3.5 out of five stars for adults.

One Loser in iPad Launch: Chinese Knockoffs

China's iPad look-alikes brace for the real thing

The best part of the article is the name of one of the companies: Shenzhen Great Loong Brother Industrial Co. 

And, no, I have no plans to buy an iPad at this time.  I spend most of my time typing, and a flat tablet is just not something to type on when on a plane or at a desk.

I Turned on the Air Conditioner and Open the Doors

Then I turned on all the lights.  And burned every magawatt of energy I could.  I am creating a huge carbon footprint, larger than the giant one I usually create.  And I dare, I just dare Greenpeace to do something about it, as they wrote:

... If you're one of those who have spent their lives undermining progressive climate legislation, bankrolling junk science, fueling spurious debates around false solutions, and cattle-prodding democratically-elected governments into submission, then hear this:


We know who you are. We know where you live. We know where you work.

And we be many, but you be few.

Now I am going to sit down to a nice big steak, raised from cows who create an even larger carbon footprint waiting for your pansy asses to do something about it.

Yeah, I Felt The Earthquake

It took me a moment to figure out what was going on.  The room was swaying but I was cold sober.  WTF?  Ohhhhhh....earthquake.

It was a slow, rolling motion.  Not jittery or alarming in any way.  Like being on a boat in a gentle sea.

The only thing amiss were the chandeliers in my house, which swayed for a few minutes afterwards.  No damage whatsoever. 

Happy Easter.

Why China Really Hates Google

Their lawn art.

Ohhhhh...A New Vodka to Try?

It's gotta beat Sam's Club Vodka: Diegeo to Introduce Rokk in U.S. Vodka Wars

Diageo PLC plans to unveil a Swedish vodka in the U.S. this summer in a direct assault on Constellation Brands Inc.'s Svedka, a fast-growing "cheap chic" brand that has stolen market share from Diageo's Smirnoff and other vodkas.

Diageo's new Rökk, its first Swedish-made vodka in the U.S., is part of a flurry of new liquor products that the London drinks giant is rolling out in the U.S.

Unfortunately the article is behind a paid wall, but basically Vodka sales are going strong in the U.S., but shifting towards lower priced brands (gee, I wonder why).

In "fair use", I will publish this helpful drinking chart of which Vodkas to try:

Deadbeats and Spendthrifts Continue to Benefit Under Obama

Bought too much home?  Over-extend yourself when your career was shaky?  Did you pull massive amounts of equity out of your home to party and now are holding the tab?  No problem, Obama is going to rescue you:

The Obama administration plans to overhaul how it is tackling the foreclosure crisis, in part by requiring lenders to temporarily slash or eliminate monthly mortgage payments for many borrowers who are unemployed, senior officials said Thursday.


Banks and other lenders would have to reduce the payments to no more than 31 percent of a borrower's income, which would typically be the amount of unemployment insurance, for three to six months. In some cases, administration officials said, a lender could allow a borrower to skip payments altogether.

And it doesn't stop there:

In addition to mortgage relief for unemployed borrowers, the program features four other key elements...

The first key element is that the government will provide financial incentives to lenders that cut the balance of a borrower's mortgage. Banks and other lenders will be asked to reduce the principal owed on a loan if the amount is 15 percent more than their home is worth...

Second, the government will double the amount it pays to lenders that help modify second mortgages, such as piggyback loans, which enabled home buyers to put little or no money down, and home equity lines of credit.

Third, the new effort also increases the incentives paid to those lenders that find a way to avoid foreclosing on delinquent borrowers even if they can't qualify for mortgage relief.

Fourth, the administration is increasingly turning to the Federal Housing Administration to help underwater borrowers who are still keeping up their payments. The aim is to help these borrowers refinance into a more affordable loan. The FHA will offer incentives to lenders that reduce the amount borrowers owe on their primary mortgages by at least 10 percent.

Now let's look at who is NOT helped by Obama and the democrats:
1. New Home Buyers - You saved up a down payment and worked to the point in your career where you are ready to buy.  But home prices refuse to go down since deadbeats and others aren't leaving their houses, lowering the prices and letting the market clear out.  These "democratic" programs help people who can't afford housing and the expense of those who can.

2. Savers - You didn't buy too much home.  You put 20% down and never pulled out any equity.  You have been driving the same car for ten years. In the mean time your neighbors pulled out money right and left, drove leased Porches and took lavish vacations.  And they are staying in their home just like you - in fact, the amount their mortgages will be going down and they can stay in their house without paying the mortgage, without any penalty.  You were a chump while they partied.

3. Renters - Some people knew they couldn't afford a home and rented.  Idiots. Didn't they know if they overextended themselves that the government would step in a save them. 


There is no personal responsibility anymore and no bad consequences for risky decisions.  The government will bail you if you spend irresponsibly, will pay your health bill if you overeat and don't exercise.   All this paid for by those who ARE responsible and who DO take care of their health.  What a great society we have become.

Think Things Are Better?

Our Treasury Secretary doesn't think so:

The federal government should continue to have a role supporting the mortgage market after Congress restructures or winds down mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told lawmakers Tuesday.

....
Mr. Geithner said that unlike other markets, housing could require sustained government support given its size and potential ...

And the money to sustain this support will come from....?

Remember, Obama just passed a huge tax increase to pay for his health care monstrosity - surtaxes on "high earners", taxes on unearned income, not to mentioned the increased burdened on businesses and the states.  This is in addition to letting the "Bush tax cuts" expire.  How many bullets are left in the "increase taxes" gun?
And yet the demands for government spending just keep pouring in, and will keep on pouring in as the democrats systematically continue to hobble the economy while it tries to recover.