National Treasure movie review

"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government and to provide new guards for their future security." Before I watched Disney's "Nationial Treasure," I didn't know that this was in the Declaration of Independence. This sentence from one of our "national treasures" sets the tone for the entire movie.

Ben Gates (played magnificently by Nicholas Cage) is a member of a family of treasure hunters (although Ben would say they're treasure protectors) whose passion for seeking a particular treasure, called the Templar Treasure, has made him unpopular with scholars. When Ian Howe (Sean Bean) agrees to fund an expedition to the arctic to find a ship known as the "Charlotte," Ben takes him, tech-savvy Riley Poole, and others to find it. He doesn't find the treasure, but he finds a clue that leads him to believe that the treasure map is hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Ben is reluctant to steal the Declaration, which he would most certainly have to do in order to find the map. Ian, on the other hand, is willing to do anything to get his hands on the treasure. All of a sudden, Ben has a rival who wields a gun and three cronies. After getting back to the States, Ben and Riley try to warn the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and American History specialist Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger), but their warnings go unheeded. Ben then sees he has no choice but to steal the Declaration in order to preserve it.

"National Treasure" is heavy on action and American history. It also begs the question "Is it right to steal something when you've warned those responsible for its care of the lurking danger?" One lesson that's definitely learned from this movie is "Don't give up just because you're told it can't be done." In the words of Thomas Edison, "I found a thousand ways to not make a light bulb. I need to find only one way to make it work." Ben is told twice that something couldn't be done: Riley told him that the Declaration couldn't be stolen because it was too heavily guarded and his father, Patrick Gates (Jon Voigt) tells him he can't find the treasure because it doesn't exist.

"National Treasure" is rated PG for Action Violence (including shooting and a man falling to his death) and Some Scary Images (including frozen skeletons on board a wrecked ship). The movie is well worth the rating, however.

Expelled movie review

"We are losing freedom in one of the most important sectors of society: science," Ben Stein tells us in "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," his documentary on the war between Darwinism (Evolution) and Intelligent Design. He then shows us clips from interviews he had with prominent scientists and one neuro-surgeon who had been cut loose from the scientific community simply because they had dared to question the theory of Evolution in public. "I was viewed as an intellectual terrorist," one scientist told Ben. His act of terrorism? He had published an article by Dr. Steven Meyer, a well-known supporter of Intelligent Design (ID). The other interview clips go by fairly quickly, each one ending with an "Expelled" stamp on a "rap sheet."

Ben goes on a journey that spans from Seattle to Germany, covering Biola University, Paris, and other places. Along the way, we learn some interesting scientific facts that the public school textbooks don't tell us, such as the Miller Experiment being a failure. Ben also goes to Germany when he's told that Charles Darwin's theory influenced Hitler's "final solution." We're introduced to Eugenics, which is still around under the name of Planned Parenthood.

Ben's message is not "Get rid of Evolution and replace it with Intelligent Design." It's more along the lines of "Let both sides of the Evolution/ID debate be heard." The side Ben picks is obvious as the documentary progresses. Still, he has a point. If both sides were equally heard, people could discuss both sides rationally instead of just one side pushing the other side out the door and locking it out of public institutions.

Star Trek movie review

"I am and ever shall be your friend." Those were the last words spoken by Spock to Captain Kirk in "Star Trek II-The Wrath of Khan." Like "Star Trek," Star Trek II helped save the Star Trek franchise that was started by Gene Roddenberry. As a result, Star Trek fans went on to enjoy Star Treks III, IV, V, and VI, as well as Star Trek The Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek Voyager. After 9/11, Star Trek went back to the beginning. The problem was it went too far back. Star Trek Enterprise didn't last long on the air and it seemed as if Star Trek was about to pass into history, where every man has gone before. Then J. J. Abrams stepped in. Whether or not you've heard of him, you've certainly heard of his works, which include the popular TV series "Lost" and the movie "Armageddon." Star Trek starts with the death of Lieutenant George Kirk, who dies holding off a vastly superior foe while the rest of the crew and passengers escape, including George's wife, who is going into labor. As the fight continues, we witness the birth of George's son, James Tiberius. As the movie progresses, we see Jim become a rebel without a cause from growing up with an abusive step-father (we hear verbal abuse that contains threats of violence over the phone in one scene). After an ugly confrontation in which Kirk deliberately provokes four husky Starfleet cadets into a fight, Captain Christopher Pike, who worked with George Kirk before George's death, implores Jim to join Starfleet. Jim's story isn't the only story we're exposed to. On Vulcan, Spock is constantly being picked on by his peers for being half-human. Spock takes it fairly well until one of the boys insults Spock's mother. Spock attacks him after that. After the fight, Spock is reprimanded by Sarek, his father. "Control your feelings so that they do not control you," he says. Years later, Spock is ready to join the Vulcan Science Academy. He had also applied to Starfleet. He explains to the members of the board that it was logical to consider more than one option. When one of the board members (the only board member in the scene who talks) regards Spock's "human mother" as a weakness, Spock politely declines entrance into the VSA and instead joins Starfleet. Kirk and Spock meet in an unfriendly way: Kirk has been caught cheating on the Kobiashi Maru, a simulation program that Spock designed. The hearing is cut short due to a distress signal from Vulcan. As the advertisments for this movie say, this isn't your father's Star Trek. How right they are. There is more violence (including a man being impaled and a Vulcan being crushed), some strong language (the strongest word used is b****rd), and one sex scene that involves Kirk and a female student. All in all, the movie is entertaining, although there isn't a moral lesson behind it ("save the whales" and "don't follow blindly" come to mind from Star Trek IV and V, respectively). I give this movie 4 stars out of 5.

Heroes: Alternate Universe part 6

Nathan hung up the phone for the twentieth time that day. Twenty times he had called different city and federal sources, none of them very helpful. He leaned back in his chair in thought. This could be a wild goose chase. But Pete was seldom wrong when it came to "saving the world." He had to assume his younger brother was right about a Eugenics project being in the works. Why the American government would experiment with Eugenics after condemning it years before was beyond him. Unless... Congressman Petrelli picked up the phone and dialed Noah Bennett, the one man alive who he knew would know about what the Company was up to.

"I've been looking into the same thing," Noah told Nathan. "I know that somebody in the Company's involved." "I'd think more than one person's involved in a project of this magnitude," Nathan answered. "We're talking about the intended sterilization of a lot of people." "Let me assure you that I'm not involved in this project," Noah said. "Pete told me that Hiro Nakamura had a dream about this," said Nathan. "Any ideas where they mmay have come from?" "I know who gave him that dream. I helped him develop his gift." "Then you know where he is?" "No. He and two other people like him left the company. I haven't seen him since." Noah hadn't seen Dreamer since he had been sedated and locked away presumably because he had become too powerful to control. Now, Noah considered, it may have been because he had stumbled onto this project. How, he had no clue. "Do you have any idea who might be behind this," Nathan asked, interrupting his thoughts. "Bob Bishop made the motion to dispose of him," Noah answered. "That motion wasn't seconded, however." It was true. Noah had averted that second by suggesting that they merely sedate Dreamer. Bishop had accepted it. They had used the Hatian, whose ability to negate superpowers and erase memories had proved invaluable to the Company over the years, to accomplish this. "I'll start with Bob, then," Noah promised.

Claire's capture was accomplished with some difficulty, but with no witnesses. Bob Bishop, Elle, and two henchmen drove Claire, handcuffed and blindfolded, toward the re-education center. Bob silently breathed a sigh of relief. Their plan was succeeding without a hitch. Soon, he saw the tunnel through the mesa that they had to pass through. They were on an abandoned road, so they were pretty much home free. Elle turned on the headlights before entering the tunnel. Bob didn't believe in ghosts, so when he noticed a figure of a man in a stetson hat and overcoat, he thought he was hallucinating. As they got closer, the man raised his head, revealing his face. It was Ivan. Elle tried to brake, but it made no difference. The car flipped upside down and skidded to a halt in front of the renegade. The car then flipped sideways so they were right side up, then it was pushed against the left side of the wall, their right. Elle exited the car and motioned for the agents to do the same. The agents dragged Claire along. Elle grabbed Claire by the back of the neck and faced Ivan. "Move out of the way, Ivan," she said. "The girl will get the shock of her life if you don't." The gunshot was deafening and completely unexpected. One of the agents fell with a thud, dead before he hit the ground. A hand grabbed her left shoulder from behind and a gun pressed against her back. "You're in no situation to bargain," Ivan answered. "Let her go and things will be a lot easier," a woman's voice said from behind. In the car, Bob climbed to the back seats and exited through the back door. He instantly found himself in a cell in the Company. Dreamer was standing at the door. "Sweet dreams," he whispered. Then he closed the cell door. In the real world, Elle watched as a third figure entered the tunnel. "Let Claire go and walk to the car," a voice said in her mind. Her muscles complied. The figure moved closer. Elle was transported to her childhood. She saw many happy memories being played out. How long was it taking? Minutes? Days? Months? No matter. Memories long forgotten, buried by an interrupted childhood thanks to her father experimenting with her power, were flooding back. She didn't want it to end.

Martial Arts Resumes: Studio Websites

The Internet has been available for public use for years now. As a 25 year old, I am old enough to remember the days when the only way to get online was with a dial-up modem. When I was a hyperactive youngster (verses the somewhat less hyper young adult I am today), my family had a computer from the 80's. It had no Internet browser, no video card, no LAN (Local Area Network), no USB (Universal Security Bus) Port, and no mouse. I can hear the gasps of shock from the younger people of my generation.

Now that we have all these things, martial arts studios have sent us their resumes. Have you ever created a resume? You put down all the good stuff about yourself: your academic accomplishments, your hobbies, and your work experience, just to name a few. You don't put down the bad stuff: "I was coached during my last job," "I prefer to work at my own pace," "I failed two coarses at Sumold University." No, you want your prospective employer to consider you and, ultimately, hire you.

Martial arts studio websites do the same thing. There are two martial arts studios in my area, and both have websites: The Kung Fu Center and Villari's Studio of Self Defense.

Heroes: Alternate Universe part 5

New York Councilman Nathan Petrelli was a man of principal, or so his campaign ads said. His past, however, told a different story. But, Nathan thought to himself in his office, this was the present. From now on, things were going to be different. This line of thinking came after a call from his mother, telling him of a plot against special people that possible involved Eugenics. His thoughts were interrupted when his secretary announced over his private intercomm that Pete was here to see him. "Send him in," Nathan told her. When Peter told him the story, Nathan nodded. "If I'm hearing you right, this project needs to be stopped. But we have no idea where it is," he said. "Appanently, somebody knows," Peter answered. "He might choose to reveal himself." "And if he doesn't," asked Nathan. "Then we fight when whoever our enemies are come to get us," Pete answered. "The thing is, Pete, we don't know when they'll come. We either stand together or we lose," Nathan said. "In the words of Ben Franklin, 'We either hang together or we hang seperately.' But we can't gather everybody and then wait around. People have jobs to work and places to go. We can't keep them holed up somewhere with no idea when this is going to happen." Peter thought about that. "Then we just have to hope whoever gave Hiro that dream shows himself to us," he said. "We can't count on that, Pete. I'll see if something like Eugenics is being cooked up by government agencies," Nathan said. Peter nodded. "Keep me informed," Nathan told him. "I'll help as best I can."

Bob Bishop had worked at the Company since it was created. Ivan, he had thought, was loyal to the Company. Well, he had been proven wrong. Now it was time to start replacing what had been lost. "How's he doing," he asked his daughter Elle as they watched Ivan's replacement through one-way glass. "Cory Knight is adjusting to his role very well," Elle said. "But he has this love of Poker. He carries that deck of cards with him everywhere." "There's a reason for that other than his love of Poker," Bob told her. He flipped the intercomm switch. "Let's see how he's doing with target practice," he said into it. Elle watched skeptically as the wooden target was set up. Cory took out a card, held it for a second, and then threw it. Elle's skepticism became amazement as the card embedded itself in the target. "Cory's special," Bob said as he turned off the intercomm. "He can re-align an object's molecules to make it rigid or flexible. In his hands, a playing card becomes a deadly weapon, like a throwing star. He'll be replacing Ivan as Jon Langley's partner." "Who will replace Mellissa as Kari Shmidt's partner," Elle asked. "I have someone in mind, but we have to go get her," Bob answered. "Claire Bennett would be a magnificent replacement." Elle snorted. "Even if her father were to agree, which I seriously doubt," she said. "We'd still have her to contend with. She'd never cooperate." "Getting special people to the Company has never been a problem for us," Bob said. "As for the other problem, we have a re-education center in Odessa." Elle remembered that facility. Her father had given her a tour of it. It was where the uncooperative people were sent. She knew that Cloaire, strong though she was, would comply after being taught there.

Heroes: Alternate Universe part 4

Hiro and Ando teleported to New York. Perhaps, Hiro hoped, "Flying Man" (Hiro's nickname for Nathan Petrelli) would be able to provide some answers. "This is pointless, Hiro," Ando told him for the third time. "Nathan Petrelli has always been reluctant to help in the past. What makes you think he'll help us now?" "He's the only hero I know where to find," Hiro answered. "And if he doesn't help, we can ask him where his brother is." "Peter Petrelli is definitely more helpful than Nathan Petrelli," Ando agreed. "But what if he doesn't tell us?" "Then we find a way to discover who has been giving me these dreams," Hiro said. The last dream had been frightning. He didn't know what those men circling the table were doing, but it didn't look good. "He'll have all the answers we need." "Hiro, we don't even know where to look," Ando exclaimed. "That won't stop me," Hiro said with resolve. "Whatever these dreams are about, it seems to be very important." "I'm not arguing with that, but we don't know where to start looking." "Flying Man might know. He knows a lot of things about politics, and his brother is a nurse. Maybe he'll tell us where he is." "Where who is," asked a voice from behind them. They both turned to find who it was: Peter Petrelli. Several minutes later, in a sub sandwich restaurant, Hiro told Peter the story. Peter frowned while he listened. "This sounds like people are going to be operated on for some reason," he said after Hiro finished talking. "But it could just be somebody having his tonsils removed. Did you see who was having the operation?" "No," Hiro answered. "The doctors were surrounding the table, so I couldn't see who was on the table." "But you're sure there was someone there?" "They were definitely working on something, and they were wearing caps, gloves, masks, and coats." "Well, that's as good a reason as any. You wsaid that the surgeouns were surrounding the table. Did any of them look young, like they were still in college?" "Many of them, yes," Hiro said, thinking back. "Then it could just be a normal operation. Students and interns are allowed in the operating room so they can learn by example." "It didn't look like they were just watching," Hiro explained. "They were helping with the operation." "Hiro, I want you to think about your dream," Peter said. "I'm going to try to read your mind so we'll be on the same page." Hiro nodded. He thought about his dream, brtinging the picture into focus so Peter would see it clearly. "What's that machine that looks like a computer from the '70s," Peter asked when he had finished. "I don't know," Hiro said. "It could be something from the past," Ando suggested. "No. The rest of the technology is too advanced," Peter answered. "I'll talk with Nathan and see if he'll help us."