Jim's Go or Don't Go- "I.O.U.S.A." & "Maxed Out"

One thing for sure, I.O.U.S.A. will never be described as "The Feel Good Hit of the Summer." If you're looking for a little escapism to get your mind off of current events, this is not the film for you. But if you are concerned about your country and its financial future, I highy recommend this movie.

I.O.U.S.A. is a 2008 documentary that does an excellent job of laying out the current financial state of our nation. Don't worry, this is not a political partisan rant against those big-spending Democrats, or mean-spirited Republicans. The film rightly lays the responsibility at the feet of all of us. Through clever graphics and simple, common sense language, I.O.U.S.A. explains our national debt in light of our the United States' present and future finacial obligations.

Let me just say this - it's quite a wake-up call. This is not an absract concept - it's a matter of national security and the future of our country. The scary thing about this movie is, it was made before all of the recent handouts - er, I mean "bailouts" of the last six months. So while you're watching this film, just tack on several trillion dollars to all of the numbers that they mention.

My only complaint is that the film is short on solutions. Simply saying, in essence, that "we are Americans and we'll get through this/figure something out" is not enough. Unfortunately, recent actions by our so-called leaders in Washington are not inspiring confidence in me that they have a clue, or, if they do understand the problem, that they are courageous enough to do anything about it. In fact, we seem to be making the situation worse. But that's a whole other post.

I say "Go."
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In a similar category, 2006's 'Maxed Out' examines the consumer credit crisis. This wry documentary parades a seemingly endless group of "victims" of the evil credit card companies. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of banks that try to get college kids with no credit history to sign up for credtit cards with loan shark-like interest rates. However, I doubt that most people that are drowning in credit card debt got there by making responsible, absolutely necessary purchases. We have been living in a buy-it-now, pay-for-it later culture for the past 30 years, as the bill is finally coming due.

The real problem that I had with this movie was its recommended solutions. The film maker seems to believe that more people should simply be able to declare bankruptcy. Somehow this will make everyone's problems disappear. Let's remember - these debts represent actual goods and services that were provided by real people and businesses. So, are they not entitled to get paid for these? Apparently, in the eyes of Maxed Out, no. It's one thing for someone's debt to be forgiven, but someone always has to pay the price for that debt. That's just the way the universe works.

The film is rightly critical of our federal government's financial malfescence. However, on one hand, the film chastises the government for spending money that it doesn't have, but on the other hand supports "free" healthcare for everyone. At several points in the film, it virtually argues for flat out communism. As I seem to remember, that whole communism thing never really panned out.

Never make the mistake of thinking that any documentary is impartial. The film maker always has an agenda. Maxed out is no exception. This movie was a missed opportunity to address the credit crisis in a responsible way. Instead, it shamelessly plays the victim card and repeatedly uses class warfare to make its case for bigger government. I say "Don't Go."

Welcome, Mitchell!

Today one of my very best friends, Marissa, and her wonderful husband Ben, welcomed their first baby, a boy named Mitchell Aaron Kasdan into the world. Some of you may know Marissa, so I wanted to share the news, and those of you who don't can just smile at knowing a beautiful new baby is very lucky to have two wonderful parents (and wonderful Grandparents, as well). We are so happy for Ben and Marissa and we can't wait to meet Mitchell later this year... unfortunately it has to be a while because they live in California.

Update: Here's a couple photos of the baby... he's adorable!

My New Endeavor...

So you may have noticed in a recent post that I mentioned piano lessons. Yesterday was my very first one and I think it went really well.

A little history: I have never played the piano (apart from a 1 semester class in college that taught me very little). I have always wanted to learn. Although I am getting a late start, I feel there is no better time than the present, and if I don't start now, I might never get around to it.

So with my 'Adult Beginner' book in hand, I set off to Monroeville last night to the home of Annette Smouse for my 45 minute lesson. She is a graduate of the Duquesne School of Music and has been teaching piano for 20 years. We made it through the first 30 pages of the book, which I thought was a sizable chunk. Wish me luck!

Valentine's Day Recap...

We had a very nice Valentine's day. We slept in late (what better way to start the day?) and spent the afternoon at home before heading to Mitchell's Fish Market at the Waterfront for dinner. Here are some shots from the day, starting with the beautiful flowers Jim surprised me with.

Ready to leave for dinner...

At the restaurant...
Jim diving into what he termed the "Sharkleberry Fin Pie" (actually called Shark Fin Pie). It was as delicious as it looks!

A Trip to the Auto Show...

This Friday, we hit up the Pittsburgh International Auto Show, with hopes of narrowing down the choices for our next vehicle. We aren't planning to purchase for 8-10 months, but where else can you see so many models in one place? I researched the vehicles ahead of time to prepare a list, and we were able to cross off a few by the end of the night. Absent from our list were any and all GM or Chrysler models. Jim refuses to support those companies on the basis of them taking the federal bailout money. Fine by me.

Our front-runner going into the evening, the Toyota FJ Cruiser, may sadly have been bumped off the list. While we both love it and agree it is totally awesome, we also agree that it is not the most practical choice. BO-RING! I say "boo" to practicality, but I guess we do have to be realistic. Here it is anyway. Neither of us have the heart to completely nix it from the list.

Moving on to the candidates within the realm of possibility (read: BORING!), we have the Ford Escape. Not a bad choice, I think. It's substantial (an important quality in the midsize SUV we are seeking) without being as huge as the aforementioned FJ. It has nice big beefy wheels and we like the exterior design. As a bonus, it comes in a hybrid model, although I'm not sure we'd go that route.
Next up, is the Hyundai Santa Fe. Although Jim feels it is a little "feminine" on the exterior, it has tons of cargo space, good visibility and a reasonable price tag. Just might not be quite the look we're going for.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara is similar in feel to the Santa Fe (but a little less "feminine"). It lacks the abundant cargo space of the Santa Fe but still makes it onto the list with some other nice features. Next up is the Mitsubishi Outlander. I was not too familiar with this brand before the auto show, but this model had excellent cargo room as well as an optional 3rd row seat. We both liked the detail around the wheel wells.

The Honda Element is along the lines of an FJ Cruiser wanna-be. It probably will not end up making the cut, but there are some features we liked, such as the fact that the entire interior is waterproof and can be hosed out. Nice for camping. The clamshell door entry is a bit of a pain though.And in the "Out of Left Field" category, here is the Kia Soul. It is scheduled to be released this Spring. Yes, it is kind of weird looking, but it is packed with features that we are excited about for an extremely reasonable price tag. This one just might be the dark horse of the group.
Here's your turn to weigh in, readers. Which ones do you like/hate? Let us know in the comments. Happy driving!

Go or Don't Go... Lightning Round

Since it's been all Steelers 24/7 around here, I haven't had much time for reviews, so here's a few quick opinions...

Ghost Town This 2008 comedy stars Ricky Gervais as Bertram Pincus, a dentist who briefly dies during a routine surgical procedure. After being revived, he learns that he can see dead people. If you enjoyed Gervais in the British version of The Office and in HBO's Extras, you'll love this movie. Other than a few out-of-place instances of profanity, I say "Go."

Bottle Shock Bill Pullman and a group of attractive young actors star in this 2008 film loosely based on the rise of the California winery scene during the 1970s. Sound interesting? Not for me, although Carrie enjoyed it, especially the cinematography. I say, "Don't Go."

Groundhog Day Now a February tradition in the Zahniser household, this 1993 classic features Bill Murray repeating the same day over and over until he gets it right. Good clean fun for pretty much all ages. If you are one of the few that haven't seen it already, I say "Go."

Man On Wire 2008 documentary about Philippe Petit, a French tightrope walker/crazy person/genius. In 1974, Petit snuck into the World Trade Center and strung a high wire between the top of the Twin Towers and proceeded to walk it for 45 minutes. (Yes, you read that right, this actually happened!) The film describes his insane plan, accomplices, and the event itself. Could have been better it had been a half an hour shorter. Nevertheless, I say "Go."

The Out-of-Towners 1970 comedy starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis as the Kellermans, an Ohio couple venturing to New York City. Lemmon is at his frantic everyman best, desperately trying to get to a big job interview amid a Worst Case Scenario Travel Guide nightmare. I preferred this version to the 1999 remake with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn, but to each their own. If you enjoy older movies, give it a try. I say, "Go."

Carrie's 2 Cents:
Ghost-Town: Go
Bottle Shock: Go
Groundhog Day: Go
Man on Wire: Don't Go
The Out-of-Towners: Don't Go (this movie stressed me out!)

Looking Ahead...

With the Super Bowl behind us and the days draaaaaaagging by in February (historically the worst month for weather in Pittsburgh) I have to remind myself that there are things worth looking forward to. In fact, it was 66 degrees here today and I looked forward to that for a week! It only seems miserable because it has been cold and grey for 4 months. So here are some big and small things I'm looking forward to in the coming days, weeks & months (in approximate order of occurrence)

1. The Pittsburgh International Auto Show- where we can look at (but not buy-yet) our next new vehicle.
2. Valentine's Day- Yes, it's sappy, but at least we'll be having a nice dinner out at Mitchell's.
3. The births of the first babies of 2 of my closest friends, Jennifer and Marissa. (With Jessica to follow in the coming months)
4. My first piano lesson (more on this to follow!)
5. Our 6th wedding anniversary (The traditional gift this year is "Iron" - that makes it interesting)
6. Getting new grass planted - our yard is in sorry shape per the aforementioned months of crappy weather
7. Our big vacation in May - to Disney World & the Caribbean!
8. SPRING - Should make an appearance around late May/early June, just in time for 2 nice weeks before Summer is here and it is HOT and HUMID!

In case you couldn't tell, Pittsburgh and I have a love/hate relationship :) Happy February!

Time to Break Out the Swim Suit...

It's going to be fun in the sun this weekend in Pittsburgh. We're talking FIFTY ONE degrees, people. Time to stock up on sunscreen. Eat your heart out, Californians :)

Side note: Yesterday morning, it was ONE degree.

Jim Usually Hates Parades, However...

Not when it's a Steeler Victory parade! Since I (Jim) work downtown, I was able to walk down to the parade route and score a prime viewing location for the city's salute to our Black and Gold heroes. Enjoy!

MVP Santonio Holmes carries his award...
The Lombardi Trophy, carried by James Harrison...

Troy reminding us how may Super Bowls we have won...

Hines, smiling as usual...

Nice hat, Ben...

Coach Tomlin...

Jim's Reflections on a Championship...

Well, it's a few days after the Super Bowl and I'm basking in the glory of another Steeler championship. Not that we here in Pittsburgh take this kind of thing for granted. Anyone who lives here and sees the magical relationship that this city has with their Steelers knows that fan indifference is pretty much an impossibility. The 350,000+ that showed up for the Steeler victory parade testifies to this.

I wish that I could say that I was one of those fans that knew the Steelers were going to pull it off. I tend to be a pessimistic member of the Steeler Nation. I usually don't enjoy the game until it's well in hand, or over. Anyone that's ever watched a Steeler game with me is well aware of this. Carrie has learned that it's best to just leave me alone until the Black and Gold have secured a victory.

I know that some people think that it is silly to be so excited about a sporting event, but it's nice to have something to celebrate, especially in these uncertain and somber times. It's good for our city. It's also a nice diversion until spring arrives - six more weeks of celebratiing a Steeler championship!

And I think, for the most part, that we have a team that we can be proud of. The Rooney's run a pretty tight ship, and troublemakers usually don't last long in Pittsburgh. I'm a realist, and I know that most of these guys, like many of us, would readily go somewhere else for more money to do the same job. But coach Tomlin is a class act and players like Ben, Troy and Heinz conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the title, "role model". And by judging from the numerous mentions that the players give to the Steeler Nation, it seems like the players are aware their fans are something special as well.

As a side note, I do wish that we could have beaten a more unlikable opponent. The Cardinals were a great story this year and had many admirable players, most notably, Kurt Warner. If the Steelers had not made it to the Super Bowl, I most likely would have been rooting for them. Not that it's much consolation to Cardinal fans, but by being such a worthy adversary, they helped make this victory much more satisfying.

Watching the team celebrate their victory, it made me think of how difficult it is to achieve something like this. The incredible amount of hard work and personal sacrifice that it takes to reach this level of skill. There are only a handful of people on the planet that can play professional sports at this level, and even fewer who can march down the field with less than four minutes remaining to win the World Championship. Yes, they get paid millions of dollars – and they should. Their talents generate millions of dollars and thousands of jobs for others, from the team owners down to the guy who runs the Steelers Store at the mall.

Anyone who has ever participated on a team sport and won a championship can, to some degree, appreciate what these guys must be feeling. It's the culmination of a lifelong effort. Pure joy. Back in the day, I was part of a church league softball championship team - it was awesome. OK, a little different than winning the Super Bowl, but it was one of the fondest memories of my life.

I am by no means an athlete, but once you throw out the silly cliches, sports can teach many worthwhile things: the rewards of practice and hard work, sportsmanship, teamwork, and of value of striving toward and achieving a goal. These are valuable in any life endeavor. And if you master these lessons, as Ben Roethlisberger refelected after the game, "Anything is possible."

What a DAY, What a GAME!!!!

THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS ARE 6 TIME WORLD CHAMPIONS, BABY!!

It was quite a day and we'll try to document it here, especially for some of you who are not from Pittsburgh....

We started the morning off at church, where we had been instructed to wear our colors this week. Only in Pittsburgh...
After church, we picked up wings for the party, and then headed over to our neighborhood park for a pre-game bash. Here's Jim in the foreground...I ate my first raw oyster... We had just a couple of minutes to relax before our guests arrived...Some Steeler fans in Viewing Area 1...The rest of the crowd upstairs in Viewing Area 2...Gearing up for the 3-D commercials...Jim watched every second of the game very intently and seriously...Waving the towels during a VERY stressful 4th quarter...We can't believe they did it. Final score 27-23!!! Jim's doing a victory dance...As soon as our guests left, we hopped in the car and drove downtown to celebrate. Here's what it sounded like on the streets...

Now we're back home, it's 1AM and we're re-watching the 4th quarter.

WHAT AN AWESOME GAME! HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!!!!!