On and Off, Kona, Movie Reviews

Some times it is the little things that bug me the most, like has anyone but me noticed that the buttons to make things go “on and off” never say “on and off” any more. They always have some kind of weird looking symbol that you have to guess and try before you really know for sure. To shut down my computer there is no on or off, just a stupid looking symbol that you push out of trial and error. Then there are the new public rest room signs that use to say “men” and “women.” Wow have these changed, especially in the Mexican food restaurants. I went in one the other night and I wasn’t sure it was for men or not until I saw the urinals lined up like little soldiers, that was a dead giveaway I had the right place. There is is also the door that says “pull” and I always “push” instead. Rental cars are really becoming difficult to drive away in. Since they use different brands and models they each have different meanings on their dash and sometimes the key holds the secrets to how you start it, keep it running and prevent the emergency honking to start or stop. The past week I had one of those cars and I never did figure out what brand it was. But I know it took a few days to figure everything out and it had an emergency honking device that activated itself at will(its’ will). The real challenge on these new wheels are finding the hood release and the gas tank cover release. Makes you feel almost mentally impaired! As Andy Rooney use to say, “take these gadgets and stuff it!!”

Well the annual trip to Kona is said and done and after 18 years of flying to the Big Island I must say it becomes more like Idalou every day. Now for you readers who know where Idalou is you know where I am coming from, but if you are from far away to West Texas look on the Texas map near Lubbock and you will see it. Yes, I think I have made too many trips to paradise and it just seems, ho hum! One thing is that it never changes, still warm, still sunny, still green and lush, still romantic, still beautiful Hawaiin girls twisting their butts like no other place on the planet, still beautiful sunsets, still great to go on early morning runs, and still great layout sun! So, what the hell is my beef? Well now that I put it this way I can say it is really a very neat place to go but some of the other islands need to be visited and then my attitude will change. Okay Idalou folks don’t get all riled up you won two State Championships last year so you are real special, just not Kona special! A short race report for the annual Ironman World Championship will reveal that Craig Alexander(Aussie) won the men’s event with a record breaking 8 hrs and 3 minutes will Chrissie Wellington(Brit) won the women’s side with an 8 hrs and 55 minutes. Ironically Craig was sponsored by Honey Milk and Chrissie by Muscle Milk! How weird does that get?

Movie Reviews:

“Killer Elite”, **, This movie should have been at least a three star but I just couldn’t budge another star. Jason Statham plays a self imposed retired(they all do this for some reason) assasin who comes out of retirement to rescue his old friend, played by Robert DeNiro. DeNiro stumbles around for most of the movie looking older without a solid script or purpose and they try to cover all this up with weapons, noise and dumb narrative. He finally beats the crap out of the bad guy later in the movie just to show he still has it!! Some good action but it also gets a little boring. Rated R for strong violence, language and some sexuality/nudity.

“Ides of March”, ***, Since George Clooney wrote and directed this movie you might expect more of him(Clint Eastwood is always front and center in his own movies, afterall), however, he just pops in and out of the scenes when his obvious presence is needed. Ryan Gosling plays a young up and coming campaign press secretary who finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate’s shot at the presidency. That candidate is Gov. Mike Morris(Clooney), who wants the Democratic nomination. Great work is done by Paul Giamatti who represents the opponet to Morris and Phillip Seymour Hoffman who plays Goslings boss. Ultimately what makes this film work is Gosling’s portrayal of a loss of innocence and what it says about American politics in the process. None of that will be a surprise based on real life politicians. Rated R for pervasive language, and mild sex scenes.

EA(go see Ides, a must for you), SH..........:)

greerman