Movie Review

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Although it has been awhile since I have seen this movie, it is the first in the theaters for a LONG time, I have been pumped up about it for awhile before it came out and after seeing it. This movie is full of action and drama-if you don't keep your focus on the story line you may get lost, as you and Indy must keep all the clues in line to figure out the mystery of the Crystal Skull. For as old as Harrison Ford is he does an EXCELLENT job acting in the movie doing all of the stunts and keeping that aura of Indiana Jones. The story line is a bit far fetched, I don't know how believable it is or could actually happen, but does make the story interesting.

Into The Wild
I had been intrigued by this movie for a while since I got the soundtrack which is composed of songs from Pearl Jam leadman Eddie Vedder (Hard Sun, Society, Long Nights etc. (the soundtrack is great by itself, and with the movie it makes a great combination)). After watching this movie the other night, I couldn't help, but think of the book Wild at Heart by John Etheredge. While the book and movie are not exactly about the same context, they both capture and realize the importance of nature in our world. The movie written and directed by Sean Penn, focuses on the character Christopher McCandless's, played by Emile Hirsch, adventure out of society and "into the wild." Taking the name Alexander Supertramp, he gives up all material possessions surviving off the land and taking advantage of his strong will and intellect that takes him across America. After watching this I wanted to go and take my own adventure out into the wild and discover what nature has to offer. It has it's interesting turns and twists, but it shows what men have lost in today's society: man's ability to release from the material aspects of life and enjoy what life has given them, particularly in nature and God's Creation. The summer is a time to really enjoy this, go for a walk outside, camping, fishing, golfing, horseback riding, canoing, boating, etc. If you are looking for a movie with a good story (based off the non-fiction book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer) about finding the meaning of life and exploring the great landscape of America and getting out of the world that people get wrapped up in and explore what is out there.

Pork and Beans

" Everyone likes to dance
To a happy song"

"One look in the mirror
And I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot
About what you think"

Iron Man Workout

I found this workout from Craig Ballantyne off of Men's Health (http://transform07trainer.menshealth.com/) and it is quite intense. It's "easy" because it is all bodyweight-your essentially using your body as the weight that is being pulled, pushed, jumped, lifted, etc., BUT it is not easy by no means because there are no breaks and pushes you to the limit.

Do this circuit and repeat as much as you can until your are ready to drop:
10 exercises 125 reps
5 pullups
10 Jumps
15 Close-Grip Push-Ups
10 Lunges (Each Leg)
5 Chinups
10 Mountain Climbers (Each Leg)
10 Inverted Rows
10 Single-Leg Deadlift (Each Leg)
25 Bike Crunches
15 Step-ups (Each Leg)
15 Decline Pushups

Try to not take any breaks when going through the circuit and then once you are done you keep going to be a true Iron Man. Another great thing about this workout is that it can be down on a playground that has the right equipment, which makes working out an event you can enjoy in the nice summer sun!

No Man is an Island

John Donne (1572-1631). It appears in Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII:

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

Thomas Merton No Man Is an Island

"To have a spiritual life is to have a life that is spiritual in all its wholeness-a life in which the actions of the body are holy because of the soul, and the soul is holy because of God dwelling and acting in it. When we live such a life, the actions of our body are directed to God by God himself and give Him glory, and at the same time they help to sanctify the soul (98-99)."

We give him the best we have, in order to declare that He is infinitely better. We give Him all that we prize, in order to assure Him that He is more to us than our "all." One of the chief tasks of Christian asceticism is to make our life and our body valuable enough to be offered to God in sacrifice (105)."

Romans 14:7-9

"None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.

For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living."

Humane Vitae Today

From Pope Benedict VXI and his wise words on Human Life Today:

"Freedom must join with truth, and responsibility with strength of dedication to others, also through sacrifice," he affirmed. "Without these principles the community of man does not develop and there is a risk of being trapped in oppressive selfishness."

"Benedict XVI noted that protecting human dignity is exceedingly more challenging than 30 years ago. “We cannot but recognize that, in practical terms, defending human life has become more difficult today, because a mentality has been created that progressively devalues human life and entrusts it to the judgment of individuals.”

The consequence of this thinking is a decrease in respect for the human person, “a value that lies at the foundation of any form of civil coexistence, over and above the faith a person may profess," the Pontiff said.

Contrary to the assertions of those who have promoted abortion, it “has not resolved the problems afflicting many women and no small number of families, but it has opened another wound in our societies," said the Holy Father.

The healing of society’s wounds, Benedict indicated, will come from combined efforts to ensure that "institutions once again focus their activities on defense of human life and priority concern for families. ... Families must be helped, using all legislative means to facilitate their formation and their educational work in the difficult social context of today."

"It is necessary to bear concrete witness to the fact that respect for life is the first form of justice that must be applied. For those who have the gift of faith this becomes an imperative that cannot be deferred. ... Only God is the Lord of life. Each human being is known, loved, wanted and guided by Him ... and each has his origins in God's creative plan.""

Cardinals are rolling!

After the Cardinals 5-3 victory last night over division rival Cubs, the Cardinals are 20-12 ahead of those Cubs by 1 1/2 games and are one of only two teams to have 20 wins (Arizona Diamondbacks). I'll have to say I was surprised at how well the Cards are playing right now, but I think they can keep it up because as Tony La Russa has said only Albert Pujols and Troy Glaus ( I would say Yadier Molina) have guaranteed everyday spots in the lineup. This makes every player hungry and competitive because not only are they playing to win the game each day they are playing for a spot in the lineup. As long as the pitching keeps up (which is a big if, I think), this team will be a force to be reckoned with this season...from Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post Dispatch...

"The Cardinals keep hearing that they can't do this, they can't do that. They can't be a contender, they can't win a division, they can't make the playoffs.

The Cardinals were cast as a 69-93 shell of a team that represented the Pittsburgh Pirates' best chance to finally get out of last place in the NL Central.

This was supposed to be the kind of team that Tony La Russa couldn't manage. It isn't loaded with power and superstars, and it had no ready-made identity as it departed spring training. The Cardinals were pieces of clay, ready to be molded and shaped. And since when does La Russa specialize in projects?

But all the Cardinals continue to do is keep playing ball. They grind out victories. They don't lose focus. They play smartly most of the time. They prove it all night. They keep moving forward, winning series, passing tests and checking off boxes.

Sunday night at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals spotted the Chicago Cubs a 2-0 lead, then rallied for a 5-3 win and a series triumph, taking two of three from their rivals in the teams' first encounter of the season. The victory closed a tidy 6-3 home stand against division mates.

The first-place Cardinals (20-12) joined Arizona as the only NL teams to have posted at least 20 wins. Last season, the Cardinals didn't achieve their 20th victory until May 25.

Todd Wellemeyer, who wasn't sharp, gave the Cardinals five dogged innings and allowed only two runs. The Cubs could have cracked the game open, but Wellemeyer's competitiveness pushed him through his problems with form.

The revived second baseman Adam Kennedy had two hits and drove in two runs. Albert Pujols put his team into the lead with a two-run double. Cesar Izturis had two hits and scored twice. And four Cardinals relievers combined to hold the Cubs to one run over the final four innings, with closer Jason Isringhausen throwing 93 mph heat to retire the Cubs in order in the ninth.

On Saturday, less than 24 hours after Friday night's blown save, Izzy announced that he was hitting the reset button on his season and starting over. He even got a buzz cut for a new look. And then he went out and buzzed the Cubs with an authoritative 12-pitch save against the first three hitters in the Cubs batting order.

"That tells you all you need to know about Jason Isringhausen," La Russa said. "That's why he's our closer. He's a very, very tough guy."

I know it was the first weekend in May. The Cardinals have 130 games remaining. But they had to make a statement against the Cubs. Last season the Cubs slapped them around, winning 11 of 16 games overall, and seven of nine at Busch Stadium.

The teams have reversed roles. The Cubs are the clear favorite. They've spent $500 million over the last two years in the quest to speed up the process of winning a championship. The Cardinals have, to an extent, downsized as they put more of an emphasis on developing younger, or ascendant, players.

If the scrappy, resourceful Cardinals dare to overcome the odds and contend, they'll also have to overcome the Cubs. They can't afford to get shoved around again, and it was vital to establish credibility this weekend. But between now and October, the Cardinals must do this repeatedly. This was just the first skirmish, and the Cubs have many built-in advantages.

Since the game was televised by ESPN, which largely sets the parameters of the sports culture and provides talking points for radio talk show hosts around the nation, I wonder if this ESPN cameo will lead to a reassessment of La Russa's team.

TLR doesn't seem to care.

"I keep saying it, but I just want us to be one of those teams that's really tough to play against," he said.

I don't think La Russa has to worry about that.

"We just have to keep doing what we're doing," Pujols said. "And that's keep winning series."

The one-day-at-a-time mantra isn't clever. But it's who they are. The Cardinals are their manager's team, and toughness won't be an issue."

Manliness

"In this way, anyone who abandons virtue ceases to be a man, since he cannot share in the divine nature, and instead becomes a beast." Boethius Consolation of Philosophy