Quote

any years ago there was a period of time that is often casually called "Medieval." It was a time, so the story tellers tell us, of tiny kingdoms, brave knights and ferocious dragons.

ransportation and travel were both crude and difficult, usually necessitating that each kingdom be as self sufficient and self reliant as possible. So it was very important that within each kingdom all the major crafts and professions of the day were ably represented to insure the survival of the kingdom. In the English language we still see remnants of some occupations in the familiar surnames such as Smith, Carpenter, Miller and Baker to name just a few.

nterestingly enough, beyond the specific title the vocation also took on its own greater personality. This personality preference can also give a broader understanding of the basic complementary style and types necessary to the kingdom's survival, or perhaps any organization's success. Although the specific vocation influenced the name, it was no accident that certain personality types and styles gravitated to certain occupations. The personality of these jobs suited the inclinations of the job holders, and the predecessor to modern day job descriptions was born. The successful matching of a job-holder's personality to the personality and unique requirements of the job was necessary to the kingdom's survival, or perhaps any organization's success. The successful kingdoms more than likely were able to blend the differences into a powerful and formidable entity. With today's diverse workforce, the corporate kingdom that acknowledges and nurtures these personality preferences could become an organization as successful as the Camelot of old.

ven though we now appear to have the freedom to explore many different career alternatives, we still have a medieval vocational personality within each of us. This personality, properly identified and understood, can motivate our success but, if ignored, may set the stage for our ultimate failure. Since times appeared to be simpler then, let us return to the kingdoms of medieval Europe and see what we would have done then, regardless of what our names are now.

our distinct personality, The Dreamer-Minstrel might be found in most of the thriving kingdoms of the time. You can always see the "Silver Lining" to every dark and dreary cloud. Look at the bright side is your motto and understanding why everything happens for the best is your goal. You are the positive optimist of the world who provides the hope for all humankind. There is nothing so terrible that you can not find some good within it. On the positive side, you are spontaneous, charismatic, idealistic and empathic. On the negative side, you may be a sentimental dreamer who is emotionally impractical. Interestingly, your preference is just as applicable in today's corporate kingdoms.

Here’s a sampling of reviews:

• The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Morgenstern: It “begins with a promise of edgy wit…But the film soon settles into a succession of ritual spoofs of the kung fu genre, and peddles the sort of cloying preachments about self-esteem and human potential — panda potential — that little kids hear all the time on TV.” [WSJ]
• Manohla Dargis in the New York Times: Film is “high concept with a heart. Even better, this animated feature from DreamWorks is so consistently diverting and visually arresting that it succeeds in transcending its storybook clichés.” [NYT]
• Los Angeles Times: “For a DreamWorks production, especially, it looks fantastic…” but the believe-in-yourself message “is annoyingly familiar and frankly overdue for a serious debunking, but it’s not about to happen here.” [LA Times]
• Owen Gleiberman in Entertainment Weekly: “Just about all animated movies teach you to Believe in Yourself … but the image of a face-stuffing panda-turned-yowling Bruce Lee dervish is as unlikely, and touching, an advertisement for that message as we’ve seen in quite some time.” [Entertainment Weekly]
• Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times: “ ‘Kung Fu Panda’ is not one of the great recent animated films. The story is way too predictable…” [Chicago Sun-Times]

We went to theMega-Maze at Davis Farmlandd on Sunday.  Big fun!  A giant cornfield with a maze designed by a maze architect in London...and this year's theme was Las Vegas.  Lots of fun facts, games, bridges built into the maze which make the whole thing fun.  And it is a very complicated maze, it took us about 2 hours to get out.  Not to worry, there are guides who can help you out if you get lost...as well as rest rooms, water stations, misting stations, and food stops in the maze.  Good family fun...kids loved...and so did Cindy and I.

I took the kids to see "Underdog", but apparently it left the theatre the day before.  So we spent 20 minutes in the arcade room and then went to see "Mr. Bean's Holiday".   I haven't seen a single "Bean" movie before, I think there are a bunch...and I wasn't that optimistic that the kids would like this sort of humor.  But I was wrong!  Both kids were laughing out loud, the plot was funny and interesting, the "Bean" comedy style worked for me as well as the kids, the supporting acting by the actress playing "Sabine" was excellent, and Richard Dafoe's character was hysterical.  Actually the ending was very good where Dafoe's bad movie and crazy dialogue made a fascinating soundtrack to Bean's home movie and an excellent conclusion.  Well done!  Two thumbs up! 

Quote

'Mr. Bean's Holiday' Trailer

Rowan Atkinson brings stick-legged, man-child Mr. Bean back to the big screen for his second adventure following 1997's "Bean." Mr. Bean is sick of wet, cold and clammy London; he wins a trip to sunny southern France. Once he's there, with camera in hand, hijinx ensue.

I AM
77%
JAZZTake the Transformers Quiz

I saw "Pirates of the Caribbean III" this weekend with my son.  I enjoyed it, but was totally confused by the plot.  So many double-crosses, shifting allegiances, pirate codes and traditions...I barely knew what was going on or what was going to happen.   Some crazy effects with multiple Jack Sparrows, and a crazy "world's end" were the low points of the movie.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed it....great action, humor.  Overall, I'd have to give this an enjoyable  6 on a scale of 1 to 10....

Quote

'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' Trailer

Director Gore Verbinski and the crew (Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, among many others) set sail for the last time in this third and final "Pirates" offering. Chow Yun-Fat joins the cast.

 I saw "Surf's Up" last night at the West Boylston cinema...a movie theatre that inhabits a niche on the timeline between when movies leave the big cinemas and before they are available on DVD.  This wasn't on my "must see" list, but apparently it was on my son's list so we went to see it.  I thought it was going to be a bad YAPM (yet another penguin movie) but was pleasantly suprised.  Plot was totally predictable yet enjoyable, funny lines, some exciting scenes...kids loved it.  Two thumbs up if you are under 10 years old, 1 thumb up if you are over 10. 

Quote

'Surf's Up' Clip: "Welcome to Pen Gu"

This animated "documentary" tells of how surfing was actually invented by penguins. The film gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Penguin World Surfing Championship and up-and-comer Cody Maverick (voiced by Shia LaBeouf). Jon Heder co-stars.

I took the kids to Ratatouille last night.  The movie was enjoyed by all, two thumbs up for kids of all ages.  My son in particular was laughing out loud at a bunch of the stuff.   An interesting story line, good animation, good voiceovers...all good. 

Quote

'Ratatouille' Trailer

Brad Bird (director of "The Incredibles") directs this animated feature about a rat named Remy who lives in a Parisian restaurant run by an eccentric chef. Brad Garrett and John Ratzenberger co-star.

 I took a bunch of kids to Shrek 3, great movie.  I asked my daughter Elise what she thought the best part was and she said it was this scene when Shrek's father is dying.  A smidgen taken aback...was she trying to tell me something?  Or is this the Ophelia Complex?  No, just a very funny scene.   Better than Shrek 2, and on a par with the original.

Quote

'Shrek the Third' Clip: "I'm Dying"

The cast of the first two "Shrek" films (including Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz) returns for this third installment. Shrek and Fiona are married; Shrek's father gets sick, and Shrek and Fiona must track down Artie, the proper heir to the throne.

Funny and interesting directions on Google Maps.....driving directions from Boston, MA USA to London, England.

 I went to see "300" with my wife.  It's a horrible movie and I am sure the critics are giving this a 2 or 3 on a scale of 10.  The wolf with red glowing eyes, and a couple of places with King Xerces I had to laugh out loud.  I heard this is based off of a graphic novel which may explain some of this.  But still, I enjoyed it anyways...action and nearly limitless gore.  I suppose there are some political or contemporary overtones...I am not even going to think about that.  I enjoyed it as a "B" movie experience, nothing more. 

Quote

'300' Trailer

"Dawn of the Dead" director Zack Snyder takes Frank Miller's ("Sin City") graphic novel about the historic Battle of Thermopylae to the big screen in this CG-heavy adventure. Stars include Gerard Butler ("Phantom of the Opera"), Lena Headey and Dominic West.

As a Q1 Quarterly outing our group at work went to see a movie.  We saw The Namesake, which was very enjoyable.   Beautifully directed...urbanly arty ... and many of the scenes would stand alone as photography.  It's a character study, a study of relationships, the challenges of immigration and differences in culture, husband and wife relationship, and parent child relationships.  In some ways it reminded me of "Bend It Like Beckham" which was similar but added motion and dynamics through soccer; however, the lack of motion and "action" was no drawback here.  This is rich.  And beautifully done. 

Quote

'The Namesake' Clip: "Someone Waiting"

Mira Nair ("Vanity Fair") directs Kal Penn ("Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle") in this drama based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri. Penn and his parents move from Calcutta to New York and must learn to adapt to a new world without losing their culture.

Interesting video on MSN Video on dog intelligence. Apparently there is a wide range of intelligence in dogs, but dogs typically understand up to 150 words and have the intelligence of a 2 year old human. However, most people love dogs not for what's in their head, but for what's in their heart.

Quote

What goes on inside a dog's brain?

March 16: Researchers are testing a pooch's learning abilities and vocabulary. TODAY's Meredith Vieira reports.