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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/4/2014 (1221 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
There's only one way to see Canada, and that is on a good, old-fashioned family road trip.
Just about every person I met while driving across the country last summer told me it was their dream to take that trip someday. Many others recounted their own nostalgic memories of making the trip when they were kids.
I was lucky enough to be doing it and also to be one of those people with fond memories. My parents drove me and my brother out West twice while we were growing up. I credit those trips for having sparked my love of travel and of this country. My two boys were about the same age that we were when we did it, so I thought this was the right time to show them more of Canada.
Our journey would take us from Montreal to Vancouver Island. Our motto was "Tofino or bust."
Over a little more than two weeks, the changing terrain of Canada unfolded before us like the chapters of a book. The buildup began in Chapter 1 as we traversed northern Ontario. The Prairie chapter introduced a new landscape. The tale hurried toward a climax in the Rockies, then slid toward its denouement on Vancouver Island. The drive home across America's interstate was our epilogue.
We didn't have a lot of time to get to the Pacific Ocean and back again, so very little was left to chance. Our itinerary was planned with military precision. If we arrived at a destination and it was raining, that was just too bad. We weren't sticking around to wait for the sun to appear. We had to reach our next milestone the following day to stay on schedule.
Chapter 1: Northern Ontario: How big is this country?
Our first stop was Sudbury, home to the giant nickel. It poured rain when we got there. Not a good start to our odyssey, but the sun shone the next day and it was clear enough that we could see smoke thinly pouring from the Inco Superstack that towers over the town.
It doesn't sound like a sight worth seeing, but the colossal size of the chimney dwarfs such world-class landmarks as the Eiffel Tower or Statue of Liberty. The only free-standing structure in Canada that is any taller is Toronto's CN Tower.
The drive out of Sault Ste. Marie along Lake Superior National Park is among the most scenic in the country. The views along this stretch of highway are stunning, with its rocky shores and cliffs lining the vast waters of the world's largest lake. The road's beauty was enhanced by the low sun that lit the landscape with golden light as we drove in the late afternoon.
After a night in the pleasant city of Thunder Bay, we drove a short while to admire the rushing waters of the mighty Kakabeka Falls, a natural attraction of which I was completely unaware before spotting a highway sign notifying us of its existence. It was just one of many such discoveries we would make as we explored the nation.
The drive across northern Ontario is long. It is punctuated by sights of extreme beauty, but there are long stretches of forest and lake that are so similar it becomes monotonous. As we drove, I remarked on the number of abandoned hotels and restaurants that died along with the popularity of road trips and the rise of chain businesses. I thought they would be a great subject for a photo essay someday.
Chapter 2: The Prairies: Yes, they really are flat
AS you leave Ontario and cross the border into Manitoba, the terrain gradually changes. The rocky scenery of the Canadian Shield -- with its plentiful bogs, ponds, lakes and ragged pine trees -- thins out.
Eventually, it disappears as if by magic, and you find yourself rolling across the flat prairie landscape with its distant horizons and big skies.
I've often heard people say how boring the flatness of the Prairies is, but it's usually people who have never set foot there. Spend some time in a field of yellow canola flowers beneath a blue sky with an impossible number of white clouds overhead and you quickly realize this landscape is as beautiful as any in the country.
In Winnipeg, we had dinner at The Forks. The national historic site is known as a place where different cultures have met over the centuries. In that spirit, I dined on perogy poutine, the perfect meeting of Ukrainian-immigrant cuisine and French-Canadian comfort food.
We learned about some of Canada's history in the rustic Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Brandon, Man., and we got another dose of history in the much glossier RCMP Museum in Regina, Sask.
We headed north to Saskatoon, a city that is too often overlooked by travellers, as it is off the main stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway. I'd like to say that we explored it, but we were there to visit family and never got beyond their backyard.
A mad dash across the border into Alberta took us into dinosaur territory, where we visited Dinosaur Provincial Park, one of the most amazing sources of prehistoric fossils in the world. At first, it all looks like rocks, but after some coaching from a guide, you realize just about all those stones under your feet are actually bits of fossilized wood and bone. We admired more complete dinosaur skeletons at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, one of Canada's most impressive museums.
Sorry, Calgary, but we had no time to visit. We had an early appointment the next day with the Rocky Mountains. Those snow-capped peaks shining in the distance were calling to us.
Chapter 3: The Rockies: Too much beauty for one day
When we drove into Banff National Park on Saturday, we discovered it was the last long weekend of the summer. This is clearly not a good time to visit the most popular national park in the country, as everyone is in a panic to do something before summer slips away -- and they all wanted to do it there.
The lineups to drive to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake were staggering. Cars were parked along the side of the access roads for kilometres as if they had been abandoned during a zombie apocalypse. The shores of the lakes swarmed with people like ants on a sugar cube.
Despite the long lines and crowds, the famed vistas were worth the wait. We enjoyed mesmerizing views of mountains, lakes and rivers all day as we slowly made our way through the Banff park into Jasper National Park. As for spotting wildlife, we weren't disappointed. Two black bears, numerous elk and a bighorn sheep were among the large game we saw on our drive.
Our plans to stay in Jasper were thwarted, as all affordable accommodation had been snapped up for the long weekend. We had to backtrack out of the park toward Edmonton, where we scored an overpriced hotel room in the town of Hinton. It worked out fine because we got to admire the gorgeous scenery at the eastern edge of the park and were treated to some close-up encounters with magnificent elk grazing by a lake at the side of the road.
The next day, we returned to Jasper for a bit of horseback riding, then ventured farther west across the Rockies into British Columbia and down into the Fraser Valley, where we slowly descended into the semi-arid landscape of sage and cactus around Kamloops. The scenery looks like it is lifted straight from the scenes of a cowboy movie, not something you'd expect to see in Canada.
After a night's rest, we took the long drive to the vibrant city of Vancouver, where we ditched our car and stayed in a downtown hotel for two nights. We explored the city by public transit and bicycle, hitting the usual tourist spots of Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium, the Harbourfront and Canada Place.
Chapter 4: Vancouver Island: Take a deep breath
By now, we had driven many kilometres, seen many sights and packed a lot of experiences into a short time, but morale in the car remained high. The key to surviving this kind of trip is to not drive too many hours without stopping for a break and not over-schedule yourself with activities so you don't leave any time for discovery.
We got a break from driving by taking the ferry to the B.C. capital, Victoria. It is best described as cosy. Much of our visit centred around walks by the city's Inner Harbour, with the Gothic splendour of the vine-covered Fairmont Empress Hotel on one side and the grandeur of the provincial assembly building on the other. The harbour was busy with colourful sailboats and other vessels as well as the coming and going of noisy float planes ferrying passengers to Vancouver and beyond.
We boarded one of the boats in the harbour, a massive Zodiac operated by Prince of Whales, to go whale-watching. We sped out to sea bundled in red survival suits and orange tuques, both necessary because of the cold wind we faced while speeding across the frigid water.
After some fruitless searching, we eventually came across a pair of orcas hunting seals by the rocks of a small island. Our guide was excited that we'd see them devour something, but we never did get to see a whale eating a seal. We got close enough to see the tall fins of the whales and their distinctive white and black markings, and that was satisfying enough.
From Victoria, we made the long drive to Tofino. Anticipation grew as we drove the last stretch of winding road through forests and mountains to our end destination. At last, about an hour before sunset, we arrived at the gates of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the western shore of Vancouver Island.
We drove to Long Beach, possibly the most beautiful in the country, and waded across the wide, sandy flats in the golden light of a setting sun. Low patches of fog clung to the tall pine trees behind the beach. We let the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean numb our bare feet. In the sand, we scrawled the number 6,324. That's how many kilometres we drove to get there.
The town of Tofino was delightfully laid back. Many of the people we spoke to told us how they had come there for vacation and never left. It was easy to see why.
The following morning dawned foggy and grey, but we had signed up for a surfing lesson. Clad in figure-hugging wetsuits and booties, we dragged our long boards to the beach and were instructed on the finer points of climbing up and catching a wave. The water was freezing, but the wetsuits did their job and it was hardly noticeable after a few minutes. After many attempts, with lots of falling and laughing, we all succeeded at standing upright on our boards, propelled by the waves beneath us. Mission accomplished. It was time to go home.
Epilogue: Going home
The next day was the beginning of our long trek back to Montreal. We pointed the GPS towards Seattle, then rocketed across the U.S. toward Chicago, crossing the border at Sarnia, Ont. Those days were not without adventures, but they paled compared to the experiences we enjoyed exploring Canada.
Although a few weeks of a road trip across Canada barely scratches the surface of what this country has to offer, it is a pilgrimage everyone should make. Now, when I or my kids see a news report about a tiny Saskatchewan community or read about the hometown of some hockey hero, we can see it in our mind's eye and know we've been there.
As for our plans to see the rest of the country, everyone's excited to be hitting the road again this summer for a voyage to Newfoundland and Labrador.
-- Postmedia Network Inc. 2014


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MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. - A Merritt Island brush fire that quickly grew to 15 acres and burned near homes was contained by firefighters.
The fire began just before 1 p.m. Wednesday and was first reported at about a half-acre in size. The fire occurred off Wildwood Avenue, which runs north from Chase Hammock Road south of Kennedy Space Center.
The blaze quickly grew as firefighters cleared a protective line by using tractors to remove vegetation and other fuel.
Florida Forest Service, Brevard County Fire-Rescue and Cape Canaveral fire crews were in the area to defend nearby homes if the flames jumped the fire line. Merritt Island volunteer firefighters also battled the blaze.
No evacuations were ordered, but some residents left voluntarily, officials said.
The area is east of North Courtenay Parkway and south of Kennedy Space Center.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

subset: commoncrawl


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What Senta does for you
Senta is the marketing consulting agency specialized in multi-sensory customer experience. With 20 years of experience Senta developed a new marketing strategy based on research, trends, insights and practical knowledge 'multisensory concepting'. In this practical market approach all the sensory stimuli match the brand.Continue reading


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A Labour plan to ban smoking in cars carrying children is due to be put to a vote in the House of Lords.
But smoking at the wheel can also lead to serious financial implications on top of any health issues according to experts at British Car Auctions (BCA).
Tim Naylor of BCA said: "The British Medical Association has previously released research showing the levels of toxins in a car can be up to 11 times higher than in a smoky bar.
"But if drivers aren't motivated by the health of their passengers, perhaps they will be by the diminishing health of their finances. Lighting up inside a car seriously devalues the vehicle for resale.
"Presentation is one of the top factors influencing the price of used cars. So if a car is more like an ashtray on wheels, chances are buyers will move on to find one that looks and smells fresh as a daisy."
Professional valeting can alleviate most of the effects of smoking, but is expensive and time consuming and might mean replacing some interior trim, such as nicotine-stained headlinings and repairing any cigarette burns in the cabin.
In the worst cases, this can represent an investment of several hundred pounds.
Mr Naylor concluded: "Motorists should avoid having a cigarette in their car, especially if they intend to sell it in the near future. This will avoid the lingering smell of cigarettes in the interior, as well as eliminate the risk of scorch marks on the upholstery or dash. All of these things will put buyers off, even if they smoke themselves."


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Phase Change: Cooling and Solidification of Metal
Nancy Bannach August 12, 2014
Modeling phase change is important for many thermal processes, ranging from the food industry to the metal processing industry. The Heat Transfer Module offers a dedicated interface for modeling the characteristics of phase change. It uses the apparent heat capacity method, which we introduce here.Read More
Alexandra Foley August 11, 2014
Interested in using COMSOL Multiphysics to simulate electrical applications? The new Electrical showcase is a resource for those of you who want to learn about the COMSOL software's capabilities for modeling a variety of electrical systems, components, and devices. The showcase provides you with valuable content such as how-to videos, user case studies, white papers, and example models specific to your area of expertise.Read More
Guest Nagi Elabbasi August 8, 2014
Today, we invite guest blogger Nagi Elabbasi of Veryst Engineering to share the work they performed on simulating wear in COMSOL Multiphysics. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, we implemented a wear model and validated it by simulating a pin-on-disc wear test. We then used the model to predict wear in an automotive disc brake problem. The results we found showed good agreement with published wear data.Read More
Bridget Cunningham August 7, 2014
In the past, we have discussed the importance of material selection in 3D printing and how it can affect the integrity of the final product. With advancements in technology, the industry has evolved from the production of more simple materials, like plastics, to those of greater difficulty, such as metals. Here, we take a more in-depth look at 3D metal printing and its potential to revolutionize the manufacturing process.Read More
Mark Fowler August 6, 2014
Last month, my colleague Alexandra Foley introduced an RF modeling example that uses periodic boundary conditions. Another RF model that can be created with ease by taking advantage of periodic boundary conditions is the Frequency Selective Surface, Periodic Complementary Split Ring Resonator model.Read More
Fanny Littmarck August 5, 2014
We tend to do some research before taking to the lab, but when it comes to baking, I've been operating in the reverse. In this lighter blog entry, we explore the role of eggs in baking by comparing traditional recipes with vegan versions as well as more modern baking techniques. Chemistry experiments you can eat? Yes, please.Read More
Annette Pahl August 4, 2014
The electron energy distribution function (EEDF) plays an important role in plasma modeling. Various approaches can be used to describe the EEDF, such as Maxwellian, Druyvesteyn, or using a solution of the Boltzmann equation. Today, we will demonstrate the influence the EEDF has on a plasma model's results. Additionally, we present a way to compute the EEDF with the Boltzmann Equation, Two-Term Approximation interface.Read More
Alexandra Foley August 1, 2014
Engineers designing space-bound satellites and solar arrays face a rather ironic challenge — lack of space. In order to overcome this problem, aerospace engineers are turning to an interesting source for inspiration: origami, the ancient art of Japanese paper folding.Read More
Alexandra Foley July 31, 2014
The Swiss steel company SMS Concast has been leveraging multiphysics simulation to optimize the steelmaking process of continuous casting. Through research conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics, the R&D team at SMS Concast was able to implement a new technique that allowed a steelmaking plant in Taiwan to reduce yearly CO2 emissions by about 40,000 tons.Read More
Wei Guo July 30, 2014
We have all experienced the boredom and frustration of being stuck in a traffic jam. Very often, traffic congestion comes and goes for no obvious reason. Employing the analogy to gas dynamics, we can now simulate traffic flow using the equation-based modeling capabilities of COMSOL Multiphysics and gain a better understanding of why congestion happens.Read More
Bridget Cunningham July 29, 2014
Imagine a mode of air travel that is both fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. The mechanical modeling of torque transfer components in fully superconducting rotating machines have helped researchers draw new conclusions on how to optimize aircraft design and potentially achieve electric propulsion. A research team investigated the stress and heat distribution in these machines and presented their results at the COMSOL Conference 2013 in Boston.Read More


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Special-Needs Schools and Educational Programs in Queens, NY
UPDATED August: Our list of schools and educational programs for children with special needs in Queens.
UPDATED August: Our list of schools and educational programs for children with special needs in Queens.
Annual Individualized Education Program meetings can be stressful, but there are ways to help make them run smoothly.
There are a lot of things to consider when looking for a tutor for your child with special needs. Ease your search with this list of questions from a mom with experience.
What parents need to know about touring a preschool for their child with special needs, from safety issues to the staff and student body.
Christopher Ulmer is a special education teacher in Florida that documents his positive interactions with his students on Facebook and approaches teaching them in a loving way.
Connect the Kids NYC and KNeoWorld Inc. have teamed up to raise money through an Indegogo campaign to supply tablets and game-based learning software to students with special needs in NYC.
Parents' attitudes have a tremendous impact on how their children experience school, especially if the child is an atypical learner. Here, seven ways to adjust your attitude that will set your child on a path to success in school and beyond.
As teens move through school, it's not always easy for parents to let go and encourage children to take responsibility for their own success. Beverly Baker, co-director of the National Center for Family Professional Partnerships' KASA project, offers advice on how to approach empowering your maturing child.
If you've just started learning about your child's rights, the terms can be confusing, but it's imperative to know the terminology to be an effective advocate for your child. Here's a cheat sheet to the most common terms you're likely to encounter in special education.
The move from preschool to the 'big school' rarely goes off without a hitch for any child, but for one with learning disabilities, it can be especially challenging. How can you help? Try these ideas from Sarah Birnbaum, a special needs consultant in New York City.
One of the first—and most important—decisions you'll have to make as the parent of a child with a learning disability or other special needs is what school your child will attend. Find answers to common questions that go into the decision making process.
Vincent Smith School, an independent school for children with learning disabilities, is adding first and second grades in the fall. The school is also building a new playground, and will offer a transitional program for 11th and 12th grades.
One New York mom watches her son mature and advance at the end of elementary school as he transitions into middle school and his needs evolve.
Alternatives for Children, a day care and special needs services provider, recently opened in Dix Hills. The center is licensed by New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and follows the National Association for Education of Young Children guidelines.
St. Vincent's Special Needs Services recently added a Hydroworx pool and now offers aqua therapy. St. Vincent's school has also expanded to offer services for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Apart from an improved aptitude for learning, literacy helps children with Down syndrome by building self-esteem and confidence to interact socially.
Lend a helping hand and make a few new friends and any of local organizations that provide support to children and adults with Down syndrome.
Finding the best school for your child with special needs can seem overwhelming. An NYC mom of four, including one with special needs, shares her top 10 things to consider when looking the for the right school for your child with special needs.
One year after mainstreaming her gradeschool-aged son, a NYC mother reflects on the new set of challenges that come with that "progress," from persisting stigmas for her son to shifting her own parental identity.
Autism Speaks' new School Community Tool Kit 2.0 is a resource meant to help classmates, teachers, and other school staff to better understand students on the autism spectrum and how to support them.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) recently released a shocking new survey of nearly 2,000 American adults (4.4% margin of error), showing that Americans lack a basic understanding of learning disabilities (LDs). We present the new information about causes and treatments for LDs, and rights for kids who have them.
Louise Weadock, a registered child psychiatric nurse and founder of WeeZee World, explains why sensory play is important to children's development and offers tips on how you can create a dynamic learning environment at home.
Graduation day at the Association for Metroarea Autistic Children (AMAC) preschool meant more than just moving from preschool to kindergarten. It marked huge strides for children who just a couple of years couldn't function in a typical school setting.
The New York City Department of Education's (DOE) Division of Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners has created additional resources for families with questions about the citywide expansion of the special education reform initiative that will go into effect this coming September of 2012.
The League Education and Treatment Center, which was located in DUMBO, recently moved to a building in Fort Greene that is totally green and state-of-the-art. LETC offers a preschool program where children with and without special needs learn and play together, grades K-12, and six different adult programs.
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The Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) unites the Center for Research on Women and the Stone Center for Developmental Services and Studies in an interdisciplinary community of scholars engaged in research, training, analysis and action. The Wellesley Centers for Women is home to the Women's Rights Network, the National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center and projects on family violence and on sexual harassment in schools.
© 2016 National Sexual Violence Resource Center – Founded by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape
This site is supported by Grant/ Cooperative Agreement No. 1UF2CE002359-04 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


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A COUPLE'S appalling neglect of their five children in a 'filthy, stinking house', went on for 'many years' despite teachers, social workers and health professionals knowing of their plight, a court heard on Friday.
It was only when the couple's youngest child, a three-year-old girl, was admitted to hospital with severe nappy rash that the scale of the neglect was realised by the care agencies.
Soon after the little girl went to hospital her two brothers, both aged four, were also admitted - and then urgent care proceedings were launched to remove all the couple's children from them.
The youngsters, aged from three to 14, were suffering from problems including malnutrition, lice and flea infestation and were grubby and smelly, Gloucester Crown Court was told.
One teacher had often been unable to bear the smell of one of the girls and had to walk away from her.
Two boys, aged four, were not potty trained and were still wearing nappies.
One headteacher even took to washing one of the girls' clothes herself at school because they smelt so badly.
When police went to arrest the parents at their home in the Stroud area of Gloucestershire, two months after the children had been removed, they were shocked at the state of the house, the court heard.
"The police found the home to be in a poor state with a strong smell of urine and upstairs was worse than downstairs," said prosecutor Kerry Barker.
"The children's bedrooms stank of urine and animal faeces. Dirty clothing was still lying around on the floors. The kitchen was dirty and smelled of stale food and the house was generally grimy and dirty.
"The officers were shocked that children had been allowed to live in those conditions and, of course, that was two months after the children had been removed."
Yet for years beforehand the smelly, lice-ridden, undernourished state of the children had been obvious to teachers and medical professionals who repeatedly contacted the parents to voice their concerns, said Mr Barker.
The situation dragged on because the mother, particularly, failed to engage with the agencies and did not keep appointments with doctors and social workers.
She would get angry and hostile when professionals contacted her about their concerns for the children.
The couple pleaded guilty to five charges of neglect of the children between July 2007 and December 2012.
Mr Barker said the couple also have four older children and had been charged with neglect of them but the prosecution had decided not to proceed with those charges.
The female defendant is the mother of all nine children but her husband is the father of only the three youngest although he had taken on the responsibility of parenting the older siblings, Mr Barker explained.
The couple had begun living together in 2007.
"One of the most significant features of the case is how the children have thrived and their health has improved dramatically having been placed in the care of others such as foster carers," added Mr Barker.
Mr Barker told how one of the couple's daughters, aged 12, stank so much at school that other pupils could not tolerate the smell and she had to be isolated.
She frequently 'had an unpleasant overpowering smell through poor hygiene and dirty clothes'.
She was socially isolated because other children could not tolerate the smell and also suffered with head lice infestations which were clearly visible to other students.
"These issues were raised with the mother on a number of occasions and the girl had to be sent home. The school's increasing concerns were put in a letter to the mother from the head teacher in June 2010," he added.
On some occasions the girl's teacher had to walk away from her because he could not stand the smell. Yet the mother claimed she and her husband could not smell anything.
The mother had failed to keep appointments with a paediatrician to treat her for incontinence and this led to urinary tract infections, said Mr Barker.
The girl had poor vision and was struggling at school because the mother had not taken her to the opticians to get a new prescription.
Mr Barker added that one of the couple's daughter's, now aged eight, caused concern at a local infants school where it was noticed she was sore from scratching head lice and her clothes were dirty and inappropriate for the weather.
The mother became 'very angry' when contacted by the head teacher - and she and her husband claimed to a social worker that they were being 'got at'.
"Sadly things did not change and the head teacher had to resort to things like washing the little girl's clothes whilst she was at school," added Mr Barker.
"Eventually the mother gave permission to the head teacher to comb the girl's hair to try to eradicate the lice."
The court heard that a paediatrician later found evidence of 'both physical and emotional harm and neglect which are likely to be impacting on the girl's learning and social development'.
According to Mr Barker, she was underweight and inadequately nourished - she had nutritional iron and Vitamin D deficiency.
Both the four year old boys taken into hospital in 2012 were suffering from problems including developmental delay, severe Vitamin D deficiency with thinning bones, severe iron deficiency and chronic head lice infestation,
Although aged four, they were still in nappies and not potty trained, the court heard.
The youngest daughter, whose severe nappy rash led to the plight of the children at last being fully appreciated, had severe iron deficiency anaemia, low weight and short stature for her age, head lice and unnatural sleepiness, Mr Barker added.
"She had dirty nails. She smelled. She had scabs on top of her head and the hair was missing from those areas. She had rampant head lice and scratch marks on her back and arms. Enamel was missing from her teeth which were brown and discoloured," he said.
She was in such a bad way she could barely stand to be measured and was 'distressed on weight bearing'.
Mr Barker told the court that when the mother was questioned by police she refused for an hour to answer questions and then denied neglect and said she loved the children and cared for them to the best of her ability.
She had treated head lice with mayonnaise - a tip she learned from her mother, she stated.
"She asserted that the children had been fed properly and that they kept the house clean," said Mr Barker.
"Her husband described a daily cleaning regime and bathing the children also daily. He'd asserted they had proper meals and he could not account for their iron and Vitamin D deficiencies."
Mr Barker said sentencing guidelines indicated the couple should be jailed for between five and nine years each.
However Judge Jamie Tabor QC did not sentence the pair after defence solicitor Steve Young, for the mother, submitted that a pre-sentence report on her from a probation officer was unfair and biased against her.
He said the probation officer had told the mother she would be recommending a suspended sentence - but had then not done so.
The judge adjourned the case until Wednesday, May 28 to give the probation officer a chance to respond.
The couple has been bailed until then.


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Tuesday, January 19, 2010
I remember last month after my Today Show appearance, my friend Janet Wong and I decided to see a palm reader for a lark but instead of being amused, I was annoyed.
Because after hearing about Robert (another thing that bugged me was that she asked me a lot of questions about my life before telling me what she "saw") she kept telling me that that my palm indicated that I had been unlucky in love.
It took me a while to figure out why that bothered me so much. And I realize, it's because I don't believe I have been unlucky in love. With Robert, I was with someone who truly loved me, who fought with every ounce of his being to try to be with me. Robert was unlucky with life, the shortness and the pain that his life contained. But I was lucky to have him in mine.
I guess, the truth is, I don't think love can ever be unlucky. I think it's when the love disappears, when one mistakens something else for love, or when others twist their own desires in it's name--those are the things that cause misfortune. One of my favorite quotes is, "Love is, simply put, truly wishing another to be happy."
Which is why I know Robert would be so proud about the book's reception and happy for the new life I am creating; and, as the good wishes and congratulations continue to stream in from all over, I know that I am truly lucky.
19 comments:
- Michelle Henninger said...
I'm sure Robert is whooping and hollering and cheering the loudest for this wonderful achievement, Grace! I wish he could have been here for you to celebrate with.
- January 19, 2010 at 7:10 AM
- Jeannine said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- January 19, 2010 at 8:14 AM
- Jeannine said...
Grace, What a lovely post. It's wonderful that Where the Mountain Meets the Moon has touched so many, and is now sure to touch many more. Congratulations!
- January 19, 2010 at 8:32 AM
- Martha Brockenbrough said...
Grace, I'm so thrilled for you and your book. This post really touched me and shows, once again, you're a writer with great heart.
- January 19, 2010 at 8:50 AM
- Tricia said...
This is a beautiful post and lovely tribute to Robert and your life together. I hope the new road you find yourself on contains just as much love. You and Squatchie are so lucky to have found one another.
Congratulations again!
- January 19, 2010 at 9:07 AM
- kirst68hk said...
Congratulations! Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a magical book and it will now enchant a wider audience.
- January 19, 2010 at 9:22 AM
- yamster said...
I'm sure Robert knew he was lucky in love too! and I'm also sure he's wishing you and Squatchie well and enjoying the Honor as much as you are. Congrats again.
- January 19, 2010 at 10:25 AM
- Mom2Isabel said...
"Which is why I know Robert would be so proud about the book's reception and happy for the new life I am creating; and, as the good wishes and congratulations continue to stream in from all over, I know that I am truly lucky."
Tears in my eyes. What a wonderfl way to view all of this: your life and love with Robert, as well as this well-deserved honor.
We love you too, Grace.
- January 19, 2010 at 11:29 AM
- Karen Romano Young said...
Oh Grace! I have been thinking about Robert a lot for the last couple of days. You are absolutely right and I know he must be so proud... as you should indeed be proud of all you have done with him and without him. Sending love. - Wren
- January 19, 2010 at 11:33 AM
- jjk said...
Beautiful post, Grace. Now you'll need to change the book up on the sidebar of your blog to include that fancy silver sticker! So beyond excited for you here.
- January 19, 2010 at 2:24 PM
- Redheaded Stepchild said...
What a wonderful way to look at love! I'm sure Robert is happy for you!
- January 19, 2010 at 4:30 PM
- Kjersten said...
Beautiful post, Grace. Thank you so much for sharing. And for your book. I jumped up and down when I heard about the honor. Congrats.
- January 19, 2010 at 6:38 PM
- Carmela Martino said...
A very touching post, Grace. Thank you for sharing so openly.
- January 19, 2010 at 7:09 PM
- janet wong said...
You're right: the palm reading wasn't exactly on target...but the palm reader did say (without any prompting) that she felt you would have success as a creative person in the arts, didn't she? (And travel is forthcoming. Where did she say? Florida? Europe? Washington, D.C.?)
- January 19, 2010 at 9:19 PM
- taralazar said...
Oh gosh, I shed a tear reading that. I think we're all lucky to have had Robert inspire and encourage your wonderful talent.
- January 19, 2010 at 10:55 PM
- Rasco from RIF said...
Thank you, Grace, for sharing your experience with us. I am quite touched by this posting. All the best to you, I hope to meet you in person in the near future; I also hope we can work it out for you come to RIF and visit with the staff....let me know if you will be in DC with a spare moment or two!
- January 19, 2010 at 11:05 PM
- Annie said...
Congratulations! You truly deserve it. I am looking forward to reading Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.
- January 20, 2010 at 12:52 AM
- Kristin said...
Grace, congratulations on what I am sure is a well-deserved honor! I read your news on my sister's FB page, and already shared your blog and related news articles with the L.A. teachers at my school (grades 5&6). I am sure we will all be looking for your book!
- Kristin Baker
- January 20, 2010 at 10:59 PM
- Katy said...
It just goes to show that lovely, wonderful things do still happen in the world. Congratulations!
- January 23, 2010 at 12:53 PM


text:
My client's loop looks like this:
- Code: Select all
while True:
data = file.read(1024)
if not data:
break # EOF
Whereas my server's loop looks like this:
- Code: Select all
while True:
conn, client = sawkit.accept()
data = conn.recv(1024)
if not data:
At the moment, this code only writes 1KB of data, cutting out large chunks of files. I'm assuming this has something to do with my loop structures, but I can't figure out why the program doesn't loop properly.
In addition, I'm opening my files read(r) and write(w) only, respectively, along with the b option for immediate use with buffers. I'm finding however that any file with any sort of extension refuses to work with this method of file transfer at all. Only plain text files seem to be able to be sent, which is odd. Is this a matter of encoding or something else entirely?
Thanks for the time, per usual!
EDIT: The client appears to be looping properly. It's the server that refuses to loop. Hurray debugging!
EDIT 2: Wooooowwwwww. It's a Monday. I needed a second while loop server side, because otherwise the socket was closing immediately following the first read. Problem solved. Sorry about that folks...


text: Bring together a theme of beauty and style in a room of your home with this stunning Evening Sky Framed Art. The Evening Sky Framed Art is a perfect way to accent existing furniture or to compliment a complete overhaul and start fresh. This Evening Sky Framed Art as is the case with all of our items comes with our guarantee of high quality standard sourced from only the best materials.


text:
Happy Thanksgiving! Now that it's 11:40 and I'm still stuffed- I'm taking sometime to reflect on my life and my site. You may have noticed that I've been awfully quiet lately. It is no secret that these past few years have been a bit of a roller coaster. I've struggled with trying to find some peace in my life, and deal with my anxiety and when things get busy and out of control the blog is one of the first things to go. Between running The DC Ladies and coming up with new ideas for that, working on my co-working space, keeping up with Hadley, putting my design business up there is little time for blogging. And I know I've been slacking, but I miss blogging and feel ready for my comeback, which I know I've said just a short time ago, but I've got my Diva lists out… I know it won't be easy, but I'd like to give my blog a little love every week as well as a much needed makeover… soon!
So this is where you come in.
While I do write this blog for myself and sometimes feel like I'm just throwing my thoughts out there into the virtual space, the fact is that you're reading my blog and I'm writing for you as well. That said, what do you want to see from me? What types of posts are your favorite? Why are you here?
Whether there's something you want to see or a question you've been wanting to ask, I want to hear all about it, you know me I'm all about sharing! I'd really love to hear from you… hello… hello..


text:
de A L E X A L E X A N D E R
Acerca del libro
Derived from the focus of identity through race and sexuality, The Awakenings, completed in April of 2010, became the starting point for a greater compilation of works. (See figure 1).
In this follow-up to The Awakenings comes another more concentrated anthology of poems and photographic accompaniments with a focus on such theme as; self awareness, circumstantial acceptance, insatiable appetite, spiritual as well as emotional withdrawal, abandonment and neglect.
In sight of the revelations exposed in the previous collection, the following assortment remains true to the most explicit of photographic efforts used to convey such complex premises.
The corresponding pros exploit the same efforts with little to no regard for structure or technical poetic restraint. The verse is free flowing yet composed in a manner that further emphasizes each series specific tone and mood.
The series that began the second installment of the Awakenings, entitled "Against the Grain" (See figure 2) depicts a young woman and her partner at the dawn of parenthood as she is coming to terms with the load she must prepare to carry on her own. This series speaks to the themes of self awareness and the acceptance through ones struggle.
As always, in paring both image and text, I strive to allow both mediums the freedom to communicate clearly for themselves. No sole idea speaks louder than the other hence granting the audience enough room to reflect and assess key topics expressed in my collective
Características y detalles
- Categoría Poesía
Apaisado grande, 33×28 cm
98 Páginas
- Fecha de publicación sep. 07, 2011
- Etiquetas Washington DC, Robert Johnson, La Bruja, poetry, lesbian, sex, sexual, photography, photo-poetry, art, MICA, Baltimore, Gay, Romance, Sexuality, Intimacy, Gender, Identity, Hoodoo
Inicia sesión o crea una cuenta para publicar un comentario.


text:
Australian Open Tennis Shop: Women's Nike Tee
Whilst some are busy gearing up for Superbowl Sunday, Serena Williams is heading for the women's finals at the 2009 Australian Open. She may not have made it to the Olympics last year, but she is now ready to rock in Melbourne. Look out Mademoiselle Safina !


text:
Place oil and popcorn in a large pot, cover and pop the corn, shaking the pan occasionally. Place popped corn in a large mixing bowl together with the peanuts. Preheat the oven to 350°. Place the barley malt, maple syrup and miso in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the flame to medium, stir constantly and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. Pour over the popcorn and peanuts. Mix thoroughly and spread out evenly on two baking sheets. Place the sheet on the middle or top rack in the oven. Bake for 2 minutes, turn the mixture with a spatula and bake another 2 to 3 minutes. Be careful not to bake too long as the syrup has a tendency to burn easily. Remove the caramel corn from the sheets immediately, to prevent hardening on the sheet and place in a large serving bowl.
Other nuts such as walnuts, pecans, almonds or even roasted pumpkin and sesame seeds may be substituted for peanuts.
Per serving - 230 calories, 21 gram fat (55% calories from fat), 4 gram protein, 35 gram carbohydrate, 4 gram fiber, 0 milligram cholesterol, 53 milligram sodium


text:
We asked you to vote for your favourite all-time movie trilogies, and you answered in your thousands. Some of you plumped for pure three-somes, untinged by inconvenient further sequels; others specified which three films in a series you meant - and, where there's a coherent narrative to back you up, we've allowed it. So here, without further ado, are the greatest film trios for your enjoyment...
33. The Jersey Trilogy
Clerks (1994) Mallrats (1995) Chasing Amy (1997)
Director Kevin Smith
Starring Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Shannon Doherty, Jeremy London, Claire Forlani, Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Ethan Suplee
A loose trilogy, this, but we're assuming you readers felt this list was a little light on profanity and needed some explicit discussion of oral sex to balance out the selection. And on that basis it's hard to surpass Kevin Smith's first three films, a more grounded group than his follow-ons and, in the case of Chasing Amy especially, a near perfect mix of foul mouthery, far too in-depth geek discussions and warm heart. Smith hasn't surpassed Amy yet, but we can only hope he keeps trying to at least equal it. It just goes to show you don't need fallen angels, chimps or even Rosario Dawson to make a great movie.
Weakest link? Mallrats, which didn't deserve the kicking it got on release but is also by far the weakest of the three.
Fun fact: Wondering where the letters in the Clerks logo came from? Well, C is from Cosmopolitan, L is from Life, E is from Rolling Stone, R is from Ruffles potato chips, K is from Clark Bar and S is from a Goobers box.
What to say... "I'm not even supposed to be here today."
...and what not to say. "Hasn't it become abundantly clear during the tenure of our friendship that I don't know shit?"
32. Hannibal Lecter Trilogy
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Hannibal (2001) Red Dragon (2002)
Director Jonathan Demme, Ridley Scott, Brett Ratner
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Ted Levine, Scott Glenn, Julianne Moore, Ray Liotta, Gary Oldman, Giancarlo Giannini, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Mary Louise Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Anthony Hopkins' performance as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs is the shortest ever to win Best (leading) Actor at the Oscars. He's only onscreen for 16 minutes, but such is his domination of the film that you'd swear it was two or three times that. It's no wonder that studios kept trying to recapture that lightning in a bottle, recruiting cinema's best ever villain for a sequel and a prequel (there's another prequel, not starring Hopkins and not included here) which saw diminishing returns but which still benefitted from that uncanny, barely blinking performance. So why not settle down with a nice Chianti and enjoy the cannibal holocaust?
Weakest link? For perhaps the only time in history, we're going to argue that a Ridley Scott film is weaker than a Brett Ratner one. Hannibal suffers from the world's worst last act (in fairness, hamstrung by the source novel and improving slightly on it) whereas Red Dragon is a decent if unexceptional thriller.
Fun fact: The Silence of the Lambs is one of only three films ever to win all "Big Five" Oscars: Best Film, Director, Screenplay, Actor and Actress. The other two are It Happened One Night and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
What to say... "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."
...and what not to say. "I wonder what human liver tastes like. "
31. The Ingmar Bergman Trilogy
Through A Glass Darkly (1961) Winter Light (1962) The Silence (1963)
Director Ingmar Bergman
Starring Harriet Andersson, Gunnar Bjornstrand, Max Von Sydow, Ingrid Thulin, Gunnel Lindblom, Jorgen Lindstrom
Although it's too much of a stretch to call it Bergman's franchise, this early '60s troika are exquisite chamber pieces built around themes of sanity, madness and the wavering of religious faith, thus earning the right to be called a trilogy. Through A Glass Darkly charts a family's descent into madness on a remote island. Winter Light sees a pastor in a spiritual meltdown and might be the grimmest film Bergman ever made (and that's saying something). The Silence ticks all the art house boxes, depicting lesbianism, a troupe of dwarves, symbolism and Ingrid Thulin dying of tuberculosis; it was a surprise hit due its explicit (for the time) rumpy-pumpy scenes. Each film is marked by eerie settings, minimal dialogue, great Sven Nykvist photography and superb performances from Bergo's stock company. If you're feeling a bit down in the dumps, however, best stick with Glee.
Weakest link? Although it won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar (What did you expect? Best Visual Effects?), Through A Glass Darkly is the least affecting of the three. Still compelling stuff though.
Fun fact: When Kabi Laretei (Bergman's wife at the time) saw Winter Lights for the first time, she said, "Ingmar, it's a masterpiece. But it's a dreary masterpiece."
What to say... "These three films deal with reduction. Through a Glass Darkly - conquered certainty. Winter Light - penetrated certainty. The Silence - God's silence - the negative imprint. Therefore, they constitute a trilogy. - Ingmar Bergman"
...and what not to say. "Through A Glass Darkly? Is that the Keanu Reeves cartoon?"
30. Mission: Impossible 1-3
Mission: Impossible (1996) Mission: Impossible II (2000) Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Director Brian De Palma, John Woo, JJ Abrams
Starring Tom Cruise, Jon Voigt, Emmanuelle Beart, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Vanessa Redgrave, Dougray Scott, Thandie Newton, Richard Roxburgh, Michelle Monaghan, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Billy Crudup, Simon Pegg, Kerry Russell
Opening with the death of most of its cast, Mission: Impossible made it clear from the get-go that it was going to keep you on your toes. And that's something that the series has largely managed since, with a succession of cunning disguises, plans-within-plans and daring heists unfolding in a way that may dizzy the logic but keeps the entertainment centres of the brain hopping. The second film suffered some setbacks, but JJ Abrams' third effort marked a return to form and some of the most intricate scheming yet. We're still not sure it's possible to make silicone masks that convincing though.
Weakest link? Mission: Impossible II, which takes the whole people-peeling-off-their-faces thing to ridiculous levels, and definitely places style (and floppy hair) over substance.
Fun fact: At one point, Kenneth Branagh was set to be the bad guy in Mission: Impossible III, but dropped out when delays caused the film to conflict with his own film, As You Like It.
What to say... "This message will self-destruct."
...and what not to say. "It's more of a Mission: Quite Difficult though, isn't it? Because he keeps managing it."
29. Trilogy of the Dead
Night of the Living Dead (1968) Dawn of the Dead (1978) Day of the Dead (1985)
Director George A. Romero
Starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Marilyn Eastman, Karl Hardman, Ken Foree, David Emge
George A. Romero loosed a plague upon the world. Before his 1968 salvo, there was essentially no such thing as a zombie - certainly nothing in the mainstream, apt to spawn survival guides and HBO shows and twists on Jane Austen. But such was the power of the ultra low-budget Night of the Living Dead and its equally scathing, satirical sequels, that the zombie became the cultural powerhouse we all know and love. While the three zombie follow-ups Romero's made since have met with mixed receptions, there's no question that these three will gnaw their way into your brain and stay there. Triumphant.
Weakest link? Well, parts four, five and six actually; the original three are all rather brilliant. But if we have to choose, we'll say Day, which has suffered more than the other two from the endless imitations.
Fun fact: Need some fake blood for your black-and-white genre-creating zombie movie? Why, just buy some stocks of Bosco Chocolate Syrup! Delicious and gruesome.
What to say... "This situation must be controlled before it's too late. They're multiplying too rapidly!"
...and what not to say. "Braaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnssss!"
28. The Mariachi Trilogy
El Mariachi (1992) Desperado (1995) Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003)
Director Robert Rodriguez
Starring Carlos Gallardo, Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, Joaquin de Almeida, Steve Buscemi, Quentin Tarantino, Danny Trejo, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, Eva Mendes, Mickey Rourke, Enrique Iglesias
From humble beginnings with funding gained by the director's willingness to undergo medical experimentation to a star-studded finale, Robert Rodriguez' Mariachi trilogy has - and we're willing to put our reputations on the line on this one - more weapons hidden in guitar cases than any other series on this list. Like Evil Dead, the second film is more or less a remake of the first, and the moment when the series really hits its stride, but all three of them are stylish and improbably entertaining, what with the two-handed gunfights and the Mexican stand-offs (of course) and the thousands of squibs popping on every side. It'll make you want to learn guitar, and then want to carve out the middle of the guitar and hide a couple of machine guns in there.
Weakest link? The finale, which pays for its star power in narrative coherence and originality. We still love the bit with Johnny Depp's CIA agent wandering around in a T-shirt that reads CIA, but it can't quite push it to the top.
Fun fact: The villain in the third film and the Chihuahua in the third are both called Moco, which means boogers in colloquial Spanish.
What to say... "Bless me, Father, for I have just killed quite a few men."
...and what not to say. "Are you a Mexi-CAN or a Mexi-CAN'T?"
27. The Millenium Trilogy
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2010) The Girl Who Played With Fire (2010) The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (2009)
Director Niels Arden Oplev, Daniel Alfredson, Daniel Alfredson
Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre, Peter Haber, Peter Andersson, Yasmine Garbi, Georgi Staykov, Anders Ahlbom, Micke Spreitz
Scientists have shown that every single London Underground train for the last two years has contained at least one person reading a Stieg Larsson book, and with great popularity comes great movie adaptations. What's nice is that the Swedes got a head-start on this, finishing their film trilogy while the English-speaking world was still waiting for the translation of the third book - and it's currently quite hard to imagine how David Fincher's film can measure up. The first film is the best of these, but filmed back-to-back and with exceptional unity of style, they've set a very high bar for future adaptations of the series. MVP for the series is Noomi Rapace, a stunningly well-cast Lisbeth Salander and a heroine for the 21st century.
Weakest link? Perhaps The Girl Who Played With Fire, which doesn't quite have the impact of the first film or the nicely rounded ending of the third. But they're all at least decent.
Fun fact: Dolph Lundgren was offered the part of German giant Ronald Niederman, and had he taken it it would have been his first role in his native Sweden.
What to say... "While I'm looking forward to David Fincher's take on the material, it remains to be seen if Rooney Mara can match Noomi Rapace's performance."
...and what not to say. "So is this some kind of sequel to The Girl With The Pearl Earring?"
26. The Blade Trilogy
Blade (1998) Blade 2 (2002) Blade: Trinity (2004)
Director Stephen Norrington, Guillermo del Toro, David Goyer
Starring Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Stephen Dorff, Ron Perlman, Luke Goss, Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Biel
Hard as it may be to remember, Blade was really the movie that started the current comic-book superhero trend. From the moment that Wesley Snipes growled his way onscreen and dusted a room full of clubbing bloodsuckers, it was clear that this was a strong, silent vampire slayer we could believe in. Originally paired only with Kris Kristofferson's equally gruff tech-guy, the series opened out to include del Toro's "Blood Pack" in the second film and the third film's Nightstalkers - which, it's fair to say, had mixed results. Still, the series always gave us imaginative vampire kills (we particularly like that UV bow) and Snipes was born to play the Daywalker.
Weakest link? By several country miles, Blade: Trinity. With the exception of Ryan Reynolds' delivery of one of cinema's greatest all-time insults, it has very little to recommend it.
Fun fact: Oliver Hirschbiegel was at one point in line to direct Blade: Trinity, but left to make Downfall instead when that came together. YouTube parodies or not, that's what we call a win.
What to say... "It's open season on all suckheads."
...and what not to say. "You cock-juggling thundercunt!"
25. The Mighty Ducks Trilogy
The Mighty Ducks (1992) D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994) D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)
Director Stephen Herek, Sam Weisman, Robert Lieberman
Starring Emilio Estevez, Joss Akland, Joshua Jackson, Lane Smith, Heidi Kling, Kathryn Erbe, Carsten Norgaard
You guys! You were kidding, right? Or maybe it's just the nostalgia of a certain generation kicking in, or the fact that many people brought up on Dawson's Creek will forever love Pacey, or "Charlie Conway" as Joshua Jackson was known here. In any case, here we are, and the Mighty Ducks trilogy is higher up this list that Ingmar Bergman or George A. Romero. Let's just take a moment and think about that - or, even better, let's not. We'll be charitable, and credit it to Pacey love and a continuing admiration for Emilio Estevez and/or Joss Akland. And then let's draw a veil over this entire affair.
Weakest link? It's hard to say, but D3 is generally regarded as the weakest, what with its been-done snob team vs. ragtag team plot. Over. It.
Fun fact: Like, OMG, Charlie in the movie says he is allergic to nuts because - get this! - Joshua Jackson is allergic to nuts in real life. I know, right?
What to say... "Are you going to Pacey-Con next year? Wanna book our rooms now?"
...and what not to say. "Are you kidding?!"
24. The Austin Powers Trilogy
Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997) Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
Director Jay Roach
Starring Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York, Mimi Rogers, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling, Heather Graham, Rob Lowe, Verne Troyer, Beyonce, Michael Caine, Fred Savage
After Wayne, but happily long before The Love Guru, there was Austin Powers and his wonderfully mediocre arch-nemesis, Dr Evil. Mike Myers dual performance may have paled from over-familiarity and a million pub mimics, but looked at with fresh eyes they're still genius. As the series wore on, however, it became crystal clear that it was Dr Evil who was the real star of the show, stealing most of the films along with his inspired pantheon of henchmen and hangers on (chief among them Scott Evil and Mini-Me; least among them Fat Bastard, an unfunny one-note effort). Last we heard, Myers was talking about a Dr Evil-focused fourth film; we can only hope.
Weakest link? Goldmember, where the smuttiness finally battled the cleverness into submission. The combination of the admittedly ace and star-studded opening number (with Spielberg, Cruise, Paltrow and Spacey) and Michael Caine almost saved the day, but couldn't quite make it.
Fun fact: Austin Powers' licence plates read SWINGER and SWINGER2. His dad Nigel, played by Michael Caine, got GR8SHAG on his Mini-Cooper.
What to say... "Groovy, baby, yeah!"
...and what not to say. "Are we still quoting lines from Austin Powers? That doesn't feel old to you?"
23. The Mad Max Trilogy
Mad Max (1979) Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
Director George Miller, George Miller, George Miller & George Ogilvie
Starring Mel Gibson, Steve Bisley, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Tim Burns, Geoff Parry, Michael Preston, Bruce Spence, Vernon Wells, Tina Turner
Born out of the same mix of Aussie can-do attitude, dangerous stunt work and tiny budgets that spawned the likes of Razorback, Roadgames and Long Weekend, Mad Max takes a stripped-down concept and a couple of souped-up motors and makes them into a legend. The sequel amps up the action and feels a little like a do-over (as is practically the law for sequels to mega low-budget originals), while number three goes all large-scale and Hollywood - but also gives us Tina Turner as a sort of super-violent ringmaster and the theme song We Don't Need Another Hero, so what it loses in isolation and nihilism, it gains in glamour. The fact that the trilogy also gave us Mel Gibson may account for its current position outside the top 20.
Weakest link? Depends on your tastes, really. Beyond Thunderdome usually comes in for the most schtick, but that's more because it feels bigger and broader than the other two rather than down to a lack of quality.
Fun fact: In the first film, Max himself was the only cast member to wear real leather. The rest had to make do with vinyl.
What to say... "Be still, my dog of war. I understand your pain."
...and what not to say. "G'day, mate! Throw another shrimp on the barbie!"
22. The Infernal Affairs Trilogy
Infernal Affairs (2002) Infernal Affairs II (2003) Infernal Affairs: End Inferno 3 (2003)
Director Lau Wai-keung & Alan Mak
Starring Tony Leung, Andy Lau, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, Kelly Chen, Sammi Cheng, Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, Carina Lau, Francis Ng, Leon Lai
The first film has the greatest why-didn't-I-think-of-that plot ever: a police mole among the Triads and a Triad mole in the police force try to smoke one another out. But what makes it unique is the even-handed way that both characters are portrayed, and the compassion the film shows for the impossible situation in which each finds himself. The follow-ups, one a prequel and one a flashback-filled expansion on the original, expand on that theme but lack the simple elegance of the first film's structure.
Weakest link? There's a little back-and-forth between the second and third films, but conventional wisdom has it that the second is just a smidge superior. Perhaps that's because the third film's tricksy time-jumping between past and present makes it overly complicated.
Fun fact: The first film's psychiatrist is called Lee Sum Yee, which sounds very like the Cantonese for "your psychiatrist".
What to say... "Not being a Buddhist, I'm worried I'm missing some of the theological subtleties."
...and what not to say. "I prefer The Departed. Can't stand subtitles."
21. Terminator 1-3
The Terminator (1985) Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
Director James Cameron, James Cameron, Jonathan Mostow
Starring Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick, Joe Morton, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes, Kristanna Loken
The first Terminator film changed the world far beyond cinema. Without it, we might never have known about the current Governor of California, for it was this film that broke Arnold Schwarzenegger and introduced us all to the Austrian Oak. It also gave us James Cameron, a man who's made by far the highest grossing film in the world - twice. And it was, y'know, actually a good film to boot. You can get into a lengthy pub debate over the merits of the stripped-down original versus its bombastic successor, with Arnie reprogrammed as a good guy and Robert Patrick the new Most Sinister Thing Ever, but T2 is inarguably one of the slickest, most effective action thrillers the world has ever seen. And the belated threequel, Rise of the Machines, may not quite stand on the same level, but it's a respectable attempt.
Weakest link? That'd be Rise of the Machines, which is OK but further messes with the timeline, and really misses Linda Hamilton's steely presence.
Fun fact: Arnold Schwarzenegger earned $21,429 per word in the second film, given his reported $15m salary and 700 words of dialogue.
What to say... "Come with me if you want to live."
...and what not to say. "It's all horrendously paradoxical. I mean, if he's only born because he sends his own father back in time, he can't possibly change that future."
20. X-Men 1-3
X-Men (2000) X-Men 2 (2003) X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Director Bryan Singer, Bryan Singer, Brett Ratner
Starring Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Ian McKellen, Ray Park, Rebecca Romjin, Anna Paquin, Alan Cumming, Brian Cox, Shawn Ashmore, Kelsey Grammer, Aaron Standord, Ellen Page
Marvel's flagship superhero* team struck it lucky when Bryan Singer adopted them and proceeded to cast the perfect people for the roles in a first film that worked as a scene-setter, if rather skimping on the action. The second film, however, delivered both human drama and mutant mayhem in adamantium buckets, showing just what director and cast were capable of, and all looked rosy for the future. But then Singer went AWOL to hang out with Superman, the studio decided to introduce a couple of dozen new characters and it all went a bit wrong in the (still OK) third film. But at least we got to see them in one great film and two OK ones, right?
*Strictly, mutants rather than superheroes - but let's not split hairs.
Weakest link? That'd be The Last Stand, overloaded with characters and incoherent in its detail. While the Wolvie / Jean bit at the end is nearly perfect, the rest is a hot mess.
Fun fact: Hugh Jackman's last big job prior to starting work as Wolverine was as Curly in the National Theatre's production of Oklahoma! Altogether now: oh what a beautiful morning.
What to say... "Mutants are not the ones mankind should fear."
...and what not to say. "You know what happens when a toad gets struck by lightning?"
19. The Naked Gun Trilogy
The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad! (1988) The Naked Gun 2 1/2 (1991) The Naked Gun 33 1/3 (1994)
Director David Zucker, David Zucker, Peter Segal
Starring Leslie Nielsen, George Kennedy, OJ Simpson, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban, Richard Griffiths, Robert Goulet, Fred Ward, Anna Nicole Smith
Police Squad only ran for six episodes, but they were six episodes of fried gold and eventually, with the as-silly but less funny Police Academy series going strong at the box office, Leslie Nielsen's Frank Drebin got his shot at the big time. And thank goodness for that. The first film is a treasury of silliness, crammed with one-liners, absurd visual gags and defiantly dead-pan performances. But then, it did still have the full Airplane! team of Abrams, Zucker and Abrams aboard. The two sequels, while not as packed with goodness, still provide at least 5 of your 5 recommended helpless giggles of the day. And in the words of Frank Drebin, "I like my sex the way I play basketball, one on one with as little dribbling as possible." Well you didn't expect him to say something relevant, did you?
Weakest link? The third entry, which still lands some zingers but feels more formulaic and less sharp than the previous two.
Fun fact: Recently Priscilla Presley was interviewed on BBC Radio. Returning from a music break, the presenter said, "Nice beaver!" and she smoothly replied, "Thank you; I just had it stuffed" just like in the first movie. Made our day.
What to say... "I promise you; whatever scum did this, not one man on this force will rest one minute until he's behind bars. Now, let's grab a bite to eat."
...and what not to say. "If the glove don't fit, you must acquit!"
18. The Vengeance Trilogy
Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance (2002) Oldboy (2003) Lady Vengeance (2005)
Director Park Chan-Wook
Starring Song Kang-Ho, Shin Ha-kyun, Bae Doona, Choi Min-Sik, Yu Ji-tae, Kang Hye-Jeong, Lee Yeong-ae, Oh Kwang-Rok, Kim Byeong-ok
Revenge is a dish best served cold, say the Klingons, but the Koreans might disagree. Park Chan-Wook's first film in this loose trilogy suggests that vengeance is a dish best not served at all, since it can lead to the death of everyone who gets involved in it. The second sees a rather more elaborate - and much longer-term - plan of revenge similarly backfire, with arguably even ickier consequences than the first. And the third, while boasting a sort-of happy ending, sees an uncomfortable amount of blood spilled along the way and makes it clear that this vengeance lark isn't easy. Any way you look at it, however, these cleverly plotted and twisty-turny thrillers are a worthy addition here, proving that Korean cinema's turning up some of the most interesting films in the world right now - and that it features a lot more octopus eating than the Europeans typically employ.
Weakest link? Probably Lady Vengeance, which lacks the intricate plotting of the other two and spends more time focusing on red eyeshadow.
Fun fact: Four octopuses were used to get Oldboy's famous eight-armed scene. Actor Chi Min-Sik is a Buddhist, and said a prayer for each one.
What to say... "Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone."
...and what not to say. "Turn the other cheek, that's my motto!"
17. Scream 1-3
Scream (1996) Scream 2 (1997) Scream 3 (2000)
Director Wes Craven
Starring Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox-Arquette, David Arquette, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, Sarah Michelle-Gellar, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Liev Schreiber, Timothy Olyphant, Jerry O'Connell, Patrick Dempsey, Lance Henriksen, Parker Posey, Patrick Warburton
The slasher film was pretty much dead and buried in 1996. But Wes Craven, who'd spun a post-modern but relatively little-seen twist on it for New Nightmare two years before, managed to single-handedly bring it back to life with this witty deconstruction of the whole genre. So this time our unstoppable killer (who always comes back for one last scare just when you think he - or she - is dead) faces victims who know how to survive a horror movie, who don't always run upstairs and who frequently fight back. The first sequel riffed on the cliches of Part IIs, while the less-successful but still original third instalment got really meta, visiting a sequel movie within the movie. Oooh, our heads are spinning!
Weakest link? Scream 3, which isn't as effective as satire and perhaps stretches the willingness to suspend disbelief just a little far.
Fun fact: Much more blood was used in Scream (50 gallons) than Scream 2 (30 gallons) or Scream 3 (a measly 10). By that measure, the upcoming Scream 4 should be blood-free.
What to say... "The reason that Scary Movie doesn't work is that it's a spoof of a satire, which is just silly."
...and what not to say. "I'll be right back."
16. The Spider-Man Trilogy
Spider-Man (2002) Spider-Man 2 (2004) Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Director Sam Raimi
Starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Rosemary Harris, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Thomas Haden-Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bruce Campbell
Blade and X-Men had hinted that these superhero movies might be going places, but it was Spider-Man that actually went there. But its huge box-office success was thoroughly earned, director Sam Raimi placing Peter Parker's character front and centre (and casting indie star Tobey Maguire rather than some he-man), with Spider-antics taking a secondary - but nonetheless effective place. The sequel, pitting Spidey against Alfred Molina's brilliant Doc Ock, was a further step up, and if the third one tried to cram in too much, at least it gave us Thomas Haden Church's bittersweet take on the Sandman. Why on Earth anyone thinks this series needs a reboot we'll never know, but these three are first among superheroes for a reason.
Weakest link? Spider-Man 3, where a tussle over bad guys between director and studio led to a film overloaded with evildoers and short on focus.
Fun fact: In the first film, Norman Osbourne's presentation to the board opens with the same dialogue as a similar board meeting in The Hudsucker Proxy, which Raimi was a co-writer on.
What to say... "With great power comes great responsibility."
...and what not to say. "I want Venom! Narrative coherence be damned!"
15. The Star Wars Prequels
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Director George Lucas
Starring Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Temuera Morrison, Jimmy Smits, Ahmed Best, Christopher Lee
While each of them has come in for schtick from the fans (we're looking at you, Spaced), the fact that the Star Wars prequels made this list, and placed this high, suggests that there are those of you out there who love them despite their flaws. After all, each has (at least one) stand-out action sequence; each gave us full-on Jedis battling bad guys after twenty years of waiting, and each gave us the chance to revisit the Star Wars universe, which was a treat in itself. So let's ignore Jar-Jar, and focus on the Duel of the Fates, and the sight of Yoda drawing his lightsaber with the power of the Force, and Obi-Wan standing on the higher ground. If you just look at those bits, these are just as good as the originals.
Weakest link? Hmm. The Phantom Menace has the biggest helping of Jar-Jar, but also has that ace lightsaber fight at the end. Attack of the Clones is the most often derided, but has a bit where Yoda gets his 'saber out, and that has to get it bonus points. But while Phantom was the biggest disappointment relative to expectations, Clones still probably edges it overall.
Fun fact: If you look closely during the opening sequence when the second Separatist ship is destroyed, you might spot the kitchen sink that ILM threw into their digital footage.
What to say... "May the Force be with us all."
...and what not to say. "You so do not understand! You weren't there at the beginning! You don't know how good it was!"
14. Die Hard 1-3
Die Hard (1988) Die Hard 2 (1990) Die Hard: With A Vengeance (1995)
Director John McTiernan, Renny Harlin, John McTiernan
Starring Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedalia, Alan Rickman, Reginald VelJohnson, William Atherton, William Sadler, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Irons
One man. One building. A handful of terrorists. There's no way Die Hard should be this good. And yet it's a nearly perfect action movie, combining one of history's best underdog heroes with a blast of great action and one of the all-time snarkiest villains. The second one ups the stakes, giving us a crowded airport - and the skies above it - packed with hostages and ready for disaster. And the third steps it up again, to an entire city, but adds in the least annoying sidekick in history (well he is Samuel L. Jackson) and plays a nice twist for good measure. Just think: before this movie Bruce Willis was best known as the romantic lead in Moonlighting. What a difference a white vest and no shoes makes, eh?
Weakest link? It's generally considered to be the second film, set at Washington's Dulles airport just before Christmas and featuring a slightly weaker villain than the trilogy's book-ends. This is all, of course, assuming you don't count Die Hard 4.0 - but we don't because that sits outside the definition of a trilogy and would just get messy.
Fun fact: Die Hard: With A Vengeance was originally called "Simon Says" and was at one point a possible fourth Lethal Weapon movie.
What to say... "Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho."
...and what not to say. "Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..."
13. Pirates of the Caribbean 1-3
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Director Gore Verbinski
Starring Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Mackenzie Crook, Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport, Lee Aranberg, Naomie Harris, Kevin McNally, Tom Hollander, Stellan Skarsgard, Bill Nighy
When we talked to Pirates screenwriter Terry Rossio last year, he was rather irate that the philosophy and plot twists of the Disney series haven't garnered the sort of academic attention that, say, The Matrix did. And it's certainly true that these intricately structured adventures resemble operatic farces as much as they do traditional summer blockbusters. But in the end, the main reason we love them is because of someone originally conceived as a supporting character, the barmy, brilliant Captain Jack Sparrow. "You're the worst pirate I've ever heard of!"; "Ah, but you have heard of me!" Proof that a single great character can elevate a film, and indeed a series, to greatness.
Weakest link? At World's End, which twists and turns and meanders far too often on its way to the conclusion, with every character betraying every other on their path.
Fun fact: While the series is based on one Disneyland ride, there's a reference to another in Dead Man's Chest: on their way to Tia Dalma's house, the crew sail past a shack identical to one in Disney World's Jungle Cruise.
What to say... "Captain Jack is very much a hero in the Figaro mould, the sort of trickster servant who crops up regularly in folk legend."
...and what not to say. "I've always preferred Space Mountain."
12. Alien / Aliens / Alien3
Alien (1979) Aliens (1986) Alien3 (1992)
Director Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher
Starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerrit, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Lance Henriksen, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Charles Dance, Charles S. Dutton, Paul McGann
Again, arguably not strictly a trilogy, what's interesting about the first three Alien films is how distinct they are in tone. Ridley Scott's shipbound film is essentially a haunted house movie in space, a claustrophobic, psychological horror. James Cameron's follow-up turns the tone to balls-to-the-wall action, establishing a tough-as-nails cadre of Marines and then giving them an enemy far beyond their capabilities. And Fincher's film (well, he shot it; he didn't edit it and disowned the result) sets the Ridley vs. xenomorph story in a prison and combines the scale of Aliens' kills with the sweaty, enclosed atmosphere of Alien.
Weakest link? No question: Alien 3, which saw directors come and go through a revolving door and the shooting director, David Fincher, walk out before editing began.
Fun fact: Apparently Michael Biehn was paid more for the use of his image early in Alien 3 than he was for his role in Aliens.
What to say... "Get away from her you bitch!"
...and what not to say. "I prefer Alien Vs. Predator myself."
11. Three Colours Trilogy
Three Colours Blue (1993) Three Colours White (1994) Three Colours Red (1994)
Director Krzysztof Kieslowski
Starring Juliette Binoche, Benoit Regent, Emmanuelle Riva, Julie Delpy, Zbigniew Zamachowski Irene Jacob, Jean-Louis Trintignant
Krzysztof Kieslowski's trilogy based on the French tricolor (thanks to French financing) was intellectually challenging, emotionally satisfying and cinematically ambitious; we haven't seen its like since. Blue (the best) stars Juliette Binoche as a bereaved wife and follows her attempts to liberate herself from her anguish. White follows the comic adventures of a divorced husband (Zamachowski) trying to get even with his ruthless wife (Julie Delpy). Red returns to the seriousness of Blue with the touching friendship between a retired Judge (Trintignant) and a model (Irene Jacob). Caracters criss-cross the films, which are united by stunning sumptuous filmmaking (all controlled colour palette and virtuoso camera moves), Zbigniew Preisner's score and that rare thing: three great roles for supremely talented women.
Weakest link? While still compelling, White is the slightest of the bunch, lacking the gravitas of the two heavyweight bookends that surround it.
Fun fact: For a close-up of Juliette Binoche allowing a sugar cube to soak up her coffee, Kieslowski demanded the shot last five seconds so he had his assistant director test multiple brands of sugar cubes (which took anywhere from 3 to 11 seconds) until he found the right one.
What to say... "Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpy, Irene Jacob are symbolic of the Tricolor values of liberty, egality and fraternity."
...and what not to say. "Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpy, Irene Jacob - phwoar!"
10. The Evil Dead Trilogy
The Evil Dead (1981) Evil Dead II (1987) Evil Dead III: Army of Darkness (1992)
Director Sam Raimi
Starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Hal Delrich, Sarah Berry, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert.
Made for next to nothing, the first Evil Dead hit our screens with such bloody bravado it was soon hailed as the ultimate in Video Nasties, all red-dyed corn syrup and seriously hammy acting, making up for what it lacked in production values with out-and-out gruelling horror. It scared the hell out of people, and they wanted more. Six years later and Raimi, Campbell and Tapert returned with more of a budget and more buckets of blood, creating what has now come to be regarded as a zombie-movie masterpiece and one of the most quotable films in horror history - nay, in history. And to complete the set, Raimi had long wanted Ash to get medieval on those deadites' asses and in 1993 he got his way, completing the finest horror trilogy ever created with a bigger, barmier finale. Groovy.
Weakest link? Essentially an odd Ray Harryhausen tribute, Army Of Darkness lacks the comedy / horror one-two punch of the first two, leaving it still enjoyable but by no means the finest of the three.
Fun fact: Bruce Campbell's Ash loses his hand in Evil Dead II, attaching a chainsaw to the stump. When his hand is trapped in a can, there are books on top of it, including "A Farewell To Arms." Badda boom!
What to say... "I think you'll find that they aren't zombies, but 'deadites'. There is a difference, you know."
...and what not to say. "What's with all this blood? Is this all really necessary?"
9. The Matrix Trilogy
The Matrix (1999) The Matrix Reloaded (2003) The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
Director The Wachowskis
Starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, Gloria Foster, Monica Bellucci, Harold Perrineau, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gina Torres, Lambert Wilson, Helmut Bakaitis, Mary Alice
The first Matrix film was one of those films, like Star Wars, that seems to change cinema overnight. As Keanu Reeves set out to save humanity from the machines, it spawned a million imitators, a thousand parodies and almost no equals. The sequels delved deep into philosophical themes, and while they're rarely considered the equal of the first instalment, there's no question that the Wachowskis swung for the fences - both in terms of action and theme. The second film's freeway chase scene, and the third film's attack on Zion, remain benchmarks for big action, and whether you like or loathe the Architect or the ending, the scale of the undertaking is still impressive. Or as the Architect would say, concordantly the eventuality of the enterprise is inexorably well ambitious.
Weakest link? Opinion varies between the two sequels, but Reloaded is generally considered the weaker of the two. It's probably down to the much-derided rave in Zion.
Fun fact: That bench the Oracle is sitting on at the end of the third film? It has a plaque that reads "In memory of Thomas Anderson".
What to say... "Of course, philosophically the sequels are entirely successful."
...and what not to say. "Hey! They ripped off the bullet time bit in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo!"
8. The Dollars Trilogy
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) For A Few Dollars More (1965) The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966)
Director Sergio Leone
Starring Clint Eastwood, Marianne Koch, Jose Calvo, Klaus Kinski, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Gian Maria Volonte, Luigi Pistilli, Joseph Egger
It's odd to think that Leone never envisioned The Dollars Trilogy as a unified whole, despite Clint's roles, known at times as 'Blondie', 'Joe', and 'The Man With No Name', having the same mannerisms and the same clothes throughout. But judging by the three films' lasting effect on cinema, they belong together. They gave us, after all, the Spaghetti Western genre, Clint's introduction to the Hollywood A-list, and, perhaps most strikingly of all, Ennio Morricone's flawless music. Clint's gruff attitude, look and tone, with Leone's close-ups, set pieces and threadbare, cheroot-chewing dialogue, together create some of the coolest films ever made, cleverly turning the moralistic Western world of John Wayne on its head and giving us a whole new way of looking at the gunslinging genre.
Weakest link? For A Few Dollars More is the lesser of the three, lacking the tight plotting of the first and third (Fistful helped somewhat by ripping off Yojimbo). But it remains an amazing watch, blessed with unforgettable supporting talent in the form of Van Cleef and Klaus Kinski.
Fun fact: Sergio Leone couldn't speak much English, and Eli Wallach barely any Italian, so throughout the production of The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, the two spoke in French.
What to say... "Though the Dollars trilogy is excellent, I'm more of a Once Upon A Time In The West kind of guy."
...and what not to say. "Are these the film adaptations of Rawhide?"
7. Indiana Jones 1-3
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Director Steven Spielberg
Starring Harrison Ford, Denholm Elliot, Karen Allen, Sean Connery, Paul Freeman, Kate Capshaw, Jonathan Ke Quan, Amrish Puri, Alison Doody, Julian Glover, River Phoenix
We suspect this would be higher up the list if purist readers hadn't dismissed it following the release of a fourth film recently. After all, Raiders is pretty much a perfect film in every way; Temple of Doom is an impressively dark film and Last Crusade is (arguably) the funniest of the three and had Sean Connery and River Phoenix as a bonus. Indiana Jones himself, failing in his endeavours far more often than he succeeds, is a hero we can believe in - and ladies, he's smart too: check out that tweed and bow-tie combo he wears in class. Hubba!
Weakest link? For years, everyone hated Temple of Doom. Nowadays, you occasionally get people who'll defend that but attack Last Crusade (as too cute) instead. Either way, you're kinda looking for trouble.
Fun fact: Karl Urban named his younger son Indiana, in tribute to Dr Jones. Or possibly in tribute to Henry Jones Sr's dog; we're not sure.
What to say... "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage."
...and what not to say. "Honestly, Judeo-Christian artifacts couldn't possibly produce those effects."
6. The Bourne Trilogy
The Bourne Identity (2002) The Bourne Supremacy (2004) The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Director Doug Liman, Paul Greengrass, Paul Greengrass
Starring Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Julia Stiles, Brian Cox, Joan Allen, David Straithairn, Albert Finney, Chris Cooper, Karl Urban, Clive Owen, Edgar Ramirez, Paddy Considine, Scott Glenn
Back in 2002, Matt Damon wasn't an action star. Hard to believe, right? And yet, his last starring role in a major movie was All The Pretty Horses, and there seemed a very real possibility that Doug Liman's Bourne Identity could fizzle the way that had. But here we are, in a world where Damon broke the critics and box office's neck with his bare hands, stabbing them with a pen and beating them to death with a book. Astonishingly well-shot action, real-world stakes and a withering contempt for Bond's slickness and womanising combine to give the Noughties an action hero to be proud of.
Weakest link? Unusually, the first one is generally considered the weakest - although only in comparison to Paul Greengrass's frantic, frenetic follow-ups.
Fun fact: When Bourne looks in the mirror and says something in foreign at the beginning of The Bourne Identity, he's speaking Dutch.
What to say... "But everyone pretends to be Bourne when they walk through Waterloo at rush hour, right?"
...and what not to say. "Oh, it's just like Bond really."
5. The Godfather Trilogy
The Godfather (1972) The Godfather: Part II (1974) The Godfather: Part III (1990)
Director Francis Ford Coppola
Starring Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert de Niro, Diane Keaton, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Andy Garcia, Sofia Coppola, Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna
Francis Ford Coppola's epic adaptation of Mario Puzo's equally epic book was a perfect marriage of director and subject. Coming from a large Italian-American family himself, Coppola understood the novel's themes about family, immigration and the American dream on a profound level, and just had to add a soupcon of crime and assassination to bring the mix to boil. Part II expertly layered past and present in a brilliant expansion and clarification of the world, while Part III, whatever its faults, completes the arc for Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) as he faces the consequences of the choices he's made and watches the next generation grow up.
Weakest link? Altogether now! The Godfather: Part III! In retrospect everyone agrees that Sofia Coppola is a better director than Corleone offspring, and while the third film has its defenders, no one would seriously claim it's up to the standard of the previous two.
Fun fact: Originally Winona Ryder was set to play Sofia Coppola's role - but backed out to appear in Edward Scissorhands.
What to say... "Of course, it's such a profound satire on the American dream."
...and what not to say. "Anyone who doesn't like it will sleep with the fishes."
4. Toy Story Trilogy
Toy Story (1995) Toy Story 2 (1999) Toy Story 3 (2010)
Director John Lasster, John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich
Starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, Blake Clark
The release of the first Toy Story film was anticipated chiefly from a technological point of view, as the first entirely computer-animated film ever made. It was only as word from screenings leaked out that it became clear that this was also a storytelling milestone, a blast of fresh air to a moribund animation industry and one that took the world by storm. Incredibly, the sequel lived up to that standard, with Empire calling it an "upgrade" to the original - and even more improbably, the third instalment, fought over and delayed for years, became another triumph. Flawless characterisation, spot-on voice work and the relentless quest for perfection in both story and look may now just be SOP for Pixar, but it's worth remembering how special that is.
Weakest link? You could try to pick holes in them, but honestly, why bother? They're consistently excellent.
Fun fact: Lee Unkrich, who directed the third film, was an editor on the first and a co-director on the second.
What to say... "To infinity, and beyond!"
...and what not to say. "I think I'll just throw all these old toys in the dump."
3. Back to the Future Trilogy
Back to the Future (1985) Back to the Future Part II (1989) Back to the Future Part III (1990)
Director Robert Zemeckis
Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson, Thomas F. Wilson, Claudia Wells, Elizabeth Shue, Mary Steenbergen
Show us a person who doesn't like Back to the Future and we'll show you a person who is tired of life. The Zemeckis-directed, Spielberg-produced time-travelling tale of Marty McFly races along at, oooh, around 88mph, fuelled by plutonium and Michael J. Fox's career-making, insanely charming performance as an average teen thrust 30 years back in time. Part II was a twisty, turny paradox-spinning puzzler, followed by a gorgeous mix of old West and space age in Part III. Consistently fun, funny and about as good an adventure romp as you could wish for, there's a reason that this is still wildly popular - and getting a re-release - 25 years on.
Weakest link? Funnily enough, conventional wisdom at the time tended to rate the second film lowest (as reflected by Empire's reviews) but nowadays you'll find more people slagging off the third. It all smacks of looking a gift horse in the mouth to us though.
Fun fact: Once upon a time, the time machine was going to be a fridge. Spielberg and Zemeckis nixed the idea because they were worried about kids copying the movie and getting trapped in old fridges.
What to say... "1.21 gigawatts?!"
...and what not to say. "There's simply no scientific basis for thinking that time travel like this is possible."
2. The Original Star Wars Trilogy
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
Director George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Richard Marquand
Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, David Prowse, James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, Jeremy Bulloch
George Lucas' opening space-opera salvo changed the filmmaking landscape, energised a generation and set an impossible standard for any sequel. Irvin Kershner's sequel, with Lucas overseeing, delivered something even bigger and better, and also gave us perhaps the most famous twist in cinema history. And the third, while it may have cutesy teddy bears taking down an Empire, also has a series of fantastic action scenes, from the fight with the Rancor to the lightsaber battle on the Death Star - itself under attack from outside. It's a triple-whammy that has spawned imitators, prequels, endless other media permutations and even a religion - and how many trilogies can claim that?
Weakest link? Most of the fanboys would have you believe it's Jedi, but that's got some of the trilogy's best bits in it and - whatever they claim - no one hated the Ewoks even when they were a kid.
Fun fact: Pop quiz hotshot: who has the last line in New Hope? Answer: Chewbacca.
What to say... "Did you know that in some Spanish subtitled releases, R2-D2 name appears subtitled as "Arturito" or "little Arthur" in Spanish, since the pronunciation is similar?"
...and what not to say. "Dude, she's your sister! Yuck!"
1. The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Director Peter Jackson
Starring Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Sean Astin, Sean Bean, John Rhys-Davies, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, Dominic Monahan, Billy Boyd, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, David Wenham, Bernard Hill, Ian Holm, Brad Dourif, John Noble
Peter Jackson's stunning trilogy, filmed back-to-back and released in the form of Christmas presents for three consecutive years, just pipped Star Wars to the top of the poll. Why? Well, there's the painstaking attention to detail (characters even had their coats-of-arms emblazoned on the never-seen linings of their costumes for maximum authenticity), New Zealand scenery so breathtaking you could feel the wind on your face, the pitch-perfect casting and the huge-scale effects. In the end, however, it all comes down to friendship, and fellowship, and a struggle against the odds (or, if you will, orcs). It's the fact that Peter Jackson was able to keep his eye on the emotion even while the spectacle swirled around him that makes this such a stunner.
Weakest link? There really isn't one - although a few people gripe about Return of the King's extended endings.
Fun fact: While Return of the King is tied with Titanic and Ben-Hur for the Most Oscars For A Single Film record (that'd be 11), it's notable for winning all the Academy Awards it was nominated for, which neither of the others managed to do.
What to say... "A spectacular achievement! I hope Jackson makes The Hobbit."
...and what not to say. "I wish they'd included Tom Bombadil!"


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Monday afternoon I dropped Mrs. G off at the airport. She's off to Germany (again) for work and won't be back till next week. Thinking about her in Germany and then our trip to Germany last summer got me wanting some German food. I'm no expert on cooking German cuisine, I'm sure I could find some recipes if I looked, but brats sounded close enough for me. Got the Egg fired up to 350 and threw some on.
Let them cook for a bit
Just a simple brat dinner along with some tots. Love me some tots. Not German, but who cares?
They were ok, nothing special. Certainly not as good as I remember this one being on the banks of the Main River
And what did Stacie have her first night in Germany? Some bratwurst? Knockwurst? Possibly some schnitzel? No...she had spaghetti? Yeah...sometimes I wonder about her.
I've got a recipe that I'll probably cook Thursday that will have a German spin on something we all love to bbq. I got high hopes for it. We'll see how it turns out


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