Guardians of the Galaxy Review

Comic book movies are a big deal. I already talked about what I liked about the Captain America movie, and Marvel is committed to release new films adding to its cinematic universe to build to big events inspired by the comics. This year another Captain America movie hit theaters, but that was understood to be good even without knowing about any of the surprises. The Marvel film released in theaters later in the summer was so good that I went back to see it in 3D just to see all of the nuances I missed out not knowing much about the world of the film. Let me explain why Guardians of the Galaxy delivers as a comic book movie and exceeds my expectations.

The Lego Movie Review

There are plenty of movies out this summer. Right now I can only remember going to one in the theater a month or two ago. I normally do not attend stupid action movies, especially when it’s a sequel to a film I have not seen yet. I made an exception for this particular film because I was a fan of the directors’ previous works. The Lego Movie is an awesome movie and was well worth watching at the cinema.

Reflections on a Rabbi’s Retirement

Last Saturday there was a big party at my congregation. As my Rabbi had announced during the High Holidays, this was the last service he would be leading employed by the synagogue. To commemorate the occasion, I would like to briefly talk about him and the impact he has had on me, my family, and my local community.

Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2 Review

With the summer season coming up, a new set of movies is taking the spotlight. There are a couple of big blockbusters in the release schedule, and I will probably see one or two of them. The movie I’m reviewing now was not one of those summer hits; it was only made because a big audience would see it during the holiday season. I will do my best to explain why I did not like the final movie in the Twilight saga.

Captain America: The First Avenger Review

A few weeks ago my Marketing class went on a field trip to see the newest release from Marvel Studios. Since it was the second time I saw it in theaters, I was watching for parts I did not notice the first time around and marketing aspects I read about online. I could talk about why I liked Winter Soldier, but I think I need to give some background on the franchise to show why it was a step up from the last movie. Thus, it’s time to talk about why Captain America: The First Avenger is the moving picture that cemented Marvel Studio’s push for an integrated cinematic universe.

Moishe House Palo Alto Ski Trip Reflections

Back in January I went to Lake Tahoe with my brother and a few others to the cabin for rest and relaxation. There was not much snow, but I figured I would go again to the basin later on in the winter season. In late February I got the opportunity to join members of the Moishe House Palo Alto in a group cabin vacation and ski trip. While I felt packed in with a crowd when it came to accommodations, I had a wonderful time in the mountains and on the ski slopes.

NPR Stories: February 2 - 8, 2014

This week on NPR, they developed a Spotify playlist for the winter season. It made me revisit my account and connect it with Facebook, which is now ten years old. For the stories with pictures included, learn about the German Defense Minister a Chinese detention system coming to an end, and a family with multiple generations of doctors. Don’t fall prey to small credit scams, and check out the list.

NPR Ask Me Another Live Taping Impressions

Every year SF Sketchfest brings the latest and greatest in comedy acts to San Francisco for three weeks all over the city. I checked the schedule to see which acts I would be interested in and discovered the live taping of an NPR show I had not heard of. Since I listen to Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me the NPR News Quiz often, I was curious of what would go down at the Casto Theater on a Wednesday night for a show a friend described to me as a puzzle game show with musical accompaniment from Jonathan Coulton. I am happy to report that my ticket to a floor seat in the auditorium was well spent.

Astronomy Pictures of the Day: February 2 - 8, 2014

As the world looks to Sochi, take a chance and look up to the stars. This week on APOD we have a galaxy or two, but we also have some pictures courtesy of China. One’s an airglow and starscape from Yunnan Province, and the other is a panoramic view from the Yutu moon rover. Check them out after seeing the night sky from Monument Valley in the following list.

Super Bowl 2014 Reflections

I don’t normally pay attention to sports. I might check out the front of a sports section in a newspaper or watch a game while exercising at the gym or while eating at a restaurant, but I rarely sit down on my own to watch a team play. I make an exception for the big game that happens at the end of the American football season. This year’s game was less disappointing than the last, but at least the accompanying entertainment made watching the game live worthwhile.

NPR Stories: Week of January 26, 2014

The State of the Union speech was last week, but that’s not what the NPR picks were about. Learn about the Muslim American teenager that just became Ms. Marvel in her own comic series. This week there was also some overlap between Israel and the big American football game. Find out why a Palestinian prisoner became an informant or why OxFam dropped Scarlet Johansson as a spokesperson. Send up a flare and check out some of these articles.

Upright Citizens Brigade Show Impressions

When I attended the Silicon Valley Reads kick off event, I had the chance to look at what was going on at the theater. To my surprise a comedy group was coming through the area and would be playing the next week. I attended the Upright Citizens Brigade show last Saturday night, and I really enjoyed the entertainment I received at the performance.

Astronomy Pictures of the Day: Week of January 26, 2014

Keep looking at the cosmos as we see the Astronomy Pictures of the Day for the week of January 26. There’s plenty to see whether it’s a galaxy or a view from the Kennedy Space Center or Finland. Open up a panoramic image to see a band of the Milky Way without having to travel to South America.

State of the Union 2014 Impressions

At the beginning of every year, the President of the United States delivers a speech about the executive office’s agenda. On most occasions the President walks into Congress and delivers a televised prime time speech to the public with great anticipation. I watched the speech live with some other people at a pizza parlor as I did the previous year. I went home thinking that President Obama in his 2014 State of the Union speech outlined specific actions that should increase his popularity in a midterm election year, but I was unmoved when Obama did not mention details.

NPR Stories: January 19 - 25, 2014

When searching for pictures to put in the weekly article, I look for ones that stand out according to the material and have a descriptive filename attached. This week one story with a qualifying picture was about the nuclear inspectors entering Iran as part of the international negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear material. If you want to learn about more domestic issues, NPR did a piece on the tax burdens the NFL organizations face before this year’s Super Bowl is held. Less politically charged stories include talk about restoring underground streams in United States municipalities, Monsanto’s new data analysis service for farmers, and improvements on the atomic clock. A few news articles focus on the Hispanic community too if you want to know about Mexican vigilantes and the “charismatic” Catholic movement as President Obama plans to meet Pope Francis.

Silicon Valley Reads Kick Off 2014 Impressions

I read and listen to plenty of material, but I do not read books as often as I would want given my media library. When I noticed in the San Jose Mercury News that a community reading program kickoff event was in my area, I was intrigued. I headed to the Campbell Heritage Theater last week to find out what the annual program’s theme was for 2014 and why they were spotlighting two books in particular. I left the event with a new appreciation of the effects of technology and two more books to add to my reading list.

Astronomy Pictures of the Day: January 19 - 25, 2014

Another year gives another attempt to look at the cosmos. This week on APOD, when not looking at galaxies, you can learn about a big storm in Michigan decades ago. In more recent history, the Mars Opportunity rover landed on the red planet around ten years ago. Check out the pictures, and download a copy of the APOD 2014 calendar while you visit the site.

Watchmen Comic Review

When I headed to Lake Tahoe a while ago, I brought along some reading material in case the weather was not adequate enough for skiing. Instead of opening the book my brother gifted me, I spent a fair amount of time revisiting a book he had borrowed from a friend. Now that I have perused its contents to make them fresh in my mind, I can talk more about the critically acclaimed comic series Watchmen and give my review.

NPR Stories: January 12 - 18, 2014

This week had a few stories from the Middle East. Former prime minister Ariel Sharon was eulogized after spending six or so years in a coma. Egypt prepared its vote on a new constitution following the overthrow of Morsi’s government. For lighter fare than Obama’s speech on the National Security Agency, take a look at the story about the high tech speed skating suit the United States prepared for the Winter Olympics. I hope your internet speed is sufficient enough to read the rest of this article.

A January Trip to Lake Tahoe

My grandparents built a cabin at Lake Tahoe. Just about every year my family would visit the house in the Sierra Nevada range to ski the mountains in the winter and ride a boat in the summer. Last week my brother invited me to come with him and his friends to the cabin for a weekend getaway. In a few hours I assembled my winter gear and joined a group to carpool to the cabin I have not visited in almost a year.

NPR Stories: January 5 - 11, 2014

With a new year comes new opportunity for aggregation. Last week was the Consumer Electronics Show, so we heard stories about how Google is partnering with car companies to release Android in more vehicles and Intel’s drive to put their computer chips into wearable technologies. In addition we have stories of Brazilian cuisine, continued fighting in Syria, and machines that create snow for the skiing season. I don’t remember seeing any cloud seeders when I was on the mountain a few days ago, but a trip to a ski resort made me aware of the reasons for setting up the tech. However, that’s a topic for a separate article.

A Trip to the Rosicrucian Museum

In the city of San Jose, there is one particularly hidden gem. A Christian order maintains a museum full of Egyptian antiquities for the general public to visit. Before the end of the year, I visited the museum with some friends, as I had not been to the place in a long time. I would like the opportunity to tell you about what I saw.

The Rosicrucian Museum is full of exhibits showing off the life and death of ancient Egypt and the civilizations surrounding it. In one area you can see a replica of the Rosetta stone, while in others you can see a sarcophagus and a model of one of the great pyramids. Many artifacts are encased in glass because they are the genuine deal. It would take hours to read up all the plaques regarding upper class customs and the details of the afterlife. The museum even has a replica of a tomb that you can see on a guided tour. At the time I visited, there were so many people waiting for the tour that I could not get in. I didn’t care too much because I had been on that tour years ago; maybe I should visit again and see if I notice anything different.

The museum campus has some other attractions as well. The grounds are quite pretty with a garden and fountain to walk around. I went to a show at the old planetarium hoping to see a light show. Unfortunately, the attraction merely involved a projector displaying a short movie on the cosmos narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. I found the posters about the history of the Rosicrucian order outside the planetarium theater more interesting than the film.

In short, the Rosicrucian museum might be worth your time. It’s a great place to learn about ancient Egypt in the Silicon Valley area. I doubt I will visit the museum any time soon, but you never know what the future brings. May the lords of life and death, which may or may not include Osiris and Anubis, have mercy on my eternal soul.