We finally got around to taking the family to see the new Indiana Jones movie. It was in many ways what I was expecting. There was the cast of characters with whom we were familiar, chase scenes, critters to make you squirm (like the previous snakes and rats and roaches), exotic locations, humor, and the sense that you are engaging in entertainment that is not as mindless as most.

But there were some things that were NOT what I was expecting. Previous episodes were written in the vein of what you might hear from callers into Michael Medved’s radio talk show when he hosts his weekly Conspiracy Day. However, Read more

Wow, it’s been a long time since I watched the first Indiana Jones movie at a drive-in movie theater in Joplin, MO. In preparation for the new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull we have been re-watching the old Indiana Jones movies. While watching one this week, six-year old Tessa leaned over and said to Susan, “I’m glad I’m not a Nazi, I’m glad I’m a Texan, instead.”

Tessa, I am also glad that you are not a Nazi — that you are a Texan, instead.

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My wife, Susan, wrote the following:

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This was the year of Indiana Jones for our son, Daniel, who recently celebrated his 4th birthday. While my search for Indiana Jones themed party plates, cups and other Indy birthday paraphernalia turned futile (all the party stores were expecting shipments next week) I did manage to find the requested toys. There is the Indiana Jones Lego set which took my engineering challenged brain a mere hour to assemble. There is the action figure, complete with a press button which repeats bits of dialog from the movies. And of course where would an aspiring four year old Indiana Jones be without a genuine whip? The model I found is undeniably cool – looks authentic but is still soft and cushy and best of all, it makes genuine whip sounds followed by a bit of the Indiana Jones theme music. Cool huh?

We are already starting to regret the whip. On the first day Read more