Rowdy Rathore movie review - thoroughly enjoyable

Do you love Bollywood movies? Do you love over the top Bollywood song and dance sequences? Ready for a rowdy romp? Rowdy Rathore is the movie for you!

I have become obsessed with Bollywood movies. I pretty much have lost all interest in western films at this point. I only watch western movies for my son and husband's sake. My preference is to watch Bollywood movies.


I watched Rowdy Rathore the other night straight through, which is saying something because it is 2 hrs and 38 minutes long. It was delightful from start to finish which is amazing because it is an over the top self aware comedy and those rarely deliver so consistently throughout a movie, let alone a 2 1/2 hour movie.

When I say this is a comedy, it is more accurate to say it is a comedy/action/romance/musical/thriller.The characters are delightful and have depth to them that isn't normally found in a comedy or action movie. The choreography was some of the best I've seen. the songs were catchy and fun and seriously, there is nothing not to like in this Bollywood movie.  Which is astonishing because self aware comedies don't always work and certainly not all the time. This one hits all the right notes at all the right times. Seamlessly moving from drama to over the top action to romance and to bawdy romance at that.

I've seen lead actor Ashkay Kumar in other movies, but this is the first time I've really understood what a talent he is. His dancing is amazing. And again, it's unexpected considering how big he is. He seems like he should be more awkward, but he is delightful to see dance and he really stands out against the back up dancers. He's better then all the rest and it is easy to see why he is the lead. He is a joy to watch and he nailed the "Amitabh" signature dance move perfectly during the gratuitous romance in a field near a river dance sequence which was a send up of classic Amitabh dance sequences from movies like Silsila . And again, the self aware comedy adds to the sequence and doesn't detract from it. They got the balance just right.

As for the music. I LOVED it. It was everything you want in a bollywood song or a bollywood dance sequence. They don't allow the videos from this movie to be embedded - so I am linking to Chinta Ta Ta Chita here.

What Ashkay manages to do acting wise in this movie is really hard to do. He nails every scene. And again, it's self aware comedy. He dances well. And the dancing is over the top silly yet beautiful at the same time. They somehow managed to get that balance right. He sings well. Acts well (comedy, drama and romance were all required in this movie). In short. He is now one of my favorite actors.

The story line and plot are also engaging. I can't go into it here because a) it would spoil the movie and b) it's too convoluted to explain (as most Bollywood movies are). Suffice it to say, the plot is a good one so the comedy isn't just comedy for the sake of comedy, it is leading somewhere.

My only complaint is that the violence and gore was over the top too and it isn't a movie I would want my son to see. The romance part was fine, the comedy was fine. Most of the action sequences are fine. There is just a lot of gore and sadism near the end. Yes, it is needed for the plot, but it's just not appropriate for younger audiences.

If you are looking for a delightful romp that is action packed, bawdily romantic and fun with a tiny bit of a sadistic thriller thrown in for good measure towards the end. You won't go wrong with this film. I'm curious to see what others think about it. So if you've seen this movie, please let me know what you thought of it. I really liked it.

Best Night Light Ever!

My son is afraid of the dark. At least he says he is. I suspect he says that just to get us to stay with him while he falls asleep. We don't mind. I figure that he will only want us to care for him like this for a short time longer. At some point he will outgrow it and I will take my cuddles where I can get them.

However, I saw this tap light the other day and thought it might make a good nightlight for his room. It is the Ge 17457 Twinkle Star Tap Light.  The cool thing about this is you tap it on and it stays on for about 30 minutes then shuts itself off. So I don't have to sneak back in and turn off his lights.

The other super cool thing is that it projects a nice light blue set of stars and crescent moon onto the ceiling and honestly, it's really cool to look at. This projection covers the entire ceiling which is also nice. Every time we turn it on, we remark how cool it is and how this is the best night light ever.

So, if you are in the market for a night light, this one is really very cool. Enjoy.

Dan Crowther makes a lot of sense

I follow Steve Harrington. He provides great information on marketing and publicity. He recommended Dan Crowther who has a program to actually make money marketing on social media. In addition to being an author, I do offer downloadable training programs in Humanist Life Skills (http://humanisthappiness.com) and  an anti-bullying program called The Bully Vaccine (http://thebullyvaccine.com/toolkit.html)

These programs can help people live happier more fulfilling lives and help them deal with difficult people and bullies more effectively. The problem is, they can't help anyone if they don't know about it so marketing is a necessary activity for me.  I feel ethically good about the process I have been following. Sure, I haven't become an overnight sensation yet, but that can take a few years. I am making slow but steady progress however and I am considered an expert in my field, so that's good.

Anyway - I signed up to view Crowther's video and, boy, it was just what I needed. It basically reinforced my approach to social media. I am not interested in racking up huge numbers of fans just to have fans. I want real fans who are actually interested in and need the information I provide. So no get rich quick schemes for me thank you very much. Just do what I do ethically and rationally and it turns out that my instincts are fairly good and I am doing things basically right. Can I improve? Of course I can. There are more videos in the series and I am hoping to get more detail from them. But in the meantime, I very much needed this reminder that my approach, providing good content in my field of expertise is the right way to go is needed because like everyone else, I am prone to crisis of confidence and perhaps maybe I should try one of the get rich quick schemes. Thanks to Dan, I won't be.

Anyway - if you are interested, the video series is free if you sign up for his mailing list- which I am glad I did because this video was perfect for me. Here is the link if you want to check it out for yourself: http://www.freepublicity.com/social-media-training/video1/ However, I'm told this is a limited offer so it's Nov 26th 2012 right now. If the link no longer works, don't complain.

Yo Solo - wonderful!

My friend Chaz Mena, a fellow Humanist and accomplished actor, starred in a one man show that was recorded for pbs.  It is called Yo Solo and it is about Bernardo de Galvez, a Spaniard who basically helped us win the Battle of Pensacola and therefore the revolution.

This is a delightful film. If you are a history buff, you will enjoy it. If you are a Humanist, you will enjoy it. The themes of the show are not just revolution but also morality and human nature and courage and doing what is right despite the odds against you.

There is one segment in particular I liked that had to do with how people are immobilized by fear. For me, this is a recurring theme that I have to deal with because, well, it is immoblizing. I feel like I am always having to fight against that to move forward in my life.

Anyway - The video is excellent, my friend does a wonderful job and you all should see it. You can view it free online at: http://www.wsre.org/galvez/  Enjoy.

Finally a can opener that works!

I had been in need of a new can opener. My electric one had broken and I had bought a replacement that wasn't a peice of crap. We have been reduced to using an old metal thing that is hard on the hands. I hated it.

Then, I went to a Pampered Chef party and saw this beautiful little smooth edge manual can opener. I asked about it and the host said she loves hers and has not had any problems!  So, I ordered one.

I LOVE IT! Once again, Pampered Chef products make me super happy. This is easy to use. The only thing you have to remember is that it doesn't make a satisfying pop sound when it has cut all the way around. You have to back it up to get the can opener off the can and use the included snatcher to pull the lid off. Don't let that description fool you. It's easy to use and works exactly as it should..

My husband had been wondering what I was using to cut the cans with. He thought maybe there was a new can design that allowed the lids to pop off so beautifully. I showed him the can opener and he was very pleased!  So, if you want one, find your local Pampered Chef representative. Definitely worth the $21 asking price.

Bollywood's Version of An Affair To Remember

Mann is a delightful movie. It stars Aamir Khan who is a really good actor. If you like An Affair to Remember, this movie has all the right moments for you. The opening is a bit different, as our womanizer (Aamir) is shown to really be a womanizer. It does not endear you to him at all. However, it turns out these extra scenes help fill out the character so that when he figures out he is in love, it is a deeply movement moment.

This is Bollywood so there are songs and some dancing. All delightful. The scene where they meet the grandmother was spot on. And when I say spot on, I mean that literally, it could have been the same set. The grandmother even looked the same. My favorite parts where with the grandmother. She doesn't promise a shawl, she promises anklets, which become all the more important at the end because our female isn't just paralyzed, she has lost both her legs. (And no, I don't consider that a spoiler, because if you haven't seen An Affair to Remember, you shouldn't be reading this at all.) Anyway, when Aamir tries to put the anklet on, that is when he realizes who she is.

The movie translates well into Bollywood. They plan to meet at the Gateway to India for instance. However, I have to say, the ending wasn't as powerful as the one between Grant and Kerr, mostly because Manisha, who plays Kerr's character, while she is delightful in the rest of the movie, just doesn't play this in as satisfying a way as Kerr did. Also, the dialogue transitions to Aamir asking her why she didn't show up, rather than the way Grant's dialogue goes on for a while where he is talking about how he didn't show up. What I did like is that after the climatic scene, they show their wedding and that scene makes up for the lack of emotion in the climatic scene.  I did expect to cry more at the end than I did. But I still completely enjoyed the movie.

If you like An Affair to remember and Bollywood movies, this is a remake worth watching.

An important history for the freethought movement

I really enjoyed John Emerson Roberts: Kansas City's ''Up-to-date'': Freethought Preacher . It follows the life of John Emerson Roberts, who was a Freethought preacher in Kansas who also spent time in Chicago. I am active in the freethought movement being a Humanist and having worked for a Humanist organization. I am well aware of the problems our movement has with respectability, infighting and more.

What was interesting about this book was to find out that these are the same problems the freethought movement had back in the late 1800s early 1900s. It's depressing to think we haven't progressed since that time. This movement is still largely a movement of intellectuals.

What I did find really cool was that there were several freethought preachers giving regular services in the major cities. At one point Chicago had 3 freethought preachers who you could get a lecture from on a weekly basis. We don't have that anymore, but I think it is definitely needed. The only group I can think of is the North Texas Church of Freethought.

I think the reason these freethought churches" died out is because they were largely totally dependent on the preacher. When they weren't available, there were no replacement for lectures. As we move forward, we need to ensure our communities have an ample supply of speakers and "preachers" so that our communities don't die when the leader does.

On a personal note, my family was involved in the freethought community of Chicago so when the story takes John Roberts to Chicago, I kept thinking about the fact that my relatives probably had gone to see him preach, or they had been involved with one of his competitors. That was neat.

All in all a very enjoyable read and I really think that anyone who is active in the secular community would benefit from reading this book because of just how important it is to understand our history as a movement. A lot of people are under the impression this is a new movement, but it isn't. We have a history and we should learn it so that we can build upon that history instead of reinventing the same history and making the same mistakes.

Hancock House Rules Candy Land

Candy Land doesn't
have  to be boring

My son made up new rules for Candy Land today and I like them better than the traditional rules so I am sharing them here. The new game play is faster, more competitive and actually quite fun as it does involve some strategy. So, if you kind of sort of like Candy Land, but would like it to be more challenging with an opportunity for some trash talking along the way, consider playing it our way.

First - deal 10 cards to each player. Players can play their cards in any order and in any combination on a single turn, providing that they stick to a single color. So, if you have 3 orange cards, 1 double and two singles, you can go forward either 1, 2, 3 or 4 oranges depending on how which cards you play. You do not have to play all the cards of a single color at the same time if playing a smaller set would allow you to take a rainbow bridge for instance. You can not mix colors on a turn.

As for the character cards - you can play those to either move yourself forward or to send someone else back. Playing a character card counts as your turn even if you used it to send someone back.

When the first person is out of cards, deal another round of cards and continue playing until someone wins.

Why I like Indian cinema

I was watching a movie called Break Ke Baad the other day and I realized why I like Bollywood movies. They are infused with a Humanistic sensibility. This is a love story with a traditional guy and a modern girl. The girl doesn't want to follow the traditional marriage route. She wants to live by her own rules.

They attend a wedding and have a discussion about family obligations. She doesn't like the obligations. He talks about how they aren't obligations. They are ways for you to show that you love the other person by taking their feelings into account in your decision making.

Like the girl in this movie - I think obligations for the sake of obligations aren't a good thing. However, I also understand the fact that being responsible to my relationships and the people I love is what not only gives my life meaning, it is what makes life enjoyable.

Keep in mind that no one in this woman's life is asking her to do anything she doesn't want to do.They want her to fulfill her dreams. They are only asking her to take their feelings into consideration. She is at first unable to understand the difference. It is only when she looses the guy she loves because she isn't treating him well that she finally understands.

As a Humanist, I feel very strongly that we must be compassionate with other people in our interpersonal relationships. It is how we strike the balance between our need for autonomy and our need for companionship that dictates how successful we will be in life.

In other words,you fulfill your social obligations are because of love – you don’t do them because you have to. You do them because you care about the impact you have on other people.

Here is a preview of the movie which I definitely enjoyed even though it wasn't a traditional musical. The musical numbers were all montages.

People Will Talk about Humanistic Medicine

 

I saw this movie last night. My mother had recommended it. It was excellent. Classic Cary Grant. But more important to me was the story it told. People Will Talk is a  1951 remake of a German film that came out the year before and the plot is basically Humanism vs. traditionalism. As a Humanist, I loved it.

The basic story is that you have a doctor practicing what we now call Humanistic Medicine who is a) being challenged for unethical conduct by a colleague and b) who falls in love with a pregnant woman, which is obviously scandalous for the time. But what gets people talking is actually his mysterious friend who is like a man servant to him, but who is actually just a very good friend. This friend has his own story that again, highlights the applied humanist ethics of our lead character. And yes, it is very powerful.

Dr. Praetorius, our lead, runs a clinic where patients are considered humans and not inmates. They are real people to be treated with compassion and not just as lumps of flesh to be cured. As much attention is paid to their mental health as it is to their physical health. And if you were wondering why more doctors don't practice medicine this way, you will be glad to know that there is a modern movement to encourage doctors to approach their work with exactly this attitude. It is promoted by the Gold Foundation (for Humanistic Medicine).

Dr. Praetorius' relationship with the woman pregnant out of wedlock and her family is compassionate, ethical, and responsible and ultimately very loving. As is his relationship with his friend Shunderson. Shunderson is a beautifully written character and well acted by Finlay Currie.

This movie covers a variety of difficult topics but ultimately encourages all of us to lead ethical and compassionate lives and to do what is right by others. It doesn't matter that people will talk, as Dr. Praetorius shows, there is joy to be found living life ethically, fully, intentionally and compassionately.

Louise - Adventures of a Chicken

We have chickens. Four to be exact. Their names are Sheila, QT, Ms. Jones and Missy A. They are awesomely fun to watch. We have become a bit chicken obsessed in our family. In addition to watching Hen Cam, we are also starting to borrow books from the library that deal with chickens.

The latest is Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken. This is an AWESOME book. Louise goes on three separate adventures. The first is a pirate adventure complete with shipwreck. In the second, she runs away to the circus. In the third, she visits a foreign land. At last she has found true adventure.

The books are well drawn, cute and if you own chickens, so spot on to their personalities. If you want a fun read and like chickens, see if you can get this book from the library. 

Ra-One was not so good

I was really looking forward to this movie, as I like Shahrukh and I like sci fi. But this just didn't connect with me. I thought some of the special effects were wonderful. the scene in the junk yard was amazing. but over all, the story just lacked the depth that I have come to expect from a good Bollywood movie.

It was cute, it was fun, but the answer was just too pat and so it wasn't very emotionally movie. I suppose it's a sign of refinement that I've finally seen a Bollywood movie that didn't knock me off my feet. But this one didn't. It was just ok. Maybe it was the lack of really good dance numbers. The main sequence was at a party and it was out of character for our lead - totally out of character. The main character isn't even Ra-One - that is the name of the bad guy. So, yeah it just didn't connect. It didn't help that Shahrukh is not the best of dramatic actors.

Now, had the opening sequence been the actual movie - that would have been cool.

Gel vs. Powder

The Samsung Dishwasher of My Dreams

For years now I have been using dishwasher gel in my dishwasher. Never thought anything of it. Seemed easy and cleaner to use.  The quality of the washing my dishwasher was doing we steadily declining, but given that my dishwasher is over 10 yrs old, I figured, it's just an old dishwasher.  I probably just need to get a new one.

Then, my relatives came to visit and someone bought dishwasher powder packs - you know the type, comes in a dissolvable package, just the right amount for your dishwasher with a little jetclean thrown in for good measure.

Well, after using that at home for just 2 weeks, It's like I have a brand new dishwasher again. The dishes are coming clean, the machine is doing a better job and I no longer think I need a new dishwasher anymore. Pretty happy with the one I have. Granted, it would be nice if it was quieter.

I'm writing this post to let you know if you are experiencing the same thing as I was, change your detergent and use the powder stuff. We aren't going back to gel because the difference in the quality of the wash is stunning! Very noticable

One Touch can opener is crappy

I bought a one touch can opener about two months ago. My other electric can opener had died and I thought - this is small, it's cool and it will fit in my drawer. The other one was on the counter and had to be plugged in. This uses two AA batteries.

The problem is that it too me forever to get it to work the first time. It's not exactly as simple as one touch and a big black button being the only thing you can touch would make it seem.

You have to get it on the can just so. Make sure the can is triggering a mechanism on the bottom. Make sure the blade is in the right place relative to the can then, and only then will the button do anything at all. Most of the time you touch it it does nothing.

I was able to open a total of 3 cans with it. And that was with a brand new set of batteries.  The third can got stuck and it was a hassle to get off because unlike other can openers, this one cuts below the rim on the side of the can, not on the top.

Long story short, it doesn't work at all now. I've tried to get it to work a few more times, but no such luck.  It's a piece of crap that wasn't worth the packaging it came in. I normally don't spend much of my time on products that don't work, but this was above and beyond bad and so I took time out of my Saturday to write this review. That's how bad this thing is.

If you are tempted, don't be. Get a manual. They are way more reliable.

Banana Babies

I have come to realize over the last few weeks that I love banana babies from Diana's Bananas. I first bought them because my son wanted them. I thought - well, it's a banana, it's not totally unhealthy.

Then I tried one. It's so delish. And you don't feel guilty about eating it because, it's a banana. It has replaced any thought I have of eating ice cream while watching tv. I literally buy two boxes at a time because between me and my son, we are going through these at an alarming pace.

It's easy, clean, on a stick, no mess delicious goodness in chocolate. And now, seeing the website, I see that they have a nut covered banana too!  So, I need to talk to the manager of my supermarket and tell them to get the nut variety in stock.

Long story short, if you are on a diet, but like desert, get these bananas. 

Unbelievably Good - Fanaa - Movie Review

Fanaa with Kajol & Aamir Khan

The worst part about Fanaa is that my husband did not see it with me. Which means, I spent the entire next day (today), contemplating it with no one to talk to about it. Aaaaghhh! It also meant that in order to talk to him about it I had to explain the plot. Which is no simple task, this is after all a Bollywood film.

Before I go any further, let me just say, this is a GREAT movie. I gave it 5 stars and definitely recommend it. It is fabulously acted. This is the best role I have seen Kajol in. Ever. Aamir is incredible in it. He goes from romantic comedy song and dance to a deep pathos. He is totally believable and charming and devastating in turn. Very few actors have that sort of range. He does.

Now, as to why I desperately needed to discuss this movie. If you have ever seen a Bollywood movie, you know you basically get two movies for the price of one. The first hour and a half-ish sets up our characters, after the intermission, you get another hour or so that basically takes off where the first movie ends and gives our characters a new situation to deal with. Often, the 2nd half involves a twist. You will also know that if our characters even so much as kiss (even married couples), something bad is going to have to happen to them. And no, they didn't kiss, but they did something else that is definitely a no no and so, I knew something bad was going to happen, but how bad, given that they hadn't kissed, was unclear and things seemed to be going well around intermission time. Knowing all this I was completely unprepared for the second half of this movie!  It was a total departure from the first part. The first half of the movie is a beautiful and fun romantic comedy with singing and dancing. The second half is a lot like Cape Fear. Needless to say, it's a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride. Well worth it though.

At the end, the moral lesson is clear. Morality is not about choosing between good and evil. It is about being prepared to choose between the greater of two goods or the lesser of two evils. 

Spice of India - delish!

I was given Cooking with the Spices of India years ago by a friend.It came with several little tins of spices which was cool. I tried a couple of recipes and basically forgot about it favoring some other cook books. But occasionally, I would check it to see if it had a recipe for a specific ingredient I had on hand.

Recently, I checked it to see what recipes it had for eggplant. Oh my goodness! The Creamy Roasted Eggplant with Shahi Masala has to be the most delicious thing I've ever put in my mouth.It is pretty too.It comes out this orange with bright red tomatoes and bright green from cilantro that you put in at the end.

Because one of my friends asked for this recipe and because I am obviously crediting the book and because it is out of print now, I feel comfortable sharing this recipe without infringing on the author's income. There are other really delicious recipes in here as well that I have made, so if you do find a copy, feel free to get it.

Ingredients:
2 large eggplants
3 tbs veggie oil (I use olive oil)
1 jalapeno (seeded and chopped - I omit this)
3 cloves garlic peeled and coarsely chopped
1 1/2 inch fresh ginger peeled and coarsely chopped
1/2 large onion peeled and coarsely chopped
2 tbs lemon juice
4 plum tomatoes seeded and diced (I leave the seeds and peels on)
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp roasted ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp shahi masala (I use garam)
1/4 cup cream
1/4 cup fresh cilantro coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 450F Cut and each eggplant in half.Using 1 tbs of the oil, brush each cut side of the eggplant with oil. Place each eggplant piece, cut side down on an oiled backing sheet. (I peel my eggplant first so I don't have to do this next step, plus it gives me more roasted bits later). Place the eggplant in the over on a single rack and roast until eggplant is tender (about 30 minutes). Set aside to cool. Once cool, scoop out the flesh and mash or whip to a rough puree.

While eggplant is cooling, place chilies(optional), garlic, ginger, onion and lemon juice in a blender and puree into a paste. Set aside.

In a large skillet, heat the remaining oil over medium high heat.Add the onion garlic paste and saute about 3 -4  minutes. Add a little water if necessary to prevent sticking (this hasn't been a problem for me).Add the tomatoes, turmeric, cumin and salt. Saute for 5 more minutes.Add eggplant puree to the mixture and heat through, about 3 minutes.Stir in shahi or garam masala, cream and cilantro and cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and serve.

Enjoy.

The Silver Spoon Cookbook: review

The Silver Spoon Cookbook

My brother bought me The Silver Spoon as a present several years ago. I like to think of it as the Italian Joy of Cooking. It is laid out very similarly in terms of - you want recipes for leeks - there's a whole section on it. Want to know about pig parts, it's got graphs and more.

I have yet to make a recipe that hasn't been delicious. What is most amazing and cool about this book is that most of the recipes are very simple. Basically, your veg, butter and salt and pepper. The recipes really highlight the flavor of your basic ingredients and don't dress them up so that other flavors get in the way of your dish.

It is because of this book that I have come to love Ratatouille. If you had told me even five years ago that I would love that dish, I would have thought you were crazy. My husband and I are members of a CSA farm (http://gamblecreekfarm.org/farm/index.html) and this book is great for looking up whatever odd thing we got to find a recipe for it.  I just made the leek sauce that is good with pork and it's seriously yummy.

If you like to cook and you love your Joy of Cooking, as I do, you will probably come to love this book just as much if not more.  It has become my go to book to seek our recipes for ingredients I don't know what to do with. The techniques are easy and you will wonder why you ever thought cooking was difficult. Even making rice the Italian way is an enlightening experience. So much easier and so much tastier.  Enjoy.

Ethosuximide - a positive experience

My son was diagnosed with childhood absence epilepsy in January. He was prescribed generic Zarontin which is known as ethosuximide. Don't ask me how to pronounce that as no one seems to know. And while we're on the subject it's pronounced "absance" not "absense." (sigh)

As any parent would be, I was  concerned about how my son would tolerate this drug. Almost as much as I was concerned with the fact his brain was seizing up several times a day. Now that I understand that is indeed what is.was happening, it is hard to watch.

Anyway, I went online and did my research to see what sort of side effects this drug has. And they are terrifying. Blood disorders, lupus, grand mal seizures and more. However, there were also a few people who said the drug really helped them a lot.  My sense from all the reading I did was that this is a drug that is very specific to this particular type of epilepsy. If it turns out you don't have this type of epilepsy, it will aggravate whatever your real condition is. If, however, you do have this condition, it should do a very good job of controlling your seizures.

I wanted to write this post to let other parents dealing with this diagnosis know that my son is doing great on this drug. He has had no side affects. His blood work is fine (no negative effect there). His personality is the same as it always has been. No upset tummy, no rashes, nothing. All it does is control his seizures. And yes, it really does work. We just got back from an EEG and they were unable to induce a seizure in him, which, to my mind is nothing short of a miracle given how many he had been having. Homework time is now easy and takes just a fraction of the time it used to.

He has only been on this drug for 2 months now and his levels aren't where they need to be as his dosage is really low (about 1/4 of what is allowed for his weight ). His doctor figures it is better to start low and build up to the ideal level than start high. The only problem we have had is that because the dosage is low when the drug wears off he starts having seizures again. We have upped his dosage to see if that takes care of the problem, which I'm optimistic it will since when he gets a slightly higher dosage because, let's face it no one is exact in pouring out the exact amount prescribed, he does better.

The bottom line is this drug is working for my son and he hasn't had any side effects from it at all. So, if you wanted to hear a good success story with this drug, you've got one.

Book Review: Gray Locke The Witch of Clover Hill

I was telling someone about this book the other day, and after I told them the title, Gray Locke: The Witch of Clover Hill they started talking about how popular the Harry Potter books were and how great they are for kids. I kept saying, yeah - but witches don't exist because in Gray Locke's world, witches don't exist.  Seriously, they don't.

I read this book with my 6 year old son and he LOVED it and has asked me to read it to him again, which I will happily oblige as I really enjoyed the book too.  This is a book about a young boy who is very smart and very reality based. But that doesn't mean he isn't interested in things. He has quite a great imagination this kid.  In fact, he's a lot like my son. As we were reading it we kept saying, - wow - that's just like you. Everything from drinking ovaltine in the morning to playing with LEGOs.

As a Humanist parent, I liked the book because it shows just how much better the world is when you abandon your fears of the unknown and just go ahead and find out what the truth is. At it's heart, this book is a mystery and don't let the fact it is reality based fool, you, there is plenty of mystery there to sort out. You simply don't have to abandon reality to have a great supernatural mystery to solve.

My only complaint was that the book ended too soon. Gray Locke is a character I want to follow and get to know better as does my son. Fortunately, author C.A. Chicoine's has promised to follow Locke through out his childhood into his adult years so, C.A. get on that please!

Oh, and one last thing, C.A. is kind enough to provide links to various reality based details of his story and he provides the rules for two different marble games that are played in the book, and yes, my son and I are planning to play both games over the weekend!  It really is a great book and you will enjoy it.

A Sappy Movie Worth Watching

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is a really sappy movie. REALLY sappy. There is no question in your mind where this movie is going to go, but that doesn't matter. You want it to go there and you need it to go there and are very satisfied when it does. In other words, it is very predictable, but that doesn't matter. It's a great story and lovingly told.

Plus - it stars Shahrukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan as brothers. Hrithik - by the way is one of the most handsome men in the world and he is also one of the greatest dancers in the world consistently compared to Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Michael Jackson. Amitabh Bachchan plays their father and he's wonderful. The female leads are also stellar including Kareena Kapoor and Kajol who plays so incredibly well against Shahrukh.

The dancing and the music are extraordinary and of course, plenty of Hrithik dancing. The best sequence was when Hrithik, Shahrukh and Amitabh all dance together.  Wow!

Anyway - this is a tear jerker of a film and when I say tear jerker - I mean to say I was openly sobbing. I didn't just have a tear trickling down my face, I was moaning and sniffling and openly sobbing. When it was over my eyes felt dry like I didn't have any tears left to keep my eyes properly moistened.  It was a lot of crying. Which is surprising given how predictable this movie was. But again, you want it to end the way it does and it is beautiful. So, if you like crying, lots of bollywood music and dance and an emotionally moving family dynamic story - watch this film.

Here is a trailer, which doesn't do it justice, but still, gives you the essence.

Movie Review: OSS 117 - Cairo, Nest of Spies

I saw this movie on Netflix the other night and it had me in stitches.  This is a French comedy. Kind of a cross between James Bond and Inspector Clouseau.  It is very very funny. And yes, it is subtitled.

My favorite part was the chicken fight.

This is a send up of spy films, but you need to realize: this guy is a competent fighter, and he is suave and skilled. What makes this funny is how clueless he is about his sexism, cultural differences and more.

Anyway - here is the trailer.  Enjoy.