Tag: movies

iPad won’t play movies from iTunes with VGA adapter

(aka The Movie Studios Still Don’t Get It)

Pirate Video | Source unknown

I’ve been trying to develop a plan at our house for the past few years to simplify our media content and move to an entirely digital media library.

Ultimately, my dream solution would be a one stop storage device on our network that contains all our photos, music and video and is accessible on either TV in our house as well as on our mobile devices (laptops, tablets, phones etc.)

When Laurie and I first married we had over 100 DVDs and easily twice that many CDs.

We’ve since whittled that down to 30 or so DVDs and fewer CDs – selling most of them to a resell shop.

Along the way we’ve also moved away from buying more physical media content and renting any movies we want to see and buying digital music from iTunes and Amazon. It just doesn’t make sense anymore to keep buying movies we only watch a few times when it’s just as easy to rent the movies for a couple bucks a pop.
Continue reading iPad won’t play movies from iTunes with VGA adapter

Why we enjoy nostalgia

In a post I wrote for We Live Simply yesterday, I was reminded of this column I wrote for The Belton Journal in August 2004. I got a little nostalgic and decided to repost it (with a couple updates) for those who may have missed it.

WWE Wrestlers
Photo by greggocnnell

I’ve noticed something about today’s culture — for many, there’s a strange sense that “back in the day” things used to be different, things used to be better, things used to be amazing.

Back in the day we didn’t have socialist presidents, we didn’t have kids zoned out playing their Nintendo DS’s, we didn’t have teenagers so caught up in text messaging that they don’t know how to talk to their parents at the dinner table.

And with these memories, we’ve begun a never ending search for a better yesterday. A time when the flowers bloomed a bit brighter, the summers were cooler, our skin had less wrinkles, our waistlines were half the size they are now and gas was less than $1 a gallon.
Continue reading Why we enjoy nostalgia

I’ve been tagged > My personal Top 10 Movies (for today)

Looks like Brandi decided to “return the favor” after I’ve tagged her with several Memes in the past.

So I better share “My Personal Top 10 Movies” (for today)

The rules of the “game” are simple:
1. list your top ten favorite films (in no particular order).
2. if you’re tagged, you’ve got to post and tag 3-5 other people.
3. give a tag back (some link love) to the one who tagged you in your post
4. give a hat tip (HT) to Dan

HT to Dan – whoever you are – wherever you are. Sorry I don’t have a link to your personal site.

BTW – I’ve been sitting on this list since last week (sorry Brandi) I got 7 movies picked right off the bat but picking a final 3 has been really tough.

My list…

  • Saving Private Ryan ::
    James Ryan: [addressing Capt. Miller’s grave] My family is with me today. They wanted to come with me. To be honest with you, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel coming back here. Every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge. I tried to live my life the best that I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that, at least in your eyes, I’ve earned what all of you have done for me.
    Ryan’s Wife: James?….
    [looking at headstone]
    Ryan’s Wife: Captain John H Miller.
    Old James Ryan: Tell me I have led a good life.
    Ryan’s Wife: What?
    Old James Ryan: Tell me I’m a good man.
    Ryan’s Wife: You are.
  • We Were Soldiers ::
    “We who have seen war, will never stop seeing it. In the silence of the night, we will always hear the screams. So this is our story, for we were soldiers once, and young.”

    “Our Father in Heaven, before we go into battle, every soldier among us will approach you each in his own way. Our enemies too, according to their own understanding, will ask for protection and for victory. And so, we bow before your infinite wisdom. We offer our prayers as best we can. I pray you watch over the young Jack Geoghegan. That I lead into battle. You use me as your instrument in this awful hell of war to watch over them. Especially if they’re men like this one beside me, deserving of a future in your blessing and goodwill. Amen.”

  • Dumb & Dumber ::
    ooh so many lines to quote. We have no problem watching this movie in Spanish or any other language because it’s so quotable.
  • Gladiator ::
    “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”
  • The Patriot ::
    Dan Scott: I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t like the idea of giving muskets to slaves.
    Major Jean Villeneuve: [to Dan] Your sense of freedom is as pale as your skin.”
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ::
    “Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?”
  • Amazing Grace ::
    “When people speak of great men, they think of men like Napoleon – men of violence. Rarely do they think of peaceful men. But contrast the reception they will receive when they return home from their battles. Napoleon will arrive in pomp and in power, a man who’s achieved the very summit of earthly ambition. And yet his dreams will be haunted by the oppressions of war. William Wilberforce, however, will return to his family, lay his head on his pillow and remember: the slave trade is no more.”
  • Happy Gilmore ::
    Like Dumb and Dumber – another hard movie to pick one or two quotes from.
  • Tommy Boy ::
    Ranks right alongside Dumb & Dumber and Happy Gilmore as some of the quintessential movies during high school.
    “I swear I’ve seen a lot of stuff in my life, but that… was… AWESOME!”
  • That Thing You Do ::
    Mr. White: Next, this “Oneders”, with the O-N-E, it doesn’t work. It’s confusing. From now on, you boys’ll just be… simply The Wonders.
    Lenny: As in, I wonder what happened to the O’Needers?

Wrap-up

As I look over the list, it’s interesting to see several war/violence related movies. For some reason the idea of fighting for something greater than yourself really speaks to me. The idea of fighting for someone else, such as a family member, or country really speaks to me – yet I find myself more and more turning to pacifist ways. I wonder if these movies would speak to me the same way they did the first time I watched them – or even 1 or 2 years ago.

Tag :: you’re it

I tag Thomas, Chris, Chad, Laurie & Smiley