Netflix delivers a good one.

Batman Begins was one of those movies that I really meant to see in the theater.. but a combination of other obligations and a lack of funds kept me from doing so.

Netflix brought it to my door the other day, and I am very happy with the film. Christian Bale is nearly perfect as the young Dark Knight, and Gary Oldman simply becomes Lt. James Gordon.

But the best part was how they handled Batman's gear and Gotham City. One of the problems of the last couple of Batman films was that I stopped believing in both the city and the equipment. Batman is supposed to be based somewhere in reality.. someone could do what he does with enough money, talent, and determination. In the same vein, Gotham is supposed to be a real city. Dirty, crowded, with different neighborhoods showing different faces. The later Batman films turned Gotham into some weird art deco nightmare, with nothing at all real about it. Same with Batman. The gear was ridiculous by the time of Batman & Robin. Not so in Batman Begins. Gotham is a very real city, with the exception of the monorail system. Batman's gear is quite feasible. (Forbes magazine did a story on what it would cost to make yourself Batman. About $3.5 million, but you're on your own in finding an ancient order of ninja to train you.)

Possibly may favorite point was that while there were two members of Batman's rogues' gallery in the film, they were pretty much separate stories. Ra's Al Ghul was masterfully played by Liam Neeson (and if you object that he actually played Henri Duchard, you don't know your Bat history.) and Cillian Murphy was appropriately psychotic as Dr. Crane/The Scarecrow.

Good film. Well worth seeing again.

Next up: Better Off Dead, one of my all time favorites.

Ave, Norton Rex!

Today is the 126th anniversary of the passing of the One True Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico, Joshua Norton.

All true San Franciscans mourn his loss, and are secure in the knowledge that we, not that swamp back east, remain the actual capital of the nation.

Norton is best loved by us for this proclamation:

Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the
abominable word "Frisco," which has no linguistic or other warrant,
shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor, and shall pay into the
Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars.

Spring Cleaning begins!

Yes, it's still early January, but you haven't seen our apartment.

Realizing that the easiest way to get frustrated and quit for both of us was to try to do too much, I decided today was going to focus on getting the tons of trash out of our tiny kitchen/dining area. Between us, we manage to accumulate piles of junk, and neither of us is very good at taking down the trash. So several trips to the dumpster later, I had actually cleaned out enough space to sweep up and mop about half the floor. Considering how awful that floor is, I'm completely satisfied with achieving this much!

kshandra has been asked to continue clearing out the junk on the dining room table tomorrow (between bouts of job searching and screaming at EDD about her unemployment check.) That, and finally getting all the damn dishes cleaned and put away will go a long way towards improving this place.

After the kitchen, next target is the "entryway." This is the pathway created from out front door by the couch and computer station. Alas, it is also the default dumping ground for junk mail, coats, and anything else we are to tired or apathetic to carry any farther.

My plan is to continue dividing the apartment into small zones, and concentrate on those areas. Moving stuff to temporary holding zones while we figure out where it all actually goes is perfectly acceptable, just so long as everything ends up someplace that isn't on the couch or the floor.

Also, we're going to be finally getting rid off the ungainly shelving unit that has served as a TV/Stereo shelf. We have a perfectly good entertainment center in the garage. We just need to clean out a space and get rid of the old unit.

I foresee a lot of stuff going up on Freecycle, Craigslist, and eBay in the near future.

This cleaning frenzy has been brought on by two things. First of all, I just can't take the clutter anymore! Secondly, moving is in my thoughts a lot these days. Once Kiri has a permanent job, we can afford better (or at least a place built with grounded outlets!) Someplace closer to Fremont and wherever she's working. It won't be this year, or even in 2007 most likely, but I want to get in the habit of being organized.