CrabAppleLane Sunday - December 23, 2007 Issue

We went to see the late (10:30PM) showing of National Treasure: Book Of Secrets last night. It's a Disney movie that was shown complete with a Disney cartoon. I approve of reviving the cartoon before a movie tradition. Without saying anything about the movie, I can say with some certainty that those who liked the first one will like this one. There is nothing remotely plausible in either of them but they're both fun. As William Hurt, the Big Chill critic, once said, "Sometimes you just have to let art... flow... over you."

Something on my mind today: There are schoolyard kids everywhere that wish their parents had named them something else. Italian courts are doing something about it. I think they're wildly overstepping and overreacting and they surely could have found a better example to weigh in on. "Friday" is not that bad and that court surely didn't read the same book that I did.

The first quarter is coming to an end in the Saints-Eagles game and the Eagles lead, 21-14. Looks like it's going to be a wild one. Back to it.

Two from the front yard on this gorgeous CrabAppleLane Sunday:

CrabAppleLane Roses - December 23, 2007 - These roses in the front yard are not largely untended. They are entirely untended. They thrive in spite of woeful neglect on my part.

CrabAppleLane Bradford Pear leaf - December 23, 2007 - I never get tired of this contrast.

Quote of the Day

How can you leave us hanging like this? We demand details! Does your preferred technique involve major food groups? Audience participation? Not that the specifics would change this answer, we’re just curious.

Brian Alexander, MSNBC Contributor

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "You can buy lasers from as low as $49 to $1,999 and up depending on how powerful (mW milliwatts) and what color beam you prefer your laser to have."