5 Observations/Thoughts about Ironman 2

1. It was really entertaining. Robert Downey, Jr. is a great, charismatic actor.
2. It's amazing to see how far the special effects technology has come in the past 10-15 years.
3. Movies disseminate the mythology of our culture and world.
4. Ironman 2 is mythology.
5. The myth of unlimited progress is the overarching theme of this movie. The movie would have us believe that science will always stay ahead of the curve. By the time the bad guys have scary technology, the good guys' technology will be superior and we (ahem...we are the good guys) will be able to kick the bad guys' butts. Science will be able to solve the problems that science created. Eat popcorn, drink Coca-Cola, fear not!

Mission Statements & Taglines

I have always found these things to be frustrating and meaningless.They are all about style. They lack substance. They tell one side of the story. They may market your company/organization/church, but they do not tell the full and real story. Offering only the shiny part of who you are is where the seed of cynicism starts. So be honest....about all of it.

Surface Level: Some Oil was Spilled

I love watching the Sunday morning political shows. Today's biggest (and scariest) topic was the oil "spill." Here are some random things that happened on the show...and went through my mind.

• "We're dealing with this on the surface." --some BP exec. Truer words were never spoken.
• How can this be called a "spill?" When you spill something, you say "oops" and clean it up. 200,000 gallons of oil per day (or more) is not quite an "oops."
• This could truly decimate (environmentally and economically) a big chunk of the South.
• Why are we relying on BP to solve the problem that they created?
• In becoming all riled up about this, I am participating in deep irony. I whine and complain about this "spill" and our oil-based economy, but then I drive and drive and drive.
• In our quest to "harvest" the oil (a non-renewable resource), we will likely destroy the seafood industry (a renewable resource) in much of the Gulf.
• The long-term effects of this "spill" will long outlive those of Hurricane Katrina (except for those who lost people in the storm, of course).
• The conservative view is that this "spill" is collateral damage to our economic system.
• The liberal view is that oil is evil, so let's get into some other type of energy (while maintaining our level of consumption).
• Are there any other options?
• As I often do, I was thinking a lot of Wendell Berry. I was thinking of Jayber Crow watching his town and state move forward and "progress."
• Is progress a myth?

I took a nap after lunch.