Reviews by Al

Movie about a big American family.  The prodigal son returns with girlfriend/soon to be fiancee in tow for the Christmas family get together.  Those in the family who have already met Meredith haven’t gotten along with her snobbish ways.  Even from the start, it’s clear a conflict is coming.  Obviously a comedy, the movie shows the fun side of a big family, and although I imagine there are not so fun sides, seems like great idea if parents had the inclination and could manage the expense and time.

There are a lot of books are out there talking about happiness.  But this book contains a lot of information about the mechanics of happiness.  Information like how hormones (neurotransmitters) alter brain structures sometimes irreversibly to change human behavior.  In the discussion of these processes, a lot of nuances about how emotions work seems useful to know.  For example, did you know that if you can properly fake a genuine smile it will make you happier?

It’s perhaps the fourth or fifth book I’ve read on this topic, and it’s still interesting to me.

Will Smith plays a down on his luck bone density scanner salesman taking care of his son while attempting to get a job as a stockbroker at Dean Whitter in San Francisco in the 80’s.  A  dramatized version of a true story, the film manages to be interesting and funny and reveal a little about homeless families.

PC game by THQ brings a WWII themed game to real time strategy.  Graphics are pretty good.  One drawback is that there are at times strict limitations to space allotted to support buildings close to HQ.  If you run out of space you are SOL — you can’t even self-destruct your own buildings as in other games (though you might try mortaring your own buildings).  At one point I was screwed because I ran out of space and couldn’t build a tank depot.