The Last Kiss

Zach Braff, the actor, director, and writer of 2004's Garden State is back in a new film called the Last Kiss. I am telling you this because of the soundtrack that you need to buy. It is just as good as the Garden State soundtrack, it starts with "Chocolate" by Snow Patrol, and than goes on and soars with some brand new artists (Ray LaMontagne, Athlete, Amos Lee) and some weatherd ones (Coldplay, Rufus wainwright) .
I don't think that the soundtrack comes out untill mid-way through Aug. but it is somthing that everyone should mark on their calanders. (I also think that the film looks good, but that's a different subject)

Going to the Movies

Does anyone else get a headache from going to the movies? It happens to me now almost all the time. I don't know if it's the noise (which comes from every direction) or the lights (the flicker of the light from the film, not the overhead theater lights--although those are annoying, too) or both. Since I go to the movies so rarely I haven't really tested either theory, although I think a nice quiet movie--not Cars--might help me in determining sound or light. It doesn't happen at home, so I'll just need to make a list of the movies I think I might like to see in the theater and wait for them to come out on DVD.

We did go to see Cars while on vacation. I liked it a lot (notice the correct spelling of these two words)! I especially liked the Italian fork lift in Radiator Springs, and Doc Hudson. But, it did give me a headache.

Road Trips & Mix Tapes

A favorite pastime of many folks is creating what use to be called "mix tapes". Mix tapes are all but dead, having been replaced by "mix CDs" and more recently iPod "playlists". Regardless of medium the concept is the same; take music from multiple sources (albums) and "mix" them together in a new list, a new album. Many people take for granted the ease of this, using today's technology, and haphazardly make new "mixes" that don't mix and result in a mismatched hodge-podge of sound. Mixing is an art.

Papa, many will remember, introduced this idea to us as he put together tapes for us to listen to while he was over seas. Still, every time I listen to Africa by Toto I think of that mix tape. Pop took mix tapes to a whole new level using them as a way to speak to us. Not just by recording his voice, his prayers, his thoughts between the tracks, but in the very lyrics of the songs; "It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you. There's nothing that a hundred men on mark could ever do..." I don't think Papa purposefully picked songs that would sing of how much he missed us, but he picked songs that would tell us how much. That's what most people miss with their mixes. Mixes should say something, they should make a statement.

There's a film I really like about a man who understands the world through his analogy of a "mix tape" (I won't tell you the name of the film because of the premises surrounding this analogy). He knows that a good mix tapes takes work, takes heart, takes passion. Mix tapes are art. So be creative, make a mix (and if you're going to Colorado with me, make it a good one).

Vacations

We're getting ready to leave for vacation tomorrow. One last trip to Wal-Mart before we go; a double-check of the younger ones' back packs; putting the cold food in the ice chest and we'll be ready.

A couple from church who own a house on Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland have kindly offered us the use of their place. It comes with a canoe and a rowboat and is right on the water. There's a sandy swimming beach at one of the several local state parks we plan to check out, although I imagine the children will jump in anywhere, muddy bottom or not. We're prepared with extra shoes.

I've got several books for myself (Agatha Christie and Tedd Tripp--how's that for a spectrum) and books on tape for the children. I'm still deciding on one read-aloud for the week. It won't be
The Lord of the Rings since we just finished that in May.

We leave tomorrow afternoon and return next Saturday. I'm looking forward to a change of scenery and a change of pace--Pop says he'll do half the cooking!

I'm also looking forward to many posts about the Colorado odyssey. Matt, Ben and Michal, Jon, Nate and Thomas are all heading for Peter and Jess's at the end of the month. What a great reunion and, for some, first time meeting. Don't overwhelm Aravis or Michal! (or Jess! Where are you going to put everybody?)

66... 2006

Alright everyone, I know that this is a day late, but it's so good it was worth waiting for. Actually I have been having computer problems and this isn't really my fault that my timely posting is now going to have lost its punch, but here it goes anyways. Most of you probably have seen the trailer for "The Omen" or at least know that this remake came out yesterday, on what the movie advertisers were claiming to be 6, 6, 6. Now here's where my thought process comes into play. If yesterday really was 6, 6, 6, then why in the world was there only one creepy, scary, demonic movie released? Seriously! This was one of the biggest missed oppurtunities in the history of the world. There will never again, ever, be another day that could be claimed as 666, never ever. Well maybe in the year 2066 we'll have a whole month of 666, and then in 2666 we'll have a really bad year, but not until 3006 will there be another day of 666. Well, back to my point, where were the good old fashioned Hollywood horror movies to celebrate this wicked day? Too late now, somehow on the next Friday 13th or on Holloween, it will seem anticlimactic.
The reason I wanted to post yesterday is so that I could get my concept for a great 666 movie in on time. Although I failed to meet the deadline, here's my idea anyways.

It is a warm day in the glamorous Hollywood hills. People are sunbathing on the beach, Porches are cruising up and down Rodeo Drive, and poodles are being trimmed and styled in plush salons... Then suddenly, nothing happens. Everyone continues as if everything is normal. Movie stars party and mingle, marketing executives lounge while drinking cocktails and tele-evangalists tape next Sundays program... But where's the housekeeper? The vacuum is still on, but she's nowhere to be found, maybe she took the afternoon off. THE END

Happy Birthday Crum Boys

We are in the middle of one hot season. No, I didn't watch Al Gore's new propaganda reel, I'm referring to the hot-season for Crum birthdays. When people find out how many siblings I have one of their first questions is often "so, do you know all their birthdays?" They're usually surprised when I can rattle off most of your birthdays just from the top of my mind (I won't do it here because you would either think I was looking on a cheat-sheet or be offended that I don't remember yours!). I think the official hot-season starts with William's birthday in mid-may (though traditionally it started with Matt's at the end of May). I don't know when you would say the season ends. Stephen ends the hot streak, but then you have Jesse and Mom close on his heals. Anyhow, I just wanted to take a moment to say happy hot-season, one and all. Oh, and save some fettuccini and strawberry shortcake for me.

The Red Hot Chili Perppers Kick It Still!

Dave Matthews' hasn't had a cd for a long time that compared to his first three, Under The Table and Dreaming, Crash, and Before These Crowded Streets. U2's newer albums have got nothing on War, The Joshua Tree, and Auctung Baby. I can't think of any new Tom Petty songs I like, and the new Pearl Jam album isn't any Yield.

So how is it that the Chili Peppers, who have been around for 23 years, came out with such an awesome record? And when I say awesome, I'm saying that this could be their best, and that is awesome. It's a combo of everything that is great about the Peppers. It's got the funk of their early years, combined with the more mellow sounds that we loved from Californication. John is back this time and his guitar skills are better than ever. He and Anthony sound awesome together, and with the best bassist in the world (flea) and Chad on the very distinct Chili Peppers drums, there is no room for error. There are 28 tracks on this double disk. The only question I can think of, is which disk will I listen to more?

Who's got The Edge?

So, for as long as I can remember, the Edge has been some dude who wore a beanie? on his head, had a sweet mustache, and played a sick guitar for the band U2. But, on the 29th of April he wasn't playing with U2, insted he was playing with an even sweeter band (My opinion), the Dave Matthews Band. Yeah, that's right... he was their special guest for a song, and it was awesome. I couldn't believe that I was seeing the two of them together.

These are just a bunch of other pics that I took at the Jazz Fest.

Deja Vu

Have you ever done somthing for the first time, but felt like you'd done it a million times before?

Yesterday I went to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. I went for one reason and one reason alone. To see my favorite band. I waited in the same cramped spot for 5 hours, and than it happened, Boyd, Carter, Leroi, Stefan, and Dave walked on stage to the loudest roar of cheering that I have ever heard. This was the first time that I was ever seeing the Dave Matthews Band live in concert. It was an awesome show, they are trully amazing. You will never hear someone live who sings better.

But, the concert was a little bitter-sweet. This was my first time seeing them live, but I have every live cd that they have, with the exception of their latest live cd, and I have listened to these cds for the last, I don't know, 10 years of so. It was as if I was just one of the bands old friends, that I had sat in on countless concerts and jam sessions. He sounded the same as ever, Carter played the drums as good as he always does, Stefan kicked it on the bass, Boyd played his heart out on all the violin solos, and Leroi was as layed back on the sax as he always is. I could predict every move, every dance move from Dave, and all his little weird voices in between songs. I'd seen this a million times.

So, it was a mix of emotions, but I wouldn't trade those moments or emotions for anything. (There will be another post on the jazz fest when I get the pic's and video that I put on my friends camera)

He Stole Me Painting!

You all might remember this amzing work of art by the not-so-famous "artist" Nathaniel P. Crum. But, I'll bet you didn't know that a certain person, named Sandro Botticelli, reproduced this exact image and now has his "original" piece hanging in The National Gallery of Art in our nation's capitol. This fact was first discovered by Mom and Pop when they visited D.C..

(And, the answer to your question is yes... I will be suing!)

Tsotsi (sôt'sê)

I haven't been out to see a new movie (in the theater) since Michal, Jim, Annie and I went to see Firewall a couple of months ago. There are a couple out right now that I was hoping to see, Lucky Number Slevin, Thank You for Smoking, Inside Man etc... but instead Michal and I went to see Tsotsi (which is supposedly pronounced sôt'sê, but I can't figure out what that means, so I just say sot-see). The film did hold some interest for me, I had heard an interview with the director about his decision to use "Tsotsitaal", a ghetto language of Gauteng province, South Africa, as the main language of the film, but it wasn't one of those films that I was saying, "man, I've got to see this!" about. I should have been.

The film was amazing. The visual style was perfectly suited for the subject. It was raw, but not intrusive. The soundtrack fit perfectly, and the acting was superb. The most astonishing aspect of the film, though, was the story and they way you could see the change in David (Tsotsi) over the course of the 6 day period in which the film takes place.

There have been many debates about the content of films (especially films, like Tsotsi, that get an 'R' rating). This movie does have a lot of swearing (even though it is subtitled you can actually very distinctly tell what they are saying) and has some pretty violent parts too. But there is no way that you would get a feel for who Tsotsi and his gang are without this raw realism. They can't speak like Dick and Jane while simultaneously convincing you that they are ruthless gangsters.

I'm still planning on seeing MI III and will watch #Slevin when it hits video stores, but Tsotsi is a film that I will remember long after others fade from memory.

My Rating: 9/10 - Great film! Good soundtrack (I bought it right after we left the theater). Amazing story.

This review was written by Benjamin Crum

Praising God Through Pure Talent

Jon for starters this is kind of for you. Mr. Estrada, a huge role model and influence to me over the past few years has taught me many good lessons through trial and error, and just through good Christian teaching. Being a very athletic man and a major leauge scout, and the father of a very beautiful athletic girl, who i know pretty well I guess, Kalie May Estrada, it could often seem hard to people how he could praise God with all his heart, when he has so many things going his way. He knows and teaches his children, and myself, that no talent is attained without it being God's awesome will. Kalie plays for Covenant soccer, and in this her first year broke the school goal record, but who gets all the praise for that? Should it be Kalie? I would have to say God deserves the praise, and although He may not get 100% of it He does deserve all of it and more. "Use the gifts God has given and blessed you with" are words that Mr. Estrada often reminds us of. Kalie is an awesome young women, a very athletic and strong Christian, she praises God. At such a common age for people to turn from what they have been previously taught we stand firm. No matter what the subject, you will almost always find someone who gives God the deserved glory. I trust in and have Jesus as my Lord and Savior, but their is always one more step you can take in your Christian walk. I love my family, my friends, the Estadas, my church, but atop all of that is the Lord Jesus Christ, and I hope all of you can say the same. Sometimes may seem harder to trust in Him, but those are the times that if you can push through, will mean so much to your walk down the road of life. Praise the Lord for what He has done.

Anyone for a Little Taboo? (Please Read This)

Am I allowed to say, "Did you read your Bible today?"

John Frattiani asks me the same question every week when I see him at church. That and, "You want to go to Jimmy John's?"

But it shows me that John's focus on Sunday mornings is in God's Word. But while I'm talking to him, any number of Junior High/High School boys will come up to me and ask, "Did you see the game last night?"

- - - - -

I love this blog because I love my family and this is pretty much the only chance I have to communicate with my brothers who are living spread across the country: Peter, Nate, Thomas. I don't really even take the opportunity to spend time with Matt like I should and rely on this blog to hear from him.

So what do we talk about? Movies? Music? Sports?

There's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong with talking about what we love. And it's the undeniable truth that we Crums love movies and music and (some of us) sports.

Do we love God?

The Bible says that from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. That we are to declare to the nations the good things that God has done for us.

God gave me a mother and father who love me and love Him, brothers who forgive me when I give them black eyes, brothers with the self-control to stop themselves from giving ME black eyes. He's given me life and breath and health and everything that I have.

When I post about music and movies and sports and NOT God, I am worshipping the creature and not the Creator.

Maybe this isn't the place for this kind of a post, maybe I should have put it on my blog where you wouldn't have to read it. Maybe you aren't reading it. But it needs to be said, and it's not just a topic for intellectual discussion. We should not be able to keep silent from praising God for the good things He has done. If we do, the rocks will cry out.

This, as I said earlier, is pretty much the only communication I have with my brothers. And I really don't care about your opinion on sports and movies and music COMPARED to your testimony of God's work in your life.

There's something worth talking about.

Walnut Avenue

Well, I know that I've already gotten people to guess the location from satalite images, but I was just looking at Microsoft's new Google Map clone and found this. To the average observer it would mean nothing, but to those who know this mark on the ground was once the base of a top-secret club (the name of which I will not mention online without Snake's permission).

I was just talking to another man the other day who grew up on military bases and we were reminiscing the great times we had. I love Mare Island. I would love to live there or at least go back and visit someday, preferably before they tear our house down.

And here's one that I just thought was awesome, recognize the building on the right? That's right, the Mental/Dental Clinic.

Best Ten Minutes and Fifty-One Seconds of Your Life...

Ronaldinho is sick!

The title to this entry is the link. I don't know if you guys and gals have ever seen this guy play, but he is sooooo sick. I think he might even blow Jon's moves in Ben's video out of the water, maybe. Anyway I love watching his stuff, so enjoy.

Dream Dog

A Film by Benjamin W Crum




Cast: Jon Crum, Ben Crum, Congo (The Dog).
Music by: The Lovin' Spoonful

Ch. 6 The Last

"This is by far the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me," said Scott to Angelina, "I sure hope that no one ever hears or reads about this story" (wink*).

As Scott and Angelina were conversing he happened upon somthing cool in his pocket. He drew his hand out to reveal the most beautiful copper coin that his eyes had ever seen. This wasn't saying much becasue copper as a metal is pretty ugly and the only copper coins he'd ever seen were pennies, and Honest Abe doesn't have the "most beautiful" mug in the world or anything! Scott noticed that there was some script on the coins surface. As he gazed closer he saw the inscription "make a wish and see what happens".

"Hey, look at this," he said to Angelina. As she came closer to look he told her of how he had found it earlier, and completly forgotten about it. "I could have just used this when I first found it, and it would have saved me all this trouble." He was being sarcastic. "But," came his sarcastic jabbering, "if I had used it when I first found it than you'd still be lost out here!"

"I think it's a real magic coin," came Angelina's brightening voice. "You need to make a wish."

"What... real... are you insane? How could this posibly be a REAL magic coin? That wouldn't make any sense. You must be insane!"

At that very second they walked out of the wood.

"O, look, there's a road sign. It says Arizona St. I live just two blocks over from Arizona St. I can get home before dark. We'll, I'm glad that I met you, but, I wish that none of this had ever happened..."

Just like that he was back in his two story pent house, at the begining of the story, thinking...

"Who could have ever imagined that three days could last a century."

Do You "Walk The Line"?

What does it really mean to "walk the line"? To walk the line means to keep a straight focus to what is important in your life. Here are a few ideas of what it means that I came up with: It can refer to staying on the right track religiously, by maintaining a good relationship with Jesus; finding the personal relationships throughout life that are best for you, finding the soul mate God has planned for you, or just in everyday interaction with people you meet. Through personal, recent, experiences with Kalie Estrada I have realized that you can't take things for granted, because taking things for granted means you have strayed from that line that you should be walking on; as in the greatsest movie ever made, John, played by Joaquin Phoenix, makes mistakes that stray him far from the path he should be walking. Drugs, sex, and other temptations can lead you astray so quickly you don't even realize you have sinned. I think although it is definitely a secular movie it has a lot of good qualities to it, by showing what types of things are right and wrong, and how the wrong things can keep you from "walking the line". Although I think the movie was done to the highest possible standards, the more I hear the music the more I fall in love with the movie, and John ny Cash. My favorite is "Wildwood Flower" sung by Reese Witherspoon, acting as June Carter. The movie is awesome, and i thank Matt for showing it to us. I now own the movie, and the soundtrack, and love to watch and listen to them both. I think the movie can teach you good things, and i hope that when I die I can meet Johnny Cash, if he is in heaven. I really recommend to all those who haven't seen the movie to go rent or buy it, and watch it as many times as you want. It's worth it!!

How LOTR Should Of Ended

Please, no one kill me for thinking this is funny.

WARNING: Contains animated mooning