District of Columbia Montage

**Notice the synchronization of Pop saying the word "how"**

Update

This post could very easily be all over the map, so I'm going to do my best to be organized and concise as possible.

In 2007 I officially became old, and I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with that. No matter how I approach it, 30 is old. I remember Mom and Pop watching the show 'Thirtysomething' back when I was a kid, and I thought it was terribly sad. Then, the other week I noticed something in the mirror; a white hair in my beard. I'm not sure wether I think it's cool, or very depressing. Then I realize that just by allowing myself to think it might be cool makes me even older. Now some of you have passed the point of no return and are already old like me and therefore are beyond help. For all those younger than me, please, I implore you, don't take youth for granted.

In 2008 I get to be there for my brother Matt's wedding, and it's going to be sweet. I'm sure that like me and the family out here in Colorado, the rest of you have got a busy year ahead. Even if it doesn't look busy now, it'll fill up pretty quickly. What is great though is that we have this central event looming just over the horizon, a time to celebrate together, there in Indiana wih Matt and Emily. 'm pretty excited, this ranks up there with going to Disneyland.

I made one New Year's resolution, and unless you really know me it probably won't make sense. I have commited to avoid those upcoming movie discussion/spoiler websites. I want to see what it's like to watch a movie like an everyday, average person. Someone who says; "There's a new Batman movie out? Alright let's go see that sometime..." Instead of my typical; "Ya, I saw the new Christopher Nolan Batman film last night at midnight. It wasn't quite what I had hoped for, but then how could it cosidering that they couldn't get Katie Holmes to do the sequel because Tom is intimidated by Christian Bale". Now I'm not saying I won't be super excited about certain movies, I'm just trying to cut back on the geekiness.

In closing, although white facial hair, Matt's wedding and Batman are first and foremost in today's blog, I just wanted to say that I love reading all the family's posts and learning more about you all. In this new year hopefully there will be positive changes with our family out here in Colorado, and as always I ask for your prayers and support. Know that all of you are in our thoughts and prayers, and we're looking forward to seeing you soon.

World War II Memorial - Jan. 1, 2008

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas

From the Crums

Johnny Come Lately

Not having a TV or regular contact with the outside world means that I usually find out about things late. I get all excited about something, like Flight of the Conchords, and want to tell everyone, and then find out that everyone already knows.

So if you already know about this, sorry... but if you haven't it's gonna be freakin' sweet! Supposedly Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are teaming up to make... TinTin!!!



There was an article about this back in May on the BBC site, but no word yet on when the movies will be out. So, does this mean that Peter Jackson won't be directing The Hobbit? I don't know.

Chuck & Huck

For the past couple years there have been "Chuck Norris Facts" floating around the younger generations. This increased popularity would be to Grandmom's satisfaction as Chuck has garnered more face time in movies and commercials.
Some sample 'Facts' include:

"Chuck Norris counted to infinity, twice."

"Chuck Norris' tears can cure cancer, too bad he's never cried."

"On a high school math test, Chuck Norris put down "Violence" as every one of the answers. He got an A+ on the test because Chuck Norris solves all his problems with Violence."

"Chuck Norris owns the greatest Poker Face of all-time. It helped him win the 1983 World Series of Poker despite him holding just a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game Uno."

"Chuck Norris can do a wheelie on a unicycle."

"Chuck Norris can slam revolving doors."

"Chuck Norris can believe it's not butter."

On top of all these facts, Chuck is now endorsing a republican candidate for president.




The Crum Family Blog is not politically affiliated with any presidential candidate.

Intellectual Property

Dumb Dumb wanted me to post this link (click here after watching the Dlog) so that you could all witness his genius. Back on September 17th I posted the following Dlog over on Dumb Dumb's page, and just this weekend Sean Penn decided to completely rip off our Dumb Dumb's idea. See for yourself...

New Mexico

Back when Jude was a baby, while Jess and I were working at Spring Canyon, we took a trip down to Sante Fe. The highlights of the vacation were eating out, cable television, Southwestern architecture, and "Coyote Ugly" in the local theater (Jude loved it). So since it had been a while, we decided to take the family back for a short vacation this past week. We left Monday morning and drove south for just about five hours. It's amazing how the scenery changes gradually, and by the end of the relatively short trip we were someplace so new. The weather was nice the whole time we were down there, and we enjoyed taking a walk through the old downtown area which included the Cathedral seen in the picture, as well as a bunch of fun shops, art museums and historic buildings. We ate enough Mexican food to, well enough to fill our Mexican food quota for a little while at least. We got to go swimming three times at the indoor pool where we stayed. And once again we got to enjoy the benefits of cable television, although this time we watched a lot more Cartoon Network than last time.
I hope you all are having a great time, and had a Happy Thanksgiving. See you soon.

Guiter Hero III

Nate is definitely the best brother (or at least he was last I saw) when he it comes to playing guitar hero. Recently my friend Nat got Guitar Hero III and I've enjoyed watching him become more and more skilled. He can complete songs on Expert and blows everyone else away. I marvel at the skill it takes to do well at this game and thought this video (from GH3) was too cool...I also love this song!!

Wouldn't it be sweet?...

Now I know many of you remember this one, Wings of Fury! Hours and hours of time has been spent by the brothers Crum dive-bombing the Japanese in this World War II classic, routing machine gun nests and obliterating their bunkers. I still have the 'ping' ringing in my ears from my machine gun fire hitting a running man trying to re-enter a sandbag fortified machine gun position.

Now, I know what you're all saying, "thanks a lot Ben, bring up all these great memories and then make my current gaming experience suffer because of the nostalgia for the best game ever" Well, if you do say such a thing, have no fear, I wouldn't leave you hanging like that. There are still three ways for you to play this game:

One - Own an Apple IIc and the original floppy.
Two - Download this file (sorry Thomas, this only works on PCs). Users Guide here.
Three - Play the online Flash version here.

Enjoy

A Post for Matt

You'll like it or hate it:


and



I'm guessing you've already heard the Michael Bublé version, but just in case you hadn't.

Engagement Pictures

A few weeks ago Emily and I had some engagement photos taken. They have finally been uploaded to our photographers website, linked here for your viewing pleasure.

Ninja Parade

Peter, this is for you. I just found it on the Onion and thought I would share:



NOTE: I do not, by posting this video, endorse all the videos on the Onion, just this one!

New Orleans

Today I write to you, my eager? readers, from the city of New Orleans. It's actually Kenner, but who knows where that is! I am sitting in a camper posting on Tom's computer. He and the rest of his group are out working and I am not. The past few days I joined them as we did little jobs here and there around the city's dissaster areas. But, I am on leave for just a week and I needed some rest. So as they slave out in the elements, I recover here in the confinds of this home on wheels.
The story of what we did over the past few days is for another time. I have to get somthing else off my chest...
I am stuck in a camper, it's noon, I have no car, and I am hungry. That's it! That's what I am thinking about. This is what you have just wasted your time reading about. I am HUNGRY! I think I just might order a pizza to the church or somthing.

A Short Story

by Benjamin Crum

The doorbell rang.
"I'll get" said Harry as he rose slowly from his arm chair.

A fire crackled and danced on the hearth. A Bach concerto floated wistfully in the air from some unknown recess upstairs. It was one of those crisp early-winter days when you don't want to roll out of bed.

A short, stout man was on the doorstep. "G'day" he said in a quick, yet kind sort of way. "Might I 'ave an moment of your time?"

Harry rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. Oh how he wished he could simply vanish at times like these. Or better yet, how he wished he could make others vanish, make them just go away.

"Sorry" he said, trying to think of a really good excuse, "I, uh, that is..." Nothing came to mind. Perhaps it was the cold air on his face mixed with the warm, beckoning fire at his back, Harry could think of nothing to say.

"It'll take but an moment" the man reassured. Harry hadn't noticed the man inching his way closer and closer. The man was nearly standing on Harry's slippered feet. In times past Harry would have been on his guard. In his quick-witted youth he would have been able to sense, to smell the very grave danger he was in. He would have reacted in a flash, perhaps even a blinding flash. But now, middle aged and lazy, his mind was preoccupied with the life of routines, chores, work, and mortgage payments. Where once he thought of his next great adventure, now he only thought of his next TV-dinner or the next season of Lost.

Harry fell to the floor. He hadn't even had time to hear the shot. It all happened so fast and as he looked down on himself, seeing the short man step over him, he thought "so this is it, this is the end of my tale... this is the end of Mr. Harry Potter?" His eyes closed, and all was dark, cold and dark.



I have never read more than one chapter of a Harry Potter book. I thought, though, that you fans may want some closure. I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Like a Rolling Stone

So the idea here is to find as many bands represented as possible [click here to see the full sized image].

Then check the comments to see if you missed any (or found any more!)

The First Record (Red Album)

The First Record of the Red Album from The Beatles.

For those of you wondering, Papa asked me to remove his posts.

Wouldn't it be Sweet?

Part One:

I just wrote a response on Jon's blog about the nature of alien life, something we have all pondered long and hard about. So I pose this question: Wouldn't it be sweet if aliens were solar powered via their photovoltaic eyes?



Note Well: This image is not meant to be an accurate representation of sun dwelling aliens but rather a conceptual sketch of what solar-eyes might be like. Notice that this alien does not have a mouth as he/she/it consumes all necessary energy and sustenance via the sun's rays.

Roadtripping

For those of you who don't know... I'm guessing all of you... Jon has embarked on an ambitious roadtrip across America (or, at least across the blog-sphere). Read about his adventures on his all-new-and-improved blog.