The next installment of the Batman movies is coming out this week, and I'm pretty excited. Batman "the Dark Knight" is a direct sequal to Batman "begins". I like to call it Batman "continues", but they went with "the Dark Knight". This film features the Joker as the main bad guy.

Anyway, I've been having flashbacks because it was only 19 years ago that "Batman" came out and gave hollywood permission to make comic book super hero movies again. The Joker was the first villain and it was wonderful. I remember the bat fever that swept up the country. Everyone was comparing Jack nicholsons Joker and Michael Keatons Batman with the old campy counterparts of the tv show. The TV show was syndicated everywhere and was on all the time. I watched it constantly. Bookstores, which were then mostly small stores in malls, had huge displays featuring Batman comics, graphic novels, movie books, novels, and magazines. I saw Batman in the theaters two or three times, but I'll never forget the line on opening night. It was long. The movie stayed in theaters for months. My interest in comics had been reawakend. I decided my dream was no longer to play in the NBA, but to draw batman comics. I watched mtv hoping to catch Princes batdance video. I practicly built a shrine to Batman with all the stuff I forced my parents to buy.

It was great.

And now as batman comes full circle and faces the Joker again I almost feel the same way as that middle schooler. People are comparing the late Heath Ledgers Joker to Jack Nicholsons "campy" joker of 1989. Of course back then jacks joker was cutting edge, and the TV series had the "campy" joker. Funny, but the same batman graphic novels that were around back then have popped up in bookstore displays, with some new ones alongside. Every now and then Batdance pops into my head. Robbie put his blanket over his shoulders and told me he was Batman. I smiled. He won't be seeing Batman this time around. But he's about ready for the TV show.

We've made plans to see it next week, and in my seat you'll most likely find an 11 year old grinning ear to ear. Super heroes are cool again.

chick fillet cow is coming to town

Santa Clause has long been the king of commercial holiday symbols, and the most photographed man in department stores and shopping malls. He sits on his throne in the middle of the complex, with his whimsical north pole santas workshop enviroment that is worthy of a major motion picture film set. He is surrounded by animatronic reindeer, elves and snowmen. He has an entourage of real people in elf costumes taking pictures and guiding the small children to what is sure to be the most magical or the most terrifying event of the holiday season for them. A chance to sit on Santas lap.

In close second there is the easter bunny. He shows up mid year, with a modest but still decorative set. Kids show up to sit on his lap as well. He's there just for PR though. Where Santa is getting a list of toys to bring to the children, the Easter Bunnys job is a bit more simple. He's bringing everyone candy...... and eggs. Still, E.B. has made great strides against his round jolly rival in recent years, but he's a little uncomfortable that a new player has entered the game.

I was at the mall today on my lunch break when I noticed that right in the same area where Santas massive headquaters will be located later this year, was a small tent with a cow pattern on it. In the tent was a nice wing back chair. In the chair was the chic fillet cow. Yes, you now have the opportunity to sit and have your picture taken with the chick fillet cow. It was a small operation. C.F.C. can't yet compete with the Easter Bunny, much less Santa Clause. Yet I can't help but feel he has the potential to crush them both. He may lack their production qualities, and he may not have a holiday associated with him yet, but you just wait 10 years. Santa Clause better not get complacent. He may find himself on the sidelines while the chick fillet cow delivers toys and chicken strips to all the little good girls and boys.

And they'll only have to leave him cookies. The cow has the milk covered.

East Coast Vinsons reunite

The east coast Vinsons, Elizabeth, Danny, and myself, (or the "trio" as we are called by those that fear us) reunited in Rah-lay this past weekend to help celebrate the arrival of Abigale. Also present were my Mom, my wife Christie, our son Robbie, and my sisters finance Todd, who was meeting much of the extended family for the first time. Todd met Granny, saw the sites of Rah-lay, got voted into the highly secretive secret society, which is a society that may or may not exist, and then hit the road back to Richmond.

Everyone was in agreement of the cuteness of Abigale and much fun was had by all, except for when Danny beat me at wii baseball. However, it was my first experience with a wii. I'm used to crouching over a small game pad with 8,000 buttons sitting indian style and ruining my posture. I am not used to standing and being active to play a video game. Weird.

But I really enjoyed being in the same room with my sister and my cousin at the same time. East coast Vinsons rule! The west coast Vinsons, who do not actually live on the west coast, are okay too. Love yall.

mean it

FOURTH!

Happy Fourth.

It’s the fourth of July and we will be celebrating our countries declaration of independence! Every year I look at this day and think three things. Break from work, fireworks, and somewhere in the background the birth of our country. But this year, thanks to my wife’s obsession with the revolution, I understand it like I never have before.

The United Stated of America has been a unique place to grow up. The concept of democracy, the freedom to vote, and have a voice, has been steady throughout it’s history. It’s an amazing concept that here across north America our political conflicts are resolved peacefully, through elections and debates within a framework set up by some men with some great ideas many years ago.

What I never understood was the sacrifice. The men that signed the declaration of independence could have been executed for treason by England had we not won our freedom. They did it anyway. It took seven years and many tiny miracles to win the revolution. It’s a war we shouldn’t have won. There were many many young men who never lived to see the country that they helped create. Yet their names are just as important as those that signed the document.

This year, the fireworks will carry a little more meaning for me. I live in a country that isn’t perfect. The point is that we can work towards perfect. And it won’t come from some ruthless dictator for life who has decided that you must believe this, or you must do that. It will come from us.

We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness.