Then & Than

Not being an English major, I am sometimes perplexed by the correct use of words in a sentence. As a sergeant, I would review many police reports and often noticed errors regarding the use of certain words such as, their, there and they're.

Two words that often stump me are the words "then" and "than". I have found the following explanations very helpful when trying to remember the correct way to use the words.

The word THEN is used to imply chronology. It is used to indicate when something has happened.

The word THAN is used to convey a comparison of some kind, or to be more accurate, a difference.

Crossing Over

Arizona is still in the news with its recent SB 1070. It would appear that few people are taking the time to actually read the bill and instead, listen to activists who claim the bill allows law enforcement to stop someone based on their looks.

Another interesting piece of evidence that didn't make it here to California is contained in the following two videos. From Douglas, Arizona, an investigative report on the "OTM's" that are crossing into the United States. OTM stands for "Other than Mexican." Take a look and draw your own conclusions, but more importantly, regardless of your stance, educate yourselves.

Video 1: ttp://www.wsbtv.com/video/23438021/index.html

Video 2: http://www.wsbtv.com/video/23438712/index.html

Hummingbird Update!

From jelly bean size eggs to young Hummingbirds, it now appears our little guests are ready to leave the nest any minute now. The mom still comes by to feed them, but they are bulging out of their nest. My research shows that they are in the nest for 3-4 weeks and it has been just about that long since they hatched. We are still able to get up close and personal with them and check on them frequently. We were wondering if they would remember our faces or the noises we made as we "talked" to them. Who knows?

I set up the video camera and was able to get some excellent video of the mom feeding the babies. We are hoping for a visit from mom next year!

Movie Review

We saw two movies over the weekend. One at a theater and the other in the comfort of our home, courtesy of Netflix.

Date Night
I know why people like this movie so much. It is a decent enough comedy with Tina Fey and Steve Carell as a couple from New Jersey hoping for a night out to themselves. There were a couple of spots I could relate to as I watched the movie. In the beginning, Carell apparently has done the taxes for a very young couple and announces they will get a refund of $600.00. They respond with the hip, "Shut up!" I encountered such a response from my granddaughter and it caught me off guard. She explained to me that it was not a sign of disrespect, but what all the kids would say instead of, "Get out!" or "You're kidding me." I know...generation gap.

Another reoccurring part I could relate to was Mark Wahlberg's character, who just so happens to be buffed and likes to answer the door without wearing a shirt. Carell is noticeably jealous of Wahlber's physique (the part I can relate to) and the dialogue is pretty good.

The only part I felt dragged on a little bit too long was when the taxi and the vehicle Carell and Fey were in locked up together. It was the one part where I thought to myself, ok, we get it, it was funny now let's move on.

It was a silly comedy, but just what we needed to put a smile on our faces.

Everything's Fine (Netflix)
Kind of a sad, depressing movie about a widowed gentleman (Robert Deniro) who made plans to have his four adult kids visit him. The plans fell through when all four kids told dad they couldn't make the trip. Dinero decides to pay a surprise visit to the kids and learns some interesting facts about his relationship with his kids. I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone, but things are not always what they seem.

The movie reminded me of how short life can be. It made me reflect on my relationship with my kids, now all grown adults and on their own. It is amazing how sometimes we can think we have done everything right with our kids, but learn later that we were not even close for consideration for the "Dad of the Year" award. Time will tell. We enjoyed it immensely.