Paranormal Activity

I have to write this review in the light of day so that I don't freak myself out too much. It goes hand-in-hand with the fact that we saw Paranormal Activity during a matinee to avoid that creeping dread which would follow a showing at night. You know that feeling, right? You leave the theatre at 10. You hang out for a little while, joking all the while. You walk to your car looking over your shoulder. You drive home checking the backseat in the rear view from time to time. Then you're back home, the lights are off, and you switch on all the lights plus the television to keep from realizing that you are alone in the house. The creepy crawlies visit your imagination. The hair on your arms stand up. Is that something upstairs?Yes, Paranormal Activity has me slightly freaked out. I was restless when I got home and was somewhat afraid of going to sleep in my bed with the lights off. But I did because it's only a movie.Paranormal Activity follows the fate of a couple who move into a home that they believe to be posessed. In a brilliant move to forestall the audience from talking to the screen, the story assigns the frightening activities to a demon who haunts the girl throughout her life. You can't even say, "Girl, just leave," because it will always follow. The girl's boyfriend is typically sceptical. He doesn't believe the demon to be real. It will take a demonstration of supernatural force to change his mind.The movie was filmed, as all reviews must tell you, in the fake documentary style of The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield. It's supposed to signify that this is real. There are no credits, beginning and ending, which contribute to the reality. But there are no ghosts. It's a demon which haunts the girl. For me, this was less disturbing than a good old ghost, as demons are not real, but ghosts, the spirits of the dead, could be.Yet, as with all fake movies, Paranormal Activity leaves you scratching your head. Am I to believe this? Did I just go along with the joke? Why am I still creeped out hours later? Did the curtains move? Is that footsteps in my bedroom? What's the deal with the shadow in the corner? Paranormal Activity plays on you psychologically. There was no gore or dismembered bodies shown. Just good old fashion dread throughout the movie. As they fall asleep, what's next? And isn't that just plain creepy the way she…? What's with that noise? No respite even when it's over. The lack of end credits continues the dread and you can't just leave. Is this thing over or is there the final scare? It's the anticipation of something bad is going to happen that hits the right marks. It's worth it just for the fright.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179904/3 of 5 stars.

Let’s do this

Someday. We’re doing this. It’s the Alleghany trail from Frostburg, MD, but what’s cool is that you can get to it from the C&O. It will eventually get you to Pittsburgh for a good 350 miles of pedaling fun. Now that sounds like a good bike week. Let’s see: 60 miles a day for 6 days. All on a rail to trail. I thought the C&O sounded tough.

The One

Congratulations are in order to the Philadelphia Phillies on clinching the National League Pennant last night with a win at home. They beat @Alyssa_Milano's Los Angeles Dodgers. Are they the One? Can they beat those damned Yankees.I used to be rooting for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but they probably won't make it past the most hated Yankees. The Angels need to extend the ALCS though and win the next two which would be awesome, but they won't. They've been playing with trepidation since winning the divisional round over the wack-ass Boston Red Sux, and losing two extra inning games do not help. They are shell-shocked, and can only hope to keep the series respectable. Good luck to them tonight. I'll be rooting, but not too hard.As for the Phillies, they look invincible as they pounded the dodgers. What is awesome is their starting pitching which looks formidable. They may have enough strong arms to keep the Yankee juggernaut bats at bay. The Yankees starting pitching doesn't look as good. I can only think of two starters, and both are unimpressive. CC Sabathia, while having a very good second, can revert to the struggling son of a bitch that the Orioles beat in the season opener. They Yankees will have to rely on their bullpen that is pretty strong, and that Mariano Rivera son of a bitch. He's part of my most favorite of Yankees moments, as he blows a save in 2001, the last time the most hated Yankees were in the World Series. Loved it. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.The Phillies will try to defend their champion status. They were part of the last memorable World Series for me, Toronto versus Philadelphia in the 1993 World Series. That was a great one with Joe Morgan winning the sixth and decisive game on a walk off homer. But there were the nail biters whenever "Wild Thing" came up. And there were characters with Philadelphia's John Kruk. It was great to watch that series. I remember rushing home just to see the games.The Phillies were also the last team that our beloved Baltimore Orioles beat in a post season. The won it all 25 years ago! The Orioles haven't been to the post season since 1997 when they choked up a dismal performance to the Cleveland Indians. Hopefully, sometime soon, the Orioles will be playing for a playoff spot, and hopefully, sometime soon, yours truly would be going to a World Series in Baltimore.As @Alyssa_Milano would say, "Peace, love, and baseball."

Quote of the Day [10.21.09]

Just a castaway, an island lost at sea, oh
Another lonely day, with no one here but me, oh
More loneliness than any man could bear
Rescue me before I fall into despair, ohThe Polics, "Message In A Bottle"