Monday, June 25, 2012

Prometheus Delivers?

On my must see list of movies for this summer was Prometheus. Having been a huge fan of the original Alien movie when the official synopsis for Prometheus came out I was excited about the prospect of see the movie.

Original Official Synopsis

Visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists and explorers on a thrilling journey that will test their physical and mental limits and strand them on a distant world, where they will discover the answers to our most profound questions and to life's ultimate mystery.

 The movie begins with a beautifully shot sequence for the opening credits that left me with high hopes for a great movie. But that was quickly dashed with a movie that rambled about with a story that made little to no sense. Visually at times it was stunning and for that I'm thankful. But the acting was mediocre at best for a large part of the cast.

The story was all over the place. You see Ridley Scott's hand in the visual end of the film but you also can tell that he turned over the writing to Damon Lindelof who's work in the future I will be skeptical of after several mediocre stories at best in the last couple of years.

If this had not been such a stunning film visually I would have been walking out before the movie was over due to the lackluster story.

   

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Minor League Baseball's Visalia Rawhide

Minor League Baseball is alive and well in Visalia, CA with the Rawhide a development team for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Growing up going to Atlanta Brave games I was not sure how much I would like attending a minor league game but alas I decided I would give the game a try Saturday night. I was surprised to find the ballpark to be a good condition having been renovated in 2009. Parking is free in the area, although parking in the adjoining lot means risking a foul ball hitting your car. I opted to park a few blocks away in one of the free city parking lots.

The night I went the Rawhide was playing the San Jose Giants. It was a good close game with the Rawhide pulling out a win after a home run in the bottom of the 8th inning.

It was an enjoyable evening and I will be back again soon for another day at the ballpark.


Tipper





Saturday, June 23, 2012

Bravo Lake Botanical Garden Berry Tasting 2012

Having lived in the Central Valley of California for 11 years today I discovered a wonderful gem of a place the Bravo Lake Botanical Gardens in Woodlake. The garden is a mile long winding path of roses, sunflowers, fruit trees, and cactus. It's an agricultural botanical garden which fits the cultural of the farmer life of the Central Valley of California.

Today the garden held a special Berry Tasting event. The cost was $5 for adults and $2 for children. Students from University of California Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center were on hand manning booths with samples of blueberries, blackberries, plums, apricots, nectarines and peaches grown at the research facility. You could pick blueberries and find the type you like best and then fill a container to take home for $2.

I'm glad I did not eat breakfast before going because I was full from sampling all the fresh fruit by the time I left the gardens. I can guarantee I will be back again next year for the Berry Tasting. But I will not wait that long before I visit the gardens again.

For more information click BRAVO LAKE BOTANICAL GARDEN
























DCI Mid Cal Champions Showcase 2012

Drum Corps International Mid Cal Champions Showcase was held at Buchanan High School in Clovis, Ca on Friday June 22, 2012.

Corps in attendance in World Class: The Blue Devils, Santa Clara Vanguard, Boston Crusaders, Blue Knights, Pacific Knights and Mandarins
Open Class: Blue Devils B, Vanguard Cadets and Blue Devils C

The winners for the evening were World Class: Blue Devils and Open Class: Blue Devils B


 
Blue Devils

Blue Devils

Blue Devils


Blue Devils
Pacific Crest


Blue Devils C

Blue Devils C

Blue Knights

Boston Crusaders
Mandarins

Pacific Crest

Santa Clara Vanguard

Santa Clara Vanguard

Santa Clara Vanguard

Vanguard Cadets