Movie Monday: Senna

The Dear Husband and I saw Senna, a documentary about Formula One racecar driver Ayrton Senna. Ayrton Senna is arguably the greatest Formula One driver who ever lived. Senna, a three time world champion was a hero in Brazil (his home) and an international star in the world of sports racing. He was an aggressive driver with a special talent for breaking speed records and winning races in the rain.

This documentary by Asif Kapadia is made entirely of archival footage including POV footage from cameras mounted to Senna's racecar. Personally, I do not follow Formula One racing but this documentary won me over.

Senna's contradictions make him a good subject. His modest personality and strong religious beliefs are a contrast to his ruthless and dangerous driving style. Senna loved Brazil and donated millions to Brazilian charities but his rivalry with French racer Alain Prost resulted in crashes on the track. Senna a good looking international superstar was a humble competitor, an oxymoron in our age of sports celebrity and fandom. Senna died in a crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at the age of 34. The popular British series Top Gear paid tribute to Senna in a 2010 episode.





Here is link to Senna Movie on Facebook for release info.

Movie Monday: Red Box America's Movie Night

Red Box is offering coupon codes for 1 free night movie rental on August 25th. To receive your coupon code you must "Like" Red Box on Facebook. You may also send a coupon code to friends and family via Facebook for a free rental.

I'm a Red Box virgin who will give their service a try on America's Movie Night. Now that Netflix instituted price hikes for DVD rentals I plan to reduce my Netflix membership to streaming only and renting DVDs from Red Box. Our local Ralphs/Kroger market has a Red Box vending machine inside the store which makes renting from Red Box convenient. The Red Box website seems simple to use and I will test the vending machine/kiosk on Thursday. My biggest problem renting DVDs is my family never agrees on which movie to watch.


I have no relationship with Red Box and received no compensation for this post.

Teen Schooled Me About My Blog's Randomness

My teenage daughter had some constructive criticism regarding this Parenthood in the 21st Century blog. Her main criticism is that I strayed off topic and publish random posts (e.g., cooking, knitting, art) that have nothing to do with parenting. First I was a little hurt by her unsolicited comments and then I was surprised she bothered to read my blog. But after scrolling through my post archive - She is 100% correct. I am guilty as charged.

I have taken her comments to heart and will stick to the topic of parenting. Occasionally, I will publish food porn photos from family dinners and post about knitting because I am only human.

Thank you to my small group of loyal readers for your patience with me being so random.

Movie Monday: Attack the Block

Last weekend our family saw Attack the Block by British director Joe Cornish. We loved it. ATB is about an alien invasion in the London projects and the teens fight back. The film is rated R for violence (face bitten off zombie style) and language (f-word in British accent), but I took my 10 year old and he laughed at the Pokemon jokes and jumped in his seat during alien surprise attack. No nightmares ensued.
ATB has Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead & Spaced) in a supporting role and a star making performance by actor John Boyega as teen group leader Moses. Technically the movie is well directed, acted and edited for a low budget feature and has the retro brilliance of 1980's John Carpenter flicks. ATB is a fun, gross out summer horror film with a lot more heart than the typical summer sequel.

Hyperbolic: Reefs, Rubbish & Reason Crochet Coral Reef

The Williamson Gallery at Art Center College of Design, Pasadena (my alma mater) hosts the Crochet Coral Reef installation Hyperbolic: Reefs, Rubbish and Reason. Hyperbolic marries conservation, sustainability, mathematics, crochet and community crafting all in one exhibit.
I first heard of the Crochet Coral Reef Project after watching Margaret Wertheim's TED Talk on YouTube:



Wertheim's talk blew me away and her passion for mathematics and the environment is inspiring. Fellow yarn crafters will appreciate Wertheim's elevation of crochet construction as it relates to hyperbolic geometry. Thanks to Wertheim, crocheting grandmas finally get some respect! The crochet installation is amazing to see up close and the volunteer crafting hours that went into the reef are humbling. I wish I could have contributed to the Crochet Coral Reef Project, but my amateur crochet skills are not on the level of the advanced intricate crochet work on view at Hyperbolic.

Hyperbolic: Reefs, Rubbish and Reason - ends August 21, 2011

Williamson Gallery
Art Center College of Design
1700 Lida Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
626-396-2200

Socktacular at Lion Brand Yarn Studio NYC

Recently, I traveled to New York City for a working vacation. After shopping at Union Square Greenmarket, I wandered a few blocks to the Lion Brand Yarn Studio. It was a happy coincidence that Lion Brand Yarn Studio was hosting Socktacular Day. The store was packed with fellow sock knitters honing their skills. There were two sock demos happening at the same time and walls of Lion Brand yarns including LB Collection Yarns. I was excited to purchase Sock Ease yarn in grape soda and snow cone colors with a Socktacular Day discount. If you are a knitter or crocheter, the Lion Brand Yarn Studio is as gorgeous as Purl SoHo, except with prices for every yarn budget.

Lion Brand Yarn Studio, NYC
Yarn wall
Finished objects on display
Sock demonstration in progress
Amazing NYC themed window display made of yarn
Display sock
Me so happy with my Sock Ease yarn