Weekend Links 12-29-17

A sampling of interesting things I found on the internet this week:

The title of this article is pretty provocative: The World Might Be Better Off Without College for Everyone. What's more interesting is it's written by someone who has spent the past forty years in education. (Hat tip: Acculturated)

Broadway's The Music Man celebrates its sixtieth anniversary this year and is still one of the best musicals ever made. 

As a Cubs fan, I am intrigued by this proposal: Kris Bryant as leadoff man.

There are reasons that Coke tastes better out of the fountain at McDonalds.

The curator of the U. S. Naval Academy Museum recently made a fascinating discovery: flags captured by the Navy during the 19th century.

As the calendar flips to 2018, many folks will make a New Year's resolution to read the Bible. Perhaps they will choose a plan that has them reading all of the Bible in a year. Here are three suggestions on how to read more of the Bible by intentionally reading less.

It's a safe bet that Casablanca couldn't be made today. 

Last week, sportscaster Dick Enberg died at 82 years old. His passing brought to mind an episode of Later with Bob Costas where Enberg appeared with fellow sportscaster Al Michaels to discuss their careers in sportscasting. It's an amazing interview for several reasons. First, both Michaels and Enberg say that the best sport to broadcast is baseball. Second, they both say that part of what made them great broadcasters was that they both started in radio. Finally, they were each asked to name their favorite sports moment they broadcast and then the show cuts to clips of the actual calls. They gave me chills. Take a look.

Christmas Eve, 1968

Nearly fifty years ago, the crew of the Apollo 8 spacecraft did something remarkable by reading from the creation account in Genesis 1 during a live television broadcast on Christmas Eve, 1968. At the time it became the most watched program in television.

What is quickly forgotten is the fact that the crew wasn't supposed to be there at all. The flight was originally scheduled for April 1969 but was moved up once it was determined the Lunar Module would not be ready for the scheduled flight. NASA officials also made the risky decision to leapfrog the established flight schedule and have the crew fly to the moon. It was the first such mission attempted. For their achievements they were named Time Magazine's Person of the Year.

1968 was rough year in America. She had been rocked by the murders of both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Rioting was taking place on a regular basis in the streets of her cities. Yet the simple broadcast of the Apollo 8 crew of Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders was just the uniting event that the country needed.

Weekend Links 12-22-17

Here are some interesting things I found on the internet this week.

Why has "Fixer Upper" been such a success? 

Viewers tuned in to ‘Fixer Upper’ to be reminded that—in spite of all the voices insisting otherwise—maturity, family, and faith are possible. They tuned in for hope.

Read the whole thing.


Classy move: last week the St. Louis Cardinals traded outfielder Stephen Piscotty to the Oakland A's so he could be closer to his mother who is battling ALS.

This is interesting: how It's A Wonderful Life went from box office dud to Christmas classic. It was because of a clerical error.

This past Sunday, Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, known as the busiest airport in the United States, suffered a power outage stranding thousand of passengers. Chick-Fil-A, which is famously closed on Sundays, sprang into action to feed the stranded travelers.

In light of the recent elections some Christians are reticent to use the term evangelical. An interesting read. Also, a helpful explanation from Tim Keller why there is such hesitation among Christians to call themselves evangelicals.

Christmas time in our house means lots of Hallmark Channel movies. Based on the ratings, we're not alone. Here's the reason why Hallmark movies are such a big deal this time of year. (Hat tip: Acculturated)

When we're not binge watching Hallmark Christmas movies, we are working our way through Season 2 of The Crown. One of the most surprising elements is the emphasis on Queen Elizabeth's faith. Like a lot of other people I am surprised by how popular the series is here in the United States.

This is neat: Russell Moore on how his ministry was twice saved by A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Instead of selling their multi-million dollar mansion and making a profit, Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife decided to donate the property to underprivileged kids instead.

One of the biggest dilemmas parents face this time of year is whether to tell their kids the truth about Santa Claus.  The best thing to do is not lie to your kids.

Finally, my daughter introduced me to this version of the a Christmas classic this week. It's quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Most Notable Books I Read in 2017

I try to read a lot and on a wide variety of subjects. At last count, I had plowed through 38 books this year which is not a bad pace to be on. I'm hoping to read more in 2018 and expect that my to be read list will be much longer once Christmas is over. Out of all the books I read these stood out for the reasons I will outline below:

The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming of Age Crisis and How to Build a Culture of Self-Reliance by Ben Sasse.

One would expect a book written by a United States Senator would be focused on public policy solutions. However, Sasse, who has a background in history and as a college president before being elected Senator is more concerned about documenting how we got to where we are in America and the current crisis that exists among young adults. Sasse intends the book to be the starting point for conversations about the challenges we face in America. Those solutions he does propose are ones that do not come from the government. An engaging read and a must for anyone who is concerned for America's youth.

Mission at Nuremberg: An American Army Chaplain and the Trial of the Nazis by Tim Townsend

In the aftermath of World War II, the Allied Forces held a war crimes tribunal at Nuremberg to prosecute Nazis for atrocities committed during the war. One of the first things I discovered in reading the book is that the whole concept of war crimes was completely new. The Allies debating long and hard about whether there was even a legal basis for bringing the cases to begin with. Perhaps even more surprising was the fact that the United States Army wanted to make sure that chaplains were available to the prisoners held at Nuremberg. I can't help but wonder if we were faced with a similar scenario today would our military be so concerned about the spiritual warfare of prisoners of war. An interesting account of what took place at Nuremberg from the perspective of one of the chaplains who ministered there.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson

I became a fan of Erik Larson's work after reading Thunderstruck last year. I had a vague awareness of the history of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago but didn't really know the details. Nor was I aware that there was a serial killer on the loose during the fair. Larson manages to weave a compelling narrative that reads like a thriller. One of the things I appreciate most about Larson's methodology (which he discusses in the end notes) is that he does not do any research on the internet. All of the information he uncovers is from original source material found at libraries, newspapers, and in books. A thoroughly researched and highly enjoyable volume.

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

I read quite a number of mystery novels this year from the likes of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Rex Stout, and Raymond Chandler. But the one that stands out for me that I read this year is The Maltese Falcon. I was familiar with the story having seen the Humphrey Bogart film years ago. But it many ways the original novel was better than the movie. I haven't had a chance to go back and see the movie again but would be willing to bet that Bogart's portrayal of Sam Spade would be very close to Hammett's creation in the novel. It's easy to see why Hammett is often credited as the creator of the hard-boiled detective.

Weekend Links 12-15-17

A roundup of interesting links for weekend reading:

I've been reading a lot of crime fiction lately particularly from the Golden Age of Crime Fiction in Britain (think Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and G. K. Chesterson, for example). Naturally then this book is of great interest to me and appears to be must reading for anyone interested in the genre.

This is surprising: it's a good thing to stockpile more books than you'll ever actually read.

It's time to be honest about men. And about human nature.

Comedy doesn't need to mean anything. It's okay for it to just be silly. 

"We should not assume that doing what is best for one's country is always synonymous with doing what is best." Fascinating insight into the Netflix series The Crown.

This is a fun fact:

Full story here. Video here. 

I can relate to this: Why I Can No Longer Call Myself an Evangelical Republican.

Russell Moore: “American evangelicalism is old and sick and weak, and doesn’t even know it.”

This is fun: 20 Calvin and Hobbes comics to get you into the Christmas spirit.

History lesson: the true story of the women who became codebreakers during World War II.

Finally, a little something you'd probably hear playing at our house this time of year: 

Celebrating "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

Once the calendar flips from November to December it's a safe bet that in our house there will be a constant stream of Christmas movies. Most of them are of the Hallmark Channel variety at least until a few days before Christmas. By that point we get to the ones that are considered "classic" Christmas movies: Elf, A Christmas Story, It's A Wonderful Life, and Eloise at Christamastime (on December 23rd because that's Christmas Eve Eve).

But of all the Christmas related movies and television shows we watch together as a family there is none more special to us than A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Ironically, the show almost didn't get aired. CBS hated the production. Even Charles Schulz was not a fan of the finished product. But on December 9, 1965, half of all households with a television on tuned into the special and made it an instant classic. The jazzy soundtrack became one of best selling jazz records of all time. Yet despite its paltry production budget and limited visual effects it became a family favorite.

The real secret of the show's success has to be its message. No other Christmas program so clearly shares the true meaning of Christmas.  It is perhaps why our family always makes a point to watch it on Christmas Eve - to remind ourselves of why we celebrate the holiday.

Linus' speech manages to sum it all up: Let us never forget why we celebrate Christmas.

Weekend Links 12-8-17

A few items of interest for your weekend reading:

Author Stephen Mansfield explores the reasons why evangelicals so enthusiastically supported President Trump. His analysis is well worth reading. Also related: why Trump and other similar candidates are causing a crisis of faith among evangelicals.

Kevin DeYoung weighs in with Ten Questions to Ask for Voting in a Two Party 
System.

In the wake of recent sex scandals a great reminder that our hope is not in man.

Albert Mohler explains why Christians should support the death penalty. Be sure to read all the way through as his article carefully explains exactly when and why it should be supported.

Is this one of the greatest moments in the history of film? Probably. Now I need to go watch this again.

"Mary Poppins" is a Subversive Critique of Modernity. No, really, it is.

Want to be more productive? Stop doing these three things.

Finally, here is one song that is a must at Christmas:

When Faced With Choosing The Lesser of Two Evils - Choose Neither

As voters go to the polls tomorrow in the Senate special election in Alabama, they are basically faced with two horrible candidates to choose from. In recent years this has increasingly become a problem that Christian voters face. Joe Carter proposes a simple solution: don't choose either one.

Convictional inaction refuses to support any political candidate, organization, or party that advocates for or turns a blind eye to gross immorality and injustice. Every Christian in America would refuse to vote for any candidate—regardless of political party—who supports such gross injustices as abortion or covers up immorality, such as sexual assault.

If every evangelical committed to convictional inaction, politics in American would change within four to five years (about two election cycles). Knowing they were truly at the whim of Christian voters, both parties would be forced to make radical changes. Convictional inaction is a nonpartisan approach that solves our political crisis by literally doing nothing.

The flaw in this approach, of course, is the collective action problem. It would take a majority, or at least a critical mass of convictionally inactive voters to make it functional. And as we see in Alabama, there simply aren’t enough Christians willing to risk letting their political opponents win any temporary victory. 

Still, I hold out hope that this approach will catch on. Politically conservative evangelicals today have been catechized by Fox News and talk radio. But there are a growing number of churches teaching what it means to live as ambassadors of the kingdom of God and not as partisan dupes in our current political cults.

Read the whole thing.

Weekend Links 12-1-17

Some random items of interest for your weekend reading:

There's a reason McDonald's french fries aren't as good as they used to be.

Looking for a unique Christmas gift idea? Try this list of the best board games of the year. We bought Codenames last year based on their recommendation and have loved it.

Productivity matters: maybe it's time to give up on goals. Related: focus on processes rather than outcomes.

Do some parents share too much about their children online?

An interesting interpretation of the new adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express.

Recommended reading: I just finished The Vanishing American Adult by Ben Sasse. It is an excellent read and well worth your time.

If you've ever been to a baseball game, you're likely familiar with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". But did you know there are actually two verses to the song?

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Links 11-24-17

A few articles of interest I found for your weekend perusal:

The recent news cycles have been dominated with stories about sexual harassment and other inappropriate behaviors among elected officials, powerful individuals, and political candidates. Especially when it comes to politics the issue can present difficult choices to Christians. Marvin Olasky shares some valuable insight on the message our choices send to future generations.

These news stories have sparked a debate about the so-called Billy Graham rule. This discussion (on Twitter no less) is one of the most interesting and helpful discussions on the subject I have read.

One possible political solution to the problem of unqualified U. S. Senate candidates is a repeal of the 17th Amendment.

Stephen Mansfield helpfully explains why many evangelicals decided to vote for Donald Trump as President. 

Many conservatives who argued in favor of Trump's election used the Supreme Court as an argument for supporting him. David French warns of the dangers of obsessing over the Court.

Related: Senator Ben Sasse warned this week against the dangers of political idolatry.

Last week marked the premiere of the new film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. Here's a list of nine other novels for those who are new to her work.

Finally, a 97 year-old World War II veteran shares about his service as a code breaker during the war. It's fascinating stuff.

Happy Thanksgiving

In honor of Thanksgiving, one of the best holiday themed episodes of all time, WKRP in Cincinnati -
"Turkey's Away".

Best line - "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."


Added bonus from Mental Floss, the story behind this classic episode.

Favorite Eats - Sambo's Tavern - Leipsic, Delaware

Earlier this summer, my wife and I made not one but two road trips to Dover, Delaware. My work took me up to Delaware and rather that try to figure out how to manage flying somewhere close (you can't fly into Dover on commercial airlines) we drove - approximately 8 hours each way (when we didn't get stuck in traffic on the Capital Beltway around Washington).

It was our first serious venture into Delaware and provided us with one of the more unique dining experiences we have had in our travels. While we had other places that we enjoyed while we were there the one place that stood out (and warranted a return visit on our second trip) was Sambo's Tavern in Leipsic just outside of Dover.

First, a little background. When we travel we try to eat at local restaurants. Our rule of thumb is to eat where the locals eat. Most of the time we take our recommendations from TripAdvisor or Yelp but sometimes will also ask hotel staff (they usually know the best places to eat).

My wife did some research and found that Sambo's was one of the top rated places to eat in the area. Add to that the fact that it served seafood and was right on the water and we knew it was just the place for us. Our youngest daughter has severe allergies to seafood so we never have it at home.

From the looks of the place you wouldn't necessarily think that it would be a great place for seafood. If you look carefully at the picture on their Facebook page, you will see they are right on the inland waterway. We took it as an encouraging sign that fishing boats were docked right behind the restaurant when we made our initial pilgrimage.
We decided upon fresh steamed crabs for lunch. The only problem is that I knew nothing about how to crack crabs. Thankfully our server gave us lessons on how to manage it. It was a lot of fun and very tasty.

When we went back a few months later we shared crabcakes that were also wonderful. I can't remember I have had seafood that was so very fresh.

If you go, a couple of things to keep in mind. First, Sambo's is primarily a bar. They don't admit anyone under 21 (and it's clearly posted on the front door.).

Second, be sure to bring plenty of cash. They do not accept credit or debit cards.

If you're ever in the Dover area be sure to stop by Sambo's foe some of the best seafood you will every have.

For previous entries in this series, click here.

Back to Blogging

I was looking back through the archives and suddenly realized it had been over thirteen years since my very first post here on the blog. Hard to believe it has been that long.

Over the course of those thirteen years my writing has been infrequent at best and at some times a little unfocused. I have enough issues with just trying to write something without going back and critiquing things I have written in the past.

But I have also read in numerous places that if you want to become a better writer you need to write. Don't worry about how good or bad the end product might be. Just focus on writing.

I blame my addiction to Twitter in part for my hesitancy to continue writing. Twitter makes it much quicker and easier to share articles. Most of my tweets are articles from writers who are far more eloquent than I would ever hope to be.

Still, I am going to jump back in and start writing again. Things will be a bit different. Very little politics (I'm not as avid a follower of the news as I used to be - a story for another time). I don't write regular book reviews any more but may still share thoughts about things that I am reading. I'm still reading a lot of books these days and every once in a while may share something. I'm also still traveling a bit and may have things to share from those adventures as well.

Let's see what the future holds, shall we?

Book Review: The Stories We Tell

As Americans we consume more popular entertainment through television and movies than any other culture. But do we ever take the time to stop and think about what these stories we are consuming are telling us?

That's the question that Mike Cosper seeks to answer in The Stories We Tell: How TV and Movies Long For and Echo The Truth. In this brief volume, Cosper examines the themes that are seen in popular movies and television programs and explores the aspects of the Gospel that these stories often reflect.

Cosper is careful to point out that his discussions of various programs are not necessarily endorsements of those shows. Christians are often divided over what content is appropriate to watch. In reading the book, I found discussions of numerous movies and TV shows that I would not necessarily watch for one reason or another. But that doesn't take away from the main strength of the book which is to examine critically the story that is being told. There are messages within stories whether we realize it or not. That is where Cosper is trying to get us to look.

At the conclusion of the book, he also has a helpful word to those who aspire to be Christian filmmakers. The focus should be on the strength of the story rather than the mesage. Too often Christian film making suffers from a tendency to be too preachy trying to hit the audience over the head with the Gospel rather than focus on the quality of storytelling.

I found this book challenging me to think more deeply about the message in the stories that I watch. What glimpses of truth are they trying to reveal to us? Certainly if we look hard enough we can see that these shows do reveal something about ourselves and about the world we live in.

The Stories We Tell is an excellent resource that Christians would be wise to invest in. It will change the way you think about entertainment for the better.

Note: A copy of this book was provided to me by Crossway in exchange for this review. No other consideration was received in exchange for this review.

Book Review: What's Best Next

Does God care how we spend our time? Does the Bible speak to us in terms of how we manage our time? Does the Bible have anything to tell us about how we set our priorities? If so, how do we practically apply biblical teaching to planning our days?

These are all questions that Matt Perman attempts to answer in his book What's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done. The key is not getting more things done but getting the right things done.

In the first portion of the book, Perman diagnoses the fundamental problem behind productivity: we're just too busy. Our time and energy is spent on things that don't matter as much (at least from an eternal perspective) as others. As a result, we aren't able to devote our energies to the things that are most important to God. He then proceeds to very carefully outline how the Bible speaks to how we spend our time. We are called to be good stewards of the time we have on Earth just as we are called to be stewards of everything else that God has given us.

Perman then moves from the theological to the more practical section by offering numerous steps that the reader can take to help improve their own productivity. I found this section of the book a little more difficult to work through as it was more tedious to read through. I would recommend that a prospective reader of the book have a notebook handy while reading it so they can be writing down practical applications for themselves. This is a book that is best applied as it is read. Otherwise it will seem difficult to work through.

Perman should be credited for his thorough studies on the issues of organization and time management. His years of work are clearly evident in the text. He certainly has a vast knowledge from which to draw. Ultimately the lessons for each individual may be different as some will find things to apply that may not as easily apply to others.

In all, this is a solid book on a subject that nearly everyone deals with. If you want to explore time management from a biblical perspective then this is a good place to start.

This book was provided to me by BookLookBloggers. No compensation was received in exchange for this review apart from the book.

Book Review: Essentialism - The Discliplined Pursuit of Less

When writing a book review, I am always hesitant to use phrases such as "life-changing" as they areso overused they have become meaningless. But when it comes to Greg McKeown's book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less life-changing is an apt description. In fact, I would go so far to say this book could totally revolutionize how you think about time management.

We've all felt it: the weight of being over-committed. We're too busy. We say yes to too many things. We are stretched too thin. As a result, we don't know how to set priorities. Our calendars are too full. We are rushing from one thing to another and never have time or energy to complete a single project.

It's those exact feelings that led McKeown to write this book. In fact, in the first chapter he tells a moving story about the day his daughter was born. While his wife was in the hospital he was off at a client meeting. At a time he should have been with his family he was away at work. It was that episode that led him to start thinking about how he should re-prioritize his life and become an Essentialist. (You can read the first chapter here.)

"The way of the Essentialist is the relentless pursuit of less but better. It doesn't mean occasionally giving a nod to the principle. It means pursuing it in a disciplined way." (Essentialism, page 5)

With amazing clarity, McKeown lays out the steps that one needs to follow in order to become an Essentialist. One cannot help but be dramatically challenged by the lessons from this book,

When I normally read a book I don't bother marking in it. But with this book, I was furiously highlighting as I was working through it. More importantly, this is not a book that I will be able to read just once. It's a book I will be coming back to repeatedly as I try to apply its lessons.

Of all of the time management books I have read, Essenitalism is the one that most directly addresses the fundamental problem that most individuals face: over-commitment. By applying the lessons of the book, the reader can truly transform their lives. This book's lessons are ones that we can all be served well by learning: say no to all that is unimportant and focus our time and energy on the things that are most important. I highly recommend it.

Note:I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Vin Scully at the Ronald Reagan Foundation

Earlier this week, Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully took some time out from the season to share a few stories at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. He touches on a variety of topics most of which are related to his storied broadcasting career. It is often said that he is a national treasure and you can see why when you watch the video below. It amazes me how sharp his mind still is after so many years in the business. Keep going, Vin. (hat tip: Vin Scully Tweet)

Favorite Eats: The Pharmacy - Nashville

One the perks of my job is that I can count on at least one trip to Nashville each year. The thing I like most about travelling to Nashville is discovering fun new places to eat. In fact, there are so many restaurants in the greater Nashville area that you could probably visit a different one each day and not repeat in a year.

I always make a point to try to dine where local residents like to eat and just a few weeks ago discovered a place that will be well worth a return visit: The Pharmacy Burger Parlor and Beer Garden. Tucked away in an East Nashville neighborhood it would be easy to miss if you didn't know where to look for it.

The restaurant's slogan is that it is Nashville's Wurst Burger Joint. In that slogan lies the clue to the other great secret of their menu: their wursts (German style sausages) are fantastic. They are all made by hand, then grilled outside on the charcoal grill before finished indoors an the flat top before being served. We sampled both the burgers and the wursts and found them equally enjoyable.

Another great feature is their old-fashioned soda fountain. My youngest daughter enjoyed a creamsicle soda while my older daughter went for the strawberry ginger ale. My wife decided to try the Mexican Coca-Cola from the bottle (which is sweeter than Coke found in the United States) while I enjoyed a Sprecher Root Beer on tap which was just perfect with our meal.

For dinner we decided to share (which we often do when we can't decide what to eat). We ordered two Biergarten platters (each came with 3 wursts) and were able to sample all six varieties of the wursts they had available. Our personal favorite was the Bockwurst as it was the juiciest of all of them though they all had a good flavor. For our burgers, we ordered the Farm Burger (country ham, applewood bacon, willow farm egg, and maple mustard) and the Mission City Burger (guacamole, pico de gallo, slow-cooked black beans, and horchata crema fresca). Both were very good though the Mission City Burger had the slight edge.

But the best part of the entire experience was dining out in the biergarten. It was a lovely evening, not too hot and the atmosphere was perfect. It would be the perfect place to meet friends and hang out.

We all agreed that this would be one place we would visit again. According to the staff it gets busy quickly so you have to be prepared to wait. We went around 5:00 in the evening and had no problem getting seated but by the time we left at 6:30 the line was already out the door.

Nashville is an endless series of gastronomic adventures. If you are ever there, be sure to add The Pharmacy to your places to visit.

Appreciating Field of Dreams

Field of Dreams turns twenty-five this year. I can vividly remember the first time I saw it in the theater. I cried at the end because it had managed to really touch a nerve. I had gone in having already read W. P. Kinsella's novel on which the movie was based but didn't expect it to pull at my heartstrings as much as it did.

Joe Posnanski recently wrote a fascinating column on the movie. For many, the movie is too overly sentimental. But as he points out, that's the film's biggest asset:

This week, I watched Field of Dreams again. It has been a few years. There were two scenes that struck me. Well, actually, I was struck by a lot of things: the mawkishness of the dialogue (it really is more than I remember); the scenery-eating overacting of the great Burt Lancaster (“by a sky so blue it hurts just to look at it!”); the intrusiveness of James Horner’s overbearing music. It would have been nice to let a scene or two breathe just a little bit without attacking us with the music.

But there were two scenes that struck me most. One struck me because I had the script with me and I was following along. Remember the scene where James Earl Jones is asking people in the town about the ballplayer Moonlight Graham, who had become the town doctor? Jones asked one old guy about Moonlight Graham’s wife:

Here’s what the guy was supposed to say according to the script: “Alicia. She moved to South Carolina after he passed. She passed a few years later. She always wore blue. I bet you didn’t know that.” Here’s what he actually said in the movie: “Alicia. She moved to South Carolina after he passed. She passed a few years later. She always wore blue. The shopkeepers in town would stock blue hats because they knew if Doc walked by he’d buy one. When they cleaned out his office, they found boxes of blue hats that he never got around to give her. I bet you didn’t know that.”

Is the movie version sentimental, cheesy, maudlin? Maybe. I love it. In a way, the difference between the script and the movie is exactly what Field of Dreams is about.  The script is plenty sentimental. She always wore blue. But the movie goes for something more. I love Doc Graham, a good man in that small town, stopping at shops because he cannot resist buying his wife a blue hat. I fall for it.

And, I guess, that gets at the heart of why I love Field of Dreams — it is so unapologetically hopeful. It is so unapologetically optimistic. “Bull Durham” is funnier and “The Natural” is more romantic and “Bang the Drum Slowly” is more poignant and “A League of Their Own” is more layered. But none of them are quite as unabashedly dreamy.

Exactly.

Weekend Playlist - Put Your Records On

There is something about music that can brighten the most dismal of days. That's the message at the heart of Corinne Bailey Rae's hit Put Your Records On. This is a really nice tune that helps set the perfect mood for the weekend. Enjoy.