Fun Fact

Did you know that one particular star cluster, the Eagle Nebula, is known as M16? That could be a code: "Agent Bond, report to Eagle Nebula HQ." Maybe not, huh?

The Psychological Reasons Why People Are Still Going to See Mission: Impossible Movies

A great slogan for the current state of the Mission: Impossible franchise: "We keep hoping they'll get better." The thing is, people are drawn to pulse-pounding action films, even if the plots are empty. I can't make that judgement call in this case, because I've only seen the original Mission: Impossible movie (and liked it), but it's a truth. We love eye-popping special effects, even if there's not really a compelling story accompanying them. Even though at this point, it should be called Mission: It Seems Impossible That Ethan Hunt Hasn't Retired Yet, the movies still get mostly good reviews overall and earn decent money in the box office. The filmmakers spend so much on the special effects, though, I'm not even sure if they've been breaking even with the latest M:I movies. Arguably, though, another psychological reason why people are still going to see Mission: Impossible movies is Tom Cruise. Still, though, when I think Tom Cruise, I don't really think hanging onto speeding jets or maneuvering through laser mazes. Nope - for me, "Danger Zone" just starts playing in my head. 

End of Summer

Summer's ending ... "And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong / After the boys of summer have gone." By the way, the Eagles are on tour (RIP, Glenn Frey). If you like the Don Henley song "The Boys of Summer" (the one I just quoted), be ready to hear it on the radio several dozen times in the next few weeks, especially if you're a Californian (it's a favorite of California DJs in mid-to-late August). Also, if you haven't gone back-to-school shopping yet, be ready to maneuver crowded stores. I know, I know, nobody wants to go back-to-school shopping right when they just got off school for the summer, but shopping for school clothes and supplies is generally an easier experience then (back-to-school sales often have started then). Tip: If you have kids who might hit a growth spurt, buy clothes a couple sizes bigger than their current size if you follow the June shopping suggestion above. Anyway .... "I can see you / your brown skin shining in the sun..." By the way, I went to Arizona on vacation last month, and actually saw a guy standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona (I'll bet you can guess the relevance, based on my earlier mentions of The Eagles: "Take It Easy," right?).