I just got back from seeing the new pirates movie. One word: Disappointing. I enjoyed the first movie, so when Anna said that some of her friends were going, I wasn't opposed to tagging along. But it was long, darker, much more violent and disgusting, less funny, and less quotable. The crunching of bones as people were getting yanked through port holes even got much for me and I wish that I could have covered Anna's eyes and ears for some parts. Moreover, where the first movie was a movie to itself, the third one is just setting itself up for the third movie. Not to give anything away, but the only one of the characters that I liked at the end was one who wasn't even in the first movie. So my opinion: save your money, rent it when it comes out on video, but don't think that it will be anything like the the first movie.

Go celebrate!

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations [fireworks], from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore. "

-John Adams

PS. In case you were wondering, they declared independence from Great Britain on July second, and ratified it on the fourth.