Dana Edwards’ Blog

In early November, Moviefone published its Top 25 Christmas Movies. Their list is down below and is touted to list in order the “best Christmas movies ever”.  I wish they had listed their criteria but until they do I will assume it is just another qualitative list given by a source that should be an expert in the topic.

The movie I enjoy the most and most people can rally around is Christmas Vacation so it is #1 on my list.

I will add my own qualitative list to the mix of expert listings as I too watch a lot of movies:

1. ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ (1989)
2. ‘A Christmas Story’ (1983)
3. ‘Elf’ (2003)
4. ‘Scrooged’ (1988)
5. ‘Bad Santa’ (2003)
6. ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ (1992)
7. ‘Gremlins’ (1984)
8. ‘The Santa Clause’ (1994)
9. ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)
10. ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947)
11. ‘White Christmas’ (1954)
12. ‘A Christmas Carol’ (1951)
13. ‘The Polar Express’ (2004)
14. ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ (1993)

Moviefone’s top 25 Christmas Movies list:

1. ‘A Christmas Story’ (1983)
2. ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)
3. ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947)
4. ‘Scrooged’ (1988)
5. ‘White Christmas’ (1954)
6. ‘Elf’ (2003)
7. ‘Christmas in Connecticut’ (1942)
8. ‘Home Alone’ (1990)
9. ‘Babes in Toyland’ (1934)
10. ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ (1989)
11. ‘A Christmas Carol’ (1951)
12. ‘Holiday Inn’ (1942)
13. ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ (1993)
14. ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ (1947)
15. ‘Love Actually’ (2003)
16. ‘Die Hard’ (1988)
17. ‘The Shop Around the Corner’ (1940)
18. ‘The Dead’ (1987)
19. ‘Bad Santa’ (2003)
20. ‘The Santa Clause’ (1994)
21. ‘Gremlins’ (1984)
22. ‘Joyeux Noel’ (2006)
23. ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ (1992)
24. ‘We’re No Angels’ (1955)
25. ‘The Polar Express’ (2004)

- Dana

Simple games are always the best games for me. Cartoon Wars is one of those games. It took all of about 10 minutes to figure out and I am still playing it occassionally now. So, I received about 2 – 3 months of fun for $0.99!

The game is basically a cross between a typical defense games and an RTS where two cartoons attempt to take over each other’s castles. You create special characters each with different abilities – some move faster, some have higher attack, and some higher defense – in order to take over your foe’s castle. The units change graphics as you upgrade them and include units like ninja, warrior, gunner, wizards, and even upgrades for your primary bow and castle.

To make a long story short, this cost a whole dollar and was a blast to play. I recommend it and have included a couple of screen shots below for you to see it.

-Dana 

If you’ve been around me for some period longer than 30 minutes in the last 4 or 5 years, we probably engaged in a conversation about what kind of car I should purchase. This was probably followed by or included one of my lame jokes about how cars should be black given how all except two have been black and one I didn’t really have a choice. The conversation was typically a pro / con discussion about lifestyle, job, the high cost of cars these days, how I wanted a truck and several other dimensions. Well, the other day I woke up and decided I was buying a car regardless of how long it took.

With the help of Jill, kbb.com, and last minute Twitter advice from @cp2 and @canook_65, we purchased a BMW 550i. Side note – I still have no idea how to interpret the arcane model numbers that BMW uses. Last minute, @cp2 and @canook_65 talked me out of buying a Jeep primarily due to them being generally average. After lunch, I drove to Hendrick BMW and bought the 550 from Jeff Shinn (jeff.shinn@hendrickauto.com – not yet on Twitter but hopefully soon) and Jhoda Edquist (@jhodabmwcpo) who were both absolutely awesome to work with. Jeff did a great job with the initial explanations and Jhoda did a great job putting up with my kids climbing all over the store and explained the benefits / programs really well. I highly suggest working with either of them. if you are in the market for a BMW. The end to end transaction was fast and painless.

Now comes more praise for Hendrick. While switching lanes on Graham, I ran through a pothole the size of the grand canyon. I was quite upset and worried that I had ruined my BMW forever or that it was going to cost me several thousand dollars. Immediately after hitting the hole, I dialed up customer support on the BMW hotline in the car. They set up an appointment for me the next day!

The next day I drove the car down to the service area. While there, I treated myself to a complimentary donut, some complimentary freshly brewed Starbucks coffee and a surprisingly great atmosphere in the wait area. It was quiet except for the TV. It was clean which is rare in Charlotte for a service area and the manager (Rob Moore) was super cool and explained everything to me so I knew I was getting ripped off.

About two hours later, I got my car back and it was perfect. Hendrick replaced the tire and rim without any questions based on the Road Hazard agreement, washed the car, and I was on my way. This was a perfect service experience!!!

So, I’ve decided that I like everything about Hendrick BMW and the BMW company after the purchase experience, the driving experience, and the service experience. Thanks for all of this Hendrick / BMW!!!

- Dana

It has been a few months since Brennan and I did a science project.  This has been the case mostly because of his fascination with trains, specifically traction rods on trains. I am thinking that the trains fascination may run its course pretty soon but hopefully not before we take him on his birthday party which is all about trains. Enough on trains for now … I’ll post birthday pictures soon.

An upcoming fascination of Brennan’s is Tornados, which I agree are really cool to look at but not too cool in real life for those that are unfortunate to be in one.  He has memorized the Fujita scale but hasnt quite latched on to the concept that the size of tornado doesnt dictate the strength of the wind.  That’ll be a next step. Here is a quick video of it in action:

To make a long design / science discussion short, the box is cut so that there are slits in the sides which make the tornado funnel spin as a motor on top sucks the dry ice smoke up. Email me at dana@danaedwards.com if youwant to know more about the physics of how it works. Here are a couple of photos of it in action:

We had a blast making it and hope to show it off to the grandparents for Spaghetti Night tonight and Thanksgiving Dinner soon!

- Dana