Magic listener Ted Mason came up with a cool question:
“What’s the best comic book/graphic novel-made into a movie-of all time”?
Obviously “The Dark Knight” would get a lot of votes right now.
My other choices would be “Constantine” with Keanu Reeves.
“Sin City” with Bruce Willis.
The worst? In my opinion: “Caspar the friendly ghost”. Remember that? It was half animated and half live with a young Christina Ricci? Yikes!

Blog-in with your comments here…we’ll talk about it on the air in a few days.
-Jim

Lynn and I just saw the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight.

WOW!

For someone like me, who grew up getting “lost” in The Batman comics, watching the old ABC series in the 60’s and then seeing all the Tim Burton versions, with Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney, there’s no question: Christian Bale is the best Batman ever, just like there will never be anyone like Sean Connery as James Bond. My wife and most of the women I know would disagree on that point after seeing Daniel Craig, but that’s another blog altogether…
The new Batman features an unreal portrayal of The Joker by Heath Ledger. He will win the oscar for this one on my opinion.
For more of my thoughts on this film, be sure to listen to our show this week, but I would like to make one important statement here: This is NOT a movie for young kids. We saw a well-meaning father bring three kids in under the age of 9 and I think that was a huge mistake. The Joker in this movie is so dark, so disturbing and so violent, I would urge parents to NOT let little ones go, no matter how much they love The Batman. This is not at all like the cartoon they’ve been watching for the last several years on TV. I would even suggest you not let young teens go, if they are easily upset by all the madness they see in the real world every day. You know your own kids…if they sometimes ask deep questions about what does and doesn’t make sense in this crazy world, try to talk them out of going.
This is a first-class film for adults, but I wouldn’t want some of the dark craziness getting into my kid’s head if they were the least bit sensitive.
We loved it…how about you?
In the meantime…in the words of The Joker…

-Jim

Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight Schrute on NBC’s hit series The Office stopped by to talk about his new movie The Rocker.
What a cool guy!

His new movie is about a failed drummer who gets a second chance at making it big.
How about Fay puts her hand on every celebrity’s belly whenever she gets a picture with them!

Rainn didn’t leave without giving me a big-Magic-Man-hug.

The Office is one of our favorite shows, and there have been a lot of rumors lately about a spinoff.
If the show did a spinoff…which character would you like to see star in their own show?

On Aug. 5th, voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties will be asked to approve a tax of 0.10 of a mill for a period of 10 years. This money will go to the Detroit Zoological Society to support its operation of the detroit Zoo.

What will this cost you and me?
About $10 a year.
This is a pretty low cost for us. Every zoo within 250 miles of us operates with some help from the government but this mill is a lot less than than other cities. Lansing’s is 4 times greater, the Toledo Zoo’s millage is 18 times greater

About half a million kids visit the zoo every year. And we’ve all seen the unique exhibits and the constant improvements The Detroit Zoo comes up with every year. Plus, if this mill is approved, it will include special discounts to county residents such as discounts on admission, free senior days, and discounted Zoo membership.
We’ve got to go to the polls Aug 5th and vote on this.
For us, for our kids…for all who visit the Detroit area.
-Jim

How do you feel about the latest Barbie?  Is this appropriate for your children to play with?

We went back up to our favorite northern city, Petoskey, Michigan and had a wonderful, relaxing time. The people in Petoskey are so nice and friendly and the people in town always try to make it a special trip for visitors.
There was a good crowd up there for the Fourth. It’s a one-tank-trip so I think a lot of people from downstate still made the journey.
This time we took our dogs, Bobby and Queenie. We usually book them for a stay at Pet Ritz in Royal Oak, but for this trip we thought they’d enjoy the great outdoors.

Queenie loved laying in the sun…she’s an old dog so I’m sure it warmed her bones. I know it does mine.

Bobby, lost in deep thought. “I love being up North…there so much to bark at!”

And they kept each other company when we went out…

But they were always happy when we came back…

For “city kids” like us, it’s a treat to see real wildlife. They do have bears up there, like this one outside Grandpa Shorter’s Store in Downtown Petoskey.

Remember the photo of me with my cowboy hat last winter? Here’s my summer version.

We did go the State Park Beach (one of the state’s nicest). Mike would have liked the view of the ladies.

It’s always hilarious to me to watch the weird things people bring to the beach with them. What the heck is that?

And here’s me, the ONLY time you’ll see me in shorts and sandals this summer. (No they are NOT flip flops!)

The water was pretty cold, until you really went under. We had a blast and I laughed like a kid so much, my stomach was sore the next morning. Man! we needed that.
Here’s a summer shot of Lynn outside one of our favorite places to eat, The City Park Grill.

In the mornings, Lynn would do her daily run and I would walk, down by the city marina. (she has to carry an Eppi-pen because of a bee allergy)

We went to nearby Charlevoix one afternoon. As you near downtown, you see the thousands of flowers they plant on each side of the road every spring.

We like to eat at Stafford’s famous Weathervane. The food is great…

If you look to the east, you get a great view of Round Lake which enters into Lake Charlevoix…

Look to the west and you see the channel that sets you free into Lake Michigan…

Meanwhile, back at the home-base…someone has taken over the deck chair!
“Hello!!! First come, first served!“

“And don’t even THINK about taking my blanket!!!“

Then we drove up to Good Heart. What a beautiful drive along the western coast of our state.
Lynn in front of the Good Hart General Store, which also doubles as the post office!

Me with the “gold”! Good Hart pot-pies! OHYES!

And we got some of their fruit pies…mmmm pie!

Did you ever try this? Taking a picture of yourselves in the mirror?

And then of course, God’s masterpiece: Lake Michigan sunsets…



Meanwhile…back at Magic…Mike is going crazy because he hasn’t has a vacation since winter…

Which brings me to this conclusion: No matter what, you NEED to get away this summer. Even with gas and food prices being high, you don’t have to go far to enjoy a great Michigan getaway. It’s always a hassle for me to unplug and unwind, but I think it really helps your body, mind and spirit.
Feel free to comment and make suggestions about your favorite Michigan vacation spots.
-Jim