me first

They don’t look before walking across your path.

Nevermind that you had to slam on your brakes and send your scalding hot coffee flying into the center console. Nevermind that parking spaces are at a premium, and that three other people had begun stalking the same one on which you’d cast your eyes before our oblivious pedestrian began their seemingly interminable trek. Nevermind that the crosswalk was clearly marked and certainly a safer route for folks on foot.

Nope. Nothing else matters. Nothing but my cell phone call, my iPod music, my trip to the convenience store for the latest copy of the Hollywood Scandal Daily.

What has happened to our society? When did it become OK (even expected) to put yourself first and others second, or, more typically, to remove others from your list completely?

It became OK when self-esteem and materialism became gods.

There was a time when folks were courteous, both to strangers and to those they knew. Now neither is true. Their happiness and convenience is more important than yours.

There was a time when a man would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. Now you’d be lucky if he even noticed you were in need.

Is it time for a change? I think it was time for a change long ago. Are we capable of making that change? Not likely. Until it becomes unfashionable to worship our selves and our stuff, no change will be possible. And who or what defines what is or is not fashionable? The people and media to which we pay all too much attention.

The recipe for change? Turn off the television and the computer, put away the cell phone, pack the family in the car and head for the forest. Have long talks and walks with your family. Get them to realize that the true meaning in life is found in meeting the needs of other people, rather than getting what you think (or are told) you deserve.

Robert Downey, Jr. IS Iron Man

I’m a fan of live-action movie interpretations of comic book characters. Well, I am as long as they’re finely-crafted. And in this case, I am definitely a fan.

It's difficult to imagine a better casting for the lead role of Tony Stark (aka, Iron Man) than Robert Downey, Jr. His real-life swagger, under-the-surface vulnerability and wry humor blend perfectly with the character he plays – a super-intelligent, flamboyant entrepreneur who’s corporation makes billions of dollars designing and supplying bleeding edge war toys to the good guys of the world. Downey keeps his character accurately grounded in the face of the disturbing revelation that his toys have fallen into the wrong hands.

Awesome special effects will always catch my attention, but you won’t hold that attention long if there’s no meat to the story. In this case, the story and the characters were more than sufficient to keep me riveted (be sure to stay all the way through the credits!). Downey’s performance is matched well by his supporting cast: Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane, Tony’s right-hand man; Terrence Howard as Lt. Col. James Rhodes, military liaison to Stark Industries and Tony’s best friend; and Gwyneth Paltrow as Virginia “Pepper” Potts, Tony’s trusted executive assistant.

If you enjoy movies with state-of-the-art special effects, borders-of-reality story points and lots of things blowing up real good, go see this movie (in a big theater with a big sound system) - Roger Ebert saw it (if that means anything to you), and he liked it (if that means anything to you). Even if you don’t like all these things, see the movie anyway, if for no other reason than to enjoy what may be an academy award-nominating performance by Iron Ma-- er, Robert Downey, Jr.