when I started this blog five years ago, I was a pet sitter and the name animal-crackers made sense. now I'm a stay-at-home-dad and freelance writer, but rather than confuse everyone by getting a different blog, it's just easier to keep posting things here.

After a nine-month hiatus, we've returned to the world of Netflix. It's nice to see some new movies again -- and Josh loves receiving DVDs in the mail. We even set him up with his own queue.

Now for those unfamiliar with Netflix it has a system that recommends movies. We rate DVDs we've seen and it spits out a list of movies we might like.

Josh's top-20 rated DVDs include Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Chicken Run, Dora the Explorer, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Herbie: Fully Loaded, etc.

Based on this input, most of Netflix's recommendations seem appropriate -- Backyardigans, The Shaggy Dog, Go Diego Go, VeggieTales.

However, a few make me wonder, what the fuck? Movies like National Treasure, Lord of the Rings, Bleak House, Eddie Izzard Dress to Kill, Shaun of the Living Dead and -- perhaps the most inappropriate movie for a 4-year-old -- The Passion of Christ.

"Hey, son! How would you like to see a 2-hour snuff film made by an alcoholic, anti-Semitic zealot?"

Maybe next week we'll see The Birth of a Nation.