Wednesday, December 14, 2005

It got me thinking....and that's a dangerous thing!

I have found that one of the single greatest forms of entertainment is covering local political meetings. No, really! I have recently gotten out of the studio at the radio station I work for and into the field...of journalism. Not that I have stopped with the on air role...actually haven't changed that at all...but I digress.

Covering local meetings makes me realize one thing. I have no ambition at this point in life to get involved with the democratic process. Take that as you will. But, I really have no interest in making any kind of a decision on the day to day running of anything! Frankly, I think the world is a little safer for it!

I mean really, I have a hard time deciding what movie to watch, what to eat for dinner, what "clean" shirt to wear! Do you really want me deciding how your tax money is spent?

I bring this up only because I have found myself covering no less than three county/city/school board meetings over the last four days. Which got me thinking.... Danger!!! Danger!!!!

I seem to remember that, as a child, my uncle had an astrologer "read me". Seems that kind lady saw a future in politics for me. Now I never took that much stock in such things...but, I was reading over the ten page "reading" she seems to have hit a few nails right on the head.

Now to the politics....I say that I have no interest, at this point, in getting involved in politics. Says the man with no political affiliation...who receives the Republican newsletter to get his weekly laugh!! But, I think that there may be a future there for me. Right now I think the main thing holding me back is the time commitment....and a total lack of interest. Caring should factor highly.

But, who knows, maybe in time I will get my head out of my proverbial ass and decide to do something meaningful with my life....if that day comes....look out local politics, I have all five season of the West Wing on DVD, along with the DVD of My Fellow Americans and a biography on John F. Kennedy..........what could go wrong?

Monday, December 05, 2005

Holiday Music..that doesn't make me want to kill myself!

So...with the holiday season upon us I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one who is already totally sick of "holiday" music. Seeing as I work full time at a radio station...I may be a little more sick than the next guy. (Since I really can't change the channel)

To get me through this time of year I have a select number of holiday songs that I like to listen to over and over...here is a list of these songs:

Tori Amos--Have yourself a Merry little Christmas
Bing Crosby/David Bowie--Drummerboy/Peace on Earth, the good version...the one with all the television banter left in!!!! (thanks to greymatter, at thechampaignofblogs for this one)
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds--The Christmas Song
The Kinks--Father Christmas (if you haven't heard this one...do so!!)
6pence none the richer--your a mean one, mr. grinch
Garth Brooks--The Gift
Garth Brooks--Go Tell it on the Mountain
any version of Baby, it's cold outside....Dean Martin, Hary Conick Jr., the version on the Elf soundtrack with Leon Redbone and the actress from the film...
The Normals--Oh Come, Oh Come....
Cheech and Chong--Santa and his old lady (not a song persay...but well worth a listen!)
Bob and Doug Makenzie--12 days of Christmas
Transiberian Orchestra--Christmas eve, sarajevo
Any and all Beatles X-mas songs...Feliz Navidad and Christmas Time is here again...
McCartney--Wonderful Christmas
Lennon/Ono--Happy Christmas (war is over)
Elton John--Step into Christmas
Jon Bon Jovi--Blue Christmas
Smashing Pumpkins--Christmastime

Those are just the tip of the iceberg....I am always looking for good contemporary Xmas songs.. Something to break up the rudolph's and frosty's of the world...Would love some input!

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Random Music of the Day

Ever just sit down and start to listen to a cd you made maybe four or fives years ago? Or perhaps a mix tape? Do you just wonder what was going through your head when you made that cd/tape. I had such an experience today...

CD/Mix Tape:

The Heights--How do you talk to an Angel
Siagon Kicks--Love is on the Way
Boys II Men--Water Runs Dry
Garth Brook--The Dance
INXS--Devil Inside
Eagles--New Kid in Town
Tori Amos--China
Foo Fighters--Walking After You
Bush--Everything Zen
Ozzy--Crazy Train
Pink Floyd--Comfortably Numb
Rolling Stones--Sympathy for the Devil
Collective Soul--December
The Who--Behind Blue Eyes
Billy Idol--Cradle of Love
Live--Shit Town
Live--Lightning Crashes

To say that this tape was all over the place is an understatement. If I remember right I made this tape so I would have something to keep me awake when I worked third shift at a Bigfoot Amoco during college.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Office Space -vs- Waiting





-VS-







A Battle for the ages!!!

From time to time a movie comes along that makes you sit down and take a long hard look at your life. Neither "Waiting" or "Office Space" is such a movie. But, they do both deserve a place in your movie library.

I know many a friend of mine who will say that there is no movie that can touch Office Space. I personally have converted to the "Waiting" school of thought. Let's loook at the two movies...

Round One: OFFICE SPACE

Here we have a movie that begs the question:
"What would you do if you had a million dollars?
Lawrence: I'll tell you what I'd do, man, two chicks at the same time, man."

Office Space is the heart warming story of a man who learns to deal with his loathing of work by....starting to not care! Through the help of hypnotics, our hero, Peter Gibbons is transformed into a slacker king. Peter becomes the man I always wished I could be. Now if you haven't seen the movie you may think, "well, how does this turn out for our hero?" Strange as it may seem, pretty damn good. His blase additude is mistaken for not being pressed to his potential. While his friends, Samir and Michael Bolton, (not that "no talent Ass clown") who actually like and do work, get fired.

Without spending too much time analyzing the movie ... which was what this started out as...here is my main thoughts. All of my friends who love the movie, with almost religious ferver, have worked in some sort of office setting.

Which leads me to movie two....

WAITING

While this movie is a few months off of a DVD release and I only saw it once...hell...long story short I have never run into a movie where personal experience played so heavily into my enjoyment.

During my college years at Illinois State University I had the good fortune to wait tables at the Red Lobster in Bloomington. To say that the movie reminded me of those days would be an understatement. To me the funniest part was the portrayal of the different types of customers that come in day after day. Many a time I would wish that I had the stones to hand a customer back their $2.00 tip. But, alas, I had a strange attachment to my job. Since it was, after all, my only source of income. I really didn't feel like hitting the job market again.

Customer portrayal, combined with the element of good old fashioned sexual harrassment...made me miss waiting tables. Then I remember how much it sucked for 80% of the time. Come to think of it...most jobs suck at about an equal rate. Anyway...

Ever start something with high hopes and then just let it fizzle? I hate to admit it but it seems that while I relate to the movie "Waiting" on a whole level...I am have a true Peter moment!

As for what I would do with a million dollars....I subscribe to the Peter Gibbons school of thought.

"I'd relax, I would sit on my ass all day, I would do nothing."

Now, I have actually lived that sweet dream...but it's late and that is a story for another day....(strangly it's a story that has a cameo by Lou Diamond Phillips!)

Monday, November 21, 2005

Dane Cook to Host Saturday Night Live!!!!

The funniest comic working is getting a shot at hosting, what was the funniest show on television, Saturday Night Live! The date is set for Dec. 3rd...so get your tivo, dvr, vcr, or what ever handy cam you used to pirate a copy of the new Harry Potter move, ready for that night.

Finally we may get a chance to see some funny skits, witty humor with a possible SU-Fi on the side!!!!!!

I can't actually explain in words how excited I am to see Dane on SNL. If you have not seen Dane work...find a chance or make sure to watch SNL. If you really want to get the full Dane effect head out and pick up either one of his albums. You really can't go wrong.

Which leads me to another topic.... The movie "Waiting"

Tomorrw I will take some time to ponder the age old (well atleast a few month old) question! Which movie is funnier????


-VS-

Office Space or Waiting ???

Let the battle begin, and in the imortal words of Dane Cook...."Fuck Shoes!"

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Book of the Month


I wish I could say that I do a lot of reading...but the fact of the matter is that I don't really have the patience for most books. The last books I actually read were a weekend of Dan Brown books. The DaVinci Code along with Angels & Demons...but neither of those books are the subject here.

I believe the greatest modern invention is actually the audio book. You get the satisfaction of hearing a good story...and don't actually have to do the work.....which leads to the current book of the moment. For those of you who may not know the author let me introduce you to.... Bruce "don't call me Ash" Campbell.

The star of such movie greats as Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness, and who can forget Tornado! and two of the greatest TV shows of all time, "Jack of all Trades" and "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr." But I digress!!

Now the real joy of this audio book...or rather the "audio movie" is that you get the true feel of the book, through the delivery of Bruce Almighty.

Now don't let the title throw you off. The book is actually a fictional account of what would happen if Bruce was cast in a big budget "A" list romantic comedy co-starring Richard Gere and Renee Zellweger. While the audio book clocks in at six hours it is by no means the longest audio book in the cd rack....but it is by far the most fulfilling.

I really don't know how I have found the time to listen to it two times since last Thursday? But, it seems that when there is down time now all I want to do is throw on the iPod and listen to Bruce give a first hand account of the shit he would have to go through to co-star in a big budget Hollywood movie.

Now I know that I really haven't talk all to much about the book...but then you would have no reason to run to the store and spend the $27.99 on the audio book....now I am sure that the actual book would be a little cheaper...but really, who wants to read?!!

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Ever think....what the hell?

Here in the initial post I would love to give you an insightful look into the life that I lead...but, putting that on the web would only make me think twice about ever posting again! So here are a few insights...I split time working in the radio field and in customer service.

I won't mention the company...but there is a better than average chance that you have bought a cd/dvd/or game from this store...who's primary colors are blue and yellow!

I would guess that a large portion of the posts here will involve me dropping some sort of story about the real "winners" I deal with every day. If you think you have heard a handful of dumb questions at your job... you might just get a laugh out of this blog. God knows I probably have enough stories to drop one a day...but I am by no means that disciplined so there may be a run of weeks where you get some fine stories everyday, but then a week goes by that I don't step foot by the computer.

That being said....here is my disclaimer:
"If a story appears here and you think that you are the one portrayed... deal with it and realize that you are not the only dumb ass in the world who has done something, in public, that made people laugh at you!"

So now that we have coverd the bases I really believe that 60% of the people who walk through the doors to buy things at the store I work at shouldn't be allowed in public...let alone own things. Questions like: I am looking for this one song by that guy who was on the radio the other day! or the classic, "how do I get that on tape?" (now realize this is a person looking for an audio cassette....really what had a longer shelf life: audio cassettes or Laser Discs?

How about the people who are looking for the power cord to a gaming system....not because it was broken/chewed by the dog...but Lost! How the hell do you lose something that was plugged into the wall and the back of the unit? Is there really a family out there that is playing the "hide the power cord game"? I think that my family has some dumb games when I stop by..but really who goes around randomly unplugging items and then putting the power cord someplace else!

Not to blow my load here in the first post...but I need to share a phone call I got today:
Man on Phone: I am having trouble with my iPod...it seems that I can't get music onto the player.
ME: what is the problem?
Man: I purchased the iPod yesterday along with one of those pre-paid cards.
ME: ok...what is the problem????
Man: well, it keeps telling me that I still need to use a credit card to purchase music.
ME: **sigh** Sir have you entered the number from the back of the card into the store so you have the music credit????
Man: No, why would I? Shouldn't it just know that I purchased a card!
ME: No sir....the iPod is a very advanced mp3 player....but it isn't clarvoiyant!!

This may be the point that the guy realized that he was a total D.A. but in an attempt to save face he decided to argue with me for 10 min. in an attempt to make me forget that he may have asked the stupidest question that I have heard that day. I won't bore you with the rest of the conversation...but realize that if his point was to sound smarter...or make me forget the previous blunder....it really didn't work.

Well, if you haven't given up and are still reading...thanks for the time and effort...I think that if it wasn't for the Time Life Country Super Fest infomercial...this would have ended a long time ago. But, I can't find the remote and the computer is close at hand so random things may happen.
Time to sign off....have to save my energy for some Football and more fun filled work at the big blue.