Barrett Jackson 2011

So I spent the better part of the afternoon with my father at the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction. If you are not sure what this is let me enlighten you.

It's, in my opinion, the top collector car show in the world. They hold many auctions each year...with the big event being this time of year in Scottsdale Arizona. This is where you can find the one of a kind treasures from your youth up for auction. In years past they've had The General Lee, The Batmobile, KITT (old and new) and many more iconic TV/Movie cars roll across the auction block. You can also have the chance to buy historic cars like this years feature the ambulance that carried JFK's body. Should go across sometime during the last two days.

2011 Camero Convertible ($36,000 as shown)

You can also see hard to find older cars or if you tend to lean more modern you can find concept cars and new off the line models of some of your favorites.

This year was the first time I've had a chance to attend. My father and I didn't spend too much time in the actual auction as the first few days are filled with nice cars that are, for the most part, cars you see all the time. As the week goes on the cars become more collectible and rare..and the prices keep going up.

For example the first car on the auction block was a 1992 Oldsmobile Delta 88  that was sold on a salvage title only, was not legal to be driven, and sold for about $4500. As we edge closer to the end of the show you will see those figures climb into the six figure range.

2011 Bugatti Veryon Super Sport

One of my favorites at the event isn't even going to be up for auction I don't think ... it's a 2011 Bugatti Veryon Super Sport that has a top speed of almost 270mph. Speaking with the company rep he told me that there will only be 40 of this car produced this year and the currently the one at the show is the only one that is in the United States at this time. This car looks fast just sitting still!

2011 Bugatti Veryon

The fact that the regular run of the Veryon this year that will include the Super Sport above and the regular silver and black model will only have a production run of about 300 will make this one sought after car to have in your garage. When you also factor in the reported plans to stop production on the Veryon after this year it will only drive up the value of this sweet ride.  Granted if last years price is any indication you will need to have a small fortune to take this bad boy home. The 2010 Veryon Super Sport when for $2.5Million.

Other nice cars that were on hand inside the main tent were the new 2011 Corvette, the 2011 Chevy Camero Convertible ($36,000 for those interested) and if you are thinking green .... a large selection of SMART cars.

If you thought you might die if you ever bought a SMART car and had to drive it around...may I suggest you spend you $19.000 on the convertible model! Seriously, it was so offensive to look at that I didn't even take a picture. It was like an assault on my eyes. A train wreck that I couldn't look away from. But, it wasn't because I was intrigued by it! More like I was confused by the concept.

"So let me get this straight...you want to put me in an auto with just barely more protection that riding a motorcycle...and you then want to make it a rag top?" You need to have a good come to Jesus talk every time you sit down in that thing just to make sure all your affairs are in order before you hit the highway! Seriously, helmet laws should apply when driving one of these little tinder boxes!

Gumpert Apollo

Another favorite of mine was the Gumpert Apollo. A car that brings a race car mind to the street.

With a top speed of almost 230mph this car will get you on the evening news should you try to foolishly outrun the Cops while testing out that top speed. And at a cost of about $400,000 you will only have to win a small lotto prize to drive it home rather than the Mega Millions.

With this toy you can push it almost as fast as the Veryon (current world record holder for fastest production car at 267.81mph) While still having almost $2Million in the bank to pay for tickets, repairs, gas and other unforseen expenses that come with have a car that costs more than half the houses on my block put together.

All in all it was a fun birthday with my dad. I got to see some great cars, talk to some great people and generally bum around for a few hours. So I think I'll call this a win.

Another Year older...

Another year in the life of me has come and gone. I'm a year older and really none the wiser. I'm not making the same mistakes that I made in my youth...but still making mistakes!!

What fun would a mistake free life be? Lucky for me none of the mistakes that I am making now are "life changers" Most of my recent mistakes are of the money management type. But, with a new years come a renewed effort to change that....or at least alter it a bit.

The new year always brings resolutions give you something to strive for during the year....but over the last few weeks I've seen a ton of people update their "bucket list"....AKA things to do before you die!! Kinda like a new years resolution, but with more time to follow through than just a year *hopefully*

So not to be one to miss out on a current trend I too will throw in my 2cents and push forth a bucket list.

1. Travel abroad (hope to check this off this summer)
2. Go to a "ghost hunt" event at the Stanley Hotel
3. Get married and have kids
4. Go to a Superbowl/World Series game featuring the Bears/Cubs
5. Make/Win enough money to own a car that costs more than small house
6. See the Pyramids
7. Shoot under par for a round of golf at a major course
8. Kiss a girl on the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower
9. Fly in a private jet
10. Go to the baseball and football hall of Fame
11. New years in Time Square

Those are the major items...minor items to be filled along the way (in conjunction with above): Irish Pub crawl in Dublin, Jack the Ripper walking tour, visit the Great Wall of China, Fish and chips from a lunch van after a night of drinking in London...]

For right now I would say those are the main items on my list. I don't feel a great urge to swim with the dolphins, or write the great American novel. If either happen I won't be mad...I just won't be looking to actively check them off of my list.

My Top Ten Action Films

Time to kill...lets look at my personal favorites in the world of Action films.

1. Boondock Saints (1999)

2. Die Hard (1988)

3. True Lies (1994)

4. Under Siege (1992)

5. The Patriot (2001) -- Mel not Steven

6. F/X (1986)

7. The Expendables (2010)

8. Rambo: First Blood (1982)

9. The Saint (1997)

10. Guns of Navarone (1961)

My Top Ten Comedies

Writing a review of Galaxy Quest got me thinking about my favorite Comedies...they are (in no specific order)

1. Monty Pyton and The Holy Grail (1975)
2. Galaxy Quest  (1999)
3. Stripes (1981)
4. Evolution (2001)
5. A League of their Own (1992)
6. Tommy Boy  (1995)
7. Blazing Saddles (1974)
8. Roman Holiday (1953)
9. The Jerk (1979)
10. Top Secret (1984)

Review time....

Today my sights are set on a fun little film that you need to watch (repeatedly) if you haven't seen it before.

Galaxy Quest

If you look back and fondly remember old sci fi shows like; the original Star Trek, the original Battlestar Gallactica, Buck Rogers, etc.. then you may find a soft spot in your heart for this movie.

Basically, it's the story of the cast of a cult Sci Fi show. The 'crew", years after the show has been off the air. is doing what many cult favorites do...they're working the conventions.
You have the former child star (Daryl Mitchell), the hot actress who really didn't do anything on the show (Sigourney Weaver), the angst-y British actor who now hates the character and catchphrase that made/broke his career (Alan Rickman), the mellow almost strange engineer (Tony Shalhoub), the random "red shirt" crew member who would always die in every show (Sam Rockwell), and of course  the cocky lead who still thinks he's big news (Tim Allen).

The action begins when Commander Jason Nesmith (Allen) is approached at a convention about what he thinks is a paying gig. Turns out it is actually a group of aliens who have been watching the "historical records" of the spaceship NSEA Protector.  Basically, the dummies have been watching reruns as if they were the Earth History Channel (and it wasn't even Nazi week).

From there hilarity ensues! It's a combo fish-out-of-water and standard Sci-Fi spoof.  But in an absolutely fabulous way. You will also recognize a ton of other actors throughout the movie. Not big names...and you may not even know the actors names. But, if you watch TV and moves there a lot of fun appearances including: Justin Long, Enrico Colantoni , Missi Pyle and more!

Where most spoofs try to reference a specific scene in a movie Galaxy Quest hits the broad strokes of the genre and does it with vigor! It's a ton of fun, really funny and in my opinion holds up well to re-watching. Probably in my top ten of Comedy moves....which I now want to sit down and think about...that may come later today if I have free time!

Go Bears

Watching this Bears game I start imagining a world where I see a Bears team as Super Bowl Champions.

Then I have to temper my enthusiasm a little bit when I remember that we are playing a team that won the worst division in football. Granted they did knock off the defending champs in the Saints last week...but this team is awful!

The only mistake the Bears have made all day was an interception...thrown by Matt Forte. That was a bad play, but the Bears were up 28-3 at the time, that didn't hurt them.

So bring on the Cheese knobs and lets get this thing done next week so we can get to another Super Bowl!!

Go Bears!!

Random thoughts (part 2)

I need to throw up some movie reviews here sometime in the future. I'm thinking I may run through some of the Bluray flix I got for Christmas: Galaxy Quest, Rambo 1-4, Die Hard 1-4.

I'm not thinking about anything too in depth. Just something to fill out some blog posts. I'm gonna try to post something everyday, or at least average one post a day. Even if it means I have to go all Doogie Howser M.D on this blogs ass!

Random thought....

Remember when there was a "National Switch off your TV" Day/Week?   Heck if memory serves even the networks would run PSA's about getting outside during the time or reading a book. Or, God forbid, talk to your family.

I've searched the Internet and can't find a major campaign that is still pushing this thought.The campaign nearest that I could find out there is the NFL Play 60.  Now, before you get too crazy, I'm not one for bringing this back. I'm a firm believer in the fact that good TV is a perfect babysitter (although I have no kids to test this theory out on!) and that the warm glow of the boob tube is a great way to wind down your day.

It seems that while companies would like to see you make the shift to a more family centric life...they have stopped reminding you what you should and shouldn't do. That, in my opinion is a good thing. Preachy commercials bug me to no end. The only time that a firm recommendation is handed out seems to be when a drug company is recommending you to "discuss" with your doctor what drugs you should be taking. Because nothing trumps a medical degree like remembering a catchy comerical It even seems like these companies are proud of the horrendous side effects: Explosive migraine, bleeding ulcer, sudden loss of vision, increased risk of TB, loss of bladder control and my personal favorites --- possible death and/or suicidal thoughts. Those last two usually with depression medications for some reason.

"Take drug X it will help cure your depression..." *medical disclaimer* thoughts of suicide and increased suicidal tendencies have been noted in some patients.  It may just be my warped, non-medical, mind. But, should a drug that is meant to be given to a person who is thinking about  or has attempted, suicide really have the side effect of increasing those thoughts and desires?

But, I digress....

Now, this thought crept up on me not in the sense of watching too much TV...but, when it comes to the monster that is Facebook. 

I'm pretty sure that between the time I get up and when I go to bed I mush check Facebook about 50times. That doesn't take into account when I get an alert on my phone that someone has mentioned me or replied to a post, or replied to a post I put a post on!! Seriously it's offensive how much time I spend looking at Facebook.

You want to know the real sad part? I only really stay connected to a handful of my 215 friends. From time to time I will pop in a comment, a like, or a birthday wish on an additional persons page. But, I would say about 10% of my "friends" are people I read their status' each and every day.

According to a 2007 Bloomberg story "US employers may lose $1.2BILLION in work productivity due to the NCAA tournament." That was in 2007 and I would guess that number has grown. I would say the yearly loss due to Facebook is close to doubling that!! That is not based in fact...just a personal thought.

Not sure why this jumped into my head but it fills the blog space that I'm not getting paid to fill. More importantly it will later update to my Facebook profile and give me one more thing to obsessively review and await responses!!

NFC Playoffs

Part of me wants the Packers to win so we have a killer showdown for the conference. But, at the same time I throw up a little in my mouth just thinking about the words Go Packers.

Rise of the iMachines

Apple is taking over the world!! I don't think that this is news to anyone who follows the tech world.

iPad, iPod, iPhone, iMac, about a million variations on each. iTunes was , and to many still is, the gold standard of online media stores.

Which leads me to wonder where it will stop? When will Apple jump into the arena of food? Footwear can't be far off. They already have a partnership with Nike for those crazy runners out there. Hell you can buy jackets that not only has pockets to put your "i" related product...if it plays music the jacket can be you speakers!

The next logical step will be to go with an implant a la Futurama's "Eye-Phone" spoof.

Personally I think the next step is here in a more subtle way...iTunes DJ....it is simple mind control-- mood altering, outlook changing, mood killing...MIND CONTROL.

The brilliant thing is that it doesn't try to control you every time you use it. It's brilliant like that. I woke up today with my iTunes on and the DJ function playing. While I was drifting in and out of consciousness I was remembering two strange dreams I had (not sure if either is related to the tunes).

The first was I was watching an episode of Castle and all the characters had on t-shirts that I had purchased from TeeFury the other was that when I woke up everyone I knew on Facebook had changed their status to both Married and Pregnant. EVERYONE men and women!! I'll let that sink in.....I know right!!

First dream probably not related to music...second? Maybe. So, what was the tune list? Not sure what was on while I was sleeping but here are the next 15 songs that were in the Queue:

Almost Lover -- A Fine Frenzy
Mandy -- Barry Manilow
Love for Sale -- Harry Connick Jr.
Hold her Close -- Blessid Union of Souls
Grace -- Jeff Buckley
Girlfriend in a Coma -- The Smiths
$1000 Wedding -- Gram Parsons
I Trust You to kill me -- Rocco Deluca & the Burden
Don't Look Back in Anger -- Oasis
Kiss With a Fist -- Florence & The machine
Fuck You -- Cee Lo
Melt Your Heart -- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
Real Bad News -- Aimee Mann
Unanswered Prayers -- Garth Brooks
Sentimental Heart -- She & Him

All great songs...but they alternate between generally depressing, emotionally depressing, lost love depressing, tragic depressing....I should just make a permanent play list and title it DEPRESSING. I also love how "I trust you to kill me" is placed directly in the middle of the list.

I understand that genius play lists are set up via similar song types, artists, melodic components, etc. But, the DJ button is supposed to be a true Random mix. Seems like there is something sinister at work here.

To quote the great Denis Leary, "Does that mean I sue Dan Fogelberg for turning me into  a pussy in the mid 70's?"  Maybe I should take his approach and try to sue Apple for the bad mood I'm in from time to time. It's just a thought...and I never said it was a good one!

Prince Philip (he's the funny Royal)

The Royal Family. A picture of grace, refinement, pomp and circumstance. The Queen, the Queen mother, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry....and my favorite PRINCE PHILIP.

As royals go Philip is by far the most interesting of the bunch, William dressing as a Nazi not withstanding. Philip is what I like to lovingly call the Ricky "I'm too much speed in my mouth" Henderson of the royal family. There really doesn't seem to be a filter between what he thinks and what he says from time to time.

Part of me thinks that there is no way that he wasn't aware of some of the things he has said! A top 15 list can be found here but some of my personal faves are among those top 15 such as:

1. "If you stay here much longer, you’ll all be slitty-eyed"-- 1985 China State Visit  (heard this one via Eddie Izzard and had to Google to see if it was a true quote or a bit...so again I have to thank Eddie for opening me up to another funny Brit!!)
2. To an Aborigine in Australia “Do you still throw spears at each other?”
3. To a Briton in Budapest "You can’t have been here that long – you haven’t got a pot belly.”
4. To a driving instructor in Scotland, “How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to get them through the test?”
5. Unknown, “If you see a man opening a car door for a woman, it means one of two things: it’s either a new woman or a new car!”



who dealt it?

 Then there is this photo that was sent to me as a forward. Now I am sure there is a perfectly good explanation as to what is going on here. But, seriously...you got a reaction from the Queen. That's like getting a Buckingham Palace guard to punch you in the face for being an obnoxious tourist!!

I wish that us poor relations in America could have have half the awesomeness that is the Royal Family from time to time. What do we have in their place? Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears (pre and during breakdown) and anyone who participates in any thing that begins with the word "Celebrity" be it rehab, apprentice, Jeopardy (OK...Jeopardy gets a pass.)

Just saying the dude is a goldmine. Someone get him an iPhone and a twitter account! Given the right push he could crush Ashton Kutcher.

So Random...

So I got to checking the stats portion of my blog today at work and noticed something funny...I'm big in Sri Lanka

Well...maybe not big! But, i think a few more Nicki Minaj name drops and I can pull that number up a bit.

For what it's worth the top country views are as follows:
1. United States
2. United Kingdom
3. Germany
4. Russia
5. Sri Lanka (hey...top 5 baby)
6. India
7. Denmark
8. Italy
9. Australia
10. Czech Republic (just to make it a nice round 10)

also noted a few views from Iran, South Korea, Singapore

Top URL's
www.omeglechats.com
www.remroom.ru
www.bing.com
http://www.google.com/
www.google.co.uk

keyword searches
Music, Movies, BBC, Robin Hood, Nikon, "Ashton Kutcher Nikon commercial", "Nikon Commercial with the boat, who's the white haired guy?" Michael DeBarres (kinda proud of this one!)

So...random pretty much sums this blog up nicely!! Think I need to find a way to garner a larger selection of that hot Asian/middle eastern blog market

Top 5's

From time to time I may pop in a quick top 5 list for the day. Never really a rhyme or reason to this...but I was looking at some old posts and thought I would give it a go again. so here we go (each top five in no set order)

Top 5 Songs:

1. Rise up with Fists -- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins

2. Forget you -- Glee version of Fuck you by Cee Lo

3. Jeepster --- T.Rex

4. Taylor -- Jack Johnson

5. $1000 Wedding -- Gram Parsons

Top 5 Cd's of the Moment:

1. Rilo Kiley -- More Adventurous 

2. Neko Case -- Middle Cyclone

3. Jack Johnson -- Live at the Gorge (not technically a cd...but I'll allow it!)

4. T.Rex -- Live at the Rainbow Room

5. The Streets -- A grand don't come for free

Top 5 recent movies watched (not necessarily new movies)

1. Tron: Legacy

2. True Grit

3. Resident Evil: Afterlife

4. Toy Story 3

5. Army of Darkness

Top 5 TV Shows Current

1. Fringe

2. Primeval

3. Dr. Who

4. Castle

5. Human Target

Top 5 TV shows I'm looking forward to

1. Torchowood: Miracle Day (number 1 by a long shot)

2. Game of Thornes

3. Mr. Sunshine

4. Terra Nova

5. Chicago Code

Top 5 TV shows I miss

1. Adventures of Brisco County Jr

2. Robin Hood

3. Black Books

4. Coupling

5. MI-5 (still haven't heard if there is going to be another series)

Top 5 most visited websites

1. Facebook

2. Twitter

3. Flickr.

4. espn

5. Funny or Die

MASTURBATE FOR LIFE with DJ Lubel, Tiffany Dupont and Chris Carmack from MoranisLover

MASTURBATE FOR LIFE with DJ Lubel, Tiffany Dupont and Chris Carmack from MoranisLover: "

MASTURBATE FOR LIFE with DJ Lubel, Tiffany Dupont and Chris Carmack - watch more funny videos

"

So wrong....but so funny!

I'm done!! (AKA another one of those days)

So I think I am going to call it a day! I'm done interacting with people!

The day started off with a misunderstood post on Facebook...which is understandable. Context is big and the written word alone can be misconstrued. Hence the reason we are still debating the true meaning behind great old songs, book, poems, and even artwork out of context is open to interpretation. No worries...

But seriously I think every person, with the exception of my father, that I talked to today didn't know I was speaking the same language as them!

Case in point--when I went to see True Grit (great movie) with my dad the lady at the concession stand wouldn't take no for an answer when I said that I didn't need any candy with my drink. Now that could have been the fact that her job is to sell me things that I don't need. But, in the grand scheme of the day it was just the first (or second depending on when you start counting) of many miscommunications of the day...

I submit for your review my next example.... So I run to the gas station to drop a few bucks into the tank while I have cash and gas is under $3 a gallon. So I tell the cashier I want $10 on 2...he says okay $50 on 1! Where the hell did he get that? Say the two out loud to yourself. Even with a lisp I bet you can't make one sound like other! When I corrected him he gave me that, "don't pretend like you didn't just say $50 on 1" look to me. As I am standing there with a $10 bill in hand!

So I shake that off and head over to CVS Pharmacy to pick up my prescription that is ready. I walk up to the counter that is clearly marked Prescription pick-up...and state "I need to pick up a prescription for James" and the lady just stared at me like I was on fire or had asked her to sell me her first born child! Seriously people I realize I don't have perfect grammar and all but fuck me if I can't have a normal conversation!

I think it was at that point that I decided to document my day just in case someone points out to me later that I am actually a raving nutter. Now...with that done I am going to crawl into my bed and watch some TV and try not to talk to anyone for the rest of the day.

If you do talk/twitter/text/Facebook me and I seem aloof it's not my fault...I blame you! Just kidding *no really it's you* (shakes head no) *I'm serious it's you not me* (shakes head no) yes...no...yes..no........

Two...Two...we got Two?!!

Russell Peters...you are a funny man and you have ruined my life! (but in a good way)

Comedy has always played a big part in my life. Growing up I think I was the only kid I knew who would prefer to listen to a stand up comedy tape (that's right...CASSETTE tape) rather than music. Thanks to my father and grandfather I was raised on the likes of Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Don Rickles, Mel Brooks and many more.

I was transfixed by Cosby the stand up (and then the TV Dad) "Noah, Right!" "Buck Buck" and anything having to do with Fat Albert were my favorites. The bit where he talked about how until the age of 9 he thought his name was dammit and his brother Russell's name was Jesus Christ always got me. 

Carlin's "Class Clown" was, and still is, one of my all time favorite comedy albums. Al Sleet "the Hippy Dippy Weatherman" and the "7 words you can never say on television" are classics not to be outdone. Carlin's humor grew as I did...I got the underlying jokes as I got older...not just the silly stuff. And there was also some profound observations to be had.

I can still remember when I talked a high school teacher into letting me play "bad words", off his Parental Warning album, in class as a part of a speech about context. The routine goes that there are no bad words..just words used in bad context. Carlin then proceeds to list off about 50 racial slurs only to pronounce that the words aren't "bad" but rather it's the context of how they were being used! To this day my favorite class presentation.

As I grew older I picked up other comedic tastes: Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Richard Jeni, Dennis Miller, Denis Leary, Lewis Black, and so forth. To my parents credit they never censored what I listened to...as long as I didn't repeat the curse words in public. Hell as a young white boy growing up in central Illinois my first two CD's I ever owned were Ice-T's "Home Invasion" (listen to the first track titled Warning if you dare) and Wu-Tang Clans "Enter the 36 Chambers".

It was my junior or senior year of high school though that a comedian came to my attention that changed the way I would look at things. That man was Eddie Izzard.

Eddie has a brand of humor that is part story telling part observation and part off the cuff train of thought. He's the only stand-up that I've seen live more than once and he opened my comedic mind to realm of international comics.

I had always been a fan of Monty Python (yeah...I was that kid) and the comedy shows of England. But, I had never really paid attention to stand up from other countries. Once I started to look at Eddie I found other talented comics such as: Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, Jimmy Carr, Omid Djalili and the aforementioned Russell Peters.

Basically I have a 24 hour comedy channel going on in my head at any given time! While this is entertaining it can cause problems. Laughing is fun...unless the situation calls for being serious. Then you drop into something that the BBC Comedy "coupling" described as the Giggle Loop

"You are surrounded by people for a moment of silence when the Giggle Loop begins... Suddenly out of nowhere this thought comes into your head: the worst thing I could possibly do during a minute's silence is laugh. And as soon as you think that you almost do laugh -- automatic reaction. But you don't, you control yourself, you're fine. Whew.

But then you think how terrible it would have been if you laughed out loud in the middle of a minutes silence. And so you nearly do again, only this time it's a bigger laugh. And then you think how awful this bigger laugh would have been. And so you nearly laugh again, only this time it's a very big laugh, it is an enormous laugh. Let this bastard out, and you get whiplash. And suddenly you are in the middle of this completely silent room and your shoulders are going like you are drilling the road. And what do you think of this situation? Oh dear Christ, you think it's funny!" Jeff -- Coupling - Series 1 - Episode 'Sex, Death & Nudity'

Wish I could say I have never been there...but that's not the case. While the giggle loop is reserved for somber situations there is the close relative that I like to call the "what the hell is that idiot laughing at" (granted it needs a new title). This is when a word or phrase that, out of context isn't funny, makes you laugh out loud like a bloody fool.

Take the word Speed (la Vitesse)...or the phrase we got two! The first is Eddie Izzard/s observation that the movie Speed in French isn't La Vitesse it's...Speed. and the second goes to Russell Peters who riffs on all things Indian and, well...I don't want to ruin that joke!

Basically what I'm saying is that I laugh for no reason and I blame my dad (who thought he was Cosby when I was growing up!)...and Cosby, Carlin, Brooks, Pryor, Leary, Izzard, Peters, Black, Carr and so many more that my brain hurts just now!

Also, a big shout out to Richard "Jeff" Coyle for playing one of the funniest characters ever to grace the small screen and bog up my mind with phrases like: Unflushable, The Zone, The Giggle Loop, Porn Buddies...etc.

Looking back at 2010 (the year that was)

Well...it's funny that I decided to look forward to 2011 before looking back at 2010. But, that's just how scattered my brain is at times.

Not a whole lot to report for this last year. I wish I could say I had a ton of exciting adventures, made a lot of money, met the love of my life, quit my job to focus on a passion or made a contribution to something that helped better mankind in some way.... 0-5 *bummer*

That's not to say that it wasn't a great year!

I did: get a new job (not by choice) that led me to meet some great new friends! I got out more than in years past, tried new things, made another road trip to Joshua Tree CA (which is hopefully going to be a yearly event), was able to take my best friend and his wife to the Grand Canyon and just sit and watch the sunset, I've had my eyes and ears opened up to a ton of new movies/music/books and more!

I was also able to watch my father fulfill a dream he has had for many years when he got his first novel "Growing Up Doughnut" published...and people bought it!! Go pops!

I finally joined a gym after months and months (11 to be exact) of talking about it and not doing anything. I got a fair amount of books read - none of which would qualify as literary masterpieces (except yours dad!!). I was able to see a MLB game and an NFL game in person for the first time in probably 10 years...too bad I don't care about Phoenix Suns basketball!!

So while it wasn't an earth moving 2010 it was a year made up of many little joys in the people and events that filtered through my narrative. I wouldn't change a single situation or event of this last year. They are what made me the person I am going into 2011 and they are stepping stones to be used to build a fantastic new year.

Hopefully next year at this time I'm talking about the adventures, love, money etc that filled up 2011...but really if it's like 2010 I won't be disappointed.

Happy New Year

I think I finally made it through a New Years eve and new years day without someone asking me what my resolution was for the new year. It was at that point that I realized that I suck and keeping them anyway.

Take last years resolution to lose weight and get a grip on my diabetes. Well, it only took close to 11 months but I finally joined a gym and took "some" control over diabetes.  Not before it cost me a handful of sick days at work and an unknown amount of money in Dr. visits. (I say unknown because I don't care to know...not because I don't really know!)

So, going into 2011 I have set a few easy goals..but, they were set after January 1st so I don't know if they truly count as "resolutions"!!?

1) Stick with the gym thing. Should be easy. It's on the way home from work. It's paid for the whole year. I'm actually having a good time when I do go!

2) [or 1b] we get to revisit an oldie but a goodie!! Lose weight. To that end may I say that I am a little perplexed at this point. I've been going to the gym for about a month...have dropped my blood sugar numbers by about 50% but have gained about 6lbs. People ask me, "have you gained muscle?" unless my calves have gained about 3lbs each from riding the bike...I'm gonna go with no.

3) Get my happy ass out of the country. Not on a permanent basis. It's not like I'm gonna run off to live in Canada or Mexico...I just would really like to travel. I've always wanted to go to Europe (cliche?) and am still bummed that Illinois State University screwed me out of a chance almost a decade ago..not bitter though. So I have decided that this is the year. I will get my passport by the end of January...save most of my Tax return...and begin to work overtime to give myself the post college travel package I never got.

Thankfully I may have a few travel companions depending on how schedules work out! Fingers crossed! Current plans are for at least two weeks around June or July with destinations of Amsterdam, London, Cardiff (for the BBC sci-fi nerd in me) and all points between ... I'm looking at you Bruges!!

Three fairly easy...but expensive/time consuming goals for 2011. Oh, and for what it's worth I am willing to pick up companions for my adventure as the time moves forward! (I won't even make you call me The Doctor! *I said BBC sci-fi Nerd right?*)

So yeah...lose weight and go to Europe two big goals (oh and learn to count I guess)

TRON: Legacy

I was exchanging texts with a friend who went to see Tron: Legacy the other day to see her thoughts. What I was looking for was a thumbs up or a thumbs down.  Turns out the move was good...but what really got my interest going was the fact that she went to see it in one of those theatres with the D-Box seating.

Not familiar with D-Box? Well, neither was I until a few months ago. Basically, think of it like this. Did you ever go to Disneyland and get on one of those rides where the seat moves in sync with the screen....yeah...it's like that!

So now I'm totally excited for a movie that's a follow up to a childhood favorite...and I get to overpay ($20)  to view it in 3D and have it be almost like a "ride".

Kinda Excited....

That sucking sound...

That sucking sound you hear is the existence of all music leaving my life! Well, not really. But, for some reason I have only been listening to one cd on repeat for the last two to three weeks. What album has my attention you may ask? (and thank you for asking)

 Rilo Kiley's "More Adventurous" is that album....and for some reason it's been the perpetual soundtrack for my life over the last few weeks.

I wake up in the middle of the night thinking I hear these songs. I probably dream with these songs as background noise. Now, I don't fall asleep with the album on which is the strange part.  But, for some reason. I can't get over the vocals of Jenny Lewis.

The album starts off with the upbeat "it's a hit" and runs right into the mellow "does he love you?" For some reason I can't listen to this song without laughing at the line "...and he's going out to California" Mostly because of the delivery of the work California by the brother in The Wizard (which also featured a young Jenny Lewis)

From there we rock it back up to "portions for foxs" and then it's Blake Sennett's haunting vocals on "Ripcord". Which is leads into the sultry voice of Jenny again on "I never".

Now we start hitting my favorite tracks on the album. "The Absence of God" and "Accidental Death" 

Toward the third or fourth refrain of the song you get the line,"All of your failures are training grounds". Which is a good line to remember. As you move forward in life your failures will help shape you as much as your victories..if not more.

"Accidental Death" deals with the little events that change you in large ways. One of the "accidental deaths"  mentioned in the song title deals with a young man killing a deer by accident. While this situation it was an actual accidental death...the song really deals more (IMHO) with the incidents throughout your life that define who you are and who you will become. Be they straight-forward though out plans...or the accidental ones.

By this point you should be seeing a pattern emerge. I know I did...

"More Adventurous" is by far the stand out track on the album for me though. While it is, upfront a love song...I hear more. To me it's more of an anthem to pick yourself up and move forward. Take what you had and let it lead you to what you will have next. Take what you've learned and grow.

The album rounds out with "Love and War (11/11/46)" which has my favorite line in the whole album, "when my gramdpa drank, fell and broke his face in two when the cops arrived he exclaimed I fought in World War Two!"  Not sure what the deal is with that line for me...but I always hit that line when singing along in the car. (what can I say...still a dork at heart).

"A Man/Me/Then Jim" a truly depressing song, at first glance, about going back to a high school friends funeral after he has committed suicide. The song opens with the line, "had one friend in high school recently he hung himself with string His note said, 'If livin' is the problem, well that's just baffling.' " Really, it doesn't get much happier from that point. You think it may become a song about revelations and seeing the good in a bad situation...but, not really. But, again Jenny's voice gets me every time.

The final track, "It Just Is" really kinda raps the mood of the second half of the album. "And this loss isn't good enough, For sorrow or inspiration, It's such a loss, For the good guys. Afraid of this life. That it just is

Cause everybody Dies." Take it at face value or take the whole album as an up and down trip through...well sorrow and inspiration.

All together you get an album that makes you sing along, think, mist up, get a little depressed, get lifted up a bit. Find hope and sorrow. Examine you life and past loves. All done without being to pretentious and in your face. No one is screaming at you...in fact even while helping us discover the obvious flaws we all face in our day to day lives...it's done with a sweetness through Jenny Lewis. (who right now is pound for pound one of the best singer/songwriters out there for my money...with Neko Case a close second or even tie for first!)

Even looking at each song I can't say why my musical fancy has been stuck on this album...but it is slowly rising up the ranks for my top album of MY year (even though it was released in 2004). I must again point a thanking finger at my musical guru Ryan. Brother man you have pointed me in the right direction more often than not...and Rilo Kiley is right near the tops of the "Thank God he told me" list.

The Song of life...

The music that you're drawn to can say a lot about who you are or what mood you're in at any given time.


Fact is, if you’re depressed you may chose to listen to a more somber tune. Hence the continued popularity of The Smiths! (not hating..just usually a go to for me when it been a bad day!)

When you're having a good day you may tend to listen to more up-beat tunes. Why bring down a good day with a depressing ditty about love lost and chances missed. That’s usually why I steer clear of country as a rule of thumb. With only a few exceptions.)

This topic hit me last night at the gym when I decided to hit shuffle instead of using the same old workout mix. A series of completely non-workout type songs came on and seemed to click for me.

It got me thinking, "if your mood can push you in a certain direction when choosing music...does it also change your outlook on the songs you hear that you didn't actively choose?

Or at least does it make you think differently about those songs?"

Case in point: Garth Brooks--Unanswered Prayers. Always been a favorite of mine. Catchy, tells a story and makes a pretty good point. Not really a workout song one that would usually get skipped at the gym...and given your personal mood sometimes downright un-listenable.

Last night while riding the stationary bike it got me thinking...not sure why really. Maybe I'm in a place right now that seems better than where I was last year. Maybe it was a moment of clarity when the song made sense. But in that moment I couldn't have chosen a better song.

It's like listening to a song that you've heard a 1000 times only to finally figure it out. Billy Joel's "Only the Good Die Young" springs o mind. I'd sung along with that one for years without seeing how truly dirty it was. You know Catholic girls growing up much to late and all!!

I guess sometimes you're just not in the right frame of mind to truly hear a song. Or maybe your mind isn't open enough to let the song speak to you.

To paraphrase the late comedian Richard Jeni...why is it that when your going through a rough breakup that every radio station on the dial is "All Love Songs All The Time"? Sappy crap that makes you want to stick your head in the oven!!!

It comes down to perception, plain and simple.

As a music lover it's amazing that a song you want nothing to do with one day, can speak to you a short time later. Kinda like how those around us draw us into the gravitational field of music likes and dislikes. If it wasn't for friends and loved ones I'd have missed out on the likes of: Gram Parsons, T.Rex, New Riders of thePurple Sage, Mumford and Sons, Tinie Tempah, Jenny Lewis, Rilo Kiley, Jack Johnson, Ryan (not Bryan) Adams....and a myriad of similar artists.

Granted I'd have found some on my own. But some would have remained unknown (Parsons) or disregarded (Johnson--even though he's in my iTunes library for a few songs and I've owned CDs in the past!). That's the joy of music. You may think you have a song or artist figured out until something changes in you or your life to open you up new possibilities and ways of thought.

Don't pigeon hole a song or artist because you hated it or didn't get it at some point. There's always the opportunity for a comeback...if you just give it a second chance.

To end I'll throw you a wise word from Jenny Lewis, off her album (with the Watson Twins) Rabbit Fur Coat..."you are what you love, not what loves you back." Sometimes those things that you love will rub off on those around you and change their perceptions of life. But only if they are open to a little change. So don't be ashamed of those things you love...be it music, art , literature. Share them! Be proud of that part of you that drew you to those things! Most importantly...be open to new things. You may surprise yourself!

Truth in music.

Growing up a child of the 80's/90's I seem to be more drawn to the music of my parents generation.  Partially because it's truly what I grew up listening to and partially because since I was little I tagged along with my father to his part time job as an oldies DJ (even going so far as to follow in his footsteps later in life).

"Oldies" (or what I consider as oldies '50-'79) are where the music truly lives.

Don't get me wrong I am a huge fan of contemporary/modern music. Which is a term that makes me laugh since David Bowie on the 1977 Christmas special with Bing Crosby stated that he sang "modern music". To quote Bing, "modern music is marvelous, some of it's really fine." I like a wide variety of current music...From Tori Amos to Duffy, from The White Stripes to Rilo Kiley, from Lady Gaga to....well Gaga gets her own category!

But, the wealth of music from my parents era is where my heart lies. The Kinks, The Beatles, The Animals, The Doors, Herman's Hermits, The Grass Roots, Bob Dylan, Iron Butterfly, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Harry Nilsson, Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, The Alman Brothers, Crosby Stills Nash (& Young)...etc.

I always laughed at my dad when he would ask me growing up if I could see myself listening to Ice-T when I was his age. For a long time I said the answer was yes...and still do think so to a point. But, lets face it "Cop Killer" isn't going to have the same lasting impression on music fans as "I Want to Hold Your Hand".

I don't see myself grooving to "Firestarter" by Prodigy the way I may still rock out to "People are Strange" by the Doors.

Is it too much to think that Lennon/McCartney will have a richer impact on music than Chris Brown or Miley "I still can't believe your Billy Ray's Daughter" Cyrus? I don't think there are many people who can argue the Brown/Cyrus point of the argument. 

The other issue with today's music not having the same impact on future generations is that is borrows so damn much from the past. Now, it's not a new thing to take from those who came before you...but lets face it...there are people (I have talked to them) who think "Helter Skelter" is a Motley Crue original. If you're nodding yes to that last statement...back away from the blog and pick up the "white album" by The Beatles.

You can't listen to a rap station without hearing a sample of Michael Jackon, Smokey Robinson or others. Hell, Wu-Tang sampled the Beatles "While my Guitar Gently Weeps" and Jay-Z hooked "Five to One" by the Doors.

Nothing other to really at to this topic right now...just had some time on my hands and a thought in my head. Time to listen to some Beatles...Hmmm---Something or All you need is Love?

WWMD?

WWMD? WWMD? What would MacGyver Do?

What's the way to find the answer to some of life's toughest questions! All you need to do is be ready with a Swiss Army knife, duct tape and maybe a pack of matches.

Violence was always a last resort and never involved a gun. Granted that man made a lot of crap blow up over the years.

I always wondered what it would be like to look at a room and say, "well, if I can get that block of ice to melt into the lock by heating it up with a light bulb and a section of molding then the ice will freeze in the lock and expand. Once that happens the lock will pop open and we'll be free!"

In reality I am more likely to just sit down and wait to die! Or possibly try to beat the door down with whatever happens to be lying around! Never been a fighter myself. Never really been put in a position to find out what would happen.

But, enough about me...back to MacGyver. For a guy who always preached doing the right thing I wonder how many times during the course of the series that Mac could have been arrested for breaking into a building or office or destroying property. I'd also like to know what the final death toll was on the show?

Granted most of the deaths were at the hands of others...I'm guessing it was fairly high.

Speaking of killers and MacGyver...name me one TV bad guy who was better at being bad than Murdoc! I dare you. Michael Des Barres was fantastic in the role of the impossible to kill hit man. FYI--glad to see he's still getting some high profile exposure. (he's white haired guy on the boat in the new Nikon commercial with Ashton Kutcher)  I was always shocked that when they did the final two TV movies they didn't bring him back for some kind of closure for the character.

Now, as I'm almost done re-watching one of the few shows I liked as a child/young adult that has remained a favorite (or as I like to say hasn't suffered from Thundercats Syndrome) I now have to look for something else to take up my lunch hour at work. I think I should find an older show...or maybe a cartoon....but I'm not sure which is worthy of my lunch hour viewing.

Some of the finalists though are: the cartoon Beetleguise, Lupin III (yes I like Anime...get over it), Dr. Who (new not old) maybe the A-Team.....suggestions?

I'm not a Hoarder...I just save a lot.

So this last month Hoarding has popped up everywhere! CSI, South Park, Internet stories...Which, if you are obsessed with the train wreck that hoarding can be for other people, is a good thing.

I am transfixed with watching this disease overtake people. I understand that it is a problem that in most cases is out of the persons control. But, it still boggles my mind.Thankfully, I am only exposed to it in the extent that I watch shows like: Hoarders, Hoarding: Buried Alive, and ANY other show dealing with the subject.  I don't know what it is that draws me in..but the pull is there.

I liken it to the guy who slows down and rubbernecks the accident on the freeway and is enthralled with the destruction, but at the same time is also thankful that it didn't affect him or anyone he knows.

Personally, it acts as a catalyst to get stuff cleaned around the house. I can't remember the last time that I watched the show and didn't then run to the fridge to check expiration dates or do some laundry. Or, as of late, box up cd/dvd/books to sell.

There was a time where my DVD collection was a source of pride. I would have conversations that went:

Other Guy: "Oh, I have the most movies of anyone I know!"
ME: "Give me some numbers! I have 700 movies and over 130 seasons of tv shows!"
Other Guy: "Bet you don't know everything you have!"
ME: "Try Me....I may not be able to name every movie from memory. But, if you ask if I have something I can give you a yes or no!"

Since the obsession has really hit an upswing I have greatly reduced the amount of DVD's that sit on my shelves. For the most part a movie has to be a personal favorite: my Kevin Smith collection, or something that I paid way too much for: any Criterion DVD in my collection. Others are slowly moving out in favor of picking up credit at either Zia Records or Bookmans.

Granted I am slowly replacing the DVD's with Vinyl LP's. When you look a the space issue it's a lot less. Plus, those actually get used and are an investment. If you think I am rationalizing a new "hoard" I say it's a collection of treasures...not a hoard!!

So, for me this show is a catharsis of sorts. Until I started watching I never noticed that I had a ton of crap just sitting around my room taking us space and acting as a constant reminder of how much money I have spent wasted over the years.

While it sucks to think that something you spent so much money on is being sold at less than a fraction of the price. I have to feel like it is a little liberating for me to detach from those things. Now I know a day will come when I think "man I really want to watch that crap fest that was The Dukes of Hazzard staring Johnny Knoxville" only to find that it was "sold" ages ago. It's a good thing. I mean I've watched a few Bluray's over the last 6-8months but the last DVD I remember watching was "The Salton Sea" with Val Kilmer.  I actually made a special run to Zia's to grab that gem...and that was back in July!

Which brings me back to the point. Hoarders...the train wreck that I can't stop watching.

Reality TV to me is just so much low cost crap (read hear Survivor, American Idol and for you old school few...Temptation Island). Every now and then you do get a compelling reality show like Hoarders, Hoarding: Buried Alive or Intervention that can entertain while opening dialogue on a tough subject.

While I mock and laugh while watching...I also realize that it is a serious problem. I mean how could it not be if you have an emotional attachment to your pets shed hair, 3 year old pumpkins or a front room full of old newspaper clippings?

Even writing this make me want to clean something!! Guess I'll do the dishes when I get home. (plus I think we are running out of usable forks!)

"Life moves pretty fast...."

If you can finish that quote correctly ("...If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.") Then you are either just plain awesome, or you grew up in the 80's and are familiar with the works John Hughes, more specifically "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".

I had a conversation with a friend the other day about the great things about growing up as a child of the 80's. I tend to think that the decade gets a bad rap!

Yes there were some horrible trends that are hated by many: Shoulder pads, Members Only Jackets, Mini Skirts, and some that were loved by many....slap bracelets, mini skirts...and....uh....ok, I give.

Movies ran the gambit of...

GOOD: Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Dirty Dancing (if forced to watch at gun point. I.E. someone puts me in the corner.) Back 2 the Future, Goonies, Princess Bride  

     *****UPDATE for the GOOD*****

Big Man on Campus

BAD: Troll, Troll 2 (granted it was 1990 but that close to 80's and being known as one of the worst movies of all time has to count for something) Most of the "Corey" movies (bad but fun), He-Man, Garbage Pail Kids.

Some things tended to walk a fine line between both good and bad: He-Man was an awesome cartoon and a horrible movie, Garbage Pail Kids were great novelty cards and a HORRIBLE movie, Thundercats was an awesome cartoon and on second viewing was a HORRIBLE cartoon.

Music was equal part Epic and Awful: Epic-Def Leppard, Epic-Bon Jovi, Epic-Michael Jackson; Awful-Dexy's Midnight Runners, Awful-Chris DeBurgh Awful-Culture Club

TV I don't even have the strength to go over....All I have to say is The Golden Girls (for the record how you judge that show is how I judge your worth as a person! Not really..*shakes head yes*...not really...*shakes head yes*)

What has this proven? Nothing really. Just got a bug to blog and this was something that I was thinking about. Remember,  "No purpose or vision" should be the new motto of this blog.

Guess who's back? Back again? (the answers not Shady)

Commitment, follow-through, a keen sense of purpose. These are things that are great to have when it comes to blogging.

Commitment, follow-through, a keen sense of purpose. These are things that my blog has a sever lack of!! Not that those short comings has stopped me in the past!

So, it is with a raised spirit and renewed hope that I am going to give this thing the old college try. By college try I obviously mean years 2-5!! Not that evil party first attend class 8th year that damn near killed me! So we will see where this takes me.

I have few plans for this...and fewer promises that anything will even happen. But, it should help me kill a few minutes at the end of my work day. When I'm not reading. (shut up I read books)

Food for thought (and maybe future posts) -- "Should you keep reading a book that at the same time makes you laugh, cry (from laughing so hard) and feel really dirty and ashamed to be able to read...all at the same time?" If the answer is yes...let me pimp the newest Tucker Max book "Assholes Finish First".

So....just dropping in via text to make sure everything still works! Not much to share. It was a lot easier to keep the blog updated when I was working in radio and was just playing music and amusing myself all day!

Oh well!

Creativity...and the lack there of...

Sony announced the other day that they are haulting plans for Spiderman 4 . Instead they are planning for the dreaded "R" word for the series.  REBOOT.

A reboot of the Spiderman series will allow them to start over, start clean, and more importantly -- Re-cast and save money. Guess Toby, Kirstin and Sam Rami will be cast aside for a cheaper option. Somthing that will no doubt get the publicity machine going with new toys, tie-ins, and games.

Not that reboots are bad. Actually, I really liked the Superman reboot (one of the few that did) that just picked up where Superman 2 left off. Dark Knight really got most things right with a darker Batman. So from time to time you can get away with the reboot.

Why is it that Hollywood feels the need to reboot with any major recasting? Look at the James Bond Franchise..James Bond is: Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig ... While each new actor in the series is sort of a reboot it keeps the general feel and storyline of past movies (with the exceptino of Casino Royale being more of a Reboot in the sense of the word). I think that at 22- films that idea has held up well?! Until Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace none of the other bond films were direct sequals of each other.

Which leads me to wonder why the need to rehash old movies and TV series to fill our screens. Maybe it's because we keep filling the theatres. Just look at the list of new movies in the works: The A-Team , Magnum PI, MacGyver (which I sadly can't wait for!!), plus a new Battlestar Gallactica (based on the old series, not the new one), Plus the newer TV show to movie transitions...Sex in the City, The Simpsons, Arrested Development, the rumord Sopranos movie, 24 the moive, CHiP's, a possible move version of The Shield and the list goes on and on.

Let's not forget past stinkers too: The Mod Squad, Starsky and Hutch, Dukes of Hazzard, Miami Vice,...and those are just some of my favorites.

I will say that there is one new movie coming out that I am over the top about seeing. It's a movie that is a follow up to a 1982 Disney movie that I enjoyed as a kid. That movie is: Tron: Legacy .

The original was just that: ORIGINAL. Now, almost 30 years later we get a next chapter in the story. Both a sequel and a homage the original. Most of the original cast is back..which is a good thing. Older, wiser, and better actors too.

Now, I've railed on this before, "there are no original ideas in Hollywood". It's a land of sequels and remakes! But, every once and a while, a new movies comes along and gets things going. For me Avatar was that movie. Not so much for the story, but rather the style and images.  James Cameron is constantly breaking new ground and he's done it again with this film.

According to Den of Geek: "Avatar picked up $48.5 million, bringing its total to just under $430 million in the US and $1.331 BILLION dollars internationally. For those keeping score at home, and you should, because this is getting to be historic. Avatar is the second-highest grossing movie of all time. The top film is James Cameron's Titanic."

In two movies, Titanic and Avatar, James Cameron has a world wide gross of over $3 Billion Dollars.

If you get the change hit up your local IMAX 3D theatre, pay the nearly $15 ticket price and see what a 3D movie should look like. I can truely see the tech that Cameron developed helping to push movie making forward.

Most of what Hollywood is doing right now isn't really original, but it is entertaining. Isn't that really the reason we go to the movies? Escape, fun, an outing with friends or family?

Oh well....atleast 24 is back on TV this weekend! 4 hours over Sunday and Monday..Happy Birthday to me!

As you may have noticed I am now shilling for Amazon. Why not try to make this little cirner of the net make me money. It's a win win situation as I see it.

So should you find yourself in need of a cd/DVD/book/mp3 download how about hooking a brother up and heading to Amazon through this blog.

It won't make me rich...but maybe I can get a few new tunes or flix in the next few months!!

Trying a new feature of the blog.

If all goes well I should be able to blog live from my phone via text.

Should make updates a little more frequent. The above picture is of my
sisters new dog Osiris(Sy for short)

New Year, New me?

Seems that every year we all start off with the grand vision of what's to come. Usually, we see a year of prosperity, hope or change. Most of us make "new years resolutions" that we never plan to keep. I have always subscribed to the thought that "no resolution" is always an easy one to keep.

By setting no goals you have nothing to fail at....you also have nothing to strive for! So, this year I have decided to actually push forward and make the mother of all dreaded New Years Resolutions..

**Lose Weight**

This year seems like an apt time to follow through on that goal. Last year I finally saw what the dangers of an unexpected health problem can lead to. As I said few months back, I had the joy of a detached retina. Granted I should have seen this coming since my right eye was Funked up for the better part of the year before I got it checked out. Along with the retina problem I was also diagnosed as Diabetic(during National Diabetes month of all times).

So getting the old weight issues in check seems to be a good place to start. Lower body weight should help bring the diabetes in check...and stave off future eye related issues.

The real eye opener (sorry!) was the hit this would have laid on my wallet if I had been without Medical Insurance. As of now the cost to me is just over $1,000 had I been paying out of pocket for the whole show then it would have come to nearly $14,000. So, yeah!

Since I made the decision to drop the pounds prior to Christmas I have seen my Blood Glucose numbers drop from being near 300 on a regular basis to down around 130. Which isn't as good as is could be..but is a hell of a lot better than it was. I've also dropped about 8lbs just by cutting back on the carbs/cal. and walking between 1-1.5 miles three times +/- per week. At some point I do plan on trying to ride the bicycle I have...but my ass fell of last time I attempted that one!

So the goals are simple...drop a total of 43lbs, the first 8 of which I mentioned are already gone,(which would bring me to 250) keep the Blood glucose in check...and generally be healthier. Which shouldn't be all that hard given the changes I've made to this point (I do miss my friend Doritos though!)

I can't promise to actually make my goal. But, at least this year I have something to reach for rather than just coast through the year.

Well, could be worse!!

Well...I guess the news today could have been worse!! Seems I have a detached retina in my right eye. I know that sounds pretty harsh...but I was thinking some pretty dark thoughts on what the problem was prior to going in!! Needless to say I was relieved that it was "only" a detached retina!...(web md is the devil)

Down side is that I will be down for about a week and I have no idea how long I will need to be eye-patched up! But the process should help improve/save the vision in my eye...so I got that going for me!! In the long run I really hope it will help improve my golf game!!

I will make sure to add some photos to my Flickr page Of the post op goodness!

The big Movie project...

So, I can say with 100% accuracy that I am never going to finish this bastard of an idea!! I don't have the patience, or time, to actually sit down and watch all my movies. I don't know anyone who would have the time.

Even if I was jobless and this was all I had to do...I would find other things to do! So I am going to try to keep the spirit of the project alive, if not the actually format. I am still going to plow through a great deal of my movies..and maybe from time to time just review movies I've seen in the past!

With that said lets throw out a fun film I just watched last night....

Terminal Invasion -- (2002) Bruce Campbell
For what, I can only assume, is a made for Sci Fi (excuse me SyFy) movie...it was good. Not Godfather good, not Gone with the Wind good...more good in the sense that Roadhouse (R.I.P Swayze!) was a good movie! Bruce plays a convicted murder who is being delivered to prison when his transport runs off the road and he, and his police escort, seek shelter at a small airport during the middle of a blizzard. Seems that aliens are using the airport as a test run on future Earth takeover plans!! For the most part it is played straight by all involved. To his credit I think that Bruce plays the reluctant hero as good as anyone. Especially when he doesn't have to fill screen time by playing the fool at the same time. I love Army of Darkness, Evil Dead, and many others ...but I would like to see Bruce in a more straight laced approach (outside of Burn Notice). All things being what they are...Bruce can do no wrong in my book...if I ever have to sell my movies to get by in life I will have a few seasons of tv shows, a select few comedy flix and my entire Bruce Campbell collection.

Alien Apocalypse - (2005) Bruce Campbell, Renee O'Connor (of Xena fame!)
Just watched a trailer for District 9...shocked to see it looks like they stole the aliens from this Bruce Campbell flick! Premise is this...Planet of the Apes..but Earth (rear earth..not wonky time earth) sub in some giant Preying Mantis' and remove the Apes. Bruce is an astronaut who retuns to Earth to find that the planet has been enslaved by giant bugs that are using the population of the world as slaves to harvest wood....saying that...maybe they were termites? Wasn't paying that close attention! But, still...here we have Bruce in all his campy glory. There's a quest a la Lord of the Rings, a revolt a la one of the Planet of the Apes movies and epic battle a la Bravehart...well may be not. But, still a fun movie --> as I said Bruce can do no wrong!!

Movies...movies...movies

12) Across the Universe (2007) -- Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Eddie Izzard
Beatles music redux...take all your favor tie Beatles tunes, mix in some fun acting ADD Eddie Izzard and you have a few hours of bliss..plus Evan Rachel Wood topless! The musical has made a comeback in the last few years...and this was a high point in my book. Eddie Izzard doing, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite was great! (DVD extras are a gas!!)

13) Adventures in Babysitting (1987) Elizabeth Shue also a little Bradley Whitford and Vincent D'Onofrio (as Thor)
Far and away one of my favorite movies as a kid. Probably one of my first crushes was Elizabeth Shue!! This was the movie that had me rooting for a cool baby sitter whenever my parents would got out. As an 8 year old I didn't really know that crazy stuff like this wasn't an option when you grow up in small town Illinois..and no one was taking us on an impromptu trip to Chicago. Still a great watch...and until I just checked IMDB I didn't know that Thor was Vincent D'Onofrio...fun stuff!

14) Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) Eric Idle, John Neville, Uma Thurman, Directed by Terry Gilliam
Six words to consider when thinking of this movie: UMA THURMAN ON A HALF SHELL.... Terry Gilliam, in true form, gives us a story of uncommon story telling. To truly describe this movie would take more time and space then I am willing to use right now. So believe in the Genius of Terry Gilliam...revel in the performance of former Python Eric Idle...and gander on a young Uma Thurman in all her...um..Beauty!

Up next (whenever that is): After the Sunset, Da Ali-G Movie, Alien Apocolypse (the first of many Bruce Campbell flix!!!)

More Movies...

So I decided to try to get back into the swing of my idea of watching all my movies in order and blogging about them...then I realized one big problem in my plan.

The football season is going to start soon. (just watched the first Bears game of the year!) So I don't know how motivated I will be to get working on this..but here are the last three movies I watched..with review in super brief form:

9) 8 Mile-- Eminem plays Eminem and the movie doesn't suck! Who would have thought that a white rapper from Detroit who had to struggle to make a name for himself could stretch his acting skills to play....wait for it...a white rapper from Detroit who had to struggle to make a name for himself! I never watch this movie ... ever ... except in the theatre, when I bought the DVD, and just yesterday...but I can't bring myself to sell it!

10) About a boy -- Hugh Grant. Nick Hornsby's book about a guy who never really grew up until he met a boy who had to grow up to fast suffers from being a British film that was modernized to suite a Global (read here American) audience. Major changes include moving forward from the late 1990's and somehow finding rap music interchangeable with Oasis. Other than that a great film with a heartwarming message...Hugh Grant isn't always a Dick!

11) Accepted -- Justin Long. Kid screws up academically, kid makes up fake school to get his parents off his ass (who hasn't been there really) and in the process somehow gets 100's of kids to pay like 10k to "attend" the university. All in all a funny piece of film..best parts, hands down, go to the king of sarcasm himself Lewis Black....as the head of the university. Come to think of it I want to go back to school there! ISU be damned...

Up next: Across the Universe, Adventures in Babysitting, Adventures of Barron Munchausen

*a few new movies have been purchased since this idea first hit me (damn you Zia Records $5.99 mystery DVD grab bag!) so a supplement will be added from time to time with those movies.

Movie project on hold...

So the movie project is on hold for about a week while I pack and relocate when not at work! But, I did think that I needed to fill a post here with my observations on air travel.

This short collections came to mind after a quick flight back home to Illinois for one of my best friends weddings this last weekend.

No matter where I fly to or from there is a collection of comedy observations that end up making me look like a fool when I fly. These are just a few of those moments:

The BBC show Coupling has an all time favorite of mine...when they are going through the preflight security breifing they use "the two most optimistic words in the English language"-- Breathe Normally, to let you know what to do should the cabin lose pressure!

Dennis Miller (I believe) once stated that he didn't like to us the little A/C vents above the seats because "I feel like I'm diverting power from the main engines"

Personally...I don't feel you should be allowed on a plane if the idea of a Seat Belt has to be explained to you!!

Eddie Izzard makes me chuckle on his whole Bird Strike/Engine suck bird in make soup debate.

Someone once asked me which part of flying makes me more nervious...Take-offs or Landings. My response is which phrase do you hear associated more often with Plane crashes. "The Plane, upon landing..." or "Shortly after take off!" ??

Also, when advised to "move calmly to the neares exit" I can't help but think that Hollywood has it right...I will be over the seat and stepping on people at a moments notice!!

Finally an observation from my recent flight from Peoria, IL to Mesa, AZ -- A guy a few seats back stated, when told that his seat bottom could act as a flotation device..."If we hit a big enough body of water between here and Mesa where I have to worry about floating...odds are I'm going to survive this thing!" Not sure why that made me laugh...but it did.

So, basically from the moment I walk onto the plane until the time I am on the ground I am a laughing fool...and it's EVERY flight. Also, if given the chance fly a local airline out of a small airport...it's better than the big airport feel. Which leads me to another observation...if you are flying out of an airport so small that there is only two doors Arrivals and Departure to the place and only one baggage claim carousel..CHECK YOUR BIG ASS BAG rather than trying to force it into the overhead space. Plus if you fly a smaller carrier like I did, (Allegiant air) you get the chance to do fun things like play a mid air raffle for cash!! Lost the flight out (take home of $400) won the flight home (take home of $45).

Nuff said...back to work now!

BMP #3

6) 40 -Year Old Virgin (2005) -- Steve Carell, Seth Rogan

The movie that kick started the Seth Rogan/Jude Aptow thing. Had to believe that this was the first time Ihave seen it from start to finish. Usually I just jumped in on the whole box of porn speech or the waxing bit. But, I have to say that I do enjoy me a bit of Steve Carell!! Really, this is a prime example of a movie that's a hit based on more than just the main star. Ensemble comedy is a hit or miss type of deal. If you don't get the right actor/actress in the right part it all come crashing down. 40 year old Virgin is an example of all things going right! If you like stupid, crude, juvenile humor (and who doesn't?) give this one a look.


7) 5th Element (1997) -- Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Milla Jovovich

One of my favorite Sci-Fi action movies of all time. Really it's a shame that I don't watch it more. Bruce Willis and Gary Oldman are in fine form. Granted this movie is no Academy Award winner. It is a fine action movie. (since we are early in the list of movies I need to say that Bruce Willis can do no wrong--hint: I love Hudson Hawk). Great supporting cast in Chris Tucker, Ian Holm, "Tiny" Lister and Luke Perry. I think this was the first movie I saw that made me want to run home and own the movie. Grant back in 1997 that wasn't the option that it is today!


8) 54 (1998) -- Mike Meyers, Neve Campbell, Ryan Phillipe

The story of Steve Rubell and (in)famous studio 54. Sex, Drugs and Disco!!! Basically all you need to know here is that Mike Meyers is NOT funny...and that's a good thing. Meyers got good reviews but if I remember no-one was blown away. Let me restate that.. Iwas blown away. Seriously one of my all time favorite Mike Meyers movies. It's kinda shocking that he hasn't really done another serious movie. I can remember when I got this movie...it was the start of my movie collection. One of the 8 free DVD's from Columbia house for the low low price of shipping. Decided that it was a good deal...overpaid for a few more movies..and years later here is where I find myself!


Up Next: 8 Mile, About A Boy, Accepted

The Big Movie Project, 2

3) 13th Warrior (1999) -- Antonio Banderas

Quick time -- Arab guy falls in with a band of Vikings, Battles evil monster, saves day. Longer version -- basically Beowulf with a twist. Same epic hero story line that runs though Beowulf with a twist. This time you get a hero's journey that doesn't start with him being a hero. You get the epic hero story told from zero-to-hero. Best moment: Banderas' character starts to speak to the vikings in thier own language after only a night...how did he do that? "I listened!"


4) 16 Blocks (2006) -- Mos Def, Bruce Willis
Not really sure why this movie has sat on my shelf still in the package for so long? If there are a few things in a movie that I like it's action...and Bruce Willis! Throw in Mos Def and you have yourself a fine movie. Directed by Richard Donner (who knows a few things about action) this moive is a bundle of fun. Actually it reminded me a lot of the Clint Eastwood movie "The Gauntlet" minus the bus...then -- A BUS!!! Alternate ending on DVD gives the movie a nice twist. I know why they didn't go with the alt ending...but really nothing changes. Overall a good solid action movie. 16 Blocks...one more reason why I really, really like Mos Def!

5) 21 Grams (2003) -- Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Benicio Del Toro
One of the most talked about movies of 2003 finally gets a viewing from me...and I must say one thing. Damn I was confused for the first half of the movie. I like the jumping around style of story telling as much as the next guy. Now, maybe it is because I watched this one late at night. Or maybe I just wasn't in the mood..but, I wasn't blown away! Hate to say it...nothing really kicked it off for me. It was kinda like Return to Me...but less Romantic Comedy and more Drama Tragedy! Love Naomi Watts, Love Benicio Del Torro...not really that excited about Sean Penn. It's a good movie...glad I saw it, but more glad it was gifted to me and not a purchase! Favorite line: "Did you know that eating alone can cause Kidney damage...and that's bad!"

Coming up next: 40 year old Virgin, 54, 5th Element

The Big Movie Project...

So after no activity on the blog for...well, almost a year! I have devised a project that may inject a bit of life back into this little corner of the internet.

I have recently finished a catalog of my movie collection (just over 700 movies and 260+ TV seasons). I have decided that what I am going to do is work my way through the movies from A-Z. After watching I am going to make a quick review of the movie.

Daunting task I admit...But, should be fun. Also, this will eliminate the need to spend 20 min. deciding what movie to watch! Now I have some DVD's that I have NEVER seen!! Those movies will be noted some special way.

With that being said---the fun has begun.

1) 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) -- Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles
For those with no patience for William Shakespeare this ones for you. Basically at modern take on "Taming of the Shrew". I wouldn't watch the movie in place of reading the play. But, it is a fun movie. Heath Ledgers first big US role could have led to him being in every big "teen" movie of the 90's. Seems Heath had a different view of his future film career and turned down many a teen script after this movie. Highlights--Heath's public display of affection over the PA system. Also, Allison Janney, David Krumholtz and a cast of other favorites!!

2) 12 Angry Men (1957) -- Henry Fonda, Jack Klugman
This is the movie that makes me sad that I have never been selected for Jury Duty. Basically, if you aren't familiar with the concept..this is a what goes on in a jury room film. After sitting through a murder trial, of a boy who killed his father, the jury returns to their SMALL jury room to debate the boys fate. You have clashes of age, culture, personality...and one of the greatest ensemble casts I have ever seen. Shot almost completely on one sigle room set piece that just increases the tension. Nominated for 3 Academy Awards for Best director, Picture, and writing!!It's a must see in my opinion

Coming up next: 13th warrior, 16 blocks, 21 Grams

I Just had a Double Bypass...

And my review is up at Things JK Eats!

Things Joe Eats....

To get ready for a Guest spot on Things JK Eats ....

Seeing as JK has me "moving internal furniture" to make way for a monster from The Heart Attack Grill

For this experiment in food related journalism I decided to move in the direct opposite burger related direction.!

While the burgers at The Heart Attack Grill may be able to crush your skull (based on pictures) the only hazard the burgers I tried throw at you is choking! These tiny burgers aren't the tiny burgers you think...no sliders here...the culprit this time.

The BK Burger Shot

As you can see there is no tiny easy to grip box...this bad boy comes in an industrial strength container that called for BK to design a larger take out bag...one with handles! These tiny burgers are manly in every aspect. Except for the fact that they are really, well, small!

First impression when you open in the box is, "well..there sure are six of them. Just as advertised!"

First impressions are important..never judge a book (or burger) by its cover. Also, if I may digress for a moment..never make fun of a movie based on what you think it will be like...because you may end up loving it later and eating a big bowl of crow....


REPO! The Genetic Opera...a prime example...it rocks!! Go Buy it...buy the Soundtrack (currently available on itunes) see it in theatres, see it with friends, see it! See It! SEE IT!

But I digress....

I also got the impression that the crew at the "BK Lounge" wasn't all that into my late night order. as the above photo kinda shows...the just split the bun and dropped on some meat. The top six was one bun and the bottom part was the same. Granted there are directions on how to dismantle your burgers... Which, if you are going to sit down and eat, in a non driving type situation, isn't a problem. But, if you plan on trying to pull apart the buns "of steel" as you drive down the highway one of two things will happen:

1) you will crash and die, possibly taking others with you!
2) you will end up with two of the six burgers in your lap and on your shirt! (guess which happened to me!)

I must say that I did start off having a bit of a man crush on the burger pack. Mostly because I didn't fear the usual after effects of eating a certain competing mini burger en-masse.

White Castle has nothing to worry about from the BK doppleganger. The only real inprovement is that the burger tasts like...well, a burger. Packaging edge to the BK ( you don't have to order 20+ to get a big box/bag) taste...depends on preference...big edge in my book is that the BK shot doesn't hit the system quite as harsh as the slider. But, that may just be me!

So...on to the ratings!!

Texture: 10/10 (ranked against normal size BK burgers)
It's small, it's really small! But, it is just a mini BK burger. So if that is your thing...this one's for you.

Taste 10/10 (same as above)
It's just a mini BK burger...nothing lost nothing gained!...Sadly the two pickles on the patty were larger than the meat on two of my burgers.

overall 8/10
If you are looking for a smaller version of a larger BK burger...than look no further than the BK Burger Shot..if you are looking for a simple "slider" style burger these are nice (minus the fact that you need to concentrate on seperating each burger from their neighbor!

Long time coming...

Coming soon to a Things JK Eats blog near you...a thought provoking indepth look at....

THE HEART ATTACK GRILL

All I can say at this point is I'm Scared...and I am also really happy that I don't qualify for a free meal!

I will post a link here after the war has been waged and the proof is up on my favorite other blog site!