Brooke White made the American Idol top five. She outlasted Carly Smithson, Michael Johns and Amanda Overmyer, contestants I considered stronger.
Jason Castro might be the next to leave.
Save for the winner, every contestant has to go through this rite. That's just the show's nature.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
ESPN: Johnson Fired as Mavericks Coach
ESPN.com reports that Avery Johnson is out as the Dallas Mavericks head coach.
This move isn't surprising. While Johnson is a good coach, he didn't win enough in the Playoffs. After holding a 2-0 lead over Miami in the 2006 NBA Finals, Dallas has gone 3-12 in postseason play. That can't happen, and Mark Cuban made a change.
To Johnson's credit, and once again, this is ESPN's information, to Johnson's credit, he had the highest regular-season winning percentage of any NBA coach with a minimum of 250 games. That's the highest in NBA history. Johnson will probably coach again in the League. Still, he has to win in the postseason. Like the Phoenix Suns' Mike D'Antoni who, as of right now is or isn't fired, Johnson must step it up. His teams need to play better down the stretch.
This outcome is rather unfortunate for Johnson, a devout Christian who is also devoted to a game he obviously loves. Perhaps he needs a better fit somewhere else. Maybe Dallas wasn't the best situation for him.
This move isn't surprising. While Johnson is a good coach, he didn't win enough in the Playoffs. After holding a 2-0 lead over Miami in the 2006 NBA Finals, Dallas has gone 3-12 in postseason play. That can't happen, and Mark Cuban made a change.
To Johnson's credit, and once again, this is ESPN's information, to Johnson's credit, he had the highest regular-season winning percentage of any NBA coach with a minimum of 250 games. That's the highest in NBA history. Johnson will probably coach again in the League. Still, he has to win in the postseason. Like the Phoenix Suns' Mike D'Antoni who, as of right now is or isn't fired, Johnson must step it up. His teams need to play better down the stretch.
This outcome is rather unfortunate for Johnson, a devout Christian who is also devoted to a game he obviously loves. Perhaps he needs a better fit somewhere else. Maybe Dallas wasn't the best situation for him.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Navy Shirts and Wal-Mart
I have made this mistake too many times. I wore khakis and a navy polo shirt to Wal-Mart. During my crusade to find and buy Madonna's Hard Candy, I inadvertently showed up looking like one of the retail chain's employees. Don't do this if you can remember to avoid it.
My blunder didn't hit me until I checked out. The person behind the counter had a blue shirt on, just like me. Blast it.
This is the kind of quirky hijinks I experience in my day-to-day living.
My blunder didn't hit me until I checked out. The person behind the counter had a blue shirt on, just like me. Blast it.
This is the kind of quirky hijinks I experience in my day-to-day living.
Drop Day for Madonna
Hard Candy hits U.S. stores today. I hope it's good. If not, I will likely listen to it anyway, or run to it at least.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Nike's Domed Logo
Nike's cult classic Terminator basketball sneaker featured a domed logo on the heel identical to the logo on the shirt to the right. As you can see, the logo's top is rounded, resembling a dome. Nike also used this logo on a similar shoe dubbed the "Big Nike." I assume that name derived from the logo, which was literally a big Nike.While rarer red and grey versions of the Terminator existed, common versions were navy and grey and worn by the top-ranked Georgetown Hoyas. On the other hand, Big Nikes were predominantly white with colored Swooshes, soles and linings. Big Nikes were big during the 1986-1987 basketball season, or school year, whichever way you choose to look at the matter. Nike also released their first line of Dunks in the fall of 1986, also just in time for basketball season.
_destroyed_hoyaversion_stjohnversion.jpg)
But Nike didn't just release Big Nikes and Dunks in 1986. There were the sweat suits, the shorts, sweatbands and T-shirts, all with the ubiquitous domed logo. Basketball shorts were still short in 1986, so it was possible to fit a longer pair of shorts underneath a slightly roomier, shorter pair, creating a layered look reminiscent of a half slip or a petticoat perhaps. Many athletes opted to layer with spandex bicycle shorts, and that was the new thing to do. I balled with spandex underneath my basketball shorts a lot. It was 1986, and that's what we did.
Anyway, the shorts designed for the Dunks were versatile because you could also wear them with Big Nikes. The domed logo on the shorts matched the logo on the heel of the shoe. You could coordinate shorts to shoes and vice versa. The shorts were similar to the layered Air Jordan shorts sold a year earlier. Essentially, they were two pairs of shorts sewn together at the waist. A longer heather grey piece dropped underneath a shorter piece, falling to about mid-thigh. And that was considered long.This decade, Nike has re-released, or "retroed" rather, many of their classic athletic shoe designs. The company has retroed old T-shirts too. Dunks galore have dropped in various states of interpretation. We've seen the original six colorways tweaked with suede in place of full grain leather. This year, Nike released a line of original-style Dunks carefully antiqued to look 20 to 30 years old.
The antiqued treatment generated a lot of derision because a lot of people still like bright white outsoles instead of yellowed, weathered ones. Personally, I like the antiquing. It's a twist. It's slightly different. It's not the same old thing we've known for 25 years. Besides, antiqued basketball sneakers work better with antiqued denim. Furthermore, while pristine perfect sneakers still have their place in society, the whole notion of a spotless, undamaged sneaker can get rather boring, like gag-me-with-a-spoon boring.
Antiquing has it's place. Nike's efforts to rehash and reinvent the old has proven to be largely successful. I approve. Looking to the past has led to fresh new Dunks, and now we have a lot of interesting hybrids to choose from, like Nike's AJFs and vintage Air Max uppers combined with an AM 360 Air Unit.
But as Nike has been brilliant with their latest Dunks, they have ignored the original clothing line with the domed logo. Big Nikes haven't shown up either. Nike did release vintage-style Terminators recently, but there's no shirts to coordinate with.
I want the whole 10 yards. I want it all. I want tees, jackets and a sweat band for my arm. Make them destroyed if you want. Give the logos some cracking. Put them on a faded 50/50 slim-fit T-shirt, and you'll have a smart product. I would love to wear just one tee with that nostalgic domed logo. Domed Nike logos rock.
And if I saw those shirts with an original Air Jordan logo, I would buy that too.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Ted Kennedy
I have complained about Sen. Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama. I believe Sen. Kennedy should have stayed neutral and quiet on the topic. But he did what he did.
I have an enormous amount of respect for Sen. Kennedy and the whole Kennedy family. While I complain about his decision to support Sen. Obama, while I believe his endorsement played a key role in fracturing the Democratic Party, I still like and admire Sen. Kennedy. I must make that clear before I go on complaining some more about his decision to endorse Sen. Obama.
As a person, Sen. Kennedy is wonderful. As a political endorser, Sen. Kennedy needs some work.
I have an enormous amount of respect for Sen. Kennedy and the whole Kennedy family. While I complain about his decision to support Sen. Obama, while I believe his endorsement played a key role in fracturing the Democratic Party, I still like and admire Sen. Kennedy. I must make that clear before I go on complaining some more about his decision to endorse Sen. Obama.
As a person, Sen. Kennedy is wonderful. As a political endorser, Sen. Kennedy needs some work.
Angling for 50 Posts in April
I thought 50 posts on a blog was a big deal when I reached it for the first time. Since I've been publishing daily, I now realize 40 items can pile up quick. Since this is Post No. 46 for April, I think I'll aim for 50, in a month.
That's not a bad amount of writing to do on the side.
That's not a bad amount of writing to do on the side.
Raiders Take McFadden at No. 4
The Oakland Raiders just selected Darren McFadden, making the Arkansas running back the 4th pick overall in the NFL Draft.
It's exciting to know McFadden will don the black and silver. I had no idea where he would land, but in hindsight this pick isn't surprising. Al Davis likes skill position players of Heisman stature. Marcus Allen and Tim Brown both played at Oakland. Both won the Heisman.
McFadden should have won the Heisman, but got snubbed along with the whole state of Arkansas. Thanks for nothing, Downtown Athletic Club. So, the Raiders picked a Heisman-caliber runner to shore up their backfield. That's a fairly good haul for Oakland.
Perhaps Davis didn't want to look back on this draft three or four years later wondering what would have happened if he had picked McFadden. Miami, St. Louis and Atlanta, the teams with this year's first three picks, might ask that question in time. Sure, Miami has Ricky Williams, and the team probably can't shop him because no one wants him. And Bill Parcells certainly knows what he is doing. Who am I to second guess? No, really. Who am I to second guess? But I might would have taken McFadden anyway. Williams has been a problem player for most of his NFL career. Who knows what kind of production the Dolphins will get out of him in seasons to come. He could be brilliant. He could be a train wreck. There's no guarantees with that poor guy.
It's exciting to know McFadden will don the black and silver. I had no idea where he would land, but in hindsight this pick isn't surprising. Al Davis likes skill position players of Heisman stature. Marcus Allen and Tim Brown both played at Oakland. Both won the Heisman.
McFadden should have won the Heisman, but got snubbed along with the whole state of Arkansas. Thanks for nothing, Downtown Athletic Club. So, the Raiders picked a Heisman-caliber runner to shore up their backfield. That's a fairly good haul for Oakland.
Perhaps Davis didn't want to look back on this draft three or four years later wondering what would have happened if he had picked McFadden. Miami, St. Louis and Atlanta, the teams with this year's first three picks, might ask that question in time. Sure, Miami has Ricky Williams, and the team probably can't shop him because no one wants him. And Bill Parcells certainly knows what he is doing. Who am I to second guess? No, really. Who am I to second guess? But I might would have taken McFadden anyway. Williams has been a problem player for most of his NFL career. Who knows what kind of production the Dolphins will get out of him in seasons to come. He could be brilliant. He could be a train wreck. There's no guarantees with that poor guy.
On Text Messaging
I don't do text messaging. I just don't get it. Punching the keys is cumbersome, time consuming and tedious. Plus it costs money for very little return. Don't e-mails accomplish the same thing? Those are free. Besides, if you have the urge to contact someone, why not call them point blank? After all, you are holding a phone in your hand.
Cyrus Reaches Top 10
Oh, finally. Miley Cyrus' See You Again reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, Madonna's Four Minutes languishes at No. 6, up one spot from No. 7.
See You Again is a fun song. It should have been near the top last week, like top five. Whatever. I guess I'm a few weeks ahead of the world, this time at least. Sometimes I'm way behind.
See You Again is a fun song. It should have been near the top last week, like top five. Whatever. I guess I'm a few weeks ahead of the world, this time at least. Sometimes I'm way behind.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Clinton Fundraiser Blinks, Switches to Obama
Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon, who served as an ambassador to Chile during the Clinton administration, raised close to $500,000 for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Citing his belief that his candidate of choice can't win enough delegates or the popular vote, Guerra-Mondragon announced a switch to Barack Obama's campaign.
"I want this fight to be over," Guerra-Mondragon said, "the quicker the better."
Wow. I had no idea there were so many quitters working for our government in the 1990s. First we had Gov. Bill Richardson, and now this guy. Basically, Guerra-Mondragon is a quitter. He pretty much revealed the kind of stripes he has and his [flimsy] character. He wants the fight to end quickly.
His decision is like Michael Jordan quitting a playoff series only to tell reporters afterwards that he just wanted the season to end. How ridiculous would that be? It's like Tiger Woods walking off of the golf course on a Sunday and saying he wanted the tournament to end.
Way to grind it out, dude. And you are definitely a grinder. Your nerves must be made of steel.
And this switching thing says more about Barack Obama and the kind of ilk he attracts rather than Hillary Clinton. Obama appeals to quitters, plain and simple. He attracts the downtrodden, the ones with the "can't-do" attitude, the ones who need that all-important emotional crutch called "hope." He attracts quitters and the disloyal. He attracts the young and the inexperienced, the racists and the misogynists.
Oh yeah, and he attracts Ted Kennedy too. You know, the Kennedy clan is all over the map on this. They can't even agree amongst themselves on who should win the Democratic nomination.
I've never seen anything like this campaign.
"I want this fight to be over," Guerra-Mondragon said, "the quicker the better."
Wow. I had no idea there were so many quitters working for our government in the 1990s. First we had Gov. Bill Richardson, and now this guy. Basically, Guerra-Mondragon is a quitter. He pretty much revealed the kind of stripes he has and his [flimsy] character. He wants the fight to end quickly.
His decision is like Michael Jordan quitting a playoff series only to tell reporters afterwards that he just wanted the season to end. How ridiculous would that be? It's like Tiger Woods walking off of the golf course on a Sunday and saying he wanted the tournament to end.
Way to grind it out, dude. And you are definitely a grinder. Your nerves must be made of steel.
And this switching thing says more about Barack Obama and the kind of ilk he attracts rather than Hillary Clinton. Obama appeals to quitters, plain and simple. He attracts the downtrodden, the ones with the "can't-do" attitude, the ones who need that all-important emotional crutch called "hope." He attracts quitters and the disloyal. He attracts the young and the inexperienced, the racists and the misogynists.
Oh yeah, and he attracts Ted Kennedy too. You know, the Kennedy clan is all over the map on this. They can't even agree amongst themselves on who should win the Democratic nomination.
I've never seen anything like this campaign.
Fusions: Nike's Air Jordan AJFs
Merging sneaker designs has become the norm at Nike. The world's leading athletic shoe company invented the practice, allowing for fresh interpretations of otherwise old designs.Lately, Nike has struck intellectual gold by combining their original Air Force model with the Air Jordan XII and the Air Jordan V respectively.
The result is the AJF 12, which is pictured on top, and the AJF 5. As Paris Hilton would say, "That's hot." This year is a good one for casual basketball sneakers. I like both of these. Many passionate Nike purists have expressed disdain for hybridization. I understand the arguments, but I like the AJFs because they're not the same tired designs rehashed and retroed time and again. There's nothing wrong with a little variety. Like them or not, both models prove to be quite the conversation pieces.
Would I wear something like this in public? I probably shouldn't. Other adults might look at me like I'm silly, or weird even. A lot of people simply don't get cutting-edge shoe design, particularly shoe design intended for the younger set. In my opinion, these AJFs are definitely cutting edge.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Arby's Buying Wendy's
Triarc Companies, Inc., the holding company that owns Arby's, entered into a merger agreement with Wendy's International. The all-stock deal will cost Triarc and Arby's $2.34 billion.
Darn. I always considered Wendy's better-managed than Arby's. Hopefully, this merger will benefit Arby's and Wendy's, making both fast food chains stronger.
Darn. I always considered Wendy's better-managed than Arby's. Hopefully, this merger will benefit Arby's and Wendy's, making both fast food chains stronger.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Key to Winning "American Idol"
Apparently that key is flubbing lyrics, starting over and acting gracious to cover the gaffe.
That's how you win it this year.
David Archuleta botched lyrics, and he's still alive. Brooke White called a redo and redid. She's still alive.
Michael Johns should be in the top three, and he's not. Amanda Overmeyer should still be on the show. She isn't. Now Carly Smithson, the contest's best singer, is gone while White and Jason Castro are still singing for their supper.
I don't get it.
There's two reasons why American Idol's ratings are falling this season: The show is seven years old, and the public doesn't like the results of the voting.
They wanted more Michael Johns, and they didn't get him. People who should be voted off aren't getting voted off.
People are getting tired of it, so the ratings are suffering. And the public knows that winning really doesn't matter. You don't have to win to be successful. Justin Guarini finished as runner-up to Kelly Clarkson, and he has a career on TV Guide Network. That's not superstardom, but it's still pretty good. Diana DeGarmo among others has a career on Broadway.
Season Five has produced a lot of talent aside from Taylor Hicks. Elliot Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington are recording. That's a lot of people. Daughtry and Pickler don't surprise me. There was no way they would fade away.
Regardless of how things turn out this season, I hope everyone in the top 11 remain in the entertainment business, even if they do flub their lyrics. I'll forgive them.
That's how you win it this year.
David Archuleta botched lyrics, and he's still alive. Brooke White called a redo and redid. She's still alive.
Michael Johns should be in the top three, and he's not. Amanda Overmeyer should still be on the show. She isn't. Now Carly Smithson, the contest's best singer, is gone while White and Jason Castro are still singing for their supper.
I don't get it.
There's two reasons why American Idol's ratings are falling this season: The show is seven years old, and the public doesn't like the results of the voting.
They wanted more Michael Johns, and they didn't get him. People who should be voted off aren't getting voted off.
People are getting tired of it, so the ratings are suffering. And the public knows that winning really doesn't matter. You don't have to win to be successful. Justin Guarini finished as runner-up to Kelly Clarkson, and he has a career on TV Guide Network. That's not superstardom, but it's still pretty good. Diana DeGarmo among others has a career on Broadway.
Season Five has produced a lot of talent aside from Taylor Hicks. Elliot Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington are recording. That's a lot of people. Daughtry and Pickler don't surprise me. There was no way they would fade away.
Regardless of how things turn out this season, I hope everyone in the top 11 remain in the entertainment business, even if they do flub their lyrics. I'll forgive them.
"Hancock"
No. No. No.
Will Smith movies are awful. Should you see Hancock?
No.
No.
No.
That's what I said when they aired the trailer.
No. No. No.
Because I loathe Will Smith movies. They're all the same formula. Him, him again, some gratuitous, mindless special effects and more him. Don't waste money on Hancock. Besides, you can see gratuitous, mindless special effects in other movies.
Does Will Smith ever do a movie that isn't about himself and screen time?
No. No. No ...
Will Smith movies are awful. Should you see Hancock?
No.
No.
No.
That's what I said when they aired the trailer.
No. No. No.
Because I loathe Will Smith movies. They're all the same formula. Him, him again, some gratuitous, mindless special effects and more him. Don't waste money on Hancock. Besides, you can see gratuitous, mindless special effects in other movies.
Does Will Smith ever do a movie that isn't about himself and screen time?
No. No. No ...
If I Were Casting Capt. Kirk,
I'd target Brad Pitt. He'd make a pretty good starship captain!
Yeah. That's another good idea from me.
Yeah. That's another good idea from me.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Return of The B-52s
The B-52s aren't messing around. Georgia's greatest New Wave band dropped a new album recently called Funplex. As albums go, Funplex is solid. The tempo goes hard and fast throughout. It's good to dance to, and that's what The B-52s are for.
Everything good about the band shows up on Funplex. The album is a must-cop for fans. It's nice to hear from them again.
Everything good about the band shows up on Funplex. The album is a must-cop for fans. It's nice to hear from them again.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Nowitzki Criticized by TNT Analysts
Apparently, Dirk Nowitzki allowed Toronto's David West to tap him on the face during an opening round playoff game. Nowitzki offered no retaliation.
As reported by the website FanNation, which is described as "an SI.com and CNN digital network site," Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith criticized Nowitzki for not reacting.
"You can't let a man put his hand on your face in the playoffs," Johnson said.
"I love Dirk Nowitzki," Barkley added. "Terrific, great player. But they're trying to say to you, 'We think you're soft.' That's what it means. You've got to slap his hand down, and then you got to say, 'Hey, let that guy drive to the basket' and then you've got to knock the h*** out of him."
Smith agreed with the NBA legends' sentiment, saying "You have to punish them on the next couple of plays. The ball has to come to Dirk now, and he has to say, 'You know what? I'm going to really punish you for the disrespect of putting your hands in my face.'"
Via e-mail, Mark Cuban said Johnson, Barkley and Smith were "living in 1998," explaining that in today's NBA players get suspended for retaliation.
You know what? Magic is right. Barkley is right. Kenny Smith is right. You can't ever let another player tap you on your face. Those guys are 100 percent right. You have to take charge. You have to protect yourself, and your teammates are expected to do the same. At the least, Nowitzki should have given David West a nice hard shove and see how that goes. Sometimes that's the only way to earn respect on the court. The Playoffs is no place for weakness.
As reported by the website FanNation, which is described as "an SI.com and CNN digital network site," Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith criticized Nowitzki for not reacting.
"You can't let a man put his hand on your face in the playoffs," Johnson said.
"I love Dirk Nowitzki," Barkley added. "Terrific, great player. But they're trying to say to you, 'We think you're soft.' That's what it means. You've got to slap his hand down, and then you got to say, 'Hey, let that guy drive to the basket' and then you've got to knock the h*** out of him."
Smith agreed with the NBA legends' sentiment, saying "You have to punish them on the next couple of plays. The ball has to come to Dirk now, and he has to say, 'You know what? I'm going to really punish you for the disrespect of putting your hands in my face.'"
Via e-mail, Mark Cuban said Johnson, Barkley and Smith were "living in 1998," explaining that in today's NBA players get suspended for retaliation.
You know what? Magic is right. Barkley is right. Kenny Smith is right. You can't ever let another player tap you on your face. Those guys are 100 percent right. You have to take charge. You have to protect yourself, and your teammates are expected to do the same. At the least, Nowitzki should have given David West a nice hard shove and see how that goes. Sometimes that's the only way to earn respect on the court. The Playoffs is no place for weakness.
Jones' "Being Rebellion" Quote
I wish I had a transcript of the recent interview between Michael Irvin and Adam "Pacman" Jones. Internet searches reveal little. Jones tried to explain the behavior that got him in trouble with the NFL, saying he was "being rebellion." Jim Rome has already weighed in on "being rebellion"thoroughly, and he was hilarious. I have nothing to add, but if I can get a hold of a transcript, it could help me decide if Jones' "being rebellion" statement, which includes the term "scrip club," is worthy of The Blogadier General Quote of the Year 2008.
So far, nothing else has struck this publisher as particularly noteworthy, Obama's bitter remark perhaps, but only because everyone else made a big deal out of it. Hopefully, Obama's statement won't make my radar by '09. It's really not Quote of the Year material, unless it becomes widely attributed to helping Hillary Clinton win the Democratic presidential nomination.
Maybe Rosie O'Donnell can say something about Donald Trump again. Rosie v. Trump Part II might wield some good lines. Madonna certainly hasn't said or done anything outrageous. All she wants to do is sell her new album, the right way. Where's the controversy Madonna? Come on. You used to deliver!
Perhaps Charles Barkley can say something memorable during the NBA Playoffs. Right now I have little to work with, and we're into April.
So far, nothing else has struck this publisher as particularly noteworthy, Obama's bitter remark perhaps, but only because everyone else made a big deal out of it. Hopefully, Obama's statement won't make my radar by '09. It's really not Quote of the Year material, unless it becomes widely attributed to helping Hillary Clinton win the Democratic presidential nomination.
Maybe Rosie O'Donnell can say something about Donald Trump again. Rosie v. Trump Part II might wield some good lines. Madonna certainly hasn't said or done anything outrageous. All she wants to do is sell her new album, the right way. Where's the controversy Madonna? Come on. You used to deliver!
Perhaps Charles Barkley can say something memorable during the NBA Playoffs. Right now I have little to work with, and we're into April.
The Pope Finishes Trip
Pope Benedict XVI visited Ground Zero in New York and held mass at Yankee Stadium, drawing 60,000 people. He made his last appearance at John F. Kennedy International Airport before leaving for Vatican City.
The pope said one of the "high points" of his trip was his experience at the General Assembly of the United Nations.
All in all, Pope Benedict's visit was quite successful. It was nice to have him on our side of the pond for a change.
The pope said one of the "high points" of his trip was his experience at the General Assembly of the United Nations.
All in all, Pope Benedict's visit was quite successful. It was nice to have him on our side of the pond for a change.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
"4 Minutes" Peaks at No. 3
Madonna's bid for her first No. 1 hit since 2000's Music stalled when 4 Minutes dropped from No. 3 to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles rankings.
Get this. Leona Lewis is No. 1 this week with something or other, Bleeding Love, whatever. Mariah Carey's Touch My Body is still ahead of Madonna. Touch My Body went No. 1. Why couldn't 4 Minutes go No. 1?
Lil' Wayne and Static Major are ahead of Madonna. Jordin Sparks, a great new talent, but not better than Madonna, is ahead of her. Usher and Jeezy are ahead of her. Ray J and Yung Berg are ahead of her. Who are these people?
It's basically one icon playing second fiddle to the field. Nice. What does the greatest female recording artist have to do to get some respect? Justin Timberlake is in the song. All of these other guys are teaming up with Jeezy and Yung Berg. Sparks has Chris Brown, who could have a day job at an accounting firm or McDonald's for all I know. Madonna brings it with Justin Timberlake and they can't get a No. 1. That's rich, absolutely rich. And where's Miley Cyrus on that chart?
Dumb things happen when young kids dictate supply and demand. It's how movies like Happy Feet get made. It's how that new Speed Racer movie got made. It's how Grant Hill tallies more votes for an NBA All-Star Game than Michael Jordan. Yes, that happened. It's how MJ's Air Jordan XI gets voted greatest Jordan ever when it isn't. Wonderful.
Get this. Leona Lewis is No. 1 this week with something or other, Bleeding Love, whatever. Mariah Carey's Touch My Body is still ahead of Madonna. Touch My Body went No. 1. Why couldn't 4 Minutes go No. 1?
Lil' Wayne and Static Major are ahead of Madonna. Jordin Sparks, a great new talent, but not better than Madonna, is ahead of her. Usher and Jeezy are ahead of her. Ray J and Yung Berg are ahead of her. Who are these people?
It's basically one icon playing second fiddle to the field. Nice. What does the greatest female recording artist have to do to get some respect? Justin Timberlake is in the song. All of these other guys are teaming up with Jeezy and Yung Berg. Sparks has Chris Brown, who could have a day job at an accounting firm or McDonald's for all I know. Madonna brings it with Justin Timberlake and they can't get a No. 1. That's rich, absolutely rich. And where's Miley Cyrus on that chart?
Dumb things happen when young kids dictate supply and demand. It's how movies like Happy Feet get made. It's how that new Speed Racer movie got made. It's how Grant Hill tallies more votes for an NBA All-Star Game than Michael Jordan. Yes, that happened. It's how MJ's Air Jordan XI gets voted greatest Jordan ever when it isn't. Wonderful.
The Speed Racer Movie
This Speed Racer movie serves as a good example of what happens when people who don't know what they're doing get a movie budget. I don't remember any scenery in the original Speed Racer cartoon looking anything like what's in this movie. The background is like all Technicolor (in a bad way), and there is simply no room for that. It reminds me of Star Wars: Episode II. That film had too much color, and there was no rhyme or reason for it, whereas in Star Wars color was applied more deliberately and against neutral-colored sets.
Like sound, color played a major role in Star Wars.
For example, Luke Skywalker and Ben Kenobi used light blue lightsabers. Ben and Luke were the good guys, and light blue had softer, friendlier connotations compared to the evil red lightsaber used by the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader. Plus, red coordinated well with Vader's black armor. He also had red buttons on his chest plate, matching his lightsaber.
C-3PO was gold. R2-D2 was white, silver and blue. Their respective colors lent them identity and credibility.
Chewbacca had brown fur. Han Solo wore a black vest with a white shirt and black pants. He even had red ticking down his pants legs. Princess Leia wore all white. Stormtroopers had white armor with black accents.
Every color had a role in Star Wars. This Speed Racer movie, like a lot of poorly-conceived movies, splashes color everywhere willy-nilly without a care in the world. Well, that's just not any good.
Why can't this Speed Racer movie look like the cartoon? Why not just watch the cartoon again and skip this movie? That sounds like a good idea. Skip the movie. Find the cartoon on DVD.
Like sound, color played a major role in Star Wars.
For example, Luke Skywalker and Ben Kenobi used light blue lightsabers. Ben and Luke were the good guys, and light blue had softer, friendlier connotations compared to the evil red lightsaber used by the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader. Plus, red coordinated well with Vader's black armor. He also had red buttons on his chest plate, matching his lightsaber.
C-3PO was gold. R2-D2 was white, silver and blue. Their respective colors lent them identity and credibility.
Chewbacca had brown fur. Han Solo wore a black vest with a white shirt and black pants. He even had red ticking down his pants legs. Princess Leia wore all white. Stormtroopers had white armor with black accents.
Every color had a role in Star Wars. This Speed Racer movie, like a lot of poorly-conceived movies, splashes color everywhere willy-nilly without a care in the world. Well, that's just not any good.
Why can't this Speed Racer movie look like the cartoon? Why not just watch the cartoon again and skip this movie? That sounds like a good idea. Skip the movie. Find the cartoon on DVD.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Thomas Sacked as Knicks Coach
Donnie Walsh, the New York Knicks' new team president, fired Isiah Thomas as the team's head coach, capping a franchise record-tying 59-loss season. Thomas was retained for an unspecified role in the organization.
I can't believe Thomas is still with the Knicks at all. He should've never been hired. He ran the Continental Basketball Association into the ground, and now he's done it with the Knicks, a team I occasionally rooted for before his disastrous, ill-fated tenure as both president and coach.
I knew from the beginning he was a bad hire.
This Knicks/Thomas combination ranks with Britney Spears' marriage to Kevin Federline, Whitney Houston's marriage to Bobby Brown and Sears' merger with K-Mart.
America Online and Time Warner fared better.
I mean, wasn't the CBA fiasco impressive enough? One has to wonder if the Knicks organization even noticed it. How in hot fiery Hades did that slip past their radar? Hello! Thomas bankrupted an entire basketball league! My, my, what does that say? It definitely says that he is not NBA team president material. Apparently, he's not such a great coach either. He was never a world beater when he coached the Pacers, and he did even worse with the Knicks.
And even after an embarrassing and sordid sexual harassment trial, the Knicks retain him. I would not make a decision like that. Thomas should be out of the Knicks organization completely. Start fresh.
I can't believe Thomas is still with the Knicks at all. He should've never been hired. He ran the Continental Basketball Association into the ground, and now he's done it with the Knicks, a team I occasionally rooted for before his disastrous, ill-fated tenure as both president and coach.
I knew from the beginning he was a bad hire.
This Knicks/Thomas combination ranks with Britney Spears' marriage to Kevin Federline, Whitney Houston's marriage to Bobby Brown and Sears' merger with K-Mart.
America Online and Time Warner fared better.
I mean, wasn't the CBA fiasco impressive enough? One has to wonder if the Knicks organization even noticed it. How in hot fiery Hades did that slip past their radar? Hello! Thomas bankrupted an entire basketball league! My, my, what does that say? It definitely says that he is not NBA team president material. Apparently, he's not such a great coach either. He was never a world beater when he coached the Pacers, and he did even worse with the Knicks.
And even after an embarrassing and sordid sexual harassment trial, the Knicks retain him. I would not make a decision like that. Thomas should be out of the Knicks organization completely. Start fresh.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Sonics Moving to Oklahoma City
The Seattle Supersonic's new ownership, led by Clay Bennett, plans to move the team to Oklahoma City. NBA owners voted to approve the move today.
What a bummer! I wanted the Sonics in Seattle like always.
What a bummer! I wanted the Sonics in Seattle like always.
L.A. Freeway Chase Under Way
Fox News Channel is airing a freeway chase in Los Angeles. I love these! I wish I could stop everything I'm doing and watch.
Lakers, Celts Secure Top Seeds
A Lakers/Celtics NBA final would be quite a draw. I would watch it. Anything would be better than last year's series between San Antonio and Cleveland. If LeBron James had played at a higher level and carried the Cavaliers to more wins in the series, I might have paid more attention. Alas, that didn't happen.
This year perhaps, with the Lakers and the Celtics seeded for another collision course, maybe we'll get a taste of the '80s all over again! That was a good decade for oh so many reasons.
This year perhaps, with the Lakers and the Celtics seeded for another collision course, maybe we'll get a taste of the '80s all over again! That was a good decade for oh so many reasons.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Kristy Lee Cook Gone From "Idol"
Poor ol' Kristy. She's off of American Idol. I really liked her, but I like all of the remaining contestants. Hopefully we'll get to see more from Kristy in the future.
The X-Files Has a Name
Chris Carter's sci-fi franchise dealing with FBI investigations into aliens and the paranormal goes a step further on July 25 when a new film releases.
The new film is titled The X-Files: I Want to Believe.
That sounds all right to me. This gives me at least four must-see films to watch this summer, making up for a dearth of interesting projects last year. The new Indiana Jones film is one priority along with the Batman sequel and The Incredible Hulk. What else is relevant that we haven't caught on to? I've read that Iron Man is good, so I might have to check that out too. But make no mistake, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is what it's all about for Summer 2008. Still, I absolutely must see what Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are into this time. It's going to be an interesting summer for the silver screen.
The new film is titled The X-Files: I Want to Believe.
That sounds all right to me. This gives me at least four must-see films to watch this summer, making up for a dearth of interesting projects last year. The new Indiana Jones film is one priority along with the Batman sequel and The Incredible Hulk. What else is relevant that we haven't caught on to? I've read that Iron Man is good, so I might have to check that out too. But make no mistake, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is what it's all about for Summer 2008. Still, I absolutely must see what Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are into this time. It's going to be an interesting summer for the silver screen.
The Pope Performs at the White House
Pope Benedict XVI spoke at the White House today, in English mind you. It is so cool to have a Pope that knows English. Now a lot of us who aren't bilingual can tell what he's saying. While I am not Catholic, I still want to understand the leader of the Catholic Church when he speaks.
Not only did the Bishop of Rome speak English, he did it eloquently. I don't remember in my lifetime ever being able to understand a Pope. This is new and unusual territory, a world with a modern, English-speaking Pope.
Benedict seems accessible, and he smiles a lot. After two years of his papacy his style and approach still seems new to me in a good way.
Not only did the Bishop of Rome speak English, he did it eloquently. I don't remember in my lifetime ever being able to understand a Pope. This is new and unusual territory, a world with a modern, English-speaking Pope.
Benedict seems accessible, and he smiles a lot. After two years of his papacy his style and approach still seems new to me in a good way.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Woods Has Knee Surgery
The PGA's No. 1 golfer had arthroscopic knee surgery to repair cartilage. Woods is expected to miss at least a month of competition to recover.
Wait, he finished 2nd at the Masters despite a bad knee? Awesome!
Wait, he finished 2nd at the Masters despite a bad knee? Awesome!
Monday, April 14, 2008
What Tiger Woods and Madonna Have in Common
Tiger Woods finished 2nd at The Masters this weekend, three strokes behind South African Trevor Immelman.
Woods also finished 2nd at the Masters last year. He seems to have a lot of 2nds in his career to go along with his ridiculous amount of 1sts.
Which brings me to Madonna. I had to refer to the record charts for my post about 4 Minutes. I knew she had a lot songs that peaked at No. 2. It's just that I had forgotten how many. I neglected to count, and I could look it up again, but I won't. Let's just say she's been robbed of a lot of No. 1s. Madonna and Tiger Woods have a lot of No. 2s in their respective careers.
Woods also finished 2nd at the Masters last year. He seems to have a lot of 2nds in his career to go along with his ridiculous amount of 1sts.
Which brings me to Madonna. I had to refer to the record charts for my post about 4 Minutes. I knew she had a lot songs that peaked at No. 2. It's just that I had forgotten how many. I neglected to count, and I could look it up again, but I won't. Let's just say she's been robbed of a lot of No. 1s. Madonna and Tiger Woods have a lot of No. 2s in their respective careers.
My First Vitamin Water
I tried Vitamin Water for the first time today. It cost $1.88. As Homer Simpson would say, Doh! So I probably won't try it again. I'm not jackin' up my Starbucks budget for Vitamin Water. Maybe I'll drink it again when I win a lottery.
Yeah, I was in a convenience store this morning, looking for something to drink after my workout. "Don't buy Vault. Don't buy Vault," I told myself. "Don't get Red Bull either. You'll be wired for sound."
I chose Vitamin Water. It was good, but I think I'll resort to powdered Gatorade next time.
Yeah, I was in a convenience store this morning, looking for something to drink after my workout. "Don't buy Vault. Don't buy Vault," I told myself. "Don't get Red Bull either. You'll be wired for sound."
I chose Vitamin Water. It was good, but I think I'll resort to powdered Gatorade next time.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
What a Spring
It seems like Air Jordans and Madonna songs are falling out of the sky everywhere. Yes, things are good for me. And they say it comes in threes. When Spielberg, Lucas and Ford release their picture, the trifecta will be complete.
"4 Minutes" Makes Billboard Top Five
Madonna's new hit single with Justin Timberlake climbed to No. 3 this week. (I still haven't heard it.) How awesome is that? This is only the third week on the charts for 4 Minutes, so it has a strong chance to make the top. A No. 1 record now would be such an amazing feat for Madonna. She's 49 years old, and she's still relevant! She's still able to generate this kind of buzz with new work. That's incredible!
I was pleasantly surprised when Music went No. 1 back in 2000. Madonna was supposed to be fading then. It hasn't happened yet. She's still going.
I was pleasantly surprised when Music went No. 1 back in 2000. Madonna was supposed to be fading then. It hasn't happened yet. She's still going.
Pope Benedict XVI's Pending Arrival
The Pope arrives in Washington D.C. this week. He will visit the White House and stay in the District for a few days before moving on to New York where he will conduct a blowout mass at Yankee Stadium.
The Pope will not visit Boston.
That's a shame. The Pope should probably visit the U.S. every two years and stop at Boston. Boston has such a rich Roman Catholic tradition. I do not understand why he will not go there.
The Pope will not visit Boston.
That's a shame. The Pope should probably visit the U.S. every two years and stop at Boston. Boston has such a rich Roman Catholic tradition. I do not understand why he will not go there.
Obama's "Bitter" Remark
Barack Obama has drawn heavy fire for comments regarding small-town Americans struggling to make ends meet in Pennsylvania.
Here are his remarks as reported by the media:
"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna' regenerate and they have not.
"And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Television political pundits have placed a lot of importance on these statements. Some are saying this is very damaging to Obama's presidential bid. For sure, a lot of people consider this issue significant.
Hillary Clinton denounced Obama's remarks, calling them "out of touch" and "elitist," further adding "The people of faith I know don't 'cling' to religion because they're bitter. People embrace faith not because they are materially poor, but because they are spiritually rich.
That is probably well-played by her.
John McCain attacked Obama too, also alleging elitism.
I personally do not support Barack Obama in this presidential campaign. I would rather see Clinton or McCain in the White House in large part because they have paid their dues in life and to America. McCain, the race's Vietnam POW, probably deserves the presidency more than anyone.
Since I lean moderate though and have grown up knowing Hillary Clinton as a public figure in Arkansas and later as First Lady, I throw my support behind her. Furthermore, a Clinton win could mean another presidential library in Little Rock and other benefits like federal financial support to the entire state. Such a windfall cannot be underestimated. The likely benefits for Arkansas are a big deal if you are an Arkansan like me. If I lived in Illinois, I might vote for Obama simply because of the perks he would likely funnel to his home state.
Bill Clinton's presidential library has been such a positive addition to Little Rock. It draws celebrities, politicians and other influential people from all walks of life. That kind of attraction did not exist before.
That success could multiply for Arkansas if Hillary Clinton wins this presidential race. So, despite the dues John McCain has paid, there is too much at stake for Arkansas for me to support him.
As for Obama and his remarks, I understand his point of view. Maybe I missed something, but his remarks didn't stand out to me as a problem. He expressed a viewpoint in a respectful manner. Was the sentiment condescending? I could see how it could be read that way. Does condescension matter? I don't think so. Besides, Obama wasn't trying to be condescending, and he probably deserves a pass on this matter for that simple fact that he apparently had no idea that he might have sounded condescending at the time he made his remarks. Intent matters, folks.
Why in the world would he go out and deliberately insult Pennsylvanians? He wouldn't, and I think he should be judged on his intent. He's elitist, his opponents say. He's out of touch. I support Clinton, but why should I care about whether or not Barack Obama is elitist and out of touch with small-town Americans?
I'll have to defend Obama on this one. He meant no harm. It's irrelevant to me if he sounds elitist and condescending to rural Americans. If offended, rural Americans should get over it and themselves. Vote your conscience. I hope Hillary beats Obama in Pennsylvania's primary, and I hope his remarks sway the race in her favor, but at the same time, I want to stick up for what he said. There was nothing wrong with it.
So he's elitist. Shouldn't he be? He's condescending, which means he's arrogant. Shouldn't a president be arrogant? All of them are anyway. And they're elitist too, they just express it well.
Obama's remarks are much ado about nothing to me, but they might sway the race dramatically. Time will tell.
I still think Clinton deserves to beat Obama for the same reasons I have cited in the past. Clinton is a seasoned, hardened, brick-and-mortar doer while Obama is an overly-impressionable, utopic idiologue, prone to naivete. I don't think Clinton should win because of comments construed as elitist and condescending. If she happens to win that way though, I'll certainly accept it.
Here are his remarks as reported by the media:
"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna' regenerate and they have not.
"And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Television political pundits have placed a lot of importance on these statements. Some are saying this is very damaging to Obama's presidential bid. For sure, a lot of people consider this issue significant.
Hillary Clinton denounced Obama's remarks, calling them "out of touch" and "elitist," further adding "The people of faith I know don't 'cling' to religion because they're bitter. People embrace faith not because they are materially poor, but because they are spiritually rich.
"I also disagree with Sen. Obama's assertion that people in this country 'cling to guns' and have certain attitudes about immigration or trade simply out of frustration."
That is probably well-played by her.
John McCain attacked Obama too, also alleging elitism.
I personally do not support Barack Obama in this presidential campaign. I would rather see Clinton or McCain in the White House in large part because they have paid their dues in life and to America. McCain, the race's Vietnam POW, probably deserves the presidency more than anyone.
Since I lean moderate though and have grown up knowing Hillary Clinton as a public figure in Arkansas and later as First Lady, I throw my support behind her. Furthermore, a Clinton win could mean another presidential library in Little Rock and other benefits like federal financial support to the entire state. Such a windfall cannot be underestimated. The likely benefits for Arkansas are a big deal if you are an Arkansan like me. If I lived in Illinois, I might vote for Obama simply because of the perks he would likely funnel to his home state.
Bill Clinton's presidential library has been such a positive addition to Little Rock. It draws celebrities, politicians and other influential people from all walks of life. That kind of attraction did not exist before.
That success could multiply for Arkansas if Hillary Clinton wins this presidential race. So, despite the dues John McCain has paid, there is too much at stake for Arkansas for me to support him.
As for Obama and his remarks, I understand his point of view. Maybe I missed something, but his remarks didn't stand out to me as a problem. He expressed a viewpoint in a respectful manner. Was the sentiment condescending? I could see how it could be read that way. Does condescension matter? I don't think so. Besides, Obama wasn't trying to be condescending, and he probably deserves a pass on this matter for that simple fact that he apparently had no idea that he might have sounded condescending at the time he made his remarks. Intent matters, folks.
Why in the world would he go out and deliberately insult Pennsylvanians? He wouldn't, and I think he should be judged on his intent. He's elitist, his opponents say. He's out of touch. I support Clinton, but why should I care about whether or not Barack Obama is elitist and out of touch with small-town Americans?
I'll have to defend Obama on this one. He meant no harm. It's irrelevant to me if he sounds elitist and condescending to rural Americans. If offended, rural Americans should get over it and themselves. Vote your conscience. I hope Hillary beats Obama in Pennsylvania's primary, and I hope his remarks sway the race in her favor, but at the same time, I want to stick up for what he said. There was nothing wrong with it.
So he's elitist. Shouldn't he be? He's condescending, which means he's arrogant. Shouldn't a president be arrogant? All of them are anyway. And they're elitist too, they just express it well.
Obama's remarks are much ado about nothing to me, but they might sway the race dramatically. Time will tell.
I still think Clinton deserves to beat Obama for the same reasons I have cited in the past. Clinton is a seasoned, hardened, brick-and-mortar doer while Obama is an overly-impressionable, utopic idiologue, prone to naivete. I don't think Clinton should win because of comments construed as elitist and condescending. If she happens to win that way though, I'll certainly accept it.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Derby Day in the Natural State
Gayego wins the 2008 Arkansas Derby, beating Z Fortune by 3/4 of a length at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
I need to get with it and make another Derby some day. I didn't go this year, and I've only been once when Balto Star won in 2001. Come to think of it, that's a really long time. I really need to go again. Oh well. Perhaps next year.
I need to get with it and make another Derby some day. I didn't go this year, and I've only been once when Balto Star won in 2001. Come to think of it, that's a really long time. I really need to go again. Oh well. Perhaps next year.
Thoughts on $950,000 Homes
They're airing some pricey home listings on the cable today. Those televised listings are the catalyst for this post. So, here it goes. I wouldn't pay $950,000, $960,000 for a home. If I'm in the $950,000 price range, if I'm so close to spending $1,000,000, why not spend $1,000,000? Then I could say I have a million-dollar home. It's that simple.
Purchasing a $950,000 home is like running 9.5 miles and quitting. You're so close to 10! Who stops running at 9.5? If you run a half mile more, you can say you ran 10 miles. Since you're in the vicinity, you might as well pull the trigger. Don't spend $950,000 on a home. Spend $1,000,000.
If you can't handle $1,000,000, you probably shouldn't spend the 950.
Purchasing a $950,000 home is like running 9.5 miles and quitting. You're so close to 10! Who stops running at 9.5? If you run a half mile more, you can say you ran 10 miles. Since you're in the vicinity, you might as well pull the trigger. Don't spend $950,000 on a home. Spend $1,000,000.
If you can't handle $1,000,000, you probably shouldn't spend the 950.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
No More "Idol" for Johns
Michael Johns didn't secure enough votes to stay on American Idol.
Yeah, if the public keeps it up, there won't be any good talent left for the finale.
Nice job, public. Keep up the questionable voting.
With our presidential campaign on the verge of utter mockery and weird results on talent shows like Idol I come to realize that voting is not something a majority of Americans excel at.
Yeah, if the public keeps it up, there won't be any good talent left for the finale.
Nice job, public. Keep up the questionable voting.
With our presidential campaign on the verge of utter mockery and weird results on talent shows like Idol I come to realize that voting is not something a majority of Americans excel at.
ESPN Confused Over Titletown
ESPN says 20 cities lay claim to the name Titletown, U.S.A., so the network is holding a contest, allowing fans to pick which town is Titletown.
Funny, the only Titletown I'm aware of is Green Bay, Wis.
I'm pretty sure that's the only Titletown that matters. Green Bay has always been Titletown to me. Any other alleged Titletowns are mere imitations. It's amazing that the people who run ESPN can't figure out what I and many others already know.
The results of ESPN's ludicrous contest do not matter. Titletown is Green Bay, Wis.
Funny, the only Titletown I'm aware of is Green Bay, Wis.
I'm pretty sure that's the only Titletown that matters. Green Bay has always been Titletown to me. Any other alleged Titletowns are mere imitations. It's amazing that the people who run ESPN can't figure out what I and many others already know.
The results of ESPN's ludicrous contest do not matter. Titletown is Green Bay, Wis.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Miley Cyrus (Again)
She just blew the doors off on Idol Gives Back! WHOA! She is so good! I had no idea she was that good! Britney Spears' reign is over. Cyrus is now the reigning pop sensation. WOW!
And she performed my new favorite tune, See You Again.
I had never seen her perform musically until now. I had seen her on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I had seen her act on Hannah Montana. I wasn't blown away like tonight. Interviews and acting are not her bread and butter. It is live musical performance. Whoa! Now I know why the paparazzi are after her.
And she performed my new favorite tune, See You Again.
I had never seen her perform musically until now. I had seen her on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I had seen her act on Hannah Montana. I wasn't blown away like tonight. Interviews and acting are not her bread and butter. It is live musical performance. Whoa! Now I know why the paparazzi are after her.
Films Everyone Should See
I really should watch Annie Hall, Citizen Kane, The Godfather and Rocky, just so I can bolster my (factual) argument about Star Wars being better than all of them (put together.)
And I should watch The Exorcist. I should probably see that even though it's a horrible, negative film about evil spirits and the Devil. Who wants to see an aberration like that?
I'm glad I watched Titanic and The Passion of the Christ so I will never have to see them again. Both were good, but I don't care to see Leonardo DiCaprio freeze to death again, nor do I care to see Jim Caviezel receive a good old fashioned, hard core, bloody beat down Roman style.
And I should watch The Exorcist. I should probably see that even though it's a horrible, negative film about evil spirits and the Devil. Who wants to see an aberration like that?
I'm glad I watched Titanic and The Passion of the Christ so I will never have to see them again. Both were good, but I don't care to see Leonardo DiCaprio freeze to death again, nor do I care to see Jim Caviezel receive a good old fashioned, hard core, bloody beat down Roman style.
Great Film Quotes, "Casablanca" and "Pulp Fiction"
I can't stop thinking about Charlton Heston's classic "**** dirty ape" line in Planet of the Apes.
It's a great quote. Some have even called it the greatest line ever uttered in a film. Hey, if it isn't the best, it's right up there. But there's a lot of good film quotes. And you can't end a conversation about great film quotes without mention of Casablanca and Pulp Fiction.
There are so many memorable lines in Casablanca. "Play it, Sam. Play As Time Goes By." I love that one! Casablanca is truly one of the best films ever. If it had a Death Star and, perhaps, Imperial Stormtroopers rather than Germans, it might could have been better than Star Wars. Anyone could claim Casablanca is the greatest film ever and I would have to respect that person's opinion. I wouldn't argue the matter. Casablanca is soooo good.
Arguments could be made for Gone With The Wind and The Wizard of Oz. I have not seen Citizen Kane, so I can't comment on that one. I do know though, based on the preponderance of evidence supplied by George Lucas, that Citizen Kane is not better than Star Wars. Neither is Annie Hall or Rocky or The Godfather. When the Academy of Motion Arts and Picture Sciences gave the best picture Oscar to Annie Hall rather than Star Wars, well, the Academy simply got it wrong, wrong, wrong. I must admit I haven't seen Annie Hall either, or Rocky or The Godfather. I don't need to. I've seen Star Wars. I also know that those movies I haven't seen don't have a Death Star, Imperial Stormtroopers, Han Solo, Vader, droids, et cetera ... Tusken Raiders, Banthas, I could go on and on and on. I won't bore you. You know the point. The separation is obvious. Furthermore, Star Wars' screenplay contains more memorable quotes than Annie Hall or Stocky or The Godfather.
Jaws has "You're gonna' need a bigger boat." That's an all-time classic, but even that isn't better than "Tear this ship apart until you've found those plans! And bring me the passengers; I want them alive!"
Vader was fuming mad in that scene.
The latest addition to cinema's all-time great screenplays is Pulp Fiction, even though Forrest Gump was 1994's better picture overall. Quentin Tarantino's dialogue stands up to anything. There is so much memorable language in that one. Pulp Fiction contains more memorable content than even Casablanca.
Still though, Casablanca is a gold standard to which all other screenplays can be measured against. In a way, Casablanca exists to be surpassed like Babe Ruth's 60 home runs in 151 games or the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls' 72 regular season wins. Today's artists and athletes need benchmarks to shoot for. Casablanca, amazingly, after 66 years, remains as one of those benchmarks. Would Pulp Fiction be as good as it is without films like Casablanca setting the Hollywood standard?
Every writer of screenplays should take a cue from Casablanca and come up with at least five or six good lines. If you can manage at least two or three, you have a fighting chance of writing an awesome screenplay. Of course, you also need to infuse your characters with that special kind of flair and vulnerability, and your plot needs to be solid. Great writing is so not easy.
Another modern film with a lot of memorable lines is Mike Judge's Office Space. A Christmas Story, released in 1983, is another great silver screen comedy with classic lines. Then there's The Blues Brothers, the feature-length Saturday Night Live skit packed with memorable quotes and memorable scenes. Nine to Five is another. All of these examples are comedies, which are vastly different from films like Chinatown or All About Eve. Still, I would argue that they have their place, somewhere, among cinema's elite films because of the number of memorable moments they provide.
It's a great quote. Some have even called it the greatest line ever uttered in a film. Hey, if it isn't the best, it's right up there. But there's a lot of good film quotes. And you can't end a conversation about great film quotes without mention of Casablanca and Pulp Fiction.
There are so many memorable lines in Casablanca. "Play it, Sam. Play As Time Goes By." I love that one! Casablanca is truly one of the best films ever. If it had a Death Star and, perhaps, Imperial Stormtroopers rather than Germans, it might could have been better than Star Wars. Anyone could claim Casablanca is the greatest film ever and I would have to respect that person's opinion. I wouldn't argue the matter. Casablanca is soooo good.
Arguments could be made for Gone With The Wind and The Wizard of Oz. I have not seen Citizen Kane, so I can't comment on that one. I do know though, based on the preponderance of evidence supplied by George Lucas, that Citizen Kane is not better than Star Wars. Neither is Annie Hall or Rocky or The Godfather. When the Academy of Motion Arts and Picture Sciences gave the best picture Oscar to Annie Hall rather than Star Wars, well, the Academy simply got it wrong, wrong, wrong. I must admit I haven't seen Annie Hall either, or Rocky or The Godfather. I don't need to. I've seen Star Wars. I also know that those movies I haven't seen don't have a Death Star, Imperial Stormtroopers, Han Solo, Vader, droids, et cetera ... Tusken Raiders, Banthas, I could go on and on and on. I won't bore you. You know the point. The separation is obvious. Furthermore, Star Wars' screenplay contains more memorable quotes than Annie Hall or Stocky or The Godfather.
Jaws has "You're gonna' need a bigger boat." That's an all-time classic, but even that isn't better than "Tear this ship apart until you've found those plans! And bring me the passengers; I want them alive!"
Vader was fuming mad in that scene.
The latest addition to cinema's all-time great screenplays is Pulp Fiction, even though Forrest Gump was 1994's better picture overall. Quentin Tarantino's dialogue stands up to anything. There is so much memorable language in that one. Pulp Fiction contains more memorable content than even Casablanca.
Still though, Casablanca is a gold standard to which all other screenplays can be measured against. In a way, Casablanca exists to be surpassed like Babe Ruth's 60 home runs in 151 games or the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls' 72 regular season wins. Today's artists and athletes need benchmarks to shoot for. Casablanca, amazingly, after 66 years, remains as one of those benchmarks. Would Pulp Fiction be as good as it is without films like Casablanca setting the Hollywood standard?
Every writer of screenplays should take a cue from Casablanca and come up with at least five or six good lines. If you can manage at least two or three, you have a fighting chance of writing an awesome screenplay. Of course, you also need to infuse your characters with that special kind of flair and vulnerability, and your plot needs to be solid. Great writing is so not easy.
Another modern film with a lot of memorable lines is Mike Judge's Office Space. A Christmas Story, released in 1983, is another great silver screen comedy with classic lines. Then there's The Blues Brothers, the feature-length Saturday Night Live skit packed with memorable quotes and memorable scenes. Nine to Five is another. All of these examples are comedies, which are vastly different from films like Chinatown or All About Eve. Still, I would argue that they have their place, somewhere, among cinema's elite films because of the number of memorable moments they provide.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Miley Cyrus' Relevance
I never saw any reason to pay particularly close attention to Miley Cyrus until I heard See You Again.
You Maniacs! You Blew It Up!
Charlton Heston died today. He will be missed.
Heston was great as United States astronaut Col. George Taylor in Planet of the Apes, uttering some of the most memorable quotes in film history like "Get your stinkin' paws off me you **** dirty ape!"
And, of course, there was the classic rant at the end of the film where Heston, as Taylor, curses mankind for nuking the world into a hot sorry mess. And how, Colonel!
Heston was a staunch National Rifle Association supporter, and he served as the organization's president. He also voiced support for racial integration in the 1960s. He was the kind of social activist Sean Penn wishes he could be.
Oh, and Heston also played Moses in The Ten Commandments and Judah in Ben Hur.
Charlton Heston had quite a Hollywood career. He was 84.
Heston was great as United States astronaut Col. George Taylor in Planet of the Apes, uttering some of the most memorable quotes in film history like "Get your stinkin' paws off me you **** dirty ape!"
And, of course, there was the classic rant at the end of the film where Heston, as Taylor, curses mankind for nuking the world into a hot sorry mess. And how, Colonel!
Heston was a staunch National Rifle Association supporter, and he served as the organization's president. He also voiced support for racial integration in the 1960s. He was the kind of social activist Sean Penn wishes he could be.
Oh, and Heston also played Moses in The Ten Commandments and Judah in Ben Hur.
Charlton Heston had quite a Hollywood career. He was 84.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Another Air Jordan XX3 Debut
Nike's White/Stealth/Black/Gold version of the Air Jordan XX3 hits stores today. The color scheme for this one is probably the most palatable to me. Although the Carolina blue version has a special allure all its own.This design, regardless of color, goes down as an instant classic. It's Nike's greenest Jordan, and I might want to wear it 10 to 20 years from now, especially if I'm still firing jumpers from deep water like I do at my gym on occasion. I don't play basketball anymore, but I still shoot sometimes.
The downside with this model is that Nike hasn't released any white T-shirts with gold Jordan logos to complement the XX3's tongue. Darn it. I would probably buy one. All I need is an encircled 23 logo on the chest, a Jumpman on the back and the fingerprint graphic on a sleeve. I should design athletic wear for a living.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Sprint, Samsung Unveil Bootleg iPhone
It looks just like an iPhone, and it's not one. It's called the Instinct. But if I were marketing it, I'd call it the piPhone. Then I would claim it's approximately 3.14159 times better than an iPhone.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Indeed, Chute Not Cooper's
Having investigated a mysterious parachute dug up in Amboy, Wa., the FBI ruled out any link to D.B. Cooper.
Dang.
It would have been so cool if the parachute was his.
Still though, how did the parachute wind up underground?
Dang.
It would have been so cool if the parachute was his.
Still though, how did the parachute wind up underground?
This is American Idol.
Who doesn't love it when Ryan Seacrest starts the show with his iconic catchphrase?
When all is said and done Seacrest will be forever linked with those four words.
When all is said and done Seacrest will be forever linked with those four words.
Expert Says Chute Not Cooper's
Earl Cossey, the man who provided the FBI, and ultimately D.B. Cooper, with four parachutes says the chute found on an Amboy, Wa. property doesn't match the ones he provided way back in 1971.
The Amboy chute was made of silk. Cossey says the D.B. Cooper chutes were nylon.
Cossey should know. He provided the chutes. But a buried parachute is still fishy. How did it get there if D.B. Cooper didn't bury it? This story gets weirder and weirder.
Answers to this D.B. Cooper mystery might never turn up.
The Amboy chute was made of silk. Cossey says the D.B. Cooper chutes were nylon.
Cossey should know. He provided the chutes. But a buried parachute is still fishy. How did it get there if D.B. Cooper didn't bury it? This story gets weirder and weirder.
Answers to this D.B. Cooper mystery might never turn up.
A Good Thing About Spring
A good thing about spring, aside from the usual good things like blooming plants and warmer weather, is that spring allows an opportunity to enjoy a good iced mocha.
I get most of mine at Starbucks. (What a surprise.) I like to consider iced mochas, grande, soy, no whip, my signature drink. But I don't order them all of the time. I also like to think of iced mochas as a seasonal drink most appropriate for spring and summer as opposed to fall and winter, particularly winter.
The winter months are much too cold for iced mochas. In the past, I used to order them anyway, but this year I burned out on them and decided to observe the drink's seasonal nature. It's kind of like avoiding white shoes before Labor Day, or is it Veterans' Day? I don't remember. That's an old antiquated rule worthy of a separate post. I do think I will address that.
Anyway, iced mochas rock. The most appropriate time to consume them is spring and summer. Although it's perfectly fine to fudge on that rule if it's January and you don't care to wait until March. Celebrate the arrival of spring with an iced mocha.
I get most of mine at Starbucks. (What a surprise.) I like to consider iced mochas, grande, soy, no whip, my signature drink. But I don't order them all of the time. I also like to think of iced mochas as a seasonal drink most appropriate for spring and summer as opposed to fall and winter, particularly winter.
The winter months are much too cold for iced mochas. In the past, I used to order them anyway, but this year I burned out on them and decided to observe the drink's seasonal nature. It's kind of like avoiding white shoes before Labor Day, or is it Veterans' Day? I don't remember. That's an old antiquated rule worthy of a separate post. I do think I will address that.
Anyway, iced mochas rock. The most appropriate time to consume them is spring and summer. Although it's perfectly fine to fudge on that rule if it's January and you don't care to wait until March. Celebrate the arrival of spring with an iced mocha.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
