Lakers v. Celtics

It is on.

The 2008 NBA Finals pits the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics. This one has the makings of a series for the ages. The sports world hasn't experienced this storied match-up in over two decades. It's high time for a revival.

En route to the Finals, Boston traveled to Auburn Hills and disposed of the Detroit Pistons in six games. The victory proves the Celts have re-established themselves as a road threat. And judging by the San Antonio Spurs' ability to roll up double-digit leads in Los Angeles, the Lakers ought to feel wary about Game 3, their first home game. They could be looking up from a 3-0 hole if they're not careful.

On the other hand, Boston could drop Game 1 or Game 2 if Kobe Bryant lights things up.

Regardless, I think Boston has the better team, and it's peaking at the right time. I suspect the Celtics will steal a game in L.A. and hold home court, winning this season's championship series in six.

Copped

Image: Finish Line

Reviewing "Indy 4"

Latest Jones Adventure Eclectic, Cerebral, Appropriate

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull provided plenty of pleasant surprises. We found out what happened with Indy's relationship with Marion Ravenwood after Raiders of the Lost Ark. We also learned that the last scene in Raiders, the scene where the U.S. military stores the Ark of the Covenant in a vast warehouse, takes place at Area 51.

Whoa. How cool is that? This revelation only enhances the mystique of the storied Ark.

We learn that Indy survived a nuclear blast at the Nevada Proving Ground by storing himself in a lead-lined refrigerator. The scene was a tad funny, yet it was so surreal. All of the nuclear experimentation stuff seemed surreal, especially the scenes where Indy is standing in a mock 1950s-era neighborhood intended for destruction by a test-controlled nuclear strike. (Judging by the good weather in the film, the nuclear test depicted in Crystal Skull was most likely part of Operation Plumbbob. According to Wikipedia, Plumbbob tests took place from May 28, 1957 to October 7, 1957.)

Tom Charity, writing for CNN.com, likens the nuclear experimentation story arc to a Twilight Zone episode. I would have never been astute enough make this connection, but I definitely agree with it. There Indy is standing in a 1950s-era house with bright decor, looking at plastic people and Howdy Doody. The imagery didn't look right, didn't look like typical Indiana Jones fare. It wasn't what we were used to, but it was historically plausible. The facts supporting such plausibility made the nuclear experimentation angle mighty interesting. George Lucas outdid himself on that one. Anyone claiming Crystal Skull appeared formulaic is missing the mark.

The Crystal Skull narrative also reveals that Indy has lost his father and his friend, Marcus Broady.

And Mutt Williams comes along to advance the crystal skull plot thread. Let me say this: Kate Blanchett did a great job as Russian agent Irina Spalko, and Shia LeBeouf did a great job as Mutt Williams. When he was doing his balancing act in the Amazon jungle, swinging a sword with one foot on two vehicles, he reminded me of Errol Flynn! I wonder if that was by design. Ole Mutt could have rivaled Errol Flynn or Flash Gordon for that matter. Lucas drew a lot of inspiration from Saturday morning serials and Flash Gordon. For a few brief scenes, Crystal Skull resembled an old Flash Gordon serial. This is an astounding achievement. Lucas and Spielberg managed to capture that swashbuckling feel of high adventure, and they did so in multiple spots.

As expected though, the plot slowed. Furthermore, cynics could liken the chase scenes in the Amazon to the speeder bike chase in The Return of the Jedi or the mine car chase in The Temple of Doom or the tank chase in The Last Crusade. People have complained that Lucas is repeating himself. But I must make this argument: How can you do an Indiana Jones movie without those types of scenes? You have to have them. And after all, don't we want a little of the same from the previous three films? We do. I loved the chase through the Amazon.

I didn't like the computer-generated bugs. That was too much CG for me. As for the special effect extravaganza at the end, it's a shame things had to come to that, but on the flip side, those effects were necessary to tell the story, so I have to approve of them. The upside is that the CG resembled the look of The Mummy, one CG effects film I like a lot. (It's hard to believe The Mummy is nearly ten years old.)

Crystal Skull's CG was bad and good, a sign of the times if you will. The effects helped tell the story. And we got a lot of meat and potatoes action earlier in the movie with Mutt eluding Russians with his motorcycle. So, audiences received a little variety, and that variety was laced together oh so well.

I've never really seen a film quite like Crystal Skull. Here we have two old school filmmakers who also happen to be the guys responsible for the technical advances used in effects-laden films like The Matrix. But they have the knowledge and the willingness to go back to the basics and test themselves. Then they turn around and throw us some ultra-modern CGI all in the same film. Never ever have I witnessed such wide degrees of technical variance in the making of one blockbuster. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull might be one to study for film students. What a technical achievement this thing is. It's quite avant-garde. It truly is.

Those who are critical of this film simply do not get it. They don't understand completely what Lucas, Spielberg and Ford were trying to do. Audiences expected Indiana Jones and it got some Goonies and X-Files to boot. Lucas warned that Crystal Skull wasn't that movie. Thank goodness it wasn't! Different never bores me.

By the way, when I first heard mention of crystal skulls with relation to this project, I totally expected a crystal skull shaped like a human skull, not an alien. I expected something along the lines of the Sankara Stones. I didn't get that, which was another interesting surprise.

I'm also glad Indy finally hooked up with Marion. The wedding at the end was a nice touch.

In conclusion, despite pacing problems caused by complex plot details, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is fun to watch. From a technical standpoint, it might have set a new bar. Perhaps other filmmakers will take the cue and add more stand-alone action to their summer projects. It worked with the Jason Bourne franchise, and it still works with Indiana Jones. Perhaps we'll get a fifth Indy adventure before things are all said and done. If one is offered, I will certainly make time for it.

No Orange Iced Mochas

I can't get an orange iced mocha anywhere. They can't make them at Starbucks. They can't do them at Barnes & Noble. What's an orange iced mocha drinker to do?

A barista at Barnes & Noble told me they're not promoting orange mochas this season, yet at least.

I asked her what else I could add to my iced mocha. She mentioned mint, raspberry and caramel. I settled for a caramel iced mocha. I liked it. I might order the same in the future.

Caramel iced mochas taste much better than caramel macchiatos. You should try one.

My "Indy 4" Revelation

I did something interesting today. I just realized it.

I saw the fourth Indiana Jones film on the fourth day of release.

How awesome is that?

Pretty awesome!

I have inadvertently devised a new approach to film sequels, novels, Air Jordans, any product that belongs in a sequence.

For instance, I haven't bought an Air Jordan XX3 yet. I may never do one. If I had been faster on the uptake though, I could have elected to skip the XX3's drop day and buy a pair on the 23rd day of release. That would make some kind of sense.

If a fifth Indiana Jones film gets made, I might just see it on the fifth day of release.

Improving "Kung Fu Panda"

I finally saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I procrastinated a whole three days.

What is wrong with me? Sure, I had a job to go to, and I couldn't fit Indy in on Thursday, May 22. Well, that's not entirely true. I could have seen it after work, but I didn't want to rush, and I didn't want to stay out any later than I had to. What is wrong with me?

It doesn't matter. I'm sure Indy 4 was just as good on the fourth day of release as it was on the first.

I plan to post more thoughts and observations on the whole experience later. What I really want to post about is Kung Fu Panda. Jack Black voices the title character.

So, I'm at Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I'm sitting with my friend in the theater watching a bunch of trailers for a bunch of movies I don't care to see. One of them is Kung Fu Panda. What amazes me is that grown adults actually sit in meetings dreaming this stuff up on purpose. Then they receive a budget. They write a screenplay. They cast actors. They make a feature-length movie based on a really bad idea, a panda that knows kung fu.

I don't want to see Kung Fu Panda. It's a kids movie, and not like Star Wars is a kids movie. There will be no Death Squad Commanders in Kung Fu Panda. Death Squad Commanders are a very appropriate kids movie element, and they can only be seen in Star Wars, the ultimate kids movie. It's doubtful that anyone will have there arm cut off in Kung Fu Panda. Nobody will be murdered point blank with a blaster. Remember what Han Solo did to Greedo? That was great. "Sorry for the mess," Han says! Ultimate kids movie.

Kung Fu Panda shall be no Star Wars. Nothing ever will of course.

Anyway, I'm watching this Kung Fu Panda trailer, and I make the argument to my friend that this movie would probably be a lot better if it skipped the animation and just had Jack Black in a panda suit. Jack Black in a panda suit would be a lot funnier.

And I'm talking a really bad panda suit. The cruddier the better, right? The white fur should look dingy, and the seams should show. That concept would work a whole lot better than some stinking animation. I don't need no stinking animation. Put Jack Black in a panda suit. Remake Nacho Libre. Change up the plot a little, maybe a lot. Have Jack Black in the panda suit, and doing stunts, and you have yourself a hit movie. A movie like that would bring in $100 million it's first week just like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull did.

Jack Black in a cheap, cruddy panda suit would work.

Voters Make Cook the Latest American Idol

I predicted David Archuleta would beat David Cook and I was wrong, wrong, wrong.

My expectations for David Cook were a lot different than what transpired. I really believed he would be out before the top six or seven. Jason Castro fared a lot better than I expected too. What do I know, I guess.

I really thought Michael Johns was one of the strongest Idol performers this season, but he left way earlier than anticipated, in my mind anyhow.

Anyhoo, congratulations to David Cook for winning it all. Hopefully, these guys can come into some great material to record. It seems like there's more talent than good songs these days. A lot of past Idol greats are suffering for it.

American Idol's producers really need to step up and generate some good music for their proteges. Great recordings would improve the American Idol brand, and give the show more credibility. Right now, past winners seem to have more success on the show than in the recording industry. That can be corrected.

One Last "Idol" Prediction

Here is one last prediction for this season's American Idol:

David Archuleta will win.

The season finale is tonight. I have felt Archuleta would win all along, and he seems like he's on course to be the next American Idol. I predict an Archuleta win.

That's going out on a limb isn't it?

Manchester United Wins Champions League

Club Achieves Rare Double, Squeaks Past Chelsea

Withstanding overtime, rain and a mistake by its star midfielder, Christiano Ronaldo, Manchester United outlasted Chelsea 6-5 on penalty kicks to win the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow.

Kicking third in the penalty phase, Ronaldo inexplicably slowed up on his run before ultimately striking the ball. Chelsea's goaltender, Petr Cech, made the stop, giving Chelsea a formidable advantage. Unfortunately for Chelsea, Nicolas Anelka's failed to score with his kick, forcing a continuance. Anelka's shot would have given his team the win. Chelsea's next kick decided matters for good when John Terry's shot sailed outside the right post.

Ronaldo's day wasn't a complete disaster. He scored a header in the 26th minute, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Playing aggressive, Manchester looked to be in control of the match until the end of the first half. Chelsea's Frank Lampard found an opportunity for his team in injury time when Manchester's goaltender, Edwin Van Der Sar, slipped and fell on wet turf. The miscue helped Lampard score, and the game was tied going into the break.

Chelsea continued to play well after halftime, taking more shots than Manchester and forcing more corner kicks.

That momentum didn't continue though. A scuffle broke out between the teams, and several players involved themselves in the incident. Didier Drogba, a Chelsea forward, received a red card for slapping an opponent in the face, and Chelsea had to play on with only ten men. Regulation ended, and the teams played two more scoreless halves before the penalty kicks.

With the victory, Manchester United achieved a rare double, winning the English Premiership as well as the UEFA Champions League. This was the first all-English Champions League final.

Kristi Yamaguchi Wins on "Dancing With the Stars"

Experienced Dancer Tops NFL Star

Isn't Kristi Yamaguchi supposed to win? After all, she is an Olympic-caliber figure skater. Isn't dancing part of figure skating?

I have never watched Dancing With the Stars, but I know a ringer when I see one.

Stop casting ringers. Cast people without dance backgrounds.

The way Dancing is cast, it's like holding the Special Olympics and sending the USA Basketball team to compete for a basketball medal. It's like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James dunking on disabled kids. That's how fair it is. Kristi Yamaguchi is supposed to beat Jason Taylor. She dances on skates for a living. Dancing without skates seems so much easier. If she didn't win, the results would appear rigged.

I knew something was amiss when the Dancing folks cast Marie Osmond, a woman with her own variety show in the 1970s. She danced with her brother Donnie like every week. How did she of all people wind up on Dancing With the Stars? Isn't this show supposed to be a competition between celebrities that haven't danced for a living?

If they're going to cast ringers, cast ringers. Stack the box. Give us Shakira, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Janet Jackson. Do it right. Throw in Paula Abdul and some boy banders and you have yourself a show. Call it Dancing With the Ringers. You'll draw 30 million every broadcast.

I should be a network television producer.

Celts/Hawks or Celts/Cavs: Game 7s Compared

Sports pundits have discussed comparisons between the classic Game 7 pitting Larry Bird's Boston Celtics against Dominique Wilkins' Atlanta Hawks and the recent Game 7 where LeBron James' 45 points didn't beat Paul Pierce's 41.

Both games occurred on Boston's famed parquet floor. Both games featured incredible players. Comparisons make sense.

As we know, Bird and 'Nique initiated a fourth quarter shooting duel for the ages with Bird and his Celtics prevailing. Having witnessed both games live, the earlier game amazes me most. Yes, James and Pierce topped 40, but it wasn't like they traded baskets against each other. The duel between Bird and Wilkins took on a personal tone with both players scoring consecutive baskets on consecutive possessions. They were literally answering each other with buckets and forcing their respective wills on each other during a Game 7.

It wasn't any other game they were playing. They were playing a Game 7 for the series, the marbles, the right to advance. I have never seen two basketball players trade shots like that ever.

I can only hope to witness something similar in the future, because what Bird and Wilkins did was electric. Those two put up the numbers and put on a show.

Chelsea, Man U. Face Off for Hardware

Chelsea F.C. plays English rival Manchester United F.C. in Moscow tomorrow to decide the UEFA Champions League title. The Champions League final is considered the European championship, so basically, the teams are playing for bragging rights spanning the whole continent.

Chelsea F.C. has to be regarded as an underdog against Manchester United because the Blues lost the Premier League title to them. Chelsea faces a tough task in checking a Manchester offense that includes Christiano Ronaldo on the right flank and Wayne Rooney at striker. Man U. is a threat to score at every position. Beating them hardly looks easy.

Also, this year's game marks the first-ever all English Champions League final.

One interesting sidebar: Chelsea is sponsored by Adidas. Manchester is sponsored by Nike. You can bet executives from both companies will watch the game with more than passing interest.

My Better

My better is better than your better.

Venti Iced Mocha Needs Assistance

I ordered a venti iced mocha at Barnes & Noble this afternoon. I blew through it like an F5 tornado.

Still parched, I stopped by Wendy's and bought a large iced tea, sugar free of course. Perhaps that will quench my thirst. Venti iced mochas are quite filling, and they usually do the trick by themselves. Not today.

Ted Kennedy Experiencing Health Issues

Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy made a hospital visit to address stroke-like symptoms, CNN reports.

I have complained on this blog about Sen. Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama at the expense of Hillary Clinton. Now is no time to complain.

Let's all hope Sen. Kennedy is doing well. Sen. Kennedy, CNN says, is one of six U.S. senators to serve in the Senate for more than 40 years. That's over 40 years of public service to his home state, Massachusetts, and our great country. Wow.

In spite of Sen. Kennedy's endorsement of Sen. Obama, I have long admired him and the efforts he has made for America.

Henin Emulates Borg, Retires Young

Justine Henin retired from tennis today despite holding the WTA's No. 1 ranking. Henin's move is unexpected. In retrospect however, so shortly after her announcement, it makes so much sense. She hit the big two-five. Motivation became a problem for her, probably because her body started to slow down.

Henin, an exacting perfectionist, likely didn't want to tolerate the compromises and adjustments older athletes need to make to stay competitive against younger opponents.

Bjorn Borg set the standard for early retirements. Like Henin, he left tennis early, at 26. I wonder if his decision had any influence on her.

Oh, that Justine Henin the historians will say. She was a good one. She was a grind-it-out type of gal. Tough as nails, physically and mentally.

One interesting side note: Henin's retirement comes within 24 hours of Annika Sorenstam's retirement from golf.

A lot can happen in 24 hours. Grand Theft Auto IV made $310 million. Now two of the world's top female athletes have decided to end their careers.

Their participation will be missed. Their contributions will be remembered, fondly.

"The Blogadier General" Adds Newsreel

Pick a Subject. Read More.

Google has a neat tool for Blogger bloggers. The tool is dubbed "Newsreel," and Newsreel is amazing. Basically, Newsreel allows blog publishers to pick keywords to certain topics and post them on their respective blogs. Then Google News provides content related to the keywords.

It's an ingenious idea, and I partook, selecting names for the remaining presidential hopefuls as well as some of the entertainment industry's top stars. There's also links to news on the Indiana Jones franchise, Harry Potter, Potter author J.K. Rowling and Star Trek to name a few.

Links will change periodically. The goal is to pick keywords for the hottest news topics. Since selection of such words is based solely on the publisher's mastery of pop culture knowledge, results will not always reflect what's trendy. And because it takes a few seconds for Newsreel to load, it's tough to list every hot keyword. I tried to select some of interest to readers and myself.

Feed subscribers, I encourage you to seek out the links! They're located on The Blogadier General's front page "above the fold" if you will, meaning near the top in the page's right-hand column.

Mayerston

Okay, public. Stop conjoining the names of celebrity couples like Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer. It's not clever anymore.

Why "GTA IV" Isn't So Big

Everyone seems so impressed with Grand Theft Auto IV's early revenues. With 3.6 million copies sold and $310 million in only the first 24 hours of release, many already consider the game the greatest one-day success story in entertainment history.

Yes, $310 million swamps every film release ever in terms of cash. No other video game, not even Halo 3, can brag about $310 million in 24 hours. For the record, I'm impressed too.

But the biggest entertainment release of all time? Come on.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince sold about 9 million copies in Britain and the United States in its first 24 hours, according to MSNBC.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sold 8.3 million copies within the first 24 hours of sale in the U.S. alone, according to CNN.

That's only two bright examples from the Potter series.

In terms of overall consumer reach, Harry Potter's numbers swamp Grand Theft Auto IV. If Harry Potter novels cost $60 a copy, then they would have generated more money than GTA IV did in 24 hours.

You could also compare Grand Theft Auto IV's 3.6 million different buyers in 24 hours to numbers for the highest rated television shows ever. Sure, it's apples and oranges, and no one spends a dime to watch a television show, save for the one-time price of a television and a monthly cable bill covering every other television show watched. But for fun, you can do a comparison.

For example, M*A*S*H's finale, Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, drew 50.5 million people in 2 1/2 hours. That's 60 percent of households in 1983, according to Wikipedia. Nothing else, not a Super Bowl, not even Elvis Presley, has commanded 60 percent of American households like M*A*S*H.

Gamers are talking up 3.6 million copies of a video game? Please. The Super Bowl generates more consumer interest on a yearly basis.

CIA.gov, the website for the CIA, says over 301 million people reside in the United States today. So 3.6 million is about one percent of the American population. Only one percent of the American population bought GTA IV in the first 24 hours. That's awesome. That's incredible success. But in terms of cultural influence, it doesn't compare to a Super Bowl. This decade, the Super Bowl has drawn at least 84 million viewers. Super Bowl XLII drew 97.5 million viewers. Super Bowls last what? Around 4 hours? Granted, no one pays the NFL $60 to watch Super Bowls. So this comparison is quite flawed.

Still, in light of Harry Potter book sales and Super Bowl ratings and M*A*S*H, 3.6 million is not a very impressive percentage of consumers in the grand scheme of things. Grand Theft Auto has a long road to hoe to make a true dent in the American psyche.

Mother's Day

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars"

I remember when the Clone Wars used to have mystique. When Ben Kenobi first mentioned the battles in Star Wars I didn't put together what that actually meant. I was a small child at the time, and I hadn't seen the film a million times.

Anyway, the Clone Wars, when mentioned by Kenobi, had a mystique that I don't think is captured in George Lucas' new projects. I had always envisioned the Clone Wars as a series of battles pitting clone versus clone. I never thought it would be stormtrooper predecessors versus battle droids. Honestly, it isn't weird enough. Clones fighting each other seems really creepy, and I kind of want to be creeped out by it all. The world still hasn't seen that yet. Furthermore, it's impossible to deliver creepy with perfect, detailed CG clone troopers.

Live actors are required to provide what I want to see. Anyway, I can forget about that for a while and praise Lucas for his new animated project, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I used to be of the mindset that if the project wasn't Droids, I didn't want to see an animated Star Wars universe. This Clone Wars idea might change my mind. At first, I didn't care to see it because I already had my tastes set in my head. I know what I like and what I don't like. It is nearly impossible to approach this animated film with an open mind.

This summer, I want to attempt the nearly impossible. I want to watch Star Wars: The Clones Wars and try to appreciate it for what it is as opposed to downgrading it for what it isn't. This project is different, and I need to embrace different.

I assume that Clone Wars is targeted to kids. That was the main reason I didn't want to see it in the first place. I didn't think I could relate to something like that anymore. Efforts will be made when I go to the theater.

Democratic Party Rife With Disloyalty

The Blogadier General Laments a Party Full of Quitters

Former Sen. George McGovern has switched sides, moving from Sen. Hillary Clinton's camp to Sen. Barack Obama's.

The level of disloyalty going on within the Democratic Party is absolutely disgusting. It makes me angry. There's no good excuse for it.

Gov. Bill Richardson switched from Sen. Clinton to Sen. Obama because he was mad. Gov. Richardson resented that fact that both Clintons, Hillary and Bill, acted as if he owed them something.

You know what? Gov. Richardson does owe the Clintons, and he welched. He's a welcher. He blew it. When someone makes you the U.S. Secretary of Energy, you owe that person something. You should reciprocate. It's the right thing to do. Unfortunately, Sen. Richardson chose another path. He chose that path in part because that's what everyone else is doing, which isn't necessarily a good reason.

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Joe Andrew pulled the same stunt, claiming he felt inspired by Sen. Obama. Sorry. I don't see where that guy is coming from. I mean, I know empty rhetoric when I hear it. Sen. Obama is full of empty rhetoric. He's a nice guy, and his speeches sound good. They might even sound great, but can this guy deliver? He's unproven. Sen. Clinton is a proven doer who delivers. She's the better candidate. Actually being better is more inspiring to me than mere talk. Talk doesn't interest me.

Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon, who served as an ambassador to Chile during the Clinton administration and raised close to $500,000 for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign defected for Sen. Obama. He is definitely a quitter. He certainly quit on the Clintons. He owes them, and he won't settle up.

Sen. Ted Kennedy supports Sen. Obama, but only because he had a falling out with the Clintons. Being mad at someone is not a good reason to ditch them for another candidate. So, I'll chalk up Sen. Kennedy's decision to cloudy and irrational judgment. And he split his party with his decision. That's unfortunate.

Now George McGovern is switching sides and suggesting to Sen. Clinton that she pull out of the race. As a sidebar, you know, just keep in mind that all of these people pleading for her to quit the race, none of these people have ever managed to get themselves elected president, so their advice isn't necessarily so great. At this juncture, I wouldn't quit in a million years. If I were Sen. Clinton, I would carry on and make them reject me at the convention. Make these superdelegates face matters like adults that have a backbone. That a way, if Sen. Obama loses the general election to John McCain, the Clintons have leeway to do a lot of finger pointing. They have 20 fingers between them, and that won't be nearly enough to call out everyone that has bailed on them.

Fair weather friends is what they are. When Bill Clinton held the presidency, all of these people were in lock step with him and his wife. Yes, sir. No, sir. Do you want sugar or lemon with your tea? That kind of stuff. Now look.

What ever happened to standing by someone when they're fighting for a cause that's important to them? It's not like these Dems would be supporting an incompetent. Stand by someone who helped you in the past, or should I say, made you. Is that too hard to ask? Stand up and show some character. Quit bonking. Stop bailing. Good grief.

Patagonia Catalogs

I love Patagonia catalogs, because they not only advertise clothes, they inform the world about environmental issues.

Few clothing catalogs actually give consumers a chance to buy clothes and read quality writing all at the same time. Patagonia catalogs always have wonderful pictures of surfers and waves and mountains and hikers. And the essays are top notch stuff.

Were it not for Patagonia catalogs I would not know about Conservacion Patagonica, a non-profit organization focused on the preservation of wildlife and ecosystems in the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina. In short, Convervacion Patagonica wants to create Patagonia National Park, which is a great idea. You can find more information at Patagonia.com. Click on the site's "Environmentalism" link and head for "What We Do."

Other essays focus on outdoor activities like rock climbing and canoeing. The guys and gals at Patagonia tout adventure, adventure, adventure with the mindset to act responsibly along the journey. It's just plain noble.

Pick up a Patagonia catalog. Look at the pictures. Read the essays. Order up a ringspun organic-cotton shirt or two as well.

Lindsay Lohan

Have I ever blogged on Lindsay Lohan? I can't remember for the life of me. If not, that's a glaring omission.

Anyway, the way I understand it right now, people spotted her somewhere with Nicole Richie's fiancee Joel Madden, whomever he is, and witnesses say Lilo looked like she was trying to steal Madden away from Richie, so Lindsay's (allegedly) a boyfriend stealer. That's what The Thirty Mile Zone is saying. It's like Lohan is the second coming of Elizabeth Taylor or whatever. Really, whatever.

Oh, and Linds apparently stole a fur coat from one Masha Markova, whomever she is too. Big whoop.

Kobe Bryant Named NBA MVP

When Kobe Bryant averages 28.3 points per game and leads his team to the best record in a tight, parity-stricken Western Conference, he kind of deserves the NBA's MVP award.

This 2007-2008 season looks to be about the quietest experience anyone can have while topping 28 points per. Bryant hasn't been involved in any off-court problems. The media hasn't picked up on any animosity between Bryant and fellow teammates. Bryant also seems to function well with his coach, Phil Jackson.

This is all new. In past seasons, Bryant has shown arrogance, selfishness and pettiness while helping Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers to three straight titles. He was the major reason why the Lakers failed to win a fourth in 2004.

Surprisingly, he has made a comeback with a team of role players. No other Laker made the 2007-2008 All-Star roster, and no other Laker cracked the top-50 in scoring average. For this season, Bryant is the team's only star.

The Lakers' success and Bryant's ascension to MVP status is a tribute to the whole Laker team, the whole Laker organization and Jackson. None of this would have happened without Jackson's deft input.

That doesn't mean that Bryant doesn't deserve his award. It does mean he had a lot of valuable help.

Prediction Rings True, Castro Leaves "Idol"

So long, Jason Castro. It was fun while things lasted, but your run is finished.

Ominous "Idol" Prediction for Jason Castro

When Brooke White left American Idol last week, I predicted on this blog that Jason Castro might leave next. He might certainly do so since botching lyrics to Bob Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man. Simon Cowell himself told Castro to pack his bags after the flub.

I didn't expect Castro to miss lyrics. What a shame that is. It is also a shame anyone has to get voted off, but everyone save for the winner must face this sad process.

I stand by my prediction. Jason Castro is gone tonight.

Sig Joints for Chris Paul: The Jordan CP

CP3's Signature Shoe Rocks

The guys at Jordan Brand scored a coup with Chris Paul, the red-hot guard for the New Orleans Hornets. Paul has played at an impressive level in his first NBA postseason, leading his team to a 2-0 lead over the defending-champion San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs face a daunting task if they want to come back.

The reason 2-0 series leads are so serious is that the trailing team must go at least 4-1 to advance. That is not easy. Paul, or CP3 as he is known, is a big reason for the Hornets' advantage over Tim Duncan and the rest of the Spurs.

Also, Paul just finished 2nd to Kobe Bryant in MVP balloting. Folks, it's only Season Three for this guy, and he's getting votes for MVP. Wow. No wonder CP3 has a signature basketball sneaker.

Nike, under the guise of Jordan Brand, has created an interesting shoe for Paul. I must admit, I have not worn this shoe, but I can look at it. The aesthetics work in my opinion. The Jordan CP looks like a basketball shoe. That's just one of many upsides. The version pictured above, white/silver/navy/wheat, is my favorite colorway, and it's available on Finish Line's website. White basketball shoes seem so much more interesting than black ones for the time being. IDKY. They just do.

One of the coolest design ideas on the Jordan CP is the stitched patent leather that wraps around from the side of the midsole and into the flex grooves underneath. Clearly, this shoe is intended for the hardwood rather than the ole concrete driveway, and the detailing is superb. We've seen essentially the same thing on driving moccasins like forever, but to do it on a basketball shoe and with patent leather, well, that's new to me. Paul's name even appears on the leather between the flex grooves stitched elegantly in cursive script.

Another notable design characteristic on the Jordan CP is the diagonal seam running across the vamp. Visual elements like this give a predominantly white, predominantly black vamp a little added value. Without the seam, we're left with a flat, blank surface covered with blank leather, and we've seen that so many times before.

There is so much to like about the Jordan CP. New design ideas are applied unobtrusively, preventing the shoe from appearing odd or avant garde. The Jordan CP appears normal and modern, yet it has enough interesting tweaks to keep things fresh and interesting.

Image sources: FinishLine.com, Eastbay.com

More on Mariah Carey, "Time" Too

Time, Carey Making Questionable Decisions

Aside from a strange, alleged marriage to Nick Cannon, Mariah Carey is also one of the Time 100: The Most Influential People in the World. Myley Cyrus also made the list, falling under the category of Artists and Entertainers with Carey. As of right now, Cyrus certainly deserves to be there.

As for Carey, Stevie Wonder wrote a nice article about her in Time, saying she has a wonderful heart and a great spirit among other things.

That seems true. Mariah Carey is a nice person. But she also has this odd marriage thing going on. And I don't think she is more influential than Madonna.

My knock on Carey is that she has always been more of an entertainer, a performer with a great voice rather than a true artist. She's a recording artist, but not an artist in the general sense. The belief here is that, with her voice, she could have been so much more. Dancing and singing hip-hop songs in a bikini top isn't very artistic. I don't recall Madonna ever performing in a mere bikini top. She always wore lingerie and leather bustiers designed by Jean Paul Gautier. It makes a big difference. Madonna is an artist in every sense of the word.

Anyway, I think Time got it wrong with Mariah Carey. She is not as influential as claimed. Another thing the magazine got wrong was its decision to run a full-page ad promoting Carey's new album, E=MC². The ad suggests a conflict of interest where one might not exist.

Sometimes Richard Stengel, Time's Managing Editor, makes decisions I disagree with. Naming Vladimir Putin as Man of the Year was one. Running the Mariah Carey ad is another. Instead of looking fair and balanced, Time looks bought and manipulated. I just disagree with that kind of publishing. Carey's inclusion in the Time 100 was most likely made on her merits, but the ad detracts from the magazine's appearance of impartiality. That's unfortunate. Hopefully, Mr. Stengel and his staff can make different decisions in the future. Maybe they will see this post and consider it.

Skechers Favor Air Max Way Too Much

Image source: Skechers.com

The shoe above helps illustrate one reason why I don't like Skechers. The shoe above, dubbed by Skechers as the "Energy 2," looks appallingly similar to Nike's Air Max '95 below. The resemblance is unmistakable.












Image source: JDSports.com

Knockoffs stink. Why settle for less? If you're going to wear a shoe like the ones above, why not just raise the $140 and get the original, the Air Max '95? The shoe is so successful, so comfortable that Nike still sells them. The'95's midsole has Max Air in the heel and forefoot. Forefoot air! This was cutting-edge design unseen until 1995! The Air Max '95 has a history, a heritage, a back story that cannot be faked.

The Skechers version is a cheesy, half-hearted copy with a similar look and none of the technological advancement. Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Yes, I know. But I want original. I want authenticity. Authenticity is valued here on these pages, as is high performance. Get an Air Max '95. Avoid the Skecher. Your feet will love you for it.

Why Skechers are Awful

I do not like Skechers. No one should wear them. Please do not buy or wear Skechers.

This Skecher company blatantly rips off designs from other shoe manufacturers, like Nike. Skechers has given the world zero original ideas.

No one should wear them, especially if you happen to be male. When guys pick sneakers, they should probably chose a pair from a company that also makes high-performance athletic shoes.

For example, Chuck Taylors are not high tech, but Converse does make reasonably decent basketball shoes, especially since Nike bought them. Converse is a serious sneaker company with a heritage that dates back a century.

Adidas, New Balance, Asics, Reebok, Saucony, Brooks, Mizuno, Nike, and it's subsidiaries, Jordan Brand and Converse, all make reputable athletic shoes. When choosing sneakers, should one decide to bypass Nike and settle for something less, there are at least seven solid athletic shoe brands to choose from. Skechers is hardly one of them.

When posed with a hypothetical choice, would you choose to drive a Corvette or a Yugo? If you're a guy, you should probably choose the Corvette. Corvettes run fast, and they turn well at high speeds. Yugos don't.

If you buy a pair of Skechers, it's like buying a Yugo. Do you really want to do that? Do you?

Cinqo de Mayo

Mariah Carey's Strange Life

Image source: CNN.com

Well? What's the Story?

CNN.com has an odd article about Mariah Carey. The headline reads, "Did Mariah Carey get married?"

The singer might have gotten married, but even CNN can't confirm it. I guess nobody bothered to search public records. CNN's story says Carey may or may not have married an actor named Nick Cannon. One of Cannon's relatives says the two got married, but there's no confirmation from either Cannon or Carey.

What kind of way is that to run one's life?

CNN, TMZ and every other entertainment media outlet is running stories about this, and there's no announcement, no response, nothing.

That's weird. That's right up there with Janet Jackson's secret marriage to Rene Elizondo. Who outside of the entertainment industry does such things?

It is so weird. And this kind of stuff doesn't make Cannon or Carey look good. They look like they don't have control over their lives, like they're not grounded enough to deal with life like normal, responsible adults. What a shame. They've put themselves at the center of an embarrassing media circus, because everyone is writing about whether or not they are married.

If Carey is trying to drum up publicity to support her new album E=MC², this is not the way to do it.

If those two knew how odd they appeared, they would clear the air with a press conference. So many celebrities are so out of touch with the world around them.

"Grand Theft Auto IV"

Is this thing a movie or a video game? Commercials make it seem like a movie. Grand Theft Auto IV certainly seems very movie-like. The graphics and animation appear tip-top, very well done.

And I assume the goal this time is to steal cars, frequent scrip clubs and get made.

You do get made in Grand Theft Auto right? I don't know. I don't play it.

Yeah, I want to be a made man. How awesome is that?

I have to ask how awesome it is, because I'm not a career criminal.

Honestly though, I don't have time to play video games. Well, I probably do, but I won't. There's too many other things to do in life that are more constructive. I played plenty of video games when I was younger. Nothing came of it. Playing video games doesn't beat reading or exercising.

Furthermore, I don't have the time or the patience to delve into anything as intricate as Grand Theft Auto IV, not that I would anyway. It looks too hard and too seedy. And I swore off violent video games long ago when I also swore off rap music.

Regardless, Grand Theft Auto IV is expected to succeed. The game's Wikipedia entry says 2.5 million copies were sold in the U.S. within the first 24 hours of its April 29 release, generating $186 million in revenue. Gamers in the United Kingdom bought 609,000 copies. The Wikipedia entry recognizes these results as "the highest grossing opening day in entertainment history."

That is absolutely phenomenal! The game is like a Harry Potter novel in that it is so highly anticipated. The only modern game franchises I can think of with similar popularity are Madden and Halo.

Miley Cyrus and "Vanity Fair"

Okay. Just in case anyone cares, here's what I think about Miley Cyrus' controversial Vanity Fair photo shoot.

The images are inappropriate. The whole thing is a mess. Regardless of all the apologies, Miley Cyrus probably shouldn't do any more photo shoots with Annie Leibovitz until she is 25.

Vanity Fair's editors should be ashamed of themselves.

Miley's parents shouldn't leave a photo shoot involving their daughter early.

There. That's what I think.

Happy May!

May is always a good month. There's only 31 days to enjoy it, so live it up!