William Arthur Ward

The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give.

Stumbling again

Here are a few more of my favorite sites that I have stumbled upon lately. Enjoy.

Abduzeedo

Printable Puzzles

Strangest Places on Earth

Strong Bad

My very own Font

Damn Cool Pics

The Power of Oratory

That is all for today.

Otherwise by Jane Kenyon

I got out of bed
on two strong legs.
It might have been
otherwise. I ate
cereal, sweet
milk, ripe, flawless
peach. It might
have been otherwise.
I took the dog uphill
to the birch wood.
All morning I did
the work I love.

At noon I lay down
with my mate. It might
have been otherwise.
We ate dinner together
at a table with silver
candlesticks. It might
have been otherwise.
I slept in a bed
in a room with paintings
on the walls, and
planned another day
just like this day.
But one day, I know,
it will be otherwise.

Changes

There are going to be some changes to the format of this blog as it does not make the most sense at the moment. Why would I have a picture of the week if I do not change it week by week? And for that matter, a Quote of the Week? Something obviously does not mesh there. Those are just a couple of the changes I am making to this thing. I will update when I can. hopefully it will be at the very least a few times a month. I cannot promise that but it is a hope and a goal. Seems like I am backing out of that already. This is ok.

I will also be changing the focus of the blog from focused to erratic. I am not limiting myself to reviews of entertainment but to life. I will continue with the criticism and analysis of my world. I will talk about things I love and things I may not care for as much. This is the direction that I want.

Enjoy.

Make you Crazy

Every once in awhile you hear a song that changes the way you look at something. Brett Dennen is an artist that does this for me. He has a number of songs that preach for a different world. For something to change. I am hearing him right now. His song Make you Crazy (Feat. Femi Kuti) makes me want to change the world. In a very subtle way. It tells me a few things that are wrong with this world. Maybe we all should listen.

You Know, It`s hard to be Yourself,
Free Yourself, To see Yourself,
When all around You there are Lies just to get You,
Spies just to get You, To Buy so they can get You…

There are Cameras in the sky, Lasers in our Living rooms,
There are Wolves watching wearing Sheep`s Costumes…

It`s Enough to make You go crazy (woah)
It`s Enough to make You Mad…
It`s Enough to make You go crazy (woah)
And, I`m amazed I Haven`t yet…

Isn`t It, A Shame The way We cheat Each other, Treat Each other, Beat Each other…?

It`s, A Shame The way We use One other, Abuse One another…

And, Screw One another, It`s true.

They will Lock You up in Prison, But They won`t call it slavery, There are stolen Children raised and Trained in Armies…

It`s Enough to make You go crazy (woah)
It`s Enough to make You Mad…
It`s Enough to make You go crazy (woah)
And I`m amazed I haven`t yet…

Don`t hesitate to speak Your Mind… (speak Your Mind)
Never hesitate to speak Your Heart… (speak Your Heart)
They`ll call You crazy, When You speak Your Mind… (When You speak Your Mind)
So never, Never hesitate… (never hesitate)

`cause It`s Enough to make You go crazy… (woah)
It`s Enough to make You Mad…
It`s Enough to make You go crazy (woah)
And, I`m amazed I haven`t yet…

[Femi solo…]

Na sol Them go lock You for Prison…
Na sol Them go beat You for Prison…
Them No call it slavery…
It`s him That make Me vex…

Na sol Them go lock You for Prison…
Na sol Them go beat You for Prison…
It`s him That make Me vex…
It`s him That make Me craze…

It`s Enough to make You go crazy… (woah)
It`s Enough to make You Mad…
It`s Enough to make You go crazy… (woah)
And, I`d be crazy Not to Care…

The Greatest

I always wondered what it would be like to see some of the most famous speeches in our time. I got into a conversation about the greatest orator of all time. We both picked one from the same generation, JFK and MLK. Obviously amazing speakers. It then proceeded into a debate about who is better, JFK or MLK. We eventually decided on differences were the parts that made them great.

The conversation didn't end there for me, as I brought this subject back up with another group of people this morning and the conversation took a different turn. How do you judge something like this? When you say all-time, do you mean all-time? I was really only thinking of people I have heard. It never occurred to me to think of figures such as Jesus Christ, Moses, Abraham Lincoln, Aristole, Julius Ceasar, just to name a few that came up. That is a whole other ball game. It also got me thinking about some of the great public speakers that are never noticed for their greatness based on what they created, like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. Are they discredited based on their actions?

So I have spent some time today, listening to some of the "great" speeches of the modern era (whatever I could get audio for). I have to limit myself to this based on limitations of making a qualified judgment. These clips included the following: JFK, MLK, Winston Churchill, FDR, Maya Angelou, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Malcolm X. These are just a few but are a group that some look at as the greatest. Are they? Absolutely.

Who is the best? Almost impossible to say, but if you go off one speech and one alone, the answer is clear, Martin Luther King Jr. There is no doubt that his "I have a dream" speech, is one of the single most inspirational pieces of our time. The power, the belief, the message, it all comes together in this moment in time. Add in the cultural significance of the speech and he wins. This differs from my preference in the original "greatest" conversation. I said JFK, and I may still believe that in a whole body of work way, but MLK dominated this moment.

It is not lost on me that the top two for me are people from an era of great social change. The people are the ones that give power to speeches and those in power. So, to even be considered among the elite in this category, you have to have something to say to the people. There has to be a reason for them to believe you. That is just the substance, but delivery matters just as much, you have to have presence.

I love speeches and everything they bring to a world. These are real moments in time. I envy every single person who saw MLK in front of the Lincoln Memorial, JFK at the Capital building, FDR in congress, and many others. These moments were powerful. One day, President Obama's inauguration may be looked at in the same light. These are the ones that have stood the test of time in many peoples eyes. Even today the messages of these wonderful people still have an impact. They matter today.

It may be impossible to quantify the greatest orator of all time. Everyone has their day and their moment. MLK is just the winner today.

Why I Love the 1920's

There is so much to love about the roaring 20's. It is really hard to dislike that era for everything that it brought us. The opportunity of the 20's is infectious. The style and romantic nature of the culture is stunning. The presidents had great names (Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover...who knows why Harding's first and last initial are not the same). Everyone had great names. To purchase alcohol was illegal, but it seems that is all anyone did. The Lost Generation inspired millions. Music was a way of life. And Baseball was Baseball.

Whenever you hear about the 20's, usually the first thing anyone thinks of is Gangsters. True, old school, Gangsters. And not Gangstas, but Gangsters. Al Capone style. This culture is romanticized but who really cares, it some cool shit. Of course, we can thank our own government (Shocking, i know) for the Organized Crime boon. Thank you Prohibition. I love the idea of Tommy Guns men in suits and fedoras. Maybe I am just that romantic, but I enjoy the idea of what that culture brought. It was fight or flight. It was gritty and real. People like Al Capone took advantage wherever they could. They bribed, they killed, they stole, and it didn't matter because everyone wanted the booze.

To go right along with all of that would be the clip joints and speakeasy that would go right along with it. Flappers and the Lost Generation. The Charleston. The flash. The Style. Even the language was fantastic. What I love most about the flappers, was their rebellious nature. That made them sexy. Do I even need to mention what they did for women? Of course I do. They changed the way the world looked at women. They gained independence. Not fully, but lets be honest, this was unheard of in this time. Did I mention the language? Oh and the music they would listen to.

Jazz is one of greatest forms of music to be played. The improv, the power, the feeling behind every single note. It helps that Louis Armstrong is one of the greatest musicians to walk this earth. No Joke. Just listen to this song...Kiss to build a dream on. You really don't get much better than that. He was so influential and well, damn good. The era of libertarianism craved the jazz and music only profited from it. There is no Frank Sinatra without a little Louis Armstrong. This era is not limited to Mr. Armstrong though as there is also Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, King Oliver, and many many more. Jazz has inspired so many. And the 20's are certainly not the same without it.

Amazing, classic novels were written in this time. Writers like Fitzgerald and Steinbeck were the voice of an entire generation. Books like Winesburg, Ohio (though published in 1919), Manhattan Transfer, and The Great Gatsby spoke to millions. They still do today.

Baseball was pure. I say pure in the sense that there wasn't much mistrust in the players. They were Gods. They were everybody's hero. The True. All fabrications when you look back at the Black Sox Scandal from 1919 and the fact that Ty Cobb was the dirtiest SOB to ever play the game. Babe Ruth was a womanizing piece of work. The fix was in everywhere you looked. But it was pure. It was Baseball. It was real, powerful, and meaningful. It was America's pastime, only happening in the present. You listened to it as kid and you went to the ballpark in a suit and tie. It was real and it was passionate. You also had some of the best players to ever play the game in Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, Hack Wilson, Jimmie Foxx and many more. It is a far cry for the Steroid Era of today. This kind of baseball is a dream these days.

I could try and re-live those days, but I didn't live in the era. I could write about my love for the culture and the era but I don't have enough time. There is so much about this decade that makes it amazing. The most amazing thing may have to be the attitude and the prosperity enjoyed until the very end of 1929 on Black Thursday. The sudden downfall accentuates the image of the Roaring Twenties. This decade will forever be viewed by some as the reason for the crash. It was "God" striking down his vengeance on the decadence of the 20's. To me, though, the 20's are the shining moment of American history. A show of life and belief that even to this day is unheard of.

Love the 20's. Live like a flapper. Sing like Louis Armstrong. Hit like Babe Ruth. Write like F. Scott Fitzgerald(his first name is Francis, weird I know). Dance the Charleston. Shoot a Tommy Gun. Drink some Moonshine. Smoke. Live the 20's. Live Life.

My Favorite Books, Vol. I

I do not often write about books. I love to share different books. Books always seem to connect on a different level than a movie or a song, not necessarily more, but on a different plane. It is sometimes hard to fit in all those books that you want to read. Some, you will never get to. Some, you will re-read a thousand times. That is the beauty of art, and writing is art.

So here are a few of my favorite books of All-Time. Not all of them or even the highest rated in my mind, just a few I want to share with everyone.


My Favorite Book to Pass Along: You Shall Know our Velocity!, Dave Eggers. This book revolves around Will and the money he has inherited. Will does not this money and goes on a week long Around-the-World odyssey to give it all away, with his friend Hand. Strange things happen, money is hard to give away, and we learn much more about the motivation of Will as we are immersed in this story.

The book is a page-turner in no other sense. It grabs you by the neck and forces you to ride along on these adventures of Will and Hand. From the very weird first paragraph to the unexpected digressions to the final moments, you will connect on a level personally about life and death and what it really means to all of us. Please read this book. I also have to give credit to Kelsi for sending this to me at the exact right moment in my life. One of the nicest things ever done for me and still means so much. I guess that is why we share a birthday.


My Favorite Book To Laugh My Ass Off With: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson. From the very first sentence, I was laughing uncontrollably. The introduction of Gonzo Journalism and the American Dream in this book are out of control, crazy, unbelievable fun. Written by a man that is as legendary as the books he wrote, which are mostly based off of his own experiences. If you know nothing of this book or this author, run to the nearest computer (you are already at one in case you forgot) and order this book right now. it will be the best 12 bucks you have ever spent. If you are really cheap you can buy it used for less money, you cheap bastards. If you want to cry and laugh at the same time, this is the book for you. And always remember that you can't stop there, its Bat Country.

My Favorite Book that I will never finish: Everything is Illuminated, Jonathan Safran Foer. I have no idea why I have never finished this book. I like parts of it and really enjoy others. I understand the story and love two intersecting stories within one. But, for the life of me, I can not bring myself to finish this book. I have tried and tried. I will try again soon enough. Give it a try and see if you can finish it. You most likely will have more luck than I did.

Those are just a few of my favorites. More will come, I can promise that. This post has given me idea of adding to the layout and features of this blog. I will be adding a What I am reading and What I am Listening to section to the side for all to keep up with my current tastes of things. Try those books and tell me what you think.

The Critic in Me is Back!

So the Critic in Me took a bit of a break to concentrate on other areas of my life for awhile. Well, I am back and ready to hit the ground running with things that I love to talk about. So whether you have missed my pathetic ramblings or not, I will commence with the talking and sharing. What better way to do that then share some of my favorite websites right now.

Texts From Last Night (TFLN)

Fail Blog

PostSecret

People Who Deserve It

Found

These are just a few of my favorites on this busy day of writing. Stay tuned for more ramblings.

I've Learned

Every once in awhile I come across something that says something to me personally. Something I did not necessarily expect but I like nonetheless. I found the following poem by Stumbling and I just had to share it with everyone. Read it and enjoy...

I've Learned
by Omer B. Washington

---

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.
I've learned that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.
I've learned that it takes years to build up trust
and only seconds to destroy it.
I've learned that it's not what you have in your life
but who you have in your life that counts.
I've learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself
to the best others can do,
but to the best you can do.
I've learned that it's not what happens to people,
It's what they do about it.
I've learned that no matter how thin you slide it,
there are always two sides.
I've learned that you should always have loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you'll see them.
I've learned that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done
When it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.
I've learned that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.
I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I've learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken,
the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual
ahead of their actions.
I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.
I've learned that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves go farther in life.
I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.
I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing,
as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.
I've learned that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.
I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice
and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.
I've learned to love
and be loved.
I've learned...

Push or Be Pushed

I do love to go to movies. Sometimes it is more about the experience than it is the movie. I recently went to see Chris Evans star in a film entitled Push. In the dank theater with six other people, my brother and I enjoyed what easily could have been your stereotypical superhero flick. This one is just a little bit different from the rest.

Push revolves around two americans, Nick (Chris Evans and Cassie (Dakota Fanning), who happen to have powers trying to help bring down a shadowing government agency called Division that wants those with powers. They race through Hong Kong with the help of others with abilities in order to reach their ultimate goal.

Sounds like your stereotypical superhero movie. Not so much. What makes Push different is language, and Chris Evans. Director Paul McGuiran (Lucky Number Slevin) and writer David Bourla created a world unlike the comic book worlds one would expect. This world has real problems with real people. You are these people.

The filmakers used words like Movers (Telekinesis), Watchers (Premonitions), Shifters, Shadows, Sniffers and so on. Everyone is classified as something and there are some unusual powers. The Sniffers smell things and know where other people or things are. Shadows hide people or things from sniffers. Stitches heal. Shifters having the ability to change the molecular structure of anything. And everybody seems to know what everyone is while running away from Division. Dakota Fanning is especially good as a teenage Watcher who draws what she sees in a little black notebook. She has grown up but not enough for a couple seens she has with that short skirt of hers. Scary.

The real star of the film is Chris Evans though. This is not the Human Torch. This character is tortured and it shows. We start the film with him losing his father to Division and fast forward ten years to him hiding out in Hong Kong and trying to using his Mover's power to win at Craps. He fails as he is unpracticed. Chris Evans carries the film more with his eyes and actions than he does with his voice. Wish this Chris Evans would joins us more often than he does. He made me want to be a mover.

The film is completely set up for a sequel and I hope we get one as this one was throughly enjoyable. The atmosphere made it even better as a three year-old kept coming up to my brother and I and saying Hi. One minute he is next to me talking to me during the movie and then all of a sudden he is running to other side to talk to my brother. A kid who is truly not scared. I like the little things like that during movies. That is why I would never go to the theater by myself. It is usually the company you keep that truly tells you how good the movie is. Movies are always best watched in the company of others.

This is not a film that tries to be smarter than the people watching it. The filmmakers help you along but also don't make you feel dumb. It is an intricate plot with lots of movement. The visuals are great and Hong Kong is a beautiful city to watch on the big screen. Give Push a try whether it be in theater or on DVD and you will not be disappointed.

Editors Note : I have neglected this blog and have gotten behind on a self imposed deadline on my Iowa post. I will hopefully have that out in the next couple days. Renewed vigor is here. Rejoice.

A-Rod or A-Roid?

That has been the story of sports for the last week. The world is both shocked and not shocked at the exact same time. The elitist have come out to admonish him and the "good souls" praise him for his honesty. Though, that honesty only came after he was caught. What is the real verdict? there is no possible way to have a right answer here? We are all right and we are all wrong with this issue.

I am personally saddened that he did use them but I do not think this makes him any less of a baseball player nor man. He was put in a extreme situation that many of us will never understand. The pressure, the expectations, the reality are all things only he really knew. I would like to think that I would not do what he did in that situation but to be honest, I may have. I may have done whatever it took to make the people around me believe in me. Does that mean I am right? Not necessarily.

The real problem I have is with the world and their moral high ground they think they are on. I am not only talking of this situation but others. Whether it is politics, parenting, education, religion, everyone thinks they are in the right and everyone else just has it wrong. That is the real problem with the world. Not that we don't believe in anything or that we are arrogant. It is the lack of understanding or compassion for others situations. Judgment and criticism are the way of the world now.

This all may sound hypocritical coming from a guy writing as a critic of the world, but it really does fit in with what I am saying. I am trying to understand and have some compassion, why don't you try doing the rest. Give the guy a break, he understands things that we never will. And I thank god I don't have his problems.

My Favorite Pics, Vol. II: Weather

It is time for another edition of My Favorite Pics. With this volume strictly regulated to photos taken that are weather related. Nature is a crazy thing and creates the nuttiest predicaments for man. Here it is caught in action.

Don't touch the water kid.

Where did Vancouver Go?

Oh man, that house is toast.

And I thought I had been in some bad storms.

Hurricane Katrina scares the crap out of me.

Top Ten Things About Iowa, Part I

You are probably asking yourself, what is so great about Iowa? If you live in Iowa you are most likely either going to say you love it or that there is absolutely nothing great about Iowa. Even if you are the latter, you will most likely retract that statement soon after leaving Iowa for so-called greener pastures. There is a lot to love about Iowa, you just have to know where to look. Oh, and be willing to drive a little bit. As most things are the typical 30-60 minute drive from where you are from, maybe more.

Big cities are hard to come by and credit card machines/ATMs may be sparse, but Iowa has a flare that can be see if you are willing. You are right. Iowa is full of corn fields. Interstate 80 is the worst drive in the world. It vaguely smells of livestock and oatmeal (thank you Cedar Rapids). You are more likely to find a tractor on highway than you are a Hummer. Iowans love meat. Love eggs. Love Milk. Iowa is a state that can't make its mind up on whether it is Republican or Democratic (Which between you and mean is a damn good thing). Iowa is the home of Ashton Kutcher and Shawn Johnson. It snows during the winter and floods during the spring. The humidity is near unbearable in the summer and the leaves never stay on the trees long enough, granted you have trees near you. Skyscrapers are nonexistent outside of Des Moines and even then the buildings have to jump on their own to touch the sky. Iowans love ethanol even though it is a crock of shit (PS. we know that too, just don't care). And despite all of this Iowa's charm is lost on almost no one. What is so great? What is it that makes people go back time after time. I am going to give you the top ten things that make Iowa THE greatest state in the Union.

10) Higher Education: Iowa State University (Ames, IA), University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA), and the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA) are the three state schools and each one excels at their specialties. Iowa State has one of the best Agriculture and Engineering programs in the nation along with a tough Vet Med Grad Program. The university of Iowa has a medical school with a top-notch Hospital. The University of Iowa boasts a 100 percent success rate for heart Transplant patients to live at least one year after surgery. UNI, while smaller, has fantastic Education and Business programs. Each has athletic programs that are top notch in different sports. National Championships, while rare for this great state, are in abundance when talking about College Wrestling. Any parent would be proud to send a child of theirs to these fantastic Universities.

9) I-80, The Worlds Largest Truck Stop: I am deadly serious about this. Many people joke but honestly it is a marvel in civil engineering and consumerism. Sometimes big and bold is great, just ask Texas. If this thing is anything, it is big and bold. Founded in 1964, it has grown to serve over 5,000 customers a day. It has everything from showers to gift shops to fuel to service stalls. It is one-stop shop Truck Stop that even has a dentist and museum. Its worth the stop when you drive by, even if you aren't near it, stop in and fill up.

8) Kate Shelley High Bridge: The Kate Shelley High Bridge is the highest double-track railroad bridge in the United States. Residing west of Boone,IA, it stands 185 ft. in the air as it crosses the Des Moines River. It was originally built in 1899 and finished in 1901. There is a new bridge being built to replace this bridge that will stand 180 ft. in the air and still be the highest in the nation. It is a site to behold no matter who you are. The bridge itself is named after Kate Shelley, a girl who once crossed the bridge on her hands and knees in order to stop a train from crossing during a huge storm.

7) Taylor's Maid-Rite: Maid-Rites are a fixture in Central Iowa and even beyond. The ultimate loose meat sandwich that would even serve Ketchup with its sandwiches until that last few years. Originally started by Fred Angell in 1926, Cliff Taylor purchased the rights and it has since become a family business. To this day it is still apart of the same family. For those that were part of the originals in Newton, Muscatine, and Marshalltown, Taylor's Maid-Rite is a great place to meet old friends and have a great meal.

6) Adventureland: Adventureland is a amusement park that was founded in Altoona, IA in 1973. Adventureland is not Six Flags or Disneyworld or Cedar Point or even Worlds of Fun. But Adventureland is a great place to take your family. It is that place you go back to be again kid. There is fun for all and it is affordable. It may not huge but there are memories that I personally have that I will never forget. Thats what this place creates, memories.

The rest will be coming in a week...

Website of the Day

As you know, I constantly stumble and here is a nice little gem I found today. I liked it so much I wanted to share it with you. Someone Once Told Me. This website involves pictures taken of people with phrases said to them at different points in their lives. The photos are all in black and white with the message written on a small piece of poster board. The locations vary and sometimes don't matter, but the messages given are highly meaningful. The messages range from the extremely personal to the well known. Each message has their own story and this is their story. It is a fantastic site to look at for a few minutes and come back to in the future to enjoy more messages of the world. Some will make you laugh and some will inspire. Either way, you will be happy you visited, even if for a short while.

Oddities in News, Vol. I

I love the weird things that come across the news. I am amazed and inspired by them. There are some truly special people in this world and I mean that in every sense of the word. I just read this story on redorbit.com that a girl sent 14,528 texts in one month. That is 484 texts a day. Which translates into a text every 2 minutes of every waking hour. HOLY SHIT!!!! What in gods name can you text about that much. I mean seriously. I like to text, but I have trouble getting through 250 in a month. I know others that text a hell of a lot more, but 14,528. I am flabbergasted. Astonished. Appalled. Disappointed.

It makes you wonder what the world is coming to when something like this happens. What happened to the phone call. It is a lost art. It is now all email and text. The less human contact, the better. I am no better. When it comes to conflict, I would much rather not talk to the person. I am no better. But I should be. And so should the rest of the world.

Sidewalk Chalk Guy

I love Sidewalk Chalk Guy. His real name is Julian Beever and he calls them Pavement Drawings. He is a real artist with amazing talent. Lets be honest though, Sidewalk Chalk Guy sounds so much cooler. I actually saw him doing this once in Chicago. I was blown away. I found these online somewhere that really doesn't matter. These are a few of the gems this guy can create. You can see more at his website, Julian Beever. This type of talent is awe inspiring. I mean, how in the hell is this possible. I want to do this. I want this life, but alas, I am just me. Enjoy the pics.

I am Batman!!!

Recently, our friendly neighborhood Batman, Christian Bale, had an on-set outburst of his leaked to the press. The incident happened this past summer while on the set of Terminator Salvation. It has Bale flipping out on the Director of Photography for messing with the lights in the middle of his scene. This audio is one of the most intense blow-ups ever caught on tape. I am fascinated by this. The amount of expletives used by bale is astounding. I am not even appalled by it, I am impressed by his ability sling this kind of mud. You can here the clip here, Bale Explodes.

I keep listening and each time it gets better and better. I laugh, I gasp and each when I expect him to stop he just keeps going. It is truly amazing. I am flabbergasted. Do I think this is right? No, but i don't think he is a horrible person for this either. Lots out there want to paint him as this egotistical bastard who has no right to be associating with people. I don't think these people are any better. I cannot judge him on this. I was not there and have never had his experiences. I would like to think that I would not do something like that. But everyone has bad days. It is very well that he just had a bad day. Then again, he could be the asshole everyone wants him to be.

Take it easy on him unless you know him personally and not just what the press wants you to know. The bias in this world is unbelievable. There is not a single person in the public that you can say is perfectly conveyed by the media. Nobody is perfect and everyone has skeletons and not everyone may be the devil they are painted to be. So take it easy and remember, that could have been you or someone you really do know.

Oprah, lets have a drink!!!!

Today is my birthday and on the stupendous occasion I will tell you of some of the most interesting things to have had happen on this most auspicious of days.

1802: John Beckley becomes the first Librarian of Congress, appointed by President Thomas Jefferson. He reportedly was paid two dollars per day.

1843: President William Mckinley is born.

1845: Edgar Alan Poe publishes his most famous work, "The Raven"

1861: Kansas enters the Union

1886: The first successful petrol-driven motorcar, built by Karl Benz, was patented.

1891: Liliuokalani became Queen of Hawaii following the death of her brother King Kalakaua. She was the last monarch in Hawaiian history.

1916: In World War I, Paris was bombed by German zeppelins for the first time.

1936: US Baseball Hall of Fame elects its first members, honorees include Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner, and Christy Mathewson.

1954: Oprah Winfrey is born

1963: The first members to the NFL Hall of Fame were named in Canton, OH.

1990: Exxon Valdez oil tanker captain Joseph Hazelwood goes on trial for his involvement in the worst oil spill in the history of the United States.

1995: The San Francisco 49ers make NFL history by winning their fifth Super Bowl.

The Geek In Me

I am a Geek. In the true sense of the word. I love movies, science fiction, comic books, collecting DVD's, wearing my glasses. I love it all. I love the way people look at me when they realize that I am a Geek. I love how a girl smiles at me like I am the little innocent one. I love how guys quietly profess their love for those same things when others aren't looking.

So, what are all the different things that make me a geek? That is what I intend to share with you in this every so often column called, The Geek In Me. It will be released in no uniform fashion. Tonights installment will revolve around my current obsession with Comic Books. That is right ladies and gentlemen, I said it. I LOVE COMIC BOOKS!!!! If I could say it louder I would. Of course I do blame is rabid obsession on Kevin, one of my best and worst friends. That bastard has made it so that I find myself spending hundreds of dollars on these things and countless hours on PirateBay looking for the latest releases that I am too damn cheap to buy. Oh I loath that man.

What do I love about Comic Books? The stories. The real stories that are so damn over-the-top that you can find them nowhere else. I love that everyone in the world loves the stories but won't admit to liking comic books. I love going in the store and seeing them all over the walls and knowing that there is no way in hell that I can read them all, but damnit I am going to try. I love anticipation from one issue to the next. I love that it takes years to tell a story. I love that time doesn't exist, that all the characters haven't aged in years (I am excluded DC Comic's 52 from this paradigm). I love that a character can die and you know they will be back in one form or another. I love that there is good and there is evil, there is black and white, very little gray. I love superheroes that don't want to be superheroes. I love villains. I love that imagination is an asset. I love that my two favorite comic books, Fables and 100 Bullets, don't even involve superheroes. I love that I can pick out the right comic book for anyone to read and they are hooked, there are that many options. I love when something I expect to happen, doesn't. I love the art. I love the way they make me laugh. I love the simplicity of the fact that they are movies in storyboard form. I love that everyone in the world loves the comic book movies. But most of all I love how much I get excited for new stories and new rules. I just love the entertainment they give me.

Geeks are taking over the world ladies and gentlemen. The highest grossing film of the year just happened to be based off of a comic book, maybe you have heard about it, The Dark Knight, based off that little known comic book called Batman. Oh, and the second highest grossing film of the year in Iron Man. I will leave you with a cover of each of my two favorite comics.

My Favorite Movies Vol. I

I have a lot of favorite movies. Some are the worst movies ever put on film, yet I love them for their ability to make me forget the outside for a couple hours. There are others I love because they inspire me. Some make me remember. One can make me cry even after watching it for the hundredth time. I also love that not matter where the movie came from, be it book, another movie, or original idea, they always stand by themselves. I love movies. Every so often I will give you a list of movies. These will be required watching as they are movies everyone must watch. This is that first list.

My Favorite Racing Movie: Days of Thunder, This Tony Scott directed film starring Tom Cruise is the epitome of the out of nowhere success we all want. Tom Cruise plays a race car driver that comes from nowhere to succeed unlike any other driver ever has. You get to see a hot Nicole Kidman with full on Aussie accent along with Randy Quaid, who happens to have one of the greatest lines ever halfway through the movie. You will see Cary Elwes ("As you wish") in a rare villain role. Robert Duvall will make you cry with laughter and pain playing the Crew Pit Chief with a past. A young John C. Reilly will give you a glimpse of the comedic actor he will become in movies later with Will Farrell. And if that isnt enough, you will find yourself rooting for all in this riveting film from beginning to end. (Other favorite racing movies include...wait...racing movies suck)

My Favorite Movie That Always Makes Me Cry: Life as a House, A movie starring Kevin Kline and our favorite whiner Hayden Christensen. It revolves around a Dad dying of cancer and his quest to build a house with his son, who just happens to hate him. Interesting characters abound as Kevin Kline gives his best performance since A Fish Called Wanda. A particular scene stealer is the girl next door that isnt your typical girl next door, played by Jena Malone. This movie has heart and these days that is hard to find in movies. (Honorable mention goes to Braveheart, Good Will Hunting, and with A River Runs Through It a very close second.)


My Favorite Movie that Inspires: Ghandi, There is no movie more moving nor more inspiring than the one about the Mahatma. Mohandras Ghandi was a man above all. He believed in a world that could change and should change. His most famous quote is also the most real, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." There is no better attitude. Ghandi is portrayed brillantly by Ben Kingsley. You fall for everything he says just as much as you did the real man. There are not many times you can say that about a performance. Watch it and be inspired. (Honorable mention to Remember the Titans, Miracle, An Inconvenient Truth)

These are just three of the movies that I love and own. If you have not seen these movies you should run to the store and buy, not rent, these movies and watch them over and over and over. They are entertainment at their best.

Next time in My Favorite Movies....My favorite Comedies.

My Favorite Pics, Vol. I

I love finding strange pics on the Internet as well as take pictures myself and every so often I will share these with you whether you like it or not. All will have a theme and this is one of my favorites, Stupidity. There are a lot of stupid people in the world and these are a few examples.

How did this person get past the do?


I want to know this person's thought process. Seriously.

This is so much easier in shorts and without those darn spikes on my foot.

"I'm almost there dad. Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Yeah, Son, you're doing great."
"What would I do without you dad?"


Best use of Hay bales ever.

This dude is the world's strongest man.

Do I need say anything?

There are a few gems. If you would like to see more stupid people doing stupid stuff, try these few sites I love...Stupid people, Dumb Videos, Not always right

Until next time...

The Things I Do

Every couple years I try and redo this blog. I have a dream, a dream to have two blogs. One that is personal and another that completes the other part of me. The one that is constantly analyzing, criticizes and just talking trash. It is what I do. This is my final attempt to make this dream come true. Please read and see the joys of the world with me. Comments always appreciated.

My first entry will be related to my favorite activity that comes from boredom, Stumbling. Do you Stumble? Everyone should. Stumbling is using the Stumbleupon add-on for the internet. It is a button that you add to your browser(both IE and Firefox ready) and when hit takes you to a random site based off or your internet surfing preferences. Takes about five minutes to setup and gives you hours and hours of entertainment on the Worldwide Web.

Stumbling is what you do on those nights that there is nothing on TV and its too cold to go outside. It is what you do when you are depressed and need a little uplift. It is what you do when you really don't want to do that housework you are meant to do or the assignment that you are supposed to finish. Stumbling is no longer what happens when you lose your balance but what happens when the current world you live in can no longer hold your attention.

Here are a few of the goodies that I have found in the last twenty minutes of Stumbling...

An Angel Oak in South Carolina

Too Cute

Buck Knives (You can never have enough Knives)

American's are weird (Which means we are stupid)

Wallstats - The Art of Information (Great way to put the facts out there)

List of common Misconceptions (Now everyone will realize that I am always right)

Sports Illustrated Vault (A sports geek can't ask for much more)

Bread Kills (Got to love satire)

How Many TV shows can you name in Two Minutes (can you beat 38)

Free Documentaries (A true Treasure of the Truth)

Cliche Finder (Just when you thought all cliches were lost)

Sweet Pics (Sometimes only a picture is the truth)

The Bachelor Guy

Those or just some of the treasures that I have find through Stumbling. So, give it a try and see what you find. There is more to the world than any of us will ever think. Thats all for today folks.

Coming soon....

• Top Ten Things about the greatest state in the Union, Iowa.
  
• Weekly Movie Picks
• Comic book Chatter
• The Geek in Me