And A Partridge In A Pear Tree

So, since I know most of us have not experienced a Puerto Rican Christmas, I have decided to shed a little light on how my family celebrates our the holiday. First off, I need to give some background. My mother is one of sixteen children, and no that is not a typo. There are ten girls and six boys. Through the years, they have produced thirty-five children, ranging in ages 36 to one year old. If you can do the math, this makes for one hell of a big family, and I would have it no other way. While my family resides in Illinois, the majority of the extended family lives in northwest Indiana, namely Gary. Now, most people shudder when I mention my roots in Gary, but I have a lot of great memories that originate in Gary, so please refrain from making any snide comments. While Gary may not be Beverly Hills, it is the backdrop of my family's history, and has made a lot of strides since it's troubles from the late 80's.

Anyways, as a tradition, my family always congregates at my grandparents home in Gary on Christmas Eve. This includes aunts, uncles and cousins of several different generations. Everyone gathers to enjoy the finest of Puerto Rican cuisine and open gifts at midnight with the arrival of Santos Claus. The food is always second to none, and everyone looks forward to feasting on special items that are only made for major holidays or events. No other food is more cherished than the delicacy of pasteles. This item is very hard to describe, but I will do my best. I would compare it to a sort of Puerto Rican tamale. The filling is primarily pork and potatoes, encased in a batter that uses plantains for the base. Pasteles are very labor intensive, but well worth the effort, and this year's batch was especially excellent. The spread is always enticing and I love every minute that I get to stuff myself with special holiday eats.

Now, most of the present opening is reserved for the younger kids, but it is still quite the spectacle.I mentioned the fact that I have over thirty cousins, and I am number nine in the pecking order. The wide range of ages between cousins has definitely kept things fresh and led to groupings by age. Since I am from an earlier generation, I don't really participate in the ritual midnight opening of the presents, which is fine by me. This year, it was really great seeing all of my younger cousins wriggle with anticipation, waiting for the clock to strike midnight. The sheer madness that ensued was fun to watch and reminded of some great memories of from my youth. There is nothing like seeing the joy on the kids faces when they finally open the gift that they have been waiting for. I all of my 27 years, I have only missed on Christmas Eve, and that was last year for the Bears/Lions game. Even though the game was a great time, I truly missed being around my family on that special night.

Overall, this is an event that I look forward to every year. I know this post went up a little late, but I hope that everyone gets to enjoy a Christmas experience like mine, because it is truly special. Bah Humbug.

Please Hester Don't Hurt 'Em

It is now time to sing the praises of one Devin Hester. I don't know if I can use enough superlatives to describe the man, but I will try to pay him the respect that he deserves. Us Bears fans knew we had something special after last year, but who knew that he would continue this unbelievable streak that he is on. The NFL has never, I repeat never seen a return talent the likes of Mr. Hester. He is rewriting the record book for returns right in front of our eyes while special teams coaches around the league are scrambling to come up with ways to stop him.

For the perfect example of this, let's look back to the game against Denver from Week 11. Some might argue that Mike Shanahan had no business kicking to Hester, but the Broncos bristled at this idea. I can't say I don't completely disagree with Shanahan, but of course, I want every team to kick to Hester. NFL players are paid professionals whose job is to play a game for a living at the highest possible level. Since the Broncos actually kicked to Hester, he was able to hurt them, positioning the Bears for their improbable win. We should also give credit to Bears special teams coach Dave Toub for dropping four men back into coverage during one particular punt, which forced Denver to take a timeout. Toub threw in an exotic look that confused the opposing coaches, and took advantage of the automatic threat that Hester poses. The game was fun to watch for every Bears fan out there and will be one that I remember for a long time.

Considering that this has been a lost season for the Bears, the highlight reel that Hester has provided us lowly fans has been greatly appreciated. Whoever can catch the pop culture reference in the title of this posting will receive gold star*.

*No gold star will actually be awarded.

Another Blow To Privacy Rights

Unfortunately this is another case of the erosion of civil rights that has hastened during the last several years. Beginning with the Patriot Act, rights to privacy have diminished while unlawful searches seem to be on the rise. This is particularly the case with the Project 100% Law that is enforced in San Diego.

Project 100% is a law that allows for the searching of welfare recipients homes in San Diego County without their permission. If the recipient denies the search of their homes, their welfare rights will be rescinded. This law has been enforced in San Diego for the last ten years and is working under the guise that it will help thwart fraud in welfare cases. Here are a couple of articles on the court proceedings. One is from the Associated Press and the other is from North County Times of Northern California.

I find this law to be wholly unacceptable for the rights of private citizens. Welfare fraud is a problem that needs to be eliminated, but conducting searches without permission is a direct slap in the face to to the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Bureaucrats in defense of this law claim that it does not qualify as an illegal search because it is voluntary and the person still has the right to refuse the search, even though they will still lose their welfare rights.

The Supreme Court has chosen not to hear this case, which in essence, secures it's power in the eyes of the law. The last ruling that upheld this law occurred in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which services the West Coast, much to the chagrin of the judges in the minority of the decision. While some people do nothing but bemoan the status of the welfare system, there is no doubt that it serves a specific function in our society. Welfare fraud is a problem, illegal searching is not the answer.

This op-ed piece from the NY Times does a nice job of explaining what I could not and also reinforces my opinion. While some may consider this to be only to be a problem for the poor, it sets a dangerous precedent for future laws that may blur the line between what is considered to be a voluntary or involuntary search. The Supreme Court is making a dire mistake by refusing the hear this case and I can only hope that there will be another way to attack this law from being enforced.

Please Issue Restraint When Responding

I am all about free speech, but this does not give us the right to be offensive. This blog is about the right to express opinions, lord knows I do, but please try not to make sweeping references to people that may be strictly offensive in nature. References to hate groups and things of that nature will not be tolerated and the comments will be deleted if I deem them to be resentful or mean spirited. Once again, this is a forum for expressing opinions, but please do so in a respectful nature.

Greatest Holiday Movies Ever

Here are the greatest holiday movies ever. I was going to only list five, but I thought of one extra that I had to put on. Numbers 2-6 can be interchanged, but number 1 is number 1. I am open to suggestions.

1. Trading Places- This is the single greatest holiday movie ever made. Some people object to the fact that is a holiday movie, but I will once again point out that it takes place during the holiday season, specifically New Year's. On top of that, Louis dresses as Santa during a pivotal scene. Anyways, this movie is solid gold and should be owned by every single red-blooded American citizen. Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd are at the top of their games and are able to take full advantage of the 80's style comedy that can no longer be made. Here are some quotes that deserve to be listed: "My code name was Agent Orange."

"Can I help you officers?"
"Is there a lawyer in the house?"
"You do that, a quart of blood will fall out of a person's body."
"It ain't cool being no Jive Turkey so close to Thanksgiving."
"Yeah!"
"Hey, Morty! What it is?"
"Randy? Is that like Randy Jackson from the Jackson 5?"
"Y'all ain't gonna jacuzzi nobody?"
"Lionel!!"
"Swedish meatballs? But your wearing lederhosen."
"Looking good Billy Ray."
"Feeling good Louis."

There are plenty others, but they are rated R, so I won't list them. Regardless, everyone should see this movie.

2. The Ref- This one may be little known, but it stars Dennis Leary and Kevin Spacey. It's about a dysfunctional family that learns the value of the holidays during a burglary gone awry. Now this is admittedly on the dark side of comedy, but it has a good message while delivering some delightfully dirty jokes.

3. Scrooged- This is an ingenious take on the classic Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Bill Murray plays the role of Scrooge in a way that no one else can. His hysterical version is wonderfully cold and bitter, with nice supporting roles played by Buster Poindexter and Carol Kane.

4. Die Hard- Even though I am partial to third installment of this series, number one is the best of the Christmas themed entries. How can you deny the introduction of John McClane to pop culture history. On top of that, this movie features one of the all-time great movie villains, Hans Gruber, played with brilliance by Alan Rickman.

5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation- This may not equal the first Vacation, but it is damn funny. From Clark stringing the lights, to Cousin Eddie loading up three bags of Ol ' Roy onto the shopping cart Clark extends the offer to pick up the tab on a few extra groceries. This is perhaps all topped by scene of the family chasing the squirrel. Classic.

6. Love Actually- This will probably shock most of you, but this is a damn fine movie. From the hysterical take on the classic "Love is All Around," to the all star cast (Hugh Grant, Keira Knightly, Billy Bob Thornton, Liam Neeson and Colin Firth to name a few) this movie is great to watch with a special someone to warm up the heart.

Generally Warned

Okay, I will finally tackle the idea of water boarding which was at the forefront of the Michael Mukasey confirmation hearing as the new Attorney General. Actually, before I get on to that, let's take a moment to remember the tenure of one Alberto Gonzales. Not that we needed another example of the poor decisions our current administration has made, but the Gonzales appointment was a mistake from the beginning. Gonzales' ties to the President, he was his own personal council, were much too close. This is not entirely the fault of the President because his "advisers" should have clued him in on the potential for personal conflict about to enter the fray of what is already a difficult job. Anyways, Gonzales made his own bed in the end by firing those federal attorneys and paid the ultimate price by offering his resignation while under fire from both major political parties. In order to combat accusations of being overly liberal, I will link this article from Foxnews about the Justice Department's investigation of Gonzales' testimony to Congress that has drawn such negative attention. In my opinion, the reaction of the Congress and both parties is completely warranted. Here is a nice little summation of how I felt from www.salon.com.

Now, on to Mr. Mukasey. While he is less biased than Gonzales, the thing that troubles me is the debate about how to handle accusations that U.S. interrogators use the waterboarding method of torture when coercing information out of detainees. For those of us that are not familiar with the concept of waterboarding, it is a torture method that tricks prisoners into thinking they are drowning. The detainees are fastened to a board, tipped to an angle that positions their feet about their head and then a hood is put over their faces. After positioning and dressing the victim, water is poured over their heads until there lungs are filled with water. The fact that their heads are covered psychologically tricks the brain into believing that the person in drowning. I don't know about most people, but I consider this to be cruel and unusual punishment, which was a sticking point in the appointment of Mukasey.

Mr. Mukasey refused to label waterboarding as a method of cruel and unusual punishment, which has drawn the ire of both liberals and conservatives. While Mukasey might be slightly more fair and impartial than Gonzales or his predecessor John Ashcroft, another Bush stalwart, he must insist on a resolution that prohibits any U.S. interrogators from waterboarding detainees. It is wholly hypocritical for us as a nation to stand behind this method as an acceptable method of attaining information. If we stand against torture, we need to see this hideous act for what it is. Perhaps if the current administration needs to be convinced, they should take the advice of none other than author Stephen King suggests. During a recent Time magazine, King suggests that in order for the administration to effectively gage if waterboarding is cruel or not, they should test it on someone close to Mr. Bush. Specifically, King suggested Jenna Bush.

This entry on the Huffington Post by Rep. Jerrold Nadler and Rep. William D. Delahunt details their effort to pass new anti-torture legislature. The important thing that should be outlined is the fact that America as a nation prides itself on freedom and equal treatment, which is not evident if we continue to allow this vicious method of torture.

Now, On to the Jive Turkeys

So, I gave you the things that I am thankful for, now onto the things that I consider to be jive.

• The veto of the SCHIP program. I don't have enough time to go into all of it, but I think our administration needs to get their act together to ensure that our youth is protected from our failing health care system.
• The housing crisis. I am truly scared about the impact that this will have on the economy, but only time will tell.
• The unnecessary resurgence of heinous hate crimes. The unfortunate situation playing out in Jena, La. has given rise to several copycat incidents involving nooses and race based acts of hate that have no place in our society. Perhaps this says more about our perceived progress as a nation that I would like to believe.
• The white sox 2005 World Series championship. I am well aware that it was two years ago, but the so-called fans of this organization have been so unbearable that I had to list this them.
• Oprah Winfrey. Explaining this choice would take too long, so call me and ask me if you are really interested.
• Bad music. For some reason, most music that is being produced today is just total rubbish. I'm not sure what happened to good old rock 'n roll, but for every decent act that comes about, like the Arcade Fire, there seems to be twenty nicklebacks.
• Grey's Anatomy. I will never understand how a show that based it's early success on the breakup of a marriage came to be so successful.
  
• Traffic. I thought I was going to go crazy during my commute during student teaching. However, I persevered and lived to tell about it.
• Forcing stupid promotions upon my guests at Chili's. I am all about making extra cash, but I hate bombarding my unsuspecting guests with so-called deal after deal.

Well, that's it for my little rant. Please feel free to respond about things that you are thankful for, and those that you are not.

It Ain't Cool Being No Jive Turkey So Close To Thanksgiving

Hello, I am back. Sorry about the delay, but two jobs have been keeping a brother busy these days. I hope that does not sound like a complaint, because I LOVE my job at HC. It has probably been the most rewarding thing I have ever done, and I can only hope my students understand how important the are to me. I guess that is the first thing that I am thankful for in what has been a truly wonderful year for me.

I have so many things to be thankful for this year, I am not sure I will be able to think of them all. Of course number one is my little Marilyn. Although we all know that I have a strange way of showing affection, or not showing it as some would argue, I am pretty sure you all know how much I care for her. I know that everyone wants to see us finally tie the knot, but rest assured that it will happen sooner rather than later. Even when it seems like the world is against us, I know I can count on her to make me smile.Anyways, everyday that we wake up together is a good one, so for that I am thankful.

Next on the list would have to be my family. I am thankful for their constant support and always putting up with my complaints and whining, just like Mar. Now, I will argue that my definition of whining is different than theirs, but that is a debate for another day.

Now, on to the people I refer to as friends. I am not sure what I did to deserve such a great group of comrades, but I could not dream of running with another crew. Not a day goes by that I wonder how I became so lucky to have so many close friends that I care about dearly.

In order to not make this too long, I will now write a list with a short description of why I am thankful this year:

• Student Teaching- What an eye opening experience. Working in Chicago was a total revelation. I loved my students and do not have the time to explain the whole situation (perhaps I will revisit this topic in a future post). Although my heart was constantly broken, this opportunity opened my eyes to situations that I have never experienced an made me a better person.
  
• Graduation- This goes without saying. It was a long time coming, but totally worth the effort. We had a great time in Bloomington/Normal, despite my early grievances, and miss it more with each passing day.
• New Jobs- Let me say that I LOVE my new job. And by love I mean I cannot imagine enjoying anything more than my current gig. I have great coworkers and my students are truly an inspiration. The genuine appreciation that I see in my students faces makes even this young curmudgeon smile. I would rather do nothing else.
• My New Coworkers- This goes hand in hand with my previous item, but I work with truly wonderful people. They have pushed me to do my best and I hope that I am meeting the challenge. I learn more and more everyday and hope to continue learning from these great teachers.
  
• Wrigley, Gracie & Murphy- I don't care how much you gutless dog supporters try to talk me into getting a mongrel, I will always be a cat person. These three little rays of sunshine give me unconditional love, which is not always the easiest thing.
  
• The Chicago Cubs Playoff Run- This was a great year, even if they constantly gave me anxiety attacks while watching the games. That gem against the Reds on Sept. 17 was unbelievable. It was one of the top five games that I have ever been to, which is saying quite a bit. To think we almost left the game early so I could get home and beat the traffic. When Aramis hit that triple in the bottom of the ninth, Wrigley was up for grabs and I was in ecstasy.
• Battlestar Galactica- Go ahead and make fun of me, but everyone NEEDS to start watching this show. It is beyond excellent and will appeal to you even if you are not a fan of sci-fi.
• Nintendo Wii- Ever since I froze my ass waiting in line for this ingenious piece of technology to come out, I have been having a blast. It has brought me many nights of fun and provided great fun for me and my friends.
• Notre Dames Football Record- For no other reason than providing me ammo to rib a certain Orlando native.
• Children of Men/Pan's Labyrinth- This combo of films made by Mexican directors were wonders to behold. The dystopian future that Children painted was jarring and great to watch. It's testimony about today's society and the immigration issues that face us was quite daunting, and regrettably, not to far fetched. On the hand, Pan's was a beautiful fantasy about escaping the horrors of war. I have never experienced war first hand, but this movie showed how the terror of war can impact a young person who uses her mind to get way from her horrible reality. Both movies are must sees and I highly recommend them.
• Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury- I may be a little late to catch this train, but it was a hell of a ride. Like Children of Men, this superb novel paints a scary future that could one day be reality. I am not saying that we will soon be burning all of our books, but the idea that we are facing a world of censorship and mindlessness is a distinct possibility.
• Devin Hester- Boy has he provided us lowly Bears fans with a spark of hope. His returns are amazing, and I can only hope his legs will take us to the playoffs.

Well, that's about it. Thanks for hearing me out and I hope that you have reasons to be thankful during this holiday season. Now, I will return to the black hearted, lump of coal, thin skinned, callous, sarcastic, intelligent smart ass that you all have come to know and love.

Hungry Like The Wolf

This is a follow up to the first entry on Jonathan Kozol. As I mentioned, he is a noted teacher and author that has been studying the inequalities in our educational system for the better part of the last forty years. Well, Mr. Kozol is on a personal crusade against the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that was signed into law by the Bush administration in 2002. NCLB has been a sore spot for many an educator, and Mr. Kozol is no exception. Mr. Kozol decided to show his lack of support to NCLB by fasting beginning at the end of last summer, and here is his account of why he is doing it.

Our Man Griese

I just wanted to take a little time to recognize Bears quarterback Brian Griese for being honored as NFC Offensive Player of the Week. I know that I would have never guessed that he would have achieved this after a mere four weeks as the starting quarterback, but low and behold, here we are. We have the Lions this week, which should be a good thing. But, who knows after the debacle in week four when we gave up an NFL record 34 fourth quarter points to blow what should have been a win. Anyways, things at Halas Hall are looking up after beating Philly last week, so let's hope we can make to to .5oo by the midpoint of the season in order to make a strong push toward the playoffs.

I Pledge Allegiance...

After discussing the moment of silence issue with several people, they asked me my opinion on the Pledge of Allegiance in regards to it's constitutionally and if I support it. Well, there is not a simple answer to this question. I will start by saying that I am all for flag recognition, but I do not think that "under God" should be included in this salute. The inclusion of "under God" has an interesting history, as pointed out is this column written for Slate by noted Rutgers University historian David Greenberg. I have always found it interesting that something so revered as the pledge has so much history behind it that is routinely ignored. Personally, I wonder how many conservatives that support the inclusion of "under God" know that the Pledge was written by socialist?

The issue of the constitutionality of the Pledge has been brought to the Supreme Court in the last decade through a notable case from California. The Court ruled 8-0 in favor of the Pledge, but keep in mind that this was a technicality regarding the custody of the student in question. This led deceased Chief Justice William Rehnquist to suggest that the constitutionality of the law be examined in a case that did not mix custody with the rights of the student. I personally find constitutional law to be fascinating, so I apologize if the link to the actual ruling is a cumbersome read. This issue will undoubtedly rear it's head in the future, so I hope this brief background has helped to shed a little light on the subject.

Savage Inequalites

One of my responsibilities during my preparation for becoming an educator was to familiarize myself with the work of Jonathan Kozol, a noted teacher and champion for students that face the injustices of our public school system. I have always felt compelled to pass his message on to others, so I will do so now. Here is an interview, conducted in 1993 for an issue of Educational Leadership, that explains the basics of his theory. Some of the information is a little dated, but the his basic arguments are still plausible. Mr. Kozol brings up very valid points, and after experiencing inner city schools vs. suburban schools, I still believe the gap in education is a plague upon our school system. Not everyone is aware of how the rampant damage of the class system is effecting American education, so please take a moment to give it some thought as we consider how school reforms can effect our students. I am currently reading a text by Kozol called Shame of a Nation and will write a review once I am finished.

There Is Nothing Worse Than Weak Coffee

First, I would like to start off by admitting that I have unfortunately become a drone that needs a cup of coffee in the morning to jump start my day at work. I never really thought that I would become a regular coffee drinker, but I'll be damned if the stuff doesn't help me shake the cobwebs in the morning. I have come to prefer a darker Colombian roast that is potent without being bitter. Marilyn will use this opportunity to call me a coffee snob, but I likes what I likes. Don't forget that I used to be a barista and have acquired a taste for something that is smooth and tasty, not burnt or watered down. That being said, while proctoring an ACT exam, I was provided with horribly weak coffee that should be illegal. I didn't go to Starbucks because I figured someone would be able to brew a pot with competence, but sadly, I was mistaken. What exactly is the point of brewing a pot if it is going to be weak and not provide the jolt that some of us expect and desire? Is this too much for a brother to ask?

Now THAT Was A Finale

For those of us that were keeping up with the stellar series Damages on F/X this summer, we were greatly rewarded with a fantastic finish to the season. Spoilers Ahead!!!!

Frobisher getting shot! Patty arranging Ellen's death! The amount of the settlement! This was all a total shock for me. I was blindsided at every twist and turn as we finally got the answers we were looking for, while being kept on the hook for next season, if there is one. The performances by Glen Close (how creepy was it when she was crying at the grave and her eyes appeared to be black?) and Ted Danson stole the show all season, and did not disappoint in this episode. Who would have thought that our buddy Sam Malone could have such an evil streak in him.

Now even though I'm sure not all lawyers are this diabolical as Hewes & Associates were, I do wonder what lengths some law firms go to in order to exonerate their clients. This all being said, I really enjoyed the run of this program. I was not sure what to expect, but the great cast and suspenseful plot kept me guessing the whole time. F/X might be the most consistent network when it comes to airing outstanding adult dramas that push the envelope and keeps the viewers asking for more. Let's just hope that the head honchos are wise enough to bring this show back for a well deserved second series.

Do the Evolution

Well, another week has passed and I apologize for my lack of activity. Now that we are back, I would like to ponder the idea of evolution. This little diddy comes from BBC News and it quite interesting. Evolution has been a hot topic for me since I just read Inherit the Wind, which I highly recommend (I will post on my favorite quote from this play soon). In addition to this, a pal at work blew my mind when explaining his beliefs on creationism. This coworker explained that they believed that the Earth was no more then ten thousand years old. Naturally, I was shocked by this revelation, so I posed a question about the existence of dinosaurs. The coworker responded that said dinosaurs were on Noah's ark. This was the moment that my mind was blown. However, this person is wholly entitled to his opinion, and I completely respect the dedication that this individual shows toward their beliefs.

Now, on to the article that I have linked. Looks like I'm in some trouble. While I am probably closer to the coffee colored skin tone than some, due to my height, I think I'm on my way to being mayor of Goblinville. Well, I hoped this will give us all a laugh in the name of science, and good luck to those of us who will become giants and eventually have 120 year life expectancies.

And Now, Please Stand For A Moment Of Silence

Sorry for the break, but I'm back for more. To start things off, I would like to discuss the ridiculousness of the this new Illinois state law requiring students to start all school days off with a moment of silence. This law has absolutely no intrinsic to the students and does not belong in our classrooms. What exactly should we tell our students to reflect on? I can't believe that the state Senate and House of Representatives had the votes to override the veto of the governor, but that is the unfortunate reality that we are faced with. My school is only taking 15 seconds after the Pledge of Allegiance (the Pledge is an issue of it's own), so the time lost only equals about a minute, but that is still time that is needlessly lost. As educators, every minute that we have with our students is worth it's weight in gold, so wasting even a moment for reflection makes no sense. Since yesterday, I have been bombarded with questions from students about the real meaning of the moment of silence, and when I tell my them that the time is to be used for personal reflection, they laugh and tell me it's a waste. They feel that there should be a reason given for the moment of silence, but since the language is so ambiguous, I really have no response for them. Ironically, several of them have told me t hat if they wanted time to reflect, they would simply go to church. Students and staff have both expressed uneasiness, which is not in the spirit of tolerance. This law is catering to the needs and wants of a small minority of the schools population while managing to make the majority feel uncomfortable.

With Honors

Here is another album that is WELL worth your time, Kanye West's Graduation. This is the third album that West has released and it is another gem. I am a professed rock fan, but good music is good music, which is where this album lands. Gone are the regrettable skits that often find themselves on hip hop records, so the listener no longer has to wait for new songs to begin while the artist attempts to become a comedian. Each song is very strong and shows the production prowess that has made West one of the most prolific hip hop producers of the last decade. The standout songs include "Good Life," "Champion," "Everything I Am," "The Glory," and "Big Brother." Each of these songs are personal and reflective and show the growth that West has gone through as an artist. His brash sense of self-importance is still evident, but it is scaled back from his previous efforts. Although I do miss the depth that co-producer Jon Brion brought to the last West album (I am also biased toward Brion's old work), West is able to pick up where the last album left off. The listener can hear Brion's influence subtle fashions throughout the album, adding to the depth of each song. One misstep on the record is the inclusion of Coldplay's Chris Martin on the song "Homecoming." People may be surprised to hear me say that, but "Homecoming" is a strong enough without Martin's appearance feels forced and unnecessary. Overall, this is an excellent album and worth obtaining.

Pot O' Gold

The long wait is finally over. Raidiohead has unleashed another gem on us in the form of the hotly anticipated In Rainbows. Of course, it is another masterpiece, and no, I am not speaking as a biased person. The album has a wonderful flow that blends the genius of The Bends with the atmospheric beauty of Amnesiac. It is nice to have some old fashioned guitar driven tracks that beckon to the groups old days. The centerpiece of all the tunes is Thom Yorkes impeccable vocals. Now since the band is so great, they are able to blend the everything together to create pure perfection.

The Boondocks

For all those interested in watching a cutting edge show, check out The Boondocks on the Cartoon Network tonight. It will air during the channels Adult Swim portion starting at 10:20 Central Time. This show is not for the timid. It features course language and challenges viewers to think outside the box as far as stereotypes are concerned. Social politics are prominently featured and I think it is breath of fresh air for the typical television landscape. Once again, please pass on the show if you do not feel comfortable with explicit content.

Best New Show, Worst Old and Everything In Between

Now that the new television season is a couple of weeks old, I will give my summation of the best and worst that has been offered.

Best New Show: I was pleasantly surprised by Pushing Daisies. This show will not be for everyone, but if you can tolerate the quirky, you should check it out. The show revolves around Ned, a pie maker that has a very unique talent that allows him to awaken the dead. However, this ability comes with a couple of twists. Once Ned brings someone back to life, another person in close proximity dies. Also, Ned can never touch the person or thing again after he revives them because the second touch will kill the person or thing. In addition to the show having a unique plot, it is visually stunning. I don't want to say a whole lot more right now, because I hope you watch the show.

Best Old Show: Brothers & Sisters. Before you pile on me for watching this show, hear me out. This is the best adult drama on television. Although the Walker family live a lifestyle that is out of most people's means, they have normal problems. Yes, there are some exaggerations, but the acting and writing are both top notch. This hour is well worth your time.

Worst New show: Since I really have new opinion on a poor new show, I will choose a show that aired over the summer: The Two Coreys. I have no idea why this show was even made, I just regret that I got stuck watching an episode.

Worst Old Show: This will come as no surprise, but it is Grey's Anatomy. I don't mean to pile on this attempt at entertainment, but I just don't understand the appeal of this show. Once again, I know I am a fan of Nip/Tuck, but if you watch it, you know that the writers never try to make it seem that the relationships on Nip/Tuck are based in any sort of realistic version of life. The folks over at on Grey's think that they are representing adult relationships, which I wholeheartedly disagree. Each week the characters seem more whinny and petty and it gets very irritating.

Everything In Between: Everyone knows that we watch too much tv, so I will keep this short. We have enjoyed Back to You, BONES, and of course The Office. The Office is consistently the funniest show on television and I suggest that everyone start watching it. Yes, I know I have a dry sense of humor, but this show is laugh out loud funny. I have also really enjoyed The Bionic Woman. There is a lot for the writers to work with, so I'm excited to see the direction they head toward. Well, that's it, so enjoy your watching!!

99 Reasons

Well, it was a fun season. Although I am not happy with the final results, at least we made the playoffs. We got decent pitching tonight, but the offense was nonexistent with runners in scoring position. What the hell happened to Rodrigo? 0-12 is unacceptable and he will have some splainin' to do next year. And what about Alfonso. Flying out to end the game was only fitting. Lou did a lot in his first year and there is something to look forward to. Now, all we need is another starter (Prior?) and I'm sure having A-Rod at short will help. :)

Another Fun Story From Russia

So, since most of you are gutless dog lovers, I have been looking for a great cast story to justify their superiority. Well, I think I have found one. This story hails from the BBC's website and is about the felines that inhabit the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. This is a really cool piece that describes where they came from and how they have persevered in the Museum since the times of Catherine the Great. I hope everyone enjoys this as much as I did.

Are We There Yet?

So, today marks the 5oth anniversary of the Sputnik launch. Make no mistake, this is a very important date. When the USSR launched this little satellite, a revolution was started. The Space Race changed our society and was a focal point of the Cold War. The Soviets beat the U.S. in launching an orbiting vessel, but the Americans would be damned if they didn't make the initial visit to the Moon. In short, don't underestimate the importance of this date.

Now on to the real meaning of this post: the race to Mars!! Yes, I said Mars. Do not forget what the good old Commander in Chief said back in 2004. We are going to make it to Mars, so let's not forget where our priorities lie. Never mind our health care issues, the housing market or putting more money into education. It's Mars or bust baby, see you on the Red Planet!!!

A Nice Little Story About Our Ronny

This little entry by Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune brought a smile to my face. Even if you consider to Ron Santo to be nothing but a paid cheerleader, you have ice in your veins for not cheering for him to see a winner.

Like Father, Like Daughter

Little Jenna Bush was on Larry King Live last night to promote her new book. During the interview, King asked her about the situation in Iraq and here is her answer. I will admit that Larry is not on the top of his game here, but it sounds like the apple didn't fall far from the tree in regards to Ms. Bush.

Smokers Get Rights Too

So, you will probably be surprised that I am writing in favor of smokers rights, but I think these Californian towns are going a little too far. As we know, I am all for smokers being snuffed out in public places, but taking their rights away in private homes is ridiculous. If a private company decides to make their property smoking that is their prerogative, but the town or city should not make it law. This is taking away rights just like any other situation where choices and freedoms are taken away.

UPDATE!!

I have updated the link on this post to include the correct article. Once again, I am totally for banning smoking in public places, but if a person wants to smoke in their homes, they should have that right.

Supreme Decisions Part II

Here is a nice little summary of the cases facing the Supreme Court and the major questions that they will answer. As I mentioned, I will try to update decisions as they come down.

Healthy Choice?

I hope that I am not the only one to be upset about the potential veto coming from the hands of the President tomorrow. In a brazen move, Bush will veto a bill that would help keep 10 million children protected by insurance. The House needs only 15 more votes to pass a veto-proof bill, so let's hope those votes are attained if nothing else for the protection of our future generations.

Vulgarity Update

Hello all, I accidentally linked the same article twice in my previous post about the vulgarity issue at Colorado State University. Here is the story that appeared on the New York Times website. Sorry about the hiccup.

Supreme Decisions

Today marked the beginning of the new session for the Supreme Court, which may continue the march toward taking away our civil liberties. The current Court has extreme conservative leanings that were started during the Reagan Administration and are starting to come to fruition. We may be headed toward dangerous waters as the Roberts Court is packed with ultraconservatives that continue to cater to the "compassionate conservatism" that President Bush made his goal. Time will tell what how this group will impact our future with their decisions, but after the decisions they made last judicial year, I am not confident. I will try keep us updated as the decisions come down. In addition, I will try to put the important decisions in their historical context as they compare to previous rulings. Sorry if this seems like a dry topic, but it is very interesting to me.

What A Game

Okay, I know that the Padres/Rockies game is considered part of the regular season, but in my opinion, this was the beginning of the playoffs. This was a classic that Rockies fans should treasure. It was fun to watch and showed everyone why baseball is still our national pastime.

Is Vulgarity Free Speech?

There has been a dust up at Colorado State University over an editorial form Sept. 21 that had the headline of "Taser This: F**K Bush." This of course was a reference to the incident on the University of Florida campus. Now, advocating that every newspaper use such colorful language is not the mission of this entry, but I am wondering if what we all think of the prospect that freedom of speech will be limited. We can form our own opinions about the situation, and to help out, I will post a few links.

NY Times The Coloradoan(CSU's Newspaper) CNN I CNN II Rocky Mountain News

The Bears Are Who We Thought They Were

Well, this is quite the bitter pill to swallow after last year's Super ride. Did we really lose to the Detroit Lions? It was very tough to watch, and they better get it together really soon. I never thought that I would be afraid of the Packers, who we face next week. This will be a make or break week for us and they better show up to play.

Division Champions!!

Yes, I know they clinched it last night, but I was literally falling asleep as I was trying to post about it. For those who don't know, the Chicago Cubs are the champions of the National League Central Division for 2007. It has been a great ride so far, so let's hope it continues. I will post more once I know the match up for the Division Series.

Must See TV

It was great to have The Office back tonight, it was hilarious. I will stop there since I don't know if we have all seen it. ER was also very good. I have now opinions of the abomination that is Grey's Anatomy, as I have not watched it yet. To be honest, I probably won't. It is one of the most gutless shows on television and I can't believe that it is still broadcast. Yes Brian, I know I watch Nip/Tuck but I am not under the delusion that it reflects real life, unlike the loons that commit themselves to Grey's. I will now step off the soapbox and go brush my teeth.

A Bit More About The Little Rock Nine

For those that are interested, here is some more info on the Little Rock Nine. I cannot stress the importance of this incident, especially as we continue the discussion on the Jena 6. Keep in mind that history is unfinished and as the story continues, we must not forget the past.

Griesed and Ready To Go

Well, the pundits were correct: Brian Griese is our quarterback. Hopefully this will put some mustard in to the 30th (no, that is not a typo) ranked offense in the NFL. Lovie gave Rex all the shots that he deserved and now it's time to give the club the best chance to win. I'm a very worried about a playoff spot at this point, but hopefully Griese will have some magic left in his arm.

Next?

Well, the Bush war machine may be up to their old tricks again. University of Michigan history professor Juan Cole explores this idea in a column written for www.salon.com. This comes from Andrew H. and I found the ideas scary, interesting and all to possible at the same time. Only time will tell what will happen with this situation, but the observations brought about by Cole are inherently necessary.

Bionic Candidates?

Here is a nice little summation of last nights Democratic debate broadcast on MSNBC. The column is slightly sarcastic as the author compares Hilary Clinton with The Bionic Woman, which aired opposite the debate on NBC. For the record, I was recording Bionic Woman. It has been okay so far. I have high expectations, considering this show is executive produced by the same guy that runs Battlestar. Anyways, if you are looking for a political fix, check this out. Hilary may have lost my vote due to her answer to the final question that moderator Tim Russert asked. Anyone that really knows me can understand why I consider her response to be gutless.

Oh yeah, and almost as bad: Obama is a white sox fan!?! That truly hurts. Sorry Mar, I know there is one in every crowd.

My Favorite Concert(s)

Well, the BEASTIE BOYS are playing Chicago tonight and tomorrow and I have to miss both shows. This hurts me quite a bit, since I have never seen them and they are one of my favorite bands. The first show will be all instrumental, while the second is a full on show with lyrics.

This led me to think about what my favorite all time concert is. Well, this was very difficult, so I will give you the five best, in no particular order:

• The Police, Wrigley Field, July 5, 2007: For a long time, I always said that this was my dream show, and it did not disappoint. The played a great show that was tight and crisp. It was a gorgeous night, and we all know what I think of the venue, which is the greatest place on Earth. Top songs: "King of Pain" and "When the World is Running Down We'll Make the Best of What's Still Around"
• Rolling Stones, United Center, September 10, 2002: This was another dream show. I bought the tickets as a gift to my father and the payoff was excellent. Seeing those guys run around on stage at the age of sixty was unbelievable, it was quite the spectacle. Top Songs: "Happy", "Miss You" and "Sympathy for the Devil."
• Coldplay, Chicago Theatre, November 30, 2001: First off, the Chicago Theatre is a beautiful venue with impeccable acoustics. The show was memorable for the fact that it took place the day after the George Harrison passed away. As a huge Beatles fan, that was quite a blow. The acoustic perfection of the theatre made the band sound great and they were really on the top of their game since it was the final show of the tour. If none of us have seen them perform "Yellow" live, it is quite the treat. To top it off, they played "Here Comes the Sun" in honor of Harrison. It was truly a magical moment. Top Songs: "Shiver", "Yellow" and "Here Comes the Sun."
• U2, Soldier Field, June 28, 1997: This show was all about the spectacle, the music was an added bonus. It was awesome being at Soldier Field, which was transformed into a giant playground for the band. Although Pop in not one of U2's finest moments, my personal favorite is Zooropa, but they were playing the songs with an unmatched enthusiasm. Top Songs: "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me", "One" and "Staring at the Sun."
• Foo Fighters, Riviera Theater, January 19, 2001: Another great show at an intimate venue. This was a show that was played as a warm up gig for the band as they prepped for the Rock in Rio festival. The band chose to play Chicago since it was not included in the previous. It was a fabulous show that I will never forget. They played with a vigor that I have rarely seen and we were about ten feet from the state. Top songs: "I'll Stick Around", "Hey Johnny Park", and "Everlong."

Feel free to share your favorite show or shows. Note to Wilson: Jimmy Buffet will not count since this is about musical performances, not to be mistaken for drunken stupidity.

The War

So, it's time to get our history on kiddies. I forgot to mention that the new Ken Burns documentary, The War, started airing on PBS this week. The whole series is a tototal of 14 hours, so it may take awhile to view all of the episodes. This should prove to be valuable since all of Burns' past films are top notch. He will be speaking at Illinois State University on Nov. 1 of this year. I plan to attend, so if anyone wants to car pool, let me know. As far as some of his past programs are concerned, I highly recommend Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson and The Civil War.

An Easy Way To Help Mother Earth

First off, I have to give Tony and Jill the credit for this one. Thank you for introducing us to this great product. We all know that we live in a time when every little bit helps with regards to the environment. That being said, Mar and I have started using these eco-friendly grocery bags used by the Earthwise Bag Company. Not only do these bags help the environment, but they are very handy. We were able to fit about four bags worth of groceries into one of these great green bags. They are wide enough for a gallon of milk and deep enough to store plenty of products. An added bonus is discounts at certain stores, such as Meijer that will give you a discount for using these bags instead of their own. We paid one dollar a piece for six while visiting Tony and Jill in Champaign, but you can order them directly from the online store in sets of ten. They are slightly more expensive on the website, but they are well worth the price.

Giuliani's Time To Pay Up

Now that www.moveon.org has to pay up, it's time for Giuliani to also pony up some cash. For those that don't know what I am speaking of, MoveOn took out an add in the New York Times prior to the speech by General Pietras gave about progress in Iraq. Some inflammatory language was included that compared the General's last name with the words "Betray Us." Here is an account of what went down and the reaction of the conservative right. While I have no problem with the fact tha MoveOn will have to right a wrong in regards to the amount that was charged for the aid, I think the reaction of the Republicans was a little out of hand.

Jena 6 Part II

Here is a column written for the Christian Science Monitor website. I find it interesting how the author points to the furor over the Michael Vick case and how it's negative nature was front page news, but the case in Jena has been gestating for months before really catching the attention of the nation. We will see what sort of action this will bring from the public in the coming weeks, and for the sake of future civil rights decisions, I hope the right moves are made.

Freedom of Speech?

We had a very interesting story in New York today with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the leader of Iran, being invited to speak at Columbia University. There was quite a furor over his appearance, which is understandable. However, we are the land of the free, which includes the right to speak. I do not buy that it is "unpatriotic" to let the man speak. Here are a couple of op-ed pieces from the USA Today:

Pro Free Speech

Anti Free Speech

Little Rock Nine

Please take time to read this article from www.npr.org about the 50 anniversery of the sesegregation of the Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas. This is a landmark case in United States civil rights history, so take time to remember that not so long ago things were dramatically different.

Bringing Rexy Back?

Okay, I may finally be seeing the way of the naysayers. Rex totally sucked on Sunday. I have be one of his more ardent supporters, but it may be time to see what Griese can bring to the table. There is just no consistency on offense and the defense can only take so much. He was making poor passes and did not seem to read the Dallas defense at all. Lovie has made great moves, and his next one might be benching Rex.

Jena 6

I don't have a lot of time to devote to this topic right now, but it is of the utmost importance that I try to get a word out about it. We should all be familiar about the situation happening in Louisiana and thank you to Andrew H. for sharing this article with me. Please do your own research on this story, even though I wish that we did not continue to have these troubles today. I have to run, but I will address this issue again very soon. Please stay updated with this case by checking the news updates on the left side of this page.

Engage!!!

Now here is a list that is truly worth checking out. This fall marks the twentieth anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Entertainment Weekly is celebrating with a list of the top ten episodes. This show was Battlestar before Battlestar was Battlestar. It's tough to make a sci-fi show feel human and relevant, which is exactly what TNG did. For the record, my favorite episodes are "The Best of Both Worlds, Parts I and II." This may be cliche for TNG fans, but this was truly the pinnacle of the show.

The Greatest Band In The World

Here is another entry on my list of favorite things: Radiohead. This is the single greatest band in the world. There really is not much more to say than this since it is an absolute truth, but I will continue. They have released four classic albums: The Bends, Ok Coputer, Kid A and Amnesiac. There other two albums are nearly as good: Pablo Honey and Hail to the Thief. Now on to the the singles.

We will start "Creep", which is not my favorite song, but did put them on the map. Next we have "Just" with it's searing guitars and fabulous vocals, this song is not to be denied. This song is featured on The Bends, which is great from beginning to end, so it was tough to single out a song considering they are all top notch. We will move on to Ok Computer, which is widely regarded as one of the top albums released in the nineties. Once again it is tough to pick one, so I will pick two. "Paranoid Android" is an epic song that pushes the listener to open their minds up to something new and original. The other gem on this album is "Let Down." This song has a simply beautiful melody that makes this ballad about heartache brim over with emotion.

Next will be the "Pyramid Song". Kid A and Amnesiac are sister albums and share a similar sound and this is perhaps the best one of the bunch. In addition, "Optimistic," "Morning Bell," "Knives Out," and "Everything In It's Right Place" are standouts from these two albums. "There, There" is the clear standout on Hail, if nothing else for the booming drums in the beginning and the vicious guitar solo at the end. For a couple of lesser known songs, search for "Killer Cars" and "Polyethylene."

Win It For Royko

Those of us that grew up in the Chicagoland region should know the name Mike Royko. He was a columnist for the Chicago Tribune and a die-hard Cubs fan. Wednesday marks the ten year anniversary of his passing and Paul Sullivan wrote this great column that sums up the passion of a true Cubs fan.

Cuban's Cubbies?

As we all know, I attended the Cubs game at the Shrine this past Monday. Well, I forgot to mention that none other than Mark Cuban was in the right field bleachers with us. Check out a picture here. He was not to far from us and we could actually see the fan with the sign that Cuban is holding. As I mentioned before, this was a fabulous game and landed itself in my all-time top five of sporting events that I have attended.

Ginormous Is Not A Word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've had it with people using this ridiculous excuse for a word. Come on, "Bigger than gigantic but smaller than enormous", that is the most ridiculous definition I have ever heard. With that being said, I expect everyone to stop using that word from this day forward. No excuses.

Really?

As I was browsing the news on a break this morning, I came across this rather troubling article. In a time of supposed "enlightenment", I cannot believe that a law like this could be passed. If a person cannot dress the way they want to, we need to revisit the ideals laid down in the Constitution. Freedom of expression is a bedrock of our society and if that starts to be threatened, we should consider how things have come this far.

P.S.
I forgot to mention the racial profiling that this case brings about. Don't believe for one second that race matter doesn't in this country of ours, just look at post-Katrina New Orleans.

The Office Got Robbed!!!

Well, although I am not an Emmy voter, I will let you know my opinions. First off, The Office was robbed. 30 Rock is a very funny show, but I don't think it holds a light to our friends at Dunder/Mifflin. After all, this blog is named after a quote by our friend Jim Halpert. As far as Ricky Grevais winning best actor, I can't really comment on his qualifications. Extras is critically acclaimed, as is Mr. Gervais, so I will give the academy a mulligan. In my opinion, as much as I love Steve Carell in The Office, Alec Baldwin steals every scene that he has in 30 Rock. He is a breath of fresh air for he sitcom genre, although none of these shows hold a candle to Arrested Development. Kudos to Jeremy Piven for another victory as Ari Gold on Entourage, he makes the show. The same goes to Jamie Presley on My Name is Earl.

On the drama front, I think that the best drama of last year was not even nominated: The Shield. This season was short, only ten episodes, but it was truly spectacular. Each episode burned up the screen with great dialog and even better performances. Michael Chicklis and Walton Goggins each deserved awards, best and supporting actors respectively, as two friends turned enemies after several years of dirty laundry catching up to them. In addition to their dynamic, C.C.H. Pounder was unequaled in her performance as the newly appointed Captain Whymes. Over the years we have seen her character develop into the strongest female character on television. Speaking of strong female characters, Elizabeth Martin was fabulous as Juliet on LOST and should have beat out Katherine Heigl. It was nice to see Sally Field pick up an award for the underrated Brothers & Sisters. Terry O'Quinn was also deserving as Locke on th aforementioned LOST.

Well, congrats to the winners and lets hope this coming season will provide plenty of great television moments.

Charlie Weissingham?

So, as mentioned before, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are 0-3 this year with nary an offensive touchdown. This got me to thinking about the raw justice that Tyrone Willingham got by being fired in 2004. Traditionally, Notre Dame gives it's coaches an initial five year deal to see out their vision of what the program should achieve. Well, in the case of Willingham, Notre Dame fired a coach before he finished his initial five year contract. Willingham was also the first coach in the school's history to post 10 wins in his initial campaign. Now, I would be remiss not to mention the fact that Mr. Willingham lost his final three games by 31 points each, but I'm not sure that necessitated his departure. I also need to mention that while Weiss had a better record than Willingham in his first two seasons, it was largely done with Willingham's players; including the much ballyhooed Brady Quinn.

Now on to Weiss, who is 19-9 through a little over two seasons as Notre Dame head coach. He has taken ND to two back to back BCS bowl games, while Willingham took the team to none. However, after starting this season 0-3 while not scoring a single offensive touchdown should ring the same bells that Willingham's struggles did. I will not call Weiss a bad coach, but I think justice will be served if he continues to struggle and falls to the same fate as the unjustified firing of Willingham.

Go Cubs Go!!!

Well kids, that was some game last night. I would have to say it is in my top five games that I have ever attended. For those that don't know, the Cubs came back from two down in the bottom of the ninth to win. It was great and reminded all of us why Wrigley Field is the greatest place on earth. Work is going very well and I am enjoying it quite a bit. My kids have been great and a total breath of fresh air. There is a lot of work to do and it has been some what overwhelming, but very rewarding at the same time. By the way, how 'bout them Golden Domers this weekend. Final score last Saturday: Michigan 38, Notre Dame 0. This game seems to make that ten year Charlie Weiss contract totally worth it. More on this subject is yet to come we compare the careers of Weiss and former coach Tyrone Willingham.

To ND Or Not To ND, That Is The Question

Another Saturday, another loss. This time by the shutout fashion of 38-0 at the hands of Michigan. I have no alligiance to Notre Dame, nor do I pretend to. For that matter, I have no alligaince to Michigan or any other major college football program besides my Football Championship Subdivion (FCS) level Illinois State Univeristy Redbirds, who incidentally sit at the No. 15 in the FCS standings.

And The Winner Is.......

Cats. I must say that I cannot argue this outcome since I own three of the little treasures, if you count Murphy. Everyone knows how much Mar and I love our little furry friends, lumps and all. The left picture is our Christmas photo from a couple years back. I'm holding Wrigley in her Bears outfit, and Mar has Gracie. Below is Murph wearing a Bears jersey. Those of us who are lucky enough to have these four legged friends around know how much fun it can be, no matter how much they can be a pain. I would also love to know who voted for Battlestar, that was a pleasant surprise. Thank you to all of those who voted. There will be a new question soon, and recommendations are welcome.

Sunny Times Are Here Again, Thanks For The Rescue

Rescue Me ended on a sad note last night, but I will not say anything so not to ruin it for others. Although I was happy about the last few episodes, the overall season was quite a disappointment. The writers just seemed to let the stories go on without resolving them, so we are once again left with unanswered questions that won't be worked out until next May!! Oh well, it will be okay because It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia starts today. This is a very funny show about four friends that own a bar in Philly, and their crazy lives. Sunny contains some pretty dark humor, so it is not for the feint of heart. Yes, that includes you Brian. Here is a little promo for tonight's premiere.

The Dunk of Dunks

So, I decided to that I will start listing some of my favorite things, besides cats, Cubs, Bears and Battlestar Galactica. Today's entry is my all-time favorite dunk. Surprisingly, the dunk is by Vince Carter, not Michael Jordan. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Mr. Carter took the easy route and jumped over the 7'2" French center Frederic Weis. It is a wonder to behold.

Wicked Good Fun

Well, it turns out that the masses were correct; Wicked was a very good show. Both Marilyn and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I don't have adequate way to describe it, but the tag line of "The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz" about sums it up. The story was very funny and enjoyable, plus the Oriental Theater was really nice.

Prior to the show, we had dinner with Elisa at Mi Tierra, which was also very nice. Marilyn got sung to by a group of mariachis, which was hilarious. Here is a little picture of her and the band.

This Weeks Sign That College Football Fans Are Crazy

Okay, I know that I didn't go to a huge college football school, but so called fans can push the envelope. Check out this story from www.si.com about what an Oklahoma fan did to a Texas fan. Crazy.

Wicked Marilyn

Yes, I know it is mean calling Marilyn wicked, but they are the two topics I will discuss today. First off, Happy Birthday to my dearest Marilyn. We will celebrate tonight by attending a performance of Wicked. She has wanted to go for awhile, so I finally bit the bullet and got us a pair to tickets. Thank you to Elisa for picking them up so I could skip the Ticketmaster fee. Anyways, it should be fun. We are going to a nice little Mexican restaurant called Mi Tierra. It is a little cheesy as far decor is concerned, but they have great food. In addition, Marilyn got a job!!! She is taking a position in Wheaton District 200 as a special aide assistant. So, I guess you can say we have had a little luck theses last two weeks, which has been nice.

A sad update on Mike Brown: Out for the season. This is truly unfortunate and we hope he has a quick recovery.

Bluthe Runion

Good news regarding the post about Arrested Development, Michael Cera and Jason Bateman are reuniting for a film called Juno. Unfortunately, they do not share a scene. I don't know much else about it, but I will do some more research.For the time being, here is a video of the former father/son duo discussing the new flick and the possibility of an AD movie.

TIME Magazine's Top 100 Television Shows

I am still working on my post about resource mobilization and it functions. It will be very long, so please bear with me. In the mean time, I have come across a nice little list that TIME has compiled about their 100 best television shows of all time. Several of my favorites are on the list including Battlestar Galactia (pictured left courtesy of www.scifi.com/battlestar), The Shield, The Office, Lost and the immortal Arrested Development. The list has a lot of great shows on it, and it was nice seeing shows like Battlestar and Arrested Development make the list.

I am new to Battlestar, but it is a truly spectacular show. From the production value to the scripts, the producers have developed griping television. It is more then just another sci-fi show because it melds modern societal problems that the problems of war can bring to light. I highly recommend adding to your list of must see television. If you are interested in catching up with the series, you can rent all of the discs from www.blockbuster.com.



Now on to the grandaddy of them all, Arrested Development (pictured above through the magic of the internets). Everyone knows that this is my all time favorite television show, it was and is flat out brilliant. From beginning to end, the show had me in fits of laughter. Whether it was GOB, pronounced like Job from the Bible, and his antics as an illusionist or Carl Weathers great guest spots as an acting coach to the bumbling Tobias, the show was constantly pushing the envelope. This is also the launching pad for young Michael Cera. I hope we all have seen Superbad, if not you can see the beginnings of a gifted comedian who deserves a long and successful career. If you ever want a dose of afternoon delight, just pop in a disc and sit back. Although Arrested was on for only three seasons the ride was great and unforgettable. You can also rent the discs from blockbuster by accessing the previous link to Blockbuster Online.

The Bears are 0-1, Rex Grossman is Our Quarteback

Well, that was fun. Although the result was not great, the game was competitive. Who would have thought the Bears would occupy the NFC North cellar after one game? One thing that everyone will have to admit, yes even you Elisa, is that we cannot blame Rex for this loss. I think that Cedric need to pick his game up in a serious way. Apparently we are losing Mike Brown for the rest of the year due to his "sprained knee." Here is what Mr. Brown told reporters after the game:

"It's another sad day in the chapter of my football-playing career," Brown said. "I don't know what else to tell you guys."

"It's a sprained knee right now. It doesn't look too good. … It just hurts my feelings right now—"

For the full article go here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012326

This was followed by Brown choking back tears as he walked away from reporters. A lot can be said about the fragility of Mike Brown, but his heart cannot be questioned. This man has given his body to our Bears, and while it may be his job, I just feel for the guy. The Bears are a different team with him on the field, so let's hope that the injury is not as bad as anticipated.

We have KC at home next week, and I expect a win, if not total slaughter. The Chiefs are a shell of their former selves, and if we can hold LaDanian Tomlinson to seventy-five yards, I can't wait to see what we offer Larry Johnson. It will be nice to see what adjustments the offense makes and hopefully Gregg Olsen will be back and healthy.

On a sad note, my Cubbies lost and slipped into second place. We play the hated Cardinals tomorrow, and hopefully we will be able to put another game between us. I just don't understand this team. One day they are world beaters, the next day they look anemic. We will just have to wait to see how this ends up. Well, that is it. For my next post, I will discuss and propose the concept of resource mobilization and how it has impacted American society. I would love to hear what you guys think about this topic once I write the post because I feel it is a fascinating subject. Let's continue to support our Rexy and please, don't feed the bears, unless it is a cheesehead.

To our friend Mindy, I apologize for giving you a hard time about drafting Plexiglass. I may change my mind after next week.

Adventures in Murphysitting Part II

For those of us wondering "Why Christopher, what ever are you doing writing a post at seven in the morning on a Saturday?", the story goes as follows. Around one in the morning, our man Murphy got out of the condo. As some of us know, he has managed to get out of the screen door before and repeated this little trick. I was changing the litter and happened to look outside to see him sitting on the patio. As I attempted to wrangle him, he took a mad dash and we could not find him. Marilyn and I actually slept on the living room floor in hopes that he would come back to the screen as scratch to get back inside. Well, just before seven, I could hear Esther saying his name, opened my eyes and saw him licking Mar's nose. This was quite the relief as she was rather upset with his decision to take an unsanctioned field trip. I think we will now get him a shock collar to keep him from taking anymore strolls on his own accord (For those of us that do not know my sense of humor, that was my attempt to make light of this situation). Well, at least this time he wasn't stuck in a tree for nearly twenty hours. All this said, I am happy as hell that he is back.

You're Hired!!

I got hired today at HCHS as an aide. This is quite a relief. I still need the paper work to finish filing itself, but as of now, I have the job. It will be weird having my primary source of income derive from a place other than Chili's, but I think I have earned this opportunity. Our buddy Rainn Wilson was on Nightline tonight, and as usual, he was very funny. He had to go through some intense stuff before he hit it big. It just goes to show you that no matter what the profession, people need to start from the bottom and work their way up. This includes me as I begin this new endeavor in life and education. Overall, I am very excited for this opportunity. Although it is not my own classroom, I get to work one-on-one with students and work at a school everyday.

The Cubs lost today. They really need to get there act together if they want to make it to the playoffs. You would think that we could have beat Pittsburgh, but that is why they play the games. The Bears start in two days, so that will pretty much be awesome. We have our softball tournament in a couple of days and it will be fun to see the crew from Normal. They are our first game and it will be nice to catch up with our old friends. For those of us that don't know, the Office Season 3 is out on DVD and I highly recommend it, if nothing else for the extra content. I have rambled long enough, so have a good day and pray for the Cubs.

Greetings and Salutations

Well, this will be my first post, so please be gentle. The Cubs lost today, which really sucked. Demptser blew it in the ninth. Oh well, there are still twenty four games left and we are tied for first. I am still waiting to hear about the interviews that I had on Wednesday. Supposedly I will hear tomorrow, so I will let you know what happens. Not having a career job really sucks, but it will happen. Rescue Me was really good tonight. It's about time considering this season has been rather lackluster. The season finale is next week. I'm excited for it, but like I said, this season has not lived up to the hype. At least we have the new television season coming at the end of the month. Mar keeps saying she is excited for the Office and I echo her sentiments. I hope everyone has plans for the Bears game on Sunday, if not you better get on it. By the way, Drew Brees killed me tonight with a whopping two points in one of my fantasy leagues. This weekend better bring me more luck. Well, enjoy your day and do a good deed.