Nuff said.

 

The article says it all.

 

And in case you wanted to know, I was one of the majority of the ten million voters to have #756 branded.

For those who do not know, this week marks the 20th anniverssary of Star Trek: The Next Generation.  You may wonder why I am going to write about another science fiction show, as opposed to Star Trek.

 

Well, it's called parallels.  Back in 1966, Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek made history for what it did.  It was such a groundbreaking show, with memorable characters.  Of course, it spawned some movies before a second series with much criticism from some fans, embraced by others.  And the Trekkie in me remembers the first impression of the new series.

 

Enter 1993-1994.  Star Trek: The Next Generation was in its final season, and a movie was in the works.  Another science fiction show called Babylon 5 was broadcasting in syndication, much like how TNG began.  However, the concept behind it was unique:

 

Creator Joseph Michael Straczynski (aka J. Michael Straczynski, or JMS for short) had a five year story arc for the entire series.  I saw a few early episodes, and didn't care for it.

 

However, during late season two, I was staying a friend's place over spring break while at USD.  It seemed he got hooked onto the show, and I was so against watching it.  But I got hooked with the episode, "And Now For A Word".  During the commercial breaks, my friends did their best to get me up to speed.  Thank GOD for re-runs.  I got caught up as much as I could.

 

Season three was the first time one person wrote an entire season of a television show, and frankly, it's the best of the series.  Period.

 

There are so many actors and actresses who have made appearances in this show...I'll just name a few:

 

Bruce Boxleitner  Scarecrow and Mrs. King

Melissa Gilbert  Little House on the Prarie

Walter Koenig  Star Trek

Brad Dourif Dune (1985) and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Sarah Douglas Superman II

Michael York Lone Runner

Martin Sheen (in Babylon 5: River of Souls TV movie)

 

I could go on.

 

Shows like House, Lost, 24, Prison Break, anything that revolves around a basic theme and/or storyline; fans of those shows should take a peek at Babylon 5. 

 

This is how our current TV drama cycle began, IMHO.  Just like Star Trek and its offsprings lead the way for drama.  Shows like Law and Order and CSI do follow this formula.

 

That's my take.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/21/top10.deaths/index.html 

 

I like all of these memorable on-screen deaths, but as the blog states, I'd like to add a couple of my favorites/heartbreakers:

 

1.  John Voight, The Champ, 1979)

 

Ricky Shroder's crying as the film ends, draping his body over the bloody, dying John Voight.  I haven't seen the movie in forever, but the sadness of a little kid telling his dying father he loves him always is a tear jerker.

 

2. (tie) James Caan, The Godfather (1872), Joe Pesci GoodFellas (1990)

 

When hothead Sonny Corleone gets his due, he's riddled in bullets at a toll booth as he goes to murder Talia Shire's husband for beating her.  The turning point in the movie, because it sets up Al Pacino's Michael Corleone's ruthlessness for the other two films.

 

Joe Pesci's character is based on true life events.  Tommy DeVito (according to the commentary featuring Henry Hill, whose story the movie is based on) says Joe Pesci nailed the real Tommy to a T.  He was insane, abrasive, brilliant and stupid.  He insults a "made man": someone who is a full member of the mafia, which leads to his death.  Tommy later in the film was to become "made", only to be assassinated due to his recklessness, and him realizing before he dies, he knows what is going on.

 

3.  Sir Alec Guinness, The Bridge Over The River Kwai (1957)

 

It probably surprises some that I didn't credit his death as Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars as my memorable choice, but bear with me.  The whole story of The Bridge Over The River Kwai is one of my favorite war movies of all time.  But what makes this death so memorable is Sir Alec's Colonel Nichoson is such a proud man.  He spends the first part of the movie suffering for his men, and then finds a way to have the Japanese utilize his men's knowledge to help them build the bridge.  Unfortunately, he becomes so proud of what he has created, he forgets what the bridge was for.  As the bridge is being attacked, and the train approaches, his line, "My God, what have I done" becomes so revealing.  Having him fall on the detonator in death just as the train crosses the bridge is priceless.

 

4.  Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest  (2006)

 

Alot of this one I credit to Keira Knightley, on how she sets up Captain Jack Sparrow.  I love how she uses her eyes.  Tricking him to chain him up to the mast, and then abandoning him is priceless.  Of course, when the Kracken spits out his hat, Jack knows that he is dead...I love how he is filmed slowly going to the beast.

 

5. John Travolta, Pulp Fiction (1994)

 

I admit, as the article states, Marvin's death was memorable, which is why Vincent Vega's death is great.  He's a criminal.  But a very stupid one.  He nearly kills his boss' wife with an overdose while keeping "good company with her while he was out of town".  Pointing the gun at Marvin while discussing on how he, Marvin, and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) from their prediciment while they drive away from the scene, then hitting a bump that blows Marvin's head apart by mistake.  Insulting Harvey Keitel, who helps "handle the Bonney situation" is stupidity.  Insulting Bruce Willis' character, a washed up boxer who was to forget his pride and throw a fight.  Only to be ultimately dumb, leave the weapon he was supposed to use to kill Bruce Willis on a table, as he needed to use the bathroom in Bruce's apartment.  Boils down Vincent screwed up one too many times.

 

6.  Various deaths, Saving Private Ryan (1998)

 

This film is a classic.  I remember being warned about the first half hour of the film.  When some of the main characters begin to die, Vin Diesel's Caparzo wanting a letter to get home, to Giovanni Rbisi's Wade trying to tell the rest of the troops to help him fix him (he was the medic of the group).  The most ironic scenes involved the inexperienced interpreter Timothy Upham (Jeremy Davies) witnessing the German soldier he begged his friends to let go (earilier in the film) kill the Jew in the unit (Adam Goldberg) in cold blood; even as they made the man earlier in the film dig his own grave.  Later, the same German is in a group of prisoners, and the man begs for his life.  Upham shoots him.  Of course, we never know what happens.

 

Tom Hanks dying as the American Army Air Force takes out the tanks is classic.  He fulfilled his mission.

 

7.  Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, Gladiator (2000)

 

This one is tied together, because of how arrogant Joaquin is by having to injure what he obviously knows is a superior opponent.  It's a fierce fight.  When Commodus calls for the guards to finish off Maximus, and they refuse....death smiles upons us all.  Just how Russell Crowe smiles as he kills Joaquin is haunting.  His speech before he drops dead is beyond words.

 

8.   Eric Schweig, Johdi May,  Steven Waddington, Wes Studi, The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

 

This one is totally based on the musical soundtrack of the film, and based on the novel  by Sir Walter Scott.  The movie is about three free-men (Daniel Day-Lewis, Russell Means, Eric Schweig) who simply want to get to the free land of Kentucky during the French-Indian War of the 1750's.  They come across a British soldiers' daughter's party, and get entangled into their lives, and escort two daughters (Madeleine Stowe and Johdi May) to where they need to go.

 

The deaths involved are meaningful to the story.  But what makes me cry is how the soundtrack is used at the end of the film.  Such a great movie, in my opinion.

 

9.  Gene Hackman, Unforgiven (1992)

 

It took me a second viewing of this movie to make me appreciate it.  I loved it up until the end the first time I saw it in the theater, but it took me the second viewing to understand the ramifications of it.  How Clint Eastwood really was such a bad ass as the writer in the film was writing about, and how, in the end, Hackman's Little Bill was afraid of dying at the end.

 

10.  Two Socks,  Dances With Wolves (1990)

 

This is my Old Yeller/Bambi.  It's how John Dunbar became Dances with Wolves.  When he gets to Fort Sedgewick, no one is there.  He makes it his home, encounters the Sioux.  He communicates with them (Graham Greene is excellent as Kicking Bull), the Sioux see him with nature (Two Socks), feel he isn't a threat, and invite him to their tribe.  John feeds Two Socks some meat (Kevin Costner has reported to say in the commentary, that this was a scary scene...he was dealing with a wolf) before he goes with the tribe.

 

He falls in love with Stands With A Fist (Mary McDonnell), a white woman catured long ago., and they marry.  As the Sioux decide to go to their winter camp, John is captured and interrogated.  A couple of the soldiers toy with Two Socks, and one hits him.  I cried.

 

That's my top ten movie deaths.

Yet another day in the chase of touchdown passes.

 

Brett Favre is 4 touchdowns away from making a record.

 

As I was growing up, I followed Miami Dolphin's quarterback Dan Marino.  He's got many records in his position.  I wished he would have gotten a ring.

 

Brett will break Dan's record of 420 career touchdowns.  If he plays well, he could easily break total yardage.

 

Today, the Packers play against the San Diego Chargers, a team that has probably the scariest (a good thing) running back playing today in Ladainian Tomilison.

 

I love watching LD, and I root for him a lot...but this day, I root against him.

 

I am wearing the jersey that Marge and Steve gave me as a gift.

 

Once the game is played, I'll comment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Ones I Love

 

Last night, as I was talking to Obi-Wan, I saw this article:

 

 http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/19/ahmadinejad.ground.zero/index.html

 

I'll put it this way:

 

I feel for poor Obi-Wan, because I instantly went into Samuel Jackson mode, and told him how I felt.  I got so pissed off, that I literally had to walk away from my keyboard, do a quick meditation to calm down.  I wasn't ranting at him for his views on the subject.  He wholeheartedly agreed with me.

 

Ground Zero is sacred ground to me.  I would not have minded if President Ahmadinejad wasn't such a lying two-face bastard.  Come on, he openly says that the Holocaust never occurred, wants to destroy another country (Israel), and is openly wanting nuclear technology.

 

I truly feel the man wanted to use the whole "ceremony" as a propaganda tool.  This is before, I might add, I found out he was denied.

 

But he was denied.

 

How would he feel if a non-Muslim asked to go to Mecca?

 

Sir,  Ground Zero is my Mecca.  Your kind---the violent, unpeaceful, hateful sort---are not welcome at Ground Zero.  If it weren't for the fact that the United Nations was located in the same city, you would be banned.  But (and yes, kiddies, I've been there too), once you step foot on the UN complex, it's literally international lands.

 

I await your speech.

I went to www.Icanhascheezburger.com, and found my new IM icon.

 

Since I play World of Warcraft, and given that I have a cat, this one fits my personality purrfectly...:P

 

 

 

Nuff said.

 

Considering I am a geek, and considering that I am a musician, it truly amazes me that I never picked up an .mp3 player before now.  Oh wait, it's called $$.

 

This thing is a GODSEND.   I can listen to what I want.  More importantly, I can have songs that *I* want with me at work.  Granted, I'll have the volume down somewhat so if I am needed, I'll be available. 

 

The other important thing is, it will help me with my music. Unlike Brittany Spears, I won't lip sync.  Instead, I'll have this puppy in my ears to help learn songs on guitar and harmonica, and vocally. It's my ultimate guide.

 

I've got American Idiot, The Joshua Tree, pretty much anything from The Boss, more U2.  I still have things to add, but I'll get it all figgered out.

 

It took me awhile to learn how to make the thing work and frankly, for awhile, I thought I had a broken piece of equipment.  But Obi-Wan and I were chatting as I was trying to figure the thing out, and once I figured it out....

 

I still have alot to learn about this puppy.  It doesn't have the video stuff.  This is just the audio part.  Personally, this is better for me.  I have my music.

 

It's all I need.

The following entry contains vulgar language and sexual content.

 

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxCNH_GoHKU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Irving Berlin wrote God Bless America.  Woody Guthrie wrote an answer to that song with one of my favorite songs ever written.  Bruce Springsteen does the best cover of This Land Is Your Land.

 

To me, Bob (aka Kid Rock) wrote the capstone...Or even yet another step in the stone for healing.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro5UlG1hVo0&mode=related&search=

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac5RgyYciwk&mode=related&search=

 

Ok, first off, the reason I haven't posted this past week is because my internets was shut down.  I hate it when the big bills come in (all of my main bills came in with the connection fees included).  Unfortunately, my internets/phone bill was near disconnect status, and I didn't have the cash to pay in full last week...:(

 

Anyhow, I came across this story via a friend at work, and this is totally rediculous.

 

This past Sunday Kevin Everett of the Buffalo Bills suffered assuredly a career ending spinal injury, and at first the prognosis of him walking ever again at first was slim to none.  As the week went on, it seems that he may be able to do so.  I will root for him to be able to do that.

 

The problem is, the author of the following article, quite frankly, is as clueless as four blondes at a four-way stop.

 

(Q:  What do you call four blondes at a four-way stop?

 

A: Eternity.)

 

 

The article in summary pretty much states that video games like Madden 08 and the NFL more or less has desensitised children and adults and the fanbase in general to the overall violence of the game.

 

Mr. Molinaro, I do agree with you that the teams with the least amount of injuries tend to be the lucky ones, especially if key players are healthy.  That's why they have what they call in the sport "backups", aka players who can step in when something like this happens.

 

My problem with your whole argument, sir, is that the sport has been around far longer than the video games have been.  In the old days (pre-1960's or so), players wore LEATHER helmets.  Today's players are far more protected, and every injury on the field, no matter how minor, are treated with caution.

 

I remember watching how Joe Theismann's career ended.  His leg was more or less splintered to pieces, and it was sickening to watch.  That was before the Madden games even existed. 

 

If you think football is violent, why not watch a rugby match or an NHL game?  Those are far more violent, and MUCH more fast paced than the NFL.  Hockey is well-known to have fights on the ice, and a fast moving projectile that can injure anyone.  Also add the fact that the players and refs are moving at fast speeds on the ice rink. 

 

Tackling in rugby is downright ferocious.  I don't know much about to sport, except that I watched a match on TV when I was in Australia, and it's brutal.

 

Why not pick on auto racing or boxing?  Even though auto racing isn't exactly violent, the risk factor involved is the drivers drive at insane speeds, and when crashes occur, they are scary to witness.  Boxing?  Well, as George Carlin once said, "Boxing is just a legal way to beat the shit out of somebody."

 

I play video games.  I play Madden (in fact, I haven't bought '08 yet).  I am a rabid football fan.  The fact that I don't have cable is driving me nuts.

 

I think my point is, sports, like any occupation, has risk factors.  Sports has that personal injury factor built into it.  Every single player that steps onto whatever field they play on knows that at any given moment, personal injury can happen.  Hell, I remember years ago when I was tossing a football around in the Dakotadome in Vermillion, I leapt up to go for the ball.  As I leapt, I pulled a groin muscle.  I was limping for three weeks.  It also hampered my love life during that time, hehe.

 

I just don't understand where you think that videogames desensitizes on what happened to Kevin Everett, or how the marketing of the NFL desensitizes my compassion towards my fellow man.

 

Athletes in any sport know they have to keep their bodies in tip top shape for the rigors of their profession (or for most of us little people, hobbies).  Hell, when I go bowling, I feel how the release of the ball sometimes hurts my arm.

 

In perspective, at least in our times, our games don't involve the bloodthirsty call of outright killing of a fellow human being, like in Roman times.  In those games of past, every time you stepped into the arena, you literally faced death.  Hell, when someone was to face death, the crowd usually was your judge, jury, and executioner.  Of course, Caesar was the ultimate judge.  Watch Gladiator sometime, sir.

 

I play videogames.  I watch football.

 

But I don't feel as though I am an uncaring person to my fellow humans because I happen to like both activities.

 

Mr. Morlinaro, you are so naive.

Football is on, and sadly, I can't watch..:(

 

 

I have yet to get cable and the rabbit ears I borrowed from some friends don't work too well.  Given that I have trees above my abode doesn't help at all.

 

So, I have to rely on the internets to follow the scores.

 

However, if #4 gets close to breaking Dan Marino's record of 420 touchdowns (he only needs 7 to tie), I'll have to wander to a bar downtown or something.  Unlike Loser (AKA B*NDS), at least Brett will break his sports record with dignity.  Brett admitted before the 1996 season that he was using vicodin to keep playing.  To me, that's a man.

 

I also am missing the debut of Chad Greenway.  I hope he has a good NFL career.  He grew up near where I grew up, and even tho he is a Viking, I will root for him.  His rookie season was wiped last year because of a freak leg injury during a pre-season game last year.

 

I'm excited this year. 

Tomorrow, I will lose internet access for about a week.  Fooking installation fees.  If they could have waited for just one more week...grr.

 

Anyhow, before I lose my connection, I wanted to post my thoughts on two events that happen during this week.

 

Tomorrow is my mother's 69th birthday.  Currently, she's in a nursing home rehabilitating from a fall that she had a few weeks ago.  Nine years ago, on her birthday, I was in Edinburgh, Scotland.  When I arrived there, I phoned her, wishing her a happy birthday.  It was a brief call, but it was one that I am happy to have made.  Given that her side of my family came from Scotland, I thought it was a wonderful present to give her.  She was wary of me traveling alone when I decided to make the trip to the UK.  To top it off, I ate haggis and heard the pipes play from a wonderful Scot.  I had a dram of whisky, and I discovered so much about where part of my heritage came from.  Once I found out what my family blood came from, I shared it with mom.  Part of her is Douglas.  Grandma married into the Cowans, which in turn was a follower of the MacDougalls and the Colquhoun clans.  After a little digging, I discovered that we came from the MacDougalls.

 

I discovered that through the lines of Douglas and MacDougall, I have royal blood in me.

 

 

 

The fact that I have Bruce blood and King James of House Stewart in me just blows my mind.  It certainly surprised my mother when I first told her this fact.

 

I'm exploring the Douglas side of me, which I know will make mother proud.

 

Happy Birthday, mom...my dearest friend.

I dedicate this 2 my dear friends Margaret and Steven.

 

Today was a great day 4 U, and I so wanted 2 be there 4 U.  But as U know, I left my mark through helping U prepare for the big day.

 

I wished 2 have met your sons; I wished Black Beauty and I could have performed for U and them.

 

Everytime I look up at my wall, I see the picture of us all at Lucky's.  I wanted 2 hug the Big Bear, and tell him I am proud of him.  The walk through the Corn Palace is and will always be precious 2 me.

 

Simply, I wish 2 have a day like this someday.  Have I met the woman that will be? I don't know.

 

But 4 U:

 

 

 

 

 

 http://musicjesus.com/index.php?song=31060

 

(Featuring Joan Jett)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's one heck of a list, although Silverado, Pale Rider, and Open Range are missing from the list.

 

Considering you have Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner, Jeff Goldblum, Danny Glover, Rosanna Arquette (who I thought was hot in this movie), Brian Dennehy, John Cleese and Linda Hunt, Silverado is a dynamic movie. It never did well in the theater, but I thought it was really good.

 

I love how Kline's character re-acquires his belongings: his horse, his hat, and his guns.

 

Pale Rider is a classic to me.  Like Unforgiven (which when I first saw in the theater, I hated it, but after a second viewing, it's one of my favorites), the title of the film has meaning.  Preacher is a character that has both "The Man With No Name" and William Muny in him.  This film was a bridge film between the Leone films and Unforgiven.  Preacher still had no name, but we learn that he had a past that was very violent.  He turned to God to repent his sins, but his past came back to haunt him.

 

Even though the young girl sees what Preacher is at the end of the film, she still loves him.  The scene at the end where Clint rides away on his pale horse more or less makes a statement.

 

Open Range reminds me of Unforgiven, but with a sense of humor.  It's a dark movie, and the tension builds up as it goes along, but there's enough humor in the movie to kind of cut it down a notch; except when push comes to shove, it makes the final shoot out at the end gripping.  Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner are excellent.  I love the fact that both men have worked together for years, but have the respect for each other enough to not ask each other about their pasts, except when they both want to right a terrible wrong.  Annette Benning and Costner have a lovely dynamic for the romance.  Michael Gambon and James Russo are awesome as the bad guys.

 

My favorite line in the film is when Costner picks a fight with one of Russo's posse.

 

Charley Waite:  "Are you the one who killed my dog?"

 

BUtler:  "Yeah, and I shot the boy, too.  And I enjoyed it."

 

And Costner kills the guy, and begins the gunfight.  Literally in cold blood.

 

That's why I'd add these movies to that list.

 

 

 

There are humans out there that really truly care for us kitties.  This little one is fortunate to be alive.

 

 http://www.cbs46.com/news/14023650/detail.html

 

As I look back, I see a place

Where I know I'll feel very safe

Where I know I know comfort

But what do you   What do you do?

 

When the place you once

Called home is gone and you

 Can't let go

 

Memories of past flash through my head

I remember the times my family had

The Christmas and Thanksgivings

I was a little child who had a little fun

 

Whoo hoo hoo hoo

Whoo hoo hoo

 

I remember when I used to use

A toy to play air guitar

I listened to Kiss on my brother's stereo

I prentended I was Ace

The room became my space

 My brother introduced to me

To all kinds of music

Everly Brothers to

Three Dog Night to the Eagles and to

Blood Sweat and Tears

Through that blue stereo

 

Whoo hoo hoo hoo

Whoo hoo hoo

 

Ten years later, I learned from that same room

Of AC/DC, Metallica, and Meatloaf, and

U2 and Iron Maiden and G'N'R

Led Zepplelin and

I learned of Bruce Springsteen

 

Whoo hoo hoo hoo

Hoo hoo hoo

 

I remember when my mother had

Her first heart surgery

We had Home Box Office

And they played Bill Cosby: Himself a lot

We laughed and cried but poor mom

She couldn't laugh or cry because she had staples

In her chest

So my father and sister and I went for pizza one night

And left mom alone so she could rejoice

 We came home, and she was in tears

Not tears of pain, but tears of laughter

And healment.

 

I remember that I lived in that garage

For nearly four years

It was my little home

For me and my kitten

 It was my home

 

I miss the meals mom and dad used to make

The roasts and the hams

The spaghetti and steaks

(The kind of stuff your parents used to make)

 

And the memories of the house

 As the last one to inhibit it with family ties

 

It was hard to drive away

Knowing that one day

I could never call that place home

Never to call it home again

Ever again

 

It's hard that knowing what you call home

Is what you make it..

The places you remember are

The memories that will

Remind you

 

Memories that remind you

Of home