If you scroll down this blog a little bit, you will find at least a few posts on the topic of Barry Bonds and steroids. Today we get an answer to a very big question. Not will Barry Bonds be indicted. The question is will we ever get undeniable proof of what we already know?
The answer would seem to be Yes. As the Feds have positive drug tests for Barry Bonds. They have the test!
It doesn't make any difference if he is convicted on Perjury and/or Obstruction of Justice charges. Even if he is exonerated of that, we still have the test and testimony that he did cheat.
Now, this doesn't really do much for me. I have eyes, so I can see whats true without having to be told. My hope, however, is that this will call out the Pro-Bonds crowd for what they are. Phonies. They pretend that they support him on some sort of Innocent-until-proven-guilty sort of level. The truth is they don't have the guts to fight for integrity. The support the cheaters.
I don't want to say its because they are liars or cheaters in their own personal lives...but....well...
Where are you now? Phonies. Where is the "He's never failed a test crowd?" mmm...hmm
I see a lot of people saying "This is a sad day for Baseball" It is NOT. This is a Glorious Day for Baseball. Its a day straight out of over-the-top, over-dramatic school for the touchy feely. A day that would make Jefferson Smith very proud. Its a day when Truth and Right prevailed and evil is vanquished. A day when our government did something right. (For those who don't think that ever happens)
Remember Remember the 15th of November. Turns out Mulder was right about the Truth.
-T
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Starting a New Job
I feel like I haven't worked in weeks. Its really only been a few days. But really, its been a long time since I had a LOT of work to do. Its not that we didn't do anything in New Jersey. We did. Its just that that job was nearing the end and all the heavy lifting was behind us. So we have been touching up, and cleaning up and troubleshooting for a while.
This job is right in the middle of the heavy stuff. Lots to do. Long hours. Also, this job is much much more complicated than the last one. So today was a much heavier day than I have had in a while.
Plus, getting used to the new city. Getting used to the new Hotel etc. So by the end of the looooonnngg hard day, I just came home and collapsed on the bed. Ahhhhhhhh.
You know what? It feels pretty good though. And here comes the fun part. I love coming home to my wife. I get home and she just makes it all go away.
Tomorrow....Day 2.
-T
This job is right in the middle of the heavy stuff. Lots to do. Long hours. Also, this job is much much more complicated than the last one. So today was a much heavier day than I have had in a while.
Plus, getting used to the new city. Getting used to the new Hotel etc. So by the end of the looooonnngg hard day, I just came home and collapsed on the bed. Ahhhhhhhh.
You know what? It feels pretty good though. And here comes the fun part. I love coming home to my wife. I get home and she just makes it all go away.
Tomorrow....Day 2.
-T
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
First Night in Baltimore
Here in Baltimore...really....I'm out near the airport. Not so much IN Baltimore. The Hotel is pretty nice. We have two rooms again finally. Which is nice. We have a TV that we can hook up the DVD player to. There's not as much space as the last place, but thats ok.
The best part, its about 10 degrees warmer here tonight than it is in New Jersey. I don't know what December is like in either New Jersey or Baltimore, But I am betting on it being a bit warmer.
So I just got settled in. I'll be heading off to work in the morning. Maybe...just maybe..I'll get to see some of the city this weekend.
-T
The best part, its about 10 degrees warmer here tonight than it is in New Jersey. I don't know what December is like in either New Jersey or Baltimore, But I am betting on it being a bit warmer.
So I just got settled in. I'll be heading off to work in the morning. Maybe...just maybe..I'll get to see some of the city this weekend.
-T
Monday, November 12, 2007
East Coast Kind of Guy?
Here on our last night living in New Jersey, I am thinking a little bit about how I feel about that. This is something I have thought about quite a bit. I am a person that tends to latch onto certain things or ideas and not let go. From little things, to seemingly more important things. I have been a Coke over Pepsi, McDonald's over Burger King, kind of guy. I'm a National League guy. A Shorts and Flip Flops kind of guy. I also have always thought I was an East Coast guy too.
Not really because I chose it. I did live sometime in Arizona as a kid, but it my parents hated it and it was always a matter of time before we moved "back east." I moved to California in 2003, and I still couldn't really shake the "I'm out here" feeling. The jobs I had took me more and more eastward. Salt Lake City, Austin, Boston, New Jersey and now to Baltimore. I have been up and Down the East Coast a lot in the last year. To Key West...Twice, to Charleston several times, to Boston and New York City many times. And I have come to a strange and very surprising conclusion.
....I don't really like it here....
More importantly....I like it "out there."
I miss the west. A lot. And I am stunned by this. I could talk for a week about what I miss about Los Angeles. I miss the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountains. I miss the Alamo. I miss Kingman Arizona. I miss how in the West you can see for 100 miles in all directions. I miss the Sunshine. I miss the rocky mountains in general and The Rocky Mountains in specific. Its beautiful out there.
To be fair. In my recent life here in the "Far East" I have discovered the pure joy and magic that is New York City. Wow, what an awesome place.
In the end, what I found is that I really could live anywhere. I could still choose to live in the East or the South. I'm pretty sure I won't live in too cold a place, but I could. The cool thing is that I have manage to remove this curious sort of umbilical cord that had kept me attached to the East Coast and has freed me up to live anywhere that Steph and I would like. And thats pretty exciting.
I put LA's chances at about 65% and New York's at about 30% and everywhere else at 5%.
We'll See.
-T
Not really because I chose it. I did live sometime in Arizona as a kid, but it my parents hated it and it was always a matter of time before we moved "back east." I moved to California in 2003, and I still couldn't really shake the "I'm out here" feeling. The jobs I had took me more and more eastward. Salt Lake City, Austin, Boston, New Jersey and now to Baltimore. I have been up and Down the East Coast a lot in the last year. To Key West...Twice, to Charleston several times, to Boston and New York City many times. And I have come to a strange and very surprising conclusion.
....I don't really like it here....
More importantly....I like it "out there."
I miss the west. A lot. And I am stunned by this. I could talk for a week about what I miss about Los Angeles. I miss the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountains. I miss the Alamo. I miss Kingman Arizona. I miss how in the West you can see for 100 miles in all directions. I miss the Sunshine. I miss the rocky mountains in general and The Rocky Mountains in specific. Its beautiful out there.
To be fair. In my recent life here in the "Far East" I have discovered the pure joy and magic that is New York City. Wow, what an awesome place.
In the end, what I found is that I really could live anywhere. I could still choose to live in the East or the South. I'm pretty sure I won't live in too cold a place, but I could. The cool thing is that I have manage to remove this curious sort of umbilical cord that had kept me attached to the East Coast and has freed me up to live anywhere that Steph and I would like. And thats pretty exciting.
I put LA's chances at about 65% and New York's at about 30% and everywhere else at 5%.
We'll See.
-T
Sunday, November 11, 2007
The Writers Strike
For a week now the Writers Guild of America has been on strike. It is, of course, pretty big news. The automatic question for America whenever any large group goes on strike is "How does this effect me?"
The answer for this one is the same with every other strike..."It depends." Depends on how much TV you watch and on how well prepared your favorite TV Show was.
For me, this is an interesting situation. As an aspiring filmmaker, media studier, and all around motion picture entertainment connoisseur, this strike is of particular interest and significance to me. It may be of more interest to me than to most people. Although, it may actually effect me less than it would most people. Generally, I don't watch that much new television. This year even less than usual. So when shows are going into reruns or being pushed into hiatus, it doesn't really make too much of a difference in my life. I do enjoy good television shows, but I don't do well trying to keep up during the year. So I often watch tv shows later. Sometimes on DVD in the Summer. Sometimes on On Demand through cable. Sometimes during the season on iTunes.
Which leads us to the point of this particular strike. It seems that the writers of all these programs aren't getting paid for their work being shown on these new media formats.
I don't care much for strikes. No kidding, right? But when they come up, I tend to think there is no excuse to not get these things fixed before it comes to that. In most cases, I don't know who is right or wrong, but get it fixed before we have to cancel the World Series or before I have to walk from Sherman Oaks to Hollywood.
In this case, however, I can really come down on the side of the strikers. Obviously as someone with an above average appreciation for the rights of artists, it makes sense. But even beyond that, this one seems a bit of a no-brainer.
The writers want to get paid when the material that they created gets played on the internet and on cellphones and other such new media outlets. The Networks/Studios are saying 2 things.
1. That its too early to tell just how much money they are making off these new outlets. So they won't pay the writers anything while they are waiting.
2. They also have said that most of the Internet distribution is a "form of promotion" for the show, essentially a commercial, and therefore they shouldn't have to pay the writers anything.
I don't know a lot about labor agreements, but I know BS when I smell it. There are a few simple truths in this world and here is one of them. You can't tell a story without a story. And that is becoming very very obvious to the bigwigs right about now.
-T
The answer for this one is the same with every other strike..."It depends." Depends on how much TV you watch and on how well prepared your favorite TV Show was.
For me, this is an interesting situation. As an aspiring filmmaker, media studier, and all around motion picture entertainment connoisseur, this strike is of particular interest and significance to me. It may be of more interest to me than to most people. Although, it may actually effect me less than it would most people. Generally, I don't watch that much new television. This year even less than usual. So when shows are going into reruns or being pushed into hiatus, it doesn't really make too much of a difference in my life. I do enjoy good television shows, but I don't do well trying to keep up during the year. So I often watch tv shows later. Sometimes on DVD in the Summer. Sometimes on On Demand through cable. Sometimes during the season on iTunes.
Which leads us to the point of this particular strike. It seems that the writers of all these programs aren't getting paid for their work being shown on these new media formats.
I don't care much for strikes. No kidding, right? But when they come up, I tend to think there is no excuse to not get these things fixed before it comes to that. In most cases, I don't know who is right or wrong, but get it fixed before we have to cancel the World Series or before I have to walk from Sherman Oaks to Hollywood.
In this case, however, I can really come down on the side of the strikers. Obviously as someone with an above average appreciation for the rights of artists, it makes sense. But even beyond that, this one seems a bit of a no-brainer.
The writers want to get paid when the material that they created gets played on the internet and on cellphones and other such new media outlets. The Networks/Studios are saying 2 things.
1. That its too early to tell just how much money they are making off these new outlets. So they won't pay the writers anything while they are waiting.
2. They also have said that most of the Internet distribution is a "form of promotion" for the show, essentially a commercial, and therefore they shouldn't have to pay the writers anything.
I don't know a lot about labor agreements, but I know BS when I smell it. There are a few simple truths in this world and here is one of them. You can't tell a story without a story. And that is becoming very very obvious to the bigwigs right about now.
-T
Saturday, November 10, 2007
More about Sports
We are losing to Florida by 20 points with 9 minutes to go. We just fumbled the ball and the game is certainly over. What should I care? 2 Years ago we beat Florida for the first time ever. Last year we lost by 1 point and Florida went on to win the National Championship. This year. In a year we were supposed to be even better, and in a year when we had been ranked as high as 6, we are getting clobbered.
Heres the thing though. I spent years and years hoping to beat Florida. Years and years knowing that this was one game on the schedule that we just couldn't touch them. So we have 2 good years against them and now I expect to win every year? I don't know.
I am upset about this. Mostly because we were doing so well and have lost now 4 straight games. And we look awful too. So its really just the repeated losing and the continued drop off thats killing me.
But what is really wrong? I don't want to hurt this much. It bothers me still. I know its wrong to be this upset about it. Its too much for me. And I have been rehabilitating myself for sometime now, and I am disappointed to find that it may not be working as well as I'd hoped. I still get mad. I still want to throw things. I still want to slam things down. It still bugs me.
One thing, is that I left a lot of this behind me. I had calmed down to a nice simple and respectable appreciation for Gamecock Football. But people had pointed to 2007 as a potentially big year for us. As the year got going, it started to look like it might be something really special. And I let my guard down. Its just like bringing and alcoholic to a wine tasting I guess, cuz I was off the wagon.
So now, in addition to the pain I feel from losing, I have the pain of feeling a little like a sucker. A sucker because I essentially consciously said "I will let my guard down this time because it looks like this will be worth it" and I am getting hosed. Hosed by my team and by those people who said it was going to happen.
In the end the question is this....just what is my problem anyway? The problem is that I spent most of my life using sports as a way of hiding from pain and fear. For 25 years or so I did this. So much so that its not easy to stop. Even here and now. Today. When my life is probably more happy, more healthy and more in order than it has ever been. And yet here I am again, struggling to deal with something that I should be able to deal with.
Maybe its a good sign....now that I think of it. If I am as happy as I have ever been right now, then maybe its ok that I'm upset. Maybe it means that not all of my Football obsession was based on hiding from pain. Maybe some of it was and is just genuine love of team. I suppose thats a decent enough thing.
Wow...I feel better.
...Weird.
-T
Heres the thing though. I spent years and years hoping to beat Florida. Years and years knowing that this was one game on the schedule that we just couldn't touch them. So we have 2 good years against them and now I expect to win every year? I don't know.
I am upset about this. Mostly because we were doing so well and have lost now 4 straight games. And we look awful too. So its really just the repeated losing and the continued drop off thats killing me.
But what is really wrong? I don't want to hurt this much. It bothers me still. I know its wrong to be this upset about it. Its too much for me. And I have been rehabilitating myself for sometime now, and I am disappointed to find that it may not be working as well as I'd hoped. I still get mad. I still want to throw things. I still want to slam things down. It still bugs me.
One thing, is that I left a lot of this behind me. I had calmed down to a nice simple and respectable appreciation for Gamecock Football. But people had pointed to 2007 as a potentially big year for us. As the year got going, it started to look like it might be something really special. And I let my guard down. Its just like bringing and alcoholic to a wine tasting I guess, cuz I was off the wagon.
So now, in addition to the pain I feel from losing, I have the pain of feeling a little like a sucker. A sucker because I essentially consciously said "I will let my guard down this time because it looks like this will be worth it" and I am getting hosed. Hosed by my team and by those people who said it was going to happen.
In the end the question is this....just what is my problem anyway? The problem is that I spent most of my life using sports as a way of hiding from pain and fear. For 25 years or so I did this. So much so that its not easy to stop. Even here and now. Today. When my life is probably more happy, more healthy and more in order than it has ever been. And yet here I am again, struggling to deal with something that I should be able to deal with.
Maybe its a good sign....now that I think of it. If I am as happy as I have ever been right now, then maybe its ok that I'm upset. Maybe it means that not all of my Football obsession was based on hiding from pain. Maybe some of it was and is just genuine love of team. I suppose thats a decent enough thing.
Wow...I feel better.
...Weird.
-T
Friday, November 09, 2007
A Day Like No Other
Here's a quick one about today. One of those days when you wake up and your life is one way and when you go to sleep things are very different.
I woke up this morning not knowing where my next work project would be. Not knowing for sure exactly what I wanted to pursue in life.
In the course of today, I decided that I'm going to make a plan for getting my PhD. I found out that my company is moving me to Maryland. And I was offered a chance to possibly shoot a music video for a friend's band. Also, one other thing that might happen but I'm not going to mention just yet. Don't want to jinx it.
Anyway. Just like that. A seemingly regular sort of day that might end up being one of the biggest of my life.
-T
I woke up this morning not knowing where my next work project would be. Not knowing for sure exactly what I wanted to pursue in life.
In the course of today, I decided that I'm going to make a plan for getting my PhD. I found out that my company is moving me to Maryland. And I was offered a chance to possibly shoot a music video for a friend's band. Also, one other thing that might happen but I'm not going to mention just yet. Don't want to jinx it.
Anyway. Just like that. A seemingly regular sort of day that might end up being one of the biggest of my life.
-T
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Message Board Culture
The internet is an amazing thing!! I can't put enough exclamation points on it to do it justice. There are so many facets to the internet and being online. I have been consistently online for almost 11 years now, and it has change my life in innumerable ways. Additionally, it has changed the world in incredible ways. And as with all new inventions and developments, there are strange and quirky phenomena that are unique to that invention.
One of those things is the internet message board and the resulting message board culture. I won't begin to get into the history and beginnings of the internet message board. Mostly because I don't know its history and am not really interested in researching it. I am vaguely aware of some sort of computer bulletin boards when I was younger, but whatever.
I go to a few different message boards. The main reason...or the one I would like you to believe...is for news. There are people online who have little to do in life and so they spend their time scavenging for news that relates to their interests. Then they try to one up each other by being the first to post it. I like to take advantage of that to get the news.
So in my years of "observing" the posters in their natural environment i have noticed a few things. First, everything that happens in the world is RIDICULOUS. It doesn't really matter what the theme of the board is, or what side of the topic they are on. They are pretty darned mad about it. A person with less internet experience might be fooled into thinking that these people are very unhappy in their personal lives and have no other means of relieving themselves.
Another thing that Stephanie and I both have noticed is that after awhile, they begin to divide themselves into distinct groups. Stephanie pointed out to me recently that this occurs on Celebrity Baby Blog. As I understand it, there is a big divide between the fans of Shiloh Jolie-Pitt and those of Suri Cruise. In fact they even refer to themselves as Team Shiloh and Team Suri. (actually, the moderators at that site have since made them stop doing that.)
This seems to occur everywhere, but I like the Baby Bloggers organization the best. On the Star Wars board we have Team Prequels and Team Originals. On the Gamecock Messageboard its about Quarterback...Team Mitchell and Team Smelley. But the newest one to develop is on the Sopranos messageboard. Where the discussion is all about the ambiguous season finale, and whether Tony lives or dies. That argument is amongst the self named Lifers and Deadheads.
The truth is...its all a big freaking distraction from real life, and a cheap means of feeling smart or important. In all of these cases, it is based on deconstruction of whatever it is they are talking about. And it is just that. Deconstruction. It doesn't build anything. Which means its worthless.
-T
One of those things is the internet message board and the resulting message board culture. I won't begin to get into the history and beginnings of the internet message board. Mostly because I don't know its history and am not really interested in researching it. I am vaguely aware of some sort of computer bulletin boards when I was younger, but whatever.
I go to a few different message boards. The main reason...or the one I would like you to believe...is for news. There are people online who have little to do in life and so they spend their time scavenging for news that relates to their interests. Then they try to one up each other by being the first to post it. I like to take advantage of that to get the news.
So in my years of "observing" the posters in their natural environment i have noticed a few things. First, everything that happens in the world is RIDICULOUS. It doesn't really matter what the theme of the board is, or what side of the topic they are on. They are pretty darned mad about it. A person with less internet experience might be fooled into thinking that these people are very unhappy in their personal lives and have no other means of relieving themselves.
Another thing that Stephanie and I both have noticed is that after awhile, they begin to divide themselves into distinct groups. Stephanie pointed out to me recently that this occurs on Celebrity Baby Blog. As I understand it, there is a big divide between the fans of Shiloh Jolie-Pitt and those of Suri Cruise. In fact they even refer to themselves as Team Shiloh and Team Suri. (actually, the moderators at that site have since made them stop doing that.)
This seems to occur everywhere, but I like the Baby Bloggers organization the best. On the Star Wars board we have Team Prequels and Team Originals. On the Gamecock Messageboard its about Quarterback...Team Mitchell and Team Smelley. But the newest one to develop is on the Sopranos messageboard. Where the discussion is all about the ambiguous season finale, and whether Tony lives or dies. That argument is amongst the self named Lifers and Deadheads.
The truth is...its all a big freaking distraction from real life, and a cheap means of feeling smart or important. In all of these cases, it is based on deconstruction of whatever it is they are talking about. And it is just that. Deconstruction. It doesn't build anything. Which means its worthless.
-T
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
I just had a Genius Idea!
As we know, the Writers strike in Hollywood has been a big topic lately. The networks are frantic trying to figure out what to do. How will they make ends meet? How will they fill out their weekly lineups?
The thing they have going for them now, that they didn't have the last time there was a strike is Reality TV. Reality TV does NOT (and this should be pretty obvious to all) use writers. So they will not be affected by the strike. So the networks may want to create even more Reality based shows to fill in for the others.
Thats where my idea comes in. I have created a few new Reality competitions that will help the Networks in two ways.
1. So you Think You can Write for Television
2. America's Next Top Television Writer
3. Who Wants to be a Television Writer
and my favorite one...
Television Writing with the Stars
where 10 Writing Professors from Prestigious Film Schools team up with 10 Superstar Actors and Talk Show hosts and attempt to teach them to write their own material.
C'mon Networks, this could work. At the very least, this post could make a decent monologue joke. I'm available.
-Tom
The thing they have going for them now, that they didn't have the last time there was a strike is Reality TV. Reality TV does NOT (and this should be pretty obvious to all) use writers. So they will not be affected by the strike. So the networks may want to create even more Reality based shows to fill in for the others.
Thats where my idea comes in. I have created a few new Reality competitions that will help the Networks in two ways.
1. So you Think You can Write for Television
2. America's Next Top Television Writer
3. Who Wants to be a Television Writer
and my favorite one...
Television Writing with the Stars
where 10 Writing Professors from Prestigious Film Schools team up with 10 Superstar Actors and Talk Show hosts and attempt to teach them to write their own material.
C'mon Networks, this could work. At the very least, this post could make a decent monologue joke. I'm available.
-Tom
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
The Complete Series
I have a new obsession of late. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, it is something that I won't be able to take advantage of.
We are apparently living a Golden Age of "The Complete Series" Dvds for television shows. I want all of them. I don't really know what it is. I feel some kind of Power from owning an entire television series from Start to Finish. Especially because they come in these really clever packages. I admit, I am a sucker for cool packaging. I'm also a sucker for the idea of a "complete collection."
I found out today that an X-Files complete series set came out today. Now, here is a show that I know is pretty good. In all, I have seen around 15 episodes total. To be honest, I don't know when the last time I even thought about that show was. However, now, its all I want.
In addition to that, the entire series of King of Queens, Seinfeld and Full House came out today. Seinfeld comes in a Box Shaped like a big refrigerator. (though that may be a Best Buy exclusive.) King of Queens in box shaped like an IPS delivery truck. Full House comes in a House Shaped Box, much the same as the House Shaped Box that the Everybody Loves Raymond Complete Series set came in a couple of weeks ago. Golden Age Indeed.
What really got me pumped up was the Six Feet Under set that came out last year. Very cool. It comes in a grave-like package with fuzzy grass on top. That did it for me. I immediately realized that a Complete Sopranos Set must be in the works. I then sold all my existing single season sets of Sopranos. (I got a very good return on them to considering it was right before the final season aired.) So I am patiently waiting for it, and waiting to see what it looks like.
Stephanie bought the complete Friends set earlier this year, and it has been awesome, and well worth the cost. Which leads me to the problem. I really don't have a lot of room in the budget for 100 and 200+ dollar DVD sets. It has honestly worked out really well with Friends, because we have gotten a great deal of viewings out of it. All things considered, these sets are certainly worth the money in theory. However, they aren't exactly worth it in practice. Not for me right now at least.
So for now, its just a lot of me looking, dreaming and lusting for the Power that comes with owning every single episode of the Andy Griffith Show.
-Tom
We are apparently living a Golden Age of "The Complete Series" Dvds for television shows. I want all of them. I don't really know what it is. I feel some kind of Power from owning an entire television series from Start to Finish. Especially because they come in these really clever packages. I admit, I am a sucker for cool packaging. I'm also a sucker for the idea of a "complete collection."
I found out today that an X-Files complete series set came out today. Now, here is a show that I know is pretty good. In all, I have seen around 15 episodes total. To be honest, I don't know when the last time I even thought about that show was. However, now, its all I want.
In addition to that, the entire series of King of Queens, Seinfeld and Full House came out today. Seinfeld comes in a Box Shaped like a big refrigerator. (though that may be a Best Buy exclusive.) King of Queens in box shaped like an IPS delivery truck. Full House comes in a House Shaped Box, much the same as the House Shaped Box that the Everybody Loves Raymond Complete Series set came in a couple of weeks ago. Golden Age Indeed.
What really got me pumped up was the Six Feet Under set that came out last year. Very cool. It comes in a grave-like package with fuzzy grass on top. That did it for me. I immediately realized that a Complete Sopranos Set must be in the works. I then sold all my existing single season sets of Sopranos. (I got a very good return on them to considering it was right before the final season aired.) So I am patiently waiting for it, and waiting to see what it looks like.
Stephanie bought the complete Friends set earlier this year, and it has been awesome, and well worth the cost. Which leads me to the problem. I really don't have a lot of room in the budget for 100 and 200+ dollar DVD sets. It has honestly worked out really well with Friends, because we have gotten a great deal of viewings out of it. All things considered, these sets are certainly worth the money in theory. However, they aren't exactly worth it in practice. Not for me right now at least.
So for now, its just a lot of me looking, dreaming and lusting for the Power that comes with owning every single episode of the Andy Griffith Show.
-Tom
Monday, November 05, 2007
Tom Andrews and the Quest for Truth
In a world where things are not always as they seem. In a land where people aren't always who they say they are. Comes a man on quest to discover secrets of himself and the truth about his life. I have in the last year come to the conclusion that I am not always who I thought I was. And that truthfully I don't know how I feel about a lot of things.
I will be using this blog over the next weeks to work out some truths about myself. Most specifically, how I feel about certain things, what I like, and what I belive.
Tonight's question is a big one. Sports.
I am a Sports guy, and I have been for as long as I can remember. In college, I was one of "those guys" who painted his face, drank a lot and yelled and screamed at every football game. Its true. Looking back at that guy. I'm not quite sure who that was. I'm not embarrassed at all. But I wonder if I did that because I really wanted to, or if there was something more.
In college I suffered with some issues. Specifically depression, confidence and identity. In fact I have spent a lifetime struggling with identity. I'd like to look back and chuckle at my face painting days, but there is something about it that seems fishy. A little too comfortable with the knowledge that people knew me as a guy that painted his face. A little too concerned with what people thought about me and if they were looking my way. A little too conscious of how it made me feel about myself. And a little too quick to accept football as the most important thing in my life to the detriment of everything else.
Now, I don't act that way anymore. And here is the question. Was I unhealthy before and have become more healthy? Or was I fine before and have simply evolved and changed, grown and matured? I'm not yet sure.
I'm not saying that there was anything wrong before. I'm not ashamed. But I have questions about myself and that requires a closer look.
This is just one small area of the Sports World According to Tom that needs exploration. One Step at a Time.
Peace...
-T
I will be using this blog over the next weeks to work out some truths about myself. Most specifically, how I feel about certain things, what I like, and what I belive.
Tonight's question is a big one. Sports.
I am a Sports guy, and I have been for as long as I can remember. In college, I was one of "those guys" who painted his face, drank a lot and yelled and screamed at every football game. Its true. Looking back at that guy. I'm not quite sure who that was. I'm not embarrassed at all. But I wonder if I did that because I really wanted to, or if there was something more.
In college I suffered with some issues. Specifically depression, confidence and identity. In fact I have spent a lifetime struggling with identity. I'd like to look back and chuckle at my face painting days, but there is something about it that seems fishy. A little too comfortable with the knowledge that people knew me as a guy that painted his face. A little too concerned with what people thought about me and if they were looking my way. A little too conscious of how it made me feel about myself. And a little too quick to accept football as the most important thing in my life to the detriment of everything else.
Now, I don't act that way anymore. And here is the question. Was I unhealthy before and have become more healthy? Or was I fine before and have simply evolved and changed, grown and matured? I'm not yet sure.
I'm not saying that there was anything wrong before. I'm not ashamed. But I have questions about myself and that requires a closer look.
This is just one small area of the Sports World According to Tom that needs exploration. One Step at a Time.
Peace...
-T
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Packing it up again
In the last couple of years, Steph and I have moved quite a bit. From Columbia, SC to Los Angeles, to Salt Lake City, to Austin to Boston and then to New Jersey. "What a long strange trip its been." Now we are preparing to move again. This time, we really aren't sure where just yet.
Its narrowed down to a couple of scenarios, and we will be finding out pretty soon. We are getting everything ready now so that we will be ready to go on short notice. We are doing a lot better at managing our stuff I have found this time. Having a car that can carry more has been a plus.
Adding to that comes this....Stephanie's brilliant idea for space saving. We purchased some of these vacuum bags for clothes storage. I would say I was skeptical. That might be an overstatement. I was taking a wait and see attitude as far as how well this would work. I must say, early results are in and they are all positive.
We essentially reduced the space taken by a large amount of clothes by 50 percent. All I can say is Whoa! We have 2 large suitcases and about 4 other small suitcases and it actually looks as if we might get all of our clothes into the two big ones. Technology is grand.
We should be able to get our stuff to a very manageable 2 Explorers worth of stuff. We have only 1 Explorer of course, but at least we know 2 trips would be the absolute max.
Anyway, we will be in a holding pattern for a bit. But if we can get one more long term assignment, I think we will be able to finally work toward the big settle down. We'll see.
-Tom
Its narrowed down to a couple of scenarios, and we will be finding out pretty soon. We are getting everything ready now so that we will be ready to go on short notice. We are doing a lot better at managing our stuff I have found this time. Having a car that can carry more has been a plus.
Adding to that comes this....Stephanie's brilliant idea for space saving. We purchased some of these vacuum bags for clothes storage. I would say I was skeptical. That might be an overstatement. I was taking a wait and see attitude as far as how well this would work. I must say, early results are in and they are all positive.
We essentially reduced the space taken by a large amount of clothes by 50 percent. All I can say is Whoa! We have 2 large suitcases and about 4 other small suitcases and it actually looks as if we might get all of our clothes into the two big ones. Technology is grand.
We should be able to get our stuff to a very manageable 2 Explorers worth of stuff. We have only 1 Explorer of course, but at least we know 2 trips would be the absolute max.
Anyway, we will be in a holding pattern for a bit. But if we can get one more long term assignment, I think we will be able to finally work toward the big settle down. We'll see.
-Tom
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Busted my Head
A weird thing happened to me today. I busted my head falling out of the shower. Seriously. I have been out of shape for a while now, and I'm really ready to get back into shape. So I was actually exercising today, which was nice. Steph and I were going to go out, so I jumped up really fast to take a quick shower. I hopped in the shower and turned on the hot water. But really quickly I got light headed and felt a little dizzy. So I leaned forward in the shower and rested my head against the front wall of the shower. I was catching my breath. The next thing I know, I was dreaming that I was walking down the hall at the public storage where we have put some of our stuff. Then I here Stephanie yelling "are you alright?" Then I realized my face was on the floor.
I snapped to, pretty quickly but was pretty freaked out. I had passed out in the shower. Very strange. I remember thinking, man I'm out of shape, I can't believe I'm so winded. Then....Whap! I was on the floor.
I worried for a minute that it could be something serious. I've been thinking about it all day, and I'm pretty sure its not. I know what its like to be winded and to be out of shape. Its not an unfamiliar feeling. I have been an athlete for most of my life. I have been in and out of shape from time to time and I know how it feels to push myself hard and to feel like that. I have never been this out of shape though, and this is the extreme of what happens.
Thats the end of that. This is a wake up call for sure. I'm tired of being tired. Tired of being out of breath. Tired of feeling like a fatso. So starting tomorrow, its no more cheese and eggs every morning and no more NOT exercising.
Its time to go back about 15 years. 6'2' 195. Lean and Strong. 200 lbs by Christmas. Mark it Down!
-T
I snapped to, pretty quickly but was pretty freaked out. I had passed out in the shower. Very strange. I remember thinking, man I'm out of shape, I can't believe I'm so winded. Then....Whap! I was on the floor.
I worried for a minute that it could be something serious. I've been thinking about it all day, and I'm pretty sure its not. I know what its like to be winded and to be out of shape. Its not an unfamiliar feeling. I have been an athlete for most of my life. I have been in and out of shape from time to time and I know how it feels to push myself hard and to feel like that. I have never been this out of shape though, and this is the extreme of what happens.
Thats the end of that. This is a wake up call for sure. I'm tired of being tired. Tired of being out of breath. Tired of feeling like a fatso. So starting tomorrow, its no more cheese and eggs every morning and no more NOT exercising.
Its time to go back about 15 years. 6'2' 195. Lean and Strong. 200 lbs by Christmas. Mark it Down!
-T
Friday, November 02, 2007
American Gangster
So while I am continuing to knock the dust off of my blog, I will stay in the shallow end. So a movie review.
So Stephanie and I saw American Gangster today. This is a movie I have been wanting to see for a while. Mostly because of Denzel Washington. He's about as powerful an actor as there is, and I'm a big fan. Secondly, I like movies with 2 strong characters on opposing sides. Heat comes to mind historically, and more recently 3:10 to Yuma. And speaking of Russell Crowe, here is a guy making a big come back for me. LA Confidential, The Insider, Gladiator. Loved him, but after that, he just seemed to disappear. But, I'm ready to love him again.
Simply put, this is a very good movie. Unlike the other movies I mentioned, these two characters don't really meet until the end. Not just that they don't meet, but don't know about each other. Washington is the criminal, but doesn't know he is being chased until he is caught. Crowe is the cop who is chasing someone, but doesn't know who it is until nearly the end of the chase. On the surface, this might not be good. We don't get the Cat and Mouse aspect of Dinero and Pacino in Heat. We don't get the Battle of Wills of Crowe and Bale in 3:10. So what does that leave us with? It leaves us with 2 separate movies on a collision course with one another.
I'm not sure if thats good or not, and maybe thats what keeps this movie from being Great. Everything around that however is superb. The drugs, the violence, the action, its awesome. Flying to Vietnam. The undercover cops, corruption. Its all so complex and sophisticated. Its an incredibly textured film and it has some tragedy on a few different levels.
I want this to be a really Great movie and it just doesn't quite go the distance for me. It lacks a certain thing. I don't quite know what to say. The difference between a Hall of Famer and one of the best ever. Some movies just go that extra mile, they add that extra unexpected layer or quality. This one is amazing, but never quite gets to that top level.
Its an A though.
Tom's rating 84
So Stephanie and I saw American Gangster today. This is a movie I have been wanting to see for a while. Mostly because of Denzel Washington. He's about as powerful an actor as there is, and I'm a big fan. Secondly, I like movies with 2 strong characters on opposing sides. Heat comes to mind historically, and more recently 3:10 to Yuma. And speaking of Russell Crowe, here is a guy making a big come back for me. LA Confidential, The Insider, Gladiator. Loved him, but after that, he just seemed to disappear. But, I'm ready to love him again.
Simply put, this is a very good movie. Unlike the other movies I mentioned, these two characters don't really meet until the end. Not just that they don't meet, but don't know about each other. Washington is the criminal, but doesn't know he is being chased until he is caught. Crowe is the cop who is chasing someone, but doesn't know who it is until nearly the end of the chase. On the surface, this might not be good. We don't get the Cat and Mouse aspect of Dinero and Pacino in Heat. We don't get the Battle of Wills of Crowe and Bale in 3:10. So what does that leave us with? It leaves us with 2 separate movies on a collision course with one another.
I'm not sure if thats good or not, and maybe thats what keeps this movie from being Great. Everything around that however is superb. The drugs, the violence, the action, its awesome. Flying to Vietnam. The undercover cops, corruption. Its all so complex and sophisticated. Its an incredibly textured film and it has some tragedy on a few different levels.
I want this to be a really Great movie and it just doesn't quite go the distance for me. It lacks a certain thing. I don't quite know what to say. The difference between a Hall of Famer and one of the best ever. Some movies just go that extra mile, they add that extra unexpected layer or quality. This one is amazing, but never quite gets to that top level.
Its an A though.
Tom's rating 84
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Dusting off the Blog.....
Ok, its time to start writing again. I found out about NaBloPoMo from Steph So I decided to get on it again. I haven't been blogging in what has clearly been a long time.
Most days I spend a lot of time wrestling with thoughts in my head. A million different things swirling around. I have thought getting back to blogging would help me to keep them all straight, but I haven't made the time to get started again. Sometimes, I just need a little push. So the challenge to write a blog once a day for a whole month seems like a good enough challenge.
So here we go.
-T
Most days I spend a lot of time wrestling with thoughts in my head. A million different things swirling around. I have thought getting back to blogging would help me to keep them all straight, but I haven't made the time to get started again. Sometimes, I just need a little push. So the challenge to write a blog once a day for a whole month seems like a good enough challenge.
So here we go.
-T
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Superman
Tonight, Steph and I saw Superman. Honestly, I have been pretty interested in this for some time now. I have not cared much for any of the big Superhero movies that have come along lately.
I saw Spiderman in 2002 and I liked it pretty well. Especially the first half of it. The second half was somewhat lacking. Really though, it wasn't very good over all, and the more I watched it the worse it got. There was Hulk, and that was just flat out dreadful. And I mean bad. Then there was Daredevil. And that was lousy. And I love Ben Affleck. Then there was Spiderman 2, and it was better than the last. But by that time, I really didn't care. Last year was interesting. First there was Batman Begins. Now this one was good. Really, very good. But I had a little bit of ill will toward it, because I still didn't think it was THAT good. I mean, as good as everyone was trying to say. There was also Fantastic Four. Which I actually kind of liked. On a low standard sort of scale. Oh, and then there was X-Men. Pretty cool in 2000. Pretty cool in 2003. And Pretty cool in 2006. But to be honest. The only one that I honestly like is Batman Begins.
At this point, the Superhero genre is in full swing. I honestly feel like Superman and Batman are a little above the trend of superhero movies being popular. So I wasn't thrilled about them coming out during this time. But we got a pretty good one in Batman, so I was cautiously optimistic about Superman Returns.
One thing I loved was that this was going to be a sequel to Superman II. For two reasons. One, it kind of wipes out the crap that is Superman III and IV. Two, it does not wipe out the excellence that is Superman and Superman II. While Batman Begins is kind of like a prequel to the others, it really didn't feel like it fit with the others. But this one does. Superman Returns is a straight up direct sequel to Superman II. Not just stylistically. It looks and feels just like the old series. The credits are the same, the music is the same. The mannerisms of Supes and Clark and Lois and everyone are still the same.
I'll tell you what. I loved this movie. Straight up loved it. Its not without a problem or two, but it was really really good. And now, I'm kind of glad that it came out now. Because it deserves to be the best of the bunch. As Superman is clearly the best of all Superheros. I now see a little battle starting, and it could be good, and it could be bad. But no matter what, it will be interesting.
We have a franchise of Batman movies on the way. All trying to be the darkest and grittiest.
We have a franchise of Superman movies on the way. All trying to be the brightest and classiest.
We have a franchise of Spiderman movies that are already here and still coming. All trying to be the most fun and silliest.
Who's going to come out on top? I don't know. But in the end. I think Batman and Superman will crush Spiderman. Or at least I hope so. Right now, box officially speaking. Spidey is cleaning up. But he clearly sucks.
We shall see. But for now.....Maybe I will Lois.....Maybe I will.
-T
I saw Spiderman in 2002 and I liked it pretty well. Especially the first half of it. The second half was somewhat lacking. Really though, it wasn't very good over all, and the more I watched it the worse it got. There was Hulk, and that was just flat out dreadful. And I mean bad. Then there was Daredevil. And that was lousy. And I love Ben Affleck. Then there was Spiderman 2, and it was better than the last. But by that time, I really didn't care. Last year was interesting. First there was Batman Begins. Now this one was good. Really, very good. But I had a little bit of ill will toward it, because I still didn't think it was THAT good. I mean, as good as everyone was trying to say. There was also Fantastic Four. Which I actually kind of liked. On a low standard sort of scale. Oh, and then there was X-Men. Pretty cool in 2000. Pretty cool in 2003. And Pretty cool in 2006. But to be honest. The only one that I honestly like is Batman Begins.
At this point, the Superhero genre is in full swing. I honestly feel like Superman and Batman are a little above the trend of superhero movies being popular. So I wasn't thrilled about them coming out during this time. But we got a pretty good one in Batman, so I was cautiously optimistic about Superman Returns.
One thing I loved was that this was going to be a sequel to Superman II. For two reasons. One, it kind of wipes out the crap that is Superman III and IV. Two, it does not wipe out the excellence that is Superman and Superman II. While Batman Begins is kind of like a prequel to the others, it really didn't feel like it fit with the others. But this one does. Superman Returns is a straight up direct sequel to Superman II. Not just stylistically. It looks and feels just like the old series. The credits are the same, the music is the same. The mannerisms of Supes and Clark and Lois and everyone are still the same.
I'll tell you what. I loved this movie. Straight up loved it. Its not without a problem or two, but it was really really good. And now, I'm kind of glad that it came out now. Because it deserves to be the best of the bunch. As Superman is clearly the best of all Superheros. I now see a little battle starting, and it could be good, and it could be bad. But no matter what, it will be interesting.
We have a franchise of Batman movies on the way. All trying to be the darkest and grittiest.
We have a franchise of Superman movies on the way. All trying to be the brightest and classiest.
We have a franchise of Spiderman movies that are already here and still coming. All trying to be the most fun and silliest.
Who's going to come out on top? I don't know. But in the end. I think Batman and Superman will crush Spiderman. Or at least I hope so. Right now, box officially speaking. Spidey is cleaning up. But he clearly sucks.
We shall see. But for now.....Maybe I will Lois.....Maybe I will.
-T
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
I think it's time for me to fly
I turned in my two weeks notice tonight. I'll tell you what. I was actually a little nervous, and this surprised me. I have, of course, expected this day would come for quite some time. I have, of course, been ready to be done with this line of work for a while. I have, of course, no real regrets or sadness over leaving Texas. I have, however, a strange and urgent desire to make sure people don't hate me. Sometimes, this desire can be a problem. Most times I'd say. I honestly though that my current supervisor would be fine with me leaving, but on the way over I got really nervous that he might be mad. He wasn't. He reacted how I generally expected him to. Supportive and generally cool, all the way around.
So now I am free. I am ready to give up all this. My 23 dollar an hour job. My food per diam. My free housing. Everything. I'm ready to be an artist. Preferably not the starving kind, but an artist anyway. I'm ready to go! I can't wait. California here we come, right back where we started from. California.....Californyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
And Stephanie realized that my last day will be July 12th 2006. My first day ever working for Dataline in Utah was July 12th 2004. 2 years to the exact day! Thats freaky.
-T
So now I am free. I am ready to give up all this. My 23 dollar an hour job. My food per diam. My free housing. Everything. I'm ready to be an artist. Preferably not the starving kind, but an artist anyway. I'm ready to go! I can't wait. California here we come, right back where we started from. California.....Californyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
And Stephanie realized that my last day will be July 12th 2006. My first day ever working for Dataline in Utah was July 12th 2004. 2 years to the exact day! Thats freaky.
-T
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Finally!!!
Ha ha....after weeks and weeks of problems, I finally saw a good movie that didn't lose the critics. Cars is the movie, and the critics finally get it.
This movie was first, very very funny. Second, it was very clever. Third, it was quite touching. As we know, Disney/Pixar movies have become kind of a Genre on its own. Mixed in with a couple of notable cartoons from other studios (Dreamworks' Shrek and New Line's Lord of the Rings Trilogy), the world of computer animated features has completely replaced the hand drawn animation of the past. Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. Cars is next on the list for me.
One thing the Pixar does well is cleverness, and this movie is full of it. Lots of good humor that adults can appreciate a long with kids. Tractor Tipping is funny. SUV boot camp for SUVs that have never been offroad is hilarious. And Jeremy Piven in the role of Lightning McQueen's agent is the funniest thing ever. And if you don't know why... YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE. All that mixed with typical pixar heartwarming story about people and relationships that helps kids learn good lessons and reminds adults that they should remember whats important.
All that said, the critics liked it too. Good for them. Maybe they're not as dumb as I thought.
-T
This movie was first, very very funny. Second, it was very clever. Third, it was quite touching. As we know, Disney/Pixar movies have become kind of a Genre on its own. Mixed in with a couple of notable cartoons from other studios (Dreamworks' Shrek and New Line's Lord of the Rings Trilogy), the world of computer animated features has completely replaced the hand drawn animation of the past. Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. Cars is next on the list for me.
One thing the Pixar does well is cleverness, and this movie is full of it. Lots of good humor that adults can appreciate a long with kids. Tractor Tipping is funny. SUV boot camp for SUVs that have never been offroad is hilarious. And Jeremy Piven in the role of Lightning McQueen's agent is the funniest thing ever. And if you don't know why... YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE. All that mixed with typical pixar heartwarming story about people and relationships that helps kids learn good lessons and reminds adults that they should remember whats important.
All that said, the critics liked it too. Good for them. Maybe they're not as dumb as I thought.
-T
Friday, June 09, 2006
Finally!!!
Ha ha....after weeks and weeks of problems, I finally saw a good movie that didn't lose the critics. Cars is the movie, and the critics finally get it.
This movie was first, very very funny. Second, it was very clever. Third, it was quite touching. As we know, Disney/Pixar movies have become kind of a Genre on its own. Mixed in with a couple of notable cartoons from other studios (Dreamworks' Shrek and New Line's Lord of the Rings Trilogy), the world of computer animated features has completely replaced the hand drawn animation of the past. Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. Cars is next on the list for me.
One thing the Pixar does well is cleverness, and this movie is full of it. Lots of good humor that adults can appreciate a long with kids. Tractor Tipping is funny. SUV boot camp for SUVs that have never been offroad is hilarious. And Jeremy Piven in the role of Lightning McQueen's agent is the funniest thing ever. And if you don't know why... YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE. All that mixed with typical pixar heartwarming story about people and relationships that helps kids learn good lessons and reminds adults that they should remember whats important.
All that said, the critics liked it too. Good for them. Maybe they're not as dumb as I thought.
-T
This movie was first, very very funny. Second, it was very clever. Third, it was quite touching. As we know, Disney/Pixar movies have become kind of a Genre on its own. Mixed in with a couple of notable cartoons from other studios (Dreamworks' Shrek and New Line's Lord of the Rings Trilogy), the world of computer animated features has completely replaced the hand drawn animation of the past. Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. Cars is next on the list for me.
One thing the Pixar does well is cleverness, and this movie is full of it. Lots of good humor that adults can appreciate a long with kids. Tractor Tipping is funny. SUV boot camp for SUVs that have never been offroad is hilarious. And Jeremy Piven in the role of Lightning McQueen's agent is the funniest thing ever. And if you don't know why... YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE. All that mixed with typical pixar heartwarming story about people and relationships that helps kids learn good lessons and reminds adults that they should remember whats important.
All that said, the critics liked it too. Good for them. Maybe they're not as dumb as I thought.
-T
Saturday, June 03, 2006
5 Weeks in a Row!
Its great. Apparently, I am the dumbest movie person ever. Every Single Saturday, for 5 weeks in a Row, I have gone to see the Hot movie of the week. Whoa. Actually, 4 weeks. The first week I saw Stick It, instead of Mission Impossible III. But for 5 straight Saturdays, I have gone to the movies, and come back pleased. More than pleased. My reactions ranged from Very Pleased to Really Excited. And, for 5 weeks in a row, the same movies that I saw have been slapped across the face by the Film Critics. First it was Stick It, the Posiden, then DaVinci Code, then XMen 3. The latest entry to the list is The Break Up.
The Break Up, coming in at a dismal 33% Fresh Rating , was a good movie. In fact, it was a very good movie. First things first. It was as funny as a comedy should be. As funny as the trailer implied it would be. But more than that. It was pretty darned good. Romantic Comedies tend to be blown off by people anyway, as summer fun for girls. So it should surprise no one that it would have as difficult a time as summer action movies have in getting respect. This movie is better than that. It had real drama without ever having to try too hard. A well-made movie that perfectly blended comedy and drama. Almost every man in the world has a relationship or two, so its not just for women. It plays on the very obvious themes of Men and Women are different. But it does not rely on that. We are presented with the facts that its really not about the differences between men and women and the various aspects that are unique to gender. Its really just about these two people. We are given to outside characters that react to the stars. Joey Lauren Adams plays Jennifer Aniston's sister, and Jon Favreau plays Vince Vaughn's friend. John Favreau points out to Vaughn that he is not just a dumb guy, but that he specifically is kind of selfish. Selfish to all his friends, not just his girlfriend. Adams tells Aniston that she specifically is handling this situation all wrong. That she is acting crazy, not that women just do that. This is what I liked the best. It showed us some things that TEND to be common amongst typical guys and typical girls, but explained that they don't have to be that way. And that most people can get over that and work together.
However, I read reviews of people who clearly didn't watch this movie. They come in with their catchy little catch phrases. The ones they clearly had in mind a week ago and were just hoping to get to use. Like Just another Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus retread. No it wasn't. And if you had actually watched, instead of writing in your little notebooks through the whole movie, you would know that. Its a shame, but I say again: Film Critics have the most power in influencing people to see a movie yet they are clearly the least qualified people on earth to give their opinion about a movie.
Sad But True.
-T
The Break Up, coming in at a dismal 33% Fresh Rating , was a good movie. In fact, it was a very good movie. First things first. It was as funny as a comedy should be. As funny as the trailer implied it would be. But more than that. It was pretty darned good. Romantic Comedies tend to be blown off by people anyway, as summer fun for girls. So it should surprise no one that it would have as difficult a time as summer action movies have in getting respect. This movie is better than that. It had real drama without ever having to try too hard. A well-made movie that perfectly blended comedy and drama. Almost every man in the world has a relationship or two, so its not just for women. It plays on the very obvious themes of Men and Women are different. But it does not rely on that. We are presented with the facts that its really not about the differences between men and women and the various aspects that are unique to gender. Its really just about these two people. We are given to outside characters that react to the stars. Joey Lauren Adams plays Jennifer Aniston's sister, and Jon Favreau plays Vince Vaughn's friend. John Favreau points out to Vaughn that he is not just a dumb guy, but that he specifically is kind of selfish. Selfish to all his friends, not just his girlfriend. Adams tells Aniston that she specifically is handling this situation all wrong. That she is acting crazy, not that women just do that. This is what I liked the best. It showed us some things that TEND to be common amongst typical guys and typical girls, but explained that they don't have to be that way. And that most people can get over that and work together.
However, I read reviews of people who clearly didn't watch this movie. They come in with their catchy little catch phrases. The ones they clearly had in mind a week ago and were just hoping to get to use. Like Just another Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus retread. No it wasn't. And if you had actually watched, instead of writing in your little notebooks through the whole movie, you would know that. Its a shame, but I say again: Film Critics have the most power in influencing people to see a movie yet they are clearly the least qualified people on earth to give their opinion about a movie.
Sad But True.
-T
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