Thoughts on Religion...

Wow, I scare myself with a title like that. But I truly have been thinking about religion lately. I think a lot of that has to do with reading Angels & Demons again. I recognize the book as a work of fiction and I believe that is why it raises so many questions. And why I think all people who consider themselves "religious radicals" regardless of their sects or beliefs are ridiculous. Lots of R's there, but it is true.

Example number 1 - The crusades - People actually moved into a different area of the world, took it from those who lived there, and made people convert to their belief system. And if those people didn't like it, their wives and daughters were raped, and then they got a spear in the head. Sounds exactly like what Jesus, or Muhammad had in mind doesn't it. A little rape and murder.

Example number 2 - Censorship from the Pope - Back in the day, the Pope thought people were so unstable that if they even viewed a penis or a vagina, they would become promiscuous. So in a truly visionary program, the Pope had the genitals cut off of statues and covered by plastic fig leaves. How messed up is that? You know what I don't get freaked out by? Seeing a penis. You know what I do get freaked out by? Seeing a chopped off penis.

Example number 3 - Mine is better than Yours - In a few words, no it isn't. Just because you have a different belief system doesn't make you better, it makes you different. It's been said many times by people much smarter than me, that most religion is the same and just changed over time and place. I think that is true and if people just got over themselves and accepted others, things would be much better off.

I digress a bit, but I think I make some valid points. Everything I have ever learned about religion is about forgiveness, acceptance, and community. Well none of that is happening when gay people are persecuted, or Muslims are stereotyped, or rape victims are shunned for receiving abortions.

How do we fix our culture? I'm not sure. However, I think the Native Americans were on to something with worshiping the land. We are a part of it, and it is a part of us. Nothing more and nothing less. If we all were to follow that law this world would be a better place. And I think, in the end, that is all anyone wants.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Yeah, I'm a guy so sue me. This is the most wonderful time of the year for one reason only: so many sports converge into a 3 week time period.

Tonight the sweet 16 gets kicked off and I am jacked up. I am second to last in my office pool, yet still have all of my elite eight hopefuls alive and well. I still like all of my selections to win another game, and then from there it is an utter crap shoot.

Spring Training is winding down and America's pastime is starting to creep into my mind. Another season is close to dawning and that brings hopes and desires for the Cubs. I will have a full National League preview in a couple of days, along with full predictions.

And the Masters is a few weeks away. It is one of my favorite events and, in my opinion, is under covered every year. Added to my excitement is the opportunity to watch it on my new HD-TV. Golf looks spectacular in HD and is the best looking event I have watched so far.

In other news I have started to look for new jobs, and am prepping for the impending move. My final date of work will be June 5th and then a few days of packing later I will be in Minnesota. I am excited and apprehensive, stoked and anxious. It will all work out for the best and I look forward to a much needed change of pace.

Crushing, Male Edition....

I was stricken with the stomach flu this weekend, but that didn't stop me from doing two important things. I watched as many basketball games as possible and I went and saw I Love You, Man. The games were fantastic and the movie was even better.

Everyone knows my love for Paul Rudd and he finally got his own movie where he was the top-billed star. He was hilarious and brought his brand of quirky humor. It's what we saw in Clueless, The 40-year old Virgin, and Friends. Hell, he's the only reason I watched that god-forsaken television program. He plays awkward to a t, so much so that you actually feel bad for him and your stomach turns every time he opens his mouth.

His chemistry with Jason Segel is amazing. They seem like two dudes you would just want to hang out with. The like ability factor for the pair is out of this world. They meet, they break-up, they reunite and through it all they make us laugh. I was a big fan of the James Bond posing sequence as well as the billboard montage.

However, I do have some criticisms. The secondary cast was not used well. They were there for the cheap laughs, and I just wished there was more of them. J.K. Simmons, Jane Curtain, Andy Samberg, Jaime Pressley, and Jon Favreau were underutilized and could have made the movie much better. I also wished the story was a little stronger. At times it seemed like they were just stringing together ad-lib scene after ad-lib scene.

None the less the movie was extremely enjoyable. Not surprisingly, my blog has turned into a movie review center.

Overall:
7 out of 10

One Shining Moment.....

Somewhere Luther Vandross is smiling. We are t-minus 20 hours to when the ball is tipped and the NCAA tournament begins. Like every year, hope springs eternal when you are in the dance. And that means its bracket time. I really like this year for me. Do I think my picks are good? Maybe. But my mind is clear because I have no outstanding biases as in years past. There is no team I despise (I'm talking about your Gators Billy Donovan), and no team I'm for (usually the Illini). Sure Bruce Weber's boys are in the tourney, but in my eyes they are playing with house money. One win and I will be very happy.

So with a clear mind I give you Zach's Picks -

Midwest - Louisville - I know they are the overall #1 seed but Terrance Williams is a monster and their press is terrifying. If they don't wear themselves out they are scary as hell. I also have Wake Forest, Michigan St., and West Virginia in the sweet sixteen. I'm a sucker for the Mountaineers. You've been PITTSNOGLED!

West - UConn - I don't like Jim Calhoun or his players, but their defense is fantastic. Only injuries can hold them back in this bracket. I also have Washington, Utah St., and Memphis in the sweet 16. Utah St. is my dark horse this year because someone has to do it. they match up very well with Marquette, and I am not sold on Missouri. Take it down Aggies.

South - North Carolina - I don't like Tyler Hansborough and I HATE Roy Williams, but the talent is too much. They will be tested by Butler, but I see them walking to the Final Four. I also have Gonzaga, Syracuse, and Oklahoma. I am not high on the Orange, but match ups say they make it to the second weekend.

East - Duke - Call me what you want, I don't care. Duke is the best team in this bracket so suck on that Jamie Dixon. Pitt may have more talent, but the Blue Devils are coming together. I also think they have the toughest draw out of everyone. I have them beating Binghamton, Texas, Villanova, and Pitt to get to Detroit. And they will do it. I also have a Sweet 16 of Pittsburgh, Florida St., and Villanova. Watch out for the Wildcats, if they beat Duke I think they go to Detroit.

Final Four - Louisville vs. UConn & Duke vs. North Carolina

Louisville wins because their pressure is too good and UConn will go cold. I don't trust the Huskies when they have more talent. They play down to opponents and it will bite them here.

Duke and UNC National Semifinal - ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?!? The law of three is in effect as Duke takes down the Heels. It is extremely difficult to beat a team three times in one season and the shooting of Jon Scheyer and Gerald Henderson is too much. UNC has a shot if Ty Lawson plays well, but he tends to disappear. So do UNC's title chances.

Title Game - Louisville vs. Duke

Can you tell I love pressure defense? Duke is finally too worn down to fight back. They hang around for a half and then Louisville goes for the jugular. Playing in the Big East has its advantages, and Rick Pitino takes home his second National Championship.

I love the tournament and will be highlighting and number crunching all weekend long. I wish everyone else good luck and, god willing, this tournament will be the best we have ever seen.

Fed Up.....

You know what grinds my gears, Family Guy. I have been a devoted fan since 1999. Well my Family Guy fandom has ended. It was a good ten year run. But, where do they get off. Last nights episode was so bad I turned it off before the first commercial break. I know many people who quit on this show long ago. I stuck it out, I was a true fan. And then they repay me with terrible plots, shoddy animation, and oh yeah, no jokes. I'm sick and tired of bad jokes. Cutting away to two and a half minutes of live action concert footage is ridiculous.

Seasons 1 through 4 were very good and then the downhill slide began. All I can say is that I stuck it out, but no more Family Guy producers. You were given a second chance and this is how you repay your fans? LAZY. So much potential wasted. And then you gauge prices for your DVD releases? Screw-me sideways why don't you.

So you have lost a fan. South Park was right, and I should have listened to them 3 years ago.

Oh yeah, tourney starts on Thursday. Full disclosure of my bracket that morning. What you thought I would actually try to work when I'm in the office those days? Spare me.

I Love You BAAAAAY-BAAAAAY

I wish I could come up with my own original things to say, but for this week quasi-quoting South Park will have to do. They ripped the Jonas Brothers, Christians, Disney, and the media all in one episode. In my book that's an action packed episode, and a fantastic one.

The entire episode revolved around the Jonas Brothers and their purity rings. Disney was using the band (a loose use of the term) to sell their sexual themes to little girls. They justify that preaching sex to little girls is only OK when they have purity rings on. We later find out the brothers want to ditch the rings, but the president won't let them. The president is Micky Mouse and he proceeds to beat up one of the brothers, call them every expletive in the book, relay his entire message to the watching audience, and then grow to a 40 foot behemoth who breaths fire and wreaks havoc on Denver.

Now I don't always find South Park funny, and I don't always agree with their message. Not the case here. Funny, and absolutely dead on.

It rips Disney for turning every 14 year old into a god loving, sex hating star. It shows the obscene profit they make off of those kids and their parents.

It rips Christians for believing that a ring can stop people from having sex. Not going to happen, kids have urges and they act on those urges.

And it rips the Jonas Brothers for being huge tool sheds with no talent who are put on a pedestal. And I garaun-damn-tee those guys know exactly what effect they have on children who watch their shows and buy their albums. And it is not a good effect. Same thing happened with Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, and the Brady Bunch for crying out loud

Lastly, I end my rant with this. I was having a conversation with my girlfriend this week about Bristol Palin and her situation. We concluded that a lot of the problems could be solved by teaching safe sex, which republicans are generally against. And then she came up with a doozy of an equation:

Safe sex = no babies, no babies = no abortions, no abortions = happy republicans

It seems too easy to be true.

I was tricked...

I consider myself to be a pretty perceptive person. I try and gather facts and then make an informed decision about almost everything. Well, I read reviews, watched trailers, and did everything but read the comics. And then I went and saw Watchmen.

First things first, the people who compiled that trailer should be given a medal. The movie is not an action movie, it is a drama. The trailer would have you believe it was a rock em'-sock em', balls to the walls action movie. It was not, and I am OK with that.

The movie was solid. I enjoyed it thoroughly despite its 2 hours and 43 minute run time. It was a little lengthy and things could have been cut out. I didn't need to see every frame from the comics. I followed the storyline just fine, I didn't need to be beat over the head with topics for 10 straight minutes. I get it, move on, lets go.

Three things I liked:
1.) Back stories for each characters - They were awesome and I wish there had been more time dedicated to them.

2.) Staying true to source material - Though I gripe about the length, the violence and sexual content was over the top and at times tough to watch, keeping the tone of the graphic novel.

3.) Opening scene and credits - Absolutely fantastic and put me in the mood for the film
Honorable Mention: Soundtrack - Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, absolutely bad ass

Three Things I didn't like:
1.) Pacing - The film bogged down in the middle especially after the scenes involving The Comedian

2.) Casting - Some were spot on. Malin Akerman on the other hand was not good and rather wooden. Seems to me they just found a semi up and coming actress who was willing to get naked. And the guy who played Nixon was in the movie way too long. In a year with Frost/Nixon, the Watchmen Nixon looked phony and contrived.

3.) Zack Snyder - I just really don't like the guys style. He was suited well for this movie, but I am sorry, He is not a "visionary director." He is a guy who takes source material and makes a carbon copy of it on the big screen. A visionary is someone who develops a story, knows how to pace that story, and then delivers the goods. Instead he takes every action sequence and loads it up with slo-mo replays that make me think I'm watching The Matrix again.

To repeat on Snyder, I don't hate the guy. I just don't think you do three movies and become visionary. Especially when your first movie was a remake and the next two are graphic novel adaptations.

All in all a satisfying experience. Word on the street is a director's Cut DVD will be released and I'm sure I will catch it then.

Overall
7 out of 10

Gut Check Time...

It has been awhile since I have posted. I got caught up in the whirlwind known as work and then a mini vacation.

Work is going well at the moment as we wind our way through March Madness. I have a few games left and then essentially nothing extra as we go towards summer. I am going to spend this time doing my job, and beginning my search for a new one in Minnesota. I am going to work hard on my resume as well as a demo tape. I want to put together a collection of my on-air stuff, play-by-play calls, and commercials. I will have extra time to work on these things and they are extremely important in my quest for a new job.

I just spent 4 days with my fantastic girlfriend and feel rejuvenated. I am now super excited to move up and live with her permanently. I am happier when I am with her, and this weekend just confirmed the thought of wanting to spend my life with her.

I am going to post more often here because it was my quasi-new years resolution. I have given up on reading more. If it's good I read it. If it's not, then too bad. And it's back to working out starting on Wednesday. I have a goal to go to the gym 28 out of the next 38 days. It is a completely arbitrary number, but one I need to follow to get to April 10th. I am already in better shape, but have fallen off the wagon a bit. Time to ship up and ship out.

"Stress is the fertilizer of creativity."-Jonas Hodges, 24

I am going to live by that quote during these next 38 days. With stress, comes strain. With strain, comes perseverance. With perseverance, comes change.....