Unoriginality....

I never said I was completely original, which is why I have decided to do something every blogger does at some point or another. I am creating a list of people that need to go away. I'm not harsh enough to say they should die in a house fire, so I will stick with them just going away. Maybe they are abducted by aliens, or eaten by Shamu, or go to jail. Either way, these people need to leave my peripheral before I cause myself bodily harm.

Heidi & Spencer - I don't even need to give a reason as to why these two need to leave. Latest reason, Heidi is in deep negotiations to have her own pictorial in Playboy and would receive $500,000 for the photo shoot. I call shenanigans and I would rather look at pictures of my own ass.

Matthew Stafford - Number 1 pick in the NFL Draft and signed a $78 million contract with the Detroit Lions. $41.7 million is guaranteed, regardless of him ever seeing the field. He could be the best player ever. He could also eat gallons of ice cream and poop his pants. Either way, he has $41.7 million more than you do.

Rachel Ray - I get it, you paved your own way in Hollywood and now have your face on every magazine ever made. Only problem with that, Oprah did everything for you. You latched onto her like she does to chocolate sheet cake, and you would not let go until you had every housewife in this country in a daze. Honorable mention goes to Dr. Phil, Oprah's other parasitic best friend.

Swine Flu - OK, you are not a person, but you need to get out. I feel bad for everyone who has died because of it and become very sick. But, the media coverage on this one is berserk.

Ryan Braun - I get it you are talented, and a great baseball player. However, that does not give you the privilege to gloat after every home run you hit. If you do that against the Cubs, I swear to you, Theodore Roosevelt Lilly will murder you on the field and drink your blood for strength.


I have about 10 other people I could list, instead I will save that for another time. And to reiterate I do not want these people to die. I just never want to see their faces or hear of them ever again.

All Star Cast = Pretty Solid Movie....

I ventured with my parents to an early showing of State of Play this weekend. Laugh if you must at the high amount of lameocity I possess, but I got to see a pretty good film for $5.

The movie was a whodunit much like All the President's Men. I could recite that movie to you after watching it at least 4 times in college. (Throws hands in air, screams MARTINO!!!!!). First scene is some people getting killed, and then a young girl getting thrown in front of a train. She works for a Congressman and once word filters out who she is, all hell breaks loose. The paper gets word of everything and then there is a lot digging, and even more cover ups

The plot was all around good until the last 30 minutes when all the loose ends had to be tied up in front of my face. I don't know about the general public, but I like some wonder in my mysteries. It doesn't need to be shown to me in step-by-step fashion.

Russell Crowe plays the grizzled veteran journalist who always digs a little too deep. Rachel McAdams is the upstart blogger with no real journalistic skill or ambition. Helen Mirren is the prototypical bitchy editor of the paper. Ben Affleck is the upstart Congressman. They were all serviceable. I liked watching McAdams because she is easy on the eyes, and she actually got to act. She was an integral part of nearly every important scene and got to show she is more than just the wife or girlfriend (I'm looking at your career Kate Hudson!).

Other stall warts were Jeff Daniels and Jason Bateman, both in supporting fashion. Daniels is great in nearly everything he does and his versatility is pretty awesome. And Bateman is just Bateman. Something tells me if you are making a movie and you need a snarky, slimy, sleazeball, Jason Bateman's blackberry is the first one you are calling. It's just so effortless and he never disappoints in supporting roles.

I enjoyed the movie because it makes you think and I just enjoy quasi-mystery movies. However, the ending takes a few points of an otherwise outstanding film to watch on a dreary Saturday morning.

7/10 overall

On We March....

It's been awhile since I posted, and unfortunately I still don't have much to talk about.

The highlights:

Easter - Saw both sides of my family and Kristi - Thumbs Up

Job Search - Vigorously searching for and applying for new jobs in Minneapolis - Thumbs Up

Small Trips - Went to Whitewater this weekend; Saw old friends and had a few - Thumbs Up


As I said, it has been pretty boring. However, if rain cancels another Cub game I could be watching on TV, I will puncture my own jugular with a harpoon.

Razz-Ma-Tazz....

I honestly wish I could have lived in the 1980's. I've read enough and seen enough movies about the time period to realize it was a pretty cool time. This feeling was only made deeper with my viewing of Adventureland this past Saturday.

It was an extremely funny movie with a fantastic location. As much as the characters drove the story, the era they lived in and the location they were at were the true shining stars. I wish there were more scenes at the amusement park because it is a great locale for a story.

I enjoyed the casting to the movie. Jesse Eisenberg was fantastic as a recent college grad with no true direction. He plays dorky, awkward, cool, and depressed all at the same time. In an act off I truly believe he would whoop Michael Cera's ass. That's right I went there Superbad lovers. If you want more Eisenberg go rent The Squid and the Whale. It's a bizzare film from a few years ago with Jeff Daniels. Really good stuff.

I have no problem with Kristen Stewart. Sure she plays the same role in every movie, but here it just plain worked. She was full of angst, and liquor, and weed, and depression, and she was a good character.

Bill Hader was fantastic as usual and everyone other member of the cast was pretty good. The music kicked ass, especially in the way it was used. If it was 1987 and you worked at a theme park, chances are you would hear Rock Me Amedeus 12 times a day. It's called subteldty and experience, people. Just because there wern't pictures of penises or people throwing up on each other doesn't mean it wasn't funny. It was hilarious and a movie I will consider picking up on DVD,

9/10 Overall

Opening Day...

This is truly one of my favorite days of the year. Baseball is back and with that six months of sun drenched awesomeness. The Cubs start their quest this evening in Houston. Last time we saw them Big Z threw a no-hitter and Theodore Roosevelt Lilly threw a one hitter. And oh yeah, the Astros got older and less talented. I like the Cubs odds in the first series. I honestly love every series in baseball. If you win 2 of 3 then you make the playoffs easily. This is the mindset I take into the season as a fan and hopefully the Cubs do as well

A lot has changed for the Cubs in a few short months. They said goodbye to Mark DeRosa and Kerry Wood. They were two of the good guys in all of baseball and unfortunately they had to go. I realize I am in the minority, but I like what the Cubs did with getting rid of these guys. They sold high on DeRosa and got 3 prospects in return. I'll take 3 prospects for an aging utility player any day. The loss of Kerry Wood is not as easy to take only because he was a life-long Cub and did great things for the organization. But I stand by the adage that it is always better to get rid of a guy one year early, than one year late.

But enough with the sob story, reasons why I am excited for the season.

1.) Milton Bradley - Every one's favorite psycho is on the north side. Sure he is injury prone and at times bat-shit crazy, but the man can flat out rake. Last season in Texas, the Parker Brothers cousin hit .321 with 22 dingers and 77 rbi's. He also led the AL in On-base percentage at .436. Those numbers are staggering. and you are putting him smack dab in the middle of an offense that was top 3 in nearly every statistical category last year. That left-handed bat is going to be money this year.

2.) Rich Harden - He MIGHT be the best pitcher in all of baseball WHEN healthy. Those are some big ifs, but a full season of Harden will be wonderful. Injuries are always a concern, but I honestly think we will see a season where he takes the ball 25 times goes 12-3 with a 3.50 ERA. And you know what else? The guy is the teams FOURTH starter.

3.) Lou Pinella - In two years he has 182 wins and two division titles. The last time the Cubs made three straight postseasons: 1906,1907,1908. That's right a freaking century ago. Either way Sweet Lou is the man that drives the train.

I have so many other reasons to be excited, but not nearly enough space or time. In short I love Opening Day and hope springs for another season of America's pastime. Is this the year? Could be. I don't know. But what I do know is for 6 months I am distracted from just about everything else in the world. Predictions are for fairies so I don't make any. The only prediction I make is a statement that resonates true. I love baseball, I love Opening Day, and by-God I love the Chicago Cubs.

Oh. My. Goodness.....

I was driving home last night while listening to The Afternoon Saloon on ESPN Radio 1000 out of Chicago. I listen everyday because I still love Chicago sports, and they guys are entertaining and knowledgeable. Then the news hit. The Bears had acquired Jay Cutler. What? I thought it was a day-late attempt at an April Fool's joke. Really? Cutler? As in played in the Pro Bowl, better arm than Sex Cannon, pouty, baby Cutler? And it was true.

My immediate reaction was tepid at best. You give up a lot to get a guy who could be a big time player. He has had issues with management and you never like to see that. And they gave up a lot to get him. Two first round picks, a third rounder, and a serviceable quarterback.

Then I looked at the upside. The Bears are terrible drafters in the first round. They find solid guys in the later rounds, but the last good starter they found in the first round was Tommie Harris and that was five years ago. So I'm convinced they would have screwed the pooch with those picks anyways. You lose Captain Neckbeard, which pains me only because he is a fantastic character. A blue-collar guy who goes to work, sports fantastic facial hair, and then gets drunk to the point that any self-loathing woman would sleep with him. Sounds kind of like the Uncle everyone had who your parents wouldn't let be in the room alone with you when you were 7.

But I digress. The worst that can happen is Cutler busts, is gone in three years, and the Bears start over. But for just once the Bears have gone out and thrown caution to the winds. They have said just getting by with a game manager is not enough. All they need now is some more line depth (both sides) and a wide receiver.

And I look forward to Week 1 when Devin Hester catches a 65-yard bomb over the shoulder in stride as he streaks into the end zone in Lambeau.

Suck on that Packers....