Tuesday, February 27, 2007

February - Winter 2007


Episode II


Hello All;


How about this weather. All I can say is, the forecast for tomorrow, a sprinkle of Genius with a good chance for DOOM. Hey, I hope you like the new look of things. I can change the look at any time, which is cool. So let me know how you all are and tell me what you are up too. Until then, let’s get this started once more:


:[ Quizno’s Subs - Have you ever noticed that the commercial are nothing more than a bunch of Manly-Men judging meats? "Prime Rib, it’s like the King of all the meats". I think my porno name will be Prime Rib.


:[ The other morning I was eating a bowl of Honey Nut Cherrios when I realized how much I enjoyed them. Being a parent I found I have a new appreciation for the "Boring" cereals. You know, stuff like Frosted Flakes and regular Corn Flakes. Frosted Mini-Wheats are a favorite in the WB Household. While I enjoy the occasional "Cocoa Pebbles" or "Cap’n Crunch", I find my tastes more served by the boring cereals.


Plus, I am getting My Charlotte into mail away prizes. She just got her "Pirates of the Caribbean" Jack Sparrow kerchief and is looking to get a Cocoa Puff t-shirt.


:[ Deadwood - My Bonnie and I cannot get over this series. We check out both seasons from the library continuously. We never tire from the antics of Al Swearengen and his croanies. We are pretty upset they cancelled the series but look forward to Season Three on DVD.


:[ Now it seems that Stephen Colbert stealing my Presidential Campaign thunder. He recently made overtures about it on his show using some of the very tactics I espoused on my own Announcement Webpage. Jerk.


:[ I have also become a fan of the Ghost in the Shell Series on Cartoon Network, during the Adult Swim portion. I am such a big fan of the original anime film and I think its’ sequel is one of the most beautiful animated movies ever. When I first heard of this series I was against it because the storyline took place as if the first movie never happened. I hated that concept.


But I checked out the first couple of episodes from the library and found the series a very good set of stories. People like to remark that it’s because of the scantily-clad anime chicks, there’s that but there are good characters and stories and the artwork is pretty good. Not quite up there with the features, but better than most animated shows out there. (I seem to be the only geeky guy on the planet that can distinguish the fact that animated women, beautifully drawn as they are, are, well, NOT REAL.)


The second season is not turning out as good but I have only seen the first four episodes. Stay tuned.


:[ Three Kingdoms Update: I have finished the third volume and am moving through the fourth and final volume.


In the third volume the Third of the Oath Brothers, Zhang Fei, dies, killed by his own men. Liu Bei who has been declared the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, to continue the line, wages war against the Southland and Sun Quan, because they helped engineer Zhang Fei’s death. Kongming urges Bei to attack the Northern Wei Kingdom but Liu Bei does not listen and is eventually driven back to the Riverlands of the west in defeat. As a result, Liu Bei grows sick and eventually dies. The three oath brothers passing on before they could restore the Han Dynasty.


Kongming takes over as Prime Minister and proceeds in a stunning series of victories in the Southland, the deep Riverlands and is recalled to the Han Kingdom before making good on attacks on the Wei. Kongming is, by far, my favorite character, with a close second being Zhao Zilong, a general under Liu Bei. Zhao Zilong’s courage is legendary and his exploits many. He has defeated great odds single-handedly saving both the lives of the Second Emperor (Liu Bei’s son and heir apparent) and Kongming, himself. But eventually, he grows old, fighting well into his 80's without defeat, and passes away.


Now, Sima Yi, Regent General of the Wei has risen to challenge Kongming and the Riverlands while the Riverlans and the Southland and Sun Quan’s son make peace. Soon, the Wei will fall to the Simas and the Southland will eventually defeat the Riverlands leaving the Sima and Sun to vie for the throne and unite the three kingdoms. I read on.


:[ The Notebook: Samantha requested this tear-jerker and I must admit, it touched me. I found myself tearing up like a sap right in front of my wife and kids! I guess I’m just a big old softie. Stars James Garner and Gena Rowlands, available on DVD.


:[ The Shape Shifter - The latest Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Mystery by Tony Hillerman is a prime example of a master at the ebbing of his powers. Quite possibly the weakest of all his mysteries. Here, Hillerman falls into that Margaret Coel Trap of the Protagonist being told "Important Indian History" by a bunch of characters that have nothing to do with the central plot. Plus, Chee is just there for Leaphorn to explain stuff to.


Here’s a simple Synopsis. A Friend of Leaphorn, whom we’ve never met in prior novels, points Leaphorn in the direction of a rug that was to have burned up in a fire. From there Leaphorn drives somewhere while internally monologue-ing about the plot. He meets someone at a location and they sit around (or stand) and talk about it for two or three chapters before Leaphorn drives away doing more internal monolgue-ing about the plot.


Leaphorn then drives, monologues, meets with someone, they talk, Leaphorn then drives, monologues, meets with someone, they talk, Leaphorn then drives, monologues, meets with someone, they talk, Leaphorn then drives, monologues, meets with someone, they talk, Leaphorn then drives, monologues, meets with someone, they talk, Leaphorn then drives, monologues, meets with someone, they talk, Leaphorn then drives, monologues, meets with someone, they talk, then they decide to confront the VERY FIRST person Leaphorn met, whom has the rug the whole time and then they solve the mystery.


There’s a subplot about a poison cherry atop a coffeecake that is pretty ridiculous. I hope this is not the beginning of the end for Hillerman. Best to kill off both Leaphorn and Chee now than to relegate them to such a fate.


:[ Hannibal Rising, the Book - I got this book for my birthday. As a rule you should never humanize your monestrous creation. But here, Harris cashes the check and fills out a lot of backstory, in much the same vein as Darth Vader, starting out an angelic 10-year-old and killing in the name of good and vengeance. It is by far the weakest of the series. (The best being Red Dragon, which has so far never gotten a really great smovie treatment.) I agree with Entertainment Weekly’s view of the series. They should let it die now. But the good Doctor deserved a Last Stand, not a backstory, I think.


I completely dislike the fact that they try to explain away his fetish. (Nazi Sympathizers ate his little sister.) The tie to Japanese Samurai culture seemed a forced fit. It all ends with a Jack Bauer-like assault on a boat where the rest of the bad guys are hiding.


The final twist of the Hannibal story really served nothing, not the story, not the legacy, certainly not the character of Hannibal Lecter, who should have remained an indefinable monster. This twist was so weak that it really brought no weight to the story, (SPOILER: Hannibal took part in the eating of his sister) that it seemed more like a twist for having a twist sake.


Besides, Hannibal is still the Greatest Movie Ever.


:[ On Direct TV they are advertising a Multi-screen Sports Channel. You can watch four games at once on screen. Come on! You know that this is only useful for gambling addicts. I mean, who really watches four games at once?


:[ Kid TV - Once again, Big Brother wants TV to raise your kids. I mean who really wants this? What kind of parent would sacrifice interaction for free time? It is scary how close Bradbury calls it in 451. Everyday we are inundated with ads that want us to drug ourselves silly while TV’s get both bigger and smaller and seem to be everywhere. I need to read that book again. (Note: the act of reading was not banned in Fahrenheit 451, but certain books were not allowed to be read. Which by that point in history, was all books.) Scary how close we are. I have noticed that really do not have to ban books now. With the internet and flashy TV we will as a society, simply relegate them to obscurity.


:[ Hip Hop Masculine Identity Challenged.


:[ Dang, even MTV News has turned into a commercial. Is there any source of substantiative news and information anymore? And have you seen Fox News attempt at the Daily Show? But then, you can make fun of me for actually expecting MTV News to be a serious music news source.


:[ You see? The world didn’t end. And yes, I've heard the, oh, so clever, "Give it a day". The link should work now.


:[ The 79th Academy Awards - It is about damn time Martin Scorcese won and his movie as well. In other words, Yawn.


:[ The Tomb of Jesus - As a Roman Catholic, I should be outraged, but it is sort of comforting. Don’t you think?


:[ Ghost Rider: Do not see this. Please, for all of us, man.



:[ Famous People that look like they need sleep:
Peter Fonda.
Charlie Rose.
Who would you add? Henry Kissenger.


:[You can still catch the old page HERE.


That will do it for this month. I hope you are all well. Let me know what you think of our new digs and how you are doing. Forgive some of the formatting, I'm still trying to figure the whole one-enter vs. two-enters thing for creating spaces between the paragraphs. You can leave comments here. You can subscribe so it will automatically e-maill you once a post again. So, keep in touch, won't you.


And until next time; "Some times, there's a man."

WOS has moved.


Welcome to the new site of your favorite webpage!

I decided that this would be much easier than posting to Geocities. Here, I have a little more control over who sees this and it can be a bit more interactive.

Plus, I can post pics and links easier. I'm sounding like a commerical so keep an eye out for Episode II of Wisdom of the Sages.


Coming Soon!