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Life Is About Choices
And Steve Carell made a really bad one. As Beerorkid points out (and as Jwilt concurs), even Mr. Nice Guy L. Kent Wolgamott gave Evan Almighty not 2 but 3 thumbs down. I just saw this and have to say that it is indeed pretty awful. I won’t spoil the “story” but suffice to say that it is not funny at all to watch a guy dressed as Noah yell at animals on a boat. Its a shame, and I am saying this as someone who really likes Carell - who has, in my opinion, 10x the comic talent of John Stewart (as do Colbert and Rob Riggle as well). Additionally, Morgan Freeman has basically been playing the same character since around 1989, and was nothing new here. This movie was really not worth seeing at all in my opinion.
The best Daily Show alumni movie out there is still Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story, with the 3 Robs: Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, and a completely hilarious and totally out of bounds Rob Riggle. If you haven’t seen this one yet, definitely go out and rent it.
In other movie news: Yes - Is that Indiana Jones in a rocking chair?
A Michael Scott Moment
As I sit and wait for tonight’s season finale of the best show on TV right now, thoughts turn to recent rumors about a possible 2008 Bloomberg and Hagel ticket. Here are some random thoughts if Bloomberg decides to spend half his fortune on a campaign and Hagel stops grandstanding for the media/blogosphere for a minute:
Scenario 1: Bloomberg/Hagel run as Republicans. This would be the smart thing for them. Bloomberg tunes down his lefty-social side a bit, and he and Chuck embrace a mixed platform of Reagan-era, small-government domestic policies and an international pragmatist approach to Iraq based on Baker-Hamilton. They have a valid shot of taking the Republican nomination and possibly beating Hilary because A) enough Republicans pretty much hate Bush and are getting sick of the war, B) also dislike the current slate of candidates, and C) are horrified of the thought of Hilary (or a Mormon) as president.
Scenario 2: Bloomberg/Hagel run as right-leaning independents. Although I think “decimate” is a little too strong a word, I think this ticket would have much more of a negative effect on the Republican party than Perot did for them in 1992 (and Nader did for the Democrats in 2000). It probably guarantees that the Republicans don’t win because enough moderate Republicans sick of Iraq/Bush vote for Bloomberg/Hagel. It then becomes a question of whether moderate, Reagan-type Democrats will choose between a known moderate male (Bloomberg), or the once liberal then a hawk now a who knows what female Machiavellian Hilary. My prediction is that most would probably turn to Hilary and she would win, but it would be very close.
Regardless, it would set a strong precedent for a third party ticket in coming elections which would probably be a healthy thing in the end.
And those are my thoughts as I wait for tonight’s finale of The Office.
Lord Of The Rings Online
I have been playing Lord Of The Rings Online recently. This MMORPG just came out in late April, with numerous - mainly positive - reviews appearing in IGN, Games Radar, and Yahoo!
Without regurgitating what has already been written, here are my 2 copper pieces.
Our Nation’s Capitol
Just got back from a business trip out east, but I managed to sneak in some pleasure as well. Things started out innocent enough. The first meal out of the airport was a burger and arguably some of the best fries you can get in the country at Five Guys. These fries are “real.” Like those at Nathan’s, they are cut directly from potatoes and deep fried at the shop. Drool on BorK and Jwiltshire!
Senator Jon Bruning?
I don’t think so. Its pretty clear to us all that the right-right have got him thinking that he should run and maybe even that he could win. But I don’t think he stands a chance. Sure, there are a lot of Republicans who would rather burn themselves alive than continue to see Hagel exist as a life form, let alone continue to harp on Bush on the Sunday morning talk shows, but they are a minority, albeit a highly vocal and visible one.
In my analysis, Hagel has the money and political connections and power to maintain his senate seat (if he chooses to do so) easily. He votes with Bush on everything BUT Iraq, and that’s probably not a liability seeing as how 67% of the country or whatever it is wants us to leave Iraq in some fashion, and pretty much everyone either hates Bush or thinks he has become a liability to the Republican party.
Yep, It’s Started…
Anyone here besides me seen the critically and popularly acclaimed Old Boy? The same director made a film in his “Vengeance Trilogy” that was one of my favorites of last year.
On NYTimes tonight - speculation links the VT massacre to film.
Big O
One of my consistently favorite radio shows/podcasts of the past few years - Studio 360 - focused on Omaha in its Friday edition.
The Doctor Returns
That’s right everyone. Doctor Who is back on NET! I’m watching the opening credits now.
Seeking Geeks
I know there are a few computer types out there who visit this site. You geeks – you know who you are - I need to get a new desktop this month because my current system is teetering on the edge. I use my desktop at home really pretty often, both for typical work stuff and web surfing, but also watching videos, listening to music, and casual gaming. Pretty normal home use, although I would say that the gaming aspect requires something with kick (and something that won’t be obsolete in a year – I want to be able to play “high end” games effectively in the next few years without having to suffer from poor performance – but I am not such a nut that I would pay more than $2000 for a hardcore gaming system. You could consider me a casual gamer, but not so casual that I would make do with a system that won’t perform).
I am looking at something along the following lines:
Windows OS (xp or get vista?)
2 gigs of RAM at least
A dual core microprocessor with at least 2.2 GHz capabilities
256 MB video card at least
At least 320 GB for a HD, preferably much larger (500 GB)
A couple of DVD drives
The problem is that everytime I configure something at the Dell site, there is always something about the limitations that bug me a bit. I have looked at the high end dimensions and low-medium XP models. The optimal builds are usually the medium end XPs, but then that’s putting me in the $1700-2000 range even with the discounts they typically offer. Obviously, I would like to spend as little as possible. I would prefer not to go over $1500 if that is possible. $1700 would be the absolute maximum I would want to go to. And I can get an OS and your typical office software pretty cheap through my employer. So I am basically just thinking of that money for the hardware.
I am considering having a local vendor build one for me (I wouldn’t want to do it myself but have a pro do it for me/consult on parts, etc.). I feel it would provide me with a lot of flexibility, and be cheaper, but I also worry about not having a warranty or service then. Any advice on my situation? What would you do? Any specific types of hardware you would recommend? And if I did go with a local vendor/build my own route, I don’t know what local vendors to use (thus I would appreciate tips on this too). Thanks in advance. Feel free to zip me a PM too.
Local PBS Programming
I am a member of NET Television, and was pleased to learn today that NET will begin broadcasting Doctor Who on Sundays this coming April. I’m not as big a sci-fi buff as I was when I was younger, but tuning in to Doctor Who again should be a guilty pleasure and a nostalgia kick, since I used to watch that program religiously when I was in grade school.
However, I should also say that I am still a bit miffed that NET doesn’t have a locally produced Nebraska news and human interest program anymore. They used to have a program called Statewide which was fantastic. It was educational, varied, and well-produced. Being a Lincolnite (and not a native Nebraskan) whose opportunities to go to other communities in the state is few and far between, I thought Statewide was a solid program that provided me with an informative window on events happening across the state, and I watched it regularly. If I had to choose between Doctor Who and bringing back Statewide or a similar incantation, I would choose the latter in a heartbeat.
I don’t understand why NET dumped Statewide. Although they don’t seem to want to push a Nebraska news and human interest program, they will continue to produce local programs like Backyard Farmer and the Big Red Wrap-Up. Between a statewide news program, a program on gardening, and a sports show, one would think that they would dump either the gardening or sports show and not the news program if they had to choose. Not to hate on the gardening show, but of the three of them, it’s the least Nebraska-specific. As for Big Red Wrap-up, isn’t it a tad bit redundant to have yet another Husker sports program when almost every single media outlet in the state also has some platform to talk about the huskers? And don’t get me started on why they have decided to inundate us with tripe like Antiques Roadshow multiple times in one week. What is that? Oh well, maybe someone can splain it to me.
Okonokos
I missed out on this October 2006 release from My Morning Jacket with all the holiday madness and usual year end stuff to do. Now I’ve been listening to it 2-3 times a day for the past week. Excellent, excellent addition to those who like quality live albums. Great performances and fantastic sound quality. Even Mr. Wilson downloaded it, and the only album he owns is Journey’s Greatest Hits.
Brought to you by the same people behind Volvo…
When I first heard this I was like whaa? But when you think about it, there is some tremendous potential here.
Sweden is soon to become the first country to have a government-sanctioned virtual “embassy” in the virtual world of Second Life.
Calling Kenneth H. Zike
The Chuckster made it to the current edition of GQ:
Sitting in his office on a recent afternoon, Hagel leaned back in his armchair to explain, in a voice reminiscent of sandpaper on rough oak, how he was deceived by the president, and won’t let it happen again.
Another Cable Poll
MSNBC poll here. Its hard to disagree that Van Halen or The Police shouldn’t reunite. Yet the likelihood of that happening is about the same as Rosie and Trump eloping, especially when it comes to Van Halen and stupid ass Eddie Van Halen’s ego.
In anycase, when it comes to reuniting - and I take it that means an ACTUAL reuniting where a group cuts a new, original album and tours (and not just do a one time get together) - can’t I get some love for Pink Floyd and the Wu Tang Clan?
A Holiday Treat For The Beer Orchid
Note how the cost of a “Crave Crate” of 100 hamburgers is the same price as ordering 100 singles.
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