The Key of Awesome: The Dark Knight is Confused

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Joel

I liked The Dark Knight….. but I kinda like this too. Did you notice that the same guy is acting as all the characters?

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I’m feeling better, and the great “unfriending” of 2009

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Joel

The first thing I should mention or announce is that I’m feeling better. For most of last week, I was in a rotten mood. Absolutely rotten. Although I won’t divulge the sordid details, I accidently found out some bad…… things from my college days. See? A long time ago.

After a few days of thinking and venting, I’ve put the situation into context, and realize some people never changed, but remembered that I did. Somewhere along the way, I gained a life, a love, a family, and multitude of good friends that I am deeply grateful for their support.

On the flipside, I’ve had enough of people’s bullshit. People are either your friends, acquaintances, or people I don’t need in my life. On Facebook, I’ve made a number of connections with people from my past. Some have certainly been worth it, but others…. well, I guess that ‘something’ isn’t there anymore. I’m specifically talking about anybody I’ve said “Hi!” towards, in order to catch up via wall post or personal message. You know, if you can’t bother to reply back or, uh, respond, to hell with you. I’m not here to accumulate friends like Tila Tequila.

So, I began the great “unfriending” of 2009. Last week, I started with one college-era person from my past (this goes back to the beginning of this post), and unfriended a slew of people tonight. I wrote to a few additional people who are on the fence.  Maybe there were too busy the last time, so I’ll give them a second chance. Hey old best friend, I don’t want to be the only one of us who wants to catch up after all these years over a beer.  If it’s not that important to you, it sure as hell ain’t important to me either.

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In The Air Tonight

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Joel

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord
I’ve been waiting for this moment, all my life, Oh Lord
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord, Oh Lord

Well, if you told me you were drowning
I would not lend a hand.
I’ve seen your face before my friend.
But I don’t know if you know who I am.
Well, I was there and I saw what you did.
I saw it with my own two eyes.
So you can wipe off that grin. I know where you’ve been.
It’s all been a pack of lies.

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord.
Well I’ve been waiting for this moment for all my life, Oh Lord.
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord.
And I’ve been waiting for this moment for all my life, Oh Lord, Oh Lord.

Well I remember. I remember don’t worry.
How could I ever forget, it’s the first time, the last time we ever met.
But I know the reason why you keep your silence up, oh no you don’t fool me.
The hurt doesn’t show; but the pain still grows.
It’s no stranger to you or me.

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord…

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Family Guy ‘Strikes Back’ with ‘Dark Side’ Trailer

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Joel

Wired.com has some new info on the next Family Guy Star Wars parody, “Something, Something, Something Dark Side.” I love it!

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Let it be

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Joel

I found out something rather disturbing from my past Sunday night, which has now come back to haunt me. Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it?  I could also describe my situation as “My head is really messed up right now.” How about that?

In the context of my life right now, it should mean nothing, but I’m having trouble sorting out my emotions.  At the gym tonight, I heard the Beatles song “Let It Be”, and I thought it was good advice. It’s most likely going to be a few days, so bear with me if I seem morose.

[Thanks to my friends who don’t know what’s up, but know something is up, and are trying to cheer me up.  Your efforts are much appreciated. I’ll get through this — just give me some time.]

When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the brokenhearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, …..

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, …..

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New Iron Man 2 teaser poster

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Joel

Man, I hope this movie doesn’t disappoint next summer. I’m looking forward to it. My comics-loving inner child is still smarting from the Spiderman 3 debacle. More Iron Man 2 movie stills on Yahoo! Movies. Oh, and btw, are those new stills from the forthcoming remake of The Karate Kid? Huh, I guess so. IMDB even has a brief synopsis.

Iron Man 2 (2010) teaser poster with a shot of War Machine

Iron Man 2 (2010) teaser poster with a shot of War Machine

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Hawppy Thangsgiving 2009

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Joel

What a glorious Thanksgiving. A four-day weekend to eat, play, and relax. Best of all? No long drives from one far off destination to another. For the first Thanksgiving in a few years, we opted to spend it at home. My wife and sister-in-law would host a Thanksgiving lunch at their parents’ house, which is a fabulous 15 min drive from our house. 15 mins and I could be home again, full of turkey.

Nums & Anju, chefs extraordinaire

Nums & Anju, chefs extraordinaire

The cooking and preparation started Wednesday night, but the planning started days earlier.  The full menu is below, and it was absolutely tasty. While a few others provided one or two items here and there, and my MIL cooked the turkey, my wife and my SIL did the bulk of the cooking for a grand gourmet feast. We got to the house around 1:30pm, and didn’t leave until sometime after 8pm. The kids ran around so much that they pretty much conked out after we got home.  Is there anything truly better than sleeping children?

Appetizers:

  • Chutney, apples, and cheese
  • Red pepper jelly, cream cheese, crackers
  • Stuffed Mushrooms

Entree & Sides:

  • Sage Butter Roasted Turkey
  • Cider Gravy Gravy
  • Carrots and Shallots with sage and thyme
  • Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potatoes and Acorn Squash
  • Green beans and lemon vinaigrette
  • Thyme Roasted Apples and Onions
  • Roasted Potatoes with bacon, onions and sage
  • Toasted Sweet Corn Pudding
  • Cranberry Orange Relish
  • Stuffing

Dessert:

  • Flan
  • Apple Pie
  • Pumpkin Pie

The rest of the weekend (Friday – Sunday) was also relaxing.  After I ran a few errands Friday morning, such as getting my 30K mile servicing on the Highlander, we relaxed. On Saturday, we spent most of the day visiting Num’s friend Barb and her handsome newborn son Jack (and being stuck in traffic.) On Sunday, we did a huge autumn cleanup in anticipation of setting up the Christmas tree and all the decorations.  We didn’t get the tree up as originally intended, but I hope to have it up my Friday.

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In Case of Monster Attack, Know Your Enemies’ Weaknesses

Posted on November 26, 2009 by Joel

I read this article on io9.com (one of my favorite new sci-fi sites for my daily fix of sci-fi) titled In Case of Monster Attack, Know Your Enemies’ Weaknesses. I think it’s very true.  If you end up trapped in a video game or monster movie, you better know what to do. See an example of an Olly Moss strategy poster below for what to do in this type of situation. He’s got a bunch more black and red posters on his website.

Olly Moss poster -- Know Your Weak Points Cheat Sheet

Olly Moss poster -- Know Your Weak Points Cheat Sheet

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How Twilight Should Have Ended

Posted on November 26, 2009 by Joel

I’m sick of all this Twilight crap going on wherever I look.  I saw this online, and think it’s a wonderful idea.  What do you think?

How Twilight Should Have Ended

How Twilight Should Have Ended

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The Dalia Dippolito case just amazes me

Posted on November 25, 2009 by Joel

I know Dalia Dippolito was arrested earlier this year, but the brazeness of this con artist still astounds me.  I’m not saying the intended victim (her husband) has a clean slate, besides having met his future wife when he hired her as a professional escort…..

In 2003 a Broward County judge placed Michael Dippolito on 28 years of probation for organized fraud over $50,000, grand theft and false telephone sales, state records show. He served about seven months of a two-year prison sentence on those charges.

If you are not familiar, Dalia Dippolito allegedly wanted her husband, Michael, dead. She is accused of trying to kill him — three times.  The couple had been married only six months. She had allegedly tipped police off (twice) to search his car for drugs,  Next, police say, she found a couple of would-be hit men. But they took her money and ran.

According to police reports, she then took matters into her own hands by attempting to poison him with antifreeze, but he survived.  Police say that she then found another hit man — but he was an undercover cop. In August 2009, the trap set, Dalia arrived home to find police and crime scene tape around her house.

After her initial….. performance as the grieving wife, police showed their cards, including the undercover video. She denied everything during interrogation, even when her “dead” husband walked into the room. She even called her hubby to get her out of jail.

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