Movies vs Books

We can all agree that there is one universal question that has been debated since the dawn of time. Which is better... Books or movies? This has been such a popular debate that it has been argued even before there were books or movies (aka "the dawn of time"). Are the people who read books nothing more than a bunch of glasses wearing, pocket protector having, obsessive compulsive freaks whose only pleasures in life are to quote lines from books to those who don't read in an effort to make them seem smarter?

Book Reader: Hey
Movie Watcher: Hello, how are you?
Book Reader: My feelings are best described in a poem from Emily Dickinson who often wrote of the tangibly of....

(I must stop here for two reasons.... 1) you get the picture and 2) I really have no idea what Emily Dickinson writes about. I think its trees.)

The flip side of the coin (if your in to flipping coins) is whether or not the ones who prefer movies are a bunch of lazy, illiterate, drooling ADD riddled freaks who spout lines from movies hoping to appear cooler than they really are.

Movie Watcher: I didn't know Emily Dickinson was a writer. Wasn't she in Dressed to Kill?
Book Reader: No!! I'm leaving!!
Movie Watcher: Hasta La Vista Baby!!

It's important to note some things about the above passages. If you tried to finish the Book Reader's line about Emily Dickinson by listing to yourself some of her poems, than you may be a person who prefers books over movies. If you knew that the Movie Watcher was thinking about Angie Dickinson than you probably prefer movies. If you knew neither than I must ask why you have the internet anyway? If you knew both, you are my friend Brad.

I'll give you a second to cope with whatever realization you just had....

...Its ok...

...Your still a good person....

...I know...

Ok, enough of that. So you've picked a team. If you haven't... Pick one. I know you want to argue about how both movies and books have a lot to contribute....blah blah blah. But this is my blog and you must choose a side. Your salvation doesn't hang in the balance or anything. Just work with me. I'll give you a few days to make up your mind. Post 2 on this subject will arrive shortly.

The Art of Baseball: Going...Going...Gone

Let me start off by saying that I love baseball. In my opinion it is the greatest game out there. But I've noticed in the last several years that it's lost some of its...art. Let me explain. Ask anyone on the street what the goal of a hitter at the plate in baseball is and the majority will give you this response:

"To hit a homerun!" , "To put one over the fence!" , "To clear the bases with one swing!"

I love homeruns as much as the next guy. There's nothing like seeing your team down by a run in the bottom of the ninth and a guy jack one over the fence with a man on to win the game. Its pure adrenaline. But in today's game I feel the importance of the homerun has grown a little too big for its shoes. For example, next time your watching baseball watch for a little trick the defense will do called "the shift". When "the shift" is on, the defense will all move either left or right based on the history of where the guy at the plate normally puts the ball into the field. Now, shifting deep or shallow only testifies to a batters power, but shifting left or right will tell you how much of a true hitter the defense thinks the guy at the plate is. One of the most notable examples is Jason Giambi. When he gets up the first baseman stands on the first base line at the back edge of the infield. The second baseman becomes a shallow right fielder. The shortstop moves to the second baseman's position and the third baseman plays about where the shortstop normally does. The outfield also shifts right and there's now enough space in the left half of the field for a 747 to land. I feel that this is great research on the part of the defense and a possible hint as to what Giambi should work on in batting practice. (hitting to a little place called the opposite field) Now I know some would say that Giambi is a pull hitter and shouldn't abandon his swing style but stick to what got him here. But, isn't it a hitter's job to put the ball in play and get on base? Can't Don Mattingly, the hitting coach for the Yankees, show Giambi how to drive the ball the other way? Don did it plenty of times and he's proven himself to be a good hitter. So why does it keep happening? Because Giambi is there to pull a homerun over the right field fence. Because he keeps trying this his stats this year are pretty bad. With the Yankees lineup Giambi getting on base by putting the ball anywhere can help out a lot more than him trying to find a hole in the middle of 5 guys covering right field.

Secondly, baseball owners and the "powers that be" in the front office want to get all of us into the stadium and sell out the game every single day. So they do things that will make a day at the park more exciting. Now for me, just going to the park is exciting enough, but some of us as fans need a little glitz and glamour. So watch as fireworks explode when a guy steals a base, watch the mascot go down the slide for a opposite field hit, and watch for the chance to win a free meal when the home team turns a double play. What? You mean all the doesn't go on unless the guy hits a homerun? Well I guess the business office is telling us as fans what is important. You could wipe out half the credit card debt in some big cities with the amount of many spent on homerun celebrations. They tell us it should be celebrated and we as fans fell for it. But maybe there's more than just homeruns to celebrate? Television casts its vote too. Watch as they show a homerun replayed 8 times on your set and one playback to see everything else. (unless a record is broken) Put the runner on first in the top corner of my screen so I can see him take off. That's exciting too. Now I don't want you trying to bring your own fireworks into the stadium to let off for a stolen base. Just remember that there are as many guys who can't jack 40 homeruns a year as there guys who can't steal 40 bases.

Lastly, say baseball today and whether you like it or not, the word steroids creeps into your mind. In my humble opinion the increase in the use of steroids is directly linked to the importance of homeruns. Too many guys in the majors and minors see their only chance to be successful is to "get big" and park the ball over the fence. Watch a game from twenty years ago and you'll think that no one ever hit homeruns. The players then and in previous years were more of your typical athlete size. They were leaner and faster and relied more on mechanics and driving the ball to produce homeruns, not bulk. Check your stats on previous homerun leaders. With the exception of maybe Babe Ruth, most guys looked like they were average size and build. (On a side note, I am beginning to question why I seem to notice so much about men's bodies...hmmm...moving on) Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Roger Maris... no one could accuse these guys of taking anything to make themselves bigger. They are just a few on the list of good hitters who were able to drive the ball and play a more all around game than a lot of today's athletes. They are also examples of how all you have to do is have good fundamentals and work hard to be successful in the show. Without the emphasis of homeruns, I feel baseball wouldn't have to worry about hearings on steroid abuse or deciding the proper amount of games to suspend someone who tested positive for steroids. After all, baseball was never meant to be a homerun derby. But despite it all, I want to end where I started. I love baseball. I think its the greatest game out there. I hope we can as fans learn to appreciate the whole game to see just how magnificent it really is!!

Blog 2: The Quickening

Ok! No one told me this blog thing required more than one entry. I figured I'd create a blog site and then literary scholars from around the world would post their original writings under my name therefore giving me credit for literature that would surely change the world. But NO!!! I am responsible for further entries. OK, fine.

I've done some investigating into other blogs to try to comprise what I feel is a successful formula for a blog. I have compiled these nuances and styles into what I feel is the key to a blog that everyone wants to read.

1) Spacing is key!! No one will read your blog if it is one long block of grammar. You must add spacing between paragraphs to trick the reader into thinking your blog is short and won't take long to read. Then they will be trapped as you ramble on and on about mindless trivia they couldn't care less about. But for them it will be too late. They have put in far too much time to abandon reading now. They are pawns in your literary game. (speaking of which...time for a new paragraph)

2)Apparently quotes play a big part in blogs. I'm sure the author of such a blog that is filled with quotes would tell you the quotes are there to enlighten your life or give you some deep thought they have found profound. Don't you believe it!! They are there so will you think that the author spends his/her free time reading scholarly essays and great works of literature. Actually these quotes were made up from books that only exist in the author's head. They know you won't go and try to verify them. Or they probably came from www.greatquotestomakepeoplethinkyoursmart.com. Then you need to explain to the reader how the quote can be applied to life in case they can't make the connection. Which they can't since there is no connection. Perhaps I should illustrate with an example.

(notice the space.... Rule 1 in effect)

The other night while glancing through the collected works of Plato and Aristotle I came across a quote I would like to share with you:

"The bird who nests in the rose bush weeps not for the giraffe."

I couldn't help but think about how that parallels life in small town America. It also reflects religion in a way that I am sure I don't have to point out to you dear reader... Since we both have IQs over 180.

you see my point...

3) Now I'm not sure why, but apparently no reader will make it through your blog unless you tease them with a little skin. For example, putting yourself in a bath in your blog can do just that as well as show that you have good hygiene. Let's apply this rule... Shall we:

One night while relaxing in a bath I was reading the collected works of Plato and Aristotle...

you know the rest. Only one more to go.. Hang in there!!

4) Lastly, stories that reveal glimpses of your childhood can paint a Norman Rockwell view of growing up in an era when things were simpler and the world seemed to turn on a smoother axis. I refer of course to.. The 80s. And feel free to embellish as much as you want. They didn't grow up with you, what do they know? Here we go:

Growing up was hard in the small town of Dyersburg, TN. The mill had closed in our town and my father was forced to work in the mines. Sure there was the risk of the black lung, but it paid well.. almost 5 dollars an hour. My mother spent most of the time mending our clothes and shucking corn. Being a teenager was very confusing. I don't think I would have made it if not for one night while taking a bath I was reading the collected works of Plato and Aristotle. I found a profound quote that would change my life forever. I would like to share it with you:

"The bird who nests in the rose bush weeps not for the giraffe."

I couldn't help but think about how that parallels life in small town America. I knew then things were going to be ok!

Well there you go. Now go out and post blogs like a pro. I myself will try to post one a little quicker than my last. Now, remember what you learned. It may just save your life!!!

But I doubt it.

Blog #1(I know.. how original)

Wow, my very own blog. What to type about? Perhaps I should comment on society, culture, politics, religion, sports, or even the ever changing experience that is life in America. Of course there'll be plenty of time for all of that after I post my first blog about ... me. Now don't get me wrong here, I'm not obsessed with myself or anything. I don't stand in front of the mirror pointing at myself while saying, "Looking good!". I just think you probably want to know a little about me before you decide whether my blog is worth that time to read. (Of course, if your here there's a pretty good chance you know me anyway.... hmmmm) First off let's talk about my age... 29. (Perhaps I should devote one blog posting to my constant use of "...".) There was a time when I viewed 29 as the age where I assume one starts having grandchildren and drinking prune juice before going to bed at 7:30pm after watching Wheel of Fortune. Of course now that I am 29 I see the folly in that stereotype and now know that all that stuff happens at probably age... 39. Right? Funny though, I don't feel 29. Of course what would I feel like if I was? I mean after all, 30 is no longer knocking at my door, it's practically picked the lock and turning the knob. Does that bother me? Well, yes and no would have to be my response. When I was a wee lad in high school I figured by now I would have been a successful conservative lawyer fighting for the injustices against all mankind in the courtroom while going home every night to my attractive and intelligent blonde liberal wife who I often find myself on the opposite side of in court. (I smell a TNT series) In my spare time I would have traveled to the moon twice and one day while fixing a sandwich accidentally discovered a cure for cancer. But several years and several sandwiches later, I have missed that mark a tiny bit. But to be honest it's not that bad. I have a great girlfriend, great friends, good job, and an apartment which I like a lot. (add a wise cracking talking dog and possibly a UPN series) All in all, 29's not that bad. That's enough about me for now.
Ok, so now that we have that covered, let's start with the blogging. Let's start with the Super Bowl. Like millions of Americans I gathered around the TV set to watch the Super Bowl last Sunday. The next day I wondered to myself... Why? Am I a fan of football? Yes. Do I enjoy watching football? Yes. Was for me the Super Bowl the culmination of a journey that began with me the first day of the football season? No. To be honest I was able to enjoy much of my life this past football season without feeling bad for missing about oh say 90 percent of the games. Strange that even though I haven't set aside loved ones and a career to root for the Philadelphia Eagles all season I found myself yearning to not miss a moment of their upcoming battle with the New England Patriots. Was it for me the draw of seeing the ultimate in sports competition? Not really, I'm sure that's an opinion football fans have but there's probably someone as close as a hundred yards from you right now in a Ken Shamrock t-shirt who thinks that the Ultimate Fighting Championship is the apex of sports competition. Possibly for me it was the chance to get back a little of my younger days as a high school football player? Nope. I never even played football in high school. To rekindle high school sports dreams I would have to watch the Masters or the PGA Championship. I know. Maybe it was the promise of those wacky Super Bowl commercials that push the envelope (it was on FOX after all) or even the possibility that another wardrobe malfunction would lead to a 1.3 second glimpse of some taboo part of the female anatomy. Well the FCC took care of both those for me. By booking Paul McCartney for the half time show, putting a 30 minute or so delay on the broadcast and rejecting any commercial that couldn't be shown on the Conservative Amish Network (or CAN to us loyal viewers) I was guaranteed to have a better shot of seeing my Grandmother tackle Tom Brady. So what was it? I'll tell you what is was. Friendship and the chance to escape from reality. Plain and simple. Like most of you I got to watch the Super Bowl this year with my very good friends Brad and Jami Denton. (See more blogs about them on later dates) Of course I mean most of you got to watch the Super Bowl with your friends and not actually the Denton's. Your loss though. They did invite all of you. Brad and I pitted ourselves against each other and for a few hours showed an unwavering level of dedication to our teams that rivaled even their players or owners. And I think it was the same for a lot of people. Super Bowl Sunday was a chance for friends to gather together, pick a team, and cheer for that team over a bowl of chips and dip as if their very lives depended on it. And why not? In a world where wars break out in distant lands, bills arrive faster than paychecks, and the weight of everyday life can sometimes drag you down why not for one night make your greatest concern whether or not Donovan McNabb will get his guys to the line quicker before time runs out or why he won't stop throwing the freakin ball in the middle of the field instead of the sidelines late in the fourth quarter with no time outs. (breathe Jeramy... breathe) That's it. That's why everyone wants to watch the Super bowl even if they can't tell you the difference between a strong side blitz and a cover 2 zone defense. (ha ha ha.. the fools) So kudos to the NFL for the Super Bowl, the NBA for the Finals, the NCAA for bowl games and March Madness, the MLBA for the World Series, and to the PGA for the Masters. (so I don't offend anyone... kudos to various groups for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Wimbledon, Smackdown, the Olympics, Winston 500, BassMasters Invitational, the Kentucky Derby, World Series of Poker, the National Spelling Bee, etc...) So I say to you America, root for your favorite team during the next scheduled televised sports competition with all you got. (Or at least root for the team no one else in the room does. It's fun!!) Escape into a world where you can yell to players with a level of criticism reserved for those who have actually played the sport on a professional level. I know I will. And I look forward to the next chance I get to pit myself against Brad as I prove that I am superior by cheering for the New York Yankees over his precious Boston Red Sox (just wait till this year). Play Ball!!