A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow. I loved this book to hate one or two characters. A simple four way story between four people destined to kill themselves. All on the same night. Together they awkwardly join together to become some eccentric gang of insane people gathered together towards a goal. Whatever that may be. By the end you want to throttle the young girl in the story and you want to hug the rest of them. It’s a fantastic little story of people, pain, struggle and in the end…twisted triumph. Love me some twisted triumph.

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Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Holy crap. Zombies. Star Wars. Han. Chewie. ZOMBIES! ONNOMNOM!

That’s all you really need to know. It’s fairly terrifying (descriptions might make you squirm) but it’s a nonstop adventure in the deep darkness of space where everyone screams. And wants to eat your brains. ONNOMNOM!

If you like Star Wars, Zombies, Alien and all kinds of spacey scarey stuff…you’ll need to give this book a run over your eyes. It’s a fun little peek into the darker aspects of the Empire.

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Ex Machina Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days by Brian K. Vaughan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Graphic Novels or “comic books” are always tricky. This one isn’t really. A cool little story with a mix of “Heroes”, “Batman” and a few others it takes a honest and fascinating look at life with superheroes. What it means to them, us and those around it all. It starts off a little preach with politics but sealed the deal as it went along. I’d be curious to see the rest of the series.

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I’ve tried to play nice with my brothers and sisters in the Christian Faith. I’ve done my best not to insult and denigrate Joel Osteen. I’ve tried to be Jesus in everything I do when it comes to those that are alleged to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. You’d be impressed if you’d been there with me as I felt urged to backhand and leg drop some seriously stupid people. That time has come to an end.

“Avatar” is demonic? It’s the most satanic movie this guy has ever seen? Are you flippin’ serious? There’s overt demon-ism? Oh and he’s disappointed with “Christianity Today’s” review of the film. Let me get this out of the way. If you’re express dissatisfaction with “Christianity Today’s” review of a movie, you might need to put down the Holy Water you spiked with the Kool-Aid. The review impressed me for the restraint (My review had none of that restraint) the reviewer held.

The point that the pastor in the video makes a point is that the review was lacking in exposing this film as a dark thing against God. The reviewer tries (and I think fails) to bring the connection of the Mother Aura on Pandora to what God is to us here on Earth. It’s a weak ending to the review that doesn’t seem to set down feet on anything solid except to say that maybe We (Christians) can relate this in some way to our Faith and our God. Sad to say, that ain’t happenin’.

The film is not a Christ Story and doesn’t fit the mold terribly well. I don’t think the reviewer was taken in by the beauty of the film or possessed by the demonic forces at work within the film. I think the reviewer was simply trying to shake some debate loose and see what came of it. The reality is that there’s not much for Christians to hold onto in this film as it relates to our Faith. And that’s ok.

We shouldn’t spend all our time searching movies for the Christian Angle and how we can use this to preach to the world. Sure, some pop culture and movie clips are nice to bring something familiar to the table, but it’s not (and never should be) the driving force in how we live our Faith or tell others about Him.

As for having the power to declare something “Demonic” or “Full of Satan”, I’ll leave that job to someone who knows Satan when she sees it. Church Lady (with the help of Father Chase) , take it away!

I and my brother had a conversation after breaking down my latest dating adventure step by step.  The question that came up was about what parts of us (as guys) are unchangeable and what aspects of us need to be thrown out with the kitchen sink when we start to consider starting a serious relationship with a member of the female gender.  We didn’t finish the conversation but it started turning the wheels in the cavern of my mind (it echoes, believe it) and how this relates to me personally.

Part of this 365 project is to change as much of me as possible so that by the end of the year when 2011 rings in with a wonderfully new year I’m reborn for the better.  Part of it requires me to take a step beyond myself and allow the sledgehammer of self realization to come crashing down in spectacular fashion.

I’ve come to realize a few things I do are downright irritating.  In the last couple of years I’ve changed those aspects.  A few of those habits and behaviours are still under heavy construction (read that as “totally nowhere near where they need to be”) that is requiring me to stay the course on this project.

I’m still slowly getting back on track after last month’s “lack of posts-apocalypse”.  It’s starting to hit home that I’ve got to get this project under control because if I let it go every which way on the highway, I’m just asking for a continued rollercoaster ride of insanity.  Take my word for it.  DO NOT WANT.  So with that said…

Change.  It’s something our current President ran for election with.  And won.  Well, there was a whole lotta Hope to go along with all the pageantry.  It worked.  It got us our first African American President (some would argue that but I’m not a semantics guy).  It was a momentous occasion for the country and at times, the World.

How do I harness that insane and awesome energy?  I thought about calling up The White House and asking them for some advice.  I figured it’d be too expensive to hire a few of the guys that got President Obama where he is so that thought was out the window.  I could design some cool lookalike swag and stick it all over my car but there’s a chance I’ll anger someone with my copying and hence, no dice.

The answer?  I have no idea.  Isn’t that awesome?  I turn to you dear readers once again.  The last time I did this I got some fairly solid advice.  You’re welcome to scream whisper or pound fists on table to make your point in comments.  I’ll be thinking on some ideas myself and adding in my two cents in a future post.

So, let’s brainstorm.  How can we help Aaron so that he doesn’t die, does find the love of his life and comes out with a minimum of therapy bills?  It’s up to you internet.

I will admit to a few things that probably are terribly embarrassing or just plain weird.  I like Star Trek.  A lot.  I have a terrible addiction to comic books when I get afford them.  I enjoy Romantic Comedies.  Musicals get me a smiling and dancing.  I enjoy cleaning my ears with Q-Tips more than is normal or acceptable.  There’s so much more, but I’m not willing to put the good blackmail out there for just anyone.

One thing that’s always been hilarious to watch people react to is that I am a World Wrestling Entertainment fan and follower.  Formerly the “WWF” from back in the day with Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and The Macho Man Randy Savage”, the evolution from the golden era to the Attitude Era (Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and Mankind) to now is so fascinating to me.  I love the history, the battles, the rivalries, the matches and the amazing moments that for a wrestling fan will never fade.

Last night I attended the WWE Raw “ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA” house show and it was well worth the $67.50 I paid for a seat in section 102 row 5 seat 13.  Perfection, thy name is where I was sitting.

I won’t bore you with a play by play.  That would send you running (if you haven’t already) back to your twitter/facebook/googlereader feed and away from me.  What I will talk about is why wrestling is something I enjoy and it is one thing about me that will probably never change.

Wrestling (the entertainment kind anyway) is like a soap opera with Bruce Willis, Jackie Chan, John Cusack and T-Bone Streep (Merl Streep joke FTW!).  Of course it’s “fake”.  If by fake you mean scripted athletic performances that sometimes become incredible moments of “Holy crap did you see that?!”, then yes.  It’s fake.

I’m a six year old boy at heart (I also don’t see this changing anytime soon) and I love certain things.  Things blowing up.  Cars crashing into each other.  Guys fighting.  More things blowing up.  And big action.  Incredible stunts.  More blowing up stuff up.  Wrestling just about fills all those deep needs in my little boy heart.  There’s pyro, crazy fights and amazing stunts and great stories of Good Versus Evil.  It’s like everything you ever wanted in a Die Hard movie, but you get this several days a week on television.

Wrestling Entertainment is fun.  It has great story writing (most of the time) and it can inspire so many emotions at once.  I know, I sound like someone trying to explain how cool something that is so uncool to most is, but I guess that’s what I’m doing.

That’s why I went.  You have your sports teams.  Football, Basketball, Hockey, Rugby, Soccer and everything else.  I have my Wrestling.