Friday Random Ten

I'm up to 4479 songs.

1. You Really Got a Hold on Me - The Beatles from Anthology 1
2. To Be a Man - Saved from Now and Forevermore
3. One Day I'll Fly Away - Nicole Kidman from Moulin Rouge
4. Sad But True - Metallica from S&M
5. Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung from Rock of the 80's Volume 4
6. Casey Jones - The Grateful Dead from SNL:25 Years
7. Walk Like an Egyptian - The Bangles from Billboard-1986
8. Victim of the Game - Garth Brooks from No Fences
9. Whoomp There it Is - Tag Team from the Targhetto Hip-Hop Comp
10. What Would You Say - Dave Matthews Band from SNL:25 Years

Dr. Demento does a funny-five, I'll do a funny-ten

1. Life As a Father - Jeff Foxworthy from You Might be...
2. Medical Love Song - Monty Python from Monty Python Sings
3. Fat - Weird Al from Even Worse
4. It's All About the Pentiums - Weird Al from Running With Scissors
5. Oh Mom - Adam Sandler from They're All Gunna Laugh at You
6. Lunchlady Land - Adam Sandler from They're All Gunna Laugh at You
7. This is the Life - Weird Al from Greatest Hits Volume II
8. Bitch School - Spinal Tap from Break like the Wind
9. Penis Song (Not the Noel Coward Song) - Monty Python from Monty Python Sings
10. Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the Head - The Frantics from Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary

WHAT IF This week sucked?

Overall, a pretty poor night on Idol. Mandisa gets props for preachin' it and staying true to herself, even if it was an un-even performance. Paris was great, because she had fun and still sang great. Taylor rocked. Cletus actually had one of the best performances of the night.

My top ten:

1. Chris
2. Paris
3. Mandisa
4. Catharine
5. Taylor
6. Lisa
7. Cletus
8. Elliot
9. Pickler
10. Ace

My bottom three prediction: Ace, Lisa, Elliot

Going Home: Lisa

una selección hecha al azar de diez por viernes

1. Try - Janis Joplin live at woodstock
2. Polly - Nirvana from MTV Unplugged in New York
3. Bones - Radiohead from The Bends
4. The Rain Song - Led Zepplin from Houses of the Holy
5. Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around the World - U2 from Achtung Baby
6. No Money No Honey - Beck from Stereopathetic Soul Manure
7. See Emily Play - Pink Floyd from Relics
8. Eat It - Weird Al from Dr. Demento's 20th Anniversary Collection
9. Sweet Sweet - Smashing Pumpkins from Siamese Dream
10. Malted Milk - Eric Clapton from Unplugged.

I swear my Ipod is more diverse than that. I have 3,780 songs!

Not so random/no "favorites" ten:

1. Let Your Day Begin - Tree63 from The Answer to the Question
2. It's Over - Squirrel Nut Zippers from Perennial Favorites
3. Can't Truss It - Public Enemy from Power to the People
4. Babe - Styx from Extended Versions
5. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes - Paul Simon from SNL Live: 25 Years of Music
6. Eric the Half a Bee - Monty Python from Monty Python Sings
7. De Here to Love Me - Norah Jones from Feels Like Home
8. It's a Small World - from Classic Disney
9. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield from Pure 80's
10. You've Got Another Thing Coming - Pat Boone from In a Metal Mood

90's Music Ten

1. Cradle of Love - Billy Idol
2. Have YOu Seen Me Lately - Counting Crows
3. Cycle Me Through - Skypark
4. Letters - Vinegar Joe
5. Sad Songs and Waltzes - Cake
6. Lady With the Spinning Head - U2
7. Dumb - Nirvana
8. Unskinny Bob - Poison
9. Immortality - Pearl Jam
10. There Was 2 - Sonichrome

That 90's Music playlist is all screwed up. It took me 27 songs to get ten from the 90s. I have a lot of compilations that were RELEASED in the 90's, so they all show up in that playlist. Lame.

Bottom Half Shake Up

50's Night truly separated the top of the heap even further. This has to be the strongest top five in Idol history. Most seasons you easily forget everyone but the top two, with a handful of exceptions. This year, five of the contestants are going to have strong careers. Here's my top-eleven. Small change in the top-five (which will probably happen every week, since 3-5 are all VERY close to each other). Big changes in the bottom.

1. Chris Daughtery - Two weeks in a row he has done a performance that could easily be at the top of the charts next week. He is smart, rearranging I Walk The Line to sound like a Chris Daughtery song. Brilliant, as always. Simon complemented him by saying that he is the first "rocker-type" that refuses to compromise himself. VERY True. Simon Cowell - Voice of Reason.

2. Paris Bennett - Other than a small hiccup vocally in the first part of her song, Fever, she was brilliant.

3. Mandisa - She had her "Kelly-Clarkson-on-Big-Band-Night" moment last night. She rocks!

4. Katharine McPhee - Solid as always. I love her voice. To me, and I'm probably crazy, the performance came off as a little to broadway/cabaret/cheese to me.



5. Taylor Hicks - Taylor didn't pick the best song last night, in that, it didn't show off his voice well enough. It was fun, but bland.

6. Lisa Tucker - The perfect example of "Good is not Good Enough." She sang well, but is once again being completely overshadowed by Paris and Mandiva. She is my prediction for who will go home tonight.

7. Kelli Pickler - I have to put her at the top of the crap pile this week, because she had a VERY strong performance, doing Patsy Cline's Walking After Midnight.

8. Elliot Yamin - This guy just bothers me. He has the personality of a rock. The judges said he sang great last night, so the must have had a different performance in the theater than we saw on T.V. I thought it was terrible the first time. After the judges praised him, I watched it a second time (with my eyes closed, so I could focus on the voice) and, while it was better, it still wasn't great.

9. Cletus - He's now 1-for-2 on attempts to put his voice into the selected genre. Why he didn't do a country song from the fifties, I'll never know. HE could have kicked butt with Walking After Midnight, ala Garth. He HAS to try and make it a country song every week, no matter what the genre is. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the musical smarts that Chris has shown, so it's probably going to get worse before it gets better.

10. Ace Young - He sang well last night, but I still want to kick his Ass. Melissa asked me last night if I only hate him because he's a pretty boy. The answer is no. I hate him because he's a pretty boy and his "name" is Ace. C'mon.

11. Chicken Little - Kevin won't be going away anytime soon, which is too bad. He's got the Vote-for-the-worst seal of (dis)approval, and unfortunately, he has a strong legitimate fan base as well. He doesn't appeal to the 8-to-80 crowd, he appeals to the 8 AND 80 crowd. He'll be the only performer to have granny-panties and disney-princess underroos thrown at him on stage. He was so beyond terrible, it's not funny anymore.

FridayRandomTen

1. Float On - Modest Mouse from Good News for People
2. Cry - Vinegar Joe from Live at the Mixing Lab
3. Roxie's Suite - Danny Elfman from Chicago
4. Seen It All Before - Amos Lee from Amos Lee
5. Under My Thumb - Rolling Stones from Forty Licks
6. Youth Culture Killed My Dog - They Might Be Giants from Best of the Early Years
7. Cry!Cry!Cry! - Johnny Cash from The Legend of Johnny Cash
8. Within You Without You - The Beatles from Sgt. Peppers...
9. Found - The O.C. Supertones from Adventures of the O.C. Supertones
10. War Pigs (1970 Basement Tapes) - Black Sabbath from The Ozzman Cometh

Rolands gotta laugh at the Supertones followed by Sabbath....


FridayRandomRapTen

1. Jump - KrisKross
2. Soldier - Eminem
3. Boyz-N-The-Hood - Easy-E
4. Touch the Sky - Kanye West
5. You Can't Touch This - M.C. Hammer
6. Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya Man -Public Enemy
7. Stan - Eminem
8. Diamonds from Sierra Leone - Kanye West
9. Bombs over Bahgdad - Outcast
10. I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy & The Family

Spring Fever

James is ready for his first season of Angels Baseball!

His first words are going to be "Jeff Weaver Sucks!"

AI: Week One

Here's my rankings of the contestants after the first week of performances. A very hot/cold season. I have a strong top-five, all of whom I would be ok with seeing them win, at this point. There are two stuck on neutral, who I don't really love or hate, and then a dismal bottom five, who ALL need to dissapear. Quickly.

1. Chris Daughtery - I love this guys voice and so far he has been 100% flawless. He has a strong rock voice and truly shouldn't be in this competition. He need to be fronting a rock band. He's miles ahead of Bo Bice, in that: he's real. Bo Bice, who I still like, played the southern rock role well and should just go on tour singing with Skynyrd. His album was pretty tame southern rock, not what I had expected from him. CHRIS, can be a legit lead singer of a "Live" style band. He reminds Melissa of Ed Kowalczyk. He might have a problem with some of the theme weeks that this show has, but so far he's 1-for-1, sailing through Stevie Wonder week with a rock version of Higher Ground, ala the Chili Peppers. Hopefully he'll get so lucky every week.

2. Paris Bennett - Another seasoned performer, who hasn't taken a misstep. I REALLY like her, Chris is higher because he's much more in my prefered genres musically. Paris is fun to watch. She's young and cute and can sang. She has the best stage presence, and is probably the one who "should" win this show. Chris is awesome, but he's not the best "american idol" type of winner.


3. Taylor Hicks - I was saying to some friends last night: If I were, for some reason, going to see the top-12 on tour this summer (which, of course, I won't), THIS is the one guy I would be most looking forward to seeing. He is so fun to watch. He's a total kook, but he's got a great voice, a unique style and he stands out as a VERY original performer. I can't wait to see what he does post-idol, when he gets to work the harmonica on stage. He mentioned that the show stylists want to change his grey hair. That would be a huge mistake. I think if he dyed his hair, he would lose some of the unique appeal he has accross America.

4. Katharine McPhee - After last night's performance, I, too, have the McPheever. My hesitation with her has always been that she comes across as a cocky, seasoned performer, and just sort of fake. But the chick can SING. She got her first comparision to Kelly Clarkson, how they both truly emerged as front runners at this part of the contest.


5. Mandisa - Being a big-boned guy myself, I've got a connection to this next-aretha, and I want to see her to REALLY well. She stumbled a little last night, but that doesn't detract too much from the fact that she has THE best voice in the competition. As Randy says, "The girl can BLOW."


6. Lisa Tucker - Lisa has a great singing voice, but her youth is going to come into play pretty soon. No matter how great a voice she has, she just can't stack up against Paris and Mandisa, and, unfortunately, That is where she's going to be compared first, and where she's going to lose the votes. It's also fun to root for a local girl, since she goes to high school in Anaheim.

7. Cletus - As my wife mentioned last night, I just don't know how anyone can say "Bucky" and not start laughing at him. He is a TRUE redneck. He is a hick-from-the-sticks in a way that Bo could have only dreamt about. Where Bo was sort of a manufactured NECK, Bucky is a true-blue southern-fried white trash trailer jockey. With all that said, He's got a GREAT country voice. He, too, will struggle fitting his style into the themed weeks. Where Chris seems to have more musical "know-how" and can work with the band to tailor a song to fit his needs, Cletus will probably just try to fit his voice INTO the other genres, and that will be his down fall. He's still about 42 miles ahead of the bottom five...

8. Elliott Yamin - Congratulations! You're at the top of the dung heap!! This kid can sing well, about one out of every three weeks. But he's got the personality of a rotting tomato.

9. Melissa McGee - She probably has the worst voice of anyone in the top 12, and shouldn't have made the top-12 over the basketball player, but she's got a good personality and I don't exactly hate her. She can stay a while, as far as I'm concerned, just to get the next three gone as QUICK as possible.

10. Kelli Pickler - Read This. She makes me want to vomit.

11. Kevin Covais - He's cute, he's cuddly, and he's annoying as hell. He just simply isn't an american idol, no matter how great his personality is. Since he's the Vote-for-the-Worst pony this year, he might make it as far as Scott Savol did last season. And that would just be sad. But funny.

12. Ace Young - I just want to kick this guys ass. I know he'll be around for a long time, and he's got the chick vote, He's the biggest poser ever in this competition. And DUDE needs a flipping haircut!!!!!!

I Can Hear Myself Getting Fatter...

Thank God I don't live in Illinois. The Gateway Grizzlies minor-league ball club has created the "world's best hamburger". Copy-cats coming to a county fair near you, I'm sure...


Read The Story Here

i-pod 8-Ball

Instead of the Friday Random ten, I'll do the musical eight-ball.

1. What is missing from my life? Shadows and Tall Trees - U2 (But not for long!)
2. Will I find love? Pipe Dreams - Travis (well, that's just not true...)
2. Will I find Love? I Alone - Live (nope, still not true...)
2. Will I find love? The Chemicals Between Us - Bush (that's better)
3. Will I become rich? Shepherd is the Lamb - Supertones (riches don't really matter)
4. Does someone have a crush on me? Something in the Way - Nirvana (that's not good)
5. What is my favorite sexual position? 40 - U2 (yeah, baby)
6. Am I good looking? - Dead Melodies - Beck (yup)
7) When am I most happy? Backyard Boogie - Mack 10 (I like the night life, I like to boogie)
8. What is my biggest regret? You Had to Be There - Stillwater (and I'll never tell)
9. How will I die? Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin (Is there a better way to go?)
10. Do I act my age? Flight of the Cosmic Hippo - Bela Fleck (I guess that's a no?)
11. What type of tattoo should I get? Luna - Smashing Pumpkins (a moon tattoo? Lets try again....)
11. What type of tatoo should I get? Sunrise - Norah Jones (still gay, oh well).
12. What is my spirit animal? Wolves - Garth Brooks
13. Do I like pain? One Piece at a Time - Johnny Cash
14. Is there anyone else like me out there? California Dreamin' - The Mamas and the Papas.
15. Do I love to party? Daylight Fading - Counting Crows
16. Where should I move to? On Top - The Killers (Oregon IS on top of Cali!)
17. Am I secretly gay? Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins (That just about sums it up, doesn't it?)
18. Will I ever be president? The Longest Time - Billy Joel
19. What is fun for me? The Long Way Home - Norah Jones (heh)
20. Will I ever learn to fly? Bike - Pink Floyd (So I'll pull an E.T.?)
21. What is my super power? Grace Like Rain - Todd Agnew (sweet!)

Springfield Rocks!

U2 Ramblings

First things first, some pretty big news. This is from Willie, the set designer for all of the U2 shows:

"Spent the afternoon in another meeting discussing the forthcoming TV and film shoots, before finally escaping from the hotel and managing a stroll to the local park."

I'm sorry, did he just say FILM shoot!?!?!?!?!?! Holy crap! That's awesome. It could be as simple as another Vertigo DVD, which I assumed we would get, but it could be more. Who knows?!? They put out two concert films with the Elevation Tour (live in Boston and U2-Go-Home at Slane Castle), So an international sibling to go along with the Chicago DVD would be awesome.

Second - Why they heck can't we get the best set lists of the tour in the US!?!?!?!? Over the first five or so dates on the tour, rarities have snuck into the set such as The First Time, Mothers of the Disappeared ( a Joshua Tree gem), All I want is You and Love Rescue Me. I'll be really bummed if they randomly play The Sweetest Thing or Staring at the Sun and I'm not there for it...

Third - I'm starting a petition to get the stadium shows back into the US. They have to do it. They just have to. They'd only have to hit major markets. Just do shows in L.A. (probably the Rose Bowl, but Anaheim would be cool), NY (at the Meadowlands), Chicago, Boston, Houston and, of course, Autzen Stadium in Eugene!!!!

So what have YOU been up to lately?

Me....I got a new job. After months of prayer and thought and consideration, I have been offered and have accepted a job at Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon. We will be leaving the friendly confines of Rivertucky in the last week of April and I begin my new job on May 1st.

It's amazing the way that the Lord works. He is so faithful to our family. When our financial situation took a turn for the worse a little while back, and we realized that we just can't afford to raise our family the way we want to in Southern California, every little piece of the puzzle just kinda fit together.

You know how you pray when you REALLY need the Lord to provide, and you pray to God, telling him that your life is in his hands, that you sacrifice all of your needs and wants up to him to provide for you? Well we were doing that for the longest time. Only I had a small problem. I absolutely didn't want our family to have to move. I wanted God to provide for us, so long it meant a way for us to keep our house. After some big, earth-shattering things came to light, and we realized that our financial situation wasn't going to be getting better by the means we had anticipated, I started to pray the same pray, laying everything in the hands of God, only this time I meant it. I truly trusted God to take care of us, no matter what and no matter WHERE that meant.

In a matter of three days after we had the "wake-up call", I found out about this opening for a Sports Information Director, sent in my resume, had a 45-minute phone interview and was asked to come to Oregon for a day of interviews as one of the finalists.

I went to Oregon one week ago today and was called on Wednesday to let me know that I was being offered the job. It's pretty insane to see how quickly the process has moved along. And despite all of the heartache that we have ahead of us with leaving our families behind and trying to sell our house and buy a house, we are COMPLETELY at peace about our decision. God has truly provided this life-altering opportunity for us.

Now it's time for us to find a house and we're heading up there this weekend to start to look. Are we stressed about all of this? Of course. But I am completely confident that the Lord has the perfect home for us up there. His grace has been shown so abundantly to me lately, that although I may have many short comings as a father, husband and man of God, the Lord still cares enough to help us provide for our family.

It'll be a new adventure. We're very excited to be able to raise our kids outside of Southern California!

Friday.Random.Ten

1. Crown of Love - The Arcade Fire from Funeral
2. The Way You Move -Outcast from Speakerboxxx
3. Trying to Get to Heavan - Bob Dylan from Time Out of Mind
4. I'm Looking Through You - The Wallflowers from the I Am Sam Soundtrack
5. Jesus Christ - U2 from the Rattle & Hum Sun Studio Sessions
6. Gerry is Strong - The Bruce Lee Band from Hey Brotha Can You Spare Some Ska
7. Acoustic #3 - The Goo Goo Dolls from Dizzy Up the Girl
8. Satellite - Anna Nalick from Wreck of the Day
9. Crossroads - Bone Thugs-n-Harmony from The Collection, Vol. 1
10. Joybirds - Doris Henson from Give Me All Your Money

For the Kiddies - The Best of Disney Ten

1. Belle (Beauty & The Beast, 1991)
2. Song of the South (Song of the South, 1946)
3. A Spoonful of Sugar (Mary Poppins)
4. Love is a Song
5. A Whole New World (Aladdin)
6. Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
7. When You Wish Upon a Star
8. Main Street Electrical Parade
9. Can You Feel the Love Tonight? (Lion King, 1994)
10. Oogie Boogie's Song (Nightmare Before Christmas)

The Return of the Friday Random Ten

1. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - Bob Dylan from Bob Dylan Live, 1966: The Royal Albert Hall Concert.
2. Me and Paul - Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash from Storytellers
3. Little Budda - Toad the Wet Sprocket from Coil
4. The Heat is On - Glenn Fry from Billboard Top Hits 1985
5. Glass and the Ghost Children - Smashing Pumpkins from Storytellers 8/24/00
6. Night Prowler - AC/DC from Highway to Hell
7. Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones from Forty Licks
8. Fight for Your Right - The Beastie Boys from Licensed to Ill
9. Get Gone - Fiona Apple from When the Pawn...
10. Monkey - Counting Crows from Recovering the Satellites

And this weeks special: John, Paul, George and Ringo

1. Maxwell's Silver Hammer - Abbey Road
2. Day Tripper - 1
3. Come Together - Abbey Road
4. The End - Anthology 3
5. Rip it Up/Shake, Rattle and Roll/Blue Suede Shoes - Anthology 3
6. Lady Madonna - 1
7. The Ballad of John and Yoko - 1
8. Hey Jude - 1
9. And I Love Her - Anthology 1
10. Honey Pie - Anthology 3

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2331737

Brutal. I now have competition for Garret Anderson in the Angel-I-Hate-The-Most race.

U2-INTL

Vertigo//2006 started tonight in Mexico. No word yet as to whether he started the show with "One, Two, Three....FOURTEEN!" or not. My biggest question mark is the fact that they aren't regularly playing All Because of You anymore. What the heck? It's one of the biggest songs off of the album! At least Original of the Species is back in, even if it's at the cost of Miracle Drug, which I fully thought would be back for the international shows. View the Set List Here.

Oh, by the way...

I got my I-pod back. They caught the guy who stole it because he was caught stealing a laptop from someone else's office on Tuesday. Woohoo!!!!

Six-For-Six

Hey Roland - Stick that in your giant vortex....

After a night of explosively emotional performances of "Vertigo" and "One" with Mary J. Blige, U2 picked up awards in each category it was nominated in. To recap, the wins for "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" are as follows:
*Album of the Year
*Best Rock Album
*Song of the Year for "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"
*Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"
*Best Rock Song for "City Of Blinding Lights"

*And of course, our other man, Steve Lillywhite, was victorious in the Production, Non-Classical category for his work with U2 and pop singer Jason Mraz.

Friday Random Ten

1. Pictures of Lily - The Who from The Ultimate Collection
2. Higher - Creed from Human Clay
3. Gloria - U2 from October
4. The Kids are Alright - The Who from The Ultimate Collection
5. Hey, Johnny Park! - Foo Fighters from The Colour and the Shape
6. Jumper - Stephan Jenkins and Brian Vander Ark from the Star Lounge
7. I Feel Fine - The Beatles from 1
8. The Way Things Are - Fiona Apple from When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King/What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight/And He'll Win the Whole Thing 'Fore He Enters the Ring/There's No Body To Batter When Your Mind is Your Might/So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand/And Remember That Depth is the Greatest of Heights/And If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land/And If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You'll Know That You're Right.
9. 300 Dollars (worth) - Mars Hill from The Scenic Route
10. Caribbean Wind - Bob Dylan from Biograph

The Random U2-10

1. All Because of You - Atomic Bomb
2. Are You Gunna Wait Forever - (B-Side) Vertigo Single
3. Another Time, Another Place - Live from Boston
4. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock - Under a Blood Red Sky
5. If You Wear that Velvet Dress - Pop
6. Pride - Unforgettable Fire
7. Walk On - All That you Can't Leave Behind
8. Twilight - Boy
9. New Year's Day - U2 - Live in Mexico City (from Hasta La Vista, Baby!)
10. Holy Joe (Guilty Mix) - (B-side) Discotheque Single

Where were you?

I can't believe it was 20 years ago today that the Challenger exploded. I was seven years old and in the 2nd Grade at College Park Elementary school. I remember our teacher taking us out to see the flag pole, which was at half-mast, she explained to us that there had been a big accident with the space shuttle and we were all going into the multi-purpose room to watch the news.

It's funny, because I don't remember too many specific things from that age, but I remember that day very well.

Friday Random Ten

1. Memphis Exorcism - Squirrel Nut Zippers (from Hot)
2. She Loves You - The Beatles (from 1)
3. Ramshackle - Beck (from Odelay!)
4. Slide - Asight Unseen (from Hollywood Proverbs)
5. Beautiful Day - U2 (from All That You Can't Leave Behind)
6. Rebel Without a Pause - Public Enemy (from Power to the People)
7. Worlds Apart - Jars of Clay (from Jars of Clay)
8. Things Have Changed - Bob Dylan (from The Essential Bob Dylan)
9. Wrong Number - The Cure (from Galore)
10. Fiddle About - The Who (from Tommy)

And my random U2 Ten. Apparently, it's "pop" day:

1. Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out of (acoustic) - from 7
2. Please - from Pop
3. Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Live from Point Depot
4. Mofo - from Pop
5. Wild Honey - from All That You Can't Leave Behind
6. Staring at the Sun (live from Rotterdam) - from the Please single
7. If God Will Send His Angels - from Pop
8. Shadows & Tall Trees (1st demo version) - from the digital boxed set
9. A Man and a Woman - from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
10. Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own - from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

Sweet!

I just found out that Moe got us two tickets to see the Ellen Degeneres Show on February 1st! I got it cleared with work, Now here's hoping we can find people to watch the kids!

Four jobs you've had in your life: Guest Service Specialist (aka Targhetto cashier), Special Project Technician (aka Toilet Inspector), Usher - Angels Stadium, Sports Information Director/Coordinator
Four movies you could watch over and over: Billy Madison, School of Rock, American Beauty, Back to the Future
Four places you've lived: Irvine, La Mirada, Orange, Rivertucky
Four TV shows you love(d) to watch: Lost, 24, Close to Home, Numbers
Four places you've been on vacation: Idylwild, Hawaii, Colorado, New York
Four websites you visit daily: Espn.com, my work website, wikipedia, an are-they-dead-yet old people site that I can't link to, because other people in my death pool might steal my secret stash.
Four of your favorite foods: Chili, Enchiladas, Pizza, Cookies
Four places you'd rather be: At home in bed with my arms around my wife, laying on my living room floor with my kids climbing all over me, at a U2 Concert in Ireland, at Disneyland.

Friday Random Ten (A little late)

1. Holiday - Green Day - (from American Idiot)
2. Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins (from Rotten Apples: Greatest Hits)
3. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun - Pink Floyd (from Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd)
4. Cold As Ice - Matt Dusk (from Two Shots)
5. A Dark Time for the Light Side of Earth - Doris Henson (from Give Me All Your Money)
6. Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix (from Live at Woodstock)
7. The River - Garth Brooks (from The Hits)
8. Always - U2 (from 7)
9. The Times They Are a Changin' - Bob Dylan (from The Best of Bob Dylan)
10. I'll Fly Away - Kanye West (from The College Dropout)

I'm at 1,346 songs right now, including 220 U2 songs.

Akida Update

I just got this from the CE department chair at Biola, Richard Leyda.

I just talked to Jeff Sanchez and he had tried to get into see Akida, butthey are only letting family in (and a few pastors).Evidently, he is conscious but does not have feeling in parts of his bodyand they are afraid it was a stroke. Jeff said he was goingto try to get in Sunday/Monday and would let us know. I told him to tellAkida that we were all praying for him.

Go Dutch!

I talked to former Biola Baseball player Ben Orr today at a retirement party for the old Biola SID Ken Carlson and apparently, Jon Rouwenhorst has made the 40-man roster with the Angels. This means he'll be on the roster for major league spring training and has an outside shot at making the big league club. Most likely he'll be back at Triple-A Salt Lake, but he's getting closer. One more good year in the minors and he should be a September call-up this season!

Prayer Request

I don't really know any details yet, but I just got an email from an old friend, Emily Stoltz, from Biola. Apparently another friend of ours, Akida Morgan, is having serious health issues. We were all Christian Education major's together and we were all pretty close with a lot of classes together. Chris Stanley, Cara Reed, Emily, Akida and I all graduated together. Here is the note I got from Emily:

Hey Nick,
I don't know if you have already heard about Akida, but I just got an e-mail from Denise yesterday saying that a roommate or someone found him unconscious on Christmas morning and I guess he had a brain aneurysm. I guess his family isn't letting anyone see him so there are a lot of rumors going around about what his condition really is. Denise said he WAS in a coma for several days, but Kristy Newman called me about 20 minutes after I had gotten the e-mail from Dee saying that he wasn't able to breath on his own or eat or anything and that "his legs were better" but they have no idea what the problem was with his legs to begin with. She seemed to think he was still in a coma in Intensive Care and probably wasn't going to make it. I have no idea what to believe, especially being all the way out here, but I just wanted you to know and be praying for him. I'm going to e-mail Val and see if maybe she knows anything so we can get a prayer chain started or something.
I'll let you know what I hear.

UPDATE: From Emily -
I just got an e-mail from Val actually and she said that he is on a ventilator, kidney dialysis and he took a turn for the worse this weekend, but they still don't know much information either. She said that Dr Leyda is trying to get information through Whittier Christian since Kida was coaching there. She said he was planning on talking to them again today and she would let me know what she finds out.

Tuesday Random Ten

It's about time I did this.

1. It's Only Rock & Roll - Rolling Stones from Fourty Licks
2. Baby One More Time - Marty Casey from the Best of Rock Star: INXS
3. Interlude-Libation, The Water Ritual - Bela Fleck & The Flecktones from Live Art
4. Set the Ray to Jerry - Smashing Pumpkins from Judas O
5. Resolve - The Foo Fighters from In Your Honor
6. Hot in Herre - Nelly from Grammy Nominees 2003
7. Surrender - U2 from War
8. Numb - U2 from the digital box set
9. Mr. Sandman - Pat Boone from In a Metal Mood
10. Never is A Promise - Fiona Apple from Tidal

Ha!

From PostSecret:

A world in white gets underway

Addendum

I think since it hasn't been on for a few month, I forgot my other favorite show, which is probably tied with Lost.

24.

Duh.

Best of T.V. 2005

Todays end-of-the-year list is my top-ten T.V. shows of 2005.

1. LOST (ABC) - I'm a late comer to the Lost crazy and man, am I pissed that I missed out from the beginning. I got the DVD from my friend Dave of Season one and I'm currently 12 or so episodes in (Boone just died). Melissa and I watched the Pilot and we couldn't get into it because the whole "monster in the jungle" aspect seemed too crazy. I'm glad I gave this show a second-chance, to realize that the "monster" isn't a big focal point, only something that is sort of an undercurrent, running throughout. I absolutely love the mystery, the character development and the twists and turns along the way. There have been a lot that I could see coming (or I knew were coming because I'm late to the prom, like Hurley's Lottery win and the numbers. There have also been some things that I could have never seen coming. It's such a freaking fantastic show. It's just too bad that I'm playing catch up. Hopefully I'll be all the way through season-2 before season three starts.

2. How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - I think this is the best Sitcom on TV right now. It has incredible smart writing and a unique premise and setup, which is what you need to survive as a sitcom these days. The cast is perfect.

3. My Name is Earl (NBC) - The only other solid sitcom on television. Jason Lee makes this show work. He is a perfect actor for the role. This again is a well-written show with a unique premise.

4. Survivor: Guatemala (CBS) - Not the strongest season of the show, but it was a pretty darn good one. I'm still bitter about the ending and I will be for a long time, but regardless, this is still the best reality show on T.V.

5. CBS Crime Dramas (CBS) - There are four shows on CBS that all come in collectively at #5. On Thursday nights we get CSI and Without a Trace. I love CSI because they are sticking to the crime drama aspect each week and focusing the "human drama" involved in the case. For a while I was worried they were heading to soapy territory, but they continue to only involve the lives of the characters in small doses. Without a Trace has a heavier level of the personal side of the characters, but they do it in a good way. Usually the dealings of the characters lives are in direct relation to the crime/disappearances at hand and they are interwoven in a strong way.

On Friday nights we get Close to Home and Numbers. Close to Home is a good mix of a crime/courtroom drama and it involves a little more suds than Without a Trace, but that's the premise of the show and again, it works here. And my new "Bono" is star Jennifer Finnigan (right). Numbers involves a heavy dose of Irish Spring, specifically between the brothers (and dad and love interests occasionally), but for this show, it is what you need. With CSI, all of the different ways of solving crimes in the lab keep things dramatic and interesting on thier own. On Numbers, the "math" in and of itself is interesting, but can get extremely boring standing alone.

6. The Amazing Race - Family Edition (CBS) - While not nearly as good as the regular pairs style of this show, it is still one of the best reality shows on TV and it does the best job of showing the interpersonal drama. Where Survivor is entertaining because all of the stars are characters and the drama, games, voting, are sort of cartoonish (in it's own good way), Amazing Race shows a more "realistic" version of reality in that these are families that have to work/play/fight together to get through to the end of the season.

7. The Simpsons (Fox) - Probably only as low as it is because I've only actually seen a handful of episodes this season. It's on at the same time as #9 on the list and while I TiVo it upstairs, it rarely gets watched. Since this is the only show that I'm collecting each season of on DVD, I've slacked off on watching only because I know I'll own them all eventually anyway.

8. Saturday Night Live (NBC) - Not nearly the show it was five years ago, but the cast continues to evolve and get better. The setup of having a new host and musical guest every week keeps it extremely watchable, becuase you always want to see how so-and-so will do. Also, weekend update continues to be appointment TV.

9. Extreme Makeover - Home Edition (ABC) - Love this show. Love to get my weekly cry in from 8-9 (sometimes 7-9) on Sunday nights. What I don't like are the silly little "acting" routines that the designers do for entertainment sake. They come off as very staged and the detract from what makes the show good: helping people and showing radical new homes.

10. Gilmore Girls (WB) - My televised guilty pleasure. My weekly estro-fix. I have grown to love this show. I only started watching it because Melissa does, but now I'm as hooked as she is. The writing for this show is some of the quickest, smartest dialogue on TV.

10.5 The Ellen Degeneres Show (Syndication) - Ellen is the funniest woman on earth. What makes her talk show great are all the silly little segments (Madonna, is that you?) and quirky things that make it fun to watch (the smiley faced chip, send-in-your-bad-drivers-licsence photo). It's a lot more "real" than the silly sketches and characters that Jay, Dave and Conan use.

Worst of the Year

Sadly I only saw 19 movies this year and by my count, only 14 in an actual theatre (or drive-in). Thats barely more than one per month. Things sure have changed since the days of 150 movies a year (every other day) back at Biola!

That said, my rankings only include movies that I've actually seen (which will appear to be even more pathetic when you see my top-ten list).

For now, here are the Worst Three Movies of the Year


#1 - Son of the Mask (part of a double-feature with something we actually wanted to see at the drive-in)
#2 - Miss Congeniality 2 (Netflix)
#3 - Bewitched

And here are the six movies that I am indifferent about. Not bad enough to make the "Worst" list, not good enough to crack the top ten. Some of them I liked, others I didn't. In no particular order:

Sky High - C
Hide & Seek - C
Must Love Dogs - C
Because of Winn-Dixie - B-
Ice Princess - D+
Pooh's Heffalump Movie - B (for what it is)

Next up - The "Top Ten"...

Goober Lickin'Head

---Blatantly stolen from Cate---
The following in excerpted from a children's book, "Captain Underpants And the Perilous Plot Professor Poopypants" by Dave Pilkey, in which the evil Professor forces everyone to assume new names...

Here are some interesting ones:

My family is : Goober Lickinhead, Boobie Lickinhead and our children, Dorky Lickinhead, Cheesy Lickinhead and our rock star baby is "Sleazy Lickinhead. Greaaaaat.

My favorite Band is "Dispy2"

Their lead singer is Dipsy Chickensquirt, but he goes by his famous nickname "sloppy"
The guitar player is Sneezy Picklebutt, but he goes by "The Dumbo"
On Bass is Snickle Frickenbutt
The drummer is Dorfus Chuckletush.

Our president is Fluffy Chucklefanny

Snooty Waffledoodle dies on the cross for our sins.

Sloopy Frickinbutt brings presents to the kids on Christmas.

My inlaws are the "frickinnoses"

Man, I could have fun for hours with this.... Thanks, Cate!!!


1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name:
a = snickle
b = doombah
c = goober
d = cheesey
e = crusty
f = greasy
g = dumbo
h = farcus
i =dorky
j = doofus
k = funky
l = boobie
m = sleezy
n = sloppy
o = fluffy
p = stinky
q = slimy
r = dorfus
s = snooty
t = tootsie
u = dipsy
v = sneezy
w = liver
x = skippy
y = dinky
z = zippy

2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:
a = dippin
b = feather
c = batty
d = burger
e = chicken
f = barffy
g = lizard
h =waffle
i = farkle
j = monkey
k = flippin
l = fricken
m = bubble
n = rhino
o = potty
p = hamster
q = buckle
r = gizzard
s = lickin
t = snickle
u = chuckle
v = pickle
w = hubble
x = dingle
y = gorilla
z = girdle

3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:
a = butt
b = boob
c = face
d = nose
e = hump
f = breath
g =pants
h = shorts
i = lips
j = honker
k = head
l = tush
m = chunks
n = dunkin
o = brains
p = biscuits
q = toes
r = doodle
s = fanny
t = sniffer
u = sprinkles
v = frack
w = squirt
x = humperdink
y = hiney
z = juice

Globe Nominations

The Hollywood Foreign Press did some crazy things this year.

HERE are the full nominations. I haven't seen too many movies this year, so my comments will be few for those categories. I have more to say regarding the TV categories.

The Good:
* Johnny Depp got nominated for Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
* Will Farrell got nominated for the Producers! (haven't seen it)
* Russell Crowe and Paul Giamatti got nominations for Cinderella Man.
* Lost got a nod for TV show - Drama! (My new favorite show, more to follow on that)
* Jason Lee and My Name is Earl both grabbed nominations!
* Other great nominations: Kiefer, Matthew Fox, Zach Braff, Naveen Andrews
* Only ONE HBO show up for best Drama (Although there were three for Comedy). This is great for those of us who only have basic cable!

The Bad:
* Since I don't watch Desperate Housewives, I don't like seeing 4-of-5 actress nominations going there.
* Nothing for CSI or Without a Trace
* Nothing for Elfman from Charlie & the Chocolate Factory

The Ugly:
* Spielberg (Munich) and Pete Jackson (King Kong) got Best Director nods, but the movies were widely ignored.
* Renee Zellweger was PHENOMENAL in Cinderella Man, but no nomination.

I need to see more movies....

It was 25 years ago today....

He may not have ever been as big as Jesus, but he was pretty damn big. And pretty darn important to this thing we call rock and roll music. And after all, Bono is his son.

Why in the world are we here
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Why on earth are you there
When you're ev'rywhere
Come and get your share
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on

Grammy Nominations

We all know that the Grammies are a big load of heaping dog crap, but you still want your favorite artists to get the recognition they deserve. The boys did this year and it was about what was expected. Five Nominations:

Album of the Year: Atomic Bomb
Song of the Year (for songwriting): Sometimes You Can't Make it...
Rock Album
Rock Performance: Sometimes (how this is a "rock" song I'll never know)
Rock Song: City of Blinding Lights

Outside of that, it was a little good, a little bad and a lot of ugly.

The Good:
* Arcade Fire got nominated for Alternative Album
* Danny Elfman got a Grammy nomination: Stop the presses! No nomination for the score or for the soundtrack, but Wonka's Welcome Song picked up a nomination opposite Aracade Fire, Wyclef Jean, Tom Petty and Josh Groban for movie or television original song.
* Beck got nominated for Alternative Album
* Fiona got a nod for Extraordinary machine (but in the "pop" category?)
* Steve Lilliwhite is nominated for Producer of the Year.
* Boulevard of Broken Dreams got a record of the year nom.
* Keane got a best new artist nomination
* Pop performance by duo or group includes Mr. Brightside - The Killers, My Doorbell - White Stripes and This Love - Maroon Five.
* Record of the year, which is supposed to be go to a fun, good, overplayed song, actually has a strong nomination list (Kanye's Gold Digga, Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl and Boulevard of Broken dreams). I guess Kanye got the token rap nomination, because 50 Cent is absent from this list.
* Michael Buble got a nom for traditional pop!
No major nominations wasted on Country Crap.

The Bad:
* Kanye West got a slew of nominations (which he deserved), and this could be the redemption year to make up for him not winning last year when he should have. This could hurt Atomic Bomb in the Album category, which is the most important one.
* Arcade Fire didn't get a best new artist nomination or any recognition for "Wake Up"
* Kelly Clarkson's stronger pop album got appropriate nominations but was far outshined by Ms. Mimi (see the ugly below).
* Sometimes... didn't crossover into the pop category to give U2 a wider range of nominations.
* Why are there FIVE latin categories, when they have their own separate LATIN GRAMMYS?
* Bruce's Devil & Dust is up for the Folk Album. Kinda wierd, but ok. Where is Amos Lee?!!?
* No nomination for Dane Cook's comedy album.

The Ugly:
* Two words: Mariah Carey. WTF?!?!?!?!?! This is proof positive that the grammies are full of crap.
* The GREAT GRAMMY HYPOCRACY: How can an album be up for the BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR, if it isn't even nominated for the best album IN IT'S OWN FIELD?!?!? Such is the case with Mariah Carey. No Pop Album nomination. If there are five POP albums better than hers, why aren't THEY up for album of the year. IT'S SO RETARDED!!!!!
* The album of the year award includes Mariah Carey and Gwen Stefani. WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE ABOUT SALES?!?!?!? Sales, Schmales. Why not focus on music that is actually innovative and important. U2 and Kanye made the cut, fine. But where are The White Stripes, Coldplay or Bruce Springsteen. McCartney got the "maybe we'll pay tribute to his career" nomination instead of the Boss, I guess.

Let the lists begin!

It's December, which means it's time for the lists to roll out. I'll begin with the easiest, but biggest list. Top-Ten Albums of 2005. I should note that I am poor and I don't list any albums that I haven't bought or listened to all the way through. Most notably, that includes Fiona's Extraordinary Machine and the new Franz Ferdinand album, which I think I'll love. I should also note that not all of these came out in 2005, but they were new to ME this year.

Top Ten Albums of 2005

10.5. Ashlee Simpson - I Am Me
There goes my street cred, throwing my big guilty pleasure out there at the beginning. I think I only had eleven new albums this year, so this had to get on the list. I love the album. It isn't going to win any songwriting awards, but it's fun. I also liked her first album a little better, but this one has some fun catchy tunes. When she actually sings, I love her voice. (key tracks for the Itunes person who doesn't want to fork out $10 for the whole album: Boyfriend, L.O.V.E., Burning Up.)

10. Michael Buble - It's Time
This isn't the best big-band/crooner album of all time or anything, but of the contemporary crooners, Buble is one of the finest. His voice is solid and the music is pretty good. There are a few fast forward moments on his original stuff, but the covers are all strong. (key tracks: You Don't Know Me, Can't Buy My Love, Save the Last Dance For Me)

9. Doris Henson - Give Me All Your Money
Saw them open for Billy Corgan earlier this year and they were fun live. Something about a horn in a rock band that harks back to my Ska days, I guess. This is a very strong full album, easy to put it on in the car and get lost into the music. Helpful for my commutes. (key track: Dark time for the light side of Earth)

8. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
Great double album. Great music. I like the heavier album better. The Best of You is one of my favourite songs of the year. (Key tracks: Best of You, The Last Song, Cold Day in the Sun)

7. Beck - Guero

I love Beck, which makes this an automatic top-ten album in any year. Most Beck fans love this album. I'm not one of them. I've tried repeatedly to get into it and I just can't. It's a boring album to me. I think he tried to hard to capture the Odelay era sound and it just doesn't work for me. I should do a list ranking the Beck albums.... (Key tracks: E-Pro, Hell Yes)

6. Coldplay - X&Y
I don't like it as much as A Rush of Blood or Parachutes, but anything they touch is solid gold. I just haven't caught myself listening to this as often as the rest of the top ten. Coldplay has been called the "Next U2" and if that is the case, than this is one of those albums that, while strong in it's time, will only grow stronger with time. In 20 years, if Coldplay is still selling out world tours and producing amazing albums, this will be one in a series of classic albums by the band. Sort of another Unforgettable Fire (minus "Pride"). (Key track: What If?)

5. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
I love listening to this album. It's the first of the top five, which are the five albums I listen to most often in my car. (Key tracks: My Doorbell, Blue Orchid)

4. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
This album could have one song on it (Wake Up) and it would be in the top five of the year. One of the best songs to come out in a long time for more reasons than just being the opener for U2 shows. More on Wake Up when I do me top songs of the year. This entire album, much like Doris Henson, is good cruising music. I can put the album in at 4:30 in Glendora and all of a sudden it's 5:45 and I'm in Riverside. Listening to this music is a trip all in itself. (Key tracks: Wake Up, Une Annee Sans Lumiere)

3. Amos Lee - Amos Lee
I first heard of Amos Lee when he opened the Merle Haggard/Bob Dylan show at the Pantages, which I saw with my pops. He has been compared alot to Norah Jones. I like the comparison, but I don't think it full embodies who Lee is. He is more folky where Jones is more bluesy. This album is one of the most solid musically, and yet it has extremely catchy tunes. There are a few songs on this album that can get stuck in your head for hours, for better or worse. Each song feels like an event. It just grabs you and pulls you in and captivates your attention. The opening track "Keep it loose, keep it tight" pulls you into a visual landscape and you never leave until the final track finishes. It's almost like you "watch" this album while you listen to it. I seem to create my own long-form music video as I listen to it. Hard to explain, I guess. Just go out and get the album. (Key tracks: Bottom of the Barrel, Arms of a Woman, Soul Suckers)

2. Green Day - American Idiot
The first of two that weren't really 2005, but I discovered them this year. Politics aside (if it's possible with this album), this is one of the strongest albums of the last ten years. I have always liked Green Day as a novelty punk act, no different from Sum 41, Blink, MxPx, etc. They elevated themselves to legitimate rock & roll with this album, the first punk opera. Musically and lyrically, this is an intense, exhausting listen, but one that you want to do over and over again. I've probably listened to this album more than any other this year (even more than Atomic Bomb). I look forward to getting Bullet in a Bible (the live CD) as well as the concert DVD that they put out. They would have been on the top of my list of live acts to see if it weren't for the whole being an adult thing. (Key tracks: ALL OF THEM, especially Boulevard of Broken Dreams, When September Ends and Are We the Waiting)

1. The Killers - Hot Fuss
In Nick's automobile, this is second in airplay to Green Day, in heavy rotation. The best rock album of the year, period. Other than Atomic Bomb, the best rock album in the last three years. Not a single song to skip on the album. Anthemic in nature, this band is begging to be seen live. If only they had opened for U2 in the states...If you don't own this album, you are nuts. (Key tracks other than Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me: Jenny was a Friend of Mine, Believe Me Natalie, Smile Like You Mean It)

Gobble, Gobble

I am thankful this year for so many things; My wife and beautiful kids. My entire family near and far. Our good friends Abby and Dennis for putting us up (and putting up with us!) while we were back east. Bono and the boys. New York rock fans and Madison Square Garden. Hearing and seeing Love and Peace or Else live. My new job/More time with my family/less time in the car!!! The Chargers putting up a ton of points. Pocket Sevens. Books on CD. My men's bible study group. TiVo. The women of SNL. Dave Foley. Wikipedia. Date Nights (yay though they are few and far between). Tiki Barber. Garnier Fructis Conditioner. The Mission Tortilla people. Matt Groening. Don Vito. Venti Black Iced Tea With Sweetener (eight pumps) from Starbucks. The Crock Pot. Hot Chocolate. Dr. Shasta! Jaime, Jack & Stench. Dan Patrick. Mason & Ireland. Blogsterbating. Bartolo Colon. Bill Stoneman (if he lets Washburn go). The grace shown to a sinner like me each and everyday by my amazing collection of family and dear close friends.

Baby on Board

HA! I just totally freaked my mom out with that headline! We were at Disneyland on Thursday and we stopped to watch The Dapper Dans, the barbershop quartet that sings there everyday. They also did the singing voices of the B-Sharps on the Simpsons. I've always wanted to ask them to sing the big B-Sharps number, "Baby on Board" and I finally asked them yesterday. They were done with their set but they still sang it. It was pretty sweet! Abby and I were singing along to the to chorus: "I'm telling you it's mighty nice/each trip's a trip to paradise/with my baby on board.

The Bono Praise Album

The Passion of the Bono

Go ahead — roll your eyes at Bono's persistent messianic complex. But maybe the guy's got good reason to think he's bigger than Jesus. Don't forget, Jesus has had 2,000 years to firm up his reputation, while the U2 singer has been alive only since 1960. And — sorry, Pat Robertson — isn't it about time we got some new blood in the deity department? Here's a side-by-side comparison of history's two most important men:

Jesus: Ascended Karn Hattin in Galilee to deliver his "Sermon on the Mount," telling the decent-sized crowd, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." Since that time, the world has been embroiled in an endless procession of wars, persecution, and genocide — much of which has been undertaken in Jesus' name.

Bono: Ascended the foothills of Colorado to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre during a torrential downpour, where, in front of a sold-out crowd, he waved a huge white flag to dramatically symbolize the need for a peaceful resolution to the troubles in Northern Ireland. Twenty years later, the IRA is all but dissolved and a permanent state of calm seems to have taken hold in Northern Ireland.

Winner: Bono

Jesus: Turned water into wine.

Bono: Turned lousy lyrics by Salman Rushdie into a good song ("The Ground Beneath Her Feet").

Winner: Bono

Jesus: Clashed with the Pharisees, condemning them as self-righteous and hypocritical, and engaged in contentious meetings with them, after which the Pharisees hated him even more.

Bono: Met with ultraconservative Republican Senators Jesse Helms, Rick Santorum, and Orrin Hatch to discuss solutions to the global AIDS crisis, after which Helms called Bono "an enormously impressive gentleman."

Winner: Bono

Jesus: Multiplied loaves of bread and some fish to feed 5,000 people at Tabgha.

Bono: Through countless charitable organizations, speaking engagements, and benefit concerts, has worked to multiply the amount of food and monetary donations sent to Africa, which has helped feed millions.

Winner: Bono

Jesus: Raised Lazarus from the dead.

Bono: Raised U2 from the dead after the Popmart tour debacle.

Winner: Jesus, by the slightest of margins

Jesus: During his lifetime, had only a small contingent of loyal supporters.

Bono: Has already amassed untold millions of loyal fans, selling nearly 150 million albums and regularly packing gigantic stadiums around the world.

Winner: Bono

Jesus: Crucified just once — by the Romans — for blasphemy.

Bono: Crucified countless times — by rock critics, comedians, former fans, and Henry Rollins — for pomposity.

Winner: Bono

Overall winner: Bono. *

*This is meant purely as satire and should provide no grounds for Bono's ego to grow any larger. — Michael Alan Goldberg

As if things couldn't get any worse...

I just got a call from the lady that I got in a "minor" fender bender with. It's going to cost over $700 to fix her car. Since we can't afford insurance without a $2500 deductible, it doesn't make sense to go through insurance, so now we have to magically find 700 bucks that we don't have. It sucks enough that we have no money for Christmas. We're probably just going to have to rack up the credit card a little more, because I'm a flipping moron.

I'm so pissed at myself. It was my last freaking week of commuting to Irvine and I brain-farted, reached down to pick something up and ran into her. I'm such an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!

Changes

Sorry it's been a while since I posted. Started at Citrus on Wednesday. I'm severely overwhelmed right now by everything. I remember having this same anxiety when I started at Concordia 5 years ago. It's wierd to have the same feelings all over again, especially when I am alot more prepared for the job.

I think it's natural to feel this way starting something new. I finally got a desk today (long story), but it's only a table. I'll have a real desk by the end of the week. I don't have access to anything yet, because I don't have all of the software installed on my computer that I need for the website, etc. I'll have a MAJOR job ahead of me in recreating the website. Anytime I meet someone new on campus it's, "Oh, cool, you're going to fix the website!". And yes, I am. It's going to be a long crazy project, though, and the expectations are really high. I know I will meet and even exceed what people think I'll be able to do, but there is a long way to go before I get there.

And then I have to deal with accessibility. Since we're a state school, legally, everything on the web has to be created in such a manner to be accesible to disabled people. I've never had to do this and with a website of the size and magnatude that I plan to create, I fear that this is going to be a major headache for me.

And I'm already having problems with "MIS", the information technology people. My boss jokingly has told me that the MIS is short for MIStake. She warned me months ago that it would be a headache and it is proving to be such.

Not everything is going terribly, though. I LOVE my commute and I am already reaping the benefits of a 40-hour work week. Because of games on Tuesday night and Saturday afternoon, I am going to get all-day Thurdsay off, plus a holiday on Friday (I have like 20 paid holidays at a state school!).

Oh C'mon...

There is no radical group I dispise more than PETA. Check THIS out. How the heck do you make DOG FOOD without testing your product on DOGS!?!?!?!?!?

Gloomy

Not the weather, just life lately. I'm in this total funk right now. Most of it stems from financial woes and the job transition. I'm stressed about leaving and all of the reprocutions for Concordia. I know I shouldn't care, but I've been here for five years and have a lot of good relationships. I'm stressed about starting the new job. I'm stressed about how we're going to make it. It's all ridiculous, I know. I should thank my lucky stars that my family is blessed so incredibly the way we are. It is so easy to say "I fully trust in God and lift all of this into his arms, his will be done". It's a whole other thing following through and believing it. It's not that I don't trust God to take care of us, whatever that means. I'm just scared about the current part of the journey he is taking us on.

Plus, I really miss my family. I hate that even when I'm not working nights, I only get about an hour in the evening with my kids and after Abby and Drew go to bed, I don't get a ton of time with Melissa because we still have James to take care of. The nice part about the new job is even though I'll still be short on time with them in the evenings, I'll have a lot more full days off to stay within the 40-hours deal. I think that will be huge. Abby suffers so much when she doesn't get much time with me. She acts out and she's up alot all night, trying anything she can to get her daddy-cup filled.

I'm also dealing with alot of guilt. I guess it's just a part of life. I've heard so many similar situations. The kids are really starting to take Melissa for granted. Since she's home with them all day, doing the discipline and everything else (and with our crazy two, theres a lot of discipline!), she gets turned into the bad guy. Then daddy comes home and it's all fun and games, because there is so little time, we try and make it as good as possible. Mom just gets the short end of the stick and I HATE it. I hate to see me daughter treat her with disrespect and be all cuddles and love with me. It's not fair. And unless me being home more with the 4o-hour a week job can help fix it, I just don't know what to do. I don't want my time with them to be negative, but I don't want the kids to take my wife for granted, either. It's not fair for them to grow up viewing me as the "Fun" one. It just sucks.

And on top of all of that, My office looks VERY depressing right now. I've taken down all of my pictures and calendars and U2 posters and Angels paraphenalia and my diploma and my knick-knacks. All I have left my favorite picture of my wife and a tub of tootsie rolls. Everything else is boxed up. It's REALLY wierd. Packing up five years worth of memories and walking away from a place that I have loved for most of that time.

An Old Friend

A friend of a friend, really. Anj Price was on Dr. Phil tonight. Her and her mom and sister. It was pretty interesting. It was all about her being out and her family dealing with it. We have it saved on TiVo. Roland, I'll keep it on there for when you get here.

Better late then never...

I haven't posted in forever. Sorry about that. I've been a little busy since we returned from the East Coast and the GREATEST CONCERT OF ALL TIME (I'll try and post on that later). The biggest news of all: I got a new job! I will be leaving Concordia and I will begin my job as the first Sports Information Coordinator at Citrus College in Glendora on November 2nd. It's a very exciting time for our family.

This will be a shorter commute (same distance, better traffic) and it's a 40-hour per week position. While I will still work quite a few nights and weekends, the 40-hours will keep me home ALOT more than I am at Concordia. Although I'm actually taking a pay cut for the first year, at a state school, I'll be getting automatic raises every year, plus any standard of living stuff that our union gets us. Praise God that he answered our prayers to get me out of a negative-and-getting-worse situation at Concordia and getting me a job that will allow me to spend more time with my family. PLUS, I'll be working for my old boss, who left in June 2004 to become the Athletic Director at Citrus.

It's kinda wierd this whole thing at Concordia. There are enough people and situations that I am unhappy with that it will be pretty easy to leave. On the other hand, I really care about a few of the people in athletics and they are the ones who will get hit the hardest by my leaving in the middle of the season. Our Volleyball coach is the BOMB and I will miss her. It sucks to leave in the midst of her season. My assistant SID is going to get hit the hardest and I feel bad for her. She's the assistant women's basketball coach and at the same time that games begin for the team, she's going to get more work on the sports information side until someone is hired. Also I fear that a lot of my work is going to get wrongfully filtered to our Assistant AD and our administrative assistant. They are two of my closest friends here. Fortunately, my favorite coach (yeah, I know, I shouldn't play favorites) is the softball coach, and his team doesn't get rolling until January, so he'll be fine.

Please keep our family in your prayers for a few things:
1. The transition of leaving Concordia and preparing things for whoever gets my job.
2. Starting a new job and all of the stresses that naturally will come with that. I have alot higher expectations on myself to make an impact right away then Citrus probably has for me, so I know I'll be taking on a heavy load right away.
3. Our financial situation. While the Lord has blessed us with a better job, it's still not a job that will pay us hardly what we need to survive (at least for a while). We are really stretching ourselves thin these days just to survive. Please pray that the Lord will bless us and provide for us.
4. Most importantly: Praise God that I got the job and that I get more time with my family!!!

You can forget how to sit still

Start spreading the news. We're leaving today!!!

Off to the Eastside!!!

Vacation: Two Days / U2NY: Four Days

Holy cow. I am so excited for our pending trip to the East coast. Thursday afternoon we fly out of Long Beach for Dulles. We'll get to D.C. around midnight and drive an hour to Baltimore to stay with our friends Abby and Dennis. Friday we'll putz around Baltimore, go see Camden Yards, maybe an aquarium. Neither of us has ever been there.

Saturday morning we'll leave butt-ass early for New York. We'll check into the hotel in Seacaucus then catch a ride into the city. Mel's never been there, so the itinerary will be completely her call (I've been there twice), although I do kinda want to go to the "footprint" of the WTC. I stayed at the Marriot that used to exist right under the towers and it's something I feel I need to do, pay respects and what not.

Then, Saturday Night: Madison Square Garden. The boys have sort of gotten back into a rut with the show and it's alot like it was when we saw them towards the beginning. Now they're playing Miss Sarajevo regularly, which is awesome, but not much else has changed. I'm hoping that they will mix it up on the second night in a city they are playing four shows in. I am really hoping that they play "New York".

Anyway, on Sunday we'll drive back to Baltimore and in the evening we are going to get together with Melissa's cousin Bill and his wife Alycia (I hope I spelled that right) for dinner in Virginia. Then it's home on Monday and back to work on Tuesday!

Confessions

Jumping on the next great bandwagon, here. I've only listed the ones that apply

[x] I listen to political music. (Floyd baby)
[x] I shut others out when I'm sad
[x] I open up to others easily
[x] I watch the news
[x] I own over 5 rap CDs
[x] I own something from Hot Topic
[x] I love Disney movies
[x] I curse regularly.
[x] I have a job
[x] I am in love/like with someone.
[x] I am self conscious.
[x] I like to laugh.
[x] I have many scars
[x] I've been out of this country
[x] I believe in ghosts.
[x] I am really ticklish
[x] I love chocolate.
[x] I bite my nails
[x] I play computer games/video games when I'm bored
[x] Saw a shooting star.
[x] Gone out in public in your pajamas
[x] been in a fist fight with the same sex.
[x] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator
[x] Made out in an elevator
[x] Swore at your parents
[x] Broken a bone.
[x] Played spin the bottle.
[x] Bitten someone
[x] Gotten the chicken pox.
[x] Crashed into a car
[x] Crashed into a car
[x] Crashed into a car
[x] Crashed into a car
[x] Ridden in a taxi.
[x] had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
[x] Gone on a blind date.
[x] Had a crush on a teacher/coach.
[x] Been married
[x] Saw someone/something dying
[x] Driven over 400 miles in one day.
[x] Been on a plane.
[x]Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
[x] Been skiing.
[x] Been ice skating.
[x] Met someone in person from the internet
[x]Going to or have gone to college.
[x] Taken painkillers.
[x] Been hurt so bad you'll never forget the pain.
[x] Wished somebody would die
[x] Lied to your girlfriend/boyfriend

The Countdown

My beautiful wife and I (and James) are leaving for New York in nine days. U2 in Madison Square Garden is just 11 days away!!! Interestingly enough, I found out today that I should get a call on Thursday in regards to a possible job opportunity and that interviews for that job are supposed to take place on the day we leave.... I'm trying to figure out how that is supposed to work. I'm hoping that they will be able to interview me on a different day. We shall see!