Possibly The Greatest Movie Ever Made

When you think of the various forms of entertainment that are available these days, movies are near the top of the list. It's pretty much become the norm to see a movie or two per week and perhaps more. For this reason, I thought I would periodically give you my thoughts on a movie that I've seen and maybe even some that I haven't seen. After all, this is an opinion blog.

As far as movies go, School of Rock ranks right up there with the best of them. It is extremely well written and features some of the greatest rock songs of all time from some of the greatest bands of all time not the least of which being Led Zeppelin. It also helps that Jack Black is the lead actor.

Jack Black plays the down and out Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who got kicked out of his band. In need of some cash, he poses as his roommate Ned Schneeblyto take a substitute teaching gig at a local prep school. He discovers a musically talented group of students which he forms into a band to compete at the "Battle of the Bands".

Joan Cusack is also quite amazing in the movie and adds a much needed dimension to the film. Others starring in the movie are Sarah Silverman and Mike White who also wrote the movie. The kids in the movie are also very talented in their roles and not just musically.

School of Rock is a movie for every musician or fan of music. You will also learn about the bees knees, face melting, and the mysterious goblet of rock. You will also be exposed to an ancient technique called the power stance.

Revenge the Central Theme in Sweeney Todd

One of the most powerful themes in literature and in film is that of revenge. It's an extremely powerful emotion that is quite different from the usual themes love, companionship, hatred and honor. If a vengeance theme is well done, it can provide a strong foundation for a movie or story.

One of my favorite books of all time is The Count of Monte Cristo which I first read when I was in the eighth grade. Once I read the book, I was fascinated and intrigued by the story and the plot development. One of my favorite scenes from the book, which has subsequently been made into a movie, was when the Count left one of his accusers turned banker penniless after ruining him. And it wasn't until afterward that he revealed who he really was.

A similar theme is portrayed in the new Tim Burton Movie, Sweeney Todd. Johnny Depp stars in the film in which a man is unjustly sent to prison losing everything including his family. When he returns, he vows revenge on all that have wronged him. Sweeney Todd becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman also star in this film. For more information about this new movie, visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site.

The First Million Dollar Bill Ever

Alexander D. Smith has been charged with disorderly conduct and two counts of forgery because he tried to open a new account with a $1 million dollar bill. After the bank teller refused to open the account, he began cursing at the bank employees. There are so many things wrong here that you can actually feel right about calling the man just plain stupid.

In case you're unaware, the Federal government has never printed a million dollar bill. This was probably the first thing that tipped the teller off to the fact that it was a fake. Obviously there wasn't any research done on this fact. You'd think that at some point during the process of making the bill, the question might arise whether or not it's an actual denomination.

After seeing the picture of the bill, I had to wonder how it got to be in such worn condition. I've seen a lot of one dollar bills in pretty bad shape, but the larger denominations such as fifties and hundreds are usually in pretty crisp condition due to the fact that they aren't circulated as heavily. I must then extrapolate further that a million dollar bill would most likely be in mint condition and not all crumpled up.

I have to wonder how I would have handled the situation if I were the teller and was faced with this situation. I think I would have just stared back at the man in wonderment that he would even attempt such a stunt. It's simply amazing what some people will come up with.

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Separated at Birth...

I'm not really sure how Lou Holtz and Jerry Van Dyke have managed to live as long as they have without realizing their relationship. Possibly it's that their interests are very different and they don't approve of each other's chosen careers. One of them was a college football coach and the other only played an assistant coach on television. Interestingly enough it was Dobber who actually put two and two together and reunited the pair. Even though Jerry has said that they will probably not spend much time together, Lou has purchased multiple seasons of Coach in hopes of somehow connecting with his new found brother.

Payday Loan Rescue

Most people as they have driven around town have seen a Payday Loan center; however, you may not be all that familiar with what they are and how they work. In general they shouldn't be used as a long term financial solution, but are instead meant for very short term needs. You're able to get an advance on your paycheck which you will then pay back when it finally arrives.

Payday Loan Rescue is a website that wants serve this need and provide you with pay day loans. You can apply online by proving some very basic information such as a driver's license and recent pay stubs. The application can be approved quickly and is available nationwide. Check them out if you're in need of some quick cash. Just be sure that you will be able to repay it.

This is a sponsored post.

Commonly Misused Words

Irony - This word is all too often used to describe situations or events that would better be described as coincidental or improbable. If you're unwilling to stick to the actual definition as follows, it's probably better you stop using the word.

definition: characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is.

Peruse - This word is most often used when someone is taking a quick look at or through something or browsing. Unfortunately this is almost the opposite of what the word actually means. The only problem with using this word correctly is that most people won't really know what you actually meant.

definition: to examine or consider with attention to detail; to read through with thoroughness or care.

Irregardless - Perhaps you're unsure as to why this word is in this list. The fact that it isn't even a word allows its inclusion. The use of it continues because people merely use words that they hear others use. All you have to do now is use regardless instead.

definition doesn't exist

Unique - This word is also used quite carelessly and has therefore lost the full impact that its meaning could have. By combining it with the words more, very, somewhat and others, you lose the absolute nature of the word.

definition: existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics.

Pristine - So many people use this word when they want to sound more intelligent and use a "bigger" word. It's often used to describe the condition of something, such as in mint condition. Unfortunately, by trying to sound smarter, you're actually displaying your ignorance. Does it sound strange that you can't restore something to a pristine condition?

definition: having its original purity; uncorrupted or unsullied. of or pertaining to the earliest period or state; primitive.

Separated at Birth...

It was an unfortunate day for Tony Romo when he learned of his relationship with the mediocre actor Ben Affleck. You may wonder why no one knew about this until now. It's quite simple actually. Ben never really had a reason to publicize this fact since his brother was pretty much a nobody. But with Tony's new found fame and, more importantly, fortune, Ben will gladly make nice.

One must only look at Ben's filmography to see why he wants to build a relationship with his brother. It's only a matter of time before the movie studios realize that they're leaving money on the table by casting Affleck. Knowing that he could run out of money at any time, Ben is suddenly Romo's biggest fan.

An Odd Thanksgiving

1. There is a sibling rivalry in Minneapolis over who can prepare the largest turkey. Rich Portnoy roasted a 72 pound bird which has bested the previous high of 47 pounds. He contacted the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, bought a live turkey, and took it to a processor to have it made oven-ready.

As far as I'm concerned this is way too much effort to go through to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. I mean, it took three men to get the turkey out of the oven after roasting it for 15 hours.

2. And to finish the Thanksgiving experience, here is a quick video about a new way to eat your Thanksgiving dinner. I would also not recommend this, but...

Take a Ride in the 'Flying Palace'

If you've been eyeing a new car, why not go for broke and get yourself a new private jet. And not just any jet, the new A380 jumbo jet from Airbus. That's what Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has done. He's the 13th richest person in the world and apparently has nothing better to do with his wealth than buy the ultimate non-necessity. He's also the largest single shareholder of the U.S. banking giant, Citigroup, and doesn't seem to be too worried about the recent hammering the stock has taken.

If I were going after a private jet, I'm not so sure I'd buy such a large jumbo jet, but then again I haven't given it too much thought. If that's what he's into, then more power to him.

Jones "Garbage" Soda

When you get thirsty this holiday season, you can reach for some funky flavors from Jones Soda. They're going to be selling holiday-themed limited edition packs of flavored soda. The Christmas pack will include Sugar Plum, Christmas Tree, Egg Nog and Christmas Ham.

Now who would want to drink ham flavored soda? As much as I like eating ham, I definitely would not want it in a carbonated liquid form. The same goes for the Christmas tree flavor. Mmmm, liquid bark. There are obviously some people out there who will drink this concoction though since they're going to sell it. But I'm not sure if I could associate with them.

Aside from these awful flavors, there will also be a Hanukkah pack featuring Jelly Doughnut, Apple Sauce, Chocolate Coins and Latke sodas. These aren't quite as odd, but I know I won't be buying them. And if all these flavors weren't enough, Jones Soda has a contract with Qwest Field, where the Seahawks play, to supply soda with such flavors as Perspiration, Dirt, Sports Cream and Natural Field Turf. This might actually explain quite a bit though.

Hopefully this hasn't inspired you to go out and buy any of this garbage. Don't further prove that people will indeed buy anything. Just because someone slaps a bar code on something doesn't mean that it should be bought.

Hillary Clinton's Campaign is Planting Questions

I haven't been able to keep up with all the political drama these days as much as I might like because I don't have cable and therefore don't get the cable news channels. Fortunately, I was able to find a couple of interesting videos on YouTube. Apparently Hillary Clinton's campaign has been planting questions in the audience of some of her appearances. It seems like another way to push her own agenda and not have to actually answer any tough questions.



This next video is an interview with a college student who was actually told what question to ask instead of the question that she wanted to ask. Even though Senator Clinton has denied that she had any knowledge of this and doesn't condone it, it's seems more than a coincidence that she chooses to take a question from the very person who was told what question to ask. It will make more sense once you've watched the video.

James Woods Stars In Shark

It's finally here, the long awaited post about Shark, starring James Woods. I don't really watch too many television shows, especially hour long dramas, but this is one that I actually like. Shark is a legal drama series centered around Sebastian Stark, a notorious L.A. defense attorney who becomes a prosecutor. It's interesting to note that Spike Lee actually directed the pilot episode. The show is now in its second season and has been moved to Sunday night from its original night on Thursdays. I'm not too thrilled with the new night since I usually watch Sunday Night Football, but I have no control over it.

The show is actually quite good and maintains a quick pace which keeps you interested. It also is able to keep the different episodes largely separate from one another so it's not a big deal if you happen to miss an episode. This is a really important aspect of a show for me. I'm not going to say any more about this show, but to those of you who are skeptical, I say give it a shot.

If I Were Looking To Buy...

I've been thinking about what type of vehicle I would get if I were looking to buy a new one. It's not something that I'm going to actually rush out and do, but it's fun to look at what's out there. If I were to get an SUV I would most likely go with the Chevy Tahoe. It's not quite as big as a Suburban but still big enough and powerful enough to get the job done. I'd most likely go with black. I wouldn't necessarily get the huge rims, but I would definitely consider them.


If I decided instead to go with some sort of sedan, I would have to give the nod to a Mercedes. I haven't really narrowed it down to the exact model, but I'm not exactly in a hurry. I used to be all about a BMW, but that has changed since I've been less and less impressed with them. The 3-Series especially has become all too common these days. So for now I'll continue to look at what Mercedes has to offer.

Since neither of these options are in my near future, I'll probably change my opinion by the time I actually purchase something. Until then, I'll never really get tired of looking at the above Tahoe.

An Unexpected Tasty Discovery

I've never really liked a lot of different vegetables and for the most part still don't. Sure I've heard that smothering broccoli in melted cheese makes it palatable and that you don't even notice the peas in some sort of tuna casserole or what have you. Honestly I don't believe it. Broccoli will always be broccoli and I don't ever see myself eating peas. That's just how it is.

Recently however, I have been introduced to a vegetable that I actually like, the Butternut squash. Growing up, my parents would occasionally make acorn squash and I really liked it. I'm not sure why we didn't have it more often actually since it was one of the few things that I liked. This is where it ended though as far as squash is concerned. Every other time that I've seen other types of squash they haven't looked appealing in the slightest.

I will admit that I was a little skeptical about the butternut squash since it didn't look all that appetizing and was just cut in half and baked. It seemed pretty boring, and I usually would equate that with not tasting very good. After it was cooked however, some butter and brown sugar were added and it tasted quite good. I don't think that because I found a vegetable that I like I'm going to actively seek out others, but I may not be as opposed to trying new ones.

There's no real reason for me telling you all this other than it was on my mind and I have an opinion about it. And that is essentially what this blog is all about, my opinion.

Initial Thoughts On Facebook

Over the weekend I decided to join this little thing called Facebook. I had been meaning to look into it for quite a while, but just never took the time until now. I was up really late with a friend and mostly had nothing better to do. This being said, here are my initial thoughts after joining the social network:

1. The layout is much better than what I've seen with MySpace. I'll admit that I haven't messed around too much with either of these sites, but MySpace just seems rather convoluted and unorganized. Facebook is probably less customizable, but I'd rather have the cleaner look.

2. I can see how one could become a complete junky and spend/waste far too much time with the site. I've only been live on the site for a couple of days now, and every time I check my linked email I have new messages from people that I have to delete. With all the messaging, photo sharing, and other random applications one could get quite caught up in it all.

3. It seems like a great way to keep in touch with people and reconnect with others that you haven't seen in a while. I've found a bunch of people that I haven't heard from in years. With such easy access to friends' profiles and contact information, I see it as a great tool for networking and the like.

4. As a follow-on to number 3, I don't really see how some people have upwards of three or four hundred "friends". Perhaps it's another way to appear popular or whatever, but I hardly think that someone has hundreds and hundreds of people with whom they converse with regularly and keep in touch with.

All in all, it seems like a pretty cool thing. I don't see myself being on it all too much, but I like the idea of being able to get in touch with people relatively quickly. We'll see how it goes though.

The Happy Ninja Visit...

This past weekend the happy ninja showed up. While there wasn't much different than any other normal weekend, there were a few highlights that are worth mentioning.

First of all, there was quite a bit of Guitar Hero III played over the weekend. I must say it's one of the better games that have come out recently, highly entertaining and different than the traditional games. I wish I could speak to the proficiency of the ninja, but The Rolling Stones would have to say otherwise. As for my performance, I have to mention an astonishing 343 note streak.

We also had the occasion to play tennis. I had a little trouble with my serve probably due to the fact that I haven't played in over a year, and I am pretty sore. It was definitely worth it though, since the final was 6-4. I've still got it.

Friday night we stayed up till about 7 am. We weren't doing anything special or important since I can't even really remember. It is however further proof of the cancerous nature of the ninja.

Hip Hop Artist Combination Sampler

If you know me, then you're aware that I enjoy the Hip-Hop genre quite a bit. If you don't know me, you've just been told. Either way, a friend showed me this video of Aries Spears impersonating various rap artists. If you're not familiar with this comedian, you're not alone. I had no idea who he was either. But he does a fantastic job so it's worthwhile to take a look:



In my opinion the LL Cool J portion at the beginning is the weakest part of his bit. I don't think it's due to a lack of effort or practice on his part; it's more that LL doesn't have a really distinct voice and style. On the other hand, his impression of Jay-Z was quite good (if you're familiar with his work). So, for those of you who skipped over the video, now is a good time to actually watch it.