2008 - A Year Of Fun

When I look back at the year that was 2008, it's going to be with a lot of smiles. I probably smile when I look back at every year of my life but this one in particular saw a lot. There were some huge events in my life but also, some of the best times ever with friends and family. And like many years, there were ups and downs, but man, were there a lot more ups!

Consider this, I started 2008 in New Orleans a little tipsy, fresh off of earning an All-American award. And not only that, but the 3 peeps I went with, earned All-American as well. It was the perfect start to what would be an amazing year.

The first real down of 2008 came in February when I idiotically volunteered myself to help my college TV station with a conference documentary. Unknown to me, that meant going to Columbus on Super Bowl Sunday and setting up, DURING THE GAME! There are few things that can stop me from sitting and watching a Super Bowl and that conference wasn't going to be one of them. So we hurried, got to an ending point, and watched the amazing ending at Champps. And I got to watch it with people who didn't care nearly as much as I did, and yet, it was still amazing.

College Basketball season made for a fun March. Whether it was OSU winning the NIT or the amazing March Madness that saw all number one seeds make the Final Four, it was a good time. Oh, and the two watch-nights I had at my apartment, complete with my friend Shane singing the Kansas fight song ad nauseum. Oh, good times...

And speaking of good times, despite the cold temps and frequent snow, the Pub on Mondays and Wednesdays was always there to keep us warm, inside and out with a frosty beverage. Sometimes, it would be two of us and other times, it would be a crowd. No matter what though, it was a blast.

And how about the Promise thing? It started in 2007 but really caught fire in 2008. Oh man, from being made fun in class to having the Prez call me Promise every time he saw me, that campaign gave me a nickname that so far, shows no sign of fading away.

Winter did bring about another round of Intramural shortcomings, as I was a part of 4 teams, and all lost in either the quarters or semis in their respective sport. With each loss, a part of me died. Moving on...

Spring began with me taking my first ever Spring Break Trip. It would be a cruise, complete with a casino, pizza buffet, and giant chess board. And yeah, I played on it, multiple times, and won every time. Right after the cruise, it was an immediate turnaround to head to Tucson, AZ for bball officiating. The reffing didn't go too well but trust me, that wasn't a high priority.

Spring Quarter kind of was a blur. Whether that was because of my lack of a real class (I don't think Intro To Computers and Piano II count) or my nightly trips to the establishments, all I remember is having fun every night.

There was the Wednesday Newswatch dream team, the return to lifting weights, and the final everything, from IM shifts to tours. But nothing compares to the day when I got a call saying they wanted me for a job. Yeah, a TV sports job!

Graduation came just days after the job call and let me tell ya, if you can get Peter King to do your graduation speech, make it happen. You'll enjoy it. Unlike other graduations, I shed no tears because for once, I manned up. Yes, it took 21 years. So what?

There wasn't much time for celebrating the graduation with friends though. 3 weeks later, I was on the move to Augusta, GA, starting my career. Career is still a scary word to me for some reason. Anyways, 2 weeks after that, I worked for 13 days straight, including one day of sleeping 13 hours straight accidentally and being late to work. Don't worry. They didn't fire me...and hope they never do.

Augusta in itself has been a change for sure. I say "pop" and get made fun of. I hear the word "ya'll" a lot more. The weather is amazing every month. The playoff system for high school sports is wacky. But more important than any of that, the people are great. I've made friends and don't get lost every week anymore.

It was great to be home for Thanksgiving, especially after missing OU Homecoming. Being able to get back to the state of Ohio and just breathe the Buckeye/Bobcat air was great. It was a perfect trip back home, seeing all the family and friends. And even some special guest appearances I didn't foresee.

Of course, Christmas wasn't the best ever. Mom had the emergency appendectomy and all, but it all worked out, as I was able to fly back home the next week and celebrate Christmas and New Year's with my family and friends in Columbus.

So where does this year compare to others? I don't know. Never been good at that. But considering I earned my diploma and got the first job in what I hope is a long and successful career as a sportscaster, I'd say it's pretty high up.

So I begin 2008 in the Big Easy and end it with friends in CBus. Tough to ask for anything more. Here's hoping 2009 brings even more memories and good times. Happy New Year everyone!

The Christmas Holiday Alone

First off, let me start this by saying Merry Christmas! I hope you and yours are having a fabulous holiday. Whether that is at home or away from the humble abode, I hope you are having a fantastic time. And I mean that truly.

So, it is officially Christmas. As I start this post at 12:30am, it's tough for me to actually go to sleep. Because unlike any other Christmas I've ever had, I'm not waking up with my family, eating a late breakfast, and opening up gifts. Now granted, we've had a few unorthodox Christmases, but none like this. Not one with me in Augusta, GA and my mom recovering from an appendectomy in Columbus, OH. No, for sure, this one takes the cake.

Now, trust me, I'm fine. I'm not homesick. When I picture Christmas, I don't picture Columbus, OH. Honestly, all I picture is my family. My sister complaining about something. My dad moving slow in everything he does. My mom making eggs with cheese, which I despise. And then by 1pm when we all have opened our presents, all the smiles on their faces when we all have opened our presents.

Every year, my mom talks about how we should cut back on our Christmas. Go to a 2-gift limit or something rather. And every year, I tell her "no way" because it's the one holiday where money is no object. My family is not one to celebrate birthdays with extravagance. I mean, who really wants to get older? Instead, we tend to focus on Christmas, because it's when we're all together.

But in 2008, we won't be. In fact, we're not even close. But being away from them has really allowed me to think about how much they mean to me. How much I've grown as a man and how much they influenced that maturation process. How great of friends I have who asked me about my mom, or sent a card, or gave me a gift despite the distance. And that's what it's all about.

You know, I used to think the best Christmas I ever had was the one where we actually opened gifts on Christmas Eve because I surprised my dad with Pacers-Pistons tickets for their Christmas Day game and Colts-Chargers tickets for the day after. I mean, he couldn't believe it. And of course, I bought my mom and sister spa gift certificates. Come on now, I had to do that right?

But as weird as it may sound, this may be the best Christmas yet. First off, because my mom is feeling better after surgery. Nothing is better than that. But also, I feel like I am closer to my family than ever before, despite being 10 hrs away.

So don't worry about me friends. I'm just fine. Kevin in "Home Alone"...now, you should've worried about him. But me, I'll be just fine. There's nothing a brew and The Lion King can't help. MERRY CHRISTMAS, and as always, HAKUNA MATATA.

How I Roll - Christmas Style

So I had been racking my brain about how to top my 4 ft tree. Then it hit me like a roided Barry Bonds homer. The OU foam finger that I never returned to friend after precollege. And yes, I am still lacking ornaments but I like my little tree without ornaments.

As far as how the lonely Christmas is going so far, it's not been bad. I've caught up on a few movies and cooked a few times. Oh, and my shopping is complete, finally!

So now, it's time to go to work. I am actually kind of excited to go to work to take my mind off the fact that I am spending the holiday without the family. But the good news is my mom's appendix is out, surgery went well, and I will see them next week.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas Eve Eve. Time for another movie and beverage.

Oh and last thing, I did this from my phone. It's called mobile blogging. If it works well, there will be many posts from me during the slow times here in GA.

Christmas Time Is Here...

First off, I apologize. I can't believe it has been a month since I last posted on this blog. I've had many ideas and many things happen but for some reason, the holiday season got the best of me. And that meant blowing off the blog, which I try not to do. Especially since the things I do instead aren't more productive or even entertaining.

But anyways, in the words of "A Charlie Brown Christmas", Christmas Time is here. And most years for me, that means joy is in the air and I am emptying my wallet for gifts. But funny what a difference a year can make.

Last year, I was home in Columbus with my family. Living under my parents' roof during break. Still getting that quarterly check from OU and making good money on the side as a bball ref. But now, I am in Augusta, GA, living by myself, in an apartment I pay rent for, and there's no money on the side. In fact, the money I make is probably less once you add in expenses and such.

And as for Christmas, well, that's gonna be a bit of a disappointment this year. Without the usual spending cash, the gifts are gonna be a lot cheaper. And even worse, thanks to a badly timed appendix problem with my mom, I'll be without the family. Now, my mom should be just fine (which is all that matters) but it still kinda stinks.

I've always liked to think of myself as a family man first. And while there have been times where I have not acted like it, I am positive that I am. And when it comes to a holiday like Christmas, it really means a lot to be around the ones I love. So being alone for Christmas won't be a lot of fun at all. But if there is a silver lining to all this, it's that not being with my family during this holiday season has really made me appreciate them that much more.

So how am I spending my Christmas so far? Well, I am working on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Fun, I know. But to pass the lonely time, I have plenty of movies lined up that I've been meaning to watch. From "I Am Legend" to "Snakes On A Plane", I should be entertained. I blast Christmas music in the car and at the crib until I can't stand it anymore. Plus, I have a few more shopping days now, which is a blessing and curse at the same time. Oh, and I have some beverages in case I want to sleep a little easier for Santa and two boxes of Cheez-It, sure to be gone by Christmas Day.

So no worries folks, I'll be just fine. If my mom comes out of this surgery fine, then this will be up there as one of the best Christmases ever. Yeah, the gifts won't be as big. And yes, I'll be by myself when I wake up on Christmas morning. But I understand how lucky I am still.

I have a wonderful family. I have amazing friends. I have my health. And hey, I have a job (important these days). So hey, Hakuna Matata. Merry Christmas everyone.

Home

So I am now about 4 days away from my return home to Columbus, OH. It kind of just hit me on this day off that in 4 days, I'll be back in Ohio, a state I've spent my entire life in and loved every second of it. From its crazy weather to die-hard Buckeye fans, its use of the word "pop" and not soda and terrible radio stations, I can't wait to get back to the 'ol Buckeye State.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not homesick. I have yet to spend a day here in Georgia crying about wanting to back home. I'm still thrilled with my decision to get away from the comforts of home and friends. It's been fun trying to "rough it" on my own". But of course, I still miss my family and friends. I've been fortunate to have my family and one of my best friends visit me. And I've been able to visit friends around here in the South, including the one that happened to move an hour away from me.

So I started thinking about this trip back. It's been a solid 5 months since I've even been in the state of Ohio, let alone my home in Columbus. It's also been 5 months since I've seen my sister and been 4 months since I've seen my parents. All of these are all-time records for me.

So for fun, I went on my ITunes and found 3 songs that have the word "Home" in it and see just how much they related to my experience.

First up was Bon Jovi's "Who Says You Can't Go Home". While the song talks more about someone who kind of ran away from home for a while and decides to come back, it still has some lines that relate to me. First off, "With every step I take, I know that I'm not alone. You take the home from the boy, not the boy from his home" is dead on. Yeah, I may not be in Ohio but trust me, home is still close to me. I've got OU and OSU near and dear and me and still read The Post and Columbus Dispatch everyday. Oh, and of course there's also "I went as far as I could trying to find a new face. There isn't one of these lines I would erase". Like I said, I'm glad I am away and don't doubt my decision. As they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Next up was Kanye's "Homecoming", which has everything to do with Chicago but so what. Of course, the chorus of "Do you think about me now and then? Cause I'm coming home again" works. I would hope that being gone 5 months, someone has missed or thought about me. If not, then I got a lot of changing to do in my life. The other line that hit me was "Every interview I'm representing you, making you proud. Reach for the stars so if you fall, you land on a cloud." I hope that I'm representing Ohio well down here. Not just professionally but socially as well. I think the northern states, OSU and OU get a bad wrap down here. I'm trying to do my part to change that.

Finally, John Legend's "Coming Home". It's a great song that is really about someone in the armed forces coming back home from war. One line that related to me is "It may be long to get me there. It feels like I've been everywhere. But someday I'll be coming home". Yeah, it takes 10 hrs driving to get back to CBus and since I've been here, I've visited Columbia, Athens, Valdosta and Charlotte. But finally, I'm going back home. It's nice. Also, "I've learned from all of my mistakes. Learned from all I didn't say" just reminds how much I make sure I don't ever take my family and friends for granted during these four days.

It's just funny, as Kanye says in "Homecoming", 'I guess you never know what you've got till it's gone". Whether that be Court Street's amazing atmosphere or just the common sense system Ohio has for its high school football playoffs. Can't wait to get back on Buckeye/Bobcat soil. The countdown continues...

The LOST Chronicles: Season 2

Alright, I have finished Season 2 of LOST. Did it in about 3 weeks too so needless to say, my head hurts. While I have a better idea of what the heck is going on, I still have no idea of what the heck is going on. And while I am not a fan of not knowing what is going on around me, I kind of enjoy just being in the dark with this show. That way when something happens, it doesn't surprise or disappoint me. It just happens.

But anyways, how did I feel towards Season 2?

Well, it begins with the whole hatch thing. You know, Locke and Kate . Well, as much as I liked the first episode, especially the ending with the Jack-Desmond encounter, I hated the following two episodes. Why? Because it didn't advance past the same Jack-Desmond encounter. It was like the island was paused. Kinda annoyed me.

Anyways, once the show finally moved on from that and Desmond ran away, the show began to pick up a bit. The raft people found the tail section (which I saw coming since the beginning of the show) and the hatch's amenities were being revealed. I will say this. When they revealed that Bernard was still alive, again, it was obvious. To bring up this Bernard guy during 4-5 episodes of Season 1 and have him be dead would have just made no sense. So what he's white? It's the 21st century people.

Maybe one of the better episodes of the season was watching how the tail section got through their 48 days. It was fast paced and full of information that helped me understand what the front of the place has been going through and the island. But the next episode when Shannon gets shot may have been better just because, well, Shannon was shot. Amen.

In the middle of the season, things got a little slow for me. Going after Michael again seemed dumb. Why do these people continue to trek through this damn jungle? Just enjoy the hatch and the beach. No jobs, homework, or stress there. But no, let's all be "heroes". Wrong show.

Thankfully, the Michael/Walt storyline disappeared for a while during this season, making the show much more bearable. Plus, the addition of the Henry Gale story made for some fun times. Not being sure if this guy was for real or not was fun. Once I found out he was an "other", I was kinda mad. Again, I liked being in the dark about it. Meanwhile, the visit to where Claire almost gave away her baby was a great episode, answering more questions I kind of had as well as the "Lockdown" one, when more food arrived. Seriously, I need something like that to drop on my porch right now. With this economy and all, it's hard out here for a pimp. Moving on...

The WORST episode yet then came...Dave. What a pointless episode. Story didn't move. Made me even hate Hurley a little bit. I had just started to like him again after that "Numbers" episode but he lost my respect once again with that waste of 42 minutes they call an episode. Oh, and the Rose/Bernard flashback episode is almost just as slow and bad.

Thankfully, the last four episodes redeem the show for those setbacks. When Michael initially came back, I wasn't happy. But by the end of the episode, it was evident that having him back was gonna make for a wild end to the season.

Not gonna lie, I was on the edge of my seat from then to the end of the season. From their trek to the jungle (again, why?) to not pushing the button, the story was moving. Things were happening quick (as I like it) and there weren't many dull moments. Plus, Desmond came back, which is good cause some of these characters bore the heck outta me. He;s not one of them though. I will say, the end of the season made no sense to me. But that's quite fine. Season 3 is around the corner.

In terms of character analysis, Sayid is still my boy. The guy just knows his stuff. Sawyer is growing on me as well. His 'Sawyerisms" single-handedly carry some episodes and his character is more likable as well. Charlie is back to being jolly and not so dark after that dumb "stealing baby' episode. The Koreans are still boring me. I'm still hoping Jin becomes fluent in English before this show is over.

Jack still annoys the heck outta me. The guy must have his own "jump to conclusions" mat (a la Office Space) cause that's all he does. The only time he thinks logically is when he is diagnosing or treating someone. Kate is still being "Wonder Woman", though it was nice to see her miss out on a few adventures. Ana Lucia and Libby are dead, and I'm not crying over it.

Mr. Eko is great. Just too bad he is misunderstood by all. Locke is starting to go crazy, which is a shame cause when he isn't, he's as funny as Sawyer, cause he talks so matter-of-factly. Hopefully, now that he knows the button is important, he'll go back to his "island ways".

But all in all, not a bad season at all. The hatch discoveries have been intriguing and the new faces were a nice change of pace. I kinda have a love/hate opinion with the fact that everyone knows everyone outside of the island somehow. I mean, I believe in the "6 degrees of separation of Kevin Bacon" but this show is taking that to a whole new level.

Two seasons to go before the premiere of Season 5 in mid-January. Am I excited to move on? Of course. I'm not gonna go this far and quit now. But am I pee my pants excited? Well no. This is no Amazing Race or Survivor. But it is still a good show.

So like I said in the last post, I am not gonna over-think this show. I'm just go into each season each episode with an open mind. Just keep going feeling LOST...pun intended.

Season 2 Grade: A- (if you take out those 3-4 episodes), B (if you keep them in)

Things I Learned This Week (Nov. 3-9)

You know, a wise soul once told me "Knowledge for the sake of Knowledge". And while I still don't honestly know what it really means, I think it is relevant to how I seem to learn some amazing things about this world and myself every week. And as usual, I am going to share some of them with you.

So after another week, I learned that...

-the new Guitar Hero has a lot of songs...almost too many. I been playing for almost two weeks and still haven't finished the songs on medium
-Family Feud with celebrity look-alikes is not Family Feud
-doing a story about little kids playing football is a much better story with NFL Films music behind it
-Wolf Blitzer is a bumbling fool during election coverage
-beaming people into a TV studio is possible. Just ask CNN.-I really miss Dan Rather during a presidential election
-America is moving in the right direction
-Facebook status updates are a great way to learn about not only about people's political beliefs, but their personal beliefs as well
-not having a change machine at a laundromat is just ridiculous
-the Browns defense is not to be counted on with a lead
-Brady Quinn is the present and future of the quarterback position
-10 pizzas + a large marching band = chaos
-Michael Phelps with a beard looks a tall, lanky bum
-CBS has the best NFL pregame show, hands down
-I'm not sure what I'm gonna do without Entourage to come home to on Sunday nights

Campaign 2008: Facebook Status Edition

Well, Senator Barack Obama is now President-Elect after a resounding victory on Election Day. And as expected, Obama's victory brought about a slew of emotions from all Americans. Some were excited and some were saddened. Some were inspired and some were scared. Some were proud and some were getting ready to move north.

Again, I try to be an independent when it comes to politics but I will put it out there that I did vote for Obama and am proud and excited he won. And as a Black man, inspired as well.

But on to the point of this post. As exciting as watching states turn red and blue was on TV and listening to the commentary of the so-called "experts", maybe the most exciting thing to watch on Election night were Facebook Status Updates. I found myself refreshing Firefox every minute to see the latest update from my friends. And so, for your enjoyment, I have compiled a list of my favorites, in order of when they happened. I am omitting the names because I don't wanna hurt anyone's feelings by letting people know they said some of this stuff.

I made a Top 10 list with no comments and after it, all the best comments.

The Top 10:
1) ...is dreaming out a plan.. moving? This just isn't going to work for me. CONGRATS YOU F**K UPS... go abort all of your babies now.
2) ...is now sarah palin is going to have to resort to doing sex tapes. what a shame.
3) ...has already found a "Don't blame me, I voted for McCain" bumper sticker...
4) ...is debating waking up for work in the morning...might as well sign up for the gov't support obama has been promising for all the bums.
5) ...is amazed by the amount of idiots that voted for osama just bc hes black... and disregard hes a socialist muslim.. congrats america... you just ruined are count.
6) ...would like to thank the media, the fraudulent voters, the 19 year old girls without a political clue, the economically ignorant, and George W.
7) ...is IRON YOUR TURBANS... we're f***ed.
8) ...is i give him 5 days....biden 08!
9) ...was promised John Stamos was on the ballot
10) ...is I voted for Bill Clinton..

ALL THE BEST ARE BELOW (with my comments)

8pm to when Obama Wins Ohio
...enough already with the Obama street signs! I about hit 2 of those retarded ppl standing on the street corner. (well, retarded isn't a nice word)
...has lost faith with the "intelligence" of the human race. Moving to Canada if enough Americans are really this stupid. (uh oh, might lose a friend to Canada)
..."He gets votes from the left, gets votes from the right. That boy Obama, makes McCain look SHITE" (uh....what?)
...was promised John Stamos was on the ballot (haha, someone lied to you)
...Go Obama! Pray for the Obama family's safety, hatred and racism is still alive today (think most at this time were just praying he win first)
...is drinking to DeAngelo Hall getting cut and the Presidential Election (amen to both)
...is puttin back a 12-pack of Heineken, praying for democrat domination (sorry Republicans) (see above comment)
...is like wow a black president, it bout to go down, im bout to go crazy
...would like to thank the media, the fraudulent voters, the 19 year old girls without a political clue, the economically ignorant, and George W. (well, as a member of the media, you're welcome, i think)
...is thinking this election is O-V-E-R...Bush is nothing but a LAME DUCK finally.
...is I rock wit obama but i aint no politician - jay z. (thank God)
...is young America is irresponsible (well duh. just look at OU's Halloween)

Obama wins Ohio
...is yeah... now we're f***ed. you uneducated a**holes. (wait, did we accidentally elect Paris Hilton? Cause then we are)
...is waiting for the country to prove how big of an moron john mccain is. (can't be worse than Dubya)
...is IRON YOUR TURBANS... we're f***ed. (what if I don't own one?)
...is glad he voted absentee in Ohio instead of voting in Connecticut. (yeah, no lines...though i think he means somethin else)
...is you are all going to regret this.
...is breathing a huge sigh of relief. It's about damn time. Maybe we can get back to being leaders again. (yeah, that would be nice, considering everyone expects us to be)
...is shopping for homes in Canada. They are expensive, but at least with my new tax dollars I can put it towards a house and not s***ty Americans with no jobs. (hey now, i have friends that don't have jobs and they aren't that word)
...is for those of you who are threatening to move to Canada, just remember they have socialism (fact check please)
...is what the heck's a barack obama? (yeah, not a "presidential" sounding name but does sounds like a good name for a cocktail drink)
...is ashamed that idiot liberals are taking over america. be careful what you wish for. (yeah, they said that in that Pussycat Dolls song too)
...is amazed by the amount of idiots that voted for osama just bc hes black... and disregard hes a socialist muslim.. congrats america... you just ruined are count. (WOW...first, it's Obama. second, "ruined are count"? third, he's not Muslim. and lastly, that's just racist)

Obama clinches Presidency
...is living history.
...is debating waking up for work in the morning...might as well sign up for the gov't support obama has been promising for all the bums. (so that makes YOU a bum as well...)
...is i give him 5 days....biden 08! (that's just terrible)
...cannot wait to read the status updates from every single bitter Republican! (fun isn't it?)
...is congratulating Barack Obama on becoming the new President of the United States of America. (hey, someone being civil. nice)
...is waiting for people to realize their mistake in a few months. (well, considering Obama doesn't get sworn in until January, i think he means the mistake of 8 years of Dubya)
...is so happy she doesn't need to leave the country! go obama! (whew. that's good news)
...is cheers America. You made the right choice. We can finally get back to getting to the America we were all once so proud of. (all i can say is Cheers was a great TV show)
...would like to congratulate the mainstream media for electing Obama. Thank you for nothing. (wait, so those millions of votes were just from the media? wow, lot more peopl working in the media than i thought)
...is proud to have Barack'd a vote... President Obama yall... (nice play on words)
...is really weirded out by people running and screaming around town over Obama like he is a messiah or something. (yeah, that would be a bit weird but pretty sure that was the same reaction from Browns fans when they heard about Brady Quinn)
...is I voted for Bill Clinton (you can't do that)
...is wondering how our terrorist will run America. (he's a terrorist? really? missed that memo)
...is proud to be an American in the U.S.S.A. (United Socialist States of America) Obama Loves Johnny Rebal. (We added an S! Instead of socialist, I would've gone with "super")
...has already found a "Don't blame me, I voted for McCain" bumper sticker... (haha, i wish)
...facebook statuses cant do justice. this is so great. (amen)
...wft...like how does this happen? (wft? like what does that mean?)
...My President is Black...and no, that's not everything...but it's something that makes me PROUD today. (amen)
...says the white house has officially went BLACK (yea, that would be weird)
...can't stress enough, the importance of ringing in our new President Elect properly, by ordering the 2008 AJB Holiday Collection CD! See "About Me" for details! (shameless self promotion)
...is wondering...who wants to move to canada with me!?! i heard university of toronto is pretty sweet... (i heard that too. but i'm cool)
...is starting to get nervous.... we just made the anti christ the leader of our country. (he's the anti-christ? really? crap, i want my ballot back)
...is getting ready to move to the Bahamas. (now there's a place I'd move to. smart man)
...is quitting school and never working...IM A DEMOCRAT NOW. (no, you're out of work)
...is going to have to accept change. If change f***s up our country I will be the first to say I TOLD YOU SO. (the first? i'm gonna hold you to that)
...just heard the Days of Thunder and Crimson Tide theme songs at the McCain rally. Outstanding. (so so true)
...is now sarah palin is going to have to resort to doing sex tapes. what a shame. (yeah, a shame for the people who watch it)
...is still proud to be a republican. (good for you)
...is the Skins decided it last night. Today was just tying up loose ends. Yes Obama. (true. we didnt need to vote)
...is happy its all over, just not happy with the out come, the great thing about America is that we can vote again in four years. (aint america great!)
...is dreaming out a plan.. moving? This just isn't going to work for me. CONGRATS YOU F**K UPS... go abort all of your babies now. (wow. that seems extreme)
...is no second chance..enjoy your attempt at change. (yeah, since not changing is what America needs right?)
...is why be disappointed, the next 4 years can be any worse than the last. GO OBAMA! (gotta agree)
...thinks McCain made an excellent speech ... bring on Obama! (absolutely)
...thinks its funny that everyone wants to move to canada since they're twice as liberal. (and have yet to see a day with a President Obama)
...knew the majority of America was dumb but never thought they would prove it... Change is coming and Oh how omnious that is. (omnious = ominous. so are you in the majority or minority?)
...is looking for her vineyard in Italy because there is not a point to work hard for what you have anymore. (i dunno. what about pride? i always enjoyed that one)

After Obama's Speech
...can't believe the big mistake America has made...This is a sad day for America...and don't people have better things to do than hang out in a park in Chicago? (actually, it's a great day for America. think beyond politics. and what's better to do than watch a newly-elected President make his first speech?)
...is proud to be an American for the first time in a long time. (OK Michelle Obama)
...is kinda shocked by his family's really ignorant & racist comments about tonight's outcome. (damn shame)
...is going to bake some cookies....and calling off her plans to rent a place in mexico :) YAY OBAMA ♥ . (cookies? yummy)
...is pretty excited for all these cry babies to get to Canada! (yeah, guess that's less traffic on the road)
...is just glad the election is over. 16 hours in a newsroom, never fun. (amen to that)
...is extremely inspired :) (as we all should be, despite our race/political affiliation)

Hope you enjoyed it. And if I hurt someone's feelings, well, you kind of set yourself up for it by putting it on your facebook status. But this is America and we are free to express our opinion. Hakuna Matata.

This Week In Political Comedy

The election is almost here. And while I hate the constant commercials and lies, I love the comedy that comes with these campaigns.

1. There is Virginia and then there is "Real" Virginia.


2. There is a "Real' America (So where's the fake one?)


3. The Obama Dance-Off on "Ellen". (Can't wait for the McCain dance-off)


4. John McCain should stick to the script


5. Joe Biden needs an off switch to his laughter


6. "Senator Biden is now my homeboy" (A great watch)

Things I Learned This Week (Oct. 20-26)

It was another exciting week for me. Days off were productive and work days weren't too cumbersome. But above all, I learned more about myself and this world we live in. This week, I learned that...

--Gas prices are lower now than they were last year at this time
--The economy can't be that bad if the RNC can spend $150,000 on clothes alone
--Joe Biden's idea of a test for Barack Obama's is a terrorist threat. As if the economy wasn't a big enough threat
--Ohio University Football + National TV audience = Embarrassment
--Picking against the spread in the NFL can be the most frustrating thing in life
--Life without internet is a very depressing one
--The creator/writers of LOST are brilliant but also a bit wacky in the head
--Political commercials get real old real quick. Especially ones from people I can't even vote for
--The weather in Georgia can get as cold as the weather in Ohio...who knew?
--Rain can move high school football games to a day before, a day after, or the next week
--I may be turning into Jared from Subway. I'm getting obsessed.

That's all for this week. Have a happy Halloween week!

The LOST Chronicles: Season 1

Here's the deal. I've dodged watching the show LOST for a long time now. First, I had the excuse of missing the first few episodes so I couldn't follow the story. Then, I mentioned that I hated shows like it (though there hasn't been any like it). And finally, I just decided it was too late to jump in now going into Season 5 and really enjoy it.

Well, after years of prodding from some friends in Ohio and constant raves about the show, I told myself I would try to catch up, especially since I have a lot of down time here in Augusta. Si with the help of a co-worker and his LOST DVD collection, I am watching every episode of every season in preparation of the Season 5 debut in January.

So what do I think after Season 1?

Well, no doubt I am intrigued. I have always been a sucker for big disaster movies (Twister, The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, etc...) so the pilot definitely had me going. From there, it's been a little up and down.

I love the way they concentrate on one character's story each episode, especially because I really don't know anything about these random people on this island. So with each episode, I love wondering who I am going to learn more about. The thing is, some characters and their stories are just downright boring/annoying.

I like Jack, the doctor who is used to being a hero so tries to do that all the time. Understood considering his profession. Big fan of Charlie as well. Funny and emotional but not really good for anything on the island. Sawyer is great for a good one-liner though his act is even starting get old.

Locke is an enigma for me. At times, he is the best character on the show. At other times, he gives me a headache. But considering the stuff he's had to deal with in his life, I'll cut him a break. But my favorite character is Sayid. I've always liked thinkers (Donatello was my favorite Nina Turtle) and that's what he is. Not to mention he's the only one gettin' a little lovin' on the side.

Hurley was a favorite of mine until the Numbers episode. Now, he just is a paranoid fat guy that for some reason, goes on these treks despite his slow speed and excessive weight. Michael and Walt can both leave the show anytime. Walt annoys the heck outta me and in turn, makes me hate Michael. So if Walt never comes back from those mysterious guys, I wouldn't mind. I know they are the only prominent Black people on the show but really, go away.

Shannon is the type of person I wouldn't hang out with so I don't like her. She's been pretty much worthless besides her shoddy French. Boone was a cool guy though I got kinda tired of his "protecting Shannon" attitude. Claire has been through a lot so I feel bad for her. Sun is fine when she speaks English. Jin needs to learn soon because I get real tired of seeing him talk to others as if they will understand him. Just frustrating.

But above all, I don't like Kate. She's trying to be Wonder Woman all the time and in all honesty, it bugs the heck out of me. She's like that little kid that always want to go where her older brothers are going. One time, I just want her to not want to do something.

As far as the story so far, I like where the show is going. It is doing a great job of leading up to the fact there the tail section has some survivors as well, as seen by Ana Lucia popping up in the final episode of Season 1. Not to mention also the Black lady consistently saying her husband is alive. How the two will react when they meet up is what I can't wait for.

The hatch could be a good storyline as well, though I don't really understand why these people want to open it. The "Others" would have killed these people by now if they cared so I don't see the reason to open the hatch. But just like a scary movie, leave it up to the brave White guy/girl to go into the darkness because they are "curious". You'll notice you never see a Black character do that in movies because we know better.

So what do I think is coming up? I don't have a frickin clue. I am watching this show with no expectations because I know just how crazy it is and will get later so I'm just gonna take it one show at a time. The numbers keep popping up but I'm not too concerned about that. The "security system" makes no sense to me, just like those boaters who take Walt. Plus, never found out what that wire was.

So yeah, I'm not gonna over-think the show. I'm just gonna go into Season 2 feeling LOST...pun intended.

SEASON ONE GRADE: B+

Things I Learned This Week (Oct. 13-19)

So I thought while I am here in Augusta doing my whole job thing, I could provide you all with some valuable things that I have learned while living in the South. Some of these will be very serious while others will be...well, true but funny.

There will be no limit to how many things I include. I will try and do this every Sunday night when the week is over. Hope you enjoy.

For the week of 10/13-10/19, I learned that...

...waking up to go work out when you don't have to work until 2:30pm is not easy
...there is a Karaoke Channel on demand on Comcast, and it's kinda fun
...Midnight Madness is fun but probably more fun at a bigger school
...winning the million dollars on Wheel of Fortune is possible...apparently construction on an apartment building gets done faster when you take Monday and Tuesday off instead of working a full week
...parents need to watch their kids at the park closer so that I don't find a little girl sitting on the men's urinal like it's a toilet
...6 episodes of LOST in one day is enough to make your head hurt
...John McCain makes some funny faces when he disagrees with stuff...when drinks are 5 cents each, it can only lead to interesting behavior
...the Red Sox never say die even when you scream at them over and over to do it
...rain kills any tailgate party and a television live shot
...the drive to Athens, GA is just as boring as the drive to Athens, OH
...the University of Georgia is definitely a place I could see myself having a good college experience at
...wake-up calls from friends who just wanna check up on you isn't that bad
...helium balloons can casue a whole NFL stadium to lose power
...there are people who actually like Joe Buck as an announcer
...the Red Sox are not invincible
...Entourage may be in the middle of its best season yetPlenty more to be learned next week. In the words of one of my favorite professors, "Onward".

Campaign 2008: Matt Barnes Edition

I'm not Republican and I'm not Democrat. I am a registered Independent and I love it. I get mail from both parties, stating their case for why they deserve my vote. I get e-mail from the McCain and Obama's campaign, both always asking me to give money that I'd rather give to a charity than towards a commercial that I am forced to watch over and over again. And most of all, I try not to force my political views on others, mainly because I speak in generalities and not specifics (kinda like politicians).

So I'm not writing this post to convince you to vote for anyone. I honestly don't care who you vote for. Great thing about America is that we even get to choose. Ever since I been able to understand these presidential elections, I've always had a preference of who I wanted to win but in the end when all the votes were in and Dan Rather had put down his pen, I just wanted the winner to bring about prosperity to the USA.

Well, don't think anyone will argue with me to say Dubya has been a less than stellar President. And he wasn't my pick the past 2 elections. But again, I wanted him to do well. I liked him during 9/11 and that's it. The best part about Dubya is the fact that he is such an embarrassment in public that it makes for great comedy. I'm actually gonna miss the guy for that reason.

But on to this election. It's between a Republican, Sen. John McCain, I've always admired and respected and a Democrat, Sen. Barack Obama, who I think has a bright political future. Their respective running mates also are intriguing. The Republican, Gov. Sarah Palin, is an up-and-comer in her party but fairly unknown and the Democrat, Sen. Joe Biden, who I said in the primary I would vote for if I knew he had a chance to actually win the nomination.

I watched all 4 debates and just like 4 years ago, they were only exciting when I had a beer in my hand. Just to take the edge off of hearing both men talk about what they would do even though we all know good and well only 25% of it will get done. This year, the debates were lopsided since Barack Obama is a better speaker but the third debate was the best of them all. Both candidates putting it all on the table and even being combative at times. It was pretty good TV.

But forget all the debates and issues for a second. Or at least I will right now. Why? Because I've already voted. And I voted for Barack Obama. Not gonna go into specifics into why I did but I'll just be general and say I think he'll do the better job. But I'm not gonna lie, when I colored in that bubble next to his name on my ballot, it really hit me what I was doing.

In the primary, it wasn't a big deal to me. When I watched the convention, it came to mind a little bit. But until I filled in that oval, it really hit me. I just voted for a Black guy for President. For awhile, I thought it was something that I never thought I would do in my lifetime. Until I hit college, I figured it may happen. But never did I think as a 22-year old, I would see it come to fruition.

And when I stepped back and thought about it, I really thought about just how big a deal this is. Now, I know 90% of my friends are white and I've never gone through a civil rights movement. Heck, I've never been blatantly discriminated against because of my race (to my knowledge) so far in my life. But yet, voting for a Black president meant a lot to me. It just shows me how far America has come. It gives me hope that someday racism will become a mute point. That race will not be an issue in anything ever again. Yeah, these are high hopes but who would have thought that we would have a Black president on the ballot right now.

Now, I've said for a long time that the first Black president elected will be the next President assassinated. For the life of me, I hope that's not the case because I don't want to live through that. It would be a giant step backwards for America and the biggest national tragedy since 9/11 (apologies to Hurricane Katrina).

If Barack Obama gets elected, it will be a great moment for this nation. Again, not because he is the better candidate (not for me to say), but because it is such an inspiration. Let's be serious. The Black race has had it tough in America and while there have been incredible strides for Blacks and all minorities, there still is work to do. But seeing Barack Obama make it this far has already inspired many and seeing him in the White House would inspire many more. He's already inspired me and I'm proud and honored to say that I voted for him for President of the United States.

The pundits and candidates keep saying this is the most pivotal election in our recent history. Well, as much I want to believe that, I still think 2000 was bigger. But if this is, I'm just glad that I can be a part of it. 4 years ago, I voted for John Kerry in my first ever vote for a President. Not gonna lie, was a bit disappointed when he lost because my pick didn't win. But this is a new year. And as my friend Luke most eloquently put, "just mailed my absentee ballot today - this time i better pick the winner".

MAKE SURE YOU VOTE!

Sarah Palin's Finest Moments So Far

This is what I was afraid of when John McCain tabbed Sarah Palin as his running mate. Think about it people...do you want this person to be in the second highest office in the land?



WOW. Talking around a question worked in high school speeches. Not so much in front of a nation you are trying to convince that you are "not only ready, but willing" to be the Vice-President of.

God help us all.


Sarah Mania! Sarah Palin's Greatest Hits! -tmptv

Homecoming 2008 (in Augusta)

Well, this weekend is Ohio University's Homecoming, 2008 edition. It's the first Homecoming since I transitioned from a student to an alum. So it kind of sucks to not actually be there for it. But since I knew this would be a fact before I even graduated, I've kind of gotten over it. But that doesn't mean I still won't miss all my friends and the tons of fun to be had in the ATH.

So I decided to have a little fun. I will first give my plans for this Homecoming weekend in Augusta and then, what I would do if I were actually in the ATH. We start in Augusta:

HOMECOMING - AUGUSTA STYLE
FRIDAY
9am - Wake Up
10am - Go To Gym/Run
Noon - TV/Surf Web
2:30pm - Go To Work
5pm - Go To HS Football Stadium for live shot
6:30pm - Go to 2 HS Football games
10pm - Back To Station
11:15pm - On The Air
Midnight - Leave Work, Go Home/Out

SATURDAY
11am - Wake Up/Watch Gameday in bed
Noon - Out of Bed/Watch OSU in HD
1:30 - Leave for Work at halftime
4pm - Leave for Columbia, SC
5pm - Eat dinner with (the) Kyle Lewis
7pm - Start of UAB/South Carolina
8:30pm - Leave Columbia, SC for Augusta
9:30pm - Back in Augusta, Cut highlights
11:23pm - On The Air
11:35pm - Leave Work, Go Home/Out

SUNDAY
Noon - Wake Up/Watch NFL Today in bed
1pm - Out of Bed/Watch ATL/CAR in HD
2:30pm - Leave For Work at halftime
6:23pm - On The Air
6:30pm - Dinner Break
11:23pm - On The Air again
11:35pm - Leave Work, Go Home

Thrilling I know huh? Now, for my dream Homecoming in the ATH

HOMECOMING - ATHENS STYLE
FRIDAY
11am - Wake Up
Noon - Pizza Hut Lunch Buffet w/GG peeps
2pm - Find A Tour Guide, Heckle him/her
3pm - Head To Ping, Say Hi To IM Peeps
4pm - Head to WOUB, Say Hi To GG peeps/frosh
4:30pm - Head to IM Fields, Make fun of all working
5pm - Meet some peeps at an establishment and begin consumption
6:30pm - Goodfellas Pizza break
6:32pm - Back to establishment
7:30pm - GG Tailgate Event
8:32pm - Back to, well, you know...
11:20pm - Another Goodfellas break
11:25pm - Up to station for GG live
Midnight - GG after-party
3:30am - DM at USD
4am - Sleep

SATURDAY
5am - Kegs and Eggs @ an establishment
7am - Nap
9am - Back at it @ an establishment
10am - Parade time, Yell at people, Give candy to little kids, etc...
Noon - Watch OSU 1st half @ establishment
2pm - OU football game
3:30pm - Leave after Marching 110
4pm - Another nap
6pm - Back at it @ an establishment
7pm - IM Homecoming Party
2am - Chicken Gringo and Chips and Sombrero at Big Momma's to cap off night

SUNDAY
Noon - Wake Up (hopefully)
1pm - $3.95 Chinese
1:30pm - Hit the road to Augusta. It's a long damn drive...

Oh, I wish.

But honestly, I really wish I could be there. Beyond the many friends that are still there from the new seniors to even a few freshmen I know there, it would be great to catch up with the Class of '08 and earlier crew. I know my tolerance is nowhere near what it was senior year so it would make it that more fun.

I miss everything about OU from the Court Street bricks to the pointless Punchcard Park (still have no idea why it's there). And to be away from it when many are back is tough. But it's all a part of being this far away. I wanted to get away from the Midwest so I get what I ask for. But again, it's all good.

Have fun everyone and if you call, wait till after midnight when I am off work. Really wish I could be there. To all those at OU now, remember to treat the alums well. They are wiser and just wanna have fun. And to the alums, soak it in. Some of us like me can't make it so you have to make up for it. GO BOBCATS and drink up!

Back To The Buckeye State

Alright folks, I have some dates for you finally. They are "tentative" with my boss but they are set in stone by my other "boss". Don't ask, just read on.

In case you don't know, I get no vacation days until I work a full year. But I do get holidays off. And the holidays I do not get off, I get a day off earlier or later that equals working on the actual holiday. So with there being two in the sports department, obviously one needs to be working. So we split up Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It worked out that I will be off for Thanksgiving. Therefore, I will be in Ohio Tuesday, November 25-Friday, November 28th. Now, I will be in Indianapolis for Turkey Day but most of my time back in the Midwest will be in Columbus, OH. There will not be a trip to Athens this time cause no one will be there. Now, I could be back as soon as Monday, November 24th but I am kind of hoping that doesn't happen.

The reason for that is that I am hoping to string together another four-day week in January. Since I work Christmas Day and will also get a day for New Year's Day, I'm hoping to put those two days together with my usual two days off and make a nice four-day weekend (Tues-Fri) in the first week of January. In that "weekend", a trip to Athens would definitely be in order.

So there's the update peeps. Plan accordingly to meet up with me or get far, far away.

R. Kelly Is Dumb (But Innocent)

Now, I'm not the kind of guy to just bring down fellow black people but R. Kelly is just ridiculous. The guy is proven innocent for the whole having sex with underage girls. That's fine. I hope he really is innocent of it all. Then he decides to do an exclusive interview with BET to talk about the trial and all the ups and downs in his life. Well, let's just say, that was a mistake.

Just watch the following videos. Watch the entire first video and only the first statement by R. Kelly in the second video or feel free to hear the entire interview if you dare. Trust me, this is worth it




Again, only watch the first statement from R. Kelly and try to understand it. Write it out if you have to.


Now, if that's not comedy, then I don't know what is. I may watch this interview every morning to remind myself just how important getting an education is, no matter how much it cost.

I've Got Friends In All Places

When I first moved to Augusta, I knew that being far away from the friends I know and love would suck. I mean, many of the bets moments in my life have come with friends and not family. So being away from my friends does suck. Now granted, my family will always be missed first. But I tell ya, friends come a close second.

And I know I have good friends when I am in bed at 4am and getting a drunk dial from them at Union Street Diner after the first Gridiron Glory of 2008. Or a call at 11:30pm when they all gather at The Pub, just to remind me of the many good times had there on Monday nights. Or the numerous friends who sent a text my way to infrom my ugly mug is still promoting my alma mater on television. Or the friends who continue to text me when they pass my billboard. Hell, even the friends that read this blog.

So what I can do with this blog is see where people are reading my blog from. Well, so far, I'm up to 28 states (including Montana) and 2 countries. And one day when I was bored, my mind started wandering about what if I could take a month off work, paid leave let's say, and just drive across the nation. How cool would that be. And that got me to thinking about the friends I have all over this great nation of ours. It's not necessarily the amount I have. I know there are many more people in this world with more. But it's where they are.

For example....
- If I wanna hang out with the stars in Los Angeles, just give Theetge, Joe, Goldfarb or Basford a call.
- Feel like gambling in Sin City? Holla at Alex and Killer in Las Vegas.
- If I wanna touch a cactus and see some amazing looking ladies in Tempe, AZ, talk to Jacinta and Wyatt who are livin it up at Arizona State (Beadle graduated early for no reason).
- If I ever learn how to ski, I could hit the slopes in Denver with Whitney.
- If I wanna visit the land where Fran Solich used to roam, head to Lincoln, NE and visit Gant and Fulton, who prolly has a dead baby joke for me.
- If I wanna wear a cowboy hat and act like Cowboy Troy for a day, I'll go to Stillwater, OK and hang out with Cody and Devin.
- If I go to College Station, TX, I can lose my mind hanging out Keefe and Jerrod.
- If I head south from there, I can hit up Dallas and say what's up to the always laid-back J-King.
- Go south on I-35 and I could be wild in Waco, TX, where I'm pretty sure TI will show me a good time.
- Head a bit southwest and I'll be in Houston, where Mark is prolly doing something he shouldn't be doing and Morris is doing...actually, I don't know.
- And if I wanna be on the border of Mexico, I think JA would be a good host, as long as a hurricane isn't coming.
- If I wanna go to Bill Clinton's birth state of Arkansas, I can also visit Sloan and RJ and tlak about the good ol' extramural times.
- If Missouri is on my mind, I could visit Shane at SEMO and get in some trouble or find me in St. Louie with Rocco
- If I wanna freeze my butt off in Minnesota, I'll just talk to quirky Siebrecht and kooky Zmyslinski
- And since I'm cold already, might as well head to Madison, WI and hook up with Lumpkin and KHunt and have some beverages.
- If I wanna visit the beer capital of the world, Milwaukee, WI is where I'll go and meet up with Marquette peeps that my sister introduced me too but I don't remember the names of.
- Just an hour away, I can go to the windy city of Chicago and hang with Harbert, gossip with Danie, live it up with Liza, or see the sights with my second sister Lyndsey
- Down in Hattiesburg, MS, I could reunite myself with "pint-sized Matt"
- If I wanna learn that pop = Coke, I could chill in Alabama with Jerome, Taylor and whoever else is still in that state that I know.
- If I wanna figure out the words to Rocky Top, Knoxville is home to the famous Mike McCarthy and Meredith McMahon (talk about alliteration).
- To see where Vince Young is hiding, I could travel to Nashville and search the scene with Rapking and Braverman.
- Up in Hoosier country, I could meet up with Stacey and A-Ho in Indiana.
- If I wanna spit on the ground of Michigan, I can find Saunders and yell at him some more afterwards
- If I wanna spit on the ground of Florida, I can see Ashley in Tampa, Dan in Jacksonville, Jenn in Melbourne, and Rosie in Miami
- If I leave Augusta and go around Georgia, I can find Segi and company in Statesboro, Wyatt and BFunk (soon) in Atlanta, Todd in Macon, Storch in Athens and Huggy Bear and Noble holdin it down in Valdosta.
- If it's the beach I want, I'll talk to Shari in Myrtle Beach, SC or Mallory in Virginia Beach, VA.
- In Columbia, SC, I can talk to Kyle and learn more about life
- If it's North Carolina I wanna head to, I got Criswell in Greensboro and of course, Michelle and Granger chillaxin in Charlotte.
- If I wanna get the New England feel, I'll go to Boston and chill with some grad student guys, Brett and Will
- If I wanna see the bright lights of the Big Apple, I can visit Jen and Jones in New York City.
- If I wanna make fun of the Mountaineers, I'll go to Morgantown and meet up with Lindamood.
- If I wanna check out the Worldwide Leader in Sports in Bristol, CT, I'll call up Blair, Gandee Man, and Kimmy K.

- And of course, in the great state of Ohio, I've got friends all over. Let's not even try to go city by city. My head will blow up.

In other words, I'm a really lucky guy. Because of the profession I am in, I could be in a different locale every 2-3 years. But the reassuring thing is that no matter where I go, I'll have a friend nearby. Thanks peeps. And of course, Hakuna Matata.

(Oh, and by the way, this post took forever. I've been mapping out where my friends are for the past three days and I know I probably either don't know where some are or simply forgot someone because I am forgetful. Heck, I forgot my microphone at a high school football practice yesterday. So no offense intended at all. Just had to throw that out there.)

Political Convention Comedy

So I've been watching these political conventions the past two weeks and man, are they fun to watch. Whether you are Republican, Democrat or Independent like me, you have to laugh at the stuff that goes on during these things. The speeches, the music, the videos and the people dressed like absolute idiots. It makes you really wonder how the hell we are a respected nation in the first place.

Now, I know who I am going to vote for and most of you know who. I do my best to stay open-minded and aware of the issues. Hence why I think I have enjoyed these conventions so much. So without trying to add bias, here are my quick impressions of what I've thought of both conventions (except McCain's speech which will come Thursday during SC football, Roddick/Djokovic and the start of the NFL season)

DEMOCRATIC: Well, first off, a lot of splash, dash and flash. Democrats like to do it up big. The stage was unbelieveable. There was a screen. Then a 3 screens above it. Then 3 screens above it. Quite impressive. But that wasn't it. Just check out this clip from Monday from the DNC


Two things to take from that.
1) his floating head talking to his kids reminded me of Power Rangers when Zordon talked to those colorfully costumed heroes
2) God bless the Obama family and his youngest daughter Sasha but Sasha, shut up! There's cute and then there's annoying. When Daddy says where he is, listen so you don't hafta ask 45 seconds later. And Michelle, don't give her the mic when she's just gonna interrupt him. Bad enough he is delayed. And they say Obama hasn't been tested. I betcha his little one does everyday.

Anyways, the convention had more than just technology. The entertainment at the DNC was amazing. Just take a look at the list of musicians that performed that week in Denver: Jennifer Hudson, Will.I.Am, Melissa Etheridge, Michael McDonald, Sheryl Crow, John Legend and Stevie Wonder. Not bad if I may say so myself. Not to mention also that the music from the house band always had the joint rockin'. If you don't believe me, just watch this:


Well, that is just sad for all Americans, no matter who you support. Grown people looking like they have had a bit too much to drink. Eh well.

I will say this. That as much as the convention worked to show "unity" between Clinton and Obama, it just seemed forced. I know it all looks symbolic but it actually just comes off as awkward and odd. Not really sure Clinton supporters cared. Hillary lost. Now, it's up to Obama to convert them, not Hillary. But that was the vibe I kept getting from the convention. Hillary and Bill can say what they want but in the end, it's up to Obama himself. so don't cheese it up or do all these ceremonial things.

As far as the speeches, I thought all the speeches at the DNC were pretty darn good. They all kept my attention and had good talking points. As usual, a lot of bashing the others and promoting their ticket. But if I had to pick one speech that I particularly enjoyed, it was from Bill Clinton himself. I think the guy is one of the best presidents ever (if not for...you know) and is a great speaker. But watch the intro to this speech and I heard this from someplace else. Replace the word "sit" with "kneel" and tell me if that makes his speech a bit funnier. (Only go to the 2-min mark unless you feel inspired)



And Obama's speech in Invesco Field, talk about impressive-looking. I don't even think Hannah Montana could fill that place up like he did. Of course, there were lies and half-truths said all week but that's politics. All in all though, it was fun.

REPUBLICAN
Now I'll be the first to say that I have seen less of this convention. Monday was rained out due to Gustav. Tuesday, I watched more tennis than anything else. Wednesday, I didn't tune in until 9:45ish cause I was a minor league baseball game. But from what I have seen so far, it has been flat out BORING, or should I say conservative. I mean, the music is dry. There was jazz on Tuesday that I did enjoy but it just wasn't as exciting as hearing the Motown hits. The stage is simple. Just one screen and rotating images during speeches. I kind of appreciate that though. Didn't really need that many screens at the DNC.

The most glaring thing missing from the RNC is well, color. I mean, I know there aren't many minority Republicans but man, put the RNC in Minnesota and have a running mate from Alaska and you have officially made the convention a white-out. It's sad but a reality. I've seen few minorites at all. Now, that's not to say that makes the Democrats better with minority issues (though history shows that) but any minority on the fence watching the RNC has to prolly wonder why no one who looks like them is there in the Twin Cities.

Oh, and as for the speeches, Tuesday could not have been anymore boring. Fred Thompson using metaphors that were simply confusing and man, he was completely congested. Seriously, he hacked through his speech. And then Joe Lieberman, an Independent Democrat (what?) goes on stage and if people weren't tired enough from Fred, a lullaby from Lieberman did the trick.


Did that bore you too? And also, doesn't Joe Lieberman kind of look like the cartoon character Droopy?
Maybe it's just me. Regardless, you can see why a Gore-Lieberman ticket never really inspired America in 2000. (Letterman on Wednesday: "John McCain spent 5.5 hours in a POW camp and even HE couldn't get through Joseph Lieberman's speech"---that's great)

Wednesday's speeches were much better. My favorite Republican Mike Huckabee gave a great speech about something rather (don't wanna go to detail). Rudy Guiliani went on and on about John McCain being a hero but never really talked about what he would for the country. He did throw some words Obama's way, saying he wasn't ready and that the only one who has fought for America actually is McCain. Well duh! He was in the Navy. Are we gonna start faulting candidates of any offices because they have no service time? Get off that argument please!

Meanwhile, Sarah Palin's speech was good as well. She appealed to who she needed to. She did mispronounce Lancaster, OH. It's LANE-kis-ter, not lan-CAST-er, like in Pennsylvania. She'll learn though if she wants the votes I assume. (Another Letterman joke: "Doesn't Sarah Palin look like a model for Lenscrafter?" ---again, so so true).


As far as how she came off, she impressed me a lot. As many Americans, I woke up Friday to CNN and said "WHO?" Well, now that I know she is hockey mom with some spunk (and other credentials), I do feel a bit better if/when McCain dies if/when he becomes President. That was my inital worry and still kind of is. A funny moment from it though was when Sarah Palin said "The only difference between hockey moms and pitbulls? Lipstick." And while the audience laughs and applauds, they go to a shot of Cindy McCain who mouths to Sarah's husband Todd Palin, "That's true!" HAHA, what the hell does Cindy McCain know about hockey moms? You live in Arizona (4 houses), Washington, and two other places.

After her speech, John McCain came on stage with the family and just like in Dayton, it just felt awkward. Seeing a 72-yr old man with a good-looking 44-yr old woman is just awkward. Just watch this video from YouTube, inspired probably by the awkward feel of this ticket.



Oh, that's good stuff. But in the end, Sarah Palin did herself and Alaska proud with her speech. I look forward to the VP debate with her and Biden. I find her likable and a great pick from McCain. In 4 years, I wouldn't mind seeing her run for President if/when she loses this year. She has a bright future for the party and hopefully, the nation. We still don't know about any of her stances on foreign policy which scares me as someone who has to help the President with those decisions but as far as domestic policy, I may be able to trust her.

The only questions I have so far from the RNC is why they don't mention Barack Obama's name ever (they always say "the opponent" or 'they")? Why do they keep blaming the media for things (do they understand the media decides who and what gets on TV for viewers to watch)? And when are they actaully going to get into the issues because if I hear one more argument about McCain being a hero making him more suited to be president, I may puke. I would hope McCain will address the differences between him and Obama (and maybe by name) and talk about what he WILL do for America and not what he HAS done before he was even in Congress.

Unfortunately, I will not be watching John McCain's acceptance speech live. Maybe later but not live so I cannot answer that final question. But I will end this blog entry with something funny. Check out John McCain on Letterman just a few months ago:


If he does that tomorrow, he may win himself some votes. (FYI: Love how McCain can't raise either arm above his shoulder so he does that awkward downward point) Hope you enjoyed the post peeps. I hate talking politics but these conventions were screaming for me too. Hakuna Matata.