The Week in Review

Some great shows this week on the old TV. Here are some highlights that I haven't hit yet.

"Reaper" was awesome. Sam is a 21 year old slacker who finds out his parents sold his soul to the devil and now he is Satan's bounty hunter returning escaped souls to Hell. Now for some reason, when you have a show or movie that has something to do with the devil and religion, people seem to think they can find some sort of spiritual truth in it. I don't know why. I guess some people are just searching for God. I mean, Constantine was a great movie, but the writers of the movie (maybe is was just Keanu messing up his lines) couldn't even get a scriptural quote from the book of Revelation right. Constantine calls it the "Book of Revelations" which just isn't right.

Any, there is some spiritual truth in "Reaper" though. During the first episode the devil looks at Sam and says something to effect of (paraphrasing here), "You know how this ends, God wins in the end". Amazing scriptural truth there. Must be a Christian on the writing staff...

"CSI" was great and still one of my faves. Except, they saved Sara. I was kinda hoping she would drown pinned under the car.

"Smallville" just gets better each season, and is seriously becoming a TV show of epic proportions. Clark takes on Bizzaro, Chloe finds out what her special power is, Martian Manhunter returns, and cousin Kara gets cut loose from here Earthly prison. Hopefully she teaches Clark how to fly...

I can't wait to see what's in store this week on the tube! Stay tuned...

You're all gonna laugh at me...

Well, a first this week. I used an Iron Maiden song for my English class. We have been reading about Alexander the Great, so I figured I would use the Iron Maiden song. The kids thought it was awesome!

So, in that vain, I found the newest Iron Maiden video called "Different World". (Plus, I wanted to try and post a video.) This is the studio version (way cooler than the foolish CG one). I know, I know, but I have a soft spot in my heart for IM. Ever since I heard the amazing harmonies and driving sound of "The Trooper" I've been hooked. Plus, check out the beautiful guitar that Adrian Smith is playing (the guy with the hat). It looks like a Gibson SG. Gorgeous...

What was this guy thinking?

I saw a piece on "The Today Show" this morning that was about a naval building in Coronado, California that looks like a swastika from the air. And thanks to Google Maps, here it is:


Oops! Designed by John Mock and built in the the late 60's, the plans called for an "L-Shaped" barracks to build and repeated three more times. Not until they broke ground for the project did the Navy realize it looked like a Swastika. And they still built it...

Now 40 years later and Google giving everybody a bird's eye view of the building, it's gonna get a face lift at a price tag of $600,000. Everything looks better on paper...

But I'm not sure what is more shocking. Using Google Maps to look at the Swastika-shaped building, or being able to zoom in at all the ships that are in the water at the base.

Bionic Woman

Watching the Bionic Woman right now. Amazing!!!

Update: Wow, this show was incredible. A great reinventing of the original classic. Michelle Ryan was a great choice to play Jamie Sommers. Plus, you can't beat the beat down that Jaime Sommers and Sarah Corvus (played by Battlestar Galactica's Katee Sackoff) gave to each other. Amazing effects as well. Here is the video of the fight from film.com (you might need to watch a commercial first). Good show that we'll continue to watch each week.

I almost liked this better than "Heroes" season premiere...

From terrific to tired...

Very tired... must go to bed... very long day... kids drove me crazy...

All hopes of watching the tube tonight have gone out the window, and my head is going to hit the pillow in mere moments. And with just passing a significant birthday, this doesn't bode well for my nocturnal activities...

I'll have to ramble on about Wednesday's new shows tomorrow. Right now, I'm gonna read a few pages of my new book and then turn out the lights for a long night's slumber.

And winter isn't even upon us yet. Oh, crap...

Terrific Tuesday

Okay, tomorrow brings night two of new TV offerings, and I have to say, Tuesday is gonna be a light viewing night. Only a couple of shows to watch here:

"The Unit" is a favorite and I am looking forward to the new season. Jonas is on the run, and I bet old Uncle Sam has a hard time catching him. He's "On the Lam". Kinda like Tony Soprano...

"Cane" might be a one time shot, especially with all the other shows we are watching. If it isn't amazing we'll just catch it on reruns in the off seasons.

Here on the other hand, is a show I am really looking forward to checking out: "Reaper". A slacker (which don't we all just secretly want to be sometimes) with unrealized potential and a grand destiny who winds up finding out his parents sold his soul to the devil and now he works for the underworld returning all sorts of baddies. I'll let you know whether it's a hit, or a complete miss.

Next up: Wicked Weird Wednesday!

Monday Night TV Recap

Well, the new TV season is off with a bang! "Chuck" was actually quite good and worth a second look. The premise is that Chuck's old college roomate was a rogue CIA spy, and with his dying breath he sent Chuck an email, which essentially ingrains all of the government's secrets into Chuck's brain. So now he is the ultimate computer program for the Feds and they need to protect him at all costs and also use him as an operative. Plus, you can't beat "The Nerd Herd", which is the computer division of the large electronics store he works for. I wonder where they got the idea for that from...

"Heroes" was great, but not as amazing as I thought it would have been, and both Jess and I are feeling a little flat after the episode which was presented with limited commercial interuption with sponsorship from you-know-who: Nissan. Plenty of shameless plugs for the new Nissan Rogue during the show as well.

But on the flipside, they did catch us up to speed with what has been happening with most of the major characters in the four months since the big showdown with Sylar. Plus we get to meet several new "Heroes" including Sark (Remember Alias?)!

"CSI:Miami" and "Journeyman" are recording as I write this, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to check those out.

A Record High!!!

I can't believe it! I just checked my Sitemeter counter this morning, and I got 6o hits yesterday!!! Woohoo!!! Of course, this is surprising because I have been neglecting The World of Tomorrow for most of the year.

Whoever checked out my blog via Captain's Quarters, thanks!!!

If I write it, they will come...

Update: I'm looking at Sitemeter right now, and I'm at 84 visits for today (Monday). What is going on?!?!

Finally, it's Premiere Week!

The Fall TV Season is about to begin, and so won't the insanity! I don't know how we are going to watch it all. The DVR and the VHS will be running ragged each week in a vain attempt to keep up with all the scrumptious TV goodness.

So, I'll start with Monday Madness:

NBC will be the reigning Monday Night King. The first show we are going to check out is "Chuck". Ubergeek turned super spy. Could be entertaining. Worth a peek anyway. But this love affair might not last...

Next up: "Heroes"! After an amazing first season, which was a surprise for most because it was a "Super Hero" show, "Heroes" returns for what is sure to be a stellar second season. Can't wait to watch!

Another new show is up next on the list: "Journeyman". A news reporter and time travel doesn't seem like a new idea (Wasn't there a show that had a newspaper that told the future?), but this looks good. Anything with time travel and tragedy is worth checking out.

And last but not least: Horatio Caine and CSI: Miami! Either you love David Caruso or you hate him, but that not withstanding, I love "Miami". You can't beat the unbeatable "H" sauntering away from a 5 Megaton explosion with his hands on his hips and nary a hair outta place. Great fun!

Next up: Terrific Tuesday!

Movie Mayhem

This morning, very early, Jess and I descended into the third circle of the underworld, known also as Walmart, to do a little shopping before the crowds hit. And what a trip it was...

...because they had $5.00 movies!!! And we got a bunch. Some were just to add to the collection, but some were bought with my birthday bounty. And here they are:

First up, the classic 1994 film "Stargate" featuring James Spader and Kurt Russell. I'm not a particular fan of either guy (I can't stand "Boston Legal"), but mix in a gate to the unknown and Egyptian Mythology, and I'm in!

Next up with have, "Jumanji" starring Robin Williams. The FX in this film were amazing for 1995, and it also helped that it was based on a children' book by Chris Van Allsburg.

Next up in the delicious movie bonanza is: "The Mexican". Now, some of you will be like, "Oh Yeah!" Others will be like, "What are you thinking?" I can't help it, I really dig this movie. I'm not a big Julia Roberts fan (not a fan at all really), but Brad Pitt is awesome! James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) is amazing as well. Mix in a cursed Mexican pistol and you've got one cool movie.

And last but not least we have, "Twister". Good movie. I don't particularly care for Bill Paxton or Helen Hunt, but the effects are great and I use this movie for my Earth Science class when we do our unit on Tornadoes. Hey, some of us are visual learners!

Back to You Premiere

I just finished watching the new Fox show "Back to You" with Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammar, and it was amazing. I haven't laughed that hard during a sitcom since "Frasier". (I never laughed watching "Everybody Loves Raymond. I hated that show.)

I'm adding this show to the weekly watch list, which is insane already.

How am I going to get the DVR and the VCR to record simultaneously...

Watch a video, fight ALS

Every time somebody watches this video, $2 will be donated to fight ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Thanks to Peter for the link.

Stardust

The Missus and I decided on an impromptu date night, and we ended up at the local cheap seats to see the movie "Stardust".

What an incredible film! Based on the graphic novel by Neil Gaiman, there is something for everyone in this film. Action, adventure, intrigue, romance, this movie has it all.

The film stars Charlie Cox as Tristan, a village shop boy with dreams of grandeur, Claire Danes as Yvaine, a fallen star brought to Earth to help Tristan fulfill his destiny, and Michelle Pfieffer as Lamia, and evil witch out to destroy the fallen star and prolong her life. Peter O'Toole, Rupert Everett, and a "flamboyant" performance by Robert De Niro as Captain Shakespeare round out the amazing cast assembled for this film.

I am going to make a bold claim right now: This could possibly be "The Princess Bride" of the new century. This one will definitely be added to the library when it is released on DVD (estimated to be December 2007). I wish I had paid the big bucks to see it at the nice, expensive theater.

More photos

Here is the money shot from the weekend in Greenville. Nice flower!!!

Picture Time

Time to share a picture from our trip to Greenville/Rockwood (and no, I didn't see a moose).

This is taken looking up The Moose River where we stayed.

3:10 to Yuma

For my birthday, I went out with some friends and we ended up seeing "3:10 to Yuma" with Russell Crowe and the "Dark Knight" himself, Christian Bale.

Let me start out by saying that I wasn't really quite sure what to expect from this film. Was it going to be all action, like a good western should, or is it going to be all story and character development with little action? It turned out to be a pleasant mixture of both.

Both Russell Crowe and Christian Bale did a fabulous job with their characters, and the dynamic between the two was electric. They played very well together, one guy "good" the other "bad", but both with some redeemable qualities that endear themselves to the audience. And some naughty characteristics that make you cheer for them as well (But what's up with the gunfights?).

The language was realitively mild in this one (I've sat through far worse) and the action was amazing. The film moved along at a nice clip, with only a couple of places it bogs down.

Definetely worth the price of full admission. I may even go the theater to see it again. The story is really deep enough to warrant a second viewing to catch all the nuances.

The Ruins by Scott Smith

I just recently finished reading "The Ruins" by "A Simple Plan" author Scott Smith. Now, I have never read "A Simple Plan", but I hope it is a far superior work than the current one.

I have been thinking about how I can write a scathing review of this bookish blunder, but I'll just give it to ya straight: This book was hideous! Sorry, Peter...

The only question that continually popped into my head was, "What is this guy thinking?".

Now, there was a couple of bright spots. The "bad guy" of the book had some pretty interesting ways of tormenting his victims, which was cool, and the ending was great, but that doesn't save this albatross from going down with the ship.

The time spent reading this literary fiasco can never be returned. So, the long and the short of it: don't read it.

My Triumphant Return

Well, I've just been on a trip through Europe and now I am back and ready to blog.

Just kidding, I've have just been too lazy or busy to put in the effort, much to my wife's chagrin, and probably some of my friends as well. But, here I am, trying to get back in the saddle and actually take time to write. Cause, like most people, I've got stuff to say.

School is back in and going extremely well, unlike last year, which was my first teaching high school. I was a nervous wreck, and not because of the kids. It was just because I had no idea what I was doing. Got a little more on the ball this year... and I'm a little crazier.

My freinds Jason and Sarah have joined the blogging game, and they can be found here. I'll add a link to the side kids!

Okay now on to some reviews...

Transformers Viewing 2

Well, I went and saw it again today, and it was more amazing. This is really an incredibly well done film. I have to admit, I was a little nervous with Michael Bay at the helm, but he came through in a pinch. Of course, with Spielberg as an executive producer, how could it come out too badly.

Okay, as I have mentioned before, Transformers has become my new favorite movie. So, here is a screen shot from one of my favorite scenes:Now a couple of things about this shot. Notice the cool eye protection Bumblebee dons when he fights. You will also notice the tow truck. Important to the scene, but I'll say no more.

Make sure you see Transformers this weekend!!!

Back to normal...

The big news this weekend wasn't that Russian President Vladimir Putin was visiting our beloved state to spend 24 hours at Walker's Point, aka the Bush Compound, but that he was leaving today, the protesters were leaving today and that everything was going to be back to normal.

Transformers

I just got home from a sneak peak showing of Transformers, and let me tell you, this was perhaps the best movie I have ever seen. I have a list of my top films (personal faves) that went something like this:

1. Empire Strikes Back
2. Star Wars
3. Return of the Jedi
4. LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring
5. LOTR: The Two Towers
6. LOTR: The Return of the King
7. Aliens

And the list would continue on from there including Spider-Man, X-Men and so on. Well, Transformers has shot to the top of the list. I've had some childhood favorites come to life on the big screen, like the Hulk, Fantastic Four and Ghost Rider, but this blows them all away. Forget Spider-man. He's old news compared to this film. There will be some memorable lines that will come from this movie, as well as some already well known, such as "Autobots: Roll Out!"

I know I make some bold boasts here, but I have never sat even through my favorite films with a palpable sense of excitement, literally on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next scene. Tonight I did.

The Autobots and Decepticons are incredible in this film. You almost expect to step out of the theater and see them standing there the CGI was so amazing.

The action sequences were stunning. Everything I ever wanted in the various TV shows and things I have imagined were made a reality on the big screen. My favorite Autobot was Bumblebee. A favorite as a kid and the co-star with Shia Labeouf, who should get some sort of prestigious award for this film.

Of course, like any movie, there were a few things I didn't care for, but it was all dialoge, and certainly nothing to deter the "WOW" factor of this flick. But, take care, this isn't a film for little kids because the action is very intense and some of the dialog, while minor, is a little rough for young ears.

Amazing film. See it on the big screen, several times.

Okay, when is the first show time for tomorrow...

The Bangor Troop Greeters

Here in our beloved metropolis, we have an amazing group of people who volunteer to greet incoming and outgoing troops at our international airport. We are often the last stop before going over seas or the first stop coming back. Here is a great letter to the editor from one of these grateful troops:

I am a paratrooper serving with the 82nd Airborne Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom, currently forward-deployed in Iraq. I was a part of the "surge" the commander-in-chief called up to help the citizens of Iraq.

During our deployment, our plane stopped at Bangor International Airport on Jan. 2. It was a very cold day, but there were more than 100 volunteers, veterans and supporters at the airport to greet us as we exited the plane. We were greeted with open arms, smiles and handshakes. Additionally, we were provided with phones to contact love ones, food and good conversation.

I can honestly say that was the proudest moment I have had as a soldier serving in the United States Army. The support and kindness shown to us by the great people of Bangor solidified my resolve as to what purpose I was serving in the military. I serve because of people like the residents of Bangor, whom I will fight to protect anywhere, anytime when called upon.

I write this to thank you sincerely for the outpouring of warmth and support. I can't speak for all of the soldiers, but I know they all felt like I feel. We experienced the same hospitality in 2003 when we first started OIF, and I never got the chance to say "thank you". Again, thank you and God bless you all.

Sgt. 1st Class

Derrick Davis

Fort Bragg, N.C.

Why I bother...

Okay gentle reader, I know it has been a long time since I posted and there probably isn't anyone out there left to read this, but I'm gonna write any. Hi to all the peeps that regularly check this site, namely Peter, Kev and Ame, Esther, Scott and my lovely wife.

I have just survived my first year teaching in an alternative ed high school. What is "alternative education" you ask? That is a great question, and depending on where you are and who you ask, you're going to get a variety of answers.

This is what alternative ed is for us. We are part of Brewer High, just off site. Our kids get a diploma just like the kids at the high school. We just do things a little differently...

We have a variety of kids that are with us for a variety of reasons. Yes, we do have some special ed kids with some issues, but nothing major. We have some kids that are gifted and talented. We have kids with some health issues. Usually kids come to us because they are either 1) behind in credits due to dropping out, jail time, illness, etc. or 2) the high school with 900 students just doesn't work for them. Sometimes they come for both reasons.

We have small classes, with about 35 kids for three of us. Between the three of us we have taught roughly 15 different classes, ranging from English to math to science to Russian to guitar to performing arts and the list goes on.

When I first got into education, I was all excited and altruistic and thought "I am going to impact young lives for the better". Uh huh. Nine years in and I hadn't seen any of that. Well, this year was different. Way different. I've been able to help and positively impact a bunch of kids this year. It was an amazing experience to have one of the kid's parents come up to me and thank me with tears in her eyes about how I have been such a positive influence on her son and made a real impact on his life. Finally...

So, I have the summer off for the first time in my life. I'm mentally wiped out after a long year. I'll be doing some summer school stuff and then my "Honey-do" list kicks in, but it looks like I have all of August off.

Oh yeah!!!

When the wife is away...

I know, I haven't blogged in forever, and as Jess keeps reminding me, my status in the TTLB keeps slipping to apparently new abysmal depths (I'm now a Wiggly Worm. That can't be good.).

So, instead of weighing in on the current state of the world with a good quality post, I just finished developing some essay questions about the French defeat at Dienbienphu at the hands of Ho Chi Minh, and now I am going to pop some popcorn, get a Tab on ice, and watch "Shaun of the Dead".

I am going to skip the work on the Health quiz for now...

Philly Day 3

Monday brings Tut!!! The weather is horrible this morning. Here we are 700 miles from Maine and it is snowing. And Jess is sick to boot. So, the idea of riding the train in goes right out the window. So Dad decides we'll drive in. Oh the fun abounds.

The good news is, the drive in was relatively painless. We made a couple of errors in our map reading, but we got to the Franklin Institute ten minutes before we needed to and Dad got a parking spot real close.


The Tut exhibit was everything I hoped for and more. It was just amazing to see all these artifacts that I've been seeing in books for years right there before me in all their antiquated glory. The artifacts date from roughly 1350 B.C., and they were in amazing shape. Of course, I couldn't take pictures in the Tut exhibit, but I'll include some photos of what we saw.

This is a huge statue of Ankenaten, notably the pharaoh that outlawed polytheism in ancient Egypt and instituted monotheism. This was amazing to see. But, understandably, when I got a little too close, there was a security guard who cozied up to me. You can never be to careful...

After being blown away by the Tut exhibit, we checked out the rest of the Franklin Institute. We toured the Giant Heart and the Franklin Air Show.

When we were done at the Franklin, we headed back to our suite for a little rest. After a nap and a great dinner cooked by Mom, I went to a four hour graduate class with Kevin. And I actually learned some stuff. Amazing.

And to prove what a small world it is, when I went on a coffee run to the "Eagle's Nest" for some coffee, I ran into one of the kids from our church who is going to PBU. I had to do the old double take to make sure it was here before I made a real idiot out of myself.

Monday in a nutshell....

Philly Day 2

Sunday brought torrential rains and hazardous conditions. I've never been scared driving in heavy rain before, but I was nervous Sunday morning (and it wasn't your driving, Kev). Unlike Maine roads, which are beveled (hope that is the right word) to allow water and snow to run off, Pennsylvania roads are like bowls, and all the water collects in the middle. The hydroplaning was scary. Especially when you look at the other side of the highway and there are cars off the road, upside down on their roofs and there was even one that shot up the bank on the side of the road. Scary stuff.


But God is good and we got to our destination. We went to the Bacton Hill Bible Church with the Bookers, Grammy Quint, my in-laws and my lovely wife. Of course, I am supposed to be having some time off from leading worship, which I got, but when Kevin asked if I wanted to play with their worship group, I certainly couldn't pass up the opportunity to play.

After church, since the weather was so nasty, we went to the King of Prussia Mall, which was rather lackluster except for that an Apple Store, my Mecca, was held within the KoPM. And let there be no mistake, the Apple Store was amazing! Worth the trip to the stupid mall. Well, I guess I should include the girl's trip to Tiffany's. Thankfully, we made it out with out a little blue box :o)

And another thing, here I was in this colossal shopping mall, and there really wasn't anything different from the Portland, Maine mall or the mall in our quaint metropolis either. I was hoping for a really different experience, with exotic stores with cool stuff, and there were none. The comic store I went to was a sham compared to Top Shelf Comics right down town on Central Street in Bangor. All the names were the same. Gap, Ambercrombie, JC Penny, Macy's, it's all right here in Bangor. Okay, enough ranting about the mall...

Sunday night consisted of having dinner at the house of a childhood friend of Jess'. What a great time. The whole clan got to catch up. We had a great meal and I got to extol the greatness of Apple computers (there were three there to play on) and laud Acadia National Park, so it was all good.

There is Sunday in a nutshell. Great day but very long and tiring.

To Philly and back: Vacation Day 1

Hello all!!! We just got back a couple of days ago from our fabulous trip to Philadelphia, PA to see out friends, the Bookers. Kev, Ame and big K, thanks for everything. We had such a great time and we miss you guys already.

So, it was a great time, with horrible weather. But the company more than made up for the nasty conditions. Here we were going to Philly thinking we were going to have sun and 70's. We were wrong...

But I have tons to write about and not a lot of time tonight to get it all down, so I am going to break things up.

We left Saturday morning, bright and early with almost no incidents. I fell down the stairs the night before, so I was a little sore. I rarely fall down, unlike my wife, but for some crazy reason I took a tumble the night before we left. Nothing major though.

We spent Saturday in the car, with only a couple of stops on the way down. We made our destination in just over nine hours and got to see some really beautiful houses in a town called Buckingham.

After we got settled in, we had a bbq with the Bookers and some of the families that they live with. What a great time with good friends and good food!!! And I couldn't believe it, but we had a fire out in the backyard. No permit necessary! I can't even do that here in my beloved Bangor!

More to come later...

The Case of the Bulging Battery

So, we went to Philly last week, and once we were settled in I got out my MacBook Pro to check my mail and so forth. Well, the trackpad was acting really funning. So I started inspecting my machine, and low and behold, the battery looked like this:



What? How could this be? What caused this? Did I do something wrong?

Come to find out, no I didn't. But, I thought I was going to be stuck buying a brand new $116 battery. But after some digging, I found the Apple Battery Exchange Program, and guess what, my battery was on the "not up to Apple's high quality" list.

Of course, it was buried and not easy to find, but it is there and still working, so I have a new battery coming in 3-5 business days.

Just when I thought I might have an actual reason to diss the Mac, Apple still comes through with the goods, continuing to prove why they are the best computers on the planet (no bias here).

I bet he is a good listener...

The highlight of our ever-so-"Weekly" publication: Tastes Like Chicken.

Great cartoon this week, Josh! Keep up the good work!

Revenge of Old Man Winter

So, last week we were enjoying 50º temps with tons of sun. Today: 10" inches of snow in our area and up to 24" in the mountains. And the skiers rejoiced. Yea.

The Guvnah (governor for those of you out of the state of Maine) even declared a state of emergency so power crews from other states could come in a restore power to up to 275,000 currently without electricity.

But, there is a silver lining, sort of. A couple of weeks ago, I was at our local LL Bean outlet and found the ultimate bargain: a pair of $130 snow pants with all the bells and whistles for $25. What a deal!

I didn't think I was going to be able to try them out until next Winter. Guess I was wrong...