Archive for April, 2009
The Hammer
Posted in Funny Video on April 30, 2009 by bigdaddygoudaLost Turns 100!!!
Posted in Lost on April 29, 2009 by bigdaddygouda
Tonight marks the 100th episode of LOST, the best show on TV.
For a TV show to hit its 100th episode is a crowning achievement; the gold standard in episodic television. It’s the equivalent to a movie making 100 million dollars at the box office or an album selling 1 million copies.
In the television world, when a show hits 100 episodes, it is officially deemed a success, and, more importantly as far as network execs are concerned, the show can then be neatly packaged and sold in to syndication, ala Seinfeld, The Simpson, The X-Files, etc. etc.
But who cares about all that. I’m most excited about the 100th episode, titled The Variable, because supposedly it’s filled with revelations and will serve as the launching pad to the season’s finale episodes all leading up the the 5th season finale “Game Changer”, which will finally explain “The Incident.”
I’m also excited because tonight’s show centers around Daniel Faraday. Remember him? He finally made it back to the island last week. Where’s he been? What’s he been doing?
It appears this episode will loop around the Season 5 premiere from January where Faraday was shown in Dharma gear, underground near the site that I believe will someday be the Frozen Donkey Wheel that controls time travel.
In a clip I saw, and stop reading if you don’t want to know, but Farady finally says to Dr. Chang what I’ve been waiting for someone to say to the Dharma crew for eight weeks now:
“I’m from the future.”
Here’s to hoping his next sentence is, “I came here in a time machine that you invented.”
If that quote makes no sense to you, I suggest you Google it….stupid.
“a pal and a confidant.”
Posted in Stuff on April 27, 2009 by bigdaddygouda
Bea Arthur passed away over the weekend. My generation knows her better as Dorothy Sbornak, daughter of Sophia Patrillo, one of the four Golden Girls.
Condolences have popped up all over the Internet, especially Facebook and Youtube.
When I was young, I used to watch the Golden Girls on Saturday nights with my grandparents. I didn’t have a choice. They loved it, and they were in charge. Typing this I recall my Grandfather’s bellowing laughter every time Sophia hit Dorothy with a zinger.
Though I didn’t get all the jokes, I still found the show kind of interesting, and, I dug the opening theme song. (though I always mis-heard the line “and the card attatched would say”, instead thinking it to be, “and the heart attacks would say.”)
It wasn’t until college that I truly began to appreciate the four old ladies and that show.
Lifetime television had the rights to the reruns and played episodes of The Golden Girls at least six times a day. A whole generation of college students rediscovered Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia.
Being a young adult, it was so easy to appreciate the wicked sense of humor those four ladies had. The jokes that I didn’t get as a child, were now absolutely hilarious.
The show was truly ahead of it’s time, dealing with issues like Alzheimer’s disease, sexuality, racism and death. ( we all remember the episode where Rose had a heart attack right?)
There was something comforting about The Golden Girls. They reminded us of our grandparents or our aunts, or our crazy neighbors. They weren’t just TV characters, we felt like we knew ‘em.
I mean, come on, how often did you girls compare yourself to the old ladies and decide which you were most like.
So, while it’s not tragic when these ladies pass away, it’s still sad. Kind of like you’re losing a neighbor or that aunt who you never see anymore, but seemed kind of cool when you were a kid.
As I said on Facebook earlier today: There are just two Golden Girls left, Rose and Blanche. And, only two Beatles left, Paul and Ringo. I think they should team up, put their musical and comedic talents together and do something special.
Yep, I just compared The Golden Girls to The Beatles.
“Nothing shows a man’s character more than what he laughs at”
Posted in Adventures in Aidan Sitting on April 27, 2009 by bigdaddygouda
Aidan was waiting for me in the driveway as I arrived at his house Sunday night for hot dogs on the grill.
As I stepped out of my jeep, I glanced into the yard and noticed Charlie pushing a wheelbarrow and Keely walking across the yard with a shovel, as baby Grayson played with a garden hose. Spring planting I’d assumed.
“What’s everybody doing here,” I asked, as Aidan gave me a hug.
“Eh, we’re cleaning up after The Challenger disaster,” Aidan said casually. “It exploded you know.”
An uncontrollable burst of laughter shot out of me. I glanced into the yard again and saw Charlie throw a pile of dirt and sticks into the woods. I laughed again.
“Aidan,” I said, attempting to sound stern. “How do you know about The Challenger?”
“I just read about,” he said, simply. “It’s in my book.”
He then went on to describe, as only a 7-year-old can, about the space shuttle Columbia disaster, the sinking of The Titanic, and The Great Chicago Fire.
It was only later that I found out Aidan had recently obtained the 2006 World Almanac, and had just that morning read a chapter on Disasters.
I remember watching the Challenger explode live on TV, when I was in third grade, where we gathered as a class to watch the launch. I also remember a few days later all the Challenger jokes started popping up.
“What does this button do?”
But, as tragic and surreal as watching a space shuttle explode was, and as tasteless as the jokes were that followed, whenever someone brings up the Challenger, I’m still brought back to my first day as a fourth grader at Litchfield Center School. I was the new kid and some raggy looking kid named Jermiah Manning asked me if I wanted to know a secret.
“My father died in the Challenger last year,” he said.
And, like I did today with Aidan, I laughed in his face.
HE DID IT! Officials uphold “average joe’s” surprise win.
Posted in Stories on April 22, 2009 by bigdaddygouda
BOSTON (Associated Press) - A day after studying tape from city traffic cameras and footage obtained from local news agencies, race officials have determined that a 32 -year-old computer worker from Boston did not cheat in any way, and did in fact win Monday’s Boston Marathon, finishing the 26.2 mile course in just over two hours.
Race officials were skeptical after Connecticut native Jason Maroon, a bald, stocky, flat-footed city man, won the historic race by out sprinting world class Ethiopian distance runner Deriba Merga.
Race director Edmund Suluski said footage clearly shows Maroon take off at the starting line, weave in and out of city streets, stopping only once to sip water, before finally finishing the race in a near record time of 2 hours, 6 minutes – almost two minutes faster than Merga.
“We poured over hours and hours of footage,” Suluski said. “Not once did he stray from the course.”
Suluski said, as far as the race committee is concerned the case is closed.
“Our job is to uphold the integrity of the Boston Marathon,” he said. “We feel we’ve done that. As far as we’re concerned this Maroon guy is the winner. I don’t know how the hell he did it but a win’s a win.”
Maroon, who decided to run the race early Monday morning, attributes his shocking victory to a long dormant passion for winning, coupled with the need to release tension from everyday life.
“My plan was to start off by jogging and then maybe walk a bit here and there,” Maroon said, Tuesday. “But once I got going that runner’s high kicked in and the rest is history.”
Maroon, who is expecting a baby soon along with his wife Tina, said the stresses associated with family life combined with a poor showing in his Fantasy Baseball League, convinced him to run the marathon.
“I needed a way to clear out my head,” he said. “I figured running a marathon would do the trick.”
Merga, 28, who kept up with Maroon before losing steam on the 25th mile, said his loss to the amateur is the most shocking thing he’s ever had to endure in his 15 year racing career.
“I train for this all year,” Merga said, through an interpreter, “and then I lose to this video game playing computer nerd. I’m sick. Sick, sick, sick.”
Maroon has thus far declined interview requests as well as invitations to appear on the Today Show and Late Night With Dave Letterman, and said he will instead focus on his job and prepare for the birth of his first child.
He also sent his race winnings to family living in the country of Lebanon, where it was revealed Maroon has distant relatives there, possibly living in squalor.
“The race was fun but people are making too big a deal out of it,” he said. “Did I make history, Yes. Did I shock the world, Maybe. But at the end of the day I’m still just Jason.”
You Know What They Say About Looks and Deception
Posted in Stuff on April 16, 2009 by bigdaddygoudaToday in USA Today I read about a 47 year old unemployed Scotish woman with dreams of making it big as a singer.
She got her big break on Britain’s Got Talent, where American Idol’s Simon Cowell serves as one of the judges.
As this homely woman took the stage the judges and audience members rolled their eyes and basically laughed to themselves as this frumpy dame stood on the stage blabbing about her dreams.
Lets just say the looks on the judges faces as she begins her tune speak louder than words ever could.
Unfortunately YOUTUBE is not letting viewers post the vid on the Web but I strongly encourage you to click the link and watch. It’ll make yer day.
“Some Like It Hoth”
Posted in Lost on April 15, 2009 by bigdaddygoudaLast week’s episode was crazy good!!
As I’d predicted, Ben did indeed have killing on the mind when he paid Penny a visit. Thankfully, Desmond was there to kick some serious ass. That scene with Ben falling into the water after the beat down and then sinking as blood poured from his mouth is definetly one of the most memorable Lost scenes ever!
So, the smoke monster “judged” been and while deeming him an utter fuck-up, still spared him and gave him one more chance to straighten up. Come on. We all know it’s only a matter of episodes before he pulls a gun on someone again…probably Locke.
Speaking of Locke…he’s awful weird these days. Weirder than usual that is. Is it really him? Let’s remember, the name of the episode last week was, “Dead is Dead”, so maybe he indeed did die when Ben strangled him and the Locke currently roaming around is merely an island manifestation like Jack’s dad and Mr. Ecko’s brother from season 3. Remember him?
For a more in depth re-cap of watch the “Untangled” below.
The name of tonight’s all new LOST has the word, HOTH in the title. How cool is that!!
For some, that title makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever. However, to Star Wars fans across the globe, it may just be the best episode title ever!
Hoth, for those of you who don’t know, is the ice planet from Empire Strikes Back, the greatest of the Star Wars movies in my opinion.
Tonight’s episode centers around Miles. We’ll hopefully learn why Miles was really on the freighter and get a return visit with bossy freighter babe Naomi as well as learn how/if he’s been on the Island before.
Remember, this guy supposedly talks to the dead and I’m sure that will serve some greater purpose in the overall mythology of the show.
And as far as tonight’s title, “Some Like It Hoth”, I can only assume that before he saw dead people, Miles musta been a Star Wars geek. God Bless Him.
“Remember: No matter how good you are at something, there’s always someone who is a million times better.”
Posted in Stuff on April 13, 2009 by bigdaddygouda
“Oh, you hate your job? Why didn’t you say so? There’s a support group for that. It’s called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.”
- Drew Carey
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How many people can say they are doing EXACTLY what they want to be doing with their lives?
What’s the old quote? Something like, if you spend your life doing what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. Well, how many people can really say that? How many people can say, “I love my job.”
FACEBOOK teaches me a lot, and one thing I’ve learned is most people hate what they do.
How many status updates read, “TGIF” or “Only a few more hours left of work” or “I hate Mondays.”
All the jobs I had in my life, I always knew in the back of my head I didn’t want it for a career. Even the ones with career potential like selling cars or working for the insurance company.
When I got hired at the newspaper two years ago, I thought maybe I had found a career. I loved to write and I loved news. Six months into the job, I realized, while I enjoyed having my name in the paper and I enjoyed putting a story together, from my notepad, to the computer, to the printed page, I pretty much hated the other aspects of the job. I hated going to board meetings, I hated going to craft fairs and car wash fundraisers. Bottom line, while the job could, at times, be exciting, I knew deep down I didn’t want to make it my career and do it for ever and if I had a wife and kids, we’d be on welfare.
Once those thoughts creep into your head, no matter what you do, it’s the kiss of death.
I remember being a senior in high school and the guidance office arranged for college reps to come and talk to individual students about career aspirations.
I still remember what the rep wrote on my sheet.
“Walter should take a year off. Not rush in to college. Figure out what he wants to do.”
But, all my friends were going to college. I had been accepted to most of the schools I applied to. My parents wanted me to go. It seemed like the thing to do. Even though I didn’t know what I wanted to do.
I went to Keene State College thinking I would eventually major in English. I got good grades in English and, as I said, I enjoyed writing. I thought maybe a teacher or something.
After a year and a half at Keene I transferred to Central CT State. I took an Acting class because my roommate told me it was an “easy A”.
After three classes, I thought maybe I would change my major to acting. Maybe I would be a movie star. That would be fun. That wouldn’t be like work at all.
Then life got in the way. My mother got divorced and my step-father, who was paying my tuition, was no longer going to support my education. I was also partying a bit too much and, if memory serves me correctly, my priorities were a bit mixed up, as I was kind of in love or something.
Long story short, my college career ended around that time and I never went back.
I spent eight weeks at The Connecticut School of Broadcasting, thinking maybe I wanted to be on the radio. That would be fun. That wouldn’t be like work at all. When I “graduated” with a certificate in Radio & TV Broadcasting, I didn’t feel I knew any more about Radio & TV broadcasing then I did before I took the class.
I also dabbled in Stand-Up Comedy.
I found a school in NYC and, mostly at the urging of Bub and Joot, I took a comedy class.
It was a lot of fun. I met a lot of cool people and got to perform three times on stages in NYC. As I’ve said before, right here on this blog, it was the craziest, funnest, most surreal thing I’ve ever done. That was almost 10 years ago, and had I stuck with it, and really focused, who knows where I’d be right now.
Instead of being rich and famous, and firmly entrenched in a career I’m just confused and, honestly, a bit lost.
Sometimes it scares me to death.
What am I supposed to be doing? Why haven’t I figured it out?
Do people eventually just give in and settle? Do we, as humans, eventually reach a sort of compromise with the universe. Do people who truly hate their jobs stick it out, because they have a beautiful spouse, and beautiful children and a beautiful home and hating work is a small price to pay for that level of happiness. Is that the piece of the puzzle that I don’t understand?
Is loving your career overated when the flip side is having a loving family to come home to every night? Who knows? Well, maybe most people know. But I don’t.
If books, movies and TV have tought me anything, it’s that things happen when you least expect it.
Okay……any day now….I’m waiting.
“The man with the best job in the country is the Vice President. All he has to do is get up every morning and say, ‘How is the President?’”
- Will Rogers
You no help me now…I say fuck you Jobu
Posted in Uncategorized on April 9, 2009 by bigdaddygouda
This past weekend, while partying in Boston, a debate broke out about great sports movies. (At least I think it did. Memories after Midnight are spotty at best.)
While we could pretty much all agree on what indeed are “great” sports movies, opinions varied on what was in fact “The Best”.
Here are MY 10 Favorite Sports Movies Of All Time:
10. WE ARE MARSHAL
9. THE ROOKIE (the baseball one with Dennis Quaid, not the Charlie Sheen/Clint Eastwood cop movie and certainly not “Rookie of the Year” with that dork who went on to be UNFUNNY in American Pie.)
8. BULL DURHAM
7. THE NATURAL
6. RUDY
5. CINDERELLA MAN
4. MAJOR LEAGUE
3. FIELD OF DREAMS
2. HOOSIERS
AND, MY ALL TIME FAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE IS……
1. ROCKY
