Thoughts from Third Base: November 8, 2010

It's over 80 degrees in my office. Uggggh.

Possibly the first teaser for Star Trek 2. I'm excited for it.



Tons of Superman news.  First, Who will play play Superman?  If it is Rock or John Cena (second link), again I say Ugggh.  I think Routh was a good Superman, and Welling would be as well.  Why not continue along the lines of the Smallville mythos?  Then you have your Superman, Lois, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, and others as well.

Thank you Warner Brothers for not letting Steven Speilberg ruin Harry Potter.  The movies aren't perfect...I would give Order of the Phoenix a D (for Dreadful).  However, it is better than a CG Potter franchise shrunken down even more.  Was what happened to A Series of Unfortunate Events.  It wasn't bad...but it wasn't good either.

One of my favorite 80's TV cartoons is finally coming back.  Long overdue, if you ask me.

Another Silent Hill Movie?  Yes please.  Although we can add that to the list of movies that makes WV look bad!

This is just funny.  BTW...I got the vid from a different site...I don't frequent the site it's from.  Blech.



In addition to Green Lantern, Batman, and Superman Warner Bros. is said to be working on Wonder Woman and Flash, as well as possible other DC properties.  Shazam! is not included.  I really would love a Firestorm movie, which could be stellar.

Jane Lynch is all over the TV this holiday season.  That last one could be awesome!

Vanessa is blogging about her time getting a new dog, which will commence soon.  She's going to be sharing the process for those curious.

Jason Segal is making the new Muppet Movie...which means awesome because Segal rocks quite a bit.



The big controversy last week was that Hulk Hogan flashed the camera in front of his daughter Brooke in the commercial for a game.  However, funny story...he really didn't.  Something with a wrestler NOT being real/what it seems?  Who woulda thunk it?  :-)

As the Reds post season recognitions keep coming, Walt Jocketty was named Executive of the Year.  Other deserving Reds (we'll see how it pays out over the next couple weeks) are Brandon Phillips (Silver Slugger, Gold Glove), Jay Bruce and Scott Rolen (Golden Glove), Dusty Baker (Manager of the Year), and Joey Votto (Silver Slugger, Golden Glove, MVP, and pretty much anything else they give awards for).  I supposed Coco will be in talks for the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year.

The Reds, Tigers, and all of Major League Baseball have lost a legend this week.  Each of those is a different link that says things better than I could, so why try?

Jay Bruce is just one of many Reds getting paid this year.  And by paid, I mean the big bucks.

Taxes in baseball.  There is a luxury tax in baseball.  I agree there should also be a salary floor.  A team should be required to spend so much...to actually attempt to win. Pirates, Marlins, I'm looking at you.

A Redsfest wishlist. In addition to Mark Lewis (on the list) I would add Bip Roberts.  I think the Reds should try to bring back any and every person they can.

Rock Band 3 gets Bon Jovi content.  I'm fully in favor and it's worth getting RB3 for.

More Captain America pictures.  Let's see what Dawgie thinks of the shield...but I think the second picture I show may get Elissa to watch it.



The new Scream 4 poster makes me excited for the new movie.



Another Discworld movie, even animated, is good with me.

Interesting stories coming for Gotham City.  Could be good.

I am VERY good with the idea of Eliza Dushku as Wonder Woman, either on small or big screen.

The first part of the Dark Tower saga gets a release date.  Could be amazing!

The Third Narnia film is looking to go back to the awesome fantasy roots, as opposed to the borefest of Prince Caspian.

They keep teasing us with information on Batman: Arkham City.  I cannot wait for this game.

Aroldis Chapman may stay a reliever for now.  With Arroyo, Volquez, Cueto, Bailey, Wood, Leake, Maloney, and Lecure, that may be the best bet.  It also protects him.

Aunt Petunia (Harry Potter) is going to be in True Blood.  Seeing as all I hear about True Blood is that they are constantly naked...this really scares me.

That's good for now.  Have an awesome week!

Sermons from Second: "Why are people so stupid?"

Time for a new feature here for my ones of fans!  :-)

Obviously my Thoughts from Third deal with thoughts on various news items I get from my RSS Feeds.

Sermons from Second will be my rants or thoughts (really...I'm a squiggle...that means I go on tangents...) on different issues.  However, this one starts with an RSS feed also.

I sent a friend and the wife a fully image from The Art of Trolling.  For reference:



Now, I'll start by saying I don't know if that was a troll posting or a real person.  You never know.

The wife's response: why are people so stupid??

So I was about to respond to her.  Then I decided I would respond...but instead of to her, to everyone.  (And by that, of course, I mean the...4 people who read this???)

Anyway...

I live in Ohio.  Talawanda High School has a building that is amazingly out of date.  Yet every election until the 2008 for what, if I remember right, was at least 10 years a levy to build a new school was shot down.  In this election, I believe maybe ONE school levy passed and every other one was shot down.  (I know I could check that...but let's be realistic...I get my news from RSS feeds.  I'm too lazy to go look.)

Why are people so stupid?  Our education system is failing miserably because of a combination of apathy, political maneuvering, finances, religion (the old favorite...), etc.

Let's just take the example given above. We're going to, for the point of this argument, go with it NOT being a troll.  How could someone NOT know?  I would place that one of religion and politics...which too often are in bed together in the land of "separation of church and state."  The prevailing feeling is that we can't teach kids about sex, much less SAFE sex.  We have to protect the kids from the EVILS of sex...it is just for procreation, and SURELY they will learn when they are married.  However, violence....by all means teach it, make it better, show it anyway on TV, and glorify it.  Organized religion glorifies violence (after all how many ways/acts of violence have religion as their basis) and vilifies sex.

If I ever have children, I would seriously consider home schooling them.  The ONLY reason not to is the socialization component.  I could teach English and the History family.  Jennifer has math more than covered.  As far as science...we both have a base in science.  Also, our university Lecture Series is PROVING we don't have science teachers anyway.  See...we are bringing Bill Nye (The Science Guy) for our Lecture Series in January.  I think it is going to be amazing, and upon talking to the box office we have eight to eighty scrambling to get the tickets in January.  The reason for most of them is the same.  That is where they learned science...and often where they learned science in classes.  The teacher would have Bill Nye teach their students.  Simple. Easy.  More time to....do whatever they did at their desk.  I could do that.  Anyone could.

I want to finish by saying I know some AMAZING teachers.  I wanted to be a teacher in high school, and now teach a course at a college.  I'm NOT (despite how it may sound) laying the blame on them.  I will say in my life I have had some terrific teachers and some rather dreadful teachers.  A lot of the dreadful ones I've seen that they once had it...and the system knocked them down.  I LOVE watching movies about teachers who find a way to fight the system and educate their students.  Lean on Me.  Stand and Deliver.  Dangerous Minds.  Mr. Holland's Opus.  Dead Poet's Society.  Renaissance Man.  Freedom Writers.  The Ron Clark Story.  Just to name a few.  I love them.  I believe in teachers.  I have a lot of students who I think can be these types of teachers, and when I see some of the education majors, I think we have a bright future.

However, what does pretty much every one of those movies have in common?  First, most are true stories, which I LOVE.  Second, however, is that they have to fight a failing educational system to reach the students. They often have to take resources out of their own (and their families) pockets to teach.  The school system isn't out there helping.  It actually hinders...whether it is against teaching philosophies, policies, material taught, or (most often) funding, our educational system doesn't help.  Why SHOULD teachers have to provide these things out of pocket?  Our resources in this country go to the wrong place.  In 2008 we gave a multi-BILLION dollar bailout to many businesses.  We have spent TRILLIONS of dollars on war, not just in my life time but in the past DECADE.  If we put HALF of that money to a unilateral improvement of our education system, America would not be in the state of decline it is.  If we prepared people better...if we taught English, math, social studies, science, the arts, phys ed, INTEGRITY, etc. in our schools in a more quality way, the problems we see wouldn't be how they are.

Why are people so stupid?  Because the American education system is failing them.

Now...to end on a high note, as I said...there ARE amazing teachers.  This is not only one of those teachers, it is also ABOUT those teachers and improves my day.

Thoughts from Third Base: November 2, 2010

I do have plans for this other than these news recaps.  Look for more in the future...just not there yet.

Adam Richman is on campus today, which makes everything crazy.

With Election Day this week, however, I'll start with something election related.  Former WWE head Linda McMahon is running for Senate.  So the Secretary of State for Connecticut ruled that WWE clothes would be banned from the polls, because fans are sheep, I suppose, and that was promoting her.  I know I would not vote for her if I lived there, because I care more about politics.  I'm not sure I would vote for her primary opposition either, however...as his campaign shows clips from WWE and claims things like "Linda McMahon supports beating the mentally handicapped" or something similar.  Either way, WWE sued, and the ban is lifted.  I often hate politics.  Even someone with the best intentions (President Obama, for example) gets so bogged down by people with special interests that they have to water everything down to get what they want done.

Speaking of which...no link here...but why are people hating on the President?  He said he had certain goals.  Pull our troops from Iraq, fix the financial crisis, health care, etc.  He has moved everything he said he wanted forward.   People complain about everything.

Kevin Smith has a new movie.  It has a poster.  The poster is here, and more intriguing than I expected.



Another book-turned-movie coming out that could be...intriguing.  If my reading time wasn't devoted primarily to the King project, I would consider this book.

Goonies: The Musical.  Ok.  Time for The Princess Bride musical.

For Halloween:  (Jennifer...don't go.)



EW has the first image of Chris Evans as Captain America.  I'm good with it, and more importantly Big Dawg is as well, and he is the huge Cap fan.  That's 3 straight TfT in which I've mentioned him...



The Fine Bros. Have their newest spolers, which are always awesome!  Love watching these!  This time: 100 Horror Move Spolers in 5 minutes.  They also had 50 Nintendo, 100 Reality, Move Spoilers, Movie Spoilers: Oscar Edition, and more.  You should check them out.



Just in time for the new BSG prequel, as detailed in the last TfT, the first one, Caprica, is cancelled.

Joey Votto was named the NL Hank Aaron Award.

Congrats to the Giants for winning the World Series.  Now is the time when it's Hot Stove Season instead of baseball season.  I already miss home. (GABP, which the wife calls my first home.)

Could this be good? Sure.  Will I watch it.  Probably.  Is it a rip-off of Fables?  Yes.

I'll reserve judgement on this until I see it.  A third Ghostbusters isn't the sure thing most think...could be great.  Could be horrid.

I agree with her.  I've never been one to get star-struck.  For the most part I would say...75% of the celebrities in the world are doing what they love and should not have every aspect of their life broadcast every where.  If I ran into Will Smith somewhere (possibly my longest bit of fandom...) I would thank him for the joy he has brought to my life for the past... (quick math) 23 years or so.  (Yes...I used a calculator...).  I wouldn't be all googly-eyed and shocked and everything...nor would I bother him if he was out doing his thing.

Really...that's good for today.  Go vote.  Wait.  I know at least half of my readers have...so....

Thoughts from Third Base: October 25, 2010

So...what am I seeing in the RSS that is interesting today? (Really...do either of you who read my blog think I find this stuff on my own?)

Things like this hurt my head all around.

Could they be as bad as Episodes I and II?  Is that possible?

I finally finished The Tommyknockers last night.  I've been doing an audiobook tour of all of Stephen King's books. I started last summer and used trips to Reds games for a lot of the books.  I could get through a lot of the books quickly-even IT only took me a couple of weeks.  I started Tommyknockers, I believe, August 13.  That is two months.  That is unheard of.  It wasn't bad.  It was just hard to get through, because he didn't make you care for the characters, really.  There were only two characters I cared about at all, and it made me not care as much about what happened.  King has acknowledged he wrote the book during the period where he was heavily using many substances, and realized after that he wrote this book as a metaphor for addiction.  I'm just glad I can move on.  The Dark Half is next.  I'm saving the non-fiction books.

Some people are upset that three cast members from Glee took pics for GQ for men that some say promote pedophilia.  Really.  They are 24, 24, and 28.  There are SO MANY stupid things about this "controversy"
 that it makes me feel like many around me who hate people.

More Battlestar Galactica.  I approve.

I don't know what to think of this, however.  I think Will Smith is amazing and M. Night Shymalan has only made two good movies.  Maybe finally a third??

What the....  That is ABSURD!  Nintendo sells 46 THOUSAND wii-motes a day.  I...I'm baffled.

The Rangers and Giants are in the World Series.  My top picks were the Reds (of course) and the Rays.  The Rangers and Giants were second picks.  Should be interesting.  If only I had time to watch.

Big Dawgie has spent all day claiming Disney supports interracial orgies.  He has data to back this up.  I mean...he searched wikipedia...so surely... :-)  Latest comment: "I can hear Mickey now. 'Remember kids always wear a rubber!'"

I'd watch a good baseball TV series.  More baseball in my life is ALWAYS needed!

John Fay asks the question "Can the Reds afford Joey Votto?"  That is not a question...Yes...we have to.  There is no question.

'Tis enough for today.  Have a good one!  Smile a lot!

I found the best things ever.

Thoughts from Third Base: October 19, 2010

It's Homecoming Week at Miami! Time for lots of fun.

My best friend just told me his wife wants to play with me. Just so you know...

First, a comment. Full applause to the "Bleacher Creatures" at Yankee Stadium (yes, I am starting with praise of Yankees/Yankees fans) for their part in fighting homophobia.  I'll be honest. I have friends who say things like "that's gay" or "that's retarded."  I confront it when I can.  However, when anyone says that, their stock goes down in my book.  I plan to blog on this, but I've decided everyone has their internal points systems for if they like someone.  Things have different values, and they raise or lower what you think of someone.  If you say things like "that's gay" or "that's retarded" you lose several points in my book.

Next up, a few blogs you can look at if you want.  Four different ones, including the wife, a great friend, This year's PB president,and last year's PB pres.

On to other news.

Google, again, rules all.  I told my grandfather 18 years ago I thought this should happen.  He told me it would.

If you haven't seen this movie watch it.  If you're geeky.   And if you're reading this...I have news for you...

I support Brandon Routh as Superman.  Either him or Tom Welling.

Daniel Radcliff is worth more than two princes.  Good.  What have they done for the world?

Scream 4 is coming out.  I'm hesitantly excited.  Could go either way.

WWE is asking fans to stand up for them.  I guess it's something they can't do for themselves??  Good video, however.

More Civ V!  This could get expensive.  Jennifer, you don't read this, right?

Speaking of me spending money...

Kevin Smith is getting older, and is overweight.  Me too.  And I will watch this.

This makes me happy.

I'm busy.  That's all for today.

WOW! What the?????

All I can say is wow...just wow. I....I just don't know what to say. This hurts my head. A lot.

Thoughts from Third Base: October 8, 2010

The most important things today is obvious!  It's my mom's birthday!!!  I don't think she sees this...but if you found it, Happy Birthday Mom!  Love you!! (I called her at 12:16am.)  If you haven't met my mom she is, by far, the best mother I could have ever asked for.

The other big thing today, of course, is Game 2 of the NLDS with the "upstart Reds" taking on the "Best baseball team around", the Phillies!  I'm excited to see what the Reds do to the Phils tonight.  I am calling for a 2-run first.  BP will get a double, OCab bunts down the third base line to move him over, Votto Sac Fly, Rolen cranks one out.  Let's see how that works out for me!  :-)

Anyway...I've kept my mind mostly OFF the Reds today to not get excitement built up to the point where I explode...so let's move on to other topics.

Batman 3 rumor of the week: Killer Croc as the main villian.  I'm not a fan.  Partially because Nolan has said he won't use unrealistic villains, and that sums up Croc.  Second, because I want to see a story where Harley Quinn, The Riddle, and Hush are the Big Bads.*  It would make for a great movie, IMHO.

Green Lantern is getting an animated series in addition to his movie.  Add that to the new Young Justice 'toon, and DC is continuing it's excellence in animation.

In other DC Comics news, they are changing the price of comics...they are dropping them by a dollar!  Exciting to have some of my books be a bit cheaper.  Thanks to the big DC for that!  I'd tell Marvel to take a hint...if I bought more than 2 books from them.  (Iron Man and Iron Man: Legacy, in case you were wondering)

I have a mad love for the Harry Potter books, and this is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen!  No wonder they were so good.  A lot of writers should take note!

Speaking of, since maybe 3 people will read this, I am STILL working on getting through The Tommyknockers in my Stephen King read through.  It's getting better, though!  It's not bad...it just hasn't made me care.

Civilization V has been amazing so far, and has distracted me well from almost anything else.  It's pretty much permanently up on my computer in case I get time for a turn.  Speaking of which....

....


....


...and I'm back!

I LOVE Smallville and am enjoying the final season....but the plot for the new Superman movie looks horrible.  If that is the plot, I don't think I will watch....ok, maybe not the first week or two...Why can't movies get Superman right?  It is an EASY formula...a monkey could write a better plot outline.  I know I have 20 in my head that would be better.

I may watch this after how amazing BSG was.

Not quite as confident about this, however.  Unless Dave Coleman is involved, I'm probably out.

This could be hilarious, though!

I think Grilled Cheesus was possibly the best episode yet of Glee.

This has promise also.  And...something moderately new.

I hope Haven is picked up for a second season.

That's a lot for today, so, moving on, time for another turn...


*Thank you, Joss Whedon, for bringing the Big Bads to us!

Sermons from Second: Just one game?

::I came back and appropriately added the title to the post::

The Reds lost yesterday.  Everyone says the same thing.  "It's just one game."  I have to respectfully disagree.

It's a lot more than just one game.

I remember 1990.  I remember sitting on the edge of my bed watching nightly as the Reds beat the Oakland Athletics to win the World Series.  I remember how excited I was.  I remember cheering in happiness and waking my mom up.  Mostly I remember how my 12-year old self felt.  I felt that it was time.  I was going to be enjoying a Reds dynasty.  I was going to see the Reds the next year and every year thereafter in the World Series.  We had made it.  I went to school the next day and told all of my friends (and enemies...and anyone who would listen) that the Reds were going to win again the next year.  While I enjoyed them winning the World Series, I was looking more at the long term.  With Larkin, Davis, Rijo, Hatcher, and the rest...the Reds would be  in the World Series for years.

I don't really remember 1995.  I don't know why.  I just don't remember any of the games or that same feeling.  It wasn't the strike...I actually sided with the players and felt (and still do) they deserve their money.  Why should the owners get rich and not share with the people who actually MAKE them the money?

1999 was a blip.  I was also starting to fall head-over-heels for Jennifer, that the Reds had taken a bit more of a back seat.  I was also surrounded by friends who didn't care in the slightest.

I remember complaining about the Scott Rolen trade.  Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart were too high of a price.  I remember Redsfest and Spring Training...and April.  Throughout the whole time, I said the same thing.  I love the Reds.  I want to see them win it all.  I just thought it was a year early.  We were built to win from 2011-2014 or so...not for 2010.  At 32 I enjoyed from Redsfest through the first half of the season celebrating 1990 again...after all, it was really all I had to remember in that way.

I got home just in time to see the Reds clinch and watched the whole celebration in tears.  I won't lie, throughout the whole season I teared up anytime I thought of Reds and Playoffs in the same sentence.  I still do.

Last night I saw the Reds in the playoffs.  They lost.  They lost in spectacular and historical fashion.  However, it's not just one game.  The Reds are in the playoffs.  This isn't guaranteed for any teams, no matter how it may seem like it.  (Even the Yankees and Red Sox have missed the playoffs occasionally in the past few years.

I'd love nothing more than for the Reds to win it all.  I want to see the World Series trophy in Cincinnati.  I want to be at a celebration downtown for the Reds.  This is just my fifth year as a season ticket holder, but I have been a Reds fan my whole life.  I have suffered like the rest if the Reds fans at the misery of the past decade.

I've suffered enough to know that last night was so much more than just one game.  It was the Reds actually playing in the playoffs, and I'll celebrate that, no matter how bad it is.  After ten years, having even one game means so much, that the word "just" just isn't enough.

Thoughts from Third Base: September 7, 2010

I still haven't fully realized this site, so for now I am, it seems, writing for myself.  Oh well...I'm fine with that. This is actually my fifth blog site I rarely use....maybe I can be at a nice dozen by December.

Anyway...on to some random news.

Google continues it's bid to take over the world.  I don't mind.  I like Google.  Maybe they will do better than others at it.

Former pro-wrestler and current life coach DDP is suing 3OH!3  over use of a hand symbol he used...and others have as well.

The opening to the Emmys was awesome this year.  I like Jimmy Fallon.

You can't get a prostitute from Craig's List anymore.  If you did...well...that says something on your life journey to this point.

Battleship: The Movie....really, Hollywood is out of ideas.  They should hire a writer to live in my head.  I think the last image is because she is on a movie based on Battleship.  Clue I get...and it was an awesome movie.  Battleship???  Really?

I was about to get upset with this...until I saw the source...

I agree with Kristen Bell...we need more Veronica Mars!

I'm ready for more How I Met Your Mother.

Fall TV guide.  Monday, I'm looking forward to HIMYM, House, Chuck, and may give The Event a chance. Tuesday is all about Glee, as there is nothing else I'm interested in. Wednesday I obviously get to catch up on gaming.  Thursday is S#*t My Dad Says and The Big Bang Theory, although I'd love to get back into Bones and may give Community a chance someday...Friday is the final season of Smallville.

If you are wondering why they are still making Final Destination movies you can blame me.  I love them.

I miss Better Off Ted, but am happy I can get new episodes of the brilliant cancelled show!

I'm all for a Neverland Mini-series.  Not as confident about Bill and Ted's Fighting Forties....

Ronald Moore...Magic... yes, I will watch this.  I have no problem.  Give me a date and time, I'll set the DVR.

Chewbacca the Pooh? Winnie the Wookie?  However you say it...the truth is...AWESOME!

I want this game NOW! not next fall. Arkham Asylum was the best game I played last year. Red Dead Redemption takes the honor so far this year.  Civ V may beat it out. Also, Resident Evil 6 news also makes me happy.

I'm good with either...but Tom Welling is my Superman...though Brandon Routh was AWESOME in that BAD movie.

I want these shoes!  Several different pairs.  Batman. Robin.  Others.  If someone makes Nightwing shoes, Jennifer and I may go to the poor house.

Not that Reds playoff tickets won't already be doing that to us.

And with that...Reds updates!!

The Reds Rotation...so reliable all season, is in shambles.  Who do you take in the playoffs as your pitchers?  I would have Cueto, Arroyo, Wood, and maybe Leake...though that is risky all around.

I disliked the trade then. I dislike it more now.  I would rather have Chris Dickerson around.

While things COULD still go south...I agree with Paul Daugherty.  There's no reason to panic.  I realize by this time next week we could be in second place...or we could have a double digit lead.  The fact is the Reds are playing well and I am enjoying it...and that is enough for me.  They have the best record in the NL and the biggest division lead to boot.  The sky is not falling...enjoy this season.

Hal McCoy describes an AWESOME prank!  Wow...that's awesome.

I agree with Redleg Nation...Thanks Aaron!  You were one of my favorite Reds...a great guy and a team player.  I hope you rebound well wherever you land.

That's enough for today!  Have a tremendous week!!