archived entries for September 2006

Monday, September 25, 2006
it’s like candy on the playground
So I finally got a chance to view the latest work of my favorite television writer. Yea, Aaron Sorkin is back on the air with his buddy Tommy Schlamme. Of course, if you were a fan too, you would have heard of the Studio 60 project a while ago. And thusly would have suffered the long, tortuous wait since the Sorkin’s early departure from the West Wing.

I swear, it’s like a moth to the flame with me and this guy’s work. He’s a fine craftsman and I, quite the grateful connoisseur. And this time around is no different. If I were to follow the simile out to its conclusion, Studio 60 is the same quality treat, just in a different wrapper and with some new flavors, but essentially the same yummy garrulous goodness. Oh man do I love me some Sorkin. Okay, I promise that’s enough of the gushing. Obviously, I can’t offer any sort of an objective view on the show since I’m in essence Aaron’s bitch, but from what I can gather from the first episode it looks to be a good enough show in its own right. Aside from the lovely pace and dialogue, the ensemble cast seems, once again, a silky fit for the writing. Admittedly I was a bit skeptical about Amanda Peet and Matthew Perry (but not so much him since I saw his turn with Sorkin’s work on a brief arc of the West Wing and he seemed to handle it fine)… Oh by the way, I’m blogging this at 30,000 ft on my way to Phoenix and the in flight movie is featuring Lindsay Lohan. I know I really shouldn’t and it’s really bad candy, but what are you going to do? I’m sorry she’s just really hot. And as much as I hate to admit this, I’ve also got quite the crush on Hayden Panettiere… who’s starring in the new NBC show Heroes. I’ve got a problem, I know. Please help.

Okay. That was atrociously bad candy. I think I cracked a tooth

Anyway, so what was I saying? Yeah, the show looks to be good stuff. That’s all you need to know and if you’ve got the time, you should do yourself a favor. And if you haven’t already seen Sports Night or A Few Good Men, or the The American President or you know, The West Wing, well um… sorry?

Other new shows on the radar clogging up the DVR, Jericho, Heroes, Kidnapped, The Nine and Shark (what? It’s James Woods doing his thing, I had to at least catch the first few episodes… but I have to say I much prefer James Spader’s lawyering). We’ll see how long those maintain my interest. Oh and there’s that Lost show which had been testing my patience for much of last season.

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Thursday, September 21, 2006
a bountiful salvation
Last week I read an article in Time titled “Does God Want You To Be Rich”? An interesting read about this supposedly new prosperity theology movement amongst our nation’s evangelicals. But it was something I noticed in my past efforts to become one of the saved.

One of the more disturbing trends I began to notice in my experience with the church dating back to my high school years was this sort of bias of affluence that seemed to permeate the “flock”. It just seemed that sermons and “the message” tended more towards financial prosperity. It was subtle and perhaps I was a little overly sensitive to it since I certainly didn’t fall into that category, but certainly something I picked up on and found rather discomforting. Oddly enough, this was way more evident in the “big” or “mega” churches that I sometimes visited. But not only the message from the pulpit or stage, but the reaction of the congregation and their “needs”. Often prayer requests sounded more like financial wish lists. A nicer car, a better house, higher salary or bonus. Lost were requests for understanding, patience, peace or some of the more important tenants of what a “faith” is supposed to fulfill.

I remember one morning after ‘Meet The Press’ I happened to catch one of those Sunday morning sermon shows that a few massive churches like to broadcast to “spread the word”. I nearly choked on my eggo listening to that message of God. And it was that of Joel Osteen, a prominent figure that has made the media rounds lately preaching his brand of Christianity.

Now to me, this whole idea of God wanting everyone to be prosperous, in financial terms, seems to go against the very tenants of the faith. At least how I remembered them as I was growing up. It seems to put way too much emphasis on the necessity to have a bigger house, a nicer car, a higher wage. I mean listening to one of these sermons is akin to attending an Amway convention. Get all your wildest dreams! Pray hard enough, be a good Christian, and support the church (i.e., the more you “tithe” the better, plus those extra donations for various building funds, missionary trips and new outreach programs) and you too can be this fabulous! No reason to be “poor”. If you’re rich in faith you deserve to be rich in material wealth! Doesn’t that just seem… I don’t know, wrong? But I suppose it actually would make sense though. I mean the church only can do as well as its congregation. So if they’re all doing well, then the church is doing well. Probably a rather cynical way to look at all this “empowering” divine inspiration I suppose. But you know for all the talk about Bush being the devil or the anti-Christ, I’m thinking this Joel Osteen guy is a closer representation of the one believers should be renouncing.

another fascination
Goodness, I think I’m in love with Ashly Delgrosso. Do you think she’d marry me? Ashly, would you marry me?

Plus, Anousheh Ansari is one hell of a woman. I’m just saying.

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Tuesday, September 19, 2006
so moving on...
Okay, I'll admit that this weekend I was fuming at the huge mistake made by the refs in the Oregon/Oklahoma game and I knew there would be some discussion during the week, but I certainly did not expect the shameless petulance displayed by the Sooner nation. And the completely inappropriate letter from the university president? Totally uncalled for, not to mention the incredibly tasteless threats upon the refs from moronic fans.

It was a huge mistake for sure and the reprimand was at least some acknowledgement of the travesty in officiating, but the way the university has carried itself, well it has been quite embarrassing. I’ve gotten over it and moved on and no doubt I think the Sooner nation should do the same.

In other news, I saw real Amish today. Horse buggy and everything. Pennsylvania is great!

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Saturday, September 16, 2006
no way
OMG SUCH UTTER MANURE! TWO! TWO reviews BOTH CALLED WRONG! And Oregon lucked out a win. Complete BS. Why the hell is there a replay system if they still can't get it right 100% of the time. They freakin have the time and multiple angles to review and in High Def! Hell, if they're still confounded, ask some of the broadcast commentators to help out. Geez. UN. FREAKIN. BELIEVABLE.

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Thursday, September 07, 2006
and so it was done
Holy mackerel. It only took four days of concerted effort, but they're up. All of them, even those pesky Spain pics. So go and peruse. I’m going to bed.

Oh and if you’d like some narrative, you can go here last year’s Europe extravaganza. Go here the Spanish bonanza. Cheers.

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