The Ram vs The Ayatollah

The Wrestler (2009)
Cinemark - Moosic, PA
I've been looking forward to seeing this for the past year.  Angie and I worked as extras in the final scene.  I didn't notice either of us in the background on the big screen, but it's tough to say for sure.  I'll have to wait until it comes out on DVD to see if we made the final cut.

Even if you're not a fan of professional wrestling, this is a powerful film that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone.  Mickey Rourke delivers a flawless performance as a wrestler who was on top of the world back in the 80's, but has now found himself back on the indy scene, hoping to scratch a buck out wherever he can.  I can't help but to notice the parallel's between his character, Randy "The Ram" Robinson and the peek behind the curtain that we get to see of Jake "The Snake" Roberts in the 1999 Beyond The Mat documentary.

The ending is different than the one that I saw on the second night of filming (the night with the ROH crowd from their live event), which is where most of the crowd shots from that scene seem to have come from, but I'm thinking that ending was never intended to be used for the film and was just tacked on for the benefit of the wrestling fans in attendance.  If that's the case, Daren Aronofsky made the right call.  I don't want to spoil anything but I think that they way the finished movie ended was absolutely perfect.

President Samurai

President Obama action figure.
This is the most badass awesome toy ever made.
source: Gamu Toys

My Not Quite Live Journal

I found my old LiveJournal a few weeks ago.  It was mostly filled with diary entries and thoughts about movies, music and sports.  Evidently, the 23 year old me was obsessed with The Butterfly Effect.  I still think it's a pretty good movie, but I don't remember loving it THAT much.

Most of what I wrote was so cringeworthy that I deleted the whole thing out of sheer embarrassment, but this entry from five years ago brought a smile to my face. It was written on the morning before the Eagles 4th and 26 game that would go down in history as one of the most dramatic come from behind wins in franchise history.  The Eagles finished their 2003 season with a 12-4 record and played the Packers in the first round of the playoffs.  By the middle of the 4th quarter, it wasn't looking good.  The Eagles were losing 17-14 with 1:12 remaining in the game when they faced with a fourth down and 26 yards at their own 26 yard line, but Donovan McNabb completed a 28 yard pass to Freddie Mitchell for the first down.  They continued to drive the ball until David Akers kicked a 37 yard field goal to tie the game and sent it to overtime.  The Eagles won in OT when Brian Dawkins intercepted a pass from Brett Favre and returned the ball 35 yards to set Akers up to kick a field goal for the win.

At the beginning of this entry, I mentioned that the Baseball In The 70's video that I ordered had just arrived in the mail.  Dad bought me the Baseball In The 80's VHS tape from Blockbuster Video when I was in middle school, and I must have watched it a hundred times.  I knew there was another tape in the series from the previous decade, but I was never able to find it until many years later when I found a copy for sale on eBay.  It was pretty good, but it wasn't the same format as the 80's tape.  It seems like they took two completely separate short documentaries and released them in similar packaging to make it feel like a series.  I kind of wish they would go back to this concept and release a series of videos that tell the story of the game for previous decades, but I suppose this already exists in the fantastic Ken Burns documentary.

Where A Cube Can Be A Cube

Rubik's Cube
Chuck-E-Cheese (1982)

A Rubik's Cube featuring the animatronic characters from Chuck-E-Cheese restaurants were offered to customers of the arcade/restaurant in the early 80's.

According to this commercial which was shared by the Animation Among Us channel on YouTube, these Rubik's Cube toys were offered to customers for 99 cents if they purchased a large pizza.  I collect different variations of the iconic 80's toy, so I'm hoping to find one of these someday soon.

My Buddy And Me

Little Sammy has been quite a cuddlebug over the holidays.

Sweet Stocking Stuffer

This box of yummy Phillies cookies was given to me as a Christmas present.

Merry Christmas

Puppy Present

Sammy loves his Christmas present, but he had a difficult time carrying it through the doorway.

Christmas Gifts For The Crapper

One of my grandmother's friends gave this to her for Christmas.  It's a roll of toilet paper dipped in wax, with a cloth ribbon with a seashell glued to it tied in a bow.  I am quite disturbed by this.

An Apple From Yesterday

The Apple Dumplin'
Route 309 - Wilkes Barre, PA
Angie and I were watching some old VHS tapes that we picked up at the flea market.  One of the tapes had a few episodes of Dawson's Creek with the original commercials, and one of the commercials was for an ice cream and apple dumpling restaurant.  I thought the inside of the building at the start of the commercial looked familiar, but the last few seconds sealed it.  This building was turned into the Subway restaurant where I work.

A Christmas Cockapoo

Little Sammy is lounging on the recliner in his Santa hat.

If Marilyn Monroe Owned A PSP

Sony Playstation Portable advertisement
TBWA Madrid (2008)

This scan of a Sony PSP ad was recently shared by The Arab Aquarius.  I haven't come across it in a gaming magazine, and I'm pretty sure I would have noticed it if I had.  The idea is that she's so fascinated by game that she is completely oblivious to the gust of air coming up from the subway grating.

Santa Wears DX Boxers

WWF Shopzone
Fall 1998

Their Treasure Wasn't Gold... It Was Gift Cards

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull gift card
K-Mart (2008)
I've come to accept that I'm the only person in the world who actually enjoyed this movie, so the commemorative collectibles have been pretty easy to come by.

Bring Back Peace To Hyrule

Zelda II: The Adventures Of Link
Nintendo (1988)
The sequel to the NES classic The Legend Of Zelda was released in North America twenty years ago today.  It's not a bad game, but it's one of my least favorite in the franchise.  Whether you love it, hate it, or are in-between, you can't deny that the artwork in the instruction booklet is pretty awesome!

I think my favorite is the drawing of Link using magic in the top right corner.

Turkey Day With The Pup

Sammy and I at my grandparent's on Thanksgiving.  He's being very calm and patient considering all the food in the kitchen.

Can I Refill Your Eggnog For You?

Happy Thanksgiving
Grandpa is very fond of eggnog during the holiday season.

A Sound Filled The Night In The Cold Winter Air

Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Wachovia Arena - Wilkes-Barre, PA

We got to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for the first time two years ago and they were absolutely incredible.  Last night was our second time seeing them, and they were every bit as amazing as they were the first time.

Here is the setlist from last night's show in Wilkes-Barre.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

USA Today Machine
Bob Evans - Wilkes Barre, PA
We stopped at Bob Evans for dinner after the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert tonight and there were still a few newspapers left in the machine.  Seeing this makes me truly proud to be an American.

Take Me Down To The Value City

Value City
Church Hill Mall - Hazleton, PA
This is one of my favorite stores.  They get a lot of irregular clothes from expensive brand names.  Usually the flaws are insignificant and definitely worth getting for the bargain you're getting - like a new pair of Levi's jeans for about five bucks.  They also had a huge shipment of Playstation and N64 games for $19.99 when I worked here in the late 90's.  They were the newest consoles on the market at the time and most stores sold them for $40 - $50 each, so I stocked up.

Eat Fresh

Check out the great big nerd behind the hoagie counter working his way through college.

It's Been A Very Good Year

From Hazleton to the World Series

It's very cool to see Joe Maddon reach the World Series, but this Hazletonian is strictly a Phillies fan.
Source: ESPN

Pumpkin Patch Saturday

Burger's Farm Market
St Johns Road - Drums, PA

Sad Pumpkin

Burger's Farm Market
St Johns Road - Drums, PA

God Damn Right, It's A Beautiful Day

Charlie Bartlett
MGM (2008)
Somehow, the team Charlie Bartlett managed to take a screenplay about a rich kid who partners with a bully to sell drugs and counseling services from a high school bathroom and turn it into a sweet and heartwarming story.  Anton Yelchin plays the title character with warmth and speaks with a cadence that reminded me of Ferris Bueller comforting Cameron, and the soundtrack is a perfect match for tone of the film, including two incredible Eels tracks: Mr. E's Beautiful Blues and Hey Man Now You're Really Living.

Pumpkin Waffles

Bloomsburg Fair
These things are very addictive!

Sunday Night At The Fair

Horticulture Hall
Bloomsburg Fair

The Bloomsburg Fair Midway

Bloomsburg Fair
I haven't been on any of the rides at the fair since I was sixteen, but I always enjoy taking some time to walk around the midway, have some food, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the carnival.  This truly is one of my favorite places to be in the world.

The Retaking Of Iolani Palace

Iolani Palace
Honolulu, HI
For the second time this year, a Hawaiian independence group staged a takeover of Iolani Palace in protest of the 1893 illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.  The group of approximately 20 members of the Kingdom Of Hawaii Nation Ministry Trust held the grounds for a few hours before they were arrested.

I visited Iolani Palace when I was eight years old.  It was the home of six Hawaiian monarchs: King Kamehameha III, King Kamehameha IV, King Kamehameha V, King Lunalilo, King Kalākaua and finally Queen Liliʻuokalani before the fall of the House of Kalākaua.  Afterward, it was used as the capitol building for the territory, and later the state of Hawaii until 1969.  In 1978, the building was restored and opened to the public as a museum.

As a man with native Hawaiian ancestry, I am firmly in support of Hawaiian sovereignty. It's going to take a little more than good intentions and security t-shirt to get the job done, but I respect the effort and the message.

Honolulu Star Bulletin - August 16th, 2008