updates and mandates

movie reviews.
yeah, i know i'm late but you know what they say "blah blah blah than blah blah blah"
IRON MAN
robert downy jr. is slowly becoming one of my favorite actors. when i first heard that would be playing tony stark/iron man my reaction was "how appropriate". for those that don't know tony stark is a functioning alcoholic, so like i said, it made sense for RDJ to play him. very impressed with marvel's first jump into the pruducing arena, much much better than it had a right to be. when the industry had been bringing us crap like daredevil and x-men 3 i thought we were at the end of the superhero/hollywood frenzy. thanks to this and a couple others (see below) it looks like it is just the end to BAD comic book movies. hopefully we will never see a comic property put in the hands of mark steven johnson who's previous movie credits were grumpy(ier) old men and the michael keaton christmas classic jack frost. i think favreau has ushered in a new era of good comic book movies.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK
first off, let me say that i did not hate the first hulk film by ang lee. i think that he made a beautiful film. the problem with the first one was that lee had just one an oscar for crouching tiger hidden dragon, and something special was expected of him or expected at least from himself. where he err's is in his choice to do the hulk. he tried to do much more with that story than he should have. people want to see the hulk because they want to see things smashed and explosions. they don't want to see a tortured, forbidden love (which is what lee does best, see CTHD and brokeback mountain). this film however "the incredible hulk" was exactly what i would like to see. hulk tore stuff in two, he kicked a man across a field, and destroyed plenty. no heavy handed story. although the story was good. excellent preformances by everyone involved ed norton as bruce banner did not hurt. this movie also did a wonderful job of setting up a continuity within the new marvel films with a special appearance by a RDJ tony stark.
THE DARK KNIGHT
man... i called this. view here less than a week before ledger left us i made a comment about how he would be one of the best villians on screen in contemporary film. not that i am alone in this or that it was a suprise to people. i LOVED this film... just LOVED it. i could have watched it for another 3 hours. i'm sure you have heard all of the criticism "the bat voice" and "plot holes". to that i say BAH. people are looking to be the lone naysayer in a sea of praise. the internet has made everyone an instant critic, i mean just look at me.... who am i and why should you listen to me. i digress.....
if the people knocking TDK were around when the godfather came out (often refered to as an all time best american film) they would have found fault in that as well. truth is, you will see negative where ever you want to see it. did the dark knight change the world and bring on world peace? no.... but niether did indiana jones or star wars and i loved those. get out of your own way and enjoy this movie, TDK is as good as it gets when it comes to comic book movies.

looking forward to upcoming movies.... THOR, ANT-MAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA and AVENGERS. hopefully they will make hulk the bad guy in the avengers movie similar to the ultimates story. i would love to see michael c. hall in an upcoming batman film. i don't know where or who... but he just has the feel of a batman villian just waiting to happen.

ps OBAMA IS HERE

hitlist: the last 21 songs i have listened to.

handsome boy modeling school - if it wasn't for you
hum - if you could read
one day as a lion - if you fear dying
del the funky homosapien - if you must
billie holliday - if you were mine
ennio morricone - il tramanto
johnny horton - i'm ready, if your willing
gogol bordello - immigrant punk
lords - immigrant song
x-ecutioners vs. general patton - improvised explosive device
nirvana - in bloom
randy newman - in germany before the war
radiohead - in limbo
RATM - in my eyes
choking victim - in my grave
queens of the stoneage - in my head
johnny cash - in my life
john prine - in spite of ourselves
trial - in the balance
etta james - in the basement
the white stripes - in the cold, cold night

back in the glass saddle again.

so i quit my job at charter (worst job ever). and i got my job back at glass doctor, making two dollars on the hour more than i was when i quit. i have a new piece that i had been working on. i sold it the same night that i finished it so i don't have a picture. i'm going to harass them to see if they will give me a picture for my files. i will be back with more.

weight loss

today's weight:
329 lbs

today's workout:
i try to do a constant workout no more than 20 seconds of rest, in-between items on the list.
8 min tabata interval run on an eliptical machine (tabata intervals consist of 20 seconds of maximum intensity exercise, followed by 10 seconds of active rest. i run 20-s, walk/jog 10-s).
go get a couple sips of water (SIPS)
- 2 sets of 15 curls with a 40lbs dumb-bell (each arm)
- 1 set of 15 bench press 140lbs
- 1 set of 20 shrugs 50lbs dumb-bell in each arm
- 1 set of 15 bench press 140lbs
- 1 set of 20 shrugs 50lbs dumb-bell in each arm
- 2 sets of 10 lat pull down 140lbs

this is my steady work out, that i do 3 times a week. i go up 5lbs each week on the curls, and 10 lbs each week on bench. after a couple of weeks i reset back to 130-bench/30-curl and start over.
i often times on average every other week get together with my buddy and do a kind of crossfit training... click here to see the type of stuff i do with him.

gary gygax dead

gary gygax obituary now i know most people that i am friends with don't care. but this man was the creator of dungeons and dragons. for better or worse he had a huge influence on culture in the 80's not to mention the lasting effect he had on geek culture in general. i played DnD growing up and in all honesty i would probably still play given enough time in the day. my mom used to play and i have her copy of the players handbook. i have played AD&D i have played 3rd edition and i have played so many video games and board games influnced by the ideas presented with dungeons and dragons. my band even had a song titled THAC0. although i didn't know him i feel a kinship to him since i was a geek with an over-active imagination while growing up. he has given a legacy to nerds wishing to live out thier fantasy with paper and dice. for those about to roll, we salute you.

i want to see this.

come to the party

come to the show.

i will have arts hanging up here.