A Cup of Joe - Pop culture, sports, AAPI topics and everything in between

Philosoraptor: the bible and homosexuality

2010-12-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

Online Escape: Bad-ass tea skills

2010-10-19T12:41:00.000-06:00

Video: Prince Adams covers 4 Non Blondes

2010-09-19T20:48:00.001-06:00

Once you see it, it cannot be unseen.

Missing my mom

2010-07-13T23:49:00.005-06:00

(Note: I've been trying to write this entry for nine months, but I've never felt like I had the right words to express my feelings. I figure if I don't do this now, I'll never be able to.)

My mom passed away from cancer last October and it was the most difficult thing I've had to deal with in my life.

I suppose I've been blessed since I haven't had to deal with much loss growing up, but at the same time, I don't believe I was prepared for my mom's passing. Then again, I don't think anyone is truly prepared to lose one's parent.

She was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer on Jan. 4, 2009. She never let on about the fear and sadness she had facing death – a fact I only learned after her passing from my aunt. And I never let her know how much it pained me to know that she could die. It was a trait I suppose I learned from her – never showing your emotional weakness.

She told me my brother wept when she told him on the phone. She said she told him there was nothing to be sad about as a way to try and protect him. It's a bond they always had. Coming from Vietnam in 1975, it was just the two of them. Mother and son.

The moment she told me that, I knew I had to become the rock for our family.

For the next month, she prepared for surgery to remove the tumor resting outside her colon. In my family we don't say "I love you," we ask, "Are you hungry?" Making sure your loved ones are fed was our way of showing our affection to one another. I asked my mom to teach me how to make pho one Saturday that January. She walked me through the process, showing me step-by-step how to make it the way she does. My version was close, slightly more bland than hers, but close. I sit here staring at the recipe, slightly scared to make it because I know how much the broth's aroma will remind me of her.

The day she went into surgery was one of the more difficult days. She sat in a wheelchair with a smile on her face, looked at us and told us to give her a hug. I knew she was afraid that this could be the last time she would see us, but she never us know. She would not let her boys know she was scared, and I knew we couldn't let on ourselves. My brother, my aunt and I stayed in the surgery waiting room for countless hours. I remember showing up early in the morning and leaving late in the evening.

The surgeon pulled us into a side room in the middle of the afternoon. It was scary – those side rooms are only used for bad news. He closed the door. Then, the bastard told us that the surgery was a success. We all breathed a sigh of relief.

We stayed with her until nighttime when my brother and I headed over to Chipotle for some dinner. We spent the meal joking around, finding laughter to be a nice bit of therapy. It was a much needed piece of levity for a hectic day.

For the next few weeks, she stayed at the hospital, trying to regain strength and weight in order to begin chemotherapy. We encouraged her to eat and as time went on, she looked as if she believed there was hope. We thought so, too.

When she came home, she slowly regained her strength. It was difficult for her to eat solids, but we emphasized that she wasn't going to get better unless she tried to eat. I remember the countless nights I sat in the kitchen with her between work and the gym just eating almonds or fruits and talking. I can't recollect any of the conversations, but I do remember the subjects revolving around life and having an honest feeling of happiness, sitting at the kitchen table with my mom.

As the weeks passed, my mom's health seemed to yo-yo. Some days it looked like she was strong as an ox and cancer was just a speed bump. Other days, she seemed to regress and appeared weak. I found myself looking to different outlets to curve the rising stress level. I increased my workout regiments, buried myself in work, spent more time with friends – anything to help alleviate the increasing pain I was feeling at home.

One thing that helped me was a comic book by Joe Kelly called "I Kill Giants." It's about an offbeat little girl who lives in her own world as she deals with her mom battling cancer. The story spoke to me and there's one line that helped me more than anything anyone told me.

"All things that live, die.
This is why you must find joy in the living, while the time is yours, and not fear the end.
To deny this is to deny life.
To fear this ... is to fear life.
But to embrace this...
Can you embrace this?
You are stronger than you think."

Part of me feels like I was a bad son for not spending more time with her, but the other part knows that if I didn't take some personal time for myself, my emotions would have run wild and I wouldn't have been helpful to anyone, let alone my mom.

As the summer began winding down, so did her health. It became increasingly more difficult for her to do what seems routine for the rest of us. The sicker she became, the more family and friends came by to help with the work my dad and I were doing at home. There was one bit of help that I wish didn't come, but it's one that I do not feel comfortable talking about.

I look back at my writings from September. My brother and my dad both seemed far more optimistic than me, but I knew that the end was near.

Time's running out.

My mom's battle with cancer seems like it's beginning to wind down. She can't eat solid foods anymore and she's looking more frail with each passing day. Her fighting spirit is slowly dying and it's harder to keep her hopes up. She's spending most of the day sleeping, and from what I understand, that means her body's slowly shutting off.

One of my aunt's been staying with us for the past week helping take care of her. I feel like I'm at a loss about what to do. I try and convince my mom to keep drinking Ensure and eating chicken broth, but I feel like my ever-optimistic outlook on the situation is fading. I don't want to believe it, but inside, I know the truth.

My brother's still pushing and holding onto the belief that somehow, some way, she'll pull through. I look to him for strength.

I don't know how my dad's dealing with all this. He's not one to openly share his emotions. He saw his first wife die 33 years ago. I can only imagine what it feels like to see it happen again.

We've been receiving more visitors as of late. Some come by and do chores, seeing it as a way to help lessen the burden on us. Others come with uplifting attitudes, bringing joy and laughter to my mom. But there's one relative I'm not especially looking forward to seeing: The last time I saw my aunt from Minnesota, it was right before my grandfather died 17 years ago. I know when it's time for her to visit my mom, the sand runs out in the hourglass.

I've been trying to sleep for the past hour, but I'm finding it to be a far more difficult task than usual. Maybe it's an omen. The last time I struggled this badly to fall asleep was the night my mom was in a car accident early last year.

I'm hoping it's just some combination of me getting over the flu and not being able to workout, throwing my emotions into high gear. Regardless, I feel utterly helpless right now. Nothing I can say or do can make this go away.

I know it's a fact of life, but I wish it wasn't my mom's.

My friends and family knew it was becoming harder on me. We went to the Great American Beer Festival and it was fun during, but I remember waking up early in the morning, long before anyone else. I grabbed my iPhone and began writing a eulogy for my mom. Everyone was recovering from the drunken excursion from the night before, so I'm pretty sure no one heard me sobbing in the room. I must have written 1,000 words that hour, but nothing I wrote felt worthy enough for my mom.

Two nights later, my mom called my brother and I to her bedside. She was giving her last words to us. She told us her time was short and we had to look after each other. She told us her final wishes and wanted us to start our own families. Holding her hand, it took every ounce of energy I had not to cry. I'm a boy, I'm not supposed to cry – words she told me when I was younger.

It was the last night she was able to coherently talk to me.

It was the first week of October and my family members were coming by more often. My mom looked more and more gaunt with every passing day. Her diet consisted of mere sips of Ensure, juice and water. At this point she was bedridden. My brother still held out a last bit of hope, telling me there's a minute chance she would survive if her liver starts regenerating before she became jaundice. It was nice sitting in my room and talking with him. He seemed to find therapy in researching the disease and becoming more knowledgeable. I found it comforting just talking.

On Oct. 5, I came home from work and saw that her face was completely yellow. Her liver had given up. I smiled at her, walked through the kitchen and circled upstairs. I couldn't let her see me cry. Every bit of hope was gone. It was only a matter of time now.

For the next two days, her life force seemed to slowly dissipate. The shimmer in her eyes began to dull and she didn't have enough energy to close her eyes as she slept. My brother and I began to finalize the funeral process. Tension in the family was running high. People yelling at each other for no reason. I was angry, too, but I held back. Someone had to get everything done and I still needed to be the rock.

On the night of Oct. 7, my mom was breathing much more heavily. My aunts wanted to stay over, but my dad and my uncle didn't want them to because of some weird old-country chauvinistic belief. I told them this was my house and they were welcome to stay, and convinced my dad to take a night off from sleeping on a couch and to go rest in his own bed.

I spent most of the night doing push-ups, curls, sit-ups – just anything to get my mind off of things. My cousin saw me and I knew in his silence, he understood it was what I needed to do.

On Oct. 8 after my brother and I returned home from lunch and errands. Just as I finished changing, my aunt comes upstairs and tells us, "Your mom just breathed her last breath." Cries of sadness filled the house.

Strange, as sad as I was, I didn't feel like crying. Maybe it was the shock that she had finally passed or maybe it was the trait she passed to me of getting things done before worrying about yourself, but I had a list of things to do. I picked up the phone and called the hospice to let them know it was time. I called family to let them know she had passed.

Family and friends came to the house and we held a prayer service. I sat to the side with my brother cracking jokes before one of my other siblings came over and told us to stop because the older generation might not understand that this was how we were dealing with it.

I didn't start crying until the took the body out. At that point, it felt like reality had truly hit. My mom was gone. Our neighbor had pulled into her driveway. We gave each other a simple nod. Me knowing that she sends her condolences and her knowing that I know she understands my pain.

We held another prayer service at my house on Saturday. My nieces and nephews, God bless 'em, helped distract my sadness with games of Ninja. That night, a bunch of us went to see the Rockies' playoff game against the Phillies. I had bought them a while back and it seemed to be an opportunity for a break from everything. The game was bonechillingly cold. By the seventh inning, my enthusiasm for the game began to wane. It started as a fun night with friends and family, but by the end, I could only think of my mom. To be honest, I don't remember who won.

We held a wake on Sunday. My sisters were telling me all these different things I had to do because of Vietnamese tradition. They were annoying me after a while, asking me if certain things were set up. Thankfully, one of my older brothers saw that I was getting pissed off, so he told them to direct the questions to him. Much of the day seems like a blur now. I remember a lot of having to drive back to my house to pick up things that people forgot. After the fourth trip, I walked out of the mortuary and let out yell. Why weren't these people letting me mourn?

I passed incense sticks to everyone who showed up for the wake. I sat in the pew, deep in my own thoughts as people shared their condolences. At one point, someone asked me to say a few words. My eulogy was for the funeral, I had nothing to say at the wake.

We woke up early on Oct. 11 – my 26th birthday – and headed to the mortuary. There was a prayer we had to do before the closing of the casket. After that we proceeded to Queen of Peace where the funeral was held. My friend, who had lost her mother to colon cancer exactly two years before mine, gave me a hug. She was there to take pictures at the funeral – a Vietnamese tradition I do not understand.

The service was nice. I had my brother do the reading – a piece I had chosen. After the priest's homily, I went up to do my eulogy to my mom. I've never spent so much time trying to make it sound just right. I approached the lectern and looking into the crowd, there were so many sad faces. I had to make a light joke or else I wouldn't be able to finish.

"Like my mom, this is going to be short and sweet."

I didn't hear any response, but I was told people quietly chuckled to themselves. I don't remember what I said – the eulogy is on my computer, but I haven't read it since that day – but it seemed fitting. Afterward, we went to the rec room and fed everyone. It was something my mom explicitly told us to do.

At the cemetery, we laid my mom to rest. I could hear my brother crying so I put my arm around him. He did the same for me. Watching the casket lowered into the ground was another sign that she was gone. Walking back to my car, some guy told me to hold up the sign I was carrying so he could take a picture. I glared at him, balled up my fist and I wanted to hit him. But I just held the sign in front of my face and walked away.

For the next several weeks, I was on cruise control. Whenever someone asked me if I was OK, I told them I was. I was taught not to wear my emotions on my sleeves and this didn't seem to be any different.

After losing my job in November, I went into a bigger funk. I won't lie, I was depressed. I spent a week watching movies and hanging out with people. It was temporary fun, but I was hurting inside still.

Then I started to think, what would my mom do right now? I decided to work on the house. For the next two months, I rebuilt my room and my bathroom. I learned how to cook and how to take care of the house. In the spring, I began to garden. So far the gardening is the one realm I haven't completely figured out yet, but the roses are still growing. Every time I see wild purple and yellow pansies growing around the house, I think of her. In front of our door, I keep her green sandals as a reminder.

There's no real conclusion to this piece. It wasn't meant to have one. I just felt it was time to get the story off my chest.

Jaden Smith = Riley from "Boondocks"

2010-06-08T13:11:00.002-06:00

Kudos to Conor for noticing this.

Would Jaden Smith make for a good Riley Freeman? The only movie I've seen him in is "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and he was annoying as sin.

But then again, Riley has a well-balanced annoyance to humorous quotient to him. We'll see.

Why the f--- doesn't Brandon Yip have a card yet?

2010-05-05T01:57:00.003-06:00

As I so eloquently wrote in the title, why doesn't Colorado Avalanche forward Brandon Yip have his own trading card yet? I can understand Upper Deck (who is the only NHL card manufacturer now) not including him in the sets early in the season because he was hurt. Hell, I can understand them not adding him to the mid-season updates.

But it's May now. The latest release from Upper Deck, an update for O-Pee Chee, doesn't have him.

I only say this because I want a damn Brandon Yip rookie card to add to my collection.

Colorado honors Vietnam vets - and politicians bicker

2010-05-05T01:32:00.007-06:00

Last Friday, I covered the state house and senate honoring Vietnam War vets on the 35th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.

As far as I could tell, I was the only media who covered it, but that's why AsiaXpress exists – to tell stories about the Asian-American communities that the mainstream media ignores.

For 90 minutes, state senators and representatives shared personal thoughts on the significance of the day. It was certainly interesting listening to those who grew up during the '60s and '70s and hearing their stories of how the veterans were poorly treated when they came back. Some broke down into tears when they said today was long overdue.

But a couple of state senators – from both parties – decided to inject their own personal politics into their off-the-cuff speeches.

I was saddened by that. That day wasn't supposed to be about your political points of view; it was about honoring these veterans who came home to jeers and verbal assault. This day was supposed to be about them, not you.

Thankfully, one senator came in and gave a voice of reason.

And one – let's call him "Hed Tarvey" – just rambled on about something that wasn't relevant. I wasn't sure where he was going when he began boasting about his life and neither did many of the other folks who stood in the back with me. I'm sure he ~~had a point~~ meant well.

Dolph Lundgren, is there anything he can't do?

2010-04-25T17:46:00.000-06:00

This video speaks for itself.

2010 Broncos' draft analysis

2010-04-24T10:29:00.005-06:00

A look at the Broncos' 2010 draft picks:

1st round, 22nd pick
WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech, 6'3", 229
Thomas is big target, certainly chosen by McDaniels to replace B-Marsh. He doesn't have breakneck speed, but he has a lot of raw talent and tons of upside. I think Denver could've traded down for the third time to take him.

1st round, 24th pick
QB Tim Tebow, Florida, 6'3", 245
It's been clear for a while now that Tebow was at the top of McDaniels' list. He has a big arm and is incredibly mobile for the position. He had one of the most stellar collegiate careers ever. His arm mechanics have been criticized and many critics have said he's more equipped to play another position such as halfback or tight end. I think the Broncos could've waited till the second round to grab him.

2nd round, 45th pick
G Zane Beadles, Utah, 6'4", 305
He's a big guy who fits in with McDaniels' vision of a big O-line. From what I've read, the knock on him is his strength, but he has good athleticism. Don't know a whole lot about him, but the mock drafts I've seen put him as a third- to fourth-round pick.

3rd round, 80th pick
C J.D. Walton, Baylor, 6'3", 305
104.3 The Fan's Alfred Williams seems to love this pick. Walton's a strong, athletic guy who will probably start early. He's one of the higher center prospects in this year's draft. Projected by most to be a third-round pick.

3rd round, 87th pick
WR Eric Decker, Minnesota, 6'2", 215
Decker was originally projected to be a second-round pick before a foot injury dropped his stock. He's a possession receiver with decent size. Great hands, good blocker. If he fully recovers from his injury, it's a very good pick-up for the Broncos.

5th round, 137th pick
CB Perrish Cox, Oklahoma St., 6'0", 198
Good-sized cornerback. Apparently his stock dropped because of character concerns, according to Yahoo! Sports. The Broncos may use him as a kick returner. Not a bad pick at this point in the draft.

6th round, 183rd pick
G Eric Olsen, Notre Dame, 6'4", 305
A solid O-lineman who will be a backup center and guard for the Broncos. Adds depth.

'Kick-Ass' kicks ass

2010-04-08T00:33:00.003-06:00

Saw a screening of "Kick-Ass" tonight. Totally awesome. There are a few small changes from the comic in order to make it more mainstream, but they work. Fun, gory flick.

My prediction: "Kick-Ass" comics are going to skyrocket in the next two weeks.

Building an all-Asian baseball team for 2010

2010-04-05T19:51:00.003-06:00

With baseball back in full gear, I figured I'd try and create another all-Asian opening day roster.

This year's team was a bit more difficult to formulate in a few positions. With four starting pitchers of Asian descent on the DL, it left slim pickings for the No. 4 and 5 spots in the rotation – hence, that's why way journeymen Chan Ho Park and Bruce Chen got the call.

Also, with Kenji Johjima going back to Japan, finding a new backup catcher was challenging. Especially when the only catchers I could find were all in A+ ball.

Check out the team and let me know what you think.

Starz Denver Film Fest -- 'Who's Afraid of the Wolf?'

2009-11-18T12:53:00.002-07:00

"Who's Afraid of the Wolf?" (watch it)
Using the tale of "Little Red Riding Hood" as its frame, this Czech film follows the story of a divorce through the eyes of a young girl. Director Maria Prochazkova sprinkles elements of animation throughout the movie, adding an amusing stylish touch. Dorota Dedková, who plays the main character Terezka, carries the film as her innocent outlook provides a sweet, lighter tone to an otherwise unpleasant subject.

Starz Denver Film Fest -- 'Con Artist'

2009-11-16T12:22:00.002-07:00

Over the course of the next week, I will be blogging about the movies I catch at the 32nd Starz Denver Film Festival. They may not necessarily be in the order in which I watch.

"Con Artist" (watch it)
One part whimsical, one part sad portrait about the life of eccentric artist Mark Kostabi. The film is a characterization of a man seeking love, acceptance in his own life, yet is unable to find it due to his inept ability to relate to reality. Like those obsessed with getting their faces on YouTube and Facebook, according to Director Michael Sladek, Kostabi is addicted to fame. However his methods of garnering attention and his process of "creating art" -- he openly employs a staff to mass produce his work -- have made him an outcast in the art community. Love him or hate him, "Con Artist" provides an engrossing look at Kostabi.

Farewell, Geocities

2009-10-26T15:09:00.000-06:00

Oh, Geocities, it's been a great run.

For 14 years, you've given countless people the opportunity to build their own personal websites.

Thanks for the memories.

Online Escape: CNN's Rick Sanchez calls out Fox News

2009-09-22T13:13:00.001-06:00

Spring fashion: The Mushmouth look

2009-09-15T17:46:00.001-06:00

Apparently the Mushmouth look is going to be the rage come Spring.

This Sept. 13, 2009 file photo shows the spring 2010 collection of Thom Browne is modeled during Fashion Week in New York. (Photo courtesy AP)

Online Escape: Why pommelhorses are necessary in the middle of every town

2009-09-14T17:34:00.002-06:00

A scene from "Gymkata."

Joe vs. the Tijuana Mama

2009-09-14T14:49:00.001-06:00

I figure now that I'm over my flu from last week, I test my might against a staple our local gas station has to offer: The Tijuana Mama.

For those who are unaware, the Tijuana Mama is a packaged pickled sausage commonly found in gas stations and truck stops. It also touts itself to be "300% Hotter" — we're assuming it means hotter than the "Hot Mama," but it doesn't specify it anyway on the label.

From a glance, it appears to be a super-thick, but shorter version of the Slim Jim, albeit there's a pocket of redish-orange oil at one end of the packaging. The ingredients are an amalgam of chicken, pork and beef mixed in with a variety of sodium-based additives and food coloring.

I won't lie – at this point I am beginning to regret my decision to buy this.

The first bite wasn't what I expected it to be. It's much softer than I had anticipated. The pickled flavor carries a stronger taste than I expected. The spiciness of the Tijuana Mama grows stronger with subsequent bites, but it's a welcome one, numbing the salty, meat-like flavors I'm ingesting.

It's unlike anything I've ever eaten before. The consistency is like a big, mushy Slim Jim, but the taste is unique all its own: a battle between overpowering pickled and spicy flavors with salty undertones.

Do you believe in miracles?

2009-09-14T12:31:00.000-06:00

Borrowing a line from our Night News Editor Chris Harrop — this is the "Immaculate Deflection."

Four's a crowd

2009-09-10T15:38:00.000-06:00

This whole Tila "Tequila" Nguyen/Shawne Merriman thing keeps getting weirder and weirder.

KGTV San Diego reports that sources say Merriman went to his bedroom with two women when Nguyen walked in.

"Sources said Tequila walked into the room and Merriman asked her to join them. However, the sources said Tequila reacted angrily and threatened to have sex with a member of Merriman's entourage.

According to sources, Tequila was intoxicated, and she got naked and attempted to leave the house."

Nguyen says Merriman choked her and threw her to the ground when she tried to leave. Merriman, on the other hand, says he was trying to stop her from driving drunk.

Jay Chou as Kato?

2009-09-10T14:35:00.001-06:00

SuperHeroHype has pictures of Taiwanese singer/actor Jay Chou as Kato in "The Green Hornet" movie.

I was ecstatic for this movie back when Stephen Chow ("Shaolin Soccer," "Kung Fu Hustle") was attached to star and direct the film. Chow is amazing playing a lovable jerk and I could see the potential chemistry between him and Seth Rogan — who's playing the title character.

But I don't know about Chou. First and foremost, he's a singer, not an action star. And his acting resume is pretty light — starring roles in "Curse of the Golden Flower" and the incredibly underwhelming "Initial D" come to mind.

Personally I'm disappointed the producers decided against going with an American actor of Asian descent for an overseas Asian actor. Why pay more for an established actor overseas who has had limited visibility in the states instead of possibly finding a hidden gem here.

Why Overland High School's Class of 2001 rocks

2009-09-08T16:27:00.003-06:00

It's been eight years since I left Overland, but it's been fun seeing how my classmates have been faring since graduation.

After high school, Yemi Nicholson went to Fort Lewis before transferring to the University of Denver. There, he emerged as one of the dominant centers in the Sun Belt conference, ranking near the top in scoring, rebounding and blocks. He spent some time with the NBA D-league before going over to play pro ball in Germany.

Brendan Schaub got BIG since high school. Holy crap, I still remember him being that skinny 5'3" freshman in my French class who surprised all of us when he showed up to class in a football jersey. After high school, he grew into a 6'4", 240-pound man who played fullback at the University of Colorado at Boulder. When a tryout with the Buffalo Bills didn't pan out, he went into mixed martial arts. He's going to be on the new season of UFC's "Ultimate Fighter."

If I remember right, David May was our class vice president (I could be mistaken, correct me if I am). Since graduating, he ventured into the realm of film. I remember seeing him at one of the Starz Film Festivals when he had a short playing. His claim to fame was making onto the short-lived Fox reality show "On the Lot" where he was the seventh person eliminated.

Update: After posting this blog, I got curious about the rest of the class, so I went onto Facebook and looked at the class. Kinda surprising to see who got married, who lost weight, who got fat and who still seems to be the same.

Dr. Socialist (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Obama)

2009-09-08T15:22:00.001-06:00

President Barack Obama's giving a speech to our children. Quick, shield them before his propaganda of universal health care and socialism brainwashes them!

Really? Really now?

Alright, so Obama gave a speech to school-aged children today and, for whatever reason, a ton of people saw it as super controversial. How DARE the president encourage our children to try and excel at school and get an education.

Look, I doubt most kids even paid attention to what he had to say. When I was in middle school, those early-morning newscasts we had to watch meant an extra 10 minutes of nap time.

If his speech inspires even just one student to work harder and do well in school, it's a victory.

Ease up, America — your kids receiving far worst messages your kids every day than the president's on doing well in school.

Trailer for 'Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day'

2009-09-03T15:28:00.004-06:00

Oh, yes. The brothers are back.

After achieving cult status over the past decade, the long-awaited sequel of "Boondock Saints" is finally coming — surely filled with more gratuitous violence.

And from the looks of it, Rocco is back.

Leaked 'Kick-Ass' clips

2009-09-01T14:41:00.005-06:00

One of my favorite comic reads, "Kick-Ass," is being turned into a movie. Clips from the film were shown at Comic-Con in San Diego earlier this year — and with the age of the Internet, they were leaked.

The story's about a high school comic book geek named Dave Lizewski, who decides to don a mask and costume and become a real-life hero. It's funny, brilliant and oh-so gory. Just wish Mark Millar (who also wrote "Wanted" and "The Ultimates") would finish his books. "Kick-Ass" No. 7 keeps getting delayed and it's annoying.

Dugger family announces 19th child

2009-09-01T12:28:00.002-06:00

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, already proud parents of 18, announced that they're expecting No. 19.

I thought the 13 in my family was a lot.

Disney to buy Marvel for $4B

2009-08-31T15:44:00.005-06:00

Marvel announced today that Disney is going to buy it for $4 billion.

As a long-time comic book fan — specifically a Marvel fan — this was shocking news, to say the least. I'm not sure if I'm in favor of this or not. On one hand, Disney is able to mass market Marvel's stable of characters into its other holdings from television to amusement parks. But on the other, I'm wary of what constraints may be placed upon Marvel's more risque books such as the MAX and Icon imprints.

Side note: @NialaBoodhoo pointed out to me that the New York Times have an awesome headline for their story: "The Hulk and 4,999 Other Characters for $4 Billion."

Cutler and Olsen's growing chemistry

2009-08-27T15:24:00.002-06:00

Chicago Tribune's Dan Pompei had an interesting piece about how "Jay Cutler-Greg Olsen could become great together."

Now, I know Chi-town loves Cutler and the Bears have seemingly embraced him, but Pompei paints an almost Brokeback-esque picture of the chemistry between the quarterback and his new tight end.

"There is a chemistry between them that cannot be manufactured. You could see it on the practice fields at Olivet Nazarene during training camp, and you could see it at TJ Donlin's, the Bourbonnias nightspot where they shared a table in the middle of a sea of fans."

" ... Cutler always has shown an affinity for throwing to his tight end. And he never has had a tight end like this one."

Where's the love for Wat Misaka?

2009-08-24T13:24:00.003-06:00

I always wondered why no one's made a Wat Misaka card yet. He was the first person of color to play professional basketball here when he was drafted by the New York Knicks back in 1947.

Chris John-Rocky Juarez headline big Mayweather-Marquez undercard

2009-08-18T16:55:00.004-06:00

Boxing fans rejoice! The undercard for the Sept. 19 Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez fight is loaded.

Rocky Juarez and Chris John battle it out for the WBA featherweight title in a rematch of their inaugural fight draw.

Zab Judah faces former welterweight title contender Antonio Diaz at 144 pounds. And lightweight Australian brawler Michael Katsidis – who some call the next Arturo Gatti – will take on former U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo.

Sony drops PS3 prices by $100

2009-08-18T15:02:00.002-06:00

Sony announced today that it's cutting the prices of PlayStation 3's by $100. The current 80GB and the new and slimmer 120GB models will be $299, while the 160GB model will be $399 starting Sept. 1.

Online Escape: 'Starcraft II'

2009-08-17T18:42:00.000-06:00

I want to cry slightly.

Online Escape: Poppin' for God

2009-08-10T20:00:00.001-06:00

Christian Pop Locking | Viral/Other | SPIKE.com

Phun with Photoshop: Old-timey picture with Clinton and Kim Jong Il

2009-08-04T17:52:00.003-06:00

(With apologies to The Associated Press)

Saw this picture come across the wire. Totally begged for a photoshoppin'.

Stripper radio?

2009-08-04T13:09:00.002-06:00

Ever go to a strip club and thought to yourself, "Hey, why can't I enjoy this music in the comfort of my own home?"

Well, now you can enjoy listening to Warrant and Mötley Crüe at your leisure with 101.5 The Pole.

Whoo?

Yeah, I'm a little sad that Indie 101.5 died and this new station rose from its ashes. I'm going to miss listening to underground indie music — where else on the radio will I get to hear The Dresden Dolls' "Coin-Operated Boy"?

2009-08-03T17:26:00.004-06:00

Alas, there will be no pho in a trophy for me this year. Well, unless I go out and buy my own.

My dragonboat team, Pow3Red By Chopstix, finished second at the 9th Colorado Dragon Boat Festival on July 26. While we didn't win the trophy, we did get silver medals (as seen above — I'm the one in the hat trying not to let my glasses fall off).

Second place isn't too shabby for a team short two people (three in once race) all weekend. Plus I got to complete my medal collection — I now have a gold, a silver and two bronzes.

Alas, the quest for pho is going to continue for another year.

Dragon boat pho the win

2009-07-20T17:20:00.002-06:00

Since 2001, it has been my goal – nay – my destiny to eat a bowl of pho out of a trophy. And not just any trophy – the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival trophy.

For eight years, I have been chasing that elusive prize. For eight years, my teammates and I have given blood, sweat and tears only to be thwarted by our competition.

I have gotten close with some teams where I could taste hints of sweet, mouthwatering victory. With the Vietnamese Professional Network group last year, we finished third, losing a heartbreaking quarterfinal match. With Team AsiaXpress.com in 2002, we captured the gold in the "heavy boat" division (there were two different sets of boats that year, one being heavier and, thus, making our scores slower in the initial time trials), but no trophy came with that victory.

Add in the bronze we received in 2001 and that adds up to three medals – but zero trophies.

Oh, how I yearn to bring that grand prize to a pho joint with the rest of my team after the races, have the restaurant fill that cup with a pho dac biet, and then sitting down and indulging in delicious triumph. I can see it now: rice noodles and a bevy of beef cuts mixed in with tasty tendon slices and textually intriguing tripe all soaking in a boiling beef broth.

I'm salivating just thinking about it.

I know my plan seems a little silly – the trophy is pretty tall and sitting down to eat may prove difficult. Give me a booster seat, let me stand or give me a straw, I don't care, I will enjoy my sweet victory.

Let that be a warning my team's competition, I'm hungry for victory.

See you on the waters.

Joe is paddling with PowR3d by Chopstix and is about to participate in his eighth Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. The one year he didn't paddle was in 2004 because he didn't have a team.

Online Escape: Sakic beats up Doug Gilmore

2009-07-09T16:46:00.001-06:00

How do you like them apples, Doug Gilmore?

Super Joe retires

2009-07-09T16:41:00.001-06:00

Thank you, Joe.

How to blacklist yourself in journalism

2009-07-08T14:21:00.003-06:00

If journalists had commandments, this would certainly be at the top of the list:

Thou shalt not copy the work of others and pass it off as your own

Hailey Mac Arthur didn't get the memo. The second-year University of Florida J-school student was working as an intern for the Colorado Springs Gazette when her editors discovered she was stealing passages from New York Times articles.

Oh, Miss Mac Arthur, there's no faster way to end your career than by doing that.

2009 Nuggets draft review

2009-06-26T14:32:00.002-06:00

The Nuggets actually made the 2009 NBA draft somewhat interesting. Swapping the rights to Charlotte's first-round pick, the Nuggets acquired the 18th pick from Minnesota — University of North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson.

G Ty Lawson, 5-11, 193 lb.
Pros: Lightning quick and super safe with the ball. Developed a solid outside shot last year, increasing his 3FG% to 47.2% from 36.1% the year before. Had a 3.5-to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio last year. High basketball IQ.
Cons: Undersized.

I compare Lawson to someone like Jameer Nelson. A little small but incredibly smart and safe with the ball. Plus his ability to push the tempo is going to make the Nuggets very fun to watch.

He's an obvious improvement over Anthony Carter and Jason Hart.

The King of Pop is dead

2009-06-25T15:56:00.008-06:00

TMZ is reporting that Michael Jackson has died from cardiac arrest. LA Times confirmed that Jackson is indeed dead. He was 50.

"Michael Jackson is a symbol of America. He is a symbol of freedom and democracy," according to some fan interviewed by Fox News 11 in Los Angeles.

=====

David Choi's rendition of "Ben" comes up as the top pick on YouTube when I searched "Michael Jackson."

Nuggets '09 Mock Draft Round-up

2009-06-25T15:40:00.001-06:00

nbadraft.net has Denver going with Gonzaga PF-C Josh Heytvelt, a 6-11, 246 pound
The Sports Xchange has DeMarre Carroll going to the Nuggets
Collegehoopsnet.com – DaJuan Summers
MyNBADraft.com – Darren Collison
WalterFootball.com – Jeff Pendergraph

Online Escape: 'Sleep'

2009-06-25T15:33:00.003-06:00

Director Choz Belen's video for "Sleep" by Deep Foundation f/Jay Legaspi is online. Totally awesome.

Nuggets Draft 2009

2009-06-23T16:13:00.002-06:00

If there's one thing that's for certain with the Denver Nuggets, it's that they hate the draft. They absolutely loathe it. The last pick the Nuggets made was in 2006 when they selected Leon Powe with the 49th pick. (Powe was traded to Boston shortly after)

The Nuggets have the 34th pick this year, having traded their first-round pick to Oklahoma City). My gut says get a high-energy point guard to build on next season.

Here's who should be available when the Nuggs pick:

• Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga, 6-2, 219
Started off career as a two-guard, but made the transition to point after the graduation of Derek Raivio. Pargo is certainly high energy, athletic and flashy, reminiscent of another former Nuggets point guard, Robert Pack.

• Darren Collison, UCLA, 6-1, 166
Lightning quick and smart, Collison helped lead the Bruins to a 26-9 record last year. What he lacks, however, is size. He'll need to bulk up if he wants to compete at the next level.

• Dominic James, Marquette, 5-11, 180
Explosive athleticism allows him to play much bigger than 5-11, but size is certainly a question mark.

Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland'

2009-06-23T15:09:00.002-06:00

Yahoo! has a preview of Director Tim Burton's take on "Alice in Wonderland," set to be released March 5, 2010.

In a word, it looks freaky.

Toy soldiers: A look at 'Stuff of Legend'

2009-06-23T14:57:00.003-06:00

Imagine if the toys from "Toy Story" had to rescue Andy after he was kidnapped by the boogeyman.

The year is 1944. An allied force advances along a war-torn beach in a strange land, outnumbered and far from home. Together, they fight the greatest evil they have ever known. Never ending waves of exotic enemies come crashing down on them, but they will not rest. Thousands of miles away, the world is on the brink of destruction. But here in a child's bedroom in Brooklyn, our heroes, a small group of toys loyal to their human master, fight an unseen war to save him from every child's worst nightmare.

"Stuff of Legend" will be released in July by Th3rd World Studios.

Comic Book Resources has a preview of the book here.

Online Escape: Literally translation of 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'

2009-06-18T15:48:00.000-06:00

Just a 'hunch'

2009-06-15T16:26:00.001-06:00

Tired of making decisions? Let Hunch.com do it for you.

Captain America returns?

2009-06-15T15:39:00.002-06:00

Superheroes don't die – they just go away until someone feels like bringing them back.

Marvel is bringing back Steve Rogers – better known as Captain America – in a five-part series aptly titled "Captain America Reborn," starting July 1.

I've been an on-again, off-again reader of the series, but I don't know — it seems a little soon to bring back Cap. I've enjoyed writer Ed Brubaker's stories about Bucky Barnes, who took over the role of the legendary hero.

My gut says this will be a fairly high-demand book. Every comic story that gets picked up by the Associated Press gets some sort of a bump.

Denver Film Society: Update

2009-06-15T15:30:00.002-06:00

Yeah, this is a few days old, but it's important nonetheless. The Denver Film Society ousted Executive Director Bo Smith after 21 of its staff resigned. Britta Erickson has been named the interim executive director while the board of directors begins its search.

I'm not sure the full story behind what's happened aside from the staff and Smith disagreeing with the direction the DFS was going – particularly in the financial realm. But it seems like this is a good move for the organization going forward.

I briefly chatted with one of the DFS staff members over the weekend and they told me that the budget is still a big concern and there are certain to be cuts but hopefully nothing too drastic.

Mass resignations at Denver Film Society?

2009-06-04T12:36:00.002-06:00

According to indieWIRE, several key members of the Denver Film Society have resigned – including Festival Director Britta Erickson and Artistic Director Brit Withey and co-founder Ron Henderson – and another 17 are on their way out in protest of Executive Director Bo Smith's direction.

"The reason the staff is leaving is because of Bo [Smith’s] handling of the organization and not the economic situation facing the organization," Withey told indieWIRE.

According to a source to indieWIRE, there are only five staff members left.

Online Escape: The Ill-matic Kim Jong

2009-06-02T14:24:00.002-06:00

With Kim Jong Il reportedly making way for his 26-year-old son Kim Jong Un to take over North Korea, I figure it's time we take a look at one of the Ill-matic's greatest moments.

Inflammatory categories

2009-05-12T16:48:00.001-06:00

It's not often that someone is attacked for being politically correct, but that's what Paulo Serodio alleges happened to him.

The former New Jersey med school student claims in a lawsuit that he told his professor and classmates that he is a "white, African, American," according to the Associated Press, since he is a Caucasian male who was born in Mozambique and later became a U.S. citizen.

He said various classmates and staff members at the school found it offense that a Caucasian man would call himself "African-American," which led to harassment and his inevitable suspension.

For all I know, he could have been someone who was unfairly discriminated against or an absolute jerk who provoked others. Regardless, this story got me thinking about how I categorize myself.

Throughout high school and college, I called myself either Asian American or Vietnamese American. While widely accepted, it isn't quite true. One day, my freshman college roommate, Steph, asked me why I called myself that since I was born here, adding that I should just be "American."

Easy for him to say. He doesn't have to answer the consequential follow-up question, "No, what are you, really?" before having to engage in an inane conversation about everything that person knows about Vietnam and/or Asia. (Note to others: I don't care that you've tried pho or know someone who shares my last name.)

At the time I felt it was an attack on my pride of my heritage, but he was right. Calling myself something hyphenated wasn't accurate. I wasn't born in Vietnam or any other part of Asia. Heck, I haven't even been over there.

Taiwan-born Milwaukee Bucks forward Joe Alexander has more reason to be called Asian American than I do, despite the fact that he's Caucasian.

So what does that leave me? In recent years, I've gone with "American of Vietnamese descent." It's more accurate but not completely.

I suppose I could go with "American of mostly Vietnamese but also Chinese and perhaps French descent," but that may be too long.

Time to crown King Manny

2009-05-05T15:09:00.005-06:00

(and boom goes the dynamite)

Wow.

Simply wow.

When Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao faced British fighter Ricky Hatton last Saturday, I – along with nearly every boxing analyst I saw and read – predicted that it was going to be a long, hard-fought bout (I had Pacquiao winning with a ninth-round knockout). This was only the Pacman's third bout above 130 and Hatton had an undefeated record at light welterweight.

In fact, the only person I saw who predicted anything short of a drawn-out battle was Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, who said it wasn't going to go past three rounds.

It didn't even get to round three. In fact it was absolutely lopsided as Pacquiao utterly dominated Hatton, knocking him down twice in the first before taking him out with a devastating left with a second left in the second. Hatton's trademark bullying tactics could not work against someone so fast, so strong and oh so accurate.

Any doubts that he's not big enough to compete at this weight has been erased. Those who questioned his beating of an over-the-hill, malnourished Oscar De La Hoya can't argue with his results against Hatton, who before this weekend was the reigning king of light welterweights.

All hail, King Manny.

When Pacquiao beat Erik Morales, he was considered one of the best fighters the Philippines had produced, alongside Flash Elorde. When he won the world title at 135 and then beat De La Hoya at 147, he was seen as the best boxer Asia's produced and the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. With his domination of Hatton, he now has to be placed among the greatest of all time.

This from a 98-pound 16-year-old who lied about his age and placed metal weights in his pockets so that he could participate in his first fight 14 years ago.

But like most boxing fans, I want to see him face Floyd Mayweather Jr., the former pound-for-pound champion. If Mayweather beats Juan Manuel Marquez in July, it's almost a certainty that their paths will clash in a December or January fight.

Mayweather has shown that he has problems against fighters who are faster and stronger than him. Against Zab Judah, he struggled early on as Judah pushed him. But Judah has no stamina and once round three started, Mayweather was in his rhythm.

But Pacquiao's no Judah. He's faster, more accurate and has some of the best footwork in boxing. Mayweather relies on speed and accuracy, too, so it'll be fun to watch.

Broncos draft recap

2009-04-27T12:25:00.004-06:00

Coach McDaniels, I hope you know what you're doing.

Coming into this year's draft, the number one concern for the Broncos, according to most analysts, is defense. And what did the Broncos take with their first pick? That's right, a running back.

Wait, what?

A look at the Broncos picks:

First round, No. 12 pick: RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia, 5'11", 217 lb.
As my friend Dan said, the best defense is a great offense and taking Moreno surely helps that cause. The running back was a big-time playmaker in college, and should give the Broncos their first true big-name back since Clinton Portis. That said, I'm confused why the Broncos grabbed him so high. Moreno was projected to be available in the 20s and Texas DE Brian Orakpo was still available.

First round, No. 18 overall: DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee, 6'3", 270 lb.
Ayers isn't exactly the pass rusher the Broncos so desperately need. He lacks that elite first step speed and didn't get many sacks last year at Tenn. But he is a big-time hitter and a solid run stopper, something Denver will need going into a 3-4 defense. Still, I would've liked to have seen them go with someone like USC LB Rey Maualuga here.

Second round, No. 37 overall: CB Alphonso Smith Jr., Wake Forest, 5'9", 193 lb.
With Dre Bly gone, the Broncos needs someone to eventually take his place. Smith is a ballhawking shutdown corner -- he actually broke Bly's ACC record for career interceptions with 21. While he may be pretty short for a corner, so was Bly (5'10") and former Broncos CB Darrent Williams (5'8"). I like this pick, but Maualuga was still available here.

Second round, No. 48 overall: S Darcel McBath, Texas Tech, 6'1", 196 lb.
McBath is a solid, well-rounded safety who has the potential to take over as a starting in a year or two. Scouts say he's not a dominant hitter, but being around Brian Dawkins may help that.

Second round, No. 64 overall: TE Richard Quinn, North Carolina, 6'4", 260 lb.
Quinn is an excellent blocking tight end, but he's not much of a receiver. I'm confused by this pick, the Broncos already have Tony Scheffler and Daniel Graham on the roster. There were a number of defensive lineman who could've been taken here.

Fourth round, No. 114 overall: S David Bruton, Notre Dame, 6'2", 219 lb.
He's big and he hits hard, exactly what Denver needs in the secondary. He's not the fastest person out there, so coverage will be a weakpoint.

Fourth round, No. 132 overall: G Seth Olsen, Iowa, 6'5", 306 lb.
Depth on the line is something the Broncos need and Olsen provides that. He's versatile, being able to play both guard and tackle.

Fifth round, No. 141 overall: WR Kenny McKinley, South Carolina, 6'0", 189 lb.
Solid route runner with sure hands. Kinda thin, but athletic.

Sixth round, No. 174 overall: QB Tom Brandstater, Fresno State, 6'5", 220 lb.
He's built like a prototypical quarterback: big and strong. McDaniels seems to be able to get the best out of his quarterbacks, so this could be a good pick. Regardless, Brandstater will probably be the No. 3 QB for a while.

Seventh round, No. 225 overall: C Blake Schlueter, TCU, 6'2", 290 lb.
He's quick, agile and a little undersized -- typical lineman for the Broncos' blocking scheme.

Analysis
While Denver did shore up some of its defensive needs, getting a pass rusher wasn't one of them. Getting Orakpo and Maualuga in the first round would've greatly helped. Moreno is an interesting pick, especially with the number of RBs they have on the roster already. Then again, it's been a long time since Denver's had a RB of his pedigree on the team.

It wasn't a great draft, but it wasn't horrible. Getting Smith in the second round is nice, but giving up their first round pick is risky. McDaniels has a lot of confidence in his team to give up a potentially top 10 pick.

Who they should pick up
K Louie Sakoda, Utah, 5'9", 176 lb.
Matt Prater tailed off at the end of last season, so why not get someone to give him a run for his money in the preseason. Sakoda is the most decorated college kicker to come out this year, so why not give him a chance?

FS Otis Wiley, Michigan State 6'2", 210 lb.
Big free safety who has a lot of potential if he stays healthy.

And who they should've picked up
DT George "The Rabid Goldfish" Hypolite, Colorado, 6'2", 270 lb.
He's small for the 3-4 scheme, but it'd just be cool to have "The Rabid Goldfish" on the team.

Nuggets are golden

2009-04-15T10:48:00.000-06:00

Who would’ve thunk it that when the Nuggets traded away Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups and Marcus Camby for, well, nothing really, that they would actually improve?

I admit it, when we sent Camby to the Clippers, I called it the “worst trade in Nuggets history.” But having Nene and Kenyon Martin healthy, and Chris Andersen ranked second in the league in blocks (Camby finished fourth), the Nuggs have effectively become better as a whole while saving quite a bit of money.

Most of that credit, however, should go to Billups, who’s shown why he’s one of the league’s best point guards. Beyond his stats on the court (17.9 ppg, 6.4 apg), he’s emerged as the clubhouse’s leader; a voice everyone in the locker room listens to because he commands authority — and has two championship rings to back it up.

Carmelo Anthony has become a more well-rounded player because of it. Not needing to drop 30 every game, he helps by crashing the boards and being a more efficient player all around.
And heading into the playoffs, the team looks to be on a roll, led by J.R. Smith, who’s averaging 25 ppg in the month of April.

While this the Lakers are far and away the best team in the conference, Denver looks like it has the ability to beat any other team in the west. It could be a fun playoff season in Denver — finally.

Online Escape: The 'illmatic' Kim Jong

2009-04-09T13:06:00.001-06:00

The illmatic Kim Jong Il struts his stuff on the dance floor. Gotta love Danny Cho and the Far-East Movement.

Taking one for the team

2009-03-31T20:51:00.001-06:00

Times are tough, there’s no doubt about that.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are finding themselves out of work. Splattered across the news are headlines that say unemployment rates are reaching levels unseen in decades.

And the effects are spreading across the board. We in the news industry are seeing our fellow journalists lose their jobs as many newsrooms across the country are downsizing in order to survive. But one reporter decided to give the ultimate sacrifice to help save a coworker.

Nicole Wong, a business reporter at The Boston Globe, volunteered to be laid off.

It’s unprecedented. In this economy, just having a job is a blessing. But Wong didn’t want to see someone with a family lose their job just because they had less seniority. Someone with roots in Boston where uplifting them would be far more difficult than it would be for her.

In a note posted on Facebook, Wong wrote about the countless stories she’s covered about people who have been negatively affected by the economy.

“Their stories of strife have lingered in the back of my mind. It’s tough being out of work,” she wrote. “And even tougher when you have a family or mortgage to take care of.

“I happen to have neither.”

These stories, ultimately, found their way into her daily life as coworkers often expressed worries about losing their jobs, she wrote. After much thought, Wong came to the difficult decision that leaving the Globe would be for the best.

“ ... it should be less of a hardship for me to find a job since I’m more mobile than my colleagues who have spouses, kids, mortgages, and more. (This is probably the first time I’m relieved to not even have a boyfriend or a house!),” she wrote.

While one job may not seem like much compared to the 50 that the Globe is eliminating, the unselfish gesture and the optimism Wong displays is a beacon of light in these dark, uncertain times. It’s a story that shows the American spirit and says, hey, we can make it past this.

“With that, I’m off to pursue the next great adventure!” she closed.

We hope it’s a good one, Nicole, you deserve it.

Fight nights

2009-03-23T16:09:00.002-06:00

Both Vitali Klitschko and Roy Jones Jr. were in action in the ring this weekend. It's a fun week in boxing — if they were fighting six years ago.

Klitschko pummeled overmatched mandatory challenger Juan Carlos Gomez to retain his WBC Heavyweight Title. Jones destroyed Omar Sheika to get some light heavyweight alphabet soup belt.

Omar who?

Exactly.

Heavyweights
Klitschko is heads and shoulders above everyone in the heavyweight division with the exception of one man — his 32-year-old brother Wladimir — but don't look for the two to ever battle. Britain's David Haye, a former cruiserweight champ, has been looking for a fight with one of the brothers for months now and he looks like he may get his chance as Wladimir's camp says they're getting close for a June 20 bout.

And while that's all fine and dandy, there aren't many American prospects who look like they can challenge them. 28-year-old Chris Arreola has size (6'4", 255) and power, but hasn't fought anyone with world-class ability yet. John Ruiz, Hasim Rahman and Lamon Brewster are all in their mid- to late-30s.

Junior Welterweights
This is one of the most exciting division in boxing today. And it's all for one reason: Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton in May. Hatton's a hard-nosed brawler who tries to bully his opponents. Pacquiao's quick on his feet and has tremendous power. Both like to punch. This'll be fun.

Family Guy's run its course

2009-03-23T15:50:00.004-06:00

It's time to call it quits.

Each television show has a shelf life before the material becomes stale and the quality lessens. For "Family Guy," its time is up.

Since season four, the quality of the show has steadily decreased, relying more and more on inside jokes and breaking down the fourth wall. It's nothing more than inane filler and lackadaisical writing, capitalizing on the fact that its fans don't ask for anything more.

It's sad. I've been a fan of the show since it first launched on Fox, but I find it difficult watching the show's predictable jokes and mediocre plots. It's like watching "The Simpsons" from 2001 to 2007 — very hit or miss.

Online Escape: Greg is not an alien

2009-03-10T13:09:00.001-06:00

Things journalists do

2009-03-10T12:53:00.002-06:00

When there's a wide, towering eruption of black smoke flying into the air, conventional thinking would suggest that one should turn around and head the other way.

Nope, not me. Nor the dozens of others along Alameda who were at a near dead stop watching the brushfire near the Lowry Sports Complex last Sunday.

We were in the office around 4 p.m. when we saw this small billow of smoke in the distance. It didn't look that big, but we didn't realize that it was about 3-1/2 miles away.

I grabbed my camera and headed out there. Just then, a friend called me. As I got closer to the fire, my mind faded away from the conversation and focused on the huge stack of smoke shooting into the sky. To be honest, it was a bit surreal. I wish I had some pictures of the smoke from Havana and Alameda.

By the time I was able to pull into a parking lot, the fire died down.

Imagine this times 20.

Bonus shwag from 'Watchmen'

2009-03-10T12:36:00.003-06:00

I picked up tickets for 'Watchmen' on Fandango last week and they sent me a free "Watchmen Bonus Content" download.

From the little I've gotten to watch, it looks cool — a blend of art from the comic mixed with animation. But I have listened to it a couple of times. The 25-minute video is a retelling of the first part of the comic, all narrated by Tom Stechschulte.

Stechschulte does a good job narrating it, but it sounds a little weird when he does the voice of the Silk Spectre II. Most men can't pull of female voices, especially when they have a deep voice.

Regardless, it's a nice little bonus for seeing a movie.

If you like the "Watchmen" graphic novel, you'll love the movie. If you've never read it, you won't like it. There's a lot happening in the 12-issue series and Zach Snyder tries to fit as much as he can in the allotted 165 minute time frame.

So read the book a couple of times and go see the movie.

Rep. Polis killed the Rocky

2009-03-02T16:30:00.002-07:00

According to a story from The Denver Post, U.S. Rep. Jared Polis said he helped kill the Rocky Mountain News:

"We killed the Rocky Mountain News. Long live new media," said Polis at the Netroots Nation speaker series in Westminster, according to the Denver Young Democrats Examiner website.

Good job, Jared. There's nothing like gloating over the fact that 240 people are now unemployed and Denver's lost one of its biggest voices. Might as well go to their old building and take a leak in the lobby while you're at it.

'Chun-Li' lacks punch, common sense

2009-03-02T13:26:00.003-07:00

There was no press screening for "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" so I got in my car and made the 30-minute trek up to Westminster Promenade for their midnight showing of the movie.

I wish I just stayed in saved my $10 for something better. Here are my thoughts:

"While there are a couple of fun action sequences, the overwhelming majority of the movie is a bevy of nonsensical story progressions, awkward acting and utter pain."

Read the rest of the review on aurorasentinel.com.

I'm confused why it has a 5.6/10 rating on imdb. Horrible action, big plot holes and the simple fact that it wasn't fun to watch should have dropped this down to the 3, 3.5 range.

I came into this movie with low expectations, but I still expected to be mildly entertained. But it failed — completely.

And how do you have a "Street Fighter" flick that takes place in Thailand WITHOUT Sagat?

Stocks for thought

2009-03-02T13:20:00.001-07:00

The last time the Dow Jones was under 7,000 points, I was a 14-year-old freshman at Overland High School.

I want my Rocky

2009-02-26T14:45:00.002-07:00

It's a sad day here in Colorado.

Earlier today, Scripps announced that the Rocky Mountain News will be closing its doors tomorrow.

Another paper on Auraria?

2009-02-24T19:56:00.003-07:00

Apparently there's going to be a new newspaper on the Auraria campus.

According to Face The State, a new conservative student-run newspaper called The Constitutional Reporter is about to launch. The paper's managing editor, Sean Doherty, said that as a freshman, he was frustrated with the coverage from The Metropolitan – Metro's student-run newspaper – and wanted to start his own paper.

And while I encourage young people to get their voices out, I wonder why Sean didn't try and work with The Met. Making change within an established system works far better than creating something new in order to combat it.

As cool as it would be to see another strong paper emerge on the campus (competition increases quality), but my gut says it's not going to last. Remember when the Ram Republic launched up at CSU? It lasted a whole three issues and folded.

We'll see what happens when The Reporter's staff begins graduating.

Post-Oscar look

2009-02-23T16:31:00.004-07:00

Six out of eight isn't too bad. My evaluations of last night's Oscar winners

Best Actor
My prediction: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Actual winner: Sean Penn, Milk

From everything I've heard in the past few weeks, Penn was gaining a lot of momentum. I figured Rourke still carried enough buzz from his Golden Globes win. Both put up fantastic performances and either would've been a good choice.

Side note: Clint Eastwood should've had a nomination for "Gran Torino."

Best Actress
My prediction/winner: Kate Winslet, The Reader

Winslet was honored for her performances from both "The Reader" and "Revolutionary Road." It was really a no-brainer.

Best Supporting Actor
My prediction/winner: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

If there was ever a sure bet for the Oscars, it's Heath Ledger for best supporting actor. His performance as the Joker was long thought up as Oscar-worthy, but with his death, it was a given he was going to win.

Best Supporting Actress
My prediction/winner: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Marisa Tomei ("The Wrestler") and Taraji P. Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") both had fantastic performances, but awards season is all about momentum. Cruz was taking home awards left and right coming into the final stretch.

Best Animated Feature Film
My prediction/winner: Wall-E

"Bolt" and "Kung Fu Panda" were cute, but "Wall-E" was one of the best films of the year. And, as Jack Black said, don't bet against Pixar.

Best Director
My prediction/winner: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

This was "Slumdog's" year and Danny Boyle was its captain. No-brainer.

Best Foreign Film
My prediction: Waltz With Bashir (Israel)
Winner: Departures (Japan)

Total shocker. I thought "Waltz With Bashir" was an amazing film and was going to run away with the award.

Best Picture
My prediction/winner: Slumdog Millionaire

Anything but "Slumdog" would've been a shocker. "Curious" was cute. "Milk" and "Frost/Nixon" showed big moments in history. "The Reader" was good, but not necessarily the film to take the fifth spot. "Slumdog" had grit, emotion and an engrossing plot.

Side note: No "Gran Torino"? What about "Revolutionary Road"? A DiCaprio/Winslet vehicle helmed by Sam Mendes has to have Oscar nominee written all over it.

Bold predictions
• Ang Lee is going to get buzz for either "A Little Game" or "Taking Woodstock." Both are slated to be released late this year.
• If "Watchmen" the movie is nearly as good as the graphic novel, fans will be clamoring for an Oscar nod. It won't happen. Comic book flicks get no love.
• Meryl Streep will get another nomination.
• The Coen Brothers will get nominated for "A Serious Man."

'09 Oscar Predictions

2009-02-22T16:13:00.001-07:00

My picks, what's yours?

Best Actor – Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Best Actress – Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Supporting Actor – Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress – Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Animated Feature Film – Wall-E
Best Director – Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Foreign Film – Waltz With Bashir
Best Picture – Slumdog Millionaire

Miley's mistakes

2009-02-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

What’s more fun that pulling back the corners of your eyes and mocking Asians everywhere — Oh, Miley Cyrus, what won’t you do for a cheap laugh.

And that first “apology” you wrote on your blog was beautiful. Saying you were just making a “goofy face” and denying you were making fun of any ethnicities was simply stupid. Not only because it was a lie but because denying something you clearly did and defending your actions doesn’t make it go away.

If your managers were smart, they would’ve told you to issue a real apology and owning up to her actions. The general public would’ve accepted it and moved on. Take a look at A-Rod.

But since it was against Asians, it’ll go away in a few weeks. Sadly, that’s how these incidents usually work.

Look you’re a huge star for Disney, a role model for millions around the world. That’s a responsibility you need to accept and embrace. How frustrating is it for me to explain to my nieces and nephews why their idol is making fun of them?

I saw you issued a new apology recently, saying you’re sorry and how this ordeal is a lesson you’ve learned.

It’s a little late, but let’s hope the lesson sticks.

Fun with dieting

2009-02-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

Some people in this world are blessed with super metabolisms. You know, the ones who can eat anything and everything they want and never gain a pound.

Unfortunately, I am not one of them, so like every year, I’m on a diet. I suppose it’d be smarter, and probably healthier, to maintain my weight when I’m lighter. But what’s the fun in that? When would I get to gorge on absurd amounts of food?

Never, according to most dieticians, but I don’t care.

What’s fun is being able to lose the weight and become super fit and muscley.

Hmm, maybe I don’t want to be one of those super metabolistic folks. They have trouble keeping weight on. That must suck.

A note to angry callers

2009-01-29T14:56:00.002-07:00

To angry callers:

First off, I appreciate your patronage to our newspaper and I welcome any and all questions, comments and concerns you may have — good, bad or anywhere in between — regarding any of the stories we run.

That said, when you do have a complaint about a story, please tell me what story or stories you are expressing concern about. As a journalist, I'm trained to have a short-term memory because we have to move subject to subject quickly.

It does neither of us no good if I don't know what you're talking about.

I want to help you, but you see the predicament I'm in.

Or if you would like to rant, send us a letter to the editor. You can chew us out or praise us, but don't you want all of the readers to know your concerns?

2009: Fighting the fat, part deux - chapter two

2009-01-26T13:48:00.002-07:00

Three weeks into my new diet and exercise regiment, I've noticed that when I'm focused, it's easy to manipulate my body.

When I started, I was 186 lb. at home (190.0 fully clothed at work). Last Friday, I weighed in at 180 (184.0). A solid two-pounds-a-week rate. It's right on pace with my goal of 171 (175.0) by Feb. 27.

My gameplan's been working. I've been consistent with my six-days-a-week workouts and the Chipotle diet is delicious and healthy. The alcoholic consumption cap has been pretty easy. I've been averaging three beers a week. I've broken the fast-food rule once — I had a hankering for some fries last Friday. But I got a value size from Wendy's and two pieces of baked chicken from King Soopers.

Starting today, I've altered my routine slightly.

Two-a-day workouts
This won't be all six days, but if I can hit it three or four days in the week, it'll be beneficial. I woke up early to hit the gym this morning.
More food consumption?
I haven't decided on this yet. I'm letting the outcome of this week dictate whether I need to eat more or not. If I lose more than three pounds on Friday, it means yes.

Arlovski's heel

2009-01-25T14:43:00.002-07:00

Fedor Emilianenko defeated Andrei Arlovski last night. Arlovski started off well, using his jabs to keep Fedor at bay, even catching Fedor with his speed. Definitely the training of Freddie Roach (Manny Pacquiao's trainer) helped. It was working well — well, until he decided to throw a flying knee into the equation.

I don't think Roach had that in mind.

An ode to Rick

2009-01-19T16:33:00.001-07:00

It evoked fond memories of a simpler time — a time when we understood the rules, knew the game and were ready to play it.

We thought we were never going to say goodbye — but we were wrong.

The art of Rickrolling died Jan. 13. It was 17 months old.

This Internet phenomenon of luring unsuspecting indivuduals into clicking a link that played Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” breathed new life for the artist and pranksters, alike.

For a year and a half, new frontiers were pioneered to creative innovative Rickrolls. From fake movie trailers to leaving notes with a number that plays the recording of the song, friends and coworkers came up with new excuses to successfully get one another.

When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. posted her YouTube clip, “Speaker Pelosi Presents Capitol Cat Cam,” it marked an end to an era of Internet pranking.

At the 37 second mark, the antics of her feisty feline friends slowly fades to the Astley’s music video — complete with an explanation of what Rickrolling is to the viewer.

While the Rickroll has experienced many brushed with death, it has fought off fading away to being just another story of Internet lore. But the “PelosiRoll” was the boulder that crushed the camel flat.

Not only was it like seeing your parents destroy a part of your youth by jamming out to your favorite music or playing online games, the explanation that was given ruined the effect of the prank.

It turned this annoying, albeit jovial gag into something completely lame. A fad that falls into the realm of pogs and the “Macarena.”

We must remember the good times. The first time we Rickrolled a friend. The tributes, such as the famous “BarackRoll.” And, of course, Astley rickrolling all of America at the 2008 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Some things are timeless. But for the Rickroll, it’s time to run around and desert you.It evoked fond memories of a simpler time — a time when we understood the rules, knew the game and were ready to play it.

We thought we were never going to say goodbye — but we were wrong.

The art of Rickrolling died Jan. 13. It was 17 months old.

This Internet phenomenon of luring unsuspecting indivuduals into clicking a link that played Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” breathed new life for the artist and pranksters, alike.

For a year and a half, new frontiers were pioneered to creative innovative Rickrolls. From fake movie trailers to leaving notes with a number that plays the recording of the song, friends and coworkers came up with new excuses to successfully get one another.

When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. posted her YouTube clip, “Speaker Pelosi Presents Capitol Cat Cam,” it marked an end to an era of Internet pranking.

At the 37 second mark, the antics of her feisty feline friends slowly fades to the Astley’s music video — complete with an explanation of what Rickrolling is to the viewer.

While the Rickroll has experienced many brushed with death, it has fought off fading away to being just another story of Internet lore. But the “PelosiRoll” was the boulder that crushed the camel flat.

Not only was it like seeing your parents destroy a part of your youth by jamming out to your favorite music or playing online games, the explanation that was given ruined the effect of the prank.

It turned this annoying, albeit jovial gag into something completely lame. A fad that falls into the realm of pogs and the “Macarena.”

We must remember the good times. The first time we Rickrolled a friend. The tributes, such as the famous “BarackRoll.” And, of course, Astley rickrolling all of America at the 2008 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Some things are timeless. But for the Rickroll, it’s time to run around and desert you.

Check out: Cole on Cars

2009-01-15T17:43:00.001-07:00

Check out The Aurora Sentinel's Managing Editor Aaron Cole's new auto blog, Cole on Cars.

Who could fit the Broncos?

2009-01-15T16:34:00.005-07:00

With the Broncos having hired a new head coach, it's time to work on the team's personnel deficiencies.

Meaning, it's time to work on the Broncos' D — especially in the draft.

If I were in the GM position, my pick would've been — without a doubt — USC junior free safety Taylor Mays.

The Broncos tend to have success when they have a monster free safety such as John Lynch and Steve Atwater. At 6'3" and 230 lb. with a 4.32s 40-yard-dash, he fits the mold.

But the 20-year-old decided to go back for his senior year, so we have to look elsewhere. Missouri's William Moore is a solid prospect, too, but taking him at No. 12 seems high.

The big rumor is that the Broncos may go to a 3-4 defense. If that's the case, they need a solid inside linebacker. Here's the best options:

LB Rey Maualuga, USC, 6'2", 260 lb.
Maualuga is a great combination of size and speed mixed with a killer instinct. Some have said he's similar to Pittsburgh's S Troy Polamalu with his aggressive play. Can't go wrong with having someone who invokes fear in the middle of the field.

LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, 6'2", 240 lb.
He's a three-time All-American with superb instincts and a solid frame that could hold a few more pounds. Plus his father is Joe Laurinatis, better known as Road Warrior Animal. How cool would it be to have the son of a wrestler scouring the middle of the field?

These are the only two names I would consider with the No. 12 pick. Doesn't matter who the Broncos choose, they'll have an instant impact player to be along side D.J. Williams, Boss Bailey and Jamie Winborn.

But we still need a safety and there is a name if Pat Bowlen's willing to shell out the dough.

S Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia
Yeah, he's 35. Yeah, he's on the downturn of his career. But Dawkins is still one of the hardest hitters in the game. He'd provide good veteran leadership on this young Broncos team and would be good to have until someone younger comes into his own.

Or grab someone in the second round. Oregon's Patrick Chung and Alabama's Rashad Johnson are both projected to be taken there.

'Slumdog' is no underdog

2009-01-14T11:12:00.001-07:00

Who would’ve thunk it that a love story about impoverished kids set half way around the world would be the frontrunner to win Best Picture at the Oscar’s this year?

But that’s exactly what Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” is after winning the Golden Globes award for Best Picture — Drama. Seventeen out of the past 24 Oscar winners won the Golden Globes, according to RopesofSilicon.com.

It’s hard for me to argue against “Slumdog Millionaire” — it was one of the best movies I’ve seen this year with its nontraditional storytelling down to the stellar acting from the entire cast.
What intrigues me more is what other movies are going to be nominated.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is definitely going to get a nod and is going to be the biggest threat to taking down “Slumdog.”

“Milk” has gotten plenty of love this award season and it would surprise me if it didn’t get a nomination. “Frost/Nixon” falls in the same boat.

The final spot is a toss up. Films such as “Revolutionary Road,” “Doubt” and “The Reader” have all received plenty of attention. And don’t exclude “Wall-E” and “The Wrestler.” But the dark horse in this whole situation is “The Dark Knight.” Heath Ledger is all but assured of being named the Best Supporting Actor, and the position reception the film’s received this past year is surely going to attract the attention of the Academy.

All I know is that there’s a bunch of movies I get to watch these next few weeks.

Online Escape: Crayon Physics

2009-01-11T14:02:00.001-07:00

Crayon Physics Deluxe from Petri Purho on Vimeo.

This game looks crazy fun. Check it out at http://www.crayonphysics.com.

2009: Fighting the fat, part deux

2009-01-09T11:51:00.003-07:00

The last time I worked to lose weight, I dropped 14 pounds in the course of about two to three months. It stayed off for a while — then summer hit. Family, friends came back into town and I partook in the pageantry of food and spirits.

Enter this year: I weighed in at 186 pounds (190 with my clothes on) at the beginning of the year.

Here at the Sentinel, a few of us are trying an eight-week challenge to drop some pounds. The plan is simple: set a goal for ourselves and work to reach it.

My goal is 15 pounds. Approximately two pounds a week, which is a safe, recommended number for weight loss.

The first week's been good, with everyone participating losing weight — from 1/2 to four pounds.

I was in the middle. I lost 2.6 pounds and weighed in at 187.6 fully clothed.

Here's my gameplan:
• Return to my five- to six-day-a-week workout routine
So far, so good. I've worked out four days this week so far and I fully expect to spend six days at the gym when it's said and done. Wednesdays are my days off in order to recuperate.

My routine alternates daily with legs and upper body lifts following a 30-minute cardio warm-up. The cardio warm-up will slowly increase as I get over my cold.

Two-and-a-half weeks off from the gym — in addition to lots of eating, spirits and doing nothing — have made me a little weaker in my upper body. Mostly in my larger muscle groups. I've dropped down to 155 pounds for my bench reps, but I figure I'll be back to normal in two or three weeks.

• Eat a ton of small meals throughout the day
This isn't too hard. I've returned to the Chipotle diet. I pick up a steak or chicken fajita burrito minus the sour cream. This ends up being about 900-1,100 calories, depending on how packed it gets. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., I munch on it whenever I get hungry, which is every 75-90 minutes as I've discovered. I have a small fruit breakfast in the morning and a protein shake after my workout at night. This ends up being about 1,600 to 1,800 calories a day — something I'll need to increase in a few weeks when my metabolism increases.

Weekends I'll play by ear. Probably a heavier breakfast/lunch for my midday workout and then a light early dinner.

• Limit my alcoholic consumption to 64 ounces of beer a week
My beer intake was higher over the holiday season, but now that I'm back on my schedule, this shouldn't be too hard to do. I've hit 46 ounces this week. I may have a pint this weekend, but it's going to be something that's lower in calories (and delicious) such as a Guinness with its 125 calories in 12 oz.

I'm not much of a hard alcohol man. I'll enjoy my occasional whiskey, but for the most part, give me a good beer and I'll be your friend.

• Plenty of sleep
Sleep lets your body fix stuff. Get enough sleep and you're good to go.

• No fast food
Don't give me that "Chipotle is fast food" crap. It's good food, fast. I'm talking about the McDonald's and Taco Bells. When I eat that stuff, my body gets angry.

And if I get the urge, I just need to pop in "Super-Size Me" and I'll be turned off of fast food for months.

Simple, right?

Alright, 12.4 pounds to go by Feb. 27. Once I hit this goal, I move to my next one: drop down to 165.

Online Escape: Gupta's not good enough

2009-01-09T11:50:00.002-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Medicine Cabinet

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Gotta love satire.

Johan Petro? Really?

2009-01-08T12:48:00.003-07:00

I know the Nuggets hate draft picks. Beyond Carmelo and, to a lesser extent, James Posey, who have we drafted in the past 10 years has turned out good?

(Nene was drafted, then traded by the Knicks. Linas Kleiza was drafted and traded by Portland)

But my gripe is, couldn't we have traded our No. 1 pick for someone better than Johan Petro — the French Steven Hunter? We already have the American Steven Hunter on our roster.

Here's my list of five players who could've been better options:

1. F-C Channing Frye, Portland
As a rookie, he averaged 12.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg for the Knicks. Since then, he's been moved further down the bench, now providing about 12 mpg for the TrailBlazers. He's a good sized, quick power forward/center who would provide quality minutes off the bench.

2. F Reggie Evans, Philadelphia
A monstrous rebounder who used to play for the Nuggets. Although he's on 6'8", he plays like he's much bigger.

3. F-C Francisco Elson, Milwaukee
A lanky vet who will provide valuable minutes and consistant play.

4. F-C Ronny Turiaf, Golden State
He'll block, he'll rebound, he'll score. Solid total who would instantly provide help off the bench.

5. C David Harrison, free agent
Yeah, he moves like molasses. But this former CU star is a solid defender and a prototypical center who could bang inside with the best of them.

Broncos fire Shanahan

2008-12-30T15:44:00.003-07:00

The AP is reporting that Mike Shanahan has been fired by the Denver Broncos.

I'm pretty shocked.

Yeah, the Broncos dropped their final three games and fell out of the playoffs, but Shanahan's still a good coach. He's just not a good talent evaluator.

The Broncos should've taken away his GM responsibilities minus allowing him to draft in rounds 5-7 -- the man's still able to find gems in the late rounds.

But this leads to the question, who's taking Shanny's spot?

First Look: 'Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li'

2008-12-30T15:30:00.002-07:00

Saw this online. It's the Japanese trailer for "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li." I'll do my premature evaluation over on the Entertainious Prime blog later tonight.

Voter error

2008-12-29T17:57:00.001-07:00

Saw this picture on the AP wire. Isn't drawing in the lines one of the first things we learned in kindergarten?

No love for Pac Man (or why Tyson/Ali shouldn't be on the new 'Fight Night' cover)

2008-12-29T15:47:00.006-07:00

Alright EA Sports, what gives?

The past three incarnations of the "Fight Night" series has featured current top-notch stars on the cover with Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya.

So why are you debating whether to have Muhammed Ali or Mike Tyson on this latest version?

Don't get me wrong, Ali is a timeless legend. But he was featured on "Knockout Kings," the predecessor of "Fight Night."

And Tyson? He would've been a great cover choice — back in '89 before Buster Douglas knocked him out.

Here are my choices of who would be better on the cover:

5) Israel Vazquez
He battled Rafael Marquez in three exciting action-packed bouts, winning the latter two. He's one of the best the sport has to offer, but the problem is, most don't know who he is. And fighting at 122, most won't.

4) Wladimir Klitschko
Looking for a heavyweight? Lil' Klitschko is the best in the game right now. He's big, powerful and dominating. But he's going against one of the weakest divisions in boxing today.

3) Joe Calzaghe
The light heavyweight from Wales is 46-0 and recently took down legends in Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. But he didn't make any friends saying that boxing is a dead sport. He'll probably still get the cover of the UK version, though.

2) Floyd Mayweather
Retired when he was arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He beat Oscar De La Hoya in 12 and owns the only blemish on Ricky Hatton's otherwise perfect record. But he's retired and hasn't fought in more than a year.

My choice: 1) Manny Pacquiao
In the course of a year, he beat Juan Miguel Marquez for the 130 title, David Diaz for the 135 title and then moved up to 147 and destroyed De La Hoya. He's been dominant over the past few years, taking down many of boxing's best at their prime. Marcos Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales are among the others. Next up, a bout with Ricky Hatton at 140 in May and, if he wins, a potential match with Mayweather at the end of the year.

And he has a best-selling album in the Philippines.

How can they not choose him?

'Watchmen' down?

2008-12-29T15:34:00.003-07:00

WTF, Fox?

According to the Associated Press, 20th Century Fox is continuing to seek an order to delay the release of "Watchmen." Warner Bros. contends that Fox isn't entitled to any part of the distribution.

Guh — hopefully this thing gets worked out soon.

Online Escape: The Friends Theme and Sugar Ray

2008-12-16T20:11:00.001-07:00

Pacquiao – pride of the Philippines

2008-12-07T18:10:00.002-07:00

If it's difficult to carry the hopes and dreams of an entire nation, Manny Pacquiao does an amazing job of hiding the pain.

The 29-year-old Filipino boxer's meteoric rise from being a poverty-stricken child who sold stolen cigarettes to becoming the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world is a fairy tale that has captured the imagination of the Filipinos across the world.

"Pacquiao represents the heart, determination and relentlessness that many Filipinos and Filipino Americans are proud of," said Evan Osborn, a local Pacquiao fan.

And it's easy to see why. The Pac Man employs an exciting fighting style, combining break-neck speed with immense power. He has gone to battle with the some of the sport's top stars and – this is key – he's taken them down. Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Miguel Marquez – all top-tier fighters at the top of their game.

So when Pacquiao faced off against Oscar De La Hoya in their 147-pound welterweight match last Saturday, it was hyped to be a dream boxing match between two future hall of famers. It was David vs. Goliath. Pacquiao – who started his career at 106 pounds soaking wet – had never fought over 135 pounds, while his opponent had been fighting 20 pounds heavier for the past eight years.

For most fighters, jumping two weight classes and facing the biggest name in the sport sounds like a insurmountable obstacle.

Apparently Pacquiao didn't get that memo.

For eight rounds the Pac Man methodically picked apart the Golden Boy, landing left straights at will and barraging him with flurries of power punches that led to an eighth-round TKO.

It wasn't just a victory – it was an annihilation.

While the win added another notch to Pacquiao's growing legend, it's his affect on his people's national pride that's even greater. His influence is so great that on the night of the fight, the country reported zero crime.

Zero.

In an Associated Press story, the country's executive secretary said that Pacquiao's victory boosted the morale of the Filipino people in the midst of financial woes.

If only we can get our very own Pacquiao here in the states.

Advice for young photogs

2008-11-17T13:52:00.002-07:00

When shooting pictures with a reflective surface, don't get yourself in the shot like our dear friend Nick Ut from the AP did.

Angering car lovers

2008-11-17T11:58:00.003-07:00

One thing I've learned over the years is that car lovers really don't like it when you insult their vehicular tastes.

Case in point: our Managing Editor Aaron Cole reviewed the '09 Dodge Challenger (read the review here) in today's paper. While the review painted a less-than-stellar picture when it highlights the flaws of the car, he did say it's "impractical, nearly undriveable, tremendously fun and turns every head within a city block."

Just like every other unnecessarily amped-up vehicle from crotch rockets to riced-out imports to big honkin' SUVs, it's oh so fun, but oh so inefficient.

While there's only two comments on the story (so far), we found a thread on a Challenger forum about it with mostly negative reactions about the review.

This reminded me when I was in college and the opinions editor of our newspaper wrote a piece about how super-sized trucks were on the verge of extinction after domestic car companies were posting record losses (shameless plug for my college paper). It was more commentary about how Japanese car companies were winning because of their research efforts on efficiency and reliability than anything else. Regardless, we got lengthy letters from truck lovers who tried disproving everything he wrote in response to the piece.

But one thing that remains constant between these incidents: the key insult is "tree-hugging Boulder liberal" Mark Udall.

(Er... scratch the Udall part, I'm still suffering flashbacks from Bob Schaffer's commercials from the election season.)

2008 Starz Film Fest - Opening Night

2008-11-14T12:53:00.003-07:00

I've covered the Starz Film Festival for four years now and the one thing that stays constant is the excitement on opening night. There's always an electricity in the air as film patrons fill the Ellie Caulkins Opera House to kick off the cavalcade of movies.

Last night was no different as the festival launched with the latest film from Director Rian Johnson (who was also a former Dry Creek Elementary student – go Dolphins), "The Brothers Bloom." It's about two con-artist brothers, played by Mark Ruffalo and Adrian Brody, and their adventures. It's a fun, lighthearted film filled with many laugh-out-loud moments. Shameless plug: see my full review next month at www.aurorasentinel.com.

I was a little disappointed by the Denver Film Society's in-house short to kick off the festival. Last year's was fun with Mayor Hickenlooper and Ron Henderson. This year featured local comedian Magic Cyclops in a lackluster bit.

"Dog," the 90-second short that opened the show, was a cute animation about one boy's reaction to his brother's dog dying. (It can be seen at http://www.hermannkarlsson.co.uk)

Now that the festival's underway, there are a number of flicks that I'm planning to catch:

"Chocolate" (Thailand) - Saturday at midnight
Think Tony Jaa if he were a female. The latest movie from the director of "Ong Bak" is sure to be filled with as much action as his previous two.
"Slumdog Millionaire" (UK) - Saturday at 7:30 - $30
Awesome flick. Check out my review at http://www.aurorasentinel.com/articles/2008/11/14/living/reviews/doc491d36fccbb9d136330687.txt.
"Waltz With Bashir" (Israel) - Sunday at 1 p.m.
It's an animated movie about a veteran of the 1982 Lebanon War.
An Evening with Don Hertzfeldt - Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m.
Hertzfeldt has been one of my favorite animators since I discovered him in college. His pieces are off the wall, a little crazy, but always hilarious.

Welcome home, Chauncey

2008-11-03T12:58:00.003-07:00

Denver's son is coming home.

Chauncey Billups, the former George Washington High School and Colorado Buffs star comes back to the Nuggets along with Antonio McDyess.

A.I., we hardly knew ye.

But this is a good move for the Nuggs. Heck, it's a good move for both teams.

With Billups:

The Nuggets get a top-tier pass-first point guard
Denver has plenty of scorers without Iverson — Melo, Smith, and to a lesser extent, Kleiza — but haven't had a true quality point guard to feed them the ball. Anthony Carter is a nice backup point, but he's not on the same level as Billups.
Size and defense
At 6-3 and 202 pounds, Billups gives the Nuggets more size in the backcourt. Plus the two-time All-NBA defensive second team guard will give Denver something they've been lacking since the Mutombo days.
Outside threat
Billups gives the Nuggets another consistant 3-point shooter aside from J.R. Smith. This outside threat opens the inside and more scoring opportunities for Nene and Kenyon Martin.

I guess I'm in the 'whatever' classification

2008-10-21T18:55:00.001-06:00

Political burnout

2008-10-21T18:52:00.001-06:00

I’m done with the election season.

Finished.

Finito.

For the past 12 months, there’s been a never-ending stream of news and gossip pertaining to the 2008 presidential election bombarding us from all different directions.

Republicans keep telling me Barack Obama doesn’t have experience and his plans are borderline socialist while dems say Palin’s dumb as a post and McCain’s lost authority in his party.

I don’t care.

Don’t get me wrong — I was much more into the discussions over the summer when the topics were fresh. But everything’s become stale in the past month as the opposing sides are just rehashing tired arguments.

Makes me want to pledge my vote to Gene Amondson of the prohibition party and enjoy a few brews at a bar on election night.

(Don’t worry, I’m not throwing my vote away — but it playing quarters with a cake looks fun. Heck, ginger ale pong could be fun, too.)

And everyone I meet seems to have an opinion and feels it necessary to inform me about it. But saying you’re voting for someone just because he says he’s going to bring “change” or because he’s a “straight talker” means nothing to me.

Oh, Nov. 3 — so close, yet so far away.

Great 16-day e-mail flood

2008-10-19T14:58:00.004-06:00

With 16 days left until the election, there are two names that I am becoming well acquainted with.

And neither begin with Barack or John.

David Plouffe and Tom Kise, the respective e-mail gurus for the Obama and McCain campaigns, have been bombarding me with electronic spam for the past few weeks, and it's increasing as the election inches closer.

Plouffe's sends a daily e-mail asking for money. While Kise sends dozens a day about random things. I counted 25 e-mails during the course of the last debate.

Look, I know both sides are exaggerating the truth. I know these up-to-the-minute factual errors incite those who tow the party lines, but I don't care.

Makes me want to vote for Gene Amondson and the prohibition party.

Sentinel Online v.2.0

2008-10-14T18:33:00.001-06:00

It's coming.

(This is 2.0 for me. I think this may be the paper's third website)

Crappy Halloween costumes

2008-10-06T16:17:00.002-06:00

Saw this on AngryAsianMan's blog.
It's called the "Old Chinese Man" wig. I suppose it's because Chinese men go shaggy and brownish-gray rather than just gray with age. Looks more like a caveman to me.