The unexamined life is not worth living – Socrates
It’s time once again to play everyone’s favorite blog based game…Getting to Know Your Humble Potentate of Profundity. We’ve gone down this road before, because I happen to have a job with stretches of downtime and I’m just nerdy enough to enjoy these kinds of exercises.
What social media post has really stuck with you??
Social media posts aren’t meant to stick with anyone. People skim across tweets or Facebook posts when they have nothing else better to do, 
and what they read is generally like cotton candy…entertaining for a brief moment before it melts away into the ether. Oh sure people occasionally attempt to be profound…even me. But it’s just a fun time waster.
If you had to be stuck at one age forever, what age would you choose??
I think I’d be a perpetual 19 year old college student. That was really a great time in my life.
What would be the worst animal to be eaten by??
Ever since watching Quint (Robert Shaw) be eaten alive by the shark in Jaws when I was a kid I’ve thought that’d be a pretty horrific way to go. I suppose being swallowed by a python might not be too much fun either.
On a scale of existential crisis to living the dream how’s life going??
somewhere in the middle
Besides religion & politics, what topic always gets heated in your circle of friends and acquaintances??
sports
What would you recommend to someone if they had the day off and didn’t know what to do??
Do what you enjoy. There’s nothing wrong with chilling out at home reading a book or watching movies, but if you are a more adventurous spirit by all means get out there and have some fun.
What do you imagine the lives of super rich people are like??
I can’t really imagine, and I don’t really care. I assume life in general is much easier for folks for whom money is not a problem.
Do you like your name? Would you ever change it??
Yes, I like my name. I have no plans to change it.
Do you prefer writing with black or blue pen??
I don’t have a preference.
Who is a mentor to you??
my father
Are you a restless sleeper??
Yes. I do better when I actually wear my CPAP machine though.
Would you ever want to be famous??
No thanks…I’ll pass.
What is your star sign??
Libra. I don’t really believe in all that astrology stuff, but I won’t deny that it can be sort of fascinating.
What do you collect??
Nothing really. I tried to get into baseball cards when I was a kid, but it was a passing fancy. I like eagles and have several sculptures & similar artwork in my apartment, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I collect eagles.
Do you like your cereal crunchy or soggy??
crunchy
What would you want your legacy to be??
I wrote about legacy a few years ago after my friend Robert passed away.
Do you like reading? What was the last thing you read??
I love to read, although I don’t seem to have the attention span now that I had when I was younger. I used to blow thru a 500 page book in a few days, but now I’ll have a half dozen books started concurrently and it takes me forever to actually finish. I recently read biographies about golfer Tiger Woods & comedian Robin Williams.
How do you show someone you love them??
There are a million ways to show someone you love them. It just depends on the person and the relationship.
Do you like ice in your drinks??
yes
What useless bit of information have you memorized and will probably never forget??
My head is filled with meaningless trivia that will probably only matter if I somehow end up as a contestant on Jeopardy.
Do you prefer swimming in pools or in the ocean??
I can’t swim, so it doesn’t really matter to me. I’ve never been to the ocean, but I will make it there someday. It seems like the ocean is atleast more interesting to look at than a swimming pool.
What quote has always stuck with you??
“A hammer shatters glass but forges steel. Adversity is like the hammer, and what it does to a person depends on what they’re made of”. I believe it is an old Russian proverb.
What would be the worst thing to have a phobia of??
I have had what I call a driving phobia (it is more likely a form of PTSD) that has been pretty awful for over twenty years. It has virtually ruined what was potentially an impactful & stimulating life.
Where do you feel the safest??
At home in my humble little apartment. It is a cocoon that I retreat into more & more with each passing day.
If you could travel back to any era, which would you choose??
I think it’d be fun to check out the 1950’s. I know it probably wasn’t as innocent & enjoyable as it is often portrayed, but if it was…I could handle hanging out at the drive-in, playing awesome tunes on a jukebox at the malt shop, & driving some of the coolest cars of all time.
What was the last movie that made you cry??
Marley & Me with Jennifer Aniston & Owen Wilson. It is allegedly a comedy, but anyone who has watched it until the end knows that it takes a very sad turn. I didn’t catch it in the theater, but when it came out on home video I ordered it on demand. I was at home watching it with my puppy Rocco, and I bawled like a freakin’ baby.
What game do you always lose??
Pretty much any game I play. Card games. Billiards. Video games. Words with Friends. I’m ultra-competitive & hate to lose…but I’m also not very skilled or lucky.
What is your favorite season? Why??
I like summer. I just feel happier, healthier, & more energetic when the sun is shining. Sunglasses, air conditioning, backyard BBQs, concerts in the park, fairs & festivals, fireworks. What’s not to love about summertime??
What do you know way too much about??
soap operas & professional wrestling
If it was decided that all countries would be abolished and the entire earth would be one unified political body, what would be the capital city of Earth? What would its flag and anthem be??
When that happens I don’t think it’ll matter much what the capital city is or what kind of flag or anthem we’ll have. A One World Government signifies The End, and the only thing that matters is Jesus.
What movie really encapsulates the era in which it was made??
Two films immediately come to mind. I think Saturday Night Fever really captures the late 70’s disco era, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High is quintessential 80’s.
What was a random compliment that someone gave you that really stuck in your memory??
A teacher in junior high school told me I should become a writer. I really should have followed her advice.
Have you ever seen a shooting star? Did you make a wish??
No. Maybe someday.
What do you regret the most??
Regrets?? I have a few…but, then again, too few to mention.
If you had to have a tattoo, what would it be and where would you get it??
I seriously considered getting a tattoo in college. Several of my fraternity brothers had our letters tattooed on their ankles and I thought about doing the same because a) that area is generally hidden or not all that noticeable in a professional situation, and b) I have no feeling below my knee so pain wouldn’t have been an issue. However, ultimately I talked myself out of it and now have absolutely no desire to get a tattoo.
Do you address older people by their first or last name??
It depends on how well I know them. There are elderly people in my church, my hometown, & my apartment building that I know well enough & feel comfortable using their first name. But with strangers or people I don’t know well I’m all about “sir’ or “ma’am” and “Mr.” or “Mrs.”.
Do you consider yourself a romantic??
Theoretically I believe I can be romantic, but I haven’t had much opportunity to practice so I might not be very good at it.
If money was not a factor, how would you live your life??
I don’t think I’d want to live anywhere else, but I would travel a lot more. And I would build a house that I designed. Other than that I wouldn’t want my life to drastically change.
Do you prefer baths or showers??
showers
Would you prefer to live in the country or the city??
I like living in a small town that’s not too far away from a big city. Right now I am about two hours away from Pittsburgh, but my life would be much more interesting if I lived only 15-30 minutes outside of the city. I have zero desire to actually live in the city.
Do you drink your tea or coffee with sugar??
I like my hot tea with sugar & some milk. I don’t put sugar in my coffee…just cream.
What is your favorite item of clothing??
There’s nothing better than a comfie pair of sweatpants & a ratty ol’ t-shirt that one would never wear out in public. And when I do go out & about I’m all about jeans & a nice polo or Henley shirt. I’m not trying to impress anybody.
Do you prefer reading paper or electronic books??
For the longest time I refused to even deal with the whole e-reader thing. But then my sister got me a tablet for Christmas a few years ago, so I downloaded the Amazon Kindle app and began using it occasionally. However, at the end of the day I’m still a traditionalist and prefer a good old-fashioned paper book.
What can you see outside your bedroom window??
Subway. Wendy’s. Long John Silver’s. Kroger.
What is the strangest thing you have eaten??
Eel. Shark. Escargot. I’m willing to try different things, but for the most part I prefer to stick with normal, average, basic stuff…meat, pasta, veggies, chocolate.
What are you most thankful for??
I’m thankful for many things…when I actually take time to reflect on my blessings. However, more often than not I “sweat the small stuff” and feel frustrated or angry about things that have gone awry in my life. Perhaps I give off negative vibes and strike others as petty & ungrateful. That’s the only reason I can come up with to explain my loneliness and why so many people tend to shun me nowadays…even friends who I thought I’d always be able to count on.
Do you like spicy food??
Not at all. I have whatever the opposite of a “cast iron stomach” would be called. Just thinking about spicy food might necessitate a trip to the bathroom.
Have you ever met someone famous??
A few. Former WV Governor & Senator Jay Rockefeller. Former First Lady Hillary Clinton. 80’s supergroup Kansas. TV’s Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno.
Do you keep a diary or journal??
I blog, which is a similar concept. And I do have a daily planner that I essentially use as a journal of my mundane little life.
Do you prefer to use pen or pencil??
Definitely a pen.
What’s something everyone should experience at least once in their life??
I think everyone should have the joy of owning a pet.
How would you spend your ideal day??
It depends on my mood. Generally I am a homebody, don’t enjoy crowds, & become easily annoyed by humanity. Therefore, oftentimes a perfect day is chillin’ with my boy Rocco, a good book, & some movies. However, I do occasionally venture out, so dinner & a movie, a ball game, a play, or a concert could be fun with the right company.
What are your most used emojis??
What really annoys you when other people do it, but you occasionally do it as well??
To be honest many things annoy me, but I do my best not to be hypocritical and do the very things that annoy me.
What movie quote(s) are you tired of hearing??
“Life is like a box of chocolates…”
And I LOVE Forrest Gump
What small thing makes you angrier than it should??
I could probably list multiple things, but one situation in particular has really been ticking me off lately. There are pages on Facebook dedicated to very specific things, like 80’s Music or 90’s TV. They are just harmless time wasters like what social media was intended to be. At any rate, someone will post a question like “Name a 70’s movie that didn’t get a sequel but should have”, and the thread will be chockful of responses naming films that either weren’t produced in that decade or did in fact have a sequel. I could understand one or two people misunderstanding the question, but when dozens of people post such wrong answers it becomes clear that things like reading comprehension & critical thinking are in short supply and it saddens me.
If you could show everyone in the world one image for 10 seconds but it couldn’t contain text, what image would you choose??
Jesus
Who is the funniest actor or actress still doing movies or TV shows??
There are quite a few actually…it just depends on what one likes. Off the top of my head I’m fond of Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Steve Carell, & Vince Vaughn. They may not be cool & hip anymore but Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Crystal, & Steve Martin still have “it”. Melissa McCarthy is funny in small doses.
If there were an Olympics for average people, what would some of the events be??
Angry Birds. Putt Putt Golf. Fishing. Pizza Eating. Air Hockey. Beer Chugging. HORSE. Checkers. Hunting. Bowling. Poker. Couponing. Mowing Grass.
Would you travel to a foreign country all by yourself??
Possibly. It wouldn’t be ideal because there is safety in numbers, and especially because I am in a wheelchair I know I can be viewed by evildoers as an easy target. However, depending on the circumstances I may be willing to take a chance.
Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life??
I actually began writing an outline for a screenplay based on wacky things that happened at a job I held about fifteen years ago. In my mind I always had Jack Black playing me.
What’s your best podcast recommendation??
I’ve never really gotten into podcasts. Perhaps I should investigate the options.
What would be the absolute best pet to have??
A dog. Specifically a pug. Like my Rocco. Of course I may be just a bit biased.
What’s a piece of advice that you wish everyone would take to heart??
It’s not necessarily advice, but I wish that everyone believed in God and His Son Jesus Christ. I’m not a good Christian and I am forthcoming about that. I am far too flawed and stubborn. I make too many mistakes & bad decisions, and I am far too moody. However, I atleast believe in the reality of God and the basic foundations of Christianity, which is a good jumping off point for improvement and getting to where I need to be. I have interacted with so many people who are scoffers, who consider God to be an imaginary fairy tale, who have absolutely no faith. They are so lost & misguided, and it’s a complete waste of time to even have a discussion with such individuals. I walk away feeling so many negative emotions.
What’s your most common first thought when you wake up??
I’m not sure I think too clearly for a few moments after I first wake up. I’m a slow starter that needs to ease into my day. I usually give some lovins’ to my boy Rocco, then I hop online or check my phone to see what’s going on in the world. Sometimes I need to listen to some music to help clear the cobwebs. Then it’s time to decide on a plan for the day. If I have somewhere I need to be or things I need to accomplish then I get up, get dressed, & get going. If I don’t have anything I need to do then maybe I’ll just chill out for awhile and enjoy the tranquility. Every day is slightly different, so I don’t think there is necessarily a common thought process.
What’s the most absurd thing that has become reality for you??
Same sex marriage & “gender fluidity”. Those things aren’t specifically reality for me, but they’ve become accepted norms in society, which blows my mind.
If you could be a mythical creature, which would you choose??
A hobbit!! I’d dig living a simple life in The Shire…smoking, eating six meals a day, being neighborly.
Do you think your childhood was better or worse than other people growing up in a similar place and time??
Definitely better. On a personal level I had my handicap & associated health issues to deal with. However, based on how great my family has always been and the idyllic small town life I had I realize how blessed I was and that so many kids had it far worse than me.
What’s your “back in my day, we…”??
I am amazed at how often school is called off these days for inclement weather. When I was a kid we’d get 6 or 8 inches of snow and they’d just slap some chains on the buses and go for it. Some folks lived up a holler or other places that the bus couldn’t get to, but those kids would just miss out and have to make up their work the next day. Nowadays it doesn’t even have to be snowing…sometimes the powers-that-be will call off school just because it’s cold lol.
What flavor combination is kind of weird but you really like it??
It’s not necessarily a flavor combo, and I don’t believe it’s all that weird, but allow me to offer a recommendation. I like to buy Country Time On the Go lemonade packets, but instead of putting it in a regular bottle of water I put it in seltzer water, which ends up essentially being carbonated lemonade. The fizz of the water & the tang of the lemon work really well together.
What fictional character did you / do you have the hots for??
When I was a kid I had a thing for Sandy (Olivia Newton-John’s character) in Grease. Now I understand why…it’s that intriguing combination of sweet & sexy, plus she could sing. Then, as a teenager, I had a crush on Alyssa Milano…specifically her character Samantha Micelli on Who’s the Boss?. In the 90’s I was all about Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) on Friends. When A Walk to Remember hit theaters in 2002 I was thirty years old and totally fell for Mandy Moore…affection that remains to this day.
What genetic modification would you most like to have??
Well…if I could be genetically modified into being able to walk that’d be nice.
What was something you loved but it never really took off or was ended before it’s time??
I’m a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, and that sounds like a description of most of their seasons the past two decades.
What habit would you most like to break? What habit would you most like to start?
I’ve always had an issue with procrastination, so that’d be a great habit to break. Along those same lines, I’d love to make better use of my time…spend a lot less time online & watching TV, write more, read more books, and really dig more into The Word of God.
How do you like to relax? 
I enjoy a good movie. Sometimes I get in the mood to listen to music. I like to read, though not as much as I once did. Lately I’ve been playing Spades Plus on my phone & find it very soothing.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
I had planned to go to law school and eventually go into politics, but none of that ever happened and that’s just fine with me.
Who would you like to connect (or reconnect) with? Why?
A good friend of mine stopped calling a couple of years ago. When our only communication became snarky remarks he’d make about comments I’d made on social media I deleted him from my Facebook. I still don’t know why he stopped talking to me. We used to talk on the phone for hours two or three times per week, and I really miss those conversations.
If life stopped today, what would you regret not doing?
traveling…moving away from West Virginia…marriage & children
Imagine you’re in your 90s. What memories would you like to have? What stories do you want to tell? 
When my paternal grandfather was near death I remember him being surrounded by his grandchildren. At some point I realized that I won’t have that big family if/when that moment arrives for me. He had decades of wonderful memories with family & friends. That doesn’t mean his life was perfect or without heartache, just that there was a lot of positive stuff to balance things out. How awesome is it to have that kind of life to be able to reflect on in your 90s??
What qualities do you admire in others?
honesty…faith…a good sense of humor…humility…intelligence
Pretend money is no object. What would you do?
I would absolutely travel more. At this point in my life home is home and I don’t see that changing, but there are a ton of places that would be fun to visit and events that’d I’d love to attend.
What practical skills do you wish you had?
I’d like to be a better cook & more mechanically inclined.
If you could have dinner with any 3 people (dead or alive), who would they be and why? 
I’m going to cheat and list four…my mother, my maternal grandmother (I never met my maternal grandfather), and my paternal grandparents. Oh how I miss all of them and what I wouldn’t do to have one more meal with them.
What is your favorite book/movie/song? Why?
I’ve written a lot about my favorite movies. When it comes to books & music there are so many things that I enjoy that it is nearly impossible to narrow it down.
What sorts of things make you laugh?
Puns. Silly videos of people being stupid. A good old-fashioned sitcom. Dad jokes. Memes.
What piece of advice would you give to five year old you? Sixteen year old you? Twenty-one year old you? Right now?
Hmmm. To five year old Me I would say that life isn’t easy, but have faith because you’ve got a great family that will take good care of you. To 16 year old Me I would encourage continuing education as long as possible (Master’s, PhD) and try to map out a career path. To 21 year old me I would suggest wise financial decisions, offer a reminder to appreciate parents & grandparents because they won’t be around forever, advocate healthier eating habits, explore the idea of finding someone to settle down with, and really push moving out of the comfort zone of home & relocating somewhere. I’m not sure what advice I’d offer to Current Me. I understand the mistakes I make and various ways that I mess up my life, but in the moment it is difficult to change.
What was your favorite TV show while you were growing up? What are your favorite TV shows now? 
We had some awesome TV shows when I was growing up…Dallas, Cheers, The Dukes of Hazzard. I could go on & on. Then when I was a young adult there was Friends, Seinfeld, & Frasier. Nowadays I love The Big Bang Theory, my ESPN talk shows, a couple of soap operas, & of course pro wrasslin’. I explored this topic when I wrote about my 50 Favorite TV Shows a few years ago.
Do you have any pet peeves?
Oh sure. Selfishness. People who comment on things without knowing what the heck they’re talking about. Anyone who can’t take a hint, doesn’t know when to leave, or continues inane babbling long after the conversation has become tedious. Being late.
What are your favorite movies? 
I wrote a whole series about my 100 Favorite Movies a few years ago. I also did Merry Movie Mayhem, 80’s Movie Mania, & 90’s Film Frenzy. I love a lot of different movies.
What do you like to do on the weekend?
Unfortunately I work every weekend.
What are some of the items on your bucket list? 
I did a bucket list of sorts several years ago…45 Things To Do Before 45, but that birthday has come & gone and I haven’t fulfilled very many of those things. At this point in my life I’ve concluded that it’s not smart to have unrealistic pipe dreams, so I try to stay within the realm of attainable goals. I’ve been wanting to visit Las Vegas for many years and think it’s doable…if I can ever talk a couple of my friends into joining me.
Have you found your calling? If so, what is it?
Some would opine that writing is my calling, and I’d be inclined to agree. However, I always assumed that one’s calling was a big deal that led to big & important things. Perhaps I am wrong.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?
I can’t imagine listening to only one song for the rest of my life. Even if one loves that particular song it would become irritating after awhile. I love music, but my taste is very eclectic and oftentimes dictated by my mood. Perhaps I’m feeling like jazz & blues today, tomorrow I’ll be into classic rock, and the next day I might want to listen to classical. Miles Davis. Billy Joel. Vivaldi. Hank Williams Jr. It’s all good for the most part. Why limit yourself to one song when there is so much greatness available??
Do you now – or have you ever – had any pets? If so, tell me more about them.
I have a ten year old pug named Rocco. I live in an apartment and originally we weren’t allowed to have pets, but that changed, with the stipulation that they not be over a certain size. That’s fine with me because I like smaller dogs, although I didn’t want a girlie dog like the kind that some women carry in their purse. I decided I liked pugs because they’re small & cute but still kind of tough looking. Back in the summer of 2008 I got an opportunity to adopt a puppy, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Rocco is my best lil buddy…the closest thing to a baby I’ll ever have. He can be stubborn sometimes, but usually he’s rather chill & low maintenance. He’s a great lapdog that is happy to lay around being lazy with his Daddy. He loves carrots, bananas, & the treats that my neighbor…Crazy Uncle Bernie…brings over to him. Rocco is getting a bit older now & has noticeably slowed down, which makes me kind of sad, although I am thankful for every single moment I’ve had with him.
If you were stuck on a deserted island and you could only bring one thing, what would it be and why?
My Bible. That’s just how I roll.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why? If you could only watch one TV show for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why? If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?
I feel the same way about these as I do about the “one song” concept, but I’ll be a good sport and play along. Food?? Chocolate (which leaves multiple possibilities available). Television show?? The Andy Griffith Show. More than a half century after original episodes ended the world still enjoys reruns. I watch an episode (or two or three) of TAGS on an almost daily basis, and it never gets old. One movie?? Wow…that’s really difficult. I am so…random…when it comes to movies. I love Christmas movies…at Christmastime. I love baseball movies like Field of Dreams & Bull Durham…in the summer. I really enjoy a good rom-com like When Harry Met Sally (preferably in the fall) or Sleepless in Seattle (winter). Occasionally I will watch the entire Back to the Future trilogy back-to-back-to-back, although my shortening attention span has made that less appealing in recent years. So okay…I guess I am going to wuss out again. I just don’t think I can choose only one movie.
What is your favorite cartoon? 
I wrote about my favorite cartoons a few years ago.
Who is your favorite music artist? What is your favorite music genre?
I enjoy most music genres except country, and even some of that is okay occasionally. I’d probably lean toward classic rock as my favorite, with The Eagles, Van Halen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Journey, & REO Speedwagon among my preferred performers.
What would you do if you won a million dollars? 
I suppose I’d spend a little, donate a bit to charity, invest a big chunk of it, and put some away for a rainy day. My father has always opined that one could not live like a millionaire on a million dollars. It’d be easy to burn thru every penny in no time at all, so I assume my lifestyle wouldn’t change all that much except for finally being able to afford a couple of nice vacations and being able to save & invest a few dollars.
What is your favorite color?
blue & purple
What would be your dream vacation? 
Vegas Baby!! Vegas!!!!
I also wouldn’t complain about a trip to Italy.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
invisibility
Where did you grow up?
A lil blip on the radar called Mount Clare, WV, which is just outside a slightly bigger blip called Clarksburg. I always just tell folks it’s about two hours south of Pittsburgh, PA.
What are some small pleasures that make you way happier than they should??
Once upon a time I wrote specifically about that very subject.
What’s your favorite book? Who’s your favorite author? 
Unlike favorite movies & TV shows I have resisted the urge to write about my favorite books. My tastes are very eclectic and I try to remain open-minded. I love a good biography. I’ve been a Sherlock Holmes fan since grade school. Ray Bradbury, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens are some of my favorite authors.
What is your favorite drink?
milk, iced tea, Pepsi
I’m not much into alcoholic drinks nowadays, but I enjoy a good mojito on occasion.
What’s your favorite TV game show?
Jeopardy!
What’s the dumbest rule you’ve been forced to follow??
I like my job, but there’s a lot of downtime and it gets boring sometimes. However, despite having a computer right in front of me I am not permitted to get online & surf The Net. I completely understand that certain sites (you know what I mean ;-)) shouldn’t be permitted, but to not be allowed to be online at all is silly. I think it should be okay as long as I do my job.
Do you like to cook? 
I wish I did. I love watching The Food Network and seeing other people create tasty dishes, but if I’m being honest I mostly take the easy way out and either eat simple food at home like sandwiches, cereal, or something I can microwave, or I eat out somewhere.
What rules do you make for yourself??
I live by myself so I can pretty much do as I please as long as I pay my bills & take care of Rocco. I eat what I want when I want, I go to sleep & get up when I want, & go where I want to when I want to. Having said that, I have had an issue with being able to say “no”, and realize that I am perceived by many as a “nice guy”, aka a soft touch. Therefore, I have had to learn to set boundaries & walk away if I feel like people are taking advantage of me.
What’s the single most important thing you have done in your life??
ask my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ into my heart to cleanse me of all my sins
Spring training is in full swing, but let’s not overlook what MLB has done off the field. It was recently announced that they will no longer use the term “disabled list” in regard to injured players. The change was made at the suggestion of advocacy groups for the disabled “out of concern that the term disabled for injured players falsely conflates disabilities with injuries and an inability to participate in sports”. As a disabled (handicapped, crippled, differently abled, handicapable…choose whatever buzzword you believe won’t offend anyone) individual who has spent my entire 46 years on this planet using a wheelchair allow me to opine that this is absolutely one of the dumbest instances of idiotic virtue signaling I have ever seen. No one with an ounce of common sense or capable of critical thought has ever confused baseball’s disabled list with those of us living our lives with a disability, and anyone offended by the term “disabled list” is a complete moron that should never be allowed to breed or even interact with the public. Also, as a person with a disability, it ticks me off that this is the sort of thing that “advocacy groups” are spending their resources on. Any such organization should be defunded immediately.
I come not to praise New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, but neither do I seek to bury him. If you’ve been paying any attention at all the past few days you know that Kraft is in some hot water for getting his jollies at a “massage parlor” in Florida, an establishment that got caught up in a big prostitution ring. I am not condoning the activity or Kraft’s involvement in it, and y’all know that I’ve despised the Patriots for the past two decades. Having said that, it must be noted that 77 year old Kraft lost his wife of almost fifty years awhile back. Myrna Kraft died of ovarian cancer at the age of 68 in 2011. Certainly that is no excuse to engage in illegal activity, but it does suggest a man that is lost & lonely despite his immense wealth & success, and I am willing to have some measure of sympathy in that regard. Loneliness & grief are awful things and can steer people in directions they wouldn’t otherwise go. What I cannot understand is why a billionaire with some level of prominence would decide to…seek pleasure…at what the media is describing as a rather trashy & foul (not to mention public) establishment. One would assume that Kraft has the means to obtain anything he’d want in complete privacy, so it is a bit perplexing to think that he would unnecessarily put himself in harm’s way (on multiple levels). Obviously the NFL will get their pound of flesh (pun unavoidable). The league’s personal conduct policy applies to owners & coaches as much as it does players, and about five years ago Indianapolis Colts’ owner Jim Irsay was fined $500k and suspended from running the team for six games after being arrested for DUI & drug possession. I’m not sure what exactly a typical owner of a professional sports franchise does on a daily basis that effects operations, and a half million dollars is pocket change to them, so that “punishment” seems rather hollow, but I assume Kraft will receive a similar penalty. I’m sure the legal consequences won’t amount to much either, but the damage to his reputation is immeasurable and probably irreparable.
Madness three out of the past four years the ‘Eers won’t be making the NCAA, NIT, CBI, or any other post season tournaments in 2019. Injuries, dismissals, and just about every other calamity one might conjure has imploded their season to the point that a winning record is mathematically impossible unless they go on an incredible run in the Big 12 conference tournament. WVU has been the runner-up in that tournament the past three years and needs another similar finish to keep on playing. I normally try to remain optimistic, but will confidently predict right now that that isn’t going to happen. Head coach Bob Huggins has built up a lot of goodwill over the years as a hometown guy, alumnus, successful coach, and leader of winning teams in Morgantown, but trust me…he needs to figure out what went wrong and fix it, because all the benevolence shown him will turn sour real quick if next season is another disaster.
and that’s a bit of a problem since those are channels that I don’t typically “surf”…I have to specifically be seeking something out, and I’m just not there yet with The Alliance. On the field the games themselves aren’t anything too wacky. Unlike some other fringe football leagues that have come & gone in the past the AAF isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel or compete with the NFL, but there are a few differences. There are no kickoffs, which I don’t like but realize that it’s a concept that’ll be embraced by college football & the NFL sooner or later. Neither are there extra points. Somewhere Skip Bayless is squealing with glee about the new league’s marginalization of kickers. Defenses are somewhat limited as far as what they can do, so if you like swarming defense with a lot if blitzes the AAF might not be your cup of tea. Overtime has each team start on their opponent’s 10 yard line, which is even goofier that the college OT rules. There is only one overtime, so the game can end in a tie (no field goals!!). The revelation that has hit me about the AAF is that…atleast for me…as The Bible says, “to everything there is a season”, and as big of a football fan as I am I’m ready to move on after the Super Bowl. It’s February, which means that emotionally & psychologically football is in hibernation for me and I’m ready to move on to golf, NASCAR, basketball, & baseball. This realization surprised me a little bit, because I had thought it’d be great to have more football, but I just can’t become invested. I’m guessing that my perspective isn’t unique, which probably spells doom for The Alliance after another season or two, but hey…they tried.
Dunkin’ Donuts Park, which has a capacity of about 6200. So at a home game there MIGHT be about 125 people in attendance with a nut allergy. But instead 
of simply designating a section of the ballpark for those fans the geniuses that run the team instead chose to deprive over 6000 others of the opportunity to buy a snack that has been closely associated with baseball for decades. This is what is wrong with society. It used to be that the majority ruled, but nowadays we go out of our way to kowtow to the vocal minority & every fringe group that decides to whine about something. Look, I am not unsympathetic to folks with a nut allergy. No one is suggesting that they shouldn’t attend games, and I don’t think there is anything wrong with reasonable accommodations to make their experience as pleasant as it should be. However, I just do not understand why a nut free section wasn’t enough of a compromise. This whole thing reeks of virtue signaling & grandstanding at its worst. And I haven’t even gotten to the song!! Take Me Out to the Ballgame was written in 1908 and has been a standard at ballparks for decades, oftentimes sung by the crowd during the “seventh inning stretch” (most famously at Wrigley Field during Chicago Cubs games). So because the food mentioned in the song has been banned at this particular ballpark they feel it is necessary to alter the lyrics too?? ASININE!!!! Every executive employed by the team should be fired immediately and NEVER be allowed to work in sports management EVER again. I’d be embarrassed to be a fan of the team, play for the team, or even live in freakin’ Hartford, CT. Hell, if I lived in Hartford I might sell my house and move, citing the stupid Hartford Yard Goats as the reason for my departure. I hope they lose every single game until the business implodes & the team folds. Perhaps a competing club will be created and they can call them the New Haven Nut Lovers or the Fairfield Cracker Jacks.
Seven months ago we started our journey with 
which wouldn’t necessarily be inaccurate. However, when it comes to movies I don’t think any of that translated well…atleast to anything noteworthy. When thinking about the 1990’s on film it seems as though there were solid contributions across all genres, with the defining characteristic being a general lack of defining characteristics. Whereas 80’s kids look back with fondness at some of the flicks we enjoyed growing up partly because of their singular music, kitschy style, & overall cheesiness, I don’t feel like 90’s films have that kind of unique vibe. Society seemingly turned down a dark & more violent path in the 90’s, which is certainly reflected in movies as much as anything else, but since I don’t tend to gravitate toward such morose entertainment it isn’t a big thing for me. I suppose it is fair to say technology played an increased role in 90’s movies, especially with improvements in special effects & animation. It is kind of fun & interesting to watch some 90’s films and chuckle at their depiction of The Internet, marvel at the size of cell phones, & realize how much social media would have altered the plot, but it’s not really a dominating theme.
The good thing about this lack distinction is that, instead of stories defined by their style, we were offered plenty of enjoyable movies with enough substance to give them staying power, and y’all know that’s a big deal to me. Do you realize that films made in the 90’s are now as old as films produced in the 1960’s would have been in the 90’s?? When considered thru that prism the sheer number of impactful movies made in the 1990’s that are still being viewed with some regularity three decades later is quite remarkable. Whether you prefer comedy or drama, are into horror or action, hold a special place in your heart for animation or holiday classics…the 1990’s had plenty of solid choices.
personal bias can’t be completely eliminated. I’m fine with that though, because at the end of the day favorite movies are always a matter of individual taste. We can cite box office numbers, award nominations & victories, and critical reviews ‘til the cows come home. All of those things are valid criteria for scrutiny, but the truth is that sometimes they matter and sometimes they don’t. Having said all that, my hope is that most won’t have too much of an issue with my conclusions. Enjoy.
Of the Final Four contestants Mrs. Doubtfire is probably the one that most represents a 90’s vibe, with a story centered around divorce & child custody. It’s a tough gig to turn such topics into comedy, but with Robin Williams anything was possible. He stars as Daniel Hillard, a fun-loving voice actor whose charm has worn thin with his career-driven wife Miranda, played by Sally Field. When the final straw breaks the camel’s back of their marriage Daniel is inspired to interview for the nanny position that Miranda has advertised, but obviously can’t do it as himself. The solution?? Don heavy make-up, a wig, panty hose, & a dress and transform into Euphegenia Doubtfire, an elderly British lady any mother would want to babysit their children. Adding to the hijinks is Miranda’s flirtation with a former beau, fueling Daniel’s envy. It’s not so much that he wants to rekindle the 
marital flame as much as he doesn’t like another man so smoothly stepping into a paternal role. At any rate, the premise allows Williams to dip into his arsenal of comedic tricks, and the result is a super family friendly dramedy that doesn’t sidestep real life issues or give into the temptation for an idealistic & sentimental ending, but mostly focuses on humor.
A good friend opined a long time ago that time travel is cool, which is why almost any book, movie, or TV show containing it is enjoyable. But what about a time warp in which a man lives the same day over & over & over & over…(well, you get the point)?? Bill Murray stars as Phil Connors, a grumpy Pittsburgh meteorologist who makes the 90 minute trek up to Punxsutawney on February 2 to cover the annual festivities. Travelling with him are smartass cameraman Larry (portrayed by 80’s funnyman Chris Elliott) & lovely producer Rita (Andi MacDowell, at the apex of her career…a few years after Sex, Lies, & Videotape and a year before Four Weddings & A Funeral). Phil is a malcontent who hates reporting on Groundhog Day and doesn’t seem too happy about anything else. When a snowstorm forces Phil, Rita, & Larry to spend the night in Punxsutawney the weatherman isn’t pleased, and that mood doesn’t improve when he wakes up the next morning to find its Groundhog Day again!! You may recall learning about the five stages of grief at some point in school…denial, anger, bargaining, depression, & acceptance. Phil goes thru similar stages while stuck in the endless loop. At first he is confused. Then he uses his circumstance (and the idea that there are no consequences for his actions) to engage in drunken debauchery. He then becomes depressed and commits suicide multiple times to no avail. After killing himself and the infamous groundhog but still waking up in the time loop Phil 
decides to use his situation to better himself, learning things like ice sculpting, piano, & French poetry. He then begins being generous & helpful to others and also falls in love with Rita, utilizing the time loop to learn everything about her and become the kind of man she wants in her life. It is her love that ultimately seems to end Phil’s nightmare, although it is never explained what caused the time loop in the first place, how long it lasts, or exactly why it stops. The entire film is an existential enigma disguised as an ordinary comedy.
Accepted at face value Forrest Gump is simply the life story of “a local idiot” who has some improbable adventures and always gravitates back toward the girl he’s loved since childhood…but is that all it is?? Tom Hanks won his second consecutive Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Gump, a low IQ child in 1950’s Alabama who grows up to win the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam, become an All-American football player for Bear Bryant’s Crimson Tide, & make millions of dollars as a shrimping magnate. His childhood friend Jenny takes a different path. Abused as a young girl by her father, she becomes a promiscuous hippie, does drugs, & ends up as a single mother ill with “some kind of virus” (likely AIDS or hepatitis). Along the way Forrest & Jenny drift in & out of each other’s lives, ultimately ending up married & raising their young son together before Jenny dies. Forrest Gump is mostly a drama, but I love the fact that there are moments of levity. And what a soundtrack!! You’ve got music from Elvis Presley, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Three Dog Night, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Mamas & the Papas, The Doobie 
Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Seger…anyone who enjoys classic rock will dig the tunes in Forrest Gump. As far as deep analysis goes, there are some that look at the film as an allegory of two Americas, with Forrest representing small town conservatism and Jenny embodying the anti-war, free love, drug-induced counterculture that rose to prominence in the 60’s. There is plenty of symbolism, philosophical ponderings about fate & destiny, and maybe even some religious or atleast spiritual subtext. If one would rather just enjoy the pleasure of Forrest Gump as a great story, that’ll work and you won’t be disappointed, but the underlying themes are there and serve as food for thought.
I don’t remember exactly when I became fascinated by the infamous Titanic disaster, but I know it was long before 1997. There had been other books, movies, & documentaries about the tragedy, but this film took the public’s level of interest to a whole new stratosphere and created an entire cottage industry out of a voyage that lasted less than a week a century ago. Kate Winslet & Leonardo DiCaprio earned lifelong fame portraying Rose & Jack, a pair of star crossed lovers whose brief romance is cut short by an iceberg. Rose Dewitt Bewkater is a high society debutante being forced into marriage with arrogant steel tycoon Cal Hockley, while Jack Dawson is third class steerage passenger who won his ticket in a poker game. Think of it as a slightly modernized twist on Romeo & Juliet. The first part of the movie introduces us to the pair, whose initial encounter takes place when Jack talks Rose out of jumping into the ocean…ironic when one considers what is to come. Of course we know that Titanic was a real ship that actually sank, so eventually those events take center stage, the situation having been personalized by our affection for Jack & Rose. There is also a framing device, as the beginning of the film presents a modern day expedition to the bottom of the sea, with a treasure hunter seeking The Heart of the Ocean, a huge heart-
shaped diamond given to Rose by Cal. The treasure hunter is contacted by a still living Rose, who is over 100 years old, and she relays the events of her memory to him & his team. Real life Titanic passengers & crew like “Unsinkable” Molly Brown, ship builder Thomas Andrews, White Star managing director J. Bruce Ismay, Captain Edward Smith, business moguls John Jacob Astor IV & Benjamin Guggenheim, and elderly couple Isidor & Ida Strauss, are depicted, and one of the few complaints that I’ve heard about Titanic over the years is the fact that the stories of such historical figures take a back seat to the fictional love story of Jack & Rose, but personally I don’t have an issue with the creative choices of the filmmakers…it is a movie, not a documentary, and since it set records at the box office & during awards season I assume very few others saw a problem.
Something that I have consistently stated in our many discussions about movies in this space over the years is that a key benchmark for me is repeat viewings, and the idea of whether or not I am happy/excited when channel surfing and see that a particular movie is on TV. It is one thing to head to the local cineplex and be entertained for a couple of hours by the latest action flick, rom-com, slasher film, Christmas movie, sports drama, murder mystery, biopic, superhero adventure, sci-fi fantasy, or gross-out comedy, but it is entirely different when you are glad to watch the same story for the hundredth time decades later while vegging out at home. Not only does Forrest Gump check all the requisite boxes…made a ton of money, won a bunch of awards, killer soundtrack, received great reviews, eminently quotable…but I am still delighted to watch it whenever it is on, which is surprisingly often for a movie that hit theaters 25 years ago. My father shares my love of Forrest Gump, which is a source of amusement for me since Dad & I rarely have a similar pop culture palate. I understand that there are a fair number of cynics who despise the movie for one reason or another, but I believe those folks are either overanalyzing or simply disagree with its perspective. To each their own. My adoration has endured for over two decades and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
It was at this point just over a year ago, as 
having a custom fish tank made for him. During that program I got a little more exposure to his arrogance. No one seems to be talking about the details of Brown’s falling out with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and I was always taught that there are three sides to every story…one side, the other side, & somewhere in the middle is the truth. Big Ben probably isn’t blameless. He has his faults, as do we all. However, given the preponderance of the evidence and the fact that Brown essentially quit on his team in the midst of a must-win scenario before the final game of the season I will not be heartbroken if the Steelers pull the trigger on a trade. Having said that, I hope that they are smart enough not to give the guy away for anything less than a first round pick, and it would be smart to send him to an NFC team. The vindictive side of me would like to see him go to a terrible team like Arizona, Tampa Bay, or Detroit, but that might be asking for too much. I’d be remiss to ignore Tomlin’s part in all of this drama. It is my personal belief that the Steelers have severely underachieved with him at the helm. That may seem a bit harsh since he has led the team to two Super Bowls and one championship, but most Steelers fans agree that the team should have won two or three additional Lombardi Trophies in the past several years. The Antonio Brown controversy has reinforced the general impression that the team lacks discipline and that Tomlin doesn’t run a tight ship. However, those calling for him to be fired are wasting their energy because that’s just not how the Steelers do things. They haven’t fired a head coach in a half century.
Zach edged me out in our college football 
Congratulations to the Clemson Tigers for winning their second national championship in three years. I must confess that I watched very little of the title game because the Alabama Crimson Tide began to bore me to tears quite awhile ago, so I’m not sad at all that Clemson beat the snot out of ‘Bama by four touchdowns.
giant. There is also the fact that Holgorsen never seemed to feel totally comfortable in the Mountain State. He just never really fit in here, unlike beloved former coach Don Nehlen, who came to West Virginia in 1980 from Ohio and never left, even after he retired in 2000. Holgorsen will undoubtedly be happier in Houston and likely lead his team to great success. Meanwhile, Brown has made a good first impression and seems to quickly be fitting in just fine. Will that translate to winning on the field?? Who knows?? The truth is that no matter who the coach is the Mountaineers can probably expect to average 7 or 8 wins per season and play in a run-of-the-mill bowl game each December, but perhaps every once in awhile the stars will align, the dominos will all fall just right, and they could sneak into a Big 12 title game & maybe even the playoff. They’ve been that good maybe about a half dozen times in my 40+ years on the planet, so there’s always hope.
I’m not going to analyze my 
As far as The Super Bowl goes, I just can’t get excited about it at all. I make no secret of my longstanding hatred of the New England Patriots, so cheering on the Los Angeles Rams would seem like a no-brainer. However, I’m not all that enthusiastic about the Rams because let’s be honest…they really shouldn’t be in the game. I don’t want to go off on a loquacious rant about officiating, but the blown call that cost the New Orleans Saints a trip to The Super Bowl was quite possibly one of the most egregious mistakes I’ve ever seen in any sport. It is inexcusable incompetence and the entire crew should be fired. The NFL needs to have some sort of mechanism in place to prevent or atleast correct such critical errors, even if it means almost total eradication of human judgment. Having said that, I suppose I will watch atleast some of “The Big Game” and pull for the Rams.
I am willing to wait & see what happens in a few weeks when a temporary agreement to end the longest government shutdown in United States history reaches zero hour. There are some that believe that ending the shutdown at all without an agreement to fund border security is President Trump’s version of President George HW Bush’s “Read my lips…no new taxes” moment, and they may be right. Those folks feel like Trump caved, that he was outmaneuvered by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. On the flip side are those who are convinced that Trump has won the battle, that he has his political opponents right where he wants them. I must confess that I am having difficulty understanding that logic. Essentially what all of this seems to come down to is whether or not one believes that the last resort option that Trump has in his back pocket…declaring border security a national emergency and getting the money for his “big beautiful wall” by circumventing Congress altogether…is a good idea. Is it shortsighted?? Could setting such a precedent come back to bite us all in the tookas someday?? Could a future (presumably Democrat) President declare a similar national emergency and do something sinister like confiscate guns?? To be honest, I don’t feel intellectually equipped to tackle such big questions, but I’m not ready to push the panic button. Let’s see how this all plays out.
my threshold is about 15 minutes. After that my patience for tedious chatter or pointless babbling is essentially non-existent. There are people in my life who I talk to on a daily basis that tend to drone on & on & on for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, an hour…sometimes longer…and I just want to scream!! I can have intelligent conversations til the cows come home, but when faced with mindless blather I have started to become borderline rude, cutting people off, ending the conversation, or pretty much telling them they need to leave.
Liberals are people who, when confronted with facts & objective truth, will continue to push their misinformed agenda and false narrative. I wish I could just let that roll off my back and laugh, but I find it extremely irritating.
Spoiler alert…I am not thin, buff, or sexy. I know this about myself, and I’m okay with it. Would I love to shed some pounds?? Sure. Could I do a better job in an effort to accomplish that goal?? Yes. However, it is narrow-minded and completely wrong to assume that an overweight person is simply a lazy slob. I’m not going to make excuses, but there are multiple factors that determine a person’s particular body type. At any rate, whenever someone resorts to a fat joke or a comment about my weight during a…discussion of the issues…on social media I immediately know that I’ve won the debate because they haven’t got anything more cerebrally significant to add. On occasion I have been bothered by such insults to the point that I’ve changed my profile pic to a cartoon character or inanimate object, but mostly I’ve just learned to shrug off that kind of dumbassery. I recently ran across a Twitter thread in which a young lady laid out a clear & concise argument against President Trump’s wall & the whole idea that illegal immigration is even an issue. I might not agree with her conclusions, but I respect the fact that she presented a cogent case (complete with statistics) free of name-calling, foul language, & general nonsense.
Greetings Manoverse, and welcome to the exciting conclusion of the 2018 Sammy Awards. If you haven’t already done so, please go back and check out parts 
quarterback (who was named Super Bowl MVP) and used a fun little trick play called The Philly Special to secure the victory just made the story even cooler. Can history repeat itself this year?? Stay tuned.
To present our final award The Sammys are honored to welcome the oldest presenter in our brief history. At 96 years of age she is still making us laugh, as she has consistently done during a career that has spanned eight decades. She has starred in beloved television programs like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls, & Mama’s Family, made frequent appearances on game shows like Match Game, The $25,000 Pyramid, & Password, and is a reliably funny guest on talk shows for many years. It is a sincere honor to welcome Betty White to the Sammy Awards. And the nominees are:
than Hillary Clinton. Nearly everything else a President does can be changed with the stroke of a pen by Congress or the next President, but the Supreme Court is a lifetime appointment that can shape our country for decades. There are oftentimes arguments & battles over nominees, but I don’t know if we’ve ever seen anything like what happened to Brett Kavanaugh. Only two people know what exactly happened at that party back in 1982…if anything happened at all. I didn’t find Christine Blasey Ford to be the least bit believable, and I am convinced that the whole debacle was a political hit job designed to destroy Trump’s nominee. However, IF something did happen to Ms. Ford and Kavanaugh was involved, then questions have to be asked. Why wasn’t this made public many years ago?? How had Kavanaugh gotten this far in his career if he is really such a scoundrel?? Should a middle-aged person be punished for being a creep when they were a teenager?? These are discussions worth having, because we need to decide acceptable parameters for destroying peoples’ lives. The Senate decided…for whatever reason…that, whether or not Brett Kavanaugh did something wrong forty years ago, he deserved an opportunity, based on his professional track record of success, to sit on the highest Court in the land, and now we prepare for the next skirmish.
observations from host Michael McIntyre it’s time to move forward with the show.
The Sammy Awards doesn’t shy away from controversy, 
and we tend to lean in a rebellious direction. So to present our next award please welcome two of the more successful actors in Hollywood. First, he’s a two time Academy Award winner and has come out as gay, although that may have possibly been a weak PR attempt to divert attention from “sexual misconduct” allegations (for which he was fired from his successful TV show House of Cards). Please give a pensive & slightly confused round of polite applause to Kevin Spacey!! Joining him is a young man who has starred in about a dozen lightly regarded & easily forgotten alleged comedies in the past few years. He was all set to host this year’s Academy Awards until politically incorrect jokes that he tweeted several years ago were suddenly discovered by ill-humored old curmudgeons who compelled him to quit. Give a warm welcome to Kevin Hart!! And the nominees are:
we’ve become in America. I think Barr should have been smarter, more aware of how tenuous her position was (given her “controversial” political opinions), & mindful of the fact that comedy has…unfortunately…been put under a politically correct microscope. I don’t consider what she tweeted to be the least bit offensive, and it actually has elements of truth, but one must understand how The Game is played in 21st century America. One must be ready to conform or suffer the consequences. Social media is a minefield, and the punishment can be swift & harsh…or even catch up to a person many years later. The rules are rather fluid.
To present our next award we are proud to introduce a young lad who became somewhat famous this past year after being discovered by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. He is a YouTube sensation whose brutally honest videos critiquing odd recipes are absolutely hysterical. Jesus take the wheel…it’s Kalen Allen!! And the nominees are:
Lord split you.
To present our next award we are honored to welcome a big screen legend who began his career on television and has the perfect voice for radio. He is an Academy Award winning actor who has starred in classics like The Shawshank Redemption, Deep Impact, Now You See Me, Christoper Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, & Bruce Almighty. Let’s raise the roof for Morgan Freeman!! And the nominees are:
daily basis. I think what I like best is that it is a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The problem with ESPN the past several years is that so many of its reporters & hosts want to make sports more important than it really is. I love sports. Football, baseball, basketball, golf, & all the rest of it has been an essential part of my life, but at the end of the day it’s a game…frivolous fun designed as a distraction from the rigors of real life. Dan, Papi, & their revolving door of itinerant co-hosts understand that. They are comfortable with their relatively low spot on the television totem pole and have fun with it rather than try to convince the masses that the next thirty minutes will be life changing. I respect that, and more importantly, I laugh almost every single day at a goofy video shown on HQ or the hosts’ reaction to it. Shouldn’t that be the goal of a good TV show??
McIntyre’s Big Show on the BBC. For those of you in America & elsewhere that may be unfamiliar with Mr. McIntyre’s wit & charm there are plenty of very funny videos available online that highlight just why we are so pleased to have him as this year’s host of The Sammys.
After an amusing opening monologue from our host it is time for the first award of the evening. To present we are thrilled to welcome to the stage an award winning actor & musician who is no stranger to awards shows. Please welcome the star of such big screen classics as Planes, Trains, & Automobiles, Father of the Bride, and Three Amigos…Steve Martin!! And the nominees are:
A Star Is Born. Full disclosure: I have never seen any of the previous versions of this story, but I can’t imagine that the 1976 adaptation starring Barbara Streisand & Kris Kristofferson, the 1954 movie with Judy Garland, or the 1937 original could be any better. Bradley Cooper has proven himself to be a talented & versatile actor, and now he takes things to a different level by adding director, producer, & screenwriter to his resume. The music is superb, and supporting performances by Sam Elliot, Dave Chappelle, & Andrew “Dice” Clay are pitch perfect.
To present our next award we are pleased to welcome three beautiful ladies who have one thing in common…they have all escaped the moral quagmire & career abyss of daytime television’s angriest show, The View. Please welcome the star of 90’s sitcom Full House & its Netflix revival Fuller House, Candace Cameron Bure!! Joining her is a former contestant on Survivor and a former co-host of Fox & Friends…give a warm welcome to Elisabeth Hasselbeck. And finally, she is a former ABC News correspondent and now hosts a podcast called Journeys of Faith…give it up for Paula Faris!! And the nominees are:
Spades Plus. To date I have played nearly 2600 games, and that’s in just a few months!! I am absolutely addicted. Sometimes I have to make myself stop playing so I can get some sleep at night or do something productive during the day, but mostly it’s just a fun activity to do while I have a few moments of downtime. I enjoy the strategy and the small element of risk. Sometimes I wish my partners were a bit more savvy and my opponents less obnoxious, but those issues haven’t deterred my enjoyment of the game thus far.
However, if the Rams win (or tie) the Bears are the #3 seed regardless of the outcome of this game. With a win the Vikings could be the #5 seed if the Seattle Seahawks lose or the #6 seed if Seattle wins. Minnesota could even make the playoffs if they lose this game…if the Philadelphia Eagles also lose (or tie). I feel like Chicago has been the more consistent team this season, but with their backs against the wall & the home field I’m riding with the Vikings this week. Zach agrees.
to lose (or tie). The Broncos are 6-9, and head coach Vance Joseph might get fired this week regardless of the outcome, although I have to assume an upset victory could help his cause. Denver has the home field, and they did beat the Chargers back in November…but I just don’t think that’s going to happen again. Zach thinks the Broncos are clearly a better team at home, and he’s a little uncomfortable with the points.
happening. If only New England loses (or ties) then Houston could be the #2 seed. They might end up as the #3 seed with a loss and a tie in the Indianapolis-Tennessee game…an unlikely scenario…or if they win and all of that other stuff doesn’t happen (much more probable). If Houston loses and Colts/Titans doesn’t end in a tie they’ll fall to the #6 seed. Meanwhile, the 5-10 Jags are left to wonder where it all went so wrong this season and can begin the process of evaluating free agent quarterbacks and who they might be able to snag with their first round draft pick. We both feel like Houston should win by a comfortable margin.
some other possibilities, but it probably doesn’t matter because if KC can’t beat the 4-11 Raiders at Arrowhead they’re in big trouble anyway. Zach doesn’t like the points at all and believes Andy Reid tends to choke in big games.
depending on what happens with a couple of other teams could be the #2, #3, or #4 seed, eliminating my Steelers in the process. If Cleveland wins Baltimore is eliminated from the playoffs and the Steelers are in. A year ago I would have already been in a mood of quiet resignation, but I think there’s a chance that the Browns could actually pull this off. Zach believes in Browns’ QB Baker Mayfield to do just enough to lead his team to victory in a low scoring defensive struggle.
before kickoff. The Colts have to win to get into the playoffs, and they’d either be the #3, #4, or #6 seed, depending on other outcomes. It’s a must-win for the Titans as well, and they could land anywhere from the #2 to the #6 seed in the AFC. After a rough start Indy has won 8 out of their last 9, and I have heard a couple of talking heads state that they’re the team no one wants to face in the playoffs. Tennessee is riding a four game winning streak but QB Marcus Mariota has been battling injuries. Regardless of Mariota’s status I trust Colts’ QB Andrew Luck much more, and I think he’ll find a way to lead his team to a hard fought victory. Zach foresees a high scoring affair, with Indy coming out on top.
