Terrorists Beware: Bauer Is Back!

The 6th season of 24 started last night with a spectacular 2 hour premier, and it did not disappoint. The show picks up two years later after last years finale. As you'll remember the show ended with Jack being kidnapped by the Chinese Government for the death of one of their diplomats. The Chinese doesn't easily forget, however everyone has a price and the Chinese struck some undisclosed deal with the US president to bring Bauer back to the US. Little did Jack know he was going to be a sacrificial lamb.....
Sure, there are some unbelievable sequences but every show of this nature will be that way. Just enjoy it for what it is, and welcome Jack back with open arms. The one thing you will notice immediately unlike seasons past is how this story line is ripped right from today's headlines. You will see a lot of muslims discriminated against, and several references are made to the detention of Japanese Americans during World War II. Great stuff. You never know which side the show is on because they do a good job of describing the pros and cons of both sides of the argument, but something tells me that they are not for setting up detention centers for American citizens based on their name name or religion. Enoy the ride!

DT

Bush's New Plan

President Bush is all set to take to the airwaves in less than 3 hours to explain his new plan for Iraq to the American people. The only problem is that this isn't a new plan at all. The only difference in this plan is that he's adding more troops. Remember 3 years ago when he said "When the Iraqis stand up, we'll stand down"? Well, what if they never stand down? Does your new plan take into consideration that they may never stand up to defend their own country? This war was never our fight anyway, and now we are stuck there. They need to devote an entire section to your presidential library for every fallen US soldier in Iraq. Everyone of their names should be posted, along with any relatives they've left behind. This would let the future generations know that you were the worst president to ever grace the White House. You were never fit to hold the office, and your body of work lets everyone know it. If you voted for this man, you are just as much to blame for his actions as he is. And if you voted to re-elect him I hope you are happy with the results.

DT

Keep Your Head Up Buckeyes

It was a fine run, but we met our match last night. No excuses about a 51 day layover, even though it was the longest in NCAA Football history. No excuses about Ted Ginn being hurt for the entire game, even though he was their number one player all season long. I wont make any of them for OSU because they had a great season, but on this night they were simply out coached and out played. The Gators wanted it more and they went out and took it. They did to OSU what OSU did to Miami. They punched them in the mouth and took their candy.
Don't feel sorry for the Buckeyes. They will return to this place with in the next 5 years because they are Ohio State. They will get the best recruits year in and year out, and parents all around the country will line up to send their kids to the coach that loves to rock the sweater vest. A program like the Buckeyes never rebuilds. They only reload! A mere bump in the road.
This will be the last we see of Troy Smith. I just don't see him making a splash in the NFL at his size. I know it's been done before with Doug Flutie, but even he stuggled in the NFL with his size. If anything he will be slot receiver or a perennial back up quarterback. I don't see any team giving him a chance to start.
No excuses for the Buckeyes, even though the layoff of 51 days, and losing their star player for 3 quaters gave them no shot to win that game! I won't make any excuses.

DT

Movie Review: Stay Alive

Stay Alive
Summary: As survivor horror movies go this one wasn't too bad. The idea of a video game coming to life has been done before, but this was different enough to warrant a look. 2 out of 5 stars.

Survivor horror movies will never be taken seriously because of their subject matter. That's not to say that some of them aren't entertaining though. I quite enjoyed the Resident Evil series and felt it should be the blue print for movies based on video games, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Scream is in league of it's own and should be credited for keeping this genre alive. Stay Alive falls somewhere between both of these. It's based inside of a video game, and the characters are running for their lives throughout the film with hidden dangers around every corner. Unlike these other movies it's based on real life characters. Countess Elizabeth Bathory was a very wicked lady indeed. She was obsessed with maintaining her youthful appearance so she got this idea that if she bathed in the blood of virgin girls she would remain young forever. Yikes! She is credited with the kidnapping and death of over 800 young women in the early 1600's. She was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment in her castle.
The movie follows the story of 5 "gamers" who come accross this underground game after their friend dies a grisly death in an apparent murder suicide. They would later learn that he died exactly the way his character died in the video game Stay Alive. Of course the cops don't believe the kids and instead suspects them of the murders, so they not only have to stop this crazy countess Bathory from lopping their heads off, they have to elude the cops while doing it! Normally I would complain about movies being unbelievable but this one gets a pass because its based in the video game world. Some things will leave you scratching your head, like how some people are killed even though they never played the game. Hmmm......
They guy from Hero's makes a brief appearance (the nurse) but he's the first one killed. What's wrong with that guys mouth anyway? Frankie Muniz has one of the leading characters and he plays a geek just like he did in the sitcom. Overall the actors did a pretty good job. The lead detective is also the guy from Need For Speed Most Wanted. He plays the cop in that game too. Real cocky SOB! There's only one brief nude scene in the theatrical release but I hear the director's cut would have garnered an "R" rating instead of PG-13 so mabye you'll want to check that one out instead.
For what it is Stay Alive was pretty good. Not the best, nor was it the worst. I wouldn't pay to see it in a movie theatre but it's worth a rental.

DT

Over At Last!

It's over. By "it" I mean the holiday season. I can't remember ever being so exhausted after the holidays than after this one! The extended hours at work, the pressure to buy gifts for everyone, and the tax man pounding down my door made for a very stress filled holiday. Now that "its" all over I can get back to the task at hand. Not sure what that means exactly, but I'm going to get back at it anyway!

I gave my moms a 55" wide screen projection tv. I had an extra one lying around. Don't ask. It's hard buying for my parents every year, because I have to try to out do myself every year. I think that was the last "big" gift for a while though. The year before that I bought my dad a new computer, so this year it was my mom's turn. Merry Christmas mom and dad! I love ya!

I got my wife some "Happy" purfume and toiletries, a leather jacket, and a 90 day membership to CURVES, a weightloss club for busy moms. You're probably thinking it took some pretty big balls to buy my wife a membership to a club, but this is something she wanted so I was in no danger of offending her. My boo knows I love her just the way she is, so no worries there. "Don't go changin' to try to please me! I love you just the waaaaay you arrrrre!".

My kids got spoiled as usual by us, and they were still ungrateful!!! My oldest daughter moped around the house all day because we forgot the batteries to her toys, and because my wife didn't get her the right doll. Excuse me? Back in my day my parents would have packed up all my toys and returned them, after my mom delivered a swift box to my ears! The nerve of these kids today. I wanted to return her toys, but my wife wouldn't let me. She is way to easy on them.

What did I get? Um, let me see. I got 2 pairs of pants for work, 3 tee shirts, and a novelty digital camera. I use the word novelty because the back of the bubble wrap touts it as being "the worlds smallest digital camera." Okay. I'm not complaining at all. My wife has never been good at buying me gifts because I get a lot of the stuff that I really want on my own. Besides money was very tight this year. In fact I'm still trying to catch up on bills that I let slip to make this Christmas happen. Tis' the season.

HAPPY HOLIDAS (and this includes New Years) to you and your families. I hope the year is both prosperous and healthy for all of you. See ya!

DT