Ramblings of an EdMan

What one thing are you most looking forward to . . .

1. …today?

Taking it real easy staying out of the cold and watching Providence @ Rutgers Men’s Basketball … I hope the game is a very good win for Rutgers … losing by one to UConn was great but I would rather win … It should be a tough game ….

2. …over the next week?

My improv class … tightening up my resume … and hopefully hearing from some employers and of course me and my sweeties first anniversary on Sunday, Jan 18th(from first date) .. I love you Lanna

3. …this year? Hopefully, Bush losing the election … The Athens Summer Olympics … Working for a change .. Writing … Taking more improv classes .. Having a clearer path … Spending more time with Lanna … Having fun with Lanna’s Family on July 4th in Maine … Also Rites of Spring and another pagan event in two weekends for mid-winter..

4. …over the next five years?

Fatherhood, Marriage, Starting to see over my debt, a good career path, a home, coaching some youth sports, gaining more maturity

5. …for the rest of your life?

Again Fatherhood, Having children and grandchildren, Traveling all around the world, meeting unbelievable people, Conversations, Books, Movies … This should be a great century even with a most unaudacious beginning

I will say this probably will NOT be the American Century (that was the 20th Century) no matter how hard we try to be the hegemon of the world. The British Century was probably the 19th Century (although the did control the US through the 18th Century) and the 20th Century saw a great loss of power for the British Empire … The Sun definitely sets on the British Empire and the post-colonial world is still terribly uncertain… Trying to form countries off of the lines drawn by Europe does not make for tribes and peoples that get along (ie the Sudan, Iraq …….)

I hope everyone stays warm today and I wish you all well… ecq …

btw: Its 1 degree outside right now in NYC

Big Fish is very burtonesque … if you like Edward Scissorhands and nightmare before christmas you liek it .. it definitely captures the spirit of southern tall tales and is beautiful to look at and very well acted including the small parts….. I saw it early with my girlfriend because I live on the crazy isle of Manhattan and it was released in mid-December here … Its now having more of a nationwide release so definitely see it … I had the luck of seeing Big Fish and LOTR in the same week … and although I would give Big Fish ****1/2 LOTR was one of my very rare ***** movies … only joining American Splendor this year which is utterly brillant uses of real people and fictional characters and animation … catch it on DVD, its one of the most unique and fun movies you may ever see …. Although it does not have anywhere near the battle scenes of LOTR.

Right now it is probably my number 3 favorite movie of the year after American Splendor and LOTR 3 …. I am still interested in seeing Master and Commander and the Triplets of Belleville which may make my list …

I actually feel obligated to see Cold Mountain because it is likely to be competition for LOTR (who I would love to see win Best Picture for one of the greatest epics ever captured on the big screen) …

My pick for most overrated movie is the incredibly slow “Lost in Translation” … Bill Murray is very good as the American actor insomniac pitching Whisky and Tokyo looks lovely but I must have checked my watch 15 times wondering when the movie might end …. So it goes….

My number 3 favorite movie of the year is Big Fish dir. by Tim Burton … It is just starting to have a nationwide release and is very good … I gave it a short capsule review in my last blog … I was lucky enough to see it before Christmas because I live in the crazy isle of Manhattan and it got a early release there … great small parts in the movie too .. and of course the tall tales are wonderful … my gf who usually like the books much better and insists on usually reading them first actually liked the movie better … the circus for instance is added in the film and not in the book at all.

Big Fish is very burtonesque … if you like Edward Scissorhands and nightmare before christmas you liek it .. it definitely captures the spirit of southern tall tales and is beautiful to look at and very well acted …..

Right now it is probably my number 3 favorite movie of the year after American Splendor and LOTR 3 …. I am still interested in seeing Master and Commander and the Triplets of Belleville which may make my list …

I actually feel obligated to see Cold Mountain because it is likely to be competition for LOTR (who I would love to see win Best Picture for one of the greatest epics ever captured on the big screen) …

My pick for most overrated movie is the incredibly slow “Lost in Translation” … Bill Murray is very good as the American actor insomniac pitching Whisky and Tokyo looks lovely but I must have checked my watch 15 times wondering when the movie might end …. So it goes…. ecq

It was a big treat to go to the Rutgers Athletic Centre and see RU vs. #1 UCONN … although the scarlet knights lost 75-74 to be in a packed house with 8,044 fans was wicked fun. I need to see more games ….

I would also love to Rutgers play as well on the road .. on a neutral site Conn wins by 10-15 at Gampel prob. by 20+ …

If Rutgers can play this well on the road they are a borderline NCAA team… More then likely though this Scarlet Knights Squad is NIT bound.

RU does have a huge matchup versus Providence (#25) this weekend … It might be even tougher then UCONN following Providence’s last second loss to Texas … If Rutgers can win though they would be 1-2 in conference with a relatively easy game vs. Monmouth coming up.

I hope everyone is enjoying their year so far. I did see “In America” on Tuesday and its quite good ***1/2 … The acting was terrific especially from the kids and its a very nice tearjerker kind of film …. I actually liked “The Last Samurai” and “Big Fish” much better. This despite Samurai’s very middling reviews … I found it a fun Samurai epic actually far better then “Dances With Wolves” … I would give Samurai ****

“Big Fish” is simply marvelous… It is a story of “Fish tales”, Tall tales by a larger then life southern story teller and his on not knowing the truth but hearing only the stories .. A brillant picture incredibly well acted by Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, etc…. I recommend it very highly ****1/2 … the only movies I have liked better this year (2003 releases) are American Splendor and Lord of the Rings which are both ***** movies in my mind.

b good and stay warm … ecq

Hello everyone…..

Long time no talk ….

In the wilds of NJ tonight going to see Rutgers try to beat the Connecticut men tonight (#1) team in the country …. Rutgers generally plays well at home so should be very fun.

I have not blogged in a while because Hunter “Socks” Thompson (my kitten) has been very busy updating his website Hunter “Socks” Thompson

Feel free to buy some kitty kitsch and please make comments or join the newsletter.

Happy new year everyone and may 2004 be a great year for all of you.

ecq