Harry Potter 6 Trailer!!!!

Alright boys and girls. I am happy-go-crap-in-the-pants right now cause I just watched the trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince (which my wife Sierra is currently reading for the first time and that also makes my giddy like school girl). Holy Hannah. Man. I am so stinking excited about this film. I am hesitant to be too specific about my next comment (because I hate spoilers), but I was so pleased to see that one of the characters is growing into young adulthood well. This character is an important character and needs to look the part (a thing of which I had my fears after reading HP6 and seeing who had been cast in that role in the films--I just didn't know how growing up would treat this person). Anyway, cryptic speak aside, I am definitely going to be there opening night, even if it means I go alone.

Here is a link to see the trailer (just scroll down and choose your option).

Arrested Development

I realize that I am really behind the times with this, but I LOVE Arrested Development. Sierra tried to show it to me a long time ago (when I was down with un-diagnosed mono) and I couldn't get into it back then. I am guessing that it was either that I was too tired and sick to appreciate the brilliant humor, or that I was too into The Office at the time (and the humor types are very so different that it takes some adjustment to swap from one to the other). Oh, or it could be that I was sexually frustrated (she wouldn't kiss me. I was going crazy...)

Anyway, I just finished watching the final episode (after going through them from beginning to end) and I am so sad that this show was canceled. It is an outrage. A crime against nature. We must do something about getting a film made (and by "we" of course I mean "Mitchell Hurwitz, Ron Howard, and the cast).

Just for fun, here is someone's Top-Ten list of inside jokes that they feel should be included in the film without any explanation at all as to why they are there (in the film of course, as all of them refer back to jokes from the show). Go and enjoy.

Update: I found a petition that any who desire and are willing can sign to show support for the film and/or the return of the show (fat chance people). Who knows if it will help or not, but it can't hurt can it? Maybe...

Steven-Inspired Top-Ten Desert-Island Album-List With-Hyphens-. Extra-Hyphens.

Oh man. Steven went and did it; he posted his list of the ten albums that he'd take with him to a desert island (his motive was that he may audition for the BlueMan Group band--which would be freakin rad--and they ask that question in the application. My motive is that terrorists called and said, "hey, John. How are you? Oh, we're sorry to hear your car got towed, that sucks. Anyway, we're gonna be over there in about twenty minutes to kidnap you and take you to a desert island. You have twenty minutes to choose ten albums to bring with you, cause space is VERY limited. Oh, and you'll want a cute bathing suit.")
Here they are:

1. Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
2. Weezer - Pinkerton
3. Damien Rice - O
4. Thrice - Vheissu
5. Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
6. The LOTR Soundtrack (Fellowship if I have to limit it to one)
7. Braveheart Soundtrack
8. Radiohead - OK Computer
9. Nelly Furtado - Whoa, Nelly!
10. Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen

This was incredibly hard to make this list (what with so many great albums out there to choose from). Some alternates that I feel deserve mention are--in no particular order:

- Incubus - Morning View
- Dredg - Catch Without Arms
- Saves The Day - In Reverie
- Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3
- The Format - Dog Problems
- The Get Up Kids - Something To Write Home About
- New Amsterdams - Killed Or Cured

Whiplash!

It has been a while since I've seen something as funny, yet cute, as this. Here is a little monkey named Whiplash who rides a dog in rodeo. I'll give you a news report on him, his commercial (his acting debut I guess), and then some raw footage of him in the rodeo. Enjoy.

Joss Whedon is up to his old tricks again...

Well, Joss Whedon (the creator of Alias, Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show, Firefly, and Serenity) has a new project that he is working on called Dr. Horrible. It stars Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, M.D.), Nathan Fillion (Firefly/Serenity), and Felicia Day (who was in some episodes of Buffy, but I haven't ever heard of her before). To be honest, I don't really know how to describe it other than to say it is quirky and funny. Think: Superhero Musical. My guess is that a lot of people wouldn't really get into it, but I enjoyed it. What I don't know is whether this is a potential TV show, film, or just a fun little project for him and some friends to do on the side. Your guess is as good as mine.

Update:
So, I guess this project is actually a strange little experiment for Joss. It began during the WGA strike, and the idea was to basically circumvent the studios in the creative and productive process of making a show.
The mini-TV series will only have three parts (at least initially--I wouldn't be surprised if Joss decided to do something more with it int he future) and only made available online from now until July 20th. The second part will be released tomorrow, and the third (and final) chapter will be released on the 19th.

I Just Can't Get Enough...

I saw this video posted on Alex's website (buy a young woman that could possibly be in cahoots with our man Alex; my team is looking into this), and I can't stop watching it. It cracks me up every time. Whoever made it: thank you and bless you.

Re-Formatting

Well, once again my hard drive crashed and I lost many of the song/story projects that I had been working on. This marks the third time in less than a year the a depository of my creative juices has been stolen or erased. Man, some people just don't take a hint.

Anyway, I am excited to focus in on two creative projects now, and let others sit by the wayside. One is a story and will most likely come out in screen play form by the time it is done. The other is just working with GarageBand to record acoustic demos of songs (old and new) that I have never gotten around to. I will have to wait until I get a new mic to really do the guitar and vocal stuff, but I can begin in other areas for now. My main focus will be on Wishing Well songs (for any who are confused by that--Wishing Well is the name of a full length album that I began writing a few years ago. It became some of the fruit of Twenty Mule Team (My Little Reminder was originally the Prologue-and may still find its way back onto the album-The Ambush, Goodbye Eden, and Sweet Spot in the Spine were all from the album also) and is a massive project that will take me years and years to ever fully develop into the finished product that I desire it to become. It is the first part of a story that will eventually be told over the course of three albums. When all of that musical work is finished I will focus on writing it in story format. My hope would be for it to someday be made into movies, also. I would desire to be involved in the sound-tracking for the films (which would not be a function of just putting in the songs from the albums, but in writing a whole new soundtrack that just borrows themes from the albums).

I'll keep you updated (and don't hold your breath for this to get accomplished anytime too soon).

UNLV's Cruz Gets Call Up

Daniel Cruz, a forward for UNLV's Men's Soccer Team got a call up to play in an Under-20 friendly game in Texas. They play today. Congrats, sir. I'll post the results later.

Update:
The U.S. Under-20's beat Mexico 3-0 last Friday in Texas. Cruz started and played until the 80th minute.


And in other soccer news:
I really enjoyed reading this article from the Laredo Morning Times about youth soccer development in our nation. It chronicles the rapid and unexpected rise in our Men's national Team (which has since balanced out to a more accurate level), and talks about what is currently going on with developing American soccer talent. Good stuff.