It is not very often that new albums are released that I eagerly anticipate. As I look at my calendar, there are two albums being released within the upcoming two weeks that I am actually a little excited about. This Tuesday, Jack Johnson's new release titled Sleep Through the Static will become available. I am a big fan of Jack Johnson's sound and I have been looking forward to his 5^th studio album for some time. My musical tastes have evolved over the years and I have really come to love acoustic music. I have a deep appreciation for melody and harmony. Johnson's music is very mellow and soothing which is often the style of music that appeals to me. He blends several different musical styles (including folk, blues, soul, island and pop) to create his own sound. His 2005 In Between Dreams is amazing and it is one of those albums you can listen to from start to finish and enjoy every single track. I highly recommend this entire album and in particular either of the songs "Better Together" or "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing." If you like that, let me know and there is a lot more Jack Johnson I can recommend. In the meantime, I will be anxiously awaiting his new album coming next week.

The following week, on February 12^th, the new Michael Jackson Thriller 25 album is due for release. As you should know already from reading my posting way back on January 7^th, I have always been a big fan of Jackson's music (though not necessarily the person he seems to have become). This album is to mark the 25^th anniversary of the truly iconic Thriller album (though that was originally released in 1981 which would now be 26-27 years ago). The original Thriller is the single best selling album worldwide and second in the United States to The Eagles Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975). Thriller 25 will include the 9 songs from the original release, but will also include one newly released song and five new remixes that feature current artists like Akon, Fergie and Kanye West (*see the track list below). One of the new remixes was released last week (January 23^rd) and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" was available to download on iTunes. This was the first new music from the King of Pop in nearly 5 years. The album will also include a DVD which includes 4 videos including the revolutionary "Thriller" video and the infamous Motown 25 performance from 1983 where he unveiled the moonwalk for the first time. It is amazing to think back to that time when he exploded into a cultural icon and phenomenon and see now how the mighty have certainly fallen in this case. Either way, he continues to be a musical genius in my opinion. I will purchase Thriller 25 when it is released in a couple weeks and I hope he goes back into the studio to record more new material soon. *Here is the track listing for the album and DVD:
Thriller 25
1. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
2. "Baby Be Mine"
3. "The Girl Is Mine" with Paul McCartney
4. "Thriller"
5. "Beat It"
6. "Billie Jean"
7. "Human Nature"
8. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
9. "The Lady in My Life"
10. "Voice-over Session from Thriller with Vincent Price"
11. "The Girl Is Mine 2008" with will.i.am
12. "P.Y.T. 2008" with will.i.am
13. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" with Akon
14. "Beat It 2008" with Fergie
15. "Bille Jean 2008" with Kanye West
16. "For All Time"
DVD
1. "Thriller" video
2. "Beat It" video
3. "Billie Jean" video
4. "Billie Jean" Motown 25 performance

I recommend you read my January 7^th posting again. It included my Top 10 Michael Jackson songs of all time. You can click on the Archive or simply on this link... http://OldSchool.tblog.com/post/1969970851" title="http://OldSchool.tblog.com/post/1969970851" target="_blank"http://OldSchool.tblog.com/po...

That will do it for Kickin' it Old School today. Thanks for reading and please pass the word on to others. If you are a pop culture junkie like I am, I came across a website that might interest you. Though I am more of an 80's nostalgist, this site goes back much further than that. I have a link over in the left column called Retro Crush which will take you there or you can click on this link... http://retrocrush.buzznet.com" title="http://retrocrush.buzznet.com" target="_blank"http://retrocrush.buzznet.com.... If you go, let them know that Old School sent you.

Check this out: I am going to include some interesting tidbits, nuggets and other useless knowledge that you might find interesting:
"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

111,111,111  x  111,111,111  =  12,345,678,987,654,321

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time television were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

Hawaiian alphabet has 12 letters.

Percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%
Percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.

The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.

Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.

The term "the whole 9 yards" came from W.W.II fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards."

The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.

The only two days of the year in which there are no professional sports games (MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL) are the day before and the day after the Major League all-stars Game.

Quote of the day: "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Then when you criticize, you will be a mile away and have their shoes." -Not sure, but sounds like something Steven Wright would say.  Either way, it is a pretty funny quote.

Download this: Could easily have used a Jack Johnson or Michael Jackson song here based on the topic today, but I will give you something different. "You Give Me Something" by James Morrison - This is featured on the album Undiscovered which was released in the U.S. last year. I came across this album before it was released here (since it was released in Britain back in 2006) and I really liked it a lot. If you like the one song, definitely get the entire album.

Well, I could not wait any longer and saw the movie No Country For Old Men yesterday. To describe this film in one word... WOW. In my January 28^th posting, I discussed the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards and the fact that No Country For Old Men won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. I have always felt that this award, voted on by their peers, has to be the utmost honor and a sure indicator of quality entertainment. Specifically, two of the last three winners of this award are personal favorites of mine. Little Miss Sunshine won last year and Sideways won the award in 2005. I have given this award more credence since 1998 when The Full Monty was chosen for the award over Titanic. So after No Country For Old Men won this award Sunday night, I knew I had to see it and, boy, was I right.

If you have not seen this movie yet, don't worry because I do not plan on spoiling it in any way. Have no fear and continue reading. The film does feature quite a bit of violence and blood, so be warned of that going in. As its SAG award recognizes, this movie contains incredible performances by an amazing cast. There are really three major characters. "Llewelyn Moss" is played brilliantly by Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones is perfectly cast as "Sheriff Bell." They are great, but the truly special achievement is made by Javier Bardem who plays the sociopath "Anton Chigurh." When I say special, I mean Bardem's performance is both riveting and haunting and it might be as good as any I have ever seen. Simply outstanding.

This won't ruin the film, but there is this scene towards the end of the film that really captured the essence of the story for me. It is a conversation that takes place between "Sheriff Bell" and his "Uncle Ellis" who is character that has not been previously introduced in the film (in typical Coen Brothers fashion). The sheriff is explaining that he felt "outmatched" and his uncle tells him that we have to continue with our lives no matter how evil life gets. This message resonated with me and I could easily apply it to what these characters were going through. "Uncle Ellis" also had another powerful message during his short conversation with "Sheriff Bell." He said, "While all the time you spend trying to get back what's been took from you, more is going out the door." For not having all that much screen time, this character really helped summarize and tie things together.  I am not sure if these are necessarily the messages that the writers intended, but that is what I took from it.  Those are definitely some words of wisdom that we can all live by.

As great as the acting and characters are in this film, it is also a technical masterpiece. The directing and editing, by Joel & Ethan Coen, as well as the cinematography and sound are all superb. I did not go into the theater expecting to be as impressed as this film left me when it was over. The Coen Brothers have made some other decent movies (like Fargo, The Big Lebowski and O Brother, Where Art Thou?), but I feel none of them come close to this project. The Coen Brothers have already won the Directors Guild of America award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. Again, this has to be quite an honor since it is awarded by your peers. Not only did they direct, edit and produce this film, but they also wrote the screenplay which is based off of the novel by Cormac McCarthy of the same title. Best Adapted Screenplay is just one of the 8 Oscar nominations that No Country For Old Men has received. We will find out on February 24^th just how many of those the film actually wins. I expect Javier Bardem to take home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and I also expect the film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. I still will also cheer for both Juno and Michael Clayton which I enjoyed very much. I feel lucky that I have been able to see three such incredible films this year.

Well, that is all I have for Kickin' it today. Thanks for reading and I appreciate all of the feedback. I will probably do some Super Bowl coverage later this week. Peace and much love.

Check this out: Yesterday, I directed you to a fantastic Christopher Walken impression which I hope you enjoyed. Today, I am going to direct you to a music video that features the real Chris Walken. I have always thought this was awkward yet genius at the same time. It is the video to "Weapon of Choice" by Fatboy Slim, check it out... www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMZwZiU0kKs

Quote of the day: This is one of my all-time favorites... "If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence you have won even before you have started." -Marcus Garvey

Download this: "Take It Outside" by Barenaked Ladies - This is from the 2003 album Everything to Everyone

Tuesday is usually the day when all of the new music and DVDs are released to the public. This week there were two DVD releases that particularly caught my attention. First is the sixth season of the HBO comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm" which stars Larry David (who was the writer, executive producer & co-creator of my all-time favorite TV show "Seinfeld"). I am also a big fan of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and already own the first five seasons on DVD. Since this series is only broadcast on HBO, it does not have as wide of an audience as it deserves. I will admit that the comedy is quirky and often a result of socially awkward situations. The show is often improvised with only a story outline which gives each scene its direction. Larry David plays himself, but the character is exaggerated and altered from his real-life persona for the sake of the show. David is very funny, but his manager/best friend (played by Jeff Garlin) and his wife (played by Cheryl Hines) are phenomenal. There are also many guest stars and cameos that add to the fun. If you are a fan of "Seinfeld" and that type of humor, you should really watch this show. It is so much more entertaining than most of what is on television today. It was not on my Top 10 list in my January 24^th posting since it is on pay channel like HBO and not available to the average cable customer. If I were to include it, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" would have easily ranked in the top 3 spots on that list and possibly #1. The previous seasons are reasonably priced on DVD and that is the way I would recommend catching up with this show since it has yet to go into syndication on any channel. I am looking forward to picking up season 6 for myself.

The other DVD release that caught my eye was a 15th Anniversary Edition of Groundhog Day. I have always loved this film which stars the brilliant Bill Murray. I read an interesting quote from Entertainment Weekly's Gregory Kirschling regarding this movie, "Was Groundhog Day always this deep? What strikes you now isn't how simultaneously barbed and warm Murray is as he lives Feb. 2 over and over, but how simultaneously bleak and hopeful this modern classic feels: Every day is cold and lonely, the film insists, yet we can still make the most of it." This movie does not get the credit it deserves because it is a rare combination that a film can be a little deep, yet so very funny. Bill Murray also does not get the credit he deserves for this role or as the comedic actor that he has become. Unfortunately, it does not seem like there are enough new special features that make it worthwhile to trade up to this anniversary edition. Murray is not a part of any of the extras, but the often asked question regarding how many days in a row the character repeats is addressed. The director, Harold Ramis, gives his take that this could have lasted "for about 10 years." I already own Groundhog Day on DVD, so I do not plan on buying this new version. If you don't already own it or have never seen it, I definitely recommend you go out and pick it up this week. I decided this would be the appropriate time to pull out my Top 10 lists. Here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 BILL MURRAY MOVIES:
Honorable Mention. Kingpin (1996) as "Big Ernie McCracken" - This bowling movie by the Farrelly Brothers is sometimes disturbing, but also has its share of very funny material. It stars Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid, but Murray has a small role as the big time bowling star. In classic Murray style, he steals every scene that he is in, so that is why I at least give it honorable mention here.
10. The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997) as "Wally Ritchie" - This film is much better and more entertaining than many have given it credit for. Murray's character is mistaken for a secret agent while he thinks he is just participating in a game. He stumbles his way through the story somehow surviving and baffling the bad guys along the way. The comedic timing is excellent. If you never gave this movie a shot and you are a Bill Murray fan, I suggest you go check it out.
9. Rushmore (1998) as "Herman Blume" - As with all Wes Anderson films, many people either love or hate them. I am usually not a big fan of Wes Anderson films, but I felt that Bill Murray pulled me through this one. It is not the typical Murray comedy. If you are looking for a movie where you laugh at every scene, this is not that type of comedy. It is much more surrealistic and even heartbreaking, but an outstanding performance by Murray nonetheless.
8. Scrooged (1988) as "Frank Cross" - This is a modern day telling of the Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. Murray plays the "Scrooge" like character who happens to be a greedy TV exec as he gets saved by the lessons learned as three spirits visit him on Christmas Eve. It has the happy ending that we all love and I always enjoy watching this film during the holidays.
7. Quick Change (1990) as "Grimm" - Another very under-rated movie, Murray actually was the co-director on this film (his only directorial credit in his career). The story is about a guy who decides he can't stand life in the big city anymore, so he plans the ultimate bank robbery to allow them to live out their dreams in paradise. It features a great performance by Murray, but also a strong supporting cast including Geena Davis, Randy Quaid and Jason Robards. It is definitely a worthwhile effort.
6. What About Bob? (1991) as "Bob Wiley" - This is a very funny film, directed by Frank Oz (yes, Yoda himself), where the patient drives his psychiatrist crazy. The contrast of Murray's obsessive compulsive character and the uptight "Dr. Leo Marvin" (played marvelously by Richard Dreyfuss) is very entertaining in itself. Lots of comedy here. If you have not seen it in a while, it is definitely time to see it again.
5. Ghostbusters (1984) & Ghostbusters 2 (1989) as "Dr. Peter Venkman" - The 80's nostalgist that I am naturally holds these movies in a fond place. These were such entertaining movies and Murray's Venkman character was definitely the highlight and gets most of the best lines. The first film turned into a national phenomenon. Ghostbusters does not take itself too seriously and came from a time when blockbusters used to be fun and entertaining. "Who you gonna call?"
4. Lost In Translation (2003) as "Bob Harris" - This film which won Sophia Coppola an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, was ranked on my Top 10 Independent Films featured in my January 26^th posting. Murray was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his role as "a movie star with a sense of emptiness" who meets a neglected newlywed (played by the beautiful Scarlett Johansson) while in Tokyo, Japan. They play such likable characters, though a bit of a departure for Murray, that give this film a subtle familiarity. This is a very original film that I enjoyed very much and highly recommend.
3. Stripes (1981) as "John Winger" - Another fantastically funny 80's comedy, this was one of Murray's first major roles. He stars with Harold Ramis as two buddies who decide to join the Army as a way to get away from their real lives. This film also ranked on my John Candy Top 10 list from the January 21^st posting. I am particularly fond of the drill sergeant character "Sgt. Hulka" played by Warren Oates as well as the entire graduation scene where Murray leads the platoon as they perform their routine. They don't seem to make comedies like this one anymore and that is a terrible shame.
2. Groundhog Day (1993) as "Phil Connors" - You can read above about this very funny and touching movie where Murray plays a weatherman who keeps waking up to the same day over and over again until he gets it right. Outstanding.
1. Caddyshack (1980) as "Carl Spackler" - Murray creates one of the truly classic movie characters in this film which I consider my favorite comedy of all time. I love this film that centers around the golf course at a country club and also stars Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield and Ted Knight. There are so many funny lines and scenes, but as usual, Murray steals every scene he is a part of. What it lacks in substance, this movies makes up more than enough in entertainment. I will sit down and watch this anytime.

As always, the order can definitely be debated (except for Caddyshack at #1), but I feel confident that those are the ten best. Let me hear your opinions on this list! Bill Murray is one the best comedic actors of my time, but when was the last true comedy that he has made? I am not sure if he will ever go back to making those types of comedies again, but I desperately wish he would. As I have discussed, the comedy genre in cinema has suffered greatly over the last decade or more and the major reason is that there are nobody like Bill Murray, Chevy Chase or John Candy making funny movies anymore. And sadly, there might never be anybody like them again.

That's Kickin' it for today. Thanks for reading and please tell a friend. Be sure to get your pets spayed or neutered to help control the pet population.

Check this out: I enjoy comedians who do great impersonations. One of my favorites is Kevin Pollack. The following link displays a fantastic bit on Christopher Walken. Notice the reference within where he says "I kick it old school!"... www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xKXbOVbAvE

Quote of the day: "Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't." -Erica Jong (American author and educator)

Download this: "Innocence" by Hootie & The Blowfish - I am a huge fan of this band and I am sure other songs by them will be recommended here in the future. This fantastic song comes from their self titled album from 2003 and also appears on their greatest hits.

Happy Monday to you all. In my January 26^th posting, I discussed the Sundance Film Festival and Independent Films. Well, the festival ended yesterday and there did not seem to be as much excitement coming from it as there has been in past years. Drawing the most attention was U2's three-dimensional concert movie called "U2 3D" which follows their 2006 "Vertigo" tour through South America. Not many of the real movies seemed to draw as much interest. Of the films I heard about, the one that seemed to peek my curiosity the most is called The Wackness. This story, set in 1994, is about a "troubled teenage drug dealer who trades pot for therapy sessions with a drug-addled psychiatrist and in the process fall for the doctor's daughter." It turns out that this film won "The Audience Award: Dramatic" during the festival, so it obviously connects with its audience in a special way. If you want to see an article regarding all of the awards presented at Sundance here is a link... www.sundance.org/festival/insider/2008 -01-26-L@S-awards.asp

Speaking of movies, the 14^th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards were held last night. Unlike the Golden Globe Awards, this show went on as scheduled. These awards honor both television and movie greatness and are considered a strong indicator of who will win the Oscars which are held next month. Though the Oscars seem to hold more prestige, the SAG award is given by your peers. To me, an honor bestowed by my peers would hold much more value than any other, so I am sure these actors are very proud to even be nominated. Though the Guild is celebrating their 75^th anniversary, these awards have only been given for the last 14 years. In my January 22^nd posting, I discussed the Oscar nominees and specifically noted the two films that I have seen and enjoyed very much. These films, Michael Clayton and Juno, each had SAG award nominations, but sadly did not take home any of the awards. The Coen Brothers movie No Country For Old Men won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, so I definitely have to re-think finding an opportunity to see that film soon. Daniel Day-Lewis dedicated his award to the late Heath Ledger in a touching moment and 83-year-old Ruby Dee won for her supporting role in the film American Gangster. As for television, "The Sopranos," which recently completed its final season, was honored with all 3 major drama series awards. The Comedy awards went to two shows that I enjoy very much (as noted in my January 24^th posting). Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey ("30 Rock") won the individual actor honors while "The Office" was deservingly named Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Overall, it was nice to see the awards shows back on television.

I have mentioned Roger Clemens and his sudden involvement in baseball's steroid investigation a couple times (most recently January 16^th posting). The question that Clemens or any accused player has is simply "How do you prove a negative?" What evidence can you provide that something never happened? This seems much more difficult that actually proving that something did happen. What can someone do when they are put in that position? First I think you would get angry at the insinuation and scream your innocence. Clemens has already done that. Second, you would try to provide any information that might lend credibility to your case. Clemens continues to try to do that. First, he provided a recorded phone conversation with his accuser which had mixed results. One of the key indicators that accusers point to with Clemens has been his amazing performance especially at an older age. Today, he released a 45 page report documenting that Clemens 24-year career has proceeded in a consistent manner as he has aged compared with other pitchers as they have aged. You can go check the report out for yourself, it is a pretty impressive compilation of analysis... http://rogerclemensreport .com" title="http://rogerclemensreport .com" target="_blank"http://rogerclemensreport .com....  Clemens was supposed to have his deposition in front of Congress this past weekend, but it has been pushed back to February 5^th with a hearing scheduled for February 13^th as well. I really hope that Roger Clemens is telling the truth, but either way it will be interesting to see how this situation plays out over the coming months. By the way, only 17 days until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training!

Please go back to any of the postings noted above if you have not read them or do not remember.  I will often refer back to topics covered before.  That's all I have for tonight. Thanks for reading and reacting. I wish you all peace and much love.

Check this out: I am not sure if this is a true story or not, but thought it was pretty interesting either way... A bear was walking across the Rainbow Bridge in Truckee, California, on the I-80, California / Nevada State line, when two cars also crossed the bridge from both directions. The bear was so scared, with no place to run, he made a leap over the side of the bridge. The motorists stopped their cars in horror of what just happened and ran to the edge to see how badly the bear was injured. To their amazement, they saw that bear had somehow grasped the lower ledge of the bridge support as it fell and pulled itself back up. The authorities were notified that night and after making an assessment they decided there was nothing that could be done until the following morning. Authorities returned at day break to find the bear sleeping on the ledge of the bridge support. A large, construction style, safety net was hung under the bridge and the bear was shot with a tranquilizing dart; then safely lowered to the ground below. Here are some pictures taken during this event:

Quote of the day: "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you are right." -Henry Ford

Download this: "Hey Ya" by Obadiah Parker - This is an acoustic cover of the smash hit by Outkast. I love acoustic music and love quality acoustic versions of good songs. You will see a lot of acoustic recommendations here.

Hello all, the NBA All-Star game is scheduled for Sunday, February 17th in New Orleans. The starters, as voted by the fans, were announced this week. You have to remember that the starters are completely chosen by fan vote and the most deserving players are not necessarily always the starters.  The coaches do get to choose the rest of the team and usually the best players still make it. The rest of the team is not announced until closer to the game.  In case you did not hear yet, these are the starters for each conference with a couple interesting tidbits on each player:
Eastern Conference
F Kevin Garnett, Boston - KG was the leading vote getter this year with almost 2.4 million votes. He is in his 13^th season and this will be his 11^th All-star game. The previous 10 were all in the Western Conference with Minnesota. This past summer, he was traded to Boston in a 7 for 1 deal which is the most number of players ever traded for a single player in NBA history. He was drafted directly out of high school way back 1995 and he is one of 4 All-star starters to skip college (3 in the East alone). Garnett has always been one of my favorite players in the league.
F LeBron James, Cleveland - King James was the second leading vote getter this year. He is in his 5^th season and this will be his 4^th All-star game in a row. He is just 23 years old and is another player who was drafted directly out of high school. James is already one of the best players in the league, but the scary thing is that he is still improving each season. He is an amazing player to watch!
C Dwight Howard, Orlando - Howard was the third leading vote getter in just his 4^th season. This will be his 2^nd All-star appearance in a row. He is only 22 years old and is another one of the 4 all-stars who came directly from high school into the NBA. To put the possibilities into perspective, just remember that Tim Duncan was still in his senior season at Wake Forest at the same age that Howard is now. The sky is the limit for this kid.
G Jason Kidd, New Jersey - Kidd is the most veteran of the All-star starters in his 14^th season. In my January 14^th posting, he ranked #1 on my Top 10 List of NBA Point Guards, so go back and check that posting out to see more about Kidd.
G Dwyane Wade, Miami - Wade is in just his 5^th season (like LeBron & Carmelo) and this will be his 4^th All-star game in a row. He is the only East All-star starter who has ever won an NBA Championship (2006). I have been a Wade fan for quite a while since I followed him when he was in college here at Marquette which is in Milwaukee, WI. He has been battling injuries because of his style of play, but is still one of the most entertaining players to watch.
Western Conference
F Tim Duncan, San Antonio - "The Big Fundamental," as Shaq calls him, is in his 11^th season and has impressively made the All-star team each and every season so far. He is a 4 time NBA Champ, 3 time NBA Finals MVP and 2 time NBA MVP. That's enough said right there. I have plenty of respect for Duncan with his consistency, demeanor and his success. He is without a doubt one of the greatest players ever to play the game.
F Carmelo Anthony, Denver - Melo is now in his 5^th season, but just his 2^nd All-star appearance. Known more as a scorer, the highest achievement he has earned thus far is the All NBA Third Team. He is one of two Nuggets voted to be All-star starters this year.
C Yao Ming, Houston - Yao is in his 6^th season in the NBA and has been the All-star starter each of those six seasons now. He has the support of the entire country of China, so internet voting has played a role especially earlier in his career. He now is more than deserving of the honor. Yao played 5 years in the Chinese Basketball Association before being drafted by the Rockets in 2002. He stands 7 feet 6 inches tall and seems to be improving each year. That's a scary combination.
G Allen Iverson, Denver - A.I. is in his 12^th season and this will be his 9^th All-star appearance. All previous appearances were with the Eastern Conference since he was traded from Philadelphia to Denver during last season. In my January 14^th posting, he ranked #4 on my Top 10 List of NBA Point Guards, so go back and check that posting out to see more about Iverson.
G Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers - Kobe is in his 12^th season and this will be his 10^th All-star appearance. He has a lot of experience despite only being 29 years old (the fourth of the All-star starters to come directly out of high school). He was the leading vote getter in the Western Conference and #4 overall. He is a 3 time NBA Champ and one of just 3 All-star starters who have won a ring. He won the Slam Dunk competition during All-star weekend back in 1997, but has not participated again since. Along with LeBron James, they are probably the two most dynamic players in the league.

Those are the players that the fans chose. You cannot argue too much with any of them. If you based it strictly on how they have played this year, you could question the starting guards for the East. The Miami Heat (Wade's team) are in the midst of a horrible losing streak and there might be some point guards playing a little better than Kidd. I would question Carmelo Anthony more than any player in either conference. Hopefully, the many other deserving players will get chosen by the coaches to represent in the All-star game.

NBA All-star weekend has always been my favorite of these exhibitions. Though the NFL is my favorite sport to watch, their all star game is by far my least favorite. The NFL Pro Bowl will be held on February, 10th which is a week after the Super Bowl and, in my opinion, would not be missed by anybody if they did not have it at all. I think part of the problem is that it is held after the season is completely over. I don't think they can hold it during the middle of the season, but I heard that there is a possibility of moving the NFL Pro Bowl to be played the weekend before the Super Bowl which I think might be at least a step in the right direction. The NBA has learned how to do it right. They created an entire weekend centered around the event. NBA All-star weekend has evolved over the years, but has such entertaining features as the Slam Dunk Competition, 3 point Competition and the Rookie/Sophomore game. The NBA allows the fan to see the personalities of its players and All-star weekend is one of the prime opportunities to do so. I feel that the NBA regular season has lost a lot of its luster, but the NBA playoffs still provides the most entertaining, intense and quality basketball. The playoffs do not start until the end of April, but the NBA All-star game gives you a little glimpse at the greatness. I will talk more about All-star Weekend in February when the rest of the teams are announced, but if you want to find out more about it now, check out the NBA website at www.nba.com/allstar2008.

That is where I am going to wrap things up for today. Thanks for reading and please consider subscribing so you are sure to not miss a single Kickin' it Old School. As always, I appreciate any comments on this posting or any of the past postings.

Check this out: Here is a link to a very funny video starring Will Ferrell called "The Landlord." Warning it does contain some cursing, but laugh-out-loud funny... www.funnyordie.com/videos/74

Quote of the day: "Nobody succeeds beyond his or her wildest expectations unless he or she begins with some wild expectations." -Ralph Charell

Download this: "People Get Ready" by Curtis Mayfield - This is the original, but most of the covers of this song by other artists are pretty great, too.

Welcome to Kickin' it Old School. It has been 3 weeks since we started this adventure and I must say I am pretty proud of the progress we have made in this short period of time. If you have missed any of the previous 21 postings, please click on the little orange button in the left column that looks like this...  That will give you a list of all of the postings, but remember if the topic does not necessarily interest you there are always the special features at the end of each posting (including "check this out," "quote of the day" and "download this"). Please feel free to subscribe to the blog, too, because I try to keep up with at least one posting per day. As always, send me your comments and I appreciate you taking the time to read Kickin' it Old School.

Hope you read my January 8^th posting regarding Art Monk needing to be voted into the pro football hall of fame. If not, click here to check it out... http://oldschool.tblog.com/post/1969970957" title="http://oldschool.tblog.com/post/1969970957" target="_blank"http://oldschool.tblog.com/po.... I was made aware of a grass roots effort to get Monk this deserved honor and I would like to direct you to another site where you can find out more about the situation and what you might be able to do to help. Please go here now or after you're done reading the rest of mine... http://phsports.blogspot.com/2008/01/pro-football- hof-missing-important.html" title="http://phsports.blogspot.com/2008/01/pro-football- hof-missing-important.html" target="_blank"http://phsports.blogspot.com/....  Hopefully, Art Monk will be a part of this next class inducted later this year.

On to today's topic... The 30th Sundance Film Festival is wrapping up this weekend out in Park City, Utah. If you are not familiar, Sundance and Cannes (held in France during May) are the most renowned of the many film festivals held all over the world each year. These film festivals are really an outlet for independent film makers to show their work. Indie filmmaking has really changed over the years, but undoubtedly has made a major impact on Hollywood. I came across a great article which really explains the evolution. I could not explain it any better, so I direct you to this article now (but please come back and finish reading here)... www.independentfilms.org/independent-film.html. Many deals are made at festivals like Sundance by studios to distribute what were originally independent films. For some, this can be the big break that an indie filmmaker needs to start a career. For others, they simply do not want to deal with the studio's intrusions and mandates during the making of the film, but then look for the studio's help distributing it after it is made. Many studios even have divisions that are indie film focused. Independent films have received much more attention in recent years from the big studios as well as the average movie fan. There are several films that have premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to be quite popular. Some achieve box office success, but many do not find a following until they are out on DVD. Indie films like Reservoir Dogs, Donnie Darko and Clerks are now considered classics, but were relatively unknown until they found an audience on DVD. The movie to premiere at Sundance and go on to the biggest box office success happens to be The Blair Witch Project (1999). My all time favorite movie, Pulp Fiction, earned more, but actually debuted at Cannes. I decided to do a Top 10 list of my favorite independent films, but most of the films I chose are probably not considered "true" indie films. I also chose to only go back to 1994 when both Pulp Fiction and Clerks were released. Some movies from before 1994 that are technically independent films surprisingly include: Psycho (1960), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), The Graduate (1967), Halloween (1978) and The Terminator (1984). The very funny Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and Life of Brian (1979) are also indie films. You will find that many of the films on the following list have appeared on one of my previous Top 10 lists and I find it interesting that so many technically started as independent films. It was very difficult to narrow it down to just ten movies. Here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 FAVORITE (technically) INDEPENDENT FILMS (1994-present):
Honorable Mention. Clerks (1994) - This film launched Kevin Smith's career and he now is one of my very favorite filmmakers. It was a true independent film made by Smith for just over $25,000 (which he raised by maxing out ten credit cards, selling his comic book collection and his college fund) at the convenience store that he actually worked at while it was closed between 10:30 pm and 5:30 am. The film features some outstanding dialogue and introduces the iconic characters of Jay & Silent Bob. I love this film and wanted to give it some credit, but just could not break it into the top 10.
10. Lost in Translation (2003) - This film, written and directed by Sophia Coppola, will appear on my Bill Murray Top 10 list once I publish that one. Several other films could have taken this #10 slot including: Memento (which I have mentioned before), Being John Malkovich (which I mentioned in my John Cusack Top 10 list) or even Seven (the 1995 thriller starring Brad Pitt & Morgan Freeman). Tough decision, but I gave the spot to this movie because it seemed to have more of an idie feel than the others.
9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - This movie stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet and was written by Charlie Kaufman. Kaufman's work, like Being John Malkovich, can be quite unique but that makes it more interesting and entertaining to me. The story is about two people who try to have their memories erased in order for them to forget about eachother. I enjoyed this film quite a bit and recommend you check it out if you have never seen it.
8. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) - This film made my Top 10 for movies nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, but that did not win (January 22^nd posting). Go back to that list to read about it. It is one of the most successful films to premier at Sundance and one that I highly recommend.
7. American Beauty (1999) - Written by Alan Ball (who won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and who also wrote the HBO series Six Feet Under), this film won the Oscar for Best Picture that year. It stars Kevin Spacey who also won the Oscar for Best Actor in a leading role. It is just an amazing piece of cinema which should be obvious based on all of the awards it was given.
6. Juno (2007) - I have mentioned this film several times before in my postings (January 6^th & again January 22^nd). Outstanding movie and I recommend it to everyone.
5. Sideways (2004) - This film also made my Top 10 for movies nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, but that did not win (January 22^nd posting). Great characters make this movie great. As with any movies on this list, I highly recommend them to everyone.
4. The Usual Suspects (1995) - Won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay which is always one of the most important awards in my opinion. Surprisingly, this cast comes together superbly to tell this story that features several twists and turns. Who is Keyser Soze??? Fantastic film from start to finish.
3. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) - This is one of my personal favorites as discussed during the John Cusack Top 10 list (January 15^th posting). I am sure this film would not appear as highly on most people's list of favorites, but I think it is fantastic. Kind of dark comedy, but that is right up my alley.
2. Swingers (1996) - A true indie film, written by and starring Jon Favreau, Swingers is one of my all time favorites. The film also stars Vince Vaughn and launched the career of one of the funniest actors in all of Hollywood. It is the first major film for Ron Livingston who would later star in one of my all time favorite comedies, Office Space, which we will definitely discuss more in a future posting. Admittedly, this is more of a "guy's movie" but is still one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. "Vegas, baby!"
1. Pulp Fiction (1994) - This film ranked #1 on my Top 10 for movies nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, but that did not win (January 22^nd posting). It happens to be my favorite movie of all time and, in my opinion, a masterpiece created by Quentin Tarantino. I concede that it is definitely not everybody's taste level for entertainment, but I think it is pure genius. A truly special piece of cinema.

There's my Top 10 and, as always, the order is not set in stone (except for Pulp Fiction at #1). Another Tarantino movie, Reservoir Dogs, is a classic indie film that appears highly on most list, but not quite as high on mine. I enjoy that movie, but it just does not make my Top 10. A few other indie films with incredible cult followings that do not appear on my list also include Donnie Darko, The Big Lebowski and Napoleon Dynamite, though I do enjoy each of them. What films do you feel are missing???

OK, that does it for another Kickin' it. Thanks for reading and please subscribe to be sure you don't miss any of them. Remember, to go to the website I noted above to support Art Monk's hall of fame induction. Peace.

Check this out: I am sure most of you have heard the song "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel. Here is a link to a VERY cool video for this song. It is definitely worth checking out... http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html" title="http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html" target="_blank"http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.htm...

Quote of the day: "The greatest mistake a man can make is to be afraid of making one." -Elbert Hubbard (American write in late 1800's and into the early 1900's)

Download this: "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green - This song was originally released back in 1972, but it was also featured on the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction. I felt it was fitting to list it here based on this posting's topic.

Today was the first limited release date for the new AIR JORDAN XX3 shoe by Nike. It is the 23rd anniversary and #23 is the number that Michael Jordan made famous. These are the shoes that he made famous as well. The first AIR JORDAN was released in 1985 to great acclaim during his rookie basketball season and instantly became the industry's best selling basketball shoe. Over the next 22 years, the AIR JORDAN has been one of the world's most recognizable franchises known for its signature Jumpman logo, innovative technology in basketball and forward thinking fashion. The new AIR JORDAN (blue version shown in picture) will sell for $230 during this limited release where only 23 pairs of shoes were available at just 23 retail locations. That might seem expensive, but they are already selling for much more on ebay. Looking very quickly, I saw a pair that had a high bid of $1025 with two days of bidding left and I saw pairs with "buy it now" options from $1800 to $2500. There will be two more release dates in February (16th and 23rd) where the shoes will be made available for the bargain price of $185 (black, white & red version shown in picture and also a black version not shown here). Still very expensive shoes! One interesting aspect is that this is the first high performance basketball sneaker that takes the environment into account. With out creating a completely "green" sneaker, the AIR JORDAN XX3 has done everything possible to create less waste and use none toxic materials without giving up performance. At least Nike is making an attempt in this regard to be a little more environmentally conscious. It is rumored that this 23rd edition will be the last, but neither Nike or Jordan will confirm that fact. Did I mention they were $185?

Speaking of shoes... I hope you heard the story about college basketball coach Ron Hunter. If not, here is a quick summary. Hunter is the 43 year old basketball coach at IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) and he coached his team's game last night in bare feet as part of his efforts to collect shoes for impoverished children in Africa. His original goal was to collect 30,000-40,000 pairs of shoes for Samaritan's Feet, a non-profit, Christian based charity that's goal is to put shoes on people all over the world that cannot afford them. By game time with the help of some large corporate donations, Hunter had collected a staggering 110,000 pairs of shoes! "When we started this I thought 40,000 was going to be tough. When they told me before the game we already had 100,000, honestly, I almost broke down in tears," said Coach Hunter. IUPUI went on to win the game last night 82-69. Hunter drew national attention with his efforts and will be able to deliver them to Africa himself this July. I am sure the number of shoes donated will continue to increase over the next 5 months. What a fantastic story! In this time when we are constantly bombarded with horrible stories, it is so nice to see someone using his position to make a positive impact. If you want to read more, click here for a nice article on espn.com:  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=321 4029" title="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=321 4029" target="_blank"http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb...  If you want to donate shoes to Samaritan's Feet, you can find them at www.samaritansfeet.org or (866) 833-SHOE.

That will wrap things up for today. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend.

Check this out: Here's another optical illusion. Is this even possible??? 

Has anybody else noticed that the same syndicated TV shows seem to be picked up by all of the channels??? For example, just recently it seems that The George Lopez Show must have been released into syndication and suddenly appears on 3-4 different channels. How many different channels need to carry the same syndicated programming at the same time? Sometimes it can be good and sometimes it can be bad. I wish there was a little more variety and sometimes a show I like to watch is replaced by something new. Most of my favorite television shows I have watched from the start, but once in a while I find a show in syndication that I really enjoy. One example of show that I really did not get hooked on until it was in syndication was King of Queens. After that, I began watching the new shows as well. Another such show for me is Scrubs. I find Scrubs to be one of the most entertaining shows on television and I may have never fully appreciated it unless I was able to watch the re-runs in syndication.

Scrubs is currently in its seventh (and last) season since debuting back in October of 2001. This very original NBC sitcom is about the doctors and staff at the fictitious Sacred Heart hospital featuring very quirky humor yet also dealing with some serious issues as well. The show was created by Bill Lawrence who also created the sitcom Spin City. Spin City was one of my favorite shows back when it was on (1996-2002), so it is no surprise that I enjoy Scrubs as much as I do, too. Scrubs has never been a big ratings hit, but it has managed to stay in the NBC lineup. It was renewed for this final 18 episode seventh season, but due to the writers strike, it now looks like the sitcom's season could be cut short. It sounds like the strike will force the show to cut down to just 11 or 12 episodes and six of those have already aired. If the strike goes on much longer, the actors' contracts will expire and it's likely that the remaining episodes would never be produced. A couple weeks ago, Scrubs star Zach Braff (J.D. on the show) sent out a MySpace bulletin which in part read "Many of you have asked about the fate of the final episodes of Scrubs. If the strike goes on too much longer there is a good chance they will never be written or shot and the series finale will remain in the mind of our show's creator, Bill Lawrence..." Fans of the show could end up losing out because of the writers strike and this fantastic show may not get the proper ending that it deserves.

I just wish this writers strike would get settled. There are many fan favorites that do not have any more new episodes left to air until the writers come back to work. These shows include some of the most popular on television: Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, CSI, 30 Rock, Heroes, The Office and Two and a Half Men. I thought I might give you some further insight into my taste in television through a Top 10 list. The list will only include current shows and will not include sports (even though that is probably what I watch most). Without further ado, here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 CURRENT TV SHOWS:
Honorable Mention. Inside the Actors Studio (Bravo) - I love movies and actors and this show, hosted by James Lipton, is an insightful look at both of those topics. Even though it has aired since 1994 featuring over 200 guests, it is not your traditional television program, so that is why I list it as an honorable mention. I never miss an episode.
10. South Park (Comedy Central) - Believe it or not, this show is still going strong (debuted back in 1997) addressing current topics, sometimes controversial, and making me laugh. Not ranked as highly as it might have been in the past, I still laugh at the re-runs when I see them and it is still set on my DVR to record new episodes. I really enjoy cartoons and this is one of two animated shows on my list.
9. Family Guy (Fox) - Here is the second animated show on the list, though there are several other cartoons that I really enjoy (see my January 11^th posting where I discuss Adult Swim). This show has an interesting history because it was actually cancelled back in 2002, then shown on Adult Swim where it developed a cult following for several years before returning to Fox in 2005. The show features mostly sophomoric and irreverent humor, but still provides mindless entertainment which I need sometimes.
8. The Office (NBC) - This show, which is the American version of a show loosely based on the concept and characters of a UK show of the same name, makes me laugh out loud at least once every episode and not many shows can do that. On the other hand, The Office can often be very awkward and many of the story lines have advanced very slowly or in an uninteresting way. Overall, I give this show a lot of credit and have not missed one episode since it debuted back in 2005.
7. Psych (USA Network) - Please refer to my January 13^th posting for my thoughts on this particular show. I highly recommend you give it a try.
6. Scrubs (NBC) - As discussed above, I really enjoy this show and am sad that it will be coming to an end this year. The problem is that these good shows go away and not enough good new shows come to take their place. Some of the good shows that do come, don't get the ratings to stay (like Studio 60, Arrested Development and Love Monkey to name a few).
5. Saturday Night Live (NBC) - I have always been a huge fan of SNL though I am not overly excited about the current cast. This show has always featured some of the best comedy talent anywhere and I go on forever regarding some of the classic sketches and characters it has created. Lorne Michaels is a genius.
4. American Idol (Fox) - Yes, I am an American Idol fan, but not of the horribly bad performances that so many people enjoy watching. No, I am a music lover and I enjoy the outstanding performances and seeing the growth that these artists experience during the course of the show. This show is just beginning its 7th season and continues to be a phenomenon. It provides some of the most entertaining television around and, best of all, will not be affected by the writers strike.
3. The Amazing Race (CBS) - Just ending its 12th season, this is by far my favorite "reality" show. If you have not watched it, you don't know what you are missing. First, you get to see countries and cultures all over the world that you may never get exposed to otherwise. Then you get to see very interesting competition and social interaction not just between the different teams but also between the teammates. I do also still watch each season of Survivor (and am looking forward to its 16th season starting soon), but that show cannot hold a candle to Emmy award winning The Amazing Race.
2. How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Now in its third season, this show immediately jumped on to my favorites after just seeing one or two episodes. The show is narrated by the main character as he tells his children the story about his younger years and how he ended up meeting their mother. This show often makes me laugh out loud especially because of one of my favorite television characters of all time, Barney Stinson played by Neil Patrick Harris. Unfortunately, production of this show has been halted due to the strike. I am not sure how long this show can play out, but I am quite sure it will remain one of my favorites as long as it continues.
1. Two and a Half Men (CBS) - In its 5th season since debuting back in September 2003, I feel this is the funniest show on television. It stars Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer as well as some of the best sitcom writing in history. Like many series, I feel this one took about a season to fully find itself, but since that point the show never looked back. The chemistry between Sheen and Cryer as well as the young boy on the show is just outstanding. I am happy to see this show is now appearing in syndication, so if you have not watched it up to this point, you can either purchase it on DVD or catch the syndicated re-runs. Obvious by my #1 ranking, I can't recommend this show enough.

There are my Top 10 shows right now. I think you will notice right away that there is nothing there that is too deep, serious or depressing. I prefer my TV shows to entertain me, amuse me and relax me. When you add in all of the sports I watch, I don't have time for anything less. A couple shows that are quickly creeping up and will likely make this list soon include 30 Rock (NBC) and Mad Men (AMC). I did not watch either show when they first began, but I am catching up and both seem to be excellent. Again, I would not be able to watch much of what I do if it was not for the DVR or Tivo which I have mentioned before as one of the best inventions in my lifetime. Feel free to leave comments on your favorite TV programs.

That's Kickin' it for today. Thanks for reading and please come back often. I have not hit any sports topics for a few days, so I hope to get that done soon. If you are looking for some "juicy" Hollywood news, check out this website: www.mynippon.net/blog. If you do, tell them that Old School sent you.

Check this out: Here is a photo taken at just the right angle. Wow, that soccer player has quite the long arm. Probably not much of an advantage in a sport like soccer where you mostly use your feet...

Quote of the day: "It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them." -Mark Twain

Download this: "Overkill (Acoustic)" by Colin Hay - This song originates on Hay's album Man at Work, but also appears on the Scrubs (Original Television Soundtrack) album as well. It is an outstanding acoustic version of the Men at Work song.

I was thinking more about the Oscar nominations and specifically Tony Gilroy. As I mentioned yesterday, he is nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Best Director for the film Michael Clayton. He also wrote the screenplay for all three Bourne movies. I am a huge fan of the Bourne movies (The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum) which are exactly my type of action film. These movies feature fantastic car chases and fighting scenes as well as the outstanding character Jason Bourne brought to life by actor Matt Damon. It is difficult for me to mention Matt Damon without also mentioning his buddy, Ben Affleck. I am a big fan of both of them and their work. Speaking of Oscar nominations, Affleck wrote, produced and directed the film Gone Baby Gone which a received Best Supporting Actress nomination, but from what I hear should have received more. To my disappointment, I have not seen this film yet, but it would be the next movie I would see if I had the chance.

Back in 1992, Damon and Affleck appeared together in the film School Ties, both with minor roles. The two childhood best friends became superstars in 1997, when they won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay with Good Will Hunting, a film they both also starred in. They also formed a production company and sponsored Project Greenlight which promotes independent film making. One of my all-time favorite movies is Dogma which stars both Damon and Affleck together again. This made me start thinking about all of the quality films that each actor has made already in relatively short careers, so I decided to put together a Top 10 list. This was a little difficult to narrow down since I decided to combine both actors on to one list. Here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 MOVIES STARRING BEN AFFLECK OR MATT DAMON:
Honorable Mention. Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) - I list this film here because of one scene where the main characters are being chased through a movie studio and interrupt the filming of the spoof Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season. This scene stars Ben & Matt as themselves and shows that they don't take themselves too seriously. I am a huge Kevin Smith fan, so I love this movie anyways, but that scene makes it honorable mention on my list.
10. Changing Lanes (2002) Affleck as "Gavin Banek" - There were many movies that could have taken this spot on the list, but I decided to give it to this under-rated film that also starred Samuel L. Jackson.
9. Saving Private Ryan (1998) Damon as "Pvt James Francis Ryan" - Directed by the great Steven Spielberg, this film shows the harsh reality of war with stunning cinematography. Ranked #3 on yesterday's Top 10 list. Damon does not appear until the end of the movie, but plays his role to perfection.
8. Rounders (1998) Damon as "Mike McDermott" - I have always really enjoyed this movie about a reformed poker player who has to play again to help clear a friend's debt. Highlighted by a fantastic cast and interesting dialogue, I recommend this film to anyone who has not seen it yet.
7. Jersey Girl (2004) Affleck as "Ollie Trinke" - I am very fond of this movie written and directed by Kevin Smith (one of my very favorites) despite it getting panned by most critics. I feel that it was a touching story and that Affleck plays his role excellently. Matt Damon does make a cameo appearance in this film. I honestly don't know why this movie was not better received, but I definitely consider it a worthy effort.
6. The Departed (2006) Damon as "Det Colin Sullivan" - This very intense film directed by Martin Scorsese featured an outstanding cast. It won the Oscar for Best Picture last year... ‘nuff said.
5. Chasing Amy (1997) Affleck as "Holden McNeil" - This is the second of three Kevin Smith films on this list (4 if you count the honorable mention). Chasing Amy features outstanding dialogue and performances including Affleck's as a comic book artist who falls in love with a girl who happens to be a lesbian. It is a very original movie which I highly recommend to anyone who has never seen it.
4. Good Will Hunting (1997) Damon as "Will Hunting" and Affleck as "Chuckie Sullivan" - As mentioned above, this film won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, but lost the Best Picture to Titanic. Ranked #8 on yesterday's Top 10 list. Outstanding movie that really launched these two careers.
3. The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004) & The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) Damon as "Jason Bourne" - I mentioned these films earlier when briefly discussing Tony Gilroy. Damon plays this character with amazing depth and yet still shines in the action sequences, too. I hope they continue this franchise because these are the best all-around action movies I have seen in a long time (and maybe ever).
2. Ocean's Eleven (2001), Ocean's Twelve (2004) & Ocean's Thirteen (2007) Damon as "Linus Caldwell" - The first film is one of my all-time favorite movies. The second was only slightly above average based on my expectations, but the third film returned to the quality of the first. Damon is part of a superstar cast and definitely holds his own. I love these movies and hope they continue to make them.
1. Dogma (1999) Affleck as "Bartleby" and Damon as "Loki" - Yet another film written and directed by Kevin Smith, this is another of my all-time favorites. Affleck and Damon play two renegade angels trying to exploit a loophole to get back into heaven. Many felt that this film was against religion and Catholicism, but in fact, it was intended to promote the faith. Kevin Smith writes outstanding dialogue and always seems to appeal to my semi-warped sense of humor. I can't recommend this movie any more highly.

There it is. Some of the movies that were under consideration, but did not make the list, include: The Legend of Bagger Vance, Daredevil, Courage Under Fire, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Sum of All Fears, Forces of Nature, The Good Shepherd and Armageddon. What do you think??? Anything you feel is missing? If you take the Top 10 list from this posting and the Top 10 list from my last posting, you really start to get some insight into my taste in movies.

That will do it for another edition of Kickin' it. Thanks for reading. Y'all come back now, you hear!

Check this out: Big news the last couple days has been in regards to the New England Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, who was seen visiting his girlfriend in NY bringing flowers and wearing a walking boot. Is he injured? How bad? I came across this very funny account of what Brady really was up to. Click here to check it out...  www.bluemonkeydiscoparty.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=8 5&twindow=Default& ;mad=No&sdetail=202

Quote of the day: "Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." -Oscar Wilde

Download this: "Wait For You" by Elliott Yamin - This song by a former American Idol finalist is, in my opinion, one of the best songs from 2007.

In case you have not heard by now, actor Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain) died today at the age of 28. It was reportedly due to either a drug overdose or possibly suicide. I was not a big fan of Ledger's work, but it is always a shame when someone with so much going for them throws it all away. In other Hollywood news today, the Academy Awards (Oscar) nominations were announced. I definitely do not get the chance to see as many movies in the theater as I did before my daughter was born, so when I do get that chance I want to see the most entertaining movies out at that time. I used to try to see as many Oscar nominated films that I could prior to the awards ceremony, but in recent years many of those films really have not interested me that much.

This year's Oscar nominations for Best Picture include: Juno, Michael Clayton, Atonement, No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. Of those films, I have seen both Juno and Michael Clayton. With the ceremony scheduled for about a month from now (Sunday, February 24th), I do not anticipate seeing any of the other three nominated films. If you want to know my feelings on Juno, please go back and read my posting from January 6^th. I really enjoyed this movie and highly recommend it. Juno also has several other major nominations including Best Original Screenplay (Diablo Cody), Best Lead Actress (Ellen Page) and Best Director (Jason Reitman). I have not discussed Michael Clayton before, but I also really enjoyed this movie. It is a very intense film starring George Clooney and written/directed by Tony Gilroy (who also wrote the Bourne Identity and its two sequels). Michael Clayton received seven total nominations including Best Original Screenplay (Gilroy), Best Lead Actor (Clooney), Best Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Best Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton) and Best Director (Gilroy). I will be cheering for both of these films to win as many awards as possible.

Reading the Oscar nominations today just seem to reinforce my opinion that the entertainment quality of movies over the last few years seems to be lacking. There are years in the past where three or four of the nominated films for Best Picture were incredible. I started to think about some of the great films that have been nominated in the past, but were not Best Picture Oscar winners. This list included some pretty special movies, so I decided to do a Top 10. I am just going to go back as far as 1988 because this is when I started to acknowledge and appreciate quality cinema. Here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 BEST PICTURE NOMINATED, but not winning, FILMS (1988-present):
Honorable Mention. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Two Towers (2002) - I only list these as honorable mention because in 2003 The Return of the King was awarded the Best Picture Oscar. If that was not the case, I would have put them on the list.
10. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) - Quirky but enjoyable film lost to The Departed and probably rightfully so.
9. A Few Good Men (1992) - This film appeared on my Tom Cruise (January 7^th) and Rob Reiner (January 12^th) Top 10 lists, but lost to the Clint Eastwood western Unforgiven
8. Good Will Hunting (1997) - This was an amazing year for movies with all 5 nominated films being outstanding, but Titanic took home most of the gold.
7. L.A. Confidential (1997) - Another outstanding film from 1997 which I just recently discussed in my January 15^th posting.
6. Dead Poets' Society (1989) - The great Robin Williams film lost to Driving Miss Daisy which is a little questionable in my opinion.
5. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - This was another fantastic year with at least three very deserving films. Forrest Gump won and was probably the most deserving.
4. Sideways (2004) - I really enjoyed this film that centered around a trip to wine country. It lost out to Million Dollar Baby which is difficult to argue with.
3. Saving Private Ryan (1998) - In what I feel was the biggest error in Oscar history, this amazing film lost to Shakespeare In Love. Saving Private Ryan is a special movie and deserved this award.
2. Jerry Maguire (1996) - This is one of my all-time favorite movies. It lost out to The English Patient which I feel is one of the worst films ever to win the Best Picture Oscar.
1. Pulp Fiction (1994) - This might be my favorite movie ever, though it might not hold the same appeal to everybody. Another film from 1994, which lost out to Gump. I love this movie and will likely do an entire posting just on it.

There's my Top 10. Wow, what an impressive list of movies. It was very tough to narrow this list down. If I could add one more movie, it would probably be As Good As It Gets which would make 3 films from 1997 on the list. Other films that were close to making the cut include: Lost in Translation (2003), Mystic River (2003), The Sixth Sense (1999), JFK (1991) and Goodfellas (1990). What do you think??? What movies are missing from this list?

That's all I have for tonight. Thanks for reading. Please subscribe or come back often. Peace and love.

Check this out: HOW DID WE EVER SURVIVE?

Looking back, it's hard to believe that we have lived as long as we have.

As children we would ride in cars with no air conditioning, no seat belts and no air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

Our baby cribs were painted with bright colored lead-based paint. We often chewed on the crib, ingesting the paint.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes we had no helmets.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times we learned to solve the problem.

During summer vacation we would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day.

We played dodge ball and sometimes the ball would really hurt.

We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank sugar soda, but we were never over weight; we were always outside playing.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Some students weren't as smart as others or didn't work hard so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade.

That generation produced some of the greatest risk-takers and problem solvers in recent history.

We had the freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

AMAZING, ISN'T IT?

Quote of the day: "We make a living by what we get; We make a life by what we give." -W.A. Nance

Download this: "Sweet Pea" by Amos Lee - You might recognize this catchy tune from the AT&T commercial with the Dad taking pictures of a little stuffed monkey. Amos Lee has a lot of great songs, but this is one of my favorites.

This is harder to do when it is something you once had and lost, rather than something you never had at all. Martin Luther King was killed before I was born, but there are many people who miss his inspirational leadership. Everybody can and should appreciate as well as celebrate the advancement he made for Civil Rights. It is easy to miss those people or things that we have lost. I think it is okay to reminisce because it helps us to appreciate what we had or have. This will be a topic for my postings from time to time... reminiscing about people or things that I miss.

I was flipping around channels late one evening (like I often do) and came across the movie Tommy Boy starring the late Chris Farley. This is a very enjoyable movie and I started thinking what a shame it was that Chris Farley died at such a young age. He was one of the truly humorous individuals in this world and I miss that. Then that reminded me of another truly humorous individual who was taken from us too soon, John Candy.  As you know, I am very fond of the 1980's and that is when John Candy was in his heyday. His films will not win any critical acclaim, but I still think that they are incredibly funny and entertaining. I feel that the whole comedy movie genre has suffered and Hollywood just does not produce light-hearted, laugh-out-loud comedies like it did so well back in the 80's. As much as I miss John Candy, we still have his films to entertain us and I must appreciate that. We are about due for a Top 10 list, so here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 JOHN CANDY MOVIES:

Honorable Mention. The Blues Brothers as "Burton Mercer" - A small role in a classic movie from 1980 and had the great line, "Orange whip? Orange Whip? Three orange whips!"
10. Cool Runnings (1993) as "Irv Blitzer" - A surprisingly charming film about the Jamaican bobsled team.
9. Volunteers (1985) as "Tom Tuttle from Tacoma Washington" - Tom Hanks is in this movie, so it beat out Armed and Dangerous to make my list.
8. National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) as "Guard at Walley World" - Plays a very small role near the end of this Chevy Chase film
7. Summer Rental (1985) as "Jack Chester" - Not sure exactly why, but I have always enjoyed this cheesy movie where he refurbishes a boat while on vacation
6. Spaceballs (1987) as "Barf" - Plays a character similar to Chewbacca in this Mel Brooks spoof of Star Wars
5. Brewster's Millions (1985) as "Spike Nolan" - Stars with Richard Pryor in this very under-rated movie about a minor league baseball player who has the chance to inherit millions of dollars
4. Stripes (1981) as "Dewey Oxberger" - Sort of a break out roll for Candy, though he was not necessarily the star of this very funny movie (which will rank on my Bill Murray Top 10 list when I publish that one).
3. Uncle Buck (1989) as "Buck Russell" - In this film, written and directed by John Hughes, he gets called as a last resort to babysit his brother's three kids. This is a great movie that I would recommend seeing it whether you have seen it before or not.
2. The Great Outdoors (1988) as "Chet Ripley" - Another film written by (but not directed this time) John Hughes, we follow his character on vacation to the northwoods when his annoying in-laws, played by Dan Aykroyd and Annette Bening, barge in. A little cheesy, but has always been one of my favorites. Classic John Candy.
1. Plains, Trains & Automobiles (1987) as "Del Griffith" - Yet another film written and directed by the great John Hughes, he stars with Steve Martin having travel difficulties trying to get home for Thanksgiving. Some extremely funny scenes in this film make it one of my favorite comedies of all time.

I don't do any of these films justice by my short descriptions, but I do recommend all of these films to anyone who enjoys John Candy's work. Do you have any favorites that I did not put on my list??? Unfortunately for all of us fans, Candy passed away back in 1994 (I can't believe it has been 14 years already), but these great movies live on.

That will wrap up Kickin' it on this cold snowy Monday. Thanks, as always, for reading. Music lovers, if you did not read yesterdays post on www.Pandora.com, please be sure to check that post out, too. You will not regret it.

Check this out:  On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I came across a short clip that remembers one of the all-time iconic speeches in history. Click here... www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4AItMg70kg&a mp;feature=related

Quote of the day:  "Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.  Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."  -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Strength to Love

Download this:  "Shed a Little Light (Live)" by James Taylor - Beautiful song that begins "Oh, let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King..."  Great suggestion and a great song.

Well, it has been 2 weeks since I begun Kickin' it here and this my 16th posting. If you missed any of them, please click on the little orange box in the left column with the letters XML in it (looks like this... ). This will give you a list of all of the postings to date. Even if the title or topic does not interest you, I encourage you check them all out because every posting ends with the special features including "check this out," "quote of the day" and "download this." If you enjoy my blog, I also encourage you to subscribe which you can do by clicking on the words near the top of the right column "Subscribe to Old School's Pop Culture & Sports" right under the picture of the old school. We have had some pretty solid postings in the last 2 weeks, but I expect them to just keep getting better and better. Please continue to leave feedback whether it is commentary on the topic or on me, the write. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you come back often. Now on to today's topic...

I have mentioned before my incredible love of music. Well, I came across the coolest music website and I think all of you will agree when you go see for yourself. It is called Pandora® - radio from the Music Genome Project. First, I think I have to explain what the Music Genome Project is because I never had heard about this before I came across this website. Back in 2000, a group of musicians and music-loving technologists came together with the idea of creating the most comprehensive analysis of music ever and this became the Music Genome Project. Together they set out to capture the essence of music at the most fundamental level. They ended up assembling literally hundreds of musical attributes or "genes" into a very large Music Genome. Taken together these genes capture the unique and magical musical identity of a song - everything from melody, harmony and rhythm, to instrumentation, orchestration, arrangement, lyrics, and of course the rich world of singing and vocal harmony. It's not about what a band looks like, or what genre they supposedly belong to, or about who buys their records - it's about what each individual song sounds like. That alone seems pretty cool to me.

Now back to the Pandora website itself... It is really a commercial free streaming radio station, but it plays ONLY songs that it thinks you would like. How does it do that? Well, it first asks you to enter a particular song or artist that you really like. It does a quick bit of analysis and immediately starts playing a song that you should also like. This is achieved by finding similar music based on those attributes/genes compiled through the Music Genome Project. I was skeptical about it at first, but after just two songs, I was AMAZED and continue to be amazed the more I have listened. You can then add additional songs or artists to your "station" and it continues to evolve the song choices it plays based on the combinations. The station plays songs that you have heard, but also mixes in some songs or artists you might not be as familiar with as well. I have been very impressed with the music it has been kicking out for me so far.  It is fantastic and best of all it is FREE! You can create a profile and it will save your station you create and allows you to create and save multiple stations, too. It offers a service for a fee which allows you to have this service on your phone, but that is not required. You have to at least go check this out. I am sure you will get hooked. You get free music that is specifically chosen based on your musical tastes and there are NO COMMERCIALS. It is like a satellite radio station made just for you. Enough praise for this phenomenal invention, here is the website: www.pandora.com.

If you go, let me know what you think. That is all I have for today. Lots of great football to watch starting this afternoon. Go Pack Go!

Check this out:  I saw this little news story about a high school wrestler who makes a move that you have to see to believe...  www.yahoo.com/s/786994

Quote of the day:  "In a world full of people, only some hope to fly.  Isn't that crazy?" -Seal from the song "Crazy"

Download this:  My quote above is from Seal and I am a fan of much of his music.  There are acoustic versions of many of his great songs available on a couple different albums.  One is called Seal: The Acoustic Session and also his greatest hits called Seal: Best 1991-2004.  Though most of the songs are solid, I particularly recommend the following ACOUSTIC versions from those Seal albums:  "Crazy (Acoustic Version)," "Love's Divine (Acoustic Version)" and "Prayer for the Dying (Acoustic Version)".

I continue to get inspiration from reading other blogs.  I was reading a posting right here on tblog by surrogate titled “To me, if it had the potential to break windows, it was a great toy” (link: http://surrogate.tblog.com/post/1969971989" title="http://surrogate.tblog.com/post/1969971989" target="_blank"http://surrogate.tblog.com/po...) which discussed the fact that one of the founders of Wham-O had died.  Wham-O was the company responsible for the hula hoop, Frisbee and super ball among other plastic toys for children.  This brought back memories of when kids actually played together physically outside.  There are so many positive contributions due to technology, but there seem to be some negatives as well.  Kids just don’t play together outside anymore.  As I commented on surrogate’s posting, I can’t imagine my childhood days without memories of playing catch, touch football (or later tackle), 2 on 2 basketball, strikeout, kickball, ghost in the graveyard, tag, swimming, riding bikes, etc.  If no one else was around, I would shoot baskets by myself or throw a tennis ball against the garage.  I can’t remember the last time I saw two kids out just playing catch with a baseball.  That makes me sad when I think about it.

With this subject in mind, I did want to take this opportunity to call your attention to something very positive the NFL is doing to address the situation.  Back in October of last year, they launched a new youth health and fitness campaign called NFL Play 60.  Focusing on the health and wellness of young fans, the program encourages kids to be active for at least 60 minutes per day (that’s where the #60 comes in the name).  It is just a start, but many studies have shown that just one hour of activity can make a major difference in battling childhood obesity.  You may have seen the commercials already because the program includes national PSAs, online programs as well as local involvement.  Online there is a site where kids can go to set personal goals, track their progress and receive tips & encouragement from players.  Some very high profile NFL players are involved with NFL Play 60 including Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Reggie Bush and many others.  To launch the campaign back in October, more than 25 teams helped build Youth Fitness Zones in their communities, providing new places for local kids to be active.  “We are taking a leadership role in the movement to get youngsters fit.  Our players know the importance of staying healthy and it’s important that young fans also understand the value of exercise,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (from NFL.com).  “Play 60 is an important tool in ensuring children get their necessary daily physical activity as recommended by health and fitness experts.”

The way so many kids idolize the professional athletes, this message coming from the players holds a lot of credibility.  With all of the attention paid to the bad things pro athletes are involved with, I felt it was very appropriate to praise such a worthy effort.  All too often the positive efforts and positive role models are overlooked.  If you are interested in finding out more about NFL Play 60, I would suggest going to the website:  www.nflrush.com/health.  I am sure there are other similar programs available, but just wanted to at least call attention to this particular one.

That will wrap up Kickin’ it for today.  Thanks for reading and please come back often.  As I said yesterday, I found this really amazing music website and I hope to write about it tomorrow.  You won’t want to miss that one.  ‘Til then, take care.

Check this out:  Based on the subject above, I felt this cartoon was appropriate for kids and adults alike who spend too much time in front of the computer...

Quote of the day:  "If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there."  -The Cheshire Cat in Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland

Download this:  "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - A beautiful song by the late Hawaiian with melodic vocals over a soft ukulele.  You have probably heard this song at one point or another, but it is really worthy of being added to any music collection.

Most people anticipated that this Sunday was going to be a rematch of the infamous “Ice Bowl” game played back on New Year’s eve of 1967.  This game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys is the coldest game on record in pro football history with a game time temperature of 13 degrees below zero and wind chill of 46 degrees below zero!  To the dismay of Cowboys fans, we will instead see a rematch of another very cold game, the 1962 NFL Championship, between the Packers and New York Giants.  The Packers won that game played at Yankee Stadium in New York 16-7 with the temperature dipping down to 13 degrees and winds gusting up to 40 mph.  Brrrr!

The Packers had beat the Giants 37-0 the previous year as well to win the 1961 NFL Championship.  There is a reason they call Green Bay “Titletown.”  The Packers have won more championships, 12, than any other team in NFL history.  Nine of those came before the Super Bowl era, then they won the first two Super Bowls (1966 & 1967) and once again in 1996 (XXXI).  That last championship was played against New England which is the likely opponent if Green Bay makes it back this season.  On their way to winning Super Bowl XXXI, the Packers won the NFC Championship at Lambeau Field by defeating the Carolina Panthers in another very cold game (game time temperatures were just 3 degrees with wind chill of 17 below zero).

The frigid forecast for Sunday in Green Bay is single digit temperatures with below zero wind chill.  The last time a NFL conference championship game was played during subzero windchills was 3 years ago (2005) when it was the case for both games.  That season New England won at Pittsburgh and Atlanta lost at Philadelphia.  Neither game involved the Packers or was played at Lambeau Field, but the Packers have played in (and won) 3 of the 6 coldest games in NFL history.  Here is a list of those coldest games:

Tie 4) Green Bay at Minnesota, 12/10/1972, 0 degrees

Tie 4) LA Raiders at Green Bay, 12/26/1993, 0 degrees

Tie 4) LA Raiders at Buffalo, 1/14/1994, 0 degrees

3) Chicago at Minnesota, 12/3/1972, -2 degrees

2) San Diego at Cincinnati, 1/10/1982, -9 degrees

1) Dallas at Green Bay “Ice Bowl”, 12/31/1967, -13 degrees

As expected the Packers have been quite successful in the cold.  In fact, Brett Favre has a 43-5 record at home when the game-time temperature is 34 degrees or below.  Hopefully that trend will continue this Sunday