B. Holcomb: Year One

Alright everyone, it's my one year anniversary of blogging. And as promised the top 100 things I've learned in the past year

1 Year into the game
By: B. Holcomb

1. I've learned that more people remember what happened during the 1980s than any other decade during the 20th century.
2. I've learned that damn near everybody I know over the age of 50 had a good time during the 1970s
3. I've learned that nobody really sits down during a game at Kyle Field (Texas A&M Home game)
4. I've learned that outside of the LA Lakers, nobody in LA gives a damn about sports
5. I've learned that more people visit Dodger stadium to eat a Dodger dog than to watch the Dodgers play
6. I've learned that Cub fans secretly concede their baseball team's season by Memorial Day each and every year barring a miracle (i.e. the 2003 season)
7. I've learned that Barry Bonds' voice is really annoying to me
8. I've learned that when T.O. gets defensive, he rolls his neck very similar to that of a woman.
9. I've learned that the "Hyphee movement" has been around longer than we may think
10. I've learned that some women believe Kelis' song "Bossy" is the new anthem for women.
11. I've learned dancing in Atlanta, GA in 2006 consists of snapping your fingers and doing the Young Joc motorcycle dance.
12. I've learned that dancing in American clubs in 2006 consists of everything mentioned in point #11 with the addition of swinging your body from side to side w/ your arms folded.
13. I've learned that a really good mojito has the ability to transform the most timid human being into the life of the party.
14. I've learned that you truly haven't had a Philly Cheesteak unless you've been in the city of Philadelphia
15. I've learned on the West Coast of the continental US, you'll find more tolerance towards interacial dating.
16. I've learned that there are still some high schools that still have segregated proms in 2006
17. I've learned that I've never seen a commercial for Audi in quite some time
18. I've learned that people advertise for Bentley by saying "Man that new Chrysler 300 is a poor mans Bentley"
19. I've learned that an African-American man designed the new body style of the Chrysler 300
20. I've learned that an African-American man invented the golf tee.
21. I've learned that the game of golf is similar to an addiction
22. I've learned that there's a lot of people who don't like Phil Mickelson.
23. I've learned that people never tell you to your face that you suck at golf; rather they just don't invite you to play with them anymore.
24. I've learned in the span of ten years Stuart Scott has went from "That brotha with the lazy eye that hosts NBA 2nite" to "The face of ESPN."
25. I've learned that I have a friend who would prefer to use his XBOX as a "conversation piece that will never be played" rather than sell it to me.
26. I've learned that game stop.com and Electronics Boutique are really the same store.
27. I've learned that mastering the Madden football game is really not my forte' in life
28. I've learned that nobody misses T.O. like the media
29. I've learned that fantasy football is only as fun as the people in the league you participate with.
30 I've learned regardless of the venue, a good time is determined by how fun (and flexible) the person/people you are hanging out with are.
31. I've learned that I love fondue restaraunts
32. I've learned that I love Sushi
33. I've learned that EEL is my favorite piece of sushi/sashimi.
34. I've learned that including myself, I know 5 people in my generation who understand and can play the game "Bid Whist"
35. I've learned that "Bid Whist" (while spelled with a "t" on the end) is pronounced "Bid whiss"
36. I've learned that people really get excited over the national spelling bee
37. I've learned that Jennifer Wilbanks (The Runaway Bride) has encouraged a lot of women to just tell their fiance' they aren't ready to get married; as opposed to just leaving.
38. I've learned that Jennifer Wilbanks' finace' was really in love with Jennifer
39. I've learned that there maybe a correlation b/w when Bush 43 goes on vacation and when a disaster occurs.
40. I've learned what the differences are between CAT 1,2,3,4 and 5 hurricanes
41. I've learned that FEMA isn't exactly your best emergency response team
42. I've learned the Louisana Superdome isn't as indestructible as it was once touted
43. I've learned in a crisis, the American public as a whole will help out when and wherever possible.
44. I've learned that before you donate to any relief fund, you should validate where your donation is headed.
45. I've learned that being married or in a relationship gives men a pass for watching shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "What About Brian"
46. I've learned that the The Dahrma Initiative is a beast within itself.
47. I've learned that me and only 7 other people viewed the television show "Heist"
48. I've learned that more people watched the telvision show "Thief"...(Hell "Thief" actually finished it's season, and earned Andre Brauher an emmy nod)
49. I've learned that I'm not very good at recommending tv shows (Reference: "Commander in Chief","E-ring" and "Heist")
50. I've learned that since 2000, only one team I've ever rooted for has won a championship (1999 ST. Louis Rams)
51. I've learned that I really enjoy Crown Royal mixed with Red Bull.
52. I've learned there's an abundance of women who don't enjoy the smell of cigars
53. I've learned Warren Buffett is a very very generous man
54. I've learned that no one cares about Donald Trump's last two apprenti.
55. I've learned that no one gave a damn about who Martha Stewart's apprentice was.
56. I've learned that Isreal has an army
57. I've learned that the conflict over Isreal dates back to the days of the crusades
58. I've learned more of my friends view the History channel than I even thought
59. I've learned that I'm part of the VH-1 generation
60. I've learned that VH-1 gets more rotation in my household than ESPN or Lifetime
61. I've learned that it's okay to plead ignorance at my job
62. I've learned that it's not okay to plead ignorance too often at my job.
63. I've learned that anyone who says "marriage is easy" has never had a successful marriage.
64. I've learned that men will bond over five things: beer, football, basketball, golf and a gentlemen's club (oh yea, AND video games)
65. I've learned that "A day w/ the fellas" at the golf course is the male equivalent to "Ladies Day" at the day spa.
66. I've learned that many hotel resorts have capitalized on the idea shared in item # 65 and offer "Golf-Spa packages".
67. I've learned that a lot of people still question Britney Spears being a mother
68. I've learned that the term "freeloader" has been renamed to simply "K-Fed"
69. I've learned that most of my closest friends are super-nerds in one subject matter or another.
70. I've learned that some of my closest friends are intraverted.
71. I've learned that wikipedia is better than a google search
72. I've learned that there are some musicians who make playing a xylophone look cool.
73. I've learned whenever you visit a watering hole w/ a live jazz or blues band; the band members are African-American and the lead singer is white, just know that the white singer can SANG
74. I've learned I prefer white wines to red wines.
75. I've learned that I hate dry wine.
76. I've learned that I become worried when I witness events that "Let America decide the winner".
77. I've learned if all things were equal, there would be higher voter turnout for "American Idol" as opposed to a United States Presidential election.
78. I've learned that when famous people do bad things (i.e. Dick Cheney, Marv Albert, R. Kelly, Marion Berry, Eric Benet, Robert Downey Jr.) the American public will ultimately (and unconsciously) forgive them.
79. I've learned that Mike Brown (former head of FEMA) is really upset.
80. I've learned that as long as Nancy Grace still has a television show, Laci Peterson's, Natalie Hollaway's and Michael Jackson's respective trials or murder cases will never really go away.
81. I've learned what a podcast is.
82. I've learned that I need to get a podcast going in the next couple of months.
83. I've learned that most hip hop artists want to be actors.
84. I've learned that Fredro Starr is a better actor than Sticky Fingaz (reference: Blade)
85. I've learned that Curtis "50 cent" Jackson can market whatever he wants to America and exprience great success.
86. I've learned that Oprah has "In the Club" in her iPod
87. I've learned that the Holcomb household maybe one of 31 households in America that do not own an iPod.
88. I've learned many people don't believe Kenneth Lay has passed away
89. I've learned that the term "Reasonable Doubt" is very subjective (unless you're talking about a Jay-Z album).
90. I've learned that eventually "you will pay what you owe" (peace to my fellow Boondocks fans)
91. I've learned "A Huey Freeman Christmas" is now my favorite animated Christams themed special.
91. I've learned that Aaron McGruder puts down on paper 35% of what I'm thinking but afraid to say.
92. I've learned that there were lot babies made from listening to Luther, The Isley Brothers, Earth Wind & Fire, The Tempations, Chaka Kahn, Teddy P, and Jodeci)
93. I've learned that a lot of people in "Gen-Y" have no appreciation for music pre 1988.
94. I've learned that myspace dot com is a beast of the Internet
95. I've learned that bongo dot com is the new myspace dot com
96. I've learned that a lot of people who "Dateline NBC" catch in their child-predator stories, drink "Mike's Hard Lemonade"
97. I've learned that you can draw a virtual chain via "6 degrees of separation" b/w Star Jones being fired from the view and Dan Rather "resigning" from the CBS evening news.
98. I've learned that "The Colbert Report" is my favorite news show
99. I've learned that I wouldn't be the man I am today w/o the love of God, my wife, family and TRUE friends.
100. I've learned that this list was MUCH harder to compile than I thought...but I will make an attempt to make it happen ever year.

Thanks to everyone who continue to encourage me to blog,

1-Luv

B. Holcomb

P.S. Rest in peace Mr. Luther Vandross ("Never too Much" will still rock a party in the 21st century).

Superman come back!!!

Superman Returns
Starring: Brand Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Marsden & Parker Posey
Directed by: Brian Singer


October 2000 B. Holcomb learns that they are going to bring Superman back to the big screen...don't even try it he says

September 2001 The TV series "Smallville" which chronicles the life of Clark Kent as a young teenager in Smallville, KS debuts on the WB Network. B. Holcomb enjoys this series and has told many of his friends to this series (probably 2 of those ppl he told about the show still are faithful watchers.) Meanwhile Superman is being stalled because they can't settle on a "Superman" nor a director.

Fall 2004 After names such as Ashton Kutcher, Nicolas Cage (who BTW will be playing Johnny Blaze a/k/a Ghost Rider in Feb 07) and others turned down the role of Clark Kent. They cast an unheard of actor from Iowa (coincidence?) named Brandon Routh...in addition, Brian Singer of X-Men fame left the X-Men franchise (that's why X3 was such a let down) to direct Superman.

I'm still skeptical...do we really need to bring back Superman? But I asked the same question about Batman Begins and was pleasnatly surprised

May 2nd 2006 I finally viewed the first full preview of Superman and Kevin Spacey is killing it!!! This may be the best movie of the summer!

Okay, so here's the situation, so you know what to expect. Sometime after Superman defeated General Zod and his minions (Superman II) and before Superman III, astronomers reported that there may be some remains of Krypton still floating in space...so Superman leaves sidebar issue #1: How was Superman able to travel that far in space, even in the comics and the cartoons your guy needed a space suit! He returns back to planet Earth 5 years later to resume his life as mild mannered reporter Clark Kent

During this same time, Lex Luthor has been in jail and released; has married a rich old woman, and took over her fortune as she passes away in the bed. Lex as normal, is up to something, and you're waiting w/ baited breath to figure out what it is.

Back in Metropolis, the Daily Planet (which BTW, why is that the tallest structure in the city?) seems to going on as normal. Lois Lane has earned a Pulitzer prize for an article she's written a couple of years ago entitled "Why The World Doesn't Need Superman". Lois is dating Perry White's nephew, has a 5 year old son, and seems to be doing fine.

Okay, I'm only like 25 minutes into the movie now...In an effort to sumise

Clark Kent finds his way back to Metropolis, sees that Lois Lane has moved on, goes of to a local pub to grab a drink with Jimmy Olsen. While watching television, there's a report about a special space shuttle that will be launched via airplane...things go wrong, and suddenly Clark Kent dissapears; Superman reappears and in an awesome action packed sequence saves the day!

This is the world's first visual of Superman in five years and everyone celebrates! Everyone except Lex Luthor...who isn't too bothered because he moves forward w/ his ultimate plan...to create a new piece of land just off the East coast of the United States by means of the crystals from the fortress of solitude (don't be surprised if this sounds familiar...you've seen a similar plot in Superman I) and thus begins the story.

Alright, aside from the movie being 2H 38m, a big inconsistency with the Superman I know and love, and the Superman displayed in this movie, coulped w/ another storyline involving Lois' kid that I didn't really care for, the movie was good...just not "THE MOVIE OF THE SUMMER" that I had hoped it would become

The beginning of the movie feels like the first two superman movies with the opening credits and everything...matter of fact that are periods through the movie where I believe Singer purposely used an older camera lens to give the old school of a 1970s movie.

I just think had they changed the premise of what Lex Luthor was trying to do coupled with some more special effects (or hell maybe even add a new villian from the Superman universe) it could've been better. As I mentioned above, there is a storyline involving Lois' child, so there's probably going to be a sequel...maybe they should introduce Brainiac perhaps??

I also wouldn't recommend taking any young children to see this movie...b/c the movie has so much plot development that child's attention span may not be able to sustain the 2 hour 30 minute movie.

Shine award (or actor who did the best job) was w/o a doubt Kevin Spacey...he NAILED the role of Lex Luthor...although my buddy pointed out that it's a shame he had less lines than Lois Lane...

Overall grade: B-

Next posting...WHAT I'VE LEARNED!!!!!