MOVIE REVIEW - Valkyrie

It's big time movie season and Tom Cruise is back on the big screen this time in Valkyrie. Valkyrie is the code word used in Berlin for the famous failed assassination attempt on Nazi leader Adolph Hitler in the waning days of WWII.

It's been a long time since Cruise has had a really big time dramatic hit at the box office, but Valkyrie should change all that. Cruise plays the German Colonel who leads the attempt on Hitlers life in June 1944. He is the one entrusted by the inner circle of resistant Germans not loyal to the Nazi's to kill Hitler when the end of the war was imminent, and the Allies were just months away from knocking at Berlins door. They hoped to kill Hitler, and negotiate some sort of truce with the Americans and the rest of occupied Europe. But history tell us the attempt is not successful and all is up for grabs.

Valkyrie very successfully tells the story of just how elaborate the coup attempt was in Germany in 1944. Involving or trying to involve all branches of the German military and it's leading politicians. The story of the assassination attempt is taught in schools, but not to the extent Valkyrie does masterfully.

This though I feel is a history buffs, or movie goers movie. It is set in WWII, but I wouldn't call this a war movie. Valkyrie is light on action, but big on drama. Extremely well written, with a large cast of interesting characters, all developed as well as can be expected in a two hour movie. Cruise give a command performance in a large, leading role and to be honest is the only man for the job.

Valkyrie is not for everyone. It will leave some bored at the lack of shoot-em-up action. This is also not a special effect fest. This is a dramatic straight forward, deep plot historical movie. Be careful about stepping out to the concession stand, Valkyrie moves fast, and won't wait for you if you fall behind. But well, well done.

Valkyrie. If you do drama, it's a drama- doers dream.

Anythings Possible

As 2008 winds down, I think it's normal for us all to look back and see what we've learned...or not learned. This has been a big year of learning for me personally. And as I look back , to me 2008 will go down in my memory as the year that anything became possible. And this time....it's really true.

The Presidential election of course got the ball rolling on this from just bout every angle. It was going to be historic no matter who won, and history was then made. There will be other historic elections in our future, but this was the first, and the one I think we will all remember.

Second, the economy. Yes, it is now possible to watch our investments go up in smoke in a few short days. Yes, it is possible for some banks and companies that have been around since the beginning to fail, or almost fail. It was possible for us to be paying $4.50 cents a gallon for gasoline, and $1.50 a gallon three months later. Those are the ones that really got our attention, but there are others that still happened, that are worth remembering.

These true events in 2008 only further prove that now anything is possible - Just for fun!!

1/ The Tampa Bay Rays played in the World Series.
2/ The lead singer from Hootie And The Blowfish, Darius Rucker had a #1 Country song.
3/ I got out of Blossom in 15 minutes after a concert last summer.
4/ We had a blizzard in March. I was in Florida playing golf that weekend, heard it was bad!
5/ After going 10-6 in 2007, the Browns again, have to start all over.
6/ Jessica Simpson stopped by and chatted with Sue and I in August on the show.
7/ The Cleveland Indians have had TWO consecutive Cy Young Award winners.
8/ Brittany Spears has again risen to the top of her game, after being in the gutter.
9/ People still like the song Afternoon Delight. I heard someone singing it in Acme today.
10/ You can type in "I'm having a really good day" on Facebook, and lots of people care!
11/ MySpace isn't as cool as it was.
12/ There is a technology that you can "tweet" on now. Ask your IT guy/gal.
13/ Starbucks actually had to close some stores.
14/ Airlines now charge you to take a piece of luggage with you opn your trip.
15/ And this one...I think that the widening of I-77 between Akron and Canton is now done.
Am I right?????? I think so!

This is a short list of course, and all of it is true! Do you have ones to add to the list? E-mail me and let me know scott@wqmx.com

Happy New Year

MOVIE REVIEW - Benjamin Button

Every now and again a movie comes along where you will clearly remember the very first time you saw it. With whom, where, and what kind of day it was outside. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is that movie. Brad Pitt stars in this absolutely terrific movie in theaters this week.

All great movies start with a great story, and this one comes from a fantastic story teller. BB is taken from a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Then developed, and lengthened all these years later to give us one of the years best movies. BB is movie fantasy much in the mold of 1994's Forrest Gump. It has that kind of feel throughout, although a little darker and overall a little more dramatic.

Benjamin (Pitt) is born an infant in body in 1918, but with the characteristics of an 85 year old man. He then lives his life in reverse, going from old to young, while the rest of us go from young to old. As his body grows he get younger by the day. Daisey is his life long love (Kate Blanchette.) They meet as "youngsters" and then finally meet again in the middle. As she ages, he gets younger. They are the great loves of each others lives. But in all honesty, all of that really isn't all that important for our purposes here.

What is important is that this movie is so original, so thought provoking, so incredibly well done, no movie goer should miss this movie. I am not a big Brad Pitt fan, but I recommend you run to the theater to see BB. It's so refreshing to see big time actors, take time away from making mindless, strictly for the paycheck movies and make something really great, if not important. They really can do it. Pitt here, and his wife, Angelina Jolie last month in Changeling, which is also one of the years best. BB is a timeless tale, and a story you've never, ever seen before, and it's easily Pitt's greatest work.

Footnote to that. Pitt, Blanchette, and the supporting cast are all great. BUT the star of this movie is...the movie! The incredibly imaginative story, told in a way that all can easily understand. BB is two hours and forty five minutes, but it didn't bother me. This movie pulls you in and makes you want to know what's coming next.

This movie will really hit you the first time through. As you see this movie again in years to come on TV or rental, it won't be the same. It's a movie that has to be experienced totally the first time. Worth the time investment, and the ticket price too.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. Just fantastic, one of the years best.

The Five Worst Movies of 2008

As we close out another year, you'll see lots of lists, top five this and that. So it's time for the Five Worst Movie list of 2008.

There are many not on this official list that have certainly earned a slot, and some of them will be honorably mentioned here, but there's only room for 5 so here we go. Starting with the worst.

The Worst Movies Of 2008

1/ Semi Pro - Will Farrell for some reason thought that making a movie about the American
Basketball Association (ABA) would be fun. The dialogue is offensive from start
to finish. This movie is targeted at young adults, who by and large don't even
know the ABA even existed, and all the jokes from 1975 fall on deaf ears. This
movie is so bad and off track, completely pointless, not funny, offensive, awful!

2/ Blindness - Julianne Moore stars in a movie about a world gone blind. Except her for
some reason. Why? We have no idea. Why did everyone go blind? We have no
idea. Depressing, awful, terrible subject matter, this movie goes many times too
where it doesn't belong. Harsh, offensive to real blind people. Big money wasted.

3/ The Happening - M. Night Shyamalan again with a movie that is supposed to be scary but
wasn't. People dropping dead all over the world, why? We don't know, had
something to do with the wind. Harsh ending too. Mark Wahlberg stars
in a complete mess.

4/ My Best Friends Girl - Dane Cook stars in this train wreck. About a guy who treats women
horribly for profit? Don't get me started. Question. How many awful words can
you squeeze into a single movie for no good reason other than you can? For some
reason Kate Hudson went along for this ride, Jason Biggs too. No one on earth
should pay to see this disaster.

5/ The Love Guru - Mike Meyers again. Still thinks he's 23. He's not. Same jokes, same feel
as every other Myers flick. Some of those were pretty funny too. Not here. Old,
tired, juvenile. Grow up Mike! We all have!

Honorable Mentions:

1/ Zach And Miri Make A Porno - Worst attempt at "romantic comedy" in years.
2/ The Day The Earth Stood Still - ZZZZ!
3/ Speedracer - Best part? The end. Japanese words to tihe Speedracer theme.

I'll get out the Five Best Movie List of 2008, right after first of the year! See you at the movies!

Agree? Not? E-mail me and give me your thoughts scott@wqmx.com let's talk it over.

MOVIE REVIEW - Marley And Me

One of the most heartfelt books in many years finally comes to the big screen this week in the form of Marley And Me. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston star, along with Marley in this bound to be huge family movie of the holiday season.

Marley and Me is the story of two young newspaper writers who begin their marriage in South Florida, and the first addition to their young family is a young Labrador puppy, Marley. They buy Marley from a rescue and get him at a clearance price of two hundred dollars. Marley quickly becomes in their words, the worlds worst dog. Marley is certainly a handful.

Marley never gets over his fears of thunderstorms, chewing things, eating things, and generally being a pain in the neck. The story chronicles the life of a dog, and his relationship to their growing family. Marley is there for the birth of their three children, and through the ups and downs of their marriage. He's part of the overall plan. He moves with them, and goes through it all with them. It makes you stop and take notice, that no matter how much change goes on in your life, your dog is right there with you, and he/she still, loves you through it all.

M&M, is a very nice, moving and emotional movie. Very funny moments give way to some real sad ones as well. It follows a dog through his natural life, which of course is too short, and guides us through how we feel about our own dogs. Many times we don't we don't give it much thought. M&M makes you think about it a little harder. Dogs today are really more than just pets, they are family members, and Marley certainly can teach us that.

Marley and Me does have a problem or two, but nothing that diminishes it's value. It may be 15 minutes too long, and there is a time when it's gets a bit draggy. For some reason it turns into a human relationship movie, and Marley gets about 2o minutes off. That really didn't work for me. I understand you can only show a dog chewing so many things, but I felt M&M loses is focus for a time. BUT the end payoff is worth it. Word to the easily boo-hooey. The end of this movie is very emotional. Lot's of sobbing, and sniffing in the packed theater, tissues required.

Marley And Me. Not perfect, but well worth it. To it's credit it's a really great family movie, that's not animated, and it is right on target. All good movies start with a great story, and this is a great story. Dog lovers unite. Marley And Me..... two paws up!

MOVIE REVIEW - Yes Man!

Rubberfaced Jim Carrey is back in another comedy, this one is called Yes Man! It's been a while since we've seen Carrey, carry on like this. But here we go again!

Carl, (Carrey) is a big time stagnant loser whose life is going nowhere fast. He's divorced, and has never recovered. He is 40ish, has had the same job for years, and has fallen into a pessimistic pattern of avoiding everyone, and everything, and is addicted to the word "no." Carl then goes to a self help guru, whose mantra is "yes" to everything. Carl excepts the challenge, and then says yes to EVERYTHING! There are benefits and the world becomes a better place for Carl, but there are ramifications to always saying yes and that's the direction of the movie.

The plot thickens as Carl meets and falls for Allyson, (Zooey Deschanel) who herself is a little off-beat and dances to her own drum. She teaches a combination jogging/photography class, and sings in the worst Rock Band in history at a club that draws about 9 people a night. They set off on a bunch of adventures, with Carl always saying yes. Can he keep it up? Well, that's the challenge.

Yes Man, is not the rip-roaring Carrey of years past. There are moments of real laughter here, but they come well into the picture. Yes Man stumbles out of the gate, but does pick up steam as it moves on. Zooey Deschanel gives YM a real pick-me-up that it needs. She is an interesting actress. A little awkward, and quirky, and no where near the Hollywood type. There is an everydayness to her that really works. Is she pretty? Or is she just different enough to be really interesting? She is a great foil to Carrey here, and the chemistry between them is really quite nice. Fatal flaw for me in this one, not enough of them together in this movie and too many fringe and side characters. And many of them just don't work at all.

Is it enough to save Yes Man? Marginally yes. I don't think anyone is going to stagger out of the theater this weekend doubled up with laughter, but it's fun. It doesn't all work, and there are a few moments that needed to go on the cutting room floor, but over all if you're a Carrey fan, you'll be glad to see him again. I will tell you, this is not the laugh fest that Bruce Almighty, or Liar, Liar is but it's not The Cable Guy either.

Say yes to Yes Man, but don't go in expecting to roll in the aisles.

Top Five Christmas Movies Of All Time!

The guys at Akronnewsnow.com asked me to come up with the list of my top five Christmas Flicks of all time. I remember three months ago when Akronscreams.com, our Halloween website asked me for my top five Scariest Flicks of all time, and I heard about it the whole month. Both pro and con. So here we go,

My Top Five Christmas Movies Of All Time:

1/ A Christmas Story - (1983) You know, even the toughest Scrooge out there finds it hard
not to love this flick. It is among the most relatable movies of all time. So many
memorable scenes, and the dogs at the end? The goose? The fa rarara's?

2/ The Polar Express - (2004) Well unbelievable movie making to start with. And a
fantastic adaptation of a great, great book. Visually stunning, and there's
something about Tom Hanks at Christmas that's just good!

3/ It's a Wonderful Life - (1946) I'm not as big of a fan of this movie as many others, but it's
tough not to like this. Jimmy Stewart at his young best, and I always thought
Donna Reed was underrated as an actress. This is a bit long for me, but still
a classic!

4/ While You Were Sleeping - (1993) Here is the surprise on the list. Some will say, that it's
Not a Christmas movie, but I beg to differ. It takes place from Christmas Eve
through the holiday season, and follows a single woman and her "new" family.
Sandra Bullock when she was new, and this movie is perfectly cast from top to
bottom.

5/ White Christmas - (1954) Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Of course the big song, written
by Irving Berlin. This movie will be played for generations to come. Bing at
his best!

Honorable Mentions -

1/ Home Alone (1990) - Fun, a little thin...but fun.
2/ Elf (2005) Will Farrel to be honest I feel was never better than he was here!
3/ Holiday Inn - (1942) Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby, music again by Irving Berlin.
plot? well..Okay but fun!

ScottWynn

MOVIE REVIEW - Seven Pounds

Will Smith has a new movie out just in time for the holidays, but it's anything but festive, and it's called Seven Pounds. Up front, SP is a very adult, heavy drama that deals with many big-time issues facing our main character, "Ben" played by Smith.

Ben is seemingly a nice, 30 something single IRS debt collector who goes about his job in many unorthodox ways. He is a strange man, and in SP's beginning you have no idea what lies beneath his surface. SP DOES have one of the most unusual beginnings you'll ever see. As SP moves on you begin to understand that Ben is a very troubled soul, dealing, or not dealing with a past that is much too unbearable for him to face.

Ben seems obsessed with Emily, (Rosario Dawson.) Emily is a beautiful, young single woman with a bad prognosis of heart disease. She is in big debt to the IRS because of mounting medical bills, and Ben goes to collect. A romance ensues, and the mystery deepens. Who is Ben, and what does he want with Emily? And with many other fringe characters he seems obsessed with? All incidentally with serious health issues as well. He seems to be fixated on all these characters ills, and you do spend a good deal of Seven Pounds wondering why. Again - good.

SP though is not for everyone. It is deeply emotional, and very tough to face sometimes. SP is a story too that hasn't been told before which is to it's credit. But SP does make one huge mistake that takes only about 3 seconds. I won't tell you what it is, but it would have been far more compelling without a glance over Ben's shoulder in one of the movies middle scenes. Those three seconds give far too much away and takes out some of the mystery. One mans opinion. You may disagree. In short, I wouldn't call Seven Pounds a fun night at the flicks. But it's certainly not a bad one either.

Smith of course is very well cast in SP but to be honest, the real command performance belongs to the stunning Rosario Dawson. She gives Emily real depth, bringing a real confidence and vulnerability to a young woman facing the end much too soon. She is perfectly cast as a relative unknown compared to others in Hollywood. She is brilliant here, and really makes SP go. A truly great performance in a really heavy flick.

Seven Pounds is deep, powerful, emotional, and at times difficult to face as a movie goer. This is not light Will Smith. Seven Pounds though does break through and doesn't disappoint. Although the timing of the release is curious. The company you keep in going to SP could be key. Many tough issues are addressed here, and could be troubling to some.

As an avid movie goer I sign off on Seven Pounds. But it's a hard, hard movie. Not for all.

MOVIE REVIEW - The Day The Earth Stood Still

Keanu Reeves stars in the remake of the 1951 classic, The Day The Earth Stood Still. Jennifer Connolly and Jaden Smith decided to jump on this sinking ship as well, trying to give some heart and soul to a hollow movie. Better decisions have been made.

The original struck a nerve with fans by making it a "cold war" themed movie that at the time was timely and honestly struck fear into our hearts. This version switches that a bit, and goes the Eco route. Aliens come to the earth with the intention of wiping out humanity in order to save the planet. We are the problem, not the earth. We are destroying it, and they are here take back earth after observing it from a far for generations. There's truth to the whole thing in premise, but as far as compelling movie making is concerned. Well...no.

But let's forget the whole plot and premise thing for a minute. It's just boring. Reeves is boring, the whole mess is boring, with nothing to really hang it's hat on. Reeves is the "head alien" of sorts, and his simple speech, and mannerisms, probably right on with how an alien would act...it's just boring.

Special effects are decent, what there are of them. Smith, and Connolly are livable, but the supporting cast, and subplots are laughable, and that includes the very talented Kathy Bates who plays the Secretary of Defense. Shame to, she is usually so good but there's not much to work with here. Subplots dumb, and dialogue even worse..sheesh! The flick also has an ending that will leave many cold, and scratching their heads. There are just so many other big movies out or on the way, this is a misser.

The Day The Earth Stood Still. The original is what it is. Maybe it was just better off left alone. The only thing that stood still today at the movies for me was time. It's the only two hour movie that took me four hours to see - seemingly.

Do You Know A Hazel Marie?

Before I start this holiday article, I want to state this is not written with any angst, or with an ungrateful heart. It is simply a look back at a real person and events in my life that all these many years later, I have to look back and laugh upon.

Meet Hazel Marie. She married my mom's father "Doc" before I was born. My mother's mother, Stella, died in the 1950's. Hazel Marie was born in 1908, and this would be her 100th birth year if she was still with us. She was the only "grandmother" I ever knew. She ascended to legendary status in our family for one reason. She was cheap, and gave without question the tackiest Christmas gifts of all time and not by a little.

This went on for years. It wasn't the money either. Doc had been a successful doctor for many years with his own practice.

Hazel Marie was a seemingly nice woman that had to be experienced. But I'll try. For a living she played the harp at funerals. I remember her and Doc loading the 9,000 pound harp in its case in the back of the Mercury station wagon and trucking it off to a funeral where some poor soul was being honored. She also employed a house keeper who lived upstairs at their Lakewood home. Her name was Hattie. Hattie, at that time, was four feet, three inches tall and about 176 years old. Hazel Marie, who was about 110 years her junior, used to watch Hattie do most of the housework, especially on holidays. (Always thought that was a little strange.) So as you can see, Hazel Marie was cut from a different cloth.

Hazel Marie got the gift-giving going one fine year by giving all the women in the family the elegant gift of jewelry. But not just ANY jewelry, oh no. For my mom, my sister, my aunt and younger cousins, she made paper clip necklaces and bracelets - paper clips strung together and covered with contact paper of all colors! All wrapped up in a beautiful box about the size that a sweater would come in. This was the main gift to all. Funny, not being a joke.... we still laugh about it three decades later.

How about crocheted coat hangers? She'd take two or three regular wire hangers, and crochet them together in various college team colors - Ohio State and Baldwin Wallace were prevalent. We were all Buckeye fans, and my mom was teaching at B-W at the time. Funny, every now and again, one of those gems surfaces at my mom's house, and we smile. And giving credit where it's due, they held up and still work today.

Hazel Marie's crowning achievement though came the year all the men, including my dad, uncles, my brother, ME, and Doc got monogrammed jock straps! She made them at her house. Can you imagine sitting around watching TV, and someone's monogramming a jock strap in your presence? Where was Doc? And from what I've been told from extensive family research, the initials were made out of colorful sequins! These have gone down in Wynn Family lore as the gift that keeps on giving. We still howl about it every year!

Hazel Marie also used to dabble in an old craft called copper enameling that never seemed to come out right. We don't remember it as much as the others. I mean, where do you go after the jock straps? That's pretty much the zenith of any gift-giving career!

After hosting morning shows for almost 30 years on radio, I finally told the jock straps story on Friday's show in prime time 6:35 am! My partner Sue Wilson made it possible. I mean you've got to be in studio with someone you're really comfortable with to tell that bit of family history. She didn't know the story ahead of time, and I know she didn't see it coming. And she laughed like few times before. Then she stated with proper perspective, that that is one of those priceless family stories that we all have, that will be told for years to come. And she's right.

Hazel Marie is long passed on. She's now in that tacky craft barn in the sky. She did live a long life and had plenty of money to do it.... so good for her. So maybe she had the last laugh in the end. All because of tacky jock straps! Whodathunkit? Incidentally, none of them were ever worn. Much too fancy.

Truth be told....Sue and I had the last laugh Friday at 6:35am.....or maybe it's just a continuation of a family laugh that has been echoing for 30 years. With honesty, Hazel Marie didn't know that year she was giving us more than just the Cadillac of athletic lingerie; she was giving us a family story that has been enjoyed far longer than even the most durable of jock straps.

So in the end I must say, thanks Hazel Marie, thank you!

MOVIE REVIEW - Nothing Like The Holidays

Hey, what if they made a movie and absolutely nothing happened in it? Would you see it? What if there was no plot, no action, no real story, just a movie with people and a dysfunctional Christmas. Well, then go see Nothing Like The Holidays. A feeble attempt at I think a Christmas comedy, with some drama, but I'm still not sure.

It's the story of the Rodriguez family who live in Chicago in a very middle class neighborhood. Jessie is the youngest of three children, and he is just home from Iraq for the holidays. His older brother and his wife from New York are in too, and the single sister from California makes the trip as well. Then let the dysfunction begin!!

They've all got problems! Mom and dad are getting a divorce. No one gets along, no one is who they seem to be, and arguing is the centerpiece of their lives. Let's try to toss in some gang related issues, some sort of jilted love story thing, and what you've got is one big mess!

NLTH misses every boat there is to miss. Literally NOTHING happens in this debacle. In addition to the above, it even tries to turn into a terminal illness movie to give it some heart, but that fails too. It's just awful. I'm not sure if I've seen a movie in years that is so short on plot of any kind. I literally have NO idea why they made this movie, and I have NO idea how movie makers could not see they had nothing...NOTHING to work with here.

Nothing Like The Holidays. Well at least they got the NOTHING part of it right. Do anything in your power to miss this. Not worth you time or dime. But don't feel bad, the makers of this gem ...missed it too, in every way possible.

The Market Street Miracle

Many things became apparent to me during the WQMX Tree Of Lights campaign this year. Among them was that there was no doubt that this year you somehow would donate more than any year previous. During the toughest collective economic time that any of us can literally remember, you came through.

Was it the actual cause, The Haven Of Rest? They've been providing and invaluable service to Akron 65 years. Was it the tradition of the actual Tree idea going back to the WSLR days at O'Neils downtown? One of the above is an amazing organization that puts people's lives back together and the other simply tries to bring people together for a good cause. Both are noble and good.

It's been hard not to think about what happened these past few days since it ended a number of hours ago. In the distance, there was a perfect storm brewing for disappointment. The tough economy, local layoffs, and the tightening of belts in households all over Northeast Ohio. Before you set out, you saw the storm on the horizon. You decided you would read your compass with your heart, and bear the wind in your face, and journey to the Tree Of Lights.

Under all of those circumstances, it's hard not to be in awe of the inherent good in good people. When the tough times are shared by more than a few, it puts it in perspective for all. Examples? You came from Akron, Kent, Aurora, Massillon, Medina, Ashland, and all points surrounding, and in between. You came from big cities, and towns unheard of in some cases. And one guy drove in from Sandusky at the final minute in the snow to drop off his one hundred dollars. None of you had to......and now it's obvious to all...... you wanted to. You wanted to be a part of something that was special.

Over $40,000 for the Tree Of Lights from you this year. For an Akron tradition that brings some holiday joy to all that wish to share in it, from 1795 West Market Street. We Thank you!

But with all things in proper perspective, The Real Market Street Miracle happens every minute of every day on the other side of Main, on East Market Street at the Haven Of Rest. Whose passionate people today can breathe a little easier, if only for a minute and tend to the needs of those in need because of your generosity and belief in them and the miracles they provide.

The Market Street Miracle. Today you should be proud of the fact that you provided a miracle to the wonderful people that usually supply the miracles to those who need one. The Haven Of Rest. Thanks from all......to all!

Scott

MOVIE REVIEW - Australia

Australia is the big epic, love story movie out for this holiday season. Much anticipation, and hype which many times is the kiss of death for a big budget movie. But not here.

I am generally not a fan of these kind of movies. Usually too long, too complicated, and too over the top. That was my huge problem with Titanic, and Pearl Harbor and others like it. Too over the top, give me something that moves me but doesn't insult me with some kind opposites attract, sappy love story where people can't live without each other ofter one day. Australia is intelligent, and savvy. I feel they have learned from those mistakes.

Meet Lady Ashley (Nicole Kidman) , and The Drover (Hugh Jackman.) She is the British wife of a supposed cattle baron in the northern part of Australia in 1939. After her husband is murdered by a rival cattle company, she goes to Australia looking for answers. She travels to the The Faraway Downs Ranch, which she now owns with the help of The Drover, who is an expert on the Aussie Outback. She then attempts to revive her business against all odds. The love story insues and the adventure begins, culminating with the Japanese bombing Australia in 1942.

It's a very complicated story, and is sort of three movies in one, but Australia is fantastic! I am not a Kidman fan, but she is great here. Hugh Jackman is the next mega-star thanks to this movie. This is a break out role for him, and she has never been better. This movie is beautifully filmed, shot, and acted. Toss in a big soundtrack, terrific supporting performances, and a story I guarantee you don't know, and have never seen before. You then have one of the years best movies. I will tell you it's a big two-hour forty five minute investment, but it's worth it.

What carries this movie over the finish line is the story. Maybe where Pearl Harbor, or Titanic fell short with me is that the overriding story was well known. Australia is a based on true events, but the story I promise you you don't know. That is Australia's bread and butter.

Biggest surprise for me this year, Australia. One of the years best movies to be sure. Great for a date night. Violence minimal, language more than tame, it does tackle some tough issues though, including racism, so be aware if that's a sensitive issue for you. Best for adults, it's long, and not really understandable for the younger set. It also may be a movie-goers movie. Australia will more than likely not be attractive to the once a year movie goer.

Australia. Just flat out great!

Generosity

I glanced back and saw that I've written about this before, but on the eve of one of our really big charity fundraisers, The WQMX Tree Of Lights, thought it was worth revisiting. For three emotional days we will be raising money to light our 3 story "Tree" at the station, all while raising money for the Haven Of Rest in Akron. A worthy recipient to be sure.

I really believe in the TOL, and have since coming to WQMX in 2001 from WPCV in Lakeland, Florida. While in Florida, I started a reading program where I went to elementary schools to read to K-3rd graders about once a week. A program I want to start back up in Akron after the first of the year. The reason was simple, it made me feel good about what I do for a living. I gave a little back to a community that had given to me. And the TOL does the same thing.

Every year generous people show up at the TOL and give what they can, and we always get the tree lit. This year may be a bit more challenging with the economy and all, but I have faith that all will be fine. And every year you can't help but be amazed by the generosity of your friends and neighbors.

Generous people are amazing. They always give to whatever is being undertaken, and almost without exception say, "Gosh, I wish I could do more." And I believe them completely. You seldom see a giver say, "All right, go ahead take the money, sheesh....if I have too." That's not the DNA of a giver. Generous people give because they have a core belief that it's the right thing to do. And it is. They have more than a smile on their face, they have a smile in their heart.

As a result of that, generous people are also the happiest people you'll know. Seldom is a generous person not thrilled to be alive, and fun to be around. They bring you up, change the dynamics of a room just by walking into it, and set a pace for others to follow. They propagate more generosity around themselves, and plant the seed in you ...if you're paying attention. They understand that giving is good for the heart, and doesn't do the soul any harm either. They give money, time and of themselves. And many times....give all three.

We all enjoy seeing many familiar faces at the TOL, and new ones too. We hope to see yours there this week. We have some that have made it out every year, and give larger gifts every time. Kids too amaze me. They give their piggy banks, or large bottles of change that they've saved all year for just those few moments of handing it over to the TOL. Guess it doesn't hurt to start them early. And no matter who you are, we appreciate all of you that show up and give every single year.

It's Tree Of Lights time! And when you help us light the tree, you can drive by and shine as bright as the beautiful tree, knowing your generosity help to make it so.

MOVIE REVIEW - Four Christmases

Every year there is a new batch of Christmas comedies at the box office, an this year Four Christmases was the most anticipated. Vince Vaughn, and Reece Witherspoon star in this off-beat holiday comedy as well as many other big Hollywood stars, including, Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, Tim McGraw and Dwight Yoakum.

Meet Kate (Witherspoon) and Brad (Vaughn.) They are this seemingly nauseatingly happy 30 ish year old couple that live together. They have nothing but time and money, and spend most of their time running around the world vacationing and avoiding their families, especially at the holidays. But as luck would have it, they have to spend Christmas this year with all four of their natural parents, and all of their new spouses. All of them wacky and nutty, and in the end surprisingly...normal.

FC does have some real funny moments, and also some sophomoric tricks as well. To it's credit, it doesn't fly off in the gutter, like you're thinking it will at any minute. And even though not all of this really works, the underlying story that runs throughout all of the good, and not good hy-jinx, does survive and land on it's feet. Do Brad and Kate really know each other, and will they grow up, or just play house and travel the world together? Sort of coming of age!

Vince Vaughn is what he is. He generally makes people laugh, and puts butts in seats at the box office. But make NO mistake. This movie belongs to Reece Witherspoon. Ever since her Oscar winning Walk The Line, she is operating on a different level. In this limited role, she is funny, compelling, and totally believable. 'Spoon is easy to watch, and relate to. In fact she is way too smart for this movie, but she hangs in there, and gives this picture a texture, and a feel it would not have had with lesser and more cookie cutter talents, that could have been cast here, say Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and the others in that category. This movie had to have 'Spoon, and she makes it work.

Four Christmases. Funny? Yes! Problems? A few. But overall fun, and most anyone can enjoy it. Full of relateable humor, and some pushing of the envelope too. 90 minutes too it doesn't wear out it's welcome. 'Spoon saves ...Four Christmases!

20 Thanksgivings, A Million Thanks

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday, my favorite. I think it really captures what a big holiday should be. This year if you have invited someone over for Thanksgiving dinner that needed a place to go, good for you! I want to let you know that it is a wonderful thing to do.

Starting when I was in my early 20's I moved around the country, chasing better jobs in this radio business. I went where the money and opportunity was better, and I did it alone. I have come to realize that kind of life isn't for everyone, but I never thought about it much at the time. Till this year. And I don't know why. Maybe it was thinking a little more this year what I have to be thankful for. With the world the way it is today, maybe you're doing the same thing.

I counted. 20 consecutive Thanksgivings I spent with other peoples families. 20 in a row! Our small family has always done a great job at being together at Christmas, but Turkey day had to give. From Columbus, to Richmond, to Missouri, to Florida, I spent Thanksgiving away from my family, and with someone else' for two decades. And I am so thankful for them, it really gets to me. There were a couple too, that I spent just with the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys on TV. Those where tough, but better times were ahead.

I never really thought about it much at the time, but when someone invites you over for Thanksgiving, it's a big deal. Not many holidays are more family oriented. I always showed up with a bottle of wine, and a smile, and plenty of "pleases and thank you's" to go around, and once in a while a funny line or two. But while watching someone else's family celebrate a big holiday, I remember always being thankful I had a place to go, a fire to sit in front of, someone to watch a game with. With people who thought enough of me to let me in to a real exclusive sanctuary. -Their family. I will never forget them and the good deed they did for me for all those many years.

So to Ray and Debbie, Tim and Kelly, and many other great families that took me in when they didn't have too, I am thankful to you, and in awe of your unselfish deed. If you have someone coming over this Thanksgiving that has no place else to go, you're doing a great thing. They will appreciate it more than you know. No doubt they will say thank you, and that will be fine, but know that deep inside them, they will always remember your kindness that day for ...well forever! I Guarantee It! Thanks for giving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Scott

MOVIE REVIEW - Bolt!

Thanksgiving weekend is here, and I have a movie for you to take the kids to. Bolt, is the new Disney Animation movie, and it is right on the money!

Bolt is the story of a dog named, Bolt, and his "person" Penny. They star in a TV show named Bolt. The show is the story of a little girl and her dog, Bolt who has superpowers and does extraordinary things. Big strength, x-ray eyes, and a "superbark." Trouble here is, Bolt is just a dog and doesn't know he's on a TV show. He thinks his powers are real. When then separated from Penny by 2,000 miles, he must find his way back to her with the help of his new friends, Mittens the cat and Rhino the Hamster.

John Travolta is the voice of Bolt, and Miley Cyrus is Penny. I will tell you, her part is limited and small. They don't make that clear in the trailer. Miley is NOT the cat like they want you to think. In addition, the supporting cast of voices are not household names, but are all fantastic. Disney Animation is always first rate, then toss in a fun soundtrack by singers you will certainly recognize and you've got a real winner for the whole family. Bolt is just first class fun!

Bolt luckily breaks away from the Disney pattern of the past 20 years. There are no big production numbers with singing and dancing animals. No got-stuck-in-my-head songs, and no humor about body noises that frankly have become tiresome over time. Bolt is just fun, well done, well written, and good for all ages anywhere, any time.

All good movies begin with a good story, and Bolt is one. You learn that we should be kind to animals, and we hear things from our pets perspective here as well. About their feelings, if only they really could talk. Great job.

Two big paws up for Bolt!!!!

I'm Glad We Still Do This!

Over the past few weeks I've gone back to a strict 5 mile a day walking routine. I'm eating better, losing some weight and that's good. I've been getting up early even on weekends. And when you're out early, you notice things that would normally escape you just by staying at home.

I feel I have an acute sense of smell. Aromas are really powerful to me and can really transport me back to a place and time, almost like I'm there again watching the whole thing. It's a double edged sword though. Picking up the beautiful, wispy scent of a really elegant perfume... amazing. Catching a whiff of a dead skunk on the road... not so good! But today was neither extreme, it was solidly somewhere in between. I was walking at 5:30 this morning, and I came across the familiar warm smell of a pancake and sausage fundraising breakfast that was going to begin at 7am. That's what the sign said, and man did that take me back!

I'm glad to see that these still exist. Powerful memories of my dad taking me to work these events with him years ago. My dad was a Kiwanian in my hometown of Berea for many years. He would get me up early and take me with him when he worked these. I remember thinking I was such a big-guy, hanging with the other dads, and most times I was the only kid there but I didn't mind. I was about 8 or so. And the smell of hot sausage and fresh pancakes on a cold winter morning never fail to take me right back to Fredrick Roehm Junior High School where the event was held annually.

We'd get there about 5 am, and start in. The whole deal was to raise money for the Kiwanis Little League that I would one day play in, all being prepared in a school I would one day attend and play sports in as well. I'd mix the batter, or flip the links, man can I remember that! I'd wear an apron that wrapped around me twice and hung to the floor once. The other dads would cheer me on, or laugh not at me... but with me. One year we went in later in the day, and we had a TV in the kitchen and watched the Browns/Bengals game while we worked. Now that was a big day. It was there that I learned that "fun" really is fundamental. Even though we were working, it was fun. I try to carry that lesson with me to work every day, and share it with my partners on the show, and co-workers.

I guess what I'm saying is, that I'm so glad to see that we still do things like this in the busy, stressed out world that we live in. That smell took me back big time. I'm not going to say to a simpler, easier time because I'm not sure that it was. I was just a kid. But simpler or not, one thing I'm sure of... it was important. Didn't seem so at the time, it was just fun. But here we are all these years later, and I can still see my smiling self in a kitchen of stainless steel, with the warmth of the grill surrounding me and the smell not just of great food being prepared by really nice community minded men to raise money for a good cause. It was the smell of what childhood should be, safety, stability, and security.

This morning that aroma took me back to a good time, a very good time. One so good, I can almost taste it.

MOVIE REVIEW - Twilight

The weekends big box office smash, Twilight is new this weekend. Based on the wildly popular novel of the same name, Twilight brings the thrill of the book to the big screen.

Reviewing movies like this one is about the easiest thing there is to do. You will be hard pressed to find one fan of the book that won't love this movie. Twilight is a movie that completely understands it core audience, and then delivers it to them.

Let's meet Bella, she is a junior in high school. Transferred to live with her dad after her mom and her new husband decide to movie from Arizona to Florida. Bella ends up in Washington State to live with her father who is the local Chief of police of a small town called Forks. Bella is a pretty, physically clumsy, and socially awkward. She is having a hard time fitting in her new school, and is very vulnerable.

Bella meets and then falls for Edward, who is the class mystery man. Stunning good looks, with standoffish charm and is the schools hard to get guy. Oh did I mention he is a vampire? Bella then falls for Edward, and as you can imagine they are off on a wild journey. Look, this story is way to complicated to try to explain here, but with sidebars a plenty. And Twilight does have some problems, one being the movie is a bit too long, but every single tween at this showing was totally enthralled with it. And all of them will be looking forward to the movies that will follow.

To be fair, I am not the target audience for Twilight. That would be high school girls, and that's OK. But I can recognize that the story is an interesting one, and well told on the screen. They know who they want to see this movie,. and boy are they're going to. A bit long and a bit slow at times, Twilight survives it's problems delivers to it's fans.

MOVIE REVIEW - Quantum Of Solace

It's Daniel Craig's second installment of the James Bond series this weekend. This one is a sequel to Casino Royale, it's called Quantum Of Solace. What does that mean? Who knows, sounds good though.

In the last Bond flick, 007 has been reinvented by Craig and the new producers. Gone are the catch phrases, the tradition, and to be honest, most of the fun that was the trademark of Bond movies for so many years. But times change, fans like action only now, and that's what you get in QOS. Action from start to finish. Chase scenes, shooting scenes, and fight scenes a plenty. Bond has become less charming and more violent now. He has lost most of his sense of humor, and so have his movies. But as thye story dictates, he's been a bad mood for a couple of years now.

QOS, is told with the usual backdrop of international espionage, with plenty of world travel, and a story that is complicated, so don't go to the snack bar or the bathroom. There's intrigue, global warming, an eco-message, murder, oil, water, and attempted coups too. And of course there's a nice swipe or two at the American government, who are they really, and of course they are no real match for 007 or the British.

QOS is not a bad movie by any measure, but it now falls into the category of every other quality action movie out there. The elegance, class, romance and the humor of not taking this stuff too seriously has really been erased. QOS is deadly serious. The very thing that has always separated Bond from the pack, has been shelved for the time being. Plenty of action, some are very herky-jerky and chaotic, and some hard to follow. At times it takes on a video game pace. Although a wonderful air born chase scene with Bond at the controls of an old DC-3 aircraft is the highlight of the movie.

James Bond has had to keep up with the times and cater to what a new audience wants...I think. I will tell you, that if you haven't been to a Bond flick in a few years, it's very different than Pierce Brosnan. Daniel Craig sure looks the part, but I don't know if he's a good Bond or not. There's not much acting, but plenty of stunts and action sequences. Footnote too, the famous opening sequences and credits are very good. The song that is sung by Alicia Keys, is not. My gosh turn the sound down will ya?

Quantum Of Solace, Bond reinvented. If you're a fan of Bond's past, you'll may have to reinvent your Bond fever as well. You will have to keep up with the times as much as 007 has.

MOVIE REVIEW -, Changeling

Clint Eastwood is making the best movies of his life over the past 15 years or so, and Changeling is one of them. Clint does not star in Changeling, that would be Angelina Jolie, and finally..we get to see her do some acting!

Changeling is the true story of Christine Collins (Jolie) a 25 year old single mother in 1928 Los Angeles. Collins is a strong, successful woman way ahead of her time. She lives a modest life with her 9 year- old son Walter. She works for the phone company as an operator, and does right by her boy, who is the light of her life. One day Walter turns up missing, and after months of searching the Los Angeles PD returns a boy to her, and claims it is Walter. But it is not. She challenges, and embarrasses the corrupt LAPD, and is tossed into an insane asylum to be rid of her by the police. There are twists and turns, and sub plots a plenty, and this one movie actually turns into two movies. But it doesn't matter, in fact it makes it better. This movie is fantastic!

The legendary corruption of the LAPD that dogged them until the early 1960's is front and center in Changeling. It helps to have a bit of that history to completely understand Changeling, but they do a great job bringing you up to speed. This movie moves along at a great pace, and the story although complicated, is easy to follow and comprehend. Great directing by Eastwood, wonderfully photographed, excellent score penned by Eastwood as well. Changeling takes you back to the 1920's and immerses you whole, you come out of the theater expecting to see Model -T's in the parking lot.

Angelina Jolie is back. It's a shame that she wastes a lot of her time on those silly action movies where she barely speaks in tough-chick terrible fake accents. We forget she won an Oscar a few years back in Girl, Interrupted, where she was outstanding. Changeling is a command performance of the first order in a big role. She is great, and owns Changeling as the strong, yet wounded Christine Collins. Eastwood successfully disassociates her from those terrible flicks, and puts her in a whole new light. She brings every emotion to a complex character and you ride each one with her. It is easily the best performance of her career.

Changeling has many fantastic supporting performances as well. Add this all up and Changeling is one of the years best movies so far. As of this writing it may be the years best. Changeling, it's been out for a week or two, but don't miss it. Absolutely outstanding!

Veterans Day

This week we recognize and honor all Veterans. I should start off by saying that I am not a veteran, and I wish everyday that I was. I have enormous admiration for those that are. You are a truly amazing group of gifted, compassionate individuals that protect our freedom and our way of life every single day, both at home and overseas. I am grateful to you.

It has always been a great honor to be a Veteran, and it will always be. Vets do things, see things, and go places that most of us do not, and could not. It's been that way from the Revolutionary War,to the War On Terror. Veterans dedicate their precious lives to protecting our freedom, and freedom around the world. That's just what they do.

My father was a WWII Veteran. He graduated from Mansfield High School and went to Duke University on a full-ride football scholarship. After Pearl Harbor he left college and enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a tail-gunner on a B-25 Bomber in the South Pacific until the war ended. He then was in occupied Japan for another year. He had three older brothers too, Hank, John and Joe, all in WWII at the same time and all came home at wars end healthy. Amazing.

You would think after all these centuries, that every country on earth would want to be free, live free, want free societies, and yearn to flourish as other nations have. But there are still some that don't. So Veterans have always been there to protect us from them. What soldiers do, and what Veterans have always done is sacrifice everything for us. Time from home, their way of life...and too often ..their own life. All in the name of being free.

If you really stop to think about history, the only thing that stands, and has stood between being free and not being free world-wide, are our soldiers and veterans. No one else is the history of the world has carried such a responsibility. They ensure that the people that cherish freedom and live to be free, are free.

Honoring Veterans one day a year is symbolic and nice, but not nearly enough. I always have to say thanks, when I see a soldier or veteran in uniform. It's just a natural reflex for me, and I'm glad I have that trait. I can't begin to understand their dedication, and sacrifice to our nation, but I'm eternally thankful that they have it.

Veterans and Soldiers are unbelievable people. Men and woman, young and old, that have given more than the rest of us. And they did it all, not because it was their job, I think that's to simple. They did it because they had something way down deep within their collective souls, that made them uniquely special to give wholeheartedly to a cause that was infinitely bigger than themselves. I cannot thank you all enough.

It's Veterans Day 2008. Thank a Vet today if you can. And sometime today, in a quiet moment alone take a few minutes to be thankful, and remember ... all of those....who gave theirs...so we could have ours.

MOVIE REVIEW - Role Models

Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott star in the new off beat comedy this weekend, Role Models. From time to time I am pleasantly surprised at the box office, and today and Role Models did it for me.

Thirty five-ish year old Danny (Rudd) and Wheeler (Scott) work for a fictitious energy drink company. They go around to schools and try to convince kids to stay off drugs and alchohol and to persuade them to drink their energy drink instead. After a series of mishaps and then a final run in with the law, Danny and Wheeler are sentenced to 150 hours of community service at a non profit camp where they are to mentor kids. With an obvious generation gap and a lack of desire they are given Ronnie and Augie as their projects. Ronnie is a little guy with street smarts and horrible language and Augie is the geeky Dungeon and Dragons kid, who lives in a fantasy world of make believe at the age of about 16.

RM is not as complicated as it may sound. Look, there are moments of inappropriateness in this movie, and somethings that don't work, but to be honest RM really is fun. What it is, is a parody on the whole thing. On Danny and Wheeler, on the kids they mentor, and the camp they work at. Jane Lynch is the show stealer here though. She is Sweeny, the leader of the non profit camp. She does a wonderful parody on the former addict turned leader. She is really funny in her small role as the is-she-really-cured camp counselor. One of the really funny small role performances you'll see. Elizabeth Banks has a small role as Beth, Danny's girlfriend, she is always fun and engaging. And a cast of supporting actors in silly roles make RM really fun.

To be honest, Role Models won't work for everyone. But once you get the fact this this is parody, and silliness it's easier to swallow the Kool-Aid here. It's just for laughs period. The dialogue at times is snappy and fun, and foul and straight forward at other times. But to me, there's a sense of lightness that doesn't make it offensive. And to be square with you again, it's been a while since I've heard a theater laugh like they did today. It doesn't all work, but it's okay. Role Models, if nothing else, go laugh at Jane Lynch, she's really funny!

We Made It!!

At last election day is here! And soon we will find out who the next President will be. And if there's going to be casinos in Ohio, plus tons of other stuff in every city across our area. It's finally over! Can you believe it?

Lucky for me, I'm hitting the sack soon, and Tuesday is a busy day for me, so I think I've seen my last political ad on TV. I gotta tell you, I have been so tired of this for so long now, it's hard to think that's it's not going to be on Wednesday. But it's back to normal.

I am kind of sad though that I will fall off every one's "A" list. In just the past three days, I've gotten calls from, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, and a few other issues people wanting to personally invite me to come out and make them look good on TV. They all heard the exact same thing...click! I passed. I'm guessing too, that I'm not going to get anymore calls from ANY of them come Wednesday, Thursday, or even doomsday....they're done with me after I vote I get it, and it doesn't hurt my feelings either.

I'm going to miss the pundits on TV too. (What the heck is a pundit anyway?) I don't know if I can handle not hearing about "swing states" "battleground states" 49-47%, Gallup, Rasmussen, and CNN/Fox Polls. Not to mention issue 5, 6, 8, or 9, or even 127. (And yes there is an issue 127.) It's all over but the cryin'.

And there's going to be plenty of that! That's Wednesdays TV fodder. The Cryin'. No matter who or what wins, there's going to be the boo-hooey, blubbering, bunch, foghorning on all the cable channels writhing in pain that their guy, gal or issue didn't get the golden parachute. That phase should go on for about 3 days. Then it'll all be over.

This will come as no surprise to anyone, but this has been the longest campaign in history. And now all we gotta do is vote. So make sure you do that this year. Vote....it's your right as an American, not to mention your reward for having to sit through the TV ads for the past two years. Get out and vote.....

"I'm Scott Wynn....candidate for nothing and I approved this blog"

MOVIE REVIEW - Zach and Miri......

It's not often I regret going to the movies, but for Zach and Miri Make A Porno, I have to make an exception. Good gravy man....what were these clowns thinking?

I have always loved the movies. I like all kinds of flicks, and usually find the good, or the idea in the movie that I am seeing. But not here. ZAM stars Seth Rogen, and Elizabeth Banks, and a bunch of other people you don't know or care about. This is another in a long line of "push the envelope' movies from this troop, and this one is just absolutely awful.

Okay, Zach and Miri are 28 year-old platonic roommates who have been friends since the first grade. Both losers, and the bills are mounting. After the electric and the water are turned off and find themselves in 20 grand of debt, they decide to do the next logical thing...make a pornographic movie, and that will solve all of their problems. So they proceed on. Finding the cash to start up, casting calls, finding the right photographer, and of course writing a good script. They then find out, that they both have feelings for each other, and don't want each other "starring" in the movie with anyone other than themselves. (Hurllllllllllllll................!!) I've got a better idea, why don't Zach and Miri get jobs, and be responsible? Wow! There I am again, in the common sense zone.

I'm not sure who is supposed to like this movie. It's two flicks in one. First this raunchy junior high, "let's look at these dirty magazines" movie at the start. Then there's a plot twist that tries to turn this into some kind of love story. Each part mutually terrible.

ZAM is vile, vulgar, completely adolescent, and just flat out raunchy, complete with the worst language you can imagine. Help me here, is there something that I'm not getting? Is hearing really terrible language from guys and girls a million times really funny? Am I missing out? And maybe the worst offense of all....it's not funny! Seth Rogen as an actor, is too likeable, and too potentially funny to get mixed in in manure like this. Elizabeth Banks is beautiful and captivating, and she too should have her head examined before picking her next role.

ZAM...it's not funny, not sexy, not anywhere near watchable, it's just a waste of time. Quite possibly going to end up on many "worst of the year lists." I know it's near the top of mine now.

Fears

With Halloween here, we're all thinking about what scares us and what gives a jolt. That was the topic my partner Sue was asking this morning on our show. And it really opened up a fun, and maybe not so fun can of the proverbial worms.

Sue started us off. She is not thrilled with flying but she does, she had other powerful fears that resonated with strongly with me as I intently listened. Then the listeners chimed in, flying, heights, spiders, snakes, you know the basics that make any list. But as I thought more about it... the stuff that really scares me? I have to admit I'm not really afraid of much, the fear of "things" really isn't in my DNA. But that doesn't mean I don't have any. It took a big breath to think of them, and a bit more to admit them to myself, and then even more to muster up the courage to share them over the air. I guess that in itself was a fear.

I guess the one that rings the strongest with me is the fear of.....being forgotten. I know it's a strange one. But it does scare me when I take the time to think about it. I don't have any children and I often wonder after my time is up, whenever that is, (I'm hoping for later rather than sooner on that one) who will remember that I was here? I think it's normal to think of ones legacy. What will you one day leave behind that's not spendable? Hopefully we all make a contribution that leaves this world a little better than when we found it. Kids are great at keeping that going for you. I think it's important to keep my fathers legacy alive, I feel that obligation and I'm proud to do it. It's a labor of love for me.

Maybe too, it's not being forgotten after were gone, but what about when we're still here. I have been blessed with many long term great friendships in my adult life. But we all have those that have woven in and out of our lives. Ones that you were once really close to, but for whatever reason, it's no longer. People you worked with, or dated, or were friends with. I have some of all of the above in cities I lived in, and you wonder if you really made an impact on them. My hope is yes! Because they have all made an impact on me, and made me who I am today...for the good and the not so good. Maybe I'm the exception, but I have powerful memories of the people that rolled in and out of my life in years past, and they all ....are remembered here....not forgotten.

I think we would all like to be viewed as "impact players" in others lives. I would like to know that some of the things that I have said and done in my life so far, has had an impact on others. It's something that they will take with them as they move on in their journey, as I have moved on in mine. We all deserve more than just having been here...we deserve having BEEN here!

I learned something today in 15 minutes that I didn't learn in the first 47 years here. Maybe that fear is some of my motivation to put my heart and soul that I have into the ones that are really worth it. I like to think that I'm a good guy to have around sometimes. And I do sleep well every night knowing that I gave those close to me my best that day. I just never really thought about where it may come from. Maybe in the long run, if you give your best to the important players in your life every day, it may really not be worth fearing at all.

Spare Change

For the past year or so the big word that is sweeping our landscape has been "change." One little syllable...change. Seems easy enough, easy to say, sounds good, when somethings are not going well, you whip out the old change word, and the masses rally around it - seemingly.

It was started a couple of years ago by Senator B.O. and then it sounded so good it was picked up later be Senator J.M. a few months ago. And whenever you turn on the TV, that's what you hear...we need change. Well to put tongue firmly in cheek here, I gotta be honest with you, I've had enough change lately, I'm looking for some...I don't know...some...."non change." I guess.

We've had some change alright. Gasoline prices were like 80 dollars a gallon this summer, banks failing, (and not Bob's Bank...I'm talking the big boys.) Wall Street flaming out, and the economy is in the trillion dollar toilet. Every day you turn on the news, and there is more change. We've seen extraordinary things the past year or so that no one ever thought we'd see. Truly.

There's been some good change too. The Tampa Bay Rays are in the World Series and the Yankees and the Red Sox aren't , (now there's change.) It finally rained in the Southeast after a two year drought. On a personal level - more change, I've begun writing this column for this web-site and penning movie reviews too for Akronnewsnow.com. I have a wonderful new partner on the morning show, Sue Wilson, and those changes have all been not just good...but great!

And not to be taken lightly, I got the garage cleaned out recently. Now there's some change that was really needed!

Change to many is a scary thing. We like to know it's all going to be okay before we make any decision in life, but unfortunately not always possible. So it scares us and excites us all at the same time. I can relate, 4 times in my adult life, I moved to a new city hundreds of miles away, and didn't know one person there, not one. I remember the feeling as I drove away from City A to City B, apprehensive for leaving the safety of the known, and excitement anticipating the unknown that was just beyond my headlights. Somehow I just knew things would be okay, the change was for the better, and it usually was. But as I've gotten older and shared my that story with others, I realize that's not for everyone. But at the time I never really thought about it, I just did it. And I never regretted it, not once.

Lately, it appears that all this change in our lives didn't get rolling, until we started screaming change all the time! Coincidence? I have no idea! Just and observation that's all. The old saying is absolutely true, "the only thing in life that remains the same, is change." So with that in mind, we better get used to it. Sometimes in life you don't get to know how warm the water is before you jump in.

We're all in this change thing together, and remember.... in the end it'll be okay, if it's not okay, it's not the end.

MOVIEW REVIEW - Saw V

Well Jigsaw is up to his old tricks again in Saw V new this week at the box office. Saw V is another great example in a long line of examples of a decent idea must ridden too darn long.

Jigsaw, the serial "killer" who has been challenging hand picked victims for his "rehabilitation" clinics for the past 5 years, is still at large. I think. Saw V is a feeble attempt to tell the story of the first 4 Saws in flashback form, and to try to explain the how's and the why's a little clearer. But to be honest we don't need to know. It has all been duly explained in the last two especially. Ho-hum!

I gotta give credit where it's due. The original Saw movie, was a slasher flick with a brain. It had a soul for what it was, and no one on earth saw the ironic ending that had us all shaking our heads. But each one post Saw has been more about doing terrible things to people, and it's lost it soul, although trying mightily to hang on to it.

This horse has been ridden to death...(no pun intended) Enough already. There is no new ground here, and even the "death" scenes will leave the slasher fan cold. Saw is an idea whose time has come. Not to mention that in this entire series, especially the last two or three Saws, you can go and witness possibly the worst acting in the world. Whoa re these people anyway? The directors nieces and nephews???

It's time for the Saw series to pack up it's blades and just retire to the old tool shed in the sky. But there's too much dough for Hollywood to count on, I understand that Saw 6 is already in the planning stages. Snooze. If you see Saw, you'll realize that this Saw has already been seen.

Smiles All Around!

With all that's been going on in the world lately that you may be feeling like me to a degree. The economy has been tough to swallow, I think we've all been burned out on the election thing, being bombarded with negative messages and all. If you're not careful these days, it can really sneak up on you and affect you more than you would think.

So today it back to basics, and all it took was a smile. True enough - a smile. I was hanging with a bunch of really nice people today at work and it sort of dawned on me, how good it is to be around smiling people? Some of us were just talking and sharing thoughts, and there were smiles all the way around.

A smile in it's literal form, is just a tooth show I guess. But in it's projection to the world, it's an acceptance thing. It says, "Hey I'm glad I'm with you right now." or "I'm enjoying your company today." And that just makes me feel pretty good. And even though today a dollar doesn't go as far, a smile today goes further than ever before, and the demand is high right now. Hope the supply can keep up.

I have read that the smile is the first thing that people really notice about another person on first impression, and that for me is so true. I think it's because it's more than just a smile. It's someones true light. A bright smile softens the face, calms the mind, and illuminates the eyes for all the world to see. And the really powerful thing about it is, it has the same effect on both the person doing the smiling and the person on the receiving end. We are all at our best when we smile and smile often.

I have always been a little self conscious about my own smile, in my eyes it's not the big bright smile that I see in others around me, but I give it my best. My friends today gave me a really great gift of theirs, and that is the best part of the whole thing. Making someones day a little better... with a smile. Today I was smiling big too...Gosh, I hope I returned the favor.

MOVIE REVIEW - W

Oliver Stone's new movie lands in theaters this weekend, W. W is a bio-pic of sorts, a fictional piece with true events pasted in the picture as well. It is the story told in flashback form of President George W. Bush, his early life and career and the directors account of the events leading up to the Iraq war, culminating with the firing of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

W also deals with the relationship "W" has with his family, parents and his relationship with the lordl, and alchohol. Whatever your politics, when you go to see W, and many will, you must keep in mind it's Oliver Stones version of what he sees as the truth. Stone played the same card and was vastly ridiculed for his conspiracy theory pic, JFK in 1991. JFK all agreed was interesting and facinating movie making, but over all hardly factual. But if you know that going in you understand that Stone tells it they way he sees it, and not entirely based in fact.

First, Josh Brolin as "W" is dead on with his Bush voice, mannerisms, and over all feel of the character. He is the movies shining star, and is uncannily good. Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney, again dead on, and Scott Glenn as Rumsfeld, terrific. Trouble here is the rest of the impersonators are average at best, and some even border lining on the bad. Too many parts, too many not as strong as the top three.

Also, W seems to have a difficult time deciding what kind of movie it is. Should is scare you? Make you think? Or is it a comedy? There was a bunch of laughter in the theater today. Footnote too, some may find the portrayal of Condoleeza Rice somewhat offensive. You have to watch closely, and the attempt to lampoon her falls very short. It's W's weakest point.

W! Brolin is great here. I always like seeing actors take on a huge role and pull it off. As for the rest of W, you will have to judge for yourself do you buy it, or not. It's bound to trigger many a discussion at movies end, as most Stone movies do.

Who Were Those Guys?

Happens every year it seems. When Browns season is here, things are always unpredictable. Every year the Browns take your neck.....and put it on the chopping block...and they start to swing the ax,...and then....they change their mind and do something really great. It's all just to tease us and keep us interested ...and it works!

Last night was great! On national TV we finally got out of our own way long enough to get a HUGE win against the Superbowl champs, the New York Giants 35-14! But that fact alone brings up an even more important question...who were THOSE guys? These are the same guys bumbling around on national TV, ruining every one's Sunday 4 weeks ago against the Cowboys. Then the next week on national TV, choking against with the Steelers. Next we had the decency to get thrown around by the Ravens and regional TV, and mercifully we had the Bengals in week 4, and even Massillon High can beat them.

But last night was beautiful! We scored points, we played good defense, we ran interceptions back for touchdowns, and generally kicked a New York teams' butt. And I don't care if you're playing tiddly-winks, that's always a good thing. It just inches out beating a Boston team at anything too, but it's close. If we get shellacked this week in Washington, it still doesn't take away from the Big Apple Beat-down we gave the Giants. Hope the plane ride home to Lagaggia International airport in Flushing had plenty of ice on it, because the Browns wood-shedded the G-men, and the whole country got to see it. Beautiful.

Now what about this week? I can't bear to watch, but I will. I still think our collective necks will be put on the chopping block, but hopefully the Browns will refrain from swinging the ax for one more week. And then, see their way clear to surprise us yet again with a big win over some over-blown, overrated, over exposed, cocky, arrogant, blow hard, can-do-no-wrong, ESPN favored, big TV market, east coast wimpy team. I for one am sick of being slung over those those teams shoulders, and carried off into the sunset as they move on with their fancy playoffs, and perfect seasons, Superbowl rings, and countless heartfelt vignettes on all these we only care about the Yankees and Patriots sports channels. I don't even care what kind of TV it's on. Regional, national, black and white, rabbit ears, kenetiscope, or even if it's on the DuMont network....I don't care..... just so we win!

Go Browns!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And nicely done!

MOVIE REVIEW - Quarantine

Well, here we go! Halloween is coming, and let's roll 'em out, the scary movies! Quarantine is hitting lead off, so let's get to it.

Q is a movie made much in the mold of The Blair Witch Project, or Cloverfield. It's the story of an ambitious female TV reporter and her camera man who are on assignment filming a night-in-the-life piece of Los Angeles firemen. About one AM, they are called out on a disturbance at a small apartment complex, where there is trouble. They find an elderly woman, with all kinds of problems, who attacks them like a rabid dog.

But once in this building, there is no escape. The Center For Disease Control seals off the building, and there is no escape. This "rabies" case is then contagious, and all of the residents start devouring each other with brutal attacks and horrific acts of aggression. All of this is being viewed by us, the movie patron, from the vantage point of the TV camera attempting to film the whole bloody affair for later broadcast. Will anyone make it out? Wooooo.....that is the big question here.

First, I will tell you, depending on your tolerance for fear, this movie WILL scare some people big time. This flick is made for young thrill seekers that like a good jolt. The whole time this movie was on, I felt like I was actually at a haunted house. It has that same feel to it. If a 25.00 haunted house is your thing, then maybe a 7.00 movie is a better value in these tough economic times.

If you're over 22, there's probably nothing here for you. Q is targeted young, and will jolt some out of their chairs at times, especially those who have never seen a movie in this format before. The shaky hand-held camera that is giving the illusion that what you are seeing is real, but it's not. To be fair though to the more experienced scary movie viewer, there is nothing new here to be scared about. Same ol' slashing, screaming, fake blood, you know the drill. But for those just staring out....could be a thrill.

Don't ask me who stars in Quarantine, I have no idea, and neither does anyone else. You don't need to be a Hollywood A-lister to slash peoples throats or have yours ripped out. For the right person, or maybe groups of young friends, Quarantine will be a fun beginning to a thrill seeking Saturday night. Oh, by the way, just a little hint - it's not real!

There's Art In The Heart

Well it happens every year about this time, I have another birthday in a few days. This year is no landmark day, no big number or number of any importance to the rest of the world. But when I do the math, it turns out that it'll be my 30th birthday without my dad. My goodness.

I have no idea if Robert would have approved of my education, my career choice, or the nomadic lifestyle I led for almost 20 years. I can't speak for him on that. And since I can't even imagine what my life would be like today with him in it, I won't even try. Early in my career I would travel around the country, going wherever the job and pay was better. I lived in many great cities, eventually ending up in Florida. I must have been looking for something. Then I decided to come home in 2001.

I don't know exactly how he'd feel about the mistakes I have made, and if he would have thought they were more or less serious than I did. I don't think he would have been amused by how angry I was after he died. Wasn't his fault, but I was young... guess those feelings can't be helped..takes a while to figure that out! I made a bunch of mistakes as a result of those feelings, but none that couldn't be undone. And I'm no worse for the wear.

Simply because I can't, with any certainty speak for him on those points, there is one I can confidentally speak for him on. He would be proud of the fact that I have been surrounded by great people in my life, and many of them for many years. Good people, people with heart...big heart. I have been so lucky to have most of these friends around for 20-30 years, a rarity in today's world. I know that this is the exception, and not the rule. Upon further review, maybe this has been my reward for paying such a high early price .....I don't know.

My dad didn't have everything, but he had heart...and a big one. He always taught me that friends were as important as anything, and I think he was right. When seeking out those to surround myself with, I think it's the heart I measure first. All of the long term relationships that still around me daily are people with tremendous heart. These people are in every avenue of my life, at home, in cities left behind, and at work. It feels great to be around people that are good to the core, to the heart, in the center of their being. Like my dad! It makes me better, keeps me centered, and sets the bar high in my own life.

I do miss my dad, not every single day but on occasion it still hits home., and this is one of those days I guess. I miss his heart and all that went along with it. The good heart that became silenced three decades ago way too soon. But in my lament, I feel more than fortunate, and blessed to be surrounded by the beating of so many good hearts daily, that make up for the one I lost all those years ago.

MOVIE REVIEW - Appaloosa

Ed Harris, Viggo Mortenson, Renee Zellweger, and Jeremy Irons star in the new enigmatic western, Appaloosa in theaters this week. Appaloosa is the latest western to continue the trend that began in Hollywood in the 1990's.

The trend in westerns has been to tell a more accurate story of the 19th century west. The trend has shifted away from the "black hats/white hats" good guy /bad guy westerns. Truth is many times in the Old West, the line between the two was very blurred, and politics in these small, lawless towns was the equal of the politics of today. Unforgiven (1992), Tombstone (1993) Wyatt Earp (1994) successfully portrayed the fact that the west was a lawless land. And many times the people sent into clean up the small, drunken towns were not much better than the men making it dirty in the first place. That is Appaloosa!

Virgil Cole (Harris) and Everett Hitch (Mortenson) are professional "peacekeepers." They are hired by the new town Appaloosa, New Mexico in 1882, to weed out the criminal element after the towns Marshall was gunned down in cold blood while doing his duty. They are granted absolute power, and proceed to the clean up. Toss in a love interest, the promiscuous Mrs. French, (Zellweger), and the love triangle is now on as well.

Appaloosa is NOT your typical western. Some may feel it is short on action, and it is. Truth be told though, the average old west gunfight only lasted a second or two as history has taught us, not the 5 minute depiction of old Hollywood. They were quick, bloody, and there were consequences as well. Characters in Appaloosa are well developed, and it turns into a "thinking mans" western. Appaloosa may let down some action-starved fans, but it certainly isn't short on story.

Whether you will enjoy Appaloosa all depends on why you go to the movies in the first place. This western I feel has kept women more in mind than westerns of the past. The violence is quick and rather tame, and there is far more emphasis on substance here than sizzle. Performances strong, storyline strong as well.

Appaloosa. Not fantastic, but it's always nice to see actors doing roles they've not done before. Harris and company are all outside of their comfort zone and all deliver. I enjoyed it. but I warn you, it's not the actiony western of old. But the more substantive western modern day movie making.

MOVIE REVIEW - Nick and Noras Infinite Playlist

What a concept this is. Making a movie about teens and their modern day troubles, but making it really more for adults? Hmm..that's Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist. I had no idea what to expect when I walked in, and for that I'm glad.

Nick (Michael Cera) and Nora (Kat Dennings) are typical teens living just outside of New York City. They are surrounded by a bevy of friends that all represent a true cross section of the kinds of friends teens have today. And after a bunch of events, Nick and Nora are thrown together in the Big Apple for an all night party in search of their favorite underground band, Fluffy.

They seem to have little in common at the movies beginning, but do discover that they have more in common than they think. They both love music, and Ipods, cell phones, and all that represents the modern trends in teen life. Are they right for each other? WE know they are the whole time, but Nick and Nora aren't so sure. Sort of like real life huh?

First, this may be the most accurate portrayal of teen life in movies since American Graffiti in 1973. (The film that made George Lucas a household name.) N&N captures todays era perfectly in every regard. Teens do things we like and don't like, many times within seconds of each other. The tools have changed since American Graffiti, but most big teen issues remain the same. Growing up is tough. Friends, peer pressure, girlfriends. boyfriends, jealousy, insecurity, awkwardness, and teen sex. These are timeless issues, that will never change. All adressed masterfully here. Great soundtrack runs throughout, again as in AG. N&N is not a hilarious go for cheap laughs flick. It is good, smart movie making.

But make no mistake, this movie is more of a coming out party for 22 year old Kat Dennings. I raved about her in Charlie Bartlett in March, in addition to The 40 Year Old Virgin, and she is the whole deal here. Dennings is perched to be a big star. She is engaging on screen, with a normalcy not usually seen in Hollywood. She's vulnerable, likeable, and looks like someone you would know. You love every scene she's in, and she drives this movie across the finish line in fine fashion. Remember the name, Kat Dennings. She's just getting started, and she's the next big romantic comedy star.

Nick and Nora! Don't miss it. This may be the surprise movie of the year. Wonderfully accurate, and honest. Capturing teen life is always tough for Hollywood. Most "teen" movies go for cheap laughs through crude means, that give you the impression that teens run the world. But they really don't, and that's the beauty of Nick and Nora. Teens are still basically good, but confused, just trying to find their way through adolescence. Parents should certainly see this movie. Teens will love it too. Terrific movie making to say the least.

300,000,000 to 1

There are roughly 300 million people that live in this great country. That number may seem small because lately we've been talking about 700 BILLION, and TRILLION with the economy and all, but 300 million is still a whole lot. Seems to me, that with that many people, you could find just the right person you need for just about any job. You would think...but you can't.

Have you noticed that when you see a conversation going on about the Presidential race, most seem to be allied with one choice only because they can't stand the other choice? I've never seen this before to this extent. The prevailing attitude I see, is the"lesser of two evils." Maybe you don't feel that way, but I've seen it a lot. Haven't seen a lot of "I love my guy' from many. I hear mostly, "I can't stand the other guy!" I'm not feeling a whole lot of positive passion here.

I think I've figured it out as to how we got here. There are some really smart people in this country who could probably do a really great job fixing all of our nations problems, and more than likely some other nations' too. But their gift goes unnoticed. Why? Because, they are smart...too smart to run for President.

Stick with me. Think about what you've got to be willing to go through, not just to run for President, but for ANY big-time political office. In today's world you have to be willing to put it all out there. Medical records, your history of every kind. All of your families records, etc.......Plus you have to answer every ones questions from 20-30-40 years ago. You have to hope that no one hates you from college, and puts up pictures of you on the web that you'd rather forget. Financial records, be willing to be taken to task on every decision you've ever made...it never ends. You've got to be willing to have your life permanently altered for all to comb over for all time. Your physical appearance is open season for the comics, and the appearance of your spouse and children too. And really smart people, are too smart to get involved with all of that.

Plus really smart people understand it makes no sense at all to spend 300 million campaign dollars, over the course of two years to get a job that pays 400 grand. The really smart people are running businesses, and corporations where the pay is better and the press isn't bent on bringing them down. They also don't want the Secret Service invading their life for a lifetime. Again, they are too smart to want that kind of life. They don't want to work with people who can only think in political terms and agendas. Really smart people know that nothing meaningful will ever get done when politicians are involved.

So we get who we can. The ones that are willing to subject themselves to professional and personal ridicule. Who aren't afraid to put their spouses and children out there for ridicule too. Onesthat take great pride in tearing another human being down, insulting their intelligence, stripping them of their pride and dignity, and whatever else they can steal from them on TV. That's who we get.

And while all of that is going on, the really smart people are at home, with their families building a nice life together, inventing products and running businesses, solving huge problems because they know how, and can! Oh, I have no doubt the genius of many out there could solve all of our problems for this and many other generations to come. But they're sitting this one out. And that's a shame for all of us. But I get it. The cost is too high for the smartest people on earth.

MOVIE REVIEW - Blindness

Now here's a movie that worth running away from at about 5,000 mph. My gosh, Julianne Moore stars in Blindness new in theaters this weekend, but it doesn't make any difference who is in this debacle. I wish I had better news here but I don't.

Blindness is the fictional story of a world gone blind- literally. People on earth start going blind by some...well...who knows why, they just do. Whatever it is, it's ....contagious? I guess. Because once it starts, it doesn't stop. Those "infected" by this ..whatever it is, are then whisked off to a government quarantine where they are to fend for themselves in very regard.

That quarantine then becomes a world gone wild. Food rationing, terrible living conditions, a black market pops up, prostitution rings begin, and general anarchy. Then at the movies merciful end, they are set free because the rest of the world seems to have gone blind too, and there's nothing really worth living for. How does all this happen? You never find out. Why does all of this happen? You never find out. What is the cause of all this? Who knows. And do you care about one character in this movie? No! It's a movie that just goes no where at all except down the drain.

My guess is that this is some kind of social statement being made here, and true calamity can bring out, and usually does bring out the worst in people. But my gosh....who wants to watch this? Blindness is flat out awful! I haven't been glad to leave a theater like this in years. I felt like I was in quarantine just having to sit through this putrid mess. Plus, it's offensive to those in real life that really are blind.

Depressing, dark, dank, morose, just flat out gaggable. (Is that a word?) It is now. Blindness is money and time wasted by everyone. What a waste of money to make it, market it, and certainly what a waste of MY money to go see it. The next time I want to feel this bad about something, I think I'll save my cash, walk out to the garage, and slam my hand in the car door. It would be quicker, and the pain would stop after a few minutes, instead of the two hours of my life I just let slip away. Plus I think it actually might be more fun!

There is no reason in the world to see Blindness. And there was really no reason for this mess to be made in the first place. That's the best I can do. Any choice at the box office this weekend or any other weekend is better. Run...fast away...from Blindness. Absolutely awful.

Not A Dry Eye In The House

Over the weekend my bride Stacy wanted me to take her to the movies. She decided that Nights In Rodanthe was on the top of her list, so we went. For those of you not real familiar with that movie, it's written by Nicolas Sparks who has written tons of heavy-drama, love stories that almost always end up with a main character dying before their time leaving true love and happiness out of reach. Now doesn't that sound fun?

So we went. And as I watched the theater patrons during the movie, it got me thinking about the differences between men and women and their movie watching habits. During Rodanthe, I looked around at opportune times. When there was some big moving moment, especially when Richard Gere was heaping on thick some wonderful out-of-the-movies line to Diane Lane I would see the shiny cheeks all around the theaters. You know, the light tears that make cheeks shiny in the movie light? You could also hear the sniffs, and the nose blowing that goes along with crying, and the sobbing, and it got me thinking again. Is this fun?????

Think about it, knowingly paying 8 bucks a throw, to go to the movies and cry in front of 100 people or so. And there lies the difference, in just that simple sentence. And keep in mind......this is what we're doing for enjoyment. There was one woman that was so choked up, she picked up her purse and walked out with about 15 minutes to go. Gurgling, choking,and sniffing the whole way. She did come back after composing herself in the can......I mean ladies room, sorry, and she finished off the movie. She just couldn't miss any more of the fun I guess.

I wanted to make this announcement to all before the movie started, "OK, it's Nicolas Sparks, so don't get too attached to the characters, because one of them will certainly die!" But I didn't. I knew this from history, not from the story. Then when one of them DOES die in Rodanthe, the place goes all boo-hooey! I mean a wailing, blubbering mess! I think most of these people had even read the book and the KNEW it was going to happen. Even more fun! This is a blast.

That night though is when the real difference slapped me square in the face. We stopped over our friends Don and Terri's house. Stacy was talking about Rodanthe at length and was in the middle of the whole sad, lovey-dovey thing, when there was a quick lull. Don then asked me in front of the wives, if I really had a Double Beef Whopper before we came over. Which I was bragging about as I entered their house. I confirmed it - yes. He then we switched our conversation over to the awesomeness of such a burger, and how long it had been since we had one last. And then even a memory or two of a Double Beef Whopper we ate once. The girls were less than amused.

Look, the truth is we're different and that's great, even preferred. This weekend it just hit me right between the eyes, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Next time, I get to pick the flick. Hmmm.... And by the way, that Double Beef Whopper??? Now THAT was a beautiful thing.