Sad day for this blogger...maybe

My favorite baseball player Cincinnati Red Ken Griffey, Jr. could be traded to the Chicago White Sox today, if he approves it. The Reds approached Griffey on Wednesday night in Houston and asked if he would waive his contractual rights to accept a deal to the White Sox, said a baseball source. Griffey has the right to veto any trade because he has 10 years of major league service time and five years with the Reds.

My wife and I went to watch the Reds play the New York Mets two weeks ago because I had a feeling this might happen. I'm glad I got to see him wear that No. 3 jersey one more time.

UPDATE: It's a done deal.

McCain taking the "Low-Road Express"

The New York Times editorial staff took on John McCain's descent into typical Republican fear tatics yesterday. In recent weeks, Mr. McCain has been waving the flag of fear (Senator Barack Obama wants to “lose” in Iraq), and issuing attacks that are sophomoric (suggesting that Mr. Obama is a socialist) and false (the presumptive Democratic nominee turned his back on wounded soldiers).

Like Mr. Bush, Mr. McCain confuses opposition to an unnecessary war with a lack of spine and an unwillingness to use force when the nation is truly in danger. Obviously, Mr. Obama is untested as a commander in chief and his trip was intended to reassure voters. But Mr. McCain is as untested in this area as Mr. Obama, and it is hard to imagine a worse role model than the one Mr. McCain seems to be adopting: President Bush. Many voters are wondering whether a McCain presidency would be an extension of Mr. Bush’s two disastrous terms. If the way Mr. McCain is running his campaign these days is an indication, Americans don’t have to wait until next January for the answer to that one.

Cheech and Chong to tour again

Now that their feud is up in smoke, Cheech and Chong are high on plans to reunite for their first comedy tour in more than 25 years. Cheech Marin told AP Radio that he and Tommy Chong "looked at each other going, `If we're ever going to do something it has to be now because you're not getting any younger and neither am I.' Details on the tour are to come.

New Harry Potter Trailer

Not as good as I'd hoped, but new footage nonetheless.

O’Reilly's worries

Today, in a Washington Times op-ed, Bill O’Reilly complains that if President Bush’s tax cuts “on those making $250,000 or more” are repealed, “me and other rich folks” would have to finance “folks who dropped out of school, who are too lazy to hold a job, who smoke reefers 24/7.” He adds, “I am part of the 1 percent of Americans that paid an astounding 40 percent of all federal income tax in 2006,” But, as the Wall Street Journal recently noted, “the average tax rate of the wealthiest 1% fell to its lowest level in at least 18 years.” The Wonk Room has more here.

Detention for Mr. Belding

I don't think he would let Zack and Slater get away with this.

Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant in Nerd Alert: Comic Con 2008

See more Thomas_Lennon videos at Funny or Die

One post for today

The biggest news today is that the new Harry Potter movie trailer will be released tonight at 9 p.m. Check out MuggleNet at that time for a link to the trailer.

And you thought your credit card debt was bad

The White House on Monday predicted a record deficit of $490 billion for the 2009 budget year, a senior government official told CNN. The White House blames a faltering economy and the stimulus package for the increased budget deficit. The deficit would amount to roughly 3.5 percent of the nation's $14 trillion economy.

Ouch folks.

The beast named Don Logan

Lots of folks have been beaming over the extraordinary performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker in "The Dark Knight." But my vote for the best all-time villian goes to Ben Kingsley's potrayal of gangster Don Logan in "The Sexy Beast."

If you haven't seen it, get it now. Here's the trailer.

Best Bet for the week of July 27 - Aug. 2

DVD: Dark City (Director's Cut)

The War Games 25th Anniversary Edition is a given this week. And though nothing can take my attention away from Spaced: The Complete Series at the moment, I am very excited about this flick coming to DVD.

"The critically-acclaimed triumph from visionary director Alex Proyas is back with a brand new directors cut featuring enhanced picture and sound never-before-seen footage and three commentary tracks that take you deeper than ever before into the world of one of sci-fis most exciting and revered tales. When John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes with no memory at the scene of a grisly murder he soon finds himself hunted by the police a woman claiming to be his wife and a mysterious group of pale men who seem to control everything and everyone in the city."

Here comes the flipflopper...

In an interview on CNN today, McCain said that withdrawal from Iraq in 16 months is "a pretty good timetable."

That answer came when McCain was asked about Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki's earlier claim to Der Spiegel that Obama's 16-month plan "would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes."

Tron 2? Bloody cool

If you don't own the Tron 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition, then get on it. Now comes word, and footage, from Comic Con that a sequel is on the way.

Here is what was shown. Not the best quality, but cool nonetheless.

And Jeff Bridges is back.

First It Was Song Downloads. Now It’s Organic Chemistry

The NY Times posted an article about Pirate Bay uploaders contributing textbooks to the world of file-sharing. Having just taken a college graduate course, I feel the pain. Textbook costs are ridiculous, probably more so than when I was intially in college.

Oliver Stone on "W"

Here is the teaser trailer for Oliver Stone's upcoming film on George W. Bush. This looks cheesy to be honest but I am still looking forward to it.

Is there a man funnier today than Seth Rogen?

Here is a clip from the "Pineapple Express" Comic Con panel. Seth Rogen steals the show, as expected.

Videos from Day Comic Con

These videos are from footage that I'm sure the studios don't want seen outside of Comic Con, so I don't know how long they will be up. Enjoy while you can.

Stein? Stein?...SHUT UP!

Ben Stein, known best as the teacher from "Ferris Buller's Day Off," while discussing Sen. Barack Obama's plan to deliver his speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination at Denver's Invesco Field, stated that he did not "like the idea of Senator Obama giving his acceptance speech in front of 75,000 wildly cheering people." Stein further stated: "Seventy-five-thousand people at an outdoor sports palace, well, that's something the Fuehrer would have done."

Benjamin J. Stein...SHUT UP!

A true inspiration dies

Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, died Friday. He was 47. I read his book in a day and it is wonderful. Do yourself a favor and read it. If you can't, at least watch the YouTube version of his lecture.

A New Movie from the Director of "Brick"

The Brothers Bloom
24 October 2008
The Brothers Bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. Now they've decided to take on one last job - showing a beautiful and eccentric heiress the time of her life with a romantic adventure that takes them around the world
(Courtesy of IMDB.com)

(Check out Rachel Weisz's "hobbies")

Sports Brawls

The WNBA has nothing on this base-brawl from last night in Dayton, Ohio. 17 players and managers were ejected, but they were later reinstated so they could finish the game. Some poor fan was nailed in the head and sent to the hospital when the Peoria Chiefs pitcher threw a ball to the Dayton dugout during the fight. Check out this cell phone video of the whole thing.

For good measure, here's the WNBA fight from the other night.

Red Sonja Teaser Posters

I've always had a thing for Rose McGowan.

UPDATE: Check out this coverage of the Red Sonja panel from Comic Con.

Help Christian Bale evade the police

Need I say more.

http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/game_player/index.jhtml?game=177725

Previz for Louisville Arena

I dig previzualization videos for just about anything. Luckily, I got a hold of the previz for Louisville's new basketball arena. Check it out.

The Courier-Journal has also been covering the arena saga in detail. It has other articles and further drawings and renderings of the new facility.

Dealing for some X-Files

I have always wanted to own the first five seasons of the X-Files, but they have been ridiculously expensive for some time. Not today. Amazon.com has every season of the X-Files today for $19.99 each. Should I buy them or not, that is the question.

UPDATE: Alas, I have decided to save my money and pass on this exquisite deal.

"Urinating on Caleb Campbell"

Those of you into sports have probably read fire-headed blogger Gregg Doyal of CBSSports.com. He's usually infuriating no matter if you agree or disagree with him. This time, he's taken on the subject of former Army football player Caleb Campbell. Campbell, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in this year's NFL Draft, was told by the Army after his graduation from West Point that he could play football if he made an NFL team. However, the Army has reneged on it's agreement and Campbell may have to go fight in Iraq.

This led Doyal to say "... our country is just urinating on Caleb Campbell."

Check out the rest of the column here.

"The Dark Side," indeed

I just bought a copy of "The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals" after hearing writer and The New Yorker staff writer Jane Mayer speak about her latest book on C-SPAN2's Book TV. According to Democracy Now, Mayer reveals a secret report by the International Red Cross warned the Bush administration last year that the CIA’s treatment of prisoners categorically constituted torture and could make Bush administration officials who approved the torture methods guilty of war crimes. Mayer also reveals that the Bush administration ignored warnings from the CIA six years ago that up to a third of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay may have been imprisoned by mistake.

Check out the NY Times review.

"Watchmen" and "The Spirit"

Two movies I can't wait for: "Watchmen" and "The Spirit"

ComicCon 2008

Geekdom is alive and well in San Diego this weekend at the Comic Con 2008. When this blog reaches a million readers, maybe I can score a press pass. In the meantime, I'm getting my news from the blog "Cinematical."

One of my favorite bloggers Whitney Matheson will be there as well. Here's her coverage.

"Dr. Horrible" death

Now that was mean. The last episode of the three-part "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" put a damper on this otherwise wonderful series. It didn't ruin it for me, like it did for some others.

Check out the trailer, the fan site and the official site for all things Dr. Horrible.

Who Killed Chandra Levy?

I love well-written, in-depth, investigative journalism! The Washington Post has a series going on that looks into the unsolved murder of former Washington D.C. intern Chandra Levy. Like the best online reports, it includes video, photo and charts which help readers understand all aspects of this tragic thriller. It's almost completed, and hopefully the Post will name who they think killed Levy. I have my guesses, and it's not former congressman Gary Condit.

Best Bets for the week of July 20-26

DVD: Spaced: The Complete Series

I have never seen an episode of this BBC-produced series, but I already can't wait to watch all 14 epsiodes of the Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright collaboration. It also includes a feature-length documentary and commentaries with Pegg, Wright and other celebs including Kevin Smith, Diablo Cody, Matt Stone and Quentin Tarantino. The Brit boys are also here in America touting the DVD collection.

Movie: The X-Files: I Want To Believe

The 1998 film was enjoyable enough that I am mildly looking forward to this flick. However, after a wonderful weekend of watching "The Dark Knight," I don't have the highest expectations for this one. At least, Roger Ebert seems to think it's like the well-made thrillers of old.

Music: U2 - War (Deluxe Edition)

A double-dipping of one of U2's early efforts. It come's with a bonus CD of song remixes and live cuts. I'm intrigued by the songs that are remixed by Kevorkian. Certainly it's not that Kevorkian.

Global Thermonuclear War

It's one of my first memories as a child...my dad picking up the local newspaper, sifting through to the movie show times, and saying "Let's go see WarGames." It's now 25 years later, and I am off tonight to see a special digital screening here in Louisville. The event coincides with the release of the 25-year anniversary special edition DVD.

I haven't seen the movie in a while, probably not since it last aired on TBS or TNT, but I imagine that it still holds up well. We'll see tonight. Check out Wired Magazine's look back at the film here. Take a gander at that old Imsai 8080 computer.

And there is still time to join me for tonight's event.

It's time.

Blogging has finally taken a hold of me. My mind is yours for the commenting.