Away With You

A conversation at work today revolved around my commonly asked question, "If you could un-invent one thing, what would it be?"

Given my experience on the interstate this morning,
that was my answer today. Usually, though, I answer "the assembly line." I don't have the time nor the inclination to espouse those thoughts/beliefs right now. Here are a few answers from today's round table-ing:

- GM
- 7:00 am on Mondays
- Gunpowder
- the Interstate System
- Politics
- Sewage
- Chemical Fertilizer
- Slaughterhouses
- Cheese

So, what are you un-inventing in your mind?

The Oscars and Jon McLaughlin

Tonight the 80th Annual Academy Awards will take place. And it will come with all the glitz and glam, the Red Carpet previews and Joan Rivers' commentary on all the fashionistas. Someone will comment about ending the war, someone will try to talk over the "you're done" music, and someone will cry upon receiving an award. But through all of this, the only part I really care about is the performance of one Jon McLaughlin.

Most folks in Muncie know of Jon through the Living Room and his local roots, being from Anderson and all. I know him because we went to school together, went to the same church, and performed in the same Youth Group worship band. And a the risk of being "that guy," I'll say, as I watch tonight, "I know that guy." And probably more than once.

Jon McLaughlin performed the song, "So Close" in the Disney movie Enchanted. That song was nominated for Best Original Song (one of three from that movie to be nominated). And so, Jon gets to perform said song at the Oscars. Last time I checked, two other guys in his band (guitar/drums), also went to school with us and was, like myself, in jazz and marching band.

And while not dwelling on it too much, or really playing up my role as "that guy," it's just very surreal for someone you once could have daily conversations with to achieve such notable success. It started with performing at Lolapalooza, then signing with Island Records. He toured shortly with Sister Hazel, and also had a stint with Kelly Clarkson. His song, "Only Human" was used on an episode of Scrubs. And he's had songs in no less than hree movies. And now he will be performing at The Oscars.

He is very talented, always has been. And I have no doubt that he will have continued success. His first album, while moderately successful, did not truly showcase his full potential. So be it with a first album on a major record label (Island Records).

So, all this to say, good luck to Jon and his performance. And maybe even it wins the Oscar (he did not write the song, however - so I don't think he gets one). And to really be "that guy," I'm wearing my Jon McLaughlin shirt today.

The New Five Dollar Bill

Came across some previews of the new Five Dollar Bill, set to be put in to circulation in later this month or next. The $5 is the latest bill to get a colorful makeover. Working down from the highest denominations, the $1 is the only one left, before a new round of redesigns begin again.





I've read before that, despite the technological improvements to US currency (you can see some of the tech-designs in the new bill here), it is still the most counterfeited money in the world. I wonder, what with the falling value of the dollar, if that won't change.

And still, European money is more secure than US - using holograms, perforations, and raised text. Yet another thing we'll surely steal from the Europeans.

Best Movies on a Movie Day

Today, a sick day, turned into a movie day in multiple ways.
I'm currently watching the visually stunning movie, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." I'm sure I'll share more later.

And then I spent time thinking/sorting through movies in a couple of ways. So, in this lengthy post you'll get two trailers and two lists.

First the trailers:

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
It's hard to tell what the storyline is (this is the first trailer), but it still looks really good. And if it turns out well, this may be a validating movie for Shia LeBouf. And who knew: Cate Blanchett is in it. That'll be great.

King Corn
I came across the trailer through Jorge Garcia's blog. Suffice it to say this is the "Fast Food Nation" for farmers and corn. I've not seen it, but I definitely want to now. Has anyone else seen it?

And then the lists:

My Top 50 Movies (Subject to Change if people remind me of great movies I left off, or if I look at the list again and decide differently, which I've already done a dozen times today)

1 - Good Will Hunting
2 - Braveheart
3 - Shawshank Redemption
4 - Life is Beautiful
5 - LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring
6 - Dead Poets Society
7 - Saving Private Ryan
8 - Schindler's List
9 - Philadelphia
10 - Field of Dreams
11 - High Fidelity
12 - Cold Mountain
13 - American Beauty
14 - Batman Begins
15 - 300
16 - Magnolia
17 - Rocky IV
18 - The Village
19 - Forrest Gump
20 - The Rainmaker
21 - 12 Angry Men
22 - Toy Story
23 - About a Boy
24 - As Good as it Gets
25 - Hoosiers
26 - Contact
27 - Vertigo
28 - Unbreakable
29 - Robin Hood
30 - You've Got Mail
31 - A River Runs Through It
32 - Amelie
33 - Singing in the Rain
34 - The Talented Mr. Ripley
35 - Kung Fu Hustle
36 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
37 - When Harry Met Sally
38 - Love Actually
39 - Se7en
40 - Castaway
41 - A Few Good Men
42 - Psycho
43 - Grizzly Man
44 - X2
45 - To Kill a Mocking Bird
46 - Moulin Rouge
47 - Tombstone
48 - Almost Famous
49 - The Recruit
50 - Finding Nemo


Movies I'm Wanting to See

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Apocalypse Now, Dances with Wolves, The Last Samurai, The Road to Perdition, Bull Durham, Cool Hand Luke, Duck Soup, Bonnie and Clyde, V for Vendetta, King Corn, Annie Hall, Young Frankenstein, What Would Jesus Buy?, Once, Across the Universe, 3:10 to Yuma, No Country for Old Men, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Harvey, The Graduate

Boilermakers: I'll drink to that!

Big Ten Leader Purdue Knocks of #8 Michigan State

Before last season began, I decided to rededicate my fandom to Old Black and Gold. And I believed in them, in their ability to rebuild a program driven into the ground by faded Hall of Fame-r in Gene Keady (worst comb-over in history?) And alum Matt Painter stepped in and resurrected the Boilers. Last year's return to the Big Dance was the warning shot. This year, they've taken charge of the Big Ten.

Sure, there was an embarrassing loss to a no-name school (literally, I can't remember if the school had a name) in the early season. But since the Big Ten season has started, they have steamrolled their way through the competition. And it will all come to a head next week, when the youngest team in the Big Ten heads to Bloomington and face the pre-season favorites.

As for me, I think Player of the Week Robbie Hummel is holding his own against the presumed savior of IU basketball, Eric Gordon (the good angel to Sampson's bad angel? Or is it two bad angels - Gordon did pull a "Sike!" on Illinois, which they vocalized their disgust last week).

And, not to get ahead of ourselves, but this is just the first year for the Purdue young'ens. Where Eric Gordon will almost undoubtedly catapult into the NBA after a single year, Hummel is going nowhere. And neither are the other four freshman (two starters) or four sophomores. They'll only lose one senior. So, I'll blow my trumpet now and hope for the best this season, looking toward a possible championship and perhaps a Sweet Sixteen birth, but I can rest upon the fact that the same team will be back next year. Then, maybe then, we can restore the glory days of the Big Dawg, Glen Robinson, and return to the Final Four.