Does Soccer Exist in the US?

Yesterday was the big World Cup qualifier, USA vs. Mexico. This was a fairly important match for both teams and seeing as the two teams were are fighting for 1 of the 3 automatic bids to the World Cup next summer. Add to that the physical environment, 100,000+ crazed fans playing in the huge Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where the USA has never won. Despite being at work I made efforts to watch this game, going to the break room to watch whenever I could.

Problem was that the game was not broadcast in English. That means I was forced to watch the game only, I wasn't able to listen to the often insightful commentators. I assume you have deduced by now that I do not speak Spanish much at all and definitely not fluently(which is what is required when you are listening to the rapid commentary provided during any sporting event, with some exceptions). I rely on ESPN, perhaps to a fault, but they were nowhere to be seen until the game was ended and they could show replays.

I don't understand where the TV coverage was for this huge game. I believed that soccer had begun a resurgence in the USA. This conclusion is drawn from the immense success of the most recent World Football Challenge among others. Apparently, some people watch soccer in the USA because ESPN recently signed a deal to televise many FA Premier League games in the upcoming season in addition to their coverage of the UEFA Champions League. This leads me to believe that somebody in the USA must be watching all this foreign soccer besides me. Yet we can't support our national team because they are not being shown in English.

I do want to show my gratitude to Telemundo because they did at least have a live telecast of the game, even if it was in a different language. I know the next qualifier, though slightly less rivalry-filled then this game, will be on ESPN perhaps I'll find out the explanation behind this decision, eventually.

M

Movie Morsel(Star Trek)

Well I saw it again last night. After seeing it 4 times within the first week and a half of its opening, I returned to Star Trek. I didn't know if I would see it before its DVD release, but it premiered in the discount theater and I voyaged over to see it once more. Luckily for me, I did see it because it is not being released on DVD until November 17th. I know, thats ridiculous. But there is a platinum/gold lining, when they release the movie it will be in three sets with the top being a 3-disc Blu-Ray only Special Features filled Box Set. Thanks to my new Blu-Ray player, I will be lavishing in its glory on that day already marked in my calendar.

But back to my review of Star Trek, it is amazing! Good enough?

Well first you need a little background information. I have been a lifelong, diehard Star Wars aficionado. I know I may be criticized for defecting, but I have decided that in order to really be open minded I must put my favoritism behind me. I was first turned on to the Star Trek dynasty was in early November, when I saw the first trailer for the movie. I was in awe, so much so that I proceeded(with the help of the internet) to watch the entire original series, and much of The Next Generation. Let me just say that this made my movegoing experience immensely better.

The actual movie though is breathtaking. The special effects, by *ILM*, are jaw dropping, it is amazing how realistic the ships are, I thought about touching but decided not too...yet. But the best part about the special effects is that you don't think about them unless you're trying to. That is the true mark of good special effects, in ST the moviegoer has no time to think about the extensive manhours that went into each an every shot.

I have to admit I was somewhat concerned about hiring all the young (some well known) actors, and whether they would even be close to giving justice to the original characters and actors. The answer is yes. All the characters and actors portraying the characters were terrific, especially the more supporting roles( Scotty, Chekov, Sulu, etc.). After my extensive "research", it was easy to see the similarities that the new characters had with the old. Some critics may say that the characters are not the same, but my logical response is that yes they are not the same but they are very likely possibilities as to where the characters started from when they first joined Starfleet. While I'm at it, it's important to note that the plot is very good as well, might I say that it sets itself up well for a sequel(which I hope is coming).

All in all, Star Trek is incredible and it gets 5 out of 5 stars from me.

M

PS Just wait for the blog post on November 18...

Movie Morsel(New Moon Trailer)

Let me address all my (mostly female) readers who enjoy Twilight, as there was trailer for New Moon prior to the feature presentation. Its a good thing that you readers love Twilight for better or worse, because its worse. I admit to have seen the first Twilight movie, however was sorely disappointed. Let me be clear I am not hating on the story/plot of the Twilight, though not enlightening, overall it is fine. It is good that Stephanie Meyer is getting the younger crowd involved in reading, much the same as Harry Potter has done and in many cases continues to do.

I am very critical of the "not so special" effects and camera work. I will try not to go into a rant on the first movie and its laughable, borderline pathetic, camera work. But the trailer for New Moon looked fine with the exception of the (apparently) werewolf that closes out the clip. At first I couldn't figure out how the actor was supposed to turn into a computer graphic wolf, because there was never a doubt in my mind that it wasn't real. Last time I checked it was 2009, when this wolf looks like it could be produced in 1980(or earlier). The wolf looks not at all real, the fur is pathetic, I guess the wolf took up the right amount of space(for a wolf) and its movements look semi-fluid. I wish the exterior was at least mediocre. I consider myself somewhat experienced when it comes to CGI, I'm fairly certain that ILM, Industrial Light & Magic, could do better in a week, in the middle of the Sahara Desert, in the middle of the summer with their eyes closed and one hand behind their back. I am aghast that such a profitable book and first movie could have such terrible special effects in a highly anticipated sequel. I think I could donate my entire salary for two weeks(which isn't much, I am a college student) and it would double their budget for special effects.

Ok, breathe Michael. Sorry but I guess I ranted. All in all I really hope they upgrade the special effects beofre the release date, which isn't unheard of. Then maybe Jacob will actually turn into a full size werewolf as it is apparently described in the book(as I am reminded by my sister and co-worker) Perhaps it will get another chance when the movie premieres...

M

A Little Light Reading

So I just finished a book, Capone: The Man and The Era, suffice it to say I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It gave light to an Al Capone that I didn't and probably many others don't know. He was full of compassion and was very giving. Okay yes he was a powerful racketeer, and killed a few people(and green lighted many more), but he because of his notoriety and public status, is blamed as the mastermind of the gangster era and as the cause of all the troubles in Chicago(though even he answered to a higher up Frankie LaPorte, an unknown even till this day, he doesn't even have a Wikipedia page). All in all, the book was eye opening and informative, I highly encourage all you history buffs to read it.

Factoids(Future Jeopardy Questions)

~In the book the author makes the case that Al Capone would not have become the super-gangster he was had it not been for the neurosyphillis that made him temperamental.

~Famous from The Untouchables(book, tv show and Kevin Costner movie) Eliot Ness, supposed captor of Capone, really had very little to do with the actual trial and conviction of Capone.

~O'Hare Airport was named after Edward H. O'Hare, son of Edward J. O'Hare who was a secret investor with Capone. The reason it was named after the son was because he was an ace fighter pilot during World War II. The reason he joined the military was to redeem his father's underhanded dealings, though his father used his closeness with Capone and become an important FBI informer.

One Small Step For Man...

Well I have decided to make a step into the blogosphere. Why? Well I have come to the determination that I am far too opinionated, and thought/think that perhaps a few people might be curious enough to see what I care about. But the two driving forces to the mobilization of my blog are as follows: My friend Daniel has a blog and despite a perhaps limited audience, shares his thoughts to the virtual world, and a recent news story about the use of water by private users, which is a whole other story, but suffice it to say I was furious.

I plan to include in my morsels valuable information to deal hunters, recent experiments in the electronic world and sports news. I don't know if anyone will even care about any of these topics, but perhaps it will bring a varied audience. So bear with me as we take One Giant Leap For Michael.

M