Birthday Buddy

I share my birthday, March 20th, with some pretty awesome people. I am endeavoring to profile one of my birthday buddies each year here on the old blog. This year I will profile my neighbor and yours- Mr. Rogers.

Fred Rogers was not only just the beloved host of a classic children's show, but also a Presbyterian minister, a songwriter and an outspoken advocate for education. I was just a small boy when I was introduced to Mr. Rogers, but I was hooked from the first time I saw him put on that famous sweater. I even had a sweater of my own that my Grandma made for me, and let me tell you- I wore it a lot.

Unlike some of the other frantic, in-your-face kid's shows, Mr. Rogers crafted his to be a calm, earnest and engaging program that made every child who watched it feel comforted and respected. Many joked that he was cheesy, but I always found the way he spoke to be sincere and caring. I always felt a closeness to him, and like he was talking to me and me alone. It was this closeness that made me want to write him a birthday card when I found out that we shared a birthday. It was very exciting when I received a letter from him (complete with signature) thanking me for the card and wishing me a happy birthday.

I now return the favor, and say that without Mr. Rogers my childhood would have had a large void. As an only child I had some lonely times, and thanks to Mr. Rogers, I was able to have a good friend at hand who liked me for who I was, and taught me valuable lessons along the way.

Thanks, Fred and Happy Birthday.

2010 In Review

2010 was a year that saw some big things happen for yours truly, let's review shall we?

I met film director, and my birthday buddy, Spike Lee.

I had the privilege of working as an intern at KUER for RadioWest with Doug Fabrizio. It was truly an enlightening experience and I learned a great deal from everyone at KUER, especially RadioWest's producer, Elaine Clark. (P.S. That's how I got to meet Spike Lee)

My wife surprised me with tickets to see one of my all-time idols- Paul McCartney. He was in The Beatles.

We took a trip to Napa Valley with friends. It was a great trip and I learned a lot of wine factoids. For example, did you know that wine is made from grapes?

After almost a year of not having full-time employment, I got a job. A real big boy job.

I ate a really good dill pickle.

The dog and I built a fort.

I taught little kid P.E. for a brief period in the Spring. I discovered that my skills at corralling first graders still need developing.

We took our annual trip to the Utah State Fair. I ate a bunch of fried stuff on a stick and rode the Tilt-A-Whirl.

Mary Anne and I celebrated our fourth anniversary.

That about does it. Let's hope that 2011 has as much awesomeness in it as 2010 did.

1st Anniversary

One year ago, the world changed forever. It was a date that will be remembered in the annals of blogdom as long as bloggers blog. As a way to celebrate the one year anniversary of this blog, I will now post a list of some of the highlights from  the past year- just in case you missed them the first time or want to reflect back.

The First Post- Why you should read this blog

One of the first Movies of the Week- I review Point Break

The Beatles- Need I Say More?

I like James Bond

I review the Saddest Christmas Song- EVER!

Middle School can be rough- Here are my thoughts

My NBA All-Time Team

Poems I Wrote

Why the Future isn't what it should be

I review the best movie ever made

I hope you enjoyed the clip show. Another year begins...I'll keep bringing it, if you keep reading it.

Happy Birthday, United States!

This year on July 4th I am going to be celebrating this great nation with beer and fireworks and fun with friends- not bad. In addition to that, I will also be reflecting on America's place in the world. I do believe our country is the greatest on Earth, but there are some things that would make us even greater. I am proud to be an American, but I could be prouder.

First, we need to allow gay people to have the same rights under the law as straight people. Let them be married and enjoy the same benefits that my wife and I enjoy. I feel like this struggle for equality is my generation's civil rights movement. The U.S.A. seems so out of step with the times on this, and also so bigoted. I'm so tired of these people who say, "marriage is defined between a man and a woman." Guess what, people used to say that women had no right to vote and that all blacks were slaves. Get over it, things change. America has always been about being inclusive and leading by example, but in this regard we are failing miserably.

Second, in the same vein, this country needs to get rid of these ridiculous immigration laws. Having to carry documentation around in the event that you get profiled by police doesn't sound like America. It sounds like some kind of fascist regime- you know, like the ones we fought so hard to bring down during World War II?   I'm not going to go all Glenn Beck on you and bring out Nazi props, but just think about where this kind of law is going to take us. Immigration is an important issue, but Arizona has made a huge mistake in how to deal with it.

Third, and finally, let's keep the Russian spies out of America. What is this, 1960? Do we need to call England and have them send James Bond over? I know the Cold War is over, but seriously, U.S.A., nothing seems more unAmerican than letting the Russians set up shop for over a decade to spy on us. Get it together, CIA.

America is my home, and I love it, but I want to love it more. Happy Birthday, U.S.A. blow out your candles and make a good wish- (hint- wish for all that stuff I just said).

100th Post Extravaganza

I made a mistake the other day, dear readers, when I incorrectly said that I had reached my 100th post on this blog. I was wrong- please disregard my premature celebration and enjoy this actual 100th post special.

To celebrate this milestone I have invited several guests to the V.I.P. lounge to help me celebrate.

Wilford Brimley

Paula Poundstone

Jimmy Caan

Steve Guttenberg

And the musical stylings of Hall and Oates

Please enjoy the party and don't forget that we will be playing Twister later. Help yourself to some Yoohoo cocktails and some lovely Chips and Dip that Hall and Oates brought. I told you this party was gonna be off the hook.

Movie of the Week- 100th Post Special

For my 100th Post- (We made it, baby!) I will review the best movie ever made and my favorite movie ever.

This week,

THE GODFATHER (1972)

Starring- Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Diane Keaton

Winner of Best Picture and Best Actor, as well as other awards, The Godfather is AFI's third best film ever, and Conor's number one film of all time. Based on the bestseller by Mario Puzo, The Godfather is the epic story of the Corleone mafia family that launched director Francis Ford Coppola and much of his young cast to stardom, and reinvigorated Marlon Brando's career with his turn as Don Vito Corleone, aka the Godfather.

Puzo and Coppola's script brilliantly adapts Puzo's book into a sweepingly beautiful and tragic film that examines family more than it does the criminal underworld. I have always felt that The Godfather is the story about a family that happens to be involved in organized crime rather than about the mafia itself. The relationships and the struggle for parental and sibling respect and love are things that all families can relate to- regardless of their "business." In the case of the Corleones the business is illegitimate, but because of Don Vito's far reaching influence, they are almost impervious to any consequences. This all changes, however, when a drug kingpin wants to partner with the Corleones, but is rebuffed by the Don. Sollozo, the narcotics man, has the Don shot, leaving the family in chaos as the Don's sons are forced to pick up the pieces.

What happens next is the truly amazing part of The Godfather. Sonny (Caan), Michael (Pacino) and adopted son, Tom Hagen (Duvall) do their best to keep the family afloat, amid revenge killings and corrupt police who try to kill the Don while he recovers from the shooting. The back and forth between the brothers, and how they each deal with the circumstances is expertly directed by Coppola. The rapport that the actors had prior to shooting comes across on screen, as you truly believe that they are brothers. Caan is fabulous as the fiery Sonny, as is Duvall as the level headed Hagen, but the real kudos go to Pacino. Michael's evolution as a character is the real arc of the film, as he begins as an outsider who wants nothing to do with the family business, but gets drawn in after his father's near death. It is sad to think that Pacino wasn't wanted by the studio for the role of Michael because now it is impossible to imagine anyone else as the youngest Corleone son.

Michael's slide into the mafia world is brilliantly captured on screen in the famous dinner scene with Sollozo and corrupt police Captain McClusky. What follows is a sweeping love story that takes place as Michael is in exile in Sicily. Tragedies ensue, as they always do in crime families, and Michael is forced to return to take over the family from his father who has recovered, but is no longer the strong figure he once was. Pacino expertly makes his transformation throughout the film, and is helped along by the Corleone confederates who try to maintain the family's power despite long odds. By the end of the film we are overpowered by the idea of what family truly means, and how it can make us do things we never wanted to do.

While this film has been parodied and impersonated countless times, The Godfather is able to withstand them all because it is a truly timeless work of art. The direction, the dialogue, the cinematography and the fabulous ensemble cast set it apart from any competitors. Despite many problems during the shooting of the film, it could not be stopped from being great. It is all at once a crime drama, historical snapshot and family saga, and it has earned the greatest compliment of all- being featured on this blog.

Things to watch for-

The Baptism scene
Luca Brasi
That horse head
Nino Rota's iconic score
Toll booths can be deadly

"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

March 20th- Day of Kings

Happy Birthday to me! March 20th is a special day, not just because of my birth. I also share this day with some great birthday buddies, as well as some important historical events. In addition to being the first day of Spring much of the time, March 20th is a pivotal and awesome 24 hour period. Here now is the evidence.

Tunisia became independent on March 20, 1956.

The Dutch East India Company was established on March 20, 1602.

Napoleon entered Paris after his escape from Elba and began the "Hundred Days" on March 20, 1815.

Albert Einstein published his general theory of relativity on March 20, 1916.

The U.S. began the war in Iraq (So dumb) on March 20, 2003.

ALSO BORN ON MARCH 20-

Napoleon II- Ruler of France

Henrik Ibsen- Norwegian Writer

B.F. Skinner- American Psychologist

Carl Reiner- Comedian and Film Director

Fred "Mister" Rogers- Children's Show Host

Hal Linden- T.V.'s Barney Miller

Jerry Reed- Country Singer, Played Snowman in "Smokey and the Bandit"

Pat Riley- Basketball Coach of the Lakers, Knicks and Heat

Spike Lee- Film Director

Jon De Lancie- Actor who played Q on "Star Trek: The Next Generation"

Holly Hunter- Actress

Ronnie Brewer- NBA Basketball player, formerly of the Utah Jazz

Liz Elliott- The Lizard, Member of the Trifecta

Justin Samuels- Skier, Member of the Trifecta

See, March 20 is a pretty cool day.

50th Post Special

Well, dear readers, Conned has made it to the 50th post. Its a special milestone for me, and I hope you recognize how far this blog has come since August. We started off with a crappy layout and no pictures, and now we have a less crappy layout and pictures. Yay! Anyway, to mark this momentous event here are some facts about/related to the number 50.

50 is the atomic weight of tin.

Former Spurs Center David 'The Admiral' Robinson wore #50.

President Ulysses S. Grant is on the 50 dollar bill.

There are 50 chapters in the book of Genesis.

The T.V. show Hawaii Five-O is called this because Hawaii is the 50th state.

There is a Canadian beer called 50 Ale.

5o's Roman numeral is L.

50 is the golden anniversary.

In the year 50 C.E. the Romans learned the use of soap from the Gauls.

Bill Murray, Randy Quaid and Tom Petty were all born in 1950.

Just wait until we hit 100, that party is gonna be off the hook.