Why Don't We Care About Hockey?

The Flyers are in the Stanley Cup Finals, and in Philadelphia, it SHOULD be a big deal. It doesn't feel that way.

When the Eagles are just in the playoffs, everywhere people are cheering even during the off days in preparation for the upcoming game. For the Flyers, who are in the championship game? Not so much. When the Phillies are in the World Series, forget it.

I think it represents that hockey still has some serious work to do to get back in the national spotlight, even a few years following their horrendous lockout. The last time the Flyers were in the Cup Final (1997,) the city was completely wrapped up in the team. Of course, we had much more captivating stars like Eric Lindros, John LeClair, and of course, Ron Hextall.

For me, I think the Flyers have always been my favorite Philadelphia team, because they were the best team in the city when I was young. My bedroom is covered in Flyers gear, and I remember being SO excited for the Flyers, not Eagles, Phillies, and definitely not the Sixers.

The NHL still needs to get on the national map. Make hockey the top story on ESPN daily. It needs to get out of the Versus TV contract and evolve into something with serious national spotlight. I'm not sure what channel can provide that amount of momentum besides ESPN, but Versus is clearly not the answer. Does anyone actually watch Versus for anything other than hockey and the annual Tour De France (does anyone even watch that?)

It's upsetting to me to see how little people seem to care about the championship round of a sport in their own city. I think the Phillies and Eagles have made Philly spoiled. We're not so desperate anymore, we just only root for teams we believe in, and nobody believes in the Flyers. Insert sad face here.

Anyways, Go Flyers!

Comparing the LOST and 24 Finales

This week I lost a bit of my entertainment soul. For the past 6 and 9 years, I've had Lost and 24 to watch every Monday and Tuesday. It made my week go much quicker. These were shows I was heavily invested in. Of course 24 has been declining steadily for the past few years (I would say Season 5 was the last awesome season, and 6 was just decent. 7 and 8 bordered on absurd, but the change of scenery helped keep it somewhat interesting.)

The shows are two different entries - obviously one that attempts to be "real" and another that started as real and crossed into the sci-fi realm. Both played with time constraints, one on purpose and one using it more liberally than it should have (no way Jack Bauer could stay awake, not eat, not go to the bathroom, and always have a charged phone available for 24 consecutive hours.)

Regardless, the shows provided me with enormous amounts of entertainment during my adolescent and college years. It's kind of fitting that both end at the same time I end college. It's also interesting the main characters of each show is named Jack.

In both of the finales, I realized the differences in the shows. 24 really is a tragedy. It's the story of a man (Jack Bauer) who gives EVERYTHING to preserve the judicial system, including his family and his health, and the system keeps trying to literally tie him down. He's been ordered to be shot on site multiple times, had martial law applied against him, and so on. I already blogged about this. The thing with Jack is that he never gets what he wants. Each season ends with him having to be on the run or on the verge of death or being abducted or something ridiculous. The minute he gets what he wants it gets taken away.

The series ends with Jack literally having to flee the country, but this time for good. He can't speak to his daughter ever again, see his granddaughter, etc.

Lost was a different animal. Beyond all of the mythology and mystery involved, the show was about a group of characters. Although Jack Sheppard died, it ended with him sacrificing himself to save everyone. Technically Bauer sacrificed himself, but never had actually given his life. He came very VERY close, but never all the way.

Jack Sheppard also had a happy ending because of the flash sideways (purgatory) timeline that Jack Bauer will never see. It's never going to be how he wants.

Lost, as I said, was a community-driven storyline. It was about how the people survive and live together. 24 was not. I was actually much more upset about the finale of 24 over Lost because Lost had that happy ending or sorts - they defeated the MIB and were able to move on to the "afterlife" together. Jack Bauer was exiled or would have to face prosecution of the law FOR TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. It's the true tragic hero that I believe American storytellers are continually drawn towards because of the characters flaws. For as much excitement and great things Jack Bauer has provided, he's flawed, and only has 2 people he can really count on, but he has to leave them behind to keep his country and them safe. It never ends.

These shows were great for television, specifically network television, and I hope that we see shows that match their intensity in the upcoming years.

In the meantime, anyone have any good shows for me to watch?

Batteries

Let's be honest, we run on batteries. I don't mean humans. I mean our well-being. Cell-phones, Laptops, iPods, iPads, Cars, Remote Controls, Watches, etc etc.

It's reached somewhat of a breaking point. I know I use my BlackBerry a lot, but the thing won't last me 5 hours on a full charge (and I turned it off for 45 minutes cause I was in a job interview.) What is the point of having a phone that can't even last a full day?

Again, I know I use the thing too much. I also know I'm not alone with this problem. Our phones have become like a third appendage, especially if it is a smart-phone. We have too many options on these devices that can keep our attention but drain our battery. I use it for Twitter, Foursquare, when I'm lost (which is often in NYC) I use Google Maps to GPS me to the subway.

I'm not sure what the right solution is. I can only think of two: Either downgrade the phone's and make them simpler, or enhance the power/lasting ability of the phone. I can't be tied down every 5 hours to find an electrical outlet. In today's world, you HAVE to be in touch at all points in time. If I can't have a device that lasts me all day, then I need to find something else. The problem lies in that I'm stuck in the stupid contract - for another 18 months. 5 hours a day for 18 months. I literally have to take my charger with me everywhere I go and HOPE for an outlet.

It's become absurd. We're obsessed with our devices. We shouldn't be, but we are.

In the meantime, does anyone have an extra BlackBery Tour battery, or a new phone for me? Thanks!

My New Favorite Game Show: Baggage

During Junior Year of College I went on a huge game show binge. The Game Show Network was my new best friend. I'm not sure how or why - I guess I was getting tired of the MTV/VH1 nonsense and I also had 3 days off a week AKA too much free time. It got to a point where me and my roommate were trying SO HARD to see someone on Millionaire win the Million. Of course it happened on a Friday when we were out, that was one of the more disappointing moments of the school year. I'm serious.

Anyway, I've lost touch with GSN until The Soup informed me of this new game show they have - Baggage. Hosted by Jerry Springer, it's like a cross between Deal or No Deal - clearly a favorite since it's one of my favorite sayings - and Exposed. Here's a link to the entire first episode. If you don't have an extra 20 minutes (come on, it's summer, if you took the time to read this you can watch that,) just skip to the last 3 minutes and try not to laugh to hard. Please.

Let me quickly explain the concept:

1 contestant goes through 3 people's of their "baggage" - 3 rounds, with each one being more "baggy" than the next. In the second round, the "baggage" is revealed not by person, and the contestant must choose which "baggage" is "too much to carry" and must leave the show, leaving two contestants.

--- That's part of what I love --- the cheesy one liners that come as a part of the show. When someone is kicked off, they must "pack up your bags and head on out of here." It's like those corny episodes of Next on MTV. It makes me laugh every time. And when they defend their baggage, there's usually some convoluted idiotic Room Raiders type-of-thinking where it's like: Well, I don't know if we can date, because you have 100 purses, and I just don't know if I can afford you! (In Room Raiders, it would be: "You have a lot of purses, that must mean you like to spend money, and I don't know if I can support that." I love this stuff.)

Anyways, at the end, after the contestant has picked the baggage that he or she can "carry" - the tables are turned, and then he/she must reveal their biggest baggage and the "winner" has to determine if he/she can handle the baggage.

What's underlying from the show is that this show is SO TRUE. People are judging based off only knowing a few things about you - and only the "bad" things, things you wouldn't tell someone right away.

When getting into a relationship (even a normal friendship) you don't reveal your life history. It comes with time - because you're scared of what the other person will think. You're scared they might not want to be friends. That's why people struggle with "coming out" - the criticism and fear that their friends might not accept them for being different than they were perceived originally.

Specifically in more serious "romantic" relationships, there's just things you don't tell your significant other's right off the bat. You don't say "I've been arrested" or whatever your dirty mind can come up with, I'm trying to stay somewhat PG. The show proves how judgmental and low our society is. People don't give you a chance when they hear something about your past right away, even if it happened so long ago. People grow and people change - the person that did that so long ago isn't the same person now, and maybe that's because of the event that caused the baggage. Our society say it doesn't matter. Awful. Everyone deserves a second chance.

Except for cheaters. You cheat, you should have a red X on your forehead for a year. I'm kind of not kidding. That's not cool. After a year of a red X on your head maybe you'll get a clue. Okay, so that's really dumb, but I actually hate cheaters. As much as I love Tiger, he lost a lot of credibility in my book. I still want him to win, but I hope he never finds love. I really do. He had it and threw it away. Too bad he's so rich it won't matter. People who cheat really piss me off. Too bad it seems like everyone does. Brutal.

Okay I strayed from my point, just had to get that out.....

Anyways, you should watch Baggage! 6:30PM GSN!

Oh and one of my favorite lines (and this is how I'll close) at the end, Jerry Springer says "Well we didn't find a match today, but we had a lot of fun!"

So one of my goodbyes to college is: Well I didn't find a match in four years, but I had a lot of fun!

LOST - "The End" Review

I don't even know what to think. My mind was blown. I was excited. I was upset. I couldn't speak between 11PM-12AM. The finale was an eye opener to me on the whole series. I'm about to get real academic and read probably WAY too into the show.

As much as you can wonder what the Island is and the actual purpose of everything - it doesn't matter. The show is a character-driven story. The Island isn't the main character. Life isn't about trying to deal with all of the random challenges - smoke monsters are a metaphor for greedy opportunities, having to be a 'protector' of something, feeling trapped, etc. They all worked together to overcome these challenges, although they lost some friends along the way.

Rather, Life is about the people you connect with along the way. The Original Timeline was indeed real. Everything that happened. As Christian said, that was the most important time of the castaway's lives. It was when their will was tested the most to survive, to "Live Together" so they don't "Die Alone."

The Original Timeline all makes sense. Well, at a basic level. Of course I have SEVERAL questions relating directly towards what happened - specifically with what was going on in The Source. I'll do that later. But this is my thought process for how it all worked out:

Desmond was somewhat misled - he believed that by pulling the plug (uncorking the wine bottle) that the Losties would teleport to the Flash Sideways. They would be fine. The Island would be gone, but who cares? Desmond was the only one in the Original Timeline that was somewhat aware of the Sideways timeline. He didn't know what it meant necessarily - not that we did.

So Jack makes the "ultimate sacrifice" to save the Island. Hurley and Ben stay behind, becoming the new Jacob and Richard. What happens after that is unknown, and we don't really need to know. The show has always been about Jack. It opens and closes with Jack.

But now the Flash Sideways. As Christian said, it was the alternate reality that the Losties made together so they could "move on" together. Think about how many people have died over the seasons - innocent people. The only people that deserved to die was Anthony Cooper and Michael. They all spent so much time together on the Island that they wanted to move on together - and that was the point of the alternate flash sideways. Everyone was living a life they SHOULD have had - but for whatever reason their flawed lives did not allow in the original timeline. Sure, not everything was perfect, but it was more ideal than previously.

Once they all became "aware" of where they had been, they all came together to move on, lead by a Sheppard of Christians - quite a play on words. They didn't want to move on without each other, so now they move on together, and that was what the flash sideways was all about. They had died at different times, I'm assuming Hurley and Ben died at a later point, along with Kate & Sawyer, but they all wanted to move on together. Anna-Lucia wasn't ready, because she didn't have enough of a connection on the Island to anyone. Michael was stuck because he killed his own people for selfish purposes.

You don't really need to understand everything about the Island to understand the premise of the show. It's about these flawed and somewhat broken individuals who ban together for a life altering experience on the Island - as a group.

In fact --- the Island detracted from the story. The episode "Across The Sea" was VERY interesting, but the episode took away from the story that we cared about. We just saw the death of Sayid, Sun, and Jin. We were upset. People cried. We needed "Across the Sea" to move the story to the finale, but it takes away from the point of the show.

Lost is a story about community. How they react, how they struggle, based on their past, how it establishes their future, and how these people are ultimately tied together forever because of the events that have taken place on the Island.

Random Thoughts/Questions I will forever have:

1) Really excited that it was Kate & Jack.

2) Smokie can't die until the Island is "uncorked?" Can he turn into Smoke or is he then mortal? And couldn't he be killed at the source? That would make the most sense. Is there a need for new Smokie once the form in Locke is gone?

3) Bigger thought/question - What was it that Smokie really wanted to go back to? Doesn't he realize that 2,000 years later his people were gone? What was he going to do when he landed on the other land? Start a blog?

3.5) Same for Richard - where is he going? And he seemed to be showing a gray hair, so he's mortal because Jacob is dead? He has nothing left there.

4) Why was the Source not as light when Desmond went in it? Was that because Smokie had most of the light (turned to darkness) ?

5) What was Ben staying behind for? I assume Alex/Rousseau, but who knows.

6) Still, what exactly is the Island? It was most definitely real, but what was it?

Overall, wow, what a series. I want to rewatch all of it knowing what I know now, but I have very little time to reflect, because tonight we see the end of Jack Bauer. It's like my child/college mainstays are all ending at the same time.

Everything only ends once, everything else is just progress.

I'll see you in another life brotha. (which takes on a whole new meaning)

How Excited Am I For LOST?

This isn't a OMG WTF LOST IS OVER post. I woke up this morning feeling SO EXCITED for tonight. I was trying to think the last time I was this excited when I woke up (and it wasn't Christmas). I came up with a few. I'll share them with you, because I still have seven hours to go and this blog is supposed to be fun?

1) October 27, 2004 - Red Sox were up 3-0 on the St. Louis Cardinals and were going to win

2) February 6, 2005 - Super Bowl XXIX - Unfortunately the Eagles didn't win

3) October 28, 2007 - Red Sox were up 3-0 on the Colorado Rockies and were going to win

4) November 19, 2007 - My first Bruce Springsteen concert

5) August 19, 2008 - My next Bruce Springsteen concert (first time I heard Jungleland and Thunder Road and first time I cried at a non-funeral)

6) April 19-20 2009 - The next (and last two) Bruce Springsteen concerts (notice a trend?)

7) April 19, 2010 - My last Boston Marathon

and

8) May 23, 2010 - The Lost Finale.

Isn't it great when you can look back and remember those things that made you SO excited for life? Sure, I have bunch more, but those were great. Maybe they all have to do with sports and Bruce, so what! Those are the things I'm passionate for.

Can't wait for tonight!

The Final LOST Post Before The Finale - I Think

Wow. It's finally here. After six season of polar bears, buttons, time travel, others, black smoke, flashbacks, flashforwards, and one strange island, this is the finale. I'm going to use the This Is It reference here, and if you read my previous post, you get the joke. If not, I'm sorry, please keep reading.

The thing I absolutely love about a series like LOST is that we are 2.5 hours away from the complete end of a series, and I still have no clue what is actually going to happen. There's too many possibilities and the writers have done a great job of keeping it wide open to speculation and thought.

SO WHAT I THINK WILL HAPPEN

Desmond is the key here. Jack has assumed role of protector, and Smokie cannot kill him (or any of the other candidates really.) It's also been established that one cannot really kill Smokie. They can push or hit him like a normal human, but they cannot truly kill him. He represents a higher being.

Smokie's plan is to sink the Island. I assume that means to lead Ben to the Source, allow him to take it (how one takes it is a mystery) and then the Island --- and humanity --- ends. However, I'm having a feeling that Ben has something up his sleeve. In my crazed head, he's going to have Miles go back to Widmore's body, find out the purpose of Desmond/why Widmore came back, relay that to Ben, who will then try to help Richard (if he's still alive) and Jack.

I think the way to kill Smokie is the same way he came into the world - throw him back into the Source. Only Jack or Desmond can do this, and seeing as how Jack has to protect the Island, I'm assuming that it will be Desmond. Smokie probably will not go willingly, but Desmond has proven to be able to handle the electromagnetism that comes with the Source, meaning he can literally drag Smokie into the Source. Then the spirit that is Smokie is entrapped back in the Source, and there is no evil spirit. Jack truly has nothing to protect the Source from, because everyone will want to leave the Island -- I'm assuming Ben dies somehow.

HOW THIS RELATES TO THE ALTERNATE TIMELINE

I'm still not sure. Which is what is so confusing. It seems to me that the people who are still alive/on Jacob's side are all heading to this concert - ALL CANDIDATES WELCOME - Kate, Jack, Sawyer, Miles, Faraday, Widmore, Desmond, Hawking, probably Charlie, they'll all be there. This massive group brought together SHOULD spark something. Jack seeing Kate (after operating on Locke - which somehow will relate to the OT and having to kill the body of Locke in Smokie)

Sayid is off to another area with Hurley. Probably somewhere with Claire and Jin and Sun - maybe all to the Hospital? Forming of the sides. Hurley is taking Sayid there - but why Hurley? Is this a foreshadow of Hurley? Sacrifice to get Locke dead?

THE THINGS I WANT RESOLVED BUT PROBABLY WILL NOT HAVE RESOLVED

WHAT THE $%^$ IS THE ISLAND

Seriously, how does this thing work. How did the light come to be? How did Mother come? How was the statue built? How special is the "Protector" ? Can he really control the destiny of the people chosen to come? WHY DOES THE SOURCE EVEN EXIST? HOW DOES THIS STUFF WORK??

What I'm kind of thinking, but know I'll never know --- The source represents power. Human nature is to be powerful. Everyone wants more. We have the ability to be powerful in our own right - controlling our lives and the lives of those around us - for good or evil. Hence what the MiB turned into. He turned into incarnate evil - exactly what he wanted. It's helping him the ability to leave, but not fully granting it.

The light is so powerful it's leaking out - hence the several electromagnetic pockets around the island. By Dharma digging into the electromagnetic pocket it allows for a release that COULD release the Source - hence why the button had to keep being pushed - "just savin' the world" - because the release would be the end. How this all relates to the ability to travel through time and the donkey wheel I'm not entirely sure. Humans have been working to chip away at the core of the island and access the power - but because they're dumb they don't realize they're destroying humanity.

ANOTHER THING --> If Smokie is trying to use people to get off, why does he kill them all in "Ab Aeterno"? He needs them to get out.

Who let the Dharma Initiative come and stay? How did they know about the electromagnetic fence that would keep Smokie out and why didn't Smokie kill the "Others"?

How did the Temple/beneath the Temple happen? I doubt Smokie wanted to create that himself. Was it always there?

Finally, just a retrospective - it's been a long six years. I think it's safe to say that Damon and Carlton had no clue what they were getting into when they first started. The topics have moved so quickly from season to season.

Season 1 - What is the Island/Survival/Strange Things

Season 2 - What is the Dharma Initiative/Walt/The Button

Season 3 - The Others/Desmond's Time Travel/Communicating with the outside world

Season 4 - Widmore & Ben/Rescue/Torching the Island

Season 5 - Getting Back/Time Travel/Dharma/Jughead

Season 6 - Saving The Island from Smokie/The New Jacob

Looking back, was all of this relevant to telling the ultimate story? Was all that nonsense over Walt really necessary? It all seems so drug out for this point I'm not sure I'm wholly satisfied that I've watched the series over and over for this. There should of been more of an endgame from the beginning, and slowly introduce them. We shouldn't of first heard of Jacob in Season 3 and never actually seen him until the end of Season 5. I guess part of it creates the mystery of the show - we've sat and asked who is Jacob for 2.5 years. The show just seemed to move so slow in the beginning to set up the characters that it was frustrating.

In the end, I'm going to watch the finale and I'm sure my jaw will be on the floor. And I'm sure I'll write another post about how epic the show is. It can't possibly be better than The Wire, but from a passionate/speculative perspective, this show rocks.

Namaste.

College

What a strange four years it's been. I came in as a young, relatively shy 18 year old, where my only real hobbies included eating cheesesteaks/cheesecakes, sports, and playing video games, and I left with those still hobbies in mind, but have developed so much more interests and abilities. I'm not sure if that is due to college, or life experiences, or just growing up, but it's great.

College is an unusual life journey. It's when you supposedly grow up and realize what you want to do. I don't think I've reached that point yet. I'm not sure you ever do. You're supposed to keep evolving, learning, and growing.

But damn, what's a fun four years I've had. From a small dorm in Rich Hall to a lovely (cough) apartment in South Campus, I've kept the same few best friends the entire journey - and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Sure, I've made a few other really good friends (including being adopted - AYO T & C), other random acquaintances, some ups and downs, and some people I'm sure I'll never want to see again.

It's funny looking at things through pictures - how we've grown, how we've stayed the same. Sure, I have the memories in my head of what we did, but not the photo evidence. It's crazy to go through them year by year. Real quick so you understand what I'm saying:
Frosh Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year (yes we were legal drinking age)
And finishing it out where it began at graduation.

It's been great. You'll notice most of the same people in the pictures - I love it. Sure, I couldn't find one that had all of my friends, but I think it captures enough of our friendship over the past four years.

Last night was my first night back home, and it was brutal (although there was an unbelievable 24 on.) It's not easy going from the freedom to the unknown. No jobs, no real idea of what the future holds, and being so far away from your friends, with no idea when you'll see them again.

I do know that college has made me into a better person. It's a great feeling when at the end of four years, you can come away with a solid group of friends (with the most supportive parents for people they've never met,) knowledge and skills to succeed in a professional level, and just the overall confidence to believe in myself.

I don't attribute that to Boston University, because as I've made clear, I think they have some dysfunctional aspects of their own to deal with, but I do believe a few professors and most importantly the people I've interacted with on a near-daily basis have really helped to shape everything about me - and I'm forever grateful. The only thing that could of made it better would be to get a job - but that will come with time.

The best four years of your life. I just hope the next couple decades can match them.

THIS IS IT

At the beginning of the school year, me and my roommate made a joke that THIS IS IT, based on the Michael Jackson concert that he was supposed to have. We have no real care for Jackson, it's just part of a joke. Literally we would walk around and scream THIS IS IT and try to look like MJ when he's announcing the concert.

Well, This Is It.

It's been a great final year. It's kind of surreal. You reach a point where you finally feel comfortable going around and running into people you kind of know and can strike up a conversation and make new friends. You know where the cool bars are, who the bad people are, where's the good food, etc. Now it's all being taken away and I'm (probably) moving to somewhere entirely different. The whole process starts over.

It reminds me of high school. You just started driving and doing cooler and exciting things. Very similar to being 21 and being able to go to a bar. Exploring options that were previously unavailable to you.

But what also happened in high school is you lose your friends after you graduate. I didn't lose all of them, but everything's so different. I don't talk to them as much as I'd like. I'm using that to learn from it - enjoy the time you have with these people. Some of these friends will be there for life. Others are only enjoying the four years you have, and maybe you'll run into them every now and again.

It's senior week at school, and it's been great. We've had too many cool events - Foxwoods, Martha's Vineyard, a cruise around the harbor, Red Sox game, etc. It's honestly been the best week of school. It's probably because I'm not doing schoolwork. It's like the Spring Break you've never had, because it's in your city and everyone's there. I've probably made more serious real friends in the past 5 days than all semester. It's too bad it all has to come to an end. I'd love to just keep repeating this semester over and over. But this is life. To get out there and keep evolving and branching out. [Very Tyler Durden of me.]

It's an exciting few days. I've got a lot to write about once it's all over. But for now, cheers to 2010.

Looking at Boston's "Aquapacalypse" from a PR Perspective

Well, the crisis is finally over. It took a little over 60 hours. It was painful, unpleasant, etc. Yet it provided me with some perspective. At my current internship, we represent several restaurants and service clients. How can we produce some positive press for our clients out of a disastrous situation?

I spoke with my boss yesterday about it, and it helped me realized what he specifically did. First he called his specific clients and asked what they were doing - covering their tracks ensuring for no bad press, but then also making suggestions for an example of how the company can go above and beyond and build a better reputation.

In the example of one of our hotel clients, they had one of the more serious responsibilities of informing & providing their guests with the information and water to maintain a pleasant stay. For our restaurants, they had to adapt to making sure they could cook and provide their guests water as well. For one of our bigger clients - a coffee company - everyone was literally DEPRIVED. (I'm really glad I never drink coffee. I was just water-deprived rather than coffee. Water is my coffee.) So today they'll be going around the city giving out coffee to everyone as a thank you for tolerating the lack of coffee - which is a very appropriate gesture.

My point is - there's always another opportunity out there. It's PR's job to take advantage of them. I'm excited about getting started.

Ode to Fight Club

It's a slow day at work. I've been up since 6:30 AM. I don't have much else to do than blog or apply for jobs. I'm doing both, cause I'm definitely not studying.

Over the weekend I watched Fight Club. It's been a while since the last time I've watched it, probably about a year?

It's always a very thought provoking movie that has caused me to write several academic papers (yes, as in for class) about the current state of the American society in 21st Century America.

Before I start lecturing, I should give my history with Fight Club. In my senior year at the Prep, I took a banned books class. It wasn't really banned books, but it was more "controversial" books. That class might of been the only class I've ever enjoyed reading for school. We read some great books like Fight Club, Harry Potter, Requiem for a Dream, Trainspotting, and American Psycho. My teacher used to call it "cool books class."Couldn't be more spot on. At an all guys school, what could be cooler than reading "real" books, not the traditional "academic" books.

Anyway, so I hadn't read or seen the movie yet. I just wasn't really into movies. I'm still not compared so some of my friends in COM/CFA, but that's also because film is their major, so that makes a difference.

I read the book. If you haven't, do it. It's great. Particularly if you haven't seen the movie. I think it's always better to read the book beforehand - how many times does someone say the book was better than the movie? Almost always. One just takes more time than the other. Sometimes much more time depending on your ADHD.

The book/movie totally change your mind about life. At least for me. We've set ourselves up in this convoluted system where our possessions own us. We aren't free. "The things that you own end up owning you," as Tyler would say. Think about it. We've become so into our cell phones and furniture and iPods and iPads and HDTVs and our nice pair of jeans and our cars and so on and so on. We've enslaved ourselves. We work just so we can buy stuff we don't really need.

The character of Tyler Durden is an interesting man, even though he isn't real. He has a unique way of thinking that's radical yet feels true. People have these dreams but never follow through. For example, if you really wanted to be an athlete, you would have to commit everything you had to it. I'm sure most guys dream of playing professional sports, but don't commit to it. Tyler represents the thinking that we were meant to have - Do what you want to do. Don't have any reason to hold yourself back. If you want to get in a fight, why not? If you don't want to get married, who cares? Instead, do whatever. Keep evolving however, don't settle.

The concept of the "white male" is really what's under the microscope - and it has really evolved, and now they don't really have an identity. As everyone kind of "melts" into the Melting Pot concept, there is no more class that's more powerful than others. In history, it was traditionally the white male. No longer is that the case. Everyone's catching up - and in some areas certain demographics do better. So these relatively "successful" men have no concept of what to do anymore - no longer are they the most powerful people in the room. Not only that - add in the rapid development of divorce - children raised by single parents can really intimidate the masculinity (or femininity in the opposite sense) of the child and leave them without an identity. All they have is their possessions from their money. No personal sense of purpose or accomplishment. Is your life seriously about working as a waiter your entire life? What about a police officer? Or maybe a secretary?

The problem with Tyler's lifestyle is that it's flawed. No one can just afford to stop everything they're doing and sever ties with their situation. In Tyler's ideal world, there is choice. You have the choice to let go everything you have and pursue something serious. Unfortunately it isn't that simple. Tyler is the extreme of one side. We need to find the happy medium. Tyler's everything we want, but without paying the price. It's an interesting sacrifice. There's so many things I would love to do (travel, live on the beach, drink clean water) and I can't because I'm fighting the system to succeed. As is everyone else. I don't usually "read" into movies and books, but I really believe that Fight Club is a great social commentary that really let's out a message under the guise of a sleep-deprived narrator. Anyways, let's go get that life we want. The pursuit of happiness.

Planning Out My Summer Concert Schedule

The other day one of my buddies from home asked me about what summer concerts we were attending. And the continuing trend in my life is I have no idea what I'm doing this summer. Where I'll be. What I'll be doing. Who I'll be with. The worst was that I realized I really can't schedule any concerts. What if I end up in NYC? I can't keep commuting down to Philly to go with my buddies. But summer concerts are so much a part of my summer - the tailgating, the grass, just relaxing and enjoying the music. Then go to the beach. Ugh. Do I have to get a job?

So anyway, I'm going to pretend that I'm home in Philly and have some serious dough to play around with. Because BU gave us 18 days between class and graduation and this is much more fun than job applications or panic attacks (or boiling water.)

Bon Jovi - Hersheypark Stadium. May 19.

I debated on this one. I don't know many Bon Jovi songs at all. I just feel like it would be an experience to see "Livin on a Prayer" live. I also believe there's a lot of people that literally BLEED Bon Jovi. I don't know if I could handle it. I do love the Hersheypark Stadium though, and it's always a nice 2 hour drive over there. The 2 hour drive home after the show is not as nice. Acoustics aren't great, but I saw Bruce and Blink there and had a great time at both. And Blink was in Katrina-type rain.

Conan O'Brien - Borgata. May 30.

This one's not a concert. Sue me. It would be awesome. I bet that's Memorial Day Weekend, so I would probably be down the shore anyway, so why not see my favorite comedian in a show that's getting pretty good reviews. I bet he's hysterical with the cameras turned off and he can say and do whatever he likes. Could be great.

Dave Matthews Band - Susquehanna Bank Center. June 30 & July 1.

Another one I debated with. Dave's been that like "typical summer concert" that everyone goes to. I would at least tailgate Dave a lot. With or without tickets. It's probably been 6 or 7 years. Sometimes I think I should grow up, but I think I have. It's not about getting away from parents to hang out with kids like it used to be. Now it's enjoying friends and music. So Dave's an iffy, but I'm gonna have so much money from the lottery that it'll work.

u2 - Lincoln Financial Field. July 12.

I saw this show live on YouTube. It was nuts. I'm not huge on U2, but I think the show would be absolutely excellent. Plus in a venue like the Linc, how could you go wrong? I have a feeling this could be like a Bon Jovi scenario, where there's alot of U2 lovers then me, but I can deal. I feel like U2 is one of those bands every rock music fan should see. At some point anyway. And no, they're not the greatest band on the planet.

O.A.R. - Festival Pier. July 24.

No brainer. I love O.A.R. Had a great time at every show I've been to with them - I'm only really mad I didn't spend New Years at their show in Atlantic City. Setlist was amazing. These guys are great.

John Mayer - Susquehanna Bank Center. July 30.

Is it wrong that I want to go? I saw his VH1 Storytellers and it was awesome. I would probably be one of the few guys there. Maybe after I get all this money to afford these shows I'll get a girlfriend I could take. That sounds like a nice date right? But then she would leave me for John Mayer. So maybe not.

Green Day - Susquehanna Bank Center. August 3.

I don't think they work at a grass, open air venue. They need to be inside an arena. Regardless, I screwed up last year in not seeing them at the Spectrum and need to go again. When you hear "Time of Your Life" live, your life will never be the same. Say what you want about Green Day, I still really enjoy them. In fact I like their stuff post-2000 than the stuff that made Green Day into superstars. They've grown up, they're storytellers, and they're unique. The concept of them making American Idiot into a Broadway musical is fantastic, and I bet the show is cool for those who understand it.

Jimmy Buffett - Susquehanna Bank Center. August 7 & 10.

If you know me, you know nothing says Summer tunes like Jimmy. It's kind of strange. I could work out at the gym listening to "Margaritaville." I don't think many people can say that. Anyways, I've been to a few of his shows and they're always ridiculously fun. The best part is that Jimmy is the Dave of the previous generation. So there's a lot of old - really old - people there who are so drunk they can't sing - or even stand - right. The tailgating scene is unbelieveable. People go all out with the Island theme and it's beautiful. If I could live in the parking lot, ugh. I'm getting emotional.

So that's the eight shows I want to go to. If I'm paying $50 a pop, that's only $400. Plus another $300 for tailgating accessories, we're only talking $700. Not a big deal. Who's down?

I Love That Dirty Water

If you're not in Boston, then you're missing out. We've had a massive (and unprecedented) water mane break in the city - leaving the place under a "boil order" for all water and honestly causing a sense of chaos for no real reason.

People are going to grocery stores and buying water as if they're stocking up their bomb shelters for the impending nuclear winter. I saw one woman get 10 cases of water yesterday. That's 240 bottles. I'm hoping it was not all just for her.

Boston University, in all of it's great service to it's students (and senior's final two weeks of college before we get hit with a) reality and b) them asking for "donations") can only give you water if you've got a meal plan to their dining hall. I'm serious. Me and my roommate stopped by yesterday to try and pick up one bottle of the great "Terrier Water" and were told no, I need to sign up for a meal plan. WHAT KIND OF INHUMANE PLACE IS THIS? NO WATER UNLESS YOU PAY AN EXTRA THREE GRAND. SORRY.

Sorry, I got a little carried away. It's too easy sometimes.

The other great thing about Boston right now is the weather - the place is gorgeous. Had a beautiful day out. Until I was feeling dehydrated and bought water, which I'm pretty sure they're jacking up the prices because EVERYONE's buying water. In my lovely not-well-ventilated Boston University sponsored apartment, we have poor air flow when its hot. And in my room, there's a kind of "mystery" window that conveniently pointed east which is also conveniently where the sun rises everyday at about 6:30 AM. Let's do some math --> Dehydration + Hot room + Sunlight at 6:30AM + College student who usually doesn't wake up until 9 AM on a Monday = A dry(in more ways than one,) witty, blog post at 7AM after laying in bed until 2:30 AM because of the same situation. Honestly, I wasn't even up this early for Marathon Monday.

This isn't a rant, this is more of just like a 'When I Pictured College, It Didn't Include A Scavenging For Water" situation. I just sit and laugh. Is this real life?

I also keep making this joke that I know I'm totally killing it, but it's honestly SO FUNNY right now. The Standells did a song about Boston and called it "Dirty Water" and it's one of those Boston anthems - it's played everywhere around the city. Sporting events, in the park, it's everywhere. It's like the Dropkick Murphy's "Shipping Up To Boston" of the 60s, but everyone still listens to it now. Anyway, the repeating lyric is "I love that dirty water, I love Boston." I know someone reading this is laughing right now. YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP GUYS.

OH ALSO - It's National Drink Tap Water Week. YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP.

I'm closing with another great line about drinking from the "Most Interesting Man In The World" campaign - Stay Thirsty My Friends.

ps I'm laughing really hard at that one too. Bye.

My Day as Eric Murphy

If you know me you know I'm a huge Entourage fan. I could probably quote every episode and narrow everything down to the specific detail. As most guys do, they talk about who their Entourage would be if we had a Vinny Chase in our friendship. I'm always picked to be E. I don't mind that. E's got a lot going for him. He may not be the superstar but he does his own thing setting up his own business and doing well for himself. We have two minor differences. I'm really tall, and don't have a Sloan in my life. Yet. (I'm also not a pizza boy. Yet. I graduate in two weeks people.)

So yesterday, I felt like Eric. I woke up early and got media passes to the Flyers/Bruins game (Go Flyers!) and then met up with a few friends on Newbury Street, then later to go out to a club (sorta) after a surprise birthday party, while sneaking on a party bus. If I could spend every day with that much fun, I think I would actually be Eric.

The thing with Entourage is that it's a lifestyle, one given on privilege because Vinny's got the looks and the acting skills (sorta) to get "the" lifestyle. Go to party's, hang out with gorgeous girls (I'm a little behind on that one) and really enjoy yourself.

This post is kind of weird. I don't mean for it to be a "I'm having much better time than you are" thing, because everyone's definition of a good time varies. It was just a great day (until this water situation - more on that later. It's just a commentary to get my things together and get "that" job (and maybe have the right friend) to have an amazing life where you're doing fun stuff. I don't necessarily want to be spoiled, but I want to enjoy everything I do. Work, play, even the BS. Enjoy it all. There should be no point where I feel like I have to be a "slave" to make money or I'm out on the street. It should be fun. Who wants to come with!?