John Candy: A Look Back

Part 1: Candy's Rise and Prime

It is hard to believe but as of March 4 ( almost a week ago now) that it was ten years that one of my favorite comedic actors John Candy passed away. In honor of the “The Gentle Giant” I am going to provide my readers with a bio of the late actor. It should be noted that I can do this pretty well with most of my favorite actors and its working from the top of my head. So either I really love movies or I really have no life at all. So this might be a little long but likely informative for my readers.

John Candy was a Canadian born actor who stumbled upon the profession almost by accident. He had an interest in films and showed up as an extra in a few Canadian films during the mid 1970s. He even starred on a low budget childrens show. However it was when he tagged along with future notable names and friends Eugene Levy and Dan Aykroyd to try out for a comedy troop called Second City in Toronto. His friends forced him to try out and he landed a part in the troop. The group basically performed live and he lead the talented cast in skits that were mostly if not all improve.

People must have known he has a future value because he starred in some really shoestring budget Canadian films (that are hard to find that I haven’t seen) Tunnel Vision, the Clown Murders and the more popular of the bunch Find the Lady from what I read the films didn’t have much resembling a plot but showed glimpses of what was to come.

After some time doing TV north of the border SCTV decided to bite off Saturday Night Live and launch their own show. So the filmed a TV sketch show from Chicago other notable members of this show were Rick Morranis, Joe Flaherty, Dave Thomas (not the Wendy’s guy) and future film maker Howard Ramis.

Candy really made a name for himself on SCTV which was more about the characters than the jokes. He more or less became the star of the show. In the late 70’s Candy showed up in a few more TV movies, but made the leap into American films when he was cast by a young Steven Spielberg when in 1941 a film that was a departure for the young director which had a cast list of every red hot comic actor at the time and half the cast of the blockbuster Jaws. Despite the fact the film was a dismal failure casting directors didn’t forget about John Candy. It also didn’t hurt that many of his friends were breaking into the movies at this time.

Candy started showing up as a supporting role in popular comedies he had role in the now classic comedy The Blues Brothers (1980) along with his buddy Aykroyd. He had a larger role in Stripes (1981) opposite Bill Murray where he put himself on the map in a scene where he had to mud wrestle two girls (who eventually became topless). The lowbrow joke more or less put him down the path as the funny fat guy. Candy however wasn’t all that comfortable with the scene thinking it was degrading. Later that year he did his first of many cartoon voiceover for the pothead cartoon flick (along with almost everyone from SCTV) Heavy Metal.

Eventually Candy left SCTV and the show didn’t last long without him. Although he star in two SCTV movies one for tv The Last Polka (1984) based on characters from SCTV and one in theaters Going Berserk (1983). Ramis who starred with Candy in Stripes cast him in a small but memorable role in National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), but it was the scene stealing performance playing Tom Hanks party animal brother in Ron Howard’s Splash. Hanks and Candy had amazing on screen chemistry it made bother actors big stars at the time. The teamed up again in the almost entirely forgotten Volunteers (1985) the film flopped and that was end of the comedy team. The movie’s first 30 mins were really funny but than I guess they ran out of jokes. Candy did show up as second banana to Richard Pryor in Brewster’s Millons (1985), but that year he finally got his big break to play the lead in major movie called Summer Rental (1985).

It was Summer Rental was the first true “John Candy” movie in which he was required to carry the film. Although it was uneven Candy’s comedic gift made the routine jokes for the first hour of the film hilarious, but than the film gets bogged down with an unfunny boat race plot line. However the formula for his movies was set, he usually played a lovable well intended guy who just couldn’t get thing to go his way or the respect he wanted.

After Summer Rental he Candy surfaced opposite Levy and Meg Ryan in Armed and Dangerous (1986) and made a funny cameo in musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors (1986). Than came the movie that changed his career forever. Candy hit comedy and box office gold when he starred with Steve Martin in Planes Trains and Automobiles a road comedy about two men getting back for Thanksgiving Dinner. The movie was the first to show his depth. He had few dramatic scenes, but for the most part it was on of Candy’s most memorable characters. The film had real heart that wasn’t always there in some of his earlier roles. This film made me a fan of John Candy and the movie still ranks as one of my favorite comedies of all time.

Planes Trains and Automobiles kicked off the prime of his career that same year he also starred in the highly successful Spaceballs and followed up by The Great Outdoors (1988 people loved it critics loathed it).Again the clearly uneven and woefully directed but you don’t mind cause Candy keeps you laughing through most of the picture making the most of a ho-hum script.

In 1989 he starred in one of the most underrated comedies ever playing a clueless private investigator in Who’s Harry Crumb?. Why this movie is hardly mentioned (other than by crew members who adopted this film) when his movies are mentioned is beyond me. Sure it’s a much broader comedy than his films usually are but it works in a tongue in cheek kind of way. Candy is clearly on top of his game.

That same year he stared as the title character in Uncle Buck. Buck has to come to town to take care of h is nieces and nephew when his sister-in-laws father falls ill. The film’s main strength is Candy butting heads with his niece who rebels against him. A fine example of how Candy can carry a film with a cast of mostly kids and inexperienced teenage actors. Again this movie was classic Candy. It wasn’t going to win and Oscars but if you find Candy remotely funny than I am sure you will enjoy his humorous methods to knock out daily chores and attempt to be role model for kids.

In a curious turn in the peak of his value in Hollywood he quietly went off and did the low budget comedy Speed Zone! I think Candy did it mainly cause most of his SCTV friends were struggling at the time starred in this lame comedy but it may have hurt him. The comedy barely makes sense but Candy’s scenes make the movie worth watching of course I am the only person in the world that watched this film for any reason other than all the fast cars. Regardless Candy’s scenes are hilarious.


It was clearly a favor to friends something Candy became some what known for. He showed up in uncredited appearances to help out directors he worked with before in a string of movies Home Alone (1990), Career Opportunities (1991), Masters of Menace (1990)and even a rather large role in Rookie of the Year (1993). He actually went out of his way to shoot his cameo in Home Alone for John Hughes who directed and wrote many of films including Planes..(directed) Great Outdoors (wrote). The film also began his relationship with director Chris Columbus who went on to direct the Harry Potter movies. I imagine Candy would have likely played a part in those films.

Come back tomorrow (or later this week) for part two of this look back at John Candy. I will talk about Candy’s branching out into other branches of entertainment, his career going into the potty and how it effected him and his death.

"Sopranos predictions"


First off I don't see what the big deal was about Season 4. People gripped how nothing happened yet Ralph was killed, Bocala lost his wife, Chris hit rock bottom, relations between New York and North Jersey went sour, add a suicide and Chris avenging his father's death and what is not to like?

I might come back to defend season 4 at a later date but before that I am going to try to call the shows 5th season.


Pussy will show up in dreams or a flashback

We will see a flashback to Tony and Carmella's wedding. Perhaps this is where we get to see Pussy again and maybe even Ralphie.

Tony's cousin Tony will live till the end of the season.

Johnny Sacks will get whacked early in the season

Uncle Junior will die either naturally or be hand of the New York mob.

Robert Loggia will be whacked

Tim Daly will play a cop or lawyer

Chris will have a relapse

Tony and Carmella will NOT get back together

Tony will get the newspaper in his bath robe the first show

Furio will show up dead somewhere in Italy

Dr. Melfi will quit her job.

"GAY IN THE US OF A"

During his re-election campaign the elder Bush wanted to show the American people he was just like them. In a horribly planned Public Relations stunt Bush went to a grocery store and had to check out his groceries. He was completely fascinated by the scanner which had already been standard fare in most grocery stores. It showed he was out of touch with middle class America and gave his opponent fuel for the fire. Now granted most rich people in his position aren’t going to be doing daily routines for themselves but it made Bush look foolish.

A few weeks ago Bush made it his position on gay marriage quite clear. Now of course my friends and readers know that I am more conservative than liberal. However I honestly don’t have a problem about letting same sex marriage fly in this country. I mean if they love each other and already live together than why not let them wed? I have more of a problem with all the idiotic “reality” shows on TV that splash clown makeup all over the sanctity of marriage. Marriage should be a wonderful beautiful thing between not the premise for some lowbrow reality series. Strangers that meet each other to film a tv show in 30 days and wed based on money in front of cameras isn’t what a marriage should be about. Shows like Married by America make me sick. At least Joe Gay Guy and his partner actually love each other.

Do I think homosexuality is wrong? If you remember the gay sheep story I tend to agree that people are generally born gay. Granted some people become gay from unnatural ways, many people that were sexually abused turn gay and I doubt many of them would have been otherwise. In some cases is just the person is totally messed up on drugs and doesn’t know either way. I will never understand how another man can’t find anything remotely interesting about amazingly hot women, but it doesn’t mean I think its wrong.

Anyway this article is not about me, its about Bush. I honestly would like to know if that is Bush’s honest feeling towards gay marriage or his if his advisors told him to play the angle a certain way to appeal to the people that are likely to vote for him anyway or on the fence. Now if Bush honestly believes that same sex marriage should illegal (well technically he wants to be left up to the states but he obviously wouldn’t go through the trouble if he was pro-gay marriage) than I give him all the credit in the world. Say what you want about Bush, but he certainly doesn’t take into the consideration what the masses want when he makes a decision but he does what thinks what is good for the country. Agree with it or not he seemingly stands up for what he at least appears to believe in.


Now if Bush did this only as a tactic than perhaps he should fire whoever whispers in his ear. Because I am fairly sure that taking that side of the issue makes you appear out of touch of the mindset of the American people. It is like marveling over the invention of the checkout scanner in the American’s people’s eyes when homosexuality has become so mainstream.

One of the biggest stories of 2003 was how Gay America pretty much turned a corner to being accepted. American’s seems gay crazy! I mean look at all the popular shows, Queer as Folk, The “L” Word and of course Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Numerous prominent gay celebrities and gay sitcom characters had their faces plastered all over the covers of magazines. Queer Eye For the Straight Guy is so popular that countless radio contests, rip-offs and parodies have been made of the young show. One of the FAB FIVE (I think Thom) has been named the new spokesman for Peir One. Do you really think a company would have used an openly gay person to sell their company 5 years ago? It is almost square to be heterosexual anymore, we even came up with the buzz word Metrosexual for the people who don’t like men sexually but want to act and dress really gay.

As of right now I think the election is relatively close race. People need to know about Kerry, but Bush left himself open to be painted “insensitive” and “intolerant” by calling gay marriage to be unconstitutional. It was a bold move to make a statement, since it will likely never be passed. However if the articles I read are true that more younger voters will vote than ever before (I don’t really buy young people are still lazy) than Bush could have cooked his goose by making this move. Regardless I think he lost more potential voters than gained by making that move. I don’t have a problem with gay people (although I hate it when they have to keep reminding us how gay they are like Rosie) but at the same time I really don’t have a problem with people who do think homosexuality is wrong.

***** ECHELON MALL MIGHT BE UP FOR SALE AGAIN*****

“PREIT Ponders Echelon Mall Project”


Well maybe the Courier-Post reads my blog or something. A few days after I broke the story about the Echelon Mall trying to sway IKEA into filling an anchor store the Courier-Post ran an article stating the same. However their sources obviously more informed than mine also talked about how Dave and Busters is on their wish list.

Okay now having a bar in a mall might seem way out there. However back in the day (before we were old enough to remember) the Echelon Mall actually had a steakhouse with a bar. That was back in the mall’s prime. Not to mention you can wet your whistle at Deptford or Cherry Hill Malls. Putting a Dave and Buster’s in the mall would really turn things around. However I just don’t see it happening. For one thing I am not sure if the people of Voorhees would go for that although their problems with drunks would confined to the mall area and not neighborhoods I think they would fear the people that would take the train from Camden going there causing problems. I know that sounds messed up but it’s the truth.

That doesn’t even take into the consideration of the headache of getting a liquor license. How many bars are there now in the town of Voorhees? Are there any left? As for the IKEA rumor I don’t doubt they were in negotiations, but I don’t see it happening. I would imagine if they were close they would have told all the stores that were jumping ship how close they were in order to keep people there.

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) who purchased the mall over a year ago has failed miserably to stop the ship from sinking. The Courier talked about how clean the mall has been since PREIT bought the mall. Well less traffic means less trash. Not really something to brag about.

Since I wrote my last article Sam Goody left after 30 years of service and I don’t know when but the pet store is gone too. The week that PREIT started feeding the local papers fluff about trying to get more involved in the community rumors surfaced that PREIT is looking to unload their miserable purchase. That is right I am beating the papers to the punch again and telling you right now that PREIT is looking for a buyer for either the mall itself or the actual grounds the later being more likely. Perhaps they have made a deadline first to see if they actually score an anchor store, but I can’t imagine how much that land the mall stands on is worth.

PREIT claims that might use an empty anchor store for job conventions which is a good idea because people would likely wonder off and spend money. However I think PREIT is either regretting getting on this purchase and simply doesn’t have the right people working on the public relations or marketing of the mall (hey I contacted them to try to get them to hire me to do their PR) or this purchase was never ment to succeed. I still stand by my claim that people want to shop at that mall, but they just need a reason to shop there.

Coming soon:

Tucker sizes up Bush's chances

Tucker writes about Hockey related stuff.

EL PLATO LOCO

"EL PLATO LOCO!"

The spot where Cucci's Pizza once stood is now being filled by a Mexican restaurant called EL PLATO LOCO. I don't really for Mexican food, but I have a developed a morbid curiosity toward the business for whether or not it will succeed.

One of these days I will actually go in an try their food most likely with my girlfriend who actually enjoys meixcan food. I feel the same way Jerry did on Seinfeld when BaBo opened a Pakistainan resturant.

I actually drive by after I get off a 10-6 shift to count the people in there. Yesterday one couple. Today nobody. This will be a lot easier to follow than the La Strada the Italian resturant with Cezch. owners. It failed miserably after being located at seemingly cursed location just a few miles down the White HOrse Pike from El PLATO LOCO. I don't know if the owners have resorted to sadly staring out the window like the owners of La Strada just yet.

I sure hope those Cezch. guys are going to be okay. I beg of everyone to go to El PLATO LOCO. Then perhaps I can stop worrying about their business venture and if it will fail or not.

KINGDOM HOSPITIAL
On Ch. 6 ABC on Weds at 9pm Stephen King's Kingdom Hospitial will air. Its based on a book by the same name, and I am calling this one to be a worthwhile. I just want to say that I jumped on board for this early, it might actually become a weekly series. Maybe it will suck and if that is the case you can send me angry emails to me.

I wish I got more people to watch the Handler on CBS which seems as though its going to be cancelled soon. It hasn't aired in over a month and CBS needs another freaking CSI for next fall. Bunch of stupid jerks.

"Tucker Waves a Flag"

Earlier tonight I posted about the film the Passion of Christ and pissed off Drew with a few comments that I made. In order to put it to rest the story has been deleted and I have since apologized to Drew.

I certainly wouldn't worry about it though since no one reads my blog, and certainly not on a Friday night. I still plan to review the film at a later date.

"Sterling Alumni in the Papers"


This is from the Courier-Post I know the girl he goes on a blinde date. To set up the article if you don't read this weekly column (I doubt most of you actually do) it is basically about being single in South Jersey.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/columnists/cxka022404a.htm

"Old Man Winter Says Good-bye"
Since its windows down weather I think its safe to assume that my Snow forecasting is done till Novermber. I never really have much faith in any snow storms in March even though we got a little bit of Snow last April.

Spring is as good as hear with maybe a few cold days here and there but you can pretty much put your shovel away and get ready to jump and skip in the spring weather.

The reason for my calling it quits for the Winter is the weather pattern of the last two weeks. If you notice I didn't even bother mentioning last weeks major storm threat that turned into nothing, simply because are chance to get the big one is about very slim right at this point.

So my record is 4-2 and as a fan of the Canadian like weather January was fun since it was really cold, but we never really got nailed all winter. Februrary was a huge let down snow wise and cold weather wise.


FINAL RECORD 4-2

Oh well there is always Hurricane season.

“Nader Swings into Action”

Some time after I recovered from vomiting and pooping everywhere almost every democrat began doing just that after watching Meet the Press Sunday. Ralph Nader is back in the bid for the White House. Well since Nader had people vote for him in Florida who likely would have voted for Gore the state was lost to Bush. Of course there was that whole hanging chad thing. Depending on who you actually believe about the true winner of Florida it never would have came down to hanging chads if it weren’t for Nader. I honestly think that Bush actually did win the state, but I am not going to open that can of worms.

Nader came out swinging bashing Bush and how White House politics cater to the businesses over the little guy. Bush of course easily the biggest example of having his hands tied to big companies. Even people who may not think he sacrifices the nation’s safety for Oil can’t deny that he has friends in the business. So perhaps Nader thinks this is his year simply because average Joe American thinks the war in Iraq was done in order to make people rich and nothing else.

However many Democrats are now thinking that Nader is in coo hoots with Bush and wants take away votes from the democrat hopeful. I was listening to Howard Eskin and the caller was going on about how Nader is getting paid by Bush to help steer the election in favor of reelection. Even liberal bloggers are starting to think Nader is up to no good. This theory is really starting to get some legs, of course its based no evidence at all.

However I really don’t think Nader is going to do much of anything this time other than blow hot air and help make the democrats make Bush look bad. First off he is not running for the Green Party this time but as an independent which means he will get less money and it will be a challenge to even get on the ballet in some states. You can write him in, but we all know how dumb and lazy people are. So I really don’t see him swinging the election this time if anything the democrats will just steal his words to use against Bush. That would coincide with their early stages of their election plan, turn people against Bush.


Secondly, when most Americans vote (the few that actually do) many of them are going to wonder if the person they are voting for would have to the balls to stand up against terrorism or do anything that has to be done. It really depends on if they feel safe if God forbid something else happens in the US. Or even to keep anyone from messing with us like that again to begin with. People I just think look at Nader as too much of a wimp. I just get the feeling that even people who voted for him last time will likely think that he is in over his head in a post 9/11 world. Hell I think terrorist organizations would see Nader as gift sent from Allah.

So to sum up I really don’t think Nader will do much to throw this election in either direction really. I don’t think Nader is on Bush’s payroll. I assume in his mind he thinks he can win unless he just trying to make a statement. This time it would cost him a lot more to make a statement so he is either very confident or crazy. At best 20 years from now he might be seen as trailblazer for a third party system that I still believe is possible. I mean look how divided this country is on some issues you have to wonder if someone can find the middle market in the next two decades if things continue. Nader is just too washed up, and actually is too far liberal. So if Nader thinks he can win I imagine he has very little fear in his heart from either potential democrat candidate and sees himself on an even plane with who ever comes out of the west. I mean who every gets the nomination. Maybe he thinks the democrat candidates are very weak, and perhaps many people from the Donkey party feel the same way which is why they are so scared.


“My God even Nader thinks he beat are hopefuls!”


Which begs the question why was I listening to Howard Eskin

"Light Rail Goes Dark"


I wrote on here before about the Light Rail now known as the Riverline and how what a disaster it has been. The project started back in 2001 and has literally cost the state a billion dollars at this point. Pretty sad since it hasn't even started running yet.

The Light Rail is supposed to connect Camden to Trenton and take some cars off the busy highways. However you can't use the train to get to Philly lines or rail lines in Trenton to go to NYC. If you go to Camden from a Northern point you have to get back before 10 pm because the train stops running then. So it can't really be used for Riversharks games or concerts.

When last I wrote I mentioned all the major problems the River Line has suffered. Since than it has gotten worse. It was supposed to start running last week, but of course it isn't. The main reason for this is that the intersections are still not done properly. The drop signs at crossways with intersections have actually come down on cars. I am not making this up.

So the state is still saying when they finally get it up and running (they don't even bother giving it a date anymore) no one is going to ride it. Not to mention it takes well over an hour to get from Camden to Trenton. I imagine that they will just continue with this project. Sadly though all the tax money that went to this mostly the only people that know about it is are the poor people who have this disaster slicing through their town. It can't really be for people without cars either since most of the stops are hard to get to by foot.

So basically are tax money went to people who made horrible decisions with no thought to if anyone would actually use this train. Also people take 4 years and counting to even get the damn thing to work. I guess all the state workers that have had jobs for the past 4 years might by happy to vote a certain way.

People in this state bitch about our taxes. Its one of the reasons they are so high. I can't imagine that this project was ever supposed to succeed. If it was that how come no one that works for the state thinks its a good idea? Anyone who made this decision was either really dumb or got is passed without any else double checking that idea of just a project. No matter how you look at it is just plain awful. My thought is somewhere a group of people got really really rich off this.

The thing that really gets me is how few people know about this total misuse of tax money. God knows how many other examples are out there.

"Be back soon"

Sorry for the lack of posts this week I have fallen ill. I have had a horrible stomach flu...check back later today or this weekend for updates.

"Welcome to Comcast Country V: The Evil Empire"

John keeps telling me no one wants to read about Comcast and no one cares. However Comcast is one of the number of on going stories I have covered on this blog. Most my readers know the way the cable company has blocked their sportsnet work from the DISH giving people in this area no option if they want to see the Sixers, Flyers and Phillies. They are also known for their awful service and dumb repairman who rarely show up.

Anyway this past week they tried buying the struggling DISNEY. WOW. What a huge, huge company this would be. What most people didn't mention is that they would actually own two hockey teams. They would also have the option to pull the dirty trick they have been pulling on South Jersey for years. Disney owns ABC who owns ESPN, could they pull ESPN from all the dish providers? I don't see why not. Would that? Hmmmm... Perhaps.

The hostile take over never happened, but that doesn't mean that mouse won't be a member of Comcast Country before the end of the year. There seem to be a number of questions that could arise if this deal ever happens.

“Sinking Echelon 2: Empty Spaces”



I am expecting to attend a job fair in Vineland later this week and although I have modest expectations for it being worth my time I was in need of a new shirt for a suit I was recently given. I went to Boscov’s in order to get the chore done before the Flyers game. I decided I was in the market for a few other things and figured I would venture out to the mall.

This was a good time to write a follow up to Sinking Echelon an article I wrote on the decline of the Mall from the glory days. I predicted that after Santa Clause made his rounds that it more stores were likely to close up shop for good. For awhile a bit of hope glimmered and rumors drifted around that an Ikea was going to open up in one of the vacant anchor stores, and it would be announced after New Years. It’s almost March and it would appear that this is not the case.

Well things haven’t been going all that great. The popular food court stop Popeye’s closed. It was odd since it was one of the more successful places in the dismal mall. However many rumors surfaced that it closed because it was actually a drug front. The Mattress store above the food court pulled out as did FYE. The mattress store was even reportedly offered a lower lease agreement but balked (that is a word right?) at the offer. The mall also suffered as result of two retail chains downsizing Wilson’s Leather (gone) and Remington (gone in Mid-March) who decided to just sell their products at department stores.

As I walked through the mall it seemed like a better place to take a nap than shop. The lights are soft, the music is soothing, there surroundings are familiar and it’s a quiet as library. Three stores I went into I was literally the only customer in the entire store. With exception of Boscov’s and Waldenbooks I don’t think any other store I went in broke double digits in customers. You almost feel like you are interrupting after hours inventory in some places.

Anyway from what I heard PERIT who purchased the mall has no plans to change as much as a light bulb for another year or so. They are just waiting and seeing. That makes some sense since the Mall sign hasn’t glowed at night for over 3 months. However at the same time the paid someone for their new slogan “Friendly faces and Friend Finds” or something to that nature that they plastered all over the empty mall stores. Perhaps they should have gone with friendly faces empty spaces.

I can’t imagine that the mall can go through another year of ghost town business. So I am predicting that the Mall will close in by May or at the latest August. Despite recent rumors that the owners told the remaining store owners that the Mall plans to stay. The also tried to sell store owners a bag of magic beans I imagine.

“The Other Brother 2: Dinner Time!”

Well most of my readers who are mainly people I see offline were quite surprised to hear that I had a half brother named Rick walking around out there. To be honest I totally forgot myself and recently after years of a falling out with my Father (his father too obviously) he decided he wanted to burry the hatchet. Of course I can’t fault him for that. However leading up to the dinner I was still void of any emotion or nervousness. We all set down for a Hughes Family Dinner.

The dinner went well he showed up with his wife and her child from a pervious marriage who they call “Binky” who thankfully doesn’t have any resemblance to the clown from Garfield and Friends. He is I guess eleven years old and I don’t actually recall his real name. He apparently has a sister and can’t figure out if I am actually related to either of them.

Lets see Rick is my half-brother and Binky and this random girl are his step-sons and a daughter So I guess that makes them my half step-niece and nephew. Carry the one, subtracted by the square root of 16. Um. So if this girl is really my half step-niece her half step-uncle type guy is a few years older than her cause I think I was told she was 21 or something.

We all had dinner together and I spoke more to Rick than Bill (my full brother) and could not get over that fact that he looks exactly like my father. It really bugged me out. If anyone sees Liza with her digital camera be sure to ask to see the picture, because its uncanny. Thankfully Rick who is in his late 30’s (odd for me to have such a gap) has a full thick head of hair which puts me at ease. That would also

I have seen him once again since the dinner and although I don’t see us entering the three legged race anytime soon I certainly see another family at the dinner table for holidays and such.

"Tucker at the Movies: Miracle"

The film Miracle tells the true story of the 1980 US Olympic hockey team that pulled off the impossible and ousted the USSR team on route to winning the gold medal. The game was much more than a simple hockey game it came during the peak of the cold war. The event came at a time when Americans were down on their luck, the king was dead, gasoline was in limited supply and overpriced, Russia had invaded Afghanistan, Americans had been taken hostage, and Americans were shocked by the Nixon debacle.

This was in a time when the hockey team wasn’t made up of a bunch of spoiled millionaires who were given free vacation to a far off location to pretend they care about the gold medal. The team played together for almost a year together before they went to the winter games. The team was a collection of college and junior hockey league players. An actual team.

The movie produced by Disney resulted in taming the language that likely spewed out of the young team and potty mouthed coach, but that sacrifice aside the writers tell true to the actual events. Of course the story itself of the underdog no one believed in doing the impossible seemed like a Hollywood fabrication so not much tinkering had to be done. However that is the beauty watching this film and knowing almost the entire events in the films narrative actually happened, and HBO’s documentary “Do You Believe in Miracles?” has the footage and interviews to prove it. In fact Miracle is just almost a motion picture remake of the documentary that I perhaps I should have hold off on letting Liza see till after our trip to the Cinemark.

Anyway the addition fleshing of the story lies in the life of the colorful coach Herb Brookes brilliantly played by Kurt Russell. Trust me I don’t throw around the term brilliantly when it comes to movies. However Russell manages to dissolve every ounce of his persona into the legendary hockey coach. He even nails the stature and you will forget almost entirely that it is Russell playing make believe. The film takes us occasionally into the home life of Brooks revealing that he had two true loves the game of hockey and his actual wife. Brooks was old school and never minced words and theorized that a system played by hard working well conditioned athletes could be an All-star team that relies on individual talent (are you listening Glen Slather?) . The story line is clearly more interested in studying Herb Brooks life than marketing the fresh faced actors playing the hockey team to young horny high school girls which could have made for a Freddie Prinz Jr. like flick.


As far as hockey movies go this the best hockey film ever made by far. Of course that is not saying a lot (to be fair I haven’t gotten around to seeing D3 or the one that the Duke starred in) but making a hockey film is extremely hard since you can’t fake the sport like baseball for football. First the casting department must find hockey players and turn them into actors or actors that can actually skate. However you don’t need to be a hockey fan to enjoy this film just like you didn’t need to be a horse racing fan to enjoy last year’s depression piece Seabiscuit. The acting is surprisingly solid for the mostly rookie cast, and Russell’s role is to anchor the inexperienced cast. Although a first viewing it might be hard to distinguish one fresh faced long haired hockey player from another especially if you don’t most know the story. Most notably Eddie Cahill, who plays goalie Jim Craig will is not only talented but stunningly handsome (Liza says he looks eerily like me) stands out in a few intense scenes with his windower father and Brooks.


Russell deserves an Oscar nomination for his performance but of course he won’t get it with the timing of the films release. However the release couldn’t come at a better time, the condition of the country’s morale easily rivals that of 1980 with the country divided over policies, evaluated terror alerts, war, and truck loads of corrupt politicians and political lies.

As for the hockey fan in me I am glad to see they didn’t make the movie too vanilla and gave us references to the IHL, Joey Mullen, and Pelle Lindberg that will likely zip over the heads of most movie goers like Mike Eruzione’s shot over a falling Commie goalie’s shoulder.

"Does Size Matter?"

The AHL always the place for the NHL to experiment with no rules increased the size of the neutral zone for 8 games this past month. The red line and two blue lines were widened from one foot to three feet. This was the brain child of former NHLer Bobby Smith who propsed it in the hockey news.

The idea behind the experiment is to see if a wider neutral zone will actually prevent the trap. The NHL really wants scoring up in the league and Gary Bettman wants the puck in the net more. Attempts this year like goalie equipment crack downs and the posting the list of "divers" in lockerrooms hoping to get more powerplays have done nothing. Scoring is actually down AGAIN this year.

The line changes down in the AHL for a few games didn't do much either. Although there is still potential in the idea of having longer passes that won't be considered two line passes the rule is confusing. The player with the puck has to actually clear the larger blueline before his teammates make it into the zone. This caused much confusion and coaches claimed the rule wasn't caught as many as 3 times during one of the games.

Former NHL players making their way in the AHL chimed in.

Karl Dykhuis claimed it gives you a chance to make longer passes, however that things become trickier at the blueline.

Aaron Gavey a former Dallas Star said didn't even notice a difference.


Coming up:

Bid for the Whitehouse stuff

and

a follow up to the Echelon Mall Story, Dinner with my Half Brother.

"Tucker's World Democratic Pick"


Okay the democratic primary is heating up. So I think its time for my to make an endorsement for my candidate to bid for the White House.

Well I am endorsing Joe Liberman!

Oh wait. He dropped out already. Hmm.

Seriously I did like Liberman because a lot of what he said made sense. The guy was just too far right for the nomination and matched up Bush too much. I never really thought he had much of a prayer obviously. Oh well.

I honestly can't wait to find out who is coming out officially to challenge Bush so I can make my actual endorsement that actually means something. Or at least to the 3 readers of my blog.

"The Rest of Winter"

Well the groundhog came out of his little hole and told us that winter is not quite over yet. Well I would have to agree with him.

However I don't see us getting the "big one", but we will get "nickel and dime" storms where a few inches of snow will fall than another few will fall again days later on top of the old snow. The kind of snow my friend Drew hates, well okay that everyone hates simply cause it doesn't get anyone off of work.

I figure we have a few shots towards the end of the month of snow storms like we had a few weeks ago. No blizzards this year. My record is a 4-2. I actually though the one last week was going to be bigger than it was. My bad.


Liberals are going to tell us that Bush controlled the weather so his oil buddies could get rich. Bush will tell us that it is the work of Saddam trying to make freedom loving Americans slip and slide to their horrific deaths. Trying to destroy the economy.

"The Boobie Network 2"

Okay so Drew emailed me and asked me how I figured out that Janet flashed her tit for the sake of getting media attention for her new CD. Okay well I guess that was mostly my personal take on the story. That's what blogs are for. I based my comments on the line of the song that was uttered before it happened, the fact the fact that she had an intention to do something during the halftime show, and that she wore something on her breast that flung out has to make you think. Just reading between the lines and personally painting this one was publicity stunt that's all.

I hope no one here actually gets their news from me. I stand by my comment on thinking Janet made it pop out for attention. Just like I stand by my statement that CBS only pulled the Reagans because they knew they could still easily win sweeps without and didn't want to tick off their lovely advertisers. I am sure the truth will come out one day about if the boob was supposed to come out or not.

As for the FCC being stupid about it, well I guess they were just doing their job. Yeah Drew in his email made a good point that its hard to see how some things are more offensive than others. Just look at the topics of storylines in most sitcoms these days. Or how did they justify Bono dropping the F-bomb?

The thing of it is the FCC always investigates stuff like this it just doesnt always make the headlines. I think they are and trying to warn people of a crack down( made public weeks before the Super Bowl) for one reason, the up coming election or ousting of Bush. Its and election year and they want to make their organization something that is mentioned in the debates. I am sure you haven't heard the last of this. Heck lots of organizations are going to be holding out their hats for cash all year long.

But the thing of it is an FCC regulation rule was broken, and they are just going to investigate if it really was intentional. I mean you can't just take Janet's word for it an close the case. What is the point of the FCC? Drew might not want it but many others do. People will be questioned to see if anyone actually was in on a little surprise and if Janet is just lying. No one is getting locked up or anything it is just they want to make sure they weren't trying to just break the rules. Given the fact that people are ticked that the FCC wants to crack down on some stuff again I wouldn't be surprised if it was just a bunch of artists thumbing their nose at the suits. Damning the man.

The FCC gets paid for a reason it is their whole point. I am sure some people out there especially single parents would like to know to some extent what their child will be exposed to on TV. Who would have thought a boob would have made an appearance during a Super Bowl?

Some Conservatives think that non-cable should have to be limited to what the can show and will likely use this next year showing examples of how the networks have gone too far. I agree with that considering all the kids watching TV and all. Of course they can just flip the channel to HBO or play a violent video game, but I don't get paid to solve these problems. TV ratings help a little so parents don't have to guess if penis jokes are going to be made in the next 22 mins or not. I certainly understand people wanting to know generally if content might surface during family night around the boob tube. ::cough, cough::



Liberals will use this investigation as a way to tell us that Bush is going to rob everyone of their civil rights and wants to censor the world.

"The Boobie Network"

Okay everyone is sick of the Janet Jackson story already. I know I am. ACtually at the Super Bowl party gathering I was at Liza was the only to actually see the full frontal part of the lame ass show.

I usually steer away for any Jackson related stories. However this is just another example of how I get sick of famous people doing something stupid and getting props for it. Okay let just face it the halftime show is not the place to show breasts. WIP callers were saying how they cameras creeply zoom in on the Cheerleaders, but that is different in my view because not nudity. Also Janet did this on purpose to promote her stupid new CD.

So let see if you write for the New York Times and flat out lie you can get a great book deal. If you purposely make a sex tape of yours public your reality show will get killer ratings. If you do the wild thing with a woman old enough to be your mom who wants to have a comeback it will help her and make people suddenly care about your movies. I could go on but my head hurts. Why do we have to fall for these stunts or a least why does the media fall for it each and everytime.

“The Other Brother”


Well I would be willing to bet that to most of even my closest friends this news to them. I don’t know if anyone other than Ryan knows what you are about to read. Incidentally I saw Ryan today for the first time since Christmas at the end of my street he yelled he would call me later, but I am still waiting.

Anyway when most people ask me if I have any siblings I respond that I have a brother. Of course as most of you know that my brother is married with a kid making me an uncle. However my father was actually married before he met my mother and had a son with his first wife. I didn’t even realize this until I was like 9. I thought this older kid Rick was just some random kid that came over I guess. But I technically have a half brother.


Well apparently my father married too young and his first wife is nuts. Things went south (the cleaner less personal version) and thankfully for me they spilt so he met and married my mother. Things got really ugly over spending time with my half brother Rick because my father’s ex gave him a hard time. Rick ended up being a troubled student and eventually things went south with Rick and my father. So much that I pretty much erased his existence from my brain. I never think about him at all.

Apparently, he got married to a woman with a kid, and is going through what does it all means phase in his life or something. He contacted my father and wants to patch things up. This was attempted before and he was at my house like 7 years ago with many family members, however after the get together he fell off the face of the Earth again.

Now Rick wants to see his two half brothers again and has actually been in contact with my father for months. My parents went to dinner with him in his wife, and the next step is a sit down with all members of my immediate family.

I really don’t know what to expect and feel pretty bad since I don’t feel know how to feel any brotherly bond for a virtual stranger who is a good deal older than me. I know if he expects to give me nooggies when walks in the door or us to slip into a close relationship. The whole time he was pining to reconcile with this father (who is my father and that still bugs me out) I thought about him maybe 3 times in a calendar year.

We will sit down for an obligatory dinner and I honestly don’t know what I have to say to him. I honestly am not even close with my actual brother for what ever reason and I don’t know what Rick is expecting. It is a socially awkward situation for me and but I totally understand him wanting to do this. I have nothing against Rick I just don’t have any connection with him or know how to deal with magically having another brother seemingly appear out of no where like one sitcoms when they retool. If he looks strikingly like Chris Eliot I was suspect my life has been one life long EDTV type experiment.

"MORE SNOW"

I am going to go out and say we are getting more than we what most weatherman are saying...4 inches. Maybe even 5. It is a fast moving storm but a heavy one. Sadly the early timing of it might result in me going to work tomorrow. If it hit later tonight or earlier I would be off tomorrow. However it could easily be out of here by 1 am. Unless it taps into more mositure off the coast.

Its been rough to call cause of the whacky weather system. I hope you like Snow because the next 3 weeks we are going to have storm after storm. GET YOUR SHOVELS READY READERS!

"Snow"
We will get 3 inches out of this mess. My record is 3-1.

****JENNA LEAVES SEARS*****

For all my ex-Sears reader here is a story you will like. Jenna's last day at Sears was today. She left to spend more time with Hunter her son. So instead of putting up with BS she will be sitting in her nice big house with her parents and sister and little baby Hunter.

And Beanz subs at Sterling and is a on a call list for Kelly Services a temp job for grading papers. Since everyone always asks if Lima Beanz is working.

"Job Searching Tips"

Okay if you are currently seeking a new job here are some terms to help you out!

Inside Sales: Corporate telemarketing.

Customer Realtions: Telemarketing

No Telemarket: Selling Knives

Work For STudents: Selling Knives

ROOKIES WANTED: A sales job with no benefits or base pay. Also no money for gas while zipping around in your car. The product you sell will vary and it will often be in a Pyramid scam.

Be Your Own Boss: A scam

"All Is Right In Philly"

Growing up everyone has heard stories from their parents about how much rougher they had it when they were children. We hear how they used to have to walk 5 miles in two feet of snow all the time in the winter. That they could buy a comic book, baseball cards and a candy bar for a dollar. Such things seemed like a far off distant time that could never understand. I think we can officially group Philadelphia sports championships with this folklore. Sure technically championship by a Philly team in my life time, but that last one I was three. So it doesn’t count. I don’t know anything about the Sixers tourney to greatness nor could I ever tell my nephew Noah about it when he is older, so as far as I am concerned it doesn’t count.

This past Sunday the Eagles bit the dust in typical Philly fashion. You see Philly teams don’t only like to go out, but they like to go with a thud. Despite thousands of people wearing team colors and having their faces painted liked idiots when the time comes the Philly team rolls over and dies. They usually look as if they are new to the sport and often times are blown out of the water before the midpoint of the game. This past Sunday those Eagles made it possible to tack on at least several more months to the drought of championships.

Sure the Wings and Phantoms have championships in the past years, but it has to be the big 4 for it to count or else its like winning a Golden Globe totally meaningless. I am not even sure if anyone other than those teams immediate families showed up for the celebration. In fact I am some what relieved that the Eagles got bounced, because I think my head would explode if a Philly team actually won the ultimate prize.

I don’t even know what it feels like for my team to win a championship. Obviously my team is the Flyers, and since I have seen the grainy footage of the Broad Street Bullies parading down Broad Street, and Gene Hart in his skin tight Flyers sweatshirt with the Flyers Emblem all stretched out. I try to comprehend in my mind what it must be like to whiteness a team you root for from your city to actually be the champions. What happens in the area? Would I have been given the day off? Would the Flyers hoisting the cup bring me to tears? Would South Jersey and Philly just going to total madness for a few days?


Well thank goodness my routine life won’t be rattled by and Philly glory. All is right in Delware Valley, are team watches the champions celebrate from their own Superbowl parties. Oh once in awhile a team makes it to the finals, but its rarely close. We always end up having to watch the other guys jump with joy. Sports wise in this area failure is a much of our culture as the mummers, cheese steaks and 24- hours diners. Being competitive but not winners is just a fact of life. Winning championships here is not for me and my peers. It is just something that my parents experienced like Disco and bellbottoms. Victory parades are for the people with goofy hair and pork-chop sideburns not me and my friends. The only way to see a Philly team win anything is to watching the classic sports network until they show the worn out footage of our past. Almost literally an entire generation has to ask their parents or guridans what is was like and live through their memories.

Honestly I can’t possibly think of and City that has a franchise in all 4 major sports that has gone this long coming up short. It seems almost statically impossible. Its what 21 years? Our little failure demon can legally drink this year. Hmm.. ..Perhaps someone can look up his actual birthdate.

It is just the same old, same old. The athletes are all soft spoken to the media and we just have to keep saying wait until next year! Every single one of our sports has a player that says that after being bounced its part of pathetic tradition. I think that having the sentence “Just Wait Until Next Year!” should be mounted just below the arena-vision at the Linc. In a few weeks some other city will get to party in celebration of actually winning something. Meanwhile we are damned to our endless marathon of failure with no signs of a parade in sight. Thinking about the over-paid athletes just shaking their heads and making idiotic excuses for constant failure will make me sleep better at night; because that’s the way it is and always will be here in our generation’s local sports world. All is right in Philly.

Oh maybe one day the Flyers will win a cup, but knowing my luck it will be right around the time that Dan K predicts that machines will rise. Before I get to go to the parade the blood thirsty robots will be out to use their Artificial intelligence to pulverize our human flesh with their iron firsts of death in the murderous slaying of innocent life and ultimate eradication of humanity.

****Look below Tucker in 2004 for STORY OF THE YEAR******

“Tucker in 2004”

Sure I can’t legally run for office, but who cares? I have a list of policies I would like to run for in my fictional bid for the White House.

1. I will make it so every American Citizen can register their official team for all the 4 major sports, and make it mandatory that their employer pay them time & half if you have to work during a play off game of your registered team.
2. Deport Howard Eskin.
3. Send Pete Rose to Mars so I can stop hear him bitching about his mistakes while shamelessly trying to sell a book on ever single news outlet. He can bet all he wants up there.
4. Have a call in center for the White House for people to call in ask questions. Each person will be given a written statement if they ask certain questions. That way I wont look like I am trying to pull one over on them.
5. Name Iraq the 51st state.
6. Tax Mosco every time he instant messages me while I am trying to get work done.
7. Make a law that certain restaurants can flat out forbid children under the age of 14, so those of us who want to have a meal with a date, a friend, or family members don’t have to be subjected to various obnoxious “precious little miracles”.
8. Make August 15th a national holiday named Robert Arter Day. People across the country are encouraged to take off of work, wear sweaters and read long books. Rob will also be invited to the white house giving him a reason to wear the death suit.
9. Steal millions of dollars of tax payers money for a room in the White House in order to build in one of the wings. I will show movies new, and old and invite the crew down for screenings.
“Mr. President, The have set the oil fields a blaze in Iraq again!”

“ Meh, let I will be with you once I finish watching Goodfellas again”

10. If things get really rough, like a country divided, an endless war, and a sagging economy I will just vow to go to Jupiter.

*****STORY OF THE YEAR*******

It was a close one, but since the polls closed the other day its time to announce that Price has swept the Tuckers World Blog for 2003. He was person of the year, and his going to war was story of the year.

The snow storm will bring 3 inches of snow. It will be hard to measure though since the cold air is making for light snow. It will be windy tomorrow and it will blow all around. The more South in Jersey the more snow they will get...5 Inches is possible..but I dont see anyone hitting 6. Jennas area will likey get 4

"The Party Bus"

Okay my friend Price is getting a quickie marriage this Saturday and that means we have to celebrate Friday. Its cool one of my closest friends is getting married, but it all seems like it happened so quick to me that it doesn’t seem real. He has only known the girl since July 4th of this past year.

So anyway, this dude Ron is putting together the festivies which is good, and bad. First its good because Price gave me like 6 days warning that he wanted to do something. I have hard enough time to get people together for anything let alone the last minute something of this size. However when I told people all my friends loyal to their friend said they would be there.

The dude Ron calls me up and informs me that they are getting a party bus, which is basically a big limo type thing that you drive around in for 5 hours. He kept stressing that there are going to be cup holders for some reason. Anyway things get weirder. First off I have to decide what 6 people will fill the slots for Price. But one consideration is the fact that at this point it looks to be costing everyone 50 bucks. So 10 bucks per hour for everyone.

I can swing this for one of my best friends( although I think a party could make the money go farther) , but I fear it might be to steep for people that should go to this party. Certainly at this last minute it might be too much for people. Oh you might be asking why is it going to cost so much? Well there are going to be two strippers there. Okay that’s good and normal.

However, at this point Price’s fiancé and the dude Ron’s wife are going along for the ride. I guess I am old fashioned but I to be me that seems a little creepy and bizarre. But Ron says that Ilene is cool with it. They are what would call alternate life style people I guess. I have never heard of having your bride to be for the obligatory bachelor party before. I this sounds like something that you might see on HBO late at night. I don’t know why this dude’s wife is going.

Anyway I don’t want to be all negative, because I think we should do something big for Price. I am using this blog to get people who want to talk about it a chance to have some communication to make it easier on me. I just feel strange because I am afraid some of my friends who are either unemployed or under employed might not be able to swing this. I am not overly crazy about this idea but..It is short notice too which will make it harder for people to put money away for it. But hopefully he will only have on bachelor party so we have to think of it like that. It certainly won’t be the same if I can’t fill the 6 spots with crew members. Heck I wouldn’t be comfortable being the only one representing. Please comment on this one guys. It could be a really fun unique night.



Right now it is 9-2 on Friday Night and we leave from the coast line. OH and I am going to the casinos tomorrow so hopefully I will win big and it wont be a problem.

"Return of the King Raises the Bar"

I never had anything against the Lord of the Rings movies, but I never really loved them either as much as mainstream society does. In fact I didn’t go out of my way to see them at all either. In fact I didn’t see either of the first two installments till this past year. Of course I will always check out the low-budget independent films, but let’s face it this kind of movie is why theaters were built in the first place. Inside the movie theater you can be carried away to worlds that never existed, or whiteness things you could never see in your natural life.

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, is a unique film, because unlike most sequels it is just a continuation of the story that began in the original film. Many film franchises the money and cast are inked before any sort of logical story is created. Luckily director Peter Jackson had the books to work from, and had the sense to film it in New Zealand, likely the only place in the world a film like this could be shot. Clearly way to big for any Hollywood back lot. Hollywood has wanted to make a movie like this since the start of the industry.

In the evolution of films every important director that comes along tries to take movie making to the next level. It was easier to do such things back in the start of the industry because all it would take would be a simple shot, or actually moving the camera, to writing believable dialogue when the talkies came along, but more and more the can you top this game became more challenging. I don’t claim to be an expert on these films, since my knowledge in the mythology of the story is limited, heck I still get Mary and Pippin (sp?) mixed up. However since movies in the early days were confined by what could actually be done they either would embarrass themselves with horrible effects, or write the script to accommodate what could not be done visually. Every so often films dealing with fantasy or futuristic visions came along which required the director to challenge himself and the industry to make some sort of advancement on the screen.

Films like Metropolis and from A Trip to the Moon (actually a short silent film) were amebas on the evolution chain of film production, and along the way ever trick in the book was added. Alfred Hitchcock, and Orson Welles taught the industry how to set up camera angles in order to elevate emotion in the viewer. George Lucas although inferior to the prior mentioned along with Steve Spielberg kicked the effects industry into high gear. Ironically Lucas’s dip into CGI seemed almost like a back step compared to what he has achieved various effects in both prequels would have been impressive for PS2 game or a cartoon, but cinematically for me it didn’t live up to the Future is now hype that was around it. In people have gone buck wild with CGI thinking not only that it doesn’t limit them, but that they should over use it whether the plot calls for it or not, until the money runs out I guess. I usually just shake my head because it resulted in using it for explosions and extras, a money saver, but far less convincing if not laughable in films.


Jackson however was pleased because of his filming locations, and his effects team has to be the best in the business. The character of Gollum is pulled off through both this and the Two Towers with believability but in this final installment he is required to do much more. A few flaws here and there, but I think it might be CGI its peak. Each film more computer images seeped into production. Certainly the fight scenes were another challenge, with the amount of them it could become redundant and cliché like the Star Wars films have become, but for the most Jackson makes them come to life, and seem like a new concept.

The story wraps up the trilogy so during the whole time you are feeling a sense of closure coming, and wondering who is going to make it out alive. I could quibble with the low causality rate of the heroes of the film, but I don’t how you could kill off the core characters here, nor do I know their fates in the books. The film’s achievements I guess you have to see on the big screen to fully appreciate. Even standing alone Return of the King is landmark film flickering on the movie screen near you is everything a movie could possibly be it’s easily a landmark film in cinematically, epically, and culturally. I am not saying it is the best film ever made, but it captivates the audience and shows up how far film making has come and generally all that has been learned.

The film will likely stand the test of time because it is simply timeless. If you have to look at them a 3 separate films either Return of the King or Fellowship of the Ring will always be included in film historians most important and historic pictures list. Not that Two Towers was bad, but at least it will likely fall victim to being a bridge movie. Peter Jackson had an incredibly hard job filming these movies at the same time something likely to not be tried again for a long time. So much could have gone wrong with this films, but Jackson came out on top, and hopefully he receives an Oscar for his work with this landmark film. I don’t see Jackson topping this film ever although he is slated to remake King Kong, I wonder if Jackson is spent after this and will suffer form interpersonal pressure to recreate lightening in a bottle. The project was certainly blessed with movie magic, and seeing it on the small screen doesn’t do it much justice even the best HDTV televisions can’t contain a film like this. Hopefully the academy will realize that although a huge commercial film, it is still a landmark movie and if not best picture, best director for Jackson should be a no brainier.

"Deadline Looms"

Jan. 15th is the deadline for the story of the year. Although I have gotten several votes, some key readers have not chimed in and have the chance to actually swing the winner of the story of the year. It is a close one so far.

"Dan K Plants a Seed"

So right before I go to see Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Dan K and I are talking about different movies. I told him I just don't love the Lord of the Rings films as much as most people. I enjoyed the movies, and all but I doubted I would have even seen the final installment of the film if wasn't for Liza.

The discussion went into other movies, and Dan K said sarcastically that every movie can't be Jaws. It was backhanded comment because he dislikes the film. So I figured I would try to beat him at his own game and played right into it. I told him how it still my number one personal favorite film of all time. Now keep in mind I knew he knew this fact. He than let me know that he ment it sarcatically.

He went on to tell me how he always thought Jaws was cheesy so adding that to the fact he thinks so lowly of the film he uses it the way others use Gigili I imagine it was an attempt to get under my skin so I figured I would just shrug it off.
Before I continue let me just state that this is from a man who saw nothing wrong with Star Wars: Episode One the Phantom Menace. Enough said.

So I figure it was just a Dan K ploy to get under my skin, and shrugged it off. I knew he wanted me to get into a whole rant on why Jaws is an awesome movie, and its impact on films in general. Only to fire back at me, but I refused to play his game with not actual real comments just tactics to get me more fired up.

Before the film started I went to take a leak, and for no reason that I can figure I recalled our conversation earlier in the night. I started thinking on how I could have tried to convince to him it wasn't cheesy, and than eventually he would fire back. For a good five minutes I was mad cause I knew he took a shot at this movie to just get under my skin. Meanwhile he was likely just sitting in front of his 7 computers while I was playing out us talking about whether or not the movie was cheesy. Dan not really caring one bit, but just wanting to see how fired up he could make me.

Well I plan to write about the final installment of the Lord of the Rings, because people always ask me, how why don't you write about Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings?

So that I shall do.

"Tucker Goes Down"

Okay, I will give myself a defeat for the winter prediction since we didn't get any snow bettween Christmas and New Years. So I am now by my count 2-1. It's going to be getting down to like 8 at some point Weds or tues. If you recall I said this winter was going to be insanely mild and than insanely cold that has been right so far. Bundle up loyal readers Old Man Winter is on the way, and he might bring some snow for the Eagles game.

"Hopefully This Year Will Be Better Than The Last"

The Counting Crowes song Long December has a line it “… Maybe this year will better than the last” well I am sure most hockey fans will be saying that to themselves if they thought about the year that past in the confines of the sport.

Some people think I can be a too pessimistic and okay that’s true but even an optimistic person would have to agree that it wasn’t a very kind year to the world of hockey.

Roger Nelson lost his long battle to cancer.
Herb Brookes coach of the Miracle on Ice team fell asleep behind the wheel crashed and died.

Former Flyer Rob Ramage was impaired crashed his car and killed a fellow former NHL player in the process.

Danny Heatly on his way to superstardom was goofing around with his buddy Dan Snyder and driving recklessly and lost control of his car. Snyder eventually died as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident and Heatly not only has to carry around the burden of the guilt of ending a friend’s life, but his legs were severely messed up in the accident.


To make matters worse I have lost almost all confidence I had about avoiding the lockout next season. When I first started hearing about it I really wasn’t at all worried. However more and more I am wondering if the puck will drop at all let alone on time next fall. Both sides are being idiotic I guess its part of the negotiating BS, but if they are so far apart on reaching an agreement why not just sit down and talk now?

In addition by my count it could be the last season for 20-25 big name players this season. Most plays have already made public their plan B for next season either joining the WHA 2 or playing over seas. Most the older player will likely just retire instead of getting involved in the mess, and frankly it seems that many of them don’t care either way. It could get interesting because both Brett Hull and JR aren’t exactly union men and can see it getting ugly.

Meanwhile the product on the ice isn’t nearly as entertaining it was years ago. I will go as far to say the games entertainment value is at its lowest that I can recall. Of course I still love the game, but the fans seem like their love is fading given all the empty seats around.

Oh yeah their was the moronic move not to televise the outdoor game between Edmonton and Montreal which makes me wonder if there are any brains running the NHL. Oh yeah Peter Forseberg told ESPN magazine that he most likely wont be back after this season especially if there is a strike I would imagine. Pavel Bure flunked his physical and I guess is off running around with the Russian Mafia somewhere. Super Mario is so banged up I don’t know he passed his. He cant even climb into a car on his own, his hips are so messed up. The only reason he played at all was to try to keep the penguins a float. Shrewd trades have turned into almost down right depressing salary dumps, Straka, Konowalchuk, and Comrie were all dealt for well under their value.

Well hopefully we don’t have to have anymore touching tributes for fallen members of the hockey world, and we can t control the lock out so we might as well enjoy it while it lasts. Just try to watch some of the great players because it might be your last chance to catch most of them.

""Vote for the Story!"

Time to vote on story of the year! You have Two Weeks to Vote just email me at MST3Keith@AOL.com and put the story of the year in the mail and I will tell everyone what it is in two weeks! STARTING NOW!

A. Well what can be said about this one? Price going to war was pretty big, and made him the Tucker’s World person of the year. He saw some serious action in Iraq. Thankfully he returned in one piece. For more information you can read the Tucker’s World Man of the Year.

B. Jay and Jenna who earned the story of the year for last year were at it again in 2003. They decided that their love was true, and the result making a baby! Tucker’s World found out early the game about the pregnancy but had to keep it hush, hush until her stomach ballooned so much that is obvious.

Well not obvious to everyone, you see Lima Beanz who worked as a long term sub for a few months before becoming unemployed neglected to tell his parents that Jay and Jenna were BLESSED. Beanz grew increasingly more irate by the situation. Jenna who previously would just quote Chinese Proverbs after Beanz was bashed had a break down on her blog.

She begged Lima Beanz to change his ways. Myself and Mosco also cried foul on our blog which resulted Beanz threatening to beat both of us up. He wanted to PUNCH JOHN in the face. It never happened and Jenna eventually cooled off. A few weeks before the first grandchild was born Jays parents figured it out. Hunter was born and lives with Jenna’s family and her parents spend a large amount of time with the kid since Jenna works long ours at Sears.

Meanwhile Beanz works a few days a week as a sub-teacher for Sterling, and his occasionally employed at a temp job. Everyone worried that things would change with his crew time, but after a month or so things went back to normal almost Jenna just brings Hunter over to Dukes for the big gatherings as long as no one smokes. Then she leaves and Lima Beanz hangs out When Hunter is put to be bed at Jenna’s Beanz is free to go out for the most part. I am sure life has changed for them below the surface though. How hard it must be to raise a kid! Regardless the despite Jenna hating her job she has embraced the role of the mother of Jay’s child. Who would have thought that Beanz would have started family?!? Beanz bonds with the kid more than most people thought and touchs poop on a regular basis. What a year, just wait until the little tyke starts walking and talking! What do these two have in store for 2004?

C. Ryan flaked out in the year 2003. He was a no show for my graduation party, Christmas Eve at the Arters, Dan’s engagement party, and several other huge events. Not only absent but was unavailable by phone usually after given his word to be on hand. He hasn’t talked to Beanz and Jenna since long before their child was born (first of many?) despite his own mother giving them a gift.

I guess he had a good summer I really wouldn’t know. He said he spent weekends in Ocean City a few times, which by my count would make Reagan have at least 3 “Last Weekends for the Ocean City House” over the course of the summer.

No one really knows what the heck is going, on and from what I understand the confusion has bubbled over to his family too. I am being nice here too, because many of his friends were shocked, hurt, and bewildered this past year by his lack of communication and lack of value of friendship. Not much more to write about the man who wasn’t there.

D. Dan K Hemphill breaks down and purposes marriage to his longtime girlfriend Jessica. Despite living together for four years or so it is still a big move for the computer geek. What is next? Could kids be running amuck amongst a room of computers? Perhaps. But Dan K will likely be overly busy this year planning a wedding and building a house on the land he bought a few months back. So getting engaged and purchasing land is a pretty good way to get you on the list of Story of the year candidates.


E Duke starts dating Monica who is in the middle of a divorce. She cleans up his act and his apartment including making stricter rules about his friends loafing ( and having relations with their girlfriends freely) around his apartment without forking over a penny for rent. It was awkward at first actually getting permission to hang out for hours on end with out Dukes approval at first for a few crew members. The relationship more than anything else shaved down the crew time, but I don’t see it as a bad thing I am glad Duke is not asexual Not to mention Monica is a cool girl. And I would have taken the keys back a long time ago.

F. Price thinking become a war vet perhaps wasn’t enough decides to purpose marriage to his girlfriend Ilene who he only meet on the 4th of July this year. No date has been announced but it will likely not happen until he is done his service in the marines sometime last next year. She is a great girl and I wish them all the luck.

"Dear Readers"

The Gift is not a true story. I get that every year. Also the Story of the Year should be up soon, well actually up to voted on, because you the reader decide that.

Hey I am posting my little Christmas Story hoping to make it an annual thing. I am sure all my readers kept looking back at this blog for it. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

"The Gift"


Some time around the first week of the year. I took a second look at one of our traditional Christmas decorations; it was a complete and total eyesore. It was a gift some old lady gave my mother 10 years ago for Christmas and I guess she felt obligated to put it on the tree each year. It was a gaudy looking knitted cat. It was one the most hideous things I have ever laid eyes on. They say its thought that counts well it’s the thought that angers me when I see it every year.

That same Christmas like every year an epidemic spread through the grade school. This year it was in the form of Sega, the newest video game system. Over greasy square pizza, pale yellow peas, and flavorless mashed potatoes shaped like an ice cream scoop, I would hear all the kids discuss the latest video games. I would try my best to stay absent from the conversation. I wouldn’t know what to say when they would ask me if I had gotten past the castle board yet.


One day went I went home I sat my father down and tried to tell him how I would benefit from having a Sega game system of my very own. I told him it would give me better hand eye coordination and against the popular notion it made kids zombies, I told him it acutally made them think and make quick decisions. He went on and on about how when he was a kid he would just use his imagination to have fun, and how kids today are spoiled. I think that conversation is had all over America in every family at one point and time. I used to think that my parents and all the other parents would go to secret meetings at night or when all their kids were in school and discuss stuff like this. I pictured a man with a gavel leading the meeting and hammering home the idea of telling children why they are spoiled and to shove vegetables down their throats. One time I actually searched my mother’s purse for a pamphlet when they got home late the night before.


That Christmas I was hoping for a miracle. I rushed down the steps that morning and studied each mystery. I did the shake test, the weight test and the hold them up to the sunlight test. As I tore, open each one my chances of getting the coveted Sega was getting slimmer and slimmer. All kinds of flashes were going off from my mother’s camera capturing images of me, and my reactions to each present.


Later that day my family and I went to my aunt and uncle’s for dinner. I was in a miserable mood the whole time. The only bright spot was that my cousin Robby who was about my age was there. And guess what he got for Christmas? Of course the very same Sega system. He told me he got it weeks before Christmas even came. Robby and I were always highly competitive. So while the sweet smell of the pending ham dinner dissipated through the air we settled down in front of the television. With all those weeks of practice, he had on me he humiliated me. I think he set a record for goals scored in a hockey game, shot my plane down about a dozen times, and beat me all over the wrestling ring. I went home feeling worse than I did when I realized I wasn’t getting the Sega.

On the ride home my father tried to reach out to me. But I just pushed him away. The image of my wrestler I was controlling laying on the floor after about 30 seconds was burning in my mind. I sat in fit of rage in the back seat as my parents were in the front. My father turned the radio down. He told me that maybe one day I would get one. But I didn’t hear it. I wanted to tell him how Robby’s parents weren’t any richer than we, that I was the only kid that didn’t have a Sega. But all that came out at the top of my tiny lungs was I HATE YOU! And instead of saying anything after that. I just repeated I HATE YOU! Because he was driving of course he had his back to me. But we passed a street light that light up the rear view window and I glimpse of his face. Suddenly I didn’t want to yell anymore. I did not apologize either, in fact no one said anything. The car just hummed along the rest of the ride.

About two months later I got a Sega for my birthday. It funny the minute I unwrapped the gift and realized what it was, I almost had to fake excitement. Sure I spend many a night in the glow of my television going to far off lands and winning championships, but I could never take those words back. At least in a video game you are blessed with more than one life. At the time I meant the words that came out of my mouth. I hated my father as much as I hate that stupid knit cat now. One time after coming home from a fishing trip with my father after many years of those words keeping me up at night, it figured it was time to apologize. However my mouth froze, I never did. I like to think that my father knew what I was thinking. Like I said they say it’s the thought that counts.


I put the rest of the ornaments in a box, and I carried them basement. I placed them in a closet we hardly used. It was full of dust and mildew. I rested the box right on top of the Sega.




MERRY CHRISTMAS TOO ALL MY READERS AND I HOPE YOU ALL GET LOTS OF COOL STUFF FROM SANTA

"Tucker looks at It s a Wonderful Life"

Some people have not given Its a Wonderful Life a chance, and to be honest I really did not until a few years ago. Maybe the reason is because at one point due to botched paper work the film went into public domain meaning any channel could should the film with out giving anyone a dime as many times as they wanted. Ironically when it was released in 1946 it quickly disappeared from theaters, did not win an Oscars and was eventually pretty much forgotten. That was until the error in the 1970s resulted in the film being shown dozens of times and word of mouth got out and even more channels started to run the film. The film was colorized and bastardized for a few decades, but now NBC owns the right to the film and limits themselves to showing the film twice during the holiday season. The DVD picture looks amazing for a film this old and is a great buy.

The film was director Frank Capra’s finest hour. Capra more or less invented the road comedy with IT Happened One Night, and actually tried various kinds of films. However the films that he would be remembered for were movies about the little against the system (see also Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1934). Most of the plots were fairly simple and critics dubbed his humor and sappy blend as CAPRA-CORN. However it just proves to me that critics were dickheads back than too. I have not seen all his major films yet but I Capra had a rare gift to tap into the human spirit that many directors these days lack. It’s a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Go to Washington still hold up after all these years as entertaining films and their storylines are still socially relevant today.

It s a Wonderful Life is an important film for many reasons, one being the time of the release. In was 1946 and World War II had just ended and the movie industry just wanted to churn out war stories. Capra was sick of the horrors of war and set out to make his most passionate picture of his career. James Stewart had joined the war effort immediately the bombing of Pearl Harbor and rose to the ranks of colonel before the war ended. He was hesitant about returning to acting after his experience. Stewart and Capra were supposedly both close to breakdown during production of the film, and Stewarts tears in the bar scene were real. He was extremely moved by the scene and Capra kept the moment on film.

I doubt many of my readers have not learned the plot of this film that has been spoofed and ripped off countless times however I guess I should throw up a spoiler warning any way. The movie shows us the life of George Bailey (Stewart) starting with his childhood when he rescues his younger brother from drowning in a frozen lake. We get take a brief tour of a small fictional American town Bedford Falls in the first portion the 20th century. The film touches on the roaring 20’s when everything seemed right in the world both broad and George’s. George tags along with this high-school dance ( we get to see George do the Charleston) and Stewart plays to his all shucks persona for the first quarter of the film. George was supposed to leave the next day and fulfill his life long dream of traveling all over the globe. However circumstances arise and he must shelf his dreams in order to keep the family business the Savings and Loans of Bedford Falls alive.


Staying in his hometown has its rewards such as settling down with his life long love interest, and serving as role model for the town. He stands his ground at first to the polar opposite opposition Mr. Potter who owns most of the town and the surrounding area and even was one of the few to capitalize on the great depression. While George lives modestly and barely breaks even with the business Mr. Potter gets increasingly more powerful and wealthy over the years. While George helps build the American dream with his clients even going as far as helping them move into nicer homes or start their new business Potter is looking at his customer base as dollars and cents and making calculated moves in order to maybe them more dependent on him and shake them down for more coinage.

When money is missing George has an intense breakdown, all his sacrificed could have been in vein if he ends up in the slammer. Stewart s performance is nothing short of brilliant as we watch him quietly grow increasingly more bitter and resentful to never leaving his home town while watching his brother; best friend and various others come go as the please chasing after the American Dream as he remained at a job he never cared for. On the brink of Suicide Christmas Eve an angel in training allows him to see a vision of how the people in his life would have been affected had he never been born.

Actually many movie goers thought this sequence pushed into being too depressing when it was released. Without Stewart many his loved ones were worse off. Certainly his brother who was supposed to be a war hero was. His beloved Mary never found her soul mate, and Mr. Potter had no one to stand up to him. The entire town was overrun with bars and nightclubs. Everything including the town bared his namesake, the bars were slummier and one can argue that it Capra was dead on as his vision for the future of many American towns.

The film I think actually gets better with annual viewings. One of the reasons the film still holds up is its timeless story line. Everyone can relate to their life not panning out to the way they mapped it out as a child. Everyone has had to make decisions based on elements they have not control over. Speaking for myself I often measure myself against others. The film speaks to the audience to look less outward and more inward. George s brother Harry was a good solider because he had a good brother. George’s best friend offered George many chances to get rich, and although he lived the high life he certainly respected his childhood home. This was key for the film not to paint all rich people as cold hearted bastards and to show money can be used for good. Everyone has had misfortunes pile up to the point that they want to kick the crap out of things.

The movie plays very well this year, a year that saw death and destruction, a year of layoffs and various college graduates like myself struggle to carve out their niche in the world. The movie alludes that a capitalistic society can appear to be unforgiving at times. Especially for those who have always played the hands dealt close to their chest with aspirations to make it a big in the world. Many war veterans this year had to struggle with the issue of returning back to their hometowns. Going back to normal life many of them returned with a greater appreciation of what they have.

Liza (so were others) was miffed that Mr. Potter who was basically a crook seemingly got off the hook at the end of the film. Something unheard of in movies until this film came a long. The Mr. Potters of the world will always have more impressive pay stubs than me but as the film says if you have a good heart and surround yourself with people of good character no one can logically call you a failure. Mr. Potter’s success was only in the business world not successful in the aspects of life that actually matter. The films title references something that can’t be judged by a bank examiner.

Capra perhaps after the film flopped never really gained his confidence back, and most of his films from that were what I am told not up to par, and he eventually moved into television films. However he did leave a film legacy and now that I have Netflix I plan to discover some of his films. In movies today there are too many overly cynic post-modern directors so it will be refreshing to cook up a warm tub of CAPRA-corn every now and than.

As for Stewart It s A Wonderful Life was turning point for him. He had been mostly known for his screwball comedies until Capra helped him find his dramatic capabilities. Later he worked with the legendary Alfred Hitchock several times often going against type. Most of the calibrations between Hitch and Stewart was his Hitch at his best as it was for Capra. The films included Rear Window, Vertigo, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and the under appreciated Rope. He returned to sentimental comedies/dramas with the wonderful film Harvey. Eventually like everyone else he moved in to Western films for the better half of a decade and towards the end of his career he coasted on his persona in stuff that from what I understand was beneath him. He showed up in a few note worthy roles in the taking on the supporting roles mainly. I plan to check out the Shootist with Stewart playing the doctor of long time friend John Wayne who as his character in the film was dying of cancer at the time. Stewart’s final theatrical film was a Lassie movie ( live action), and than he pretty much retired. He surfaced in the mini series North and South, and provided a voice in Fivel Goes West for his final role. He claimed towards the end of the year it was better to just retire since people weren’t interested in seeing his kind of movies anymore. How wrong he was.

Um. Blooger has gone crazy and I can not use quotes or it goes nuts. Sorry I am working to find out how to fix this.

Sorry to get all dark on you folks but I had to do this. Later this week I will post my Its a Wonderful Life article which I finished, and have my 2nd annual last minute shoppers message, and republish my short story The Gift a Tuckers World tradition.

*****TUCKER SLAMMED BY TERMINUS*****

Not a Man Not Yet a Human

My friend Drew has a blog 1. TERMIUS, as you know. Like every blog writer last week he chimed in on the whole capture of Saddam. Well he has his own comments section unlike me. So I decided to ask him what he thought about all the liberals making this out to be a negative thing. So many liberal minded people were saying, such as it isn't the real Saddam, Saddam was found months ago and was kept in a bunker in Texas, etc. I point out the irony that these same people were the ones who wanted proof of WMD, are now pulling these stories out their ass. I guess the most bold claim I made was that I wouldnt be surprised if some whacko-s just say we should release him.

I posted a comment to ask him how people could feel sorry for Saddam, because many people actually did. Now read the comments and I could be wrong but I don't recall saying that if you felt bad for the guy that you were on his side or anything. I simply have no sympathy for the guy, and asked the question how people could. I honestly can't feel sorry for him. I didn't belittle them really I was just amazed how people were upset because he will actually be given a trial, a man who put to death anyone who looked at him funny.

I cant express sympathy for a man who killed thousands of people and had mass graves all over the country. As for embarrassment I think it could be a lot worse, I have seen people on Survivor look in worse shape than him and as for the images I have seen worse on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Drew did agree that he deserves everything he gets, but after getting insulted for being branded a Sympathizer (although I never did any such thing) he goes on to say


"Oh, yes, and how dare any human being express any sympathy for a man who is going to be locked up for the last few short years of his life before being executed. Where does this idea come from that feeling sympathy for someone means that you support or approve of them. Put your self in Saddam's shoes right now and imagine what you'd be thinking and feeling. If you don't feel sympathy for that, you're not human. That doesn't mean that Saddam should be freed. It doesn't mean that Saddam doesn't deserve everything he gets. Of he course he does, and more. But the poor sonofabitch went from sovereign ruler of Iraq to living in a hole in a matter of weeks. It's got to be pretty hard for him. What's wrong with saying so?"

WOW. I did not make that up folks. Now think back a week ago. Did you feel sympathy for him? I hope so for your sake you did, if not you are not a human. Drew my friend I did think for a moment about the irony of him being in a tiny hole that when he climbed out had a view of his huge palace. Putting myself in his shoes would mean I would have had to see the horror that he unleashed upon humanity and my over-active imagination simply could not do it justice. I had to stop. If you are going to put yourself in the mans shoes Drew I suggest you think about it. He was a rich asshole who if he wasnt killing people he was willing letting people starve to death. Yeah it had to be pretty hard for Saddam leaving his golden toilets for a hole in the ground, but is it wrong for me not to feel bad for the end of Saddams rule.

Let us look at what he wrote. When he says if you don t have sympathy for THAT well....... what does he mean by that exactly? Judging by his previous statements THAT is Saddam being placed on trial and getting locked up for the last few years of his life. So now why would I feel sympathy for justice being served against someone who is being charged with historic crimes against humanity. Saddam might have been scared, and since tried to negotiate his way out of the hole I guess he was.
What I would be thinking and feeling if I were Saddam? Well maybe I would be thinking I should not have murdered thousands of people for no reason. Do I feel sorry that Saddam felt maybe a tenth of a fraction of fear that people did as they watched their loved ones being murdered by his followers or himself personally. Do I regret us having to have Saddam a man who murdered members of his own family and innocent children having his feelings hurt? HELL NO. All he got was a bruised ego big deal. He was on the run for a few months big deal. I am glad that the poor son of a bitch had it hard we are like one of the only countries in the entire world that would not murder him on the spot. If anything he got lucky.

I can only hope that Saddam THINKS about what he did while he is locked up for the last few short years of his life before being executed. I want him to feel fear, and maybe put himself in his own shoes for once. JESUS. Being alone with his thoughts has to be scary. Does he really think I am a bad person for wondering if Saddam is feeling blue?

Drew hates being labeled Un-American for speaking his mind but when I do he will imply I am unworthy to be considered a human. Isn't that a bigger insult? I must be a vicious horrible beast by definition I guess. I guess Saddam and I are both Monsters in his eyes than, because I do not know what else that makes me since I am clearly not a human loyal readers. Do you do yourself a favor ask people around if their heart strings were tugged on. Maybe Dr. Phil should have been sent down the hole and tried to reach Saddam.

Does Drew do this to get a rise out of people like me? I really don't know.

I wonder if Drew feels sorry that Hitler hit hard times when he was cornered and took his own life rather than be captured. What makes Hitler different? It is inhuman to not feel sorry for what Hitler was thinking and feeling when he had that gun ready to take his own life. I mean a in the matter of a mere couple of years he went from almost taking over all over Europe to being surrounded by troops out to capture him. Support the war or not Saddam can easily be put on a list with Hitler as far as horrible deadly people, I mean he did not get the name butch of Baghdad for nothing. I hate to end on a cliche. Does having sympathy for Saddam s crushed dreams and fears when he saw those troops looking down at him make you un-American will not call you that Drew maybe a hypocrite if you mange to worm your way out of applying the same logic to Hitler. How can you not put the same logic to Hitler s case? What about his feelings is on a different plan than Saddam? Maybe there is different levels of inhumanity than? I am glad you are here to define what is right and wrong to think Drew. Then again I am not human.