2009-Feb-3 - Monday nights are back for Prime Time

It turns out that Monday nights are going to be the very best prime time TV nights as far as I'm concerned.  So good in fact that I had to call the cable company to add the US Network Time shifting theme pack.  I highly recommend the pack by the way at only $2/ month.

I started my evening at 8pm with left over Chicken Wings from Super Sunday and some grocery store potato and egg salad.  The wings came out of the microwave at almost exactly 8pm and I turned on House.

The promos had played up the fact that Thirteen was going to get sick from the meds Foreman gave her after he put her on the test drug during the trial.  And I don’t think that anyone was surprised to see that he had in fact put her on the drug. But it was a pretty good episode. 

There was some back and forth between Cuddy and House that comes to because Cuddy genuinely hates the fact that House is making her be at the hospital instead of at home with her newly adopted baby.  Wilson points out the truth later and saves the day and everyone’s sanity. 

There was some insight given into Wilson's life since Amber died which I didn't expect.  Turns out he’s a broken man that hasn’t moved on even enough to close the last book that she was reading at the kitchen/ dining room table.

In the end House and the team saved the patient (as always) and Thirteen can see again.  Foreman doesn't lose his license as long as he never tries to work in a trial again.  And House has his cane back (you'll know what I mean if you watched the episode)

I checked my twitter a couple times and sent some texts to my special friend and otherwise my 8 to 9 was covered.  Dinner was good, had a couple of glasses of Coke and enjoyed the left-overs.

9pm, Heroes starts!  The hiatus has been killing me.  I'm a routine based kinda guy.  So having Mondays night back is key.

Nathan has started a campaign veiled under the homeland security tag that even gets an Irani-American nervous thinking that he's talking about Arabs and such.  We all know (including Peter) that it's about those with abilities. 

Cut to Parkman and Daphne.  Matt wants to live on the level, while she'd rather speed through things and use what she's got (fair when you consider what happens when she loses her power I figure).  The wanderer ends up stopping by in a vision to tell Matt that he should paint the future and after a brief argument Matt’s eyes go all Isaac Mendes and the pen starts going crazy on the paper.

Cut to Claire finding out that Angela is in on whatever scheme Nathan

is planning.  Claire is not the nose clean little girl that Noah hoped she'd be.

Stuff starts to hit the fan and our heroes start to get abducted by dudes in all black, super agent looking costumes.  Suresh, Peter, Parkman, Hiro, Tracy, Claire, they all get taken (Sylar doesn't, that's right the jerkface is alive and well, kicked a bunch of behind and showed that his abilities are well intact)

-note: during the show I turned the closed captioning on and called the cable company and added the afore mentioned theme pack.  The cable girl was great.  New channels started working while we were still on the phone.  Mission accomplished.

Back to the show.  Big warehouse, people with abilities lined up, chained, hooded and walking together.  Turns out that Claire is one of them of course as she was taken with Matt from his apartment when she was trying to warn him of what was going to happen.  Nathan lets her go and tells her to forget what she just saw.  But Claire being the strong willed young woman that she is can't just walk away.  Kicks the driver in the head and sneaks on to the plan that the others were herded on to. 

Calamity (not the funny kind) ensues and it turns out that Noah is the co-pilot.  It also turns out that Peter has his full abilities back as he took some of Suresh’s super strength and Tracy’s super freeze while escaping the cuffs and such that they were locked down in.  Thanks to the super freeze ability that Peter stole there's a hole in the side of the plane and there's going to be a crash landing.  To be continued... Of course. 

The Teaser after the show looks like the show is going to turn into a Lord of the Flies meets Lost situation with the ability gifted running and hiding from The Company and its’ men who will no doubt be able to find out where the plane goes down and send resources.

I had an hour to kill between 10 and 11 because I really don’t care about Medium being on at 10.

I did some dishes, cleaned up in the kitchen a little bit.  I updated my Twitter, checked Facebook on my BlackBerry and channel surfed. 

To be honest it wasn’t a terribly exciting hour of my night, but I was relaxed and happy that I had already watched House and Heroes and that Chuck was going to be on one of my newly selected US Time shifting channels.

Chuck started right on time and I was smiling big again.  The episode was filmed in 3D for whatever reason and as awesome as I’m sure it was for those people that had glasses, I wasn’t ready or equipped with 3D glasses. 

Open the show with Chuck in what is clearly a dream sequence because Sarah was in this hot little black lingerie thing that will make a guy like Chuck know that he is dreaming. 

I love this show.  It’s funny, it’s quick, the people are pretty good looking, overall it’s good stuff.  I always forget that the show is an hour long.  I’m not sure why, but it always makes me happy when I realize that it’s going to be on for another 30 minutes.

Chuck’s first flash of the post holiday season clocked in at 5 minutes into the episode.  And it resulted in a hi-tech grenade being tossed around like a football until it blew up safely.

Perfectly timed cameo: Jerome Bettis, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back guest stars as Big Mike’s college football teammate. 

The Episode also featured that little guy that was on Lost as a rock star junkie and a hobbit in Lord of the Rings.  The rock star drug lifestyle was joked on when dude was hit with a tranquilizer and woke back up when he was to have been out for 24 hours.

Second Chuck flash: 26 minutes.

Action sequences start as the mystery starts to unfold and I kind of start wishing I had those 3D glasses to see what cool features they had set up.  Oh well. 

Chucks final flash: 36 minutes.

Action gets heavier and the bad guy is in sight.  Chuck and rock star guy, character name: Tyler Martin end up on stage and dive into the crowd to avoid a knife throw by the hitman working for African terrorists.  Sarah and Casey get the bad guy in the crowd, the fans help Tyler Martin surf back to the stage and drop Chuck because they don’t know or care who he is.

Show ends with rock star chatting with Chuck, inviting him to party any time, Chuck says no thank you. 

Chuck tells Sarah that he saw her shoot the bad guy on Christmas Eve and it messed with his head.  She tells him that he deserves some time off and that he can take as much as he needs.

Casey tells Sarah it’s time to go and they go to the car to leave for a mission.  Chuck gets the sad little boy, lost puppy look on his face and then climbs into the back of the car to leave.

End show.  11pm.

2009-Jan-29 - Morning Musings On All Things Entertainment

So, because I’m set up here on the entertainment page I guess I should write about some things in the entertainment world for once.  I’m not even sure if anyone is reading this thing.  But if you are, let me know.  My email is joshuac.murray@mail.com... Send a msg, or find me on Twitter…  phjoshua

I see in the news tickers and all over the place and Michael Jackson’s Thriller is going to be made into a Broadway Musical.  I also see that the director of Thriller (John Ladis) is going to sue Michael Jackson for past profits or something along those lines.  Michael Jackson hasn’t been in the news this much for something that has to do with his music in years.  I love it.  I bet he loves it and I’m almost positive that his family loves it.

In television news, Heroes and Chuck are back with “all new” episodes next week according to the NBC website.  I was getting impatient and checked yesterday.  A boy can only last so many Monday nights without seeing a bunch of people with super powers.

In the world of books, I haven’t heard much.  I know that books are turning into movies like crazy and that women the world over are excited for the release of “He’s just not that into you”.  I also know that I haven’t finished my book so I have nothing really to talk about in the world of novels and such.

Umm, in movies I’m sad.  “Paul Blart, Mall Cop” has been the highest grossing film in the box office for the last two weeks in a row.  And I’ll admit, I like to watch a re-run of King of Queens from time to time, but I’m not sure I ever thought that Kevin James was funny enough to carry his own movie.  But what do I know I guess. 

I’m sure that there are other things to write about, but I can’t think of them right now.  Go to it entertainment seekers.  Here are today’s links for the news that is news.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1001508/ - he’s just not that into you

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1114740/ - paul blart, mall cop

http://www.nbc.com/Schedule/ - nbc schedule – heroes and chuck all new Feb 2

http://www.thewrap.com/article/1015 - john landis vs. michael jackson

That’s all for today folks.  Enjoy your coffee.

Cheers,

2009-Jan-26 - Changing Hockey Safety

There has been a lot of talk lately with regards to safety in hockey, and justifiably so.  By now everyone is aware of the tragedy of Don Sanderson, and while I am writing this over a month after Mr. Sanderson’s injuries and death took place, my heart still goes out to his family and friends. 

Because of this incident there has been much discussion about removing fighting from the game of hockey in the name of protecting the players.  But, with all due respect to everyone involved in hockey either as a player, coach, parent or fan, there are much more important things to look at when addressing player safety. 

At this time I’d like to point out that I am not a disciple of Don Cherry.  I love watching him, I love his passion for the game of hockey and the country of Canada, but these opinions are mine and have nothing to do with his speeches on Coach’s Corner or anywhere else.

I do believe that in my lifetime (and God willing I have a long time to live) I will see a steep drop-off in the number of hits from behind and head shots, and even a lower number of fights in the NHL.  I believe this because Canada still produces the highest number of NHL players and Hockey Canada has taken steps to teach its’ young players how to play the game safely.  Minor hockey players in Canada wear “Stop” patches on the back of their jerseys above their name plates to remind each other that hitting from behind is a bad idea.  They also wear face cages and shields to protect from errant sticks and pucks.  These aren’t choices that players make when they get dressed; these are mandated by Hockey Canada and the leagues that the players participate in.

The “Stop” patches don’t take up much space, and by now are so standard and accepted that there’s no reason to take them off at all when players progress through the ranks of competitive hockey as far as I’m concerned.  I know that fans everywhere would have to get used to seeing the patches on the backs of jerseys for Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, and I know that purists and traditionalists will fight this suggestion to the bitter end because it would “ugly up” the jerseys of their favourite teams.  But folks, come on, these are players health and lives that we’re talking about.

As well, the face cages and shields are mandated right through Major Junior Hockey in this country, why give players the decision to take it off when they graduate to the professional ranks?  At one time (before I remember) this discussion was about players wearing helmets.  Likewise, Major League Baseball had this discussion with batting helmets, and then batting helmets with ear flaps.  In the end, players and leagues adopted the safe choice and every hockey player wears a helmet while on the ice.  It’s time to grandfather in the face shield or cages and watch over the next 10 years as the game gets safer because of it.  The argument that players will be careless with their sticks if everyone wears better protection is ridiculous.  These are grown men that have been playing hockey for most of their lives.  They have the ability to be safe with their sticks, and when accidental high-sticks occur players won’t come close to losing eyes a la Bryan Berard. 

Other changes would come from the rules committee.  No touch icing would be a safe change.  There have been arguments on both sides of this idea for years.  But, I’ll trade one race for a puck that actually is a race for all the broken legs (Kurtis Foster, you haven’t heard of him in a while I bet) in the world.  Also, let’s remember that no touch icing set up Team Canada’s dramatic goal with 5.4 seconds left against the Russians in this year’s World Junior Hockey Championships.  It’d be kind of cool to see a finish like that in the NHL regular season, let alone a playoff game. 

The starting of a referee handing out, with their own discretion, a 5 minute penalty for a high stick with malicious intent instead of just a 2 minute minor plus another 2 minutes if blood is drawn would help to discourage what we refer to as “head shots”. 

Supplementary discipline from the NHL head office should start to come more swiftly and harshly when dealing with hits from behind, late hits and hits to the head.  Players with multiple offenses need to be treated as repeat offenders and punished as such.  I know that Jarkko Ruutu is an idiot for biting Andrew Peters but it’s his repeat offender status that needs to be taken into account in the future. 

I know that I alone don’t know how to fix the game of hockey, I’m not sure that any one person really does because we’re all biased at some point.  But these are my suggestions.  Add yours.  Tell me that you hate mine, but when you do; keep the safety of the players, young and grown in mind.

2009-Jan-20 - Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President

I know that I’m not American.  I know that I didn’t vote for you.  And I know that in the end the decisions you make while you hold office will be made with your country in mind first, and the rest of the world second.  And sir, I can not and do not blame you one bit for that.

What I do ask and hope is that you keep me, my fellow Canadians and the rest of the world in mind when you make your decisions.

I have to admit that I am a big fan of yours.  I have read your book, and followed your progress over the course of the nomination and election process.  A friend of mine even got me an Obama ’08 button leading up to Election Day.

This morning I started reading letters to you written by school children in the United States.  They are both innocent and insightful.  The children ask for safety of loved ones in Iraq.  They ask for the end of a recession that they don’t understand because they do know that it means that they can’t go to McDonalds for dinner with their parents.  But mostly, what they and I and many, many other people are asking for is guidance, leadership and the continuance of hope.

Later today when you take the Presidential oath I will be watching on TV while millions of people will be watching live in D.C.

And while it may sound silly because I’m not American, I am excited. 

Good luck and God speed Mr. President.  Best wishes for you and your family.

-Joshua Murray

2009-Jan-8 - My only resolution.

Sorry, I know it's been a while.  It's been a, umm, busy time.

The holidays are over, everyone is back to their lives and I wish you all the best.

As for myself, been better.  Startling revelations have taken place, and my new year
may prove to be a long and arduous, but that's the way it's going to be.

If anyone reading this is has been impacted, I'm sorry.  I really am.  And as my new year's
resolution, I vow to do my best to become the kind of person you'll ask to be around again.

Thank you,

-Joshua

2008-Dec-20 - OMG, I'm falling in love

2008-Dec-15 - Happy Holidays and Thanks

Good morning all,

I know it's the holiday season, and not thanksgiving, but this is a time for family and friends and so I would like to take the time to give thanks for the serious and the irreverent in my life.

I would like to give thanks for my mom, she's still a rock.  And after a lovely afternoon yesterday I'm reminded again of the kind of parent and person that I want to be.

I would like to give thanks for my significant other, she's a saint, and she continues to stand beside me through some ups, some downs and some in betweens.

Thanks also needs to be given for my friends that have stayed in touch from Ottawa since my move, my friends in Peterborough that still send messages to say hi, and my friends all over the rest of the country that are there when I need them and when it's just to chat.

I'd like to give thanks for my job, sure it's not fantastic all the time, but I'm not unemployed and the rent is paid.

I'd like to give thanks for mouse traps, they give me a chance to sleep at night.

I'd like to give thanks for Advent calanders and the chocolate that comes in them.

I'd like to give thanks for digital cable and 24 hour sports coverage.

I'd like to give thanks for my BlackBerry and how it keeps me connected at all times.

I'd like to give thanks for my metabolism.  I don't eat well but the calories I get keep me going with the same waist line.

I'd like to give thanks for the TTC and my pass that lets me get on the bus, street car and subway without hassle everyday.

I'd like to give thanks for professional sports because it gives me something bigger than myself to be interested in and care about.

I'd like to give thanks for world of constant political change, again it gives me something to read, care about, talk about and wonder what the world will be like because of it.

I'd like to give thanks for comic books, comic book tv shows, comic book movies and graphic novels.

I'd like to give thanks to the Big Guy, who keeps looking out for me and the ones I love.

And finally I'd like to give thanks for the internet, that gives me a voice and a place to rant even if I don't deserve it.

Cheers and Happy Holidays,

2008-Dec-9 - The Time Is Now To Think Blue Jays Baseball

2008-Dec-9 - Free Online Comics!!!!!!!

http://www.lorencollins.net/freecomic/

This link is currently the most fulfilling find in my expanding geekdom... or is that geekhood?

My personal favourite is the link to the original TMNT comics.  Not scans, no fold or staple marks.

Some won't be top quality, but I'm giving you a way to read comics at work, so suck it up.

Cheers,

-Joshua

2008-Nov-25 - McTheory

I'm not going to waste a lot of time with set-up on this one.  But I will share credit, again this theory is a colaborative work and I'd like to thank Will, Tony and Chris for their help in Peterborough, ON

The McCraving: It starts with hunger, and the mere mention of the word McDonalds.
You will no doubt start to feel more hungry and may even begin to taste the menu item of your choice. If left unattended with a lower than saintly level of tolerance the cravings will become unbearable and you will move onto the next stage.

The McSatisfaction: After placing you order and sitting either in your car or at the table you will start to eat your chosen menu item and realize that nothing could be better in this moment. Whether you choose a burger, chicken, a salad or any number of things, the taste of your meal will be for a moment, unbelievable.

(It's true, I've seen women and children eat the smallest meals ever and end up falling into the rest of the McTheory.)

There is a time lapse between the McSatisfaction and the next stage in the McTheory. There is no set time for this to take place but in a group it may seem to happen for everyone at the same time.

The McGurlgles: The McGurgles may also be known as a grumbly stomach or even in more serious cases a comparable feeling to the stomach flu in its' worst fury.

The McGurgles may bleed into the next stage(s). Please do not take it lightly as it will at times be very uncomfortable.

The McSleepies: As foolish and childish as the name may seem this is not a joke. After a varying amount of time has passed (it's like cough medicine, it's never the same for 2 people) after your meal, you will begin to feel tired and lacking significant energy. Although there is no need for a warning against operating heavy machinery, in certain instances you may lose all desire to return to work or any kind of physical activity at all. This may also include but is not restricted to: Not wanting to walk anywhere, not wanting to care for small children, and not caring at all about the movement of traffic as you cross the street.

(This is why athletes should not eat at McDonalds before a big game. I don't care if you're talking about the High School Track & Field team, or the NBA All-Star team, It just shouldn't be done.)

The McMood Swings: In order to avoid offending your friends, co-workers, and others close to you, please inform them that you have gone through the first four stages so that they may be prepared for what is to follow. You may become short and defensive when asked simple questions that at other times wouldn't matter at all. You may also become visibly upset with co-workers when things aren't exactly perfect when you otherwise wouldn't care. In more offensive cases you may actually go looking for trouble to release the unexplained aggression that you have acquired. There is no remedy except perhaps some light hearted pop music and a bright coloured sucker.

2008-Nov-20 - Apathy is poison

2008-Nov-12 - Live in the "ish"

2008-Nov-10 - First blog from BB

I guess that I'm a techy now. I'm blogging from my phone.  

I'm not sure how I feel about it. 

But I guess that's the way it goes.  

And as much as I don't to be that guy, I really 
have a craving to sit  at a game and type away...  

Whether it be a raptors game, leaf game or even the marlies and blog 
the action every time there's something relevant.  If and when I have 
a chance to make this craving a reality, you'll  see it as well.  

I'm kind of excited about the opportunities that this new handheld  
masterpiece can bring.  

So, here's hoping that you don't steal my idea... And if you do, 
here's hoping that you don't do it as well as I do.  

- joshua 

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network 

2008-Nov-2 - Plan the parade route!!!!!!!!!

The new season has started and the boys in black (black is the new red, I saw it on a t-shirt) are on a roll.  We answered the bell on opening night against disgruntled new Canadian Samuel Dalembert and the 76ers.  We gave the fans a dramatic overtime win against a Western Conference team that won 6 more games than we did last year on a stronger schedule.  And then last night we found a way to grind out our third win in a row on the second half of a back to back on the road at Milwaukee’s home opener.

All the while your NBA All-Star and part-time used car dealer Chris Bosh has been focused and determined.  Jose “The Facilitator” Calderon has done everything that fans knew he could without TJ Ford crying in the background.  And Jermaine O’Neal has been a welcome addition.  The 30 year old looks healthy, happy and prepared to do whatever it takes to win.  (Have you seen the big man take a charge?!)

I know it’s only the first week of November, and I know that we just changed the clocks back.  But the outlook is good.  Boston lost last night, and we didn’t!  And in my world, that’s good news.

So cheer loud, proud and all year long Raptor fans.  I’ll see you on the route.

Cheers,

-Joshua

2008-Oct-20 - Why not Justin Trudeau... make me believe again.

2008-Sep-27 - Bachelor

So... I will now be starting my official residence and grown-up life in Toronto.  I'll be renting a tiny little bachelor apartment west of the trendy part of King St.  It's close to what I need... drugs, sex, booze, children causing trouble.  Also laundry, groceries and fast food.  All in all, it should do just fine.  Plus I'll be closer to the ACC for Raptors games all season.

If anyone has anything that they want to donate email me at joshuac.murray@mail.com and I'll make sure that we get it all figured out :)

ps.  I hope that everyone is having a good start to their semesters in school.  peace out

-Joshua

2008-Sep-10 - moved and looking

So, here I am. In Toronto, the big city.  Lights, cameras and action.  In fact I think I walked through the shot of a MuchMusic promo cut yesterday.  Oh well.  That's what they get for filming on the sidewalk.

So far it's been pretty good.  I hit a couple Blue Jays games, they keep winning so I may keep going.  I've been downtown while James Cameron of Titanic fame was receiving his star on the Canadian Walk of Fame.  I've even had a friend tell me that they saw Lebron James promoting his new flick at the Toronto International Film Fest.  Not a bad frist week.

Now to find employment and an apartment and things will be peachy.

Cheers for now.

-Joshua

2008-Aug-29 - Moving

So...the time has come.

I've packed boxes full of books, DVDs, clothes and assorted other crap.  Sunday the trucks will back up and we'll load everything and get on the 401.

This will be the move out of Ottawa that I always figured was going to come but didn't know when.

It's also the move back to Toronto that was always part of the larger plan.

It's been a pain in the ass, a stress filled time, and there's been a lot of reflection... I love a lot of people in this city, and I'm going to miss them all... but there are a lot of people in Toronto that I love, and a city that I love as well.

So, if you see me in Toronto in early September please say hi.  Also, I still need a job... so feel free to offer one of those too.

Love,

-Joshua

2008-Aug-18 - Smells of summer

2008-Jul-31 - The perfect equation