Political Passport: Everything You Need to Know about the IRS Scandal
Jack Bauer, Michael J. Fox, and Agent Coulson - They're Back!
Movie Review: The Great Gatsby
Exclusive Music Interview: Friendly Savages (Playing LIVE in Nashville at Exit/In on Tuesday Night!)
Top of the morning to you all, I’m on my MTV jams flow. Tony’s vernacular is surreptitiously becoming intertwined into my daily conversations and I love it. People just look at me funny. Apparently verbalizing tweets doesn’t result in instant popularity. Oh well, it was worth a shot. But enough about me, this is Tony’s time.
251. Read more
He Said, She Said will be a weekly post brought to you by Joseph Williams and his lovely wife, Palmer. Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you have to agree on everything though…
Discussing thoughts and feelings about everything under the sun, from TV and film to awards shows and life experiences, they’ll bring a unique perspective on each topic. When they agree, consider it two thumbs up. When they disagree, consider both sides. But don’t write them off as typical-guy and typical-gal points of view. After all, Palmer doesn’t exactly like chick flicks, and Joseph doesn’t get all jacked up to see Transformers 3 at midnight.
How to Make Predictions for Contests
Palmer: Now that awards season is upon us, an annual debate has arisen between Joseph and I about how you should fill out your Oscars ballot. Joseph and his cheating heart thoroughly researched what the critics and Academy say about each pick. I, with my pure, unadulterated heart, predict based on who I think ought to win. Example: Joseph voted for The Tree of Life for cinematography based on critics’ predictions. I saw parts of The Tree of Life, and thought the story was dumb and had no plot. Albeit a beautiful movie, my heart told me this was the Oscars, a contest for movies, not a contest for art on screen. Thus, I couldn’t vote for a seemingly pointless movie and chose, instead, The Artist. Why should I let the Academy, a group of people I’m pretty sure I have little in common with, decide for ME what I think a good movie is?!
Joseph: First of all, you watched about 15 minutes of The Tree of Life. I chose it because I thought it did have the best cinematography. And many make the argument that movies are indeed a form of art on screen. I don’t see why being principled and choosing with your heart has to be mutually exclusive from picking a winner and being a winner. This debate comes up as I have, for the second year in a row, won the Oscars Prediction Pool amongst our friends.
Palmer: And by win, you mean you cheated. And cheaters aren’t winners. So you did not win. Because you cheated. (and The Tree of Life was dumb) Read more
By the end of most weeks, you’ve had some successes and you’ve had some failures. But, by Friday, you’re exhausted and often feeling at the end of your rope. It’s at this point in time, whether it’s humility you need or some encouragement, that everyone needs a healthy dose of George Feeny. After all, most of our lives would probably be worse off and definitely be less wise without him. On a blog where we admit that our wisdom is limited, we felt we would be doing our faithful readers a disservice to not provide some authentic wisdom at the end of every week from one Mr. George Feeny.
Happy Feeny Friday, Feeny-ites! Continuing our stroll down Wisdom Lane, this week’s second episode of season one, entitled “On the Fence,” originally aired on October 1, 1993, on the day I turned seven years old. A magical date to be sure… so surely there must be great wisdom ahead!
The summary of the episode: When Cory’s parents don’t give him the money to buy a water gun for the classes water fight. He strikes a deal with Mr. Feeny to paint his shutters and Feeny will give him the money for the gun. Corey rushes through the job and an accident occurs.
Our favorite Feeny-ite, Mr. Matthews, begins this tale having the classic debate in the lunchroom about Superman vs. Batman. Who would you rather be? Who would you rather be your dad? This debate still goes on in lunchrooms today. It’s the truly partisan topic of our time. Even if Washington, D.C. was working, they still wouldn’t be able to solve this one. Read more
And we’re back with another Tuesday)s With Tony. This past weekend the NBA had its annual dog and pony show, so here’s a quick wrap up for those who chose to watch Billy Crystal in black-face instead of a black face raise a crystal. Hey, Billy got laughs, figured I would try it too.
The weekend included a celebrity basketball game (Kevin Hart, MVP), Rookie/Sophomore game (layup drill), 3 point contest (K.Love), dunk contest (YAWN), and the main event Sunday had its moments of greatness. Blah blah blah. The weekend allowed players to rest and relax for a few days in preparation for the second half of the season. Well, Tony might have been resting his legs, but his thumbs have been very busy lately.
He started off this past week with an instant classic! While discussing his Epsom salt bath and his admission of not knowing what Epsom salt was, he still acknowledges his mother’s wisdom. Bless her, bless her. This was my favorite tweet of the week and early on I thought this would take up the majority of the post, but I was premature in my posting prophecy.
You see, it turns out that Tony has been learning magic. Yes, you heard me correctly, he tried to become Tony Blaine during his days off from basketball. Don’t believe me? Watch me put the pieces back together right before your very own eyes! (waves wand and the lights dim) Read more
By the end of most weeks, you’ve had some successes and you’ve had some failures. But, by Friday, you’re exhausted and often feeling at the end of your rope. It’s at this point in time, whether it’s humility you need or some encouragement, that everyone needs a healthy dose of George Feeny. After all, most of our lives would probably be worse off and definitely be less wise without him. On a blog where we admit that our wisdom is limited, we felt we would be doing our faithful readers a disservice to not provide some authentic wisdom at the end of every week from one Mr. George Feeny.Lots can change in a week. While I began to accumulate Boy Meets World episodes on my DVR, Amazon had a Gold Box Deal of the Day which was every season of Boy Meets World on DVD for $65.00. This was clearly one of the best gifts to humanity since the manna came down from heaven in the Old Testament. After multiple friends sent me the link, there was no way to not make the purchase. So now, thanks to the Big Guy upstairs and Amazon, Feeny Friday will bring you wisdom from Mr. Feeny, starting at the beginning, a wonderful place to start.
Boy Meets World premiered on September 24, 1993. When the “Pilot” episode aired, few knew the impact this show would ultimately have on the moral well-being and understanding of love and friendship on my generation. But, from the start, it introduced us to a man named Mr. Feeny. Read more
Time for the Tuesday with Tony’s top tweets for the twenty first of February in two thousand twelve. Time to check in with our buddy Tony, and see what he’s been up to this week.
First of all, Tony amassed over 100 “!’s” in a two day period. He also tipped in a game winning shot against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night, so he has been extra abusive with the “!’s”. If someone were smart (you can thank me later), they could start a charity organization that donates said amount every time @aa000g9 uses a “!” to a worthy cause. I’m such a philanthropist. But enough about giving, let’s talk about Tony!!!! Read more
By the end of most weeks, you’ve had some successes and you’ve had some failures. But, by Friday, you’re exhausted and often feeling at the end of your rope. It’s at this point in time, whether it’s humility you need or some encouragement, that everyone needs a healthy dose of George Feeny. After all, most of our lives would probably be worse off and definitely be less wise without him. On a blog where we admit that our wisdom is limited, we felt we would be doing our faithful readers a disservice to not provide some authentic wisdom at the end of every week from one Mr. George Feeny.
Many have asked me what Feeny Friday will be exactly. When I explain, many are quite happy at the prospects. Few were as excited as my old pledge brother, Patrick Russell. He responded: “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mr. Feeney comes to me, speaking words of wisdom: ‘let it be.’ Years of experience on that one. Mr. Feeny’s words are like mother’s milk and Reagan’s economic policies, all rolled into one. Everything a growing boy needed.” Patrick understood. I knew others would too. Our generation grew up on the wisdom of George Feeny. And, like our friends Cory, Topanga, Shawn, and Eric, Feeny is always there for us. Consider this weekly column the latest in a long line of plot holes that keep Feeny in the story, dishing out wisdom. Read more
He Said, She Said will be a weekly post brought to you by Joseph Williams and his lovely wife, Palmer. Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you have to agree on everything though…
Discussing thoughts and feelings about everything under the sun, from TV and film to awards shows and life experiences, they’ll bring a unique perspective on each topic. When they agree, consider it two thumbs up. When they disagree, consider both sides. But don’t write them off as typical-guy and typical-gal points of view. After all, Palmer doesn’t exactly like chick flicks, and Joseph doesn’t get all jacked up to see Transformers 3 at midnight.
Homeland, Season 1
He Said: As someone who followed 24 from its inception with its edited and delayed season premiere after 9/11, I was excited about Homeland. 24 is one of my all-time favorite shows. The first season was an inflection point for television drama, launching the return of serial TV. Although 8 seasons and a TV movie (and, fingers crossed, Jack Bauer on the big screen?!?) provided for some of my favorite TV-viewing ever, its home on network TV amid concept constraints (real-time, 24-episode seasons) provided for some predictability, inconsistency, and loss of nuance/depth as the series progressed. With Homeland, two of the writers from 24 have the opportunity to break out of the constraints of 24 and provide some of the best television drama I have watched in quite some time. Addictive, enthralling, mind-twisting, and with two of the most interesting characters (brilliantly portrayed by Claire Danes and Damien Lewis) on TV right now, the first season of Homeland provides a window into America’s foreign policy over the past decade. And you won’t be able to look away from the family dynamics, political machinations, and psychologically thrilling tale of what can be behind international terrorist threats and what can be done to try to keep America safe and strong.
She Said: Ok, for those of you who like TV but do not have a clue what my husband just said- this review is for you. I have never seen 24, or any other equivalent show, as my general scariness tolerance level is somewhere around CSI: Miami. So when Joseph told me that Homeland was a MUST WATCH for us, I patted him on the head, said yes, and then proceeded to make sure our DVR was filled so that we would never have the time to watch it. However after Joseph decided to switch our cable from Comcast to U-verse (WARNING: do not engage Joseph in a conversation about the brilliance of U-Verse v. the evils of Comcast unless you have a good two hours on your hands), our DVR was wiped out so I had no choice but to submit myself to starting Homeland…And surprisingly I’m very glad I did. Although I spent half of each episode crouched behind my pillow with my heart-beating out of my chest, the show’s twists and turns left me unable to stop at just one episode a night. I love that the storyline is not your average good guy vs. bad guy, but that the show brings depth and reality to the general “greyness” of the issues it tackles. I would say that if you are like me, and are easily stressed during a show, you may enjoy it more (especially if you are near the end of the series) to read a few spoilers beforehand so you know when the jumps are coming. Read more
I remember my first time like it was yesterday. Filled with excitement and unaware of the wonders this new adventure would bring, I dove right in throwing caution to the wind.
Early on I learned to avoid athletes on Twitter because of their incessant self promotion. But then, Tony happened. Yes, Tony Allen joined the Twitter world and his viral stream of consciousness was birthed. Unprepared for what Tony was capable of, I began to follow his tweets. I excused his first tweets and attributed them to amateurism with a smart phone and the concept of Twitter. But things did not change, and I began to search for the meanings in Tony’s tweets.
Unfamiliar to the use of the single “)” and multiple “!”, I mulled over Tony’s tweets like Benjamin Franklin Gates and the Declaration of Independence.
Your honor, I would like to present Exhibit A: Read more
