The Next Cinematic Iron Man

A lot has been said about the future of Marvel's big screen universe with regards to their trailblazing cinematic version of Iron Man, embodied so fittingly by Robert Downey Jr. - but he's getting older and his exit from the character is not too far away - as RDJ has essentially affirmed...

In response, I was thinking about who the next Iron Man could be, and after seeing a number of episodes of Fox's "The Last Man On Earth", I landed on an casting idea I wanted to throw out there - Jason Sudeikis. I admittedly haven't seen as much of his work as a lot of people, but I think it could work.

He has a voice that you could hear Tony Stark speaking in, and with the right goatee he could have the look as well. His comedic sense, delivery, and tone of character could be quite Stark-esque indeed, and his "Last Man" appearances have convinced me of his dramatic abilities. What do you think?

Crystal Pepsi is Back!

Yep, I was in Wal-Mart and was totally surprised to come around the corner of the isle and see something I haven't seen for many many years - Crystal Pepsi!

Now I will say, I haven't drank Pepsi, of any kind, in years. But the nostalgia of Crystal Pepsi brought me back for a taste. I last remember drinking Crystal Pepsi it in the 90s, sitting outside of the local grocery store sipping from a frosty blue can. It's slightly weird to hear myself say that this bubbly transparent sugar water is giving me the nostalgic warm and fuzzies, but it is.

After a nice chilling in the fridge, I took a big sip and it was... pretty tasty! Back in the day, I also seem to remember Crystal Pepsi having a slightly different taste from regular Pepsi - but that could be my fuzzy memory talking... In any case, I did enjoy drinking it, although my stomach doesn't seem as forgiving to Pepsi as it used to. I think next time I won't drink it all at once...

Anyway, my brother did some looking online and it seems that we in Canada are getting this before the US, where it doesn't release until August! He also read that it's apparently a "limited for 8 weeks" thing. In any case, if you're interested, keep an eye out - you might see it very soon!

5 Worst Christmas Songs That I Never Want To Hear Again

If you know me, you know I love Christmas. I even love Christmas music. You know those radio stations that play all Christmas music in December? I'm one of the people who listens to them.

There are a few Christmas songs though, that are like nails on chalkboard to me, and I would be just as happy to never hear them again.  See if your list matches mine;

5. "Wonderful Christmas Time" by ‎Paul McCartney - This song is repetitive and not very catchy, but more than that it just sounds strange. It's certainly nothing special.

4. "Santa Baby" by Madonna - I had heard this rendition many times before, but I just discovered the singer was.... Madonna?! It'd just not her style at all, she sounds so dumb and ditzy singing this. I originally thought the singer was Anna Nicole Smith or something! I'll take Eartha Kitt's over this one any day. Just not a good song.

3. "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band-Aid - Repetitive and succumbs to it's too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen formula. It drags on and on and on lifelessly. I try to keep myself interested by singing "Beat The Squirrels", but it doesn't help. Blech.

2. "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" - The radio usually plays the even-more-horrible Irish Rovers rendition. A goofy and supposedly funny novelty song, but it just irritates me. Good on you for making money off the song folks, but it ain't for me.

1. "Last Christmas" by Wham! (or sung by anyone else) - Ugh, I just hate this song!

"...I'll give it to someone SPE-SHHHHHUL, SPE-SHHHHHUL..."

Gag me with a spoon already...

Hey Christians, The Starbucks Red Cup is Great, Here's Why...

Okay, so there's been a big controversy lately about the new Starbucks "Red Holiday Cups", particularly from concerned fellow Christians who are worried that another corporation is dumping Christian traditions and historical foundations, in favor of another bland, vague, PC celebration of "The Holidays", this time in the form of a plain red coffee cup, they will say.

I'll tell you now, I don't feel overly invested in what a coffee chain is doing, as I never drink the stuff, let alone at 6 bucks a cup... But I've had some time to think abut the controversy, and why I believe the anger may actually be a big missed opportunity!

Look, I get it - Yes, I acknowledge that many long-standing Christian foundations of society are becoming prey to modern relativism, as being nothing distinctly special and worthy of great honor. But in this instance I have some questions for you...

What exactly is the thing you're mad about? Would there be a controversy here if Starbucks had put some snowmen, or reindeer, some holly, or Santa Claus on the cup? I really doubt there would. Do you need them to emblazon the the cup with "Merry Christmases"? What exactly is it you're fighting for? What's the end game?

You fellow Christians who are up in arms about this, I want you to realize something - At Christmas, we're celebrating the moment when a little baby is born, a very special baby... This is God with us. This is a Savior for all people. A Savior, the only Savior, who would grow up to one day die on a cross in our stead, paying the price we could never pay, ransoming us from the gates of hell... and he did it with his own blood. 

Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood"

His own blood. 

People, the Starbucks cup is red. It's completely red. 

No snowmen, no reindeer, no winter cottages or decorative snowflakes. Just red.

Jesus has reconciled us back to God through his life, death, and resurrection. This is why he was sent, after all. We missed the mark of heaven's righteousness, but he shed his blood for us to make us righteous. He made a way to peace with God where there was none. He takes your scarlet debt, he gives you his perfect white.

God has offered eternal life to all people, not based on any of our good deeds, not on our keeping of ceremonies or ordinances, not based on our works of living a good lifestyle or turning from bad behavior - but simply by believing on Jesus alone, what HE has done in our stead.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This is the gift of God. The price has been paid, the price we could never pay - and like all gifts, paid for completely by the giver, free to the receiver.

When you really think about it - what could be more Christmas-y?

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Titus3:5: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

⁷ That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Yeah, I'm pretty confident in saying this was not Starbucks' motivation for the red cup thing, they're likely doing what they think will make the most long-term financial sense for the company - but yes Charlie Brown, this can be a strikingly beautiful reminder for us of what Christmas is really all about. In the words of the beloved hymn;

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

I propose we call it the "Gift of Heaven" cup. Think of it, what a wonderful opportunity! This Christmas, give a coffee-lover their favorite Starbucks hot drink, sit with them and tell them why the red cup is perfect for this time of year...

"Rad"

I've been hearing a word lately that I remember fondly from my youth - but it's been people other than me saying it, total strangers even - That word being "rad".

Is it just me, or is this word making a comeback?! And if so, I'll tell you, I couldn't be happier :)

That's pretty rad.

We Need Impossible Power, Now!

Found on the Toys R Us Canada listing for Imaginext Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Megazord...

 

Um, kid, how exactly are you doing that?

Elect a Calgary Flame!

High-res links;

Elect Ferland

Elect Gaudreau

Elect Hartley

Elect Stajan

Elect Russell

Elect Bennett

Elect Monahan

Elect Brodie

Elect Hudler

Elect Engelland

Elect Schlemko

Elect Russell RED MILE

Bennett YOUTH variant

Ferland SMASH variant

And just for fun...








Scorch!

April Fools Day Easter Eggs!

Normally I hate April Fools day, but today it did bring a couple of cool tv easter eggs to my tv screen!

First, in tonight's "The Middle" was a scene where Sue, Axel, and Axel's girlfriend make their entrance to the party, and who's there to greet them? Why yes, that's Barry Goldberg from "The Goldbergs", wearing his Philadelphia Flyers shirt and everything! Nice!

And while we're talking about Barry's Flyers shirt, I was also watching tonight's "The Goldbergs" which features this scene where Barry and Adam are running upstairs to Adam's room, when this happens; upon entering the room, Barry's shirt suddenly and inexplicably turns in to a Calgary Flames shirt (my favorite team, oddly enough) before turning back to a Flyers shirt in the next cut! Not an 80's Calgary Flames shirt mind you, as they had not adopted the black version of the logo until the new millennium - which got me thinking...

So young Barry Goldberg is showing up in 2015 Indiana, and Barry Goldberg is momentarily wearing a 2000's Calgary Flames shirt... You know, I think I've figured it out...

When CW's "The Flash" (another "Barry" btw) broke the time barrier a couple of episodes back, he must have somehow also caused a fracture in the timestream, and the cracks are showing up across network television!

Have you seen any other odd events like this lately?

The Verdict

The verdict is expected today in the Kent Hovind case. Whatever happens, this will be a landmark case.

Look, I don't pretend to know everything about this case, or have a vast knowledge of law, but what they want to do to Hovind, is this really justified?

In contrast, Al Sharpton reportedly still owes 4 million dollars to the IRS, but for some reason he's still allowed to walk around freely as we speak.

But whether you think he's a tax cheat or not, it's important to realize that the man has already spent the better part of a decade in prison. You know as well as I do, many people convicted of murder and rape are receiving much lighter sentences than that.

Heck, the IRS has recently come out and apologized for mis-applying "structuring" laws, (laws primarily designed to target drug dealers and the like) against law-abiding Americans. They've already taken Kent's property and left him with basically no money, what more is truly justified?

The court in this case claims that everything Kent does is "motivated by greed", but if you have any experience of the man, it's pretty evident, whether you think he's delusional or not, that he operates in good faith, that he is motivated not by greed, by a sincere desire to spread the gospel.

In my view, this case is about much more than taxes or letters. In my view, these prosecutors and judges have taken a personal interest and investment in seeing that Hovind rots in prison for the rest of his life. Pray that the Feds don't make you their target. Pray for God's purpose to come about in this case, whether we will presently like the verdict or not. Pray for Kent Hovind.

A Belated Tribute

Nobody wore it like you, Mr. Nimoy.

Living where I do, I don't come across celebrities very often, but Leonard Nimoy was an exception. I took an unlikely visit in 2010 to western small town Vulcan, Alberta, literally finding myself mere feet from the man. You can read about it and see my photos here - http://blog.deantfraser.com/2013/02/i-encountered-spock.html

CW's "the 100"

The CW's "The 100" is a show that is possibly even better than it has any business being, but I can't be the only one to notice that they must have a large amount of money budgeted for blood for this show! Am I right people?

Stop Colorizing the Classics!!

Just a note to all you TV people... Stop colorizing old classics! I just saw an ad for the much-beloved Alistair Sim version of "A Christmas Carol" aka "Scrooge", and of course, it's the horrible colorized version they're going to show this year. Stop it! Do you networks think that all your viewers are such uncultured drooling morons, incapable of possibly sitting through anything not in "glorious color"?

Okay, I know what you're going to say - sure, maybe I can figure out how to turn the color down on my TV - maybe... but what a pain. It all seems so unnecessary.

Don't you jerks (I'm looking at you, CBC...) realize that many of these movies were shot the way their were with special use of the medium that the filmmakers had to work with at the time? Don't you see their utilization of contrast, of black and white, of depth and light - to create that timeless atmosphere and feeling? Do you really need to ruin all that by splashing a sickly artificial color tone on top of it? C'mon people, it looks like a pastel nightmare!

A Salute!

photo via Merchant of Venom.

I salute you, sir! Let's give the political correctness a rest, because, come on, who are we kidding - It's a Christmas Tree.

The Pumpkin Pie Shake!

Have you seen this?

I'm not known to be a frequent customer of Dairy Queen, but I've been making regular trips there lately thanks to their new offering, the Pumpkin Pie Royal Shake!

I don't know how to explain it, but it's basically like drinking a cold smooth pumpkin pie ...and I do love me some pumpkin pie after all!

I know pumpkin themed drinks and treats seem to be all the rage now, but you should go try this one! I would advise though, to wait a day or two between shakes - otherwise you'll probably get a little "pumpkin fatigue". Truly though, it is pretty awesome :)

And to you folks at Dairy Queen - if you appreciate the mention, I wouldn't mind at all if you wanted to send a little something my way :)

 

Crib TMNT?

I think I know what this means, but is it okay if I tell people that the Ninja Turtles are coming to play cribbage at this local seniors center?

Quit With The "WB & DC Comics Has A 'No Jokes' Rule For Their Movies" Rumor Already!

The latest rumor going around is about how Warner Brothers and DC Comics' are imposing a "No Jokes" order for their movies - suggesting that DC movies are going to be super dramatic, serious, and humorless.

WHAT IS THIS STUPID RUMOR BASED ON?! Apparently someone was asking SOMETHING about the several DC movies that are in the works right now, and the comment from inside WB was "No jokes".

Those spreading this rumor - DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND A LITTLE THING CALLED CONTEXT? What was the actual comment or question that this "No jokes" thing was a response to? I don't know! WHO KNOWS? Nobody has provided a QUOTE for the QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED to give any CONTEXT for this apparent "No jokes" answer from WB-DC.

Do people actually think that WB is giving the order to have "No jokes" in their DC movies? Tell me, which is more likely to be the case with this apparent "No jokes" thing;

1. Reporter: Wow WB, are you really going to be making 7 or 8 DC comics movies in the next few years?
WB: We are, no jokes!

or

2. Reporter: For the several DC comics movies you have on the schedule up to 2019, are they going to have much in the way of humor, wisecracks, or jokes?
WB: Oh, our movies will have no jokes.

All the debate about this supposed "No jokes" dictum by WB are just wasting everyone's time. Think about it! The story is just CLICKBAIT, people! Don't be stupid!

Yeah, I know that all anyone seems to care about these days is the headline and pageview count, and I know "professional" journalism is in a horrifying state in 2014 - perhaps even more so in the entertainment sphere - but please folks, take a minute to ASK QUESTIONS about a rumor before you kick it down the line! You'll do your reputation a favor in the long-run.

Ok, I'll Say It; Summer Is Horrible.

Yeah, I'll probably feel differently in five minutes, but you've got to let me get this off my chest.

Summer is horrible.

I get up in the morning and before I've done anything, I'm sweating. Sticky, greasy, smelly sweat. I'm just sitting in a chair, sweating. I've hardly even moved yet today, what did I do to deserve it? Go have a shower, get out, and then start sweating again. The air starts to get heavy. I feel strange, it's almost like being sick. I'm know not sick, but I feel like I'm sick. It's going to be a looong day.

Ok, sure, but what about all the great things you can do in the summer, like going to the beach? Yeah, the beach! The beach is great! The oppressive unceasing sun beating down on your already blistered red skin, inducing a paranoia to inspect that weird brown spot on your elbow every five minutes. The dry, aching, cracked lips. The boiling, soupy, eye-stinging salt water that leaves a pale brown foam and makes your hair all crusty. The horrible infestation of sand that gets EVERYWHERE; in your butt crack, in your armpit hair, in your eyelashes - and boy, if you get it in your shoes, IT AIN'T EVER GOING AWAY.

And this is not to mention the people at the beach. Folks shamelessly walking around letting all their flappy folds of flesh hang out EVERYWHERE. But not only that; even normally attractive people look gross and old at the beach. The harsh unforgiving light of the summer sun accentuates every pimple, bump, and crease, and the salty water washes off all the makeup and makes your hair look thin and straw-like. On the beach, you look like greasy month-old ham with sweat-caked dog hair on top.

"Oh, well why not just go inside and turn on the air conditioning?" Well, that's great if you have it, but what if you dont? Any hey, it's not like electricity costs any money! Summer blackouts from the overload on the power grid, what could be more fun?

Well at least I can go out and enjoy the life and the energy of those cool summer nights, right? Sounds great! But NOPE. This potentially wonderful nocturnal reprieve from the blistering heat is ruined by the most aggravating of creatures; That's right, the mosquito. The bane of my existence for 3 months every year. SLAP and SCRATCH and BLEED, SLAP and SCRATCH and BLEED, SLAP and SCRATCH and BLEED. AAAAARRRRRGH! My arms and legs make it look like I picked a fight with an alley cat in heat!

Want to hang out at a friend's evening backyard party? TOO BAD, THE MOSQUITOES ARE OUT! Light some candles or spray yourself with all the toxic chemicals you want - it won't help, you'll see. "These mosquitoes are eating me alive! We'd better go inside!"  Well that's fine, but I ALREADY SPENT ALL MY TIME INSIDE OVER THE WINTER!

At least everything is a wonderful lush green now. Oh wait, it was already lush and green in the spring! At least I could go out in the fresh fragrant spring air without MY LUNGS HEAVING WITH HUMIDITY, without MY SKIN SCORCHED AND INSECT BITTEN or without MY SMELLY CLOTHES STICKING TO MY GREASY SWEAT DRENCHED BODY.

Come to think of it, maybe that's what Summer really is; a twisted, mutated, steroided-out extreme version of Spring. AND IT JUST WON'T END.

But in case I haven't said it - Oh Autumn, with your crisp, fresh, invigorating touch. I love you. Come quickly.

Please, share your comments!

Parking Lot Humor

On a recent outing, I noticed these in a couple of parking lots;

Amen.

Classy!

 Not "show accurate" but I can understand why they didn't put "Police Box" on there...

Think About It: "Tolerance"

"Tolerance."

Have you ever noticed that whenever someone implores you to be "tolerant", they always place within that request an expectation for you to not tolerate something? Think about it.

What are these people really saying when they demand you to be "tolerant"? Are they really "tolerant" of your view if they expect that you should change it? See what I mean?

What do people really mean by "tolerance"? Tolerance of what?

The same holds true for "close-mindedness". You'll notice that whenever someone dismisses your view because it's "close-minded", that they're actually being "close-minded" to the possibility you could be right.

So where does that lead us? What should we be tolerant of, and intolerant of? Should each person just be tolerant of whatever they feel like they should be tolerant of? Should you be tolerant of something simply because another person tells you you should, or because the majority opinion of the day says you should?

Is it actually a question of "tolerance" at all?

Who's standard should we use to determine what to be tolerant of and what not to, after all? I do have an answer, but you're probably not going to like it...

Think about it.

The Appropriately Named Calgary Marathon Winner!

Okay, how cool is this?

(from the Calgary Herald) 
"Kip Kangogo’s daughter won’t know it for a few years, but she received a priceless birthday present on Sunday. Emma turns one in Lethbridge on Monday and her dad, running just his fourth marathon, won the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon just for her with a record race of two hours, 19 minutes and 47 seconds."

Kip Kangogo? Yes, he can.