Hail to the king, baby

As many of you already know, I pretty much worship the ground that the notorious B-Screen actor Bruce Campbell walks on. Haven't heard of Bruce Campbell? Not a big surprise. The Birmingham, MI native is probably best known for appearing in the low-budget cult classic Evil Dead horror trilogy, which were directed by childhood buddy and Michigan State alumni Sam Raimi (Spider-Man, The Quick and the Dead). The first Evil Dead movie actually premiered in Wells Hall at MSU to see how appealing it would be to people. People ate it up. Stephen King even wound up endorsing it. A sequel, Evil Dead 2, was made although it was basically just a repeat of the first Evil Dead with a bigger budget and slightly different plot. Finally, Army of Darkness was made and the horror-comedy nature of the film is still legendary to this day. Hard to believe Bruce Campbell accomplished all of that with just a semesters worth of school at Western Michigan under his belt.

My first memories of Bruce Campbell came 14 years ago when The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. debuted on the Fox network. It starred Bruce as the lead character, a Harvard-educated lawyer turned bounty hunter after the death of his father. It was set in the 1890s and was too soon for its time. It starred a decent cast, had some good guest stars (Terry Bradshaw, Debra Jo Rupp) and was ridiculously funny. It only would up lasting 2 seasons. I'm convinced if it debuted today, instead of in 1993, people would just eat it up.

Bruce Campbell has also played small cameo roles in each Spider-Man movie. He was the wrestling ring announcer in the first, the obnoxious usher in the second, and a goofy French waiter in what was one of the few good parts of Spidey 3. He's made his living off B-Screen Movies and sharp cameos and is the author of 3 books, one fittingly titled "If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Screen Actor." Today, he lives on in the USA action-comedy Burn Notice and has several projects in the works.

Now my friends, with the help of Youtube.com, let's take a look into Bruce Campbell's greatest hits....

The famous Boomstick scene from Army of Darkness:




The classic ending of sweetness from Army of Darkness:



Another classic kickass scene from Army of Darkness:




The best scene from Evil Dead 2:



A classic Western Showdown from Brisco County Jr.:



Here's Bruce joking around on the set of Spider-Man:



Finally, here's Bruce on Craig Ferguson, talking about Bubba Ho-Tep, where he plays a 68-year old version of Elvis:

One of my favorite television shows is the hit Sci-Fi program Ghost Hunters. Unfortunately, here on Mackinac, the (likely illegal) cable that's in the apartment doesn't have the Sci-Fi channel so I couldn't watch any of the new season 4 that debuted in June. Luckily my parents brought my up the Season 2 DVDs last when they came to visit on July 13. That should quench my Ghost Hunters craving for a while. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, cameras follow The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) to investigations and document some of the real life hauntings in this world. TAPS was founded by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. They work as Roto Rooters plumbers during the day and investigate hauntings at no charge after having respective paranormal experiences that prompted them to start the organization. They still do it at no charge, but I'm sure they're helped out quite a bit with checks from the Sci-Fi channel. The thing that's best about the show is they go into place trying to disprove and debunk hauntings. They're very levelheaded and never assume a place is haunted. They set up video equipment and audio recording devices in hopes of catching indisputable evidence of a haunting. Only then will they say a place is haunted. Often times they don't catch anything. But when they do, it's absolutely amazing. The best piece of evidence I've seen them catch was a shadowy ghost that manifested out of nowhere and walked down a corridor at the Eastern State Penitentiary. It's also very cool to hear the EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) that they sometimes catch on audio. I'd recommend the show for anyone interested in the unexplained.

I've also been fortunate lately to view some of the classic crime movies that have paved the way for the stuff in the movies today. I'm talking about the "Dirty Harry" series of flicks that star a much younger Clint Eastwood as Inspector "Dirty Harry Callahan," a hard-nosed cop who doesn't take crap from anyone. They're great movies that I'd recommend to everyone.

The movies have led way to some of the best one-line catch phrases that my generation still says today:

I thought for this post I would take a break from the petty talk about Mackinac Island and enlighten you on one of my other hobbies - music. I'm a big music fan, spanning from all different genres of art. Below I've listed some of my favorite albums of all time.

The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Many Beatles fans cite 1, The White Album, or Magical Mystery Tour as their favorite disc by the foursome, but for me, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band takes the cake. Not only does it have catchy pop tracks like "With a Little Help from my Friends" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," but it shows the goofy side of the band with tracks like "When I'm 64."

Reel Big Fish: Turn the Radio Off!
The first and best major RBF disc. Turn the Radio Off! is a perfect debut for the ska-rockers, combining humour, with telling off girls, they're shyness from popularity, and their oft-favorite sung about hobby - drinking. No other RBF album has been able to touch the excellence of Turn the Radio Off!

Green Day: American Idiot
Most Green Day fans will stand by Dookie as their favorite record by the California trio, but I see otherwise. While Dookie was a very good listen about coming clean off drugs and growing up, American Idiot introduces fans to a whole new musical topic - politics. Green Day nails politically-charged songs with poppy guitar riffs and catchy vocals to bash the American government en route to an Oscar win for the trio. The highlight of the album is the seven-minute plus "Jesus of Suburbia."

Bruce Springsteen: Born in the U.S.A.
Many Springsteen fans seem to favor Born to Run as their favorite disc with The Boss and the E Street Band, but Born in the U.S.A. has a little of everything. Catchy bob-your-head-along songs like "No Surrender," and "I'm Going Down," are mixed with somber tracks like "Downbound Train," and the often misinterpreted "Born in the U.S.A." to make the disc a classic.

Weezer: Pinkerton
The best and most criticized album by the nerdy foursome takes the listener on a musical journey through the experience head singer Rivers Cuomo had with a Japanese Girl, highlighted beautifully by the song "Across the Sea." Pinkerton is full of passion, sympathy, and an overall understanding and morale of the story, which is lacked in the very good Blue Album, and far from anything that Weezer's released since.

Jimmy Eat World: Clarity
The often overlooked album from Jimmy Eat World that came years before their pop-rock mainstream Bleed American success. Clarity starts the listener out slow with "Table for Glasses," then tackles subjects from love to lust before rocking out with the tracks "Blister," and "Clarity." Songs are written and sung with a never before seen passion from lead singer Jimmy Atkins, making this disc a must have for any JEW fan.



Honorable mentions:
Midtown - Save the World, Lose the Girl: Other Midtown records can't even touch the punk-rock excellence of this disc.

Yellowcard - One for the Kids: Fantastic record introducing the violin as a main instrument combined with raw catchy lyrics. Sadly, the group has weeded out the violin more and more since they're mainstream release of Ocean Avenue.

Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends: Classic punk rock sound with dual vocalists that has again been transformed due to mainstream popularity.

Thursday - Full Collapse: Hard-rocking screamo music with a purpose behind each song.

There's been a lot going on here on Mackinac since I last updated. I'll spare you some of the details because I don't really feel like talking about most of them, but I did spend the last weekend with my family (minus Cody) who trekked up to the Straits for a visit. I enjoyed free meals all weekend, ran up some nice bar tabs with the parents, and overall enjoyed a relaxing weekend. They were also able to bring me up tons of the movies they burned for me since I've been up here and I've been trying to catch up a little on some of them.

They were also telling me how much they enjoyed Fish vs. Wild, which makes that just about everyone I've talked to. For another project, I've been pondering some other ideas. As some of you know, I purchased a $94 Batman suit a few years ago, which I wear on Halloween and around randomly. I think it would be hilarious to do a Batman spoof on the Island. It would just be funny seeing the looks on people's faces as I rode down Main Street on my bike. The possibilities are just endless. I would love to do a scripted scene with the Island police chief or one of the officers. It could be just like in Batman Begins. The possible conversation:

Batman: Chief.
Chief: We still haven't rounded up half of the underage drinkers. And that palate of golden fudge is still missing.
Batman: We'll get it done.
Chief: And we have a new criminal in town. He got busted for sneaking into the Grand Hotel pool after hours and stealing brochures from the Tourism Bureau.
Batman: I'll look into it. (Turns away and heads for his bike)
Chief: I never said thank you.
Batman: (Slowly turns back around to face Chief) And you'll never have to. (Mounts bike and rides away)

This past weekend was certainly a memorable one. Friday night consisted of a visit to the cottage of Angela Bianchi in Kinross (Did you know that Kinross was mentioned in an episode of Home Improvement?) Anyways, it was a great getaway from the horse crap, fudge, and bicycles on Mackinac and a good return to home-cooking and good hospitality courtesy of the Bianchis. We went kayaking, made smores, and even went on a late night expedition looking for bears in the woods. Either bears or bigfoot. We didn't have any luck.

Saturday, upon returning back to Mackinac, I proceeded to enjoy my Saturday ritual of hitting up the bar scene and meeting people. It was an enjoyable night of live music, good people, and of course drunken phone calls, the most entertaining of them coming from Miss Sarah Harbison, who isn't just a good kid, but without a doubt my favorite person to talk to while inebriated.

OTHER COOL STUFF:
I think one of my new favorite shows would have to be USA's action-comedy Burn Notice. Admittedly, the only reason why I gave it a chance is because it co-stars Bruce Campbell and he's my favorite actor of all time. But it's actually a pretty cool show. Speaking of Bruce Campbell, I think it's time for a look back at one of my favorite television shows of all time, The Adventures of Brisco Couty Jr.



So that was that, and now I sit here at work back to the grind. I think I'm gonna update the hockey blog now...

Why I love Drew Miller

Former Spartan and current Anaheim Duck Drew Miller brought the Stanley Cup back to his hometown of East Lansing Thursday for a special public viewing. I was really bummed that I couldn't go. But in light of the occasion, I wanted to tell you all the reason why I like Drew so much. I honestly don't think I've ever told anyone this story...

It was the fall of 2004, prior to my State News days, and I was a fresh-faced sophomore living in Wilson Hall. Like many young journalism majors, I was enrolled in JRN 200, and completely intimidated by it. Our first assigned story we had to write was a trend. I chose to do mine on the then-current NHL strike and how college hockey might attract more interest because of it. I called Rick Comley in his office and he was kind enough to talk to me. But I also needed to interview a player or two. I had been to a party at the hockey house my freshman year, but didn't really know any of the guys other than what I saw on TV and at the rink, and read in the papers. I sent out an e-mail to Drew Miller , seeing as how he was an assistant captain that year, unsure of whether or not he would respond. (This was before I knew the magic of Sports Information Directors.) About two hours later, I got a response from Drew answering every question in very thorough detail. It was the nicest thing anyone had done for me in awhile at the present time.

About 2 months later, I was employed by The State News and assigned to the hockey beat. I remember going to practice with Matt Bishop to meet the captains and get comfortable with the beat. When I formally met Drew, he did kind of a double-take, like he recognized me from somewhere. The first thing I did was thank him for helping me out with the JRN 200 story. He smiled and brushed it off like it was no big deal. Classic Drew. Since then, I've covered Spartan hockey for three years and have become a die-hard fan and loyal supporter in addition. I've always had a great relationship with Drew, too. He's a total class-act, having started numerous charities in the Lansing area, and having been an influential part of the community with his service and good-will. I met Drew's older brother, and current Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan, about a year ago and he was the same way. Ryan didn't know who in the hell I was, but gave me and the friends I was with the time of day. We must have talked to him for a half hour. Hockey players may not get the press that some other sports get, but there's no better athletes in the world as far as good nature and genuine kindness. Drew is no exception. So congratulations to Drew Miller on his Stanley Cup Championship he helped earn!


Now the moment you've all be waiting for.....



The World Premiere of FISH vs. WILD. For some reason, Veoh decides its cool to cut off some of the screen when linked to the blog, so feel free to see the entire thing at http://www.veoh.com/videos/v739108Zp7ZbGPr


Online Videos by Veoh.com

Normally I declare Saturday nights here my party nights. They’ll normally consist of me having a few drinks at the house in the Village, then I’ll start bar-hopping at The Gatehouse for $1 Molsons after 9 p.m. and I’ll wander over to The Pink Pony for more drinks and see to my favorite Island musician Myk Rise. It’s fun. I meet a ton of people, and I enjoy some great music. I’d love to go out every night but that wouldn’t be a wise financial decision. Last Saturday I got a little sloppy, wound up drunk-dialing half a dozen of my friends (who said they thought it was hilarious, thank God), and stumbled around into the wee hours of the night. It was still a blast and unfortunately for me, there is video evidence of my belligerence. It was so funny to watch it because I honestly didn’t remember a whole lot from the night.

Anyways last weekend, I kept up with my Saturday routine. Sunday, I spent four hours on a yacht courtesy of skipper Dave Rowe of the Mackinac Island Yacht Club. That was a blast. I got a crash course in sailing, had a few beers, and enjoyed some quality time with Mr. Rowe, who is probably the nicest guy in the universe.

Tuesday morning, I went parasailing. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do since I got here. I was supposed to go last Saturday, but unfortunately the winds were too strong for it. Instead I went Tuesday, and that was amazing. It was a whole new way to see the Island and enjoy some of the adventure that my internship location has allowed me to experience. From 600 feet in the air, you can see a lot.

Anyways, the world premiere of Fish vs. Wild was supposed to be Monday, but we just got internet back at work, so that will have to be delayed. It is finished and will be worth the wait.