The Pillars of the Earth

Ken Folletts 1,000 page book The Pillars of the Earth sell around 100,000 copies a year in the US alone. It’s translated to several languages (among one Danish my mother tongue), and it’s simply a fantastic book.

The short description from Ken Folletts homepage reads:

In a time of civil war, famine and religious strife, there rises a magnificent Cathedral in Kingsbridge. Against this backdrop, lives entwine: Tom, the master builder, Aliena, the noblewoman, Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge, Jack, the artist in stone and Ellen, the woman from the forest who casts a curse. At once, this is a sensuous and enduring love story and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age.

One wouldn’t think that this book is pulp fiction at its finest, but just you try reading the first couple of page. You’ll get hooked. And you better make sure that you don’t need sleep, because you will not be able to put the book away.

What makes the middle ages good reading

I think there are several things that fascinate the readers. Among other things, it is brutality, ideology and romanticism.

Brutality is interesting because it gives us an insight to the development we’ve undertaken to reach our given development stage. Brutality is for instance what we find in the start of French philosopher Michel Foucault Discipline and Punish with its painting description of a man being brutally torn in 5 parts by horses pulling in arms and legs while the executioners are cutting in the joints (and bare in mind that’s not fiction, that’s punishment in the dark ages) . This is just sick, but it happened.

But we’re also fascinated by the ideology that we often see interwoven in romantic storytelling, and it’s basically this, and the appalling brutality that make us love this book. It’s good versus bad just like Star Wars

May the force be with you…

Yet it seems like they hear the criticism and let it go out the other ear, never actually listening.

The fourth season is now two episodes old and I have no idea why anyone would like any of these “heroes” aside from perhaps Peter.

And one other, whom had the best moment in Heroes history if you ask me.

What are these characters up to? Claire is at college doing…nothing except revealing her secret to a friend. Yawn. Parkman has Sylar in his head…could have been good, but it’s just boring as heck. Hiro and Ando are sooo uninteresting these days. Horn-rimmed glasses guy? Up to nothing. Peter’s mom? Worried about Nathan/Sylar.

All of it…just boring. Depressing really.

The only amazing storyline so far was the deaf girl on Monday’s episode. The scene where she plays that violin in the park…was breathtaking. I mean it. One of the more beautiful moments on TV I’ve seen in recent years.

Sadly, it lasted only minutes. One has to wonder who thought of that scene and created this character, because they should channel that creativity for the rest of the show.

Peter’s story is somewhat okay to me, because he’s out actually doing something. Or trying to. Saving people. Like a hero should be.

But that’s the real problem with the show. Our “heroes” are nothing but depressed people with no goals. Parkman doesn’t want to use his powers. Why not? Do some good with it! Claire just wants to be normal. Hiro and Ando are trying, but they are such bumbling idiots. Hiro’s lack of power or quirky side affects of using it has gotten old and tired.

Why can’t the writers turn this show into a good versus evil comic book-like story? Form sides…get a Justice League together. Let Peter lead it. Pit Peter and Sylar against each other in epic battles. Have new heroes drawn into each side.

For some reason, I don’t stop watching the show. I honestly should. I ended up skipping parts of the last episode that just made me cringe.

I guess I hold out hope that somehow someone will do something good with this series. But it’s getting close to bailing out time for me. There’s only so many letdowns that you can endure before all hope is gone.

David Gilmour has the Kwan

It’s easy to find countdowns to the best guitar solos ever. And it’s often the same guitar heroes you see and hear on these lists. Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Jimmy Hendrix, Slash, Kirk Hammet, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Tom Morello and many others (this list is by far exhausted).

But we seldom hear why this solo is so fantastic, that it deserves a place in the great hall of fame. I’ll try to tell you in words why I value one solo above any other. I hope that you will challenge me in the comments.

What is a great guitar solo?

It’s never easy to define what makes craftsmanship so great that it could be determined as art. These days art is a term that are used way too lightly, and just about every bohemian freak on Myspace calls himself an artist. But I think Aristotle said it best:

All art is concerned with coming into being

Aristotle also said that:

Art completes what nature cannot bring to finish. The artist gives us knowledge of nature’s unrealized ends.

These two quotes gives me a way to grasp art from a ancient Greek philosophers point of view. The only thing I’m lacking is the love. We have a becoming from the first quote, and a fulfilling a potential in the second. I’m just missing the feelings of art, or the feeling that it awakes in me.

Well enough theory, let’s get practical.

Comfortably numb is the best guitar solo ever!

Why this bold statement one could ask? The answer is simple. Because the solo makes me feel like no other guitar solo can.

Every time I hear David Gilmour play this piece of great craftsmanship, I feel humble, baffled, sad and just about any feeling you can think of. It can still bring tears to my eyes even though I’ve heard it more times than I can think of. I’m especially fond of the version from the Pink Floyd live album Pulse.

I don’t think this solo is as difficult as some of the stuff you could hear Al Di Meola, Paco De Lucia or other great jazz guitarist do. neither is is probably harder than some of the solos, that the guys I mentioned in the beginning of this articles has done. But it has the Kwan (to quote Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire).

See and hear if you can disagree (the solo start around 4:45 into the video, but don’t fast forward please!):

So let me know what is your favourite guitar solo? And more importantly WHY?

It was a heat wave and drought that lasted for nearly four years. Paul W. “Bear” Bryant was hired as head coach, taking over for Ray George, at Texas A&M. Bryant would eventually become named one of the greatest coaches to ever walk the sideline.

People say that he was one of the hardest coaches to play for in college history. Today’s players would not even come close to making it through one of Bryant’s camps. Two of Bryant’s players eventually coached in the NFL and college.

Jack Pardee was one of the boys that went through football camp hell. He would later go on to coach for NFL teams like the Chicago Bears, Houston Oilers, and Washington Redskins. He was placed into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Another great player to coach was Gene Stallings. Gene followed in the Bear’s footsteps and would take over as head coach at Texas A&M and eventually become coach at Alabama from 1990 – 1996. He would also be the only one of the Junction Boys to ever coach under Bear Bryant at Alabama. Gene would also win the SWC Championship in 1967, the SEC Championship in 1992, and the National Championship in 1992. Other great awards included the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award in 1992 and the Walter Camp Coach of the Year award in 1992.

The The Junction Boys is based on what these boys went through in the Texas heat. There were times when Bear would deny water breaks during camp, pushing these players to complete breakdown, waking them up before daylight and making them run through the morning.

The movie teaches us that the only way to succeed in life is to dig deep and work hard for all we receive. The Junction Boys will help you understand that hard work is rewarded.

Two of my favorite quotes from Bear Bryant are:

Losing doesn’t make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder.

And:

If wanting to win is a fault, as some of my critics seem to insist, then I plead guilty. I like to win. I know no other way. It’s in my blood.

Over the last week I have been logging onto Hulu and watching one, two, and sometimes even three episodes each night of a old-school TV series called Charles in Charge. I actually like it and will continue watching until I’m through with every season.

I remember coming home after school while growing up and sitting in front of the TV to watch this show every evening before starting my homework. The show was a pick me up from a long day. Having a teenage, college kid to help with a family of four was great back then.

As we look back to our past and think about some of the shows that we used to watch we may think, “God I miss that show.” I often hear from others, “I use to watch that show when I was a kid or a teen.” Charles in Charge is one of those shows you may have watched as a little kid or even a teen and haven’t thought of in nearly 15 years.

It is the little shows that outshine even some of the best sitcoms today, and we don’t even think about it. You can find most of the Charles in Charge seasons on DVD now. If you don’t have the money, log onto Hulu and look under family shows for it. There are a lot of older TV shows that have been off the air for over 10 years that we may have forgotten about. These shows may bring back memories of when we use to come home from school and sit down to eat a snack in front of the TV and watch them.

To me this is really what TV is all about. A lot of shows today don’t even come close to the older family shows. I’m not admitting I’m old, but the younger generation would not even know what the old-school TV shows are really about and most likely wouldn’t consider sitting down for about 22 minutes to watch a decent show like Charles in Charge. Before you dismiss a classic like this, take some time to watch it. You may never know what you’ve missed.

Summit Entertainment just unveiled a new trailer for New Moon. Aside from the odd-looking “Ghost Edward,” the sequel looks a bit more promising than the first film.

As Taylor Swift accepted her award for best female video, Kanye West stole the mic from her during her acceptance speech at the VMA show earlier tonight and exclaimed

Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you. I’ll let you finish. But, Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!

Need I really say more about Kanye?

The Videos

While I appreciate both videos, I did prefer Taylor Swift’s You Belong with Me video over Beyoncé’s Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).

Here’s some links to the videos on YouTube:

• Taylor Swift: You Belong with Me
• Beyoncé: Single Ladies

No matter which should’ve won, Kanye West is still a disgrace to the entire music industry and should be banned from all future VMA shows.

Now, I’m sort of wondering how all of this would’ve went down if Pink had won the award.

Hanna Montana: The Movie

Miley/Hannah has the best of both worlds, but her life is headed in a whole new direction.

Hannah Montana: The Movie starts off with her singing her hit song, The Best of both Worlds, in concert, which we’ve all probably heard a thousand times. Well, at least if we have a child with a crush on this little country girl from Tennessee.

The movie is about her struggle with the decision to be Hannah or just plain Miley, which could be the biggest of her life. The movie was a pleasure to watch, I’d watch it again.

Who would have thought that watching Miley revisit her childhood home would be worth watching?

Miley gets a chance to repeat her childhood dream of being able to stand on a stage that she had not set foot on since she was six years old. The movie also provides some great country music from the group Rascal Flatts and even the beautiful Taylor Swift.

Miley’s costar, Emily Osment wants a movie sequel. If you have not seen Hannah Montana: The Movie, I would suggest that you pick you up a copy today from your nearest DVD shop.

A coma is where you are in a deep sleep due to and injury of some type. There are so many people out there these days trying to put together a comedy show online or on TV. Most of them are not even halfway funny. Comedy should be a little funny.

We received an invitation to preview Coma, Period., and I’ve managed to watch a single episode. The video work was good, but the show itself will give you a coma if you watch it long enough.

Th star of Coma, Period., Dan Humphrey, had more than an accident to lead himself into a coma. Do we really dream when we are in this state of mind? I still dream good things when I sleep, but the only thing I could imagine dreaming if I were in a coma is whether I’ll make it out alive.

Think back when the TV show Scrubs came out with the episode “My Coma Patient.” JD had a patient in a coma and was making out with the patient’s wife. Then was dubbed the “Tasty Coma Wife,” which was perfect.

You may watch Coma, Period., but enter at your own risk. Please make sure you have 911 on speed dial or a paramedic by your side at all times while watching this show. You’ll likely find yourself in a coma after viewing.

The Vampire Diaries cast

I am a sucker for all things supernatural. Even if I have a good feeling that the particular book, movie, or TV series will suck beyond belief. I’ll give it a chance.

Starting this Thursday, The CW will be opening its night of horrors. The series premiere of The Vampire Diaries airs at 8/7 central, followed by the the fifth season premier of Supernatural. Supernatural has certainly earned its stripes and is one of the better supernatural series airing right now. Whether The Vampire Diaries will deliver is still up in the air.

Bestselling author L.J. Smith’s The Vampire Diaries first hit the bookshelves in 1991. While her series of books never garnered the popularity of Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles, they have always had a solid following. This following will likely grow in the coming months as fans rush to catch up on the original stories so they can compare the books and the episodes.

Many ill-informed have been calling this series a copycat of Twilight, not realizing that Smith’s books were released nearly 15 years prior to Meyer’s offering to the genre. But, the revival of this series and its adaptation into a TV show owe some credit to the recent popularity of both Twilight and the HBO series True Blood.

People have a fascination with vampires, and this fascination has flared up again in the last couple of years.

Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec are the writers and executive producers of the show. Williamson, creator of Dawson’s Creek, is no stranger to love triangles. One can only hope that he can avoid the pitfalls of the later seasons of that show and keep up the halfway decent offerings of its earlier seasons.

Though I’ve never read The Vampire Diaries, I am a bit intrigued. I’ll give it a couple of episodes.

Really. I’m not going to lie. It’s about vampires — I’ll probably watch the entire season, no matter how bad it gets.

Here’s a trailer for you to decide if it’s worth spending an hour of your life on this Thursday:

If you’re really interested in this series, you can check out a few webisodes that serve as a prequel to the show.

• A Darker Truth: Webisode 1