You can tell something significant is going on when you turn on the tv on a sunday morning and dont see football on channels 8 or 6. It smells like ashes outside and although the dark smoke cloud has gone away somewhat, now there's a strange orange glow coming from the sky. Its kinda creepy in an end of the world sort of way. Hope everyone's allright.

On a happier note, midterms are finally over which allows me to get back to boring everyone with random thoughts. This week has several cool things to look forward too, including CHARGERS on MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (cant remember the last time those words were said together), Joe Schmo finale! (if you havent watched this, its one of the funniest shows i've seen in a while, and the only "reality" show worth watching, except maybe american idol tryouts), and the new smackdown game comes out on ps2!!!. Yee haw!!

Marlins? Win the World Series?? Amazing. Well, the last time it happened the padres went to the world series the season after, so world series, here we come!!

Mike's Alltime Top Ten Favorite Movies
5. Terminator 2: First of all, this is without a doubt among the greatest action movies ever. The first R movie I ever saw, it set the standard for how action movies go. You can’t go wrong with Arnold shooting a shotgun, stuff blowing up, and a liquid metal terminator. Not to mention the fact that it revolutionalized special effects. But what really lifts it above all other sci fi movies is the emotional impact it achieves without being dopey (watch the dvd to learn the significance of Arnold losing his sunglasses . . . seriously!). The morality of technology, human nature, it all perfectly underlies the action of the movie. And what other action movie would end with a line like “If a machine, a terminator, can learn the value of human life, maybe we can too”. Sob.
6. Pixar Movies
7. The Matrix
8. James Bond
9. X2
10. The Mummy Returns

Honorable Mention
Indiana Jones: Okay, I really dont have any excuse for this one, so lets pretend its #11. Great action, harrison ford was perfect for the role, and sean connery as his dad was masterful. The best opening of all time, with one of the best endings of all time, and a middle you can skip (well, the mine chase was cool).

I just need to say that i think its the dumbest thing in the world for cubs fans to blame that one guy for killing the cubs. All he did was try to catch a foul ball. He wasnt trying to stop alou from getting it, he didnt even know alou had a chance to catch it. Its not like he ran out onto the field to catch the ball, or thought 'all i have to do to get a ball is cost the cubs an out'. The ball was foul afterall!!. Not to mention that there were still like 11 outs to be made in the game, or that their shortstop made that error instead of a double play, or that the cubs were up 3-1 and lost 3 straight. If the cubs lose two games with both their aces starting, then theyre probably not good enough to win the series. One guy didnt beat the cubs, the marlins did.

Still, a great nlcs. Well, not if youre a cubs fan i guess.

Oh, the only thing dumber than cubs fans blaming that one guy for the cubs losing is people giving that guy death threats and other crap like that. All he did was try to catch a freakin foul ball!!! Idiots.

The Rock leaves wrestling, Gwen Stefani breaks up No Doubt, and before you know it, Mike stops updating his blog!!! AHHHHHH!!!!

Mike's Alltime Top Ten Favorite Movies
6. Pixar Movies: namely Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc, and Finding Nemo (i know i'm cheating when i cluster multiple movies into one slot, but hey, you can always make your own top ten list :P ). No matter what kind of movies you like or how old you are, these movies are simply amazing. The humor, story, and characters are truly special, and succeed at capturing the magic of earlier disney films. Lots of fun no matter what the occasion, and pure entertainment no matter what your mood.
7. The Matrix
8. James Bond
9. X2
10. The Mummy Returns

Honorable Mention
Speed: This is a great movie. One of the best action films, and in my opinion the best "crisis" movie ever. Keanu Reeves was great even without dark clothing, and the movie barely slows down after the first 5 minutes (observe three climaxes in the last half hour; amazing). Not on the list because i've watched mummy returns more times.

I'm a day late wishing everyone else a happy That Special Day in October, which means you all get an extra day to celebrate it!

Mike's Alltime Top Ten Favorite Movies
7. The Matrix: Cool characters, cool story, and one of the best gunfights ever. I liked Matrix Reloaded better than most people, and the fact that you add one of the best car chases ever puts the Matrix series in the top ten.
8. James Bond
9. X2
10. The Mummy Returns

Honorable Mention
Pirates of the Carribean: Okay, now this was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. The sole reason it is not on my top ten is because it has not been around long enough for me to really consider it to be an 'alltime' favorite (X2 gets around that cuz its about alltime favorite characters). If i were to do this list again in a year, Pirates would be there for sure.

Mike's Top Ten All-Time Favorite Movies
8. Pierce Brosnan Era James Bond: Okay, technically 4 movies, but since they're all basically an ongoing saga, i'll count them as one. I know many people consider James Bond movies to be over the top, highly unbelievable, and hardly worth the time, but to me they have always been the classic example of how an action-spy movie should be done. The main reason they made my list is Goldeneye, the first Brosnan Bond movie. When I first saw it, i was blown away by the action and the presentation of James Bond as a suave yet deadly spy, and ever since it has always set the standard for every spy movie i've seen after.
9. X2
10. The Mummy Returns

Honorable Mention
The Godfather Parts I and II: Classic movies, and would probably rank #1 and #2 on many 'conventional' lists. But my list ranks movies based on their entertainment value, and to be honest you don't really need to see someone getting shot in the eye or a guy waking up with a decapitated horse head bleeding all over his bed more than a few times.