Category Archives: Rants & Reviews

Pan’s Labyrinth – Surprisingly Badass

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Ok, first off – I never rent movies. I think I’ve rented like three or four movies in the past four or five years. I usually get On-Demand titles from cable, but lately the selection has sucked, big time. The other night I decided to stop by the local movie place and see what they had. We walked around for like twenty minutes and finally settled on two videos – “Children of Men” and ” Pan’s Labyrinth”

I wanted to watch “Children of Men” because all the peeps at work said it was decent. We put that one in first. It was long and boring as hell in spots but the actions scenes where out of this world. The end battles scenes are incredible. It’s worth watching it just for the last like 30 minutes. I mean come on, blood on the camera? Hellz yeah!

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If you had one week, to do anything…

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A few years ago, while I was working as a grower in a local greenhouse, I had a conversation that has echoed in my mind for years.

I was driving around in a delivery truck with a guy I worked with. We were going to some garden center, or farm with a load of plants and we somehow got on the subject of life and happiness. More to the point, we got to talking about all the things we wanted to do, or places we wanted to go before we died. This was not an uncommon topic with me. I was getting antsy in my life, and needless to say my life’s goal was not to be working for fairly low pay and delivering plants in the ninety-degree heat.

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9 Firefighters die in "tornado of flames"

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Whenever I see a story like this it reminds me of when I was teenager and witnessed my first REAL fire. I sat on the street and watched a 5-Alarm blaze gut the historic YMCA in downtown Newburyport. I remember the heat coming off the building, the flames shooting a hundred feet above the four-story roof, the smells, and the sounds of the building buckling under the heat.

A local man died in that fire. I watched from a few hundred feet away and the power of the fire was simply terrifying. While this enormous structure was burning in front of me like a newly lit bonfire, there were firefighters actually running into the building to look for people. It’s hard to convey in words, it was like they were entering into hell. I could see them walk into the flames and vanish.

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Mad River Tavern, Amesbury Ma

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Amesbury Ma has never been known for its nightlife. We have a few decent pubs like “The Barn” and the “Barking Dog” in town, but nothing particularly active. Well, I guess The Barking Dog can get a little jumping, but it’s nothing that would draw people in from other towns to experience. If you live in Amesbury, and want to go out for a night with some friends, you usually have to drive to Newburyport or Portsmouth to find something fun.

A few months ago a new placed opened up in town that seems to throwing everyone into a fury, the “Mad River Tavern”. I had someone tell me that is was hands down the best place to have some beers, watch a game and chill out. Someone even went as far as to say that it’s the best bar north of Boston. So, needless to say I had to scope this place out…

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Shaun of the Dead, Absolutely Brilliant!

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Ok, lets get a bunch of flesh eating gory dead people, pints of beer, guns and blood and wrap them all around an hour and forty minutes of British comedy. Hellz YEAH!

I absolutely loved this movie. The main character (Shaun) is a befuddled English guy who just can’t seem to get his life going in any real direction at all. His girlfriend, who may I add is incredible hot, is tired of spending every night in the same pub with Shaun and his half-evolved, filthy roommate Ed. She finally breaks it off, leaving him lost, hopeless, and drunk. Ed by the way, keeps telling Shaun that he’s better off without her, and that he should probably spend the rest of his life drinking in the Winchester (pub).

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Kickass Hard-Rock Songs (that everyone should own)

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So I was listening to music at the office today, as I always do, when it occurred to me that my musical preference seems to be changing again. I like all styles of music, so it’s not like it’s a big deal. I mean on any given day I could listen to John Denver, and then pop on Metallica or Static-X, before ending the day on Tori Amos. Put it this way; there is probably material in my ITunes that you really like AND really hate. I dig it all.

Anyways, for like the past five months or so I seem to have been in a “mellow acoustic rock” phase. For example Jack Johnson, Howie Day, and Dave Matthews have been high on my play count. Now it looks like I’m leaning towards a little bit of a heavier style again. I’m not talking death metal or anything, just heavier rock like Seether, Ra, and Godsmack.

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NASCAR Busch Series at NHIS – Best bang for your buck!

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I recently went to the Busch Race at NHIS (June 30) and while I was at the track it got me thinking…

Ladies and Gentlemen – Start your ENGINES!!

Ok, it’s no secret to the people that know me – I’m a big NASCAR fan. I’ve been following it for ten years. Initially a huge Dale Earnhardt fan (bordering fanatical), I’ve grown into more of a general fan of the entire sport, rather than a fan of one driver. I do have a couple favorites, but it’s usually people who don’t seem to do too much these days. I dig people like Kyle Petty, Kenny Schrader, Jarrett and Waltrip. Oh, and Tony Stewart, Junior, Truex, and… oh hell, it’s easier to point out the drivers I don’t care for, though admittedly there aren’t many (*coughs* – Kurt Bush).

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