Jeffrey Scott's - Best of the Blog - 2015

It's time for my seventh annual Best of the Blog, blog post. What a year 2015 turned out to be. I started to get serious in my creative writing and my blogging. It started in January when I continued the formula I started in 2014 with each week writing a rant entry and finishing the week with a poem. I continued this into February, but I started to get determined about my creative writing.

I began rewriting my old Writers Block series and editing was a key factor. While doing research for my article, I found fellow blogger Chrys, who had some great tips on writing and editing. As I started to follow her blog, I got interested in the blog hop A-Z. So in April I started to blog a new r.a.n.t. ever day, each day starting with a new letter of the alphabet. I met more great bloggers and soon became involved in FAE & Stephen's Battle of the Blog. Back in the day, music was a big part of this blog, and so it was again.

Most recently, I realized I needed to get back (once again) to my creative writing. So I joined the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by Alex. I've really just gotten started in this and still trying to find my footing, but I'm hoping the continual support will motivate me in 2016 to get even more of my creative writing done. What will I accomplish this next year? You'll have to stay tuned to find out. In the meanwhile, please peruse this blog post. It'll give you a sampling of what you'll find at this site on a regular basis.

Thanks to all of you! Every single one of you who have come to read, and decided to stick around. I appreciate those who continually support me, my blog and all of my writings. Did you have a favourite blog post of mine this past year? Why not share.

As always, leave a comment, share on your social media page, "like" it or just email me with your thoughts. I'm always looking for input, always looking for people who are willing to guest blog and always willing to post run on sentences. Thanks for reading. I truly hope you enjoy what you find here.


January
Photography
Out for a Drive - Took photos on a trip to Chicago and a Dinosaur exhibit.
Poetry
Into the Future - Poem based on a popular film.
R.A.N.T.
Your Video is Overdue - When borrowed items are not returned.
Guest Blogger
(Jennifer Long) Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - I chat with an old friend about RSVP etiquette.

February
R.A.N.T.
R.A.N.T. About A Lot of Very Bad Words That I Kind Of Just Really Hate When Editing - Starting to get serious about my writing, I blog about editing.
Poetry
Chicago Parking - A fun poem showcasing how mad I become looking for a parking spot.

March
R.A.N.T.
Mad as a Hatter - My erroneous picks for March Madness (Second Annual)
Jeffrey Scott's Day Off - I ask others what they hate about being sick.
Poetry
A Day Off - Humorous poem on being sick.

April
A-Z R.A.N.T.
Week One
C is for Coffee Mugs - I showcase a few of my favourite coffee mugs.
Week Two
H is for High Pressure Sales - I describe what happens when I try to sing up for a FREE 2 WEEK MEMBERSHIP at a local gym.
Week Three
M is for Music - An A-Z themed showcase of some of my music I own.
Week Four
S is for Spatula City - This is a joke. I can't believe such a store could ever exist. I describe my first and only visit to the store.
Week Five
Y is for Youtube Ads - Nothing is so annoying as having to watch a 30 second commercial before a 10 second video.

May
R.A.N.T.
Reflections from A to Z - I recap the previous month and give thanks to a few visitors.
Poetry
Pizza Crazy - A poem I wrote for my friend who loves pizza.
Guest Bloggers
(Muriel) Where is Everybody in France - Why is it impossible to do business in France in May?

June
R.A.N.T.
Writer's Block - Ranting about my short story series which I'm struggling to find time for.
Photography
Egg Harbour Part One - The first of three photography blog posts. This one is heavily focused on flora.
Battle of the Bands
Giving It All Up For Love - My first musical battle. It becomes a regular feature. (Featuring Huey Lewis)
Award
Creative Blogger Award - Someone nominates my blog for it's creativity.

July
R.A.N.T.
A Special Anniversary R.a.n.t. - Guest bloggers stop in to help with an anniversary r.a.n.t.
Photography
Lambeau Field - I visit the stadium of the Green Bay Packers
Battle of the Bands
Kashmir - This battle is between two electric string groups; Bond & Escala

August
Cover Release
Piper Morgan Joins the Circus - I do a cover release for a blogger and author, Stephanie Faris. I also have a chance to ask her a few questions about her book and her inspiration.
Battle of the Bands
Summertime Blues - Another battle in the series. This one features Alan Jackson and Olivia Newton-John

September
Insecure Writer's Support Group
Am I really a writer? - Another new feature. In my first article, I ponder if I can really be called a writer.
Battle of the Bands
Wallflower - My favourite jazz artist Diana Krall is up against Doug Sahm
R.A.N.T.
Rotten Fruit - How I hate purchasing rotten fruit at the store.

October
Listing Hop
Top Five Favourite Songs - What are my favourite songs and why? I joined one-off list hop, hosted by Bish Denham
Battle of the Bands
The Lazy Song - A lazy written poem featuring Bruno Mars & Kimmi Smiles
Photography
It's 2015, Do You Know Where Your Hydrator Is? - Doc & Marty arrive. What technology is missing?
R.A.N.T.
Random Rants III - For the third year, I turn to twitter to find out what others are ranting about.
I.W.S.G.
Writing vs. Blogging - I wonder if my blogging is interfering with my writing.

November
Battle of the Bands
Super Hero Theme Songs - Which was your faovurite growing up? Batman? Spiderman? I list 6 total to vote on.
R.A.N.T.
Jumping is Fun For Some People - People jumping to the wrong conclusion, not a good thing.
Photography
Time Travel Museum - A few of my favourite Time Machines.
I.W.S.G.
Creative Characters - How my dialogue has changed in the past 30 years.
Top 25
Favourite Films - I list my top 25 favourite movies. How many of these would be on your list?

December
Battle of the Bands
Mandolin Rain - Pam Tillis battles Bruce Hornsby. Can you guess who wins?
R.A.N.T.
Jumping the Shark - When a good television show goes bad. Has this happened to one of your favourites?
I.W.S.G.
Making A List - A need to make a list for things to improve on. But will I?


Creative Writing
Writer's Block - A story about High School student Erick, his friend Kenny and Erick's literary rival Jenni.


Most Read Blog Posts of 2015
Top 10 Blog Articles of 2015: January - June (According to Web Hits)
1.) 201 Blog Hits - Reflections from A to Z (05/03/2015)
2.) 167 - Celebrating Anniversaries (05/31/2015)
3.) 140 - Battle of the Bands - Giving It All Up For Love (06/15/2015)
4.) 134 - Egg Harbor (Part One) - Harbor View Park (06/12/2015)
5.) 122 - Where Is Everybody In France (05/17/2015)
6.) 121 - P is for Paris (04/18/2015)
7.) 119 - The Creative Blogger Award (06/17/2015)
8.) 109 - N is for Naysayers (04/16/2015)
9.) 108 - M is for Music (04/15/2015)
10.) 107 - Q is for Quantum Physics (4/20/2015)
Raspberry Award (The least popular blog post)
62.) 18 - Into the Future - (01/13/2015)


Top 10 Blog Articles of 2015: July - December (According to Web Hits)
1.) 325 Blog Hits - Battle of the Bands - Mandolin Rain (12/1/2015)
2.) 240 - Battle of the Bands - Somebody That I Used To Know (08/15/2015)
3.) 239 - Battle of the Super Hero Theme Songs (11/15/2015)
4.) 226 - It's 2015, Do You Know Where Your Hydrator Is? (10/21/2015)
5.) 215 - Battle of the Bands - The Lazy Song (10/15/2015)
6.) 215 - Battle of the Bands - Summertime Blues 08/1/2015)
7.) 211 - Battle of the Bands - It's A Long Way to the Top (07/15/2015)
8.) 201 - The Listing Hop - Top Five Favourite Songs (10/26/2015)
9.) 201 - Battle of the Bands - Don't You (Forget About Me) (09/15/2015)
10.) 197 - Battle of the Bands - Fame (12/15/2015)
Raspberry Award (The least popular blog post)
39.) 68 - Rotten Fruit (09/14/2015)

Battle of the Bands Results - Fame

Once again, I have presented quite an uneven battle. And yet, many people mentioned they liked both (or all three) version of the song. So it was odd to see it become lopsided. Let's take the first round. Duran Duran started off strong with a 4-2 win over the Eurythmics. And it didn't get much better for Lennox from there.
Duran Duran First Round Votes: John, Arlee, Holli and the Kate the Cowgirl.
Eurythmics First Round Votes: Shady & Alex

The second round saw Duran Duran taking 85% of the votes. Though Eurythmics were liked, the opening of the song scared a few away from their vote. A few even commented the bizarre photo Lennox proudly displayed.
Duran Duran Second Round Votes: Guilie, Janie, Madilyn, Stephanie, Birgit & Hilary
Eurythmics Second Round Votes: Dixie

Could things get any worse for the Eurythmics? Yes they can. The third round was a complete blow-out. Duran Duran ran away with all six votes.
Duran Duran Third Round Votes: Cherdo, Michele, FAE, Robin, Spacerguy & Cathy

I think by this time, the Eurythmics gave up any of the fight they may have had left. Once again, it was another 85% win for Duran Duran. In the end, I opted out of giving a sympathy vote for Eurythmics, even though I did like their version, I had to admit the Duran Duran version was much better. Besides, it's always nice to side with the obvious wintter.
Duran Duran Final Round Votes: Stephen, G.B.Miller, Kim, Dolorah, Mike and of course, myself.
Eurythmics Final Round Votes: Yolanda
Total Votes
Duran Duran 22
Eurythmics 4


Winners Circle
Congratulations to Duran Duran
For those hungry for a DD classic, here they are singing, 'Hungry Like the Wolf'.



Top Comments

Arlee Bird - This is one of my least favorite Bowie songs. I'm an Annie Lennox fan but I thought the Eurhythmics version of this song was a bit of a bore.

Shady Del Knight - This is a toughie because I very much enjoyed both versions presented. More often than not in these contests I appreciate an artist, group or band that closely imitates the sound of original. In this case, Duran Duran remained more faithful to Bowie's vocal style and arrangement. However, I was more impressed by the refreshingly different arrangement on the Eurythmics recording. Annie's seductive vocals blend with an instrumental track that percolates. I loved it. Annie gets her gun and Annie gets my vote!

Alex J. Cavanaugh - Duran Duran stayed close to the original, but I thought Annie's was fresher - she gets my vote.

CowgirlKate - I'd like to place my vote for Bowie..... But since that isn't an option... Lol
I found I disliked the Eurythmics version quite a bit. I can't put my finger on why precisely, but it just wasn't enjoyable for me. David Bowie with a sonic screwdriver???? Yes please!

Janie Junebug - I thought I would vote for The Eurythmics, but the scary voice at the very beginning was icky.

Madilyn Quinn - Can I vote for Bowie? Lol I know.. let me listen. Uhm, yeah the beginning of the Eurythmics version creepy me out and it didn't get much better from there.

Dixie@dcrelief - Another exciting moment for me. Both versions were nice, but I'm the diehard Annie Lennox/Eurythmics fan! Supporting the E's is for me's please.

Stephanie Faris - Okay, gotta go with Duran Duran because Simon LeBon was one of my first celeb crushes and so I spent hours and hours listening to their music as a teen. I'd never heard this song from them before...had no idea they even remade it. But it felt very familiar to me! Like putting on a favorite pair of socks!

farawayeyes - Give my vote to Duran Duran. Their cover was closer to the original, so I guess I liked that better. Annie's choice was a bit over the top for me.

Robin - (Just a quick note: What the hell did she do to herself in this picture??? Did she go crazy with spray tan? A bad day at the salon? What????) Unfortunately, the music is very much like the picture. Way out there. Overcooked maybe.

Spacerguy - To me Duran Duran hasn't aged which is cool. The contemporary sound of Eurythmics isn't bad but Duran Duran still win.

Stephen T. McCarthy -I vote for NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN - DURAN DURAN. Why? Because Annie Lennox is sporting a 3rd-Degree Burn all over her face and seems to be proud of it.

G. B. Miller - In general, Duran Duran usually does a much better job of doing cover songs (check out their c.d. called "Thank You", features a killer version of the song White Lines).

Kim @ be ReInVintaged - Oooh. Both versions are great, so this is super-hard. I loved the dancy arrangement of The Eurythmics' effort, but ultimately prefer the overall sound of Duran Duran's. So Duran Duran for me!

dolorah - Three awesome musicians, all with their unique styles. For this song, I prefer Bowie. Since he's not in the battle, I'll go with Duran Duran. Eurythmics do a good version, but its all the dips and warble that appeals to me in this song, and the Eurythmics left out that style. Sometimes there's just not adapting the original.

mike spain - Both had different twists. In the end Duran Duran gets my vote they were closer to David Bowie but still very much Duran Duran.


Thanks to everyone who stopped by and placed a vote.
Come back again for a new battle January 1st
Who will you vote for?
What song will I choose?
Which artists will battle it out?
Stay tuned.

Don't forget to visit the other participants in the Battle of the Band to see who won their battles.

FAR AWAY SERIES
STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
JANIE JUNEBUG RIGHTING AND EDITING
YOUR DAILY DOSE
BOOK LOVER
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
NOVEL BREWS
QUIET LAUGHTER
HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS
BE_REINVINTAGED
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE

Are you currently in the BOTB and don't see your name in the list above? Let me know in comments and I'll include it.

Battle of the Bands - Fame

The good news is, I'm not covering Lada Gaga. The bad news is, I'm not doing David Bowie either. At least, I'm not doing his version of the song. But we are taking a look at his song 'Fame'.

I felt it would be unfair to place Bowie next to any other band. Oh, I'm sure I can find another artists that might tickle the fancy of a few music connoisseurs, but probably not enough to fell as though I've put together another blow out battle.

When I think of a battle, I want to see two evenly matched contenders. The first contender I found was Eurythmics and I though, 'Oh no, if I find a lesser known artist who also performs this song, I'm going to be back where I started'. Fortunately, I discovered Duran Duran also covered this song. Boom! Done. Two well known artists covering the same song.

For one of the first times, I'm literally going into this without bias. I like both artists and I have literally no idea who I'm going to vote for in this round of.....

BATTLE OF THE BANDS

The two musical contenders for this Battle of the Bands are found below.
Please listen to both and let me know which you like best.

Eurythmics


Duran Duran


Those are the two contenders. Ignoring the actual videos, who do you think performs the song best? I collected the two bands to battle it out, now it's your job to vote on your favourite. Please list your preferred song choice in the comments. Additionally, let me know why you feel the way you do. Voting ends on the 22nd when I'll cast my own vote and announce the winner in a separate posting.

Additional Questions:
To what level of fame would you like to achieve?
Are you a David Bowie fan?
Do you prefer a close BOTB feature when it's hard to decide who you want to vote for?
Or do you like a battle when you know before going into it, who you are going to vote for?

Did you enjoy this Battle of the Bands feature? Come back on 1st January when I'll have a new battle. Also, be sure to check out my friends below who have banded together to offer up their own musical battles.

FAR AWAY SERIES
STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
JANIE JUNEBUG RIGHTING AND EDITING
YOUR DAILY DOSE
BOOK LOVER
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
NOVEL BREWS
QUIET LAUGHTER
HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE

Are you currently in the BOTB and don't see your name in the list above? Let me know in comments and I'll include it.

Jumping the Shark

R.a.n.t. of month December 2015

Perhaps you've heard this expression before. For those of you unfamiliar with it, you've likely never watched the TV show Happy Days. I'll let Urban Dictionary explain.

"Jump the Shark - A term to describe a moment when something that was once great has reached a point where it will now decline in quality and popularity. Origin of this phrase comes from a Happy Days episode where the Fonz jumped a shark on waterskis. Thus was labelled the lowest point of the show."

Even if you are unfamiliar with the term, you are certainly familiar with the feeling. Truly, nothing good lasts forever. As you may have guessed, this term refers specifically to TV shows. Over the years, I've watched many of my favourite shows 'Jump the Shark'.

The Office did so the moment Michael Scott left. Oh, there were some good episodes after his departure, but it was never the same. The magic was gone.

Did you ever watch Lost? Did you ever try to figure out what was going on? For my friend and I, that was probably the best part of the show. We loved to try and decipher the clues. For me, the show jumped the shark with the repeated promises from Lindelof & Cuse that what we might think was going on, was NOT going on. Only to find out that was exactly what was going on.

The most recent shark jumping for me came about a month ago. You see I had a favourite TV show, but after I got rid of cable, I lost track of the series. But I was finally able to track down the last two seasons and thought I would be enjoying my favourite TV show once gain for a few months. The show was the Mentalist, and the lead Character not only had his showdown with his nemesis early on in the season, but suddenly the entire show was taken in a new direction. Instead of working for the CBI, Patrick, Lisbon and Cho were suddenly working for the FBI on mediocre cases at best. Season six introduced two new characters to replace Van Pelt and Rigsby. From my understanding they were replaced, only to shake up the show a bit. When the season ended, one of the new cast members left the show to be replaced by another, who unsurprisingly, didn't last the entire final season. It was a true case of shark jumping. One of my favourite shows was now gone, in more ways than one.

Well, at least there is still Doctor Who, which I feel is still going strong 50 years plus on TV. But then again, one day they will probably recast the Doctor as a female. That will not be a happy day in my house. Well, it could be worse. They could rewrite a favourite character and change the race, the gender and make them a killer robot. Wait, wasn't this already done once before? OH yea, the Battlestar Galactica re-imaging. I never could get into that one.

Additional Questions:
Do you have a favourite show that has 'Jumped the Shark'?
Do you agree or disagree with any of my thoughts above?
Besides TV, what do you feel has 'Jumped the Shark?'


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


* R.a.n.t. - an acronym for 'Rage About Nothing, Typically'. It's writing about life's little nuances that are, (for the most part), trivial. Something we can all relate to. Do you have something that irritates you? Would you like to r.a.n.t. about it?

Of course you would! Join the R.a.n.t. blog hop today.

When will we be ranting?
The second Monday of each month.

How long should my r.a.n.t. be?
The length is up to you, I find one or two short paragraphs enough to quench my rage.

How do I join?
Let me know you are interested. To the right, you'll notice a banner you can proudly use on your site.

Check out additional r.a.n.t.ers
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Chrys Fey

What should I r.a.n.t. about?
Whatever you feel irate about. Preferably, something that's been bugging you.
Examples: Your writing - the supermarket - annoying people - drivers
The sky is the limit.
If you need suggestions, check out my r.a.n.t.archive below.

Battle of the Band Results - Mandolin Rain

As much as I'd like to say this battle could have gone either way, I think it was quite obvious who the winner was going to be. But, for formality sake, let's pick apart the battle. For our first round, Bruce Hornsby took the early lead. Though a few did like Pam's version (and some did not) it was Bruce's battle to lose.
Bruce Hornsby First Round Votes: Stephanie, Hilary, Arlee & Robin.
Pam Tillis Final Round Votes: Shady & Dixie

If there were any questions in the first round of the battle, the second round pretty much put the question to bed. Pam must have stepped out to powder her nose or something because there was no showing for her at all. All six votes went to Bruce.
Bruce Hornsby Second Round Votes: Guilie, Michele, Elizabeth, Alex, Janie AND A Gal Needs
Total Count: Bruce Hornsby 10, Pam Tillis 2

At least the third round was a bit more even. Without checking the votes already placed, I was starting to wonder if there would be a turn-around. Awww, who was I kidding? I knew the battle was over.
Bruce Hornsby Third Round Votes: Debbie, FAE, Dolorah
Pam Tillis Third Round Votes: Birgit, Chrys, John
Total Count: Bruce Hornsby 13, Pam Tillis 5

The final round was another victory for Bruce. It seems it was a pretty uneven match-up. But, I was happy it wasn't a run-away. I debating throwing a vote for Pam, then I realized it was just going to be a sympathy vote and it really wouldn't have affected the outcome. I have to be honest to myself, and I voted for the winner this time.
Bruce Hornsby Final Round Votes: Stephen, Mary, Mike and myself.
Pam Tillis Final Round Votes: Cathy & Tammy.
Total Battle Count:
Bruce Hornsby: 17
Pam Tillis: 7  


Winners Circle
Congratulations to Bruce Hornsby
Without further ado, Bruce Hornsby singing a song that sounds suspiciously like 'The Way It Is'.


Top Comments

Hilary Melton-Butcher –I prefer Bruce Hornsby's version ... just easier for me to listen to. Great song though.

Dixie@dcrelief - Super tough choice for me. I have always loved the Bruce version, but Pam Tillis puts it in another light! Tillis is a favorite - just as much as Bruce. I'm voting for her.

Alex J. Cavanaugh - Hate to say it, I have to go with Bruce on this one. It's fuller.

A GAL NEEDS - I like Bruce Hornsby and the Range. I grew up listening to that one!

Chrys Fey - They were both really good but I'm voting for Pam. I like how her version was softer, slower. And her voice was lovely, a perfect match for the lyrics.

John Holton - To me, everything Bruce Hornsby does sounds like "That's Just The Way It Is," regardless of who wrote it. Not that it was a bad song, but to make everything sound like it... uh, no.

Stephen T. McCarthy - Do you have that "one thing" that is a constant reminder?
Yes. It's a scar across the tip of my right ring finger from the night I fell down in a Prescott, Arizona, street with a big rock in my hand while filled with Grand Marnier and Tequila.

Mary Burris - Okay, this song takes me back to the 80's. I have the cassette. Listened to it frequently. My memory for this song is not romantic AT ALL. I was in my 20's, working for a beverage distributor. I remember walking between buildings at work. I had to walk past my bosses Volvo. Of course, I looked inside to see the interior and whatnot. To my surprise this Cassette was laying out in the open on the front seat. Boss earned some points in my book that day!

Tammy E. –My vote is for Pam Tillis, I never heard her version of this song before. I love her songs "Shake the sugar tree" and "Maybe it was Memphis".


Thanks to everyone who stopped by and placed a vote.
Come back again for a new battle December 15th.
Who will you vote for?
What song will I choose?
Which artists will battle it out?
Stay tuned.

Don't forget to visit the other participants in the Battle of the Band to see who won their battles.

FAR AWAY SERIES
STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
JANIE JUNEBUG RIGHTING AND EDITING
YOUR DAILY DOSE
BOOK LOVER
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
NOVEL BREWS
QUIET LAUGHTER
HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE

Are you currently in the BOTB and don't see your name in the list above? Let me know in comments and I'll include it.

I.W.S.G. (4) - Making A List

I hate to admit, I'm not pushing myself very well. There are a lot of writings I could be working on, but I've not been putting myself to task. It's not writers burn out or anything, I'm just bad at scheduling. The up side to this, (if you can call it that), is it's not only my writing that's suffering. I should be trying to lose weight, keeping up on my foreign language studies, working in the home and other duties as well. Instead, I keep putting them off because I don't schedule them. Not that I'm a big procrastinator either. Well, maybe I am. BUT.... If I actually dedicate myself to getting something accomplished, and I make a list and check it twice, it seems to get done. It's the reason when I plan a trip, I make a check-list. I should really do the same thing for my writing. Sure, I'm keeping up on my blog-hops, BECAUSE THEY ARE SCHEDULED. But what about the rest of my writing (and other things I should be working on). I've done this in the past, and it has worked. I've made a list and I kept to it. So why am I not doing this currently? Well, I think it's about time I do that. Check back next month to see what I put on my list, and how well I stick to it.If I'm insecure about anything this month, it's worrying if I can actually pull this off. I've been complaining without doing anything for far too long.

(To Be Continued)

Questions:
Does making a list help you?
If you are a procrastinator, what helps you?
Do you find it hard to 'push yourself' sometimes? What helps?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

Battle of the Bands - Mandolin Rain

Winter is just about here and I really wanted to use a Winter themed song. But so far this year, we have not been blessed (or cursed) with a lot of snow. In fact, we've had one snowfall which disappeared a few days later in 50° weather. Yes, this is Wisconsin, and if you blink, the weather is likely to change. What it has been doing is raining. A lot. So I may as well go with a rainy day themed song.(It was either this or Rainy Days and Mondays).

Mandolin Rain is a song I've loved since I first heard it in the 80's. It's sweet and it's sad. Two individuals are in love with each other, and they share a love of the rain and strolling in it. But when one leaves, the rain is a constant reminder of the others departure.

♪ Listen to the mandolin rain
Listen to the music on the lake
Ah, listen to my heart break every time she runs away
Oh, listen to the banjo wind
A sad song drifting low
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go ♫

I think we have all had a lost love where that 'one thing' is a constant reminder of them.
Even years later.

The two musical contenders for this Battle of the Bands are found below.
Please listen to both and let me know which you like best.

Pam Tillis


Bruce Hornsby


Those are the two contenders. Ignoring the actual videos, who do you think performs the song best? I collected the two bands to battle it out, now it's your job to vote on your favourite. Please list your preferred song choice in the comments. Additionally, let me know why you feel the way you do. Voting ends on the 8th when I'll cast my own vote and announce the winner in a separate posting.

Additional Questions:
Do you prefer rain or snow in Winter?
Do you prefer a soft and gentle rain, or a raging lightening storm best?
Do you have that "one thing" that is a constant reminder?

Did you enjoy this Battle of the Bands feature? Come back on 15th December when I'll have a new battle. Also, be sure to check out my friends below who have banded together to offer up their own musical battles.

FAR AWAY SERIES
STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
JANIE JUNEBUG RIGHTING AND EDITING
YOUR DAILY DOSE
BOOK LOVER
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
NOVEL BREWS
QUIET LAUGHTER
HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE

Are you currently in the BOTB and don't see your name in the list above? Let me know in comments and I'll include it.

Battle of the Super Heroes - Results

Super heroes was the theme of this weeks battle. And unfortunately, I was so busy this weekend I was not able to get the results posted when they were due. If I were the flash, I could have written this up and posted it in a second flat. If I were the Doctor, I could travel in my Tardis, back in time so I would have more time to finish. If I were Hiro Nakamura I could just stop time, and resume again when I was done. If I were Saturn Girl, I could just mind control someone to ghost write this for me.

But I am none of those super heroes, so let me just apologize for posting this late.

On to the battle:

The first round of this true Super Hero battle was interesting as it saw votes come in for almost every theme song. The Justice League received one vote, Batman received three, Spiderman two and Inspector Gadget one. Batman takes an early lead.

The second battle was between only three of the contenders. They were Spiderman, receiving four of the votes, Batman with another two and Inspector Gadget with another vote. This put Spiderman swinging to the top of the list.

For the third round of battles, it was another three-way tie between Batman, He-Man and Inspector Gadget, each receiving two votes. With the exception of the X-Men, so far every theme song has been represented. With the extra votes, Batman was again dominating this Super Hero dog pile.

Inspector Gadget wins the fourth and final round with three votes. But with Batman and Spiderman each receiving an additional two votes, Batman held on to his victory. Just barely beating the Spiderman theme song.

The Final Tally?
Batman - 9
Spiderman -8
Inspector Gadget - 7

He-Man - 2
Justice League -1
X-Men - 0

Of the additional questions, favourite super hero broke down this way.
(Keep in mind, not every voted for the following two questions)
Batman - 4
Wonder Woman - 1
Beast - 1
Iron-Man - 1
Wolverine - 1
Deadpool - 1

Favourite Super Power?
Flight - 4
Invisibility - 3
Teleportation - 3
Weather Control - 1
Super Intelligence - 1
Time Travel - 1
Telepathy - 1


Top Comments

FAE - Jeffrey, no apologies necessary here, this was really a good idea and a lot of fun.

Stephen T. McCarthy - JEFFREY, this was a fantabulous BOTB installment. No reason whatsoever to sound the least bit apologetic. I wish I'd thought of this one. I'm 56, so the only two that I knew were SPIDERMAN and BATMAN. This was a total no-brainer, piece o' cake vote for me: Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh-DUH! BATMAN!!!
Man, when I was a child I drank, ate and breathed Batman. I would do anything my Ma told me to at the threat "there'll be no Batman tonight..." Anything she said. Done!

Robin – I watched Spiderman, Batman & Robin, and the Justice League. In fact, I remember getting up "early" on Saturday morning so I didn't miss Justice League. As you know, you couldn't record it and watch it later. Plus, cartoons only aired from 8-noon on Saturday and that was it. Done for the week.

Arlee Bird - No real contest for me. Hands down my favorite is "The Batman Theme". I used to have the 45 and it's a nice piece of music. I also do like the theme from Inspector Gadget--classic in a Henry Mancini "Pink Panther" sort of way.

dolorah - Ah Jeff, that was a lot of fun. Brought back fond memories of Saturday morning cartoons when I was a kid.

Cherdo –Wow, this is fantastic! So much for traditon - I love the way you're thinking outside of the box (which is a television from the 70s, by the way).

Stephanie Faris - Spiderman...who can forget that song? It gets stuck in your head and won't go away!

Michele Truhlik What a fun battle Jeffrey!!

Spacerguy - Awesome BOTB selection

Madilyn Quinn –What a neat idea!

Guilie Castillo - The one that gave me chills was He-Man, hahahahahaha. I was *not* expecting that. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I watched Spiderman and Batman mostly in Spanish (growing up in Mexico), and the songs were also translated. But He-Man was one of those Saturday morning cartoons I watched a lot during the 2 years I spent in the US — and, obviously, in English.

Crystal Collier - Really? REALLY? I'm supposed to just pick one?

Cathy Kennedy - Jeffrey, this is a fun battle.


Winners Circle
Adam West, AKA Batman. Celebrates his victory this week with the Bat-Dance



Thanks to everyone who stopped by and placed a vote.
Come back again for a new battle December 1st.
Who will you vote for?
What song will I choose?
Which artists will battle it out?
Stay tuned.

Don't forget to visit the other participants in the Battle of the Band to see who won their battles.

FAR AWAY SERIES
STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
JANIE JUNEBUG RIGHTING AND EDITING
YOUR DAILY DOSE
BOOK LOVER
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
NOVEL BREWS
QUIET LAUGHTER
HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE

Are you currently in the BOTB and don't see your name in the list above? Let me know in comments and I'll include it.

Any person familiar with a good Super Hero movie knows, there is special material at the end of the credits. So here is the bonus material I've decided to place this week.

Battle of the Super Hero Theme Songs

I need to apologize I think. This battle of the bands, I'm breaking from tradition. This time, (and only this time), I'm doing something a little different. I'm posting several of my favourite Super Hero theme songs and looking to see which one everyone else thinks is best. Unlike other battles, the video along with the song is part of the package.

I'll be honest, I'm doing this for several reasons. First of all, it's a weekend and my time, unfortunately, is limited. I've had to put in some extra time at work. This is also a battle I've been planning on hosting as a special, but since I'm pressed for time, I'm using this one now.

Additionally, I have not been feeling well the past few days and don't feel like putting my all into selecting a musical battle. Finally, whenever I'm feeling down, nostalgia always cheers me up. I'll be back to the regular BOTB format next month. Same blog time, same blog channel. Hope you all have fun with this one.

Since these are so short, I've thrown in a few to enjoy/watch. Please select the one you like the best, or feel is the most nostalgic for you. And since we are having fun this time, I'd like to know which you like the least.

Spiderman


Batman


He-Man


Justice League


Inspector Gadget


X-Men



Which super hero theme song did you enjoy best? Which did yo like least? Don't be shy, vote now.
Polls for this showdown will remain open till 22 November, 2015 at which point I'll cast my own vote and announce the winner in a separate posting.

Additional Questions:
Who is your favourite Super Hero?
Do you have a favourite cartoon?
What is nostalgic to you?
What super power do you wish you had?

Did you enjoy this Battle of the Bands feature? Come back on 1st December when I'll have a new battle. Also, be sure to check out my friends below who have banded together to offer up their own musical battles.

FAR AWAY SERIES
STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME
YOUR DAILY DOSE
BOOK LOVER
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
NOVEL BREWS
QUIET LAUGHTER
HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE

Jumping Is Fun (For Some People)

R.a.n.t. of month November 2015

Remember when we were all kids? We didn't need fancy video game consoles or iPhones bogged down with endless apps and what-not. (Why do I suddenly sound like an old man? "Back in my day, we played in quick sand and ate dead frogs. And we liked it!") Playing outside was good enough for us. My mother was always sending me outside first thing in the morning and I wasn't making my way back till the sun was setting. What did I do this entire time? Plenty. My friends and I did a lot of running around and jumping.

In one field we played in,someone noticed a hole in the middle of the filed. It was huge (at least to our eyes), but despite that we took our turns jumping over it. If you didn't jump, you were chicken. The problem is, if you jumped and misjudged the distance or (in my case) misjudged your jumping ability, things went wrong. This usually resulted in a twisted ankle. Of course, I was the dumb one to get up and try again. Some people never learn.

The problem is, many adults still have a tendency to do a lot of jumping. Instead of jumping over holes, they are jumping over discernment. In other words, jumping to the wrong conclusion. Instead of going to a person and asking what is going on or why they have done something, they jump to their own conclusion and have already decided you are doing something they do not agree with.

Does the person discuss this with you? Of course not, that would only make sense. But they do seem to tell everyone else. Suddenly, no one knows what to believe. And unlike the children doing the jumping, usually the 'ankle' of someone else is injured, instead of the jumpee. I seem to think this happens more than anyone else cares to admit. Or am I jumping to conclusions here?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Do you like to r.a.n.t. too?

* R.a.n.t. - an acronym for 'Rage About Nothing, Typically'. It's writing about life's little nuances that are, (for the most part), trivial. Something we can all relate to. Do you have something that irritates you? Would you like to r.a.n.t. about it?

Of course you would! Join the R.a.n.t. blog hop today.

When will this ranting take place?
The second Monday of each month.

How long should my r.a.n.t. be?
The length is up to you, I find one or two short paragraphs enough to quench my rage.

How do I join?
Let me know you are interested. To the right, you'll notice a banner you can proudly use on your site.

Who else is participating?
Glad you asked.
Joining me for November 2015
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Chrys Fey

Is this a continual blog hop?
For me, it's a continual series I'll be doing every second Monday of every month. If this is something you'd like to do on a regular basis with me, that would be awesome. Or you can sign up for a single month. It's up to you, whatever you can manage. Just let me know.

What should I r.a.n.t. about?
Whatever you feel irate about. Preferably, something that's been bugging you.
Examples: Your writing - the supermarket - annoying people - drivers
The sky is the limit.

Battle of the Bands Results - Hazy Shade of Winter

I was a little surprised the voting for this battle was so sparse. Perhaps everyone was preparing for the Winter after my reminder it was fast approaching? Because there was such a low turn-out, we only had three rounds this turn.

The first round consisted of only four votes. It seems both contenders were indeed here to put up a fight, despite the attendance. After our first round, both musical battle teams were even.
Bangles received votes from: Alex & Arlee
Simon & Garfunkel received votes from: Shady & Hilary

The second round was again only four votes. But unlike the first round, this one did not end in a tie. Simon and Garfunkel outmatched the Bangles and beat them 3-1. This gave Simon & Garfunkel a two vote lead, heading into the third and final round.
Bangles Received a vote from: Stephanie Fairs
Simon & Garfunkel received votes from: FAE, Robin & Stephen McC

Our third and final round consisted of another four votes. Well, five if you count mine. I mention that because without my vote, the third round was to be a tie. I broke the tie and cast my vote giving the Bangles a third round win. As you'll notice, the first round was a tie, the second round was won by Simon and Garfunkel, and the third was a Bangle victory. So it comes down to overall votes.
Bangles received votes this round from Cathy, Madilyn and myself.
Simon and Garfunkel from Michele and Debbie.

Final score Bangles with 6 / Simon & Garfunkel 7
It was a close battle, but Simon and Garfunkel win!


Top Comments
Shady Del Knight - I enjoy both versions of "Hazy Shade of Winter." If the Bangles would have slowed down the tempo a few BPM and not rendered the song at such a frantic pace, then I believe I would have voted for their recording. My vote goes to the S&G original because the pace is more laid back which, in my humble opinion, is a better fit for the song's theme.

Arlee Bird - Gosh, I hadn't heard that song in ages. I'd forgotten how good it was. I like the Bangles version a lot, but I'm more used to hear S&G doing it. Listening again through the refreshment of not having heard this in a while I think I'm going to be a bit rebellious and vote for the Bangles. I think they do some more interesting things with the song. Yes, I insist--my vote goes to the Bangles.

Stephen T. McCarthy - The Bangles against the S&G original? Ha! Tell me you're joking, Bro!

Stephanie Faris - Two TOTALLY different types of music! But I'm a child of the 80s, so I'm The Bangles all the way. I had all their albums as a teen and loved their music. I'm not really a Simon & Garfunkel fan...their music is just too mellow. Not that I don't appreciate their talent...it just wasn't my era.


Winners Circle
Congratulations to Simon & Garfunkel
Since the attendance was so low for this battle, let's listen to them perform the Sound of Silence. Enjoy


Thanks to everyone who stopped by and placed a vote.
Come back again for a new battle November 15th.
Who will you vote for?
What song will I choose?
Which artists will battle it out?
Stay tuned.

Don't forget to visit the other participants in the Battle of the Band to see who won their battles.

STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE
WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME
YOUR DAILY DOSE
BOOK LOVER
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
FAR AWAY SERIES
NOVEL BREWS
QUIET LAUGHTER
HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS

Are you currently in the BOTB and don't see your name in the list above? Let me know in comments and I'll include it.

Time Travel Museum

November 5th, 1955 is the date time travel was invented. And yet scientists have recently discovered time travel has been with us for a long time. One piece of evidence can be found HERE.

These time travel devices come in many shapes and sizes. Each have their own special abilities. Would you like to learn more about the technology and science of Time Travel? Then good news!

The European Time Travel Institute (TETTI) is finishing construction on their Time Travel Museum. Scheduled to be open to the public fall of 2017.

Several scientists have already been scheduled to field Q&A session and offer brief demonstrations.
Best of all, the museum will be filled with displays of all Time Travel machines; both real and ones featured in films.

Examples of a few of the displays follow:

Name: Flying Delorean

History: Created by Doctor Brown to keep tabs on the progress of man.

Ease of Use: Average difficulty, knowledge of setting clocks and the ability to drive a car.

Special Features: Equipped with a hover-conversion and fuelled by garbage.

First Appearance: Back to the Future - Summer 1985

Quote: "The way I see it, if you're gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?" - Doctor Brown

Name: Time Machine

History: To discover how mankind will evolve, George creates a time machine.

Ease of Use: High - Move lever forward to go forward in time and backward to go backwards.

Special Features: Can watch the passage of time as you travel.

First Appearance: The Time Machine, written by H.G. Wells 1895

Quote: "If that machine can do what you say it can do, destroy it, George! Destroy it before it destroys you!" - Filby

Name: Time Bubble

History: Used in the distant future (31st century) by a Legion of Super Heroes to travel back and forth to the 21st century (and other eras).

Ease of Use: Average - Apparently can be used with just a little technical training.

Special Features: Travels in space as well as time.

First Appearance: Adventure Comics #247 - April 1958

Quote: "Wait.. Wasn't the time bubble on THAT side of the room?" - Saturn Girl

Name: T.A.R.D.I.S.

History: Used by the renegade Time Lord known only as "The Doctor"

Ease of Use: Difficult - Even the Doctor has problems steering the time machine.

Special Features: Can travel in space as well as time. The inside is vastly bigger than the outside.

First Appearance: BBC Television - November 23, 1963

Quote: "It's bigger on the inside than on the outside." - Almost every companion of the Doctor.

Name: Omni

History: When history goes wrong, it's Phineas Boggs job to correct things.

Ease of Use: High - Simply set the location and time and press a button.

Special Features: Indicates when history is wrong, and when it has been corrected. Travels in location as well as time.

First Appearance: Voyagers TV series - 1982

Quote: "We travel through time, to help history along, give it a push where it's needed." - Phineas Bogg

Name: Phone Booth Time Machine

History: Used by Bill & Ted to acquire personages from history to help pass their history exam.

Ease of Use: Above Average. Can be used by a couple of nit-wits.

Special Features: Can be used for magic tricks. Also travels in location as well as time.

First Appearance: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Summer - 1989

Quote: "Gentlemen... we're history." - Rufus

Name: HMS Bounty

History: Klingon battle cruiser commandeered by James Kirk travelled back in time to rescue a pair of whales.

Ease of Use: Difficult. Ability to operate a starship is required as is the ability to speak or read Klingon.

Special Features: Designed as a Star Ship for interstellar travel.

Quote: You're going to try time travelling in this rustbucket?

Name: Uncle Rico's Time Machine

History: Purchased by Uncle Rico from the Internet

Ease of Use: Impossible. Has yet to function properly.

Special Features: Destroys your ability to have children.

First Appearance: Napoleon Dynamite - 2004

Quote: "It's a piece of crap, it doesn't work!" - Napoleon Dynamite

Questions for discussion:
Which of these is your favourite time machine?
Did we miss your personal favourite in this posting?
Will you check out the Time Travel Museum?
Are you a time traveller and would like to be involved?

These and many others can be found in the Time Travel Museum
Brynbala Way; Cardiff, Wales

For additional information please inquire below in the comments or call:
TETTI - Washington State Branch, U.S.A. (206)-984-6564
Those wishing to be involved can fax over a resume to the same number listed above.

I.W.S.G. (3) - Creative Characters

One of the things that has always concerned me about my writing is coming up with interesting characters. Back when I first started writing seriously, my characters were one dimensional and drawn from real life people. In the series I'm writing, many characters are drawn from real people. So I never gave them much depth because I expected all my friends who read my stories to know everything about them (I was only about 17 at the time). Character development was something I hadn't even thought of. As such, a lot of my dialogue went this way:

Jeff said, "Look!"
Kevin said, "What does she want?"
Jenny replied,"Why are you sitting here?"

Not taking any writing courses, I'm always worried I have not developed my characters fully enough. But I read many articles online and have various times subscribed to Writers Digest. With a lot of practice, my characters now feel as if they have more dimension because I follow tips on how to flesh out characters. In fact, now when I write, I create character sheets for just about anyone appearing in my stories. I try to find three words to identify what sort of person they are, list their likes, their dislikes, and a bit of their background. Even if I don't utilize those aspects in the story, my characters seem to have more depth and my writing has more depth too.

* * * * * * * * * *

Erick suddenly felt ill when he saw his ex-girlfriend walking towards him. "Crap, Kenny! Jenni's walking over here. I can't deal with her right now."

"I think she still wants you," Kenny said laughing. "Or she's looking for her lost diary again. Are you sure you didn't steal it?"

Erick realized Kenny was joking, but he didn't appreciate either comment.

"You do realize, of course, you are sitting at my table? I'm going to have to ask you to move."

Erick and Kenny exchanged looks. Who did she think she was? Lord of the Lunch-room?

* * * * * * * * * *
So I think my writing has developed, but are my characters truly unique? I'll be exploring that topic next time.

Questions:
What process do you use to create characters?
Do you have any characters based on real life people?
How do you feel you best learned to hone your writing talent?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

Battle of the Bands - Hazy Shade of Winter

There is a chill in the air. Either we are edging closer to Winter or my ex-wife is in the room. Hello? Hello? Is this thing on? Anyway, with Winter moving in, you know what is next. Cold, snow, higher gas prices, people complaining about the cold. There is enough r.a.n.t. fodder here to last me through the Winter. (Co-incidentally, don't forget my r.a.n.t.s are now once a month, on the second Monday). Hey, what good is a blog without self promoting yourself? Sorry, I keep getting distracted. I should be talking about today's music selections but my information so far has been a bit hazy. Huh? Huh?
(Crickets chirping)
Moving right along!
We were talking about the signs of Winter, (Can you believe I saw them setting up for Christmas at Target this weekend?) and things being hazy. That brings us to date with the battle I'm presenting to you. Two of my favourite artists will be duking it out. This is one of those songs where I heard the cover first, then realized it was a cover. It was part of the reason I became a Simon and Garfunkel fan. Also my dad used to listen to them. Back in the day, I remember a cold snow day we had. Milwaukee was iced over and everyone was essentially locked in. I was probably in my room listening to the Bangles while my mom and dad were in the living room. HBO was running Simon and Garfunkel's concert in Central Park. I came into the living room frequently and remember loving their music. I recall I finally sat down and watched the rest of the concert.

Okay, time to stop being hazy on the information. Now we battle!
Simon & Garfunkel vs. The Bangles

Simon & Garfunkel


The Bangles


Those are the two contenders. Ignoring the actual videos, who do you think performs the song best? I collected the two bands to battle it out, now it's your job. Time to vote on your favourite. Please vote for your preferred song choice and let me know in the comments. Additionally, let me know why you feel the way you do. Voting ends on the 8th when I'll cast my own vote and announce the winner in a separate posting.

Additional Questions:
What is your favourite Winter memory?
Has one artist ever introduced you to another?
Who is your favourite comedian?

Did you enjoy this Battle of the Bands feature? Come back on 15th October when I'll have a new battle. Also, be sure to check out my friends below who have banded together to offer up their own musical battles.

FAR AWAY SERIES
STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE
WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME
YOUR DAILY DOSE
BOOK LOVER
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
NOVEL BREWS
QUIET LAUGHTER
HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS

Are you currently in the BOTB and don't see your name in the list above? Let me know in comments and I'll include it.

My Top 25 Favourite Films

I'm participating in Stephen T. McCarthy's 25 Favourite Movie project.
I came to find this was not as easy a task as one might think. First of all, I don't go see films often. Not even when it's a film that interests me. As a result, I had a difficult time thinking of what films I thought were best. In the end, I looked into my DVD cabinet and discovered I own almost 50 films. Well, if I own it, I must like it. So I've gone over what I own, and tried to determine which I felt were my favourites. I have also tried to include a few from the various genres in the cabinet. i.e.; Superhero, Adventure, Western, Sci.Fi., Comedy, Oldie, Disaster or a few others types. I realized I seem to lean more towards sci.fi., campy or goofy comedies. What do you think of the list? Have you seen any on my list? Which ones do you like?
More importantly, I'm wondering which on the list is no surprise to you. And which are surprising to find in my list.



My Top 10 Favourite Films

1. Scavenger Hunt (1979)
Starring: Richard Benjamin, James Coco, Scatman Crothers, Cloris Leachman, Cleavon Little, Roddy McDowall, Robert Morley, Richard Mulligan, Tony Randall, Dirk Benadict, Willie Aames, Stephanie Faracy, Maureen Teefy, Richard Masur
Featuring: Ruth Gordon, Stephen Furst, Vincent Price, Meat Loaf, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Liz Torres, Avery Schreiber
Plot: To inherit a fortune, various addressees of a will must compete in a wild scavenger hunt to collect selected items, but cannot be simply bought.
Quotes
Charles Bernstein: I'm Charles Bernstein. Attorney for the late Milton Parker.
Marvin Dummitz: You mean someone else is late now?

Babbette: Montclair! Montclair! They have killed Montclair!
Jenkins: There, there, Babbette, we will get you another toilet.

2. Back to the Future (1985, 1989, 1990)
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Thomas F. Wilson, Lea Tompson, Crispin Glover
Plot: A young man is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, and must make sure his high-school-age parents unite in order to save his own existence.
Quotes
Marty McFly: So you're my Uncle Joey. Better get used to these bars, kid.

Stella Baines: He's a very strange young man.
Sam Baines: He's an idiot. Comes from upbringing. His parents are probably idiots, too. Lorraine, you ever have a kid who acts that way, I'll disown you.

Marty McFly: Silence, Earthling. My name is Darth Vader. I am an extraterrestrial from the planet Vulcan!

3. Groundhog Day (1993)
Starring: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott
Plot: A weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again.
Quotes
Phil: Come on, ALL the long distance lines are down? What about the satellite? Is it snowing in space? Don't you have some kind of a line that you keep open for emergencies or for celebrities? I'm both. I'm a celebrity in an emergency.

Phil: Uh, Mrs. Lancaster, uh, was anybody looking for me here this morning? Perhaps a state official? Maybe a blue hat, gun, nightstick?
Mrs. Lancaster: Oh, no, no one like that. Will there be?
Phil: Apparently not.

4. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Plot: King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many very silly obstacles.
Quotes
Sir Bedevere: What makes you think she's a witch?
Peasant: Well, she turned me into a newt!
Sir Bedevere: A newt?
Peasant 3: ... I got better.

King Arthur: I am your king.
Woman: Well, I didn't vote for you.

King of Swamp Castle: Please! This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Let's not bicker and argue over who killed who.

5. Stalag 17 (1953)
Starring: William Holden, Don Taylor, Otto Preminger, Robert Strauss, Harvey Lembeck, Richard Erdman, Peter Graves
Plot: When two escaping American World War II prisoners are killed, the German POW camp barracks black marketeer, J.J. Sefton, is suspected of being an informer.
Quotes
Triz Trzcinski: I believe it. My wife says, "Darling, you won't believe it, but I found the most adorable baby on our doorstep and I've decided to keep it for our very own. Now you won't believe it, but it's got exactly my eyes and nose." Why does she keep saying I won't believe it? I believe it! I believe it.

Sefton: If I ever run into any of you bums on a street corner, just let's pretend we've never met before.

6. Star Wars (1977, 1980, 1983, 1999, 2002, 2005)
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Billy D Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Alec Guinness & Liam Neesan, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Hayden Christiensen, James Earl Jones (as the voice of Darth Vader)
Plot: Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a wookiee and two droids to save the universe from the Empire's world-destroying battle-station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the evil Darth Vader.
Quotes
Princess Leia: Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder.
Han Solo: Who's scruffy-looking?

Anakin Skywalker: I sense Count Dooku.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: I sense a trap.

Admiral Ackbar: It's a trap!

7. A Knight's Tale (2001)
Starring: Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell, Shannyn Sossamon, Paul Bettany, Laura Fraser, Mark Addy, Alan Tudyk
Plot: After his master dies, a peasant squire, fuelled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.
Quotes
Wat: I don't understand women.
Chaucer: Nor do I. But they understand us. Well, maybe not you.

Jocelyn: I demand poetry, and when I want it, and I want it now.
William: Your breasts... they're beneath your throat.

Roland: Are you a woman or a blacksmith?
Kate: Sometimes I'm both.

8. Dream Team (1989)
Starring: Michael Keaton, Christopher Lloyd, Peter Boyle, Stephen Furst, Lorraine Bracco
Plot: On the way to a baseball game, sanitarium patients get stranded in New York City after their chaperone is hospitalized and they're being pursued by criminals.
Quotes
Jack: Great! Breakfast. I'm starved.
Henry: That's not ours. That's Ed's.
Jack: Did Ed make the sun shine? Did Ed make the wheat grow?
Henry: I don't know the man.

Billy: Ah, it's great to be young and insane!

Henry: This is Brian's cupcake. Every day an innocent man is deprived of his dessert while we sit here and do nothing.

9. Time Machine (1960)
Starring: Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux
Plot: A man's vision for an utopian society is disillusioned when travelling forward into time reveals a dark and dangerous society.
Quotes
George: What have you done? Thousands of years of building and rebuilding, creating and recreating so you can let it crumble to dust. A million years of sensitive men dying for their dreams... FOR WHAT? So you can swim and dance and play.

Filby: If that machine can do what you say it can do, destroy it, George! Destroy it before it destroys you!

10. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Starring: Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efron Ramirez, Tina Majorino
Plot: A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.
Quotes
Napoleon Dynamite: Who are you gonna ask?
Pedro: That girl over there.
Napoleon Dynamite: Summer Wheatly? How the heck are you gonna do that?
Pedro: Build her a cake or something.

Napoleon Dynamite: It's a piece of crap it doesn't work!
Uncle Rico: Well, I could've told you that.



The other 15 top movies I like.

11. Rat Race (2001)
Starring: Beckin Meyer, Cuba Gooding Jr., Seth Green, Vince Vieluf, Whoopi Goldberg, Lanei Chapman, Jon Lovitz, Kathy Najimy,John Cleese, Dave Thomas, Amy Smart, Rowan Atkinson
Featuring: Gloria Alred, Paul Rodriguez, Wyane Knight, Dean Cain, Brandy Leford
Plot: An eccentric Las Vegas casino magnate, determined to find a new avenue for wagering, sets up a race for money.
Quotes
Enrico Pollini: Am I too late ? Look I won a coin, a gold coin! Oh, isn't this wonderful? Look at this room, what a beautiful room, have you seen this room?
Randy Pear: Yes! We're in it!

Merrill: I think this is some kind of scam!
Vera Baker: Oh good, a scam! We'll do it!

12. Aliens (1986)
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein
Plot: The planet from Alien (1979) has been colonized, but contact is lost. This time, the rescue team has impressive firepower, but will it be enough?
Quotes
Hudson: Hey Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?
Vasquez: No. Have you?

Ripley:These people are here to protect you. They're soldiers.
Newt:It won't make any difference.

Hudson: That's it, man. Game over, man. Game over!

13. Princess Bride (1987)
Starring: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Andre the Giant, Robin Wright
Featuring: Peter Falk, Fred Savage, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal, Mel Smith
Plot: While home sick in bed, a young boy's grandfather reads him a story called The Princess Bride.
Quotes
Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Prince Humperdinck: Surrender.
Westley: You mean you wish to surrender to me? Very well, I accept.

14. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin, Hal Landon Jr.
Plot: Two seemingly dumb teens struggle to prepare a historical presentation with the help of a time machine.
Quotes
Ted: Okay, the lady in that car over there said that Marco Polo was in the year 1275.
Bill: It's not just a water sport, I knew it!

Ted: Uh, Ms. Preston. We'd like you to meet some of our... friends.
Bill: Yeah. This is Dave Beeth-Oven. And, uh, Maxine of Arc, Missy. Herman the Kid.
Ted: Bob "Genghis" Khan. So-cratz Johnson. Dennis Frood. And, uh, uh... Abraham Lincoln.

15. Unbreakable (2000)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson
Plot: A man learns something extraordinary about himself after a devastating accident.
Quotes
Elijah Price: Do you know what the scariest thing is? To not know your place in this world, to not know why you're here. That's - that's just an awful feeling.

David Dunn: Friends listen to each other! And they don't shoot each other, do they Audrey?
Audrey Dunn: N-... No shooting friends, Joseph...

16. American Graffiti (1973)
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips
Featuring: Wolfman Jack, Harrison Ford, Suzanne Summers
Plot: A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.
Quotes
Carol: Your car is uglier than I am! Uh... that didn't come out right.

Terry Fields: Let me have a Three Musketeers, and a ball point pen, and one of those combs there, a pint of Old Harper, a couple of flash light batteries and some beef jerky.

17. Three Amigos (1986)
Starring: Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Patrice Martinez
Plot: Three unemployed actors accept an invitation to a Mexican village to replay their bandit fighter roles, unaware that it is the real thing.
Quotes
Juanita: Which one do you like?
Carmen: I like the one that's not so smart.
Juanita: Which one is that?

El Guapo: Are gringos falling from the sky?
Jefe: Yes, El Guapo.

18. Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Starring: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters
Plot: A group of passengers struggle to survive and escape when their ocean liner completely capsizes at sea.
Quotes
Linda Rogo: What happened?
Reverend Frank Scott: We've turned over.

Robin Shelby: I'm sorry Mrs. Rosen, I didn't mean it to sound like that.
Mrs. Belle Rosen: What, I miss something?
Robin Shelby: When I said I helped my dad pull in a 600 pound swordfish. I didn't mean that I thought you weighed that much.
Mrs. Belle Rosen: All that's going on and THAT'S what you're worried about?

19. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee van Cleef
Plot: A bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.
Quotes
Blondie: You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.

Tuco: Don't die, I'll get you water. Stay there. Don't move, I'll get you water. Don't die until later.

Blondie: It's not a joke, it's a rope, Tuco. Now I want you to get up there and put your head in that noose.

20. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn (1982)
Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Ricardo Montalban, Deforest Kelley
Plot: With the assistance of the Enterprise crew, Admiral Kirk must stop an old nemesis, Khan Noonien Singh, from using a life-generating device, the Genesis Device, as the ultimate weapon.
Quotes
Khan: I've done far worse than kill you. I've hurt you. And I wish to go on hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her; marooned for all eternity in the center of a dead planet... buried alive! Buried alive...!
Kirk: KHAAANNNN!

McCoy: Where are we going?
Kirk: Where they went.
McCoy: Suppose they went *nowhere*?
Kirk: Then this will be your big chance to get away from it all.

21. Jurassic Park (1993)
Starring: Sam Neil, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldbloom, Richard Attenborough, Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight
Plot: During a preview tour, a theme park suffers a major power breakdown that allows its cloned dinosaur exhibits to run amok.
Quotes
John Hammond: All major theme parks have delays. When they opened Disneyland in 1956, nothing worked!
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but, John, if The Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists.

Dennis Nedry: Dodgson!
Lew Dodgson: You shouldn't use my name.
Dennis Nedry: Dodgson! Dodgson! We've got Dodgson here! Nobody cares. Nice hat. What are you trying to look like, a secret agent?

22. Mars Attacks (1996)
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnon, Danny Devito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Rod Steiger, Tom Jones, Lukas Haas, Natalie Portman, Jim Brown, Lisa Marie
Plot: Earth is invaded by Martians with unbeatable weapons and a cruel sense of humor.
Quotes
President Dale: I want the people to know that they still have 2 out of 3 branches of the government working for them, and that ain't bad.

Martian Translator Device: We come in peace! We come in peace!

23. Cannonball Run (1981)
Starring: Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Faucet, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Jack Elam, Terry Bradshaw, Adrienne Barbeau, Jackie Chan, Bert Convy, Jamie Farr
Plot: A wide variety of eccentric competitors participate in a wild and illegal cross-country road race. However, the eccentric entrants will do anything to win the road race, including low-down, dirty tricks.
Quotes
J.J. McClure: I'm sure that doctor's a very sweet man, basically.
Victor Prinsi: Oh, thank you.
J.J. McClure: But don't you ever tell me where you found him. Ever.

J.J. McClure: Excuse me. Excuse me. Hey, Mad Dog!
Mad Dog: Hey, J.J!
J.J. McClure: Look, you probably didn't realize this, but the parking lot's outside.

24. Flash Gordon (1980)
Starring: Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Topol, Timothy Dalton, Brian Blessed
Plot: A football player and his friends travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.
Quotes
Prince Vultan: GORDON'S ALIVE!

Princess Aura: Look! Water is leaking from her eyes.
The Emperor Ming: It's what they call tears, it's a sign of their weakness.

Princess Aura: But my father has never kept a vow in his life!
Dale Arden: I can't help that, Aura. Keeping our word is one of the things that make us... better than you.

25. Superman II (1980)
Starring: Christopher Reeve, Margo Kiddder, Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Jack O'Halloran
Plot: Superman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth with the help of Lex Luthor.
Quote
General Zod: We have no more use for this one. Kill him.
Lex Luthor: Me? Lex Luthor? General, you came to me with nothing. I gave you Superman!

Clark Kent: General, would you care to step outside?
General Zod: Come to me, son of Jor-El, kneel before Zod!