The Mackey Water Method Megapost

Note: For The Mackey Water Method scroll all the way down,
but risk missing some movie and music reviews.

Quotes

These are my new shoes. They're good shoes. They won't make you rich like me, they won't make you rebound like me, they definitely won't make you handsome like me. They'll only make you have shoes like me. That's it.
~Charles Barkley

Architecture is the will of an epoch translated into space.
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~Mies van der Rohe

gDiet

Target Weight Loss: 80lbs

Weight Loss to Date: 9lbs

gPod

1. Hero ~Nas
2. It Could Be Sweet ~Portishead
3. Black President ~Nas
4. Desperation ~Miranda Lambert
5. Sly Fox ~Nas
6. Respect This Hustle ~TI

Nas' new album...Untitled...(The Powers That Be stifled Nas' 1st amendment rights by not letting him name it N***** ). For whatever shock value that has it's legit. Maybe it is meant to shock, but Nas uses the n word as a jumping off point to explore the deeper more unsettling covert and overt racism that clouds this country, the corrupt media, and returns to his roots...the QB. When I first heard Nas' first album Illmatic, I was transported to QB, to the rough, hustled streets of Nas' hometown. I had never heard and still rarely hear albums that completely speak to me. This was one. It was obvious what this supreme (possibly best ever) lyricist was hustlin and strugglin to stay alive, to earn, and to make it. It was real, everyword was believeable, and I wanted so much for this honest man to make it. This album while completely different speaks honest to me as much as the first one...this time not about QB but our entire nation.

gPlex

Maybe I should rename this blog to Sammy's Music n' Movie Fixins Bar
I saw all of the following movies in the theater...let's go in chronological order.

Rating Scale:
Capers = 1 Magen David aka Star
add Onions = 2 Magen David aka Stars
add Lox = 3 Magen David aka Stars
add Cream Cheese = 4 Magen David aka Stars
add Pumpernickel Bagel = 5 Magen David aka Stars

(I have just created the most Jewish Movie rating system ever!!! Wait how do I do half stars?)


Wanted

Rating: Pumpernickel Bagel with CC, Lox, Onion and Capers

This flick was great, it had action in ways that have never been done before, humor, and a great story and plot. Did I mention Angelina's ass? Yeah there was that too.







Step Brothers

Rating: Capers, Onions, Lox, and CC

Stupid meet stupid. I laughed the entire time. IN the vein of Dumb and Dumber, but with that special John C. Ferrell-Mckay twist.

The Dark Knight

Rating: A Dozen Pumpernickel Bagels with all the fixins'.

This was the best of all worlds, it is so many genres mixed in to one movie. Not only was the summer blockbuster, but it was the summer blockbuster minus that annoying cotton-candy-like pop bullshit. Replace that predictable summer schlock and replace it with real suspense, drama, self exploration, and true terror, and you get The Dark Knight. There were no explosions for explosions sake, they all had meaning and impact. This is a must see.

The Mackey Water Method

The MWM was derived from a strange ritual one of a former roommate/friend. Mackey was a bit odd, but one of the nicest guys in the world. This 6'8" lanky hippie from the Eastern Shore of VA could not play basketball a lick, but could ride his mountain bike for days. He had a very set routine, which I found myself doing tonight:


Materials: Tap Water, 1 Camel Pak, 1 plastic water container, 1 Brita water pitcher

1. Fill Brita pitcher and plastic jug and put in refrigerator
2. When water is oild ... fill Camel Pak with Brita Water
3. Fill Brita from Plastic jug ensuring the water is already cold as it is filtered
4. Refill plastic jug and place Brita an plastic jug in frig
5. Repeat everyday, sometimes 2-3 times a day

Sweeter Than A Plate of Yams With Extra Syrup

Quotes

Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.
~Buddha

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

~George Orwell

We are all cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.

~Ray Bradbury

gPod/The Hawk

1. Summertime ~Kenny Chesney

2. Swollen Summer ~The Bravery

3. Dry Town ~Miranda Lambert

5. Don't Think I Don't Think About It ~Darius Rucker

6. Johnny and June ~Heidi Newfield

7. Cleaning This Gun ~Rodney Atkins

8. Don't Feel Right ~The Roots

9. SpottieOttieDopalicous ~Outkast

10. Sly Fox ~Nas

gFlix

The Assasination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

I loved this movie. I've been on a Western kick lately, but this really can't be lumped in to that genre. This is a deep study in the mind of a genius, psychotic, lovable gang leader and killer.

Brad Pitt's performance was incredible, scary, frightening, jocular, and down creepy...but damn good. Casey Affleck was really good too, he makes his character's transformation very believable.

A Fistful of Dollars

I had never seen this classic and brilliant piece of cinema, and I was ashamed of that. I rectified the situation, and as expected absolutely loved this movie!

For a Few Dollars More

I couldn't just watch the first movie in the Man w/ No Name Trilogy, could I? Sergio Leone does it again!

So living like a hermit doe not exactly mesh with my social personality and lifestyle. As much as it my wallet likes there is a compromised ground both can coexist. I have implemented several cost saving and planning measures that keep me organized, paying bills on time, save me some duckets, improve my overall well being, and therefore make me a better happier person (according to my own criteria, of course). You could say I am in a transitional phase of my life, trying to institute several self-improvement practices. First and foremost on the list of concerns are my finances, but a very close second and most recent is my weight. So I have begin down the path of the low-carb diet, specifically The South Beach Diet. I have despised and detested fad diets, in particular low-carb diets. But I made a promise to myself and my family that I would try this for one month. My family has used this diet in the past with significant success, and as I find myself weighing in at the most I’ve ever weighed every time I step on a scale, my time had come. I’ve tried other things in the past with success but always seem to lose interest or fail to stick to it. I prefer a diet with structure and instructions, it takes a lot of guess work out of it. South Beach so far has provided this, but also some flexibility in recipes. There are 3 Phases, Phase 1 is little to no carbs or sugar, in order to shock you system, and eliminate cravings for sugar and carbs. Phase 2 is the long term weight loss phase, which you remain in for howver long it takes to reach your goal weight, and Phase 3 dictates how and what to eat for the rest of your life. So I am in Day 4 of the 2-3 Week Phase 1.

gDiet

Target Weight Loss: 80lbs

Weight Loss to Date: 4lbs

Penamientos

Quotes

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
~Robert Frost

If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.
~Arab Proverb


gPod
Brief but w/ Thoughts Edition
1. Lost ~Coldplay
The very first time I heard this song, I heard the acoustic version. The soulful, ponderous, but pure lyrics seemed not only to fit the the crisp clean piano, but the format too. I am now obsessed with the electric version of this song (TD can testify, can I get an amen?) The beat is what draws me in. I love when I'm surprised and this song in electric surprised the shit outta me.
2. Should've Said No ~Taylor Swift
I love the way this girl hits the high notes. Even better when you know it's her real voice and doesn't lip-sync during her awesome performance on the Country Music Awards. http://youtube.com/watch?v=ArGFNYrazCU
3. Home ~Blake Shelton
I'm a sucker for a love song.








Forgetting Sarah Marshall
One of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. Gotta love dollar days at the Arlington Cinema n' Dafthouse







How do you interrupt a girl swimming laps to try an spit some game?

I haven't been successful as a hermit.

Don't crush on interns.

Go to the pool more.

The One Where I Become a Hermit

Quotes

I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart.
~e e cummings

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.
~Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)

Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less.
~Rabbi Julius Gordon


gPod Nano

1. Lost ~Coldplay
2. Sould've Said No ~Taylor Swift
3. Mud On The Tires ~Brad Paisley
4. Gunpowder & Lead ~Miranda Lambert
5. International Harvester ~Craig Morgan
6. Just Got Started Lovin' You ~James Otto
7. Alcohol ~Brad Paisley
8. These Are My People ~Rodney Atkins
9. Watching Airplanes ~Gary Allan
10. Songs About Me ~Trace Adkins







I am on the verge of becoming a hermit...giving up all fun in the name of financial stability. I have an imperfect storm of money woes and dreams swirling around me. I am starting a serious endeavor of purchasing a home. This is my first purchase of this type and in some sort of great way it will actually make my month to month financial health better and easier. I realize this isn't the only answer and have decided to stop by several retail chains after work tomorrow to get applications. So my penny pinching starts and wihtin in weeks or months this will be me:

I have already implemented some cost savings efforts in my life by bringing my lunch to work more and trying to take the bus/metro. The fact is I must be vigilant and zealous in these pursuits, lock it down, take on a second job, and begin the job search in earnest. Fare thee well my friends I fear I may drop off the social world and become this:

Why I'm pinching this penny.

• Hermit....crab.

Duck You Sucker

Quotes

Love rules without rules.
~Italian Proverb

Tell me and I'll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I'll understand.
~American Indian Proverb

He who can't endure the bad will not live to see the good.
~Yiddish Proverb

gPod Naners

1. The Gathering ~Living Legends
2. Lost ~Coldplay
3. Anti Matter ~N.E.R.D.
4. Strawberry Swing ~ColdPlay
5. The Time ~The Grouch
6. Long As I Can See The Light ~CCR
7. She Wants Me ~Living Legends
8. Violet Hill ~Coldplay
9. Simple Man ~Lynrd Skynrd
10. Find Out Who Your Friends Are ~Tracy Lawerence







gPlex

I absolutely loved this Sergio Leone directed mini epic. I was first introduced to this film by pure chance, and maybe that is a part of why I love it. TD and I were flipping through the channels the morning before leaving for Darlington, and stumbled across this gem. Of course we were hooked by the name, James Coburn as star, and the Western genre, which I have been trying to get into more as of late. BY the time we got back from Darlington the movie was no longer available On-Demand. Netflix Baby. The film's strange tone is set by the very opening scene of close ups of rich muckity mucks mouths eating sloppy nasty food and denigrating a Mexican stage coach hitch-hiker. From then on the movie takes several twists and turns and graduates from typical Western in to a fight larger than life and a story as common heartbeats in man. This film has a some what rich history and I urge all Sergio Leone fans to read up. Gee Scale: 9 outta 10.


Don Cheadle gives a great performance as ex-con, revolutionary, Washington, DC DJ Petey Green. I grew up and live in the DC Metro are, and had never heard of Petey Green. Granted Petey was on air well before I was even a thought. It was a great biopic and a glimpse into Washington DC history I never had any contact with. Gee Scale: 7 outta 10.




As some am a huge Cary Grant fan, this was my motivation for renting this movie. I had also heard how great it was from several sources. I normally dislike Jimmy Stewart but was pleasantly surprised by his performance. One third screw-ball comedy, one third romantic comedy, one third discussion of the separation in classes. I loved this movie. Oh and Katherine Hepburn was great too! Gee Scale: 9 outta 10.


Sorry I haven't posted in a while and I'm leaving you with only a movie review, but I hope to get back in the swing of things soon.

RIP Heddy...That's Hedley Lamar

Quotes

The real hero is always a hero by mistake; he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else.
~Umberto Eco

So long as I'm the president, my measure of success is victory - and success.
~George W. Bush

gPOd

1. My Good Gal ~OCMS
2. Falling Down ~Duran Duran
3. Baby Please ~Jurassic 5
4. Forca ~Nelly Furtado
5. The General Specific ~Band of Horses
6. Natty Dread ~Bob Nesta Marley
7. Long As I Can See The Light ~CCR
8. Simple Man ~Lynrd SkynrdBlogger: A Bokononist Blog - Create Post
9. Out Of Line ~The Bravery
10. A Worried Man ~The Kingston Trio

My goal for this summer, is a lofty one...and possibly a repeat from years past...play golf at least once a week. I can't think of a more rewarding, way to both torture my self and procrastinate at the same time.

No pontificating, but a solemn safe home and rest in peace to Harvey Korman. I salute thee straight man extrodanaire. Yu may knw him as Hedley Lamar in Blazing Saddles, the Carol Burnett Show, and a host of other roles. Few men can play the straight man as well as Harvey Korman did, and a true comedy fan knows it's the straight man that makes the joke work.

Here are a couple clips from Blazing Saddles for your enjoyment.

Darlington Stripe

GQuotes

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.
~Albert Camus

In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning, day after day.
~F. Scott Fitzgerald

gPod Darlington Shuffle

1. Fortunate Son ~CCR
2. Knock Me Down ~RHCP
3. Carribean Queen ~Billy Ocean
4. Ring of Fire ~Johnny Cash
5. Heavy Things ~Phish
6. Show Them To Me ~Rodney Carrington
7. Gone ~Montgomery Gentry
8. Lollipop ~Lil Wayne
9. Buzzin' ~Shwayze
10. Birthday Girl~The Roots

I reckon I should have written this blog some weeks ago...like right after the trip to Darlington, SC for the Dodge Challenger 500. Well ole JD, TD and I decided to rent an RV an head down to the races. The track at Darlington is the 2nd oldest in all the land, and a historic track if just for the great races that take place every time the green flag is waved. NASCAR is a state of mind, and with an RV rented, plenty of hotdogs, hamburgers, Ukrops baked goods, beer, cigars, and anticipation, we were all in a Darlington state of mind. A blazing 96 degrees but beautiful blues skies and breezes ruled the weekend. We may not have been in a party zone or much of a party mood, but just hanging and enjoying time off wiht friends was enough. We missed the truck race, but managed to make it to both the Nationwide series and Nextel Cup races. With a brand new surface this track was bound to be crazy. There were a coupl of good wrecks but mostly the track was fast! The Nationwide race was great offering one of the most horrific crashes I've seen live by Matt (Kensoo) Kenseth. It was more loud than anything else. Thankfully Kenseth walked away unscathed. I almost did not however...After the Cup race as we walked the 2 miles back around the track to our RV (DONT EVER RENT FROM CRUISE AMERICA!!!EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER CALL ME DR. PERRY COX EVER EVER EVER EVER) I was almost hit by Juan Pablo Montoya's Golf cart! I screamed "Don't hit me Juan Pablo, don't hit me!!!!!" He looked less than thrilled. But we all got our Darlington stripe...of which there are many definitions...these two:
DARLINGTON STRIPE URBAN DICTIONARY

But my theory is the Darlington stripe is just the badge of honor you wear, and the happiness in your heart after hanging with your buds in beautiful Darlington, SC on race weekend....ummmmm...nooooooooooo, come on, really?
Actually I believe the Darlington Stripe is the white magnesium mark left on your back from the 50+ year old galvanized, top halves of folding chairs anchored in concrete. Or it could be the guy puking on himself 3 people down from me.....

Enjoy the pics and video!

Our RV....Don't rent from Cruise America...ever


Flip Flops


Fume el rubusto de JR's Discount Tobacco
(Actually JR's is the biggest and best cigar store I've ever seen!)


Right over there...is Miss South Carolina

Darlington Panorama, I learned how to take this shot sitting in my seat before the race started. This was my first attempt! Click for full effect.



Anthem and Flyover

Wrap-around. Great shot by JD, and in only one take!!


Tony wraps it in one take too!