Book Review of Day by Day Armageddon Shattered Hourglass

This is the third book in the Day by Day Armageddon series.  The book series went from a journal type book written like a blog to a well written (in my opinion) book series.

This is probably my least favorite in the series because it went in a direction I didn't care for.  That isn't to say it is a bad book.  I read it in about three true sittings.  I really enjoyed it just not where I wanted to see the series go.

The book is broke up into several groups.  You've got most of the original characters on an Aircraft Carrier.  You've got the main character on a sub going to China.  You've got three new groups as well. Remote Six is more than just a mysterious group sending text to Kil, our main character.  You've got a group at the North Pole getting Ice Core Samples and you've got a group of soldiers that have taken over Hotel 23 from the first few books.

The one thing I will say about J.L is that I don't feel an emotional connection to his characters like in other books.  His books come off almost like incident reports, perhaps due to his military background.  In what should have been an emotional moment of the book I wasn't invested enough in the character to care.

I am not sure if that is a good or a bad thing either.  One of the things I hate most is when a character dies that I am emotionally invested in.  When Sturm died in the Dragonlance series I had a few tears and probably would now.  Stephen King does it all the god damn time as well.

The story in this book is that Kil and the sub he is on are going to go into China to find what they believe is Patient Zero for this entire thing.  The sub plots include Remote Six trying to get into Hotel 23 while the soldiers try to get it back up and running as it is the last nuclear missile in the US.

The major complaint I have is about the pacing.  There are a few things that just suddenly happen and it felt like missing an episode of a TV show that builds on itself.  Like missing 0500-0600 of 24.  The storyline on the Aircraft Carrier is what I am talking about without spoiling anything.

Overall another good book that I enjoyed.  Not the direction I would have taken the story, although an interesting one that I've thought about for my own zombie book. I'd give it a 3.75 out of 5 because it felt rushed.  I will be returning to reading "Mutated" after this.  Until next time....Abyssinia!

Raw review for 1-21-13

I missed the opening segment where Vicki Guerrero banned The Rock from the building and started the show with the first Beat the Clock match between Randy Orton and Antonio Ceasaro.

• Orton does the worst Thesz Press in history I think
• I don't like the idea of giving them the chance to pick their number, although I sort of want Ziggler to win and take number one and win.  Sadly I'm betting Cena wins with yet another win over Ziggler
• I've liked the slow build for Antonio.  Excellent usage of the US Title in my opinion
• The announcing has been 100% better since they've allowed Michael Cole to just announce and not be a bad guy
• Not a fan of Orton winning this match.  There is no reason not to continue to give Antonio the rub of beating top guys
• Nice to see Zack Ryder used effectively
• Not a fan of where the Brad Maddox character has gone
• I do like Brad Maddox and Paul Heyman's interactions however
• Uggg, 3MB, really?  They have X-Pac heat
• Ryback has lost a little bit of steam but still over.  It'll be interesting to see what they do with him at the Rumble and Mania
• Worst looking fake cops in a while
• Sad when a WWE personality asks about illogic on the show
• Also sad when there is an obvious reason
• Time for some CM Punk
• I love CM Punk promos, because he is honest.  Reminds me of Jericho a few years ago.  Also of what Mick Foley said in his first book, a heel has to believe what he is doing and you can tell Punk does
• I hate that reports say that Punk is going to lose to the Rock at the Royal Rumble.  Here is what I'd do
• I'd have Big Show win his title back
• I'd have Punk win his match
• I'd have The Rock beat up Heath Slater and take his spot (or have someone like Yoshi give it to him)
• I'd have Rock win the rumble
• On Raw I'd have Show talk about how no one can beat him, no one on Raw or Smackdown
• Have Cena come out and challenge him and get the win the belt
• Have Cena then talk about how he will take on all challengers
• Rock comes out and says they set a record last year lets do it one more time but for the title because he picks you John Cena
• Meanwhile Punk mocks Big Show and says unlike him he actually has beat all the major stars and there are no challengers left
• Time to play the game plays as Triple H comes out only to be destroy by Brock Lesnar setting up their match
• Following weeks Punk continues to talk about how no one can beat him and he has beat every WWE Superstar in every kind of match
• At the Elimination Chamber Punk wins by pinning all five men 
• Punk says he won't even wrestle at Mania because what is the point...HE IS THE BEST IN THE WOR...blackness.  Lights back up and there is Taker and he Tombstones Punk setting up their match.  
• You've got Punk/Taker, HHH/Lesnar, and Rock/Cena II and it makes them all seem important and you continue with Punk keeping the belt.  The big problem then comes at Mania with Punk/Taker.  Perhaps a DQ finish but with Taker putting Punk in a casket or something like that building to rematch at the next PPV to send Taker on his year long vacation again
• That stuff isn't that bad and it was off the top of my head, imagine if I put some effort into it as a profession
• Miz vs. Ziggler  in the Beat the Clock.  COME ON ZIGGLER!
• Did King just call AJ a hooker?
• Why have they just dropped the AJ/Vicki/Ziggler storyline?  Could have been interesting
• I don't believe the Miz can win a match unless it is against Ziggler
• As much as I hate face Miz he does seem rejuvenated 
• AJ is so damn hot, only Brooke Tessmacher trumps her right now in my opinion
• Wow Miz just screwed up the Figure Four and almost any kid in his backyard can do that move
• Anger Management graduation!  YES PLEASE!  YES! YES! YES!
• Love D-Bry's combed hair and his beard is awesome!
• I never thought these two would be my favorites but they are.  They are amazing
• Doctor Shelby is great in his role and getting his own chant.  I don't know where they found him but its been perfect
• I love this stuff, its so goofy but just fun
• Starting to become a Kaitlyn fan, she has a unique look and style that I dig
• She does need a better finisher though, not a fan of the spear
• If I buy a ticket does that mean that I can go to the ring as well?  I have a few things I'd like to say to Vince and his "creative team"
• The Shield attacks the Rock which means one man will lay out all three possibly.  Where is Team Hell No?  Randy Orton?  Sheamus?  Ryback?  Doesn't make sense
• Surprised the Rock got laid out but just continues to make me believe that Punk won't get to Vegas with the WWE Belt
• Barrett vs. Sheamus in the last Beat the Clock?  
• Did Cole just say that Sheamus would be the first man to win back to back Rumbles?  I can't rewind but I know Hogan did 90 and 91
• I kind of wanted to see Sheamus give AJ the Brogue Kick
• Wow Cole just called the Blackhole Slam the Winds of Change, something they haven't done for a while
• I love that Vicki just screwed Dolph.  Goes with my idea from above however
• Will the go with Punk getting stripped of the title instead of him getting pinned?  Don't like either idea
• Are they really going to close the show with a Cena segment?  Good grief enough is enough guys!
• Also didn't Vince lose his power earlier this year to Triple H?
• Alberto isn't a horrible face, not sure why the dropped the car gimmick
• Tensai getting the main event spot tonight!  Way to go Fat Albert
• I like that Alberto has been using different moves to end matches.  Very cool
• Richardo's bow tie is horrible
• Bob Backlund is going into the Hall of Fame.  I really dug his heel turn in 94 and the match with Bret Hart when he turned was one of my favorites
• Also I love the Crossface Chickenwing finisher
• They need to take the mic away from Cena for a while
• They keep trying to make Cena a poor mans Rock, just stop him please
• Listen to the crowd.....and their silence.  Are you listening to it Vince?  It is obvious that people don't care.
• I think I'd rather have seen more of Tensai or perhaps a Santino match instead of this to close the show
• The Prime Time Players in the main event segment!  AWESOME!  Love these guys player
• This segment should have opened the show to set up the Beat the Clock and stuff like that.  
• I like it to show how important the Rumble is but it shouldn't end the show!
• I hope they all beat up 3MB
• There was just some dude in the ring that I can't name.  Perhaps it was Alex Riley
• JTG on Raw?  Really?
• I still don't know who the guy was

That is it for Raw, until Wednesday Abyssinia!

Review of Real Steel (2011)

Due to insomnia I decided to watch the movie Real Steel from 2011.

I didn't see this in the theaters because it did not look good at all.  It looked extremely goofy from the previews.  Let me say I was extremely wrong.  I found this flick to be pretty damn good.  It was a little hokey with the whole father/son thing but I enjoyed it.

It wasn't a great movie by any means at all.  I hated the little kid throughout the flick, especially in the early part of the film.  He talked too tough for what seemed to be a spoiled rich type kid.  I felt like the father, played by Hugh Jackman, would have just backhanded the kid.  A little five across the eyes to quote Al Bundy.

I also didn't care for the addition of the love story between the father and a gym owner.  Seemed sort of forced into it.

Last thing I didn't care for was the hint that the robot the father/son are fighting with is self aware but they never come out and say it.

What I did like was the robot fights.  They did what Transformers tried to do but did it right.  The fights looked good on this crappy old school TV so on the big screen they must have looked really good.

Hugh Jackman did an amazing job but of course went through a way too quick jerk to loving daddy transformation.  I really liked the jerk father role at the beginning of the film.

Overall I enjoyed it.  If you can get your hands on it and want a fun movie I'd say do it!

If you can't kill it with 30 bullets you're doing it wrong!

The biggest thing, politically speaking, right now is gun control.  A month ago or so I talked about gun control and what I thought we should do.  Tonight I am going talk about a more logical approach.

In case you haven't read my suggestions, the big thing was a thumb print reader so that only the owners could fire it.  That is too expensive obviously so lets talk about realistic ideas.

• Assault rifle ban
• This seems like an obvious one to me.  There is no reason to own an assault rifle as an everyday average citizen.  Well none that yours truly can think of.  
• I do understand the argument of what the 2nd amendment was meant for.  So that we the people can fight the government if need be.  However that doesn't mean that I can have a grande launcher or a bunch of RPG's does it?  Can I weaponize plutonium and have a nuke?  The government has them so I better to stop them.  My point is a bunch of untrained, or even civilian trained "soldiers"are not going to stop the American Army.  Just my opinion boys and girls, I could be wrong.
• A gun registry
• Every gun created should go on this registry.
• As they are taken from the factory to a store it is noted
• As they are sold it is noted
• If you buy a gun and sell it to someone else or gift it you take the person to a gun shop and transfer the ownership to the new person, like a car
• All ballistics are put into a database as well
• If a gun is stolen you best report it because you will be tried if your gun is used in a crime just like you would be if your car was
• Magazine limits
• A magazine for all civilians should be limited to 10 bullets.
• I realize that anyone who works at it can change a clip very quickly but they need to change a clip.  
• Think about it, you'd need to carry 3 times as many clips to have the same amount of bullets
• Better mental health
• As someone who has had mental health issues (and some would say I still have them) I am a firm believer in this
• If it wasn't for free mental health screenings I wouldn't be here today
• I have no problem if I was in some database because of my past issues
• Better background checks
• If we did the stuff above it would make these easier
• Remove the gun show loophole
• Extend the period so that a proper check can be done

These are just a few things, most of which the President has already outlined.  However we will most likely not get them?  Why you ask?

Because people don't want to have a logical unemotional conversation.  Instead you have people comparing the President with Hitler.  You have people going on the youtubes saying that they are prepared to kill people if they go after their guns.

It is sad that gun people, some gun people, don't want to bend in anyway shape or form.  It is always "They're coming after our guns".  I think the only people who said that were gun owners.  I don't think anyone even implied that and if they did they are as far on the fringes as the nut saying they are going to kill people and start a civil war.

We need to have an actual conversation and until that happens nothing is going to change

It's a Wedding! Impact review for 1-17-2013

It is time for the wedding of the year because tonight Bully Ray marries Brooke Hogan.  Here are my thoughts as they happen.

• Spike Dudley and Tommy Dreamer both are there as members of the wedding part and Spike had the taped up glasses which was cool.  Sadly the tuxes aren't tie die Bully said.
• I say it almost every week I do these but I hate the crowd and their stupid chants
• Jeff Hardy retained his title over Bobby Roode and Austin Aries, so you have to wonder who will get the next shot.  I'd like for it to be face vs. face with James Storm getting his shot however Christopher Daniels and Kazarian are out, so one of them might be getting a shot.
• Kaz just called the crowd butt-puppets...what does that mean?  Daniels is getting a shot next week.  With Hardy not being able to go overseas maybe they are going to put the title on Daniels for a month while they are overseas...I doubt it however.
• Looks like Bad Influence taking on Storm and Hardy tonight.  Jeff is in more tag matches then he was when he was a tag team wrestler I think
• I never thought I would like Kaz but his team with Daniels has been some of the best stuff on TNA in my opinion
• I still don't like the three man booth and that Todd dude.  Not enough Professor with him in the booth
• I miss Curryman, I wonder what happened to that guy
• That was a really nice flying clothesline off the apron.  Hardy has been on his game lately, I'll give him that.  Maybe he is healthy for the first time in a long time, I don't know what it is but he has looked really good
• Storm and Hardy win but I would have gone with Daniels pinning Hardy by doing something dirty.  He is going to leave the champ laying but not as good as getting the pin.
• Joseph Park is on TV!  Awesome!
• Gutcheck time.  I didn't see last week so I can't say who I think should get the chance.  I have seen Jay Bradley a few times but not Brian Cage that I remember.  
• Cage is eliminated and now we hear from the judges to see if Bradley gets the contract.  Taz says no right away.  
• Bradley gets the contract.  He is kind of goofy looking
• Is Christian York the only Gut Check winner to get TV time after winning?
• I don't like Kenny King, never have.  I'm not sure what it is about him but I've just never connected with him
• York continues to look good and I continue to not like King
• Bully asks Sting to get Hulk to be at the wedding.  I smell set up....probably from Brooke
• Taz and The Professor are both in Tux and Todd is in a suit.  NO!  Taz is leaving the booth
• Hogan is in charge and shows up an hour into the show?  He really is a boss if he shows up late
• Paul Heyman jokes?  Really?  I guess that is to be expected with those four guys
• That Hogan/Sting segment was not good.  
• Velvet Sky looks good tonight, although lots of make up
• Gail Kim has never really gotten a true chance to show what she can do
• The crowd is really quiet for this match.  Most likely because they don't feel the outcome is in question
• Velvet wins as everyone thought.  It was good while Gail was in charge not as much there at the end.  Velvet isn't the best in the ring but she is the heir apparent 
• 30 minutes left and its wedding time?  This better be a major angle like everyone thinks it will be
• Austin Aries is one of the best heels going today.  I'd love to see him and CM Punk together!
• Aries and Roode are pretty good together.  Too bad Bully isn't a heel anymore, the three of them together would have been an excellent heel stable
• Really?  Chavo with a mic?  WHY?!  I really don't see why he is getting so much TV time.  
• So Bobby Roode is going to be in a tag team again?  Not cool but it will keep him on TV perhaps
• The three brides maids look amazing!  The Knockouts are just that, knockouts
• I can't say how excited I am that Archer is back for another season!
• No Hollywood for the wedding...or he is going to get his own entrance music....nope he jsut showed up doo-rag and all brother!
• Brooke Tessmacher has an amazing ass.  Everyone already knows that but it had to be said
• I hate the crowd and their stupid ass chants!
• Why hasn't this been interrupted yet?  Already too much "wedding" and not enough fighting
• Seriously?  Are they actually going to just do a wedding?  Is this the swerve that a wrestling wedding is going to be an actual wedding?
• Taz is the guy who interrupts this thing?  Really?
• Taz is in Aces and Eights?  Really?  Reminds me of when he was in the heel stable a few years ago with Samoa Joe
• A complete let down!

Overall for a show that could have been a major show, much like Monday Night Raw, I feel completely let down.  

Thoughts on the 20th Anniversary of Raw

Tonight is the 20th anniversary of Monday Night Raw!  Here are my thoughts as the show is happening:

• Seeing Gorilla Monsoon in the opening made me miss hearing Bobby and Gorilla
• Cool that they are giving a mix of all the Raw openings
• Hearing all the old opening songs made the current one seem horrible
• Should have started the show off with the sound of glass breaking in my opinion, they are in Texas after all
• I miss the times that they had the announcers mic's turned off during the interviews.  Michael Cole's "Wow" and their constant comments are annoying
• Dolph vs. Cena again?  Why?  They haven't buried Dolph enough?
• Vince's suit and tie are amazingly calm and subtle tonight
• I liked how they had Alberto Del Rio defeat the Big Show in the last man standing.  The table idea was pretty cool
• I really want to see Show knock Mr. McMahon
• This is not how they should started the show.  They needed to start the show with something hot, a quick big match, not talking
• Why wouldn't Big Show take a title shot?  Makes no sense
• I like JBL but his announcing has not been good since returning months ago
• Okay Show's explanation of not taking the title shot makes sense, good job
• It does look like Show has lost a little bit of weight
• A Harlem Globetrotters reference by JBL...really?
• Nice to see the TNA Tag Team Champion Chavo Guerrero getting beat up
• The IC Champ doesn't even get an entrance?  Really?  
• Was that the worst Thesz Press ever?  That was horrible Randy!
• Barrett vs. Orton, King of the Rear chin lock match
• Barrett with a clean win over Randy Orton?!  I am shocked, really shocked.  First time in a long time that WWE has surprised me with a match, and that is a good thing
• YES!  More Team Hell No Anger Management sketches!
• Throwing in Damien and Cody makes this one of my favorite segments of all time
• YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
• Is it wrong that I want to see Sheamus Brogue Kick the mom in the K-Mart commercial
• Mick Foley is going into the Hall of Fame.  If anyone deserves it is Mick!  One of my personal favorites
• I like the Shield but not giving Mick a chance to celebrate getting into the HoF is not cool
• Why replay almost the entire segment?  
• Instead of giving Mick his time it is now a Ryback interview?  I don't like it at all and I like Ryback and the Shield but damn it I wanted a Mick Foley video!
• A gimmick package yet no Foley package?  What ever!
• Eve Torres is ending her run with the company tonight it is being reported, which is sad, as she has been a great diva.  
• Kaitlyn is the new Diva's champion, probably the best choice they have right now.  Also nice that it is in her home town
• Did JBL just mention Disco Inferno?  
• I hope this is the beginning of a Brodus character change.  He should be a monster not a JYD rip off
• A really good match and shows how good both guys can be
• Sadly Punk is going to lose the title at the Royal Rumble even though they shouldn't take the belt off him
• I really missed the Rock N Sock connection.  They have such great chemistry together
• An over the top rope challenge?  These always appear come rumble time
• I seriously hate 3MB
• Another surprising win, 3MB with a win
• Again I seriously hate 3MB, not in a good way but in a get off my TV way
• Braden Walker mentioned on Raw.  What is with all these references
• I really hate the face Miz
• Ric Flair, the man who burned a lot of his good will with the fans by being a general d-bag
• This entire segment has been a waste of time.  No point at all other than to give Flair a pay day 
• Did I just see Alex Riley on Raw?  Oh it was in a video package, okay that makes sense
• Where is the Shield when I want them!  They interrupt a segment that shouldn't have been interrupted and yet they let this one go on and on and on.  Finally Antonio comes out
• Another horrible segment on a show that should have been huge for the company
• Didn't think about it till now, but Steve Austin wanting a piece of Tyson's ass....was that a jail reference?  I'd assume Tyson was pitching not receiving
• Is D-Bry a face or heel?  I don't get it at all.  He of course is going to lose since Kane won earlier
• Moments ago Michael?  Matt Stryker reported it nearly an hour ago.  WWE needs to get their shit together
• Once again WWE has surprised meas D-Bry gets a win.  That worries me that they will lose the titles at the Rumble
• Lots of kids in the audience tonight
• Another horrible segment with AJ and the weddings of Raw.  Not a good show in my opinion thus far.  Rather forgettable.
• I may no be a John Cena fan he made a kids day when he gives them his ring gear.  That kid tonight will never forget tonight and that is why Cena will always be a superstar.   Like him or hate him as a wrestler or whatever, he does so much for those who have so little.  All respect for Johnny C as he called himself tonight
• Here comes the stupid dueling chants.  I hate them all!
• The one time I wanted to be surprised by WWE I wasn't.  A lot of people blame Cena but I blame the creative team that seems to believe that Cena can't lose
• Time for another Rock Concert, I think number 3
• Turn off the announcers mics damn it!
• No Undertaker, no Shawn Michaels, no Bret Hart, kind of disappointed that we didn't get more cameos
• Rock isn't really playing all that PG thus far
• Seriously I don't want to hear Lawler laugh anymore
• This is already starting to drag a bit for me
• Okay the line "Not the expensive kind" got me.  While it is dragging the Vicki stuff was kind of funny
• "Hey look there is a fat fuck with a steelers jersey on the screen.  Wait its me!  YES!"  - the fat fuck in a steelers jersey at Raw
• I kind of want one of those Knees to Faces shirts

An okay show for my first show back giving my thoughts.  I hope to be back every week now that things in my life has settled down.  Until next time...abyssinia!