An honest take on "The Wire"

Do YOU have HBO OnDemand?

Yes?

Then if you haven't already, do yourself a favor and start watching The Wire as they will be airing all four seasons leading up to the fifth and final season, premiering in January. The first six episodes of season one should be up there right now.If you are my friend it is because I think you are smart, funny, and you've touched my life in one meaningful way or another. Which is why I think you should give this show a shot, because it is without question the smartest, most touching, most compelling television show I have ever seen. And it's incredibly funny.Find out why this show is always at the top of critics' Best Of lists every year. Find out why artistic luminaries from Nick Hornby to Stephen King to Spike Lee to Snoop Doggy Dogg to Jay-Z call this show their favorite show of all time. Man, just watch it already.

And if you watch the first six episodes and don't like it, I'll buy you ice cream.

BACK from Mexico and READY for the Fall TV Lineup

Well Everyone,

The wifey and I returned from our wonderful vacation and have been pretty busy working, and simply preparing for the baby that is set to arrive in about 3 months. We are excited and anxious about what the future will bring. If you have name suggestions for both a boy or a girl then I am all ears.

Other than that we were in the last lap of our "summer of weddings". To date this year we have been to 5 weddings with another this weekend. By now we are simply amazed by all the weddings and how much people like to drink at them.

Last week was my mom's 50th birthday, and then two days later the wifey and I celebrated our ONE YEAR anniversary! Many congrats should go out to the lovely lady, who has actually put up with me.

On to the FALL TV LINEUP!!

Shows to watch

• REAPER--On the CW network about a slacker guy who turns 21, only to find out that his parents had sold his soul to the devil, so now he has to work for Lucifer. Really funny. And actually has a Latino character as one of the sidekicks
• HEROES--Interested in seeing where the 2nd season takes all of the characters and how much of the backstory gets filled in. I am still a slight hesitant about the show because the first season could have been trimmed down and would have still given us the same amount of content. Lots of going back to stuff we have already been shown in previous shows. Definitely for lazy viewers who miss weeks.
• Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia--Great Comedy that just goes for the sick and gross jokes that most shows would not touch.
• 30 ROCK--Recently won the Emmy for Best Comedy and I thought it deserved it. Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan and the page Kenneth are hilarious. Great show about office dynamics with lots of side jokes and sight gags. Alec Baldwin was robbed for Best Actor. Great comedic timing.
• Fuck it, THE WIRE--The Best show on Television that no one has seen. Its not on right now, but the final season starts in January supposedly and I am just waiting to see what happens with McNulty, Omar, Bunk, Lester and the Barksdalies, as well as the boys from Season 4. I wholeheartedly agree with the writers who call this the greatest piece of drama ever put to television. I am ordering you to watch the 1st season, NOW! If you like reading novels, the simply picture this show as a novel and you will be in the right mind set. If you don't like shows that carry a story, then F you, you mental midget.
• A few others that I will write about later

DVD/Netflix/Blockbuster Recommendations

• THE WIRE--Seasons 1-4-See above
• DEADWOOD-Seasons 1-3 A great example of why HBO is the best network for drama and storytelling. You will love the dialogue, if you are okay with lots of swearing and 1880's speech patterns. A great show with great individual performances.
• FREAKS and GEEKS--1 Season--A truer depiction of the harshness and hope that exists in highschool I have never seen. The characters are awesome and hilarious at times.
• THE OFFICE--The original British Version of the show, hilarious but it makes you want to leave the room at times, because of how good the characters are in making you cringe at the ridiculousness of the office that they work in.

Well that is it for now, but I will return and give you more info on what I see as good tv, movies sports and everything else. Please feel free to e-mail or respond if you would like.

Benjamin

Live from the Heart of MEXICO!!

Blogging to you straight from Tepatitlan de Morelos, Jalisco Mexico is none other than yours truly. I have my co-pilot and wing-woman with me, the lovely Andrea, aka da wifey at my side and we are coming at you with the detailed reports of our trip to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

Lets just say that it was a great time. The weather was wonderful with lots of heat, sun and fun. We were able to go to the beach, ride a boogie board, swallow salt water(not on purpose), have some Daiquiris, go snorkeling finally, and have a great time out there. Most of all the best thing was being away from the day to day hassle of life in the States. Once we get back there will be a way more detailed description of the fun and sun that was had, including some great photos.

Now it is on to the Fiestas of my parents hometown, Mezcala de los Romeros, Jalisco. Party on!!!

ben and aya

Going on Vacation!!!

So I will be going on vacation for a couple of weeks, therefore not caring too much about posting stuff for you to read, but I am sure that I will have the chance to give you lots of updates on my return. Who knows? Maybe I'll find an internet cafe and grace you with some lovely thoughts from my destination: Sunny, sunny Mexico!!!!

4 days in Ixtapa/Zihautanejo and the rest in Mezcala de los Romeros, Jalisco. Yes, in the heartland of the Tequila state. I'll be trying my hardest to go on the distillery tours if possible.

And of course I wanna relive the scene from "Shawshank Redemption" where Red has taken the bus to Zihuatanejo and found Andy on the Beach, that sunny warm beach. AAAAHHHH the life.

So wish me and the misses well. We'll have fun for ya!!

756, and Barry Bonds is the King of Baseball

So last night Barry L. Bonds hit his 756th career homerun making him the solo leader of Major League Baseball.

A long career that only seemed to get better over the years has culminated with Barry breaking the most recognized record in sports. So now Barry holds both the single season and career records for homeruns. Not a bad day at the office for Mr. Bonds.

Now for all that want to bring up the controversy that exists out there, I will simply point to the fact that Bonds never tested positive for steroids while there was testing being done. Steroids were not tested for in the past, so unless you are ready to put the shit back into the horse, you have to get over the steroid allegations.

A Big Congratulations To Me for Actually Starting this Blog

So I finally decided that I need to put out all of my creative juices into something more than just reciting lines from movies to my wife. Hence, this blog and the opportunity it gives me to share with all of you the wonder that is my life, and the joy that I can bring to yours. I will be able to offer you, through this blog:

• A renewed appreciation for the wonder of TV! Follow me in my quest to know about all the shows on the tele, and also to put you onto some really good shows that you might not be watching.
• My wonderful impression of movies that I have seen, and how they rate on my patented Benjamin Facial Hair Scale.
• Some sporadic takes on the current state of music, and some ramblings on why Classic Rock will never die! Please feel free to share with me your thoughts on you favorite Eric Clapton or Rolling Stones hit.
• SPORTS!!! As a renowned sports junkie, I will offer you my intense, and information filled analysis on all things athletic!! Myself being partial to the SF Giants, the SF 49ers and the Chivas Rayadas of Guadalajara!!
• Advice--Seeing as I am such a knowledgable person on all things, all the time, feel free to write me and I will send out my free advice, just be aware that I am not liable for any damages or offers of sex that you may receive from taking my advice.

Now some final things about me. I am from San Francisco, now living in Oakland. I have been married almost a year to the most wonderful and pregnant woman in the whole world. So lets start this thing off and see where it takes us. And remember. I am here for you, so please feel free to e-mail me.