Health: Week 6

or Never Change Your Instruments in the Middle of an Experiment

I've been using my brother's scale, so this week we decided to get our own. Unfortunately, the scales are calibrated differently, and I wasn't able to get ahold of Joe's scale to make a direct comparison. So it looks like I've gained 5 pounds this week (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). In all seriousness, though, I've stuck with the water drinking, have drank almost no soda (or coke as we say here in the South), and have still been eating better. I'm still in the process of trying to replace the coffee (extra cream, extra sugar) with tea (honey only). Still haven't started to exercise. This isn't easy, but I'm still convinced the answer is sticking to it and leaning on a higher power.

Current Weight: 270#
Total Change: -3#

Boycotts, Boycotts, Every Where...

...Nor any thought to think.

It seems like every time I turn around, someone is boycotting something, protesting something, or at least asking me to get some company to change it's behavior by complaining. If it's not Will & Grace, it's Brokeback Mountain, or even Kraft Foods (actually, I think I’m seeing a pattern here). Have we found our voice? Is this what it means to be a Christian? Is this the way we are salt and light? We organize? Call your TV station if you think something is bad on TV. Call your Senator if you find this law in contrast with your moral views.

Don't get me wrong here - I'm not against Christians taking a stand on moral issues, and I appreciate the fact that we live in a democracy that allows us to exercise freedom of speech and have a say in what goes on. But what concerns me is that lately this seems to be the primary way of sharing what we believe. Maybe if we organize, we can force other people to live how we know God wants.

The thing is, our activism seems to be only about personal morality. Let's force people to not be able to watch things we find morally reprehensible. Let’s figure out ways to legislate how people behave.

Are we not concerned with the bigger picture? Why does everyone know us for what we are against, instead of what we are for? Why does it seem like celebrities are doing more than believers to stop human suffering? (Not that the two are necessarily mutually exclusive.) Do we really think that getting the local Carmike to stop showing a movie about gay cowboys will make the world a better place? More so than finding ways to help people in poverty? I actually did something this week to help someone - I got out of my box for a change, got out of my selfishness, out of Jim's World, and helped someone who needed it. The strongest thing I can remember thinking is, this is what following Jesus is all about.

My wife Krista thinks that until we become consistent in our morality and in the stances we take, no one will hear our voice (...hey, after picketing Brokeback Mountain, let's go see Date Movie). I'm not sure I agree. I think no one's going to hear us until we start figuring out what Jesus was really all about.

And that's why next, I arrogantly answer the question: What does God really want?

Crazy weekdays

No time to write...no time to blog...

Here's a humourous story...Halle Berry's "punishment" for Catwoman.

Berry Promises No CATWOMAN II

More substantive stuff later.

Health: Week 5

I don't know if I should be glad or even more frustrated. I continued on the same path of eating less, eating better (though I fell short a number of times), and even with my 3/4 of a gallon of water a day (except for the weekend). But, I haven't exercised at all. I ended up getting back to where I was 2 weeks ago - losing the 2 pounds I gained last week.

I think it's time to start the exercising.

Current Weight: 265#
Total Change: -8#

The Old and the New...

Just surfing around, seeing if there's anything new about Ultraviolet (whose release date, BTW, has been pushed back to March 3).

I came across a recent post on IMDB by the writer who will be doing the novelization for the movie. Interestingly enough, she said:

As I understand it, it's based on an obscure British comic. I tried to get my hands on a copy, but failed.

While looking up that quote, I came across another thread where it seems no one could actually figure out whether it was based on a comic or not.

I also found an old comment (the 3rd post in this thread) in March 2004 on the Milla Jovovich forum where a fan said:

I don't know much about Ultraviolet the character other than she's a comic book hero.

Although I know what I think, I'd like to cut the hypothesizing and get the facts straight...

Do The Right Thing

I think God would want me to do what is right regardless of what other people are doing.

The more I realize what is important to God, the more I see people who claim His name, so to speak, but are interested in their own agendas.

I start to see hypocrisies everywhere:

• the sexual content of Desperate Housewives is ok, but not the sexual content of Will & Grace
• we need to know everything Paul said about how to worship, but don't really know anything Jesus said about love or compassion
• we need to expend our energy picketing Brokeback Mountain, but never lift a finger to fight poverty

And it frustrates the crap out of me.

But the more I think about what to write here, the more thankful I am that I've been led to write.

I think this exercise in itself helps me realize that I'm letting other people be an obstacle to me, and an obstacle to my attitude.

If I'm really doing what I believe is God's will, then it shouldn't matter. I don't need to fall prey to my own frustrations:

• I think I'll spend my time finding the logical holes in everyone else's theology, rather than showing people what Jesus is like.

Ouch.

Health: Week 4

Moving backward is always a comforting feeling. [That's sarcasm.] I ate better this week. I stuck to my V8 juice everyday. I've been drinking more tea (with honey) and less coffee (with cream and sugar). I drank 3/4 of a gallon of water Monday through Friday (and as a result drank a lot less soda). I think I actually ate an orange at some point.

And I gained 2 pounds.

And that's before all the soda and chips and barbecue that comes with Superbowl Sunday.

I know my eating isn't perfect, but I feel like I was making good progress in the right direction this week. Well, I guess since I'm doing this for more reasons than just to lose weight, I shouldn't let that bother me, right? I guess now's the time when I allow the thought to kick in that I knew I couldn't do this on my own anyway I need to lean on Him a little more.

This week: Keep up the good food and start the exercising.

Current Weight: 267#
Total Change: -6#

The Vicious Cycle

I ran across the novelization of the V for Vendetta movie today. That's odd.

I guess that would make it a book based on a movie based on a graphic novel.

Now I can't wait until the comic book adaptation comes out!

I wonder who'll write it...maybe Ron Marz. I hope Jim Balent does the artwork...or maybe Kelly Jones.

Health: Week 3

Well, this week has had some ups and downs.

The most frustrating thing is, considering the fact that I (and many folks I know) tend to have this on-again, off-again thing with trying to be healthy (AKA, losing weight), I figured it'd be a good idea to get together once a week and discuss it. Primarily for the encouragement and support of a group of like-minded people with the same goals. But, apparently, that's not a very popular idea, so that's a bust. On to the next Great Idea.

I have started a friendly competition with some folks at work to drink 3 liters of water a day. At least there will be some accountability there. Not all of us are overweight, but I think we all see the value of drinking water rather than coffee and soda.

Target was out of Candy Cane Lane Tea this week. Dang. I'll just have to wait until next Christmas.

I need to increase my intake of fruits and vegetables by a massive amount, so I've been drinking a glass of V8 V.Fusion every day. It purports to be equivalent to a single helping of fruit and a single helping of vegetables. Sure, it's not the same as eating an apple and a bowl of greens (I'm not that dumb), but I think it's a step in the right direction.

Current Weight: 265#
Total Change: -8#

The haze begins to clear (around Ultraviolet)

Curiouser and curiouser...

Back in late 2002 (when Ultraviolet was still called Valkyrie), Kurt Wimmer was on the CHUD message boards and made this comment when asked about about his upcoming projects:

I have several scripts...a script called Valkyrie - a sci-fi vampire film. Kind of a female Blade only the hero is a complete vampire - pure, pure comic book.

V for Vendetta on IMAX

Thursday, a press release announced that V for Vendetta (the movie based on the Alan Moore graphic novel) would be released simultaneously on IMAX screens and conventional theaters. I wonder if I can talk my wife into a weekend trip to Nashville to visit our good friends the Crislers that weekend?

Something I Just Didn't Need to Know About

Yes, it's true. There is a devotional book based on the single most overrated (and overquoted) movie of all time. (No, not Monty Python and the Holy Grail.)

Taming A Liger: Unexpected Spiritual Lessons From Napoleon Dynamite

Now I've seen everything.

Like an Urban Legend Spreading on the Internet

Yesterday, Comics Continuum reported that Sony has released 9 new images from the film, along with the one sheet.

They also stated:

The movie, based on a European comic book, stars Milla Jovovich.

It may never end...

Looking grimmer for Ultraviolet

Being a comic book movie, I mean.

But I have to say that sometimes it's the little things that increase my faith in humanity.

In trying to track down the origin of Ultraviolet, I contacted owners of 3 of the comic book movie sites I frequent: Comics2Film, Superheroes Lives, and E. Favata's Comic Book Movies, since they all listed Ultraviolet and referred to it as being based on a comic. I also contacted one of the writers for SpaceJunk.org since they also made a similar reference.

I was pretty impressed that everybody got back to me the very next day.

Anyway, it was pretty interesting.

Alessandro at Supeheroes Lives referred me to Comic Book Movies and a reference to the UK (TV) mini-series Ultraviolet.

Sean at SpaceJunk.org referred me to Supeheroes Lives and the picture of what appeared to be a comic there (I mentioned this in my Jan 8 post).

Rob at Comics2Film also referred me to the pic at Superheroes Lives.

Finally, Eric at Comic Book Movies sent me the Ultraviolet picture that also appears at Supeheroes Lives (that is also shown among the movie concept art as I mentioned previously). [Why am I getting this odd desire to draw a workflow diagram?]

While it may seem I'm back at square one, I think this is actually getting me closer to what is really going on: that it may have seemed like Ultraviolet was based on a comic, and it just continued to pick up speed from there...not an unusual happening on the information superhighway.

Anyway, all these sites are great sites that I refer to all the time (though SpaceJunk.org is new to me, but with that notice about the Tick, I'll be back there, too), and I appreciate all these guys taking the time to get back to me. Take a look at them, especially if you're into comic book movies.

The Tick on DVD

Some of the most exciting news I've heard in a long time; I don't think I would have gotten through grad school without The Tick. SpaceJunk.org reports that the animated series will likely make it's way to DVD sometime in 2006. It had an excellent 3-year run. I have fond memories of getting up every Saturday morning to watch Animaniacs, Eek! the Cat, The Tick, X-Men, and Spiderman. My wife thought I was wierd, but I think she's used to it now.

IMO, I'd have to say that The Tick is probably my favorite TV show of all time - it still cracks me up. After watching the show for a while, I picked up the original 12-issue comic book series by Ben Edlund, and it's just as inspired. Well worth a read if you get the chance. Unfortunately, I let my sister-in-law's boyfriend borrow them and haven't seen them since. Chris, if you're reading this, send me back my Tick Omnibus #1 and 2! (Dang - it may not help that I don't remember his last name.)

If you can't wait for the DVD to come out, Toon Disney is running the show fairly regularly.