radsays

Flee - Novel Review

2012-02-05T14:13:00.001-08:00

There was a time when this book would've gotten four or five stars from me. Guess my tastes have just gained some depth, as much as I hate to admit it. Flee kicks off with action and doesn't let up until the very last page. What a ride it is. This kind of book is a guilty pleasure for me, like low budget action movies or kung flu flicks.

What's missing? Any kind of character development whatsoever. Sometimes I don't care about such things. Like when The Expendables came out, and critics complained about the lack of depth with the characters and the plot development...are you serious? Did you know what you were going to watch. All I wanted was to watch the bloated cast of action icons kicking some serious ass, save the rest for Ryan Gosling's next movie.

Well, Flee is much like this, action, action, and more action. The main Character Chandler took on the form of an invincible, fast healing, super assassin, with 25 lives. The scale of the action was well done. The knowledge of weaponry and fighting techniques were well researched and conveyed. But somehow in the midst of all this, I found myself actually wanting to take a breath to get to know the characters at least a little bit.

I really liked the wit from some of the dialogue. The nastiness of some of the characters was fun too.

In the end, I enjoyed Flee, but didn't love it.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at ATT Altitude in Aurora, CO

2012-02-03T14:49:00.000-08:00

I’ve been training at American Top Team Altitude for almosttwo years now. In that time I’ve had the honor of training with some top-notchcoaches. Coaches that would help me win multiple gold medals in competition. Istarted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu wanting to learn to defend myself and out ofcuriosity. Over the last twenty months I had been given tools, but I neededsomething/someone to help me put it all together so I could build the house myBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu would live and grow in.

Several months back I was invited by one of my coaches,Deryck Ripley, to come in and spend a couple hours learning from his BJJProfessor, Ethan Day. In that short visit, I learned things that plugged someholes I didn’t even know I had. Soon after Ethan left, I learned that he wascoming back to be take over the BJJ program at ATT Altitude. This was excitingbecause I hadn’t trained under a BJJ black belt for over a year. I hadphenomenal coaches, but I really wanted to take my BJJ to the next level andstart earning my belts. I take the progression of my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gamevery serious.

Professor Ethan returned and he quickly integrated himselfinto the gym and carefully took us back to the basics and worked to build us upfrom scratch, to better us, to build our confidence in what we were learning.The first thing I learned was…pressure. The emphasis was on basic techniques,nothing flashy, meat and potatoes, but with “pressure”. It was a whole newworld for me. I’d played my BJJ very loose, waiting for opponents to moveinstead of moving myself, but as I started to learn from Ethan, everythingstarted to come together, the world of BJJ started to make sense. Theexcitement that I feel about the way my BJJ has progressed in a matter ofmonths cannot be described. Had all this been given to me before, and I justdidn’t listen? Or has Ethan brought that “next level” of BJJ that I wasyearning for to help me build my house? I believe it’s the latter.

Ethan Day is now the full time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu professorfor American Top Team Altitude. He runs all the BJJ and No-Gi Grappling classesfor the gym.

Ethan is a BJJ Black Belt under Renato Tavares and hascompeted at every belt level. He’s been training in BJJ for 12 years and saysthat he has just started to learn. Ethan has trained in Brazil and taught inFlorida, Kansas City, and in Shanghai. He is world traveled and brings a uniqueknowledge of everything he’s learned into his classes.

Ethan believes that no matter where you are, BJJ can takeyou somewhere in life. It can take you to a career in fighting, provide you theability to defend your family, or discover more about yourself as a person. BJJcan give you purpose and set you on a path to better health. Ethan feels we canfind in BJJ a lifestyle that -with dedication- can take anyone on a positivejourney.

Initially, Ethan came to ATT Altitude in Colorado because ofan invitation from his longtime friend, Deryck Ripley. Ethan feels thatColorado is an active place, people respond very well to exercise, fitness, andnature. He wants to tap into the source of energy that’s here, build a big BJJteam, improve the technical development of the MMA program, and continue todevelop opportunities for women and children to train.

We welcome Professor Ethan Day to Colorado and hope thateveryone gets a chance to experience what he has to offer our great state.

If you have ever considered learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, oryou currently train, but are looking for something more, or feel something maybe missing. Then come down and try out the BJJ program at ATT Altitude. Thatgoes for any type of athlete curious about any form of combat sports, boxing,MMA, or Muay Thai. If you are just looking to take your fitness to the nextlevel, the strength and conditioning programs that are available at ATTAltitude are second to none.

ATT Altitude:

American Top Team Altitude is a family martial arts centerdesigned to meet the fitness needs of all audiences. Our new 20,000SF facilityoffers programs for kids and adults including boxing, brazilian jiu jitsu,cardio kickboxing, circuit training/CrossFit, mixed martial arts, muay thai,and wrestling! ATT Altitude is a one stop shop for fitness including forfighters looking to succeed in the cage/ring, kids who are in need of astructured, athletic environment, and adults looking to get in the shape oftheir lives! Amenities include full locker rooms, daycare (coming soon),supplement shop, nutrition support and more!

WWE/TNA wrestling star and MMA champion Bobby Lashley opens new gym in Aurora

2012-01-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

Bobby Lashley came to prominence in the Pro Wrestling world while working for such promotions as WWE, ECW, Raw, and TNA Wrestling. Lashley was a fan favorite in all the promotions because of his size, charisma and athletic ability. In 2008 Lashley made his professional MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) debut. He burst onto the MMA scene using his unmatched wrestling skills to dominate his first five opponents with four being finished in the first round. Lashley has committed himself fully to his MMA training. To date Bobby Lashley has amassed an impressive 7-1 record in the world’s fastest growing sport and is currently the Shark Fights Heavyweight Champion.

In March 2010 Bobby Lashley announced the grand opening of his first gym,American Top Team Altitude, an affiliate of one of the most prominent MMA gyms in the United States, American Top Team. “This is my dream,” Bobby said, “I’ve always wanted to open a gym. I have a degree in recreation management, I have a degree in business management, so putting those together is opening up a gym.” The gym enjoyed great success as a provider of top-notch fitness programs for the entire family. ATT Altitude is a full service gym that offers various classes such as cardio kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, No-Gi grappling, boxing, cardio boxing, total body conditioning, kettle bell training and more. The classes are available for the entire family. Adults, children and teens all have options to choose from.

The trainers at ATT Altitude are extremely knowledgeable with varied backgrounds. They range from several professional athletes to a crossfit trainer and a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt. The classes are designed to help any person, at any fitness level, meet their health goals.

Mixed Martial Arts training has become a preferred training method for people searching for a multitude of results. NFL players are now training MMA in the off-season. MMA training methods have also been featured on the television show The Biggest Loser. Because of this, the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), the number one MMA fight promotion in the world, has begun opening a chain of fitness centers focused on MMA classes for the entire family. These gyms are not fighter camps they are focused strictly on the average person who is interested in the training to meet their personal fitness goals.

Bobby Lashley opened his ATT Altitude gym to bring advanced and effective training methods to anyone looking to reach their fitness goals. Due to the success of his first gym, Lashley has now moved his gym to a new 20,000 square foot facility in Aurora. The new ATT Altitude gym features even more great classes and affordable prices for the entire family. Adult and kids programs and even a daycare will be present to meet the needs of any family looking to train at the facility. “I’m gonna find a way that I can have every kid that wants to train at this gym, train at this gym,” Bobby has said. The gym also features a supplement shop and pro shop where clothing and training equipment is available for purchase. ATT Altitude is the largest MMA gym in Aurora, maybe the largest in Colorado.

Residents of Aurora have benefited from Mr. Lashley’s efforts to bring unparalleled training to the average person looking to improve. Now they will have the chance to do this at an even bigger and better facility.

ATT Altitude is also a phenomenal facility for any fighter looking for a place to train, and anyone interested in getting into the world of MMA. “What I’d like to do is build a strong Colorado (fight) team and bring in guys from other states to fight against our guys.” Bobby continues, “We’d like to get some fighters and take care of them. Get them on some fight cards. Let them get some amateur fights, build them up to pro, and keep going higher, and we don’t want to let them go. We are going to treat them right and produce some stars.” Bobby Lashley’s LMG (Lashley Management Group) brand has successfully put on four fighting events in Aurora featuring up-and-coming Colorado fighters.

Lastly, to the masses of people who are still unfamiliar with the world’s fastest growing sport, Bobby says, “The one thing I think is great about MMA is that it’s a learning process. A lot of times when people see it on TV, they’re like ‘ah, its just two guys standing and brawling’. That’s completely not what it is. MMA has almost turned into a chess match. The one thing you should take away from your sport is discipline.” Lashley is happy in the fact that his gym and his trainers have been able to bring discipline to several Aurora youths through his fitness programs.

American Top Team Altitude is located at the northeast corner of Peoria & Mississippi 12455 E. Mississippi Ave # 101 Aurora, CO

Website: attaltitude.com Phone: 303-366-0629

Personal Note:

I've been training at Bobby's gym for close to 2 years along with my entire family. I take multiple classes and have competed (and won) multiple tournaments in that time. My son takes Muay Thai and BJJ, my daughter takes boxing (she's 5, it's adorable). and my wife does cardio kickboxing and conditioning classes. We love this place and we all get something out of it.

Bobby is a great man and a kind friend, so I was happy to write this article for him. If you live anywhere near Aurora, CO, you should come in and try something new to meet your fitness goals.

Very Interesting...

2012-01-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

Now I never engage in religious debate. It's a subject I feel is personal and shouldn't be argued about aloud. I leave people to whatever their beliefs are. It's not my place to judge.

That said...I just had to post this video. It really captured my attention and this young man is simply amazing. What a deep mind. I -as any artist should- appreciate all artists, especially one who stands out like this guy. check it out.

Chronicles of a Crime Fighter - Now Available

2012-01-05T15:59:00.000-08:00

Chronicles of a Crime Fighter is now available. Get to Amazon.com and get a copy for your Kindle. This novel will be exclusive to Amazon for 90 days and in March it will be available on the Nook. Paperback will be released shortly after.

Premise:
Donovan Marshall found his purpose in life, something many seek and never find. Although the path chosen was bizarre and extremely dangerous, he was determined to follow it wherever it would take him. Donovan Marshall decided to fight crime, a choice where peril severely outweighs personal gratification. While on his journey, Donovan becomes even more driven.

Along the way he meets Alana Morgan, and Donovan is soon pulled into a burgeoning romance with an extraordinary woman. Now he’s forced to balance the life of a crime fighter, potential boyfriend, office manager, and amateur environmentalist.

Danger peaks when Donovan’s extracurricular activities impact the largest criminal organization in the city, and ruthless underboss Tyson Fedotov looks to put a violent end to the adventures of the crime-fighting yuppie.

A courageous man is forced to contemplate his own mortality with love and normalcy on the horizon. Can a mask and non-lethal weaponry be enough to combat the violence that plagues the city streets?

Gym Rad - MMA's 1st lesson

2011-12-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

Gym Rad - The Perfect Pushup Review

2011-11-05T15:31:00.001-07:00

First book review of Husband, Father, and Friend

2011-10-30T17:18:00.000-07:00

Using his own life and experiences, Author Radcliff Lance, writes this self-examining book, ‘Husband, Father, and Friend: The many faces of an average man.’ With sometimes brutal honesty, Lance tells of his own reservations of his youth, and how finding real love opened him up to a different way of thinking.

I found this book very interesting. I applaud this author for seeing what most men overlook and his attempt to correct his faults. I’d say it’s a must read for any man whose courageous enough to face their own inner demons.

Reviewer: GhostWriter

Rating: 5 stars

Husband, Father, and Friend - The Many Faces of an Average Man

2011-10-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

The official cover for my new non-fiction book

Who is qualified to give advice on life and how to live it? Who has the answers to the questions that rattle around in our heads every second of the day? Who has the keys to lifelong happiness? One thing’s for sure…I damn sure don’t.

I’m not a doctor with a degree in psychology. I’m an average man, a man who, for the most part, has found happiness. I won’t pretend to have all the answers, and I won’t sugarcoat the hard truths, but a peek into my mind might open up yours.

Why did I feel qualified to write such a book then? I don’t feel qualified, I feel compelled. I just decided I wanted to share my mindset with people, maybe you’ll find direction, maybe you’ll be inspired, or maybe you’ll use this book to steady a wobbly table. Honestly, it’s your prerogative. I’m just going to share my views and I hope you’re entertained.

Think of this like a buffet. You take what you want and leave the rest behind.

Gym Rad - I'm Talking to You!

2011-09-22T20:35:00.001-07:00

Radcliff Lance - Stating the Obvious

2011-09-04T12:22:00.001-07:00

Once A Spy - review

2011-09-04T08:33:00.001-07:00

Once a Spy had an appealing cover. I was walking through Target and saw the paperback. As I read the premise, I was even more intrigued. I’ve shied away from the “spy” genre quite a bit as of late. Not sure why, I just felt that the action and fun I was looking for wasn’t always there. This novel is cut from a different cloth and I loved it. It was fast paced, thrilling, and comedic in all the right places.

I don’t want to spend a whole lot of time on the premise, since it’s readily available if you look up the novel, so I’ll just give a quick breakdown. Drummond Clark would appear to be a retired appliance salesman, while his son Charlie is a degenerate gambler. The truth is, Drummond is a retired spy with Alzheimer’s. Suddenly the government is worried that his condition may put him in a position to spill national secrets to the wrong people. Charlie is soon sucked into the situation and attempts to help a father he isn’t all that familiar with. The two are on the run after a couple of attempts on their lives. They spend the rest of the novel trying to piece things to together and stay alive as the Calvary and every other law enforcement agency chases them.

The thought of an old spy who is struggling with Alzheimer’s is interesting enough, but the way Thomson bounces him in and out of lucidity is golden. His timing is dead on. He creates instances where Charlie has to step up, and this creates serious, and genuine, character development. Drummond is truly a capable killer, and I loved that. Having a much older protagonist handle almost all of the action was so much fun to read. Also, while on the adventure the two begin to work on their estranged relationship, and Charlie comes to understand the nature of the man he considered to be a horrible parent.

What a concept! This novel was fun for all the reasons you would think it is. The “spy” aspect of it was low-tech, and I loved that. It was gritty in a sense that Drummond came from a very old school era of spy craft.

The only complaint I would have was the ending. After this grand adventure, I did feel it was a bit abrupt. Also, there was a gunfight involving another main character minutes before the end, and it’s never resolved, the character just kind of shows up in another scene with no explanation as to how they escaped the predicament they were in.

Radcliff Lance - Stop Wasting Time

2011-08-26T22:14:00.000-07:00

Writers Need Distractions...Sometimes

2011-08-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

Everything you read about writing state the same thing, keep writing. Time spent away from writing is time wasted. You are to be glued to your laptop/PC and churning out stories and manuscripts like they're going out of style. Some blogs will even curse you for stopping by their blog to read instead of writing. While I agree that a majority of your time should be spent honing your craft and doing what you love, I think you definitely need to unplug, more often than you would imagine. After all you don't want to loose touch with your senses and the world around. if you do, what the hell are you going to write about.

Currently, I'm on the more extreme end of the "distractions" spectrum. I've barely churned out a thousand words a week, whereas I usually aim for a thousand words a day. This is because of my recent MMA training, particularly by Brazilian Jiu-JItsu training which has made its way to forefront of my priorities list. This is because I've registered to compete in the 2011 Colorado Open BJJ tournament. I'm determined to win gold in both my registered divisions. Last year, I won silver in both. I"m training hard to ensure that I take home the gold this go 'round.

Have I lost a degree of credibility as a writer for allowing such distractions. Maybe, but I assure you they help more than you know. Whether it's time with family, crafts, home improvement projects, or anything else used to occupy time not spent away from writing, you need to unplug. Get you more mind into something else for a while and you will come back to your writing renewed and ready to charge forward.

Rad Says...Challenge Yourself

2011-07-16T18:52:00.001-07:00

As requested, The Latin Bull will be back whuppin’ ass by fall

2011-06-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

Although I was very excited about Suicide Run: Love & Bullets and I gained a more diverse fan base because of its release, many asked me one question…where’s Ramirez?

Suicide Run let me expand my brand and writing ability by delving into a genre I hadn’t explored before. I’m very proud of the end result (I even won an award). But Ramirez is always there waiting to be unleashed.

Then I wrote my next manuscript that will be released in August. This adventure was also void of the Latin Bull. As many fans showed support and told me how much they enjoyed Suicide Run, they asked if a Ramirez novel was coming next to which I had to drop my head and say, “Not quite yet, but I promise I have more books planned.”

I know I should be plugging my forthcoming novel, which I will saturate the Internet with in the coming weeks. I wanted to set all of fans at ease and assure them I’m halfway through the next Ramirez novel Eyes of the Bull. He’s coming and it’s well worth the wait.

Radcliff Lance - Passion for Writing

2011-06-15T14:15:00.002-07:00

Gym Rad - Gym Boss Review

2011-06-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

2011-05-25T05:14:00.001-07:00

I was honored to attend the awards reception at the Plaza in New York City

Rad in New York

2011-05-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

2011-05-19T17:26:00.001-07:00

I received the this information last week:

"I am writing with some fabulous news! Your book has been named the Winner in the Action/Adventure category of the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Congratulations!

Your achievement will be published at www.IndieBookAwards.com along with the other Winners and Finalists in the next few weeks. Also, we will be sending out a press release within the next month announcing the Grand Prize Winners and advising media and others where they can see a complete list of Winners and Finalists.

Additionally, your book will be listed as a Winner in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards catalog which will be distributed at Book Expo America (“BEA”) in New York later this month to thousands of attendees including book buyers, library representatives, media, industry professionals, and others. Our intention is to promote the Winners and Finalists to as many people as possible."

ACTION/ADVENTURE

WINNER:
Suicide Run: Love & Bullets, by Radcliff Lance (ISBN 978-1432764777)

FINALISTS:
Above All, by John W. Huffman (ISBN 978-1451592856)
The Beads of Lapis Lazuli: A Greek Mystery, by Doris Kenney Marcotte (ISBN 978-1432760540)
The Cuban Affair, by Jim Hughes (ISBN 978-1453606889)

Gym Rad - Vegetarian Protein Shake

2011-05-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

Gym Rad - The Shake Weight Review

2011-05-09T21:33:00.001-07:00

Age Aint Nothin' but a Number

2011-04-27T20:48:00.000-07:00

I've recently met some extraordinary women. These women are much older than me, but I don't feel comfortable saying "elder" or "senior citizen" even though it's age appropriate. These people recently inspired me because for them...age really is just a number.

My daughter's preschool teacher is the most pleasant woman in the world, she is an extraordinary teacher, but she fits the standard mold as far as appearance. One day my daughter shared with her teacher a few MMA fights that she said I let her watch. Her teacher promptly told her that she shouldn't watch that stuff. I was all set for my lecture when I arrived, but her teacher was so elated, all she wanted to do was talk about MMA fights, Chuck Liddel's bio, and the upcoming fights that she and her daughter had tickets to watch live. From then on all we've talked about is MMA fights, fighters, upcoming UFC cards, local MMA stars, etc. She has even been giving me her MMA FIGHT magazines when she's done with them. I am an avid fan, but this woman almost puts me to shame. That's what's great, you never know who might be a fan. I had a hard time envisioning her cheering on fighters in the cage at a live event, but it seems she doesn't miss a local fight card.

The next lady was much older. I walked up to the local paintball shop to get my tanks filled for an upcoming paintball outing. The elderly woman was hunched over -like Mr. Burns from The Simpsons- vacuuming the carpet. I took her for the owner's grandma, just there helping out. The woman proceeded to fill my tanks and give me advise about the modifications I was considering for my paintball marker. She explained to me that she still actively plays and could decribe to me why certain upgrades woudln't work in the field. I was in awe. This woman was still getting out there and mixing it up with the youngsters on the field. She had played as recent as the week before.

Both these woman remind me why I try to take care of myself. As I get on in years I want to be just like them. I don't want to regress into a sedentary fixture in my home. Unable to enjoy anything physical, or stimulating, out of fear of coronary distress. I just want to continue to enjoy my life regardless of how hold I get.

Suicide Run: Love & Bullets Commercial

2011-04-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

For everyone who came out to the release party, thank you. We all had a great time, and I'm extremely grateful for the support.

Book Release Party Feb 18th

2011-02-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all the fans and friends for showing their support and coming out for the Suicide Run: Love & Bullets release party on Feb. 18th. We all had a blast. If you missed it, we hope to see you at the next one. Take a moment and check out the party pics.

Click here to view photo's

If you haven't gotten your copy of Suicide Run, don't miss out. Autographed copies will soon be available to the fans who don't live in Colorado.

The Best Interview- Radcliff Lance

2011-02-01T19:06:00.000-08:00

Independent Authors have to find exposure wherever and whenever we can.

Duane Swierczynski - Skills to Pay the Bills

2010-12-29T08:47:00.000-08:00

If you are putting down the mind twisting mystery, heartwarming romance, or mainstream popcorn fiction, you may want to pick up a full throttle action noir by Duane Swierczynski. I was first introduced to Mr. Swierczynski’s work when I came across a book called Severance Package on Amazon. The cover caught my eye the premise sounded fun and action packed. Well, this book did not disappoint. The pacing, over-the-top action, and darkly humorous characters had me hooked like Pookie in New Jack City. I thirsted for more from this author who managed to write the kind of novel I love to read. No padding, no BS, just in-your-face, that’s -wrong-on-so-many-levels fiction. From there I found The Blonde which was heralded as his best work. This is for good reason. The Blonde was even better that Severance Package. The only problem I have is that I tend to blow through his novels in one sitting with no rails or seatbelt, and then I’m left craving my next fix. Finally I grabbed Wheelman which was also a stellar display of badassness.

Duane Swierczynski’s novels have such a unique style and look. I assure you, you’ve never seen anything like it before. To start, his covers are magnificent and eye-catching. He integrates images/drawings into the novels, dark artistic images that compliment the stories. It’s almost like his novels are 20% graphic novel. Adding a visual edge to his novels is part of what I love the best about Mr. Swierczynski. As a writer I’m constantly told how important covers are and how you only have a few seconds to catch a reader’s attention and so on, but I’m constantly subject to a bland cover with huge block letters and a recycled silhouette of a man running, or a car’s headlights and so on. I guarantee you won’t find cover art like that of Mr. Swierczynski novels anywhere.

As for the stories and writing style, he’s considered a neo-noir writer in some circles. This is probably the most accurate description. Although Wheelman is a crime noir novel, The Blonde, and Severance Package are more noir mixed with action and technical thriller. You can’t really wedge Mr. Swierczynski’s writing style in any one category. He needs his own category…Exciting. Pace is everything for me and Mr. Swierczynski doesn’t waste words. If he’s not being thrilling, he’s being clever. The characters are realistically dark in nature and he doesn’t shy away from the meaner side of the average person. Righteousness doesn’t live here, not even for the heroes. Which is good, I’m over the ultra righteous protagonist who has no dark thoughts or sense of self preservation in the name of good. These types of characters are unrealistic to me because everyone is selfish by nature from time to time and our natural instinct is to survive. Action is abundant and handled very well in an often gruesome manner, but it doesn’t turn your stomach. I find it all thrilling. Mr. Swierczynski’s books read like a great action packed movie. This is probably why both The Blonde and Severance Package have been optioned for movie deals. I seriously cannot wait to see how they turn out on the big screen.
I read a lot of fiction from Robert Crais, Robert Ferrigno, and Mathew Reilly –which are your more mainstream action/ adventure/ thriller novelist, to your more noir writers such as Victor Gischler and Allan Guthrie. By far Duane Swierczynski is my favorite author out there, bar none.

More reasons to love the guy. Mr. Swierczynski has several more books to offer. I just covered three of my favorites so far. He has branched out into other genres as well. He’s written six Non-fiction titles with topics that range from The Big Book O’ Beer to The Spy’s Guide: Office Espionage. His last novel was a fantasy/ mystery/ suspense called Expiration Date, he writes regularly for Marvel Comics, and has co-written two thrillers with CSI creator Anthony E. Zuiker. To say this guy stays busy is an understatement, he a machine, a machine capable of thrilling creativeness and wit.

Coming soon. I’m eagerly anticipating a trilogy of books to be released by Mr. Swierczynski in rapid succession. Fun and Games, Hell and Gone, and Point and Shoot will follow the protagonist Charlie Hardie through some very interesting and thrilling adventures.

Mr. Swierczynki is has a serious online presence from his blog (secret dead blog) to his twitter account. He keeps his fans in the “now” regularly. This is great. There’s nothing worse than waiting around for months to years on end wondering what’s next for your favorite author. I like knowing when I can get my next fix.
Try a Duane Swierczynski novel for something fun,fast, and exciting.

Throwback Cinema -New Jack City (1991)

2010-12-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

New Jack City was an urban action/thriller set in 1991 New York during the crack epidemic. Directed by Mario Van Peeples, who previously only directly episodic television. Van Peeples was up-and-coming and managed to get a big budget and ensemble cast behind a movie many considered a modern ‘blaxpoitation’ film. I hate that description; New Jack City is nothing of the sort.
This is the movie that launched Wesley Snipes’ career, and simultaneously launched the underwhelming acting career of Ice-T. Both did very well in the movie as hero and villain, but Snipes outshined everyone in the acting department. He was charismatic, ruthless, cold, loving, and the hairdo, can we even discuss the hairdo. We see Snipes grow from a regular hustler with a tight crew, to one of the most brutal, successful, and intelligent crime lords ever in black cinema. In my humble opinion, no one has matched Snipes yet in an African-American crime drama. Ice-T on the other end was a surprise because he previously had no acting chops whatsoever. Yeah, he showed up wearing tight leather pants and a mesh shirt in a couple of Break Dance movies, but no acting. It didn’t seem hard for Ice-T to bring his ghetto swag to the hardnosed street-savvy Scotty Appleton. All in all, he managed his screen time well.
Beyond the two main stars, many people from the movie and music industry handed in top notch supporting roles, which rounded out New Jack City. Without a few key supporting roles, the film wouldn’t have turned out as well. Although Van Peeples directed he didn’t offer much in the area of acting, and that’s fine. His character was there to tie the story together for the police side of things. Two actors who played opposites of the same role were Snipes’ right hand, Allen Payne, and Ice-T’s partner, Judd Nelson. Payne turned in probably the movie’s second best performance as Nino’s top guy, who becomes jealous, underappreciated, betrayed, and ultimately a crack addict. Nelson tries to play tough, but just offers support to Appleton, with no real weight to his performance. One of the most significant roles was a young, yet-to-be-famous, Chris Rock as Pookie. Prior to this performance, Rock was strictly a comedian and SNL skit actor. Rock, was amazing as a crack addict who hit rock bottom after a confrontation with Appleton. This is one of the subplots of the film that helps put weight behind the magnitude of the crack epidemic. Appleton spends his time nursing Pookie back to health, but inevitably leads him to his demise. A scene that will live in infamy is the one of an anorexic Rock sweating and crying while trying to resist taking a hit of the crack pipe. It’s both serious and comedic, but the image lives on in the mind of anyone who’s watched it.
I remember the ‘New Jack’ swing era very well. I was victim to its high-top fades, African symbols, and loud Cross Colour clothing. This is where the title comes from. “I need new jack cops to take down a new jack gangster,” Van Peeples states. But this film has no true new jack swing elements to it. It’s much darker, and works because of that.
I didn’t touch on plot too much because it’s fairly simple. Nino Brown -a character that lives in infamy in black cinema- and his Cash Money Brothas take over the crack game in New York City. They rise to power by killing, bribing, and intimidating everyone who stands in their way. The Brothas set up shop in an apartment complex called The Carter and run a clockwork operation with weaknesses or outside threats. Stone puts together a team consisting of Scotty Appleton and Nick Peretti and they go to work trying to take down the untouchable crime lord, Nino Brown.
One thing to touch on is the look and vibe of the film. This movie looked great. For it’s time, nothing looked anything like it. It’s style, clothes, sets, and even the hairdos were trendsetting. The soundtrack was stellar as well.
New Jack City was one of those movies that ascended black cinema, not because of content, but because of what the end product came to be. This movie was pre-Boyz n the Hood and all the other gangster street life films that saturated black cinema in the 90’s. This is what made it great. This wasn’t some street hood talking hard and doing drive-bys. This was a legitimate crime lord, and cops who worked tirelessly to bring him down. It was a real cinematic experience, not a testament to street life.
If you haven’t seen it, first I’d like to say I’m glad you found your way out from under that rock you’ve been living under, and second, check it out as soon as you can. Remember the film is dated, but I still think it can keep up with what’s out there today.

From Open to Closed Hand

2010-11-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

I don’t know how many of you are familiar with Donnie Yen’s action/loosely-fact-based bio pic Ip Man. This movie was huge overseas and made it to America via DVD release, but didn’t garner as much attention as your Crouching Tigers and what-not. The movie was well received in Asia for good reason. If you get a chance watch it and find out.

But this post is not a review, more of an observation of character. From Hong Kong you usually get two kinds of movies, over-the-top implausible action pieces, or extremely drab drama pieces with heart breaking endings. There is no middle ground, you’re either dazzled by cleverly choreographed fights scenes -that are inserted for the sake of action- or you’re subject to drawn out drama that puts the character through turmoil that leaves you grateful for running water.

Anyway, Ip Man is somewhere in between, but more on the action. From Open to Closed Hand is my interpretation of the character’s tumultuous circumstances, which cause him to switch from a passive fighting style to a brutal one. Donnie Yen plays Ip Man, the Wing Chun master who taught kung fu to Bruce Lee. Ip Man is a kung fu master who is unmatched in his craft, an open hand style of kung fu (Wing Chun) that is used to mainly deflect his opponents without causing real damage. As the movie moves on Ip Man’s town is overrun by Japanese invaders, who force the captive Chinese to fight their soldiers for bags of rice. Times are hard and various kung fu masters are pitted against the hard-hitting Karate style of the invaders for the entertainment of the leader of the Japanese army. In this scene, Ip Man has just witnessed a friend, a master like him, being shot for picking up a bag of rice the Japanese soldier felt he didn’t earn. Ip Man enters the arena and declares he wants to fight 10 men. That’s right, “I want ten!” he shouts at the Japanese Commander. In this instant a passive kung fu master is forced to turned into a savage beast of a fighter ready to deal out as much damage to as many Japanese fighters he can see. In this instant you see him close his fists and lay waste to his opponents.

It’s a scene that shows you a shift in the main character through fighting, not through lengthy dialogue, or an unnecessary monologue where the character spills his inner feelings to another character. This was a broad stroke, and after the fight, you see Ip Man unable to clean the blood from his knuckles. This scene always stood out to me, and I’ve watched it over and over again. Mainly, because it’s a kick ass testament to Donnie Yen’s fighting ability and choreography skills. Truly a top-notch fight scene should not be missed…by anyone.

Hot New Shows 2010

2010-10-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

I found myself spending a lot of time with my DVR. There just seem to be a lot of new shows that caught my attention
Let's start with the summer schedule-
HITS:

Rizzoli & Isles: I loved Sasha Alexander and I was sad when she left NCIS via a bullet to the dome. As for Angie Harmon, I never got on the Law & Order kick, so I'm unfamiliar. This is a great show though, mainly because of the chemistry between these two women. Rizzoli (Harmon) is great as a tough, sarcastic, Boston native who is more tomboy than lady. Isles (Alexander) is an overeducated medical examiner who's a walking science journal which makes her socially awkward. She’s a classy lady who’s obsessed with fashion. The two seem like they would never be friends in real life, but somehow their friendship works on this show. Their cases aren’t extremely mind-twisting like CSI or Criminal Minds, but overall the show is very entertaining.

Covert Affairs: I was wondering if Piper Perabo was even working nowadays, and then she pops up on this show as a rookie CIA operative. The show starts off well with a multi-lingual Annie Walker (Piper) being put into the shady world of espionage. The action is there, but Walker spends most of her time getting beat up, but always finds a way to win. Piper is endearing and lovable, not to mention very sexy in a business suit. Somehow the girl hasn’t aged a day since Coyote Ugly, but she’s able to shift between serious spy to bumbling rookie on a whim. A transitioning skill mastered by Michael C. Hall of Dexter. I like the show, but I don’t love it yet. The surrounding cast is good, but I guess I just don’t know where this show lands yet.

MISS:
Memphis Beat: I really do like Jason Lee from anything he did with Kevin Smith to Guy Thing, to My Name is Earl, so getting a chance to see him play in a somewhat serious role as a Memphis homicide detective was intriguing. At first I enjoyed the show. Lee plays a detective who lives and dies for the city of Memphis. He moonlights as a singer and has a charm and southern swag that captures you at first. The supporting cast is decent, and the stories were okay to start, but for some reason it just didn’t stick for me, and I ended up removing it from my DVR after about 6 episodes. I don’t know, the cases were just getting boring. Lee's character was great, and the city of Memphis was properly highlighted, but you need strong stories too.

Rookie Blue: This show had potential if they would've cast some tougher characters. The cast looks like 15 year olds, and just didn’t come of genuine as the type of people who would want to be cops. Missy Peregrym does the best job, and is actually very good in her role, but her talent isn’t enough to carry the rest of this lackluster cast. I deleted it after 3 episodes, only watched half of the 3rd.

Fall Schedule-

HITS:
Hawaii 5-0: This show is at the top of my list. I don’t expect the plots to be too sophisticated and I doubt there is going to be any investigation that truly baffles the audience, but man this show is just popcorn TV, and so far...I love it. Let’s put together a seriously sexy cast. Pair that with the scenery and mysticism that is Hawaii and you get something extremely commercial. I know many fans are happy that the theme song remained the same, but I always like it when they come up with a modern mix. Oh well, it’s still great. The male leads are sexy and spend a majority of the time flexing in tight shirts, or no shirts, but what truly makes the show is the banter between Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan. It’s comes off geniune and not forced. Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park are strong additions as well, but haven’t done anything spectacular on the show yet. There's a different spin on this remake. That being the team is a special unit that’s been granted “immunity and means” to fight crime in Hawaii, and it appears that the action is upped because they fight terrorist and higher profile criminals. They aren’t out there solving simple murders under the sun. This show is clearly an action vehicle and I love the look of it so far. I’m from Guam and the show reminds me of the island life, so that may be a factor. Overall I’m gonna enjoy it, but it may not last. The audiences nowadays don’t give much love to these types of shows nowadays. They love the procedural stuff.

Nikita: I love Maggie Q as an action heroin and she is a perfect fit for the role of Nikita. She’s sexy, strong, and seductive. So far she hasn’t come off corny, or out of place in the world of spies and assassins. This show picks up where the Le Femme Nikita show left off which is very interesting, since I was a fan of the first show with Peta Wilson. Nikita has escaped Division and is working from the outside to destroy the rogue agency. Michael is played surprising well by Shane West. Although he doesn’t have the same stone-faced silence of the original Michael played by Roy Dupuis, he does have a toughness I wouldn’t have thought him capable of. Operations, Madaline, and Berkoff are back as well. The budget looks good which gives the action scenes great realism. This is a solid action adventure spy show, and I hope is does well, because Maggie Q is a star.

Chase: I was pleasantly surprised by this show. The ads looked decent, but I still wasn’t sure about it. I recognized some of the cast right off, Cole Hauser (K-Ville), Jesses Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives), and Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break), but who is Kelli Giddish. I’ll tell you who she is. She’s a badass, cowboy boot wearing, fugitive ass kicking, gun wielding Texas gal who will put your face through the pavement if you try to run from the law. That’s who she is on the show anyway. The cast makes up a team of US Marshals who track fugitives in the great state of Texas. The southern touch in this show is just as good as it was on Saving Grace, but something about Giddish’s toughness mixed with solid action makes this show standout. I really like it after only two episodes.

UnderCovers: The verdict is still out on this one since I only watched the pilot, but JJ Abrams rarely misses. I mean come on, Lost, Fringe, and the spy show that made Jennifer Garner a star, Alias. If this show is half as good as Alias, it will be a hit. So far it’s a bit goofier, but the spy stuff is decent. The reason I’m still not sure is because the show does seem to focus more on the comedy of the situation -a married couple pulled out of retirement to do spy work as a team- but the action scenes looked a little cheap and simplistic. I will just have to wait and see how the show develops.

No Ordinary Family: What potential this show has. Michael Chiklis has reinvented himself once again. From a goofy, but tough-when-he-has-to-be police commissioner in The Commish, to a tough-as-nails crooked cop with a heart in The Shield, to a family man who ends up with superpowers in this new show. A dysfunctional family is falling apart until a plane crash in the Amazon leaves each of them with superpowers. So far it appears that the family members will struggle in different ways to come to terms with their powers. The father gains super strength and decides to fight crime. The mother -played by the beautiful and ultra-talented Julie Benz- gains super speed and decides to learn more of the scientific side of the transformation. The two kids gain telepathy and intelligence, respectively. It’s not clear what they will do yet. We are let into a secret that this family may not be the only people running around with such powers. This opens the show right up to endless possibilities. I’m look forward to seeing what happens.

MISS:
Outlaw: I deleted this show after watching the pilot. It’s not horrible, but I’ve just seen it before. I think it was called Shark, and James Woods was just better as a slick-talking lawyer. Jimmy Smits had turned in some great performances in shows lately. I loved Cane, but it didn’t last, and I thought he was great in Dexter season 3. In Outlaw he is Supreme Court Justice Garza. He resigns from his lifetime appointment in the supreme court the defend wrongly accuses men as a defense attorney. Smits is portrayed as a hard partying, playful, gambling lawyer who’s knows the law inside and out, but where this show fails for me is the courtroom arguements. First of all, nobody on television can turn a jury like Allan Shore (James Spader) from Boston Legal, but Smits seems to be held back from the strength he exhibited in the last two shows I saw him in. Who knows, maybe I’m just tired of legal dramas.

Outsourced: I thought this show would have me rolling on the floor since I manage a call center, but...it didn’t. With such comedy as 30 Rock, Community, Cougar Town, How I Met Your Mother, and so on, it’s hard to establish a strong comedy that can hold up. From just one episode, I don’t thing this one can hold up.

Two Minute Rule - Robert Crais

2010-10-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

I know this is the second Robert Crais book in a row, but I found myself reading these two novels back to back. I stumbled across the Two Minute Rule and the premise sounded interesting.

Max Holman is a bank robber who is being released from prison after serving 10 years in federal prison. The Two Minute Rule is simply, get in, get out in under two minutes if you don’t want to get caught. On the day of his release Holman learns that his son, a police officer, has been brutally gunned down along with three other officers. It doesn’t take long for the ex-con to begin digging. He meets resistance immediately from his son’s brothers in blue, and ends up asking for help from the FBI agent who put him away, Katherine Pollard. The relationship is strained at first, but as the investigation deepens the two are pulled together in a web of deceit that has them questioning everyone on both sides of the badge.

Crais did a great job crafting this novel and I can see why it was such a success. Holman and Pollard are both damaged, but have a strength that drives them through the story to the ultimate truth. The plot lines are woven very well, and the pacing is excellent. I was more impressed with this novel than I was with Watchman. Although I prefer more action, the story moved well without it. The characters are very real and vulnerable. After two books I can’t say I’m a die hard Robert Crais fan, but the guy is obviously successful for a reason. He writes a great thriller. If you’re looking to try out a Robert Crais novel, I assure you this is the one.

Novel Review - Watchman by: Robert Crais

2010-08-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

Watchman was the premiere novel of Robert Crais' new anti-hero, Joe Pike. Crais is mainly known for his Elvis Cole novels and has built quite a following with that character. With Pike, Crais created a complete opposite from his wise-cracking, P.I., do-gooder Elvis Cole. Pike is a man of few words and strong actions. He has the standard background that comes with being a hard man. Ex-cop, ex-mercenary, socially awkward, but put a pistol in the man's hand and men will die. It's a nice departure from Cole, and Crais gets a chance to show us his version of a badass with a good heart. There are problems though. Pike isn't really and anti-hero (the kind of character I truly enjoy). He's just a skilled man of few words. Pike's sense of style is lacking, and sometime his silence gets boring. Sometimes you have to insert a wisecrack or clever threat when dealing with such a brooding character.

The story starts off fast, and takes you on quite a few twists, but midway through, the fast-paced action is reduced to an Elvis Cole investigation (Cole is a prominent character in the novel), and an understandable, but sometimes odd romance brews, but never takes hold. Again, the well thought out plot is clever and classic Crais, but Pike's skills aren't exploited enough. Especially in the final shootout, after all the time reading It fizzled out with a meager gunfight.

Robert Crais has his usual detail, and this helps set the scenes up nicely. His writing is smooth and moves along well. I just think if you're going to write such a tough character you have exploit his toughness to sell readers like me. I'm sure the point is reality, and from that perspective Crais does very well grounding such a character, but a character like Pike has to be yanked off the chain and thrown into ridiculous battles. This is not the opinion of the masses, but for me, and action hero needs...action!

I'm curious to read The Last Rule which is Joe Pike's new adventure. From the synopsis it seems Pike will be driven more by anger and revenge. Maybe this will unleash more ruthlessness and gunfights.

Throwback Cinema -Running Scared (1986)

2010-08-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

Every comedian has done their stint in an action movie. Some more successful than others. Martin Lawrence and Will Smith pulled off the action blockbuster Bad Boys and Eddie Murphy was Beverly Hills Cop. Chris Rock had a less exciting adventure in Bad Company, but you get the point. It’s like a rite of passage for comedy actors. Well, Billy Crystal is no exception and in 1986 he took the dive into an action/comedy film called Running Scared.

Running Scared is one of the best buddy cop movies of all time. Made in the era of buddy cop cinema -the ’80’s- this movie stood alone in my mind as a testament to pure chemistry. We haven’t been privy to genuine buddy cop movies since the good ol’ days. We’ve had some close misses, but nothing notable. Billy Crystal and a supercool Gregory Hines are the buddy cops in this movie and they’re wacky partnership comes off as genuine. Although Hines wasn’t known for comedy at this time, he keeps pace with Crystal’s banter quite well. The two bounce of each other with ease and carry the fun through the duration of the film. Action is present, and handled well. One of my favorite chase scenes ever is in this movie. A scene where the duo chase a drug lord in a limo while driving a bulletproof yellow cab through the Chicago train system, all the while complaining that they can’t roll the windows down to shoot him. It’s truly exciting with plenty of gunfights staggered about.

The movie revolves around two veteran narcotics cops, Ray Hughes (Hines) and Danny Costanzo (Crystal). These two are the “wild men” of their Chicago police department. The type of cops that use zany and risky means to get their ‘guy’. For the length of the movie they are tenaciously pursuing Julio Gonzales (a pre-L.A. Law Jimmy Smits), a drug lord working hard to be the #1 drug supplier in Chicago. Along the way the partners get into plenty of trouble and end up botching an undercover bust that puts them in the backseat of their own case. They are told to court around a pair of hotshots who are to be their successors. These young guns are played by a Steven Bauer and Jon Gries who strut around looking like homeless Serpico stunt doubles. The attempt is to make them look like tough undercover cops who tote matching .44 Magnums. They just look like they need a shower, but the ribbing between the two pairs of cops if hilarious at times. As the film moves on Gonzales and our heroes continue to one up each other until Hughes and Constanzo are put on a forced vacation. While enjoying the tropic vibes of Key West the partners contemplate retiring until they return to Chicago to learn of the drug lord’s continued activities. The pair are back on the case, and in true ’80’s fashion a loved one if kidnapped the pair are lured to an isolated location. From there we get an action packed finale.

I must’ve watched this movie 20 times as a kid, almost as much as The Last Dragon. I still love watching it to this day. I really enjoy Hines and Crystal as partners, and I don’t believe their chemistry has been duplicated in a buddy cop movie yet. If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching this top notch action/ comedy then you better hit Netflix tonight and see what you’ve missed.

Diamonds in the Rough Part #1 -Chiwetel Ejiofor

2010-06-24T13:16:00.001-07:00

Chiwetel Ejiofor. At a glance the name and maybe even the face mean absolutely nothing to the casual moviegoer. As you stare longer he may start to look more familiar. Maybe you’ve seen him in something before, this much you’re sure of. This is because the actor has been in quite a few movies, but still hasn’t been recognized fully for his great talent.

I first became aware of Chiwetel in Four Brothers with Mark Wahlberg and Tyrese Gibson. He was the main villain, Victor Sweet. The man came off as cruel and street savvy. There was just something about the moment I saw him make one of his flunkies eat food off of the floor in front his woman that that stood out. Impressed, but I figured it wasn’t hard, if that was who he really was, not much of a leap to play real ghetto. Anticipating the release of Serenity, a movie based on one of my favorite short-lived TV series Firefly, I took note of this humble villain -The Operative. He was a skilled ninja of sorts who lived by some sort of samurai code. Not a truly evil man, just a man who had a purpose. He was one badass mofo though. Using a british accent, I didn’t recognize Chiwetel at first, by the middle of the movie I was sure it was him, and I was even more impressed. It was such a different character from his villain role in Four Brothers, I was amazed by his ability to pull off that british accent. Turns out, that’s his actual accent, the street dialect used in Four Brothers was his acting. WHAT?! I can’t explain it, the guy was justreal cool in these roles, and he caught my attention.

From I saw him in supporting roles in Children of Men, Inside Man, Slow Burn, and Talk To Me. Each role he bounced back and forth with accents showing great range in limited roles. Then he finally took a starring role in a MMA film called Red Belt. When I found out about this, I was ecstatic. After seeing his onscreen fighting abilities in Serenity, and being a MASSIVE fan of MMA, this was going to me a top ten movie for me. Well, it was okay. The movie turned out to be a bit confusing at times and focused more on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu than actual MMA. Despite this, Chiwetel turned in a phenomenal performance as a spiritual BJJ instructor who refused to compromise his beliefs in spite of the multitude of obstacles and temptations the world threw at him. I hoped the starring role would catapult him into more leading roles going forward. It didn’t. The movie was given limited exposure and most people probably never heard of it.

Although Chiwetel has earned rolls in big hollywood productions recently such as American Gangster, 2012, and the upcoming SALT with Angelina Jolie. He’s still not being given the opportunity to either carry a movie, or show his complete range. Which I would imagine is infinite.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is a Diamond in the Rough. As many untalented drones stumble through hollywood productions, some actors with true talent are left holding them up.

2010-06-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

If you're a parent and you don't find yourself in a fit of uncontrollable laughter that sends you into convulsions, then...I don't what the hell is wrong with you. This type of video leaves me scratching my head saying, "Damn, who the hell comes up with stuff...it's friggn' HILARIOUS!" As an artist I love the cleverness of such an idea an appreciate the pure comedy of it.

Hands of the Bull Release Party - Great time with fans!

2010-04-10T23:20:00.000-07:00

First I would like to thank everyone who was able to make the book release party for Hands of the Bull. It was a great turn out and I had a blast hanging out with you all.

I would like to apologize to anyone who got lost. The company we rented the place from transposed the street numbers when they gave them to us. The address was 26011 not 20611. Many of you still found your way, as for anyone who didn't, I'm so very sorry, and I will make sure everything is accurate next time.

Book Release Party! Come and celebrate the release of my new novel “Hands of the Bull”

2010-03-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

I will be hosting a “loungin’” event to celebrate the release of Hands of the Bull. If you live in Colorado, I would love to see you there. Come hang out with me and discuss my new and upcoming novels, or just have a drink and socialize with your autographed copy of my novel gripped gently in your hand.

Event will be in Southlands
20611 E. Orchard Dr.
Aurora, Co. 80016

We’ll kick things off at 5 PM.
What to expect:
1. I will be signing copies of my latest novel Hands of the Bull, so get your copy and don’t forget it when you come.
a. I will have a limited supply on site for purchase, so if you want to be sure you get a copy, purchase one in advance.
2. For those of you who have already purchased and read my novel, we will be conducting interviews for a promo video to be posted on Amazon.com
3. We will have contests and prizes for willing participants.
4. Food, and drinks will be available, while supplies last.

So come and bring your friends!

Archer (TV Series on FX) –Some of the Funniest Sh** I’ve ever seen!

2010-01-22T20:51:00.000-08:00

I don’t even know where to start. Archer is outright hilarious. I can’t remember a show that kept me laughing for thirty minutes straight. Archer is that rare gem that everyone should appreciate whenever possible. It is over the top and completely inappropriate, but I promise you’ve never seen anything this funny.

Comedic cartoons have come a long way since The Simpsons. Raunchy humor is the recipe for shows such as Family Guy and South Park, Archer follows suit, but somehow –in my eyes at least- surpasses previous shows. Maybe it’s the tactless, but extremely hilarious, nature of every single conversation that takes place during every single episode. The whole retro-grade animation is the staple of such shows, and Archer’s animation is just as archaic, but the voice acting and clever dialogue fit the look of the show. I would even say if the animation was sharper, it would actually hurt the vibe of the show.

Archer is the titular character. He is a spy for the ISIS agency, an espionage agency run by his perpetually horny mother. Much of the show takes place in the ISIS offices where a medley of strange, horny, and amusing characters go about their day to day. The running joke that gets me every episode is the head of HR who is just as indiscreet as everyone else in the building, but continues to try and push generally accepted HR agendas. The banter that takes place is nothing less than extraordinary. The writers have made sure that nothing is sacred and I love them for it. Whenever the shows shifts to actual spy work, Archer’s complete ineptitude puts him and others in danger, but somehow things always work themselves out, and he leaves even more clueless than before.

At one point I was laughing so hard I almost passed out. It was a strange feeling, one that I usually couldn’t have without some help, but Archer is my new Thursday night libation.

I warn that you must have pretty thick skin to handle what Archer is putting out. They are willing to go there, buy the T-shirt, and burn it in front of the nearest prayer group. Politically correct be damned!

I encourage everyone to get a taste of Archer. One thing’s for sure, this series is all or nothing. You will either love it or hate it, but if you love it, you’ve got a fit of laughter awaiting you every Thursday night on FX.

DISTRICT 9 -Something Unique

2010-01-16T14:16:00.000-08:00

I know I’m quite late on reviewing this movie, but I didn’t have a strong urge to go see it during its theatrical run. Needless to say, I rented it once it hit DVD and I have to tell you…it’s amazing.

What a unique take on the whole “Aliens come to Earth” story arc. All too often the formula is that the alien visitors are far more advanced than we are and they either come to help advance our primitive world, or destroy it. This is never more evident than in the resurgence of the classic series V on network television. Where District 9 is completely different is that it brings the aliens to our world as refugees. There damaged ship drifts to Earth like a life raft floating to the nearest shore. After months of inactivity from the massive alien craft we humans decide to cut open the ship and find out what’s going on. What is found is over a million malnourished aliens living in filth. The humans decide to wall-in the visitors in an area called…wait for it…District 9. The area soon becomes a poverty-stricken refugee camp and the Prawns –what the aliens are called due to their hard-shelled body and physical appearance- begin to lash out and take to crime just to survive. They are consistently mistreated and discriminated against.

From here it becomes another one of those, “A heartless racist of sorts finds himself forced to spend time amongst the aliens and comes to care for the aliens and ends up helping them,” stories. This main character is played superbly by unknown Sharlto Copley. He displays the perfect degree of franticness to carry the role.

The movie starts off documentary-style, much looks much like Cloverfield, but shifts back into cinema mode through the middle and end.

Overall it’s a fun ride with lots of sci-fi action, and of course, an underlying message of tolerance toward other races.

I suggest renting it and checking out this unique spin on the “alien” movie.

RADCLIFF LANCE-Highly Talented Scribe Of Seminal, Nonstop Action Thrillers

2009-12-31T13:59:00.000-08:00

Official Apex Reviews Interview: Radcliff Lance (Hands Of The Bull)

Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Radcliff. We're looking forward to sharing more about your book and other efforts with our readers.

Radcliff Lance: Thanks for having me.

AR: Please explain the significance of the book's title.

RL: The main character Ramirez is known as The Latin Bull. He’s steadfast and moves in a straight line, once on course, he cannot be stopped. The significance of his hands is explained in the story, and then there is some wordplay when certain plot points are revealed, but ultimately his enemies meet their end at the Hands of the Bull.

AR: What seminal forces from his past forged Diego into the merciless warrior that he's become?

RL: I try to touch on several throughout the story from the obvious childhood circumstances to questionable government work to the criminal world where he feels his dark soul can exist in the fog of violence.

AR: Despite his ruthlessness, Diego is not completely evil or black-hearted. How does he manage to retain his "softer" side?

RL: It’s not so much a “softer side” as it is an understanding of what he truly is. In his mind things are simple; if anything stands in his way…he eliminates it, but there are limits, not many, but a few. One of my favorite lines in the story is, “only a handful of morals keep him from being a monster.” His loyalty is unswerving, so if put on the right path he can actually do some good.

AR: Are any parts of the story based on real life experiences - particularly yours?

RL: Oh god no! Man, my family members started to worry about what was going on in my head when they read it, like if I really thought that way or something. Suddenly nobody was sitting next to me at family get-togethers. I create a character, a believable character I hope. I’m a story teller, of course you have to touch certain parts of your mind to get there sometimes, but it’s still all fiction.

AR: Is there a sequel in the works?

RL: I love Ramirez. He’s a throwback to the ultimate bad-asses from the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. I got so tired of the “everyman” scenario that has become so popular. Some professor, lawyer, or data clerk gets thrown into some extraordinary circumstance and ends up taking out a squad of terrorists and stopping a global conspiracy, mostly by accident. I like throwing a guy like Ramirez into modern scenarios and letting him loose, so yeah I believe I’ll be writing quite a few novels with him as the lead.

Reign of the Bull
Eyes of the Bull
Blood of the Bull

I think you get the theme.

AR: Our reviewer likened your writing style to Iceberg Slim and Chester Himes, two all-time urban fiction greats. Who have been some of your chief writing influences?

RL: First off, that’s an extraordinary compliment. I mean Chester Himes and Iceberg Slim were pioneers of urban fiction. The thing is, I read authors of various writing styles. Some of my favorites are Duane Swierczynski, Cassandra Clare, Robert Ferrigno, Richard Stark, and Mathew Reilly. Amazingly I don’t read a lot of urban fiction; I love crime noir and large scale thrillers. My voice falls somewhere in between.

AR: Please share more with our readers about your other writings.

RL: My next novel “Suicide Run: Love & Bullets” should be out first quarter of 2010. It was a challenge from my wife to write something romantic, so I did it my way with action and violence. Something beautiful mixed with something vicious. I can’t wait for everyone to experience it.

I only write novels, I don’t write short stories, or articles, but I do blog. Doesn’t everybody? In between novels you can keep up with me at www.radsays.blogspot.com

AR: What are your future writing/publishing aspirations?

RL: Or course, the dream is to land a traditional publishing contract, but for the time being I will continue to work independently and with small presses. Hopefully after making some noise on my own that’ll happen. In the meantime, I’ll write, write, and write some more.

AR: Where can our readers learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?

RL: They can stay current at www.radsays.blogspot.com

AR: How can they contact you directly?

RL: Same place.

AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?

RL: If you think you’re ready for the ride, read Hands of the Bull, you won’t be disappointed.

AR: Thanks again, Radcliff, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!

HANDS OF THE BULL IS HERE!

2009-12-23T20:54:00.000-08:00

After a long wait my new novel Hands of the Bull is now available. Don't hesitate to get your copy. The word it out!

TO GET YOUR HANDS ON THE BULL, CLICK THE COVER IMAGE ON THE RIGHT.

This book is filled with action and violence, from the street savvy, to suited hitman. There’s a lot of detail to this story with many different characters through the plot of the underworld. It’s a great read for action lovers.

-Reviewer: GhostWriter
GhostWriter Literary Reviews

Tight and fast-paced, Hands Of The Bull is an action-packed thriller.
Author Radcliff Lance proves to be at the peak of his literary powers with this
exciting new addition to the world of urban fiction. His character development is
superb, and the plot becomes even more engrossing with each fresh turn of the
page.

Every bit as gritty and streetwise as anything from Iceberg Slim or Chester
Himes, Hands Of The Bull is a can’t-miss instant classic. Highly recommended for
fans of action thrillers and urban fiction alike.

-Renee Washburn
Apex Reviews

Hands of the Bull TRAILER!

2009-12-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

Check it out! I hope is adds to your thirst for this upcoming action thriller.

TWILIGHT NIGHTS 11/18/09

2009-11-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

The Twilight movement has swept America. Much like the Harry Potter series did a few years back. If you question this even for a moment reference the fact that New Moon which was released on Nov 20th earned 140 million it’s opening weekend…what?! It has caught fire in a big way. The devotees are fanatical on a level that possibly surpasses Harry Potter, especially the female fans. I’m not sure how many hardcore male fans truly exist.

In the spirit of fandom a friend of mine, Natasha, planned out an extravagant party, or should I say prom to celebrate Twilight and usher in the pending release of the New Moon movie. With heavy face to face advertising she canvassed the city spreading word about her event. People were able to purchase tickets to her “prom” and the first fifty even got a complementary T-shirt.

The event was a formal affair held at he Crystal Rose. People were expected to dress in full prom attire. The theme was the Monte Carlo theme from the Forks High School Prom in the Twilight movie. There were gambling tables set with Texas Hold ‘em, Black Jack, and even Roulette. Upon your arrival you were given a thousand dollar chip to start. Of course the money was fake and the gambling was for fun. The food was prepared to match the exact food that was eaten in the movie -amazing attention to detail. The music was handled by DJ Gatsby, who was a blast. He kept the beats varied and fun. A cool twist was the projector that played music videos and scenes from the movie across the back wall of the dance floor while you shook your rump. Much like a prom, there was an area to take prom pictures with your date or friends, or alone if you were feeling extra-sexy. For the adults over 21 there was a bar, which helped everyone find their inner groove and tear up the dance floor. After four hours of hard partying, all the attendees were invited to a viewing room to watch a screening of Twilight, the perfect way to end such a bash. The decorations were extremely detailed with cardboard cutouts of the Twilight characters, photographs scattered across the table tops, and Twilight T-shirts and handmade trinkets were also for sale.

My wife and I were happy to get dressed and put blisters on our feet. The food was good, and the atmosphere was fun-loving and exciting. We ate, we gambled, we drank, and we danced until the music stopped. Every minute was a blast. I mean how often do you get to get dressed up and take your significant other to something like that? Not a wedding, or stuffy stank club, but a…prom!

If you ask me and anyone who attended, the event was a complete success, and Natasha did an extraordinary job of coordinating it. She personally bankrolled the prom which is a testament to her commitment, which was under her Subtle-T Productions banner. This was one hell of a job for a first time promoter and we all look forward to her next revelry.

If you missed it…you missed something special.

Publish America -STAY CLEAR!!!

2009-10-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

When I wrote my first manuscript I was ecstatic and like many writers I thought the world wanted to read it. I knew nothing of the industry, editors, publishers, agents and so on. All I knew was that I wanted to get my book out there to the masses. I was a novice, unfamiliar with navigating the publishing world of agents and publishers. A google search brought me to Publish America. The website boasted them as one of the most successful traditional publishers in the business. The submission process seemed easy enough, so I sent my work in. I received a response in four days which left me to believe that my work was that good. After that a contract came and the wheels began moving.

I have to give them this, the process was quick. The entire production took about six weeks, they responded to my emails quickly and got my book online faster than I could’ve imagined. My experience during this process was quite pleasant, but I would learn that it would be short lived and the true horrors of signing my first novel to them would begin.

Just before my novel went to print I sent a short story to another editor for a horror anthology. The editor gave my work praise, but quickly raised concerns about my first novel being published by Publish America. I didn’t quite understand, so he referenced me some links to Absolute Write Water Cooler, and Predators and Editors websites and told me to read up. “You’re a talented writer, you can do better than Publish America,” he wrote.

Eye-opening is not the way to describe it. I can’t possibly cover the negative things I read. Some of it was truly scary. Could it be true? Was this just a bunch of snobby writers bashing the beginners for not getting a more lucrative deal with a bigger named publisher? To truly grasp it you can click the link below, or just type Publish America into a google search, hopefully you’ll be able to keep your food down.
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pebpublisham.htm

I still hoped for success despite what I was reading, I had already signed my first book over and I had to make the best of it. The problem was I was stained by their name. This publisher is tainted in the writing world. Affiliation with them brands you as a joke, a writer not to be taken seriously. I received great reviews, but it did no good.

The problems with them and I truly began once my book was out. The list price was $25…for a friggin’ trade paperback. WTF were they thinking. No one is going to pay that. Of course I did make sales which I’m grateful for, and after some very good reviews, I made even more sales, but they were minimal. I contacted Publish America and pleaded my case. I told them that this ridiculous price was crippling my ability to market my novel. They countered with a spiel about how the pricing was competitive and that they barely make one dollar off of each copy when it’s all said and done, and on, and on. Complete bullshit. I barely make one dollar off of each copy of a $25 paperback, how can they not be pulling in the rest. My only option was to purchase copies of my book in bulk and hustle them out myself. Another problem I had was the piss-poor editing they did with my manuscript, I tried to catch as much as I could, but it still had errors. The final straw was the royalties which I’m sure are tracked inaccurately, could be on purpose, could just be half-assed like everything else they do. I started reading up on the multiple lawsuits filed in this area, and knew I wasn’t immune to this issue. As time went on and Publish America was being exposed more and more everyday I began getting a slew of emails from Publish America begging me to purchase copies of my book, offering absurd discounts to push orders through. During this time of “get-author-copies-for-60% off- and-no-shipping-costs” they quickly (without warning) boosted my novel’s cover price to $29.95. Are you f*&^%$# insane!!! This is how it works. Publish America has no intention of selling copies to readers through Ingram and other distributors; they make their money off of their unsuspecting authors. We can purchase novels at 50% off right, they make the cover price $30, so the author is paying $15, which is what a person pays for any regular book. I was through. I wished I’d never even heard of these clowns. I even considered changing my pen name, so I would never be affiliated with them, but I didn’t want to hide. Several good authors have made this mistake and been able to move on from it, I would be another, I’m sure of it. It’s truly sad, because they have the resources, they could’ve turned things around and made a legitimate go at being a traditional press, but…well I have no idea why they chose this path. Right now, Publish America is the dirtiest name you can drop in the publishing industry. You might as well admit to doing porn while auditioning for a Disney movie, you’re chances are better.

Again, I had no previous information on this publisher going in, which is my fault. I should’ve fully researched them first. I was an amateur and I made an amateur mistake, to fault me for this would like getting upset with a new employee when they make an error on their first day without any type of training or assistance. There are some great writers who’ve been stained by this publisher and I hope they find their way into the mainstream where their work can be truly appreciated, myself included.

Moving on:
Lesson learned. I started researching and truly learning the industry. I made sure I was fully versed on the processes, publisher, editing, and anything else I could read about. I would not be duped again. The problem is that with books there is more supply than demand, and on top of that there just isn’t enough readers anymore. This won’t deter me from my goals though.

Paranormal Activity -The Hype Is Real!

2009-10-17T06:01:00.001-07:00

First off, let me say, “The hype is real!” A friend and I were eager to see this movie, more out of curiosity than anything else. I didn’t know if it would truly be scary, but the hype machine was in full swing and I just had to see it for my self. The first weekend the studio only had midnight showings in select theatres and every showing was sold out. I was crushed, but not long into my depression I learned that the studio decided to do a wide release, “Oh yeah.” We sent my sister-in-law on a recon mission. She was successful in procuring four tickets to the late show on Friday night. The crew would consist of my wife, my friend, and my sister-in-law. You need a group for a movie like this to bounce reactions off of after you watch it. We hit dinner first and my friend and I decided to pound some liquor beforehand. Going into the movie with a mild buzz would heighten the frights….right?

My review of the movie will be just like the trailers, I CAN’T REVEAL ANYTHING WITHOUT RUINING THE EXPERIENCE. I completely understand the marketing of this film now. If anything is shown, it would take away from the shock factor, which is why I will warn you not to seek out anything on the internet, no youtube videos, no sneak peaks, especially no bootlegs. This movie has to be experienced on the big screen with high-quality surround sound. You don’t want to watch this at home, not on DVD, blu-ray, or bootleg. This will be a horrible experience, anyone who tried to watch Blair Witch at home knows what I’m talking about. At the theatre you can experience it with a huge crowd, feed off their reactions, hear all the clicks and sounds that make this film truly creepy.

The movie is genuinely creepy. It starts slow, but builds up. Several people walked out in the first twenty minutes, upset with the home video look of it, but they missed out on something special. Patience is required at first, then a strong stomach (the shaky cam effect made me nauseas at times, so much for the go-into-the-movie-with-a-buzz idea), and maybe a change of underwear if you get scared easy. What’s great about the frights is that they don’t just throw them at you on wholesale. It’s rationed out at first and slowly builds to a peak that will leave you shaking. Sometimes the theatre was so quiet waiting for something and then…nothing. This kept you on edge and not knowing when the fright would strike. I found the first half creepy, not too scary, I didn’t jump –I’m just not that kind of person. The fun part was looking around at the people in the crowd. Especially the girl behind me who had her shoes off, was curled up in her seat, and on the verge of a full shaking fit. The screams from the masses helped to enhance what was happening on screen although some were misplaced by girls jumping the gun, but it was that edgy. Again, I wasn’t truly scared, just creeped out…until it moved toward the climax. Oh shit! Although I was unable to jump –just didn’t have it in me- my body did react to the scary thrills with a unique surge that shot through my body. It was like when you try to hold a hiccup. After it ended I think I was shaking, but I can’t be sure. Either way I was seriously frightened. Me, man of men, I could withstand the goriest, scariest movie you can put on the screen and eat a chili dog while watching. Faces of death, I watched those while making out with my girlfriend, but this movie. I just can’t explain it. I was just left with these images, images I couldn’t shake for about a day.

The aftermath, when I got home the fun began. I turned on all the lights and the plasma. I turned the channel to infomercials. The sound of an annoyingly perky voice selling driveway stain remover throughout the night would keep the fear at bay. Having the lights on made me feel safe. At one point my wife and I argued because she wanted the plasma off to which I aggressively refused. When it was time to get up for work the lights had been turned off…WTF! I leapt out of my bed and turned on the closet light, then scrambled to turn everything else on, “Ahhh, now I’m safe.” After I showered I opened the bathroom door to find all the lights off again, “Goddamit!”
“Jennifer!”
“Yeah,” she answered in a half awakened tone.
“Did you turn the lights off?”
“Yes.”
Oh okay, it’s safe, after that I proceeded to get dressed for work.

“Hahahaha, you’re a chump,” you may be saying. Look, laugh if you want, but let me explain. My fear came from a handful of images I just couldn’t shake. They kept flashing in my mind whenever I closed my eyes which kept me on edge. Another factor was the stuff that was happening when the lights were out. In the movie this couple sets up a camera to capture what’s happening in their home while their asleep, well…a lot of shit happens while their copping Z’s. Shit, they don’t even know about it until they review the video the next day. What’s happening in your house while you’re out cold? It’s very suggestive.

So to conclude this is a love or hate movie. If you want to be scared, have fun, and want to appreciate it for what it is, you’ll get a good fright. If you’re the guy whose out to prove how tough you are and go in with the intention of not letting your guard down or adamant about declaring the movie as “stupid” or “not scary at all”. Well, with the power of the mind and all that, you’ll hate it. In this case why even bother going, it’s a waste of time and money. Go see it because you want to experience it and get a good fright before Halloween.

Worth the trip, don’t go alone, and definitely don’t sleep alone. If you don’t have a girl/man, then call a friend or your moms.

Keep It Movin'

2009-10-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

Word count is a big deal with publishers. I’ve even been declined by publishers because my manuscript didn’t break 85,000 words. To be honest it’s a reasonable request. That word count should break at 300 pages or more. Since most mainstream fiction hovers around 400 to 500 pages, 300 does seem short, but I assure you it’s not. I love my books fast and furious. I want to get to know the characters and be fully immersed in their world in the first 30 to 50 pages. I’m reading a novel now that I was initially eager to read, but the author has spent the first 120 pages jumping me around the back story of close to 15 characters, 8 of which have no significant future in the book. I’m left waiting for things to pick up. I can’t stand when stories move at a snail’s pace causing me to want to skip ahead to the meaty parts. I just read an interview with Ken Bruen that hit this right on the head. Mr. Bruen’s books land around 200 to 300 pages.

“The doorstop books - 500 pages and up - Jesus wept, who has that amount of time to piss away. Ninety percent of what I read is padding and I roar, "Get the fuck on with it!"
-Ken Bruen

This is true for many Crime Writers. The best of them make their stories keep pace, strapping you to the grill of a Ferrari and punching the gas for 200 pages. I love this type of fiction. I can blast through several books and not be bored. One of my favorite authors, Duane Swierczynski, has some of the best pacing I’ve ever read. I find myself eager to finish, and when I do I’m feenin’ for another novel. Unfortunately he can’t keep up with my need for more of his work and this leaves me salivating like a starving dog. I think this is the best kind of writing. Like Mr. Bruen states, a majority of the writing in the “fat” ones is padding. I’ve read novels where the author spent 8 pages describing a building and the character’s wardrobe…that’s insanity, and completely unnecessary. Another thing this does is take away from the reader’s imagination. I think you give them just enough to make out the finer details in their own minds. That’s the best part of reading.

In my first book I fell into this trap. Trying to hit the 85,000 word mark I pumped out 125,000 words. At the time I thought every sentence was relevant. It was my first outing and I wanted to jam everything into it. This created a disjointed feel in some parts of the work and I definitely learned from it. I would cut a third of it out if I had to rewrite that one.

My new novel, Hands of the Bull came in just over 80,000, which is industry compliant, but I don’t think I sacrificed pacing with this story. I have a great cast of characters and it was easy to follow them through the story.

My next manuscript, Suicide Run stops around 64,000. Which is the smallest I’ve written, but I wouldn’t add anything to it. I think I was very efficient when writing this story. One of the editor’s I used said I didn’t waste a word.

In conclusion, I believe there’s nothing wrong with getting there faster. These are almost always the most exciting reads, that’s if you’re looking for action and excitement.

Please Entertain Me.

2009-10-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

I love movies, books, TV, music. I am a junkie for all forms of entertainment and I’m rarely left completely unsatisfied. I think this is because I try to be open to just about anything. I just ask to be entertained, no matter how corny, if it entertained me in whatever way, I’m happy. Often I read reviews and wonder how someone could be so completely negative. A person once told me they don’t ask me about movies because I like everything. Isn’t that the point? Why waste your time being disappointed, or really looking for disappointment when you can search out the things you liked, or loved. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be critical, that’s the only way to ensure things get better, movies, books, music, whatever. Without criticism nobody would try to top themselves or grow. I’m just saying that sometimes you just need to be realistic about what you’re getting. Let’s use Transformers and G.I. Joe for example. Campy? Yes. Over the top? Yes. Entertaining? Yes. Now when a critic rips these movies apart I just laugh at the notion. I mean come on, you were watching a movie called Transformers, why the hell were you searching for a serious plot, or deeper character development. It’s a big budget popcorn flick that was meant to be fast and fun, and it delivers on that note. I’m sure the people who went to watch, went for that reason. This is why these movies make so much money, because they are just mind-numbing fun. One reviewer actually got it right with G.I. Joe. He said that it was exactly what it was supposed to be, a live action cartoon, and it was great in that respect.

I’m not bashing critics, I need them. We all need them to improve, but I’m just saying that we shouldn’t be so overly critical, and just look to be entertained.

MMA vs Boxing

2009-09-23T06:04:00.000-07:00

This is a subject that has caught a lot of attention over the years, and with the Mayweather fight competing against a UFC card this weekend bringing things to a head, I thought I’d share my opinion on the matter.

First I’ll pick a side. MMA is the future of combat sports. It’s the fasting growing sport in the world and has done its exponential growth in just 15 years. That’s unheard of for any sport. I cannot think of another sport that catapulted to worldwide success in such a short period, and don’t be mislead, it is worldwide. The sport has piqued popularly in South America, Japan, UK, Russia, and now predominantly in the U.S. What is so great about the UFC in particular is that in this worldwide market, they have created the Mecca of all MMA. Any fighter in the world yearns to become a part of “the biggest MMA organization in the world”, and we should be proud that it’s American based. We are able to see the best fighters from around the world compete in our own cities for top honors amongst the ranks of UFC legends.

So why the debate? Can’t these sports coexist, absolutely, just as basketball and football exist together with no problems to speak of. The problems arose once the UFC began shattering pay-per-view records and put boxing on notice. The threat came hard and fast and the boxing promoters responded poorly. Instead of working to better the sport and put on stronger fight cards that would bring the fans back, they simply went on a verbal tirade about how MMA was a sissy sport, with a bunch of homosexuals rolling around with each other, this was actually said by a long time boxing promoter. You add Floyd Mayweather’s big mouth yapping about how MMA athletes couldn’t hang with boxers and don’t train nearly as hard. I don’t think he realized how idiotic he sounded. Anyone who catches Ultimate Fighter, or watches one of the countdown shows on Spike will get a taste of some of the most intense training in the world. Former NFL players who’ve switched to MMA have openly said the training is more intense than any football camp they have been to. With MMA on a constant rise and boxing losing revenue the question became is boxing dead? This obviously had boxers and their promoters against the ropes and ready to fight back. I completely understand their reaction, but here’s why everyone should just calm down. Boxing isn’t going anywhere; it’s been around for hundreds of years and will continue to be. They just need to respect that MMA is here and will continue to grow into a colossal combat sport that’s going to give them a run for their pay-per-view dollars. Very simple, no need to argue over it, boxers saying that MMA fighters can’t hang with them is beyond ridiculous. We’ve seen what happens to boxers in the cage, once their on the ground they’ll either swallow some teeth, or lose a limb. A mutual respect of ability would be nice, and then move on to your respective camps.

One of the biggest things that sets these sports apart to me is money. Boxers make an absurd amount of money per fight, as Mayweather feels compelled to share with the public anytime a camera is around. He’s even ridiculed MMA fighters stating they aint making real money for fighting. What they don’t realize is that this is what is ruining them. The more money involved the more a chance of corruption. The highest paid MMA fighter pulls in maybe 500,000 a fight, whereas in boxing it’s more like 5 to 10 million. This has made boxing too expensive to watch or order. MMA fighters are everyday guys who just want to fight; they work hard and aren’t soiled by greed yet because those ridiculous paydays still elude them. I’m afraid to think of what may happen to the sport when we get to those unnecessary payouts. Right now these guys fight harder than any combat athlete on the planet for a fair purse, and we respect them for it.

The appeal of MMA is easy to understand. It’s a black hole that sucks you in after one event and you can’t escape it. What makes this sport so great is the many ways to win. Initially, hesitation comes from a misunderstanding of the ground game. I suffered from this at first, getting angry every time they ended up rolling around on the ground. “What the hell are they doing?” Once I started listening to the commentary and watched Ultimate Fighter I better understood that even the smallest move –like moving your hand an inch too far- would cost you the fight. These guys are so technical that you have to be on guard everywhere, on the feet, against the cage, or on the ground. The fighters have to master several disciplines to be great, kickboxing, boxing, Brazilian jiu jitsu, wresting, judo. If they lack skill in any area it will cost them in the cage. What makes it so exciting is that you never know what will happen. A guy could get pummeled for the entire fight and then find his opening and win. I remember watching Tim Silvia beat the snot out of Antonio Nogeira for three straight rounds, and then Nogeira pulled Tim to the ground, swept him, baited an armbar, flipped Tim over and locked in a guillotine choke. A few seconds later Tim tapped. This is just one example of the excitement witnessed. I’ve seen more exciting fights in MMA than I ever have in boxing. The fighters are explosive and very technical, causing you have to watch closely or you’ll miss a knockout or slick submission. MMA is the closest you’ll ever get to real life legalized combat, and there are fewer injuries in MMA than in any other sport.

As in all things, I always say, “If it’s not your cup of tea…don’t sip it.” But don’t take away from the superior athletes that compete in this great sport.

Era of Entitlement

2009-09-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

The attitude of people nowadays is an attitude of entitlement. Honesty, this behavior sickens me. No one wants to work for anything anymore. Everybody thinks hey should get something for showing up. That’s bullsh**. A lot of people don’t feel compelled to work hard to get anything anymore. I see this everyday and I’m blown away by it. I know I’m from Generation X, and we were supposed to be the out of control X factor. Since us, there’s been Gen Y, Gen Next, and whatever other clever names society has come up with. A large part of these generations believe that mediocrity should be rewarded. WTF! I hate lumping people together, but I’m losing faith as the days go by. My exposure to such stupidity is constant. I was taught that if you work hard, you’ll be rewarded, competition breeds excellence and all that.

I blame the schools, and I’m not joking about this. It started with the “everybody wins” slogan. Kids no longer have to compete for ribbons and trophies, everyone is a winner. At every school now they’ve done away with the competitive environment of Field Day. Telling our children that you don’t have to push or strive for excellence, you just have to show up and you’ll get the same as the strongest competitor. This is ridiculous. Without a sense of competition how the hell are we as a nation supposed to compete globally in anything. We’ve already seen our standings slide in science, math, and now Olympic athletics, with a few exceptions. I thought the schools couldn’t get any more outrageous when they did away with Halloween, and stop doing Christmas activities.

People get on their podiums and claim to have the children’s best interests at heart, but haven’t seem to recognize the long term affects of their righteousness. “We don’t anyone to feel inferior. We don’t want their spirit to be crushed.” You’ve set that up already. By not teaching them the pain of defeat, and the drive for excellence, or just to do their best in competition, what have you left them with, a fragile spirit that can crumble from a strong vibration.

I remember the presidential fitness award as a kid. I wanted one so bad, but couldn’t complete the tasks. I couldn’t do all the push-ups or pull-ups. Eventually I worked hard and got my patch. I was so proud. From there I maintained a competitive spirit in sports and whatever else I did.

Watching my son go through school, I was surprised by what I saw. He didn’t even have a serious physical education class until 6th grade. I remember asking him to do jumping jacks when he was ten and he couldn’t. He said he was never shown. Fortunately my son chose to compete in sports at the age of four and has been actively competing ever since. This has kept him coordinated, healthy, and driven. What the hell is happening in our schools? I had physical education in first grade (and learned to do jumping jacks then). We are crippling our youth.

I may be completely misinformed and it might just be the district my son is in, but I know a majority of the schools have adopted these practices.
People need to be accountable for the work they produce. Know that hard work is rewarded, and just getting by will leave you…just getting by. From I’ve seen from people lately is that we’ve lost our edge and it’s costing us in more ways than we care to acknowledge.

Day of the Hybrid

2009-08-07T16:20:00.002-07:00

I am now the proud owner of a hybrid vehicle. I did the math, researched the cars and made a decision. Why go hybrid? If you’re asking this you’ve either been living under a rock for the last decade, or you're completely oblivious to the world around you. Anyway I’ve driven SUV’s for years. After all I live in Colorado. Much to my dismay my SUV was losing quite a bit of value because it was a greedy gas-guzzling whore that only wanted me for my money…my gas money. So after watching it’s value plummet I decided it was time to get out of it before I ended up too upside down to know which way was up. I’ve haven’t had much luck with American cars although that’s all I’ve owned for the last ten years. Even though my father and most of friends had told me repeatedly to go foreign, “They just last longer and don’t lose as much value,” they would say. Then I saw the Honda Insight, for some reason the little car appealed to me, it looked cooler than the Prius –the look of the Prius is why I never went hybrid before. I went to my nearest Honda dealership to look at one. It was pretty cool, but built for a Smurf or abnormally small woman. With a sunroof I might be able to drive it if I could stick my head out of the top while I drove. Fortunately there 2009 Civics came in a hybrid model.

When I went to test drive the hybrid I was warned about the difference I would feel in the way it worked. Of course it’s nearly silent when started and while driving. Another strange thing I had to adjust to was not feeling any shifting. This was the new transmission that Honda is going to be putting in all their vehicles. There was no jerking when you felt the gears about to shift. A strange sensation, but easily overcome after the initial drive. The ergo dash was what I really liked. It displays a digital speedometer just above the steering wheel so I don’t have to constantly tilt my head up and down to see how fast I am going. The car uses gas and battery power and if the battery dies for whatever reason, it will just switch over to gas so you can still drive it. Pretty cool. Overall I was instantly impressed. So now the big question…fuel economy. The tank holds 12 gallons and I get about 32 to 38 miles per gallon. In my SUV I had an 18 gallon tank that cost over $40 to fill and I got about 15 miles per gallon. I was spending over a hundred dollars month on gas. Now I spend about twenty. As far as trade in value later, it will be over its bluebook. Hybrids are the future and their value will not be dropping anytime soon. I ended up saving fifty bucks on my car payment and eighty bucks in gas a month. Not bad.

Only two problems I can think of. Living in Colorado, I’m worried about its maneuverability in the snow. As I said I’ve always had an SUV for this exact reason. I guess we’ll see in a few months. The other problem is tags. I guess Arapahoe County recently raised their vehicular taxes for ’09 and ’10 models. Let’s just say I may have to sell an organ to get my plates, but I’ll be getting a tax cut for driving a hybrid, so hopefully it makes up some of the difference.

Now that I drive a hybrid I’m seeing more and more models, very sleek looking designs. The days of the Prius being too ugly to convince the average person to go hybrid are over. Every automobile company has a model out or coming soon. The day of the hybrid is here.

Just Getting Started

2009-08-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

My journey as a novelist has just begun. Although I've been writing for sometime now, fame and fortune still eludes me. As I attempted to get one of my manuscripts into print I've been in a state of constant learning. Write, write, write is what they say, and that is what I've done. I got my first book into print in 2007. This was an exciting time for me and I thought the doors were just about to burst open, boy was I wrong. Although I was welcomed with positive critical praise, what I learned is that writing is not a lucrative career, and the majority of the authors out there fade into mediocrity, sometimes after only one novel. The recognition is hard won, and the earnings are almost non-existent, but I am determined to do it. 93% of the authors out there do not earn enough to live off of. They have to work part-time or full-time jobs to pay their bills while they squeeze writing into their everyday lives. Currently, I'm on the low end of that 93%. I signed a poor contract for my first book -being the novice that I am- and it cost me the potential success of my first outing as a published author. Fortunately I only signed over one book and was free to take my future work elsewhere. Since the poorly marketed release of my first novel I've taken almost two years to refine my craft and learn the industry I wish to build a future in. What I've learned is that the literary world is a hard bull to ride, and more writers fail than succeed. I'm fully determined and extremely confident in my abilities. No arrogance here, just strength in self. If you're reading this blog, I’d love for you to join my fold and follow me to the top because I'm just getting started and that's where I'm headed.