Greatest Halloween Movies

For Halloween, here are the top 10 scary movies of all time.

10. Night of the Living Dead: This is a bit campy today, but a classic nontheless.

9. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Also an interesting character study of man's two sides.

8. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Intermixing comedy and horror is difficult, but they pull it off with the help of Lon Chaney and Bela Legosi.

7. The Wolf-Man: Another classic from the 40s. Lon Chaney nails the tortured soul.

6. Frankenstein: When this came out in the 1930s, people passed out in the aisles. It is tame by today's standards. However, the theme of science run amok still has resonance.

5. 2001: A Space Odyssey: Why is this on here? First, the astronaughts can not be saved by the cavalry as they are out by Jupiter. Second, the computer goes bizzerk. It is more relevant today than in 1969 as we have become more dependent on machines.

4. Aliens: The second Alien installment was the best (3 and 4 were horrid). It upped the ante from the first and like the first movie (and 2001), in space, no one can hear you scream.

3. Dracula: Bela Legosi gives us all the lore surrounding the vampire in this film. He was the prototype by which all vampires are created. Either they follow his lead or they attempt to move away from it. Either way, it is Legosi that set the standard.

2. The Omen: First, it is about the Anti-Christ (no not Nancy Pelosi). Second, the kid playing Damien was as creepy as they come. Third, the hero is Gregory Peck and not even he can defeat the Anti-Christ. Between these three variables, and the creepy storyline and deaths, this movie ranks #2.

1. Silence of the Lambs: I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

The Greatest Halloween Songs

Here is my list of the Top 10 Halloween Songs

10. Nightmare on My Street (Will Smith)- The Fresh Prince Meets Freddy Kruger

9. Monster Mash (Boris Pickett)- Yeah this one has to be on the list somewhere

8. Thriller (Michael Jackson)- Vincent Price and dancing zombies. The Night of the Living Dead meets MTV.

7. Boris the Spider (The Who)- John Entwistle's friend comes to a "sticky end."

6. The Number of the Beast (Iron Maiden)- Could it be Satan?

5. Black Magic Woman (Santana)- Santana adds the dark arts to rock music.

4. Satan Gave Me a Taco (Beck)- Beck is into poison foods. Very dark lyrics.

3. Psycho Killer (The Talking Heads)- Few things say Halloween more than psycho killers.

2. Witchy Woman (The Eagles)-I have known a few of these.

1. Werewolves of London (Warren Zevon)- A little old woman got mutilated...great stuff

Recap: #91-100 Rock Artist Countdown

91. KISS
92. Smashing Pumpkins
93. Rage Against The Machine
94. Soundgarden
95. Motley Crue
96. Def Leppard
97. Weezer
98. Tool
99. Foo Fighters
100. Ringo

#90 Green Day

Green Day

Green Day emerged during the mid-90s music revolution. They were considered a punk band, but were really too poppy to be considered true punk. The term that described them best was Pop Punk. They hit the super league with their album “Dookie” before falling off later in the decade. In the mid-00s, they returned with a vengeance with a concept album. “American Idiot” was definitely inspired by “Quadraphenia” and returned Green Day to a more prominent status.

Rock n Roll Moment: The Woodstock Mud Fight of 1994

Essential Green Day: Dookie (1994), American Idiot (2004)

Green Day’s Top 10:
Longview
Welcome To Paradise
Basket Case
When I Come Around
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Minority
American Idiot
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Holiday

Greatest World Series

The Ultimate World Series...game by game.

Game 1: Dodgers: 5 A's: 4 (1988): The Dodgers scored 2 in the first, but that was wiped out by a Jose Canseco Grand Slam in the second. The A's held a 4-3 lead in the 9th and turned to Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley to close it out. With 2 out, Mike Davis (.196 batter for the year) drew a pinch hit walk and stole second. Kirk Gibson came to bat unable to walk. He hit a game winning walk off 2 run shot. The Dodgers beat the mighty A's in 5 games.

Game 2: White Sox: 7 Astros: 6 (2005): This was a wild game. The Sox held a 6-4 lead in the 9th. Houston tied it. In the bottom of the 9th, Scott Podsednik (0 homers) hit a walk off homer.

Game 3: Mets: 5 Orioles: 0 (1969): Tommy Agee took control of this game. He led off with a homer off Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. He also made two outstanding catches saving the five runs and the game for the Mets (and Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan).

Game 4: Yankees: 7 Dodgers: 4 (1941): The Yankees were trailing Brooklyn 4-3 in the ninth. With 2 out and no one on, Tommy Hendrich struck out, but the ball got by the catcher. Mickey Owen's error opened the floodgates. New York scored 4 runs with 2 outs to take a 3-1 series lead.

Game 5: Yankees: 2 Dodgers: 0 (1956): Don Larsen's Perfect Game.

Game 6: Red Sox: 7 Reds: 6 (12 innings) (1975): This game had everything. It was tied 3-3 after 6. The Reds led by 3 in the bottom of the 8th when Bernie Carbo hit a pinch homer to tie the game at 6. Dwight Evans doubled off a runner at first from right field. Oh yeah, Carlton Fisk hit a homer...Sox win.

Game 7: Twins: 1 Braves: 0 (1991): Lonnie Smith stumbled rounding the bases. That was Atlanta's only chance to score. John Smoltz pitched 7 scoreless innings. Jack Morris pitched 10.

Game 8: Red Sox: 3 Giants: 2 (10 innings) (1912): An eight game series?? 1912 featured the Red Sox and their 105 wins and the Giants and their 103 wins. The series went beyond the distance.
Game 2 ended in a 6-6 tie. The two teams battled to an eighth game. It was 1-1 after 9. New York scored in the 10th to take a 2-1 lead. Boston scored 2 in the bottom half to win the series. Christy Mathewson went the distance for the Giants.

2008: Historical Paradigm Shift?

Every couple of generations, there is a political earthquake which changes American politics. 2008 could be such a year. The country could shift away from conservatism and toward European leftism. If this happens, it could mean the country will stay in Euro fashion for generations. It all depends on what happens in the presidential election. If people are willing to roll the dice on Obama, then it will probably happen. If they judge him to be too risky because he is not qualified for office or out of fear of a Democratic government, then it will not happen. (Of course Reid and Pelosi have been pretty incompetent, so even with an all-Dem government, the GOP might be gearing for a takeover that could last a century with those clowns in charge).

Here is a list of American Political Eras:

1. 1789-1800: Federalist Era: Pro-industry and national defense. Against the excesses of the French Revolution. (Washington and Adams presidents).

2. 1800-1860: Democratic Era: Pro-southern, pro-slavery, anti-protectionism, anti-big government, pro-agrarian, expansion of white male voting rights.

3. 1860-1932: Republican Era: The first part of the era is characterized by the Civil War. It was pro-northern and pro-African American. The entire era was pro-industry and pro-tariff.

4. 1932-1968: Democratic Era: The New Deal, Great Society, and Cold War Dems dominated.

5. 1969-present: Republican Era: Dominated by Nixon and Reagan. Pro-nationalist foreign policy, low taxes, against big government (except Bush 43), for expansion of civil liberties and democracy around the world.

US Grant: The Forgotten Underachiever!

I forgot to include U.S. Grant in the Underachiever Category.

U.S. Grant (1869-1877): His administration was racked with scandal and a depression hit in his second term which he could not handle. On the positive side, he defended African American rights, destroyed the first KKK, and helped pass the 15th Amendment which guaranteed black voting rights.