Kenn Hoekstra

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Recipe

2012-02-05T13:49:00.004-06:00

If one positive thing came from being unemployed for a year, it was that it gave me time to teach myself how to cook. I've come up with a number of recipes over the past year, including my famous Tex Mex Casserole Bake. That was a big hit! Hopefully this will be, too...

Kenn's Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole!

Ingredients:

1 lb. Baked Chicken, Shredded

1 26 Oz. Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 7 Oz. Can Mushrooms Pieces & Stems (Drained)

1 12 Oz. Bag Broccoli, Frozen, Chopped

1 14.5 Oz. Box of Farfale Pasta (Or Rotini or Penne)

1 8 Oz. Bag Shredded Cheese (Cheddar or Colby Jack)

1 2.75 Oz. Packet Pioneer Brand Peppered Gravy Mix

DIRECTIONS:

Remove the baked chicken from the bones, shred, put in a bowl and set aside.

In a large pot, start the water boiling for the pasta.

In a separate medium sized pot, make the Pepper Gravy as directed with two cups of hot water. Add in the shredded chicken, cream of mushroom soup and the drained mushrooms and cook over medium heat.

Start cooking the pasta noodles in the boiling water (takes about ten minutes).

While the pasta is cooking, put the frozen broccoli in a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water in the sink for a few minutes to defrost, then drain.

Add the broccoli to the gravy/soup/chicken/mushroom mixture and stir in over medium heat.

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Drain the pasta noodles and return them to the large pot. Add the contents of the medium pot to the noodles in the large pot and mix together thoroughly.

Spread the combined gravy and noodle mixture evenly in a large, glass baking dish. Top evenly with shredded cheese.

Cover baking dish with tinfoil and bake in oven at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes to heat through and melt the cheese.

Serve hot with Pillsbury biscuits (Optional) and enjoy!

Let me know how you like it!

Happy 72nd Birthday, George A. Romero!

2012-02-05T00:20:00.008-06:00

It's after Midnight, I realize, but "today," February 4th, 2012 was George A. Romero's 72nd birthday! George and his films have been a big influence on me (as most of you know) over the years, so to celebrate the milestone, I watched the European cut of DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) and followed it up with DIARY OF THE DEAD (2007) tonight!

I think my first exposure to George's movies was probably CREEPSHOW (1982). This was followed by DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978), which I also saw in the early 1980's on VHS. I absolutely loved it. I loved the idea of survivors barricading themselves in a shopping mall and trying to make what passes as a normal life for themselves while the world outside was anything but. A memorable, powerful film...

DAY OF THE DEAD (1985) followed. I admit I wasn't super impressed with it when I first saw it, but over the years I've come to realize it's one of the better films in the series. It helped cement my status as a Zombie fan for life. I watched the Romero produced TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE in high school and I was ecstatic in 1990 when the modern NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD came along.

I so enjoyed the Tom Savini directed NIGHT remake that it led me to watch the original 1968 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD for the first time in 1991. It was George's original Zombie masterpiece that showed me that older, black & white films could be a great source of entertainment, story, imagination and inspiration. I saw horror (and film in general) in a whole new light.

I admit I wasn't impressed with LAND OF THE DEAD (2005), but I did enjoy DIARY OF THE DEAD (2007) and SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD (2009) tremendously. THE CRAZIES (1973) and KNIGHTRIDERS (1981) also have a special place in my heart's shrine to Romero.

Nowadays, Zombies are everywhere. Quite frankly, Max Brooks can kiss my ass with his bullshit survival guide and WORLD WAR Z nonsense and so can the people who make THE WALKING DEAD comics and TV show. More to the point, they can kiss George's ass. I guess that makes me a bit of a hipster when it comes to Zombies. I can honestly say I liked Zombies before they were cool...

Happy birthday, George! Cheers and best wishes for many, many more...

Now someone pass me a flannel shirt, a stupid looking beret and a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, I've got an ironic poetry reading to attend at Starbucks!

Braaaaaaiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnsssss...

A New Sports Blog + 2012 Progress Report!

2012-01-18T18:47:00.003-06:00

I outlined several goals for myself in 2012 in my first blog post of the year. How are they coming along, you ask? Not too shabby, I guess, but there's still room for improvement.

So far I've:

Read The Scarlet Letter and started reading The Picture of Dorian Gray
Watched The African Queen
Lost another 4 or 5 lbs. (I'm still working out every day.)
Been playing Chess regularly.
Updated my journal every day (not yet today).
Blogged more often (Twice already this month!)
Been working on my writing portfolio slowly, but surely.
De-cluttered, some. I've been throwing stuff away and getting other stuff ready to sell.

And finally, I wrote a new article for Pocket Doppler: The 10 Most Heartbreaking Playoff Losses In Green Bay Packers History!

The article was inspired by the 37-20 beatdown the Packers suffered at the hands of the New York Giants this past Sunday. The loss came in at Number 5 on my list. Of the ten games, I've actually personally witnessed 8 of them. Lots of heartbreak in Packer land over the years... Head on over to Pocket Doppler and give it a read!

One other goal I've decided to add to my resolutions is to take better care of my teeth. I had a dental exam and I need to have a bunch of fillings. I brush twice a day, but I need to use an electric brush and I need to force myself to floss. I've been flossing at least every other day since my appointment. That's better than I was, but still not good enough.

Bring it on, 2012! I'm ready for you!

Words With Friends = Rage Against Friends

2012-01-12T15:58:00.006-06:00

Zynga's WORDS WITH FRIENDS has become a cultural phenomenon in the past few years. It's got millions of users and fans and it even got Alec Baldwin kicked off of an airplane. It's basically electronic Scrabble. You can play up to 20 games simultaneously with your friends on Facebook or on your smart phone. Sounds awesome, right?

Well, I hate it.

Why, you ask? I have an English degree with an emphasis in writing and I've been a writer my entire life. I have a vocabulary that's larger than most. I love to read every day and my spelling abilities are far above average. So why can't I win when I play this stupid game? I've been trying to figure it out.

When I play WORDS WITH FRIENDS, I try to make the biggest words I can with the letters I have. I generally start out the games pretty well, but inevitably my opponent kills my six, seven and eight word masterpieces with a bullshit word like "Qi" played on a triple word or triple letter score.

Do you know what Qi means? Of course you don't. No one does. It's a variant of the word "Chi," as in Chinese energy. I'm telling you, no one knows that. But the game does. And so does every WORDS WITH FRIENDS player who's had it dropped on them. It also allows other B.S. two letter words like "El," and "En," and "Lo," and "Et."

Why does that matter?

Because it allows people to basically play random letter combinations in order to nail a Triple Word Score in another row. That's what's happening. People sit there and play random letter combinations until they find something the game will allow, legitimate word or not. It's crap.

I've learned that to keep games competitive with these "I'll just try the letters until something works" players, you have to strategically try to keep the game in the center of the board as long as possible and away from the Triple Word Scores. But what fun is that?

It isn't.

It's only a matter of time before the punk you're playing gets a break with a two or three letter word no one's ever heard of that allows him to make a big Triple Word. I've won about 30% of the games I've played, lost 30% and rage quit about 40%. I've decided it's just not worth it anymore.

The final straw? I was playing a friend of mine from college. He had a 30 point lead on me in the middle of the game, but left me an opening. I played "JIVE" on a Triple Word and Triple Letter score for 97 points and felt so guilty about what a bitch move it was, I wanted to kick my own ass.

I haven't seen him online since. I get the feeling if I ever see him in person, he's going to punch me in the face.

I think that's enough WORDS WITH FRIENDS for me, thanks.

Happy New Year, 2012!

2012-01-01T16:54:00.005-06:00

It's hard to believe it's 2012 already. With the exception of my wedding in August (which was amazing!) and the Packers winning the Super Bowl (hooray!), 2011 was a complete and utter waste of time for me. Let's not kid ourselves...it was a Goddamned horror show.

Pi Studios imploded back in February and I've been out of work and looking (with very little success) ever since. Money has been a problem. The housing market in Houston tanked big time. I had unemployment issues. I failed to start a business. The Badgers lost the Rose Bowl. Yes, 2011 was truly an awful year in every sense of the word. Good riddance.

I guess there was one other bright spot: I still have my health (*knock on wood*). I managed to lose 20 lbs over the course of the year. Back in January, I was sitting at an all time high of 252 lbs, but as of this morning I was down to 232. It's still a long way to go to get to my goal weight of 210, but I'm hoping to do that this year.

That brings me to the point of this blog, actually. Goals. Resolutions, if you will. I have big plans for 2012 and even though you probably don't care much, I thought I would share them with you anyway. So here goes...

My 2012 New Year's resolutions!

First and foremost, get a job that doesn't make me want to jump off a cliff and get back to being a productive member of society.
Finish the long overdue repairs to the house (I may have to sell it soon!)
Cross off a bunch of movies from the AFI Greatest Movies Of All Time list that I haven't seen, including Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, Singin' In The Rain, Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot, All About Eve, The African Queen, Dr. Strangelove, Bonnie & Clyde, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Annie Hall and To Kill A Mockingbird.
Read more of the classic literature I failed to read in school growing up, including, The Great Gatsby, The Scarlet Letter, Lord of the Flies, The Prince, The Catcher in the Rye, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Brave New World, East of Eden and The Red Badge of Courage.
Get my weight down from 232 lbs to 210 lbs.
Play a game of Chess at least 3 times a week
Write something in my journal every day (the first time I've ever kept a journal in my life)
Blog more regularly (minimum of twice a month)
Assemble a polish a diverse writing portfolio I can be proud to show people
Re-design and re-launch Thundarr.com (or pay someone else to do it)
Become more proficient in Microsoft Project and Microsoft Visio (building my job skills)
Write and publish at least one sports article per month for PocketDoppler.com.
Finish writing at least one feature length screenplay
De-clutter my life by throwing away, giving away, selling or donating all of the extraneous crap I've assembled and have been carting around with me over the last 38+ years.

There are probably other things I should be doing, but I think this is a good start. I really do have high hopes for 2012 and I hope you do, too! Cheers to bigger and better things for all of us in the New Year!

Oh, and let's hope those pesky Mayans didn't really know something about 2012 that we don't... ;)

30+ Horror Movies On Netflix Streaming For Halloween 2011

2011-10-29T18:29:00.008-05:00

♫ Happy, Happy Halloween, Halloween, Halloween! Happy, Happy Halloween, Sil-ver Sham-rock! ♫

[ PSA: For the love of God, don't watch that if you are in danger of epileptic seizures! ]

That's right, boys and ghouls, Halloween is upon us! Are you looking for a horror movie to enjoy this Halloween? Do you have Netflix streaming? If you answered yes to both questions, then you're in luck!

Here are 30 great horror movies you can check out on Netflix streaming to give your 2011 Halloween some thrills and chills...

Modern Horror Classics:

The Exorcist - In my opinion, it's the scariest movie of all time...
Night of the Living Dead - George Romero's classic started it all!
The Evil Dead - Sam Raimi's original, low budget horror classic.
The Last House on the Left - Wes Craven's disturbing 1972 original.
Scream - The classic that re-invented the modern slasher genre!

John Carpenter (The Master of Horror) Films:

The Fog - Jamie Lee Curtis helps Carpenter again in a non HALLOWEEN role.
The Thing - One of the five greatest movies of all time, in my opinion.
Prince of Darkness - An underrated gem.
In the Mouth of Madness - Ditto.
Village of the Damned - Christopher Reeve, Mark Hamill and Kirstie Alley!

Bonus: Non-Horror Classics THEY LIVE and ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK!

Non-Glittery Vampire Movies:

Nosferatu (1929) - The original Max Shreck silent classic.
Dracula (1931) - Bela Lugosi's finest (darkest?) hour...
From Dusk 'Til Dawn - Quentin Tarrantino's new classic!
Dracula 2000 - Wes Craven has a lot of movies on this list...
The Lost Boys (Special Edition) - If you haven't seen this one, you need to fix that.

Anthology Horror:

Trick R Treat - Fantastic modern anthology masterpiece!
Creepshow - The 80s classic still holds up today...
Waxwork - Lesser known gem. This one's a lot of fun!
Masters of Horror - There are tons of MASTERS OF HORROR episodes on streaming right now. I recommend: Cigarette Burns, Incidents on and Off a Mountain Road and Valerie on the Stairs
Black Sabbath (1963) - Three tales of terror from Horror's classic era.

Bonus: Every season of THE TWILIGHT ZONE is on Netflix streaming!

Slashers:

The Burning - One of many (and among the best) Friday the 13th inspired imitators.
Maniac - One of the greatest head explosion scenes in cinematic history!
Child's Play - The original is still the best...
Hatchet - Probably the best slasher film of the last 10 years!
Jason X - A campy, sci-fi horror classic. You'll love it!

Lesser Known Gems/Miscellaneous:

Highway To Hell - Long out of print on home video, this one's a lot of fun.
The Keep - Another long out of print gem.
The Hazing - A modern horror gem with Evil Dead type roots.
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon - A serial killer biopic? It's awesome!
Miner's Massacre - Straight to video slasher from make up and F/X whiz John Carl Buechler...

Honorable Mention/Bonus Tracks:

Paranormal Activity 2 and 3 - The international, modern ghost story phenomenon!
The Crazies (2009) - One of the better horror remakes in recent years!
Leprechaun: In The Hood - Oh yeah...

Return of the Living Dead - If you're not zombie'd out, this one's a ton of fun!

and finally:

Pretty much every HELLRAISER movie from part 3 through 10!

There you have it! Honestly, Netflix Streaming is a horror fan's dream. You won't believe the selection they have; this is just the tip of the iceberg!

Happy Halloween, everyone! Enjoy a good scare!

Dear Brett Favre...

2011-10-06T13:00:00.004-05:00

Brett Favre has never been one to keep his mouth shut (or his pants zipped), but maybe...just maybe, it's time he learned. ESPN Milwaukee recently posted an open letter from Favre's teammate William Henderson to Brett himself asking the future Hall of Famer to get over himself. I happen to agree with Hendo 100%.

For the past few years, I've been wanting to write my own letter to Brett Favre. I know it won't mean as much coming from me since we've never been in the trenches together, but I've decided to write it anyway. This is my open letter to a man who has been a personal hero of mine and who's been a big part of my sports watching life.

So that said...

Dear Brett,

I've been a devoted Green Bay Packers fan for 34 of my 38 years. I grew up watching the Packers with my father and my brother and we all suffered as the franchise suffered through some pretty lean years. We watched guys like Bart Starr and Forrest Gregg coaching Quarterbacks like Lynn Dickey, Rich Whitehurst, Anthony Dilweg, Randy Wright and Don Majkowski to mediocre records and once a decade playoff appearances. But through thick and thin, we stuck by them.

Then you came into the picture.

I was a 19 year old College student when you started your first game for the Packers, Brett. I remember thinking at the time how terrible you were and I was frustrated by all of the poor decisions and interceptions in the early going, but I, like Mike Holmgren, stuck by you. For the next 15 years, Packer Nation and I got to enjoy watching the winningest team of the salary cap era and we have you to thank for being such a big part of that success.

You gave my dad a chance to see one last Packers Super Bowl win before he died, Brett. You helped put the title back in Titletown. For that, the Packers organization and fans will always owe you a debt of gratitude. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Brett, for giving us 15 great years of Packers football.

When you started your string of false retirements, I stood by you. When you asked to be traded, I stood by you. I stood by you as a New York Jet. When you went to the Minnesota Vikings and most Packers fans cried foul, I stood by you and respected the fact that you still wanted to play and go out a winner. I even stood by you through Jen Sterger-gate.

Now you're taking cheap shots at Aaron Rodgers? I can't stand by you through that.

What did Aaron Rodgers do you to? Aaron Rodgers didn't ask to come to Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers wasn't lobbying for your job. Aaron Rodgers wasn't pushing the coaches for playing time. All Aaron Rodgers did was practice hard, be respectful to you and he tried to learn from you, but you blew him off. When you left, Rodgers did what he had to do: his job. And through all of this, to this day, Aaron Rodgers has yet to say one bad thing about you. Not one. He has taken the high road.

Maybe it's time you do the same?

Would it kill you to let bygones be bygones? The NFL is a business. Ted Thompson did what he had to do to build a team for the long term. It wasn't personal. You put the team in a tough spot and they had to move on. Had you not decided to play chicken with the management, you probably would have had another 2 years under center in Green Bay. I hate to say it, but you, my friend, did this to yourself.

Would it kill you to say, "Yeah, Aaron Rodgers is doing a great job" or "I wish him the best" or "I hope the Packers win it all again this year?" That's really all you'd have to say to win back the hearts of the Packers faithful like me. Is that REALLY so hard?

I was raised to believe that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. So if you CAN'T say any of those things I suggested, how about just biting your tongue and saying nothing? That should be easy, right?

You're a lucky man, Brett. You got to play in a state that worships its sport heroes. Did you watch the Packers on opening day? Bart Starr ran out on the field waving a Green Bay Packers flag to the cheers and adoration of a stadium full of 75,000+ fans and a national Television audience. He's a hero in Wisconsin. You were a hero in Wisconsin, once. If you play your cards right, you could be a hero in Wisconsin again.

Silence is (Green and) Golden, Brett. So how about it? Please? For your teammates? For your fans? For me? Be a hero again. You did it once. I know you can do it again.

With love, admiration and respect,

--Kenn

*******************************************

*Whew* There. I feel better now.

Now Writing For: Pocket Doppler

2011-08-09T13:33:00.003-05:00

If you've followed my exploits over the past few years, you've seen me write a number of Wisconsin Sports related stories for The Bleacher Report. No more.

I'm taking my talents *cough* to Pocket Doppler, a nice, indie Wisconsin Sports blog I discovered through friends I met on Twitter. Great guys and gals!

My articles so far include:

Bookmark Pocket Doppler and check back often for your daily dose of great Wisconsin Sports coverage!

More soon...

15 Useful Free Android Apps and Resources For Writers

2011-06-30T11:29:00.009-05:00

According to Google, 500,000 new Android devices are being activated daily. Android phones are amazing pieces of technology with an even more amazing selection of games, widgets and applications at their disposal.

If you're a writer with an Android device, you can put your Droid to work for you! Here are 15 great, free Android applications and resources to help you increase your productivity and achieve your writing goals.

15. Tweetdeck (Twitter) - Promoting your writing online? Manage all of your social media accounts from one convenient app. Tweetdeck features the ability to post from multiple Twitter accounts as well as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Google Buzz and Foursquare. Very convenient for the self-promoting writer on the go!

14. WikiRhymer.com - Writing poetry, rapping or songwriting? This isn't an app, per se, but it is a very nicely formatted website you should bookmark on your Android web browser. If you need a rhyming word, you'll find it here in one convenient easy to read, easy to search location.

13. Diaro (Itesta) - Writers should keep a diary or a journal for their memoirs after they become rich and famous, right? Diaro is a free, password protected journal that supports multiple languages and multiple social networks if you feel like sharing your innermost secrets with the world.

12. Fact Book (Urbian) - Fact Book puts the world at your fingertips. Thousands of facts and statistics using data from the CIA World Fact Book and from the United Nations for every country and region in the world. A great, free informational resource.

11. Stopwatch and Timer (SportsTrackLive.com) - Need to block your writing time?Need to bill a client by the hour? This free Stopwatch and Timer is simple, straightforward and elegant for all your time tracking needs.

10. Kindle (Amazon) - No Kindle required! Amazon's free Kindle app for Android devices lets you read ebooks anywhere. Everyone knows that to be a good writer, you need to be an avid reader. Kindle makes it easy!

9. Inspirational Quotes (AppFlute) - Feeling stuck? Feeling down? Don't feel like writing today? Every writer needs a little motivation at some point. Browse hundreds of inspirational, motivational sayings by famous people to help motivate you to get back on that writing horse!

8. Urban Dictionary (Tim Clark) - The best free urban dictionary for android devices (for mature audiences only). Look up urban terminology from a growing, user generated repository of modern slang. Features word of the day, random words, word sharing and the ability to star and bookmark words.

7. Quickpedia (Next Mobile Web) - Voted one of the "Top 9 Google Android Apps" by CNET, Quickpedia searches Wikipedia articles and downloads the content to your devide so you can easily do research on the go. Optimized for easy viewing on small screens. E-mail entries to yourself or others, even with a non-Gmail account.

6. Advanced English & Thesaurus (Mobile System) - Features 140,000 entries covering 1.4 million words. Possibly the most comprehensive free dictionary and thesaurus on the Android platform. Very useful.

5. Cam Scanner -Phone PDF Creator (IntSig Information Co. LTD) - Scan documents, text, images, white board writing, notes -- just about anything, convert it to a .PDF and e-mail it to yourself for later reference. James Bond would be proud!

4. Spell Checker +Voice Free (AndroidSX) - The #1, most popular spell checker for Android with over 1 million downloads. Self exp... Self expla... *looks it up* Self explanatory!

3. Tape-A-Talk Voice Recorder (Markus Drosser) - Record your ideas on the road, in your car or anywhere else that isn't a movie theater, library or monastery. Records even with the phone display off and stores the .wav files on your SD card. Make high or low quality recordings and upload them via FTP!

2. Google Docs (Google) - A must have app for writing on the go. Create, edit, upload and share your documents. Makes collaborating easy! You can even take a photo of printed text and instantly convert it to Google Docs format. Every writer should have this.

1. Evernote (Evernote) - The mother of all free writing apps, Evernote allows you to take notes anywhere, clip text and images from websites and sync the information with your PC, Mac and mobile devices. Never lose or forget anything again! Once you start using Evernote, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!

There you have it -- 15 useful, free android applications and resources for writers. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and write something great!

LaTroy Hawkins Wants The Ball: Why Won't The Brewers Give It To Him?

2011-06-23T11:07:00.005-05:00

I was watching the Milwaukee Brewers drop another Interleague game against the Tampa Bay Rays yesterday, and I was not a happy camper. It wasn't just the fact that they lost, though. It was HOW they lost.

With runs at a premium and a day off to follow Thursday, why not leave everything you have out on the field and take a legitimate shot at winning the game? That's the million dollar question -- and the focus of my latest article written for Bleacher Report:

LaTroy Hawkins Wants The Ball: Why Aren't The Milwaukee Brewers Giving It To Him?

The Brewers bullpen is a mess right now and Takashi Saito's return isn't going to be enough to fix it. They're frustrated. I'm frustrated. All of Brewers nation is frustrated!

You can tell yourself, "It's a long season. It's just one game." Eventually, though, you reach the point where "just one game" make all the difference. Righting the ship now could be the difference between the Brewers making the post season or watching it from their living room couches.

I say "Play ball!"

Kenn's Tex Mex Casserole Bake Recipe

2011-06-04T12:53:00.005-05:00

Check out my latest culinary creation! I was hungry for Mexican food and wanted to try to make something new, so I killed two birds with one (very tasty) stone. I've really been enjoying learning how to cook. I'm certainly no "Master Chef," but it's still been a lot of fun experimenting with new and exciting foodstuffs. It's like art...with food!

So, without further ado...

=======================

Kenn's Tasty Tex Mex Casserole Bake

=======================

1 Lb. Ground Beef

1/3 Yellow Onion (Diced)

1 Packet McCormick Enchilada Sauce Mix

2 Cups Salsa

1 Can Black Beans (Drained)

1 Can Rotel's Tomatoes and Green Chilis

1 8 oz. Can of Tomato Sauce

1 Box Rice A Roni Spanish Rice

1 Can Diced Tomatoes

2 Tbsp. Butter or Margerine

1 Can Sliced Black Olives

1 Bunch Green Onions (Diced)

1 Medium Sized Bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos (crushed)

1 10 oz. Bag of Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend

Prep Time: 30 Minutes

Cook Time: 30 Minutes

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with 1/3 of a diced yellow onion. Drain and return to skillet. Add McCormick Enchilada Sauce Mix, Salsa, can of Rotel's, tomato sauce and can of black beans. Heat through, stirring occasionally, and set aside to simmer.

While first mixture is heating through and simmering, in separate pan, make Rice A Roni mix as directed (requires the butter and the can of diced tomatoes). When finished, add the diced green onions and the sliced black olives to the Rice A Roni mix.

Pre-Heat oven to 300 degrees.

Cover the bottom of a large glass baking dish with a thin layer of crushed Doritos. Pour in and spread the enchilada/beef/bean/salsa mixture over the crushed Doritos evenly. Add a thin layer of shredded cheese on top.

Pour in and spread the Rice A Roni mixture evenly over the cheese layer. Top Rice A Roni layer with the remaining shredded cheese.

Cover with tinfoil and bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes until cheese is melted and dish is heated through.

Serves 6 hungry souls (My wife and I got 3 meals for two out of it)!

NOTES: You can adjust the spiciness by using Hot, Medium or Mild salsa and Hot, Medium or Mild Rotel's. This first attempt wasn't as spicy as I'd like, so next time I'm going to go with "Hot" everything and maybe add some hot sauce to it as well. I may also add steamed southwest fiesta corn next time as well.

Remembering Randy "Macho Man" Savage (1952 - 2011)

2011-05-20T18:50:00.008-05:00

‎"Hulkamania is like a single grain of sand in the Sahara desert that is Macho Madness." ~Randy "Macho Man" Savage

I was saddened to hear the news today that one of my childhood idols, Randy Savage, had been killed in a car accident in Florida after suffering a heart attack. Crushing news to lose an idol at the young age of 58. Was I fan of Randy "Macho Man" Savage growing up? I must answer using his famous catch phrase: "Ohhhhhh Yeahhhhhh!"

Macho Madness was very much alive and well in the house of my youth. My brother and I were HUGE World Wrestling Federation (It was the WWF at the time) fans and the WWF was reaching its peak during the mid to late 1980's, in large part because of a successful toy line, a print magazine, mega events like WrestleMania and colorful wrestling greats like Hulk Hogan and the man I am paying tribute today, "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

As a kid growing up on a central Wisconsin farm, we didn't have cable Television. We had 6 total channels. We had the 3 network channels (CBS, NBC and ABC -- Fox didn't exist yet) along with two additional CBS stations (channel 3 and channel 8) and a 2nd ABC station that came in only after 11pm when our aerial antenna was turned just right (channel 11). As such, we had limited access to wrestling. When "WrestleMania" events happened, we couldn't get them on Pay Per View. We had a long, agonizing wait for their release on VHS before we could go down to "Video City" and rent them!

Each week, the TV Guide would show up in the mail (with no Internet, how else would you know what's on TV?) and my brother and I would race to the mail box, grab the TV guide and turn the page to Saturday night at 10:30pm on NBC in the hopes that Saturday Night's Main Event would be on! The show, if you didn't know, was an hour and a half of big time match ups between the WWF's biggest stars. The "Ham and Eggers" as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan called them, always had Saturday night off so the stars could come out and shine!

Among the biggest matches on Saturday Night's Main event were fought between Randy "Macho Man" Savage and opponents like Jake "The Snake" Roberts, George "The Animal" Steele, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Koko B. Ware and The Honkey Tonk Man. The other greats fought too, but Randy's matches were always among the most epic and the most entertaining.

Randy would talk to "Mean" Gene Okerlund before the matches and provide my brother and I with entertaining quotes for days...years, even! Then Randy would go down to the ring (escorted by the lovely Miss Elizabeth, the first lady of Wrestling), he would put on a spectacle and, more often than not, he would win his match with his signature "big elbow from the top rope" finishing move (a move my brother and I executed on each other on more than one occasion).

Before my brother and I would sit down to play a game of TECMO BOWL on the NES, I would adjust my imaginary "Macho Man" Randy Savage sunglasses, point at him and say, "Ohhhhh yeahhhh...Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat? Your future looks bleak..." It was always good for a few laughs.

Another famous quote my brother and I would summon frequently is, "You see I'm gonna take that hairy bozo out there...George "The Animal" Steele...and I'm gonna put him down and pin him, 1, 2, 3...then hurt him REAL BAD!" That quote was the precursor to countless home staged wrestling matches over the years.

*sigh* Good times...

So how big of an influence was Randy Savage on my life? I couldn't tell you what I had for breakfast yesterday morning, but I remember "Macho Madness" quotes from 25 years ago. And I probably always will...

Rest in Peace, Randy Savage. You may be gone, but "Macho Madness" will live forever with me and in the heart of wrestling fans everywhere! Ohhhhhh yeahhhhhh!

Going To The Movies Used To Be Fun, Right?

2011-04-16T16:38:00.006-05:00

I just got back from seeing Scream 4 (or Scre4m if you prefer) with a friend. I enjoyed the movie itself quite a bit, but the movie going EXPERIENCE left a lot to be desired. Honestly, I haven't enjoyed going out to the movies for about ten or eleven years now. Not to sound like a grumpy old man, but this new generation of kids could find a way to take the fun out of winning the lottery.

An afternoon movie at my local theater costs about $9.00. Tack on another $11.00 for a soda and popcorn and you're looking at $20.00. That amounts to about 3 months of Netflix streaming or 20 Redbox rentals. Going out to the movies is an INVESTMENT in today's entertainment market when you can get so much entertainment these days free or extremely cheap.

So given the big investment, why does the movie going public insist on taking the experience so lightly? Why do they insist on making the experience so Goddamn terrible for people like me who actually want to enjoy going out to see a movie? Good question...

If you've been to a movie in the last ten years, you probably know what I'm talking about. Today's Scream 4 experience had most of the bullshit I expect when going to see a movie these days:

1. A loud group of six teenage girls sat in the row in front of us, talking and giggling throughout. One of them arrived early to snag the row and...

2. ...the other five teenage girls trickled in over the course of the previews displaying the wonderful tendency people have these days of not showing up before the movie starts.

3. This same group of girls spent the bulk of the movie sending text messages (probably to each other) so we got to battle the wonderfully bright light in the dark theater. It's really fun on your eyes. NOT!

4. A mother with 3 kids under the age of 10 in tow showed up. Apparently she thought that watching a slasher movie with her kids was a great way to bond as a family? (This wasn't nearly as bad as the Hispanic couple with 8 kids under the age of 13 who sat behind us during My Bloody Valentine 3D a few years back, but I digress...)

5. Several people showed up after the movie had already started.

6. 3 younger girls showed up about 20 minutes after the movie started (probably with tickets purchased for another movie) and missed the entire (awesome) opening sequence.

7. We got to witness people getting up and going to the bathroom and missing critical scenes, because apparently no one can hold it for two hours anymore.

8. The 3 young girls I mentioned earlier that snuck in left with about 20 minutes to go before the end of the movie (probably because they didn't understand what was going on from missing the intro).

9. I got to enjoy the company of the lovey dovey couple that comes in late and sits at the end of your row making out and giggling. Despite an abundance of empty rows, hey, what the hell? Welcome to mine!

10. The movie ends. We got to watch the kids who think it's funny to block the projector make shadow puppets on the screen while the credits are rolling.

The only things that were missing from this travesty were...

11. A phone actually rings and a guy answers it and has a full conversation without getting up to leave the theater (that's happened to me plenty of times).

12. The non-English speaking person getting the movie translated for them by a bilingual friend (this happened during a screening of Legally Blonde 2 years ago, successfully making an already bad movie unbearable).

13. Soda cans popping open and chip bags crumpling as the lights go down from the assholes who bring in their own food in backpacks because they can't be bothered to visit the concession stand. The theater's inability to make money on concessions is the reason it costs $20.00 to see a movie these days, people!

14. The one punk kid who buys a ticket, then lets his friends in through a side door when no one is looking so five kids get in for the price of one. Another reason movies are so expensive...

15. And the coup de grace of every movie going experience... *drumroll* The crying baby!

*Heavy Sigh*

Going out to the theater to see a movie WAS fun once, right? Or am I just delusional? Wait... No, it WAS fun once! I remember now...

It was the summer of 1989. I was 16 years old and my friends and I went out to see Batman, Star Trek V, Lethal Weapon 2, Die Hard, Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, Ghost Busters 2, License To Kill, Honey I Shrunk The Kids, Darkman and Dead Poet's Society that year... And those are just the ones I remember! I think Glory and the Hunt For Red October came out that year, too!

I guess it probably helped that we didn't have smart phones (or any phones) in 1989, but I can tell you that we were brought up to not talk when we were at the movies, too. Movies in 1989 were almost always quiet, enjoyable experiences. The theater actually wouldn't let you buy a ticket if you showed up late and no one would even think of bringing a baby to a crowded cinema!

So why has the movie going experience changed so much in 22 years? Sure, we didn't have HULU or Netflix streaming or Redbox and movies weren't $9.00 or $10.00 a ticket then, but a ticket still cost at least $5.50! That was still an investment in a time when you had the option of renting movies on VHS (or Betamax) for $1.00 or $2.00 a night!

I guess the only thing that's different are the moviegoers themselves. The new generation doesn't care about other people and doesn't respect the sanctity of the movie going experience. They are growing up in a world where you can see a movie anywhere these days (even on your phone), so what's the big deal?

In a perfect world, all of these kids and all of the other rude people who ruin movies these days would just stay home. Sadly, at the end of the day, the people who end up staying home are people like me: the ones who are just trying to have a good time and enjoy something they love.

Kinda makes you want to Scre4m, doesn't it?

My Contribution To "A Man, A Can And A Plan!"

2011-03-29T15:26:00.006-05:00

I made this delicious casserole dish up one day when I was feeling inspired and I think it turned out pretty well. I was inspired to experiment by a cook book I own called "A Man, A Can And A Plan."

I refined the recipe after my first attempt to make it and cooked it up again last night with even better results. It was great! And so easy, even a kitchen-phobic man can do it!

Men, if you want to impress your lady friend (or even your imaginary friend) with your mad skills in the kitchen, give this simple recipe a try!

Kenn Hoekstra's Zesty, Cheesy, Chicken Pasta Casserole Recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

1 16 oz. Box of Rotini (or Penne or Macaroni) Pasta Noodles
1 26 oz. Can Cream of Mushroom Soup (The big boy!)
2 10 oz. Cans Rotel's Original Tomatoes & Green Chilis (Not Drained)
2 5 oz. Cans Premium Chicken in Water (Drained)
1 Small Can Mushrooms Pieces & Stems (Drained)
1 8 oz. Bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

SPICES (To Taste):

Pepper
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Kickin' Chicken Spice (Optional, but this stuff is RAD!)

PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Pre-Heat oven to 300 degrees.

Boil a large pot of water and cook the pasta as directed.

In a separate medium sized pot, mix together Cream of Mushroom Soup, 2 cans Rotel's, 2 cans of chicken (drained), 1 small can of mushrooms (drained), 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce and spices (to taste). Mix together and stir under medium heat until warmed through.

Drain cooked pasta noodles and return to large pot. Mix in contents of medium pot with the noodles in the large pot and stir until well mixed.

Pour combined mixture into large casserole dish and spread evenly. Top with shredded cheese until covered (I used about half of an 8 oz. bag) and cover the casserole dish with tin foil.

Place covered casserole dish in pre-heated oven for 30 minutes at 300 degrees to heat through and melt cheese.

Serve hot and enjoy! Feeds a small army!

OPTIONAL:

- If you don't like the spicy kick to your dish, you can substitute diced tomatoes for the Rotel's. If you're hardcore and you want it extra spicy, use Rotel's HOT tomatoes and chilis!

- Substitute drained chunk tuna for chicken if you prefer a tuna based casserole. Both are great!

- Use real chicken pulled off the bones instead of canned!

That's it! Easy peasy!

If you try this recipe and you like it, shoot me an e-mail or post a comment and let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

So, You Want To Make Video Games?

2011-03-15T16:29:00.004-05:00

My old friend Pat Lipo from back in the Raven Software days posted this on his Facebook page today and I just had to snag it.

This video is one of the most hilariously depressing looks at video game development I've ever seen! Check out SO YOU WANT TO WORK IN THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY and embrace the horror!

Remember the old U.S. Army ads that claimed it was "The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love?" Honestly, that's video game development. Is it as bad as this video implies? Yes. It may actually be worse, in some cases. But if you care enough about it to work on games despite all of the terribleness, you'll probably still love your job.

I know I still do, even 15 years later...

Treyton Kilar "Field of Dreams" Pepsi Refresh Project - Voting Ends 1/31/2011!

2011-01-30T18:29:00.006-06:00

Please take a moment and go to: http://www.refresheverything.com/treytonkilar, sign in with your Facebook account or an e-mail address, and vote for the Treyton Kilar Field of Dreams project!

You can also text 105500 to 73774 from your mobile phone!

Project Goals

Honor the memory of late kindergarten student Treyton Kilar
Provide a new baseball field for central Wisconsin children and families
Educate people on the deadly nature of drunk driving

Watch this video and learn more about Treyton's story:

Voting will take you less than a minute and it would mean a lot to me and to Treyton's family! The idea has slipped into 3rd place and only the top 2 ideas in this donation range will get funding. We can do this if we all act now!

Don't delay! Go vote now! And send a text vote in, while you're at it! GO FOR IT!

Thank you for your support!

Twitter Contest - Less Ambitious Movies!

2011-01-05T11:12:00.012-06:00

The latest Twitter hashtag trend that caught my eye was #LessAmbitiousMovies! According to one of my readers, it originated with/was inspired by this Sporcle Exercise called "Lesser Movies." Awesome!

Not surprisingly, there were some real gems in there!

[ UHF's - Conan The Librarian ]

Some of my favorites...

- Conan The Librarian

- Raiders of the Ark That's Right Over There

- The Day Before Yesterday

- True Grits

- Attack of the 5 Foot Woman

- There's Nothing About Mary

- No County For Old Men

- Lawrence of Armenia

- Scott Pilgrim vs. A Couple of Guys

- None Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

- Slumdog Thousandaire

- The Two Commandments

- Alice in Cleveland

- Conception

- Dial M For Moviefone

- Planet of the Crepes

- Glad Max

- The B Team

- Patton (Oswalt)

- Cry Hard

- Partial Recall

- The Dark Night

- The Empire Turns The Other Cheek

- Schindler's To Do List

- Ace Ventura: Pet Owner

- The 4 Year Old Virgin

- Apocalypse Soon

- The Last Bartender

- Charisma Carpenter's: The Thingy

- Harold and Kumar Go To Burger King

- Forgetting Sarah Palin

- Tween Wolf

- Demonstration Man

- 20,000 Inches Under The Sea

- There May Be Blood

And, *drumroll*, my personal favorite...

- Dude, There's My Car!

Bonus:

- It's Not Deliverance, It's DiGiorno!

So head over to Twitter and check out the hashtag #LessAmbitiousMovies! Oh, and you can follow me on Twitter as well at http://www.twitter.com/kennhoekstra!

Update: Another "Best Of Less Ambitious Movies" List I found, plus Huffington Post's List of Favorites!

Amazon Kindle - I Joined The Dark Side...

2010-12-29T17:31:00.012-06:00

Thanks to a wonderfully thoughtful Christmas gift giver, I am now the proud owner of the 3rd generation Amazon Kindle (in graphite, no less)! I did it. I joined the dark side. I joined the eBook revolution!

I admit I was skeptical. I was reluctant to try it, like many people, because I just love books so much. I love how they look and feel and smell. I love everything about them. But honestly? So far I love it!

Despite my tactile love for and emotional attachment to the physical nature of books, it's my greater love for READING in general that ultimately makes the Kindle so awesome!

The visual quality is great. I haven't suffered any eye strain and I'm not having any difficulty reading the text. The battery life, from what I hear, is close to a month! Be sure to turn off the built in wireless when not in use, though, if you want to test out that claim.

Speaking of wireless, the new Kindle 3 that I have has built in WiFi and 3G support, so you can browse the Amazon Kindle store anywhere you can get a cell phone signal. How awesome is that?

But the best part? I have TONS of books (and classic literature) downloaded to my Kindle and so far, it's all been FREE! I've managed to find The Complete Works of Shakespeare, H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe along with classic novels like Dracula, Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, Treasure Island, Huckleberry Finn and A Tale of Two Cities!

Want thousands of free books for your Kindle (or other e-reader)? Try:

- Project Gutenberg - The original source for over 33,000 free eBooks!

- Many Books - The best eBooks at the best price: Free!

- Planet eBook - Literature galore!

- Amazon's Kindle Store - Hundreds of free titles from the Kindle source!

- Ultimate Guide To Free Books - The title says it all!

It's amazing what's out there!

And when you start buying books, check out Amazon's Kindle Deal of the Day!

I honestly don't think the Kindle (or devices like it) will ever make me abandon physical books entirely, but in the meantime I am very much enjoying catching up on all of the literature I could ever hope to have...

Technology is amazing: thousands of books and all in the palm of my hand! And best of all? I won't have to box them up the next time I move...

QUAKE Arena Arcade XBLA Review Roundup!

2010-12-17T16:54:00.006-06:00

As I reported earlier in the week, QUAKE Arena Arcade (my baby!) is now available on Xbox LIVE Arcade and the reviews and end user praise are starting to roll in!

Here's what reviewers are saying about the fastest paced shooter on the Xbox 360!

- SFX 360 QUAKE Arena Arcade Review - 4 Stars out of 5!

"Quake Arena Arcade is nothing but great addictive fun..."

"This game brings back what it meant to kick ass and taunt worthless opponents who think they have game."

- Game Focus Reviews QUAKE Arena Arcade - 7.2 out of 10!

"Good ol’ fast-paced Quake!"

"45 (!) Maps"

- Dealspwn QUAKE Arena Arcade Review - 8 out of 10!

"Quake Arena Arcade is blisteringly fast, packed with value and delivers a fitting revival of a classic franchise."

"Mad, crazy, brutal awesomeness..."

- IRB Gamer QUAKE Arena Arcade Review - 3 1/2 Stars out of 5

"This game was meant for big pile ups of flying lazers and gib showers..."

"Overall, the game does its job and you will get what Quake Arena has been known for. You can count on that."

- VG Revolution QUAKE Arena Arcade Review - 7.4 out of 10

"Best shooter on XBLA!"

"This game has infinite replay value if you want to play a classic shooter."

"If you have been a fan of this game then this is a must buy for you."

- Run DLC QUAKE Arena Arcade Review - 4 out of 5!

"For a while, it seemed like the project was in limbo, or that the developers were struggling to bring this classic franchise to Microsoft’s console. The end result easily squashed those concerns, as this fast-paced and frantic first person shooter has what it takes to become one of Live’s most popular games."

"Classic Quake experience, tons of maps, speedy online play!"

Don't believe the reviewer hype? Here's a smattering of what QUAKE Arena Arcade players are saying in gaming forums and on Twitter!

"Quake 3 Arena for Xbox Live Arcade! BONER!"

"I dare say it's the best shooter on arcade!

"This. This is my Christmas day, right here, if I can wrestle the controller away from my Peggle-loving family."

"I can say this about Quake... 1) The controls work beautifully. There's a button for a quick 180-degree spin! 2) It feels like Quake, even with a controller. 3) It's a BLAST."

"Quake arena arcade is the shit. $15 well spent

"Quake Arena for the Xbox Arcade is DOPE!

"That Quake Arena game is amazing! I played it and loved it. Reminds me of when i used to play it on DreamCast and PC. So want!!!!"

‎"Picked up Quake 3 yesterday. They did a great job with the controls! I used to be super into the pc version for years, but adapting to the controller only took a few minutes."

"Quake Arena on Xbox Live? ALL AWESOME!"

So what are you waiting for? You can give the demo a whirl or queue up the full version download through Xbox Live Marketplace!

QUAKE Arena Arcade Rocket Jumps Onto Xbox LIVE Arcade!

2010-12-15T15:55:00.006-06:00

Pi Studios, id Software and Bethesda Softworks (and most of all, ME!) are proud to present, at long last, QUAKE Arena Arcade for Xbox LIVE Arcade!

The long awaited next-genified update of 1999's Quake III: Team Arena rocket jumps onto Live Arcade today, December 15th, 2010, for a suggested retail price of 1200 Microsoft Points ($15.00)!

From the Press Release:

Enter the Fragfest: Supports up to 16-player 'Free for All' and team-based battles over Xbox LIVE and System Link.
Deadly Arenas: Lava-filled ruins, deserted military bases and the chaotic void of outer space are your battlegrounds.
Quad Damage: Over 15 pick-ups, power-ups, items and runes to boost your health, armor, ammo and abilities.
Become an Arena Legend: Compete in over 75 missions, challenges and boss matches, in your pursuit to defeat Xaero, the Arena Champion.
Claw Your Way to the Top: Check your standings against other gladiators on the Xbox LIVE leader boards and earn up to 12 achievements as you fight your way to fame.
Hone Your Skills: Create a custom bot-match in any arena, in any game type.

The game features:

High Definition, Widescreen Picture!
Fully customizable, re-mappable control scheme!
Twelve never before seen maps alongside 33 classic id Software Arenas!
All new single player campaign and single player challenge modes!
16 Player Multiplayer Support!
Offline play vs. bots with greatly improved artificial intelligence!
New Character Team and Sport Skins!
Enhanced visual effects, including bloom and glare!
Dolby 5.1 surround sound!
Remastered Audio and New Music Tracks!

Hide your kids, hide your wife, and hide your husband cause they’re QUAKE-in everybody out here!

You can give the demo a whirl or queue up the full version download through Xbox Live Marketplace!

Remember Rule #1: FRAG Anything That Isn't You!

Twitter Contest - Disturbing Sitcoms!

2010-12-14T18:26:00.002-06:00

In the same comedic, pun-ny vein as "NBA Novels" and "MLB Novels," the latest Twitter hash tag contest to earn huge belly laughs from me (and what a huge belly it is) is: #DisturbingSitcoms!

Here are some of my favorites:

Buried With Children
The OJ Simpsons
10 and Pregnant
How I Killed Your Mother
The Golden Shower Girls
Jersey Sore
Doogie Howser, OBGYN
Who Wants To Be Chamillionaire
Hood Times
8 Simple Rules For Raping My Teenage Daughter
Gonorrhea Or No Deal
Crappy Days
Two Guys, A Girl & A Pregnancy Test
Gilligan's Hymen
I Dream of Weenie
Survivor: Riker's Island
The Vampire Diarrheas
America's Funniest Home Wreckers
Parks and Masturbation
The Cosby Shower
Manson In The Middle
Sabrina The Teenage Bitch
T.J.'s Dead Hooker
Mad About Goo
Pimp My Wife
Hogan's Herpes
Groin Pains
$#!% Sarah Palin Says
How I Met Your Brother
Drunky Brewster

And a few I submitted...

Laverne & Scurvy
R*A*S*H*
Charles Been Charged
My Two 'Nads

And my all time favorite, courtesy of my old friend Jake Simpson...

...Porkin' Mindy!

On Twitter? Come follow me at http://www.twitter.com/kennhoekstra

Bomb Up! Bomberman Live: Battlefest Arrives On Xbox LIVE Arcade!

2010-12-09T14:10:00.009-06:00

As many of you know, I've been working as the developer side Producer/Project Lead on Bomberman Live: Battlefest with Pi Studios and Hudson Entertainment for some time now. The game released yesterday, December 8th, 2010, on Xbox LIVE Arcade and I have to say, I'm very proud of what we accomplished with this title!

Bomberman Live: Battlefest is the sequel to 2008's Bomberman Live and it features improved Artificial Intelligence, Completely Re-Written Networking Code and a host of other improvements, enhancements and fixes to go along with a s*** ton of new content and gameplay features!

If you decide you want to check out Bomberman Live: Battlefest, here's what you can expect...

* Up to 8 Player Multiplayer
* 15 New Arenas!
* 17 Power-Ups (Including 5 Brand New Power Ups)!
* 9 New Game Modes!
* All New Team games!
* Tons of New Costumes!
* Play as Your Avatar!
* New Music!
* AWESOME: Mix and match gimmicks with game modes to make your own custom matches!!!

Interested? Check out this early preview and download the FREE trial mode before you buy! And when you DO buy, you get all this for a mere 800 Microsoft Points (that's ten bucks to you and me)!

What are you waiting for? Grab some Bomberman Live: Battlefest and have a (*ahem*) BLAST!

The Six Million Dollar Man Arrives On DVD!

2010-11-30T17:17:00.004-06:00

Six Million Dollar Man fans rejoice! The awesomely iconic 1970's television show is FINALLY available on DVD after years trapped in development (and legal) hell!

I was watching Oprah (don't ask why) and saw Lee Majors was going to make an appearance. It seemed pretty random at the time, but then it dawned on me that it must have finally happened...the long awaited release of SMDM on DVD! And I was right!

All six seasons of the show are available in one deluxe boxed set for the first time ever from Time Life. The set includes loads of extras, custom packaging, all three reunion movies and all of the crossover episodes from The Bionic Woman!

Basically, it's everything a Six Million Dollar Man fan could ask for! Well...unless that fan has already joined the Blu-Ray camp. In that case, your wait will be just a little longer, it seems.

For a full review of the Boxed Set, check out this write up from Film School Rejects. All in all, it sounds like it's a pretty sweet set!

For ordering information, head over to Time Life's Website for all the details!

First Thundarr The Barbarian on DVD and now The Six Million Dollar Man? Happy Holidays, indeed, in 2010!

I'm Famous! (Infamous?)

2010-11-12T18:09:00.003-06:00

Recently a mysterious sighting off the coast of California (of what appeared to be a missile launch) threw the Twitterverse into an uproar.

I, personally, jokingly Tweeted about the event with a link to a news article coupled with the comment: "If you misplaced a missile off the coast of California, the U.S. Government would like to have a few words with you..."

My Fark headline styled Tweet was spotted by someone at CBS News and is used in this video around the 1:32 mark:

Kind of random, but still fun. Who would have thought I'd make an appearance on the national news purely for being a smartass?

Well...who other than me? =)

Thoughts On Superman: Man of Steel

2010-10-13T13:13:00.005-05:00

It was recently announced that Zack Snyder would be helming the Superman franchise reboot for DC and Warner Bros. with Christopher Nolan producing... It seems like the movie franchise is finally in good hands for the first time since Richard Donner's original go of it in 1978!

Even more good news... After early reports and speculation from the movie going community, Snyder revealed today that General Zod as the new film's villain is "just a rumor." Good for you, Zack. That's a great step one!

You want my advice? No? Well here it is anyway...

Reboot means reboot. Superman: Man of Steel does NOT need General Zod. It does not need Lex Luthor as the main villain. It does not need to be a full origin story. In fact, it doesn't really need ANYTHING from the first 5 movies in the series.

With that in mind, here is how "I" would write the movie if he put me in charge of the script...

Superman would be very young...in his early to mid 20's. He would be leaving the Kent farm after a forgettable, sheltered youth with the intention of being Superman full time. While he is out patrolling for crime, there is an explosion at a LuthorCorp nuclear facility. A night janitor, caught in the explosion, is turned into the power sucking creature known as...The Parasite!

Superman battles with the Parasite and works with Star Labs to find a way to stop him while the two battle back and forth throughout the film. When Star Labs is stumped, Superman meets with Lex Luthor about the accident and the two develop a tense rivalry while working together to resolve the Parasite conundrum.

In the end, Superman and Lex Luthor defeat the Parasite. Despite Lex's help, Superman is left with a number of questions about Luthor and his company's dealings. He decides that in order to keep a closer eye on Luthor, he will resume his Clark Kent identity and become an investigative reporter for the Daily Planet.

The movie closes with Clark getting set up at his newsroom desk and being assigned to one of the Planet's best reporters to be shown the ropes. The last scene of the movie would be Lois Lane walking up and introducing herself to an instantly love struck Clark Kent. Roll Credits.

No rehashed villains. No origin story. No Kryptonite. Just a good old fashioned reboot... And the perfect setup for a romantic relationship based sequel featuring the development of the rivalry with Luthor and yet another new villain... Metallo, perhaps?

Zack Snyder, if you're reading this, I'll write the script for you...cheap! I'm not greedy. I'd just be excited to see a DC hero (other than Batman) finally get a just treatment in a Hollywood film. And who knows? If it works out, maybe I can tell you my idea for a Wonder Woman film sometime...

Good luck with Superman: Man of Steel, Zack! Up, up and AWAY!

Thundarr The Barbarian Released On DVD!

2010-09-29T10:37:00.002-05:00

As some of you are probably aware, I own a little corner of the web dedicated to the old NBC Television cartoon series Thundarr The Barbarian. For about 10 years now, I've been petitioning Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network to release the series on DVD.

That day, it seems, has arrived!

[ Thundarr The Barbarian: The Complete Series DVD ]

Check it out: Thundarr The Barbarian on DVD : The Official Release From Warner Bros.

Just in time for my birthday! I personally thing WB should send me a copy for all of my Thundarr promotion over the years, but hey, who am I to complain? I'm just excited it's finally out!

Go snag a copy for your kids (who am I kidding, you want this bad boy for yourself!) today!

Ariel! Ookla! Riiiiiiide!

Rock & Roll Hall of Lame

2010-09-28T14:09:00.008-05:00

There's a reason "Burn the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to the ground" is in the Top 3 things on my Bucket List (after win the lottery and marry Kate Beckinsdale, not necessarily in that order). The whole thing just plain sucks...

[ Rock & Roll Hall of Flames ]

Year after year I watch undeserving, underwhelming acts and individuals make their way into the not so hallowed halls of this institutional mockery (this year's list of 2011 nominees is no exception).

Who am I referring to? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a sampling of Rock & Roll Hall of LAMERS:

- Bonnie Raitt
- The Lovin' Spoonful
- Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
- Brenda Lee
- The O'Jays

No, seriously. I'm not joking. Look it up. These are the best of the best. The cream of the crop. Hall of f'ing FAMERS!

Where is...?

- KISS - More Gold records than any group in HISTORY, including the Beatles. Gave AC/DC (Hall of Famers), Van Halen (Hall of Famers), Bon Jovi (HoF Nominees), Cheap Trick, Rush and Judas Priest (among others) their first opportunities as opening acts on their tours. The most visually recognizable band worldwide in history?

- Rush - Sales statistics place them third behind The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for the most consecutive gold or platinum studio albums by a rock band.

- Judas Priest - Ushered in the new wave of British hard rock/heavy metal. Pioneered the dual guitar attack in metal. Easily one of the most influential metal bands of the last 40 years.

- Motorhead - Without Motorhead (and Judas Priest), there is no Metallica, yet Metallica is sitting in the Hall of Lame. Motorhead are the pioneers of thrash metal.

- Pat Benetar - Who's more important to Rock...Pat Benetar or Brenda Lee? Brenda who? Exactly. If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, you knew an army of girls who wanted to BE Pat Benetar when they grew up.

But why stop there? What about Boston? Cheap Trick? Grand Funk Railroad? Bad Company? Foreigner? Def Leppard? Peter Frampton? Dio? Journey?

For God's sake, Alice Cooper is being nominated for the VERY FIRST TIME this year!

You see what I'm saying? Admit it...the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a joke.

But take heart, folks. One day, Ms. Beckinsdale and I will fly to Cleveland in our private jet and I will personally burn that motherf***er down. And when it's finished, I'm going to piss on the ashes...right where The Righteous Brothers exhibit used to be.

Count on it.

NEW Twitter Contest - Major League Baseball Themed Novels!

2010-09-24T10:10:00.003-05:00

Along the same line as the previously posted NBA Themed Novels (hashtag #NBANovels), another (follow up) trending topic on Twitter recently was Major League Baseball themed novels! (hashtag #MLBNovels).

Once again, there were thousands of them submitted by Twitter users from all over the world!

Here are some of the best ones I saw...

=========================
FrankenSteinbrenner

War Of The World Series

Uncle Tommy John's Cabin

The Yount of Monte Cristo**

Broke Bat Mountain

The Joy of Sexson

The Lidges of Madison County

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter Pence

Green Eggs And Hamilton

Catcher Gets An RBI

Uncle Tom's Glavine

Oliva Twist

The Grapes Of Werth

The Old Man And The Selig

Braves New World

The Day The Werth Stood Still

The Joy Kruk Club

For Whom The Beltran Tolls

The Reds Badge of Courage

Hart of Darkness*

A Tale of Twin Cities

The Tell-Tale Hart

Animal Farm Team

The Invisible Manny

The Island Of Dr. Morneau

How Stella Got Hargrove Back

The Scarlet Fetters

Mein Kemp

=========================
* Submittted By Me
** My Personal Favorite
=========================

Fun stuff!

If you're on Twitter, come follow me at http://www.twitter.com/kennhoekstra and/or http://www.twitter.com/FilmReviewIn140

Twitter Contest - NBA Themed Novels!

2010-09-22T11:44:00.006-05:00

A trending topic on Twitter recently was NBA Themed Novels (hashtag #NBANovels). Over the course of the day, there were thousands of them submitted by Tweeps all over the world!

Here are some of the best ones that I saw flying by...

=========================
Pippen Longstocking

Dr J & Mr. Hyde

The Giving Tree Rollins

Artest of the D'Urbervilles

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Suns

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finley

I'll Kill You For Mocking Bird*

The Raja Bell Jar

Oscar And Lew Alcindor*

Lebron James and the Giant Peach

Great ExpecTayshauns**

The Grapes of Shaq

Redd Badge of Courage*

Charlie Ward and the Chocolate Factory

A Passage To Indiana*

Majerle and Me

Kobe-Dick

Mein Schrempf

Spud's Webb

The Power And The Horry

Clyde And Prejudice

East of Oden

The Remains of Todd Day

East of Eaton

P.S. I Love Yao

Doc Rivers Runs Through It

War And Pierce

Diary of Anne Frank Brickowski

The Silence of the Laimbeers

One flew over the Kukoc Nets

All's Quiet In The Western Conference

=========================
* Submittted By Me
** My Personal Favorite
=========================

Fun stuff! Thought I'd share... Oh, and if you're on Twitter, come follow me at http://www.twitter.com/kennhoekstra and http://www.twitter.com/FilmReviewIn140

Popsicle Funnies - Kid Friendly Jokes

2010-09-12T10:56:00.004-05:00

There's nothing quite like a funny, clean kid friendly joke, is there? I get a kick out of 'em... Here's a couple of gems inspired by the funnies printed on Pospicle sticks nowadays:

Q: What kind of car does an electrician drive?
A: A Volts-wagon!

Q: Which comic book hero lives in a pot?
A: Soup-erman!

Q: Why did the tree refuse to play Checkers?
A: Because it was a Chess-nut!

Q: What is E.T. short for?
A: Because he has tiny legs!

Q: Why was the computer cold?
A: It forgot to close its Windows!

Q: What do you call a row of dolls?
A: A Barbie-Queue!

Q: Where does the Easter Bunny get his breakfast?
A: IHOP!

And finally...

Q: Did you hear they found a cure for Swine Flu?
A: It's called Oinkment!

Wanna hear more? Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kennhoekstra
Hashtag: #CleanJokes

Harden The Fuck Up!

2010-09-06T17:47:00.005-05:00

Wusses. Pansies. Pussies. Whiners. Complainers. Crying, Emo, Milktoast "Oh Woe Is Me" Crybaby FML Douchebags. We see them. We know them. We loathe them...

I found the perfect gift for these so called "men." A desktop wallpaper for the ages to remind them that their itsy bitsy teenie weenie wittle pwobwems could be a just a tiny little bit fucking worse...

[ Click Image (or Here) For Full Size Version ]

If that doesn't work? There's always Man The Fuck Up Camp!

You're welcome...

Badgers vs. UNLV Preview + Contemplating Matt Leinart's Future

2010-09-04T18:25:00.003-05:00

I continue to write Sports articles for The Bleacher Report when I find time. My latest articles are a preview of tonight's Wisconsin Badgers vs. UNLV Runnin' Rebels college football game in Las Vegas:

- Badgers vs. UNLV Preview: By The Numbers

And a speculative article that contemplates the future of Quarterback Matt Leinart following his unexpected release from the Arizona Cardinals today:

- Arizona Cardinals Release Matt Leinart: A Look At His Potential Landing Spots

Check them out if you get a chance! Feedback is always appreciated...

Thanks for stopping by! Are you ready for some football?

Brewers Give Bud Selig A Statue: Why Not Paul Molitor?

2010-08-25T18:11:00.003-05:00

I wrote a new article for The Bleacher Report after witnessing the unveiling of the Bud Selig statue outside of Miller Park this week.

You can read it here:

- Brewers Give Bud Selig A Statue: Why Not Paul Molitor?

When I heard the only other statues at the park were Robin Yount and Hank Aaron, I wondered where Molly was. I think a lot of people do...

Have a read and tell me what you think!

The New Artist & Illustrator's Creed: "Fuck You, Pay Me!"

2010-08-09T18:11:00.006-05:00

Remember the scene in Goodfellas? Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) is talking about his collection experience with Jimmy Conway (Robert DeNiro):

"Business is bad? Fuck you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? Fuck you, pay me. The place got hit by lightning, huh? Fuck you, pay me."

A friend of mine wrote an article recently called How NOT To Hire an Artist. Mr. Jones's article makes some great points and it reminded me of the following rant that someone brought to my attention a while back.

This was posted (and quickly removed) on Craigslist as an open letter to artists and illustrators to warn them of the danger of giving away their talents and services free (or at extremely discounted rates).

As I have many friends who are artists and I've found that the same is true for writers (word artists), I thought I would repeat the post in my blog as a way to pay this Public Service Announcement forward. Enjoy!

=================================================

Every day, there are more and more Craigs List posts seeking “artists” for everything from auto graphics to comic books to corporate logo designs. More people are finding themselves in need of some form of illustrative service.

But what they’re NOT doing, unfortunately, is realizing how rare someone with these particular talents can be.

To those who are “seeking artists”, let me ask you; How many people do you know, personally, with the talent and skill to perform the services you need? A dozen? Five? One? …none?

More than likely, you don’t know any. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be posting on craigslist to find them.

And this is not really a surprise.

In this country, there are almost twice as many neurosurgeons as there are professional illustrators. There are eleven times as many certified mechanics. There are SEVENTY times as many people in the IT field.

So, given that they are less rare, and therefore less in demand, would it make sense to ask your mechanic to work on your car for free? Would you look him in the eye, with a straight face, and tell him that his compensation would be the ability to have his work shown to others as you drive down the street?

Would you offer a neurosurgeon the “opportunity” to add your name to his resume as payment for removing that pesky tumor? (Maybe you could offer him “a few bucks” for “materials”. What a deal!)

Would you be able to seriously even CONSIDER offering your web hosting service the chance to have people see their work, by viewing your website, as their payment for hosting you?

If you answered “yes” to ANY of the above, you’re obviously insane. If you answered “no”, then kudos to you for living in the real world.

But then tell me… why would you think it is okay to live out the same, delusional, ridiculous fantasy when seeking someone whose abilities are even less in supply than these folks?

Graphic artists, illustrators, painters, etc., are skilled tradesmen. As such, to consider them as, or deal with them as, anything less than professionals fully deserving of your respect is both insulting and a bad reflection on you as a sane, reasonable person. In short, it makes you look like a twit.

A few things you need to know;

1. It is not a “great opportunity” for an artist to have his work seen on your car/’zine/website/bedroom wall, etc. It IS a “great opportunity” for YOU to have their work there.

2. It is not clever to seek a “student” or “beginner” in an attempt to get work for free. It’s ignorant and insulting. They may be “students”, but that does not mean they don’t deserve to be paid for their hard work. You were a “student” once, too. Would you have taken that job at McDonalds with no pay, because you were learning essential job skills for the real world? Yes, your proposition it JUST as stupid.

3. The chance to have their name on something that is going to be seen by other people, whether it’s one or one million, is NOT a valid enticement. Neither is the right to add that work to their “portfolio”. They get to do those things ANYWAY, after being paid as they should. It’s not compensation. It’s their right, and it’s a given.

4. Stop thinking that you’re giving them some great chance to work. Once they skip over your silly ad, as they should, the next ad is usually for someone who lives in the real world, and as such, will pay them. There are far more jobs needing these skills than there are people who possess these skills.

5. Students DO need “experience”. But they do NOT need to get it by giving their work away. In fact, this does not even offer them the experience they need. Anyone who will not/can not pay them is obviously the type of person or business they should be ashamed to have on their resume anyway. Do you think professional contractors list the “experience” they got while nailing down a loose step at their grandmother’s house when they were seventeen?

If you your company or gig was worth listing as desired experience, it would be able to pay for the services it received. The only experience they will get doing free work for you is a lesson learned in what kinds of scrubs they should not lower themselves to deal with.

6. (This one is FOR the artists out there, please pay attention.) Some will ask you to “submit work for consideration”. They may even be posing as some sort of “contest”. These are almost always scams. They will take the work submitted by many artists seeking to win the “contest”, or be “chosen” for the gig, and find what they like most. They will then usually have someone who works for them, or someone who works incredibly cheap because they have no originality or talent of their own, reproduce that same work, or even just make slight modifications to it, and claim it as their own. You will NOT be paid, you will NOT win the contest. The only people who win, here, are the underhanded folks who run these ads. This is speculative, or “spec”, work. It’s risky at best, and a complete scam at worst. I urge you to avoid it, completely. For more information on this subject, please visit www.no-spec.com.

So to artists/designers/illustrators looking for work, do everyone a favor, ESPECIALLY yourselves, and avoid people who do not intend to pay you. Whether they are “spec” gigs, or just some guy who wants a free mural on his living room walls. They need you. You do NOT need them.

And for those who are looking for someone to do work for free… please wake up and join the real world. The only thing you’re accomplishing is to insult those with the skills you need. Get a clue.

===============================================

"Need some art? Fuck you, pay me! An illustration? Fuck you, pay me!"

Funny Joke - Welfare Check

2010-06-28T12:56:00.003-05:00

Welfare Check

A guy walks into the local welfare office to pick up his check.

He marches straight up to the counter and says, "You know...I just HATE drawing welfare. I'd really rather have a job."

The social worker behind the counter says, "Your timing is excellent. We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a Chauffeur and bodyguard for his beautiful daughter.

"You'll have to drive around in his 2010 Mercedes-Benz CL, and he will supply all of your clothes."

"Because of the long hours, meals will be provided. You'll also be expected to escort the daughter on her overseas holiday trips."

"This is rather awkward to say but you will also have as part of your job assignment to satisfy her sexual urges as the daughter is in her mid-20's and has a rather strong sex drive."

The guy, just plain wide-eyed, says, "Wow! You gotta be bullshittin' me!"

To which the social worker replies, "Yeah, well...you started it."

The Other "Memorial Day" (By Vince Flynn)

2010-06-02T10:18:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine turned me on to political thriller author Vince Flynn, a novelist who is a regular on the New York Times Bestseller list. I've been working my way through his catalog over the last year or so and I have to say, so far it's been a lot more hit than miss.

In a bit of cosmic irony, I finished his novel "Memorial Day" on Memorial Day. It wasn't planned. I had no intention of doing it. But the honest truth is, I couldn't put it down. I had been reading a chapter or two a morning before work, but I blew through the last 100 pages or so on Memorial Day because I just HAD to finish it. It was that good.

If you're looking for a new author to check out, give Vince Flynn a try. His first novel, "Term Limits," is VERY good. His 2nd novel, "Transfer of Power," introduces Flynn's staple character Mitch Rapp (the cornerstone of all the subsequent books). If you like those two books, you'll enjoy all of Flynn's stuff...and his catalog will keep you buys for a while.

On a different note, if you're a fan of MY writing (lol), SixWordStories.net was kind enough to pick up one of my other entries:

- http://www.sixwordstories.net/2010/05/i'm-schizophrenic-and-so-am-i/

Thanks for stopping by.

Movie Reviews and a Published Six Word Story

2010-05-26T10:31:00.003-05:00

I've done a few more single tweet movie reviews on Twitter for Iron Man 2, Robin Hood, Big Fan, Legion, The New Daughter, Daybreakers and The Road (it's been a busy month of momie watching)! You can check those out at:

- http://www.twitter.com/FilmReviewIn140

SixWordStories.net also published one of my Six Word Stories:

- http://www.sixwordstories.net/2010/05/fat-switched-to-diet-soda-cancer/

It was submitted a long time ago and I don't think it's one of my best, but I can't complain. I'm a published author again. =)

GameSauce Article + Milwaukee Brewers Article

2010-05-19T18:11:00.004-05:00

I've been on a bit of a writing kick lately, which is a good thing. I'm trying to stay sharp and motivated so I can get my ass moving on my screenplay and on a mystery story I've been outlining. In the meantime, though, I have video game development and I have the Milwaukee Brewers.

If you haven't seen GameSauce Magazine, you should really check it out. Great stuff! They had a fantastic debut issue a few months back that really got my attention. So much so, in fact, I asked if I could contribute to issue #2. I was pleasantly surprised when they said yes. The result? A collaborative effort with a friend (and fellow Producer) of mine, Dan Magaha:

- Producers: Essential Glue For Any Project or Useless Bags of Meat?

Opinions will vary on whether or not I am glue or meat, I'm sure, but I think the article makes some good points. I had a lot of fun writing it.

Something that isn't as fun for me is the Milwaukee Brewers' 2010 season so far. At 15-24, they aren't looking very good. A lot of fans are calling for Ken Macha's head on a platter. I analyze those feelings in:

- Ken Macha: Can The Struggling Milwaukee Brewers Really Blame Him?

I'm leaning toward "Yes, fire him" myself, but I also realize the team is underachieving in all phases of the game and the free agents who were brought in to help the team just aren't producing. The team needs a spark. I'm not sure if Macha can give them a spark or if it's going to take him being fired to ignite this team.

If the Brewers keep losing, though, we'll probably find out soon enough.

Bennett: "You're getting old, John!"

2010-05-18T18:15:00.005-05:00

About ten years ago, I made a comment to a co-worker about how I was feeling old. I was about 26 at the time and I was reading a copy of Playboy Magazine. I saw the centerfold was born in 1982 and I was like "Christ, I remember 1982. Vividly. I feel so old."

My friend Bob told me, "Take heart, Kenn. You're not old. Now when you pick up a copy of Playboy Magazine and you realize that the Playmate of the month was born the year you graduated high school...THEN you'll feel old."

That happened yesterday.

This month's Playboy centerfold was born on October 21st, 1991...the same year I graduated high school.

*heavy sigh*

"Let off some steam, Bennett!"

Ronnie James Dio (1942 - 2010) Remembered

2010-05-17T12:00:00.003-05:00

"Horns at half mast," laments Anthrax's Scott Ian, speaking of the death of Heavy Metal Icon Ronnie James Dio, who passed away Sunday after a battle with stomach cancer. The metal world mourns the legend of diminutive stature and megalithic voice and so, too, do I.

Roughly 11 years ago (give or take), I was coming home from a friend's house after a night of beer drinking and hell raising. I shouldn't have been driving, undoubtedly, but I was young and stupid. What was I at that point? 26, I guess. Time flies...

Anyway, I had recently purchased an engagement ring for my girlfriend at the time, but I hadn't yet proposed. I was driving home in my 1997 Chevy Cavalier to our cramped, one bedroom apartment that was barely big enough for one of us, much less both of us. I don't know how we managed, but somehow we made due.

I was tired and I was listening to the radio to stay awake. I had it tuned to 94.1 JJO -- a Madison, Wisconsin radio station that had adopted a metal format in the past year. The DJ said it was time to play a classic from the Sunset Superman and suddenly "Rainbow in the Dark" was coming out of the speakers.

I cranked the radio and banged my head, holding a cigarette in one hand and making devil horns with the other. I was suddenly wide awake and flush with adrenaline. I was psyched up by the power of metal and I was glad to be alive!

Suddenly, it hit me. The time was right. I needed to go home and propose...right fucking now. "Rainbow in the Dark" had inspired me to charge forward with my life!

Here I was, coming home at some obscene hour - drunk - down on one knee. I asked my girlfriend to marry me. I don't know why she said yes, but she did. Probably to get me to shut the fuck up and go to sleep so she could get up and work in a few hours. =)

That wasn't the first time Ronnie James Dio had inspired me with his music to feel alive and do something bold or crazy with my life. And now, despite his passing, I can assure you it won't be the last.

Rest in peace, my metal friend. Your legend is forever!

Three New Sports Articles

2010-04-15T16:28:00.000-05:00

Continuing my fledgling career as an amateur sportswriter, I've written three new articles for the Bleacher Report over the past few weeks.

Check them out!

- Packers 2010 NFL Draft: 13 Experts Weigh in on Pick 23

- 2010 NFL Draft: League Awards Compensatory Draft Choices

- Kicker Carousel Keeps Spinning: Neil Rackers, Former Cardinal, Signs with Texans

With the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Playoffs, the NFL Draft next week and Baseball season in full swing, you can probably expect more soon.

Thanks for reading!

Easter Update

2010-04-04T16:20:00.000-05:00

If you want to see some funny (and scary) pics of Easter Bunnies gone bad, check out:

- http://www.sketchybunnies.com/

It's pretty awesome!

Beyond Easter, today has special significance for me. It was two years ago, April 4th, 2008, that I quit smoking! It's hard to believe how fast time has flown by. One of the best decisions I've ever made!

If you're interested in quitting smoking and you haven't had any luck going cold turkey or with the patch or the gum, ask your doctor about Chantix. It worked wonders for me!

Happy Easter, everyone!

Go Ahead...Ask Me Anything!

2010-03-30T17:45:00.001-05:00

I'm jumping on the new Formspring bandwagon -- a kick that a bunch of my Game Developer friends have been on lately.

Check it out:

- Ask Me Anything!

Answers to follow shortly!

Video Game Developers On Twitter!

2010-03-24T11:39:00.000-05:00

Want to quickly and easily follow a ton of Video Game Developer updates on Twitter? Check out my new game developer Twitter list!

* Video Game Developer List on Twitter

Tweet, Tweet!

Guinness and Beef Stew (Happy St. Patrick's Day!)

2010-03-17T16:18:00.000-05:00

Guinness and Beef Stew By: Michael Raymond-Judy

Difficulty: Easy
Yield: 6 servings

2 to 2½ pounds stewing beef
2 tablespoons flour
1 tsp cayenne
2 large onions, coarsely chopped
2 cups thickly diced carrots
3 medium to large potatoes, cut into 1” chunks
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tablespoons tomato paste, dissolved in 4 tablespoons water
2 12oz. bottles of Guinness
Olive oil
Sprig of fresh thyme or basil
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chopped parsley (for garnish)

Prepare carrots, onion, garlic before beginning. Do not prepare potatoes until ready to add them.

Trim the meat of any fat or gristle, and cut into 2-inch cubes.

In a small bowl, season the flour with salt, pepper and cayenne.

Toss beef with 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Toss meat with seasoned flour.

Heat 2 to 4 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat (thinly coat bottom of skillet).

Brown the meat on all sides. If meat begins to stick to bottom of skillet, drizzle in small amount of olive oil or water until it no longer sticks.

Reduce the heat; add the onions, crushed garlic and tomato puree to the skillet. Cover, and cook gently for 5-8 minutes.

Transfer the contents of the skillet to a casserole (or a large pan with tightly-sealed lid).

Pour a third to a half bottle of Guinness into the skillet.

Bring the Guinness to a boil and stir to dissolve the caramelized meat juices on the pan.

Pour over the meat, along with the other full bottle of Guinness (save the half bottle for later!).

Add the carrots, bay leaf and thyme. Stir and adjust seasonings.

Cover the casserole/pan and simmer over low heat, or in a 300° F oven until the meat is tender, (2 to 3 hours).

Adjust seasoning as needed (salt, pepper and garlic are the likely needed additions).

If needed, let stew rest until about an hour before serving, allowing for bringing temperature back to cooking level.

About 45 minutes before serving:
Prepare the potatoes (leave skin on or not to preference)
Add potatoes and remaining half bottle of Guinness (you didn’t drink it did you?)
Simmer until potatoes are fork tender.

Season to taste.

Garnish with parsley, serve and enjoy!

Some Funny Links + Corey Haim and Peter Graves Remembered

2010-03-15T18:35:00.000-05:00

Stumbled across some funnies today and thought I'd share...

- The 13 Funniest Help Wanted Signs EVER

- Uncomfortable Movie Plot Summaries

Bonus: William Shatner's rap from the end of the movie Free Enterprise in honor of today -- the Ides of March -- William Shatner: No Tears For Caesar!!!

On a more somber note, I am saddened by the passing of actors Corey Haim and Peter Graves this past week. Together you brought many laughs into my life (in addition to some impossible missions) and I want to thank you both for that.

Gone too soon. =(

Single Tweet Movie Reviews on Twitter

2010-02-22T17:32:00.000-06:00

I just started a little side project that involves reviewing movies and DVDs on Twitter using a single Tweet - 140 characters or less.

You can check it out here:

* Film Reviews In 140 Characters

Only two reviews so far - "Black Dynamite" and "Avatar," but you can rest assured there will be many more soon.

Come follow FilmReviewIn140 on Twitter!

Maxim Cowboy Joke

2010-02-19T15:42:00.000-06:00

I saw this in the latest issue of Maxim magazine and had to share...

****************

The Sheriff in a small town walks out in the street and sees a cowboy walking down the street with nothing on but his cowboy hat, gun and his boots, so he arrests him for indecent exposure.

As he is locking him up, he asks "Why in the world are you walking around like this?"

The Cowboy says, "Well it's like this Sheriff . I was in the bar down the road and this pretty little red head asks me to go home with her...so I did.

We go inside and she pulls off her top and asks me to pull off my shirt...so I did.

Then she pulls off her skirt and asks me to pull off my pants...so I did.

Then she pulls off her panties and asks me to pull off my shorts...so I did.

Then she gets on the bed, lays back and says, 'Now go to town cowboy...

"So here I am."

Vikings In The Super Bowl?

2010-02-07T17:19:00.001-06:00

A man goes to the Minnesota Vikings ticket office and inquires about purchasing Super Bowl tickets.

The ticket teller replies that there weren't any tickets for sale because the Vikings did not make it to the Super Bowl.

The following day the same man goes to the Minnesota Vikings ticket office and inquires about purchasing Vikings Super Bowl tickets.

The ticket teller politely replies that there weren't any tickets for sale because the Vikings did not make it to the Super Bowl.

This goes on for an entire week.

The man again goes to the Viking ticket office inquiring about Super Bowl tickets and the teller says none are for sale because the Vikings did not make it to the Super Bowl.

Another week of this goes by and the man still is asking the ticket teller about Viking Super Bowl tickets.

Finally the ticket teller in a loud voice says, "I'VE TOLD YOU FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS THERE WERE NOT ANY TICKETS AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE VIKINGS DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!"

The man replied, "I know. I drive all the way from Green Bay just to hear that"

Six Word Stories

2010-01-25T17:28:00.000-06:00

If you've never seen the Six Word Stories website, you should check it out:

- Six Word Stories

Here are a few I've submitted...

* Keys locked inside the car. Shit.

* How many licks, Mister Owl? Three.

* Vader is Luke's father? Dude, SPOILERS!

* Jackpot! I quit! Damn. Misread numbers.

* Sweetie, daddy drinks because you cry...

Give it a shot! They're a lot of fun!

Former Milwaukee Brewer Ben Sheets Holding Open Audition Today

2010-01-19T11:33:00.000-06:00

Here's a new article I wrote for The Bleacher Report about former Milwaukee Brewer Ace Ben Sheets, who's holding an open audition today in Louisiana, hoping to catch on with a new (or maybe his old) club...

* Ben Sheets To Hold Open Audition Today

I know he has a history of getting hurt, but I'd still like to see him continue his career with the Brewers -- for the right price.

If I were Doug Melvin, I'd offer him a $6 million base salary + $150,000 for every game he starts in 2010 and a $250,000 bonus if he gets another All-Star nod.

But that's just me...

Aaron Rodgers - The Real 2009 NFL MVP

2010-01-11T14:13:00.000-06:00

This past Saturday, the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning accepted his NFL record 4th MVP award from the Associated Press. The thing that I noticed (and it surprised me) was that Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers didn't receive a single vote.

Did I say surprised? I think maybe I meant pissed off. Yes, the Packers lost their playoff game to Arizona yesterday in heartbreaking overtime fashion, but that doesn't diminish what Aaron Rodgers accomplished this season with the league's youngest team coming off of a 6 - 10 season.

Before the start of Sunday's game, I posted the following article, making my case for Aaron Rodgers' MVP candidacy:

- The Real 2009 NFL MVP?: Aaron Rodgers

Note that not a single user comment was made (despite several hundred reads) until AFTER the game was over. The Packers lost, and that's when the haters came out to play.

PaDespite the loss, I stand by my assessment -- Aaron Rodgers was 2009's NFL MVP.

Packers vs. Cardinals - NFC Wild Card Game at a Glance

2010-01-07T14:07:00.000-06:00

One of my New Year's resolutions for 2010 was to write more sports articles. Here's my first step toward achieving that goal - a brief look at this weekend's Wild Card matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Arizona Cardinals...

Check it out!

* Packers vs. Cardinals Wild Card Game at a Glance

On a semi-related note, regarding my New Year's resolutions, I watched "12 Angry Men" the other night and really enjoyed it. If I go see "Avatar" this weekend, that means I'll only have 15 movies left to see in 2010 to round out IMDB's top 50 movies of all time!

Thanks for reading.

Goals For 2010 - Here are mine. What are yours?

2010-01-03T13:50:00.000-06:00

2010 Goals
===========================
Another new year, another chance to motivate yourself to set and achieve your life's goals! I have numerous personal and professional items I want to accomplish in 2010 and I have listed them below for my friends and family (and pretty much everyone else) to see!

What are YOUR goals for 2010? Post them and tell all of your friends (including me) and let's motivate each other to have a successful, safe, happy, and healthy 2010!

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My Goals For 2010

By: Kenn Hoekstra
===========================

* Ship Bonk: Brink of Extinction on XBLA, PSN and Wii

* Ship Bomberman Live Battlefest on XBLA, PSN and Wii

* Ship Quake Arena Arcade on XBLA

* Lose at least 25 pounds (35 would be better)

* Start recycling in my subdivision's recycling program

* Try to get my subdivision to join Houston's Adopt a Block program

* Get my Wisconsin driver's license re-instated

* Write and publish at least 10 sports articles

* Write and publish at least 2 game development articles

* Write a feature length screenplay

* Stay in better touch with my family by phone and e-mail

* Clean, repair and take better care of my car

* Re-design and re-launch Thundarr.com

* Update my home page (www.kennhoekstra.com) more often (at least once a month)

* Build a MAME cabinet

* Lobby for KISS's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (without KISS, it's the hall of LAME!)

* Finish at least half of the house projects that need completing, including:

- Replace master bathroom window
- Install refrigerator water line
- Repair hole in wall in addition
- Install baseboards in addition
- Finish closet construction
- Finish drywall and painting in office
- Tear down and get old storage shed hauled away
- Curtains in dining room
- Patch and re-seed lawn
- Buy new gas range and microwave
- Buy and install new garage door openers
- Insulate attic

* Watch the movies in the IMDB Top 50 of all time I've never seen:

- 12 Angry Men
- Casablanca
- The Seven Samurai
- City of God
- Rear Window
- It's A Wonderful Life
- Dr. Strangelove
- Sunset Boulevard
- North By Northwest
- Citizen Kane
- Apocalypse Now
- Vertigo
- Lawrence of Arabia
- Amelie
- Paths of Glory
- To Kill A Mockingbird
- Avatar

* Read at least 15 books throughout the year, including, but not limited to the following:

- Pistol Poets - Victor Gischler
- Shotgun Opera - Victor Gischler
- Suicide Squeeze - Victor Gischler
- Vampire A Go Go - Victor Gischler
- Executive Power - Vince Flynn
- Memorial Day - Vince Flynn
- Consent To Kill - Vince Flynn
- Act of Treason - Vince Flynn
- Protect and Defend - Vince Flynn
- Extreme Measures - Vince Flynn
- Black Magic Sanction - Kim Harrison

Fun With Facebook Status Updates

2009-11-24T17:54:00.000-06:00

This is pretty damned funny...

Hah hah!

Dan Brown's 20 Worst Sentences

2009-11-24T10:21:00.000-06:00

To honor the release of Dan Brown's latest book, "The Lost Symbol," Telegraph.co.uk lists the author's 20 worst sentences (with analysis) from his previous works:

Dan Brown's 20 Worst Sentences

It's gold, Jerry! GOLD!

Testing 1...2...3

2009-11-16T11:48:00.000-06:00

My first ever blog entry. Go!

Is this thing on?