KISS Finally To The Hall of Fame?

A great thing happened today -- KISS was finally nominated as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finalist!! After qualifying for the honor 10-years ago, this is the very first time they have been elevated to the ballot.

I'm really, REALLY happy that it finally happened! Unfortunately, this is only the first hurdle. Now it will be up to the snooty Hall of Fame voters to decide. When looking over the competition, KISS' chances look pretty darn good.

As a fan for 31 of their 35-year history, I feel that eight KISS members should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

Paul Stanley (1974 to present)

Gene Simmons (1974 to present)

Ace Frehley (1974-1982, 1996-2002)

Peter Criss (1974-1980, 1996-2000, 2003)

Eric Carr (1980-1991)

Bruce Kulick (1984-1995)

Eric Singer (1991-1995, 2001-2002, 2004 to present)

Tommy Thayer (2002 to present)

Personally, I agree with Paul Stanley's stance on KISS' possible induction:

"There's been a lot of people who've been a part of this, some longer than others... and some who deserve recognition more than others. Even the non-makeup years produced some platinum and double-platinum albums, and we had some very healthy sales in terms of albums and concerts through the '80s and '90s. So if we should ever be asked to accept induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it would be something to think about."

Over the band's career, the success and longevity of KISS is due to more than the just original four members. The drumkit in KISS has actually been manned by Eric Carr & Eric Singer for 23 of the band's 35 years. For 21 of KISS' 35 years, someone other than Ace Frehley has been playing the lead guitar.

On top of that, even those figures are quite generous -- especially to Criss. Peter essentially stopped playing on KISS' studio albums after 1977's Alive II. While his face graces the cover of Dynasty (1979), Unmasked (1980) and Psycho Circus (1998), he drummed on only two songs from those three albums combined.

Ace also had a few lean KISS years where he provided minimal contribution to Music From The Elder (1981) and zero participation on Creatures of the Night (1982) and the European-released Killers (1982). He also only had slightly more involvement than Criss on the Psycho Circus album.

The point is, KISS has pretty much functioned as a team and its collective members have helped get the band to the point they are today. ALL of them deserve acknowledgement for their effort, dedication and loyalty.


According to Billboard Magazine, only the names of Stanley, Simmons, Criss and Frehley are on the ballot, but seeing how Metallica managed to induct every band member who played on a Metallica album, it gives me hope that more than just the original band will receive the honor should KISS be inducted.

Don't get me wrong, KISS would be nowhere had those four members not formed KISS in the early 70s and accomplished all that they did. However, KISS would also be nowhere today had other members not stepped in and helped the band carry on beginning almost 30-years ago when Peter Criss first departed.

I've enjoyed every lineup, every tour and every album of KISS. KISS is an entity that has survived all these years mostly due to these eight members and I just hope if/when they finally get inducted into the Hall of Fame that these eight members will be sharing in the band's long-deserved honor.

Congratulations to KISS!!

40 Years of The Haunted Mansion

When hinges creak in doorless chambers,
And strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls,
Whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still,
That is the time when ghosts are present practicing their terror
with ghoulish delight.

Welcome foolish mortals to The Haunted Mansion...

The Haunted Mansion is my absolute favorite attraction in the entire world! Ever since I was a little kid going to Disney World, I have always had an affinity for The Haunted Mansion. OK, maybe not the first time or two inside because it scared the bejesus out of me, but after that, it has remained my favorite ever since.


Even though I grew up with the attraction in Disney World, the true Haunted Mansion is in Disneyland. It's not just that it happens to be the original, but that it's simply more perfect. The exterior building itself is one of my favorite visuals in all the Disney parks.

The Haunted Mansion is now turning 40-years old this year. It's pretty amazing how a ride that ancient has still remained one of Disneyland's top attractions. And even though there have been technological improvements within -- especially in recent years -- by enlarge, it's still the same attraction that has been scaring and delighting guests for 4 decades.


The magic really begins the moment you enter the line as you pass by the infamous animal cemetery and humorous gravestones. The eye for detail in and outside the building is unmatched by anything else inside the resort.

You also can't give enough credit to those men and women who have to dress up in those stuffy outfits and greet you with their monotone voices and eerie glances at the door. All that just adds to the overall macabre ambiance of The Mansion and it's definitely appreciated.


Unlike most other Disney attractions, the featured character in the attraction isn't someone you ever get to see. The creepy voice of the Ghost Host guides you from the first room in the house all the way to the moment you step out of your DoomBuggy.

The Ghost Host's spiel is so darn catchy that some people feel the urge to recite it much like a person singing along to their favorite song on the radio. Obviously, this can be a bit irritating, but it's done out of love and not purposeful annoyance.

From the stretching room in the beginning to the Hitchhiking Ghosts at the end, the 10-minutes inside The Haunted Mansion is pure bliss. Happy 40th Birthday to the best attraction ever!!

Keyboard Cat Is At It Again...

Where are your brains, boy??

Let's Euthanize Granny!!

Why should we continue to let all the old people in America burden our healthcare system with their countless ailments and diseases that are just going to lead to them dying off anyway? As we know, the pending Democratic-supported healthcare bill has a solution built right into it: euthanize old people. Let's face it -- it makes a lot of sense.

Old people are the ones who keep our insurance rates high because they're always sick. Why should the rest of us who are not old and sick have to pay so much for insurance when we're the ones barely using it? Letting the old people croak is actually an efficient way to fix the broken healthcare system.

Oh, so you think I sound crazy, huh? Well, that's the point.

Who the fuck would support any bill that believed we should euthanize our seniors?!? The answer: NO ONE. Neither President Obama nor any Democrat in Congress supports such a thing. Who in their right mind would believe this nonsense anyway?? Well... Republicans do.


I swear these people are willfully ignorant. They choose to believe the lies and rumors they hear from the most unreliable sources and allow themselves to be convinced they are fact.

This whole Obama-is-going-to-euthanize-Granny crap started when a Congressman thought it might be a good idea for the government to pay for a fully elective visit to your doctor where you can discuss your end-of-life care / living-will. Why is this a good idea? For starters, so you don't end up like her forcing family members argue over your fate...

It's indeed true that the cost of those who express their end-of-life care to their doctor and/or in a living-will is statistically lower. When you don't linger around longer than you want to, there are less expenses in result. Of course, if you wanna lay there brain-dead for a few extra months until your organs can no longer function -- you'll still have that right too.

This helpful option has been twisted so awfully that some old people are now believing that the government is going to force them to chose how they are going to die. Good grief...


Honestly, the angry organized mobs we now see at town meetings are the fault of every Democrat in Washington who couldn't muster up the testicular fortitude to pass a healthcare bill before they left for their summer break. Now they are suffering the consequences as they go back home. Of course, WE will suffer the consequences when they come back and either don't pass the thing or give us a watered-down version that won't be good enough.

KISS Fans Who Hate KISS

There are three kinds of people in this world:

1) KISS fans
2) People who aren't KISS fans
3) KISS fans who hate KISS

The latter group of people are easily the worst of all.

See, if you think KISS songs are the musical equivalent to buffalo farts -- that's perfectly fine. However, if you are going to be some whiny KISS fan who pitches continuous online fits over which 50-year old KISS member wears which clown makeup, you need to get a life or find a new hobby.

KISS has been through countless lineup changes over the years and the latest incarnation of the band is just one more in a long list. The current KISS lineup, while totally awesome, is really no different than any other lineup. It's still just KISS.

KISS' current drummer, Eric Singer, and lead guitarist, Tommy Thayer, now wear the Catman and Spaceman makeup because Peter Criss and Ace Frehley are no longer in the band. The decision concerning the makeup came as a result of Peter and Ace's discontentment with being in KISS.

In 2000, Peter Criss refused to honor his existing contract at the end of the Farewell Tour and demanded more money. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley did not take kindly to these demands and brought back Eric Singer (the drummer who Criss replaced when KISS reunited) who finished the tour wearing the Catman persona.


In 2002, Ace Frehley refused to sign a new contract after Paul and Gene decided that KISS should continue. With Ace's decision being final, they replaced him with long-time KISS associate, Tommy Thayer.

So why can KISS still use the Catman and Spaceman makeup without Ace and Peter being in the band? Because Ace and Peter pawned off their rights to the designs for cold hard cash years ago. If those guys didn't see their own makeup designs as sacred, why should fans see it any differently?

Ever since 2001, KISS has had at least one non-original member sporting a makeup design that an original member once wore. Even though it's been 8-years, there are still people bellyaching over it like it happened yesterday.

The most amusing example of this childish behavior is this particular retard who wholely embodies the ridiculousness of it all...

I remember when I was a little kid and believed that Paul, Gene, Ace and Peter were really their characters. Because of that, the makeup mattered to little kids like me. In 1983, KISS took off the makeup and revealed themselves to really be four regular and somewhat ugly guys.


But today, it's not little kids who are crying about the makeup, but grown adults acting like little kids over this situation. They pick internet fights, post endless criticisms and even start little hate forums in protest. Let's just get one thing straight: A KISS fan who hates KISS isn't a KISS fan at all.

Anyhow, until puberty hits these 30 and 40-year olds, Eric Singer has an undergarment recommendation for all the cry-babies out there...

Newsflash: Glenn Beck Is Insane

Every once and a while, a right-wing lunatic gives us a gift-wrapped present with a bow. Today's offering comes via Glenn Beck of Fox News.


Beck claims that the current President of the United States is a 'racist'. Yes, a racist. Our half-white President hates white people. Leave it to true racists to forget that little fact.

Republicans also believe this is chocolate ice cream...


Beck claims that President Obama has, "...a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture." He then went on to contradict himself -- and then contradict the contradiction -- by saying, "I'm not saying he doesn't like white people. He has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist."

So let's sum up:

1) Obama has a deep-seated hatred for white people.
2) Obama may not hate white people.
3) Obama is, in fact, a racist.


Part of me wishes nothing but ill-will upon Beck, but in a lot of ways, this kinda of stuff only helps keep the GOP out of touch and out of power -- and that's a good thing.

There's no doubt that there's a small portion of this country who agree with Beck. These people also believe that President Obama an illegal alien and a Muslim to boot. But for this mainstream personality to go and spout such craziness, it just shows that the GOP is still just a party of white guys who consistantly oppose minorities in our country.

It has been projected that by 2050, minorities in America will become the majority. All I know is if this kind of nonsense on the Right continues to occur, the GOP will be a dead party by then -- and, IMO, that really can't come soon enough.

C'mon Glenn Beck. It's time to enter the 21st century. Even some of your biggest supporters have caught up with the times...

"Bruno" is the "Unbreakable" of 2009

Since the release of "Bruno", I've had seen a host of negative reviews for the film that really had me wondering how Sacha Baron Cohen could have gotten this film so wrong. After seeing the film, I believe I understand why some people feel as they do.

It seems that many of these reviewers who see "Bruno" in a negative light do so because the film did not live up to the greatness of "Borat". However, this is not a flaw with the film; it is a flaw with the viewer.

"Borat" was a masterpiece. The specialness of "Borat" was like lightning in a bottle that could never be duplicated and it's partially why Cohen retired the character. "Bruno" is obviously cut from the same cloth as "Borat", but fails to amaze us in the same way because this kind of film is no longer original to us. We've now been there and done that.

"Bruno" is a very funny movie, but it's unfortunate that it cannot escape the large shadow that "Borat" has cast. It reminds me very much in how M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" could not live up to his legendary, "Sixth Sense".

Even though we knew we were getting an entirely different movie with M. Night's sophmore effort, many people were still expecting, "The Sixth Sense II". When they didn't get that or an ending that impacted them as much, they saw it as a disappointment. The truth is that "Unbreakable" did not fail us; people's expectations failed them.


"Unbreakable" is a very good stand-alone film and also has a pretty darn good ending -- it's just that the ending isn't in the same league as "The Sixth Sense" (although very few movie endings are). It's a shame that some people have let this affect their appreciation for this film.

Admittedly, "Bruno" was not as great as "Borat", but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. Personally, I laughed more than not during those 90-minutes. If you compare "Bruno" to every other comedy released over the last 5-years, IMO, it would only be bested by no more than a handful of them.


I am absolutely convinced that if there were never a "Borat", more people would love with this film. Even part of me is guilty of comparing the two, but I never let it get in the way of my enjoyment of this film. Unfortunately, others are unable to leave "Borat" out of the equation when watching this movie. It's really their loss because "Bruno" is a pretty darn good flick.

Sweet Mother of God!

Brace yourself...

The Best of Johnny Depp

Having recently seen Johnny Depp in "Public Enemies", I got thinking about which are the best characters he's played over the years. Here are the ones that I thought he shined the brightest in:

5. Sweeney Todd

No only does Depp have to pull off playing a Brit, but he has to sing in this movie as well -- a lot of singing, actually. For someone who isn't as gifted as maybe a Hugh Jackman when it comes to this sort of thing, Depp easily earns an 'E' for effort when it comes to this creepy performance.


4. Willy Wonka

While it's not the best movie, Depp puts his own spin on Wonka that is quite compelling. There's no doubt that Michael Jackson was, at least in part, an influence on how he tackled this role. There are just too many similarities in appearance, speech, circumstance and life-story. Regardless, Depp carries the movie on his back and keeps you interested the entire way.


3. John Wilmot, The Earl of Rochester

Unless you've seen "The Libertine" on cable, it's likely that you probably haven't witnessed Depp in this role. John Wilmot is not more than a stone's throw away from Depp's infamous Jack Sparrow character, but he's even more arrogant and self-interested than Captain Jack. Actually, in some ways, Wilmot's lifestyle is probably more pirate-like than Disney allows Jack Sparrow to be.


My favorite scene in "The Libertine" is when Wilmot and his wife are posed while being painted for a portrait. Wilmot looks out the window and expresses interest in having a trained street monkey in their portrait as well. His wife then storms out of the room infuriated by the notion. As we later see, the finished painting only features Wilmot and the monkey...


2. Raoul Duke

I HATED this movie the first time I saw "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". I can stress how much I disliked it. However, in the last year, it's been sporatically on HBO and I've reaquainted and made peace with it. In the process, I also realized that Depp is fantasic in this role as the half-cocked, paranoid goofball based on Hunter S. Thompson.


And number one...

1. Captain Jack Sparrow

None of Depp's other characters come close to being as impressive as Captain Jack. As great as Depp has been in his variety of roles, he created an iconic character out of his own very talents. So many lead characters are well-defined before an actor is even casted, but Depp molded this character from his own idea of who he should be -- a combination of Keith Richards and Pepé Le Pew. The result was pure magic.


I am quite looking forward to seeing Johnny Depp's next endeavour where he plays one of the many oddball characters who reside in the upside down world of Wonderland. Depp will portray the Mad Hatter.

Ahmadinejad Upset With Twitter

Ahmadinejad thinks we're jerks...

Well If The Martians Aren't Worried...

Did you know that those who go around claiming that global warming is a myth are now citing the fact that the temperatures on Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are also rising? Yes, really. I heard this one on the Sean Hannity radio show on Thursday.

First off, conservatives need to get their stories straight. While they often call global warming a myth, they are using examples like this to claim that it all may just be some general warming within our solar system. Even if that were the case, wouldn' they then finally have to admit that it's actually happening? Well, they're not exactly saying that either.

The thing I found especially humorous in this example is that we already know Martians, Jupiterians and the Saturians aren't affected by the warming in the same way we are. Is it their ability to deal with the heat better than we can or is it that they are better at living under ground than we are? No. It's because they don't fucking exist!!


The combined living population on Mars, Jupiter and Saturn is zero. The temperatures on those planets can rise 100-degrees in a single day and while all kinds of crazy atmospheric shit might happen, it ain't gonna affect one life on those planets. On our planet, though, it's quite a different story.

Whether people believe global warming is man-made or just a natural cycle really doesn't matter. Humanity is headed for some big trouble if people don't collectively decide to counter the warming that is going on. Citing the rising temperatures on three other sister planets doesn't then mean that we shouldn't do anything about our own problems with such warming.

I think Al Gore put it best. He said that it may cost a lot to counter global warming and some might say it's too expensive to address, but if you do nothing and the planet gets too hot, what good will all the saved money be worth when it's too late?

The reality of global warming isn't going to mean more of this...


The reality of global warming is going to lead to more of this...

Good Riddance

Today, the wackjob from Alaska announced her resignation from being the governor of that crazy state of hers. Whoo-hoo!!

The good news is that it's over for Sarah Palin in politics. I don't think she realizes that fact yet, but when you quit being governor after just 2-and-a-half years into your first term -- you're done. People would only wonder whether she would quit again if she were elected to any other office.

This decision today just seems too erratic. I cannot recall the last major political figure resigning from office with a good reason. In fact, they are almost always for bad reasons.

I just think The Wicked Witch of Wasilla sees this as a chance to fill up her bank account. In three weeks, she will become a private citizen and will be able to tour 'the lower 48' and get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars per speech. Her star is still bright in the eyes of certain people and she can make a lot more money as a private person in one year than she ever could in a lifetime as a politician.


So goodbye, Sarah Palin. No matter what you say or do from this point going forward, you will never again get the chance to have your hand in our country's political system. It was sure fun watching you implode your political career this afternoon.