The Voices In Air Judden's Head
"Once you're inside my mind, baby, there's no turning back!" -- Ace Ventura
A handsome devil
Things that interest me
MUSIC:
I have a passion for music. I like a variety of music.
I love Jazz music, and by that, I mean REAL Jazz, not that adult-contemporary mellow R&B stuff called "Smooth Jazz". Within that genre, I prefer Be Bop and Hard Bop, but I also like some of the West Coast "Cool" Jazz of the 1950s, some of the Jazz-Rock Fusion of the 1970s, some Hot Jazz from the 1920s and Swing from the 1930s. I won't sour to a good Dixieland jam, either. Just keep most of the 1960s Free Jazz away, please. I dedicated an entire webpage to my love of jazz.
I also like Country music. I haven't been into much of it recently (2005), because it all kind of sounds the same anymore. My favorites are Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Sara Evans, Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw, George Strait, Patty Loveless, Randy Travis and Teri Clark. While this is more of the young country, I can still dig some Hank (Sr), Willie & Waylon, Ronnie Milsap, and the Outlaws.
I also like classic rock. Journey, Foreigner, Eagles, Steve Miller, Boston, Styx, Kansas, and most of the guitar rock of the 1970s and 80s is fine by me. I grew up on heavy metal and big hair bands, so I have a soft spot for Stryper, Bon Jovi, Priest, Maiden, Van Halen, Motorhead, Night Ranger, and the likes. I kind of like some of the music in today's scene (2005), but it usually has to be the more "rock" sound, such as Evanescence, Creed, and groups like that. I also like a big hodge-podge of different music - usually bands more than the genre, such as King's X, Indigo Girls, Survivor, Rich Mullins, Lenny Kravitz, Run-DMC (woah, I'm showing my age, there), SFC, Earth Wind and Fire and the Altar Boys.
A handful of my favorite albums are (in no particular order):
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
John Coltrane - Blue Train
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Thelonious Monk - The Best of Thelonious Monk. The Blue Note Years.
Diana Krall - All for you (A dedication to the Nat "King" Cole trio)
Take 6 - Take 6
Stryper - To Hell with the Devil
Jars of Clay - Jars of Clay
Altar Boys - Against the Grain
Rich Mullins - Songs
King's X - King's X.
Journey - Escape
Journey - Greatest Hits
Jimi Hendrix - Smash Hits
Eagles - Greatest Hits, Volume 1
Foreigner - The Very Best and Beyond
Steve Miller - Greatest Hits
Eagles - Greatest Hits Vols 1 & 2
Debbie Gibson - Think with your Heart
Garth Brooks - Ropin' the Wind
Garth Brooks - The Hits
Trisha Yearwood - Songbook (A collection of hits)
Patty Loveless - Only what I feel
Jo Dee Messina - I'm Alright
Terri Clark - Greatest Hits
Reading
I enjoy reading, but I don't get to read as much as I would like (who does?). My favorite author is J. Michael Straczynski, who in my opinion, is one of the great modern storytellers. He has written books, some of the best TV shows (Babylon 5, Crusade, Jeremiah), short stories, and comics.
Genre-wise, I like some sci-fi, as well as informational books about health, exercise, and nutrition. I also have a huge library of books about basketball, mostly professional. I read books by Christian authors, as well. Works by Phillip Yancey, Charles Colson, C.S. Lewis and such. I read biographies (which crosses into many genres), and I enjoy history.
I have reviews for the books that I have read. You can view it by clicking here. I don't do a good job of updating it, though.
Comics
I read Spider-Man since I was 5 years old. It has had it's highs and lows, but recently (2005), it's been on a real roll, especially since my favorite author, the previously mentioned J. Michael Straczynski, took over writing the flagship Amazing Spider-Man title. I've been really impressed with Brian Bendis' work on Ultimate Spider-Man, and I've enen liked what's been going on in the Marvel Knights and Spider-Man Unlimited stories.
I used to ONLY read Spider-Man titles, but now, I will read anything that Straczynski writes (such as Rising Stars and Midnight Nation)
I haven't officially counted my comic collection, but I estimate that it runs about 2,000 comics (based on the number of boxes I have and the average number each box holds).
Cooking/Food
In College, I lived on cheap fast food, Raman Noodles, Turkey sandwiches, and Mac N Cheese. I put on a lot of pounds in college (duh). After college, I started learning about nutrition and I've really enjoyed studying it. In the process I learned how to cook - really cook.
I like to cook healthy meals. More than weight loss is for the nutrient and health benefits of eating better and the way you just feel better when you eat right. It is also a challenge. I'm not going to live off of rice cakes and tofu and I'm not into gimmick diets, like Low-Carb. I cook meals that use the right amounts of protein (meat), carbs (the complex variety), fibrous vegetables, and fat. I go for low-fat (but not "no fat"), no sugar, while not going crazy with the salt shaker. I also like to cook fast, meaning I don't like the excessive preparation time that comes from dicing onions, chopping carrots, and cooking and chopping chicken into julienned pieces. I believe I have finally got a grip on this. I have spent years gathering recipes from various sources and improving on the speed of preparation and the nutrient value. I have thought about publishing a cookbook, but never got around to it. If you want to learn more, drop me an e-mail and let's chat. I do enjoy dispensing of the wisdom I have attained.
Years ago, I started building a section on healthy eating (click here to view it). But I haven't been good about maintaining it, and I wrote it before I factored speed into my preparation.
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Babylon 5
I have been a fanatic for a few shows during my lifetime-- The Dukes of Hazard, back when I was a kid (don't ask me why) and Star Trek-the Next Generation during college. However, none compared to my post-college obsession with Babylon 5. In my opinion, this is as good as TV gets. As far a sci-fi goes, it is better than anything -- Star Trek, Star Wars, X-Files...everything, and I'm not slamming the others, Babylon 5 is just that good. If you know nothing about it, here is a nutshell: J. Michael Straczynski, the creator and writer, had planned a 5-year story with a beginning, middle, and end, before it was ever filmed. A show like that had never been done in America. Because of this, the show is extremely well thought out. It doesn't get lost and paint itself in a corner, like X-Files. It doesn't have to create gimmicks to save the show, like Deep Space Nine (Warf). The only downside is that it doesn't grab you from the first episode. The first half of Season 1 is spent on rather average episodes introducing characters and laying down backstory. But after that, the story takes off and you get hooked onto it. The other disadvantage is that it is not an easy show to jump into the middle of, but since it is over, it can be seen on DVD. Besides the clever concept, there are 2 reasons why the show is so great: Straczyski has a strong background in great works of literature, and can pull from them and often does. If you don't recognize the references, you don't lose anything, but if you do, you can see references to stories such as Lord of the Rings, the Bible, and numerous historical references, especially World War II. The other reason it is great is because Straczkyski understands people and writes them and dialog well. There are no well-defined "good" and "bad" guys. No matter how good the character, he or she is still flawed and the flaws are exposed. You will find yourself cheering for and against the characters at different parts as they all grow through the show. In this universe, it is not a polly-anna universe, such as Star Trek, where there is no poverty and everyone is interested in improving himself through Shakespeare and Classical Music. No, in Babylon 5, governments and corporations and people are driven by money, greed, and enlightened self-interest. And best of all, Straczynski uses the characters, not the technology, to drive and resolve the story. I used to get aggravated with the way Jordi LaForge could "cross the warp reactor with a tacheon field and channel it through the deflector dish" to save the ship. There are no gods in the machine in Babylon 5. The show is available on DVD. If you want to see a show that will make you smile, cry, and most of all THINK, then rent or buy the DVDs and watch. It will challenge you in ways you never imagined and will make you think about how you can be a better person. Your life will be enriched, and that is something you do not see associated with television.
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Golf
I like playing golf. I really enjoy it. I'm not great at it. At my very best, I was about a bogie golfer. I'm not a serious golfer. I don't dress the part and I'm not obsessed. I like the exercise (I walk and carry my clubs, no pull carts), and I find it relaxing. However, since I've become a father, I don't get to put in the practice like I like, so at times I find my erratic play aggravating. I know how to fix it (practice), but cannot solve it, so I have to play knowing I can play better. As a result, I don't golf a lot and when I do, it's more for the company I keep I keep - if I can enjoy their presence, I'll enjoy the round.
Madden
Back in 2002, I got a PlayStation 2 for Christmas along with Madden 2003. I had no idea what I was getting into. It's excellent and I'm amazed at how much detail is put into the game. If you want to increase your football knowledge, play Madden. If you can win at the highest level, I guarantee you will learn more about football than you currently know. You will understand blocking schemes, blitz packages, hot routes, quarterback progressions, the importance of precision route-running, scouting, reading the college combine numbers and such.
Since I've became a father, I don't play while my daughter is awake, because she's more important, but I do enjoy playing a game sometimes when she's gone to sleep.
Movies
In college, I used to be somewhat of a movie buff, but I was a lot bigger one in college, back when money was scarce and the $1 theatre was good, cheap entertainment. I don't watch them much anymore, because they have been so bad, as a whole, but I rent videos now and then.
I don't understand why there are no original ideas in Hollywood. The stories are typically movie renditions of TV shows (Scoobee Doo, Mission Impossible), teen movies that re-tell basic stories (Pygmalion being a popular theme), or lame comedy that gives away all of the funny lines in the trailer. Most trailers pretty much give the entire movie away, so I fail to understand why someone would spend $8+ on a ticket to see what they already know. I also dislike the clichés in movies - you can predict that the side-kick good guy really didn't die and would make the 11th hour save of the star; or the one-liner that action hero says after he blows away evil bad guy. What ever happened to the thought provoking movies? If you want to merely sit back and be entertained, without having to participate, why not watch TV?
I prefer a good thought provoking drama, but I really have a thing for time travel movies. I'll take an action-adventure movie (Indiana Jones, for instance), but please avoid the things I mention above!
I'll watch a chick flick, as long as it isn't predictable, such as When Harry Met Sally.
Some of my favorites are:
Dramas: This is my favorite type of movie.
Unforgiven - Clint Eastwood's greatest movie.
Scent of a Woman -
Pacino was excellent!
A Few Good Men - the first 3 movies I list competed against each other for
best picture at the Oscars (Unforgiven won). A great year for movies!
Nobody's Fool - Paul Newman and
Jessica Tandy give great performances. Just a great movie about an ordinary guy.
It's a Wonderful Life - Christmas can't come until I've seen it.
A Perfect World -
Call me strange, but I generally
like Kevin Costner movies and Clint Eastwood is my favorite actor.
Crimson Tide - I have a thing for submarine stories.
The Hunt for Red October - See what I mean?
A Soldier's Story -
An awesome whodunit and Denzel Washington's big break into the movies.
The Ring - Since I don't like horror movies, I'll put this one
here. It's not gore and guts, but it is the creepiest and scariest movie I
ever saw.
Sports Movies: While most of them blow, here are
a few good ones:
Hoosiers - The all-time classic
Brian's Song - The movie that makes
grown men cry.
Tin Cup - I never get tired
of this movie.
Miracle - Just a very well told story that never gets old.
Time-Travel Movies: I love most of these - maybe
because I like to blow my mind.
12 Monkeys - You have to watch this one carefully, and then watch it again to
get it.
Peggy Sue Got Married - The
ultimate "what if" movie. If you could go back in the past with the what
you know now, would you change your life?
The Terminator Series - I love them all.
Back to the Future - Avoid the sequals.
Cult Classics and quotable movies for me and my
friends:
Cool as Ice - Vanilla Ice's debut. Nuff said. Watch it and
roll.
Friday - Possibly the funniest
movie I ever saw.
Barry Gordy's the Last Dragon - Kung Fu in Harlem with the ultimate
antagonist. How could Julius Carrey NOT have won an Oscar as Sho Nuff?
Office Space - The life of me.
True Grit - Yeah, it's a John Wayne movie and an Oscar-winner, but we
love the lines...Fill Your hands...
Heartbreak Ridge - If ever there was a man's movie, this is it. If
you ever sat through a boring chick flick, make her watch this for payback.
Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves - Yeah, Costner makes a believable Brit
(cough!), but I'll quote this movie until you are sick of it.
Tombstone - "Why Johnny Ringo...you look like somebody just walked
over your grave." Has there ever been a better line in a movie?
Batman - Would somebody explain to me how a man dressed as a bat gets all
my publicity? This town needs an enema!
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure - Excellent!!!! [air guitar
strum]
Action Adventure movies - As
a genre, I
don't care for these type of movies as much, but here are some of my favorites:
Spider-Man - I waited 13 years for this and they exceeded my lofty
expectations.
Spider-Man II - Possibly the only sequel better than the original.
Daredevil - Watch the director's cut before you pass judgment.
The Indiana Jones trilogy - If you don't like this, you are not American.
The Matrix Trilogy - Yeah the third one was a let-down, but it was the
logical conclusion to the story. It does make you think (which is why you
probably have to see it multiple times to get the nuances). This is also a
great quotable movie.
Waterworld - I think I am the
only person who liked this movie. Hey, everybody has a guilty pleasure.
The Star Wars movies - Episode I blew. VI didn't payoff, and the
best movies in the series were the dark ones (III and V), but overall, well
done.
Star Trek II, III, IV, VI, and First Contact - Until "Nemesis",
every other movie was good. III was the only odd numbered movie worth
watching.
SPORTS:
I enjoyed playing them when I was younger (basketball, football, baseball, volleyball), but age and injury prevent this. I like to play golf and although I don't get to do it as much as I like, I like bicycle riding (road bike), and I'm trying to learn how to roller blade. Hiking and exercise-walking are also things I like doing, as well as weight lifting.
Viewing-wise, I don't do much. I am an avid follower of Kansas State Football, but that is my only real spectator sport. My favorite professional teams are the New York Yankees in baseball, the Chicago Bears in football and the Philadelphia 76ers in basketball. I am a second-generation Yankees and Bears fan, who grew up wanting to be Graig Nettles in the summer and Walter Payton in the winter. Basketball was a sport I didn't get into until the 1990s, but I don't follow it much any more. I liked college basketball in the late 80s and early 90s, but I really have no interest in it anymore.
Back in the day, my NBA interest was
really obsession. But through the years, it has dwindled to a passing interest.
As the NBA became more interested in entertaining than in competing, the
integrity of the game came into question, so I
quit watching. I enjoy the NBA's past and reading about it, but I have
little interest in watching the games or following it now.
I do like the game of baseball, but I
rarely watch games. When the Yankees signed Jason Giambi and Gary
Sheffield, I lost interest. I didn't like them going the free agent route
and I do not like those steroid punks and their ilk ruining the game.
I love the Bears and if they were on TV more, I'd be an avid pro football fan, but they rarely are, so I don't watch much. I can watch any game and be interested, because the sport itself is so fascinating, but I tend not to, even though I still try to follow the Bears as closely as I can.
Many folks think I'm a sports junkie because I can quote numbers and carry on a decent conversation. But I really watch very little. I can retrain that which I've seen or read, and recite it easily, though, so it perpetuates the myth.
My favorite players are:
Baseball: Graig Nettles!!!! First and foremost, "Puff" ruled! I also like Bucky Dent, Willie Randolph, Mickey Rivers, Chris Chambliss, Thurman Munson, Dave Winfield, Don Mattingly, Oscar Gamble, Lou Pinella, Roy White, Ron Guidry, Rich Gossage, Reggie Jackson, Tommy John, Derek Jeter, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, Scott Brosius, and Tino Martinez.
Football: Walter Payton. Also, Neal Anderson, Jim McMahon, Otis Anderson, Jim Hart, Neil Lomax, Pat Tilley, Jim Otis, Mel Gray, Roy Greene, Willie Gault, Mike Singletary, Gary Fencik, Richard Dent, Gale Sayers, William Perry, Brian Urlacher, Mike Brown, Darren Sproles, Mark Simoneau, Josh Scobey, Mario Fatafehi, Ben Leber, Todd Weiner, and Terrance Newman.
Basketball: Wilt Chamberlain, Julius
Erving, Oscar Robertson, Clarence Weatherspoon, and Bernard King are my favorites. I also like Walt Frazier,
Charles Barkley, Willis Reed, Dave
DeBusschere, Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, Dick Barnett, Bob Cousy, Bobby Jones, Chet
Walker, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney, Maurice Cheeks, Rolondo Blackman, Mitch
Richmond, Gene Wiley, Dave Stallworth, Allen Iverson, and Magic Johnson.
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