Northern Lights in Arkansas?

So last night in the Ozarks the northern lights were very active. While I lay in my bed asleep many Arkansans were out viewing what I have been trying to view for several years. Early in the evening I did notice that it was a very clear night and went out and viewed some stars, but little did I know the show that was in store just a few hours away.

Arkansas photographer Brian Emfinger was alerted to the northern lights by SpaceWeather.com's aurora alert. "I ran out and put my camera out and immediately saw reddish aurora," he wrote. "I ran out into the field, and within a few minutes the aurora went crazy!"

Topping my bucket list is viewing the northern lights. Above the Super Bowl, BCS Championship, meeting Halle Berry. To miss something like this in my own backyard is pretty disheartening. Maybe next time…

Here are some pics I found on the web:

BCS Rankings

How is it possible that Arkansas a one loss team, is behind two other schools each also with one loss? Arkansas lost one the road at Alabama (BCS #2). Oregon is somewhat justified as they lost to LSU (BCS #1) at a “neutral site”. However, Oklahoma losing at home to a Texas Tech team with 2 losses should be enough to push them towards the bottom of 1 loss teams in the BCS standings. Not cool…

Entitlement

As a society we need to vastly improve our ability to educate ourselves as well as those among us. Yesterday approximately 50 exotic animals were murdered because some zealot is permitted to enslave these animals for his personal entertainment. When he decides that he has had enough he simply lets these beautiful animals out into an environment where the authorities have no choice but to put them down. Perhaps if we got off our couch, or turned off the latest episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashian’s, and decide to go see a documentary or read a book, conceivably then you would realize there is more to our world than just your personal perspective. The sooner we realize that animals are not here for our amusement the better the planet will be for all of us. We have no entitlement, I am not sure how we developed this viewpoint that we are somehow better than all the other creatures. That is simply false. Go watch Disney’s African Cats and witness firsthand the everyday struggle these animals endure simply for survival! Maybe that will help us appreciate that there are constantly significant things going on outside of our bubble. Instead of enjoying and appreciating animals we have come to the conclusion that we are better off hunting and exploiting them. On that I will leave you with this note.

"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left."  - Albert Einstein

On the other hand if humans went extinct the animal kingdom would flourish.

Super Bowl Prediction

This is not rocket science, all based on logic. Great coaching plus great QB play = Super Bowl appearance. With that I pick the Patriots over the Saints in the Super Bowl.

Captain America (Kurt Cobain)

Is anyone else going to see Captain America this weekend? I understand that it's just another Hollywood version of a Marvel comic series. It will not be a critically acclaimed film, and I will probably end up unimpressed with the storyline and acting. However I have always had a special place for the Cap'n in my heart. Although I am not a Captain America expert, I have been more drawn to him opposed to other superheros. It all started when I saw Kurt Cobain (the closest thing I have to a superhero) wearing a Captain America shirt. That said, I completely blame Kurt Cobain for the money I will spend this weekend watching Captain America.

Boardwalk Empire

So I have started watching the replay of Season 1 of Boardwalk Empire on HBO. Excellent series so far. The plot along with the acting is as good as it gets. Here's to hoping there is a great episode tonight...

Top 10 Films Of My Life

This is a list of my top 10 favorite movies since 1983. Compiled and judged by me. Subject to change depending on my mood. Enjoy!

10. The Hangover. 2009 Todd Phillips. Best comedy I have seen.

9. Inception. 2010 Christopher Nolan. Blow your mind plot, with arguably DiCaprio's best performance, along with an amazing performance by Marion Cotillard.

8. The Silence of the Lambs. 1991 Johnathan Demme.Foster and Hopkins create a perfect storm in this one, their chemistry is amazing. Gives me chills just thinking about this one.

7. The Lion King. 1994 Roger Allers. Probably the best story of any movie you will see on this list. The only animated movie I have ever fought back tears for. This is a brilliant movie!

6. The Departed. 2006 Martin Scorsese. One of my personal favorites. Fell in love with it the moment I saw it.

5. Saving Private Ryan. 1998 Steven Spielberg. Amazing story, amazing dircetor, amazing performances by the entire cast. Enough said.

4. Primal Fear. 1996 Gregory Hoblit. This movie has the best performance of any on the list. Edward Norton used this role to catapult into superstardom. First movie that left me up all night thinking...

3. The Fighter. 2010 David Russell. Considering my love for boxing, and how extremely relatable this film is to society, it is no surprise I have this film rated this high.

2. V For Vendetta.2006 James McTeigue. I can't even explain why I love this movie so much. The big government message it sends is really amazing. This movie does the best job of conveying it's message of any I have ever seen. Remarkable!

1. Good Will Hunting. 1997 Gus Van Sant. This was never in jeopardy. Far and away the best movie I have ever seen, of any time period. If you know me, then you know this is the way I feel. This movie is perfection. From the Soundtrack to each performance. I have seen this movie well over 100 times start to finish, I can quote any line from it. This is the ultimate do not judge a book by it's cover message. PERFECTION!!!

Honorable Mentions: Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, L.A. Confidential, Titanic, Fight Club, Back to the Future, Man on Fire, Cindarella Man, Bandits, Oceans 11, A Time to Kill, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Dark Knight, Wedding Crashers