Star Wars -- More than Just Movies

Most people have seen the Star Wars movies, and they have been very successful. Kids and adults alike enjoy watching lightsaber duels, speeder chases, and spacecraft battles. However, did you know that there is a lot more to Star Wars than just the movies? There are all kinds of stories out there, in the form of books, computer/video games, and TV shows, that tell what happened before, in between, and after the movies. All that is known as the Expanded Universe.
This is just my opinion, but I think that the books are actually better than the movies. While George Lucas has a great imagination, his writing skills are less than adequate. The stilted dialogue (such as saying, "The same," instead of, "Yes") can sometimes be a hindrance to enjoying the films. With the books, though, he gets actual writers of other science fiction, and they do a much better job. Plus, there are all new characters, such as Mara Jade (pictured), Han and Leia's kids, Thrackan Sal-Solo, etc. So, if you like the Star Wars movies, try reading a book. I would suggest starting with Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn.

Why I Don't Like Sports

You all have probably heard me say before that I am not a fan of sports. I do not play any, nor do I watch any. You probably think this is weird or something, because it seems like pretty much everyone likes sports these days, so why wouldn't I? Well, I'll tell you why, and I'm going to be quite frank, so I might step on some people's toes, but if you feel offended, I'm not sorry, because you shouldn't have done what I mentioned. Still with me? Then, I'll continue.
The main reason I don't like sports is because I was not raised around them. Those of you who are big fans of a team or even a league probably had someone around your house growing up that got you into it. I think it's a safe bet to say that it was probably your father. Well, guess what? I didn't have a father around. My parents were divorced when I was six weeks old, and I didn't have an older brother around, so I was a boy living in a house full of women, and you know what? Those women hardly watched any sports at all; they didn't watch football, or baseball, or basketball, or soccer, or any of the sports you probably watched (or even played) growing up. The only sport they really watched (if you want to call it a sport; whether it is or not is debatable) was figure skating. While you all were outside throwing footballs or hitting baseballs, I was inside, playing around on my Commodore 64.
I tried to get into sports later on, but I just couldn't. There was more than one reason why. One reason was that I couldn't sit still long enough to watch a football game. It's the same reason I hated the first Lord of the Rings movie so much; both that movie and the average football game take a long time to watch. Another reason is that, during my formative years, the message seemed to be, "If you like watching this sport, you must be able to play it, too." I had friends that were big football fans, and not only did they watch it a lot, but they also played it, both on a video game console and in real life. (They didn't play on a team or anything; we just played in their backyard.) It wasn't until later on that someone would tell me that just because you watch a sport doesn't mean you have to play it. Yet another reason (at least when it comes to playing) is that I don't have the coordination to play sports. I could have tried out for every single team at my high school and not made a single one. If I did make any, it would have just been a fluke (i.e., they had less people sign up then they had slots, etc.)
One of the biggest reasons why I don't like sports is because I've seen what it does to people. I'm not talking about the kinds of injuries my friends have sustained while playing, because you can get injured doing pretty much anything. I could be injured while sitting here typing this if I'm not careful. I'm talking about people's dedication to their sports. The father who gets all grouchy with his kids just because his team lost the game. The kids at the youth group meeting who fuss when the youth sponsor turns off the TV so he can teach about the Bible. (Yes, I'm calling you out! :p) The people who say a team "sucks." It's not that I mind people using the word "sucks"; heck, I use it all the time. What I don't like is the fact that you're saying a group of people that God created "sucks." How would you like it if I said, "All the kids at [insert your university, organization, family or whatever your group of people is here] suck!" Not only do I not know those people, but they are all precious in God's sight, no matter what I think of them. If you're not a fan of that team, just say that you aren't, but don't say they "suck". You can say something like, "High School Musical sucks," or, "Internet Explorer sucks," because those things weren't made by God. Anything else, though, just isn't right.
Maybe one day, I will understand what's so great about sports, just like I did with Harry Potter, Disney Channel and Star Wars. Right now, though, I seriously doubt it.

In Defense of Ashley Tisdale

I have always been hated on for my interests. From the kids at the elementary school who didn't get why I was so addicted to computers, to when I was teased about having Anne Hathaway on my desktop…it's happened a lot. It wasn't quite as bad when I was in high school, because some people there actually did watch shows like "Lizzie McGuire" or "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and those were also current and not obscure (unlike previous interests of mine, most of which were one or both.) However, the one interest of mine that most people at my high school hated the most was not a show, movie, or even a character; it was an actress. That actress was Ashley Tisdale, best known for her roles as Maddie in "Suite Life" and as Sharpay in "High School Musical." So, I'm going to defend her here, and you can say whatever you want in response (but remember, I'm the moderator here. If I don't like what you say, your comment is GONE. :p)
What do people say about Ashley? Mostly people say that she's ugly. I don't get that at all. Weren't these the same kids who were saying how hot/cute/attractive/whatever Hilary Duff was back during the days of "Lizzie McGuire"? Well, I have heard many people say that Ashley looks a lot like Hilary used to look. I agree, and I also say that it's not just the way they look; it's also the way they dress. If you go on www.ashleytisdale.com, there are some pictures of Ashley wearing a pink-and-orange-striped shirt, very much like the one Hilary wore on the cover of the "Raise Your Voice" DVD. Ashley even admitted in a magazine interview that their hair is similar; she said something like, "My hair has lots of layers and texture…kind of like the whole Hilary Duff thing." So, basically, if you thought Hil was hot back in 2002-04, you think Ashley Tisdale is hot now. If you say you don't, that's basically like saying, "I think a blue 2003 Toyota Camry is a quality car, but I don't think any other color Camry is." (How could you not like the other colors? They're exactly the same; only difference is the outside paint job!)
Though I haven't heard this claim, I'm sure people are probably saying that she's not a good actress. I don't get that, either. All you have to do is watch an episode of "Suite Life" to see her mastery of comedic timing. If you don't think what she says to the people at the Tipton is funny, you must not have a sense of humor. I'm willing to admit she's not a very good singer, but I can forgive her for that (and she sounds better than Hilary and Britney do, anyway.)
So, if you haven't checked out Ashley Tisdale, I suggest you do so. You will be glad you did.
-- Rebel

Has feminism gone too far?

You all know as well as I do that "women's lib" aka "feminism" has been going on for quite some time. I've seen it in a lot of the TV and movies I've watched, a good part of which is classic stuff. However, I think that it has reached a point now where it needs to stop. Before you submit an angry comment, read what I have to say, and then say what you think.
Why do I say it needs to stop? Simply because it makes men feel like nothing. You women may talk about how pathetic we men are, but get me with some guys and I can talk for hours on end about how dumb the women in my life can be. It shocked me one time when my brother-in-law said to me, "We're men. We're dumb." Why does having a Y chromosome automatically make you dumb? While I'm sure there are some dumb men out there, I can honestly say that there are some perfectly smart guys out there. Many of my guy friends from church are darn intelligent guys. Do they make dumb mistakes? Of course they do! Who doesn't? You've probably messed up about as many times as they did at your age.
Of course, this isn't just a problem with people that I know. I was once reading a magazine article that was talking about how far feminism had gone. One of the things it said was that if you do a Google search for "getting girls into science," you'll find all kinds of organizations talking about the subject, but if you do the same search with "boys" you'll find a Beastie Boys song. (I tried that and got essentially the same result.) It also talked about how women rule in many television programs, even kids' shows. The article mentioned Disney shows such as "Lizzie McGuire" (I remember Gordo almost seemed to be a high-functioning autistic in that show, and Sam hardly ever had a smart moment, though he was funny,) "That's So Raven" (although Chelsea was dumb, it sometimes seemed like Eddie was a bit too girl-crazy, and Raven's visions were always the plot of the show,) and "Kim Possible" (about a cheerleader who saves the world with her idiot guy friend who has a naked mole rat for a pet, need I say more?). I've noticed it with other shows, movies and even book series. Who is the most book-smart out of Harry Potter's friends? None other than Hermione Granger. It's everywhere in all kinds of media.
To be frank, I think that it's nothing short of a double standard when it comes to "female empowerment." When guys belittle girls' abilities, it's considered sexism or chauvinism and looked down upon. Yet, when a girl belittles a guy's abilities, it's considered okay. To me, that's nothing more than female chauvinism.
Look at it this way: God didn't intend for men and women to be exactly alike. Why do you think women are the only ones that can have children? If God had intended for both genders to be the same, he probably would have made us all one gender. There are some things guys can't do, but there are also some things girls can't do either. The two genders are different in many ways, but they're both God's creation, and beautiful to Him.
You may think I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to women making mistakes. Well, I've got news for you: I do. I was raised in a house full of women, and I saw first-hand the dumb mistakes they made. Am I saying that they're dumb people? Not at all! You don't have to be dumb to make dumb mistakes. Have I seen men make dumb mistakes? Of course I have! Were they all dumb guys that made them? Definitely not! The thing is, though, it seems that the female gender makes JUST AS MANY mistakes as the male gender! They may be different mistakes, but they're JUST AS BAD in my book!
Now, here's the thing: I am NOT saying that females are worthless scum. In fact, some of my best friends are girls! (Check my yearbooks if you don't believe me.) Girls and guys are both important not only to me, but to "this ever-changing world in which we live in," to quote a classic rock song. (Bonus points go to anyone who knows which song it is! :D) I value women, and I hope to marry one someday (though I have no clue which one I will.) However, men are just as important in this world as women. One should not be held higher than the other, because they are both precious in God's sight.
Any comments?

Harry Potter -- good or bad?

I used to hate "Harry Potter". I thought the book series was garbage (though I hadn't read it), and the films were far too long and drawn-out (especially the third one, which I saw in the theater with my uncle.) I had always heard that the books were much better than the movies, so when I saw some books at a yard sale, I decided to buy them just to see if they were any good. Well, when I read the first one, I was amazed at the quality of writing. The story just hooks you in and keeps you until the last page. While the movies aren't exactly stellar (though they're all right for one viewing, at least in my opinion) the books are great.

However, any popular thing, whether it be a video game, book series, TV show or movie, is going to attract controversy. I think that a lot of the criticism is unfounded, though. For one, the whole issue of "magic" is not really anything new. Many movies in the sci-fi/fantasy realm deal with "magic," including "Star Wars," which is loved and cherished by people of all faiths, including Christians, who have been the main ones criticizing "Harry Potter". There is nothing demonic about the magic used in the "Harry Potter" series; the characters are never seen praying to Satan or interacting with any kind of evil force. In fact, the line, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes" (from "Revenge of the Sith") is far more insulting towards Christians than anything in "Harry Potter". There is also the claim that kids will get obsessed with fads, which has been said since the days of Pokémon. It's a fact that kids (or people in general) can get obsessed with anything, no matter how popular it is. It's not just a thing for people with syndromes or OCD; people who I know for a fact don't have anything of the sort have been obsessed with all sorts of things, from Tae Kwon Do to Natalie Portman. (No, I never really cared about Natalie Portman; Hilary Duff and Anne Hathaway were always more my type.)

One of the good things about "Harry Potter" is that it was originally a book series. While many popular things have books written about them, usually the books are based on the movies. However, that is not the case with Harry. I remember that kids were actually bringing the books to school and reading them, and most kids that age don't like reading. Even if you don't like the book series, think about this: Maybe, if they enjoyed reading "Harry Potter", they may check out another book series since they enjoyed reading that one so much. I know that most parents would rather their kid read a book than sit around and play video games all day, and I can't say I blame them.

-- Rebel

I have some big news: I am going to be an uncle again in December! It's too early right now to tell if it's a girl or boy, but I'm hoping for a boy. There's not much else to say right now, but I will try to keep all of you posted on any further news!
-- Rebel

DISCLAIMER: The characters in this story are not based on any of my friends in any way. So, if you see something that makes you think I'm writing about you…I'm not. Also, I know this story isn't exactly biblically accurate, but it's fiction, and it's just meant as fun. It answers an important question that I think we all wonder sometimes. (I'm not telling you what the question is; you have to read the story.) Still with me? On with the story.
IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT
CHAPTER 1
It was just like any other night. Kevin laid there in his bed, wondering about life, the universe and everything. He’d just recently graduated from high school, and seriously missed it, if only because of the friends he had there. In fact, many of his recent dreams had been about that old place. Oh, sure, it was different every time; from there being a beach behind the school, to his old friend Connie winning a science award--
Speaking of which, what was going on with Connie? Last he’d heard, she was loving life at Max College, all the way in California. Lucky her. Kevin couldn’t get into a big-name college; his grades throughout high school were not so hot. He’d always failed at so many things: classes, sports, love…and the list goes on. Did he have a crush on Connie? Well, not that he’d admit. Still, he had hope that one day he and someone would end up together, whether it be Miss Connie Kodak or not. Of course, doing that would mean that he’d have to excel at winning her heart, and excelling was not his strong suit.
* * *
Whoo-hoo!
 That was Chris Cammer’s first thought after leaping into bed. It had been quite a day. He’d just gone on a date with Marie Allen, the girl of his dreams. They had gone to see Revenge of the Sith. Did Chris like Star Wars? Well…it was pretty good. This movie was probably the best, at least from what he saw of it. Some of those scenes were sad, especially Anakin slaughtering the Jedi in Order 66. The best part, though, was during the most heartbreaking scene. It wasn’t that sad to him, but obviously Marie thought it was horrible, because she’d said, “Oh, no” in a mournful voice with tears flowing down her face, and put her head on his lap. Did you think Chris liked that? Does a cat meow?
Before Chris went to bed, he pulled out his Bible and decided to read a random verse. He opened up the holy book, closed his eyes, flipped to a random page, and plunked his finger down. What verse was it? Chris didn’t bother to look at the top of the page; he knew it was a Gospel since the words his finger was on were red. What did it say? “There will be signs in the sun; in the moon and stars. On the earth, men dying of fear, apprehensive of what is coming in the world, for the heavens will be shaken at their foundation.” Ah. It was about the end of the world. When was that going to be? Who could say? No one knew the hour or the day. Chris remembered those people who said the world was going to end on January 1, 2000. Hah. Here it was, summer of 2005, and this old planet was still here. Yeah, even his friends told him that the Bible said the world was going to end in 2000. The strange thing about that was he’d never seen a Bible in their house. Still, the end was nothing to fear. It would come when it came, and he’d go up to heaven when it did. If only he knew just how soon it was coming…
CHAPTER 2
It was what anyone would call “the middle of the night.” In fact, it was just after midnight. Yet, for some reason, Kevin couldn’t sleep. He figured he never should have eaten those two chocolate Pop-Tarts before bed. Still, why did it feel like it was morning? Why was it light outside? Okay, now he knew: it was a dream. He was expecting the school bus to pull up anytime. Maybe this wasn’t about high school, though. Maybe this was about something totally different. He looked around his room. There was a big thing in the middle of his floor. He didn’t know exactly what it was. It was big and white, and looked like it had wings. Then he saw a face; it was unblemished and perfect. Yet, somehow, it looked like his old friend Elisha Verne, who had died in a car accident years ago. Yep, that straight brown hair, that tall, slim figure and those distinctive eyes…it was her. So, why was he dreaming about her? All the old memories came back to him: how much fun they had playing GameCube together; how they used to laugh together at the classic sitcoms; and how she used to say, “I may be a few years older than you, but I consider you my best friend.” He didn’t need this; not now. Life was hard enough without being reminded of those who he’d lost.
“Kevin, do you remember me?” a voice said. He looked again. It was Elisha, decked out in white, glowing, with bright wings.
“Elisha, how could I forget you?” Kevin replied, despair evident through his tiredness. “You were my best friend.”
“Listen, I have something to tell you: This world has nearly expired.”
 Kevin was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“You know that R.E.M. song we used to listen to all the time?”
 Kevin thought back. Yeah, they used to listen to several R.E.M. songs. He remembered his favorite, and thought she meant that one. “Which one, ‘Stand’?”
 “No. The one that we saw dc talk perform on the Freak Show tour.”
“Oh, that song about it being ‘the end of the world as we know it’?”
“Yeah. Remember how I told you that one day, that song would ring true?”
Kevin was confounded. He’d known for nearly all his life that the apocalypse was coming soon. Why would Elisha come down from the splendor of heaven to tell him this? Oh, wait; this was a dream. It didn’t have to make sense; it was just a bunch of random bits from his memory. He figured he’d play along. “Yeah, but you remember what Brother Macintosh said. It could come tomorrow, or it could come in a thousand years.”
“It’s coming in seven days, Kev.”
“Well, it could be that, or it could be seven years, or seven months…”
“No, Kevin. I didn’t say it could be seven days. I said it is in seven days.”
 Huh? Kevin couldn’t believe his ears. “And just how would you know that?”
 Elisha stammered, which made Kevin notice it was odd to see an angel not know what to say. “Um…well, I’m not supposed to tell,” she said.
“Okay…should I tell anyone about this?”
 “Tell your close friends, like Connie.”
 Kevin wanted to ask how Elisha knew about Connie. He hadn’t met Connie until shortly after what happened to Elisha. Wait a minute. This was a dream. Plus, don’t they talk about how angels are watching down from above? “So, next Friday, then?”
“Yes. You will know what I am saying is true in the morning.”
 “How will I?”
“You just will.” The room went pitch black as Elisha disappeared, taking all the light in the room with her. Kevin immediately dozed off.
* * *
Connie Kodak lay in her dorm bed. Her roommate was gone out late that night. She always was. Still, Connie loved sleep too much to be out late. Besides which, she didn’t need to be out there having wild parties where everyone was drinking and taking drugs and getting wasted. What would a girl like her be doing that for? She set her iHome clock for 7 AM. Yeah, she had to wake up that early to go to English Lit. Why did she have to go to that class? She wanted to be a web designer. It’s not like the teacher of that class knew her name; there were so many people in that class. She was used to high school, where—
She heard a sound. It sounded like music. Rock music. Had she left her headphones on? For some reason, her iHome stereo was on “radio” mode. Why? She didn’t like the radio stations here; she could never find a good song. Well, this one sounded good, so she figured she’d turn it up. As soon as she heard the tune, she was confused by the lyrics. Who the heck is Lenny Bruce or Lester Banks? What is a “slam book neck”? She attempted several times to turn the radio off, but even after she unplugged it, it wouldn’t stop. She plugged it back in and tried to turn it down. That didn’t work. In fact, she tried everything, and the song kept playing until it faded out. Then, there was silence as the clock shut off, no longer on the radio mode.
What was this? Was this some kind of sign? No, it couldn’t be. Or could it? She’d sleep on it; she was far too tired to think about something that important right now. It would come when it came. She shut her light off and went to sleep, having no idea what was to come.
CHAPTER 3
Kevin woke up that morning, not exactly feeling rested. What was with these dreams lately? First it was that one about losing Connie last week. As far as he knew, she was still okay, even if she was on the opposite side of the country. Thank goodness for cell phones. And now this. His arm felt very numb, probably because he’d been laying on it. That happened to him a lot. He moved his arm every which way, and after the numbness stopped, he felt something light, sharp and flat in his hand. In fact, it felt like paper. Was there a message for him on this? He opened it, and saw written words that sent him into a total state of shock. They said:

See?
I told you so!
Remember, seven days.
And I’m not sure of the time…
So just be ready by 12:01 AM.
See you soon!
Love always,
Elisha

Now, he didn’t know what he was going to do…but he did have an idea what little time he had to do it in.
TO BE CONTINUED...