We're taking bets that I have some favorites this year....

Here are my favorite Big Budget movies of 2011:

10. Transformers
9. The Help
8. Paul
7. Super 8
6. X-Men: First Class
5. Crazy, Sexy, Love
4. Moneyball
3. Bridesmaids
2. Harry Potter 7 pt. 2
1. The Muppets

We're taking bets that predictions need to be adjusted...

With the Peyton Manning injury news I needed to make some adjustments.

AFC East
Patriots 13-3 (Champion)
Jets 10-6 (Wild Card)
Bills 8-8
Dolphins 2-14

AFC North
Ravens 12-6 (Champion)
Steelers 11-5 (Wild Card)
Browns 11-5
Bengals 3-13

AFC South
Texans 12-4 (Champion)
Colts 6-10
Titans 6-10
Jaguars 2-14

AFC West
Chargers 10-6 (Champion)
Chiefs 8-8
Raiders 4-12
Broncos 3-13

NFC East
Eagles 13-3 (Champion)
Cowboys 9-7
Redskins 8-8
Giants 7-9

NFC North
Packers 13-3 (Champion)
Lions 11-5 (Wild Card)
Bears 8-8
Vikings 3-13

NFC South
Falcons 12-4 (Champion)
Saints 12-4 (Wild Card)
Bucs 12-4
Panthers 2-14

NFC West
Cardinals 10-6 (Champion)
49ers 7-9
Rams 7-9
Seahawks 4-12

We're taking bets that it is prediction time...

So here are my predictions for the NFL Season. I hope you enjoy.

AFC East
Patriots 13-3 (Champion)
Jets 10-6 (Wild Card)
Bills 8-8
Dolphins 2-14

AFC North
Steelers 11-5 (Champion)
Ravens 11-5 (Wild Card)
Browns 10-6
Bengals 3-13

AFC South
Texans 12-4 (Champion)
Colts 10-6
Titans 5-11
Jaguars 2-14

AFC West
Chargers 10-6 (Champion)
Chiefs 8-8
Raiders 4-12
Broncos 3-13

NFC East
Eagles 13-3 (Champion)
Cowboys 9-7
Redskins 8-8
Giants 7-9

NFC North
Packers 13-3 (Champion)
Lions 11-5 (Wild Card)
Bears 8-8
Vikings 3-13

NFC South
Falcons 12-4 (Champion)
Saints 12-4 (Wild Card)
Bucs 11-5
Panthers 2-14

NFC West
Cardinals 10-6 (Champion)
49ers 7-9
Rams 7-9
Seahawks 4-12

NFC Championship Game: Eagles vs. Packers
AFC Championship Game: Patriots vs. Texans
Super Bowl: Patriots vs. Packers
SB Champion: Patriots

We're taking bets that some things hit you harder than others...

There is a lot of drama going on in the sports world today. The NFL and NBA are locked out, it's a year after Lebron's "Decision, and baseball is exciting with teams like the Pirates and Indians playing well. What really affected me the most is the tragedy at the Texas Rangers game last night. A man fell about 20 feet and eventually died because of head injuries. He was a 39 year old firefighter and father of a six year old boy named Cooper. I think this tragedy has hit me hard because Cooper was at the game with his dad. Just like millions of other kids going to the ball game with their father like I did when I was seven years old with my Dad. It is a horrible tragedy just like all accidents usually are and makes me again see some perspective in my life. As bad as things seem to be it could be worse and I need to continue to consider myself lucky. I know tonight I will be praying for Cooper and his family as they deal with this and thanking God for blessing me so far in my life.

We're taking bets that words are fun...

Over the last month I have read the following books. Some of them were really enjoyable and I hope you appreciate my thoughts.

Scorch Trials by James Dashner
* The sequel to the Maze Runner is as addicting as the first book. The concepts are very cool and you can really get invested in the characters. There is betrayal and a great mystery that still has not been revealed.

Old Ghosts of New England by C.J. Fusco
* A very cool book that lists tons of spooky sites in the Northeast. It is a cool traveler's guide that gives you some history of each place.

Worth Dying For by Lee Child
* Another Jack Reacher novel that keeps you guessing how he is going to get out of this one. It is an interesting story about the middle of nowhere Nebraska and what happens when power gets out of control.

George Washington's Leadership Lessons by James Reese and Stephen Spignesi
* A great look at one of the greatest leaders ever. You can learn a lot from the things George did and said. He truly understood what it meant to be great.

You're a Horrible Person, but I Like You by Believer Magazine
* This is a fun book of advice by celebrities to normal people with odd questions.

We're taking bets that times are a changing...

Here are a few of my observations and rants from the last few days.

* It is really nice when you get to have some one on one time with a grandparent. My grandfather and I spent most of yesterday together. He talked to me about his childhood, meeting my grandmother (whom I never met because she died 10 months before I was born), the birth of my father, meeting Errol Flynn, and going temporarily AWOL from the Air Force during WWII. It made me realize that I have never really had alone time with him, but rather it was always a family gathering. With the exception of his eyes and reluctance to always take his medicine he is in pretty good health (He's 85ish). I am lucky to have him still in my life. He talked a lot about needing to stay positive in life and being grateful for what you have. This was exactly the conversation I needed and know it will keep me going for quite a while.

* While I was having lunch at Friendly's with my grandfather I noticed three women eating lunch at the table next to us. They looked like colleagues, but also friends. They spent 75 to 80% of the time using their cell phones to text, check e-mails, play games and avoid each other. I am disgusted that we have reached this point in our society. I know technology is cool, but what about face to face time. Is it really going away? If I had a smart phone I probably never would have had such a great conversation with my grandfather. We are losing the ability to communicate face to face. It's amazing because a lot of times people don't even try to confront issues anymore they just avoid them by cutting off people using their technology. Something needs to change because our society is going to become worse for it.

* It is amazing how much you can be affected by bad weather. I feel like this rain is never going to end and the sun will never come out. It is nothing that has happened along the Mississippi River and in Louisiana, but it makes me tired. Annie sang that, "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" but she really is just a liar. Of course I am sure with a certain person's pact with the devil it will be gorgeous on Sunday. Not that I want it to rain for all of my favorite's but their luck is amazing.

* Here is a list of the movies I plan on seeing this summer with Ian and/or Theresa:
Thor (Seen)
Bridesmaids (Seen)
Pirates of the Caribbean 4
Hangover 2
Kung Fu Panda 2
X-Men: First Class
Super 8
Green Lantern
Bad Teacher
Cars 2
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon
Larry Crowne
Zookeeper
Horrible Bosses
Harry Potter 7 pt. 2
Captain America: The First Avenger
Friends with Benefits
Cowboys vs. Aliens
Crazy, Stupid, Love
The Help
30 Minutes or Less
One Day

Care to join me/us?

WTBT Volume 28, Series 2011...

We're taking bets that...

* Seasons come and go, but I will never change and I’m on my way," are really cool lyrics.
* the Memphis Grizzlies were not prepared for Game 7, but they will be in the conference finals soon.
* the flooding of the Mississippi River sounds like the scariest thing possible for Cajun country.
* I wonder what pro-life activists think about deer birth control.
* I would be surprised if Newt Gingrich is a viable presidential candidate, but stranger things have happened.
* in honor of Murray Handwerker you should have a hot dog this week.
* his name sounds like a male prostitute or gay porn star.
* the IMF chief is in a heap of trouble and I am not sure his French presidential campaign is going to survive.
* it's nice that an ass can retire to Nebraska and become a citizen. No really.
* even though Thor beat Bridesmaids at the box office it still was the best movie of the year so far.
* Ashton Kutcher might actually make Two and a half Men watchable.
* you don't know what movie this line is from, "I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen.
* Tomas Kaberle might be the worst defenseman that the Bruins have ever had.
* this wouldn't have happened if they had a beer closet.