The Seinfeld Chronicles (Ep. 101)

Just to clear up confusion, I selected The Seinfeld Chronicles as the title of my project because that was the original title of the television show when it debuted in July of 1989. It also the title of the first episode and therefore the title of this post about this episode. Oddly, the first episode is not called "The Pilot" because they had an episode in the 4th season called "The Pilot" about a television pilot that Jerry had put together based on the life of a stand up comedian and his friends (a show within a show of sorts).

Now on to the actually television pilot. In this initial episode, Jerry has a female visitor staying at his apartment and is trying to interpret what her intentions are by staying there. In the end he finds out that she has a fiance and was just looking for a cheap place to stay. That's pretty much it.

Interesting quote: "You see that button? The second button literally makes or breaks the shirt. Look at it! It's too high, it's in no-man's land. You look like you live with your mother." The now infamous opening (and closing) monologue of the show.

Interesting facts: Kramer was originally called Kessler in this episode because of copywrite laws. This first episode was the only one that aired that summer of 1989. It was shelved and then brought back out again as part of a five episode 1st season in 1990. It's the shortest sitcom season ever ordered in television history.

Grade: B- (Not particularly interesting or complex, but did set the stage for what was to come.)

The reason...

In small group the other day we were reading out of 1 Peter and picking out a verse that meant something to us and talking about it. I picked out 1 Peter 3:15 which says (and I'm doing this completely from memory, so it's a serious paraphrase) always be prepared to give people a reason for the hope that you have. Basically, when people see that there's a difference in your life and ask you about the difference, be ready to explain to them about the reason for the difference.

This prompted the small group leader to ask me if people can see a difference in me. I said I didn't know, he said he could see a difference. He doesn't see me at work where I don't think I act much different than anyone else. I don't encourage like I normally do, I'm sarcastic, I'm lazy. That's not Jesus' fault either, I think I've stopped allowing him to change my life. I think I got to a point where I said, I like this person and I stopped allowing him to work. As I was told by a pastor one time, "if you're not moving forward, you're probably moving backwards."

Lord, make me willing and accepting of your change in my life. I'm supposed to mature in my walk with you just like I mature in life...it's a neverending process.

The Seinfeld Chronicles

So those who have any knowledge of me know that I have a serious obsession with Seinfeld (and baseball and Kimberly). I started watching the show back in high school about halfway through it's run and was immediately hooked. After it went into reruns I began watching them 3, sometimes 4, times a day. Sometime in college I began getting frustrated because all of these ridiculous television shows were coming out on DVD, but not my favorite show (the greatest show of all-time). Finally, in 2004 Seinfeld was released to the public on DVD!

Today is 176 days from the end of the year. I have decided today that I am going to set a goal to watch all 180 episodes of Seinfeld between now and then. I have all 9 seasons on DVD so that's not an issue. Also, in an effort to encourage other people to view the show, I will be chronicling (sp?) my journey here on my blog. I will post a little overview of each episode, some interesting quotes, some interesting facts, and my grade of each episode. It's the only logical thing for a lover of something this great to do. Let the fun begin!

2008 MLB All-Losers

It's All-Star time and as usual (like the changing of the seasons) it's time to complain about the selections. My complaint this year isn't about the fan voting, although with the AL it was near atrocious, it's with the bench selections. Well, one in particular...Jason Varitek. Those who know me well, know that I'm a Red Sox fan, and obviously a Jason Varitek fan (he's a good player), and obviously a Terry Francona fan (two World Series titles after an 86 year drought says it all), but this is blind favoritism.

Joe Mauer, the starting catcher is batting .325; Dionner Navarro, a back-up catcher (hopefully the second option) is batting .318; Jason Varitek (hopefully not an option) is batting .218. One hundred points less than the other back-up catcher...that's awful!

There were several viable options for catcher other than Varitek. How about Pudge Rodriguez? The man is batting in the high .200s and is still one of the best defensive catchers in the game. Or AJ Pierzynski? I know people (fans and players alike) don't seem to like him, but he's a pretty good ballplayer and has a decent batting average.

In the end it really doesn't matter to me because I'm a fan of the NL and I'm praying that this is the year the torturously long losing streak to the AL ends.

The Golden "Month"

Last night as Kim and I were walking through the mall we started joking about how funny it is when people celebrate 1 or 2 months of dating, etc. Monthiversaries as they are called. We celebrated one or two of them ourselves, but that was years ago when we were just kids, ha ha ha. So that got me to thinking. This July will be my and Kim's 50th Monthiversary. They say the 50th is the golden anniversary, so I think I'll get Kim a Reese's peanut butter cup with a gold foil wrapper.

Fight for your right!

A couple of weeks ago about 5,000 people in Durham, or roughly 2% of the population, showed up to vote in the School Board Elections.

Last week, Zimbabwe had a one person run-off election for President of the country. The man who won, Robert Mugabe, is believed to have had his people strong-arm the people of Zimbabwe into either voting for him or not showing up to vote at all. Not to mention scaring his opponent into backing out of the race to begin with. An opponent who most believed won the first election before results were disputed to force a run-off.

I said all that to remind everyone of what we are truly celebrating tomorrow. We here in America have the freedom to vote for whoever we want and also the freedom to vote or not vote. The turnout for the School Board Elections were pretty sad, but we have that freedom of choice that we don't have to vote if we don't want to. I know we don't live in a perfect country and things don't always go smoothly and politicians can't be trusted, but we live in a free country.

Happy 232nd Birthday America!

Reconnect...

Kim and I went and saw WALL*E last night with the family for Phil's 20th. Such a good movie! In case you don't know the premise, it's about a robot named WALL*E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter * Earth Class) that is cleaning up trash left by humans who deserted Earth 700 years before and falls in love with another robot sent to Earth.

What I felt was the main message of the film was about how we all want to be connected with someone else, whether it's a spouse, or a friend, or family. That's something that was instilled in us when we were created. A desire to be loved and to give love. I think connecting with people is very important, but I think most importantly when we have an honest, loving relationship with someone we begin mimicking the love of God. It's in community with people that we truly begin to understand God's love for us.

Get in a community with people! They will probably irritate you sometimes, they will probably confound you sometimes, but in those moments where you feel truly connected to them it will blow your mind.