If you think this is as hard as it gets in life, look out," Dooley said. "Because life is tough. You're going to get knocked down a bunch. The quicker you learn to deal with how you react to it, dust your britches off and move on, then the quicker you're going to lead to happiness.

I just love this quote from a guy who could have let everything slide into his lap, but chose to try and make is own way in life. We all just have to keep moving forward.

All I could really say as I exited the movie theater with Leah was, "Wow!" Seeing Avatar in IMAX 3D was about as intense an experience as I can imagine having with an epic movie. It's definitely worth seeing and if you have access to IMAX it's well worth the extra coin you'll have to drop.

Oh boy, is this looking great or what? The final scene with Iron Man and War Machine had me rubbing my hands together in boy-like glee. Take a guess where I'll be on May 7, 2010.

Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" via amazon.com I heard David Bianculli talk about his book on NPR's Fresh Air yesterday and was fascinated by just how courageous the Smothers Brothers were during the 60s. Sometimes you have to create a crapstorm to stand up for your principles when opposed by those in power. Any Smothers Brothers fans out there with stories about their show in the 60s?

Finally, in an attempt to see just how far his opinions ranged, I posed one final question. Bill, I asked, what should I eat for lunch: turkey or ham? In his response, I fully expected Walton to say something along the lines of "GO HAM OR GO HOME!" But on this one, he surprised me.

"Chris," he said, with ultimate gravity, "It's your lunch, your life, your choice."

Looking back now, the whole 25-minute interview was so outlandish and ideal for my (sarcastic) purposes that, like Bill's on-air persona, I remain unsure whether it was merely an act. But maybe, in the end, it didn't matter. Maybe that last quote -- the one about "your lunch, your life, your choice" -- gets at the core of Walton's appeal. As emphatic as he was, as declarative as he was, it never felt like Walton was trying to convince us that he was right. Instead, he saw himself as starting a conversation, as being the eternal devil's advocate. So many analysts seem as if they're dead-set on trying to convert us to their point of view, and affect scorn if anyone dares question their authority. For these men, their certitude is born of expertise but may also be rooted in insecurity, a feeling that they have to be right. Not Walton. All along, he assumed that we as viewers would arrive at our own convictions in the end. He was just there to spur us along.

I love this commentary on Bill Walton. I was never the biggest fan of his color analysis, but as I reflect on this perspective from Chris Ballard I appreciate how I can use his lesson in my own life and career. Be bold in my convictions, but don't force them on others as if they were gospel truth. Good stuff here.

Bon Appétit  | July 2000

Gelson's, Los Angeles, CA

Ingredients

* 2 tablespoons plus 2/3 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
* 3/4 pound skinless boneless chicken breast halves

* 12 ounces lemon-pepper fettuccine or regular fettuccine
* 2 1/2 cups snow peas (about 5 ounces), cut into matchstick-size strips
* 3/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
* 3/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

* 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
* 2 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Preparation
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Cool. Cut chicken crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick strips.

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain well; transfer to large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon oil; toss to coat. Add chicken, snow peas, pine nuts and parsley; toss to incorporate all ingredients.

Whisk lemon juice and mustard in medium bowl. Add remaining 3/4 cup oil in thin stream, whisking constantly. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss pasta with enough dressing to coat. (Can be made 3 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Toss before serving.)

My Notes
* A nice substitution is to replace the snow peas with broccoli.
* I always double the amounts for the lemon juice/mustard dressing and add a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to balance out the flavors.

I want to wield a Power Ring, fight alongside with Kilowog and Guy Gardner, and battle the forces of Sinestro. Don't you think I'd look dashing sporting the green?

I love roller derby and Austin is one of the best places to find it. So my only problem with Whip It is that even though its set here in Austin, it was primarily filmed in Michigan...which is kinda like trying to find good Texas BBQ in Detroit.

The movie was supposed to filmed here in the ATX, but Michigan ponied up some sweet tax breaks and stole it from us. If Austin as a city can't land actual film production here, then folks we have a problem. Plus, I would have sincerely loved to see Drew, Ellen and Kristen roaming around our fair city.