Top 10 Christmas movies

A little birdie had told me Hollywood has lost that holiday spirit. Then I read an article on Yahoo about how the movie executives are saying "humbug" to the holidays that confirmed it.

Now, I hadn't noticed any Christmas movies being advertised, but with the new "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" who would have. That commercial airs more than reruns of "Seinfeld".

I thought about this and most of the movies haven't even been good in the last decade. I mean "Fred Claus", a movie about Santa Claus' brother taking over, was a decent enough idea with enough talent in it, but it just wasn't executed properly. Then there was the Will Ferrell movie "Elf" about an adopted elf who was forced back into the real world. Just plain stupid. Heartfelt, but stupid. "Christmas with the Kranks"also comes to mind. I love Tim Allen and I think just about anything he touches is comedy gold, but this flop is the "Hulk" of Christmas movies.

Seeing as those flops don't really get us motivated for the season, let's get everyone into the holiday spirit. My top 10 Christmas movies with a few honorable mentions.

1. "Christmas Vacation"- This Chevy Chase classic is aired every year at my house starting the day after Thanksgiving. It reminds me why I don't host Christmas or live next to someone with 25,000 Christmas lights.

2. "A Christmas Story"- "You'll shoot your eye out!" Who can forget that classic line when Robbie asks for his Red-Ryder BB gun. This movie stands the test of time and is aired on TBS every Christmas for 24-hours non-stop.

3. "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas"- "His heart is two sizes too small." I love the character created by Dr. Seuss and the story it has to tell. It's a movie that reminds us all what Christmas is all about. Not the presents, but the people we spend it with.

4. "A Charile Brown Christmas"- There's no real explanation needed for this one. Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas through pageants and friends. Another movie that makes you rethink what Christmas is all about.

5. "Miracle on 34th Street"- A reminder that Santa Claus may be real. It helps a little girl who's a little too smart for her own good believe in something she can't explain logically. Although it's perfectly logical when you're visited by the real Santa Claus.

6. "The Santa Clause"- Like I said earlier, anything Tim Allen touches is comedy gold. This movie is funny and heartwarming all at the same time. It makes you feel like a kid again and wanting so hard to believe in something.

7.  "Scrooged"- This original re-telling of Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol" is probably one of the best I've seen. Bill Murray plays a television executive who makes his staff have a live version of "A Christmas Carol" on Christmas Eve. He makes a hilarious and convincing Scrooge-like character.

8. "It's a Wonderful Life"- OK, I admit this one is a little low on the list, but I haven't seen it all that many times. It's a wonderful film and I watch it whenever it airs, but I don't have enough bells to give this angel it's wings.

9. "Mixed Nuts" - Steve Martin is a genius. Putting his name to this hapless bunch of misfits ever to grace a Christmas movie was a bold, yet brilliant, move. It's more about the Christmas spirit than it is about serial killers, suicide hotlines and death. It's only this low because it is kind of a dark Christmas movie. It has an all-star cast and his side-splittingly funny.

10. is a tie between "A Muppet Christmas Carol" and "Mickey's Christmas Carol"- They are both clever and well done. I love both studio's, but they are just telling the same story we've heard time and time again. Good, but not great.

Honorable mentions: "White Christmas", "The Nightmare Before Christmas", "The Polar Express" and "Home Alone" 1 & 2.

So pop those movies in, sit down with the family, laugh and remember what Christmas is all about. And don't forget to tell me what your favorite Christmas movie is. Did I have it on the list, or did I leave it out like I did countless other Christmas movies?

Facebook causes

Facebook, the internet phenomenon, is undeniably one of the most influential social networking sites of the 21st century. It seems as though you can't do anything or go anywhere without someone wanting to friend you on Facebook, but this is nothing that new.

The most recent fad to hit the social networking Web site is supporting causes through status updates and profile changes, which is stupid. Now mind you supporting the cause isn't stupid, but this just seems like the lazy way out.

I get that you support the cause, but ultimately what does telling me what color your bra is (breast cancer awareness) or finding out your favorite childhood cartoon (child abuse) do? The answer is simple; nothing.

If you really want to support a cause, donate to it or volunteer for it. It's really that simple. I have to admit that it was nice to reminisce about different cartoons my friends posted, but that's all it was good for. It didn't make me any more aware to child abuse than I already was.

What can you really do to support child abuse victims? Become a foster family for one or work for DCFS and become an advocate for abused kids. Changing your profile on Facebook isn't doing a damn thing. It's merely saying, "I'm a lazy person who is aware of a cause, but don't want to do anything about it." People will argue and tell me this is making other people aware of the cause, but guess what: We all know that breast cancer and child abuse are problems!

Raising awareness is great and all, but a status update of "Red" only makes me aware that you know your colors and graduated kindergarten.

If you really want to support a cause or raise awareness for it, get involved with it in some way. Don't take the lazy way out and think Facebook is a sufficient substitute. While it maybe an influential platform, it's still just words; not actions.

Patriots fly past Jets

Monday Night Football was embarrassing for the New York Jets.

I really think that's all that needs to be said about the horrendous game they played against the New England Patriots, a team the Jets beat earlier in the season. But lets break it down.

In a battle for the division and AFC bragging rights the Patriots topped the Jets 45-3, which should have been six if kicker Nick Folk didn't botch his first 53-yard attempt by barely making it to the end zone. You're an NFL kicker. The ball should not be bouncing into the end zone even with a blustery wind, which is why the Jets have been trying out a new kicker. But he was the least of the Jets problems last night.

Tom Brady looked like a runaway freight train against the Jets defense. The offensive line only allowed Brady to be sacked three times in the entire game and made the rush almost invisible giving him plenty of time to throw the ball. It was almost as if the defense didn't even show up to the game. They also missed key tackles and just watched the Patriots run past them. The secondary looked non-existent as Brady made key plays upfield with almost no contest. He could have thrown hail marys all night and probably still have gone 21 for 29 in passing attempts for 326 yards.

Then there was Mark Sanchez who looked like a rookie again, but it's hard to blame him when the offensive line looked like that of the Chicago Bears when they played the New York Giants. Sanchez tried to remain calm and collected, but ended up scrambling for plays most of the game going only 17 for 33 in pass attempts for 164 yards and three interceptions. It's hard not to compare him to Jay Cutler in that light, but lets not go there.

Sanchez's go to guy, Santonio Holmes, only caught seven passes for 72 yards. And the Patriots knew he was the go to guy because they had him covered at every turn. It's surprising Sanchez didn't get intercepted more times and Holmes actually was able to catch seven passes. Too bad he couldn't break the big one and help the Jets where it counts, on the scoreboard.

Now this last thing might be a little nit picky considering it wouldn't have changed the outcome of the game, but it was the decisions by Rex Ryan to challenge certain plays. What the hell were you thinking challenging a spot of the ball and NOT a touchdown. Even the ESPN commentators were surprised by the decision. Not that it would made a bit of a difference, but Brandon Tate was out of bounds when he caught that ball in the end zone. Normally Ryan makes good decisions as a coach, but this was not one of them.

It could have been the morally victory the team needed to kick it into gear, but then again probably not.   

Christmas cheer

Christmas is steadfastly approaching and it's the happiest time of the year. It's a time to see relatives (yikes), decorate trees and homes (festive) and lend a helping hand to those less fortunate (HELP!). Then there's Festivus. The made up Seinfeld holiday in which it's a time to stare at a metal pole and air your grievances. I wish to celebrate that holiday for this entry. 

Those who know me understand what this means. Those who don't know me, well I've been out of school for over a year now and still have no full-time job. I work one day a week at a bar and am supported by my wife. I wisely chose a degree in journalism. Not my first choice for a degree mind you, but it was a degree you could get a job in unlike screen writing or creative writing, my first two choices. Then print media died. 

We all saw it coming too. We were warned in my senior year how newspapers were dying out, but it was like reasoning with a smoker. You know that one day you're going to die a slow painful death, but you ignore it because it's what you enjoy doing.  

I've been writing for eight years. Everything was fine in the beginning, but I didn't have a degree. Got a few odd jobs at different newspapers. One gave me some creative freedom, which I'm still thankful for to this day. And the profession was good. So, I thought what the hell. Why not major in it for the long run? 

Long story short I'm blogging this to you now so I obviously have not only too much time on my hands, but also nothing to show for $40,000 of debt. 

So what do I want for Christmas do you ask? I don't want clothes. I don't want movies or any TV series. Money is always appreciated, but I don't charity this year either. I would like for the job market to clear back up. I would like to see my degree put to use. But most of all I would like for all of those other people who have been out of work for longer than I have to find a job as well. 

There are people who will read this and say "I get it." Then there are those people who would say "Why is he blogging instead of looking for job?" 

Blogging though is part of my job. My job is writing. It's what I chose to do. Part of my job is also making people aware of what's really out there this Christmas season. 

People living paycheck to paycheck. People picking up odd jobs just to make ends meet. Even people living on less. And those people have to figure out how to have a good Christmas. I never understood that until this year. I've never been wealthy, but I've been comfortable. And I'm still comfortable with a roof over my head and family and friends who are there for me when I need them. Some people don't have that though. 

So think about that as you open your gifts on Christmas day. As you join your family at a table with turkey and all the fixings, remember those people who are eating ramen for Christmas. But I also challenge you that when you go to work each day to remember those people who aren't and think about what you can do to help.