A comedy show too good to miss? That’s right, the UCC Finals are almost here!

It has been a while so I thought it would be a good time to remind every one of the epic event known as the UCC Finals. If you like comedy, then you definitely want to be here for this one! Happening on Saturday, February 13th, with a starting time of 8:00 pm at the historic Carolina Theatre in downtown Greensboro, this promises to be an incredible show. The event started with 82 comics competing to make it to this point. The level of talent was tremendous this year with some of the best shows in recent memory. Through the semifinals, comics were voted forward by audience votes (as well as comic votes for those who moved into the wild card round), but this time there is no need to stress as the winner will be decided by a panel of judges who know comedy in general, but especial local comedy. The winning comic receives $1000! We are talking life changing money for a comic here! So do yourself a solid while supporting local comedy and local comedy venues! Come and cheer for your favorite or discover a new favorite. You won’t be sorry!!!!

In case you haven’t heard, or if you just need a reminder, here is a little bit about the comics who will be competing for the title and bucks, plus the alternate that will step in if any of the finalists can’t perform:

Dusty Cagle

"If video games and cartoons had a lovechild........it might be me" When Dusty’s not dressing up like anime characters, he is doing comedy.

Dusty can be found at the Idiot Box most night it is open, whether for shows or open mics. In a relatively short time, he has gone from Idiot Box stand up class participant to making it straight to the 2nd round of the UCC. He is indeed a fan of cartoons, video games and anime and has been known to unashamedly bust out obscure references to them throughout his routine.

Dusty has a strong stage presence that puts him on par with the much more experienced comics in the competition. As his style continues to evolve, Dusty could be a club and competition regular for quite a while.

Melissa Douty

Melissa Douty is a comedian based out of Salem, VA. She currently has 4 jobs. When asked how her comedy career is going she said, “Um…I have 4 jobs.” but my mom thinks I’m hysterical.

Very personable with an almost ‘Aw, shucks’ delivery, Melissa ‘s comedy is sort of like that really smooth liquor that is so easy to drink and then hits you like a sledgehammer out of nowhere. A newcomer to the UCC and the Greensboro comedy scene, she is definitely making a name for herself quickly (and making her fellow competitors nervous). Their nervousness is warranted!

Troy Dougie Harris

A long time comic and familiar face around the Idiot Box, Troy once again brings his unique perspective, quick wit, sharp delivery and strength as a storyteller to the UCC. He debuted as a stand up comic on February 4th, 2009 and has continued looking for, and finding, new material based on real life experiences . Troy enjoys sharing his passion for comedy with all audiences, no matter the size. When he is not out shaping up his comedy routines, he is busy shaping up people in his work as a personal trainer.

Back on the comedy scene and back to his winning ways, Troy is another two time nightly prize winner this competition.

Zo Myers

Zo Myers is a regular host at The Idiot Box's Open Mic & No Nonsense Comedy shows in Greensboro, NC as well as The Laughing Gas in Winston-Salem. Beyond that, Zo is committed to letting his material speak for itself.

Jay Stadler

Jay Stadler talks fast, so try to keep up and when u can't, just laugh when he drinks.

Jay is a UCC veteran, and has made an appearance in the finals. He also performs at various venues around the state. His rapid fire delivery makes his material even more effective. He has been doing comedy for a while now and performs at various venues around the state.

Another mainstay in the Greensboro comedy scene, Jay always makes an impact in the UCC. A blast to watch in general, but it is almost mesmerizing when he gets fully into his ‘sell’ mode. It is almost impossible not to buy into his routines and root for him.

And alternate:

Ryan Davis

Ryan Davis was born in Concord, NC. In two years of doing comedy, Ryan has won numerous comedy competitions, became a regular at The Comedy Zone in Charlotte, NC, and gained the respect of veteran comedians. Just like the comedians that influence him, Ryan's comedy style appeals to a wide range of audiences. His versatility has allowed him to open for top mainstream acts like Jay Pharoah, urban acts like Michael Blackson, & eccentric acts like Tom Green.

Ryan’s signature high energy and frenetic delivery makes for a memorable experience when you see him on stage. He hopes to repeat, and surpass, his efforts of last year when he made it to the UCC finals.

Ryan has stepped it up this year! His delivery even sharper than last year. And the experience of how he sets up and delivers his material is very akin to riding a rollercoaster; you think that you know where you are going and then suddenly he has you heading in an unexpected direction.

SO, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE UCC SEMIFINALS SHOW????? (repost)

Bear with me faithful readers, this is going to be a bit different than my other updates.

Let me ask you this: have you ever been in a ‘moment’ where time seems to slow down and your senses seem to sharpen? You have a sensation like a small electric current is running through you? All this leaves you with the realization that you are on the verge of something great unfolding before your eyes? If you have, you know the rush, the exhilaration that hits you.

That was Friday night for me at The Ultimate Comic Challenge Semifinal Show at The Idiot Box! Even with all that I had written about the show and having experienced 5 of the 8 semifinal shows throughout the life of the competition, I was completely shocked and amazed at what went down. When I got to the club, I was a little worried because there were only a few people inside. With it being cold and windy, I wondered if that would affect attendance. Turns out that, no it wouldn’t at all. By a few minutes before show time, the club was holding a sold out show.

As the comics arrived and milled around, the atmosphere was different than one might expect. There was the nervousness of course, along with a sense of determination. That was balanced out by the sense of unity; as if each one was responding to being in such rare company as opposing to being around nine opponents. It was a cool thing to see and feel!

As the minutes ticked down toward showtime, the audience did indeed show up. Not only that, but they brought their own high level of energy to build upon that from the comics. It was easy to see the comics feeding off of that energy as time wound down. All the signs were there for an EPIC show.

Finally, the lights dimmed down, the music faded and the host for the night, Jennie Stencel, was announced and she took to the stage to do the housekeeping announcements and warm up the crowd. In a sight departure from her usual stage persona, Jennie was a bit sillier than usual, and that seemed to be just what was needed to win over the crowd and pump the comics up even more. And with the announcement of the first comic, Ryan Davis, it was on!

There is a difference of opinion on going first. Some don’t like i because you have no idea what the reactions are going to be like. Others love it because they get to set the tone for the show and get a chance to set themselves in the audience’s memory. Any concern about whether this was a good spot or not was put to rest about 2 sentences into Ryan’s set. The crowd was more than willing to give up the love for the comics. As high energy as he is when he hits the stage, Ryan fed off the energy and noticeably kicked it up a notch. And he would not be the only one to show the obvious affect the crowd was having on them.

As each comic took the stage after that, the crowd had their backs. The energy was there all night and for each comic, but it was kind of weird, the energy almost took on a new dimension, for lack of a better word, for each comic. It was like each comic hit the stage in front of their own personal crowd. The same type of reactions took on different personalities as each comic won the crowd over. I wish I could explain this adequately, but trust me, this is something rare (or maybe just to me). It was wonderful to be there and hear it and feel it.

Going through the show, as I looked around the club, it was easy to see the effect the comics were having on the audience. Looking around and seeing people wiping their eyes or holding their sides or even, as happened to me more than once, doing the silent laugh because they just can’t catch their breath to laugh out loud. This was even more verified hearing conversation during the break while votes were being counted. People talking about everything from hurting to sides to worry about peeing a little because of the laughter.

Another thing that made the evening special was the reaction that the comics were having to each other throughout the night. While I have never seen the atmosphere in the club get tense during the shows, there is usually a definite aura of competitiveness in the air which tends to limit the overall interactions during the shows. There was little to none of that though. As the comics came off the stage, the other comics made an effort to congratulate them and to let them know how well they did.

As the last comic finished her set, the energy level didn’t drop at all. After ballots were turned in, it became a big free-for-all of congratulations and expressions of admiration as audience members sought out the comics and the comics sought out each other. This is a competition so there will be comics leaving the competition after votes are counted, but the worry over that was overwhelmed by declarations of being a new fan, or I can’t wait to see you on stage again, or I want you to know that I voted for you. This was one of those times that you can say that while some may come up short in the voting, but there were no losers. I know how corny that sounds, but it also happens to be true.

After a few minutes , the lights dimmed again and we were called back into the club for the announcement of the finalists. The energy level was almost intoxicating at this point! There was a buzz in the air as Jennie slightly drew out beginning the announcement. Then as she started to announce the first name, the air went still as it seemed that everyone was kind of holding their breath. With the first name announced, that bubble burst and the applause and cheering for each name was loud enough to make you feel like the air was vibrating. As loud a the crowd was for all of the comics announced, there were two moments stood out as the noise became almost unbearable in such close quarters.

The first one was the announcement of Melissa Douty as a finalist. Several of the comics had expressed how concerned they were with her as she moved forward to the semifinals . She made it very clear tonight that they were right to be. On top of this, Melissa made a little bit of comic history for the Idiot Box. In the 8 years that the competition has been held, she was the first female comic to make the finals. What made this even more special was that the realization came afterwards when everything started calming down. A cool side note added to one hell of a performance.

The second one was when Dusty Cagle was announced as a finalist. I could almost imagine that the windows were vibrating from the level of noise. Dusty has been a consistent face around the club since he first signed up to take the stand up class offered at the Idiot Box.... a little over a year ago! The votes he earned with his routine, the overall admiration was won as much by who he is as by what he does.

Overall, the announcement of all 5 finalists and the 1 alternate was met with raucous applause and cheers. The crowd wasn’t through showing how much they admired and enjoyed the show they just witnessed. As we started filtering out of the club several small groups still stood outside and went over the show and giving congratulations/condolences and talking up future shows. There were several people that flitted among the groups, not willing to have the night end.

Now, let’s get down to the good stuff!

First up, the alternate. This comic finished 6th in the voting and will step in as a finalist if any of the 5 need to step out for any reasons:

Ryan Davis

The five comics who moved on to the finals by audience vote:

Troy Dougie Harris
Zo Myers
Jay Stadler
Dusty Cagle
Melissa Douty, who was the night’s $50 winner for receiving the most audience votes,

Also, I would like to once again thank all of the other semifinalist comics:

Aaron Cobb
Mike Kierst
Micah Hanner
Joe Perrow

Without a doubt, the level of talent in the competition this year was unbelievable. If you get a chance to see any of the comics who performed tonight, or any night of the competition, please do so. We are lucky to have such a strong comedy scene here in Greensboro and throughout the state.

Finally (pun intended), please continue supporting these comics and the competition itself when the UCC finals come to The Carolina Theatre on January 22nd, 2016!

Listening to too much sports radio again... Sports Babble: The New Hope: Cincy vs. Pittsburgh aftermath

It amazes me that people who are usually very smart, sportswise, lose all reason when it comes to admitting the faults of players and/or teams they pull for... or more importantly, being reasonable when it comes to teams/players they root against.

I can admit that my team lost because the other team took advantage of things that went their way better than my team did. I don't need to reach for excuses. When players or teams I like act like asshats, I can admit it.. The refs may have some blame in it (and the ONLY time I would give them the a bigger share of the blame is when they either don't call anything or just start calling when it gets out of hand, both are recipes for disaster).

But even in those cases, do I let the team, coaches or players off the hook? Not a chance. When it comes down to it, they are responsible for their actions. Players need to be in control and deal with it and when they slide, the coaches need to step in and deal with it.

If the officials screw up the league steps in and fines or suspends them. If the players and coaches screw up, guess what happens??? Yeah, the league steps in and deals with it.
need to shut up. Before you talk about who should have been ejected or not, stop and think. If you would have criticized them if the opposite call was made, then you have absolutely no room to bitch. You only want the officials to call what benefits your team.. And that is bush league.. no matter what.

And if you don't like it when there is a negative reaction to a situation where your coach or player is in involved with opposing players, again, stop and think. If you wouldn't have the same response if teams were reversed and your team/coach would the one on the receiving end, guess what... bush league again.

Yes, the Bengals were horrible and showed horrible sportsmanship. On the other hand, the Steelers were no choir boys. Do the officials shoulder some of the blame, hell yeah! Do they shoulder all or even most of the blame, hell no! Unlike the panthers/giants games, the officials made an effort to keep as much control as possible (and if policy holds true, there were probably some rather explicit guidelines handed down for the game to the officials). It is a contentious rivalry AND a playoff game. It will be dealt with as such, no matter how it falls out.

oh, and fans of both teams need to admit that both teams were given chances at the end due to screw ups by the other team (oh, let's not tightly cover Green and try to come back to defend him; let's have two of our players go ape shit at the end of the game and see what happens; etc). Again, another point to why it is pathetic to hang it on the officials....

It comes down to this, all the people involved in the game whether on field or as support are given requirements that they must live up to to be part of the NFL. It is the same across the board (whether it is direct or on the enforcement end). Things go FUBAR, it happens. If you can't live up to the expectations of you, maybe you aren't quite ready to be involved. You either can adjust or you are pretty much done for. At the end of the day, if you can't get it done, YOU are the one that deals with the consequences.

So, please.. root for your favorites! Be a super passionate fan! But if that, when it comes down to it, is the reasoning behind the bitching, save it for your page or a fan page where you can expect some commiseration and support for your butthurt. However, if you want to bring that up on my page or on one of my posts, don't expect either. And don't expect it to just fly without a response. (and for those who know me at all, spare me the indignant whining that I didn't just let it go... right, HM, jr?)

PS-- if you really want to be honest, if you want to go one-for-one, I can pretty much guarantee that a person can find more screw ups by the teams than you can for the officials (missed blocks, missed tackles, blow coverage, piss poor tackling, bad play calls, dropped passes, etc.. and how many of those did BOTH teams bring to the table?)

Listening to too much sports radio again... Sex and the single Sports Babble: Cam, classless????

It amazes me that there are all of these open letters about Cam's dancing, etc. I wonder how many letters were written by Seahawks fans about Sherman's behavior? How many wrote open letters about JJ Watts celebrations after a sack? I could go on. And I wonder how many of the people complaining about Cam are the ones who complain about NFL standing for No Fun League? Cam was pretty much written off by so many coming into the league and they refuse to see anything that goes against that. Let him do all the good that he does and one slip happens and he is the worst. And it is not like his worst slip has been even close to the most forgivable of those from Johnny Football. The Panthers have had the same sort of issue. They did well too soon and people hated that. They couldn't wait for the fall and when it came it was just evidence of how bad the team was.The Panthers can't be allowed to succeed. If they do, it is not the team doing it, it is some outside factor that is working in their favor. The team is put to a higher standard than for other teams, and very unfairly so. They can't win... they can keep winning... they can't be perfect... they can't win the big games... they can't beat certain teams... and so on... Is it about race? I think for some people it is. Overall though, I think it is just, as someone else posted on the thread, jealousy; of Cam, of the owners, the coaching staff and the players. Cam has grown. The team has evolved. The coaching staff evolved to understand what and who they had and makes the best use of them.. Rivera, Cam and the rest of the team decided they are going to ignore the doubters and the negativity and play and win on their own terms. And nothing pisses doubters off more than excelling in spite of the doubts.

Another comedy write up

It may have been chilly and rainy outside, but it was HOT up in the club...The Idiot Box Comedy Club, that is.. That's right, the first night of the first round is in the books! I had high hopes and a major need to laugh as the evening started, and I was not disappointed on either count. The crowd was responsive an enthusiastic and ready to laugh. The comics grabbed the energy and ran with it, from the first to the last one. Most of the comics were new to me, so I wasn't sure how it was going to go. Silly f'n me!!! I have some new comics to admire and look forward to seeing them on stage again.

Every comic up there tonight deserved every bit of praise and applause they got. They set the bar high for the other first round shows and, if the other shows live up to expectations, the talent level in the future rounds (even the wild card round), will rival those of years past.

Anyway, the first two comics to make it to the wild card round, ,via comic vote, with another chance to make it to the second round were:

Jonathon Capers
Adam Allred

The three comics who made it through straight to the 2nd round, via audience vote, were:

Mike Rinaldi
Aaron Cardwell
Troy Dougie Harris, who was the winner of the $50 prize for getting the night's most votes!

and a special recognition of the other comics who took to the stage tonight. An incredible job, one and all: If you see any of these names on a comedy bill, go see the them, definitely worth it:

Georgia Ann Smith
Jill Williams Mongelli
Lucas Gumbrecht
Ngozi Goze Ikeakanam
Robert Every
Tab May

Christmas Eve & family

Christmas eve...the night my family (and often others) gathered at Ma's to exchange gifts for those whose names we drew (and often extra gifts for others we wished to get gifts for and for the unexpected ones who showed up)... light snacks...and a very small house filled to bursting with an incredible number of people...and laughter..and joking and trash talking... hugs..well wishes... and so much more... the warm up to our traditions of Christmas breakfast... visiting various members of the family to experience the various family gift exchanges.. rushing around to make sure we have all of the ingredients for our dinner... lots of time spent in kitchens.... and then Christmas Dinner... Even more people in a small house (family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, significant others, strangers, etc) ... lots of food (my freshman year in college a slightly snooty, well-to-do classmate was bragging about how great his family's xmas dinner, which was mostly catered and tried to make a couple of feel like we were wanting, was... I started running through the usual selections of our family dinners... by the time I finished, his jaw was dropped and was like.. what the hell?????.. I also must say that every time I went home for holiday dinners, he would put in special requests.. I made a lot of money off of him..lol) anyway... even more laughter and trash talking.. lots of stories told... lots of memories made and recounted....

It is impossible to explain properly if you never experienced it.. and you were blessed if you did... Christmas was Ma's favorite time of the year.. I can't even come close to counting the number of people whose lives were touched by her (with our help) during these times (and all of the other times of the year that our family would grow much larger for a day or two... no, that's not right, unless they decided to step away, all of them remain part of our family)....

I miss Ma and those times.. I still have a special place in my heart for these two days each year, but there is also a pain that hasn't gone away, and I doubt ever will..

Merry Christmas to all of my family.. those by blood, by marriage.. by adoption... by choice..and by chance. those still here to celebrate and those who have continued on...those here and those all around the country and the world.. I love you all and wish you nothing but the best now and always..

memories... aftermath of my father's death

2 years ago today, my father died...I have talked about how comedy was the only real thing I had as a connection to him.. so, in a touch of irony, I was scheduled to be on my first paid show that night.. I was supposed to host a show at Geeksboro. I wasn't sure I could do it... Alexander Stone messages me and tells me that hosting might be too much...and tells me he moved me to doing a set on the show.. I was so afraid I would get there and have nothing, or worse yet, to lose it in front of people I liked and respected (the other comics). Wendy helped me be strong and commit to the show.. and when I got there, Alex and Anthony Crawford and the other comics on the show made me feel like I could do it..and was worth being there.. My set sucked, but as I sat through the other sets, something amazing happened... I could breath.I was pulled out of myself.. I laughed and I saw the looks when the others noticed I was laughing.. It meant the world to me... two years later, it still means the world to me. my friends..no, my comedy family helped me so much....

and 13 days later, they did more than help me again.. they and wendy saved me.. dramatic sounding, no doubt..but true nonetheless... a lot of people knew bits of what I was feeling, but I don't think that anyone knows how hard I had been hit and how dark a place I was in.....

Listening to too much sports radio... Night of the living Sports Babble: just a few thoughts

Listening to too much sports radio again.. some thoughts.

1) Roman Harper was correct and not taunting at all. If you look at it, with the exception of the second falcons game, the panthers have been doing the plug and play thing all season and have been successful with it. While not having extensive playoff experience, not only has Cam evolved and grown, so has the team as a whole. this leads to ...

2) Yes, the Panthers were the best team of the season, the complete season. And again, look at how they did it. Tell me another team that has won 15 games while having to plug and play all season. I'll wait. And, I say this not as just the best in the NFC, but in the NFL. Arizona is very close behind at the number 2 spot. Behind them, when you look at the whole season, no other team really comes close. Though KC has been the best team in the AFC for most of it, no AFC can claim best overall for the season.... which leads to...

3) At this time, the top three spots for best teams left are pretty clear. Panthers, Cards and Seahawks. People are getting on the kick of think that Harper qualified his comment to an extent that he didn't. He is not a trash talker and he has one hell of a football mentality. Are the Panthers the best team, yes. Are they significantly better than the Cards or Seahawks? No. 4th best team right now? KC. The rest of the AFC teams are dangerous (especially NE playing at home), but the Chiefs are the most focused and tightest unit of the bunch.

4) With respect to KC and NE, unless you break it down into chunks, there was not a clear cut best team overall in the AFC. The team that comes the closest, though? The Chiefs.

5) Will losses and wins from this point forward change any of this? Not at all. Being the best on the day doesn't take away the whole body of the work. The better team doesn't always win the day (and I can roll off so many examples to back that up). If you think otherwise, well, if you think otherwise you are either delusional or ignorant (as in either not knowing or just out and out ignoring) of the history of team sports in general, pretty much.

6) Congrats to Bama! Great win and I take nothing away from you. But, here my comment above about wins and losses comes into play: sometimes the best team doesn't take the day. I take nothing away from Bama, I am a long time fan (actually, Bama and Clemson were my first two college football teams to follow). I am just as happy for Bama as I would have been for Clemson (though to be honest, I am just as proud of Clemson even though they lost).

7) That was a hell of a game no matter how you look at it. Saban had to step completely out of his comfort zone to pull out the win.

8) With all due respect to Henry and the Heisman voters, The best college player of the year, and on the field, was Clemson QB DeShaun Watson. His play was the reason that Saban had to step outside his box.

9) I would agree that Saban is the best division 1 coach of the modern scholarship limit era. Overall, Rockne and Bryant were arguably the best of the older era. Both impacted the game and the sports culture in ways that are still being felt even with the changes.

10) I hope Saban coaches at Bama for a long time, because, unless things get hinky, Dabo is probably the successor at Bama. Dabo's coaching was also why Saban had to get uncomfortable to get the win. The way the O & D lines held up to the 'bullies' of Bama was a testament to how to have a team or unit take people by surprise, even when by all rights, they should have been talked about on the same level as Bama's. Even as the number one team in the country, most people didn't have faith in them. Amazing right?

11. With all due respect to the sports dynasty like no other talk because of 4 titles in 7 years, and while I was not a math major, I do believe that 5 titles in 5 years is more impressive. That IS a dynasty. To dominate on your level of play for 4 years in a row in any sport is incredible. Too bad there are so many people who have no idea who I am referring to.

12) Unless things get hinky or some player comes out of nowhere to take the sports world by storm, Watson will be the prohibitive favorite for most awards he is eligible for next season. As an extension of that, teams should be very afraid of Clemson next season. (and even after Watson moves on, Dabo's recruiting skill and coaching ability should make Clemson in the near future of the ACC, what FSU was when they first joined the ACC).

13) This has been a wild, weird and wonderful football season on the college and pro level. Here's hoping the whirlwind isn't done yet!

ADDENDUM 1: How could I have forgotten? Yes, Cam is indeed the MVP of the league. Carson is close. Brady, however, is not. Yes, the Pats had to do the plug and play thing also. However, look at the record and look at the wins. Also look at the fingerprints of each qb on their teams' games. Look at which qb elevated their players the most. And no, the loss to the Falcons doesn't make it closer.

ADDENDUM 2: Offensive player of the year... yep, he's got this one too.

Memorial to my mother on the anniversary of her death

My mom... Our mom, biologically speaking..... but a woman called ma, mom, mawmaw by so many people.. a woman who literally never met a stranger.. the person who gave me my idea of christmas - every year so many people crowded into our small house; no one ever turned away, all welcomed; no child that showed up ever left without a present; a time of family, food and fellowship in most senses of the word.
She is more responsible for the person I am now than anyone. She helped instill a love of education and reading in me. She charged us to think for ourselves, to ask questions, to find our own answers instead of blindly accepting others'. She taught me to stand up for others; to not be afraid to speak up; to help those less fortunate whenever I can. She taught me the value of family - those of blood and those of choice. From her I learned to love fiercely. My love of recreation stems a great deal from values she taught me.
She was a strong woman who never really saw it in herself. She battled through so much. she sometimes thought of herself as weak, but she was a lioness when it came to those she loved or her sense of family. She raised a family and worked hard for most of her life. She was married to, and loved, a difficult man who at times made it very difficult to do either. It always amazed me how she could do all that.
She was orphaned young and didn't really know a real family connection until she married my dad. A sense of family was one of the things she held strongest to her entire life. She always wanted everyone who came in contact with our family to feel welcomed and a bit of that family connected. And she succeeded.
She was a generous and giving woman..sometimes even to her detriment. If you asked anything of her and she could make it happen, it did. Even at times when she did without to make it happen. She always felt like she didn't do enough for others and was slow to ask for things she needed. She always talked about being able to repay the things that were done for her, never realizing it was us who would be forever in her debt for all she did for us.. Taking all of the things I have done for her and add it all up..and it would still be only a fraction of everything she did for, and gave to, me. It is pretty much the same with everyone else...
She was a religious woman. She wanted us kids to be exposed to it as we grew up and she was very vocal about what she believed. At the same times, she always told us to find our own beliefs and not just repeat what she said or believed. If we came to the same view on the same path, that was wonderful to her. If we came to a different view or a different path, she loved that as well. I actually loved talking religious stuff with her: she could express herself well, but she listened even better; and she was always trying to reconcile her views with mine trying to keep old, or establish new, connections. I think it tickled her when I could get her to see things from my perspective or got her to look at her own in a new way. Come to think of it, she was the same way with politics (of all the people I know, I valued and enjoyed conversations about politics and religion with her more than just about anyone else I know).
Emma O'Ferrell Coley.. a true angel while she was here on Earth... and now she has gone on... I hope she is with her mom and dad now.. I hope pop is there and making up for the things he needs to make up for (maybe her getting to ride his ass for a few thousand years would even things up a bit..lol).. If wicky is there, I hope he is atoning for what he needs to atone for.. I would love to hear the conversations between her and David, I know she missed him horribly... If everyone who has passed on but whose lives were touched by her are waiting to welcome her, then I truly believe heaven is going to be kind of logjammed for a bit...

I love you Ma! I doubt I ever said it enough, but I tried to say it as often as I could. and I may have never said thank you enough...but thank you. Thank you for your love, your support (especially during my many leaps of faith), and for all the good in me that came from you. I miss you but I know you will be with me always...

This time of year....

this time of year, I have to at least chuckle when I see posts condemning all believers, Christian or otherwise.. and thinking that I am lucky that my Mom wanted to expose me to religion so I could be openminded about it no matter whether I accepted some, all or none of it... and that I had more openminded, straightforward conversations about religion, atheism and others along the belief spectrum than I have seen or heard from most o these 'enlightened' ones...

it also makes me smile to know that my mom would have been more accepting of their views than they would be of hers (no supposition, just what comes across in their posts)..

She raised me to condemn the hateful, to look beyond the surface, to ask questions and accept answers..and to at least try to understand someone's views before I make decisions on them and/or their beliefs..... to base my opinions of others on who they were and what what they were..

She accepted atheists (and those of any other belief system that was different from hers)... hated fake 'christians (or any others of any group who used their beliefs as weapons or podiums to espouse fake superiority). She was openminded and curious, both traits fairly rare for someone from where and when she grew up...

So, yes... I am a believer.. I defend atheists, when they deserve it... I call out "christians' when they deserve it... as a matter of fact, I have no qualms laying into someone and defending the same person as needed...I can like you and say you are wrong if you are... I can dislike you and tell you that you are right if you are....

If you are, in my opinion or to me, a good person, it is because of who you are. If you are bad to me or in my opinion are a bad person, again, it is due to who you are.

I have had someone (actually I can think of 2 specifically) that I admire and think highly of and supported/defended them, whenever they gave me reason to, turn around and tell me that I was prejudiced against what they espoused and that I was just like all the others like me (in this case, those who shared a general similarity of belief). (and to be fair, I can think of lots more of those same 'similar people' who have accused me of being against their beliefs, being ignorant of those beliefs, etc).

I only shake my head and realize how lucky I was to have someone like my mother have such an influence in my life..

And I think about the comment that Reid made on a thread on my behalf and know that was as much a testament to my mother as anything I have said directly about her.. and I can't help but smile even in the midst of times like now....

I never claimed to be a good person, just good in comparison to some... and even then, I know it is as much a reflection of my mother in me as anything.....

I never claimed to be the most brilliant person, again...only in comparison to some... and because of her, I value that difference and cherish the intelligence I have.....

not really posting to call anyone out or to start an argument... just expressing thoughts/feelings that have been brought out for a variety of reasons...

if I struck any nerves, please deal with that on your own or just elsewhere.... not my issue or concern and in my current state of mind, I doubt I would add anything that you would consider soothing and/or apologetic..... *shrugs*

Just some thoughts on comic book property movies

To me, and this is only view on it, on whether a comic book property is successful or not goes beyond the quality of the film. To me it is successful if it takes me back to when I first started readings comics. Does it give me the same rush? Does it get my sense of wonder going? Even if it is dark, do I end up smiling at the end of it? Do I feel the rush that I get when I am reading an excellent comic and I rise and fall along with the story?

Can it be a good movie to me without any of this? Yes. Can it be something that I go out of my way to watch time and again? Not really. I usually big/intense movies 3 viewings. There are some that are great the first time, but usually don't hold up after that. There are some that are okay, then get better with each view. There are those that I dislike upon first view and the opinion gets reinforced or deepened. Most of the time, I really have no idea what my final opinion will be and that is part of the fun for me as well.

A short list of those movies that are at the top of my list (so far); movies I can (and quite often do) watch whenever I get the chance: GOtG; Captain America: First Avenger; Iron Man 1; Man of Steel. After my third viewing, I am pretty sure Antman will join this list.

An example of a movie that got me the first time and then fell flat after that: The Avengers.

An example of one that I was neutral towards, but didn't make it after the third view: Capt. America: Winter Soldier.

Examples of those I didn't care for upon first view and the opinion didn't change: Iron Man 3; Thor: The Dark World.

Will be interesting to see where the upcoming slates from both companies make it on my list...

And here we have it! The Ultimate Comic Challenge Semifinalists!!!!!! (repost)

Mark Brady

Mark Brady is a regular at Goodnights and has hosted for Donnell Rawlings. He performs all over the triangle even when he is sad.

No stranger to high profile shows, Mark made it to the finals of the Funniest Person in NC competition earlier this year, as well as performing in the 2015 Best of Raleigh Roundup show

Mark brings a great deal of performing experience to the competition and his consistent delivery style and writing chops make him dangerous in any comedy competition.

Dusty Cagle

"If video games and cartoons had a lovechild........it might be me" When Dusty’s not dressing up like anime characters, he is doing comedy.

Dusty can be found at the Idiot Box most night it is open, whether for shows or open mics. In a relatively short time, he has gone from Idiot Box stand up class participant to making it straight to the 2nd round of the UCC. He is indeed a fan of cartoons, video games and anime and has been known to unashamedly bust out obscure references to them throughout his routine.

Dusty has a strong stage presence that puts him on par with the much more experienced comics in the competition. As his style continues to evolve, Dusty could be a club and competition regular for quite a while.

Aaron Cobb

Aaron Cobb is a stand up comedian based out of Carrboro, NC. His offbeat humor, high energy, and commanding stage presence have entertained audiences across the far reaches of the galaxy.

Aaron’s comedy can hit you head on or sneak up on you without warning. His style makes him a comic with a wide appeal base.

Ryan Davis

Ryan Davis was born in Concord, NC. In two years of doing comedy, Ryan has won numerous comedy competitions, became a regular at The Comedy Zone in Charlotte, NC, and gained the respect of veteran comedians. Just like the comedians that influence him, Ryan's comedy style appeals to a wide range of audiences. His versatility has allowed him to open for top mainstream acts like Jay Pharoah, urban acts like Michael Blackson, & eccentric acts like Tom Green.

Ryan’s signature high energy and frenetic delivery makes for a memorable experience when you see him on stage. He hopes to repeat, and surpass, his efforts of last year when he made it to the UCC finals.

Ryan has stepped it up this year! His delivery even sharper than last year. And the experience of how he sets up and delivers his material is very akin to riding a rollercoaster; you think that you know where you are going and then suddenly he has you heading in an unexpected direction.

Melissa Douty

Melissa Douty is a comedian based out of Salem, VA. She currently has 4 jobs. When asked how her comedy career is going she said, “Um…I have 4 jobs.” but my mom thinks I’m hysterical.

Very personable with an almost ‘Aw, shucks’ delivery, Melissa ‘s comedy is sort of like that really smooth liquor that is so easy to drink and then hits you like a sledgehammer out of nowhere. A newcomer to the UCC and the Greensboro comedy scene, she is definitely making a name for herself quickly (and making her fellow competitors nervous)

Micah Hanner

Micah is very excited to show off what he's been working on throughout his first year in stand-up comedy. He hopes to bring the same energy and excitement he has on his podcast, The Open Mic’ers, to his 2nd round show. If you are at all interested in starting to do comedy, The Open Micers podcast is the podcast for you!

A two time nightly prize winner for most votes this competition, Micah is definitely putting the pressure on the other comics. If the way he stepped it up between 1st and 2nd rounds is any indication, the semifinals could be epic for him.

Troy Dougie Harris

A long time comic and familiar face around the Idiot Box, Troy once again brings his unique perspective, quick wit, sharp delivery and strength as a storyteller to the UCC. He debuted as a stand up comic on February 4th, 2009 and has continued looking for, and finding, new material based on real life experiences . Troy enjoys sharing his passion for comedy with all audiences, no matter the size. When he is not out shaping up his comedy routines, he is busy shaping up people in his work as a personal trainer.

Back on the comedy scene and back to his winning ways, Troy is another two time nightly prize winner this competition.

Mike Kierst

Originally from New Jersey, Mike moved here to go to UNCG. Unfortunately, he was unable to leave behind the disabling personal issue of being a Jets fan. Using his personal life as the source of some of his comedy, he is trying to balance out the nights he performs on stage with those he ends up sleeping in the couch. Very personable with a easy delivery style, Mike connects with the audience in a style all his own.

With an kind of understated delivery style, and a look that kinda reminds you of that one guy..who was always in the dorm lounge... Mike’s comedy will sneak up on you and make you laugh in spite of yourself.

Zo Myers

Zo Myers is a regular host at The Idiot Box's Open Mic & No Nonsense Comedy shows in Greensboro, NC as well as The Laughing Gas in Winston-Salem. Beyond that, Zo is committed to letting his material speak for itself.

hmm..ummm... what more could I add? :)

Joe Perrow

Joe Perrow is a stand up comedian from Raleigh. To everyone's surprise, Joe won North Carolina's Funniest Person at Goodnights Comedy Club earlier this year. The title has alienated Joe from other area comics because no one thinks he deserved it

A week ago, Joe made a joke about unifying all of the comedy titles in the state. Seheing him perform and seeing his success so far this year, that is one joke that may not have the other competitors laughing much. Of course, on the heels of his making the joke, the other competitors voted him as comic most likely to mysteriously vanish before his next set in the UCC.

Jay Stadler

Jay Stadler talks fast, so try to keep up and when u can't, just laugh when he drinks.

Jay is a UCC veteran, and has made an appearance in the finals. He also performs at various venues around the state. His rapid fire delivery makes his material even more effective. He has been doing comedy for a while now and performs at various venues around the state.

Another mainstay in the Greensboro comedy scene, Jay always makes an impact in the UCC. A blast to watch in general, but it is almost mesmerizing when he gets fully into his ‘sell’ mode. It is almost impossible not to buy into his routines and root for him.

Here are your comics for the 2nd Round of the Ultimate Comic Challenge, the 10:00pm show (repost)

10pm

Adam Allred

A self-professed ‘small town comic with a big town mouth’, Adam has been doing comedy since 2003. He has performed all over North Carolina, as well as venues out of state. His routines cover the comedy gamut, from family friendly to NSFW. He has opened for Jon Reep, David Koechner, Jimmy Shubert, and Bobcat Goldthwait.

Ampston Hews

Ampston is another newcomer to the UCC. He has performed at numerous venues around the state. His inspiration to get into comedy was the late, great, Bernie Mac. He made his stand up debut on March 1, 2014.

Dusty Cagle

"If video games and cartoons had a lovechild........it might be me" When Dusty’s not dressing up like anime characters, he is doing comedy.

Dusty can be found at the Idiot Box most night it is open, whether for shows or open mics. In a relatively short time, he has gone from Idiot Box stand up class participant to making it straight to the 2nd round of the UCC. He is indeed a fan of cartoons, video games and anime and has been known to unashamedly bust out obscure references to them throughout his routine.

Ryan Davis

Ryan Davis was born in Concord, NC. In two years of doing comedy, Ryan has won numerous comedy competitions, became a regular at The Comedy Zone in Charlotte, NC, and gained the respect of veteran comedians. Just like the comedians that influence him, Ryan's comedy style appeals to a wide range of audiences. His versatility has allowed him to open for top mainstream acts like Jay Pharoah, urban acts like Michael Blackson, & eccentric acts like Tom Green.

Ryan’s signature high energy and frenetic delivery makes for a memorable experience when you see him on stage. He hopes to repeat, and surpass, his efforts of last year when he made it to the UCC finals.

JD Etheridge

JD is a relative newcomer to stand up comedy, But don’t let that fool you, JD is one of the fastest rising stars of the local comedy scene. He has opened for Tom Segura. He is also an Idiot Box and UCC familiar face, having performed in many shows here as well as making it to the finals of the competition last year. He is also making his presence known off of the stage as well, co-hosting the podcast, Open Micers, with fellow UCC competitor, Micah Hanner. On a strange personal note, JD loves Renaissance Festivals.

Joe Perrow

Joe Perrow is a stand up comedian from Raleigh. To everyone's surprise, Joe won North Carolina's Funniest Person at Goodnights Comedy Club earlier this year. The title has alienated Joe from other area comics because no one thinks he deserved it

Micah Hanner

Micah is very excited to show off what he's been working on throughout his first year in stand-up comedy. He hopes to bring the same energy and excitement he has on his podcast, The Open Mic’ers, to his 2nd round show. If you are at all interested in starting to do comedy, The Open Micers podcast is the podcast for you!

Mike Kierst

Originally from New Jersey, Mike moved here to go to UNCG. Unfortunately, he was unable to leave behind the disabling personal issue of being a Jets fan. Using his personal life as the source of some of his comedy, he is trying to balance out the nights he performs on stage with those he ends up sleeping in the couch. Very personable with a easy delivery style, Mike connects with the audience in a style all his own.

Reid Pegram

Reid came from humble farm boy beginnings, trading tobacco fields for comedy clubs he still sweats just as much. A comedian proudly from Greensboro, he can be found performing throughout the state. He regularly performs while eating sandwiches and don't even get him started on Batman. He opened for Brian Posehn one time and got stoned on a fire escape with him afterwards. He should have just stopped there. He aspires to win the UCC so he can get the exposure to open for Galactus before he devours our doomed planet.

Zo Myers

Zo Myers is a regular host at The Idiot Box's Open Mic & No Nonsense Comedy shows in Greensboro, NC as well as The Laughing Gas in Winston-Salem. Beyond that, Zo is committed to letting his material speak for itself.

Here are your comics for the 2nd Round of the Ultimate Comic Challenge, the 8:00pm show (repost)

Aaron Cobb

Aaron Cobb is a stand up comedian based out of Carrboro, NC. His offbeat humor, high energy, and commanding stage presence have entertained audiences across the far reaches of the galaxy.

Joe Beard

"A merciless slayer of aliens, demons and all things evil on Destiny (PS4). Straight roofless. I would like to encourage you to holla at me, and at the other comics too, because that is what's supposed to happen at a comedy show. I'm white and nerdy, and I love video games and hip hop and people who are zen."

John Eisenhardt

They say laughter is the best medicine. Well, John Eisenhardt once did a set at a children's hospital and what happened that day was nothing short of amazing..........absolutely nothing. Now, that's what I call professionalism. You can't expect him to do "A" material at a charity event. You can't even fathom, the level of comedy he brings to "paying" customers.

Leo Hodson

Leo is no stranger to the UCC. Since 2011 Leo has been gracious enough to make it to the semifinals every year and to the finals twice. He is the winner of the 2015 Make Me Laugh Denver comedy competition but Leo has never tasted victory in his backyard. There are many skeptics. He hopes this could be the year. It would be special given that the finals are on his birthday. He is grateful to God, family, friends and the support from the NC comedy community. He knows he wouldn't be where he is without them. He also wants to send a shout out to his girlfriend. ....hey darlin, see you soon

Mark Brady

Mark Brady is a regular at Goodnights and has hosted for Donnell Rawlings. He performs all over the triangle even when he is sad.

No stranger to high profile shows, Mark made it to the finals of the Funniest Person in NC competition earlier this year, as well as performing in the 2015 Best of Raleigh Roundup show.

Melissa Douty

Melissa Douty is a comedian based out of Salem, VA. She currently has 4 jobs. When asked how her comedy career is going she said, “Um…I have 4 jobs.” but my mom thinks I’m hysterical.

Mike Rinaldi

Mike Rinaldi. What a concept! He is a person, just like you! Do you want to be his friend? If so, please share this post 12 times. Don't share, you have to copy and paste, or else Edward Snowden will own your estate for ever times infinity. #peace

Jay Stadler

Jay Stadler talks fast, so try to keep up and when u can't, just laugh when he drinks.

Jay is a UCC veteran, and has made an appearance in the finals. He also performs at various venues around the state. His rapid fire delivery makes his material even more effective. He has been doing comedy for a while now and performs at various venues around the state.

Tom Stover

Based out of Charlotte, Tom brings his high powered, down home comedy back to the UCC. Bringing stories based on his life, from his upbringing in the NASCAR hotbed that is the Charlotte area up to currently raising a child of his own, Tom will take you on a comical tour of his life. If you like to laugh, you’ll love the ride.

Troy Dougie Harris

A long time comic and familiar face around the Idiot Box, Troy once again brings his unique perspective, quick wit, sharp delivery and strength as a storyteller to the UCC. He debuted as a stand up comic on February 4th, 2009 and has continued looking for, and finding, new material based on real life experiences . Troy enjoys sharing his passion for comedy with all audiences, no matter the size. When he is not out shaping up his comedy routines, he is busy shaping up people in his work as a personal trainer.