Workout Update: Dig In: Day 11

Day 11 was the beginning of the second phase in Dig In. So, this was Chest 2. It follows the same overall format of two strength/core blocks and one Insanity block that you do after each of the strength blocks. The biggest change is that the number of reps in the stength/core blocks increases from 12 to 15.  So, you will need to use light weights. The most I used was 20lbs, and there were times I was struggling with 15 lbs. Just to be extra cruel, Shaun T uses 5-down-1-up tempos for a couple of the exercises. The Insanity exercises are again modified to be low impact, but they still get your heart rate up. Overall, it is a good but tough workout. 

Workout Update: Dig In: Day 10

Day 10 was the first rest day in Dig In. It has a weird format where you do all workouts in the phase, then rest, then do all workouts in the next phase, then rest, etc. I am following the calendar this time, but if I do the workout again or extend it past 30 days, I will definitely do 5 days, rest two, do five more days, rest two, etc.  Because I had worked out for 9 days straight, I took a total rest from everything aside from walking.  

Book Review: The Drawing of the Three (Dark Tower Series #2)

 

The Drawing of the Three, originally published in 1987, is the second novel in Stephen King's Dark Tower series and has been reprinted several times. It picks up after the events of The Gunslinger, with Roland Deschain continuing his search for the Dark Tower. After being seriously injured on a beach, Roland encounters mysterious doors that connect his world to New York City at different points in time. Through these doors, he meets people whose lives become connected to his journey. While the first book hints at multiple universes, this one explores that aspect much more directly.

The version I have is the paperback edition included in the complete set that was updated in 2017. It comes in at 455 pages, with the final page being an Afterword written by King that hints at his plans for the series. It also includes the first chapter of the third book, The Waste Lands. I thought this was better than the first book, but it is still hard to see where the overall story is going. Even though it continues from the events of the first book, the plot and pacing are very different. The storyline jumps around a bit, and it is not always easy to keep everything straight. As a self-contained story, it is okay. However, knowing that it is the second book in the main seven-book storyline, it is hard to completely judge it without knowing how the rest of the story develops. Ultimately, it is an improvement over The Gunslinger and worth continuing if you are interested in the larger story, but it still feels like there is a lot left to establish.

DVD/TV Series Review: Frasier (2023): Season 2

 

The 10-episode second season of the Frasier reboot/sequel/revival series streamed on Paramount Plus during the fall and winter of 2024. All of the main cast members returned for the second season. Peri Gilpin, who made a cameo appearance at the end of season 1, returned as Roz in an expanded recurring role. Patricia Heaton also joined the cast in a recurring role as a love interest for Frasier. Other recognizable cast members included Amy Sedaris and Yvette Nicole Brown. Greer Grammer also joined in a recurring role, playing the adult version of Roz's daughter, Alice. A few more cast members from the original series also reprised their roles, including Dan Butler, Edward Hibbert, and Harriet Sansom Harris. 

The show continued to primarily be a story-of-the-week procedural set back in Boston where Frasier returned after leaving Chicago. The show occasionally referenced prior episodes, but for the most part, you can easily follow the plotline of any given episode without having seen the prior episodes. The best episode of the season is what would end up being the penultimate episode of the series, in which Frasier returns to Seattle to make a guest appearance at the radio station, during which he encounters a man whose life went haywire after taking Frasier's advice. 

The DVD is a two-disc set. It is mostly a made-on-demand set, but it does have a gag reel and a few minutes of deleted scenes as extras. And the episodes can be played with English captions. Unlike the original series, this one is not availble on blu-ray.

The season was fine, but like the first season, this one still could not capture the feel of the original series. That's largely because John Mahoney had passed away, and neither David Hyde Pierce nor Jane Leevs appeared on the show. Whether one or both of them could have been convinced to appear had the series continued will never be known (the series was canceled after this season wrapped and, as of this writing, has not been picked up elsewhere), but David Hyde Pierce has gone on record as saying he did not think there would be anything for Niles to do on the show. Whether that was true or it was more about distancing himself from Grammer's politics (as he is a huge RWNJ), we will probably never know. That said, there were some funny moments during the season, the best one being a joke about Bulldog coming out (and acknowledging Dan Butler's sexuality) when Frasier assumes it was Gil. Because the show was canceled after the season aired, it did not get a proper conclusion/finale. Thankfully, the season did not end on a cliffhanger, so nothing major is left unresolved. Ultimately, the season is worth watching if you liked Season One and possibly if you loved the original series. I do think the show would have been better if Frasier had visited Cheers at least once, but the chances of getting any of the surviving cast members (aside from maybe Bebe Neuwirth) to return were probably slim. If, however, you are expecting it to be as good as the original series, you will probably be disappointed.  

Workout Update: Dig In: Day 9

Day 9 was the final workout of Phase 1 of Dig In, which is called The Dig. This one flips the workout format a bit. It has two blocks of Insanity, each with 4 exercises you do for three sets/rounds.  Then, there are six resistance exercise pairs: two for chest, two for back, two for legs, etc. After each set/round of Insanity, you do one pair of resistance exercises. So, you do the first set of block 1 of insanity and then do the chest exercises (rotating bench presses followed by push-ups), then you do the next set in block one of Insanity exercises followed by the next pair of resistance exercises, and you keep doing that until you get through all six sets of Insanity exercises and all six resistance pairs. The one twist for the resistance exercises is that instead of doing 12 reps, you do 20. Some of the resistance exercises are bodyweight only, like push-ups and triceps dips, but most use weight. The heaviest weight you will likely need is 20- 25 lbs, but you will probably use very light weights for exercises like the rear-delt flyes. This is the workout that will repeat the most during the program, as you do it at the end of each Phase. It is very challenging, but it is a good measure of progress. If you can finish this one easily, you will definitely be able to progress to something like Insanity Max 30 or T25 and do the unmodified exercises in that program.

Workout Update: Dig In: Day 8

Day 8 of Dig In went back to the Legs and Glutes 1 workout. As with the other workouts this week, this one was definitely easier the second time through, but it was still challenging. I was able to bump up the amount of weight I used for all the weighted exercises, and I felt that my cardio stamina was better during the Insanity block. And the core exercises were easier (but not easy).  

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 1

 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine was a sitcom created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur that aired for 8 seasons from 2013 to 2021. The 22-episode first season aired during the 2013/2014 TV season. It stars Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, and Andre Braugher. The supporting cast includes Dirk Blocker and Joel McKinnon Miller.

The series follows detectives at Brooklyn’s fictional 99th precinct as they adjust to their new commanding officer, Captain Raymond Holt (played by Braugher). Holt is very serious and expects more discipline than some of the detectives are accustomed to, particularly Jake Peralta (played by Samberg), who is good at solving cases but tends to treat much of his job as a joke. Fumero plays Amy Santiago, a competitive detective who is eager to impress Holt, while Beatriz plays Rosa Diaz, who is tough, moody, and very private about her personal life. Lo Truglio plays Charles Boyle, an awkward but enthusiastic detective who is close friends with Jake and has an unrequited crush on Rosa. Crews plays Sergeant Terry Jeffords, who supervises the detectives but is initially reluctant to return to fieldwork because he worries about what would happen to his family if he were killed. Peretti plays Gina Linetti, the precinct’s civilian administrator, while Blocker and Miller play Hitchcock and Scully, two veteran detectives who are generally more interested in food and avoiding work than in solving cases. It is a sitcom with a large ensemble cast that is equal parts story-of-the-week procedural and serial comedy, as events from prior episodes are referenced in nearly every episode.

As of this writing, the individual seasons have been released on DVD. The complete series is available in a Blu-Ray box set. In that set, each season is in its own keep case inside a decorative outer box. The first season's episodes are spread across three discs. The A/V quality of the Blu-Rays is very good, and the episodes can be played with English captions. Most episodes from the first season include deleted scenes, which are the only extras included for this season.

The show is a great comedy with a wonderful cast of characters. It is well-written and well-acted, and the actors do a great job in their roles. The first season mainly develops the various characters and their relationships. The best part of the series is the relationships between the characters, with the funniest being the unrequited love that Lo Truglio’s doofy Boyle has for Beatriz’s dark and moody Diaz. The contrast between Jake’s immaturity and Holt’s serious approach to the job also provides a lot of the humor, as does the competition between Jake and Amy. It isn't extremely family-friendly because it has a lot of sex jokes, but it also has a lot of wholesome comedy. Ultimately, it is absolutely worth watching if you are a sitcom fan, especially if you like other comedies Michael Schur has worked on, like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and The Good Place.

Workout Update: Dig In: Day 7

 Day 7 of Dig In was the Back 1 workout again. The most notable thing about the workout was that I was able to do all 100 bicycle crunches in set 3 of the second block. This is notable because bicycle crunches have always been notoriously hard for me. I was a few seconds behind the group because I had to pause a couple of times in the back 50, but I finished them and was able to start the second Insanity block at the same time as the cast. I was also able to increase the amount of weight that I used for the two weighted exercises in the workout. So overall, it was good.

Workout Update: Dig In: Day 6

Day 6 was the second go-around with Arms & Legs 1. I was able to increase the amount of weight I used for all of the exercises from Tuesday's workout. I also felt like my form and stamina doing the core exercises were better this time, and I could do more in the Insanity block. 

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Friday The 13th

 

Friday the 13th is the 1980 horror film directed by Sean S. Cunningham and written by Victor Miller. The film stars Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, Kevin Bacon, Harry Crosby, and Laurie Bartram. The supporting cast includes Mark Nelson, Peter Brouwer, and Walt Gorney.

The plot involves Camp Crystal Lake reopening after being closed for several years. A group of counselors arrives early to get the camp ready for the kids, despite warnings from locals that the camp should remain closed. As they work to get everything ready, the counselors start being killed off one by one. I will not go into too much detail about the story for those who have not seen it, since the identity of the killer is supposed to be part of the mystery.

There have been several Blu-Ray releases of the film, so the features will vary depending on which edition you get. I have the deluxe box set released by Shout Factory, which includes all 10 original films, along with Freddy vs. Jason and the 2009 remake. In that collection, the first film is a two-disc set, with both discs in a keep case inside the decorative box. One disc contains the theatrical cut, while the other contains the uncut version. Both versions run just over an hour and a half, with the uncut version running only slightly longer. There are no substantive differences in the story between the two cuts, as the additional footage mostly extends some of the gore. The A/V quality is very good, especially considering the age of the film and the fact that it was a very low-budget movie when it was released. There are bonus features on both discs. The theatrical disc includes the US and international trailers, TV and radio spots, and two different stills galleries, one with pictures from the film and the other with posters and promotional material. On the uncut version, there is an audio commentary on the film which includes the director, writer, and members of the cast and crew, a short film set in the Friday the 13th universe, a featurette on the director, a reunion panel discussion including the director, writer, and some members of the cast and crew, and fan fiction articles that can be accessed if you put the disc in a computer's CD drive. 

The film definitely feels dated. It was a low-budget 1980s movie, and it very much looks and feels like one. It was made to capitalize on the popularity of Halloween, and Miller admits in the bonus content that he was basically told to write a script that ripped off Halloween. It is certainly not as good as Halloween, and parts of the writing and effects are extremely cheesy by today's standards. I also think the script would have been better if the killer had been shown interacting with the group earlier in the movie. The film tries to use misdirection to make you think the killer could be someone else, but once you actually see the killer, you know pretty much immediately. It does earn its R-rating, with some gore (although not as much as many of today's horror movies), swearing, sexual content, and brief nudity. It will always be notable for launching the franchise and for being one of Kevin Bacon's early films. Ultimately, even with its flaws, it is an iconic horror film that helped define 80s horror movies and is worth watching if you are a fan of the genre.

Workout Update: Dig In: Day 5

Day 5 of Dig In starts over with the Chest 1 workout. Dig In is a bit different than a lot of the programs in that you do nine days on and then take your rest day. So, you will do all of the Phase 1 workouts twice, then do the Dig Deep workout, and then rest. In this workout, I raised the weight that I used (slightly) for every exercise except chest press, which I kept the same as on day 1. I did notice it was definitely easier the second time. For example, I could do more push-ups on my toes. On day 1, I did the 12 in the first set on my toes and then did the second and third sets on my knees. This time, I did the first two sets and half of the third set on my toes, then dropped to my knees. So, I am getting stronger. I ended the night doing the upper-body foam rolling routine from 645.

Workout Update: Dig In: Day 4

Day 4 was Legs and Glutes 1 in Dig In. This one had a similar but slightly different format than the other workouts this week. It still has two blocks of resistance exercises (plus a core exercise) and an Insanity block you do after each resistance block. Each resistance block has three sets. However, instead of doing 12 reps in each set, you do 10, with the idea that you can use heavier weights for the resistance exercises. The exercises in the Insanity block are again low-impact and run for 30 seconds each, but you can do unmodified versions if you want. This was definitely a tough workout, but if you have done Dig Deeper, it incorporates many of the same exercises, and you are doing them for far fewer reps, so it is not that bad.  

Workout Update: Dig In: Day 3

Yesterday was day 3 of Dig In. I did the Back workout, which followed the same overall format as the other workouts, with two blocks of resistance and core exercises, each done for three sets. There is a cardio block after each resistance block, using modified versions of exercises from the Insanity workouts.

I found all of the core exercises much easier, even bicycle abs, which I have never been particularly good at. My form is getting better, and I can do them for longer. For bicycle abs, you do 24 total reps (12 per side) in each of the first two sets, followed by 100 total reps (50 per side) in the last set (with a built-in break after 50 reps). I could only do 80 in that last set, but a few months ago I might have done 25–30 total, so that is a pretty substantial improvement.

CD/Music Review: Ashanti's Christmas

 

Ashanti’s Christmas, released in 2003, was her third studio album. It contains 10 tracks in all, mixing well-known Christmas songs with more traditional arrangements and others with a pop feel. In my opinion, the best songs on the album are her versions of “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World.”

The CD liner folds out and mostly contains pictures of Ashanti from her childhood around Christmas time. The middle fold contains a thank-you note, while the back fold includes production notes. Ultimately, while this isn't the best Christmas album a pop star has released, it is worth listening to if you are a fan of hers and like Christmas music.

Workout Update: Dig In: Day 2

Yesterday was day 2 of Dig In. I did Arms & Legs 1. The format was very similar to the Chest workout, with two resistance blocks, each including a core-focused exercise, and an Insanity block that you do after each strength block.

The strength blocks used some compound exercises, including goblet squats into upright rows and bicep curls into Arnold presses, so you are working more than just your legs. The Insanity block included exercises that will be familiar to anyone who has done Insanity or Insanity Max 30. Again, these were the low-impact versions that the modifiers performed in Max 30, although Shaun T does say that you can do the unmodified versions if you want.

Workout Update: Dig In: Day 1

Yesterday was day 1 of Dig In. I did Chest 1, followed by the LIIFT4 Roll and Recover routine. Dig In is a 30-day program designed for fat loss that combines the muscular-endurance lifting portions of Dig Deeper, using lighter weights and bodyweight-only exercises for sets of 12 reps, with low-impact versions of exercises from Insanity and Insanity Max 30. Anyone who has done Insanity Max 30 will recognize the exercises that the modifiers in that program did.

The workout has two resistance blocks, each with two weighted chest exercises, a bodyweight chest exercise, and a core-focused exercise. You go through each block three times, doing 12 reps of each exercise per set. You have only enough time between exercises to transition from one to the next, amounting to about 15 seconds between exercises. The workout has scheduled breaks, however. The second resistance block includes a bear crawl: get into a bear plank position and move forward and backward, with four crawls forward and back counting as one rep. Shaun T gives you the option to hold the bear plank position instead, which is what I did for the second half of the first set and all of the second and third sets.

After each resistance block, you do the same “Insanity Block,” which consists of four cardio exercises that you do for 30 seconds each, again with only enough time to transition between them. One of these is stepping burpees. The first time through, you use the bench, while the second time you have the option of using the bench again or going all the way to the floor.

Like Dig Deeper, you do need a workout bench and a selection of weights. You need to use much lighter weights than you otherwise could because you do not have breaks between exercises. For example, if you can normally do chest presses with 35 or 40 lbs when you have breaks between sets, use about 25 lbs here so you don't wear yourself out too quickly. Shaun T mentions this up front, noting that he can normally do chest presses with 70 lbs but was using 35 lbs for this workout. The workout is about half an hour, and the time goes by quickly because you move from one exercise to the next pretty much the entire time.

Workout Update: Deload Week: Day 7

Today was the final day of my deload week. I did the X Stretch routine from the original P90X this evening. My range of motion and flexibility are pretty much the same as they were last week, but they are still vastly improved from where I was 12 weeks ago, before I started Dig Deeper. Tomorrow, I'll start Dig In, which combines lifting similar to Dig Deeper with low-impact cardio. 

Workout Update: Deload Week Day 6

Yesterday was day 6 of my deload week. All I did was the LIIFT4 Roll and Recover routine before bed. I used my Rumble Roller, which I have been using for a few weeks now. I feel a lot less discomfort when using it than I did when I first started, and it helps much more than my older “regular” foam roller, which is starting to wear down.

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Free Guy

 

Free Guy is a 2021 comedy directed by Shawn Levy and written by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn. It stars Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Taika Waititi. Reynolds plays Guy, a bank teller who is actually a non-player character in an online video game called Free City. He goes through pretty much the same routine every day until he encounters Molotov Girl (played by Comer) and starts doing things outside of his programming. In the real world, Molotov Girl is Millie, a game developer trying to prove that the company behind Free City stole code from a game she developed with her former partner, Keys (played by Keery). Waititi plays Antwan, the head of the company behind Free City.

The 4k set is a two-disc set, containing a UHD disc and a standard Blu-Ray. It also includes a digital code that can be redeemed on Movies Anywhere. The UHD disc only contains the film, while the bonus features are on the standard Blu-Ray. The A/V quality on the UHD version is good, with great audio quality and decent video quality, although it is not what I would describe as a reference-quality 4k transfer. The extras include a little over five minutes of deleted scenes, a short gag reel, the theatrical trailers, and several making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes. The most interesting of these is the Dude vs. Guy featurette, which shows how the fight scene toward the end of the film was made.

The movie is good. It mixes several different comedy genres, sometimes being an action-comedy, sometimes a spoof-comedy, and sometimes a romantic-comedy. At times, it lampoons gamer and tech bro cultures, but it also dabbles with some ethical questions about artificial intelligence and stealing other people's work. Reynolds is very much in his comedic element with this film, but Comer is the standout, essentially playing two different characters, one in the real world and one in the game. Waititi is also great in his role, and there are some very funny cameos, with the best probably being Channing Tatum's. Since it is a Disney film, there are a couple of Star Wars and MCU jokes thrown in as well. There are some genuinely funny moments, but I did not find myself laughing all the way through. There is some swearing and violence, along with some sexual jokes, but it is not raunchy, and there is no nudity. The PG-13 rating is appropriate. Ultimately, this is a decent comedy that is not a must-watch, but it is worth checking out if you are a fan of Reynolds or are just looking for a relatively family-friendly comedy.

Workout Update: Deload Week Day 5

Yesterday was day 5 of my deload week. I did the steady state 3 workout from Dig Deeper, followed by the LIIFT4 Roll and Recover routine. The steady state 3 workout is a little longer than the first two, at about half an hour, and is more focused on the legs. You are in some variation of a squat or lunge pretty much the entire time. You do move your arms a lot too, but the goal is to make you feel like you spent half an hour walking stairs or using a stair stepper.