The Gospel According To Autocorrect

/ Alex Doriot / 1 Comment

I love everything about my iPhone. Everything except Autocorrect.

You might think I would love a feature which automatically corrects my typing. I’ll admit it really is amazing how accurate autocorrect can be in fixing my myriad mistakes. Sometimes I can’t believe how intuitive my phone can be in figuring out what I’m trying to type.

What I don’t love is how much I depend on autocorrect. I’m afraid of how desperately I need it to fix my mistakes.

Without autocorrect, an average text message from me such as this one:

photo 1

Would end up looking like this one: Continue reading →

Truth In Advertising

/ Alex Doriot / 3 Comments
Don-Draper-2The reason you haven’t felt it is because it doesn’t exist. What you call love was invented by guys like me to sell nylons. – Don Draper

On “Mad Men”, Don Draper is the embodiment of confidence. He is the master of the main goal of advertising – making the public believe they simply cannot live without what he is selling. Advertising, at it’s best, points out what the audience needs. The right advertisement can make you think buying a bar of soap will change your life. What Don Draper does on “Mad Men” every week is nothing new. In fact, the principles of advertising can be traced all the way back to the Bible. Continue reading →

The Two Things Ron Swanson Hates Most

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

There’s only one thing Ron Swanson hates more than liars: skim milk.photo-16

Don’t lie about what you are today. Be the person God created you to be. Embrace your quirks and your flaws. Quit trying to be something you’re not. You have a savior who loves you just the way you are. In fact He made you that way.

Don’t be like skim milk.

Happy Friday.

The Trick To Ignoring The Masters

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

IMG_4033The Augusta National Golf Tournament, better known as The Masters, begins today. My hometown of Augusta, GA has been overtaken by golf fans from across the world.

But there are some who don’t care about the Green Jacket at all. If you’re one of them, you know it will be hard to get away from Masters chatter. You won’t be able to ignore the coverage on ESPN and CBS all weekend. Talk of Tiger Woods will surely take over your Twitter feed.

If however you simply can’t stand golf and need to know the trick to ignoring The Masters, I have the answer for you:

Live in Augusta.

Really. Continue reading →

Roger And Us

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

ebert_1I was dreading the day Roger Ebert would die.

I selfishly hoped it would never come.

I had known the movie critic and film scholar was nearing death for years, as we all had. When news broke that Roger was stepping back from his reviews for the time being due to his cancer recurring, I was afraid the end might come within days.

I was right. Just a day after he announced he was cutting back on his duties, Roger Ebert passed away.

Turns out I was not the only one devastated to see him go. Continue reading →

Outgrowing God

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WWE.com

WWE.com

Sometimes I wonder if I’ve outgrown all this wrestling stuff.

That’s kind of how I felt last night watching Wrestlemania XXIX.  I spent all week blogging about my excitement for the event. I ordered a hundred chicken wings and invited all my friends to the house. I drank unhealthy amounts of Cheerwine out of the giant Hulk Hogan mug I found at a flea market a few months ago.

All the elements were there for an epic night. Then the show started. Continue reading →

Macho Madness

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RS

(It’s Wrestlemania week on POP GOD! Join us everyday this week as we count down to Wrestlemania XXIX this Sunday with new posts searching for God in the squared circle.)

Today we’re talking Macho Madness: That confidence, strength and intensity personified best by the one and only Randy “Macho Man” Savage.

May you tackle all of today’s challenges with Macho Madness. May you turn your life around 180 degrees. May you go left when the world tells you to go right.

You are more than a conqueror, and no matter what life brings you can trust “the beat goes on”.

Happy Friday. (And no more questions!)

(Click here if the video above does not work.)

 

Tales Of A Wrestling School Dropout

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(It’s Wrestlemania week on POP GOD! Join us everyday this week as we count down to Wrestlemania XXIX this Sunday with new posts searching for God in the squared circle.)

This is the tale of a wrestling school dropout.

324122_278504272180672_1937001811_oBefore my alter ego Ice D ever defended his championship, I flunked out of wrestling school.

A few years back I stepped into a professional wrestling ring with two of my best friends in the outskirts of Harlem, GA. We grew up watching spandex-clad athletes assault each other every Monday night for years. One day we heard of a local wrestling group offering tryouts. We decided to join them.

We had our ring names picked out – a faction known as The UnXpected. Our T-shirts would bear our catchphrase: “Respect The UnXpected.” The merchandising dollars would be rolling in.

We dreamt of winning world championships and entering the Hall of Fame.

We never made it out of training. Continue reading →

Hall Of Fame

/ Alex Doriot / 1 Comment

(It’s Wrestlemania week on POP GOD! Join us everyday this week as we count down to Wrestlemania XXIX this Sunday with new posts searching for God in the squared circle.)

4,040 days – the length of time Bruno Sammartino held the WWE (then WWWF) Championship in the 60s and 70s.

20 years – the length of time the WWE Hall Of Fame has existed and ignored Bruno Sammartino’s unmatched accomplishments.
BrunoSammartino02At this year’s WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony, one of the great injustices of professional wrestling will finally be righted. After over two decades of feuding and  refusing to appear, “The Living Legend” Bruno Sammartino will take his rightful spot in the WWE Hall Of Fame.

This is a momentous occasion for wrestling history. Sammartino has been at odds with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon since the 80s over the way McMahon commercialized and sexed up the wrestling industry. But the WWE’s new PG attitude seems to have bridged the gap between the two sides.

WWE is finally recognizing Sammartino’s incredible contributions to sports entertainment. A new generation of fans who never heard of his legend will get to see Sammartino’s accomplishments on TV, DVDs, and the internet.

To many pundits Bruno’s career, and his legend, will not be set in stone until he is granted his gold ring. This despite the fact that people like Koko B. Ware are already enshrined. (Also, so is Drew Carey. What?)

Does Bruno Sammartino need the Hall Of Fame? Would his legend die out without it? Continue reading →

You’re Right To Fight

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(It’s Wrestlemania week on POP GOD! Join us everyday this week as we count down to Wrestlemania XXIX this Sunday with new posts searching for God in the squared circle.)

hoganandreWhat if Hulk Hogan never fought Andre The Giant?

What if instead The Hulkster was just handed a championship?

What if instead of bodyslamming the behemoth, Hulk Hogan just traveled the world talking about what a great athlete he was?

If Hulk Hogan was just a great speaker and never engaged in any battles, he would not have been my hero growing up.

Unlike so many people in the real world (and so many of today’s WWE stars), Hulk Hogan didn’t just talk about being the best wrestler in the world. He went into battle every night in arenas across the country to back up the words he said.

Hulk Hogan faced down conflict when it came after him – even in the form of a giant. Continue reading →