I’ve decided to start a personal campaign for world improvement. I’m sure there have been similiar campaigns in the past, but this is mine. I’m calling it “One Per Day” or 1pD for short.

The basic concept, as you may have guessed, is to do one kind act for another person per day. I can only hope that each act will cause a ripple effect and improve karma around me.

My act for today: I was on my lunch break from work and got a buffalo chicken wrap from Charley’s Steakery. There was a new person, Donnie, scraping the grill and a district manager type person was monitoring him. I’ve been to Charley’s a good bit in last few weeks and I didn’t recognize the woman who had an authoritative tone, which made me assume her title.

Donnie started to chop up my chicken on the grill, the district manager scolded him saying he was “chopping it too much.” Donnie look embarrassed and quiet, and the district manager apologized to me that he was supposedly messing up my food.

I replied, “No need to apologize. I’ve been to a lot of Charley’s Steakery’s before and this is by far the best. Donnie does a real good job. Besides, I like my chicken chopped extra.”

None of these things were true, really. I’ve only been to one other Steakery store and this was the first time I’ve ever seen Donnie. I really could care less about the chicken though, which is why I felt the urge to defend the honor of an employee in the face of a superior.

The district manager’s eyes opened a little wider and replied, “Oh, okay then. I’m glad to hear that.” She then finished my wrap, and went into the back room without saying another word. I went to sit down.

As I took my first bite I looked back up towards the grill, and Donnie was scraping it off again.  However, this time he had a smile on his face.

Just got back from the new Starbucks store they opened across the river. Beaver Starbucks. I’d hate to admit it but it looks great. Strong location on a corner, some really picturesque seating outside, and the store is huge. Their back storage room is the size of our entire store.

However, our store still has a drive thru where 70% of our business comes from. So we all think, while we might be slow next couple weeks, everyone will come back to us eventually. Plus, parking in Beaver Village is a nightmare at times.

I like having a rival store close by. It makes me want to start a prank war. Some West Side shenanigans. Only with less dancing. And less singing. More knife fights.

So MTV is ready to get into the political game. Their first to air is a scarring attack ad against Barack Obama. Trying to make up for lost time I suppose. Now that these floodgates have opened to the youth, I wouldn’t be surprised that all we see from now on is Real World/Road Rules Challenge, The Hills, and political advertisements.

MoveOn.org is attempting to get on the air before this ad by asking “6000 members to donate $25 each” for the $150,000 bill to get their commercial (Starring Rider Strong) on the air. I’m going to just continue to not watch MTV.

I miss music.

Three days.

501.6 Total Miles Driven.

$119.23 total spent out of pocket ($17.09 food, $102.14 gas)

Yikes.

The NFL, more then any other league, embraces parity. In any other preseason when teams begin to assemble and talk about this “being their year”, most teams know they have little to no true shot at the championship. I don’t think the Kansas City Royals were booking October hotel rooms in spring training.

However, in the NFL where it’s not unheard of for a team to go from awful to playoffs without anyone expecting it. Just take a look at the NFC South division since it’s existence:

2002: 1st – Tampa Bay (12-4), Last – Carolina (7-9)
2003: 1st – Carolina (11-5), Last – Atlanta (5-11)
2004: 1st – Atlanta (11-5), Last – Tampa Bay (5-11)
2005: 1st – Carolina (11-5), Last – New Orleans (3-13)
2006: 1st – New Orleans (10-6), Last – Tampa Bay (4-12)
2007: 1st – Tampa Bay (9-7), Last – Atlanta (4-12)

All except one year, the last place team from the year before won the division the year before. Now, I am in no way predicting an Atlanta divisional victory. However, the Browns (+6 wins last year), Saints (+7 wins in 2006), and Bears (+6 wins in 2005) all show it’s a league wide epidemic.

The perfect storm of youth, experience, emotion and quiet breakout stars all come together to make the following teams this year’s candidates for the team we’re all talking about.

St. Louis Rams (3-13 in 2007)
This team is still stockpiled with talent on offense. Steven Jackson, Marc Bulger, and Tory Holt are one of the best tandems in the entire NFC when healthy. While there are issues with all of them (Jackon’s contract, Bulger’s health, Holt’s age) they are still electric if they can get on the field at the same time. Their problem last year was obviously the defense allowing the 2nd most points per game (27.4) in the NFL. With Chris Long joining up, they should be able to improve on their pass rush. If their big three stays healthy and their defense can cut the opponents scoring to at least an average, they could easily flirt with .500 which is playoff borderline in the mediocre NFC.

Baltimore Ravens (5-11 in 2007)
It’s tough to put stock in any team that looks like a rookie QB will be their starter, but the Ravens were right on the cusp last year even with Kyle Boller taking most of the snaps. Baltimore was a very respectable 4-4 at home which means, do the math do the math, 1-7 on the road. With some tough road match ups against Dallas, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh they have very winnable match ups at Houston, Miami, and the New York Giants. If Flacco performs half as well as people are praising him in camp, the Ravens will be right in the wild card mix.

Buffalo Bills (7-9 in 2007)
While I don’t think they’re anywhere near ready to overtake the Patriots in the east. They completely overshot what they deserved record wise last year. Without a solidified starter the entire year, dozens of players on the injured reserve and the toughest schedule in the league they controlled their own playoff destiny up until Week 16. If they stay healthy, finally have an undenied starter the entire season, and open up the offensive playbook they can quickly become a team to reckon with on both sides of the ball.

Look for future article on the candidates for the NFL’s 2008 Disappointment Team.

(Written for Bleacher Report)

Went and saw Step Brothers with Emily Dockter tonight. Was packed, but found a pretty decent two seats in the middle. Hilarious movie. I was fully expecting to be disappointed but it exceeded all expectations. I’d put it right up there with Old School and Anchorman. Definitely check it out.

Dear Casey:

Congratulations! As the official judging organization for the Xbox LIVE GTA IV Promotion, it is our pleasure to inform you that you have been selected as a Seventh Prize winner! Your prize is a three (3) month Xbox LIVE Gold subscription!

- Received in an e-mail

SNL cast member Amy Poehler is supposedly the second cast member for the so-called Office Spinoff. While I was excited for the first announcement of Aziz Ansari, I’m not so sure about this selection.

The beauty of Ansari is he’s still a relative unknown on the main stream. He has a tremendous following of loyal fans and I think he’s hilarious, but a random person on the street wouldn’t be able to recognize him. With Poehler, people would at least be able to answer “that girl from SNL” or “Tina Fey.”

Plus, while I enjoy Poehler on SNL, her outside work on Blades of Glory and Mean Girls (I’d say her two biggest movie roles) were just okay in my eyes. I also liked about The Office was that, with the exception of Steve Carell, most of the cast was also relatively unknown (at least to me) when it started out. Even Carell when The Office began wasn’t anywhere near the superstar status he is now, his biggest roles in supporting Bruce Almighty and Anchorman. Then only after the 40-year-old virgin, Evan Almighty and now Get Smart is he considered an A-lister.

I’m still excited for the show, don’t get me wrong, I’m just skeptical as to what role Poehler will play. I worry that it’s just an inside audition, friends know friends who know friends within NBC Universal. We’ll have to see how the rest of the cast shapes up.

NY Trip Starting Well from Casey Fenton on Vimeo.

Going Against the GPS from Casey Fenton on Vimeo.

5:36 PM: “Is there a hypen in step up 2?” Steph: “No… and its the streets… Step Up 2: THE STREETS”

5:37 PM: Nicole hands me a “screwdriver”… a drink… it tastes weird… but I think I”ll need the alcohol to make it through this epic failure of cinema. Steph is very excited. She’s giggling.

5:38 PM: Greg is watching the Bill Engvall Show, the plot is predictable so I’m glad we’re not finishing theshow. We watched five minutes and I remember laughing 0.00 times. Trailers playing now before the movie starts, I’ll explain this premise. My sister, Greg and Stefanie really like urban dance movies. I have refused to watch them up to this point. I have agreed to watch this and live blog my thoughts.

5:40 PM: Nicole informs me that the “Jabba Wokkies” are in this? Apparently they’re a good dance group Greg is excited. He is chewing loudly. Nicole doesn tlike my “tell tale eyes”… My prediction for this movie: Racial tension leads to utopian happiness by the black fade out credits. Let’s see how it goes.

5:41 PM: The Streets have officially changed… accordingtothe narrator… they still looklike asphalt to me. I hate this laptop and th espace key.

5:42 PM: Oh no, black guy put on masks, I thoughtthey were goin gto shoot everyone… turns out they’re just going to kill people with sick moves. Wait now apparently everyone is in on it… I don’t understand why they’re doing t his… Is this some post acapocalyptic world where people have to dance for food and shelter? I hope Kevin Costner is in this.

5:44 PM: I wanted to do a count of them using slang I’ve never heard of before but I’ve already lost count. Sorry readers.

5:46 PM: They are talking about the dancegroup “410″ like a terrorist organization… and they justsaidthey’re in BALTIMORE. Probably the worst city in the world… Uh oh, this white girl’s black mother just said “You can’t follow the 410 forever”… this is trouble… Oh, the black mother is th ewhite girl’s mother’sbest friend… uh oh kicking this girl out, theplot is moving too fast… I’m losing it… It’s like mission impossible. I hope theblack woman is Tom Cruise.

5:48 PM: Wait, no I don’t.

5:49 PM: Going to the hottest club in Baltimore is like… well, it’s just like going to the hottest clubin baltimore… just sad. Whit egirl just told this other dancer to “remember us when you’re all famous”… does she no trealize that there are no famous dancers? None. Zero. Wait, maybeone?No… stillzero.

5:50 PM: Oh, no… they’re going to battle… what th efuck is going on. Is that how they solve every argument? “Hey where do you want t oeat? McDonalds or Wendy’s?” “FUcK THAT, we’re BATTLING to DECIDE” *dance dance dance* *both die*

5:52 PM: They have trampolines in th edance floor. Props to the construction team for having such foresight in design.

5:53 PM: “What are you watching? Dancing again? This is h is 3rd or 4th time through… he keeps watching th edancing because you wont dance with  h im… he wants to go dancingg… hewants to dance and you wont dance with him… he wants to GET DOWN.” – Mom walking in

5:54 PM: Stef and Nicol ewere very impressed that this whit eguy dancer who just won th echallenge was in this one… Apparentl yhe was in the first on eand is a legend… No idea who he is. I wish Jessica Alba was in this.

5:56 PM: One hip hop judge with four stick up their assjudges… oh what ar ethe odds, thehip hop guy thinks the girl is cute. Who woulda saw that coming… oh i’m drowning in sarcasm… Uh ohh the jerk judge stopped him “She’sjust a street dancer” like rival gangs

5:59 PM: 401 is a pretty weak gang whenthey have daily rehearsals… I’d be more impressed if there was freestyle going on. To know they rehearsed that first subway dance a million times, not as exciting.

6:02 PM: Greg gives away important information… Guy looks like some guy from Wild’n Out… forget his name… I dunno. Chase Collins, Mr. Popular. Noted.

6:04 PM: Just made a reference to “The Hills”… that puts this in perspective. Uh oh, the plot islaid out… new building, fundraiser, have to impress the investors… I’m sure th edirector i sgoing to want some conservative show and the 401 will want to have a street/hip hop show… oh how the chaos will ensue.

6:07 PM: She’s doing the LL Cool J pants thing… thought that was over in the 90s.

6:09 PM: “The Streets is…” starts the sentence… I wasn’t aware The Streets is a proper noun and nonplural.

6:13 PM: Sanjiya lookin character is dancing to his ringtone on the steps.

6:16 PM: Scene ended with one guy, starts with same guy in different outfit. What the hell? No transition. I had no idea who he was…. girl showed up on rehearsal, everyone is sitting on steps and is pissed that she missed rehearsal… looked like everyone was just sitting on steps.

6:18 PM: “401 DON’T COME 2ND TO NO ONE” So tragic. Are those tears? No… eye puss.

6:19 PM: Oh shit they’re starting their own crew!!!!!!!!!!!111111

6:22 PM: Nobody knows WHEN OR WHERE the battle happens, until a text message the night of…. Seems like an awful strategy for letting people know. Should do a facebook group or something.

6:25 PM: Just because you put a track jacket on over your sports bra doesn’t mean you’re stillnot just wearing a sports bra.

6:27 PM: 401 wore full suits just so they could rip them off for an inevitable battle… I might always wear two outfits from now just so I can do a wardrobe change for effect at any given time.

6:29 PM: Missy is there as a spy! She’s there as a spy! I KNOW ITTTTTTTTTTT dont trust her dont trust her….”The Prank” a public decoration to prove they are worth yof the streets… why are there so many ridiculous rules in this? Why can’t people just dancccccccce…. jesus…

6:33 PM: “MAN CLEAN THIS FISH UP” …. its better that quote is left out of context.

6:35 PM: “OH MISS THING YOU GOT TITTIES”

6:40 PM: Now they’re up in a tree… no clue how they got there… Uh oh, lights went off… Time for some sweet hip hop lovin. boom shaka laka. and other things of that nature. Oh crap nevermind she brought up her mom dying of cancer, erection killer. Oh no he went in for the kiss. No tsure you should go in for the kiss less then 20 words away from cancer or mom dying.

6:42 PM: Three guys just jumped th ewhit eguy… uh oh punching, violence… if this was a real movie he’d be shot I’m pretty sure. Instead they just talked about dancing and stuff. They should’ve done the mexican hat dance with the guy’s limp body in the middle.

6:45 PM: Their one dance room of the entire building was just vandalized. And the director immediately knewwhat The Streets are… ridiculous. If I’m the police chief of this district I’d be pushing for urban dance as a way to solve all gang violence.

6:49 PM: Oh snap… sending Andy to Texas or something… cuz she got expelled… If she has no friends why not go to Texas… I’m sure she can start a mexican dance group or something.

6:50 PM: We’ve determined that The Streets can only be texted. Can’t call. Can’t IM. Can’t poke on facebook.

6:51 PM: Nicole has determined the theme of the movie is “once you go black, you can go back.”

6:52 PM: You also can’t messanger pidgen The Streets.

6:55 PM: LETS DO THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS high fives all around

7:00 PM: The Streets is actually a dance floor with spot markers on it… PennDOT really messed up on that one

7:03 PM: Greg informs me that there is a bad ass dance coming. They’re in the rain… and using flashlights… I’d think 401 would be upset they weren’t allowed to use accessories.

7:07 PM: “I like wet girls.” – Greg

7:09 PM: Director pops his collar and instantly becomes much cooler.

7:11 PM: Its over. No idea what just happened the last hour… Oh my godno there is deleted scenes. Such gems like “Andi ignores Moose” and “Andi deals with Moose”… I’m out of here

Greg Ridiculed For Not Taking Video from Casey Fenton on Vimeo.

Another video from last weekend’s NY Trip. We gave Greg the camera to document himself at a rest stop as part of our trip videoblog, he comes back with zero footage and we force him to fess up on film.

University Lipdub (HS Furtwangen) from DASKAjA on Vimeo.

I’m a huge Lipdub fan (and still proclaim Jakob Lodwick as the trend setter and true father of Lipdubbing), and this is one of the best ones I’ve seen. Check out more details about it on UniversityLipDub.com

Tragedy almost struck the local cineplex Friday evening as a group of college friends accidentally wandered into theater three, playing the musical Mama Mia, instead of theater four, which was playing the epic blockbuster Dark Knight.

“We were so revved up, we didn’t even realize what had happened.” explained James Gannon, 20. “Once the lights were off and they started singing, we began to grow suspicious that something was up.”

Why didn’t they just leave and go to the other theater some wonder? “I guess, we didn’t want to admit it at first, but we started to enjoy the ABBA hits.”

By the end of the film, the three men guys individuals were singing and laughing along.

“We went in as a mistake, but we realized the only mistake we had was not buying these tickets in the first place.” said Tony Hunt, 21. “The choreography and flawless execution of scene transition was mind blowing!”

Meanwhile, Dark Knight is expected to gross over $200 million and Mama Mia at second with $21.75.