This is what happens when you place your camera on the dashboard while you drive. It was an interesting experiment, I suppose. 

You, a leader in the faith community can meet Sylvester Stallone, yes Rocky, today!

The marketing team that told Christians it was their duty to support The Passion and Narnia now wants you to believe the new Rocky film is a Christian event not to be missed.

And today, you can join Sly on the phone (12:30-12:50 Pacific Time), or so an e-mail tells me.

Motive Marketing said, "Sly would like to take some time to talk to you about the faith and values that run through the Rocky films, and share with you about his upcoming movie, Rocky Balboa, the final chapter in the Rocky story (yes, Stallone himself gets back in the ring!)."

Space is limited! (Although, it's a phone call? Huh? This is quite the PR drivel here.)

Here's what Stallone himself is saying, as he shills himself out to the "faith community"

"In Rocky, if he's just a fighter, then it's just a boxing story, and I told the producers in the beginning, 'It's not a boxing story; it's a spiritual journey. It really is about a man that has been chosen to accomplish a role, to be an example for other people.' "
Interview with New Man Magazine

"If you don't have a great relationship with God, you can go off the deep end. The Christian foundation of life is really the perfect ideal which one should base every decision they make on, because it comes from a sense of kindness, a sense of giving, a sense of fairness, and it avoids everything which I'm exposed to every day in my particular industry which is greed, and avarice and jealousy and bitterness . . ."
Interview with Catholic Digest

They've even found pastors to sell this thing to their churches.

"Life is hard, and faith can help us to face some of those challenges and issues in our past and you see Rocky do that throughout the movies but particularly it comes to kind of a peak in this movie and it was exciting to see."
Jud Wilhite
Senior Pastor, Central Christian Church
Las Vegas, Nevada

"I guess if there's one theme that stood out for me was the whole idea of self esteem. And how important that is to be formed in the family, first of all, and then, if it gets lost along the way, that it can be regained. And that's a good message for people to know, and to hear that there's always hope."
Sister Rose Pacatte
Daughters of St. Paul

So you're telling me I should load up the church van and get the kids to see a movie about... self-esteem? Uh, yeah, great. I'm sure kids will jump at that change to see a 60 year old guy get whipped in the ring so they can share a heart-warming message about self-esteem.

They've even got a website (www.RockyResources.com) offering fodder for Rocky-based sermons.

Ah finally, at the end of the e-mail to faith leaders like me, the caveat I've been waiting for:

Though this is not a religious film, we believe there are many themes ("The Heart of a Champion," "Fighting the Good Fight," "Recovery After a Fall," etc.) that relate to faith and values. But don't take our word for it - listen to Sly himself explain how he has woven these themes into his movies.

I hope this one's down for the count.

Go Big Red! No more "Hail to the Chief" is was the Husker fight song that ushered Pres. George W. Bush before Republicans Sunday.

Will Nebraska go big for the red? Nebraska is one of the reddest states, supporting Pres. Bush with strong numbers in 2004. But it could elect, get this, a Democrat to Congress!

And that Democrat, while he has ties to Nebraska, grew up elsewhere. Scott Kleeb is a Yale grad, who grew up on military bases overseas. He's sold himself as the independent voice the state needs. That message seems to be resonating. Kleeb, a guy whom few had heard of a few months ago, could defeat two term state senator Adrian Smith, a staunch Republican.

Just the thought Nebraska's most conservative district could elect a Democrat has sent shockwaves to Washington, which resulted in the President's visit today.

He spoke at our brand new arena, which is a couple of minutes away from my house. Security wasn't bad. I've seen one sitting president before (Clinton) and one sitting VP (Cheney), not to mention one ex-VP (Quayle). It's nice being the "dean of Grand Island TV repoters" as one cop dubbed me. Having been here longer than anyone has its perks. When I showed up at the door, they knew who I was and bumped me up in line. I had to show my ID to get in, but they already knew who I was.

The President arrived in the building around 4pm and spoke for most of the hour. We went live until about 5:10 and pciked back up for our 5:30 newscast.

Whatever you think of this president, and I'm not going to say one way or the other (gotta maintain that journalistic integrity), it is always fun to see a president. The leader of the free world was there in a building that was just constructed. I had to help host a telethon to raise money for this building, and now the President of the United States is there in front of me. That alone was pretty cool. 

President Bush is visiting Sunday. So much for a day off!