See everyone in 2009!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Happy X-mas!
The blog has been neglected, but it will never be neglected over the holidays. Most people take this time to reflect on the events of the past year, but I want to take some time to wish everyone the best for the future, a very Merry Christmas, and an excellent New Year!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Rock the Vote!
In the spirit of the day, I will re-post something I wrote approximately four years ago regarding the 2004 election. If you will, here's the original text. Get out and vote!
Several times throughout the last few days, I've heard arguments from both sides of the political spectrum attempt explanation of the electoral process and how we now have G-Dubb as prez for the next four years (FOUR years!). It comes down to a couple of simple issues that I've consistently seen:
1. Kerry is not a strong candidate for president.
2. Bush makes people feel like their moral values are safe.
I'll accept the first tenet because I was never fully comfortable with Mr. Kerry from early on during the primary elections. Mostly, I was surprised that he came so strongly out of left field to steal the primaries from more viable candidates, but in the end, he was it, and we had to accept that as fact. His rhetoric towards the end of his presidential campaign became much stronger, but unfortunately, it appeared to be too little too late. For what it's worth, I believed in what he had to say: that he could empower the economy, become a champion of the middle class, return our civil liberties to what they once were, and heal our standing within the international community, but unfortunately, the majority (yes, it is an official majority) of the country didn't hear this side of his message and instead saw an untrustworthy and weak-minded candidate.
Now, the second idea, that Mr. Bush makes people feel their moral values and lives are protected is not a lot of hogwash. It's no surprise that middle America finds his down-home demeanor and devotion to faith reassuring. We out on the west coast and northeast of the country may think differently, however. While many of us may have seen the economy, the international spectrum, and the war overseas as the biggest issues, many outside of these states saw gay marriages, stem-cell research, and abortion as abominations of faith that should be gutted and thrown overboard. Forget that people with different sexual orientations should be allowed civil liberties, forget that many adults suffer daily from debilitating disease, and forget that violent sexual crimes can lead to unfortunate choices, but remember that our country was founded by what else, Puritans. Is it any surprise then that moral values were the highest rated deciding factor in this election?
Ultimately, I like to believe we all wanted our moral values protected. It can be argued that those of us in the blue counties (check out the purple map to get an idea of what I mean) were thinking of others while those in red counties thought of themselves. I'm not trying to say that there's less compassion in the south and Midwest than in other regions of the country, but isn't it what drives these issues. Do we not want others to have the same rights we do, or are we more concerned that their rights will infringe on ours? I like to think that it's a little of both for everyone.
I'll end by posting what the newly elected Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama said at the Democratic National Convention:
It's my country, and your country, let's make it work for us.
Several times throughout the last few days, I've heard arguments from both sides of the political spectrum attempt explanation of the electoral process and how we now have G-Dubb as prez for the next four years (FOUR years!). It comes down to a couple of simple issues that I've consistently seen:
1. Kerry is not a strong candidate for president.
2. Bush makes people feel like their moral values are safe.
I'll accept the first tenet because I was never fully comfortable with Mr. Kerry from early on during the primary elections. Mostly, I was surprised that he came so strongly out of left field to steal the primaries from more viable candidates, but in the end, he was it, and we had to accept that as fact. His rhetoric towards the end of his presidential campaign became much stronger, but unfortunately, it appeared to be too little too late. For what it's worth, I believed in what he had to say: that he could empower the economy, become a champion of the middle class, return our civil liberties to what they once were, and heal our standing within the international community, but unfortunately, the majority (yes, it is an official majority) of the country didn't hear this side of his message and instead saw an untrustworthy and weak-minded candidate.
Now, the second idea, that Mr. Bush makes people feel their moral values and lives are protected is not a lot of hogwash. It's no surprise that middle America finds his down-home demeanor and devotion to faith reassuring. We out on the west coast and northeast of the country may think differently, however. While many of us may have seen the economy, the international spectrum, and the war overseas as the biggest issues, many outside of these states saw gay marriages, stem-cell research, and abortion as abominations of faith that should be gutted and thrown overboard. Forget that people with different sexual orientations should be allowed civil liberties, forget that many adults suffer daily from debilitating disease, and forget that violent sexual crimes can lead to unfortunate choices, but remember that our country was founded by what else, Puritans. Is it any surprise then that moral values were the highest rated deciding factor in this election?
Ultimately, I like to believe we all wanted our moral values protected. It can be argued that those of us in the blue counties (check out the purple map to get an idea of what I mean) were thinking of others while those in red counties thought of themselves. I'm not trying to say that there's less compassion in the south and Midwest than in other regions of the country, but isn't it what drives these issues. Do we not want others to have the same rights we do, or are we more concerned that their rights will infringe on ours? I like to think that it's a little of both for everyone.
I'll end by posting what the newly elected Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama said at the Democratic National Convention:
Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America—there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.
It's my country, and your country, let's make it work for us.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Legendary Foods
So I have this monster list that I want to make of all the legendary eats out and about in Los Angeles. For example, an In-N-Out double double, animal style or a bowl of spicy ramen from Orochan. If anyone has any suggestions, they are most welcome.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Fall Tivo Craziness
OK, so there aren't many new shows this year, but there are plenty of shows we are watching. Believe me when I say there's no possible way we can watch all of these all the time.
Comments:
Lost is not on the schedule yet and neither is 24 or Reaper. Here's the breakdown:
ABC - 6
CBS - 1
NBC - 9
Once again, the NBC comedies push it all over the edge, but there are a lot of procedural dramas on here. What that says about us, I'll never know. If I do a follow up, maybe I'll end up splitting it up between G and Myself. That would probably be more revealing.
Mondays
CBS
Samantha Who
NBC
Heroes
Chuck
My Own Worst Enemy (hasn't premiered)
CW
Gossip Girl
Tuesdays
Fox
House
Fringe
CW
90210
Wednesdays
ABC
Pushing Daisies
Private Practice
Dirty Sexy Money
NBC
Lipstick Jungle
Fox
Bones
Thursdays
ABC
Ugly Betty
Grey's Anatomy
NBC
My Name is Earl
Kath & Kim (hasn't premiered)
The Office
30 Rock
ER
FX
It's Always Sunny in Philadpelphia
Bravo
Project Runway
Sundays
ABC
Brothers & Sisters
CBS
The Unit
Fox
Family Guy
Comments:
Lost is not on the schedule yet and neither is 24 or Reaper. Here's the breakdown:
ABC - 6
CBS - 1
NBC - 9
Fox - 4
CW - 2
Basic Cable - 2
Once again, the NBC comedies push it all over the edge, but there are a lot of procedural dramas on here. What that says about us, I'll never know. If I do a follow up, maybe I'll end up splitting it up between G and Myself. That would probably be more revealing.
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Last Book of Summer
My reading has slowed considerably with the advent of the TiVo box, sitting passively underneath the television, it is a time-suck of productivity and I often find myself struggling to "catch up" with the shows that I haven't been watching consistently. We've made a concerted effort to "take back the night" in essence and omit the television from the bedroom, removing our two single-tuner boxes with a dual-tuner box for the front room. This gives us more flexibility, but most of all, it gives me an excuse to try and settle down my brain before drifting off to sleep by picking up a book and reading. Via this great experiment, I've finally finished one of Chuck Palahniuk's novels that I've received (quite some time ago, I might add), "Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey."
It's about a years old now, and it's been quite some time since we saw Mr. Palahniuk do a reading, but it's safe to say this has to be his strongest effort in a while. Compare it to "Haunted" and "Survivor" this is on par with "Choke" as one of the novels that really defines him as an author. Typically, it's shocking in places, but moreso than with "Haunted" the shock value is dialed back in favor of characterization. Graphic at times and alarming at others, it's very Palahniuk, but it never seems out of place or gratuitous, it's mostly textural. It gives you a sense of grittiness and maybe even adds a bit of reality to the story, as unreal as it can get.
Summarizing the plot would be a disservice, but the themes of family, generations, and a bit of science fiction thrown in really thrash the reader's brain. With the first science fiction sort of element thrown in offhandedly, I was a bit taken out of the setting that had been established, but hindsight really shows that it was a necessary evil. It seems as if the book had been a series of two stories thrown together, but towards the end, it serves its purpose, even as Mr. Palahniuk throws in his third major element. It's not subtle, but it's effective. There are a few narrative tricks that the author employs to accomplish this, but none are more effective than that of the oral histories being relayed. You always get the sense that each snippet is unreliable, but compiling them all is just one piece of a delicious puzzle.
Any complaints I might have could stem from the author tending towards an essay style of writing and philosophizing, which again, is typical. Many times, I felt there was a distance between the reader and the page, as if being the "interviewer" wasn't enough to draw me into the story, but perhaps this was intentional. I do give him credit for being able to convey scene and tone via the varying viewpoints, but I would have enjoyed more of the longer passages if there were any to be conveyed.
What's most interesting to me is that there are two purported sequels in the works. I'm not sure how successful these will be, as "Rant" itself left a lot to be revealed at the end and its discovery was part of the fun. Being able to reveal new mysteries may be difficult, but I am more than willing to see where Mr. Palahniuk is headed.
Read it. Hardcover if you will.
It's about a years old now, and it's been quite some time since we saw Mr. Palahniuk do a reading, but it's safe to say this has to be his strongest effort in a while. Compare it to "Haunted" and "Survivor" this is on par with "Choke" as one of the novels that really defines him as an author. Typically, it's shocking in places, but moreso than with "Haunted" the shock value is dialed back in favor of characterization. Graphic at times and alarming at others, it's very Palahniuk, but it never seems out of place or gratuitous, it's mostly textural. It gives you a sense of grittiness and maybe even adds a bit of reality to the story, as unreal as it can get.
Summarizing the plot would be a disservice, but the themes of family, generations, and a bit of science fiction thrown in really thrash the reader's brain. With the first science fiction sort of element thrown in offhandedly, I was a bit taken out of the setting that had been established, but hindsight really shows that it was a necessary evil. It seems as if the book had been a series of two stories thrown together, but towards the end, it serves its purpose, even as Mr. Palahniuk throws in his third major element. It's not subtle, but it's effective. There are a few narrative tricks that the author employs to accomplish this, but none are more effective than that of the oral histories being relayed. You always get the sense that each snippet is unreliable, but compiling them all is just one piece of a delicious puzzle.
Any complaints I might have could stem from the author tending towards an essay style of writing and philosophizing, which again, is typical. Many times, I felt there was a distance between the reader and the page, as if being the "interviewer" wasn't enough to draw me into the story, but perhaps this was intentional. I do give him credit for being able to convey scene and tone via the varying viewpoints, but I would have enjoyed more of the longer passages if there were any to be conveyed.
What's most interesting to me is that there are two purported sequels in the works. I'm not sure how successful these will be, as "Rant" itself left a lot to be revealed at the end and its discovery was part of the fun. Being able to reveal new mysteries may be difficult, but I am more than willing to see where Mr. Palahniuk is headed.
Read it. Hardcover if you will.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
9/21/08
So what's new? Oh yea! I'm now 30! That's interesting, maybe? I don't feel any different, of course, but someone pointed out the other day that people turning 30 seem to be more sentimental. I suppose that's true. Who knows. I never accomplished what I wanted to by now, but I've realized that it's OK. There's plenty of time left in my life, so why not take the opportunity now, while I still can. My only wish is that I could actually focus. There's too much that I enjoy doing and not enough time in the day, or self-motivation, to do it all. Let's recap:
Sentimental enough?
5 years ago at 25: Grace and I were enjoying our first year together. I'd just changed jobs and also had just moved into the Hawth.
10 years ago at 20: Stuck in school. Burnt out by Junior year and exhausted. Wondering why the heck I'd even decided to be an engineer.
15 years ago at 15: Freshman year in high school. Not many friends, but the ones I made, I've kept.
20 years ago at 5: Wasn't in kindergarten yet. I don't remember a thing except running around the pre-school playground like I was raised by monkeys.
10 years ago at 20: Stuck in school. Burnt out by Junior year and exhausted. Wondering why the heck I'd even decided to be an engineer.
15 years ago at 15: Freshman year in high school. Not many friends, but the ones I made, I've kept.
20 years ago at 5: Wasn't in kindergarten yet. I don't remember a thing except running around the pre-school playground like I was raised by monkeys.
Sentimental enough?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tweet-a-riffic!
In case you didn't know, I can be found at:
My Twitter Address
Other than that, the blog has been pretty silent. Hope to rectify that soon. Work/Classwork willing.
My Twitter Address
Other than that, the blog has been pretty silent. Hope to rectify that soon. Work/Classwork willing.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Touché Tourneau
Things I have learned while watch shopping:
The fools at Watch Gear don't know a darn thing.
People like to refer to their watches as "timepieces."
The difference between a "Crown" and a "Bezel."
How to pronounce Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The middle-ground is small. Panamanian landing strip small.
Sales is about more than knowing your script and saying the name of your client often.
How to appear to know at least a couple things about watches without knowing anything.
More to come.
The fools at Watch Gear don't know a darn thing.
People like to refer to their watches as "timepieces."
The difference between a "Crown" and a "Bezel."
How to pronounce Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The middle-ground is small. Panamanian landing strip small.
Sales is about more than knowing your script and saying the name of your client often.
How to appear to know at least a couple things about watches without knowing anything.
More to come.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Foodie Weekend of Bliss
I'm going to preface the next post by saying that G and I just had the best weekend of eating ever. So good, it deserves a list!
Friday:
Dinner at Joan's on Third consisting of turkey meatloaf with chipotle ketchup and the most divine corned beef sandwich. Corned beef, cabbage, and melted gruyere, all on a buttery, toasted rye.
Dessert at Toast. BANANA PUDDING!
Saturday:
Fresh thai chicken lettuce wraps and a farmer's market salad poolside for lunch. Dinner was a prawn and avocado amuse bouche followed by dungeness crab cucumber rolls and crab spring rolls, an heirloom and burrata salad, prime rib and a bleu cheese/potato tarte, and the most tender and delicious breaded pork tenderloin.
Sunday:
Double-double animal style for lunch. Later that night we had our Summit House dinner starting with the Summit House salad, a tomato-based fresh seafood chowder, the Prime Rib (!), prawns stuffed with crab, creamed corn, all finished off with an English trifle. Gah.
I'm drooling just thinking about it.
Friday:
Dinner at Joan's on Third consisting of turkey meatloaf with chipotle ketchup and the most divine corned beef sandwich. Corned beef, cabbage, and melted gruyere, all on a buttery, toasted rye.
Dessert at Toast. BANANA PUDDING!
Saturday:
Fresh thai chicken lettuce wraps and a farmer's market salad poolside for lunch. Dinner was a prawn and avocado amuse bouche followed by dungeness crab cucumber rolls and crab spring rolls, an heirloom and burrata salad, prime rib and a bleu cheese/potato tarte, and the most tender and delicious breaded pork tenderloin.
Sunday:
Double-double animal style for lunch. Later that night we had our Summit House dinner starting with the Summit House salad, a tomato-based fresh seafood chowder, the Prime Rib (!), prawns stuffed with crab, creamed corn, all finished off with an English trifle. Gah.
I'm drooling just thinking about it.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Late-Breaking Comic-Con Post
Ah yes. Comic-con. That bastion of nerd mayhem and geek mania. It's inevitable that I make it here every year, given that I'm of a deep nerd pedigree. Let me count the ways. Comics, check. Genre films, check. Science fiction, check. Vinyl toys, check. No wife in tow this year, I took the trip with a few good friends of mine for one day only, the last day. What did we encounter?
* Mr. Cameron Stewart, a fine gentleman and accomplished illustrator of my favorite Vertigo work of the last year, "The Other Side."
* A broken Clairvoyant Cat at the Adult Swim booth. Unfortunately, I never got to see the darn thing in action.
* The cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia showing the first episode of the new season during their panel.
* Giant Bart Simpson and Homer Simpson statues.
A slightly overweight Biker Scout.
* Becky Cloonan, Vasilis Lolos, and Fabio Moon. Missing was a one Mr. Gabriel Ba. These illustrators are now Eisner Award winners and comickers of high caliber. Inspirations, really.
* A helpful group of sales reps at the Munky King booth. Great toys, but I've been holding back on the vinyl purchases for a while now.
* A massive Capcom display of Street Fighter IV goodness. Oh, and the Street Fighter tribute book. An excellent catch.
*Bill's friend Alex at the Sideshow Booth. Said, "Hi." in the middle of the mayhem and chatted long enough before being swallowed by the mob.
* A giant crowd of collectors and enthusiasts.
Not much else really as we spent the abbreviated day scrambling to see all we could see, which for me wasn't much since most of the artists headed home after Saturday or were limited in their appearances. Oh, and some of the exclusive stuff I wanted to buy was sold out.
Regardless, it was a fun time. I always enjoy taking the train down there, but I would recommend not leaving San Diego that Sunday via train. It was almost standing room only and I was lucky to have a seat. Next year will be better planned, I anticipate. Shoot, I should be buying my tickets already!
Friday, August 01, 2008
Summer Movie Malady - Weeks 6 - 8
It's been quiet lately. On the blog, I mean. Let's change that.
Week 6 - Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Guillermo Del Toro returns with Mike Mignola's baby. Hell-baby, I guess. This time around, there's no fuss of an introduction. Instead we are treated to the loveliness of a father-son moment in a super-relevant bedtime story and then thrust headfirst into a world filled with strange magic. The fairy are the focus this time, not the elder gods nor the mad monk, Rasputin. Visually, this film is Del Toro's. Mignola's is a world with black shadows and giant gorillas, Del Toro's is all fire, wonder, and misshapen trolls. There is mutual respect amongst creators, but I sense disappointment in most interviews with Mignola. In itself, that is disappointing. The movie is anything but as it is fun, visually stunning, and really a universe apart from the source material.
Overall Score: 3.5 stars
Week 7 - The Dark Knight
How do you top one of the best superhero movies of the decade? You make a better one! The same team that brought you Batman Begins decided to up the ante this time, craft a more complex tale of a city with criminals gone wrong and bring their hero to his knees. You can't respect this movie for its stars without mentioning the ubiquitous performance of Heath Ledger. He embodies the Joker, wholly. It's gripping whenever he is onscreen and the backstory of Harvey Dent is no slouch either. The visuals are keen and the action is truly unmatched by most movies seen this year. For my money, I give Iron Man the upper hand, but this is a very, very, very close second. Second viewing?
Overall Score: 4 stars
Week 8 - Step Brothers
If you've seen Talladega Nights, you've seen Step Brothers. Difference is, Step Brothers is more about men unwilling to grow up and the inherent rivalry between new siblings than rivalry between close friends. It's still funny, though, and enjoyable, but still not even close to the epic madness of Anchorman. I give Will Ferrel props for making a movie that is not a "sports comedy" but I feel they needed a few extra supporting cast members to keep the comedy more fresh. I will never look at a drum set the same way ever again.
Overall Score: 3 stars
Week 6 - Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Guillermo Del Toro returns with Mike Mignola's baby. Hell-baby, I guess. This time around, there's no fuss of an introduction. Instead we are treated to the loveliness of a father-son moment in a super-relevant bedtime story and then thrust headfirst into a world filled with strange magic. The fairy are the focus this time, not the elder gods nor the mad monk, Rasputin. Visually, this film is Del Toro's. Mignola's is a world with black shadows and giant gorillas, Del Toro's is all fire, wonder, and misshapen trolls. There is mutual respect amongst creators, but I sense disappointment in most interviews with Mignola. In itself, that is disappointing. The movie is anything but as it is fun, visually stunning, and really a universe apart from the source material.
Overall Score: 3.5 stars
Week 7 - The Dark Knight
How do you top one of the best superhero movies of the decade? You make a better one! The same team that brought you Batman Begins decided to up the ante this time, craft a more complex tale of a city with criminals gone wrong and bring their hero to his knees. You can't respect this movie for its stars without mentioning the ubiquitous performance of Heath Ledger. He embodies the Joker, wholly. It's gripping whenever he is onscreen and the backstory of Harvey Dent is no slouch either. The visuals are keen and the action is truly unmatched by most movies seen this year. For my money, I give Iron Man the upper hand, but this is a very, very, very close second. Second viewing?
Overall Score: 4 stars
Week 8 - Step Brothers
If you've seen Talladega Nights, you've seen Step Brothers. Difference is, Step Brothers is more about men unwilling to grow up and the inherent rivalry between new siblings than rivalry between close friends. It's still funny, though, and enjoyable, but still not even close to the epic madness of Anchorman. I give Will Ferrel props for making a movie that is not a "sports comedy" but I feel they needed a few extra supporting cast members to keep the comedy more fresh. I will never look at a drum set the same way ever again.
Overall Score: 3 stars
Thursday, July 17, 2008
MP3-A-Palooza
I had this huge post written up and then realized it was ridiculous. Lists are always better than forcing people to read. I think this is at least 7 months of backlog, which is insanity within itself. Thank you Amazon.
- We Are Scientists - "Brain Thrust Mastery"
- Judgment - Buy it
- The Go! Team - "Proof of Youth"
- Judgment - Borrow it
- Hot Chip - "Made in the Dark"
- Judgement - Buy it
- The Magnetic Fields - "Distortion"
- Judgement - Skip it
- Weezer - "The Red Album"
- Judgement - Skip It
- The Mars Volta - "The Bedlam in Goliath"
- Judgement - Borrow it
- Radiohead - "In Rainbows"
- Judgement - Buy it
- Blonde Redhead - "23"
- Judgement - Buy it
- Duke Spirit - "Neptune"
- Judgement - Borrow it
- Gnarls Barkley - "The Odd Couple"
- Judgement - Buy it
- The Raconteurs - "Consolers of the Lonely"
- Judgement - Borrow it
- Queens of the Stone Age - "Era Vulgaris"
- Judgement - Buy it
- Vampire Weekend - "Vampire Weekend"
- Judgement - Buy it
- The Rapture - "Pieces of the People We Love"
- Judgement - Skip it
- Death Cab for Cutie - "Narrow Stairs"
- Judgement - Buy it
- Beck - "Modern Guilt"
- Judgement - Buy it
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Coldplay in the Hood
It hasn't gotten old. 4 different shows (one at the VZW Amphitheater, one at the Bowl, one at Staples, and one at the Forum) and it hasn't gotten old yet. I would venture to say that it's gotten better every single time, but Coldplay are just a fantastic band to see live. It could be the sweeping scale of the music or it could be the affable demeanor of frontman Chris Martin, but most likely it's just because I enjoy their music. If that makes me more pop, then indie street cred be damned.
A rundown of the setlist:
Life in Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Viva La Vida
42
Yes
The Scientist
Chinese Sleep Chant
God Put a Smile on Your Face
Square One
Speed of Sound
Trouble
Lost
Strawberry Swing
Yellow
Death Will Never Conquer
Fix You
Lovers in Japan
Reign of Love
Encore:
Death and All His Friends
That's quite a set actually. It gives me some opportunity to comment on their new album also. The reviews are in and their mixed, but so far I have to say it's one of their most accomplished works. Sure, Viva la Vida is very reminiscent of their trademark sound and Violet Hill doesn't work for me at all, but the rest of it really stretches their artistic limits. Some of it isn't so successful (see: Violet Hill), but where they stretch, they stretch well (see: 42). I like to refer to a few of their songs by obvious influences and touches in the presentation, but hearing them live really doesn't do nicknames any justice. 42 might be their Radiohead-ish vein, but it's a sweet little piece of music. Lovers in Japan could be considered their U2 track, but the execution is decidedly Coldplay. At first listen, I wasn't in love with it, but I can now safely say, after a few listens, that it stands up to be a gem. All this, of course, is backed by their sweeping performance in front of thousands at the Great Western Forum.
See them again? I would, in a heartbeat.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Summer Movie Malady - Weeks 4 & 5
Clearing out the queue yet again.
The Incredible Hulk
Ang Lee's movie was better. Yes, I'll say it again. Ang Lee's movie was better. The acting, the inspired motion capture animation of the director's own movements, the storytelling techniques. Ang Lee's movie was better. I don't care that there was more action, I don't care that Ed Norton lent more star power to the leading role of Bruce Banner, the first one was much better. What was wrong with it? Liv Tyler was decent, but no match for Jennifer Connolly. William Hurt was good as always, but the gravitas of Sam Elliot made Thunderbolt Ross more vulnerable and human. Tim Roth was an excellent villain, but I prefer my Emil Blonsky more Russian and my abomination more reptilian. Yes, I'll say it again, Ang Lee's movie was better.
Overall Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Wall-E
Pixar continues its dominance of the computer generated animated feature. It's sad that their success has relegated 2-dimensional hand-drawn animation to television, but their success has bred some of the most memorable films of the last decade and a half. What makes them so amazing, however, is not their fish-out-of-water formula, but their dedication to quality character and artistic ingenuity. Wall-E is an animated film unlike any other. The introductory 30 minutes are devoid of any proper dialogue, the main character has a limited vocabulary, and action takes a backseat to beauty. What's surprising is that it all works. There is more pathos in Wall-E than in most of the year's dramas combined. The amazing part remains that the entire audience (the majority of which included young children) was engrossed in the story. Suffice it to say, I loved it, loved it, loved it. Surprisingly romantic and socially relevant, the film does not pander nor talk down to the audience. It's true to the heart of its story and even loaded with enough themes to even inspire the slightest bit of controversy. The animated short, "Presto," an excellent introduction prior to beginning the film, was just an appetizer of what was to come, for that hour and a half running time, I was immersed.
Overall Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Incredible Hulk
Ang Lee's movie was better. Yes, I'll say it again. Ang Lee's movie was better. The acting, the inspired motion capture animation of the director's own movements, the storytelling techniques. Ang Lee's movie was better. I don't care that there was more action, I don't care that Ed Norton lent more star power to the leading role of Bruce Banner, the first one was much better. What was wrong with it? Liv Tyler was decent, but no match for Jennifer Connolly. William Hurt was good as always, but the gravitas of Sam Elliot made Thunderbolt Ross more vulnerable and human. Tim Roth was an excellent villain, but I prefer my Emil Blonsky more Russian and my abomination more reptilian. Yes, I'll say it again, Ang Lee's movie was better.
Overall Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Wall-E
Pixar continues its dominance of the computer generated animated feature. It's sad that their success has relegated 2-dimensional hand-drawn animation to television, but their success has bred some of the most memorable films of the last decade and a half. What makes them so amazing, however, is not their fish-out-of-water formula, but their dedication to quality character and artistic ingenuity. Wall-E is an animated film unlike any other. The introductory 30 minutes are devoid of any proper dialogue, the main character has a limited vocabulary, and action takes a backseat to beauty. What's surprising is that it all works. There is more pathos in Wall-E than in most of the year's dramas combined. The amazing part remains that the entire audience (the majority of which included young children) was engrossed in the story. Suffice it to say, I loved it, loved it, loved it. Surprisingly romantic and socially relevant, the film does not pander nor talk down to the audience. It's true to the heart of its story and even loaded with enough themes to even inspire the slightest bit of controversy. The animated short, "Presto," an excellent introduction prior to beginning the film, was just an appetizer of what was to come, for that hour and a half running time, I was immersed.
Overall Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Commencement 2008
I like to do this every year as kind of a tribute to my school, but also as an inspiration to myself. Commencement is one of those times you really feel like there is a golden opportunity right outside your door and over the years, that opportunity seems more and more tarnished. To re-polish that shine and re-live that non-jaded-ness, I re-visit the commencement speeches and each has been as equally golden as the years before. Last year, Steve Jobs spoke of finding what it is that you are passionate about. This year, the speaker was the most famous of syndicated TV mavens, Oprah Winfrey. Although her speech wasn't as powerful as Mr. Jobs', it was still effective. Let's take a look at a few of her talking points.
Oprah's opening remarks mostly concerned her goddaughter and graduating senior, but the heart of her speech is summarized in this statement. Superficially, life is a series of lessons, but what I take away from this is that we are meant to be prepared for these lessons. Not just prepared, but active in finding solutions for the "full-blown crises" that arise in our lives. Specifically, Oprah proceeds to talk about three lessons she's learned in life:
Feelings. This one is perhaps the most simple of all, but also the most difficult to deal with. Her point in this lesson was that you shouldn't be afraid to let your emotions dictate your decisions. Pointedly, doubt is what drove her to make many decisions, imploring each graduating student, "Even doubt means don't." Of course, if every decision was this easy, we'd all be incredibly happy. But why not follow our emotions? I tend to agree with her, in most senses, what we feel with our gut ultimately leads to the right decision the majority of the time.
Oprah continues:
This passage is in reference to the difficulties that she has had starting her new all-girls' school in Africa. Unfortunately, failures are a fact of life, for everyone. I've come to terms with this in my own way, but it doesn't make me less afraid. Her statement that you must learn from your failures is key. What does it teach us when we fail? More importantly for me, what does one learn about one's self and one's goals? Oprah herself has already established her own goals, but this has lead to much more than being a television personality:
This is especially significant, because the overall message of her speech is about service. In essence, she claims that you can find yourself through service. You can find your happiness, you can find your "greatness," and you can define your success. She mentions a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, and this is only a portion,
I believe this is a powerful message to the graduating class and perhaps even to those of us in search of something more. Many of us are wide-eyed and looking for our potential. Some of us have found it, but others are constantly searching, but utterly impotent in the fear that we do not have what it takes to succeed. Oprah claims that none of this matters. As long as we have the love and devotion not only for our craft, but for our world, we should be able to succeed at anything.
Again, I believe that the school has picked well in providing a wonderful parting note for all those who have passed through its halls. For all the people who have achieved more than they could hope for, it is a confirmation, but for those still looking, it is a catalyst. Here's to them!
"The world has so many lessons to teach you. I consider the world, this Earth, to be like a school and our life the classrooms. And sometimes here in this Planet Earth school the lessons often come dressed up as detours or roadblocks. And sometimes as full-blown crises. And the secret I've learned to getting ahead is being open to the lessons, lessons from the grandest university of all, that is, the universe itself."
Oprah's opening remarks mostly concerned her goddaughter and graduating senior, but the heart of her speech is summarized in this statement. Superficially, life is a series of lessons, but what I take away from this is that we are meant to be prepared for these lessons. Not just prepared, but active in finding solutions for the "full-blown crises" that arise in our lives. Specifically, Oprah proceeds to talk about three lessons she's learned in life:
"The three lessons that have had the greatest impact on my life have to do with feelings, with failure and with finding happiness."
Feelings. This one is perhaps the most simple of all, but also the most difficult to deal with. Her point in this lesson was that you shouldn't be afraid to let your emotions dictate your decisions. Pointedly, doubt is what drove her to make many decisions, imploring each graduating student, "Even doubt means don't." Of course, if every decision was this easy, we'd all be incredibly happy. But why not follow our emotions? I tend to agree with her, in most senses, what we feel with our gut ultimately leads to the right decision the majority of the time.
Oprah continues:
"And what I've found is that difficulties come when you don't pay attention to life's whisper, because life always whispers to you first. And if you ignore the whisper, sooner or later you'll get a scream. Whatever you resist persists. But, if you ask the right question—not why is this happening, but what is this here to teach me?—it puts you in the place and space to get the lesson you need."
This passage is in reference to the difficulties that she has had starting her new all-girls' school in Africa. Unfortunately, failures are a fact of life, for everyone. I've come to terms with this in my own way, but it doesn't make me less afraid. Her statement that you must learn from your failures is key. What does it teach us when we fail? More importantly for me, what does one learn about one's self and one's goals? Oprah herself has already established her own goals, but this has lead to much more than being a television personality:
"Be a part of something. Don't live for yourself alone. This is what I know for sure: In order to be truly happy, you must live along with and you have to stand for something larger than yourself. Because life is a reciprocal exchange. To move forward you have to give back. And to me, that is the greatest lesson of life. To be happy, you have to give something back."
This is especially significant, because the overall message of her speech is about service. In essence, she claims that you can find yourself through service. You can find your happiness, you can find your "greatness," and you can define your success. She mentions a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, and this is only a portion,
"You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love."
I believe this is a powerful message to the graduating class and perhaps even to those of us in search of something more. Many of us are wide-eyed and looking for our potential. Some of us have found it, but others are constantly searching, but utterly impotent in the fear that we do not have what it takes to succeed. Oprah claims that none of this matters. As long as we have the love and devotion not only for our craft, but for our world, we should be able to succeed at anything.
Again, I believe that the school has picked well in providing a wonderful parting note for all those who have passed through its halls. For all the people who have achieved more than they could hope for, it is a confirmation, but for those still looking, it is a catalyst. Here's to them!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Netflix Profiles Gone Awry
Last night, under the warm blanket of a pre-equinox evening, I received an email notification from that purveyor of red envelopes, Netflix, declaring that they would be eliminating the profiles feature from their service. For the uninitiated, the profiles feature was a fantastic way for any Netflix household to allocate discs amongst family members so everyone could rent whatever they wanted with no argument or hassle. Under the new guidelines, ratings and individual account statistics would be merged together under the main profile and no doubt, havoc would ensue.
Let's look at it this way. Grace and I definitely have differing movie tastes and while there is overlap, it would be increasingly difficult for us to find movies to watch together if I was the only person choosing movies for the queue. Yes, it is easy for me to give her access to the main profile, but it is awful convenient for us to have the separate queues rather than have a constant shuffling of DVD priority. I can understand that not every netflix member does this, but for those who do, this is an awesome feature.
There are a couple of claims Netflix has made to justify this move. The customer service email attributes it to the development of new features. Specifically, there is nothing mentioned so we are supposed to take a leap of faith and accept that we will love these new features, whatever they are. The second claim I have read is that the profiles feature was cumbersome and confusing to certain users. Perhaps it was deemed superfluous, but there's no way to know this unless there is data from Netflix to back this up. Perhaps only 10% of members are utilizing the profiles feature, but the blog posts and comments I've read so far tell me this can't be.
My conclusion is that it is possibly a cost issue. With each new account there is the possibility of 4 or more profiles being added to the system. Maintenance, architecture, who knows what, I'm sure is affected by this multiplication. Add to this the potential move from physical rental to high-definition streaming and you end up with a lot of moveable data clogging up the works. I'm hardly qualified to make this sort of assumption, but it could be a possibility.
The overall feeling of that initial e-mail is disappointment. We love our Netflix account. Every time one of those red envelopes comes in the mail we actually get a little excited, especially if it's one of "our" movies. I don't know if I'll take the extreme action of leaving the Netflix fold, but unless they come up with a better explanation, I may have to.
Let's look at it this way. Grace and I definitely have differing movie tastes and while there is overlap, it would be increasingly difficult for us to find movies to watch together if I was the only person choosing movies for the queue. Yes, it is easy for me to give her access to the main profile, but it is awful convenient for us to have the separate queues rather than have a constant shuffling of DVD priority. I can understand that not every netflix member does this, but for those who do, this is an awesome feature.
There are a couple of claims Netflix has made to justify this move. The customer service email attributes it to the development of new features. Specifically, there is nothing mentioned so we are supposed to take a leap of faith and accept that we will love these new features, whatever they are. The second claim I have read is that the profiles feature was cumbersome and confusing to certain users. Perhaps it was deemed superfluous, but there's no way to know this unless there is data from Netflix to back this up. Perhaps only 10% of members are utilizing the profiles feature, but the blog posts and comments I've read so far tell me this can't be.
My conclusion is that it is possibly a cost issue. With each new account there is the possibility of 4 or more profiles being added to the system. Maintenance, architecture, who knows what, I'm sure is affected by this multiplication. Add to this the potential move from physical rental to high-definition streaming and you end up with a lot of moveable data clogging up the works. I'm hardly qualified to make this sort of assumption, but it could be a possibility.
The overall feeling of that initial e-mail is disappointment. We love our Netflix account. Every time one of those red envelopes comes in the mail we actually get a little excited, especially if it's one of "our" movies. I don't know if I'll take the extreme action of leaving the Netflix fold, but unless they come up with a better explanation, I may have to.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Oh, the Humanity!
I'm re-posting this again, for reasons which shall go unspoken. Different sport. Same feeling.
The Loser
A television washes a blue light over a barren den.
The game long over and his mates long gone, Craig thought about retiring to the oversized twin bed upstairs and shutting it all down. After several seemingly epic hours of stunned silence from the captain's chair, it was about time.
With the strength of Ajax, Craig peeled himself from the leather sleeve of his seat, stumbled towards the stairwell in a vertigo funk, and leaned on a caramel plaster wall laden with ancient trophies. Cold weather still gave him a dull ache in his knee, but with the room spinning there were other pains to come. An empty bottle of Wild Turkey told him as much and the sea-torn battle in his stomach proved it. A soft chuckle burst through his lips as he spotted Tucker lapping up the bits of party left on the bamboo floor. Numbly, a curt "Tucker!" got the dappled greyhound loping away.
Seven games it had lasted, of which the last being the most excruciatingly anxious back-and-forth contest he'd seen all year. Seven games totaling more than 100 goals ending in one champion, one cup lifted, and hopes shattered. He'd almost thrown the television out the window when Todd Bertuzzi scored the go-ahead goal on a cheap shot power play in the third period, but the game wasn't over. It wasn't until triple zeroes hit the score board that his guests strained and yelled to keep him from going foaming mad.
A last stair cast an evil grin upon Craig's feeble attempt to ascend. Just a few more bedward lurches to salvation laid before him. Steeling himself and ignoring gravity-challenged eyelids, Craig attempted to focus on the feathery pillows, the heavy fleece blanket, and the thought that next season, things would be different.
Next season there would be new players, maybe some more new rules, and there would be no more team from British Columbia for his team to deal with in the finals. Next season, Craig would be married happily, living in a lakeside cottage along a golden coastline surrounded by glittering rocks and crystal, blue water. Next season, there would be no whiskey and no tears. There would be jubilant celebrations spilling into the frozen streets of Aurora, there would be embraces for everyone, and a gallant ticker-tape parade. Headlines would scream, "The Cup is OURS!" and previous seasons' disappointments would be locked shut in the drawers of forgotten memory.
All this Craig dreamed as he lost his fight with consciousness. The final step cackled with glee as an alcohol-swollen body thumped each redwood stair with the occasional crack of bone in flight.
When they found Jigsaw Craig twisted across his polished floor the following morning, the television was in a test pattern, cold pizza sat alone in a crowd of empty silver bullets, Tucker was licking Craig's broken jaw in sympathy, and he had nothing on but the stained and tattered jersey of a losing team.
Gurgling through the assault of canine saliva, one could make out in strangled English...
"Next season..."
The game long over and his mates long gone, Craig thought about retiring to the oversized twin bed upstairs and shutting it all down. After several seemingly epic hours of stunned silence from the captain's chair, it was about time.
With the strength of Ajax, Craig peeled himself from the leather sleeve of his seat, stumbled towards the stairwell in a vertigo funk, and leaned on a caramel plaster wall laden with ancient trophies. Cold weather still gave him a dull ache in his knee, but with the room spinning there were other pains to come. An empty bottle of Wild Turkey told him as much and the sea-torn battle in his stomach proved it. A soft chuckle burst through his lips as he spotted Tucker lapping up the bits of party left on the bamboo floor. Numbly, a curt "Tucker!" got the dappled greyhound loping away.
Seven games it had lasted, of which the last being the most excruciatingly anxious back-and-forth contest he'd seen all year. Seven games totaling more than 100 goals ending in one champion, one cup lifted, and hopes shattered. He'd almost thrown the television out the window when Todd Bertuzzi scored the go-ahead goal on a cheap shot power play in the third period, but the game wasn't over. It wasn't until triple zeroes hit the score board that his guests strained and yelled to keep him from going foaming mad.
A last stair cast an evil grin upon Craig's feeble attempt to ascend. Just a few more bedward lurches to salvation laid before him. Steeling himself and ignoring gravity-challenged eyelids, Craig attempted to focus on the feathery pillows, the heavy fleece blanket, and the thought that next season, things would be different.
Next season there would be new players, maybe some more new rules, and there would be no more team from British Columbia for his team to deal with in the finals. Next season, Craig would be married happily, living in a lakeside cottage along a golden coastline surrounded by glittering rocks and crystal, blue water. Next season, there would be no whiskey and no tears. There would be jubilant celebrations spilling into the frozen streets of Aurora, there would be embraces for everyone, and a gallant ticker-tape parade. Headlines would scream, "The Cup is OURS!" and previous seasons' disappointments would be locked shut in the drawers of forgotten memory.
All this Craig dreamed as he lost his fight with consciousness. The final step cackled with glee as an alcohol-swollen body thumped each redwood stair with the occasional crack of bone in flight.
When they found Jigsaw Craig twisted across his polished floor the following morning, the television was in a test pattern, cold pizza sat alone in a crowd of empty silver bullets, Tucker was licking Craig's broken jaw in sympathy, and he had nothing on but the stained and tattered jersey of a losing team.
Gurgling through the assault of canine saliva, one could make out in strangled English...
"Next season..."
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Summer Movie Malady
It's been a couple months and already a few great movies have come through. As we've been remarkably busy, it's taken me a while, but I'm finally ready to come through with some mini-reviews on some of the Summer releases.
Week 1 - Iron Man
My favorite movie experience so far since Spider-Man. This one had it all. The acting, the plot, the effects, and the action, it all came together so seamlessly and entertainingly. It is the best superhero movie since Batman Begins and the best movie so far this year. John Favreau and Marvel Studios have created something terribly exciting and I cannot wait for the sequel or for what Marvel has in store for its next series of films.
Overall score: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Week 2 - Speed Racer
This is the first movie I've ever seen by myself. Really. Should I be willing to admit that? I'm not so sure, but it doesn't matter. The movie itself was stunning, visually. It was everything the original material was and more as the Wachowskis have mined everything in their visual lexicon to craft a new experience. Off-putting for most movie-goers, I enjoyed it for its action, but was lukewarm to the non-driving sequences. Perhaps a bit too long, it had me looking at my watch for the last forty-five minutes or so, but kept my attention due to the technicolor visual graffiti. Definitely something to watch for in the future.
Overall score: 3 out of 5 stars
Week 3 - Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
One of the tentpoles of the Summer movie season, Indie returns to the screen a man of a different era and a movie of a different era. Where the first one was a much smaller movie with giant aspirations, this film knows what's at stake. The scale outreaches all three of Indie's previous efforts, but the characters are still true to themselves. Shia wasn't too bad, but I was disappointed in the "Tarzan" sequence. The visual effects were jarring, especially at the end, but impressive. It was an enjoyable Indie feature, but compared to what we've seen thus far, they'll have to do better.
Overall score: 3 out of 5 stars
Week 1 - Iron Man
My favorite movie experience so far since Spider-Man. This one had it all. The acting, the plot, the effects, and the action, it all came together so seamlessly and entertainingly. It is the best superhero movie since Batman Begins and the best movie so far this year. John Favreau and Marvel Studios have created something terribly exciting and I cannot wait for the sequel or for what Marvel has in store for its next series of films.
Overall score: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Week 2 - Speed Racer
This is the first movie I've ever seen by myself. Really. Should I be willing to admit that? I'm not so sure, but it doesn't matter. The movie itself was stunning, visually. It was everything the original material was and more as the Wachowskis have mined everything in their visual lexicon to craft a new experience. Off-putting for most movie-goers, I enjoyed it for its action, but was lukewarm to the non-driving sequences. Perhaps a bit too long, it had me looking at my watch for the last forty-five minutes or so, but kept my attention due to the technicolor visual graffiti. Definitely something to watch for in the future.
Overall score: 3 out of 5 stars
Week 3 - Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
One of the tentpoles of the Summer movie season, Indie returns to the screen a man of a different era and a movie of a different era. Where the first one was a much smaller movie with giant aspirations, this film knows what's at stake. The scale outreaches all three of Indie's previous efforts, but the characters are still true to themselves. Shia wasn't too bad, but I was disappointed in the "Tarzan" sequence. The visual effects were jarring, especially at the end, but impressive. It was an enjoyable Indie feature, but compared to what we've seen thus far, they'll have to do better.
Overall score: 3 out of 5 stars
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Puno and the Reed Village - Peru Days 7 & 8
Our last few days in Peru were stellar and I wish I could do without condensing them into one post, but it's become difficult for me to relay everything concisely.
We took off from Cuzco in the early morning, departing our hotel with our bags and everything in tow. I wasn't looking forward to the 8-hour bus ride, but seeing as it was going to be broken down into chunks between cities, it didn't feel quite as bad as I'd imagined. It's hard for me to recall the names of everything we saw, from the brief stop at an Inca Hotel to an agrarian ruin whose name escapes me. It was rife with history. It was packed with photographs, dramatic views, and sore legs. It was also completely exhausting.
What we learned along the way, again, is that the passion of our Peruvian tour guides is as expansive as their knowledge. While we were treated to the usual marketing ploy from the locals and even a "student" who was peddling some wares, there was a sense that the history of the sites we visited was very important. While some of our stops were brief at best, our guides made sure we had a thorough knowledge of what each site had meant to the country in ancient, colonial, and modern times. As fascinating as that was, it became a little hard for me to listen to both the English and Spanish expositions along the way. Perhaps it was the delivery, but I'm going to blame it on my mind being blasted from the lengthy bus ride.
Puno finally came into view after we had driven through the town of Juliaca. Hailed by our tour guide as the "folklore capital of Peru," Puno is the closest and largest major city adjacent to Lake Titicaca. By this respect, it happens to be the highest elevation at which we lodged. At this point, the elevation wasn't a big deal, but the cold nights really made a difference in our hot water and on our heat. It was freezing at times, but bearable. Our first night in the city, we were able to explore the street market and even see a sampling of its tourist district, but we would see much more the next day.
Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, was our destination on our final full day. Expansive enough to barely see Bolivia on a clear day, its serenity and clarity add to the incredible beauty of the landscape. Titicaca is home to several small islands and even more numerous man-made floating islands, or islas flotantes, two of which we would visit. These floating islands are the last vestiges of ancient pre-Inca society, but with many of the modern conveniences we have today. Strung together using the abundant natural reeds on the lake, each isla functions as hearth and home for hundreds of people with solar electricity, schools, and even a discotheque! As we watched one of the native peoples demonstrate how each island was constructed, a light snow fell. It helped remind me that our situation couldn't get any more incredible.
Riding from one island to the next on one of the reed boats, we departed for the natural island of Taquile. One of the larger islands in the middle of Titicaca, Taquile was not safe from the colonial thumb of the Spanish. One can clearly see the influence of Moorish Spain in the black shawls of the women, the colonial stone paths, and especially the signs of Catholic life. Amazingly, the small town center of Taquile is dominated by a large tourist market selling the hand-woven goods of the inhabitants. We enjoyed a viewing of a late Mother's Day celebration, a particularly tasty meal, and we were off. Taquile disappeared in the background as we sped back to Puno in our ferry, surrounded by a thunderstorm, rocking back and forth in the majesty of the great lake.
That last night, we ventured into Puno yet again for a last view of Peru from the ground. This time, we happened upon the Plaza de Armas and the main tourist drag. It was bustling, alive with the people of Peru and beating along with the hum of excited foreigners, ourselves included. This was the Peru that we had come to know. Passionate, ancient, and inspiring. If all our vacations could be exactly like this one, I would make it mandatory.
Thankfully, I think they will be.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Lord of the Earthquakes - Peru Day 6
Cuzco was a welcome sight after Aguas Calientes. As amazing as Machu Picchu had been, the city was familiar in a way, our home base in Peru as we spent more days there than anywhere else. We had a full day planned for our last entire day there, seeing the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, the colonial demolition of Q'orikancha, and a few other historical sites surrounding Cuzco.
First off, what's interesting is that many of these sites are lumped together by the city of Cuzco under a boleto turistico or a "general tourist ticket." By purchasing the ticket, you are guaranteed entrance to several of the historical venues as they are unavailable to be visited without said ticket. It's a racket of sorts, but by seeing many of these spots on the same day we were able to put many of what we saw in a greater context.
We started our day at the grand cathedral in Cuzco in the Plaza de Armas. Erected during the colonial era, as many of the ancient Catholic churches were, the Cathedral is a gallery in itself as many Peruvian works of art in the baroque style adorn its walls. There were pieces indicative of the early Spanish influence, but more interesting were the blatantly indigenous works. Specifically, we were treated to the crucifix known as the Lord of the Earthquakes. Possessing darker skin and adorned with a traditional Inca kilt, this crucifix is a stark contrast to the European works that abound in the cathedral. The miracle behind the crucifix makes it all the more striking, as it was said to have stopped a major earthquake, but it was its appearance as a work of protest that really emphasized its significance.
Moving along, we came to Q'orikancha. The Spanish conquest claimed this ancient city, as so many others had been overtaken before it. Amongst the plaster walls and tiled roofs were the remains of the ancient city, defiant. Amazingly and fittingly, the Inca walls inside were the only parts of Q'orikancha undamaged by many of the great earthquakes Cuzco has felt. The Spanish originally kept the walls intact for areas of worship, little did they know that it would be vital to the Inca identity of the indigenous people that still lived within Q'orikancha's walls.
From there we traveled to the outskirts of the city to the more ancient ruin of Sacsayhuaman. While impressive, Sacsayhuaman paled in comparison to the might of Machu Picchu. Our guide allowed us to walk freely after he exposited upon the origins of the city, the innovativeness of the architecture, and even some of the hidden aspects of the city. Most fascinating perhaps was the 80 ton boulder built into the walls. How could anyone move such a stone? It was most impressive.
A few of the other sites, Q'enko and even our dinner that night, were notable, but contextually, they didn't make as significant an impression. We were in awe at the knowledge and pride of our tour guide, but mostly we were awash in so much knowledge that we are still processing it weeks afterwards. We were even more amazed that we hadn't even seen all Cuzco had to offer. Knowing that we would leave the next day, we tried to absorb as much as possible as we could on our own, but were glad that we weren't able to. This meant we could one day glean more from Cuzco whenever we returned.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
City in the Sky - Peru Days 4 and 5
Days 4 and 5 are best combined, seeing as we spent most of our 4th day either in transit or holed up in our hotel, resting. The train ride itself - which some might call mundane - was anything but, as the vistadome was the perfect way to see the Cuzco valley without destroying our lungs and legs along the Inca trail. At some point, with more training and more motivation, the trail would be amazing, but the train ride is a great way for anyone at all to transport themselves to Machu Picchu.
There we were, dropped off in Aguas Calientes with a day to explore and admire the city. Aguas Calientes is very much a tourist town, quite small, but bustling and perpetually under construction. The main attraction is the ruins, of course, but the eponymous hot springs also draw as many weary travelers as it can. According to our tour guide, they weren't much to look at, so we decided to skip the springs and instead take a mini-hike to the base of Machu Picchu and learn a bit about the ruins prior to our visit at the site museum. Let it be said that the museum may be small, but the content is extensive enough to be worth the 30-minute walk. Extensive, but in all reality, it didn't prepare us one bit for the awesome sight of the ruins themselves.
We woke up before the sun the next morning and dragged our zombified carcasses to the bus depot in anticipation of the tourist rush. 5 am is an ungodly hour to be awake. Your eyes barely function and the faint thought of hunger barely resonates, but it's cool enough to keep you awake. A few citizens drifted amongst the tourists with platters of bread and hot coca tea for a few soles. It was a 30-minute ride up the mountain across numerous switchbacks and our meager breakfast of bread was less than adequate, but we were too tired, and excited, to care. At the top of the mountain, the throng of tourists assaulted the front gate to sub-Disney proportions, it was then we knew we'd arrived.
Walking up the granite steps, hewn from who knows what type of ancient technology, we caught our initial glimpse of the ruins. In all honesty, there are no words that can adequately describe the emotions you feel when one's eyes first alight on Machu Picchu, so I can only attempt to ruminate a bit. It was simultaneously amazing, awe-inspiring, incredible, and inexplicable. All the photographs in the world cannot convey the entirety of emotions one feels in a single visit. It is massive. It is mysterious. It is everything it is billed to be. If it were built in a flat basin at sea level, it would be just as incredible. The fact that it lies between two massive mountains only makes this ruin more stunning than it already is.
There we were, walking around this ancient relic, in shock of its size and its engineering. The architecture is ingenious for its age and the purpose behind it is somewhat unknown, but for all the enigmas that surround it, it is a testament to the hardiness of the Inca people. It is speculated that the city took hundreds of years to build, but no one really knows why it was abandoned. There are several more curious aspects surrounding Machu Picchu, but they are all too numerous to mention here.
Our guided tour after exploring the ruins on our own was well worth it as we learned quite a bit more, applying our personal knowledge of the ruins we had visited before and what we had seen at the site museum. While it was educational, it deeply enlivened the structures around us, placing people amongst its buildings, crops in its terraces, and brought us through each season of Machu Picchu. We were left there with ample time to explore yet again, but we chose to relax and absorb as much of the experience as we could. People talk of an energy that surrounds the ruins, as if you can feel it in each stone, but for us it was enlightening; as if you wanted to image what the city were like when it was full of life, but sad with the knowledge that time had stripped all that away.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Pork and Beans
We take a break from our regularly scheduled program to post this most awesome of music videos, the last from Weezer:
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Sampling Chicha in Pisac - Peru Day 3
Cuzco was beautiful, but we'd be back in a few days. This day, we were on a guided tour of the Sacred Valley. Our guide first drove us out from the deep Cuzco valley and up into the hills before venturing back down towards the small town of Pisac. Our final destination for the day would be the ruins at Ollantaytambo, but we would make a few stops on the way, mostly to discuss the origins of Cuzco city and the importance of the Sacred Valley.
The Sacred Valley itself lies in between Cuzco and Aguas Calientes and acts as a good mid-point for all travelers on their way to the city in the sky, Machu Picchu. We heard tell of the grand flea market at Pisac, but seeing as the mercado only takes place on Sundays, and since we were there on a Wednesday, we didn't get to see it in all its hectic majesty. Instead, we were treated to a short walk around the city and the smaller local market, replete with Inca streets and ramshackle doorways.
Typical of "Old Peru" the cobblestone streets are dusty and narrow. The locals walk about carrying whatever goods they can on their backs in colorful, woven blankets, aware of the tourists, and always friendly. Between the ancient aqueducts and the watchtowers built into the adjoining hills, posts adorned with colorful tissue paper signified the presence of homemade Chicha for sale, Chicha being the corn-based alcohol of choice for most rural Peruvians. Braving the unknown, G and I are treated to some of this Backyard Chicha (strawberry flavored!) and reminded that although it is an alcohol it is still water-based including all the strange bacterias and who-knows-what that come with it. We sip it from rinsed glasses, staring at a herd of guinea pigs nesting in the dirt-floor of the kitchen, a small wood-burning stove blazing in the background. Luckily, we don't consume enough to cripple us for a day. Luckily still, it was delicious.
Ollantaytambo, the ruins just outside of Pisac were a small sampling of things to come, was a short and moderate climb in the high altitude. "Training." our guide told us. Mild training, truthfully, but our short legs and lung capacity suffered slightly. We gawked at the architecture, marveled at ancient feats of engineering, touched the sharp, sculptured stone angles, and learned many, many things about the valley's significance to the Inca. We also learned, however, that Ollantaytambo was not exactly an Inca ruin, but was still a key position protecting the Amazon and all its resources from interlopers. From the top of the ruin, one could see an ancient road, still apparent, stretching down one mountainside and up another, along which the ancient peoples of Ollantaytambo would transport giant boulders of red granite to build key portions of a temple.
And still, this is not the eye-opener of our trip.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Siroche and the Grand Cathedral - Peru Day 2
Lima was a great primer for the rest of our trip. What we didn't count on was that Cuzco would be an even greater challenge. At 10,000 ft elevation, it's quite possible the highest city we've ever been to and siroche (altitude sickness) is a real danger for all of us coastal dwellers.
We land and are picked up at the Cuzco airport. Our contact in Cuzco is a very nice Romanian expatriate and former UNESCO employee with a great knowledge of the country and the city of Cuzco which she claims to be the cultural heart of Peru. With great enthusiasm and a little scatterbrained-essness we are briefed on the remainder of our trip and reminded that we need to retain all vouchers for our trip at all costs. Luckily, my wife is an organizational genius and I have no fear that we will lose any of these precious strips of signed paper.
Our first sip of coca tea is a welcome cure-all for our shortness of breath and after a brief stint with an oxygen tank, we arrange for a short walk around the city center and dinner.
The Plaza de Armas blows us away.
Surrounded by three churches, the plaza is a testament to the Catholic culture of colonial Peru. A few days later, we would be treated to a tour of the Cathedral and some eye-opening dialogue, but for now we could appreciate the romantic architecture, the pointed steeples, and the people. One of which was a little girl offering up photographs of her and her baby "alpaca" for only one Peruvian sol. This was a harbinger of tourist treatment, but hardly unexpected.
For dinner, we enjoyed a light meal to combat the thin air and plenty more coca tea and returned to our hacienda-style hotel. While worrying about G's averse reaction to the altitude, I reflected upon the busy streets of Cuzco and read up on the town of Pisac.
So far, I love this country.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Feliz Viaje - Peru Day 1
It's beena while but I still have something of substance rattling around in the old can, right?
So we start here then, our first day in Peru in the capital city, Lima. A coastal town, Lima is characterized by the sights and sounds of the streets we drove down during our cab ride from the airport. The political slogans I see adorning the urban sprawl will become ubiquitous in the populous areas of peru, and the driving we experience will become par for the course. As our driver slalomed between lanes and honked without discrimination, it appeared that there were no rules of the road. I should have known that there would be one rule: get out of the way.
We spent the balance of the day familiarizing ourself with the city as much as we could, considering we only had the night. We toured the Plaza de Armas, with its vast colonial buildings, giant edifices of concrete, testaments to the grand opulence of their era. On each corner, police officers were posted. Some in riot gear. Some casually and carefully watching each passer-by. We had been assured that the policemen in white shirts were "Tourist Police" with enough command of the English Language that even the most spanish-less of tourists could ask for help.
We never saw any of these white shirts throughout our entire trip.
The city, like many of the tourist centers we encountered, houses many expat-friendly restaurants. After an hour or so of shopping around, we decided to sit down in the inviting restaurant "Haiti" for our first meal. My first traditional meal of roast chicken and fries accompanied the first Pisco Sour of the trip. G sampled the Lomo Saltado and we finished up with a traditional chocolate torròn. As first night's go, it was very low-key.
With that, we retired. Our first taste of Peru was an excellent dose of what was to come, but we really had no idea what the rest of the country would offer.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
El Condor Pasa
Aaaaaand... we're back! So much to talk about and all of it cannot be explained in one post alone. Truly an amazing trip... more to come...
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Gone Baby, Gone
And... we're off to the wilds of South America for a bit, but shall return! Thank goodness for vacation...
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Michael Giacchino's Cloverfield Score
I mentioned Michael Giacchino's Zocalo presentation before, and now they've released his most excellently over-the-top score for my A-1 monster movie of the year, Cloverfield. Complete with amazing operatic vocals, pulsing drumbeats, and an incredible lack of subtlety, this track is a must-own for any fan of theatrical music. Simply, undeniably, the best closing credits music I have heard in a long, long time.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Ticket Master
Why I hate Ticketmaster:
Thousands of people logging on at the same time to buy tickets has never been an easy task for anyone to handle, but this site - supposedly the king of all ticket sale websites - destroys all hope for anyone trying to get the tickets they desire. As I try buying tickets for two separate days the wait limit goes from 5 minutes to 2 minutes back to 5 minutes and then sits at 3 minutes for 2 minutes, only to to find that I've been booted because I have the same purchase open in separate browser windows FOR DIFFERENT DAYS.
This is why I hate ticketmaster.
Luckily, I was able to get tickets over the phone, so at least that somewhat antiquated system works...
Thousands of people logging on at the same time to buy tickets has never been an easy task for anyone to handle, but this site - supposedly the king of all ticket sale websites - destroys all hope for anyone trying to get the tickets they desire. As I try buying tickets for two separate days the wait limit goes from 5 minutes to 2 minutes back to 5 minutes and then sits at 3 minutes for 2 minutes, only to to find that I've been booted because I have the same purchase open in separate browser windows FOR DIFFERENT DAYS.
This is why I hate ticketmaster.
Luckily, I was able to get tickets over the phone, so at least that somewhat antiquated system works...
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Tourney estaTerminada
Yes, it's over. Well, for the team at least. My bracket is pretty pitiful, but I will re-iterate what I said previously:
and:
Take it how you will, but I am not surprised at the outcome and a little disappointed. No matter, there is always next year...
...with the advent of the Lopez twins and growth at the point, both Anthony Goods and Laurence Hill have gone missing. Goods has shown up on occasion, but former All-Pac-10 forward Hill is a shadow of his former self. No doubt his knee injury has taken away much of his ability to create off the dribble and penetrate, but his reduced role in the offense has crushed the confidence his jumper used to possess. When both of these players show up, however, the team is as elite as can be.
and:
My fears are thus for the tournament. Both Lopezes are rendered ineffective by crushing pressure defense and athletic guard play from the high seeds slices and dices the vaunted Stanford defense to ribbons.
Take it how you will, but I am not surprised at the outcome and a little disappointed. No matter, there is always next year...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Four Trombones and a String Section
It's been a pretty nutty couple of weeks hereabouts, but what the hey, I still have some inklings of time lurking about here and there.
Thursday night, courtesy of the good people at Zocalo, G and I saw Michael Giacchino speak as part of their Public Square Lecture series at LACMA. If you are not familiar with Mr. Giacchino, he is a rising star in the world of film composing. I first became familiar with him due to his work on the show Alias, but have become even more of a fan after hearing his atmospheric cacophony that is Lost and for his spy-worthy anthems in the Incredibles. From those two movies alone, one can tell that this man is a slave to no style of music.
So what did he talk about? The title of the lecture was "How to 'Score' Big in Movies," and while he did discuss part of what has helped him to achieve success in his career, what was more interesting is the passion he presented at every corner. From his beginnings as a video game composer post-graduate from the School of Visual Arts, he was tenacious in pursuing his love of music. I was rapt with the stories he was telling and no sooner was I hooked than when he began speaking of his common love with Brad Bird of the show Johnny Quest.
And this is really where I took away quite a bit from the talk. Mr. Giacchino talked not just from the heart, but from the analysis that whatever he wanted to do, he would do it differently. He saw an aversion to melody prevalent in most soundtracks, so he loved melody. He saw that no one would want to compose for orchestration, so he would write for a full orchestra. When people suggested he include woodwinds and other instruments associated with island life on Lost, he said there should be nothing at all recognizable and comfortable about the soundtrack at all. Inspiring in his vision, it's no wonder he has become a favorite of Mr. Bird's, JJ Abrams, and has even worked with the likes of Steven Spielberg.
We left the lecture and LACMA appreciating his candor and for me, I appreciate his work all the more than I had before I had arrived. When you watch any of the films he's worked on, listen to the soundtrack alone for a bit, listen to the lack of soundtrack, and most of all, listen for the inspiration behind it. Even if it's the bombastic final score for the movie Cloverfield, you will understand where he's coming from and it is really something else.
Thursday night, courtesy of the good people at Zocalo, G and I saw Michael Giacchino speak as part of their Public Square Lecture series at LACMA. If you are not familiar with Mr. Giacchino, he is a rising star in the world of film composing. I first became familiar with him due to his work on the show Alias, but have become even more of a fan after hearing his atmospheric cacophony that is Lost and for his spy-worthy anthems in the Incredibles. From those two movies alone, one can tell that this man is a slave to no style of music.
So what did he talk about? The title of the lecture was "How to 'Score' Big in Movies," and while he did discuss part of what has helped him to achieve success in his career, what was more interesting is the passion he presented at every corner. From his beginnings as a video game composer post-graduate from the School of Visual Arts, he was tenacious in pursuing his love of music. I was rapt with the stories he was telling and no sooner was I hooked than when he began speaking of his common love with Brad Bird of the show Johnny Quest.
And this is really where I took away quite a bit from the talk. Mr. Giacchino talked not just from the heart, but from the analysis that whatever he wanted to do, he would do it differently. He saw an aversion to melody prevalent in most soundtracks, so he loved melody. He saw that no one would want to compose for orchestration, so he would write for a full orchestra. When people suggested he include woodwinds and other instruments associated with island life on Lost, he said there should be nothing at all recognizable and comfortable about the soundtrack at all. Inspiring in his vision, it's no wonder he has become a favorite of Mr. Bird's, JJ Abrams, and has even worked with the likes of Steven Spielberg.
We left the lecture and LACMA appreciating his candor and for me, I appreciate his work all the more than I had before I had arrived. When you watch any of the films he's worked on, listen to the soundtrack alone for a bit, listen to the lack of soundtrack, and most of all, listen for the inspiration behind it. Even if it's the bombastic final score for the movie Cloverfield, you will understand where he's coming from and it is really something else.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Tourney on the Brain
This is usually the point at which I blog about the impending tip-off of the NCAA men's tournament and what it means for my boys in Cardinal red. This season has been pretty amazing for the Stanford men's basketball team thus far. Collecting many wins in the Pac-10 conference and falling short every single game versus the UCLA Bruins, including a loss in the conference tournament final, the Cardinal has remained a solid second place finisher and earned enough credit to garner a 3-seed entering into today's opening day. They will face a tough squad from Cornell, but no doubt the biggest challenge they face is expectation.
Last year, the expectation was quite low, as the Card was obliterated in their game versus Rick Pitino and his Louisville Cardinals. 26 wins later, this season has stacked the deck in their favor. The Lopez twins have blossomed into a dominant force on both ends of the floor and Mitch Johnson has matured into a solid floor leader. Gone are the days in which I would cringe at Johnson dribbling into open court, but sadly, with the advent of the Lopez twins and growth at the point, both Anthony Goods and Laurence Hill have gone missing. Goods has shown up on occasion, but former All-Pac-10 forward Hill is a shadow of his former self. No doubt his knee injury has taken away much of his ability to create off the dribble and penetrate, but his reduced role in the offense has crushed the confidence his jumper used to possess. When both of these players show up, however, the team is as elite as can be.
My fears are thus for the tournament. Both Lopezes are rendered ineffective by crushing pressure defense and athletic guard play from the high seeds slices and dices the vaunted Stanford defense to ribbons.
My hopes for the the tournament are that the interior dominance exhibited by the twins carries over and above the crowd and both Goods and Hill come alive. This is probably the only way the team can hope to make it past the first weekend and maybe even into the Elite Eight (one round better than the experts projected Sweet 16 finish).
Despite any outcome, I will be watching the tournament patiently and praying the bracket lines up with the stars. Game on!
Last year, the expectation was quite low, as the Card was obliterated in their game versus Rick Pitino and his Louisville Cardinals. 26 wins later, this season has stacked the deck in their favor. The Lopez twins have blossomed into a dominant force on both ends of the floor and Mitch Johnson has matured into a solid floor leader. Gone are the days in which I would cringe at Johnson dribbling into open court, but sadly, with the advent of the Lopez twins and growth at the point, both Anthony Goods and Laurence Hill have gone missing. Goods has shown up on occasion, but former All-Pac-10 forward Hill is a shadow of his former self. No doubt his knee injury has taken away much of his ability to create off the dribble and penetrate, but his reduced role in the offense has crushed the confidence his jumper used to possess. When both of these players show up, however, the team is as elite as can be.
My fears are thus for the tournament. Both Lopezes are rendered ineffective by crushing pressure defense and athletic guard play from the high seeds slices and dices the vaunted Stanford defense to ribbons.
My hopes for the the tournament are that the interior dominance exhibited by the twins carries over and above the crowd and both Goods and Hill come alive. This is probably the only way the team can hope to make it past the first weekend and maybe even into the Elite Eight (one round better than the experts projected Sweet 16 finish).
Despite any outcome, I will be watching the tournament patiently and praying the bracket lines up with the stars. Game on!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Smash it Up
Because I have been loving this game so far, and because I have also been love Hulu I figured I would post another vid. This time it's of Smash Brothers Brawl, the latest game published for the Nintendo Wii. It's haphazard and too much fun. I highly recommend it.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Recipe Test
Yes, I will try this for the first time. Let's see if I can be accurate enough to not be cloying. Mind you, these are guidelines and should only be used as such. I take no responsibility for ensuing heart attacks.
Crispy Bacon Goodness
Ingredients:
4 slices of bread (preferably sourdough)
spreadable butter
mayonnaise
6 slices of good bacon (center-cut/thick)
4 slices of good-melting cheese (my favorite is Havarti)
2 eggs
Method:
Set sautee pan at medium heat and cook bacon to slight crispiness. Set aside on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain grease. Start making like you love grilled cheese like no man loves grilled cheese. Slather one side of each slice of bread with mayo. Place two slices of cheese (you can go nuts and use two kinds if you like) on one side of one slice of mayo-slathered bread and three slices of bacon on another slice and merge into sandwich-form. Spread butter onto one side of en-sandwiched bread and set aside.
Clean sautee pan with paper towel and set at medium heat. Place soon to be melty sandwich on pan butter-side down and spread butter on un-touched side of tastiness. While sandwich is toasting, set an omelet pan at low and butter that bad boy up like nobody's business. Crack an egg and prep either sunny-side up or over easy. I prefer over easy, but sunny-side is more gooey. Flip sandwiches when golden brown and noticeably melted through. Set finished egg aside and repeat with second egg. Plate each sandwich when finished and top with finished egg.
Crispy Bacon Goodness
Ingredients:
4 slices of bread (preferably sourdough)
spreadable butter
mayonnaise
6 slices of good bacon (center-cut/thick)
4 slices of good-melting cheese (my favorite is Havarti)
2 eggs
Method:
Set sautee pan at medium heat and cook bacon to slight crispiness. Set aside on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain grease. Start making like you love grilled cheese like no man loves grilled cheese. Slather one side of each slice of bread with mayo. Place two slices of cheese (you can go nuts and use two kinds if you like) on one side of one slice of mayo-slathered bread and three slices of bacon on another slice and merge into sandwich-form. Spread butter onto one side of en-sandwiched bread and set aside.
Clean sautee pan with paper towel and set at medium heat. Place soon to be melty sandwich on pan butter-side down and spread butter on un-touched side of tastiness. While sandwich is toasting, set an omelet pan at low and butter that bad boy up like nobody's business. Crack an egg and prep either sunny-side up or over easy. I prefer over easy, but sunny-side is more gooey. Flip sandwiches when golden brown and noticeably melted through. Set finished egg aside and repeat with second egg. Plate each sandwich when finished and top with finished egg.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Cheesecake, Part Deux
A follow up to the previous post about the Factory, Truehoop chimes in once again with the overwhelming response to its initial item regarding the Association's love of the CF in their second post about the same subject. This is by far one of my favorite topics they've covered so far, because really, you can only read so much about statistics, predictions, MVP arguments, playoff races and the like, but rarely does one get an inside view of what goes on in the personal lives of professional basketball players.
While I'm still amazed at the Factory's prevalence among the league's elite, I'm more impressed than anything. It shows the longevity of the franchise and the ubiquitous nature of their locations. In any metropolitan area, you can rest assured that there will be a Cheesecake Factory somewhere.
So the next time I'm at Fashion Island, the Grove, Redondo Beach, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Santa Anita, Anaheim, Brea, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, or Huntington Beach I'll keep an eye out. Who knows, you could catch one of the players having a post or pre-game meal.
While I'm still amazed at the Factory's prevalence among the league's elite, I'm more impressed than anything. It shows the longevity of the franchise and the ubiquitous nature of their locations. In any metropolitan area, you can rest assured that there will be a Cheesecake Factory somewhere.
So the next time I'm at Fashion Island, the Grove, Redondo Beach, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Santa Anita, Anaheim, Brea, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, or Huntington Beach I'll keep an eye out. Who knows, you could catch one of the players having a post or pre-game meal.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Sure You Can
Every time I see footage of the impending Street Fighter IV, I get a wave of nostalgia. I remember the days of waiting in line at the arcade and even the days of being at the bowling alley waiting for the game to be over so we could plunk down more quarters. What can I say, I still love the fighting games. Whenever we see this game on our shores, it will be a good day.
Cheesecake What!?
Far be it from me to slam a restaurant for anything, but here I am checking out the morning Truehoop and find out that the Cheesecake Factory is an unusual favorite of many NBA stars. Check out the link and believe that a man will eat ungodly portions from a gargantuan menu. I am just shocked!
Not to leave it there, but it's been quite some time since I've been there and the restaurant itself is nuts. I don't think their food is terrible by any stretch, but the wait time is always ridiculous, you often leave with a giant brick lodged from your colon to your duodenum and perhaps snaking even as far as the middle of the esophagus. If you had millions of dollars to spend and plenty of time on your hands post-game or even in the off-season, would you spend it at the Cheesecake Factory?
My thought is, the portions are huge, these guys eat a ton, and it's not an unreasonable place. My second thought is, these guys are just like the rest of us and seriously, who needs to be eating at Cut every day of the week. It's also no wonder that most of the athletes you see on cribs have empty refrigerators, something tells me the majority of them aren't leaving the restaurant with those technicolor dreamcoat-striped doggie bags.
Not to leave it there, but it's been quite some time since I've been there and the restaurant itself is nuts. I don't think their food is terrible by any stretch, but the wait time is always ridiculous, you often leave with a giant brick lodged from your colon to your duodenum and perhaps snaking even as far as the middle of the esophagus. If you had millions of dollars to spend and plenty of time on your hands post-game or even in the off-season, would you spend it at the Cheesecake Factory?
My thought is, the portions are huge, these guys eat a ton, and it's not an unreasonable place. My second thought is, these guys are just like the rest of us and seriously, who needs to be eating at Cut every day of the week. It's also no wonder that most of the athletes you see on cribs have empty refrigerators, something tells me the majority of them aren't leaving the restaurant with those technicolor dreamcoat-striped doggie bags.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Oscars 2008 Wrap
Yea, it's the post-Oscar wrap up. Let's see how I did.
So out of the predicted categories I scored 10 out of 19 for a whopping winning percentage of .526. Highlights for me were seeing the inevitable win by Daniel Day-Lewis and the always self-effacing John Stewart not suck at hosting. What I didn't like were some of the overblown performances, underdone performances, and probably the same tired ubiquitous montages. Am I a pundit? Hardly, but this will have to do until next year.
BEST PICTURE
Prediction - "Atonement"
Winner - "No Country for Old Men"
BEST ACTRESS
Prediction - Marion Cotillard
Winner - Marion Cotillard
BEST ACTOR
Prediction - Daniel Day-Lewis
Winner - Daniel Day-Lewis
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Prediction - Saoirse Ronan
Winner - Tilda Swinton
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Prediction - Javier Bardem
Winner - Javier Bardem
BEST DIRECTOR
Prediction - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Winner - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Prediction - Diablo Cody
Winner - Diablo Cody
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Prediction - Paul Thomas Anderson
Winner - Paul Thomas Anderson
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Prediction - "Ratatouille"
Winner - "Ratatouille"
BEST ART DIRECTION
Prediction - Atonement
Winner - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Prediction - "Atonement"
Winner - "There Will Be Blood"
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Prediction - "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Winner - "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
BEST FILM EDITING
Prediction - "There Will be Blood"
Winner - "The Bourne Ultimatum"
BEST MAKEUP
Prediction - "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
Winner - "La Vie en Rose"
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Prediction - "Atonement"
Winner - "Atonement"
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Prediction - "Falling Slowly"
Winner - "Falling Slowly"
BEST SOUND EDITING
Prediction - "Transformers"
Winner - "The Bourne Ultimatum"
BEST SOUND MIXING
Prediction - "Transformers"
Winner - "The Bourne Ultimatum"
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Prediction - "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
Winner - "The Golden Compass"
Prediction - "Atonement"
Winner - "No Country for Old Men"
BEST ACTRESS
Prediction - Marion Cotillard
Winner - Marion Cotillard
BEST ACTOR
Prediction - Daniel Day-Lewis
Winner - Daniel Day-Lewis
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Prediction - Saoirse Ronan
Winner - Tilda Swinton
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Prediction - Javier Bardem
Winner - Javier Bardem
BEST DIRECTOR
Prediction - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Winner - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Prediction - Diablo Cody
Winner - Diablo Cody
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Prediction - Paul Thomas Anderson
Winner - Paul Thomas Anderson
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Prediction - "Ratatouille"
Winner - "Ratatouille"
BEST ART DIRECTION
Prediction - Atonement
Winner - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Prediction - "Atonement"
Winner - "There Will Be Blood"
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Prediction - "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Winner - "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
BEST FILM EDITING
Prediction - "There Will be Blood"
Winner - "The Bourne Ultimatum"
BEST MAKEUP
Prediction - "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
Winner - "La Vie en Rose"
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Prediction - "Atonement"
Winner - "Atonement"
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Prediction - "Falling Slowly"
Winner - "Falling Slowly"
BEST SOUND EDITING
Prediction - "Transformers"
Winner - "The Bourne Ultimatum"
BEST SOUND MIXING
Prediction - "Transformers"
Winner - "The Bourne Ultimatum"
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Prediction - "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
Winner - "The Golden Compass"
So out of the predicted categories I scored 10 out of 19 for a whopping winning percentage of .526. Highlights for me were seeing the inevitable win by Daniel Day-Lewis and the always self-effacing John Stewart not suck at hosting. What I didn't like were some of the overblown performances, underdone performances, and probably the same tired ubiquitous montages. Am I a pundit? Hardly, but this will have to do until next year.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Manufacturing Laughs
Comedy was in the air this Saturday as we dragged ourselves out of the confines of the apartment and sought out the Laugh Factory on the Sunset Strip. Yes, it wasn't that far, but it was our friend's birthday and we couldn't miss out on an opportunity to check out what the Factory had to offer up for the comedically inclined.
On the agenda tonight? Arie Spears, Dov Davidoff, Bret Ernst, and Dane Cook. You might recognize the first name from Mad TV, the middle two comedians are indeed lesser known, but rising, and of course everyone with a pulse has heard of or seen Dane Cook gesticulate in one form or another. Yes, they were all funny in their own way, with my favorite being Mr. Davidoff, but a common theme is that all these comedians worked "Blue." Yea, if you know what that means, then I don't have to describe it for you.
The etymology of the term is pretty simple. An early era comedian, Max Miller, used to keep all of his adult material in a small, blue notebook for reference. As such, any off-color or profane material has since been referred to by the term "blue" or "working blue." As G put it, it's easy to get laughs this way, but it's more interesting and it takes a particular talent to avoid the easy way out.
I've seen my fair share of comedians and that night's brand of comedy was hilarious (high notes included Mr. Spears' rap impressions and Dov Davidoff's nervous stream-of-concsiousness dialogue), but afterwards, talking with G, it got me thinking about the comedians I've enjoyed in the past. Seinfeld himself doesn't work blue at all really, perhaps his material being now colored by fatherhood. Chris Rock does tend to skew in that direction from time to time, but there's always an underlying message of thematic social commentary. George Lopez focuses instead on his own ethnic background rather than relying on commentary of others. Demitri Martin is a master of wordplay and awkward visuals. And there are a host of others I'm probably forgetting, but I suppose it's just the time of day, the brand of comedian, it's a certain list of things that set the joke atmosphere for the night, primary of which is always the comedian.
Where does this leave us, though? I tend to think that the comedian who plies his craft night in and night out will form his own personality and be as successful as his diligence lets him. Myself, I don't think I could ever put myself out there, because matter-of-factly, I'm not funny. What we do have though, are a small group of people willing to make others laugh, most often at their own expense. I appreciate it all, but in the end, it's the most original and hard-working comedians making the grade.
On the agenda tonight? Arie Spears, Dov Davidoff, Bret Ernst, and Dane Cook. You might recognize the first name from Mad TV, the middle two comedians are indeed lesser known, but rising, and of course everyone with a pulse has heard of or seen Dane Cook gesticulate in one form or another. Yes, they were all funny in their own way, with my favorite being Mr. Davidoff, but a common theme is that all these comedians worked "Blue." Yea, if you know what that means, then I don't have to describe it for you.
The etymology of the term is pretty simple. An early era comedian, Max Miller, used to keep all of his adult material in a small, blue notebook for reference. As such, any off-color or profane material has since been referred to by the term "blue" or "working blue." As G put it, it's easy to get laughs this way, but it's more interesting and it takes a particular talent to avoid the easy way out.
I've seen my fair share of comedians and that night's brand of comedy was hilarious (high notes included Mr. Spears' rap impressions and Dov Davidoff's nervous stream-of-concsiousness dialogue), but afterwards, talking with G, it got me thinking about the comedians I've enjoyed in the past. Seinfeld himself doesn't work blue at all really, perhaps his material being now colored by fatherhood. Chris Rock does tend to skew in that direction from time to time, but there's always an underlying message of thematic social commentary. George Lopez focuses instead on his own ethnic background rather than relying on commentary of others. Demitri Martin is a master of wordplay and awkward visuals. And there are a host of others I'm probably forgetting, but I suppose it's just the time of day, the brand of comedian, it's a certain list of things that set the joke atmosphere for the night, primary of which is always the comedian.
Where does this leave us, though? I tend to think that the comedian who plies his craft night in and night out will form his own personality and be as successful as his diligence lets him. Myself, I don't think I could ever put myself out there, because matter-of-factly, I'm not funny. What we do have though, are a small group of people willing to make others laugh, most often at their own expense. I appreciate it all, but in the end, it's the most original and hard-working comedians making the grade.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Blog Silence
The grind has been an über-grind lately and it's sapped my posting strength to its bare bones. Aside from the occasional dabbling in some Guitar Hero III, Super Mario Galaxy, taking part in some Amazon MP3 buying, and weekends of driving all over Southern California, everything's been pleasantly quiet.
Almost too quiet.
So while I sit here and contemplate the near future to prepare for the distant future, I submit that I've neglected to maintain a superficial online presence on the ol' Blog of Mine. In this sense, I shall attempt to rectify things
Here's to productivity!
Almost too quiet.
So while I sit here and contemplate the near future to prepare for the distant future, I submit that I've neglected to maintain a superficial online presence on the ol' Blog of Mine. In this sense, I shall attempt to rectify things
Here's to productivity!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Oscars Predictions - 2008
Here's a breakdown for this year's Oscars. My record hasn't been too good over the last couple of years, but whatever. Here we go!
80th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS
BEST PICTURE
"Atonement"
"Juno"
"Michael Clayton"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"
PREDICTION - "Atonement". The Academy loves sweeping epics, and it's less oblique than "Blood" and "Old Men."
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"
Laura Linney, "The Savages"
Ellen Page, "Juno"
PREDICTION - Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose." Cate Blanchett already has her "Elizabeth" win. "Juno" is too sweet a movie to win anything but a screenplay award (if it's lucky) and the Academy loves biographical roles. This one is a shoo in.
BEST ACTOR
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd"
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises"
Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah"
PREDICTION - Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood." If anyone but DDL wins this one, I may have to give up going to the movies.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"
Ruby Dee, "American Gangster"
Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"
PREDICTION - Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement." I have a feeling this movie will clean up at the awards.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"
Hal Holbrook, "Into The Wild"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"
Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton"
PREDICTION - Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men." The Academy and the Globes have been fairly consistent in this category.
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Jason Reitman, "Juno"
PREDICTION - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men." Haven't seen it, but I'm pulling for these guys over the sappiness and nihilism.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Diablo Cody, "Juno"
Nancy Oliver, "Lars and the Real Girl"
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Brad Bird, Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird, "Ratatouille"
Tamara Jenkins, "The Savages"
PREDICTION - Diablo Cody, "Juno." Ratatouille has a great script, but I have a feeling this one is a lock given its commercial success.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"
Ronald Harwood, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Sarah Polley, "Away From Her"
PREDICTION - Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood." This would be an upset over "Atonement," but the freedom PT takes with the adapted material should be award enough.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"Beaufort" (Israel)
"The Counterfeiters" (Austria)
"Katyn" (Poland)
"Mongol" (Kazakhstan)
"12" (Russia)
PREDICTION - Not a fair fight, since I haven't seen any of the movies in this category.
BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Persepolis"
"Ratatouille"
"Surf's Up"
PREDICTION - "Ratatouille." "Persepolis" is a close second, but I believe the art-houseishness of the movie may not be enough to save it.
BEST ART DIRECTION
"American Gangster"
"Atonement"
"The Golden Compass"
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
"There Will Be Blood"
PREDICTION - "Atonement." If nothing else, I'd expect to see "Sweeney," but everyone seems to love this movie's look.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" Roger Deakins
"Atonement," Seamus Mcgarvey
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," Janusz Kaminski
"No Country For Old Men," Roger Deakins
"There Will Be Blood," Robert Elswit
PREDICTION - "Atonement." Like I said, this movie will take most of the major awards.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
"Across the Universe," Albert Wolsky
"Atonement," Jacqueline Durran
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age," Alexandra Byrne
"La Vie En Rose," Marit Allen
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street," Colleen Atwood
PREDICTION - "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." The Academy loves period pieces for this category.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"No End in Sight"
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience"
"Sicko"
"Taxi to the Dark Side"
"War/Dance"
PREDICTION - Same for this one. I haven't seen any of these films.
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
"Freeheld"
"La Corona" ("The Crown")
"Salim Baba"
"Sari's Mother"
PREDICTION - What?
BEST FILM EDITING
"The Bourne Ultimatum," Christopher Rouse
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," Juliette Welfling
"Into the Wild," Jay Cassidy
"No Country for Old Men," Roderick Jaynes
"There Will Be Blood," Dylan Tichenor
PREDICTION - "There Will Be Blood," Dylan Tichenor. Why not?
BEST MAKEUP
"La Vie en Rose"
"Norbit"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
PREDICTION - "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." Haven't seen the other two, but Norbit winning any award would just be wrong.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
"Atonement", Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner", Alberto Iglesias
"Michael Clayton", James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille", Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma", Marco Beltrami
PREDICTION - "Atonement." I'd like to see Giaccino win, since his work on the Incredibles was so awesome, but the score for Ratatouille was not as memorable.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Falling Slowly" from "Once"
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted"
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush"
"So Close" from "Enchanted"
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted"
PREDICTION - "Falling Slowly" from "Once." Easily, the best soundtrack of the year. Based on this movie alone, I have to pick up an album by The Frames.
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
"I Met the Walrus"
"Madame Tutli-Putli"
"Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)"
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)"
"Peter & the Wolf"
PREDICTION - Same gap here. I should really watch these at some point.
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
"At Night"
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)"
"Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)"
"Tanghi Argentini"
"The Tonto Woman"
PREDICTION - I really should see some of these auxiliary award nominees.
BEST SOUND EDITING
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"No Country For Old Men"
"Ratatouille"
"There Will Be Blood"
"Transformers"
PREDICTION - "Transformers." The best technical movie has to win the best technical awards.
BEST SOUND MIXING
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"No Country For Old Men"
"Ratatouille"
"3:10 to Yuma"
"Transformers"
PREDICTION - "Transformers." Why not?
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
"The Golden Compass"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
"Transformers"
PREDICTION - "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." While Transformers was amazing, they can't win 'em all. I take a mulligan here.
BEST PICTURE
"Atonement"
"Juno"
"Michael Clayton"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"
PREDICTION - "Atonement". The Academy loves sweeping epics, and it's less oblique than "Blood" and "Old Men."
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"
Laura Linney, "The Savages"
Ellen Page, "Juno"
PREDICTION - Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose." Cate Blanchett already has her "Elizabeth" win. "Juno" is too sweet a movie to win anything but a screenplay award (if it's lucky) and the Academy loves biographical roles. This one is a shoo in.
BEST ACTOR
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd"
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises"
Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah"
PREDICTION - Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood." If anyone but DDL wins this one, I may have to give up going to the movies.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"
Ruby Dee, "American Gangster"
Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"
PREDICTION - Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement." I have a feeling this movie will clean up at the awards.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"
Hal Holbrook, "Into The Wild"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"
Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton"
PREDICTION - Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men." The Academy and the Globes have been fairly consistent in this category.
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Jason Reitman, "Juno"
PREDICTION - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men." Haven't seen it, but I'm pulling for these guys over the sappiness and nihilism.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Diablo Cody, "Juno"
Nancy Oliver, "Lars and the Real Girl"
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Brad Bird, Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird, "Ratatouille"
Tamara Jenkins, "The Savages"
PREDICTION - Diablo Cody, "Juno." Ratatouille has a great script, but I have a feeling this one is a lock given its commercial success.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"
Ronald Harwood, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Sarah Polley, "Away From Her"
PREDICTION - Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood." This would be an upset over "Atonement," but the freedom PT takes with the adapted material should be award enough.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"Beaufort" (Israel)
"The Counterfeiters" (Austria)
"Katyn" (Poland)
"Mongol" (Kazakhstan)
"12" (Russia)
PREDICTION - Not a fair fight, since I haven't seen any of the movies in this category.
BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Persepolis"
"Ratatouille"
"Surf's Up"
PREDICTION - "Ratatouille." "Persepolis" is a close second, but I believe the art-houseishness of the movie may not be enough to save it.
BEST ART DIRECTION
"American Gangster"
"Atonement"
"The Golden Compass"
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
"There Will Be Blood"
PREDICTION - "Atonement." If nothing else, I'd expect to see "Sweeney," but everyone seems to love this movie's look.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" Roger Deakins
"Atonement," Seamus Mcgarvey
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," Janusz Kaminski
"No Country For Old Men," Roger Deakins
"There Will Be Blood," Robert Elswit
PREDICTION - "Atonement." Like I said, this movie will take most of the major awards.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
"Across the Universe," Albert Wolsky
"Atonement," Jacqueline Durran
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age," Alexandra Byrne
"La Vie En Rose," Marit Allen
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street," Colleen Atwood
PREDICTION - "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." The Academy loves period pieces for this category.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"No End in Sight"
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience"
"Sicko"
"Taxi to the Dark Side"
"War/Dance"
PREDICTION - Same for this one. I haven't seen any of these films.
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
"Freeheld"
"La Corona" ("The Crown")
"Salim Baba"
"Sari's Mother"
PREDICTION - What?
BEST FILM EDITING
"The Bourne Ultimatum," Christopher Rouse
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," Juliette Welfling
"Into the Wild," Jay Cassidy
"No Country for Old Men," Roderick Jaynes
"There Will Be Blood," Dylan Tichenor
PREDICTION - "There Will Be Blood," Dylan Tichenor. Why not?
BEST MAKEUP
"La Vie en Rose"
"Norbit"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
PREDICTION - "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." Haven't seen the other two, but Norbit winning any award would just be wrong.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
"Atonement", Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner", Alberto Iglesias
"Michael Clayton", James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille", Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma", Marco Beltrami
PREDICTION - "Atonement." I'd like to see Giaccino win, since his work on the Incredibles was so awesome, but the score for Ratatouille was not as memorable.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Falling Slowly" from "Once"
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted"
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush"
"So Close" from "Enchanted"
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted"
PREDICTION - "Falling Slowly" from "Once." Easily, the best soundtrack of the year. Based on this movie alone, I have to pick up an album by The Frames.
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
"I Met the Walrus"
"Madame Tutli-Putli"
"Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)"
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)"
"Peter & the Wolf"
PREDICTION - Same gap here. I should really watch these at some point.
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
"At Night"
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)"
"Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)"
"Tanghi Argentini"
"The Tonto Woman"
PREDICTION - I really should see some of these auxiliary award nominees.
BEST SOUND EDITING
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"No Country For Old Men"
"Ratatouille"
"There Will Be Blood"
"Transformers"
PREDICTION - "Transformers." The best technical movie has to win the best technical awards.
BEST SOUND MIXING
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"No Country For Old Men"
"Ratatouille"
"3:10 to Yuma"
"Transformers"
PREDICTION - "Transformers." Why not?
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
"The Golden Compass"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
"Transformers"
PREDICTION - "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." While Transformers was amazing, they can't win 'em all. I take a mulligan here.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Happy Birthday, Lego!
Big ups to Lego on their stupendous 50th Anniversary. I have a soft spot for the little Danish bricks stemming from a childhood building pirate ships, castles, towns, and perhaps even later on in life geeking out over the Star Wars series of Legos. As such, marvel at the awesome time-lapse video posted over at Boing Boing which I now repost here. I dig the 8-bit flavor of the soundtrack, but most of all, I get all nostalgic on how extensive the instruction booklets really were. Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Coachella 2008
Yea, here we go. The Coachella lineup has been announced. I'm sorry to say it isn't as exciting as years past with no headliners I'm in love with. Definitely a little less motivated to spend a weekend in the desert, but the show is always a great place to listen to some good music. Here we go, the lineup from April 25-27, 2008:
Friday's lineup
Jack Johnson
The Verve
The Raconteurs
The Breeders
Fatboy Slim
Tegan and Sara
Madness
The Swell Season
The National
Animal Collective
Slightly Stoopid
Mum
Pendulum
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Stars
Battles
Aesop Rock
Midnight Juggernauts
Does It Offend You, Yeah?
Minus the Bear
Spank Rock
Dan Le Sac Vs. Scoobius Pip
Diplo
Adam Freeland
Santo Gold
Jens Lekman
John butler Trio
Vampire Weekend
Dan Deacon
Architecture in Helsinki
Sandra Collins
Busy P
Cut Copy
Black Lips
Datarock
Professor Murder
Reverend and the Makers
The Bees
Porter
Rogue Wave
Modeselektor
American Bang
Lucky I Am
Saturday's lineup
Portishead
Kraftwerk
Death Cab for Cutie
Cafe Tacuba
Sasha & Digweed
Rilo Kiley
Dwight Yoakam
M.I.A.
Hot Chip
Cold War Kids
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
DeVotchka
Flogging Molly
Mark Ronson
Turbonegro
Scars on Broadway
Islands
Enter Shikari
Calvin Harris
Boyz Noise
Junkie XL
Cinematic Orchestra
Jamie T
The Teenagers
VHS or Beta
Carbon/Silicon
Erol Alkan
Yo Majesty!
Little Brother
Bonde Do Role
St. Vincent
Akron Family
MGMT
Institubes DJs: Surkin, Para One and Orgasmic
James Wabiela
Sebastian
Kavinsky
Dredg
The Bird and the Bee
Grand Ole Party
New Young Pony Club
120 Days
Yoav
Electric Touch
Uffie
Sunday's lineup
Roger Waters ("Dark Side of the Moon")
Love and Rockets
My Morning Jacket
Spiritualized
Justice
Gogol Bordello
Chromeo
The Streets
Metric
Danny Tenaglia
Simian Mobile Disco
Booka Shade
Murs
Dmitri From Paris
Autolux
The Field
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Les Savy Fav
The Cool Kids
Sons & Daughters
Sia
Holy F—
Black Kids
Black Mountain
The Annuals
Kid Sister with A-Trak
Man Man
Duffy
I'm From Barcelona
Manchester Orchestra
Deadmau5
The Horrors
Austin TV
Shout Out Louds
Platiscenes
Brett Dennen
Jack Johnson
The Verve
The Raconteurs
The Breeders
Fatboy Slim
Tegan and Sara
Madness
The Swell Season
The National
Animal Collective
Slightly Stoopid
Mum
Pendulum
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Stars
Battles
Aesop Rock
Midnight Juggernauts
Does It Offend You, Yeah?
Minus the Bear
Spank Rock
Dan Le Sac Vs. Scoobius Pip
Diplo
Adam Freeland
Santo Gold
Jens Lekman
John butler Trio
Vampire Weekend
Dan Deacon
Architecture in Helsinki
Sandra Collins
Busy P
Cut Copy
Black Lips
Datarock
Professor Murder
Reverend and the Makers
The Bees
Porter
Rogue Wave
Modeselektor
American Bang
Lucky I Am
Saturday's lineup
Portishead
Kraftwerk
Death Cab for Cutie
Cafe Tacuba
Sasha & Digweed
Rilo Kiley
Dwight Yoakam
M.I.A.
Hot Chip
Cold War Kids
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
DeVotchka
Flogging Molly
Mark Ronson
Turbonegro
Scars on Broadway
Islands
Enter Shikari
Calvin Harris
Boyz Noise
Junkie XL
Cinematic Orchestra
Jamie T
The Teenagers
VHS or Beta
Carbon/Silicon
Erol Alkan
Yo Majesty!
Little Brother
Bonde Do Role
St. Vincent
Akron Family
MGMT
Institubes DJs: Surkin, Para One and Orgasmic
James Wabiela
Sebastian
Kavinsky
Dredg
The Bird and the Bee
Grand Ole Party
New Young Pony Club
120 Days
Yoav
Electric Touch
Uffie
Sunday's lineup
Roger Waters ("Dark Side of the Moon")
Love and Rockets
My Morning Jacket
Spiritualized
Justice
Gogol Bordello
Chromeo
The Streets
Metric
Danny Tenaglia
Simian Mobile Disco
Booka Shade
Murs
Dmitri From Paris
Autolux
The Field
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Les Savy Fav
The Cool Kids
Sons & Daughters
Sia
Holy F—
Black Kids
Black Mountain
The Annuals
Kid Sister with A-Trak
Man Man
Duffy
I'm From Barcelona
Manchester Orchestra
Deadmau5
The Horrors
Austin TV
Shout Out Louds
Platiscenes
Brett Dennen
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
01 - 18 - 08
Since Disneyland first opened the most recognizable motion ride in American, Star Tours, I have been loathe to ride any of them. The first time was awesome. Ever since then, however, I've been susceptible to the rocking back and forth with no real point of reference beyond the screen and find myself walking around dizzy and ready to pop for about an hour afterwards. This weekend, I had a similar experience, but somewhat less displeasurable, after watching Cloverfield.
A lot of mystery has surrounded this movie given it's oblique marketing campaign and the shroud of secrecy enveloping actors, director, and producer alike. The first glimpse of the movie was in fact one of the earliest shots: the shaky handicam trailer pasted in front of the Transformers movie featuring a party ending with the decapitation of the Statue of Liberty landing in the middle of the streets of Manhattan. There was no title or rating, just the release date tacked on the end of the trailer. Speculation was rampant and few details leaked out aside from the general premise and casting of relatively unknown actors. There were rumors of Cthulu mythos, a remake of Godzilla, and even the outlandish assumption that JJ Abrams and Bad Robot were remaking Voltron. The reality of it all ended up being a lot more interesting not in spite of, but because of the speculation.
Cloverfield is essentially an American Godzilla flick told from the first-person perspective of an average citizen caught in the middle. In the modern era of self-publishing and micro-information, the presentation was perfect, albeit very disorienting. I felt that was the point, to bring the viewer as close to the action as possible. In a sense, it preys on the general feeling of a city on edge, but never feels like an exploitation. Well, at least for me it didn't.
The creature design itself is unlike anything I've ever seen on screen. Far be it from me to try and describe it, but I'd have to say it's best left experienced on the big screen. You get a sense for how enormous this beast is, how vicious it can be, and the horror of the otherworldy. As one of the character repeated throughout the film, it was a "terrible" beast.
What I wasn't prepared for - and was most surprised by - were the smaller moments that brought it from run-of-the-mill to extraordinary. Matt Reeves, the director, spliced in taped-over footage featuring two of the main characters enjoying an intimate day together. It was a small thing, but significant enough to make one more invested than usual. In contemporary genre films, the wide shot is king. Showcasing the expensive visual effects is primary, and I for one welcome the change from faceless bitmaps scurrying away like fleas to something more engrossing.
If I could complain, it would be for the erratic movements of the hand held digital shots. Halfway through, I wasn't sure I could watch the entire thing without puking, and I guess the frenetic shots are intentional, but there could have been more steady shots for the audience's sake. Aside from having to "cool down" post-viewing, I left the theater in stunned. From what I had seen, it was a fresh take on an old convention and leaves as much to the imagination as it can. There aren't a lot of answers, but I believe that's the fun of the ride. As JJ Abrams says, it's the mystery of the box that's exciting, not the contents of the box. For that, I will still be faithful in his work.
Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars.
A lot of mystery has surrounded this movie given it's oblique marketing campaign and the shroud of secrecy enveloping actors, director, and producer alike. The first glimpse of the movie was in fact one of the earliest shots: the shaky handicam trailer pasted in front of the Transformers movie featuring a party ending with the decapitation of the Statue of Liberty landing in the middle of the streets of Manhattan. There was no title or rating, just the release date tacked on the end of the trailer. Speculation was rampant and few details leaked out aside from the general premise and casting of relatively unknown actors. There were rumors of Cthulu mythos, a remake of Godzilla, and even the outlandish assumption that JJ Abrams and Bad Robot were remaking Voltron. The reality of it all ended up being a lot more interesting not in spite of, but because of the speculation.
Cloverfield is essentially an American Godzilla flick told from the first-person perspective of an average citizen caught in the middle. In the modern era of self-publishing and micro-information, the presentation was perfect, albeit very disorienting. I felt that was the point, to bring the viewer as close to the action as possible. In a sense, it preys on the general feeling of a city on edge, but never feels like an exploitation. Well, at least for me it didn't.
The creature design itself is unlike anything I've ever seen on screen. Far be it from me to try and describe it, but I'd have to say it's best left experienced on the big screen. You get a sense for how enormous this beast is, how vicious it can be, and the horror of the otherworldy. As one of the character repeated throughout the film, it was a "terrible" beast.
What I wasn't prepared for - and was most surprised by - were the smaller moments that brought it from run-of-the-mill to extraordinary. Matt Reeves, the director, spliced in taped-over footage featuring two of the main characters enjoying an intimate day together. It was a small thing, but significant enough to make one more invested than usual. In contemporary genre films, the wide shot is king. Showcasing the expensive visual effects is primary, and I for one welcome the change from faceless bitmaps scurrying away like fleas to something more engrossing.
If I could complain, it would be for the erratic movements of the hand held digital shots. Halfway through, I wasn't sure I could watch the entire thing without puking, and I guess the frenetic shots are intentional, but there could have been more steady shots for the audience's sake. Aside from having to "cool down" post-viewing, I left the theater in stunned. From what I had seen, it was a fresh take on an old convention and leaves as much to the imagination as it can. There aren't a lot of answers, but I believe that's the fun of the ride. As JJ Abrams says, it's the mystery of the box that's exciting, not the contents of the box. For that, I will still be faithful in his work.
Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars.
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