There's a new sheriff in town and his name is Whole Foods.
Usually, the weekly routine is thus: Whoever's week it is too cook picks out a menu (at least two dinners for the week), compiles a list of goods, and then decides when and where to buy groceries. Trader Joe's, being the flavor of the week is usually where, but when we saw that there was a Whole Foods opening up nearby, it's perch at the top of our list became tenuous.
Having actually been there now, it's been dethroned.
Aside from it being a little more steeply priced than TJ's, Whole Foods is a revelation of organic goodness. The variety of everything they have there is astounding. Whatever your heart desires, you can probably find it at Whole Foods. The clincher for me was seeing freshly made tortillas sitting on a shelf in the bakery section. They were impeccably light, doughy, and soft, but it remains to be seen whether they can match the truly handmade sort you can find elsewhere.
My favorite part of the store has to be its devotion to local foods and produce. My second favorite part are the food stations littered about the outskirts of the store. It's often said that the healthiest way to shop at a supermarket is to stick to the outer regions of the store (produce, dairy, and deli), but the wine/tapas bar, churrascaria, and asian counters have to be seen to be believed. I've already been there for lunch and dinner and I have to admit that I am hooked.
One minor quibble is the price point. It's no Bristol Farms, but it's no Trader Joe's either. Granted, when buying a higher quality loaf of bread, you expect to pay more, but it's a great wallet emptier if you're not careful. Otherwise, I could spend hour upon hour just perusing the aisles.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
A Question of Non-Ethics
How much of blogging is actually egotistical?
I was thinking about this today for no particular reason, wondering how you can even tell this in the first place. I imagine there's someone out there who's created a macro to go through a web page and count all the times a person begins their post with "I..." or even uses it in a post. It's hard not to use it though, so maybe it's more along the lines of "I think..." or "I am..." Is this crazy talk?
At any rate, it really dawns on me (yes, it finally has) how much the blog itself has changed how many people interact with each other. No doubt, it's useful for those across great distances to keep up with each other by having a daily/weekly/monthly journal, but it's become known for so much more. Artists use it as an online portfolio, writers use it as an easy publishing tool, and many places are using it as an online magazine of sorts. The largest percentage of all these though, has to be the personal "day in the life of..." variety.
So what makes it an egotistical practice? For instance, is my review of Snow Crash a practice in ego-stroking? Does it really matter what I think of a piece of science-fiction? There's no way I can pass judgment on myself and be fair, so perhaps it is. Perhaps egotistical blogging is in the eye of the beholder. I wrote a while back about the "woe is me" post and the "fabulous life of..." post, somewhere in there is a little bit of ego trying to pop out.
While I suppose there's a shred of ego inherent in having a blog in the first place, there must also be some humility to reign it in. It makes me wonder though, when one receives many hits, subscribers, trackbacks, comments, or whatever self-validating cookie you search for, is it just enabling the ego to rear its ugly head in the first place.
Please, I hope I never get to that level. Ugh.
I was thinking about this today for no particular reason, wondering how you can even tell this in the first place. I imagine there's someone out there who's created a macro to go through a web page and count all the times a person begins their post with "I..." or even uses it in a post. It's hard not to use it though, so maybe it's more along the lines of "I think..." or "I am..." Is this crazy talk?
At any rate, it really dawns on me (yes, it finally has) how much the blog itself has changed how many people interact with each other. No doubt, it's useful for those across great distances to keep up with each other by having a daily/weekly/monthly journal, but it's become known for so much more. Artists use it as an online portfolio, writers use it as an easy publishing tool, and many places are using it as an online magazine of sorts. The largest percentage of all these though, has to be the personal "day in the life of..." variety.
So what makes it an egotistical practice? For instance, is my review of Snow Crash a practice in ego-stroking? Does it really matter what I think of a piece of science-fiction? There's no way I can pass judgment on myself and be fair, so perhaps it is. Perhaps egotistical blogging is in the eye of the beholder. I wrote a while back about the "woe is me" post and the "fabulous life of..." post, somewhere in there is a little bit of ego trying to pop out.
While I suppose there's a shred of ego inherent in having a blog in the first place, there must also be some humility to reign it in. It makes me wonder though, when one receives many hits, subscribers, trackbacks, comments, or whatever self-validating cookie you search for, is it just enabling the ego to rear its ugly head in the first place.
Please, I hope I never get to that level. Ugh.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Listen to Reason
I've been on a reading tear the last couple of months. Mostly, because of before and after I was sick, I've finished three books. Two of which I've written about already. Now, I'm done and ready to talk about another.
Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson, published in 1992 is eerily prophetic, even for a science fiction novel. Seeing that the novel itself is set amongst a technology dominated corporate society in the far-flung future, there are some very wild ideas, but not all of them are that far out there. Maybe that's why I found it to be so enthralling. That and you never know what's going to happen from scene to scene.
Mr. Stephenson wastes no time in setting his scene. From the beginning, we meet Hiro Protagonist who lives modestly as a pizza delivery man and largely as an elite samurai hacker. When not dishing out pie after pie from his mafia-supplied vehicle, Hiro spends his time plugged in to the Metaverse that he and his friends helped create. The Metaverse in question is an idealized internet playground, which innocently enough, is soon to be set upon by a malicious corporate induced virus. Finding the key to its origins and cure is only half of the story of Hiro and company, the journey is infinitely more interesting than any paragraph can convey.
So where is this prophesy? Is it the Second Life-ish nature of the Metaverse that Mr. Stephenson describes? Is it in the corporate lifestyle center type burbclaves that society functions in? Is it in the disaffected general populace looking for a new sense of purpose and belief? Is it in the self-replicating nature of faith and software? Frankly, it appears to be in all of these and this is what I liked mostly about the book: its diverse and knowledgeable juggling of multiple technosociological themes. There are actions, but most often, these actions have cultural consequences. Secondly, Mr. Stephenson's language isn't superfluous or grandiose, it's descriptive for the contemporary eye. With all that goes on in this book, you'd think it would be repetitive or boring, but I found it deadly fascinating.
There's really a lot more to this book than I can ever feel fit to describe in one simple post, but feel free to hit me up for a discussion if you must. Maybe you'll feel inspired to read it too.
Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson, published in 1992 is eerily prophetic, even for a science fiction novel. Seeing that the novel itself is set amongst a technology dominated corporate society in the far-flung future, there are some very wild ideas, but not all of them are that far out there. Maybe that's why I found it to be so enthralling. That and you never know what's going to happen from scene to scene.
Mr. Stephenson wastes no time in setting his scene. From the beginning, we meet Hiro Protagonist who lives modestly as a pizza delivery man and largely as an elite samurai hacker. When not dishing out pie after pie from his mafia-supplied vehicle, Hiro spends his time plugged in to the Metaverse that he and his friends helped create. The Metaverse in question is an idealized internet playground, which innocently enough, is soon to be set upon by a malicious corporate induced virus. Finding the key to its origins and cure is only half of the story of Hiro and company, the journey is infinitely more interesting than any paragraph can convey.
So where is this prophesy? Is it the Second Life-ish nature of the Metaverse that Mr. Stephenson describes? Is it in the corporate lifestyle center type burbclaves that society functions in? Is it in the disaffected general populace looking for a new sense of purpose and belief? Is it in the self-replicating nature of faith and software? Frankly, it appears to be in all of these and this is what I liked mostly about the book: its diverse and knowledgeable juggling of multiple technosociological themes. There are actions, but most often, these actions have cultural consequences. Secondly, Mr. Stephenson's language isn't superfluous or grandiose, it's descriptive for the contemporary eye. With all that goes on in this book, you'd think it would be repetitive or boring, but I found it deadly fascinating.
There's really a lot more to this book than I can ever feel fit to describe in one simple post, but feel free to hit me up for a discussion if you must. Maybe you'll feel inspired to read it too.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
The Problem with Orange County
Yes, I'm from there. Yes, I grew up a little differently than those who live in the nicer parts of Orange County and even those who live in what some people consider to be the slums of Orange County. I'd like to think that I've shed most of what some people consider to be the Orange Curtain by living a few years up North and by living in Los Angeles for a while now, but in some sense, OC is still familiar enough to be "home."
Which is why it makes me sick when I read the comments left by a few citizens of Orange County in this article.
Initially, the article piqued my interest, given that the incident it mentions takes place at one of my favorite taquerias in Costa Mesa, but reading the reaction of certain people to this incident makes me sick to my stomach. If it isn't because of the blatant racism and ignorance pasted about the comments, it's because I'm not surprised people in OC feel entitled enough to make comments like this.
Personally, my experience with racism is very limited. I will always remember the feeling in my stomach when my mother told me how someone in line at Mervyn's told her to "Go back to Mexico." I remember how angry she was and how defiant she was in the face of egregious insult. What's more, I remember how proud I was of my mother to not let such an affront stand and she proceeded to slap the offending party in front of everyone else at the store. It taught me two things: 1. Always stand up and be proud of where you come from and 2. People like this can exist in your own backyard.
Obviously, these comments constitute number 2 and here I am, trying to uphold number 1.
Orange County, which was built on the groves of oranges, the oil fields of Huntington Beach, and the backs of my people, still has this element that existed 20 years ago when my mother took a stand for herself in that store. Sure, the crime that was committed really overshadows a much bigger problem in the community, but shouldn't that be the bigger issue than race? Sadly enough, for these people it never will be, since all they can see are their own Orange Curtains staring back at them.
Please, take a moment and write a letter to the writer of this article, Kimberly Edds, and even if you can, send one to the editor of the Orange County Register.
Which is why it makes me sick when I read the comments left by a few citizens of Orange County in this article.
Initially, the article piqued my interest, given that the incident it mentions takes place at one of my favorite taquerias in Costa Mesa, but reading the reaction of certain people to this incident makes me sick to my stomach. If it isn't because of the blatant racism and ignorance pasted about the comments, it's because I'm not surprised people in OC feel entitled enough to make comments like this.
Personally, my experience with racism is very limited. I will always remember the feeling in my stomach when my mother told me how someone in line at Mervyn's told her to "Go back to Mexico." I remember how angry she was and how defiant she was in the face of egregious insult. What's more, I remember how proud I was of my mother to not let such an affront stand and she proceeded to slap the offending party in front of everyone else at the store. It taught me two things: 1. Always stand up and be proud of where you come from and 2. People like this can exist in your own backyard.
Obviously, these comments constitute number 2 and here I am, trying to uphold number 1.
Orange County, which was built on the groves of oranges, the oil fields of Huntington Beach, and the backs of my people, still has this element that existed 20 years ago when my mother took a stand for herself in that store. Sure, the crime that was committed really overshadows a much bigger problem in the community, but shouldn't that be the bigger issue than race? Sadly enough, for these people it never will be, since all they can see are their own Orange Curtains staring back at them.
Please, take a moment and write a letter to the writer of this article, Kimberly Edds, and even if you can, send one to the editor of the Orange County Register.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Mi Familia
Here we are in the middle of April. The weather's clearing up, the skies are parting, and maybe there's enough sun to start wearing shorts on the weekends. Shorts and sandals, is there anything more typically Californian?
It's about this time of year - specifically April - where I start thinking about my Summer goals and more immediately, about the inevitable Cinco de Mayo celebration. Normally, I take this time to think and prepare at least one new recipe for the shindig, which is pretty much how I spent most of my Easter Sunday.
The recipe will go unnamed (to protect the innocent), but what I took away from it is something I wanted to express more fully. My intention from the outset of planning the Cinco De Mayo menu, aside from making sure everything is somewhat edible, is to include a lot of my family in everything that I do. Traditionally, this dictates that the majority of the recipes are passed-down from my grandparents, to my parents, to me. This year, I picked something a little more traditional and maybe a little more daunting.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for punishment.
Luckily, I had my mom and my grandfather around this weekend to help out and supervise. While one of my favorite memories of my grandmother is her cooking every Saturday morning when we'd visit, I always remember how much time and care she took when she was at that stove. Same goes for my grandfather and the deliberate way he would cut every single piece of meat for any meal. I took this to heart, and it brought a smile to my face when my grandfather took one taste of the finished product and smiled.
It's this recipe, most of all, that I treasure. It reminded me that I have to remember where I come from, I have to remember where my parents came from, and most of all, I have to remember where our people came from. As we sat there and looked at the old molcajete my mother had, you could see how much it had been used and passed down from person to person. Although it no doubt started as a strong and grainy piece of volcanic rock, it was smooth and weathered from use; there were bits of seasoning, spice and herb crammed within each crevice; most of all, it looked older than anyone sitting at that table.
So when I'm cooking a family recipe, it really brings it all to heart what this time of year really means to me, in a much greater way than any tequila shot ever would. In this sense, I hope that everyone really enjoys what I can try and bring to the table, and in the hope that one day, I will be able to teach my children the exact same thing.
It's about this time of year - specifically April - where I start thinking about my Summer goals and more immediately, about the inevitable Cinco de Mayo celebration. Normally, I take this time to think and prepare at least one new recipe for the shindig, which is pretty much how I spent most of my Easter Sunday.
The recipe will go unnamed (to protect the innocent), but what I took away from it is something I wanted to express more fully. My intention from the outset of planning the Cinco De Mayo menu, aside from making sure everything is somewhat edible, is to include a lot of my family in everything that I do. Traditionally, this dictates that the majority of the recipes are passed-down from my grandparents, to my parents, to me. This year, I picked something a little more traditional and maybe a little more daunting.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for punishment.
Luckily, I had my mom and my grandfather around this weekend to help out and supervise. While one of my favorite memories of my grandmother is her cooking every Saturday morning when we'd visit, I always remember how much time and care she took when she was at that stove. Same goes for my grandfather and the deliberate way he would cut every single piece of meat for any meal. I took this to heart, and it brought a smile to my face when my grandfather took one taste of the finished product and smiled.
It's this recipe, most of all, that I treasure. It reminded me that I have to remember where I come from, I have to remember where my parents came from, and most of all, I have to remember where our people came from. As we sat there and looked at the old molcajete my mother had, you could see how much it had been used and passed down from person to person. Although it no doubt started as a strong and grainy piece of volcanic rock, it was smooth and weathered from use; there were bits of seasoning, spice and herb crammed within each crevice; most of all, it looked older than anyone sitting at that table.
So when I'm cooking a family recipe, it really brings it all to heart what this time of year really means to me, in a much greater way than any tequila shot ever would. In this sense, I hope that everyone really enjoys what I can try and bring to the table, and in the hope that one day, I will be able to teach my children the exact same thing.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Ordinary People
Since the wedding's coming up this year, concert madness is at an all-time low. We've been to maybe two shows so far this year, but I think this time last year we'd been to at least four, save the fact that there was another planned real soon ( Coachella, damn you). Anytime we can get out for some music though, I consider a good thing.
So there we were, on Friday, driving out to the Gibson Amphitheater at Universal Studios to watch the jazz/soul/pop sensation Corinne Bailey Rae and the R & B machine that is John Legend. Both are a part of a new crop of singer-songwriters really re-imagining the typical cross-over artist. Not that the songs they perform are overly pop, but more in the sense that the music they create is soulful, danceable, and sweet. That last adjective more aptly describes Ms. Rae, truthfully, but that's most obvious from the sound of her voice.
As an opening act, you can't do any worse than Corinne Bailey Rae. Really, her performance was surprising as I expected more jazzy, breezy tunes in line with her hit single "Put Your Records On" and instead was met with a good set really showcasing how subtle and powerful her voice really is. What drove it home for me though was her friendly and genuine stage presence. As much success as she's had thus far, it's refreshing to have someone perform who is as humble and engaging as Ms. Rae. Maybe I'll ask Grace to let me borrow the album.
After a 30-minute break (and a somewhat late start) John Legend's band took to the stage and kicked off what would be a raucous spectacle. Staying away from this biggest hits for the good majority of the set, Mr. Legend's show was intensely theatrical. We even made a game of it partway through the first five or so songs, compiling a storyline thusly:
What I really liked about his songs is that they aren't your normal love story of loss and redemption, but basically told through the eyes of a one-time lothario. Granted, Mr. Legend may have all this experience or not, but it's not all tongue-in-cheek nor as sleazy as an R. Kelly track. If anything, I likened him to Bobby Brown in his dance moves. He put on one heck of a show and even had a message at the very end with his new Show Me Campaign.
As individuals, both artists made a great impression, but as a team, this show really brought the house down. I haven't seen this many people dancing in their seats in quite some time (well, I haven't been to that many R & B or pop shows really) and it was great to see everyone really enjoying not just the music, but the show as a whole. As entertaining as it was, it really was above all, impressive.
So there we were, on Friday, driving out to the Gibson Amphitheater at Universal Studios to watch the jazz/soul/pop sensation Corinne Bailey Rae and the R & B machine that is John Legend. Both are a part of a new crop of singer-songwriters really re-imagining the typical cross-over artist. Not that the songs they perform are overly pop, but more in the sense that the music they create is soulful, danceable, and sweet. That last adjective more aptly describes Ms. Rae, truthfully, but that's most obvious from the sound of her voice.
As an opening act, you can't do any worse than Corinne Bailey Rae. Really, her performance was surprising as I expected more jazzy, breezy tunes in line with her hit single "Put Your Records On" and instead was met with a good set really showcasing how subtle and powerful her voice really is. What drove it home for me though was her friendly and genuine stage presence. As much success as she's had thus far, it's refreshing to have someone perform who is as humble and engaging as Ms. Rae. Maybe I'll ask Grace to let me borrow the album.
After a 30-minute break (and a somewhat late start) John Legend's band took to the stage and kicked off what would be a raucous spectacle. Staying away from this biggest hits for the good majority of the set, Mr. Legend's show was intensely theatrical. We even made a game of it partway through the first five or so songs, compiling a storyline thusly:
Boy meets girl in relationship
Boy has an affair with girl
Boy breaks up with girl
Boy pleads for her to return
Boy gets girl back
Boy tells girl there in it for the long run
Boy has an affair with girl
Boy breaks up with girl
Boy pleads for her to return
Boy gets girl back
Boy tells girl there in it for the long run
What I really liked about his songs is that they aren't your normal love story of loss and redemption, but basically told through the eyes of a one-time lothario. Granted, Mr. Legend may have all this experience or not, but it's not all tongue-in-cheek nor as sleazy as an R. Kelly track. If anything, I likened him to Bobby Brown in his dance moves. He put on one heck of a show and even had a message at the very end with his new Show Me Campaign.
As individuals, both artists made a great impression, but as a team, this show really brought the house down. I haven't seen this many people dancing in their seats in quite some time (well, I haven't been to that many R & B or pop shows really) and it was great to see everyone really enjoying not just the music, but the show as a whole. As entertaining as it was, it really was above all, impressive.
Monday, April 09, 2007
I Don't See Nothin' Wrong...
After a fine sampling of local brew and a hearty lunch, Saturday was on its merry way to the ultimate cinematical viewing for the year so far in Grindhouse. Although there was a paltry showing at the weekend box office, that really belies the quality of the film and I really question why it could be that no one would pony up and march out to what is the most entertaining 3 hours of film to date.
Seriously, 3 hours!
What you have here is a film spliced together with baleen wire by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino in a sort of love letter to the movies of their youth and no doubt to the movies that inspired them to make their films of such flavor. My theory, Easter weekend was a bad weekend to release the gorefest of utter tastelessness that we witnessed on celluloid. And that's most likely a compliment coming from yours truly.
A double feature, just like the days of old, Grindhouse is in two parts a zombie movie and an automotive thriller intermissioned by some tongue-in-cheek coming attractions only the minds of Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright, and Eli Roth could imagine. Rodriguez' flick, Planet Terror, is the zombie flick in question, which is less zombie than it is biological atrocity. One can tell that Rodriguez really lived and breathed this stuff when he was younger and it pays out with buckets of graphically horrifying karo syrup. Limbs are lost, decapitations abound, and more than a few times I found myself squirming a bit, but at the same time I couldn't help laughing at how ridiculous the entire thing really was. Underneath all of it, however, is a true love for those low-budget cheese-fests I expected to see splattered onscreen. Grade A.
I'll say little of the trailers in between, but I will say that I will never look at poultry the same way again.
Switching the proverbial gear (no pun intended), Tarantino really does up quite a film in the second act. It slows things down a bit much, to tell the truth, but the majority of it is really QT doing what he does best in setting up one heck of a payoff. There is such buildup in all the dialog-heavy scenery of Death Proof that one really starts to question if Tarantino was being over-indulgent, but you truly get lost in the words enough to not mind. While Rodriguez does a great service in a classic Grindhouse monstrosity, Tarantino deconstructs it plainfully. It's gratuitous, yes, but there's more heart and soul here than I ever expected. What's more, it contains one of the most heart-pumping car chases onscreen within the last decade. Many props to the actresses in this film and a special thumbs up to a very game Kurt Russell, something tells me him and Tarantino have more work yet to do.
So in all, I loved it loved it loved it. It was unnecessary, stupid, hilarious, lascivious, exploitative, deliberate, bloody, raunchy, vapid, and glorious at the same time. Most awesome.
Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars.
Seriously, 3 hours!
What you have here is a film spliced together with baleen wire by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino in a sort of love letter to the movies of their youth and no doubt to the movies that inspired them to make their films of such flavor. My theory, Easter weekend was a bad weekend to release the gorefest of utter tastelessness that we witnessed on celluloid. And that's most likely a compliment coming from yours truly.
A double feature, just like the days of old, Grindhouse is in two parts a zombie movie and an automotive thriller intermissioned by some tongue-in-cheek coming attractions only the minds of Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright, and Eli Roth could imagine. Rodriguez' flick, Planet Terror, is the zombie flick in question, which is less zombie than it is biological atrocity. One can tell that Rodriguez really lived and breathed this stuff when he was younger and it pays out with buckets of graphically horrifying karo syrup. Limbs are lost, decapitations abound, and more than a few times I found myself squirming a bit, but at the same time I couldn't help laughing at how ridiculous the entire thing really was. Underneath all of it, however, is a true love for those low-budget cheese-fests I expected to see splattered onscreen. Grade A.
I'll say little of the trailers in between, but I will say that I will never look at poultry the same way again.
Switching the proverbial gear (no pun intended), Tarantino really does up quite a film in the second act. It slows things down a bit much, to tell the truth, but the majority of it is really QT doing what he does best in setting up one heck of a payoff. There is such buildup in all the dialog-heavy scenery of Death Proof that one really starts to question if Tarantino was being over-indulgent, but you truly get lost in the words enough to not mind. While Rodriguez does a great service in a classic Grindhouse monstrosity, Tarantino deconstructs it plainfully. It's gratuitous, yes, but there's more heart and soul here than I ever expected. What's more, it contains one of the most heart-pumping car chases onscreen within the last decade. Many props to the actresses in this film and a special thumbs up to a very game Kurt Russell, something tells me him and Tarantino have more work yet to do.
So in all, I loved it loved it loved it. It was unnecessary, stupid, hilarious, lascivious, exploitative, deliberate, bloody, raunchy, vapid, and glorious at the same time. Most awesome.
Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars.
Monday, April 02, 2007
The Iron Lotus
We'll make this one quick.
Blades of Glory, starring Ron Bobby and Napoleon Dynamite is the biggest comedy of the year. That's really not saying much to begin with, but when you have Will Ferrell at the top of his game as the centerpiece of an already stellar comedic cast, you really can't do any worse. So why was it that it wasn't quite as funny as Talladega Nights and perhaps nowhere near as funny as Anchorman.
My theory is that Anchorman was so high-falutin' hilarious that everything else pales in comparison. Talladega Nights came close, but missed the mark with little momentum. Blades of Glory, however, feels slightly different in a few ways.
You do get the usual celebrity cameos peppered about the film, but you also get more than a usual dose of tremendous comedic performances from the antagonists. Where Mr. Farrell's last film had a more than game Sacha Baron Cohen, this picture ups the game with the duo of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler cashing in on a very solid performance. Honestly, I was more impressed with their work and the sweet supporting performance of Jenna Fischer than most of Jon Heder's time on screen.
The story was OK, but set up some strong set-pieces, but there seemed to be only so much you can mine from the male-male figure skating pair. I expect more, maybe that's why I felt it came out as less.
Enjoyable and laughable, it stands out as a great matinée film and a good film to see during the evening.
Overall Score: 3 out of 5.
Blades of Glory, starring Ron Bobby and Napoleon Dynamite is the biggest comedy of the year. That's really not saying much to begin with, but when you have Will Ferrell at the top of his game as the centerpiece of an already stellar comedic cast, you really can't do any worse. So why was it that it wasn't quite as funny as Talladega Nights and perhaps nowhere near as funny as Anchorman.
My theory is that Anchorman was so high-falutin' hilarious that everything else pales in comparison. Talladega Nights came close, but missed the mark with little momentum. Blades of Glory, however, feels slightly different in a few ways.
You do get the usual celebrity cameos peppered about the film, but you also get more than a usual dose of tremendous comedic performances from the antagonists. Where Mr. Farrell's last film had a more than game Sacha Baron Cohen, this picture ups the game with the duo of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler cashing in on a very solid performance. Honestly, I was more impressed with their work and the sweet supporting performance of Jenna Fischer than most of Jon Heder's time on screen.
The story was OK, but set up some strong set-pieces, but there seemed to be only so much you can mine from the male-male figure skating pair. I expect more, maybe that's why I felt it came out as less.
Enjoyable and laughable, it stands out as a great matinée film and a good film to see during the evening.
Overall Score: 3 out of 5.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Memoirs of Mirth and Mire
Being sick a couple of days either opens doors of opportunity for some annals of productivity, or it breaks you down. In my case, I had one day of breaking down and another somewhat productive day, but the most productive thing I did was to finish a book! When was the last time you could say you finished two books in one month?
Books in question were Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly and Augusten Burroughs' Running with Scissors. Both very different pieces on the surface, and style-wise it was almost jarring to go from one book to the next. Funny thing is, they also happen to be similar in theme in one form or another.
Scanner, outright, is a dense tale of paranoia, identity, and addiction all set within a dense science fiction backdrop. Reading through the tale of Bob Arctor/Agent Fred, I got the sense that the backdrop was the least important part of the story, which, in my opinion, really exalts this book beyond most other sci-fi works. Reading the afterword, it becomes apparent that there is much more to the story than an overarching drug conspiracy. Dick himself was inspired by those he met in an addiction recovery facility and wrote Scanner as a memoir of sorts. When he realized that no one would publish it as a straight tale of non-fiction, Dick Acquiesced and wrote most of it in his traditional science-fiction voice. It would have been most interesting to see this outcome, but the end product doesn't lessen the art of his words. It's bleak and admonishing of recovery facilities that attempt to break people down instead of building them up, but moreso, Dick emphasizes how the choice and the disease of addiction not only ruins lives and relationships but the very essence of a person's humanity. Really, you think it's all about identity, but a little research reveals so much more.
Burroughs' Scissors is a hardly straightforward memoir of his early to mid-adolescence amongst his surrogate family and the relationship with his mentally ill and outrageous mother. Similar in the sense that there is autobiographical material therein, the tone is where both pieces diverge. While Scanner reads long and gripping, Scissors is a breezy work of paperback confession. Most claim it as one of the funniest books of the past decade, and while most of it is quite amusing, it also contains shock value and the hard truth of abuse and loneliness. Through a few passages, I shook my head at the sheer frankness and brutal honesty behind Burroughs' words and often found myself doubting their validity. On the other hand, how could such outrageousness not be true. In any case, Scissors contains the same bleak outlook of the early onset of a life unordinary, however, unlike Mr. Dick's cynical world-view, Mr. Burroughs tends towards optimism and hope for the future. Triumph over adversity is a popular contemporary theme and Scissors makes no exception that this is truth. What better way to present it then through the humorous eyes of the adult self.
So while I enjoyed both books, I would give the literary claim to Dick in this round, mostly because I felt that Burroughs tended towards the unnecessarily gratuitous. Perhaps that is the point of abuse, to show how ugly it can be, but it was most cringe-worthy in reading. Taking away what I will from both of them, these books were inspiring in the plainness and directness of their language. They never tried to be cute or flowery and for this, I appreciate what I've read.
Books in question were Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly and Augusten Burroughs' Running with Scissors. Both very different pieces on the surface, and style-wise it was almost jarring to go from one book to the next. Funny thing is, they also happen to be similar in theme in one form or another.
Scanner, outright, is a dense tale of paranoia, identity, and addiction all set within a dense science fiction backdrop. Reading through the tale of Bob Arctor/Agent Fred, I got the sense that the backdrop was the least important part of the story, which, in my opinion, really exalts this book beyond most other sci-fi works. Reading the afterword, it becomes apparent that there is much more to the story than an overarching drug conspiracy. Dick himself was inspired by those he met in an addiction recovery facility and wrote Scanner as a memoir of sorts. When he realized that no one would publish it as a straight tale of non-fiction, Dick Acquiesced and wrote most of it in his traditional science-fiction voice. It would have been most interesting to see this outcome, but the end product doesn't lessen the art of his words. It's bleak and admonishing of recovery facilities that attempt to break people down instead of building them up, but moreso, Dick emphasizes how the choice and the disease of addiction not only ruins lives and relationships but the very essence of a person's humanity. Really, you think it's all about identity, but a little research reveals so much more.
Burroughs' Scissors is a hardly straightforward memoir of his early to mid-adolescence amongst his surrogate family and the relationship with his mentally ill and outrageous mother. Similar in the sense that there is autobiographical material therein, the tone is where both pieces diverge. While Scanner reads long and gripping, Scissors is a breezy work of paperback confession. Most claim it as one of the funniest books of the past decade, and while most of it is quite amusing, it also contains shock value and the hard truth of abuse and loneliness. Through a few passages, I shook my head at the sheer frankness and brutal honesty behind Burroughs' words and often found myself doubting their validity. On the other hand, how could such outrageousness not be true. In any case, Scissors contains the same bleak outlook of the early onset of a life unordinary, however, unlike Mr. Dick's cynical world-view, Mr. Burroughs tends towards optimism and hope for the future. Triumph over adversity is a popular contemporary theme and Scissors makes no exception that this is truth. What better way to present it then through the humorous eyes of the adult self.
So while I enjoyed both books, I would give the literary claim to Dick in this round, mostly because I felt that Burroughs tended towards the unnecessarily gratuitous. Perhaps that is the point of abuse, to show how ugly it can be, but it was most cringe-worthy in reading. Taking away what I will from both of them, these books were inspiring in the plainness and directness of their language. They never tried to be cute or flowery and for this, I appreciate what I've read.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Devious Works
For some reason, I've sort of resurrected my DeviantArt site. I don't know why, especially since Flickr now lets you filter your photographs and illustrations separately, so I guess it could be temporary.
Sad thing is, I really don't have any current work that I've scanned in, so whatever's on there right now is pretty old and not that good.
Ah, woe is me.
Sad thing is, I really don't have any current work that I've scanned in, so whatever's on there right now is pretty old and not that good.
Ah, woe is me.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Sigh
With regards to my sister's recent post... every time I read this strip, it just kills me.
I'll probably have more on this later.
I'll probably have more on this later.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Posts a-Plenty
Excuse me, while I go on an old-fashioned interweb rant.
So in my perusals, I've stumbled across many an odd little duck blog here and there. Every now and then, one will stick out in my mind maybe because I like how they write or reflect or maybe because it's just habitual, but that's besides the point. The purpose of a blog really does vary, but originally, the blog was an online diary of sorts which gave everyone the right to easily publish whatever they wanted to on the web. When the blog boom hit, around the time of the last election, I think people were still a bit confused as to what this whole "web-log" thing was all about. It's interesting to note how much it has grown in that time, with millions of people contributing to the ether every day.
What gets me, however, is how people use this medium in their personal lives. Depending on how much you intend to share, private blogs are definitely the way to go if you are a private person, but the ones that are public can be somewhat scary. Myself, I tend towards vagaries and allusions more than anything, at least I hope I do, except for the random "Look at me!" post every now and then. When you start getting even bigger "Look at me!" posts from others, it tends to make you shy away from those sorts of happenstances.
For instance, I tend to get a lot of "the fabulous life of Me" vibes from many a young person's ramblings. While there also tends to be a "Woe is me" stance, that's a bit more welcome than the former. While I do tend to enjoy what people have to share about life in general, it gets a little incongruous when the tone of posting tends towards the pretentious.
Wait, is that what I'm doing right now? Hrm...
Anyhow, I declare that there should be a return to humility for most people. What happened to the tendency towards non-self-importance? Does self-publishing really precede self-editing? Should the internets be handing out "license to blog" cards to eliminate the chaff (yes that premise is ridiculous)? Am I just the wrong audience?
I'm most certain that the last statement is the most true.
So in my perusals, I've stumbled across many an odd little duck blog here and there. Every now and then, one will stick out in my mind maybe because I like how they write or reflect or maybe because it's just habitual, but that's besides the point. The purpose of a blog really does vary, but originally, the blog was an online diary of sorts which gave everyone the right to easily publish whatever they wanted to on the web. When the blog boom hit, around the time of the last election, I think people were still a bit confused as to what this whole "web-log" thing was all about. It's interesting to note how much it has grown in that time, with millions of people contributing to the ether every day.
What gets me, however, is how people use this medium in their personal lives. Depending on how much you intend to share, private blogs are definitely the way to go if you are a private person, but the ones that are public can be somewhat scary. Myself, I tend towards vagaries and allusions more than anything, at least I hope I do, except for the random "Look at me!" post every now and then. When you start getting even bigger "Look at me!" posts from others, it tends to make you shy away from those sorts of happenstances.
For instance, I tend to get a lot of "the fabulous life of Me" vibes from many a young person's ramblings. While there also tends to be a "Woe is me" stance, that's a bit more welcome than the former. While I do tend to enjoy what people have to share about life in general, it gets a little incongruous when the tone of posting tends towards the pretentious.
Wait, is that what I'm doing right now? Hrm...
Anyhow, I declare that there should be a return to humility for most people. What happened to the tendency towards non-self-importance? Does self-publishing really precede self-editing? Should the internets be handing out "license to blog" cards to eliminate the chaff (yes that premise is ridiculous)? Am I just the wrong audience?
I'm most certain that the last statement is the most true.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
One and Done
Granted, I figured they'd need another year before they could truly contend, seeing as four of five starters are sophomores and freshman, but I didn't think it would be as absolute a pasting as it was. Rick Pitino and the Louisville Cardinals put on a show in the first half and there was no turning back.
Good times, next season should be great.
Lowlights of the season: Getting crushed by Santa Clara at home and absolutely demolished by an Air Force. Both teams that didn't make the tournament.
Highlights from this season: Wins over Oregon, Washington State, and Virginia.
Top two highlights: Brook Lopez' unorthodox Block Party triple-double against USC and a 19-point comeback over then number-1 UCLA.
Highlights from this season: Wins over Oregon, Washington State, and Virginia.
Top two highlights: Brook Lopez' unorthodox Block Party triple-double against USC and a 19-point comeback over then number-1 UCLA.
Good times, next season should be great.
New Duds
After a few months of trepidation and some boredom over the old look, I finally have switched to the new Blogger 2.0! You may notice some changes, obvious ones are the layout changes and title, but I have also been able to tag on a photostream at the bottom of the page (not that everyone actually reads that far down, but I thought it was neat).
There are probably a few more changes coming, if I can help it at least. Experimentation is key, right?
Right...
There are probably a few more changes coming, if I can help it at least. Experimentation is key, right?
Right...
Monday, March 12, 2007
3 Hunny
There are four major Comic Book movies that I can think of off the top of my head being released in theaters this year. There are also peripheral ones based on independent books, but the notable ones are always the big summer blockbusters from the big two. Already, we've had one in theaters that had a stellar two weeks at the box office, but was a major critical disappointment (can it be a disappointment when you didn't expect much to begin with?) and the next two are dead-center tentpole releases. Before we get to these two, we have one heck of an appetizer in 300.
In need of an education? 300 is based on the five-issue miniseries (now graphic novel) written and drawn by the acclaimed Frank Miller. Some see him as the American Alan Moore, but with his recently drubbed - or maybe misunderstood - work, that title is dubious. In any sense, the series itself is based on one of Mr. Miller's most storied passions, the Battle of Thermopylae. Legend has it that the king of the Spartans, Leonidas, when confronted with the ultimatum of the Persian King, Xerxes, stood fast and rebuffed his request for tribute and submission instead gathering 300 of his best soldiers for a last stand at the Spartan cliffs. Inspired by Leonidas' sacrifice, all of Greece united to destroy the Persian army and end Xerxes bid for world domination. While there is much embellishment and reference to the pagan gods of old, the book is awash in what is perhaps some of Mr. Miller's finest artwork. In this, the movie remains very faithful.
In quality, the movie also remains ever-faithful. Leaning upon the prior example of Robert Rodriguez' adaptation of Sin City, Zach Snyder uses the source material as an effective story board from scene to scene. While the results are not surprisingly stunning, the amount of detail packed into each effect left myself, as a viewer, more than impressed. While you can refer to that era as the Bronze Age, it is never more apparent than with the brownish-gold sheen coloring most, if not all, of the cinematography. Sheer eye candy.
Acting-wise, you see the birth of a new star in Gerard Butler. His performance alone tethers every one of his soldiers to their intensity. As a centerpiece to an ensemble, you could do no worse, but when you have supporting roles featuring Dominic West and Rodrigo Santoro, you elevate a bit more. Although a few have argued that you certainly might need a baguette to go with the ham, when the action is this big, you expect everyone to act as big. All the testosterone in the world must have been splayed on the celluloid before printing, because this film's cast has plenty to spare. One regret is, of course, the lack of female roles, but actress Lena Headey does what she can and considering this film is a sword-and-sandles war epic, that's saying quite a bit.
I'd say I've seen the first great movie of this year. I wouldn't recommend it if you're averse to gore (there's plenty of it) but the thrilling action and innovative visuals will more than plant this movie square in the consciousness of the American public.
At least until Spider-Man 3 is released.
Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars
In need of an education? 300 is based on the five-issue miniseries (now graphic novel) written and drawn by the acclaimed Frank Miller. Some see him as the American Alan Moore, but with his recently drubbed - or maybe misunderstood - work, that title is dubious. In any sense, the series itself is based on one of Mr. Miller's most storied passions, the Battle of Thermopylae. Legend has it that the king of the Spartans, Leonidas, when confronted with the ultimatum of the Persian King, Xerxes, stood fast and rebuffed his request for tribute and submission instead gathering 300 of his best soldiers for a last stand at the Spartan cliffs. Inspired by Leonidas' sacrifice, all of Greece united to destroy the Persian army and end Xerxes bid for world domination. While there is much embellishment and reference to the pagan gods of old, the book is awash in what is perhaps some of Mr. Miller's finest artwork. In this, the movie remains very faithful.
In quality, the movie also remains ever-faithful. Leaning upon the prior example of Robert Rodriguez' adaptation of Sin City, Zach Snyder uses the source material as an effective story board from scene to scene. While the results are not surprisingly stunning, the amount of detail packed into each effect left myself, as a viewer, more than impressed. While you can refer to that era as the Bronze Age, it is never more apparent than with the brownish-gold sheen coloring most, if not all, of the cinematography. Sheer eye candy.
Acting-wise, you see the birth of a new star in Gerard Butler. His performance alone tethers every one of his soldiers to their intensity. As a centerpiece to an ensemble, you could do no worse, but when you have supporting roles featuring Dominic West and Rodrigo Santoro, you elevate a bit more. Although a few have argued that you certainly might need a baguette to go with the ham, when the action is this big, you expect everyone to act as big. All the testosterone in the world must have been splayed on the celluloid before printing, because this film's cast has plenty to spare. One regret is, of course, the lack of female roles, but actress Lena Headey does what she can and considering this film is a sword-and-sandles war epic, that's saying quite a bit.
I'd say I've seen the first great movie of this year. I wouldn't recommend it if you're averse to gore (there's plenty of it) but the thrilling action and innovative visuals will more than plant this movie square in the consciousness of the American public.
At least until Spider-Man 3 is released.
Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Bracket Bound
Alright, so Stanford made the tourney. As an 11-seed, we're pretty strong, but facing Lousiville is less than ideal. If this were at least 5 years ago, I'd be fairly confident, but with a young team facing it's first tournament in a couple years, it's a tall order. Regardless, I look forward to filling out the bracket when the time comes.
Monday, March 05, 2007
A Night at the Museum
Friday evening, after a long and hard work week, Grace and I took a moment, not to decompress, but to drive out to Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for their "Treachery of Images" exhibit featuring the great works of Rene Magritte. After some wrangling of the parking lot attendant outside of the museum, we were on our way.
Since it was the final weekend of the show, the lines were understandably long and diverse. Surprisingly, the draw of Magritte spans several demographics of people. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since most consider his artwork to be an overarching examination of the contextual understanding of the human psyche. His work doesn't suck either.
Anyhow, the show was pretty large for such a relatively small section of the museum. We were treated to several of his more well-known works, and while Grace was very upset that we didn't get to see "The Son of Man", we did get to see "The Treachery of Images" close-up. I was most amazed that the paint still looked so fresh on the canvas and by the fact that many people were intrigued in the first place. Of course, I tried remember most of what we studied about Magritte in school, but seeing as it was almost 10 years ago, the details are a bit fuzzy. What I like most about his paintings is the unsettling nature of his imagery. I can use the most oft-used phrase that "It strikes me," but I'll refrain. Let's just say that most of his works are just dark and clever enough to elicit a few furrowed brows and perhaps a chuckle.
Our post-game plan was dinner, as usual. Since it was Friday (and since it's Lent) we hit up a nearby sushi place very worthy of a Yelp or two and called it a night.
Since it was the final weekend of the show, the lines were understandably long and diverse. Surprisingly, the draw of Magritte spans several demographics of people. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since most consider his artwork to be an overarching examination of the contextual understanding of the human psyche. His work doesn't suck either.
Anyhow, the show was pretty large for such a relatively small section of the museum. We were treated to several of his more well-known works, and while Grace was very upset that we didn't get to see "The Son of Man", we did get to see "The Treachery of Images" close-up. I was most amazed that the paint still looked so fresh on the canvas and by the fact that many people were intrigued in the first place. Of course, I tried remember most of what we studied about Magritte in school, but seeing as it was almost 10 years ago, the details are a bit fuzzy. What I like most about his paintings is the unsettling nature of his imagery. I can use the most oft-used phrase that "It strikes me," but I'll refrain. Let's just say that most of his works are just dark and clever enough to elicit a few furrowed brows and perhaps a chuckle.
Our post-game plan was dinner, as usual. Since it was Friday (and since it's Lent) we hit up a nearby sushi place very worthy of a Yelp or two and called it a night.
Friday, March 02, 2007
What to do...
I've been neglecting the bloggerly duties, as I am wont to do in the first half of the year. Maybe it's because it's busy, or maybe it's because I'm once again reevaluating goals and such.
In any case, I wanted to write up another short story, but I'm at a loss. It helps when I'm listening to music, but even so, I've got nothing. Besides drawing a blank, I've been trying to bone up on my sketching a bit. Remind me again, should I be posting more drawings, more writings, or just random bits?
Hrm...
In any case, I wanted to write up another short story, but I'm at a loss. It helps when I'm listening to music, but even so, I've got nothing. Besides drawing a blank, I've been trying to bone up on my sketching a bit. Remind me again, should I be posting more drawings, more writings, or just random bits?
Hrm...
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
He's Going the Distance
By and far, one of the best parts of planning the wedding, besides the awesome-ness of trying to be creative about everything, has to be the cake-tastings we've done thus far. Not to give too much away early, we've been playing with the idea of cupcakes, very much like my sister. What makes them so enticing, besides the tastiness, has to be the serve-ability factor. Plus, I think most people would be more excited about eating cupcakes than just another slice of chocolate cake.
So here we are, looking at a few of the latest and greatest, which includes flavors like the red velvet, vanilla, dulce de leche, peanut butter, chocolate, and lemon. My favorites of which could be pretty obvious, but all of these were very good. What's most impressive out of all the places we've been is how unique every presentation has been. If you just look at the detail of these suckers, you'll have a pretty good idea of what we've seen so far.
So, three down, two more to go. I'm going to make sure not to eat much this next time, however. That bloaty, cake feeling just can't be good all the time.
So here we are, looking at a few of the latest and greatest, which includes flavors like the red velvet, vanilla, dulce de leche, peanut butter, chocolate, and lemon. My favorites of which could be pretty obvious, but all of these were very good. What's most impressive out of all the places we've been is how unique every presentation has been. If you just look at the detail of these suckers, you'll have a pretty good idea of what we've seen so far.
So, three down, two more to go. I'm going to make sure not to eat much this next time, however. That bloaty, cake feeling just can't be good all the time.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Musical Sunsets
Alright, I've got a few discs in the player at the moment spinning 'round and 'round and getting some ear-time. I've also got a few more that I want to get in the can this weekend, if I'm lucky. Here's the rundown:
On deck this time: The Good, the Bad, and the Queen. The Shins. Of Montreal .
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
It's very operatic, in the space sense. Imagine if Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon were surfing on cosmic waves above the Martian landscape and you get a pretty good idea of where this band comes from. Matthew Bellamy's vocals are laced with ethereal lyrics and an intensely razor-thin falsetto, the guitars buzz over the stratosphere, and the rhythms peal along with every track satisfyingly. I think it's a bit of a departure from the arpeggio-laden fare that riddled their two previous efforts and it's definitely a step in a more grand direction, but not a misstep at all. Enjoyable to say the least.
Bloc Party - Weekend in the City
Think of every band of the new wave era and then every band of the last few years that's dredged the sound out from the sewage and you would have a pretty good idea of where Bloc Party came from on their first self-titled record. The follow-up, while strong in its own right, suffers, maybe, from being a departure from the dance-rock flavor they became known for. You think Franz Ferdinand, you think New Order, but Bloc Party has instead gone more U2 and Coldplay. The guitars do not whip around as they did before, but instead cake layer upon layer of sound across every track. I have a feeling it might just be the initial listen, but I'm not liking it as much as the first right out of the gate. It requires more time, I guess, but it's listenable at least.
Tokyo Police Club - Self-titled
These Canadian gentlemen have gotten themselves some nice little reviews in the trades so I figured I'd grab it from the shelves. 7 tracks only, and it's a nice little record. Nothing really blows my socks off initially, but the energy of a young band is terribly impressive. The melodies are more punk than pop, but it certainly wavers in both territories for a bit longer than you'd imagine. It reminds me a lot of the We Are Scientists record as every track really ramps up the tempo but manages to stay together both musically and lyrically. There's no shouting or yelling, but a whole lot of fun. Not bad at all.
It's very operatic, in the space sense. Imagine if Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon were surfing on cosmic waves above the Martian landscape and you get a pretty good idea of where this band comes from. Matthew Bellamy's vocals are laced with ethereal lyrics and an intensely razor-thin falsetto, the guitars buzz over the stratosphere, and the rhythms peal along with every track satisfyingly. I think it's a bit of a departure from the arpeggio-laden fare that riddled their two previous efforts and it's definitely a step in a more grand direction, but not a misstep at all. Enjoyable to say the least.
Bloc Party - Weekend in the City
Think of every band of the new wave era and then every band of the last few years that's dredged the sound out from the sewage and you would have a pretty good idea of where Bloc Party came from on their first self-titled record. The follow-up, while strong in its own right, suffers, maybe, from being a departure from the dance-rock flavor they became known for. You think Franz Ferdinand, you think New Order, but Bloc Party has instead gone more U2 and Coldplay. The guitars do not whip around as they did before, but instead cake layer upon layer of sound across every track. I have a feeling it might just be the initial listen, but I'm not liking it as much as the first right out of the gate. It requires more time, I guess, but it's listenable at least.
Tokyo Police Club - Self-titled
These Canadian gentlemen have gotten themselves some nice little reviews in the trades so I figured I'd grab it from the shelves. 7 tracks only, and it's a nice little record. Nothing really blows my socks off initially, but the energy of a young band is terribly impressive. The melodies are more punk than pop, but it certainly wavers in both territories for a bit longer than you'd imagine. It reminds me a lot of the We Are Scientists record as every track really ramps up the tempo but manages to stay together both musically and lyrically. There's no shouting or yelling, but a whole lot of fun. Not bad at all.
On deck this time: The Good, the Bad, and the Queen. The Shins. Of Montreal .
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Pug-nacious
If any of you out there have met Frankie, please keep him in your thoughts. Our little guy has been diagnosed with having not only his usual heart murmur, but now congestive heart failure. The vet has given him some medication, but I know it can only last so long. He's going to be an ancient 13 next month, and he's so small now, I kind of miss having him run around like he usually does.
I remember I used to play bullfighter with him when he was only a year or so old. He'd chase around a dish towel as if I was a matador. I like to think of that to make me feel better...
I remember I used to play bullfighter with him when he was only a year or so old. He'd chase around a dish towel as if I was a matador. I like to think of that to make me feel better...
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Ask a Mexican
This morning on the way to work, I was actually listening to the radio. Given that my CD-changer is on the fritz, this is very unusual, but given that I can't drive by myself without music, it's not terribly unusual.
While it was a little cold and a little dreary, the morning drive isn't terrible at all and the radio does make a world of distance during the five-minute commute. What got me interested this morning, besides Kevin and Bean talking about the strange case of the 14 year-old victim who hooked up with both mother and daughter, was a segment on Indie 103.1's morning show titled, "Ask a Mexican." The conceit of the show is that the audience calls in to the morning program and a frequent Mexican-American guest and collaborator fields questions.
First off, the initial round of questions amused me in that people were genuinely interested to know why there were certain "truths" about Mexican people they were familiar with. There were even a few socially relevant questions, the most interesting to me being why there would be so much Mexican-on-Mexican hatred. It got me to thinking, would I be able to answer these questions with as much knowledge and panache as the guest contributor? What's more, how do the producers of this show manage to weed through many calls that could be construed as hurtful, mean, and maybe even racist?
I resign myself to the fact that I couldn't possibly be able to answer every question, given my Orange County upbringing and my relative minimal lack of Latino culture knowledge (Chicano Literature, that's as far as the scholarly roads have taken me). What gets me, however, is how much more willing we are to make fun of ourselves as an ethnicity. I suppose this is true for most other peoples of color, since you tend to laugh at stereotypes as much as you hate them. For every offending Abercrombie t-shirt that is out there, there could very well be a person cracking jokes about his own culture and race to raucous laughter. Chris Rock is evidence of this and so is John Stewart, to their own extents.
Myself, I'm guilty of this. But is it any less true that we're truly taking life too seriously if we can't laugh at ourselves?
You got me, I was just enjoying the drive.
PS - If you really do have questions, I can try and answer. Trust me, they won't always be right, true, or serious, but at least it could be entertaining.
While it was a little cold and a little dreary, the morning drive isn't terrible at all and the radio does make a world of distance during the five-minute commute. What got me interested this morning, besides Kevin and Bean talking about the strange case of the 14 year-old victim who hooked up with both mother and daughter, was a segment on Indie 103.1's morning show titled, "Ask a Mexican." The conceit of the show is that the audience calls in to the morning program and a frequent Mexican-American guest and collaborator fields questions.
First off, the initial round of questions amused me in that people were genuinely interested to know why there were certain "truths" about Mexican people they were familiar with. There were even a few socially relevant questions, the most interesting to me being why there would be so much Mexican-on-Mexican hatred. It got me to thinking, would I be able to answer these questions with as much knowledge and panache as the guest contributor? What's more, how do the producers of this show manage to weed through many calls that could be construed as hurtful, mean, and maybe even racist?
I resign myself to the fact that I couldn't possibly be able to answer every question, given my Orange County upbringing and my relative minimal lack of Latino culture knowledge (Chicano Literature, that's as far as the scholarly roads have taken me). What gets me, however, is how much more willing we are to make fun of ourselves as an ethnicity. I suppose this is true for most other peoples of color, since you tend to laugh at stereotypes as much as you hate them. For every offending Abercrombie t-shirt that is out there, there could very well be a person cracking jokes about his own culture and race to raucous laughter. Chris Rock is evidence of this and so is John Stewart, to their own extents.
Myself, I'm guilty of this. But is it any less true that we're truly taking life too seriously if we can't laugh at ourselves?
You got me, I was just enjoying the drive.
PS - If you really do have questions, I can try and answer. Trust me, they won't always be right, true, or serious, but at least it could be entertaining.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
The Return of the Limerick
Yes, once again:
Underneath pithy, dark fluffies
Sleep ratty-haired, rambling fat scruffies.
Near death they do live,
And I don't mean to be glib
But mostly they smell like wet puppies.
A boxer limped by on crutches
With black eyes and scowling red stitches.
With teeth gleaming like doves
He threw down his gloves
And attempted to woo Britain's duchess
I dreamt of a terrible yak
Who's coat was bloodied and black.
He chased me for days
Yelping deep howling bays.
Methinks 'twas born from my welsh rabbit snack
Sleep ratty-haired, rambling fat scruffies.
Near death they do live,
And I don't mean to be glib
But mostly they smell like wet puppies.
A boxer limped by on crutches
With black eyes and scowling red stitches.
With teeth gleaming like doves
He threw down his gloves
And attempted to woo Britain's duchess
I dreamt of a terrible yak
Who's coat was bloodied and black.
He chased me for days
Yelping deep howling bays.
Methinks 'twas born from my welsh rabbit snack
Monday, January 29, 2007
L'Incal Noire
I just finished reading Jodorowsky and Moebius' famous album, The Incal, this last weekend. While it is considered to be one of the great works of science fiction in its genre, it is more amazing to try and dissect the intracacies. Having picked up this little tome at The Secret Headquarters, I'm sure there are many in that same shop who have an opinion or two about it. Well, here's mine at least.
to summarize the plot of The Incal would take way more room than I feel ready to commit to ether, so instead I'll just summarize by saying a galaxy is in jeopardy for the sole purpose of a group of alien beings seeking a mysterious object known as the Incal. The question of identity, honor, maturity, and birth are examined, but one would expect nothing less philosophical from the writer and artist combination present. Start to finish, the Incal is a picaresque journey of astrological proportions. What begins with descent, ends in ascent, figuratively. It's a delightfully elliptical and inspiring precursor to Metal Hurlant and all the novellas that would come after it.
A few notes, at times it seemed that Jodorowsky was writing this piece on the fly. If it weren't for the fact that it was too entertaining for me to even care, it would be annoying to picture both he and Jean Giraud cackling at the insanity of each page. While this is true, I do believe that the work itself cemented Moebius as one of the great visual storytellers of our era. If you've never seen his work before and are a fan of the medium, it's as mandatory as any Miyazaki film would be to an animation buff.
Although the ending felt slightly disappointing, it ended up making sense in the long run. The entire theme can be summed up as a great struggle between light and dark, as most adventures can be, but it's as fitting as it is bittersweet. Packed with imaginative visuals and even more densely crammed with dialog, I'd recommend it to anyone who's a fan of graphic storytelling medium. If you're but a casual reader, however, I'd save this one for the back of the shelf.
to summarize the plot of The Incal would take way more room than I feel ready to commit to ether, so instead I'll just summarize by saying a galaxy is in jeopardy for the sole purpose of a group of alien beings seeking a mysterious object known as the Incal. The question of identity, honor, maturity, and birth are examined, but one would expect nothing less philosophical from the writer and artist combination present. Start to finish, the Incal is a picaresque journey of astrological proportions. What begins with descent, ends in ascent, figuratively. It's a delightfully elliptical and inspiring precursor to Metal Hurlant and all the novellas that would come after it.
A few notes, at times it seemed that Jodorowsky was writing this piece on the fly. If it weren't for the fact that it was too entertaining for me to even care, it would be annoying to picture both he and Jean Giraud cackling at the insanity of each page. While this is true, I do believe that the work itself cemented Moebius as one of the great visual storytellers of our era. If you've never seen his work before and are a fan of the medium, it's as mandatory as any Miyazaki film would be to an animation buff.
Although the ending felt slightly disappointing, it ended up making sense in the long run. The entire theme can be summed up as a great struggle between light and dark, as most adventures can be, but it's as fitting as it is bittersweet. Packed with imaginative visuals and even more densely crammed with dialog, I'd recommend it to anyone who's a fan of graphic storytelling medium. If you're but a casual reader, however, I'd save this one for the back of the shelf.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Fwd: Cooooooachella!
By the by, here's the unconfirmed Coachella line-up for 2007, which includes Rage Against the Machine!!
I'll make sure to update with links as soon as the official word is out.
!!!
Air
Erol Alkan
Lily Allen
Anathallo
The Arcade Fire
Arctic Monkeys
The Avett Brothers
Benny Benassi
Andrew Bird
Bjork
The Black Keys
Blonde Redhead
Bojones
Brazilian Girls
Brother Ali
Busdriver
Manu Chao
Circa Survive
Jarvis Cocker
Coco Rosie
Comedians Of Comedy
Cornelius
The Coup
The Cribs
Crowded House
CSS
The Decemberists
Digitalism
DJ Heather
DJ Shadow
Roky Erickson And The Explosives
Evil Nine
Explosions In The Sky
Fair To Midland
Faithless
The Feeling
Felix Da Housecat
Lupe Fiasco
The Fields
Fountains Of Wayne
The Frames
The Fratellis
Ghostface Killah
Girl Talk
Gogol Bordello
Jose Gonzales
The Good, The Bad And The Queen
Gotan Project
Grizzly Bear
Happy Mondays
Richie Hawtin
Hot Chip
Infected Mushroom
Interpol
The Kooks
Jack's Mannequin
Junior Boys
Justice
Kaiser Chiefs
Kings Of Leon
Klaxons
Kokono No. 1
LCD Soundsystem
Amos Lee
Stephen Marley feat Jr. Gong
Mika
MSTRKRFT
Willie Nelson
New Pornographers
Nickel Creek
Nightwatchman
The Noisettes
Of Montreal
Ozomatli
Peaches
Peeping Tom
Peter, Bjorn & John
Pharaohe Monche
Placebo
Pop Levi
Rage Against The Machine
The Rapture
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mike Relm
Damien Rice
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
The Roots
Satellite Party
Silversun Pickups
Sonic Youth
Soulwax
Spank Rock
Sparklehorse
Regina Spektor
Tapes 'n Tapes
Tiesto
Tilly And The Wall
Tokyo Police Club
Travis
Paul Van Dyk
Julieta Venegas
VNV Nation
Rufus Wainwright
We Are Scientists
Gillian Welch
Amy Winehouse
Yeva
Air
Erol Alkan
Lily Allen
Anathallo
The Arcade Fire
Arctic Monkeys
The Avett Brothers
Benny Benassi
Andrew Bird
Bjork
The Black Keys
Blonde Redhead
Bojones
Brazilian Girls
Brother Ali
Busdriver
Manu Chao
Circa Survive
Jarvis Cocker
Coco Rosie
Comedians Of Comedy
Cornelius
The Coup
The Cribs
Crowded House
CSS
The Decemberists
Digitalism
DJ Heather
DJ Shadow
Roky Erickson And The Explosives
Evil Nine
Explosions In The Sky
Fair To Midland
Faithless
The Feeling
Felix Da Housecat
Lupe Fiasco
The Fields
Fountains Of Wayne
The Frames
The Fratellis
Ghostface Killah
Girl Talk
Gogol Bordello
Jose Gonzales
The Good, The Bad And The Queen
Gotan Project
Grizzly Bear
Happy Mondays
Richie Hawtin
Hot Chip
Infected Mushroom
Interpol
The Kooks
Jack's Mannequin
Junior Boys
Justice
Kaiser Chiefs
Kings Of Leon
Klaxons
Kokono No. 1
LCD Soundsystem
Amos Lee
Stephen Marley feat Jr. Gong
Mika
MSTRKRFT
Willie Nelson
New Pornographers
Nickel Creek
Nightwatchman
The Noisettes
Of Montreal
Ozomatli
Peaches
Peeping Tom
Peter, Bjorn & John
Pharaohe Monche
Placebo
Pop Levi
Rage Against The Machine
The Rapture
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mike Relm
Damien Rice
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
The Roots
Satellite Party
Silversun Pickups
Sonic Youth
Soulwax
Spank Rock
Sparklehorse
Regina Spektor
Tapes 'n Tapes
Tiesto
Tilly And The Wall
Tokyo Police Club
Travis
Paul Van Dyk
Julieta Venegas
VNV Nation
Rufus Wainwright
We Are Scientists
Gillian Welch
Amy Winehouse
Yeva
I'll make sure to update with links as soon as the official word is out.
Wii-licious
Yes, oh yes. We've secured the latest and greatest in the Nintendo line-up, the much sought-after and legendary Nintendo Wii. At one time referred to as the Revolution, the Wii is the biggest risk and, so far, the greatest recent success in their line of home consoles. When the set-top box itself was revealed, I personally wasn't too intrigued, at least until they revealed their control scheme...
Traditionally, consoles come with a single controller to use with both hands. Building on the innovation of the DS, Nintendo decided to branch out to those undiscovered demographics and included a one-handed remote control that could be paired with numerous accessories. The most useful of which is the nunchuk control stick. The unique part of this one-handed remote scheme is its motion-sensing technology. With the remote, you can aim, slash, and drive your way through games without any previous experience. I thought this was a great way to reach out to the uninitiated, and I was never more right than when I saw the mad dash to pick up the console.
We were lucky enough to pick one up this last weekend and so far, it's been a blast. The bundle we secured came with two games and the console itself. As I've familiarized myself with Twilight Princess, I've fallen in love with the Zelda franchise again, but the surprising game so far has been Wii Sports . While I'm not very good at the baseball portion of the game, bowling, boxing, golf, and tennis are all sorts of fun. You'd think we were crazy, swinging that remote around all over the place. You'd think so, at least until you've played it.
So until I get tired of it, bored of it, or ready for some innovations, the Wii is an initial success. We'll come back in six months when we've had a little more time to break this sucker in.
Traditionally, consoles come with a single controller to use with both hands. Building on the innovation of the DS, Nintendo decided to branch out to those undiscovered demographics and included a one-handed remote control that could be paired with numerous accessories. The most useful of which is the nunchuk control stick. The unique part of this one-handed remote scheme is its motion-sensing technology. With the remote, you can aim, slash, and drive your way through games without any previous experience. I thought this was a great way to reach out to the uninitiated, and I was never more right than when I saw the mad dash to pick up the console.
We were lucky enough to pick one up this last weekend and so far, it's been a blast. The bundle we secured came with two games and the console itself. As I've familiarized myself with Twilight Princess, I've fallen in love with the Zelda franchise again, but the surprising game so far has been Wii Sports . While I'm not very good at the baseball portion of the game, bowling, boxing, golf, and tennis are all sorts of fun. You'd think we were crazy, swinging that remote around all over the place. You'd think so, at least until you've played it.
So until I get tired of it, bored of it, or ready for some innovations, the Wii is an initial success. We'll come back in six months when we've had a little more time to break this sucker in.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Nostalgia City
It's a year for looking back, it seems. 10 years removed from high school will do that to you, I guess. It probably wouldn't hold much water, but since there's a reunion coming up, you start hearing from people you haven't heard from in a long, long time, and it brings back lots of memories. One of my favorites was always our trips to Jose McCoy's.
For the uninitiated, this place was our Peach Pit. Across the street from our high school, it was a local taco/hamburger place that served it up hot and cheap. I remember we could get a large carton of fries to share with each other and I'd also usually get a bean and cheese burrito. We could spend a couple hours there and just hang out. You know, high school stuff. So, when the shopping center where Jose McCoy's was bought out, it was with much sadness that we saw it shut down.
Luckily, it re-opened a couple of years ago in a new location, but with the same ownership and the same simple menu. Having not been there in a while, I took a trip on Friday to see if it was still the same experience. While the food wasn't as great as I remembered, it still brought back those memories.
Here's to that nostalgia though. As the reunion gets closer, I'm sure there will be more to report.
For the uninitiated, this place was our Peach Pit. Across the street from our high school, it was a local taco/hamburger place that served it up hot and cheap. I remember we could get a large carton of fries to share with each other and I'd also usually get a bean and cheese burrito. We could spend a couple hours there and just hang out. You know, high school stuff. So, when the shopping center where Jose McCoy's was bought out, it was with much sadness that we saw it shut down.
Luckily, it re-opened a couple of years ago in a new location, but with the same ownership and the same simple menu. Having not been there in a while, I took a trip on Friday to see if it was still the same experience. While the food wasn't as great as I remembered, it still brought back those memories.
Here's to that nostalgia though. As the reunion gets closer, I'm sure there will be more to report.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Globes! - Recap
Here's the rundown from last night, and just so you know I'm not lying, here's the original post as well:
MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES
DRAMATIC PICTURE
Prediction - The Departed. The Hollywood Foreign Press loves Scorsese.
Winner - Babel. The HFPA loves diversity even better.
MUSICAL OR COMEDY PICTURE
Prediction - Dreamgirls. A pure musical, the ensemble performances are said to be some of the strongest so far this year.
Winner - Dreamgirls. Big night for this picture, it seems.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE
Prediction - Letters from Iwo Jima. Having shown up on a few critics' "Best Of" lists, I'm gonna say it's heavily favored to take away the award.
Winner - Letters from Iwo Jima. The critics can't be wrong.
BEST DIRECTOR
Prediction - Martin Scorsese. I'd like to see him win just because the sheer force of working with such big names has to make him more of an icon than he already is.
Winner - Martin Scorsese. It's still a mystery as to how the director and picture can be two different animals in this case, but Scorsese is the man.
BEST DRAMATIC ACTOR
Prediction - Forest Whitaker. He may be the dark horse of the group, but he always delivers consistently.
Winner - Forest Whitaker. Once again, he delivers.
BEST DRAMATIC ACTRESS
Prediction - Penelope Cruz. I love her Spanish language work.
Winner - Helen Mirren. Apparently, she was amazing. This film is still on my "to see" list.
BEST ACTOR, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Prediction - Johnny Depp. For the same reason that the academy loves Scorsese, they love the Depp.
Winner - Sacha Baren Cohen. I should have known the international flavor would help.
BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Prediction - Annette Bening. Wouldn't it be nice for her to win while her husband accepts a lifetime achievement award?
Winner - Meryl Streep. I would have liked to have seen Bening win, does Meryl Streep need any more awards?
SUPPORTING DRAMATIC ACTOR
Prediction - Jack Nicholson. Although I was going to pick Affleck, because I love the underdog, Jack Nicholson is the smart bet.
Winner - Eddie Murphy. Like I said, "Dreamgirls" had a big night.
SUPPORTING DRAMATIC ACTRESS
Prediction - Jennifer Hudson. I don't think I've ever heard so much buzz about a cinematic performance in a long time.
Winner - Jennifer Hudson. And the buzz pays off.
ANIMATED FILM
Prediction - "Cars." Pixar wins, every time.
Winner - "Cars." Nice to see John Lasseter in a tie. That guy loves his job.
SCREENPLAY
Prediction - Guillermo Arriaga. From what I've heard, "Babel" is another classic Inarritu film weaving and intersecting around several complex characters. Writing such a film deserves an award all by itself.
Winner - Peter Morgan. "The Queen" rakes in the award for stellar writing. It's the international flavor, I tell you, either way.
ORIGINAL SCORE
Prediction - Hans Zimmer. Unfortunately, I don't recognize any other names.
Winner - Alexandre Desplat. I haven't heard much about "The Painted Veil" but it's got Oscar written all over it.
SONG
Prediction - "Listen." Beyonce's gotta win, because she's popular.
Winner - "The Song of the Heart." Beyonce's nightmare year continues.
TELEVISION CATEGORIES
DRAMATIC TV SERIES
Prediction - "Heroes." Because it's such a tough category, I'm going for the new show. I say Grey's is the favorite because it's the least genre-ish and the most mainstream, but I'd like to see Heroes take it all.
Winner - "Grey's Anatomy." Should have gone with the favorite, eh?
BEST ACTOR, TV DRAMA
Prediction - Hugh Laurie. Who could play Sherlock Holmes better than Hugh Laurie? Nobody, that's who.
Winner - Hugh Laurie. Nobody does it better.
BEST ACTRESS, TV DRAMA
Prediction - Kyra Sedgewick. While Eve and Ellen, who can get their cry on at the drop of a hat, are quite popular, Kyra plays a strong, complex character week in and week out on "The Closer." Although Edie Falco's character on "The Sopranos" is award fodder, Kyra walks away with this one.
Winner - Kyra Sedgewick. She's simply great in this role. A big win for her and the show.
TV SERIES, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Prediction - "The Office." Easily the funniest show of the bunch.
Winner - "Ugly Betty." The new entry takes home the prize after only half a season. Pretty incredible.
BEST ACTOR, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Prediction - Alec Baldwin. I love Scrubs and I love Steve Carell's work in general, but Mr. Baldwin does a great job at playing the all-powerful, all-seeing network executive.
Winner - Alec Baldwin. Simply the best part of one of the top new shows this season.
BEST ACTRESS, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Prediction - America Ferrera. She's not really that "Ugly."
Winner - America Ferrera. Seriously, did you think she wouldn't win?
BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Prediction - "Elizabeth I." I'm throwing this out there as a shot in the dark.
Winner - "Elizabeth I." Bullseye.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Prediction - Gillian Anderson. SCULLY!
Winner - Helen Mirren. Two in one night for both a movie and a mini-series. How awesome.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Prediction - Bill Nighy. Even if Mr. Ejiofor was great in Serenity, Bill Nighy really delves deep into his performances.
Winner - Bill Nighy. Can you believe I picked this based on his performance in Pirates 2? Neither can I.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Prediction - Sarah Paulson . The Lisp wins!
Winner - Emily Blunt. Who!?
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Prediction - Masi Oka. Hiro is awesome. More awesome than the Pivs.
Winner - Jeremy Irons. The international flavor pulls through again.
CECIL B. DEMILLE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Warren Beatty
Prediction - Like this one even needs a prediction...
Winner - Yea... that would be lame.
So, not too bad this year. 48%, but I'm no expert.
DRAMATIC PICTURE
Prediction - The Departed. The Hollywood Foreign Press loves Scorsese.
Winner - Babel. The HFPA loves diversity even better.
MUSICAL OR COMEDY PICTURE
Prediction - Dreamgirls. A pure musical, the ensemble performances are said to be some of the strongest so far this year.
Winner - Dreamgirls. Big night for this picture, it seems.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE
Prediction - Letters from Iwo Jima. Having shown up on a few critics' "Best Of" lists, I'm gonna say it's heavily favored to take away the award.
Winner - Letters from Iwo Jima. The critics can't be wrong.
BEST DIRECTOR
Prediction - Martin Scorsese. I'd like to see him win just because the sheer force of working with such big names has to make him more of an icon than he already is.
Winner - Martin Scorsese. It's still a mystery as to how the director and picture can be two different animals in this case, but Scorsese is the man.
BEST DRAMATIC ACTOR
Prediction - Forest Whitaker. He may be the dark horse of the group, but he always delivers consistently.
Winner - Forest Whitaker. Once again, he delivers.
BEST DRAMATIC ACTRESS
Prediction - Penelope Cruz. I love her Spanish language work.
Winner - Helen Mirren. Apparently, she was amazing. This film is still on my "to see" list.
BEST ACTOR, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Prediction - Johnny Depp. For the same reason that the academy loves Scorsese, they love the Depp.
Winner - Sacha Baren Cohen. I should have known the international flavor would help.
BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Prediction - Annette Bening. Wouldn't it be nice for her to win while her husband accepts a lifetime achievement award?
Winner - Meryl Streep. I would have liked to have seen Bening win, does Meryl Streep need any more awards?
SUPPORTING DRAMATIC ACTOR
Prediction - Jack Nicholson. Although I was going to pick Affleck, because I love the underdog, Jack Nicholson is the smart bet.
Winner - Eddie Murphy. Like I said, "Dreamgirls" had a big night.
SUPPORTING DRAMATIC ACTRESS
Prediction - Jennifer Hudson. I don't think I've ever heard so much buzz about a cinematic performance in a long time.
Winner - Jennifer Hudson. And the buzz pays off.
ANIMATED FILM
Prediction - "Cars." Pixar wins, every time.
Winner - "Cars." Nice to see John Lasseter in a tie. That guy loves his job.
SCREENPLAY
Prediction - Guillermo Arriaga. From what I've heard, "Babel" is another classic Inarritu film weaving and intersecting around several complex characters. Writing such a film deserves an award all by itself.
Winner - Peter Morgan. "The Queen" rakes in the award for stellar writing. It's the international flavor, I tell you, either way.
ORIGINAL SCORE
Prediction - Hans Zimmer. Unfortunately, I don't recognize any other names.
Winner - Alexandre Desplat. I haven't heard much about "The Painted Veil" but it's got Oscar written all over it.
SONG
Prediction - "Listen." Beyonce's gotta win, because she's popular.
Winner - "The Song of the Heart." Beyonce's nightmare year continues.
TELEVISION CATEGORIES
DRAMATIC TV SERIES
Prediction - "Heroes." Because it's such a tough category, I'm going for the new show. I say Grey's is the favorite because it's the least genre-ish and the most mainstream, but I'd like to see Heroes take it all.
Winner - "Grey's Anatomy." Should have gone with the favorite, eh?
BEST ACTOR, TV DRAMA
Prediction - Hugh Laurie. Who could play Sherlock Holmes better than Hugh Laurie? Nobody, that's who.
Winner - Hugh Laurie. Nobody does it better.
BEST ACTRESS, TV DRAMA
Prediction - Kyra Sedgewick. While Eve and Ellen, who can get their cry on at the drop of a hat, are quite popular, Kyra plays a strong, complex character week in and week out on "The Closer." Although Edie Falco's character on "The Sopranos" is award fodder, Kyra walks away with this one.
Winner - Kyra Sedgewick. She's simply great in this role. A big win for her and the show.
TV SERIES, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Prediction - "The Office." Easily the funniest show of the bunch.
Winner - "Ugly Betty." The new entry takes home the prize after only half a season. Pretty incredible.
BEST ACTOR, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Prediction - Alec Baldwin. I love Scrubs and I love Steve Carell's work in general, but Mr. Baldwin does a great job at playing the all-powerful, all-seeing network executive.
Winner - Alec Baldwin. Simply the best part of one of the top new shows this season.
BEST ACTRESS, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Prediction - America Ferrera. She's not really that "Ugly."
Winner - America Ferrera. Seriously, did you think she wouldn't win?
BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Prediction - "Elizabeth I." I'm throwing this out there as a shot in the dark.
Winner - "Elizabeth I." Bullseye.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Prediction - Gillian Anderson. SCULLY!
Winner - Helen Mirren. Two in one night for both a movie and a mini-series. How awesome.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Prediction - Bill Nighy. Even if Mr. Ejiofor was great in Serenity, Bill Nighy really delves deep into his performances.
Winner - Bill Nighy. Can you believe I picked this based on his performance in Pirates 2? Neither can I.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Prediction - Sarah Paulson . The Lisp wins!
Winner - Emily Blunt. Who!?
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Prediction - Masi Oka. Hiro is awesome. More awesome than the Pivs.
Winner - Jeremy Irons. The international flavor pulls through again.
CECIL B. DEMILLE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Warren Beatty
Prediction - Like this one even needs a prediction...
Winner - Yea... that would be lame.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Twenty-Four!!!
Jack Bauer is back!
And while I really don't wish this were true, it was kind of neat to see our neighborhood featured for a split second during the first part of the two-night season premiere. You can tell things aren't at all the same, and with this show, that is always a good thing.
One question, though. If they were to make a movie out of 24, would they call it "2" or maybe even "1:45?" Hrm...
And while I really don't wish this were true, it was kind of neat to see our neighborhood featured for a split second during the first part of the two-night season premiere. You can tell things aren't at all the same, and with this show, that is always a good thing.
One question, though. If they were to make a movie out of 24, would they call it "2" or maybe even "1:45?" Hrm...
Thursday, January 11, 2007
C.E.Diss.
Normally, my compatriots and I would be enjoying a fair weekend in Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show. Even thought last year was kind of a bomb, due to our being at the show for a scant two hours, we were dead set on returning in full glory this year to take in the new fancy-pants electronics the convention had to offer.
Not so fast.
Last year's entrance was somewhat dubious, as they sought to crack down on actual Consumers being at said show, the organizers required some form of business identification upon entry. Having none, we were still able to make it in. I'd like to say it was on 90% charm, but the reality is, it was the last day so who cares who comes in. At any rate, I figured this year would be a bit more difficult again, but that was the least of our worries.
In an effort to cut down on all the riff-raff, CES decided to schedule the conference during the week instead of on the weekend. Of course, the weekend was always ideal for us, as most business people get paid to enter the convention hall, we do not. So in essence, they were trying to cut down on the audience participation and instead pack the halls with suits. What fun for the show, but what a drag for the every day tech-head.
Respectfully, I can imagine how frustrating it must be for the people manning the booths to try and sell their wares in bulk to non-retail attendees, but I feel that the show instead has lost touch. One of the reasons people love the LA Auto Show is because they actually can see and touch the products they've been hearing about for so long. Yes, it's costly to try and keep up with the large number of attendees, but where do your profits come from if there aren't enough people to spend money?
Even so, I imagine this really isn't a problem for the convention at all. I'd really hate to see CES go the way of the Electronics Entertainment Expo though, which shuttered its doors after exhibitors claimed the cost of attending was too high. I still think the excitement would ramp up and costs could have been eliminated had the show gone to a ticketed event.
On the other hand, maybe it would end up like Comic-Con and the parking, entering, and navigating could be a nightmare.
Not so fast.
Last year's entrance was somewhat dubious, as they sought to crack down on actual Consumers being at said show, the organizers required some form of business identification upon entry. Having none, we were still able to make it in. I'd like to say it was on 90% charm, but the reality is, it was the last day so who cares who comes in. At any rate, I figured this year would be a bit more difficult again, but that was the least of our worries.
In an effort to cut down on all the riff-raff, CES decided to schedule the conference during the week instead of on the weekend. Of course, the weekend was always ideal for us, as most business people get paid to enter the convention hall, we do not. So in essence, they were trying to cut down on the audience participation and instead pack the halls with suits. What fun for the show, but what a drag for the every day tech-head.
Respectfully, I can imagine how frustrating it must be for the people manning the booths to try and sell their wares in bulk to non-retail attendees, but I feel that the show instead has lost touch. One of the reasons people love the LA Auto Show is because they actually can see and touch the products they've been hearing about for so long. Yes, it's costly to try and keep up with the large number of attendees, but where do your profits come from if there aren't enough people to spend money?
Even so, I imagine this really isn't a problem for the convention at all. I'd really hate to see CES go the way of the Electronics Entertainment Expo though, which shuttered its doors after exhibitors claimed the cost of attending was too high. I still think the excitement would ramp up and costs could have been eliminated had the show gone to a ticketed event.
On the other hand, maybe it would end up like Comic-Con and the parking, entering, and navigating could be a nightmare.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Abracadabra
Quentin Tarantino burst on the scene over 10 years ago with his debut film, Pulp Fiction, during a time when cinema was in the burgeoning stages of an independent film boom. One would say that it was this film that begat the many copycats with pop culture spewing hitmen and wiseguys, but what I remember most is the originality of the setting, usage of camera, and especially storytelling. The disjointed narrative has become quite popular thereafter, with only a few films even coming close to matching his prowess. That same feeling of witnessing the birth of a remarkable filmmaker touched down again five years ago after sitting through Christopher Nolan's Memento. From the opening frame to the end, I was rapt. The freshness of the storytelling really kept it a clean reminder of good cinema, but it was his dedication to character development that drew me in completely. With Insomnia and Batman Begins following said movie, my anticipation of his next was quite high. When I found out he'd be re-teaming with Michael Caine and Christian Bale for The Prestige, I was already sold before a trailer had even been shown.
One must understand, that I do have an affinity for magic as it were. Not movie magic or the magic one often reads in novels, but for tried and true magicians. Seeing as the Prestige covers this subject matter, it's natural that I'm a sucker for the film to begin with. Having not had the opportunity to see it when it first came out, G and I hopped on down to the good ol' Woodbridge Super Saver cinema in Irvine for our $1.50 movie tickets. When you pay that much for your movie, there's no complaining about a dirty, old theater, there's just the knowledge you just paid $3 for two people to get into the movies. Awesome.
Anyhow, this movie was great. Set during the dawn of the electrical age, the Prestige follows the exploits of two rival magicians on a deadly collision course. With Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman in the lead roles, there's no doubt the acting was stellar, strengthened by strong supporting turns by David Bowie, Michael Caine, and a somewhat underused Scarlett Johansson. The performances bring a lot of life to the film, especially since the plot itself is so complex. It's safe to say there is no shortage of twists or turns without spoiling anything, but let's also say that we spent a good 15 minutes afterwards trying to summarize everything neatly.
In any case, I was impressed yet again by Mr. Nolan's adaptation of the original novel (which I have yet to read) which seemingly departs in a more sinister direction. While many people would raise a questionable eyebrow at the screenplay choices made, I have to applaud the decisions. To truly appreciate it, I suppose I'd have to read through the source material first, and after having seen the movie, I may move that book to the top of my reading queue. What struck me the most about the film, eventually, was the subtle ways in which Mr. Nolan reveals his hand. Much like a magic trick, the three-act structure of most movies leads to a climax just like that of a prestige. Only the best movies though, can leave the audience fooled and feeling better for having been had. The Prestige is such a movie.
Final Score: 4 out of 5 stars.
One must understand, that I do have an affinity for magic as it were. Not movie magic or the magic one often reads in novels, but for tried and true magicians. Seeing as the Prestige covers this subject matter, it's natural that I'm a sucker for the film to begin with. Having not had the opportunity to see it when it first came out, G and I hopped on down to the good ol' Woodbridge Super Saver cinema in Irvine for our $1.50 movie tickets. When you pay that much for your movie, there's no complaining about a dirty, old theater, there's just the knowledge you just paid $3 for two people to get into the movies. Awesome.
Anyhow, this movie was great. Set during the dawn of the electrical age, the Prestige follows the exploits of two rival magicians on a deadly collision course. With Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman in the lead roles, there's no doubt the acting was stellar, strengthened by strong supporting turns by David Bowie, Michael Caine, and a somewhat underused Scarlett Johansson. The performances bring a lot of life to the film, especially since the plot itself is so complex. It's safe to say there is no shortage of twists or turns without spoiling anything, but let's also say that we spent a good 15 minutes afterwards trying to summarize everything neatly.
In any case, I was impressed yet again by Mr. Nolan's adaptation of the original novel (which I have yet to read) which seemingly departs in a more sinister direction. While many people would raise a questionable eyebrow at the screenplay choices made, I have to applaud the decisions. To truly appreciate it, I suppose I'd have to read through the source material first, and after having seen the movie, I may move that book to the top of my reading queue. What struck me the most about the film, eventually, was the subtle ways in which Mr. Nolan reveals his hand. Much like a magic trick, the three-act structure of most movies leads to a climax just like that of a prestige. Only the best movies though, can leave the audience fooled and feeling better for having been had. The Prestige is such a movie.
Final Score: 4 out of 5 stars.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Tokidoki Cheshire
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
El Gato Anaranjado
If anyone remembers the adventuresof Toby the Cat then you should be happy to know that he is super happy and healthy with his new owner. He's grown a lot, but he's still the same friendly and frisky cat that we met that morning in July. I'm very happy to report that he was given a clean bill of health by the vet and has made himself quite at home in his new surroundings.
I've promised Grace that I won't be picking up any more stray cats hanging around my car again in the coming year, but it's hard to keep that promise. We're 2 for 3 so far, given that one cat was not rescue-able and the other two were more people-friendly. I do recommend though, that if you find a lost animal in need of help, you should probably call animal control. The only drawback to this is the fact that there's no guarantee the animal will be safe and sound within a week.
For now, I'm happy that Toby has found a home along with his half-brother Hobie the Christmas Cat. We'll have to pay him visits as often as we can, allergies permitting.
I've promised Grace that I won't be picking up any more stray cats hanging around my car again in the coming year, but it's hard to keep that promise. We're 2 for 3 so far, given that one cat was not rescue-able and the other two were more people-friendly. I do recommend though, that if you find a lost animal in need of help, you should probably call animal control. The only drawback to this is the fact that there's no guarantee the animal will be safe and sound within a week.
For now, I'm happy that Toby has found a home along with his half-brother Hobie the Christmas Cat. We'll have to pay him visits as often as we can, allergies permitting.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
El Año Nuevo
The happiest new year to everyone out there! We made it big in '06 and we're going to go even bigger in '07. Just remember to have fun and keep your nose clean.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
End of an Era
The closure of Tower Records is just one step closer to the digital age, not because people are buying iTunes music like crazy, but because local record stores can't keep up with what was once an album-based market place that is quickly turning into a track-based marketplace. Who really is going to buy the entire album, or listen to the entire album, when everyone's digital audio player is constantly tagged to "shuffle?" We truly do stand at the doorway of a new wave of distribution. Part of it is very exciting, but part of it is also disheartening.
It was with true sadness that I made my final visit to a Tower Records store with only a mere 5 days before it's final closing. The store itself, very unkempt and dilapidated from its impending boarded windows, was quite bare. Nary a popular disc in sight, what was once a proud bastion of independent record store heaven is now a depressing testament to how much the market has changed in the last decade. While iTunes is bustling with exclusive albums and television shows, Tower is stuck with the dregs of musical history including such stalwarts as "Moot Ditty" and "BB Mack." When your employees have to start labeling the Rap section as the Crap section, you know the industry is in trouble.
Tower does have a fond place in my heart. It stands as the place where I discovered the music of Interpol and The Mars Volta, but it is also the first retailer that sold Kubricks in the United States. Before I discovered Kidrobot and other outlets, Tower was the place where I went for getting my vinyl fix, in more ways than one. It was there that I learned to enjoy Rock, Trance, Trip Hop, Bluegrass, Indie, Jazz, and other genres all under one roof and even though its catalog cannot compare to the massive expanse of Amoeba it was the place I knew I could go to discover new talent or even re-discover the old.
Even now, while I purchase music from Rhapsody and other digital marketplaces, nothing compares to actually flipping through jewel cases through the aisles of an actual store. If it wasn't for the hundreds of discs taking up space in the apartment, I'd no doubt be making the trip more often than before. Where now, will people go for a Ticketmaster outlet, where will people go to pick up the local music and event rag? I understand that the online era is king these days, but it doesn't make the fact that one of my favorite stores is going to be shuttered forever.
So it's with great lamentation that I bid Tower Records a fond and bitter farewell. From here on, it's Amoeba or bust.
It was with true sadness that I made my final visit to a Tower Records store with only a mere 5 days before it's final closing. The store itself, very unkempt and dilapidated from its impending boarded windows, was quite bare. Nary a popular disc in sight, what was once a proud bastion of independent record store heaven is now a depressing testament to how much the market has changed in the last decade. While iTunes is bustling with exclusive albums and television shows, Tower is stuck with the dregs of musical history including such stalwarts as "Moot Ditty" and "BB Mack." When your employees have to start labeling the Rap section as the Crap section, you know the industry is in trouble.
Tower does have a fond place in my heart. It stands as the place where I discovered the music of Interpol and The Mars Volta, but it is also the first retailer that sold Kubricks in the United States. Before I discovered Kidrobot and other outlets, Tower was the place where I went for getting my vinyl fix, in more ways than one. It was there that I learned to enjoy Rock, Trance, Trip Hop, Bluegrass, Indie, Jazz, and other genres all under one roof and even though its catalog cannot compare to the massive expanse of Amoeba it was the place I knew I could go to discover new talent or even re-discover the old.
Even now, while I purchase music from Rhapsody and other digital marketplaces, nothing compares to actually flipping through jewel cases through the aisles of an actual store. If it wasn't for the hundreds of discs taking up space in the apartment, I'd no doubt be making the trip more often than before. Where now, will people go for a Ticketmaster outlet, where will people go to pick up the local music and event rag? I understand that the online era is king these days, but it doesn't make the fact that one of my favorite stores is going to be shuttered forever.
So it's with great lamentation that I bid Tower Records a fond and bitter farewell. From here on, it's Amoeba or bust.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Conquer the Mountain
It's been a couple of days and I think I'm recovered well enough to report on our weekend excursion to Mammoth. I may be a little sore and a little exhausted still, but it's only been our first trip of the year.
Anyhow, we took off Friday afternoon under a hazy California sky with the promise of snow in our hearts in a decently packed minivan. This winter's been unkindly dry so far in Mammoth, especially after the goldmine of powder the resort was blessed with last season. Upon getting into town, we could already see a difference in seasons. There was brown to be seen everywhere, not all the lifts were open, but it didn't mean the weather was any less cold. With the highs in the 20's all weekend, we were very lucky to have packed plenty of layers.
Saturday. We woke up for a continental breakfast and run-down of the day's conditions. Scattered snow showers were promised and they finally opened the remaining two lodges (Canyon and Eagle) as a result of earlier fallen snow in the week. A quick shuttle ride later, we were sitting at the bottom of Canyon lodge and staring up at what looked to be a fresh crop of untouched snow. Other than a few tracks already left, we'd made it early enough that there were only a few people ahead of us for the Canyon Express lift.
Trust me, I fell many times on that first trip down. The warm up was worth it though, as I felt much more confident the second time down. Although the snow was a bit crunchy and icy in patches, it was good enough for a few runs before heading over to the Main Lodge after hearing the snow was much better on that side of the mountain. At this point, it's starting to come down a bit and each trip up the lift gets a little bit colder.
Coming down Broadway, we knew it was going to be a good trip. There was plenty of packed powder, but I created enough snow clouds and fresh tracks that it felt like floating. We ended the day exhausted and freezing from the flurries, but were rewarded the next day as the trails accumulated about 12" overnight.
The second day was the best. As you can see from the inset picture, there were blue skies everywhere and the runs were wide open. I didn't care that I had to wait an extra 5 minutes to get on each lift, it was as close to perfect as one can get. While I had a minor flame-out after riding the Facelift chair and coming down the Saddle Bowl, the day encapsulated the whole weekend and gives me many, many high hopes for the coming season.
We're already booked for another trip up next weekend (and more snow is falling this week and next) and I'm very excited to be getting my new board in this week, so this last trip was the perfect tune-up. I wish we could make it elsewhere this year, but Mammoth is always great, so here we go, pray for snow!
Anyhow, we took off Friday afternoon under a hazy California sky with the promise of snow in our hearts in a decently packed minivan. This winter's been unkindly dry so far in Mammoth, especially after the goldmine of powder the resort was blessed with last season. Upon getting into town, we could already see a difference in seasons. There was brown to be seen everywhere, not all the lifts were open, but it didn't mean the weather was any less cold. With the highs in the 20's all weekend, we were very lucky to have packed plenty of layers.
Saturday. We woke up for a continental breakfast and run-down of the day's conditions. Scattered snow showers were promised and they finally opened the remaining two lodges (Canyon and Eagle) as a result of earlier fallen snow in the week. A quick shuttle ride later, we were sitting at the bottom of Canyon lodge and staring up at what looked to be a fresh crop of untouched snow. Other than a few tracks already left, we'd made it early enough that there were only a few people ahead of us for the Canyon Express lift.
Trust me, I fell many times on that first trip down. The warm up was worth it though, as I felt much more confident the second time down. Although the snow was a bit crunchy and icy in patches, it was good enough for a few runs before heading over to the Main Lodge after hearing the snow was much better on that side of the mountain. At this point, it's starting to come down a bit and each trip up the lift gets a little bit colder.
Coming down Broadway, we knew it was going to be a good trip. There was plenty of packed powder, but I created enough snow clouds and fresh tracks that it felt like floating. We ended the day exhausted and freezing from the flurries, but were rewarded the next day as the trails accumulated about 12" overnight.
The second day was the best. As you can see from the inset picture, there were blue skies everywhere and the runs were wide open. I didn't care that I had to wait an extra 5 minutes to get on each lift, it was as close to perfect as one can get. While I had a minor flame-out after riding the Facelift chair and coming down the Saddle Bowl, the day encapsulated the whole weekend and gives me many, many high hopes for the coming season.
We're already booked for another trip up next weekend (and more snow is falling this week and next) and I'm very excited to be getting my new board in this week, so this last trip was the perfect tune-up. I wish we could make it elsewhere this year, but Mammoth is always great, so here we go, pray for snow!
Friday, December 15, 2006
Let it Snow
Off to Mammoth this weekend for the first snow trip of the year. It's supposed to snow snow snow while we're there, so we should be able to whip ourselves into shape quickly before the season is underway.
Still waiting for board to be delivered and contemplating buying one of these, so we're not fully into the season until then.
Well, that and also not until I have my first faceplant of the year. Woo.
Still waiting for board to be delivered and contemplating buying one of these, so we're not fully into the season until then.
Well, that and also not until I have my first faceplant of the year. Woo.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Globes!
Hey, Golden Globe nomiations came out, which means time for predictions and commentary.
You notice how the last few nominations get very long-titled and specific? I guess that's how television goes these days.
MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES
DRAMATIC PICTURE
"Babel"
"The Departed"
"The Queen"
"Bobby"
"Little Children"
Prediction - The Departed. The Hollywood Foreign Press loves Scorsese.
MUSICAL OR COMEDY PICTURE
"Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"
"Dreamgirls"
"Little Miss Sunshine"
"The Devil Wears Prada"
"Thank You For Smoking"
Prediction - Dreamgirls. A pure musical, the ensemble performances are said to be some of the strongest so far this year.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE
"Apocalypto" (USA)
"Letters From Iwo Jima" (USA/Japan)
"Lives of Others" (Germany)
"Pan's Labyrinth" (Mexico)
"Volver" (Spain)
Prediction - Letters from Iwo Jima. Having shown up on a few critics' "Best Of" lists, I'm gonna say it's heavily favored to take away the award.
BEST DIRECTOR
Clint Eastwood, "Letters From Iwo Jima"
Clint Eastwood, "Flags Of Our Fathers"
Martin Scorsese, "The Departed"
Stephen Frears, "The Queen"
Alejandro González Iñárritu, "Babel"
Prediction - Martin Scorsese. I'd like to see him win just because the sheer force of working with such big names has to make him more of an icon than he already is.
BEST DRAMATIC ACTOR
Leonardo DiCaprio, "Blood Diamond"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Departed"
Peter O'Toole, "Venus"
Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness"
Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland"
Prediction - Forest Whitaker. He may be the dark horse of the group, but he always delivers consistently.
BEST DRAMATIC ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, "Volver"
Judi Dench, "Notes on a Scandal"
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "SherryBaby"
Helen Mirren, "The Queen"
Kate Winslet, "Little Children"
Prediciton - Penelope Cruz. I love her Spanish language work.
BEST ACTOR, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Sacha Baron Cohen, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"
Johnny Depp, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
Aaron Eckhart, "Thank You For Smoking"
Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Kinky Boots"
Will Ferrell, "Stranger Than Fiction"
Prediction - Johnny Depp. For the same reason that the academy loves Scorsese, they love the Depp.
BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Annette Bening, "Running With Scissors"
Toni Collette, "Little Miss Sunshine"
Beyonce Knowles, "Dreamgirls"
Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada"
Renee Zellweger, "Miss Potter"
Prediction - Annette Bening. Wouldn't it be nice for her to win while her husband accepts a lifetime achievement award?
SUPPORTING DRAMATIC ACTOR
Ben Affleck, "Hollywoodland"
Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls"
Jack Nicholson, "The Departed"
Brad Pitt, "Babel"
Mark Wahlberg, "The Departed"
Prediction - Jack Nicholson. Although I was going to pick Affleck, because I love the underdog, Jack Nicholson is the smart bet.
SUPPORTING DRAMATIC ACTRESS
Adriana Barraza, "Babel"
Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal"
Emily Blunt, "The Devil Wears Prada"
Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"
Rinko Kikuchi, "Babel"
Prediction - Jennifer Hudson. I don't think I've ever heard so much buzz about a cinematic performance in a long time.
ANIMATED FILM
"Cars"
"Happy Feet"
"Monster House"
Prediction - "Cars." Pixar wins, every time.
SCREENPLAY
Guillermo Arriaga, "Babel"
Todd Field and Tom Perrotta, "Little Children"
Patrick Marber, "Notes on a Scandal"
William Monahan, "The Departed"
Peter Morgan, "The Queen"
Prediction - Guillermo Arriaga. From what I've heard, "Babel" is another classic Inarritu film weaving and intersecting around several complex characters. Writing such a film deserves an award all by itself.
ORIGINAL SCORE
Alexandre Desplat, "The Painted Veil"
Clint Mansell, "The Fountain"
Gustavo Santaolalla, "Babel"
Carlo Siliotto, "Nomad"
Hans Zimmer, "The Da Vinci Code"
Prediction - Hans Zimmer. Unfortunately, I don't recognize any other names.
SONG
"A Father's Way" from "The Pursuit of Happyness"
"Listen" from "Dreamgirls"
"Never Gonna Break My Faith" from "Bobby"
"The Song of the Heart" from "Happy Feet"
"Try Not to Remember" from "Home of the Brave"
Prediction - "Listen." Beyonce's gotta win, because she's popular.
TELEVISION CATEGORIES
DRAMATIC TV SERIES
"24"
"Big Love"
"Grey's Anatomy"
"Heroes"
"Lost"
Prediction - "Heroes." Because it's such a tough category, I'm going for the new show. I say Grey's is the favorite because it's the least genre-ish and the most mainstream, but I'd like to see Heroes take it all.
BEST ACTOR, TV DRAMA
Patrick Dempsey, "Grey's Anatomy"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Hugh Laurie, "House"
Bill Paxton, "Big Love"
Kiefer Sutherland, "24"
Prediction - Hugh Laurie. Who could play Sherlock Holmes better than Hugh Laurie? Nobody, that's who.
BEST ACTRESS, TV DRAMA
Patricia Arquette, "Medium"
Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"
Evangeline Lilly, "Lost"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"
Ellen Pompeo, "Grey's Anatomy"
Prediction - Kyra Sedgewick. While Eve and Ellen, who can get their cry on at the drop of a hat, are quite popular, Kyra plays a strong, complex character week in and week out on "The Closer." Although Edie Falco's character on "The Sopranos" is award fodder, Kyra walks away with this one.
TV SERIES, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
"The Office"
"Desperate Housewives"
"Entourage"
"Ugly Betty"
"Weeds"
Prediction - "The Office." Easily the funniest show of the bunch.
BEST ACTOR, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Zach Braff, "Scrubs
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Jason Lee, "My Name is Earl"
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"
Prediction - Alec Baldwin . I love Scrubs and I love Steve Carell's work in general, but Mr. Baldwin does a great job at playing the all-powerful, all-seeing network executive.
BEST ACTRESS, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives"
Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"
Prediction - America Ferrera. She's not really that "Ugly."
BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
"Bleak House"
"Broken Trail"
"Elizabeth I"
"Mrs. Harris"
"Prime Suspect: The Final Act"
Predicion - "Elizabeth I." I'm throwing this out there as a shot in the dark.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Gillian Anderson, "Bleak House"
Annette Bening, "Mrs. Harris"
Helen Mirren , "Eilzabeth I"
Helen Mirren, "Prime Suspect: The Final Act"
Sophie Okonedo, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"
Prediction - Gillian Anderson. SCULLY!
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Andre Braugher, "Thief"
Robert Duvall, "Broken Trail"
Michael Ealy, "Sleeper Cell: American Terror"
Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"
Ben Kingsley, "Mrs. Harris"
Bill Nighy, "Gideon's Daughter"
Matthew Perry, "The Ron Clark Story"
Prediction - Bill Nighy. Even if Mr. Ejiofor was great in Serenity, Bill Nighy really delves deep into his performances.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Emily Blunt, "Gideon's Daughter"
Toni Collette, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"
Katherine Heigl, "Grey's Anatomy"
Sarah Paulson, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"
Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds"
Prediction - Sarah Paulson . The Lisp wins!
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Thomas Haden Church, "Broken Trail"
Jeremy Irons, "Elizabeth I"
Justin Kirk, "Weeds"
Masi Oka, "Heroes"
Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"
Prediction - Masi Oka. Hiro is awesome. More awesome than the Pivs.
CECIL B. DEMILLE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Warren Beatty
Prediction - Like this one even needs a prediction...
DRAMATIC PICTURE
"Babel"
"The Departed"
"The Queen"
"Bobby"
"Little Children"
Prediction - The Departed. The Hollywood Foreign Press loves Scorsese.
MUSICAL OR COMEDY PICTURE
"Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"
"Dreamgirls"
"Little Miss Sunshine"
"The Devil Wears Prada"
"Thank You For Smoking"
Prediction - Dreamgirls. A pure musical, the ensemble performances are said to be some of the strongest so far this year.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE
"Apocalypto" (USA)
"Letters From Iwo Jima" (USA/Japan)
"Lives of Others" (Germany)
"Pan's Labyrinth" (Mexico)
"Volver" (Spain)
Prediction - Letters from Iwo Jima. Having shown up on a few critics' "Best Of" lists, I'm gonna say it's heavily favored to take away the award.
BEST DIRECTOR
Clint Eastwood, "Letters From Iwo Jima"
Clint Eastwood, "Flags Of Our Fathers"
Martin Scorsese, "The Departed"
Stephen Frears, "The Queen"
Alejandro González Iñárritu, "Babel"
Prediction - Martin Scorsese. I'd like to see him win just because the sheer force of working with such big names has to make him more of an icon than he already is.
BEST DRAMATIC ACTOR
Leonardo DiCaprio, "Blood Diamond"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Departed"
Peter O'Toole, "Venus"
Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness"
Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland"
Prediction - Forest Whitaker. He may be the dark horse of the group, but he always delivers consistently.
BEST DRAMATIC ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, "Volver"
Judi Dench, "Notes on a Scandal"
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "SherryBaby"
Helen Mirren, "The Queen"
Kate Winslet, "Little Children"
Prediciton - Penelope Cruz. I love her Spanish language work.
BEST ACTOR, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Sacha Baron Cohen, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"
Johnny Depp, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
Aaron Eckhart, "Thank You For Smoking"
Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Kinky Boots"
Will Ferrell, "Stranger Than Fiction"
Prediction - Johnny Depp. For the same reason that the academy loves Scorsese, they love the Depp.
BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Annette Bening, "Running With Scissors"
Toni Collette, "Little Miss Sunshine"
Beyonce Knowles, "Dreamgirls"
Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada"
Renee Zellweger, "Miss Potter"
Prediction - Annette Bening. Wouldn't it be nice for her to win while her husband accepts a lifetime achievement award?
SUPPORTING DRAMATIC ACTOR
Ben Affleck, "Hollywoodland"
Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls"
Jack Nicholson, "The Departed"
Brad Pitt, "Babel"
Mark Wahlberg, "The Departed"
Prediction - Jack Nicholson. Although I was going to pick Affleck, because I love the underdog, Jack Nicholson is the smart bet.
SUPPORTING DRAMATIC ACTRESS
Adriana Barraza, "Babel"
Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal"
Emily Blunt, "The Devil Wears Prada"
Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"
Rinko Kikuchi, "Babel"
Prediction - Jennifer Hudson. I don't think I've ever heard so much buzz about a cinematic performance in a long time.
ANIMATED FILM
"Cars"
"Happy Feet"
"Monster House"
Prediction - "Cars." Pixar wins, every time.
SCREENPLAY
Guillermo Arriaga, "Babel"
Todd Field and Tom Perrotta, "Little Children"
Patrick Marber, "Notes on a Scandal"
William Monahan, "The Departed"
Peter Morgan, "The Queen"
Prediction - Guillermo Arriaga. From what I've heard, "Babel" is another classic Inarritu film weaving and intersecting around several complex characters. Writing such a film deserves an award all by itself.
ORIGINAL SCORE
Alexandre Desplat, "The Painted Veil"
Clint Mansell, "The Fountain"
Gustavo Santaolalla, "Babel"
Carlo Siliotto, "Nomad"
Hans Zimmer, "The Da Vinci Code"
Prediction - Hans Zimmer. Unfortunately, I don't recognize any other names.
SONG
"A Father's Way" from "The Pursuit of Happyness"
"Listen" from "Dreamgirls"
"Never Gonna Break My Faith" from "Bobby"
"The Song of the Heart" from "Happy Feet"
"Try Not to Remember" from "Home of the Brave"
Prediction - "Listen." Beyonce's gotta win, because she's popular.
TELEVISION CATEGORIES
DRAMATIC TV SERIES
"24"
"Big Love"
"Grey's Anatomy"
"Heroes"
"Lost"
Prediction - "Heroes." Because it's such a tough category, I'm going for the new show. I say Grey's is the favorite because it's the least genre-ish and the most mainstream, but I'd like to see Heroes take it all.
BEST ACTOR, TV DRAMA
Patrick Dempsey, "Grey's Anatomy"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Hugh Laurie, "House"
Bill Paxton, "Big Love"
Kiefer Sutherland, "24"
Prediction - Hugh Laurie. Who could play Sherlock Holmes better than Hugh Laurie? Nobody, that's who.
BEST ACTRESS, TV DRAMA
Patricia Arquette, "Medium"
Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"
Evangeline Lilly, "Lost"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"
Ellen Pompeo, "Grey's Anatomy"
Prediction - Kyra Sedgewick. While Eve and Ellen, who can get their cry on at the drop of a hat, are quite popular, Kyra plays a strong, complex character week in and week out on "The Closer." Although Edie Falco's character on "The Sopranos" is award fodder, Kyra walks away with this one.
TV SERIES, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
"The Office"
"Desperate Housewives"
"Entourage"
"Ugly Betty"
"Weeds"
Prediction - "The Office." Easily the funniest show of the bunch.
BEST ACTOR, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Zach Braff, "Scrubs
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Jason Lee, "My Name is Earl"
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"
Prediction - Alec Baldwin . I love Scrubs and I love Steve Carell's work in general, but Mr. Baldwin does a great job at playing the all-powerful, all-seeing network executive.
BEST ACTRESS, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives"
Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"
Prediction - America Ferrera. She's not really that "Ugly."
BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
"Bleak House"
"Broken Trail"
"Elizabeth I"
"Mrs. Harris"
"Prime Suspect: The Final Act"
Predicion - "Elizabeth I." I'm throwing this out there as a shot in the dark.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Gillian Anderson, "Bleak House"
Annette Bening, "Mrs. Harris"
Helen Mirren , "Eilzabeth I"
Helen Mirren, "Prime Suspect: The Final Act"
Sophie Okonedo, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"
Prediction - Gillian Anderson. SCULLY!
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Andre Braugher, "Thief"
Robert Duvall, "Broken Trail"
Michael Ealy, "Sleeper Cell: American Terror"
Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"
Ben Kingsley, "Mrs. Harris"
Bill Nighy, "Gideon's Daughter"
Matthew Perry, "The Ron Clark Story"
Prediction - Bill Nighy. Even if Mr. Ejiofor was great in Serenity, Bill Nighy really delves deep into his performances.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Emily Blunt, "Gideon's Daughter"
Toni Collette, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"
Katherine Heigl, "Grey's Anatomy"
Sarah Paulson, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"
Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds"
Prediction - Sarah Paulson . The Lisp wins!
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Thomas Haden Church, "Broken Trail"
Jeremy Irons, "Elizabeth I"
Justin Kirk, "Weeds"
Masi Oka, "Heroes"
Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"
Prediction - Masi Oka. Hiro is awesome. More awesome than the Pivs.
CECIL B. DEMILLE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Warren Beatty
Prediction - Like this one even needs a prediction...
You notice how the last few nominations get very long-titled and specific? I guess that's how television goes these days.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Play Misty for Me
Do you think it's crazy to go all-out and buy a brand new musical instrument?
I've had this thing lately, for trying to find a new alto saxophone to replace my aging Martin model. Part of the reason why it's so difficult for me to pick up the horns again isn't just time, but the frustration with now knowing, or at least feeling, like the horns that I grew up playing in high school and college weren't the right ones for me. The Martin in particular is a great horn, but it feels like it really needs an overhaul. Springs are slow, the horn stays cold quite often, and the octave spring never retains its tension. Forget for a second that I haven't played in a really long time, somehow I still know what it feels like when playing the right horn.
The second half of the coin is the super action 80 Selmer Soprano saxophone that resides with my alto in their little home. From the moment I picked it up, I fell in love with the horn. The problem that exists for me here may be something else entirely, however. For instance, there is one mouthpiece that I have used to play on this saxophone that blew the other ones out of the water, but they don't manufacture it anymore. I'd much rather find the mouthpiece I want than the horn that I want in this case, mostly because the Selmer is a beaut, but also because the horns that are out there now are more expensive in the Soprano model than one might expect and much harder to find.
Perhaps the toughest part about buying a horn (besides money) is the playing experience. There are a few things you shouldn't take for face value when purchasing, it might look the best out of everything, but it doesn't matter much if it doesn't connect with your playing style. Unfortunately, many different models aren't supplied to major retailers of musical instruments, so it can be hard to find names other than Selmer and Yamaha when looking for a new horn.
So while I sit and ogle the P. Mauriat vintage style models, the Cannonball Raven finishes, and the Selmer prestige, I can noodle on the old horns for a bit longer. At least I'd get my chops back.
I've had this thing lately, for trying to find a new alto saxophone to replace my aging Martin model. Part of the reason why it's so difficult for me to pick up the horns again isn't just time, but the frustration with now knowing, or at least feeling, like the horns that I grew up playing in high school and college weren't the right ones for me. The Martin in particular is a great horn, but it feels like it really needs an overhaul. Springs are slow, the horn stays cold quite often, and the octave spring never retains its tension. Forget for a second that I haven't played in a really long time, somehow I still know what it feels like when playing the right horn.
The second half of the coin is the super action 80 Selmer Soprano saxophone that resides with my alto in their little home. From the moment I picked it up, I fell in love with the horn. The problem that exists for me here may be something else entirely, however. For instance, there is one mouthpiece that I have used to play on this saxophone that blew the other ones out of the water, but they don't manufacture it anymore. I'd much rather find the mouthpiece I want than the horn that I want in this case, mostly because the Selmer is a beaut, but also because the horns that are out there now are more expensive in the Soprano model than one might expect and much harder to find.
Perhaps the toughest part about buying a horn (besides money) is the playing experience. There are a few things you shouldn't take for face value when purchasing, it might look the best out of everything, but it doesn't matter much if it doesn't connect with your playing style. Unfortunately, many different models aren't supplied to major retailers of musical instruments, so it can be hard to find names other than Selmer and Yamaha when looking for a new horn.
So while I sit and ogle the P. Mauriat vintage style models, the Cannonball Raven finishes, and the Selmer prestige, I can noodle on the old horns for a bit longer. At least I'd get my chops back.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Freakalude
Every once in a while, I come across something that gives me a little boot of inspiration. Trust me, it doesn't happen often as my lazy little butt hardly gets anything done. While I dabble in the occasional noodling with the col-erase and keyboard, it happens to be a bit easier once I pop in a jewel-cased compact disc. Forget, for a second, that most people are buying all sorts of tunes online in bits and packets, there's still that satisfying crinkle of plastic as you break open a freshly bought album.
Well, I made the trek to Best Buy (poor Tower) and grabbed a couple of discs I've been meaning to procure (reviews to come later) and have been dropping them intermittently with all the other goodness that usually goes on. While I've been pretty satisfied so far with the money spent, one of these artists deserves a premature special mention for what's currently bumping through the headphones.
The Basement Jaxx, those British gentlemen, have long been a strong contributor to all those dance musicks that you probably have heard but never had the idea of who they are. I give them a nod, not because Crazy Itch Radio happens to be their latest, but also because each record is just a little more insane than the last.
You've got your trippingly popular tracks such as " Where's Your Head At" amongst others, they never disappoint be when they shred the ones and twos with some particularly palatable and schizophrenic beats. While the previously mentioned single stands out on Rooty as an pop standard, the handily plural beats of "Crazy Girl" happen to be more infectious. The same defiant unwillingness to retread the same old trip-hop/hip-hop beats stand out on this latest one in both " Hey U" and "Smoke Bubbles" that you might actually think to yourself, "What would possess any professional artist to sample these sounds?"
Honestly, it's something I find fascinating and inspirational enough to attempt to apply in whatever you might do on your own. Why should I still want to write the same old stories and draw the same old superheroes when breaking out with something never seen before is so much more satisfying.
For this, I submit that you should give it a listen. If anything else, you'll have a reason to shake a fist in my direction for the bad suggestion if you don't enjoy it.
Well, I made the trek to Best Buy (poor Tower) and grabbed a couple of discs I've been meaning to procure (reviews to come later) and have been dropping them intermittently with all the other goodness that usually goes on. While I've been pretty satisfied so far with the money spent, one of these artists deserves a premature special mention for what's currently bumping through the headphones.
The Basement Jaxx, those British gentlemen, have long been a strong contributor to all those dance musicks that you probably have heard but never had the idea of who they are. I give them a nod, not because Crazy Itch Radio happens to be their latest, but also because each record is just a little more insane than the last.
You've got your trippingly popular tracks such as " Where's Your Head At" amongst others, they never disappoint be when they shred the ones and twos with some particularly palatable and schizophrenic beats. While the previously mentioned single stands out on Rooty as an pop standard, the handily plural beats of "Crazy Girl" happen to be more infectious. The same defiant unwillingness to retread the same old trip-hop/hip-hop beats stand out on this latest one in both " Hey U" and "Smoke Bubbles" that you might actually think to yourself, "What would possess any professional artist to sample these sounds?"
Honestly, it's something I find fascinating and inspirational enough to attempt to apply in whatever you might do on your own. Why should I still want to write the same old stories and draw the same old superheroes when breaking out with something never seen before is so much more satisfying.
For this, I submit that you should give it a listen. If anything else, you'll have a reason to shake a fist in my direction for the bad suggestion if you don't enjoy it.
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