Oh man, I've been so distracted with Arizona-related stuff that I haven't been able to keep you appraised of the latest random tidbits I find on the InterWebs. My apologies!
To kick things off: an On The Lot update. So, after writing about this show last week, I've continued to watch it and I find it tedious and boring. Apparently, others agree and Fox will be re-editing the shows so that they air once a week.
Thank sweet baby jesus. I think they had three episodes last week including a 2-hour doozy (sp?) on Memorial Day where they showcased 18 one-minute shorts. How did they stretch 18 minutes into two hours? Let me tell you. The play the damn film, then there's several minutes where the three judges (Carrie Fisher, Garry Marshall, and D.J. Caruso this week) all basically agree with each other on either how great the thing was or how disappointed they were. Then, there's small-talk with the host, who’s almost as detestable as Ryan Seacrest except she's female, boobs-out, and brunette, with Aniston-like hand gestures and a face like Scarlett Johanson ("ScoJo", as I like to call her). I'll still watch the show though. I mean, what am I going to do without new episodes of 24, Lost, or The Office to keep me busy? Read a book?
Speaking of books, I actually am reading a few of them. I picked up a copy of Then We Came to the End and it's as good as the excerpt I shared with y'all. I'm not done yet but so far, it's been worth the purchase.
In other book reading news, I'm in the middle of Law School Insider and Planet Law School and am about to jump right into Glannon's Civil Procedure book. I know you are envious!
Next up: I found an old interview with David Lynch on Salon. For those of you concerned, you can click through the ad to get a free pass to Salon. Enjoy. Salon is awesome.
Finally, I thought I'd mention some movies I want to see in case anyone has checked them out already. Waitress looks good despite the short trailers they run on TV (and who wouldn't mind seeing some more Mal? Actually, I'd like some more Jayne.); Away From Her is getting a lot of buzz and Paris Je T'aime is on top of my list. This film is actually a collection of shorts, one of which stars Elijah Wood. (That last link was a little shout out to Suzie Q!)
Bye for now!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Happy Hour Friday (9)
My friends Ren and Karen will be visiting me in a couple of weeks, which makes me think of celebrating. And when I think of celebrating, I think of GTs (a.k.a., Gin and Tonics).
There's a reason everyone from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy to the Reverend Horton Heat sings the praises of the GT. They are strong (not a girly drink!) and refreshing. Perfect for summer!
After many test runs that have depleted a significant number of brain cells, I believe I've figured out how to mix up a GT that's perfect for me. I hope you like it too!
The Perfect GT
Fill a pint glass with ice. That's right, a pint glass.
Add Bombay Sapphire Gin so that the glass is 1/3 full.
(An acceptable substitute is Tanqueray Ten. If you use any other type of gin, you risk being very disappointed.)
Add the juice from 1/2 lime. It's even better with a whole lime!
Fill the glass with Canada Dry Tonic Water. (Schweppes is OK too, but Canada Dry is the bizzomb.)
Stir.
Add a straw.
Sit outside and sip away!
There's a reason everyone from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy to the Reverend Horton Heat sings the praises of the GT. They are strong (not a girly drink!) and refreshing. Perfect for summer!
After many test runs that have depleted a significant number of brain cells, I believe I've figured out how to mix up a GT that's perfect for me. I hope you like it too!
The Perfect GT
Fill a pint glass with ice. That's right, a pint glass.
Add Bombay Sapphire Gin so that the glass is 1/3 full.
(An acceptable substitute is Tanqueray Ten. If you use any other type of gin, you risk being very disappointed.)
Add the juice from 1/2 lime. It's even better with a whole lime!
Fill the glass with Canada Dry Tonic Water. (Schweppes is OK too, but Canada Dry is the bizzomb.)
Stir.
Add a straw.
Sit outside and sip away!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
On the Lot
I watched the series premiere of On the Lot last night, and I'll admit, I got drawn into it. I hope that future episodes will focus more on what these contestants create, rather than the drama and ridiculousness that ensues in order to make their films. I mean, c'mon now: people who can keep their cool make for good reality show contestants, but not necessarily great filmmakers.
Anyway, 50 contestants were picked from 12,000 applications (astounding). You can view their submitted films at the official website. In the first episode, you saw this group whiddle down further to (I think) 30 or so, when they had to pitch a film idea to a three-person audience comprised of Brett Ratner (who had a cameo in this week's episode of Entourage - how viral marketing of them), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia!) and Garry Marshall). A final group of 18 will officially compete (if I'm understanding the show so far) and I want to see their films (as I'm sure people who tune in do too).
The show's a bit stressful, as filmmaking can be. The contestants were asked to form groups of three and produce a short film in 24 hours. Already, you can see the ugliness and stress coming out. But, I'll give this show another chance. I'd really like to see the films they come up with, rather than watch them fight on set or give "confessional asides" away from the others.
We'll see. I'm hopeful this will turn a corner. Cinematical is running a weekly review of the show, if you are so inclined.
Anyway, 50 contestants were picked from 12,000 applications (astounding). You can view their submitted films at the official website. In the first episode, you saw this group whiddle down further to (I think) 30 or so, when they had to pitch a film idea to a three-person audience comprised of Brett Ratner (who had a cameo in this week's episode of Entourage - how viral marketing of them), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia!) and Garry Marshall). A final group of 18 will officially compete (if I'm understanding the show so far) and I want to see their films (as I'm sure people who tune in do too).
The show's a bit stressful, as filmmaking can be. The contestants were asked to form groups of three and produce a short film in 24 hours. Already, you can see the ugliness and stress coming out. But, I'll give this show another chance. I'd really like to see the films they come up with, rather than watch them fight on set or give "confessional asides" away from the others.
We'll see. I'm hopeful this will turn a corner. Cinematical is running a weekly review of the show, if you are so inclined.
BookMooch
My friend Cary recently told me about BookMooch, a fantastic site where users share their book collections with each other.
Do you have a bunch of books on your shelf you are never going to read again (or at all)? Do you have a list of books you want, but don't want to pay for? This site is for you!
I absolutely love books, but hate moving them. Especially if I know I may never read them again. Sure, you can sell books at your local used bookseller, but if you've ever done it then you know you really don't want to do it again. Chances are they may take only 1 or 2 out of the 20 you bring them, and they pay you next to nothing anyway.
I decided to sign up in order to clear out some of my books before I move to Arizona. As I'm sorting through all my stuff and deciding what I want to get rid of, I'll be adding books to my inventory list. It's puny right now, but check back and you may find something you want!
Here's a way to share those books you want to offload with others, and each time you do you earn points. Each point earns you the right to "mooch" off someone else. The only cost is postage!
Do you have a bunch of books on your shelf you are never going to read again (or at all)? Do you have a list of books you want, but don't want to pay for? This site is for you!
I absolutely love books, but hate moving them. Especially if I know I may never read them again. Sure, you can sell books at your local used bookseller, but if you've ever done it then you know you really don't want to do it again. Chances are they may take only 1 or 2 out of the 20 you bring them, and they pay you next to nothing anyway.
I decided to sign up in order to clear out some of my books before I move to Arizona. As I'm sorting through all my stuff and deciding what I want to get rid of, I'll be adding books to my inventory list. It's puny right now, but check back and you may find something you want!
Here's a way to share those books you want to offload with others, and each time you do you earn points. Each point earns you the right to "mooch" off someone else. The only cost is postage!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
God Grew Tired of Us and Cautiva
Last night I caught a double-feature of God Grew Tired of Us and Cautiva at UCSB. The university hosts an Arts & Lectures series, and this week they collaborated with Human Rights Watch to put together a three-day Human Rights Film Festival.
Cautiva follows the story of a teenage girl in Argentina who abruptly discovers that she is adopted and her real parents were killed in Argentina's "Dirty War". While the film is a fictional account, the filmmakers stress that the story is based on actual events, since many children lost their parents when they were "disappeared" during the tragedy.
The film touches on the U.S. involvement in the Dirty War, and rightly so. But we mostly follow young Cristina, who resists the news of her adoption as she is forcibly removed from her home and placed with her biological family. Over time, she begins to accept the news, and through "detective" work with a schoolmate, learns her biological parents' tragic story. Sometimes the film veers in odd directions, but overall, I loved this film. It is mysterious, thrilling, and compelling.
God Grew Tired of Us is one of the best films I've seen in a really long time. This documentary follows the story of several survivors of the Sudanese civil war. The "lost boys" of Sudan have spent more than a decade in refugee camps outside their home country. Some of them were given the opportunity to relocate to the United States, and the documentary follows their relocation to, and integration in, American society.
I don't want to get on a soapbox here, but I have some things to say.
While the introduction to the oddities of American society could be played for laughs (and the audience, disturbingly, seemed to be laughing more at the refugees, rather than with them), asking a grocer if they could eat a cucumber raw or needed to cook it, learning how to use a toilet, or what potato chips were (having never seen any of these things before), were not comedic moments, but gave us a chance to remember how we take very simple things for granted in America.
These are intelligent men, not idiots, and I'm afraid that their confusion over how to use a coffee pot may have overtaken the larger significance of the film: this group of young men survived extraordinary ordeals that, I hope, no American will ever face. They are dropped in the middle of large American cities to pursue a new life for themselves. These are men who feel blessed to be working three jobs so that they can send whatever little money they make back to their fellow lost boys in Africa.
They are puzzled by America, and wonder why no one will talk to them. They do not feel welcome, and spend the little free time they do have with each other, walking around town in a group. Sadly, this led one store owner to phone the police, because the person was intimidated by the large group of men who would come in to his store together. Instead of taking the opportunity to sit down the store owner so that he could understand why these lost boys were not a threat, instead the men were told they could not gather in the store in the future.
As their work schedules limit their free time, they sometimes go for two or three weeks before they see a fellow lost boy, their only friends in their new country. They are lonely and isolated. How many Americans also feel this way? Is there something in our society that breeds isolation? Are we free to be left alone?
There are light moments in this film too, and there is plenty to be hopeful about: some of the lost boys learn the families from whom they were separated during the civil war are alive and they get the chance to reunite with them. John Dau, one of the men featured throughout the film, is especially inspiring. He is a leader in the Sudanese-American community and organizes gatherings and assistance for his fellow Sudanese both in America and back in Africa.
I'm not sure if this film will get major distribution. Brad Pitt, Catherine Keener and others are listed as producers, so you would think this movie would have a fighting chance. If you can see it, please do. It's worth it.
Cautiva follows the story of a teenage girl in Argentina who abruptly discovers that she is adopted and her real parents were killed in Argentina's "Dirty War". While the film is a fictional account, the filmmakers stress that the story is based on actual events, since many children lost their parents when they were "disappeared" during the tragedy.
The film touches on the U.S. involvement in the Dirty War, and rightly so. But we mostly follow young Cristina, who resists the news of her adoption as she is forcibly removed from her home and placed with her biological family. Over time, she begins to accept the news, and through "detective" work with a schoolmate, learns her biological parents' tragic story. Sometimes the film veers in odd directions, but overall, I loved this film. It is mysterious, thrilling, and compelling.
God Grew Tired of Us is one of the best films I've seen in a really long time. This documentary follows the story of several survivors of the Sudanese civil war. The "lost boys" of Sudan have spent more than a decade in refugee camps outside their home country. Some of them were given the opportunity to relocate to the United States, and the documentary follows their relocation to, and integration in, American society.
I don't want to get on a soapbox here, but I have some things to say.
While the introduction to the oddities of American society could be played for laughs (and the audience, disturbingly, seemed to be laughing more at the refugees, rather than with them), asking a grocer if they could eat a cucumber raw or needed to cook it, learning how to use a toilet, or what potato chips were (having never seen any of these things before), were not comedic moments, but gave us a chance to remember how we take very simple things for granted in America.
These are intelligent men, not idiots, and I'm afraid that their confusion over how to use a coffee pot may have overtaken the larger significance of the film: this group of young men survived extraordinary ordeals that, I hope, no American will ever face. They are dropped in the middle of large American cities to pursue a new life for themselves. These are men who feel blessed to be working three jobs so that they can send whatever little money they make back to their fellow lost boys in Africa.
They are puzzled by America, and wonder why no one will talk to them. They do not feel welcome, and spend the little free time they do have with each other, walking around town in a group. Sadly, this led one store owner to phone the police, because the person was intimidated by the large group of men who would come in to his store together. Instead of taking the opportunity to sit down the store owner so that he could understand why these lost boys were not a threat, instead the men were told they could not gather in the store in the future.
As their work schedules limit their free time, they sometimes go for two or three weeks before they see a fellow lost boy, their only friends in their new country. They are lonely and isolated. How many Americans also feel this way? Is there something in our society that breeds isolation? Are we free to be left alone?
There are light moments in this film too, and there is plenty to be hopeful about: some of the lost boys learn the families from whom they were separated during the civil war are alive and they get the chance to reunite with them. John Dau, one of the men featured throughout the film, is especially inspiring. He is a leader in the Sudanese-American community and organizes gatherings and assistance for his fellow Sudanese both in America and back in Africa.
I'm not sure if this film will get major distribution. Brad Pitt, Catherine Keener and others are listed as producers, so you would think this movie would have a fighting chance. If you can see it, please do. It's worth it.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Mod the Web
Through friends, colleagues and dumb luck, I've recently come across some cool web tools you may also find useful.
Chances are, you already know about RSS feeds, and how you can bookmark such feeds so that you can stay on top of the latest headlines? Well, Google has released "Reader", a program that allows you to manage all of your RSS feeds easily, even allowing you to quickly share a headline with friends via email or your blog (did you notice the "Bexy's latest distractions" box on the right-hand column? This was so easy to set up anyone can do it).
You can also use Reader to subscribe to your friends' blogs, and sort the material by the most recent post, so that you can never miss their latest posts. Reader has a similar drawback to TiVo: suddenly because you can tape a re-run of The X-Files that airs at 2 a.m., you do, and before you know it you're recording 8 hours of TV every day. With Reader, you can subscribe to a crapload of sites, allowing you to see at a glance all of the new articles out in the InterWebs, waiting for your swift attention. I applaud you if you can avoid the temptation to read them all, especially when you should be working!
I mentioned in an earlier post Adobe's new "myFeedz" web-sifting service. After using it for a couple of weeks now, I've noticed that I'm referred to the same sites repeatedly - maybe I should change my tags. The upside of this, however, is that after reading one cool article after another at a given site, I end up adding that site to my bookmarks (or, my Reader page!).
Lastly, my friend Mark told me about a Firefox plug-in called Clipmarks. This is really cool! You can simply review what Clipmarks users are "clipping" (excerpting via the Clipmarks site) or "popping" (think: Digging), to see what is flowing up to the top of the Web. Or, you can easily clip articles, photos and even videos and email those clips to your friends, or post them to your blog.
Now, there is a tendency for the same articles to get the top of these lists, probably because of the power of Digg. Maybe, though, as more sites like Digg, Clipmarks and myFeedz pop up, some light will be shed on the more obscure sites and links we otherwise would miss, taking us deeper into the depths of the web.
Chances are, you already know about RSS feeds, and how you can bookmark such feeds so that you can stay on top of the latest headlines? Well, Google has released "Reader", a program that allows you to manage all of your RSS feeds easily, even allowing you to quickly share a headline with friends via email or your blog (did you notice the "Bexy's latest distractions" box on the right-hand column? This was so easy to set up anyone can do it).
You can also use Reader to subscribe to your friends' blogs, and sort the material by the most recent post, so that you can never miss their latest posts. Reader has a similar drawback to TiVo: suddenly because you can tape a re-run of The X-Files that airs at 2 a.m., you do, and before you know it you're recording 8 hours of TV every day. With Reader, you can subscribe to a crapload of sites, allowing you to see at a glance all of the new articles out in the InterWebs, waiting for your swift attention. I applaud you if you can avoid the temptation to read them all, especially when you should be working!
I mentioned in an earlier post Adobe's new "myFeedz" web-sifting service. After using it for a couple of weeks now, I've noticed that I'm referred to the same sites repeatedly - maybe I should change my tags. The upside of this, however, is that after reading one cool article after another at a given site, I end up adding that site to my bookmarks (or, my Reader page!).
Lastly, my friend Mark told me about a Firefox plug-in called Clipmarks. This is really cool! You can simply review what Clipmarks users are "clipping" (excerpting via the Clipmarks site) or "popping" (think: Digging), to see what is flowing up to the top of the Web. Or, you can easily clip articles, photos and even videos and email those clips to your friends, or post them to your blog.
Now, there is a tendency for the same articles to get the top of these lists, probably because of the power of Digg. Maybe, though, as more sites like Digg, Clipmarks and myFeedz pop up, some light will be shed on the more obscure sites and links we otherwise would miss, taking us deeper into the depths of the web.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
More on Smashing Pumpkins
Just came across a stream of "Tarantula", one of the tracks off Zeitgeist. Not sure what I think yet.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Happy Hour Friday (8)
Last Friday, My friend Suzie-Q hosted a fun girls' night at her house for Ren and me. While we poured a bit of our 40oz out on the street for Karen (who had to go out of town at the last minute), she was there too, if only in spirit.
We decided to mix up some cosmopolitans, since Suzie had a mega-bottle of Ketel One vodka and triple sec available for the pouring. But they were cosmos with a twist, so I decided to call them Q-smos!
Q-smo
(This recipe makes two martinis!)
Use juice from a lemon or lime to coat the rim of two martini glasses.
Dip said glass in sugar. Set aside.
Fill a martini shaker with ice.
Add 2 parts vodka
Add 1 part triple sec
Add 1 part cranberry juice
Add the juice of 1/2 lemon
Add the juice of 1 lime
Shake vigorously.
Pour your lovely concoction into those two sugar-rimmed martini glasses.
The lemon and lime juice makes this drink very tart, so the sugar on the glasses is needed to balance the drink.
These were delish! We downed a few whilst watching Weeds, then promptly passed out.
It was a lovely evening! Thanks Q!
We decided to mix up some cosmopolitans, since Suzie had a mega-bottle of Ketel One vodka and triple sec available for the pouring. But they were cosmos with a twist, so I decided to call them Q-smos!
Q-smo
(This recipe makes two martinis!)
Use juice from a lemon or lime to coat the rim of two martini glasses.
Dip said glass in sugar. Set aside.
Fill a martini shaker with ice.
Add 2 parts vodka
Add 1 part triple sec
Add 1 part cranberry juice
Add the juice of 1/2 lemon
Add the juice of 1 lime
Shake vigorously.
Pour your lovely concoction into those two sugar-rimmed martini glasses.
The lemon and lime juice makes this drink very tart, so the sugar on the glasses is needed to balance the drink.
These were delish! We downed a few whilst watching Weeds, then promptly passed out.
It was a lovely evening! Thanks Q!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
It was fun while it lasted, Veronica
I just read that Veronica Mars has been officially canceled and is not returning for a fourth season, as I originally hoped.
While the third season hasn't held up to the first two, I still regret the loss of this show. The writing was smart and funny, and in an age where most beautiful girls on tv are stupid, this show offered something different.
Smashing Pumpkins on tour
Zeitgeist, the first LP from the Pumpkins in 7 years, releases this July.
They will be "in residence" in San Francisco in late July. Tickets go on sale online this Sunday, May 20, here and here.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Arcana
My friend Cary told me about a great downtempo collection called "Arcana" released by Interchill Records. 
There is a nice review here, describing each track. This collection is mostly instrumental, with some dubby/eastern beats thrown in. I've been listening to it every day this week!
You can hear some samples over at iTunes, if you are so inclined.
There is a nice review here, describing each track. This collection is mostly instrumental, with some dubby/eastern beats thrown in. I've been listening to it every day this week!
You can hear some samples over at iTunes, if you are so inclined.
Interview with Coppola
Harry Knowles of Ain't it Cool News sat down with Francis Ford Coppola to discuss his two upcoming films, Youth on Youth and Tetro, his children, and independent filmmaking. The interview, posted last week, doesn't have a lot of juicy tidbits, but I still like hearing what Papa has to say.
Sofia and Roman ("The Kids", as Coppola calls them) are now the co-owners of American Zoetrope, the production company Papa started many moons ago. In addition to producing films, Zoetrope publishes a literary journal and hosts a "virtual studio" where artists (both aspiring and professional) can meet, collaborate, and share their talents.
Oh, and the wine he produces is very good.
Sofia and Roman ("The Kids", as Coppola calls them) are now the co-owners of American Zoetrope, the production company Papa started many moons ago. In addition to producing films, Zoetrope publishes a literary journal and hosts a "virtual studio" where artists (both aspiring and professional) can meet, collaborate, and share their talents.
Oh, and the wine he produces is very good.
Monday, May 14, 2007
My friend can beat your friend at Halo 3
My friend Lars has been working at Bungie on the new version of Halo. They just released a beta version and had a huge to-do around the country for the launch.... Lars happened to be in San Francisco last week promoting the game, but I didn't get a chance to hang out with him!
Here and here are videos of him playing live at the Foreign Cinema soiree (takes a bit to load).
Here and here are videos of him playing live at the Foreign Cinema soiree (takes a bit to load).
Friday, May 11, 2007
Happy Hour Friday (7)
In honor of my trip to the races today, I thought I would offer up a Mint Julep recipe!
The key to this drink is the right amount of sugar and the right amount of mint. You can muddle the mint as you would with a mojito, but I think making mint-infused simple syrup ahead of time is easier, especially if you want to make a pitcher of these suckers.
At least a couple hours ahead, you should make some mint-infused simple syrup. Start by heating up equal amounts of sugar and water on your stovetop until the sugar is fully dissolved. Then, take the mixture off the heat and add one bunch of mint to the mixture. Let the mint steep for fifteen minutes, then strain the liquid into a container you can put in the fridge.
Once cold, your drink is ready to assemble!
Mint Julep
Fill a glass with ice (crushed if you have it)
Add 2 parts bourbon
Add 1 part mint-infused simple syrup
Add more ice (unless the glass already full)
Stir the drink well.
Garnish with a sprig of mint.
This is surprisingly good. For a twist you could add some fresh lime (lime and whiskey is better together than you might think!
The key to this drink is the right amount of sugar and the right amount of mint. You can muddle the mint as you would with a mojito, but I think making mint-infused simple syrup ahead of time is easier, especially if you want to make a pitcher of these suckers.
At least a couple hours ahead, you should make some mint-infused simple syrup. Start by heating up equal amounts of sugar and water on your stovetop until the sugar is fully dissolved. Then, take the mixture off the heat and add one bunch of mint to the mixture. Let the mint steep for fifteen minutes, then strain the liquid into a container you can put in the fridge.
Once cold, your drink is ready to assemble!
Mint Julep
Fill a glass with ice (crushed if you have it)
Add 2 parts bourbon
Add 1 part mint-infused simple syrup
Add more ice (unless the glass already full)
Stir the drink well.
Garnish with a sprig of mint.
This is surprisingly good. For a twist you could add some fresh lime (lime and whiskey is better together than you might think!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
This week in Foodie Goodness
I've been in Berkeley this week for work, one of the last trips I'll make as a Peachpit employee! While I'm here, I'm trying to make the most of my proximity to so many incredible restaurants.
On Tuesday night I went to Dosa in SF with my friend Cary. In a hipster 'hood, the restaurant serves upscale South Indian fare in a sleek and modern setting. Their specialty, dosas, are "savory crepes" filled with a variety of ingredients. They also have a nice list of wine-based cocktails, including several that use Lillet!
On Wednesday a few co-workers and I headed down the street to T-Rex at 5. During the week they have a happy hour until 6, offering high-end "well" drinks for $5. My margarita was delish, but my caipirinha was too strong to finish. Afterwards, I headed to Montero's with Alison for some upscale and yummy Mexican food.
This morning I met my boss in the lobby of my hotel at 7am (sweet jesus) and we got a yummy breakfast at Bette's on 4th Street. We actually did a little work, and a lotta gossiping, so despite the early hour it was a very productive meal. I ended the day back on 4th Street when Karen and I had a lovely meal at O Chame.
Tomorrow I head to the races with some co-workers during lunch, and the food options are significantly less exciting there. I may have sushi with Suzie and Ren after work, and maybe a greasy-spoon breakfast on Saturday morning. Should be a good cure for the hangover I expect to have!
On Tuesday night I went to Dosa in SF with my friend Cary. In a hipster 'hood, the restaurant serves upscale South Indian fare in a sleek and modern setting. Their specialty, dosas, are "savory crepes" filled with a variety of ingredients. They also have a nice list of wine-based cocktails, including several that use Lillet!
On Wednesday a few co-workers and I headed down the street to T-Rex at 5. During the week they have a happy hour until 6, offering high-end "well" drinks for $5. My margarita was delish, but my caipirinha was too strong to finish. Afterwards, I headed to Montero's with Alison for some upscale and yummy Mexican food.
This morning I met my boss in the lobby of my hotel at 7am (sweet jesus) and we got a yummy breakfast at Bette's on 4th Street. We actually did a little work, and a lotta gossiping, so despite the early hour it was a very productive meal. I ended the day back on 4th Street when Karen and I had a lovely meal at O Chame.
Tomorrow I head to the races with some co-workers during lunch, and the food options are significantly less exciting there. I may have sushi with Suzie and Ren after work, and maybe a greasy-spoon breakfast on Saturday morning. Should be a good cure for the hangover I expect to have!
Ode to Veronica Mars
I've mentioned to some of you how much I love the show Veronica Mars. The current (third) season is not as stellar as the first two, but I still love it and watch it avidly. After repeated threats of cancellation, it looks like it may return for a fourth season. Yay!
Why would I recommend a show that airs on the CW you might ask? Let me tell you:
Remember in high school, where it seemed the b.s. that played out amongst your friends (and enemies) was an incredibly huge deal, and your world was so small and your reputation hung in the balance on barely a thread (or, was this just my experience?)? Imagine all of that, but add real, awful, adult-laden drama to the mix. That's precisely where Veronica Mars begins.
A "have-not" recently ostracized from her wealthy friends, Veronica is cynical, witty and smart. She drops scathing, often hilarious comments at key moments. When her peers try to undermine her, she initially takes it with stride (to keep a stiff upper lip), then finds an ingenious way to get them back. She excels in school and does investigative work for her dad on the side (he's a P.I.). Did we ever know a chick like this? No, but I would have liked to.
As a huge fan of noir, this is my kind of show. Beneath the sunny, cheery veneer of Neptune (the fictional seaside town near San Diego where the show is set) lies a seedy underbelly full of secrets. Veronica navigates both worlds and does so with ease (sometimes) and difficulty (often). She has a certain moral flexibility that lets her manipulate people in order to get things from them, without ever doing anything too harsh for us to dislike her entirely.
Now, Veronica Mars is not perfect. It can be cheesy at times, certainly unbelievable. But I can't hold that against it. The show features some great music, fun cameos (Lucy Lawless as an FBI agent?) and some surprising plot twists. The writers of the show know exactly when to show Veronica making a significant misstep in order to remind us that she's only a teenager, and therefore, predisposed to making some bad choices. As thirty-somethings, the writers throw in comments, jokes and cultural references you wouldn't expect a high school student to get, but if you suspend disbelief just enough, it can be a lot of fun to watch.
I highly recommend it!
Why would I recommend a show that airs on the CW you might ask? Let me tell you:
Remember in high school, where it seemed the b.s. that played out amongst your friends (and enemies) was an incredibly huge deal, and your world was so small and your reputation hung in the balance on barely a thread (or, was this just my experience?)? Imagine all of that, but add real, awful, adult-laden drama to the mix. That's precisely where Veronica Mars begins.
A "have-not" recently ostracized from her wealthy friends, Veronica is cynical, witty and smart. She drops scathing, often hilarious comments at key moments. When her peers try to undermine her, she initially takes it with stride (to keep a stiff upper lip), then finds an ingenious way to get them back. She excels in school and does investigative work for her dad on the side (he's a P.I.). Did we ever know a chick like this? No, but I would have liked to.
As a huge fan of noir, this is my kind of show. Beneath the sunny, cheery veneer of Neptune (the fictional seaside town near San Diego where the show is set) lies a seedy underbelly full of secrets. Veronica navigates both worlds and does so with ease (sometimes) and difficulty (often). She has a certain moral flexibility that lets her manipulate people in order to get things from them, without ever doing anything too harsh for us to dislike her entirely.
Now, Veronica Mars is not perfect. It can be cheesy at times, certainly unbelievable. But I can't hold that against it. The show features some great music, fun cameos (Lucy Lawless as an FBI agent?) and some surprising plot twists. The writers of the show know exactly when to show Veronica making a significant misstep in order to remind us that she's only a teenager, and therefore, predisposed to making some bad choices. As thirty-somethings, the writers throw in comments, jokes and cultural references you wouldn't expect a high school student to get, but if you suspend disbelief just enough, it can be a lot of fun to watch.
I highly recommend it!
Monday, May 7, 2007
Will Shortz
On Sunday I saw Will Shortz, the NY Times Crosswords & Games Editor, speak at UCSB with my friend Catherine. As featured in the documentary film "Wordplay", Will discussed the puzzle's history, how one is constructed, and what makes them great.
One of his favorite puzzles was one in which five words in the puzzle contained the star symbol to replace the actual word. For example, "starlight" would read "*light" in the puzzle. Once completed, the five stars appeared in the shape of the Big Dipper.
He also brought some new puzzle games to the show. For instance, he created a game wherein he offered a word, then you had to come up with the city and state that featured that word in consecutive order. Confused? Yeah, me too. Here are some examples:
Word: alone
City, State: buffALO NEw york
Word: sonar
City, State: tucSON ARizona
Word: bias
City, State: columBIA South carolina
He also told us that for a short time on the NYT website, you can complete a crossword with clues written by Bill Clinton!
One of his favorite puzzles was one in which five words in the puzzle contained the star symbol to replace the actual word. For example, "starlight" would read "*light" in the puzzle. Once completed, the five stars appeared in the shape of the Big Dipper.
He also brought some new puzzle games to the show. For instance, he created a game wherein he offered a word, then you had to come up with the city and state that featured that word in consecutive order. Confused? Yeah, me too. Here are some examples:
Word: alone
City, State: buffALO NEw york
Word: sonar
City, State: tucSON ARizona
Word: bias
City, State: columBIA South carolina
He also told us that for a short time on the NYT website, you can complete a crossword with clues written by Bill Clinton!
Friday, May 4, 2007
More on Pop Culture: Lost
From the highly respectable media outlet E! Online I read today that ABC will be announcing an end date for Lost, possibly in the next few days.
Despite the challenges of a new time slot, a lengthy break over the holidays, and a somewhat-slow season, I still really enjoy this show. The last several episodes have been awesome (no spoilers, I promise) and knowing that it's coming to an end is a good thing for the storyline.
"They" estimate that there will only be two more seasons... which could mean it might end on the 108th episode...
UPDATE (Monday, 5/6): There will be three more seasons of 16 episodes each, which mean a total of 119 episodes, and each season will run consecutively (a la 24) with no breaks or repeats.
Despite the challenges of a new time slot, a lengthy break over the holidays, and a somewhat-slow season, I still really enjoy this show. The last several episodes have been awesome (no spoilers, I promise) and knowing that it's coming to an end is a good thing for the storyline.
"They" estimate that there will only be two more seasons... which could mean it might end on the 108th episode...
UPDATE (Monday, 5/6): There will be three more seasons of 16 episodes each, which mean a total of 119 episodes, and each season will run consecutively (a la 24) with no breaks or repeats.
In other annoying people news...
Downtown LA is abuzz, waiting to see whether Paris will be sent to jail for her DUI.
Update (4:45pm): She was sentenced to jail for 45 days!
Update (4:45pm): She was sentenced to jail for 45 days!
Britney on Stage: A Defamer Summary
God bless the fine peeps at Defamer:
Britney Spears played the Sunset Strip House of Blues last night, the final stop of a comeback trifecta in which Southern Californian fans were given the opportunity to pay $125 for 12 electrifying minutes of high-impact strippercising set to a handful of oldies, flawlessly lipsynched except where the chewing of gum necessitated dropping the occasional lyric.
Happy Hour Friday (6)
I have a 2 for 1 deal for you today!
If you ever thought Brandy was an old man's drink, well you are right. It is. However, if you ever come into possession of a bottle of Brandy, here are some ideas of how to get rid of it:
Hot Toddy (perfect for a chilly evening, especially if you have a cold)
1 shot of Brandy
1 tbsp of honey
Juice from 1/4th of a lemon
Pour hot water over this concoction, stir, and drink. It will soothe your sore throat and hopefully let you skip the Nyquil.
Sidecar (this is so yummy!)
Fill a shaker with ice. Add the following:
1 part Brandy
1 part Triple Sec (or more traditionally, simple syrup if it's handy)
Juice from 1/2 lemon
Shake with vigor. Strain into a sugar-rimmed martini glass. Enjoy.
If you ever thought Brandy was an old man's drink, well you are right. It is. However, if you ever come into possession of a bottle of Brandy, here are some ideas of how to get rid of it:
Hot Toddy (perfect for a chilly evening, especially if you have a cold)
1 shot of Brandy
1 tbsp of honey
Juice from 1/4th of a lemon
Pour hot water over this concoction, stir, and drink. It will soothe your sore throat and hopefully let you skip the Nyquil.
Sidecar (this is so yummy!)
Fill a shaker with ice. Add the following:
1 part Brandy
1 part Triple Sec (or more traditionally, simple syrup if it's handy)
Juice from 1/2 lemon
Shake with vigor. Strain into a sugar-rimmed martini glass. Enjoy.
Richard Avedon exhibit
The Stanford Cantor Center is exhibiting Richard Avedon's "In the American West" series of photographs, as part of a 20th anniversary tour of the series.
I absolutely love this collection of photos. They're haunting and weird, but they are also beautiful and fascinating. So, if you happen to be in Palo Alto this weekend, you should definitely check it out!
I absolutely love this collection of photos. They're haunting and weird, but they are also beautiful and fascinating. So, if you happen to be in Palo Alto this weekend, you should definitely check it out!
Unpublished Steinbeck manuscripts found
Very cool!
Read the story here.
LOS ANGELES - A handwritten draft of John Steinbeck's novel "Sweet Thursday," along with an unpublished story and other works, will be auctioned by a writer who says they were sitting in a closet for 50 years.
Read the story here.
Grim thoughts
Mark told me today that Johnnie Cochran died in 2005. Somehow I missed that, maybe because you can still see commercials for his law firm on local L.A. TV?
But it made me think: aren't there people out there older than dirt? These are people I am surprised are still alive:
The Queen
Fidel Castro
Charlton Heston
Ted Kennedy
I'm sure there's more...
But it made me think: aren't there people out there older than dirt? These are people I am surprised are still alive:
The Queen
Fidel Castro
Charlton Heston
Ted Kennedy
I'm sure there's more...
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Adobe's "myFeedz" site
A co-worker just informed me about this... Adobe has a test product it calls "myFeedz". The use of "z" in place of "s" aside, this thing is cool.
It's what they call a "social newspaper" - you set up a free account, pick the topics you are interested in (by selecting "tags" - and they give you some suggestions to get going), and then the site searches through hundreds of thousands of articles and creates for you a list of the most recent, and most widely-read articles with those tags.
I love Digg, but this is like Digg, Bexy Style. Awesome.
It's what they call a "social newspaper" - you set up a free account, pick the topics you are interested in (by selecting "tags" - and they give you some suggestions to get going), and then the site searches through hundreds of thousands of articles and creates for you a list of the most recent, and most widely-read articles with those tags.
I love Digg, but this is like Digg, Bexy Style. Awesome.
Googling gone awry
Does this ever happen to you? You are searching for something innocuous and end up finding something like this?
The Queen
Queen Elizabeth II is visiting Virginia this week in honor of the 400-year anniversary of the Jamestown colony. The story of Pocahontas was depicted in The New World, and while the film was probably the most beautiful reel of celluloid ever, it doesn't stick to the facts. For instance, it's believed that Pocahontas was anywhere between 8 and 12 years old when John Smith arrived, so the idea that they fell in love is, well, wrong in so many ways.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
"A Greener Apple"
Steve Jobs posted a letter addressing Apple's efforts to be an environmentally-responsible company today.
The company has come under attack from environmentalists (they always picket MacWorld) but it seems their record is better than you might think. Regardless, I'm glad there's enough pressure on companies to be thinking about this issue.
The company has come under attack from environmentalists (they always picket MacWorld) but it seems their record is better than you might think. Regardless, I'm glad there's enough pressure on companies to be thinking about this issue.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
My obligatory post about 24
OK, so I'm a huge fan of this show, and I absolutely loved the 5th season (maybe it was my favorite). Despite my better judgment, and the fact that I don't buy into the fear b.s. that the government tries to sell us all the time, this show is still highly entertaining and Jack Bauer is a total badass.
But the current season totally blows. It's so sad. I thought the 3rd season with Boobs Bauer caught in a bear trap was bad, but by far the 6th season is the worst.
Here's a suggestion from a poster on Ain't it Cool News (the typos are his):
Here, here, brother!
But the current season totally blows. It's so sad. I thought the 3rd season with Boobs Bauer caught in a bear trap was bad, but by far the 6th season is the worst.
Here's a suggestion from a poster on Ain't it Cool News (the typos are his):
BRING BACK ZOMBIE ALMEDIA!
by LordEnigma
This would be the only thing to fix this season. We cant even get more than three episodes of hip and happenin JACK SACK ACTION! Something big has to happen this season because it comes across as all SET-UP! This whole f*****g year is a set-up to something else. What could it f*****g be? What the f**k else could this show pull out of it's ass? Nevertheless, the writers of this show better be happy that everyone has decided to kick LOST around this year. If not, then, they would have to deal with people giving them sh*t for 24 episodes of F*****G EXPOSITION!
Here, here, brother!
X-Files 2
OK, so for years now there have been rumors circulating that there will be a sequel to the X-Files movie, that all parties are on board... Recently, some cynics have theorized that Mulder and Scully bring up this potential project only around the time that they are promoting their other projects. That they are lying about the project and using it as a ploy to get attention. I hope not.
But there are also a lot of rumors about how much they disliked each other on the set, and how they hated the experience, etc. Scully recently posted a message on her website addressing this, and made an interesting comment (please note the text I bolded and italicized below:
If this thing ever hits theaters, we will have to all meet up in some city and see it together, yes?
But there are also a lot of rumors about how much they disliked each other on the set, and how they hated the experience, etc. Scully recently posted a message on her website addressing this, and made an interesting comment (please note the text I bolded and italicized below:
The series went on for a long time - longer than any of us had anticipated or some of us had wished. It was the hardest work I will ever do in my life. I hope for the sake of my children and my sanity that I never have to work that hard again.
Did I hate it? At times yes.
Did I love it? At times yes.
Did I regret it or do I regret it now? Not for a second.
Did David and I hate each other? At times yes like any brother and sister, husband and wife, co-worker and co-worker forced to spend that much time together under such strenuous circumstances.
Do we hate each other now? Not in the least.
Do I imagine that when we do the film together we won't hate each other for a few hours during the filming? No. We will. Vehemently. As David waits patiently, again and again for the hair dryer to calm my frizzy hair between takes so it matches the beginning of the scene... he will undoubtedly be thinking "what the hell was I thinking agreeing to shoot with her f****** frizzy hair again?"
But we will also love each other and laugh with each other and pull pranks on each other and bug each other like we did for nine years.
And that's that.
If this thing ever hits theaters, we will have to all meet up in some city and see it together, yes?
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