December 2007 Archives
I am on my way back to Los Angeles. Woke up early (4AM - gotta get back with plenty of time to party) this morning to find a lot of snow on the ground. I always like to see a little snow when I am back home, and the snow on the way to the airport was plenty. Here is a picture of how it looked from my back porch.
When I am not doing anything, I like to take part in my favorite past-time, which is watching bad science fiction movies. Today's bad science fiction movie is The One starring Jason Statham, Jet Li, Delroy Lindo, Carla Gugino and James Morrison, better known to you and I as Bill Buchanan, the longest tenured CTU agent on 24, which probably means he is dead after like two episodes next year.
The One is actually not that bad, although with Jason Statham and Jet Li (actually, multiple versions of Jet Li), you would think there would be a lot more fighting, and a lot less talking. It centers around the theory that there are multiple universes and a parallel you exists in every universe. Every time a parallel you dies, the others gain your strength. In this movie, Jet Li goes around killing other versions of himself to become stronger, and he must be stopped because the universe might implode if all the power is consolidated in one person.
Still with me? Sweet. As I was watching one of the fight scenes, I started to wonder why every single movie I have watched that deals with the future features people with the dumbest looking clothes. Look at what people were wearing in The Fifth Element. The only person who didn't look awful was Mila Jovavich, and that was only during the brief moments when she was naked. In The One the cops of the future/alternate universe all wear black leather. Think about all of those movies out there featuring a future world. Would you want to dress like any of those fools? Why hasn't somebody hired Tim Gunn to oversee their wardrobe departments?
Faced with possible visions of the future, I would rather see something like what we have in Children of Men. Yes, everybody is dressed up in what seems like ratty khakis, oxfords, polos, and knit sweaters that were all purchased at some Gap clearance sale, but if that is what the post-apocalypse is supposed to look like, at least I won't have to buy any new clothes.
Sitting here waiting for my connection in DTW, I was happy to see that there is free wireless. I am not sure if it is just for the holidays or whatever, but when I connected to Boingo, I wasn't asked to pay. Then again, maybe my account was set to authorize anyway.
As soon as I logged on and fired up iTunes, I was surprised to see that there was another computer online this early in the morning, and this person was sharing their iTunes. Time go playlist stalking! The person online identified themselves only as "K". I didn't spend too much time snooping around K's Computer, but at the top of their "Most Played" playlist was "Take On Me", so perhaps I happened upon somebody from Aha on their way home.
The reason why I didn't snoop around more was because there was a playlist called Jakie O Motherfucker. And shit, if that just isn't begging to be played, I just don't know what is. This playlist was about ten songs, each really long. I have no idea what the deal with Jakie O is, but from the selections on this computer, they were very boring. I think I listened to ten minutes of their band warming up before moving on to the next song, which was like five minutes of their band warming up. I really hope somebody kicks this guy in the nuts the next time they see him.
I may never be as good at flight blogging as my good buddy B-side, but I had to voice my displeasure of the first leg of my flight while returning to the friendly confines of upstate NY.
So, fuck Northwest Airlines. They have a few good things going for them, such as flight to my the little airport near my hometown that only takes one stop from LAX. The rest is a fucking joke. For example, I was at check in and noticed I could upgrade my seat to "Coach Exit Row Plus" or some shit like that for $25. If you have legs as long as mine, you really jump on a chance like that. I get to my seat on the plane, and my seat is the exact same thing as the rest of coach. I am BEHIND the exit row, not in an exit row. What the hell is that? A complete rip off.
And what about my plane? Well, it appears that Northwest got out of bankruptcy by neglecting upgrades to the flight. I'm starting to think they saved money on seating by using used upholstery from taxi cabs. And how about that IFE? Oh right. IT DOESN'T EXIST. OK, not completely true. They do have several audio channels to choose from, but there is no movie. I don't like watching movies on airplanes, and I'm not expecting LCDs in every seat, but there should at least be something going on here.
At least the flight attendants appear to know what the hell they are doing. There is this one guy who looks like a gayer, thinner Phillip Seymour Hoffman, or at least a gayer version of Brandt, his character from the Big Lebowski. As for the passengers, the people around me seem decent enough. The three girls sitting in front of me are cute, but they are typical LA, dressed so originally in their leggings and boots. I can talk to their types when I get back home in a week. I do like the girl sitting next to me, but she is married. However, i think she stole a copy of the New Yorker from first class, so I'll give her some props for that.
The best part of the night was the airport bar. Met a massage therapist/actress on her way back to Canada. We shared a table because there wasn't a lot off room left in the bar. She made the wait before my flight got off the ground bearable. And she has her own line of massage essentials. Check her out at Essences of Erika.
I love how efficient the Japanese are. Here, they demonstrate how one can "learn" English and do aerobics at the same time.
And I of course just had to share with you.
Haven't done a Gridskipper update in a while. Some articles you may be interested in include Los Angeles Dog Parks, Unwarranted Door Policies, and Breakfast in West Hollywood. I think I am going to do some full reviews on some of the breakfast places because I wasn't able to give a lot of them the justice they deserve in the space alloted.
Thanks for help with the secret santa gift. Booze won. I bought a bottle of Francis Ford Coppola Merlot. I paired that with a gift certificate from Blockbuster, per the suggestion from Bauer's Sweetheart. I think people liked my gift, since it was stolen three times. As for me? I got a tear-off desk calendar for 2008. Sounds underwhelming, but it is the "Wost Case Scenario" tear-off desk calendar, meaning I'll be prepared for anything by this time next year.
This weekend, Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter announced the birth of their second baby. I love Tim Burton's movies, but how scary must that kid's bedroom be? And even if their isn't a Edward Scissorhands mobile floating over your head, waiting to impale you to death, imagine it is bed time. I wonder what sort of reading mommy and daddy have waiting for you? Sure, seeing Helena Bonham Carter looking back at you while you are breastfeeding isn't so bad, but what happens when she is too tired and Tim Burton is looking back at you while he is giving you the bottle? For the child's sake, I hope Tim let's his wife pick the nanny.
I love this Diet Coke commercial. Our New York businesswoman, played by Demi Moore, is so tired from her day of work that she needs to eat, but doesn't want to ruin her chances of promotion in the old boys club law office she works in, so she grabs a Diet Coke from the fridge (last one!) which won't make her fat. She is all set to relax to some sexy music, but her cat Walter startles her, and her Diet Coke flies out the window and onto the ledge. Now, even though you think she could afford another can of Diet Coke what with her living in this huge apartment in New York, she braves the ledge. She grabs her Diet Coke, and is happy, but is startled by the ugly workout clothing her neighbors are wearing as she peers into her window. We think it's the end of our heroine, as she falls off the ledge of the building, but a very conveniently placed awning not only saves her, but places her adjacent to a handsome man, who is probably not only single, but will surely invite her in to listen to some Duran Duran and do lines off the coffee table.
Yay Diet Coke!
For some mystery reason, I suck at buying gifts. OK, there is no mystery. I suck at buying gifts because in general I don't like spending a lot of time shopping. I always want to be thoughtful with my giving, but I usually end up buying a person a gift certificate unless I know exactly what they want. If I am forced to put too much thought into it, I will continually fret over whether the other person will like the gift, and I don't need the stress because I really do need to keep as much of my hair as possible. Anyway, I need some help buying a gift for my department's Secret Santa/white elephant game. Somebody out there has to have a good suggestion.
Everybody knows that Tyra Banks is my one and only, but I think I am starting to get a man crush on Adrian Peterson. AD (that stands for All Day, which is the same nickname I use for Tyra, although for a different reason...) is the rookie running for the Minnesota Vikings that is making a lot of people think about Eric Dickerson, and why not? He missed two games this year with a knee injury, but still leads the NFL in rushing by over 100 yards. Now, he gets to run a lot more than other people because the Vikings passing game is so horrible, but that is still very impressive. As far as man crushes go, I think he is starting to creep up on Shawn Marion, but I don't keep a picture of either of them in my wallet yet.
Continue reading for some of my favorite Peterson highlights.
Yes, the creators of TVgasm are very excited about the new season of Big Brother. I have always thought it would be safe to do two seasons of Big Brother. Yes, the Amazing Race kind of over did it with two seasons a year, but if Big Brother does to seasons maybe every other year, it opens up a lot of possibilities. For example, Big Brother All Stars would have been a perfect second season. The picture above is from a simpler time. Who knows, maybe Big Brother will inspire me to write again....
