Three winters ago, there was a huge smoking hole in the ground, I was sleeping on the floor in an unfurnished apartment, eating on an ironing board, and really felt completely worthless.
Things get into perspective when you see innocents dying all over the globe, whether by another's man hand or not.
Happy New Year, world. Let's all get along.
"There's this wonderful quote from the book 'The Sheltering Sky' where it says 'Because we do not know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well.' And yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, an afternoon that is so deeply a part of your being, you can't even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps 4, 5 times more? Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps 20? And yet it all seems limitless."
Brandon Lee, from the set of The Crow, 1993
Friday, December 31, 2004
: : STATIC : :
| VOL. 0100 |
Ok, am back in the Big Apple just in time for New Year's Eve. This edition of Static will be devoted to the week that was, since I was "off the grid" in L.A. Am no Pico Iyer (but I brought Sun After Dark to read), but here's my 8-day mini-travelogue.
Escape To L.A.
Waiting in Newark. Aside from 2 Puffy Amiyumi characters *lol*, there wasn't anything of note.
Until I discovered that the dwarf i saw loitering around the waiting area was actually my seatmate. And I'm in the middle seat. On my left was a sneezing German mathematician doing post-graduate studies at Princeton. Did I mention he had a cold?
Night 1
Flew into LAX at 5.30PM PST. Picked up by my Tita Josie, my 14 yr old cousin Erin, and my Tita's coworker Carol (who drives her own white Dodge Durango - whoa.). First stop: dinner at Noodle Planet. Apparently, the first stop on my Dad's trip here as well. Check out the menu (http://www.noodleplanet.com/).They have those blended drinks with Boba (a.k.a. 'sago' - hey, we have that here too! Duh. *lol*)
Day 1
Woke up freezing - that's what i get for being conservative with the heater. Stayed outside most of the morning to bask in the Cali sun, iPodding and reading more Tibetan mysticism/reality stories from Pico Iyer.
3PM Headed for the Santa Anita mall. Man, Yanks really love their malls. Can't hold a candle to The Galleria in Houston, but way better than Jersey Gardens. In the mood for laughs, we went to see "Meet the Fockers". Dustin Hoffman steals the movie. Word(s) of the day: "assss hoooooo!"
Day 2
Watched cable TV, especially the Green Bay-Minnesota game, bookending lunch and food preps.
XMas Eve@carol's. Food fest with new people.
Tita Josie, Ellen, Erin and Carol
Tequila with Salvador Salvador (aka Coya Tong, or Tongtongtongtong Pakitongkitong).
Also got roped into videoke. And why would "Quit Playing Games With My Heart" be the first song I am "forced" to sing? I have absolutely no idea (despite a 90 score). I got a couple of Old Navy shirts. Erin got the Shrek 2 DVD, so we watched it till 2 AM.
Day 3
Went to my Uncle Jerome's house in the Porter Ranch area. Man, that place is perfect. Its in the hills and far away from the hustle and bustle of the city (though it has a spectacular view of it).
Met their kids - teenage cousins really - in essence for the first time.
Erin, Jerwin, Janessa, Me and Janine
Drove later around Hollywood area (sorry, no walk-around. maybe next year). Camera work inside a car is usually sloppy but hey, I have to make do.
Meet me at the corner of Sunset and Vine. ASAP!
Being already late, we decided to sleep over (geez, no personal toiletries or clothing!? So sue me. I didn't go through Boy Scouting *lol*). I settled for a long talk with the older set while trying to win points with the young 'uns (my impersonation of a PC support person with an Indian accent - ah, the small joys of outsourcing - brought the house down).
Day 4
Picked up my cousin Janessa who went to the North Ridge mall way early - because she has to work at the Rave shop for the after-Xmas sale. A 10.00AM pickup time became 10.35. Ah, girls. *lol*
3PM drive to San Diego. Driving down I5, there's too many Aves, Caminos & Missions (bless you, Spaniards). Finally saw the Pacific Ocean.
Got to Uncle June's house (the Mira Mesa area is like Manila transplanted, as RJ said). Speaking of RJ, the nigger was in Escondido the same night. Oh well, just called him and see if he was ok. Was going to surprise him (yeah, he was friggin' surprised hehe).
Lightning tour of San Diego. First stop: US Naval Base on Coronado Island (my uncle's a senior chief on the USS Nimitz. His bro, Uncle Joel, is a Lt Cmdr stationed in Hawaii). Got the walking tour of the Nimitz plus views of the USS Ronald Reagan and USS John Stennis (no pics for security reasons).
USS Nimitz CVN-68
Uncle June and me on the deck, with San Diego downtown in the background
Swung by the historic Hotel Del Coronado (http://www.coronadohistory.org/ourhistory.html) for more pics. Interesting ghost story: http://www.hoteldel.com/history/index.html, http://www.ghosts.org/haunted/coronado/hoteldel.html.
Also checked out the downtown, the convention center, PETCO Park (baseball Padres) and Qualcomm Stadium (football Chargers).
Day 5
Rains come to SoCal. So what do we do except follow Jason Mraz' exhortation to "sleep all day." Its also so cold inside the house, so i stayed inside my heated room. Though I got bored watching SABBs (Stupid Americans Behaving Badly) on Jerry Springer *lol* (TV in room isnt connected to cable) so just shivered in the living room to switch to more varied fare. By nightfall, Erin takes out their own Magic Sing videoke gadget (costs $300 here but cheaper in the Philippines apparently). Videoke has been around for what, a decade or so, so why doesn't anybody improve on it by using the original music instead of those kiddie-level, amateurish, kinapa-sa-piano tunes??? Are we worried about copyright stuff? Like we're worried about the RIAA deploying US Marines to crack down on Videoke makers in Singapore, Malaysia and Manila? Hyeaah right. Or do you mean to say that tsunami was due to divine payback for people pirating stuff in that part of the world?
Day 6
Still raining. Floods all over. So we just spent latter half of the day in Universal Citywalk.
LA lost its football team, so we have to be content with the Raider Nation
Watched "Christmas with the Kranks". I never liked Tim Allen, no matter how good his press is. So this is officially only the 2nd Allen flick i liked ("Big Trouble" was the first, and Buzz Lightyear is okay because I don't see his mug), and it's due more to Jamie Lee Curtis. She's so nice and funny.
Finished it off with dinner at Tony Roma's, and lots more picture-taking. Rains caused a lot of accidents on the freeway on the way home.
Day 7
Another half-day snoozing (still some goddess' tears outside here and there). I think am going to have time zone/jet lag troubles when i get back. I actually get out of bed at 1PM EST!
1.30PM (PST!) Went to pick up some Asian dimsum to eat on the way to West Covina (practically Manila on the West Coast). While waiting for the dentist, picked some items at the 99-cent store. The dental assistant was a family friend (classmate of my uncle Hermes), and she taught me a valuable life lesson: how to brush your teeth the right way. Then the Chinese dentist dropped the bomb: You will lose your teeth in 7 days. Or something like that.
6.00PM Had dinner at Atin Ito, one of the numerous Pinoy eateries sprinkled around the West Covina area. Had binagoongan (wooohooo!) and daing na bangus (double wooohooo!). The frequency of tagalog chatter is a bit unnerving *lol*.
On the way home, Uncle Jerome called and said they were coming over. And so the night ends where the whole trip began: Noodle Planet. Watched the cousins consume the pad see euw like there's no tomorrow *lol* Back home, goofed around while watching Bad Boys 2, before saying goodbyes.
Day 8
Get ready for flight. As is the story of my life, i am saddled with pabaon: chocolate truffles, 6-pack ensaymadas, bananas, cheese crackers, juice, water. This just means i have an extra paper bag to carry on the plane.
9.45 Got to LAX. After checking the bags, i can see am getting good at this, considering the American family behind me asked qustions and whined out loud what to do, and a Shintaro Nakagawa, running late for an 11AM flight to Japan, was bumbling through the self-service checkin kiosk.
10.10 Looooooooooooong line to security checkpoint. Everybody wants to get out of L.A. before the Dick Clark robot rings in the New Year. Poor Shintaro had to get in and out of the line several times because of confusion, prompting the woman behind me (about early 40s, wearing a pink blouse that stated both cutely and ominously "Hard Tail") to speak up: "Are you two together? Why are you cutting in the line?"
10.40 Go, Shintaro, go!!!!
10.55 Got sidetracked by those money-vacuuming airport shops. Came away with a nice blue cotton shirt and another shotglass.
11.00 Yeah they had to put Gate 66 in the furthest part of LAX. And they even had two Gate 66s!
Dammit. Watching parents with cute kids drives me nuts. *lol*
10.00PM EST Back at Newark. *sigh*
SUMMARY:
Online airfare ... $312
Ridiculous taxi fares ... $170
Tony Roma's dinner ... $95
Basking in the California sun
Not lugging your laptop backpack for a week
Reconnecting with relatives
Bonding with your American-born cousins
... PRICELESS.
| VOL. 0100 |
Ok, am back in the Big Apple just in time for New Year's Eve. This edition of Static will be devoted to the week that was, since I was "off the grid" in L.A. Am no Pico Iyer (but I brought Sun After Dark to read), but here's my 8-day mini-travelogue.
Escape To L.A.
Waiting in Newark. Aside from 2 Puffy Amiyumi characters *lol*, there wasn't anything of note.
Until I discovered that the dwarf i saw loitering around the waiting area was actually my seatmate. And I'm in the middle seat. On my left was a sneezing German mathematician doing post-graduate studies at Princeton. Did I mention he had a cold?
Night 1
Flew into LAX at 5.30PM PST. Picked up by my Tita Josie, my 14 yr old cousin Erin, and my Tita's coworker Carol (who drives her own white Dodge Durango - whoa.). First stop: dinner at Noodle Planet. Apparently, the first stop on my Dad's trip here as well. Check out the menu (http://www.noodleplanet.com/).They have those blended drinks with Boba (a.k.a. 'sago' - hey, we have that here too! Duh. *lol*)
Day 1
Woke up freezing - that's what i get for being conservative with the heater. Stayed outside most of the morning to bask in the Cali sun, iPodding and reading more Tibetan mysticism/reality stories from Pico Iyer.
3PM Headed for the Santa Anita mall. Man, Yanks really love their malls. Can't hold a candle to The Galleria in Houston, but way better than Jersey Gardens. In the mood for laughs, we went to see "Meet the Fockers". Dustin Hoffman steals the movie. Word(s) of the day: "assss hoooooo!"
Day 2
Watched cable TV, especially the Green Bay-Minnesota game, bookending lunch and food preps.
XMas Eve@carol's. Food fest with new people.
Tita Josie, Ellen, Erin and Carol
Tequila with Salvador Salvador (aka Coya Tong, or Tongtongtongtong Pakitongkitong).
Also got roped into videoke. And why would "Quit Playing Games With My Heart" be the first song I am "forced" to sing? I have absolutely no idea (despite a 90 score). I got a couple of Old Navy shirts. Erin got the Shrek 2 DVD, so we watched it till 2 AM.
Day 3
Went to my Uncle Jerome's house in the Porter Ranch area. Man, that place is perfect. Its in the hills and far away from the hustle and bustle of the city (though it has a spectacular view of it).
Met their kids - teenage cousins really - in essence for the first time.
Erin, Jerwin, Janessa, Me and Janine
Drove later around Hollywood area (sorry, no walk-around. maybe next year). Camera work inside a car is usually sloppy but hey, I have to make do.
Meet me at the corner of Sunset and Vine. ASAP!
Being already late, we decided to sleep over (geez, no personal toiletries or clothing!? So sue me. I didn't go through Boy Scouting *lol*). I settled for a long talk with the older set while trying to win points with the young 'uns (my impersonation of a PC support person with an Indian accent - ah, the small joys of outsourcing - brought the house down).
Day 4
Picked up my cousin Janessa who went to the North Ridge mall way early - because she has to work at the Rave shop for the after-Xmas sale. A 10.00AM pickup time became 10.35. Ah, girls. *lol*
3PM drive to San Diego. Driving down I5, there's too many Aves, Caminos & Missions (bless you, Spaniards). Finally saw the Pacific Ocean.
Got to Uncle June's house (the Mira Mesa area is like Manila transplanted, as RJ said). Speaking of RJ, the nigger was in Escondido the same night. Oh well, just called him and see if he was ok. Was going to surprise him (yeah, he was friggin' surprised hehe).
Lightning tour of San Diego. First stop: US Naval Base on Coronado Island (my uncle's a senior chief on the USS Nimitz. His bro, Uncle Joel, is a Lt Cmdr stationed in Hawaii). Got the walking tour of the Nimitz plus views of the USS Ronald Reagan and USS John Stennis (no pics for security reasons).
USS Nimitz CVN-68
Uncle June and me on the deck, with San Diego downtown in the background
Swung by the historic Hotel Del Coronado (http://www.coronadohistory.org/ourhistory.html) for more pics. Interesting ghost story: http://www.hoteldel.com/history/index.html, http://www.ghosts.org/haunted/coronado/hoteldel.html.
Also checked out the downtown, the convention center, PETCO Park (baseball Padres) and Qualcomm Stadium (football Chargers).
Day 5
Rains come to SoCal. So what do we do except follow Jason Mraz' exhortation to "sleep all day." Its also so cold inside the house, so i stayed inside my heated room. Though I got bored watching SABBs (Stupid Americans Behaving Badly) on Jerry Springer *lol* (TV in room isnt connected to cable) so just shivered in the living room to switch to more varied fare. By nightfall, Erin takes out their own Magic Sing videoke gadget (costs $300 here but cheaper in the Philippines apparently). Videoke has been around for what, a decade or so, so why doesn't anybody improve on it by using the original music instead of those kiddie-level, amateurish, kinapa-sa-piano tunes??? Are we worried about copyright stuff? Like we're worried about the RIAA deploying US Marines to crack down on Videoke makers in Singapore, Malaysia and Manila? Hyeaah right. Or do you mean to say that tsunami was due to divine payback for people pirating stuff in that part of the world?
Day 6
Still raining. Floods all over. So we just spent latter half of the day in Universal Citywalk.
LA lost its football team, so we have to be content with the Raider Nation
Watched "Christmas with the Kranks". I never liked Tim Allen, no matter how good his press is. So this is officially only the 2nd Allen flick i liked ("Big Trouble" was the first, and Buzz Lightyear is okay because I don't see his mug), and it's due more to Jamie Lee Curtis. She's so nice and funny.
Finished it off with dinner at Tony Roma's, and lots more picture-taking. Rains caused a lot of accidents on the freeway on the way home.
Day 7
Another half-day snoozing (still some goddess' tears outside here and there). I think am going to have time zone/jet lag troubles when i get back. I actually get out of bed at 1PM EST!
1.30PM (PST!) Went to pick up some Asian dimsum to eat on the way to West Covina (practically Manila on the West Coast). While waiting for the dentist, picked some items at the 99-cent store. The dental assistant was a family friend (classmate of my uncle Hermes), and she taught me a valuable life lesson: how to brush your teeth the right way. Then the Chinese dentist dropped the bomb: You will lose your teeth in 7 days. Or something like that.
6.00PM Had dinner at Atin Ito, one of the numerous Pinoy eateries sprinkled around the West Covina area. Had binagoongan (wooohooo!) and daing na bangus (double wooohooo!). The frequency of tagalog chatter is a bit unnerving *lol*.
On the way home, Uncle Jerome called and said they were coming over. And so the night ends where the whole trip began: Noodle Planet. Watched the cousins consume the pad see euw like there's no tomorrow *lol* Back home, goofed around while watching Bad Boys 2, before saying goodbyes.
Day 8
Get ready for flight. As is the story of my life, i am saddled with pabaon: chocolate truffles, 6-pack ensaymadas, bananas, cheese crackers, juice, water. This just means i have an extra paper bag to carry on the plane.
9.45 Got to LAX. After checking the bags, i can see am getting good at this, considering the American family behind me asked qustions and whined out loud what to do, and a Shintaro Nakagawa, running late for an 11AM flight to Japan, was bumbling through the self-service checkin kiosk.
10.10 Looooooooooooong line to security checkpoint. Everybody wants to get out of L.A. before the Dick Clark robot rings in the New Year. Poor Shintaro had to get in and out of the line several times because of confusion, prompting the woman behind me (about early 40s, wearing a pink blouse that stated both cutely and ominously "Hard Tail") to speak up: "Are you two together? Why are you cutting in the line?"
10.40 Go, Shintaro, go!!!!
10.55 Got sidetracked by those money-vacuuming airport shops. Came away with a nice blue cotton shirt and another shotglass.
11.00 Yeah they had to put Gate 66 in the furthest part of LAX. And they even had two Gate 66s!
Dammit. Watching parents with cute kids drives me nuts. *lol*
10.00PM EST Back at Newark. *sigh*
SUMMARY:
Online airfare ... $312
Ridiculous taxi fares ... $170
Tony Roma's dinner ... $95
Basking in the California sun
Not lugging your laptop backpack for a week
Reconnecting with relatives
Bonding with your American-born cousins
... PRICELESS.
Week 17 Bets
1st and 10 ... Week 17 prognostications (bets in color).
Sunday Games
Pittsburgh at Buffalo ... No need for Pittsburgh to win anymore so they should give this to the deserving Bills.
Green Bay at Chicago ... this is just for pride, and the Pack wants payback for that Week 2 loss.
Detroit at Tennessee ... Your stats are great and all, but can you win one, Billy V?
NY Jets at St. Louis ... Sure hope USBank doesn't cancel the contract after the Jets end the Rams' season *lol*.
San Francisco at New England ... Pats might let 49ers win this one.
Cincinnati at Philadelphia ... Andy Reid might play his starters, but there's no point in winning this.
Minnesota at Washington ... Now you really have to win, Vikings.
New Orleans at Carolina ... This is the one for all the marbles. The playoff Wild Card marbles. Win or stay home.
Miami at Baltimore ... The winning score could be 7-6 *lol*.
Cleveland at Houston ... Texans @ .500 for franchise history first.
Atlanta at Seattle ... Mike, stop running. Just beat 'em with your arm. Save your legs for the conference finals.
Tampa Bay at Arizona ... The Bucs should finish on a high note, then break up the team to go younger.
Kansas City at San Diego ... since we won't see Priest here, it'll be a TE battle to watch.
Jacksonville at Oakland ... Raiders could play spoiler here.
Indianapolis at Denver ... Peyton could still toss in a couple more TDs.
Dallas at NY Giants ... the ultimate humiliation would be the Tuna finishing off the Jints with their 9th straight loss.
Last week: 11-5
Overall: 156/240 (156-84)
Road: 66-44
Home: 90-40
Sunday Games
Pittsburgh at Buffalo ... No need for Pittsburgh to win anymore so they should give this to the deserving Bills.
Green Bay at Chicago ... this is just for pride, and the Pack wants payback for that Week 2 loss.
Detroit at Tennessee ... Your stats are great and all, but can you win one, Billy V?
NY Jets at St. Louis ... Sure hope USBank doesn't cancel the contract after the Jets end the Rams' season *lol*.
San Francisco at New England ... Pats might let 49ers win this one.
Cincinnati at Philadelphia ... Andy Reid might play his starters, but there's no point in winning this.
Minnesota at Washington ... Now you really have to win, Vikings.
New Orleans at Carolina ... This is the one for all the marbles. The playoff Wild Card marbles. Win or stay home.
Miami at Baltimore ... The winning score could be 7-6 *lol*.
Cleveland at Houston ... Texans @ .500 for franchise history first.
Atlanta at Seattle ... Mike, stop running. Just beat 'em with your arm. Save your legs for the conference finals.
Tampa Bay at Arizona ... The Bucs should finish on a high note, then break up the team to go younger.
Kansas City at San Diego ... since we won't see Priest here, it'll be a TE battle to watch.
Jacksonville at Oakland ... Raiders could play spoiler here.
Indianapolis at Denver ... Peyton could still toss in a couple more TDs.
Dallas at NY Giants ... the ultimate humiliation would be the Tuna finishing off the Jints with their 9th straight loss.
Last week: 11-5
Overall: 156/240 (156-84)
Road: 66-44
Home: 90-40
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Week 16 Bets
1st and 10 ... Week 16 prognostications (bets in color).
Friday Game
Green Bay at Minnesota ... Must-win for the Vikes if they don't want the extra pressure.
Saturday Games
Oakland at Kansas City ... not the ending they wanted, but Coach Vermeil will be back next season.
Denver at Tennessee ... this is easier for the Broncos than the Titans. But can you believe Billy Volek's numbers?
Sunday Games
NY Giants at Cincinnati ... Jon Kitna. Jon Kitna.
Chicago at Detroit ... After last week's heartbreaker, the heat is ironically off Joey H a bit.
San Diego at Indianapolis ... time to break Marino's record, Peyton.
Atlanta at New Orleans ... QB cousins Mike Vick and Aaron Brooks slug it out.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh ... Big Ben just keeps rolling.
Carolina at Tampa Bay ... Panthers: The Resurrection continues.
Houston at Jacksonville ... Jags should win this close game.
Buffalo at San Francisco ... Bills: The Resurrection continues.
New England at NY Jets ... I can see the NY press skewering Chad if the Jets lose this.
Washington at Dallas ... Old School has not been so great this season.
Arizona at Seattle ... Seahawks are bad, they could be upset. Again.
Cleveland at Miami ... Fish feel better than the Dawgs after upsetting Pats.
Monday Night Football
Philadelphia at St. Louis ... Rams are dangerous in the Dome but Philly should win this.
Last week: 10-6
Overall: 145/224 (145-79)
Road: 63-42
Home: 82-37
Friday Game
Green Bay at Minnesota ... Must-win for the Vikes if they don't want the extra pressure.
Saturday Games
Oakland at Kansas City ... not the ending they wanted, but Coach Vermeil will be back next season.
Denver at Tennessee ... this is easier for the Broncos than the Titans. But can you believe Billy Volek's numbers?
Sunday Games
NY Giants at Cincinnati ... Jon Kitna. Jon Kitna.
Chicago at Detroit ... After last week's heartbreaker, the heat is ironically off Joey H a bit.
San Diego at Indianapolis ... time to break Marino's record, Peyton.
Atlanta at New Orleans ... QB cousins Mike Vick and Aaron Brooks slug it out.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh ... Big Ben just keeps rolling.
Carolina at Tampa Bay ... Panthers: The Resurrection continues.
Houston at Jacksonville ... Jags should win this close game.
Buffalo at San Francisco ... Bills: The Resurrection continues.
New England at NY Jets ... I can see the NY press skewering Chad if the Jets lose this.
Washington at Dallas ... Old School has not been so great this season.
Arizona at Seattle ... Seahawks are bad, they could be upset. Again.
Cleveland at Miami ... Fish feel better than the Dawgs after upsetting Pats.
Monday Night Football
Philadelphia at St. Louis ... Rams are dangerous in the Dome but Philly should win this.
Last week: 10-6
Overall: 145/224 (145-79)
Road: 63-42
Home: 82-37
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
running towards daylight
We've been on the run
Driving in the sun
Looking out for #1
California here we come
Right back where we started from
Hustlers grab your guns
Your shadow weighs a ton
Driving down the 101
California here we come
Right back where we started from
California!
Here we come!
On the stereo
Listen as we go
Nothing's gonna stop me now
California here we come
Right back where we started from
Pedal to the floor
Thinkin' of the roar
Gotta get us to the show
California here we come
Right back where we started from
California!
Here we come!
- Phantom Planet, "The O.C." soundtrack
Driving in the sun
Looking out for #1
California here we come
Right back where we started from
Hustlers grab your guns
Your shadow weighs a ton
Driving down the 101
California here we come
Right back where we started from
California!
Here we come!
On the stereo
Listen as we go
Nothing's gonna stop me now
California here we come
Right back where we started from
Pedal to the floor
Thinkin' of the roar
Gotta get us to the show
California here we come
Right back where we started from
California!
Here we come!
- Phantom Planet, "The O.C." soundtrack
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Friday, December 17, 2004
Week 15 Bets
1st and 10 ... Week 15 prognostications (bets in color).
Saturday Games
Pittsburgh at NY Giants ... Eli, meet the Steel Curtain. Merry Christmas.
Washington at San Francisco ... Coach Gibbs, this is a gimme. Merry Christmas.
Carolina at Atlanta ... Coach Fox, you HAVE to beat Michael Vick. Merry Christmas.
Sunday Games
Seattle at NY Jets ... Gang Green, its time to deck the 'Hawks. Merry Christmas.
Dallas at Philadelphia ... Coach Tuna, could be your last December as a Cowboy. Merry Christmas.
Houston at Chicago ... yo, Texans, are you packing it in? hope not. Merry Christmas.
Buffalo at Cincinnati ... hey, Drew, for what its worth, Merry Christmas.
San Diego at Cleveland ... at the expense of my aunt's adopted city, Merry Christmas, Chargers.
Minnesota at Detroit ... Coach Tice, go easy on the eggnog. Merry Christmas.
Jacksonville at Green Bay ... to a great guy who needs a lot of cheer - Merry Christmas, Brett Favre.
St. Louis at Arizona ... its been an absolutely Martzian year, Rams. Merry Christmas.
New Orleans at Tampa Bay ... Chucky in Red = snarling Santa. Merry Christmas, Bucs.
Denver at Kansas City ... there's no shame in weeping, Coach Vermeil. Merry Christmas.
Tennessee at Oakland ... looks like the passing of the torch from McNair to Volek. Merry Christmas.
Baltimore at Indianapolis ... at least one Manning brother will go out a winner. Christmas came too early and often for Peyton.
Monday Night Football
New England at Miami ... no white Christmas for the Pats but still should be cheerful outcome.
Last week: 13-3
Overall: 135/208 (135-73) 65%
Road: 57-38
Home: 78-35
Saturday Games
Pittsburgh at NY Giants ... Eli, meet the Steel Curtain. Merry Christmas.
Washington at San Francisco ... Coach Gibbs, this is a gimme. Merry Christmas.
Carolina at Atlanta ... Coach Fox, you HAVE to beat Michael Vick. Merry Christmas.
Sunday Games
Seattle at NY Jets ... Gang Green, its time to deck the 'Hawks. Merry Christmas.
Dallas at Philadelphia ... Coach Tuna, could be your last December as a Cowboy. Merry Christmas.
Houston at Chicago ... yo, Texans, are you packing it in? hope not. Merry Christmas.
Buffalo at Cincinnati ... hey, Drew, for what its worth, Merry Christmas.
San Diego at Cleveland ... at the expense of my aunt's adopted city, Merry Christmas, Chargers.
Minnesota at Detroit ... Coach Tice, go easy on the eggnog. Merry Christmas.
Jacksonville at Green Bay ... to a great guy who needs a lot of cheer - Merry Christmas, Brett Favre.
St. Louis at Arizona ... its been an absolutely Martzian year, Rams. Merry Christmas.
New Orleans at Tampa Bay ... Chucky in Red = snarling Santa. Merry Christmas, Bucs.
Denver at Kansas City ... there's no shame in weeping, Coach Vermeil. Merry Christmas.
Tennessee at Oakland ... looks like the passing of the torch from McNair to Volek. Merry Christmas.
Baltimore at Indianapolis ... at least one Manning brother will go out a winner. Christmas came too early and often for Peyton.
Monday Night Football
New England at Miami ... no white Christmas for the Pats but still should be cheerful outcome.
Last week: 13-3
Overall: 135/208 (135-73) 65%
Road: 57-38
Home: 78-35
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Da APP
Trump picks Kelly! And all the while some thought they were setting up Jen with Bill Rancic. Hyuk-hyuk-hyuk.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Meat is Murder ...
... on the tummy if you're OD'ing on it. And for lunch today, we had this $8.99 meat combo with rice and macaroni salad at this new L&L Hawaiian BBQ place on Fulton St. Pretty ok for the price, comparable to Tokyo Lunch servings at John/Broadway Sts, but I couldn't finish the damn thing.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Taken So Soon
Allen Adriano (Dec 13, 2004)
... Rest in Peace ...
Leaves behind a wife and 3 young children.
Life is short, though we never realize it most of the time.
... Rest in Peace ...
Leaves behind a wife and 3 young children.
Life is short, though we never realize it most of the time.
paalam
I don't mean to heap on the dead, but I have a better person to mourn for, than FPJ.
here's a snippet of conversation, which is my salute to the king of Philippine cinema.
grif2k1: ang wish ko lang ay sana nauna namatay c erap kesa ke fpj
VodkaBoy: susunod na siya.
grif2k1: or kung puede ipagpalit yun na lang sana ginawa ni erap, take fpj's place
VodkaBoy: his death must be all over news sa pinas
grif2k1: the muslim fans must have gone nuts
grif2k1: those who were allegedly going to riot when they saw he dies in any of his movies
grif2k1: in short, they are one fries short of a happy meal
VodkaBoy: LOL
grif2k1: Rizal must be spinning in his grave
grif2k1: "why did i die for these idiots, o Lord?"
VodkaBoy: panay litson siguro kinain sa party kaya na stroke. hindi pa naman siya very old di ba?
grif2k1: 65
grif2k1: mas matanda pa daddy ko
VodkaBoy: saka si dolphy
grif2k1: yan ang napala nya for years of drinking hard
VodkaBoy: and womanizing. hahaha
grif2k1: nagcollapse daw e
grif2k1: some of the worst people i've dealt with are the drunks
VodkaBoy: kaya wag ka drink lagi saka stick to one.
grif2k1: you know that theyre not bad, theyre just not in control of themselves
VodkaBoy: siguro madame auring will say, nahula niya yon
grif2k1: nasa listahan si madame auring ng "Showbiz People Whom I Would Love to Die in 7 Days"
amen.
here's a snippet of conversation, which is my salute to the king of Philippine cinema.
grif2k1: ang wish ko lang ay sana nauna namatay c erap kesa ke fpj
VodkaBoy: susunod na siya.
grif2k1: or kung puede ipagpalit yun na lang sana ginawa ni erap, take fpj's place
VodkaBoy: his death must be all over news sa pinas
grif2k1: the muslim fans must have gone nuts
grif2k1: those who were allegedly going to riot when they saw he dies in any of his movies
grif2k1: in short, they are one fries short of a happy meal
VodkaBoy: LOL
grif2k1: Rizal must be spinning in his grave
grif2k1: "why did i die for these idiots, o Lord?"
VodkaBoy: panay litson siguro kinain sa party kaya na stroke. hindi pa naman siya very old di ba?
grif2k1: 65
grif2k1: mas matanda pa daddy ko
VodkaBoy: saka si dolphy
grif2k1: yan ang napala nya for years of drinking hard
VodkaBoy: and womanizing. hahaha
grif2k1: nagcollapse daw e
grif2k1: some of the worst people i've dealt with are the drunks
VodkaBoy: kaya wag ka drink lagi saka stick to one.
grif2k1: you know that theyre not bad, theyre just not in control of themselves
VodkaBoy: siguro madame auring will say, nahula niya yon
grif2k1: nasa listahan si madame auring ng "Showbiz People Whom I Would Love to Die in 7 Days"
amen.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
dvd on tap: Mean Girls [Mark Waters]
As the title and poster suggests, this is another in a long list of high school teenage films where you get your usual angst strained in both rose- and dour-colored glasses, stirred with drama and comedy. And just when you think you can ignore it, it works. Apparently, people who didn't find Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen that funny were willing to give Lindsey Lohan a second chance in the teen comedy department. Well, of course it should, because this one was in the hands of the SNL people, who know a thing or two about making you laugh. Home-school transferee Cady Heron (Lohan) lands in an Illinois high school were she's immediately clay in the hands of the campus cliques - particularly the glamourous alpha Barbie bitche-, er ... chicks collectively referred to as 'The Plastics' (Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert and Amanda Seyfried). Its quite a fun ride watching the shallowness and backstabbing prevalent in any high school environment - but the karma isn't dialled down either. SNL veterans Tina Fey (she wrote the screenplay too) and Tim Meadows pitch in as teachers (if they were the main characters, this would be one long sketch *lol*). Director Waters seems ideally suited to the project, after directing Lohan in the remake hit Freaky Friday.
The girls don't mind if you're nice, but they prefer you naughty.
The girls don't mind if you're nice, but they prefer you naughty.
shopping and football
2 pairs of skechers [20 yard passing touchdown!] ... $70
dress shirts [fumble interception!] ... $45
jeans [22 yard field goal ... kick is good] ... $43
headgear [safety!] ... $9
eyewear [30 yard rushing touchdown!] ... $140
shopping within budget and allotted time period [excellent clock management] ... priceless.
strange thought: why am i amusedly watching puffy amiyumi (close captioned) during my lunch break in the mall? *lol*
dress shirts [fumble interception!] ... $45
jeans [22 yard field goal ... kick is good] ... $43
headgear [safety!] ... $9
eyewear [30 yard rushing touchdown!] ... $140
shopping within budget and allotted time period [excellent clock management] ... priceless.
strange thought: why am i amusedly watching puffy amiyumi (close captioned) during my lunch break in the mall? *lol*
Friday, December 10, 2004
Week 14 Bets
1st and 10 ... Week 13 prognostications (bets in color).
Sunday Games
Oakland at Atlanta ... Falcons should bounce back (slackers!!!)
Cleveland at Buffalo ... the Bills still hope to crash the playoff party
New Orleans at Dallas ... the Cowboys now have a running game
Detroit at Green Bay ... amazingly, the Lions are also in the race
Seattle at Minnesota ... i like Shaun Alexander but the Vikes should win this
Cincinnati at New England ... the return of Corey Dillon (can you say 100+ yd game?)
Chicago at Jacksonville ... Jags better not underestimate the Bears
NY Giants at Baltimore ... not going to happen, Jints
San Francisco at St. Louis ... the Rams are edging toward pathetic
Indianapolis at Houston ... could a miracle happen that the Texans upset the Colts?
NY Jets at Pittsburgh ... aaaargh, tough one (no John Abraham). Let's go, Jets!!!
Miami at Denver ... Broncos need to salvage their pride
San Francisco at Arizona ... 49ers had their only win against Cards so its payback time
Tampa Bay at San Diego ... this would be an exciting one
St Louis at Carolina ... Chris Chandler? against a resurgent Panthers team? naah.
Philadelphia at Washington ... should be same result as two weeks ago
Monday Night Football
Kansas City at Tennessee ... this would be a great MNF game if we had Priest and a healthy Steve McNair
Last week: 11-5
Overall: 122/192 (122-70) 63.5%
Road: 54-38
Home: 68-32
Sunday Games
Oakland at Atlanta ... Falcons should bounce back (slackers!!!)
Cleveland at Buffalo ... the Bills still hope to crash the playoff party
New Orleans at Dallas ... the Cowboys now have a running game
Detroit at Green Bay ... amazingly, the Lions are also in the race
Seattle at Minnesota ... i like Shaun Alexander but the Vikes should win this
Cincinnati at New England ... the return of Corey Dillon (can you say 100+ yd game?)
Chicago at Jacksonville ... Jags better not underestimate the Bears
NY Giants at Baltimore ... not going to happen, Jints
San Francisco at St. Louis ... the Rams are edging toward pathetic
Indianapolis at Houston ... could a miracle happen that the Texans upset the Colts?
NY Jets at Pittsburgh ... aaaargh, tough one (no John Abraham). Let's go, Jets!!!
Miami at Denver ... Broncos need to salvage their pride
San Francisco at Arizona ... 49ers had their only win against Cards so its payback time
Tampa Bay at San Diego ... this would be an exciting one
St Louis at Carolina ... Chris Chandler? against a resurgent Panthers team? naah.
Philadelphia at Washington ... should be same result as two weeks ago
Monday Night Football
Kansas City at Tennessee ... this would be a great MNF game if we had Priest and a healthy Steve McNair
Last week: 11-5
Overall: 122/192 (122-70) 63.5%
Road: 54-38
Home: 68-32
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
He's Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.
It is quite inspiring to see my boss Andre walk back into the office, on his own willpower. Two years ago, he was sidelined by diabetes, with several complications that left him either bedridden or in a wheelchair for most of that time. He is now using a cane, and though he can't report for work 5 days a week, he has resolved to show up at least once a week (and he hasn't lost any of his will to "order" people around *lol*). There are very few things that are as humbling as trying to get down the street looking for a taxi when you can only take one fragile step at a time. And we think we have problems.
Friday, December 03, 2004
Week 13 Bets
1st and 10 ... Week 13 prognostications (bets in color).
Sunday Games
Minnesota at Chicago ... Vikes should beat up on the Bears
New England at Cleveland ... No upset here
Arizona at Detroit ... Joey H needs to prop up his rep before he gets benched too
Tennessee at Indianapolis ... more TDs with that, Mr Manning?
San Francisco at St. Louis ... the Rams are edging toward pathetic
Buffalo at Miami ... wanna bet against Drew?
Carolina at New Orleans ... the Cats are alive!
Houston at NY Jets ... Carr should keep it close (but no cigar)
Atlanta at Tampa Bay ... the Bucs dont want to hand the division title that easy
Cincinnati at Baltimore ... no Jamal Lewis? might be close.
Denver at San Diego ... wanna bet against Drew?
Kansas City at Oakland ... the Raiders play spoilers' role
Green Bay at Philadelphia ... this is tough - i'm going with the Pack
NY Giants at Washington ... your starting QB ... Clinton Portis! Not.
Pittsburgh at Jacksonville ... another tough one - Steelers could lose by a close margin
Monday Night Football
Dallas at Seattle ... two more pathetic teams - should i just skip this one on Monday?
Last week: 13-3 (hooooohaaa!!)
Overall: 111-176 (111-65) 63%
Road: 49-35
Home: 62-30
Sunday Games
Minnesota at Chicago ... Vikes should beat up on the Bears
New England at Cleveland ... No upset here
Arizona at Detroit ... Joey H needs to prop up his rep before he gets benched too
Tennessee at Indianapolis ... more TDs with that, Mr Manning?
San Francisco at St. Louis ... the Rams are edging toward pathetic
Buffalo at Miami ... wanna bet against Drew?
Carolina at New Orleans ... the Cats are alive!
Houston at NY Jets ... Carr should keep it close (but no cigar)
Atlanta at Tampa Bay ... the Bucs dont want to hand the division title that easy
Cincinnati at Baltimore ... no Jamal Lewis? might be close.
Denver at San Diego ... wanna bet against Drew?
Kansas City at Oakland ... the Raiders play spoilers' role
Green Bay at Philadelphia ... this is tough - i'm going with the Pack
NY Giants at Washington ... your starting QB ... Clinton Portis! Not.
Pittsburgh at Jacksonville ... another tough one - Steelers could lose by a close margin
Monday Night Football
Dallas at Seattle ... two more pathetic teams - should i just skip this one on Monday?
Last week: 13-3 (hooooohaaa!!)
Overall: 111-176 (111-65) 63%
Road: 49-35
Home: 62-30
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Friday, November 26, 2004
, peach pie 
, coffee
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
After a brief nap, i look out at dark Pennsylvania countryside (did anybody mention Blair Witch?). Despite the lighting, the rolling scenery reminds of my fascination with America: its vastness, the long yet efficient highways, the roadside diners, truckstops and motels ... (cue in Vanessa Carlton's "a thousand miles"). someday, i'm going to drive from coast to coast.
Week 12 Bets
1st and 10 ... Week 11 prognostications (bets in color).
Thanksgiving Day Games
Indianapolis at Detroit ... Free-For-All at Ford Field? *lol*
Chicago at Dallas ... Hmmm ... what you gonna do, Tuna?
Sunday Games
Washington at Pittsburgh ... Brady? Nah. McNabb? Nah. Ramsey? Are you kidding??
Tampa Bay at Carolina ... there's some life yet in these Cats
Tennessee at Houston ... this is gonna be a slugfest
Cleveland at Cincinnati ... Bengals win, Butch if fired
San Diego at Kansas City ... come back, Priest Holmes
Jacksonville at Minnesota ... come back, Randy Moss
Baltimore at New England ... the gimpy Pats are winning when it matters
Philadelphia at NY Giants ... countdown starts for Eli's first win
New Orleans at Atlanta ... battle of the Coach Jims
NY Jets at Arizona ... Jets face dangerous Arizona defense on their own territory
Miami at San Francisco ... you think this'll draw a full house?
Buffalo at Seattle ... apparently, rumors of Bledsoe's demise have been exaggerated
Oakland at Denver ... Droughns should never be dropped from a fantasy team
Monday Night Football
St. Louis at Green Bay ... I see the Pack winning another close game
Last week: 14-2 (hooooohaaa!!) 87.5%
Overall: 98-160 (98-62) 61.3%
Road: 45-35
Home: 53-27
Thanksgiving Day Games
Indianapolis at Detroit ... Free-For-All at Ford Field? *lol*
Chicago at Dallas ... Hmmm ... what you gonna do, Tuna?
Sunday Games
Washington at Pittsburgh ... Brady? Nah. McNabb? Nah. Ramsey? Are you kidding??
Tampa Bay at Carolina ... there's some life yet in these Cats
Tennessee at Houston ... this is gonna be a slugfest
Cleveland at Cincinnati ... Bengals win, Butch if fired
San Diego at Kansas City ... come back, Priest Holmes
Jacksonville at Minnesota ... come back, Randy Moss
Baltimore at New England ... the gimpy Pats are winning when it matters
Philadelphia at NY Giants ... countdown starts for Eli's first win
New Orleans at Atlanta ... battle of the Coach Jims
NY Jets at Arizona ... Jets face dangerous Arizona defense on their own territory
Miami at San Francisco ... you think this'll draw a full house?
Buffalo at Seattle ... apparently, rumors of Bledsoe's demise have been exaggerated
Oakland at Denver ... Droughns should never be dropped from a fantasy team
Monday Night Football
St. Louis at Green Bay ... I see the Pack winning another close game
Last week: 14-2 (hooooohaaa!!) 87.5%
Overall: 98-160 (98-62) 61.3%
Road: 45-35
Home: 53-27
Sunday, November 21, 2004
: : STATIC : :
| VOL. 0011 |
It seems like every week I keep running out of time to cobble up a Static. Ay caramba. Anyway, the bulk of this edition will be devoted more to last weekend's Big Apple Comic Convention.
iBox (or what i saw on TV recently)
Desperate Housewives - Lynette bares her claws in a school turf war with a haughty stage mother (who wants to produce a PC-Red Riding Hood play). Bree and Rex attempt to spark up their flagging sex life, but no dice. And Gabrielle's mother-in-law is already on to her.
Boston Legal - James Spader's character, Alan Shore, finally gets it on with Rhona Mitra. Hooohaaa! Is Monica Potter next? nyhahahaha. Lucky dude.
Lost ("Confidence Man" and "Solitary") - Sawyer's turn for a flashback - shit, he duped Kate into kissing him. Can't. Watch. Argh. Sayid should have gutted the fucker. Next episode, Sayid does his own soul-searching by exploring the island. And promptly gets captured by the woman who has been transmitting the distress signal for 16 years. What th? And she lets him go, with even more cryptic details about what really happened (i smell Dr. Moreau!). As for the gang, they start playing golf. Yep, golf. Fore!!!
The Apprentice 2 - Another day, 2 firings. What?? 2??
E.R. ("Time of Death" and "White Guy Dark Hair") - Ray Liotta puts in a great performance as a dying alcoholic. And Sam (Linda Cardellini) makes a mistake by allowing a rape victim to answer questions, causing her death.
CSI NY - Episode seems to echo that Wendy's massacre in Queens a few years back. Didn't get to watch this much cause i was in a meeting with Dubya *s*. Skipped this week's as well.
The O.C. - finally got aboard in this 2nd season (the 1st out on dvd. already??). Sandy becomes Caleb's lawyer (because of Julie's threat - that bitch. *nyhahahaha*). Seth wants to make up with Summer, but he gets vaped at every opportunity (hey, man, i'll join your comic book league anytime). Oh, speaking of that club, his only other member (apart from Ryan, duh), is coincidentally Summer's new boy. Ouch. Now about Ryan - he's back trying to pick up where he left off with Marisa. Trouble is, Marisa's just coming off a summer fling with the yard boy (she goes "I'm not like that!" - 2 words for you: Yeah right!). Though it would be appropriate for Ryan to do it ... dude, stop with the eyeball rolling already. Man, this show says a lot more about relationships than what's out there *lol*. And then i promptly miss this week's episode as well. argh.
Doodles:
Why don't they have more major comic conventions here in New York? The 2 big guns are here. Don't use the excuse of not having enough money. As it is, we have to be content with the Big Apple Con (Penn Pavillion, Nov 20-22, 2004).
they have lots of comics here ...... really? wooooowww ....
Getting Tom Palmer to sign my Avengers: Under Seige
Jim Starlin (The Infinity Gauntlet), Bob McLeod (Iron Man) and Larry Hama (Wolverine/GI Joe)
Walt Simonson (Thor) suddenly decides to show up .... and so does the great John Romita Sr (Spiderman)
Earth X co-creator Jim Krueger
Yep ... that's Joe Jusko (Vampirella) right there
Doing a Benjamin McKenzie eyeball-roll ... nyuknyuknyuk (or is that because of pseudo-celeb sightings*)
* Star Wars alumni Jake Lloyd (Anakin, Episode I), Daniel Logan (young Boba Fett, Episode II), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and David Prowse (Darth Vader minus the voice), b-movie actresses Tanya Roberts and Debi Rochon, adult model Dazza Del Rio and Playboy Playmate Lindsey Vuolo (ok, Glady, stop drooling already!).
got 'em hancocks ... all books signed ... no excess baggage *s*
| VOL. 0011 |
It seems like every week I keep running out of time to cobble up a Static. Ay caramba. Anyway, the bulk of this edition will be devoted more to last weekend's Big Apple Comic Convention.
iBox (or what i saw on TV recently)
Desperate Housewives - Lynette bares her claws in a school turf war with a haughty stage mother (who wants to produce a PC-Red Riding Hood play). Bree and Rex attempt to spark up their flagging sex life, but no dice. And Gabrielle's mother-in-law is already on to her.
Boston Legal - James Spader's character, Alan Shore, finally gets it on with Rhona Mitra. Hooohaaa! Is Monica Potter next? nyhahahaha. Lucky dude.
Lost ("Confidence Man" and "Solitary") - Sawyer's turn for a flashback - shit, he duped Kate into kissing him. Can't. Watch. Argh. Sayid should have gutted the fucker. Next episode, Sayid does his own soul-searching by exploring the island. And promptly gets captured by the woman who has been transmitting the distress signal for 16 years. What th? And she lets him go, with even more cryptic details about what really happened (i smell Dr. Moreau!). As for the gang, they start playing golf. Yep, golf. Fore!!!
The Apprentice 2 - Another day, 2 firings. What?? 2??
E.R. ("Time of Death" and "White Guy Dark Hair") - Ray Liotta puts in a great performance as a dying alcoholic. And Sam (Linda Cardellini) makes a mistake by allowing a rape victim to answer questions, causing her death.
CSI NY - Episode seems to echo that Wendy's massacre in Queens a few years back. Didn't get to watch this much cause i was in a meeting with Dubya *s*. Skipped this week's as well.
The O.C. - finally got aboard in this 2nd season (the 1st out on dvd. already??). Sandy becomes Caleb's lawyer (because of Julie's threat - that bitch. *nyhahahaha*). Seth wants to make up with Summer, but he gets vaped at every opportunity (hey, man, i'll join your comic book league anytime). Oh, speaking of that club, his only other member (apart from Ryan, duh), is coincidentally Summer's new boy. Ouch. Now about Ryan - he's back trying to pick up where he left off with Marisa. Trouble is, Marisa's just coming off a summer fling with the yard boy (she goes "I'm not like that!" - 2 words for you: Yeah right!). Though it would be appropriate for Ryan to do it ... dude, stop with the eyeball rolling already. Man, this show says a lot more about relationships than what's out there *lol*. And then i promptly miss this week's episode as well. argh.
Doodles:
Why don't they have more major comic conventions here in New York? The 2 big guns are here. Don't use the excuse of not having enough money. As it is, we have to be content with the Big Apple Con (Penn Pavillion, Nov 20-22, 2004).
they have lots of comics here ...... really? wooooowww ....
Getting Tom Palmer to sign my Avengers: Under Seige
Jim Starlin (The Infinity Gauntlet), Bob McLeod (Iron Man) and Larry Hama (Wolverine/GI Joe)
Walt Simonson (Thor) suddenly decides to show up .... and so does the great John Romita Sr (Spiderman)
Earth X co-creator Jim Krueger
Yep ... that's Joe Jusko (Vampirella) right there
Doing a Benjamin McKenzie eyeball-roll ... nyuknyuknyuk (or is that because of pseudo-celeb sightings*)
* Star Wars alumni Jake Lloyd (Anakin, Episode I), Daniel Logan (young Boba Fett, Episode II), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and David Prowse (Darth Vader minus the voice), b-movie actresses Tanya Roberts and Debi Rochon, adult model Dazza Del Rio and Playboy Playmate Lindsey Vuolo (ok, Glady, stop drooling already!).
got 'em hancocks ... all books signed ... no excess baggage *s*
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Week 11 Bets
1st and 10 ... Week 11 prognostications (bets in color).
Sunday Games
St. Louis at Buffalo ... JP Losman, come on down
Indianapolis at Chicago ... Nah, not to this Bears
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati ... who's gonna stop the Big Ben?
NY Jets at Cleveland ... J!E!T!S! Jets! Jets! Jets!
Detroit at Minnesota ... only the Giants should have your number, Vikes
Denver at New Orleans ... more Jekyll-and-Hyde teams
San Francisco at Tampa Bay ... Bucs seem more focused
Arizona at Carolina ... could be a really low-scoring game
Tennessee at Jacksonville ... though I hate her, I'll stick with the Paris Hilton team *s*
Dallas at Baltimore ... like em Cowboys are gonna turn it around here
Miami at Seattle ... if the Seahawks lose this, they're really pretenders
San Diego at Oakland ... next year's best free agent: Drew Brees
Atlanta at NY Giants ... the Eli Manning Era begins
Washington at Philadelphia ... enjoy the hype, Philly
Green Bay at Houston ... Favre would like to win in his lone appearance at Reliant Stadium
Monday Night Football
New England at Kansas City ... its almost over, Chiefs
last week: 8-6 57.1%
Overall: 84/144 (84-60) 58.3%
Road: 37-34
Home: 47-26
Sunday Games
St. Louis at Buffalo ... JP Losman, come on down
Indianapolis at Chicago ... Nah, not to this Bears
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati ... who's gonna stop the Big Ben?
NY Jets at Cleveland ... J!E!T!S! Jets! Jets! Jets!
Detroit at Minnesota ... only the Giants should have your number, Vikes
Denver at New Orleans ... more Jekyll-and-Hyde teams
San Francisco at Tampa Bay ... Bucs seem more focused
Arizona at Carolina ... could be a really low-scoring game
Tennessee at Jacksonville ... though I hate her, I'll stick with the Paris Hilton team *s*
Dallas at Baltimore ... like em Cowboys are gonna turn it around here
Miami at Seattle ... if the Seahawks lose this, they're really pretenders
San Diego at Oakland ... next year's best free agent: Drew Brees
Atlanta at NY Giants ... the Eli Manning Era begins
Washington at Philadelphia ... enjoy the hype, Philly
Green Bay at Houston ... Favre would like to win in his lone appearance at Reliant Stadium
Monday Night Football
New England at Kansas City ... its almost over, Chiefs
last week: 8-6 57.1%
Overall: 84/144 (84-60) 58.3%
Road: 37-34
Home: 47-26
Friday, November 19, 2004
dvd on tap: The Usual Suspects [Bryan Singer]
The film which made Bryan Singer a household name - wait, that was Xmen *lol*. Anyway, this film earned him the privilege to do them mutants. Five ne'er-do-gooders of varying criminal achievements - McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), Fenster (Benicio Del Toro), Hockney (Kevin Pollak), and Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey) - get picked up by the police on flimsy charges. Pissed, they band together and strike back at the cops. They seem to form a common bond and continue doing jobs until a mysterious figure named Kayser Soze (represented by Pete Postlethwhaite as Japanese lawyer Kobayashi) contracts them to do a job that raises their stakes on its success to a personal level. Pursued by US Customs agent Kujan (Chazz Palminteri), the group manages to remain one step ahead and complete their mission - exactly as the shadowy puppet-master Soze had planned. The film is told in flashbacks, narrated by Spacey's character, and if there's an entertaining way to unfold a crime thriller with plot twists, this is the way to do it. Definite thumbs-up all around.
The greatest assembly of actors ever put in a police lineup (yes, even with THAT Baldwin brother)
The greatest assembly of actors ever put in a police lineup (yes, even with THAT Baldwin brother)
[CJ Forward/Reverse Playlist 11192004]
etc
Rock Your Body, Rock, Ferry Corsten
Superman (Its Not Easy), Five For Fighting
Stacy's Mom, Fountains of Wayne
Drive, Incubus
Always On Time, Ja Rule (feat Ashanti)
Thank You, Jamelia
Love Foolosophy, Jamiroquai
All For You, Janet Jackson
Just A Little While, Janet Jackson
Someone To Call My Lover, Janet Jackson
Ain't It Funny, Jennifer Lopez
I'm Real, Jennifer Lopez
Love Don't Cost A Thing, Jennifer Lopez
Play, Jennifer Lopez
A Little Bit, Jessica Simpson
Me, Myself & I, Jive Jones
Tipsy, J-Kwon
Stutter, Joe
Body Hot, Joe
No Such Thing, John Mayer
Rock Your Body, Rock, Ferry Corsten
Superman (Its Not Easy), Five For Fighting
Stacy's Mom, Fountains of Wayne
Drive, Incubus
Always On Time, Ja Rule (feat Ashanti)
Thank You, Jamelia
Love Foolosophy, Jamiroquai
All For You, Janet Jackson
Just A Little While, Janet Jackson
Someone To Call My Lover, Janet Jackson
Ain't It Funny, Jennifer Lopez
I'm Real, Jennifer Lopez
Love Don't Cost A Thing, Jennifer Lopez
Play, Jennifer Lopez
A Little Bit, Jessica Simpson
Me, Myself & I, Jive Jones
Tipsy, J-Kwon
Stutter, Joe
Body Hot, Joe
No Such Thing, John Mayer
Thursday, November 18, 2004
dvd on tap: Reindeer Games [John Frankenheimer]
C'mon baby, let's do the twist. A mere 2 days before their parole, convicts Rudy (Ben Affleck) and Nick (James Frain) get involved in a cafeteria riot, and Nick is killed. Rudy, true to Affleck form, uses his dick to think instead of his brains, and assumes Nick's identity to hook up with Nick's hot penpal Ashley (Charlize Theron). But apparently, it was a setup for Nick because Ashley's big brother Gabriel (Gary Sinise) wants "Nick" to help them rob a casino managed by the scheming Dennis Farina. At Christmas. In Santa outfits. Hoo-boy. Sinise makes the most out of his role, exuding menace that even dwarfs regular thug-role player Danny Trejo. Without the double-crossing and triple-crossing, this would have ended up even worse than how the critics panned it. This is no Ronin, but hey, i'd watch Charlize play a femme fatale anytime.
Awww. Bennifer scweams like a liddle guuuurl.
Awww. Bennifer scweams like a liddle guuuurl.
[CJ Forward/Reverse Playlist 11182004]
etc
What Would You Do, City High
Yellow, Coldplay
Dreaming of You, The Coral
My Sacrifice, Creed
With Arms Wide Open, Creed
I Can't Read You, Daniel Bedingfield
Never Gonna Leave You, Daniel Bedingfield
Insatiable, Darren Hayes
MF From Hell, The Datsuns
Point of View, DB Boulevard
Bootylicious, Destiny's Child
Independent Woman Pt 1, Destiny's Child
Survivor, Destiny's Child
This Way, Dilated Peoples
Let Me Clear My Throat, DJ Kool
Hero, Enrique Iglesias
Not In Love, Enrique Iglesias
Shake Your Body, Erin Lake
Crazy For This Girl, Evan and Jaron
From My Head to My Heart, Evan and Jaron
Bring Me To Life, Evanescence
Gangsta Lovin', Eve & Alicia Keys
Let Me Blow Ya Mind, Eve (feat Gwen Stefani)
AM Radio, Everclear
What's Luv, Fat Joe (feat Ashanti)
What Would You Do, City High
Yellow, Coldplay
Dreaming of You, The Coral
My Sacrifice, Creed
With Arms Wide Open, Creed
I Can't Read You, Daniel Bedingfield
Never Gonna Leave You, Daniel Bedingfield
Insatiable, Darren Hayes
MF From Hell, The Datsuns
Point of View, DB Boulevard
Bootylicious, Destiny's Child
Independent Woman Pt 1, Destiny's Child
Survivor, Destiny's Child
This Way, Dilated Peoples
Let Me Clear My Throat, DJ Kool
Hero, Enrique Iglesias
Not In Love, Enrique Iglesias
Shake Your Body, Erin Lake
Crazy For This Girl, Evan and Jaron
From My Head to My Heart, Evan and Jaron
Bring Me To Life, Evanescence
Gangsta Lovin', Eve & Alicia Keys
Let Me Blow Ya Mind, Eve (feat Gwen Stefani)
AM Radio, Everclear
What's Luv, Fat Joe (feat Ashanti)
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Make It Reel: After The Sunset
Pierce Brosnan heist movie that rolls more with the momentum of uh, Salma Hayek's bootyliciousness. You could do worse for $10 and 100 minutes. Say wait, there's The Incredibles (soon!), The Seed of Chucky (ahahahaha Gina Gershon!!!), or The Polar Express (yeeeeech. Just give me that Chucky thing then).
[CJ Forward/Reverse Playlist 11172004]
etc
Jaded, Aerosmith
A Woman’s Worth, Alicia Keys
Flavor of The Weak, American Hi-Fi
Foolish, Ashanti
Happy, Ashanti
Around The World, ATC
If You Come To Me, Atomic Kitten
Ladies’ Night, Atomic Kitten
Complicated, Avril Lavigne
More Than That, Backstreet Boys
Shape of My Heart, Backstreet Boys
Baby Boy, Beyonce
Work It Out, Beyonce
Crazy In Love, Beyonce feat Jay-Z
The Rock Show, Blink 182
Guilty, Blue
Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know, Britney Spears
Slave 4 U, Britney Spears
Stronger, Britney Spears
Wherever You Will Go, The Calling
Oh Boy, Cam’ron
The Voice Within, Christina Aguilera
Nobody Can’t Hold Us Down, Christina Aguilera
AM to PM, Christina Milian
Dip It Low, Christina Milian
Jaded, Aerosmith
A Woman’s Worth, Alicia Keys
Flavor of The Weak, American Hi-Fi
Foolish, Ashanti
Happy, Ashanti
Around The World, ATC
If You Come To Me, Atomic Kitten
Ladies’ Night, Atomic Kitten
Complicated, Avril Lavigne
More Than That, Backstreet Boys
Shape of My Heart, Backstreet Boys
Baby Boy, Beyonce
Work It Out, Beyonce
Crazy In Love, Beyonce feat Jay-Z
The Rock Show, Blink 182
Guilty, Blue
Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know, Britney Spears
Slave 4 U, Britney Spears
Stronger, Britney Spears
Wherever You Will Go, The Calling
Oh Boy, Cam’ron
The Voice Within, Christina Aguilera
Nobody Can’t Hold Us Down, Christina Aguilera
AM to PM, Christina Milian
Dip It Low, Christina Milian
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
dvd on tap: Face/Off [John Woo]
Quite the novel approach for an action film when it came out in 1997, this was John Woo's coming-out party in the pantheon of Hollywood action movies (Hard Target and Broken Arrow don't count). Basically, you had FBI Agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) going after terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) - a personal vendetta for Archer for the death of his son. Then even after Troy is incapacitated, Archer has to go undercover to find a chemical bomb planted in L.A.- by exchanging faces with Troy via a revolutionary medical procedure. Problem is, Troy comes out of his coma, figures the whole scheme out and takes Archer's place. And you think you got problems. Cage and Travolta are at their sneering best here, demonstrating their ability to play 3D villainous types (not to mention they had to play both character roles in their own way). The only thing that bugs me here (puh-leaze! this is an action movie. duh.)is the casting of Joan Allen as Archer's wife. She plays the role right, but she doesn't look right. Well anyway, that's not as important as the Hong Kong action style, ballerina gunplay, the white doves, the visual poetry - the elements that Woo made his - and so well at that. Which makes this near the top of my list of favorite action fodder.
"Who do ya got? Patricia Arquette? Lisa Marie Presley?? I got KELLY PRESTON. Eat that."
"Who do ya got? Patricia Arquette? Lisa Marie Presley?? I got KELLY PRESTON. Eat that."
Monday, November 15, 2004
[CJ Forward/Reverse Playlist 11152004]
Album: Electronic Short Circuit
Snaptrax: Gangster, Idiot Country, Getting Away With It, Get The Message, Reality, Tighten Up, Forbidden City, Dark Angel, Out of My League, If You've Got Love, Second Nature, Until The End of Time
Combines first 2 albums - always a great electro trip
Saturday, November 13, 2004
[Playlist 11132004]
Album: South Border Episode III
Snaptrax: Wherever You Are, Rainbow, The Show, Playa
The New P-Funk.
Jersey Gardens
... to look for shoes for people back home. too bad this sucker with a Nokia 6230 didn't send me pics (deleted). useless, or as i tell him, "WKK" (walang kwentang kaibigan). nyhahahaha!
Friday, November 12, 2004
Week 10 Bets
1st and 10 ... Week 10 prognostications (bets in color).
Sunday Games
Chicago at Tennessee ... Can't-do-it vs can-barely-do-it. hmm ... i'll take Air McNair.
Houston at Indianapolis ... it'll be a miracle if the Texans pull this off
Seattle at St. Louis ... Jekyll? or Hyde? Halloween's over, Rams.
Kansas City at New Orleans ... Desperate vs Lazy. hmm ... i'll take Desperate.
Baltimore at NY Jets ... no one mocks Ray and Jets have QC at QB. Uh-oh.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta ... the Battle of the AFC South
Pittsburgh at Cleveland ... the Battle of the AFC North
Detroit at Jacksonville ... hope Garrard is a mini-Leftwich
Cincinnati at Washington ... peg the Bengals for 5th road loss
Minnesota at Green Bay ... more fireworks at Lambeau
NY Giants at Arizona ... Jints, this is the Cardinals. THE Cardinals.
Carolina at San Francisco ... i pity Jake The Man
Buffalo at New England ... Bledsoe must be bitter walking through Gillette Stadium
Monday Night Football
Philadelphia at Dallas ... let's see T.O. do another Star-dance, and have a full brawl
last week: 9/14 64.2% (hooohaaa)
Overall: 76/130 58.5%
Road: 34-31
Home: 42-23
Sunday Games
Chicago at Tennessee ... Can't-do-it vs can-barely-do-it. hmm ... i'll take Air McNair.
Houston at Indianapolis ... it'll be a miracle if the Texans pull this off
Seattle at St. Louis ... Jekyll? or Hyde? Halloween's over, Rams.
Kansas City at New Orleans ... Desperate vs Lazy. hmm ... i'll take Desperate.
Baltimore at NY Jets ... no one mocks Ray and Jets have QC at QB. Uh-oh.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta ... the Battle of the AFC South
Pittsburgh at Cleveland ... the Battle of the AFC North
Detroit at Jacksonville ... hope Garrard is a mini-Leftwich
Cincinnati at Washington ... peg the Bengals for 5th road loss
Minnesota at Green Bay ... more fireworks at Lambeau
NY Giants at Arizona ... Jints, this is the Cardinals. THE Cardinals.
Carolina at San Francisco ... i pity Jake The Man
Buffalo at New England ... Bledsoe must be bitter walking through Gillette Stadium
Monday Night Football
Philadelphia at Dallas ... let's see T.O. do another Star-dance, and have a full brawl
last week: 9/14 64.2% (hooohaaa)
Overall: 76/130 58.5%
Road: 34-31
Home: 42-23
dvd on tap: Primal Fear [Gregory Hoblit]
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
A Catholic bishop is found butchered in cold blood, and the suspect is an altar boy who by all counts, seems innocent. Former state prosecutor and notorious defense attorney Martin Vail (Richard Gere) takes the case, for both selfish and unselfish reasons. He's pitted against his on-off lover Janet Venable (Laura Linney), who's prosecuting for his political enemies. In what's considered an open-and-shut case, Vail has to pull out all the stops to defend his client, Aaron Stampler (a groundbreaking role for Edward Norton), whom he belatedly discovers has a split personality - a remorseless murderer named Roy - but cannot change their plea during the trial. He therefore has to force the killer to reveal himself - which he does in the climactic courtroom scene - before one final stunning twist. Recommended to me years ago (i still recall the particular conversation), i read the William Diehl book first, then managed to finally watch it. Also of interest to me, that it manages to cast 3 interesting actresses in one film - Linney, Maura Tierney (as Vail's assistant) and Frances McDormand (as the psychiatrist).
"You're sick, Norton - you're wacko. You say you created this Fight Club with Brad Pitt?"
A Catholic bishop is found butchered in cold blood, and the suspect is an altar boy who by all counts, seems innocent. Former state prosecutor and notorious defense attorney Martin Vail (Richard Gere) takes the case, for both selfish and unselfish reasons. He's pitted against his on-off lover Janet Venable (Laura Linney), who's prosecuting for his political enemies. In what's considered an open-and-shut case, Vail has to pull out all the stops to defend his client, Aaron Stampler (a groundbreaking role for Edward Norton), whom he belatedly discovers has a split personality - a remorseless murderer named Roy - but cannot change their plea during the trial. He therefore has to force the killer to reveal himself - which he does in the climactic courtroom scene - before one final stunning twist. Recommended to me years ago (i still recall the particular conversation), i read the William Diehl book first, then managed to finally watch it. Also of interest to me, that it manages to cast 3 interesting actresses in one film - Linney, Maura Tierney (as Vail's assistant) and Frances McDormand (as the psychiatrist).
"You're sick, Norton - you're wacko. You say you created this Fight Club with Brad Pitt?"
Thursday, November 11, 2004
dvd on tap: The Devil's Advocate [Taylor Hackford]
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
I swear Keanu Reeves almost showed some emotion here. Almost. This guy's lucky - despite obvious lack of acting skills, he impossibly gets some of the most memorable roles in cinema (thank God for agents!). So, as hotshot Florida lawyer Kevin Lomax, he gets recruited by a powerful New York law firm headed by the devilishly-charismatic John Milton (done with guilty pleasure by Al Pacino). The move to high life has its initial thrills, as experienced by Kevin's wife Mary Ann (Charlize Theron in her breakout role), but things go downhill as supernatural events occur and Kevin is drawn more and more into defending the scum of the earth in the courtroom. Pacino definitely carries the film and delivers all the great quotables. In the end, Kevin has to beat the Devil in his own game - oh, the irony. Say, maybe Keanu made a deal with him to be so lucky?
"Acting skills?? Who needs acting skills?? I look great. And rich."
I swear Keanu Reeves almost showed some emotion here. Almost. This guy's lucky - despite obvious lack of acting skills, he impossibly gets some of the most memorable roles in cinema (thank God for agents!). So, as hotshot Florida lawyer Kevin Lomax, he gets recruited by a powerful New York law firm headed by the devilishly-charismatic John Milton (done with guilty pleasure by Al Pacino). The move to high life has its initial thrills, as experienced by Kevin's wife Mary Ann (Charlize Theron in her breakout role), but things go downhill as supernatural events occur and Kevin is drawn more and more into defending the scum of the earth in the courtroom. Pacino definitely carries the film and delivers all the great quotables. In the end, Kevin has to beat the Devil in his own game - oh, the irony. Say, maybe Keanu made a deal with him to be so lucky?
"Acting skills?? Who needs acting skills?? I look great. And rich."
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
dvd on tap: Texas Chainsaw Massacre[Marcus Nispel ]
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
As remakes go, this again goes either way with horror movie fans, especially the loyalists to the Tobe Hooper original. Several elements have been changed, though this 2003 version ups the gore ante for more shock value. Basic premise is the same: a group of five young people pass through a little-known Texas town and promptly gets terrorized and chopped up by the town's psychotic residents - the main boogeyman, of course, being the infamous chainsaw-wielding Leatherface. Jessica Biel leads the new group screaming her head off, and for extra appeal, runs around in a sweaty tight tank top. That probably already accounted for half of the ticket sales.
The group wasn't sure why their hitchhiker needed a hole in her head.
As remakes go, this again goes either way with horror movie fans, especially the loyalists to the Tobe Hooper original. Several elements have been changed, though this 2003 version ups the gore ante for more shock value. Basic premise is the same: a group of five young people pass through a little-known Texas town and promptly gets terrorized and chopped up by the town's psychotic residents - the main boogeyman, of course, being the infamous chainsaw-wielding Leatherface. Jessica Biel leads the new group screaming her head off, and for extra appeal, runs around in a sweaty tight tank top. That probably already accounted for half of the ticket sales.
The group wasn't sure why their hitchhiker needed a hole in her head.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
dvd on tap: El Espinado Del Diablo [Guillermo Del Toro]
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
Not your usual ghost movie, The Devil's Backbone weaves an actual backstory and a premise for the presence of a ghost that holds water. In the middle of the Spanish Civil War, young Carlos (Fernando Tielve) is brought to an out-of-way orphanage by his guardians. He quickly befriends most of the boys but has to take his knocks standing up to de facto leader/bully Jaime (Íñigo Garcés). The school's administrators, Carmen (Marisa Paredes) and Dr. Casares (Federico Luppi) reluctantly take Carlos in, owing to budgetary constraints and dwindling resources (they secretly support the Communist movement and are rumored to have a hoard of gold). This reputed treasure is what drives school handyman Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega) to hang around (and be Carmen's lover) - though he is hiding some deadly secret of his own. Where does the ghost figure in all of these? Ah, a young boy, Santi (Junio Valverde), seems to have died awhile back under mysterious circumstances and has been incessantly haunting the children at odd times, and now Carlos has been the favored 'hauntee'. This, plus the schoolyard's unusual fixture, a defused bomb that didn't go off when it landed there during a bombing raid, raises omens for bad times ahead. Luckily, Carlos is made of sterner stuff, and forming an alliance with Jaime, manages to solve the mystery despite losing his mentors. A labor of love by Del Toro, who's slowly becoming the master of dramatic thrillers that come across as intelligent and scary.
"Now THAT . . . is Da BOMB!"
Not your usual ghost movie, The Devil's Backbone weaves an actual backstory and a premise for the presence of a ghost that holds water. In the middle of the Spanish Civil War, young Carlos (Fernando Tielve) is brought to an out-of-way orphanage by his guardians. He quickly befriends most of the boys but has to take his knocks standing up to de facto leader/bully Jaime (Íñigo Garcés). The school's administrators, Carmen (Marisa Paredes) and Dr. Casares (Federico Luppi) reluctantly take Carlos in, owing to budgetary constraints and dwindling resources (they secretly support the Communist movement and are rumored to have a hoard of gold). This reputed treasure is what drives school handyman Jacinto (Eduardo Noriega) to hang around (and be Carmen's lover) - though he is hiding some deadly secret of his own. Where does the ghost figure in all of these? Ah, a young boy, Santi (Junio Valverde), seems to have died awhile back under mysterious circumstances and has been incessantly haunting the children at odd times, and now Carlos has been the favored 'hauntee'. This, plus the schoolyard's unusual fixture, a defused bomb that didn't go off when it landed there during a bombing raid, raises omens for bad times ahead. Luckily, Carlos is made of sterner stuff, and forming an alliance with Jaime, manages to solve the mystery despite losing his mentors. A labor of love by Del Toro, who's slowly becoming the master of dramatic thrillers that come across as intelligent and scary.
"Now THAT . . . is Da BOMB!"
Monday, November 08, 2004
dvd on tap: Psycho [Gus Van Sant]
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
As it is, the original Alfred Hitchcock film had a better effect in the 60s than this remake would have had in the 90s. Van Sant updates the ... wait, there are no updates (does the jack-off scene count?). Its still the embezzling employee (Anne Heche - boy, anything her Marion Crane character did fit her to a T *s*), the loverboy (Viggo Mortensen), the concerned sister (Julianne Moore), the snoopy detective (William H Macy), and of course, Master, er ... Norman Bates himself (played a bit fey-ly by Vince Vaughn). The widely-recognized instrumental theme (the infamous shower scene) is also used to full effect. Newbies will probably be scared but not that much, considering this violence-desensitized society. Just an okay remake.
"Who the hell stabbed me - - Ellen?? YOU?!?!
As it is, the original Alfred Hitchcock film had a better effect in the 60s than this remake would have had in the 90s. Van Sant updates the ... wait, there are no updates (does the jack-off scene count?). Its still the embezzling employee (Anne Heche - boy, anything her Marion Crane character did fit her to a T *s*), the loverboy (Viggo Mortensen), the concerned sister (Julianne Moore), the snoopy detective (William H Macy), and of course, Master, er ... Norman Bates himself (played a bit fey-ly by Vince Vaughn). The widely-recognized instrumental theme (the infamous shower scene) is also used to full effect. Newbies will probably be scared but not that much, considering this violence-desensitized society. Just an okay remake.
"Who the hell stabbed me - - Ellen?? YOU?!?!
Friday, November 05, 2004
: : STATIC : :
| VOL. 0010 |
Aha. So i promptly missed the second installment of Static. I knew i would suck at this *lol*. Well, you know, if people just stayed home blogging, they'll run out of things to blog.
iBox (or what i saw on TV this week)
Desperate Housewives - Hot Gabrielle has her suspicious mother-in-law trailing her but she manages to get her arrested in a shopping mall. That was after her husband beats the crap out of the wrong suspect: gay cable guy. Lynette's twins seem to have ADD and have trouble getting accepted at a private school (donations? bah humbug!). Susan gets back at that blackmailing sleaze Mrs Huber and finally makes it with plumber Mike (who's harboring some deadly secret. criminal or undercover cop?). Bree's tough love with her son (fishing him out of a strip club) works wonders, but her marital troubles is still percolating. But no new details on why Mary Alice killed herself.
Boston Legal - Every episode is a fascinating exercise on watching how James Spader makes you want him to be your lawyer. And speaking of minimal-acting-with-maximum effect, William Shatner manages to convey a deteriorating Denny Crane (who may or may not have Alzheimer's). Call them the Mr. Deadpans.
Lost ("House of the Rising Sun" and "The Moth")- More on the Korean couple - Sun actually speaks English but she's keeping it from her husband. Meanwhile, half of the group move into the cave with the spring, and Jack promptly gets buried in a cave-in. To the rescue: "rock god" Charlie, who finally manages to kick his drug habit and believe in something greater than himself. For the cliffhanger, someone knocks Sayid out as he tries his transmitter.
The Apprentice 2 - Another day, another firing. Raj even hits on the receptionist on the way out *lol*
E.R. ("An Intern's Guide to the Galaxy") - Just 1 new episode for the fortnight. Its amusing to have Ray Barnett have the nurses eating out of the palm of his hand to grease things around the hospital (i thought donuts only worked for cops). Also, why am i fascinated with Abby? And that geeko Dr Dubenko is a little ... off.
CSI NY - Naked sushi! Where the hell is that restaurant? And what can you find 700 feet below Manhattan? A murder mystery. Actually, its the waterworks.
No Biz Like ...
Yoko Ono has the #1 Dance song in the US? YOKO FREAKIN' ONO???
Ashlee Simpson walks off SNL set because of lip-synch booboo. She's not the first to get burned, nor will she be the last. And its fun to watch catty rivals. They may laugh all the way to the bank, so let's have some laughs at their expense *heehee - snort*
The New Bennifer (BenGar!?) debuts at Fenway park! Ick. And to think i liked her dimples. And Alias. And 13 Going On 30. Dump that loser!!! *s*
Shameless: the Rev(olting) Al Sharpton has his own reality TV show: "I Hate My Job."
Leo regrets going down in Titanic, would rather go down on ... (ah shut it).
AJ: the Sexiest Woman Alive. Esquire's not too far off.
"I could tell that my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio."
"A girl phoned me and said, 'Come on over, there's nobody home.' I went over. Nobody was home."
"I'm a bad lover. Once I caught a peeping tom booing me."
"I stuck my head out the window and got arrested for mooning."
"I met the surgeon general. He offered me a cigarette!"
RIP: Rodney Dangerfield (1921 - 2004)
CoolStuff (via Gizmodo/Endgadget and other RSS feeds)
Its unfair! CJ's just 2 years old and she's geriatric!! (http://www.apple.com/ipodphoto/)
On the other hand, here's a good reflection on the iPod culture.
But it doesn't work in the subway!!! *lol* (voltaic backpack)
Your shirt ROCKS!
Mahjongers of the world, unite.
yep, they need this shit in Joisey.
Your Barbie is Chinese!!!
Wanna check to see if your Starbucks has been shot? *s*
What th-? I stumbled across the word "hypermammiferous" and it led me to the Urban Dictionary (it means umm ... malaki ang hinaharap)
Circuit Sex (http://www.livejournal.com/users/mcsdwarken/168342.html)
Break down the Gates! (http://www.spreadfirefox.com/)
Current Pulp(s) on Hand: Doublespeak (Why No One Knows What Anyone's Saying Anymore) by William Lutz - As a huge fan of language *lol* this book is a humorous read even though its a bit dated (deep into Reagan-Bush transition era). Doublespeak was coined to define how language is subverted to suit one's own intentions by masking its real meaning. Doublespeak does filter into our daily lives - from simple advertisements to the arena of economics and law - that we should be aware what one is really saying. Lutz saves a lot of his vitriol for politics, an "... area of our lives which should be free of doublespeak ... for what can be more important than the language we use to conduct the affairs of our nation?" Doublespeak is language pretending to communicate but doesn't, avoids responsibility by shifting it, and conceals and limits real thoughts. Lutz covers a lot of ground and is quite enlightening. It made me a little bit more conscious of how the talking heads on TV string descriptions (which in a way is their perception of that reality - and may or may not be what it really is) or words on a website are phrased, and what they really mean:
passenger facility charge = tax
revenue enhancement = tax increase
senior congregate community for the chronologically gifted = retirement home
reality augmentation = lies
single use = disposable
mental activity at the margins = insanity
Heck, i hope i didn't use doublespeak in this paragraph! Donald Trump probably is a straight shooter, because he doesn't say "You're Uninstalled!"
Myths of the Ancient Greeks by Richard P Martin - Love, sex, murder, jealousy, heroism, revenge, manipulation, goddesses and mortals - what's not to like? *lol*
Spin, Spin, Whiskey and Gin: CJ is set to the '80s. My fingers can't seem to switch albums *s*
uThoughts:
New presidency, same president. East and Left Coasts were Kerryland but the bulk were the Heartland states who definitely were leery of liberals. W, you'd better make the next 4 an improvement from the last 4. And its funny that little things spawn into a hilarious exchange between the 2 camps (a.k.a. my boss Joe vs our ex-employee J-So), with me representing the peanut gallery.
Election Day 2004. J-So sends a link for a USB flash drive to Joe, and Joe sends his own back. Email exchange follows (no edits):
J-So: What the hell are you smoking??? The one I showed you is for $56 and you show me the same thing at J&R for $99???? Hombre, Que Pasa Pendejo???
Joe: Don't be a fucking liberal idiot. Your piece of shit was NOT USB2.0.
Me: lets all laugh on Wednesday's lunch session.
J-So: Just like a damn Republican trying to pull the wool over our eyes! Read the Fine Print Dammit! What the fuck! Is J&R Owned by Haliburton or Cheney... oh wait a minute aren't they the same??? A copy of the product description has been added below for your comfort and ease of making the right decision like you should be doing at the election polls today too!!!
(a scrutiny of the details indeed show that the specs for both mention USB2.0)
Me: who wants to breakout in a Ray Lewis dance ala- Terrell Owens?
J-So: We need a better Medical Care System which can allow for some to get GLASSES!!! VOTE DEMOCRATIC!!!!!! VOTE DEMOCRATIC!!!!! VOTE DEMOCRATIC!!!!!!
Me: democratic? i thought it was "Democrat?" if you said 'democratic', then the other side would be "republicanic?" isn't this country already democratic?
Not B-Ads: NFL Network which feature players in spoof shows like dance and trivia contests ... Miller referee flagging non-Miller drinkers for silly violations ... SBC linemen mimicking touchdown signals ... Circuit City for the tech-challenged ... Capitol One Island Getaway (rescuers lands on deserted island because of bonfire and an inert man on ground, inert man suddenly jumps up and laughs at the rescuers, while pulling off fake beard, wife emerges from bushes with camera and the couple laugh uproariously at the prank).
I've cancelled my Picturetrail account. It isn't cost-efficient (you don't even have a "Cancel Account" link). So I'm looking to transfer it to PBase. Am also cancelling my Netflix this week. Too much DVD backlog. See ya next year.
Balls Deep:
If you don't feel that American Football is also geeky (forget the jocks and the cheeseheads and the Raider Nation), you should browse http://www.footballoutsiders.com. Serious shit. Its terrifying *s*. And I'm a frequent visitor.
NBA season starts. TMac and Yao are 0-2, the Magic win their opener with a squeaker. Kobe starts his campaign to be numero uno, and the Heat are 2-0.
1st and 10 ... Week 9 prognostications (bets in color).
Sunday Games
NY Jets at Buffalo ... J!E!T!S! Jets! Jets! Jets!
Dallas at Cincinnati ... ah crap. i'll just go with the tigers cause i don't like the 'Boys
Washington at Detroit ... the Lions should win this if they can control Portis
Arizona at Miami ... this could end up 6-3 in favor of ...
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh ... Big Ben all the way!
Kansas City at Tampa Bay ... Chiefs should easily win this with their front 4.
Oakland at Carolina ... even the Raiders ain't stupid enough to let this slip
New Orleans at San Diego ... it'll be a Brees
Seattle at San Francisco ... the 49ers are tanking it
Chicago at NY Giants ... how many yards will Tiki rush for today?
New England at St. Louis ... now that that streak thing is over, expect the Pats to be revitalized
Houston at Denver ... wouldn't it be sweet to win in the House of Shanahan (that Elway built anyway)
Cleveland at Baltimore ... Ray is mad and Jamal is back
Monday Night Football
Minnesota at Indianapolis ... gonna be another shootout. even without Randy Moss. take cover!
last week: 6/14 42.8% (yikes)
Overall: 67/116 57.8%
Road: 30-28
Home: 37-21
Squeeze Da Fish(bets in color).
Thanks to the Scarpelli family (the First Family of NY Jets Football) for my first MNF!
| VOL. 0010 |
Aha. So i promptly missed the second installment of Static. I knew i would suck at this *lol*. Well, you know, if people just stayed home blogging, they'll run out of things to blog.
iBox (or what i saw on TV this week)
Desperate Housewives - Hot Gabrielle has her suspicious mother-in-law trailing her but she manages to get her arrested in a shopping mall. That was after her husband beats the crap out of the wrong suspect: gay cable guy. Lynette's twins seem to have ADD and have trouble getting accepted at a private school (donations? bah humbug!). Susan gets back at that blackmailing sleaze Mrs Huber and finally makes it with plumber Mike (who's harboring some deadly secret. criminal or undercover cop?). Bree's tough love with her son (fishing him out of a strip club) works wonders, but her marital troubles is still percolating. But no new details on why Mary Alice killed herself.
Boston Legal - Every episode is a fascinating exercise on watching how James Spader makes you want him to be your lawyer. And speaking of minimal-acting-with-maximum effect, William Shatner manages to convey a deteriorating Denny Crane (who may or may not have Alzheimer's). Call them the Mr. Deadpans.
Lost ("House of the Rising Sun" and "The Moth")- More on the Korean couple - Sun actually speaks English but she's keeping it from her husband. Meanwhile, half of the group move into the cave with the spring, and Jack promptly gets buried in a cave-in. To the rescue: "rock god" Charlie, who finally manages to kick his drug habit and believe in something greater than himself. For the cliffhanger, someone knocks Sayid out as he tries his transmitter.
The Apprentice 2 - Another day, another firing. Raj even hits on the receptionist on the way out *lol*
E.R. ("An Intern's Guide to the Galaxy") - Just 1 new episode for the fortnight. Its amusing to have Ray Barnett have the nurses eating out of the palm of his hand to grease things around the hospital (i thought donuts only worked for cops). Also, why am i fascinated with Abby? And that geeko Dr Dubenko is a little ... off.
CSI NY - Naked sushi! Where the hell is that restaurant? And what can you find 700 feet below Manhattan? A murder mystery. Actually, its the waterworks.
No Biz Like ...
Yoko Ono has the #1 Dance song in the US? YOKO FREAKIN' ONO???
Ashlee Simpson walks off SNL set because of lip-synch booboo. She's not the first to get burned, nor will she be the last. And its fun to watch catty rivals. They may laugh all the way to the bank, so let's have some laughs at their expense *heehee - snort*
The New Bennifer (BenGar!?) debuts at Fenway park! Ick. And to think i liked her dimples. And Alias. And 13 Going On 30. Dump that loser!!! *s*
Shameless: the Rev(olting) Al Sharpton has his own reality TV show: "I Hate My Job."
Leo regrets going down in Titanic, would rather go down on ... (ah shut it).
AJ: the Sexiest Woman Alive. Esquire's not too far off.
"I could tell that my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio."
"A girl phoned me and said, 'Come on over, there's nobody home.' I went over. Nobody was home."
"I'm a bad lover. Once I caught a peeping tom booing me."
"I stuck my head out the window and got arrested for mooning."
"I met the surgeon general. He offered me a cigarette!"
RIP: Rodney Dangerfield (1921 - 2004)
CoolStuff (via Gizmodo/Endgadget and other RSS feeds)
Its unfair! CJ's just 2 years old and she's geriatric!! (http://www.apple.com/ipodphoto/)
On the other hand, here's a good reflection on the iPod culture.
But it doesn't work in the subway!!! *lol* (voltaic backpack)
Your shirt ROCKS!
Mahjongers of the world, unite.
yep, they need this shit in Joisey.
Your Barbie is Chinese!!!
Wanna check to see if your Starbucks has been shot? *s*
What th-? I stumbled across the word "hypermammiferous" and it led me to the Urban Dictionary (it means umm ... malaki ang hinaharap)
Circuit Sex (http://www.livejournal.com/users/mcsdwarken/168342.html)
Break down the Gates! (http://www.spreadfirefox.com/)
Current Pulp(s) on Hand: Doublespeak (Why No One Knows What Anyone's Saying Anymore) by William Lutz - As a huge fan of language *lol* this book is a humorous read even though its a bit dated (deep into Reagan-Bush transition era). Doublespeak was coined to define how language is subverted to suit one's own intentions by masking its real meaning. Doublespeak does filter into our daily lives - from simple advertisements to the arena of economics and law - that we should be aware what one is really saying. Lutz saves a lot of his vitriol for politics, an "... area of our lives which should be free of doublespeak ... for what can be more important than the language we use to conduct the affairs of our nation?" Doublespeak is language pretending to communicate but doesn't, avoids responsibility by shifting it, and conceals and limits real thoughts. Lutz covers a lot of ground and is quite enlightening. It made me a little bit more conscious of how the talking heads on TV string descriptions (which in a way is their perception of that reality - and may or may not be what it really is) or words on a website are phrased, and what they really mean:
passenger facility charge = tax
revenue enhancement = tax increase
senior congregate community for the chronologically gifted = retirement home
reality augmentation = lies
single use = disposable
mental activity at the margins = insanity
Heck, i hope i didn't use doublespeak in this paragraph! Donald Trump probably is a straight shooter, because he doesn't say "You're Uninstalled!"
Myths of the Ancient Greeks by Richard P Martin - Love, sex, murder, jealousy, heroism, revenge, manipulation, goddesses and mortals - what's not to like? *lol*
Spin, Spin, Whiskey and Gin: CJ is set to the '80s. My fingers can't seem to switch albums *s*
uThoughts:
New presidency, same president. East and Left Coasts were Kerryland but the bulk were the Heartland states who definitely were leery of liberals. W, you'd better make the next 4 an improvement from the last 4. And its funny that little things spawn into a hilarious exchange between the 2 camps (a.k.a. my boss Joe vs our ex-employee J-So), with me representing the peanut gallery.
Election Day 2004. J-So sends a link for a USB flash drive to Joe, and Joe sends his own back. Email exchange follows (no edits):
J-So: What the hell are you smoking??? The one I showed you is for $56 and you show me the same thing at J&R for $99???? Hombre, Que Pasa Pendejo???
Joe: Don't be a fucking liberal idiot. Your piece of shit was NOT USB2.0.
Me: lets all laugh on Wednesday's lunch session.
J-So: Just like a damn Republican trying to pull the wool over our eyes! Read the Fine Print Dammit! What the fuck! Is J&R Owned by Haliburton or Cheney... oh wait a minute aren't they the same??? A copy of the product description has been added below for your comfort and ease of making the right decision like you should be doing at the election polls today too!!!
(a scrutiny of the details indeed show that the specs for both mention USB2.0)
Me: who wants to breakout in a Ray Lewis dance ala- Terrell Owens?
J-So: We need a better Medical Care System which can allow for some to get GLASSES!!! VOTE DEMOCRATIC!!!!!! VOTE DEMOCRATIC!!!!! VOTE DEMOCRATIC!!!!!!
Me: democratic? i thought it was "Democrat?" if you said 'democratic', then the other side would be "republicanic?" isn't this country already democratic?
Not B-Ads: NFL Network which feature players in spoof shows like dance and trivia contests ... Miller referee flagging non-Miller drinkers for silly violations ... SBC linemen mimicking touchdown signals ... Circuit City for the tech-challenged ... Capitol One Island Getaway (rescuers lands on deserted island because of bonfire and an inert man on ground, inert man suddenly jumps up and laughs at the rescuers, while pulling off fake beard, wife emerges from bushes with camera and the couple laugh uproariously at the prank).
I've cancelled my Picturetrail account. It isn't cost-efficient (you don't even have a "Cancel Account" link). So I'm looking to transfer it to PBase. Am also cancelling my Netflix this week. Too much DVD backlog. See ya next year.
Balls Deep:
If you don't feel that American Football is also geeky (forget the jocks and the cheeseheads and the Raider Nation), you should browse http://www.footballoutsiders.com. Serious shit. Its terrifying *s*. And I'm a frequent visitor.
NBA season starts. TMac and Yao are 0-2, the Magic win their opener with a squeaker. Kobe starts his campaign to be numero uno, and the Heat are 2-0.
1st and 10 ... Week 9 prognostications (bets in color).
Sunday Games
NY Jets at Buffalo ... J!E!T!S! Jets! Jets! Jets!
Dallas at Cincinnati ... ah crap. i'll just go with the tigers cause i don't like the 'Boys
Washington at Detroit ... the Lions should win this if they can control Portis
Arizona at Miami ... this could end up 6-3 in favor of ...
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh ... Big Ben all the way!
Kansas City at Tampa Bay ... Chiefs should easily win this with their front 4.
Oakland at Carolina ... even the Raiders ain't stupid enough to let this slip
New Orleans at San Diego ... it'll be a Brees
Seattle at San Francisco ... the 49ers are tanking it
Chicago at NY Giants ... how many yards will Tiki rush for today?
New England at St. Louis ... now that that streak thing is over, expect the Pats to be revitalized
Houston at Denver ... wouldn't it be sweet to win in the House of Shanahan (that Elway built anyway)
Cleveland at Baltimore ... Ray is mad and Jamal is back
Monday Night Football
Minnesota at Indianapolis ... gonna be another shootout. even without Randy Moss. take cover!
last week: 6/14 42.8% (yikes)
Overall: 67/116 57.8%
Road: 30-28
Home: 37-21
Squeeze Da Fish(bets in color).
Thanks to the Scarpelli family (the First Family of NY Jets Football) for my first MNF!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
