San Francisco Edition:
Yep, you guessed it ... I was in San Francisco the better part of the week. Arrived up there on Wednesday and came back Sunday evening. I am pretty dang tired but it was a good trip doing meetings and attending a wedding. The weather was freakin cold but I think mostly due to the wind. For the first part of the trip I stayed sort of downtown I guess and that is pretty cool. Right next to a mall so had lots of really good eating options. The food court they had seemed pretty high end than what I typically see at a mall, it was really nice! The mall it self is just tall with curving escalators which are just fun to ride! And yes, I did take that picture of the cable car.Weekly Update:So meetings on Tuesday and Thursday, wedding on Saturday and traveled on Wednesday and Sunday ... I'm pooped (again!). During part of the week I did stay at a pretty nice hotel around downtown in SF called the Hotel Palomar which had almost every amenity you could think of. The one thing that did strike me as a bit of a shock was the valet parking fee. Now, I understand if you are not a guest that valet could be a little more but apparently the fee to "house" your vehicle is $42 per night ... PER NIGHT!!! That was a bit much and luckily I was only there for two nights. I felt like I should have parked at the mall and then carry all the bags to the room but I didn't really know till I got the bill. For that much they should have detailed the car and filled up the tank for me! So travellers be warned. Great hotel, crappy parking!At the movies:
Suspense owns the box office this week as Obsessed comes in with 28.5 million. Sure to be a short lived box office #1 spot as Wolverine is set to open this coming Friday. Decent hold to #2 is "17 Again" with an extra 11.7 mil for this comedy re-make. New at #3 is Fighting with 11.4 mil and I am sure it won't get much more from there. New at #4 is the drama The Soloist with only 9.7 mil. Word on the street is the film is ... slow and uninteresting. Rounding off the top 5 is the docu-drama Disneynature's Earth with a weekend total of 8.6 mil however this film opened on Wednesday (Earth Day) with a grand total of 14 mil. Not to bad for a simple film like this.
New movies that did not make the top 5: Just one this week as a semi-wide release of The Informers comes in at #21 with 320k ... someone should have informed them to go straight to video.Quote of the week:"I'm not just involved in tennis but committed. Do you know the difference between involvement and commitment? Think of ham and eggs. The chicken is involved. The pig is committed." - Martina NavratilovaOther News:
Sad news to report, last Saturday Television legend Bea Arthur passed away of cancer in her Los Angeles home. Arthur best known from the sitcoms "Golden Girls" and "Maude". Her bigger claim to fame was from "Golden Girls". Recently co-star Estelle Getty passed away last July who played the role of Arthur's mother character in the "Golden Girls." The show went on to last nearly 7 years featuring the daily life of 4 female retirees living together. Arthur's deadpan comedy brought the crass and bitter sweet element to the show for fans. Arthur was a big supporter of the arts as well as animal rights. She was one of their top defenders against animal cruelty and now they have lost a big voice. Bea Arthur was 86.Facts & Tips:
Apples are 25% air."No matter how far out of first we are, it's cool. You know, it keeps us from getting shut out at our favorite hotels and restaurant-type places." - Charlie Sheen as Rick Vaughn in "Major League."
Is it summer time already? Toward the end of the week it sure felt like it when it hit 80 degrees some days. The days that we were suppose to have rain were mid 70's with not a cloud in the sky. I have to say that I am very disappointed with the weather predictions the past few weeks as they were almost all incorrect as it comes to weather. The temperature was only off by 7 to 8 degrees plus or minus but isn't that bad? Shouldn't a good prediction be within 3 degrees? I think so ... get it together weather people!!!Weekly Update:So aside from the heat on Sunday, I actually got stuck in it for the better part of the day. It was pretty dang hot but it was for a good cause. I helped out with a special event called Explore-a-Story which helps promote reading, books and kids all rolled into one. The event had all kinds of activities including face painting, autographs from authors and celebrities reading some stories. Food sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen and it was pretty tasty. The sponsors really made this event happen because both CPK and Nestle (which provided all the beverages) provided so much food, drinks and staff! During the day, I did get to meet and get some pics from folks who I haven't met before:*Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa- Met him before but got a pic this time and is a pretty cool guy. Some say could be the next California Governor.*Miranda Cosgrove- I remember her as one of the kids from the film "School of Rock" and was very sweet.*Madison Pettis- The cute little girl from the film "The Game Plan" and was very charming.*Jesse McCartney- Don't really know who he is other than the voice of Theodore from the recent film "Alvin and The Chipmunks" but all the teenage girls were going crazy for him.
At the movies:The remake at the box office wins top honors as 17 Again chimes in with 24 million this weekend. Switching gears to a more serious film, in at #2 is the drama State of Play with 14.1 mil. Hanging in to #3 is the comedy animated feature "Monsters Vs. Aliens" with another 12.9 mil. Dropping down to #4 is "Hannah Montana: The Movie" with 12.7 mil as it quickly fizzles out. Rounding off the top 5 this weekend is "Fast and Furious" with another 12.3 mil and sure to be its last appearance on the top 5.New movies that did not make the top 5: Just one this week as the action packed film Crank: High Voltage comes in at the #6 spot with only 6.5 mil and simply out of juice on this one.Quote of the week:"Behind every great fortune there is a crime." - Honore de BalzacOther News:
AOL is getting cool? This is interesting, if you go to AOL.com they have links there that connect you to other various websites or rather make it a one-stop shop. From AOL.com, you can connect to your facebook or myspace pages. I suppose the saying, "if you can't beat them, join them" applies here and that is a wise move on their part. Sort of makes AOL relevant again in this day and age of competing websites that vie for your attention. Nice move there because as far as I know the other sites do not offer the same service back. AOL even took it a step further and placed their #1 competitor (at least I think so) on there as a link, gmail. Throw in the news, search engine and instant messenger service (AIM), it really does make it the best source to visit first. I do have to hand it to them, they have really stepped it up and in this crazy Internet world and the many facets that we all use and look at ... are now rolled into one! If anything, it has made them hip again.
Facts & Tips:The Pacific island of Nauru's economy is almost entirely based on bird droppings.I'm training the world's most dominant pug. He's going through a bulking phase." - John Cena as Detective Danny Fisher in "12 Rounds."
HAPPY EASTER EDITION
Or is that Hoppy Easter?? Sunday was Easter Sunday and did everyone do the Easter egg hunt with friends and family? I remember growing up trying to color and paint on eggs but always found it really difficult. Then I learned about just dying them all one color and that was so much easier. I use to have an Easter Egg Coloring Machine but it wasn't really a machine as it was just a hard-boiled egg holder and you could turn it as you set a marker in another holder to keep the same line or pattern. It was actually kind of flimsy and not very good but I was little and enjoyed using it ... even when it wasn't Easter.Weekly Update:I did squat all week long ... and I LOVED IT!! Having the whole house to myself over the weekend was kind of lonely but I did catch up on a lot of sleep. The power of the nap, catch it! Our weather was kind of funky though because for several days I was expecting rain yet we got none. I think it rained once to just cover the ground to make it look wet but from the forecast, I think we were suppose to have about 5 days of rain from Tuesday through Sunday off-and-on. One of the days it was suppose to rain and be cold actually turned out to be very sunny and hit 80's degrees ... what in the world??At the movies:
Making her way for the box office crown is Hannah Montana: The Movie earning a decent 34 million and the #1 spot this weekend. Hanging on to #2 is "Fast and Furious" with an extra 28.8 mil and now over the 100 mil cume already. Still strong at #3 is "Monsters Vs. Aliens" earning an additional 22.6 mil as it heads closer to 150 mil total. New at #4 is Observe and Report with only 11.1 mil which I am sure is below all exceptions. Rounding off the top 5 is "Knowing" with another 6.7 mil.New movies that did not make the top 5: Only one this week and I am sure well below Fox's expectations as Dragonball: Evolution shows up at #8 and with only 4.7 mil. Sad thing is I was hoping more from this film as Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer) produced this movie however was not in it which could have been the problem.Quote of the week:"The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution." - Hannah ArendtOther News:Here is an interesting list, and you know me, I like lists!! This is a list of Film Flops and Fiascoes from movie history and in no particular order:
*Dune (1984) - I think this was more of a financial disaster than a terrible movie. Very confusing in general but I did enjoy the original full-length feature.*Ishtar (1987) - This was bad on all levels.*Hudson Hawk (1991) - I know folks who love this movie but I thought it was pretty lame and deserving to be on this list.*Solider (1998) - I liked this one, not GREAT but a solid sci-fi action film.*Wild Wild West (1999) - Yeah, this was pretty awful and has a interesting back story with the big robotic spider.*Battlefield Earth (2000) - Goes to show you that L.Ron Hubbard is NOT a great writer and this inspired movie ... should be on the top of this list!*The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) - I think this will haunt Eddie Murphy forever!*Planet of the Apes (2001) - Remake of a classic ... that shouldn't have been re-made this way.
*Speed Racer (2008) - Didn't bother to see this movie, the preview looked terrible and hence the movie was both critically and fiscally "bombed!"*Waterworld (1995) - Had some fun moments but ... wow did it suck otherwise.*3000 Miles to Graceland (2001) - Wow, bad has a new name ... Kevin Costner.*The Postman (1997) - I actually liked some of this but not an overall good film.*Gigli (2003) - This should be on the top of every list out there for worst films ever.Facts & Tips:
A blue whale's heart is the size of a Volkswagen Beetle."Okay, Frodo." - January Jones as Cadence Flaherty in "American Wedding."
HOME! Finally made it back home Friday and spent the weekend doing as little as I could. The weather over the weekend was warm but in Vegas it was pretty windy. Last Sunday I heard of crazy stories that it felt like planes coming into Vegas were flying sideways because the winds were that bad. I drove in and the town was sort of covered in a brown haze from all the dust being kicked around. Along the drive you could see dust storm-like craziness and heard waves of sand hit the car. And now, calm as can be.
Weekly Update:
Wow, I am soooooo tired. What a long week it was last week. I mean Vegas can be fun but seriously one day there equals like 7 days of real time!! And to spend 6 days there ... dang, that is 42 days! But it was for the annual ShoWest convention and during the final night awards night I got some cool pics:
*Sir Michael Caine- I can't begin to start listing his credits and what a film legend! What an extraordinary man.*Zack Snyder- Director of "300" and "The Watchman" and just a very cool and hip guy.*Briana Evigan- up and coming actress currently in "Sorority Row."*Leah Pipes- up and coming actress currently in "Sorority Row."*Rumor Willis- yep, the daughter to Bruce Willis and Demi Moore who is extremely attractive.
*Jamie Chung- up and coming actress currently in "Sorority Row."*Margo Harshman- Been on numerous TV shows and some movies and in the coming film "Sorority Row."*Audrina Patridge- More of a reality "star" and in the coming film "Sorority Row."*Michael Bay- Hmmm, some good movies under his credits and a nice guy.*Bradley Cooper- Funny and cool guy, best known probably as jerk fiance from "Wedding Crashers."*Chris Pine- Coming soon as Captain James T. Kirk in "Star Trek" and just a very cool guy!*Rachel McAdams- Probably best known for being in "The Notebook" and amazing person.*Peter Saraf- Producer of such films as "Little Miss Sunshine" and currently "Sunshine Cleaning", also a very nice guy.*Zac Efron- yeah, the guy from "High School Musical" and a really cool guy!
At the movies: No surprise here as bad takes the box office crown with the 4th installment of Fast and Furious which is not to be confused with "The Fast and the Furious" or "2 Fast 2 Furious" ... despite all that it comes in at #1 with a whopping 72.5 million! Hanging on to #2 is "Monsters Vs. Aliens" with another 33.5 mil and now over the 100 mil cume mark. Also hanging in there at #3 is "The Haunting in Connecticut" with 9.5 mil more. Down to #4 is "Knowing" earning an additional 8.1 mil. Rounding off the top 5 is "I Love You, Man" with an extra 7.9 mil. New movies that did not make the top 5: Just one this week as Adventureland shows at the #6 spot with 6 million to its name.
Quote of the week: "Say I'm a banker and I create $30 million. I should get a part of that. And if you're a banker who destroyed $30 billion?" - Paul Krugman
Other News:
It would seem as if the whole world is a buzz this week as North Korea fired another rocket and it landed somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Korea claims it was sending a satellite to transmit songs into space ... ? What? Well, if you think about it, the leader of North Korea is VERY crazy and nutty so it wouldn't surprise me as a viable reason. Also, on the other hand, he wants to be as much westernize as possible but for himself and not for his people. So if the US has rockets, he wants rockets. Another story last week happened at Binghamton, NY (pictured) where a gunman shot and killed 13 people at an immigration center. I believe the person himself was an immigrant as well. On top of that shooting, I heard of yet another one where a gunman in Pittsburgh shot and killed three police officers who were responding to a domestic disturbance call. What is going on this week?
Facts & Tips:Raindrops can fall as fast as 20 mph.
"I know; I'm ugly!" - Ron Perlman as Hellboy in "Hellboy II: The Golden Army."
Yep, you guessed it ... I was in San Francisco the better part of the week. Arrived up there on Wednesday and came back Sunday evening. I am pretty dang tired but it was a good trip doing meetings and attending a wedding. The weather was freakin cold but I think mostly due to the wind. For the first part of the trip I stayed sort of downtown I guess and that is pretty cool. Right next to a mall so had lots of really good eating options. The food court they had seemed pretty high end than what I typically see at a mall, it was really nice! The mall it self is just tall with curving escalators which are just fun to ride! And yes, I did take that picture of the cable car.
Sad news to report, last Saturday Television legend Bea Arthur passed away of cancer in her Los Angeles home. Arthur best known from the sitcoms "Golden Girls" and "Maude". Her bigger claim to fame was from "Golden Girls". Recently co-star Estelle Getty passed away last July who played the role of Arthur's mother character in the "Golden Girls." The show went on to last nearly 7 years featuring the daily life of 4 female retirees living together. Arthur's deadpan comedy brought the crass and bitter sweet element to the show for fans. Arthur was a big supporter of the arts as well as animal rights. She was one of their top defenders against animal cruelty and now they have lost a big voice. Bea Arthur was 86.
