HALLOWEEN EDITION
Today is Halloween! I think this is a first that I have posted on the day of Halloween. Not sure what that means or if its significant but ... cool. I think my fondest Halloween memory is when I dressed up as a Spartan soldier. Of course I had jeans on but my armor was made out of cardboard painted gold. I had string to hold the pieces in place so while going out to get candy, I had to fix the string every so often because it would break the cardboard holes and I had to make new ones using my finger. The shield was an old style THICK plastic round menu from my dad's IHOP. The front was painted gold like the armor and had wire mesh string going through it as a forearm handle. It was cool because the front of the menu was a raised topography map of the world (it was IHOP after all) and the other side was the menu which you could still see since we only painted the front. My helmet, now that was a piece of art! The base of it was a turned around old LA Dodger plastic helmet painted gold. I strung two pieces of cardboard on both sides covering the ear the cheeks and then I made this great cardboard visor that actually went up and down. However, it stayed down more than up but it worked! And the plum on the top, my dad went out and bought an orange toilet bowl cleaner and removed it from the handle and bent it straight and it fitted perfectly on the top. I had a sword on my side (plastic) and carried a push broom handle with a cardboard tip as my spear. It was the best outfit I made with my dad so many years ago.Weekly Update:This past week was another quiet week and I really liked it! Other than traffic in the evenings being incredibly terrible beyond reason, it was quiet and I was able to get some projects going. I mean I get projects going and taken care of when presented but this one I started, it is ahead of schedule and that is good! Usually I get these things that are due the day before and they wanted it last week. How can I help you when you do not inform me of anything till after it is due or the desired date is that same day and its a multiple type of complex situation?? I tell you, some people. But November is right around the corner and I am already not looking forward to it at all. Some traveling involved and other traveling that right now sounds like a big waste of time and money. But we shall see, with my current luck it will happen but one can hope it won't!
At the movies:MEOW at the box office as the spin-off of "Shrek" movies makes a scratch at the box office at #1 but not a big one ... Puss In Boots earns 34 million which is enough for #1 and I am sure DreamWorks was hoping for a much bigger return. Big drop to #2 is "Paranormal Activity 3" with an extra 18.5 mil but enough to get it 80 mil cume. New at #3 and first starring role for singer Justin Timberlake, In Time with only 12 mil for this "Logan's Run" style remake. Gradual drop to #4 is "Footloose" with another 5.4 mil. Rounding off the top 5 is The Rum Diary with only a 5 mil opening.Quote of the week:"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." - John F. KennedyOther News:
America's Best Downtowns! Forbes survey on the best downtowns in the US based on attractiveness, accessibility, diversity of offerings, shops, restaurants and proximity of parks and cultural options. In no particular order: Chicago, Ill. - With a waterfront tourist area and known for having a history of a night life, haven't been but completely agree! Portland, OR. - I would think in general it is kind of dreary weather-wise but I can see it being a strong mecca for the arts in general. Burlington, VT. - I think I have been here but not entirely sure because it was winter and everything was covered in snow. Don't recall much but an old town USA feel, but also very small. Indianapolis, IN. - Never been but I can imagine it being a bustling town since it is home to the Indy 500 and race fans come out in droves! San Antonio, TX. - I kind of think of any Texas town as everything being big and drab. I'm sure there are tons of places to eat with a lot of meat. Savannah, GA. - Southern hospitality is probably really big here but not sure I would want to be around during the summer and humid nights. Kansas City, MO. - Been here recently and though they have done a lot to improve the night life and social aspect of it ... still is dead, almost ghost-town like at night. Winston-Salem, NC. - No nothing about the Carolina's in general but it sounds weird with two names! Greenville, SC. - Well just like I said about the previous but only with a single name and a little bit of boring ... Green and Ville ... yeah. Santa Monica, CA. (pictured)- Obviously I know this one and it is always an active city being right off the ocean. I work probably 3 miles from the center of it all and the traffic is crazy but if you can manage to find a place to park without costing an arm and leg, the promenade is a great place to stroll around!
Facts & Tips:The first bike was called a hobbyhorse."May I have ten thousand marbles, please?" - Stephen Furst as Kent "Flounder" Dorfman in "Animal House."
I think there needs to be a device that when a fire truck, ambulance or police vehicle is coming down the street, it either cuts off or temporarily mutes your radio. I know it has happened to me where I have the radio on, windows up and I can't hear their siren. This seems potentially dangerous to me plus the fact they keep making cars that feature reduced outside noise as you enjoying being in your car in quiet or undisturbed. I have also seen cars next to me with their bass booming that it impairs my hearing and no doubt their own that you can't hear a siren in that situation either. The device could be direction too that it just somehow blocks a radio signal as the approach, just long enough to know they are coming ... but I'm sure such a device would also block cell signals. Just a suggestion.Weekly Update:You know, this past week has been pretty disappointing on so many levels. I think it all has to to with a major lack of sleep. From there, it just sort of snowballed into bad to more bad to more bad. I don't know what the dealio is but I hope it improves this coming week and going forward! I think I need a vacation or something ... or just a string of late night premiere after-parties! That would actually be kind of nice and not having to worry about what time I go into work the next day. This past Saturday I ended up sleeping in till almost 11AM which ... wow, I haven't done in SO many years I can't remember when! But aside from all that, the week was just long and glad it is all over with.At the movies:
Big surprises at the box office this weekend ... The biggest of them all, taking the #1 spot with a huge opening is Paranormal Activity 3 with a nice 54 million surprise. Recently horror films have been complete failures till now as of late. Holding on to #2 is "Real Steel" with another 11.3 mil as it makes its way to a possible 100 mil cume when its said and done. At #3 is "Footlose" with 10.9 mil extra. New at #4 in a big disappointment is The Three Musketeers with only 8.8 mil for it's debut. Another 3D film biting the bullet once again. Rounding off the top 5 is "The Ides of March" with another 4.9 mil.New movies that did not make the top 5: Just one this week as the sequel to Johnny English, comedic spy in Johnny English Reborn makes it to #8 with only 3.8 mil.Quote of the week:"An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come." - Victor Hugo
Other News:Top 10 Adorable Animals from Cartoons ... This is a pretty tough list because there are thousands of cartoon characters and so many cute/adorable ones out there. So let's see how it compares ... 10) Scrat - the squirrely bug-eyed character from the "Ice Age" movies always trying to get his acorn. Cute? Not really but lightly funny. 9) Disney's Robin Hood - classic Disney film of Robin Hood as a cartoon fox. One of my old Disney favorites but certainly not adorable but more heroic. 8) Mickey Mouse - beloved icon for the Disney empire and definitely cute on many moments but surprised this wasn't further down the list. 7) Spirit - The main character from the DreamWorks film of the same name. Not cute at all, its a horse. 6) Dumbo - The flying elephant from the Disney classic movie of the same name. Cute yes but adorable, possibly. 5) Donkey - From the recent classic "Shrek" films. Not necessarily adorable but a very funny sidekick. 4) The Lions - From Disney's "The Lion King" and not adorable at all! Between Mufasa to Scar ... they are pretty strong beast and the only adorable one are the cubs but that is about it. 3) Bambi - From the Disney film of the same name and again not adorable at all! What about Thumper and Flower?! Those two are much more adorable than the title character. 2) Toothless the Night Fury - From "How to Train Your Dragon" and he was very adorable, puppy-like for a dragon. 1) Hobbes - from the classic cartoon strip Calvin and Hobbes and I would say at a team they are adorable. Most of this REALLY miss the mark with just a few hits.Facts & Tips:
A female kangaroo is called a flyer."I prefer to work alone and do everything alone, even today." - Ray Harryhausen
CRAZY!!! That is the best way to describe this week in weather in Southern California! So it started off very cool and cold at nights, just the way I like it. Early to mid-week, big heat wave with temps in the 100's!?!? I don't know how we go from 60 to 100 unless you are in a car. So that happened for 2 to 3 days and Friday the temp drops well below 80 which was nice but a big fog bank rolls in and we get some light rain. The weekend warmed up and cleared out but I have no idea where that fog came from and the rain ... from going to hot to cold to warm. It is some freakish weather we are having as of late!Weekly Update:Had an extremely busy week ... I am sooooo tired! But it was an interesting week at least. On Wednesday I went to Nickelodeon again and that is always a fun place to visit. This is the animation studio in Burbank and not the live action in Hollywood. But while there, I ran into:*Kevin Michael Richardson - Brilliant voice-over artist and most recently on "The Cleveland Show," also an incredibly great guy.The rest of the week wasn't anything too exciting except early wake ups and going to bed late. I don't know what the deal is but no matter what, I can't seem to fall asleep at night till 1AM or so. Even if I only get 2 to 4 hours of sleep the night before.
At the movies:Surprise at the box office as "Real Steel" takes the crown for the 2nd weekend in a row! Earning top honors with just a slight lead of 16.3 million and now over 50 mil cume for its first 10 days. New at #2 is the 80's remake of Footloose with 16.1 mil for its debut. The horror prequel of The Thing comes in at #3 with 8.7 mil. Slight drop to #4 is "The Ides of March" with 7.5 mil. Rounding off the top 5 is "Dolphin Tale" earning an additional 6.3 mil. Overall, semi-quiet box office weekend!Quote of the week:"Revolutionaries do not make revolutions. The revolutionaries are those who know when power is lying in the street and then they can pick it up." - Hannah ArendtOther News:
Besides enjoying on a warm summer day ... 15 other uses for tea? This is an interesting and helpful lists of tips: 1) Clean Carpets - if you sprinkle dry used green tea leaves for about 10 minutes, it will remove the mustiness. 2) Shine wood floors - Tannins in black tea after brewed and lightly pouring and air dry. 3) Polish furniture - Brewed tea will re-color light spots and remove scratches in wood surfaces. Use a cloth with strongly-brewed tea. 4) Clean mirrors and windows - fill a bottle with brewed tea to remove fingerprints from glass. 5) Clean toilet stains - Leave in a toilet bowl for several hours then flush and brush. 6) Soothe a sunburn - cooled chamomile tea for its anti-inflammatory effect, don't try on broken skin. 7) Soothe tired eyes - warm, wet tea bags reduce puffiness. 8) Soothe bleeding gums - cold, wet tea bag in the mouth were the soar is. 9) Shine dry hair - brewed tea, rinse with unsweetened tea, dry and rinse again with water. 10) Improve skin - chamomile and calendula can help soothe dermatitis, consult a physician for this one. 11) Soothe acne - calendula flower tea as a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide. 12) Tenderize meat - marinate with black tea. 13) Add to compost - pouring strong tea into compost bin speeds up the process of friendly bacteria to grow. 14) Help houseplants - brewed tea instead of water to feed ferns. A few used teabags at the bottom of a planter can help soil retain water and add nutrients. 15) Dye fabrics - Green and black teas can help with faux-antique looks.
Facts & Tips:Frogs never drink."Until next time, keep laughing." - Byron Allen as host of the TV show "Comics Unleashed."
Warm days and cold nights. Kind of odd as the day feels a little crisp but a tad on the summer side while the evenings feel and smell like winter. What does winter smell like? Well for here, it smells clean and crisp, like you could feel the evening dew on a tree leaf start to freeze into place. Now if only the days can be like that, we have the start of winter but that is technically still a few months away. We did have a crazy thunderstorm on Wednesday but oddly enough it was just for half a day. We need more of that like always ... but I do not believe the forecast calls for anything but sunny and warm ... again.
Weekly Update:Did not have a full week but I did have a busy week. Part of it was fun, the rest just tiring. I think my busiest day was Thursday when I took some relatives to a table read for "The Simpsons" and what made this read particularly special is that it was the annual Halloween episode (aka: Treehouse of Terror) which are always funny to me. This did not disappoint and while there I got to finally get a picture with one of the shows creators:*James L. Brooks - one of the co-creators of the show "The Simpsons" and Academy Award winning producer, and a really nice guy!I have met Jim a couple of times actually but the first time, I had no idea who he was. I was working at a movie theatre out in the boonies and he came in with his son. He wanted to show him part of his movie at the time, "As Good As It Gets" and he said he was the producer and his name was Jim. You get these kinds of requests a few times when working in Southern California and sometimes they are legit, other times they can be "iffy." So I said sure and escorted them to a theatre that it was playing in and as we walked there, we passed a poster and I quickly looked and did not see a Jim but a James. At the time I did not put two and two together and thought he was bogus. Then about a month later, I was watching the Academy Awards and he is on TV accepting the win for that same movie! Fast forward to 14 years later and I got to meet him again.At the movies:
No big surprise at the box office as the action semi-family film of Real Steel takes top honors with 27.3 million at the box office this weekend. New at #2 is the political drama Ides of March with 10.4 mil. Slight drop to #3 is "Dolphin Tale" with another 9.2 mil as it swims its way through the non-holiday time frame. Drop down to #4 is "Moneyball" with another 7.5 mil being just shy of 50 mil cume. Rounding off the top 5 is "50/50" earning an additional 5.5 mil with not much laughing to the bank for this dark comedy about cancer.Quote of the week:"Everybody has a plan until they get hit in the mouth." - Mike Tyson
Other News:I would say one of the biggest news stories from this past week ... Apple Co-Founder and pretty much the face of the company till recently, Steve Jobs, passed away on Wednesday after a long and struggling fight with cancer. It was a shock across many levels, not just for Apple users or the tech-based community but literally the world. His ideas and innovations changed much of the tech world we see and have come to known today. He did disappear a few years ago but re-appeared to squash any rumors of his ill health and that reflection upon his company. But upon his return, it was clear he was just there for show and presentation while the company was more-or-less run day-to-day by his team he has developed over the years. Word is he was also a terrible boss, almost tyrant like to subordinates which is pretty much just about everyone in his company. But, that was behind the scenes and the public never saw that but rather the gentle tech-giant who gave them what they wanted ... gadgets. I am not a Mac or Apple user myself but I do appreciate the products. The only thing of that nature I have is an iTouch and of course use iTunes. A big loss in a big way no matter what kind of computer or smart phone you use ... he was 56.Facts & Tips:
A human brain weighs about three pounds."Sorry. The Internet is water-proof, right?" - Amanda Walsh as Annie D'Mateo in the DVD release of "WarGames: The Dead Code."
I wonder about people sometimes ... so driving to work one day I was at a red light and I looked to the car next to me and it was some lady holding your cell phone in front of her talking. Is it worth the risk? Of course when the light turned green, she continued to chat on the phone as she accelerated. Clearly the lady could afford some kind of hands-free device of any kind since it was a nice clean Lexus SUV, not sure of the year though. Plus most of those cars past a certain year come with it. Look, if the car doesn't come with it, fine. If you can't afford to have it installed, got it. But you can't afford $20 to $50 on a blue-tooth device because the possible chance of a ticket will cost you for the first offense about $94 and it increases from there with each offense ... is it worth it?!Weekly Update:This past week was kind of nice and easy. A little rain, a little thunder, a bunch of heat and some nice evenings out. On Thursday I went to this kick-off party for an local Asian film festival. The party was OK, no real food but a lot of people. While there I did get to meet one of the guest of honor:*Sonny Chiba - Famous Japanese actor who was also in "Kill Bill" and a nice guy.Other than that, the rest of the week was nice and calm. These don't come too often ... although on Sunday I did go out to Corona to help with this event called "Dogtoberfest" which was another pet adoption. The one bad thing about it was it was 100 degrees! I left at about 5PM and it luckily had dropped down to 97 degrees! Phew, I thought I was going to melt (sarcasm).
At the movies:Interesting week at the box office as the older films outweigh the new ones. In at #1 is "Dolphin Tale" earning another 14.3 million for its 2nd week in a row. Holding ground at #2 is "Moneyball" with another 12.5 mil. Dropping down to #3 after it's 3rd week is "The Lion King 3D" with 11.1 mil and now at 80 mil cume for this re-release feature that comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray on Tuesday. New at #4 is the dark comedy 50/50 with only 8.9 mil. New at #5 is the Christian-based film Courageous with 8.8 mil.New films that did not make the top 5: We have two this week, in at #6, just shy of being in the top 5 is the suspense-thriller Dream House with 8.2 mil. Skip over to #8 is the comedy What's Your Number? earning only 5.6 mil for its debut.Quote of the week:"Activism is my rent for living on this planet." - Alice WalkerOther News:
I was reading this article the other day talking about the hot costume for Halloween this year. I've seen the years where it was pirates and ninjas. You don't really see ghosts anymore but you do get a lot of vampires and zombies of late. Then you get the silly when couples dress up in things like Raggedy Andy and Annie (which is a terrible costume for adults). For couples you also see police officer and prisoner which can be kind of cute and sexy at the same time depending on who is who. Of course the kids costumes range but you mostly see a lot of Disney-esque characters roaming around like the Mickey and Minnies (another terrible adult costume) and a lot of the many princesses Disney has. Some of my favorites have been Woody and Buzz from "Toy Story." Let's not forget the many superheroes too like Spider-Man and we might see several Thors and Captain America's this year I suspect. But according to a recent article ... the #1 Halloween costume for this year (so far based on advance sales) is ... Angry Birds? Or not just the birds but various characters from the popular smart phone app game. The person who created this game must be rolling in it since the game took out a couple of years ago, used in movie promotions, other spin off games and now costumes. Between the selling of the app game (which was like only .99) and now licensing fees ... wow.
Facts & Tips:Over 1 million earths would fit inside the sun."Aren't my thing? I have a tennis racket upstairs I only use as a bubble bath frother." - Rico Rodriquez as Manny Delgado in the TV series "Modern Family."
At the movies:
Facts & Tips:
