Leap Year EditionWhat makes this a Leap "Year"?? Because of ONE day in February that has an extra day in the month. So instead of 28, it has 29 and then that makes the entire year a Leap Year which occurs every 4 years. Why isn't it just still a regular year and not called a Leap Month? Why do we even have that extra day every 4 years? Is it suppose to keep the calendar in line with something? If someone is born on the 29th of February, does that mean in 8 years they are only 2 years old? That would suck having to wait for a driver's license or being able to drink. Well, just seems like another day to me.Weekly Update:Yet another semi-quiet week for me and the cough ... I would say 25% better but still there. What is the deal!??! Been taking so many meds for it, just can't shake it off. I guess I will continue the meds but come on now! The worst stuff is this thick syrup I take at night, they try and make it taste good with mint or something but it just ends up tasting like really bad mint. Some meds you can disguise but others, nope! This upcoming week I have a busy one, so it looks like on paper. Maybe it won't be that bad but can't tell this early. I like the simple weeks ... I will say this for the past weekend, despite having a 4-day work week due to the holiday, it sure felt like it was a full 5-day week, even longer!! How does that work!? Each day just felt long I guess and when you wake up for the next day, you feel like it should be the end of the week already but it's not.At the movies:
No surprise at the box office this weekend as the "reality" style movie of Act of Valor takes the crown with a nice 24.7 million. New at #2 is the ever popular Tyler Perry's Good Deeds with 16 mil. I wonder if he ever made a movie without his name, would it do anything? Slight drop to #3 is "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" with another 13.5 mil as it makes it way closer to a 100 mil cume. Steady at #4 is "Safe House" with another 11.4 mil as it is just shy of the 100 mil mark. Rounding off the top 5 is "The Vow" with another 10 mil as it just passes the 100 mil mark with 103 mil cume!New movies that did not make the top 5: We have two this week and honestly, not a surprise. In at #8 is the comedy Wanderlust with only 6.6 mil for its opening and the lust went out the door as soon as this movie started. Coming in at #9 is the suspense film Gone with only 5 mil to open. Pretty sad as this may be new comer studio Summit's last official film.Quote of the week:"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials." - Cicero
Other News:Sunday was the big night for my industry, the 84th Annual Academy Awards, or The Oscars for short. Not a big surprise for the most part but the show itself wasn't too bad. I did notice a lot of really good commercials! Are the Oscars becoming like the Superbowl in that respect? Big winners for the night was "The Artist" for Best Picture, Original Score, Actor in a Leading Role, and Costume Design. A heart-warming "Hugo" ended up with a handful of more technical awards like Art Direction and Cinematography. No surprise for "The Help's" Octavia Spencer for taking home the gold for her supporting role. I was surprised that "Rango" won for Animated because I found that movie really boring. Even "The Muppets" won for Original Song however, they had a 50/50 shot at it since there was only 2 nominated this year! And for best Actress in a Leading Role, Meryl Streep who I thought did an amazing job as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady" however I thought the film itself was terrible, especially the pacing. For a complete list of the nominations and winners, just visit The Oscars home page and click around ... lot of ads and commercials, not a great page but has the info.Facts & Tips:
The oldest living animal ever found was a 405 year-old clam, named Ming by researchers."You won't even know I'm here." - Jesse McCartney as Theodore in "Alvin and the Chipmunks."
PRESIDENT'S DAY EDITIONSo what makes this "President's Day?" Well basically we use to celebrate the birthday of two of our most distinguished President's who helped form the country we live in today ... George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I remember having two different weekends in February that were extra short school wise and extra long weekend wise. Then, I am not sure when, at some point they combined both of their birthday celebrations into ONE long weekend and called it President's Day. I miss the separate birthday's ... to me, that is like when you have Christmas on the 25th and your birthday happens to be on the 27th of December so people decide to give you combination gives! FAIL!Weekly Update:This past week continued to be filled with coughing and just trying to get over it! I did have some fun on Thursday and attended a live show taping for Disney's "Pair of Kings." The audience seemed like they had a really good time and I have to say ... the pizza they got to eat was way better than the craft services food that I ate. I guess I can't complain too much since it is free food but just saying ... Pizza, you can't go wrong! But aside from that, the week and weekend were fairly quiet for a holiday weekend ... can't complain!
At the movies:At bit of a surprise at the box office weekend. Despite being a holiday weekend, the numbers were a little softer than last week. In at #1 and going up the ladder is "Safe House" with an additional 24 million as it gets closer to the 100 mil cume mark. Holding ground at #2 is "The Vow" with another 23.6 mil as it gets even closer to the 100 mil cume but suffered a bigger percentage drop than the #1 film. New at #3 is the sequel to a lesser known Marvel hero Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance with a low 22 mil opening. Slight drop to #4 is "Journey 2: The Mystery Island" with 20.1 mil extra. New at #5 is the romantic-comedy-action This Means War with 17.6 mil and this is a cume gross since the film had advance sneaks for Valentine's Day.New films that did not make the top 5: Just one this week however this film although opened wide (over 1000 screens), it is kind of a specialty in the film. In at #9 is the anime-animated film The Secret World of Arriety earns 6.4 million.Quote of the week:"Patience: A minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue." - Ambrose BierceOther News:
Is that funny, eh?? Here is a good list, top 10 CANADIAN comedians! Let us see what the great white North has given us. #10) Seth Rogen - From BC and has become both movie comedian and writer ... tried to do an action film and failed. Stick to funny. #9) Lorne Michaels - Toronto and has been producing "Saturday Night Live" since 1977. He knows funny talent. #8) Leslie Nielsen - Saskatchewan and one of the great spoof comedians of the 80's, he is greatly missed. #7) Phil Hartman - Ontario and taken from us WAY before his prime. #6) Eugene Levy - Ontario and another great who continues to make us laugh! #5) Russell Peters - Ontario and who? I have no idea who this guy is. #4) Catherine O'Hara - also from Ontario and came to us along the same lines as Eugene Levy and continues to entertain. #3) John Candy - Ontario and part of the Second City group. One of the greatest movie big guy comedians out there and taken way to early from us at the age of 43. #2) Mike Myers - another from Ontario and has done well for the most part in movies. #1) Jim Carrey - Ontario and kind of over-the-top for me. He is decently funny but at times, not likable funny in his characters in general.
Facts & Tips:Cranberries are sorted for ripeness by bouncing them."But you're good, Marty, you're really good. And this audition tape of yours is great. You've gotta send it into the record company. It's like Doc's always saying ..." - Claudia Wells as Jennifer Parker in "Back to the Future."
Well on Groundhogs day (February 2nd), Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow which means 6 more weeks of winter. The weather has been pretty chilly still but technically speaking, we are still in Winter for at least another month. When did a groundhog become the weather reporter? I know a lot of weather reports and reporters that are wrong a lot but at least the studied it ... or know how to read a weather map. I should find a rabbit to tell me who will win major sporting events.Weekly Update:Not to much going on this past week except trying to continue to get rid of this lingering cough. It is just tiring now and I just want it to go away. The worst part about it is keeping me up at night or restless sleep because I have to cough. Certain times I go into coughing spells ... go away already! I do feel it is getting better but its like I have to walk a mile ... an inch at a time. But aside from that, the week wasn't too eventful but I did return to the set of Disney's "Pair of Kings" TV show as they start filming for the new season. It was nice seeing all the familiar faces and some new ones. I ran into one of the guest stars for this coming season:*Brittney Ross - up and coming actress and very nice.Aside from that, not much going on ... tried to rest as much as I could this weekend ... stupid cough.At the movies:
Not too much of a shock in terms of what did better at the box office but the big shock is how much they did! In at #1 is the romantic-drama The Vow earns a huge payday of 41.7 million for its debut! At #2 with a big opening is the action-drama Safe House with 39.3 mil. New at #3 is the family action sequel Journey 2: The Mysterious Island as it earns 27.6 mil. Returning to the big screen in 3D is "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" as it earns 23 mil. Rounding off the top 5 is "Chronicle" with an extra 12.3 mil. Pretty big weekend at the box office in general being a non-holiday time period.Quote of the week:"Life is short, art is long, opportunity fleeting, experiment treacherous, judgment difficult." - Hippocrates
Other News:Since the year started, we have seen quite a handful of actors and actresses, as well as film makers pass away. Another one just passed away on Saturday ... legendary singer and song writer Whitney Houston passed away. No cause of death has been released as of it but over the past year she has battled with drug addiction and abusive relationship. She was known for so many pop hits including "I Will Always Love You," "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "How Will I Know." She was also known for some memorable movie roles as well such as "The Bodyguard" with co-star Kevin Costner and one of my holiday favorites "The Preacher's Wife." She had a charming, high energy singing style which rose her to the top but in her later years fell apart when it was apparent were ruining her life and with her husband at the time, singer Bobby Brown, they fed off each others drug addictions. Houston was was found in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton unconscious, and had pre-Grammy events planned that evening. Houston was 48.Facts & Tips:
A male cricket's ear is located on the tibia of its leg."Excuse me, sir! Can you direct us to the naval base in Alameda? It's where they keep the nuclear wessels." - Walter Koenig as Chekov in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home."
Have you ever wondered when there is a large group of people walking in one direction, like a hallway ... and then the couple in front of you stop to chat? What are they thinking when you have dozens of people behind you that you decide to stop for a conversation while the dozens of people in front of you kept going?! I seriously wonder about this people and how oblivious they are of everyone and everything around them ... amazing.Weekly Update:Had a little busy week but it wasn't all bad. Still have this cough going on and the throat has been sore off and on ... I think I may have to get my tonsils removed. Well, I shall see once I get my insurance figured out and get a doctor I am happy with. But aside from that, I attended a neat event on Tuesday at the AMC Del Amo 18 Theatre. Tuesday is the first day of February which also kicks off Black History Month. And with that, that morning they showed the film "Red Tails" which is based on the the true events of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black fighter pilots during World War II. The event brought in 3000 kids from elementary grade level to high school to see the movie for free and at the theatre were a couple of surviving Tuskegee Airmen!! Also at the event, a few of the stars from the film itself who portrayed some of these brave airmen and I got to meet them all:*Nate Parker - pretty decent guy.*Marcus T. Paulk - nice guy.
*Andre Royo - a really cool guy.
Then on Friday, the Disney show "Pair of Kings" started to shoot its third season and met one of the new cast members:*Adam Hicks - new cast member to the show and a bit shy but nice guy.Then on Saturday night, I attended the 39th Annual Annie Awards and got to grab some picture
time with some folks:*'Wierd Al' Yankovic - best known for his parody songs and a really cool guy.*Diedrich Bader - I know him best from the "Drew Carey Show" and a really great guy!*Brittany Snow - best known for the remake of "Hairspray" and very sweet.
*Jennifer Yuh - Director for "Kung Fu Panda 2" and very nice.*Jim Meskimen - from various movies including "Apollo 13" and "Frost/Nixon" and a really cool guy.
At the movies:Big shock at the box office as the teenage action-suspense Chronicle earns top honors with 22 million. Right behind it is the new horror film The Woman in Black as it earns 21 mil for the #2 spot. Holding on to #3 is "The Grey" for it's 2nd weekend with an additional 9.5 mil. New at #4 is the inspiring true story of Big Miracle with 8.5 mil for its debut. Rounding off the top 5 is "Underworld Awakening" as it earns an extra 5.6 mil going into its 3rd weekend.
Quote of the week:
"When ideas fail, words come in very handy." - Johann Wolfgang von GoetheOther News:
More sad news this week ... the creator and host of "Soul Train," Don Cornelius, passed away Wednesday from an self-inflicted gun shot wound. He had been in some troubling health, a recent divorce and some legal problems. Cornelius created the "Soul Train" show and was also its sultry sounding host each week. The show itself helped break down racial barriers and gave the world a sense of black culture to everyone along with musical groups most may not pay much attention to. The show started in 1970 and went nationally in 1971 to 2006! 35 years of amazing programming and you can almost see a timeline of pop culture and music through the years of watching it. Don Cornelius was 75.Then on Friday, dramatic actor Ben Gazzara passed away after a fight with cancer. Ben has been
in many iconic movies and roles including "The Big Lebowski," "The Strange One" and "Anatomy of Murder." I remember him best from some good war films such as "The Bridge at Remagen" and "Inchon." Ben was also known as a Broadway actor and earned many Tony Award nominations. He won an Emmy Award back in 2003 for the HBO miniseries "Hysterical Blindness" and has also been nominated for Golden Globes a few times for his TV role in "Run for Your Life." Ben was 81.
Facts & Tips:In Ancient Greece throwing an apple to a woman was considered a marriage proposal."There's a house-party tonight, you can make a lot of connections there." - Mario Joyner as Claudio in "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star."
Leap Year Edition
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