Monday, December 31, 2012

NEW YEAR'S EVE EDITION

Today is New Year's Eve and the end of 2012 ... the year where the Mayan calendar concluded which many thought meant the end of the world ... who are these people and why do they still exist??  So if a company that gives you a calendar every year all of a sudden stopped sending them, does that mean that is the last year of existence?  Does that seem odd to anyone else but me?  Isn't it fascinating enough that they made a calendar that lasted hundreds of years and it ended on one day ... couldn't the guy who had to do it simply could be tired?  The hysteria and silliness around it is pretty dang fascinating.

Weekly Update:
Drove back from San Francisco on Saturday night and while going through the grapevine (oddly enough, no grapes!) there was a lot of snow covered hills and some on the ground.  It was cool (haha, no pun intended) to see and I did have to make a refuel stop in the middle of it all.  BOY, was it cold!!!  I think it was about 38 degrees and the ground was wet but no rain.  If it did, could be close to snow which would make it interesting to drive in, something I have not done in a long time, drive through snow.  I do like snow but wouldn't want to live in it for too long.  Seeing it, being around it, all good for a few days.  When you drive through places like Gorman, Ca (pictured) and you see two fast food places and two gas stations, one very old hotel/motel and wonder ... where does everyone live around there??

At the movies:
These box office number rankings are based on the weekend and not from when they actually started.  In at #1 for the third week in a row is "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" with another 32.9 million and now a cume of over 180 mil for domestic box office.  I went and saw this film again in regular 2D and it wasn't that bad.  Still not a great film but watchable compared to the HFR and 3D which both made the film completely terrible and unwatchable.  New at #2 is Django Unchained with a 6-day gross of 64 mil (weekend at 30.7 mil).  New at #3 with a lot of award buzz is the musical Les Miserables with 67.5 mil cume (weekend was 28 mil).  New at #4 is the family comedy Parental Guidance with 29.6 mil (weekend 14.8 mil).  Rounding off the top 5 is "Jack Reacher" with 14 mil as it quickly burns out.

Quote of the week:
"I hate television.  I hate it as much as peanuts.  But I can't stop eating peanuts." - Orson Welles

Other News:
A double whammie this week as Hollywood (and the world) loses two more aging stars who gave us decades of entertainment.  On Monday legendary funny man Jack Klugman passed away peacefully in his California home. He is best known (to me) for two roles, the sloppy and cranky roommate opposite Tony Randall in the TV version of "The Odd Couple."  He was also the crime-fighting coroner in the the TV program "Quincy, M.E."  Klugman was a veteran on the stage, TV and the silver screen as one of the stars of the Academy Award-nominated film "Twelve Angry Men."  When his "The Odd Couple" co-star Tony Randall passed away in 2004, Klugman told CNN "A world without Tony Randall is a world that I cannot recognize."  In which I say a world without Klugman is one we can't enjoy fully.  His more recent credits include TV guest appearances on the shows "Third Watch" and "Crossing Jordan."  Jack was 90.


Also on Monday, another veteran legend passed who was known as the "King of Character Actors" once.  Charles Durning passed of natural causes in his Manhattan home.  Among some of his most recognizable roles were the corrupt cop from "The Sting," the Governor in "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" in which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor by the Academy and Jessica Lange's father in "Tootsie."  I also remember him as the frog leg king from the classic family film "The Muppet Movie.  Another veteran of the stage, he did mostly movies and very little in the TV realm.  Durning also has a very historical history as he enlisted in the Army in 1944 and landed on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day.  He was also the only member of his patrol to come back alive from the Battle of the Bulge.  During his military career he received three Purple Hearts.  Charles was 89.

Facts & Tips:
California and Arizona grow approximately 95% of the fresh lemons in the U.S.

"It's a commuter college, there's a lot of displaced anger here." - Maulik Pancholy as Sanjay in the series "Weeds."

Monday, December 24, 2012

CHRISTMAS EVE HOLIDAY EDITION

I bet this past weekend a ton of folks took Monday (and the past Friday) off and were just traveling.  Why not?  The only people doing business really are retailers and I hope they are busy as well because the economy needs the flow.  But other than that, it has been freaking cold at night.  I know it is night time and winter but being in SoCali, we haven't had these kinds of temps in a long time.  Usually not to this extreme and where the day it is the 70's and drops to the 40's.  Usually you see maybe a 15 degree gap but not 30 and 30 plus.  I would like the rain to come in soon, that we really need!


Weekly Update:
Kind of a busy week but the nights were very light.  However, each night I did stay late because the holiday traffic was CRAZY.  I left once at 6, got home around 830.  I left at 730 instead, got home about 830 so that was the trick I suppose.  But it was amazing how heavy the roads where and we do not have snow!  There was some light rain but at night it was clear or just overcast ... what is wrong with LA driver's?  I think it is the inability to merge properly and that over half of the drivers are jerks.  We have 5 lane highways and yet all can be completely backed up for miles and when you get to the point where traffic is moving again, there is nothing that would have caused the slowness in the first place.  It just doesn't make any sense ... we are a senseless state.


At the movies:
A little crazy at the box office with some according to expectations and others, not so much.  Holding on to the #1 spot is "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" with another 36.7 million and now with a cume of just barely shy of 150 mil (149.9 to be exact).  New at #2 is the Tom Cruise action film Jack Reacher earns a decent 15.6 mil.  New at #3 is the comedy This is 40 with an OK 12 mil.  Holding on to #4 is the family film "Rise of the Guardians" with 5.9 mil more as it struggles to reach 100 mil cume.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Lincoln" with 5.6 as it continues to go with award season around the corner.

New movies that did not make the top 5:
A couple this week as another comedy Guilt Trip comes in at #6 with only 7.4 mil for its 5-day debut (opened on a Wednesday).  Re-releasing at #7 is "Monsters, Inc. 3D" which proves to be disastrous for Disney with a 5 mil opening.  Just goes to show you, 3D is not working folks so stop doing it!!!  New at #11 is Cirque du Soleil: World's Away with only 2.1 mil.  Again, 3D is not happening plus the best way to see a Cirque show is live!

Quote of the week:
"The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities." - Sophocles


Other News:
A couple of weeks ago I posted a list of the 20 actors we want to see back on TV right now.  Here is a list of the top 20 actresses ... in no particular order; #20) Kandyse McClure, Battlestar Galatica: She was good on the show so I would agree.  #19) Lizzy Caplan, Party Down: I believe she has gone onto other shows and movies now. #18) Billie Piper, Doctor Who: No clue but she is cute. #17) Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  Seems she has gone to be a regular person but who knows.  #16) Leslie Grossman, Popular: another one who I have no clue. #15) Elaine Cassidy, Harper's Island: Never heard of her and the show. #14) Liza Weil, Gilmore Girls: no clue. #13) Phylicia Rashad, The Cosby Show: One of the greatest TV moms! #12) Robin Weigert, Deadwood: more I never heard of or seen. #11) Paget Brewster, Criminal Minds: seen before but not really sure. #10) Majandra Delfino, Roswell: Never show the show or her. #9) Jennifer Beals, The L Word:  Who are all these people?! #8) Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Eureka: ??? #7) Ali Larter, Heroes: Finally someone and she would be good to see again. #6) Jessalyn Gilsig, Glee: No thank you. #5) Evangeline Lilly, Lost: Not really.  #4) Linda Cardellini, Freaks and Geeks: Next! #3) Alia Shawkat, Arrested Development: zzzz #2) Gillian Anderson (pictured), The X Files: Wonder how she looks after all these years.  #1) Janel Moloney, The West Wing: not even familiar.


Facts & Tips:
New Jersey is home to the world's first drive-in movie theater.

"Boy, Beaver, wait'll the guys find out you were hanging around with a girl. They'll really give you the business." - Tony Dow as Wallace 'Wally' Cleaver in the TV series "Leave it to Beaver."

Monday, December 17, 2012

People can't even walk in Los Angeles!!  So this is what happens, I was at a red light waiting and across the street to where I was going, I watch this lady get out of her car and instead of walking across the street or head down the sidewalk, she proceeds to walk down the street (in the same direction I plan to go) DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET!!!  Come on now!!  So my light turns green, I cross the street and slowly creep up behind her because, why? She is walking down the middle of the street!!!  She then turns and is shocked I am there and then finishes her way to the other side of the street.  Come on people, the street is for cars and don't be shocked when you turn around and there is one there.  I should have honked but I hate when people use that pointlessly and all the time.  I feel it should be used for in the event if someone is about to hit you and you are able to warn them so they will stop or see what they are doing.  But wow, apparently I was driving on her street.

Weekly Update:
Not a bad week, got a brand new Inspirion computer for work and it is quite a neat machine.  At first I thought it was the counter part to the mac version of having no housing case and everything was self contained in the screen.  Well, it is like that but a lot more (in my opinion), it is 100% touch screen. Aside from typing, I can do everything just by touching the screen and its pretty cool and fun at the same time.  Of course I am noticing the screen is starting to get a little dirty but that is OK.  I must say that Dell has stepped it up with this one and now the real test is how long will it last than the standard 2 year period!  I know this is the current future (if it can be said that way) but we aren't seeing this type of technology except on our mobile devices.  It should be almost every where now these days!

At the movies:
No big surprises at the box office as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey takes the crown with an debut of 84.8 million.  A tad lower than I expected with the amount of screens it has but no doubt will hold over well.  A far cry away in the #2 spot is "Rise of the Guardians" with another 7.4 mil.  Holding in at #3 is "Lincoln" with an extra 7.2 mil as it passes the 100 mil cume mark.  Slight drop to #4 is "Skyfall" with 7 mil more and it steadily gets closer to 300 mil cume but may fall short of it in the end.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Life of Pi" earning another 5.4 mil as it struggles to reach 100 mil but will definitely fall short.

Quote of the week:
"If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have know will go to heaven, and very, very few persons." - James Thurber

Other News:
Such a tragic week in news and so close to the holiday.  The start of this past weekend was wrecked with a elementary school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut.  The victims is the most appalling and shocking part ... mostly kids from the ages of 6 and 7 years of age in the first grade.  The exact number is 20 children and 6 adults, most were shot multiple times and with a high-powered rifle.  Of those victims, 12 were girls, 8 boys and all adults were females.  The list of the victims and their ages:

Charlotte Bacon, 6
Daniel Barden, 7
Rachel Davino, 29
Olivia Engel, 6
Josephine Gay, 7
Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
Dylan Hockley, 6
Dawn Hochsprung, 47
Madeleine Hsu, 6
Catherine Hubbard, 6
Chase Kowalski, 7
Jesse Lewis, 6
James Mattioli, 6
Grace McDonnell, 7
Anne Marie Murphy, 52
Emilie Parker, 6
Jack Pinto, 6
Noah Pozner, 6
Caroline Previdi, 6
Jessica Rekos, 6
Avielle Richman, 6
Lauren Rousseau, 30
Mary Sherlach, 56
Victoria Soto,27
Benjamin Wheeler, 6
Allison Wyatt, 6

An extremely tragic event with no rhyme or reason as to why ... the question that is on the minds of the world, why.

Facts & Tips:
Wild camels once roamed Arizona's deserts.

"There is no worse death than the end of hope." - Clive Owen as Arthur in "King Arthur."

Monday, December 10, 2012


Elderly and cell phone or smart devices ... ok, they need to take a class or something on cell phone etiquette (and I can think of many non-elderly folks who needs a class like this too).  Ok, it is very simple, if you get a call during a meal, especially at a restaurant, either let it go to voice mail or excuse yourself and take it outside.  Two simple solutions!  DO NOT ANSWER it at the table and proceed to have a conversation with the caller.  This is extremely rude to the people around you and especially if you are with someone.  To me, this is pure common sense but we know how that is lost on so many people to begin with.  This is just one major issue but who has time to list them all here and now!  You know what would be nice, turn the phone on silent, vibrate or off and just ignore it.  I usually leave my on the table or in my pocket and check the time but that is about it.

Weekly Update:
Not too bad of a week, got wet and that was about it.  Went to a few dinners, a couple of luncheons and called it that.  I don't know what that means but I hope the rest of the year will be like this for the most part but who knows.  But, the week overall was kind of fun at the same time.  Went to Nickelodeon on Friday and that is always a good time.  I love that place, always cereal available and a soda machine, how can you not want to be there all the time!  And they provide the milk!  My previous full time job had a soda machine too but cans (which is even better in my opinion) but then with cans over fountain, you feel a little guilty wasting cans if they don't have a recycling program in place.  Plus the yield is not as good than fountain in terms that in the long run, a fountain machine is cheaper.

At the movies:
Bond, James Bond ... in its 5th week, "Skyfall" reclaims the #1 spot probably for the last time this past weekend with 11 million and now a domestic cume of 262 mil.  Slight drop to #2 is "Rise of the Guardians" with 10.5 mil more.  Continue to drop to #3 is "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2" with 9.2 mil but has passed 269 mil cume.  Slight bump at #4 is "Lincoln" with another 9.1 mil as it comes very close to 100 mil cume.  Rounding off the top 5 this week is "Life of Pi" with 8.3 mil.

New movies that did not make the top 5:
Just one this week as Playing for Keeps gets the #6 spot with only 6 million to open.  This one will be a quick burn.

Quote of the week:
"To be stupid, selfish, and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost." - Gustave Flaubert

Other News:
From Business Insider, 17 facts about McDonald's that will blow your mind (or not):  #17) Americans alone consume one billion pounds of beef at McDonald's in a year - five and a half million head of cattle. #16) The only place in the lower 48 that is more than 100 miles from a McDonald's is a barren plain in South Dakota.  #15) McDonald's delivers in 18 countries.  #14) From 2011 to 2013, McDonald's plans to open one restaurant every day in China. #13) The Egg McMuffin was modeled on eggs Benedict (Herb Peterson invented the Egg McMuffin as a way to introduce breakfast to McDonald's restaurants).  #12) The Queen of England owns a retail park in Slough, which has a drive-thru McDonald's.  #11) McDonald's iconic golden arches are recognized by more people than the cross (a survey found that 88% could identify the arches and only 54% could name the Christian cross).  #10) Back in 1968, McDonald airlifted hamburgers to homesick U.S. Olympic Athletes in France. #9) McDonald's is the world's largest distributor of toys, with one included in 20% of all sales.  #8) Sharon Stone worked at McDonald's before she was famous.  So did Shania Twain, Jay Leno, Rachel McAdams and Pink.  #7) According to company estimates, one in every eight American workers has been employed by McDonald's. #6) McDonald's has 761,000 employees worldwide, that's more than the population of Luxembourg.  #5) McDonald's hires around 1 million workers in the US every year (has 150% turnover rate). #4) The $8.7 billion in revenue from franchise stores alone, makes McDonald's richer than Mongolia.  #3) McDonald's $27 billion in revenue makes it the 90th-largest economy in the world.  #2) McDonald's feeds 68 million people per day, that is about 1% of the world's population.  #1) McDonald's sells more than 75 hamburgers every second.

Facts & Tips:
A cubic mile of fog is made up of less than a gallon of water.

"The Germans' nickname for me is "the Little Man"?" - B.J. Novak as PFC. Smithson Utivich in "Inglourious Basterds."

Monday, December 03, 2012

Rain ... finally rain.  Not a lot but it was consistent and kept the ground wet and the roads packed with bad drivers.  It wasn't cold though, the temperatures kept the light jacket on or no jacket at all but it was good to have it and I hope more rain is on the way because, like always, we need it.  It would be nice to have both the rain and cold temps then it will actually feel like winter even though it is not technically winter.  But when you think of November and December, you think winter.  At least I do as well as January.

Weekly Update:
What a busy week it has been!!  I went to a horror movie premiere but didn't watch the film however did attend the very tiny party afterwards (with no food!!) and got some snaps with some of the cast:

*Josh Stewart - from the film and a really cool guy.
*Emma Fitzpatrick - also from the film and super cool.

Then on Wednesday, I helped with a small appreciation event at the Hollywood Police Station and got a few more folks who where serving food to the men in blue:

*Catherine Bach - Daisy Duke from the original "Dukes of Hazzard" TV show and very nice.
*Brian Tee - From the upcoming "Wolverine" movie and a great guy.
*Erin Carufel - from the movie "Gone" and very sweet.

The week wrapped up with two charity events, one on Saturday for MDA and Sunday with the 3rd Annual Variety Santa Fun Walk and both of these events were FAR from my house ... and both started way early in the morning ... the holidays are more work than relaxation so far!  But while at the 3rd Annual Santa Fun Walk, we had a lot of kid talent show up including:

*Kenton Duty - From Disney's "Shake It Up!" and a really cool kid.
*Adam Irigoyen - also from "Shake It Up!" and a nice kid.
*Aramis Knight - from the upcoming film "Ender's Game" and a good kid.

At the movies:
Slower than normal weekend at the box office as we quickly approach the next wave of the holiday season.  In at #1 and holding its ground is "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2" with another 17.4 million as it passes 250 mil cume.  Also holding ground at #2 is "Skyfall" with an additional 17 mil as it closes in at 250 mil cume.  Big gain at #3 is "Lincoln" with 13.5 mil more as it pushes to 100 mil cume.  Slight drop to #4 is "Rise of the Guardians" with 13.5 mil, just under the #3 movie.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Life of Pi" with 12 mil more.

New movies that did not make the top 5:
Two this week as the action drama film Killing Them Softly earns only 7 million and enough for the #7 spot for the weekend.  In at #11 is the torture horror pic The Collection with only 3.2 mil and what can you expect for a low rent horror film.

Quote of the week:
"Change your thoughts and you change your world." - Norman Vincent Peale

Other News:
Here is a neat list I stumbled across ... 20 Actors You Want Back on TV Immediately!  Not sure if these are in order or not but #20) Zachary Levi from "Chuck" (pictured) - I want him and the show back! #19) Wentworth Miller from "Prison Break" - naw.  #18) Tom Welling from "Smallville" - not a fan of the show or him.  #17) T.R. Knight from "Grey's Anatomy" - again not a fan. #16) Scott Patterson, "Gilmore Girls" - pass. #15) Michael Vartan, "Alias" - the show no but him, yes.  #14) Julian McMahon, "Nip/Tuck" - this show is gone? #13) Jamie Dornan, "Once Upon A Time" - Who on what? #12) Naveen Andrews, "Lost" - nope. #11) James Marters, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" - on the fence on this one. #10) Hugh Laurie, "House" - this show barely just ended!  #9) Tahmoh Penikett, "Battlestar Galactica" - him yes, the show no. #8) Harry Anderson, "Night Court" - YES! #7) Gale Harold, "Queer as Folk" - no clue. #6) Enver Gjokaj, "Dollhouse" - no idea. #5) Dennis Franz, "NYPD Blue" - never saw the series but like him as an actor. #4) David Tennant, "Doctor Who" - another pass. #3) Chi McBride, "Pushing Daisies" - another him yes, show not really. #2) Brendan Fehr, "Roswell" - no clue. #1) Adam Brody, "The OC" - he seems nice but the show, never saw it.

Facts & Tips:
On average a man spends about five months of his life shaving.

"Fuller, you have a choice. You can step aside. Or you can fight me. If that is how you want to go, I warn you, I will go dark side. Okay? I will rip out your hair. I will bite your chin off. And I will stab you in the eyes with confiscated scissors. Because I'm an insane mother f(er). You know that from the break room. What's it going to be?"- T.J. Miller as Stainer in "She's Out of My League."