Monday, January 27, 2014

This past week the weather was very Fall season like.  The days were not hot or warm but cool with some breezes and the sun fully out.  The nights dropped down to the mid 50's and chilly.  But ... where is our rain?  We had a couple of days with overcast but no water came with it.  Also had some nights with cool fogs, I love it when it fogs up but again, no rain.  We are in desperate need of sky water ... my car is so dirty.

Weekly Update:
Not much to report on this week ... pretty quiet and kind of boring.  The other week, forgot to mention this story, I went toJ. Scott Campbell who I have several friends who are big fans of his.  Apparently he was there to show Stan a new Mary Jane sculpture from his Spider-Man series and Stan signed it for them.  He has done work for both DC and Marvel as well as some of his own books such as "Danger Girl" to name but one.  I got to meet him for about 10 minutes and chatted.  He was a very down-to-Earth guy and just relaxing.  He is from out of state so he was in town for a few days.  I had the chance to take a quick photo with him along with the sculpture and it was just neat.
POW! Entertainment to get some stuff signed by Stan Lee for Disney.  I caught up with some folks there as well and a couple of them were talking about someone who was at the office and is talking with Stan at that moment.  At first the name didn't register who it was and it sounded so familiar to me.  Then it hit me, they were talking about artist 

At the movies:

The urban comedy "Ride Along" maintains the pole position for the 2nd week in a row earning another 21.2 million as it hits 75 mil cume, should be an easy 100 mil domestic box office when it is all said and done.  Universal's "Lone Survivor" also maintains a top spot with another 12.6 mil as it gets VERY close to the 100 mil cume mark.  No doubt will have it by the end of next weekend.  Slight drop at the box office but holding well is "The Nut Job" with another 12.3 mil.  Still solid at #4 is "Frozen" earning another 9 mil as it is just shy of 350 mil cume domestic after 10 weeks at the box office.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" earning another 8.8 mil as it struggles to possibly reach 50 mil.

New at the box office that did not make the top 5:
Just one title this week as the action/thriller I, Frankenstein comes in at #6 earning only 8.3 mil.  The experts were pretty off the scale with their 20 mil range opening ... I think I called this one being under 20 mil but not that far under.  I think folks are waiting for the Guillermo del Toro version of Frankenstein if they can ever get it off the ground.

Quote of the week:
"Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand." - Mark Twain

Facts & Tips:
A baby caribou can outrun its mother at 3 days old.

"That this was an Ancient ship."  David Blue as Eli Wallace in the TV series "SGU Stargate Universe."

Monday, January 20, 2014

This was an interesting week of weather and other forces of nature.  Again this past week the weather was pretty warm during the day, borderline turning on the AC.  But that wasn't the highlight of the week ... the fires.  The hill area between LA and the Inland Empire got hit with some brush fires but I am not sure of the cause.  Those lasted for about 3 or 4 days and caused some evacuation of homes.  Then in the midst of all that, a pretty good feel earthquake hit close to the same area of the fires in the we hours of the morning!  While the majority of the country is being hit with crazy snowstorms and complete frost, we get heat, fire and earthquakes.  Now ... if we can just have some rain?  A little rain?  Any rain??  Hello?  Is this thing on?

Weekly Update:
So this happened on Saturday, I was hanging out at the comic book store and a large group was forming by the police station that is next door during the day.  It kept growing bigger and bigger and since Wednesday, people have been out there protesting.  I guess the verdict of "Not Guilty" for two policeman came down in a case of killing someone about 2 years ago.  I am not sure what the situation is but these things do happen and it does go both ways.  So I guess the local public decided to exercise their right to protest.  They always claim they are peaceful and non-violent but they are total 1) idiots and 2) liars.  I saw at least 3 acts of violence and destruction of property including the comic book store's little metal A-frame sign that was on the curb, not even blocking or on the sidewalk but some a-hole felt it he had to knock it over and attempt to destroy it.  I saw this same person walking in the middle of the street and smash a glass bottle on the street.  Saw a picture of another person throwing a plastic chair belonging to a restaurant at their own patio ... these people are 90% jerks and in my opinion should all be arrested.  All they do is cause traffic, cost everyone money for their actions and I am sure most of them do not even know the details of the case and just do this because they want to cause trouble.  Another issue with these protesters is how cowardly they are.  They scream and yell profanities at the police while wearing masks and bandanna's covering their face.  If you are really behind this cause and know the details, show yourself and your level of education.  I have no respect for protesters of this kind.  I have more respect for the police, their job is already a life-and-death occupation.  One other thing about this protest, it was pretty weak.  I've seen ones on TV with thousands, tens of thousands of people ... this was maybe 200 to 300 people tops at its highest point but otherwise stayed around 50 people at most.

At the movies:
Pretty interesting box office this weekend as things seemed a bit all over the place a little bit.  Cruising into the #1 spot is the urban comedy of Ride Along bringing in a hefty 42.2 million for the holiday weekend!  Nearly doubling all estimations from last week.  Holding solid ground at #2 is "Lone Survivor" as it earns an extra 23.2 mil and now about 2 weeks away from hitting the 100 mil cume mark.  New at #3 is the animated film The Nut Job which exceeded expectations as well with a big 20.1 mil opening.  This could finally break the studio's record for their highest grossing film yet after 3 years!  Also new at #4 is Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit which fell a little short of expectations at 17.2 mil.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Frozen" with another 12 million as it hits 333 mil domestic cume and continues to keep on going!
New movies that did not make the top 5:
Just one this week as the thriller Devil's Due comes in at #7 with only 8.5 mil, very close to expectations and solidifies the theory of the first horror out of the month makes the rest shadow in comparison.

Quote of the week:
"You can't make up anything anymore.  The world itself is a satire. All you're doing is recording it." - Art Buchwald

Facts & Tips:
The mango is the most consumed fruit in the world.

"So, we're fighting to protect Serbia, a tiny country no one's ever heard of. That's what this wars all about?" - Sean Patrick Flanery as Indiana Jones in the TV series "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles."

Monday, January 13, 2014

Another very warm week for Southern California and it looks like the upcoming week will be even warmer!! Seriously!?  We will be hitting mid to high 80 temps and this is not winter weather people!!  I do not want to turn on the AC in January.  Every where else in the country the weather is below freezing or unusually cold.  Chicago is being hit with The Day After Tomorrow scenario and we get summer?  I am confused ... global warming isn't real and polar caps don't or didn't shift?  oooh OK.  Well, I guess if anything there should be good waves and weather for all those beach and surf folks.

Weekly Update:
What a long week it has been but ended with some fun.  On Saturday I attended a couple of pre-Golden Globe parties.  One was for Paramount Pictures at the Chateau Marmont which I have never been before.  I don't know if I got the full experience because it was dark and crowded.  Then later that same evening, went to the CBS/Showtime event at SOHO which is another amazing place.  While at both, ran into some peeps and grabbed some photos:

*Liev Schreiber - From "Salt" and "Defiance" and just an overall cool guy.
*Naomi Watts - the charming and beautiful actress from the remake of "King Kong" and "The Impossible," also very sweet.
*Kaley Cuoco - From "The Big Bang Theory" and extremely charming.
*Simon Helberg - Also from "The Big Bang Theory" and a really awesome guy!
*Chris O'Donnell - currently from "NCIS: Los Angeles" and very down-to-Earth guy!
*Miguel Ferrer - Also from "NCIS: Los Angeles" and a very nice guy.
*Julianna Margulies - From "The Good Wife" and very really cool.
*Edie Falco - extremely nice and amazing, also from "Nurse Jackie" and "The Sopranos."
*Margo Martindale - From "Justified" and what an extraordinary person.
*Crispin Glover - From "Back to the Future" and the Charlie Angel franchise, pretty neat guy.
*Will Forte - "MacGruber" and an awesome guy!

Then Sunday was the big day ... the actual Golden Globes and I attended a few parties which included the AMC viewing party, HBO and Fox/Fox Searchlight after parties.  Managed to get a few snaps with folks:

*Jonathan Banks - From "Breaking Bad" and a really funny and fun guy.
*Aaron Paul - Also from "Breaking Bad" and an OK guy.
*RJ Mitte - Also from the show and a really cool guy.
*Lavell Crawford - Also been on the show and a cool guy.
*Steven Michael Quezada - Also from the show and a really nice guy.
*Betsy Brandt - Also from the show and very sweet.
*Vince Gilligan - Creator of "Breaking Bad" who just won the Globe and a really awesome guy.
*Jesse Plemons - From "Friday Night Lights" and "Battleship," nice guy.
*Tom Sizemore - From "Saving Private Ryan" and a really nice guy.
*Melissa Rauch - From "The Big Bang Theory" and couldn't meet anyone nicer!
*Emilia Clarke - From "Game of Thrones" and every so charming!
*Maisie Williams - Also from "Game of Thrones" and one word ... adorable.
*Hayden Panettiere - Currently from "Nashville" and she was nice.
*Seth Meyers - From SNL and soon to be joining the ranks of late night talk shows, decent guy.
*Nick Offerman - "Parks and Recreation" funny man and really nice guy.
*Kevin Weisman - From "Hello Ladies" and an OK guy.
*Stephen Merchant - Star of "Hello Ladies" and a pretty nice guy.
*Idris Elba - From "Thor" to "Pacific Rim" and a pretty cool guy.
*Michael Douglas - wow too many movies to name but a really awesome guy.
*Martin Scorsese - renowned director and all around way cool guy!
*Allison Williams - from the show "Girls" and very sweet.
*Rita Wilson - I know her best from "Volunteers" and as Mrs. Tom Hanks ... and a very funny lady.
*Tom Hanks - way too many to name but what they say is very true, he is an incredibly nice guy you could ever meet!

At the movies:
Only one can be at the top and this is the case with Universal's "Lone Survivor" earning a hefty 38.5 mil for its wide release into it's 3rd week.  It opened to a few screens earlier and now has a cume of 38.9 mil.  Slight drop to #2 is "Frozen" which is now in its 8th week and has an extra 15.1 mil for the weekend.  The cume is now over 300 mil and still continues to climb.  At #3 is "The Wolf of Wall Street" with another 9 mil as it makes its way to an 100 mil cume.  At #4, "American Hustle" earning another 8.6 mil as it surpasses the 100 mil cume mark by a hair.  Rounding off the top 5 is The Legend of Hercules with a debut of 8.6 mil.  As I predicted on this one ... didn't think it would make the 10 mil mark. 

Quote of the week:
"There's no business like show business, but there are several businesses like accounting."  - David Letterman

Facts & Tips:
Plants, like humans, can run a fever if they are sick.

"Floyd the Barber, we're not in Mayberry, ok, thank you." - Johnny Sneed as Chris in "Fever Pitch."

Monday, January 06, 2014

Post New Years Edition ...

Well it continues to be summer time for Southern California as temps hit the high 80's most of the week and the nights mid 50's.  On both counts it is way to warm for this time of year and on top of that, way to dry as well.  This weather is really killing my hands with it being so dry!  Been having to use a lot of lotion and varying kinds to heal them with my skin splitting, pretty painful in some spots.  I mean I know it can get dry here but not heat dry ... we have had winter dry before and on top of that being winter with a heat dry.  What is going on!?  But there is one hand cream that I can not recommend enough and that is L'occitane hand cream/lotion.  It comes in these cool looking paint tubes and the reside that regular lotion leaves behinds dissipates pretty fast.  My top pick of the new year!


Weekly Update:
Not much of a week for me really ... New Year'
s Eve came and went.  Didn't do anything but watch TV and fell asleep a few times and then it was January 1st.  Honestly New Year's isn't that big of a deal to me anymore ... getting old and cynical?  I don't think so but just lost its flair and fun for the time being I guess.  I was actually glad it was over and moving on.  Heard a ton of fireworks but that was about it, didn't watch any or cared to.  This coming week should be more interesting, I think ... and hope for that matter but we will see what happens.  I think this weather is effecting me and I was never a summer person to be honest because I always said it is easier to warm up than it is to cool down.  Plus the fact that I found my winter gloves to wear and it has been to warm to wear them!

At the movies:
Disney takes the crown this week as "Frozen" earns the #1 spot in its 7th week of release with a nice 20.7 million.  This winter wonderland film is now just shy of 300 mil domestic and should break it probably by Tuesday.  New at #2 is Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones with a very strong 18.2 mil, pretty dang close to what I predicted at 20 mil.  Word-of-mouth is slow on this film so I wouldn't expect it to finish very strong.  Dropping down to #3 is "Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" with 16.3 mil and a cume now of 229.6 mil.  Holding on to #4 is "The Wolf of Wall Street" with 13.4 mil and rounding off the top 5 is "American Hustle" with 13.2 mil and should hit 100 mil in 10 days or so.

Quote of the Week:
"Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games." - Babe Ruth

Facts & Tips:
There is a ranch in Texas that is bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island.

"Mike, I just saw a fella talking to a Popsicle." - Davy Jones as Davy from the TV show "The Monkees."