Monday, December 29, 2014

Post Christmas Edition

 So Christmas came and went ... I started a new tradition of having a nice McDonald's McRib Combo, super size it of course for my X-Mas eve dinner.  I did enjoy it and was glad I was able to get it.  I am glad this sandwich is seasonal and only comes by once a year because if it was year-round, that might be dangerous.  Actually, I can only eat one or two of these a year.  Almost like how I can only have eggnog once a year although I did not have any this time around.  Is that good or bad?  I do not know nor do I care.

 Weekly Update:
I really didn't do much this week.  Spent most of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day working on all kinds of stuff.  I was very happy that Starbucks was open on both days.  I really was not a Starbucks person at all till about maybe mid-September and now I visit about 2 to 4 times a week!  I mad their gold status pretty quickly but now I do want to cut back to maybe 1 to 3 times a week.  That many times is both not that healthy and also adds up on the wallet so, time to cut back some.  I just hope they don't continue to give me cool offers that I want to take advantage of!  Curse you Starbucks and your marketing schemes ... and effectiveness!

 At the movies:
For a second week in a row, "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" wins again with a holiday total of 41.4 million at the box office.  It now has a cume of over 165 mil and is steaming along nicely to reach the 200 mil mark.  New at #2 is Unbroken with a solid 47.3 mil 5-day total (31.8 weekend) and surpasses expectations.  Also new at #3 is Into the Woods with 46.1 mil (31 weekend) and also above expectations.  Holding ground at #4 is "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" with another 20.6 mil as it struggles to reach 100 mil cume.  Rounding off the top 5 for the holidays is "Annie" with 16.6 mil and will definitely fall short of the 100 mil cume.

New movies that did not make the top 5:
A few this weekend that were in semi-wide release.  In at #7 is The Gambler with only 9.3 mil and this was a full release.  Not a good sign for this film but could potentially have some award buzz about it.  At #15 with just over 1,000 screens is Big Eyes with only 4.4 mil for the holidays.  More award than box office buzz on this one.  Quick release at #16 is The Interview, after much controversy on the film it opens with only 1.8 mil.  Not a bad number with 300 screens but then again, not a great per theatre average to be considered successful.  The VOD numbers on this may be better, but not sure.

Quote of the week:
"The important thing is not to stop questioning." - Albert Einstein

Facts & Tips:
Britain was the first country to register a patent on polyester.

"Cadet Lewis Johns just taught you the most important lesson you'll learn here at Tuskegee. If you don't believe in God, you'd better find a damn good substitute." - Courtney B. Vance as Lt. Glenn in the TV movie "The Tuskegee Airmen."

posted by McDuck @ 01:50 0 comments

Monday, December 22, 2014

Pre-Christmas Edition

 This Wednesday is Christmas Eve and then that means Thursday is Christmas.  The holidays, for me, are simply not the same anymore.  All the traditions I use to have and enjoy are gone.  No more big meals with tons of food and playing games with everyone all night long till midnight.  I just do not want to do it anymore and the love of the holidays (Thanksgiving included) is just gone.  Where did this go or why was it lost?  I can not say but to me it has become just another week, another day, another evening.  I use to love the smell of the pine and the sight of lights in and outside the house.  I remember putting so much effort into that kind of thing and it was rewarding to see it all lite up at night.  But now, not worth the trouble and no joy in seeing all of it.  I feel bad for the trees cut down for a few weeks of being in some one's home.  Then afterwards, tossed aside to be forgotten till another year and another tree is sacrificed.  I think it would be better to have a tree in your yard, decorate it, remove the decorations afterwards and it continues to grow and live on.

 Weekly Update:
So this past week was kind of busy with some fun stuff but otherwise just busy.  Wednesday afternoon has a gift exchange.  I think I did a pretty cool job with my gift for my Secret Santa.  I thought it was pretty original and creative and hope they do not forget it for years to come.  My Secret Santa was nice enough to get me some snacks and candy.  It was well thought of gift, they did get stuff I did like so that was cool.  They said I was hard to shop for but honestly, I don't think I am.  I would appreciate and like anything that anyone gave me.  That is why it is called a gift or present.  It is not what it is but the fact they took the time to get it.

 At the movies:
No big surprise at the box office this weekend as The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies takes the #1 spot with a 5-day opening of 90.6 million.  Just above most expectations and should hit north of 250 mil cume for domestic box office when it is all said and done.  New at #2 is Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb with 17.3 mil, just shy of expectations by a couple of million.  Possibly can hit 100 mil cume but I think it might fall just shy of it.  Also new at #3 is Annie with 16.3 mil to open.  Again just shy of expectations but still a solid number.  Dropping down to #4 is "Exodus: Gods and Kings" with another 8.1 mil as it struggles along for the remainder of the holidays.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" with another 7.8 mil as it cruises to hit 300 mil very soon.

 Quote of the week:
"History is the record of an encounter between character and circumstances." - Donald Creighton

 Facts & Tips:
Each year, the average person walks the distance from NY to Miami.

 "No fingerprints, no photos. But they say, and I'm translating, "he has a nice, open face."" - Jeffrey Tambor as Tom Manning in "Hellboy II: The Golden Army."

posted by McDuck @ 00:03 0 comments

Monday, December 15, 2014

RAIN!  Got some rain mid-week but only lasted about a day.  Was so not enough again and if we only get two or three days of solid rain this Winter, we are still in trouble with the drought.  And the rain we did get this past week was still very little.  It was enough to keep my car clean which is nice but not enough for anything else.  We need water and we can not continue to import it like we are doing now.  It kind of makes sense why a bottle of water costs about $2.00 at a store but then again even if we had plenty of water, it probably will still be that price because ... well, it is bottled and it cost someone money to do that for you to drink because it is special water.  I must say though, I do prefer Arrowhead water, I think it has something to do with their filtration system because it taste different to me than other brands of water and that out of the sink!  I could not tell you the difference between other brands but Arrowhead I can sure tell. 
Weekly Update:
I want a vacation ... away from everything and anything but where would one want to go?  I was sort of debating either Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear.  Also, Santa Barbara sounded cool too but which of these would be most cost effective?  Do I want snow or just a place to hang out and do nothing?  I wonder if I can muster a short trip over a weekend for Big Bear Lake.  Seeing some snow would be kind of cool and fun.  Well, I guess I may do some research and figure it out later.  I would like to go when it has some snow but then again, who knows how much snow we will get with the lack of rain there is going on.  Oh well ... just oh well.

 At the movies:

Talk about close predictions!  New at #1 is Exodus: Gods and Kings with 24.5 million to open.  Just shy of the 25 mil mark as predicted and the real test will be this coming weekend for it but I think it will suffer an significant drop now with the line-up coming up.  It was predicted this film could have legs but this season is just now kicking off.  Holding ground at #2 is "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" with another 13.2 mil as it makes its way to 300 mil.  Should reach it by the end of the year without any problems.  Holding at #3 is "Penguins of Madagascar" with 7.3 mil as it struggles to hit 100 mil as some expect, I do not see it happening.  New at #4 is Top Five with 7.2 mil and the film did what it said it would ... make the Top Five.  Rounding off the top five is "Big Hero 6" with another 6.2 mil as it tries to reach 200 mil cume and should get it soon.

 Quote of the week:
"When we ask advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice." - Marquis de la Grange

 Facts & Tips:
The word "purple" does not rhyme with any other word in the English language.

 "We got a call about lewd behavior on the boardwalk and you the only thing I see around here that could qualify as lewd." - Niecy Nash as Deputy Raineesha Williams in "Reno 911!: Miami."

posted by McDuck @ 01:26 0 comments

Monday, December 08, 2014

Remembering Pearl Harbor ...

Yesterday was "a date which will live in infamy" - President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  73 years ago, the Japanese Imperial Navy launched a massive air strike early in the morning at the US Naval Base in Hawaii.  It was a surprise attack which then launched the US into the Second World War.  Some say it was a complete surprise but I am one to hold the theory that the US government knew it would happen and needed something for the US people to rally behind and entering the war without any question or hesitation.  The lives of few to launch the war machine of millions.  A sad thought but it is a very strong possibility and now we take pause and remember that day.

Weekly Update:
RAIN!!  Finally got some rain and it was a pretty decent amount.  We are still in dire need of more rain but it was a nice big drop in the drought bucket.  We are expecting more rain later this week, I just hope it come at least twice as much as the previous week.  We would need maybe a solid 2 weeks of this rain to bring us out of the drought.  HOWEVER, we would need maybe another week to sustain us for a year or two ... each day gives us a significant supply depending on how much is dropped.  Heavy and hard please plus it washes my car for me which is always good!

At the movies:
No big surprises this weekend at the box office as we go into the post-Thanksgiving slump.  Holding on to #1 for a third weekend is "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" with another 21.6 million as it steadily climbs towards 300 mil cume.  Keeping up as well at #2 is "Penguins of Madagascar" with an extra 11.1 mil.  Gaining is "Horrible Bosses 2" with another 8.6 mil but this comedy is quickly fizzling out unlike its predecessor.  Dropping down to #4 is "Big Hero 6" with 8.1 mil as it slowly makes its way to a possible 200 mil cume.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Interstellar" with 8 mil.  Continued mixed word-of-mouth keeps this on the top 5 as well as having award buzz.
 
New movies that did not make the top 5:
Just one this week as we only had one new movie!  Showing up in the #9 spot is The Pyramid which earned 1.4 million, well below expectations but at the same time, not surprising.

Quote of the week:
"You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do." - Henry Ford

Facts & Tips:
John Adams was the only President to be defeated by his Vice President, Thomas Jefferson.

"The details of my life are quite inconsequential... very well, where do I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a fifteen year old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds- pretty standard really. At the age of twelve I received my first scribe. At the age of fourteen a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritualistically shaved my testicles. There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum... it's breathtaking- I highly suggest you try it." - Mike Myers as Dr. Evil in "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery."

posted by McDuck @ 01:04 0 comments

Monday, December 01, 2014

THANKSGIVING DAY SPECIAL

 Thursday was the big Turkey day but what did I end up having ... I was craving a McRib and McDonald's happened to be open so I saved some turkey and went with some pork-like product with other unnatural fillers.  That was my Thanksgiving and it was nice with a big thing of fries and a soda. So I am thankful that McDonald's was open for me to get that.

 Weekly Update:
Each week is starting to feel and look like a blur to me.  I think I am just extremely tired and just want to sleep, maybe sleep in once or twice a week, that would be nice but as we get closer to the holiday season, those options become few and far between.  I still think we should have 4 day work weeks with 9 to 10 hour days ... then everyone would enjoy 3-day weekends or 3 days off during the week to break it up or something.  I think that would also effect traffic in general and with rotating days, could spread it out a bit.  But, this is highly unlikely and why would they do that?  Simply because I want to sleep in one day ... just once, maybe every two weeks?

 At the movies:
The games manage to stay on top as "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I" holds the crown for the second weekend in a row with an additional 56.9 mil and now past the 200 mil cume.  No doubt will hit over 300 mil at this rate by the time the new year hits.  New at #2 is Penguins of Madagascar with a weekend total of 25.8 mil and a holiday 5-day total of 36 mil. This was well below expectations, about half in fact.  Holding strong at #3 is "Big Hero 6" earning another 18.8 mil as it makes its way to the 200 mil mark.  Should get it fairly easily by Christmas and it seems that Penguins didn't put much of a dent in them.  The debut of the new Star Wars trailer on Friday could have had something to do with the low drop for this film. Also holding its ground at #4 is "Interstellar" with 15.8 mil and still looks like a solid award contender.  Rounding off the top 5 is Horrible Bosses 2 with 15.7 mil for the weekend and a 5-day total of 23 mil. This is below the opening box office from what its predecessor did 3 years ago and well below expectations as well.

 Quote of the week:
"The best we can do is lean toward the light." - Joseph Campbell

 Facts & Tips:
The Empire State Building has 73 elevators.

 "What are you? Bionic?" - Nick Swardson as Michael in "You Don't Mess with the Zohan."

posted by McDuck @ 01:32 0 comments