Sunday, April 26, 2015

VEGAS EDITION - Cinemacon

 More on the Vegas stuff later but we had rain!!  I was at Disneyland of course when it happened but that did not bother me.  It was crowded there too but we had a nice patch of rain.  STILL not enough but still a good drizzle to steady medium down pour of liquid gold coming from the sky.  It probably lasted for maybe 45 minutes off-and-on and then the remaining time it just stayed cloudy with the sun poking in to say hello from time-to-time.  The rest of this upcoming week is suppose to be warm again but it was a 20% chance of rain on Saturday, hope that we get those lucky chances again very soon.

 Weekly Update:
Went to my year convention in Las Vegas called CinemaCon (I know, worst name ever award) and this time only went for a day.  It is sad when you arrive there and as soon as you walk in for the first time in a year, it feels like you were just there yesterday.  Plus all the recycled air, dry air, smoke and smell of everything ... gets you kind of sick after the first day.  So I went to a couple of things, ran into so many people and passed around the hello's and
hugs.  I decided not to stay for the final night this year because most of people receiving awards, I have already had the chance to meet.  But I did go to a special event on Wednesday, the one day I was there, and meet two really great folks:

 *Francis Lawrence - Director of the "Hunger Game" films and a really nice guy!
*Julianne Moore - A lot of film and TV but overall an incredible person!  She was amazingly sweet and wanted to know what I do and where I was from ... shockingly nice and engaging!

 At the movies:
Still at the winners' circle is "Furious 7" earning another 18.3 million and well past 300 mil cume for domestic box office.  This will be the last weekend in the #1 spot though with another big movie on the horizon.  Holding ground at #2 is "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2" with another 15.5 mil and this battery is dying down.  New at #3 is The Age of Adaline with a debut of 13.4 mil and very close to expectations.  Still in the mix at #4 is "Home" earning another 8.3 mil as it passes 150 mil cume but will not reach 200 unfortunately.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Unfriended" with 6.2 mil extra and pretty much un-popular. 

 Quote of the week:
"Every artist was first an amateur." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

 Facts & Tips:
Strawberries are grown in every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada.

 "I knew I hated you for a reason, I'm gonna tell everyone in prison I went back in time to kill my own father!" - Clark Duke as Jacob in "Hot Tub Time Machine."

posted by McDuck @ 01:31 0 comments

Monday, April 20, 2015

Generally speaking, not bad of a week weather-wise.  The days were fairly cool but really windy at times.  Wind is also good in general because it disperses the smog more, clears the skies a bit and if we have those wind-generating mills that helps them create more energy!  Wind and solar are two great sources of energy that we need to continue to tap into!  I hear there is home versions of those wind generators which sounds interesting but I can not imagine in this area it would be economical.  Those wind generators you see, they still require a little bit of power to run so in order to create energy you still have to use it.  But naturally the energy you use was created by the wind and it is helping make even more energy.  Solar is just equipment that creates energy from zero but the cost of that to set up is just not economical at this time for home-owners.  I think right now it would take at least 5 years to re coop the cost of having one put in.  If it was within the first year, that may be a better investment!

 Weekly Update:
So what did I do this week?  Nothing ... just work and work and more work.  All indoors, all boring for the most part oh and Earth Day is coming up.  Kind of sad we only observe it once a year when we live here our entire lives.  I really is not enough that we do in our lives to preserve the planet.  Sure we recycle when we can remember and try not to waste but then you have to think that the stuff we are trying not to waste, we had to process it from the Earth in the first place.  That is why recycling is so important because we do not want to generate more from the planet and re-use what we can.  I know there is a whole process of recycling as well that requires new materials to recycle but compared to creating something from scratch can save nearly 60% of having to continue to use new materials.  That is a big reduction and in time hopefully we can make that process even more refined to closer to 80% in the very near future.

 At the movies:
The race to Summer is still on as "Furious 7" continues to dominate the box office for a 3rd week in a row earning an extra 29.1 million and just shy of 300 mil cume.  No doubt it will have it this Tuesday the latest but after that it will quickly slow down.  However it has already claimed the title of biggest movie so far for 2015 till May 1st.  New at #2 is Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 with a 24 mil opening and right about expectations.  Also new at #3 is Unfriended with 16 mil and below industry expectations but pretty much what we expected it to be at.  Holding ground at #4 is "Home" earning another 10.3 mil.  Rounding off the top 5 is "The Longest Ride" with 6.9 mil and this ride is pretty much over.
 
New movies that did not make the top 5:
Just one this week but honestly it is right about where it should be.  Disneynature series Monkey Kingdom earns 4.7 mil and a little below expectations but still that is almost all profit at this point. 

 Quote of the week:
"Nimble thought can jump both sea and land." - William Shakespeare

 Facts & Tips:
Broadway is one of the longest streets in the world.  It is 150 miles long.

 "Take a picture, it lasts longer." - Rose McGowan as Pam in "Grindhouse: Death Proof."

posted by McDuck @ 10:24 0 comments

Monday, April 13, 2015

Rain?!  Did we just get a day of rain?  Ok, it was more of a night of rain but it was very solid and much needed.  AND, it was much wanted!  When it rains so many people complain about it and such but this time, all I heard was "Thank God!" and "finally some rain!"  I guess people are finally accepting the fact that we have been in a drought for over a decades.  Some reports say it has been 3 or 5 years but so untrue!  Just because we had one time or two of good rain seasons that does not mean we are good for years to come.  We need a ton of rain, like Noah rain to bring us out of a drought completely.  It is like putting a band aid on a 6 inch gash wound ... not going to work.  More rain folks, we need more rain!!

 Weekly Update:
So what happened this week ... nothing!  That is both good and bad I guess.  Good because nothing happened which is OK and there is nothing to worry about.  Bad because it must have been a very boring week for me which it was pretty much.  I think I tried a new restaurant in there some where but it was also just OK because it has left my  mind blank on remembering it.  That is interesting, if a place is just so-so then how well do you remember it?  And would you go back because it was just fair?  You always remember the worst places because your stomach will remind you. You always remember the great places because your taste buds will remind you!  That is a pretty good saying, stomach and taste buds, I will need to pocket that one and remember it for later!

 At the movies:
No surprises this weekend as "Furious 7" continues to race through the weekend at the #1 spot with another 60.6 million.  A big drop from the previous week but enough to place it over 250 mil cume for the domestic box office.  The wheels are still rolling on this and should make its way to 300 mil easily.  Still holding strong at #2 is "Home" with an extra 19 mil as it reaches 129 mil cume.  New at #3 is The Longest Ride with 13.5 mil and right about expectations.  Not much on this film and should burn out pretty fast.  Holding on to #4 is "Get Hard" with another 8.6 mil and continues to slow down.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Cinderella" with 7.2 mil more and making a slow climb to 200 mil cume.

 Quote of the week:
"When a father, absent during the day, returns home at six, his children receive only his temperament, not his teaching." - Robert Bly

 Facts & Tips:
Mangoes are the most consumed fruit in the world.

 "Ferris Bueller, you're my hero." - Alan Ruck as Cameron Frye in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

posted by McDuck @ 00:51 0 comments

Monday, April 06, 2015

Is it getting warm again or is it just me?  Where are my April showers and some cool weather?  At least the nights continue to be very cool which is great.  And I guess I can not complain too much because I am inside all day so it is air conditioned but when you look outside and know it is hot plus the drought we continue to have.  They say it is a 3-year drought ... where in the world did those people get those numbers?!  It is at least a 10-year drought if not more.  If you have one year of really great rain, it does not reset that clock!  That one year was enough for possibly that one year!  We need rain to continue to sustain us for years others we continue to have issues each year, pay attention people!

 Weekly Update:
I am beginning to lose all track of time.  No, not getting forgetful or developing some kind of mind disease but really due to lack of sleep.  I now come home later at night, start watching TV and then fall asleep.  Then wake up in what would probably be the equivalent of a drunken state (I am only guessing) and stumble to bed to wake up and not realizing why I set my alarm for that time.  And then basically rinse and repeat.  Been so busy and now I am feeling like the actual walking dead.  I hate to take caffeine in some sort of soda because it feels like now even one glass or can will effect me and I will stay away (after I fall asleep the first time) for hours!  I really need a vacation soon or just a nice 3-day weekend of doing nothing and sleeping in past 7 AM would just be ... nice.

 At the movies:
BIG box office numbers as Furious 7 speeds into first with 143.6 million for it's debut.  Above expectations but was already pegged to break the 100 mil ceiling but not by that much.  The marketing machine behind the film and cast members sharing personal stories about Paul Walker made it more than just an action film.  Question is though, is the film good enough to hold for a 2nd week?  Even with an average drop-off it will still break 200 mil quickly.  Slight drop to #2 is "Home" with another 27.4 mil as it closes in at the 100 mil cume mark.  Should reach it by mid-week if not sooner.  Big drop to #3 is "Get Hard" with another 12.9 mil and running out of steam fast.  Holding at #4 is "Cinderella" with an extra 10.3 mil and trying to reach 200 mil but do not see it happening.  Rounding off the top 5 is "The Divergent Series: Insurgent" with another 10 mil and will cap out just over 100 mil cume.

 Quote of the week:
"Never tell people how to do things.  Tell the what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." - General George S. Patton

 Facts & Tips:
No only child has been a U.S. President.

 "I am so dead they're going to have to bury me twice." - Corey Haim as Les Anderson in "License to Drive."

posted by McDuck @ 00:42 0 comments