Wednesday: Seeing Dark Knight tonight! And, AWWWWW! cute hugging lion post

I'm seeing Dark Knight tonight! Finally! And on IMAX....

This one is for you, mom. so so so so cute. and great story

Tuesday Night

more cat pictures

So LA had an earthquake. The news is making it a big deal. It was funny because my boss and another colleague were in my office and CNN is on. They looked at the television and the news was literally scanning the shelves of a store.....and nothing had fallen off. Slow newsday.

Have you watched Dr Horrible sing-along blog below? Why not?

I usually don't blog on pop culture that is on every blog, cuz everyone else does it. But the Shia Lebeauf (who?) DUI arrest after he got rammed by another car is interesting. All the gossip press reported that he was arrested for DUI. (yes, you should never drive while drunk). But than the cops reported that the guy who hit him and overturned his truck ran a red light. (reports said Shia was showing signs of intoxication and therefore arrested. Think - if you just got hit and your truck turned over, wouldn't your brain show some signs of disorientation = intoxication?)

I'm not a lawyer........but this will never see a courtroom.

This is a perfect example of don't ever drive if you have been drinking. You may be the perfect drunk/sober driver in the world. But someone else is worse, and they sideswipe you. Guess what? You still get arrested for DUI.

lesson learned.

Have you seen the headline of Extreme Makeover people being in foreclosure? Here is an analysis.

I don't know what to say about the market. It sucks. Are we looking for a pre-1929 recovery? I doubt it. The people who bought homes they couldn't afford are getting bailed out. But the lenders and politicians (senate and house) are responsible.

And we, the responsible ones, are going to pay. Fuck the government bailout.

Sunday zzzzzzzz

I dropped my Blackberry into the toilet last weekend. It lasted a good week, but I think it is dead. Now I have to convince my boss it is really dead. It doesn't get any emails. The "go to" button locks up. But if he looks at it and it gets a call, he doesn't think it is broken. You know how when you know something is wrong, like if you are sick or a body part hurts, and you can't explain it? Like no one believes you? That is how it is like having a broken Blackberry. I'm the only one who knows it.



more cat pictures

The Office: Webisode Pt 3

Dr. Horrible: All three Parts!

Check out the EW article here...

"With my Freeze Ray I will stop...the world..."



"The hammer is my....."



"And I won't feel... a thing"

Friday Night

Dad gave a good post today on a WSJ article..

Wednesday: My Parents saw Dark Knight Before Me

However, I have been watching ebay on some choice comics I own. I have about 15 copies of Batman: Year One (404) in NM (that's near mint). That is fetching about $25 a copy. Think I may try to get some gas money with that one.

Crazy cat: Can you see it in the eyes? I got a close up and far shot. This is what she looks like before she bites. But she loves. I couldn't get the far shot including her tail flapping (opposite of dogs, it means hate) since it was flapping so quick! (my mom can relate: she has turned on her multiple times)

Last, I blog post from a music blog I like about the state of music. Disclaimer: I haven't read it all but I like the writer...

Watching: Project Runway

night time in an hour!

Tuesday Night

Comic-Con begins soon. LATIMES has a good recap of what will be there. The industry realizes that this is the place to launch an industry (Iron Man had its first preview screened there last year). This year will be all about Terminator 4 and Watchmen.

Lost in soccer tonight. It's easy to realize why, we don't play as a team. We are 5 individuals who only think of ourselves.

That's about it. 7 hours of sleep coming up.

Hurricane Dolly may or may not hit Texas. Texas actually hasn't had a hurricane in years. Rita hit just east of the border in Louisiana, and Allison was a TS.

Brownsville and South Texas needs the rain. This is a good hurricane.

Hugs and Kisses

more cat pictures

Monday: First day of 7-4 Shift

I started it today. It was pretty cool. I got up around 620am, got ready, but didn't feel the urge to rush. As far as I care as long as I get in between 7-730 I'm cool. When I'm working the 8-5 shift I am always rushing to get in by, ok, 815am.

So set the clock an hour early, go to bed an hour early, and cool. I won't leave until the work is done, but I had no problem leaving at 430 today.

The whole reason behind this, everyone else is doing it and I would feel silly walking in at 815 every day. And it is hard to stay until 515 when everyone else is gone.

And....carpooling. I'm racking up those carbon credits!!!!!

The Watchmen is on this week's cover of EW. I have subscribed to that magazine since the fruition, I think 1990 (Dick Tracy was on the cover...yes I remember). I can't remember a movie being hyped a year in advance. Comic Books geeks rejoice. I am sure I will be wrong, however.

Nothing else to add. A good friend's wife suffered a miscarriage this weekend. We are circling the wagons and taking care of him. So sad. Been a sad day pretty much, I hate giving bad news.

Debt, Debt and Debt

I can't even finish this NYTimes story. It makes me sick. It puts all the blame on today's credit woes on the loaners. They deceived us. They wanted our money. Their ads about "Priceless" encouraged us to buy what we wanted because it makes us feel good.

Don't buy what you can't afford, ya'll. No Pity. No Sympathy. Except for the fact these people weren't raised to not buy what you can't afford. Should we blame the credit card companies?

/rant

Beijing Bars Ordered to Ban Black People???

I'm just reporting it, folks. I doubt it will be true. I'm linking to the blog with the story, find the rest of the link there. And laugh at the comments. I love the Big Lead.

Months ago it was reported that NBC Cameras were banned from Tiananmen Square . They later relented....This is going to be like the Nazi Germany games. Really, all free will will be suppressed. I'll take a gloved fist in the air any day.....

Bad decision to give the games to China.

Communism Rules!

Best Music of 2008 - So far

Well, I did it with no input from you, thanks. But these are head bopping, keep you running on the treadmill songs I like so far this year. And yes, They fit on one CD:

In the New Year - The Walkmen
M79 - Vampire Weekend
Language City - Wolf Parade
Viva la Vida - Coldplay
Kids - MGMT
Love Me Dead - Ludo
Kids Don't Know Shit - Islands
These Stones Will Shout - Racontours
You - Atmosphere
L.E.S. Artistes - Santogold
Sequestered in Memphis - The Hold Steady
American Girl - Estelle
Hero - NaS
Help Me - Alkaline Trio
The Time of My Life - David Cook (American Idol - squee!)
Handlebars - Flobots
Hammerhead - The Offspring
Do The Panic - Phantom Planet
See you Again - Miley Cyrus ( I always like to end my CD's with cheezy pop)

Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog

I really can't hype this enough. It goes away Sunday at midnight. It's three parts, about 45 minutes of viewing. You don't even have to be a Joss Whedon fan (okay, it helps). Great tunes, and Neil Patrick Harris! please, watch.

Texas may get hit by a hurricane this Wednesday or Thursday. The world will be watching...

To be fair, the science guy puts the likelihood at about 50%. Which is rather high, considering.

No, I'm not evacuating.

Go Watch Dr. Horrible! Now!

Trial Run on Best of Music 2008: Feel free to Vote!

SONGS OF 2008 (Considerations for first 6 months!)

TI: No Matter What
Nas: Hero
Vampire Weekend: M79 (really, all)
MGMT: Kids , Time To Pretend (really, all, check out this SXSW Video to fall in love with Kids, and the band)
The Walkmen: I lost you (maybe, still evaluating)
Wolf Parade: Lost Highway
Ludo: Love Me Dead
Atmosphere: You
Estelle: American Girl with Kanye
Alkaline: Trio Help Me
Hanna Montana: See you Again ( I know it is from 2007 but I like it! It turns up when I drive! All on it’s own!)
New Bloc Party?
New Bodies of Water?
David Cook: Time of My Life
Gutter Twins: Idle Hands
Animal Collective: Water Works
Black Keys: Strange Times
Coldplay: Viva La Vida (love, love, love, this song!)
Flobots: Handlebars
Hot Chip: Ready for the Floor (think it may be 2007)
Islands: Kids Don’t Know Shit
Offspring: Hammerhead (love, always love Offspring)
Old 97’s: Dance with me (love the video: BSG geeks rejoice!)
Recontours: These Stones Will Shout (absolutely)
Santogold L.E.S. Artises

Don’t care about Madonna, My Morning Jacket, Kate Perry, NERD, M83

These are my choices: winners must survive on one CD.....

Send me or email me your choices, first 5 will get a free CD in the mail if you include your address!

(I don't know how to embed each song, if I haven't already done it via imeem, so go to hypem to test it out....)

The Office Webisodes: Part two (and one)

Wow! They let you embed! Impressive NBC!! (ok, It is 30 seconds and you have to see the first one which I am posting too)

Friday Night: My Blog Sucks

I realize that titling my blog entry by the evening pretty much does nothing for you in searching. Not that the three of you who read my blog actually search. Yes, I added a third, I have confirmed my mother reads my blog. Don't worry, it won't temper me at all.

Is titling a word? Titleing? Whatever. And then there are my special guests Wayman, and Pei.

Everyone else usually finds it on a search for like "Joker Pictures" (that's why I removed that post it was 3 months old and all hits were on that) and "Watchman Trailer" I am hoping to get a hundred posts a day on that alone, eventually.

My American Idol posts were a hit. 1000 hits the night Cook covered "Billie Jean".

Not that it matters, this isn't a popularity contest. It's all about me, right? (no, no advertising yet!)

Every now and then I'll get a hit from some random person on some random search (most recently, "white brakewater") who finds my blog fascinating and actually spends 20 minutes on it. So I am contributing to someone in Iceland, I suppose....

My biggest hits were on the "Nike Sparx Commercial" and the "Touch Every Base" ESPN story. That's cool.

I'm compiling a best of 2008 music first half, and fittingly for my life, it will be 2 months late. I am trying not to have all Vampire Weekend or MGMT, my rule is one song per band. So it is really hard. Anon in Austin: Can we count David Cook "This is the Time of my Life" to make up for our hours of absorption in AI?

Hope to post tomorrow. Have the headphones in now listening to the odd but cool Bodies of Water new songs. And T.I. And Nas. And The Walkmen have a new album out soon...

as always, leaving with a LOLCAT. they don't fit right, but they are cute.



more cat pictures

The Watchmen Trailer

Wow, can't wait. But have to wait a year. looks exactly like I envisioned after reading the comic book multiple times since 1987. I know, it's a graphic novel but it originally came out in 12 issues and sometimes they were delayed. I worked at a comic book at the time so I always made sure I got my issue.

You can get it here in HD or any other capacity.

Maybe ebay will be good next year for my leather-bound edition. Or maybe I'll just keep it forever.

If you don't know the book, you may wonder what the ef is this all about. This isn't as easy a sell as Batman The Dark Knight. But it should be equal or better than V for Vendetta movie.

rock on...

Have you checked out Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog? If you like Neil Patrick Harris (who doesn't) and Joss Whedon, you will love this internet series (currently second of three are online). Backstory, they wrote and made this for the internet during the strike, since that is all they could get away with. Episode one is only free until July 20th. It's the #1 TV show on I-tunes. It crashed the servers the day of release. Need to know more?

Wednesday Night: Socialism Utopia

Got and add for the next summer movie must: Terminator Salvation. Trailer in HD.

Lots of talk to today about the bailouts of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and how they are tied to congressmen who may, ahem, have financial interest in them. ahem. You think? These agencies were the ones who created the sub-prime market, to get more money, which is why we are here today. (shhhhh...recession)......

Obama and McCain both presented their mortgage bailout plans. At lease McCain said that you must prove first that you were credit worthy to get the loan in the first place...


Who cares, can't vote for either of them based on financial and moral grounds.

Look forward to 1978 again, folks.........

Congress wants to restrict its own from blogging. They can talk to a camera, send an email, but they can't blog....Pelosi is behind it I'm sure.

My co-worker used this term three times today in different conversations: Sheeple. That's what this country is becoming. Global Warming! Carbon Footprint! Hope and Change!

One more morbid prediction: Israel bombs Iran before the end of the year. Oil hits $180 a barrel.

Feist 1-2-3-4 on Sesame Street

I am fairly certain I like this:










And comment about the Batman: Dark Knight score score and everything else. Question of the day, Would Ledger be hyped for this Oscar if he didn't die? I say yes.

Good night now.

New Song: In case you don't know, these are the hot folks of the music world right now. Pharrell Williams (NERD and producer of every hot song you ever know), Santogold (today's it girl), and Julian Casablancas (of Strokes fame) recorded “My Drive Thru” for Converse’ 100 Year Chuck Taylor celebration. Good enough to watch, promise":

Sunday Afternoon

Hey, that's my cat telling me I'm not paying attention to her.

Hey, ya'll. This is a good article about the oil shales in Colorado and what the oil companies are doing trying to extract that black gold.

A good-will 7 on 7 high school football matchup ends in blows. Is anyone shocked about this? Click on the pictures. Evil and scary. The first comment on the site's link was funny: Future U of Miami recruits....

I am really looking forward to the new X-Files movie.

Remember my post about movies I really anticipate? The Watchmen is number one. Really, it is going to be awesome no matter what.

I don't know what to make of this story. South LA Community is asking for a ban on fast food restaurants. It says that people can't eat healthy because of the options. Doesn't McDonalds have a salad, or grilled chicken? Last I checked, it did. This is another example of people's choices being blamed on the government. Here's a quote:

"There's no choice," said Jessica Quintana, 15, leaving McDonald's after a lunch of a fried chicken sandwich, fries and a soda. "It was nasty, but I ate it 'cause I'm hungry."

Fries...fried chicken....How about going to the grocery store? Or getting the Salad? Was it diet soda?

MMMM, I think I'm going to Jack in the Box. All this talk about fries made me hungry....

You know what else? I work out. I earn those curly fries, folks.

I can't vote for McCain. Guess I'll write in myself.

Dog stuff: Saturday Night Post

This is a really interesting story about dogs. Medicate them they are people, etc.

Watching: Little Children

The Office Webisodes

Get them here.

Tide you through the summer. I remember during the writer's strike, they talked about these webisodes they wrote for and were shown on nbc.com. Probably got a million hits. The writers got nothing from that. Since they are doing them this summer, I presume the new contract lets the writers benefits from these...

Can't Wait....Joss Whedon's next project

Friday night

All I have for you is Glen Beck's column today on CNN. Remember that America is Awesome! Really...

Why America is great....

Don't have much more. Going to start on a 7-4 shift, so I can start carpooling and save gas $$.

What do you think?

Erghh Not Much This Thursday....(Batman sneak peak)

Almost end of the week! There have been two links to the Houston Chronicle today at Drudge: The Chronicle listed every single city/county employee's salary by name and title. Do you think that is a violation of privacy? We are paying them with our taxes, after all. However but I couldn't help but peek at some friends / former friends whe are DA's and HPD officers. The most obscene was the Houston ISD Superintendent makes $447,000. Houston has one of the poorest rated and tested districts ever. I have no stats, but if you live here and can afford it, you don't go HISD.

Another story, someone used (properly, I should say) "black hole" in a county commissioner discussion and was chided for being "racially insensitive." What's the world coming to? The comeback was, you are a white hole!

watching: Casino

Posting: First 5 minutes of Batman: The Dark Knight. This has been on the interwebs a while and hasn't been pulled down, because quite frankly it is awesome advertisement. Great clip, I saw it in a better version but this is basically someone in a movie theatre filming the tease at what I presume is the Ironman IMAX preview(no spoilers but it is presumably the first 5 minutes of the the movie and involves a Joker crew bank heist):



And an HD preview:






I don't know what movie I have anticipated more in the last 10 years than this movie. I looked forward to Hitchhiker's Guide and was disappointed. I went to Matrix 2 at midnight and was meh. I saw Phantom Menace at opening and ugghhh.

I think I am anticipating this movie as much as the original Batman Returns with Michael Keaton directed by Tim Burton.

This movie will be the largest movie opening ever. Ever. You heard it hear, folks.

Tuesday Night: Dara Torres

I saw the 5 mintutes on PTI today about the "presumption" that Dara Torres is somehow doping even thought she gets blood and urine tests several times a week. I like Christine Brennan she always seems level headed and prepared.

Here is The Big Lead's take and comments on it. Remember, it is a comment blog. They like to poke fun but I think all comments have to be approved.

She's 41. She trains her butt off. She volunteered for the US Doping Program to prove she's clean.

Barry Bonds never pissed in a cup when asked until it was mandated.

I haven't read the story completely but Jesse Jackson made some negative comments about Obama and it was caught on an open mike (oh, and it included a thing about race, something about how Obama is talking down to black people). Expect it to be #1 news tomorrow.

This is going to be good! (Said "want to cut his nuts off"???????) history statement:

In 1984, he called New York City “Hymietown,” referring to the city’s large Jewish population. He later acknowledged it was wrong to use the term, but said he did so in private to a reporter.

Gosh, want to end on a good note. Today I heard the same song on the way into work and the way home (one was on XM, the other on my DJ Ditty). Guess that's good karma for the crap I have had to deal with for the last week. Enjoy!




Watching: 13 Going on 30 (I love Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo)

Monday Night Post

Obama let his children get interviewed. On Access Hollywood. They talked about his sense of fashion. Are you kidding me? I'm not even going to link to it but you can find it on Drudge. The next 5 years are going to suck. Apparently his new tax plan redefines "wealthy" as being well, you and me and anyone else with a brain who makes over $50K, and we will be taxed at like a 50% rate. OMG.

The gossip news today reported Sasha Baron Cohen (he was Borat, now is making a movie based on his gay character Bruno) duping a town in Arkansas. Highlarious. He really is a handsome man when he is not in character.

I'm sure there is more out there but I actually worked today. Oh yeah, caught this on G4 AOTS: Netflix has a new router that you can watch their streaming video watch it now bargain on your TV? The Roku. It's only $99. I may get Netflix back in the next year, and then this will be awesome. Right now it is not HD compatable. But seems really cool and is getting great reviews.

watching: The Simpsons Movie (HBO)

Monday Post (edited to add quote on global warming)

Off today....here is what you need to know.

Global Warming is crap. I am not a mouthpiece for the oil industry, but give me a break:

NASA now begrudgingly confirms that the hottest year on record in the continental 48 was not 1998, as previously believed, but 1934, and that six of the 10 hottest years since 1880 antedate 1954. Data from 3,000 scientific robots in the world's oceans show there has been slight cooling in the past five years, never mind that "80% to 90% of global warming involves heating up ocean waters," according to a report by NPR's Richard Harris.

Interesting profile on Rush Limbaugh. He seems like a genuinely nice guy. Highlights of the post:

1. Open the continental shelf to drilling. Ditto the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

2. Establish a 17 percent flat tax.

3. Privatize Social Security.

4. Give parents school vouchers to break the monopoly of public education.

5. Revoke Jimmy Carter’s passport while he is out of the country.

6. Abandon all government policies based on the hoax of man-made global warming.

I pretty much agree with all of that. I was in Dominican Republic in 1994 working for the government. Dealing with the tyranny of Haiti and Aristide. Jimmy and Colin Powell swooped in and ruined everything. Gave them a free pass. Bastards.

Ugly, story about NASCAR. being racist. Sad.

I'll post more as I find them folks. All 2 of you.

Update on the Dryer

Since you are dying to hear:

Returned the dryer. Bought from the scratch and dent but they took it back (Shout out to Lowes!). Bought another one, had to be gas. Found a LG (who new they made dryers?) list price $800. Got it for $300. The guy "Little John" was his name, just wrote the price down when I said I don't want to spend more then $300. He said, and I believe it, that's cost for the dryer. Seriously it was like $798 before. They really want to push the scratch and dent...go buy!

My tentants were impressed. And yes, I am stupid because I told them everything. So they know I am cheap but will keep them happy.

Yay me. The little man wins!!!

Sunday afternoon

I can't remember if I blogged about the price of gas. Yes, it sucks. What we are seeing here is a front row view of a paradigm shift. People are giving up their SUVs and trucks. People are thinking twice about road trips. It is very interesting to view. I had a company car until a year ago, and I am now changing my habits, even where I go to lunch.

Article about Honda is making out. I own a Honda and Acura myself, so I am all yay. Maybe I'll get the Honda Fit as my next car.

The Smart Car is going to appear sooner or later....

When I was in LA for vacation I hung out with a friend/actor. I don't name drop so you won't get it here, but you know him (Spiderman 2 was his biggest hit). He drives an Escalade. I asked him about the fuel economy, and he said he financially and morally doesn't drive it anymore. (Don't bring that left wing bias here folks, he is a good guy). But he can't sell it. And, just to remind you that all Hollywood actors aren't evil, he takes a cab to events when he knows he will be drinking.

Crap, I just got a call that the dryer won't work in the house because it blows the fuse. Crap. And the insulation installer fell threw the ceiling and made a 3x3 hole. crap. (he's alright, I'm not heartless).

Life is unpredictable, right?

Sunday Morning

What happened to Saturday night? It was just here a minute ago....

I used to read the paper on Sunday mornings. Now I troll the internet. How much longer before the paper business goes out of business?

I kinda like the "In Plain Sight" tv show, if anything because TV doesn't have enough strong women characters. Or summer shows worth watching. I think the strike really killed television. Mark my words....no one is coming back because we realized we had lives from 7-10pm (CST).

I'll post any interesting articles as I find them. I just watched Outside the Lines on ESPN about a soccer player who died when his teammates shot roman candles into his room as a "prank". Sad stuff. I hate crying on Sunday morning.

This week ESPN did a Make a Wish profile every day. Very heartbreaking stuff.

Wayman: This one is for you

I get that you don't get Arcade Fire.So try this song:



Classic? No?

I am a sucker for advertising. Just got Jack in The Box Sirloin Burger.

Watching: Billy Elliot

News of the Week

Did you hear about that Colombia rescue? Amazing stuff, they duped the FARC. Can't wait for the Hollywood movie to come out. Another Take..

great story. I'll keep reading every take on it......

Venus beat Selena this morning at Wimbleton. Good match, I usually don't get up early enough to watch it but caught the second set this morning.

Bought a dryer yesterday for the rental house. Lowe's delivered it, cost $79 for delivery and removal of old dryer. Refused to disconnect the old one because it was gas. What's the point of paying then? I asked that question to the right guy and got a refund of $79. Me +1. The man 0.

Did you hear about the Viacom suit against youtube? Basically, Youtube must turn over every user history of upload and viewed. That means if you viewed a youtube video, which we all have, your IP address and viewing habits will be turned over. Could you be held liable for watching a video that Viacom claims was copyright infringement? Who knows, worth watching....

The tomato salmonella break out is now being expanded to salsa. Nobody just eats a tomato, right? Now Jalapenos and other ingredients are being investigated. Look for Mexican restaurants everywhere to suffer.....

This is why you don't road rage. Road rage is bad, especially if you are on a motorcycle and you are trying to take on a car. The gene pool just takes care of itself. doesn't it?

Good Morning Saturday!

Did you enjoy your day off? For my company, that was only the second holiday of the year! Wish we had more.'

I PPV'd Be Kind, Rewind last night. Didn't really dig it. Thought it would be better than it was. Love Jack Black, Mos Def, and the director (Eternal Sunshine of the Whatever Mind movie...).

Oh well. You don't like Arcade Fire or Vampire Weekend, I don't like that movie.

I'm watching Empire Records right now. It's very good. (I dvr'd it from Fuse a couple of weeks ago)

What other words have you turned into a verb? Tivo is obvious but I don't have a tivo. Googled.

Remember when PPV use to mean soft porn? Times have changed. I dropped my netflix subscription since PPV is usually pretty up to date.

Saturday woops Friday! post

Did you notice that quite a few of our last presidents are left-handed? Guess that means all us left-handers are smarter than ya'll.

Here is a list of the top 500 modern rock songs. I don't really agree with it, Pearl Jam doesn't show up until the 50s or something. They have a different definition of modern rock....

And.....my favorite indy song for now....Arcade Fire Intervention. Might be best song ever? If I don't hear Pearl Jam once a day my day is lacking.

I Love You

That is my post of the night. Thanks for viewing. I owe all of you a big fat gift card. My nieces and nephews, to whom I don't remember their birthdays. My sister and brother.

Sorry I suck.