"the big C"

you know what's interesting about laura linney and her new show, the big C?

nothing.

but you know what's funny about it?

nothing.

seriously. showtime is a premium channel. do something worthwhile.

the switch

the husband and i went to see the switch today...admittedly, my choice. jason bateman? a plus. small kid who dreams of being a hypochondriac? a big plus.

jennifer aniston? neither plus nor minus.

so...entirely predictable romantic comedy. surprises? none. emotionally satisfying? not really.

worth seeing? i guess.

an open letter to vern yip

hey vern,

now that the latest season of "HGTV design star" is over, can we talk?

we were your fans. we waited, breathless in anticipation, for an episode on "trading spaces" in which you'd appear with your orderly and symmetrical room designs that brought dignity and gorgeousness to the recipients home (especially as opposed to designers who "franked up" so many other rooms). your designs shone, really moved the entire show into a higher level.

your charitable nature came through on your show, "deserving design", where you found the best in your clients and played up on that, rewarding them for doing good.

along the way, we learned from you, like how squares bring in tradition and simplicity. learned about color choices. learned that a designer can be a real teacher, a coach.

and then comes "HGTV design star", a show that depressed viewers because of your cranky demeanor, your inability to say a good word, or to provide mentorship to up and coming designers who have committed no greater sin than trying to make good under the most ridiculously unworkable parameters.

vern, what happened? who told you that viewers wanted to watch you being a cranky grandpa? that viewers wanted to see you ridicule and demean those whom you should be encouraging and teaching? (and don't even get me started with the idea that a designer should be able to dress himself with shirt collars that don't transform you into a munchkin.)

hopefully, if there is such a thing as another season of "HGTV design star", you'll have some time to recall those qualities in yourself that made you such an engaging tv presence. and cast off the bitter and heartless creature you've become.

sincerely,

your optimistic one-time fans

tv marathon

the husband's visiting family this weekend, so i'm enjoying another weekend of nothing but TV...

catching up on mad men (season 2): i find myself compelled by the office and business scenes, but bored by the home scenes.

waiting for guffman: still the best of the christopher guest movies...and the "penny for your thoughts" is a favorite showstopper. but "then i just hate you, and i hate your ass face!" remains the reason to watch.

dracula (1979, frank langella) has some of the worst bat effects (not to mention the baffling kite scene at the end credits), but the rest of the movie is so gloriously overdone. john williams' score is one of his absolute best.

cecil b demented: hey, it's maggie gyllenhaal! and the "entourage" guy! i love this movie...i think it's more successful at character development, and sticking to a story, than most of john waters' movies (though i certainly love others of his, too). melanie griffith is terrific in this, and the lunacy of the cinema terrorists is corny, yet an ongoing highlight.


8: the mormon proposition i'm watching this, and the "executive director" of affirmation: gay & lesbian mormons is interviewed. over his shoulder is some classic (gayish) mormon "art" of moroni burying the plates...and i can only think of this guy: you make me sick.

i've been to an affirmation meeting, and their whole goal is to gain acceptance by the church. a church that they still don't recognize as being a corporation of sheltered and corrupt individuals extorting money from a fearful following.

and unfortunately, that was only the start of the sickness that i had to endure for over an hour. image after image, face after face, quote after quote, of the damage that church inflicts upon its followers.

the doc tacked on an ending meant to be uplifting and motivating to keep up the fight. but the previous hour and a quarter was just too overwhelming. there is no uplift.

OMD - if you want it

new track from OMD, with embarrassing video. (still waiting for them to break in and say JK about the 'dancing'.)


OMD - If You Want It
Uploaded by BangOn. - See the latest featured music videos.

blondie in concert

HIM: so how many times have you seen blondie in concert?

ME: hmmm...between "blondie" and "debbie harry" [solo], about 10 times, i guess

...a moment passes...

HIM: wait...i've seen blondie 4 times since we've been together.

ME: oh, then...i guess it's more than 10? [counts to self numerous occasions] i saw debbie three times in one year, during the def, dumb and blonde era alone...then there was jingle ball when they hadn't played together for years...and a couple of times at [local venue]...

HIM: so more than 10!

ME: well more than 10. are you saying that we should stop seeing them?

HIM: no. just counting.

after the concert...

HIM: that was a really good show...i think my favorite time seeing them.

ME: [thinking to myself] i'll never stop seeing them.


images borrowed from: http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/lastnight/blondie-last-night-at-the-paci/

not to brag...

...but okay, i'll brag. this is what i've lost in the past 2 months: