Half a Month There on Foot

You will find me at the corner of Speed and Power

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Deja new, si?

Saw Harold Ramis yesterday. He signed my program. Good stuff. Did a shot-by-shot workshop with a guy named Rodrigo Garcia and one of his Six Feet Under episodes. Also good stuff.

... I'm now only watching movies and TV with the writers and directors present.

Harold Ramis was very very interesting though. He's Jewish, but very much a Buddhist, or pseudo Buddhist. Lots of what he talked about regarding Groundhog Day centers on some Buddhist tenets, like respecting the past, serving tomorrow, living for others, and so on. Kind of a neat take.

I took the ENTIRE day of Saturday off. No work at the office, whatsoever. None. Nada.

Which means I'm more behind today. And tomorrow. And tomorrow I'm doing candy solo, I think. Gotta get into fighting trim for the kiddies. They love the candy.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Not posting!

This http://www.viewpointdisplays.net is why there're no new posts.

Go buy five.

And OS X is why I can't hyperlink. Working on it.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Who watches me eating Cheetos watching the Watchmen?

Entertainment Weeklyhas a pretty good revisitation to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons 'Watchmen.' It comes from Entertainment Weekly, of all places. Even has a quote from that handsome Jude Law that all the ladies love.

Extremely Madeover

Bryan said it much better than I did, and without all my intended mocking:

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is 100% emotional pornography.

Sad story. Tearful hugs. Cut to Sears commercial. Charity should be given without an expectation of a return. This is charity-for-hire. Another synonym for this is prostitution.
The other thing that drives me nuts about this show: Instead of a Habitat-For-Humanity (which is a terrific organization) focused effort, the show quickly degrades into "Pimp My House." Single handicapped parents with 48 kids in a rundown neighborhood are suddenly surrounded by 60" plasmas. I hope their new house comes with an alarm system, guard towers, and sentry guns.
This is a game show, nothing less. Whoever has the worst life, wins. This show poses as positive documentary, but in reality guarantees that the audience stays sitting on their ass, wiping away a tear, and smugly believing that they helped do something meaningful for someone else. Christian acts by association. Do I sound like this bugs me? Do I sound bugged?

Oh.

And Arrested Development is hilarious. No, I won't let my kids watch it."

And I didn't really mention that, at the core, Arrested Development is about family. The dutiful son, the one trying to do "right," the non-crazy one, the straight man, is played as a compassionate father, a loyal brother, a giving child... THAT'S certainly not any kind of behavior to imitate. Better he have a soul patch and mock sincerity.

...it's funny; I feel really good after watching the show the Parent's Rights for Kids Controlling the TV Blah Blah doesn't want me to watch. Thank god I can change the channel.

Friday, October 21, 2005

TV is bad?

Parents Television Council had this to say about my favorite show, apparently the ninth of ten "worst shows" on TV:

"9. Arrested Development

Fox/ 8:00 Monday - Returning show

Arrested Development is the story of the Bluth family. The show picks up when George Sr. is arrested for securities fraud and his son Michael is left to pick up the pieces of the family and their business.

Arrested Development is designed to offend. Episodes regularly contain scripted bleeps. This enables the writers to use language, including "f**k" and "s**t," network censors would never allow. Arrested Development also employs some of the most outrageous double-entendres ever to find their way into prime-time. In one episode, for example, Tobias says he was an analyst and a therapist, making him the first "analrapist." Other episodes have delved into the bizarre sexual proclivities of the main characters, such as Lucille's revelation that she and George derive sexual pleasure from being strangled with a belt."

Hmmm... I guess I WON'T let my kids watch this. Though if they did, maybe it'd help the ratings...

The "best" show on TV right now? The one that in no way panders, manipulates, or ever comes across as insincere? Why it's this guy:

"1. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

ABC/8:00 Sunday - Returning show

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is an excellent example of a constructive and uplifting reality TV show. Unlike other reality series that emphasize and exploit contestants' worst qualities (greed, dishonesty, vanity, etc.), this inspiring program showcases charity and selflessness.

Each week carpenter Ty Pennington and a crew of designers, contractors, and workmen completely renovate the home of a deserving family. Already this season the team has helped the family of Master Sergeant Luis Rodriguez, who lost half of his right leg while serving in Iraq; the Barretts, who adopt and raise children deemed "un-adoptable" by the Colorado Department of Human Services; and Colleen Nick, whose daughter Morgan was abducted ten years ago, and who, while working tirelessly to find her daughter, also educates other parents about preventing child abduction. Besides highlighting the good works for families in need, the program also features local companies that often donate funds to establish scholarships for the young children in these struggling families, ensuring they have a chance at a better future. This series is a breath of fresh air and a television rarity."

I'm all about folks doing stuff for folks, but watching this show makes me want to flip over to "Funniest Home Videos" where at least the nut shots are genuine. And don't exploit people and money http://www.realitytvworld.com/index/articles/story.php?s=2552 http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040701/news_1n1exside.html http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2004/05/tax_consequence.html

But, you know, "it makes me feel good!"

Bullsscriptedbleept. Fscriptedbleepkwads.

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Kneehab, post two

Today was all about stretching.

Tray told me to stay off the running, and the Aikido, and just start streching more, especially the IPs. So that's what I did. Plus I got back into the rest of the ol' work out regime, and let me say, it's obviously been a few months.

I got that "Ugh... am I supposed to feel this sick?" feeling that I haven't had in years. Good kind of pain, ultimately worth it. I'm back on the "if there's time to watch a movie or TV, there's time to work out kick." I watched 'The Life and Death of Peter Sellers' and I really really wanted to love it. I halfway took it prom, got bored about ten minutes in then went out back with your date to throw stuff at passing cars. Geoffry Rush does a great job, but the movie just didn't come together for me.

So: post more about Peter Sellers, less about stretching. Damn knee damn hurts.

Ah, winter.

Friday, October 14, 2005

Top Ten Signs Your Fruit Fly Cheated on You

My friend Jay has to go to a biology conference and give a speech/talk/presentation.

His speech is on the sperm of fruit flys.

... my brain had too many opening lines. I must sit...

Top Five Movies that Sam Hates

Alright, the Cinecast guys did not like Wallace and Gromit. I mean, what? Seriously, they try to pass it off as "we kinda liked it okay but it wasn't funny or good or anything of the sort."

... I have no words. Why does Sam hate. Did mirth and joy steal his lunch money?

Still, I love the show. But clearly, they're wrong out of their heads.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Kneehab, day one: Tray touched me, I gave him money

Back from the physical therapy eval. What I've learned:

- my trunk, she's weak

- my IPs, they're weak

- I do not know what "IPs" really stand for, but I know where the muscle runs

- my over-compensation with my right leg is contributing to the problem

- streching CAN really hurt

- I miss running

Another appointment next week for some strength training, and from there, we go. It feels good to be moving forward, even if it's still just walking.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Cracking Cinecast, Gromit

Here's what I think of 'Wallace and Gromit' but in e-mail form to the great Cinecast show(http://www.cinecastshow.com/):

Gentlemen,

Let's bullet point the standards:

- huge fan of the show

- I can't believe you guys are so down on (select one of the following): A) 'Sin City B) Terry Gilliam C) your love of 'Annie'

- obligatory wrong name assigned to Adam for something Sam said "Adam, I can't believe you hated 'Sin City' so much!"

... and scene.

Seriously, I'm writing to encourage you to check out 'Wallace and Gromit: the Curse of the Were Rabbit.' I've been a fan of the shorts since the 90's, but you don't need any knowledge of the characters or their past adventures to enjoy this movie.

My buddy from elementary school was in the state this past weekend and we took his two year-old daughter Kate to her very first movie in the theater, and she laughed and squealed in delight. It's cliche as all hell to say, but watching her watch it with new eyes was a treat and perfectly matched the tone of this movie.

The constant line I keep repeating to folks is "how can you get a better performance out of a clay dog than most actors?" We watched 'Hostage' the Bruce Willis stinker, the day after seeing 'Wallace and Gromit' and never has the deficit of quality from movie to movie been more apparent.

I'd love to hear what you guys think, especially since you don't have the background that I had with the characters. I swear, there are multiple scenes where the ENTIRE audience was whisked out of the theater and into the moment. That's a rarity to my cynical, sleepy twenty-nine year-old eyes.

I'm trying not to say "great" or "delightful" but it's kinda evident I dug the movie. I'll tune in regardless, guys, but you could do much worse than getting lost in the world of a man and his dog for ninety minutes.

Best,

Joey

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Drop zone

The fine cable provider for the house stopped by this morning and installed a new drop. This excites me as: now I have to work later and I can eventually access the internet at home.

Once I get another computer for the house, I can actually write there too.

... thought about running today. Didn't run.

Monday, October 10, 2005

Wait, what?

This Thursday, the first step (no pun intended) will be taken for the Kneehab and this stupid online diary will start to serve it's purpose. No longer will I sporadically fill space with inane ramblings, but I'll get to talking 'bout the runnin'. Or getting back to the runnin'. The appointment is Thursday, and we'll see where it goes.

Let's hope the winter isn't too cold.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

Instruction and choice prevent me from being maudlin about tomorrow (10/07) being a full three hundred and sixty four point two five days since Ben died.

Here's a slightly edited version of what I sent to my friend Matt that night, just a moment of stream-of-consciousness writing:

He was very tall. I mostly knew him with a ponytail. He showed me how to change my alternator.

For a time in high school he toured as a semi-pro wrestler. An accent and slight lisp would come out in his speech if he was overly-tired. You could tell he thought something was really funny by the pitch of his laugh. His appetite was huge.

Nothing could rattle him or shake him to the point where he was out of ideas.

He always pitched we should make this TV show about this astronaut named "Ben." Or this other show about a secret agent named "Ben." He always referred to a smoked turkey and smoked cheddar sandwich as a "Smokity-Smoke-Smoke."

He was the smartest guy in the room but never needed you to know that.

Briefly, we got to be around him. It's never long enough.

------------------------------------------

Of course, that's a smattering of Ben. A quick rundown of what I was thinking about.

Oddly, while I was driving in this morning, I thought about how funny he is compared to most living people. What does that tell you about a guy that you still laugh more thinking about him/making fun of him than you do with most people?

Tomorrow, my goal is to have as much damn fun as I possibly can, as slow or fast as I want, with as much smarts as I have, while wearing big work boots and jeans and eating like a garbage disposal.

If you've never had chocolate ice cream mixed with Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls, then you haven't lived.

If you haven't had chooclate ice cream mixed with Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls made by Ben, then I'm far better off than I should be.

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

No sleep till Sleeplyn

So few posts, so much fun.

I owe a big long story to the surprise from last Saturday: !

... I'd ruin the surprise if I told you. Most of you've heard about it by now, but it's a fun, regarding my hate of Neil Gaiman.

Fighting with some video compression now. And the render is done.

So there.

Sunday, October 02, 2005

"This is gonna get pretty interesting." "Define 'interesting.'" "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die."

I saw 'Serenity' yesterday. It's very good. Go see it. Don't let it pass you by the way it did on TV. For all you people watching 'Smallville' or 'The OC' and liking them, it's the same deal: stories told a with a different framing device. Overlook the space/western/action stuff and keep an eye out for a story about loyalty, belief, and love. With space. And guns.

Ah hell, it's just good over all, and it's about space and guns and all the other stuff too. But it's good. Imagine 'Star Wars' like you actually cared about what happened to characters.

And Joss Whedon has stones. Always been a good writer/producer, becoming a very good director, but what he does to/for fans in the movie that THEY helped get greenlit... he's got stones. Actions have consequences.

The DP is Clint Eastwood's DP Jack Green. He does all the Eastwood flicks, as well as 'The 40-year Old Virgin.' C'mon, that's a fairly diverse resume, and it shows. The movie looks great.

And they don't have the theme song from the show, so that's a plus too. Can't be all praise.

*** Well, apparently the theme song is at the end of the movie. It's still damn good, even with the theme song.

I once shot an elephant in my pajamas

115 years ago today Julius Marx was born. Worth noting because 1) 'Horse Feathers' may have been the first time I realized authority really should be questioned and 2) because he was damn funny. The Marx Brothers are my favorite comedy act ever. Placed in their time or watched five minutes ago, same result.

www.newsfromme.com has a nice summation of why it matters.

The one, the only, Groucho.