RIP Harold Ramis

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

 

Saturday, we stopped by the Oak Barrel Homebrew shop in Albany to get a few things for our next few batches. What will they be? Well, one is going to be our first beer entered in a competition (of course if we can stand drinking it but we’ve got a great record thus far). With the SF Homebrewers Guild, they’re having a competition of “American Beers” for around Memorial Day / 4^th of July timeframe… so we checked the beer types that will be permitted… and we’ve decided on… wait for it… a Honey Amber Ale. Devised a pretty damn fine recipe in theory… so we’ll see if we can execute it… and hopefully it turns out pretty damn well. We also got most of the stuff for our next batch after that… a Blood Orange Hefeweizen. The only snag… finding some f**king blood oranges. Time to hit up some farmers markets or something.

 

After that, we headed to Downtown Berkeley (never been) and had lunch and a few drinks at Jupiter. They make some of their own beers & had a few guest taps… but we stuck to their concoctions. The beer was pretty good… and the food was decent too. I can see that place probably gets pretty crazy in the weekend evenings but yeah, pretty nice place. Feel free to check it out if you’re in the area.

 

Sunday was Dizzy’s sister’s birthday up in Lincoln (near Sacramento) and she had recently moved out on her own… so we loaded up some furniture & knick-knacks and brought them up to her as a gift. Along the way though, we stopped by Heretic Brewing for a quick sampling… and of course we shared our growler of CHP (Chocolate Hazelnut Porter) with other at her birthday party… and our brew as well. They were all HUGE hits… but it’s free beer in cow country so… yeah, it was to be expected. We were there for about 7-8 hours before heading back… but it was great hanging with family & friends and just having a great ol’ time. There was even a fellow homebrewer up there that we kinda shot the sh*t with & talked shop… and yes, there was dancing & singing later in the evening. Good times!

 

Dizzy introduced me to a podcast called Nostalgia Critic. She did it a few weeks ago when he reviewed the epic movie classic “Face/Off” during Nicolas Cage Month… and when I found out that he has a regular weekly series that he’s been doing for a few years now… I had some backlogging to checkout. First off, it REALLY doesn’t help that he looks like The Wingman. Secondly, we REALLY have similar tastes in movies, humor & tend to get a little excited / frustrated when we can’t seem to find the right words in our vocabulary to express ourselves. Thirdly, in spite of that, he seems like a pretty nice guy… who occasionally talks sh*t on Hollywood but… let’s face it, hard not to these days. Fourthly, I’d like to think that my Movie Lists (that you haven’t seen steadily in a few years, sorry) would tend to be like his a bit… except that he has some pretty amazing skills at doing the weekly filming of his reviews & always to seem to have a lot of clever insights & perspectives. I can only imagine that it’s a full time job for him… as opposed to my occasional hobby. Anyway, the point that I’m getting at is… check his sh*t out at “That Guy With the Glasses” and check out a few videos. If you don’t like it… then I feel sorry for you. If you do like it, feel free to tell him that I sent ya. Here’s some news…

 

China Update - A Chinese man is attempting to make history by becoming the first person to sue his government over the country’s dangerous levels of air pollution. Li Guixin submitted a complaint to a district court in Hebei province, asking the Shijiazhuang Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau to "perform its duty to control air pollution according to the law,” according to the state-run Chinese language publication Yanzhao Metropolis Daily. On Tuesday, pollution levels in Beijing topped hazardous levels for the sixth straight day, according to the U.S. Embassy pollution monitor. The most recent ratings were literally “beyond index,” meaning they exceeded the already most extreme measurement levels of air pollution. The World Health Organization’s China representative told a briefing in Beijing on Monday that both the government and industries in China need to make a better effort to curb pollution levels across the country. “We have to put more pressure on all of the authorities and all the industry production to improve so we can actually reduce the very heavy pollution,” Bernhard Schwartlander said. The court has not yet decided whether to take up Li’s complaint, but he is still the first known individual in China who has attempted to sue the government over its failure to curb dramatically increasing levels of pollution… and therefore may be silenced in the very near future. Chinese law reportedly makes it difficult for nongovernmental organizations to sue the government or industries over pollution levels. The BBC said higher courts in the country have already rejected Li’s complaint but that the district court is currently deliberating whether or not to take up his case. In addition, Li is asking for compensation for residents who are affected by the pollution. "The reason that I'm proposing administrative compensation is to let every citizen see that amid this haze, we're the real victims," Li told the paper. "Besides the threat to our health, we've also suffered economic losses, and these losses should be borne by the government and the environmental departments.” In his complaint, Li said he has spent money on air purifiers, face masks and even a treadmill so that he can exercise while avoiding going outdoors during levels of extreme air pollution. “Li Guixin couldn’t take a walk or run like in the past as air quality worsened, and he also has to wear a mask now when he goes out,” said Li’s lawyer, Wu Yufen. “His case is relevant for everyone in our city.” Good luck sir! Having been to Beijing… I can confirm… it’s a f**king sh*tstorm of pollution. I was there the one day a year that it rains… so the air was kinda fresh for… about five minutes until the rain stopped… and then it was back to coughing and gagging. I mean… it’s only about 30 million people that live in Beijing so… I can see how it’s not a HUGE problem… but let’s face it. It’s been a highly publicized international issue since the Olympics six years ago… and it’s only getting worse so… again, good luck sir!

   

Marilyn Update - A massive statue of Marilyn Monroe that has turned heads for two years in Palm Springs is headed east. The Riverside Press-Enterprise says the 26-foot-tall, 34,000-pound statue (“That’s a HUGE b**ch!”) will be transported in April from California to Hamilton, N.J., where it will be part of an exhibit honoring its designer, Seward Johnson (dirtiest real name I’ve heard in a while… wait, is it pronounced “Soo-urd” or “Sea-word”). A going away party, open to the public, is planned for March 27. The statue of the "Some Like it Hot" star arrived in the desert resort city in 2012. The sculpture depicts Monroe trying to push down her billowing skirt in her memorable scene in the "Seven Year Itch." The "Forever Marilyn" statue, on loan from The Sculpture Foundation, was previously in Chicago. Palm Springs officials say they hope to eventually lure Marilyn back… but ugh… she’s dead, right? OH! They mean the statue? Oh okay… that’s… probably easier. By the way, is anybody else a little pissed that last year they made about 0.1% of the income that estate for the Megan Fox of the 1950’s did? Just… try not to think about it too much… and make sure there are no sharp objects nearby when/if you do. Anyway, road trip to Palm Springs? Cuz I’m sure not going to Jersey to see it…

 

Gold in Dem Hills - A Northern California couple out walking their dog on their property stumbled across a modern-day bonanza: $10 million in rare, mint-condition gold coins buried in the shadow of an old tree. Nearly all of the 1,427 coins, dating from 1847 to 1894, are in uncirculated, mint condition, said David Hall, co-founder of Professional Coin Grading Service of Santa Ana, which recently authenticated them. Although the face value of the gold pieces only adds up to more than $28,000, some of them are so rare that coin experts say they could fetch nearly $1 million apiece. "I don't like to say once-in-a-lifetime for anything, but you don't get an opportunity to handle this kind of material, a treasure like this, ever," said veteran numismatist Don Kagin, who is representing the finders. "It's like they found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow." Kagin, whose family has been in the rare-coin business for 81 years, would say little about the couple other than that they are husband and wife, are middle-aged and have lived for several years on the rural property in California's Gold Country, where the coins were found. They have no idea who put them there, he said. The pair are choosing to remain anonymous, Kagin said, in part to avoid a renewed gold rush to their property by modern-day prospectors armed with metal detectors. They also don't want to be treated any differently, said David McCarthy, chief numismatist for Kagin Inc. of Tiburon. "Their concern was this would change the way everyone else would look at them, and they're pretty happy with the lifestyle they have today," he said. They plan to put most of the coins up for sale through Amazon while holding onto a few keepsakes. They'll use the money to pay off bills and quietly donate to local charities, Kagin said. Before they sell them, they are loaning some to the American Numismatic Association for its National Money Show, which opens Thursday in Atlanta. What makes their find particularly valuable, McCarthy said, is that almost all of the coins are in near-perfect condition. That means that whoever put them into the ground likely socked them away as soon as they were put into circulation. Because paper money was illegal in California until the 1870s, he added, it's extremely rare to find any coins from before that of such high quality. "It wasn't really until the 1880s that you start seeing coins struck in California that were kept in real high grades of preservation," he said. The coins, in $5, $10 and $20 denominations, were stored more or less in chronological order in six cans, McCarthy said, with the 1840s and 1850s pieces going into one can until it was filed, then new coins going into the next one and the next one after that. The dates and the method indicated that whoever put them there was using the ground as their personal bank and that they weren't swooped up all at once in a robbery. Although most of the coins were minted in San Francisco, one $5 gold piece came from as far away as Georgia. Kagin and McCarthy would say little about the couple's property or its ownership history, other than it's located in Gold Country, a sprawling, picturesque and still lightly populated section of north-central California that stretches along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, about 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, set off the California Gold Rush of 1848. The coins had been buried by a path the couple had walked for years. On the day they found them last spring, the woman had bent over to examine an old rusty can that erosion had caused to pop slightly out of the ground. "Don't be above bending over to check on a rusty can," Kagin said she told him. They were located on a section of the property the couple nicknamed Saddle Ridge, and Kagin is calling the find the Saddle Ridge Hoard. He believes it could be the largest such discovery in U.S. history. One of the largest previous finds of gold coins was $1 million worth uncovered by construction workers in Jackson, Tenn., in 1985. More than 400,000 silver dollars were found in the home of a Reno, Nev., man who died in 1974 and were later sold intact for $7.3 million. Gold coins and ingots said to be worth as much as $130 million were recovered in the 1980s from the wreck of the SS Central America. But historians knew roughly where that gold was because the ship went down off the coast of North Carolina during a hurricane in 1857. So there you go… what seem to be nice people walking their dog… stumble upon a sh*t ton of gold coins and now… I assume just get to continue living their dreams in Gold Country… and probably a BUNCH of trips around the world or Ferraris or whatever on top of it all. Not a bad little story… and queue the crazy wave of new-age prospectors (yes, I’m talking about them joining your dad, Dizzy!).

 

Anyway, that’ll do it for today… this weekend should be a lot of fun… what with a new brew to make (competition quality hopefully), Oktoberfest lager to transfer & our Winter Warmer being ready for tasting… on top of free time to do whatever the hell we want… yeah, it should be fun. Have a great weekend everybody!!!

Bacon Beer & Bleu Balls

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Friday night after work, I met up with Dizzy for a little road trip to her stomping grounds of Sacramento for one of her friends’ band’s funk concert at a dive bar called Old Ironsides. The band's name is Funk.Defied... and I've only liked them on Facebook because there is simply not a LOVE button. You know I love the funk... and they bring it with a wide arrangment of funky covers of songs from "Money" by Pink Floyd to Adele's "Rollin' in the Deep" to some Amy Winehouse and some obvious funk staples. I highly recommend that you go check them out at www.funkdefied.com. Anyway, here are some pictures & some news that leads into the rest of my weekend…

Don’t Taze Me, Bro! – In local news, a California man walking his two small dogs off-leash was arrested after a park ranger used her stun gun on him. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Gary Hesterberg was walking his two small dogs inside Rancho Corral de Tierra, which was recently incorporated into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. For years, the park has been a refuge for owners who let their dogs run off-leash. However, all national parks have on-leash laws. "It was really scary," said Michelle Babcock, who said she witnessed the incident as she and her husband were walking their own dogs. "I just felt so bad for him." The unnamed park ranger reportedly confronted Hesterberg about his dogs. Hesterberg, who said he wasn't carrying his wallet at the time, allegedly gave a false name (purgery?). The ranger asked him to remain at the scene but Hesterberg instead attempted to leave (resisting arrest?) before he was shot in the back with the taser. Babcock said Hesterberg had repeatedly asked the ranger why he was being detained. "He just tried to walk away. She never gave him a reason," Babcock said. After Hesterberg left the scene, the ranger “pursued him a little bit and she did deploy her" electric-shock weapon, said parks service spokesman Howard Levitt. "That did stop him." No sh*t! Hesterberg was then arrested on suspicion of failing to obey a lawful order, having dogs off-leash and knowingly providing false information. He was later released… as I’m not even sure those are real law violations. Am I surprised that this happened? Not at all. I see people walking their dogs without a leash all the time… and I’m a little glad it was finally enforced… with a vengeance. Was it excessive? Of course… but here’s the alternatives. Let’s say his little dogs off the leash get away from him… and get ran over. That’s never happened, right? Don’t look at me like I’m Michael Vick, we’ve all seen it happen. Number two… the dogs get away from him and cause an automobile accident as they try to avoid vehicular dogslaughter. Number three… children are attacked or something. Number four… after confrontation from those obligated with enforcing the law, he does some BS about not having a license, makes a run for it, & gets away. Number five… she uses pepper spray instead of the tazer. Number six… maybe she pistol whips and/or shoots the suspect as he tries to make a run for it & silences the dogs. Okay, that one was a little rough… but all I’m saying is, it could’ve been worse. Next time… and this goes to everybody out there reading this… tie your dawg up. Note: If I have to pay $75 for allegedly parking near a restricted area, you gonna put your mutts on a f**king leash or face a fine of similar amount. That’s my word! Good job unnamed park ranger! You can hate me now… but I won’t stop now… cuz I can’t stop now… you can hate me nooooow… (by the way, I’m Diddy dancin’ right now)

Harry Potter Shock? – Speaking of things that are shocking to at least one person out there, child star-turned-next Adam West-at-best Daniel Radcliffe admitted he was drunk while filming some scenes for the "Harry Potter" movies during a period in his life where he was drinking "nightly," the young star said in an interview. "I have a very addictive personality. It was a problem. People with problems like that are very adept at hiding it. It was bad. I don't want to go into details, but I drank a lot and it was daily - I mean nightly," Radcliffe said to British celebrity news magazine Heat earlier this week. "I can honestly say I never drank at work on 'Harry Potter.' I went into work still drunk, but I never drank at work. I can point to many scenes where I'm just gone. Dead behind the eyes," the 22-year-old actor said. Ugh… so the last five or six movies then? The young British star, who was propelled to fame at 11-years-old after being cast to play boy wizard Harry Potter in the movies based on J.K. Rowling's best-selling novels, discussed his "very busy personality" and also talked about his production-assistant girlfriend, who he said was "a wonderful, wonderful girl, who's far too good for me." "I can also be quite insecure. A lot of actors have self-doubt. I live under that the whole time, and it's how I function best. I think she puts up with a lot; she says she doesn't," said Radcliffe. The "Harry Potter" star, who has received critical praise for his theater work in the Broadway and West End productions "Equus" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," is currently on the promotional rounds for his film, "The Woman in Black," out in U.S. theaters on Friday. So that explains why he’s coming out with these “shocking” stories. Look, you wanna shock me? Show me a straight edge movie star. No drugs, no alcohol, no orgies, no reckless driving, no drama… just goes out, does his or her job, does it well & helps others around them. That’s right… I’m talking about Tebow. “But Tebow has drama?” Really? Does he? Or is it only what people are saying about him? I’m sure that he couldn’t give two sh*ts and/or rat’s a$$es about what people are saying about him. Leave that drama for Elway to deal with. Anyway, just thought I’d share this little note about my apparent doppelganger, Mr. Radcliffe. P.S. I’m drinking while posting this… hence the “dead behind the eyes” tone of this message. Talking about dogs getting ran over just brought it all back… this one’s for you Zurich!!! (Jaeger shot)

$900 Trillion Lawsuit – Yup… that’s right. A Staten Island mom is making national headlines today after suing the city of West Brighton for $900 trillion, alleging the city improperly placed her two children in foster care. The $900 trillion figure, first reported by the New York Post, certainly is staggering and the standard response so far has been to treat the lawsuit as something of a joke, focusing on the mother's alleged mental illness. Alleged? Okay, that may be a poor choice of words given that figure alone… but I have to agree with the Inquisitr's Kim LaCapria, who says plaintiff Fausat Ogunbayo is actually quite clever in choosing to sue for $900 trillion. After all, how many people would be reading about this story and discussing Ogunbayo's plight had she quietly filed her petition without seeking monetary compensation? Of course there's no way she'll get a settlement remotely approaching that number, if she is awarded anything at all. After all, the entire U.S. has an annual gross national income of just over $14 trillion. Or, put another way, if Ogunbayo was awarded $900 trillion she'd have enough disposable income to pay off the U.S. national debt several dozen times over. Ogunbayo sued the city and the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), alleging that both entities violated her and her children's civil liberties by placing them in foster care in June 2008 (yup, nearly four years ago). In her lawsuit, obtained by The Smoking Gun, Ogunbayo listed her grievances as follows: "For causing plaintiff substantial economic hardship; for causing plaintiff substantial economic injuries; for depriving plaintiff and plaintiff children's Civil Right, 42 U.S.C. section 1983; for depriving plaintiff and plaintiff's children, the right to family integrity; for depriving plaintiff and plaintiff's children, the right to life, liberty, property and the right guaranteed by
statute; for disregarding the probability of plaintiff's children, suffering emotional and mental distress." The city has not responded to Ogunbayo's lawsuit but contends that she is mentally ill and unable to properly care for her two boys, who are now teenagers. The New York City Law Department released a statement to ABC News, which said, "We are unable to comment on pending litigation. The amount a plaintiff requests in a lawsuit has no bearing on whether the case has any merit and no relation to actual damages if any." The state alleges Ogunbayo suffers from hallucinations, refuses mental health treatment and placed her children at risk by leaving them at home for several hours each day. Two of the more specific allegations are that Ogunbayo wrote to her children's former school, insisting that the FBI and Secret Service were after her children and that their skin was becoming darker due to radiation exposure. Hmm… so… is there proof otherwise? However, the state Appellate Division recently threw out a family court finding that Ogunbayo was guilty of neglecting her children. "Proof of mental illness alone will not support a finding of neglect," the court ruled, according to SILive.com. Ogunbayo is representing herself in the case…. and you all know the saying about that. Good luck, Miss Ogunbayo! You’re going to need it…

Bacon Update - It's a golden age for lovers of strange fried food concoctions. Fast food chain Jack in the Box is the latest to this party with its new desert option, the Bacon Shake. Contrary to what bacon lovers might be hoping… the shake isn't actually made with real bacon. Jack in the Box describes the Bacon Shake as combining "real vanilla ice cream, bacon flavored syrup, whipped topping and a maraschino cherry." Specifically, one astute consumer at the blog GrubGrade says the flavoring is Torani bacon flavored syrup, which you can order yourself if you want to make Bacon Shakes at home (thank you). As it turns out, restaurant chain Denny's was ahead of the curve on the bacon-and-ice cream fad. And they even included real bacon in their Maple Bacon Sundae. How could I have missed that? Find a shake insufficient? Thankfully, there's a bacon tree for that. Though be warned, its 27,149 grams of fat and 140,723 calories may make your calculator go into cardiac arrest. To their credit, Jack in the Box didn't rest on their laurels with the Bacon Shake. They've launched an ad campaign, "Marry Bacon" that is exactly what it sounds like. There's not much there other than some moderately amusing videos, but the golden nugget is this Bacon tuxedo, which you can buy for under $20. If that's too steep, you can go with the "I Love You More Than Bacon" Valentine's Day card or the primal allure of… wait for it… Bacon cologne. Yes, so you can smell like you work at Denny’s. That gets ALL the ladies sizzling in their own juices. There are even competing versions of bacon-flavored beer, for those so inclined. Guess who just found out that Rogue Ales here in North Beach offers the Bacon Maple Ale. The beer lists "Applewood-Smoked Bacon" among its ingredients. The fermenting process must be
legendary… but like I said, it leads into the weekend…

Saturday, Dizzy & I headed out to North Beach to test this alluring elixir of bacon, maple syrup &
fermented hops at Rogue Ales Public House… and allow me to testify, it's basically the perfect breakfast beer (for those who want to drink before noon). It's smokey with a little sweetness to it... but yeah, pretty good... even if the bottles are cheap wine priced at $13 for a 750 ml bottle. While there, we also tried a few of their other offerings (Chocolate Stout & OREgasmic Ale) as well as some appetizers like their Kobe Blue Balls... yes, kobe beef meatballs with bleu cheese. Delicious all around.

Afterwards, we wandered around the city for a bit, then made our way over to the Chinese New Year Parade on Market Street. The temperature dropped pretty steadily once the sun went down... but we stuck around for the entire thing & here are some wonderful pictures. I hope you enjoy.

Anyway, now I'm doing some cleaning out of the closet & donating some old clothes to the Salvation Army (really so I have more closet space) and relaxing after a pretty busy day yesterday. Have a great weekend everybody!!!

Leaving Legacies

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Okay… I need to get something off my chest real quick. Amy Winehouse died last week at the age of 27. It’s absolutely tragic. However, if you’re surprised about this… you are a f**king moron. Oh… and if you don’t know, Amy is a singer who shot to popularity a few years ago with a few hits… that basically said that she was never going to quit doing drugs… but in a passionate soulful voice… and yeah, I like some of her music… but was it really something out of the ordinary? Adele sounds almost identical… and about a dozen others out there without even looking too hard. However, she was famous for her enormous drug addiction & stint in rehab, rocker lifestyle, you know the drill. The autopsy being inconclusive… I’m pretty sure that the government wasn’t out to kill Amy Winehouse for any reason other than they were tired of hearing about her (Now Biggie & 2Pac, I’m not going to even get into again). So what killed her? I’m not much of a betting man… but I’d bet just about everything I own & whatever I can get on loan on drug overdose leading to cardiac arrest. Like I said, it’s a truly tragic story as she had a lot of talent… but when I hear her mentioned in the same breath as other artists who died at 27 like Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, and the list goes on… and talking about what the world would be like if they were still around… I just have to stop you right there. Allow me to explain.

Amy & Janis probably wouldn’t have gotten along if they weren’t separated by two generations. Why? Because they were so much alike. A few hit records, gritty soulful voices, mythical amounts of drugs, bad relationships, personal issues, both dead at 27 when their careers were taking off. What did they die of? You guessed it – drugs. Jimi Hendrix? He revolutionized rock & roll by playing the guitar like it was a percussion instrument & had a sound that has yet to be duplicated. Technically, he only had one Top 20 hit (google it) but he’s a rock GOD!!! Beyond Amy & Janis of course. What did he die of? Probably a drug overdose while he was balls deep in your grandma & your mother. Jim Morrison? The Doors were another major player in rock & roll with a combination of their unique sound & Jim’s lyrics… and of course his pretty boy image basically creating a perfect storm in the rock scene. What did he die of? Life finally caught up with him… and there’s still some mystery… but again, I’m guessing drugs… possibly balls deep in a French woman. Kurt Cobain? The man who is credited as king of the Seattle Sound / Grunge, again great new sound & lyrics that were both deep & ridiculous at the same time. What did he die of? He punched his own ticket out with a shotgun to the dome. Why? To be the next Van Gogh? Hemingway? Of course not… he was married to Courtney Love. I would’ve punched my own ticket too. Oh & I’m sure drugs were involved too. Do you sense a bit of a theme? Drugs are bad. Unless you want to have you midlife crisis before your 14th birthday, just don’t do them… especially in epic quantities while on tour. Okay… so just now that I differentiated the class of 27 year old dead rockers… allow me to further elaborate on another point.

What would the world be like if they didn’t die at 27? Well… I’m going to probably burst your bubble a bit. The world would probably be EXACTLY the same… except for a few things. Did rock & roll bring down the Berlin Wall? Regardless of what the Hoff might think, not really. It certainly wasn’t the work of the Rolling Stones or anything. So what would be different? Well, Jimi, Jim, & Janis would be approaching their 70’s… and my guess is that they wouldn’t be doing it gracefully (think Keith Richards & Ozzy). Would they still be dropping albums? They might still be touring. Hell, the Stones, the Beach Boys, Smokey Robinson, Eric Clapton, they’re all still going. I’m checking out Steve Miller Band this weekend (though they were over a decade later than these guys). Kurt would be in his 40’s… I mean… I’ve mentioned before thinking about Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Elvis & all of these iconic figures and what they would be if they were still alive. Obviously the reality probably wouldn’t live up to the lasting image. However, don’t you think that Priscilla & Lisa Marie might have preferred having their now morbidly obese Elvis in their life to play with the grandkids than you keeping your image of the hip swinger at the Heartbreak Hotel? I don’t know… maybe it’s just me. We’ve all got our roles in this crazy game called Life… but like I said, there are lessons to be learned.

We all want to be remembered... for whatever reasons, preferably good ones. We all want to have a Legacy, our own little fingerprint on the world of the future... or at least for a few generations. Art, sculpture, the written word, these things are probably the most timeless that will be remembered long after your body rots away. Then again, in any given moment, none of that could influence you like a gentle touch, a kind word, perhaps a recollection of something you said years earlier, even random happenstance. The teaching of the Bible saying though shalt not steal may be forgotten if your family is starving. So what do we do? How are we remembered? My advice... don't worry about it. Live a good life, help others when they need it, teach through example, make smart decisions for the right reasons, make people happy, find what makes you happy, don't waste your time but take time to relax, and if along the way you find something your passionate about... then f**king go for it. Go for your dreams. Go all in if you must. Balls deep. You know... it's your Life, do what you want... but just remember that others care about you. These are just my suggestions. Legacy? Recognition? Glory? Jedi craves not these things. Besides, I already missed my window to go out in a blaze when I'm 27... but be damn sure that I'm keeping a close eye on Bubbles' crazy ass this next year.

Again, I have to emphasize that I’m not dissing on Amy or anybody else mentioned above (except maybe Courtney Love) because they all had talent & their deaths are tragic… but romanticizing their lives isn’t going to bring them back or save future generations of “too much too fast” rockers from repeating their actions. Just keep it real. There are lessons to be learned from these events. RIP Miss Winehouse!!!

Speaking of dreams, I saw a few movies the past few days that are kind of related. Have you ever seen the 1980's movie "Dreamscape" starring Dennis Quaid, Max Van Sydow & Christopher Plummer? No? Have you seen "Inception"? Cuz they're kinda similar. Basically, a psychic (Quaid) is recruited by an agency working with the government that has developed technology that can insert people into other people's dreams. However, the technology may be being utilized for evil purposes... and the President of the United States' life may be in jeopardy because of it. (Dun dun duuuh) Can the psychic save the day? All in all, the movie was pretty good... except the special effects were... pretty ridiculous... but you can blame it on the 80's. If you liked "Inception" then I'd say check it out.

Next up was "Sucker Punch" starring Emily Browning, Scott Glenn, Carla Gugino, Vanessa Hudgens and from director Zach Snyder ("300" & "Watchmen"). This is an adaptation of a graphic novel so it's going to seem cartoony... but that's kind of the point, right? A young woman named Baby Doll (Browning) is thrown into an asylum after a violent dispute with her stepfather left her little sister dead (his word vs. hers). There she meets up with four other girls... and then the lines of reality get REALLY fuzzy. While seated for a frontal lobotomy, she kind of goes into a daydream... where now she's apparently in a depression era speakeasy burlesque show kind of thing... and a prisoner there to some ruthless gangster types. However, she's on an epic journey within her mind to find a way out of the life & get free... with the help of her friends. It's kind of hard to explain... but yeah, there's a lot of dreaming & teleporting between realities in this one... but I actually kind of liked it. Nobody's going to win any awards really... but it's visually striking, great soundtrack (typical new artists doing covers of classics that you expect from Snyder movies), and it's really just for show. Besides... the lasting image from this movie isn't really the brilliant images... but the idea that we make our own reality. We choose how to perceive the outside world. If we think the world is beautiful and just, then it is. If we think it's a horrible sess pool, then it is. We control how we react to everything about this world and within our minds. It's actually a pretty amazing power. I don't want to get off on a Tony Robbins rant or anything... but it's absolutely true. You can basically make anything real if you just think of hard enough & put forth the effort. Anyway, enough about Baby Doll...

Baby Name Update - Jacob, Ethan and Michael were the top boy names in 2010, while Isabella, Sophia and Emma were favorites for girls but celebrities are exerting a big influence of what parents chose to name their newborns… and that scares the hell out of me. An analysis of 23 million page views of individual baby name pages on a baby names website shows that celebrities have a big impact on name selections. "Five years ago, I might have said that the biggest overarching factor was personal meaning, now the biggest factor is celebrities," said Pam Satran, the developer of the nameberry.com website. She added that the number of searches for a particular baby name is a good indicator of how people will behave when the time comes to actually name their child, as opposed to data from the U.S. Social Security Administration, which tracks the numbers of babies with a particular name (which would be a REAL number you could base something like this on). The name Pippa, she explained, came to sudden prominence after Pippa Middleton caught the world's attention when she was the maid of honor at the wedding of her sister Kate to Prince William in April. Little know fact: Her fully name is Pippa Potamus Longstocking-Middleton. Okay, that’s a lie… I think. "She seems to have the power of celebrity propelling her name and style," Satran added. Other unusual names also seem to have a celebrity link. Elula, the name of the daughter of actress Isla Fisher and actor-comedian Sasha Baron Cohen (REALLY? They’re a couple?), was not in the database in 2010 but is the 38th most searched for name in 2011 so far, largely because the celebrity couple chose to not publicize the name until well after the child's birth, according to Satran (suddenly my idea of Lelu isn’t so crazy). "There is a culture of the celebrity baby. The whole world goes on name watch. By not telling the name, it becomes a big news event." Other celebrity-inspired names this year include Hadley, from the bestselling book "The Paris Wife", and Mila, which Satran attributes to the success of actress Mila Kunis over the last year (but I attribute to Milla Jovovich). Another popular baby name is Flynn, which was chosen by actor Orlando Bloom and his Australian model wife Miranda Kerr for their son (oh, it’s a boy, I was way off). So yeah, just thought that I’d let you all know what… some website person thinks about trends in baby names… because everybody’s not naming their kids Elula… but they’re looking it up online. I’ll bet if you looked up the name "Porn" you’d find that it’s among the top three baby names searched… in a constant struggle with "Google" and "The". Anyway, into the world of real news…

Where the Streets are Paved with… Gold? - A city in northern Taiwan is trying the Midas touch to persuade reluctant residents to clean up after their canines: offering a chance to win gold bars to anyone handing in bags of doggy deposits. Starting from August 1st, dog owners and other residents of New Taipei City, bordering the capital Taipei, can hand in waste to government cleaning teams in exchange for tickets to a lucky draw. The prizes: three gold ingots worth T$60,000 ($2,100), T$18,000 and T$12,000. The number of draw tickets is unlimited, and the winners will be named in October, the city government said in a statement. "We are hoping the draw will attract a wide participation, especially as the gold price is rising," said New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department official Chen Chao-ming. The city will give free garbage bags to would-be collectors. It is also beefing up more conventional measures, including rewarding people for photographing dog owners leaving mess uncleaned, and stepping up its own poo patrols in dog haunts. That’s right… poo patrols. But it will be hoping for better results than the central city of Taichung saw in 2009, when its offer of T$100 shopping vouchers for each kg of excrement collected yielded little more than criticism and ridicule. Yes, there’s far less chance of that happening this time. The one question that I have is… how can you really tell if it’s man poo or Scooby doo? Some dogs are pretty large… and Asian people can be pretty small. What’s to stop them from just collecting massive quantities of human feces and turning it in? Just my thought… and there’s plenty more of jokes in this news reel… but yeah, can’t wait for this to happen in the states. I can see neighbors narcing on neighbors about their dogs leaving nuggets (yes, it’s a gold poo joke) on lawns… and a special unit within the police force lovingly referred to as “Doody Duty” for all the rookie officers, making their rounds and collecting freshly squeezed coils. Oh yes… that’s my idea of comedy gold right there. Good luck Taiwan!!!

Anyway, that'll do it for today. I've got to get packed for my Tahoe trip in the morning... of which I've already mentioned that I'm super excited for. I'll be sure to have plenty of pictures when I get back. Have a great weekend everybody!!!

Boardwalk Empire Reborn

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

The cruise is starting to come together… and there’s already over a dozen family members ready to go. It’s going to be EPIC!!! The Big Easy had better watch out. Just over a week away from my Halloween adventure and I’m already making a mental list of the food I’m going to have while down there… and I’m probably going to gain about twenty pounds… all in crawfish & cayenne pepper I’m sure. I’m also planning on visiting the Southern Food & Beverage Museum down by the convention center. Oh yes, I’m THAT big of a nerd. I hope they give out free samples… here’s the news…

Red Celery – Though probably not going to appear in a lot of future gumbos, a Florida-based produce company is looking to titillate the eye and the taste buds by offering a new red-colored celery to give a "colorful crunch" to salads and dips. Celery producer Duda Farm Fresh Foods unveiled the celery variety, to be sold under the brand name Celery Sensations, at the U.S. Produce Marketing Association's annual Fresh Summit Trade Show in Orlando on Saturday. The company said its researchers developed the milder-tasting (milder than celery?) red salad vegetable by cross-pollinating an existing green commercial variety with an old-world heritage celery root, or celeriac variety, whose original heirloom seed could be traced back to Eastern Europe. "It has the same great crisp, fresh flavor as regular celery," Duda Farm Fresh Foods' President Dan “The Dude” Duda said in a statement. So what do you think? Are you going to clamor your local market for that red celery? I’ll admit, it’s nice for the appearance of the salad… and after watching a lot of the Food Network & Travel Channel, I can tell you it’s all about the presentation. Seriously though, a milder taste than celery? The only food you actually lose weight eating? Because it’s like 95% water and the rest is fiber? Interesting to say the least. Next stop: Green eggs & ham… which probably wouldn’t be bad with some red celery, blue cheese & crispy brown bacon. Mmm…

Russian Repo – Speaking of bacon, this little piggy went to market -- to pay off a Russian woman's overdue debt to a bank. Court officers in far eastern Russia have seized a piglet from a woman who owes a bank 13,000 roubles ($432) and put it up for sale to recuperate some of the money, the regional branch of the Federal Bailiffs Service said on Thursday. The woman had been given the seven-month-old piglet for safekeeping, but it was taken away after a court survey of her property found it to be her most valuable possession, the bailiffs service said in a statement. The piglet was seized after the woman failed to comply with a court order to pay off her debt within 10 days, it said. Consumer debt in Russia has crippled local economies in some of the country's poor rural and industrial areas, which have been hardest hit by the economic crisis that followed nearly a decade of rising living standards. A piglet could fetch around 10,000 roubles in Primorye, a Pacific Coast region whose capital is Vladivostok. "At the moment it is awaiting a buyer," the bailiff's service said. Remember a few weeks ago when I told you about them taking a few puppies to recoup payment? Yeah, it’s obviously getting pretty bad there. A piglet is your most valued possession. Think about that. Well, some other countries are looking into different ways to raise money to avoid this kind of thing.

Taiwan Tax It – California may legalize marijuana. Vices such as tobacco & alcohol are getting new taxes. Now, Taiwan's government plans to allow sex workers to set up small businesses in the latest change to laws that had once forced the huge industry underground, the interior ministry said. In a statement on its website, the ministry said it would consider brothels of three to five employees (a small stable) away from areas frequented by children. It will put plans to a cabinet committee by the end of the year. The ministry ruled out earlier proposals to set up red-light districts or allow larger businesses due to concerns among members of its committee set up to study the issue that such measures would turn the sex trade into a regular industry (instead of just underground). Prostitution was legal only in Taiwan's capital, Taipei, until 1997 when the city authorities made it a criminal offence to be a prostitute though not to patronize one. The government began debating new laws two years ago after pressure from prostitute groups over the unfairness of the law (I’m pretty sure I told you about that one too, because a pimp’s gotta keep up on his trade). In 2009 it stopped punishing sex workers (so no more S&M?). Bars and night clubs in older parts of Taipei still teem with sex workers. So just a little travel tip there, I guess. Here’s the amazing thing though. Estimates from activists (so probably completely based on a guess) put the number of people involved in sex-related jobs in Taiwan at over 600,000. That’s about 3% of the population… every man, woman & child… so you can imagine the percentage of women of consenting age in that industry. So yeah, just an update on that front.

Boardwalk Empire Reborn – So they’re making that movie “Monopoly” based on the board game based on Atlantic City, HBO has its new series “Boardwalk Empire” which I hear is incredible… and now, Resorts Atlantic City, the nation's first casino to open outside Nevada, will adopt a roaring '20s theme to capitalize on the success of "Boardwalk Empire," the HBO series about Prohibition-era Atlantic City. Dennis Gomes, who is buying the casino-hotel with developer Morris Bailey, says dealers, cocktail servers, bellhops and others will dress in 1920s-period costumes, music from that period will play, and even the drinks and casino shows will have a roaring '20s theme, so brush up on your Charleston. "A lot of people here are learning 1920s songs now," Gomes told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday morning. Gomes said the new theme is his plan to remake and save the struggling casino, which is being sold because its former owners stopped making mortgage payments due to the poor economy and cutthroat competition from slots parlors in neighboring states. The roaring '20s theme is part of the nationwide fascination with "Boardwalk Empire," but also a nod to Resorts' own history. Its main building was built in the 1920s and the decor is already faithful to that period. The 1920s were "more than just a decade in a history book. It was a decade that defined and shaped our nation," Gomes said. "Beyond that, it was fun, adventurous and exciting, a period in time where people simply let loose to give way to a lifestyle where entertainment was king. Resorts will be all of that. It will define and shape the direction Atlantic City needs to take to survive in an increasingly competitive market. It will be luxurious, it will be fun and it will be one of the leading entertainment spots in Atlantic City." So the way to move forward… is to move backwards? I gotcha. I’m with it. Resorts is based in what was originally built as the Chalfont-Haddon Hall Hotel, which has been shown as part of the skyline in "Boardwalk Empire." A recent interior renovation was done in 1920s style, eliminating the need for expensive construction. Gomes estimates the new costumes will cost about $1 million. "It seemed like such a natural. The property was built in the 1920s and the decor already was from the '20s." Among the touches being planned: a strolling violinist in a zoot suit, wandering around the casino floor and lobby, playing songs from the '20s and '30s. Drinks — heavy on the whiskey that was illegal yet plentiful during Prohibition — will be served, and casino floor shows and many singers will stay faithful to the period as well. The changes will take effect in early December, when the new owner takes over after the sale is approved by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. Gomes and Bailey, a New York developer, are paying $35 million for Resorts — by far the lowest price ever paid for a casino in New Jersey. Resorts was New Jersey's first casino, opening in 1978. In a related development, the City Council in Atlantic City dealt a posthumous diss to the real-life star of "Boardwalk Empire," whacking a plan to rename part of a street near the Boardwalk after Enoch "Nucky" Johnson. The council voted Wednesday night against a proposal to rename part of a street that runs alongside the hotel where Johnson lived and held court, mainly because of the more unsavory aspects of his life. For 30 years, until he was finally sent to prison in 1941 for tax evasion, Johnson dominated Atlantic City — then one of the nation's leading resorts. He controlled not only the Republican political machine that had a stranglehold on government, but also made sure illegal liquor, prostitution and gambling operations flourished under the protection of paid-off officials. Luckily we don’t have any thing like that going on right now. Say what you will, but I like the idea. It’s a great niche market for somebody looking to dress up in a zoot suit (like anytime), and go out on the town having a great time back when broads were dames. I’ll tell you what, if I’m in Atlantic City looking for a place to lose my money, I’ll definitely be keeping Resorts in mind. I guess I’ll just have to do that when I go to an Eagles game at the Link some time down the road.

Anyway, that’ll do it for today. Obviously getting excited for my future travels… and I’ll be sure to keep you posted. Yes, both of you reading this right now. Have a great day everybody!!!

GREAT SCOTCH!!!

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Nice little meteor shower last night. Wasn’t exactly Laser Zeppelin but still pretty cool on a nerdy level. Today is Friday the 13th… and also my Wingman’s birthday. How is he celebrating? By going with his dad & other male family members to Alaska for some fishing. Why is this odd? Because Alaska’s a sausage fest. How else would Palin get elected there? Get a bunch of sex-starved mountain men up there and after a while it becomes “Sure, I’ll take my top off… but only if you elect me governor.” “I’ve got twenty bucks.” “That’s Lower 48 prices…” What was my point? Oh yeah… he told me this was the prettiest girl that he’s seen up there so far…

Last night, I watched “Better Off Dead” starring John Cusack (“2012”) and Curtis Armstrong (“Revenge of the Nerds”) back when they were young bucks. Now, I’m certain that I had seen this movie before… but many many years ago (I vaguely remembered the opening animation sequence). Basically, this movie is a pre-existing prequel to “Hot Tub Time Machine” which I reviewed last week… and now after watching this, makes it all the more hilarious. Lane Meyer (Cusack) is your average teenager (in the 80’s) and his girlfriend just dumped him for some douche ski instructor because… she’s fickle or something. Anyway, now he’s trying to win her back by challenging the ski instructor to a race down K-12, a legendary black diamond ski run. (Side note: I tried to figure out where this movie was set… and I think it’s a fake town here in Northern California where the streets are perfectly dry on Christmas Eve yet is 15 minutes away from the slopes… mysterious) His friend (Armstrong) helps him out… along with a cute French foreign exchange student with a knack for fixing Camaros (oh you think you know how this is going to end?) and it all leads to several montages and the final race. If you like 80’s movies, this is definitely one of the better ones, so check it out. Just don’t look for too much plot… and I love the little scenes where Lane kinda wanders off into his own imagination… because I live there most of the time & understand his struggles. Anyway, check it out. Here’s the news…

Japanese Craziness – There’s this rumor that’s been going around for a while about Japan being the chief example of a culture that values its elderly and makes sure that they are provided for & respected. Don’t feel bad. I fell for it too. Until I read this article and found out that it very well may be a scam. Japanese authorities admitted last week they'd lost track of a 113-year-old woman listed as Tokyo's oldest, days after police searched the home of the city's official oldest man — only to find his long-dead, mummified body. Officials launched a search this week for Fusa Furuya, born in July 1897 and listed as Tokyo's oldest citizen, after it emerged her whereabouts are unknown. Several other celebrated centenarians are also unaccounted for due to poor record-keeping and follow-up in a country that prides itself in its number of long-lived citizens but also frets about an unraveling of traditional family ties. Officials updating their records ahead of a holiday next month honoring the elderly found that Furuya does not live at the address where she is registered, said Hiroshi Sugimoto, an official in Tokyo's Suginami ward. Furuya's 79-year-old daughter, whose name was not disclosed, told officials she was not aware of her mother's registration at that address and said she thought her mother was with her younger brother, with whom she has lost touch. But that address just outside Tokyo turned out to be a vacant lot. Police are also interviewing the brother and another daughter, but still have not been able to locate Furuya. Nice, right? The disappearance follows last week's grisly discovery (also by officials updating the most-elderly list) that the man listed as Tokyo's oldest male, who would have been 111 years old, had actually been dead for some 30 years and his decayed body was still in his home. THIRTY YEARS!!! Reagan had just become President y’all. Police are investigating the family of Sogen Kato for alleged abandonment and swindling his pension money. Kato is believed to have died about 32 years ago, when his family said he retreated to his bedroom, wanting to be a living Buddha. Officials said they had not personally contacted Furuya or Kato for decades (obviously). Authorities are also looking for a 106-year-old man who is missing in Nagoya, central Japan, Kyodo News agency reported. The Asahi newspaper said three more centenarians were unaccounted for in Tokyo. The missing elderly people could cast doubt on the exact number of centenarians in Japan, a figure that has been rising for decades. Officially (allegedly), Japan has 40,399 people aged 100 or older, including 4,800 in Tokyo, according to an annual health ministry report last year marking the September 21st holiday for the elderly. Each centenarian receives a letter and a gift from a local government office — usually by mail. Officials in fewer than half of the country's 47 prefectures (states) routinely keep track of centenarians in person, Kyodo calculated. Health and Welfare Minister Akira Nagatsuma urged officials to find a better way to monitor the elderly (perhaps GPS, heart monitors or bells around their neck?). "Many people have doubts whether the government properly keeps track of senior citizens' whereabouts. It is important for public offices to check up on them — where and how they are — and follow through all the way." But local officials say it is hard to keep track because families are often reluctant to receive official visits. Many also send their elderly relatives to nursing homes without doing the proper paperwork. "It's shocking that even relatives don't know if their parents are alive or dead," Chiba University professor Yoshinori Hiroi, an expert on public welfare, told public broadcaster NHK. "These cases were typical examples of thinning relationship among families and neighbors in Japan today." The rapidly graying population has also fueled concerns about Japan's overburdened public pension and medical care system. Remember that whole dream of mine to study stereotypes? Not looking like such a bad idea now, is it? The important thing here is… keep in touch with your family. Heck, I’m gonna call my grandma when I get home now. It’s been a long time… and I’ll see her when I go to the family reunion in a bit… but just keep in touch. It only takes a minute or two (or hours if your family talks like mine… but you can always claim your cell doesn’t get a signal) and it’d make their day. Guaranteed.

Great Scotch!!! – Speaking of finding things a hundred years old, a crate of Scotch whisky that was trapped in Antarctic ice for a century was finally opened Friday — but the heritage dram won't be tasted by whisky lovers. Why not? Because it's being preserved for its historical significance. The crate, recovered from the Antarctic hut of renowned explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton after it was found there in 2006, has been thawed very slowly in recent weeks at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island. The crate was painstakingly opened to reveal 11 bottles of Mackinlay's Scotch whisky, wrapped in paper and straw to protect them from the rigors of a rough trip to Antarctica for Shackleton's 1907 Nimrod expedition. Though the crate was frozen solid when it was retrieved earlier this year, the whisky inside could be heard sloshing around in the bottles. Antarctica's minus 22 Fahrenheit (-30 Celsius) temperature was not enough to freeze the liquor, dating from 1896 or 1897 and described as being in remarkably good condition. This Scotch is unlikely ever to be tasted, but master blenders will examine samples of it to see if they can replicate the brew (“Damn the secret ingredient is Dodo urine”). The original recipe for the Scotch no longer exists. Once samples have been extracted and sent to Scottish distiller Whyte and Mackay, which took over Mackinlay's distillery many years ago, the 11 bottles will be returned to their home — under the floorboards of Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds on Ross Island, near Antarctica's McMurdo Sound. (Why?) Whisky lover Michael Milne, a Scot who runs the Whisky Galore liquor outlet in Christchurch, described the rare event as a great experience. "I just looked at this (crate) and honestly, my heartbeat went up about three paces. It was amazing. The box was like a pioneer's box with the wood and nails coming out," he said. Although Milne said he'd give anything to have a taste of the whisky. "It is not going to happen and I am not going to get excited about it, but if there was ever an opportunity, it could be a wonderful one to have." Nigel Watson, executive director of the Antarctic Heritage Trust, which is restoring the explorer's hut, said opening the crate was a delicate process. The crate will remain in cold storage and each of the 11 bottles will be carefully assessed and conserved over the next few weeks. Some samples will be extracted, possibly using a syringe through the bottles' cork stoppers. Nice little story, right? And it gave me an excuse for a title with a “Back to the Future” reference.

Chinese Dominos - More than 10,000 people in northern China (or about 0.002% of a town’s population) have set a world record for the longest chain of human dominoes. Arranged in lines, they slowly collapsed backward onto each other in sequence from a sitting position like a line of toppling dominoes. The 10,267 people who took part wore color-coordinated clothes that spelled out in English and Chinese the name of the city of Ordos in Inner Mongolia where the record attempt was made Thursday. The monitor for Guinness World Records, Wu Xiaohong, declared the new record. It obliterated the record set a decade ago in Singapore by more than 1,000 people. Oh I think we can top it though. We just need to get a place like… San Francisco to unite, meet in the Presidio or something, and claim that record for the U.S. of A. Until then though, I just wanted to show a crazy picture. Congratulations Ordos!!!

Terminator Update – Want more Terminator? Have the four movies and television series not satisfied your hunger for time traveling cyborgs? Well, the "Terminator" franchise is coming back sooner than anticipated, but in an unexpected format. Hannover House and Red Bear Entertainment are teaming to develop "Terminator 3000", a $70 million 3D animated feature based on the characters and storyline of the franchise according to a press release (though $70 million sounds like a LOT for a CG movie). One more little change, the project will tone down the violence as it plans to target a PG-13 rating (like “Jonah Hex”? Good idea). Story details however are being kept top secret (i.e. They have no idea what they’re doing yet). Pacificor, LLC scored the rights to the franchise in January and holds licensing authority over the proposed project. Both companies will release further details later this year in the leadup to the production kicking off in January. Intrigued? Even a little bit? Yeah, it could be awesome. Maybe James Cameron will get back involved. Who knows? Just thought I’d share with you so that you won’t be caught by surprise.

Oblivion - Disney Pictures has picked up the rights to the film adaptation of graphic novel "Oblivion" from Radical Publishing reports Heat Vision. Set in an apocalyptic future where most people live high in the sky due to Earth's surface being uninhabitable (like the Jetsons?), a soldier stuck on the ground goes about his job repairing hunter drones which seek out and destroy members of a savage alien race (Predators? Aliens? Gremlins? Alfs?). He soon comes upon a beautiful woman (hopefully with her consent) whose craft has crashed nearby and together they set out on an epic adventure. The move, said to be one of the more expensive deals of the year, re-teams Disney with "Tron Legacy" director Joseph Kosinski who created the comic and will both direct and produce alongside Barry Levine. Kosinski is also said to be working on the remake of "The Black Hole" and turned in a recent script draft which the studio is apparently happy with (will make money). Sounds like an okay movie, right? Oh… and I know what you’re thinking too. When ARE they going to make an “Alf” movie? A children’s tale of a loveable, huggable wiseass alien from Melmac who crash lands in suburbia, befriends a family & loves to eat p**sy. Mmm… that’s my kind of children’s story.

Anyway, that note will definitely do it for today. Tomorrow’s the Blues Beer & Funk Festival at Squaw Valley… and I’m thinking that I might make a run to Reno to watch a movie… maybe two. The Expendables came out today… but there’s also Inception, Salt, Predators and others that I wanted to check out too. We shall see. Theatres are expensive nowadays. Especially when it’ll probably just be me… unless I meet somebody in the festival… but when has that ever REALLY happened? Anyway, wish me luck… and have a great weekend everybody!!!

Watch Out Pujols!!!

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

First things first (chronologically), I had the game of my life in softball Tuesday night. As usual, we spotted the other team a 15-0 lead after two innings (have no idea why that always happens) but then I stepped up to the plate (my usual position of 10th in the rotation) and brought in our first run…and after that it wasn’t too bad of a game. Basically, I went 4-for-4 including a double, 3 RBI, and 3 runs. On defense, as the catcher, I caught two pop flies (one off the backstop) and caught one runner at home. Basically, it was the softball game of my life, which isn’t saying much… but still. Not bad for a guy who hasn’t really played since 5th grade. I must be a natural athlete.

Well, about to head out for a date. We'll see how it goes. My mom & aunt arrive tomorrow… so it may be a few days until you hear from me. Don’t fret. I’ll have plenty of stories and pictures when I come back to the blogosphere. In the meantime, please enjoy these newsy nuggets…

Fox Update – Sorry, but you’re not the only one that’s a little disappointed that this isn’t about Megan Fox. Authorities in China's far west have bred and trained "an army" of silver foxes bought from a fur farm to fight a plague of rats threatening a huge expanse of grasslands, state media said on Wednesday. The Xinjiang government bought 20 foxes in 2004 and they have since increased to 284 (they must be clones…) and been released into the wild, the official Xinhua news agency said. "Foxes are excellent natural predators of the rodent. One fox can catch about 20 rats per day. There has been a decline in the rat population in several counties where the measure has been adopted," it quoted official Ni Yifei as saying. Rat numbers have exploded due to unusually dry conditions and threaten more than 5.5 million hectares of grasslands, the report said. In one of the areas where the foxes have been released, rat numbers have dropped 70%, it added. "The silver fox was chosen to be the rat fighter for its distinctive ability to run, hunt and live under the harsh living conditions on the prairie," Ni said. Silver foxes are more normally bred in Xinjiang for their rich fur, used to make clothing. Other parts of Xinjiang are using wolves, eagles and even chickens and ducks to control rat numbers, Xinhua said. "It is a green way to tackle the rat problem," added another official, Lin Jun. I just thought it was kind of cool that instead of being skinned for yet another fur for $teve’s night on the town (ladies love it), that they can clear out rat populations…and then be skinned. I’m sure the rats combined with sunshine give their coats a marvelous sheen. Also, reminds me of the time I told the dean of Shanghai Normal University that I planned on taking over the country with an army of pandas, tigers & monkeys. He didn't think it was funny. Guess you'd have to have been there. Sigh… at least this took my mind off Megan Fox getting married to Brian Austin Green…

Tombstone 85628 – Speaking of 90’s teenage drama stars whose appeal I just don’t understand, fellow "Beverly Hills 90210" stars Luke Perry and Jason Priestley are reuniting for the Hallmark TV movie western titled "Goodnight For Justice" reports Deadline. Perry (“8 Seconds” & “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) came up with the idea, will executive produce and will star in the project as a circuit judge on a quest to catch the outlaw who killed his family. Neal and Tippi Dobrofsky penned the script while Priestley (acted in “Tombstone” & “Calendar Girl”) will direct the project which begins shooting August 4th in Vancouver for airing sometime next year. I just mention it because it’s funny. I don’t anticipate that anybody will watch it.

Shue Update - My first crush Elisabeth Shue ("Karate Kid" & "Leaving Las Vegas") has joined the cast of the "Psycho"-esque thriller "House at the End of the Street" for FilmNation and A Bigger Boat says The Hollywood Reporter. The story follows a teenage girl (Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone" & Mystique in the upcoming "X-Men: First Class" movie) who moves to a new town and learns that a double murder took place in the house across the street. Things get complicated when she befriends the massacre's sole surviving son (Max Thieriot of "Kit Kittredge"). Shue will play the girl's mother (MILF!!!). David Loucka wrote the script from a story by Jonathan Mostow while Mark Tonderai ("Hush") is directing. Aaron Ryder, Peter Block, Tim Williams, Hal Lieberman and Jonathan Mostow will produce. Filming kicks off next month in Ottawa. Sigh... to be an actress over 40. You know I'm still going to watch this movie, right? It has Shue AND Jennifer Lawrence. Too bad it's probably a year or so down the line. Plenty of time to forget about it... but hey, we'll see. Glad to see Elisabeth can still get work though. I'm sure it'll be great.

Hottest First Lady Update - France's first lady, a former supermodel turned singer, is making her debut as an actress, filming Wednesday in the shadow of Notre Dame cathedral for Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris." Carla Bruni-Sarkozy jotted in a notebook while seated next to actor Owen Wilson on a park bench. Allen gave instructions, while dozens of onlookers tried to get a glimpse of the action on the cordoned-off Jean XXIII Square. The French president showed up on a nearby set Tuesday, in dark suit but no tie, to watch his spouse in her latest creative venture. Allen, beloved by the French, recruited Bruni-Sarkozy last fall for a role in the romantic comedy which follows a family traveling in Paris for business. France's first lady reportedly plays a museum director. This week's scenes were shot in the heart of Paris, near the Pantheon, the resting place of many of France's luminaries, and on the Ile de la Cite, the island that hosts Notre Dame. In November, when she announced her plans to accept Allen's offer of a role, the 42-year-old Bruni-Sarkozy had said she was unsure of her acting skills. "I'm not at all an actress. Maybe I'll be absolutely terrible," she said in an interview with Canal Plus TV station. However, she said she couldn't pass up the chance to play in a Woody Allen film. "I'd like to — you know — when I'm a grandmother, to have done a Woody Allen film," said Bruni-Sarkozy, who has a son from a relationship before Sarkozy. "I cannot in my life miss an opportunity like this." Bruni-Sarkozy had a small role in the 1994 Robert Altman film "Pret-a-Porter" (Ready to Wear) and the 1998 move "Paparazzi," by Alain Berberian, each time playing herself. Her sister Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi is an actress and director. When Allen was once asked what famous person he would like to see act, the Dalai Lama or the queen of England, he replied: "Carla Bruni", according to the first lady's Web site. "She has charisma and she's used to appearing on stage. I could give her any role at all," the site quotes the director as saying. Bruni released a new album two years ago but refused to tour and gives royalties to the Foundation of France. It was not clear whether she was being paid for her Allen film role. The film also features Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard along with Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates. Hmm, would I watch a Woody Allen movie that features the reuniting of "Wedding Crashers" stars McAdams & Wilson? Probably not... but hey, good for her. I hope that she is getting paid... and giving the proceeds to a worthy cause. That seems to be her way... and makes her even hotter. Rrrrrrrrrr...

Romantic Comedies & Fairy Tales - Romantic comedies might provide 90 minutes of light-hearted fun but the happy-ever-after movies are also impacting people's real love lives, according to an Australian survey. A poll of 1,000 Australians found almost half said rom-coms with their inevitable happy endings have ruined their view of an ideal relationship (and the other half are probably lying or in denial). One in four Australians said they were now expected to know what their partner was thinking (ESP? Really? Do you even WANT to know what I'm thinking?) while one in five respondents said it made their partners expect gifts and flowers 'just because'. "It seems our love of rom-coms is turning us into a nation of "happy-ever-after addicts." Yet the warm and fuzzy feeling they provide can adversely influence our view of real relationships," said Australian relationship counselor, Gabrielle Morrissey. "Real relationships take work and true love requires more than fireworks." The survey was released by Warner Home Video to mark the movie "Valentine's Day" going to DVD (shameless promotion). Personally, I have no problems with gifts & flowers "just because" but... I can't afford flowers everyday. Also, don't give me sh*t if I get caught picking the neighbors' flowers and wrapping it in a newspaper for you. "What the f**k is this?" "I got you flowers. Happy Wednesday!!!" "Miss Williams called and told me that she chased you out of her rose bushes. Why would you steal roses from her?" "Because they're your favorite." "WHAT? I won't be a part of this." "FINE!!! Then I guess you don't want any of the strawberries that Mister Jackson donated to our Love either?" Oh yes ladies... This guy would steal for you if he had to... at the very least. Not all of us get free stuff just for showing a little cleavage & a few bats of the eyelashes. What was my point? Oh yeah, romantic comedies are destroying the world. Don't you dare blame me as a movie goer either. I don't even go to romantic comedies on dates unless there's an OBSCENE amount of profanity, sex jokes and full frontal nudity. Go ahead. Look it up. Even though it's always ladies choice... I can usually influence the decision a wee bit. I've never really liked the messages in fairy tales. Even when I was a kid. The vast majority of them tell women to just sit there and do nothing... and everything will be taken care of for you. Some Prince Charming will wisk you away & live happily ever after "just because". Maybe. I wouldn't plan on it... but anything's possible. And you know why I love the Little Mermaid. Anyway, just a little food for thought... but wait, there's more when it comes to dating and your mind...

Sex & Brains - Sex apparently can help the brain grow (ladies...), according to new findings in rats. Sexually active rodents also seemed less anxious than virgins, Princeton scientists discovered (oh yes, Princeton scientists discovered that getting laid makes you less anxious. That's your government grant dollars at work, ladies & gentlemen). Past findings had shown that stressful, unpleasant events could stifle brain cell growth in adults. To see if pleasant albeit stressful experiences could have the opposite effect, researchers studied the effects of sex in rats. Scientists played matchmaker by giving adult male rats access to sexually receptive females (mmm... dirty girls) either once daily for two weeks or just once in two weeks. They also measured blood levels of stress hormones known as glucocorticoids, which researchers suspected might lie behind the detrimental effects that unpleasant experiences have on the brain. When compared with male virgins, both groups of sexually active rats had cell proliferation, or an increase in the number of neurons, in the hippocampus, a part of the brain linked with memory whose cells are especially sensitive to unpleasant experiences. The rats that had more sex also had adult brain cells grow, as well as a rise in the number of connections between brain cells. However, the rodents that only saw females once in two weeks had elevated levels of stress hormones, while the rats that had regular access showed no increase in the hormones. Sexually experienced rodents also proved less anxious than virgins, in that they were quicker to chomp down on food in unfamiliar environs (but... that's kind of like, not thinking things through first, right? It could be a trap?). These findings suggest that while stress hormones can be detrimental to the brain, these effects can be overridden if whatever experiences triggered them were pleasant (and boom goes the dynamite). The scientists detailed their findings online July 14 in the journal PLoS ONE. So there you go. Incredible sex can positively influence your memory. I know some of my greatest memories are directly linked to it... but can it help me learn Mandarin? Hmm... I wonder if I can get a government grant to study that... and I'm sure I can find a few willing interns to be test rats. Heck, I may have to just to make sure the study is effective. Hmm... I may find my way into the science books yet. I've always wanted to be an answer in a multiple choice question on an AP test.

24. Which legendary scientist is credited with linking sexual activity to brain cell growth & telekinetic pleasure powers, as well as regarded as "The Father of Panda Porn"?

A. Albert Einstein
B. Stephen Hawking
C. George Washington Carver
D. Dr. Mookie Love

Anyway, that'll do it for tonight. I'll let you know how the date goes and when/if I ever get into the history books. Hopefully it's not posthumous or something. Though I'd like for my legacy to live in, I'd like to take advantage of the financial rewards during my own lifetime. Seriously, if the guy who did "Girls Gone Wild" can be a f**king self-made millionaire, why not me? And you know that I'm willing to share the wealth. In the meantime, have a great day everybody!!!