Two

Two days. Off. In a row. It's been so fucking long since I've actually had a whole weekend off I can hardly remember what it's like. Saw Potter (again) with the kids. Had time to buy a new pair of shoes. Got a haircut. Played 18 holes at Lost Canyon in Simi with DA, JP and KE. God I'm a horrible golfer. I hit par on 4 holes and still shot a 108 (54/54). I think at least 10 strokes of that is penalties from drops. It's nice to get out with The Boys and get some fresh air. Yeah, it killed the whole day, but I'm not going to the beach two or three times a week.

Fan

I am the worst fan in the history of baseball. If I want my team to lose, all I have to do is actually show up at the stadium to see the game. The Dodgers are torrid right now. I think they've won 8 of 10 coming into tonight's game with the Mets. I mean, the Mets are good, but, man, the Dodgers are hot. Whoops, take that back because I'm going to the game. And it was actually a pretty decent game, up until some nameless LA reliever threw a bad pitch that David Wright promptly deposited in the left field bleachers, making a 4-1 loss out of a 1-1 game. It never fails, if I go to the game, my team loses.

Supply and Demand

So I'm in the middle of re-reading Neuromancer. I figured that I go through the whole trilogy, it's been quite a while since I've read those books. All I have are the paperbacks and, since I'm a book snob and like to have hardcovers, I thought that I'd see about upgrading my copies. So, of course, I hit amazon where I find that not only can I get a new reprint of Neuromancer for about $17, but that Gibson also has a new book coming out in about 3 weeks. Yay! Two for one. Nice. So next I look for Count Zero. Hmmm, paperback only on Amazon. I check the resellers for hardbacks and there are maybe 7 or 8.

And the cheapest one is $63 ... used ... in fair condition. Couple collectable ones. $75 and $120. Jesus Christ. Distraught but not deterred, I checked for Mona Lisa Overdrive.

Sigh ... $40 to $100.

Then, a revelation ... Ebay! Got a nice 1st ed. of Mona Lisa Overdrive for a paltry $18 + s/h. OK, I'm on a roll, 7 come 11 daddy needs a copy of Count Zero ...

2 copies ... $75 and $150 ... damnit.

So, supply and demand strikes again. I curse and shake my fist at the free market. Damn you free market economy!

Walt

"We have been too often disappointed by the optimism of the American leaders ... to have faith any longer in the silver linings they find in the darkest clouds."

"To say that we are closer to victory today is to believe, in the face of the evidence, the optimists who have been wrong in the past. To suggest we are on the edge of defeat is to yield to unreasonable pessimism. To say that we are mired in stalemate seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory, conclusion . . . it is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could."

Who said that? How about Walter Cronkite, February 27, 1968.

Review: Harry Potter V

WIP

Vote for Edwards

Resign

Keith Olbermann is the only real newscaster in America Today.

Python

Review: Transformers

Hated the movie. I went to see a Michael Bay movie. I went to see giant transforming robots battling each other in downtown Los Angeles. I went to see slo-mo. I went to see things blowing the fuck up. I did not go to see a story. Instead of trying to mask the lack of story with things that explode, which, and I'm going to be honest, I like things blowing up in my action movies, it seemed like they tried way to hard to make it a 'real' movie only they forgot what makes a 'real' movie is a 'real' story. It stinks of Spielberg. It was far too restrained. OK, hated is strong language, let's just say, I am disappointed. There is a chance that it had something to do with the fact that the theater was totally full. I'm used to seeing movies during the week, during school. Read as "In an empty theater" and the stupid yappy bitch in front of me who would not cease her chatting. I don't like confrontation, and if you can get me to tell you in a normal voice to "Shut The Fuck Up" in a sold out movie. Then you, sir, are an asshole.

Three Stars, and it's only getting that because the VFX rocked.

In other news the race for the Visual Effects Oscar is over. PotC3, Potter and all you other people can just pack it up and go home. You lose. Thanks for playing.

Review: Ratatouille

What can you say about the guys at Pixar that hasn't already been said. This movie was smart, funny, well directed, well paced, gorgeous and above all supremely entertaining. Brad Bird might just be the finest director working today. Pixar hits another one out of the park. I love how there was zero hype for the voice talent, and there were some very recognizable names in there. Janeane Garofalo, Peter O'Toole, Will Arnet, Ian Holm, John Ratzenberger (how could Pixar not put John Ratzenberger in this movie?). I loved, loved, loved this movie.

Five Stars