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Reviews
LOST
May 24th
I was a rabid fan the first season. I hit the message boards, I really got into the clues, I played the games. Ginnie and I loved LOST. By the second season I was still a fan but much more passive. I recorded and watched every week and made occasional comments about certain characters.
I’ve always disliked both Kate and Jack. I really don’t like emo characters. I’ve always liked Sawyer and Hurley the most. And over the years I appreciated the Ben character. He was brilliantly played.
But last night was a huge let down. The island as purgatory? You make peace with yourself and you finally move on? Fine if that’s what the show put out there in the first place. So what was the point of the rest of the entire series? I had noticed over the years that when a character “came to peace” they tended to die off, but that wasn’t carried across every character – just look at Rose and Bernard. And in the end Jack had to be convinced, Sayid needed to be led – it wasn’t a decision. Utter trop.
Ending the whole thing as a religious thing leaves me wondering what was the whole point of the adventures beforehand. What was the point of the numbers? Was every battle with the Others, the constant wonder of who was good and who was evil, the time travel, the… the… the… was everything a bunch of stupid metaphors?
I wish I had missed the final episode and been left wondering. It would have been more satisfying.
Yes it was a happy birthday
Apr 30th
If you didn’t know (and how could you have missed it) yesterday was my 49th birthday. 
It was a back-and-forth day.
Took a shower with no conditioner because son had moved my shampoo/conditioner into the other bathroom to bath Kira the day before and didn’t put them back, and I didn’t bother to check before getting in the shower. Thankfully there was a mostly dead bottle of shampoo in the corner of the shower.
Met up with friends at Liberty Market for #evtm (east valley thursday morning) and got my breakfast for free because it was my birthday! And after a while Jana bought me a hot chocolate.
Went to get my hair colored and it cost me more than I really wanted to spend. Even though I just got my hair cut and thinned, I was charged extra for thickness and length. But it looks good and I didn’t have to do it myself.
Stopped to get a bottle of water. They had a 2 for $2 sale. Cashier charged me $3.64. I handed her $4 but mentioned SALE. She stared at me and said they were already discounted. I mentioned SALE sign and pointed it out to her. She mumbled something under her breath and rechecked the register and grudging admitted I was right, handing me back $3. I didn’t bother to correct her again.
Went to see Date Night using a free pass I’d earned through Moviewatchers.com. Loved it! I’m not much of a fan of the slapstick which Steve Carell (and Jim Carrey and Will Ferrell) tend towards, but this was just this side of that line and hilarious. Saw another preview for Knight and Day and I might like to see that. Not a fan of Tim Cruise either, but he’s pretty good when he gets a part with a sense of humor.
Then to the car wash and oil change. Again, paid more than I wanted but didn’t get upsold into anything more than I went for. Slid over to Gangplank to edit/post Evo @ 11 and got it almost done before I had to leave for dinner.
Met most of my family (and semi-adopted kids) at Joes Real BBQ for (mine was free!) dinner. People rave about this place and I wanted to try it, but other than the to-die-for ribs I didn’t find it all that amazing. Had fun though. Casey did in fact get me a camera for my birthday but it doesn’t work – the flash never flashed – so I’ll have to take it back. He felt bad but it wasn’t his fault. Casey’s luck just sucks.
Mother called to wish me happy birthday and managed to spoil my mood with complaints about stuff she decides to do.
Went to Max’s to play games and drink, but I can never manage to stay there long. Fucking cats. We always have fun but I always have to leave.
So… overall a day.
CopOut
Mar 7th
I decided to splurge and take in a movie today. I wanted something light and funny so opted for CopOut over the heavier Alice (and thank gawd I didn’t chose that one – every family in Tempe did) or Avatar.
Let me say, I love Bruce Willis. I’d watch him do anything, even change the oil in his car. I especially like him in things with a sense of humor. He smiles and I smile; he laughs and I laugh. He’s usually the star of my midnight fantasies, those not starring Nic Cage. Not that he’s bad at playing bad, mind you. Just, you know, mmmMMMmmm.
And I really like Kevin Smith. Maybe not so much his movies – yet I sort of watched some Jay and Silent Bob movie last night – but I never miss a SMODcast and I’d love to just hang out with the man. He’s damned explicitly funny. But this didn’t really feel like a Kevin Smith movie. Maybe because I just get sucked into anything Bruce Willis does, I dunno.
Anyway, I laughed my ass off at this movie. Tracy Morgan almost was too much for me. I’m a little old for slapstick overboard stupid comedy, but he pulled it back just enough when the story needed to be more serious. Just when I would get bored with his antics, the scene would change. Nice editing, Kevin. But overall the movie was funny as hell. Go for a good time.
The only problem I had with this movie was the casting of Poh Boy. Usually when there’s a bad guy, especially when he’s supposed to be the leader attempting to take over x-amount of someone else’s territory, he looks the part. This guy didn’t look the part. He wasn’t the least bit scary to me, a middle-aged chunky midwestern Mom. He put out a flunky vibe in a part that should have called for a more intimidating character. Much darker instead of what we got. I half expected his peons to roll their eyes behind his back. But the baseball torture cage was inventive!
Should I start using some sort of judging thing? Stars… nah, too bland. Hmmm, how about a four FuckYeah! rating?
Spice it up
Feb 19th
I love, love, love this new Old Spice commercial. I’m fascinated every time it comes on. Thanks to my friend Sharon (@HellZiggy) I watched this interview with the ad guys who came up with it and how it was shot, and even that doesn’t take away from how cool it is.
And here’s a link to the 15-second other one where the guy is riding backwards. I hadn’t seen that one before but I’m not as impressed.
Full disclosure, I don’t really care for the smell of Old Spice (asthma issues) but I completely agree with the man-should-smell-like-MEN point they’re making.
My 5 Favorite Blogs
Nov 23rd
I won’t start this with the usual “in no particular order” cuz it’s not true. These are the blogs in my Google Reader that I check numerous times a day for updates.
CakeWrecks. I love this site. Six days a week there are posts about screwed up cakes, generally by so-called professionals from grocery store bakeries to specialty shops. But on Sunday the cakes are beautiful. And she hates cupcake cakes, as do I.
Contemporist. This site is just plain interesting. I don’t know what I find more interesting, the houses that are stark and clean or the furniture that mostly looks too uncomfortable to actually use. There are posts many times a day, but only a few treasures. Lots of practical works of art in there.
Yeah, it says of the day which implies it’s every day but it’s not. What it is is a free game download – no strings attached – no viruses – no problems. Sure they’re all older low-tech games which I happen to love. But they’re free.
Skepchicks. This blog is more of a forum. They post questions or lists of idiot filled links or reports of interest to the skeptical community. Much discussion goes on. Smart people and me.
People of WalMart. Most of the time I feel a little guilty when I go to this site. It’s pictures of people at WalMart. Sometimes they’re just poor or too fat for what they’re wearing, which is sad and I feel sorry for them. Sometimes they’re WAAAAAAY too fat for what they’re wearing and then it’s hilarious. Or the men dressed as women. Not cross-dressers, but guys wearing one obviously female thing like a skirt or a frilly blouse and the rest of their outfit is male. Or the pimps, or black women with their bizarre choices of outfits. A site full of “what were you thinking when you walked out of the house?”
I want cake
Oct 28th
I watched three episodes of Cake Boss last night. Ugh! That show is about cake decorating about as much as American Chopper is about motorcycle design. Why are there so many shows about dysfunctional families?
Forget I asked. I want to talk about cake.
I love watching Ultimate Cake Off. How three professional cake creators can come up with three completely different designs for the same concept is amazing. And then the mechanical and technical gyrations they have to go through to get the whole thing to work. IN 9 HOURS! And honestly, even the worst decorator I’ve seen on UCO beats CB hands down.
One of my favorite websites is Cake Wrecks. Though she/they post screwed up cakes by so-called professionals (usually grocery stores) my favorite are the good cakes they post on Sundays.
I’ve never seen or tried one of those fancy cakes. Does fondant taste good or is it just an acceptable substitute to make the cake better looking? I can’t imagine how much one of those designer cakes must cost. If a Costco regular birthday cake is $40…
Maybe I’ll add this to my bucket list. Someday I want a really nice designer cake.
Jonathan Coulton in the UK
Oct 20th
Hey y’all across the pond! If you are near any of these locations and you’re looking for a nice night out, go see these guys. I would if they were coming anywhere near me. I’ve met Jonathan Coulton a few times and he’s very funny and sexy as hell. Go if you can.
- Friday November 6 at 8 PM
Academy 2 (Dublin, IE) with Paul and Storm
Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/ykmyhjo - Sunday November 8 at 7 PM
The Bongo Club (Edinburgh, UK) with Paul and Storm
Tickets: http://bit.ly/2uDl1d - Tuesday November 10 at 7 PM
Classic Grand (Glasgow, UK) with Paul and Storm
Tickets: http://bit.ly/4Ak6WK - Thursday November 12 at 7.30 PM
Manchester Academy 3 (Manchester, UK) with Paul and Storm
Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/y8ptots - Friday November 13 at 7 PM
Union Chapel (London, UK) with Paul and Storm
Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/yhtgmf4 - Sunday November 15 at 8 PM
The Tunnels Bristol (Bristol, UK) with Paul and Storm
Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/34moxs
Guaranteed good time. Just ask anyone on my flist that’s seen them.
Really? Is that what that is?
Sep 30th
Can you identify what this object is?
Can you?
How about this one: 
I follow this web site called Contemporist. Though the houses they show are sometimes very interesting, there’s no way I could live in a place so stark and uncluttered as a contemporary house. There’s no way I’d want most of the furniture shown there either. Most of that stuff looks horribly uncomfortable. It is interesting… but not very practical. These are both stools. Seriously, if you walked into an empty room and these were the only things in there, would you KNOW they were to sit upon?
Doubtful.
These are beautiful and practical. This is very cool. And if you go over there be sure to check out the lighting section, too.
The Guild
Sep 30th
First, first you need to see this video if you haven’t already. It actually stands alone but it’s more fun after you’ve caught up on the web series…
Okay, now that you’ve got this stuck in your head go find The Guild. All season 1 and 2 episodes are available on YouTube. Season 3 has started, but you have to go here to this crappy portal to get them and I don’t like how it’s set up so I won’t name them. Each episode is about 6ish minutes long so it’s not like you’ll waste a lot of time. Wil Wheaton is guesting on Season 3! If you’ve ever been a gamer or like me, just friends with one, you should check out this web series. It’s adorkable.
FIVE OUT OF FIVE!
PodCampAZ 2009!
Jun 22nd
PodCamp AZ is coming to the University of Advancing Technology November 14th and 15th! PodCampAZ is a FREE networking media “unconference”, dedicated to blogging, video blogging, podcasting, social networking, and all other relevant media. At the heart of the unconference is the opportunity to have a conversation at large with those innovators which have created a successful blend of relevant media and put it to work for them. Speakers will address emerging trends and best practices on everything from print and radio to mobile, interactive web, and in real life information exchange. During PodCamp sessions, attendees are free to drop in, listen and learn about what is relevant to their needs, and if they choose to, move on to other sessions. You can also become an interactive part of the experience by sharing your knowledge as a speaker or stimulating ideas and asking questions as an active attendee. 
If you are an established or aspiring blogger, podcaster, video blogger, or social media advocate and want to meet hundreds of people with the same interests, head over to podcampaz.org to get more information about this exciting event. And above all else, register to attend PodCamp AZ!
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Okay, I blogged the quasi-official blurb. On a more personal level, y’all need to come. It’s fun and informative and FREE! I’m one of the planning committee members and I’m planning big things. If you want to speak, register and say so. If you want to sponsor, register and say so. If you think you might want to attend, REGISTER and pencil in the dates on your calendar, November 14-15. PodCampAZ is the final event in Geek Week (actually more than a week) so keep watching for details on other AZ events in that time frame.
If this all looks too good to miss and you’re not in the PHX area, we will soon have hotel deals and some of us are willing to put people up just so they can come.
Seriously, you NEED to come. Conferences, parties, tweet-ups, and more conferences.
