I added a tag called "Last Year At This Time" since I didn't blog last year and have lots of fun things to remember. I'm starting by back-blogging and adding pictures from Europe. So even though all the Euro-pics are dates from April and May, I added them today. I know, that's sort of cheating. Whatever.
Pictures from G&Mers+1 to come later.
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Happy Earth Day
Even though everyday should be Earth Day, its good that at least one day is used to wake us up and remind everyone to be environmentally conscientious. So here are some tips that I've come across...
On Earth911.org , you can type in your zip code and find the nearest place to recycle pesky things like paint, batteries, used motor oil, fertilizers, used electronics like computers and monitors, medicines and pharmaceuticals, and a whole host of other stuff that you might not know shouldn't be tossed in the trash can. A lot of things that end up in our landfills can leech into our water supply and contaminate it with heavy metals and toxins. So think twice when you toss that old cellphone into the trash. Make a box to throw these things in and get rid of them every couple of months.
Reduce unnecessary mail, like shopping catalogs. Just call the number on the back of the catalog and tell them you prefer to shop online and they'll stop sending them. I used to get 4 Crate and Barrel catalogs a month -the same exact one! So I called and canceled all of them.
The average person gets an estimated 41 lbs of junk mail a year. Find out how to opt out and save your self time, and save the forest some trees.
Reuse your shopping bags. It really is simple. You can either buy the reusable ones at the grocery store, or just bring the ones you've used back to the store. You can store a bunch of brown paper bags and plastic bags in your car so that just in case you need to run into somewhere and get something, you'll have bags ready for you.
Recycle!! Plastic bags, aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper, there really isn't an excuse. "I'm too busy" or "I'm lazy" doesn't count.
Carpool. Take the bus. Walk. I'm guilty of not doing any of these. I told myself that I would start taking the bus and subway to work once a week and I still haven't done it. Now that my car's gas bill is about $200 a month (aaah!!), I really need to reconsider my priorities. It comes down to convenience vs saving CO2 emissions and money. I have an 8 am meeting this morning, so that's my excuse for today. I have no excuse for Wednesday...
Now go fix that leaky faucet before all of Greenland defrosts.
On Earth911.org , you can type in your zip code and find the nearest place to recycle pesky things like paint, batteries, used motor oil, fertilizers, used electronics like computers and monitors, medicines and pharmaceuticals, and a whole host of other stuff that you might not know shouldn't be tossed in the trash can. A lot of things that end up in our landfills can leech into our water supply and contaminate it with heavy metals and toxins. So think twice when you toss that old cellphone into the trash. Make a box to throw these things in and get rid of them every couple of months.
Reduce unnecessary mail, like shopping catalogs. Just call the number on the back of the catalog and tell them you prefer to shop online and they'll stop sending them. I used to get 4 Crate and Barrel catalogs a month -the same exact one! So I called and canceled all of them.
The average person gets an estimated 41 lbs of junk mail a year. Find out how to opt out and save your self time, and save the forest some trees.
Reuse your shopping bags. It really is simple. You can either buy the reusable ones at the grocery store, or just bring the ones you've used back to the store. You can store a bunch of brown paper bags and plastic bags in your car so that just in case you need to run into somewhere and get something, you'll have bags ready for you.
Recycle!! Plastic bags, aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper, there really isn't an excuse. "I'm too busy" or "I'm lazy" doesn't count.
Carpool. Take the bus. Walk. I'm guilty of not doing any of these. I told myself that I would start taking the bus and subway to work once a week and I still haven't done it. Now that my car's gas bill is about $200 a month (aaah!!), I really need to reconsider my priorities. It comes down to convenience vs saving CO2 emissions and money. I have an 8 am meeting this morning, so that's my excuse for today. I have no excuse for Wednesday...
Now go fix that leaky faucet before all of Greenland defrosts.
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Game
Last night was the last episode of The Wire. I can't stop thinking about the show and everything that's happened over the course of 5 seasons. There are spoilers, but I will warn you when they're coming. I deleted a huge chunk of this post after Cary pointed out that what I really want is for people to go watch The Wire.
David Simon has said the real star of The Wire is the city of Baltimore itself. But after watching the last episode last night, and being able to slowly step back and digest it all, it became very clear that the star of the show, is the game.
Baltimore happened to be the court it was played on. The clock runs, the day's game ends, and players that make it that day move on to decide how to improve their game tomorrow. The game in Baltimore might be different from the game in Detroit or another city, with different rules and refs, played on different fields, different players and teams.
This show didn't focus on one player, or one team, or one match. The Wire showed us 5 seasons of the game as its played in Baltimore and introduced us to different teams, players, general managers, rookies. Some teams play each other, other teams don't get a chance to. I'm really running with this analogy. How corny. Or Sheila would say, choerny (she's 2).
*Spoiler here.
Of all the intricately woven stories, the one story that stood out the most to me, is Duquan's. Dukie, breaks my heart. When I begin to think of all the kids who started out like him and ended up less lucky than Bubbles, I get sick to my stomach.
I don't know why Dukie breaks my heart more than Michael or Randy (which by the way, Randy is Cheeses son as it turns out). They're both victims of the game. Dukie quietly let things happen to him, he is so innocent. His smile is so sweet and he has such a pure goodness to him, I wish I could adopt him. The only aggressive thing I can think of that he ever did was politely lie to Mr. Prezbo for money, and that was the dope talking.
Michael was just as much a victim. But when he crossed over and had Bug's daddy killed, and signed a deal with the (devil) Stanfield crew, there's less innocence lost than innocence handed over. What he chose to do took balls (balls that were founded in desperation of avoiding more sexual abuse from Bug's dad). Still every decision is based on a survivalist mentality, weather its passive like Dukie's or aggressive like Mike's. One's not better than the other. It is what it is because of, the game.
*Spoiler end.
Yesterday I started Googling for an illustration or picture to put in my last post about The Wire and came across a ton of other blogs that included posts on The Wire. So here are some of the ones I liked (I hope no one minds that I'm posting links to your blogs and websites, let me know if you do):
http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/03/wire-david-simon-q.html (nice long David Simon interview)
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/03/the-wire-comes.html (really thorough article)
http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2008/03/david-simon-not.html
http://jackosjeremiad.blogspot.com/2008/02/my-favorite-wire-character-stringer.html
http://jackosjeremiad.blogspot.com/2008/02/wire-best-tv-show-ever.html
http://antwonomous.blogspot.com/2008/02/wire-talk-whats-in-name.html
http://obit-mag.com/news.php?id=316
http://heavenandhere.wordpress.com/
http://periscopestudio.com/?cat=23
http://www.cultureby.com/trilogy/2004/week38/index.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2008/03/the-wire-goodby.html (today's article)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/120319
http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/03/wire-30-farewell-to-baltimore.html (also very thorough)
The ending stayed true to the game. It showed the current evolution of the game and the players that were now a part of it. It shows that after the show is done, game will continue its cycle.
Many of my favorite players R.I.P, and some continue in new roles:
I just deleted a huge chunk of spoilers. I don't think the following is spoiling anything:
Levy, oy vay. In my humble-ish opinion, he is the biggest villain of all. The worst bad guy. Maybe because we didn't get to know him better, there's less nuance. How can I say he's worse than a Chris or a Webay? I liked those guys, I did not like Levy. But I like that he's in that new burger commercial and only Wire watchers know he's Levy.
Kenard. Fucking Kenard.
Did anyone else see Rawls at the gay bar? wha? huh? I love that, a little peak under the skirt and you never hear anything about it again.
One of my favorite lines: "Shit is like a war, ain't it? Easy to get in, hell to get out." The Bunk
It really hit the spot when I heard it last night. That's all I have to say. I'm not a writer. I've never claimed to be no wordsmith. I hope this post falls on open ears/eyes and everyone goes out and watches The Wire.
David Simon has said the real star of The Wire is the city of Baltimore itself. But after watching the last episode last night, and being able to slowly step back and digest it all, it became very clear that the star of the show, is the game.
Baltimore happened to be the court it was played on. The clock runs, the day's game ends, and players that make it that day move on to decide how to improve their game tomorrow. The game in Baltimore might be different from the game in Detroit or another city, with different rules and refs, played on different fields, different players and teams.
This show didn't focus on one player, or one team, or one match. The Wire showed us 5 seasons of the game as its played in Baltimore and introduced us to different teams, players, general managers, rookies. Some teams play each other, other teams don't get a chance to. I'm really running with this analogy. How corny. Or Sheila would say, choerny (she's 2).
*Spoiler here.
Of all the intricately woven stories, the one story that stood out the most to me, is Duquan's. Dukie, breaks my heart. When I begin to think of all the kids who started out like him and ended up less lucky than Bubbles, I get sick to my stomach.
I don't know why Dukie breaks my heart more than Michael or Randy (which by the way, Randy is Cheeses son as it turns out). They're both victims of the game. Dukie quietly let things happen to him, he is so innocent. His smile is so sweet and he has such a pure goodness to him, I wish I could adopt him. The only aggressive thing I can think of that he ever did was politely lie to Mr. Prezbo for money, and that was the dope talking.
Michael was just as much a victim. But when he crossed over and had Bug's daddy killed, and signed a deal with the (devil) Stanfield crew, there's less innocence lost than innocence handed over. What he chose to do took balls (balls that were founded in desperation of avoiding more sexual abuse from Bug's dad). Still every decision is based on a survivalist mentality, weather its passive like Dukie's or aggressive like Mike's. One's not better than the other. It is what it is because of, the game.
*Spoiler end.
Yesterday I started Googling for an illustration or picture to put in my last post about The Wire and came across a ton of other blogs that included posts on The Wire. So here are some of the ones I liked (I hope no one minds that I'm posting links to your blogs and websites, let me know if you do):
http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/03/wire-david-simon-q.html (nice long David Simon interview)
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/03/the-wire-comes.html (really thorough article)
http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2008/03/david-simon-not.html
http://jackosjeremiad.blogspot.com/2008/02/my-favorite-wire-character-stringer.html
http://jackosjeremiad.blogspot.com/2008/02/wire-best-tv-show-ever.html
http://antwonomous.blogspot.com/2008/02/wire-talk-whats-in-name.html
http://obit-mag.com/news.php?id=316
http://heavenandhere.wordpress.com/
http://periscopestudio.com/?cat=23
http://www.cultureby.com/trilogy/2004/week38/index.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2008/03/the-wire-goodby.html (today's article)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/120319
http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/03/wire-30-farewell-to-baltimore.html (also very thorough)
The ending stayed true to the game. It showed the current evolution of the game and the players that were now a part of it. It shows that after the show is done, game will continue its cycle.
Many of my favorite players R.I.P, and some continue in new roles:
I just deleted a huge chunk of spoilers. I don't think the following is spoiling anything:
Levy, oy vay. In my humble-ish opinion, he is the biggest villain of all. The worst bad guy. Maybe because we didn't get to know him better, there's less nuance. How can I say he's worse than a Chris or a Webay? I liked those guys, I did not like Levy. But I like that he's in that new burger commercial and only Wire watchers know he's Levy.
Kenard. Fucking Kenard.
Did anyone else see Rawls at the gay bar? wha? huh? I love that, a little peak under the skirt and you never hear anything about it again.
One of my favorite lines: "Shit is like a war, ain't it? Easy to get in, hell to get out." The Bunk
It really hit the spot when I heard it last night. That's all I have to say. I'm not a writer. I've never claimed to be no wordsmith. I hope this post falls on open ears/eyes and everyone goes out and watches The Wire.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
When You Walk Through The Garden
Do you know what tonight is???
Its the series finale of The Wire!!!
(no spoilers, I promise)
This show should be required viewing for all US citizens, politicians, drug dealers, teachers, administrators, media reporters, stevedores, inmates, and law enforcement officials. Basically everyone. And, I'll also add, all people not in the US.
I don't know how to convince people to watch this show. I really feel that if more people watched all 5 seasons, we would all feel a little more clued in to the different American worlds that we have no insight into otherwise.
It really isn't hard to get into it. You just have to watch the first episode, and REALLY pay attention. Its not an easy show to follow, to its credit. As an audience member, I feel that the writing, directing, editing, acting, end up flattering (instead of insulting) my intelligence. After you watch The Wire and then tune into a regular old network sitcom, you can tell that those other shows were written for people who don't want to think while watching TV. And sometimes that's OK. Buts lets face it, there's no shortage of shows that pander to the lazier viewer. There is NO other show like The Wire as far as I know.
This show will get you excited, curious, pissed off, confused, interested, and will break your heart ,and you will be grateful for all of it. I watched the first 4 seasons by Netflix-ing the DVDs in less than 2 months. That's right, 4 seasons, about 12 episodes each, in 2 months. I just got caught up on season 5 last Monday, just in time for the season finale tonight. Tonight's will be the first and only show that I will have watched live. I'm bragging by the way.
You Better Watch Your Back.
Its the series finale of The Wire!!!
(no spoilers, I promise)
This show should be required viewing for all US citizens, politicians, drug dealers, teachers, administrators, media reporters, stevedores, inmates, and law enforcement officials. Basically everyone. And, I'll also add, all people not in the US.
I don't know how to convince people to watch this show. I really feel that if more people watched all 5 seasons, we would all feel a little more clued in to the different American worlds that we have no insight into otherwise.
It really isn't hard to get into it. You just have to watch the first episode, and REALLY pay attention. Its not an easy show to follow, to its credit. As an audience member, I feel that the writing, directing, editing, acting, end up flattering (instead of insulting) my intelligence. After you watch The Wire and then tune into a regular old network sitcom, you can tell that those other shows were written for people who don't want to think while watching TV. And sometimes that's OK. Buts lets face it, there's no shortage of shows that pander to the lazier viewer. There is NO other show like The Wire as far as I know.
This show will get you excited, curious, pissed off, confused, interested, and will break your heart ,and you will be grateful for all of it. I watched the first 4 seasons by Netflix-ing the DVDs in less than 2 months. That's right, 4 seasons, about 12 episodes each, in 2 months. I just got caught up on season 5 last Monday, just in time for the season finale tonight. Tonight's will be the first and only show that I will have watched live. I'm bragging by the way.
You Better Watch Your Back.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
I didn't even have to use my AK....
I gotta say, it was a good day.
I feel like such a yuppie for opening this post with gangsta lyrics and then telling you what I really did today. Whatever, I got my grub on but didn't pig out.
Cary and I signed up for a drawing class at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art). Today was our first one and I am so glad Cary thought to do this. We both had such a great experience, mainly because of our wonderful teacher. I will scan or snap a quick photo of our first drawings and post them later today. I'll try to post our sketches from each class on the Sunday that we do them from now on so we can track our (hopeful) improvement.
I feel like such a yuppie for opening this post with gangsta lyrics and then telling you what I really did today. Whatever, I got my grub on but didn't pig out.
Cary and I signed up for a drawing class at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art). Today was our first one and I am so glad Cary thought to do this. We both had such a great experience, mainly because of our wonderful teacher. I will scan or snap a quick photo of our first drawings and post them later today. I'll try to post our sketches from each class on the Sunday that we do them from now on so we can track our (hopeful) improvement.
This one is my sketch. (I will post the name of the marble statue we sketched in my next post about our class) The one below is Cary's sketch. We were sitting on opposite sides of the marble sculpture.
And on the educational tip, I am still trying to learn all the functions and features of my new iPhone. I took my first real picture with the phone's camera and emailed it to myself.
I took this outside of my bedroom window at about 6 in the morning a few days ago. I love this time of year because the position of the earth vs sun makes it just right for a blood-red sunrise every morning for the next couple of months or so. This is a mild pink sunrise. I will post better ones soon.
As far as the iPhone camera, the quality is much better than my old phone. I do have a complaint that the pictures don't have a time stamp as far as I can tell. I really count on that information for organizing the hundreds of pictures I've taken of Sheila (no exaggeration) with my main camera. Plus it would have been nice to know exactly what time in the morning the sun looks like this.
After our drawing class, Cary and I went to the Grove for lunch at the Farmer's Market. Here is another picture taken with my iPhone this time of Cary at the Grove.
The Grove and the Farmer's Market are 2 of my top favorite places on earth and I'm so lucky to be able to walk across the street from my apartment to get there. Did I mention we walked to art class at LACMA too? And after the Grove we went to watch a Groundlings improv comedy show on Melrose up the street.
...even saw the lights on the good year blimp...
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