If you guys have some extra cash, try to donate to the Hurricane Katrina situation.

With the summer coming to a close it means the beginning of bad traffic and dark nights but also new and current television shows coming back.

What I'm looking forward to:
The Simpsons - Sept. 11
Arrested Development - Sept. 19
Prison Break - Aug. 29
Gilmore Girls - Sept. 13
The Office (US) - Sept. 20
Veronica Mars - Sept. 21

What others might be looking forward to:
Desperate Housewives - Sept. 25
Grey's Anatomy - Sept. 25
Family Guy - Sept. 11
House M.D. - Sept. 13
Lost - Sept. 21
Alias - Sept. 29
The O.C. - Sept. 8 (does anyone here watch this garbage though)

- I actually watched the first two eps of Prison Break and thought it was pretty good. We'll see how the series goes or if it will be cancelled.

(B) Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules (2005, ed. David Sedaris) Grade: B+
Collections of short stories read a bit like listening to a mix tape that a friend has made for you. It gives you some insight into what your friend enjoys and considers worthwhile. Sedaris titled this collection to compare himself to the “children” and those writers who are included here and have inspired him to “Hercules.” (He noted the plural/singular forms did not work, but it sounded better than Child Playing Before Statues of Herculai.) He also found that although he is considered to be a somewhat comic writer, he did not want the collection to solely be funny stories. And these stories do read along the spectrum of emotions. Some highlights: “Interpreter of Maladies,” “People Like That Are the Only People Here” and “Cosmopolitan.”

(O) Basquiat @ MOCA Grade: B+
On Friday I went to the 1st anniversary for Filter Mini and had a chance to enjoy the Basquiat exhibit as well as the other art galleries. I like Basquiat’s use of color and texture, and his ideas are still relevant today in instigating dialogue about consumerism, politics and the basic ills of society. But for the most part, it seemed his pieces were all v. similar, especially after viewing so many, and a bit ordinary. The standout was Joseph Kosuth’s Art as Idea as Idea, because it joins text and art, making a connection between the idea itself and the idea as art.

(G) Sunset Junction in Silverlake Grade: B
On Saturday I willed myself to withstand the heat to attend the Junction and am glad for doing so. The Walkmen impressed me (although I had seen them many years ago at the Troubadour but walked out before the end of their set). The frat-type boys in the crowd (who only recognized “The Rat”) did not. I particularly enjoyed the group of kids dancing in a corner. Music making people happy makes me happy. Rilo Kiley also was impressive but felt too short. And the only non-More Adventurous track was “Frug.” Granted, that was an unexpected number, but I still wish they varied their set list. They ended with the most obvious, “Portions for Foxes.”

So i guess i'll blog to my recent on-goings.

I have been to vegas 3 times recently with one more trip in 2 weeks...I am actually vegas-ed out, its quite tireseome especially driving there so much. The next time is for bowling so that will be fun. The bowling championship for our league is this coming Thursday. I'm somewhat nervous, I really want the trophy, but its gonna be had cause we have to give the other team 120 pins, yikes. I digress on that though, I went to the Grand Canyon last week and it was really nice. I had never been there before so I didn't know what to expect, but it was pretty amazing. We saw the IMAX movie, hiked around, saw different scenic points, all and all a nice trip. I don't know if i'd ever want to sit on a donkey for 8 hours to make it down to the bottom, but who knows.

Its almost NFL season, which for me, means sundays full of pacing back and forth, swearing and throwing things, ahh good times ahead...haha.

This question is for bleed like me and hedwig, recently a Dodger pitcher bet a bat boy that he couldn't drink a gallon of milk in less than an hour without throwing up, needless to say the bat boy lost the bet, my question is: Is this feat even possible? I was reading online and I don't think its is, but i wanted to get real medical answers. Yes I know I ponder useless information.

Looking forward to going to Hawaii, as pasty as i am, i think a little sun might be helpful. 3 more weeks for that. Time has been flying by lately, how is it almost September already? Seriously?

My coworker who has been an advisor for about 20 years is leaving in a month, kinda weird cause when anyone ever needs anything they go to her since she knows everything. I get her office which is cool, but its going to be different.

Waiting for the fall tv season to start sucks by the way. Arrested Development on at 12:30 on weeknights is pretty cool though. yeah i'm rambling i'll stop now.

Oh some quick movie revies since I haven't done this in a while:

40 Year Old Virgin: I give this movie a B+ its a good guy movie and pretty funny. They make fun of coldplay, that gets the extra + from me.

Wedding Crashers: This was one of the better surprises this summer, it made me laugh and fall in love with rachel mcadams for the time being. Motorboat.

Last Days: D (maybe lower) I think I am still watching this movie, its annoying, really really annoying. I had a feeling that Van Sant was going to attempt to make it way more artsy and preachy than it should be, and I was right. 30 minutes into the movie I was just waiting for him to go to the garden house, sorry to spoil it for you all.

Random thoughts:

- Apparently Fox News needs to do some fact checking. On August 7th, John Loftus, a former U.S. prosecutor, went on live television and claimed a terrorist lived in La Harba and proceeded to give out the address of the location. The disturbing fact was the terrorist had not lived there for three years and the information was outdated. However, the family who did live at the home got to experience the reaction of the announcement. Wow, Fox News keep up the terrible work. Addendum: The link might not work for some so sorry. Oh and you if you want some sweet merch.

- So all this talk about politics made me wonder who will run when 2008 rolls around and we could see one crappy president leave to be replaced by another. Well lo and behold I came across this blog which has devoted itself entirely to that question. Although upon closer inspection the guy who runs the site is from the UK so what does he really care who runs the US.

- Politics at work is terrible and annoying.

- A new guy started at my work and he sits right next to me. I already dislike him a lot. First he mutters under his breath while working, second he INSIST on talking to me even when it is quite obivious I am busy and third he use to be in real estate so he has the "salesman" way of talking which just gets under my skin. Can't you tell I love him?!?

- Why is it hot again?

- Why is gas so much now?

A note for the coffee-addicted who prefer Coffee Bean to Starbucks (because their large is 24 oz., unlike the puny 20 oz. venti). :) The frequent buyer Pink Cards at Coffee Bean will be discontinued after Oct. 16, because of mass counterfeiting that has cost the company millions. But a new plastic Pink Card is being tested in San Fran. Until they bring it to L.A., I will just have to work at becoming the customer of the month at Peet’s for that free coffee fix.

I don't intentionally write "fancy," but this should give everyone an idea of what I find amusing. (Oh, and the copy editors were all abuzz with confusion. Other Hollywood errors include Two Weeks Notice and Bridget Jones's Diary.) A cheer for pedants!

(M) Can't Buy Me Love (1980something). Grade: A
I looove this movie. That's love with three o's. Yeah, that's right. If you haven't seen it, the storyline goes like this: Dork (Patrick Dempsey) pays Cheerleader (some blonde chick of course) a 1000 bucks to be his girlfriend for a month so that he can gain popularity. Cheerleader falls for Dork, Dork doesn't know how to handle popularity and alienates his true friends, the secret comes out, and hilarity ensues (insert the cool crowd and muscular bully here). It's oh so very 80s and cheesy at times, but timeless in a way.

Oh yeah did I mention that Patrick Dempsey is hot??

(O) Catalina Island (8/20/05) Grade: A

I'm reposting my review, this time with a bit more detail. I suppose this is the result of reading Pigern's many fancy, analytical blogs. Mine sound so elementary. Why won't "I liked it" suffice as a review? Hehe.

Anyway, Cup O Noodles took me to Catalina for my bday because I've always wanted to go. The boat ride was about an hour long; Upon docking, we walked around, had lunch, and rented a golf cart and drove around the island. The guy at the golf cart stand gave us a map with a suggested route, and being the genius that I am, I had the idea to go opposite the route so that we'd be going against traffic. Uhh, yeah this doesn't work so much if some of the streets are one way. Ha! But Cup O Noodles and I had a great time navigating around the island. Afterward we rented one of those peddle boats and peddled around the harbor. And get this - the water is beautiful and clear, so very unlike typical Southern California water. Finished off with dinner and a nice stroll through the neighborhood, it was a good day. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to take a day trip somewhere.

(M) National Treasure. Grade: C

Before you diss...you have to watch the movie. This movie actually HAS a story line, which is refreshing. It's about how our Country's Founders hid a bunch of treasures in America and the only way to discover those treasures is to locate various clues around the world. And these clues aren't easy to find.... they are hidden! Gosh...our forefathers are geniuses! Anyway, while the whole concept of this movie is awesome...I must warn you about the acting job by Nicholas Cage. He doesn't show emotion when he acts. So, if you can tolerate his acting...you’ll love this movie for sure.

(O) Cup-O-Noodles Survey
I know a few people on here listen to Kevin and Bean in the morning. There is talk that Adam Corolla from Loveline may take over Howard Stern's morning DJ job here on the West Coast. Which would you choose to listen to, Kevin and Bean or Adam?

Stevie (Documentary - filmed around 1999) Grade: B
So what happens when your mom has you and she doesn't want you? What happens when you're a young boy shipped around to different foster homes? What happens when you're sexually abused in these foster homes? What happens when you get somebody from the "Big Brother" program come into your life and then leave you only to show up about 10 or more years later with a video camera to document your life and "catch up"? Well, watch this movie and find out.
Here are some hints... you get in toruble with the law A LOT. You have a mentally slow girlfriend who you don't hit because it didn;t work out with your last girlfriend that you used to smack around. You molest an 8 year old girl. You're at risk of being murdered in jail for it. You're mentallity doesn't pass the age of a young child. Though for all this disaster, there is something absolutely LOVABLE about Stevie. Maybe it's his child like behavior or big goofy look.
With trying to be there for his sister, allowing his life to be filmed only so he can have a connection again with his one time "Big Brother", and having a mom than abused and abandoned him trying to come back into his life, it's quite an interesting story. It's alos 2.5 hours long. One of the biggest highlights was when Stevie and his girlfriend were visiting a friend who is physically diasbled, and possibly mentally as well... her insight to life and relationships is extraordinary! Though this film is quite a downer in many areas, it also has a lot of life and heart in it. I really recommend viewing it.

For fans of Harry Potter - This is an actual picture my sister took in London. It's an homage to Harry Potter at King's Cross.

(TV) Laguna Beach (MTV) Grade: Too puzzled to grade fairly
I caught about 10 minutes of this show, so that might not sufficiently resolve my bewilderment as to why this TV series is rated No. 1 among the 18-24 crowd. There was no discernable dialogue except for a lot of seemingly hyper-active, very well-dressed, well-groomed teenagers exclaiming, Ohmygod! He is so cute! I love him! or variations on that. If there was an actual conversation, it went like this: People should totally get out of Laguna! Like I know! Dumbass! (That is all I can transcribe ... it was extremely dense and vacuous.)

(B) Summer Blonde (Adrian Tomine) Grade: A
I first encountered Tomine in the 2002 Best American Non-required Reading, which included his short story "Bomb Scare." Tomine has a talent for involving his reader (in a remarkably short amount of time) and then abrubtly ending his stories in unexpected ways. They read like a voyeuristic view into the lives of a few characters, but Tomine always leaves you guessing. The vignettes are thought-provoking and his illustrations are vivid. One of his most salient criticisms is for his typical, common characters (often outsiders or loners), but perhaps they only seem typical because people so easily identify a bit of themselves through them.

(B) Good Omens (Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett) Grade: B+
Who would have thought the Armageddon would be funny? Well, namely Gaiman and Pratchett in this very comical look at the war between Good and Evil. The sense of humor is self-referential, subtle and often footnoted, with amusing ironic bits such as naming the Antichrist Adam. A genuinely entertaining read for those who would like an alternative, frivolous take on the Left Behind series.

(M) Junebug (2005, June Morrison) Grade: B
I felt somewhat underwhelmed by this film. The tagline certainly is accurate: the blue states and red states do meet in this film about a Chicago-residing man and his cosmopolitan wife traveling to his hometown in North Carolina. I picked up on all the overarching themes of feeling like an outsider (even in your own family), attempts at human understanding and connection (despite cultural differences), et al. And the quiet moments in the film complimented the overall pace. But in the end, I just did not feel emotionally affected. The shining star is Amy Adams, who portrays a character so desperate in her need for affection and approval that you feel for her the most.