Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 453

July 19, 2013: My Japanese expressions! A cook book signing! And a movie poll!

“I have a headache,”I informed Akemi as I picked her up following her afternoon English class.

“Do you know what that’s called?”she asked me.

The Japanese seemingly have a term for everything, so I was expecting something along the lines of atama na atsui (hot head) or tayo nemutai (sun sleepiness) or even kanso nomiso itai (dry brain pain).  Instead, she smiled knowingly and offered an English variation: “Separation anxiety.”

Presumably, having been reunited with her after our ninety minutes apart, I’ll be feeling better in no time.

So, last night, Akemi and I attended a book launch by Chef Chuck Hughes (Chuck Hughes) whose food show and rustic, comfort food recipes have long been a hit at our place.  Chuck hails from my hometown of Montreal and, whenever I head back east to visit mom and sis, we always make it a point to visit his restaurant in Old Montreal, Garde Manger.

About two hundred people showed for the signing at West Restaurant. We got there early, parked ourselves by the narrow hall leading out from the kitchen, and nabbed the appetizers as they passed by on their way to the dining room: pulled pork burgers, oysters on the half shell, cocktail prawn, duck fat fries, and other goodies.  While munching and waiting for Chuck to draw his trademark lobsters on our respective cookbooks, we wound up befriending a couple of other attendees.  ”How did you end up talking to them?”Akemi asked me on the way home.

“How do I ever end up talking to anyone?”I asked.  ”I just started talking to them.”  It’s been my experience that, more often than not, people tend to answer back and a conversation invariably ensues.

What about y’all?  Do you tend to strike up conversations with complete strangers?  If so, does your significant other find it odd?  If not, why not?  And how do you react when a complete stranger engages you in conversation?  Chatty or suspicious?  Do tell.

Anyway, on our way out, I stopped to ask the bartender a question about the bourbon selection that evolved into a twenty minute discussion about Tokyo and my favorite watering hole: Star Bar (http://starbar.jp/).  I miss that place.

Well, you’ve all weighed in with your suggestions so here are the four nominees for our next (after next week’s Despicable Me) movie review:

Take Our Poll

Polls are open until Sunday night, so get your votes in!

Tagged: Chuck Hughes

July 18, 2013: Meetings, mellophones, and munchies!

This morning, Paul and I met with a potential production partner (our fourth in four days) to discuss a series we’ll soon be developing for an interested broadcaster.  Everyone we met to date has been very nice, seemed very smart, very capable and, most important of all, responded favorably to the script.  One more meeting to go (next week?) after which it’ll be time to sit down and choose our dance partner.  It’s going to be a tough call, but the sooner we make it, the sooner we can closer our deal and get to work on the series bible and episode #2.

From there, it was downtown for lunch with Akemi and my friend Jenny who is on a 20 day North American road trip that has taken her from Texas to Alaska, through parts of Canada to – today! – Vancouver. She got in late last night and leaves (early!) early tomorrow morning, Seattle-bound after which…who knows?  She’s a free spirit, traveling with naught but good intentions, three jars of salsa, and her mellophone.  No really.  It’s an actual instrument.  Look it up.

Anyway, by the time I got to the bookstore, Akemi and Jenny had already met up and were chatting away, no doubt making alternate lunch plans under the assumption I had bailed.  Fortunately, I arrived before they could enact Plan B.  Instead, it was Food Cart time!

We let our guest decide and Jenny picked Fresh Local Wild for our first stop.  We grabbed table in the back of the food truck caboose and enjoyed…

Clam chowder poutine.

Not being a big fan of cheese and being a big fan of clam chowder, Akemi was a big fan of THIS version of the Quebec fries and gravy staple.

Chicken-fried oyster sandwich.

I love me a good po-boy.  Akemi didn’t love it and, while I found the coating to oyster ratio was a little off, I did find it tasty.

Jenny gives her fish shwarma the thumbs up

Jenny, meanwhile, enjoyed her fish shwarma which was comprised of various fish (halibut, salmon – to name those I can remember).  ”Very refreshing,”I believe were her words.

“I have to pace myself,”said Akemi at one point.

“Actually, you shouldn’t pace yourself,”I advised.  ”You just have to scarf and go.  That’s the way the experts do it.”

We finished up quickly and moved on.  We were on the clock after all!

We bypassed Japanese hot dogs in favor of a double food truck hit: Ze Bite and The Reed Runner.  A little of this and a little of that….

Akemi – on the one hand, there’s the pulled pork on baguette; on the other, there’s the gazpacho…

The addition of the apple slices with the pulled pork was surprising – and surprisingly delicious.  The gazpacho was very thick, with an almost pudding-like consistency, and didn’t go over well.

Chicken curry.

The chicken was quite tender but, sadly, devoid of any seasoning.  It’s too bad because it even had a touch (just a touch) of heat that would have made it sing if the dish had been just a little more flavorful.

Plantain chips

But the plantain chips were the winner at this stop.

From there, it was a short walk over to Bella Gelateria for double-scoop gelato cups.  Alas, no pictures.  I was too busy eating.

And so ended our Vancouver food truck tour.  So far, on this road trip, Jenny has encountered a buffalo, a black bear, and yours truly. Seriously.  What more could she ask for?

The traditional pre-match photo op.

Jenny was also kind enough to gift us with a Texan cuisine cookbook (chicken-fried steak with cracked pepper cream gravy anyone?) and three jars of Lone Star salsa.  Sadly, no mellophone.

Best July 19th Present Ever!

A great time was had by all.  I suspect that the next time we meet, it’ll be on her turf.  I’ve already started my research: http://www.fwfoodpark.com/

One more day to get your suggestions in for our next movie screening. What film will Cookie Monster have the “pleasure” of reviewing after Despicable Me?  Post your nominations!

July 17, 2013: Contractual obligations! And an almost addition to the pack!

Akemi has “the” worst sense of direction.  And that’s really saying something coming from me, someone who HAD “the” worst sense of direction prior to my meeting her and relinquishing the crown.  Every time she takes the dogs out for a walk, I experience an uneasy sense of foreboding, sort of akin to what the loved ones of pre-colonial explorers must have felt as they watched their significant others disappear into the wild.  ”Pack a snack!”I want to say as she heads out the door. “And some water!  And this handy compass and map of the neighborhood!”

This afternoon, we took Lulu out for a not-all-that circuitous stroll around the block.  As I took a right, down our street, Akemi hesitated. “Oh,”she said.  ”I thought we had to turn left.”

“Well, YOU have to turn left,”I told her, “because that’s the way to the airport.  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for three wonderful years and wish you all the best.  If you need a letter of reference for your next relationship, I’d be more than happy to – “

“Oh, no,”she interrupted matter-of-factly, turning right and leading the way toward home.  ”I’m going to stay for another three years.”

“You are?”

“Yes.  It’s in the contract you signed.”

“Hunh.  I don’t recall signing a contract.”

“No.  You were probably drunk.  But I remember.”

Well, there you go.  Not great with directions but excellent with memories, phantom or otherwise.

Lulu wants it to be clear: there are boundaries, especially when it comes to chew toys.

So, hey, the other day I was perusing facebook for invitations to play Farmville when I happened across a post via the Pugs in Canada page. A family had moved away and surrendered their ten year old pug. Rather than dropping the dog off at the local SPCA, a concerned neighbor took him in and was looking for a new home for the poor little guy.  Now, as many of you know, I’ve been considering adopting a senior pug – one of those old-timers who everyone else has given up on.  I’ve been vacillating for months now, checking out the local (and not so local) pug rescue sites on a nightly basis.  And when I read the aforementioned post, I was torn.  On the one hand, I wasn’t sure I was ready to make an addition to the pack.  On the other hand, I’ve been thinking about a certain pug I was considering adopting months ago – a portly black fellow who reminded me of my late pug Maximus.  I considered, re-considered, decided against adopting – and the dog ended up going to another home.  I was happy for the little guy – until I read an update that he had disappeared from his adoptive family’s back yard.  They suspect coyotes, but who knows?  I can’t help but think that if I had made up my mind and acted sooner, I could have saved that pug.

Realistically, there are many dogs in need out there and I can’t save them all.  But maybe, I thought after reading that facebook post, I could save THAT one.  So I contacted the poster who informed me that she was already talking to a family that had expressed interest in taking him in – but if those discussions fell through…

Alas, I was informed this morning that it’s a happy ending for the little guy who has been placed with a loving family.  I’m both relieved and…well…kind of relieved.  But also a little sad.

Maybe next time?

A quick shout out to Pet Safe Coalition Society of Canada, a non-profit registered group, all volunteer-run, some of who were trained under Noah’s Wish in the US. During a disaster, they will retrieve/shelter/ feed pets and then return them to their families. They services the Quesenl, B.C. area but will assist other communities if invited to do so, working with any pet in a safe working relationship (horses-  to kittens—and more): Pet Safe Coalition Society of Canada – Our mission is to save …

Pssst. I here someone may be moving in.

Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regular Bilo&Kasper – and a second dedication to Joanie!

July 16, 2013: Carl, kabuki, and projects galore!

Look at ‘em.  Best of buddies!

As part of Carl Binder’s ongoing 12-Step Rehabilitation Back into Society Program – and my volunteer work with underprivileged youth, animals, and former Stargate producers – we all got together the other night for an evening of sushi and song.  Minus the song.  Although I suspect there was some humming on the part of our waiter who looked like a young Peyton Manning.  As for the sushi -

Boy, that Carl can eat.  Apparently, being grumpy burns more calories than jogging AND swimming.

Speaking of food – apparently, the invitation to Akemi’s sister’s wedding is on its way.  The bride is putting the finishing touches on plans for The Big Day, among them the choice of the perfect wedding cake.  I would like to suggest chocolate, pistachio, hazelnut, and red velvet – in that order.  No, really.  I want to suggest it but Akemi says no.  She also quashed my idea of the BEST wedding gift the bride and groom could ever hope to get: yours truly regaling them with a fifteen minute kabuki performance to honor their culture and rich tradition.  Akemi thinks we should go with cash instead.  This really sucks as I started my chunori training last week and have already invested in a yokobue.  :(

*

Alright, here we go!

Again.

Paul and I developed a pilot script and series overview for Dark Matter – which is presently in limbo with one broadcaster.

We also developed a pilot and series overview for an urban fantasy series – presently in limbo with another broadcaster.

We’re currently working on the pilot script for the proposed Johnny Mnemonic series.

And, once we get the contract done, will begin fast-track development on that rare non-genre series.  The broadcaster is looking for a second script (episode #2 I presume) and a bible after which it’ll (no doubt) be smoooooooooooooth sailing.

Yep, if all goes as planned, we should have four shows on the air in 2014!

*

Our now bi-monthly Supermovie of the Week Club resumes this Monday with a (sort of) “super”hero-themed movie: Despicable Me. The week following is wide open, however, so let’s hear your nominees. We’re open to any genre and welcome any suggestions – except for the two titles that didn’t make the cut in the last poll, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Ultraviolet, owing to the whole double jeopardy procedural defense that is presently law in this country. Sorry, guys.  I don’t make the rules.

Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regular Joanie!

July 15, 2013: Cookie Monster reviews The Fifth Element!

If watching Abar: The First Black Superman like being on two week vodka bender, den watching The Fifth Element definitely involve some heavy drugs.  You need dem in order to fully appreciate dis film – preferably acid which monster suspekt be obvious preference of filmmakers.

Dis movie a wildly mixed bag of nuts.  On de one hand, it have everyting a science fiction fan could want: aliens, bad aliens, worse aliens, a colorful villain, huge stakes involving threat to Earth – de galaxy! – de UNIVERSE!, cool futuristic weapons, action!  On de other hand, it have plenty of stuff any self-respekting science fiction fan NOT want: nonsensical plot and developments, lame insta-love romance, humor dat skirt de line between silly funny and stoopid-stoopid, and a future where everyone dress like Parisian runway accident victims.

Aliens!

Bad aliens!

Worse alien!

Movie begin in Egypt in 1914 where archeologist diskover legend of ancient evil dat rise up every 300 years only to be vanquished by light weapon created by four elements conducted through fifth element which aktually be a human in a sarcophagus.  Make sense so far? Good, good.  Dat mean you already high.

Aliens arrive and open up sekret chamber in pyramid holding four elements and sarcophagus and take dem away for safekeeping.  After all, dey not want to leave dese precious artifakts lying around Earth…like dey have been doing for hundreds of years!   After accident involving faulty automatic doors, human priest end up wit key to sekret chamber…

Smirky McSmirkerson.

Three hundred years later, Earth encounter evil black entity dat threaten to destroy de entire Universe!  Fortunately, de good aliens we saw earlier fly back to deliver artifakts capable of destroying it. Unfortunately, good aliens get attacked by evil muppet aliens.  Ship destroyed but Earth able to recover enough genetic material to recreate fully functional Fifth Element human conduit – along wit sexy band-aid dress.

Sexy conduit, a.k.a. Leelu, promptly eskape and catch ride wit washed up space cab driver played by Bruce Willis who always seem like an aktor who be doing you a favor by akting in de movie you happen to be watching.  Whether he be smirking, mugging, or looking direktly at camera, de subtext of his performance always de same: “Look at me. I’m Bruce Willis!  I aktually get paid for dis!  Can you believe it?!”  Me? Not really.

In a happy coincidence, Bruce Willis happen to be ex-military guy and get ordered to go to undercover as space-holiday winner to space cruise ship where other four elements hidden.  Bruce be joined by Leelu and priest (different priest becuz dat wouldn’t make sense and we got more den enough stuff not making sense in dis movie) wit key to sekret chamber.  But he pursued by…

Zorb?  Zord?  Zorg?

Colorful villain wit bad hair and worse accent (played by Gary Oldman) who will stop at nothing to stop dem from getting the four elements. Why?  Becuz he aktually working for…de evil entity.  Yep, he be working for an evil black space cloud bent on annihilating existence. What exaktly be de upside for villain?  What he get out of it?  Oh, he just crazy?  Er, okay.  And how he, a lowly human, communicate wit his god-like amorphous cosmic boss?  By phone?  Er, why, yes.  Evil space cloud just ring him up.  Oh, okay.  Dat make…about as much sense as rest of movie me guess.

It all culminate in ridikulous climax involving double-crossed and crossing alien shapeshifters, a blue opera-singing alien wit a very slow-akting digestive track, fighting, shooting, explosions, and de most annoying charakter in movie history played by Chris Tucker doing a much less masculine RuPaul imiation.

In de end, Bruce Willis save de day and get de girl while audience treated to clumsy “Horrible humanity saved by de power of love” lesson.  Yeah, we suck.  But we so damn cute!

Verdikt: Alternately fascinating and hugely embarrassing.  It like a clown car wreck.  Very hard to look away.

Rating: 5.5 chocolate chippee cookies.

Tagged: Cookie Monster movie reviews, Cookie Monster reviews The Fifth Element, science fiction, scifi movies, SF movies, The Fifth Element

Sunday, June 14: Once again, this blog goes to the dogs. The french bulldogs to be precise…

Today, Lulu attended a networking meeting for french bulldogs.  She made a lot of great connections…

Tagged: Dogs, french bulldog, french bulldogs

July 13, 2013: Kitsilano Music & Arts Festival!

Early this afternoon, I received a text from my buddy Ivon asking me if I’d like to check out “Kits Days”.  I realized I’d completely forgotten about the annual Kitsilano Music & Arts Festival, a.k.a. The Khatsahlano Music & Arts Festival, a.k.a. The Khitzhilhanho Muzik & Artz Fessteeval, that sees West 4th street transformed into a car-free zone of middling music and mediocre food.

“Could swing by,”I texted back.  ”When will you be there and where shall we meet?”

He informed me he was going to bike down and suggested we meet in half an hour in front of the drug store.

I told Akemi so that she could get ready and then, twenty minutes before the agreed-upon meeting time, we hopped in the car.  Twenty minutes would, I figured, give us plenty of time to find a parking spot and walk down.

And so, we drove down one main street, checked out a side street, drove up another street, checked out another side street, then down another, rolling past the numerous “Residents Only” parking areas.  Up. Down.  Up.  Down.  Up.  Down.  Winding our way through the narrow streets unntil, finally, success!  I found the perfect parking spot -

Right in front of my house.

I headed inside, pulled out a deck chair, and enjoyed a glass of a recent purchase:

Having lived in the area for almost ten years now and having experienced my fair share of “local events”, I can honestly proclaim this personal celebration the BEST KITS DAYS EVER!

Tagged: Khatsahlano, Khatsahlano Music & Arts Festival, Kitsilano, Kitsilano Music & Arts Festival

July 12, 2013: My Favorite Single Issue Comic Books!

I used to read a lot of comic books when I was a kid.  Eventually, I grew up and grew out of them.  Until high school when I started picking them up again and experienced my first wave of nostalgia for those childhood favorites: The Avengers, The Amazing Spiderman, and Batman.  In time, my interest in comics waned once again.  Until sometime in college when my interest was renewed.  And so it has gone over the course of my life – my interest in comics waxing and waning and waxing in an endless cycle of nostalgia and fresh discovery.

So this morning I was thinking about the thousands of comic books I’ve read over the years and tried to come up with a list of those singular issues that hold a special place in my heart.  Now they may not be the most critically acclaimed or the most popular or even all that memorable to many, but whenever I rediscover comic books, I’m always trying to recapture the joy I experienced when reading these single issues for the first time…

UNCANNY X-MEN #133

The rest of the X-Men have fallen to the fearsome Hellfire Club and it’s up to Wolverine, last mutant standing, to save the day.  I remember being blown away by this one because it was the first time I’d seen Wolverine really cut loose in a bad-ass way.

AMAZING SPIDERMAN #130

The only thing I like more than a colorful supervillain is a colorful supervillain with depth.  Spiderman and Doctor Octopus have few things in common, but one thing they do share is an affection for dear old Aunt May.  And when Hammerhead crashes one of comicdom’s weirdest weddings, the two longtime enemies become the unlikeliest of allies in order to save her.

UNCANNY X-MEN #141

Arguably the most awesome storyline in the title’s run foresees a grim future for our uncanny anti-heroes.

HITMAN #14

This title was hilariously over-the-top, and the pinnacle of its outrageous run was this issue that sees Tommy and co. taking on the undead denizens of a local zoo.

AMAZING SPIDERMAN #131

A seminal issue back in the day when, for the most part, dead characters stayed dead.

BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE

A bit of a cheat here because it’s a special release rather than an issue of an ongoing title, but I include it because it ranks as my very favorite Batman story.

AVENGERS #177

One by one, Earth’s Mightiest fall to the unstoppable Korvac.  Shocking stuff.

UNCANNY X-MEN #137

I recall being so surprised and amazed by the audacity of this double-issue that I ended up returning to my local comic book shop and purchasing another dozen copies – for safe keeping.

AVENGERS ANNUAL #7

The bittersweet opening to of an epic two-parter.  The final, soul gem reunion of Adam Warlock and his loved ones gets me every time.

DEADPOOL #11

The greatest time travel story in comic book history sees Deadpool travel back to The Amazing Spiderman #47.  No, not the 1960′s when that issue was set but actually The Amazing Spiderman #47.  The high point of writer Joe Kelly’s brilliant Deadpool run.

Tagged: Avengers, Batman, Deadpool, Hitman, The Killing Joke, The Mighty Avengers, The Uncanny X-Men, X-Men

July 11, 2013: Being born the leading cause of death in countries with people!

Yes, it’s true.  Research I have just completed, drawn from personal memory and thousands of kilobytes of information gleamed from online sources, finds a direct link between being born and dying.  Fully one hundred percent of individuals alive today will die at some point in their lives (+/- a statistical variance of 1%).  Hard to believe but true. Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, please take the necessary precautions.

In other bullshit health-related news, I came across this article today: Taking omega-3 fish oil supplements may increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer by 70% | Mail Online

Yes, fish oil is apparently bad for you, so go ahead and add fish to the list of foods you should avoid – alongside ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING ELSE. So, you’ve been warned: Whatever you do, DO NOT EAT.  It’s the fastest way to an early grave.

According to findings in “a” (singular) study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, [individuals with]: “…the highest levels of omega-3 in their blood were 71 per cent more likely to develop fast-growing, hard-to-treat prostate tumours.  They were also more likely to contract the slower, less deadly form of the disease, with the overall prostate cancer risk raised by 43 per cent.”

This is terrible news, especially for Japanese men, one of the world’s biggest consumers of fish (oily and otherwise) who, curiously, also have one of the lowest rates of prostate cancer in the developed worldwide (http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2007/).

But how could this be?  On the one hand, you have this “one” (singular) surprising new study telling us fish oil MAY be bad for us while, on the other, you have the contradictory FACT that an entire nation of Japanese men who consume A LOT MORE fish oil than the global average actually suffer A LOT LESS prostate cancer.  Hmmm. Who to believe?  Who to believe?

P.S.: This study on the dangers of fish oil and natural supplements brought to you by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle which happens to be funded by big pharmaceutical companies who, it goes without saying, always have their your best interests at heart.

Someone else calls bullshit on these findings: http://drgeo.com/something-is-fishy-about-omega-3s-causing-aggressive-prostate-cancer

In other news:

Here’s another interesting study that suggests “upper-class individuals behave more unethically than lower-class individuals”: Rich people are dicks and here’s the proof! dangerousminds.net Not all rich people, of course, just most of ‘em. Via PBS Newshour: In a series of startling studies, psychologists at the University of California at Berkeley have found that “upper-class individuals behave more unethically than lower-class individuals.” Ongoing research is trying to find out wha…  I believe we already discussed one of the potential reasons here: http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/november-30-2012-on-parental-responsibility-and-time-travel-ii/

Hey, speaking of potential psychopaths – Michael Vick was in the news the other day.  Sort of.  An open letter to Vick from the person who adopted one of his fighting dogs:  Dear Michael Vick: Your Champion Is Deadredleafentmedia.wordpress.comDear Michael Vick: Your Champion is Dead,Mike, just thought you’d like to know that on June 19th of this year, your Grand Champion Fighting Dog, Lucas, finally succumbed to the disease he was infec…

And there’s wonderful news that Vick’s football career may soon follow suit: The Eagles May Cut Michael Vick Altogether If (When?) Nick Foles …

Damn.  If only I’d come across this article had come out a little earlier. Now THIS would have been the perfect gift for birthday boy and foodie Martin Gero: $275,000 Buys a Trip to Every Three-Star Michelin Restaurant in the World.  Ah, well.  There’s always next year I suppose.

In sort-of food-related news, check out how “classy” Charles Saatchi informed wife, Nigella Lawson, that he’s divorcing her: Nigella Lawson’s Husband Divorces Her in a Newspaper

If superhero movies have taught us anything it’s that common folk are helpless and incompetent – in addition to other valuable lessons…The 5 Ugly Lessons Hiding in Every Superhero Movie

Today’s blog entry is dedicated to birthday gal Janet!

Tagged: fish, fish oil, Michael Vick

July 10, 2013: Tokyo plans! Watch this! And not that!

“Did I receive any mail?”asked Akemi.

She seemed genuinely crestfallen when I informed her: “No.”, then did that thing she always does when she’s thinking, alternately inflating one cheek, then the other.  ”Waiting for something?”I asked.

“An invitation to my sister’s wedding.”

I considered.  ”Are you sure you’re invited?”

She threw me a look, then redirected her attention to the brochure for The Imperial Hotel Tokyo I’d just received.  ”It’s too bad,”she said, eyeing one of the hotel’s fall deals.  ”They have a great deal in September.”

“When’s your sister getting married?”

“November.”

“Is it set in stone?  Would it be possible for her to move it forward a couple of weeks?  I mean twenty six thousand yen a night.  That’s a pretty good deal.”

She ignored me.

“What?  Would it hurt to ask?”

And continued to ignore me.

So, hey, the votes are on and, if you didn’t notice, The Fifth Element came out on top.  That means that Monday, July 15th, the Supermovie of the Week Club will reconvene with a non-superhero-themed movie. Our resident film critic, Cookie Monster, will swing by to weigh in with his thoughts on the movie – and expect you to weigh in with yours as well.  The week following, we return to the super theme with one of the movies we overlooked in our year-long marathon viewing: Despicable Me.  The sequel is getting a lot of buzz so I’m curious as to what all the fuss is about.  Anyway, check out the trailers of the next couple of movies on deck:

What’s with Gary Oldman’s hair?  And Chris Tucker’s everything?

My writing partner gives it the thumbs up.  But he’s got kids.

Hey, speaking of movies (and at the risk of sending Das into a tizzy) here’s an interesting article on The Lone Ranger’s box office underperformance: The Lone Ranger Represents Everything That’s Wrong With Hollywood Blockbusters.  I agree with the breakdown, especially point 4, “The Length Problem”.  ”Fun” summer releases have no business being over two hours long.  Oh, hey, by the way, Hollywood – Despicable Me 2, which is kicking The Lone Ranger’s ass, runs a comparatively brief 98 minutes.  This does NOT bode well for the 131 minute Pacific Rim which, coincidentally or not, is already on track to flame out at the box office.  But, clearly, Hollywood will be damned if they let the general movie-going public tell THEM what to make! Witness the After Earth debacle.  They’re going to let M. Night Shyamalan keep making movies until he gets it right!  Suddenly, The Sixth Sense seems like such a long time ago.

Oh, to those of you inquiring about Martin’s birthday present, I ended up getting him a gift certificate for THIS place: Snake River Farms, home of American Wagyu Beef and Kurobuta Pork.