Friends No More

I just found out yesterday, from an article in TechCrunch, that Friendster is not going to be friendly (to everyone) anymore.  Now where am I going to find "girls that want to meet you" in Southeast Asia now?  Oh well, I can still  find "girls that want to meet you" in Brasil on Orkut. How hard is it to learn Portuguese?

Cloud Culture?

I was just contemplating that there isn't a bookstore, music store, or even a video store within a 10 mile radius from me anymore. Sadly it's true, the culture war is over... cause culture got whopped.

Multi-Culturalism

Yesterday after mass, I had 3 short rib tacos (from a taco truck) in front of a Korean church, who were raising funds for Japan relief.  There ain't nothing like California is there?

HBO's Game of Thrones

Topic: Television Show Review

I watched the premiere of Game of Thrones on HBO last night and was rather impressed by it.  For those of you unfamiliar with this show/book, its one of those fantasy stories similar to the Hobbitt Trilogy or King Arthur.  You know, sword play, damsels in tight bodices, monsters, etc., but unlike most films or tv series in this genre (and yes I'm talking about you SyFy channel), the acting, cinematopgrahy, editing, directing were all good... at least for the first episode anyway.  If you liked HBO's other miniseries Rome or Starz's Spartacus, I think you'll like this one also.

Here's a wikileak for detailed information: Game of Thrones
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The Infidel

What do you do when you realize you’re not who you think you are? Not only that but you turn out to be the person you’re bigoted against.  Why you make an existential comedy of course.  The film isn’t really a remake of Watermelon Man but it’s close enough.   And just like Watermelon Man it has enough laughs and a moral underpinning to make it enjoyable for a general audience.  It’s a light comedy and doesn’t pretend to be anything greater.  It’s worth renting but I’d consider My Beautiful Launderette first.  

Favorite Line:(After his shocked and angry family finds out Mahmoud is Jewish) 

Mamhoud/Solly: Well, at least I’m not a Shiite.
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Kudos to the Gentleman from Michigan

I just read an article about how Senator Carl Levin just purchased a Chevy Volt.  Hopefully more public officials follow his lead.
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T-Mobile Girl Goes Down Swinging

I can't help laugh when I see the T-Mobile commercials ripping
AT&T.  You go girl!  Show'em you won't back down... to your
soon-to-be bosses.

T-Mobile Commercial

Last Chance Harvey

I’m not young anymore and I don’t want to be young again, not mentally anyway.  That’s why I guess I liked this film.  At first I couldn’t see any chemistry between Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson.  But like in real life, sometimes chemistry isn’t instantaneous.  I guess the key word for this film is real.  It just feels real, like how a Mike Leigh film feels real.  There are pauses in the conversation, awkward silences, and corny jokes, all the things that happen when you first meet someone.  Since neither of the main characters is young anymore, there’s also the steadiness of maturity that you don’t see in the average 20-something romance flick.  It’s also good to believe that two mature and stable people can still have an adventure.  It’s not a great movie but it does the belief in adventure angle quite well.
I’d say that if your under 40, I wouldn’t recommend this film, but if you’re over 40, I think you’ll relate and enjoy this comedy for grown-ups.
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Good Day

I had a  hard work out, the kind I used to have when I was fit.  Also, I was on the scale and it told me I lost a pound.  It was a good day.

There is Hope

I had an interesting meeting with the head of a start-up in San Francisco today.  I hope there's a position there for me.  I'll be honest; I've almost lost hope.  I believe in God and his mercy & compassion, but these last few years have tested me. 

A Better Engine is the Answer

Topic: Cars

An interesting article in the New York Times about the advancements in gas and diesel engines.  It would be great if electric cars could be competitively priced and easy to use as a gas car, but they're not and won't be for a considerable time.  Without a revolutionary advancement in battery technology, there really isn't an option available.  The other alternatives, hydrogen, natural gas, and every other expensive option really aren't viable and possibly will never be viable.  This is important as tens of millions or hundreds of millions of people in India and China (and other developing countries) start earning enough to purchase cars.  Not only will the lack of a better engine increase the CO2 levels but will also drive up price for gasoline worldwide.  I don't think I have to mention what that will do to the economy and the poor.

No, while I like the idea of a battery powered electric car, the reality is the good old gas or diesel engine (in a more advanced form) will be the real difference maker.
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Harsh Times

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This film makes me recall my "stupid punk kid" days better then anything I've seen since Law of Gravity.  The film is called Harsh Times and stars an excellent performance by Christian Bale.  It's from the same sirector/writer, David Ayer,that gave us Training Day.  I truly can't comprehend why this never
became a big hit: I consider it the equal or possibly better than Training Day.

I've read the reviews and theircriticisms are valid but the fact is I knew people like this and can
tell you that it's fairly accurate about the low lives of our society. I should know; I was once a low life.  Frankly I see myself in all thecharacters (sans homicidal tendencies). The best example is the scene
where the Mike Alonzo character (played by Freddy Rodriguez) tells hishomeboy Jim Davis (played by Christian Bale) that he doesn't want toparty with him and Jim berates Mike for choosing to stay with his girl
instead of hanging with him, or when Sylvia tells Mike he can't hangout with Jim and Mike tells her that she can't tell him what to do(irregardless of how this will effect their relationship).  I've doneand said all the same stuff.  It's like Ayer drilled into all my good and bad memories of when I was a young man.

Granted alot of guys have had similar experiences.  What separates thesecharacters and myself is that most have never experienced violence insuch a laisse faire attitude or become a victim of circumstances.  It’s
a dangerous combination of peer pressure, apathy, and a voyeurism of your own tragedy.  In other words, I was a dumb lazy kid associatingwith dangerous dumb lazy kids.

I'll be honest and tell you that my experiences were more juxtaposed to the Toussant character(played by Chaka Forman). I'm more of a peripheral character thattouches but never becomes one of the hardcore idiot/loser types.  When things got a little too intense, I too just left the car and went home.
      
This started as a film review but I supposed it’s more about me in the past tense. Even if it is, if you liked
Training Day, Reservoir Dogs, or any other film that deals with thedynamics of young violent prone men, then rent this film.  You're going to really like it.
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