Monthly Archives: January 2009

Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Review

January 30, 2009
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I finished Diary of a Wimpy Kid the other day. I know, that was fast right? It would have been faster if I had more time to read besides on the train to and from work. And even faster than that if I read for more than five minutes at a time before passing out. I suspect it could take an hour or so if you just sat down and read the whole thing in one sitting, but whole hours in my life are dedicated to DVDs, not books. Sorry literacy!

Anyway, it was really funny and I totally recommend it if you’re looking for something light and fun to read, especially if you need something for a commute. But only if you’re on the train or bus. Do not try and read this while driving! Now I’m reading Star Wars: Allegiance. It’s a standalone novel that takes place between the first Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back, which deals with the recruitment of Mara Jade and a group of rebellious Stormtroopers. It’s written by Timothy Zahn who kicked off the Expanded Universe back in the 90′s with the Heir to the Empire trilogy, so it should be good.

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Happiness is…

January 29, 2009
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1. Going back for a third cup of coffee on a lazy Sunday morning.

2. The rain washing away that bird crap that’s been on your car for a week.

3. Watching a red shirt kick the bucket on Star Trek.

4. Stretching your legs out into the cold side of the bed.

5. Homemade mashed potatoes loaded with butter, salt and pepper.

6. A really great movie trailer.

7. Triple Word Score.

8. Going to bed when you planned on it.

9. Spotting Orion’s Belt.

10. No voicemails on your work phone after being away from your desk.

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How to Split the Jolie-Pitts

January 28, 2009
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NOTE: My friend Denise (Hi Denise!) says I don’t talk about celebrities enough on here, so here I am talking about celebrities:

Breaking up is never a pretty thing, but for celebrities it can be even more difficult since it is out in the world for public consumption, which can be made even more complex when kids are involved. And these days, who has more kids than the Jolie-Pitt family? So I’m here today to help get a game plan in place just in case the day comes when Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt decide it’s better for the world if they share their genetic godliness with us mere mortals to improve the world’s gene pool, and go their separate ways. With a plan in place, we can hopefully avoid any unfriendly conflict and the breakup can be resolved quickly and efficiently.

THE KIDS

First and foremost, you should become familiar with the children of the Jolie-Pitt family, which are shown below:

Maddox: Angelina and Billy Bob Thornton adopted their first child from an orphanage in Cambodia in 2002. When they divorced, Angelina received sole custody of Maddox, with Thornton to have reasonable parenting time.

Zahara: In 2005, Angelina accompanied by Brad Pitt, adopted Zahara from an orphanage in Ethiopia. In 2006, Brad legally adopted Maddox and Zahara, and their last names became Jolie-Pitt.

Shiloh: Later in 2006, Angelina gave birth to Shiloh, her and Brad’s first biological child.

Pax: Then in 2007, Angelina and Brad adopted Pax from an orphanage in Vietnam.

Knox and Vivienne: Angelina gave birth to twins Knox and Vivienne — her and Brad’s second and third biological children — in 2008.

THE PLAN

I’ve tailored a specific custody arrangement for each child based on what we know about their adorable little existences thus far.

Maddox: Though Angelina and Brad are the legal guardians of Maddox, Billy Bob Thornton still had his right to reasonable parenting time. So my plan is to let the custody battle be between Angelina and Billy Bob, and leave Brad out of it for the moment. Don’t you worry your pretty little head, their are still plenty of kids for Brad to get his grubby little hands on! Anyway, the judge should state that since Billy Bob only has a smaller portion of the parental rights than Angelina, that they should cut off Maddox’s legs and give them to Billy Bob, and Angelina will gain custody of the rest. I suspect that Angelina will accept this proposal and be thrilled by the idea of being able to show off her amazing humanitarian skills by caring for a boy with no legs, however Billy Bob will be appalled by this idea, and demand that Angelina have sole custody of Maddox, rather than sacrifice the boy’s two legs. The judge will then award sole custody of Maddox to Billy Bob for having better parental instincts. Winner: Billy Bob!

Zahara: Okay, I realize that she’s only four, but let’s face it, Zahara is hot. She’s been hot since Angelina brought her home at 6 months old. Like, she’s a supermodel. She’s gonna have boys banging down her door when she’s older, so she’s gonna need Papa Pitt around to keep the boys in line. And I worry that after Brad, Angelina might fall back into her wild, sex in limos, vial of blood wearing ways, and that’s not the role model I want for Zahara. Winner: Brad!

Shiloh: I realize I went on and on and on about how hot Zahara is, and of course I mean no disrespect to Shiloh, because she is gorgeous as well. But I’ve done a bit of research and Shiloh is primarily a boys name, so girl is gonna have a whole bunch of identity issues when she gets older! And I know some of you may be thinking that name meanings don’t really have any bearing on people’s lives, but Craig stems from Crag — the Gaelic word for rock — and I was a geology major in college. Enough said. So Shiloh is going to need a strong female presence in her life to counterbalance the mannish feelings she’ll have about her name. Winner: Angelina!

Pax: We all know Brad really isn’t into this whole adoption, humanitarian business. He’s only doing it to impress Angelina who I’m pretty sure is never going to stop adopting children. So if they split up, Angelina will keep buying new babies, and since she already has custody of older Shiloh, it would make Pax a middle child when she gets a new one, and I’d hate to do that to him. Haven’t the Vietnamese suffered enough? Winner: Brad!

Knox: I’m fairly certain that Knox will devote his entire life to being the exact opposite of what his crappy butch name would suggest. Just as Apple Martin will prefer oranges, Knox Jolie-Pitt will be the faggiest fag who ever sashayed down a rainbow. And while some might think it would be best to make sure he has a strong father figure in his life, you must never separate a fag from his mother. Winner: Angelina!

Vivienne: Aw, come on, throw the poor girl a bone. The best news she’s had in four years was a dog movie. Winner: Jennifer Aniston!

So there we have it. I think this plan is entirely fair because both Brad and Angelina get two kids each, and we even show Billy Bob and Jennifer some love, which they both so desperately need after they were scorned by their oh so pretty lovers. Everybody wins! Especially the publishing houses that sign these kids up for memoir deals. Is it too early to teach these kids how to sign on the dotted line?

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Anchorman – Review

January 27, 2009
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Netflix #57 – Anchorman – Suggested by no one

This is one of those movies that I’ve wanted to see for a long time, but for one reason or another it always seemed to elude me. But I finally watched it the other day and loved it! I always find it weird reviewing a comedy, because what is there to say really? It was hysterical. There, I said it. The comedy movie was funny. Stop the presses! Okay fine, I’ll elaborate. Steve Carell was awesome in it. This was before The Office and 40 Year Old Virgin when his biggest prior role was in Bruce Almighty, and we all know how that turned out. But everything out of his mouth was genius. That said, I’d have to say that my favorite part was the trip to Pleasure Town. “Look! The most glorious rainbow ever!” “Do me on it!” I was dying. The one character I just couldn’t stand though was David Koechner as the sportscaster. Apparently he plays the same character in everything he does, and it annoys me every time (still two words! grrrr!) and just isn’t all that funny. Otherwise the movie was hysterical!

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World War Z – Review

January 27, 2009
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I finished World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War the other day and I can’t recommend it enough! It was such a well written, unique book that really kept things interesting through and through. It’s a book told in interviews by people who survived a world-wide zombie epidemic. From the doctor who treated “Patient Zero”, to the computer geek who had to get out from behind his computer to escape the city, to the dog trainers who trained the dogs to hunt zombies down, to the astronauts who were stranded on the International Space Station while chaos was breaking out on the world below, no facet of how the world would truly have to face a zombie epidemic was left untouched, and the book was that much richer of an experience for it. My one complaint would be that the ending lacked a certain edge (you don’t know how hard it was for me not to make a zombie pun and say “bite”) because you already know the storytellers all survived, so the climaxes aren’t as tense as you would expect. But that’s just a minor quibble, and it just enforces the fact that this isn’t your standard adventure book, but a chronicle of the human spirit.

But now I wanted to read something really light, so I picked up Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which is a young adult novel told in a journal format with lots of fun cartoons.

I’ve turned into a crazy person on the train who laughs out loud, but I can’t help it. This book is loads of fun and completely hysterical because it’s all just so dang true. It was a New York Times bestseller even! Which of course means it has led to a few sequels. I suspect I’ll be done by the end of the week, and will need to resist the urge never to read a big person book ever again.

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Happy Chinese New Year!

January 26, 2009
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Happy Chinese New Year everyone! Especially to my Chinese friends and readers who are celebrating today! 2009 is the year of the Ox. But what do the animals of the Chinese Zodiac represent? I’ll tell you! In honor of today’s event I went right to the source (one of those paper placemats you get at a Chinese restaurant that my mom folded up and put in her pocketbook saying “This will make a great post.” about five months ago) to teach you what these years mean to you. I also looked up celebrities who were born in each of the years, to see if they match. Let me know if your’s matches too!

OX: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
CELEBRITIES: Meryl Streep, Seth MacFarlane, Heidi Klum, Sigourney Weaver, George Takei, Barrack Obama
PLACEMAT SAYS: Bright, patient, and inspiring to others. You can be happy by yourself, yet make an outstanding parent. Marry a Snake or Cock. The Sheep will bring trouble.

TIGER: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
CELEBRITIES: Tom Cruise, Jay Leno, Steve Carell, Leonardo DiCaprio, William H. Macy, Ryan Phillippe, Amanda Bynes
PLACEMAT SAYS: Tiger people are aggressive, courageous, candid, and sensitive. Look to the Horse or Dog for happiness. Beware of the Monkey.

RABBIT: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
CELEBRITIES: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Ian McKellen, Conan O’Brien, Kate Winslet, Tara Reid, Quentin Tarantino, Mark Hamill
PLACEMAT SAYS: Luckiest of all signs, you are also talented and articulate. Affectionate, yet shy, you seek peace throughout your life. Marry a Sheep or Boar. Your Opposite is the Cock.

DRAGON: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
CELEBRITIES: David Hasselhoff, Chuck Norris, Mary McDonnell, Reese Witherspoon, Haley Joel Osment, Wanda Sykes, Sarah Palin
PLACEMAT SAYS: You are eccentric and your life complex. You have a very passionate nature and abundant health. Marry a Monkey of Rat late in life. Avoid the Dog.

SNAKE: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
CELEBRITIES: Martha Stewart, Tim Gunn, Sarah Michelle Gellar, J.K. Rowling, Daniel Radcliffe, Robert Downey Jr.
PLACEMAT SAYS: Wise and intense with a tendency towards physical beauty. Vain and high tempered. The Boar is your enemy. The Cock or Ox are your best signs.

HORSE: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
CELEBRITIES: Denzel Washington, Katie Holmes, Joe Biden, Oprah Winfrey, Clint Eastwood, John Travolta, Harrison Ford
PLACEMAT SAYS: Popular and attractive to the opposite sex. You are often ostentatious and impatient. You need people. Marry a Tiger or a Dog early, but never a Rat.

SHEEP: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
CELEBRITIES: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Pamela Anderson, Mo’Nique, John Barrowman, John Krasinski, Will Ferrell
PLACEMAT SAYS: Elegant and creative, you are timid and prefer anonymity. You are most compatible with Boars and Rabbits, but never the Ox.

MONKEY: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
CELEBRITIES: Miley Cyrus, Kristen Bell, George Lucas, Will Smith, Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Jake Gyllenhaal
PLACEMAT SAYS: You are very intelligent and are able to influence people. An enthusiastic achiever, you are easily discouraged and confused. Avoid Tigers. Seek a Dragon or Rat.

COCK: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
CELEBRITIES: Britney Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Paris Hilton, Jack Black, Steve Martin, Jason Bateman, Jessica Alba
PLACEMAT SAYS: A pioneer in spirit, you are devoted to work and quest after knowledge. You are selfish and eccentric. Rabbits are trouble. Snakes and Oxen are fine.

DOG: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
CELEBRITIES: Cher, Madonna, Matt Damon, Steven Spielberg, Queen Latifah, Tina Fey, Ellen DeGeneres, George W. Bush
PLACEMAT SAYS: Loyal and honest you work well wit others. Generous yet stubborn and often selfish. Look to the Horse or Tiger. Watch out for Dragons.

BOAR: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
CELEBRITIES: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jada Pinkett Smith, Joel McHale, Sam Neill, Amy Poehler, Hillary Clinton
PLACEMAT SAYS: Noble and chivalrous. Your friends will be lifelong, yet you are prone to marital strife. Avoid other Boars. Marry a Rabbit or a Sheep.

RAT: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
CELEBRITIES: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Samuel L. Jackson, Cameron Diaz, Ashlee Simpson, John McCain
PLACEMAT SAYS: You are ambitious yet honest. Prone to spend freely. Seldom make lasting friendships. Most compatible with Dragons and Monkeys. Least compatible with Horses.

So what year are you? Does your personality match up with what the wise Chinese food placemat says? I’m the Cock, and it sounds about right. I can be a little too devoted to school and work, and anyone who reads this blog might think I’m a bit eccentric.

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My Bloody Valentine 3D – Review

January 25, 2009
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I bet you weren’t expecting a review of this movie from your friendly neighborhood scaredy cat, but I enjoy keep my dancing monkeys on their toes! But let me tell you, this was so much fun! I’ve never seen a 3D movie before and boy was I impressed. I was thinking that only key parts of the movie were gonna be in 3D, but the whole thing was! It was extremely cool. The filmmakers made sure that there was always something in the foreground and background to give each scene a sense of depth, and man, they were really popping out. And then of course there were those few scenes where one of the characters was pointing a gun at the audience and it really does seem to reach out to you. And believe it or not, the movie wasn’t just an excuse to use 3D technology, it was a really good scary movie that kept you guessing the entire time, with some really great scares, and a few gross out moments. And for all you Supernatural fans out there, Jensen Ackles was in it! And if that doesn’t interest you, there is always the gratuitous female nudity, which I found hysterical. Perhaps one day 3D technology will advance to the point of being able to motorboat characters on screen, but we aren’t there quite yet.

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Underworld: Rise of the Lycans – Review

January 25, 2009
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Let’s face it, you already know whether you’re gonna like this movie or not based on these two questions: 1) Did you like the first two? and 2) Do you geek out at the thought of Vampires versus Werewolves? If you answered yes to one or both of these, then you will enjoy Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. While not perfect, the first two Underworlds were fun, stylish flicks that take themselves and their mythology very seriously, and this third entry is no different. While sometimes it can be annoying when something so outlandish takes themselves seriously, it works for me with these movies for some reason. I think it has something to do with Bill Nighy. He is just awesome and can do no wrong. And this movie, while only expanding upon the story that was already told in brief flashbacks, still managed to be exciting and fun. The fights were bloody and gruesome, and the final battle was more epic in scope than what we’ve seen in the previous movies. So if you enjoyed the first two, get out there and enjoy this one. And if all you heard this whole time was “blah blah blah blah” all you have to know is that Michael Sheen and his fellow werewolves were nearly shirtless the entire time. The end.

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Urban Dictionary – Puntabulous

January 24, 2009
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Check out the definition of Puntabulous in Urban Dictionary (click to enlarge):


How cool is that? Thanks Dave! Head over there and give it a thumbs up!

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Things I Wonder About Lately

January 23, 2009
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1. If people at work who don’t really know me see me around the office and think “Argyle, again? Seriously?” or perhaps I’m known as “The Argyle Guy” or something cleverer in some circles.

2. Whether Steven Spielberg stopped sharing ideas with George Lucas for fear of getting him involved.

Steven: “I’ve been wanting to do an adventure movie on Bigfoot.”
George: “Awesome! Can I executive produce?”
Steven: “Ugh.”
George: “Great! How many baby Bigfoots should there be?”

3. Last Week’s BSG Spoiler: How the Battlestar Galactica prequel series Caprica will be about Man creating Cylons if Cylon skin-jobs have been in existence for thousands of years. Thinking about the BSG timeline makes my head spin.

4. If Slumdog Millionaire is as awful as Crash was. An Indian coworker and friend of mine was completely unimpressed. She says she watches Bollywood movies like that all the time. Part of me thinks it’s out of ignorance that this movie is getting such accolades, just because it’s in a language we silly Americans can understand.

5. Where I should go on a springtime vacation. Could be in North America or abroad, I’m not sure yet. Since I’m so bad at planning it should probably in the United States. And also someplace I can potentially go by myself if I can’t organize others to go with me. I was thinking Colorado, Oregon, or Washington. Any suggestions?

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