24 POWER HOUR REVIEW

The Two Fisted Gun God aiming for Jack...

01/31/2006

24 POWER HOUR REVIEW:

‘I’M GOING TO START WITH THE RIGHT EYE, THEN I’LL MOVE OVER TO THE NEXT EYE!’

FIVE STARS!

Plus the Presidents steals Jack’s DAMMIT! - last episode it was Chloe, who’s gonna steal it next episode? It’ll be cool if someone new says DAMMIT! Every episode building up to a huge DAMMIT! From Jack…plus it looks like they go all John Woo next episode…it’ll be totally awesome when the Chinese find out Jack is alive and they send their Number One agent after him and it’s the Two Fisted Gun God himself and the only one who can beat Jack at his own game- CHOW YUN FAT! But that’ll never happen…plus who’s behind the bed? My bet is on Sandrine Holt who is more than she seems- but online bets are on Kim Bauer apparently.

BRING ON THE COUGARS!
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Get Mad at Adam Carolla

"Somewhere the sun is shining...on this world but not for me..."


01/30/2006

New Verse, same as the first: these weekends are getting shorter and shorter and shorter…

Anyway- Movies seen this weekend:

Knock-Off: Tsui Hark movie with Van Damme- quite possibly the funniest movie I’ve ever seen.
Rip It Off: Small indie movie with Allison Hannigan and Alexis Denisoff- quite possibly the worst movie I’ve ever seen in my life. Even the gratuitous nudity didn’t help.
Thunderbolt: Semi serious Jackie Chan flick with car racing, evil gweilo’s and some cool fight scenes. Holly and I were commenting on why is it that car racing seems cooler in other countries but feels so white thrashy when it done stateside?



From Angry Asian Man:
01.27.06 Respond. Get Angry. Bust some heads. It's the least you can do, if you're pissed off at this latest bit of radio racism courtesy of Adam Carolla and crew. Coming in a little late? Get yourself up to speed and listen to this audio clip of Carolla's show from earlier in the week. That's should be enough to get you good and pissed off.
Feel like letting out your aggression? Allow me to direct you to a few constructive outlets:
Adam Carolla: adam@adamcarolla.comDave Dameshek: dave@adamcarolla.comRachel Perry: rachel@adamcarolla.comOzzie Castillo: ozzie@adamcarolla.com
Here is CBS Radio's corporate contact info:
CBS RADIO1515 BroadwayNew York, NY 10036212-846-3939
Joel HollanderChairman and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Radio212-846-3939joel.hollander@infinitybroadcasting.com
Dana L. McClintockSenior Vice President, CBS Communications Group212-975-1077dlmcclintock@cbs.com
That should get you started. Here's a press release from the Asian American Justice Center:
PRESS RELEASEContact: Adlai J. Amortel: 202-296-2200 ext 135aamor@advancingequality.org
AAJC Demands that CBS Reprimands Radio Host for Mocking Asian Americans
Washington, DC, Jan. 27, 2006 - The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) today expressed outrage over the insensitive and racist segment in the Jan. 24 radio show of Adam Carolla mocking the Asian Excellence Awards which will be aired on AZN Television this Sunday, Jan. 29.
"Adam Carolla demeaned the work of Asian American actors, directors, and producers and perpetuated the stereotype of Asian Americans as foreigners," said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC). "Unless Adam Carolla is strongly reprimanded, and the station and CBS Radio apologize, we will be forced to ask advertisers to withdraw their support of his show."
The Adam Carolla Show, aired through CBS Radio's 97.1 Free FM (KLSX-FM) in Los Angeles, referred to the Asian Excellence Awards as a joke and repeatedly used the sounds "ching-chong" in recreating a segment of the awards which were actually done in English. The Adam Carolla Show is aired in 10 West Coast cities that have the largest Asian American populations in the U.S.
The Asian (AX) Excellence Awards honors Asian Americans in media who have made a difference in the United States. The awards will also pay a special tribute to the late actor, Pat Morita.
AAJC is encouraging people to call or email the following CBS Radio executives:
· Joel Hollander, chairman and chief executive officer, CBS Radio, tel: 212-846-3939, email: joel.hollander@infinitybroadcasting.com
· Dana L. McClintock, senior vice president, CBS Communications Group, tel: 212-975-1077, email: dlmcclintock@cbs.com
A clip of the Jan. 24 Adam Carolla Show is available at: http://www.reelplay.com/adamcarollaclips.html
AAJC's affiliate, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California, and other organizations like the Korean American Coalition of Los Angeles, and the Media Action Network for Asian Americans have also criticized the Adam Carolla Show.
Of course, when contacted for comment, CBS Radio's VP of Communication Karen Mateo said, "The segment was meant to be humorous and was not meant to offend anyone," which is the expected bullshit response. Because really, who are they kidding? That's a straight-up lie if you're telling me it wasn't intended to offend. Then again, they probably just thought, hey, let us crap on the Asians again! It is humorous! Well, we're not taking it. That's racist!


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Super Man

01/27/2006

I received my Superman dog tags yesterday in support of the Christopher Reeve Foundation. I was inspired after watching the Superman movie a couple of weeks ago. Chris Reeve’s performance as the man of steel was a happy part of my childhood complete with me wearing a towel as a cape and jumping off furniture pretending to fly. I was bummed when he passed away- he was such a cool guy.

While we’re on the topic of Superman, last night’s Smallville sucked.

Wave of Mutilation on the Flashback Lunch- this is one of my favourite Pixies tunes…

Okay, this is interesting- a genuine 10-year old movie director who is probably more mature that the fictional pre-teen directors featured on that Alan Partridge show: http://www.naachgaana.com/item/1341


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GONG HEI FAT CHOI!

01/27/2006

Gong Hei Fat Choi!

Happy Chinese New Year to one and all! I’m not Chinese (well, technically I’m eighth Chinese as my Grandfather was half Chinese) but I celebrated this growing up in Brunei. There was a pretty good Chinese population there and when I moved to the states, always tried to observe it. I’ve always loved the Lion dancers and always loved the little red packets you would get. I love the fire crackers and of course, the awesome Chinese food. I miss the big parade in LA’s Chinatown. I miss Chi’s in Northridge (haven’t found a decent replacement here but dammit, I am craving chow mein with barbecued pork and chicken dumplings with peanut sauce). There are no celebrations this weekend in Austin but there will be in a couple of weeks- but it won’t be the same since it’s not on the technical Lunar New Year. But I hear the Lion dancers will be there…so I’m looking forward to it.

This might be a weekend for bad Chinese food and good Hong Kong Flicks. Or good Chinese food and bad Hong Kong Flicks. Because even the cheesiest HK flick is still a good time with all the “GAU CHO WAH”s all over the place.

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hmm...

01/26/2006

Well, I got the last thing I’ll get from Casa the other way- my tax forms.

Yeah.


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Happy belated Birthday to Donna and stuff...

I love funny hats...


01/25/2006

I know that Big Louie reads this every now and then…if you’re reading this could you tell my old boss Donna that I wish her a happy birthday? And tell her she does not definitaley look her age- I would have guessed her age as ten years younger!

Thanks.

So someone requested during the flashback lunch that the DJ play my fave D-Mode song “But Not Tonight”…but instead he played Black Celebration…and after that played a Nirvana song…I’ve said it before but Nirvana should NEVER be played during something called the Flashback Lunch…if Kurt Cobain had not killed himself, he’d still be a loser nowadays…

Chinese New Year is this Sunday and begins the Year of the Dog…according to astrologists, my fortune for the following year is as follows:


Snake (1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001)
You will have samaritans and friends in high places. You can get fame, happiness or even get married this year.
Money luck is good but you will have to work very hard. Be careful of legal suits. Be careful of brain haemorrhage, stroke or heart failure. Health-wise, it is a risky year because if you fall sick, it can be serious.
This should not be a bad year. The Snake person is also reminded not to lose his cool.
More at http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/1/23/lifeliving/12986891&sec=lifeliving



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DAMMIT! HE WATCHED 24 LAST NIGHT!

"WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME! I NEED TO GET THAT DUCK SO I CAN WIN KIM THE TEDDY BEAR. NO, NOT THAT TEDDY BEAR, THE BIG ONE! DAMMIT! SHUT UP AND LET ME CONCENTRATE!"


01/23/2006

24 Power Hour Review: 11am-12pm

Well, Jack has to function for the rest of the day with a cracked rib…aint that a kicker. Dude, that was a very 24 fight…cool martial arts and Jack almost being beaten…hmmm, a little out of practice there? Plus, that thing with the scissors? Classic.
While watching the show, Holly and I were playing ‘what show was that actor from?’ So far we’ve identified people from John Woo’s Once a Thief, Forever Knight (Nick Knight himself! But, dude has he aged…), Baywatch and Designing Women. But anyway…
I liked how they identified and started going after the moles in the White House and more importantly CTU right away…the mole thing gets a little too repetitive anyway so now that’s out of the way.
Plus Chloe says DAMMIT! More weird stuff from Edgar! A crazy President! Sandrine Holt!

4 Stars out of 5!

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Nothing to see here- move along now...

01/23/2006

For my use for later: http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/sf/fthb/index.htm but you can look at it too if you want…
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A Merciful Message

Because I like Milla...

01/23/2006

Well, I am going to see the Sisters of Mercy on February 21st 2006. This will be my first time seeing a real band in Austin, the so-called live music capital of the world. I have a couple of their albums and have always liked their music. You should go and see them play as well on this tour. Info at http://www.thesistersofmercy.com/news/livenews.htm .




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Happy Monday...Chuck says hi!

01/23/2006

Well- another weekend done and over with.
Dammit! Why are weekends so short?

Oh Well…
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Top Ten Chuck Norris Facts
Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried. Ever.
Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.
If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can't see Chuck Norris, you may be only seconds away from death.
Chuck Norris has counted to infinity. Twice.
Chuck Norris does not hunt because the word hunting implies the probability of failure. Chuck Norris goes killing.
4 out of 5 doctors fail to recommend Chuck Norris as a solution to most problems. Also, 80% of doctors die unexplained, needlessly brutal deaths.
Chuck Norris is 1/8th Cherokee. This has nothing to do with ancestry, the man ate a fucking Indian.
In fine print on the last page of the Guinness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Chuck Norris, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone else has ever gotten.
There is no chin behind Chuck Norris' beard. There is only another fist.

Additional Chuck Norris Facts
Chuck Norris once roundhouse kicked someone so hard that his foot broke the speed of light, went back in time, and killed Amelia Earhart while she was flying over the Pacific Ocean.
Crop circles are Chuck Norris' way of telling the world that sometimes corn needs to lie the fuck down.
Chuck Norris is ten feet tall, weighs two-tons, breathes fire, and could eat a hammer and take a shotgun blast standing.
The Great Wall of China was originally created to keep Chuck Norris out. It failed miserably.
Contrary to popular belief, Chuck Norris, not the box jellyfish of northern Australia, is the most venomous creature on earth. Within 3 minutes of being bitten, a human being experiences the following symptoms: fever, blurred vision, beard rash, tightness of the jeans, and the feeling of being repeatedly kicked through a car windshield.
If you ask Chuck Norris what time it is, he always says, "Two seconds 'til." After you ask, "Two seconds 'til what?" he roundhouse kicks you in the face.
Chuck Norris drives an ice cream truck covered in human skulls.
When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes, ever.
The quickest way to a man's heart is with Chuck Norris' fist.
Chuck Norris invented Kentucky Fried Chicken's famous secret recipe, with eleven herbs and spices. But nobody ever mentions the twelfth ingredient: Fear.
Chuck Norris can win a game of Connect Four in only three moves.
There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live.
Chuck Norris once ate three 72 oz. steaks in one hour. He spent the first 45 minutes having sex with his waitress.
In a fight between Batman and Darth Vader, the winner would be Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris is the only man to ever defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.
Police label anyone attacking Chuck Norris as a Code 45-11.... a suicide.
Chuck Norris doesn't churn butter. He roundhouse kicks the cows and the butter comes straight out.
Chuck Norris doesn’t wash his clothes, he disembowels them.
A Handicapped parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to Chuck Norris and that you will be handicapped if you park there.
Chuck Norris will attain statehood in 2009. His state flower will be the Magnolia.
Nagasaki never had a bomb dropped on it. Chuck Norris jumped out of a plane and punched the ground.
Chuck Norris originally appeared in the "Street Fighter II" video game, but was removed by Beta Testers because every button caused him to do a roundhouse kick. When asked bout this "glitch," Norris replied, "That's no glitch."
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool Chuck Norris once and he will fuck you up.
The opening scene of the movie "Saving Private Ryan" is loosely based on games of dodgeball Chuck Norris played in second grade.
Chuck Norris once shot down a German fighter plane with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!"
Chuck Norris once bet NASA he could survive re-entry without a spacesuit. On July 19th, 1999, a naked Chuck Norris re-entered the earth's atmosphere, streaking over 14 states and reaching a temperature of 3000 degrees. An embarrassed NASA publically claimed it was a meteor, and still owes him a beer.
Chuck Norris has two speeds: Walk and Kill.
Someone once tried to tell Chuck Norris that roundhouse kicks aren't the best way to kick someone. This has been recorded by historians as the worst mistake anyone has ever made.
Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, it is a Chucktatorship.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is based on a true story: Chuck Norris once swallowed a turtle whole, and when he crapped it out, the turtle was six feet tall and had learned karate.
Simply by pulling on both ends, Chuck Norris can stretch diamonds back into coal.
Chuck Norris is not hung like a horse... horses are hung like Chuck Norris.
Faster than a speeding bullet ... more powerful than a locomotive ... able to leap tall buildings in a single bound... yes, these are some of Chuck Norris's warm-up exercises.
Chuck Norris is the only human being to display the Heisenberg uncertainty principle -- you can never know both exactly where and how quickly he will roundhouse-kick you in the face. <
In the Bible, Jesus turned water into wine. But then Chuck Norris turned that wine into beer.
Time waits for no man. Unless that man is Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris discovered a new theory of relativity involving multiple universes in which Chuck Norris is even more badass than in this one. When it was discovered by Albert Einstein and made public, Chuck Norris roundhouse-kicked him in the face. We know Albert Einstein today as Stephen Hawking.
Chuck Norris' favorite cereal is Kellogg's Marbles 'N' Gravel.
The Chuck Norris military unit was not used in the game Civilization 4, because a single Chuck Norris could defeat the entire combined nations of the world in one turn.
In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Chuck Norris could use to kill you, including the room itself.


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What Up Yo?

My Lil Gray Cat says hi...but don't stare at her eyes for too long...she can gaze straight into your soul and find out how much of a bastard you are...she says I'm a big one...
Also- Chuck Guy (aka the only one who can save us from the Horsemen of the apocalypse seen in China...apparently he was made there and was visiting family)

PS: if you noticed on the last post I left one person out of the line up...yes, the guy who looks like a surfer is not a Horseman of the Apocalypse. He's just another surfer guy. Death just happens to play bass in his band...

SHIM!

Twenty days into the new year…how about that?

Finally received Sha Po Lang in the mail yesterday. In So Cal, when ordering from YesAsia.com, it would take three to four days to receive the order- here it takes longer than a week sometimes. Minor inconvenience I guess when it’s the only place I can get my HK fix. There is a place here that sells HK stuff but 99% of their stuff is bootlegged and much more expensive that the real deal at YesAsia.com. Anyway- expect a review of SPL soon- saw the trailer last night and dude, it looks like an ass kicker.

Took the lil’ gray cat to the vet yesterday for her ear problem…happy that a vet that operates out of a sleazy strip mall is actually cleaner and more professional that the one we used to go to in Northridge. Holly is happy that the vet is more into drops than pilling a cat- because believe me, no one in the right mind prefers pilling an angry cat. I’m just happy my lil’ gray cat has been checked out for her problem. Now we just have to give her ear drops twice a day…

Currently listening to Love Spit Love’s first album and noticed that I bought it used from the sure-to-be-missed Aron’s Records (323/469-4700). Not sure when they’re closing but Rhino Records in Westwood is having their closing sale tomorrow. Go out there and support them before their doors shut- they’re decent record stores that deserve to have lasted longer.

Boldly going where no one has gone before (Pluto) at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0119_060119_pluto_mission.html , we should do more stuff like this.

LIVIN' IN THE 80'S...

They're just noodles, Michael...just noodles

Some favourite quotes of mine:

“If I had the chance, I’d ask the world to dance…”

“That’s great kid, now don’t get cocky!”

“Trapped in a state of imaginary grace…”

Today’s breakfast of champions: 3 slices of bacon, chorizo with eggs and IFC root beer….mmmm….good stuff…

Well, today is a state holiday in Texas and an optional-work day at my office. It’s called a skeleton crew day and the hours worked today go towards as extra PTO hours (so no time and a half). It’s Confederate Heroes Day…which as I’ve mentioned before is odd to have in the same week as MLK’s birthday. Wonder who came up with this day and if the choice of the date is no coincidence.

Report at http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=5724 of a movie wonderfully titled ‘How Soon is Now’ about a guy who goes back to 1985 to fix the three worst days of his life. After the Wedding Singer, there were other movies celebrating the 80’s that were never released or never made. The Wedding Singer is my fave Adam Sandler movie- not because of him- but due to the 80’s subject matter and a decent story. But the best movies about the 80’s were movies made during that era. Nothing beats the John Hughes flicks.

Speaking of the 80’s: Four out of Five 80’s tribute compilations will include a cover of Modern English’s ‘I Melt With You’. I brought five 80’s tribute comps with me to work with me today and the only one that didn’t have that song was a tribute to the Pretty in Pink soundtrack. Bands that covered that song are Mest, Bowling for Soup, Sugarcult and Good Riddance.

Don't you just love the internet?

More evidence of evil in the world as apparent there are more than Four Horsemen on the Apocalypse:

Back Row: Oregonman (Oregon is the most evil place in the world), Credit Card Debt, Pestilence, Gridlock & Death

Front Row: War (what is it good for?), Spam Email, Taxes, Country Music, Famine & Rising Interest Rates

Beware, the rature is set for 06/06/06!

No New Tale To Tell...

Pic taken on the set of the aborted Gilligan's Island remake as the Skipper and his Lil'Buddy trun out to be two really evil Muthafuckers.

'WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME"...chug...chug...

01/18/2006

From Aintitcool.com, the 24 drinking game:

There may be others out there, but I decided to make my own, as I find nothing better than to watch 24 with some friends, 2 12-packs (24 beerz FTW) and this set of rules: DRINK when... Jack calls someone on his cell phone. DRINK when... Jack receives a call on his cell phone. DRINK when... Jack utters his heroic catch phrase, "Dammit!" (sadly only 3 Dammits so far but I know they will go up as the season progresses) DRINK when... Jack utters the phrase, "We're running out of time!" DRINK when... A guest star from a previous season shows up. DRINK when... That same guest star is killed/fired/impeached within three episodes. DRINK when... President Logan goes apeshit. DRINK when... a terrorist tries to kill himself, usually successfully. DRINK when... Jack screams "NOOOO!" right afterwards. DRINK when... Jack steals a car. DRINK when... Jack yells something inane at the top of his lungs for no apparent reason other than to be melodramatic. DRINK when... Someone gets tortured. DRINK when... an CTU IT staff member types frantically on his/her keyboard to simulate, for the inane viewing audience, something technical. DRINK when... A car blows up. (they must go through a lot of cars...) DRINK when... A video conference between the President and someone else occurs. DRINK when... Tony is left speaking with his mouth half open (he does this a lot.) DRINK when... A CTU Staff Member gets shot. DRINK when... Teenagers are seen doing stupid teenager stuff that FOX thinks all teenagers do. DRINK when... Kim (or yet another STUPID teenager) gets into a pickle and DRINK again when Jack put the known world on the line to rescue him/her. DRINK when... Jack gets into a bad ass kung-fu fight with someone and wins. DRINK when... there is a CTU nasty staring contest. DRINK when... yet another FOX stereotype female character does or says something really nasty to someone, so much so that you say, "Daaaammn...." (You're going to get drunk real quick with this one...) CHUG when... Jack saves the world... Again.

Watching the 4th season of 24 again last night (wanted to finish before the new season started but alas, life got in the way). Two highlights- Chloe getting badass and killing a terrorist (the way that episode ended was the best ever!) and the death of Paul Raines (he started off as irritating but became a lovable loser and the way he died was very 24).

I love this show.


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Happy Tuesday- NOW GET BACK TO WORK!

01/17/2006

Well, it’s back to the grind…

I’ve decided that this blog will be my random thoughts generated during the workweek and the other one at Myspace.com will be my random thoughts during the weekend.

Anyway…

RANDOM THOUGHT #1: Only in Texas can there be a holiday celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. that falls on the same week as a holiday celebrating Confederate Heroes.
RANDOM THOUGHT #2: Salazar is pronounced ‘Sah-Lazer” here…

POWER HOUR REVIEW: Hours 3 & 4. I missed the first two shows and felt slightly lost watching the 3rd & 4th episodes without seeing them. Also- I think I ought to lower my expectations a bit- not every episode has to be explosive. But it did feel slower and less intense as last season. Mostly because Jack didn’t do any of his trademark moves these two episodes- he spent them mostly hiding or captured. But the dealings at CTU and the drama with the First Lady did pick up the pace a bit and kept you hooked at the screen. Also nice to see the HOT, HOT, HOT Sandrine Holt on the screen.
I a little worried that Sean Astin would have been a bit of stunt casting- but his bits in the 4th episode worked better than expected. Then there is the required cliffhanger…which was cool- but not mind-blowing.
I did not witness the deaths of Palmer & Michelle and they are characters that will indeed be missed. Also nice to see Manny Coto from Enterprise getting work- the 3rd season of Enterprise had a 24-feel to it.
Verdict? Good not great episodes. But good enough to pull me back next week.
3.5 stars out of 5.

MINI REVIEWS:

Superman-Charming, classic and almost timeless (too 70’s and Gene Hackman irritates). The first 45 minutes are perfect and Christopher Reeve will always be Superman. The new movie has a lot to live up too…
5 STARS!

War of the Worlds- Good movie ruined by Tim Robbins and an uninspired ending. At least Spielberg avoids unnecessary sappiness that permeates most of his movies nowadays.
3 Stars
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Stuff...

Another pic I took in HK- the goddess on a chicken facing the South China Sea...

01/13/2006

Well, the car made it Pep Boys okay yesterday and now just comes the wait as to see how bad everything is…and the transmission needs work…ai yah….I had to leave work to find a place that does transmission work as fell as find a way to get the car there…luckily AAMCO had free towing services…did not want to leave work early though- when I came today I had tons to do to catch up…as of 3pm in the afternoon I'm still not caught up despite working through my lunch...

PS: Welcome Andie from my part of the world to this part of the world- hope you adjust faster to things here that I did (of which I mean I’m still adjusting…)!

I’m posted on http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ChainofFlowers/news.htm - check out my contribution to the latest Cure News…



http://www.myspace.com/catterpillarboy

My Curse (or at least one of them...)

01/12/2006

Did I ever tell you guys that I’m cursed?

Whenever I have saved a significant amount in the bank or come across a nice financial contribution from a relative or something like that- my car breaks down and I need to spend all that saved money fixing it…well, it happened again last night- I had to leave the car unlocked with the keys in the glove box in an Albertson’s parking lot overnight…the towers are going to pick it up in a couple of hours and take it to a nearby Pepboys and later this morning I’ll tell all of you how severe the damage is…pisses me off I tell you. My car has been a constant companion for ten years (and hopefully for longer- not ready to give this car up yet)…hope nothing bad happens to it.

PS: I plan to be buried in this car by the way if my first option to be cremated doesn’t happen…


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BOOM!

Today’s blog will be up later (if I even write anything) at http://www.myspace.com/catterpillarboy which I will be testing…I might start doing alternate posts here and there so…

Anyway- saw the campers’ episode of 24 again last night. It’s an awesome episode of the show and I love how they just threw in two random people into just one show and made them the focus…the male camper is now in my fave new show Bones. I wonder if they’re going to do more eps like this one…I kinda hope not- makes it too gimmicky…

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The Chungking Master

Short post today...I'm exploring my Myspace.com page and not really thinking about much- just looking for people I know.

Anyway- pic above that I took while I was in HK of the actual Chungking Mansions.

I was watching Chungking Express again last night and forgot that California Dreaming is used quite a bit in that movie. In fact, going to California seems to be a major theme in the movie, especially the Faye Wong bits…I love that movie and not just because of Faye- Tony Leung's Officer 633 reminds me a lot of myself especially duing the years 1995-1999. That lost dreamer kinda dude...except I look better in briefs...

Now I'm in the mood for more Wong Kar Wai movies...maybe I'll finally watch Ashes of Time or Days of Being Wild tonight...

PS

PS:
A gigital camera is the future of technology way beyond digital.

Well, that or I have fat gingers (due to the fact that I live benind a nuclear plant)...

Just Another Manic Monday...

Picture I took when I visited Lantau Island- Holly's mom lent us her gigital camera and I just went nuts taking pictures of everthing. Seeing this huge guy is a high point of the trip to HK...

01/09/2006

And just like that, the weekend’s over…dammit…if I were in charge, three day weekends would be mandatory…

I think I had my first dose of Cedar Fever this weekend- felt like crap Friday and for most of Saturday…felt mostly weak and had no appetite. Feel slightly better today but in no mood whatsoever to be at work…but oh, well- like I keep telling myself: if cedar fever is the worst thing to happen to me this year, then so be it.

Some homesickness this weekend mostly in part to watching some PBS shows on Death Valley and JPL (along with seeing a car with a KROQ sticker this morning on the way to work…). Holly and I went to Death Valley last spring to see the once-in-a-lifetime bloom over there and I tell ya, it was worth it…when she scans the pics I will post them. As for JPL, I went to the last three open houses they had over there and would have gone every year if I still lived in So Cal (maybe I’ll still go this year who knows?)- It’s a free event and really worth going to and it’s not just for geeks although it helps…

Aside from the ice day a month ago- this has been the warmest winter I’ve experienced since living next to the equator when I was a young fob. Of course, that could still change but it’s been dry, windy and just plain sucky. They have burn bans everywhere and a state wide alert against brush fires (I’d say forest fires- but I have yet to see an actual forest in Texas).

Did I mention yet how I’m in o mood to do any actual work today? I wanna go home…I haven’t been as sick this much EVER…since moving to Texas I have been sick approximately once every six weeks.

So it’s been approximately 2 years since my trip to Hong Kong, a trip with the designation of BEST. VACATION. EVER. I love my HK films and a trip to their homeland just made me giddy…cool that Holly’s folks still lived there so we didn’t have to pay extravagant amounts for a hotel or shack up in a Chungking Mansion. Plus her folks’ balcony had the most perfect view of the South China Sea. Holly says our next trip should be elsewhere (I’d love to see the Great Wall of China or go to the Wave Gotik Festival in Germany which VNV Nation is playing at this year) but I wouldn’t mind another trip to HK to see that beautiful skyline, the Big Buddha at Po Lin, see the view from the Peak and of course, to go DVD shopping there again…it’s the most interesting place I’ve ever been in with a million different sights, smells and personalities. And did I mention they make great movies there? (Side note: extra giddiness for me when I was there was to see the third Infernal Affairs movie in an actual HK theater there…and then seeing the bootleg later that day!)

From Dark Horizons re: my favourite show which returns this coming Sunday: Producers of Fox TV's "24" have begun plotting a film franchise for main character Jack Bauer reports Entertainment Weekly.Actor Kiefer Sutherland is keen - "It can be an amazing series of movies. One of the things I've experienced making this show is that an audience can handle a lot more than we thought when we started -- the tension, the anxiety.... If we could [compress] all the energy we spread over 24 hours of programming and put that into 2, I think we'd knock your socks off".Meanwhile TV Guide reports that Elisha Cuthbert has agreed to reprise her role as Kim Bauer in a multi-episode arc in the 7th-10th episodes of the upcoming fifth season of "24". Cuthbert didn't appear last season, her character off living with her husband Chase (James Badge Dale). The character of Chase will not be returning.

The Return of Kim…mmm…Kimmie….wonder how far behind the cougars are…

Blah...blah...bleah...

One week down, fifty one to go…not a 100% today- maybe ceder fever is finally getting to me or maybe I just need more sleep...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..





This sucks: http://www.calendarlive.com/music/cl-et-rhino06jan06,0,4759714.story?coll=la-home-headlines , I would to go to Aaron’s Records despite the bad parking and especially Rhino Records when Holly worked in the area …and now they’re both closing!? BASTARDS! Hope they have great Closing Sales…if I win the lottery soon or come into a totally awesome inheritance- I’d buy both stores and keep them running…even though it’s probably a loss in a long run…but we need these kind of places dammit! Well, there’s still Amoeba’s but it still won’t be the same anymore…and there is still (hopefully) a Pennylane Records store on Westwood as well…

Freaky Image from Guillermo Del Toro's new film. Blade II is my favourite film of his and one of the best comiv book related movies out there. I will be checking out this film.
Ah...it must be love, love, love...

Well, my new home beat out my old home…and where was I? Watching the martial arts classic Iron Monkey.

But first- what happened to the Hindu Gods? Well, they were stopped on the way there by Jehovah himself and his witnesses and a huge battle began in the heavens while Beelzebub sat below and enjoyed the game…and was about to sacrifice everyone in Pasadena until he was stopped by the Heavenly Priest, a pig and the Monkey King himself who were on their way to the West (coast)…hence leaving the game to it’s own devices…speaking of sports- the World Cup is this year- ENGALAND!

Cool thing about Longhorn fans though is that they don’t have the poseur-tude of Laker Pride…and the unlikely riot for a championship parade…

As for Iron Monkey- this is one of my fave HK movies…was watching it yesterday and intrigued by the characters speaking of a recent natural disaster, refugees and a plague, wonder if this is historical or just a throwaway point. Wong Kei Ying and Wong Fei Hong are both historical figures with the former being one of the Ten Tigers of Canton and the latter being a cult hero. Also was intrigued by the finale fight scene and how nowadays it’ll be all green-screen and CGI. No, back then it was all wires (that you notice but don’t mind because the action is moving so fast) and actors/stuntmen (yes- that’s Donnie Yen grabbing a burning log with his bare hands!)

Joblo.com has a thing on the top 10 Jennifers in showbiz at http://joblo.com/index.php?id=9816 …surprised that there are actually that many actresses with that name to have a list…I’ve always found Jennifer Love Hewitt to be just adorable and am amazed to find her at #3…

The Smashing Pumpkins’ Bullet with Butterfly Wings is now classified as a flashback song…where have the years gone? They’re playing the Proclaimers right now- anyone know what a heatherin’ is yet?

Sha Po Lang is now ready for order at http://us.yesasia.com/en/Chinese/Videos.aspx .

TROJAN MAN

Well- someone was talking shit behind my back for not wearing orange today…apparently he didn’t realize that basic black is the color of choice for the Hindu Pantheon…although I think I saw the goddess Kali all decked out in Trojan gear amongst her many arms and adornments of skulls…

Well- I'm on www.myspace.com now...not sure if you need to search for Joe Roces or Catterpillarboy to find me...but I'm there...

Welcome to 2006! Like 2005, but with a higher number!

A still from the upcoming Infernal Affairs remake- like how it's on a rooftop and Leo has the Tony Leung Goatee...I'm looking forward to this movie.
Apparently, this guy is the Rose Bowl's MVP.

So today is the day when a college football team from the town I’m living in goes head to head against a college football team from a town I used to live in a vicious battle to the (hopefully) death full of carnage, brimstone, blood, guts, decapitations, rowdy soccer-fanesque hooliganism and an appearance by my lord and master, Beelzebub himself…and I think to myself…

Austin doesn’t feel like home yet…still feel like an expatriate.

People ask me how I like living here and my usual response is that at least I can find my way around and not get lost which is only half true. Yes, I don’t seem to get lost- but I don’t really explore the town, I just go to usual haunts like the record stores (which suck- I miss CD Trader and Amoeba’s- none of the stores here have sections for Goth and industrial), comic book stores (they’re okay- but I miss geeky conversations with the stores I used to frequent in the valley- I became good pals with Paul Sager, the owner of Continental Comics) and the mall (mall culture was born and will die in So Cal).

If I venture down more south and around town, I’m sure to get lost since the freeways here can get confusing and aside from the 35 and to an extent the 183, usually stop being freeways after a while. Also, streets you’re driving on tend to have different names every several miles…

Oh, well…anyway, I hope tonight for the game tonight (although I’m not a sports fan)- I hope for a final quarter appearance by Vishnu to vanquish Beelzebub…with Ganeesha grabbing the pigskin for the final touchdown…when asked by reporters later what team the elephant faced god was playing for he replies, “Dude…do you see Hindus on either team? And oh, yeah- I’m going to Disneyland!”

And of course, followed by the mass monotheistic suicides as apparently the Pagan Gods exist…

She thinks she’s missed the train to mars, she’s out back counting stars…

Well, today the rest of the world goes back to work…and my commute home in the evening reverts to taking 45-hours worth of stop-and-go. AI YAH…all of last week and yesterday, the traffic was so sane that it was almost worth leaving So Cal for…almost…

Anyway…

You can’t see the stars in Austin- not that you could really see them in LA…but in LA this time of the year you could count on seeing the evening star that is the planet Venus and at this time of year you could at least see Orion and the Big Dipper…I saw Orion for the first time last night and I think it was just a fluke because a couple of minutes later looking up I didn’t see it again.

It’s as dark here at night as it is in Oxnard- when I used to work for Oxnard College (1997) at night, I could see a perfect view of the heavens…bring a pair of binoculars and you could view Cassiopeia in its total glory. When Hale-Bopp came by I saw it every night just by tilting my neck…it was totally awesome.

Here? You don’t even get the sickly orange glow from the city…it’s just black and empty.

Article about the death of Cantonese at http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cantonese3jan03,1,6982588.story?coll=la-headlines-california . I don’t speak Cantonese but know enough of how it’s sound to differentiate it from Mandarin and also the fact that I watch loads of HK films- a good number of which is now considered part of general Chinese cinema and is being shot in Mandarin. Kinda sad that HK film is losing its identity…

Some cool pics of the Infernal Affairs remake at http://www.hkmania.com/from.php?fromurl=http://www.hkmania.com/freenews/ex_suite_news.php?id_news=1023 . I wonder if the crane is for them to drop someone off?

The Stupid Flashback Lunch DJ just played the Emergency Broadcast Test in the middle of a song…he must die…

PS: This is my 100th post...woo-hoo...

Yo JOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Always remember: "Knowing Is Half The Battle!"
Well, Happy New Year again…today I am at work whilst 60% of the city/country has the day off…oh, well…I still can’t believe that 2005 is over- just seems that I just have so much to do that had to be taken care of last year but for the life of I can’t remember what it is that I had to do…

Just stayed in over the weekend and read while Holly did a Gilmore Girls marathon (she watched seasons 2 & 3)…decent show- I’d never watch it on my own although trying to keep track of all the pop-culture references is fun…some definitely annoying characters- if I were given a chance to write for it, I’d give Kirk and Taylor horrible, horrible deaths…

And it’s raining on the Rose Parade…I miss Pasadena- they have some cool used book stores and record stores down past Colorado Boulevard…

Review of the proposed script for the GI JOE live action movie at http://latinoreview.com/news.php?id=118 . A smaller core group of Joes is a cool idea especially if they hint that the team is actually bigger so we can still have cameos from other favourites…My core group is: Duke, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Quick-Kick, Road Block & First Aid with a secondary team consisting of Flint, Lady Jaye, Shipwreck, Gung-ho, Stalker and Rock & Roll…and damn, there’s a million others that I wanna see as well. For the higher-ups you gotta have General Hawk but I’d also add Beachead as well as the namesake of the team General Joe Colton…

Bad Guys? Cool to see Destro as the main baddie (with Cobra Commander as the up and comer) along with the Baroness and Storm Shadow. I’d also add Major Bludd and Firefly just for the hell of it…the script seems to carry the spirit of things pretty well and if this story sticks-I’d love the hell out it. Slight worries making Cobra Commander and Duke being childhood pals- love Larry Hama’s origin that the Commander was an all-American businessman screwed by the system…but hey- you can’t have everything.

Should I geek out and give my dream cast? Yes- lets:

Duke- Viggo or Chow Yun Fat or Keifer Sutherland
Scarlett- Jennifer Gardner
Snake Eyes- They who played Darth Maul (Ray Park?)
Quick-Kick- Jason Scott Lee
Roadblock- Ving Rhames
First Aid- The Black guy from CSI
Flint- Hugh Jackman or Bruce Campbell (he could play Beachhead too)
Lady Jaye- Eliza Dushku
Hawk- Tom Selleck

Destro- Michael Clarke Duncan
The Baroness- Angelina Jolie
Snake Eyes- Donnie Yen
Major Bludd- James Marsters
Cobra Commander- Gary Oldman (lazy pick I know...too bad Chris Latta passed away- we could have just used his voice)

Now, all we need is a script for the Transformers Movie…

They played the Cure’s If Only Tonight We Could Sleep during the Flashback Lunch…totally awesome selection by the guest DJ…KROQ used to play album tracks whenever the Cure had a new album…

The official description for the new season of 24: Day 5: A year after the most dangerous nuclear terrorist threat in history which left the country shattered, Jack has settled in Bakersfield where he's been pursuing a normal life with a single mother whose son becomes suspicious of Jack's past, and begins asking too many questions. Meanwhile ex-President David Palmer comes across information that a member of President Logan's administration may have other allegiances, just as Logan and the Russian President signs a controversial peace treaty. All hell breaks loose as a dangerous hit squad have targeted Chloe, Jack and others in their sights...