Clippers

My buddy John is a major contributor to Clipperblog.com, which is clearly very big time because LA Observed has already linked it!

V for Vendetta *Spoilers*

Pretty good. 7 out of 10.

I walked away from the movie impressed with the direction and performances. It moved along well, often looked very good, and consistently seemed on the brink of saying something interesting - very similar to the first Matrix actually (as opposed to the sequels).

Of course, I'm WAY too familiar with the source material. But even in moments when I'm gagging over a change, I understood the misguided motivation behind it. This is still a Hollywood movie. For example, V shouldn't be so likeable and Evey shouldn't be so independent (and sexy). I certainly won't complain about that. Other things were better too - the Benny Hill scene as the first to pop into my mind.

Interesting side note: With all the political talk about V, I braced myself to expect the worse and just enjoy the movie... But it wasn't bad at all! I mean, the bad guys kill gays, ban religious texts, and use biological weapons to kill their own people! I root for regime change in countries like that all the time. Heh heh.

Sportskool

My basketball buddy at work introduced me to Sportskool, a sports instructional feature available on video-on-demand. I was at my parent's place this weekend so I checked it out. The best part is that it is hosted by Bill Walton! The videos are hilarious and awesome at the same time. I can't wait to put those basketball fundamentals into practice but I'm afraid I'll start laughing every time I hear Bill Walton’s voice in my head telling me to get in a triple threat stance.

“Throw it down, big man! THROW IT DOWN!”

Holiday

Ah, Cesar Chavez Day. Yes. A holiday where I show up for work anyway. Must have been some sort of Freudian slip of mine. It works out because I got to take care of some business in the south bay.

Baby-sitters Club

Last night the married folk had a church outing. I helped two of the families with their kids. I was partnered with a real pro so I was able to play "good cop" and my Baby-sitters club friend had to be "bad cop". I got to give the girls piggyback rides and roughhouse the boys while she shouted at them when they get out of line. Good times.

While we played Sorry! the boys noticed that my hand made a downward motion over my face. Before long they were all doing it and laughing to themselves. I warned that the dirt on their hands would create pimples which stopped it for a few minutes.

Pandora

I'm playing with pandora.com which takes elements of music you like and introduces other artists with similar traits.

Trashies are: mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation, major key tonality, and meandering melodic phrasing.

Strokes are: electronic rock instrumentation, mild rhythmic syncopation, with punk influences.

Haven't been introduced to anything that great just yet...

Port Tour

The LA-APA tour of the Port was last night. Around 60 of us had a light dinner, heard a powerpoint presentation, rode the Red Car, and walked the promenade. I was a little stressed out because everything was running late but I followed our consultant's lead and went with the flow. All things considered, it worked out well enough.

I was tipped off that management wants to get Planning more involved in giving the presentations. At one point, my coworker teased me that he was going to say, "who wants Michael to talk?" - he knew my planning friends were expecting me to give the tour. I turned so white that he just chuckled.

So how bout those Bruins?

Once in a blue moon...

Every dog has his day and yesterday was mine.

I went undefeated in lunchtime hoops, making the winning shot in a game. I went to class and learned from my favorite nonfiction writer. I got my essay back and got a better grade than expected. The professor even read a part of my critique to the class! I went out for sushi at an old standby and wrapped up the night by buying a new jacket.

Recap

Going backwards on a busy weekend.

Played Settlers. It's been a while so it was fun. Also confirmed was why I stopped playing in the first place.

Caught up with some friends who just returned from Kenya. Not only that, there's a slight chance I could go with them next year (if they indeed return).

Didn't develop any basketball moves but got a better sense of what next week's tournament will be like. It will be key to take care of the ball. The intensity level definitely picks up.

Epicentre was excellent, as always. If interested, catch the podcast.

Saturday: Was able to scratch my week long karaoke itch after dinner at Curry House. Do You Wanna was even better than anticipated and expectations were quite high.

Went to get my car tuned up and was stuck in the middle of nowhere, San Gabriel. Found a donut shop and got some peaceful reading done. It didn't hurt that the sky was gorgeous.

And of course, lunch was two-for-threes and mafia sandwiches with the foos-club boys.

Movie

Went to get my smog check this afternoon and read the paper over coffee and donuts at the local joint.

People aren't going to the movies as much so it's natural that concession stands are doing worse too. The LA Times also asks, what's wrong with movie theaters? It's pretty interesting. I know I certainly don't see flicks anymore. And when will INLAND EMPIRE ever come out?

Victor and I retained the foosball belt, but lost in the unofficial charity match.

Today's Breakfast

Scallion pancake with kimchi and egg and NCAA basketball.

Thank you for smoking...

Calabasas wants to ban smoking.

The ban, perhaps the most comprehensive smoking ban in the United States, prohibits smoking in all public places at times when other people can be exposed to secondhand smoke. Businesses can apply to create a designated smoking area far away from non-smokers starting in April.

This is the kind of public policy that annoys me. Don't get me wrong. Smoking a lot is bad bad bad. But it ain't as bad as they say. And second hand smoke certainly isn't as bad as they say. Annoying? Yes. You want to create a social stigma against smoking? Sure. But let's not get carried away.

I know, there are studies. I say that those studies are well intentioned, self-righteous lies. LIES! Fine. I have no proof, but if smoking was what they say it is, everyone in Asia should be dead. And dead yesterday.

Don't get me wrong, no smoking in airplanes and offices is great. But sidewalks? I'm more inclined to crack down on cigarette butts on the floor or in the beach. Let's do something about litter.

Whine Post

I'm reluctant to get out on the wet roads but I certainly can't stay at work any longer. I've had a headache all day.

As PIO of LA-APA I sent out an email with a typo and the wrong attachment. Oops.

Did you know that there are four types of work personalities? Get it done/Get appreciated/Get it right/Get along. I'm thinking of switching up my role.

In other news, it was suggested that I should develop a new basketball move. After playing each other everyday, they are hip to my bread and butter. But I'm still practicing my lefty layup...

I'm Your Villain

I just had a thought: You could have it so much better.

My Job

Here's an article about the kind of crazy stuff I work on... (no, it doesn't mention the Port but I'm involved.)

Feet

I got my New Balance basketball shoes. They are only a size 9 but I fit them because the width is 4E. Granted, they look even worse than than they appeared on the website but they were so comfortable that I had to have them. Now I'm worried that I should have gotten a size 9 1/2. Don't feet expand a little during the game? I'll find out today at lunch I suppose.

I spent a lot of last night stretching too. Apparently, my calves are too tight and that's contributing to my foot problems.

Now I always seem to do crazy things in my apartments. Remember cold candles? Here's another:

A friend suggested I take a long hot soak to loosen up the legs. I filled the tub but it wasn't sufficiently hot. Then I remembered that for whatever reason, the water in the kitchen gets VERY hot. So naturally I let the tub water go down and then proceeded to fill it back with water from my sink. I made at least 10 trips from kitchen to bathroom. I carried a pot of hot water as my rice bowl filled up, alternating back and forth between the two. Just for kicks, I also boiled some water too.

Suffice to say that it was practically scalding me by the time I stepped in. I was sweating bullets. I haven't had a bath that hot since the spa in Taiwan.

WBC

Hey man, you know I love America... but I'm officially rooting against the US team in the World Baseball Classic. Cheating the Japanese team just ain't cool.

Basketball

For the past few months, basketball was my obsession of choice. It kept me happy when other things were going badly. Soon my game got better. I lost some weight. I made some friends. It was awesome.

Now hobbies come and go, and I have the feeling that I have hit my peak. Recently, my enjoyment of the game has slightly decreased. Here are a few factors:

1. Things are slightly better at work.
2. I've been getting a bit too competitive (no surprise here).
3. My foot hurts all the time. I think I have Plantar Fasciitis.
4. At work, one guy's personality is beginning to annoy everyone.
5. Baseball season is around the corner.

I won't stop playing completely. I'm just saying I've passed my peak. I need the exercise. My friend was just saying how I was fat! They never tell you while you're fat, just after you lose weight. I'm hoping to see a foot doctor soon too. All this basketball overuse in bad Big 5 shoes has really worn me down. In the meantime, I've got my eye on these (navy or royal?).

Jumping the Shark?

Not quite... but today's Battlestar Galactica episode was a huge letdown. Ugh.

Spending

Heard a KCRW podcast of Which Way, LA this morning. It was about how Americans are not saving enough. The way they computed it, we are negative spenders - meaning we spend more than we have. The culprits were feeling entitled to an unsustainable standard of life (especially should home prices go down), deregulation of banking, Bush spending too much on the federal government, and individuals counting on social security and medicare to take care of them later in life. Of course, they also said that if we all started saving 10% of our income at once, we'd cripple the economy too.

I dunno about all that but it's true that in the past 12 months, I've dipped into my savings much more than I ever have before. I'm still living within my means, but there's the possibility that I might be eating beyond my means. And those comic books aren't helping...

Gas Prices

By zipcode, via MSN.

Political Desperation

Heard a Newshour with Jim Lehrer podcast on the Dubai fiasco on my way to work. The congressmen pretty much admitted that killing the deal isn't a good idea. If you don't want foreign companies operating ports, you'll need to do much more than pick on Dubai. Our ports have been operated by foreign companies for over a generation. And Dubai isn't significantly more of a threat than many of our other customers.

But apparently, the american public wants it dead so the politicians are responding to the politics of the situation.

24

I've watched three hours of 24 in the past two weeks so I guess that means I'm a fan. I'm now working on my Jack Bauer impression.

Tell me what I need to know... NOW!!!!

Family Mart

Family Mart opening in Los Angeles? This is great news!

Measure 37

I found out last night that the Oregon Supreme Court determined that Measure 37 is constitutional, reversing a lower court action.

Measure 37 is a big deal. Generally, the law sets a base for property values and allows property owners to claim monetary compensation for planning laws that reduce their property value.

Backlash is a bitch. I'm no lawyer, but my impression is that while Measure 37 is legal, it isn't a good answer to a real problem. With this and all the Kelo eminent domain business, you can be sure to expect more backlash to come.

For a more informed opinion, see The Volokh Conspiracy.