The music in Applebee's today was amazing. The station ID tagline was something like "The 90's...you lived through them then... so you'll survive this." They played Celine Dion's "That's They Way It Is," which, after all this time, it still seems to be. They played the Backstreet Boys' immortal ode to their own popularity, "Larger Than Life." They played Vanilla Ice's "Play That Funky Music White Boy" from "Cool as Ice," for pho's sake. I believe they may have played the other song by Marcy Playground. It was that kind of set.
My two other favorite walkable restaurants are both closed on Tuesdays, as it turns out, not sure why. So I ended up at Applebee's because I'd never eaten there before, and I believe in trying all chains at least once, because that's what chains are for, right? Anyways, I'm sure the stuff white people like blog will do a piece on this if they have not already, but what is with American food and the extra tablespoon of Salt and/or Sugar that they put on everything? It happens at Applebee's, it happens at Outback Steakhouse, it happens less often at Denny's (where they instead favor grease, bless their hearts). It's like they're afraid the actual taste of the ingredients might leak through if they don't blow up a salt grenade over the food. I dunno what I was expecting out of my sampler plate, but it was definitely....more.
heard in the casino today:
"I bet, doh ma. I found some free rope and I'm going to hang myself with it, because, hey, free rope!"
bopping around LA
...today I took a break from organizing my mp3 collection to go buy printer ink and then eat chicken heart yakitori with pickles and also hang out with Lloyd from "Entourage" and Stephanie from "Better Luck Tomorrow" and somewhere in there I saw a short film with this svelte Singaporean guy masturbating himself, onscreen, close-up of hand on organ, for like 6 minutes as quotes from Allen Ginsburg flitted across the frame, OMG, and I also had some popcorn, and tomorrow I'm going to go get breast implants. J/K LOL that last thing but the rest of it was real.
the best line in "The Sting"....
"You know me. I'm the same as you. It's two in the morning and I don't know nobody."
I'm totally going to say that, at least once, when I'm at the Sundance Lab. I don't care what else happens.
I'm totally going to say that, at least once, when I'm at the Sundance Lab. I don't care what else happens.
how this guy rolls
Today, while walking from the parking lot into the casino, I was stopped and asked directions by a guy who was in driving in his car while clearly holding an an open 16 oz Budweiser in a crumpled brown paper bag. It didn't look like it was taking the edge off, either.
great acting
The main character in "In Between Days," this very indie Korean-American movie, does the most wonderful performance of being stoned that I've ever seen. She just shuts up and her eyes dart left and right and she looks completely out of her gourd.
thoughts on watching hobbits all day
The "Lord of the Rings" movies have not aged well in the, what, 3 years that they've aged. The whole trilogy was playing on cable the other day, and I was sitting there at work watching them, because that's what was on TV (all around the casino you could find players and dealers significantly distracted from their blackjack games, their eyes wandering off the money to be transfixed by the sight of slavering orcs.... it was really precious). Anyhoo, somewhere in the middle of the 17th hour of the Two Towers, I realized that I had no idea why the heros are fighting evil. It's not even clear why the Urukai/orcs are evil, except that they're, well....dark. It's also unclear what kind of higher ideal Aragorn & Co. are fighting to preserve, except that it has something to do with a White City where all Men of the West are brothers.
The whole story suffers when you don't care for the heroes, and I don't care for them because they come off as virtually indestructible, infinitely regenerating video game avatars, whose main purpose seems to be establishing order by whimsically slaughtering all the dark people with earrings and facial tattoos. Even compared to the Matrix, Star Wars, and the works of Jason Statham, I think LOR ends up the most Aryan and the least compelling.
Don't get me wrong, when you need to see a movie where a dude with bows and arrows fights a giant elephant, you really can't do better. But somehow the rest of it, just enh. I dunno, maybe I'd feel different if I lived on a Shire.
The whole story suffers when you don't care for the heroes, and I don't care for them because they come off as virtually indestructible, infinitely regenerating video game avatars, whose main purpose seems to be establishing order by whimsically slaughtering all the dark people with earrings and facial tattoos. Even compared to the Matrix, Star Wars, and the works of Jason Statham, I think LOR ends up the most Aryan and the least compelling.
Don't get me wrong, when you need to see a movie where a dude with bows and arrows fights a giant elephant, you really can't do better. But somehow the rest of it, just enh. I dunno, maybe I'd feel different if I lived on a Shire.
although the poker craze is fading....
....I think, given a little effort, I would be good at poker. I think the whole "tells" thing is totally overrated, and I believe that I could fool everyone. I believe this because in my experience, no one ever knows what the hell I am talking about, much less thinking.
dick's man
Today I played cards with an Armenian guy, maybe 60, wearing a Halliburton baseball cap. Who the hell does that?
if Bill Clinton were black and currently running for president....
...his big speech on race would begin, "I am not Black. I have never been Black. I am BI-RACIAL."
favorite dialogue heard today:
1: "Want some coffee?"
2: "No thanks I just had a colonoscopy."
1: "You sure?"
2: "No thanks I just had a colonoscopy."
1: "You sure?"
envy
I got sad today reading a lighthearted, funny blog by someone who seems to be part of a happy, intelligent couple. And another blog by that person's partner.
I felt better when I realized that tons of people must invent blogs written by imaginary girlfriends/boyfriends. And maintain them diligently, and fabricate pictures, all to keep up the illusion and stave off the abyss.
I mean, that's what "I" would do.
I felt better when I realized that tons of people must invent blogs written by imaginary girlfriends/boyfriends. And maintain them diligently, and fabricate pictures, all to keep up the illusion and stave off the abyss.
I mean, that's what "I" would do.
things i like about my neighborhood, which i am making note of now, in case i leave it....
The proximity of various excellent dumplings.
The quiet.
That Indonesian place with the beef rendang plate and the avocado shake drizzled with what might be Hershey's chocolate syrup.
That internet cafe with the stunning teenagers that reminds me of cafes on Telegraph in the early 90's.
The deserted nursery next door.
The cheap delicious Vietnamese food.
The clear and sensible positioning of the library, police station, city hall.
The couple that has screaming fights across the street, to break up the quiet.
The neon urban angst of the foot massage parlors along Valley Blvd.
The sunsets framed by the electrical towers.
The things you can find in the supermarkets.
The quiet.
That Indonesian place with the beef rendang plate and the avocado shake drizzled with what might be Hershey's chocolate syrup.
That internet cafe with the stunning teenagers that reminds me of cafes on Telegraph in the early 90's.
The deserted nursery next door.
The cheap delicious Vietnamese food.
The clear and sensible positioning of the library, police station, city hall.
The couple that has screaming fights across the street, to break up the quiet.
The neon urban angst of the foot massage parlors along Valley Blvd.
The sunsets framed by the electrical towers.
The things you can find in the supermarkets.
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