Merry New Year!

Upcoming 2008 movies

On this New Year's Eve, to get us geared up for the 2008 run at the theaters, Yahoo released a list of most-anticipated movies for the coming year. After reviewing their selection, I find my reaction unexpectedly mixed. Some entries leave me intrigued, some rather puzzled, and others not as excited as I had hoped to be.

The first thing I noticed was the very conspicuous absence of Indiana Jones 4 from this list. Despite any misgivings I have with this sequel being made, I would nevertheless think it'd be at the top of most-anticipated movies to see this summer!

But going in chronological order of release date, Rambo IV Rambo will be hitting the theaters on January 25, and I'm crossing my fingers that it's much like Rocky Balboa: a worthy conclusion to the long-running series. It's been ages since I've seen Rambo III, and if I remember correctly, I enjoyed it—though I'm now told that it's an eerie experience to watch it in a post-9/11 world.

On March 14, we'll witness the release of Horton Hears a Who, one of Dr. Seuss's most cherished tales. Honestly, I'm not sure what to think of this yet. My hope is that it stays true to the original story, and keeps that unique Dr. Seuss magic.

Somehow I knew a chick flick would enter the mix, and on May 30, we'll apparently have the biggest chick flick since Ya-Ya Sisterhood entering the fray: Sex and the City. I never saw a single episode of the series, and I don't expect I'll see this one—unless of course I'm dragged to it, much like I was to Mona Lisa Smile.

Pixar releases its newest film WALL-E on June 27, though I had a hard time gleaming what it was about. The character on the movie poster actually reminded me of the robot character Number Five from Short Circuit. But knowing Pixar, this won't disappoint in terms of originality.

And lastly, The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan's sequel to Batman Begins, hits the theaters on July 10. This I'd be very interested to see, as I was quite impressed with Batman Begins, and really enjoyed Nolan's interpretation of the comic book series. Granted, to me Michael Keaton will always be Batman, not to mention Jack Nicholson as The Joker, but Christian Bale is a damn fine actor who brought a lot to the character of Batman. And I'm very interested to see Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker. From what I hear, it's a scene-stealer.

Happy birthday, Dad!

To cap off a long line of December birthdays (some of which were posted, some not), today my father celebrates the anniversary of his own birth—which took place way back in the Dark Ages.

Personally, I can think of no better way to celebrate his birthday than with a Guinness and a glorious Penn State victory. :)

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Merry Christmas to all!



And as a special bonus today, happy birthday to Christina!

Happy Christmas Eve!

And enjoy this holiday classic! :)

The bachelor couch has been retired!

Today marks the end of an era, as the bachelor couch has been retired from service!

The bachelor couch

For those unfamiliar with the bachelor couch's legacy, this was actually the first couch I ever owned, and it was given to me as a thank-you gift by my friend Wayne after assisting him in several moves (I think something like three). It earned the nickname "bachelor couch" because up to that point, it had been owned only by bachelors—and the proud tradition was thus being passed on to me.

This all took place in the late summer of 2002, and after five and a half years under my command (and associated bachelor activities that need not be discussed), it has now been replaced by a new couch.

New couch

This couch had previously belonged to Will and Erica, who today acquired a set of matching living room furniture for their condo. Will's plan was to donate their two current couches and love seat to The Salvation Army, but like Wayne, Will kindly offered me dibs on any of his outgoing furniture. Realizing that I was in need of a new couch, I accepted Will's generous offer and took the above-pictured couch.

Word of the bachelor couch's retirement spread fast—and to my surprise, it was heartily welcomed by many! My family never cared much for that couch, nor did several girlfriends. Will even went as far as to suggest tossing it in the incinerator! . . . I guess I was the only one who loved it.

Be that as it may, the bachelor couch has led a successful life, and its legend shall forever be honored. Now if you'll excuse me, it's time to give the new couch the nap test!

On this ship, you will refer to me as IDIOT! Not you, captain!

I found this entry on a Washington Post chat today, and it just made my day—not only for the great laugh, but because I could see myself doing something like this.

Holiday cheer: I had a Poinsettia on my dining room table for two weeks and watered it twice before I realized it was FAKE!

Carolyn Hax: Thanks for being here for us.

As Lone Star says . . .

Happy birthday, Bentje!

I'd say let's celebrate Bentje's birthday with some good German beer, but given where she's studying abroad, maybe some good French wine would be more suitable!

Nationals Park will debut March 30

According to the Post's esteemed Barry Svrluga, the rumored March 30 debut of Nationals Park is indeed on. The Nats will be hosting the Atlanta Braves rather than the Mets, and the game will be nationally-televised (which means there won't be a battle royale between Peter Angelos and Ted Turner for the game's broadcast rights). With any luck, I'll be able to score tickets to this game, though I have no idea at all what kind of draw to expect. Obviously we're all hoping for the kind of attendance like the first RFK game in April 2005 (with the new ballpark being the game's selling point), but with the team doing poorly in the last few seasons, it's really hard to say.

Once again, I spoke too soon

Yesterday I posted about how Oscar season is drawing near but nobody seems to be noticing, least of all me.

Now if I'd have only waited another day, I could have posted about how Oscar season is starting to come into swing, because with the Golden Globe nominees list out, Oscar buzz is starting to brew. IMDb has even put out a list of possible contenders!

Metro approves the rate hikes

Oooh, this is bad news for Metro riders, because the breaking news out of the District is that the Metro board has approved the hike in fares across the boards.

Under the plan adopted by the finance committee the largest increases would affect rush-hour suburban riders who make up the biggest group of daily users. The rush-hour boarding charge would 30 cents to $1.65 per trip, a 22 percent hike. The plan would raise the maximum fare per trip by 60 cents to $4.50. There would be no increases for off-peak riders or for MetroAccess.

At parking lots where the daily fee is as high as $4, the plan calls for a 75-cent hike for six months with an option to increase parking fees by 25 cents after that. Reserve parking would also increase by $10 to $55. That fee is in addition to the daily parking charge. Reflecting sentiment from passengers who park and ride, there would be no increase in the number of reserved parking spaces.

I drive to work these days, mostly because I've had some frustrating experiences with Metro over the summer, and I'm very eager to see what kind of backlash this rate hike will engender—i.e., will it cause many Metro riders to abandon the system? It's really a lose-lose situation for someone who rides the rails, because so many people in the DC area rely on the local subway system to get to work (I sure wouldn't want to drive into the District each morning). But will that reliance finally buckle under the weight of so many riders' compounded frustrations? We'll just have to see.

Oscar season slowly approaches

It's been sitting in the back of my mind, a subtle knowledge that hasn't quite hit home yet—Oscar season is coming up, and I find myself in a very strange place: I don't have a particular film or actor to cheer for yet.

Usually by this time, I've jumped fully onto the Oscar bandwagon, am keeping tabs on potential nominees, and have found at least one picture or actor to be passionate about. Last year it was Forest Whitaker for Best Actor (Last King of Scotland) and Rinko Kikuchi for Best Supporting Actress (Babel). And the year before that it was either George Clooney (Syriana) or Matt Dillon (Crash) for Best Supporting Actor, and Crash for Best Picture.

But this year? So far, I'm coming up rather empty! Though if I had to pick any worthy contenders for acting, right now I can only think of two: Robert Downey, Jr. for Zodiac, and Tom Wilkinson for Michael Clayton, both in the Best Supporting Actor column. (And maybe, maybe Mark Ruffalo for Zodiac, also as Best Supporting Actor.) But these are just preferences right now, nothing to feel overly passionate about. Though I'd wholeheartedly champion, of all people, a Best Actor nomination for Adam Sandler for his stunning performance in Reign Over Me, but that's likely a long-shot nomination (even though he'd fully deserve said nomination, in my opinion).

I intend to live-blog the Oscar ceremony much like I did last year, but I can't help but wonder why my reaction to the approaching Oscar season has been somewhat muted. Perhaps it's because the films I've seen gracing the theaters lately haven't really excited me—which is kind of odd, because most films that want to get Oscar attention get released in December or January, thus capitalizing on their freshness at the box office to garner Oscar consideration. But I also wonder if it's because the Oscar campaigning and buzz haven't fully kicked into gear yet—which it ought to, considering that the nominees list is only six weeks away from being released.

More bad PR for Penn State

As Vinnie Jones says in the movie Snatch, "Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity." This is especially true of college students, because now two Penn State students are facing very damaging notoriety for their choice of costume, not to mention one student's refusal to apologize:

With fake bloody bullet holes in his head and Virginia Tech polo shirt, Nathan Jones knew his Halloween costume this year was controversial, and he doesn't intend to apologize -- "never ever ever."

"I will die before I do," he said.

As if the Ohio State/YouTube incident wasn't bad enough for Penn State's reputation, this is much worse. Essentially, two students dressed up as Virginia Tech victims for a costume party recently, and suffice it to say, the backlash against them has been vehement.

And it forces Penn State to say, in the broadest possible sense, "This does not represent us!!!" As someone noted to me recently, what does represent Penn State are the 70,000 students, fans, and alums who donned Virginia Tech colors during the Blue/White game to show our support to the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre. Not a stupid prank pulled by a pair of college students who were trying to be cute. Frankly, they should have known better. Because that's just sick dressing up how they did. Stupid, insensitive, and sick.

Worf hits the speed limit

Actor Michael Dorn, best known for playing the Klingon character Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation, turns 55 today! And I'm willing to bet that, contrary to his claim below, he is a merry man.

Nothing is sacred anymore (VII)

The more I think about it, the title of this post implies that this was sacred in the first place! Though the title of this song should nullify any such thoughts in that vein.

But does anyone else remember when MTV actually played music videos? Yep, that was quite a while ago, and when I was little, I remember stumbling across this music video and being captivated by its portrayal. Looking at it again 20 years later, I'm again captivated by it, only this time for its originality, its social depiction—not to mention its humor! I mean, where else will you see a Claymation Ronald Reagan running through the streets dressed as Superman? :)

It's snow, people. It's not Armageddon!

Winter has officially arrived in the DC region, and this morning met with our first serious snowfall (actually, we got some light flurries yesterday morning, but not enough to be noticed). I saw a weather forecast last night that said we'd get 1-2 inches of the white stuff by this evening, and when I got up today, the only evidence I saw of such precipitation was a small dusting on the cover of the Riverhouse pool. It started snowing in more earnest as the morning went on, and traffic reports said it was icy up in Maryland, so I decided to brave the Red Line today rather than risk getting caught up in traffic on icy roads.

What really boggled my mind, though (as it does every winter), is seeing the long list of schools either delayed or closed because of an anticipated 1-2 inches of snow.

As a central PA native, where I've witnessed far worse snowfalls than what I've seen here, I can tell you for a fact that an inch of snow does not equal the apocalypse. Compare an inch of snowfall today to the winters of my sophomore and senior years in high school—when I seriously did not see the green of grass from November until March. That, my dear Washingtonians and non-local well-wishers, is a serious winter. That is a reason to close the schools for a full week. An inch of snow is not a reason to close all DC-area schools and send panicky people to the grocery stores for milk, bread, eggs, and toilet paper.

During a snowy President's Day weekend in 2003, I remember shoveling out my car in the parking lot of my Alexandria apartment building . . . and being the only person there using a shovel. Everyone else either used their bare (actually, gloved) hands or a dustpan and brush! I seriously wondered that day if I was the only person in that building who actually owned a shovel. And at the same time, it makes me wonder why this region doesn't have a better snow preparedness plan.

I realize that I live in a transient area, where people come from all over on their way to somewhere else, but what bothers me is the general lack of common sense from residents and local governments. Because common sense would suggest the following:

• Buy a shovel to dig out your car, as well as an ice scraper.
• If your sidewalks are icy, lay down some salt.
• If you plow a road, lay down some ash or gravel in your wake so that you have something firm to drive on. (I've often seen sand thrown down, but I find sand can still be slippery.)
• Put chains on school bus tires so buses can run and schools won't need to close.
• And last but not least, drive slowly and cautiously! You can't drive 65 mph on a snow-covered highway, no matter how late for work you are.

What I'm saying is, with a little bit of effort, snow can easily be mastered. Don't let it disrupt your life like it's a natural disaster.

Casting begins on Terminator 4

I'd almost forgotten that this was being made, but casting has reportedly begun on the fourth installment in the Terminator series (which is entitled Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins). Reports have it that Christian Bale will be starring as world savior John Connor . . . who will be the third actor to play the character now. Don't get me wrong—Bale is a great actor! But having Edward Furlong or Nick Stahl reprise the role would at least give continuity to the character (not to mention credibility to this installment)! And as reported before, no Arnold for Terminator 4.

I still say they should have left it be after Terminator 2, which was the perfect sequel!

The theory of December madness?

Both Yahoo News and the Post ran articles recently on the idea of having a single college football playoff game, and I have to say, the more I read and think about it, the more I'm in favor of such a game.

I so easily lose track of all the different divisions in college football—mostly because I don't pay attention to them, what with Penn State playing in the (so-called) Big Ten. But if Penn State were to have an undefeated season and end up #1, I'd want that #1 to be across the boards, not just the Big Ten. Theoretically, you could have college football do a March madness-like playoff season, with each division's #1 competing against each other and whittling it down to an overall #1. You could call it December madness!

Verizon's Center's 10-year anniversary

Last night my father and I went to the Wizards-Raptors game, and unexpectedly got caught up in several celebrations. Mainly there were two: the 10th anniversary of the MCI Center Verizon Center, and the retiring of the #10 jersey, worn by Earl "The Pearl" Monroe.

There was a big halftime celebration for Earl the Pearl, and it included several video tributes, visits from former NBA stars from the 60s and 70s, and even a speech by Wizards owner Abe Pollin! Earl the Pearl naturally gave a speech to the fans, and he did a pretty good job (though did go on for a tad too long).

As part of the Verizon Center's celebrations, fans were given miniature Earl the Pearl jersey banners, as well as miniature ceramic arenas (with detachable roof).



If I hear true, the Verizon Center's 10-year anniversary is today! Which means that it was still a relatively new venue when I moved here in 2000. Kinda hard to believe (at least for me), because it doesn't feel like 7 years that I've been frequenting that arena for Caps and Wizards games.

Remembering the Alamo in advance

It's now official—Penn State is going to the Alamo Bowl on December 29 (my father's birthday!). Our opponent is reported to either be Texas A&M or Texas Tech, though I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed it wasn't the University of Texas. I say that because my friend Anne is a Texas grad, and I don't think her Longhorns have played my Nittany Lions since maybe 1990! Plus, this way I'd at least have had someone to make a friendly football wager with (despite my track record this season).