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| Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 | | 2:23 pm |
| | Monday, July 21st, 2008 | | 9:38 am |
The Weekend Report... I had a nice, yet extremely busy, weekend. On Friday, the family got to visit our semi-famous reality TV star friend. It was nice catching up with her, and I'm happy to report that she's doing well. On a scale of "sane" to "actor," she is pleasantly left of the middle (on the sane side). A person can't ask for much more than that, right? ;) Friday afternoon, the wife and I got ready for a huge kiddie B-day party on Saturday. And then Saturday, of course, huge kiddie B-day party! It was an AWESOME time! 18 kids all running around in our alley, and I've never had more fun. We played pin the tail on some character, musical chairs, water balloon toss, and busted a pinata. How can you beat that? It was one of those "putting things into perspective"-type days. My kids' happiness overwhelmed my senses, and it really reminded me of the important things in life. Excuse me for the "Wonder Years" moment... Let's just say that their fun was my fun. On Sunday, we had to do some property management work. Lots more of that is coming too. It's a small burden that comes with a big blessing, so I'll deal... And here we are at Monday. Wheee! Oh, and I still haven't seen "Dark Knight" yet...but I will! Funny links! Court nixes fine for SB 'wardrobe malfunction' - they finally get to this 4 years later. At least they made the right decision: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8364144?MSNHPHMAWanna see Vargas-esque Pin-Up Art of Carla Gugino as Sally Jupiter from WATCHMEN? http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37551Want to check out the Animated Comic Version of WATCHMEN? http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37538Watchmen Trailer Breakdown - for those who haven't read the comic: http://www.empireonline.com/trailer/breakdown/watchmen/Wanna See Some Of Bill Sienkiewicz's Art He Did For DARK KNIGHT?!?!? http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37549EW’s Ausiello Has All Kinds Of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Scoop! http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37543Would You Like Some Thulsa Doom While You're Waiting for Your Conan? http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37556'DARK KNIGHT' BREAKS EIGHT RECORDS; $155.3M Weekend Will Beat 'Spidey 3'; Sunday Performances Packed For Batman: http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/rival-studio-dark-knight-48m-saturday/The Times talks to Frank Miller about THE SPIRIT: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/movies/20webs.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&oref=sloginThe Ten Worst Movies Ever Made - I don't know if they're the WORST, but they're mighty horrific: http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22317/50235-ten-worst-movies-madeComics-Based Movies Keep on Comin': http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/07/comic-based-mov.htmlStar Wars Photoshopping Contest Artwork: http://www.worth1000.com/contest.asp?contest_id=20242&display=photoshopTake Jon Lajoie's advice and try "Not Giving A F*ck" for instant happiness: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/23e6bd5026 | | Thursday, July 17th, 2008 | | 9:29 pm |
| | 11:23 am |
Me in Real Life I'm running late today, but here's a quick movie review for "Dan in Real Life" - it's goood. It's a romantic comedy, but it's got real heart. I think audiences have gotten used to romantic comedies like "Legally Blonde," where it's kind of "out there" and the comedy comes from people over-acting. "Dan in Real Life" is a bit simple - maybe even a bit sappy - but it works. Now, I can understand maybe why the teens didn't drive out in droves, but if you're over 28 and are in a relationship, you should see this movie with a loved one. You'll laugh, get a tad misty, and squeeze your loved one's hand in delight. I did. Solid writing, directing, and acting all around - even Dane Cook's tolerable! Bottom line? Go see it! And now, funny links! But first, a joke from my email that I've seen before, but still cracks me up: After every flight, pilots fill out a form, called a gripe sheet which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some maintenance complaints submitted by pilots and the solutions recorded by maintenance engineers. By the way, the airline these came from is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident. Pilot: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement. Engineers: Almost replaced left inside main tire. Pilot: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough. Engineers: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft. Pilot: Something loose in cockpit. Engineers: Something tightened in cockpit. Pilot: Dead bugs on windshield. Engineers: Live bugs on back-order. Pilot: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent. Engineers: Cannot reproduce problem on ground. Pilot: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear. Engineers: Evidence removed. Pilot: DME volume unbelievably loud. Engineers: DME volume set to more believable level. Pilot: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick. Engineers: That's what friction locks are for. Pilot: IFF inoperative in OFF mode. Engineers: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode. Pilot: Suspected crack in windshield. Engineers: Suspect you're right. Pilot: Number 3 engine missing. Engineers: Engine found on right wing after brief search. Pilot: Aircraft handles funny. Engineers: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious. Pilot: Target radar hums. Engineers: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics. Pilot: Mouse in cockpit. Engineers: Cat installed. Pilot: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer. Engineers: Took hammer away from midget And here's da links! Lots of people are going to see Batman this weekend: http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/dark-knight-sold-out-sold-out-sold-out/Some shenanigans involving San Diego's economy and ComiCon: http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/17/san-diegos-economyagain/#more-5738The 20 worst movie endings ever - I agree with many of these: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article4345498.eceThe Daily Show's Hilarious Coverage of Obama Cartoon Scandal: http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=176628&title=obama-cartoon&byDate=true20 Everyday Items If They Were Designed for Batman: http://www.cracked.com/article_16494_20-everyday-items-if-they-were-designed-batman.htmlThe Ultimate iPhone App - Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/07/16/exclusive-star-wars-the-force-unleashed-for-iphone/The Ultimate Showdown - It's the anticipation that kills you: http://www.uniquedaily.com/the-ultimate-showdown/The 10 Best SNL Celebrity Jeopardy Skits Of All Time: http://mamarazzi.uber.com/celebrityjeopardy | | Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 | | 10:39 am |
Marriage... If you've read this blog, you know my feelings on actors. I've stated my motto before: anyone who is friends with an actor deserves what they get. And I know I've mentioned my two actor friends in Los Angeles. They're married, and I was their best man. They are kind but flaky. That said, the one time I really needed them for something important, they were there. And for that, I will be forever grateful. So after I moved back to Seattle, we lost touch a bit. I'd call them about 2-3 times a year and leave messages for them (still do, as a matter of fact). However, I'd never hear back (hence the flakiness). Side note: if you ever need an actor to call you, tell them that you know of someone who has a good role for them. They'll call you back in 5 seconds. Anyhow, out of the blue, one of them (the actress, who was our friend first) gave me a call. She's coming to Seattle and wants to see us, which pleases me to no end. That said, she filled me in on her life, which kind of left me dismayed. It turns out she's a star of a reality TV show - a pretty popular one as I discovered after I Googled it. She and her husband are going through a divorce, and it was all caught on TV. ...wonderful. Ugh. It just felt like a punch in the gut to me, although I'm not sure why. The fact is, 2 out of 3 marriages end in divorce, so the odds are stacked going in. Add to that the fact that they're both actors (who should never date, let alone marry), and their odds of staying together were extremely poor. I'm just upset because I can see some of the reasons they broke up - frickin' Hollywood. They live in a world of "me first" and it warps your mind to such a degree that it makes me ill. I should know - my mind was warped oh-so-many years ago. So many quotes come to mind: "You have to be able to walk away at any time." --Robert Deniro, "Heat" "If you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it." --John Candy, "Cool Runnings" "You can be successful in Hollywood or successful in life, but not both." --One of my first bosses in Hollywood I can appreciate that it's hard to see your priorities are whacked when you're knee deep in muck. But there is ALWAYS a wake-up call (just pray that it doesn't come to late). And when that call comes, you damn well better answer it. I know I whine about making movies and making comics and wanting to do something big, but I have no regrets about my life. I LOVE MY LIFE. I am blessed beyond belief with a fantastic wife, great kids, a good job, and I still have time (occasionally) to do those other things that interest me. Really, could anyone ask for more? I just feel like my friends let themselves down, and I feel bummed that I couldn't help them (or that they didn't let me know so I could offer my help). Reality TV - don't watch it! Seriously!!! On a happy (and slightly ironic note), today is my 14th wedding anniversary. I hope all of you out there find the joy and love that I've found. :) Funny links! Jib Jab's latest campaign video - great as always: http://themoderatevoice.com/entertainment/cartoons/21104/jib-jab-campaign-2008-time-for-some-campaignin/Seth MacFarlane's Reign Of Offensiveness Now Includes AIDS Jokes About Karl Rove - I have a feeling MacFarlane is going to get his taxes audited this year: http://defamer.com/398563/seth-macfarlanes-reign-of-offensiveness-now-includes-aids-jokes-about-karl-roveIs This Your Sandwich? - I don't know what to say about this except, "Heh": http://technogreek.blogspot.com/2008/07/is-this-your-sandwich.htmlWith New Wii Sports & Wii Music, the Wii's future is casual: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080715-with-new-wii-sports-wii-music-the-wiis-future-is-casual.htmlJ.J. Abrams’ “Fringe” will be aired as full fifty minute episodes, not the barely 40 minute episodes most dramas are today. That, alone, is enough reason to give it a chance. Abrams demanded it, and got it: http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/blog/2008/07/press_tour_fringe_episodes_50.htmlHow fair is Monopoly, mathematically? - um, yeah... http://www.math.yorku.ca/Who/Faculty/Steprans/Courses/2042/Monopoly/Stewart2.htmlGigapan, Yankee Stadium - This panoramic view of Yankee Stadium on July 4 was shot using GigaPan technology. You can zoom in on any detail – from Alex Rodriguez approaching the plate in the first inning against the Red Sox to the façade of the new Yankee Stadium beyond leftfield. Taken by a robotic camera, the photo was shot over the course of 10 minutes and consists of 124 frames stitched together. Carnegie Mellon developed the GigaPan technology last year in collaboration with NASA: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/07/08/newyork.yankees/index.html?eref=T1Screwed or skewered? Check out pictures from movies and try to guess whether the girls are getting laid or getting dead: http://www.liquidgeneration.com/Media/Games/Quizzes_Puzzles/Movie_Puzzles/Sex_Scene_or_Murder_Scene/Sex_Scene_or_Murder_Scene_2/ | | Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 | | 10:13 am |
| | Monday, July 14th, 2008 | | 10:58 am |
What to write? I was just thinking this weekend about novels. I know, I know, I'm working on a comic book and a movie script. Why dive into a novel? Well, I'm not saying I'm going to - at least, not anytime soon. For every story, there is the right medium to tell it. Some stories in my head would make awesome movies - those are the ideas that are so visual they'd just melt your eyeballs. Some stories would make a great comic book - those are the ideas that may not me worth spending $50 million to make, but there is still a visual component to them that's worth investigating. And then, some stories are just...great stories. Think of your favorite books - the ones where characters are in their heads a lot. They are awesome reads, but you wouldn't want to watch it in a theater because you would sit there viewing a person thinking...and how exciting would that be? I dunno. Since I spend so much time in my head, I've been thinking lately (see? in my head again...) that a novel might be a good idea. Plus, the drawbacks to novels are much less than other mediums. With movies, they cost a lot to make. You have to rely on directors and actors not to screw up your vision, and you have to worry about the studios screwing you over on your cut. With comic books, you have to rely on an artist (unless you're one yourself) to convey your ideas correctly; the audience for comics is fairly small (most independent comics are lucky to sell 2000 copies); and you have to worry about publishers screwing you over on your ownership rights. With novels, it's your ideas...and that's it. You may have to double-check to make sure a publisher doesn't try to horn in on your movie rights, but other than that, your book is your book. Plus, your book can be whatever you want. You're not trying to please a "market share" or what have you, you are just writing for people who like the kinds of stories you tell. Some people just bundle up their blogs and sell those! (although I can't imagine anyone paying to read my whiny thoughts - heck, I should be paying you!) The other plus about novels is that the "rules" are almost non-existent. With scripts, you need to have an inciting incident by page 25, a major reversal by page 75, and a well-written climax - and the whole thing needs to be under 120 pages. Comics have rules too about where panels are laid out and how they're written - each page needs a mini cliffhanger/conclusion before you hop to the next page, and you only have 22 pages to tell your story in an issue (unless you're writing a graphic novel). A novel can be whatever it wants, and that's kind of a beautiful thing. If only I didn't love comic books and movies so much! Maybe I'm just meant to appreciate other people's works in these fields, and novels are meant to be my thing. Huh. That's a weird thought. Either way, I'm going forward with the comic and movie scripts. My middle name is "focused." ...unfortunately, my first name is "un-". Funny links! 'Grey's Anatomy' Has Exciting Arc Planned For Katherine Heigl In Which She Drops Dead http://defamer.com/398420/greys-anatomy-has-exciting-arc-planned-for-katherine-heigl-in-which-she-drops-deadWriters need actors - John August gives you an analogy for the looming actors' strike: http://johnaugust.com/archives/2008/writers-need-actorsTrailer for the new Iron Man cartoon - eh, might be okay: http://marvel.com/news/moviestories.4184?bcpid=1659850725&bctid=1662507071One of the greatest comic books ever gets animated...sort of: http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/07/14/invincible-flying-to-small-screens/Star Wars Actors - Where Are They Now? http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/popup?id=3196756&contentIndex=1&start=false&page=1The Top 20 Movie Anti-Heroes: http://www.hecklerspray.com/top-20-movie-anti-heroes/200815187.phpTucker Max vs. Michael Ian Black - I'd pay to see this: http://ihopetheyservebeerinhell.com/archives/im_going_to_fig.htmlJesse Jackson gets medieval all over Obama's nutsack on Late Night with Conan O'Brien: http://www.comedy.com/embed/jesse-jackson-on-conan-o-brien | | Friday, July 11th, 2008 | | 9:24 am |
Everyone still here? Good! I hope my readers are returning. I miss you guys. All 3 of ya! Anyhow, I came into work today and our main server is corrupt. That means no nuthin' on the computers. Thankfully, I still have internet access so I can sit here and go bloggity, blog, blog, blog... What else is new? Let's see... I didn't get ANY writing done on my trip. I was either too hot, too tired, or too sick. Now that I'm back, I'm working on rewriting my comic book script. I have a real mixed feeling about it. It's a really good story, but market-wise, it's not a guaranteed big seller. I'm going forward with it though. At the very least, it will show that I can put together a good comic (I hope!). I'll jump right back into my movie script after that. I'm actually looking forward to it. Wish me luck! I've also discovered the TV show "Burn Notice." It's terrific-o! I highly recommend it. It's spy-fun with lots of MacGyver-y goodness. Plus...Bruce Campbell! I've always wondered why Hollywood never made more use of him, and after seeing him in this show, I'm convinced more than ever that Hollywood is full of idiots. My 14th wedding anniversary is coming up soon, so...that's awesome! My kids just turned 4 and 6 and had their annual visit to the doctor. My 4 year old got two booster shots. Suffice it to say, she didn't like them and screamed bloody murder. I pity her husband when it comes time to deliver a baby. Um, that's all for now. Happy Friday everyone! Funny links! Missing That Hot Cup Of Fresh OFFICE Every Thursday?? NBC.com Has Its Awesome Kevin-centric Webisode Up! http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/node/37410Details about the Ozploitation doc NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD! http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/node/37412Next SAG-AMPTP Deadline Is July 24th! SAG Presented Counter-Proposal Today; Will AMPTP Negotiate Or Just Walk Away? http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/is-amptp-walking-away-from-sag-talks-like-it-did-to-wga-sure-sounds-like-it/Ken Levine on writing...I love that guy! http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2008/07/friday-question-of-week.htmlToday is Free Slurpee Day! Aren't we supposed to get off work for major holidays? http://www.slurpee.com/The 15 Defining Moments of the Batman Franchise: http://www.tvguide.com/PhotoGallery/The_Batman_Franchise_s_15_Defining_Moments_1246/1.aspx | | Thursday, July 10th, 2008 | | 11:04 am |
The Good... Ah yes, the good about going to Greece. For those of you who think, "Shouldn't it all be good?" - read the previous entries. That said, yes, the trip was a positive experience with various highlights I will now share: SUN, SWIMMING, AND GREEK FOOD - Really, do I need to say more than that? Greeks lead a fairly mellow lifestyle (hence the reason they're not a world superpower). They wake up around 9am, eat a small breakfast, go swimming, eat a big lunch, nap, eat a light dinner, and stay up until midnight (at least!). That's only generalizing a little bit - honest! Most stores close down between 1pm-5pm because it's too hot and everyone is sleeping. If you can tolerate the earlier stuff I posted, it's a decent lifestyle. GETTING AWAY FROM "THE WORLD" - I only checked the web 2, maybe 3 times a week while I was in Greece. I didn't have to worry about whatever Bush was screwing up, I avoided most of my emails. I was just hanging out with my family. Granted, if you know how fast my mind goes, it did feel like it would explode sometimes due to lack of stimulation, but that can be good, you know? I'm not saying the whole thing had a profound effect on me or nuthin', just that it was good to take a break. THE KIDS - I'm happy to report that my kids are good travelers. Now, traveling with kids is tiring - no two ways about that. But overall, they did a great job. Plus, seeing Greece through their eyes really made it seem better for me as well. To them, it was a time when they got their parents to themselves all day, they got to go swimming every day, and they got to stay up until 11pm every night. It was like a wonderland! They enjoyed the cultural stuff too - talking Greek, eating weird foods (or at least pretending to eat them), etc. My kids just make my life better in general. ;) RELATIVES - I got reacquainted with some of my relatives in Greece, which made me very happy. I worry that when my Dad goes (one day far in the future, I hope), I'll lose my "connection" with Greece as a country. This trip, however, I got to spend time with my first cousin and a very cool second cousin I forgot I had. She lives in New Jersey, and she and her kids helped make our trip great! My wife and I plan to stay in contact with her, and hopefully we'll just continue to grow closer as family. Family is good. I also made a new friend in Greece! His name is Vassilis, and he's an AWESOME comic book artist. So hey, that goes in the GOOD column too! Well, that's the trip recap. Back to me whining and bitching about life starting tomorrow...or maybe just some funny anecdotes, okay? ;) Peace and funny links! If you've ever worked in IT, this is the funniest thing EVER! http://www.thewebsiteisdown.com/Idiot Spills Flaming Shot: http://www.break.com/index/idiot-spills-flaming-shot.html13 Things You Won't Believe Are Against the Law Somewhere: http://www.cracked.com/article_16459_13-things-you-wont-believe-are-against-law-somewhere.htmlThe 10 Funniest Homeless Signs Ever: http://www.oddee.com/item_96457.aspx | | Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 | | 9:49 am |
The Bad... Just a reminder - the trip was good, but this bitchfest is just because...well, ain't that what a blog's for? Okay, the bad about Greece... DUSTY - There is a story that says God made the world and dumped all the leftover dirt and rocks in the area that became Greece. ...sounds about right. You can't go or do anything in Greece without getting covered with a thin layer of dust/dirt. In the morning, I'd leave my laptop out in the place I was staying, and by the evening, dust everywhere. Not a horrible experience, but kinda annoying. THE HEAT - Greece is hot - there's no two ways about it. We went at the right time though (thankfully!). It was in the 80's when we arrived, but we had several days around 100. And most places in Greece don't have air conditioning (or at least GOOD air conditioning). I don't do well in heat, which is why I'm glad I live in Seattle. Then again, you go to Greece to lounge around in the sun. Well, we saw plenty of the shiny yellow ball. So, overall, bad but semi-bearable. SPEAKING GREEK - Speaking Greek has always been...well, a source of embarrassment for me. When I was a kid, it didn't seem as big of a deal. But now that I'm older? I really wish I knew how. I do speak well enough to get around. I can order food at a restaurant, find where I need to go, and ask basic stuff. But I really want to converse. Some background here - My dad is a Greek native and my mom speaks fluently (although she was born in the U.S.). When I was young, the school of thought was that you speak English to your children as babies, which would help them become better students, more well-adjusted socially, etc. Later, in grade school, my folks sent me and my brother to a Greek language school, but let's face it - when you're in third grade, learning a foreign language ain't a priority. Now that I'm an adult, and now that my folks are getting older, I'm kinda pissed at myself for not knowing the language. I know my Dad's relatives and friends in his old village give him a hard time that his kids don't speak Greek (mostly, they blame him, which really isn't fair). Well, after this last trip, I truly do want to learn. I hope to hell I follow through... And...that's it for the bad. Tomorrow, the good! And here's more funny links than you can possibly want or need! SUPERBAD TRAILER RECUT...THE EPIC ACTION ADVENTURE! - Awwwwwesome! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw_6dlYkjP0Showtime Developing Vertigo's EXTERMINATORS Comic Into A TV Series! - if done right, this could be ooky-kooky cool: http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/node/37384Who Is Jan Jürgen, and Why Does All of Hollywood Fear Him? - a faux documentary on the making on this summer's Tropic Thunder that possibly looks even more funny than the movie...heee! http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/node/37382MGM Greenlights Goddard/Whedon Thriller CABIN IN THE WOODS! - a Joss Whedon movie? I'm there! http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/node/37381AFTRA Members Ratify AMPTP Contract; SAG Campaign To Deep-Six Pact Fails; Dueling Statements By Actor Presidents: http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/aftra-members-ratify-amptp-contract/Dangerous Pant- And Tree-Snakes Abound In Best Porn Intro Ever! - safe to watch at work and hilarious! http://defamer.com/398152/dangerous-pant+-and-tree+snakes-abound-in-best-porn-intro-everThey are making a movie from Tucker Max's "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell" - Me So Happy! http://ihopetheyservebeerinhell.com/Star Wars Imperial Base made from LEGOs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40182896@N00/sets/72157605671869613/Mother of Tears: Mother of God... - My buddy Tony reviews Dario Argento's latest film: http://popculturepetridish.blogspot.com/2008/06/mother-of-tears-mother-of-god.html7 Movies Based on a True Story (That Are Complete Bullshit): http://www.cracked.com/article_16478_7-movies-based-on-true-story-that-are-complete-bullshit.htmlAwkward Kool-Aid Ads - awwwkward: http://www.liquidgeneration.com/Media/Animations/Weird_Random/Random/5_Most_Awkward_KoolAid_Ads/Coming to a theater near you, it's Three Matthew McConaugheys and A Baby: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0ed386107 | | Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 | | 9:22 am |
The Ugly... I promised you a good, bad, and ugly list about my trip to Greece. Overall, the trip was pretty darn good, so I'll start with the ugly and end with the good. Okay, first off, I know what some of you are thinking - "This a-hole gets to go to Greece, and he's bitching about it." Okay then, a caveat - I lead a blessed life and I know I take stuff for granted. I particularly realized this on my trip to Greece. I've got a fantastic family, great friends, a decent job, and more blessings than I probably deserve. I try not to take this for granted, but I know I do. I'll work on it, but let me get through this list, okay? Now, about Greece - you know those tourist posters with the beautiful clear blue beaches, the gorgeous mountainsides with the old white structures, and the clean-looking natives? Okay, that's about 5-10% of Greece. The rest is...not as nice, but passable. Let me make another disclaimer here - I hate camping. Camping is not a vacation for me. Shitting in bushes, bathing in rivers, all the dirt and bugs...no thanks. Well, Greece is a bit like camping. Unless you're willing to shell out big bucks, you're going to experience most of the discomforts of camping. Hence, my ugly list: GREECE'S SEWAGE SYSTEM - Here's something they don't advertise on the posters: Greece's sewage system is pathetic. When you take a crap in the restroom, you'll see a small garbage can next to the toilet. Wanna know what goes in there? Your used toilet paper. No, I'm not joking. Greece's plumbing and sewage systems can't handle toilet paper, so you're supposed to throw it out. This means that Greek restrooms smell WONDERFUL, naturally. Greece had one of the world's first sewage and plumbing systems...and it appears they haven't updated a thing since then. It probably doesn't help that I'm a bit of a germ-a-phobe either. I rebelled a bit this trip. I figured that if the toilets can handle my poop (which is fairly dense), it should be able to handle a few sheets of toilet paper. So I'd use 2-3 sheets to do "the deed." I didn't gum up the works, so I'm going forward with this minor rebellion the next time I visit Greece as well. Oh, and a few places in Greece have the real "old fashioned" toilets, which is a hole in the ground. Nasty... BUGS - Maybe it's due to the sewage system (probably is...), but Greece has ass-loads of flies and mosquitoes. If you go, pack loads of bug spray, and even then, expect to get bitten. We discovered my daughter was highly susceptible to mosquitoes on the trip. She got 2 bites on her hand and it swelled up like a balloon. Her knuckles even disappeared. And of course her bites itched, so she scratched them till she bled, got scabs, scratched those off, and now will probably have minor scarring. And the flies crawling all over your food - ugh. I just imagine they came from a shit pile first and are stopping off on my meal. (I did mention I'm a bit of a germ-a-phobe, right?). Frickin' bugs. THE EXCHANGE RATE - This is the first time I've been to Greece since they switched over to the Euro, and, hey, you know that country where they're still shitting in holes? Their money is worth more than ours. Thanks to Bush's economics, it's about $1.65 to 1 euro. Everything in Greece is now expensive. I'm not used to that AT ALL. It used to be that the most expensive part of a trip to Greece was just getting there - not the case anymore. I used to be able to go to Greece, flash our shiny American money, and the Greeks would get excited. Now? They don't want to touch the stuff. Of course, Greek economics are a bit screwed up due to the switch to the euro as well. It seems their salaries didn't make quite the jump as their cost of goods. Ah, capitalism... ZEUS' REVENGE - This is my own name for it, but I caught the Greek version of Montezuma's revenge in Greece. I couldn't hold food, I got dehydrated, and I passed out for my first time ever. I even got to go to a Greek doctor (not recommended). Thankfully, this only happened in the last week of my trip, so it didn't screw up the entire vacation. And on the bright side, I came back to America looking tan and about 5 pounds lighter! That's it for today. Come back for "the bad" tomorrow... Funny links! When Bruce Willis Grows a Beard, Do Not Ask Him to Shave It... http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37367A Moment From This Summer’s “It” Documentary, AMERICAN TEEN! http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37358You can now use "fanboy" in Scrabble: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080707/ap_on_re_us/new_dictionary_words_1Michael Bay’s rejected “Dark Knight” script: http://my.spill.com/profiles/blog/show?id=947994%3ABlogPost%3A355506Video of 100% score on the hardest Guitar Hero song - Looks painful: http://www.viddler.com/explore/ecavalli/videos/4/The 10 Manliest Superheroes - a decent list, I guess: http://www.bamkapow.com/the-10-manliest-superheroes-365-p.htmlYour Summer Olympics Disaster Guide - What could go wrong in Beijing? Pretty much everything: http://www.slate.com/id/2194608 | | Monday, July 7th, 2008 | | 9:55 am |
I'm baaaack... Hopefully, most of you are returning to read me. If at least 3 of my 5 readers returned, I'd be happy. :) But, yes, I'm back and glad to be in the U.S. of A. - did I miss anything good? The trip was swell...although I do think the term "family vacation" should be considered an oxymoron. But overall, lots of good memories. Over the next few days, I'll be giving you the good, bad, and ugly of my trip. But first, some background... Here's a little known secret - I own a condo in Greece. I'm not some rich land baron, so don't go hitting me up for money though. My father's parents had a bunch of barren farmland in Greece. The village wasn't much to look at while he was growing up, however. Within the last 20 years though, this little farming town has turned into a beach resort. My father made a deal with some developer that he could build on the land if he gave us a place to live. Bingo, bango, bongo - I own a place in a foreign country. Weird, huh? I don't like to talk about my money or financial situation, but, truth be told, on paper it would probably look like I'm worth a decent amount. Once again, that's "on paper." In reality, I'm in debt like everyone else and I'm lucky if I can find a $5 bill in my wallet. C'est la vie... Anyhow, I've got lots to report on about the Greek experience, so tune in later this week. I'm just getting started... Here's some pics to tide you over though. It's mostly of my family, so you might not care, but for those who do, here you go: http://s311.photobucket.com/albums/kk475/georgeanddana/Greece/And because you missed 'em - funny links! Sundance, The Nines, and the death of independent film - an interesting piece by screenwriter John August: http://johnaugust.com/archives/2008/nines-post-mortemAn AWESOME Commercial: http://technogreek.blogspot.com/2008/07/weekend-fun.htmlMichael Turner Passes Away at 37 - super sad news from the world of comics: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16988Macgyver Gets Lazy - it took me a second to get it, but it's kinda funny: http://xkcd.com/444/Greatest alarm clock ever - Every time you don’t wake up, it calls a random number on your cell phone. Wake up by ticking off your friends! http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/tyrant-alarm-clock-dials-your-contacts-if-you-refuse-to-wake/Hellboy on Inside the Actor’s Studio - I laughed: http://log.maniacalrage.net/post/40593743/hellboy-on-inside-the-actors-studioColbert vs. Cookie Monster - Yay! http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_06_28.html#015457Wonder Woman needs to have her mouth washed out with soap...or a dick. One or the other: http://afrojacks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4389&Itemid=33Now here's a game we'd like to really get into...Vagina Hero! http://www.ripten.com/2008/07/03/vagina-hero-exclusive-first-look/The Ten Lamest Happy Meal Toys Ever: http://www.liquidgeneration.com/Media/Videos/Viral_Videos/Top_10_Lists/10_Lamest_Happy_Meals_Ever/ | | Monday, June 9th, 2008 | | 6:43 pm |
I'm out till July 4th! Okay, I haven't done a great job of posting the last few months. I've been on the east coast, I've had trainings, and I've had a project that just kicked my patootie.
And now? Well, I'm Greece-bound (and all you thieves out there - I've got someone staying at my place, and they're big and armed). So basically, no posts till after Independence Day. I hope to get back on my 5-days-a-week schedule at that point though.
While I'm away, I'm going to enjoy some sun, enjoy my family, eat many foods covered in olive oil and oregano, work on drafts of my screenplay and comic book, and relax (or are those last two items at odds? - crap, I hope not).
At first, I though 3.5 weeks was going to be a looong time, but the more I look at it, it is going to fly by. Wish me luck and love!
Have a great June, and I'll see you all again in July with intriguing commentary, a bit of whining, and plenty of funny links!
Cheers! | | Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 | | 10:34 am |
| | Monday, June 2nd, 2008 | | 10:16 am |
| | Thursday, May 29th, 2008 | | 11:09 am |
| | Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 | | 9:50 am |
| | Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 | | 9:21 am |
| | Friday, May 23rd, 2008 | | 12:15 pm |
| | Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 | | 11:22 am |
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