May 25, 2014: Upcoming June under-the-radar movie releases to look forward to! Or not!
BORGMAN Release Date: June 6, 2014 What it’s about: A mysterious vagrant, a modern day Rasputin, insinuates himself into the lives of an upper-class family What it’s got working for it: Now that is one creepy and intriguing trailer. What’s it’s got going against it: Has the potential to be really good - or weird and…
May 24, 2014: Upcoming June movie releases to look forward to! Or not!
Hmmm. Slim pickings this month. EDGE OF TOMORROW Release Date: June 6, 2014 What it’s about: In the distant future, a soldier is caught in a time loop. What it’s got working for it: SF stories involving time loops are a lot of fun, IF they're done well. What’s it’s got going against it: But…
May 23, 2014: There is nothing worse than a missed opportunity!
Nope. Nothing worse than a missed opportunity. Why do I mention it? Oh, no reason. No reason at all. Hey, I should have mentioned in yesterday's blog entry - while we were on the topic of "waiting" - that I have yet to acquire copy of Paul McAuley's Evening's Empires for our forthcoming Book of…
May 22, 2014: Now we play the waiting game….. Ahh, the waiting game sucks. Let’s play Hungry Hungry Hippos!
One of the most irritating aspects of this business is the insufferable waiting. Waiting for notes. Waiting for ratings. Waiting for the catering truck to start serving lunch. And, chiefest of all, waiting for a green light. In the case of the latter, the frustration is both subjective and objective. You're personally frustrated by…
May 21, 2014: Conversations with my Japanese girlfriend!
This morning as I was prepping her for our medical phone consult: Me: The nurse will just ask you general questions like - Do you exercise? Do you get enough sleep? Akemi: Do you see ghosts? Do you see aliens? Me: Those questions are more likely to come up during your Mental Health assessment. Akemi:…
May 20, 2014: Back to business!
A gentle reminder that our Book of the Month Club reconvenes on June 2nd to Paul McCauley's Evening's Empires. But you already knew that because the information is right there on this blog's sidebar. Also, since we're on the subject, allow me to announce the winner of our July Book of the Month Club poll. This…
May 19, 2014: There’s no place like home!
According to our dog-sitter, my pug Jelly was "fussing a lot today". Despite her hip dysplasia and arthritic shoulders, she couldn't sit still. It was as if she could sense something was up. Something like... Dad coming home! Yes, following four great days in Vegas, I am back in familiar territory more familiar territory (since, truth…
May 18, 2014: Vegas Day #4!
So what exactly is "turndown service"? I mean, I know what it is. Sort of. At some point, after they've made up your hotel room, someone comes back in the late afternoon to pull down the comforter and fold over your bed sheet. Because....? Is it an excuse to come in and check up on…
May 17, 2014: Vegas Day #3!
Two great photo ops for Akemn. As is often the case when meeting celebrities, their true life personas don't always mirror their onscreen characters. Spongebob, for instance, was atypically silent - but no less genial, while Minion turned out to be a little a grabby. And flatulent. An excellent dinner last night at Sage…
May 16, 2014: Vegas Day #2!
My feets be hurt. We walked around all day. And then, when it came time to get on the tram and ride it back to our hotel, we couldn't find it, so we had to walk. And walk an extra block to boot because we changed hotels this morning. We are now staying at the…
May 15, 2014: Vegas, Day #1!
Welcome to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. How incredibly disappointing. Last time we were here, we had a balcony with a view overlooking the Bellagio fountains and, most importantly, a nice deep bathtub for Akemi to soak away the afternoon. This time around = no balcony, no view, and no bathtub at all. The above-pictured…
May 14, 2014: Hockey, waiting, and alarmingly elaborate culinary creations!
Last night as the game headed into overtime... Me: "Who are you rooting for, the Chicago Blackhawks or the Minnesota Wild?" Akemi: "The Minestrone Wild." Alas, it was a sad night in Minestrone. The Wild ended up losing and were eliminated from playoff contention. Well, we're Vegas-bound for a few days. I was hoping to…
May 12, 2014: Brain check! Ready, set, but not quite go!
I registered Akemi and me for one of those private health plans that allows you to see a specialist or run a CT scan without having to wait for six months or longer. Part of the service is a comprehensive health assessment that includes blood tests, a full physical, and visits with a dietitian, kinesiologist, and…
May 12, 2014: 9 shows that survived terrible early ratings to become legends of television!
I see a lot of fans complaining about the fact that networks don't really give shows a chance to find their audience. If a series doesn't perform well out of the gate, it's usually curtains for that production. Some will argue it's only fair. After all, television is a business and if a show can't…