Wow. Imagine Vince Vaughn, minus 30 pounds, plus lots of hair, still unable to act. Then imagine a vapid plot, based around hollow, vapid Hollywood people. At that point, you’ll have Swingers, a picture of the walking id that is maleness in America in the 1970’s…er…I mean, the 1990’s in Hollywood. From reading the trivia on imdb, it looks like Writer/Director/Star/Gaffer/Wardrobe-Mistress Favreau based the plot on his own life when coming out to L.A. ...
What an awesome, awesome weekend it was! Productive, surprising, exhausting, with both family time and some time to myself. Friday night Whitney and I watched Juno the indie hit from last year that made Ellen Page an ingenue phenomenon. A nuanced film, it has the same deep characters and self-deprecating humor as Little Miss Sunshine. We both liked it. Saturday was busy, as most Saturdays before Autocross are for me. But man, was I motivated–up at 6:30, TODO list in hand, ticking-off chores. It freaked-out Bella just a tad: “I get freaked out when you’re…organized.” We were the snack-bringers at the final Coach-pitch game of the regular season at 4, but we decided to head into Lexington to buy Bella some new running shoes and head to Sams. ...
Sounds like a full and fun weekend. I’m trying to… Jeff Roberts - Jun 1, 2008 Sounds like a full and fun weekend. I’m trying to decide if my class will go feral if I leave it next weekend and go with Sandra to pick up Kate from camp.
I had a thought today, a shining inkling of something spectacular, something different, something…red. That is a Porsche 356 spyder. Yeah, the thought goes like this: I’m commuting in the automotive novacaine known as my 2000 Toyota Camry. It’s smooth, quiet, and reliable. On the weekends, I’d like to have something to drive and autox. I love my E30, but it’s far from a classic sportscar–it has body roll and understeer like the sedan it actually is. So, does it make more sense to get something less compromised and more focused. (And, more classic?) ...
Saw an ‘87 Porsche 924S on craigslist available fo… Jeff Roberts - Jun 5, 2008 Saw an ‘87 Porsche 924S on craigslist available for trade… :-) (Later that night, Jeff’s front door slams open and there stands Whitney, fuming…) okay, and here’s a list of some things i want: `new running shoes `pants that fit `clothes that fit that arent a size Large `to lose weight instead of gain it when I spend two hours a day working out `not to be used as a human napkin `dyson `new washer/dryer `new dishwasher `new refrigerator `cabinets that arent taller than i am `new cabinets `tilework `in-wall double oven `gas cooktop `hardwood `new paint `wood blinds `solar panel `compost pile `locally sold Allen’s Naturally `Local Whole Foods or similar `no fireplace `basement ...
So, Kung Fu Panda This 92-minute computer-animated extravaganza has all the elements of a great kids-and-adults flick: Slick looks, top voice talent (Jack Black, Angie Jolie, Dustin Hoffman), a fat-kid-makes-good plot, and merchandise-friendly anthropomorphic animals for characters. The plot centers around a vision of the sage in residence (a Galapagos tortoise, natch!) who has a vision that the big bad, Tai Lung will escape from his prison to once again ravage the Peaceful Valley. In response, he thinks it time to choose the Dragon Warrior, who will gain cosmic power to defeat evil–and Tai Lung, the leopard on steroids. ...
You did not just review “Kung-Fu Panda”. Chuck Fouts - Jun 1, 2008 You did not just review “Kung-Fu Panda”. Yep. Tomorrow, “The Rainbow Brite Movie”
Every summer, my step-son Joey leaves us to go live with his Dad in Louisville. We get to see him alternate weekends, and we get 1 week of “vacation” during that time. To give him a send-off this year, we took a mini vacation down to my Mom & Dad’s Friday through Sunday. I had a very good time, though I did eat nonstop. Mom’s house is a little like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory–lots of omnipresent chocolate goodness. What’s not chocolate is sugary or sugar-free (Dad’s Type 2 diabetic). ...
- “Your situation reminds me of that Spaceballs line, ‘…evil will always triumph because good is dumb.’” - “You’ll work yourself to death by being a nice guy” (Upon being told there was a purpose in life) - “Yes, there is: Helping people, and this has nothing to do with that.” - “Did you forget your Teflon suit in that last meeting?” * * * I wonder: Am I equipped to handle this amount of B.S.?
I like #3, that’s classic. Has a bit of an Airpla… Jeff Roberts - Jun 3, 2008 I like #3, that’s classic. Has a bit of an Airplane-ish “but that’s not important right now” flavor.
The weekend was a blur–running Joey up to Louisville, taking Maria down to Mom & Dad’s Saturday, and lunching with the church at the Cane Ridge Shrine Sunday afternoon. The weather powers-that-be missed the forecast–each day was beautiful in Georgetown. Today, I’ve too many meetings, and much too much to do…yep, must be back in 082. * * * Coolest part of the weekend? Working on a New Holland Hay Baler with my Dad. Just like old times…grease everywhere, gears, chains, clutches. I’m just a tad more mechanically capable than I used to be. That was my Father’s Day present…hanging out with my Dad.
Well, after 10 months, I’m right back on the same floor in the same building I was in for 6 years. I’m sharing a 12’x12’ office with a boisterous guy, Patrick, and have a terrific view out the window onto “downtown” Lexington (such as it is). This building also shares a parking lot with Del’s building, so we don’t have to drive to pick one another up. Good all around, though I’m now much farther away from the other guys on the printer I need to be working with.
Welcome back. Now we’ll see if I get sent to the … Jeff Roberts - May 5, 2008 Welcome back. Now we’ll see if I get sent to the 4th floor or what. muhahaha
So, last Fall, I drug my beautiful wife to my 10 year high-school reunion to her great amusement, disgust, indifference, and consternation. This past Memorial Day, it was my turn. Ten year reunions are pretty egotistical things, everyone showing-up in their best (rented) sports-car, displaying the hot wife/husband they caught, and boasting about the great job they’re using to climb that ladder of success. Old flames are to be properly derided like a decade-old divorce proceeding. Old social pecking-order is to be re-established, if only for one shining moment of decoration and falsity. ...
Ah, yes. They’re talking about a 25-year reunion t… Jeff Roberts - May 3, 2008 Ah, yes. They’re talking about a 25-year reunion this year, and one friend is trying to arrange an alternative reunion…I just. Don’t. Care. Anymore.
or “Man, do I need a swaybar” Six runs on a ~70 second course where you hit 60mph before a 10mph right-hand hairpin. YEEEEEEHAW. It was a good day, except: I came in second, I forgot to pack lunch, and I forgot to pack sunscreen. I’ve a nice beet-red thing going on on my arms, legs, and face. I think a front swaybar (at minimum) is in my future, if not a full STX-compliant wheel & tire package. I’m a tad tired of playing on (and destroying) my all-seasons. ...
Let’s get this out of the way first: This is an unnecessary movie made solely to bilk folks out of their hard-earned money. It stars an over-the-hill actor (Harrison Ford) and features a contrived plot line with holes like Swiss Cheese. It’s also great fun, laugh-out-loud funny in places, well-paced, and genuinely exciting. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, since the whole thing feels like National Treasure 2 and 1/2, right down to the treasure map and the hokey history references. ...
We had a share-session on Polyglot programming the other day, after Mark returned from SDWest 2008. Tonight, I had an evil thought: Half of these languages are ones most in the audience have neither seen nor played with–what if you added some “trick” language names to the slides to see how full of crap your audience was. It’s a play on the same allegory from “The Emperor’s New Clothes”: “…yes, and so your application logic should be components written in a systems language like java [sic], with the higher-level being in a dynamic language like JavaScript, Ruby, or Dimebag.” ...
Too funny. I helped a few with CS101 homework, to … Jeff Roberts - May 2, 2008 Too funny. I helped a few with CS101 homework, to no avail. But then, what did I expect for counting open and close braces in their Pascal that wouldn’t compile?
Pretty awesome (if mundane) weekend: Saturday, we went to Sam’s Club and filled two carts in supplies for our new Chest Freezer (thank you, Tax Rebate!) Then, I mowed & trimmed the yard while doing an oil change on the Odyssey. Pretty quiet, stress-free day. Sunday was just…perfect. Church was great–our pastor preached a message on how unbiblical debt is (unless for urgent necessities), complete with a “come forward and shred your credit card” alter call. (only 1 person did). Then, Maria and I cruised down (at 55mph!) to Mom & Dad’s in the Camry. ...