Smokin!

Chris and I saw Spiderman III (Roman numerals look so much cooler than a silly number like "3") last night in Bakersfield while, at the same time, Rob and Jessica saw it down south. We didn't plan this, but it is kind of funny. Anyways, I thought that it was good, although not as good as the second one. The only downfall to the movie was this 20 minute section in the middle when I had to turn to Chris and say, "All of a sudden I feel like I'm watching The Mask."

The rest of it was great, since Sam Raimi has this amazing ability to direct great action scenes while not losing his signature cheesiness. All the main actors did great jobs, with the exception of Dunst (who didn't do a poor job, she just didn't have all that much to do). Topher Grace was in his usual form, and James Franco was hilarious (I hope he meant to be). Not to mention Bruce Campbell (I have to wonder how many people will realize that he played a different character in the first movie).

I don't want to say too much about it since I know people haven't seen it, and that means it's probably best if I end this post here.

Not Yet Rated?

So I'm trying to follow the rules and only show the little third graders that I have until the end of the year G rated movies. This means that I can't show films like Hook, Harry Potter, or even Flushed Away (sorry Rob). So after discussing my problem with Chris, we went online to look for a list of classic movies that are rated G. Here's some of the more interesting finds (in no particular order):

1. Modern Times
2. The Court Jester
3. 2001: A Space Odyssey
4. Gone With the Wind
5. Ben-Hur
6. The Day the Earth Stood Still
7. Giant
   
8. Forbidden Planet
9. The Ten Commandments
10. The Great Dictator
11. Planet of the Apes

I find of particular interest numbers 3, 8, 9, 11, and especially 5. Four of those movies are on AFI's Top 100 Thrills list. And yet I can't show The Adventures of Robin Hood? Or Hook, Guys and Dolls, Over the Hedge, or Shrek.

I'm tempted to show Ben-Hur just because I can.

I hate the American public

I don't think I can possibly express how much I hate the American public. My hatred of it is so deep seated that I don't think I ever recover. If I was a nicer person, my hatred might have become something like pity, but I'm not, so it's hatred, loathing, and all around disgust.

Why, you might wonder, does sweet Becca have this unreasonable hatred for her culture? Let me lay it out for you in two lists:

1. Firefly
2. Veronica Mars
   
3. Freaks and Geeks
4. Brisco County Jr.
5. Roswell
6. Firefly

1. American Idol
2. Survivor
3. America's Got Talent
4. Everybody Loves Raymond
5. Friends
6. American's Next Top Model
7. Every other reality tv show there is

Yes, there is another number on the first list. And I blame it on the American public for liking crap like the things listed on the second list. I also blame it on stupid studios who can't manage to promote anything except crap, and even promotes that poorly. Stupid freaking people. Stupid freaking television companies. Stupid freaking crap tv shows.

Not that I'm bitter or anything.

Who do I have to kill...

... to get the stoplight at El Portal and Ming fixed? Here's what the street looks like


Now, there seems to be no problem with the blue turn. The red light changes to green fairly frequently, and the sensor seems to work. But the problem is the green turn. During the day, the blue gets to go twice before either the cyan or the green gets to go. This seems a little strange to me. I know the sensor works, because at night the green turn happens quickly. The green only gets to turn after cyan has gone, but blue goes twice between each cyan. At least.

It mostly annoys me because it doesn't make sense, since there's not that much time lost in the grand scheme of things. Maybe the stoplight really is greener on the other side.

Robert needs to post more

Recent Disappointments:

1. The third chunk of Veronica Mars: while I'm glad it's back on air showing new episodes, it would appear that there's not going to be a big mystery to solve in this last chunk of time. Which really sucks.
2. This week's Heroes: Nothing happened. It was really just boring.
3. My immune system: I used to have an agreement with my immune system that it didn't get sick during a sport season (which meant I didn't get sick), but it has apparently forgotten this (or thinks that coaching doesn't count). I did have my one doctor's office trip of the year, though.
4. Showtime: what's the deal with only 10 episodes of Weeds in the first season. Uncool.
5. The lack of new posts going up on friend's blogs.
   

Recent Appointments (or would that be un-disappointment? Is there a word I'm looking for and can't find?):

1. Antibiotics: those things kick butt!
2. Last week's Heroes: While I think it could have been better (and less obvious) it was still good.
3. Weeds: Although I'm disappointed in the length, the show is great, although it's almost too much.
4. The Riches: Good stuff, that's all I have to say.

That is all. Oh, and if you comment (although really, who's going to) please don't put any spoilers, since some of my friends are lame and don't watch certain tv shows that they should.

You can't handle the truth.

It occurred to me the other day that I enjoy shows that center around deception. Or at least ones that have characters who have no qualms about lying to other people (usually to get information). There's Alias and Veronica Mars, especially. But also Weeds, Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and any other show that centers around superheroes saving the world and hiding who they really are.

I'm sure this says that deeply hidden desire to lie to the people around me and hide who I really am, or something like that.

Or it could be that it makes for good television.

"Putting the herb in suburb"

Chris has his CD of the month, so I've decided to do a movie/TV show for the month. Sometimes this will be an old movie that I think everybody should watch, sometimes a new TV show that I've discovered. Or sometimes even an old TV show that I think people should watch.

To start things off, I have a completely new show to start watching this month. It's called "Weeds", and I'm sure many of you have seen it. It's only available on Showtime, but I've bought the first Season on DVD. I haven't cracked it open so I can't tell you if the critics are right, but I'm hoping it will somewhat fill the void left by Arrested Development.