Best Thing Since Sliced Bread?!

So I have had this for a few months now, and I must say it is one of the BEST things I own: NetflIx on Nintendo Wii!!  I can honestly, albeit somewhat shamefully, admit that there is a rented DVD from Netflix that has been gathering dust on my desk for the last 6 months because I have found no reason to send it in.  

With its incredibly easy to use interface, Netflix on Wii beats any Roku box or other Netflix on demand player.  When the queue is updated online, it also automatically and instantly updates in the Wii queue.  AWESOME!!  Because of this, I have been able to re-watch one of my all time favorite TV shows, "Arrested Development" over and over again, as well as become acquainted with new favorites such as "The IT Crowd".

Thank you Netflix and Nintendo for contributing to my anti-sociality!! :)

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Movie Reviews

So since I've been home for Christmas and the New Year, I have seen almost all the movies that are currently in theatres.  Some were good and some were eh... Here are my opinions (in the order that I viewed them):

The Blind Side - I was semi-hesitant to see this because I didn't quite know how I felt about Sandra Bullock, but I really like inspirational sports films, and liked her in The Proposal, so I gave it a go.  It was good.  Very touching, funny, feel good drama with lots of football scenes (yay!!).  I know there was some talk about the motive behind the film, but I thought it was good.  Plus, the little kid, S.J. (portrayed by Jae Head), was hilarious.

My Grade: A-

Avatar - If you have not seen this yet, then I don't know...you're weird, I guess.  It was good.  The effects are cool, the subject is interesting...if you haven't seen it just go see it already and stop annoying those around you by making them stop discussing it because you don't want them to 'spoil it' for you.  The only main problem I had with this film though was that the stuff they were trying to obtain was called Unobtainium.  Wow, very creative.

My Grade: A

It's Complicated - Hilarious, fun, well done RomCom.  Meryl Streep is just so good.  I mean, I wouldn't call it acting when it comes to her.  I would just call it...'being' because she makes it seem so real, like she's just 'being' there.  Alec Baldwin is funny as usual and the storyline was familiar, in a good way, and just super cute.  And, gah I wanted to go to her bakery/cafe SO bad...all the things just looked absolutely tasty.

My Grade: A

Sherlock Holmes - I was so excited to see this because I needed a Robert Downey, Jr. fix and I was entertained.  I wasn't blown away, but it was a fun film to see.  Mr. Downey, Jr. played the quirky, witty Holmes well and Jude Law made a decent Watson.  Overall, it was a fun, explosion-filled, action-y flick.

My Grade: B+

The Princess and the Frog - Classic Disney awesomeness.  The old hand-drawn flick just took me back to the good ol' stress-free days filled with nothing but lots of The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella... Just classic, wholesome, family-friendly fun.  I saw this with my 3-year-old niece and she sat through it.  She was kind of scared in some scenes (there are a couple trippy VooDoo magic-type shots), but she liked it none-the-less.  And it has a good moral: work hard, save money, make sure your best friend is extremely wealthy and you'll be successful!! :)

My Grade: A

Invictus - YAY!! Another inspirational sports film but with a very hunky Matt Damon.  I actually really liked the film.  Very inspiring, touching, and amazing story.  Plus, the rugby was oh so very cool (actually this was the most Rugby I had ever watched).  Matt Damon, with a South African accent, was very good and Morgan Freeman was the perfect choice for Nelson Mandela.  P.S. there are locker room scenes... :)

My Grade: A

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Okay...this one was kind of difficult because I didn't want to automatically assume it was going to be great just because it was Heath Ledger's final film.  But, with that said, I think I liked it.  The idea was very cool, and of course Heath Ledger, and those that filled in for him: Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell, were all great.  Actually, the more I talk about it, the more I think I like it.

My Grade: B+

Daybreakers - Okay, I only wanted to see this because I wanted to see a vampire movie that wasn't Twilight, and because the reviews seemed decent.  Eh, it wasn't horrible, but it was predictable, and I don't know, I just didn't think it was all that great.  However,  I will say I was definitely startled several times and muttered a couples 'shiats' and 'WTF was thats' under my breath.  In my opinion, if there's a movie going period where you've just seen too many good films, you have to see a not-so-great film every now and again to balance everything out and make you really appreciate the great ones.

My Grade: C


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Fear NO Puddle!!

So I bought a pair of yellow Hunter Short Wellies (pictured to the left) a while back.  I remember when I first laid eyes on them at Nordstroms...I was like "Paddington the Bear : I want these!!".  After weeks of contemplation, I finally caved and made the purchase, but I was thinking about returning them because I figured I'd never wear them. 

Well, I'm glad I didn't.  It's been raining here in LA almost non-stop since last night, so I decided this was a sign from Above to keep them and I gave them a whirl.  They.are.awesome!!

Earlier this week, when the first rains hit, I was ill prepared and ended up getting my shoes, socks, and jeans wet due to the falling raindrops, massive puddles, and raging sidewalk rivers.  I was so annoyed the rest of the day because everything from kneedown was damp.  As I hung my socks to dry, off a side drawer at work,  I vowed to be prepared to whip out the Wellies at the next sign of rain.

Low and behold, it has been raining here in LA, but this time I was prepared.  I confidently, albeit with a little child-like wonder, walked through swirling sidewalk rivers of rainwater and feared NO puddle as my jeans and spiffy argyle socks remained dry and protected.  T'was great  :)

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Here Lies Monk - R.I.P

...Do you know what's in the water that you drink?  Well I do, and it's  a-maaaa-zing...


::Sigh::...you remember the time when that sick kid sneezed on Monk?  Or the time when Monk had to climb down into the sewers?  Or the time when Monk met the lady who had Trudy's eyes (that one almost made me cry)?

For the past 8 years USA's Monk has warmed my heart, made me laugh out loud, smile, cry, angry, happy, and/or mystified almost every Friday during the summers and winters.  I always looked forward to watching my Psych then Monk, and it just made my weekends THAT much better.  But, as sad as I am to see the show end, I think its had a very good run, and I also think that it's the perfect time to bow out.  Tis bittersweet, but now we FINALLY get to find out what the eff happened to Trudy!!  It's about damn time.

So, I bid adieu to you, Monk.  It's been a great 8 seasons.  Thanks for the memories.



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To Autotune, or not to Autotune. Now there's a question...

This is a random transmission...

So, there has been a lot of debate over using Auto-tune in the music industry.   I concur that it is negatively affecting some artists (I mean c'mon T-Pain...enough already), but some good has come out of this newfound craze.

1. Owl City:  Hate or love, you know you totally love Adam Young's soothing Auto-tuned voice and the super chill and catchy synthpop beats.  Who can disagree with...

"I want to make myself believe..."

 Don't lie, you totally sang out the next line.

2. Auto-tuned YouTube videos: Okay, there are 100s if not 1000s of crappy ones, but then you come across gems such as 'Baby T-Pain' and, my personal favorite 'Kanye & Charlie Autotuned'.  Enjoy.



Signing off...

Ummmm...Party at Uni Today?

Ummmm...so I don't know what is going on today, but Vince Vaughn is in our office.

I'm, again, at my desk and I hear all this ruckus in the conference room. One of the other interns comes back and is all "Umm...Vince Vaughn is in our conference room." And I was all like "What?! I need to go...uh...get something from the copy room."

So I do one of those ::look-out-of-my-peripherals:: as I make my way to the copy room and BOOSH low and behold Vince Vaughn in all his glory is hanging out in our conf. room...making everyone laugh.

It's been a good day so far.

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UPDATE!!

Rainn Wilson has entered the building!!

I'm sitting at my desk, when I hear someone coming down the hall. So, naturally, I look up and BAM I'm hit with Dwight Schrute. It was a slightly awkward moment because it took me like 4 seconds to fully grasp the idea that I was in the same building as him. I know, I know...I'm a dork.

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