Hopelessly LOST

AREN'T YOU?

Make a Mason! Do Some Good Now- LJ URBAN

I read this blog sometimes Journey Mama.

She is currently working on a project for LJ Urban an organization based out of Sacramento, CA that focuses on eco-urban development. Pretty interesting you say...what is that? Well, check it out for yourself. They are currently working on projects in Sacto- they employ energy-saving ideas and cut down on the chemical-laden materials in high density development. And if that wasn't enough they are building a eco urban community in Burkina Faso a West Africa nation. Check out some of their videos on the project.

IF YOU GO TO THEIR WEBSITE YOU CAN HELP- JUST BY CLICKING! BUILD A HOUSE!

From LJ Urban's Do Some Good website, "Here’s How it Works:
For every 100,000 visitors between now and July 1st, we’ll fund the complete training of a local Burkina Faso mason to build houses for families that need them. We’re going to fund up to 20 masons (for now)."

Pretty cool!

More Shameless Self Promotion...

If you're interested

Let’s make a dance!

My loving wife Julie, the creator of this wonderful blog, has been after me to post a review of some of my favorite television gems. While there are so many to choose from during this particularly prolific time for television, I thought I would focus in on one of the more “special” selections in my weekly viewing. “Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show: Great job” on Adult Swim is at the top of this list, combining sketch comedy with a great love of low budget public access and local television. I could actually go much deeper in describing this show, but I will let this clip with special guest, John C. Reilly, speak for itself. It’s for your Health!

Weeds are Growing and the Men Grow Angrier

Thank goodness! Just when I thought TV was dying out Lionsgate has signed a deal with the WGA. So Weeds and Mad Men can actually write, film, edit and air their episodes this year! So happy about this.

The informal talks between the WGA and AMPTP meanwhile progress so let's hope for the best. Especially since I'm waning on my boycott on online programming, TV DVDs and iTunes. It's hard, Californication Season One is on there right now and I want to purchase to watch it all over again. I think there was a new episode of Chuck last night on TV but I've got to the check the Tivo to make sure. So that will give me at least one entertainment source while I wait. Hard times.

100,000

I broke a 100,000 miles today on my car and it got me thinking...does a TV show need to be good if it lasts for 100 episodes or is it just plain good if it does? It used to be if a program reached 100 episodes you broke out in celebration and brought a cake on set. But do we really do that anymore? HBO has proved to bring us quality TV in about 1 season with 13 episodes. It seems as though longevity doesn't make a TV show anymore. Really... has Two and a Half Men really got any better? Really? Was it really any good to begin with? NO.

p.s.
What is hilarious as I pulled this show out of my a** and I looked up their website and lo and behold...IT'S THEIR 100TH EPISODE CELEBRATION! Wow. I couldn't have called it any better.

Project Runway 4 - ep. 9 - Levi's

Down to seven designers, Project Runway gets interesting again. The conflicts are rising to the surface, although nothing like what we've seen in previous seasons where designers actually clashed.

This episode the product tie-in was Levi's. The designers were asked to design an iconic denim look using their selections of of 501 jeans and white cotton. Conflict #1: Victorya and Jillian both designed coats for this challenge. There were sly peeks at each other's work across the workroom and the remark, "It's just really annoying actually."

Ricky voiced how discouraged he was by being in the bottom so often. Christian badmouthed Ricky for not getting eliminated yet. This set the stage for Ricky to finally show off his experience working in lingerie. He won the challenge for his chic denim dress. And, of course, he shed tears throughout.

Victorya lost. Turned out both coat designs didn't impress the judges, but Victorya's was worse. Michael Kors observed that her design looked like a reconnoitered denim jacket with a party skirt added to the bottom.

My favorite designers to root for are Christian and Sweet P. And so far, they're still very much in the running.

Favorite quotes:

• "If I had hair on my head, I'd want to tear it out." - Rami, on putting up with Christian's immaturity
• "Very Joan Cusack in 'Working Girl.'" - Michael Kors on Chris's dress

TV, Interrupted

Sorry about the shameless U2 promo from last post. I've got a weak spot for those guys. Something related to my brother handing me a tape of the Joshua Tree on a magical family road trip in 1987. And listening to it over and over in my yellow walkman And sleeping outside for concert tickets and getting #13 in the lottery and getting front row seats. Anyway, let's move on.

So the writers are talking to the producers again. I'm hoping this strike will come to a close and everyone will be satisfied with the end results. My biggest complaint about this whole thing is that we've had to endure a TV season that has been interrupted, halted, and mixed up. The shows are out of cohesion and it doesn't really work for me. How will they come back on the air? When? So many questions so little time.

Hope for the best!

BONO dimensional

I pissed my pants

I pissed my pants the other day when my friend Stephy posted this video on her blog.

And then my pants got wet again when I discovered that Kids in the Hall would be performing at the SF Sketchfest at the end of this month. I shouted out with glee when my husband bought tix to the performance on Sunday, January 27th (get tix here). What a nice valentines day gift! It is the real members coming out here for this rare performance.

And when I see Mark McKinney on stage I'll shout "Slings and Arrows!" just to see his reaction and then I can analyze if there's another season based on that.

Project Runway 4 - ep. 8 - Avant-Garde

We're almost halfway through the fourth season of Project Runway and things are getting... well, boring.

This week's challenge -- making an avant-garde outfit. Twist? Teams of two. Stress twist? Make a second look.

Yawn!

The one saving grace is that every week there's a new runway show. This time around I was rooting so hard for Christian, the youngest designer among the lot. Also the most petite one as well. He was paired up with Chris and together they barely beat the elite team of Victorya and Jillian.

The irony of this episode's theme was that Elisa, the leading avant-garde designer in America, was kicked off last week.

I Own the World

I'm sure you've already heard that Oprah is taking over the world.

I'm not really into the Oprah thing, you know I don't go around saying to people, "Oprah says..." Because really it's not all Oprah that comes up with all those ideas, reads the books, researches all the subject information that she presents on her show- it's her team of producers, researchers, etc. I guess that's why she bothers me a bit, she pretends to know everything and she just possibly can't. And what bothers me even more is people actually think that she knows everything. But in way I think I need to accept she is just a TV politician. Like she doesn't want to get into government and makes us pay less or more taxes or pass laws. She wants to makes us "live better lives", tell us what to read, what to watch, and what to think about. Think about it.

My Specialty is Anything that is Low

Just a side note before I start with my usual rant. I already messed up on my New Years resolution last night at Raley's. I'm such a dissappointment to the green world around me.

Anyway, last night I tuned into a new-to-me program. My friend recently recommended the ABC sitcom Notes from the Underbelly. I have to say that watching this program was effortless and I will cue it up for Tivo record. I really liked how the program didn't pretend to be anything- its not a Friends, or a Seinfeld or a Sex and the City rip off. It's just what it is. How refreshing! It's got that lady from the Daily Show and the writing is a bit campy but in a good way. It's too soon to say anything more but you should definitely check out while there's nothing on the airwaves.

I'm watching the kick off episode of American Idol as I type. Oh, how the idol has fallen. I used to actually want to watch the final episodes and pick up my phone and vote in the 1st season. Now I just tune in to a few of the starter episodes to laugh my butt off at these poor souls who bare all for no reason but to embarrass themselves. I mean by now you can't feel sorry for these people- it's the 8th season they know what they are getting into. So I just tune in to laugh and I don't feel bad about it anymore (don't I sound guilty). And I do have a odd affection towards Simon. I can't explain it except that one night a very long time ago I had a romantic dream about him. And they say dreams explain reality so I really don't want to get that one analyzed (and my husband is wishing that I never speak about it again).

p.s. If you can figure out how my title is related to this post I owe you a coffee or drink next time you see me :)

Stephen Colbert is Bringing Sexy Back

This is GOOD TV! I love you Mr. Colbert. Your moves are smooth.

How Bloody Painful...

The Golden Globes news conference was a cringe fest. It took me about 4 minutes to find one channel on TV that was covering it live, good ole' CNN had it on - sound delay and everything.

I loved it when drippy "entertainment" CNN reporter Brooke Anderson reminded us that this was REALLY a huge event with lots of reporters and journalists covering it and everything, oh gee, gosh! I'm squealing with excitement here at this point- not really. If any woman could be a douche bag at this moment- Ms. Anderson would be it. Way to rub it in to everyone that no GG ceremony is happening and no one gets any type of celebratory night where everyone drinks to be merry and congratulates you on your noble TV or movie achievement. Way to go Brooke (sorry she really bothered me).

A lot of my hopeful award winners that I picked in December will not be able to pick up their award because well they didn't win. :( oh well. BUT DID YOU SEE THAT TINA FEY AND MAD MEN WON! At least I was right in two TV categories.

This whole "world event" news conference (along with live drums- did anyone hear that!?, oh and what about those heavy footsteps to the podium) really didn't match up much with the world premiere event of Ghostbusters airing on VH1 this afternoon. Nothing compares to the scene with Sigourney Weaver as Zuul on her bed acting as a demonic temptress to Bill Murray who she thinks is the gatekeeper. Seriously this was much more entertaining.

Can't wait to see this

This GG news conference should be interesting. Although I don't know were to watch it on air, online or where to Tivo it :) How ironic really.

Project Runway 4 - ep. 7 - prom dresses

Project Runway goes back to its senses. Tonight's challenge was to design a dress... for a teenager to wear to her prom. Throughout the episode, the designers mentioned what their own prom experience was like and a photograph from their prom night was also shown. Sadly, Rami had no prom growing up in Israel. Sadder even was Chris who said he didn't go to prom. Instead he stayed at home, watching old movies, and getting drunk.

This challenge, unlike last week's Hershey's silliness, provided these benefits: the designers were forced to work with and please a client; the regular models weren't used; everyone had to make a dress; and best of all, the girls picked their designer based on seeing their portfolios.

This episode showed Christian struggling to work with his outspoken client who also fancied herself a designer.

While it was interesting to see Christian spooked by someone who sassed back at him at every turn, he got so discouraged, he was ready to get eliminated.

Victorya won -- I personally didn't like the dress, but I'm no longer in high school either -- and Kevin got kicked off for the cheap-looking red silk dress he designed for a Filipina.

My favorite quotes:

"I was voted off." - Chris's statement ending a debate about who among the current contestants have fared the worst in judging to date

"When I had a girlfriend, I made her prom dress. That should've been a clue there, right?" - Ricky Lizalde

Project Runway 4 - ep. 6 - Hershey's

I was sick in bed and couldn't blog when this episode premiered last week. And this episode was so dull and boring, it's not worth of a season 4 episode.

The designers were brought to a Hershey's flagship store in Times Square and given 30 minutes to grab their source materials to create a new dress. Ugh!

It's not the blatant product placement I disagree with, it's Hershey's itself. The brand has nothing to do with chocolate. And (my pet peeve) Hershey's isn't very good chocolate!

So most of the designers grabbed kitschy junk like stuffed toys shaped like Hershey's kisses and pillows shaped like Hershey bars. Only Jillian made the effort to design a dress made of edible items (she made a red dress out of Twizzlers).























Anyway Elisa, the avant garde designer, gets eliminated while Rami wins. Snore, snore.

As my co-worker Catherine said, they could have at least designed uniforms for the staff of Hershey's!

My Shades of Green

I’m not really into New Years resolutions. Maybe it’s because I’m not a pack follower but a leader. I tend to not to like going with the flow and holidays that force people into giving up bad habits or take on better ones scare me. I’ve got the same problem with Lent.

So I usually come up with a NY’s resolution late so as not to seem like I’m doing it out of coercion. In 2006 I started composting, last year I gave up the use of paper towels and this year I’m wholly committed to giving up those pesky plastic bags. San Francisco did it – EVEN CHINA! Now I just need to get disciplined.

My inspiration? A show airing on the Sundance Channel called It’s Not Easy Being Green. BBC originally produced this lovely documentary series that follows an English family that has sworn off city life for a life in the country- but one hitch- they go all green! Yes, everything built from the ground up is green. They have pigs, hydro-electricity by way of a waterwheel and electric generator, a solar greenhouse and a wood burning stove. As I watch I just sit there and dream about my own “off the grid” house. Someday…

Albeit I’m not a huge proponent of environmentalism (in the fundamentalist /lobbyist way) but I do strongly believe in living simply and being a good steward of the Earth. I fail constantly but I do relish in making my own soil from my icky food waste and reducing my trash with no paper towels. Now if I could only stop swearing at inappropriate times and give up alcohol I would be a better citizen.

p.s. Anyone have any ideas for my old plastic bags?

No Sh!? Sherlock!

Of course the Golden Globes award show was cancelled. This should have happened a month ago. First NBC confirms they are airing it during the strike, then the very next week SAG tells the media that no one is coming. It’s more than obvious that a communication breakdown has happened in Hollywood. It’s unfortunate that the show won’t go on but not a tragedy. If anything it will bring more attention to the plight of the writers. The real tragedy is that I can’t see George Clooney once again in his Armani suit or hear him make some political remark or baseless joke. I can’t wait for this scheduled news conference. I wonder who will announce the winners.

I watched “A Daily Show with Jon Stewart” (that’s what it’s called during the WGA strike) and “The Colbert Report” last night. These men do a wonderful job of ad libbing and looking cute without their staff of writers. But how long can this really last?! Colbert was much cuter ad libbing though and funnier. I wonder if they can do any campaign stories on the road? I heard that they can still do field producing stories but they didn’t feature anything last night.

On a side, side note-- I saw that ABC is airing the pilot episode of Cashmere Mafia again tonight. And then tomorrow night the 2nd episode. I love this new world of TV where anything can air at any time. It's so humiliating and thrilling at the same time.

Cashmere Mafia Sucks!

Sorry I didn't want to waste my time on a better title. What is the point of ripping off Sex and the City with this silly dreadful one hour show about "successful" drippy women?! Didn't we do this before? I loved the real thing on HBO and I don't need to see it patronized with formulaic story lines and characters using not so subtle ridiculous dialogue. What is with the comment about the "ID" generation? And talking if at 35 you created women's lib? Um, excuse me that happened with my mother's generation and she's 60 years old! And why does TV perpetuate the idea that successful aggressive women deserve to be alone? It is simply not reality.

I'll turn off the TV and go see four beautiful wonderfully smart classy women on May 30th at the movies. Here's the trailer.

Keynote - Bill Gates' Last Day - January 6, 2008

My darling nerd husband made me watch this tonight and I was so glad. Best parts are Bono, Jon Stewart and Guitar Hero!

David Lynch on iPhone

I love this commentary by David Lynch about watching movies on the iPhone. I've lusted after this phone for months but I'm glad Mr. Lynch has set me straight.

Anatomy of the Hospital Drama

My dear friend and contributor tancow had this to say recently about one of her favorite shows...

What I love about Grey's Anatomy is that I can consistently plan on crying every episode. Whether it be about a relationship gone wrong or a patient we get too emotionally attached to, or the sadness we feel for these characters we've grown to love, the show never fails to make me sob uncontrollably for hours on end.

When Julie asked me to blog about my favorite show, it was inevitable it would be Grey's Anatomy. On the final episode before the big writer's strike, we saw young Dr. Lexie Grey get a taste of what it's really like to be a doctor. When these doctors were enticed by the concept of saving lives and playing God, they were never told that playing God only exists if they could save every life they touched, and this after all is real life and not all is perfect. What are the writer's of Grey's Anatomy reminding us time and time again? Even though these doctors play God on the surgical table like when African-American Doctor Bailey is forced to "rise above" and operate on a White Supremist with a Swastika tattooed on his stomach to save his life, she at last is God to him, but not God in her own life. While she is busy saving someone else's life, her husband is in the waiting room giving her a final chance to redeem what's left of their marriage. The writers of Grey's Anatomy remind us that in order to save our lives, they give up theirs. That is their offering to us when playing God.