Theme and Variation

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:55:16 GMT

I'm changing my lj.

I'm now kylegarret

It's all about brand building, people.

If you like me, feel free to jump over. If not, I understand.

TV Subcultures

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:05:08 GMT

I like G4.

Okay, so that's not entirely true. I like Attack of the Show. I can't help it.

I'm watching their Halo 3 countdown. It's pretty entertaining and it's nice to see them have an actual story to cover.

God, I remember when Halo 2 came out -- Lindze got me into E3 that year (when there was an E3, I guess).

So is there going to be a "blue flu" tomorrow in the tech fields? Will IT departments grind to a halt?

And speaking of TV shows that no one else watches, I love Three Sheets on Mojo. It's like Insomniac but better and more interesting. I'm actually tempted to buy it on DVD, although I can't imagine it's as great on repeated viewings.

Also, I'm drunk. But, you know, how often do I ever really post sober?

Your Public Service Announcement

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 05:13:33 GMT

Goddamn I love me some Pinback. If you haven't gotten their new record yet, do so. In 24 hours it's taken over my brain.

They played at Amoeba tonight. Since it was an in-store, they went sans full band, instead just the two songwriters, a piano, a guitar, a bass (2 at one point) and some programmed goodies and it was unbelievable.

Go. Consume. Make with the downloading, you saucy trollops.

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 06:14:39 GMT

I keep trying to convince Nicole that Harry Potter ends with "it was all a dream" and thus she has no reason to keep reading.

She's ignoring me.

She also doesn't seem to think that I'm being entirely truthful and when I tell her it turns out Ron is a robot.

Maybe if I told her Ron DOES the robot she'd believe me.

Bless you grad school, if nothing else you taught me how to read quickly.

NO SPOILERS in the talkback, people. Be kind to your fellow dorks.

Beckham

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:55:42 GMT

Some thoughts:

1) The next person to say that Beckham won't "save soccer" in America gets my foot up their ass.

Here's a question: what happens if Beckham sucks? Will the millions and millions of kids who play soccer every weekend suddenly stop? Will the phrase "soccer mom" be replaced by "basketball mom"? Will sales on mini-vans plummet? Beckham won't save soccer in this country because soccer doesn't need saving. If it did then it wouldn't be so ingrained in our growing suburban society.

2) The next person to compare Beckham coming to the MLS to Pele coming to the NASL also gets my foot up their ass.

Where to even begin with this idea? The most obvious is the simple fact that Pele was the greatest soccer player who has ever lived and Beckham, while good, isn't. But that's probably not even the biggest distinction to make in this horrible comparison.

The NASL INTRODUCED a sport to America. There was no such thing as youth soccer when the NASL came along. Part of the reason they imported so many player in from other countries is because there simply weren't that many native Americans who even knew what the game was, let alone were able to play it. The MLS has a feeder system in place, basically because the NASL led to the establishment of the largest youth oriented sports movement this country has ever seen. If even a tenth of a percent of the kids playing soccer today go on to play pro, that's a thousand people at least. The NASL didn't have that. It's also why the U.S. National team actually makes it to the World Cup tournament.

3) The next person to say Beckham wasn't worth it get my foot up their ass.

It's frightening when a man who used to run around the field looking like the lead singer for the Spin Doctors makes more sense than any reporter or writer around. As Alexi Lalas pointed out, they signed Beckham because he will give the L.A. Galaxy a chance to win. As he's also pointed out, they've already earned back what they will pay him in sponsors, endorsements, and ticket sales.

People seem to forget that Los Angeles isn't Portland (aka, a city that had an NASL team and failed). The market for soccer here is so large that we actually have TWO teams (Chivas USA being the other). Unlike most cities, our teams even have their own soccer-specific stadium. David Beckham is not going to make or break either the L.A. Galaxy or the MLS.

4) The next person to say Beckham has to play Saturday night gets my foot up their ass.

While it would be nice if Beckham's highly touted premiere actually happened on Saturday night, there's no need for it if he's hurt. It's an exhibition game, so if his goal is to help the L.A. Galaxy win, this game is meaningless. Yes, it would be nice to see him face off against Chelsea, but unlike most sports you RUN for 90 minutes in soccer, and a sore ankle isn't going allow for that.

Besides, people should be watching that match regardless. It's freaking Chelsea, for god's sake. They came in second in the Premiereship. Their owner is a Russion tycoon. It's the cold war all over again. L.A. should get shelled -- even with Beckham -- but it will be great to watch.

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 05:37:14 GMT

I give the new Harry Potter movie a resounding "meh."

On the other hand, as always, I give the food at Mexico Village a resounding "mmmm."

Some people just knocked on our door. They were looking for a different apartment. I was being friendly and tried to help, but I had no idea who they were looking for. The sole male of the group was kind of looking at me fairly intently.

"Dude, you look like Zach Braff."

It's always odd when complete strangers tell me that. I think for a few moments he thought I really was Zach Braff.

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 22:55:51 GMT

I stand by my claim:

Michael Moore is the worst thing to happen to liberals.

More Proof That My Girlfriend Rules

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 05:02:34 GMT

Direct quote:

"You'll have the bad luck of picking the day the shit does stick to your ass."

Try to wrap some context around that one.

More Than Meets the Eye

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:10:09 GMT

Saw Transformers tonight.

Pretty sweet.

No perfect, obviously, but actually better than I thought it would be.

Recommended for some nostalgic popcorn fun, although Shockwave was something of a disappointment.

The ending left something to be desired, but it's clear why that was.

And, you know, nubile young humans running around being nubile.

Wha?

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:48:09 GMT

I haven't posted on this thing in nearly six weeks. Go figure.

So I need someone to make me a new web site. The old one isn't cutting it anymore and I'd like a new address (which I've got). Honestly, the site I want would be really freaking simple and god knows I could probably learn how to build it in a few weeks, but I'm lazy.

Aside from talent, my requirements for whoever wants this job are as follows:

1) Cheap

2) Accepts credit cards (or paypal credit card payments)

I ain't gots no money. But I gots plastic.

Anyone know anyone who would be interested in such a thing? I would think any experience web builder could make it in a few hours. And then you could ride on my coat tails when I become famous.

Tue, 15 May 2007 18:15:10 GMT

Jerry Falwell has died.

This could be the one thing he's ever done that makes me think there might be a god.

Wed, 09 May 2007 04:57:22 GMT

The first summer that I lived here (summer of 2002), I posted a livejournal entry where I pointed out that it's far more likely that Los Angeles will burn to the ground than fall into the ocean.

And it's actually happening.

I don't know if any of you non-Angelenos can appreciate what's on fire right now. Nicole and I just moved away from Los Feliz. We'd be without power and surrounded by smoke by now. It's crazy.

It's not in the "middle" of Los Angeles, as the Yahoo headline states, but it's far further into the city than any fire I've seen in my five years here.

As if that weren't bad enough, fire coverage has pre-empted Veronica Mars.

It really is hell.

Spider-man 3

Mon, 07 May 2007 03:27:53 GMT

It's like someone vomited a Spider-man movie.

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:00:55 GMT

This is good:

BOSTON - An adjunct professor was fired after leading a classroom discussion about the Virginia Tech shootings in which he pointed a marker at some students and said "pow."

The five-minute demonstration at Emmanuel College on Wednesday, two days after a student killed 32 people on the Virginia Tech campus, included a discussion of gun control, whether to respond to violence with violence, and the public's "celebration of victimhood," said the professor, Nicholas Winset.

During the demonstration, Winset pretended to shoot some students. Then one student pretended to shoot Winset to illustrate his point that the gunman might have been stopped had another student or faculty member been armed.

"A classroom is supposed to be a place for academic exploration," Winset, who taught financial accounting, told the Boston Herald.

He said administrators had asked the faculty to engage students on the issue. But on Friday, he got a letter saying he was fired and ordering him to stay off campus.

Winset, 37, argued that the Catholic liberal arts school was stifling free discussion by firing him, and he said the move would have a "chilling effect" on open debate. He posted an 18-minute video on the online site YouTube defending his action.

The college issued a statement saying: "Emmanuel College has clear standards of classroom and campus conduct, and does not in any way condone the use of discriminatory or obscene language."

Student Junny Lee, 19, told The Boston Globe that most students didn't appear to find Winset's demonstration offensive.

They're completely right to fire him. Not because his "pow" bit was insensitive, but because he's the FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING TEACHER. He clearly wasn't doing what he was paid to do.

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 05:10:16 GMT

If you need more proof that Catholics are making it up as they go along, I give you limbo.

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 05:50:49 GMT

For those of you who don't know:

His name is Brian K. Vaughan.
He writes comic books called Y: the Last Man and Ex Machina.
And he made the recent episode of Lost funny. And enjoyable. For the first time in months.
God bless you, BKV.

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:13:48 GMT

A question for everyone (as I could use some feedback):

I'd say about three months ago I sent out a query letter for the book about my grandfather. Said query letter did me little good. In the meantime, I came up with another version of that letter, which pretty much everyone agrees is the bee's knees. So now I'm sending out the NEW version of that query letter.

Do you think any of the agents who saw the last will even remember it enough to be bothered by the fact that I sent a second one? I can't imagine they'd even remember, considering how many query letters they probably get a day.

Just wondering.

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:42:31 GMT

Over the course of the last two days I've heard this a lot: "Now is not the time to talk about gun control." This, of course, is out of respect for those lost at Virginia Tech.

The correct response to this statement is: "When IS the time to talk about gun control?"

If such a massacre isn't the time, then I can't imagine what would be.

I pointed out to Nicole last night that, aside from an increased spotlight placed on people who society deems as outcasts, nothing will come of this. Nothing will change because of what happened at Virginia Tech.

This is our reality.

Think about it. Everyone will be appropriately upset about what happened for a certain amount of time. Then the story will quickly fade from current affairs to recent history. And soon we'll get our first anniversary -- probably a month anniversary, the way our news outlets work. But nothing will change and in a few years (at best), something like this will happen again.

This is American life now.

And I don't see that changing.

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 06:20:55 GMT

I was just talking to Nicole about this.

So the Duke lacrosse team is off the hook. And I'm willing to believe they didn't rape that woman. I have no proof that they did.

But I pointed out something that bothers me.

Our society is always eager to make statements like "women shouldn't wear suggestive clothing because it invites trouble" and such things. And yet here are a group of jocks who HIRED A STRIPPER and were accused of raping her. Our culture is so eager to say that a woman put herself in a position to be raped, yet no one has pointed out that these boys put themselves ina position to be accused of it.

God forbid we ever have equal standards for both sexes.

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 04:38:17 GMT

Hey, you writer-types:

How many (if any) literary journals do you subscribe to? Or, if not subscribe to, then buy on a regular basis? How did you choose them?

I need to read more.

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 07:24:39 GMT

Conversation that just happened:

Nicole: You ARE drunk.
Me: Well, I haven't been drunk in a week.
Nicole: But you've been drugged up all week.
Me: Not Monday.

Sad but true.

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:41:31 GMT

For those of you who are enlightened aka watch Veronica Mars:

From Kristen at Eonline:

Friday, 9:22 a.m.: After speaking with very reliable sources this morning, I can tell you the following:

1. Creator Rob Thomas is shooting a five- to six-minute featurette of a new version of Veronica Mars, which is one of three options the CW is considering for next season.

2. This new Veronica version takes place four years in the future, and features Veronica as a full-fledged FBI agent. (This morning's Hollywood Reporter incorrectly reports that in the new featurette, Veronica is still in the FBI Academy.)

3. Kristen Bell is the only cast member who is part of this "FBI years" trailer/featurette. It is not yet known which other cast members would come on board if the CW chooses this option. Veronica's current cast and crew were informed of the featurette yesterday (hence, the widespread panic and cancellation rumors running rampant—and my panic attack).

4. For better or worse, Veronica's fate has not yet been decided. So, keep reading and show your support below in the comments section. (By the way, never before have I seen comments pile up so fast and so strong anywhere on E! Online. Keep 'em coming!)

Kyle sez: I'd actually be psyched to see this (and it's something I'd hoped to see on the future of the show). Really, they've underused the cast SO much this season, that an entirely new cast wouldn't be a big loss. They could easily keep Keith and could probably keep Mac if they wanted (Q to VM's Bond).

From what I understand, the other options the CW are considering are cancellation or keeping the show in college.

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 21:39:34 GMT

I just read a comment by someone who shortened "Republican" to "Repug," but I'm not sure if that was intentional.

That would mean this person was saying "Repuglican," which I think it just about the best word ever because it means so many different things.

So from now on they are no longer Republicans. They are Repuglicans.

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:16:53 GMT

My crush on Veronica Mars (I'd say Kristen Bell but, let's face facts, I don't actually know Kristen Bell) took an odd turn last night when I actually a dream that we were dating.

In fact, we were in the middle of some kind of fight when said dream began (it was actually a subplot at first while I was trying to help my friend Jay get his van fixed, which was just as strange as Jay has never owned a van). But a few scenes into the dream, VM and I made up, kiss and all.

No more than that, though.

I find it only appropriate that I don't have actual sex dreams about my TV/movie crushes. I'm actually INTERESTED in fictional characters.

Fortunately, most of the people on my friends list are the same way.

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 02:17:28 GMT

While I enjoyed The Departed (although I had real issues with an illogical plot point with about twenty minutes left in the movie, which made it hard for me to enjoy said last twenty minutes), the best movie of the year, for me, was Pan's Labrynth.

Fortunately, unlike last year, I didn't feel like the WORST movie in the category won for best picture. In fact, I was convinced that would be the case, and Little Miss Sunshine would win. Aren't comedies supposed to be...funny? The fact that the guy who wrote the screenplay for that movie won an Oscar is just unbelievable. I mean, that was the WORST script in the category.

I'd be interested to see how many best actor/actress and supporting Oscars have been won by people playing real people. Seems a decent number.