Save Count Chocula!!

Major food corporations are reporting a possible sugar shortage.

"The firms – including Kraft Foods Inc., General Mills Inc., Hershey Co. and Mars Inc. – indicated that if they couldn't tap supply markets like Brazil, they'd run out of sugar to make candy bars, cookies, cereal and a host of other products."

For the love of pregnant women and candy bar connoisseurs everywhere, save the sugar!!

Family Guy- Abortion Episode

Here's a table read of the controversial Family Guy abortion episode Fox refuses to air. Good stuff if you ask me.

Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho!

Did somebody say wish? I must see this!

Mad About Mad Men

Mad as in pissed, although to be clear, it's not Mad Men I am angry with, it's DirecTV. Last year I was pumped to watch Season 2 of Mad Men when it premiered on AMC, I had just finished watching the first season on DVD and was hooked. Set up the Tivo for a season pass, got comfy on the couch and whisky glass in hand, pressed play. About five minutes into the first episode I realized I would not be watching the rest, at least not for a while. Anyone who has an HDTV will understand what I mean when I say that watching non-HD programming on an HDTV is like watching crap flung on a wall. The picture is fuzzy and the colors are not true and with a beautifully shot show like Mad Men it makes you feel like you might as well be watching a blind mime doing an interpretive re-enactment of the episode because it would probably look better.

Realizing that AMC did not yet broadcast in HD was a bummer, but the hubby and I decided we would simply wait for the DVD release and get caught up in time to watch season 3 live and in HD, because certainly by a years time that would indeed be a possibility. As it turns out, it is, only not for customers of DirecTV who as of now have not yet picked up the AMC HD channel. Knowing I would again be relegated to waiting to watch the new season on DVD, I wasn't in a mad rush (pun intended) to get caught up on season two, so we finally picked up the Blu-Ray this weekend and watched the first episode yesterday and, yes, it was worth the wait.

Facebook: more than just superpoking?

Cleaning out some old magazines this weekend and found this interesting article about Facebook in the July 09 issue of Wired magazine. In a nutshell it describes how Facebook is essentially poised to take over the internet and revolutionize how we use it, in particular how we use search engines and the apparently soon-to-be-left-in-the-dust Google.

"Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions a more personalized, humanized Web, where our network of friends, colleagues, peers, and family is our primary source of information, just as it is offline. In Zuckerberg's vision, users will query this "social graph" to find a doctor, the best camera, or someone to hire—rather than tapping the cold mathematics of a Google search. It is a complete rethinking of how we navigate the online world, one that places Facebook right at the center. In other words, right where Google is now."

And here I thought Facebook was just another fun time-suck merely good for reading hilarious status updates, checking out vacation pictures and playing the occasional round of killing and robbing on Mafia Wars.

Ending of LOST revealed?!

Funny stuff ... if you're a geek like me.

Summertime and the TV Watchin's Easy

Historically summertime television has generally been made up of the bottom of the barrel dredges of reality programming, leftovers of cancelled shows and reruns, which is why I am pleasantly surprised and pleased that my DVR has been spoon-feeding me some of the best television of the year this summer all thanks to a couple little cable networks called HBO and Showtime.

Between the sizzling hot returning series' True Blood and Weeds and the quirky newcomers Hung and Nurse Jackie, I am up to my eyeballs in great characters, excellent writing and just plain old fashioned escapist entertainment. While the networks are busy pumping out gems like Who Wants To Marry A Complete Stranger On National Television and Make A Jackass Out Of Yourself On An International Gameshow, HBO and Showtime are busy proving once again that they are the homes of the best television on television. I loved Nurse Jackie from the first episode and was immediately hooked, Hung is a slow starter as some HBO series tend to be but I'm enjoying the premise and particularly love the two female characters Tanya and Lenore. True Blood picked up right where it left off and shot full steam into new but equally intriguing plots and some great new characters. Weeds is off to somewhat of a shaky start after last season's fantastic run which highlighted the amazingly talented and hysterical Justin Kirk as Andy (he was clearly robbed of an Emmy nod), but at it's heart it's still the show I know and love and I'm hoping for a three-peat in the widow department for Nancy Botwin to send them running back to safety and absurdity of suburbia.

Booze-bucks

Interesting experiment, coffee-by-day, bar-by-night. I think it would have been a better served if it was kept a secret that these coffeehouse/bars are actually run by Starbucks, but I'm actually kind of curious to see how this works out. The question is, if it actually turns out to be successful will Starbucks expand their plan to the mass market and in doing so, won't it be to the detriment of the very idea of indie-style eclectic coffeebars in the first place?

What's next? Scorsese directs "Pet Rock: The Film"?

Another movie based on an inanimate object. I really have nothing I can say about this, this idea is so illogical I am just speechless.

An Offer She Can't Refuse?

I know, I know I can't stop posting about Sarah Palin, but in my defense I think it's a little like watching a train wreck, you don't really want the image burned into your retinas, but somehow you can't tear your eyes away. Clearly I hate the woman and yeah I am one of those liberals who thinks she's a moron, but I don't think she would just up and quit without a real reason, I mean who quits their job in the middle of a recession, unless you've already got something lined up, the question is what and how much more annoying will it make her... perhaps as Variety reports, someone made her an offer she couldn't refuse.

Just A Little Nutty

Thanks Brooke!

The Case Against Scandinavian Naivete

I have been reading bits and piece about the Salinger copyright lawsuit in the last few weeks, but it wasn't until I sat down to read this piece in Publisher's Weekly just now that I got the full gist of it. As the article explains Salinger is suing Swedish author Fredrik Colting for trying to publish an "unauthorized sequel" to The Catcher In The Rye. Colting claims it is not a sequel but instead a "stand-alone story that serves as a critique of Salinger and his work." Of course it is impossible to determine who is right in this argument without having read the actual work in question, and even if having read it, it seems deciding a case like this could be based on some rather subjective opinions of literature. As the article's author points out, more importantly than the legal matters at the heart of this trial, the really question everyone is waiting to hear answered is whether the notoriously reclusive Salinger will actually make a public appearance in order to defend the honor of his most prized creation:

"If Salinger refuses to answer the defense's questions, LiCalsi notes, the court can impose sanctions and even dismiss the case. Thus, filing suit against Colting may have put Salinger's desire for privacy on a collision course with his desire to protect Holden Caulfield."

Regardless of the outcome, my interest is certainly piqued in Colting's story and based on the short description, were it to be published I would certainly be interested in giving it a read. Not to mention, he seems genuinely wary of the media attention this has caused.

"Given Salinger's history, it seems almost unfathomable that any author would take on his work without at least spoiling for some kind of fight. Colting, however, is rather apologetic for possibly upsetting Salinger, and wary of the media attention his book has generated. “I guess I knew there would be interest,” he conceded. “But I can't say I knew or suspected any of this was going to happen. I'm from Sweden. People don't go around suing each other here. Maybe I was a little naïve.” "

Anyone who uses "I'm from Sweden" as their main defense tactic has certainly got my support.

I don't get it.

Am I missing something here? David Fincher in consideration to direct the Facebook movie. How is this a movie? Last week they announced a "Where's Waldo?" film and then five minutes later a flick based on  "Stretch Armstrong", followed by a pitch based on a Facebook status update. Has Hollywood collectively gone mad? Since when is making movies as simple as greenlighting the latest brand name or toy from the 80's? I mean sure I get it from a business standpoint, you don't have to be an idiot to see that brands equate to dollars, just look at yesterdays Transformers 2 opening. What I don't get is when quality filmmakers start jumping on the bandwagon. How is a movie about a website cinematic in any way, shape or form?

Are you freakin kidding me?!

If this sells I will eat my arm. 

I've got some gems in my Facebook status updates, maybe I should pitch them around town, in fact I'll make it a bargain, I'll sell the whole lot of em for the price of one.

I mean, honestly, what the hell?!

Really Sarah Palin?! Really?!

Letterman sincerely apologized and Palin "accepts" his apology.

"Letterman certainly has the right to 'joke'about whatever he wants to, and thankfully we have the right to express our reaction. And this is all thanks to our U.S. military women and men putting their lives on the line for us to secure America's right to free speech - in this case, may that right be used to promote equality and respect."

Was it really necessary to bring the military into this? I highly doubt military men and women are putting their lives on the line in the name of crappy latenight jokes and douchebag grandstanding by airhead governors. Sheesh. Come on lady, enough already.

Lady Friends

Just in case you thought I was suddenly gettin all serious with my last post:

Reproductive Matters

Really interesting piece in Broadsheet today about a woman's right to control her own fertility decisions.

"The controversy is over women controlling their own fertility. It's about whether we have the right to decide for ourselves if and when to have children, whether we're autonomous human beings with full rights or if our primary purpose on earth is to birth and nurture the next generation."

We all know the great abortion debate has long been a subject of public scrutiny, but as this article points out it seems that it's in fact all issues of the womb that seem to be up for public debate. Whether we chose to procreate or not, how many children we chose to have, whether we seek assistance in the form of medical treatment in order to make childbearing possible and as with the example of Tarrah Seymour our ability to choose our own methods of birth control. The list seems endless and I don't really want to weigh in my own personal opinion on each and every item, but I do think the overall question of how much control a woman has over her own reproductive functions is an important one. Why do we so closely monitor and debate these issues and yet pay little or no attention to the subject as it adheres to men? I certainly don't hear any public outcry over men who donate their sperm to sperm banks or those who chose to get vasectomies, why then is it that women should be held under such a strong microscope when it comes to such personal and private matters? 

Regardless of where you stand on the topics of abortion, infertility, birth control, etc., I think it's about time we stop hiding behind the notion that this is a debate about morals and ethics and admit that it's really about a woman's basic rights to control the reproductive functions of her own body. As Kate Harding so poignantly puts it: 

"As long as we keep pretending that the debate is only about "killing babies" and not about whether women should have the basic right to control our own fertility, that common ground will remain elusive." 

Why won't she just go away?

Is Letterman a sexist pig? Or is Palin making too much of all this? Salon can't seem to decide. 

I think the real question we should be asking is why the hell is this woman still whoring herself out to the media every other day and why are we letting her?!

Twilight

Finally got around to watching Twilight this weekend and boy what a stinker. About ten minutes in, the hubby looked at me and said "This is kind of like The Lost Boys, but bad." And I had to agree, yet we carried on watching as one cringe worthy line was spoken after another. I kept hoping that Pattinson's deer-in-headlights look was just a fluke moment the first time and yet every other scene there it was again. All that coupled with ridiculously unnecessary voiceover, really, really poor casting and a director who clearly thought she was shooting a bad 80s music video and not a movie, made for a huge disappointment in my book.

The problem is I don't think the bad filmmaking was entirely at fault, and I hate to admit this, but I think some of the blame resets on the book itself. For example, much of the voiceover and cheesy dialogue was straight out of the book and while it may have worked on paper, it simply didn't translate well on screen. Rather than feeling nostalgic about the book as I watched, I was merely left wondering, wow was the book really this bad? I think this is a prime example of why sometimes a literal adaptation just doesn't work. With Harry Potter the books are action oriented and incredibly visual and so you can "see" the film as you are reading. A book like Twilight is so much more internal and thought driven that it really requires some effort to make it work, effort that sadly was not put forth in this attempt. My final verdict: if you haven't yet read or seen, skip the flick, stick with the book.

A baby by any other name...

As a writer names have always been something I have had difficulty with. I can never start writing until I name my characters, but it inevitably takes me forever to decide on the perfect name, so it comes as no real surprise that I am having such a hard time with this whole baby-naming business. Having grown up with a difficult name myself, the importance of naming my baby with the perfect name is naturally something of an obsession. For those of you who don't know me, my full name is Shahrzad. As an adult I have come to enjoy the uniqueness of my name and of course as a writer I appreciate the meaning behind it (i.e. the storyteller from the Arabian Nights), but as a kid growing up it was a whole different ball of wax. I couldn't understand for the life of me why my parents would want to stick me with such an obviously awkward, difficult-to-pronounce name. I even went through a phase where I thought I might try going by my middle name, Maria, but that never really became a reality outside of my own hopeful imaginings. 

Now that it comes down to naming my own child and I have the wisdom of my own experience, I want to find a name that is both unique and simple, something easy to spell and pronounce, but different enough that it doesn't automatically have to be coupled with the first initial of her last name so as to recognize the difference between her and the four other girls in her class with the same name. On top of all this it just has to sound right, roll off the tongue well, fit with our last name and feel natural. In other words it has to be perfect. And so far nothing fits the bill. We have a short list --not all agreed upon between my husband and myself-- but a list nonetheless of names we really like, and yet I still don't feel like I've found that perfect one. Maybe I'm making too much of this, maybe a name is just a name. All I know is the baby isn't even born yet and parenting is already difficult.

UP

This weekend was the first time I'd been to a movie in over 6 months, probably longer, I can't even remember what the last film was to be honest. While I do still enjoy the movie-going experience on some levels, for the most part I much prefer to see a flick from the comfort of my own couch. There have been films I've wanted to see, and there is a long list of summer flicks I tell myself I will attempt to go see in the theater but the truth of the matter is I will probably be lucky if I see even one or two more before the baby comes. 

All that said, I was definitely not disappointed by my movie selection for the first theater excursion in so many months. UP was yet another beautifully written and amazingly executed film from Pixar, I mean seriously, can they do no wrong? I laughed, I cried, I was thoroughly entertained and inspired, but I was also quite surprised by the incredibly risky choice of a main protagonist in a family film. From a purely business-of-filmmaking standpoint having a 70 something year-old man as the main character of a film targeted towards children and families is quite unusual. To date I think this is Pixar's most adult film both character-wise and thematically, although I don't necessarily consider that a criticism, obviously it works --the theater was packed and adults and children alike seemed to enjoy the film on many levels-- in fact I think if anything its a testament to what great filmmakers and innovators Pixar has, that they could make a film about a lonely old man seem interesting to an 8 year-old.

Can I Get A Napkin Please?

I was just browsing the Publisher's Weekly daily newsletter when I came across a bit about a new book out called "Causing A Scene: Extraordinary Pranks in Ordinary Places", which prompted me to check out the Improv Everywhere blog. Basically this group organizes large scale improvised pranks in public places with some pretty hilarious results. Haven't had a chance to check out all the pranks which they detail on the blog, but my favorite so far is Food Court Musical.

My new girl crush.

Just watched Yes Man over the weekend. Thought it was cute and funny, mostly I was just reminded how much I love Zooey Deschanel. Although this was actually a toned down role for her, I can't help but think she really brings something to every project she's in, I mean she even managed to give Failure to Launch a few funny moments. My favorite role is still her stint on Weeds Season 2, if you haven't seen her on this or watched this fantastic show for that matter, I highly recommend checking it out.

Only one way to explain this.

Kids, Mommy's a slut.

What the ?!

Chocolate for the sexually repressed.

"Naughty, but not that naughty." Riiight.

LOST Finale

Man oh man. So much happened I don't even know where to begin all I know is the last time a LOST episode ended in a blinding white flash, effectively destroying the Swan station, no one was really affected with the exception of Desmond who could suddenly see the future, somehow I think this outcome might be a little different. My favorite moment of the of the Swan destruction scene was when Miles so wittingly pointed out, that by detonating the bomb they may actually be causing the very reaction they were trying to stop, which leads me to the suspicion and hope that no one, except maybe Juliet actually died. 

As for the Jacob storyline,when I first saw Jacob and the Man in Black sitting on the beach I was reminded instantly of the first season when Locke was teaching Walt to play backgammon and also of the two skeletons and the pouch containing a black rock and a white rock, which the castaways discovered near their first camp. Is this really so simple as black and white? Good versus evil? It is an age old story, but somehow I imagined the mechanics of LOST to be less simple than that. And I think the more important question is, if we are dealing with good and evil, which one is which? Jacob of course seems the obvious good guy, but is he in fact really the charismatic devil? I also couldn't help but think of the Smoke Monster when it was revealed that Locke resurrected was actually the Man in Black, is the MIB actually the physical manifestation of the Smoke Monster? I think it's possible that at the very least the two are connected.

Overall, we are still left with more questions than answers, is everyone really dead? What's the real story behind Jacob and the Man in Black? Is Ben as humbled and broken as he seems or is this all still part of his master plan? Who is Ilana and what exactly is a candidate? As usual Doc Jensen sums it all up quite nicely, but we shall have to wait until 2010 to get our final answers.

Top Five Things I Can't Wait To Eat the Minute I Give Birth

In no particular order:

-sushi

-pepperoni pizza

-espresso

-bacon

-red wine

Are pregnant women smug?

Funny clip I just caught on Salon making fun of preggos for being smug. I gotta say I can't really relate, while I always imagined that being pregnant would mean walking on air and wearing a happy, knowing glow for nine months, I can honestly say that I have never been more miserable and uncomfortable in my entire life, not to mention my self-image is hanging about as low as a pair of bra-less, granny boobs right about now, and I can't wait to pop this baby out so I can drink a bottle Zin and throw down some sushi again. Smug I am not.

The real reason I watch TV?

New study suggests TV makes you feel less lonely. While I can't say the reason I watch television is for the company, I will admit that when at home I almost always have the TV on and like a pair of fuzzy slippers or a nice bowl of mac and cheese, it does bring me a great level of comfort. That said, I don't watch Survivor because I think Jeff Probst is my new best friend, I tune in because it's entertaining to watch disheveled grown-ups squabble like a bunch of second graders at recess.

Ready For Seconds?

So excited for TrueBlood season 2! Can you spot the double image in the just released poster?

The reason I did not want to move East of the 405.

Last Friday at work we made a big office move from our cozy eclectic digs above Renee's Bar in Santa Monica, to a new, but somewhat similar space in Westwood. Initially I was against the move simply for the fact that everyone in my office, myself included, resides in Santa Monica and so logically it just makes sense to stay put where we can all reach the office in a five minute drive. After being in our new space a week, I have to admit that I do like the new location, our office is nicer overall, I have more room and most importantly the food options in this neighborhood are astronomically better than around our old office. The only downside to the move is why I feared it to begin with: the commute. 

Now I realize I may have gotten a little spoiled in the last few years, but trust me I have had my fair share of lengthy commutes all my life and I counted myself lucky when my husband and I moved to Santa Monica a few years ago where we both worked and were so close to our jobs that we only needed one car. So not only did this office move require at least a 20 minute commute each way, but we also had to buy a second car. 

All this week I had been trying out different routes to get to work in the morning, suddenly obsessed with my drive time and hoping to shave off a minute here or a minute there. After one attempt on the freeway I decided I don't need that kind of stress in my life and the streets, which ended up being about the same amount of time, would be better for my mental health. However, on Wednesday I had a dentist appointment at 4pm in Westchester, so I figured if I left the office at 3pm and hopped on the 405 I would be there in 20 or 3o minutes tops. After all, how much traffic could there be at 3 in the afternoon on Wednesday? Oh, how wrong I was. I sat in bumper to bumper traffic for an hour. It was crawling so slowly I was even able to pull out my iPhone and snap the above picture without getting in a wreck, simply because I had nothing better to do. Sigh.

A long hiatus and a new adventure

It's been over two months since my last post and a lot has happened since. My lack of blogging was not for loss of interest but rather because I simply have not had the energy for it the past few weeks. The good news is that I realized one of my three goals for 2009 and am happy to announce that I am pregnant and my husband and I will be having a baby in September. For a good six or seven weeks I was extremely tired and had severe morning sickness (whoever coined the phrase morning sickness must have been a man because anybody who has had it knows it goes on all day and night) and so I pretty much wanted to do nothing all day besides sleep. I am finally feeling better, however, having reached the "fun" part of pregnancy otherwise known as the 2nd trimester, my energy is up, I dream of all things chocolate and I am ready to blog once more. 

I don't want this to turn into a "pregnancy" blog, god knows the blogosphere is already filled with those, but I imagine it will be a major subject in the coming months as my belly gets bigger and my life becomes a baby, baby, baby world. I can't be sure of the frequency of my posting, because although I feel better I imagine life will get more and more hectic as the big day approaches, but I have missed blogging and am happy to be back to it.

In Mourning

It was with a big sigh that I read the final words of "Breaking Dawn", the fourth and last book of the Twilight series. It's hard to believe it was just a couple short months ago that I first started down the path of the Bella and Edward saga and now it's over. I always feel sad after finishing a good book, especially a series, which I have invested so much time in that I actually feel I am losing a friend when it ends. I also for some reason find it difficult to go back to "serious reading", so to speak, after being so entrenched in what I consider a guilty pleasure... perhaps I will have to feed my vampire thirst with the Sookie Stackhouse series next.

As to the controversy surrounding the fourth book itself, I can't say I agree, I thought it was a fitting end, not at all what I expected (I figured it would be a disappointment with all the hubbub), but I enjoyed it. To those who claim it wraps up too neatly I can only guess you are either not a true fan or you are lying, because I can't imagine anyone making it through this entire series and not wishing Bella a truly happy ending.

Say Cheese!

I'm happy to see that not everything old and seemingly without purpose has to fall by the wayside. Polaroid will no longer be going the way of the dodo thanks to one Australian artist/patron saint of instant exposure.

Dear 80s, I miss you

Was discussing the 80s with my co-worker this morning and I realized how nostalgic I have become for that era. It used to be that I believed the 80s were just down right awful, awful music, awful movies, awful hair, awful clothes, but now every time I come across an 80s movie on cable or a song on the radio I can't help but eat it up.

This morning my dear pal Brooke reminded me of one of my absolute favorite products of the 80s and so I thought I would share it here for your viewing pleasure:

Lost is back, let the crazy begin!

I'm not even sure where to begin in deciphering all that went down in this week's two hour season premiere, but as usual Doc Jensen finds a way to make sense of the lunacy. Of course as usual the episode left me with more questions than answers: Is John Locke really dead? Why did Alpert disappear in the time flashes? What's the deal with the Dharma dude? Why is Hurley seeing dead people? Will Sawyer ever find himself a shirt? Man I love this show.

Enough Already!

I'm not really surprised GW is demanding 15 more minutes of infamy, he has held more televised press conferences than any President in history, but enough is enough.

"Americans cannot do without sex."

Porn industry seeks federal bailout. Now we know we're in real trouble.

Is there a more annoying person on the planet?

I almost vomited when I came in the house this morning from my early morning walk and found Anne Coulter's face on my television. The woman (I shudder to call her that because it reminds me that we are the same species) is insane, I mean I really think someone ought to lock her up and throw away the key for her own safety and for the safety of others. The woman is a verifiable nutjob... oh, and also an enormous douchebag. Bless you Matt Lauer for keeping yourself so composed when you really just wanted to smack the crap out of her. 

Does anybody actually take this woman (shudder) seriously?! I'd like to meet just one person who has bought and read one of her books and ask them for the love of god, why? Can't you see right through her ridiculously transparent Oh-look-at-me-I'm-so-controversial schtick to see what she really is, a narcissistic psychopath who just wants to shill books with her way-too-old-for-a-miniskirt wearing, too-much eyeliner face on the cover.

I may be small and have no muscles to speak of but if I ever see you on the street Anne Coulter I would seriously think about running the other way if I were you.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

We've been watching a lot of movies over the holiday break thanks to Blockbuster-by-mail, some good, some great, some downright terrible. Here's my thoughts on a few:

Wallstreet-  Great film, and also very timely considering everything that's going on right now with the economy. I am becoming more and more impressed with Oliver Stone lately.

Stepbrothers-  Surprisingly funny, granted I was hungover on New Years Day watching this, but I really enjoyed it, especially compared to the piece of crap Talladega Nights. Definitely worth a watch, I guarantee at least a few laughs.

Hancock-  Crap. Pure crap. I really can't believe how bad this was. I really didn't think Will Smith could do a bad movie till now.

X-Files: I Want To Believe-  Made Hancock look like Citizen Cane. I just don't know why they bothered. It was terrible, it was like one of those weird X-Files episodes that had nothing to do with the greater mystery, an irrelevant one-off and a bad one at that.

Wall-E-  I saved the best for last. This is a truly beautiful film that everyone should see. I think I will have to bump Dark Knight down a notch on my favorites of 08 list, for Wall-E. 

We've also been rewatching Band of Brothers since the Bluray just came out. I am not typically a fan of war stuff, but this is a must-see and well-worth buying.