are you smarter than a 5th grader?

I like this show. But am I the only one annoyed by being told at the beginning of every episode what is going to happen? It takes all the wind out of the suspenseful sails of classic gameshow television, and I just don't want to watch it anymore after that.

"Will Mr. Bob answer the 500,000 dollar question right? Wait around and find out!"

Thanks, now I'll just sit here for an hour in complete serenity knowing that the contestant is going to get every question right all the way up to 500,000 dollars.

Its like giving your friend the movie The Sixth Sense with a yellow post-it note on the case that gives away the ending.

Annoying.

youtubeshot:has the secret of "lost" been revealed?

Watch the trees closely for an unexpected but familiar face. I don't know, could it be?

ice water in hell

So the commercials are wonderful. The old and outdated "PC" in his hospital robe showing his undesirables to a young, hip, and fresh "Apple" is funny stuff. They speak volumes about the creative force that has thrusted Apple Inc. into the gleaming limelight the past few years. But none of them comes close to seeing the actual big daddies of each tribe smirk, taunt, and bombast in front the entire world. Like the commercials, "Apple" is more charming, is wearing tennis shoes, and steals the show without even trying that hard. The "PC"--in a shirt, dress shoes and slacks--is at a bumbling loss for words more often than not.

But they are both incredibly intelligent. Watching these great minds cogitate and theorize is invigorating, and it puts the commercials (as great as they are) to shame. Enjoy.

Digital Conference 2007 Prologue:


Steve Jobs Interview (watch 'til the end, its worth it, trust me):


Bill Gates and Steve Jobs Interview (1 of 10):


You can get the rest of them here.

what's worse than losing a limb while bathing in a vat of liquified salt??

--One Tivo-less TV.
--One On-the-Lot premiere.
--And a grandmother addicted to Dancing With the Stars.

...all in the same house, all at the same time...

Frick!

flattery, gas, and chirpy, chirpy, birdie par

I went to the union yesterday to get some papers filled out for work. The union representative said I look like Sanjaya.

"Who?" I said.

"Sanjaya," he said. "You know...that kid on American Idol."

"Who...I don't watch the show....?"

"Mr. Mohawk..."

"Oooh!...Really?"

"Ya, and you talk like him." (Gee, thanks. So I know I still have yet to hit puberty, but really now...)

Oh well, I am slightly flattered, I admit. We're alike in so many ways. He thinks too highly of himself. I think too highly of myself. I can't sing, and neither can he. He talks like Michael Jackson, he is unsure of himself, and he makes things awkward.

...alike in so many ways...

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In other off-the-cuff news today, I am going to try and stop peeling my nails. Unfortunately, that adventure looks dim and daunting because we don't have "Nail Peelers Anonymous" here in Orange County. I'm not sure I have the will power to withstand my urges. But I shall try somewhat valiantly to conquer this self-destructive behavior and put this phase of my life behind me like a trail of pestilent flatulence.

-------

I was watching golf on Sunday, which I rarely do, but it was on. And decided it was time to actually find out what a "birdie" is...

Bill Nye (the science guy): "DID YOU KNOW???"

birdie: a score of one stroke under par on a hole.
(thank you dictionary.com)

Um...what's "par"?

par: the number of strokes set as a standard for a specific hole or a complete course.
(thank you dictionary.com)

Bill Nye (the science guy): "NOW YOU KNOW!!!"

and just for kicks:

Planet Earth

There is no such thing as essential television. As much as I enjoy shows like Lost and The Office and yes, even Grey's Anatomy (the shame!), they aren't essential. But the Discovery Channel has this new show, Planet Earth, and it is about as close to essential television as we've ever gotten before.

Discovery Channel had been advertising it for a while, but I didn't really pay much attention. Most everything on the Discovery Channel is good (Mythbusters, Dirty Jobs "I can smell it nooow!", and...Mythbusters :)), so I just assumed that Planet Earth would be one of their above average every day documentaries. And because of that assumption, I decided not to make the effort to seek it out on Sunday night. Thankfully, though, it sought me out. I came across it at about ten minutes after it started and was stopped dead in my channel surfing tracks. The show was immediately captivating. I have never gotten so much of a Discovery Channel high (which happens often) as I did watching Planet Earth. The show captures and reminds us of the massiveness, complexity, and beauty of God's creation. It is a spiritual experience if you're not too cynical to allow it to be.

"Well of course its going to be captivating!" you say. "Its planet earth we're talking about here!"

Yes, yes it is. Hence the name of the show. But, trust me and trust the Discovery Channel advertisers, "Prepare to see it as never before." Seriously, prepare yourself. If you are a nature geek, strap yourself down. You may become violent with enthusiasm and inadvertently take everyone down around you. No fun for them. If watching on a hard surface, place a pillow down so that your jaw doesn't shatter upon impact. And if, just by chance, you happen to be a crack addict reading this blog (I wouldn't be a bit surprised), consider this your lucky day! I beg of you, resist the urge to shoot cocaine before watching the show, because between the crack and the show, you will OD and die. And the worst part of that is you'll miss the next week's episode. Tragedy!

...prepare yourself...

Discovery Channel
Sunday nights at 8.

Lost

Lost was amazing this week. The writers seem to be bringing back the signature wonder of the show that has unfortunately been missing for most of this season. The emotional and ironic dance between Locke and Ben was excellent. Locke is my favorite character, so having an entire episode devoted to him that answered so many questions while raising so many more was a hay day.

The thing that makes this show work is the fact that it is character driven. Not only are the writers of the show focusing on the development of the characters, but a few of the characters themselves seem to be focusing (almost as if its their job) on other characters' development. For me, so far, the island feels like a sort of purgatory where people are taken to figure out their problems and be challenged, and then let go once they "get it". I know its not that simple, but the whole thing has a "rehab" vibe to it. Every character has a mountain to climb, and the sooner they climb it, the sooner they get to leave victoriously.

But I really have no idea what is going on...and I kind of like it that way for now.