Today is one of my first Sundays in awhile without a heavy dose of Entourage. I think I'm experiencing withdrawal. One of my coworkers pointed out that the majority of the characters on the show are self-centered jerks, but I love them anyway. My favorite shows are the ones with plotlines centered on Ari and the agency. I like to fantasize about becoming a big Hollywood agent someday... Wheeling and dealing, worrying about my clients' coverage in US Weekly, throwing my daughter a star-studded bat mitzvah. Ah, that would be the life!
I guess I'll just have to suffer until HBO comes up with some new episodes. Unfortunately, they have very strange seasons scheduled, and I can't figure out exactly when that will be. Maybe other Entourage fans know?
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Thursday, September 08, 2005
In other football news...
I've almost convinced Jeff to rename his fantasy football team "The Candy Unicorn Fairies." Good name, huh?
RAAAAAAAAI-ders! RAAAAAAAAI-ders!
The Raiders are losing right now. I'm surprised that I actually care, but I do. It's sad, and it just seems unfair -- the Raider Nation would appreciate the win so much more than those Patriot fans who are just used to winning everything. They keep showing the the New Englanders in the stands and they all look like boring white guys with guts, drinking beer and wearing red, white, and blue. I don't think there's even one person in a skeleton-monster-with-horns-and-fangs costume among them. What kind of team spirit is that?
RIP White Kitty
Last night, on his way to pick me up at the BART station, Jeff ran over a cat. He said that there was nothing he could have done to avoid hitting the cat. He didn't even see it before the car hit it, because it ran directly under the front tire as he passed by -- its path wasn't more than a half a foot in front of the wheel of car. It must have been spooked by something. Jeff said he was going about forty miles an hour. He had to look in the rear window to see what he had hit and the car behind him hit the cat, as well. The cat was white.
We're both pretty upset about the accident. It's good I wasn't in the car, because I would have cried. Jeff is hoping that it was a wild cat (it ran out of Golden Gate Park) and not someone's pet that will be missed.
I want to take a moment to express some wishes for the cat. White Kitty, we're sorry that you got run over. We hope your death was swift and painless. With any luck, your time on this world was decent and you're now in a place where you will never again know cold, hunger, an unclean cat box, or fleas.
Please take a moment to salute the passing of White Kitty.
We're both pretty upset about the accident. It's good I wasn't in the car, because I would have cried. Jeff is hoping that it was a wild cat (it ran out of Golden Gate Park) and not someone's pet that will be missed.
I want to take a moment to express some wishes for the cat. White Kitty, we're sorry that you got run over. We hope your death was swift and painless. With any luck, your time on this world was decent and you're now in a place where you will never again know cold, hunger, an unclean cat box, or fleas.
Please take a moment to salute the passing of White Kitty.
Sketchy
I received the following in an email this afternoon:
To: ucb_police_news@listlink
From: ucpolice@uclink4.berkeley.edu
Subject: U.C. Police Crime Alert - Strong-Arm Robbery
Strong-Arm Robbery
2nd Floor, Haas School of Business
On September 7, 2005 at approximately 3:30PM, University Police responded to the Tang Center regarding an injured student. They met with the victim at the Urgent Care Center. The victim (a UC student) told officers that he was involved in a confrontation at about 8:30AM while exiting the 2nd floor men’s room at Haas School of Business. An unknown suspect punched the victim once in the left eye and once in the left ear. The suspect took personal property belonging to the victim and fled the location, exiting the west side of the building.
A suspect has been identified; UCPD is currently investigating this incident.
If you have any information about this crime, please contact:
University of California Police Department
Criminal Investigation Bureau
(510) 642-0472 / 8AM to 5PM
(510) 642-6760 / All other times
As with any emergency situation, if you see suspicious activity, call 911.
I was just right there (well, not actually in the men's room) for class last night at six. Berkeley is really big on disseminating this type of information. I know that they do it to help find the suspects and so students be aware, but it also has a way of making you feel like you're constantly about to be jumped when you're on campus at night.
To: ucb_police_news@listlink
From: ucpolice@uclink4.berkeley.edu
Subject: U.C. Police Crime Alert - Strong-Arm Robbery
Strong-Arm Robbery
2nd Floor, Haas School of Business
On September 7, 2005 at approximately 3:30PM, University Police responded to the Tang Center regarding an injured student. They met with the victim at the Urgent Care Center. The victim (a UC student) told officers that he was involved in a confrontation at about 8:30AM while exiting the 2nd floor men’s room at Haas School of Business. An unknown suspect punched the victim once in the left eye and once in the left ear. The suspect took personal property belonging to the victim and fled the location, exiting the west side of the building.
A suspect has been identified; UCPD is currently investigating this incident.
If you have any information about this crime, please contact:
University of California Police Department
Criminal Investigation Bureau
(510) 642-0472 / 8AM to 5PM
(510) 642-6760 / All other times
As with any emergency situation, if you see suspicious activity, call 911.
I was just right there (well, not actually in the men's room) for class last night at six. Berkeley is really big on disseminating this type of information. I know that they do it to help find the suspects and so students be aware, but it also has a way of making you feel like you're constantly about to be jumped when you're on campus at night.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Tip to "enhance balance"
Last week, at a career center workshop for school, they gave us a handout called "Techniques to Enhance Balance between Family, Life, Friends, Work, and now School." Supposedly the tips were all submitted by former students, attending the MBA program and also working full time.
The handout offers about six pages of suggestions. They vary in their usefulness, but I thought this one was interesting:
"5. Understand Your Frustration. Most frustration is actually self-directed frustration that is transferred to others in order to achieve self-preservation. If you're feeling frustrated a lot of the time, don't assume you've met a rash of incompetent people on the phone, at work, among clients, and in social settings. Find out why you're really frustrated with yourself."
I think it's probably true. Since I read the handout, each time I've been aggravated by someone or a situation, I've definitely been able to pinpoint something else that was really bugging me. I'm not sure what good it does to know that (or how it enhances my balance), but taking the time to analyze it objectively usually provides a nice little cooling-down period.
I suppose self-awareness is never a bad thing.
The handout offers about six pages of suggestions. They vary in their usefulness, but I thought this one was interesting:
"5. Understand Your Frustration. Most frustration is actually self-directed frustration that is transferred to others in order to achieve self-preservation. If you're feeling frustrated a lot of the time, don't assume you've met a rash of incompetent people on the phone, at work, among clients, and in social settings. Find out why you're really frustrated with yourself."
I think it's probably true. Since I read the handout, each time I've been aggravated by someone or a situation, I've definitely been able to pinpoint something else that was really bugging me. I'm not sure what good it does to know that (or how it enhances my balance), but taking the time to analyze it objectively usually provides a nice little cooling-down period.
I suppose self-awareness is never a bad thing.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Book Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
I wasn't going to read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. In fact, I was so determined that I would not spend the time it would take to read the 500 plus pages, that I got online and found a plot synopsis the day after the book was released. I thought that knowing how this episode of Harry Potter's adventures ends would cure me of the need to read.
It didn't work. First off, my roommate bought a copy, so the book has been easily accessible in the apartment for months. Secondly, I'm supposed to be studying for a Tuesday night microeconomics midterm. Predictably, I started reading the book in earnest yesterday and just finished up.
With Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling has pretty much completely stopped writing books for kids. This story includes swearing, a lot of making out, plot lines about a knocked-up girl who dies in childbirth, boozing, the walking dead, and a lot of death in general, or discussion of death. The conversations the characters have about death were enough to freak me out a little. One of the character's comments about death being the great unknown, and the fact that it is the unknown aspect of it that causes people to fear death got to me. It's impossible to read this book without devoting some time to seriously thinking about what death means. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince does still include a few of the whimsical elements that initially made Harry Potter so popular (magical candy and what have you), but the vast majority of the focus is on more mature matters like who will hook up with who and bloody fights.
Though J.K. Rowling's writing was never weak, it seems like it is improving as she progresses through the series. It's true Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince does not have a satisfying conclusion. It feels rushed -- too many threads are left untied and some developments are hard to believe (perhaps this is intentional?) -- but overall the writing is better. For instance, in this book readers are more often given descriptions of characters behavior and expressions, than directly told their thoughts and feelings. And if J.K. Rowling is still writing her own books (working in book publishing makes me suspicious of such things) she is a total master of the page-turner. The Harry Potter books have consistently been extremely difficult to put down. Those who haven't read any of the books can ridicule the Harry Potter phenomenon as much as they like, but once you start reading one (especially the most recent volumes) you will keep reading.
Note: I am not arguing that Harry Potter books are life-changing literature, just good reading.
It didn't work. First off, my roommate bought a copy, so the book has been easily accessible in the apartment for months. Secondly, I'm supposed to be studying for a Tuesday night microeconomics midterm. Predictably, I started reading the book in earnest yesterday and just finished up.
With Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling has pretty much completely stopped writing books for kids. This story includes swearing, a lot of making out, plot lines about a knocked-up girl who dies in childbirth, boozing, the walking dead, and a lot of death in general, or discussion of death. The conversations the characters have about death were enough to freak me out a little. One of the character's comments about death being the great unknown, and the fact that it is the unknown aspect of it that causes people to fear death got to me. It's impossible to read this book without devoting some time to seriously thinking about what death means. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince does still include a few of the whimsical elements that initially made Harry Potter so popular (magical candy and what have you), but the vast majority of the focus is on more mature matters like who will hook up with who and bloody fights.
Though J.K. Rowling's writing was never weak, it seems like it is improving as she progresses through the series. It's true Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince does not have a satisfying conclusion. It feels rushed -- too many threads are left untied and some developments are hard to believe (perhaps this is intentional?) -- but overall the writing is better. For instance, in this book readers are more often given descriptions of characters behavior and expressions, than directly told their thoughts and feelings. And if J.K. Rowling is still writing her own books (working in book publishing makes me suspicious of such things) she is a total master of the page-turner. The Harry Potter books have consistently been extremely difficult to put down. Those who haven't read any of the books can ridicule the Harry Potter phenomenon as much as they like, but once you start reading one (especially the most recent volumes) you will keep reading.
Note: I am not arguing that Harry Potter books are life-changing literature, just good reading.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
I wish I had a digital camera
Ross and Clare's purchase now has me lusting after a digital camera of my own. I know, I know -- they're not that expensive. For some reason I have a block when it comes to getting off my rear and buying any kind of electronic equipment. It took me eons to get a cell phone. I never know which brand is best, or how much I should be paying. I always just want to buy the cutest thing, and that doesn't really seem like good decision making when it comes to technology. If they made a pink digital camera, I probably would have had one two years ago. Part of my problem is that electronic gadgets never seem totally essential to me. I feel like there's always a touch of frivolity in making such purchases. But, I'm running into more and more situations where it would be handy to have a digital camera. The great blogging that a digital camera would enable is enough of a reason to get one.
I also wish I wouldn't have spent four thousand dollars this afternoon at J Crew. I didn't mean to. They tricked me into it with their demonically cute sweaters. If I had a digital camera, I could show you how cute they are.
I also wish I wouldn't have spent four thousand dollars this afternoon at J Crew. I didn't mean to. They tricked me into it with their demonically cute sweaters. If I had a digital camera, I could show you how cute they are.
Domestically disabled
How does one fold the bedsheets with elastic around the edges? They don't lie flat. There aren't corners to match up. My elastic-rimmed bedsheets always just wind up in a wrinkled heap next to the flat foldable ones and the pillow cases. Can anyone fill me in on the proper technique? Perhaps there's trick to storing them neatly without folding?
Friday, September 02, 2005
Speaking of The Superficial...
Has anyone else noticed that The Superficial isn't very funny lately? I'm not sure if they switched writers, or what, but it doesn't have the same zing. The normally sassy jokes are now a little tired. It can be pitiful when blogs written with the sole purpose of being funny just aren't. It seems like that happens to dudes a lot.
I will give them this -- The Superficial does kick ass when it comes to being first to report the best dirt (even if half of their reports are blatant lies). The upcoming issue of Us Weekly has a four page spread on Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn being seen snuggling and kissing at a blues club in Chicago. The Superficial reported the story first, at least a week ago.
I will give them this -- The Superficial does kick ass when it comes to being first to report the best dirt (even if half of their reports are blatant lies). The upcoming issue of Us Weekly has a four page spread on Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn being seen snuggling and kissing at a blues club in Chicago. The Superficial reported the story first, at least a week ago.
The Daily Dish coverts to a blog?
San Francisco residents have long known that they can fill their celebrity gossip needs at The Daily Dish, an online column of the Chronicle. I've been a reader for about a year.
I just logged on today, only to realize that they've switched up their format. SFGate is treating the Dish as a blog now. You can even comment on each of their postings. Readers don't seem to have figured out the comment funtion of the page though, as there aren't any comments yet.
Now the Dish is almost like The Superficial, sans jokes about poo and whacking off.
I just logged on today, only to realize that they've switched up their format. SFGate is treating the Dish as a blog now. You can even comment on each of their postings. Readers don't seem to have figured out the comment funtion of the page though, as there aren't any comments yet.
Now the Dish is almost like The Superficial, sans jokes about poo and whacking off.
Word verification for comments
For some reason, I started getting spam in the comment fields on my blogs this afternoon. I'm not sure if something triggered it, or if it was random. All of the sudden a bunch of bogus comments with links to commercial sites began popping up in quick succession (all but one has been deleted).
To combat this crappiness, I've started using the Blogger.com word verification feature for comments. When you leave a comment, you'll have to type in characters as they appear on the screen in order to confirm that you're an actual human. It's annoying, but spam is more annoying.
To combat this crappiness, I've started using the Blogger.com word verification feature for comments. When you leave a comment, you'll have to type in characters as they appear on the screen in order to confirm that you're an actual human. It's annoying, but spam is more annoying.
Bumpwatch 2005
After weeks of diligent harassment on my part, Clare and Ross finally bought a digital camera. Clare sent me the first picture I've seen of her in about three months. I've stared at it for at least fifteen minutes now, and I can't get over it. I wasn't expecting her to look pregnant, yet. She definitely looks all glowy, healthy, happy, and maternal. Pregnancy happens so fast.
Jeans are out, botox is in
Another update on the designer jeans project: My group got word back from our professor that we will in fact be allowed to interview company representatives as a part of the research for the project. As a result, we decided to ditch the jeans concept and find a small business to focus
on -- a small business where one of us has connections and could easily get the scoop. After considering several options, our final choice was a dermatologist's office. Along with all the actual medical treatments, they offer cosmetic botox injections. We're going to analyze pricing strategies for the bo. I'm pretty excited about it. It's way more interesting than the concepts I've heard from the other groups, and I feel like it has a small amount of personal relevance.
on -- a small business where one of us has connections and could easily get the scoop. After considering several options, our final choice was a dermatologist's office. Along with all the actual medical treatments, they offer cosmetic botox injections. We're going to analyze pricing strategies for the bo. I'm pretty excited about it. It's way more interesting than the concepts I've heard from the other groups, and I feel like it has a small amount of personal relevance.
RB is back
Apologies for the lack of posts lately! Full-time work and part-time school have been taking their toll. Plus, this week my parents came to visit San Francisco -- for the first time in three years. They flew out this afternoon and I'm taking the day off, so maybe between my nap and my pedicure I'll have time to get in some blogging.
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