Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Sunshine










This sci-fi adventure from Brit director Danny Boyle was playing in Buenos Aires when I was there but I did not get the chance to see it. It looks really interesting and I'm a fan of Boyle's "Shallow Grave" and "28 Days Later". I hope it opens in the States soon.
  • Sunshine Site

    The film finally opened to a wide release in Los Angeles last weekend. We went to go see it and liked it alot. I thought the first 2/3's were great and probably the best thing I've seen this summer. Although for me the movie got silly when "the Monster" was introduced during the second half of the flick. Still worth seeing and very visually compelling.
  • Friday, July 27, 2007

    The Simpsons


    It's the only show I watch and still enjoy. And with a co-star like Spider Pig, the movie promises to satisfy.
  • SimpsonMovie.Com
  • Tuesday, July 24, 2007

    Snake Bites on York Ave.


    Although the term may sound inelegant, I'm soooo happy that a "gastropub" has opened up a block away from the house in Highland Park, CA. The York has a full bar (almost full.... my request for a mojito was denied because of a lack of mint). But getting a good snakebite is no problem. The industrial loft like setting makes me feel like I'm back in Brooklyn on Henry St.
    We tried going last saturday night but could not get served after waiting for 20 minutes so we ambled down the block to Johnnies. We figured opening weekend glitches kept us from our pints. Sunday late afternoon proved to be much mellower and we got a booth.
    Loved the corn chowder and the rest of the food was very good but a bit expensive for the neighborhood. Wilton's wallet felt the crunch and I suspect we'll be drinking there more than eating.
    I'm wishing it a ton of success and tipping my glass in the hope more gastropubs can pop up in the neighborhood.
  • Eating LA:Highland Park
  • Flight Patterns






    UCLA designer Aaron Koblin has taken the flight paths of over 19,000 daily flights to create a fascinating map of the United States. From the few red eye flights to the 8am crush on the east coast and finishing with Los Angeles awaking three hours later, Koblin maps out north America in light and motion. Very impressive.

    Recent Work






    Just finished a commercial with a 2001: Space Odessey vibe. All white on white. I love the shot of the eye ball. you can really see every contour.

    Monday, July 23, 2007

    Imperial Presidency via The New York Times

    Part of today's Op-Ed

    The founders were particularly wary of giving the president power over war. They were haunted by Europe’s history of conflicts started by self-aggrandizing kings. John Jay, the first chief justice of the United States, noted in Federalist No. 4 that “absolute monarchs will often make war when their nations are to get nothing by it, but for the purposes and objects merely personal.”
    ....
    The founders would have been astonished by President Bush’s assertion that Congress should simply write him blank checks for war. They gave Congress the power of the purse so it would have leverage to force the president to execute their laws properly. Madison described Congress’s control over spending as “the most complete and effectual weapon with which any constitution can arm the immediate representatives of the people, for obtaining a redress of every grievance, and for carrying into effect every just and salutary measure.”
    ....

    The framers expected Congress to keep the president on an especially short leash on military matters. The Constitution authorizes Congress to appropriate money for an army, but prohibits appropriations for longer than two years. Hamilton explained that the limitation prevented Congress from vesting “in the executive department permanent funds for the support of an army, if they were even incautious enough to be willing to repose in it so improper a confidence.”

    Friday, July 06, 2007

    Fixed Computer


    My brother sent this pic along with the caption, "I finally fixed my computer. Now works the way I want it to".

    Up One Third


    It's not just the troops that are surging. War costs are up for American operations in Iraq -- way up, more than a third higher than last year. In the first half of this fiscal year, the Defense Department's "average monthly obligations for contracts and pay is running about $12 billion per month, well above the $8.7 billion in FY2006"
  • Danger Room has the story and links.
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