Why can’t people sit still in a movie theater? I mentioned that we went to see the new Harry Potter last weekend, and the place was predictably crowded. And during the entire film there was just constant motion in the place: people getting up to go to the bathroom, trading seats, and apparently just walking around.
And what kind of weirdo just walks around inside a movie theater?
I admit that I don’t like long movies. But that’s because they’re almost always in bad need of editing, and therefore suck. They’re usually made by some director who had massive commercial success early in his career, and now longs for “respect.” So he starts bloating his shit up with unnecessary scenes, and crap that doesn’t move the story forward.
But even during the most self-indulgent turd of a film (think Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me) I don’t feel the need to power walk around the screening room. Ya know?
Call me a radical, but I just sit there and watch the movie. I don’t talk, I don’t shake a Skittles bag as if it’s my turn at Yahtzee, I don’t chew popcorn like it’s been very naughty and requires discipline, and I don’t call my boss to check on the “Tayback project.”
I think it’s an inability to focus, some kind of attention-deficit situation. That, and just general douchebaggery. You can never completely discount douchebaggery as an explanation for such things…
What do you think? Am I just a pain in the ass, or has theater decorum gone downhill over the past decade or so? Sweet sainted mother of Jonas Grumby!
Last weekend I added Carbonite to my laptop, and it’s been doing its initial back-up for almost a week now. There’s 51 gigs of stuff on that computer, almost all of it music. And I think it only backs-up three or four gigs per day.
So there’s a major backlog. Like in my liver.
But I’ll certainly feel better once all that stuff is protected. If I lost those mp3 files (about 15,000 of them), I’d probably just roll into a ball and start sucking my thumb.
Do you back-up your computer? I was using an external hard drive for my PC, but wasn’t very conscientious about copying things over. Eventually it just turned into a gigantic Phil Hendrie Show archive.
So now I have Carbonite on both computers, and they’ve got me ensnared in a two-headed auto-renew cycle that will never end. Good job, guys!
Believe it or not, I’m going to play golf this afternoon. The younger Secret wants me to take him while his mother and brother are out of town, and I’m gonna do it.
Should be interesting. Because I am to golf what Stephen Hawking is to… golf.
Are any of you familiar with a so-called band called Tinted Windows? I didn’t know anything about them, until about fifteen minutes ago.
Apparently they’re a “super-group” featuring Taylor Hanson(!) from Hanson, James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins, Adam Schlesinger(!!) from Fountains of Wayne, and freakin’ Bun E. Carlos(!!!) from Cheap Trick.
James Iha doesn’t get any exclamation marks; I can’t just be handing them out all willy-nilly.
But have you heard the album? On paper it seems like a can’t-miss. How does it actually sound?
And what’s the greatest super-group of all-time? Has there ever been one that could be called great? I’m drawing a blank here. The Traveling Wilburys? Nah.
I’ll leave you now with a question from the Stealing Clive Bull‘s Topics desk. It’s a fairly wide-open subject, but it translated into interesting radio and I’m hopeful it’ll do the same here.
Please use the comments link to tell us your stories about being lost. Have you ever taken a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in a… situation? Or have you somehow found yourself in Deliverance territory, not having any idea how to get out?
Tell us about it, won’t you? Use the handy-dandy commenting tool below.
And I’ll see you guys next time. Possibly tomorrow, with something quick and fun.
See ya then, I hope.
I hope AWG isn’t really leaving for good. He’s consistantly funny, and those comments were not offensive. Even if they were, what of it? It’s a guy’s opinion, in the middle of dozens of other expressions of opinion. What is really rude is personally directed insults and name-calling. PC policing is a big downer.
A “Y” chromosome means never having to say “I’m lost”.
@Jorge: Unless said “Y” chromosome is drunk off its ass, apparently. 😉
Jorge!
Glad you had a moment away from your studies to post.
I always thought I should like the the Yayhoos more than I do. And I was really disappointed with Supernova (or Rockstar Supernova or whatever other name they decided on)
Love to go to the movies, but almost always have some tater tot eating moron causing a ruckus in my general vicinity.
Most recently it was at Public Enemies. I now know what it sounds like when stupid people eat popcorn in all their lip smacking, teeth sucking glory. Clearly these people did not know that the movie is based on a true story. I know this because at the end of the movie one of the brillunts, stood up and said, “Pretty good movie, but the ending sucked.” Not that it mattered, as they clearly couldn’t follow the relatively simple plot, which was clear from all of their discussion during the movie.
@ Bikerchick – Johnny Depp? Yumm-o!
@ SR and Jason – That was me last night not Bikerchick.
@ SR – You asked me last night about the Jamboree. I think you meant to direct your question to Bikerchick, who just returned from the Jamboree.
@angrywhiteguy/Taiwan on can’t we all just get along? I really don’t want to live in a politically correct world! it would be like living in Sweden or Canada! wait a minuite,,,,,,,,,,,,
Jeezum crow that was a long drawn out conference.
White Trash Barbie – I was under the influence of scotch so my reasoning went haywire. All I know is someone mentioned Vicks and crackers or something like that.
Bikerchick – How was the Jamboree? I know you had a ball, or two!!!!
Jason – Heres another fine mess you got me into.
Pagan – I tried that, they weren’t having any of it.
Gretchen – I resemble that “Y” chromosome.
I’m forgetting someone, oh well, whoever it is, peace, I love you.
@ Jorge,
Technically all you need is the SRY gene to never get lost as it alone will cause an embryo to develop male. The rest of the Y chromosome (except for a small region that is homologous to the X chromosome) is involved in male fertility, or is non-coding. In fact translocation of SRY to the X is a common cause of male infertility. Such individuals are XX (karyotype female), but have a male phenotype.
This information may or may not come in handy during your studies.
@ Tyrosine – The strange thing is I understand every word you said. So normal female (XX) and normal male (XY). SRY can augment to only one gene and you can have a male (XX) or a female (XY). But (XX) men can still have the SRY code in one region (X) but it would render them infertile because it is not coded in the (Y).
First, AWG wasn’t out of line. This is thewvsr. We have the unique ability to make fun of people with impunity. That’s why we come. It seems to me that everyone who is here very long has a similar personality. Maybe not the same view on politics, music, etc., but the same perspective. In any event, I’ve been reading since 2003 and AWG (and many others) preceded me by miles. Respect.
As for the getting lost question, I pondered that for a bit. I don’t think I’ve ever been lost. However, once I was not able to get to where I wanted to be but could have easily returned from where I came.
High School. West Virginia woods. Me and 30 of my closest friends headed to a patch of woods spanning 3 counties that was littered with logging roads and strip mines (both active and inactive). Yeah, like I said, I was in WV. For anyone who is not familiar with this setup, it can be a bit confusing as new roads often spring up and they often look the same.
Anyway, I had been to the intended destination numerous times and was sure that I could lead a car full of virgins with no problem. Every previous visit had been accompanied by a lot of intake. This visit was no different. I guided the crew pretty good but sent us up the wrong “left up the hill.” Missed the right one by about 100 yards. Ended up unable to meet everyone else so we commenced to partying on our own. Indulged in many delicacies and had a good time with a young lady.
We ended up heading back off the strip and ran into all the other vehicles that had actually made it to the intended destination. Ended up that one truck, full of people in the cab and bed, had rolled. No one was hurt. Two jeeps had broken down (one an axle, the other water). And one chick who had partaken in illicit substances for the first time had flipped the proverbial fuck out. The lost ones, on the other hand, had a blast. I love Peach Orchard.
All in all, it was a good night. Sorry about the long post, but what the hell, I’m bored.
mountie9wv – I believe what Tiawan On was getting at is that rudeness has no color. I have been audiences of all races and I see rude people of all races. I think he was incensed because AWG played the race card. That doesn’t account for comments made in bad taste either. The ideal is to make this a fun place where people can speak their mind, but they don’t have to be insensitive. I could have jumped all over Bikerchick last week for using the N-word but I understood the context in which she was using it. I personally don’t care for the word. I come from a very diverse multi-cultural background and enjoy all my cultures especially my German side. So lets close this out by saying, we all can learn from each other, lets enjoy our diversities and our cultures and have fun living. Not bitching about who’s black, white, brown, yellow or red. So, I am tired now, peace be with you my friend.
A couple years ago my wife and I went to visit some of her cousins on the spur of the moment in the bowels of Manila. Found them okay, it was daylight. Several hours and cases of beer later, we decided it would be a good idea to go see another cousin in an even worse part of town. “Where’s it at?” I asked. “Oh, over the other side of the floodway. I’ll know it when I see it.”
Three hours later, a cab deposited our two drunk asses under a bridge of said floodway, on the wrong side, right in front of a group of what appeared to be Asian zombies and a burning car. (!) Fortunately another cab came by in a few moments and took us across, where we just sort of wandered around until the cousin (who’d gotten drunk-texted a couple times and put 2 and 2 together) found us a few blocks from her house. “You were WHERE?!” pretty much explained the potential gravity of our situation, once we were sober enough the next morning to think about it.
I apologized earlier, but feel I should say it again.
What I did was wrong. Plain and simple. No excuses. I disrespected someone’s comment, and that is not right. I am sorry I did it, and believe me, I will never do it again. I may mock, but I will not disrespect.
Also, apologies are in order to all the Surf Reporters who enjoy AWG’s comments. Let’s hope he comes back.
That’s all I have to say about the War in Vietnam. Have a nice weekend.
White Trash Barbie: HAHA! Yeah..I was drooling so bad during the movie over Johnny Depp (in a 1930’s suit!) my boyfriend asked if I wanted to be alone..
Jason: I’m with ya on the whole feet thing. For me, that goes for women to. Flip Flops should be restricted for beach/pool wear only. I was at the mall this week…the girls there all seemingly about 12 years old or there about…. all in shorts with exposed ass cheeks and bellybutton rings, belly shirts that went out in the 80’s and flip flops. My parents would have shit peach pits if I left the house like that. I had to change in the car.
Gretchen: You are so right about Pittsburgh. If you want to get hopelessly lost, try navigating downtown. You will soon find yourself going the wrong way in a bus lane. And let me tell you…the bus drivers around here will fuck you up as fast as they suck down the escalated fee’s they collect to ride the thing.
Oh!! and AWG….come on back! I look foward to reading your blurbs too!!
@ Shiny Rod,
Basically correct. SRY is a “master switch” gene, which is both necessary and sufficient for male development. If you carry one or more copies of it, you will be male regardless of which chromosomes you carry. It’s normally found on the Y, but can be translocated elsewhere. The other Y genes that are exclusive to males all seem to be involved in male fertility.
Shiny Rod: Jamboree was a total blast…as usual. Truely the best thing about it is the people watching. But, of course, sometimes WE are the ones being watched..heh.. There were 4 girls walking around in nothing but Toga’s; some dude dressed as Fred Flintstone (?); but the best was the guy dress in “Reno 911” attire….complete with the shorty shorts and tight button down shirt with the aviator sunglasses. The best thing about it was the outfit was made of shiny pleather!! He must have been sweatin balls cause it was hot as hell.
I got close enough to Toby Keith to look up his pant leg and take a photo or two. (Hey girls….Good Lord he is hot. Wow!) Everyone put on a hell of a show. The Steve Miller Band took me back to my yout! The Zack Brown Band are amazing musicians. So if you like that twangy country..check them out. Unfortunately Merle Haggard cancelled due to illness. Disappointing. But a good (drunken) time was had by all. Thanks for asking!
Tyrosine – Great, I think I understand the fundementals. Like mapping a 12 point star network across four dmz’s.
bikerchick – Wow, that close to Toby Keith? Sound like it was a blast. If not just to get drunk and watch the people. Probably why I like to go to Jimmy Buffet concerts. So funny people there, the Parrotheads are always a hoot. Like one big sing-along.
@bikerchick: Oh, I learned not to fuck with public transit vehicles in Philly. SEPTA* buses are synonymous with death. I have had many close calls with them and always give them a wide berth.
*SEPTA = Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authori-tie….not to be confused with SPECTRE, although it’s nearly as menacing.
Got lost downtown Cincy…. ended up at a red light on Vine with a 12 year old trying to sell me dope. ‘No Thanks’ I said and I got a good cussing for it. I suppose a more polite answer would be ‘yes please give me dope’? Whatever
I used to love going to see movies in a theater… but now no matter where you go people are talking on cell phones, walking around, ‘whispering’ really old people (YELLING!) are opening their Werthers originals…. can’t do it. Can only enjoy a movie at a theater that is about to go under (no other attendees).
@ Karin – I know a couple of theaters like that but the movies are crappy and they have no plot. Lot of love scenes though.
I got a little lost (driving by myself) from San Diego to Hollywood Blvd in LA. I left my map at home and this was before GPS devices were so common. I wanted to find The Egyptian Theater and after a 2 1/2hr detour thru East LA, I made my way to the right part of town. I had to make a pit stop at a McDonald’s. I’ve never seen one with security guards before.
I’ve never freaked out really bad about being lost except when I’m running late, so I kinda didn’t hate getting to know the city a little bit. I was told later that I could’ve been in a lot of trouble, but I could find myself in a lot of trouble everywhere, right?
bad behavior in theaters: inexcuseable! I LOVE going to the movies and really have a hard time with people who do not have the least little bit of common manners. I’m ususally a peaceful, quiet-spoken person, but I’ve flown off the handle on more than one occassion with no regard to age when my chair was kicked.
I make myself sound like a badass – the way it really plays out is my middle-aged angry Mom glares have quieted down a lot of pimply faced tweens and even a few smartassed high schoolers.
I’ve gone on too long – I’ll yield the floor…
@ Jason – Yeah, I got that one many times. Might be getting it again. I didn’t want to put that one out, but I might have to put it in volume two once I do a bit more research. But it has something to do with, “Boy you really fucked up now, this is gonna cost you dearly. You ain’t gettin outta this one without some kinda hurt.”
I am hoping that Taiwan on and AWG kiss and make up. French kiss. With plenty of tongue.
@ Lee Harvey Ramone – I could have gone all day without having that visual. Thats up there with the Roman video thing.
I am perpetually lost, there is a time fabric crimp that follows me like that old canned peas smell follows hobo’s. I have a tendency to inadvertantly drive through this hideodorous fold and I’ve ended up on my way to Rosemount by way of DT St. Paul. I blame the nuclear plant.
1) My favorite ensemble group is This Mortal Coil. A rotating cast of vocalists and musicians from bands such as; Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, Colourbox, and Wolfgang Press among others. There were 3 albums that not only covered other artists work but included much original work as well.
2) Though technically not a ‘super group’, but still a super/ superb group of musicians that got together and created the album “If I Could Only Remember My Name” which was David Crosby’s first “solo” album. Grace Slick, Joni Mitchell, Mickey Hart, Jorma Kaukonen, Neil Young, to name a few, are included on this 1971 masterpiece.
Lee Harvey Ramone…let’s not get Uncle Buzz in Wheeling pissed of now too!! 🙂
@Lee Harvey Ramone
As long as they don’t break out the Crisco…
They shouldn’t kiss like that until they’ve both grown thick Grizzly Adams beards that smell of meat because they haven’t been washed in a long time.
After that Further Evidence the other day, I hear Chris Hansen is being relocated to Rhode Island.
I was prepared to hate Tinted Windows because my boyfriend is a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan and I have had their whole anthology shoved down my ear canal since I met him and as Iha was part of TW I was going to hate them just on principle. However, they have an 80’s pop sound that is so damn catchy I can’t help but like it
A few comments…
I agree with an earlier post about Pittsburgh. I have never come home from that city the same way I got there.
Movies – Our culture has just about reached subhuman level. Especially when it comes to what we used to call back in the day, “common courtesy”. Nowhere is this more evident than in movie theaters. I’ve got all the usual complaints, talking during the movie, answering cell phones, feet propped up on other people’s chairs, lip smacking your food like you’ve haven’t had a decent meal since Jimmy Carter was president.
And what is it with old people and their damn hard candy?! They fumble around with the wrapper with the grace of a family of raccoons at the dumpster. I guess hard candy is the only way to go when you can’t handle popcorn or chewy candy because of your dental work or lack thereof.
Music – That Tinted Windows cd is ok, but you need to check out the new Cheap Trick release, “The Latest”. Especially like their snappy rendition of Slade’s “When The Lights Are Out”.
Never get lost!! I am a girl too..I recently held a job for a notable state program where I was required to drive thru various counties and place certain items for said government program. Excelled in it..when I go and get “displaced’ I have a keen sense of wrong in my head..must be my magnets or something. seriously.
I joke I would like to work for Rand Mcnally, but as I am unemployed it is not a joke anymore..someone call me!!
Movie theaters make me sweat and clench my jaw and fists. I would love it by myself, but I need utter silence and concentration to watch something so I have to wait for dvd or pay per view to get on that. I think this might be my age showing thru…
@ Bikerchick – re: Johnny Depp – LMAO!
Say, you know how Johnny Depp uses famous people as the basis for some of his characters? Like Keith Richards is the basis for Captain Jack Sparrow, and Willy Wonka is sort of a hybrid of Carol Channing and Michael Jackson? Well, I just watched the trailer for Alice in Wonderland (he is playing the Mad Hatter), and I think his inspiration for the character is Madonna.
greatest supergroup of all time? Without a doubt it was blind faith.