![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
+ Has anyone read James Patterson's Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment? The premise seems vaguely Koontz-esque (a secret government agency genetically engineers children with wings, for some nefarious purpose, I'm sure), and I enjoyed the few Alex Cross mysteries of Patterson's that I've read. But I confess I'm a little wary of the fact that the book is categorized as "teen fiction." I mean, I'm not too far removed from my Lois Duncan years, but still...
Also wondering if anyone's read Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down? (Seeing that he's written a new book reminds me - I never did finish How To Be Good.)
+ I was at BJ's Wholesale Club, running errands for me ma and I saw the first three seasons of The X-Files available for $29.99 each. I'm fairly positive that when XF sets first hit the streets, they were priced around $100. Any XF fans know if these cheaper sets are repackaged releases, or are these the same $100 sets priced down to something I can actually afford? (Btw, I saw that the SG-1 boxsets had also been marked down to $29.99. If I could get these wholesale joints to mark down B5, I would be SET.)
OH I ALMOST FORGOT - Con Air was re-released this week with bonus footage! Like, happy early birthday present to me. It's only seven extra minutes of footage, no commentary, no featurette, BUT STILL. I guess this is as good as it gets, which means I should go ahead and buy this movie on dvd already. So yes, the special edition of Con Air is a little lacking, but I remain unswayed in my conviction that a fully loaded special edition of Face/Off will eventually be released. From my keyboard to the dvd gods' mainframe.
+ I am, at this very moment, downloading the pilot episode of Life on Mars, which is another one I've heard a lot of hullabaloo about. I'm all about shows with Mars in the title, all at once.
+
Oh, Buzz Bissinger. You had me rolling and sorta willing to follow your lead...until that last line. Um, what? Someone please explain to me how the holier-than-thou attitude of the Midwest is in any way more attractive than how admittedly self-impressed East Coasters are. I mean, really. Buzz Bissinger, you can kindly 'refreshing and honest and even heroic' deez nuts, as the kids say. Or, in the parlance of more of my f-list: EM ETIB.
(Though that 'bratty supermodels' characterization of the NYY and BOS organizations is completely hilarious, you must admit.)
Also wondering if anyone's read Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down? (Seeing that he's written a new book reminds me - I never did finish How To Be Good.)
+ I was at BJ's Wholesale Club, running errands for me ma and I saw the first three seasons of The X-Files available for $29.99 each. I'm fairly positive that when XF sets first hit the streets, they were priced around $100. Any XF fans know if these cheaper sets are repackaged releases, or are these the same $100 sets priced down to something I can actually afford? (Btw, I saw that the SG-1 boxsets had also been marked down to $29.99. If I could get these wholesale joints to mark down B5, I would be SET.)
OH I ALMOST FORGOT - Con Air was re-released this week with bonus footage! Like, happy early birthday present to me. It's only seven extra minutes of footage, no commentary, no featurette, BUT STILL. I guess this is as good as it gets, which means I should go ahead and buy this movie on dvd already. So yes, the special edition of Con Air is a little lacking, but I remain unswayed in my conviction that a fully loaded special edition of Face/Off will eventually be released. From my keyboard to the dvd gods' mainframe.
+ I am, at this very moment, downloading the pilot episode of Life on Mars, which is another one I've heard a lot of hullabaloo about. I'm all about shows with Mars in the title, all at once.
+
The rivalry between the Cubs and the Cardinals is probably the oldest and perhaps the best in baseball, no matter how the Red Sox and Yankees spit and spite at each other. That's a tabloid fueled soap opera about money and ego and sound bites. That's a pair of bratty high-priced supermodels trying to trip each other in their stilettos on the runway. But the Cards-Cubs epic is about roots and geography and territorial rights. It's entwined in the Midwestern blood and therefore refreshing and honest and even heroic.
Oh, Buzz Bissinger. You had me rolling and sorta willing to follow your lead...until that last line. Um, what? Someone please explain to me how the holier-than-thou attitude of the Midwest is in any way more attractive than how admittedly self-impressed East Coasters are. I mean, really. Buzz Bissinger, you can kindly 'refreshing and honest and even heroic' deez nuts, as the kids say. Or, in the parlance of more of my f-list: EM ETIB.
(Though that 'bratty supermodels' characterization of the NYY and BOS organizations is completely hilarious, you must admit.)
From:
no subject
You said it. I *need* commentary on Face/Off. I love that movie so much. *makes the "face off" hand gesture*
From:
no subject
LOL. Indeed. I really refuse to believe the "special edition" that came out in '01 or whenever it was is all that we'll get. I note that the movie came out in 1997. Perhaps an anniversary edition next year? Hope springs eternal ^_^
From:
no subject
Except that Veronica Mars is more about Neptune. Well, and Marses, I suppose.
I see you've gotten approximately as far into Three Nights in August as I have... I had the same reaction to that passage. I even like the Red Sox and I find the "Ultimate Rivalry" branding a little ridiculous, but "honest" rivalry? Huh?
From:
no subject
Except that Veronica Mars is more about Neptune.
You get your fun confusing me, don't you? :P
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
Put...the bunny...back...in...the box.
From:
Re: Put...the bunny...back...in...the box.
Buscemi is sublime in that film.
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
I wouldn't have figured you for a Con Air fan, but truly, such wide-spread appeal is a testament to its complete greatness :P My love for it is far from secret; in undergrad, friends and I would watch it at least once a semester XD
From:
no subject
I *adore* action movies. Lovelovelove. All genres. I'm the only person I know who owns Passenger 57! The summer Con Air came out on VHS, I watched it almost everyday.
Augustine also loves it, which is a sign, I think, of her good character. :)
From:
no subject
You definitely win. Not even I own it; I just have it taped off HBO :P
Augustine also loves it, which is a sign, I think, of her good character. :)
**laughs** Her taste in movies, and in other things, certainly recommends her ^_^
From:
no subject
Face/Off is just another thing btw that is on my list of things that remind me of A's slash. I think it was in Fell where they watched it for the millionth time?
Also ... yeah lol a little too much poetic waxing, I know. I think its the local media's holier than thou attitude though and not ours. I mean, of course we think our rivalry's the greatest. But not because we're out to beat Boston/New York but just because we couldnt give a shit.
Also, definitely. Arod in stilettos.
From:
no subject
My friend, your great reservoir of knowledge of all things Beck puts me to shame. To shame, I say.
I mean, of course we think our rivalry's the greatest. But not because we're out to beat Boston/New York but just because we couldnt give a shit.
Wait...your rivalry is the best in baseball because you guys don't care? Please to be explaining how the hell you can have a rivalry, let alone the best in sports, when no one gives a shit.
Also, definitely. Arod in stilettos.
**laughs** See. Thank you for sending me to that scary mental place.
From:
no subject
ok you're totally screwing with my words :P I am meaning to say we don't care about about Boston/NewYork. Like, we're not all "our rivalry is better than the east coast rivalry" 'cos we're too busy living our rivalry to worry about beating anyone elses. except when the media brings it up.
From:
no subject
yeah our paper likes to bring it up (although the last article i read on the cards/cubs rivalry was actually making a case for the cards/astros rivalry being bigger. it makes more sense technically 'cos the cards and cubs haven't been on the same level ... i.e. stopping eachother from advancing much at all in the past decade)
ummm but i digress. all i can say is, the fact that we're trying to beat anyone else's rivalry is news to me. But hell maybe that just means I don't even fit in with Cardinal fans....
Have you gotten past the foreward yet??? Get to the part with Pujols or Drew or LaRussa
or anything other than Buzz's waxing that only a Cardinals fan would loveFrom:
no subject
There's really no doubt in my mind that if the Cards and Astros keep at it some more over the next few years, that will definitely blow any rivalry at the cubs out of the water. Ang is right; there definitely needs to be some sense of competition.
From:
no subject
Your icon kills me. KILLS ME.
From:
no subject
I hope being home is agreeing with you.
From:
no subject
Thanks! You'll probably get to it before I do; I almost picked it up at the library today, but I have 5 or 6 other books already on my to read list.
I've liked everything else of his that I've read--High Fidelity is probably my favorite.
About A Boy was mine ^_^
I hope being home is agreeing with you.
Well, right now I'm still in the place after school, but before work starts, so being home is agreeing with me quite fantastically :P I did little today but read - finished a whole book actually. I know how insanely busy you are, my friend. I hope you find some time and space for yourself!
From:
no subject
Would you like your own copy? I have two--the signed one, and the one I bought before I knew he was doing a US promotion. I can mail it to you and you'll have it to read whenever you tackle the rest of your stack.
I loved About a Boy, too. How to be Good was, well, good, but I didn't think it quite measured up to AAB and HF. My friend raved about A Long Way Down.
I know how insanely busy you are, my friend. I hope you find some time and space for yourself!
Thanks! I'm finding time to relax, so it's good. I went into this with my eyes open, so I really can't complain. I'm glad you're getting a chance to read and take it easy. God knows we've all earned it.
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
I'm sorry you were misled - Dean would certainly not approve ^_~
From:
sale on haterade - 2 for $1
Let me preface this by saying I used to not give a rat’s ass about baseball west of Philly, but I have gotten more and more into the game in general as of late (this means I generally enjoy watching all teams do well - save you know which one, and anyone playing the Red Sox). I have to say that in my somewhat limited exposure to Midwestern baseball, they seem pretty pre-occupied with us (NY/Bos) in general, mostly negatively, and mostly in that “they’re just glitz and arrogance, we’re the *real* game!” Ha ha, good one.
Most people I know around here could honestly not give a shit about who takes home the award for Best Major League Baseball Rivalry. It seems that the Cubs/Cardinals contingent is keener on that. I actually love both the Cubs and the Cardinals (well, the Cardinals have some majorly obnoxious fans that kind of kill it for me) – so I’m not going to hate on them because their writers are morons:
But the Cards-Cubs epic is about roots and geography and territorial rights. It's entwined in the Midwestern blood and therefore refreshing and honest and even heroic.
He can’t seriously think that doesn’t make him come off like a total douchebag. I mean, if East Coasters and the NY/Boston franchises are the bratty supermodels, then this guy is making Midwesterners and the STL/ChC franchises out to be the holier-than-thou, barely restraining the jealousy, makeup artists who no one gives a shit about.
I mean..”refreshingly honest and even heroic”? I’m honestly surprised he was able to write that without pickling in his own self-importance.
From:
Re: sale on haterade - 2 for $1
I had noticed. I think a large part of it is that
largely unfoundedNL sense of superioritythat tends to get shoved down their throats come the postseason.then this guy is making Midwesterners and the STL/ChC franchises out to be the holier-than-thou, barely restraining the jealousy, makeup artists who no one gives a shit about.
**laughs** I love you.
From:
no subject
*rolls eyes*
Free Agency means aside from teams with wacky management (ie. Oakland, Florida, maybe Cleveland's preoccupation with psychological health and that wacky Theo Epstein), most teams don't have much internal personality, and most of those that do aren't tied to the location rather than to the people in the front office.
The media does talk way too much about Red Sox/Yanks, though. But Cubs-Cards is barely even a rivalry anymore because the Cubs haven't put together a winning team in which everyone stayed healthy in years. Actual competition is pretty important to the rivalry and the large disparity in ability between the two teams in recent past makes it difficult to buy into the rivalry. Most Cubs fans I know sort of grudgingly go, "Yeah, I respect the Cards ability to not-suck on a regular basis." It's a very kind rivalry. Unlike whatever wacky crap they've got out east. :D
I like the West Coast rivalries myself. Maybe just because the NL West is a competition for "which team sucks least" lately.
From:
no subject
I know, right? Bissinger tries to gloss over that in the next passages by emphasizing how widespread their fanbase is outside of the cities, but last time I checked, Boston and New York also travel well up and down the fucking "heartland," so whatever, guy.
Maybe just because the NL West is a competition for "which team sucks least" lately.
**laughs** It is fun in a kinda "... but why are you all so bad?" kind of way.
From:
no subject
Pardon the interruption but I feel I must butt in with the observation that it may have started out genteel, but it's starting to turn rather emotional and nasty these days. (I confess, I am a Cubs fan so my perspective may be subjective.) Whether it might get to a Boston-New York intensity someday isn't certain but I think it could happen, IMHO.
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
"What kind of fucked up tour is this?"
Hee. I'm pretty much a sucker for all of Cage's action flicks besides Gone In 60 Seconds. I was saddened when he sort of up and abandoned the genre :P
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
Sara Paretsky is also good as is Sue Grafton.
From:
no subject
I haven't read Paretsky or Grafton, so I'll take a look at their stuff as well; thanks ^_^
From:
no subject
Believe it or not my mother is also quite fond of that flick.
You've got BJ's?? That place is TEH AWESOME, especially since they've expanded the selection of foodstuffs they carry. I mean, they've got bulk pine nuts! PINE NUTS! And basmati rice! We shop there often. :-D
LOL at the guy trying to make Cubs-Cards into some superior entity. It's getting just as down and dirty (amongst some parts of each team's fanbase) these days as Red Sox-Yanks.
I don't get this thing he's touting about Midwestern cachet, either; most of the ones I've met are quite down to earth about themselves and their region. *scratches head*
From:
no subject
Apparently, there are a ton of us! YAY :P
Believe it or not my mother is also quite fond of that flick.
**laughs** Really? That's awesome. Way to be, mom.
*scratches head*
Pretty much.
From:
no subject
LOL, see I thought Mom and I were the only people who dug that film. ;-)
**laughs** Really? That's awesome. Way to be, mom.
LOL, my mom is made of awesome. She can still hang with the cool kids. She misses Sports Night as much as half my FL does!