All work and no play makes jack a dull boy.

I have been working like a japanese beaver this week because it is January and all the reports have to be in by the 31st. Which is only two days away. And I'm beginning to feel I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I thought that I was doing horribly at work. But, once I took a step back... I realized I was doing much better than I thought.

I just want to address a particular issue. It seems that everyplace I go that is remotely cool doesn't allow me to take pictures. I went to the D show, and they didn't allow pictures. I went to the Sergio Leone Exhibit (which I will address in my next post.), they won't let me take pictures inside the exhibit. In a previous post I mentioned that I was going to photo document everything... well a fine job I have done of that. It seems that the elements have combined to prevent that... what a bunch of bunk.

I am this post is just because I haven't posted in a long long time and I want to make my next post amazing. It will be, I promise you that.

"Stick around if you don't mind some cream in your jeans"

A couple of weeks ago I got a text message from my buddy Rick about Tenacious D and how they were playing at the music box in Hollywood. So, I bought a ticket no questions asked... cause, I mean its the D. So we get there and we see on the Marquee "Rock and Roe with Tenacious D" and so we get in line. I get to the fron t of the line and they tell me that I can't bring my camera inside that I have to put it back in my car. So, I take my walk of shame back to the car put my camera inside and as I'm walking back I look at the Marquis (thats right I have used both spellings) and I think about it for a second... why are they calling it Rock and Roe? Then it struck me.... Marbury v. Madison. The show was in support of Marbury v. Madison. Great. Now, I am going to hear an evening full of Judicial review comedy... sheesh I hate benefit concerts.

But, The D was playing and that was enough for me to soldier through the crappy opening groups, the sub-par comedienne, and the acrid stench of booze mixed with pot smoke.

Greg Proops was the host and a funny one at that. Laura Kitlinger (sp?) was the first comedian up and she tanked. She had a couple of funny bits about the MS walk. But, that was it. The first band was okay Peter and I called them Los Rayos Blancos (the white stripes.) cause it was two people a guy and girl except this band was particularly iconoclastic because the GIRL was the guitarist and singer and the GUY was the drummer... what an age we live in.

The next act was terrible. I try not to be too negative cause it takes a lot to get on stage and play... but these guys were like surrealist, piss poor guitarist band. They stank.

The last hour however was worth the price of admission. Louie CK was the second comedian and it was freaking funny. I was laughing so hard I drew stares from the other members of the audience. The guy was straight up hilarious.

And then there was D! The opened up with the theme song from Flash Gordon. It was awesome. I wish I had a camera... oh thats right The Music Box are facists. They're cool with aborting fetuses. But, taking pictures in their joint is a big no no. Anyway, the D had a way long set. A lot of new jams from the movie that is soon to be out. They also had a lot of older tunes that everyone knows and loves. I am continually impressed with their talent. They play guitar amazingly well. They are excellent singers with tight, tight harmonies. They are consumate entertainers. They are electric. Bands should look at Tenacious D and realize that they don't have to take themselves so seriously to be good. Peter and I were talking about their persona that they have on stage. That they are the greatest band on the planet. They never drop that persona. I don't want to call it a gag because their music is serious in the sense that they dedicate time and effort and talent to their songs but they are funny.I defy anyone to find two slighty overweight dudes with acoustic guitars that rock that hard and get a crowd that pumped up.

Never at anytime in any show, interview, anything I've seen with either of them have they dropped that persona of "Tenacious D is the best band on the planet." And we're all better for it.

takes a Real Genius...

Before Syriana... before Goodnight and Good Luck... there was... Real Genius.



What better way to deal with the hard hitting issue of Ronald Reagan's star wars project than by releasing a brilliant Val Kilmer vehicle about the development of "Laser from space" technology? That's right, Val's not afraid to tackle the big political issues of the day. He looked the Establishment in the eye and he didn't flinch. The world is a better place for that. High tech into hijinks indeed, Mr. Kilmer. Bravo.

I went and saw "Real Genius" at the Nuart tonight at a midnight showing. It was hilarious. I greatly enjoyed it... mostly due to the fact that I had some awesome people there to watch it with me. I had never gone to amidnight showing of any mvie at the nuart... but, I havve decided that it wouldn't be my last. They are playing Ghostbusters later this month and in February they are playing this bitchin' Russian flick called "Night Watch" that I saw at the LA film festival... and was afraid that I would never see again. Basically, the Nuart is my kind of place.

If you haven't seen Real Genius, then you are missing out on a piece of comedy gold. This was back before Val Kilmer was used in sentences that contained the words "Wash up", "B-list", and "Who is that?" That's right Val Kilmer has had to the best of my knowledge 3 good movies... Real Genius, Top Secret, and Top Gun... and the Saint... and Heat. Dang. I guess he has been in a few good ones. But the 80's were particularly kind to Mr. Kilmer. I think he was a natural comedic actor. However, being cursed with good looks he was foisted off as an action/drama front man... a pain I know all too well.

After watching this movie, it made me think of a couple of things. One, was the entertainment industry has been up in arms about the low numbers that the Box Office has been pulling in. And they are trying desperately to figure out what is the cause. Some people blame DVDs. Others blame Tivo. Others blame Pay per view. I think that they just need better movies. Honestly, for every King Kong, Batman Begins, Sin City, etc. There are ten Monster in Laws, Cheaper by the Dozens, and Family Stones. I think people have lost faith in the film industry. Because, if it is not a crappy movie than it is a pandering movie that is begging so bad for an oscar that they have resorted to splicing a single frame of the oscar statuette every 5 minutes... Cinderella Man comes to mind. The ad campaign for the second showing even had the tag line of "for your consideration." That's called fishing for a compliment, friend. I'm sure Cinderella Man is a good movie... but, come on. You are basically zeroing in on your audience to strictly the members of the Academy. Thus, alienating Tom Moviegoer. I predict that movies will soon be shown only to academy members and we all will have to just watch the Oscars out of obligation.

The movies just need to get better. That'll solve the problem. It won't be immediate. But slowly you'll begin to gain the trust of the public back. But, right now, a movie has to be something special for me to go see it. I went and saw Real Genius tonight because I knew I was going to have a good time. I knew it was going to be good company and a good funny movie. That was worth the price of admission... which was cheaper than a regular ticket at a "regular theater."

But, what do I know?

Being a Quitter

So, I bought this new book by Harvey Pekar (American Splendor) called "The Quitter." I really liked it. I'm not one for "indie" comics I normally stick with the standard superhero fare. Simply because I find that indie comics are "indie" for a reason. Because they are either poorly drawn or poorly written. That and they are almost invariably about real life. And I don't want to read about real life in a comic book. I get real life when I get out of bed every morning. But, I really, really liked "The Quitter" because it was a really well drawn, and well written story. And yet still it was about real life. But, it had a point. And it wasn't "too real." You know what I am talking about. When they add a character with AIDS simply because that is what real people do. They get AIDS. But, "The Quitter" read like a really good story with a moral and a point.

However, the only downside was not in the story, or the art, or the grammar. It was one of the reviews. It said "[The Quitter is} a Horatio Alger story without the happy ending, which is just the way we like our Pekar tales to be." What? "The Quitter" is an autobiographical story about Harvey Pekar's childhood. Oh happy day! I'm so glad that we have this terrifc tale of tragedy and woe. What? Someone's life is this sad? Terrific! Like Harvey Pekar's neurotic life isn't cautionary but amusing. I don't know some people are jerks. But, seriously, "The Quitter" is an excellent read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Anyway, that's all I got.

New Year's Rockin' Eve

Well, this is going to be a photo heavy post... like thecobrasnake.com photo heavy. Since I have taken it upon myself to better photo-document things that happen. For New Year's Eve my Sister threw a party... but not just any party. It was an awesome party. Now, for those of you who were not able to attend (cough:: Brigham ::cough) you can come along for the ride just like you were there.

We all got up in the car with the goodies that Broek and her friends made.



Then we went to Hollywood and Highland







Gotta pay respects to the Chronic...What?...cles of Narnia.



We Stopped for a bite to eat at Johnny Rocket's. I had the Chicken Fingers...



Broek had the BLT.



Then we arrived at the location of the party.



CHA CHING! Lucky Strike!


... marks the spot for an awesome party.





You'll meet all sorts of interesting people at Lucky Strike. Like, I met the Ghost of New Year's Present...


The Ghost of New Year's Present likes cupcakes... he had 10.

Oh, and have you met my friend Gary Saso? He's kind of a celebrity.



Then, the Party got under way.







This guy... he OD'd on party.



But, seriously, this party had everything... Four vital "B"s.

Bowling





Breakin'



Babes... UH HUH!





And Bucks.



Funny little story. I knew it would happen eventually. I gave the waitress my credit card and left it open because I wanted to get a lot of sprites. So, I asked for another sprite. She brought me this drink and I didn't think to inspect the drink... because... I mean what are the odds you are going to get a wrong drink. So, I got a mouth full of Sprite and vodka... I spewed it out because it tasted rancid. So, thus, solidfying the fact that I don't drink. I've looked that alkie monster in the eye... and really didn't like it. Needless to say I returned my drink for a sprite. By the way all the waitresses working that night were blazing hot. So hot that I felt sheepish asking them to take a picture with me. so I didn't.

While you are imagining hot waitresses dressed as pixies enjoy this picture of me, and my buddies, Laurel and Keith.



I thought "How cool would it be to bowl a strike at the stroke of midnight.?" I got a gutterball. I hope that isn't an omen of the year to come.

But on with the show.

Afterwards, we finished bowling. We stepped outside and I thought "What better way to ring in the New Year than giving a hobo a hug?"



It was liberating... until I saw him walking away with is ass fully exposed. Maybe, he'll use that dollar I gave to him to buy a pair of pants... or at least underwear.

So, we had a butt load of Martinelli's Apple Cider down in the car but we imagined that Lucky Strike wouldn't let us in with our own soft drinks. So, we made an exodus to the parking lot.



and thus, we enjoyed ourselves... clearly.



We think Broek has a problem... we are planning an intervention so keep it on the down low.



Overall, it was a great evening. One of the best New Year's Parties I have ever attended. I am really lucky to have such a cool sister. I just hope this next year is as cool as this last year.