Since Obama is declaring war on the banks, this teaser trailer for Wall Street 2; Money Never Sleeps, is apropos. But did they really need to show that Gordon Gekko has been trapped in the 1980's prison all this time (as if) as they give him back is rad brick phone? And this could be the one time I ever say, why couldn't they have gotten Charlie Sheen into this?
It's just a fact. Alison Brie is pretty awesome in both Community and Mad Men. The eating ice cream doesn't hurt either.
And they say it couldn't be done. But here, the Winter Games are bring jobs to Vancouver! And they aren't just run of the mill McDonald's jobs either - they are small businesses. Pickpockets are now coming to Vancouver.
CBC is reporting that there is now warning signs on the Sky Train! Huzzah VANOC gets results and grows the economy at last:
"Posters are up on SkyTrain and Canada Line routes warning that, "The World's Best Pick Pockets are Coming to Vancouver."
So Steve Jobs got us all worked up into a frenzy over a giant iPod Touch? Wait, you plug in a real keyboard and it is a laptop. I don't get it. I mean I got that Steve Jobs was all chilling out on his love seat rocking out to John Mayer and playing games, whispering sweet nothings in your ear, or whatever, but I don't get why I need this, and iPhone and a laptop? Here's 8 things that suck about the iPad. All in all, I might give Obama the edge today. Didn't see that coming before today.
PS: If I'd bought that stupid MacBook Air, I'd be soooo pissed right now.
PPS: Can't wait for the first dirtbag to bring one of these things into a meeting.
Pretty quickly into post-game State of the Union shows. CNN has poor John King playing with an interactive map of Twitter comments. You are a nation of 300 million, I would not judge the collective intelligence contained in anything called a Tweet. This is madness. And why I've retired from posting on Twitter.
(Photo: Terry Murphy)
Staged across the border north of Lynden, Washington, VANOC has amassed an army of Vancouver 2010 buses - complete with Quatchi markings (Mascots = trustworthy, right?) My Dad was traveling across the border and found the VANOC bus fleet coming out of hyperspace. "Must have been at least 300 white buses ready for the Olympics. VANOC must have chartered every old bus in the USA." (More at 24 Hours)
B-U-D-G-E-T. I thought GM was the Olympic sponsor, not Rent-A-Wreck. Well, it is comforting to know that for the Maoish forced bus rides, ticket holders are getting a sweet four-star ride to their hay and dirt snow venues. On the upside, they aren't run by Translink.
Mute the music and enjoy the HD time lapse-y goodness of the city of Vancouver. BC Place still looks like hell, even in time lapse. What an embarrassment for the opening ceremonies.
When does VANOC shut down this awesome shirt from BustedTees? "It's not just you, Vancouver, we haven't cared for a long time."
Dear CTV, I don't believe. In fact I believe your ads asking us to do so are terrible. It's about sport right? The closer we get to the games the less we see the actual stars of the show. What gives? Even after ditching that smug bore of a voice in Donald Sutherland, you replace them with Bill "Helmet Hair" Good and the guy who lit the rings in Richmond? I'm sure hearing Tamara Taggert saying, "It's going to be the BEST" really grabs people, but take a lesson from what gets people more pumped and see how to do an Olympic sporting event ad:
Of course, you could see it on the BBC and 2010 is about an animated Inuit hockey goalie/snowboarder/skeleton riding dude "curl fighting" a Grizzly bear. Which is just plain rad. I most definitely believe this.
That is all.
Kat Dennings is in Vancouver. T Magazine's Blog writes, "the 23-year-old Dennings (née Litwack) is perhaps the quirkiest, and the most acquired taste. She’s about 5’5″ and alabaster, and her red-carpet pose — hands at the waist, chest out — says both “come hither” and “get lost.”
Here's some behind the scenes photos of Kat Dennings on the set of Daydream Nation, currently filming in Vancouver. And here are some more of her riding a bike.
Hedy Fry discusses simulations. Something I'd rather she didn't discuss. Ever. Especially in the same sentence as the word "job."
"How did we do it? Simple. We made a stimulus package. It had the most features of any package we've ever created—more jobs, more money, more everything. We could have stopped there. We could've said, Hey, that was great. Let's go do something else. But you know what? It wasn't enough. The American people deserve something even better and more revolutionary. So today, we're introducing a new plan. It's called Stimulus 2GS, and it's sleeker than any economic recovery package ever created. It's got bridges, it's got schools, it's got broadband Internet. All that, and it's super easy to use—you can control it from iTunes. Pretty cool, huh?" Christopher Beam and Josh Levin in Slate
Awkward. Sports Illustrated is on to us. Dave Zirin writes about the mood of Vancouver on the 17-day eve of the games.
"When I arrived in Vancouver, the first thing I noticed was the frowns. The International Olympic Committee has leased every sign and billboard in town to broadcast Olympic joy, but they can't purchase people's faces. It's clear that the 2010 Winter Games has made the mood in the bucolic coastal city decidedly overcast. Even the customs police officer checking my passport started grumbling about "$5,000 hockey tickets." Polls released on my first day in Vancouver back up this initial impression. Only 50 percent of residents in British Columbia think the Olympics will be positive and 69 percent said too much money is being spent on the Games."
Ouch. I couldn't really find a picture for dread. So I chose a picture of Leonardo Dicaprio's girlfriend Bar Refaeli on a beach somewhere which is completely un-dreadful. Can't wait to see what she does this year, oh thank you internet for a preview. The infamous Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue comes out February 9th. Just before games time. Am I the only one who is kind of feeling like getting the winter games was kind of a rip job? No beach volleyball? Honestly.
Do you know how to make Apps uncool? Unleash White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, who some have called Mrs. Doubtfire, to make a terrible video about them. And you wonder why people are saying things like this about the administration even after they try to freeze spending, "BREAKING Obama to propose three year freeze on good ideas." or "Obama's proposed 3-year spending freeze "like announcing you’re going on a diet after winning a pie-eating contest." Le Fail?
"Obama obviously should have kept his "health care reform" idea secret until the last possible second, manufactured it in China, and unveiled it using a Power Point deck and a Gap outfit he hasn't washed since 1997."- Ryan Tate, Gawker.
First let me say that I could really use a Nerd Herd guy or Geek Squad person, stat. My whole mac is full. I found the flaw in the back up that is Time Machine. How do you time machine, and clean out your drive? They are at odds from one another, non? When is Mac going to manage your backups for you?
Thankfully NBC's Chuck - a lone post-Conan bright spot on the peacock- is all about Geeks. And last night they added Vancouver's own Kristin Kreuk as a member of the white button down and tie wearing nerds.
(To say nothing of John Casey as Buy More employee subplot of awesome). At least that's what we'll see next week. I trust Chuck producers will continue the pure exploitation and have her changing, and and changing, or fighting, or sexing it up in scenes with Yvonne Strahovski. Perhaps these are the ratings you are looking for. Count me in.
At any rate, count on more Kristin Kreuk in the coming few weeks on Chuck, and here on the The Vancouverite. Which is a quick market correction for the lack of Kristin Kreuk posts on this blog previously. My apologies for the oversight, but to be fair she kind of flies under the radar and is kind of a bore on Smallville.
Previously on The Vancouverite:
Buzz Dump: Chucks with Hot Kristin Kreuk Action (April 27, 2006)
Buzz Dump: Celebrating the 6th Season of Smallville. (September 15, 2006)
Love this scene in Viva Las Vegas. It's like Michael Bay and Megan Fox just made a modern version of this exploitation of Ann-Margret's legs and body in 1964's Viva Las Vegas. The film's tagline is the best, "Elvis is at the wheel but Ann-Margret drives him wild!" We've like Ann-Margret ever since Sal on Mad Men struck out trying to recreate this famous title song for an ad.
Previously on The Vancouverite:
The Original Revolutionary Road (February 9, 2009)
Somehow I missed this in November. But it must be a good Monday, since our first two posts are about wine, and amazing artwork. And more work from Brandever for the just outside of the city winery, Backyard vineyards. (Via The Dieline)
The real question is can a 29-acre winery as part of a new housing development called Pepin Brook in Abbotsford make you drink their wine? You had me at wine, and maybe lost me at Abbotsford. But it looks drinkable.
Blasted Church is kicking 2010 off by revamping their famous wine labels for the first time in 8-years. They still tell the story of how the church came to be - think bang! - but the artwork now "features the magnificently detailed, delightfully quirky artwork of Chris Sickel." The work was done in consultation with the branding geniuses at Brandever.
What fresh hell is this! This post is for my friend Daniel, whose passion for meats, specifically all forms of sausage, (that's what she said) is well known. Here is Germany's finest meat magazine, Beef. It was Urban Daddy who said the magazine was "The Esquire of German Meat Magazines" which begs the question, do they have other meat magazines? I want this in english please.
Watching Hope For Haiti Now telethon (special). I think hearing Beyonce update her Halo lyrics to include the following:
"Haiti, we can see your halo/ You know you're my saving grace," she sang. "You're everything I need and more, it's written all over your face/ Haiti, we can see your halo/ I pray you won't fade away."
Is the reason I mostly loathe celebrities. Can they all just donate a million and we be done with it? It should be the price for them getting TV time. Can we find a better way than this sad song-y entertainer-a-thon to raise money to help them? Honestly. Steven Speilberg has more money than god, and he's answering phones for $25 donations? Well maybe a better way is not the way the Book Warehouse in Yaletown was rolling tonight:
This donation box seems dubious at best. More like a shady tip jar. And yet people looked to be filling it anyway. Don't get me wrong, we need to give, but there simply has to be a better way than this.
PS: Brad Pitt, you look like a homeless man. Donate now. That is all.
Don't worry parents, starting in February, B.C. schools will be teaching your kids the ins and outs (no pun intended) of "sexting." Woo hoo! According to Metro Vancouver, "The lessons aimed at children in grades 7 and 8 use interactive comics and games to convey information about safe texting." Oh to be in grade 7 again with iphones and sexting.
That's what she said. You know, every once and awhile, there is a sentence that encapsulates everything that is good in a few short words. This is one of those. Au Petit Chavignol shows us the way with risotto balls with 36-month old ham for $3. Wowza.
Our Mac overlords have a lot to live up to. If they release a 'tablet' of some sort next week. I mean, if they under deliver on expectations, tablets will be the Obama of technology, yet again. Then again, maybe Jobs will exceed expectations yet again. Time will tell. (Gizmodo)
Admitadly, I'm not very good with math. Squeaked by with a C-, a lot. But I'm having a very hard time understanding the economics and numbers for spending $8.5 million to refurbish some rail lines to operate a glorified bus from Olympic Station to Granville Island for 60-days. It's a 1.8km street car! (Via CTV)
What is this? 1875? Oh, and we've borrowed these quasi buses from Bombardier, who made those awesome torches that keep going out. So we have that going for us. All this is supposed to make us want to make this permanent and expand the program around the city? Are we taking CRAZY pills here?
Cue the Keyboard Playing Pug...
And speaking of the amazingness of the Intertoobs, how about the crash of Lost's Flight 815 in real time, 24 style? Can't wait for the season premiere. Especially if NBC has started doing things clip shows, on The Office tonight. It is par for the course for the network capable of losing hundreds of millions.
Can we just appreciate for 1 minute 15 seconds that the Internet is just pure awesome? I mean, we get shot for shot remakes of the credit sequence to Perfect Strangers, but set in Seattle. Hello! Can somebody please do this in Vancouver, stat. (Via Best Week Ever)
I think that Conan's "crazy expensive" comedy bits are pretty awesome. I mean a Bugatti Veyron, dressed up like a mouse, with the Rolling Stones' “Satisfaction” rocking in the back. I really hope FOX lets him continue this. And sounds like that can happen as early as September since he has settled with NBC for a reported $45 million. Not a bad severance package.
Bobsled Wardrobe malfunctions. Who knew. let's hope for lots of this kind of shenanigans when the games start. And here I thought Bobsled wasn't very funny or potentially sexy.
Dear Translink,
Do you think we could maybe NOT encourage families of flip flop wearing douchebags from using the Canada Line like it was a bath house? This was their ad running full page in most papers today. I will return the favor by riding you sans ticket a few times. Thanks so much, The Vancouverite.
I'm not sure what is more awesome:
1. That Susan Sarandon owns a ping pong club
2. That some models will be playing ping pong
3. That said models will be playing ping pong at Susan Sarandons ping pong club.
4. That said models will be playing ping pong at Susan Sarandons ping pong club to raise money for Haiti.
5. That said models will livestream video from their Haiti Relief Foundraiser event tonight at SPiN New York from 9:30pm-10:30pm.
6. Or, that the humorously named Yaletown restuarant RTL is also doing a dinner for Haiti without ping pong or models. Perhaps it's their new $45 Olympic menu 3-course menu. As if.
The good intentions are good, but can we just stick to the approved channels of fund raising?
(via Gawker)
So, I got this press release today about the carbon offsets for the 2010 Olympics. You see, the games are asking people to make sure Vancouver 2010 is the first carbonless footprint games. And to ensure that happens you can get a free souvenir pin with the purchase of one tonne of carbon offsets. These aren't just any offsets, these are "from the 2010 Legacy Portfolio of high quality carbon credits assembled specifically for the 2010 Winter Games."
Well, I didn't know you could better quality offsets. I hate those bulk ones from Costo, they are so not as tasty as these premium brand offsets. “We have a limited number of Offsetters pins for those people who are making an environmental commitment to the 2010 Winter Games by buying one tonne of carbon offsets,” said James Tansey, CEO and co-founder of Offsetters. “This is just one of the ways we are hoping to engage spectators to help achieve the aspirational goal of a carbon neutral Games.”
So for the stupidly random price of $25 per tonnes (plus $2 shipping) you get this pin. Say what now? Are people taking crazy pills? There are pin collectors around the globe weeping about this pathetic pin. FTW.
For more information about carbon offset stupidity read this.
Saw this makeshift sign by a cheeky marketer at a souvenir stand today. Question: Is this crass exploitation of the situation in Haiti? Or were the shirts actually made in Haiti, and by buying these cheap Canada t-shirts you're helping earthquake victims? Seems like an odd value proposition. Maybe it is both exploitative and true. What would Don Draper do?
It's called Ice Light, designed by German artist Gunda Forster. And Mayor Gregor Robertson lit this one of twenty parts of the $5.95 million art works around Vancouver. We brought in someone from Germany to lay some environmental LED lights on our city hall that look like they just put Christmas lights out? My bad, they flicker like a tacky waterfall every hour starting at dusk. (Vancouver.ca)
Really? That's what we did?
Cheddar fueled mice are kind of awesome too. This Nolan's Cheddar video is downright awesome. Furthermore the mouse is way better at lifting weights than the guy I keep seeing in the gym. What is it with guys spending equal time posing, playing ipods, and lifting weights?
You see that? That's the AMAZING cover of the 2010 Conservative Party calendar. Harper and family recreating the 1969 Beattle's album Abbey Road. Thankfully got it and it is now safely up in our cubicle farm at work much to the chagrin to most others around me. But COME ON, how amazing is this? Who says Stevsie doesn't have a sense of humor and fun?
It seems America rebuffed hope tonight, as Scott Brown, a republican, has won Ted Kennedy's senate seat, eliminating Obama's super-majority. And all we got in Canada today was a ho-hum cabinet shuffle? Ezra Klein notes, "This seems like fairly decisive evidence that the dream can, in fact, die." And Mark Steyn calls it, "The Chowdah Revolution." (Times Online)
On the other hand, just like Mr. Harper let Rona Ambrose out of the proverbial dog house in the moves today, newly crowned Senator Brown started talking about his two available daughters. One is even on American Idol.
Well, I can see why he won, now. So, can we please get rid of Hedy Fry in Vancouver please?
"Who are the ad wizards that decided that the horndogs of America (like your Uncle Grambo) wanted to see a bombshell like Blake Lively dressed up like Bowzer from Sha Na Na? Seriously, someone at Esquire deserves to be fired over this mess of a photoshoot. Bush league, man, bush league. - Mark Graham, Whatevs"
Previously on The Vancouverite:
Praise Be: Blake Lively (January 11, 2009)
Photo of the day: Gossip Girls (March 18, 2009)
The family that beards together, stays together. This is my new favourite picture. That cat looks absolutely terrified. (Awkward Family Photos)
Mark Steyn uncovers something maybe we should have been more aware of prior to Haiti being turned to rubble last week:
Several readers drew my attention to this story about a group of British Columbia high schoolers who chanced to be in Haiti when the earthquake struck. They've been returned safely to Canada, and good for them. But the CP report contains one of the wackiest sentences I've ever read:The group, which arrived in Montreal via military transport, was in Haiti on a mission to set up a goat farm in a town about 45 kilometres outside the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.
Even by the standards of Third World dysfunction, what country is such a basket case that it needs outside help to set up a goat farm? -Mark Steyn, National Review Online.
(Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images)
China is off to a pretty ridiculous 2010. They are hacking into Gmails, promting Google to threaten to pull out of the country, and now this:
"The Hong Kong Daily Apple (translated and summarized in The Telegraph) reports that, though James Cameron's saga of hair sex and perfect CGI breasts was expected to earn 500 million yuan ($73 million) at the Chinese box office, the state-run China Film Group changed its mind and decided to allow only the 3D version of the film in—a de facto ban on general distribution since so few Chinese theaters have 3D equipment....Luckily, China has the most robust pirating economy in the world, so China will still gets its Avatards; they'll just be watching on smaller screens, and James Cameron won't get paid" - Maureen O'Connor, Gawker.
I don't want to be the idiot during a major calamity or anything, but is this the best PSA they could have produced? It's like they one-taked it and didn't have lights. On the other hand, I really think NBC could grab some ratings if they turned this into a reality show starring Bush and Clinton. Despite this, you should donate some cash.
Who knew? Today is Blue Monday, as in the Most Depressing Day of the Year. Huzzah for us! And accordingly, The Lion's Gate Bridge is closed, Ferries aren't working, and the wind is crazy. On the upside I just saw Breakfast Television's Dawn Chubai make a fool of herself doing an outdoor weather report as the wind destroying her umbrella. "The perfect storm of failing our new year’s resolutions, working through debts from the holiday season and the grim weather make us feel horrible." (Globe)
Top ten things at last night's Golden Globe award show:
10. Rickey Gervais drinking pints while hosting and being awesome, like calling Mel Gibson a drunk.
9. NBC was the butt of 1 out of 3 jokes. Awkward.
8. James Cameron's Prince Valiant hair. Can we special effect that out for the Oscars please. PS: It won best picture. Aghhh.
7. Two words: Christina Hendricks.
6. I still can't believe Pacey Whitter is dating Diane Kruger. As if.
5. The Hangover won best comedy/musical picture. And Mike Tyson was there. Awesome.
4. Jeff Bridges is still the dude. And he abides.
3. That Glee beat 30 Rock for best comedy show. Maybe because it's not as funny anymore.
2. Robert Downey Jr's acceptance speech
1. Anna Paquin's dress. (see above) Thankfully there was a cameraman dedicated to the True Blood stars chestal area. Close 2nd to Olivia Wilde, Marion Cotillard, and Kate Winslet.
Alex Blagg owns Danny Masterson who is sooooooo bummed about Haiti. "I knowwww, it's like uggghhhhh. Shut up and do something."
Just in time for the world to see, it's nice to see that the City of Vnacouver is now literally being powered by our own poop. The press is charmingly calling this "sewage-to-heat" but the $30 million power centre is really just harassing the power of our own crap. And right under the Cambie Street bridge. Is it safe to assume we can rename Olympic Village, "Shit Village" now? Well played Vancouver. (Via Vancouver Sun)
Mayor Gregor Robertson was unavailable for comment as he was busy making, er, energy. Yeah, that's it. So green!
How meta, Jimmy Kimmel goes on Jay Leno show, eviscerates him publicly, uproarious laughter ensues. Seems to be that this late night war is really just the "New Coke" of ratings ponzi schemes. Somehow I think in the end, NBC isn't that smart, and will lose. Can't wait to watch Conan on Fox.
Wes Anderson accepts his Special Filmmaking Achievement Award from the National Board of Review in stop motion form. So good.
I read about this New Years, but this really puts it into context. Beyonce is a money grubbing idiotarian as the story about her $2 million payday for a private show for Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's kid:
"According to Forbes, she and Jay Z made $122 million last year. Without that show it would have been 120 million, so apparently she just did it to tell the world to go fuck itself. Maybe she can use that 2 million to round up and eat the last few pandas, or fill an oil tanker with ink and dump it into the ocean." - What Would Tyler Durden Do
Burn.
This interview with Patton Oswalt on the whole Jay Leno/Conan O'Brien shamozzle. And Everyone should start watching Conan every single night now that he's called NBC out on their mismanagement. Especially after this statement:
"So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more."
It's the 1996 TV movie, The Late Shift, all over again, and Jay is still the unlikeable one. The Tag line was, "Two heads fighting for the late night crown - One head's gotta roll." Some things never change.
Okay Vancouver 2010, next time we get the Olympics and stuff, can we get really cool sponsors that will cover our Canada Lines and buildings in lingerie ads. After seeing the 15th Bell HD TV billboard today on the Canada line, I wished Armani was crazy enough to be advertising here with the new Megan Fox campaign. (More at Ministry of Gossip) PS: I just love Armani's creative thinking behind the campaign, "Megan is young and sexy and has a lot of spirit." Simple.
Seriously, where is the official lingerie of 2010 when you are at the Bay? Is it near the mittens or the plush dolls? Am I the only one that wants to see more shameless advertising and proof that capitalism will deliver us from evil?
Full disclosure: This is a shameless attempt to make Megan Fox relevant to Vancouver. Deal with that.
Previously on The Vancouverite:
Megan Fox Takes A Dip in Vancouver
I really enjoy the spin coming from VANOC VP of Sport Tim Gayda who told reporters, "In terms of having enough snow, even if this weather stayed around, we do have it. Right now we are very confident in the pack we have, that we will be able to produce a great field of play."
To which he followed up with this bit of amazing spin:
"Right now we have all the snow that we need on the competition area," said Gayda. "The nice thing about artificial snow is it's more resilient and actually stands up better to this kind of weather."
Of course it is better. At least we'll all be dry in BC Place for the dreadful opening ceremonies, right? Exit Question: What do think mascot Quatchi smells like whe he gets wet?
(Via The Star)
Is it just me or does a non-hunger strike really have nothing to do with homelessness? Vancouver's 2nd most annoying Member of Parliament is taking her turn in a week-long hunger strike to raise awareness for homelessness in the 2010 Homelessness Hunger Strike Relay. And by hunger strike they mean liquids. So, you mean she's on a diet for homelessness. Good for her. She should be thanking Harper for giving her the time off.
And then there was this:
While Davies traditionally uses the media and the microphone in her criticism of Prime Minister Stephen Harper or B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, the would-be wooden paddle in her hand had her fantasizing Sunday about some corporal punishment for those high-powered politicians."I feel like I should be looking for Gordon Campbell or Stephen Harper with this spoon," joked Davies, as she wielded the wooden weapon with a tongue-in-cheek grin on her face. "It's so tempting."
Um, gross.
And this might be the only thing that bothers me about Harper suspending parliament.
We recently had the opportunity to interview up and coming actress, Aristotle reading, Lambada dancing girl next door Christine Solomon. Obviously we subjected her to the full Vancouverite Interview treatment, without any complaints. Check it:
The Vancouverite: Who is Christine Solomon? And why in god’s name did you want to be interviewed by The Vancouverite?
Cristine Solomon: Well, why not! And who wouldn't want to get interviewed by the Vancouverite. You guys rock! I agreed to be featured in the Vancouverite because you guys are exceptionally dedicated to your craft and my latest Egyptian film, Heliopolis, happens to have its world premiere in Vancouver.I am a Canadian Egyptian actress who happens to have gotten her first big break in Egypt.
TV: What are three things people should know about you, but that they probably don’t.
CS: I love chocolates! I wear glasses. And I sword fight as a hobby!
TV: Sword fight. That's what she said. Anyway, you divide your time between Montreal, LA, and Cairo, what’s that like? And what are your essential travel tips, plane reading lists?
CS: It’s a lot of fun! I very much enjoy traveling and working abroad. The difficult part of it all is that you get to miss your loved ones. As for my essential travel tips; I would say “less is more!" We tend to take our whole life with us when we travel. The key is to minimize. I can make 3 different outfits with a simple black skirt, pants or jeans. I learned how to mix and match and this is all thanks to my personal stylist. She taught me a lot. I enjoy reading short books on the plane. For example, Aristotle's Poetics is a very interesting one. A book that can make me think so I can get distracted on the plane. Have I mentioned that I have a fear of flying?!
Continue reading "The Vancouverite Interview: Actress Christine Solomon" »
Check out my new article over at Scout Magazine on the long overdue Vokapocalypse. Special thanks to editor Andrew Morrison who took my latest cocktail napkin ramblings and helped turn them into something coherent.
"At my local government liquor distribution branch, there are currently sixty-nine types of vodka in stock. Sixty-nine, and that is just in the 750ml bottle variety. That’s enough to make Stalin spit off his moustache. One can get everything from cheap and blinding plonk to new and pricy brands that defy the liquor’s peasant rep, like the $68.99 bottle of U’luvka from Poland."
My Dad sent me this link today with the note, "Holy Crap, and I have been eating stuff like this for years." It was an article in The Vancouver Sun about the perils of eating ethnic food. Nice to see that print journalism is kicking off 2010 by ruining eating out and slamming ethnic food. Real nice.
I find it interesting that in an article about ethnic food, and particularly one bashing things like butter chicken, the paper chose to look into White Spot's version which, "is 1,779 calories -- almost a whole day's worth of calories. And it contains 2,249 milligrams of sodium--also almost a day's worth." Is it still ethnic food when you eat it at White Spot?
Thanks Vancouver Sun, you jerks.
Finally. This is the reason they invented Blu-Ray isn't it. Thank the gods. Cliffhanger coming on January 12. 2010 is officially more awesomer. Featuring Stallone commentary. YES! Who's with me?
I like that the girls who invented the McNuggetini are still making more savory creations with food and booze. Alie and Georgia's latest creation is The Bloody Bacon & Cheese. it's tomato soup with vodka. And bacon rim and grilled cheese sandwich garnish. Is it too early for one of these? Yummers.
Absolutely have got to get this Still Life Fruit Bowl. Delicious. (Via Eat Me Daily)
I'm fairly certain that if Alec Baldwin was on Breakfast Television he wouldn't be trying to pick up like he does at CNBC. That's just how Jack Donaghy rolls, at least according to Gawker.
So today's hot topic: Where is Vancouver's morning Michelle Caruso-Cabrera? I mean really. I know the only people who watch this are shut ins, and those annoying people who like to tell you they don't watch TV and don't have cable. Seriously City TV would it kill you to hire some news babes? Really? Case in point none of the personalities working on the show even have wiki entries. Translation: nobody cares. And I know I'm late to the party but did we have to scare Tasha Chui to like Siberia (read: radio in Red Deer?)
And ladies, don't email me to say what beefcakes you think Riaz Meghji, Mark Docherty, Greg Harper, and Thor Diakow are because I will know that you are lying about it, or drunk. Get it done CityTV.
Family Guy makes a good parody of this Juicy Fruit ad in the new dvd movie Something, Something, Something DarkSide. There sure is a lot of gum sniffing in this ad, and the music track is legen...wait for it...dary. Thanks Barney Stinson. If Winter sports aren't your thing, of course Wrigley's made a Summer version of water skiing. Genius. They should just play these again.
Okay people, it's the first real work day of the year in the sweatshops today. Good luck. I noticed that as usual there were car accidents everywhere this morning, nice work Vancouver. Glad to see we didn't have any resolutions about becoming better drivers when it is raining. Thank god it didn't snow. Oh, and to the creepy guy I saw at the gym this morning who spent equal time rolling around on the ground pretending he was doing yoga and looking at himself in the mirror, this is for you.
Just in case you have a case of the Mondays, here is some inspiration. (Via FFFFound!)
Better late than never, I finally saw Avatar. Ho hum, that's three hours I'll never get back. Mostly, I'm not all that convinced that James Cameron proved 3-D technology with Avatar. I mean it was fine, but I wasn't picking my chin up from the floor or anything. He did prove he can snag over a billion at the box office again.
And with anything Cameron its mostly his propensity to go to full Lucasian and make special effects to sub for any actual storytelling needed. Don't get me wrong, he can direct and make things look awesome, but hey look at the pretty light jellyfish that aren't fish. He just can't write. Or edit. Two hours and forty minutes? Here's the set up:
"Sully is sent in mufti, like a futuristic Lawrence of Arabia, to further the schemes of the evil corporate nature-rapists desperate to obtain the precious mineral "unobtainium" (no, really)," writes Jonah Goldberg. "Jake inevitably goes native, embraces the eco-faith of Pandora's Na'Vi inhabitants and their tree goddess, the "all mother," and rallies the Pandoran aborigines (not to mention the Pandoran ecosystem itself) against the evil forces of a thinly veiled 22nd century combine of Blackwater and Halliburton."
But here are some things that really bothered me:
1. Unobtainium. 'Nough said.
2. Dear Mr. Cameron fire whoever told you that the font you picked for the subtitles looked cool was pranking you. It wasn't cool. Nor was the title reveal at the end. Why was it green? I don't understand.
3. So how come in like 150 years the earthlings seemed to have forgotten about air superiority and bombing from like 70,000 feet and stuff?
4. If earth was all barren, what was with all the jungle wars the marines kept talking about?
5. Three words: Dances with Smurfs
6. Nice to see Cameron repeat ridiculousness not seen since maybe Matrix 2 with the crazy chanting and prayer circle stuff.
7.Now that it has past billion dollars at the box office, are we just going back to nuke the blue people in the sequel this time or what?
On the plus side:
1. In 150 years people still smoke cigarettes. Awesome.
2. No Ewoks. So you got that going for you.
3. Zoe Saldana still hot, even as blue cat-like creature.
Good morning Vancouver. Welcome back. Let's start 2010 off with a bang. You really can't imagine what it is like to have Hedy "Foot in Mouth" Fry as your representative in Parliament. It's embarrassing. And here she is starting 2010 off with her first dead tree direct mailer of the year, a convenient waste of paper with a poorly put together black and white 2010 calendar. Thankfully not of the bikini variety. iIn my building I saw most of them in the recycling bin already (yay green!), because honestly who would want to use the ugliest calendar known to man?
Inside she writes:
"2010 is indeed a very special year for Vancouver as we play a lead role on the international stage; as hosts of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The world will see a remarkable city, with its warts and its beauty."
Yes, because my first thought of our city immediately makes me first think of warts, such a typical statement from my political representative to say something stupid to kick the year off right. 2010 is off to a great start.
Photo: Reuters
A new year, and another French car burning celebration. Actually the irrepressible and lovable French burned a total of 1,137 cars last night to ring in the new year. "The number of vehicles torched was only 10 short of the record 1,147 burned this time last year, even though the Interior Ministry mobilized 45,000 police during the night -- 10,000 more than 12 months ago." And in Vancouver I don't know if we burned any cars at all last night. Shame on us. Well, at least we were classier than the Brits.
In a related, and little known fact, this previous post includes an image which is the number one Google Image search result for "car burning France." Great way to kick off the year.
Previously on The Vancouverite:
New Years, French Style (Jan 2, 2008)
Quotes of the day: Car Burning & Prediction Edition (Jan 3, 2009)
The source for your daily double shot of hyper caffeinated snark-ridden commentary, news, events, and trashy gossip about Vancouver.
Notes on the long overdue "Vodkapocalypse" - January 8, 2010
"...Gets my nod of approval as a real Vancouverite" - [Dock Currie, Metro Vancouver]
"...one of the online tastemakers driving buzz in Canada" - [Misty Harris, CanWest News Service]
"Best Way To Stay Humble" - [Georgia Straight]
Send your tips, news, ideas, & complaints here:
vancouverite@thevancouverite.com
Editor:
Jackson Murphy
"Not So" Contributing Editors:
Luke McCullum and Josee Thibault
Art Direction:
Graham MacInnes
Published by:
The Vancouverite © 2005 - 2010.
Media
Pop Candy
Upcoming (Van Events)
Cinematical
TV Squad
The Shotgun
Inkless Wells
Reason "Hit And Run"
Bourque Newswatch
Ad Rants
News 1130
24 Hours
CKNW AM 980
Vancouver Sun
Vancouver Magazine
Georgia Straight
The Province
Recommended Goodness
Egotastic
Design Observer
Exquisitely Bored in Nacogdoches
Pajamas Media
Grid Skipper
The Gutter
Cool Hunting
Golden Fiddle
Un-Vancouver
US Weekly
Defamer
Seattlest
Gothamist
Gawker
Vancouver Blogs
Vancity Allie
Bloated Penguin
Mostly Lisa
Vancity Buzz
Julia Pelish Photography News
Monica Hamburg
Raincoaster
Gus's Place
Purrrlescence
John Bollwitt
Meg Fowler
Jonathon Narvey
Vancouver Events
Industrial Brand Creative
Gus Greeper
Miss 604
Mike Browne
VanRamblings
Metroblogging Vancouver
Jak's View From Van
Immutably Me
Kitsilano.ca
Public Eye Online
Urban Vancouver
Beyond Robson
Darren Barefoot
Breebop
Vancouver Food & Drinks
Full Bodied
Urban Mixer
Urban Diner
Vancouver's CityFood
Vanvouver Coffee
Vancouver Gossip
Rant Vancouver
Joy's Journal
Haute Gossip
Chasing Vancouver
Lainey's Entertainment Update
Hollywood North Report
Craigslist
Vancouver Sports
Canucks Hockey Blog
Notes From The Nat
Orland Kurtenblog
Vancouver Style & Cool
BOOOOOOOM!
The Conveyor Belt
The Fabrika
Tourfilter Vancouver
Vancouver Sweetspot
Vanmega
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Canada License.
