I'm lovin' it! (tm)

Another Bob Story!

I travel a great deal for my work. Being a penny-pinching little freak, I take advantage of every discount and possibility for getting something for myself. When I received a letter from the frequent flyer program of US Air, I hopped to attention. It seemed that I had amassed a healthy number of miles (some 10k, as I recall) which was not enough to do anything with flight-wise, but I could convert them into magazine subs.

So, I now take GQ, Food and Wine, Jane(I have no idea, but it's oddly entertaining) and a couple more. The best of the deals, however was a year of Variety, the daily "WSJ" of the entertainment industry. Since I'm in a state East of the Mississippi, I receive the version from Gotham. It doesn't make a great deal of difference where one's version is printed, because I think the LA version is identical. My one complaint is because it is a daily newspaper, it arrives about a week after the press-date, and I don't always get a full week's copies. In fact, I think I get about 3 of the 5. I would bitch if I had paid for it, but since it's technically free (versus paying $260/year) I aint complaining.

Funny thing--I might subscribe to it again if the opportunity arises. It's that entertaining! Plus, I learn all sorts of newsy shit that doesn't appear elsewhere. For instance, the news that Jack Valenti had made plans to retire and had appointed Dan Glickman to replace him.

What do you mean that you don't know who Jack Valenti is? For the past 40+ years, he's been that little white-haired man that strolls out at the Oscars(tm) and hands out an award for something. He's the guy that decided that Fahrenheit 9/11 would be rated R instead of PG-13. Hell, he's the guy that dreamed up the whole rating system for films in the first place. In short, this diminutive man is the most feared man in the industry.

Awesome job, being CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America

Greatest thing about the Daily Variety is their unwavering language. They have never adapted their "Old Style" of creating euphemisms for common words. Thus, CBS becomes "Eye", NBC, Peacock, The New York Times "Gray Lady" and so on.

The copy that came in today (July 6) headlines "BLISSED OUT IN SPIDEY LAND," announcing that Spiderman 2 had put a "$180 mil spin on the B.O Record book." In other words, Spiderman 2 made $180M for it's 6-day opening week, knocking Mission: Impossible 2 out of the record books (at a paltry $92M) If you look at 4 day openings, Matrix reloaded still is #1 with $134M (vs. SM2's $116M) In comparison with something of "worth," Fahrenheit 9/11 was shown on 1725 screens over the weekend, earning $12,174 per engagement for a total of $21M that weekend.

Yeah, so I'm a geek. Get over it.

Boo'ful Deeetroit

Picture Olympia Dukakis sitting on a bench, surrounded by her girlfriends spouting off about how transplant organs are carried:

"In beer coolers! Those doctors pull out their six-pack, throw in some dry ice and a heart and then hop on a plane!"

*Shrug* In a generic sense, that's what I do, only it's not dry ice and it's rarely glamorous. It is, however enjoyable, and quenches my wunderlust that was so firmly planted in Hawaii. As previously mentioned, the most recent trip was to Detroit.

I have a couple of general comments about this city, the first being 'don't travel to the city centre.' I fear that everything you've ever heard about it is true. Thousands of vacant buildings, and a very pretty core that is guarded by high fences and concertina wire. The time I stayed in downtown Detroit, I had a high room at the Mariott Renaissance Center. As I previously mentioned, the pretty part of the city is well secured, and the Mariott is no exception. The floor-level lobby is an empty room with a bank of elevators and various armed guards for decoration.

I knew I had made a bad decision about staying downtown.

Perhaps the armed guards and having my baggage inspected had something to do with the throngs of men and women fleeting through on their way to a function that the mayor was having. I have to say seeing a person entering a hotel with a carry-on bag and a beer cooler is mighty suspicious. I was searched. I was grunted at. I found my way to the lobby with no assistance, thank you.

Finally, waiting in the queue to check in. It's a short line, and it appears to be inhabited mostly by people attending the mayor's shindig. I can tell that they are attending because of a comment made by the caucasian couple ahead of me:
"People are so dressed up! I wonder what's going on?"
"It's certainly not an ASPCA meeting"
I'd have to say they it the nail on hte head. The couple ahead of myself comprised the sole caucasian population to be seen. everyone else was very black, dripping in fur, and/or something shiny. It was a beautiful sight.

More later; work beckons.

Coming up next on the Chimpy & Crashcart Show

Here's the latest "Prezidint Bring em on" thing that has me irked. Granted, it's a small thing, but I'm that way about 'stupid and proud of it' people

So I read his proclamation:

By the authority vested in me as President blah, blah, blah, and in honor and tribute to the memory of Ronald Reagan, it is hereby ordered that the flag of the United States shall be displayed at full-staff blah, blah, blah, beginning July 3, 2004

So, why didn't he think of that when he wrote the initial order? He can't count all the way to 30? Even still, it doesn't exactly take a brain surgeon to figure that if you do something for a month starting on June 5, that it will be in effect on July 4.

However....

The thing that really kills me is he waited until the last possible moment to post the order. He didn't realize that July 3rd would find many of his government offices, ships at sea, etc. occupied by people suoersizing their 3-day weekends. (Okay, maybe not the ships at sea) A quick drive about town confirmed that indeed, all of the janitors at public buildings had indeed gone home for the night before the news got out.

So, summing it up, I wouldn't be surprised to find a flag at half-staff...the way it's SUPPOSED to be, dorkus!

Finally, when you step into the polling booth in November, remember ABW (anyone but dubya)