polaroids <3 my sister is way cuter.
Ever since Avatar came out, all my movie buff friends said ‘oh the story is cliche’. Well, I saw it last night in IMAX 3D and it awesome. I seriously wish I was on shrooms. I mean, I was dead sober and it still brought the lols.
But back to the story. Avatar wasn’t original? OK..tell me what is. Aside from horrendous indie movies that are way too pretentious anyways, almost 90% of movies loosely follow the same tried and true formula - Joseph Campbell’s ‘monomyth’
Take a look Harry Potter, Star Wars, any sports movie where the mediocre player has to prove himself to his team, any race movie where the white kid gains acceptance with the minorities through a common hobby (usually dancing… oh snaps that’s racist)
… hell, even Jesus. Take a look at Jesus. Protagonist going into an unknown world where people don’t accept him initially. Goes through trials and tribulation and self sacrifice until the people trust him. Sacrifices to save the world.
Yes I said it. Jesus is a Na’vi.
The following is 17 stages of the monomyth taken directly from wiki - more detail if you wanna read more on it. Most movies follow most if not all the stages in sequence (thanks jiaming!)
Departure
The hero starts off in a mundane situation of normality from which some information is received that acts as a call to head off into the unknown.
Often when the call is given, the future hero refuses to heed it. This may be from a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in his or her current circumstances.
Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his or her guide and magical helper appears, or becomes known. More often than not, this supernatural mentor will present the hero with one or more talismans or artifacts that will aid them later in their quest.
This is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known.
The belly of the whale represents the final separation from the hero’s known world and self. By entering this stage, the person shows willingness to undergo a metamorphosis.
First Person Tetris!
Click link for game :D
I sorta suck at first person shooter games but this is pretty funnnn.
[pic credit: yelp]
Lunch in SanMo has to be some level of personal hell. The traffic. The parking. The sloooooow service. The ladies who walk their dogs at 2pm. The leisurely pace they eat their lunch…no rushing back to the office. Who’s your sugar daddy and can I get some of that?
Located where Riva used to be off 2nd and Wilshire, Fraiche’s menu is focused on rustic french and italian dishes with seasonal ingredients. The decor is still pretty much the same. It’s private, romantic, lots of candles and wide windows.
For the app we decided to share the foie gras terrine. I did something entirely out of character and went with the pork belly salad as my main and he got the burger. The terrine came in two nice size pieces with a fig puree and orange gelee. Very tasty when you eat it all together. Smooth.
The pork belly salad is literally two big slabs of what looks like mutant bacon over wild arugula and frisee. It was crunchy, tender, full of flavor not to mention thick. Unfortunately, I don’t like salads so I just ended up eating both slabs of meat and gorging on Eli’s fries and bread.
His burger was pretty tasty. He complained later that it was too flavorful. How can anything be too flavorful?! Picky.
With the 40% off coupon that the bf graciously sent us, our total came out around 31 bucks before tip. Such a steal.
Now I’m just waiting for some rich dude to snatch me up so I can shop and eat here at regular price. Every day.
Fraiche
312 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-7482
I haven’t been to a self serve kbbq place in a long time…. ever since I discovered Road to Seoul it was over. I hate having to get up and get my own meats and stuff. No. These boots are not made for walking.
Things you should be aware of:
1. This is not K Town. This is the outskirts of Hollywood. I think it’s beyond the Santa Monica/La Brea tranny convention but its not K Town.
2. Parking is a bitch. Choeng Wun Korean BBQ is located in a strip mall with a liquor store, a water refill company, and tons of other crap. 67% of the spots are 10 minutes only. FML. Don’t even think about street parking. None.
3. 100% self serve. From getting your utensils to getting your own water. The meat selection is good - tripe, innards, marinated ribs, brisket, pork belly, the usual. They have a good banchan section, a sauce station, rice, veggie area. I was starving so I filled up on fried rice. Rookie mistake. :(
4. Ignore the B rating. I know it’s sorta unnerving when you’re piling up plates and plates of raw meat. If you’re that worried, just make sure you don’t undercook your meats. The grill is sorta janky but hella strong. Twice I thought it was going to burn my face off.
5. It’s really good. The marinated ribs and bulgogi was amazing. Mmmm. All you can eat bbq is like the devil’s meal for lunch. I’m sure it was 10 times over my calorie intake.
All in all, given that its the same price (actually I think its the same - 16 bucks AYCE) as Road to Seoul, I’ll definitely choose the other place. The food is good here but I’d only come back if someone else drove me. You know how I panic over parking :(
Choeng Wun Korean BBQ
944 N Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 465-7590
Tons of effin spoilers.
I would like Daybreakers more if it made any sort of sense (though it had nonstop lols). I know. It’s a fantasy sci fi thriller of some sort not to be taken too seriously. But given the lengths they went through to create a sense of realism (‘blood’ coffee cart, vampire ads, underground tunnels, etc), come on…wtf with the glaring plot holes and nonsensical decisions.
After a 10 minute montage of what the now majority vampire world is like (organized, clean, high tech), we meet Edward (Ethan Hawke) who is a bitch assed, emotional, impulsive, pretentious blood doctor that sympathizes with the humans. He refuses to drink human blood and is still bitter about being ‘forced’ to turn into a vampire. Pansy. I guess he would have rather went into hiding with the other 10 humans in the world snacking on randoms leaves and bread and fearing for his life… you know. Instead of having a job, maintaining regular life, living forever and living in a pimp ass condo.
That sorta sets the tone for the rest of the movie. You get ZERO reason on why human society was so great and why it deserves to be jump-started? Obviously humans were not strong enough to survive so let nature take it’s course. What is the incentive? What is the motivation? Why is Ethan Hawke so pissed off? It’s like siding with the good guys on the sheer fact that they are the ‘good guys.’
As a result of the movie plot not being thought out, their protagonist’s ‘plan’ was stupid ridiculous. Upon finding the ‘cure’ for vampirism - which was burning in the sun and then getting wet (WTF) - he realized that any vampire that bites a former vamp is also going to turn into human. His brilliant plan was to allow the vampires to bite reformed vamps and turn human and then other vamps biting the reformed vamp and so on spreading a worldwide epidemic.
Right.
Did he realize that his friend already found a blood substitute for human blood and that maybe vampires and humans can coexist? What is the point of turning everyone back into a human? Do you know how much it takes to rebuild a society? How were they going to grow food all of a sudden? How did he think the humans were going to survive even without the vampire aspect? Desperate times would have called for barbaric needs and silly humans would have fought amoung themselves in name of survival.
And…. what about those remaining creatures that lived under the subway? Good luck humans. (or hello sequel?)
If he was smart, he should have laid out a 10 year plan. Keep the smart vamps. The smart humans should have sold the retarded humans and let the vamps farm them for blood in exchange for protection.
*head explodes* :-/
Best fails of 2009.
via (Geekologie + CollegeHumor.)
and BONUS! Flip Book Super Mario Jesus
[Mmm. FO soup pic from Lien P]
Sorry Thomas Keller. I have to say it. Bouchon Beverly Hills has a lot of aging hookers (funny. i was talking to my boss and he thought i said ASIAN hookers. Nope. Aging.) I mean, it’s not TK’s fault or anything. I just didn’t know hookers were so up on game. Here’s a how to guide on blowjobs, watch out for cops and here’s a Michelin guide. Say whatttt?
Bouchon LA is definitely great for older people watching. Prostitutes aside, the crowd is the creme de la creme of upper BH. Old money. With that said, the best game to play here is, “Whose cheating on their wives? Whose on prescription meds?” Answer: All.
Came here two weeks ago maybe a little bit after it opened. Hopefully reservations are a little more lax by now. We had to settle for a 9PM ressie for a weekday AND didn’t get seated till 9:30. Ouch.
We started with the French onion soup, salmon rilette, and escargot. He didn’t like the soup too much. I thought it was good. It’s a bit lighter than other places, it’s not as thick yet very flavorful. Probably the best french onion soup I’ve ever had. Other places load it up so much, it’s like eating thick soggy bread. Ew. The escargot was the special of the night and it was delicious! Perfectly cooked with garlic and herbs topped with puff pastry.. added a nice texture/element to your otherwise normal escargot dish.
The salmon rillette was cute. It came in a glass jar that they open for you. It was so fresh and a bit fatty/greasy but tasty. It was way too much between two people…I could have went through five of those bread plates. :(
For our mains, he got the steak frites and I got the roasted chicken. I think both were average. The steak was cooked perfectly but lacked any special flavor. The fries were OK considering people rave about them. My chicken was good. The skin was crispy and meat was moist. Sitting on top of shallots and fingerling potatos, I couldn’t help but find the flavors a bit underwhelming. Ended with creme brulee which was sorta average also.
Service was impeccable and for all the food we got the bill was a bit under 180 tax and tip included. Not bad. Saves us a drive to Napa :D
Bouchon
235 N Canon Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 271-9910
Newest favorite fashion obsession next to Trang from Behind the Seams
Julia Monson - It’s pure crack.
Improv Everywhere + GueriLA is having another ‘event’. No Pants Day 2010!
Details:
WHAT: 2nd Annual No Pants Metro Ride
WHEN: Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at 2:00 PM
WHERE: Metro System
BRING: $5 for Metro Day Pass, pants you can easily take off, something in which to keep them
Hello Los Angeles and welcome to the 2nd Annual No Pants Train Ride!
This mission is pretty self-explanatory: we ride the subway just as anyone would on any given normal day, just without pants. (Note that this is NO PANTS, not NO UNDERWEAR day. Wouldn’t want anyone arrested for indecent exposure!)
The main train ride will begin with the 2:22PM Westbound Red Line at Union Station. If your birthday is between July 1st and and September 30th, board this train. If your birthday is between April 1st and June 30th, board the train that leaves the Civic Center at 2:24pm. If the month of your birthday is between October 1st and December 31st, board the train at Pershing Square at 2:25pm or if it’s between January 1st and March 31st, board at the Metro Center at 2:27pm. We will disembark at Hollywood and Highland, and take it from there.
In list format:
Range in which your birthday falls - Board at this station - Train Leaves Station
July-September - Union Station - 2:22pm
April-June - 1st St./Civic Center - 2:24pm
October December - 5th St./Pershing Square - 2:25pm
January-March - 7th St./Metro Center - 2:27pm
We have provided a link to the official dossier below. We STRONGLY URGE you to take a look at it for all the important details (including info about the post-mission debriefing). Got any more questions? Ask Agent Ooh-Kla (message at facebook.com/leocgonzalez) or our sometimes-fearless leader Agent A (la.agent.a@gmail.com).
WHAT: 2nd Annual No Pants Metro Ride
WHEN: Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at 2:00 PM
WHERE: Metro System
BRING: $5 for Metro Day Pass, pants you can easily take off, something in which to keep them
Some can say that being an escort is infinitely harder than a prostitute. An escort is a paid friend. Your trainer, your therapist. You must have something that keeps bringing them back. Cheating is not about sex. You think you’re here for the sex. It’s a cover up. The sex is a mask, a blanket for the freedom, the freedom to be yourself. Even in simple sex transactions, its the freedom to act out your fantasies. Fuck out whatever guilt, sadistic desire you have. Fuck out your anger, take out your frustrations on someone other than your wife. For a brief moment. You can pretend someone really cares.
Cheating is a beautifully selfish desire. More emotional than physical. A cry for help, a bandaid to help fill up what’s empty inside. It’s the feeling of being pursued again. It’s feeling beautiful, wanted. Again.
I used to be important. My wife used to dance under the stars with me. I hate my job. The economy is crumbling. I’m not sure I like my kids.
Pretend for 2 hours that I’m still in control of my life.
In The Girlfriend Experience by Steven Soderberg, we see Chelsea (Sasha Grey), a high end escort, going through the motions. She’s subtle. She’s never intrusive but she’s never cold. She plays to whatever these men want. It’s not ridiculous like other movies. She’s not baring whips or dressing up as a cowgirl. It’s simple yet in many ways so much more intricate and complex than simple donning a schoolgirl outfit. One of her clients have been seeing her for 2 years. 2 years. If she wasn’t being paid, this would have been called a real affair. They are paying her to be someone normal, a supportive girlfriend. A girl friend if you will. A supporting shoulder, something that their wives and children have long neglected at home. Someone they have dinner with and go to art galleries. Someone to make them feel alive again. Sex is just an extra.
There’s no do-overs in life. There’s no second chances. But with money, you can pay the price for a moment of What Ifs. No matter how fleeting.
The Girlfriend Experience is simple. It’s stark. It’s bleak. It’s not a Cinderella story. It’s not a feel good movie. There’s no rising from the ashes or a girl regretting her choices in life. There’s no life lesson to be learned here.
Chelsea: Sometimes clients think they want the real you, but at the end of the day, they say they don’t. They want what… they want what you want to be. They want you to be something else. They don’t want you to be yourself.
Interviewer: Suppose I’m that rare client that really wants to…
Chelsea: If they wanted you to be yourself, they wouldn’t be paying you.
Thanks for the love ‘09! You’ve been one heck of an incredible year.
10. Fine Dining/Cheap Dining - Some time two years ago, I thought that 80 bucks for 2 at dinner was a luxury. This year, 80 bucks for 2 equals = wow. what a cheap meal. I went from thinking 16 bucks for an entree was pricey to not even flinching at a 30 price tag for two bites of an appetizer. Life sure has changed, Torrance. Yet somewhere in my suburban heart and my white trash roots (yes, I’m aware I’m not white), I still crave Taco Bell and vienna sausages and can’t resist a slim jim at the gas station. *sigh* On a bright note, I’m a pretty good cook now. I’m humble. Can you tell?
9. NY Mag - Are you freakin serious? Grub Street, Daily Intel, The Cut? You want word on the Voltaggio Brother’s new venture, need to know if Bloomberg’s staffer received bonuses this year and read a recap of Gossip Girl on one site? NY Mag. You are God.
8. Gossip Girl - A look in the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite. Serena Van Der Woodsen is my fashion god and idol. Art, politics, pop culture references, fashion, respect from NY Mag*, heightened reality? Here’s to the best teenage drama TVs ever seen.
7. Family - As much as I like to complain, I owe who I am today to them. Yes, through bouts of predictable disappointment, lack of values, bald faced lies and bribery, I’m sort of an icebox robot that has no emotions or compassion but on the bright side, I’m practical, rational and direct. It’s like I have a penis! But no matter what, they are always here to support my decisions no matter how ridiculous. And you all know I’m not the greatest decision maker. I love you guys.
