Sunday, November 30, 2008

Fun at the Santa Claus Parade

Today my folks and I went to check out the Santa Claus Parade that we have here every year around this time.

The weather definitely felt like December, I decided to wear a short coat at the advice of my mom, and boy was I sorry.

Half way through the parade I was freezing!. So my mom went back to get a longer coat and draped it over me making the cold just bearable enough to make it to the end (one of the many advantages of having a parade right on your street ).

I don't usually make it a habit to go to things like this anymore, but I made an exception this year because a friend of mine was in the parade.

Knowing someone in the parade somehow made it more fun. I enjoyed watching her walking along and waving to everyone.

It was heartwarming to see all the little kids with excitement on their faces waiting for Santa Claus. Reminded me of myself at that age.

Perhaps due to all the excitement involved they didn't seem to mind the cold as much as the adults.

Here are some photos I took from the event, which was a real challenge since in order to take them, I couldn't wear my gloves.

But in the end I guess it was worth it (the pics turned out pretty well, thanks to a nice gentleman who let me stand right near the curb of the side walk).


I get cold just looking at these poor guys

No parade can be complete without a random giant cake *lol*

One of many musical marching bands I love these uniforms :)

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Frank interview with Evan Rachel Wood

She wafts into the hotel suite as if carried in on a breeze of Chanel No 5. The hair, once the tousled blonde mane of a delinquent Valley girl, is sculpted into an elegant auburn up-do, the powder-white complexion offset by a gash of deep red lipstick. She smoulders seductively in a pair of vintage leopard-print heels.

“My dress?” asks Evan Rachel Wood of the green gown that clings to her every curve like Sellotape. “Ebay.”

As if tapped with the back of a spoon, the carefully constructed 1940s-sex-siren facade is shattered.

Such an off-beat exclamation is typical of the self-possessed 21-year-old Wood as she sits opposite me on the terrace of the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills, gently sniffling, all goose bumps and bright blue eyes, in the chill November air. A girl who shot to fame at 16 with a Golden Globe-nominated breakthrough performance playing a sexually precocious, tongue-pierced, drug-taking teen in the shocker hit Thirteen, she has now landed her first “serious” role, opposite Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler, in which she plays the estranged daughter of Rourke’s washed-up pro athlete. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the film opens in January.

“I kicked Mickey’s ass and he’ll confirm this,” she giggles, adding that she sees Rourke like a “cool uncle, but he’ll hate me for saying that”. She is endearingly coy about her success. “When people stare at me, I don’t automatically think it’s because I’m famous. I look in the mirror to see if I have something stuck in my teeth.”

The fact that Wood is said to be the reason Marilyn Manson left his wife, Dita Von Teese, could also have something to do with the stares. Then there are the rumours about an alleged split from Manson, including the inevitable one that she was having W an affair with Rourke. (Rourke’s response? “Tell the faggot who wrote this shit that I want to break his f***ing legs.”) But Wood is used to controversy. The media reaction to her involvement with Manson, for example, was instant and vitriolic. “My favourite press story was a photo of me with ‘whore’ written across it,” she says. “I wanted to frame it.”

People were outraged that Wood apparently started dressing like Von Teese just after she had stolen her man; that Manson had traded in his wife for a younger model and moulded Wood into a mini Von Teese. “I was a brunette before I met Manson,” protests Wood, who also starred in an astonishingly explicit music video with Manson. She doesn’t mention Von Teese by name, but she does say: “She’s the last person I would want to be like.”

Born to actor parents, Wood started in musical theatre at the age of four. “My mom was obsessed with me being the next Jodie Foster. She wanted me to go to the schools that Foster went to and learn French,” she says. She is now a 17-year veteran of stage and screen, and not easily intimidated by working with one of the biggest names in her industry. On being pitted against the notoriously difficult Rourke in The Wrestler — which scooped the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival — she is full of grown-up thespian speak.

“Actors are competitive. If somebody throws something at you, what are you going to do? Throw it right back, of course. You have to prove yourselves to each other.” At Rourke’s insistence, they didn’t meet until arriving on set. The first words she ever said to him were in character, with the cameras rolling.

“He’ll test you. He’s not going to give his respect to just anyone.” But there is still an element of the gentle precociousness about her that comes with being just 21: beyond the dress and the shoes and the new hair, there is still a sense of her playing grown-up in her mother’s clothes. And when asked if working with Rourke — who has had notoriously botched cosmetic surgery — has put her off ever going under the knife herself, Wood tilts her head down, looks up at me with an arched eyebrow and says, with a sincere but tight smile: “You are so mean.”

Until her involvement with Manson, Wood had never really been one of those young actresses who carnivorously court press attention to raise their profile. And it is still her ability to act, rather than her ability to embark on gossip-generating sexual liaisons, that has some of Hollywood’s most respected directors queuing up to work with her. Julie Taymor cast her in the lead of the sunny, toe-tapping Beatles-inspired musical film Across the Universe, and she received the ultimate actor’s accolade when Woody Allen made her the lead of his next comedy, Whatever Works.

Still, the rumour mill powers on. She has responded calmly to stories that she has split from Manson. “Manson and I both decided to take some time apart, so we could concentrate on work,” she stated. So who might she date next? Given that, before Manson, she had a two-year relationship with Jamie Bell, the cherubic British star of Billy Elliot, the field is wide open. You certainly can’t accuse her of having a type.

There is one thing we can be sure of: he’ll be carefully chosen. Wood’s image is clearly important to her as she takes her first steps into the world of grown-up roles. Despite the chill, she never once during our interview covers her pneumatic starlet curves with her coat.

When asked how she would describe herself, she replies “crazy”, but when pushed to give an example, the best she can offer is “swimming naked at night in the ocean”. She goes on to explain that she is petrified of the sea — maybe that does constitute a crazy act? — but considering the messed-up, sexed-up characters she has played so convincingly, not to mention her most recent choice of lover, I’m surprised she cannot come up with something more left-field.

Wood just smiles demurely, as if she’s already said too much. Her face reverts to serious-actress mode. The look says “fully grown adult in charge of her own destiny”. “I don’t let people push me in any one direction,” she says of her recent choice of film roles. When asked if anyone ever dares tell her what to do, Wood pauses for a moment to think, before responding with a laugh: “My car’s navigation system — and even that I tell to shut up.” Then she steers the conversation back to the official reason for the interview: publicity for The Wrestler.

“I’ve been really lucky,” she says. “Sometimes I think, ‘Is this my life? Did that really happen?’ Like when The Wrestler won the Golden Lion. But it’s always nice to be appreciated for something you’ve worked really hard on.” Then she bursts out laughing again. “I just said ‘hard on’.”

And, once again, the carefully constructed veneer of grown-up womanhood collapses around her like a pack of cards.

Source: U.K. Times Online

I love reading interviews with her she's such a breath of fresh air and always entertaining. Hollywood needs more smart actresses with quirky personalities like hers.

I'm curious to see what she did with The Wrestler role. But like all her movies I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.

Friday, November 28, 2008

BSG 4.5 promos galore!

So many Battlestar Galactica promos, so many questions...













Seriously, is it 2009 yet?!.


On a side note this marks my 800th blog post. Wow, I never thought I would stick with something for this long, but here I am 3 years later. Cool!.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Song of the moment: Pink-Sober



One of the many awesome songs on Pink's Funhouse album which I'm currently playing on a non-stop basis.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

BSG 4.5 Sneak Peak



Holy frak!!. So intense. It's times like these I love being a Canadian :). Is it January yet?!.

You can also go to sci-fi.com for a high quality version (of just the promo itself).

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Another year, another Tennis year-end sum up

It was a very unusual season of tennis. Four different women--Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Serena Williams, and Ana Ivanovic--claimed the world number 1 spot in the course of the year. Russia won the Fed Cup title for the fourth time in five years, and Russians swept the Beijing Olympic medals in singles competition. Cara Black and Liezel Huber had a terrific season and retained their world number 1 title, while a variety of other doubles teams performed well.

Martina Hingis was found guilty of violating the doping ban and was given a two-year suspension, leading to her final retirement. Laura Robson--a delightful and cheeky Brit--won the junior Wimbledon title, and an American, Coco Vandeweghe, won the junior U.S. Open title. Kimiko Date, long retired, came back at the age of 37 and won several small Asian tournaments.

Li Na, out for six months with a second major injury, returned this year and immediately won Gold Coast, the first tournament of the season. Sam Stosur, also out for a long time with a major illness, returned to the tour. Patty Schnyder, who marked 500 wins this year, silenced many by getting to the quarterfinals of both the French Open and the U.S. Open. And Alicia Molik--who never got her great career going again after a very long illness--retired, to the disappointment of her many fans.

Ever-sexist ATP player and commentator Justin Gimelstob had his wrist slapped a little when there was a major outcry against his obscene and misogynistic comments about Anna Kournikova. Gimelstob protested his innocence (it was only "trash talk," Lindsay Davenport defended me, blah, blah, blah), and apologized for verbalizing his thoughts, but did not apologize for his bigotry.

Amelie Mauresmo, who missed most of last year because of illness and illness-related injury, had a disaster of a year, which ended with her parting ways with longtime coach and mentor, Loic Courteau. Her countrywoman, Tatiana Golovin, has also been out for months because of surgery for a cyst, and no one knows when she will return. Flavia Pennetta, whose return from injury had been plagued with self-doubt, made a comeback so impressive that she wound up playing the best tennis of her career.

All of these happenings--good and bad--would be enough to make 2008 memorable. But there was more. Much more. Here are my personal top 10, in ascending order:

10. The Bondarenko sisters win the Australian Open.
In a final worth watching, the always-entertaining Bondarenko sisters, Alona and Kateryna--who, after 38 tries, had never won a doubles title together on the tour--decided it was time to correct that omission, and won the Australian Open. They defeated Victoria Azarenka and Shahar Peer in the final, and on the way, they beat world number 1 team Black and Huber in straight sets. The Bondarenkos would go on to win their next tournament (Paris), but Alona's knee injury would hamper her for much of the season.

9. Zheng Jie has a break-out season.
Injured throughout most of 2007, doubles champion Zheng Jie came back healthy and decided to show the world that she can play singles, too. Zheng went to the Wimbledon semifinals by beating top seed Ana Ivanovic, as well as Dominika Cibulkova, Agnes Szavay and Nicole Vaidisova. She fell to Serena Williams in straight sets, but not without putting up an impressive fight, and not without holding a set point in the second set. Zheng then went to two more semifinals, and also won a bronze medal in doubles at the Beijing Olympics.

8. Julie Coin has her own personal field day at the U.S. Open.
Despite trying for years, Frenchwoman Julie Coin had never before made it into the main draw of a Sony Ericsson WTA tournament, but she finally got through qualifying at the 2008 U.S. Open. Getting into your first main draw at one of the four majors and then winning your first round is a story in itself, but why make one story when you can make a whole newscast? Coin proceeded to take out top seed and world number 1 Ana Ivanovic in the second set. It was an amazing match, with Coin--number 188 in the world--holding steady throughout. In defeating Ivanovic, Coin pulled off the biggest upset in Grand Slam history. Coin also became the lowest-ranked player to ever defeat a world number 1.

7. Venus and Serena play a classic U.S. Open quarterfinal, and Serena wins the Open.
I've never been too fond of Williams sisters matches, but I had a feeling, right after the U.S. Open third round, that this quarterfinal was going to be different. My feeling served me well. The sisters put on the show of shows in Flushing Meadows, though it was an excruciating experience for Venus fans: She failed to convert eight set points in the second set, and Serena won, 7-6, 7-6. It was something to see. Serena then went on to defeat Dinara Safina in the semifinals, and Jelena Jankovic, in a very entertaining final.

6. Sharapova's shoulder takes her out of competition for the second year in a row.
It must have been rough for Maria Sharapova in 2007, when she had to drop out because her shoulder was giving her so much trouble. She came roaring back, though--driving Justine Henin to the brink in the Sony Ericsson Championships, and then brilliantly winning the Australian Open this year. It turns out that Sharapova's (probably very well paid) doctors failed to notice a torn rotator cuff tendon. She played with the injury for months, and then finally had to call it quits again, missing both the Olympics and the U.S. Open.

5. Ivanovic wins her first major.
Last year, Ana Ivanovic stood on the court looking dazed and confused as Justine Henin defeated her for the French Open title. This year was a different story. Ivanovic played superb tennis throughout her time at Roland Garros, brilliantly defeated Jelena Jankovic in a semifinal thriller, and got the better of a very tough, though somewhat tired, Dinara Safina in the final.

4. Jankovic goes to the next level.
It is no secret that I think Jelena Jankovic is the most watchable player on the tour. Her court savvy and her athleticism come together to create a tennis player of outstanding creativity and skill. But for various reasons--a fragile body, a ridiculous playing schedule, a terrible serve--she had not gotten beyond the semifinal of a major before this year. In 2008--credit to coach Ricardo Sanchez--Jankovic took a big step forward. Her second serve is still much in need of improvement, but her first serve has gone from poor to sometimes excellent, and nearly always better than adequate. She is fitter this year, too, despite having a variety of injuries. She made it to the final of the U.S. Open, and what a final it was. Jankovic lost, but she has a lot to be proud of. Jankovic defended her Rome title this year, and this fall, she won three tournaments in three consecutive weeks.

3. Venus adds jewels to her crown.
By now, everyone seems to get it: The Williams sisters are champions. They were champions when they were very young, and they are now. They don't do things the way they are "supposed to," but the way they do things is plenty good enough. Venus defended her Wimbledon title this year, defeating none less than her sister Serena in the final, and holding up the Venus Rosewater dish for the fifth time in her career. It was the first time Venus had defeated Serena in a Wimbledon final. She went on to win Zurich, but the real topper occurred this month, when she also won the Sony Ericsson Championships for the first time.

2. Safina provides thrills beyond anyone's expectations.
I will always think of 2008 as the year of Safina. The talented Russian, who had never quite been able to put all of her skills together, put them together this year so dramatically that she was the most exciting player on the tour. It started in Berlin, where she not only beat world number 1 Justine Henin (and Elena Dementieva and Serena Williams), but played thrilling, come-from-behind tennis repeatedly, to win the title. Safina then went on to play the same kind of heart-stopping tennis at the French Open, eventually developing mental fatigue and falling in the final to a very in-form Ana Ivanovic. So many times this season, Safina looked certain to lose a match, and she would turn it around, providing tremendous excitement for fans, but perhaps a bit too much for herself. (At one point, when she was down a set and a couple of breaks in a match, commentator Mary Carillo, speaking of Safina's opponent, quipped, "Ah, Safina has her right where she wants her.") Safina went on to win the U.S. Open Series by taking both Los Angeles and Montreal, and she also won in Tokyo, and claimed a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. Injury (and a determined Shahar Peer) took her out of Wimbledon, and fatigue--perhaps more mental than physical--did her in at both the U.S. Open and the Sony Ericsson Championships. Nevertheless, Safina's 2008 rise was both delightful and very impressive.

1. Justine Henin retires.
The tennis world was rocked in May when world number 1 Justine Henin announced her retirement, effective immediately. In an act of both finality and generosity, Henin also requested that her name be removed from the rankings. She retired right before the French Open, where she was the both the defending champion and the favorite. And she retired before having one more crack at winning Wimbledon, which surprised me. For years, Henin thrilled fans with her fluid movement, remarkable court savvy and brilliant backhand. Her forehand was also one of the best on the tour. If I had to choose one image from 2008 that summed up how strange the season was, it would be the photo of Henin handing out the Roland Garros trophies. Henin's absence probably has not totally sunk in with most of us; she was a phenomenal talent on the tour.

Source:Women Who Serve Blog


I was a little surprised to see a year end sum up this early (usually they all appear in mid-December). But I guess it's fairly easy to sum up a year where nothing interesting happened in the WTA *lol*.

Because honestly aside from the 2 huge retirements of Martina Hingis and Justine-Henin (one of which doesn't count as such since it was forced), it was a complete and total bore-fest.

Which is probably why I found myself tuning into the men's matches more this year then any other prevoius one.

I'm hoping 2009 will prove more exciting (although it might take a miracle). I do agree that out of all the current top ten women's players Jankovic is among the most fun ones to watch and I'm looking forward to seeing how far she'll go next year.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Grape Stompin' Lady



This video made my day. I love how both news anchors are so clearly trying to contain their laughter. You just know that as soon as it cut to commercial they were rolling on the floor.

You gotta love the male anchor's remark too "oh boy I think she's actually hurt" no shit sherlock! *LOL*.

I can't decide what's funnier the original video or Family Guy's parody of it.



I think I'll have to go with a tie. *LOL*.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Rosie O'Donnell brings attention to "The View" once more

Yep, the Rosie vs. "The View" fight continues.


Rosie O'Donnell, promoting her forthcoming NBC Thanksgiving Eve variety special/backdoor pilot, told reporters yesterday that being on "The View" -- from which she departed hastily and publicly -- left her with something akin to post-traumatic stress disorder.

The experience was like gathering the whole family at Nanna's for Thanksgiving and Nanna wanting everyone to get along and pretend everything is hunkydunky even though one couple is on the verge of divorce and another family member is a drug addict, O'Donnell elaborated.

In much the same way, O'Donnell said, "The View" exec producer and sometime star Barbara Walters "wanted everyone to believe and think and act as if [the show's on-air personalities] get along and are really good friends and happy and hang out together and . . . that's just not the reality."

"I'm not saying we loathed each other, but there wasn't a lot of off-camera camaraderie. . . . What happened on the show was a personal argument with a friend [Walters] that was publicly displayed. I didn't want to be paid to fight."

If O'Donnell's new variety show attracts enough viewers -- the night before Thanksgiving is traditionally one of low television use as family members travel over the river and through the woods to Nanna's house -- NBC will probably order six more episodes, to debut in January. After that, NBC can keep buying the show in six-episode increments, O'Donnell told reporters in a news conference call.

The special is live with a five-second delay, which O'Donnell insists isn't needed because "this is not a show about Guantanamo" and "there is no production number about torture," she said.

Contrary to what appeared to be the common view among reporters on the phone call, O'Donnell said she can host a show without being political, citing her first daytime talker.

"Your perception of my career may be skewed" by recent events, she finally told one reporter.

"I didn't grow up thinking, 'I hope I can talk about politics.' . . . It only became about that with the job on 'The View,' " she said. "I took the job on 'The View' . . . knowing what the job description was.

"It was conversation that needed to be had and I started the ball rolling," O'Donnell said. "For that show to be taken seriously as a political show -- I had to fight long and hard to get them to address [political hot-button issues]. They wanted to talk about lipstick shades."

O'Donnell said she does not regret doing a year on "The View," even though it ended so angrily, because she thinks she "kicked it up a notch" and made it "relevant in pop culture in a way that it hadn't been before."

On the other hand, what she thinks the TV-viewing country needs now is not arguing over politics but a variety show -- one without judges, that is, one that will "never" have Donald Trump as a guest, and one that does not book celebrities who have something to sell and who tell the "same four stories" from program to program.

Source-Washington Post


And then there's Barbara's response.



Is it me or has "The View" always been more interesting with Rosie around?. lol

People may say what they want about her one year stint on the show, but there's no denying that she brought it plenty of publicity and entertainment. An element that has been sorely lacking ever since she left.

So, I for one am glad that she's doing a Variety Show for NBC, I've really missed her brand of humor and honesty.

Friday, November 21, 2008

TV Addict has faith in TSCC and Dollhouse's Friday time slot

Despite naysayers who fear FOX has dumped Joss Whedon's latest series into a show-killing Friday night timeslot, this TV Addict believes the move may be the best thing to have happened to DOLLHOUSE since star Eliza Dushku’s parents procreated.

Crazy? Perhaps. But hear me out.

Now granted, Fridays on FOX don’t historically have the best track-record (see: FIREFLY, DARK ANGEL, VANISHED… ). But a lot has changed since the ill-fated launch of FIREFLY, Whedon’s space saga, in the fall of 2002, including what network execs expect of a new show. Thanks to television’s increasingly-fragmented audience, the rise of numerous cable channels, increased awareness of non-conventional viewers (who watch via DVR or even outlets such as Hulu.com), networks have been forced to accept that numbers which may have put a show on death row only a few short years ago are now greeted with lively cheers.

Just ask GOSSIP GIRL, whose deafening buzz hasn’t exactly translated into big numbers. Or Josh Friedman, creator of TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, whose show has avoided being axed despite the fact that the heroine shoots more bullets in an average episode than the series has viewers.

It also helps that, contrary to popular opinion, FOX executives aren’t stupid, as evidenced when scheduling guru Preston Beckman told TVWeek’s Josef Adalian that while DOLLHOUSE and TERMINATOR don’t have an easy road ahead of them, “We can afford to let these shows run their course. We can give them 12 or 13 weeks to find an audience.”

Perhaps finally having learned from history that shows which began with small numbers can turn into hits both modest (ONE TREE HILL) or mega (CHEERS, SEINFELD, DALLAS), the networks seem to be showing a bit more patience than in seasons past, as evidenced by the full-season pickups of KATH & KIM or LIFE. This is, obviously, in part a response to an undeniable economic reality: It’s more cost-effective to try and turn and morph an existing show into a hit than to start from scratch with a new program.

It’s also worth noting that while Friday’s are now the equivalent of a dead zone, it wasn't all that long ago that CBS ruled the airwaves by programming DALLAS and FALCON CREST while FOX gave nerds everywhere a viable excuse to stay home on Friday nights with the X-FILES.

Which is why, this TV Addict is about to make a very bold and some might say fool-hearted prediction: Not only will TERMINATOR and DOLLHOUSE thrive on Friday nights, but each will be around when the 2009 fall season is rolled out.

But, um, just in case… it wouldn't hurt to go out and buy weebles to send FOX executives should a Save Our Show campaign prove necessary.

Source-TV Addict

I really hope that prediction comes true.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Kelly Clarkson's new single out soon


Kelly Clarkson has finished recording her fourth album and her new single is likely called “My Life Would Suck Without You.”

Producer Dr. Luke (real name: Lukasz Gottwald) tells EW she will be back with with a new song as early as next month. Woohoo!

Dr. Luke says he started developing the new song with “Since U Been Gone” collaborator Max Martin years ago. “After ‘Since U Been Gone,’ we wrote all these songs for Kelly,” says Dr. Luke, who has worked with Avril Lavigne, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Weezer. “This one, which I think is the first single, we had the chorus a while ago and added the verse more recently. They were going to have it out on Nov. 20, but it just got too late. So now they’re thinking Dec. 8 for a worldwide release, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that ends up being early January.”

Dr. Luke adds, “It’s sick. [Kelly] sings a song in two hours and kills it. You’re just, like, ‘holy s—.’ She has powerful lungs. She’s like the Lance Armstrong of vocal chords.”

Source-JustJared

Interesting song title, I can't wait to hear some new stuff from her!! :-).

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

A heartfelt t.v. moment

I was watching The Ellen Degeneres Show (as I do every week).

I love her show it never fails to make me laugh, or cry for that matter.

Such was the case on Monday. She had on this little 7-year-old girl named Emily Bear who's an amazing pianist.

She's been on her show before and I've always found her so adorable.

Every time she has come on she's composed a song especially for Ellen.

So naturally this time was no exception. But what made it special is that she wrote a song for Ellen's wedding (to Portia de Rossi), called "Once Upon a Wish" saying she wanted to play it for Ellen because "she got her wish".

By this point I was all choked up (along with Ellen's entire audiance) and that's before she started playing.



Watching this I thought to myself "wow, leave it to a child to really put things into perspective".

Honestly if only more adults would follow the same example, the world would be a much better place.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Joss Whedon "The Write Environment" interview

Joss talking about his creative process, Dollhouse and why he prefers t.v. shows with characters that evolve.



I'm with you Joss, it's how all t.v. series should be made.

Buffy
spoiled me for life.

I'm hoping that Dollhouse will have the same effect, and prove once and for all that smart t.v. shows (with fully fleshed out characters) can last.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Evan Rachel Wood dispels dating rumors



Evan Rachel Wood sparkles in gold as she honors costume designer Albert Wolsky at Hollywood Life’s Behind the Camera Awards at The Highlands on Sunday in Hollywood.

The 21-year-old actress, who stepped out in Jimmy Choo’s “Even” Suede Sandals, did a little rumor control at the event, telling People: “Spread the word – I’m not dating Mickey Rourke. Everybody thinks we’re dating and we’re not. Mickey and I bonded while shooting The Wrestler and we became friends, but nothing more. I guess, because of my recent break up, I will be linked to many people, but I am not interested in pursuing a relationship

at this point in my life. Any such rumor should not be taken seriously. We are proud of the film we made together and I hope people will focus on the film and not get distracted by any nonsense.”

Source-JustJared

Saturday, November 15, 2008

WTA to introduce 'user pays' medical system

STRATEGIC medical time-outs during WTA Tour matches could be drastically reduced by a radical new "user pays" system planned for next season. The women's governing body intends to cap the number of occasions players are permitted to call a trainer on court for an extended consultation and issue bills for any excess.

As prize money soars to record levels despite the potential bite of the global economic crisis, the financial penalties are unlikely to inflict excessive pain, ranging from $US100 ($A151) per visit at smaller tournaments such as the new Brisbane International in January, to about $500 at the biggest, such as Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing.

The four grand slams, which are run by the International Tennis Federation, would be exempt from the cap, expected to be set at six or seven for the year. The ATP has no plans to introduce a similar system, but is likely to monitor its impact.

Peter Johnston, the WTA's senior vice-president of operations, said the "nominal" charges were designed to minimise the number of unwarranted time-outs, with the revenue to be reinvested in its sports science services.

"We understand that medical time-outs can be legitimate but we want to make sure that players are conscious of how many they're using up throughout the year, so we're looking to find a system of capping them during the season," said Johnston, the former Australian Open deputy tournament director.

"It would trigger what we'd call a service fee. It's a sports science and health issue, so it's almost like a pay-per-view. You can keep using them, but you pay for them, and the amount would depend on the level of the event. It's not about us revenue-raising, it's more just a mindset — like, 'Hey, checkpoint, you've triggered this. Are they all legitimate?' It discourages the practice of, 'I'm feeling a bit weary, I might take a medical time-out'."

In theory, the system could penalise the lower-ranked players with less capacity to pay than multi-millionaires such as Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters, but Johnston described the WTA's player council as "very supportive" of the concept, which was likely to be in place when the 2009 season opens in Brisbane and Auckland.

The initiative is one of several designed to improve the presentation of women's tennis — in this case to avoid unnecessary delays. "It's just about helping players understand it's 'the show'," Johnston said. "It all gets into that basket of how we present a tighter, crisper, sharper product."

On-court coaching, which has been trialled in the past, will also be adopted permanently next year as part of the tour's so-called Roadmap 2009. The new TV-driven rule allows a player to request their coach once each set, as well as during an opponent's medical time-out or bathroom break. All coaches called onto the court during televised matches will be required to wear a microphone, but the conversation will not be audible in the stadium.

Source-theage.com

At first glance it seems like a very good thing. I'm just not that convinced it will be very beneficial, I think it would make more sense to implement something like that at the four grand slam tournaments.

Where 1. most players can actually afford to pay for any extra treatment and 2. it would help eliminate the psych-out factor that goes on at grand slams (having a trainer come out on court to give treatment thereby making your opponent think you're seriously hurt).

I don't see the point of introducing it only at the smaller tournaments, where as the article points out, the players will most likely not be able to afford it anyway.

But, the most curious thing?. It's the women's governing body that is trying to implement it. Meaning the women players are more prone to calling a trainer then the men?.

Very surprising, it seems like it should be the other way around (since men are more physical anyway).

And call me crazy but punishing the female players only seems very self-discriminatory as well.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Thursday, November 13, 2008

TTSCC creator Josh Friedman happy to be paired with Whedon

The following story contains spoiler information about last night's Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Before Season 2 of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles premiered, executive producer Josh Friedman teased a big death — saying when it hit your screen, you'd certainly know it.

This reporter's money was on Agent Ellison, or perhaps Dean Winters' EMT. For some reason, never did it enter my mind that Team Connor would actually get the upper hand on Cromartie and thus terminate the terminator who has taunted them for so long.

"Cromartie kind of forced their hand," series scribe Dan Thomsen explains. "He was a good terminator and got to his prey" — and thus had to be dealt with. So, is Shirley Manson's Weaver now the only big baddie? Or might another tin can be on its way to track the Connors? "How and when Skynet gets its information for sending assets into our time is very interesting to me," says Thomsen. With Cromartie gone, "We'll see what the next move is."

Thomsen, along with Friedman and (for the blink of an eye) Cromartie's portrayer, Garret Dillahunt, conversed with press and fans in a Fox-sponsored Mooby chat room on Monday night, after the big death had been delivered to East Coast viewers. While there was a certain irony in a futuristic show brokering an interaction via a venue that (as one person put it) "looked like a circa-1995 AOL chat room," the patient onlooker was able to glean a few scooplets from the show runner and his scribe.

On Terminator's Midseason Move to Fridays, Leading into Dollhouse
"I'm happy to be with Joss Whedon," said Friedman, "and now we'll see how fervent our fans are. Which is to say: Will you stay home?"

On Sarah Connor Possibly Visiting the Dollhouse
"The crossover I'd like... is for Joss to come over and write my show for a week, so I can go to Hawaii," Friedman joked.

On Friedman's Plan to Fix Heroes — Since Everybody Has One, After All
"How would I improve Heroes? Bring back Bryan Fuller [who's currently exec-producing Pushing Daisies]."

On Sage Sarah Connor Not Expounding As Much
"I love the monologues, but we curtailed them mainly because they were affecting the way we edited the opening and closing of the episodes," explained Friedman. "Funny, when we did the voiceovers, everyone complained!"

On Newcomer Jesse
"Stephanie [Jacobson] will be around for a while," said Friedman. "She's got some work to do."

On John's Budding Romance with a High-School Girl
"I think John's an idiot to be involved with Riley (played by Leven Rambin)," Friedman admitted, "but he's got his reasons."

On the Belief that a Robot (Cameron) Shouldn't Hook Up with a Human (John)
"But it's Summer Glau!" Thomsen argued.

The one question that both men repeatedly and effectively dodged throughout the fast-moving exchange: "What happened in the basement?" It's a reference to a lingering plot thread from Season 1. Theories range from Cameron used the cellar to interrogate prisoners (while listening to Chopin!) to a larger story in which Brian Austin Green's Derek might ultimately betray the Connors. All Friedman and Thomsen would say is this: "We talk a lot about the basement in the writers room."

Source-tvguide.com


Ah, the million dollar question LOL, well you've got one viewer who definitely will (stay home that is). And Joss Whedon running TSCC?. That would be interesting!.


Wednesday, November 12, 2008

TTSCC nominated for a People's Choice Award!

The PCA's are the only award show I ever bother watching these days, mainly because as it states it's chosen by the people.

I've already made my choices. Click below to do the same ;).

People's Choice Awards
Go to PCAVote.com


Note: You do need to register, (it's free all you need is to choose an email and password).

I've added a handy PCA widget below my profile as well. So click away and support your favourites. Voting closes Dec. 7, 2008.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

For your amusement

IDLE THOUGHTS OF A RETIREE'S MIND WANDERING...

..I planted some bird seed. A bird came up. Now I don't know what to
feed it.

...I had amnesia once -- or twice.

...I went to San Francisco. I found someone's heart. Now what?

...Protons have mass? I didn't even know they were Catholic.

...All I ask is a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.

...If the world was a logical place, men would be the ones who ride horses
sidesaddle.

...What is a "free" gift? Aren't all gifts free?

...They told me I was gullible...and I believed them.

...Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows
up, he'll never be able to merge his car onto the freeway.

...Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone.

...One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.

...My weight is perfect for my height -- which varies.

...I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.

...The cost of living hasn't affected its popularity.

...How can there be self-help "groups"?

...If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales?

...Show me a man with both feet firmly on the ground, and I'll show you a
man who can't get his pants off.

...Is it my imagination, or do buffalo wings taste like chicken?

Monday, November 10, 2008

TTSCC 2x08 Scenemaker clip

If you're like me and simply can't wait for tonight's episode check out this spoiler-y behind the scenes clip.



Looks like John continues to get a bigger back bone, but unfortunately that very thing continues to get him into trouble.

At least the fans can't complain about him being a whiny teenager anymore. Now he's just the dumb teenager *lol*.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Evan Rachel Wood and Marilyn Manson are no more?


Evan Rachel Wood dumped live-in boyfriend Marilyn Manson on Oct. 23 after he tried to kick her brother Ira out of their guest house.

Evan owned the house and didn't want her unemployed sibling living on the street,” a source tells Star. “It was the tipping point. Evan was fed up with how controlling and emotionally abusive Marilyn was.”

Evan, 21, and Marilyn, 39, started dating in December 2006, as his marriage to Dita Von Teese was almost over.

Source-JustJared


Update:
ERW says the reasons for her break-up with Manson are completely false. She tells People that they are "taking some time apart" to concentrate on work.

Whatever way you look at it she still doesn't sound too happy. Something tells me they're headed for a permanent break.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Xena: the chocolate Warrior Princess

A bit of cool or should I say yummy? pop-culture news for today. Two of my favourite things chocolate and Xena :D.

Source

Actually the original source is here but it doesn't seem to be working at the moment, me thinks the Xena fans have crashed the website server *lol*.

As Homer Simpson would say "mmmm..... chocolate Xena", ok that's SO wrong I'm gonna stop now *lol*.

Seriously though that's gotta be one of the most unique costumes I've ever seen.

I don't really see much resemblance to Lucy Lawless facially-wise but the costume is very close.

It does remind me more of the costume from " A Friend in Need" or an Egyptian version of one then the original (obviusly the woman couldn't make an exact replica due to copyright infringement), but awesome looking nonetheless.

I wonder if the whole thing is edible or just the armor.

Friday, November 07, 2008

FOX heeds the pleas of TSCC fans....sort of

Some surprising developments on the Sarah Connor Chronicles front. It seems that the campaign to move the show on to a different night worked.

Just not exactly the night that we wanted, which was Wednesday. The network announced it's mid-season schedule and the Sarah Connor Chronicles will now be paired with Joss Whedon's Dollhouse on Friday nights.

Which also happens to be the night on which the second half of Battlestar Galactica season 4 will air. Coincidence?. I think not.

It might just be one of the best things for TSCC. I have faith in the Whedonverse fandom and I believe many of them will tune in to see Dollhouse.

And it doesn't hurt that Summer Glau herself is a Joss show alum (Firefly). As far as I know many BSG fans love TSCC as well (hell Joss Whedon himself is a fan), so that's gotta be good too.

Finally my favourite new show has been paired with others of equal demographic, genre and most importantly equal intelegence. Thumbs up FOX.

I don't know about the rest of you but, come next year I'm cancelling all my Friday night plans and enjoying a whole lot of sci-fy :).

And hey, I guess I can now take off the Move TSCC to Wednesday's petition.

View the full schedule here.

Hmmm....Bones is moving to Thursday. With ER going away next year, at least now I have something to replace it with. I just hope it doesn't back fire.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

R.I.P. Michael Crichton

This past Tuesday we lost another brilliantly creative mind.

The man responsible for such pop-culture classics as Jurassic Park (the resulting dinosaur obsession throughout my childhood).

As well as, what I still consider one of the best medical drama's on t.v. today ER. Has died of cancer at the age of 66. He will be sorely missed.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

TTSCC episode 2x08 "Mr. Ferguson is ill Today" promo



Looks like next week the season is finally gonna take off (no doubt thanks to November sweeps), about time too!.

As for who I think will die I'm still going with Agent Ellison, he's the only one that makes sense.

I have one quibble with this show that I need to get off my chest (don't get me wrong I still enjoy it immensely), but seriously what is up with the episode titles?.

Those have gotta be some of the weirdest and often longest titles I've ever seen for a t.v. show.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Brand spankin' new "Dollhouse" trailer

Here's a little treat for all Joss Whedon fans out there. A brand new trailer for his new show Dollhouse.



Despite the supposed scrapped pilot and the changes made to this show.

I'm still just as intrigued by it. And I'm totally tuning in to watch it in January.



On a completely unrelated (but very big) side note, I don't usually write about or reveal my political views on the blog.

But since this is an extremely huge day in U.S. history, I feel compelled to do so just this once.

And congratulate Senator Barack Obama who (at the time I write this) has been elected as the 44th President of the United States!! :).

The significance being that he's the first ever African American President.

No matter how many times I type or read that it's still hard to believe.

I realize I could have made this into an entire post all on it's own, but I'm sure plenty of other bloggers will have it covered ;).

A momentous change has been made today, one that I hope brings good things for not only the U.S. but the rest of the world as well.

I don't know what I feel the greatest relief over the outcome of the election itself, or the fact that it's finally over! *lol*. Admit it, you were thinking it too.