Well, it's Groundhog day.

It is curious how the meaning of Groundhog day has taken on new facets in the last few years. Where the focus used to be on a particular rodent's ability to predict the weather, people are now speaking of this event with odd references to deja vu. I heard it on NPR this morning, and have heard it over and over again since 1994. I think it is one of those rare instances where a movie has an affect on culture.

The movie in question is the 1994 release, Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray. In it, Murray plays a weatherman who has the unique opportunity to relive one day, Groundhog Day, over and over again until he gets it right, turns his life around, and gets the leading lady.

It's hopeful message, that we all can succeed at getting things right, has struck home with the American public, and slowly the term 'Groundhog Day' has come to mean 'having chance to do it all over again' and is often used in place of 'Deja Vu' in regular conversation.

So on this Groundhog Day here's to hoping we all get things right the first time, but if we don't, be comforted in the fact that you can always have a second chance.

Well, it's Groundhog day.

It is curious how the meaning of Groundhog day has taken on new nuances in the last few years. Where the focus used to be on a particular rodent's ability to predict the future, people are now speaking of this event with odd references to deja vu. I heard it on NPR this morning, and have heard it over and over again since 1994. I think it is one of those rare instances where a movie has an affect on culture.

The movie in question is the 1994 release, Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray. In it, Bill plays a weatherman who has the unique opportunity to relive one day, Groundhog Day, over and over again until he gets it right, turns his life around, and gets the leading lady.

It's hopeful message, that we all can succeed at getting things right, has struck home with the American public, and slowly the term 'Groundhog Day' has come to mean 'having chance to do it all over again' and is often used in place of 'Deja Vu' in regular conversation.

So on this Groundhog Day here's to getting things right the first time, but if you don't, be comforted in the fact that you can always have a second chance.

Zoology 101

Working in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) has given me a little insight as to what it must be like to live as an animal in a zoo. Each day a couple tourist busses drive by or even stop and let out the gawkers camera's in hand. Ostensibly they're here to look at the skyscrapers and art spaces that make DTLA so remarkable. However, inevitably they can't resist a quick look at the more interesting members of the menagerie. That being the hapless office worker.

Just walking across the street I can feel their gaze on my back. I imagine the tour guide describing the scene, "There goes one of the most populous cubicle herd. Notice the way he holds the coffee cup firmly around the middle. The heat providing some of the only stimulation he'll receive today. See how he repeatedly presses the walk-signal button as if to hurry up the walk sign even though it only means he'll be returned that much sooner to the cage his cubicle provides. If you look real close you can see the furrow in his brow as he considers the solution to whatever problem is awaiting him back at his desk."

YKISW -- part II

...when you're out registering at Crate and Barrel. It was nice to find out that we have very similar tastes in design. We like it simple or disney. If it's both, that's a big plus. :-)

Bye Bye Birdie

As you may have heard go.com (Disney's web portal) has been directed to close up shop. The profitable stuff, such as ESPN.com and Disney.com will continue on, but the unprofitable, such as the old Infoseek group, will be laid off and sold for scrap where possible. This leaves me wondering what to do with my two pages that are hosted on the homepages section of Go.com. If they do close the homepages section I will need somewhere I can get a free 50 or so megs of space and a reasonalby priced domain name, I'd like to move my Barraged site there. The Laker's Victory Parade page can be moved to yahoo.geocities without much of a problem. But if I'm going to move Barraged, I only want to do it once and with a domain name so it's always easy to find.

You know it's serious when

You know it's serious when you're looking down at two good sized rocks and your girlfriend is trying on ring molds to see how they look. But I survived with only a minimum of perspiration. The ring should be ready soon. Better put my plan into action.

Embarrassment time!

It's that time again. Time for another round of Birthday well wishes, remembrances, e-cards, and silly jokes. Are you ready? It seems like just yesterday that he was running around in his diapers with our dog Sugarbear nipping at his butt. Ahhh, I remember it well. Or maybe that time when he broke his wrist playing soccer. How about that day at Grant Park when he rolled his skateboard in front of my bike and I flipped over the handle bars onto the cinder track ... ouch! We both wish we still had some of those star wars toys we blew up too.

All that was at least 15 years ago. Are you feeling old yet? I'm sure my brother is. Today is his Birthday. He's 27 and just going back to school for his Masters in Philosophy. What do you do with that, I hear you cry. I don't know either.

In other news Cnet news has implemented a new advertising plan. Instead of the banner advertisements you see across the top and bottom of the screen on many pages, Cnet has moved the ad to take up rougly 1/5 of the page in the browser (much like a picture or graphic for a story). This is supposed to induce more people to 'click through' and make advertising online more attractive. I suspect that I'll be able to ignore these ads just as well as I have been banner ads. For whether online or offline I only look at ads that pertain to my life at that moment. Even if the ads are targeted at me as a reader (for instance, if I'm on Cnet in the Mac area, I probably want to see ads for Mac products, not mouthwash or ISP services), I still won't click through unless I am actually shopping for Mac products at the time, and an ad for a product I need shows up. On the otherhand, if there is a sponsorship in addition to the ad, and I enjoy the website and want to support its owners, then it's is very likely I'll return to that site and click through to the sponser's site so the original site gets credit for the referral. I do this on LaughingPlace.com all the time. In fact, I wouldn't mind it if the website came right out and said "please support our sponsors. it's the best way for us to make a living and support this website."

Happy New Year

Well, Happy Chinese New Year anyway. If the weather outside wasn't so gloomy, I'd consider a quick bus ride to chinatown for lunch today. But instead, So Cal has been hit by another 'stormwatch' and by another rash of people who can't drive in the rain. So today's commute took an extra 45 minutes this morning. Twice the normal time makes for an extra grumpy Indigo.

I've been meaing to write about California Adventure but I just haven't had the time. So you'll have to wait. Sorry. In the meantime, check out Ammy's account of her recent visit.

Wow

Sometimes life can pass by in the blink of an eye. For instance, I can't believe the last time I wrote here was on Jan 12th. It's already Jan 23rd. My Brother's birthday is coming up, Stacey is in Las Vegas again, and I've already visited California Adventure 4 times. Where has the time gone?

I received a 'travel journal' from Nathan Heidt last week. He's one of my cousins in Oregon. I can't believe he's now in 5th grade. I'm supposed to fill up a few pages with history and stuff from around my State (being California) and then pass it on to someone in a state the book has not yet visited. So... if you don't live in California, New York, or Washington, and think you can whip out a few pages of interesting factoids for Nathan, let me know and I'll send the travel journal to you next. Otherwise, I'll send it randomly to someone on my list. Who knows, it might be you.

I try and post more later tonight after I make an attempt at cleaning up my room. If I don't make some headway tonight, things could get ugly.

where there's smoke...

We just had a building fire a few blocks away from us downtown. Saw flames and lots of smoke from my window on the 51st floor. They had to close the air intake valves on our building or the smoke would have clogged up our system. Haven't heard if anyone was hurt. A lovely way to start a weekend though.

Monday and Tuesday next week Stacey and I will be attending the first real public days for Disney's California Adventure. That's the new themepark they built in the old Disneyland parking lot. So far the reviews have been fair to good. I haven't heard any really negative reviews at all. I'm taking that as a good sign.

Today marks the official opening of Downtown Disney -- a shopertainment (oooh, neologism) center that occupies the space between the two parks and the hotel complex. We've been there a few times already for pre-opening days and plan to enjoy a movie or two at the new AMC theatres this weekend (hey, that's a good idea for tonight). Come on down and join us... parking is free for 3 hours and 5 hours with validation. Enough for dinner, a movie, and some shopping.

Stormwatch 2001

Ugh. Rain. Southern California has been hit and so traffic has been really bad, waves have been crashing high, and power outages have struck downtown... not here, of course. But just a few streets away. It would have been interesting to see what sort of emergency procedure we put into action if the power had gone out. Would we work out of our homes? West LA? Comdisco? inquiring minds want to know.

Speaking of power... it looks like the Feds might shut off the power flow to california sometime later this week. Both the big utilities are in horribly over their heads in the rip-tide created by their recommended deregulation of the energy system. Somebody is getting rich off this and I suspect it will be the powerplant owners and somebody is going to have to pay to keep the lights on and I suspect it will be the tax payers. Should be interesting to see how this plays out over the next couple days.

I must be getting old. If I don't get 8 hours of sleep these days I'm a total wreck for the rest of the day. Last night was one of those nights with noisy roommates, police sirens, creaky bones, where it all added up to a fitful night of (un) rest. I hate'em.

Stacey and I walked over to Barnes and Nobles last night with a $25 gift certificate from her mom burning a hole in my pocket. After much enjoyable browsing I ended up with a copy of the 2001 Writer's Market. I'm hoping to expand some of my writing for LaughingPlace.com and send it off to some travel magazines (for pay, I hope). The first article I'm hoping to sell is my Grand Californian Review. If anyone out there would like to send me a critique of the article I'd be very happy.

Had a good weekend that ended with an allergy attack on Monday. Missed work, but got lots of extra sleep. You figure out that score.

Went to Lost Wages to see Stacey's new cousin Max. He's a real cutey at 24 days old. Not very fussy or noisy, he mostly sleeps and feeds. Had dinner at one of the famous LV Buffets, this one at Main Street Station Casino downtown. Afterwards we walked over to Fremont Street to experience the Experience. Unfortunately all those bright lights in quickly changing colors hurt Stacey's eyes. So we ducked into a casino (Binion's Horseshoe) for some single deck Blackjack. We both plopped down $20 at a $2 minimum table and then held on for a very fun and profitable 1.5 hours. By the end of the night we were each up more than twice our initial chips (Stacey more like 5 times)... we also played a really fun slot game based on Yahtzee. I won big there. So we'd basically paid for food and gas for the trip in one night. Woo Hoo!

We returned to So Cal and made a stop at the Disneyland resort (it's hard to resist) to see what changes had occured over the weekend. Ate lunch at ESPNZone. Good food at resort prices (had a 8 ounze turkey burger that was wonderful) -- kinda funky setting. We ate on the Studio grill side which boasts a live set for filming ESPN's UPClose show. With filming in progress it was busy, but pleasant. The otherside seemed too dark, and too much like a sports book from a Vegas casino to me. Upstairs was the biggest disappointment, however. They have a huge game area upstairs, but the prices are so inflated it's just not fun. Since I heard the restaurant was opening up I've been looking forward to a game of Air Hockey (Disneyland removed their tables over two years ago). At ESPNZone each Air Hockey game is $2.50... games at Disneyland used to be $0.75. I'd pay a $1.00 a game... but $2.50 is just unreasonable. Looks like I'll have to wait even longer to get my air hockey fix.

Smokin'

Only took 20 minutes to get into work today. Took my little Saturn in to get some repairs and was able to take advantage of the carpool lane. Boy-o-boy, I'm thinking of making Stacey drive me to work everymorning. Sorry Hon.

I'll be in Lost Wages this weekend scoping the place out. So no updates for a few days. We're trying the new Sunset Station, the flagship of the station casino's and also the closest to Stacey's cousins. Looking forward to a few days of getting away.

So y'all have a great weekend and I'll see you on the b-side.

Thursday Thoughts

Driving in to work this morning I caught myself getting mad
at this driver cutting ahead of traffic. Then I got upset at
myself for getting angry. I'm trying to take the art of
driving less seriously and not get so upset if someone else
just has to be a selfish asshole and abuse the rules of the
road. There is nothing I'm going to do that will change these
abusers minds or make them stop taking advantage of those who
are following the driving rules, so why worry about it. But I
still can't help getting a little pissed at them.

This morning's instance has a slightly different moral. It
occurred right by the parking garage I use downtown. It's a
place where two lanes merge into one that has to make a
right hand turn. Typically those who use the right lane only
use it to enter the parking garage Before
the right hand turn. Those who need to go around the building
wait patiently in the left hand lane leaving the right side
open for those who need to get into the first garage. But it
is still technically within the rules of the road to zoom on
ahead in the right hand lane and then merge at the last
minute before making the right hand turn. Keeping it open is
just a nicety we drivers extend to each other during the
morning drive.

So this morning I see someone take advantage of this nicety
and zoom up the right hand lane to cut in. At first it upsets
me. I wonder what gives them the right. But then I catch
myself and admit she's still following the rules of the road.
All she's really doing is cancelling out our nicety which she
is not obliged to obey at all.

Still, I can't help wish that more people would offer up
these little moments of niceness. They make the day so much
more pleasant.

My latest Dispatch is up on LaughingPlace.com. At the bottom of it is a link to a photo of Walt Disney and my grandfather, Vic Greene. Vic was an Imagineer, and although I have no memories of him, I do have stories, and feel closer to him and his works through being at Disneyland. Weird huh!

Disneyland Resort opened their latest hotel The Grand Californian last night and I was there. There are some photos Doobie and I took.... I suspect a review I wrote will be up later this week. I'm looking forward to spending many days and nights at the new hotel, it's simply marvelous.

Hey. I also updated Barraged -- A fansite today. It has new pics of the Euro and Canadian casts, some additional links to fan sites, and a few links to top selling books on Fiddling on Amazon.

Oy. A new year already. I'm still digesting the old one. The question is will this be a dessert course or another entree.

2001 seems destined to have more drama and intensity than a Stanley Kubrick film. There are some major life changes in store for me (and for Stacey if my plan comes together *wink*). Disneyland is opening another themepark. We get a new party in power in DC. We have an economy that is getting testy. We have new census data and a new face of america that is more mullato than any single genre. We still have the media, the entertainment cartels, the drug war, the pollution, the crime (although that has gotten better), the world crisis du jour, and enough apathy to fill a black hole. Very interesting ingredients which are sure to create some interesting flavors when stirred up.

Enough prognosticating. I had a very wonderful new years eve, I hope you did too. Stacey and I spent it with friends at Disneyland (although a good friend wasn't feeling well and couldn't join us as I had hoped). Then we slept a little and went right back to the resort for a first look at Downtown Disney, a shopping, dining, entertainment area that just opened up between the Disneyland Hotel and the entrance to the park.

Must say my initial review of Downtown Disney is very positive. As you can see from the pictures on LaughingPlace.com they have really out done themselves on the decor for The World of Disney. Inside and outside the place looks great. Sure, a lot of the merchandise is just repeats of stuff you can get elsewhere in the resort. However, there are a number of sections in the store with downtown disney exclusive and other unique articles. Of note is the 'Disney Presents' line that is entended as a double entendre ... most of the products work good as a gift (present) to someone. The product line ranges from executive products to gift items. There is also a new line of baby stuff that is to die for.

The staff was a different matter. There were lots of first day adjustments going on and some cast members that needed additional training. But I'm confident they'll work that out. Hopefully, they'll keep the opening day level of staffing too.

We ate at three locations yesterday. Rainforest Cafe for dinner (which surpassed my very low expectations... but is more touristy than resort food), Brennen's Creole Cafe -- the takeout part of Brennen's Jazz Kitchen (which was good, but again the recipes have been adjusted to meet the pallate of the lowest common denominator), and Hagen Daz (which was good as always). I look forward to more locations opening up soon!!!

Walking and Eating at Downtown Disney led us to the conclusion that Disneyland has finally become a world class resort destination. (Well, minus a world class spa and hot springs... but other than that :-) ) It feels nice to have it all finally coming together.

See you all there.

TGIF!

That says it all.

First Kudos to Kevin at Fury.com for making the Yahoo Picks of the year with his AOLiza project. Kevin was also the runner-up on SurvivorBlog. A very popular blog/take-off of the Survivor TV Show.

Second, I want you all (both of you) to think of your three most memorable moments of the year 2000 and email them to me. I'll post them here this weekend.

For me the most memorable moments are (in no particular order): July 16th when Stacey and I finally figured it out and hooked up with a big freeway offramp sign; New Year's Eve 1999 (which is part of the last year chronologically speaking in that it is less than 365 days ago) with the whole world united in peace and celebation and my close family of friends united (mostly) at Disneyland; and the first night I saw 'Believe... There's Magic In the Stars' at Disneyland. Never has a fireworks show been so spectacular, so amazing, etc. and when I saw the giant mickey sillouette in the sky, I nearly cried (I'm such a softy).

Runner up is the whole mess with the presidential election. Came out on the losing end on that one or it would be up there. =)

well, I found out that the parking lots have not been filling up. So there goes that part of the theory...

Have I mentioned that I am in love with Stacey Wright? No. Well I should mention it. Right?

Thoughtful Thursday

It's a short work week with only the new millenium looming ahead. Thoughts of reading and writing have been heavy on my mind. I've been fleshing out my latest Dispatch from Disneyland column, finished a short book in the Star Wars saga (I'll have to go into that in greater depth another day), and picked up From Dawn to Decadence: 500 years of Western Cultural Life by Jacques Barzun again after a month or so of abandonment. (Btw, it's onsale right now at Amazon for an amazing 40% off if you don't have it already.)

If you haven't read FDTD you should consider it. While more than just a primer (it weighs in at almost 800 pages), it does serve as both a tickler for ideas and avenues that excite you, as well as some very specific education on the progress of Western Culture. Plus, it's all written in a very easy to follow, almost conversational, style. That's not to say the book doesn't have its biases. It has a heavy bias by omission, and the authors views tend toward what I would call the conservative. Still, I've been enjoying it emensely and consider it part of the 'canon' of education I never got.

Also in the news is Disneyland's record breaking attendance. The crowds have been amazing and the congestion in the park is very think and miserable even for us park veterans. I don't think the media is quite capturing the whole story here. I have a few theories on this that make better sense to me.

First there is the fact that Disneyland really has a hit on their hands with the new 'Believe' fireworks shows. By itself this accounts for a certain rise in attendance from normal levels. But that should have been countered by people waiting to make that Disneyland trip until the new park has opened. Instead, I think locals are coming in droves to soak up Disneyland one more time before staying away until this new park thing works out.

So that's one factor. The publically accepted one. However three more largely undiscussed factors arise. There is now less parking for the resort than ever before. The old parking lot used to hold 15,000 cars. The new parking lot only holds 10,000. Even with Simba, Timon, and Pumba (and the convention center overflow (which has always been available to Disneyland)) the lots all fill up faster than ever before. I don't know what they're going too when California Adventure opens -- fly people in from Edison Field?

Another factor is Fastpass. Fastpass means it takes fewer people in the park to create as much congestion. Essentially filling the park to capacity faster. An 90 minute wait for it's a small world holiday isn't unheard of... in fact the queue space is much smaller now that 70% of the queue is in fact out shopping, eating, or watching entertainment instead of standing in line. So the park now feels horribly crowded at about 51,000 in park, where it might have been able to handle 60,000 before. This means closing the gates ealier than ever before.

Finally, we have the possible reality of a work slowdown. Cast Members in attractions are about to lose one of their most valued procedures. The 15 minute rotational schedule is about to be bumped to a 45 minute rotation. This means fewer breaks, and longer periods of intense focus on one item, and more unhappy cast members. I think they're unhappy about it and are slowing the work down, creating longer lines, more unhappy guests, more congestion, because of it.

Take all of the above and you have a recipe for disaster. Too bad really. It should be an exciting time for all visitors and cast members, but instead it's just miserable for all.

Woo Hoo Wednesday!

Last night we had a lovely dinner with some of Stacey's cousins. Cheryl, Erin, and Adam (forgive me if I'm mispelling names) were a delight to meet. All three were very bright and polite, not something one can say about everyone in their age groups. Hopefully we'll be seeing more of them as time goes by.

We met at Stacey's mom's house where sumptious food was served. Rhoda went out of her way to make sure all of our strange eating habits were satisfied (including fish for me and vegan food for Adam). We even had a little gift exchange where Rhoda gave me the travel scrabble game I've been hankering for.

Speaking of games... I gave Stacey two card games from Looney Labs -- Fluxx and Chrononauts. We played them this past weekend and had a blast. If you're tired of the same old card games and want something new, these are for you. You'll also be doing a good deed by supporting a small company with good ideas trying to make it in todays market.

Recovery Day

Another slow day at work. Thank the maker. I'm all worn out after a great Holiday weekend. Hope you had one too. It was wonderful making new traditions with Stacey. I look forward to many years of Xmas fun with her. Tonight we're doing a Jewish Holiday dinner at her Mom's house.

Also saw Castaway with Tom Hanks. Here's my review... don't read if you don't want to have the movie 'spoiled' for you.

Spoilers! - Castaway with Tom Hanks

The box office winner this past weekend was, as if there was any doubt, the latest Tom Hanks flick - Castaway. You all know the story already (since the previews gave the whole movie away). All that's left is the scenery, the script, and the ability of one man to carry the premise. Well, two out of the three ain't bad.

The opening minutes of the movie set up the character of Chuck Noland. We are told repeatedly of his quirky traits which allow him to be a great manager for FedEx, a company where time is your enemy and your partner, and an all around nice guy (which we assume any Tom Hanks character to be). We are introduced to a few additional cast members whom we know we won't see again until the end of the movie and a few whom we are left wondering why there were there in the first place.

Then comes a quick series of events where we see the Chuck Noland character make a series of dumb moves that will eventually save his life but also strand him with none of the tools necessary for survival.

The plane crash is as spectacular as you would expect from any blockbuster film, what they can do these days in post production is amazing; and eventually you find yourself washed up on shore alone with a FedEx Manager whom you have just barely gotten to know. Not exactly the last person on earth I'd want to be stranded on an island with... but not among my top choices either.

Since we know he makes it off the island, the script spends most of its time amusing the audience with Chuck's various failures and successes as he attempts to survive. There are a couple of painful moments too, including one where our castaway desparately tries to escape beyond the barrier reef.

Then, without explanation or warning, the script jumps four years into the future and presents us with a totally different man than we left just a few seconds before. We see a man who has been driven insane without knowing what sent him over the edge. What could have been a fascinating study of the descent of an isolated man, asks us to take his insanity for granted.

Even worse, there are important character changing moments that happen totally off screen and are only spoken about. I would much rather have seen those changes for myself even if it made the film a few minutes longer.

Finally, the trade winds of luck smile upon our hapless castaway and he escapes the island. Eventually this brings us back to the mainland and a slightly more plausible series of events. In fact, the last few minutes of the movie are the most believable and understandable in the whole movie.

Robert Zemeckis shoots the film in a dark, almost grayscale at times, tint. While he's obviously chosen the shots, he mostly lets Hanks act, and the audience watch him. Zemeckis, who also worked with Hanks in Forrest Gump, leaves most of his emotional string pulling bag of tricks at home.

Hanks carries the movie quite admirally and his performance and physical transformation is worth seeing. The structural problems I had with the script do not destroy the whole movie, they just left me feeling abused as a viewer. But then again, most Zemeckis films do that to me.

I'd give the movie 3 out of 5 coconuts.

MERRY XMAS


Woke up early this morning to find that Santa had visited Stacey and I. We each got stockings full of great toys and candy. Among other great gifts Stacey got me the 'Olive the other Reindeer' story and plush. Very cute. I managed to find that one piece I was looking for, a Lenox Dumbo. She was very happy. Stacey also got me this marvelous Fantasia 2000 snowglobe and sculpture. It's got Mickey on top and little snow globes with scenes from the movie in them.

Now we're off to PCH Grill to have what's probably our last Holiday Brunch there (at least for a while). It has become something of a tradition that those who don't observe the holiday or have family nearby to observe it with all eat at PCH Grill. This year it's Doobie and Rebekah (as usual) and Chuck Mann joining us. My tummy is awaiting anxiously.

Next year the Grand Californian will be open and will most likely be our new hangout.

Well, I hope you all have a marvelous holiday and a joyous new year's eve. Be safe and have fun.

-Indigo