Closing Out The Summer

It is with sadness that I bring to your attention that it is officially the end of the summer. August is coming to an end, Labor Day Weekend is here and all the kiddies are headed back to school.

Not that the seasons change or anything in Miami, but there is still some type of heavy hearted feeling when summer is over. Maybe I am just reliving my feelings from high school years or maybe it is a shock at how fast time is going. Seriously, where did this entire year go?

So I bid farewell to summer and I say hello to hurricane season, the Jewish holidays, the Austin City Limits Music Festival, my sister's baby, my other sister's wedding, Thanksgiving (yes!) and the Hanukah/Christmas season! Oh, and hopefully an end to all the drama from the past few months. Amen!

And yes, I almost forget the best part - all the tv shows coming back!!! The Office, Thirty Rock, Project Runway, Lost (ok yea I know it is in a long time from now), Heroes, My Name is Earl...and possibly some newbies???

Quote

"When a thing has been said and well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it."
- Anatole France

The Diet Fork

A lot of people who shell out diet advice say that eating slower, with smaller bites, fills you up quicker and keeps you from overeating.

So not only are the portions we eat too big, but we are are pushing too much food into our mouths too quickly. Our bodies don't realize we are full until we have eaten a few fork-fulls too many.

Solution? Smaller fork!
This "diet fork" holds less food than a regular fork, is uncomfortable to hold (making the eater put down the fork between bites) and has shorter teeth which can't hold large pieces of food.

Hmmm...could it really work? Or is it just a lame excuse for someone to make a few bucks? Check out what FitSugar has to say about it.

Wow This Sucks

"Boom of Condo Crash Heard Loudest In Miami"

Quote

"Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious."
- Peter Ustinov

The Must-Read Novel of the Year

Yesterday was a special day. Not only was it deemed Christopher Barzak Day in the writing blogosphere, but it was also the day Mr. Barzak's first novel, One for Sorrow, was officially released. And it's a dozy of a book! I haven't read the published version just yet (I should get mine in the mail later this week), but I guarantee it's worth your time and effort. Chris is easily one of the best writers I've ever read (and just happens to be a really nice guy) and his first novel is something that people will cherish and re-read for many many years to come. For sure.

Click here to go to the Amazon ordering page, already filling up with positive reviews.

Quote

"As long as you don't forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy rent-free space in your mind."
- Isabelle Holland

November 14th

Season 4 of Project Runway starts on November 14th!!!

FINALLY!!!!

(BPR)

Feist and Indie Rock All Stars on Letterman

Feist Gets Folks From Broken Social Scene, The National, Grizzly Bear, The New Pornographers, Mates Of State, And Nicole Atkins To Dress In White And Perform "1234" On Letterman

(Stereogum)

In The News

No need for diapers - start potty training at birth
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Hack an IPhone - get a new car
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Idaho Republican Senator caught attempting to canoodle with a bathroom stall neighbor.
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Drunk? No Legs? No Problem! Bring a friend along and go drunk driving.
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Gay unions sanctioned - 600 years ago in Medieval Europe.

Quote

"A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her."
- Oscar Wilde

Some People

Don't Love Flight of the Conchords.

Just Put Your Lips Together...

The addictive power of Peter Bjorn and John's whisteling in Young Folks has spread to Boston. (It just took a year)

Peace Out!

Alberto Gonzales resigned today from his position as Attorney General. Another one in the Bush camp crawls away quietly.

AT&T Admits They Are Crappy

I had Cingular for a very long time. I also had AT&T before that. I actually hated AT&T/Cingular by the end of my contract because my phone had service problems and the customer service was awful.

Looks like AT&T is ready to admit that they are kinda crappy - AT&T is no longer claiming to be the network with the "fewest dropped calls"

I don't even know how AT&T was able to claim that before but now they are just going to focus their advertisements on having "more bars in more places" (whatever that means).

(Consumerist)

Quote

"What can you say about a society that says that God is dead and Elvis is alive?"
- Irv Kupcinet

Postsecret

I can relate.

New week - new postsecrets.

Guess Where This Is

Guess where this picture was taken

Answer in the comments section.

(From Treehugger via Digg)

Bored?

Check out this list of 15 Websites that are sure to waste some time.

Quote

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."
- Jack London

Top Chef - Kitchen Wars Part 2

What happened last night that Trey got the boot? I totally thought he was final 3 material.

And what does Brian or CJ have going for them that they are still there? I just don't get it.

New final 3? Howie, Hung and???? Sara??? Something tells me Cassie is going to end up there. I feel like she has been just barely getting by and that is somehow going to push her into the final 3. Not for her dishes - but just because she keeps on barely making it each week. And Dale? I can't figure out if I like him or not. But I think he can somehow make it to the end, also.

Quote

"It matters not Who you love, Where you love, Why you love, When you love, Or how you love, It matters only that you love."
- John Lennon

Andrew Bird - Enviornmentally Friendly Tour

Nice Interview with Andrew Bird at New York Public Radio WYNC.

Beautiful solo performances of: Plasticities, and Scythian Empires.



here is the mp3 if you want to download it.

Other Bands into the eco-friendly concert tours include Sheryl Crow, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Barenaked Ladies, Bonnie Raitt, the Dave Matthews Band, and Avril Lavigne.


A spectacular concert at the Paradiso, Amsterdam may 2005



enjoy

Organic Eco-Friendly Pizza

"Saving the Earth, One Pizza at a time"

Wow, I just came across this. It's an Organic Eco-Friendly Pizzaria in Ft. Lauderdale & Deerfield Beach. Plus they have a bunch more locations coming soon, one is Aventura, YES! Another in South Beach!!! Oh how awesome!

They have 2 vegan pizzas on the menu! & deliver via hybrid. Hey Shawn, coming over this weekend :)

http://www.pizzafusion.com/

Here is some info from the website: (they have lots more info on the website)

Our Sauce:

Our delicious pizza sauce is made fresh every morning using only 100% Certified Organic Ingredients: the tomatoes, the sugar, all of our “Secret” herbs & spices as well as our olive oil! We are proud to use Christina’s Organic Tomatoes, Florida Crystal’s Organic Sugar(milled from the ONLY Organic Sugar Farmin the U.S.) and Spectrum Organic Olive Oil to make our sauce for you, your children and your loved ones.

Our Dough

Our pizza dough is made from the finest “00” all-natural flour, imported from Naples Italy. And we take pride in only combining with 100% Organic Ingredients. Our Whole Grain Multi-Grain “Healthy Crust” is made with Certified Organic flour and ingredients. Dough is allowed ample time to proof, giving it true flavor.

Our Vegetables

All of the vegetables we use for our Pizzas & Sandwiches are 100% CERTIFIED organic*. However, there are times when certain organic items become available due to weather problems which can affect farming. In the event that we replace an item with conventional produce, we will CLEARLY note these items on our “Specials board”. Our mission is to uphold the highest level of integrity in your food. Your health is our #1 priority.

Our Salads

We are proud to use both Newman’s Own Organics and Earthbound Farms Spring Mix and Baby Spinach in all of our salads. These two companies are THEE leading farms for organic salads and haved paved the way for organic eating. All of our dressings come from our friends at Annie’s Naturals.

Our Meats & Poultry

We are proud to use only all-natural meats from Applegate Farms. All of our select cuts of deli meats are free of any nitrates, antibiotics or chemical preservatives. Our NY Strip and Ground Beef from Grateful Harvest is 100% CERTIFIED ORGANIC and is free of any hormones, pesticides, antibiotics and insecticides. It is fed a diet of 100% Organic feed and roam freely in their natural environment. We use all-natural, free-range chicken for our pizzas and salads.

Bad TV Shows I Am Drawn To

Yes I am a TV addict. No excuses or hiding from that. And I watch really bad tv. So maybe some of you can share in your sick love for these show...

Rock of Love (VH1) - Bret Michaels, from Poison, is dating Flav-a-flav style. He got a group of girls in a house and has them competing for dates and his eternal love. Or at least the final spot at the end of the season and a make out session. I must talk about Lacey. This girl is nuts. She targets one girl each week and makes it her goal to get that girl eliminated. At first I was thinking she as cool because she wasn't all blond and plastic but now she totally freaks me out (in a very entertaining way). Looks like next week the remaining girls are going to turn on Lacey and expose to Bret who she really is!

The Hills (MTV) - OMG Who isn't watching this show? Srsly? LC v Heidi! Justinbobby and Audrina? Is Spencer a real human because some times he looks like a robot to me? This show is soooo fake yet so appealing. I can't even explain it. And every once in awhile you remember that the kids on this show are literally kids (just out of high school 2-3 years ago) and still live off their Laguna Beach parent's money. Oh and they all have internships where you know they don't make enough money to afford a Benz or their swanky apartments. Oh LA!

Engaged and Underage (MTV) - Each week this show follows an under 21 couple on their way to marital bliss. Recently the show had two lesbian girls that met on Myspace who were getting married. They had to be like 18 or 19. First let me say that I have absolutely nothing against gay marriage. But these two girls were like little teenagers still living at home thinking they need to seal their union that probably started with an exchange of half naked photos. And as of the other couples on this show - I wish they show the couples like three years later instead of one month later to see how they are holding up.

Scott Baio is 45 and Single (VH1) - You all know who Chachi/Charles in Charge/Bob Loblaw is but now you can know the intimate details of his relationship fears and follies. Scott hired a life coach to help him figure out whether he wants to get married or stay single for the rest of his life. It sounds like Scott knows the answer (constantly whining about how he doesn't want to be 60 and alone) but the way he describes women is something out of a nightmare cartoon. It is obvious he is obsessed with vanity and is self-absorbed but perhaps he might just learn something by confronting all the girls he has screwed over in his past. Fun to watch just to see him feel like crap at least 10 times an episode.

Slow News Day for Sun Sentinal?

The South Florida Sun Sentinal has on their home page the headline "Are Hollywood starlets getting too thin?" with pictures of Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie above it.

First of all this story is sooooooo old. I know the date of the story says August 22, 2007, but this was "news" almost 2 years ago. Where has the Sun Sentinal been all this time?

Second, earth to Sun Sentinal!!!! Nicole is pregnant and hopefully getting "fat" and Lindsay is in rehab and is said to have never looked better. That's what everyone is talking about now. Get it right! DUUUUHHHHH

What's Going On Up There?

10 facts that differentiate men's brains from women's brains.

Quote

"It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech."
- Mark Twain

Hmph

I ate a lot of french fries today. Why are they so tasty?

Recent Screwup?

Follow this flowchart to see if you are fucked.


From Boing Boing.

A Lawyer's Worst Nightmare

An Ohio Judge had an attorney arrested for not being prepared to go forward with a trial.

Sure he was a public defender and it was an actual trial - but he was only assigned the case one day before the trial - give him a break!

Quote

"I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up."
- Tom Lehrer

I Think I Need To Go To Food Rehab

The first half of this year was a complete success when it came to curbing my intake of food. I was extremely disciplined and I actually lost weight!

But ever since early June there has been a complete downhill spiral of my eating habits. And this past week was the WORST of all. Sure, it was my birthday - but I actually had three separate pieces of chocolate cake in one day! Not to mention the fact that I went out to dinner four times for my birthday.

So now I have to start all over again. Throw away all the goodies and refocus on the small portions, more veggies and fruit and lower calories. Ugh I hated this part of the diet and now I have to start it all again! This sucks!

Maybe this time I will actually get some exercise in there. How do I break the laziness and disgust for exercising?

No HBO?

We have talked about Flight of the Conchords A LOT lately but some of you may still not have seen it because you don't have HBO.

Guess what? You are not out of luck. Check out AllFOTC.com to see every episode from Season 1. I totally recommend "Sally" as the best episode to watch from this season.

YES!

Quote

"A person who trusts no one can't be trusted."
- Jerome Blattner

Postsecret

Postsecret has all new secrets this week. Go check them out.

Yes!

BOOGIE!!! ROBO BOOGIE!!!

Flight of the Conchords renewed for another HBO season starting in 2008.

OK, honestly I think my (and Elad's) love for this show has gotten to the point of obsession. When you can't go a few hours without singing the lyrics of the songs and you can't say the word "yes" without the accent....

All I gotta say is...

IT'S BUSINESS...IT'S BUSINESS TIME!

And for now...check out this interview with Jermaine and Bret by Alan Sepinwall.

Unbelievable

The only way you could believe that this pool in Tokyo could be filled with that many people would be to see the video.

(BWE)

Quote

"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop."
- Confucius

Broward's Answer to Miami Spice

Broward County is taking part in their own version of Miami Spice. They call it "Dine Out Lauderdale".

It goes from October 1 to November 15 and is only available on Sunday through Thursday. It is suspended during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Oct. 25-29, 2007.

They are doing three course menus at a $35 fixed price.

Birthday Dinner at The Forge

The official birthday dinner night was reserved for Elad. As part of my birthday wish, I asked him to pick out a place for us to eat. He picked out 5 and made reservations at all of them. After a few weeks of indecisiveness, we picked The Forge.

The Forge is known for its steak, wine and romantic dark lighting. There are multiple rooms you can choose from when you make a reservation. Honestly I don't think there is any restaurant like The Forge anywhere else in Miami. I felt like I was transported back to NY to some amazing unique restaurant that I couldn't afford there either. There is the main room, the wine dining room, the dome room, the library and I am sure a few others. Elad chose the library because it is known to be cozy. The room literally looks like a library in a person's home. Floor to ceiling bookshelves with glass doors. I peaked inside one and found law books (Southern Reporter). Also, there are large stained glass windows that make you feel like you are in a church or temple. Not that it is religious. There is nothing religious about it. It is just dark and heavy and gives that feel of importance.

We were seated at a table which had a couch as well as two chairs across from it. We chose to sit next to each other on the couch. First the wine menu is presented to you. We picked a savignon blanc by the bottle. The wine comes out along with a cone full of bread. The bread was hot and really good and came with a butter mixed with herbs. There was sweet, salty, cheesy and seasoned bread. Beware of over consuming the bread - there is a lot more ahead of you!

Next the HUGE menus come out. Literally the menus were as big as the table. There was a large variety of fish and meat. Meat is their thing. They have all cuts of steaks and they are known for their aged-super steak. (Although I was advised it ain't all that "super" and you can do just as well with getting the filet.) Elad and I have this little thing that goes way back that I was supposed to get lobster at some dinner out. So if its gonna happen - why not at the Forge? So Lobster for me and filet mignon for Elad. We also ordered a tuna tartar appetizer and a side of creamed corn and sweet potato mash.

As we perused the menu, a little taster came out. A small plate with a shrimp with a cold creamy sauce. If this was a taste for what was coming, we were headed in the right direction.

The tuna tartar came out fast. It had a mango salsa decorating the plate, as well as kimchi and eel sauce. Elad is kinda obsessed with sushi right now so he was loving the raw tuna. I agree - it was really well done.

Let me just break from the food to tell you about the service. We must have had 5 different people waiting on our table. They were constantly refilling the water, pouring the wine, cleaning up after us, checking to see if everything was OK. There is no lack of attention to detail at this place.

The main course came out and I was surprised because it was actually fast. I thought I would wait awhile but before I knew it there was food in front of me again. The meals come out on large plates covered in a metal dome to keep it hot. After the meal is put down and all the side dishes are present, they lift the dome and WHALA there is your lovely meal.

The lobster I got was on special that night. It was a lobster tail from South Africa. This thing was HUGE. Literally the biggest lobster tail I have ever seen in my life. Can easily feed two people. It was cooked on a tuscan grill and served with macadamia nuts and a few pieces of veggie tempura. It has been a very long time since I have had lobster and with a payoff like this it was worth the wait. It was tender and meaty and so filling. The only problem is that I could have used some buttery sauce, but this lobster was not going for the traditional butter thing so I didn't ask. I fully enjoyed it nonetheless!

Elad had the filet and it was perfect. Great consistency, size and flavor. It came with a small kabob of grilled veggies.

As for sides, I think you can skip on it. The creamed corn was good but nothing to rave about it. The sweet potato mash was too sweet. They must have added something to sweeten it up but it just went a little too far for my taste.

So at this point I couldn't breath. I was so full I could barely sit straight on my seat. But it is my birthday and what is a birthday without dessert? We ordered this chocolate pie (The Forge Blacksmith Pie). It had multiple layers of cream and chocolate and a cookie crust. Very tasty but I could only get two bites down and decided it would be best to take it home and eat the rest later.

This dinner was really amazing. And don't think the check didn't reflect that. All I could do was laugh hysterical at how expensive the meal was. I think Elad shed a tear as he handed over his credit card. But we can't deny that the meal was worth it. We didn't cheap out in any respect and really took full advantage of what the Forge has to offer. It might not be often that we can eat like we just won the lottery and I am extremely lucky to be treated so well on my special day! Thank you, Elad! I love you!!!!

Review: Miami Spice Month at Wish

My wonderful friend Pinc took me out to dinner the night before my birthday to Wish. It was the official kick-off to the birthday celebrations!

Wish is located at The Hotel, 801 Collins Ave. in South Beach. The cuisine is mostly an American style with the decor styled by Todd Oldham. Bright tropical colors and dim lighting make it a lovely and comfortable place to dine.

On their regular menu there were some interesting offerings but the spice menu has plenty that I wanted to try. We actually picked Wish because of the rocky road cake dessert. Rocky Road is my favorite ice cream so I had to see what the cake variety would be like.

We did try out a savignon blanc by the glass. I believe it was from Richard Hall. Very good wine and the price was not bad.

Their spice menu:

APPETIZER (choice of one)
-Crispy Chick Pea Ravioli
With Greens and Sweet Ginger Dressing
-Golden Beet Salad
With Curried Goat Cheese, Raisins, and Radicchio

ENTRÉE (choice of one)
-Seared Organic Chicken
Lemon-Basil Spaetzle and Vietnamese Black Bean Sauce
-Australian Sea Bass
Japanese Eggplant Griddle Cakes with Bell Pepper Nage and Marjoram
-Roasted Pork Chop
Chorizo-Clam Hash, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, and Thyme

DESSERT (choice of one)
-Crème Caramel
Florentine Cookies and Basil Anglaise
-Molten Rocky Road Cake
With Vanilla Milkshake

Pinc and I both had the chick pea Ravioli salad. There was a hot fried ravioli filled with creamy chick peas (a la hummus) on top of a simple green salad with tomatoes and a light creamy dressing. A good start to the meal. The ravioli was the best part (can't beat anything fried) and the salad was simple and good.

For the main meal, Pinc had the Sea Bass which looked really yummy. She says she enjoyed it and by the looks of her empty plate at the end, I don't doubt it. The fish was on top of an eggplant cake which I tasted and was very good.

I had the pork chop. I must admit, I have never actually had a full fledged pork chop before. (Blame it on the jewishness) But over the past few years, with thanks to Pinc, I have opened my eyes to many varieties of pork. Oh, how did I live so long without all those yummy baby back ribs? Anyway, we were talking about pork chops. And specifically this one, albeit my first ever, was so yummy! It was tender and roasted simply with salt and pepper and maybe some other simple spices. The chop had a lot of flavor and was a huge cut. Very filling and satisfying.

On to the much anticipated dessert. We both went for the rocky road cake. And of course Danya thought ahead and when she made the reservation with Open Table* she noted it was a birthday dinner. So out came the cake with a candle and in chocolate it said "Happy Birthday" on the plate. So cute! The dessert came with a little vanilla milkshake served in a shotglass. Nothing fancy, but still it was good. And the cake. THE CAKE! It was rocky road in the hot version. There was chocolate. There were nuts. There were even marshmallows! And it was all in a round shaped cake with a gooey chocolate center. Kinda like a molten cake except it had the rocky road flavors added in.

Overall, my experience at Wish was excellent. The food was great, the portions were perfect, the atmosphere was lovely and of course the presence of Pinc and celebrating my birthday made it all that much better!

*By the way, Open Table has a special page just for Miami Spice. You can just type in the time and date you want to eat and they will tell you what Miami Spice restaurants have openings. Just remember that not all restaurants participate in Spice every night of the week, so make sure to confirm what nights there are spice menus at the Miami Spice website.

Quote

"Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields to stern resolve."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Happy Birthday Shawn!

Happy Birthday to our most dedicated blogger/founder & my amazing sister!

SHAWN!

Review: Miami Spice Month at Grass

Grass Restaurant and Lounge is a hidden spot tucked in the Design District on 40th Street right off of Miami Avenue. It is hard to spot from the street but once you get inside it is an open air (no roof) dining hotspot. If you are going on Friday night make sure to make a reservation because they were packed.

Luckily, we thought ahead. We were seated within a few minutes of arriving. They were just ending their Friday BBQ Buffet. Looked good, but we were too late and we were really there for the Spice Menu.

We did look over their regular menu. All looked great but very expensive.

Options on the Spice Menu:

APPETIZER (choice of one)
Savory Goat Cheese Crumbles
With Hydroponic Arugula and Soy-Balsamic Drizzle

Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho
With Chunky Crab Salad Garnish

Miso Marinated Asian Chicken Salad
Napa Cabbage, Radicchio, Endive, Pickled Mango and European Cucumber

ENTRÉE (choice of one)
Homemade “Herbs Du Provence” Roasted
Breast of Free Range Chicken Parmesan and Truffle Tossed Shoestring Fries

Toasted Brown Miso-Sweet Soy Glazed Florida Yellow Jack
Julienne of Vegetables and Grilled Scallion Beurre Blanc

Marsala-Tamari Marinated Skirt Steak
Seasoned Sweet Potato Chips

DESSERT (choice of one)
Cashew-Crusted Pineapple Cheesecake
Pistachio Ice Cream

Chocolate-Hazelnut Beignets
With Chocolate-Ginger Sauce

Tasting of Sorbets and Gelatos
Amaretto

Elad and I are big on sharing. We had:
Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho and Miso Marinated Asian Chicken Salad
Homemade “Herbs Du Provence” Roasted and Marsala-Tamari Marinated Skirt Steak
Cashew-Crusted Pineapple Cheesecake and Chocolate-Hazelnut Beignets

Elad wasn't a huge fan of the Gazpacho, I think because there was fish in it. But I actually REALLY enjoyed it. Very light and refreshing. The Asian salad was really yummy, especially the fresh mango and citrus fruits incorporated into the dish.

The roasted chicken was perfect. They put slices of lemon under the skin of the chicken while it roasts. I think that makes it more flavorful and tender. Very yummy. Elad was a big fan of the steak, which had a good marinade but wasn't the tenderness that I usually go for. But still, it was very tasty. And it came with a chimichurri that was tasty.

And finally...the dessert. AMAZING! I don't know which one I enjoyed more. Seriously the cheesecake had an explosion of flavor that was matched perfectly with the nutty crust and ice cream. It was a great smooth consistency and the portion side was good. The beignets were warm and gooey. They had a fudgy chocolate center that oozed out when you bit into them. You got 4 small beignets which doesn't seem like a lot, but after a big meal it was perfect.

I totally recommend people trying out Grass. Just take into account that there is no A/C shield from the heat and that your service might not be as prompt as you like. (I don't think the servers are used to this many people). They do have large fans set up around the dining area and occasionally they shower the restaurant in mist. The food is totally worth it and the music is great too! There was a live DJ that night playing hip hop mostly from the 90's. If you go on a Friday night try to show up a little early and let me know how the BBQ buffet is.

A Real Tropical Storm...Coming Soon

Right now "Tropical Depression 4" is out in the Atlantic somewhere southeast of Florida. Today this depression is supposed to turn into Tropical Storm Dean. And by Friday it could be a Hurricane.

Of course, a bunch of weather factors could move the storm further away from the coast of Florida, so make sure to stay on top of the forecast at the National Hurricane Center.

And here is a summary of the messy weather situation in the US right now.

Most Notable Celebrity Quotes of the Past 25 Years

USA Today has put together a list of the "top 25 notable quotables" from celebrity mouths.

Some of my favorites:

3. “Why can’t you share your bed? The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone.”

— Michael Jackson, defending his practice of letting boys share his bed in a Feb. 3, 2003, interview with BBC/Granada’s Martin Bashir. The interview led to molestation charges; Jackson was acquitted in June 2005.

11. “Crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. Let’s get that straight. OK? We don’t do crack. We don’t do that. Crack is whack.”

— Whitney Houston in 2002 on ABC’s Primetime. Houston has since been through rehab several times, and last year split from husband Bobby Brown. She has been working on a new album.

16. “I’m in shock. And I’m so in love with my brother right now.”

— Angelina Jolie, thanking brother James Haven while accepting the supporting actress Oscar for 1999’s Girl, Interrupted. Since then she has become Brad Pitt’s companion and an upstanding citizen of the world.

22. “I just want one day off when I can go swimming and eat ice cream and look at rainbows.”

— Mariah Carey on MTV’s TRL in 2001, before entering rehab for exhaustion. Glitter bombed that fall, but in 2005 she put out a Grammy-winning hit album.

Quote

"Happiness isn't something you experience; it's something you remember."
- Oscar Levant

Movies I can't get enough of

In response to the previous post I decided to make my own list. Only i'm going to add the great ones too

Movie I can watch over and over again:

The Never Ending Story
-can't u hear the song in your head - Bastian, Say My Name!

Grease
-Luckily these days it's usually on all the time on some channel (lol)

Grease II
-cheese-fest I know

Dirty Dancing
-Before the nose Job

Forest Gump
-run Forest! RUN!

The Last Dragon
-Sho'nuff

Girls Just wanna have fun
-Carrie in her uniform days

The Little Mermaid
-I even saw the sequel

Splash
-what girl doesn't want to be a mermaid in the nasty waters of the Hudson

The Princess Bride
-You know u watch it when you see it on tv

The Lion King
-I even saw the broadway show, it was great

There's something about mary

-u know u loved this part, with the hair!

Ohhh Such An Excellent Find!

I just came across this blog and I LOVE IT:

Behind the Counter - All the drama from the Service Desk of the Wal-Mart.

This person rants about people returning shit at Wal-mart to get back $2.64. And the things that get returned -- oh you just have to check it out.

The Best Worst Movies

Check out Maxim's top 13 Best Worst Movies We Can't Stop Watching, But Totally Should

The Last Dragon:
Back before hip-hop and R&B was ruined by poser thugs and kung fu movies started taking themselves way too seriously, the two had a torrid one night stand and birthed this beautiful love child. In fact, stand up in your cubicle right now and shout "Who is the master?" Anyone who doesn´t answer ´Sho´ nuff!" is someone you never need to speak to again.

Scarface:
Settle down, holmes. I know your Tony Montana silk-screened shirt, bedsheets, pool table cover, and mudflaps bristle at the thought of Scarface being called a "bad" movie, but ignore the hype and the fake gangster posturing and do something you´ve never done: Watch the movie. It´s aiiight, but it´s not the masterpiece it thinks it is. Still, as generally trashy B-movie stuff goes, it´s good stuff, and we don´t mind wallowing in Tony´s sleaze any chance we get. Just wipe your nose and keep it in perspective. You´re not a Cuban cocaine kingpin in Miami, you´re a Home Depot stockboy from Passaic, New Jersey.

(Digg)

Crazy Advertisments

I don't even know where to begin on this one....so I will just direct you to a link of some crazy vintage advertisements.

Question

Did anyone see the meteor shower this weekend? I totally missed it....

Quote

"No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other."
- Jascha Heifetz

Postsecret

This week on Postsecret there aren't any new cards, but there is a great short video that Frank created. Please watch and enjoy.



(There is sound on the video.)

And next week there will be more new secrets at Postsecret.

Mindreading

click picture to make larger.

(Digg)

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"Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before."
- Mae West

Top 10 Ways to Look Like a Total Toolbag

Check out this list and avoid these fashion mistakes

It Never Ends!

Some of you may remember my continued drama with the repairs in my house. It started with the hell that was my washing machine and then the A/C broke and needed to be replaced.

So after more than a month of dealing with this A/C company now the situation has just gotten more frustrating. Here is a list of what has gone wrong so far:

- I contracted the A/C people through Home Depot. I was told I would get 10% off for signing up for a Home Depot Card and I would get up to $1200 off for using this contractor. I got neither. I complained to both Home Depot and the A/C company but nothing changed.

- The unit I got was way more expensive than other units on the market, but I thought I should go through Home Depot because at least I should be able to trust the contractor. I was wrong.

- The first time they came to install the unit they damaged the walls, doors and floors in and around my bathroom where the A/C unit is located. They are only now getting around to doing the repairs. Let's see how that turns out.

- The unit was installed on July 3rd and did not work at all. I couldn't stay in my house that night because the heat was choking me.

- They came to repair the unit 2 days later as well as install another part which they are charging me another $513 for. I was really upset with the extra charge but I agreed to it so I could just get my A/C done and move on with my life.

- I live in a large high-rise condo building which could not get it's shit together so the final parts could be installed (they needed to shut off the main water in order for the A/C people to put in some new valves and hoses on the unit which were necessary to meet the Miami-Dade building codes). Turns out my building needed to do a larger repair first before being able to shut off the water. They told me it was done but then when the A/C company came out again the water would not shut off.

And now, the A/C company wants me to pay more money! Why? Because They have to come out again to install the valve and hoses that I already paid for.

Meanwhile, while the building was shutting off the water, the A/C guy (who showed up late) waited and eventually left around noon saying he would just come back another day to finish it.

And now, because the guy left and didn't want to wait for my building to figure out the water situation, they want me to pay more money. On top of that, there is an open permit that they need to close and I guess they haven't realized yet that if they don't finish the work they can't close the permit. But they don't want to finish the work without more money. So if I don't pay, the permit stays open and then what?

Truth is that this company doesn't know what's coming if they don't finish this work at no extra cost. Elad has done much of the talking to the company over the past month because they respond well to him. When I dealt with them at first they gave me a run-around (I think it's because I am a girl or a bitch). For some reason they love him. But now they are giving him a run-around. So now they are gonna deal with me again. And I'm just gonna be a bitch until they get this right. We have tried the "nice" thing and they have screwed us. I'm tired and I want to move on with my life already.

Oh, and guess what - the air filters in the store don't fit the unit! Surprise, surprise - more money I have to spend either to buy the filters from them or get a custom made filter somewhere else. It never ends.

***Update***
After much bitching and complaining, the A/C company agreed to one more shot without charging me more money. Now let's hope my building can get their act together.

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"Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along."
- Napoleon Hill

The Twist

According to Crunktastical, Diddy's big "surprise" at the end of this season's Making the Band 4 allows the viewers the ability to vote and "choose" who is going to make the band. Go to the Making the Band website, become a member of MTV.com and vote for your picks.

Although, if you read the rules carefully, the vote may or may not count. It is within the discretion of MTV. Some lawyer got some good billable hours out of drafting those rules.

I was kinda over this season after the episode where Laurie Ann got kicked off along with half of all the contestants. So many people got eliminated so fast. It felt like we didn't even get to see that much of the contestants before they were sent away. Have you noticed that about reality tv now? Almost all the competition shows have been kicking off more than one person each week - so I guess they make the season shorter?

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"Change brings on the opportunity to do what you were too scared to attempt yourself."
- Enzo D'Alimonte

i can't make this up

do you ever hear about crimes that just leave you scratching your head in puzzlement? when i lived in ny, i remember listening to z100, a top 40 radio station in the nyc metro area. the morning show included this guy who used to do a "stupid news" segment and talk about random people who were caught doing totally insane and ridiculous things. those segments would often leave me feeling less hopeful about civilization.

anyway, so i read this post on dlisted about this woman who was arrested for fudge theft. that's right. she was found crying in the lobby of a maryland hotel with fudge smeared all over her and falling out of her purse. the officer who responded to the scene recognized the fudge as being from a nearby candy store. turns out she stole $70 worth of it as well as a bunch of m&m packets. while the officers were investigating, she tried to flush the fudge down the toilet but wasn't successful.

i sometimes crave chocolate as much as anyone...but i can't imagine resorting to theft!

the smoking gun

Does It Make You Skinnier?

Why is it that every time I see a picture of Nicole Richie eating she has her tongue sticking out?

The Five Second Rule

The Rule means that if you drop food on the floor you have 5 seconds to pick it up and eat it before it is considered dirty or contaminated and can't be eaten.

Fact or Fiction? The Today Show tests it out.

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"So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work."
- Peter Drucker

The Tragedy of Bravo's Near-Fame

A great article from the New Yorker talks about the Near-Fame Experience, and how some have thrived off the reality fame while others are still trying to make ends meet.

For the contestants, the implicit promise of these shows is that they’re time machines, compressing the brutal urban mechanics of getting ahead—the political maneuvering, the grinding incremental labor—from a matter of years to months. The problem is that reality-show success is no substitute for real-world experience. “There is something a little bit cruel about all the attention,” says Ted Allen, the dignified cooking guru of Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and a recurring judge on Top Chef. “Because during the season you’re in one of the shows, you are famous for a while, and you get to enjoy all the fun of that. But you’re not someone who has any sort of expertise that’s going to keep you on television. There’s no certain road map for translating that kind of ephemeral success into a life of yachts and bling.”

The talented reality stars on Bravo's hits like Project Runway and Top Chef look like they have it made. They compete, they win, they get the hook up to set up their own fashion line or internship or whatever-the-hell it is. But looks can be deceiving.

People like Jay McCarroll (winner of Season 1, Project Runway) is practically homeless, living out of his tiny NY studio where he produces his designs. No bathroom, no kitchen. How is that possible after being the winner of this huge TV competition? Jay turned down the Banana Republic deal. Do you blame him? Well, according to Jay, it went something like this:

“A week after I won the show, I met with two ladies from Banana Republic at the top of the Soho House, which is like, big time,” he says. “And they were like, ‘Oh, we can give you numbers for factories to get your clothes produced.’ But that was totally not anything like what I needed. What I needed was someone to sit down with me and say, Here’s how you start a fashion label.”

also..."After he won the first season of Project Runway, he discovered that the Weinstein Company would forever own a 10 percent stake in his brand—and he didn’t yet even have a brand—if he chose to take their $100,000 prize. He turned it down."

So, no, I don't blame him. All he knows is the design aspect. What good would it be to find a sweatshop to produce his clothing if he didn't have the know-how to market and get his stuff in the stores?

And what are his other choices if he can't run his own business? Pretty much put the designing aside and live up the reality fame by hosting parties and gigs where his name will bring people in. Sure that works for some people, but when he signed up to become "Americans Next Great Designer" he actually wanted to design.

“You get everything you’re promised from the show,” says Andrae Gonzalo (Season 2, Project Runway). “I am now a famous fashion designer. But that is so different from a successful fashion designer.”

Note - the New Yorker article is very long - but it takes an interesting deep look into the before (casting), during (taping) and after (the reality fame) of running a show on Bravo. Plus a little more about past contestants, hosts and executives of the network.

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

Do you know what contesting is? Neither did I, until I saw this quirky and powerful film, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio.

The film is set in the early 1930's and 40's and stars the stately Julianne Moore as a mother of ten (!) with a knack for verse and rhyme. She enters numerous contests, whether they be for two dollars or a washer/dryer system, and she usually wins. Her husband (played by the not-so-stately Woody Harrelson) works in a metal shop and comes home every night with two bottles of whiskey. He's got a major drinking problem and when he drinks, he gets angry and violent, often at Julianne Moore's Evelyn.

There are some chilling scenes of domestic violence and truly uncomfortable sequences that deal with the inner workings of a large, dysfunctional, family. But these heavy moments are buoyed by a sense of optimism that runs through the movie. The family may be poor and hungry, but when Evelyn wins a shopping spree in a supermarket, there's a wonderful sense of fun as she grabs filet mignon and caviar and other "good stuff."

The film might have gotten buried in its own setup if it wasn't for Julianne Moore's smile. She smiles throughout the whole movie (pretty much). Even when her daughter, pessimistic Tuff, wonders how she can be happy when her life so plainly sucks, Moore's character just laughs and tries to enjoy whatever moment she happens to be in. She's a revelation in this film, her best performance yet.

There's some great sequences regarding the contesting, the way it works and some nice musical montages relating to various jingles. My favorite scenes, though, involve a group of contesting housewives who form a club called the AffiDaises. They get together, make lunch, and talk shop. But the majority of the movie deals with the husband's drinking problem and the way it affects the family, making it an often depressing film.

With its mix of joy and sadness, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is a disjointed but enjoyable film. Heed my warning, though, it's not for the faint of heart.

Not Scared

You know Tigers are supposed to be big and scary...but looking into this tiger's mouth, all I can think is how funny those tiny teeth look in the front.

Quote

"One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory."
- Rita Mae Brown

Postsecret

Check out more at Postsecret.

Monthly Rituals

Every month I have certain rituals that I go through. Most important being paying my bills - but at a close 2nd, I check my monthly horoscope at www.astrologyzone.com. Susan Miller uses the planets and all that other astrology stuff to tell us what we have in store in the month ahead. It is updated the first of every month.

So what's in store for me, Leo, in my birth month of August?

According to Susan, I have been going through a "growing up" phase since July 2005 that is about to come to an end. And now it should feel like I have completed a rite of passage. This month will be my last to make some big decisions and complete my growth. I wonder what's ahead for me?!?!? It has been just about 2 years since I have started my career and it has forced me into this "adult" lifestyle. It still feels pretty strange but I guess it is time to get used to it.

Also, this month will bring more stress related to money, which Susan admits has had a hold on me for awhile (since March 2006). Next month the "financial shocks" might not be over - so I have to continue to stay on top of the money situation. Geez, I really wished this would be over already, but according to Susan, it ain't over yet.

What else is on my astrology hit list? Free Will Astrology, brought to you each week on Wednesday through the Village Voice. You can also check it out weekly directly through Free Will Astrology. I have to admit, this guy Rob Brezsny is a piece of work. His horoscopes often talk about things that you wouldn't normally associate with horoscopes - but hey - it's entertainment and insightful.

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"Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life."
- Herbert Henry Asquith

I Thought I Have Heard Of It All

But this woman faked her own "slip and fall" accident at a supermarket in Sunrise, Florida.

Click here to read the article and see the video.

The best part is seeing the woman literally dive into the olive oil on the floor.

"When she's falling, she's not falling backward, she's falling forward," said Diaz, "usually when it's a slip and fall, you tend to fall backward."

Diaz decided to do a little investigating on his own and rewound the surveillance tape back even more, and what he found surprised him. On the tape, the same woman, in the same aisle, minutes before her 'slip and fall' accident. On the tape, the woman appears to be trying to open a bottle of olive oil unsuccessfully. The woman puts it back on the shelf, leaves the aisle only to return a few moments later and pick up a new bottle. The tape shows her opening this bottle and pouring some of the oil onto the floor, then she puts the bottle back on the shelf and leaves the aisle.

Minutes later, she returns to aisle and 'slips' on the oil.

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"I know the answer! The answer lies within the heart of all mankind! The answer is twelve? I think I'm in the wrong building."
- Charles M. Schulz

Mango!

Miami Spice Begins Today!

I hope you're hungry!

Miami Spice officially kicks off today and runs for the next two months. There's a bewildering amount of restaurants participating so if you're having some trouble figuring out where to start (as I am), check out this great Miami Herald article that namedrops a lot of great places. Thanks to Consumable Joy for the link.

Quote of the Day