Found this on boing boing, thought it was really funny / interesting to get a sneak peek into people’s dinner experiences.
The Casias Oscar Predictions
Every year my friend Nick Casias makes his Oscar Predictions. I am happy to bring them to you here for the first time.
"In a year of hardship and humility, movies matter even more. So much in fact that using film as an outlet to see outside our own worlds leaves audiences a little less self consumed, a little more aware, and hopefully inspired. Just maybe it can lift a spirit of somebody or make them laugh when they otherwise wouldn’t on their own. That’s what movies are made for, better or worse and hardly even do they work, and that’s why critics exist.
This year we are doing things differently. (WHY??) I’d guess many will spend more quality nights inside instead of going out. To follow Ebert and adapt to this change in lifestyle I’m giving you 20 movies this year instead of 10. Add them to your Netflix queues. As always, feedback is never rejected and always appreciated. My ultimate goal here isn’t to have myself be heard or force you to listen to my opinions for the year. My goal is to give you something to do. I hope to make your viewing experience better enhanced with the best the industry can offer! So here it is: The Oscar year in review." – Nick Casias
The Best Movies of 2008
20) Soul Men: Bernie Mac was overshadowed this year by the death of fellow talented actor Heath Ledger. Mac deserved just as much credit for entertaining movie crowds. This was just the kind of role he would have wanted to be remembered for and it happens to be my favorite Bernie Mac film to date.
19) W: Unfortunately, not everyone can go out on top like Bernie. Those less fortunate will likely be remembered for bottoming out. It was a political year in 2008, and Hollywood responded accordingly. This isn’t a movie to favor Democrats, Republicans, or independents. It’s a historic and empathetic biography of a leader with a well-intentioned leadership gone wrong. W is an in-depth look at our nation’s history over the past 8 years through the life of George W. Bush. If you love him or hate him, many will admit he is probably one of the most controversial figures of our time? Josh Brolin is amazing with his bush mannerisms and facial expressions. Everybody had forgotten his name two years ago. Since then he’s given us some of Hollywood’s very best with American Gangster, No Country For Old Men, and Milk.
18) Body of Lies: Body of Lies is the story of a CIA agent fighting Al Queda-type terrorism in the Middle East while the Americans in the CIA are working against him even more then his enemy threat. Leonardo DiCaprio is the smartest actor in Hollywood and picking this role helped solidify that. He chooses his projects that gather audience attention not because of his star attraction, but rather because of the awareness his films raise on history, culture, and political issues. (Departed, Aviator, Titanic, Beach, Blood Diamond, Catch Me If You Can). His trademark has kept him alive over a decade since Titanic when he easily could have fallen into a trap of easy money, quick studio green lights, and B or C rate stardom. He could have easily become a Macaulay Culkin or Corey Feldman in the late 1990’s. It will be a rare day when you see him do a popcorn flick or a sequel. In my opinion there is no better edge to have as an actor.
17) In Bruges: Speaking of commercial movie actors, Collin Ferrell finally found a great role to break himself out of this typecast. He plays an empathetic hit man stuck on a mission to his own death in Bruge, Belgium. This movie has comedy, drama, and a touching story of redemption.
Oh the Tico’s you’ll know.
Costa Rica is paradise. The people are fun, the location is beautiful, and life moves slowly. While we are not completely set up yet, I have Internet from the neighbors, and can function. I spend yesterday exploring the area, in and out of the small shops and tourist traps in town, and then we went out last night.
We ate dinner at a nice little pizza / Italian place (all Tico style of course) then made our way up the hill to a bar that overlooks the entire town. The laid back atmosphere means that everything comes manana… including your drink.
We met some guys from Switzerland who were here surfing, and a guy who Susy had met before that taught English here. Turns out he is from South Carolina, went to USC, and is a KA. Small world huh?
Today I spent a few hours floating in the water with pelicans dive bombing for fish all around me. I think I could watch those birds all day every day. They hardly ever miss, and repeatedly hurtle themselves down under the water. So cool.
Weston and Cyril will be here tomorrow or Tuesday, then the real work begins. Also, some of my friends from college are planning a trip here to see me, which is great because I haven’t had any college or before friends come to where I am since I started traveling.
My Office
Study: Experiences make us happier than possessions – CNN.com
CNN just published this article based on a report that came out a while ago stating that buying things has less influence of happiness than life experience does.
I agree. I like to buy new things (gadgets are my weak point) but after a while, the gadget becomes a part of my life and I no longer think about it as something I derive happiness from. Experiences, however, last for a long time and can be recounted anew and worked into conversations for the rest of my life. They also change your perception of how things work in the world and this makes a huge difference.
Study: Experiences make us happier than possessions – CNN.com
A day in LA-la land.
- Cab it to BART, fly to LA, get picked up by production assistant, meet with producers, shake hands with the boss, meet the tech team, get the YES we want you on the show, lets do it, please come back tomorrow for filming.
- Production assistant takes us to the CBS station where Heather’s friend Adam gives us a backstage tour of the filming of “The Bold and the Beautiful” (I know nothing about the show except that they are in fact beautiful) and we see the back set of “The Price is Right” (three new cars, a new wardrobe, etc…)
- Bennett picks me up outside the gates of CBS and we head back to his place, where his roommate is filming a web series with some odd characters and a pretty girl from Texas. (Not that kind of series… ) We apparently make too much noise by simply existing so we wander off to get food and a drink.
- Bennett is the only person I have talked to today who is not involved in the entertainment industry. He works at Dodgers’ stadium and gets us in late at night to see the city line from the best view in town. Crazy city.
- Big news is, they are pitching the show and want me to be the guy!
Gore-Tex
Gore tex is coming out with some fancy new clothing soon. They finally figured out how to line their products without making it feel like you are opening a candy bar in class but trying to keep it quite. (I always feel like my jacket is made of paper or something.) From Gizmodo:
Gore-Tex’s most capable shell materials have always had to be stand alone, making them a little bit like wearing a crinkly sheet or garbage bag (without the sweat build up, of course). They’re taking their 3 layer shells and bonding them to interesting inner liner materials in an extension of their “comfort mapping” tech. So, if the chest and back need insulated, they can attach a piece of fleece there; or padded armor on elbows and shoulders; or antimicrobial liners on armpits. The sub brand isn’t new, but before, comfort mapping involved sewing, opening up the potential for unsightly seams and water leakage. Now they heat press the new layers in, so that there are no extra punctures in the outer layers, and things like pockets can be sewn now into the inner materials without causing punctures, either.
From Gizmodo
Bush Out, Obama In, Street Signs Up
Creative pranksters had hundreds of signs made up with the same dimensions as the “Bush” street signs that run along Bush Street in San Francisco. As of this morning, the street has effectively been renamed.
Hulu Offers Past Inaugural Speeches
Hulu is now offering the Inaugural Speeches from the presidents since William McKinley’s Second Inauguration. Below is the inauguration of FDR, at a time that is in many ways similar to what we are going through.
Wal-Mart’s growth rate is amazing, look at this map.
Like them or not, Wal-Mart is good at what they do. Take a look at this interactive map of their growth rate in the United States over the years.
Holiday Blogapaloza
I made that word up, but I bet someone else has used it before me. A year ago at this time I was leaving an incredibly beautiful town in Thailand called Pai, headed to Laung Prabong, Laos on a slow boat. Now I am leaving Atlanta, GA and headed back out to San Francisco for a while before eventually moving down to Costa Rica.
I just finished up with a much needed break from the life and times of CouchSurfing and reconnected with friends and family all along the eastern seaboard. The holidays were not quite the experience I had imagined them to be, due to my grandfather’s passing, but this served to pull family together in a way that would not have happened otherwise. I spent more time with my extended family that I have in years, changing that obligatory “How has your life been?” to a true “Good to see you again – lets get some lunch.”
Several trips back and forth to Athens for this purpose also allowed me to catch up with friends who still live there – and made me realize again why I enjoy that town. It feeds off the industry of Atlanta, but has the more bohemian atmosphere of a college town, with great music and a very fun downtown. I was born there, and will return many more times, even after family and friends no longer call me to it.
In Atlanta I was able to reunite with the several groups of amazing people I am lucky enough to call friends. They put up with me even though I only show up on their radar every six months or so, and we resume where we left off as if there has been no gap. I sometimes get envious as I watch their lives take on the new characteristics that come with permanent (or semi-permanent) residency and occupation and I find myself settling back in the feelings of security and convenience that exudes from their homes, lifestyles, and relationships. I could be pulled into this if I let myself.
The get together that I had planned with some old high school friends turned into a party with fewer friends and more strangers and acquaintances, culminating in a classic 1:30 am meal at Waffle House – and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The next night found me at my five year high school reunion looking at photos from my first days at Wesleyan, drinking beers with the people who had suspended me for partaking six years before. It was enjoyable to investigate the current lives of past friends, but no long lost friendships were restored, nor was that my intention. That night ended in a gathering reminiscent of days long past with old memories and new stories.
Caught up with high school friends, I booked a flight north to Richmond, VA where I was to meet up with my college roommate and good friend Jason and drive to Baltimore for New Years. Jason has much of the wanderlust that I do, but he also has the dedication to earn money before he travels. This is the same guy who rode down the coast of California with me a few years ago. We spent a fun two days in Richmond, going out with college friends and fraternity brothers, shooting guns at the range and in the woods before heading out to Baltimore to meet up with Matt, another fraternity brother. He recently moved into a house in downtown Baltimore with a great rooftop porch and a view of the whole city.
Seven members of my pledge class descended upon his house for New Years and we successfully destroyed it. The house was packed with people, probably around 50, and at midnight the group popped around 25 bottles of Champagne – which started a Champagne spray battle of epic proportions. We had to leave the kitchen because of issues with humidity. Champagne was dripping from the ceiling and became the glue to stick thousands of pieces of cellophane confetti to the floor. The night ended (as New Years Eve has a tendency to do) in a blurred recounting of bars and people who think mixing tequila with Irish car-bombs is wise.
We spend New Years day cleaning and recovering before I flew back to Atlanta on the 2nd. On Saturday I drove back up to Athens and attended my grandfather’s memorial service, which was both a moving and positive experience. My grandfather made a difference in many people’s lives, and a lot of them showed up to show their gratitude.
So I head out to San Francisco tomorrow night, leaving behind family, old friends, and budding relationships that I am sad to leave open ended. The pull is back after a month removed from the coast, and the need for new experiences is doing what it always does – taking me from my comfort zone into new areas I have never thought of. Waiting for me is the most intriguing group of people I have ever lived with, work I am passionate about, climbing, biking, and (climate permitting) my new quest – surfing. Rumor has it that I will be heading to Costa Rica in the future, and that brings with it an entire book of new opportunities.