You know how much I love the new movie Borat. Well, now you can see for yourself what all the fuss is about. The first four minutes of the movie have been posted (legally) on YouTube. Check it out.
Don’t Believe the Hype
23 Oct
I was told Friday night that enough is enough and I simply had to try Chacarero. So JPP and I went today. Eh. I wasn’t blown away (and neither was JPP). Sure, it’s likely because I got my sandwich (the large original steak/chicken combo) without the muenster cheese, tomatoes, and avocado spread (just the meat, string beans, and salt/pepper) — and I was told the sandwiches there were so good that I could do that and would still enjoy it — but if I’m looking for a good, overpriced sandwich, I’ll stick with Sam LaGrassa’s.
Not that the experience wasn’t good for a laugh. For starters, it’s like going to the Soup Nazi. The place operates with a strict procedure: you wait in one line to order and pay, then you go across to the other side until they’re ready to make your sandwich, then you wait in double lines and specify what you want or don’t want. And forget it if you don’t follow the instructions. And also, be prepared if you want your sandwich specially prepared, like I did. After I told the woman I didn’t want the tomatoes and the cheese and the avocados, I got such a look from her. I felt like a pariah.
So anyway, that’s my verdict: Chacarero doesn’t live up to the hype. You can’t always trust a long line. I take my lunch pretty seriously, and I don’t think I’ll be running back there anytime soon. (And if you think that’s bad, JPP only ate half and threw out the rest.)
Oh, Crap
23 Oct
What’s that expression that when the bird of paradise craps on you it means good luck?
Well, let’s hope that’s the case. Otherwise, I say “Damn you, stupid bird!” to the pigeon who crapped on my shoulder this morning as I was walking into work.
Next time I’ll be a little more careful when I walk past the big CVS in Downtown Crossing.
Go Away!
22 Oct
Just thought I’d pass along that Congress (yes, our friends down in Washington), along with the Travel Industry Association and Expedia.com, have declared today, October 23, “National Plan Your Vacation Day.”
As if any of us really needed to be told to get away and take time off from work.
Then again, apparently some of us do need to be told.
According to a survey done by Expedia, one-third of American workers (that’s 33%) do not always take all their vacation days. Continue reading
They Could Be Heroes
21 Oct
Many will call Flags of Our Fathers Clint Eastwood’s Saving Private Ryan. And they will be wrong, because Saving Private Ryan is the better movie. This film, the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima and the soldiers who were celebrated for having appeared in the famous flag-raising photo, means to seriously question the definition of the word “hero” and to criticize the government machine that creates stories in the name of national unity and support of the war. On those counts, the film generally succeeds; it’s hard not to think of the current war and people like Jessica Lynch. The film even opens by saying how the country’s support of the war was on the wane and people were getting more cynical. Sounds familiar.
But as storytelling, I found the film lacking. Flags is based on the book by James Bradley and Ron Powers about Bradley’s father. But instead of Bradley narrating the whole movie, there are multiple narrators, a device that initially throws you off to who is telling the story. And in fact, that Bradley is writing a book is never really made clear. There’s a jump in plot and all of a sudden he’s speaking with various veterans. And then about three-quarters of the way in, he becomes the narrator. Also, I usually don’t mind when the story moves around in time. Heck, the TV show Lost does it in every episode. Here, however, the movie jumps from one time period to another and then to another, and that takes away from the impact Eastwood wants to make. I always sort of felt like I didn’t know what was going on because there were things left unfinished. The first five minutes or so, with Doc Bradley’s heart attack, are especially confusing. It’s unclear why it’s being shown at all. But more importantly, I just didn’t feel like the three main characters were fleshed out enough. As a result, they’re not compelling. I get the symbolism of the faceless soldiers in the picture, and how they could be anyone, but these three guys needed more of an identity for this movie to really work.
Maybe I’m not making sense here. I just found Flags, ahem, not all it could be. I’m giving it a B.
Goodbye, Marc
18 Oct
If you’ll allow me to get serious for just a couple minutes, I wanted to acknowledge my friend Marc Kaplan, who passed away Tuesday morning after a nearly five-year battle with brain cancer.
I met Marc through my friend David (one of the Playland folks), and when Marc lived in Boston for a couple years (I believe it was from 1998–1999) we became good friends.
Since then, however, due to distance (Marc moved to Atlanta) and time, we drifted apart, and in these most recent years we really weren’t in touch at all.
Of course, it was during this time that Marc’s brain tumor came back (he had been in remission), and things got progressively worse for him. Continue reading
He Had Mail
17 Oct
You’re all forgiven for the birthday cards that never arrived.
And now I think I know why I never got those issues of Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone too.
Apparently, they were all at Alan Gagne‘s house.
He’s one of the mailmen for the Coolidge Corner area — or was, until he was found dead in his apartment last week by a supervisor who was making sure Gagne was alright.
For many years (since the 1980s apparently), and for no apparent reason, Gagne had been holding onto people’s mail. Sure, much of it was junk (circulars and other crap), and I thank Gagne for not delivering it to me, but a good chunk of it was normal, everyday, first class mail.
Thankfully, Gagne never opened it, so I suppose there’s a chance I’ll finally get that card you told me you sent three years ago. Maybe I’ll also get my copy of the current issue of GQ, which still hasn’t arrived.
(In all seriousness, poor Alan Gagne. I hate to make fun of the recently deceased.)
What Day Is It, Kids?
17 Oct
Since it’s Argyle Wednesday, just thought I’d post this lovely pic of Britney Spears walking around L.A. wearing a nice argyle sweater. (Thanks to Celebrity Terrorist.)
In honor of the day, I too am wearing an argyle sweater, just as I do on most Wednesdays.
And if BritBrit is also wearing one, then you know it’s trendy.
And yes, admitting that I celebrate “Argyle Wednesday” — in addition to Tie Thursday — confirms that I am a loser. Just in case there was any doubt. Continue reading
Making Plans
17 Oct
Since it seems that Lindsay Lohan and I both seem to have the same life plan — we both want to be married by the time we’re 30 — I would like to publicly offer to marry Ms. Lohan and make an honest woman out of her.
LiLo, will you marry me? I’m not doing anything on Saturday. Can you meet me here in Boston? Consider this also your invitation, my lucky readers.
(Hopefully Lindsay won’t notice that I’m actually 32 and clearly missed my “deadline.” It’s alright, though. Some things are better late than never.)
Martin's Musings 