My NBA starters and De Niro

Though it was raining at times, it's a great weekend after all.  Met with Maya (after 30 years) and her friend, caught up with my laundry, clean the house (just some parts of it). But my weekend was mostly spent watching the NBA All Stars (wearing my Dwight Howard jerseys) with the kids. We love basketball (it's ironic we are in a city without an NBA team). Of course I provided the food and Deirdre provided interesting NBA trivia.

One question Deirdre asked me, "If you get a chance to pick for starting line up, who would it be?". I said, Dwight Howard definitely would be patrolling the center. Charles Barkley will be a strong presence at the block, Larry Bird will be raining those threes,  Michael Jordan taking the one on one situation and finally Steve Nash dishing pin point passes and playing the pick-and-roll with either Barkley or Howard for the Jam!

Of course it's just a fantasy... now back to reality, the game is over, the West won over the East. Though I voted for Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant got his 4th All Star MVP award.  It's back to work tomorrow, but before i turned off the TV, I chanced upon this classic scene from Robert De Niro pretending to shoot the TV (with Jackson Browne's Late for the sky song) in the movie Taxi Driver.

#200: Parents Beware

Watched "Lovely Bones" with Nadire and friends. The movie is about child abduction and murder. Quite scary for parents like me. It shows how creeps are out there lurking ready to prey on innocent children. Parents always be in touch of your kids and be aware of their whereabouts.

#181: Way back into love

While lazily slouching on the sofa and channel surfing, I bumped into this romantic comedy movie "Music and Lyrics".


The movie kinda intrigued me (at first) because it starred Hugh Grant as Alex, a washed-up 80's singer trying to write a song for a teen pop sensation. What Hugh Grant a singer? That's not all, he met Sophie (Drew Barrymore) and convince her to write the lyrics. Another what? Drew Barrymore a lyricist?

Surprisingly as the movie goes on, I found myself enjoying it (and yes Hugh Grant can actually sing) And not to mention the song they finally composed made me cry...ok am exaggerating. But listen and watch the song and tell me you won't love it.

I've been living with a shadow overhead, I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long, Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

 All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine, I've been searching but I just don't see the signs. I know that it's out there, There's got to be something for my soul somewhere

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#175: Favorite Christmas movie

It's five days before Christmas. Wherever you turn, where ever you are, it's hard not to be reminded the best time of the year is in our midst. Even on TV, reruns of Christmas movies are all over the channels. And of course I can't stop but watch these movies again and again. No matter how old they are it's still feel like I watched it for the first time.

But of all the Christmas movies, my definite favorite is "Christmas with the Kranks". It's a hilarious movie about a couple (Luther - Tim Allen and Nora - Jamie Lee Curtis) who planned to skip celebrating Christmas because their daughter is joining the Peace Corps. Luther convinced Nora to spend Christmas in the Caribbean. Trouble began when their daughter Blaire decided to come home with a new found love to spend Christmas back home. 

This movie by the way was based on the novel Skipping Christmas by John Grisham , best know for his legal thriller novels.

Definitely a must see. Who could ever pull up a stunt and skip Christmas? Would you?

#148: Glass Slippers

Today I made a mistake watching Glass Slippers, a Korean Soap Opera (with English subtitle) with my daughter Deirdre. This 21 episode drama was lent to her by her Korean Taekwando Grandmaster.

We have watched 4 episodes so far and now am hooked. I guess I still have the sentimental side of me.

#133: My plate's full

I'm having a hard time deciding what to write. It's one of those days that I feel like doing nothing after a hard day's work.

As always, my day starts by dropping off Nadire to school at 7:30 AM. My work doesn't start till 9AM so I had all the time to prepare.

My plate is full and projects keep piling up. First order of business in the office on fridays is a teleconference with our developers in implementing ClearHealth in our Clinic. Next is a new project to develop an online survey system based on LimeSurvey to be used by the sdAPI project. Another is a VOIP implementation of Elastix for a small business. Elastix is a tough nut to crack.

Later in the afternoon is another brainstorming session for my SimpleTransactions project which will soon be launched in December.

In between these craziness, I caught a glimpse of a scene from the movie "Erin Brockovich" (fast forward to 6:27)

Ed Masry: What makes you think you can just walk in there and take whatever you want?
Erin Brockovich: They're called boobs, Ed.

By the time I was done, it was 6PM and I have to rush back home to have dinner with the kids. Josh is out watching his school's football game. Nadire's out with her friend. So it was just me and Deirdre. We decided to go for Vietnamese food this time.

So many things to do, so little time. Can't wait for the long thanksgiving break.

#113: Paranormal Activity, The big hype

My kids and I just came home from the movies. Yes we decided to watch the movie Paranormal Activity after I wrote about it yesterday.

I wasn't surprised that the movie house was packed as I figured most of those who came are as anxious as I am and see what's the big hype about this movie.

The movie seems to drag on for the first half hour with no action at all. But slowly pick up the tempo a little bit half way through. There were some moments when some at the audience jumped out of their sits. But there were more reactions towards some funny lines by the actor.

We left the movie still puzzled how this film became a sensation. Maybe it's because people are curious how an $11,000.00 movie made it to the big screen. Maybe because the film maker made it appear to be a reality show.

It's still a good movie to watch considering that the total production was done in just seven days. But for me it's definitely not the ultimate scary movie. Maybe if I believe in paranormal being, I would change my perspective.

That's all there is to it - a big hype

#112: Paranormal Activity

I first heard on the radio a discussion about the movie "Paranormal Activity". Apparently this movie has taken the movie world by storm. Numerous reviews were unanimous that this is the ultimate scary movie. Some compared this movie to the Blair Witch Project.

Paranormal Activity has a simple storyline:

After a young, middle class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban “starter” tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to.

What make this amazing is the production only cost $11,000.00 (compared for instance to the recently released couples retreat with the cost of $60 million) and was screened at limited locations. Reactions caught like wild fire. Demand for extended screening reached 1 million fans nationwide. The movie is now showing to a theater near you.

I hope I will have a chance to see this movie and see what the big fuss.

#91: Cheap movies and a former actor

On my way to the office, I sometimes swing by my favorite 7-11 store on E Street to buy coffee. The store is owned by a very nice Filipino Lady (Remy) who's son (Sam) use to be a friend of mine. Sam died on his sleep more than a year ago.

As I was parking in front of the store, I noticed they just installed a redbox kiosk

Redbox specializes in the vending of DVDs via self-service/interactive kiosks. Projected to number 22,000 by December 2009, Redbox kiosks are located nationwide in fast food restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores, and convenience stores.

 This idea is actually brilliant. Instead of a vending soda or chips. this bright red-colored box vends DVD just $1 a day rental. Operation is easy using a touch screen. Pick your title, insert your credit card and voila! your DVD spits out. redbox has been opening kiosks here and there while Blockbuster is closing stores everywhere.

Anyway, as I was paying, Becky (another Filipino) point me to a guy just behind me. "Oy kilala mo ba sya?", she asked. As I turned my head towards the guy. I pause for a while, he seems familiar to me but I can't figure out where I saw him. I finally gave up and look back at Becky with a puzzled face. "Si Renato Del Prado, yung artista sa atin, siya si Guido sa Anna Lisa". I turned back to him and shoke his hand. "Kumusta po, matagal na ba kayo dito?", I asked. "Mabuti naman ako, nung 2005 pa ako dito", he said. Mang Renato seems to be in good shape, he's much slimmer than I remembered.

I rememberAnna Lisa was a very popular soap opera in the 80's together with its arch rival Flor De Luna. My family preferred watching Flor De Luna for a reason I don't recall.

I didn't talked to Mang Renato that much as I sensed he was in a hurry. But I'm sure I'm going to bumped into him again one of this days as he just live a couple of blocks from the store.

Maybe next time I can even snap a picture of him and share to everyone.

#85: What if this is as good as it gets?

Another one of my favorite movie is "As good as it gets".

As Good as It Gets stars Jack_Nicholson (Melvin) and Helen Hunt (Carol). Melvin Udall  is a racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic misanthrope who works at home as a best-selling romance novelist in New York. He suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder which, paired with his misanthropy, puts off the neighbors in his Manhattan apartment building and nearly everyone else with whom he comes into contact.

This movie has some of the most memorable quotes that made this film a classic. Like this excellent monologue of Melvin when he confronted his gay neighbor:

Never, never, interrupt me, okay? Not if there's a fire, not even if you hear the sound of a thud from my home and one week later there's a smell coming from there that can only be a decaying human body and you have to hold a hanky to your face because the stench is so thick that you think you're going to faint. Even then, don't come knocking. Or, if it's election night, and you're excited and you wanna celebrate because some fudgepacker that you date has been elected the first queer president of the United States and he's going to have you down to Camp David, and you want someone to share the moment with. Even then, don't knock. Not on this door. Not for ANY reason. Do you get me, sweetheart?

 Or this excellent compliment of Melvin trying to win the heart of Carol

I might be the only person on the face of the earth that knows you're the greatest woman on earth. I might be the only one who appreciates how amazing you are in every single thing that you do, and how you are with Spencer, "Spence," and in every single thought that you have, and how you say what you mean, and how you almost always mean something that's all about being straight and good. I think most people miss that about you, and I watch them, wondering how they can watch you bring their food, and clear their tables and never get that they just met the greatest woman alive. And the fact that I get it makes me feel good, about me.

 This is definitely a must see movie.

#46: Almost Famous

One of my favorite movie is Almost Famous, This film is based on famous director Camerron Crowe's experiences touring with rock bands The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. kate Hudson is so lovely in this movie.

I love this movie so much that I bought my own copy. Here's a perfect scene that transformed the movie into a classic. This is a song by Elton John "Tiny Dancer".



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#18: Do you feel lucky?

I love to watch movies. I specially love good scripts or quotes which make them more memorable.

Who can forget Michael Corleone in the Godfather movie, "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." or Tony Montana in Scarface blasting his way with an RPG "Say hello to my little friend".

What about Forrest Gump saying "My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

Does anyone remember Phoebe Cates in the TV series Lace asking "Which one of you bitches is my mother? ".

And then of course several quotes from Harry Callahan (Clint Eeastwood)

Sudden Impact: "Go ahead make my day"

Magnum Force: " A man's got to know his limitations"

My top of the list is from Dirty Harry Movie:

"I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"

here's the actual clip:



What about you, what's your favorite movie quote?

#10: A glimpse of the past

My whole family love humor. My late dad had endless jokes and often times he would talk about priests and nuns. There were times when a storm would knock off power for hours at night and we would light candles and snuggle with each other as my dad would belt off story after story until we would fall asleep.

I also remember when watching sitcoms became a happy family event. I remember, we would sit around and watch our favorite sitcom just after dinner. Although there's been a lot of instances where my dad would dooze-off in the middle of the show.

Anyway, definitely a family favorite was the local sitcom "John and Marsha". I just love Dona Delilah's sermon "Kaya ikaw John...magsumikap ka!". But for foreign shows, there where several. "Three's Company" was definitely a must. Different strokes, Doggie Hauser MD, The Cosby show and my mom's favorite "The Golden Girls".

Except for Three's Company, I never watched the finale of the rest of the shows i mentioned, until today when I caught the finale of The Golden Girls - in a nutshell, Dorothy married Blanche's uncle Lucas after Blanche set them up for a date. Dorothy and Lucas moved to Atlanta. Sophia decided to stay with Blanch and Rose in Miami.

I love watching old sitcoms because it reminds of the good times I shares with my family. I really miss those days.