My Guilty Pleasure

I've said it before, I occasionally watch the" Tyra Show". Well I didn't actually see this episode, but I happened upon it on YouTube. Enjoy! By the way, it's even funnier with the sound off.

Shut Up And Hurry Up

Remember when game shows were rapid fire? What is with the latest crop of game shows that drag you along? Annoying! When did game show contestants become so chatty?

The only one I like is "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?" But, I find myself flipping channels after each question. They take the whole hour to answer about eight questions. Annoying!

Now the one that I really hate the most is that "Deal Or No Deal". I can't stand that show. The contestants talk way too much. Hurry up and make a decision already. I happened to flip by the show one day and there was this contestant who was walking all around the set and walking up the steps to the models to talk to them. What the hell is that?

Speaking of Deal Or No Deal, check out one of my favorite online games, "Meal Or No Meal".

Play Games at AddictingGames

Say Cheese

Check out these mugshots I found on The Smoking Gun.

Mugshot 1
Mugshot 2

Code Orange

I was commuting to work this morning and found it funny that the electronic signs on the highway tell you to carpool or use mass transit because of the code orange ozone alert. That's very admirable and very good advice, but at that point, I'm already on the highway. I'm not going to pull off and go to the nearest bus stop. I guess they put that up there for those people who didn't see the alert on the morning news.

Filmdom Returns

Haven Dwellers, I don't know if you remember, but some time ago I asked a former blogger to be a featured columnist on BruDog Haven. Well after extensive negotiations, he has agreed. And now ladies and gentlemen, Ryan Dean's "The Filmdom Column!"

"Ocean's Thirteen" (2007)

Grade: B-

How's everybody been? I'm back with a review being posted here on the great blog, "BruDog Haven".

So, has everyone seen the first Ocean's? How about the second? I'm sure at least most of you have seen the first one. This is more of the same, with the coolness of Clooney, Pitt, and Damon oozing from the screen, and washing away all your "tiny" problems, for two hours. The third movie in this franchise probably falls behind the first one, and before the second.

What I missed from this film was the bantering between all those beautiful movie stars. I mean, there was SOME of it, but not like the first two films. This just jumps you right in to the new heist, and never lets you get back into these professional-criminal, friends' lives. You don't know where they've been, what they've been up to, other than some alluding in the beginning.

For two hours of meaningless fun, this is the movie for you. I did find myself completely into the heist, because Mr. Soderbergh knows how to keep you guessing. If you're looking for some escapism this, so far, great summer, then look no further. It brings you back to the golden era of movie making, and true movie stars. That's what these folks up on screen, in this "Ocean's Thirteen," really are. Some of the only "true" movie stars out there in Hollywoodland. It sure made me wish that I was able to go back in time, and "shake Sinatra's hand."

I'll leave you with some grades for some other summer movies I've seen:
"Spider-Man 3" - B-
"Pirates of the Caribbean, At world's end" - B
"Waitress" - A
"Once" - A+
"28 Weeks Later" - B+
"Knocked Up" - A

That's it for now, constant readers. Peace, Love, music and Movies!

The Finale

Am I the only one I know who watches The Sopranos. I rarely hear anyone around me talk about the show.

*SPOILER*

I have to comment on the season finale. I've been reading online that a lot of people were disappointed with the show ending with the family just going on with life as usual. I, on the other hand, thought it made total sense.

I think David Chase (creator) put you in Tony's shoes and made you feel what it was like having to always look over your back and never knowing whether this is your last day or not. I felt more anxious watching that one scene than I ever have watching the rest of the series.

Now I have to admit that I was hoping for maybe a showdown between the two bosses, but I was happy with how it ended with sort of a question mark. Afterall, the show has pretty much always been that way and this was no different.

I'll miss the show, but it had to end sometime.

Welcome To DumbA%$ Haven

The other morning I leave for work as I always do. I get in my car, look up, and notice something on my windshield. It's a ticket. I'm thinking, "Why did I get a ticket? I'm not parked illegally." So I read it. "Parking without display of current state license plate? What the hell are they talking about?" So I get out of my car and look at my front license plate. OH MY GOD! My license plate decal expired back in January of this year. I'd been driving around for five months with expired tags.

Now my first thought was that I must have forgotten to put the decals on the plates because I never forget to renew that stuff. Then I remembered. That was right around the time that I moved. In the shuffle, I probably forgot to renew my tags.

I can't believe I got away with it that long. And luckily I only got a parking ticket. I think the fine would have been more if I had been on the road. Ugh! $40 later, it's always something.

Old Husband's Tales

So something I believed for years has been debunked. I had always heard that to conserve gas, you should keep your car windows closed (it creates aerodynamic drag), and to try not to run the air conditioning too much.

Well evidently Consumer Reports and Edmonds actually put those myths to the test. They found that running the air conditioning actually resulted in savings, but only about 1 mile per gallon. That's it. And they found that having the windows down didn't have a measurable effect on the fuel economy, even at highway speeds.

They also debunked the old myth about how restarting your engine uses more gas than letting it run (I actually never put that one to use). Well it turns out that with the modern engine, you actually save gas.

Last week I saw a news story about a guy who gets about 59 mpg just by turning off his engine regularly while driving. Of course, he also gets the finger a lot for coasting at such low speeds.

Addictive Commercials

Haven dwellers, June is National Soul Food Month. In honor of such an important month, I've found just the right addictive commercial for you. Unfortunately, the sound quality is a little bad, but enjoy!

Rita! The Woman In My Life

You know? For years Mark would talk about Rita's Ice. I always thought, "What is so special about this 'Rita's Ice?'" Then I tried one for the first time last year. OH MY GOD! Those things are da bomb. Talk about refreshing. I don't know how the hell they make those things, but I do know that on a hot day, nothing hits the spot better.
Unfortunately, there aren't that many of them here in No. VA, so I have to get them at the Rhode Island Ave location in DC whenever I happen to be in that area, which I was yesterday. I wish there was one near me. . . Actually, maybe not. I'd probably spend all my money there.

My favorite flavors are banana and (don't laugh) watermelon.