SlickDeal: AD seasons 1 & 2 $32 shipped!

I'd forgotten to check www.slickdeals.net the last couple of days, and found this gem when looking today: Arrested Development Seasons One & Two $32 shipped!

It was posted Tuesday and looks like the deal is still good, so if you're interested, grab the deal before it expires or they run out of stock or something like that!!

Enjoy!

Dangerous times lie ahead...

Buttercup and I have combined our crazy creative minds and have come up with this celebration for the Harry Potter weekend. It is kind of a nice combination of Thanksgiving and Potter fun.

Those who cannot attend can look on in jealousy - for those who can... come for the day - take part in the cooking... the watching... all of the fun.

And then we will check out the Goblet of Fire!!

Yo

I just saw the cherubs...

Wowzers - last nights ep tossed out several memorable moments. The fight between Lor and Luke was really ugly - it was great to see Luke break down on all of his jealousy and showing Lor how much he had given up for her... and the flip side is the bedroom set - it was great to hear Lor actually say outloud how selfish she was being... and their make up and compromise was realistic and excellent.

Luke has a kid... ugh. Dear God... hell is about to break loose.


I was home sick yesterday, but spent the day at my Grandmother's. She had fallen the previous day and broken her leg - she is doing ok, but she is still not very mobile. So, when I finally got home... I found the Buffy box set sitting at my door. OMIGOD!!!! It is perfect. The packaging is classy - the extra disc is packed with goodies and is really well done... and it is probably the coolest looking DVD set in my collection. Bravo Fox!


I also picked up HP Prisoner of Azkaban (which I am currently half way through the book!) and Scrubs season 2. I threw in the first disc last night and watched about 5 eps in a row. Perfection! Josh and I laughed away while Devin listened whilst cooking in the kitchen. Twas very good.

Major plans are being hatched for the famous Hogwarts Feast this weekend - watch for details.

YO!

Countdown to Gilmore Girls!

The wait is killing the Sheriff. Must see the hug of ok-ness. The fued must be over. More Jess please...did I just say that?!?

counting the hours....



bunny out

Um, yeah, I'm gonna need you to come in on Saturday...

Ah, you gotta love starting a new job, and even more so around any holiday time.

I recently found out I don't get the Friday after Thanksgiving off!!!! WTF?!?!?!! Some of you may be thinking something like "Well, yeah.", but I automatically got the Friday after Thanksgiving off at all but two jobs I've had my entire life. One was working at Casey's [in Guthrie Center, like my 1st or 2nd year at ISU], the other at a video rental place [in Ames, 2nd or 3rd (?) year at ISU, was Moovies, don't know if it's still named that] - and even then, I only had to work like 4 hours! And, even for those two times, I would've gotten the day off if I would've been higher on the seniority ladder!

I do admit, the Goodrich "employee handbook" does not list the Friday after Thanksgiving (FAT) as a vacation day. When I first went over it, my mind tricked me - I know now, after looking at it again, that the words aren't there, but my mind just assumed the FAT was there when I read it initially! Can you really blame me? I mean, how many companies don't get at least part of the FAT off?!?!!! Yes, I'm ranting and just made a blanket statement - I know certain types of businesses must be open on the FAT, or would have it in their best interests to be so. But, a corporate IT guy? We already have an on-call phone - I'd gladly volunteer if I could have the FAT off!

I was officially hired September 16. I didn't get to start accruing vacation (for my huge 1 week of vacation I can get my first year here) until 30 days after hire. I got 1 (one) personal day and 1 sick day, prorated for this year. (Jan. 1 I get 4 and 4.) I had to use my personal day for Lora and Bob's wedding. I don't think calling in sick the FAT would be believed or taken well. I currently have like 5+ hours of vacation, and won't accrue enough for a full 8 hours by next Wednesday. So, this year, so much for spending Thanksgiving with my extended family. Any of them. Yay.

I'm a whiny, pissy, little bitch for at least the next two weeks. Gotta love American values! (Let's promote spending even *less* time with your family!)

I need a new career... :)

SCREW AUNTIE EM - MOVE IT!!

As many know, we saw some major Tornados on Saturday. Some even ripped through my home town of Minburn (we lost an entire building of Hogs... carcasses ended up on the Minnesota border!

Check out these links for amazing images and videos.

aerial images

storm images

Cavaliers

The weekend shot by and many fun events were had... but one stands out as the pinacle.

Devin and I tackled the shifter solenoid issue that the Cavalier was having. Here is a slide show of the project.

Enjoy

Slideshow

Click on link to view slideshow, and click on image to advance the slides.

YO

Coupons - this could hurt.

I am a sucker for a deal. I'll buy 39 "Houston Astros - 2005 World Series Champs" if I can get them for 22 cents a piece with free shipping. Thanks to the ubiquitous glory of the Internet, I can hemorrhage cash worse than the first company (a dot-bomb) did that I worked for out of college!

One site I check at least a couple times a day is www.slickdeals.net. Mostly tech-related deals, coupons, and such, but they do have posts for other things, like department store sales and coupons.

So, I visit the site today and the only deal for today I saw made me chuckle and get that sick feeling in my gut simultaneously: 20% off Coupon for DeepDiscountDVD.

(Pauses, waits to hear groan and vomit hit ground.) Jed, sorry, man.

There is an upside, though - if you wanted to make any other purchase (big or small) from DeepDiscountDVD, now is the time!

Anyone have any other deal/coupon/sale sites?

It's the end of the world... as we know it!

Sad news... Fox has officially ended the life of our favorite weekly funny! Jason Bateman went in for throat surgery this past week and the show had to cease production - they were promised a return, but it looks like Fox lied.

The series has been pulled off the schedule and the remaining episodes might air later this year - instead, Fox is going to air reruns of Prison Break (Kitchen Confidential got pulled as well).

In theory, things are still up in the air... but in reality, with tv going into sweeps and AD not having a chance to garner ratings... it means everything is over.

Sorry folks.....

Yo

Um...I had no choice but to post this...

Melissa George... dear God, how could The Amityville Horror sex scene taunt me so!!!

I need a drink.

Yo

p.s. This was not posted by Damfino but rather by a sick and twisted fiend who got on his computer. - YA!

Aronofsky returns!

Darren Aronofsky is the director of Pi and Requeim for a Dream - he had been circling the Batman Begins project for years, before Nolan took it over. Aronofsky has been missing for years - but has finally arrived with the new trailer for his film of "The Fountain."

The film stars Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weiz and I have no idea what it is about.. the trailer eludes to 3 tales of love and a journey towards... something. Anyway, the trailer is amazing. No dialogue... no overwrought movie guy voice... just simply words on the screen and emblamatic images! Very Eyes Wide Shut... without the Chris Isaak tune.

The trailer makes use of identical movement and image space to demonstrate theme... not exactly the most mind blowing concept... but it has an impact that is undeniable!

2nd tilt to image.

3rd and most fascinating...

A similar theme with Hugh close ups

... and an interesting shave for him.

The final image of the trailer is quite impressive... go watch it a few times... it is nice to see a director who can be blantantly artistic get tossed this kind of money and talent! I am excited.

thefountain
Mac users will be fine - Windows...good luck with viewing the HD version (LOSERS!!!)

Yo

I am a major dork...

I just dropped $140 on this series - but got me some free shipping - that was the clencher! All of the Buffy discs and the bonus disc... yummy!

Yo!

This is why we love him...

Joss Whedon - that quick witted creator of life sucking TV... has posted on his blog (which is usually filled with news and posts by underlings). He talks of Serenity bombing... and how you should avoid UPN this evening.

Enjoy

YO!



November 09 2005

Joss to never learn how to work site! Man is complete Melvin! Mock him!

It's true! I want to post, but I suspect my post will appear as the actual link to my post. And this after having my own password e-mailed to me 17 times. But just so you know, I happen to be a swell cook. And when the internet has a 'smell' function, you'll be able to tell that I... oh God. That's a horrible thought. 'Smell' function? From every computer? I think I just destroyed society as a concept. Anythough, I'm counting on some administrative muckity to turn whatever this comes out as into a real post. From me to you, sweet thang. (That only applies to those of you that are sweet and thangy.) (But the others can read it too.)

So what's up? Not sleep, sleep's not up... But I've been wanting to check in and let you know what's going on with me, Joss Whedon. In fact, there's even a tiny scoop or two in here!

Well, first of all, what a blast I've had with the release of Serenity! $267 million at the box office -- in Des Moines alone! Ten sequels lined up, March declared "National Serenity Awesomeness Month", Nathan made President for Life of Canada AND Greece (his will be a bloody and righteous rule), and Summer's feet to be exhibited at the Tate, when she has time to stand around at the Tate. (She should bring a book.)

So, okay, maybe SOME of my expectations were a hair unrealistic, but I'm so proud of the movie and all my peeps, and we'll drag it into the black (or take it out to the black) soon enough. That's DESPITE the Scrooge-like apathy of people like Mike Alward -- only one theater? Spread the wealth, pal! On the closest I ever get to a serious note, somebody should link his name to the Serenity site, 'cause they've been up in trying to find ways to bring people in and I think Mike really went to the mattresses there -- to be rewarded with a fair amount of snark here.

I know there's been some debate about the DVD art. Just remember it's what's INside that counts, as I used to remind girls in high school constantly. CONSTANTLY - until I realized that I was empty inside. Empty and homely. Man, that's a rough combo. Where was I? O yea, the DVD. I will admit there were a few better quotes they could have used to sell the film, among them:

"A brilliant film with heart, humor, and outstanding action. It should sweep the Oscars." -- Ron Notmadeupperson

"I've never seen a better film. In fact, I've never seen any film." -- President Abraham Lincoln

"I want to take this film and cover it in oil and rub it all over my body" -- Name Withheld (but it was Tim)

"This film has... events..." -- David Denby

"And this isn't my nose, it's a false one!" - A Witch

And now on to the rumors and allegations section. Many of you want to know what the future holds. Anxiety, hurricanes, and Male Pattern Baldness. But maybe also some art-stuff, which is really what you guys are into. No, I don't know anything about sequels, or spinoffs, or Nathan's President for Life gig. I'll keep my ear to the ground of course, but for now I'm just going to rest on my laurels (I have two). Oh! Oh! But I will tell you that Brett and I are talking about another three part comic, and it's gonna be a hoot. Takes place during the show, and has some sweet character deaths -- I mean moments! ("And what brings you to our ship, FutureTara..?") Sorry. Horrible taste. (Empty inside!) But wait'll you see the cover...

Speaking of Darkhorse Comics, they are starting a new Buffy comic, and as I understand it, it will take place after the end of Buffy and Angel and be canon in the Buffy world. And I understand it that way 'cause I'M WRITING IT. I'm kicking off the book with a four issue arc that finds Buffy -- you guessed it -- living in Italy with The Immortal. (Scott -- don't be mad I spoiled the announcement -- saying it means I have to finish it.) Then I'll be overseeing the book more closely, to make sure it remains true. Gonna be interesting. And it just might tie in to...

The infamous Spike movie. Still haven't finalized anything, but I feel that very soon I'll be able to go to James and say something a lot more interesting than "Wouldn't it be cool if..." 'Course, I just hope he's free some time this decade. See how my peeps is all actifying! Tomorrow night is AMIAS, (that's alias with Acker in it.) Happy. And totally jealous.

See, the Buffyverse glows in my brain with a new, overreaching arc that will include the comics, Spike, and more. It's taking shape and soon you will know its name. And you will tremble.

Then of course there's a little thing called X-Men, who are apparantly supposed to become astonishing again real soon. I miss me my Cassiday. Can't wait to see the fan response when I kill Wolverine and replace him with fan-fave Marrow.

Well, I certainly can't say much more, except that Wonder Woman is finally kicking ass that is not my ass, as in, I'm loving this script. She's saving the world in a tiara, people; this is why there's a me!

Oh, and there's nothing on TV tonight. TV has been cancelled. Talk amongst yourselves. La la la la la....

Thanks for keeping the faith, bringing the news (I really do learn stuff here) and carrying the banner (That's for us Newsies fans.) (Yes, I just typed that.) It's been a bewildering few months, but the important thing is, the work continues. There's a lot I'm looking forward to. 'Cause remember:

There was a show. Not that many people saw it in broad terms, but it was beloved. Full of humor, love and pain. And though it was a hard-sell emsemble piece with no huge names it in, it got made into a (roughly) 40 million dollar pic -- and with the cast intact. That doesn't happen a lot, but it should, and it did with this film. That's right. I just cannot wait to see RENT.

Stay crunchy, even in milk...

-joss.

What is going on with you Rory?!?!

We saw... and it was good!

Absolutely loved the Luke - Lor banter about painting... Daniel Palladino (Amy's hubby) writes Luke the best - and this ep he was on!! "You ain't competitive unless your covered with a little O-negative!!"

Things to buy this week!


Burton did a helluva job - Elfman's best score in years... can't wait to see again.


Just came out on DVD - I loooooved this show as a kid. It will be great to sit in my bed with a huge bowl of sugary cereal and watch hours of Ducktales... WOO HOO!

Yo

Cripes!

Holy Crap things are busy today!

Buffy creator Joss Whedon is guest starring on Veronica Mars this Wednesday!!! With Charisma Carpenter and Allyson Hannigan already on the show - it seems that the series is becoming a Slayer filled fun land.

Devin! Are you reading this!?!??!?

Yo

veronicamars!

BTW

No reruns tonight baby! IT IS ON!!!

(I hope Jess beats Logan's ass - just to get that dumbass smirk off his face)

YOU LIKE EATING THE RED CARPET!?!?!?

For the first time in a looooong time - Family Guy was the funniest show this week.


I watched the back to back Arrested Development last night - almost choked to death after Michael pushed Mr. F into the volcanic lava (the choking started with Mr. F holding out the prize to Rita - that shot was hi-lar-i-ous!) - yet felt a little lacking after.

The gang ran out and got some Dairy Queen (which is always a good call) and came back and watched FG and AD! HOLY CRAP! Family Guy's opening left me in ruins!!! I was dying with the Osama bit (pushing the limits of taste... but that is why it is wonderful!!) and then the entire Naked Gun opening was the best thing they have ever done. Ending with Homer being crushed!!!! Dear God - it was perfect!!

Props to the FG crew! Well done boys (and gals).

AD was pretty good... strange "to be continued" thing.

"I'm off my ass and I have not gotten down to the label yet!!!"

YO!!!!

Mr. F

Another wild Arrested D. ride last evening......so much good, so little time!



"There's no I in WIN!"


Bunny Out

No suck...

A quality weekend for the Damfinoworld - even got to fit in a little nap time amidst all of the fun.

As I mentioned on Friday, this weekend was a celebration of birthdays for our family - and things started off with a bang on Friday night. We hit the Latin King for a semi-expensive meal of Chicken Spadini, their most well known and perfect dish. After Stevens did some present opening (he finally received Sopranos Season 5 - don't spoil anything here... he has not seen it yet!!!), we ran off and got to see "Jarhead."


Sam Mendes has talent - no doubt about it. He creates some striking images in the film (DP Deakins kicked ass!!!!) and produces a very slick thoughtful movie... but I still left the theater going "huh?" The movie is really about what happens to a trained killer - who has no other function but to slaughter - but who is forced to sit and do nothing. This is not a film about why we were in the Persian Gulf... or the shocking images of death in war.... it is about man's psyche - and how corrosive inactivity is on it.

Mendes includes a nice dream sequence to Nirvana's "Something in the Way," one of the highlights of the film. While watching - loving the song and the idea behind using it... I realized that this dated me.... and then I wanted to pummell the kids behind who giggled at the film.


Saturday hit and we found ourselves at the Valley Drive-in Theater in Newton, IA. One of the last remaining in Iowa (and midwest), we showed up waaaay early and found that we had the place to ourselves. Dan, Matt and I, passed the time by playing football in the rain and mud right in front of the screen - it was a blast!! The films were ok - "Dreamer" - kind of gross horse film with Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell, and "W&G Curse of the Were-Rabbit" - we love Wallace and Grommit... but it was not fall out of the car funny.

It rained all night... I was scrunched in the back seat with Caleb and Josh... but we had a ball.


Sunday brought PAINTBALL!! We did this last year for birthdays and had fun because the four of us (Dan, Matt, Caleb - me) got to play against each other... this weekend, we were thrown in with a large group - and some fun was had. In the first round I got shot point blank between the eyes... then proceeded to let my entire paint container pour out onto the ground. Not cool. Got some welts... endured my screaming knees... and continued on.


Finally, we wrapped up birthday weekend with a trip to Buca de Peppo - and found out that it was their final day open. They had gone out of business. We got the Pope room... and Caleb got the Pope's chair. Good eats... and we had fun unwrapping gifts and mocking each other's mean cards.

I landed at home around 5 pm... worn out... full... and unprepared to work on the Cavalier... the OverDrive shifter solonoid went out on it. Ugh - look for a report later this week on how much fun Devin and I have with that one.

Later!

Yo

Never thought much of November 4th...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL!!!!!!

Today marks the birthing of young Mr. Dan Stevens. I believe he is clocking in at 28 years old - WOW!


Stevens has been missing from the blog here for a quite while and we miss his bitter f-bomb laiden comments. The blog just aint the same without him. Not to worry - he is still his brazen over-pompous self that we all know and love!


The big plans are as follows; Tonight we head out to the Latin King (his favorite restaurant) for a splendid Italian dinner... Chicken Spadini! Then we are gonna see "Jarhead," hoping that it lives up to "American Beauty" and "Road to Perdition." Then tomorrow, we are going to a Hawkeye football game kegger... then on to the Newton Drive in for "Wallace and Grommit!" Finally, we wrap up everything on Sunday with a wicked game of paint ball!!!


If you get a chance, send on some birthday love. Happy Birthday old man!!!

Yo

There's nothing like a Texas morning

Hey everyone - I posted my photos from my trip to Houston. You can click on the title of this post to see them all!

Ok...trying one more time...click here to view the photos.

God Blessed Texas

Dan and I conquered Houston, Texas recently and here's some photos. Ok...only three photos, but I'll be posting the whole set sometime soon. However, here are three exciting ones...

This is us at the beach at Galveston. There were words written in the sand, but...well...they weren't really nice. Oh and...the water was cold.

This is the Kemah Boardwalk. Lots of fun restaurants, games, and fish. I even won the Scooby water game and brought home a stuffed Scooby Doo. Grrrrrr!

These are my friends Mikey and Shelley. They were my roommates in Georgia and were our gracious hosts for our trip!

Good times had by all! When I get all the photos uploaded to my web page, I'll let y'all know - there's some awesome ones from the NASA center. Ooooo astronauts!

ITS OFFICIAL!!!

I just watched the new "Jesus of Suburbia" video that was produced - it is a 12 minute steaming pile! It is completely atrocious... devoid of any interesting visuals... filled with f-bomb laiden stupid dialogue... and it really the biggest disappointment this side of "The Evening Star!"

The director is a steroid pumping jack ass named Samuel Bayer - he has directed every video for Green Day off the American Idiot album. Green Day has never had the best videos ever - and "American Idiot," the first single, was a mediocre video at best. But who knew that was to be the highlight of the bunch. "Boulevard"... "Holiday"... "September Ends"... all crap... but this new one... this is the above all worst thing I have ever seen. Bayer needs to be destroyed... he needs to be dragged through the streets and beaten... and then forced to apologize to each and every Green Day fan for single handedly destroying their best work.

Then we should f*cking kill him.

GAAAAAA!!!

Go puke puke for yerself

Yo

A long time ago - we used to be friends...

Addictions are a fun past time - and it is always great to drag others down with you as one falls deeper into the sad black realm of uncontrollable needs.

Take for instance my newest addiction, Veronica Mars. I got the DVD set for me birthday and proceeded to jump into it. At the time, Devin had just moved in and was busy doing moving stuff while I sat on my butt watching the discs. Yet, slowly, I could sense he was being pulled in. He started to sit around for eps - often staying up with me well past midnight watching good V fun!

By the time we got to the end of the season - our addiction was very sick and needy! The season ended with a semi-cliffhanger... which led to me reading how the 2nd season started online the next day - and when I got home Devin admitted to doing the same. Devin quickly scanned the internet and found the first 5 episodes of the new season to download! Who the hell can wait a year for more eps!?!?!


The main problem is that UPN is not offered as a local station in the Des Moines (or Iowa!) area. Veronica Mars airs on Wednesdays on UPN... killer. So, what can an addicted person do? Well - add a un-needed package of 6 new channels to your Dish just to have UPN! It is only another $6 a month... for one show... hmmm.


Veronica Mars is actually much better than I expected it to be. The story revolves around young Veronica, a high school private eye who works with her father - a full time private eye. The back story is that V's best friend Lilly was murdered, V's father,once - town sheriff, lost his job for going after Lilly Kane's father (richest dude in town) - she also lost her boyfriend, Duncan Kane, in the process. She kind of helps out mystery type situations... while investigating Lilly's murder along the way.


Early comparisons where being made to Buffy - a series that basically defines what addiction means to me - thusly my expectations were quite high for Veronica. As a matter of fact, I read the Joss Whedon blog (he is the creator of Buffy - and his blog is linked right here on my blog) and a few months back he posted saying he just did a 22 hour marathon of the series... and loved the hell outta it! Buffy similarities are there but the series has its own voice... and humor! I can see why it has become the coolest of the cool as far as low rated shows go.

If you have UPN - shame on you for not watching it yet. If you are with us... "WHO'S YOUR DADDY!!"


Yo

Elementary my dear Sheriff

On the literary front - I just wrapped up Mitch Cullin's "A Slight Trick of the Mind." This is a tale of Sherlock Holmes in his declining years (pushing 90) and how his own mind begins to slip with age. Three mysteries (if you wish to call them that) are interwoven in the story... but the book is far better than any crappy summary I could produce. Cullin paints the impressive image of a man dying... coming to terms with the reality of moving world around him.

There are some very beautiful moments in the book - wonderful ironies and contradictions that really help in making Holmes a very interesting character. It is a quick read... and a completely different Sherlock story than what you might expect.


In a similar vein - Peters' "A Morbid Taste for Bones" is handled like a Murder She Wrote... or an Agatha Christie mystery. Written in the 70's, the book follows Brother Cadfael, a monk who solves mysteries that come his way.

Wow - this book was a struggle to finish. I read it for my book club... and I think I can do without the mystery sets and series novels - they bore me.


Finally, I have moved on to the Harry Potter series (thank you Miss Buttercup!) and have started things off with "Sorcerer's Stone." I had a hope to get past the fourth book before the movie came out - but I doubt that will happen. Right now (half way through) I am really enjoying Rowling's voice... and I regret not reading these before seeing the films. Though, it seems they nailed the casting on quite a few characters!

We'll see how fast they move... I will be reading "The Sweet Hereafter" in my downtime... with a little Martin Amis lingering in the back.


Remember! Jess returns tonight!! Time to shake up the Gilmore world.

Yo