Sunday 5/23/10

I'm back and posting after awhile off. One day I'll look back at all these stops and starts in the past year and laugh. I hope.

A SHREK FAILURE

Did anyone want to see Shrek 4? Really? Because I thought the first was OK but overrated, the second was mediocre at best. and the third watchable only for the body switch antics between Donkey and Puss in Boots.

It amazes me that Hollywood so frequently forgets the rule of sequels, that the film generally performs in relation to the goodwill toward the last installment. Did Dreamworks not realize no one liked the third Shrek? With all the hype, and the tie-ins, they won't lose their shirts, but I am completely amused by the revelation that Shrek 4 will almost certainly not earn as much as How to Train Your Dragon (at least domestically). And that amuses me.

WHILE ON THE SUBJECT OF FAILURES...

Did anyone see McGruber failing as miserably as it did? I guess everyone else is as sick of Saturday Night Live spin-offs as I am. There's Blues Brothers, Wayne's World, and after that, don't bother me.

THE BEST PART OF SURVIVOR

If you watch Survivor and haven't been to the CBS website, you haven't seen the best part of the season. The Ponderosa clips, showing the jury out of the game, has been a lot of fun this season. Coach actually comes across like a nice guy, not the pompous fool he's been in the game. Courtney, Coach, and JT started a band, and the first video is also on the site. It's much more entertaining than the actual show, especially since Russell hasn't been there. If you are a fan of the show, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

SOCCER SEASON CONCLUDING

My son's soccer team, the Springfield Thunder U11 team, which I also assistant coach, concludes its season today. We are 6-1, and have clinched a tie for first place. We play the second place team, Shelby County Alliance, today at their place, and a win or a tie gives us first alone.

Both teams were 5-1 going into last week's game at our place, but we saved our best effort of the year for the biggest game. We were up 4-0 at half, and coasted to an 8-2 victory. To put that score into perspective. It is the biggest margin of victory of any game in the division this year. To do that against the second place team, a good team, is impressive.

Maybe part of it was we were motivated after a disappointing result at the Marietta tournament last week. And speaking of that...

I WILL NEVER USE HOTWIRE AGAIN

I used Hotwire to book my room in Marietta, Ohio. Never again. I booked a room for two adults, and ended up with a single double bed. Ever tried sleeping with your father in a double bed? I ended up on the floor. I also ended up walking around the streets of Marietta at 4 am.

My anger at Hotwire is that they reported when I booked (and paid) that I had a $95 roon. I did my homework. The $95 room is a double. Singles are $80. I was told I had a $95 room. I did not get one. When I attempted to point this to Hotwire, they defended themselves by saying two adults could sleep comfortably (yes, they actually said comfortably) in a double bed. Well, not these two adults.

The kicker is, all Hotwire needed to do was say, "Why yes, that is a $15 difference. Let us make that up to you by offering you a coupon for $15 off your next purchase." Would have kept me as a customer. But they obviously don't understand customer service.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Hotwire won't get that chance.

POST #50

According to the counter on my blog, this is my 50th post. While not quite what I was hoping for, I guess the best thing I can say is that that is 50 more posts than the eight years before it. If you don't count all my comments on my friend Eric's blogs.