Saturday, November 22, 2008

10 rules of movie etiquette

Elliott Kanbar, president of the Quad Cinema in NYC, included this list is his weekly e-mail. I agree with all of them. I hope he doesn't mind my posting it here.
(1) After buying your ticket, don't hold up the line by counting or putting away your change in front of the box office. Move to the side and do what you have to do.

(2) A baseball cap is a hat. Don't wear it in the theater.

(3) If the theater is not too full, don't take a seat right in front of the patrons behind you.

(4) On the other hand, if the theater is full, don't put your jacket on the seat next to you if you're not holding it for someone but only because you want more room.

(5) Feet on the seat in front of you are never acceptable, even if the theater is empty.

(6) Chatting should stop as soon as the theater is dark, even though the only things on the screen are trailers.

(7) With concession prices high, it's understandable to buy some of the food (like sodas) on the outside. But don't bring with you big bags of smelly food from fast food restaurants.

(8) Like all retail businesses, movie theaters (especially the art houses) are hurting. Don't take advantage by buying senior tickets when you don't qualify, age-wise.

(9) Even though you may not be talking, the light from a BlackBerry or iPod during the film is distracting to the patrons around you.

(10) If the line at the box office is long, have your money ready when you get to the window.
I think rule 7, coming from a theater owner, is quite generous. Most won't let you bring in any outside food or beverages.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Weekly free associations

I'm very late this week.
  1. Please stop :: it

  2. Move over :: Beethoven (no, that's roll over)

  3. Sweet as :: sugar candy

  4. Bet :: lose

  5. Mad about :: the mouse

  6. It’s over :: .

  7. Intend to :: mean to

  8. Blame :: game

  9. Jefferson :: president

  10. Heartless :: cruel

Thanks to Unconscious Mutterings.

Plat du jour














I hope they're talking about teeth and not dogs.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Happy birthday to me--I guess

Today is my 60th birthday. It's kind of scary: I'm within four years of the age my father died. On the other hand, I'm almost 22 years less than the age my mother went. I hope I'm as lucky as she was, but who knows?

I am glad I'm no longer a 50-something. That really got kind of boring a couple of years ago. I don't feel old mentally, but my body keeps reminding me I am. And my memory isn't what it used to be.

So, happy birthday to me, I guess.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Plat du jour--guest submission












Joanne found another one.

This is kind of an in-joke. In the transgender world, "GG" means "genetic girl." (It's not a particularly politically correct term.) I kind of doubt the accountant who owns this plate is aware of that.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Not all of the posts on FAIL Blog are fails

fail owned pwned pictures
see more pwn and owned pictures

So, is this a FAIL Blog failure?

Obama's first mistake as president-elect?

I didn't see the interview of President-elect Obama on 60 minutes last night, but somehow it got into the question of how the college football national champion is determined. Obama favors an 8 team playoff to replace the single game between the top two teams. According to the AP, he said,
"It would add three extra weeks to the season," he said at the conclusion of a wide-ranging interview. "You could trim back on the regular season. I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this.
He's probably right about that. However, what he fails to realize is that the NCAA, and the colleges that run it, don't really care much about the serious fans of college football. Their first concern is for the alumni and local fans who fill the stadiums during the regular season. They, and the TV broadcasters, are the ones footing the bill for the college athletic programs. For each game that is subtracted from the regular season, over 50 stadiums of ticket-buying fans are lost. A seven game play-off is not going to make up for this, even with increased fees from the TV networks.

And who knows? The NCAA just might have some concerns about how three weeks of playoffs (instead of one bowl game) might affect the student-athletes playing them.

This isn't a major mistake for Obama, but maybe he should just stick to politics and statesmanship.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Headline fail

Gov. Paterson, Legislative Leaders Meet Secretly
If they had met secretly you wouldn't know about it. Try "privately."

Plat du jour













I sure hope the misspelling is only due to the correct one already being taken.