Tag: observations

Thoughts on Dexter, Season 5

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

Going into the fifth season of Dexter, I had fairly low expectations.  The way season four had ended completely broke the television series away from the books, and in a most dynamic plot twist, which made fans of the series realize that the writers had a monumental task ahead of them with season five.  Admittedly, I didn’t think that the writers would be up to the task of topping season four.

Now that I’m a few hours removed from watching the finale of season five, I must applaud the writers and the show’s cast and crew for a very enjoyable season of Dexter.  Whether or not it surpasses the greatness of the prior season is yet to be determined by me yet, but the impression I’ve been left with upon the completion of five is one of satisfaction and enjoyment.

It started off a little on the slow side, as the television rendition of the character Dexter had some necessary deconstruction, in order to evolve further.  But once he was stripped of some of his previous seasons’ tendencies, the season really began to pick up steam.  Not just Dexter developed throughout the season, but several other characters were given opportunities to flourish and grow, become interesting, and worthy of capturing the interest of viewers.  The culmination of the finale was a little predictable, but still completely overlooked by me until afterward, but it was a satisfying conclusion.

I was pleased with the performances of Robocop, and zerocool/crash override.  I can’t say so much about Julia Stiles, as she was the only cast member I balked at upon learning of her role in the season; I just have never really cared for her.  But each were integral components of the season’s story, and in the end, I’m left with a good taste in my mouth, and looking forward to a sixth season.

If I could name a favorite part of the season though, it would have to be the screenshot above; Dexter methodically beating the shit out of an abusive father, and calmly explaining every nuance and detail of pain and suffering of his purposeful blows.  Television beatdowns are a dime a dozen, but leave it to Dexter to make it cerebral, cruel, and downright awesome.

Maybe tomorrow

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

Ever have one of those scenarios, where we know we’re running out of [insert toiletry] and so we acquire more, for when we inevitably run out?  But then, what we have left of said toiletries, seems to last forever, and we’re left wondering when the opportunity will present itself to when we can bust out the new [tube, jar, bottle] and have a fresh new change in the mundane?

I bought a bottle of shampoo and a tube of toothpaste three weeks ago.  What seemed to be “hardly any left” of both respective products don’t seem to be running out, no matter how rolled up the tube may be, or how upside down the bottle is.  At this point, I just want a change in both, but can’t bring myself to just up and toss the remainder of both, because, that would be wasteful.

Conclusions from World Championship Wrestling #2

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

   

For the last seven business days, I was back working at WCW, but this time in the Power Plant, and not for Saturday Night. This was very pleasing to me to simply be back there, and I’m admittedly a little sad that my second go-around is over after just two weeks, and not like the 15-month stint the first time around. But regardless, I enjoyed my time back on familiar grounds again, and who the hell knows what lies ahead for my wacky freelance career that doesn’t seem to end.

But anyway, without giving up too much information, basically, I did a ton of research for pretty much every NCAA school. I’ve learned of schools that I didn’t even know even existed, as well as discovering the various mascots and colors used throughout the country’s vast network of colleges. And here are some conclusions from my recent assignment:

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Thoughts while showering

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

My name is Patrick Bateman. I’m 27 years old. I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and rigorous exercise routine. In the morning if my face is a little puffy I’ll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches. I can do 1000 now. After I remove the ice pack I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower I use a water activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb-mint facial mask which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after shave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.

I’m 28 years old.  I know I’m comparing myself to a fictional character who’s own reality is in question, but shit, remembering lines like that don’t help make me feel like I’m not quite doing something right with my own life.

Reading at the book store

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

Today, I went to a Borders, because I have absolutely no books left to read, and there was no way I was going to hop on the plane back to Atlanta tomorrow morning without something to read.  Firstly, I guess this is one of those regional differences that differs noticeably between Atlanta and Fairfax, but there are a lot more people who occupy the courtesy chairs and are actually reading.  Instead of looking for places to lounge while  their significant others are scouring for books.  Asian kids, Indian students, and various other people of Middle Eastern descent are scattered throughout the store, with actual books, and not a bunch of fake Goth teenagers reading manga in the chairs and aisles.

Here’s my thing – I’m not working right now, and my funds are dwindling and honestly making me worry a little bit these days.  The count of white hairs on my head is distressing, and has become like this Ouroboros of anxiety that just creates more.  I haven’t really relaxed in quite some time.  But all those factors considered, I realize that I just can’t sit down in bookstores and read entire books.  I’m the fucking customer that book stores should love.  I don’t treat them like libraries and sit around and loiter and get my fill of reading without paying for it.

Yet it has nothing to do with reading in public, because when I’m at the airport, or Starbucks, or even any sit down joint during lunch, I have no problem pulling out a book and reading in front of other people.  I guess I have this idea that the concept of sitting around and reading at book stores is kind of what hopeless people do.  If you have the genuine interest in what you’re sampling, take it to the counter, and purchase it, and read what now belongs to you.  I don’t have a ton of money these days, but I still can’t fathom actually taking advantage of the unwritten honor system of book stores, and trying to fill my head and kill my time for absolutely dick, inside the confines of a book store.  I think it’s a cheap thing to do, and that’s something I don’t really want to come off as.

But to each their own, and if my life keeps heading in this dry spell, then even getting to the book store in the first place is going to be the least of my worries.

 

Atlantic Station kind of sucks

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

Last night, I went and watched Inception.  Without saying too much, I really liked the movie.  I enjoyed the cast of the movie; I’ve never really been that impressed with Ellen Page, but this one, I thought she was alright.  The story was okay, kept the viewer thinking and guessing, and there was  a surprising amount of action than what I was expecting.

But anyway, despite the fact that I enjoyed the movie, not quite so much the venue.  Atlantic Station, quite literally in the heart of Midtown Atlanta was built to be this mixed-live/shop kind of development that I’ve grown to call SimCity Commercial Zones these days, since these kinds of establishments have literally popped up in cities all across America, must like as if they were plopped down from the skies at the mouse click of the user, like in SimCity.

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The Saved By the Bell / Friends Connection (A weak one)

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

So the last few mornings, while I’ve been doing my morning workout routine, I’ve been watching a lot of Saved by the Bell.  Much to my delight, it has been on in some ridiculous three-hour marathon pretty much every weekday morning, at the same time that I’m up and doing my morning routine.  For the last two weeks, every morning has been kind of a trip down memory lane, in some respect.

However, the episodes aren’t exactly placed in any particular order; some have been right after the Miss Bliss era, and they’ve jumped as far as into the College Years afterward.  Not that it’s any big deal to me since I’ve pretty much seen every single episode, but it did make me notice something, which is the chief reason why I decided to kill my last day on this particular assignment in Lithonia (which Lithonia sucks; when a Starbucks fails, you know the region is devoid of any success) with writing about a comparison . . .

Saved by the Bell was the show Friends, before Friends was Friends.

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