Movies

Is there really any originality in movies anymore? Other than adaptations from books and the retelling of previous movies, is there anything new anymore? The Twilight series is from a book. Almost every comic book character has been done to death already. Some (Batman, Superman) even get their stories redone. Now The Dark Knight was perhaps one of the greatest "revisions" of The Joker but there is no originality anymore. Next thing you know we'll be seeing new versions of Gone With the Wind and The Godfather, as if Hollywood actually thinks they can do better than Clark Gable and Marlon Brando.

Manners

I talked about Rules of the Road in a past entry but something really irked me yesterday as I was walking downtown. We complain a lot about drivers and cyclists who don't follow rules, but what about pedestrians? I'm not even talking about crossing the road, it's walking in general. If you want to use your cell phone while you're walking could you at least look at where you're going instead of looking down at the ground? If you hear or see something or someone behind you could you maybe stop instead of walking randomly toward me?

Top 5 Worst "Celebrity" Parents of 2009

These are in no particular order and I almost feel guilty giving them more than their 15 minutes of fame but here you go. I'm sure there are other choices.

1) Richard and Mayumi Heene (aka parents of Balloon Boy)
2) Jon and Kate Gosselin (child exploiters)
3) Michael and Dina Lohan
4) Kevin Federline and Britney Spears (special mention to TEENAGE SISTER Jamie Lynn Spears who got herself pregnant twice)
5) Octomom

2010

The Olympics are less than two months away, and based on the traffic problems I've experienced as of late, it's only going to get worse. Both Vancouver and Richmond are so obviously unprepared for 2010. Right now a drive to work with no traffic takes less than 10 minutes. I estimate that figure will increase threefold (fourfold?). The option of Skytrain is pointless because the lineups at the stations will be just as worse. And what if it snows? We all know how bad the drivers are during snow. Well, to all those that voted for the Olympics, your wish has come true. Enjoy.

Politics?!?

Remember a few months ago during the American election, everybody was saying how great Barack Obama would be as a leader and how much better he was than that last guy? How times change. Has Mr. President done anything really significant other than talk a lot? Isn't it funny how the once-laughable Sarah Palin is suddenly looking really good? It really just goes to prove that Americans fall for every trick in the book.

Communication

I don't know if this is really a Pet Peeve but it's more of an annoyance. It's how Facebook and other forms of communication has taken over many people's lives. Remember not too many years ago when if you wanted to talk to someone you would pick up the phone and then call them? And if they weren't home you had to leave a message? Then came call waiting, and people could decide who they wanted to talk to. Cell phones got popular and people didn't even have phone lines at home. Then email became the main form of communication. And then eventually text messaging overtook emails.

And then came Facebook, now nobody seems to talk to people anymore. Pretty soon I won't need my cell phone.

Twilight

There is so much hype surrounding this saga, even so that there have been people lining up DAYS in advance of the premiere of the movie. Now I can understand lying up a few hours before a movie premieres but days? I remember years ago when I waited about four or five hours in line for Episode I of Star Wars and what a big disappointment it was. It's only a movie, it will be on the next day. It's like those people who wait in line at midnight for the unveiling of the new Harry Potter books. You really can't wait a few hours for the bookstore to open? Is there nothing better to do?

H1N1

Just a thought, how many people in Canada have died from the H1N1 virus? How many people have died from regular flu or pneumonia? I'm not saying it's not dangerous but isn't this almost mass hysteria? And considering a few people have had a bad reaction to the vaccine, is it worth getting it?

Dancing With the Stars

One day I'll stop talking about this show, but not right now. Tonight the show proved what a joke it really is. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the performances, especially since Barry and Robin Gibb were on tonight and sang You Should Be Dancing. But tonight once again the show proved how ridiculous the judging is. AMERICA is not voting for the best performances, they are voting for the popular people. As much as I'm a Donny Osmond and even Kelly Osborne fan, there is no way either of them should have gotten through to the finals ahead of Joanna Krupa (even though I really don't like her). But that's the Kevin Skinner America.

Reality?

I've written about this topic on my regular blog before but it is nevertheless one of my biggest pet peeves. It's how these so-called reality TV shows are distorted in order to get ratings.

Take all these talent shows that eliminate contestants week after week until a final winner is crowned. Who stays and who goes is determined by the public show vote to see who they want to stay. But what exactly are they voting on? Are they truly voting on the best performance or are they just voting for the most popular person?

Let's look at the infamous last season of America's Got Talent. Why did Kevin Skinner win? Was he the best singer? Would people pay money to see him in Las Vegas? I believe the answer to both questions is no. But he won because he had a good story. Nobody has heard from him since the show, and I strongly doubt if his show will last. Meanwhile, amazing performances from Barbara Padilla and even the third-place percussion group should have been rewarded.

What about Dancing With the Stars, perhaps the worst example of popularity voting. Does it really matter if they can dance as opposed to if they are popular? Mya is by far the best dancer on the show but will she win? It's hard to say because Donny Osmond, Kelly Osborne and perhaps even Joanna Krupa are more "popular".

Rules of the Road

Many automobile drivers are portrayed as reckless people who break rules. While there are a lot of these bad drivers everywhere, it is not them that break the most rules, but rather those cyclists who think it is OK to ride wherever and however they want.

Don't get me wrong, I do feel sorry for them. There are many roads that do not have space for cyclists to ride. But as long as they are on the road with the cars, then they should follow the rules. Follow the direction the cars are driving. Ride on the road instead of the sidewalk. But most of all, respect traffic signals.

Hi

And so begins another blog. This will be a collection of my musings about what irks me, from everyday life to the entertainment world to wherever my mind leads me. I know I have more than 365 things that bother me so this blog should be good for a year at least.

Feel free to contact me with suggestions, and also what bugs you! Whether you agree or disagree with me, please contribute! Hope to hear from you soon!