21st Century Landlord

My apartment building was sold again.

The new landlord will be the fourth owner since I moved there.

The current guy is the only one who has offered his email address. That rocks. I very much prefer email communication.

He might get tired of email, though. From me, bombarding him with emails.

I’ll try to hold back.

“No Country for Old Men”

Kevin called me as my work day unwound. We talked about all sorts of stuff and decided we’d have to get together next week to hang out and do fun, unplanned things. He talked about “Lost”, which he and his wife are now watching, starting from the first season, and working their way up. I mostly listened, and I tried very hard not to give anything away.

We also talked about movies. I mentioned seeing “Michael Clayton” and he talked about seeing “No Country for Old Men”. He kept talking about the ending, without giving anything away, but said that it ended rather abruptly.

After I left work, I had to go downtown to pick up some stuff before going home. And I decided on a whim, to go see a movie. And of course, I saw “No Country for Old Men”.

I liked it. The dialogue is poetic and stylized but entertaining. The character of Anton Chigurh is… well, he’s evil. Unstoppable, relentless. I have a theory about the ending. I can’t wait to share it with Kevin.

But I have to say that of the three Best Pictures that I’ve seen, I liked “Michael Clayton” best.

Fewer iPods

I finally sold my old iPod last night. I’ve been trying to sell it since before my Christmas Cancún vacation but I got nothing but flakes off of craigslist. Flakes and low-ballers. “I’ll give you $50 for it.”

Um, no. The damned thing is worth at least $150, asshat.

And the other type of craisglist buyer is the one who pesters me with endless questions and then disappears. That’s also annoying and a waste of my time.

But since selling something on craigslist is free, unlike, say, eBay, it’s worth it to persevere and hold out for a good price. Except for the fact that I really really needed the money, like, a month and a half ago. But other than that…

And guess what? (Chickenbutt!) I got $150 for a 30GB, 5th Generation white iPod video. Which is what it’s worth, if you look at closed eBay auctions for the same product.

“Persepolis” “Michael Clayton”

I want to write a longer post about each of them, but just so I can make a note, I saw two movies the past two days.

Last night I saw “Persepolis”, the movie belonging to the trailer I posted earlier in the week. I recommend it highly. Made me think very much about politics and how it impacts everyday lives.

Tonight I saw “Michael Clayton”, the Oscar-nominated film with George Clooney’s Oscar-nominated acting, and possibly many other Oscar-nomination-festooned besides. Saw it with Tracy and Gina. Very much worth it. Intricately plotted, sensitively acted.

Fear of fear

I’ve been working on a long, well-organized and articulate post about fear.

I’m afraid I’ll never finish it.

I’m afraid I’ll never post it.

…which is the point, essentially.

Dammit.

Whoa, the Wal is a green company?

I’m not one to ignore the evidence.

Wal-Mart’s board has actually committed to three environmental goals for the retail giant:

In an October, 2005, speech titled “Twenty-First Century Leadership,” Wal-Mart committed to three large sustainability goals: to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, to create zero waste, and to sell products that sustain our resources and the environment. The company set goals of increasing fuel efficiency in Wal-Mart’s truck fleet by 25 percent over the next three years, and doubling it within 10 years; reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2012; and reducing energy use at stores by 30 percent.

They may be anti-union and ruthlessly monopolistic and funding enemies of democracy but being green is a plus in my eyes.

You probably already knew this, though.

Upcoming flicks

I saw “Cloverfield” by myself. I see a lot of movies by myself. I’d like to see more movies with other people. Problem is, I usually ask too late – I’m on the way to the theater, having only decided an hour or two previously which movie and which showing.

To prevent that, I’ve taken a look at the movies opening in the next two weeks in Portland, and here’s the ones I’m interested in seeing. If you want to see it, too, contact me or post a comment and we’ll work out a time.

…or feel free to point out any hidden gems you’d like to introduce me to.

Here’s the trailer for “Persepolis”, which opens at the Fox Cinemas next Friday:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6kH3xPwDU&rel=1]

One year or less

One year from today, George W. Bush and Richard Bruce Cheney will serve their last day in the office of the President and Vice President of the United States.

That means that every day after today will be the last day of that date that we have them as our country’s leaders.

At least that’s the hope.

Cloverfield

Saw the monster movie home video “Cloverfield” last night. I followed most everyone’s advice and didn’t read any reviews before I saw it.

And so should you.

The Merc vs. Gary Blackmer

I am so jealous of Matt Davis. He has my dream job. I think getting told to fuck off would be a badge of honor for an investigative journalist. I don’t think Matt is whining; he’s bragging.

Amy J. Ruiz, I can do this stuff, too, and I’m at least as brilliant as Matt. Plus I speak American and won’t try to expense all that warm beer. Hire me!

Kidding – mostly (I really am just as brilliant).

Good job, Matt. Keep at it.