eagle eye: alternate taglines

Just so we're clear, Eagle Eye's official taglines are:

Walk. Don't Run.
and If you want to live you will obey.

Just thought I'd throw that out there. After watching it at the IMAX last night, I came up with a few new ones. These are spoilerish. Read at your own will.

Eagle Eye: Because no one should EVER wrong a divorced mom.

Eagle Eye: Because one movie with exploding 18 wheelers is never enough for Shia Labeouf.

Eagle Eye: Where you can watch Rosario Dawson play a white woman.

Eagle Eye: Who knew playing a trumpet could be so dangerous?

Eagle Eye: For those curious about what it would be like to ride on a conveyor belt in a packing facility.

Eagle Eye: Where police car chases and continuity don't necessarily need to collide.

Eagle Eye: Where 51% confirmation does NOT make it right.

a blurb about the g1.

I've been waiting all year for the release of the first Android phone, and today, I was presented with T-Mobile's G1.



I'll keep this to "blurb" minimum, but after watching a few videos on the web, and reading some reviews, I'm pretty satisfied with this first generation model.

Some notes:

1) It certainly looks like a first generation model. Mostly made of plastic, it definitely looks cheap compared to the iPhone. Let's just be honest, the iPhone is pretty darn...pretty.

2) The G1's response time is faster than iPhone's when it's flipped to landscape or portrait mode.

3) Open source. Need I say more?

4) I'm still not a fan of that chunk on the bottom of the handset, but I understand why it's there.

5) Push is blazin' fast.

6) I'm a Google girl. I use the Apps. Yeah, ALL of them. Maps, Gmail, GCal, YT, you name it. So, no signing up for new accounts here. But it's a perk, not a necessity.

7) QWERTY. This is basically my biggest gripe about the iPhone. And a dedicated search button? Yes, please.

8) The OS has every opportunity to morph, update, change, shift, and evolve into what its consumers want it to be, and what its hardware is capable of. I like the sound of that.

Okay, still trying to keep this all to a blurb...But what makes me excited more than anything else about Android phones is that it adds more options to the buffet of a cell phone consumer's diet. Apple caters well to its loyal fanboys, but it's still having some trouble winning over another audience -- which I'm a part of. What's cool about the G1 is that it's just that -- the first generation of an upcoming slew of Android phones from multiple carriers. I'm ready for a real cell phone war to begin, folks.

online friends < real life friends.


"Relationships" is one of those highly sensitive soapbox issues for me. There are people who can talk for days about global warming, technology trends, politics, and childhood obesity. I'm not one of those people. There are actually only a few topics that I will talk about extensively without pausing for a comedic break. I'm one of those types of people who doesn't like things to get too serious, but there are subjects that certainly lend themselves to require a different tone.

First things first.

I'm not an expert, nor am I self-proclaimed relationships expert. I'm not a psychologist, psychotherapist, counselor, or human behavior specialist. I'm actually a bit of an ordinary Jane, who, believe or not, has had some pretty screwed up relationships in her past. Friends, boyfriends, colleagues, you name it. But, like most human beings, I've learned (some of) the error of my ways. Every relationship that has taken hold in my life has obviously been purposed to do so, and I regret none of them.

You see, even though I don't often admit it, I lean toward being a people person. I like to ask questions. I like to get to know people quickly - their favorites, dislikes, hobbies, and like. I like to find out what makes them tick. This is probably 90% of the reason why when I was in college I was pretty convinced that I wanted to be a reporter. Thank goodness this never came to fruition, because I'd probably be fired after my first day when my producer learned I took 5 hours to finish an interview.

Which is what brings me to the title of this particular post.

It may seem to be a no-brainer that real life friendships trump online friendships. But, truth be told, this might actually have been a no-brainer thought from someone from 1998, not 2008.

With today's social networking sites, it's far easier to friend someone on Facebook and MySpace, and keep up via wall posts, tags, messages, photos, and status updates. It's easier to drop a "hey how's it going?" line to someone you've already established a relationship with, and still claim that as a relationship. Face it (no pun intended), it's just easier. We can manipulate these social networking sites to play as an extension of our real world relationships. Here, the tool is simply doing its job. Use a social networking site with friends you already know, and voila, you stay in the know. Instant "sort-of" relationship.

So there's one type: Previous face-to-face shallow relationships that blossom into look-but-don't-touch relationships that are basically confined to social networking sites.

Secondly, take for example a relationship that was all created via the World Wide Web. Let's say it was birthed from a tweet, a Skype call, or a comment on a blog. Next thing you know, you're having daily chats via IM. And then video convos. You're e-mailing back and forth. Your friend seems to be the coolest person you know. They quote your favorite movies, know your favorite songs, and know that you call your cat "The Devil" when she's thrown up in your shoes. For the seventieth time. So here's your second type: the online "buddy." No explanation needed.

Thirdly, is your real life friend. Sure, the first two types all involve relationships with real, living, breathing beings who walk on two legs (in most cases). But this third relationship involves human contact. It involves hugs. Eye contact. Hearing laughter in real time -- it doesn't involve a delay of streaming over the internet or being bounced from a satellite orbiting the earth and back down to your cell phone.

There are problems with all relationships, of course, because it involves one person on both ends. But when these problems arise in online relationships...I'd believe that problems can only lend themselves to be on the extreme right or left of a given situation. If things get ugly -- that's it. I don't have to call, I don't have to e-mail, I don't have to IM you. Check "block user" under privacy settings right? It's a lot easier to brush someone off and render their friendship useless. The entire give-and-take process of real life friendships have little to hold on to in the online world.

What was once just a comment on a blog, a simple Skype call, or a tweet, has been reduced to just that, yet again. This is where the issues often found in a real life relationships don't play fair with the rules of a broadband connection. If I was friends with Colette and met her for coffee every week, I can't just stop meeting her for coffee. If I discontinue seeing her, she'll know something's up, and not just think I've gotten busy with work or school or kids. She's seen me vulnerable. She knows more about me than my favorite line from my favorite movie. She's seen the good and the bad. It's a bit harder to disguise your personal issues in a conversation when you can't use a backspace to erase what you didn't mean to say.

I've gotten a bit touchy-feely over the years, I know. And I simply can't shake the human, relational part of me that wants to see, hear, and touch everyone I meet online. (I'm really hoping that didn't come out really creepy) Meeting someone via IM is not the same as holding their hand in a firm handshake and trying to hold their gaze at the same time.

This is why real life friends will always trump online friends. Don't get me wrong, social networks have proven to provide a pretty strong web of friendships. I've literally seen what Flickr friendships mean to people, and hear what podcasting friendships can do. It's networking on a different level, but I'm not sure if it holds a candle to a friendship with someone who has no care whether you're a fine photographer or that you watch their favorite TV show. And if an online relationship blossoms into a real life one, even better. It's the human contact that makes all the difference.

It's been said that tone can't always be deciphered in an IM box. And it's totally true. Neither should a friendship be confined to a protocol stack.

oh, for the love of sam cooke.

I've been binging on Sam Cooke's music lately. I'm about to OD, honestly.

So I thought I'd spread the love. Or crippling obsession, however way you want to spin it.

attack of the screen grabs.

Baby Phat Barbie--err, Kimora Lee Simmons Gold Label Barbie Doll


(Via SeenON! Style)

Someone really needs to take away Kimora Lee's right to have ideas.

Okay, honestly? If I were a 7-year-old and was given this for my birthday, I would cry after finding out that Kimora Lee Barbie's coat was made out of my pet chinchilla's fur. Oh, Mattell, give me a break.

Inspiron Mini 9

I've been known to compulsively scream, "I want that!" at shiny electronic objects, and this little number made me shriek when I saw it.


(Via Dell)

Specs: 2.28 lbs, 8.9" glossy screen, 1024x600, BT, Wi-Fi, modest SSD, webcam, $350-450. It does simple, sleek, and small quite nicely. It gets the Net job done. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am. It comes in white or black - I'll take mine in white, please.

Chuck Taylor X-Hi Canvas


I got my first pair of Chucks for Christmas last year-- the classic black Chuck Taylor All Star. Everyone and their mom (except mine) has them. I've recently become enamored with boxing shoes (don't ask), and these are like the next best thing. This pattern doesn't exactly suit my fancy, but I can always design my own!

Honestly, I'd like to try boxing shoes out as a fashion statement but I'm afraid Bub wouldn't let me out of the house.

That, and I might get laughed at.

my friends make me laugh.

I've noticed that depending on what social network you belong to, you'll find completely different ways people express themselves. On Facebook, you'll find people are always in the middle of doing something. Watching the DNC. Playing with their dog. Driving to Houston (while they probably shouldn't be texting at the same time). On Twitter, most posts are fairly witty or sarcastic. A quote of the day, a short, one-line movie review, a passive-aggressive smart aleck remark towards their coworker.

But for once, the funny stuff was restricted to my incoming text messages. Here I'll share my two favorite LOL moments of the day. =)

Back story #1: A friend of mine and her husband are expecting a child early next year, and she's found a handful of boys' names that she likes, but is having some difficulty coming up with girls' names. So I thought I'd help her out.

Me: "I'm watching America's Top Model. What do you think of Marjorie for a girl['s name]? Does that make you want to yak?"
Friend #1: "Marjorie does not make us want to yak, but it does make us want to butter our toast. :)"

Back story #2: Friend #2 works for a small agency that produces promotional material for the Air Force Base here.

Friend #2: "Hey, do you know anyone that has [Photoshop] CS3 for PC and Premiere for Mac?"
Me: "Nope. And CS4 is coming out later on this month."
Friend #2: "OMG. I AM STILL TRYING TO LEARN ALL THE FEATURES IN CS3."

The second one may not seem quite as funny, but I couldn't help but visualize my friend's blank stare, and equally interesting loud yell as she would say it. That, and for some reason every time I read the letters "OMG" I can't help but say "Oh emm gee" aloud to myself.

I love text messages. =)

i'm still alive. promise.

It's pretty lame that there are a few of my posts that begin with: "So, I haven't posted in awhile..." or "Sorry it's taken so long" or "It's been a crazy 12 years, but..."

Aha, but I won't start this post off that way! =)

My mind's thoughts are quite sporadic this evening (it could be the meds), so hopefully numbering my thoughts will be helpful.

1) I had a dream about Catherine Hardwicke, who will be directing the novel-turned-movie Twilight, which debuts in late November. (I'm a fan of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga) In the dream, an old friend from college and I were in a giant mansion and I was grilling Hardwicke about why she chose to shoot the vampires "running" the way she did. I told her bluntly that I didn't agree with her technique. I then proceeded to tell her that I was a little wary that it would look hokey, but she continued to listen to me ramble on with pursed lips and inquisitive eyes. I felt embarrassed then, but she reassured me that she believes she did the film justice, and I gushed with excitement that it would be coming out in a few months.

I know exactly why I dreamed about Hardwicke. I was passing by Blockbuster yesterday afternoon and I considered stopping to rent Thirteen, a film that Hardwicke directed five years ago. I opted out since I had left my coupon at home, and apparently my mind wasn't going to let that one go easily.

2) I've been playing on the Wii Fit. I first played it a few months ago at a girlfriend's house, and then felt really silly that I hadn't pre-ordered it in the first place. I don't know, dropping $90 on something I wasn't sure if I'd like seemed pretty risky to me. But now that I've snagged one of my own, it's hard to tear it away from me. =)

3) I got a head cold last night and today was a lazy day of nothingness, sprinkled with a bit of sickly whining. My morning of laziness started out with rolling around in bed, being fed ice cream (it's a hard life, ain't it?), and then a sort-of marathon of Heroes season 2. I didn't watch any of last season, and now I'm playing catch up before the season 3 premiere. Then I played around with GarageBand in the office with my newly acquired (read: "stolen") M-Box and mic, watched way too many YouTube videos, cleaned the house a little bit, and watched Gossip Girl's season premiere with Bub. Oh, and before you pass any judgment, I have to say that GG is my guilty pleasure. Oh...so...guilty. =) I'm also looking forward to the series premiere of 90210, which would boost my CW-show-watching count up to a whopping "2".

4) Speaking of TV shows, there are a few shows that I'll be watching this fall, thanks to Hulu and "other avenues of entertainment acquiring." These include, but are not limited to:

Regulars
The Office
House, M.D.
The Big Bang Theory
Scrubs
Heroes
Grey's Anatomy
30 Rock
Chuck
Gossip Girl


Newbies I want to check out
Fringe
Kath and Kim
90210


I'm sure if I had children, I'd be declared an unfit mother.

5) My poor cell phone is on its way out the door, as well. After charging my phone at night, the phone turns itself off. My battery dips down to 2 bars (out of 4) after a 30 minute conversation. Ugh...If you know my taste in cell phones, I like to hold on to my phone until I absolutely MUST get a new one. It takes forever for me to come up with a decision on a make/model, and it was no different with my current LG CU500. I do know for sure that I want my next cell phone to be a smart phone. That could be a Blackberry, Palm, iPhone, or whatever Android-based phone, if any, AT&T decides to roll out. I'm keeping my eyes peeled and ears open and I'm praying my phone doesn't crap out completely in the meantime.

6) Someone close to us has started seeing someone. I won't go much into details, but it's very different, and very new. I was both excited and nervous to meet her this weekend, but now I know why he likes her as much as he does. =)

7) I'm getting more and more excited as Christmas draws near. I can't wait to see my family again.

8) Work has been a handful. We need to hire another editor, ASAP. I don't want to rip my hair out. End of story.

9) I need a new book to read, and I think that book is "Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain. Since our slew of restaurant shoots, I'm considering this a must-read. I've also learned that professional chefs have quite the interesting personalities. One particular local chef that I have in mind flashed me a dazzling smile one moment, then fired off a bunch of expletives shortly thereafter in the same 30 seconds.

10) A few songs I'm crushing on: "Energy," (Keri Hilson), "Crush" (David Archuleta), a cover of "Umbrella" (YouTuber Brad Doggett), and a cover of "Let Go" (YouTuber Kina Grannis).

11) I also have a few upcoming posts that I've pre-selected topics for, that I promise to kick out sooner or later:

Why I'm Hoping Twilight Won't Completely Suck
Social Networking? Don't You Mean, "Me, Me, Me"?
Confessions of a Chronic Creative


12) Link spam: I've also been watching That Media Show, a video podcast headed up by John Flowers. I love what this show is about, and I've been surprised to find that I am interested in every story in every cut. A little bit of Hollywood fluff, a little bit of compositing news, a little bit of RED details, all in the same show? Score.

Okay, I'm off to the Land of the Unconscious. The rambling had to stop at some point, right?