Ploafmaster General

Wes Anderson's Hotel Chevalier is a 13-minute short film that sets the stage for Jason Schwartzman's character in the upcoming feature, The Darjeeling Limited.

This feature "premiered" at four Apple stores around the country last night and was supposed to be available as a free download on iTunes today. At the time of this writing, however, you cannot find the short easily in iTunes - certainly not using a simple search for "chevalier." For those of you who can't find it, however, I have a link, so you can download it through iTunes here. And in case you didn't know, it's NSFW because of some brief nudity.

After two viewings I'm intrigued by the backstory that's ever so slightly revealed in the short. Clearly Schwartzman's character has some recent relationship issues that seem pretty severe, and Natalie Portman's character apears to be the cause. I look forward to seeing this fleshed out further in The Darjeeling Limited.

I'm a little anxious about a particular house-related task coming soon to a weekend near me...

This Saturday morning, my buddies Jake, Dave, and Chris are coming over to help me remove all the radiators from the house...

I've been borrowing a reciprocating saw (a genuine Milwaukee Sawzall, at that!) from my friend James, and just about all the radiators are cut free from their connections, ready to be hauled slowly and gingerly down stairs and out of the house.

Oh yeah, these beasts are cast iron, too. FREAKING HEAVY. I'm expecting even the smallest to way near 200 pounds. I'm planning to first purchase some moving straps or something similar to help get a hold of the awkwardly shaped/sized radiator, and then we'll haul everything out of the house and off to a scrap yard.

It's gonna be a long, hard Saturday morning, and I pray my back survives...

I'm shocked I didn't write about DeLuca Gelato on 9/16 when I first visited.

Tonight Valerie and I had dessert at this fantastic gelateria for the second time. I can tell you, having eaten the real deal in Italy, that these folks really know what they're doing. It's the first authentic Italian ice cream I've eaten in Virginia, and completely obliterates the little competition put up by Gelati Celesti.

One of the best parts of DeLuca is that they have a huge selection of sorbetto as well as gelato. For those of you unfamiliar, sorbetto is like a non-dairy gelato, or sorbet. This gelateria had some of my favorite flavors from Italy as well, like frutti di bosco (mixed berries), fragola (strawberry), and limone (I sure hope you can guess that one). They also have plenty of flavors I've never tasted such as cocco (coconut), lampone (raspberry), and mirtillo (blueberry). And that's just the sorbetto! I've also tasted the nocciola (hazelnut), cannolo (like cannoli filling, with shell pieces!), and the tartufo al bacio which tastes just like Perugina's Baci candy.

It's obvious from tasting the various flavors that real craftsmanship goes into the preparation of the gelato. I could taste the hint of nutmeg in the cannolo, and Valerie's menta (mint chocolate chip) clearly contained high quality mint oil.

I've definitely found one of my new favorite places to eat in the greater Richmond area, even if it IS in the Gayton Crossing shopping center.

...you ever wanted to see what a brain looks like after it's been in a blender, just crack open my skull and have a look-see.

Today has been one of the most oppressive days of work I've yet experienced. Between the constant phone calls, the competing requests, and random assortment of things-gone-wrong, my time in the office has been nasty, brutish, and anything but short.

Oh yeah, and still sick.

And yes, I WOULD like some cheese with my whine. Preferably a nice piave vecchio...

Sweet heavenly ham, need I say more?!?

It's only halfway through as of the writing of this post, but I must say that the Family Guy "Star Wars" episode is absolutely amazing. This comes as close as possible to the concept of "loving mockery" as possible. From the music to the scene transitions to much of the dialog, this is expertly done. At the same time we have some light-hearted fun-poking about the idiosyncrasies found in the classic film.

I haven't watched the show in quite a while, but I have to say this is good form.

This is one of my favorite commercials this year:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxiSFE_LJmg&w=425&h=350]

Subway has made several TV spots in this vein, but this one is my favorite - maybe because it's one of the first, or perhaps because it heralds the inarguable end of cool for the phrase, "bodonkadonk butt."

While the ad campaign makes me laugh, the basic premise really bothers me. Subway essentially tries to lift itself above its burger-joint competitors on health food grounds. They've done this with their "Jared" campaign, and their "6 subs with 6 grams of fat or less" segments as well. Sure, Subway may have a number of menu items that are quite healthy. But just take a short glance over their nutrition guide to see that it's not all turkey and whole wheat with the chain.

That 6-inch chipotle steak and cheese has 31 grams of fat. You know what doesn't have 31 grams of fat? A McDonald's quarter-ponder with cheese. You don't have to spend too much time comparing each eatery's nutrition guides to see that they both have some unhealthy items, and they both have some slightly more healthy items.

I know this is advertising and I shouldn't be surprised, but I'm always bothered a little more by the particularly deceptive commercials. While the current campaign is hilarious, I can't help but feel a little ticked-off and lied to after each spot.

To be stated in a severe baritone:

"Excuse me...but I'm looking for Rick Laszlo...PRIVATE EYE."



Ever since I first drove by this door just off Broad Street, I felt that sort of phantom nostalgia for the era of film noir detective cinema. I think this mental connection is heightened by the side door entrance to the second floor office in a shabby building, and capped off by the seemingly unattended mail box with post overflowing. I've wanted to take a picture of this for a long time before all the paint wore off, and I'm glad I finally captured it, even though it's far from a picture I'm happy with.

UPDATE: I just realized another reason why it just seems so reminiscent of classic movies...Humphrey Bogart's character in the noir classic Casablanca is named Rick, and the Czech resistance leader is named Victor Laszlo. Perhaps the PI chose a pseudonym?

If I had a hammer...

It seems that music from the Super Mario Brothers games has been performed every possible way, be it on two guitars at once, piano, flute (with beat boxing!), 11-stringed bass, or even Tesla coil.

But I bet you've never heard it on a bassoon. And what's not to love about a bassoon quartet?
[youtube [www.youtube.com/watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gXh83hNnWw&w=425&h=350])

My wife gave me the coolest gift ever when we married: her late father's 1967 Nikon F SLR 35 mm film camera with Photomic FT viewfinder/meter. She packed it all in a new camera bag and included the three lenses she had - all Nikkor - which were 28, 50, and 135 mm prime lenses. The 135 mm was spectacular and I loved, in general, learning how to take serious pictures with this masterpiece of mechanical manufacturing.

Until I lost it.

It hurts thinking about it, and perhaps that's why I'm writing about it now - to force myself to think about it. This camera was special to Valerie because of the connection to her father and her own love of photography, and passing it on to her new husband was about as special a way to cherish it that I can think of. I was honored to receive it, and I fawned over it. I spent days - nay, weeks! - researching classic Nikon hardware to determine the exact model I had, from the body to the meter, and poured through fact after fact.

To this day, I'm still baffled at how I ever lost it in the first place. We had three camera bags at our apartment - one each for a camcorder (fake leather), Val's N65 (green nylon), and the Nikon F (black nylon). Our space constraints (amplified by our tenant at the time, my home slice Dave) led to piles of possessions and buried bygones, but I still believe we left nothing behind when we moved from the apartment to our house. Because I wasn't out taking pictures every single day, however (or every month, for that matter), I think I simply didn't notice the camera missing until quite some time after we moved.

At this point, we've searched our house, our parents' homes, and inquired of many friends and family members, and the camera is still nowhere to be found. I've only ever traveled with it to the homes of relatives, and even that was rare. My typical use of the camera was around town. My car was never burgled (and surely a theif would've stolen my iPod, too?), and Valerie's car doesn't contain the missing device either. The fact is, it's been over a year since I've last seen my precious Nikon, and though Valerie doesn't try to make me feel guilty, I can't help but feel like my innards curdle whenever she talks about it.

So I've been scouring eBay this past week in search of a replacement. The going isn't easy, mostly because folks either don't know exactly what they're selling (and thus, how well it works), or people out bid me at the last second by two dollars (okay, well, in the last thirty seconds).

I keep plugging on, though. I don't really expect a replacement to adequately substitute for my wedding present or Valerie's memories. Maybe I just want a facsimile to stand in symbolically.

Sometimes I wish Anthony Bourdain was my uncle. Thanks to Kottke for the tip on this one, and be sure to click the menu to read the accompanying commentary from the hilariously cranky chef:

McSweeney's strikes again with a fine lampooning of Thomas Kinkade.

Trident gum doesn't usually freshen my breath as I'm more an Orbit fan.

Yesterday, however, I grabbed a pack at Target to try out a new flavor (Wild Berry Twist) and noticed that the packaging had changed dramatically since last I chewed their wares. You can see an example below courtesy of Flickr user SoopahViv:



You'll notice arched line below the glue spots on the lid - this, as you may suspect is the foil. only that arched portion adheres to the lid, so when you open it for the first time it pulls the foil open for you. No little cellophane strip to tear the package. No shredding the foil every few pieces. No plastic sleeve to keep the whole thing fresh until you buy it. And the red you see in the picture is more of a card stock than paper, so the whole thing holds up quite a bit better without squishing the contents. Judging by the date of upload on the picture, it seems that Trident has been using this style of packaging for a couple of years now.

I like that a lot of thought seems to have gone into the design of this package - sure, it's colorful and eye-catching - it has to be to please the folks in Marketing. But the actual functionality of something so humble as gum packaging is oft overlooked - relegated to the old stand byes such as blister packs and paper wrapping.

The gum itself, unfortunately, could use a little more thought :-)

Apple doesn't seem to when it comes to computers, and John Gruber nails it on why. Solid, succinct analysis.

This morning I broke fast at one of my favorite Richmond locations - Can Can Brasserie.

Can Can is an authentic slice of French style and cuisine in the heart of Carytown, and I particularly enjoy heading over there on Saturday mornings before most of the stores are open. Parking close by is easier and the crowds haven't yet arrived. At this earlier time you simply walk up to the bar, place your order, choose a seat, and wait for your coffee and pastry. This morning I ordered a large cappuccino and a small brioche - twice - and a single espresso before I left.

Let me tell you...the coffee is the finest I've had in Richmond as far as espresso-based drinks are concerned. They still import their beans (whole, of course), but at least they're using LaVazza instead of Illy. Considering the smoother taste and richer crema, I think they're using a blend that has some Robusta mixed in. I personally prefer this, but I know there are some coffee snobs out there who insist on 100% Arabica :-)

It's also worth noting that the barista practices latte art, and it's quite well done, too. They seem to be fond of rosettas. Why is this worth noting? Richmond doesn't exactly have much of a coffee shop culture, so when I see this practice, I feel more confident that the barista has mastered the brewing enough to focus on presentation (you need good micro foam anyway). This means that my coffee isn't just pretty to look at, it's likely to taste better, too. And you know what? It tastes freakin' awesome.

The pastry is made fresh every day, and my brioche was buttery and delicate. They also bake their own bread every day, and you can sample several excellent varieties whenever you order lunch. Of course, lunch is the only other meal I've ever eaten at Can Can, and I admit I've only had one item on the lunch menu. But oh! what a fantastic selection. The croque monsieur is the classic French take on grilled ham and cheese, layered on delicious bread and covered with a rich bechemel sauce before popped in the broiler.

The dinner menu is a bit steeper which is what's kept me from further exploration of the menu, but someday (or Samedi?) I'll have to try one of their wine dinners which seem to include quite a bit for the money.

We'll see how Can Can fares after I've been to Paris, though I suspect it'll remain the closest thing to serious French cafe and dining life for 100 miles in any direction.

You know, Dragon Wars: D-War already looks questionable (if not outright stupid), but it doesn't help when you're trailer looks like it was captured by a camcorder in a movie theater where the projector was out of focus.

So it seems that the NFL has found Belichick guilty of cheating by using a camera to record defensive signals by the opposing team. This disgusts me...either their record is now as questionable as Barry Bonds' home run "record" or they're simply despicable since winning three recent Super Bowls seems not to be enough.

I hope this blows over quickly, even though my inner cynic knows it won't. The incident is crappy on its own without the media dragging it out for months, equating it to the NBA referee case or the MLB steroid abuse.

Just in case this news upsets you as much as it does me, here's a moderately light-hearted response to the affair (though a little too harsh on Tom Brady in my opinion - we don't know if he was in on this):
[youtube [www.youtube.com/watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EU1O-hGxgg&w=425&h=350])

Even though the keyboard-in-the-dishwasher is old news, I enjoyed Coudal Partners' short film on the subject. It has a very "1950's Documentary" feel to it. Very clever camera rig, too.

I just read Gruber's analysis of Apple's fore into the nasty ringtone business, and I have to agree with him. But I wonder if he's aware that some phones already allow owners to use their own sound files as ringtones - with a catch - you have to tolerate Redmond's finest on your phone.

I own an HTC Wizard, better known in the States as the Cingular 8125, and it's running Windows Mobile 5. One of the first things I checked after I purchased the phone was whether I could use my own music for my ringer. It turns out I can - anything that Windows Media Player can play (so it seems) can be used as a ringtone, including .WAV files I record on the phone myself. This is why when my buddy Dave calls I hear my crappy impression of Sol Rosenberg.

I imagine a number of consumers would consider the iPhone more favorably if they knew they could create and/or use their own ringtones natively. I can't, however, imagine many people who's opinion of a Treo or Blackjack would be affected by the ability to choose any song to play when a friend calls. Wow, I can hear my favorite Big Wreck song when Valerie dials me...but hooray...I'm still using Microsoft's clunky mobile platform on my hardware.

As crappy as Apple chose to handle ringtones, I still look forward to replacing my "smart phone" with an iPhone in the future...even if I have to futz around to hear my own music when somebody calls.

I'm currently listening to "The Pelican" off of Menomena's 2007 release, Friend and Foe.

Dang, it's hot.

That's really all I have to say right now.

Today I took delivery of the 500 GB version of the LaCie Ethernet Disk mini - a network attached storage (NAS) device.

I've spent some time this evening fiddling with the settings and hooking it up to the network so I can begin backing up my laptop and such.

I've gotta say, for the first time in many years...How am I gonna fill all that space?

...And yes, I'm perfectly aware of many ways to fill the hard drive space, thank-you very much :-)

So my brother Mugs is blogging...again! Check out "What the Thunder Said" in the side bar.

He's started and stopped several times, but each new incarnation compels me to notify my visitors. You see, Mugs is a total computer nerd like me now...except he has an English degree because he loves to write, and is WAY better at it than me. Don't believe me? Just check out his stuff, and keep an eye out as he updates the world about his scripting and programming exploits and whatever else strikes his fancy.

Nice find from swissmiss:

Yesterday I was speaking to my mom on the phone when she said, "Sorry if you hear me eating something - I'm eating a pear." I remarked that I hadn't eaten a fresh pear in several years, to which she said, "Oh, you should, they're in season now."

So when I went grocery shopping with Val last night, one of the first things I looked for was the pear basket in the produce section...and oh my, there were some ripe bartletts that smelled absolutely amazing. I bought three and brought them home.

Last night I sliced one up and ate it while watching Wine Library TV at the computer, and I tossed a second in with my lunch this morning. I have one more at home that's perhaps approaching over-ripe, but I'll be sautéing that one with some cinnamon and brown sugar which should take care of it quite nicely.

Seriously - go buy some pears while you can find them fresh at the grocery store. They'll likely be unripe because of how easily they can bruise in transport, so let them sit on the counter until they smell right and start to soften. You'll be left with something natural and tasty that makes a fine dessert on its own.