my head is spinning

Last night we introduced our friends to the pleasures of pho and banh mi. I can't believe my friend has never had Vietnamese food before - he grew up in Los Angeles. His wife has a better excuse since she came here pretty recently.

Then we rewatched for the billionth time, Total Recall. Ok, this might be a nerd thing, but for the longest time, I never understood why Mark and his friends would quote movie lines at each other. I found it weird as a form of conversation, and sometimes they would look at me, as if I needed to provide the next line, and then I would just stare blankly back. What's the point of quoting movie lines? I still don't understand, but at least now I know where all the stupid lines are coming from.

Anyway...the movie makes no sense. The science is stupid, the story is ridiculous and the motivations of the characters make no sense. Oh wait, did I say that already? The delivery of stupid lines makes this immensely watchable. I think this is one of the movies that led to stuff like Idiocracy. Or maybe it's a symptom.

Other stuff:

Immigration in other countries: in Japan, Filipino parents are deported, while their daughter, a 13 year old girl who speaks only Japanese, remains in Japan.

Palestinian blogger was unable to enter Gaza because Egyptian authorities prevented her from doing so. They deported her back to the US.

So...Chow Yun Fat is going to be in the live-action Dragonball movie. It makes me sad, that with Chow Yun Fat as brilliant an actor as he is, that he can't get a decent role in the US. Though who knows, this movie could be the most important role of his life.

Zales fired top-earning saleswoman for needing surgery, or case 1111939439439 why health care should not be tied to work.

I am really thrilled that Michelle Obama started an organic garden at the White House, and she proved that it doesn't have to be expensive. What really tickles me, though? Is the panicky letter that the chemical companies sent to Obama about their concerns about her promoting organic gardening.

Monocle the magazine opened up a store in Los Angeles. Monocle costs about 10 bucks per issue, and there are no subscription discounts. I bought the first issue when it first came out, but I haven't bought one since, and I couldn't say why - the interviews were good, the articles were thoughtful, and the fashion was not my taste but not bad, either. The design was well thought out. But now I know why. Ok, if you open up a store in Los Angeles, and expect people to go to it, when interviewed, should you: bitch about how LA is too casual? Talk about how you never leave your car when you're in LA? And for a magazine that actually makes up lists of best cities to live, admit that you don't ever bother to give the city a chance? 

Yes, it's true. I'm turning into an LA girl, though the Bay Area still holds first place for me.