Random Thoughts

I haven't really had time lately to do the kind of update that I would like, so here are a few random thoughts for a Sunday night.

1. Few things in this life are worth paying extra money for, but a good pair of comfortable tennis shoes are priceless. By far, Nike wins in this department. I tried spending $20 on a pair of Avias (or something like that) from Big 5, but they were totally uncomfortable and I ended up spending $60 on a pair of Nikes six months later.

2. Brie cheese is a gift from heaven. True brie cheese cannot be imported into this country from France (I think I read that the FDA, with respect to cheeses, requires that cheeses must be made from pasteurized milk and aged 60 days) because it is not made from pasteurized milk and is not aged very long in order to keep a soft texture. When you buy a brie in the supermarket, it will have French flags on it and look like it's nice and imported, but chances are it was made in the USA. That being said, it is still delicious and is worth the extra expense.

3. Kobe announced his demand for a trade this week (which he later recanted, then reaffirmed, then recanted, then reaffirmed, etc) while I was getting some documents recorded in a certain city in LA county. When I arrived back at the office and turned on my computer, I had an instant message from my wife with the story and a couple of my friends had emailed me the same article. Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about Laker basketball. When Shaq was run out of town, I vowed not to watch any more Laker games until Kobe was gone. I have seen a few minutes here and there, but basically I have been avoiding Laker games for the past three years (my favorite team to watch is the Bobcats). Although I don't see Kobe leaving the Lakers anything soon, contrary to what he is saying, the best deal I have heard so far would involve Kobe going to the Bobcats in exchange for Emeka Okafur and the number 8 pick in the draft. Right now Okafur is probably my favorite player to watch and I would gladly start watching Laker games again if he were on the team.

4. Pinkberry. This place is THE frozen yogurt place to the "stars," or something like that. One just opened up in Victoria Gardens and we decided to check it out. We walked in, and walked right back out. I'm not paying $5+ for mediocre frozen yogurt just so I can be "seen." They even had a sign that said "No Photography in Store." Heaven forbid someone might want to take a picture of your overpriced menu.

5. Why aren't there any hair metal bands out there? When it comes to 80's butt-rock bands, no doubt Poison was the greatest of them all. The makeup, the big hair, the tight leather pants, the huge stadium rock shows with pyrotechnics, cheesy lyrics and unnecessary, over-the-top guitar solos...I mean, isn't it about time this music was popular again? I know some of these bands still tour, and I would see them, but they are all fat now and basically just shells of their former selves. These were the guys who used to get drugged and boozed up, sleep with tons of people, and basically just destroy their livers before age 25. These were the guys I wanted to be like when I was in elementary school. Now we are subjected to the exploits of Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton. Whatever happened to the male rockstar? Where is the Axl Rose type? Kids need these role models.

6. Perhaps the greatest sentence ever to come out of anyone's mouth is "I could eat a knob at night." If you have no idea what I am talking about, check out the podcasts that Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington did. If you have no idea who any of the aforementioned men are, there is something seriously lacking in your life. Speaking of Stephen Merchant, I know Ricky Gervais gets all of the attention, but Stephen Merchant deserves more credit than he gets. Without his humor and writing ability, "The Office" would never have been what it was.

7. The funniest episode of the American "Office" will never be one-tenth as funny as the least funny episode of the British version. One day I will make my pilgramage to Slough, just so I can see that round-a-bout and the sign that says "Slough Trading Estate" from the opening credits. Anyone want to go with me?

The end.