Sunday, August 29, 2010

5 years later

I woke up this morning to see the red light on my Tivo recording something.... had no idea what, so I flipped on the TV to see Meet The Press, specially hosted by Brian Williams in New Orleans. Today is the 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and the beginning of the man-made disaster that followed when the levees broke.

I've been glued to the TV most of the morning watching and remembering... the devastation, the sadness and the anger.

This is what I wrote in my blog on August 30, 2005:
I'm watching Nightline, showing all the devastation in New Orleans. It's just awful. I don't know how the city will ever recover. I went there like six or seven years ago with Christina... we had so much fun, even though we were working. The best meal I've ever had was at Emeril Lagasse's NOLA restaurant in the French Quarter, and now there is like three feet of water in the streets because the levees broke and aren't pumping the water back out to the river. The people who didn't evacuate the city are looting. The looooooong bridge over the lake that I can't remember the name of, but that I know we drove over, is washed away in parts. It's so sad.

And then on September 7, 2005:
I couldn't sleep last night. I made the mistake of watching the Oprah repeat at 1 a.m. last night/this morning where she was on location in New Orleans. Watching the news over the last week has been horrifying, heartbreaking and infuriating. But Oprah sent me over the edge. She and her cameras got closer than any news coverage I've seen... or maybe it was just that she let herself feel all their pain, instead of trying to remain objective like some journalists have tried to. People should NEVER have to experience what those hurricane survivors have lived through... the filth, the hunger and thirst, the emotional and physical pain, and the fear for their lives. This is America and there's no excuse for the inhumane conditions those people were forced to stay in because our stupid government couldn't get their act together. Heads should roll, starting with the head guy who had to cut his vacation short to deal with the devastation... poor baby.

I remember five years ago sitting transfixed on the television and thinking "This is America. How is this happening?" The only other time I'd ever felt that was 9/11. But New Orleans was different because we weren't attacked by terrorists. WE hurt New Orleans. OUR government failed miserably both in terms of the civil engineering that caused the levees to break, but more so in response to the disaster and how human beings, the citizens of New Orleans, were neglected and left to suffer in horrible, inhumane ways for days while politicians pontificated and made false promises.

Brian Williams made a point to remind everyone of that this morning, via these two poignant and heartbreaking clips from five years ago:




After Meet The Press, there was an hour-long special about volunteers, mostly church groups, that have been going to New Orleans to help people rebuild their homes. It was inspiring. (Yes I, the one who is against organized religion, just said that.) Things are getting better, but are in no way right. There is a lot that still needs to be done.



Then enjoy what makes New Orleans great...if you haven't been to NOLA, GO. I guarantee it will be one of the most fun, entertaining, delicious trips you ever take! Just a few reasons to love it....

Friday, August 20, 2010

the arch







































Went to St. Louis last week for work. It was humid as hell there, but I managed to sweat it outside long enough to visit the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial... otherwise known as "The Arch." I took this shot from the foot of The Arch, which I must say, I find rather awesome, even if I do say so myself! The most amazing thing... I took it on my Droid Incredible camera phone. I <3 my phone :)

Saturday, August 7, 2010

rent... there's nothing like the first time

So I originally saw the amazing Broadway musical RENT on Broadway, circa 1996, with the original Broadway cast. It was an AMAZING experience.

Then I saw the touring version in LA at the Ahmanson (I think), starring Neil Patrick Harris as Mark. I was pleasantly surprised by his talent and the production, even though nothing could compare to the original.

Last night, 14 years after the original's Broadway premiere, Neil Patrick Harris directed a new production of the show at the Hollywood Bowl. My friend Diana and I decided to go at the last minute out of sure curiosity... How would they stage an intimate Broadway show in an amphitheater that seats 70,000 people? Would the cast of Broadway vets mixed with Hollywood names (to sell the tickets) mesh? And most importantly, how much would my ears hurt as Vanessa Hudgens (Disney starlet of High School Musical fame) sang the songs that Daphne Rubin Vega originally made famous as the character of drug addict "Mimi"?

The answers in order:
The sets were pre-set all over the Bowl's giant stage, and lighting focused you in on where to look... well, that and the jumbotrons, since anyone not in a box seat really couldn't see much of what was actually happening on the stage.

The cast -- overall -- was awesome. Telly Lueng (the Broadway production's last "Angel"), Tracie Thoms (who was Joanne in the film and also at the end of the Broadway run) and Aaron Tveit (as Roger) anchored the Broadway vet side, along with original cast member/"Seasons of Love" soloist Gwen Stewart. The "Hollywood names" were led by a very impressive Wayne Brady as Tom Collins (the role originated by Jesse Martin), and Nicole Scherzinger (last season's Dancing with the Stars champ, and lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls), who surprisingly took the role of Maureen, originated by the amazing Idina Menzel, and made it her own in a humorous, strong and powerful way. (She and Tracie Thoms killed it on "Take Me or Leave Me.")

Then there was Miss Hudgens as Mimi... you know, the sultry drug addict who steals Roger's heart. I will give her credit. After a very shaky start with the Mimi/Roger "Light My Candle" duet (Look! You can hear it for yourself here ... YouTube is awesome.), she came back out for "Out Tonight" and attacked the role, slinking and strutting across the stage in those shiny blue hotpants. Her vocals were definitely the weakest link in the production -- and kind of took you out of the moment at some key plot moments -- but she didn't make my ears bleed as I originally feared she might, so good for her.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable, if not FREEZING (Why did I consciously decide to leave my Bowl blanket in the car again?!?!), evening. It was in no way, shape or form as moving as when I first saw it on Broadway, but it was worth the price of admission. The crowd (and Entertainment Weekly) seemed to agree. The only bummer was no curtain call by NPH. I know he knows the words to Seasons of Love... he could've come out and joined the chorus line. Oh well.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

more inception... with a pixar twist :)

This is why the internet is awesome sometimes...

Trailer for "UPception"




Trailer for "Toy Story 3: Inception"



And that's just two of the recuts. Hang out on You Tube for a while and you'll find Inception "trailers" starring the casts of "The Matrix," "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," "Monsters Inc.," "The Simpsons Movie," "The Dark Knight," "Lord of the Rings," "Lost" and "Titanic"!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

what a concept!

Imagine starting a new job where your new employer actually invests six weeks of time training you in the company culture and differences between departments, and then you -- the newb -- actually get to choose where you think your skills and talents will best benefit the company overall. That's just crazy talk!

Oh wait, you mean that's what the most trafficked website on the internet actually DOES?!?!


If I didn't love my house so much, I'd be working in Palo Alto right now.