Blockbuster’s Little Secret

Ever since Blu-ray, I have started renting more movies again. In Sonoma, that means Blockbuster Video. At this point, it probably means “Blockbuster” in every other part of the country as well. I remember the olden days back in Virginia when I frequented alternatives like the (now assimilated) Hollywood Video, but Blockbuster seems to be taking over the business completely.

Not that they don’t have their own problems, of course. Under constant assault by mail and download services like Netflix, Blockbuster has been trying to reinvent its retail chain pretty aggresively. One major change came a few years ago, when Blockbuster happily announced “the end of late fees”. Which was obvious bullshit, of course – Blockbuster just tried to pass itself off as a “try before you buy” outfit: the traditional late fees became a “restocking fee”, and late movies were automatically converted into a purchase. Highly misleading, and several states would have none of it.

Even so, the basic policy still stands. Movies are due after 5 days, late rentals are converted into a purchase that can be negated within 30 days for a restocking fee. Except, that’s not really the truth. Blockbuster movies aren’t due after 5 days, as they boldly proclaim on stickers and store windows.

It’s actually 12 days.

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Silent Reviews

Hellboy II (Blu-ray) – Yes
Australia (Trailers) – No
AT&T “thumbfaces” texting commercial – No
Valkyrie (Trailer) – Maybe
Pinks All Out in Sonoma – Yes
Kota, The Triceratops – Yes

Happy Thanksgiving!

I’d like to wish a happy Thanksgiving to all my of American readers! I hope you have family or friends to celebrate with, and still find plenty of things to be thankful for in these rather difficult times.

Europeans might find it hard to understand what all the fuss is about. When I first arrived in America, I didn’t appreciate how momentous this holiday is. So let’s just cover a few basics: Thanksgiving is bigger than Christmas. Everybody tries to celebrate this holiday with their family – and because America is such a big country, that means a lot of travel. In Germany, I was used to the idea that you can get pretty much anywhere by car in a matter of 8 hours. In the US, it takes 5 hours by plane to go between the east and west coast. On Thanksgiving the roads are packed, and the airports are busy.

But really, the best way to understand the magnitude of Thanksgiving is to be single, without a family in the US, and trying to do anything on Thanksgiving evening. Like me when I first got to America. Thanksgiving might be the only day of the year that America shuts down. No stores are open, no restaurants (or even fast food chains) serve food to the unprepared newcomer. Xmas is a walk in the park compared to Thanksgiving.

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Silent Reviews

Kung Fu Panda (DVD) – Yes
Star Trek XI Trailer -  Maybe
Wall•E (Blu-ray) – Yes
Playstation Home – Maybe
Bailout for US Auto Makers – No

I stole the format from Charlie’s page, which is currently in reconstruction mode (so I can’t link to his previous Silent Reviews). I’ll probably do one every Monday, to quickly comment on any media and events that didn’t warrant a full post.

Finish The Sentence

Early Sunday morning, with the 49ers – Cowboys game playing in the background. Good time to catch up on a post that Victoria made last September.

I AM … currently trying to do three things at once.
I WANT… Americans to realize that not politicians, but hard work and responsibility will end the economic crisis.
I HAVE … finally caught up on sleep. I think.
I KEEP … finding new projects before I’m finished with old ones.
I WISH I COULD … relax more on weekends.
I HATE … drivers who slow down as soon as they see a cop at the side of the road, even though they were going the speed limit.
I FEAR … people who think that Sarah Palin is the future of the Republican party.
I HEAR … Victoria talking to my parents on the phone.
I DON’T THINK … it’s close to Christmas yet, no matter how much corporate America wants us to believe it.
I REGRET … not blowing up Megaton in Fallout 3.
I LOVE … exploring the area with Victoria.
I AM NOT … going to watch Quantum Of Solace.
I DANCE … whenever Victoria grabs me.
I SING … in the car.
I NEVER … lose hope.
I RARELY … laugh during movies that I find funny.
I CRY WHEN I WATCH … the ending of “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill”.
I AM NOT ALWAYS … sure we will be able to afford a house this year.
I HATE THAT … responsible people are caught in the mess that irresponsible bankers and home buyers created for us.
I’M CONFUSED ABOUT … wildly varying Feedburner subscriber stats.
I NEED … to feed the birds.
I SHOULD … finish my Quake level.

This isn’t one of those chain letter type posts, but if you’re reading this and have a blog, you should do your own version and let us know!

Impressions From Maui, Part 2

To round out the vacation, here’s a few additional nice pictures from our Maui trip. Looking back at it now and comparing the experience to Kauai last year, I liked Kauai a little bit better. But that’s personal preference, the more rural nature of Kauai just suits me better. Maui had a few touristy hotspots that were missing from Kauai, though. I think my ideal island (“Kaui”?) would be created by transplanting Lahaina onto Kauai.