Mike Browne’s Blog

I’ve been wondering what to feed folks for Superbowl. Thanks to Scar for pointing out this link to The Sneeze – Steve Don’t Eat It. However I don’t think we’ll be eating anything on this absolutely disgusting list any time soon. If you’re at all queezy you have been warned. I’m still wretching.

I think we’ll stick with chips, pretzels and pop. Yes Bennett, there will be a pie too.

Carol and I just watched the director’s cut of Donnie Darko the other night. I had seen the theatrical release a couple of times, but this cut made a great film even greater. Wow! I’ve watched it twice already in the past few days. Once just the film and once with director’s commentary with Richard Kelly and his pal, the acerbic director of Clerks and Dogma Kevin Smith (who has his own blog). There’s so much here I’ll have to watch it some more.

Donnie Darko is either a story about a boy with schizophrenia, “possibilities” (as the director said), that of a time travelling superhero who makes the ultimate sacrifice to save his loved ones or a combination of all three. You’ll have to watch it to find out for yourself. If it doesn’t make sense to you upon first watching watch it again. Check out the Cellar Door website after you watch the film.

It didn’t do so well upon it’s original release which was about a month after September 11, 2001 most likely because its not the lightest of stories and is a real thinking person’s film. No one was ready to think about anything else heavy at that time. Now, almost five years later, people like myself are rediscovering this film with enthusiasm.

Director Richard Kelly expanded on the Donnie Darko story adding some brilliant visual and sound design elements as well as a few extra moments of scenes that didn’t make the theatrical cut. Well worth a watch. I now count it as one of my favourite all time films.

The Screen Actors Guild held their annual awards ceremonies last night with few surprises. Check out the SAG Awards article over on the movie blog for a full list.

Wow! Nothing for cowboys kissing? I thought it was all about politics. I guess I was wrong and that the people who have done the best job actually can win awards in Hollywood.

We’ve seen most of the movies that people are being nominated for and I actually agree with the choices on this list. My guess is the Oscars are going to shake out the same way (noms out tomorrow). Penis party (as Carol likes to call it), otherwise known as Brokeback Mountain, will probably win best director, screenplay and best picture, but the actors will be out in the cold… in a tent… with nothing but each other to keep themselves warm… ewwwwww.

Well he’s back in the news.
CBC News: Pickton pleads not guilty

We haven’t heard a hell of a lot due to a publication ban on the evidence presented at his preliminary trial. The public may have to wait for another six months to find out the awful details of Robert (Willy) Pickton’s alleged crimes. His trial began today with him pleading not guilty to 27 counts of first degree murder, for which, if convicted, would make Mr Pickton the most prolific serial killer in Canadian history.

To think we lived only minutes away from where all of this supposed happened still makes me shudder. I guess we’ll see.

I’ve been playing around with a new skin for the site. Heck Carol can’t have one and I not. Anyway, its different but the same and no I’m not switching back. I was so friggin’ bored with the way it looked I had to do something, plus I’m adding some google adsense ads in the third column (now empty) to make a couple of extra dollars per month. If I make enough for the site to pay for itself (now about $15 bucks a month) I’ll be happy. The colours are the same but I think that’s going to change too eventually.

UPDATE: Yep Al, a click brings me a percentage of a penny I do believe. So click once or twice a day if you like. Or not, they’re not overly offensive and are somewhat targeted (according to Google) to site content. The only reason I even considered it is because I’ve used them on other sites.

UPDATE 2: Up for less than 24 hours with 5 clicks (thanks folks) I have made $1.01. If everyone who came here (an average of 1100 people) every day clicked once or twice a day I could do this full time. Conversely 5 clicks through to the Amazon.ca brings nothing, however, if you do your shopping searching through my link I get paid a percentage in Amazon.ca gift certificates. I think it takes a long time to earn anything but oh well. I’ll use the space that way for now until I have my own DVD’s to sell.

Thanks to Mark at Hollywood North Report for this link. Oh my!

“Top Gun with just little more gayness.” Laugh? I nearly peed my pants. I love the remixed trailer thing. Too much fun.

Frey admits lying; Oprah apologizes to viewers
“Controversial author altered tale, claims to no longer fully recall details”

Can’t fully recall details? No kidding. Having lived through somewhat similar things (the real parts) as Mr Frey I can understand that. However, perhaps he should have clarifed all that prior to having his book called a memoir and then lying to cover up his other lies. Had he gone the 12 step route like many others he may have learned about honesty and this may have kept the current pain of facing his wrongs out of his life. Who knows?

I have written parts of my story into fictional things that I’ve written. Every writer does to some degree. To call that kind of writing a memoir would be outrageous. My story is fairly tame (to the point of being sleep inducing) compared to some, one late friend’s self-administered 2×4 to the head comes to mind, so I’d have to “spice it up”. However, if I ever write anything like A Million Little Pieces it will be a novel. My life just ain’t that exciting.

Our stories are quite similar in a number of ways including our ages at the time of ‘hitting bottom’ so I very much relate to him. I wish Mr Frey well and hope this doesn’t send him backward into that world his book is about escaping from. I’m grateful I’ve gone the direction I went and have the friends I do. Troubled times are much easier as a result.

CBC Article

Again with … Badger Badger Badger oh yeah and Mushroom Mushroom… just for Dianne!