Review: African Cats (**1/2)

African Cats is Disneynature's new documentary. It is narrated by Samuel L. Jackson. It follows the lives of three different cats. Kahil is the leader of the lions in Kenya in his group are Fang a lion who lost a tooth after a battle. Mara who after her mother dies gets lost from the group. And the final cat that is focused is Sita a cheetah that raises five cubs, one day Sita loses three of her cubs to hyenas. Throughout the film the lions hope to reunite together and they hunt for food

In my opinion there were parts that were cool but there were a few parts where it got boring. For fun I mocked Sam Jackson's Snakes On A Plane (an example is a lot of flies would go on to the lion's face so every time I saw that I would go "I've had it with these motherfuckin flies on my motherfuckin face.") There was a credits scene that was a bit silly. Overall if you care about our planet see this movie. 

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" Trailer 1

John's two cents: I already saw it but I'll see what the final cut looks like thoughts.

A Taste of the Islands (Mon)

Imagine the quandary.  One digs the industrial aesthetic, but one has limited options.  Then one gets two catalogs back to back.  Exhibit A:

This is West Elm's interpretation.

Exhibit B:

A disconcertingly similar offering from Crate & Barrel. 

The difference?  Two Benjamins.  As a sidenote, I would love to have the specs chart in B.  Which would you prefer?  I'd take every seating option shown in both pictures, too.

What's a boy to do?

Tip for the Day

Let's just put it in plain terms.  If you can do something for someone else (no matter how small or large), please do it.  This could include donating to a charity, smiling at someone as you walk by, or pulling your car up so that someone else can get around you.  It's just going to make the world a better place.  Trust me. 

Spoons?  Well, sure.  Why not?  This picture is from Real Simple.

Important dates for the 84th Oscars

Thursday, December 1, 2011: Official Screen Credits forms due
Tuesday, December 27, 2011: Nominations ballots mailed
Friday, January 13, 2012: Nominations polls close 5 p.m. PT
Tuesday, January 24, 2012: Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT,
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
Wednesday, February 1, 2012: Final ballots mailed
Monday, February 6, 2012: Nominees Luncheon
Saturday, February 11, 2012: Scientific and Technical Awards presentation
Tuesday, February 21, 2012: Final polls close 5 p.m. PT
Sunday, February 26, 2012: 84th Academy Awards presentation

How Did You Get This Number

I thought I had posted about Sloane Crosley's first book (I Was Told There'd Be Cake), but I guess I'm mistaken.  In the vein of David Sedaris, Crosley has made a name for herself by composing books of short stories/essays.  I read her first book with reckless abandon because it was just so darn funny.  She's roughly my age, so I can relate to a lot of her references of cartoons and foods and the like.

I was pumped when her latest book, How Did You Get This Number, came out last year.  It took that long for me to be able to check it out of the library, but I'm glad I did.  There are stories about running into one of the 'mean girls' from her younger days, scoring some discounted homewares, and taking a solo international trip. 

While there was at least one good laugh for each story, it was nowhere near as endearing as her debut collection.  With that one, I could not put it down.  Nope.  Not at all.  This one was a bit less consuming, if you'll allow me to say so.  Well, of course you will.  I think that there was just less overall nostalgia in this book, to be honest, but it's still worth a read...after you get her first book.  Here's a notable passage from page 152:

"When your classmates move away, it seems impossible that they could ever come back.  As if the world's events since have happened to you but not to them.  It's the reason you can look at your middle-school yearbook and still see your peers.  But someone else's middle-school yearbook looks like a bunch of thirteen-year-olds."

Our Idiot Brother "HD Trailer"

John's two cents: Could be a surprise hit thoughts.