JULY 21, 2008

The new trailer for the upcoming film about an upstart California wine producer in the late 1970's has a new trailer for you to check out.

The movie was filmed in Sonoma & Napa counties last summer and recreates the events leading up to the landmark Judgment of Paris in 1976.  Bill Pullman stars as Jim Barrett, the headstrong winemaker who risks everything to produce a great chardonnay at Chateau Montelena.  Alan Rickman portrays Steve Spurrier, the British expat who makes history by setting up the tasting to help publicize his Paris wine shop.

San Francisco's Sundance Kabuki and Embarcadero Landmark will show the film starting August 6th.

Wine Country theaters confirmed thus far for the August 15th opening:
--- Sebastiani in Sonoma
--- Rialto Cinemas in Santa Rosa
--- Cameo in St. Helena
--- Cinedome in Napa

My goodness, Sonoma and Napa counties look great in this trailer, don't they?


JULY 18, 2008

The Emmy nominations were yesterday.  I'm very happy for "The Office", "30 Rock" and "Battlestar Galactica."  Frakkin' yes!

60TH ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY NOMINATIONS

Best Drama Series

• Boston Legal
• Damages
• Dexter
• House
• Lost
• Mad Men

Best Comedy Series

• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Entourage
• The Office
• 30 Rock
• Two and a Half Men

Best Actor, Drama

• Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
• Michael C. Hall, Dexter
• Jon Hamm, Mad Men
• Hugh Laurie, House
• James Spader, Boston Legal

Best Actress, Drama

• Glenn Close, Damages
• Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
• Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Best Actor, Comedy

• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Steve Carell, The Office
• Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
• Tony Shalhoub, Monk
• Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

Best Actress, Comedy

• Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
• America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, New Adventures of Old Christine
• Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Best Supporting Actor, Drama

• Ted Danson, Damages
• Michael Emerson, Lost
• Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
• William Shatner, Boston Legal
• John Slattery, Mad Men

Best Supporting Actress, Drama

• Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
• Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters
• Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
• Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
• Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy

• Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
• Kevin Dillon, Entourage
• Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
• Jeremy Piven, Entourage
• Rainn Wilson, The Office

Best Supporting Actress, Comedy

• Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
• Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
• Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
• Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
• Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

Best Guest Actor, Comedy

• Will Arnett, 30 Rock
• Shelley Berman, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Steve Buscemi, 30 Rock
• Tim Conway, 30 Rock
• Rip Torn, 30 Rock

Best Guest Actress, Comedy

• Carrie Fisher, 30 Rock
• Edie Falco, 30 Rock
• Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock
• Polly Bergan, Desperate Housewives
• Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives

JULY 17, 2008

Going green, saving the environment and making sure you pollute as little as possible is huge in the new right now.  But if you're like me (and my goodness, I hope you're not) it's sometimes confusing deciding where to start Going Green.

I'm here to help.

These are seven little suggestions that can help you get started TODAY!

SEVEN WAYS TO SAVE GREEN BY GOING GREEN

[1] GO SHOPPING for new appliances. If your appliances are from the mid 90's or earlier, they're probably so inefficient that it will save money in the long run to replace them. Look for the Energy Star label, which means they use 10 to 50 percent less water and energy than standard models.

[2] BREAK OUT THE BAKING SODA. It's nontoxic, regulates ph, gets rid of bad odors and works as a cleanser. Make a paste and shine your silver, pour it down the sink to deodorize or scrub the tub. And at less than a buck, it's a huge bargain.

[3] UNPLUG. TVs, DVD players and cell phone chargers still use energy even when they're turned off. They can add up to 20 percent to your energy bill!

[4] PACK A BOTTLE. Americans go through 30 million water bottles a year - and throwing those bottles away adds up to a lot of trash. Fill up a reusable water bottle instead and save about a buck a bottle.

[5] CRUISE in the slow lane. Gas mileage drops considerably when you go over 60 mph. In fact, you pay about 20 cents more per gallon for each 5 mph you go over 60.

[6] PLANT A TREE. Adding trees to the south, east and west side of your house shades your home, keeping it cooler. You can save up to 25 percent on your home's cooling costs!

[7] PRINT on both sides. Whenever possible, use both sides of the paper to reduce your consumption. Or, store emails and files on your computer so you don't use any paper at all.


JULY 16, 2008

You might remember in 2004 the guys at JibJab.com created a little video called "This Land Is Your Land."

Now they're back with a new video called, "It's Time for Campaignin'" starring Bill and Hilary Clinton, President Bush, John McCain and a cast of thousands.

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

JULY 15, 2008

ESPN Sportscenter had a contest for the 100th Anniversary of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".  They wanted to find the best version available.

Your winner...Miss Gretchen Wilson!



JULY 14, 2008

With everything going on in this country, at times we need to turn to Lewis W. Napper's "Bill of No Rights."

This piece was written in 1993 by Mr. Napper, a self-described amateur philosopher from Mississippi who ran for a U.S. Senate seat in 2000.  This "Bill" addresses a number of issues that have often led many of us to shake our heads in disbelief

THE BILL OF NO RIGHTS

We, the sensible of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid any further idiocy, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great grandchildren, hereby try one more time to obtain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt-ridden delusional, and other stupid bedwetters. We hold these truths to be self-evident that a whole lot of people were confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim that they require a Bill of No Rights.

--- You do not have the right to a new car, big-screen color TV or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

--- You do not have the right to never be offended. The country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

--- You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all of your relatives independently wealthy.

--- You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

--- You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

--- You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and kill you.

--- You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in place where you still won't have the right to a big-screen color TV.

--- You do not have the right to demand that our children risk their lives in foreign wars to soothe your aching conscience. We hate oppressive governments and won't lift a finger to stop you from going to fight if you'd like. However, we do not enjoy parenting the entire world and do not want to spend so much of our time battling each and every little tyrant with a military uniform and a funny hat.

--- You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have one, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities in education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

--- You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to pursue happiness -- which, by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an overabundance of idiot laws created by those around you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.


JULY 11, 2008

Your cell phone can be an amazing resource if you're in an accident, need location information, a taxi or need an immediate language translation.  Check out the following cool resources and think about adding them to your cell phone for future use.

My personal favorite is the 1-800 Google 411 line.  Usually if you call 411 from your cell phone they'll charge you at least $1 for the privledge.

Sure, Google is taking over the world, but at least they're helping us out at the same time.

MUST HAVE NUMBERS FOR YOUR CELL PHONE

--- Put your family on ICE. That stands for 'In Case of Emergency.' Paramedics recommend programming ANY emergency contact in your cell phone after the word ICE, as in "ICE-wife" or "ICE-dad." The idea is that if you get into an accident, police can use your phone to quickly notify someone.

--- 1-800-GOOG-411. That's 466-4411. It's a Google service that lets you request information just as you would on a web browser.  Ask for 'Italian Restaurants,' and you'll get a list of spaghetti and meatball joints within the area code you're calling from. The best part is that Google won't charge you.

--- 800-TAXI-CAB. This is a free referral service that connects you with the closest taxi company within any metro area in North America. They'll also hook you up with a shuttle service if you're stranded at the airport.

--- If you're traveling overseas, you must have this number on speed dial: 800-752-6096. That's a language service that will connect you to one of 170 different translators. Want to know what "la personne la plus futée dans le chambre" means? Then get a French translator on the phone to tell you it means you're the smartest person in the room. Beware, they'll charge you $3.95 per minute for that privilege.


JULY 10, 2008

You're absolutely right, I haven't blogged in a while.  I blame my vacation.  And Diet Cherry Coke.  And the Ice Capades.

Everyone is searching for the most gas mileage possible and VW is coming through.

The VW MicroCar gets 235 miles per gallon and seats two people.

I woke this morning from a refreshing dream involving Christina Ricci and lots of Butter Pecan ice cream when the aroma of charred brush filled my nostrils. At first, I thought that the forestry around my Bennett Valley hillside home was on fire.

A MAP OF CALIFORNIA FIRES

A MAP OF ALL CALIFORNIA FIRES

JUNE 23, 2008