windy ridge cafe...

A very good veggie quiche and a warming southwestern corn chowder.

$2 mimosas all-day Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am is a good thing.

1250 Iron Horse Drive in Park City, Utah. 435.647.0880.

Stopped by the bakery behind the restaurant.  In the past, I bought mini chicken pot pies- today, I bought a croque madame.   It was wonderful!

your sister's sister...

Hadn't planned on seeing this film, but I'm glad I wait listed to see it.   Emily Blunt is one of the stars of the movie.  It was filmed in Washington State in the San Juan Islands and according to the director-a secret location.

Blunt was in attendance and looks very good in person.

Excellent acting, especially by the male lead Mark Duplass.

simon killer...

At Sundance, I can usually tell if I'm going to like a film after the director is introduced and says a few words.  Note: says a few words.  This young kid director brought up to the stage three of his producers making the intro seem like an Academy Award speech.

Didn't care for the film and two of my friends who I attended the screening with- hated it!

Some of the reviews I've read are pretty good, but I don't give a fuck what a critic writes.  Many times, they are factually incorrect in their assessment of the film.

To sum it up,  I gave up a ticket to one of the films I wanted to view in this festival to see SIMON KILLER,  because a friend said it would be one of the sleeper hits on the festival.   He's the one who gave it a lousier rating than I did.  He gave a 1 out of 4 stars.  I gave it a 2...   I should have given it a 1...

the raid...

My second movie viewed at Sundance.  An Indonesian film that is very entertaining!   Saw it on Saturday 11:15am at the MARC   The young writer/director  Gareth Evans is from Wales.  If I'm not mistaken he married an Indonesian lady and lives in that country.   I highly recommend this film!  Gareth is a very talented director and he genuinely seems like a nice guy.   The Indonesian marital art silat is practiced in this movie.

hello i must be going...

One of the four films that opened the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City.  Starring Melanie Lynskey who was in 57 episodes of TWO AND A HALF MEN.   Lynskey first came into the scene in 1994 in the film HEAVENLY CREATURES that jump started Kate Winslet's career.   She played George Clooney's sister in UP IN THE AIR.

I was lucky enough to obtain free tickets to the screening at Eccles.   Directed by Todd Louiso who's known for his supporting roles in JERRY MAGUIRE and HIGH FIDELITY.   I saw his previous Sundance entry LOVING LISA who's protagonists is a gas sniffer.   That was a very odd film...

Blythe Danner and John Rubinstein portray Lynskey's character's parents.  I must say that Danner looks phenomenal for a near 69 year old.

Lynskey's real life husband actor Jimmi Simpson has a small role an awkward and boring first date that wasn't going to become a second...  In the Q&A after the film,  Lynskey said she felt awkward pulling away from a kiss from her real husband since she's never done that in real life with Simpson.

And another thing,  Louiso's wife wrote the film.  This wasn't even mentioned in the Q&A.

I wasn't a big fan of the film.  It had too many dead moments for my taste.  I drank a diet Red Bull before the screening and still nearly fell asleep a couple of times.   The look of the film was a bit dull.

However,  Louiso, his wife Sarah Koskoff, Blythe Danner, Christopher Abbott, and Lynskey all seemed like very nice people when they spoke during the Q&A.

HELLO I MUST BE GOING is part of the dramatic competition at the festival and eligible for the audience award.  Each audience member is given a ballot where they can vote on a scale of 1-4 for the film.  I gave it a 3.

One last note- Melanie Lynskey took a bunch of pictures after the Q&A with audience members and my condo mate got into that action.

morgan freeman...

The winner of the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2012 Golden Globes.

In 2003,  I had the opportunity to see Morgan Freeman at the after party for the opening film of the Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City.   The film is called LEVITY also starring Billy Bob Thornton.   Going into my 15th year of attending Sundance, that night at the film premiere was first and last time I saw Robert Redford.

What a great actor with a phenomenal body of work!

new york football giants...

I don't like Tom Coughlin and I don't like Eli Manning, but this team is hot going into the playoffs.  The game isn't over, but the Packers secondary is absolutely horrible even with Charles Woodson.

I hope the Giants don't go on that similar Super Bowl run like in 2007...

Even if NY wins, they have to play at Candlestick next Sunday and the Niners don't have a porous defense like Green Bay.

The Giants leading 20-10 with a Hail Mary from Manning to Hakeem Nicks TD right before halftime.   Phenomenal catch by Nicks!

Green Bay needs to develop their running attack and their receivers need to hold on to the ball.   They've had too many drops.

Game over.   New York at  San Francisco next Sunday 3:30pm Pacific Time...

picture of the day...

Basketball is a physical sport.  Jermaine O'Neal executes a perfect right hook to the temple of Vince Carter...

I remember watching O'Neal get coached at Pete Newell's Big Man Camp in Honolulu when he was a 17 year old just drafted by the Indiana Pacers.  He couldn't play at all at that time and he turned out to be an excellent NBA player.   He's still only 33 and a 15 year NBA veteran.  O'Neal really hasn't been an effective NBA player for a few seasons.  Injuries have put a damper on his career.

Carter is a shell of his former playing self at 34.

new england patriots...

It's hard for me to believe, but the Pats haven't won a Super Bowl since 2005.   Alex Smith was finishing an undefeated season 12-0 with Utah coached by Urban Meyer.  Meyer went on to win National Championships with Florida and is now coach of The Ohio State.   Smith has been a quarterback for the Niners since being picked #1 in 2005 NFL Draft.  

I may be wrong, but I foresee the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots in the 2012 Super Bowl...

alex smith...

I saw him in Park City during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.  I must admit, he didn't look like a football player.  He looked frail.  Alex had just come out of a luxury lounge on Main Street where they give celebs and quasi-celebs free shit like boots, coats, etc...

Today, Alex Smith is a winner like he was when he attended the University of Utah in Salt Lake.  He's comeback from being a marginal NFL QB to a near Pro Bowl caliber player is astounding!

His touchdown pass to Vernon Davis in the final seconds to win the game versus New Orleans was a thing of beauty!    A true signature moment in San Francisco 49ers history...

darron thomas...

The quarterback from Oregon who's entering the NFL Draft after his junior season.   He's had a hell of a record as a starter and threw for 63 TDs in the past two seasons.  I personally think he should have stayed for his senior season, because I can't see him going very high in the draft.  He might not get drafted?  I could be proven wrong...

tom brady...

I wrote in a previous post that I wanted Brady to throw 5 TD passes against Denver.  He has in the first half.

35-7 New England leading Denver at halftime.

Game over...

Denver doesn't have enough firepower to overcome such a large deficit.

He ended up throwing 6.  Tying a playoff record.  45-10.  

vernon davis...

THE CATCH 2.0!!!!!   30 years later!  Vernon has come a long way from getting kicked off the field by shitty ex-coach Mike Singletary to a game winning catch against favored New Orleans.  PHENOMENAL!!!

7 catches for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns!

earl barron...

That's the best the Warriors could do replacing one of the worst number one draft picks in NBA history Kwame Brown?

Barron a seven-footer who shoots under 38% from the field.   That's unbelievable!

denard robinson...

The Michigan QB who's returning for his senior season is a perfect example of a great college signal caller who's skills don't translate to the NFL.  Although, I really enjoy watching him play.

If he wants to play in the league, he'll have to change positions like Penn St's Michael Robinson who played wide receiver and mostly quarterback in college, then moved to running back and now is a full blown fullback for Seattle.

Denard Robinson is more suited to be a wide receiver or a running back in the mold of Darren Sproles.

curt menefee...

My fucking sick and tired moment...  I'm tired of fat Curt Menefee the studio host for the NFL on Fox calling my city San Francisco- San Fran.  Nobody who lives in San Francisco calls the City San Fran- nobody!

Go Niners!!

queen of versailles...

The doc is one of the opening-night films at Sundance next Thursday.   It's a tough ticket and I'll be lucky to see one of QUEEN OF VERSAILLES three other screenings in Park City.  It's the documentary I really want to see at the fest.   Pictured is Jacqueline Siegel wife of time-share real estate mogul David Siegel of Westgate Resorts.   Planet Hollywood in Vegas has a Westgate Tower.

If you want to know what the doc is about- google it.   And if you google the film, you'll find out that David Siegel is suing the festival and people behind the film for defaming his business in the Sundance online film guide.   I think it's fucking ridiculous.  The added publicity will only make this film more difficult to see and in the end it will help his business.   It's name recognition- I had never heard of Westgate before doing research on this doc.  I've noticed the Westgate Tower in Vegas, but before it reminded me of Playboy model who turned hardcore on the internet Sandee Westgate.

wade phillips...

Smart move by Bum's son the current defensive coordinator of the Houston Texans by withdrawing from an interview for the Tampa Bay Bucs head coaching job.  Wade is a much better defensive coordinator than a head coach.  Plus, he has health problems.  Houston is in the second round of playoffs- Tampa Bay is in a state of flux...

ross mirkarimi...

I used to look at his last name and not really look at it and think it was Japanese.  Obviously, it isn't...

The new sheriff in town may be charged with domestic violence.  I think it's odd that the newly-elected sheriff is involved in this type of alleged incident? 

I know I didn't vote for him...

Update: the guy is expected to be charged with domestic violence battery, child endangerment and dissuading a witness.    And he did get charged...

jeff fisher...

He finally signs as head coach of the St. Louis Rams.   For awhile there, I thought he was holding both Miami and St. Louis hostage.  

I personally would rather go to Miami.  The difference is the Rams have a supposed franchise quarterback in Sam Bradford, but the jury is still out in my estimation...

I'm a bit pissed at Fisher for not taking the USC job when it was offered to him- giving punk kid Kiffin the opportunity to get a huge undeserved contract and being able to recruit top notch athletes.  Now the punk kid is thriving at USC...

Don't really see the Rams competing against the Niners for seasons to come...

mark jackson...

The new Golden State Warriors head coach who talks big, but can't back it up is now 3-7 in 10 games which is about 15% of the shortened 66 games season.

I thought winning 30 games was a stretch when the season started, now 20 might not be within reach.

With new ownership, I thought the Warriors would bring in a name coach with experience, not a name ex-NBA player who has been in the broadcaster/analyst for the past several years.

Yes, Golden State doesn't have the players to win consistently in the Association.   Their win over the Heat the other night was a aberration.

The East Bay is full of dysfunctional pro teams starting with the Oakland A's, the Raiders, and the Golden State Warriors.

With no coaching experience you would think Mark Jackson would be more humble.   Being cocky and having a horrible record isn't a recipe for success.    Keith Smart is  a better coach than Jackson.  The guy at least paid his dues...

tim tebow...

I fucking sick and tired of reading about the guy.   He had a hell of a game against the Steelers.  Threw long passes that I didn't think he had to the ability to complete.  It does help to have a big speedy receiver like Damaryius Thomas.

I just hope the Patriots dominate the Broncos on Saturday and I won't have to hear about that religious fanatic until next season.

I really don't believe sports and religion mix.   For example, you have two zealots on opposite teams praying to god for his team to win.   There's only one winner and one loser in football.   Does god prefer the winner over the loser- I think not.

One of the big problems is the media is giving this guy too much press.   Not just sports media, but fluffy shows like Access Hollywood.

In the beginning of the season, I thought he got too much negative press for being a quarterback that doesn't fit the mold of a prototypical signal caller.    Now, he's all over the place for having a decent season, but not a season that merits all this attention.  Denver went 8-8 in the regular season and was victorious over an old beat up Pittsburgh team in their backyard in the first game of the playoffs after losing three straight to end the regular season.  Does that warrant so much attention?

Tom Brady, please throw about 5 TD passes with the Patriot's maligned defense playing good enough for the win.  That's all I want...

mike silver...

A writer for Yahoo Sports who used to work for Sports Illustrated.   A CAL grad and a CAL fanatic.  I generally enjoy reading his column.  I don't always agree with the guy, but he's better than most of the sports writers out there.

He just wrote about Mark Davis the owner of the Raiders being over his head.  I basically agree with him.
Silver seems to be a fan of recently fired Hue Jackson.  I liked Jackson until his team fell apart at the end of the season.  Watching the Raiders led by Jackson was very frustrating.  They blew too many big leads.  That can be attributed to bad coaching.  His tirade after losing to the Chargers was ridiculous.

Hue Jackson needs to reestablish himself as an offensive coordinator somewhere before getting another opportunity as a head coach.  I don't see it happening for awhile.

The Raiders have weapons on offense and their defense is suspect.   Winston Moss the current assistant head coach/linebacker coach of the Green Bay Packers is the early favorite to replace Jackson since newly hired GM Reggie McKenzie was the director of player personnel of the Pack.  And both are former Raiders.

captain kangaroo and mark davis...

 Mark Davis isn't Al Davis' son, but Captain Kangaroo's offspring...

For those who are too young to remember CK.  He was on CBS for nearly 30 years ending his run in 1984.    Then he was on PBS for another 9 years or so.   A kids show that wasn't on my watch list.

Mark Davis has the basic bowl cut.  You would think inheriting the Raiders from his late father- he could afford a better hair cut.  Absolutely horrible!

It must be tough to be a Raiders fan...

stacy keibler...

One thing for sure she has some long legs.  And when I think of her name it reminds me of Keebler cookies, a company which used to advertise heavily on television, yet I haven't seen an ad for years.  The product is fair at best.

I saw Stacy more than a few years ago hosting an event in the City.  She's decent looking in person, but she was chomping on gum all evening.  A definite turnoff.  Then again, not enough to kick her out of bed in some parallel world that something like that is probable...

I don't think Keibler is the one for George Clooney.  The affair will help her career- whatever that is?  Wasn't she a professional wrestler?   Is she an actress?  She has many credits on imdb.com.  A model- that's more feasible with those long legs and body...

In heels, she towers over Clooney.  I'd say Clooney is about 5'10, maybe 5'11.  Keibler is at least that tall. With some Louboutin's she's about 6'4- 6'5.

The over and under on the Clooney-Keebler romance is 9 months in my view....

tropisueno...

Located on Yerba Buena Lane in the City. Excellent Happy Hour from 4-6 Monday- Friday.

I get the $2 taco truck style tacos. And their $5 El Ranchero Tequila(100% Blue Agave) Margarita.

I'm on my third margarita and feeling no pain...

hue jackson...

Just fired as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.   This comes after the Raiders hired Reggie McKenzie as their new GM.  Let's make it clear- this isn't the offensive lineman who used to block for OJ in Buffalo.  This Reggie McKenzie is an ex-Raider and has had success as Director of Football Operations for the Green Bay Packers.

New general managers like to bring in their own head coach.  And Hue Jackson basically fell apart after the Raiders lost to the Chargers which saved Norv Turner's job with the San Diego Chargers.

I personally believe Jackson should have gotten the opportunity to coach the Raiders next season, but his antics at the end of the season and the trade he made for Carson Palmer which could result into two first round draft choices for the Cincinnati Bengals sealed his fate.

papa john's...

It appalls me that such overt racism exists in this country and in Manhattan where there are so many different races living and working on that island.   There are hundreds of pizza joints in Manhattan and the young Korean lady eats a pie at a Papa John's.  I find that appalling too.   Then again, I've never had a pizza at Papa John's.  And to be perfectly honest, I've tried many slices of pizza and whole pizzas in Manhattan and a small percentage of them were any good.

Papa John's will forever be linked to the "lady chinky eyes" receipt.   Instead of throwing footballs in his commercials, the real Papa John should produce a commercial that condemns racism and offers discount on pizza for a limited time.  I'm sure it will drum up business for all the Papa John's stores throughout the country.   And it would be good PR...

trader joe's turkey gravy...

I'm a big fan of Trader Joe's- a big fan, but that stuff they're selling as turkey gravy in a carton is absolutely horrible!  Wow!  It's that bad!

The gravy they make and use at Rainbow Drive-In in Honolulu  has a secret ingredient- dried shrimp?

I guess the first mistake I made was thinking turkey gravy would be an adequate substitute for brown beef based gravy for a loco moco(a hamburger patty and an egg over easy over rice with gravy).

marty schottenheimer...

I just read he's being interviewed for the vacant Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaching job.   Marty is 68, but the guy was fired after posting a 14-2 regular season mark with the San Diego Chargers in 2007 and never got another head coaching job in the NFL.  The UFL doesn't count.  Yes, they did lose in the playoffs.  I don't think any NFL coach has been fired after a 14-2 regular season record?

His son Brian, currently the maligned offensive coordinator of the New York Jets just interviewed for the Jacksonville Jaguar job.  The guy doesn't deserve it.

I believe the NFL is shying away from young punk head coaches.   Going back to Don Shula's son David - they just don't work out.  Recent petulant young NFL coaches that did horrible are my favorites(I'm being facetious)Lane "Baby" Kiffin and Josh McDaniels.

Tampa, give Marty another shot- he deserves it and he can hire his son as an offensive coordinator and groom him for a head coaching job if and when he deserves it...

debby boone...

I can't believe how fine she looks @ 55 years old.  She's Pat Boone's daughter and she's known for her hit  YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE back in 1977.   I just saw her singing the Carpenters' iconic song CLOSE TO YOU on PBS and she did it quite well.  

rodney harrison...

He has no business being an analyst on Football Night in America on NBC.  He's so fucking negative!  Harrison was once one of the dirtiest players in the league and now it appalls me how he criticizes players who he once played with.  A certain amount of criticism is good, but Harrison goes overboard.  Man, I'd rather have Tiki Barber with Tony Dungy...

bill o'brien...

New head football coach at Penn St.  My first question- who in the fuck is he?   His claim to fame is the shouting match he had with Tom Brady as offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots.  I don't get why GMs, Athletic Directors, University Presidents overestimate assistant coaches with the Patriots.
Charlie Weiss did a shit job with Notre Dame and we'll see how he does with Kansas.  Eric Mangini had some early success with the Jets, but he flamed out with the Browns.  Punk kid Josh McDaniels did a horrible job with the Broncos.  Romeo Crennel who was a defensive coordinator didn't do well with Cleveland, but I think he'll do okay if he gets the Chief's job.  Terrible hire by Penn State.

rob lowe...

The guy is still very good looking at 47.   He maintains a youthful appearance.  Lowe has really come a long way from his controversial period when he did the film BAD INFLUENCE and a sex tape scandal with an underage girl.   This was nearly 25 years ago.

david shaw...

Young Shaw generally did an excellent job replacing Jim Harbaugh as head football coach of Stanford, but his conservative decisions that culminated in relying on a shaky redshirt freshman to win the Fiesta Bowl with a chip shot field goal was inexcusable!  It was a college game, not the NFL where there are reliable place kickers.