Food For Thought

I read tons of blogs every day. Many of my current favorites I've stumbled across accidentally, such as Mihow.com. I don't know the woman who created it, but she's a fellow cat lover, has an insanely cute baby, and writes really well. I feel like reading her stories for the past six months has enabled me to know her intimately enough that she and I could have coffee and enjoy ourselves. That's more than I can say for most of the strangers I cross paths with every day.

Mihow (AKA Michelle) recently linked to a provoking New York Times article about knowing the animals we eat that I think you should read. Even though I'm a pescetarian with vegan aspirations, I try not to judge anyone else's eating choices. After all, I read dlisted.com almost every day, which is arguably more damaging to my body than rBST. I also have a lot of leather shoes. But I do think that if we were all more actively involved in the process of putting meat on the dinner table or on our bodies, we'd be weighing our ethical decisions more often. Just something to think about.

It's Just a Kiss Away

Has anyone else noticed a surge in usage of The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" in film soundtracks over the last few years? Maybe it's just a case of standard probability. I've been stuck inside with The Cruel, Cruel Cold for three days now, and I've watched roughly 1,700 On Demand movies. I guess I was bound to hear it a few times.

Where I've come across it, in case you're wondering:

• Opening sequence in "The Departed"
• Sex/kidnapping scene in "Layer Cake"
• I forget which part in "The War"

I should add that in my mucus-laden opinion, "Gimme Shelter" is the best Rolling Stones song ever recorded, so I'm not complaining. Just bored out of my skull and noticing the little things.

Because it goes nicely with my currently feverish state, here's "Gimme Shelter" dubbed over the ending scene of "Taxi Driver". Though Martin Scorcese obviously loves the song and has used it in several of his movies, it wasn't originally featured in this one. Works nicely though, doesn't it? Oh, and don't watch if you're under 17. And if you do, it's only ketchup.

'Tis the Season To Be Phlegmy

Hi all. Sorry about the silence in 2008, though I kind of have an excuse. I've come down with a chest cold. I know, boo hoo.

But...

Have you ever had eye pain when you looked in any extreme direction? I've got that, and I've had it before. The first time was in high school, and two days later I came down with the chicken pox. IN HIGH SCHOOL. It was not pretty, people. The second time I developed a month-long bout of bronchitis. So you can imagine my hesitation to wake up tomorrow.

Thankfully, it's Friday night and I have nothing to do this weekend, California is experiencing its biggest storm in years so I'm expected to stay indoors, VH1 has decided to abandon all programming that isn't America's Next Top Model marathons (we're on Cycle 8), and the cats are being really cute. It could be worse.

Workplace narcissism or just plain genius? You make the call!

If there was any doubt that I take my craft very seriously, let this Oscar-worthy piece of filmmaking silence those whispers.

Time-lapsey music by Dizzee Rascal.

And just like that, my head exploded

Thanks to an anonymous emailer, I no longer have to live in fear of Newman-O's: Snack of the Gods. Things are looking up, my friends. Things are looking up.