Continuing the theme of actors playing against type in film festival movies, Patrick Warburton plays a complete louse who finds redempiton (eventually) through his purchased Asian bride, acted gorgeously by Marie Matiko, in The Civilaztion of Maxwell Bright. Warburton pushes the limits, at times a bellowing mysogonistic ape and at times a regretful apologetic child. (Considering his voluminous body hair this film may be a pre-cursor to King Kong.) Don’t be scared away by the title or the poster. I really enjoyed this melancholy movie about kharma and love as it can occur in marriage. Altogether excellent filmmaking is acheived.

One of the many positives of working for “the man” (especially one who cares as much as Dell) is they offer some sweet benefits programs. Just a couple days ago the wife and I came in to my office early for our Wellness Check-up. Our stats were as expected except that my HDL is over the line. So for awhile I will be eating lots of fruits (and maybe vegetables) and I plan to get there with the help of Ben & Jerry Smoothies and a local Austin chain called La Palatera that features cups and bowls of amazingly fresh fruit. Today I got this for lunch there:

Yes my lunch was a chilli dog and soda with “la Lancha” — oranges, kiwi, banana, apples, strawberries, watermelon, cantalope, mango, pinapples, cherries, coconut and cucumber with salt, lime juice and chilli powder — and for dessert: a chocolate covered strawberry.

p.s. While I’m on the food kick, check out what I saw at the movie theater last night from Cinnabon©:

the pretzel Cinnabon© all-in-one. genius.

F’n Fox. Spoiling the post-season by completely dwelling on blown calls instead of seven series of absolutely riveting baseball, and the best World Series since, well, last year. Two teams playing for the first time in almost anyone’s lifetime, both with Jank family connections. World-class players on both teams (A whole set of Killer B’s for the Astros, including Blum, the one that got away in Game 3; and a bunch of Cuban political refugees that NRO feted). And, the first Series games played in Texas.

In any case, Fox’s focus on marginal calls, which, in truth, evened out across the series, has every swingin’ Richard spouting off that baseball needs some sort of instant replay review.

Bah, I say.