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Joe Deegan
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Leorah Gavidor
Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
Jay Allen Sanford
Julie Stalmer
DJ Stevens
Matthew Suárez
Amanda Tascher
More writers
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Allied Gardens
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Baja
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Bay Ho
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shizzyfinn
shizzyfinn
is a
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contributor. See
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Comments
Votes
The Mystery of the Transfixed Beagle
Just out of curiosity, how much does an animal communicator charge? Also, what do you do if it turns your animal is talking trash? (Anyone read the short story Tobermory by the late great Saki? If you haven't, Google it. Priceless.)
— February 8, 2010 7:31 p.m.
Back in the Spotlight
Definitely a lot of sass for a newcomer...look out, this Santa's got some sharp Claws! (tee hee...how's that for clever clogs?) But I think it's because the Barbarian take his/her movies seriously, to which I can relate. And I gotta give it to SantaB on pointing out that they are called RE-views after all. I do try to hold off on reading reviews of movies I want to see until after I've seen them, because it's impossible not to have some of the fun spoiled when you read someone else's opinion of the movie before seeing it yourself. As noted in my first comment, I don't expect to see Edge of Darkness (didn't Mel already do the raging parent bit in Ransom? "Give me back my son!") which is why I indulged in this week's installment from Mr. Shepherd. That said, a review is typically published before the release of the movie, and most people read the REview to get a PREview of the flick. So writers need to be careful about giving away too much, particularly in mysteries and thrillers where the twists and turns are what it's all about. I think Shepherd's reviews are great at avoiding the plot summarizing that so many other reviewers seem to rely on, perhaps to pad out their reviews' word counts. But IMHO he could be a little more careful about divulging spoiler details, be they small (like the geiger counter moment in Edge) or hefty (like Mystic River's Achilles heel of an ending).
— February 8, 2010 7:24 p.m.
One More Furlong
"Tacos para los ojos"...that's an awesome line! Is it a refriedgringo original, or a common saying south of the border? Either way, thanks for sharing.
— February 8, 2010 9:35 a.m.
Surprise: Union-Tribune Solicits Employee Suggestions
Anybody stick around CBS after the Super Bowl to watch Undercover Boss? It felt a bit contrived, like most reality shows, but still was good TV. Showed how the Chief Operating Officer of Waste Management disguised himself as entry-level employee and was shocked at some of the conditions faced by workers at the bottom of his firm...back-breaking manual labor, draconian time-card rules, one person doing the job of two or three, and women trash collectors forced to pee in cans to finish routes fast enough. Overall, it was fascinating to watch an exec have to see personally the impact of the relentless drive for higher productivity enhancement programs that are imposed from the top down. Put a spotlight on how the gap between the upper and middle class in America goes beyond dollars...many folks at the top have absolutely no clue how tough day-to-day life is down below, even when it comes to their colleagues within their company.
— February 8, 2010 9:24 a.m.
News Mixed in Unemployment Report
Maybe McCain was talking about 48% of the homes he owns? ;)
— February 5, 2010 6:52 p.m.
Back in the Spotlight
I took your advice and looked up Shepherd's Mystic River review. He gave it more stars than the Big Dipper, but also said this: "Admittedly, the outcome of the case depends upon a fortuitous coincidence that reeks of mystery-making for its own sake: a previously unrevealed second murder on the same night as the first." So he's with my on the lousy ending. And his review of Mystic River had an even bigger spoiler than his review above!
— February 5, 2010 5:09 p.m.
News Mixed in Unemployment Report
SurpPup, I recently read in NYTimes that the number of mortgages that are at least 25% underwater, nationwide, is 5 million. 5 million! I gotta think a good chunk of those folks will realize that they're wasting money, and will walk away, putting even more homes on the market. So IMHO, anyone who tells you housing is coming back is either nuts or trying to sell you something. I still marvel at how no one calls out the $8,000 homebuyers' credit as what it is, a handout to homesellers.
— February 5, 2010 12:21 p.m.
Back in the Spotlight
I think my critique above is a pretty elaborate explanation of my conclusion of "sucked." Could you share a little on why you found Mystic River so fine? Personally, I enjoyed some of the performances, particularly Sean Penn's and Marcia Gay Harden's. I was feeling their pain. But as I mentioned, the resolution of the mystery kinda ruined it for me.
— February 5, 2010 11:36 a.m.
News Mixed in Unemployment Report
"The unemployment rate fell to 9.7% from 10% in December. Economists said it appeared to be a statistical quirk, but it might make consumers feel somewhat better." What will make me feel better as a consumer is when people I know who have lost their jobs get new jobs somewhere else. Maybe we could call this the "re-employment rate." Thus far in Depression II, a grand total of 2 people have found new jobs out of the 20 or so people I know who have lost theirs. Admittedly, this is anecdotal and therefore of limited value. But couple this re-employment rate of 10% with the reduced earnings of people who have managed to hang on to their jobs, and the consumer in me is not feeling better at all.
— February 5, 2010 9:32 a.m.
None
Ah, Cuddlemaa-- I mean Cuddlefish. For someone who hates the Reader, you sure spend a lot of time on these pages. Almost like you have a reason for plastering the place with negativity. What's your agenda?
— February 5, 2010 9 a.m.
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Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
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Ken Leighton
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Letters
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Movie Reviews
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Obermeyer
— San Diego politics illustrated
Outdoors
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Overheard in San Diego
— Eavesdropping illustrated
Poetry
— The old and the new
Reader Travel
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Reading
— The hunt for intellectuals
Roam-O-Rama
— SoCal's best hiking/biking trails
San Diego Beer
— Inside San Diego suds
SD on the QT
— Almost factual news
Sheep and Goats
— Places of worship
Special Issues
— The best of
Street Style
— San Diego streets have style
Surf Diego
— Real stories from those braving the waves
Theater
— On stage in San Diego this week
Tin Fork
— Silver spoon alternative
Under the Radar
— Matt Potter's undercover work
Unforgettable
— Long-ago San Diego
Unreal Estate
— San Diego's priciest pads
Your Week
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Chris Ahrens
Ian Anderson
Thomas K. Arnold
Eric Bartl
Don Bauder
Ed Bedford
Siobhan Braun
Robert Bush
Chad Deal
Joe Deegan
Barbarella Fokos
Leorah Gavidor
Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
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This Week’s
Reader
This Week’s
Reader
The Mystery of the Transfixed Beagle
Just out of curiosity, how much does an animal communicator charge? Also, what do you do if it turns your animal is talking trash? (Anyone read the short story Tobermory by the late great Saki? If you haven't, Google it. Priceless.)— February 8, 2010 7:31 p.m.
Back in the Spotlight
Definitely a lot of sass for a newcomer...look out, this Santa's got some sharp Claws! (tee hee...how's that for clever clogs?) But I think it's because the Barbarian take his/her movies seriously, to which I can relate. And I gotta give it to SantaB on pointing out that they are called RE-views after all. I do try to hold off on reading reviews of movies I want to see until after I've seen them, because it's impossible not to have some of the fun spoiled when you read someone else's opinion of the movie before seeing it yourself. As noted in my first comment, I don't expect to see Edge of Darkness (didn't Mel already do the raging parent bit in Ransom? "Give me back my son!") which is why I indulged in this week's installment from Mr. Shepherd. That said, a review is typically published before the release of the movie, and most people read the REview to get a PREview of the flick. So writers need to be careful about giving away too much, particularly in mysteries and thrillers where the twists and turns are what it's all about. I think Shepherd's reviews are great at avoiding the plot summarizing that so many other reviewers seem to rely on, perhaps to pad out their reviews' word counts. But IMHO he could be a little more careful about divulging spoiler details, be they small (like the geiger counter moment in Edge) or hefty (like Mystic River's Achilles heel of an ending).— February 8, 2010 7:24 p.m.
One More Furlong
"Tacos para los ojos"...that's an awesome line! Is it a refriedgringo original, or a common saying south of the border? Either way, thanks for sharing.— February 8, 2010 9:35 a.m.
Surprise: Union-Tribune Solicits Employee Suggestions
Anybody stick around CBS after the Super Bowl to watch Undercover Boss? It felt a bit contrived, like most reality shows, but still was good TV. Showed how the Chief Operating Officer of Waste Management disguised himself as entry-level employee and was shocked at some of the conditions faced by workers at the bottom of his firm...back-breaking manual labor, draconian time-card rules, one person doing the job of two or three, and women trash collectors forced to pee in cans to finish routes fast enough. Overall, it was fascinating to watch an exec have to see personally the impact of the relentless drive for higher productivity enhancement programs that are imposed from the top down. Put a spotlight on how the gap between the upper and middle class in America goes beyond dollars...many folks at the top have absolutely no clue how tough day-to-day life is down below, even when it comes to their colleagues within their company.— February 8, 2010 9:24 a.m.
News Mixed in Unemployment Report
Maybe McCain was talking about 48% of the homes he owns? ;)— February 5, 2010 6:52 p.m.
Back in the Spotlight
I took your advice and looked up Shepherd's Mystic River review. He gave it more stars than the Big Dipper, but also said this: "Admittedly, the outcome of the case depends upon a fortuitous coincidence that reeks of mystery-making for its own sake: a previously unrevealed second murder on the same night as the first." So he's with my on the lousy ending. And his review of Mystic River had an even bigger spoiler than his review above!— February 5, 2010 5:09 p.m.
News Mixed in Unemployment Report
SurpPup, I recently read in NYTimes that the number of mortgages that are at least 25% underwater, nationwide, is 5 million. 5 million! I gotta think a good chunk of those folks will realize that they're wasting money, and will walk away, putting even more homes on the market. So IMHO, anyone who tells you housing is coming back is either nuts or trying to sell you something. I still marvel at how no one calls out the $8,000 homebuyers' credit as what it is, a handout to homesellers.— February 5, 2010 12:21 p.m.
Back in the Spotlight
I think my critique above is a pretty elaborate explanation of my conclusion of "sucked." Could you share a little on why you found Mystic River so fine? Personally, I enjoyed some of the performances, particularly Sean Penn's and Marcia Gay Harden's. I was feeling their pain. But as I mentioned, the resolution of the mystery kinda ruined it for me.— February 5, 2010 11:36 a.m.
News Mixed in Unemployment Report
"The unemployment rate fell to 9.7% from 10% in December. Economists said it appeared to be a statistical quirk, but it might make consumers feel somewhat better." What will make me feel better as a consumer is when people I know who have lost their jobs get new jobs somewhere else. Maybe we could call this the "re-employment rate." Thus far in Depression II, a grand total of 2 people have found new jobs out of the 20 or so people I know who have lost theirs. Admittedly, this is anecdotal and therefore of limited value. But couple this re-employment rate of 10% with the reduced earnings of people who have managed to hang on to their jobs, and the consumer in me is not feeling better at all.— February 5, 2010 9:32 a.m.
None
Ah, Cuddlemaa-- I mean Cuddlefish. For someone who hates the Reader, you sure spend a lot of time on these pages. Almost like you have a reason for plastering the place with negativity. What's your agenda?— February 5, 2010 9 a.m.