The T-Spot: Refuge for the Chronic Cynic

Time to Move On

I've decided to retire the Refuge indefinitely...Things in my life are shifting quite frequently....I will keep you updated on any new developments

posted by The Bartender @ 1:02 AM 0 comments

Children Of Men

One word to sum up this movie: HEAVY

This sci-fi futuristic film starring Clive Owen offers a peak into a world where no children are being born. Of course when no one can reproduce the worlds turns into a black pit of despair, war, etc, etc. I must say that the acting was well done. It wasn't some over the top action movie where the main character is on an ego trip in designer clothing. Instead we see Theo, a battered man with not much to live for, risking his life for something that is larger than his own well-being. An unlikely hero, his clumsy repore is enough to make you cheer him on as he attempts to save a young girl who may very well be the hope of all humanity. Dark, cynical, and all around worthy action flick for your Friday or Saturday night.

posted by The Bartender @ 10:35 AM 2 comments

Dial M for Myspace

So in my early morning putzin' around on the web at work I came across an interesting article. Apparently a woman was arrested for attempted murder after hiring an undercover cop to kill a woman whose picture she saw on her boyfriend's myspace page. Oh it gets better, the woman was only offering 500 dollars!

This incident reminds me of something that I'm noticing more and more. Couples are now signing up for joint pages on social networking sites. In my opinion I think it's somewhat childish that some couples can't seem to have a functioning life without being attached to someone else. To lose your individuality, the trait which probably attracted your mate in the first place, comes at a great cost which surprisingly many people don't mind paying.

So next time JimmyKate requests you to be their friend on myspace kindly hit the decline button.

posted by The Bartender @ 2:08 PM 1 comments

T-Spot Movie Review: Little Miss Sunshine

Against my judgment (I blame being extremely tired), I was forced into going to see Little Miss Sunshine. I have to say that it was very well done. Imagine the quirky-ness of The Royal Tenebaums and the loving nature of the Waltons and that sums up the Hoovers. An ill-fated trip to California from Arizona for little Olive's debut in the Little Miss Sunshine Pagent paints a colorful portrait of a family that has obvious flaws, but fight continously to remain a unit. Definitely an underdog among various summer blockbusters, but a refreshing, real movie that all can enjoy.

posted by The Bartender @ 11:30 AM 0 comments

T-Spot Fiction: Digital Drifter Intro Part 1

Dera looked at the black water and smiled. Just a month ago a prominent lawyer courted him intensely even though he was homeless and jobless. Friends came to his aid, and now he stood there on the beach realizing that he had a wonderful job, friends and family that loved him, and a mind that knew no bounds. He was on to something. It moved through him as calmly and as violently as the ocean caressed the shore. This was only the beginning.

posted by The Bartender @ 2:11 AM 0 comments

T-Spot Movie Review: The Devil Wears Prada

This movie was very well done in my opinion. Being an amateur critic of fashion I could not help but be drawn to this movie. The plot itself was spotty at times but in all honesty it was worth the 8 dollar ticket and 4 dollar bag of popcorn. Having worked for bosses from hell I have to say that Miranda is definitely the high priestess of lunatic bosses, but it comes not without a price...usually the personal life.

In some ways I connected with Andy and other times Miranda and on a rare occasion Emily. I feel that I am always torn between having respect for the fashion world or condemning it for its superficiality and how it affects the general public. However I say the movie is a must see whether you own gucci or shop at ross on a regular basis.

posted by The Bartender @ 8:05 PM 0 comments

T-Spot: Digital Drifter

While riding the CalTrain to work one morning I noticed a guy around my age sitting at the next stop. All he had in his possession was a backpack, a trashbag, and a laptop. I thought it an odd combination, but a very familiar one for it wasn't too long ago that I literally got rid of most of my possessions that had little or no value to me. This left me with clothing, books, the occasional gadget, and of course my laptop.

Realizing the possible parallels between me and the new age vagabond I encountered I decided to spin this into a fiction piece. It will of course be featured here at Refuge, and I hope to add a podcast of random excerts as the storyline begins to take shape. My hope is to capture what I consider to be a growing community of digital bohemians so to speak and how our lives are constantly being shifted with technology as the only constant.

posted by The Bartender @ 2:34 PM 1 comments

I met a Bot

So anyone who frequents that time suck known as Myspace has probably received friend requests from girls (and some guys) that have fake profiles to bait people check out porn sites. Well these wonderful creatures have earned the name "Bot" seeing as how they aren't actual real people. But I actually go to meet one the other day...well sort of.

I was having lunch with some co-workers at this trendy thai place in the south beach area of SF when I overheard these two women talking. One of the women was expressing her rage when she learned that she had a myspace account. Judging from her Gucci pumps and Chloe handbag I could tell that she was a bit above the immature myspace world. Turns out someone snagged her picture from a personals profile she hadn't used in years and created a Bot on myspace with her picture. She then launched into how she tried to file a police report, etc,etc, oh yeah and called myspace which in her words "was like trying to call yahoo or google." So I in fact came into contact with a Bot. But it also made me realized just how micro the vast internet (or internets to some people) can be, and nothing is sacred.

posted by The Bartender @ 1:30 PM 0 comments

Spare the Air Day: A Concept

While en route to work today I had the surprise of finding out that the CalTrain as well as the Bart public transit system were free of charge to promote Spare the Air Day. In a public attempt to curb traffic and daily harmful emission of toxins into the air, the public is encourage to take public transportation. A green-positive initiative to say the least but it is not without its complications. For example, all though it is free to everyone what does this mean for those who by monthly even yearly passes; money lost to be exact. Another problem that I experienced first hand today: overcrowding. While it's great that more people are commuting together, there is a shortage of seats and overcrowding reaches an unsafe level in my opinion.

So in conclusion: Spare the Air does nothing to spare the headache of the daily commute for regular travelers.

Check out this article for further info: Spare the Air Spikes Ridership

posted by The Bartender @ 9:42 PM 0 comments