Will Ferrell is a Baller

Here is a nice little clip of Will Ferrell doing and interview with Bill Walton while playing a game of horse. And it looks like Will Ferrell is actually pretty good at basketball. Nice backspin on his shots. Good follow through. And he can knock down the Larry Bird over the backboard while falling out of bounds prayer. Throw it down big man. Throw it down.



PS Semi-Pro opens this weekend. You might not want to miss it.

Some Lost Conjecture

After watching last night's episode of Lost, I think I have an idea as to why Jack feels such intense, suicidal guilt off the island. It kind of clicked for me when they revealed that Kate's son was in fact Aaron. Claire's son. For some reason, Jack was forced to choose between Kate - who he loved at the time - and his half sister Claire. He chose Kate and now regrets the decision. This is why he doesn't want to see Aaron after Kate wraps up the court room drama. Seeing Aaron reminds him of Claire and maybe something he did that caused her to be left behind or even worse, die. This theory also would require Jack finding out that Claire is his half sister. Maybe a possible showdown with Christian in the future? But wait, I thought Christian was dead? Maybe a showdown with Christian's ghost courtesy of Miles the ghost busting extortionist?

This raises another interesting question. Did Desmond lie to Charlie? I can't remember from the episode whether or not we got a glimpse of Desmond's premonition that Claire and Aaron would leave the island on a helicopter similar to the glimpses we received in the episode where they find Naomi. So I could be completely off base here. However, it seems odd that Desmond is the one boarding the helicopter a couple episodes ago and now it appears that Claire does not make it off the island. Did Desmond cave to his selfish desires to reunite with Penny and sacrifice Charlie? I hope not because I thought that conflict was resolved and I really like Desmond and want him to overcome his weaknesses. However, if Desmond is in fact off the island (I don't think he is one of the Oceanic Six though) this would play right into the theme of all the survivors feeling even more guilt off the island as opposed to the guilt they felt on the island.

Lost Some More - Courtesy of Doc Jensen

Click here for a nice little interview conducted by Doc Jensen of Entertainment Weekly with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse - the driving force behind my one and only true obsession, also known as Lost. In the interview they discuss the first couple episodes of the current season and also where the show is headed. There are no spoilers and a few nice teases. Looks like we will find out who is in the coffin this season. It is also nice to know that they are trying to avoid time paradoxes (such as those found in Heroes) and working under the premise that the future isn't going to change. It makes it much more feasible to invest my time in energy into the storyline that produces a completely wrecked Jack knowing that the "rug won't be pulled out from under my feet" at the last moment.

My favorite part of the interview was where they discussed the theme of this season:

DOC JENSEN: How would you describe the general structure of the season?

CARLTON CUSE: This year, it's all about the castaways' relationship to the Freighter folk. Since day one, their goal has been to get off the Island. Now our heroes will find themselves defending the very island they wanted to leave. The future hints at the fact that these folks have a deeper connection to the Island than they themselves realized.

DAMON LINDELOF: The big mystery looming over this season is, how did some people get off the Island and what happened to the people who didn't? That's the mystery that we owe the answer to at the end of the season, in addition to who's in the coffin. We could be winky about the coffin all the way through season 5. But that was one of the first things we talked about when we got back to work on the new episodes: We definitely have to show who was in the coffin. That's the primary super-structure of the season. As a result of that, certain thematic elements — the element of fate or supernatural elements as they relate to the monster and Jacob — are certainly in play but not as interesting to us this season as these questions: Why do some of the characters leave? How do they leave? What are the circumstances under which they leave? Why do some stay? Is it a choice? Is it an accident? Both?

CUSE: There are larger cosmic questions involved in that. Daniel Faraday's rocket experiment in the Sayid episode, which established a time differential on the Island, was a very important scene in that it sets the table for things that come into play in the future of the show. We've learned a lot about our characters' relationship to the Island, but now we're going to learn their relationship to the outside world once they've been on the Island. This is an important new idea to the show.

The idea of why some of the characters leave and why some stay really appeals to me. Did they choose? Is it fate? I really love the whole man of faith vs. man of science theme of the show and this plays into that excellently. Why do we make the choices we do? Do we really have agency or are we all subject to "fate"? Simply the perfect premise for me to get wrapped up in.

My Goal

So I have decided to get a digital SLR camera because I want to take pictures like this:



Don't forget to vote in the poll to your right. And just so you know because it may influence your vote, the above photo was taken with a Canon Rebel XTi.

Half Way Home

To commemorate the mid-point of the NBA season, I would like to share a nice little mix tape of 10 of the "best" in-game dunks by the freak of nature that is Dwight Howard.




Dunks #1 and #2 are simply draw dropping. I think I may prefer #2 to #1 because of the scenario and the fact that it won the game for the Magic.

PS The Lakers look damn good going into the all-star break. 7-2 on the super long road trip was an excellent way to finish off the first half of the season. Especially considering that they were very very close to being 9-0 on the road trip. Both Atlanta and Detroit were very winnable games. Needless to say, I am pretty optimistic about the second half of the season. I can't wait to see how a healthy Bynum will integrate back into the team. Hopefully he can regain his pre-injury sweetness. I really can't wait to see a starting five of Kobe, Fish, Lamar, Pau, and Bynum. Especially when combined with a very solid bench which will only get better when Ariza comes back from his injury.

Have a Merry Valentines Day

Graciela Iturbide

The Graciela Iturbide exhibit at the Getty is totally tits. The photos of the East LA cholos from the 80's were the highlight for me. There is one shot of these bangers flashing their gang signs and the photo is of the shadows they cast on a concrete wall. Like I said, totally tits.

Ben - Off The Island

16GB iPhone

On my way to work today I received a text from my generous roommate letting me know that the rumors he shared with me last night were in fact true. No, the price of carbon credits was not decreasing so eternal salvation for your evil polluting soul is still quite expensive. However, the 16GB iPhone was officially released today. The only drawback is that it still isn't 3G.

When the original iPhone released I forced myself to wait until the 2nd generation became available so that I could get the larger hard drive and the 3G capability. Well, the 2nd generation is here and I don't think I will be able to wait for the third generation. So, iPhone here I come. My patience has paid off.

Jacob's Cabin - *Spoiler Alert*

Looks like Christian Shepard to me. Pretty convincing right? But why would Hurley see Jack's father in Jacob's cabin? And did Locke see Christian as well? What did he see from his perspective inside the cabin? It could be something completely different. Best. Show. Ever.

Also, who else was in the cabin with Locke and Christian? Is this Jacob?


So many questions which lead to so much discussion. I love this show.

Lost Again

If anybody ever, and by ever I really mean ever, tries to tell me that Heroes is better than Lost I will punch them in the face. Seriously, the shows are on two completely different levels. Saying Heroes is better than Lost is akin declaring The Counter to be the superior burger when compared to the absolute gold standard of Father's Office. There really is no debate. Consider yourself warned. If I even hear somebody start to form the words to say that Heroes (or 24 for that matter) is better than Lost, my reaction will be swift and effective, similar to Jack's reaction upon seeing Locke. Except their will not be the disappointing click.

In an effort to not put out any spoilers (but honestly, if you didn't watch the premiere last night than you deserve to be spoiled because you are lame) I will simply say that the episode was fantastic and did not disappoint in the least. I was so energized after the show that I could barely get to sleep a couple of hours later. I absolutely love the new format of telling the story with flash forwards. I love the turmoil and mystery being created around the decision to contact Naomi's ship in order to "escape" the island. I also love the way Charlie has been handled so far. I better stop now before I get too excited and reveal something. But really, shame on you if you have not yet watched last night's episode. You probably think that Heroes is better than Lost.

PS It really, really sucks that there are only 7 more episodes to go before the season is cut short. Damn you Patric Verrone. If I ever see you I will punch you right in the face as well.