Late Nights

San Diego is a stranger to late-night escapes and comforts. Aside from the millions of 24-hour *insert Mexican name here* Taco Shops (although a couple are only open for 23 or 22 hours...), there are hardly any GREAT late night eats and hang out locations for San Diego night owls.

I've decided to start a late night list of the nicest places in SD to hang out. I'd like to point out that my definition of late night is not "open past 9pm" (which many San Diegans seem to claim it is); my definition is anywhere from 11pm and on!

So I hope this list grows and grows... or I'll be having to drive out to L.A. at night to get my late night cravings!

Tajima: open til 2am weekdays and 3am on weekends (excluding Sunday)

Basil Thai Kitchen: open til 3am

Sombreros: open til 2am? (yes this is Mexican, but you know what? Sombreros is SPECIAL)

Tea Station: open til 12am weekends

Korean Hometown Restaurant: open til 2am

Studio Diner: open 24 hours

Lestat's Coffee Shop: open 24 hours

Night & Day Cafe (Coronado): open 24 hours

Min Sok Chon: open til 2am

The Living Room: open til 2am

Know any others? Let us know!

-Jess & Matt

The Soloist

This film reminded me of Slumdog Millionaire, which I hated. Although this is based on a true story, it too seems like nothing more than a fantasy for most of the real homeless out there. A lot of them aren't crazy, and they still can't get out. I was also somewhat bothered by the film's portrayal of African Americans. "The White Man's Burden" kept popping into my head, but not enough to really upset me. This was especially true when Nathaniel beat Mr. Lopez to the ground.

"Take up the White Man's burden--
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard--"

Probably not the message they wanted to get across, but I wish I did not have to consider the possibility.

Other low points included the Winamp-like music visualization and the scene with the doves flying over Los Angeles. Still, it was a decent film overall and the acting was above average.

-Matt

Ahhh.... the story of a crazy black homeless person and a white samaritan/reporter... There's a little passion for music here... and a little crazy there... and a couple druggies everywhere.

This movie had great acting and a great atmosphere, but a lousy plot. Matt put it in the best phrase possible: the white man's burden. It depicted the homeless as all mentally insane and/or dependent on drugs. It made them all seem extremely violent and delusional as well as incapable of accepting any outside help. While this may be a true story, it only captures one perspective at the homeless community... which is disheartening.

Meh. Oh yeah~ and I completely second the trippy windows media player visual blaaaah that occured for about 5 minutes in the middle of the movie. Jeez.

-Jess

One More Year

So I decided to stay at UCI for one more year to do a Political Science Major and a Conflict Resolution Minor on top of the Sociology Major I already finished. ;o

Four More Years

CNN: "President Obama said today that he told government lawyers to object to a court-ordered release of additional Defense Department photos showing alleged abuse of detainees because the release could affect the safety of U.S. troops and "inflame anti-American opinion." Obama's decision was a reversal of what the White House had previously said on the issue, and it drew swift criticism from the ACLU."

So basically he's Bush #2. Glad I didn't get my hopes up.

House

So this season pretty much redeemed itself in its last couple episodes. I won't go into details on how epic I thought the last episode was (Ah... Hugh Laurie, your acting skills amaze me) but I will just jot down some ideas and predictions I have for next season:

• In "Under My Skin," when House and Wilson are determining what could be causing House's hallucinations, they test everything on the list - except "Trauma." I have a feeling that this factor is the culprit behind what triggered House's hallucinations.
• If the previous point is true, then my suspicions lead me to believe that House received this trauma either in Season 4's finale "House's Head/Wilson's Heart" or this season's "Locked In." While Season 4's trauma would make sense (in its connection to Amber), "Locked In" is also a candidate because it is the episode before Kutner's death and there are hints that House's brain is slightly damaged (ie: In the last scene where Wilson is warning House about being alone, House's vision/image of Wilson gets blurry and fuzzy).
• Since the "Fore-teen" relationship is doomed to fail, I'm going to assume that we'll be revisiting episodes centered around Thirteen again. Her role this season lightened up in the end (and it almost became as minor as when she was first introduced) but I think that's only because the writers didn't want to push our buttons with introducing such a radical end to season 5.
• I'm anticipating whatever the writers have in store for all the Chase/Cameron fans. With House committed to the psych ward, they'll probably help fill in his spot at the hospital. They've hinted at more screen time/involvement by those two characters... I'm crossing my fingers!
• Honestly, as fun as the visual would be... I would cringe at the sight of seeing House in a straight jacket... but I have a feeling this might happen.

That's it for now :) If anyone has other ideas, please do post them here!

3

:)