This is inspired by Andie's most recent post. I was writing my reply on her HaloScan, but it got too long. Hence, post.

Andie, you're not alone, and I think you know that. Heh. Although I would like to say that we are both on the S.S. Pop Culture Snobbery, I think you would be on the top deck, and I would be below. Reason being, is that I'm more mainstream than you. Still, we're still on the same ship. Ironic, isn't it, that I'm using a Titanic-esque reference in a post about pop culture snobbery.

Anyway. Switching perpective here.

While Andie likes the old stuff, and is therefore non-mainstream, I like the new non-mainstream stuff, and is still therefore non-mainstream, too. I listen to Original Broadway cast recordings of Rent, Avenue Q., Wicked, Movin' Out and Mamma Mia. Yes, I like it when people break into song. I watch LGBT films. I listen(ed) to John Mayer, when people were all, "John who?!" I hunt for independent movies like Camp. I love Christopher Guest, his movies, and his ensemble.

If you look closely, though, the interests that I've mentioned are only non-mainstream here. Rent, Avenue Q., Wicked, Movin' Out and Mamma Mia are big Broadway shows. LGBT films have a big market in other countries. It's only now that people are getting interested in it (judging from the recently concluded Pink Film Festival). John Mayer, well, I still love the guy, but I currently don't listen to him right now. Christopher Guest has a cult following in the U.S.

I think by now, you get my point. I guess I like things in advance, before they break out and become popular, and when they do become popular, the usual case is that I've already moved on to a different interest, but still loving the previous ones. Case in point: John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Queer as Folk, and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

Instances of Pop Culture Snobbery:
- The opening theme of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was used for the opening number of a noon time show. I thank the Lord that I was not there to witness such horror.

- The mangling of many of John Mayer's songs on noon time shows by numerous acoustic 'artists' that have sprouted like mushrooms after a thunderstorm. Sidenote: If you are a 'musician' with your very own version of 'Because of You', SHUT UP!

- Laughed when someone in one of my email groups forwarded something about Queer As Folk. Gist is: It's like a soap opera! But the characters are gay! And they kiss, and have sex, too! And the scenes are like, graphic! But there's an actual story! And you'll get hooked! You can download episodes on the net!

Earnings Not So Sweet for Krispy Kreme

Oh, Krispy Kreme. I want to be visit one of your stores when I visit the U.S. That won't be any time soon, though. I want to have one of your freshly made glazed donuts. I'm sure it would be heaven compared to those that have sat on a plane for 24 hours, which was still quite delicious, by the way. Do all that you can, Krispy Kreme. Don't die on me!

Sidenote: Everybody's going gaga over Go Nuts Donuts. I just said 'gaga'. Jesus. Anyway, everybody (including me) is pronouncing it as Gonuts Donuts, but should it not be Go NUTS Donuts?

Have you ever experienced doing something that you normally don't do, but then you did, and you experienced the repercussions of that thing that you don't normally do that you don't do in the first place, since you know that there would be repercussions if you did?

Wasn't it fun reading that paragraph? Anyway. I did. I did, and I experienced the repercussions of what I've done.

When I'm about to board the train of the MRT (Hi Mr. Stark! That would be the Metro Rail Transit), I let the people getting off go first before I enter the train. That's the polite and proper thing to do. Right? Right. Well, when the crowd of people getting off were only 3 people deep, I found a little opening, and I decided to enter. I thought I would get in smoothly since I'm inside already, but I didn't. I got stuck in the crowd of people getting off. I knew that people would be silently cursing at me. I knew that I have caused a great inconvenience, and physical pain to some. What I did not expect was this denim shorts wearing guy would push me as he got out. It's that sort of push when a guy wants to engage someone in fisticuffs. Seriously. After the pushing, he was already out of the train and I was inside, I stared at him through the window. A very hard, "The fuck did you just do, man?" look. And he stared back. Then he left, and I sat down, and listened to the music from my old-school walkman.

So? Good question. I think I lost my point. Actually, no, here it is. As much as people can be assholes, I can be an asshole myself. Something that I'm not quite proud of. I knew I was wrong, but I engaged the guy (who actually had the right to be pissed, and tell me off, but not push me) in a staring stand-off.

After that little tiff, the Principle of What Goes Around took effect, and my train had no air conditioning. Smells galore! Again! When I got off, I was drenced in sweat, and it was raining. Hard. Hi Pneumonia! Good thing I had my umbrella with me.

So I think I've been chastised by the PWAG, and I shall ride the MRT another day. At least up until my next tiff with a stranger. Hopefully, not a denim shorts wearing one.

Of all the things that I hate, one item on the top half of the list, are people who are oblivious to the fact that some people do not want to be spoiled of the shows they are watching.

To you, Spoiler Asshole, fuck you, I say. Fuck you.

White Flower/Efficasent Oil and B.O. I encountered this smell when I was riding the MRT. As the doors opened, this vile smell wafted from inside and into my nostrils. White Flower/Efficasent Oil is supposed to give off a soothing, relaxing smell. Of old people. And body odor is, well, have you smelled a Guava that has gone bad? No? You should. Anyway, the train car was quite full, and I could always catch the next train, but I was late for work. So I forced myself inside the sardine-packed car and braved the smell like a brave trooper. When I got off the train, I was paranoid that I smelled like an old person with body odor.

Mouth Wash and Shit. This, I just smelled when I went in the men's comfort room a little after lunch. This smell is quite a confusing smell. You have the minty clean fresh scent of mouth wash from those that have brushed their teeth, and gargled, and you have the nerve damaging smell of someone's crap. Actually that someone was still crapping. Which, ew.

This is great filler. Hee.

Last Sunday, I met up with May, Linds, Jersh, and Abby to watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Mainly because Elijah Wood was in it. As for Abby, her motivation was Mark Ruffalo.

So.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is not a sit-back-relax-and-enjoy-the-movie type of film. It requires you to put your brain cells to work, while watching it. It does not run in a linear manner, the scenes are confusing as hell, and you can easily get lost and then you'll spend a good part of it trying to play catch-up. In other words, it's great. I enjoyed it like I enjoyed watching Mulholland Drive: I got a feel-good headace. Yes, oxymoron.

Watching this movie is like putting the pieces of a puzzle together. Cliche, but stay with me. The movie drags at the beginning. This is the time when you just opened the box, scattered all the puzzle pieces on the floor, and you're turning the pieces right side up. Around the middle of the film, you get some reveals that allow you to piece some parts of the puzzle, but you still can't put the parts together, because there are some pieces that don't fit, and there are some that (you don't know, for the life of you, why they) are missing. Towards the end, bigger and more interesting reveals pop up, and you just figured out that that piece goes there, and those other missing pieces were under your ass all along. Then you go, 'Oh. Ohhhhhh. I see! Hee! Wow.'

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a love story. Keep that in mind. It's the usual boy-meets-girl story, but the whole screenplay is parted in two, and then shuffled repeatedly. Plus you have a selective memory erasing clinic thrown in there. That was quite a bad analogy. But you get it.

Jim Carrey's performance as Joel Barish was surprisingly good. He's come a long way since Ace Ventura. Even Bruce Almighty. Sure there were still traces of his 'physical comedy' when the scene calls for his character to be a bit silly, but it's bearable. Overall, he was actually quite endearing. I can't believe I just said that.

Kate Winslet, sans British accent, donning an American one, and a multitude of hairstyles and colors, plays Clementine. It's important to note that her changing hair colors actually helps the viewer point where a certain scene is at in the story. One tip I can give you is: blue is present reality. She's great in this one as well, and this performance has truly washed away all traces of Titanic. Thank God.

The movie also has well-known names in the supporting cast: Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, and Elijah Wood. Sadly, there weren't any stellar performances from any of them. Mark Ruffalo showed some crack, but you can only go so far with partial nudity. Kirsten Dunst was still vanilla, although, as May pointed out, towards the end, she showed some actual emotion. Elijah Wood played a smarmy, little, conniving, nerd, but did not have enough screen time. Even closure for his character was somewhat hurried.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind may not be for everyone's taste. That is quite evident, when we watched it: an old man walked out in the middle of the film, two people opted to chat throughout half the movie, and not surprisingly, a lot of empty seats. It's sad, really, but give it a chance.

After the movie, we met up with Cam, and May treated us for merienda at Sugarhouse. When you taste the cakes there, you'll realize that they weren't kidding with the name of the place. I had a brownie, served with a dollop of cream on top. The brownie was so fudgy that it stuck to the back of my throat. Good stuff. We then blatantly ogled this cute guy who was seated a few tables from our table. Good times. Cam and I, then decided to watch Ella Enchanted. Her motivation? Kelly Clarkson's Respect was used in the movie. My motivation? Hugh Dancy-Eeeee! I'll post the review next, since it would be laden with large amounts of squee directed at Hugh Dancy, and I don't want it to breathe the same space as my review for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And I'm obsessive-compulsive.

I think I have made, what could be the gayest Data Flow Diagram. Ever. The diagram has a lot of detail and needed a lot of emphasis, hence I used a lot of color. A lot of pastel colors, to be exact. Why?

Can you really blame me if Microsoft Visio presented you with this color palette?

Rose. Rose! There is a color. That is named 'Rose'. On the color palette of a diagramming software. Anyway, the pastels are more recognizable than the dark colors, hence their utilization.

Now I'll just add flowers and pink unicorns to the diagram, and sign it with pale blue scribbly font: 'Created by the Backend Team'. No, really. That's my team.

A mini-round table (Get it? GEDDIT?!!) discussion after watching King Arthur. Conversation may have been paraphrased.

Jam: So what can you say about the movie?

[Other people taking their turns to speak]

Pao: I like d' boys.

Jam: Hookay.

Pao: Okay. Direction sucks. [Mentions instances of suckiness.]

Jam: Baka naman sinadya?

Pao: Sadyang pangit.

This is all you can get out of me from King Arthur. Okay, not all.

Plot is thin. All of it, of course, leads to the Big Battle Scene in the End Where Some Lead/Supporting Character Dies. They just threw in the concept of 'freedom', 'religion' and 'girl power', and they've created a movie! With themes! Come on. It's a gore-fest with an ass-kicking Guinevere, hot Knights (Hi Mads Mikkelsen! And Ioan Gruffudd! You too, Hugh Dancy!) wearing eyeliner (Hi Clive Owen!, and Warrior Smurfs.

It's worth seeing once, though. Multiple times, if you're into the Knights. Heh.