And we did it just like that

Very few videogames can bring up multiple instances of "Holy shit, that was the coolest thing ever" like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. I'm thinking primarily about a chase scene where my character rides shotgun-- er, rides submachine gun on the back of a motorcycle flying through the concrete riverbeds of downtown Los Santos (Los Angeles in our universe) while an 18-wheeler cab leaps over the side of an overpass, Terminator 2 style, to barrel down on me as I try to make my escape. All the while the in-game radio station is playing "Been Caught Stealing" to make for the most perfect soundtrack ever.

Even though I'm halfway thru the game at this point, I actually started a new game just so I could have a savegame right at that spot.

Actually, the game nearly tops itself when I realize that, while wandering the streets of San Fierro (San Francisco) I can hop into a 1970s Mustang look-alike, get it painted a nice shade of green at the chop shop, and have an awesome Bullitt chase scene for no reason around the hilly streets. But I wonder, I just hope beyond hope, that I've beaten the game to the punch in this instance. I hope that soon enough, there'll be an actual chase mission to run, and that the game will helpfully provide me with another green Mustang look-alike.

It's just that awesome.

YOU ARE COMING WITH ME TO THE BRATTLE.

YES.
YOU ARE COMING WITH ME TO THE BRATTLE THEATRE.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1ST, 2006.
I WILL TOLERATE NO EXCUSES, NO EXCEPTIONS, NO NOTHING.

Why, you may ask? Three words, Spanky:

MUPPET. MOVIE. MARATHON.

The Muppet Movie at 2:00 pm.
The Great Muppet Caper at 4:30.
The Muppets Take Manhattan at 7:00.
(Repeat of The Muppet Movie at 9:30 in case you slept in.)

You read right. So did I. I'm there. I'm very there. Front row balcony right, just as I like it.
Come with.

Personally I'm psyched to see the Brattle scheduling into 2006 even if they haven't made their $400K goal yet. So I'm going. And you should, too. I may also show up for Pee Wee's Big Adventure on Christmas, too. And maybe The Last Picture Show on Tuesday the 27th.

Oh I am chortling in my seat.

(no subject)

The Boston Glob is reporting Johnny Damon has agreed to a 4-year, $52 mil contract with the New York Yankees.