puntiglio.com

to stop for the picture…

Its called RedBox.

For those of you who do not know how it works, RedBox had placed moviekiosks all over the place in locations where people might be inclined to make an impulse movie purchase.  I usually get sucked in at Albertsons, some people follow the light at Mcdonalds, etc.  Movies are only a buck a night, and if you join their mailing list, they text message you a free movie every Monday, Free Movie Monday is now an official term in my house!

The cool part, though, is not the cheap (or free) movies, nor is it the convenience of location.  The cool part is waiting in line… yeah, I said it!  And, that… is my new social network!

While waiting we discuss what movies we have watched, give eachother movie reviews and provide “if you liked that, you’ll love this” services. Since I usually grab my movies at the grocery store when I’m shoping for food for the family, the demographic at the line tends to match mine.  There are usually more women, a “hazard” of being a single father, but other than that… more or less the same type of person.  So our interests tend to match up and we frequently have plenty to talk about.

There are “regulars” people I have seen at least 3 or 4 times in the past month as well as a steady flow of new folks I would never have met if not for the RedBox queue.   Each providing insight that I wouldn’t have exposure to in my normal group of friends (the regulars on things they know about me and my taste and the strangers bringing fresh perspectives).

Just like any good social network RedBox comes with it’s own etiquite.  If someone is ust returning, they always move directly to the head of the line (its polite, plus, they might be returning the movie you want to rent!).  If someone is returning and renting, but they have a movie someone in front of them wants to rent, they get a free pass as well (same principles apply).  Friends don’t let friends watch bad movies, if someone knows they movie is a bomb, they speak up, why waiste a buck right?

Yep, RedBox is my new social network but don’t worry all my twitter, facebook, and goodreads friends… at a dollar a movie, I don’t mind missing parts to spend time socializing online.  Afterall, if I want to watch it again… I get to go back to RedBox!!!

Twice in the past few days, it has snowed in Las Vegas. I have some friends who absolutely consider Vegas the ninth or tenth ring of hell (I do not agree…. But play along, please, cause this is supposed to be fun J ). So, what that means, technically, is that hell hath frozen over.

So what you say? Well, here’s what.

All those things that didn’t stand a snowballs chance in hell? Well, let’s just say it’s a good day to be a compacted frozen sphere of water in the land o demons. All those things you ever referred to as not going to happen until hell froze over… guess what… you are now going to have to be spending 10 minutes in the closet with *that person*.

It means my beloved Warriors have a REALLY good chance of sweeping the NBA championship series.

It means that I’ll eat mayonnaise, and like it.

It means that people are going to stop driving gas guzzling road hogs and get smart cars for their commuting needs… or ever take public transportation.

It means that my uncle will not only play, but win the lottery.

It means a certain someone will pay me the money they have owed me for years.

It means someone other than a white male will win the presidency (I guess we should have seen this snow coming)

It means that children will sit quietly and work earnestly and respectfully from the moment they get to school until the moment they walk out the door.

It means my meaningless silly lists not be as long as they usually ar… oops

Well then! Long story made short, we are now living in a land of opportunity… what “cold day in hell” things are you expecting… now that Vegas has fallen under the spell of the white witch?

Last night, after I went to bed I heard a Notification Of Inequity in the Symphonic Equilibrium (NOISE). So I Reversed Optimal Sleeping Energy (ROSE) to investigate.  At first, of course I tried using the most basic investigative tools, Lighting Assimilated for Mans Purposes (LAMP), and when that failed to reveal anything I turned on the National Enlightenment Without Substantiation (NEWS) broadcast.

When watching the NEWS for information on the NOISE, I saw some new Advocates Demanding Servitude (AD’S) which distracted me from my task and led me to Budget Undermining Yearning (BUY).

At this point I had forgotten all about the NOISE, but could not go back to sleep.  So I decided to Really Educate and Attain Diversity (READ) a good Bountiful Oracle Of Knowledge (BOOK).  Once again, I was reminded how much more enjoyable and rewarding it is to read then to Willingly Acquiesce To Channeled Hyperbole (WATCH) the NEWS.

I guess I’ll never understand the mass appeal of Trumped-up Video (TV).  Oh well, back to Basic Entropic Disorganization (BED) for me…