"I want to live like common people"

William Shatner, covering Pulp's "Common People." Doesn't get much better than that.Just some quick updates today, seeing as how I missed another Friday. Of course, the few of you that actually care aren't big enough to do anything about. That's right punks, you gonna step to me? Didn't think so. I've reached a total of 21.8 pounds lost now. In another few weeks, so long as I avoid stagnating again, I'll have dropped 10% of my initial weight. Much more exciting is that once I lose two more pounds, there will be a 2 in front of my weight rather than a 3. That'll be the first time since, well, I dunno. A long time. At the very least, it's one hell of an incentive for next week. Operation: Move the Hell Out is in full swing. I'm actually FOREGOING plans to buy a new head unit for my car stereo system, letting my father look at my car instead of paying for someone to do it, and eating on the cheap for the next six weeks. Even with paying bills and giving my mother the last payment for my expensive car rental last year (see SpyMac blog, soon to be linked from the homepage), I should have enough after the next three paychecks to Move the Hell Out. It still remains to be seen if I'll have a roommate or not, but I can't wait anymore. It's time. I actually went to a multiplex last week to see Sideways. Excellent film with clever writing (note to self: must locate basis novel) and a protagonist that I can actually relate to, save for the rampant alchoholism. The latter is a rare event. Normally, films want to focus pretty, likeable people as their protagonist. There are a few exceptions to that (some modern horror films, for example), but the protagonist is usually "normal." Sideways, being the smart little indie flick it was, has a cat who probably isn't making Sexiest People Alive issue of People Weekly anytime soon at the forefront. He's got a bizarre hobby, can't handle himself around women and is pretty damn pedantic and annoying. You know people like that. Shit, I am people like that. That's what film should be. If you like escapism, fine. I just prefer films to be a reflection of my reality, with a few allowable wrinkles. Speaking of wrinkled reality, I'm plowing through a new TV show. Having completed Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, I've moved on to the modern incarnation of the series. Degrassi: The Next Generation kicked off with Emma, daughter of Spike (the teen mother from the original show) as its initial focus and quickly broadend to be the ensamble show expected from the Degrassi brand. I don't like it as much as the original show. That's not to say it's bad. In fact, I like it a lot. It still deals with real teen issues in a realistic manner (though it must be said that nobody involved knew how someone acts after taking E), has likeable characters and lucious women. I only really have two major beefs. For one thing, there appears to be very little social strata at Degrassi Community School. Sure, the characters will refer to it, but in practice, everyone seems to get along a little too well for my taste. Secondly, many of the "issues" episodes seem to mimic the same stories told in the original series. Sure, they're updates slightly for times and they're not extact replicas, but it's a bit too close for comfort. Had I not watched the older shows, I wouldn't feel this. I would, however, be missing a lot of continuity. Kinda like picking a comic book after it's been running for a while. In any event, I advise you to check these out. Like I've said to a number of folks already, this show feels more real than so-called "reality tv." Enough rambling about Canadian teen soap operas. For the time being, that is. Another weigh-in ahead on Friday, along with the opening salvo of Operation: Move the Hell Out. See you in five.