Not my practice blog, by Scott Knaster

Nixon's the one

Looks like Richard Nixon is starting a big movie career, only 15 years after his death. First, we get Frost/Nixon, and next, we'll see him in a supporting role in Watchmen, a small movie that's apparently opening soon.

Walk out on Shyamalan's The Happening

My buddy really really really didn't like The Happening, M. Night Shyamalan's new movie. So he wants to do something about it.

The Big Lebowski (book)

Even if you don't roll on Shabbos, you can still read, so why not read this new book?

Kwik-E-Mart is alive!

Fans of The Simpsons might have heard that a dozen 7-Eleven stores in the U.S. have temporarily morphed into Kwik-E-Mart stores to promote the upcoming Simpsons movie. Imagine my surprise when one of the lucky dozen stores turned out to be in sleepy Mountain View, California (just down the block from the shop run by my employer, Mr. O'Legog).

So my wife and son and I headed up to Kwik-E-Mart to take a look. They did a great job, although it wasn't obsessively detailed. All hints of the store's actual corporate identity were covered by Kwik-E-Mart signs, including the giant sign outside. The store was filled with little signs taped on with big ugly duct tape, and most signs had mistakes and cross-outs, mimicking the store on TV. Actual Krusty-Os, Buzz Cola, and neon pink donuts were for sale. Larger-then-life plastic stand-ups of various characters adorned the store. Most of the folks shopping seemed unaware of what had happened to the shop, but every now and then somebody showed up with a camera and a giant grin. This was the first day of Kwik-E-Mart-ness: I'm sure there will be many more Simpsons fans visiting in the coming days.

Lots of pics here: my Kwik-E-Mart album.

Full geek disclosure: I took the pics with my iPhone.

It's a radio for speaking to God

Sure, it's iPhone day, but that's not the only thing going on for Steve Jobs today. It's also the premiere of Ratatouille, the new Pixar movie. So far, it looks like the movie is getting somewhat better reviews than the gadget, but I'm betting that both will do just fine.

The Simpsons movie

You might have heard that The Simpsons movie is coming out next month. While you're waiting, check out the movie's cool home page, localized in about a zillion languages.

Cupertino Square theaters

The venerable (OK, decrepit) Vallco Fashion Park mall in Cupertino is being completely remodeled. One of the first stages of redevelopment is the sparkling new Cupertino Square 16 theaters. When you go to buy your overpriced popcorn at Cupertino Square, take a close look at the menu boards behind the concession counter: they're live graphics on big Sony monitors. Every so often, the menu bits animate: the picture of a hot dog becomes a little hot dog movie, as we swoop in on the hot dog and it gets relish on it; the popcorn bucket fills up and a piece of popcorn falls off the top; the sparkly soda pours into the cup. Local geeks stood and stared so long that we almost missed our movie.

Borat is good for Kazakhstan

There's suddenly lots of interest in Kazakhstan because of -- well, guess why. And now the Kazakhs are starting to think that maybe that's a good thing. Sacha Baron Cohen has even been nominated for a cultural award in Kazakhstan. Read about it here.

Napoleon Dynamite proclamation

The Idaho State Legislature issued this legislation (OK, it was last year). My favorite part:

WHEREAS, any members of the House of Representatives or the Senate of the Legislature of the State of Idaho who choose to vote "Nay" on this concurrent resolution are "FREAKIN' IDIOTS!"

The Omen

According to the movie studio, The Omen took in precisely $12,633,666 at the box office on its opening day.

Boo!