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Troy's > Wednesday, August-25-2010

Hey Kids!

Troy's blog has moved (again)! As part of the new redesign, the blog has been integrated into the message board forums and, as a result, the web address has changed. So unless you're here to go trudging through my past (Hi, Mom)... head on over to:

http://www.troybenjamin.com/blog

All Thumbs - Movie Observations > Wednesday, June-09-2010

All Thumbs Movie Observations - Episode Three (and a Half)

Stop me if you've seen this one too...

And now, the exciting conclusion of my All Thumbs Movie Observation catch-up from yesterday... will Troy like Race to Witch Mountain? I know you're really dying to find out...
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All Thumbs - Movie Observations > Tuesday, June-08-2010

All Thumbs Movie Observations - Episode Three

Me. Watching movies at home.

Oh, hey there. Yeah, I know - I said the blog would start getting updated more frequently but the website redesign is taking much, much longer for me to implement - and I'm starting to get impatient. So it's going to start happening on a daily basis again now that I've banked... oh... a good two dozen ideas to entertain you all with. But the first thing I realized was that I'm so far behind on my All Thumbs Movie Observations that it's not even funny. So, in honor of all the recent graduates, I present to you the Cliff's Notes versions of All Thumbs recounting all of the movies that I've seen since Episode Two. Oh, and by the way - that was October of last year, so get ready...
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Troy's Personal > Sunday, May-02-2010

We're Back!

Y'know... I can't say I ever saw this movie...

Testing... testing... (cough, cough)... is this thing on? Welcome to the Starlight Lounge, I'm Troy Benjamin and I'll be with you for the remainder of the evening. My band The Mooninites and I have been on a bit of a performing hiatus and we're so pleased to be back here tonight to spend the evening with you. We'd like to start with a Springsteen classic, sing along if you know it...
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Troy's Personal > Saturday, April-17-2010

'abreakit down...

Don't bite your friends...

As my sister would usually put... some "Crazy Shit" has been happening in the Wonderful World of Troy. I've been doing my best to broadcast to everyone, but alas - not enough hours in the day... and then it struck me, because I'm an oblivious jackass: I have a blog that has been regretfully neglected. So... here's the Yo Gabba Gabba-like summation of all that's happened in the course of the last two weeks and why I've disappeared in more ways than one (and why it'll give me more time to write in this neglected form).
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Pop Culture Goodness > Wednesday, March-17-2010

Two words: Potato Famine!

How much for the women?
And so... the annual tradition continues. It's Saint Patrick's Day which means that it's time to celebrate the only way that I know how (besides drinking)... with John Belushi's classic "Luck of the Irish" monologue from SNL. This year, I'm pleased to say that the lawyers HAVEN'T gotten us down and there's video accompanying the transcript for the first time ever! And so, enjoy...
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Pop Culture Goodness > Wednesday, March-10-2010

Watch Ol' Bandit Tweet...

I only take my hat off for one thing...
If there's one thing that I've learned having suddenly found myself unknowingly in the world of marketing buzzwords, "social networking is changing everything." Indeed, things like AIM, Facebook, and Twitter have changed a great deal in our day to day lives, but I got to thinking... you know what... Twitter is literally just the new CB radio... come back?
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Microblog > Tuesday, March-09-2010

More On That Whole High School Thing

Yes, it's from 2012 and not Grosse Point Blank, but still relevant I think

I'm still getting a whole lot of guff for not wanting to come home for the ten year high school reunion. So I pose this question to everyone...

I drive, every morning, into a parking garage filled with overpriced luxury and sports cars in my Hyundai, walk past our cafeteria where lunch is served buffet style and everyone sits in their own cliques at the same tables every day, am constantly second fiddle to those with higher status around me, and I currently feel all around stuck until graduation day in the summer.

So if I'm currently still living high school albeit older, wiser, and getting paid for it... why should I feel nostalgic for it? Sure, I really want to hang out with a select handful of you guys that I haven't seen in years, and would love to have a beer and catch up. But Prom 2010 just doesn't sound like a good time at this point in my life. Give me another ten years and maybe I'll change my tune but for now... have fun and think fondly of me when all the popular kids from 2000 are slapping each other on the back remembering how awesome they used to be, while our group is all huddled around talking about how awesome the Tron Legacy trailer (and how hot Olivia Wilde) is.

Dear Future Wife > Tuesday, March-02-2010

Dear Future Wife: The Mancave... Or Troy's Version Of It...

Not pictured: You.

If you've seen "I Love You Man", you'll have no doubt noticed that you never see the inside of Jason Siegel's house - you only see The Mancave, his Fortress of Solitude out on the garage where pop culture, music, and other unspeakables all collide. Much as people ponder their dream home or their perfect kitchen, us dudes know what their perfect Mancave locale will be. So, Future Wife - you ask what Mancave will be? Well, allow me to tell you. And don't worry, you're allowed in...
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Pop Culture Goodness > Wednesday, February-24-2010

Back to the Future

A gift you not only see... (points to ear quickly) But hear...

Disneyland decided to give in to a bit of fan nostalgia (and cash in on the resurgence of Michael Jackson's popularity) by reopening Captain EO for the first time since 1997 yesterday. A huge fan both of the original attraction and of Sir Michael, I decided to head down there for re-opening day in an attempt to relive childhood. Here are my thoughts on the return to the past for Tomorrowland...
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Movies and TV > Friday, February-19-2010

Dear ABC, I think I've found a way to get you back on top...

TGIF! Well... not in terms of TV anymore, but still!
Hey ABC, remember me? It's Troy. I used to sit every Friday night and be entertained by you for hours... well, at least until 20/20 started. Now I sit every Tuesday night and am entertained for 45 minutes during LOST... but what are you going to do when LOST is gone? You can't rely on Dancing with the Stars forever. But you know what, I did some analyzing and I think I figured out the way to get you back to the top of the network food chain. Hear me out... theme songs...
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Troy's Personal > Friday, February-12-2010

Spring Cleaning

Not pictured: Proton Pack

Some "Spring Cleaning" was done to the blog today, you'll notice there's a pretty easy to use navigation bar over there to the right, an all-new title and head graphic, and here's the biggest thing: you can now get to the blog TWO ways:

www.troybenjamin.com/blog

and

www.stillplayingwithtoys.com/mblog

Simple? Indeed.

Pop Culture Goodness > Thursday, February-11-2010

Love is in the Air

She will be mine... oh yes...
Three days from V-Day... the holiday that helps greeting card retailers kick off the year right by reminding people to tell each other how much they love one another. You know, because 364 other days of the year they forget. I think I've lamented in my blog before about how ludicrous the whole holiday is when you think it out logically (since all of the things that are customarily done on Valentine's Day should be done all the time anyway, right?) but not only is it Valentine's Day this weekend, but it's a three day weekend also. So what are my plans? I thought you'd never ask...
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Troy's Personal > Monday, February-08-2010

You will NOT believe what I've seen!!

There's always time...
So much for that New Year's Resolution... went a whole week without writing. As expected, the day job has done a pretty good job of absorbing all my energy (and lunch hour) throughout the past couple weeks because of a project with a crazy deadline. But the good news is that it's yet another rad project and hopefully the results will be filled with just as much awesome... it'll certainly be another good high note to end my tenure at Trailer Park with.

On that note... the writings shall begin again.

Troy's Personal > Thursday, January-28-2010

License to Douche

Where have all the Corey goooooooooone
I look young. I know, I know, Mom... I'll be thankful for it when I'm older. But the inherent problem with looking young is that proprietors of fine retail establishments still treat me as if I were young. But are such proprietors forfeiting customer service to save their own asses?
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Pop Culture Goodness > Wednesday, January-27-2010

Troy Benjamin: Future CEO of the Rossum Corporation?

Please Olivia... your hand in marriage is all I seek... no need to show off.
I'm almost certain that my latest evil genius idea isn't illegal. I mean, it's pretty shallow, twisted, and objectifying, and technically I think it might be considered human trafficking. I'll give it that. But I don't think that it would have any legal repercussions. So, that disclaimer up front, hear me out... what if there was a geek escort service?
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Pop Culture Goodness > Wednesday, January-13-2010

What Would the Wolfman Do?

Want a popsicle?
Over the Christmas break, a trend that I had noticed in LA was confirmed as widespread... It's a little bit shocking, it's a little bit welcome, it's a little bit odd, and it's going to take a little bit of getting used to. Not just for me, I think - but for all parties involved. Here's how I'm reacting, and how I think others are reacting to this recent development: they're playing 80s music on oldies stations...
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Troy's Personal > Tuesday, January-12-2010

"I Killed the President of Paraguay With a Fork"

You're a $#@!ing psycho...
Thanks to the advent of Facebook (which I've stated on numerous occasions has replaced the high school reunion anyway), I've now been reminded that this year is coming up on my tenth anniversary of enduring four years of the social awkwardness, uncertain self-esteem, popularity contest which we've all come to know as high school. I have a feeling it's going to take Joan Cusack tricking me into going because I'm not exactly chomping at the bit to relive aforementioned years any time soon. Here's why...
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Movies and TV > Friday, January-08-2010

We Are Spirits Living in a Rendered World

Totanka... right?
It's okay; I can hear your groans all the way through the interwebs... someone else spewing about how CGI has ruined movies, like we haven't heard that before. But, especially after watching a few twenty to thirty year old movies over the Christmas Break, it continues to be clear to me that movies have completely lost a sense of peril after the advent of CG effects. Oh, and movies have people falling uncontrollably through the air a whole lot more than they used to...
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Pop Culture Goodness > Thursday, January-07-2010

Ode to Boardwalk USA

Not even remotely Boardwalk USA... I can't even find PICTURES of it anywhere...

Dave and Busters, ESPN Zone, they all owe their existence (in my non-professional opinion, of course) to a small chain of arcades that were ground zero for some of my fondest memories as a kid with the guys. Boardwalk USA was a dream come true... video games and pinball machines old and new as far as the eye can see - and all you had to do was swipe a card to play. Listen to me weep like Glenn Beck about how simple life used to be after the jump...
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Troy's Personal > Wednesday, January-06-2010

It Hasn't Happened Yet

I wanna sleep with common people... like you...
New year, new decade… looking back on the last year (and ten), I find myself with a great sense of urgency to start getting things done. And so, as I sit here already adhering to one of my “resolutions” if it can be called such, thus begins Troy’s reform. Want to hear what I’m doing and why I’m doing it? Stop by after the jump…
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Troy's Personal > Wednesday, December-23-2009

Christmas Time in Holl--- er... Franktown

It's tricky to rock a rhyme.

Look 'ma, time to write! It only took getting thousands of miles away from LA to do so too! It's funny, over the past several days, I've felt like I've had the same conversation with several different people. You know the old cliche that there's no place like home for the holidays? It seems like the conversation lately is that there's no place like home, period. Dorothy would be proud. More after the link...
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Pop Culture Goodness > Friday, December-11-2009

Troy's Christmas Music That Doesn't Suck Volume 1

Ah ha... so that's what the Church of Jedi believes.
For the love of everything holy, if I hear Johnny Mathis' "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" one more time, I'm going to smash the radio. I know Mathis is beloved and people love the song but, c'mon - that song is literally like rubbing my face against a cheese grater every time I hear it. So, as often happens, I took matters into my own hands and created my own Christmas album, lovingly titled "Troy's Christmas Music That Doesn't Suck Volume 1" which I will be distributing to my friends that so wish to have a copy. If you'd like a copy, leave me a comment or send me an email and I'll send you a CD as a present. Want to see the track listing and why they were chosen? Hit the jump!
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Pop Culture Goodness > Wednesday, December-09-2009

Okay, who's going to invent TiVo for the radio?

Turn it off.

I know, I know, the first thing out of your mouth probably was, "Who still listens to the radio unless it's NPR anyway, Troy?"

Plus the obvious answer is that the iPhone and the iPod are the Tivo of radio (and a new stereo in which I can hook up my iPhone is high up on the purchase list for after the holidays)... but it suddenly occurred to me that the only times I actually sit through advertisements now is when I'm in my car listening to the radio. Or at the mercy of the AMC Theaters and their merciless plugging of products before the feature presentation. Or on billboards all over the streets. Or when the TV show I'm watching is plugging the new KFC Grilled Chicken. Or when I'm reading a magazine that now has about three pages of actual content and thirty pages of beautiful models who have more Photoshop work done on them than the newest Avatar theatrical poster...

Troy's Personal > Tuesday, December-08-2009

No, I haven't bought the Porsche... yet.


Nobody has mid-life crises anymore - particularly people in Los Angeles and more specifically people in Hollywood. It hits you twice a year on a yearly basis and it usually lasts for extended periods of time. So... during one of these bouts of Hollywood Blues, in an effort to get myself writing again, and to set the record straight (since I know the rumor mill has been working overtime as it often does) - I'm going to air my dirty laundry. Why not, this is the networked age of Facebook and Twitter, and I know when you all need to pee and what you had for dinner... why shouldn't you all know why I've started wearing Kleenex boxes on my feet and asking to see all the blueprints?

Grab some soda and popcorn, and enjoy the trainwreck...
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Learning to Love Los Angeles > Wednesday, October-28-2009

Apocalypse When? Now?

We've got cows...
People were fighting in the streets, cars were driving like crazed maniacs were behind the wheel, the power was going out, transformer poles were exploding, trash and debris filled the sky... sounds like a July 4th movie, right? Nope, it was just a little windy in LA...
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All Thumbs - Movie Observations > Wednesday, October-21-2009

All Thumbs Movie Observations - Episode Two

Who needs a locksmith bub?
I'm going to go out on a limb here... Wolverine, with all of the crane shot screams to the sky set aside, actually wasn't all that bad. Hear me try to justify this outrageous claim as well as some observations on Couples Retreat, An Education, Zombieland, and The Last Starfighter (25th Anniversary, of course) after the jump...
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Pop Culture Goodness > Tuesday, October-20-2009

Remember When Listerine Used to Swing on Vines?

Blech

Mouthwash is disgusting.

No matter how hard they try, no matter what flavor they make the stuff, it still tastes like you're swishing pure rubbing alcohol around in your mouth every morning. But there was a time... oh... about nineteen hundred and... say... ninety-three. When mouthwash was cool... remember?
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Troy's Personal > Monday, October-19-2009

Back in the saddle again... and a note on elevators...

Yippie Ki Yay Mister Falcon
Howdy partners, long time no blog. That's about to change though. My day job increasingly becomes more and more corporate (no, I didn't get the memo) so I sat down with Excel and created a spreadsheet to find a way to make myself more productive and more efficient. We'll see how it works out, either I'm going to get a whole lot done, or I'm going to go nuts and beat the crap out of the giant Bumblebee Transformers statue they currently have over on La Brea and Santa Monica Blvd. -- anyway... ready to get blogged? Hit the jump for more...
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Troy's Personal > Friday, August-28-2009

"What is it, you say... ya do here?"

Space... out?
I find (an awful lot, especially at family functions) that folks don't quite understand what a DVD producer does on a daily basis. Plus, I also find that the same questions get asked a ton... while I'm fairly green and nowhere near an authority or someone of esteem on such measures, I thought I'd write up a page that I could direct family and friends toward if they really want to know more about what keeps me from "real life" 10 months out of the year... plus it'll be fun to hear how my colleagues (if they're out there in TV land) view some of these things... okay, here goes...
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