At the suggestion of a friend, I've started re-watching movies that take place in Los Angeles. She said that I'd have kind of a different perspective on them when I saw them because this time, I'd know just where they were taking place or being filmed. So last night, I threw Volcano into the VCR. My friend was right -- it was a lot more interesting this time around since I knew exactly where everything in the movie takes place. The odd thing -- and this was purely coincidental -- was that about a third of the movie is supposed to take place in my friend's neighborhood, and the entire area gets completely destroyed by lava and fire. It was vaguely surreal watching her 'hood burn, seeing as how I'd just been there two days ago.

Yes, I know that I've been using the word "surreal" a lot, but honestly, there is no other word to describe a good portion of what goes on in this town. It's just that kind of feeling. I suppose I'll get more used to it as time goes on, but for now, part of the entertainment value for me is the surrealness of it all.

Okay, party people -- regarding Blogger Insider. I'm restarting the program, and it is becoming a one-strike-you're-out deal, but there's no need to become mean about it.
1. I don't care if your partner didn't respond even if you wrote them 4 e-mails in the course of a week. Just tell me "he/she didn't respond." There's no reason to go off on them and call them slackers and tell me I need to ban them immediately, and there's no need to slam your fellow bloggers and their writing content. Be nice.
2. Yes, some of the participants are slackers. Some don't respond. It happens, and it's the reason why I considered cancelling the project altogether. I'm sorry if you got paired with one of them, but that's how I ferret them out and remove them from the program. So if you get one, just tell me about them and that's helping me increase the number of active bloggers in the program so you won't get more slackers when I do my random assignments. If you're so concerned about bitching to me about the fact that you never get any active participants and all your partners flake out, then you don't have to participate.
3. Partners are randomly assigned. That's what the program is based on, that's part of what makes it what it is. It makes my job a little easier doing it that way. I can't take into account your desire to be paired up with someone in particular, like someone of the opposite sex -- did I mention I'm not running a dating service here? -- or someone who specifically doesn't have a Blogspot blog or someone over a particular age. Again, if you don't like who your partner is, you don't have to participate.

So. Having said that, I will hopefully be able to administer another round this weekend.