the finer dandy http://blog.dinoray.com the disgruntled fashion journalist who writes about everything Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:12:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en The three best things about the new 90210 http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/09/02/the-three-best-things-about-the-new-90210/ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/09/02/the-three-best-things-about-the-new-90210/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:08:20 +0000 dino-ray http://blog.dinoray.com/?p=341 …okay, maybe there might be more than three great things about this new 90210 spin-off (try 10).

First off, there’s the the remix of the original theme song:


OLD VERSION:

NEW VERSION:

At first, when I heard it I was thinking, “OH NO THEY DIDN’T!” Then I realized that the modernized introductory rockin’ guitar riff brought back such great feelings.

Secondly, I am so glad that they have a couple of touchstones to the original series: Brenda and Kelly are back but remember that kid who was born out of the relationship between Kelly’s mom and David’s dad? Well she’s up in this bitch. Erin is a wild child and the resident rebellious artist but her nickname? Silver? That’s very New Wave/turquoise/Mother Earth of her. And lastly, did anyone else catch the name of the homegirl doing the morning news? It was Zuckerman-Vasquez! It was definitely a throwback to Andrea and her husband - in other words, it has to be their kid.

Third: They are doing Spring Awakening for their school play! I was so singing along with those gals! How could you NOT want to watch this show when it includes the Duncan Sheik masterpiece!

Fourth: Sure some of the acting from many of these unrecognizable faces leaves a more to desire, but I am all a twitter with Jessica Walter playing the grandmother to the Kansas implants. She’s basically playing a lighter version of her character Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development - she adds a much needed oomph to the potential blandness of the show.

Fifth: There was front seat fellatio within the first 10 minutes of the show! My how these West Beverly kids have changed.

Sixth: The Peach Pit is back -with Nat! I sure miss those mega burgers!

Seventh: Aunt Becky from Full House stars in it! Except her name is Debbie Wilson and she’s a fancy photography. HAVE MERCY!

Eighth: You know how there was that creepy and unnecessary sexual tension between Brandon and Brenda? Well, they are keeping it alive with their replacements, Dixon and Annie. Case and point: they were laying in bed together looking longingly into each other’s eyes, having some interesting pillow talk. Who the hell does that with their sibling of an opposite sex?

Ninth: The fact that the editor of the new multimedia “Blaze” (aka the Andrea of the show), Navid, has a father that does porn.

And finally, the best thing about the show: the moment when Kelly and Brenda reunite (I know I mentioned this already, but it’s worth mentioning again). This was the main thing that got me to even consider watching the show. Actually, it was in the article in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly that sold me:



]]> http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/09/02/the-three-best-things-about-the-new-90210/feed/ You know you love me - xoxo http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/09/01/you-know-you-love-me-xoxo/ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/09/01/you-know-you-love-me-xoxo/#comments Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:57:53 +0000 dino-ray http://blog.dinoray.com/?p=340 After trying to resist for the longest time, I finally caved. I am officially a fan of Gossip Girl. This totally went against my vow of not watching shows about rich kids and their annoying drama in their lives - but I didn’t realize that this show is so good. I thought it was going to be like some Hills bullshit - but it totally isn’t!

The characters interest me, the dialogue is surprisingly clever and the fashion is so fun! I so want to start wearing a headband everyday like B or have man bangs like N or dress with the manipulative charm of Chuck the asshole! I absolutely adore it.



I managed to watch all 18 episodes of the first season within two and a half days - just in time to watch the season premiere tonight! That just shows how much of a life I have! I guess unemployment does have its perks.

And P.S. - Blake Lively makes my heart smile and my eyes twinkle.

]]> http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/09/01/you-know-you-love-me-xoxo/feed/ Obsession of the moment: Ciara’s ‘Like a Boy’ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/28/obsession-of-the-moment-ciaras-like-a-boy/ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/28/obsession-of-the-moment-ciaras-like-a-boy/#comments Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:16:06 +0000 dino-ray http://blog.dinoray.com/?p=339 For some reason, I can’t stop listening to this little ditty by Ciara….



I think it might be because Ciara is lookin’ hot when she’s dressed like a dude. And then of course, you can never go wrong with a good ol’ fashioned crotch grab.

]]> http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/28/obsession-of-the-moment-ciaras-like-a-boy/feed/ Early bird gets the worm http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/27/early-bird-gets-the-worm/ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/27/early-bird-gets-the-worm/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:40:18 +0000 dino-ray http://blog.dinoray.com/?p=338 Ugh. I have to be up at 5 a.m. tomorrow so that I can go to the gym and then make it into the city by 8 a.m. so I can attend an Academy of Art University teaching conference.

With BART acting so slow and annoying lately (and considering I am at the end of the line in Dublin/P-ton suburbia) I am really wanting to get the hell out of here and move into the city - so if any of you know of a person who is renting out a place in SF let me know. I’ve had it with suburbia - and I think it’s making me a little bit more cynical than usual.

So yeah - tomorrow I am attending a teaching conference because I am going to be a teacher of fashion journalism! Yes you heard that right! Dino-Ray - a teacher! The thing is, I got my roster today and it only had THREE students! I hope that is a preliminary list because that, for some reason, is a little bit more nerve racking than having a full class of 15 students. For one, it’s more intimate and there’s the danger of my one-on-one anxiety coming out. Secondly, I am scared that AAU is gonna say, “Oh well, you only have three students - we are going to CUT your class!” I hope that’s not the case - I’m pretty sure it won’t be. Plus, the program is just starting to grow so the small number of enrollees is understandable.

Maybe it won’t be that bad….I’m going to be the best gosh darn teacher to this kids as possible. I will be their inspiration. Like that guy on “Stand and Deliver” or Michelle Pfeiffer on “Dangerous Minds” or Mr. Racine on that one episode of “My So Called Life.”

]]> http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/27/early-bird-gets-the-worm/feed/ Your douche is so out of style! http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/26/your-douche-is-so-out-of-style/ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/26/your-douche-is-so-out-of-style/#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:17:38 +0000 dino-ray http://blog.dinoray.com/?p=337


I hate it when my friends call my douche “outdated.” It makes me feel so uncool. I know I always try to keep in vogue when it comes to the latest technological and fashionable advances in a douche.

Is it me or were people more open about their douching back in the ’80s and ’90s?



That jingle is so catchy!

Why did I have a sudden urge to blog about douche commercials? I have no idea. That’s what happens when you are partially unemployed and you are trying to stop smoking.

]]> http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/26/your-douche-is-so-out-of-style/feed/ Adventures at Rite Aid http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/26/adventures-at-rite-aid/ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/26/adventures-at-rite-aid/#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:43:06 +0000 dino-ray http://blog.dinoray.com/?p=336 On a lazy Sunday afternoon, I was in hangin’ with my friend Steve in the city. And what better way to enjoy the beautiful weather than to look for workout supplements at a random Rite Aid on Market Street?!

Anyways, as I walked in, I immediately saw this girl standing in front of an aisle endcap that had a HUGE display of Pringles. She looked pretty haggard - but not homeless. She was in standard music video hipster attire: purple cartoonish hoodie, skinny jeans and some Vans.

She also had this huge tote bag and right before my eyes, I saw her eyes shift, making sure the coast was clear and she just stuffed a canister of Cheddar flavor Pringles in her bag.

Now, I know this isn’t that big of a deal considering it is the urban jungle of the city, but watching it happen live right in front of me was a special treat! It was like watching an after school special or a really bad public service announcement that teaches us the dangers of shoplifting.

Should I have said something? I mean, can I be considered an accomplice because of this? She ran out of the store pretty fast after her little Pringle-lifting action. Should I have made a citizen’s arrest? Or would I be considered a narc?

I mean, she could be an unfortunate soul in desperate need of junk food nutrition. She could’ve been stealing the Pringles so that she could hand them out to the homeless outside - a snack food Robin Hood if you will…

Through all this, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at this situation. No - I was laughing. I mean, cheddar flavored Pringles? Are you kidding me? Everyone knows that the sour cream and onion ones are the best.

]]> http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/26/adventures-at-rite-aid/feed/ No more Olympics… http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/25/no-more-olympics/ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/25/no-more-olympics/#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:54:03 +0000 dino-ray http://blog.dinoray.com/?p=335 …until the 2010 winter Olympics.

Still, I am kind of sad. What am I going to watch now? I mean, I actually watched the U.S.A. vs. Espana basketball game on Saturday night. And I NEVER watch basketball. I felt so butch and jockish.

There’s no more swimming, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, track and field, diving….I was really getting into every sport no matter what it was. I even watched the marathon! I sat through the whole thing!

There is something so magical about the Olympics…it makes me actually like sports. I got really competitive (Did you see the women’s 4×400 relay?! That was insane!) and really excited, (remember when that Australian homeboy took the gold in platform diving?) but now that it’s over and we will no longer be drowned with the praise of Michael Phelps nor will we be subject to those fabulous Claritin clear Shannon Miller commercials…

I am still kicking myself for missing the opening ceremonies, but I did catch the closing ceremonies…but it didn’t seem as fabulous. The human torch thing was cool but then they went into this carnivale thing - that was just awkward. Plus the whole “ushering the summer Olympics into London” was kind of anti-climactic. But I do love me some Leona Lewis.

*sigh* I am sad that the Olympics are over…I’ll get over it. By the way, one of my friends said Phelps kind of looked like Screech from “Saved by the Bell” - all you need to do is put an white boy curly wig on him…I concur.

]]> http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/25/no-more-olympics/feed/ ABDC results are in!!! http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/21/abdc-results-are-in/ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/21/abdc-results-are-in/#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:23:22 +0000 dino-ray http://blog.dinoray.com/?p=334 Yeah, I know I haven’t been keeping up with the show lately, but whatever. I am too busy trying to handle my business.

I actually read the results beforehand via blogs that are based in different time zones, but alas, the winner of this season is…

SASS TIMES SEVEN!!!

Okay, just joking. The crew that won this season was the one that deserved to win - the best crew. And that best crew is…

SUPER CR3W!

I am so happy! Thank God they won it. I would like to think I had a lot to do with it. I was voting last night and I think it was my votes that put them over the top. And to make things even better - they represented Filipinos with so much PI Sun paraphernalia! Way to go guys! I am so happy I made you win. It was all me.

]]> http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/21/abdc-results-are-in/feed/ Is that really Shannon Miller? http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/20/is-that-really-shannon-miller/ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/20/is-that-really-shannon-miller/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:37:22 +0000 dino-ray http://blog.dinoray.com/?p=333 If you haven’t seen this commercial, than you obviously haven’t been watching the Olympics…they have been playing it NON STOP throughout the telecast…


Really? Is that Shannon Miller from the illustrious Magnificent Seven from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics?

Here she is IN ACTION back in the day:


I remember watching her in 1996 thinking that she had to be the most uptight girl on the team, but that “Miller” move she does is pretty damn fierce.

Still, I refuse to believe that the “Claritin Clear” girl is Shannon. If it is, she must’ve had some work done. Her hair is cute though.

]]> http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/20/is-that-really-shannon-miller/feed/ Time to downgrade my phone http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/19/time-to-downgrade-my-phone/ http://blog.dinoray.com/2008/08/19/time-to-downgrade-my-phone/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:13:43 +0000 dino-ray http://blog.dinoray.com/?p=332 The other night after eating a garlic noodle/salt and pepper-infused dinner at PPQ, I was surrounded by my friends fiddling with their iPhones, Blackberries and all of that other techie cell phone jazz. I, on the other hand, was looking at my Nokia. It’s plain. It doesn’t have a camera and it dates back to 2003. It is, in a word, lame.

I was thinking that it was time to upgrade my phone, but then the stubborn idealist in me said “NO!” Why you ask? Because I want to continue to be behind the times with my mobile. I would even go as far as carrying one of those Zack Morris phones. I mean, we are seeing fashion resort back to the ’80s and ’90s with fluorescent colors, wide belts, skinny ties and I think we may be seeing a comeback in (gasp!) shoulder pads and acid wash (okay, maybe not that far). But if going retro is cool, then why shouldn’t technology follow suit? It is so cool to go vintage. I am even considering buying a Swatch phone! Remember those?!



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