Octopushat 2.0

Our First Visit to K1 Speed in Irvine.
Originally uploaded by OctopusHat.

Over the weekend Jules and I visited an indoor go kart track in Irvine. We met up with the Clarks and the Holschers for an afternoon of flinging 20HP electric karts around and had an absolute blast! These karts were more serious beasts than the gas-burners on the slick-track at the put-put course that I was previously familiar with, though I think the helmet-requirement was more marketing than a safety necessity. I was, predictably, the slowest of the boys on the course with the afternoon’s laurels going to Todd. If it wasn’t so expensive (we paid $55/person for 3 14-lap races) I’d be down there again this weekend, but regardless we had a very fun time and were all surprisingly sore on Sunday.

Sunday was, of course, the Academy Awards and I could have FWD the entire show and been plenty happy. I think it is great that Marty FINALLY got his Oscar for Directing. It was long over due. And I’m likewise happy that The Departed (my 2nd favorite film from the year) won the big prize. It is no secret that Hollywood is in trouble, and this year’s dull and lack-luster awards were a symptom of America’s deepening disinterest in theatrical exhibition. I seemed like even the participants were conscious of the downturn this year; they couldn’t muster more than a modest level of self-congratulations.