lawrence denes dot com

"I know someone who did that!"

One of the interesting things I’m discovering about moving to Japan to teach English is that everybody knows someone who has “done that.” Although usually they don’t actually know the person, so much as they just know of the person, and usually by “done that,” they actually mean “done something vaguely similar to that.” Even so, it’s always the first thing that people want to tell me when they find out what I’m going to be doing.

Sample dialog that actually happened this morning:

E: So what is this job that you’re leaving to do?

Me: Well, I’m going to be teaching English in a public school in Japan.

E: Oh, no way! My sister-in-law’s cousin married a guy who did that! I heard he had a great time.

Me: Really? Did he go through the JET Program, too?

E: No, I don’t think he did.

Me: Oh, that’s cool, though. Do you know where in Japan he was?

E: Actually, he went to Spain to teach.

Me: English?

E: Yeah. Well, English Literature.

Me: …

E: I’m sure you’re gonna have the time of your life.

Me: Yeah, I’m really excited.

Soon I’ll be one of those people that my friends and family say they know when other people tell them they’re going to Africa to teach science.

5 days ago

June 30, 2009

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Dill Pickle Pringles?!

6 days ago

June 29, 2009

food wtf

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and BAM!! his life would never be the same

So last year I applied for a job with the JET Program so I could go teach English in Japan.

And about 2 months ago they informed me that I had been waitlisted for the job.

Well, yesterday morning I got a phone call informing me that I had been upgraded from the wait-list and made an official participant of JET for 2009-2010!!!!

What’s more, I’m leaving in exactly one month!

This is insane, and complicated, and stressful, and way exciting.

I’m really sad to leave Los Angeles, and all the friends I’ve made here over the past year, but I’m excited to go live in Japan again.

And my amazing, incomparable girlfriend is going to be following me there, just a few months after I depart, which has done a great deal to comfort me.

I don’t know a lot of the details yet, but of course I’ll keep everyone posted here as the information comes to me.

Talk to you soon!

1 week ago

June 25, 2009

life work japan omfg

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How strongly would you judge me if I said that the only thing getting me through today is the promise of getting to watch "So You Think You Can Dance" tonight?

edatrix:

krankmills:

(via thumbwrestlinginbaltimore)

That’s pretty much what’s getting me through my day…

i find absolutely nothing wrong with this.

YES YES YES

1 week ago

June 24, 2009

life tv

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First Teaser for M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender

It may not be very cool of me to say, but I loved the Avatar cartoon series, and sure M. Night has fizzled in the most recent years, but the awesomeness of The Sixth Sense and Signs (minus the ending) is still enough to get me at least a little bit excited every time he comes out with a movie, so I’m definitely looking forward to this one.

1 week ago

June 23, 2009

film trailer

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The official red band trailer for Park Chan-wook’s Thirst

Focus Features has released the official US trailer for Park Chan-wook’s ’Thirst’. This film is from the same director who helmed the cult phenomenon “Revenge Trilogy” (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance) if that gives you any indication what type of vampire film this will be.

‘Thirst’ goes into limited release on July 31st.

Aside from the atrociously written taglines (He received an infusion….. of evil), this looks really fantastic and I can’t wait to see it. Several of my favorite movies are Korean, and Oldboy is certainly one of them.

(via danhacker)

1 week ago

June 22, 2009

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“The Cove” Trailer: After reading so much about the Taiji annual dolphin hunt, I’m so happy that there is a movie hoping to further spread knowledge about massive hunt of dolphins. It’s really disgusting… warning: they are basically herded into shallow water where they slit their throats then gut them alive. The movie itself seems to focus more on the heist aspect, but whatever, as long as this is being brought to attention, that’s all I care about.

You can see the film at The Landmark in Los Angeles, CA on July 31. (more dates and cities here)

(via christinahaberkern)

1 week ago

June 22, 2009

film trailer

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kl7:

thedailywhat:

TV Promo of the Day: HBO recently announced a new detective comedy set to air this fall called Bored to Death, which stars every person you’d ever want starring in a show together (Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Parker Posey, and Ted Danson to name a few).

Check out the teaser above while I go outside and make the most of this dream I am presently having, in which Jason Schwartzman and Zach Galifianakis are starring in a TV show together, by attempting to fly on wings of spaghetti.

[via.]

I wanted to post this a while ago but couldn’t find an embeddable player. Just why did he have to be a Brooklyn writer? Otherwise cool.

HELLO how did this one slip under my radar until now?! Unbelievable. I want to know who’s writing/directing/producing this. brb.

UPDATE: looks like the pilot director has done more than a few Mad Men episodes, but other than that, the creators seem to be relatively unknowns. Interesting.