My Blog Has Moved

My blog, Marco on the Web, has now moved to my website...

marcogonzalez.com

Looking forward to seeing you there!

The Bachelor...Married Woman Magnet?

The Bachelor, 32-year-old single dad Jason Mesnick, continues to captivate married women across the country.  Or is that...just mine?  

My wife has her eyes glued to every move Jason makes, and the best part is, after each of those moves she looks over and says....ah, he's so romantic.  Hmmm...the funny thing is, I have a feeling all those "moves" are nicely choreographed by ABC.  But, let's just let all the ladies(and my wife) think that Jason is the ultimate catch.

What is it about this show that is so captivating?  I have to admit, I've watched a couple of the episodes, and by the end of the show...yes, I'm rooting for a couple of the girls.   My favorite part of each episode...the limo ride of shame.  This is the overly-dramatic limo ride after the girls get dumped.  The show's editors are brutal, but they capture all the right psychotic moments.  Bravo!

Roses are red, violets are blue, these girls are nuts...and I know you're watching, too!

Oscar-Bound Button

And the Oscar goes to....

This may be a phrase in Brad Pitt's future. If you're still curious as to whether Mr. Fight Club can pull off the idea of aging backwards? No need to be curious anymore. After watching The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I left the theater beyond convinced that the 45-year-old father of six is on his way to a golden statue.

It's still amazing that after all these years of being on the big screen, he can still make ladies in the audience gasp when he appears on screen.

Of course, when he was portraying the little old man...not so much, but as the film progresses and age erases from his face...yep, I could hear them. In fact, I think my wife was one of those ladies. Hmmm...not cool.

But let's just say, Cate Blanchett was also easy on the eyes. In this movie, she can be described with one word...exquisite. At times, it seemed as if she had been ripped right out of a 1950's pin-up poster! Is there any role she can't pull off? To me, Cate still remains one of the greats.

I have to admit, when I first heard the premise of the movie, I wasn't too jazzed. But wow, this movie is over 2 1/2 hours long...and doesn't feel like it. I have a feeling that, like me, you'll actually believe in the characters and go with them on their life journey. Hats off to director extraordinaire, David Fincher.

Seeing Julia Ormond sharing the screen(sort of) with Brad Pitt again, was an unexpected, yet pleasant surprise. It's been over a decade since the two of them starred together...and created movie magic in Legends of the Fall.

This is just the latest big-screen button on Brad's movie-star coat. Check out the dinero that some of his biggest movies have brought in.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - $38.7 million (so far)

Ocean's Thirteen - $117.1

Mr. and Mrs. Smith - $186.3

Ocean's Twelve - $125.5

Troy - $133.3

Ocean's Eleven - $183.4

Fight Club - $37

Meet Joe Black - $44.6

Seven Years in Tibet - $37.9

12 Monkeys - $57.1

Seven - $100.1

Legends of the Fall - $66.6

When it comes to the box office, Brad's a sure thing.  As for his newest role, it looks like he hit it right on the button!

Hands Off

Bust out your Bluetooth! No more hours of yapping on the phone while sitting in traffic...at least, not with your cell phone to your ear. The Hands Free Law goes into effect today.

For many drivers, hearing that it will actually be illegal to hold your phone up to your ear while driving is hard to get used to. But the fines that you'll receive if you break this law may help you to get yourself in gear a lot quicker.

Here's a breakdown: 1st offense could run you up to $76 dollars, and each offense after that...about $190. This of course includes court costs, taxes, etc. But any way you look at it, it ain't pretty. Drivers already have enough to worry about when it comes to paying fees...speeding, parking tickets...you name it! I guess the answer is...don't break the law and you won't have to pay. It's easy to say, but is it possible? On those days I'm rushing to work...my answer may be no.

It's going to be very interesting to hear all the excuses that drivers come up with when they're pulled over for cell phone use. And here's a question, does this new law apply to law enforcement, too? That's one topic that hasn't been discussed. But I'm sure a bitter driver who receives a cell phone-related citation will be investigating this matter.

On that note, I better go charge my Bluetooth. See you on the road....with BOTH hands on the wheel!

Rollin' with The Derby Dolls

Punching, grabbing and hip-checking while on roller skates going at high speeds. That can only mean one thing...the Derby Dolls are in town.

In Downtown Los Angeles this weekend, the Derby Dolls All-Star teams from across the country will be hitting the track for the Battle on the Bank. There are over 275 teams across the country, including the LA Derby Dolls here in Southern California.

For this tournament, the ladies will be skating on a bank track...as opposed to a flat track. The bank track is slanted down, very reminiscent of the old school classic Roller Derby track that we used to watch on TV. Skating at a downward angle is extremely difficult and takes a lot of strength, but these roller babes have no problems getting around the track.

These Derby Dolls mean business when it comes to their sport. Injuries happen regularly....broken collarbones, sprained ankles, teeth knocked out, fractured legs...but to them, it's all part of the game.

One skater known as "Fighty Almighty" told me that it's not about taking out aggression, but instead focusing 100% on the sport and giving it your all. She said, "I would never take out aggression on the track, that's what the L.A streets are for when I'm driving." Whoa...watch out!

While I was taping my segment, I was called out by one of the ladies who told me that I couldn't handle them out on the track. Let's just say she was right.

You can watch my story, and my not-so-good attempt at roller derby, on KTLA.com

Guilty Verdict Brings Closure

Three years later, the families who lost a loved one in the 2005 Metrolink disaster in Glendale have finally received some closure. 29-year old Juan Manuel Alvarez has been found guilty of 11 counts of murder and one count of arson. The verdict won't bring their family members back, but Susan McKoewn, whose husband was killed in the wreck, says she feels relief. After the ruling, she had this to say: "I am so relieved that I can go home tonight and tell my kids...the man that killed their father is being punished rightfully."

Alvarez had parked his SUV on the Metrolink tracks in Glendale and doused it with gasoline. He says he was thinking of committing suicide and bailed out at the last minute. A Metrolink train going 80 mph crashed head on into his vehicle, killing 11 people and injuring 180 others.

I was sitting in the courtroom when the verdict was read and I have to say, watching the family members wiping tears from their faces was heartbreaking. Just outside the courtroom, many of them shared with me some special memories of their loved ones.

Tony Tutino, who lost his brother James, held on to a picture of the two of them...taken two months before the crash. He described their final goodbye.

"One of the things that was probably the most difficult for our family was that we didn't get a lot of closure when this happened because we never actually got to go see Jim and say our goodbyes. I had to say my goodbye through a coffin."

The victims' families will now have to wait until the penalty phase of the trial which is set to begin on July 7th. That's when Juan Manuel Alvarez will hear whether he'll face the death penalty or life in prison. You can watch my full report on KTLA.com.

Going Metro

To ride or not to ride...that is the question. With gas prices hovering just below 5 dollars, the metro is looking like a pretty good option right now. LA residents are jumping on the bandwagon, or shall we say metro car, in support.

Results of a new study out today show that 73 percent of LA County residents surveyed would support a proposed half-cent sales tax on the November 2008 ballot to fund transportation infrastructure improvements. These results couldn't have come at a better time. At this Thursday's Los Angeles Metro Board meeting, members will discuss this initiative...in the hopes of putting it in the hands of voters this November.

It was just last week on June 19th when commuters were urged to "Dump the Pump". The Third Annual National Dump the Pump campaign raised awareness of the financial and environmental benefits of public transportation. But did the campaign really make an impact? Honestly, the freeways were still packed on that day. I do have to admit though, it's hard to drive a mile without seeing at least 4 or 5 hybrids on the road...mostly the Toyota Prius.

Will the going green, going car-less trend catch on with LA and OC drivers? At the rate these gas prices are climbing, going metro may be the only wallet-friendly alternative. Let's hope that employers will lend their support to the cause and maybe offer some type of "metro" incentive. Sound too good to be true? It's not. The University of California, Irvine (UCI) has already begun the trend by offering to pay for a portion of their employees' weekly Metro Pass. Going green while saving some green...a win-win situation.