If you know me, we've probably had (many) a discussion about how I've never, and will never see Titanic. I've had this conversation 15 times the past 10 months.
Well, that may be over in 6 months.
Since LP has chosen to make her life's mission to make me do things that I refuse to do, (seriously, she's ridiculously competitive; as much as I am, and as much as I am stubborn) I may be watching that film come this winter.
After a few weeks of negotiations, (again, seriously, we've gone over this 10 times, for a total of 12 hours. It's been like a union contract just before midnight) we've come to an agreement.
The bet:
If LP doesn't smoke a single cigarette for 6 months, I will:
-watch Titanic after the 6th month, and
-turn my beard (from November's Beard Month), into a mustache for 4 days (Decemer 3-6)
I'll keep you updated.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Wisconsin Werewolf
A few thoughts.
1. Fox News, Everyone! This is journalism to them.
2. I've never heard of this phenomenon. And Elkhorn is 30 minutes from where I grew up.
3. Katie, the young woman, who was just in "a field, messing around" with some friends, why doesn't she just come out and say that she was huffing paint thinner and dropping exstacy?
4. Where did they get their re-enactment footage? I want them to shoot my wedding video, in just the same manner. As if both are a strange, tragic, para-normal occurrence.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Links
Links
"Priced to Sell" by Malcolm Gladwell (from The New Yorker)
Somebody was talking about this book over the weekend.
"Afterbirth: It's What's For Dinner" (from Time's The Awesome Column)
Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Hewitt do Sid & Nancy
Worst news of the week
My roommates are both from Minnesota. This article explains some of their behavior.
(Not-so) Casual Republican Racism
Video
"Priced to Sell" by Malcolm Gladwell (from The New Yorker)
Somebody was talking about this book over the weekend.
"Afterbirth: It's What's For Dinner" (from Time's The Awesome Column)
Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Hewitt do Sid & Nancy
Worst news of the week
My roommates are both from Minnesota. This article explains some of their behavior.
(Not-so) Casual Republican Racism
Video
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Etc.
"I mean, she's sort-of cute, and really likes Proust. So, yeah, I'm thinking of having a little summer fling."
-overheard while walking around NYU/Washington Square yesterday.
(I'm so happy I didn't go here for undergrad. I would've definitely punched this guy in the face.)
I have now waited just over an hour (in total) for a new Social Security card (split in 2 sessions), and still haven't had the stomach to wait longer in line. I just can't handle that place. Today I watched as an Asian couple lovingly caressed/molested each other in line, while a 5 year old girl cried for 20 minutes and the 2 adults she was with, did nothing but ignore her. The family of 4 in front of me featured no talking for the 30 minutes I was there. The mother and son played Tetris on their respective phones and the girl played on the ground. Dad did nothing. Also, the Social Security card line has to be even more unattractive than the tryouts for The Biggest Loser.
(This will be my last mention of Michael Jackson, I swear.) This isn't a complaint about him. But about the reaction the last week over his death, memorializing his career, etc.
-Where was all this the past 15 years?
I mean, all the mentions of his life since his death have only mentioned his amazing body of work (overdone), and then briefly stating that he had a bewildering life/lifestyle. The only times he's been brought up in the last 15 years has been the butt of jokes! Why are people acting like the last 15 years never happened? How can people embrace (and they have! I've overheard a Michael Jackson at minimum 5 times per day, just walking around Brooklyn and Manhattan) someone that they've ridiculed for 15 years? Are people that in need to be a part of something that bears nothing on their own personal lives? Are people that in need of community? This whole thing obviously baffles me.
Video:
-overheard while walking around NYU/Washington Square yesterday.
(I'm so happy I didn't go here for undergrad. I would've definitely punched this guy in the face.)
I have now waited just over an hour (in total) for a new Social Security card (split in 2 sessions), and still haven't had the stomach to wait longer in line. I just can't handle that place. Today I watched as an Asian couple lovingly caressed/molested each other in line, while a 5 year old girl cried for 20 minutes and the 2 adults she was with, did nothing but ignore her. The family of 4 in front of me featured no talking for the 30 minutes I was there. The mother and son played Tetris on their respective phones and the girl played on the ground. Dad did nothing. Also, the Social Security card line has to be even more unattractive than the tryouts for The Biggest Loser.
(This will be my last mention of Michael Jackson, I swear.) This isn't a complaint about him. But about the reaction the last week over his death, memorializing his career, etc.
-Where was all this the past 15 years?
I mean, all the mentions of his life since his death have only mentioned his amazing body of work (overdone), and then briefly stating that he had a bewildering life/lifestyle. The only times he's been brought up in the last 15 years has been the butt of jokes! Why are people acting like the last 15 years never happened? How can people embrace (and they have! I've overheard a Michael Jackson at minimum 5 times per day, just walking around Brooklyn and Manhattan) someone that they've ridiculed for 15 years? Are people that in need to be a part of something that bears nothing on their own personal lives? Are people that in need of community? This whole thing obviously baffles me.
Video:
Monday, June 29, 2009
Seen It!
I've actually seen some newer films this summer. Odd I know, since I study film. Here are some thoughts.
The Hangover
Grade: C
I'm really not trying to be a contrarian on this. I know some people that have seen this 3 times. I didn't think it was bad. I just thought that it was not good.
-The premise is so great. But things only get going after something like 25 minutes pass. I understand that they have to show them at home. Especially Ed Helms' character with his girlfriend. But they should've cut the stuff with Zach G. and his dad, and the nice car, at the mansion. They needed to jump right into the guys on the road.
-The scenes don't really go anywhere, but to more talking about what might've happened. Nothing really happens. There are scenes where all they do is bitch instead of actually performing actions.
-It's generally not a great idea to have your lead character be the least interesting, least funny, and least nicest guy in the group. It's not like he's playing the straight-guy/comic foil to the other guys. He's just boring. Bradley Cooper is pretty dull.
-The groom was on the roof the entire time? Really, that's how you're bringing it together?
-Why didn't the little Asian guy say something when he jumped out of the car?
That said, it was nice seeing Heather Graham's (Wisconsin native!) right breast again. It'd been awhile.
Star Trek
Grade: B-
I'm not a Trekky. My dad isn't either. But he loves the original series. And I love William Shatner.
-I thought the new Capt. Kirk was really good, as well as the other actors.
-I really enjoyed all the family drama, mom/dad issues and tension. I thought that added a great dimension to why these characters would go to such extreme lengths for their careers.
-But I really hated all the intense closeups and the whip pans from one close-up to another close-up. Plus way too much cutting. It was hard to get a sense of space on the sets. Which seems like a problem if you're production costs $100+ million dollars and you spent months building the sets.
-It's a 2 hour 10 minute movie that could easily cut 20 minutes. It seemed like the last 45 minutes was one long action scene.
-As we've learned from Lost this year, time travels is way too confusing. Why can't it just be like Back to the Future?
-Zoe Saldana's legs had to be CGI'd. They looked great.
Year One
Grade: D
This is bad. Really bad. I laughed 5 times out loud, and mostly out of shame. I can't believe the same man who made Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis) made this. Not even Olivia Wilde could perk this movie up.
Anvil!: The Story of Anvil
Grade: A-
You need to see this. It's about Anvil!, a Canadian metal band formed in the late 70s that had a few minor hits and a big influence on some later name metal bands. For some reason they never made it big. They are really nice, sweet older Canadian Jewish guys just trying to get by. This documentary chronicles their past, and their continuing fight to get noticed as they hit 50 years old. Two of the original members have been best friends since they were 14, and they love each other and fight and get back together. The crew follows them on a horribly run tour of Europe, their attempt at making a new record and their daily lives.
I actually wanted more of this film. Like the 3 hour version.
LP cried like 3 times when we saw this on Sunday.
The Hangover
Grade: C
I'm really not trying to be a contrarian on this. I know some people that have seen this 3 times. I didn't think it was bad. I just thought that it was not good.
-The premise is so great. But things only get going after something like 25 minutes pass. I understand that they have to show them at home. Especially Ed Helms' character with his girlfriend. But they should've cut the stuff with Zach G. and his dad, and the nice car, at the mansion. They needed to jump right into the guys on the road.
-The scenes don't really go anywhere, but to more talking about what might've happened. Nothing really happens. There are scenes where all they do is bitch instead of actually performing actions.
-It's generally not a great idea to have your lead character be the least interesting, least funny, and least nicest guy in the group. It's not like he's playing the straight-guy/comic foil to the other guys. He's just boring. Bradley Cooper is pretty dull.
-The groom was on the roof the entire time? Really, that's how you're bringing it together?
-Why didn't the little Asian guy say something when he jumped out of the car?
That said, it was nice seeing Heather Graham's (Wisconsin native!) right breast again. It'd been awhile.
Star Trek
Grade: B-
I'm not a Trekky. My dad isn't either. But he loves the original series. And I love William Shatner.
-I thought the new Capt. Kirk was really good, as well as the other actors.
-I really enjoyed all the family drama, mom/dad issues and tension. I thought that added a great dimension to why these characters would go to such extreme lengths for their careers.
-But I really hated all the intense closeups and the whip pans from one close-up to another close-up. Plus way too much cutting. It was hard to get a sense of space on the sets. Which seems like a problem if you're production costs $100+ million dollars and you spent months building the sets.
-It's a 2 hour 10 minute movie that could easily cut 20 minutes. It seemed like the last 45 minutes was one long action scene.
-As we've learned from Lost this year, time travels is way too confusing. Why can't it just be like Back to the Future?
-Zoe Saldana's legs had to be CGI'd. They looked great.
Year One
Grade: D
This is bad. Really bad. I laughed 5 times out loud, and mostly out of shame. I can't believe the same man who made Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis) made this. Not even Olivia Wilde could perk this movie up.
Anvil!: The Story of Anvil
Grade: A-
You need to see this. It's about Anvil!, a Canadian metal band formed in the late 70s that had a few minor hits and a big influence on some later name metal bands. For some reason they never made it big. They are really nice, sweet older Canadian Jewish guys just trying to get by. This documentary chronicles their past, and their continuing fight to get noticed as they hit 50 years old. Two of the original members have been best friends since they were 14, and they love each other and fight and get back together. The crew follows them on a horribly run tour of Europe, their attempt at making a new record and their daily lives.
I actually wanted more of this film. Like the 3 hour version.
LP cried like 3 times when we saw this on Sunday.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Of Kings and Queens
So, Michael Jackson was the King of Pop.
This got me thinking of all the other nicknames for celebrated/influential musical artists. Some are fitting, some need to be addressed:
The King of Rock N' Roll
Is: Elvis Presley
Should be: Chuck Berry
Elvis made rock music popular. He was a decent-looking white guy from the South who loved his momma (and dating a 14 year old Priscilla). Chuck was a creepy looking black dude from St. Louis, MO who liked to drink and bring white girls across state lines in a car (which was illegal). Chuck liked to strut (his duck walk), while Elvis liked to shake his hips. Chuck wrote his songs and played the guitar like "a-ringin a bell". Elvis shook his hips, curled his lip, and slicked his hair. Like all good rock music, Chuck's songs were a bit suggestive, sexually speaking and also about being young ("Rock and Roll Music", "School Days", "Roll Over Beethoven"), while Elvis' music were about heartbreak (which is odd, since he was Elvis and I'm sure did more heartbreaking than having his heartbroken). He mostly let his appearance handle the sexually suggestive angle, which of course Chuck couldn't really do since he was a black man in the 1950s/1960s.
Of the 1st (3) Rolling Stones albums released in the US (remember, UK and US albums had different tracks/track listings), there are only 8 original songs. Yet (3) Chuck Berry covers. ("You Can't Catch Me", "Carol", and "Around and Around"). In addition, if you look at the first 4 Beatles albums released in the US, just about half feature covers. This would include covers of "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Rock and Roll Music").
Notice how they didn't cover Elvis Presley. Not once.
That's because Chuck Berry is the real King of Rock N' Roll.
The Godfather of Soul
Is: James Brown
Should be: James Brown
Of all the music-related nicknames to have, this has got to be the best. Plus he had "the Hardest Working Man in Showbiz". Pretty sweet as well. I have no problem with this. JB may have been a scumbag (and make no mistake, he was a giant scumbag. You can find a great article about this here.), but no soul/r & b singer (male or female) had his longevity, influence and the amount of hits. Lost in the shuffle of his funkier songs, are great slow songs like "Try Me" and "I Lost Someone". Look for those.
The King of Rock N' Soul
Is: Solomon Burke
Should be: ?
I actually don't understand this one. As much as I love Solomon Burke, (Remember, he's on my Mount Rushmore of Soul Singers) this baffles me. How is he different from JB and Chuck Berry, exactly? Well, he didn't play the guitar or rock music, that's for sure. Which puts him closer to JB. I think we can just chalk this one up to people loving to give out nicknames. Which I don't mind. I love handing out new nicknames in the hope that one of them will stick and they will forever go by the nickname I bestow on them.
The Queen of Soul
Is: Aretha Franklin
Should be: Aretha Franklin
This is actually the easiest to address. Just by sheer number of hits, Aretha deserves this title. No other female artist comes close. She also deserves as much honor as Chuck and James Brown. If you just spend an afternoon listening to just her greatest hits album, 3 hours will pass. No other group can say that besides maybe the Beatles and/or Rolling Stones. I'm actually surprised no one has tried to make a film based on her early life/singing career. I mean, she had 3 kids very young, while she hit it big. And then she had to deal with being black, and a woman. I think the reverence she was shown indicates just how great her music, voice and personality was/is. She is, by all accounts a real sweet lady.
Queen of Pop
Is: Madonna
Should be: Madonna
Michael Jackson and Madonna deserve each other. Isn't it crazy that MJ is likely the only man on Earth Madonna has not slept with. (Which is fine, she can do whatever she wants. She's an adult.) But that just means that MJ was even crazier/creepier/sleazier than we initially thought. If Madonna won't give you a chance, you know you've done something wrong.
The Godfather of American Music
Should be: Louis Armstrong
This I think I made up. But I think a lot of people don't realize the influence and importance of Louis Armstrong. And when you add to that his ability to help African-Americans gain acceptance, this becomes unquestionable. No other artist was as popular, across the board as when Louis Armstrong was popular. He absolutely dominated all popular music during his lifetime.
Why no Queen of Rock and Roll?
Who should be nominated?
Has to be someone that had some longevity, influence and has songs the common person knows.
The Shortlist:
Joan Jettt: actually plays rock music. has had longevity, I suppose. but not enough hits.
Janis Joplin: 3 hits. no longevity.
Siouxie Sioux: I guess she had influence, but nothing else.
Stevie Nicks: hits, longevity, but I wouldn't say influence. Plus, I find her really annoying. I'm actually surprised I put her on here.
Tina Turner: hits, longevity, some influence. But it's not really rock music.
Debbie Harry: hits, longevity, lots of influence. Not really rock music, however.
I guess, this is still up in the air.
Go here, if you want an amusing list of "Honorific Titles in Popular Music", including the 4 Heavenly Kings of Chineese Pop.
Prepared While Enjoying: We All Belong, by Dr. Dog
Friday, June 26, 2009
Book It!
Some book recommendations:
Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell.
Easy, quick read, but tremendously interesting. You'll learn how Bill Gates become Bill Gates, and why other smart people like him didn't. Also, what elements lead to airplane crashes, and also why American children have a harder time with math (it has to do a lot with the length of our number system, compared with many Asian languages, thus, it becomes harder to memorize, thus we have less capacity to keep easy systems in place. Also, we have upwards 60 fewer days of school every year. Wow.)
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, by Haruki Murakami
Sort-of dystopian sci-fi, Blade-Runnerish, but also...you know, I can't describe this book. It's so great, that I fear someone will try to make a movie out of it.
After Dark, My Sweet, by Jim Thompson
A Swell Looking Babe, by Jim Thompson
These are not happy-go-lucky books, nor extremely violent. Just straight, to the point, terse books about low-lifes.
Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell.
Easy, quick read, but tremendously interesting. You'll learn how Bill Gates become Bill Gates, and why other smart people like him didn't. Also, what elements lead to airplane crashes, and also why American children have a harder time with math (it has to do a lot with the length of our number system, compared with many Asian languages, thus, it becomes harder to memorize, thus we have less capacity to keep easy systems in place. Also, we have upwards 60 fewer days of school every year. Wow.)
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, by Haruki Murakami
Sort-of dystopian sci-fi, Blade-Runnerish, but also...you know, I can't describe this book. It's so great, that I fear someone will try to make a movie out of it.
After Dark, My Sweet, by Jim Thompson
A Swell Looking Babe, by Jim Thompson
These are not happy-go-lucky books, nor extremely violent. Just straight, to the point, terse books about low-lifes.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thrill Kill
So, Michael Jackson died.
Why don't the headlines read, "World's Most Famous Pedophile Dead at 50"?
Okay, so a lot of people will say, "Well, he had a different childhood, and had it rough, and blah, blah, blah..."
He went on TV and in print and proclaimed his innocence.
If you do that, you realize what you're doing is wrong. Even in hindsight.
So, let's not shed any tears over Michael Jackson.
He had probably the most exciting effect on music for 8 years in the early to mid 80s. (Off the Wall was released in 1979, Thriller in 1982, Bad in 1987.) And yes, his influence was just as big as The Beatles. There is no modern pop music without Michael Jackson. (Good and bad.) But it was a short run. After that, even beginning with Dangerous, he wasn't quite the same force. And that's why there was the failed attempts at comebacks (at least 3), failed albums, and failed tours. It was so bad that he even showed interest touring with his brothers.
So, Jackson had the best 8 year run of any modern musical artist save for The Beatles. (But others before him would definitely be Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.)
He didn't reinvent the wheel, or cure cancer. John Lennon and George Harrison raised money for tremendous causes, and put themselves on the line. Michael Jackson decided to help young children. And then he helped himself to young children.
Let's not pretend he didn't.
That said, let me excuse myself to go practice the moonwalk in my room.
Why don't the headlines read, "World's Most Famous Pedophile Dead at 50"?
Okay, so a lot of people will say, "Well, he had a different childhood, and had it rough, and blah, blah, blah..."
He went on TV and in print and proclaimed his innocence.
If you do that, you realize what you're doing is wrong. Even in hindsight.
So, let's not shed any tears over Michael Jackson.
He had probably the most exciting effect on music for 8 years in the early to mid 80s. (Off the Wall was released in 1979, Thriller in 1982, Bad in 1987.) And yes, his influence was just as big as The Beatles. There is no modern pop music without Michael Jackson. (Good and bad.) But it was a short run. After that, even beginning with Dangerous, he wasn't quite the same force. And that's why there was the failed attempts at comebacks (at least 3), failed albums, and failed tours. It was so bad that he even showed interest touring with his brothers.
So, Jackson had the best 8 year run of any modern musical artist save for The Beatles. (But others before him would definitely be Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.)
He didn't reinvent the wheel, or cure cancer. John Lennon and George Harrison raised money for tremendous causes, and put themselves on the line. Michael Jackson decided to help young children. And then he helped himself to young children.
Let's not pretend he didn't.
That said, let me excuse myself to go practice the moonwalk in my room.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
"Smooth Operator"
As you've probably read by now, South Carolina governor Mark Sanford (he of the I refuse to accept Federal Stimulus Money for my state, even though I don't have the authority to refuse the money) went to Argentina without telling anyone....and then cheated on his wife.
A few thoughts:
1. You're a United States Governor! Why are you going out of the country just to get some? Shouldn't they be coming to you? That has to be the longest of long-distance booty calls. That is the most surprising element of this story. Not that he disappeared for a week, not that he was cheating, but that he had to go out of the country for it.
2. He must not be a very good politician. Why go out of the country? Couldn't he just have forced his bodyguards to keep their mouths shut? Isn't there some sort-of handbook for this? If I were a SC resident, I would be more ashamed of his inability to have a textbook affair, than the actual affair. Does he go completely out of his way for everything? Does he pay extra for his dinner? Does he pay twice as much for car insurance? What's wrong with this guy?
I think this explains the quality of politician. Look at JFK and Big Willy Clinton. Both tremendous Presidents, who were able to have their affairs all the time, in somewhat plain sight. I think the ease of the affair, suggests the greatness of the leader. I'm not 100% on this, but it's a working theory of mine.
3. Advice for the ladies: Never date or marry an aspiring politician. Unless you plan on standing in front of a room full of press, with a Stepford Wife grin on your face as your adult husband fake-cries on television, and you are forced to say that "I forgive him" for a good week on local TV.
4. Do female politicians ever cheat on their husbands? Seriously, I can't think of one. Where's the equality?
A few thoughts:
1. You're a United States Governor! Why are you going out of the country just to get some? Shouldn't they be coming to you? That has to be the longest of long-distance booty calls. That is the most surprising element of this story. Not that he disappeared for a week, not that he was cheating, but that he had to go out of the country for it.
2. He must not be a very good politician. Why go out of the country? Couldn't he just have forced his bodyguards to keep their mouths shut? Isn't there some sort-of handbook for this? If I were a SC resident, I would be more ashamed of his inability to have a textbook affair, than the actual affair. Does he go completely out of his way for everything? Does he pay extra for his dinner? Does he pay twice as much for car insurance? What's wrong with this guy?
I think this explains the quality of politician. Look at JFK and Big Willy Clinton. Both tremendous Presidents, who were able to have their affairs all the time, in somewhat plain sight. I think the ease of the affair, suggests the greatness of the leader. I'm not 100% on this, but it's a working theory of mine.
3. Advice for the ladies: Never date or marry an aspiring politician. Unless you plan on standing in front of a room full of press, with a Stepford Wife grin on your face as your adult husband fake-cries on television, and you are forced to say that "I forgive him" for a good week on local TV.
4. Do female politicians ever cheat on their husbands? Seriously, I can't think of one. Where's the equality?
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