This is my new favorite thing.
An old favorite thing.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Even more Bonnie Tyler
Steven suggested I watch the video for "Total Eclipse of the Heart". And after having watched it...
A) This looks vaguely like something I'd have cooked up in film school had I accidentally eaten a bunch of peyote and got my hands on a modern dance troupe.
B) Bonnie Tyler's hair is awesome. It defies gravity, wind and modern science.
C) I have no @#$%ing idea what this video is about, but Steven is right. It is awesome.
I do dig the suggestion of something really amazing going on here, I just have no idea what it is.
I also never really understood this video, either:
another day at the office for Jim D
A) This looks vaguely like something I'd have cooked up in film school had I accidentally eaten a bunch of peyote and got my hands on a modern dance troupe.
B) Bonnie Tyler's hair is awesome. It defies gravity, wind and modern science.
C) I have no @#$%ing idea what this video is about, but Steven is right. It is awesome.
I do dig the suggestion of something really amazing going on here, I just have no idea what it is.
I also never really understood this video, either:
another day at the office for Jim D
Jon and Kate - staying together for the kids
So... that post-scandal season premiere was sort of horrible. TLC has moved from exploiting the cute kids to exploiting the wreck that being on television has created of the family.
Its kind of weird and sad. At any rate, the show is about something else entirely this season.
Its kind of weird and sad. At any rate, the show is about something else entirely this season.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Things I Like That I'm Not Sure Why
Most things, if you ask why I enjoy them, I could tell you why I've come to enjoy them. You guys have to sit through very long posts on Trek, etc... where I discuss that sort of thing.
But some things you like, and you've never bothered to analyze why. Here are some of those things...
Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart".
Yeah, a 20 secnd bit from "The Mighty Boosh" inspired this whole post.
Tilda Swinton
We watched "Burn After Reading" the other night, and I found myself quite pleased Swinton was in it. I haven't seen that many movies with Swinton, but I like her.
Spaghetti (with meatballs)
Its just meat, noodles and tomato sauce with some oregano. Its still one of my favorite foods.
Ghost Hunters
Seriously. Its just dudes scaring themselves in the dark.
Fourth of July Concerts
Local, certainly. But I also watch whatever they have on PBS when I get home on the night of the 4th.
Ozzy's "Mama I'm Coming Home"
News 8 Austin
Austin has a local 24-hour news channel. If you think CNN has a time finding material for its 24-hour cycle, then you can imagine the challenge of finding enough to cover in Austin. So we get "Pet of the Week" and a lot of coverage of events in the community such The Great Texas Dog Walk, marathons, holiday events, etc... Its on a shoe-string budget, but... seriously. I feel very well informed about my hometown, but why do I feel compelled to watch it virtually every time I turn on the TV?
The McRib
It's pork by-product pressed into the shape of ribs, smothered in a lo-fi bar-b-q sauce, and topped with onion and pickles. And I love it. God help me, but I love the McRib. It's one of the few times each year that I'll drink a large Dr. Pepper. r, really, these days, actually go to McDonald's.
But I dig it.
Jeff Daniels
Yes, he routinely gets nominated for awards and stuff, but that's not something that usually sways me. I think its the crazy range of stuff the guys is willing to take on, and always acquits himself quite well.
So that's the random list of stuff. I expect I'll do this again.
Feel free to add your own.
But some things you like, and you've never bothered to analyze why. Here are some of those things...
Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart".
Yeah, a 20 secnd bit from "The Mighty Boosh" inspired this whole post.
Tilda Swinton
We watched "Burn After Reading" the other night, and I found myself quite pleased Swinton was in it. I haven't seen that many movies with Swinton, but I like her.
Spaghetti (with meatballs)
Its just meat, noodles and tomato sauce with some oregano. Its still one of my favorite foods.
Ghost Hunters
Seriously. Its just dudes scaring themselves in the dark.
Fourth of July Concerts
Local, certainly. But I also watch whatever they have on PBS when I get home on the night of the 4th.
Ozzy's "Mama I'm Coming Home"
News 8 Austin
Austin has a local 24-hour news channel. If you think CNN has a time finding material for its 24-hour cycle, then you can imagine the challenge of finding enough to cover in Austin. So we get "Pet of the Week" and a lot of coverage of events in the community such The Great Texas Dog Walk, marathons, holiday events, etc... Its on a shoe-string budget, but... seriously. I feel very well informed about my hometown, but why do I feel compelled to watch it virtually every time I turn on the TV?
The McRib
It's pork by-product pressed into the shape of ribs, smothered in a lo-fi bar-b-q sauce, and topped with onion and pickles. And I love it. God help me, but I love the McRib. It's one of the few times each year that I'll drink a large Dr. Pepper. r, really, these days, actually go to McDonald's.
But I dig it.
Jeff Daniels
Yes, he routinely gets nominated for awards and stuff, but that's not something that usually sways me. I think its the crazy range of stuff the guys is willing to take on, and always acquits himself quite well.
So that's the random list of stuff. I expect I'll do this again.
Feel free to add your own.
The Dug Ruins Your Party
The first thing I ever knew about Jamie's brother was that he lived in Austin. The second thing I knew was that he was really, really into MST3K. For those of you living under a rock since 1989 or so, Mystery Science Theater 3000 was a show in which a human host (Joel Hodges and then Mike Nelson) watched terrible movies, usually sci-fi or fantasy, with two robot companions.
It's why I've seen many of the more horrible movies that take up space in my brain.
When dating someone, family shouldn't be your number one consideration, but finding out the brother of the girl you really dig is into the same stuff you are is a big, big plus. And it wasn't long before Doug and I were whiling away the holidays neck-deep in his collection of episodes.
Anyhow, Doug's collection of pals in the greater Bay Area are far greater aficionados of the awful than even myself. They've kept up with the crew of the Satellite of Love in a way I haven't, following them to their latest ventures of Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic.
Most recently, RiffTrax allowed their users to begin posting videos of their very own. Doug and Co. are working under the name "Team Swizzlebeef". You can check out their first effort at riffing on a video here. The film is an educational film on how to throw, what I'd consider, the worst party ever. Add Doug and shake.
It will cost you $0.82 to watch the whole thing, but... it's only $0.82.
It's why I've seen many of the more horrible movies that take up space in my brain.
When dating someone, family shouldn't be your number one consideration, but finding out the brother of the girl you really dig is into the same stuff you are is a big, big plus. And it wasn't long before Doug and I were whiling away the holidays neck-deep in his collection of episodes.
Anyhow, Doug's collection of pals in the greater Bay Area are far greater aficionados of the awful than even myself. They've kept up with the crew of the Satellite of Love in a way I haven't, following them to their latest ventures of Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic.
Most recently, RiffTrax allowed their users to begin posting videos of their very own. Doug and Co. are working under the name "Team Swizzlebeef". You can check out their first effort at riffing on a video here. The film is an educational film on how to throw, what I'd consider, the worst party ever. Add Doug and shake.
It will cost you $0.82 to watch the whole thing, but... it's only $0.82.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Memorial Day
Peabo forwarded an e-mail to me on Friday. An old pal of mine from many-a-year-ago, whom Peabo is still close friends with, is now stationed in Afghanistan. Last week our friend (will call him "S"), lost a peer and close friend when a roadside explosive went off beside or under her transportation. Normally, "S" would have been traveling with her, or she with him. But, for whatever reason, not on that day.
With the US at war on multiple fronts, good people will lose their lives for reasons often abstract and with very little to do with them had they chosen another path other than service. What can you do but set aside some time to honor them?
Its easy for me to push the reality of what's going on out of mind as it is now so often out of sight, and the reporting is concerned more with vague ideas of what may or may not happen, should our government tilt one way or the other on policy.
So the League takes a minute to salute our service men and women, living and passed. Now and in the past. And hope that "S" make sit home safely when his tour has come to an end.
With the US at war on multiple fronts, good people will lose their lives for reasons often abstract and with very little to do with them had they chosen another path other than service. What can you do but set aside some time to honor them?
Its easy for me to push the reality of what's going on out of mind as it is now so often out of sight, and the reporting is concerned more with vague ideas of what may or may not happen, should our government tilt one way or the other on policy.
So the League takes a minute to salute our service men and women, living and passed. Now and in the past. And hope that "S" make sit home safely when his tour has come to an end.
Your Saturday Amanda Palmer Mention
I've been listening to a quite a bit of Dresden Dolls and Amanda Palmer of late (mixed with some Dan Deacon, and, the last week, Neutral Milk Hotel. Sorry, Randy.).
Apparently there's an entire album's worth of videos from "Who Killed Amanda Palmer?" online. And, wisely, I think, they've made it possible to embed the videos into your own site. I never understand why they don't want for you to do that.
Here's "Leeds United".
It's an ambitious project to have videos for your entire first solo album, but I'd guess Palmer has friends in good places from her time with Dresden Dolls. For example: Neil Gaiman recently penned the words to the book associated with the album.
I also recommend:
Guitar Hero
and, for our less sensitive viewers "Oasis".
and for that same audience, "What's the Use of Won'drin'?"
It's a short video. Watch until the end.
Apparently there's an entire album's worth of videos from "Who Killed Amanda Palmer?" online. And, wisely, I think, they've made it possible to embed the videos into your own site. I never understand why they don't want for you to do that.
Here's "Leeds United".
It's an ambitious project to have videos for your entire first solo album, but I'd guess Palmer has friends in good places from her time with Dresden Dolls. For example: Neil Gaiman recently penned the words to the book associated with the album.
I also recommend:
Guitar Hero
and, for our less sensitive viewers "Oasis".
and for that same audience, "What's the Use of Won'drin'?"
It's a short video. Watch until the end.
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