I am really bored! Bought a jacket from the Gap today. w00t for that. Through the boredom, though, I do have some thoughts on TV finale season.
TV
On Monday, we had the Bones finale, and boy did it have a lead in from last week. Booth? Shot? Say it ain't so! Well, all was right in Brennen and Booth world, but Gormagon needed to be stopped...or at least revealed before the season finale. If the writers' strike had one lasting reprecussion, it is that it ruined any of the overarcing storylines that some shows center a season around, like Bones. Now, granted, the show doesn't need it. But, they spent two months worth of episodes setting it up and then had to wrap it up a little too quickly.
The best part is that it worked beatufully. I totally bought Zack as the apprentice, as long as you fill in some parts. 1) He was mentally wounded after coming back from Iraq. The timing was weird, but, remember he came back a little off. He got back to normal, but it took some time. Something changed while he was there and then changed back...most likely after Gormagon got a hold of him. 2) He was ALWAYS the impressionable one! Totally the poster child for joining a cult, minus the lack of logic thing. But, sometimes, an abundance of logic isn't a good thing.
Good way to end the season. I was thinking about this the other day. There are three types of season endings.
1. The Cliffhanger. This is where a certain event puts things into jeopardy. Notable recent examples are Edie hanging herself in Desperate Housewives and Sara almost dying on CSI.
2. The Character-Changer. This is where something happens that, even though earth-shattering, will change things in more of a long-term perspective. There's no immediacy connected to it. Look at most Grey's season finales, also House and NCIS, which we'll talk about in a sec.
3. Business as usual. Rare anymore, but this is were nothing matters for next season. It's just like another day.
So, while Zack leaving the team (and, I would assume, the other young squint who testified against Zack's evidence in Brennan's dad's trial might sub in) is HUGE, the real ending is wondering for a few months what will happen to the rest of the team emotionally.
More later...oddly tired.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
I Have Been Remiss in my Blogging Responsibilities
This is for forgetting to post at least ONE American Gladiators pic from last night's post. I mean, with amazingness like that, how could I not put up a photo? BTW, FCITA(ITW)RN #3-6, Crush, Jet, Venom and Phoenix.
It's raining like a son of a bitch over here in A-Town. Not really a ton going on. Hopefully, more to post tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Why am I so tired?
It was kind of a day of nothingness. I trekked back up to Lafayette to drop off some Beijing stuff and hung out with Krystle for a bit.
TV
Tonight was the start of a new season of American Gladiators. I freaking love this show. It's probably one of the stupidest things on TV right now, but I can't help but love it. They HAVE addressed some things from last season and added/changed some shit.
- New gladiators. Obviously we have last years winners, Monica and Evan. Monica is now known as Jet and Evan is Gabby McFaggyPants. Oh wait, that's just my name for him. He's Rocket now. But, as the season progresses, we are going to see more new Gladiators, like Phoenix who we saw tonight. It was cool, but pretty random. I mean, all of a sudden a kinda gothy hottie with these fake black wings comes soaring through the air.
- New games. One new game we saw tonight was something called Vertigo, where a contestant races a Gladiator on these bendy, platform thingies. It's interesting, but it's hard to get a gauge on it because Phoenix seemed like the event was made for her and blew both contenders out of the water. But, it's new and will take a couple viewings to get a true sense of. We also saw a game called Rocketball. And, while it may sound like a shitty Roger Corman flick, it's actually a very cool, if not physically challenging game. Basically, it's Powerball but, instead of running on the ground and trying to score, they hit a button and get launched in the air, having to make a basket while dodging a Gladiator. This game looks like a lot of fun, but isn't really a tough one. It's not about muscles as much as it is about timing and strategy. Literally, if you went like you were pushing the button and could convince the Gladiator you were so they could get the timing off, you are GOLDEN! It looks, though, that more events are to come including something where they roll around on the ceiling and...dare I say it...ATLASPHERE! Can't wait for that.
- Changes to old games. Most games got expanded, if nothing else. You could tell NBC gave them more money and space to work with, so they made things like Hang Tough and Powerball larger. They also added things to the Eliminator and took some of the stuff away that was pointless, like the barrel roll. Plus, if you fall off the hand bike, you fall into a Chuck-E-Cheese ball pit, something a little harder and not as much of an incentive to just give up.
It will be interesting to see what is to come this season. I like the strategy of bringing new shit out gradually this season. The only thing that i question is new Gladiators. I mean, two weren't enough? I guess we'll see!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Wow...this has been a boring ass shift.
BOOKS
I did finish "Slam" today. It was good. Like I said in an earlier post, not Hornby's worst. It's kind of a cross, if you had to cross a few things, of "About a Boy" and "Juno. It's like "Juno" if Bleeker was a part of the pregnancy and talked to us throughout the flick...a la Marcus from "About a Boy" I will say that Hornby won me over with some of the supernatural stuff that just annoyed me in "How to Be Good" I mean, c'mon, the kid talks to a Tony Hawk poster that talks back and ends up "whizzing" him into the future. It was a good book that I reccommend.
I haven't decided which book I'm going to start now. I have two options.
1) Heroes: Saving Charlie This was released in December and tells an unseen part of the "Heroes" saga. Everyone familiar with the universe of "Heroes" knows that Hiro Nakamura has really had one true love...Charlie, the waitress from Texas. Well, too bad Silar wasn't a romantic-at-heart, because he decided to eat her brains out. But, with his command of time travel, can Hiro save Charlie? This book chronicles that journey. I'm looking forward to it, I really am. But, I just wonder if I need to be in more of a "Heroes" mindset first, like during Christmas Break when the season is halfway done.
2) Criminal Minds: Killer Profile This is the second in a series of the books based on the AMAZING TV show and written by Max Allan Collins, who really shines at expanding gritty stuff from the small screen (I say gritty because, even though it was fun, I think there's a reason we haven't seen another "Bones" book. Just didn't seem to fit him or the source material.) I love these books. I love this show. The book just came out on the 6th so it really took me by surprise and I just kinda wanna devour it right about now. So, I'll probably start with it, but I haven't really started either yet, so who knows.
TV
One thing can be said for these two dreadfully boring work shifts...I am caught up on Grey's Anatomy. It's sorta back. Characters are developing, things are getting to where they once were. I'm not a huge fan of this clinical trial storyline they have DerMer on, but if it gets them back together, I guess it works. And, I like bringing Eva/Rebecca/Jane Doe back, but, again, I'm not a huge fan of her lying to Alex and then Izzie (drool) having to lie about it. It works, and I'll take it as a huge band-aid that really does fix some of the problems the show was having, but it just seems like a means to an (hopefully awesome) end.
I will say the one thing that really stands out and what I think can be called responsible for the turnaround is Amy Madigan coming in as Meredith's psychiatrist. Anyone who's seen "The Laramie Project" from HBO knows Madigan is just awesome and she really pulls off the role so well. I mean, I understand it's essentially Dr. Melfi in a hospital, but it's different in subtle ways. I think that you also need to be a voice for what the audience is asking, screaming, thinking and wondering. I know that in an era of Web 2.0 that people question, sometimes with concern, the effect that blogs and message boards have on the content of movies and television. But, in a show where so many people feel so attached to the character, why not bring the fan into it, to a certain extent. Or, if nothing else, at least address what concerns them about the story. I think that that was a huge issue with the first half of the season...WE DIDN'T CARE!! We knew Mer's dad was a douchenozzle. Didn't need three episodes about it. We knew that Lexi and Meredith would never EVER truly get along. Why watch Lexi try and try and try? It was pointless. And, most people don't want to imagine a Seattle Grace without a MerDer. So, bring us in and we will put you on the right path.
PS Derek's speech about the champagne bottle and how they're going to open when...well...when they don't kill someone was brilliant. Brought me back to the wedding vows moment and the stairwell moment. Pretty well written indeed.
WELL KIDS, I should start to pack it in over here at Shreve before I set off for home...only to come back here again tomorrow at some point. Everyone have a good night.
VID TIME
This is a sketch from last night's SNL...it echoes my love for Kristin Wiig. If you've never seen Suze Orman, don't bother. This is dead on and way WAY funnier. And, yes, it IS Shia TheBeef.
BOOKS
I did finish "Slam" today. It was good. Like I said in an earlier post, not Hornby's worst. It's kind of a cross, if you had to cross a few things, of "About a Boy" and "Juno. It's like "Juno" if Bleeker was a part of the pregnancy and talked to us throughout the flick...a la Marcus from "About a Boy" I will say that Hornby won me over with some of the supernatural stuff that just annoyed me in "How to Be Good" I mean, c'mon, the kid talks to a Tony Hawk poster that talks back and ends up "whizzing" him into the future. It was a good book that I reccommend.
I haven't decided which book I'm going to start now. I have two options.
1) Heroes: Saving Charlie This was released in December and tells an unseen part of the "Heroes" saga. Everyone familiar with the universe of "Heroes" knows that Hiro Nakamura has really had one true love...Charlie, the waitress from Texas. Well, too bad Silar wasn't a romantic-at-heart, because he decided to eat her brains out. But, with his command of time travel, can Hiro save Charlie? This book chronicles that journey. I'm looking forward to it, I really am. But, I just wonder if I need to be in more of a "Heroes" mindset first, like during Christmas Break when the season is halfway done.
2) Criminal Minds: Killer Profile This is the second in a series of the books based on the AMAZING TV show and written by Max Allan Collins, who really shines at expanding gritty stuff from the small screen (I say gritty because, even though it was fun, I think there's a reason we haven't seen another "Bones" book. Just didn't seem to fit him or the source material.) I love these books. I love this show. The book just came out on the 6th so it really took me by surprise and I just kinda wanna devour it right about now. So, I'll probably start with it, but I haven't really started either yet, so who knows.
TV
One thing can be said for these two dreadfully boring work shifts...I am caught up on Grey's Anatomy. It's sorta back. Characters are developing, things are getting to where they once were. I'm not a huge fan of this clinical trial storyline they have DerMer on, but if it gets them back together, I guess it works. And, I like bringing Eva/Rebecca/Jane Doe back, but, again, I'm not a huge fan of her lying to Alex and then Izzie (drool) having to lie about it. It works, and I'll take it as a huge band-aid that really does fix some of the problems the show was having, but it just seems like a means to an (hopefully awesome) end.
I will say the one thing that really stands out and what I think can be called responsible for the turnaround is Amy Madigan coming in as Meredith's psychiatrist. Anyone who's seen "The Laramie Project" from HBO knows Madigan is just awesome and she really pulls off the role so well. I mean, I understand it's essentially Dr. Melfi in a hospital, but it's different in subtle ways. I think that you also need to be a voice for what the audience is asking, screaming, thinking and wondering. I know that in an era of Web 2.0 that people question, sometimes with concern, the effect that blogs and message boards have on the content of movies and television. But, in a show where so many people feel so attached to the character, why not bring the fan into it, to a certain extent. Or, if nothing else, at least address what concerns them about the story. I think that that was a huge issue with the first half of the season...WE DIDN'T CARE!! We knew Mer's dad was a douchenozzle. Didn't need three episodes about it. We knew that Lexi and Meredith would never EVER truly get along. Why watch Lexi try and try and try? It was pointless. And, most people don't want to imagine a Seattle Grace without a MerDer. So, bring us in and we will put you on the right path.
PS Derek's speech about the champagne bottle and how they're going to open when...well...when they don't kill someone was brilliant. Brought me back to the wedding vows moment and the stairwell moment. Pretty well written indeed.
WELL KIDS, I should start to pack it in over here at Shreve before I set off for home...only to come back here again tomorrow at some point. Everyone have a good night.
VID TIME
This is a sketch from last night's SNL...it echoes my love for Kristin Wiig. If you've never seen Suze Orman, don't bother. This is dead on and way WAY funnier. And, yes, it IS Shia TheBeef.
Back at the Salt Mines
Here it is, another awesome day of working here at the Shreve Office. I'm earlier than normal because of RAs getting sick and people nearing the dreaded OVERTIME (dun dun duunnnn). So, I'm here a couple hours early with some Insomnia Cookies and a belly full of Sonic.
I've already helped a person today, so that's more than I've done already. I'm not going to live blog today, but I'll be making posts throughout the day because...well...I've got nothing else better to do.
I've already helped a person today, so that's more than I've done already. I'm not going to live blog today, but I'll be making posts throughout the day because...well...I've got nothing else better to do.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Work Live Blog pt. 2: Electric...Well, there's nothing really electric going on over here.
8:17- Dinner was delicious. Puccini's really knocks it out of the park...except for putting olives on my antipasto salad. Thumbs way down. Watching the Office right now...from like a billiondy years ago.
8:35- Just helped Blair get a DVD. But, again, she's an RA, so it doesn't count.
NoC: 0
8:40- Fart. I was a little worried it might be a shart, not gonna lie.
9:04- Really not feeling very well. Dare I say, "Hillenbrands!"?
9:26- Watching "Grey's" from a while ago. Using tonight to catch up on some TV, I guess.
9:38- Some thoughts:
8:35- Just helped Blair get a DVD. But, again, she's an RA, so it doesn't count.
NoC: 0
8:40- Fart. I was a little worried it might be a shart, not gonna lie.
9:04- Really not feeling very well. Dare I say, "Hillenbrands!"?
9:26- Watching "Grey's" from a while ago. Using tonight to catch up on some TV, I guess.
9:38- Some thoughts:
- My farts are ranktastic. I really need to take some Pepto or something when I get home...in like two hours. Not cool at all.
- Rose on Grey's is a nutbar. Truly.
10:06- FCITA(ITW)RN #2- Kate Walsh
I don't think I really need to say anything here. Dear shit is she amazing.Work Live Blog
So, I guess the thing to do on blogs, since you can, is to liveblog stuff. So, therefore, in order to accurately show you how tedious my job is at this point in the semester, I will be live blogging work this evening.
6:10- Watching hilarious infomercial for Pancake Puffs. I think my cholesterol just went up 20 points by watching this.
See, the way I see it is you gotta go with the Chef's Upgrade because that's going to get you a year's supply of little wooden sticks with which to properly turn and shove the lard down your gullet with.
Number of Customers: 0
6:18- John Mayer rocks my face off in both the musical arena and in life. Krystle kinda beat me to the punch on this one, but still...amazing.
Number of Customers: 0
6:25- I just let out a pretty rank fart. I'm not feeling very well. Of course, I've eaten pure shit pretty much over the past two days, so that can't help.
Number of Customers: 0
6:30- Why I heart Mike Rowe
Number of Customers: 0
6:35- OK, so here is my first take on Scarlet Johansson's new video from her new album of Tom Waits covers.
1. Song sounds pretty good. I'm missing her raspiness that makes her uber-sexy, but it's definitely manageable.
2. It's hard to touch Waits.
3. The main thing, I'm expecting more hotness going into this. And, I understand it was probably intention to not make her a piece of eye candy and focus on the music. BUT IT'S FUCKING SCARLETT JOHANSSON!! Give me something here, people. I'm a lonely guy.
Number of Customers: 0
6:45- Now it's time to play FEMALE CELEBRITY I'M THINKING ABOUT (IN THAT WAY) RIGHT NOW or FCITA(ITW)RN.
FCITA(ITW)RN #1: Kristen Wiig
She's funny. Very, very cute. I mean, her scenes in "Knocked Up" almost steal it.
And, even though SNL is pretty much hit and miss anymore, any "Penelope" sketch gets my attention.
6:10- Watching hilarious infomercial for Pancake Puffs. I think my cholesterol just went up 20 points by watching this.
See, the way I see it is you gotta go with the Chef's Upgrade because that's going to get you a year's supply of little wooden sticks with which to properly turn and shove the lard down your gullet with.
Number of Customers: 0
6:18- John Mayer rocks my face off in both the musical arena and in life. Krystle kinda beat me to the punch on this one, but still...amazing.
Number of Customers: 0
6:25- I just let out a pretty rank fart. I'm not feeling very well. Of course, I've eaten pure shit pretty much over the past two days, so that can't help.
Number of Customers: 0
6:30- Why I heart Mike Rowe
Number of Customers: 0
6:35- OK, so here is my first take on Scarlet Johansson's new video from her new album of Tom Waits covers.
1. Song sounds pretty good. I'm missing her raspiness that makes her uber-sexy, but it's definitely manageable.
2. It's hard to touch Waits.
3. The main thing, I'm expecting more hotness going into this. And, I understand it was probably intention to not make her a piece of eye candy and focus on the music. BUT IT'S FUCKING SCARLETT JOHANSSON!! Give me something here, people. I'm a lonely guy.
Number of Customers: 0
6:45- Now it's time to play FEMALE CELEBRITY I'M THINKING ABOUT (IN THAT WAY) RIGHT NOW or FCITA(ITW)RN.
FCITA(ITW)RN #1: Kristen Wiig
She's funny. Very, very cute. I mean, her scenes in "Knocked Up" almost steal it.
And, even though SNL is pretty much hit and miss anymore, any "Penelope" sketch gets my attention.
RELATED/HONORABLE MENTION: Amy Adams.
6:59- Mary just came and visited with her new puppy, who is adorable. And, BONUS, I got to go pee. It smelled like coffee. I have an addiction.
Number of Customers: 0
7:14- Just ordered food from Puccini's. w00t.
NoC: 0
7:21- Fart. Cold chill.
7:22- A bit of TV news that makes me a very happy person. Kristen from E! (it's so much better than e...or even E for that matter) is reporting that "Reaper is back for next season.
This is awesome news. It's a very original, fun show that really doesn't have a counterpart on television. Hopefully it can survive and flourish in a renewed, post-strike season.
NoC: 0
7:25- Now, the bad TV news. It looks like "Women's Murder Club" is gone. This show was on the bubble since before the strike. But, the lapse didn't help.
I'm going to miss WMC for a few reasons.
1) Angie Harmon
2) It was a chance for me to see all of the James Patterson characters every week. Even though some things were different, character-wise, pretty much everyone stuck to the characters outlined in the books.
3) The woman who played Cindy is amazingly hot. I've always pictured Cindy as attractive, and the casting directors delivered.
I just hope they tie everything up before the season ends. Or are we just going to forget entirelt about the KissMeNot Killer?
I helped Sarah shred something. But, since she's an RA, I'm not counting that.
NoC: 0
7:47- Hey, that's a plane! Awesome headline from The Onion...
Michel Gondry Entertained For Days By New Cardboard Box
Gotta love The Onion.
7:50- Patton Oswalt rocks my face off. Plus, I'm pretty sure if I have a twin out there, it's him.
7:55- FOOD IS HERE! This will be the end of this post, but look above for the next part of the live blog from the Shreve Office.
No Commencement for Tired Men
I'm wiped clean. Today was a day of killing time. Two hours after the ROTC commissioning. Four after rehearsal.
BOOKS
I finished "No Country for Old Men". Don't even start it if you're not in for an odd trip. You gotta walk in there with no pre-conceived notions about what's gonna go down or even how things are going to be presented to you. Even if you have seen the movie and know the story and know how abrupt the ending is, you're still in for some interesting things along the way.
I think the reason that so many people got thrown off by the ending of the flick isn't the ending itself. It is the fact that this movie, this film, was publicized, from day one as kind of a modern cat and mouse tale with awesome actors and directors. But, really, it's about Tommy Lee Jones' character, Sherrif Bell. Forget creepy Bardem and awesomely apathetic Brolin. It's about what is happening to this guy who, going into this series of events, truly believes he has seen it all and is very content (not happy) with the way the world is, especially in his little corner of it.
But, then Chigurh enters the picture. And Bell sees an evil that, until this point, he wasn't even sure could exist. So what happens to this man who is getting on in years and is experiencing something so earth-shattering as the devil incarnate (or the closest earthly thing to it, anyway.) That's what "No Country" is about, in any medium you can consume it. It's not about the young. It truly is, like the title, about the old and how life is passing them by.
I started the book "Slam" by one of my favorite writers, Nick Hornby. It's not Hornby's best. That would be "About a Boy". But, it's definitely not his worst, at least from what I've read so far. There are few things, book wise, that could have disappointed me more than "How to Be Good." It just seemed tawdry and beneath him. But, he found his way back with "A Long Way Down," which really needs to be a movie at some point. Great injustice that it isn't being worked on right now.
"Slam" is honestly meant for "Young Adults", but in the world of all ages reading all types of books, that bullshit is just for marketing anyway. It's about this kid who talks to Tony Hawk. Not in real life. A poster. That talks back. But, it doesn't really talk back. The kid just fills in the spaces in the conversation with quotes from Hawk's autobiography, which he's read a billiondy times. Well, shit happens to this kid and, in typical Hornby fashion, we laugh and cry as he deals with him mum and the girl he just might love...as well as good ol' TH. Like I said, it's not earth-shattering yet, but it's definitely enjoyable and a good read.
Other than that, not a lot shaking. Got lost in the middle of Commissioning today thinking about Heather Graham. Goddamn.
Nothing in the way of anything else to report.
VID TIME
This is a video of Mike Rowe, now of "Dirty Jobs" and "The Deadliest Catch" fame shilling shit on QVC's graveyard shift back in the day. I have a handful of these videos and most of them are pretty funny. But, this, as well as the one I will show tomorrow, take the cake.
BOOKS
I finished "No Country for Old Men". Don't even start it if you're not in for an odd trip. You gotta walk in there with no pre-conceived notions about what's gonna go down or even how things are going to be presented to you. Even if you have seen the movie and know the story and know how abrupt the ending is, you're still in for some interesting things along the way.
I think the reason that so many people got thrown off by the ending of the flick isn't the ending itself. It is the fact that this movie, this film, was publicized, from day one as kind of a modern cat and mouse tale with awesome actors and directors. But, really, it's about Tommy Lee Jones' character, Sherrif Bell. Forget creepy Bardem and awesomely apathetic Brolin. It's about what is happening to this guy who, going into this series of events, truly believes he has seen it all and is very content (not happy) with the way the world is, especially in his little corner of it.
But, then Chigurh enters the picture. And Bell sees an evil that, until this point, he wasn't even sure could exist. So what happens to this man who is getting on in years and is experiencing something so earth-shattering as the devil incarnate (or the closest earthly thing to it, anyway.) That's what "No Country" is about, in any medium you can consume it. It's not about the young. It truly is, like the title, about the old and how life is passing them by.
I started the book "Slam" by one of my favorite writers, Nick Hornby. It's not Hornby's best. That would be "About a Boy". But, it's definitely not his worst, at least from what I've read so far. There are few things, book wise, that could have disappointed me more than "How to Be Good." It just seemed tawdry and beneath him. But, he found his way back with "A Long Way Down," which really needs to be a movie at some point. Great injustice that it isn't being worked on right now."Slam" is honestly meant for "Young Adults", but in the world of all ages reading all types of books, that bullshit is just for marketing anyway. It's about this kid who talks to Tony Hawk. Not in real life. A poster. That talks back. But, it doesn't really talk back. The kid just fills in the spaces in the conversation with quotes from Hawk's autobiography, which he's read a billiondy times. Well, shit happens to this kid and, in typical Hornby fashion, we laugh and cry as he deals with him mum and the girl he just might love...as well as good ol' TH. Like I said, it's not earth-shattering yet, but it's definitely enjoyable and a good read.
Other than that, not a lot shaking. Got lost in the middle of Commissioning today thinking about Heather Graham. Goddamn.
Nothing in the way of anything else to report.
VID TIME
This is a video of Mike Rowe, now of "Dirty Jobs" and "The Deadliest Catch" fame shilling shit on QVC's graveyard shift back in the day. I have a handful of these videos and most of them are pretty funny. But, this, as well as the one I will show tomorrow, take the cake.
Friday, May 9, 2008
I'm Jack Bauer and This is the Longest Weekend of My Life...and the most lucrative
So tomorrow begins Commencement Weekend. It's a long weekend, with two ceremonies on Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday. But, I make some mad cash, which will aide in me buying an XBOX 360 from Kyle next weekend. I say next weekend because my previous plans are almost assuredly down the drain. :(
MOVIES
I saw Iron Man again today. Still as amazing as the first time. Nothing new to report, just that it's so well done and Tony Stark/Iron Man is such a unique character in the world of comic book mythos, it's astounding. The man has flaws. He's doing what he does for an absolutely moral reason.
BOOKS
Still rocking "No Country" and "Happy Endings". I did start a new comic book today...shockingly enough the first of a new Iron Man series. This series is really meant to keep people going after they've seen the amazing flick. It introduces SHIELD and introduces Zeke Stane, Obi's son, as the main villain. But, a) I don't trust his chick, whatever the shit her name was and b) I think someone else is behind this. The kid kinda seems like a loser...which is probably his greatest asset. Will definitely be keeping up with that all the way until I leave.
I have to leave in two months. Wow.
I bought a bunch of new books today, so many, in fact, that I hope I won't be buying more before I leave. No guarantees though. I am starting to read a normal linear book and then a book of essays or easily-parsed chapters at night, just to wind down during the day. We'll see if this sticks. Who knows?
Nothing else to report. Posts could be sparse during the weekend, but we'll try.
VID TIME
So, here's a video that I was reminded of today and that was a crucial part to my male adolescence. Heather Graham is a goddess. If you haven't seen "Boogie Nights" drop reading my shitty blog right now and check it out. Amazing all the way around.
MOVIES
I saw Iron Man again today. Still as amazing as the first time. Nothing new to report, just that it's so well done and Tony Stark/Iron Man is such a unique character in the world of comic book mythos, it's astounding. The man has flaws. He's doing what he does for an absolutely moral reason.
BOOKS
Still rocking "No Country" and "Happy Endings". I did start a new comic book today...shockingly enough the first of a new Iron Man series. This series is really meant to keep people going after they've seen the amazing flick. It introduces SHIELD and introduces Zeke Stane, Obi's son, as the main villain. But, a) I don't trust his chick, whatever the shit her name was and b) I think someone else is behind this. The kid kinda seems like a loser...which is probably his greatest asset. Will definitely be keeping up with that all the way until I leave.
I have to leave in two months. Wow.
I bought a bunch of new books today, so many, in fact, that I hope I won't be buying more before I leave. No guarantees though. I am starting to read a normal linear book and then a book of essays or easily-parsed chapters at night, just to wind down during the day. We'll see if this sticks. Who knows?
Nothing else to report. Posts could be sparse during the weekend, but we'll try.
VID TIME
So, here's a video that I was reminded of today and that was a crucial part to my male adolescence. Heather Graham is a goddess. If you haven't seen "Boogie Nights" drop reading my shitty blog right now and check it out. Amazing all the way around.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Not So Fun Day
Hey, kids. This post is going to be a bit short today.
1) I'm really tired from working the polls here on Election Day. Started at 4 a.m. and ended around 9 p.m. Woo. Hoo.
2) Grades are tomorrow and I'm a little worried. I need to buckle down next semester, that much I know. It's just a matter of how much I'll pay here at home for slacking this semester.
3) Friends are in trouble.
So, no reviews. Nothing new to report. Just living life, one hour at a time.
Hopefully see you for a happier post tomorrow, y'all.
1) I'm really tired from working the polls here on Election Day. Started at 4 a.m. and ended around 9 p.m. Woo. Hoo.
2) Grades are tomorrow and I'm a little worried. I need to buckle down next semester, that much I know. It's just a matter of how much I'll pay here at home for slacking this semester.
3) Friends are in trouble.
So, no reviews. Nothing new to report. Just living life, one hour at a time.
Hopefully see you for a happier post tomorrow, y'all.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Welcome, kids...
Hey, everyone. This is my new blog. I felt stupid still posting on a Xanga that, while it was my first foray into blogging, no one read any more and was part of a site that not many people post on any more.
So, I'm back to blogging on a, hopefully, regular basis. This will be a place for anything I want to put on it. I'm hoping to have it a little more organized and navigable (made up word #1) for anyone who wants to check it out.
This post marks my first day back home after my junior year at Purdue. I love Purdue and I'll be up there a lot this summer, but it's kinda nice to be back home. I'm all moved out and ready to get on with the summer.
Part of the blog is going to be keeping up with my love, the media and pop culture. So, whenever I see a new flick, dig a new show or finish a new book, I'll tell everyone about it here. And, please, people, comment. This is Web 2.0! It's the personal networking revolution! Get WITH IT!
MOVIES
I cannot tell you how amazing "Iron Man" is. Now, granted, I've been a huge Iron Man fan since I was a kid, so I had a bit of a bias going into the flick. But, as most comic book fans know, I also had a HUGE amount of my childhood on the raping block.
But it's awesome. Everything was pulled off so well, it's almost painful how good it is.
My main man Robert Downey Jr plays Tony Stark, the billionaire genius weapons expert who, after almost dying, becomes a superhero. Seems like it should be the most realistic superhero movie ever, right?
It is.
Even though the concept takes a little suspension of reality, the picture that director Jon Favreau paints is incrediblty authentic and genuine and highly believable.
Everyone is amazing in it, especially RDJ who is back and amazing. GO SEE IRON MAN AND KISS KISS BANG BANG IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME! And, the Singing Detective. And, Zodiac. And, any work he did on "Ally McBeal". Yes. "Ally McF***ingBeal"
Ed Note: I haven't decided whether I want to use profanity in this or not yet. Thoughts from the peanut gallery? YOUR CUE TO COMMENT!
It's an amazing job from everyone involved. Here's to the almost guarantee of more parts of this story and hopefully a War Machine/SHIELD/Avengers spinoff.
TV
I've gotten back into Desperate Housewives. I gave up on it at the beginning of the season because I just didn't care about any of them. I barely care now, but it's enough that I can watch it and laugh a couple times an episode. I'm a simple man.
I also just watched the second season premiere of "This American Life" This could be the best show no one is watching. I say could because "How I Met Your Mother" is sensational and underwatched and it's hard to say something isn't being watched when it's on Showtime.
The whole premise of the show is that...well...it's a radio show on TV. So, the whole premise of the radio show is just to be an examination of life and some of the untold stories that are representative of grander, broader themes that happen to all of us in America.
The brilliance of the show is that it's funny, sad, absurd and heartwarming all at once. Host Ira Glass is truly amazing and rides all of these tightropes without ever missing a beat or forgetting to tug a heartstring or two. I was worried, after being a huge fan of the radio show, about the translation to TV. But it works so well. Check out either the radio show or TV show. For more info, go to http://www.thisamericanlife.com/. You will NOT be sorry.
Ed. Note: Great things to listen to while you work out.
BOOKS
I'm rocking two books right now.
1. "No Country for Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy
You surely heard of this book because of the awesome Coen Brothers flick from last year that raped the Oscars (deservedly). And while the movie is pretty much the book verbatim, it is a chillingly haunting modern/classic noir tale of a guy way in over his head. Definitely check it out for a quick read, albeit somewhat difficult.
2. "Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch" by Jimmy Norton.
This book is one of the funniest things ever thought, written, said. It's amazingly honest and funny and brutal and not for the faint-of-heart. But, F*** them. Go read Nicholas Sparks.
Ed. Note: http://www.opieandanthony.com/ Spread the virus!
Well, I think that's all I have to post for now. Except for...
VID TIME
This is something that I kinda started on the old blog and wanted to bring over here. We live in such an age of MySpace that I feel it a disservice to not participate in the viral video generation. So, I will begin my new blog with my favorite video of all time, Afro Ninja.
See you tomorrow.
So, I'm back to blogging on a, hopefully, regular basis. This will be a place for anything I want to put on it. I'm hoping to have it a little more organized and navigable (made up word #1) for anyone who wants to check it out.
This post marks my first day back home after my junior year at Purdue. I love Purdue and I'll be up there a lot this summer, but it's kinda nice to be back home. I'm all moved out and ready to get on with the summer.
Part of the blog is going to be keeping up with my love, the media and pop culture. So, whenever I see a new flick, dig a new show or finish a new book, I'll tell everyone about it here. And, please, people, comment. This is Web 2.0! It's the personal networking revolution! Get WITH IT!
MOVIES
I cannot tell you how amazing "Iron Man" is. Now, granted, I've been a huge Iron Man fan since I was a kid, so I had a bit of a bias going into the flick. But, as most comic book fans know, I also had a HUGE amount of my childhood on the raping block.
But it's awesome. Everything was pulled off so well, it's almost painful how good it is.
My main man Robert Downey Jr plays Tony Stark, the billionaire genius weapons expert who, after almost dying, becomes a superhero. Seems like it should be the most realistic superhero movie ever, right?
It is.
Even though the concept takes a little suspension of reality, the picture that director Jon Favreau paints is incrediblty authentic and genuine and highly believable.
Everyone is amazing in it, especially RDJ who is back and amazing. GO SEE IRON MAN AND KISS KISS BANG BANG IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME! And, the Singing Detective. And, Zodiac. And, any work he did on "Ally McBeal". Yes. "Ally McF***ingBeal"
Ed Note: I haven't decided whether I want to use profanity in this or not yet. Thoughts from the peanut gallery? YOUR CUE TO COMMENT!
It's an amazing job from everyone involved. Here's to the almost guarantee of more parts of this story and hopefully a War Machine/SHIELD/Avengers spinoff.
TV
I've gotten back into Desperate Housewives. I gave up on it at the beginning of the season because I just didn't care about any of them. I barely care now, but it's enough that I can watch it and laugh a couple times an episode. I'm a simple man.
I also just watched the second season premiere of "This American Life" This could be the best show no one is watching. I say could because "How I Met Your Mother" is sensational and underwatched and it's hard to say something isn't being watched when it's on Showtime.
The whole premise of the show is that...well...it's a radio show on TV. So, the whole premise of the radio show is just to be an examination of life and some of the untold stories that are representative of grander, broader themes that happen to all of us in America.The brilliance of the show is that it's funny, sad, absurd and heartwarming all at once. Host Ira Glass is truly amazing and rides all of these tightropes without ever missing a beat or forgetting to tug a heartstring or two. I was worried, after being a huge fan of the radio show, about the translation to TV. But it works so well. Check out either the radio show or TV show. For more info, go to http://www.thisamericanlife.com/. You will NOT be sorry.
Ed. Note: Great things to listen to while you work out.
BOOKS
I'm rocking two books right now.
1. "No Country for Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy
You surely heard of this book because of the awesome Coen Brothers flick from last year that raped the Oscars (deservedly). And while the movie is pretty much the book verbatim, it is a chillingly haunting modern/classic noir tale of a guy way in over his head. Definitely check it out for a quick read, albeit somewhat difficult.
2. "Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch" by Jimmy Norton.This book is one of the funniest things ever thought, written, said. It's amazingly honest and funny and brutal and not for the faint-of-heart. But, F*** them. Go read Nicholas Sparks.
Ed. Note: http://www.opieandanthony.com/ Spread the virus!
Well, I think that's all I have to post for now. Except for...
VID TIME
This is something that I kinda started on the old blog and wanted to bring over here. We live in such an age of MySpace that I feel it a disservice to not participate in the viral video generation. So, I will begin my new blog with my favorite video of all time, Afro Ninja.
See you tomorrow.
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