Pity Party Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

I’m trying to do mood mixes again. Here’s one that would be the background music to my existense right now.

The Authority Song				Jimmy Eat World		Download
Hell Yes				Alkaline Trio		Download
Atlantis to Interzone				Klaxons		Download
The Art Of Losing				American Hi-Fi		Download
Anything, Anything				Dramarama		Download
Acklington, River Pheonix				Nada Surf		Download
High Friends In Places				Giant Drag		Download
Photograph				Action Action		Download
Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now?				Moneen		Download
Alone				Heart		Download
The Dirty Glass				Dropkick Murphys		Download
Let’s make love and listen death from above				Cansei de Ser Sexy		Download
Any Way You Want It				Journey		Download
White, Discussion				Live;		Download
Sick Of Myself				Matthew Sweet		Download
Neverending Story				Limahl		Download
Plug in Baby				Muse		Download
Negative Creep				Nirvana		Download
Appreciate Me				Kelis		Download
Dancing With Myself				Billy Idol		Download

I have a problem.

In that I don’t think I can stop blogging. I don’t want to sound like a big hypocrite, but maybe going cold turkey wasn’t the best idea. As Chris said, my previous post was like the Cher farewell tour.

I couldn’t sleep last night as usual, and the only thing that calmed me down was blogging.

However, I NEED NEED NEED to get some resumes and cover letters out. To jobs in a career field that I am not even sure I want to be in.

The Presets

The cover alone sold me. Hot.

[THE PRESETS; Beams] [multiply] [mediafire]

Menomena

[MENOMENA; Friend or Foe] [multiply] [mediafire]

Clive Owen whores it for Lancome

Is this for makeup? Or cologne? Does it matter? I feel funny down there when I look at these.

On second thought, he either is very photoshopped or captured in soft focus.

I have no willpower.

Ok, here I am 24 hours later and I am kind of regretting my semi-retirement. Maybe going cold turkey isn’t always a good idea. I really really need to spend my time working on my life stuff. Let’s just say my posting will be a bit sparse in the coming weeks.

But seriously, this NEEDS to be posted. Dan Radcliffe is in a play where he has a sexual fixation on horses. The promo pics are out, and I am equally repelled from these pictures as I am fascinated. He’s 17, folks. It’s nice he is growing up well, and was luckier than some child stars i.e., Ben from Growing Pains. And he’s obviously been busy working out or something. Ginny Weasley is on to something.

I’m also not going to repost them here for fear of being arrested. Look at some HQ scans here and here.

mid season cliffhanger

How to Know When to Stop Blogging « Lorelle on WordPress

Reading the above post the other day realy got me thinking. Is it time for me to go? If I continued to post hot pics of celebs and albums every day, would that hurt anyone? Probably not. When I first started this blog, I had intended for it to be something to keep in touch with people and let them know what I was up to. My life turned out to be not as exciting/glamorous as I had imagined it to be, and I soon learned that blogging about all the drama at work was not a good idea. Then it morphed into me suggesting a lot of music and movies to people that had otherwise not heard of it. Then it sort of moved into something that I am not sure how to place. Mostly I would talk about things from pop culture that I was interested in. I always kept it light, but at times I wanted to post things of a more serious nature, and it seemed really half-assed on my part. I started throwing up links and saying things like “this is stoopid” and not really being able to express myself. This is not meant to make some serious political statement, but my love for pop culture is based on how it reflects the ills of society, and if I can’t fully articulate those ills, I feel I’m not being effective.

Posting on this blog has been a great outlet for me and an enjoyable way to spend my time, but it does take up time. I am at a point in my life where I really need to sit down and get my shit together. And that requires a serious focus. I need to spend time sending out resumes and setting up interviews, going over my finances and looking into retirement funds, continue to stay active and stay on my rigorous exercise regimen, and some general for-real thinking about what the hell I want out of my future. You know, adult stuff.

So I’m taking a break. I am not giving this up forever. Right now I am going to step away for a couple of weeks while I take care of some other things. After that break, I am going to try to restructure things. I’d like to have more focus for this blog, maybe something more interesting than vomiting pop culture and music into posts. I’d also like to seek a wider audience with this. Not that I don’t love the fact that a lot of close friends read this, but it would be cool to reach a wider audience.

And to my loyal readers and dear friends who have been reading every day, I thank you for indulging me in my slef-centeredness. If not having this updated for a while is really going to get you down, here are some places to go.

• hotindieboyz: my other blog, which is self-explanatory. It’s the one where I perv out about guys in bands (at least more than I do on here).
• my del.ic.ious page: this is where I store whatever I am reading, and it is updated several times a day and I will continue to do so.
• My Multiply page: I will continue to post music here before they realize how illegal the site is. I love being able to introduce people to all types of music, so I will continue to keep that up.
• Andrew’s page: Andrew has great taste in British music and is a much better writer than I am. His music tastes have come a long way. I remember when his collection consisted of Westlife and The Little Mermaid. Now he is like the expert of Britpop.
• The Erin Q. Hammers Worship Page: to see updates between the Hollywood Feud between myself and Erin.
• Be My Netflix Friend: this is even better than spying on someone in the shower. See all the embarassing stuff I rent!

Hopefully when I return I will have at least half of my life figured out.

In the meantime, fight the Seasonal Affective Disorder!

The Long Blondes

[THE LONG BLONDES; Someone to Drive You Home] [mediafire][multiply]

here we go again

I guess that it is National Show Your Bigotry Week at our nations’ colleges.

Yale U. Investigates Alleged Hazing of 2 Freshman Tennis Players

 

By BRAD WOLVERTON

 

Yale University is weighing whether to punish members of its men’s tennis team after reports surfaced this week about an alleged hazing incident that has riled gay and lesbian students.

 

Last fall during dinner hour, according to several students who witnessed the incident, a group of athletes escorted two freshman players dressed in women’s underwear into two campus dining halls, where the first-year students stood on tables and sang, “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman.”

 

The players — Connor Dawson and Matt Schimmel — reportedly had homophobic slurs written on their bodies. According to witnesses, the athletes had words that included “I’m a faggot” written on them in marker, and an arrow drawn down their backs, along with the words “Insert here.”

 

Many gay, lesbian, and transgender students were offended by the team members’ actions, Ben Gonzalez, a Yale sophomore and coordinator of the campus’s Queer Resource Center, said in an interview on Thursday.

 

In response to the incident, several gay and lesbian students met on Monday with Betty G. Trachtenberg, the university’s dean of student affairs, who plans to help organize a forum between athletes and concerned students to raise awareness of gay and lesbian issues.

 

In an e-mail message sent to a gay and lesbian student group on Wednesday, Brandon Wai, captain of Yale’s tennis team, apologized for the incident, saying that he and his teammates “meant no harm to anyone” and that in hindsight, they believe their actions were inappropriate and harmful.

 

In a statement, Thomas A. Beckett, Yale’s athletics director, said that the university is “extremely disappointed” by the team’s actions, which he described as “inappropriate initiation” activities.

 

The university and athletics officials plan to investigate the matter further before deciding on any punishments. In the meantime, the team’s players will be allowed to keep competing.

 

Yale officials have avoided referring to the incident as hazing. But according to the university’s Student-Athlete Handbook, any activity that requires “indecent exposure of the body” is considered hazing.

Are you kidding me? That’s not an apolgy. That’s a “I’m sorry that I got caught” apology. The only thing that I hate more than groups that haze are people that willingly are hazed to belong to that group.

kilts

Oh, darn. Ewan McGregor partying in a kilt again.

bloody hell.

As if today wasn’t crappy enough.

After just a little over five years together, punk band Pretty Girls Make Graves have announced that they are breaking up after one last tour. Citing the departure of drummer Nick Dewitt as the impetus behind the split, the Seattle group posted the following message on their website late Sunday night:

“We are sorry to announce that our upcoming tour in May will be our last. Nick quit the band and the rest of us feel like it wouldn’t be right to continue on without him. The 5 of us feel very lucky to have met and worked with some truly amazing people over the years. Thank you all so much…” The complete itinerary for PGMG’s final tour have yet to be announced.

source

Their last three albums are seriously the best music I’ve heard. Bummer.

Battlestar thoughts

Okay, I was gonna wait til tomorrow, but it got me all riled up. Is Baltar going to be tortured every episode?

Laura Roslin is like an evil dictator. First ordering genocide, then using torture methods on others. I wanted to see more of the scene where Sumber Six chews her a new one.

I’m glad the whole episode wasn’t about the Lee and Kara horseshit. Well, writers, I am actually glad you didn’t get them together. That would have been too easy. HOWEVER, how can Dually and Anders want them back? I didn’t get what Anders was saying. Did he wanted to be with Kara because of her destiny? Because he wanted in on the fame? And Lee telling Dee that he wanted her because she was good for him? WTF? That was such an selfish thing to say. Whatever, I’m no relationhsip expert. I’m glad that’s resolved and over with. Why is Anders so pretty?

When Lee asked the Chief if he could ask him a personal question, I thought he was going to say “why the hell did you marry Cally?”

Yea, Lee is annoying and other than his biceps has no appeal. That bar looked about as cool as a TGI Friday’s.

Were Kara and Anders doing it behind that curtain in the meeting room? No one needs to hear that.

I’m glad Baltar came clean about not having the intent to betray the human race, and that he was manipulated. He should have said that years ago.

Who were those moss-covered children? What the hell? I would have liked to have seen the casting call for those extras.

Next week: a trial episode! It’s like Law and Order meets Battlestar.

Mika

What’s all the buzz about this guy Mika? The hype is almost reaching Arctic Monkeys proportions. Also, the ScissorSisters called, they want their sound back.

• MIKA IS GRACING US WITH HIS NO1 SMASH
• Mika Rockets To Number One With Debut Single ‘Grace Kelly’
• Mika Set To Be The Biggest Music Sensation Since The Arctic Monkeys
• MIKA – MIKA I WONT TALK ABOUT MY SEXUALITY

The album is pretty good, check it.

[MIKA, Life in Cartoon Motion] [mediafire] [multiply]

Jesus Camp

Finally got to see Jesus Camp. I expected just to be disgusted and have a knee-jerk reaction by calling them “crazy fundamentalists”. That would be the easy criticism. I am more dumbfounded and confused.

Now, I am not going to sit here and criticize Christianity. I actually don’t really know enough about it to criticise. I am criticizing fundamentalism that fucks with children’s brains and targets groups and tells them they are going to hell. The ones that look to Bush to bring back God into government. So please don’t think I am cutting down anyone that has some sort of spiritual belief.

Now, the thing that most intrigues me is how someone can truly believe in Creationism. Not in the jeez-are-they-stupid way, but how can you live in the modern world, observe what you see, and just go on faith that it was created by some old man in the sky? I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around it.

Sometimes I have other thoughts about evangelical Christians. Not even about the religion but isn’t it…boring? No, seriously. It is so conformist. Everyone listens to the same thing, same music, everyone dresses similar. Maybe there is some comfort in that.

And this whole temptation of sexual thoughts…it is VIRTUNALLY impossible to not have “impure” thoughts. I was also fascinated with what people were wearing. If not to tempt each other with impure thoughts, shouldn’t they all just wear paper sacks all day? Why even put on lipstick and skirts? Isn’t that counter-productive?

I guess I will never understand. If I was born to an exteme-right wing evangelical family in an area of a country where I was surrounded by that community, am I so presumptuous to assume that I would see all through it and seek independence and think my own thoughts? Who knows? Which is why this is disturbing, because these are children and their whole world is their families and neighborhood. Even of they wanted to “break free”, how would one expect that they can do it?

leftovers

• Reality Check for a Generation That Knows Best – New York Times

• NME.COM – News – The New Pornographers reveal album details

• My Year Of Flops, Case File 1: Elizabethtown: The Bataan Death March of Whimsy | The A.V. Club

• The Music Slut: We’re Awesome!: Keane’s ‘Private Info’ Stolen!

• The snide brilliance of Tina Fey on 30 Rock. – By Troy Patterson – Slate Magazine

  ; I still haven’t gotten a chance to watch it.

• The academy’s fatty problem. – By Timothy Noah – Slate Magazine

• Why The GAP Keeps Getting Crushed — Friday, Jan. 26, 2007 — Page 1 — TIME

  ; because they tried to go high-end. I liked it better when it was jeans and t-shirts.

• Toddler’s Temper Ousts Family From Plane | Chicago Tribune

  ; I side completely with the airline.

• Comics that reinvent the superhero genre. – By Dan Kois – Slate Magazine

• MTV News | Cobra Starship’s Gabe Saporta Speaks Out After Keytar Kerfuffle

  ; how junior high. The band sounds like assholes.

• Best Week Ever » Blog Archive » TOP CHEF INDIGESTION: Bullsh*t Tenderloin Topped With An Unfairness Foam Flambe

  My thoughts exactly on why I am not going to even bother watching the finale.

• toledoblade.com — Demonstrators protest ‘problem solved’ T-shirts

Black Snake Moan

I’m…..intrigued.

From a graphic design standpoint, I love the poster. I can imgine having a black man dominate over a white woman in chains is going to stir some controversy. I think the movie will challenge a lot of conventions. And Justin Timberlake is in it too, fyi.

revelation

I just realized that the current space I live in is the place that I have lived the longest in my life since leaving for college. And I’ve only been here a year and secen months. No wonder I never want to settle down and decorate a place. And I’m about to move again in the summer.

I lived five places in college (okay, that’s kind of expected. After I graduated, I moved to Andover for the summer. Then to 16th street in DC for about a year and a half, then to Fairmont Street in DC for sixth months. After that, to Brooklyn for 10 months, then spent the summer is Baltimore (I actually moved once when I was there), then moved to Manhattan for another year. The summer after that I moved back to Brooklyn AGAIN, then to Connecticut, where I lived in an apartment for a year before moving to my current place. Holy shit if I have to load up a car one more time I’m going to die. This time I’m an adult, I can hire movers.

Although I am so excited to actually OWN my own place, I don’t want that to happen so soon because that means I’m permanently settled. It’s a Catch-22.

The Klaxons

One of the best records in a while. No surprise they are British.

[THE KLAXONS, Myths of the Near Future][mediafire][multiply]

Klaxons Myspace

If these are out future lawyers, we are fucked.

If this wasn’t enough, we also have law students doing it.

“I was aware of a pervasive lack of understanding between cultures,” he said. Greco believes that lack of understanding set the stage for what’s happening on campus right now. There has been tremendous fallout from an off-campus party this weekend. The theme was “Bullets and Bubbly” and people who went dressed in so-called hip-hop attire. “Bubble jackets with hoods, baggy jeans, doo-rags, basketball jerseys, medallions,” Greco said.

I think I am the ignorant one because I always assumed that everyone knows better than to “dress up” as the worst stereotypes and mock a group of people. How can someone actually do that on a weekend, then look their Black classmates in the face on Monday?

watch out

To John Mayer’s people: watch out, you have a potential obsessive fan. To think, when I lived in Manhattan, I would pass his condo every damn day and I didn’t care (He lived on 2nd Ave and 14th Street then, he may not anymore). Well, although all the pictures of him and Jessawhore Slutson (I’m so creative) surfaced, this news was promising.

At Nobu in Miami in Tuesday night, the pair “barely spoke” to each other, reports Page Six, and John “was extremely quiet and didn’t speak a lot.” Jessica, as is her wont, engaged in “a lot of puppy-dog looks and twirled and twisted her hair.” Sure, they were seen holding hands, but Simpson then left John all alone for 20 minutes at the table to get herself primped for cameras waiting outside.

I mean, how much is there left to say about lip gloss, Daddy, and boobs?

As usual, John is being extremely witty on his blog.

10. You turn 30 in October. What will be the worst part about seeing your 20s go away?

There are lots of very invasive tests that doctors like to administer to men in their thirties. These tests usually result in a ride home with the radio off and very little blinking.

American Gyno

Not that I listen to this stuff, but I can’t help but be affected by American Idol loser Katharine McPhee’s album cover.

Is that necessary? Call me prude, but spread-eagle is not the most classy position. This really bothers me. I guess recovering from bulimia makes you a bumble bee hooker.

nothing like some dumb internet test to define my whole personality

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion |||||||||||||| 56% Stability |||| 13% Orderliness |||||||||||||||| 63% Accommodation || 10% Interdependence |||||||||||||||| 70% Intellectual |||||||||||||||| 70% Mystical |||||| 23% Artistic |||||||||||||| 56% Religious || 10% Hedonism |||| 16% Materialism |||||||||||| 50% Narcissism |||||||||||| 50% Adventurousness |||||||||||| 43% Work ethic |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Self absorbed |||||||||||||| 56% Conflict seeking |||||||||||||||| 63% Need to dominate |||||||||||||||||| 76% Romantic |||||| 23% Avoidant |||||||||||||||| 63% Anti-authority |||||||||||||||| 63% Wealth |||||| 30% Dependency |||||||||||| 43% Change averse |||||||||||| 43% Cautiousness |||||||||||||||| 70% Individuality |||||||||||||||| 63% Sexuality |||||| 30% Peter pan complex |||||||||||||||| 70% Physical security |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Physical Fitness |||||| 30% Histrionic |||||||||||||||||| 76% Paranoia |||||||||||||||||| 76% Vanity |||||||||||||||| 63% Hypersensitivity |||||||||||||||||| 76% Female cliche |||||| 23%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

this film is not yet rated

In fitting with what I was talking about the other day, I watched the documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated about the MPAA ratings board. Sure, it was set up in order to “avoid censorship” but the spirit of that idea is completely lost because the board is completely inconistent and hypocritical about what it gives NC-17 ratings to. Of course, extreme violence, misogyny, and male sexual pleasure is permissible for an R-rating. Gratuitous sex, “sodomy”, and gay physical contact are of course given NC-17. Even though it is not censoried, carrying that rating clearly hinders the movie from being shown in most places.

The most surprising thing is that Boys Don’t Cry was initially given an NC-17 rating, not for showing Brandon being shot in the head, brutally raped, or severely beaten, but for Lana’s orgasm. What the fuck?

The best parts of the film were hearing filmmakers give their thoughts on the board. My favorites John Waters, Matt Stone, and Kevin Smith were interviewed and are actually quite eloquent if given the chance for a serious interview. The rest of the movie deals with the filmmaker hiring private investigators to find out the names of the people on the board and making intimidating phonecalls to the MPAA. That was a bit overkill.

But, a good doc for those interested in the film industry and pop culture sociology.

It also validates my decision to go back to Netflix and cancel Blockbuster, who refuses to carry NC-17 films. But apparently carrying Grand Theft Auto is okay with them. Hypocrites.

strep throat

It’s a fucking party.

I am the ignorant one because I assume people know better.

It’s shit like this that makes me want to give up at my chosen career.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0125071mlk1.html 

Run Lola Run

[SOUNDTRACK; Run Lola Run][mediafire][multiply]

One of the best soundtrakcs ever. THere are like four major themes, the rest are just different remixes. Good gym music.

Oscar Schmosker

I’m really not into the Academy Awards this year because I haven’t seen many of the movies mentioned. Andrew breaks it down pretty detailed, so go read that. Some people are nominated just for showing up.

urban sprawl affects health?

Weighing In on City Planning: Could smart urban design keep people fit and trim?

Researchers have evidence that associates health problems with urban sprawl, a loose term for humanmade landscapes characterized by a low density of buildings, dependence on automobiles, and a separation of residential and commercial areas. Frank proposes that sprawl discourages physical activity, but some researchers suggest that people who don’t care to exercise choose suburban life. Besides working to settle that disagreement, researchers are looking at facets of urban design that may shortchange health.

I totally believe this! My life/health was totally different in NYC and DC. This is why I need to get OUT OF THE SUBURBS NOW!

what in the

Sex offender, 29, attends school as 12-year-old.

Holy crap. What a great Lifetime movie plot.

A spokeswoman for that school said: ‘He was quiet. He turned in his homework. There were no discipline issues. He was never sent to the principal’s office. By most accounts he was aloof and kept to himself.’

I think they were actually upset when they found out and wanted to keep him as a student. Wtf?

Rodreick initially met Stiffler and Robert James Snow, 43, on the internet. He reportedly kept up the pretence that he was a young teenage boy while living with them by shaving his body hair and wearing makeup. Stiffler and Snow were ‘very upset when the detectives told them they had been having a sexual relationship with a 29-year-old man, and not a pre-teen boy

omg.

[The sheriff's office] added: ‘This is the weirdest case I’ve seen in 18 years. If it wasn’t so sad it would be funny.”

You got that right.

It’s like a train wreck. This is horrible and awful, yet I want to know more.

Top Chef

I told you, I always hate the ends of these competition shows, they always disappoint. Marcel v. Ilan? Are they really the best? No. The producers just wanted maximum drama. Sam and Elia were really the best, but they would have been completely polite to each other, so that’s not good tv. I’m not losing sleep over it. Thanks to here I saw their myspace pages (oh muh god I’m 12). Sam Talbot likes Taking Back Sunday! And Jay-Z! And Snow Patrol! And MC Solaar! And the Streets! Marry me! Ilan’s page is fucking obnoxious. He likes to photoshop weird pics of Marcel. Uh, trying too hard. Marcel’s page is class all the way. And he’s from Long Island. Good lord.

leftover

• NME.COM – News – Ratatat to tour North America

• stereogum: Top 10 Songs About Wonderful Cities

• Jessica’s Riding Mayer’s Bus – TMZ.com

• My Year Of Flops: An Introduction | The A.V. Club

• cityrag: 20 Greatest Guitar Solos Ever, With Videos

• The Science Is Clear: Marriage Should Be Eradicated « Meditations on Meaning

• Clive Owen Is Philip Marlowe (January 23rd 2007)

Ponys

[THE PONYS; Turn the Lights Out][sendpsace][multiply]

I can already tell this will be one of my top ten of 2007, even only three weeks into the year.

Wikipedia: “primitive, anguished, garage noise”

watched: Trekkies, Saw III and the Libertines

Finally got to see the documentary Trekkies. Not being s Star Trek fan, I didn’t get the full appreciation that I should have. Hoever, I can truly appreciate having insane fandom for something and loving to gather with other people to talk about it. If I had that for everything I watched, I wouldn’t have this blog. I’m still waiting for Roswell conventions to happen.

Also watched The Libertines dvd. Basically an hour of drugged up, self-absorbed, unintelligable British punk. Not to sound cliche, but it was just what Rock and Roll should be.

And also Saw III. I hadn’t planned on seeing it, but I will say it was way better than the second one.  However, it truly bothers me that this stuff is played in movies nationwide and something that has a bit of sex or god forbid! gay sex will get an NC-17 and parents’ groups are up in arms. It’s like some sick people sat around and thought of the most gruesome ways to die and brainstormed “pull someone’s ribcage out” and “drown someone in pureed pig”. I would be more appalled for my kids to see this than say, Shortbus. And it was kind of disappointing for me to see Jigsaw and Amanda setting up the first game in the bathroom. I liked the mystery behind it originally.

Trans Am

[TRANS AM; Sex Change][mediafire][multiply]

An amazing DC band that combines electro, synth, punk, rock, and funk. This is their eighth and most recent album, and they are still growing strong. The band is unique in that each album actually sounds totally different, like it could be a different band. This is one of the few that actually uses vocals.

my battlestar thoughts

Well, although it was an intermediary show just moving along plot points, it had some interesting twists. The good thing about the show is that when a plot turn happens, it happens right away and nothing is drawn out. For instance, last week, in the span of five minutes, Gaeta deciphered some astronomy research and predicted a supernova on the algae planet. Then, this week, the star went supernova and we saw it. No predicitions, no build-up, just got to it. Although it was cheesy looking.

Ok, Anders sweaty and dirty? More, please.

I am so DONE with this Lee/Kara thing. They are both unlikeable and selfish to me, I’m not rooting for them. Actually, why don’t they get together and then go off somewhere and leave the show.

The final five cylon thing. Number Three apologized to whoever it was, so it was someone she had wronged. That could be anyone. My bet is Anders, Tigh, or Helo.

And they boxed her model! Woo-hoo! Does that mean Lucy Lawless’ contract is up? I hope so.

Love love love Caprica Six. At first her model seemed shallow and only had a talent for seduction, but now she is way more deep and awesome. I’ve always liked Baltar’s “guardian angel” Six, but now the real life one is most likely going to save everyone.

It is sad to see Boomer giving up hope on any part of her human life. Who could blame her? I would be mad at Athena too for taking over the life that she had wanted.

Speaking of couples, I never had a thing for tv couples, I never rooted for Ross/Rachel, McDreamy/McSkinny, because I never cared. I always think couples on tv are vapid, uninteresting, and not really in love with each other. But Baltar/Caprica Six are like my favorite tv couple ever. Thank god D’Anna is gone now. That threesome skeeved me out. If they don’t end up together, the whole writing on the show is seriously flawed.

I have a feeling we are going to see more Baltar torture scenes.

Laura Roslin: condescending, evil, and dictator-like. Hate her. When will everyone else catch on to her? Helo should have clocked her.

Next week: it turns into Dawson’s Creek. I may skip it. Get that shit over with and then continue to blow stuff up.

ridiculous, but entertaining

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”, in Paul-is-dead style.

Alkaline Trio

[ALKALINE TRIO; From Here to Infirmary][mediafire][multiply]

Some of the best lyrics I’ve heard. And the most despressing. From Wikipedia: “Their music is characterized by morbid lyrics, catchy hooks, fast tempos and recurring subjects of alcoholism, heartbreak, boredom, fire, drugs, blasphemy, and death.”

The Black Eyes

[THE BLACK EYES; The Black Eyes] [sendspace]

The Black Eyes have, unfortunately already broken up. Their two albums (this one is the first one and the better one) were released on Dischord, and have the typical Dischord sound- intense rhythm section, screamed vocals. Very Fugazi. This band actually has two drummers. Intense.

The Gossip

[THE GOSSIP; Standing in the Way of Control][mediafire][multiply]

Guilty Pleasure: The Academy Is

Damn, I talk about them enough, I probably should post it. This is the ultimate in “scene” bands. They have it all, the pretty lead singer, the tight girls’s jeans, the Warped Tour headlines, the crazy fangirls. But, out of all these types of bands, they do it the best. “Skeptics and True Believers” and “The Phrase that Pays” is so damn catchy it’s almost a science. Judge me as you will.

[THE ACADEMY IS; Almost Here][mediafire][multiply]

more guilty pleasures

er…

Blood and Chocolate will either be pretty fucking rad or crappy. Based on the quality of movies lately, I’m guessing crappy.

ice princesses

This has promise, but I know it will be a letdown. Amy Poheler/Will Arnett= awesome. Will Ferrell/Napolean Dynamite douchebag = crap.

please stop.

John Mayer, please stop being so witty and endearing. It’s not helping my crush. And stop wittily mocking your fans. It’s too darn attractive.

yeesh

The day has come: manleggings.

Essential Albums: Jimmy Eat World

Ok, maybe Jimmy Eat World have since turned into VH1-power ballad heroes, but 2001’s Bleed American is fantastic. This album pretty much ruled the year 2001 for me. If you forget that you’ve heard “The Middle” about a thousand times, it’s actually a good song. “A Praise Chorus” is the best song, with “Authority Song” in a close second. If most mainstream music sounded like this, it would be bearable. If I were to make a list of my favorite albums of all time (which I may do soon) this would probably make my top 50.

[JIMMY EAT WORLD; Bleed American][mediafire][multiply]

more essential albums

Employee of the Month

I watched Employee of the Month. I know, I know. I knew it was going to be bad. But I had so much hope, because I am obsessed with all things Costco. The idea had potential, seriously. Jessica Simpson’s performance was hilarious. She could barely pronounce her character’s name. I also loved how during every one of her scenes, the editing was really choppy. Which means she probably had more lines but they were forced to cut them out because she was gawd-awful. And her haor extensions were super distracting.

Let me get socially conscious for a second. It was actually kind of refreshing to see a movie about people who actually work for minimum wage/retail as the norm. Yes, it did make them look like morons, but usually the norm for movies/tv is some office/advertising/lawyer job, which is not 80% of the population. I’m not saying that this movie was paving the way for for class equality or anything, but it was just a thought that crossed my mind.

does this confirm a theory

The new Fall Out Boy album is leaking all over the internet right now, and Pete Wentz got a little pissy on the band’s blog.

“As this tour winds to an end in the south- this last two weeks has felt like forever. There have been so many ups and downs… each city was carefully picked for one reason or another. Thank you for taking part in this with us. On another note our new record has leaked. While this isn’t the end of the world it certainly feels pretty terrible. As an artist we have a vision for how we want our record to be presented and this isn’t it. It is unfortunate that a couple of vultures in a plant somewhere can ruin this vision so easily. On the other hand we understand what its like to wait and wait for a new record… that’s one of the reasons we tried so hard to get a new record out soon. We didn’t want our fans to wait. We appreciate those of you who are still waiting, but like I said, we understand those who have to sneak a peek at the presents under the tree the night before. Please remember that as the music industry changes more and more we only put out records so we can keep touring and travelling. We want to keep this going for as long as possible. Obviously your support helps that. Please take this into consideration with whatever decision you make when it comes to downloading the record and buying it when it is released.

Thanks.”

Okay, he does have a point. And surprisingly, this is eloquently put. This confirms my theory that more popular bands on major labels are the ones who are affected by illegal downloading. Because most of their money comes from record sales. Bands on independent labels make more money from touring. To sell more shows, people need to hear about them and idependent labels cannot pay for the marketing/video making that major labels do. This is where the internet helps. The Arcade Fire,Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! and the Arctic Monkeys would not be who they are if not for internet downloading.

So how do I reconcile my incessant illegal downloading and sometimes sharing? I guess I really haven’t. I’m also someone who cannot delay gratification, so if an album is available right at the moment to download, I can’t wait to go out and by it. Also, the reality is that technology and culture is changing. In a world where mp3 players are the norm and cd players are almost obsolete, is it realistic to think that people will still be buying records? Also, iTunes needs to stop charging per song and have a monthly subscription service.

How I am rationalizing it right now is that since I have started downloading music, my music tastes and ability to judge music has expanded exponentially, and on several occasions I have introduced someone to a band they wouldn’t have originally have listened to. So I am increasing their fanbase, thus creating a market and the opportunity for that band to create more music and tour.

And yes, I do have the new Fall Out Boy album. Haven’t really listened yet.

leftover

• stereogum: New Chemical Brothers – “Electronic Battle Weapon”

• Green Day: 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours / Kerplunk: Pitchfork Record Review: old Green Day albums reissued

• Aronofsky Dives For A “Black Swan” (January 19th 2007): because The Fountain was a bust

• ohnotheydidnt: Colbert Meets Poppa Bear: I hear it wasn’t that great
  

• Brilliant But Cancelled – NewsWire – Bill O’Reilly: “Sad and Pathetic”

• Pitchfork: Echo & the Bunnymen Expand Songs to Learn and Sing: another good reissue
  

• BLABBERMOUTH.NET – HENRY ROLLINS: I’m Anti-Death Penalty, Pro-Choice And I’m For Gay Folks Getting Married : I love Henry Rollins
  

• Battlestar Galactica: Season 3 Gag Reel – Google Video

• Beauty and the Beast – The Little Mermaid – Theater – New York Times: Disney, stop infesting Broadway with your crap
  

• stereogum: 20 Worst Rhyme Crimes In Pop Music

• Beauty is in the eye of your friends – being-human – 17 January 2007 – New Scientist

• Music Snobbery: University of Phoenix Enrolls The New Pornographers: The NPs go commercial
  

• Jolie Out, Weisz In For Some “Sin” (January 17th 2007): I am not sure which is worse, Rachel Weisz, Angelina, or Rosario Dawson

• 101 Impressions – CollegeHumor video: obnoxious
  

• PLanet Rock Album Quiz

• NME.COM – News – Fall Out Boy team up with Kanye West: yes, you read that correctly
  

• Web Worker Daily » Blog Archive How to Annoy People Using Instant Messaging «

Spring Awakening

[Original Cast Recording, Spring Awakening] [ multiply][.rar]

Jarvis Cocker

Most known, obviously, for fronting the band Pulp. His solo stuff is oddly good. Almost sublinely good. Although with some fucked up song titles.

[JARVIS COCKER, Jarvis] [multiply][.rar]

Wikipedia: Jarvis Cocker

RJD2

Ok, I don’t know much about DJing or producing, but apparently RJD2 is supposed to be one of the best. He also has released some solo work, which is quite good. This is a zip file of a few mixes and singles, as well as his forthcoming album, The Third Hand. Also read more here.

[RJD2; The Third Hand] [multiply][.rar file]

[RJD2; various stuff][.rar file]

how to break up with your trainer

Damn you, Jake Gyllenhaal! You’re so mainstream and conventionally attractive! Yet you still make my heart go pitter patter! I also never realized what a piece of crap mad GQ was, based on the headlines on the cover.

Build me up Buttercup

I want to direct your attention to my cover songs playlist, where I’ve added some more stuff.

• Save Ferris, “Build Me Up Buttercup” Long live ska!
• Rogue Wave, “Debaser” (the Pixies)
• Midtown, “You Love” (the Outfield)

Sunshine

The trailer for Sunshine has come out. I have been waiting for this for a while.

Desaparecidos

Many people know Conor Oberst as the king of emo and frontman to Bright Eyes, the super-emotional band that are heroes to suicidal teens everywhere. Little known fact: he also fronts another band called Desaparecidos, which actually can be described more as punk. THe lyrics are also a bit more political and not as weepy, woe-is-me as Bright Eyes. I’d say it’s Operation Ivy meets Hanson. Anyhow, there are lots fo distortion pedals and screaming, but it still quite pleasing musically. Their album came out in 2002, and it has been one of my favorites ever since.

[Desaparecidos; Read Music/Speak Spanish] [mediafire][multiply]

Is this true omgomgomgomg

More news on the Kurt Cobain biopic….it may be Ewan McGregor. Holy shit. I am still against the movie being made, but I would have to say it’s a good choice. I’ve always thought they somehow look alike.

Zodiac

The trailer for Zodiac is out. Despite being directed by David Fincher, starring Jake and Mark Ruffalo, being set in the eighties, and about a serial killer (all of these my favorite things), it looks kind of boring.

rule.

Another Bullshit Night In Suck City is becoming a movie. The problem? Paul Weitz (of American Pie fame) is directing. The good news? Peter Sarsgaard may be starring. It’s a great read- one of the best memoirs I’ve read.

lazy eye

Just so you are aware, the Silversun Pickups are my new very very very favorite band. Look into it.

Cool

More cool Battlestar stuff.

More Tricia Helfer in Playboy. What is with me likin’ the ladies?

Also, someone made these vintage-y images with BSG characters.

I am teetering on the edge of some weird trekkie-esque fandom.

Essential albums: The Verve

The Verve is another one of those bands that I cannot BELIEVE the US has caught on too like they have in the UK. Most people would know them from the song “Bittersweet Symphony” but they have done tons more. Richard Ashcroft may also be one of the most depressed, bitter musicians ever, and it certainly shows. In their constant scowls and in the music. In fact, their song “The Drugs Don’t Work” was voted the most depressing song ever. In fact, most of their songs are heart-wrenching. And awesome. Urban Hymns was really one of their best albums, but here is a collection of their singles that is quite awesome.

[THE VERVE; This is Music]

abra cadabra

Don’t judge. I watched The Covenant. I really wanted it to be good, I love hot teens with supernatural powers (think Roswell). Male witches? At a prep school? Hawt! But oh lord, is this a piece of shit. The writing was gawd awful. In that every time two characters ran into each other, they would conveniently talk about their life histories. And at the boarding school they attended, only a handful of students actually talk to each other. And all the males that attend the school have the bodies of Michael Phelps. Oh, and the one main “witch” feels he can reveal his deepest darkest secret to a dull girl he falls in love with after dancing to a Pat Benetar song at a shitty pool hool. I’ll admit, I barely followed the plot and I had a hard time telling the male characters apart. They also kept talking about how when they “ascend” in their teens they develop true powers. It kept making me think they meant when their testicles descended. But maybe that’s just me.

Who knew

that Sascha Baren Cohen was a hottie? A British Jew? That Wedding Crashers gal is pretty lucky. I like how they feebily attempted to cut off his speech with the music.

Barry from East Enders

Well, this was long-awaited. Of course, nothing can compare to The Office. It was enjoyable, but it didn’t seem too original. Ricky Gervais is of course great at improvising putting himself in awkward situations, and as David Brent it was all part of the world he created, but here, again, it seems so forced. Kind of like Curb Your Enthusiasm. In The Office, it was both funny and you actually cared about the characters. It was over the top, but you could believe it. Here, it’s just random situations that seem quite unbelievable. How many times can you make some unfortunate un-PC comment and then bluster your way through an apology? Both have six episodes per season, but by the end of the first season of each, I felt more sucked into The Office. Oh well, comparisons are useless.

Maggie is pretty funny and adorable. She and Ricky Gervais have good chemistry. She is also a character that makes me feel good about soon turning 30.

I’m glad to see Stephen Merchant is actually appearing in the show. He is HI-larious as the agent. He may actually be funnier than Ricky Gervais.

Death Cab

Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab For Cutie, duh) is so desperate to be in mainstream, I guess. No judgement. First he appears on The O.C. Now he is starring in an upcoming indie film. He also likes to “ironically” cover pop songs on his solo tour, which is pretty cool, because he has a great voice. Here’s “Complicated” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun“.  While you’re at it, go listen to Something About Airplanes.

givin’ back to the kids

I am not a fan of the band, but I think it is really cool that despite their tour being sold out in minutes, The Arcade Fire is playing at a high school for free in their home town. Those kids must be going nuts. Come to think of it, my elementary school once brought some sort of rock band into the cafeteria. They played Guns and Roses covers. For real. Why did they do that? They are probably now famous. I don’t remember much. I hope my brother can validate this so I know I didn’t just hallucinate it.

Oh my brain is rotting

9:30. I’m not gonna lie. I a a bit bored. I’d be more inclined to stay up until the end if I actually watched any of the shows or movies that are nominated. I’m throwing in the towel, unless Jason Bateman comes out on stage naked.

9:20. Jake’s presenting. I actually said out loud, “oh, it’s my husband.” Thanks, Chrisandrew.

Has Little Children actually come out in theaters? What do I have to do to see Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson naked?

Zach Braff just gave a dumb look to the camera when he was announced. He thinks he is so fucking funny.

9:10 Joaquin, be still my heart.

All these awards bestowed on Elizabeth I…good thing I am bootlegging it as we speak.

8:40 Kevin Bacon was crying a lil. Aw

8:11 Woops, I guess it started. Beyonce, stop letting your mom dress you. Jay-Z looks sharp.

I didn’t know Justin Kirk was nominated! Lurve him!

7:40 Holy shit Evageline Lily is hot. I’ve only seen still pictures before this.

Hilary Swank is wearing the same hair accesory I wore at my Bat Mitzvah.

7:30 Ew. Jennifer Garner and her man shoulders just arrived. Felicity Huffman, you’re not 15. Lay off the makeup. Mark Wahlberg has a really hot voice.

Brad and Angelina are like paradies of themselves. Angelina looks rough. She can’t even walk by herself. Geez, Brad Pitt is still cute.

7:01 Ok, Ryan Seacrest. We get it. You’re straight. You want to stick your penis in all the actresses. Stop trying to hard.

Ugh, Meredith Pompeo just arrived. Her hair is in some rat’s nest/bees nest.

Dane Cook has the drug bloat.

6:49pm. Ryan just called Penelope Cruz “caliente!”. Oh shit. She gave a heartfelt speech about Pedro Almadovar and then Ryan asks, “are you dating Leo?”

Eric Dane is Leonardo DiCaprio in a moustche.

Why do they keep showing Zach Braff?

America Fereira is seeewwwww pretty.

6:32 Abigail Bresner just told Ryan to fuck off. Oh my god, they have a “glam cam” which consists of some pervy cameraman who gets a close up going up from the toe over the body. They just did it to Abigail, and I think they are going to be arrested.

So I’m at home working on some stuff, so as procrastination I am going to liveblog the Golden Globes.I’m watching E! and I am getting douchechills watching Ryan Seacrest and Guiliana something make asses of themselves in front of celebrities.

Golden Globuals

Wow, I almost didn’t realize the Golden Globes were on tonight. Good thing I remembered, because apparently I am nominated.

Wow, isn’t it a little weird that a night of such frivolity happens on the celebration of MLK. I’m not judging, I’ll be tuned into the six hour pre-show.

Lee + Kara 4eva lolz

Ok, one more thing about this Battlestar Galactica marathon today, the Sci-Fi channel is running messages from fans over the bottom, like it’s fucking TRL. Everyone’s all, “I want Lee and Kara to get together! I heart them!” whatever. I want to write in and say, “please blow more shit up”.

As I am watching this, I realize how much more Baltar kicks ass.  He’s a victim, people! Also, EW named him one of the best tv villains. Right on.

NYT

I love how the New York Times actually tried to review I Love New York. As in they are taking it seriously as a show. There’s actually some good insights there.

Also: a good article on December and May: Desire vs. Ick Factor. Underage-ish objects of desire are making a comeback in recent movies. When the hell is History Boys coming out on dvd?

Also, for those of you that have off from work today: there’s a Battlestar Galactica season three marathon on. You can geek out all day.

Also, I know that the second season of Rome started last night. And I don’t get HBO, so I will have to wait about 10 years to see it on dvd. Damn.

I hate Zach Braff

I just caught this little snippet:

Scrubs star Zach Braff has opened up about his battle with depression in a US magazine interview. The funnyman, who recently split from pop star Mandy Moore, told Sunday supplement Parade he thinks he suffers from “mild depression.” The Garden State star admits his fans have helped him come to terms with his mood swings. He says, “To to have millions of people go, ‘I watched your movie and related’ was the ultimate affirmation that I’m not a freak.” The Golden Globe Award nominee, 31, insists his moody nature and his lack of image make him the most unlikely Hollywood star: “I don’t care about image and all that nonsense. I’m in sweat pants every day. I don’t play the game at all.”

First of all, I’ll show you “mild depression”. And if having fans tell you they like you helps it, it’s not depression, it’s egotism. Also, not playing the game? Helllooooo.

I think I may need a new blog category for my Zach Braff hating.

And I am telling you

Finally saw Dreamgirls. I suppose it was enjoyable. Art imitates life, I guess, because Beyonce’s character was promoted as the most “marketable” of the three, and would appeal to a more mainstream (aka white) audience. I think it is difficult to stage a musical as a movie, and I guess the job was sufficient. The disco version of “One Night Only” was pretty rad.

Sons and Daughters

Bands from Scotland are so hot right now (Idlewild, Camera Obscura, Franz Ferdinand, Fratellis, Belle & Sebastian). Sons and Daughters are one of the best, and they utilize male and female vocals in a call-and-response type thing. I love that. You can tell they are huge fans of Johnny Cash, but updated for a more modern-indie sound.

[SONS AND DAUGHTERS; The Repulsion Box]

Beirut

Beirut is an artist that is blowing up from the excessive blog hype. Beirut is actually the recording name of 20-year old guy who recorded songs in his basement. It’s described at “gyspy music”. I don’t know. I’m still deciding if it is worth it to make this album part of my heavy rotation. To,e it sounds like a kid playing a banjo in his basement.  Meanwhile, the poor kid can’t even keep up with his own hype. A planned tour was already canceled. A good article here.

[BEIRUT; The Galag Okestar]

Idlewild: Scottish and Adorable

I wasn’t thrilled with 2005’s Warning/Promises or 2002’s The Remote Part, but the new Idlewild album is pretty fucking rad.

[IDLEWILD; Make a New World] [.rar][multiply]

I just…

…bought really cute shoes.

Speaking of consumerism culture, there is some pretty fucked up stuff going on. We are what we buy.

• The Gift-Card Economy – New York Times

• APP.COM – Kohl’s and Target drop drinking games | Asbury Park Press Online

• Coming soon — ads in airport security trays – CNN.com

• The worst commercials on television. – By Seth Stevenson – Slate Magazine

This is like a knife through my heart.

Why, John, why????

More here.

Tourgasm

I think I had a tougasm when I realized Dane Cook’s Tourgasm was on dvd. Now, I find about 18% of Dane Cook’s stuff pretty funny, the rest just him jumping around and metaphorically swinging his cock around. Or physically. And I am kind of annoyed at myself that I find him attractive. Anyway, this combines two of my favorite things: docu-reality shows and stand-up comedy. (Stand up comedian is one of my fantasy jobs, along with music journalist and forensic anthropologist) Well, being a stand-up comedian is not so much of of a fantasy seeing some of the CRAP that the other three comics had in their set. Seriously. There’s nothing I hate more than bad stand-up comedy. Anyway, I was excited about the series because I wanted to see more footage of their acts along with maybe, I don’t know, some insights into the world of being a comic? Not so much. It’s Dane Cook trying to show what a crazy and fun guy he is off stage, and some boring pranks they pull on each other, and stupid arguments they have, about who talks about sex too much, who is late to brunch, and generally acing like five year olds. What a vanity project. It made me come out of it thinking that Dane Cook is a megalomaniac and a complete asshole. If he wasn’t the center of attention at all time, he threw a temper tantrum. Riveting television.

March 30

Let’s talk about how I want to shoot myself. Bloc Party are playing in New York at the same time I will be in Orlando. ORLANDO people. The city I hate the most. Sigh.

bad videos

The best thing about me getting back into my gym routine is that I can consume more bad videos! This band Saosin seriously sucks. The video has montages of their photoshoot. That alone is a crime. And then there are other scenes of the band “goofing off”. The video is filmed like a high school video yearbook. I’ll bet they had someone strategically spray sweat on them for the live concert scene. HATE!

Even funnier is that the band can’t even pronounce their own name correctly!

The way to pronounce Saosin has been a topic of intense debate among fans. Despite Anthony Green’s explanation that it came from the Chinese proverb meaning “small heart” and that he, the one responsible for the name choice, pronounced it “say-ocean”, the current members of the band primarily pronounce it “Say-Oh-Sin”, meaning either pronunciation is widely considered acceptable.

moo

Milk cancels health benefit of drinking tea: study | Health | Reuters.com

Yet another reason to go vegan.

Rome, the Sequel – New York Times

About the art and set design of Rome.

is this still on?

My apparent husband is hosting SNL tonight.

please no.

SPIN.com: Kurt Cobain Biopic?

stereogum: Casting Couch: Kurt Cobain

If anyone wanted to honor the memory of Kurt Cobain, they would know that this is exactly the thing he would hate and not want done. I really thought Courtney Love was misunderstood, but after selling his back catalogue and this, I am done defending.

plumber butt is so attractive

Battlestar has the greenlight for a fourth season.

In other news, Tricia Helfer (Number Six) posed for Playboy. Whether you like men or women or neither, both, etc., everyone will prob. enjoy these pictures. Her body is ridiculous. Although, she had a no-crotch clause in her contract. I would probably betray the entire human race for a piece of that. There are scans of it here. So obviously not safe for work. In other news, Playboy is still in print?

The View

The View are supposed to be the next big band. I think. So I hear. Their average age is about 18 and they are Australian, and they look about 13 onstage. SO I guess they are like Silverchair meets Hanson. I think people had better lay off, because remember what happened to the last Australian bands that received this much attention? They were called the Vines and suddenly they had Aspergers and were making shitty albums with songs called “Fuck, yeah!” Anyway, this not a bad album.

[THE VIEW; Hats Off to the Buskers]

• The Modern Age on The View
• Brooklyn Vegan on The View
• The Observer’s Hot List

The Veils (again)

I know I have helped some of you get into The Veils, so in addition to Nux Vomica, here is their first album (arguably, it’s better). “The Leavers Dance” changed my life.

[THE VEILS; The Runaway Found]

reading

Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws

oh deary me

Why do the previews for Miss Potter make me want to punch the tv? I liked it when it was called Finding Neverland. The sugary sweet factor is overload and I can’t stand looking at Renee’s scrunched up fucking face.

I just died inside.

The Rapture are on tour with Under the Influence of Giants. It’s like that show will be so awesome I don’t even think I want to go. That doesn’t make sense. At least they are coming within 80 miles of where I live.

The Music

The Music’s debut album came out in 2002 and it never ceases to wow me. I think they were also all about 18 when this came out. Think Led Zeppelin meets Dance Dance Revolution. “Take The Long Road and Walk It” is stellar. Along with “The People” and “The Truth is No Words”. The band has also made it impossible for anyone to search for them on the web. Thanks folks.

[THE MUSIC; The Music]

Rainer Maria

[RAINER MARIA; Long Knives Drawn]

Sounds kind of like a cheap knockoff of Rilo Kiley.

America: The Book

For those of you that are living under a rock, there is a hilarious book called America: The Book that is a parady of a civics textbook. The audio version once got me through a miserable train ride, so it is worth a share. Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, and Rob Corrdry are all on it too.

[America: The Book ]

this is a post about Fall Out Boy

I don’t know. Fall Out Boy may be losing their oldest fan in the world (me). I am looking forward to the new record, but they are acting like douches. First, they are pimping out themselves to a corporate sponsor. Then Peen Wentz decides he is too cool to play the bass during a song and would rather prance in front of fans. Well, they don’t care if people don’t like them. I guess it’s all about the music, huh? I still like their new songs, so we’ll see. Let the hatemail begin.

Kitchen Confidential

Recently read: Kithen Confidential: Adventures from the Cultural Underbelly. Well, skimmed it really. I am not sure I leanred so much about the culinary underbelly, except that it kind of made me want to take Heroin. Literally. Anthony Bourdain was actually addicted to heroin for a while. I think it actually made his job more fun. Other than that he just kind of bragged about how awesome he is. I guess what I learned is that I am certainly not cut out for the culinary/restaurant industry. I like job stability and normal hours. So sue me.

recently

• NME.COM – News – Madonna: new album has ‘new sound’
• Steve-O Slams “Abusive” Circus: “F**k ‘em!” – TMZ.com
• Clive Owen is new spokesman for Lancome – Yahoo! News good choice
• MTV News | Killers Hop On Bikes In Tokyo For ‘Read My Mind’ Video glad this is their new single, it’s one of the best on the album
• Dunst is Debbie Harry? hmmmm….
• stereogum: Band Cameos In The Movies
• ‘The OC’: A Fast Start, a Faster Finish – New York Times will not be missed
• Deus Ex Malcontent: 2006: Year of the Douchebag (The Complete List) Dane Cook at #1?
• Connecticut: Where Fun Comes to Die « east village idiot yes
• Girlfriend ‘07: Ten Fictional Women Who Make It Difficult To Date Real Women good list, so true
• “Galactica” Gets A DTV Movie (January 1st 2007)
• What is this, Stargate Atlantis?
  
• cbs4boston.com – Florida Family Gets Bratz Doll That Swears awesome
• The most amazing—and disappointing—cultural events of 2006. – - Slate Magazine
• stereogum: John Mayer’s Second Swing At Stand Up now he does standup too? My crush must be stopped!

Dirty Little Secret

I haven’t revealed any guilty pleasures lately.

If you are prodicing a sexy teen romp movie or show, you are under contract to use “Dirty Little Secret” in the promo or movies. If you have a scene in a primetime show or MTV docu-reality show that includes someone trying to feel empowered and the rights the KT Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See” is too expensive, use “Move Along”. Really, this album is pretty catchy.

[ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS; Move Along]

I don’t know why people didn’t like Madonna’s latest album, I think it’s her best since the 80s. Maybe because it’s similar to eighties dance. I also love the recent look and concept.

[MADONNA; Confessions on a Dance Floor]

toasters

Ok, I’m not too thrilled about these promos for the second half of season three. If Baltar is a cylon, I will quit watching the show. There is no way it is possible. Cylons only looked like humans very recently, and he is at least 40 years old. But wait…….the cylon war happened 40 years ago? Unless he really died on Caprica and they replaced him with a newly made Baltar copy. I don’t know. It looks like a promo for the season of One Tree Hill or some shit like that. Get back to the killing and spaceships, enough with the drahma.

video time

A video from one of the greatest fucking bands on earth have been released. Bloc Party’s “I Still Remember” is not my favorite off the album (I think it sounds like Coldplay), but worth it.

I’m back

Yea, so I’m back from my trip to Florida to visit my parents, and I could include all the family drama that happened, but who want to hear my serious issues on this thing? We did take a trip to Miami and South Beach, and that was really fun. I think I actually could live in Miami. Miami Beach, however, it a little out of control and not for me. The city of Miami, now hear me out, actually reminds me of DC. DC if it were tropical. Miami Beach is almost a cartoon, and a parady of a town with nightlife.

Another good thing is that I was in the mood to go shopping and actually got a lot of stuff to wear during interviews. This took tons of stress off, because I hate shopping and I hate shopping for suits. It’s such a farce. I will never wear a suit to any job on any day, so why conform to dome standard? It’s like I’m back at Disney World, being called a Jezebel for wearing earrings more than an inch long.

Another thing I did was watch the first season of Rome. It totally gave me a PBR*. Oh my god, it is amazing. It has everything I love in a show: power struggles, political dilemnas, loyalty/treason, battle scenes, comradery, awesome villains, and great period costumes. Actually, it reminds of of Battlestar Galactica, the story arcs and themese are very similar if you think about it. Plus, beautiful people in togas. Of course, it is with flaws. There was that one random episode in Egypt where Cleopatra is a nympho opium addict. Also, some storylines escalate way too quickly (Brutus goes from playing chess with Caesar in one episode to assasinating him in the next). Also, I can’t ignore that the women (the non-nobility) are repeatedly abused and treated like shit. I guess it is authentic to the times. Although itdoes who how they use extremem relational aggression in contrast to the mindless physical aggression all the men use. I’m so excited for the second season, since it will focus on Octavian and Marc Antony (two of the best characters). Anyway, watch it! Watch it! Watch it!

*PBR = pop culture boner

rule!

O’Reilly, Colbert to trade appearances – Yahoo! News

Stellastarr* lives!

From the Myspace blog:

Since we’ve been laying low and writing for the past few months, we figured we would bring in the new year with a song we demoed recently. It is tentatively tited ‘warchild’ and we will re-record it later in the year for our next record.

But for now, we thought it would be fun to throw something a little more bare bones up on the page. It’s a rough recording, but we liked it that way.

I like it! I like it!

you can’t stop the beat

Some new photos from the Hairspray movie. Looks like it could be good. Or completely horrible.

Amber Von Tussle looking like….what you’d expect.

Queen Latifah playing her typecast role. And that’s John Travolta folks. I think I actually look like him in drag.

omg! Zac Efron as Link Larkin! Sooo cute! He looks like Joaquin in Walk the Line.

Mrs. Pingleton has the right idea. I’s like to tie up Amanda Bynes and beat the shit out of her.

Drrrrrt

Alright, I gave it another try, but it was already dead on arrival. When your friendly neighborhood schizo started doing a jaunty voiceover, I knew it was over. What a mess. What was the storyline? Getting baby photos of that couple? It barely came to a conclusion. And NO ONE EVER came up with the idea of combining the two magazines before this moment? Sorry Courtney C-A, I tried.

The Dirtbombs

I am home safe and sound, but can’t muster up the energy to update a lot. Instead, here is an album I listened to on repeat all week. Read more about the Dirtbombs here.

[THE DIRTBOMBS; If You Don't Already Have A Look]

see you tomorrow…

I’ll be home and back to posting tomorrow, but these things could not wait, they are BREAKING NEWS.

KELE OBEREKE COMES OUT OF THE CLOSET. Bloc Party could not be more awesome if they tried. maybe if they were also all Jews.

EWAN MCGREGOR WILL NO LONGER DO ANY NUDE SCENES. And my will to live is gone.

Also, I am utterly and crazily obsessed with Rome. It makes me wish I lived then. Although I’d probably be a scabies-ridden prostitute.

sorry we’re closed

I’m headed to Florida for the week, and blogging capabilities are iffy. I am not sure how you are going to manage, but you’ll have to figure something out. I’ll be back next Thursday.

Essential albums: Death Cab For Cutie

Death Cab have been a staple of independent music since 1998, but I fear they jumped the shark when Seth Cohen of The O.C. proclaimed his love for them. I also feel their last two albums, Transatlaticism and Plans were really watered down. As with most bands, their first album was their best. Classics off this one are “Pictures in an Exhibition” and “Bend to Squares”.

[DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE; Something About Airplanes]

my bloody valentine

Well, it’s the end of an era.

Benji Madden is engaged.

Erin, don’t put your head in the oven.

The Faint

I’ve been digging around my music collection for stuff I have kind of forgotten about for a while. And then I realized how awesome this album is. “Birth” is definately the best song. Anysong that starts out “in the beginning there was semen…” is okay in my book.

[THE FAINT; Wet From Birth]

Wikipedia: The Faint

adulterers

Well, 2007 is off to a bad start for me…two of my celeb boyfriends are already cheating on me… and they’re flaunting it all over the internet.

Duke LAX

I wasn’t going to blog about how the rape charges were dropped against the Duke Lacrosse team because the women because what happened wasn’t considered sexual assault. I didn’t even know how to begin about my feelings about it. Luckily, Slate has a good article.

The Duke rape case prosecutor must be stopped. – By Emily Bazelon – Slate Magazine

Dirt

I am looking forward to the premiere of Dirt tonight, although it seems kind of shallow. I like Courtney Cox, and I think her talent was wasted on Friends. For the last five seasons of the show her character became a shrill, annoying, controlling mental case.

Arrested Devo

I was trying to extend it as long as I could, just to appreciate it more, but I finally finished the last season of Arrested Development. Why do I get sad at the end of a show’s run, even if it is borderline screwball comedy? And why the hell did Fox have an Emmy-winning show and then did a shitty job of marketing and supporting it? Why is this canceled and shit like Yes Dear ran for like 10 seasons?

she only __s when she’s on top

I’ve compiled many of my favorite cover songs. My current favorites: Matt Nathanson covers James’ “Laid”. Deadsy’s “Fox on the Run” and Giant Drag’s “God Only Knows”.

Eagles of Death Metal

The Eagles of Death Metal are so bad ass that they just told Axl Rose to fuck off and quit as the opening act for the Guns and Roses tour. They are not death metal, they are more like a garage band with handlebar mustaches.

[.rar file] [multiply]

Bitchfest

Just read: Bitchfest: Ten Years of Cultural Criticism from the Pages of Bitch Magazine. This is one of the best feminist publications because it is observational of pop culture and modern phenomenon and although it informed, it is individual author’s opinions. So in other words, not so academic, intellectual, and overly condescending. This is a collection of some of their best stuff. My favorite essays include: “The Like, Downfall of the English Language: A Fluffy Word with a Hefty Problem”, “Girl Unreconstructed: Why Girl Power is Bad for Feminism”, “Fan/Tastic Voyage” Rewriting Gender in the Wide, Wide World of Slash Fiction”, and “Your Stomach is the Size of a Peanut, So Shut Up Already: An Open Letter to Carnie Wilson”.

Hairspray teaser

This is the dumbest movie teaser ever, for Hairspray. Now I’m not to excited to see it. But what’s this? James Marsden is in it?

Ewan M. promotional appearances

Ewan is in a the movie Miss Potter which looks boring as crap. But that means promotion appearances! He’s totally rocking the Chuck Taylors and armbands. What are you, 39? And by that I mean marry me marry me marry me marry me marry me. On Conan: please keep talking about your lightsaber! On The View: Elizabeth Hassleback, stop having hotflashes, don’t even think about it. (And who is the scary drag queen?)