The Academy Is…

My ultimate guilty pleasure has a new album.

[THE ACADEMY IS....; Santi] [multiply][mediafire]

Shirley Manson for PETA

God, I wish it was 1997 and I was still rocking out to Garbage in my dorm room. Not really. But Shirley Manson (love love love her) is in a new anti-fur campaign for PETA. I love her dress. I’ll bet it would be cuter with a leather clutch.

a gay icon?

Will Arnett in The Advocate interview.

List: new crushes

I’ve been perving out lately, thought I’d keep you updated.

Jesse: the “chubby” trainer from Workout

Nick Simmons: Gene’s Simmons’ son. He’s 6′7″, awkward, 18. in a band, and half-Jew.

Henry Cavill

Ana Faris: I have always liked her, but I just saw her in Just Friends (actually a funny movie) and now I am in love.

Nigel Barker: I totally didn’t know he was straight.

Thursday morning reading

• Dexter finally coming to dvd
• Cliffs Notes on the Karate Kid. Amazing how much work went into this.
• Nevermind put into dance form.
• Freaky children’s rock bands. Yay for the Misfits!
• Girls Gone Wild restaurants: coming soon
• Perez Hilton’s yearbook photo: lolz
• Jane Mag Sundance slide show
• Patrick Wolf is coming to New York! Squee!
• The Gap started selling “Williamsburg” jeans. The end is near.
• Mika is getting death threats.
• The Fratellis live photos
• Jake jogs
• Justin Timberlake’s album will sound like The Rapture
• Edward Scissorhands: The Ballet
• Shakespeare comedies in 14 sentences
• Heaven and Hell according to 7 religions
• Church services held in a nightclub: do I need another reason to love the UK?

you know you’re getting old when

You file your taxes:

1. weeks before the deadline

2. you kind of have fun doing it.

There are two different kinds of people in the world

Those who find the Geico caveman commercials funny and those who don’t. Guess which kind I hate.

it’s been a while since I heard from my boyfriend

Jack White, that is. He’s going to be playing Elvis. I don’t really know how.

you can’t escape the danger

It looks like this Saturday, the original UCB is recording the commentary for the Season 2 dvd of the Uprights Citizen Brigade. Yay! That means it is being released! Maybe this summer? I couldn’t find any clips on youtube to commemorate. So, I’ll put up some clips of Ian Roberts (dm!) as the literal doctor on Arrested Development.

youtube dump

The 2001 short film for BMW, directed by Guy Ritchie and Starring Madonna and Clive Owen.

To the Rescue! I love these fan vids.

The PG-rated version of 300.

Director David O. Russell and Lily Tomlin have a wee disagreement on the set of I Heart Huckabees. What a dick.

THe trailer for 28 Weeks Later, the sequel to…you guessed it. No Cillian Murphy this time, but with one of my favorites, Rose Byrne. I love zombie movies, so I’ll give it a try.

new movie posters

I found a site that has upcoming movie posters and all I can say is wtf? Are these for real? Worst marketing ever. And the movies look like shit too. Based on these, I could make movie posters with Microsoft Paint using clip art and cal myself a graphic designer.

wha?

Cleaning out my links. Here’s some Tuesday morning reading.

Rolling Stone’s Rules for the Fair Use of Important Band Names
Biology in Science Fiction: What was the virus that killed the cylons?
This American Life comes to tv
22 TV Opening-Credit Sequences That Fit Their Shows Perfectly
Extras, like the Office, will end after two seasons
The USA swim team and water polo team. See anything you like?
Blonde Redhead discuss new album. It’s frikking awesome.
Panda Bear: Person Pitch: Pitchfork Record Review Of course they give it a high score. How predictable.
Can American Apparel replace the Gap? Remember when the Gap ruled?

Women’s Work: Never Too Nice Armchair feminism
Kate and Leo: together again!
Rolling Stone’s 10 Artists to Watch. Yea, uz RS is really the authority on music these days.
Amy Poehler + Will Arnett. Love them!
A Trainspotting sequel will not be happening.
Run, Jake!

Spoon

Totally been listening to Spoon lateley, since their music was used heavily in Stranger Than Fiction. And they have a new album coming out soon. And they are awesome. This album is one of my faves, from 2001.

[SPOON; Girls Can Tell] [mediafire]

All along the watchtower

Ok, so just a follow up on the finale. If you are interested in the decision to use “All Along the Watchtower” as the signal for cylon identity, read Bear McCreary’s blog entry. He is the composer for the show. Also, here is the Bob Dylan version. Shows how much I know, I thought Jimi Hendrix did the original.

Also, another theory: maybe the song was picked up from a broadcast from earth, and took 40 years to get to the fleet. Therefore, they are 40 light years away from earth.

Another theory: there are no humans, only cylons. Did I just blow your mind?

If you are sick of hearing about bsg, eff off. Let me geek out.

The Golden Compass

For those if you into this Dark Materials stuff….the trailer is out. Erin was nice enough to getme the book, but I haven’t read it yet. It’s on my list.

Are those knickers?

Aieeeee! Patrick Wolf. So cute. Here he is doing an awkward cover of “When Doves Cry” with Charlotte Church.

At least he wasn’t trashed like Amy Winehouse was.

Inappropriate but I wish I had thought of it first

Anna Nicole Smith Finally Reaches Target Weight

Please let it be June.

More about the upcoming New Porographers album. Apparently it will be “epic”. Last time we heard that, we got Sam’s Town. Also, Carl Newman kind of called their fans dumb.

shut up and keep designing pearl necklaces

Ian Thorpe insists he’s not gay. If he were gay, he thinks that’s okay, but he wouldn’t know because he’s not. But being gay is okay, being an gay icon is okay…but remember he is not. It’s like the whole Tyra Banks “If I were fat it would be okay, but I’m actually not, but if I was, it would be ok”. Wow, he is also on the forefront of gender politics: “Guys are just guys, girls are just girls, all of us are different. Some guys are more in touch with their feminine side, interested in design and quirky things, some are blokey blokes”.

Also, Chris Evans’ publicist is no longer allowing him to pose shirtless. Damn.

Battlestar season finale

Holy crap. Holy crap. Holy crap.

Let’s start with the trial. Some more mundane, Grey’s Anatomy-esque writers would have put Baltar on the stand for a heartfelt confession and shown tears and sympathy. I am glad they didn’t do that. Lee’s speech pretty much summed up the past three seasons for me. He actually recognized the scapegoating of everyone else and the inconsistencies of their shady good v. evil moral. Baltar is a scapegoat. Also, kudos to the writers for making Baltar still Baltar- love how Lee and his lawyer made it very clear it wasn’t about Baltar, but about the system. Batar recruited into a zealous religious cult? Noyce. I am excited for that.

Tori and Anders? I totally called it. HOT HOT HOT HOT. And Anders will become a viper pilot? It’s like my fanfic come true.

I am disappointed in Gaeta. For someone who was so quick to blow the whistle on Tigh fixing the election, he had no qualms lying under oath. Douchebag.

Ok, ok. The final five. At first I thought it would be ridiculous to reveal some main characters as cylons, but the fact that the characters acknowledged the flaw was good. Tigh was involved in the first cylon war- unless he was created way before that. The other characters were part of a resisitance against the cylons. Even though their cylon switch was “switched on”, they still maintained their human feelings and understanding of what their duties are. It will make for an interesting plot for all of them to have a pact to not let others find out about them. Also, for them to struggle with the realization and still try to be a loyal member of the fleet. Here are some other thoughts.

• Maybe they aren’t really cylons. They were all on New Caprica and could have been implanted with some sort of “chip” that made them hear the music and the cylons have been tracking them all along. THe cylons identified the important players in the colonial fleet/resistance and wanted to keep and eye on them.
• Maybe they aren’t the final cylons, but the fice final cylons are somehow possessing their bodies and using them as hosts. That would explain why Tigh actually has a documented history, and the others are seemingly different ages.
• Maybe the first five were created, and then decided that they would rather be human and left to joint the human race. But that wouldn’t explain why they were not self-aware.
• Perhaps “All Along the Watchtower” (good song choice) is some sort of radio transmission from earth. They will arrive on earth during the 60s. Yipes!

Ok, now Starbuck. That was an awesome scene. Is she a cylon? I still don’t think so. Is she a projection in Lee’s mind, like the Baltar/Six relationship? Quite possibly. But the way she was so natural in saying hi to Lee made me think it was really her and not a projection.

Speaking of, what is going to happen to Caprica Six? Maybe she will become allies with the known cylons on board.

Also, does that mean that Nicky is a human/cylon hybrid? Are he and Hera going to connect?

All in all, it was the best episode of the seaon. For a while I thought it was going in a direction I did not like. Then tonight’s episode renewed my love for the show by not staying with the standard, predictable route. Acknowledging the flaws in identifying the final cylons scored bug points for me. They could go great places with this. Once found out that they are cylons, will they be allowed to settle on earth?

Ack, can’t wait for 2008!!

The Tudors

I finally caught the first two episodes of the Tudors. It is okay. Entertaining I guess, but mediocre. I think the writers thought if they threw period costumes and sex it could be a good show. I mean, on those criteria alone, it could be awesome, but I can’t see myself becoming engrossed in it. JRM doesn’t do it for me, and he seems horribly miscast. The story is not engrossing. Henry is portrayed as shallow, tempermental and egostistic. Many other characters are portrayed that way (i.e. Gaius Baltar, Marc Antony) but somehow they are intriguing, where as this Henry is not. Also, after just finishing The Other Boleyn Girl, this whole thing seems repetitive. I wonder how it will fare when the movie comes out this summer. I suppose I will watch it when it comes out on dvd. If not for the insanely hot Henry Cavill. Also, I am intigued by the actress that plays Anne Boleyn.

Hogwarts after dark

Maybe you’ve already heard that the triumvirate (Emma, Daniel and Rupert, that is) are coming back for the final two movies. However, they are kind of going a little crazy. We know about DanRad showing the goods onstage. Rupert is dating a 23-year old ex-drug addict with an aversion to brassieres, and now Neville Longbottom is whoring it up on Myspace. Um, dm?

stranger than snoozfest

Stranger Than Fiction = most pointless movie ever? I know there was the whole message of live your life to the fullest, etc., but things just made no cinematic sense. It was like it had some undertone of biblical evangelist message that I didn’t get.  And Maggie Gyllenhaal, reading from cue cards does not constitute acting.

Human Giant

Uh, where have I been? I just realized that the show Human Giant is premiering this week. It stars Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel, among others, who are UCB performers. Ah, don’t have very high expectations. The bad taste left by the Stella tv show still lingers.

Can’t wait….

….to see Gindhouse. Check out the EW feature.

the megatron matrix

I got back from a fantastic weekend in DC last Tuesday and I never wrote about it like I meant to. Along with spending time with people I love, seeing crappy Irish dancers, eating at Busboys & Poets, I also ran out in the freezing rain to go to the National Portrait Gallery, which was closed the whole time I had lived there. I have also been a huge critic of the Smithsonias musuems, but if you have a chance, GO THERE. If you appreciate art, go there. If you appreciate history, go there. If you appreciate civil rights and social movements, go there. It’s so much more than the collection of presidential portraits. They have a whole range of contemporary portraits, from Tom Wolfe to Brett Farvre to Philip Glass.

Connected to the Portrait Gallery is the newly opened Musuem of American Art. A great collection of contemporary art, included two large installations by Nam June Paik. The best was the Megatron Matrix, which I sat in front of for over an hour. It’s hard to explain, and I wouldn’t do it justice. There’s a clip here and here.

I know my artiste friends probably think his stuff is not that great, but with my six undergraduate credits in modern art, I was pretty impressed.

The other crazy thing about DC is the incredible amount of condos going up. When I first moved there, people claimed I would get shot if I lived east of 16th street. Now I will never be able to afford something on 10th street. Plus, I can’t even go by the Columbia Heights metro station without being ill from the construction of a the new Target. Down with gentrification!

Spoon

Holy cripes Spoon has a new album coming out and they are playing CT.

not surprisingly,

The new Fall Out Boy video for “Thnks for the Mmrs” is kind of stupid.

celeb crush dump

Ewan M. doing promotional appearances on French televsion. SWOON

Gaspard something something in French Vogue.

Gaspard something something smoking. DOUBLE SWOON.

Adam Brody in a bathrobe.

Peter Sarsgaard with fam and looking like crap.

Demetri Martin in the new Fountains of Wayne video.

Zac Efron/James Marsden in Hairspray.

Sacha Baron Cohen out and about. Why you so tall?

Larry Kramer

If you were feeling too optimistic today…

Why do straights hate gays?

The Hidden Cameras

Are you craving some gay folk church music? Look no further than the Hidden Cameras [A mix of queer politics, explicit sexuality, symphonic indie pop, and theatrical spectacle that borders on the religious].For the past few years I have dismissed them, but I stumbled back across their 2003 release, which is their best one (even Pitchfork thinks so). It’s an acquired taste.

[THE HIDDEN CAMERAS; The Smell of Our Own] [multiply] [mediafire]

Oh, bloody hell.

The Darkness are officially kaput. If they knew they were in my top 20 of the century, would that have changed things?

Songs I can’t stop listening to today

The Hidden Cameras; “Boys of Melody”

The Fratellis; “Old Black ‘N Blue Eyes” 

Top 100 of the 21st Century: The final five!

Previously: #100-6

#5 Stellastarr*, Stellastarr* (2003)
If John Hughes made a movie about hipsters…
Influential Power 5
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 10

#4 Rilo Kiley, The Execution of All Things (2002)
Unbelievable.
Influential Power 7
Staying Power 8
Cred Power 8

#3 Bloc Party, Silent Alarm (2005)
Worth the hype.
Influential Power 6
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 7

#2 Muse, Origin of Symmetry (2001)
I’ve heard this described as operatic indie rock. Proof that Americans have no taste in music.
Influential Power 7
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 8

#1 The Strokes, Is This It? (2001)
The original essential album.
Influential Power 25
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 8

BRMC

Black Rebel Motorcycle club released their fourth album, and it pretty much rocks my socks.

[BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB; Baby 81] [multiply] [mediafire]

The real real world

Wel, maybe The Real World will redeem itself because apparently for the last season, the producers are looking for people with actual career goals and ambition. Remember in the days if yore, in San Francisco, when they talked about politics? Or in London, where they were actually struggling through school? I miss you, Julie from Alabama.

battlestar thoughts

Um…what? I’m a little disoriented.

On the previews for next week, does Anders say “it’s true, we’re cylons?” If that were the case, they wouldn’t have shown that. He may have been being sarcastic.

Also, this whole Lee revolting against his father came out of nowhere. Is it simply because the Admiral wanted him to be the CAG and he didn’t feel like it? Except for the whole mutiny from season one, there hasn ‘t been any discourse. That really frustrates me. And does he really believe in the system that much?

I actually yelled “YES!” out loud when Six clocked Tigh.

Anders and Tori? Cylons? Or having a secret affair? Although having Anders as a cylon would not make sense. Unless the one that Starbuck met on new Caprica did not know he was a cylon, and the one she went back for was a cylon that did know. Why would Tori be a cylon? Hasn’t she been helping the insurgence too much?

At this point, it would make NO sense for any of the main characters to be cylons. If they didn’t know they were cylons their actions would make sense, but it wouldn’t make sense that they were not “activated” yet to carry out their missions.

I feel like too much is in the air to wrap up the season. In the last episode, we need to:

• find out who the final five cylons are
• find out if they are going to find earth
• have some sort of epic battle
• wrap up this trial
• prove once and for all that Laura Roslin is evil
• see Anders shirtless
• find out what really happened to Ellen
• find out what really happened to Starbuck
• find out if Caprica Six is going to be considered a traitor to the Cylons
• reunite Caprica Six and Baltar and see if she forgives him for canoodling with Number Three
• find out what the deal is with the Australian lawyer
• find out what the eye of jupiter really means (Tyrol never resolved that)
• find out why Laura Roslin’s cancer came back
• find out what the deal with the radio signals are

And, even if it resolved that, are we ever going to have an update on how the tyllium miners are doing? Or how the Sagitarians are doing? Prolly not.

I cannot handle waiting six months for the new season.

New York v. London

New York magazine is sort of having this city deathmatch thing, comparing London to NY. Of course, it is all based on bougie stuff, with categories like “Who rocks harder?” “Who has a more stuck up lit scene?”  I’ve never lived there, but London seems like a 100 times better.

I’m about four years too late on this bandwagon…

But I can’t get enough of it.

song I can’t stop listening to

“If You Fall” by Azure Ray- it’s from the Shortbus soundtrack.

Romeo & Romeo

If you have ever seen Matthew Bourne’s production of Swan Lake, you know it is pretty fricking awesome. (If you have seen Billy Elliott, then you have seen part of it. At the end, the older Billy Elliot is playing the lead in the production, and is actually played by Adam Cooper, the star of the original prouction.)(Even if you are not into ballet, it is still pretty good. Netflix that shit.) Anyhoo, Matthew Bourne is now going to remake Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet as a gay love story. Hopefully it will be awesome.

Top 100 of the 21st Century: #10-6

Previously: #100-11

#10 The Sounds, Dying to Say This to You (2006)
I’ve talked about this one enough. You know how I feel about it.
Influential Power 2
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 6

#9 Phantom Planet, The Guest (2002)
THis album changed my life in 2002. I also feel personally respinsible for some of their fanbase.
Influential Power 2
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 6

#8 Nada Surf, The Proximity Effect (2000)
Influential Power 6
Staying Power 8
Cred Power 9

#7 The White Stripes, Elephant (2004)
This album is pretty much perfect. “Seven Nation Army” gives me goosebumps.
Influential Power 10
Staying Power 8
Cred Power 7

#6 The New Pornographers, Mass Romantic (2000)
Trying to pick the best NPs album gave me a panic attack. “Letter From an Occupant” gave this the advantage.
Influential Power 7
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 8

some morning reading

This Much Left | Blog Archive | Dems Demean Colbert

The Women’s War – Sara Corbett – Iraq – Soldiers – Women – Abuse

Faces Of The RIAA

Is Homosexuality Immoral? Clinton, Obama Won’t Say

Kansas City Star | 03/16/2007 | Lesbian kiss falls flatter than a pancake

ohnotheydidnt: 100 worst-reviewed films of all time

Alice Walker – Rebecca Walker – Feminist – Feminist Movement – Children

Does cheering against success make you an a-hole? | The A.V. Club

Rachel Bilson & Hayden Christensen — NEW COUPLE ALERT!

2008 Presidential Race – MySpace – Politics

Guardian Unlimited: Arts blog – music: Do we still need record shops?

McGregor Finds An “Incendiary” Device (March 14th 2007)

Viacom Sues YouTube Over Copyrights

Social Explorer

SupersizedMeals.com – Foodstuffs of Epic Proportions

Shortbus

I was skeptical, but Shortbus was….good. I think. For the first half hour, I wanted to punch everyone in the movie in the face. If I ever meet Ceth with a “C” on the street I would seripously harm him. But then the last half hour or so was pretty good. John Cameron Mitchell has good filmmaking moments, but he’s not quite there. I haven’t watched any of the making of, behind the scenes dvd extras stuff yet.

phew

I’m back. Miss DC already. I’m pooped, and I come home to find that there were 10 inches of snow and my car is plowed in. Fun. I know my photo account has exceeded its bandwidth, I’m working on it. So much to blog, so little time. But….I’m gonna take a nap.

lataz

I’ll be in DC for the long weekend, so posting will be scarce. In the meantime, you can spend some time looking at pictures of Guispard Ulliel. Schwing!

Or learn how to stop Peter Bjorn and John from becoming more comfortable.

you can always count on Disney to ruin a good thing

Not that they were never about the money, but Disney is just so damn greedy, that when they have a successful idea, they milk it for all it is worth. Example: all the straight to video sequels of their classic movies. It’s shameful. And now that they have struck gold with High School Musical, they can’t let it be with the sequel. Now that have a spinoff called Haunted High School musical. And there was a traveling tour (sans Efron) and now…wait for it…High School Musical on Ice. Enough. I understand the purspose of a company is to turn a profit and market their items, but this just seems so blatantly greedy it makes me ill. However, I am stroked for the sequel. The plot looks fantas.

Sharpay Evans, the rich girl whom audiences loved to hate in the original movie, is on a campaign to woo Troy, the basketball coach’s son, away from Gabriella. The setting is a luxurious country club owned by Sharpay’s father, where Troy, Gabriella and their East High classmates have all landed summer jobs. Instead of a school musical, the source of conflict (and more than a few songs) is the club’s annual talent show, and Sharpay is scheming to get Troy to perform a duet.

The whole Troy/Sharpay thing comes out of nowhere, I thought she had some innapppriate shit going on with her brother.

Please hurry with that sequel, they all look about 30.

More cheesy rehearsal pictures here.

Oh, and Zac Efron is a dick: “Personally, I feel no competition with the cast because I’m not going for the same things they are. A lot of them are doing teen music things, and tours, various TV deals and other Disney TV movies and Disney albums. That’s the last thing I want to be doing at the moment. I’m setting my sights a little bit higher.” Apparently that means playing Speed Racer.

List: my dream careers

Does it shock you to know that I am not currently in my dream career? As I am full force in my job search and up to my armpits in resumes, it has made me think why the hell I am applying to jobs in my field. Despite the American dream of “you can do anything” it is just easier to stay in the field you are in than try something new.

• Alex Blagg’s job
• biological anthropologist
• freelance writer
• Wealthy foundation owner
• Merch girl for a band
• music magazine editor
• nurse midwife
• DJ
• recluse
• social psychologist
• art historian
• nonprofit management consultant

Attention Andrew:

your dream come true: A Take That musical. Funny, Erin and I already wrote a musical based on Mxpx songs.

Top 100 of the 21st Century #15-11

Previously: #100-16

#15 The Raveonettes, Chain Gang of Love (2003)
Fuzzy 1950s surf music. Great harmonies.
Influential Power 6
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 7

#14 Le Tigre, Feminist Sweepstakes (2001)
Queer feminist punk/electronica
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 8

#13 The Stills, Logic Will Break Your Heart
The soundtrack to the most depressing time of your life.
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 5
Cred Power 8

#12 The Darkness, Permission to land
Hair metal made a brief comeback.
Influential Power 3
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 6

#11 Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell (2002)
The YYYs helped pioneer the revival of the NY rock scene.
Influential Power 7
Staying Power 5
Cred Power 6

Ultra-annoying

I listed Ultragrrrl as one of the most annoying bloggers. She usually blogs about music she is into (no crime there) but she has to always name drop and talk about her boyfriend every five seconds. And always mention how she knows The Killers and some shit like that. She just irks me. I thought I was the only one. Apparenty, there are legions of people that don’t care for her. So much she gets a feature story in the Voice.  And she always does that same damn half-mouth smile. Gaaaaah I hate her still.

 She’s working with a screenwriter on a movie script partially based on her life.

Good god.

wha….

As if I couldn’t absolutely loathe the Disney company even more. Apparently there is a contest with Career Builder where you can apply to a “dream job” at Disney World, playing a pirate or a princess or some shit like that. How presumptuous for them to assume that is someone’s dream job…working in hot conditions for minimum wage? Also, what about the people who live in Orlando who have no choice but to work at Disney World catering to the privileged tourists just so they can feed their kids? UGH. Don’t get me started. Notice this also inspired a new blog category.

headline news

Some tidbits really caught my attention today.

• Viacom Sues YouTube Over Copyrights for fricking one billion dollars
• Starbucks aims for 40,000 new stores . That’s about 4 Starbucks for every person in America. Or something like that.
• The Guardian interviews Larry Clark. What has he been up to lately?
• The 20 Worst Cover Songs in Pop Music History. Ha! I included my favorite below. Hilarious.
• Random Rules: Chuck Klosterman | The A.V. Club. My hero.

The Tudors

Wow! You can watch the first two episodes of the Tudors (the password is king). I’m going to watch it later. I love historical novels, movies, and series, but get very angry when things are not historically correct. I think this show is going more for nudity than accuracy.

let me nurse you back to health

I didn’t think it was possible to make crutches so fucking hot.

Top 100 of the 21st century #20-16

The suspense is killing me! Previously: #100-21

#20 At the Drive-In, This Station is Non-operational (Anthology) (2005)
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 8
Cred Power 10

#19 Murder City Devils, In Name and Blood (2000)
Influential Power 5
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 9

#18 The Faint, Wet From Birth (2004)
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 5
Cred Power 5

#17 Metric, Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)
Influential Power 5
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 7

#16 Superdrag, Last Call for Vitriol (2002)
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 9
Cred Power 7

Amy Winehouse

is the shit. Look it up.

[AMY WINEHOUSE; Back to Black]

nsfw

Mates of State did a PETA ad campaign. Love them!

Ricky Gervais

I found a zip file of all the episodes of The Ricky Gervais show in mp3, so if you missed it earlier, check it out. I know that SOMEONE (ahem, Brian) thinks that Stephen Merchant isn’t funny, but they play off each other very well.

[uploaded here]

leftovers

John and Jessica out about in Italy again…and coming home. He is actually looking kind of hipster. It’s off-putting.
Antony and the Johnsons Bring Crazy to Brooklyn by covering Beyonce
Ben Stiller stars in new Travis video | News | NME.COM Noyce!
A groundless beef with the Atkins diet. – By William Saletan – Slate Magazine
The Riches ; It’s supposed to be good, but I don’t know if I can make another committment to a tv show.
T.G.I. Friday’s “Right Portion, Right Price” is Right Direction, Says CSPI ~ Newsroom ~ News from CSPI

Swoon time

Clive Owen’s Lancome ad. Yummy!

paradise city

Okay, I just found another “scripted reality” show on E!, Paradise City, that I can watch at the gym and laugh at the general douchebaggery. Are these people serious? Rick and his pathetic trendy hair and increbibly shitty band. Willie, the apparently “gorgeous” one that wears a t-shirt that says “half-man, half-horse”. It’s like they transplanted Laguna Beach kids in Vegas. Every archetype is there. The guy with the shitty band, several blonde women that look alike, the brunette feisty one, the “good” girl. Good job, E!, but not quite as good as Love in in the Heir.

Top 100 of the 21st century: 30-21

Previously: #100-31

#30 Brand New, Deja Entendu (2003)
A great example where a pop punk band grows up.
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 4

#29 Old 97s, Drag It Up (2004)
The only country-inspired album that I truly love.
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 8
Cred Power 9

#28 My Chemical Romance, The Black Parade (2006)
If you told me that I would grow to love an over-the-top glam rock concept album, I’d tell you that were were crazy.
Influential Power 6
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 3

#27 The Music, The Music (2002)
The hardest-to-google band ever does a modern day Led Zeppelin.
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 9
Cred Power 8

#26 Marcy Playground, MP3 (2004)
Not just one hit wonders. They are totally underrated.
Influential Power 2
Staying Power 4
Cred Power 5

#25 The Veils, The Runaway Found (2004)
New Zealand rocks!
Influential Power 5
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 10

#24 The Distillers, Coral Fang (2003)
Courtney Love can never be Brody Dalle.
Influential Power 7
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 7

#23 Fall Out Boy, From Under the Cork Tree (2005)
Say what you will, but this is the epitome of a quality crossover album. It also produced the best lyric ever: “wanting to be the friction in your jeans”. omg love you patrick lolz
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 7
Cred Power -12

#22 Common Rider, This Is Unity Music (2002)
For a brief period, we got Jesse Michaels back. Thi band has already broken up. Sigh.\
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 9

#21 Blonde Redhead, Misery is a Butterfly (2004)
I have never heard a band as original as BH. Beautifully haunting.
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 8
Cred Power 8

worth a look

The theme-parking, megachurching, franchising, exurbing, mcmansioning of America: How Disney Changed Everything.

battlestar thoughts

Katee Sackoff no longer in the credits.

Oh, Samuel. Even drunk and depressed, you look mighty tasty. Although why does he suddenly look like Dane Cook?

Why did Baltar’s first lawyer look kind of Jewish? What are they trying to say?

Again with the inconsistency. Why are there practicing lawyers among the fleet? After the attack, don’t all careers go to shit? Who other than Baltar actually needs a lawyer? I think this is why I have trouble with Sci Fi. I get stuck on the logistical details.

Um, does everyone realize that Baltar kept his pen in his crotch for safekeeping? I hope they washed their hands before handling that.

Okay, also confusing plot point: for a while I thought “Cally” had planted the bombs, and then I realized they were saying “Kelly”. Those damn Canadian actors.

Do cylons have the ability to look gorgeous all the time? Why does Caprica Six look like she just had her makeup done? The Six aboard the Pegasus looked like hell. Can they give her a change of clothes please?

Next weak: Caprica Six starts kicking ass.

I love threadless

The design is in more detail here. Get it? Screamo!!

most walkable cities

My mother sent me this. I am not sure if it is just another passive-aggressive comment about my weight, or if she knows that I love cities that are planned like this. Out of the ten most walkable cities, I’ve applied for jobs in five of them (Madison, Austin, Charlotte, San Francisco, and Seattle). Madison is number one, shout out to TC.

Pop!

It would be easy for me to reject all pop music that comes out and be a blanket music snob. I think that there has been some good stuff coming out lately, and I truly believe that there is a good popular songwriting out there. So I’ll start posting some of my favorites, as well as some older stuff. I always find that these songs are good for the gym.

Recent:
Pink, “U & UR Hand”

Older:
Eminem ft. Dido, “Stan”; I don’t know why I don’t just post the Dido song. I think I actually find the concept of this intriguing, more than any Eminen song.

300

Saw 300. Still deciding if I loved it or loathed it. Visually, it was fantastic, the best visual effects and artistic direction I’ve seen in years. I didn’t realize until I saw it that Zack Snyder directed it. He also did Dawn of the Dead, which doesn’t surprise me because basically the whole middle half of the movies was a freaking bloodbath battle. Even I at one point had to leave to go the bathroom to take a break. It was like Gladiator meets the Matrix with all the slow motion, stop in midair shots. Despite actually enjoying it while watching it, I had many findamental issues which I just couldn’t ignore.

• The whole thing was like one pro-war infomercial. I know the book was like that too, but it was interesting that this came out now.
• The depiction of the Asians and Persians was quite one sided, barbaric and quite frankly racist.
• The women were basically created as ideal figures for hetero men. All the women in ancient Greece were depicted as Victoria’s Secret models who wore revealing clothing all the time. There was unecessary nude shots of most of the women, including and unecessary sex scene. And why does the oracle have to be naked? Was that necessary?
• Don’t get me started on the depiction of King Xerxes. He was depicted as somewhat effeminate, and the actor’s voice was manipulated to make him sound extemely ambiguous as far as gender. When he met Lionides, he also seemed to “put the moves on him” which angered Lionides. Why was the evil king the one depicted as gender variant?
• Plot and dialogue were non existent. Most of it was Lionides shouting orders in a booming masculine grunt and the troops responding. The hyper-masculinity and the scores of half naked men just reeked of latent gayness. I’ve never seen so much latent homosexuality in a movie since Jackass. Not that I didn’t mind it, but what was going on with that dynamic? Was it put there puposely?

Ultimately, I am going to blame Frank Miller for all the fundamentally disturbing social issues. He did create the story and the images. It’s not a surprise- although I adore Sin City, there were a thousand disturbing things.

Previews sucked ass. Along with the pro-war agenda, I felt like I was being fed pro-life propaganda and pro-bible propaganda.

annoying hipster douchebags

Oh, how they make idiots of themselves.

Da Ali G Show

I’m really late on catching this show, but HA! Sascha Baron Cohen is a genius in that everything is very much improv and he totally keeps the character. By acting like an idiot, he always makes everyone he interviews an idiot. James Lipton totally held his own. I don’t find the Borat chacter too funny, it’s kind of a one-joke character. I find Bruno quite hilarious, who brings out the douchebaggery in the fashion industry. and who actually had some fashion industry people to agree that unfashionable people should be sent to concentration camps. I hear Bruno will have his own movie (uh, wasn’t that called Zoolander?).

nothing says love like shopping together

John and Jessica still frolicking in Rome. I’ll bet she doesn’t even know what country she is in. More hotness/wrongness here.

anything you can do I can do better

Anyone see this increbibly grating new Gap commercial with the equally irritating Claire Danes? It’s like they are trying to recreate their khaki swing commercials of the 90s. Patrick Wilson, I’m ashamed.

thinspiration

Carrie Underwood succumbs to the Hollywood pressure. I mean, what she does with herself is fine as long as she’s happy, but I wonder if her publicist kept snatching the food away from her. She looks creepy.

However, do you even need another reason to love Kate Winslet? She won a libel suit from a gossip mag that claimed she was visiting a “diet doctor”. Then, she took the money and donated it to an eating disorders charity. BAM!

what ever happened to…

George Michael Bluth lives!

I can’t make this stuff up.

They’ve tokenized Asians (Mulan), Middle Easterns (Aladdin), Native Americans (Pocahontas), Gypsies (Hunchback), Mermaids (Little Mermaid), had questionable “African” characters in the Lion King. Who’s left? You’ve probably figured it out by now.

 

Disney shows first black princess

The Frog Princess will mark a return to traditional animation

Disney’s next animated fairy tale, The Frog Princess, will feature the studio’s first black princess. Maddy is an African-American girl living amid the faded grandeur of New Orleans’ French quarter.

The movie will also see a return to the hand-drawn animation process, instead of using computer animation that has become the industry standard.

The film will be made by John Musker and Ron Clements, the team behind The Little Mermaid and Aladdin.

Cajun charm

Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook said: “The film’s New Orleans setting and strong princess character give the film lots of excitement and texture.”

Composer and singer Randy Newman will provide music for the film, which promised an “unforgettable tale of love, enchantment and discovery with a soulful singing crocodile, voodoo spells and Cajun charm,” a Disney spokesman said.

The studio said its new princess will be added to its collection of animated princesses used at the company’s theme parks and on consumer products.

The film is set for release in 2009.

“unforgettable tale of love, enchantment and discovery with a soulful singing crocodile, voodoo spells and Cajun charm” Wtf? Way to put all stereotypes in there. Don’t forget to have then eating Jumbalaya all the time.

must read

If you’ve ever made, or conceived of, a list like this, then look no further for your next book purchase. Alternately, if you’ve always wondered why the hell dudes make these lists, then you have the key. In Perfect From Now On, John Sellers has written a fan’s memoir overflowing with humor, self-deprecation, encyclopedic knowledge of musical minutiae, and “you should have been there” personal anecdotes. Despite vowing never to get caught up in music due to the nuttiness of a Dylan-obsessed father and playground taunts about his preference for Top 40 trash, he found himself powerless to resist to the call of indie rock, the genre that begat the likes of Sonic Youth, the Pixies, Pavement, Built to Spill, and Modest Mouse. When his favorite band Guided By Voices called it quits in 2004, Sellers examined his own listening habits, caught a few mind-blowing shows, got drunk with his heroes, and wrote this book—one that is sure to resonate with anybody who has ever obsessed over good music.

300

300 is getting totally crappy reviews. Too bad. I’m totally going to see it anyway. I plan on parking myself at the movies this weekend and also catching Zodiac, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Number 23, and Black Snake Moan.

Top 100 of the 21st century: 40-31

Getting to the end! Any guesses on what will be in the final 30?

Previously: #100-41

#40 The Catheters; Statid Delusions and Stone-Still Days (2002)
Grungy goodness.
Influential Power 2
Staying Power 1
Cred Power 7

#39 Soundtrack, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 5

#38 The Go! Team; Thunder, Lighting, Strike (2005)
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 5
Cred Power 8

#37…And You Will Know Us By the Trail of DeadWorlds Apart (2005)
Most people gush over Source Tags and Codes, but this one is standout for me.
Influential Power 6
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 9

#36 Calla, Televise (2003)
Influential Power 3
Staying Power 5
Cred Power 8

#35 Idlewild, 100 Broken Windows (2001)
Influential Power 7
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 6

#34 Saves the Day, Stay What You Are (2001)
Influential Power 2
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 2

#33 Original Broadway Cast, Wicked (2004)
Influential Power 9
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 1

#32 The Rapture, Echoes (2003)
Influential Power 6
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 8

#31 Lillingtons, Backchannel Broadcast (2001)
Influential Power 2
Staying Power 1
Cred Power 10

leftovers

Rolling Stone : Still Sick, Still Wrong: 10 Years of “South Park”; and it’s still hilarious.

Does beauty make you smarter? – By Tim Harford – Slate Magazine

Family Ties’ Alex P. Keaton, conservative hero. – By David Haglund – Slate Magazine

Preschool Directors Balk at Toddler Résumés – March 7, 2007 – The New York Sun

New My Chem Rom

New video for the song “I Don’t Love You”. Oh, Gerard. I am realizing more and more each day that I lurve this album.

hold on a sec

I was perusing the Rome website (looking at it longingly because I don’t get HBO) and I realized they’ve replaced Octavian with another actor. Ok, makes sense because there is a passge of time. But then, upon a little research, it’s the adorable Mr. Bingley from Pride & Prejudice! Why didn’t anyone tell me? How fantastic! I need to see Season 2 NOW!

like a knife through my heart

Grindhouse

omg! Total pbr going on for the upcoming Grindhouse. Taratino/Rodriguez goodness. And a zombie film. And the woman with a gun as a leg? Inappropriate, but kind of awesome.

Patrick Wolf

My love affair with Patrick Wolf continues. He’s like a cross between Jamie Bell and Liberace. I figured I’d better share the album because I am going to be talking about it nonstop from here on.

[PATRICK WOLF; The Magic Position]

just some hot celebs, no biggie

I really missed him, some fat Jared Leto photos have resurfaced. Oh, the memories.

Strangley, I find him hotter there then when he was back to his thin, conventionally pretty self. More here.

Gerard Butler at the premiere of 300. Sigh. He will always be the Phantom of the Opera to me. SWOOOOOOOOONNNN!

Cillian Murphy and Chris Evans in the movie Sunshine, which has again been pushed back. Damn.

And, in a complete 360 degree change of mind, I am suddenly liking Kirsten Dunst. I know, weird! Except for the creepy bathroom scenes, I am crushing on this shoot from W magazine.

bad videos

I love to hate.

Are you fucking kidding me with this? The song alone is grating. The video makes me want to punch something.

So this “Daughtry”, who I assume is an American Idol reject, trumps weird Al with every rock video cliche. Leather pants, the big microphone, the band in an abondoned theater, dramatic lighting, overdramatic facial expressions, dumb narrative storyline, the dramatic exit at the end. I hated it the first time I saw it, when it was Nickelback.

I used to defend Evanescence and actually listen to them seriously. Then the actual talent, Ben Moody, left the band the shitty shitty second album came out and Amy Lee pulled a Gwen Stefani and made herself the center of attention. We get it. You’re depressed because every man is in love with you and you can’t love yourself enough to love them back. And you take psychotropic drugs. And how dare you name/write a song with the same title as a Nirvana song. Ooooo, and you wear dark lipstick. How deep. Also, this is an EXACT rip off of “Love Like Winter“. Please. You are no Davey Havok.

The Magic Position

I didn’t really dig Patrick Wolf’s last couple of albums, but he is growing on me. For one, he is an actual accomplished musician. His new video and song have kind of won me over. You would think his bright red hair, dancing around in ridiculous clothing would annoy, but it’s just so delightful!
Here’s a profile from The Sun.

At least it’s not Lacey Chabert

Columbia University students are kind of annoyed that Matthew Fox will be their commencement speaker. Ok, so I can see why they would want someone more academic or service oriented. But this is someone that was in party of Five, people. Come on! Seriously, my commencement speaker was great (Benjamin Carson) but if Colin Farrell was scheduled to speak I wouldn’t complain.

ooo competition

Probably in response to my list (which is getting pretty exciting by the way), The Rock ‘N Roll Hall of fame is putting together their definitive 200 albums. I don’t know if you could really do this across all genres and of all time. Here’s Rolling Stone’s list as well.

Top 100 of the 21st century #50-41

Previously: #100-51

#50 Ladytron, The Witching Hour (2005)
Electoclash!
Influential Power 5
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 7

#49 Kelly Clarkson, Breakway (2004)
Little known fact: I think Kelly Clarkson. And “Because of You” is one of my favorite singles ever.
Influential Power 3
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 0 (10 if you claim to appreciate her ironically)

#48 Shiny Toy Guns, We Are Pilots (2006)
I have talked enough about them in the past few weeks, so I’ll shut up.
Influential Power 7
Staying Power 5
Cred Power 9

#47 Jimmy Eat World, Bleed American (2001)
See here for gushing.
Influential Power 5
Staying Power 9
Cred Power 1

#46 Interpol; Antics (2004)
Basically a Joy Division cover band
Influential Power 9
Staying Power 8
Cred Power 6

#45 The Dandy Warhols, Welcome to the Monkey House (2003)
Unfortunately, I think the Dandys’ run is over. But it is good to remember the classics.
Influential Power 10
Staying Power 9
Cred Power 9

#44 Built to Spill, Ancient Melodies of the Future (2001)
Still growing strong. The grandfathers of indie, if you will.
Influential Power 9
Staying Power 8
Cred Power 7

#43 Blood on the Wall, Awesomer (2005)
The Pixies would be proud.
Influential Power 3
Staying Power 2
Cred Power 7

#42 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club; BRMC (2001)
What ever happened to my rock ‘n roll?
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 7

#41 Taking Back Sunday; Tell All You Friends (2002)
Emo goodness.
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 6
Cred Power -2

List: movies that make me cry real tears

• Legends of the Fall*
• Last of the Mohicans
• Armageddon*
• Little Women
• Titanic*
• Boys Don’t Cry
• Life is Beautiful
• Talk to Her
• Lovely and Amazing
• Love Actually (I was in a really weird mood when I saw this in the theater)
• Brokeback Mountain
• Project X
• Empire of the Sun
• Monster
• Real Women Have Curves
• Moulin Rouge

*don’t judge

Chris Martin, shut up

Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow must be the most annoying couple ever to hang out with. Gwyneth and her self-righteous statements, and Chris’ insane ego. Regarding their new record:

Singer Chris Martin has described a track written for Coldplay’s next album as “basically genius”, saying it could be their best composition yet. The 30-year-old added that everybody “has to hear this song before we die, otherwise we’ll be terribly depressed”.

Whoa. Calm down there. Don’t get too conceited just because adult contemporary stations play your songs a lot. Okay, maybe “Yellow” was a decent song, “The Scientist” was the best thing on the second album, and I can’t even name a song off of “X/Y”.  So they’ve set the bar kind of low.

Ugh. Are you a fan of the Arcade Fire?

Well, Pitchfork is predictably up their asses and gives their new album an 8.4 Shocker. They even get the NY Times treatement.

Gosh, they just irritate me. Case in point:

Woman on left “I’m ironically playing the accordian? Do you year me? That’s soooo orginal! Wait, I need a megaphone to tell you how unique I am!”

Guy in center: “I can’t talk. My awesome indie music has taken over me.”

Woman on the right: “Hi, I’m dressed like a granny. Because that’s indie.”

Top 100 of the 21st century #60-51

Previously: #100-61

#60 The Killers, Hot Fuss (2004)
The return of glam rock. Yes! Look me in the eye and tell me “Mr. Brightside” isn’t amazing
Influential Power 9
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 4

#59 No Doubt, Rock Steady (2001)
Influential Power 9
Staying Power 9
Cred Power 2

#58 Caesars, Paper Tigers (2005)
Sweden strikes again!
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 2
Cred Power 6

#57 The Thermals, Fuckin’ A (2004)
Grungy goodness.
Influential Power 6
Staying Power 5
Cred Power 8

#56 Spoon, Gimme Fiction (2005)
Influential Power 7
Staying Power 9
Cred Power 8

#55 Soundtrack, Chicago (2003)
One of the only movie musicals that is better than the musical. Catherine Zeta Jones’ voice blows me away.
Influential Power 10
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 2

#54 Sons and Daughters, The Repulsion Box (2005)
Blues meets punk.
Influential Power 3
Staying Power 1
Cred Power 7

#53 The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers (2006)
Influential Power 5
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 6

#52 Placebo, Sleeping With Ghosts (2003)
I can’t believe the US has not caught on.
Influential Power 6
Staying Power 9
Cred Power 6

#51 Mxpx, Ten Years and Running (2002)
A great guilty pleasure. However, this greatest hits is the last good thing they did.
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 1

Nanny Diaries

Sooooo, the trailer for the Nanny Diaries. Ok, not like it was a life-changing book, but I hate when things are changed. First off, she was not a live in nanny…and the romance was a just a small part of the book. But Chris Evans looks pretty, so that’s okay. And I am not sure how the movie can capture all the fucked up classism of the book. And I loath Sacrlett J. Can people stop looking at her boobs long enough to realize she can’t act? She has the same way she “acts angry” as every character.

Speaking of trailers and Chris Evans, this movie better fucking change my life.

battlestar thoughts

Hmmmm…I don’t have too much to say right now. The episode kind of reminded me on Contact somehow.

Even though it has been a while since they have gone back to Starbuck and the Eye of Jupiter, I like how they focus on one character per episode and put some stories on hold.

Somehow this is not the end of Starbuck. The fanboys would riot. I was so hoping that at the end she would wake up in a pool of sludge aboard the Basestar.

I can’t help but get caught up on the logistics. How are they even keeping order on the ship? How is revenue even being generated when their homeland is crushed? And wasn’t some of the poletariat supposed to go and work down in the tilium refinery? How does this “psychatrist” still have all the space and make money off of patients?

Also, I didn’t think it was possible for Anders to get any hotter- but OH MY GOD!

Next week: BALTAR’S TRIAL! Are they finally going to show Caprica Six?

Seriously,

when did Target become my favorite place to shop?

And yes, that is me modeling the outfits.

Top 100 of the 21st Century: 70-61

Previously: #100-71

#70 Madonna; Music (2000)
American Life was crap, but this and Confessions are amazing pop. I love her xonstant image changes. “Don’t Tell Me” is amazing.
Influential Power 7
Staying Power 9
Cred Power 2

#69 The Hives, Tyrannosaurus Hives (2004)
The best of the Swedes
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 5
Cred Power 5

#68 Fugazi, The Argument (2001)
The last album from one of the greats.
Influential Power 10
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 10

#67 Fratellis, Costello Music (2006)
Not just the band from the ipod commercial
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 3
Cred Power 8

#66 Evanescence, Fallen (2003)
Don’t judge! Before the drama, before the various band members leaving, before the hot topic sponsorship, this is good guilty pleasure stuff.
Influential Power 1
Staying Power 5
Cred Power -5

#65 Death From Above 1979, You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine (2004)
This band stayed together for about 5 seconds.
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 1
Cred Power 9

#64 Ben Folds, Rockin’ the Suburbs (2001)
I actually like his solo stuff better than the Ben Folds Five
Influential Power 5
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 5

#53 The Academy Is…. Almost Here (2005)
Gaaaahhh! William Beckett soooo dreamy!
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 0

#52 Ash, Free All Angels (2002)
Their best stuff was in the 90s, but glad they are still around.
Influential Power 4
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 6

#51 Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf (2003)
Heavy metal is back!
Influential Power 6
Staying Power 5
Cred Power 5

Oh, Ann

I was just thinking the other day, what is Ann Coulter up to these days? I miss her. Well, turns out she is appearing at the Political Action Conference calling John Edwards a “faggot”. Does she have a book coming out she was trying to promote?

what the kids are listening to: The Horrors

‘Strange House’ is the debut album from Southend’s latest musical export, The Horrors. A raucous mixture of late-60’s psychedelia, rockabilly and malevolent indie splendour, the album is an assured melting pot of influences that proves that The Horrors are a band that have so much more going for them than their image alone.

[THE HORRORS; Strange House]

30 Rock

Finally sat still long enough to watch a couple of Episodes of 30 Rock. I feel…eh. Tracy Morgan: comedic genius. Jane Krakow something: annoying. Tina Fey: trying a little too hard. Kenneth: we get it, you’re southern and akward.

Usually, it takes me a while to warm up to comedies, but I’m not feeling it right now.

In other tv news, ABC is developing a show based on the Cavemen from the Geico commericals. Are they serious? The gimmick in those commercials were funny about 5 years ago, but enough.

Battlestar thoughts

Some nice political strife. And Baltar sparks a class war!

Not to be a stickler for details, but how the hell are they still having training programs, paying people, and punching timeclocks when their actual home planet is destroyed? Shouldn’t everyone just be pitching in and freaking out because it’s the fucking end of humanity?

Seelix is cool. She was the medic on Kobol with Crashdown and Tyrol, as well as one of the secret society that executed collaborators.

It was a little sitcommy, with the whole strike being solved in an episode.

Laura Roslin- pure evil. Bookburning, wanting to execute the strike leaders. She is becoming more and more dictator like.

So far so good, I like when they give a glimpse into the word beyond the Lee/Kara drama and at other people on the fleet. Although these issues should have come up earlier.

Can we, uh…find earth? Find out what is going on with Caprica Six?

so cute i could almost barf

Matt and Ruth are doing adorable married couple things.

Erin Q. is at it again, this time at the Oscars.

newsflash: Ewan McGregor is hot

Oh, there’s an actual article too. He also seems like a pretty cool guy too. Secret: I watched Long Way Round.

Top 100 of the 21st century: 80-71

Previously: #100-81

#80 Soundtrack, Moulin Rouge
Revived the movie musical genre. And about mixing genres. Plus Ewan McGregor singing.
Influential Power 10
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 3

#79 The Walkmen, Bows & Arrows
Trust fund brats make great indie rock.
Influential Power 7
Staying Power 4
Cred Power 8

#78 David Cross, Shut Up You Fucking Baby!
A comedy album that is political. And intelligent. And hilarious.
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 6
Cred Power 6

#77 The Libertines, Up the Bracket
One of the most hyped bands of the century. Drugs and British lads is a great formula for good music.
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 7
Cred Power 9

#76 Kasabian; Kasabian
Marxist dance rock.
Influential Power 5
Staying Power 2
Cred Power 6

#75 The Wrens; The Meadowlands
There is more to New Jersey than the turnpike and malls.
Influential Power 5
Staying Power 5
Cred Power 5

#74 Royksopp; The Understanding
Euro-electro.
Influential Power 6
Staying Power 9
Cred Power 10

#73 Scissor Sisters; Scissor Sisters
Elton John called, he wants his sound back.
Influential Power 8
Staying Power 4
Cred Power 5

#72 Social Distortion; Sex, Love & Rock ‘N Roll
Is it just me, or do they get better with every album?
Influential Power 10
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 7

#71 Weezer; The Green Album
The last good album Weezer ever made. I pretend everything after this didn’t happen.
Influential Power 10
Staying Power 10
Cred Power 4

stuff

• Jake Gyllenhaal on the Daily Show; he’s so dashing
• The White Stripes reveal new album details
• New York City bans racial slur – Yahoo! News

Bigotry: in Progression: Out

College campuses have been really fucked up lately. I know personally, but along with kicking fat people and people of color out of sororoties, having racist theme parties, those good ole College Republicans have set up some fun game called “Catch the Illegal Immigrant.” I am going to be ill.