ad hoc.

Phew! Patrick Wolf is not reeeaaaaally quitting. He was kind of being a baby. To celebrate, let’s peruse through 400+ pictures of him. I swear, it’s not my photobucket account.

I just heard that Peter Andre died. Not sure if it’s true or not.

Legally Blonde is out on Broadway. Gimme a fucking break. Ugh.

I also heard that Larry David will be guest starring on Hannah Montana. Not sure if it’s true or not.

Coming soon: Ewan McGregor’s face, moles and all, will appear on a postage stamp. God bless America.

Courtney Love plans on selling Kurt Cobain’s belongings. There was never a time more than now that I wished there was an afterlife. So Kurt can haunt Courtney and scare the shit out of her.

This is hopeful X-Men sequel news:

Batman Begins writer David S. Goyer is setting his sights on another superhero property - he is directing the spin-off movie to the X-Men trilogy, Magneto. The movie will focus on the young Magneto, the villain of the X-Men pictures played by Gods and Monsters star Ian McKellen, and how he became mortal enemies with character Professor X, played by Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Patrick Stewart in the trilogy. The main characters in the spin-off will be played by actors in their twenties instead of the original cast. Goyer has previously worked on superhero movies Batman Begins and the Blade trilogy.

Well, batman Begins was one of the best comic-book-to-film movies ever, so it’s promising. BUT they need to cast a hunky Jewish boy as young Magneto. My votes? Adam Brody, Zac Efron. Gaspard Ulliel can play Professor X. I seriously should work as a casting agent. I am sure it is an easy field to break in to.

I’ve heard some new stuff and previews from upcoming albums from some of my beloved bands, and I’ll tell ya I’m not impressed. It’s like they are just going through the motions. It’s like some music school freshmen had an assignment to compose a song “in the style of” these artists. I mean, it sounds like them, but nothing is blowing me away. Of course, I still haven’t heard the whole album.

Queens of the Stone Age, “Era Vulgaris“. Ever since Josh Homme kicked out every member of the band, they haven’t been doing that great. Songs For the Deaf seemed to be their apex.

The White Stripes, “The Icky Thump“. Wow, Jack White screeching over a call-and-response guitar and drums sequence. The Stripes have NEVER written one of those. Truthfully, Get Behind Me Satan didn’t really rock my socks.

Interpol, “The Heinrich Maneuver“. Snoozefest.

And Sahara Hotnights, wtf? They are about to release their fourth album and it is purposely more pop???? Here we have an all-female band that up until now have created some fantastic post-indie-punk.  “If anyone matters it’s you“.

In other new-albums-from-my-favorite-bands news, the new BRMC, Shout Out Louds, and Calla albums are kicking my ass.  Exhibit A:

Calla, “Simone“

BRMC, “Weapon of Choice“

Shout Out Louds, “Tonight I Have to Leave It“

I’ve made purchases from American Apparel! You may have been lucky to accompany me at a time when I passed a store and went on my tirade- how they are just plain t-shirts but the marketing and the hipness factor has made them super expensive and super hispter-y. And how I could just buy the same thing at a thrift store. Well, there’s a little something called growing old. And that includes: enjoying elastic waist clothing. Okay, in the summer when it is really humid I can’t deal with buttons, zippers, and anything like that. Plus, I am sort of loosing weight, and buying sized clothing is a little bit of a gamble, although I don’t want to jinx anything. Something about pulling on a skirt, leggings, and t-shirt and being done with it is appealing. Since I no longer tie my shoes anymore either, it’s like I’m dressing like a two year old. But I am kee-razy about this skirt and these leggings. Although I am concerned about some of the porn-attire. And wtf is this? It’s like some marketing intern was asked to pose for some test shots and was scared to say no.

I know what you are thinking, but unfortunately, I did not have the guts (or the 37 bucks) to get these.

Ted Leo, “Dancing in the Dark” (Bruce Springsteen)

Grizzly Bear, “He Hit Me (and it Felt Like a Kiss)” (The Crystals)

The Killers, “Romeo and Juliet” (Dire Straits)

Fiona Apple, “Sally’s Song” (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

Damien Rice, “When Doves Cry” (Prince)

Bloc Party, “Say It Right” (Nelly Furtado)

I am going through withdrawal from no longer compiling my top 100 of 2000-2006, and there have been so many spectacular releases this year, even a quarter of the way through it. My end of the year list is gonna be hard. Also, notice how a majority of the best stuff* is from British bands.

The best so far:
BLONDE REDHEAD, 23
THE VEILS; Nux Vomica*
PATRICK WOLF, The Magic Position*
BLOC PARTY, A Weekend in the City*
THE VIEW; Hats Off to the Buskers*
TRAVIS, The Boy WIth No Name*
THE RAKES; Ten New Messages*
SHOUT OUT LOUDS; Our Ill Wills+
CALLA. Strenght in Numbers
FRATELLIS; Costello Music*
THE PONYS; Turn the Lights Out
AMY WINEHOUSE, Back in Black*
IDLEWILD; Make a New WOrld*
THE COMAS; Spells
THE NOISETTES; What Time Is it Mr. Wolf?*
TORI AMOS; American Doll Posse
NINE INCH NAILS, Year Zero
FALL OUT BOY; Infinity on High
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, Baby 81
MONSTERS ARE WAITING; Fascination

Ai’ght:
THE CONCRETS, Hey Trouble
THE NATIONAL; The Boxer
KLAXONS, Myths of the Near Future*
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE; Era Vultaris
YOURCODENAMEIS:MILO; They Came From the Sun*
THE ACADEMY IS; Santi
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE QUEEN, self-titled*
CUT CITY; Exit Decades+
THE DETROIT COBRAS; Tired and True
HANDSOME FURS; PLAGUE PARK
YOUNG LOVE, Too Young to Fight It
THE ACADEMY IS…, Santi
THE CLIENTELE, God Save the Clientele
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, Release the Stars
PETER BJORN AND JOHN, Writer’s Block+
TRANS AM; Sex Change
MENOMENA; Friend and Foe
DEERHOOF; Friend Opportunity
APPLES IN STEREO, New Magnetic Wonder
ALKALINE TRIO, Remains
APPARAT; Walls

The overhyped, the overrated, and the bad:
THE HORRORS, Strangehouse
KINGS OF LEON; Because of the Times
MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA; I’m like a virgin losing a child*
FIELD MUSIC; Tones of Town
KAISER CHIEFS; Yours, truly, angry mob*
ARCADE FIRE; Neon Bible
GOOD CHARLOTTE; Good Morning Revival
AVRIL LAVIGNE; THe Best Damn Thing
BRIGHT EYES; Cassadaga
STARS; Do You Trust Your Friends?
THE ARCADE FIRE, Neon Bible
TED LEO & THE PHARMACISTS; Living with the Living
PANDA BEAR; Person Pitch
OF MONTREAL; Hissing Fauna, are You the Destroyer?
THE MOONEY SUZUKI; Have Mercy
MIKA; Life in Cartoon Motion
LCD SOUNDSYSTEN; Sounds of Silver
LOW, Drums and Guns
AS TALL AS LIONS; As Tall As Lions
BJORK; Volta
THE HIGHER; On FIre
CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH; Some Loud Thunder

British rugby players discussing which players are the best looking. Exactly.

A cat that plays piano duets. Squeeee!

Bruno talks about post and pre-terrorism fashion. Never gets old.

Ok, this one in NOT entertaining. It is the trailer for I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry. It stands for everything I loathe. It plays off of violence and disgust of gays for comedy. Hahaha, two straight guys have to pretend to be gay. Hahahaha, when they have to kiss at the wedding, one punches the crap out of each other. Hahahahahaha. Jessica Biel doesn’t mind getting naked right away because the guys are gay. Hahahahaha. Everyone will laugh because the macho guys are forced to act feminine. Hahahahahaha. Everyone knows homophobia and violence towards gays are the way to sell tickets. Just ask Snickers. Oh, and the kicker- of course they use Mika’s “Grace Kelly” in the trailer, most likely because it sounds jaunty and “gay” and he sings in falsetto. I actually can’t believe Mika would allow his song to be used in such a disgusting display. The hell.

Today’s Blue States Lose was pretty choice. Maybe going to check out 28 Weeks Later (Rose Byrne!) and then sneak into a showing of Next. Whoa it looks bad, but Michael Trucco apparently has a substantial part. Then attend an eight-year-old’s Hannah Montana-themed birthday party. Long story. Been listening to Mika’s “Relax, Take It Easy” all day and I don’t know why. I don’t even like it.

Anyone watching Shear Genius? I am loving it. Theodore was getting on my nerves. Take your Mormon corn rows and get the hell out of there. I really like this haircut done by Daisy. She did it with a boxcutter, I think I could probably do it myself.

Dear women ages 14 through 25,

Listen to yourselves speak. Does your intonation go up at the end of sentences? Do you speak as if the end of your sentences end with “—-?” Do you say like every third word and suddenly the person listening to you hears nothing else? Please take some much needed time to reevaluate your speech patterns. No matter how smart you are, or what you are trying to say, you sound like a fucking moron. When you are speaking in class, what you say will not matter because you sound like an idiot. You are also justifying stereotypes and preconceived notions about young women. Younger girls, you know no better, because maybe the cool kids at school speak this way, or your friends speak this way. Those of you in college, there is no excuse. Speak like a fucking adult.

I got the new Bjork album. I think that I kind of hate her.
Everyone Needs Fat Friends?. Well, obviously.
Julia Stiles To Star in Happy Version of Sylvia Plath’s ‘The Bell Jar’! I mean, how can you even begin to live up to The Prince and Me?
Andy Coop has to wear boxers in the shower.
Pitchfork finally proves that they no longer care about the music. They give the Fratellis, Rakes and Idlewild lower scores that the Arctic Monkeys. And the Veils didn’t do so hot either. Are they crazy?
The Raconteurs get to work on new album Hey, finally.
New Beirut Video - “Elephant Gun”
People magazine makes us regular people feel fantastic. The 50 most beautiful people. How boring! I used to luuuurve this issue when I was a kid. Wentworth Miller looks positively scary. And Pete Wentz? What the?
Got the new Shout Out Louds album. Gooooooo Sweden!

If you are a sub-par pop-punk band and need some good PR, what do you do? Well. live in a plastic bubble twenty-four-seven and record your album, silly. From Cartel’s myspace:

In what’s sure to be the most talked-about music event of the year, CARTEL are sealing themselves inside a huge transparent bubble on Hudson River Park’s Pier 54 in NYC, where they’ll eat, sleep and breathe while writing and recording a new album live for all the world to see. Lending new meaning to the term “up close and personal,” Band in a Bubble presented by Dr Pepper is a groundbreaking interactive multimedia event that will offer fans an unprecedented real-time look into the ups and downs of the creative process as Cartel shapes the highly anticipated follow-up to their breakthrough debut, CHROMA.

Cartel will enter the bubble during a live MTV broadcast on May 24 and live there with no escape until the bubble “bursts” on June 12, when they will perform new material in a concert event on the pier.

Web cams will stream live on www.drpepperbubble.com and the event will air as a special reality series with four 30-minute episodes on MTV, which will also be available on-demand at MTV.com.

“This is huge for us,” says Cartel frontman Will Pugh. “Making an album is a very personal and emotional experience, and in the past we’ve never wanted anyone around when writing or recording. But given that this is probably the biggest opportunity we’ll ever have to show the world what we’re made of, we can’t wait to invite the fans into both the studio and our lives.”

Good grief. Do they really think the album will be good? They will write any old crap just to get it over with. So we have to watch their EVERY move? Will they have catheters and diapers on? Do I really want to watch these guys shower every morning?

Wait, maybe I do.

I already liked the band I’m From Barcelona, but my love has solidified after seeing the video for “We’re From Barcelona”. For real, the band has 29 band members. And are all Swedish hipsters. So cute! I could have this song in my head for all eternity and be okay with that. Squeee!!!! So good!

Speaking of Swedes, I just got the new Sahara Hotnights album. Haven’t listened to much of it yet. Also been listening to advances of:

the new Rufus Wainwright…bleh. Kind of expected.

the new Tori Amos…fantastic! More like “choirgirl” Tori and not recent Lite FM Tori.

I feel so mixed. I am elated that this exists, but completely unfuriated that I didn’t think of it first.

From Patrick Wolf’s “official” forum.

dear all…
I should never have read this.. I really shouldn’t.
I dont think when I was 16 and dreamt of releasing records there would ever
be so much crazy speculation about the person I am and that you want me to be.
I have become so tired of this behaviour, sometimes I wake up and have to do six hours
of interviews before doing a show, then go straight to bed to sleep a couple of hours
to fly to a new country to be cross examined in the same way.. I dont know what is left of
me sometimes, some mornings i dont know how i get on the flight or even open my mouth to sing that night. If I choose after working since the early hours of a day and then pouring my heart out for an hour and a half that I really have nothing left to give.. that I cannot be a fake politician and sign autographs for an hour.. does this make an asshole?
because my drummer was causing arguments within my road family, taking sedative drugs before an important show in a city i really love, so much so he could not play the music I wrote, the songs that I have survived on in the last six years… because I had to slap him to see if he was even CONSCIOUS on stage…. the fact that the only thing that got any reaction out his corpse happened to be made of metal.. because all of this.. does this make me seem like I was on cocaine, or on some power trip? I was pissed off because this was just one more musician or businessman taking my good nature and generosity for a ride… trust me, that moment onstage was the end of a long line of bad behaviour that it would unfair to go into in public. Yes I was drunk, but It was one oclock in the morning after seven hours of interviews.. i had been running on about four hours of sleep a night for about two weeks… such is the joy of promoting a record. Anyway, I was having FUN until that moment. So was the rest of my band until we realised my drummer was taking the piss out of all of us and our hard work. I dont work with liars and I dont work with thieves.

I dont want to have to share this information with you but so many seem so interested…

I have made a decision, my final concert will be this november, a retrospective with an orchestra in London. I am not sure wether there will be anymore public communications after that, Infact I am pretty sure there will be none. Of course, this has nothing to do with my drummer.. but a creative clock is ticking and I have many many projects to be creating with my time left on this earth. I hope to share my last shows with you this year.

I have enjoyed making and performing music for you all, I have enjoyed trying to give a little hope
and inspiration to the world. But I feel, especially when I read all this and I go about my days that I have failed.
Im not seeking sympathy or empathy, god, I have to go find something I love and am inspired by in this world again. Many of you will never know the amount of work and emotion that goes on behind the scenes for me and many of your other favourite artists or musicians and why should you? I wanted to give you disneyland.. I wanted to give you a world at the back of your wardrobe, now im just feel a fool for bothering.
I am in berlin today, i know I should never have read this, I dont know who any of you are, just strangers talking amongst themselves,
and I wish I was stronger minded today, but i have to take enough bullshit from other parts of the world for what I do and who I am without getting it from here.

Im going off for a walk now.. clear my heart and head. Thanks to all you with the intelligence to see past the superficial chaos of the media and the various ridiculous personalities and characters that have been painted around me over the years, the problem is, unfortunately many of you will never get to know the truth, but many will still speculate, and play chinese whispers with interviews and
opinions from the friend of a friend. This is nothing new to me, unfortunately, luckily I have always had a close set of dear friends that will always know me for who I really am, just as I do.

If I can give any advice, is, if anything, just listen to the music, watch the videos, read the lyrics, see the artwork, these are my communications, not others.

still love x patrick

Maybe it’s someone playing a really good joke, maybe he is just pulling a me.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Why it’s awesome: Letters to Cleo are all over this. At this point I thought it would make them super famous, but it never happened. From their rooftop performance to Julia Stiles rocking out to the Notorius B.IG., this ruled.

Standout tracks: “Cruel to Be Kind” by Letters to Cleo; “I Know” by Save Ferris

Party Monster (2003)

Why it’s awesome: A movie about a famous club promoter and club kid without an awesome soundtrack would automatically make this a crappy movie. Well, the movie had its faults, I guess. It was mixed superbly and was my main motivation to join a gym.

Standout tracks: “Give Me Tonight” by Shannon; “Money, Success, Fame, Glamour” by Felix Da Housecat

Velvet Goldmine (1998)

Why it’s awesome: It’s a movie about glam rock, so the ansswer is obvious. Also, a “supergroup” was formed and called themselves Venus in Furs to perform the songs that the characters were supposed to be singing.

Standout tracks: “Tumbling Down” by the Venus In Furs; “Hot One” by Shudder to Think

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Why it’s awesome: If you have a pulse, than it should be quite apparent. Quentin Tarantino in an absolute genius when it comes to using music in movies. This was the movie and the soundtrack that spawned a million wannabees.

Standout tracks: “You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry; “Girl You’ll Be a Woman Soon” by Urge Overkill

Romeo and Juliet (1997)

Why It’s Awesome: Barring the “Lovefool” song, this soundtrack also blends modern stuff with a historical Shakespearean take. Remember how wowed you were with the techno-gospel version of “When Doves Cry”?

Standout tracks: “Talk Show Host” by Radiohead; “#1 Crush” by Garbage

A Night At the Roxbury (1998)

Why it’s awesome: it’s all those cliched nineties club hits you never owned the full abums of, but you secretly love the songs, so it’s all packaged in one album. It’s actually mixed together, so it runs like one long dj set. It never gets old.

Standout tracks: “This Is the Night” by Amber; “Insomnia” by

The Rules of Attraction (2002)

Why It’s Awesome: The movie has something vaguely eighties about it, and so does the music. There are artists tracks mixed with the awesome original compositions by tomandandy.

Standout tracks: “Out of the Races and On to the Tracks” by The Rapture; “So Alive” by Love & Rockets”

Death Proof (2007)

Why it’s awesome: Tarantino just picks the right song for every moment, and selection of the song is often a part of the plot. The greusome car wreck set to “Hold Tight” is one of the most haunting images ever.

Standout tracks: “Hold Tight” by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich; “Baby It’s You” by Smith

Clueless (1996)

Why It’s Awesome: It’s kind of weird how good the songs are but non of the artists ever became popular. I’d like to see a stage version using these songs.

Standout tracks: “Change” by the Lightning Seeds; “Supermodel” by Jill Sobule

Kids (1996)

Why it’s awesome: Most of the songs by Folk Implosion set the ultra-disturbing mood of the film. Each of the characters also have a distinct theme.

Standout tracks: “Daddy Never Understood”by Folk Implosion; “Natural One” by Folk Implosion

Moulin Rouge (2001)

Why it’s awesome: Baz Luhrman is crazy. And incorporates modern pop songs into an over the top musical. And Ewan McGregor sings. Some of it flops, but some of it owns.

Standout Tracks: “Elephant Love Medley”, “Your Song”

Marie Antionette (2006)

Why it’s awesome: The contrast between the historical setting and modern music always wins me over. Sophia Coppolla also understands the awesomeness of new wave.

Standout tracks: “Hong Kong Garden” by Siouxsie and the Banshees; by the Cure; “What Ever Happened” by The Strokes

Queer as Folk (2001)

Why it’s awesome: Back in the first season, when the show was actually groundbreaking, you wished you hung out at Babylon. ANd you needed a guilty pleasure to get you through a long drive. And maybe you wanted to have a dance party but you lost your C & C Factory cassette.

Standout tracks: “You Think You’re a Man” by Full Frontal; “Start Rockin’” by ANtiloop

Trainspotting (1996)

Why It’s Awesome: Because the movie, and especially the soundtrack, actually secretly made you want to do heroin. Again, here is a soundtrack curator with an appreciate for Birtpop and new wave. Although most of the songs were from an earlier time, it seemed that they were written with this movie in mind.

Standout tracks: “Sing” by Blur; “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed

Bend it Like Beckham (2003)

Why It’s Awesome: combines some great Brits (Mel C. of the Spice Girls, anyone?) and some Indian pop music, just like the blending of the cultures in the movie.

Standout tracks: “Inner Smile” by Texas; “Punjabiyan Di Shaan” by Hans Raj Hans

Empire Records (1995)

Why it’s awesome: I watched this movie the other day, and it actually seemed like it was made last year and was parodying the decade of the 90s. In the moment it was current, no it is almost cliche. How many 90s cliches can you pick out? Well, the actually selling of compact discs for one. Liv Tyler’s cobat boots worn with a plaid kilt. Better Than Ezra on the Soundtrack. Rene Zellweger wearing a scrunchie. Too bad her ultra bad version of “Sugar High” is not on the soundtrack. Also, I think the soundtrack sold about 10 million more copies than movie tickets.

Standout tracks: “‘Til I Hear it From You” by the Gin Blossoms; “Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins

Singles (1992)

Why it is awesome: because the grunge era of fashion/music/lifestyle was so pervasive that a major motion picture company made a movie about it. Take the music and the Seattle location out of the movie, and it’s a piece of crap. It’s the Empire Records syndrome: when a soundtrack outlives and outshines an otherwise crappy movie.

Standout tracks: “Waiting For Somebody” by Paul Westerberg; “Breathe” by Pearl Jam

Magnolia (1999)

Why it is awesome: The whole movie was actually based on the lyrics to one of the songs. And Aimee Mann can write the most beautiful, haunting songs. The scene with the entire cast singing along to “Wise Up” is cinematic genius.

Standout tracks: “Momemtum”; “Wise Up”

Shortbus (2006)

John Cameron Mitchell compiled a collection from some of indie’s “it” bands without it turning into a Zach Braff approved soundtrack. Of course, I am ignoring some of the ridiculous drivel performed by the actors.

Standout Tracks: “If You Fall” by Azure Ray; “Boys of Melody” by The Hidden Cameras

Go (1999)

Intruduced us to the fabulous one hit wonders of the band Len, and included the whole range of pop rock to dance. It truly understands the meaning of quality pop music. Good music for an underappreciated movie.

Standout Tracks: “Steal My Sunshine” by Len; “New” by No Doubt

Donnie Darko (2001)

Why it’s awesome: Another fantastic thing about this movie is that it is set in 1988. The culturural references and fashions are actually accurate, but subtle, and not over the top like The Wedding Singer. Also awesome? There is really no reason for the movie to take place in 1998. But who can forget Sparkle Motion performing to Duran Duran and the slo-mo school sequence set to “Head Over Heels”.

Standout Tracks: “The Killing Moon” by Echo & The Bunnymen; “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division; “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS

more to come!

As the nation mourns, media producers wet their pants with excitement over the details of the VT tragedy. Most major news stations are stationed down there ripping each other apart trying to get a crying student on camera.

Was it truly nexessary for the video that Cho Seung-Hu made before the killings to go public?  How is that for the family and friends of the victims? They most certainly could have just turned that over to investigators. No, the nightly news had to have the best rating.

Stores are already taking advantage of the demand for “Hokie” wear.

And don’t even get me started on this.

How Many Of Joel Madden’s Hints That He Is Cool And Tough Can You Spot In This Picture?

Features : Radar Online: Chuck Palahnuik

Ten Best Teenage Breakups on Scripted TV

Suicide Food

Why Does Joss Stone Look Like Such A Whore? The theory of “The Butterfly Effect”

Also, proof that Pitchfork is no longer about reviewing the actual music. Three fantastic albums get mediocre reviews:

Idlewild: Make Another World: Pitchfork Record Review

The Fratellis: Costello Music: Pitchfork Record Review

The Rakes: Ten New Messages: Pitchfork Record Review

Also, for those of you counting, this is my 2000 post! Holy crap.

“Kiss You Off” is my favorite song off of Tah-Dah. It is pretty arty and slick. I also like that it actually doesn’t feature Jake Shears’ naked torso, which is expected. Well done.

I know my earlier comments about VT may sound insenstive, but seriously, if you know me, you know that I have widely innapprpriate emotional responses. Those of you that were with me during 9/11 probably remember my dumb comments during that. I am not taking it back, it’s just how I deal with things. It still hasn’t sunk in, even though I have been watching CNN for about three days straight now. [Also, have you noticed how some prouction intern has designed all sorts of fancy logos for them? Ridiculous. And the two reporters in the scene trying to grab a reaction from any grieving student they could get their hands on.]

So what’s my way to deal with it? Totally indulge in trivial shit.

I’m torn. Lucky You looks like the crappiest movie ever, but Eric Bana, you make my heart pitter-patter. I may need to catch like a 10am viewing of this so no one sees me.

Trainspotting sequel? Danny Boyle…just stop. No.

Could you die from cuteness?

I think I may already have a contender for my favorite album of the year.

This is interesting. Some guy writing a fad diet claims that cardio training is a complete waste of time. At first I thought that was ridiculous, but…I didn’t really start losing weight until I did weight training. Hmmmm. It can’t be that bad for you. I don’t know.

Also, I will be in the Bay Area in the first week of May. Isn’t that crazy? Me, actually leaving the East Coast. My crazy notion of wanting to move to California is actually coming closer to a reality. It was like some zany idea that I had one day, and then when it actually may happen…it’s weird. Especially when I stumbled across this. It’s not exactly my story, but a lot rang true.

They sell their stuff to commercials. If you haven’t noticed the following artists songs used in commecials/tv promos.

The University of Phoenix Online courses- “The Bleeding Heart Show”; The New Pornographers

Honda Civic- The Go! Team

Guitar Hereo II- “Woman” by Wolfmother

Dancing With the Stars- “Le Disko” by Shiny Toy Guns

Along with you, I am also pretty freaked out by the Virginia Tech shooting. My heart goes out to everyone there. But my question is, can we get these kids to take a public speaking course?

student: “I was in Shanks Hall, which is located in the upper portion of campus, and we were having class, and all of a sudden we had e-mail saying that, like, there was a shooting on campus and then we were updated with it saying that, like, classes were being canceled and to stay where we were. … Right after we got that e-mail we heard five shots on campus, and we could hear the emergency speaker system. So we all got down under the desks and moved away from the windows.

There must have been at least over 20 or 30 cop cars and ambulances. Like, every street was lined with them. I did not see like openings at all, like, it was really scary. All the cops had, like, vests on, and some had guns in their hands and everything. I felt like I was in a war zone, or in the middle of like the city, or something. It was just very, very unsettling.”

I’m watching CNN and MSBNC simultaneously, and is it just me or are the producers jumping for joy about the coverage this will bring them? I think they already have a logo. And how many times are they going to play the tape with the gunshots and the screaming? And then the anchor saying “listen to that CARNAGE!”. Jeez.

Another update: I am really sick of all the press criticizing how the police handled it. How in the hell does anyone prepare for something like this? Now they are criticizing them for not having security guards at the dorms at all times. Practically every school on a suburban campus has a dorm that is easily penitrable. They were criticising them for not doing a radio boradcast. Who the hell listens to the radio? Also, how do you lock down a campus of 30,000 within minutes? Lay off. It’s a tragedy that no one expected.

Sorry, no more Multiply account. I think they were catching on to my copyright violations. I could have practiced some civil disobedience because you all know my feelings about music copyright restrictions, but to avoid a headache I just canceled my account.

For those of you that watch Workout last season, you know it was good and Jackie was the coolest/most together person on any reality tv show. This season it’s like the Real World. I think it is ridiculous that she is seeing Rebecca. Rebecca is ridiculous. She is obviously getting involved with Jackie for airtime. And is someone who is not really a lesbian, but is sleeping with a woman for shock value and attention. Ugh. And then the whole thing with Doug? They totally have not really addressed it.

Thoughts on Shear Genius? How many iterations of Project Runway can we have? I think I will enjoy this, because some of the people seem cool and you all know I have a secret dream of being a hair stylist. Unless Dr. Boogie’s birth certificate says Dr. Boogie, I want to punch him in the face for naming himself that. Theodore is set up to be the likeable heartthrob, but I believe he is secretly evil. As of now, I’m rooting for Daisy.

Since I have been sick, I reread From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. and started The Golden Compass. It has made me miss reading as a child. It made me nostalgic for the days when I would DEVOUR several books in a week as a child/young adult. I have started thinking about some effed up stuff that I read as well that has stuck with me. I mean, obviously most of my time was taken up with BSC, Sunset Island and Sweet Valley High. I feel like today not a lot of the stuff would be popular, with the market dominated by Harry Potter and those goddam Gossip Girl books. I wonder if any of you remember these.

The Boy Who Reversed Himself

Some kid knows how to enter the Fourth Dimension. Ok, the first thing was its whole explanation of how dimenions work, which just blew my eight year old mind. Entering the fourth dimension was not just another perspective, but it had it’s own world with creatures and society. So this girl and her friend are kidnapped by the weird fouth-dimensional creatures. Even though I was eight, it gave me some irrational fear that this weird fourth dimensional worls existed. Plus, they could reverse the molecular makeup of objects, and reversed ketchup apparently was like crack. Weeeeeeeiiird!

Hey, Didi Darling!

Holy shit, this book was my life. These teenage girls had a rock band and they became frustrated that no one was taking them seriously because they were women. So they decided to cross dress and pose as an all-boy group. Then they gain popularity and attract lots of adoring female fans and jikinks ensue while they try not to reveal their true identities. First of all, how in the hell did they even pass as boys? That astounded me. Looking back, I now see this could have been a statement of feminism/the glass ceiling and even on the effects of transphobia. Or maybe I am looking into it too much.

The Secret Language

I think I read this when I was seven or eight, and I remember wanting to beat the crap out of the characters. It was this whiny, needy, weak girl who was always homesick at boarding school and made everyone around her drop everything to fit her needs. I think one was supposed to sympathize with her, but I remember being annoyed with her. Why was this book weird? It was considered a classic or something, and it went nowhere. Basically these two girls would run around and play these dumb games, which was supposed to be imaginative, but in today’s world these girls would probably be diagnosed with mild autism. I’m just sayin’.

Sleepover Friends

This was a whole series about a group of friends in the fifth grade who would hold sleepovers every Friday night. Sounds fun, right? It was pretty fun. I was also in the fifth grade when I read these and it ASTOUNDED me that they were allowed to attend sleepovers every week. Don’t kids need a decent amount of sleep? When I slept over my friends’ I would stay up until six on the morning and it probably messed up my brain development somehow. Why was this bizarre? Because the characters acted like they were 35 years old. I was also in the fifth grade at the time when I read these. These girls would solve their parents marital crises, constantly go out to restaurants alone, and have like actual romantic relationships where they talked to their boyfriends and were actually mature enough to maintain these relationships. I think one actually went to couples counseling. At one point one of them organized an archaelogical dig. Oh, they also had a business on the side where they organized children’s parties. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a 401K.

More t come as I remember them…