Saturday, December 20, 2008
Rick Warren says being gay is a sign of immaturity
He really does, I swear it.
Ahem.
Colley says "Well, he's got a point."
Keitha smacks him upside the head.
Ahem.
Colley says "Well, he's got a point."
Keitha smacks him upside the head.
Friday, December 19, 2008
"...danger at every turn." "I eat danger for breakfast!" "You hungry?" " Starving!"
I saw Bolt this afternoon with my nephew.
I liked it--and liked it a lot--but he loved it, leaning forward in his chair to watch (as opposed to Wall-E, wherein he was a brat) and the first thing he said when it was over was
"Can we see this again?"
I would say it's not the work of art, (nor quite as sophisticated) as say, the best Pixar films have been. But it is full of a great deal of simple pleasures, like fun and excitement; especially if you are (or are with) a child.
It has a lesson, too, but doesn't beat it to death, and some pretty well-developed characters for an animated children's movie.
Also it genuinely has...noIcan'tbelieveI'msayingthiseither...heart.
Some of that heart comes from a featured song by Jenny Lewis called "Barking at the Moon." I loved this song much more than I've liked most of the new songs I've heard in animated films in the past 10 years or so.
I never warmed to Randy Newman's Toy Story songs. "Beyond the Sea" at the end of Nemo hit me pretty good, but of course, that's not a new song.
(Speaking of Nemo, there's an inside-joke reference to that movie in this one.)
Anyway, I don't know how long this will last, but with luck you should be able to hear the Lewis song below.
Barking at the Moon - Jenny Lewis
I'm hoping it'll get a Academy nom for best song.
John Travolta and especially Miley Cyrus (it must be said) do good work as Bolt the dog and his person, Penny. But both are bettered by Susie Essman as the cat Mittens, a really honest performance, and Mark Walton, a Disney story artist (!) as the manic hamster Rhino.
And the hamster rules. Driving away, my nephew was "clawing" at the back passenger-side window, making believe he was the hamster in his ball.
Speaking of rules, it occurs to me that Bolt is also an exception that tests one of my rules, which is this: Animated movies that bill their celebrity voice cast, as this one bills Travolta and Cyrus, are usually a sign of a movie pretty bad. It means a movie that can't be sold upon it's own entertainment, humor or charm.
Not here, tho. Not by a long shot.
Here's a TV spot.
(after clicking "Play Now," click on "Widescreen" to get rid of those annoying little boxes in the corner)
I liked it--and liked it a lot--but he loved it, leaning forward in his chair to watch (as opposed to Wall-E, wherein he was a brat) and the first thing he said when it was over was
"Can we see this again?"
I would say it's not the work of art, (nor quite as sophisticated) as say, the best Pixar films have been. But it is full of a great deal of simple pleasures, like fun and excitement; especially if you are (or are with) a child.
It has a lesson, too, but doesn't beat it to death, and some pretty well-developed characters for an animated children's movie.
Also it genuinely has...noIcan'tbelieveI'msayingthiseither...heart.
Some of that heart comes from a featured song by Jenny Lewis called "Barking at the Moon." I loved this song much more than I've liked most of the new songs I've heard in animated films in the past 10 years or so.
I never warmed to Randy Newman's Toy Story songs. "Beyond the Sea" at the end of Nemo hit me pretty good, but of course, that's not a new song.
(Speaking of Nemo, there's an inside-joke reference to that movie in this one.)
Anyway, I don't know how long this will last, but with luck you should be able to hear the Lewis song below.
Barking at the Moon - Jenny Lewis
I'm hoping it'll get a Academy nom for best song.
John Travolta and especially Miley Cyrus (it must be said) do good work as Bolt the dog and his person, Penny. But both are bettered by Susie Essman as the cat Mittens, a really honest performance, and Mark Walton, a Disney story artist (!) as the manic hamster Rhino.
And the hamster rules. Driving away, my nephew was "clawing" at the back passenger-side window, making believe he was the hamster in his ball.
Speaking of rules, it occurs to me that Bolt is also an exception that tests one of my rules, which is this: Animated movies that bill their celebrity voice cast, as this one bills Travolta and Cyrus, are usually a sign of a movie pretty bad. It means a movie that can't be sold upon it's own entertainment, humor or charm.
Not here, tho. Not by a long shot.
Here's a TV spot.
(after clicking "Play Now," click on "Widescreen" to get rid of those annoying little boxes in the corner)
Help highlight the top 100 Warner Bros. Cartoons
Just like it says.
And for the record, here's the ones I chose:
And for the record, here's the ones I chose:
1. What’s Opera, Doc?
2. Porky In Wackyland
3. Bully For Bugs
4. Operation Rabbit
5. The Dover Boys
6. Duck Amuck
7. Birds Anonymous
8. 8 Ball Bunny
9. Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century
10. Long Haired Hare
Second thought
It's hard to be civil when people keep trying to take your liberties away.
But Chris Durang does a really good job of it.
ETA further: Salon asks the very good question: How the hell did Rick Warren get inauguration tickets?
BTW, I know I'm hitting this a lot. It's because I'm truly disappointed in Obama and his staff here.
But Chris Durang does a really good job of it.
ETA further: Salon asks the very good question: How the hell did Rick Warren get inauguration tickets?
BTW, I know I'm hitting this a lot. It's because I'm truly disappointed in Obama and his staff here.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
A thought
It's hard to have faith in God when humans keep using him to take freedom away from others.
Personally, I think I would've gone with "pathetic" or "impeachable."
But "incompetent idiot" works, too. And those are two of the words the public chose to describe Bush in a new poll.
Defending the indefensable
Obama defends choice of homophobic bigoted idiot to deliver the invocation at his Inaugural Ceremony.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Obama chooses homophobic bigoted idiot to deliver the invocation at his Inaugural Ceremony
Via The Washington Monthly...
Nice thinking, Barack.
It's times like this I'm glad I'm on medication.
Obama has chosen Rick Warren.
Warren is opposed, on religious grounds, to abortion rights, gay rights, stem-cell research, and euthanasia. In 2004, he described these issues as "nonnegotiable" and "not even debatable."
What's more, just this month, Warren supported* Prop. 8 in California for absurd reasons, and offered an incoherent theological rationale to Sean Hannity's assertion that the United States needs to "take out" Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Nice thinking, Barack.
It's times like this I'm glad I'm on medication.
And it's over.
The days of Evan Rachel Wood looking like a real woman again, I mean. That was nice for a while.
(Seriously, what is Marilyn Manson, some kind of vampire that instead of sucking a person's blood, robs them of their sexual identity?)
(Seriously, what is Marilyn Manson, some kind of vampire that instead of sucking a person's blood, robs them of their sexual identity?)
Things you don't get to say often
"Lady, get your ass off that car. You're bringing down the resale value."
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Dust yourself down
This record is a terrific collaboration between Junkie XL & Dave Gahan. I like to play it when I need it. The video was made by a Depeche Mode fan on YouTube.
Superb.
Superb.
Signs of Life?
"Life" has been named one of AFI's Top 10 TV Shows for 2008. I'd be more excited about this, except that it didn't do anything to save "Veronica Mars."
It's still pretty cool, though.
(Among their movie list, "Iron Man" and "Wall-E.")
"Life" actually made it into NBC's top 10 the first week in Dec.
It's still pretty cool, though.
(Among their movie list, "Iron Man" and "Wall-E.")
"Life" actually made it into NBC's top 10 the first week in Dec.
Film news that doesn't suck
1. James L. Brooks (who I want to be) is writing a new movie.
Reese Witherspoon--who I don't seem to have quite as much of a crush on as many do, but still probably have a little one-- has been signed to star.
2. Olivia Wilde has gotten a role in Tron 2.
In a geek sense, this is amazing.
Not that Wilde has a role...
(still), that Tron 2 is actually happening!
Reese Witherspoon--who I don't seem to have quite as much of a crush on as many do, but still probably have a little one-- has been signed to star.
2. Olivia Wilde has gotten a role in Tron 2.
In a geek sense, this is amazing.
Not that Wilde has a role...
(still), that Tron 2 is actually happening!
There's a joke in here about how females are always trying to take your nuts
But I'm too cool to make it.
I think it may be time to start the countdown to Danielle ‘Topanga’ Fishel appearing in Playboy
Lord knows, she doesn't seem to have a whole hell of a lot else to do...
Monday, December 15, 2008
Must not...revel in...failures of...others...must not...
About 3.4 Americans per 1000 filed for bankruptcy over the 12-month period ending in September. Tennessee saw the highest per-capita filing rate in the country, with 7.3 residents per thousand filing.
I need this.
The first pop/rock act I ever saw live was Greg Kihn. Which seems appropriate given how much of my identity has turned out to be wrapped up in growing up in the SF Bay Area.
This is the video for the first single from his '85 solo album. If memory serves, the woman in it later became his wife, but still later they divorced.
Greg's a DJ now and also an author. I remember being struck by how different his speaking voice sounded to his singing. I also remember looking at one of his books in a bookshop and not being impressed, but admittedly I've never actually read an entire one of his.
This is the video for the first single from his '85 solo album. If memory serves, the woman in it later became his wife, but still later they divorced.
Greg's a DJ now and also an author. I remember being struck by how different his speaking voice sounded to his singing. I also remember looking at one of his books in a bookshop and not being impressed, but admittedly I've never actually read an entire one of his.
Not content with selling her getting you drunk, Anne Hathaway is now selling advertising space on her tummy
Psst! Anne! You're gorgeous and rich! You don't need to do this!
Note to self
When next you fly somewhere over an ocean, rather than purchasing insurance, rent Jessica Simpson to fly with you.
Because if the plane goes down, you know she'll keep you afloat.
Also, she could probably use the money.
Because if the plane goes down, you know she'll keep you afloat.
Also, she could probably use the money.
Ahem.
The "mid-season finale" of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles airs tonight at 8:00pm ET/PT on FOX. Therefore this is my last chance to try to bludgeon you into watching until mid-February, when it will move to Friday nights.
It's a good show, damnit. Show some support.
It's a good show, damnit. Show some support.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
I've heard of the other shoe dropping, but this is ridiculous*
Via McClatchy:
"This is a goodbye kiss, you dog."
I love it.
*(Do you suppose I beat anyone to that joke?)
An Iraqi television journalist hurled two shoes at President Bush on Sunday during a joint news conference Bush was holding with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki to mark the signing of a U.S.-Iraq security agreement.
Bush had just finished his prepared remarks in which he said the security agreement was made possible by the U.S. surge of troops to Iraq last year, when the journalist, Muthathar al Zaidi, pulled his shoes off and hurled them at the president. "This is a goodbye kiss, you dog," Zaidi shouted.
"This is a goodbye kiss, you dog."
I love it.
*(Do you suppose I beat anyone to that joke?)
The fact that my favorite comes from Paris Hilton says something about the state of Notable Quotables in the world
The Top 10 quotes of 2008, as compiled by the editor of the Yale Book of Quotations.
Really.
John McCain sideswiped the Republican National Committee on Sunday for the intense focus it has placed on Barack Obama's relationship (however thin) to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Saying he was confident that information would be made public regarding the president-elect's contacts with the embattled Illinois governor -- who is accused of putting up Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder -- McCain urged his Republican colleagues to keep their political priorities in order.
How nice. A lecture on keeping political priorities in order from the man who put Sarah Palin on the national stage.
Go back to bed, John. It's OK.
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