V for Vendetta
Great! "Blowing up a few buildings can change the world". Wow.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Bracketeering: N ever C an A nticipate A nything
Great Odin's Raven! What the hot hell happened to all the strong teams? I don't really watch sports, but there's something undeniable about the aptness of the name March Madness. These are not these overpaid, Brokeback, butter butts in the NBA who are only thinking of how they can get one more inch added to the rims on their ride without scrapping the frame of their platinum-dipped Hummer. These are kids playing for guts and glory, pride and desire... and to show the scouts they are worthy of a contract that includes some form of vehicle coated in precious metal. Those boys are HUNGRY! Notice they never make movies about NBA comeback teams.
So then, back to my point. Whatever happened to those staple teams? The ones you could count on to be at the top? Puke? Texass? Villanoway? Is it that the fire in their bellies has gone out? Is this a case of the gap between the NCAA and the NBA blurring? Maybe these top ranked teams take it for granted that Britney Spears State University can still shoot the ball. These 1st tier teams are already thinking of what they are going to stock their fridges with for their appearance on Cribs. It seems to me that they have the opinion that they deserve to be where they are just because of who they are. Thats called underestimation. See what Sun Tzu says about that.
I know, I know. I am just sore that UCLA is the only team in my bracket that is still around. I am a sore loser. Next year I'll just hand you guys my money, skip the bracket and just enjoy my beer and watch the effing games.
So then, back to my point. Whatever happened to those staple teams? The ones you could count on to be at the top? Puke? Texass? Villanoway? Is it that the fire in their bellies has gone out? Is this a case of the gap between the NCAA and the NBA blurring? Maybe these top ranked teams take it for granted that Britney Spears State University can still shoot the ball. These 1st tier teams are already thinking of what they are going to stock their fridges with for their appearance on Cribs. It seems to me that they have the opinion that they deserve to be where they are just because of who they are. Thats called underestimation. See what Sun Tzu says about that.
I know, I know. I am just sore that UCLA is the only team in my bracket that is still around. I am a sore loser. Next year I'll just hand you guys my money, skip the bracket and just enjoy my beer and watch the effing games.
DVD Review In 10 Words or Less
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Pretty good. Adult humor and violent. Hokey ending. Rent it.
Pretty good. Adult humor and violent. Hokey ending. Rent it.
DVD Review In 10 Words or Less
Derailed
No chemistry or surprises. And Clive's accent? Garbage! Good/Average.
No chemistry or surprises. And Clive's accent? Garbage! Good/Average.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
O.S.C.A.R.
It seems the trend of the Academy is leaning towards a formula. If you don't have these 5 things, there is no chance of a win for best picture:
Opulence
Sexuality
Cross-dressing
Adversity
Racism
Okay. Brokeback Mountain was good. Donnie Darko was great in that film and the cinematography was incredible. But to be honest, Heath wasn't that great (barely understood him for most of the film). I mean, in relative terms, for a guy born in the outback and who sucked so hard in EVERYTHING before this, he was great. But his mix of mumbling twang and total silence doesn't warrant accolade. The story, sans gay overtones, was typical chick-flick fare. I take my cowboy hat off to Hollywood and the public for supporting this movie and I recognise its significance (see my movie review), but dont go to far. No, it didnt get gypped when it didnt win. I was suprised it didnt win best picture. It never deserved to win but that doesnt mean scared people who cant detach themselves from what everyone was saying about it wont vote for it (see the 2004 Presidential election), without jsut looking at it on the merits of it as a film. And no dig at Michelle Williams, but WTF? She had a moment but was that one of the five best moments in film of 2005? Sad.
Didnt see Capote but I hear it was about a gay guy so I was not shocked that it got nominated. I think its funny that the guy who jsut "sharted" himself only about a year ago is now an Oscar winner.
For my money, Munich was tops of the movies chosen. It was timely and amazing how the events of 33 years ago mirror our foreign policy so well. The team, made up of people who all look different from each other and have different backgrounds/accents but all have a common bond, reflects America. There is a terrorist attack. We retaliate. There is backlash. We run the streets of the world gunning down those we are told are to blame. Eventually, we start killing men who really didnt have anything to do with the attack. Things get out of hand and...well you have to watch the film. And the final shot of the film, though a bit heavy handed, lays it all out beautifully for the slow kids. Gritty and uncompromising. It should have been Best Pic (since comedies and action films never win and so I cant vote for Wedding Crashers or Sin City). And where was Elizabethtown? I guess it got "lassoed" off the list.
Crash, you say? Excellent but I thought it was a little too much. I heard the little man in my head scream out "Message!" a little too often. Top notch and it should have been nominated, but to win? Maybe not. I'm on the fence on that one. Let me just say that I almost shit my jammies when they performed the song from Crash. Did anyone else see the guy dressed as a cop on stage cramming his arm between that other lady-dancer's legs? Holy Terry Stops, Batman!
So how do you top this year? I think I am going to make a film and fill it with all the pain and confusion you need to win an Oscar. Anyone interested in playing a gay, transgendered paraplegic boxer in 18th Century England?
Opulence
Sexuality
Cross-dressing
Adversity
Racism
Okay. Brokeback Mountain was good. Donnie Darko was great in that film and the cinematography was incredible. But to be honest, Heath wasn't that great (barely understood him for most of the film). I mean, in relative terms, for a guy born in the outback and who sucked so hard in EVERYTHING before this, he was great. But his mix of mumbling twang and total silence doesn't warrant accolade. The story, sans gay overtones, was typical chick-flick fare. I take my cowboy hat off to Hollywood and the public for supporting this movie and I recognise its significance (see my movie review), but dont go to far. No, it didnt get gypped when it didnt win. I was suprised it didnt win best picture. It never deserved to win but that doesnt mean scared people who cant detach themselves from what everyone was saying about it wont vote for it (see the 2004 Presidential election), without jsut looking at it on the merits of it as a film. And no dig at Michelle Williams, but WTF? She had a moment but was that one of the five best moments in film of 2005? Sad.
Didnt see Capote but I hear it was about a gay guy so I was not shocked that it got nominated. I think its funny that the guy who jsut "sharted" himself only about a year ago is now an Oscar winner.
For my money, Munich was tops of the movies chosen. It was timely and amazing how the events of 33 years ago mirror our foreign policy so well. The team, made up of people who all look different from each other and have different backgrounds/accents but all have a common bond, reflects America. There is a terrorist attack. We retaliate. There is backlash. We run the streets of the world gunning down those we are told are to blame. Eventually, we start killing men who really didnt have anything to do with the attack. Things get out of hand and...well you have to watch the film. And the final shot of the film, though a bit heavy handed, lays it all out beautifully for the slow kids. Gritty and uncompromising. It should have been Best Pic (since comedies and action films never win and so I cant vote for Wedding Crashers or Sin City). And where was Elizabethtown? I guess it got "lassoed" off the list.
Crash, you say? Excellent but I thought it was a little too much. I heard the little man in my head scream out "Message!" a little too often. Top notch and it should have been nominated, but to win? Maybe not. I'm on the fence on that one. Let me just say that I almost shit my jammies when they performed the song from Crash. Did anyone else see the guy dressed as a cop on stage cramming his arm between that other lady-dancer's legs? Holy Terry Stops, Batman!
So how do you top this year? I think I am going to make a film and fill it with all the pain and confusion you need to win an Oscar. Anyone interested in playing a gay, transgendered paraplegic boxer in 18th Century England?
Desperate for Attention
I was never one who believed that line my mom fed me about too much of a good thing is a bad thing. That was, until I grew up. You can have an overload of nearly anything. Even alcohol, but that kind of overload washes away with a sackful of Krystal Chiks and a hot shower.
I have to say that I am getting near the "F" line on my mental gas tank with Eva Longoria. Man-o-Man is that lady hot. But, Damn! Every time I turn around I see that pretty face. She sells underwear (nice), make-up, food, acne medicine, fights diseases and crime, encourages parents that its not too soon to talk to their kids about drugs, boats, tractors, carbolic smoke bombs or whatever. Its like having chocolate syrup on everything: I like the stuff but keep it off my steak.
Maybe I am being too hard on her (pun). Its not often that you see a positive characterization
I have to say that I am getting near the "F" line on my mental gas tank with Eva Longoria. Man-o-Man is that lady hot. But, Damn! Every time I turn around I see that pretty face. She sells underwear (nice), make-up, food, acne medicine, fights diseases and crime, encourages parents that its not too soon to talk to their kids about drugs, boats, tractors, carbolic smoke bombs or whatever. Its like having chocolate syrup on everything: I like the stuff but keep it off my steak.
Maybe I am being too hard on her (pun). Its not often that you see a positive characterization
of a Latino on television. Not that her character is a good person, but that they are a Latino couple that became wealthy through means other than PowerBall (yeah, I watch the show sometimes). And I guess if I had the media's eye and ear I would whore my mug out like I was running for President.
I dont really have a point here, I just thought it had been too long since my last post. Computer difficulties. Forgive the lameness of it all. We now return you to your regularly scheduled Facebooking.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Monday, March 06, 2006
NASCAR on Dubs
This post comes to you courtesy of myself, CP, BO'S and a little guy named Bushmill's. We were all philosophizing on the nature of man and we hit upon an interesting point that has stuck with me. There was the observation that it is quite common knowledge that many Rednecks have a disdain for 'gansta'-types and vice versa. The interesting thing is, they have sooo much in common as to render them indistinguishable from each other (except for the obvious pigmentary discrepencies). Not with me? Look at it this way; they both:
1. are known for their lack of social graces
2. love to fight, drink and get high
3. blast their music wherever they go (be it Brooks and Dunn or Triple 6)
4. tend to live in less than desirable housing (mobile or public)
5. are known for they way they treat their significant others
6. have the same attitudes toward religious devotion, education and homosexuality
7. make up the bulk of the stars of the TV series COPS
8. loove their guns
The list goes on and on (bad clothes, dental issues, lots of babies). We aren't so much different from each other as we suspect. I can hear a twangy rendition of "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" on the winds. Yeehaw, ya feel me?
1. are known for their lack of social graces
2. love to fight, drink and get high
3. blast their music wherever they go (be it Brooks and Dunn or Triple 6)
4. tend to live in less than desirable housing (mobile or public)
5. are known for they way they treat their significant others
6. have the same attitudes toward religious devotion, education and homosexuality
7. make up the bulk of the stars of the TV series COPS
8. loove their guns
The list goes on and on (bad clothes, dental issues, lots of babies). We aren't so much different from each other as we suspect. I can hear a twangy rendition of "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" on the winds. Yeehaw, ya feel me?
In Lieu of Listening in Class...Monkey Business
http://www.trunkmonkey.com/content/category/4/68/59/
If you have about 20 minutes of free time on your hands, or if you are at all like me and your ADD flairs up, making every class/meeting "free time", click on the above link. Warning: do NOT enter this site if you dread of the superiority/have a fear of our simian bretheren.
If you have about 20 minutes of free time on your hands, or if you are at all like me and your ADD flairs up, making every class/meeting "free time", click on the above link. Warning: do NOT enter this site if you dread of the superiority/have a fear of our simian bretheren.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Whew!
Crisis Averted. The link below is the real one I meant to post. USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA!!! Whethere you want them homw or not, support them while they're there.
The Weather Is Fair
I have been hearing the most disturbing things lately. The whispers across campus lead me to believe that there is some disappointment attached to the recent performance of the UT Mens B-Ball team. What? How sad is that? The man has done an amazing job with this team over the course of a summer! So what if they lost a couple! I dont care if they dont win again this season/in the tournament. Look, you dont take a crippled kid, teach him/her how to walk, watch them sprint down the track and then criticize their stride! Be happy. This is a developing team that has dominated the SEC and is heading into the Big Show with some respect for the first time in YEARS. Jesus, people. I am glad Admissions didn't have your attitude, or I'd still be stacking boxes at FedEx.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
God Awful
Last year I wrote a paper on religion. Long story short: Some people deny God's existence because the reality of God defies their concept of Him. There is no God. What if we, mankind, dont fit God's idea of how we were meant to be we He made the originals? There is no Man.
This got me thinking, that and the whole Lint/Ash wednesday thing. I am not Catholic or Church of England. But with all this God in season now, I have been asked "what faith are you?". Well, I really had no answer until now. I am declaring myself an Atheistic Baptist . I believe in God, just not the one I was raised to (i.e. fiery eyes and lightning fingers, too Greek). How mean is God supposed to be? Damning us all to Hell from Day 1 to Lakes of Fire and Demon lashings and unwanted ass-shagging for all eternity (too Babylonian). I admit that the denial of all that I was taught is likely fueled by my own inner desire to do what I want without being judged for it. I just don't like being afraid of a being who is proported to be "the Embodiment of Love".
I seem to not fit in to any of the available faiths, leaving me to be introspective about any issues I have. Catholicism seems cool in some respects. I just have issues with believing that a person in a booth can make my badness go away by giving me homework assignments because he has a hotline to the Big Guy (too tribal).
Baptists and all its offshoots miss me completely with its judgmental attitude, homophobia and rampant intrusiveness into other people's right to worship (too fascist).
I'd be a Buddhist if it weren't for my deep-down love for Hardee's and Nathan's hotdogs.
I really like Hinduism. They think of religion as a bicycle wheel (we are all on the rubber tire area, God is the center of the wheel, all the world's religions are the spokes. Any true religion will lead you to the center, so its all good). I just think some redneck would mistake me for a Muslim (just Banzai Christianity, which is funny cuz Christians hate them) and shoot me.
Do I really need a religion? A philosophy professor of mine asked our class to live a weekend as if we had no religion. It really didn't change a thing (I actually think I drank less that weekend than usual).
With no religion, I tend to stress less about Commandments on steps and gay shepherds.
I wonder if Festivus has a religious background. I can dig it!
This got me thinking, that and the whole Lint/Ash wednesday thing. I am not Catholic or Church of England. But with all this God in season now, I have been asked "what faith are you?". Well, I really had no answer until now. I am declaring myself an Atheistic Baptist . I believe in God, just not the one I was raised to (i.e. fiery eyes and lightning fingers, too Greek). How mean is God supposed to be? Damning us all to Hell from Day 1 to Lakes of Fire and Demon lashings and unwanted ass-shagging for all eternity (too Babylonian). I admit that the denial of all that I was taught is likely fueled by my own inner desire to do what I want without being judged for it. I just don't like being afraid of a being who is proported to be "the Embodiment of Love".
I seem to not fit in to any of the available faiths, leaving me to be introspective about any issues I have. Catholicism seems cool in some respects. I just have issues with believing that a person in a booth can make my badness go away by giving me homework assignments because he has a hotline to the Big Guy (too tribal).
Baptists and all its offshoots miss me completely with its judgmental attitude, homophobia and rampant intrusiveness into other people's right to worship (too fascist).
I'd be a Buddhist if it weren't for my deep-down love for Hardee's and Nathan's hotdogs.
I really like Hinduism. They think of religion as a bicycle wheel (we are all on the rubber tire area, God is the center of the wheel, all the world's religions are the spokes. Any true religion will lead you to the center, so its all good). I just think some redneck would mistake me for a Muslim (just Banzai Christianity, which is funny cuz Christians hate them) and shoot me.
Do I really need a religion? A philosophy professor of mine asked our class to live a weekend as if we had no religion. It really didn't change a thing (I actually think I drank less that weekend than usual).
With no religion, I tend to stress less about Commandments on steps and gay shepherds.
I wonder if Festivus has a religious background. I can dig it!
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