Me and Mr. Jonze

From the first moment i was introduced to Spike Jonze i knew he was awesome. We met back in '94 through my old friends the Beastie Boys. The Sabotage video was so ridiculously great. Turning the hardcore/rap anthem into a 70's cop movie was so brilliantly and blatantly obvious after it was executed with perfection . Jonze cast his flick with precision. Nathan Wind portrayed Cochese with a delicate passion.  Vik Colfari was a clear choice for Bobby the Rookie. The Chiefs big heart and tough guy exterior was amazingly acted by Alasandro Alegre'. Sir Stewart Wallace obviously played himself because no one else could do him justice. All topped off with Fred Kelly's Oscar Award nominated performance as Bunny. 

Jonze just kept cranking out the creative craftiness in videos for Daft Punk's "Da Funk",  Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet", the Breeders "Cannonball",  Wax's "Souther California", Weezer's "Buddy Holly",and the  YeahYeahYeah's "Y Control". He directed and starred in the "guerrilla style" video for Fat Boy Slim's  "Praise You", which could almost be a precursor to JackAss (BTW, he had an integral part in creating that too). Among like 20 others that i havent seen, Jonze also directed the FBSlim video with the dancing Chris Walken and i just found out he did the video for Ween's "Freedom of '76" too.

Besides film making, it is apparent in his body of work that Mr. Jonze also has a passion for skateboarding. He artfully and creatively films and produces skate videos for previously established companies like World Industries, GIRL,  and Laika. Alot of people might be familiar with the invisible skateboard scene which i think was part of his "Yeah Right" video. This is a must see if you havent already. (Note. if  you haven't seen any of these clips and your into cool shit you really should check em out. I only linked the best of the best.)

As ive mentioned before, i think music videos and short films are much more difficult to pull off. It takes a precise degree of creative concision and visual vivacity in order to make an impressive short. After Jonze mastered that medium, it was time to turn to full length feature. Adapting Charlie Kaufman's off-the-wall screenplay "Being John Malkovich" into an enjoyable viewing experience was a feat all its own, but to choose this for your first feature film and pull it off so masterfully was remarkable. To follow it up with the equally eccentric "Adaptation" was further proof that, not only is Spike Jonze an incredible director, but is always looking for a challenge. 

When i heard Spike's next project was an adaptation of Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are" i was surprised. An animated feature? Interesting. Especially so considering i knew that Wes Anderson's (another favorite) next project is an animated version of "The Fantastic Mr. Fox". Then i found out Jonze was doing the "Wild Thing" live action style. I wondered how he would pull it off, but figured he'd be up to the challenge. WOW! After seeing this newly released trailer i am impressed. It looks fun, dramatic, stylish, and visually stunning. A great cast is in place including Katherine Keener, Chris Cooper, Lauren Ambrose, and Catherine O'Hara. The fact that Karen O (of theYYY's) is a co-music director and Tom Hanks and Maurice Sendak are given production credit doesn't hurt either. This has gotta be entertaining.

Happy Stupid Valentine's Day

Current's Vanguard reports on the diamond and rose industries.

Funny (For Now)

WARNING: My idea of good comedy is something that will make me laugh due to its sheer stupidity. If it doesn't make sense or is so idiotic that it should never have been created, i will most likely find it hilarious. Absurdist comedy troupe's like UprightCitizensBrigade, the State, and Kids in the Hall are my idea of comedic brilliance. With that said, i present to you this blog...

Besides Tina Fey, the funniest thing that SNL has produced in the past few years has been the Digital Shorts. The concepts of these shorts are usually better developed and still completely ridiculous. You can also tell that they are the ideas of a specific comedian. From Lettuce, to the Mirrror, to Extreme Challange, 90% of the funny comes from Andy Samberg. This is pretty intriguing considering that he is not that funny on the show. "The Chronic (les of Narnia)" was one of the first real youTube sensations, but it was "Dick in a Box" that made me really laugh at this idiot. 

I think i like Andy because most of  his comedy comes in the form of music. Apparently he and his two long time friends have been making music and shorts together for quite a while and have recently been taking advantage of NBC to produce their own material. The collective known as Lonely Island have just released their debut album entitled "Incridibad", and it certainly is. The album includes greatest hits like "Natelie (Portman's) Rap", "Dick in a Box", and its follow up "Jizz in my Pants", as well as plenty of new tracks that are just so stupid they're funny. The real genius behind the album is that its a true satire of hiphop radio. The message being that hiphop today is void of any real depth or meaning. Any one of these songs can be a hit as long as it follows the right formula, it doesnt matter what they're rapping about. Whether it's being on a boat in "I'm on a Boat" or about Carlos Santana's new DVX champagne. "He makes his guitar weep but his champagne cry".

"Boombox" features one of the better hooks of recent hip hop, sung by Julian Casablancas of Strokes fame. The song is basically a cautionary tale about the use of a powerful boombox with the ability to bring about world peace. More laughable then this concept are the idiotic lyrics that they rap. "DreamGirl" is a song about, well, their dream girl. The song somehow makes a left turn and transforms into a commercial for chex mix, "the number one snack food in all the land with the cereal taste that you eat with your hand." Other highlights include "Ras Trent" the reggae jam sung by a middle class college student and the wonderfully deadpan "We Like Sportz". However, the show is stolen by the king of musical comedy, the golden voice of Tenacious D, Mr. Jack Black. I could describe "Sax Man" but it would ruin the joke. Listen for yourself and laugh.

The thing about comic music is that once the joke is over it becomes unlistenable. The people that transcend this theory are the ones who create music that is as good or better than then comedy (ie Tenacious D). I'm fairly certain that most of these songs will fade into obscurity after a while, but at the moment they are making me laugh. I will end this post with echoes of how it began. I enjoy stupidity. I am not promising you comic gold here. If you use BitTorrents and want a few laughs, check out the album. Or just follow the links for a quick listen. I, for one, enjoyed these 3 idiots and their dumb songs. But thats just me.

Defining Thought & Language

This video is an extraordinary look into the mind of one person with autism. It is not a representation of the inner workings of autism because almost every case is different. My lady has been working with children with autism for a few years now and i believe she is on the forefront of support and therapy. Needless to say, Autism is often a topic of conversation in our little apartment. I am by no means a scholar on the subject, just someone with a particular insight into one aspect of the "disorder". I think it is important to realize that not every person with autism is like Amanda. It is a vast spectrum. Some may be more capable of specific social or motor skills but will never be able to match her intellect or comprehension of language, environment and their relationship with each other. In my opinion, her ability to express herself surpasses most "typical" humans and it is a pleasure to hear her perspective. However, as she said, her video is not a statement about autism but "a statement about what gets considered thought, intelligence, personhood, language, and communication, and what does not." These are all topics that i've been studying and reflecting on as a future teacher. 

In class we've been discussing the theory of primitive language. Basically it's the myth that one language is better than another because it is used by more people, or its able to express specific ideas, or is just considered to be more proper. This is obviously false because a language is created to suit the needs of its speakers. As long as it does that properly than it is no better or worse. I think its important to understand this as a teacher, but especially as an English teacher. Proper language and proper writing are as much of a lie as the idea of primitive language. Embracing linguistic difference is as important as embracing cultural difference. What i need to be able to do properly is convey the importance of learning to write and speak "Standard English" while encouraging he use of their home or peer language. Language is a tool. Students need to know when and how to use "appropriate" language in order to get ahead in life because unfortunately people and employers will instantly judge someone's intelligence by their language and accent. 

I think i can really relate with Amanda. i sometimes feel very much out of touch with "normal" society. What is considered acceptable and proper is not usually how i feel. Like amanda, i often tap and bang on my environment and listen closely to how they respond. And i sometimes smell objects that most people would think strange. At times i honestly wish i could experience the world the way Amanda does. She is more honest with herself and more in tune with her environment than 99% of "normal" people.

I Brake For Zombies

I first saw this photo of a roadside construction sign and assumed it was clever computer trickery. Once i found out this was real i began to panic about the ensuing Zombiepocalypse. "How long till said zombies arrive and where is the closest shotgun store?", i worried. Needless to say, a cool relief rushed over me when i discovered that it was all a ruse. Some cheeky troublemaker in Austin, Texas hacked into one of these road signs and reprogrammed it to warn motorists of oncoming undead. I applaud their anonymous awesomeness. 

Welcome Back Blogger

It's been a while since my last post. I guess the winter break was more than just an intellectual interlude. The holidays, my birthday, more hours at work, laziness and Fable 2 all kinda got in the way of me sharing my thoughts with the masses. Of course by "masses" i mean the three people that read this. Aaaaaaaanyway... 2009 promises to be filled with lots and lots of activity. This semester i'm taking a film class, a graphic novel class, and my first 3 courses in the Education program. The Spring and Summer are always exciting. And in the Fall i will be logging a bunch of observation hours at the Jr. and High school levels. Then student teaching begins next January. CRAZINESS!!! All topped off with a new President that can hopefully turn this country around. So this year should be interesting and will no doubt fly by. 

Let's start the year off with some eye candy. I just came across this music video and i think its pretty rad. The song is nothing but a decent soundtrack to some amazing cinematography. It's a video for the band FeverRay directed by Andreas Nilsson. It looks likes he's done mostly music videos which, let us not forget, is where greats like Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze, and Rob Zombie got their start. A music video is almost more challenging because it has to be so much more visually impressive to get and keep your attention for three minutes. Film directors usually have the luxuries of time, money, and the patience of the audience. This video is beautifully creepy and Mr. Nilsson is now on my radar. Check it...

That Beep.

Just came across this great new video from Aussie band Architecture in Helsinki. I've never heard of them until now, but they are definitely on my radar after this gem. The song is a tight throwback 80's jam with some sweet staccato guitars, synthesizer, and voice effects. When set to the fantastic video, the David Byrne influence becomes much clearer. They were the supporting act for his recent tour. The track comes off their forthcoming album with no release date as of yet. The song is apparently a departure from the bands previous stuff but i'll probably delve into the back catalogue whilst looking forward to the new release. 

[thanks to youaintnopicasso]

Inevitable Cliche' (The I ♥ Obama Blog)

Where do i begin? The feeling i felt at the announcement of Barack Obama's victory is indescribable. Even today, as i discussed it with some politically aware friends, i found it difficult to put all of my emotions into words. As i told them, i feel like i could talk about it forever and never fully do it justice. I will try and now im thinking it will take more like 5 paragraphs. But i think its necessary to write down how i feel for myself, because it truly is a beautiful moment to be alive. 

RELIEF. 

An awesome wave of relief rushing over me. That was my initial response. The past 6 months felt like i was drinking Budweisers at Shea for a 19-inning World Series game and holding my pee the entire time. The announcement of an Obama victory was not just the joy of a great win, but now i can finally go to the bathroom. I can breathe normally. I can relax without fear of 100 more years of war with Iraq. Or Bomb-bomb-bombing Iran. Or women losing the right to choose. Or diplomacy being a bad thing. Or Sarah fuckin' Palin. 

POWER. 

I feel powerful now. The election of 2000 was pretty disappointing. Seeing Gore win, then to have it taken away was disappointing. The lying and the deceit of a stolen election was shocking. But we still didn't really know what we were in store for. Then 9/11 happened. Then the war happened. Basically, Bush/Cheney happened. So 2004 roles around and we get John Kerry. I'm a little more politically aware, not really passionate about Kerry, but for me it was the choice of the  lesser of 2 evils. To have the election hijacked again was just a slap in the face. Angry. Powerless. Useless. Thats pretty much how i felt. These feeling eventually just evolved over the next four years into an overall sense of jadedness. 

Election season came around again and instead of not caring, i dove head first into the process. Education and Environment being my main concerns, i was hoping for Gore to enter the race. When he passed, i kept an open mind over the next year. Barack wins nomination but i still had my doubts. I think i was officially won over when he spoke at the DNC. Intelligent. Positive. Confident. Classy. And smooth as a mothafucker. He was just so god damn Presidential and he continued to be so throughout the grueling campaigning and debates. For the first time ever i felt truly passionate about getting a person elected. Not shying away from political conversation, challenging friends and family to explain why they feel a certain way. Disproving lies and so on. When Obama was announced as the winner i felt a surge of power. I do count. My vote does matter. I am somewhat responsible for making change. It instantly restored my faith in government, democracy, and America. And holy shit does it feel good. 

PRIDE.

This is a biggie. Growing up in the 80's an 90's you take being an American for granted. Yeah, we're number one. No duh! But then the Bush administration roles in and fucks EVERYTHING up. I was just plain embarrassed to be American. I never took for granted the freedoms and luxury that we are so lucky to have, but ashamed to be a part of what America has become: a corporatized, fascist, and self-righteous country that can do know wrong because God loves freedom,  run by a puppet government designed not to serve its people but to make money for a chosen few.  

President Barack Obama makes me so unbelievably proud to be an American. His victory speech was nothing short of inspirational. Again, that dude is just so god damn Presidential. Listening to him honestly brought tears to my eyes. I could sit here and list the many brilliant statements that he made, but its not really necessary. The speech in its entirety was stunningly stirring. What changed my tears from moist eyes to wet cheeks was his story of the 100+ year old woman from Atlanta. He used her life as a vehicle to relive history and to illustrate how far we have come as a country, as people. From slavery to segregation to civil right and now FINALLY President. This is such a monumental moment in history. The racial barrier is beginning to crumble. Unfortunately there will always be ignorance, and institutionalized prejudices are still commonplace. But for race to not be an issue for the majority of America is a beautiful thing.

In his latest special, Chris Rock was talking about what it would mean to him if Obama wins. He basically said that when white parents tell their kids they can be anything they want when they grow up, they mean it. And how if his daughters asked if they could be president he would say yes, but he would have his doubts. This is a question that doesn't need to be asked anymore because Obama is an example of the possibilities. Our President-elect is proof to young black people that success is possible through hard work. 

A sports writer recently posed the question whether or not sports figures helped make this day possible. Of course Jackie Robinson, Jack Johnson, Willie Mays, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan were all instrumental in breaking down racial barriers. But like my man Mike Wilbon said, the sports world is still a form of entertainment, and blacks entertaining whites was never really frowned upon. President Barack Obama is not an entertainer, he's a political figure on the biggest stage in the world. His face is now the face of America. An America now represented by a person of color who won an election fairly, centered around positivity, change, and hope. And i am extremely proud of him, our country, and how far we have come.

HOPE.

Hope is what the Obama campaign was all about from the jump off. It is what i felt when i woke up at 7am on November 4th. It is what i was filled with at midnight when Obama took the stage in Chicago. And hope is really all we have on November 5th. Hope that the Bush administration doesn't make things worse. Hope that some deranged lunatic doesn't commit terrible act of violence. Hope that Obama is given the chance and can live up to his promises that he has made. Hope for real change. And the hope that we can make this country respectable again. It's not just Barack Obama's responsibilty, it's all of ours. And i plan on doing my part.

Neon Bible

It's been over a year and a half since Arcade Fire released Neon Bible. Before the release they did a superb promotional job. The Neon Bible website was both beautiful and creepy. And those are two words i rarely use to describe a page. Highlights include frightening televangelists, scary synchronized swimmer,  and a phone number to dial and hear very rough versions of songs off the album before the release.

The neat part of the site was that it evolved from throughout the weeks, building up to the release, and adding content long after. They added a sweet lyrics page, a video for black mirror, and live video of an unreleased song. 

For the first time in a while, I went back to the page last night to check up on one of my favorite bands and i found a new treat. I guess you could call it an interactive video for the titular song, Neon Bible. It is super simple but kinda eerie, as i type this i realize thats how i would describe the song as well. Anyway, its worth checking out if your a fan. Follow the link and click on "#2- be oNline B". Enjoy.  

A Little Too Awesome?

For those who don't know, I have recently returned to good old SUNY New Paltz in hopes of becoming a high school English teacher. I've been taking English classes but haven't applied to the School of Education yet.  I needed to take some classes and raise my GPA because it just wasn't up to snuff. I am applying at the end of the month and just recently finished the obligatory essay. I am slightly embarrassed to post it on here, but am reassured knowing that Danny is really the only person who reads this on a regular basis. Hi Dan. 

Anyway, the reason i am posting this is because i need some feedback. Not just on grammar and structure, but on the overall feeling that you get from reading it. Is it believable? Is it too forward or arrogant? Too cheesy? Maybe even a little too awesome? I am pretty satisfied with the finished product but need it to be near perfect in order to overcome my poor GPA. Let me know if i should make any changes. Thanks. Here it is...

If the aim of the Professional Education Unit of SUNY New Paltz is to “prepare caring and critical professionals for a diverse society”, I believe I have an advantage over other students. I have already gone through the rigors of the undergraduate program and I have gained intangible experience through my adult life. I already consider myself to be a caring and critical person, fully appreciative of our diverse society. What I desire and require from the New Paltz School of Education is the knowledge and qualifications to become a professional English teacher.

To me, being an educator is not just a job. It is a responsibility and an opportunity to be a positive influence in the lives of a younger generation. I would not only teach the importance of language, grammar and literature, but also connect these matters to the more important aspects of our lives. Teaching the importance of these disciplines does not just enhance the child’s life, but helps to further our community and society as a whole.

I want to be an advocate for the younger generations. Their creativity, social awareness, and technological savvy are severely underappreciated. Instead, children are considered spoiled by the social and technological advancements that past generations have worked so hard to allow them to have. They are becoming jaded by war, divorce, politics, and corporatization and I want to change that. I want to give young people the know-how and the elbow grease to go confidently into the “real world” and believe that they can make a real difference.

I am also interested in becoming involved in high school sports programs. Organized sports were a crucial part of my development and I believe that they can play an important role in the lives of young men and women. When managed properly, sports can promote health and physical fitness, teamwork, responsibility, leadership, and time management in a fun and social environment. These activities also give young people something positive to do with their time after school that might otherwise be spent getting into trouble.

The only factor that may be holding me back from acceptance into the Secondary Education program is my questionable grade point average. Unfortunately, I was more dedicated to socializing than to my education during my first year at SUNY New Paltz and this is apparent in my cumulative GPA. I am now a dedicated and focused student and this is evident in the grades I have received since returning to school.

During the last year and a half I have been working in the children’s program at the Mohonk Mountain House. I find working with children to be both fun and rewarding. My genuine and passionate personality and sense of humor help me connect with young people and I sincerely hope to be a positive influence in their lives. I would take such pleasure in helping just one child to succeed. The positive ripple effect that this child may have on the rest of our world would be enough to make me feel like I have done some good in the universe. Of course, my ultimate goal is to be able to help not one, but many students throughout my career. First, I need the knowledge and training that the SUNY New Paltz Secondary Education Program has to offer.

Headphone Trippin'

The new of Montreal album is out! Well, it technically hasnt been released yet, but I am lucky enough to have optimized my "BitTorrenting" at the perfect time. It was recently leaked to the net before its official release date of October 21st. To combat the inevitable leakage, Polyvinyl Records and Kevin Barnes have come up with a really smart marketing scheme. They are releasing 7 different packages that all include a code for an MP3 download. Fans can choose from a T-shirt, Paper Lantern, vinyl, or tote-bag, among other things. It gives people an incentive to buy a copy, rather than just DL it for free. I still think the best thing you can do to support a band is to go see them in concert. Maybe buy a shirt while you're there to show some real love.

Anyway, the album is called "Skeletal Lamping" and it is RIDICULOUS!!! It really is a psychedelic masterpiece. A deeply layered collage of sound. Kevin Barnes is a genius. His super-crispy production, upbeat, catchy pop tunes and humorously poignant lyrics set this album apart from anything else. I wouldn't hesitate to put him up there with the original mad genius of pop music, Mr. Brian Wilson. They both have an innate understanding of what makes up that beautiful and deep pop sound.

After doing some research and reading recent interviews and blogs, i've found some interesting information that allow for a deeper appreciation of the album. First off, lamping is type of hunting where a hunter puts up a really bright spotlight. Then, said hunter turns it on and when the animals freeze and begin to runaway, they shoot to kill. So the albums is called Skeletal Lamping, Barnes said he basically wanted to write and record all the crazy ass thoughts in his head and "lamp" his skeletons. "This record is my attempt to bring all of my puzzling, contradicting, disturbing, humorous fantasies, ruminations and observations to the surface, so that I can better dissect and understand their reason for being in my head." He definitely has some deep seeded stuff going on. But dont we all.

About two years ago, Barnes gave Outback Steakhouse permission to use a version of one of his songs (Wraith Pinned to Mist...) for an ad campaign, thinking it would be funny to hear how they changed it to sell terrible steaks and bloomin' onions. He said he was kinda hurt by the all the people who called him a sell out and he made a conscious effort to make this album as crazy and off the wall as he could. A way to say, "See, im no sellout". He definitely succeeded.

Barnes also said the album is kinda pieced together like a collage, taking different songs and putting them together to make one single song that really doesnt go together, but kinda does. A way to keep listener on their toes, unable to know where the song will go next. He considers most of todays music to be far too predictable and wanted Lamping to be as surprising as possible. Honestly, my jaw dropped a few times during my first time through.

If you could see sound, Skeletal Lamping would look like the artwork of Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol combined. Totally surreal and unapologetically pop. I really cant say enough about it. It sounds amazing, its unbelievably original, avante-garde, and over the top. Highlights include the opening track 'Non-Pareil of Favor'. It starts off as a sunny love song, suddenly plunging into distorted, guitar pounding noise-rock, and then seamlessly moves into a beautiful, harmonious melody. 'Wicked Wisdom" again starts relatively normal, eventually stepping into a nasty breakbeat with sick harmonies, then into a very Lennon-esque Magical Mystery moment. By far, the best track of the album is 'St. Esquisite's Confession'. It begins very 'Freedom of 76' but shifts into some of the dirtiest, stankiest, evilest funk ever. With some psychedelic lyrics like "Seduced a dream back to the surface. Clarified my empty elephant thoughts, some beautiful deaths." At least, thats what i think he says.

Some might say of Montreal's music is corny or cheesy, but one mans gross corny cheese is another's delicious cheesy corn. i can see why some people might not like it, its total wierdo pop. But thats why i friggin love it. I recommend you kick back, put one some headphones and enjoy the trip.

Serious Political Discourse

That is all.

This is your Captain Speaking

The other night i was at home, fairly tired after a long day, watching a late night comedic television program. Suddenly realizing i had to pee, i stood up, went into the bathroom and began to evacuate my bulging bladder. Not thinking anything. Simply enjoying urination. The next thing i know, im face to face with my mirror self brushing his teeth. What the? I had no thought or plan to do so. I wasn't even going to bed just yet. It was as if my brain was on autopilot, hinting that it wanted to go to bed. Bed before our Moment of Zen? What an idiot. 

Fascinated by my brains ability to control my body without my expressed written consent, i googled "brain autopilot" with one super interesting result. In 2004, Science Daily published an article about a literal Brain Autopilot experiment. This idea immediately made me imagine an oversized brain wearing a pilot's cap, standing in front of the cockpit, thanking the departing passengers for flying JetBlue next to a cute stewardess curtly saying "BuhBye". But thats neither here nor there. 

The article describes an experiment held by scientist Thomas DeMarse at the University of Florida. He created a "brain" comprised of a living network of rat brain neurons to help study the brain at the cellular level. "If we can extract the rules of how these neural networks are doing computations like pattern recognition, we can apply that to creating novel computing systems." Basically, he wanted to learn why and how the brain is able to be so fast and flexible, easily processing tasks that a computer is incapable of doing. 

He put these neurons in a petri dish, connected them to electrodes, and they eventually form a living network. He then connected this "brain" to a flight simulator. The simulator reacts to the brain the same way our bodies would, by receiving and interpreting signals. The neurons were given info about proper flight conditions. When they connected the brain to the simulator, it obviously didnt know what to do at first. But as the plane flies off kilter the data is read by the brain and it sends different signals out, processing the feedback. Over time it slowly corrects the flight pattern and gradually learns to fly. 

All of this is on a very basic level, and any serious thought of using this technology is years away. But the article was written in 2004, so they may have already made some more progress. Either way, this is all very interesting dont you think?

 

Are You Serious? (A Tennis Post)

Flushing, Queens is not just the home of the super classy (and currently 1st place) New York Metropolitans. It is also home to the usually classy US Open of Tennis. As of late i have had an increasing interest in this old world sport. I played a lot at work this summer, usually being humiliated by 7-12 year olds. But nonetheless, playing  so often gave me a new found respect for the game. I was also given a spirited argument by the resident Pro on why tennis is the perfect one on one competition. How the dimensions of the court make it possible for a good player to get to EVERY ball in play. And when two evenly matched players play, it becomes more a chess match then a physical game. And so on.

So yeah, Tennis is cool. I was recently watching Andy Roddick in what i believe was a 1st round match against Frenchman Fabrice Santoro. At the tail end of the match (the other) A-Rod blistered another 140+ mph serve that just so happened to almost hit his opponent. This upset Santoro so much that he pouted, stood in the box, and let the ensuing match-winning point sail by him. "The match was over. I was disappointed by the way he served the point before. That's a great strategy  during the match, but it was almost over", Santoro said afterwards. 

Are you serious? The match was not over. Pardon my cliche', but it ain't over till it's over. This was a terrible display of sportsmanship and i am honestly annoyed that Roddick felt he needed to apologize after the match. Is he supposed to ease up on his serve and allow his opponent to possibly mount a comeback? Any good competitor knows you play hard for the entirety of a game. It's one thing when a team doesn't want to run up the score. It is common practice to play subs when the opposing team has no shot at getting back in the game. But in an individual sport at the professional level, there is no reason to think that your opponent is going to ease up. Santoro is a whiny loser and it's moments like this that show why he is ranked 60th in the ATP, has never won a major tournament, and never will. 

Montauk Monster

So i just came across this and i had to post it. Apparently this "monster" was found on the beach out in Montauk. An anonymous "tipster" reported that it came from "a government animal testing facility" on Plum Island. "Quotation marks". People are saying this deliciously roasted mutant Turducken is just a viral marketing campaign for Cartoon Network or the new X-Files movie. But what if it is real? And more importantly, who was he giving the finger to?

Either way, it is pretty neat-0. 

The Dark Hype

Living up to the hype is an increasingly difficult task in the information age. A "buzz" can be manufactured almost immediately after production begins through forums, fan-sites, and trailers. Oftentimes a good movie is so "hyped up" it ends up falling short of expectations. With the hype machine in full swing, the untimely departure of a good young actor, and the greatness of Iron Man, the Dark Knight had a lot to live up to.

Yes, the Dark Knight is a comic book/action movie. But everything about this movie, from script and cinematography, to acting and directing is taken very seriously. With the superb cast in place (Bale, Ledger, Oldman, Eckhart, Cain, Freeman) the movie becomes more crime drama and less action movie. Considering its about a billionaire vigilante dressed as a bat fighting crime against a terrorist in clown make-up, this movie is very serious and pretty realistic.

Of course you cant discuss the Dark Knight without praising Heath Ledger. I can't help but feel that his death has been exploited to sell tickets. With that being said, he really is excellent in the film. With the help of some killer make-up, Ledger is almost unrecognizable. He is scary and hilarious almost simultaneously and he steals every scene he is in. The Joker character is very well written and another talented actor probably could have done a good job as well. But Ledger was given the roll and he took it and ran with it. He brought a darker, more human side to a classic villain. He is more disturbed  anarchist than evil genius. Its sad that Heath Ledger died for the obvious reasons. But its also a shame that he wasn't praised for his acting abilities alone and not as some legendary Hollywood martyr. He deserves all the accolades he is receiving, but i can't help but think the sincerity of the praise is tainted and overshadowed by his death. 

The single fault of this movie, like most action movies these days, is that its too long. I enjoy a good epic film, but i hate an unnecessarily long one. Christopher Nolan could have cut 10-15 mins and it would have been just as impressive and a little more streamlined. With that said, The Dark Knight is darkly serious and almost believable. The themes and commentary of the film are well executed. The classic comic book good vs evil (or more accurately right vs wrong) is there, plus some justice vs anarchy, and commentary on the power of fear. It is  nicely intertwined and fits perfectly with the whole Batman vs Joker thing. It is by far the best comic book adaptation, but more importantly one of the better films this year. It is expertly crafted from top to bottom and proves that the superhero/ comic book genre can be taken seriously. 

It is somewhat of a trend that sequels are better then the originals. Characters are established, themes are fleshed out and cast and crew are more involved. Sometimes all you have to do is replace the boring Katie Holmes with any other actress. With the excellence of the Dark Knight, the sequel to Iron Man has a new standard to live up to. And Watchmen is looking like it may be a contender. 

Bootleg Solar Power

The price of oil is having an effect on nearly everything. From the obvious high price of gas to the more subtle spike in the cost of food, our economy and our wallets are feeling the pressure. Recently, my neighbor/landlord had asked us for a significant chunk of change to help "lock in" on pre-purchased supply of oil. Even in the summer, the cost of heating hot water alone is breaking the bank. 

Unable pitch in, we decided that the best plan of action would be to increase our rent and brainstorm ways to cut energy usage. We never use the powerful air condition that our apartment came stocked with. We always use cold water when doing laundry. We collect rain water to water the garden. We are planning on putting up a clothesline to avoid the use of the dryer in warm weather. We've begun unplugging most appliances when not in use (phone and computer chargers especially). These are all positive steps in a better, greener direction, but how much will it curb energy costs? What we really need to do is make the switch to solar energy.

So while the lord of the land is exploring his options in the cost and execution of solar panels, we worked on a quick fix. Using a thick black hose and a 2nd shower head we've easily and effectively come up with bootleg solar powered shower. Somewhat of an eyesore, we've chosen function over fashion. The water sits in the black hose that is in direct sunlight for most of the day. In 75+ degree weather, we've found that the shower not only last long enough for two people but it's also quite warm, bordering on hot. The downsides of the faint rubber essence and the warm water window between 5 and 9pm aside, this seems to be a positive way help cut cost and conserve energy. 

Robot vs. Panda

Sitting snugly between my nerdy videogame lust and my healthy obsession with movies lies my love and appreciation for the art of animated films. Making a great animated movie is daunting task. All the classic cartoons consist of a similar formula. An hour and 1/2 of cutting edge animation. Some slapstick for the kiddies, and some adult humor that the goes over the kids heads. A dash of subtle observational humor based on the stereotype of the society, genre, or characters being featured (be it fish, bugs, robots etc.). All topped off with some serious attention to detail. The top two animation studios came hard with the good stuff this summer. Dreamwork's "KungFu Panda" and Pixar's "Wall-E" followed the formula perfectly and gave us two more classic animated films.

KungFu Panda is the story of Po, a noodle cooking panda who "loves KungFuuuuuuuuu". The beauty of the movie is that it follows the classic KungFu formula as well. An unlikely hero overcomes adversity and defeats scary bad guy in an awesomely action packed way complete with training montage and lots of slow-motion. The always over-the-top Jack Black really shines as a voice actor. The excitement in his voice and his genuine nature makes him the perfect choice for said kungfu panda. Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu was an equally great choice. 

Wall-E is without a doubt the most visually impressive animated film to date. The amazing lighting effects and photo-realistic textures alone make it worth the price of admission to see it on the big screen. The titular "Waste Allocation Load Lifter-Earthclass" is a simple robot on an uninhabitable Earth left to compact and stack trash. When he meets the sexy, sleek "apple-esque" EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetative Evaluator), he falls in love and follows her through the universe. The fact that they creators are able to convey the spectrum of emotion solely through body language and robotic "beeps and boops" is remarkable. The social commentary sprinkled throughout is also well done. 

I thoroughly enjoyed both of these films. Wall-E's crispy beautifulness sets the bar pretty damn high for future Pixar endeavors. The first 45 mins were excellent but my interest was stalled with the introduction of the bone deossificated  humans. KungFu Panda, on the other hand, was hilariously action packed from start to finish. Although not as detailed as Pixar's, Dreamwork's animation is great in it's own right. From the stylish opening, really cool prison scene, great character design, and slow-mo'ed fight sequences, KungFu Panda has my vote for the better of the two.

I would be remiss not to mention the totally hilarious and super creative Pixar short "Presto" that is shown before Wall-E. When Presto's magic show is sabotaged by his hungry rabbit Alec Azam, pure slapstick greatness ensues. 

Book Review: Blood Meridian

"Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy is brutal, violent, and awesome. Its a bloody retelling of manifest destiny, and i would like to think that its a pretty accurate portrayal of the scalp trade in Texas/Mexico during the mid 1800's. Reading this book was very humbling. It is without a doubt the most difficult novel i've read so far. Cormac McCarthy is a great storyteller with an insane vocabulary and a style all his own. People seem to dislike his lack of punctuation, but i enjoy it. Its confusing at times, but when you go back and reread a passage you realize that not only does it make perfect sense, but its incredibly written. The extreme environments are painted with words, and the characters are so hardened and  fierce without any remorse. They are disgustingly violent and their pure bad-assness makes it perfectly acceptable. 

"Blood Meridian" is a classic Western without all the hokey Western stereotypes getting in the way. This book is totally worth reading if you're into westerns, great storytelling, amazing writing, or just in the mood to read some gut-wrenching violence. There are some slow parts in the first half, but the second half flies by with tons of action and an ending that i found to be perfectly satisfying. The caliber of writing multiplied by the sheer fucked up-ness of the story makes the book one of my favorites. I enjoyed reading "The Road" but after reading "Blood Meridian" I am now a fan of Mr. McCarthy and plan on celebrating his entire catalogue.  

Final Grade: 5 Bloody Scalps out of 5

"Arrested Development" in Development

Like all great television comedies, "Arrested Development" was taken off the air way too soon. Despite winning a number of awards for best writing, it followed the likes of UCB, Stella, and Family Guy (twice) and was cancelled in it's prime. 

But now it's official... There will be an Arrested Development movie!!! Micheal Cera, Will Arnett, David Cross and the rest of the cast will reprise their roles as some of the funniest and awkward characters for the big screen. There are no plot details as of yet. But like the show, i'm sure it will include some great cameos and be very hilarious.