Infinite Monkeys
"...a sparkly blog..." - James Lileks"Read them only with extreme caution."- Hugh Hewitt
Infinite MonkeysI'm meeting one of my sales reps in Irvine tonight for dinner. We were going to get steak, but neither of us is in the mood for beef again. Does anyone have a recommendation for a nice place to eat something OTHER than beef? Preferably a good seafood place. We'd like the cab ride to be less than $25 each way from the Irvine Spectrum.
Monkey David, we're counting on you to come through with both a good location and a recommendation on the appropriate "local" fresh fish to select.
Another filthy, four-letter word that begins with "C" - Cops
Follow all three of the links for maximum indignation.
I'm more of an Old School fella, but I can appreciate the appeal of the Basic Twirl. (Hat tip: F-Rock)
Because a whole lot of cops are talkin' shit. Word.
For geeks only:
Less than a week after the first Apple TVs started arriving on bleeding-edgers' front doorsteps, one fella has tripled the size of his hard drive storage and some other folks have hacked the blazes out of the thing, adding support for more video formats, remote SSH access, and all sorts of other nerdy delights.
Good work, people. I think I'll wait until my warranty has expired, though...
Calvert DeForest is dead. Friend o' Monkeys Philip Michaels published the quintessential interview 13 years ago. In honor of the great man, I dedicate this month's music purchases to his memory. Rest in peace, Bud.
Personally, I think the old guy would have dug Accept's acoustic version of "Balls to the Wall."
Top 10 most recently purchased albums from the iTunes Music Store
1) "Is All Over The Map," Giant Sand
2) "Cover Magazine," Giant Sand
3) "Armchair Apocrypha," Andrew Bird
4) "To Go Home EP" M. Ward
5) "Best of Martin Denny's Exotica," Martin Denny
6) "Ruby Vroom," Soul Coughing
7) "Pet Semetary (Sountrack)," Elliot Goldenthal
8) "300 (Soundtrack)," Tyler Bates
9) "We All Love Ennio Morricone," Various Artists
10) "What's Going On," Marvin Gaye
Top 10 most recently purchased songs/albums from eMusic
1) "The Lost Take," Dosh
2) "Migrations," The Duhks
3) "The Evil Powers of Rock n' Roll," Supersuckers
4) "Hot Rail," Calexico
5) "The 'A' Team (Soundtrack)," The Daniel Crane Orchestra
6) "Exit Music (Radiohead Tribute)," Various Artists
7) "Atardecer," Friends of Dean Martinez
8) "Strings and Things," Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra
9) "Rapture of the Deep," Deep Purple
10) "The Black Light," Calexico
Top 10 most recently played songs on iTunes
1) "Balls to the Wall (Acoustic)," Accept
2) "Fiery Crash," Andrew Bird
3) "Gary's Song," Spongebob Squarepants
4) "Goldfinger," Magazine
5) "Anarchistic Bolshevistic Cowboy Bundle," Giant Sand
6) "Shapes of Things," Jeff Beck
7) "Popcorn," Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
8) "Wake Up America," Negativland
9) "Knives Out (KCRW Version)" The Flaming Lips
10) "Shakespeare's Sister," The Smiths
Gratitude is good for the soul, and it's easier to be grateful when you get a little good news every once in awhile. So on Fridays, I'll try to take a short break from being an insufferably cranky bastard and post a little good news.
Britain's cheeky Channel 4 has put together the comprehensive documentary on The Great Global Warming Swindle.
The first half hour gives Academy Award winner Al Gore a hearty bitch slap with the firm, unyielding backhand of actual science. From there it goes into the origins of climate change chicanery, and details how this eco-idiocy is currently responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands in developing nations.
Watch and learn, then pass the link along to a Prius-driving moron you know and love.
Yee-haw, my Apple TV arrived today - a day earlier than FedEx said it would.
I've only had it hooked up for an hour or so, thus my extended geek-speak review will come later. But the short-term verdict is: neat!
The best take yet on the phony US attorney scandal.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
(hat tip: Jesse at Hit & Run)
John McCain just can't get a break. And Matthew Continetti can't understand why. Oh, I don't know. His disdain for the First Amendment pretty much does it for me, although I'm fairly sure there are plenty of other good arguments for why the senior Senator from Arizona shouldn't come within 2,000 miles of the presidency. (Rank cynicism, perhaps?)
Oh, Mitch Berg, you have sucked me in once again:
[I moved it all to page two because it was so long - keep reading]
1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
"Brazil" and "Star Wars" definitely. Possibly "Beetlejuice." I'm pretty sure I've watched "A Bug's Life" at least 10 times with my kids, and I still enjoy it.
2. Name a movie that you’ve seen multiple times in the theater.
Several! The first three I listed above I saw at least five times in the theater. I also saw "Some Kind Of Wonderful" about 5-6 times in the theater. Not proud of that...
What else? "Blade Runner", all of the "Lord of the Rings" and "Indiana Jones" movies. Oh, "Pulp Fiction" about 5 times. The list goes on and on. Before I had kids, I would routinely see movies several times in the theater.
3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Nowdays? Johnny Depp, Ewan MacGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett. But I'm more influenced by directors. I will watch anything made by Steven Soderbergh, Wes Anderson, or Paul Thomas Anderson.
4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Tim Matheson, Emilio Estevez, Martin Lawrence, Wanda Sykes. Al Gore.
5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
Mitch said, "Casablanca, This Is Spinal Tap, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian all jump to mind." All of those, definitely. And also "Sideways," "Weird Science," "The Princess Bride," and "Almost Famous."
6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs
I don't care for movie musicals. The closest would be Pink Floyd's "The Wall."
7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with
Definitely "The Wall" and also "Stop Making Sense."
8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
I always recommend "Brazil" and "Chinatown."
9. Name a movie that you own.
At last count I have around 300 movies on DVD. I tend to buy movies rather than renting. Back in my VHS days my prized possessions were "Athens, GA Inside/Out" and "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead." I have both on DVD now, although someone borrowed my copy of R&GaD and never gave it back.
10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Mitch mentioned Dwight Yoakam, and I definitely agree there. For an ex-model, I think Uma Thurman can act well, and I admire her willingness to show her ugly feet in extreme close-up.
11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
I know I saw "The Untouchables" at the Scottsdale Drive-In. I'm not sure if I've seen anything else.
12. Ever made out in a movie?
Yes.
13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t yet gotten around to it.
I am ashamed never to have watched "Animal House."
14. Ever walked out of a movie?
Only once: I walked out less than two hours into "Reds." Awful, awful, awful.
15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
I don't think I've cried at a movie since I was a child. I really don't cry, ever. Drives my wife BANANAS.
16. Popcorn?
Yes, please. With salt and butter and a big Diet Coke (not Diet Pepsi) and either Hot Tamales or Jordan Almonds. Remember when Harkins Theatres sold Jordan Almonds? Those were the days.
17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
Less and less. Kids and work make it difficult. Maybe 3-4 times per year at the most.
18. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
"Casino Royale." That was loads of fun.
19. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Anarchist porn. Too specific? It's probably easier to say what I don't like: Mainstream comedy, action, and romance. If it's quirky in some way, I'll probably like it.
20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
"Robin Hood" (the Disney cartoon) at the Elks Theater in Prescott, AZ.
21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
"Beaches" (saw it with a girlfriend) is a very unpleasant memory. There's a reason it's the stereotypical chick-flick. And I was profoundly disappointed with "Intolerable Cruelty" - because everyone involved should have known better.
22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
I like a lot of weird movies. "Pi" and "Bliss" and "Liquid Sky" all fall into the "weird and enjoyable" category for me.
23. What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?
The one that had the longest spooky half-life was Kubrick's "The Shining." Most recently, I watched "The Ring" alone in a hotel room. That was an interesting night.
Oh, and "Arachnophobia" scared the crap out of me. I hate spiders! The friend that went with me spent the whole movie laughing at me curled up in my chair.
24. What is the funniest movie you’ve seen?
Hard to say. At the time, I probably laughed harder and longer in the original "Hot Shots" than any other movie.
I have to admit that I'm less concerned by Time's dishonest photoshopping of President Reagan than I would be if they used an actual picture of him at a funeral or other somber event. Plus, I agree that the legacy of Reagan has been left behind.
Still...it's sort of ridiculous when people try to say that "[Reagan, Truman, FDR, Kennedy] would be horrified by [whatever policies the write opposes]." Reagan in the 1950s was different from Reagan in the 1960s and different from Reagan in the 1980s, and let's face it, he has a very good excuse for being silent on the issues now. Leave him alone.
Hit & Run continues to keep us up-to-date on the political firings in the justice department.
UPDATE: Looks like the first Republican has called for Alberto's ouster.
So John McCain has put up his March Madness bracket picks. Of course, you have to give up your contact info and fill out your own brackets before you can see them, so just trust me--he ended up with the top seeds in the Final Four (even dumping Arizona in an early round--he must think he has that state locked up in the primaries). Maybe he learned something in 2000 when he tried to take on the early favorite. Or maybe he's hoping that's how it will work out in 2008...keep hoping, Senator.
When I was a child, I was exposed to a horrifying acid-induced television show about a kid who fell into a hat and was tormented by Charles Nelson Reilly. Nightmares ensued. So horrible was this experience that I supressed many of the specifics, including the name of the show.
Then, when my guard was down, it all came bubbling up again. I was listening to an episode of Coverville, one of my favorite podcasts, and someone mentioned the name. The horror!
So now, I'm like this guy. Make it stop! Make it stop!
At least in the primaries, I will.
The woman is no good. Never has been. Never will be. And not at all attractive. So stories about Coulter's tipping point aren't very interesting. Ann Coulter was never especially relevant as a conservative thinker. I hesitate to combine the words. She's simply not serious. So why bother?
What's great about America is that anything and everything will get published. Occasionally, even the truth.
Robert Kagan asks a pertinent question. I don't have an answer, on account of the wine and the fact that I'm about to sit down to a fine steak dinner. But I've always figured Gen. David Petraeus for a serious bad ass.
This is a marvelous ad, for so many reasons. If nothing else, it suggests that while Obama may be a cipher, he has a clever staff. Sadly, I doubt any Republican (save -- shudder -- Gingrich) could have thought this up...
Richard Jeni apparently killed himself yesterday. He was 45. Elayne Boosler has a fitting tribute at the Huffington Post.
Here is a sample of Jeni at his finest.
I am SHOCKED. SHOCKED, I tell you! The thought that one of our government agencies would actually break the law by mis-using the Patriot Act has me surprised beyond words.
Well, I'm sure this will be the last time.
Behold the majesty of "Glen & Gary & Glen & Ross." Tourette's was never so funny!
The "global war on terror" justifies a myriad tyrannies.
(hat tip: BoingBoing)
UPDATE: (via Hit and Run) Looks like the fine state of Arizona is getting ready to give the finger to national ID cards.
Had to put my wife's dog down yesterday afternoon. That suuuuuuuuucked.
Coulter, chicken legs and something obscene. For some reason, I associate the three.
First, Warner pulled the Ryko catalog from eMusic. Now Penn's radio show is over. I'm just waiting for JFK to recover from his "seemingly fatal" head wound.
I never thought I'd link to an article by Al Sharpton, but here it is.
There's no question that slavery is the greatest shame of American history, and while I'm sure I disagree with Sharpton about what to do about that shame now, I share his horror at the history.
It's also worth remembering when pundits champion "moderate" politics and non-partisan compromise that such compromise resulted in the stain of slavery on the United States Constitution.
1. Fresh Hawaiian Ono prepared "Szechwan style" by special request to the chef: Delicious
2. Cream cheese omelette: Bleah!