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Earlier today I was asked to shred a ton of paper's for Bob's office at Tribeca, and it seemed to be pretty pointless. Basically anything that had his name on it had to be shredded, even if it didn't have his address or phone number. I would have rather recycled it, but I understand the need for privacy in his personal life, and I respect that. One thing though that I thought was a bit superfluous was a copy of the newest draft for Little Fockers (the third in the meet the parents series). I can't imagine that anyone would be dumpster (or recycle) diving for a copy of this script, and as there are so many interns and other low rung people here who have access to the script (myself included, I've already read the script - at least this draft - and I know I'm not the only one), if this was going to get out, it probably would have already (assuming only someone low on the totem pole would leak the script). I think it's just a bit overly cautious of them, but that's just coming from someone who is a big fan of recycling (one can only recycle shredded paper if it's brought to a special drop off point, it doesn't get curbside pick up, and I don't think - though can be wrong - that we do that here). Not really a big deal as it's only about 100 pages, but still, it's the general principle that irks me.
After doing all the shredding I came back to my desk with naught else to do. All the office save one exec is off for an extended labor day weekend (lucky them). Said exec who is here, Hardy Justice, is one of the nicest guys I've ever met or worked for (and has the most kickass real name out of anyone I've ever know, topping one of my brother's friend's named - and I kid you not, his full legal name - Lightning Jay) and he's out at a lunch meeting currently. Thus, after scrolling through the job boards, I tooled around on the interweb and came across this post of movies guys and girls can enjoy together. I was a bit inspired and decided to create my own list of ten movies you can rent, lean back, and enjoy with your boyfreind/girlfreind/wife/husband/or whomever without having to worry if it's a guy flick or a chick flick.
In no particular order:
STARDUST
Synopsis: Nerdy guy from a small town in Victorian England promises a manipulative but beautiful girl he'll bring her a falling star as an engagement gift, and sneaks off to a magical kingdom to retrieve said star only to find the star is a beautiful girl, and must rescue her from an evil witch who wants to eat her heart to stay immortal. Of course said Nerdy guy turns into a heroic and handsome hero, while he falls in love with the star, and she with him.
What appeals to the dudes: Robert De Niro, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfiffer, explosions+magic+adventure=Awesome.
What appeals to the ladies: Beefcake lead, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfiffer, Happy lovey dovey ending.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Synopsis: If you haven't seen this movie already you have been living under a rock. Orlando Bloom must team up with scaliwag pirate Johnny Depp to save his secret love Keira Knightly from evil Zombie Pirates lead by Geoffrey Rush.
What appeals to the dudes: Johnny Depp, Sword fights, zombies, explosions (and Keira Knightly if you're into that sort of girl)
What appeals to the ladies: Johnno Depp, Orlando Bloom, (somewhat) Forbidden Romance+Victorian setting=instant chick appeal.
FIGHT CLUB
Synopsis: An underground flight club turns into a social revolution.
What appeals to the dudes: Intense Violence, scarily relateable psuedophilosophy that makes you feel smart, big explosions at the end.
What appeals to the ladies: Brad Pitt and Edward Norton extremely ripped and often shirtless, Strange yet endearing love story.
AIRPLANE
Synopsis: An average plane flight goes out of control when the passengers and crew all come down with a case of food poisoning. Only one man can save them, a former pilot suffering PTSD after flying rescue missions in Vietnam. Hilarity ensues.
What appeals to the dudes and the ladies: Outright hilariousness spoof. The synopsis sounds bleak but there is nothing not funny about this movie. Leslie Neilson in his first real comedy, and the Zucker Brothers at their best.
DARK CITY
Synopsis: In a city where it's always night an amnesiac must decipher his own identity while eluding the police who want to arrest him for murder. His quest deepens when he discovers the city has a secret far scarier than his own and his search for his life turns into a battle for the minds of every citizen.
What appeals the the dudes: Jennifer Connelly, aliens+super powers+noir detective+special effects=awesomeness.
What appeals the the ladies: Jennifer Connelly, Rufus Sewall (if you're into that sort of guy), touching romance+comment on love knowing no bounds=us putty in your hands.
KUNG FU HUSTLE
Synopsis: A comedy set in 1940's Hong Kong two small time hoodlums try to break into the notorious Axe Gang, but wind up saving the small slum in which they live from the gang and the most deadly martial artist in the world.
What appeals to the kid in all of us: Equally awesome and hilarious Kung Fu fight choreography+over the top cartoon like special effect sequences+endearing story about growth, friendship and community (and throw in a bit of love)=Stephen Chow is cooler than Jackie Chan.
JURASSIC PARK
Synopsis: An archeologist, a paleontologist, a mathematician, and two prepubescent kids, are trapped on an island filled with ferocious Dinosaurs.
What appeals to the dudes: Dinosaurs on the attack (need I say more?)
What appeals the the ladies: One of the few actually intelligent female characters in a leading role ever in an action movie (Laura Dern as the Paleontologist), and a grouchy old man who hates kids learns to love kids (in a healthy way).
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS
Synopsis: An updated live action version of the classic Archie comic back up characters, who also had their own animated TV show in the 70's.
What appeals to the dudes: Rachel Leigh Cook, and Rosario Dawson (and I guess Tara Reid if you like trashy), mockery of everything that turned MTV from a cool station where you could stay up late watching headbangers ball (if you don't get the reference you make me feel very old) to a 12 year old girls wet dream.
What appeals to the ladies: Empowering gals standing up, taking control, and getting it all on their own terms. Power girl rocker soundtrack.
ALIENS (or if you are the mood for something a bit more esoteric ALIEN, the third one Alien³ is totally just a guy movie and the fourth isn't worth seeing by anyone)
Synopsis: Ripley (as played by Sigourney Weaver) is stuck in outerspace fending off really creepy looking parasitic, and evil aliens (or alien if your just watching the first one), with weird double mouths and acid for blood.
What appeals the the dudes: Balls the wall sci-fi action, humans vs. the scariest looking aliens ever captured on film. (for Alien, suspense so thick not only will she be clinging to your arm, but you'll be clinging to hers).
What appeals the the ladies: Strong female lead kicking ass and taking names, Ripley is the original three dimensional badass female lead who paved the way for the few who followed in what generally is a male dominated field.
OPEN RANGE
Synopsis: Two Free Range Cattle drivers run into trouble with a greedy land Baron in the old west.
What appeals to the dudes: Gun slinging, tough taking cowboys, doing what cowboys do best, drinking, killing, and saving small towns from despotic rich folk and the corrupt local law.
What appeals to the ladies: The fleshed out sensitive side of Kevin Costner as a cowboy and gunhand and the soft, subtle and quietly moving love story between him and Annette Benning.
Five Honorable Mentions (a bit more niche rentals that, though appeal to both men and women, aren't big hollywood movies, thus have a smaller demographic in general):
Rushmore
Samurai Champloo (not a movie but an anime TV series - one complete story told in 26 episodes, get over that it's anime and it holds up very well)
But I'm A Cheerleader
Live From Baghdad
Edward Scissorhands
If anyone has any ideas of their own they'd like to add or refute, (assuming anyone has cared to read all this) I'd love to hear them.
Showing posts with label Lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lists. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
5 comics that should be movies
Because I just read Cracked.com's 5 Upcoming Comic book Movies that must be stopped I decided to come up with a reverse list of comic books that probably have no chance of becoming movies, but should be.
In no particular Order:
RESURRECTION MAN
His name is Mitch Shelley and he was created by Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett and Jackson Guice for DC comics.
He isn't a traditional superhero and his power is derived from something a bit more dark and twisted than say more wholesome yet anguished heroes, such as Superman, Spider-man or those in The Fantastic Four. He doesn't have a secret identity persay, more like an absence of an identity all together. His basic plot thread is as such: Mitch Shelley, a mob lawyer in South Carolina who, unwittingly, through his connections is subjected to an experiment in Nanotechnolgy. He is bonded with with nanomachines called Tektites, which result in his death. He is soon resurrected by the tektites lacking any memory of his previous life, and now with near unlimited super-powers. But as always there is a catch, he only has one power at a time, and in order to change from one power to the next he has to die. Once dead the tektites resurrect him, this time with a power that is a direct response to his cause of death. He is in a simultaneous search for his identity and to escape those who experimented on him in the first place. It sounds a bit cheesy, but having a super-hero, who has no desire to be one, and who has to die, usually in a painful manner, in order to survive, can make for compelling storytelling on the screen.
THE SUICIDE SQUAD
The image is a bit more sexist, and pandering than I would have wanted, but I couldn't find a better one at the moment. Sorry. Anyway, this is a pretty simple concept. Take The Dirty Dozen and instead of convicted murders fighting Nazi's, it's imprisoned super villains sent on black ops missions for the government that they don't want the super heroes to get involved in (or know about it). They are mostly suicide type missions, and if any survive then they get extra consideration in their next parole hearing. It's simple, a great set up for lots of killer action sequences (as super villains are generally unstable people), great special effects, a built in fan base of comic fanboys, and could also be (in the right screenwriters hands) a great comment on the overabundance of comic book heroes and the conventions that they are forced to follow.
JAR OF FOOLS
No, this is not a super hero story. Comics don't have to have super heroes in them. In fact I'd say this is one of the best comic books I have ever read. Possibly one of the best works of fiction, period. The New York Book Review wrote that it's "A lovely, short picture novel exploring the tenacious bond between an alcoholic stage magician and his cranky mentor." There is a good deal more going on, but that is a good short summation. It's a story about love, about loss, about familial bonds, and aging. It would make a great film, in the vein of Ghost World or The History of Violence (in regards to non-super hero comic film adaptions).
HITMAN (no not the video game that was already made into a film)
I just realized a trend in my own choices, preferring anti-heroes over standard super hero fare, but still, these are good comics, so leave me alone.
Hitman is akin to Suicide Squad. Tommy Monaghan (pictured above) is a rough and tumble orphan from the poor Irish neighborhood of Gotham (which could easily be NYC) raised by a Hitman for the Irish mob. Said hitman retires and opens a small dive bar out of which Tommy now operates as a hitman in his own right. This being a super-hero comic book, Tommy is not without super-powers. He has x-ray vision, and is a mind reader. He isn't any ordinary Hitman, you only call him for the weird stuff. You need someone to steal a magic rifle forged in the old west to kill a devil, you call Tommy. Local super-hero beating up all your dealers, and selling the drugs himself, you call Tommy. I think you get the picture. He's a rogue, an imp, charming, and posses a devilish sense of humor. What's not to like?
And because I'm not as sexist as most comic books are themselves my final choice:
MAIL ORDER BRIDE
How is a comic called Mail Order Bride not a sexist choice, you may ask. At its heart it is a story about self discovery. I'm spacing on the characters names, but there are two main characters. The lead male role is a very geeky, very awkward, self-absorbed comic shop owner in a small town in western Canada (I think outside Vancouver, but I could just be making that up, could easily be outside Winnipeg which is not western Canada at all) who gets lonely and orders a bride from Korea. She comes over and isn't at all what he expected. Like most many western fetishes of Asia, he expects his bride to be a subservient, docile, and (in the general vein of most manga imported to this country) hyper-sexual Asian wife with a bad Asian accent. She arrives and turns out to be a very smart, shy, well educated Korean woman who signed up for the service because it was the only way she'd ever get out of Korea. The story is more about her and growth as an individual, taking classes at the local annex, making new friends, and coming out of her shell. He on other hand becomes more self-absorbed, needier, and more juvenile, getting more and more aggravated with her growth trying to keep her the pure fetishistic Asian bride he wants her to be. The comic ends on kinda a downer, and if adapted the ending would need to be changed a bit, but over all it's a very strong story of personal growth, female empowerment, loneliness, and cultural clash.
So that's my five comics that should be movies. The fact that they are all mildly obscure (Mail Order Bride being the most obscure) and that three are owned by DC comics, which itself is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers, means that if Warner doesn't think they'd make any money, no one else can do anything with them. The two indies (Jar of Fools, and Mail Order Bride) are two that if I ever get the money to option the rights myself I probably will, but I can't imagine anyone who isn't me going to a a development office and trying to pitch these comics for movies.
But it's fun to dream.
In no particular Order:
RESURRECTION MAN
His name is Mitch Shelley and he was created by Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett and Jackson Guice for DC comics.
He isn't a traditional superhero and his power is derived from something a bit more dark and twisted than say more wholesome yet anguished heroes, such as Superman, Spider-man or those in The Fantastic Four. He doesn't have a secret identity persay, more like an absence of an identity all together. His basic plot thread is as such: Mitch Shelley, a mob lawyer in South Carolina who, unwittingly, through his connections is subjected to an experiment in Nanotechnolgy. He is bonded with with nanomachines called Tektites, which result in his death. He is soon resurrected by the tektites lacking any memory of his previous life, and now with near unlimited super-powers. But as always there is a catch, he only has one power at a time, and in order to change from one power to the next he has to die. Once dead the tektites resurrect him, this time with a power that is a direct response to his cause of death. He is in a simultaneous search for his identity and to escape those who experimented on him in the first place. It sounds a bit cheesy, but having a super-hero, who has no desire to be one, and who has to die, usually in a painful manner, in order to survive, can make for compelling storytelling on the screen.
THE SUICIDE SQUAD
The image is a bit more sexist, and pandering than I would have wanted, but I couldn't find a better one at the moment. Sorry. Anyway, this is a pretty simple concept. Take The Dirty Dozen and instead of convicted murders fighting Nazi's, it's imprisoned super villains sent on black ops missions for the government that they don't want the super heroes to get involved in (or know about it). They are mostly suicide type missions, and if any survive then they get extra consideration in their next parole hearing. It's simple, a great set up for lots of killer action sequences (as super villains are generally unstable people), great special effects, a built in fan base of comic fanboys, and could also be (in the right screenwriters hands) a great comment on the overabundance of comic book heroes and the conventions that they are forced to follow.
JAR OF FOOLS
No, this is not a super hero story. Comics don't have to have super heroes in them. In fact I'd say this is one of the best comic books I have ever read. Possibly one of the best works of fiction, period. The New York Book Review wrote that it's "A lovely, short picture novel exploring the tenacious bond between an alcoholic stage magician and his cranky mentor." There is a good deal more going on, but that is a good short summation. It's a story about love, about loss, about familial bonds, and aging. It would make a great film, in the vein of Ghost World or The History of Violence (in regards to non-super hero comic film adaptions).
HITMAN (no not the video game that was already made into a film)
I just realized a trend in my own choices, preferring anti-heroes over standard super hero fare, but still, these are good comics, so leave me alone.
Hitman is akin to Suicide Squad. Tommy Monaghan (pictured above) is a rough and tumble orphan from the poor Irish neighborhood of Gotham (which could easily be NYC) raised by a Hitman for the Irish mob. Said hitman retires and opens a small dive bar out of which Tommy now operates as a hitman in his own right. This being a super-hero comic book, Tommy is not without super-powers. He has x-ray vision, and is a mind reader. He isn't any ordinary Hitman, you only call him for the weird stuff. You need someone to steal a magic rifle forged in the old west to kill a devil, you call Tommy. Local super-hero beating up all your dealers, and selling the drugs himself, you call Tommy. I think you get the picture. He's a rogue, an imp, charming, and posses a devilish sense of humor. What's not to like?
And because I'm not as sexist as most comic books are themselves my final choice:
MAIL ORDER BRIDE
How is a comic called Mail Order Bride not a sexist choice, you may ask. At its heart it is a story about self discovery. I'm spacing on the characters names, but there are two main characters. The lead male role is a very geeky, very awkward, self-absorbed comic shop owner in a small town in western Canada (I think outside Vancouver, but I could just be making that up, could easily be outside Winnipeg which is not western Canada at all) who gets lonely and orders a bride from Korea. She comes over and isn't at all what he expected. Like most many western fetishes of Asia, he expects his bride to be a subservient, docile, and (in the general vein of most manga imported to this country) hyper-sexual Asian wife with a bad Asian accent. She arrives and turns out to be a very smart, shy, well educated Korean woman who signed up for the service because it was the only way she'd ever get out of Korea. The story is more about her and growth as an individual, taking classes at the local annex, making new friends, and coming out of her shell. He on other hand becomes more self-absorbed, needier, and more juvenile, getting more and more aggravated with her growth trying to keep her the pure fetishistic Asian bride he wants her to be. The comic ends on kinda a downer, and if adapted the ending would need to be changed a bit, but over all it's a very strong story of personal growth, female empowerment, loneliness, and cultural clash.
So that's my five comics that should be movies. The fact that they are all mildly obscure (Mail Order Bride being the most obscure) and that three are owned by DC comics, which itself is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers, means that if Warner doesn't think they'd make any money, no one else can do anything with them. The two indies (Jar of Fools, and Mail Order Bride) are two that if I ever get the money to option the rights myself I probably will, but I can't imagine anyone who isn't me going to a a development office and trying to pitch these comics for movies.
But it's fun to dream.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Week of lists part one
Following is a a list of the bands I currently have on my mp3 player
The All Girl Summer Fun Band
The Bird and the Bee
The Bad Plus
Death Cab for Cutie
The Decemberists
The Dresden Dolls
Frou Frou
Iron and Wine
Jesca Hoop
Magnetic Fields
Morphine
Nellie Mckay
Neutral Milk Hotel
Ozomotli
OK Go
the Raconteurs
The Ditty Bops
Pirates of the Carribean (1 & 2) Soundtrack
Garden State Soundtrack
Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack
Stars
There might be some more but I can't think of them, and the battery died on my player so I can't look it up. but if you were ever wondering what kind of music I listened to, now you know. And knowing is half the battle. If perhaps you know these bands and would like to recommend new music for me to listen to, I'm all (no pun intended) ears.
The All Girl Summer Fun Band
The Bird and the Bee
The Bad Plus
Death Cab for Cutie
The Decemberists
The Dresden Dolls
Frou Frou
Iron and Wine
Jesca Hoop
Magnetic Fields
Morphine
Nellie Mckay
Neutral Milk Hotel
Ozomotli
OK Go
the Raconteurs
The Ditty Bops
Pirates of the Carribean (1 & 2) Soundtrack
Garden State Soundtrack
Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack
Stars
There might be some more but I can't think of them, and the battery died on my player so I can't look it up. but if you were ever wondering what kind of music I listened to, now you know. And knowing is half the battle. If perhaps you know these bands and would like to recommend new music for me to listen to, I'm all (no pun intended) ears.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Why I list links (or hey it's wenesday again)
So, really, I know very few people actually read this blog. Thus, those few that do might wonder why I, every so often, post random lists of links instead of writing something moderately more interesting. The answer is twofold and pretty simple. First, I'm a pretty boring person and don't usually have something interesting to post. Second, the lists are more for me, to refer back to at a later time, as most have sparks for story ideas. That's why a lot of them are science-y in nature. If I don't compile them somewhere, then I will forget them and good story ideas go down the drain. This is just the easiest forum for me to keep track.
And on that note, more links of interest:
Humans evolving faster and faster
I don't understand it but it deals with the previous link.
Falling from heights and surviving sans parachute.
because I think Space Travel is awesome. It's mind blowing
so there isn't any story here, but this is just crazy. Rooftop tennis to the extreme.
Herbal medicine, wormood is good for the Crohns. (Wormwood is what absinthe is made out of)
Who needs a mongoose when we already have squirrels?
Growing cells into new shapes, this can be useful (for science and for my fiction)
A study as to how visual perceptions skew our mental projections and other scenes (ie we rely heavily on visual cues and create differences even when none exist)
Invisibility cloak, interesting if true.
Why we dream, rehearsals for disasters.
Wild! But maybe they only found white kryptonite
So I can watch this at home because the computer at work has no sound.
Mega64.com - check it out, looks like it could be funny.
Strange strange deaths.
I need to hear this with sound.
Genetic story idea or at least help for my own story.
Robot evolution. How robots learn to lie in order to survive.
Why would anyone actually do this? Two games played simultaniously with the same controller.
Alternate to spider-mans sticky powers.
Man returns to army after sex change operation.
The future of cyberpunk dialog. Kinda makes me wish I had a cell phone to figure this stuff out.
I don't really think that god wants it done this way. Seems to defeat the purpose of prayer.
There is a romantic comedy in here somewhere.
Cool but weird, with a potential bad turn for the rabbit, though maybe Disney would like the rights for their next animation.
A neat new theory trying to explain the universe.
I just think it's neat that we are still discovering new species on this planet. The diversity of life is just amazing.
And on that note, more links of interest:
Humans evolving faster and faster
I don't understand it but it deals with the previous link.
Falling from heights and surviving sans parachute.
because I think Space Travel is awesome. It's mind blowing
so there isn't any story here, but this is just crazy. Rooftop tennis to the extreme.
Herbal medicine, wormood is good for the Crohns. (Wormwood is what absinthe is made out of)
Who needs a mongoose when we already have squirrels?
Growing cells into new shapes, this can be useful (for science and for my fiction)
A study as to how visual perceptions skew our mental projections and other scenes (ie we rely heavily on visual cues and create differences even when none exist)
Invisibility cloak, interesting if true.
Why we dream, rehearsals for disasters.
Wild! But maybe they only found white kryptonite
So I can watch this at home because the computer at work has no sound.
Mega64.com - check it out, looks like it could be funny.
Strange strange deaths.
I need to hear this with sound.
Genetic story idea or at least help for my own story.
Robot evolution. How robots learn to lie in order to survive.
Why would anyone actually do this? Two games played simultaniously with the same controller.
Alternate to spider-mans sticky powers.
Man returns to army after sex change operation.
The future of cyberpunk dialog. Kinda makes me wish I had a cell phone to figure this stuff out.
I don't really think that god wants it done this way. Seems to defeat the purpose of prayer.
There is a romantic comedy in here somewhere.
Cool but weird, with a potential bad turn for the rabbit, though maybe Disney would like the rights for their next animation.
A neat new theory trying to explain the universe.
I just think it's neat that we are still discovering new species on this planet. The diversity of life is just amazing.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Because I spend too much time putting together the inane when I should be reading my Einstein Biography
Bands I wish I was into before they broke up:
Pizzicato Five - Jpop (as in Japanese pop music) that is light, airy, fun and a bit jazzy, even touching at times. I don't know much about the world of Jpop (Puffy AmiYumi is really the only other Jpop band I know) but if this is a prime example I should probably go out and try to learn more.
Soul Coughing - I don't know if this one really counts as I started listening to them when they were together, but it was only in their twilight. A little while after I picked them up, they split. Very groovy, sort of on the jam band circuit, a bit more electronic sounding Morphine. Got into it in college, they performed live my freshman year and broke up not to much later.
Morphine - They didn't break up so much as Mark Sandman, the lead singer, died. The intersection in Cambridge right in front of the Middle East (a music venue and restaurant) is named after him because they were a Boston/Cambridge based band and played that venue a lot. Very good stuff. Kinda Jazzy, deep bass rhythms, smoky vocals, the kind of music you feel in your gut (almost literally as it's heavy on the bass). Chill, head bobbing, music that won't put you to sleep. If it weren't for my Junior year dorm neighbor (and later apartment mate) Mike Gibisser I never would have heard of these guys. (he is a man with much greater music knowledge than I posses - he also introduced me to most of the bands in the indie rock section of my MP3 player, such as the Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, Built to Spill, and Guster)
I kinda want to say Pavement also, but I'm not really into Pavement, but I feel for some reason I should be.
New Music that I'm kinda getting into at the moment:
Jesca Hoop - She's kinda new, found out about her a few weeks ago when I got an advanced copy of her new CD for free (by no doing of my own, it just sort of fell into my lap). If Nellie McKay was a bit more soulful and a little less ironic, I think this is what she'd sound like. Oddly enough I just noticed yesterday that one of her songs is being featured on one of the Starbucks play list, leading me to believe her music is playing much more widely than I would have imagined.
The Bird and the Bee - I really have only heard two of their songs, but like the two that I've heard and plan on listening to a lot more.
And thanks to Rawbean recently I've become addicted to Stars.
I also was listening to a lot of Feist, but with the constant replay on the TV, radio, and at Starbucks, I found her music to be catchy the first few times one hears it, but the catchiness decreases exponentially in diametric proportion to the frequency of repitition of said music. Though I am now interested in checking out Broken Social Scene, which coupled with Stars (a few of whom also play for BSS) I guess this is my little "hooray Canadian bands!" section.
Pizzicato Five - Jpop (as in Japanese pop music) that is light, airy, fun and a bit jazzy, even touching at times. I don't know much about the world of Jpop (Puffy AmiYumi is really the only other Jpop band I know) but if this is a prime example I should probably go out and try to learn more.
Soul Coughing - I don't know if this one really counts as I started listening to them when they were together, but it was only in their twilight. A little while after I picked them up, they split. Very groovy, sort of on the jam band circuit, a bit more electronic sounding Morphine. Got into it in college, they performed live my freshman year and broke up not to much later.
Morphine - They didn't break up so much as Mark Sandman, the lead singer, died. The intersection in Cambridge right in front of the Middle East (a music venue and restaurant) is named after him because they were a Boston/Cambridge based band and played that venue a lot. Very good stuff. Kinda Jazzy, deep bass rhythms, smoky vocals, the kind of music you feel in your gut (almost literally as it's heavy on the bass). Chill, head bobbing, music that won't put you to sleep. If it weren't for my Junior year dorm neighbor (and later apartment mate) Mike Gibisser I never would have heard of these guys. (he is a man with much greater music knowledge than I posses - he also introduced me to most of the bands in the indie rock section of my MP3 player, such as the Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, Built to Spill, and Guster)
I kinda want to say Pavement also, but I'm not really into Pavement, but I feel for some reason I should be.
New Music that I'm kinda getting into at the moment:
Jesca Hoop - She's kinda new, found out about her a few weeks ago when I got an advanced copy of her new CD for free (by no doing of my own, it just sort of fell into my lap). If Nellie McKay was a bit more soulful and a little less ironic, I think this is what she'd sound like. Oddly enough I just noticed yesterday that one of her songs is being featured on one of the Starbucks play list, leading me to believe her music is playing much more widely than I would have imagined.
The Bird and the Bee - I really have only heard two of their songs, but like the two that I've heard and plan on listening to a lot more.
And thanks to Rawbean recently I've become addicted to Stars.
I also was listening to a lot of Feist, but with the constant replay on the TV, radio, and at Starbucks, I found her music to be catchy the first few times one hears it, but the catchiness decreases exponentially in diametric proportion to the frequency of repitition of said music. Though I am now interested in checking out Broken Social Scene, which coupled with Stars (a few of whom also play for BSS) I guess this is my little "hooray Canadian bands!" section.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Fodder for potential stories (and other links of interest)
This is more for my own personal files than it will be for your reading pleasure, though if you want to know the type of stuff that grabs my interest, please enjoy this list of links to various news stories.
Some are bits that spark ideas to be used or modified for future fiction I might conceive, whilst the others are just kinda neat. I haven't verified or done any real fact checking, yet. Needless to say that if any wind up in a story idea more research will be done.
ps3 smarter than supercomputers (wired.com)
this is just more mean than ironic, but talk about false advertising...
Slacker sex comedy maybe? Anything about breasts usually sells (thelondonpaper.com).
not synaesthetic , but seeing eye tongues (scienceblogs.com).
the real TIE (twin ion engines) fighters. (wired.com)
plants that clean as they grow (enviromentalgraffiti.com)
They grew Hitler's brain (not really but still sounds better than they grew a tiny brain in a petri dish - which actually does sound pretty cool the more I think about it). This is definitely story-worth, science fiction meet science fact (cnn.com)
there is a comic book story waiting to grow from this (the discovery channel online, I think)
KABOOM! (youtube.com)
Slightly older news but still pretty cool (time.com)
there is a story in this somewhere, especially, the bit about the abandoned but fully stocked life raft but I need to verify from a more reputable source. (damninteresting.com)
so congress doesn't completely suck (editorandpublisher.com)
I guess he never watches futurama and heeded the warnings of the space pope (ananova.com)
I guess that's all for now, hope you had as much fun as I did.
Some are bits that spark ideas to be used or modified for future fiction I might conceive, whilst the others are just kinda neat. I haven't verified or done any real fact checking, yet. Needless to say that if any wind up in a story idea more research will be done.
ps3 smarter than supercomputers (wired.com)
this is just more mean than ironic, but talk about false advertising...
Slacker sex comedy maybe? Anything about breasts usually sells (thelondonpaper.com).
not synaesthetic , but seeing eye tongues (scienceblogs.com).
the real TIE (twin ion engines) fighters. (wired.com)
plants that clean as they grow (enviromentalgraffiti.com)
They grew Hitler's brain (not really but still sounds better than they grew a tiny brain in a petri dish - which actually does sound pretty cool the more I think about it). This is definitely story-worth, science fiction meet science fact (cnn.com)
there is a comic book story waiting to grow from this (the discovery channel online, I think)
KABOOM! (youtube.com)
Slightly older news but still pretty cool (time.com)
there is a story in this somewhere, especially, the bit about the abandoned but fully stocked life raft but I need to verify from a more reputable source. (damninteresting.com)
so congress doesn't completely suck (editorandpublisher.com)
I guess he never watches futurama and heeded the warnings of the space pope (ananova.com)
I guess that's all for now, hope you had as much fun as I did.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Five books you should read if you want to sound smart about stuff
This is not a meme. This is just a short list I've compiled for anyone out there interested in appearing smart without having to carry around that damn Socrates book around with you every where you go.
Now you'll actually be able to engage in all sorts of conversations that have nothing to do with your hair or your blog.
Also, they are fun to read so enjoy.
The Omnivore's Dillema
By Michael Pollen
Everything you'll need to know about America's modern food production, from the industrial food chain, to organics, to hunting and gathering the food yourself. Not only informative, this will change the way you think about food.
Who Wrote The Bible
by Richard Elliot Freidman
This is not a religious book. I mean it is, but it's not advocating a religion. It is simply a smart, concise, and very accessable (even to those who might never have read the bible) explanation of the Documentary hypothisis. That is the idea (theory/belief/hypothosis) that the bible was written by many people over many, many years. It is not a repudiation of the bible, or belief's held therein. This isn't meant to disuade you from being religious, nor is it meant to make you religious. Just very interesting information.
1421
by Gavin Menzies
The Chinese discovered the world about seventy years before Columbus even set sail. Though this theory isn't quite recognized by Western academics, it is a pretty solid held belief in Asia. Believe it, don't believe it, either way, you'll learn the world has a lot more craziness in it than you previously were led to believe.
Longitude
by: Dava Sobel
A short history as to how Longitude was invented, and the little guy who did it who never got any credit. More British history than anything else. And if you like this book, for extra credit I'd check out Dava Sobel's other non-fictions.
The Radioactive Boyscout
by Ken Silverstein
A crazy true story about a boy, his disfuntional family, his love of nuclear power, and how he almost created a nuclear disaster in his own back yard. Learning about nuclear science and how to build a nuclear reactor in your own back yard with common household items was never this much fun.
There you go. Now you'll have things to talk about during your next boring cocktail party. And You're Welcome
Now you'll actually be able to engage in all sorts of conversations that have nothing to do with your hair or your blog.
Also, they are fun to read so enjoy.
The Omnivore's Dillema
By Michael Pollen
Everything you'll need to know about America's modern food production, from the industrial food chain, to organics, to hunting and gathering the food yourself. Not only informative, this will change the way you think about food.
Who Wrote The Bible
by Richard Elliot Freidman
This is not a religious book. I mean it is, but it's not advocating a religion. It is simply a smart, concise, and very accessable (even to those who might never have read the bible) explanation of the Documentary hypothisis. That is the idea (theory/belief/hypothosis) that the bible was written by many people over many, many years. It is not a repudiation of the bible, or belief's held therein. This isn't meant to disuade you from being religious, nor is it meant to make you religious. Just very interesting information.
1421
by Gavin Menzies
The Chinese discovered the world about seventy years before Columbus even set sail. Though this theory isn't quite recognized by Western academics, it is a pretty solid held belief in Asia. Believe it, don't believe it, either way, you'll learn the world has a lot more craziness in it than you previously were led to believe.
Longitude
by: Dava Sobel
A short history as to how Longitude was invented, and the little guy who did it who never got any credit. More British history than anything else. And if you like this book, for extra credit I'd check out Dava Sobel's other non-fictions.
The Radioactive Boyscout
by Ken Silverstein
A crazy true story about a boy, his disfuntional family, his love of nuclear power, and how he almost created a nuclear disaster in his own back yard. Learning about nuclear science and how to build a nuclear reactor in your own back yard with common household items was never this much fun.
There you go. Now you'll have things to talk about during your next boring cocktail party. And You're Welcome
Monday, August 07, 2006
Things that amuse me
This is not photoshoped. These melons do exist. They're real, and they're amazing.
Oh those crazy Brits. Honestly I just don't get the idea of royalty. It just seem so anachronistic.
Because everything's funnier when it involves testicals. Don't try to deny it, you know this to be true.
And speaking of testicals, if you don't believe me about the melons then you are definitely not going to believe this.
And last but not least, for your viewing pleasure (and yes I know this has been around for a while, but I just learned about it) I give you my new Hero:
That is all, be entertained, and be happy.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Because I knew you were planning to already...
Tomorrow (July 22) will be my twenty-sixth birthday. I assume that all of you have prepared and purchased for me a birthday gift (wow what an awkward sentance!). But just in case some of you slackers have forgotten, here is a list of just a few things I would like to own.
T-shirt to be purchased here.
which can be purchased through amazon here TOO LATE, J_ GOT IT FOR ME.
15.4 inch 2ghz intel core duo, purchasable here
If you can't afford the entire thing, I'd be happy to take it in instalments. Be it through individual towns, all the way up to continents.
Honestly it'll probably be easier getting me the previous item on the list.
T-shirt to be purchased here.
which can be purchased through amazon here TOO LATE, J_ GOT IT FOR ME.
15.4 inch 2ghz intel core duo, purchasable here
If you can't afford the entire thing, I'd be happy to take it in instalments. Be it through individual towns, all the way up to continents.
Honestly it'll probably be easier getting me the previous item on the list.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
nothing special: a recap
Why do I even bother?
Got to my brother's birthday dinner, Yay!
Started to get sick on Monday, Boo!
Really got sick on Tuesday, Boo!
Best friend Jason flew up from Atlanta to visit, Yay!
Fought cold as we walked around Greenwich village, meh.
Had Etheiopian food for dinner, Yay!
Skipped work on Wenesday to go to the MoMA with Jason, Yay!
Was really sick the entire time, Boo!
Saw Famke Janssen at the MoMA, Wow!
Went to Dinner at Mendy's with Jason and two siblings (Mendy's Jerry, Mendy's!), Meh.
Had drinks in Hell's Kitchen with Jason, sibling, sibling's girlfreind, and girlfriend's roommate, Yay!
Pretended I wasn't feeling ill, though I was horribly sick, Boo!
Opened Starbucks (5:30 AM) nearly dead to the world, Boo!
Went bowling with Jason and a Sibling, Yay!
My highest score: 83, Boo!
Still tried to hide my horrible sickness, drank too much espresso to cover my deadness, Boo!
Ate at a Bolivian Restaraunt with Jason and his freinds, Meh.
Shot pool with Sibling and Jason, Yay!
Wanted to curl up and die the entire time (sickness yuck!), Boo!
Drove Jason to the airport, Boo.
Slept for the rest of Friday and Saturday, Yay!
Went out to get drinks with Starbucks Friends, Yay!
Came home early because was still getting over the cold, Boo!
Bonded with E and J from work on the ride home, Yay!
Woke up feeling better but still a little stuffed up, Meh.
Wrote my first post in a week, Yay!
And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
Got to my brother's birthday dinner, Yay!
Started to get sick on Monday, Boo!
Really got sick on Tuesday, Boo!
Best friend Jason flew up from Atlanta to visit, Yay!
Fought cold as we walked around Greenwich village, meh.
Had Etheiopian food for dinner, Yay!
Skipped work on Wenesday to go to the MoMA with Jason, Yay!
Was really sick the entire time, Boo!
Saw Famke Janssen at the MoMA, Wow!
Went to Dinner at Mendy's with Jason and two siblings (Mendy's Jerry, Mendy's!), Meh.
Had drinks in Hell's Kitchen with Jason, sibling, sibling's girlfreind, and girlfriend's roommate, Yay!
Pretended I wasn't feeling ill, though I was horribly sick, Boo!
Opened Starbucks (5:30 AM) nearly dead to the world, Boo!
Went bowling with Jason and a Sibling, Yay!
My highest score: 83, Boo!
Still tried to hide my horrible sickness, drank too much espresso to cover my deadness, Boo!
Ate at a Bolivian Restaraunt with Jason and his freinds, Meh.
Shot pool with Sibling and Jason, Yay!
Wanted to curl up and die the entire time (sickness yuck!), Boo!
Drove Jason to the airport, Boo.
Slept for the rest of Friday and Saturday, Yay!
Went out to get drinks with Starbucks Friends, Yay!
Came home early because was still getting over the cold, Boo!
Bonded with E and J from work on the ride home, Yay!
Woke up feeling better but still a little stuffed up, Meh.
Wrote my first post in a week, Yay!
And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Because Rawbean did it first
When I have no ideas of my own I steal from where ever I can find. But as I learned in school if you call the rip off a homage, then everything's copacetic. Thus in order for people to learn more about me (though I can't imagine why anyone would want to), this is my homage to Rawbean's rant. Judge away.
DVD's I own:
Jurassic Park
The Cat's Meow
No Man's Land
Oscar
Gun Shy
Grosse Pointe Blank
Cowboy Bebop (the series and the movie)
Dark City
LA Story
His Girl Friday
Pirates of the Carribean
It's a very sad collection but one day, when I have more money it will grow. Nothing to really brag about, and a little to be embaressed of, those are my owned DVDs (there might be one or two more that I have forgot about - I'm at work right now and I'll double check when I get home tonight).
Because I feel a little silly with such a short list, here is another short one of DVD's I plan to own.
Run Lola Run
Amelie
All of Wes Anderson's Films
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
As many Marx Brother films as I can find
Man on Fire
Harold and Kumar go to White Castle
Fight Club
The Indiana Jones Trilogy
DVD's I own:
Jurassic Park
The Cat's Meow
No Man's Land
Oscar
Gun Shy
Grosse Pointe Blank
Cowboy Bebop (the series and the movie)
Dark City
LA Story
His Girl Friday
Pirates of the Carribean
It's a very sad collection but one day, when I have more money it will grow. Nothing to really brag about, and a little to be embaressed of, those are my owned DVDs (there might be one or two more that I have forgot about - I'm at work right now and I'll double check when I get home tonight).
Because I feel a little silly with such a short list, here is another short one of DVD's I plan to own.
Run Lola Run
Amelie
All of Wes Anderson's Films
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
As many Marx Brother films as I can find
Man on Fire
Harold and Kumar go to White Castle
Fight Club
The Indiana Jones Trilogy
Friday, February 17, 2006
Things that shouldn't be funny but are anyway
My list of ten in no particular order:
1. The planet Uranus
2. Syphilis of the eye
3. An elderly man being shot in the face by the Vice-President
4. William Shatner's music (save his most recent album I guess)
5. Falling out of bed
6. Unrequited love
7. Erectile Dysfunction
8. Crackwhores
9. Performance artists
10. Any injury involving a bowling ball, a waffle iron, and untied shoelaces.
1. The planet Uranus
2. Syphilis of the eye
3. An elderly man being shot in the face by the Vice-President
4. William Shatner's music (save his most recent album I guess)
5. Falling out of bed
6. Unrequited love
7. Erectile Dysfunction
8. Crackwhores
9. Performance artists
10. Any injury involving a bowling ball, a waffle iron, and untied shoelaces.
Friday, January 27, 2006
playing the game
I was tagged so I continue the meme.
4 Jobs I've had
-telemarketer
-e-commerce and shipping manager
-Private tutor
-film equipment rental center employee
4 Movies I can watch over and over
-Duck Soup
-Manhattan
-My Girl Friday
-Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark
4 Places I've lived
-Springfield, MA
-Boston, MA
-Jerusalem, Israel
-Queens, NY
4 Places I've vacationed
-Eilat, Israel
-Disney World
-Montreal, Canada
-The Grand Canyon, AZ
4 of my favorite dishes
-Tofu Pad Thai
-Atakilt (etheopian)
-Just regular sauce and cheese brick oven Pizza
-Pita with Hummus
4 Non-Blogger sites I visit daily
-Questionable Content (webcomic)
-Triggerstreet
-Google
-Boston Globe.com (but only since I've moved away from boston, when I lived in Boston it was the NY times.com)
4 Places I'd like to visit
-New Zealand
-Japan
-Hawaii
-Italy
4 People I'm tagging
-Amanda
-Noodles
-Alex
-And anyone else who hasn't been tagged and wants to post this meme.
4 Jobs I've had
-telemarketer
-e-commerce and shipping manager
-Private tutor
-film equipment rental center employee
4 Movies I can watch over and over
-Duck Soup
-Manhattan
-My Girl Friday
-Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark
4 Places I've lived
-Springfield, MA
-Boston, MA
-Jerusalem, Israel
-Queens, NY
4 Places I've vacationed
-Eilat, Israel
-Disney World
-Montreal, Canada
-The Grand Canyon, AZ
4 of my favorite dishes
-Tofu Pad Thai
-Atakilt (etheopian)
-Just regular sauce and cheese brick oven Pizza
-Pita with Hummus
4 Non-Blogger sites I visit daily
-Questionable Content (webcomic)
-Triggerstreet
-Boston Globe.com (but only since I've moved away from boston, when I lived in Boston it was the NY times.com)
4 Places I'd like to visit
-New Zealand
-Japan
-Hawaii
-Italy
4 People I'm tagging
-Amanda
-Noodles
-Alex
-And anyone else who hasn't been tagged and wants to post this meme.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
A retrospective, my fifteen favorite posts (narcissim anyone?)
It's been exactly a year since my first post on Blogspot. I have been blogging (as I hear the kids call it) for a year, and it's probably the only thing in my life the past year that has been consistent (and you all know how consistent my posting is, so what does that tell you about my life?). Anyway, in honor of my psuedo acheivment I give you my fifteen favorite posts that I wrote of this past year. I was going to do twenty, but thought that'd be too many, and ten didn't seem like enough for me to revel in my own narcisism. Some you might have read, some you might have not. Feel free to read the old ones you missed, or re-read my newer favorites. Yes, it's egotism at its best, but it's also far easier to put up a retrospective like this than actually write something about the past year. Laziness how I adore thee. My top five are astrixed since I don't know how to make a star. These favorites were chosen as the ones that distill my nature and essense better to the bare essentials. If you didn't know what kind of person I was before, these are the posts to get you up to speed.
Wednesday, Janurary 5, 2005: First thoughts
Sunday, March 6, 2005: You're on my list***
Monday, April 11, 2005: I hate writing cover letters
Tuesday, April 12, 2005: Poetry in motion
Wednesday, April 20, 2005: I'd like to buy a Vowell
Thursday, April 21, 2005: Almost, but not at all, famous***
Monday, May 2, 2005: Passover outside of Neverland***
Wendesday, May 11, 2005: This is not a test (or a joke)
Friday, June 24, 2005: Yesterday around 5PM
Thursday, August 18, 2005: I'm a stinker
Monday, October 10, 2005: Octopussy
Sunday, October 30, 2005: Secrets: Lies and Truths
Thursday, November 3, 2005: The secret true history of Amichai***
Saturday, December 3, 2005: People whom I admire
Tuesday, December 6, 2005: Why I am a Huge Dork***
Apparently I wasn't very clever in Feburary, July, or September. And I'm more clever on Mondays, Wendesdays, and Thursdays than I am on other days. Good to know for the future I guess. Now you know the days and months to actually read this stuff.
Wednesday, Janurary 5, 2005: First thoughts
Sunday, March 6, 2005: You're on my list***
Monday, April 11, 2005: I hate writing cover letters
Tuesday, April 12, 2005: Poetry in motion
Wednesday, April 20, 2005: I'd like to buy a Vowell
Thursday, April 21, 2005: Almost, but not at all, famous***
Monday, May 2, 2005: Passover outside of Neverland***
Wendesday, May 11, 2005: This is not a test (or a joke)
Friday, June 24, 2005: Yesterday around 5PM
Thursday, August 18, 2005: I'm a stinker
Monday, October 10, 2005: Octopussy
Sunday, October 30, 2005: Secrets: Lies and Truths
Thursday, November 3, 2005: The secret true history of Amichai***
Saturday, December 3, 2005: People whom I admire
Tuesday, December 6, 2005: Why I am a Huge Dork***
Apparently I wasn't very clever in Feburary, July, or September. And I'm more clever on Mondays, Wendesdays, and Thursdays than I am on other days. Good to know for the future I guess. Now you know the days and months to actually read this stuff.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
People whom I admire
A list of famous (at least famous in my mind) people whom I either aspire to be, to be with, or just am inspired by (an abbreviated list). In no particular order.
Dorothy Gambrell
Haruki Murakami
John Flansburgh and John Linell (They Might Be Giants)
Russel Edson
Douglas Adams
Sarah Vowell (More of my thoughts on Ms. Vowel, also here.)
Alton Brown
Wes Anderson
Aaron Sorkin
Grant Morrison
Alan Moore
Tony Harris
Rob G (sorry I couldn't find a better link for this particular artist)
Jason Lutes
Scott Mccloud
Batman
Superman
Flash
Warren Ellis
Peter David
Andi Watson
Scarlett Johansson (really just want to be with, this might make me a bit shallow but she's so freaking sexy)
Jeph Jacques
The Dresden Dolls
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson
Lee Krasner
John Stewart
Steve Martin
Caroline Dhavernas (I have a big crush on her, and she's more realistically my type - as opposed to Scarlett - but neither hold a candle to Sarah)
Richard Russo
There are many more, but I'll stop there.
Dorothy Gambrell
Haruki Murakami
John Flansburgh and John Linell (They Might Be Giants)
Russel Edson
Douglas Adams
Sarah Vowell (More of my thoughts on Ms. Vowel, also here.)
Alton Brown
Wes Anderson
Aaron Sorkin
Grant Morrison
Alan Moore
Tony Harris
Rob G (sorry I couldn't find a better link for this particular artist)
Jason Lutes
Scott Mccloud
Batman
Superman
Flash
Warren Ellis
Peter David
Andi Watson
Scarlett Johansson (really just want to be with, this might make me a bit shallow but she's so freaking sexy)
Jeph Jacques
The Dresden Dolls
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson
Lee Krasner
John Stewart
Steve Martin
Caroline Dhavernas (I have a big crush on her, and she's more realistically my type - as opposed to Scarlett - but neither hold a candle to Sarah)
Richard Russo
There are many more, but I'll stop there.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
When I'm too lazy to write something clever I link to those that do
Things you should be reading online but probably aren't (or maybe you are, what do I know?).
Jeremy's blog. It's new, it's fresh, it's funny.
Noodles Esquire even if she doesn't update often, her posts are very much how Jeremy describes his blog (clever ploy to have you check both blogs at once).
Cat and Girl updated tuesdays and fridays. I wish I was as smart and clever as Dorothy. Maybe just because I'm a dork, but I find myself laughing with every update. I mean come on, Devo hard hats? That's just funny.
McSweeney's because we can all use a nice literary laugh.
What the fuck dot com because even if it is just a free site for computer dorks and generic "free thinkers" it still has a funny name.
Kevin Banks even though he screwed me over and bailed on our comic book venture, he's still a good artist and I like his work. If you are in an artistic mood, you should check it out.
And finally: Nickelodeon for the child in all of us, and maybe for the child we keep locked down in the basement.
Other than that, if you haven't read A Game Of You, by Neil Gaiman, you should got out and read it immediately. It is quite possibly one of the greatest stories ever put to paper.
Carry on then.....
Jeremy's blog. It's new, it's fresh, it's funny.
Noodles Esquire even if she doesn't update often, her posts are very much how Jeremy describes his blog (clever ploy to have you check both blogs at once).
Cat and Girl updated tuesdays and fridays. I wish I was as smart and clever as Dorothy. Maybe just because I'm a dork, but I find myself laughing with every update. I mean come on, Devo hard hats? That's just funny.
McSweeney's because we can all use a nice literary laugh.
What the fuck dot com because even if it is just a free site for computer dorks and generic "free thinkers" it still has a funny name.
Kevin Banks even though he screwed me over and bailed on our comic book venture, he's still a good artist and I like his work. If you are in an artistic mood, you should check it out.
And finally: Nickelodeon for the child in all of us, and maybe for the child we keep locked down in the basement.
Other than that, if you haven't read A Game Of You, by Neil Gaiman, you should got out and read it immediately. It is quite possibly one of the greatest stories ever put to paper.
Carry on then.....
Sunday, November 20, 2005
I hope that I'll get old before I die
I was going to write about this past Thursday and how my father was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Divinity from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and I probably will within the next few days, but before that I feel compelled to write about a member of my father's congregation.
Jesse (last name with held for anonymity - also I have absolutely no idea what his last name actually is) has been a member of the Marathon Jewish Community Center (for some reason they don't use the word synagogue or temple in Queens, everything is a "community center") for quite some time. As an active member he enjoys celebrating his birthday after services on the Saturday closest to his actual day of birth by sponsoring a lunch or some sort at the "temple." This past Saturday we celebrated his one hundred and first birthday. Let me repeat that. HE'S ONE HUNDRED AND ONE YEARS OLD. He was born November 24, 1904.
Please shake from your minds the idea that he is some old bed ridden feeble asthmatic forgetful old man. He is as spry as a man in his eighties. He walks everywhere. Everywhere. He walks to the supermarket, to the drug store, to temple. He probably isn't allowed to drive anymore but still, it's a hell of a lot of walking. He even walks in the annual Israeli day Parade in Manhattan every year. At age 101 he has only just recently started to use a walker because he had some sort of accident about a month ago. In fact I'm starting to suspect he is actually Colonel Steve Austin and not the nice Jewish old man he who sits six rows up from the bimah every Saturday morning.
Forsaking the amount of money (six million dollars) put in to his body (we have the technology...) I find it helpful, to really put in all in perspective, to discuss what this man has witnessed throughout the course of his life. Just some of the major plot points (not necessarily in linear order).
-World War one, 1914-1918
-The great depression, 1929
-The invention of Marshmallow fluff, 1917
-The mass production of the and eventual commonplace of the Automobile
-Charles Lindbergh's first nonstop transatlantic flight aboard the Spirit of St. Louis, 1927
-The invention of the Oreo Cookie, 1912 (which actually came second to the now defunct Hydrox cooki,e 1908 - personal aside: I miss Hydrox and always liked them better than Oreos)
-17 Presidents of the United States (From Teddy Roosevelt to Bush the second, Presidents in between of note: all of them)
-World War Two, 1939-1945
-The creation of the state of Israel (big deal for the Jews), 1948
-The growth of America from 48 states to the whopping 50 we are today: Hawaii + Alaska, 1959
-The first man in space, 1961
-A man walking on the Moon, 1969
-The creation and dissolution of the Bull Moose political party, 1912-1916
-Fourteen near presidential assassinations (Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Truman, Nixon, Ford - twice, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton - three times, and Bush two - twice so far); 1912, 1933, 1950, 1974, 1975 twice, 1979, 1981, 1993, 1994- twice, 1995, 2004, 2005; and one actual assassination (JFK) 1963
-The film "The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai across the 8th dimension" 1984
-Korean War, 1950-1953
-Vietnam War 1965-1973
-Gulf War 1991
-Iraq War 2004 - ?
-Bud Bowl one through seventeen 1988- present
-The Red Sox winning the World Series in 1918 then again in 2004
-The civil rights movement
-Gay marriage legalization (at least in one state) 2003
-The rise of radio and then consequently the demise of radio followed by the rise of Television
-And though there are many more, in my mind the most important: The invention of Tang (The Greatest thing to come of the NASA!) 1957
He is literally four times older than I am. He has children, grandchildren and great grandchildren (and if he keeps this up he'll be alive with great-great grandchildren) During his 99th birthday celebration he turned to the congregation and said, "I'm thankful for the past ninety-nine years I've had and for the one year I have left." I don't know whether he expected to die at age 100, or just meant he was excited to reach a full century. Either way he has outlasted his own expectations as he's 101 and still kicking strong. The way things are going I almost expect him to outlive me; petrified of death as I am, for some reason, I'm OK with that.
(all information only half ass researched using the internet, mostly wikipedia, where you all can go to verify the facts)
Jesse (last name with held for anonymity - also I have absolutely no idea what his last name actually is) has been a member of the Marathon Jewish Community Center (for some reason they don't use the word synagogue or temple in Queens, everything is a "community center") for quite some time. As an active member he enjoys celebrating his birthday after services on the Saturday closest to his actual day of birth by sponsoring a lunch or some sort at the "temple." This past Saturday we celebrated his one hundred and first birthday. Let me repeat that. HE'S ONE HUNDRED AND ONE YEARS OLD. He was born November 24, 1904.
Please shake from your minds the idea that he is some old bed ridden feeble asthmatic forgetful old man. He is as spry as a man in his eighties. He walks everywhere. Everywhere. He walks to the supermarket, to the drug store, to temple. He probably isn't allowed to drive anymore but still, it's a hell of a lot of walking. He even walks in the annual Israeli day Parade in Manhattan every year. At age 101 he has only just recently started to use a walker because he had some sort of accident about a month ago. In fact I'm starting to suspect he is actually Colonel Steve Austin and not the nice Jewish old man he who sits six rows up from the bimah every Saturday morning.
Forsaking the amount of money (six million dollars) put in to his body (we have the technology...) I find it helpful, to really put in all in perspective, to discuss what this man has witnessed throughout the course of his life. Just some of the major plot points (not necessarily in linear order).
-World War one, 1914-1918
-The great depression, 1929
-The invention of Marshmallow fluff, 1917
-The mass production of the and eventual commonplace of the Automobile
-Charles Lindbergh's first nonstop transatlantic flight aboard the Spirit of St. Louis, 1927
-The invention of the Oreo Cookie, 1912 (which actually came second to the now defunct Hydrox cooki,e 1908 - personal aside: I miss Hydrox and always liked them better than Oreos)
-17 Presidents of the United States (From Teddy Roosevelt to Bush the second, Presidents in between of note: all of them)
-World War Two, 1939-1945
-The creation of the state of Israel (big deal for the Jews), 1948
-The growth of America from 48 states to the whopping 50 we are today: Hawaii + Alaska, 1959
-The first man in space, 1961
-A man walking on the Moon, 1969
-The creation and dissolution of the Bull Moose political party, 1912-1916
-Fourteen near presidential assassinations (Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Truman, Nixon, Ford - twice, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton - three times, and Bush two - twice so far); 1912, 1933, 1950, 1974, 1975 twice, 1979, 1981, 1993, 1994- twice, 1995, 2004, 2005; and one actual assassination (JFK) 1963
-The film "The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai across the 8th dimension" 1984
-Korean War, 1950-1953
-Vietnam War 1965-1973
-Gulf War 1991
-Iraq War 2004 - ?
-Bud Bowl one through seventeen 1988- present
-The Red Sox winning the World Series in 1918 then again in 2004
-The civil rights movement
-Gay marriage legalization (at least in one state) 2003
-The rise of radio and then consequently the demise of radio followed by the rise of Television
-And though there are many more, in my mind the most important: The invention of Tang (The Greatest thing to come of the NASA!) 1957
He is literally four times older than I am. He has children, grandchildren and great grandchildren (and if he keeps this up he'll be alive with great-great grandchildren) During his 99th birthday celebration he turned to the congregation and said, "I'm thankful for the past ninety-nine years I've had and for the one year I have left." I don't know whether he expected to die at age 100, or just meant he was excited to reach a full century. Either way he has outlasted his own expectations as he's 101 and still kicking strong. The way things are going I almost expect him to outlive me; petrified of death as I am, for some reason, I'm OK with that.
(all information only half ass researched using the internet, mostly wikipedia, where you all can go to verify the facts)
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Secrets: Lies and Truths
Ten secrets (and not so secrets). Half are true, half are false, but I won't ever say which is which.
1) I have never been trick or treating.
2) In the seventh grade I nearly killed my best freind with an unsharpened pencil.
3) I have never been in love.
4) I'm still scared of what may be lurking behind a closed shower curtian
5) At 20 years old I realized at a lame college party I had a crush on the guy I went with and not the girl I was trying to pick up.
6) I want to die on an absinthe bender when I'm in my thirties amidst a bonfire of all my unfinished and unpublished work. I don't care what happens to the ashes.
7) I lie more often than I tell the truth (about anything and everything)
8) I tell the truth more often than I lie (about anything and everything)
9) I hate Grape Jello.
10) I am brillaint in bed.
1) I have never been trick or treating.
2) In the seventh grade I nearly killed my best freind with an unsharpened pencil.
3) I have never been in love.
4) I'm still scared of what may be lurking behind a closed shower curtian
5) At 20 years old I realized at a lame college party I had a crush on the guy I went with and not the girl I was trying to pick up.
6) I want to die on an absinthe bender when I'm in my thirties amidst a bonfire of all my unfinished and unpublished work. I don't care what happens to the ashes.
7) I lie more often than I tell the truth (about anything and everything)
8) I tell the truth more often than I lie (about anything and everything)
9) I hate Grape Jello.
10) I am brillaint in bed.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
random thought
Every so often I feel like I should know more yiddish than I do. At present this is the extent of the yiddish I know:
Tuchis/tush- Butt (one's behind)
Schpilchis- excess energy, like ants in your pants
Shmie/smie- to look around, to browse
Milchik- dairy
Flieschic- meat
Parve- neither meat nor dairy.
and that's all.
Tuchis/tush- Butt (one's behind)
Schpilchis- excess energy, like ants in your pants
Shmie/smie- to look around, to browse
Milchik- dairy
Flieschic- meat
Parve- neither meat nor dairy.
and that's all.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Almost, but not at all, Famous
It is odd to me that there are some people out there, few though they may be, who are actually reading this blog. When I started this, not so long ago I was sure I'd give it up in a matter of days, getting bored with the concept. I told none of my friends that it existed (save one) nor any of my family (though they eventually found it, it's impossible to hide anything online). I assumed that it would never be read, my lone empty corner of the internet. As it turns out, I've kept it up, surprisingly so. And now, every so often I find a comment posted by people I don't know. I've realized this is as famous as I'll ever be so, without further ado, there are some people I'd like to thank for helping me get this far.
First and foremost God. If it wasn't for God's constant torment and mental abuse I would never have anything to write about.
I'd like to thank my second grade teacher, my favorite teacher of them all, Mrs. um... whatsherface. Almost daily she give me special attention; she'd take me aside and say, "Amichai, stop picking your nose." Words I keep in my heart to this very day.
I'd like to thank my manager. Everyday I'd come into work he'd say, "Amichai, you're late. We need french fries NOW!" The best times were had when we'd joke together. I'd ask for a raise and he'd give me a pay cut and threaten to deport me. Good times, good times.
I would like to thank the internet, and offer my apology. Turns out you aren't just good for Porn. My bad.
Thank you Emerson college for giving me an education, but failing to teach me how to use it.
Thank you Mira Sorvino (she knows why...)
Thank you to all my family, except for Felix (He knows why...)
And finally, thank you girl who lives across the street and doesn't close the blinds. You don't know me but I've been watching you and could not be any more appreciative.
Uh... carry on then.
First and foremost God. If it wasn't for God's constant torment and mental abuse I would never have anything to write about.
I'd like to thank my second grade teacher, my favorite teacher of them all, Mrs. um... whatsherface. Almost daily she give me special attention; she'd take me aside and say, "Amichai, stop picking your nose." Words I keep in my heart to this very day.
I'd like to thank my manager. Everyday I'd come into work he'd say, "Amichai, you're late. We need french fries NOW!" The best times were had when we'd joke together. I'd ask for a raise and he'd give me a pay cut and threaten to deport me. Good times, good times.
I would like to thank the internet, and offer my apology. Turns out you aren't just good for Porn. My bad.
Thank you Emerson college for giving me an education, but failing to teach me how to use it.
Thank you Mira Sorvino (she knows why...)
Thank you to all my family, except for Felix (He knows why...)
And finally, thank you girl who lives across the street and doesn't close the blinds. You don't know me but I've been watching you and could not be any more appreciative.
Uh... carry on then.
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