Pop culture distractions
Posted on May 24, 2004 @ 12:49 pm
Simulating the look and feel of a meme without the pesky hat-tip…it’s a list of what I’m reading, listening to, and watching lately!
What I’m reading: Jingo: A Discworld Novel by Terry Pratchett
From the novel’s back cover (emphasis is my own): “Something new has come up between the ancient rival cities of Ankh-Morpork and Al-Khali. Literally. An island, rising out of Discworld’s circular sea. Since it’s uninhabited and claimed by both cities, Commander Vimes and his faithful trolls and cops are forced to deal with a crime so awful that there’s no law against it. It’s called “war.” But don’t be alarmed. It all happens on faraway Discworld, where greed and ignorance influence politicians, and perfectly normal people occasionally act like raving idiots. A world, in short, totally unlike our own.” It seemed timely, if nothing else.
What I’m listening to: Get Away From Me by Nellie McKay
I’ve been meaning to review this album forever, but never got around to it. This will have to do. The media has often described McKay’s piano-driven debut album as a cross between the work of Doris Day and Eminem. After listening to the album for the past several weeks, the Eminem comparison seems a bit misleading. Sure, she raps on a track or two and drops the occasional f-bomb, but that’s not her bread and butter. Instead, I’d describe her style as Fiona Apple if Fiona Apple actually had a sense of humor, with occasional dashes of Norah Jones and Belle and Sebastian thrown in for good measure. All in all, though, it’s a fantastic album. Why not give these snippets of “Ding Dong,” “The Dog Song,” “Won’t U Please B Nice?” a listen?
What I’m watching (film): Shrek 2
Just what you’d expect from a Shrek sequel — funny stuff, but nothing nearly as timeless as Finding Nemo or Toy Story. That being said, Antonio Banderas’ “Puss in Boots” is the best character ever. Ever.
What I’m watching (DVD): School of Rock
The cute-but-not-too-cute cuteness of the kids almost made me reconsider my longtime stance against the continued reproduction of the human race. Almost. And, as per usual, Jack Black was hilarious.
What I’m watching (television): Enterprise
The action-packed third season is wrapping up this Wednesday, and the series just keeps getting better and better by the week. Sure, if you aren’t a Star Trek fan, it’s still probably not for you. On the other hand, if you’re a Trekker who stopped watching Enterprise after its debut, you might want to give it another chance. I think you might be surprised by how far the series has come.
What I’m playing: Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb
Something has to pass the time until Thief 3 is released later this week.
Posted by Jess | Filed Under Pop Culture |
3 comments so far...
Leave a Comment
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
Jingo is indeed timely…and amusing. I quite enjoyed it.
Have to check out that Nellie chick again…the clip I listened to was mostly curse words and really not for me.
Definitely want to see Shrek II, but that might have to wait, as I’m moving house…to an entirely different city.
I’ve not watched Enterprise in a long while, though I’ve heard its gotten good. Unfortunately, I just don’t have the ability to sit down and watch tv anymore. Any tv, even if its good, bores me to tears.
The cute-but-not-too-cute cuteness of the kids almost made me reconsider my longtime stance against the continued reproduction of the human race.
Children make me want to twist something’s neck off.
Please elaborate on the Indiana Jones game. Every time I see it in the store and consider getting it, I decide against it. I have very little faith in modern entertainment, but I was very happy with Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy. It is an excellent game. Someone is also releasing a Cardboard Tube Samurai mod for it soon, so I would suggest the title.
Richard: The Indiana Jones game isn’t the greatest thing I’ve ever played, but it’s a tolerable way to pass the time. For the most part, it’s a Tomb Raider rip-off, only with the added advantage of the Indiana Jones trappings (which help the game tremendously). Brawling is quite good in the game, the puzzles are fun, and the platform-jumping isn’t too annoying. A drawback, however, is the fact that you can’t save games. Instead, the game autosaves after each stage. Not being a console gamer, I guess I found this to be a little annoying.
Still, if you like Indiana Jones and/or third-person action-adventure titles, it’s worth a look.