Blogging about not blogging

Posted on August 31, 2007

The phrase “honest day’s work” is thrown around a lot these days, but my firsthand exposure to such a thing is limited at best. My dad worked for thirty years in a coal mine. He’d load sixteen tons, and what would he get? Another day older and deeper in debt. Well, actually, he was compensated fairly well for his work, but I’m sure you get the idea. Operating heavy machinery and engaging in backbreaking physical labor several hundred feet beneath the Earth’s surface is clearly an honest day’s work. Photocopying a bunch of handouts and then talking to students for an hour and fifteen minutes about Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War? I’m not so sure.

Nevertheless, speaking as someone who basically spent his entire life in school up until a few short months ago and now finds his dainty little hands sullied with an actual, real-life job for the first time ever, I’m still trying to get the whole “work/spend time with family/blog about random pop culture stuff” balance worked out. That being said, I’m not “gone” or “taking a break.” I’m just trying to find the time to blog in the confines of a schedule that suddenly requires me to be places at certain times and actually, you know, do stuff.

So, for those readers asking why my blogging output has slowed in recent weeks…rest assured that I’m working on it. I’m just busy adjusting to life as an actual grownup (at age thirty). Before long, I’ll be back in the saddle, counting down the five least essential G.I. Joe characters or some other nonsense. Take care!

Friday Shuffle: Name That Tune!

Posted on August 24, 2007

Who’s in the mood for a little Friday Shuffle fun? I’ve posted a new batch of lyrics from the first fifteen songs to play when I put my iPod on shuffle this morning. Let’s see how many artists and song titles you can identify in the comments. I’ll gray out each lyrics once it’s been correctly guessed.

1. Those boon times went bust. My feet of clay, they dried to dust. The red isn’t the red we painted, it’s just rust. — Fiona Apple, “Tymps (The Sick in the Head Song)” (Thud)
    
2. We are fueled by Satan, yes we’re schooled by Satan. Schooled by Satan! Writin’ those tasty riffs just as fast as we can. Fueled by Satan! — Tenacious D, “Explosivo” (Thud)
    
3. It’s a little too late for too little, but it’s never too late for a lot. It’s a little too late for too little, but it’s never too late to take ‘em for what they got. — The Ditty Bops, “Angel with an Attitude” (Bella)
    
4. If I could do just one near perfect thing, I’d be happy. They’d write it on my grave or when they scattered my ashes. — Belle & Sebastian, “If She Wants Me” (mikelietz)
    
5. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t find me attractive. Look me in the heart and tell me you won’t go. Look me in in the eye and promise no love’s like our love. Look me in the heart and un-break broken, it won’t happen. — Tegan and Sara, “Where Does the Good Go?” (jmanna)
    
6. I need your arms around me, I need to feel your touch. I need your understanding, I need your love so much. — Cake, “Never There” (Joefish)
    
7. ‘Cause I’ve been acting like sour milk all on the floor. It’s your fault, you didn’t shut the refrigerator. Maybe that’s the reason I’ve been acting so cold. — Gwen Stefani, “Sweet Escape” (Megan)
    
8. I have no more than I did before, but now I’ve got all that I need. For I love you, and I know you love me. — The Monkees, “Papa Gene’s Blues” (webgrrlie)
    
9. Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night. The first one’s named sweet Anne-Marie, and she’s my heart’s delight. The second one is prison, babe; the sheriff’s on my trail. And if he catches up with me, I’ll spend my life in jail. — The Grateful Dead, “Friend of the Devil” (Thud)
    
10. You fall in love, zing boom! The sky above, zing boom! Is caving in, wow bam! — Bjork, “It’s Oh So Quiet” (jmanna)
     
11. I ain’t happy, I’m feeling glad. I got sunshine in a bag. I’m useless, but not for long. The future is coming on. — Gorillaz, “Clint Eastwood” (Jeff)
     
12. What a season to be beautiful without a reason. — The White Stripes, “Now Mary” (Timmy B.)
     
    
13. On board were the Twelve: the poet, the physician, the farmer, the scientist, the magician, and the other so-called gods of our legends. Though gods they were. — Donovan, “Atlantis” (mikelietz)
     
14. Birchmount Stadium, home of the Robbie. — Barenaked Ladies, “One Week” (scottieseattle)
     
15. Oh, God of Progress, have you degraded or forgot us? Where have your laws gone? I think about it now. — Sufjan Stevens, “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!” (webgrrlie)

 
Good luck!

What part of “secret” didn’t Superman understand?

Posted on August 23, 2007

20 Comic Covers That Reveal Superman’s Secret Identity. My favorite is the one where Superman’s “pal” Jimmy Olsen fakes a terminal illness to ferret out that Supes is really [spoiler warning] Clark Kent.

Tales from the Classroom: I’ve been punk’d?!

Posted on August 22, 2007

Another semester, another onslaught of bizarre student e-mail:

Beam me up, Tumnus

Posted on August 20, 2007

James “Mr. Tumnus” McAvoy cast as Scotty in J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Trek reboot? Ye might consider tradin’ in that pan flute for a proper set of bagpipes, laddie.

New Dark Knight Photos

Posted on August 18, 2007

Eighteen new photos from The Dark Knight, featuring some very creepy shots of Heath Ledger as the Joker (and possibly some minor spoilers). Sadly, there’s still no word on whether the script calls for Ledger to dance around any museums, defacing art while listening to Prince on a boombox.

Young Stormtroopers in Love

Posted on August 17, 2007

Flickr: A young couple go about their daily lives, pausing occasionally to snap a photograph…while wearing Stormtrooper helmets. The result is oddly captivating. (via)

A tale of scoundrels, consumer electronics, and writer’s block — full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

Posted on August 17, 2007

Sigh…it’s been one of those days. First, I was alerted that some jerkhole is selling t-shirts on eBay featuring my “Snape’s on a Plane” design without bothering to ask my permission. I’m reminded of a quote from B-movie idol Bruce Campbell: “Imitation is indeed a form of flattery, but paying a guy is an even better form.”

Then, just a few hours later, the unthinkable happened: my cherished iPod shuffled off the mortal coil. It’s dead, Jim. Kaput. Pining for the fjords and all that. I immediately swore that I’d wait at least a few months to replace it and maybe even comparison shop some non-Apple MP3 players. Six hours later, I was in the process of charging up a brand new silver iPod nano. Damn you, Steve Jobs! (he says, shaking his fist in vain)

To top it all off, I’m in a blog funk. It’s one of those deals where I come up with an idea for an entry, decide it’s not actually clever and/or funny enough to post, and end up deleting it. Then, the next day, I come up with another idea. Unfortunately, it’s not as good as the idea I deleted the day before, so obviously I can’t go posting the new idea either. Anyway, it usually goes on like that for several days until I decide I need to post something — clever or not — just to break the cycle.

So, I guess this takes care of that. Thank you, and goodnight.

Songs for Swingin’ Zombie Lovers

Posted on August 9, 2007

Pitchfork has streaming audio of Nellie McKay’s “Zombie” from her upcoming album, Obligatory Villagers. Includes the best refrain in a jazz number ever: “Do the Zombie…RARR! RARR! RARR! RARR!”

Enemy wessels approaching, Keptin!

Posted on August 8, 2007

Some guy I’ve never heard of is the new Ensign Pavel Chekov in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot.

Celebrating my fourth blogiversary!

Posted on August 8, 2007

 
Four more years! Four more years!

Review: “The Bourne Ultimatum”

Posted on August 7, 2007

 
Intensity, thy name is Bourne.

Nonstop action from start to finish, The Bourne Ultimatum is better than the second one, but maybe not quite as good as the first one. That being said, Matt Damon is as solid as ever in the title role, and Ultimatum’s action sequences continue to raise the bar in terms of both realism and exhilaration. The frenetic fight scenes are, as always, truly a sight to behold. In particular, Bourne’s Ultimatum brawl with a CIA operative in Tangiers is the latest in a series of masterpieces ready to be framed and mounted in the Chuck Norris Wing of the National Museum of Ass-Kickery.

Julia Stiles has a little more to do this outing, but her character continues to feel tacked on (I can’t believe she’s still billed above the always-reliable Joan Allen). Furthermore, without treading into spoiler territory, I wasn’t all that thrilled with the film’s ending either. Nevertheless, when it comes to spy thrillers — and, for that matter, action flicks in general — Bourne is tough to beat. Definitely recommended.

The verdict: A-

Project Runway/Top Chef: Where are they now?

Posted on August 7, 2007

New York Magazine plays “Where are they now?” with former Project Runway and Top Chef standouts in The Near-Fame Experience of Being a Bravo Reality Star. Spoiler: they’re all bitter.

If This Be Doomsday!

Posted on August 6, 2007

 
I just love the casual, conversational pose the Watcher (a.k.a. tall, chubby Professor X) is striking. The Apropos Comics Archive is here.

What’s Left? Life After the Summer Blockbuster Season

Posted on August 3, 2007

Quelyn at Emo Crap recently made the case that the 2007 Movie Year is over as far as she’s concerned. No doubt we’re witnessing the last gasps of this year’s summer blockbuster season, but there are several films scheduled for release in the next few months that look promising to me. In order of release date, here’s a list of eleven flicks that I hope will make the remaining months of the 2007 Movie Year less bleak. Why eleven? ‘Cause that’s how I roll, yo.
 

Stardust: Based on a novel by Neil Gaiman (that I haven’t read), Stardust reminds me of a decidedly less wacky The Princess Bride. Or maybe Willow. Or Peter Pan. I’m not really sure, but I am sure that Pirates + Witches = Awesome. Plus, it’s good to see Claire Danes acting more. (Aug. 10)

The Invasion: Okay, this one has all the warning signs of a turkey: new scriptwriters brought in for rewrites after initial filming wrapped, last-minute re-shoots by a second director, and Nicole Kidman in a starring role. Nevertheless, this Invasion of the Body Snatchers update looks surprisingly compelling. Besides, I love the part in the trailer where the guy says to Nicole Kidman, “You can fool them. Don’t show emotion.” No problem, pal; she’s been doing that her entire acting career. (Aug. 17)

3:10 to Yuma: I always enjoy a good Western, and Christian Bale continues to impress me in just about every role he plays. Bonus: Alan Tudyk of Firefly fame plays a character named Doc Potter. As a card-carrying Browncoat, that obligates me to see the film. (Sept. 7)

Resident Evil: Extinction: I thought the first two Resident Evil films were pure popcorn fun, and, based on the trailer, I have high hopes for Extinction. Milla Jovovich has been outstanding in this series so far. In fact, she’s one of only a handful of Hollywood actresses that can believably play an ass-kicking female protagonist. (Sept. 21)

Darjeeling Limited: This is by far the biggest movie on my radar. I love Wes Anderson’s films and thought his last effort, The Life Aquatic, was brilliant despite the ambivalence of many film critics. I’m not quite sold on Adrian Brody, but I expect Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson to light up the screen. “I like your nurse’s uniform, guy.” “These are O.R. scrubs.” “Oh, are they?” (Sept. 29)

Hitman: Despite my love of the Resident Evil series, video game adaptations usually spell doom (unless you’re talking about the adaptation of the video game DOOM, in which case it just spells crap). That being said, Agent 47, the titular hitman, is such a cool character that I can’t help but get excited about the film. Oh, and casting Timothy Olyphant as 47 (replacing original star Vin Diesel) certainly doesn’t hurt. (Oct. 12)

30 Days of Night: Sam Raimi directs and Josh Hartnett stars in 30 Days of — wait a second! Josh Hartnett? This isn’t a sequel to Hartnett’s dreadful 2002 comedy 40 Days and 40 Nights, is it? Son of a…oh, this one has vampires? All right, that’s cool. Sorry, I almost lost it for a moment there. (Oct. 13)

Bee Movie: I’m not a huge fan of computer-animated films, but Jerry Seinfeld’s involvement as both writer and star is enough to make me curious. (Nov. 2)

Golden Compass: Honestly, I kept getting this film mixed up with Stardust until I came up with the following mnemonic: “A compass always points north, and the North Pole is where you’ll find heavily armored, talking polar bears.” See? It’s as simple as that. I make learning fun! (Dec. 7)

I Am Legend: Will Smith, the last survivor of a plague that wipes out the human race, fights bloodthirsty mutants in a post-apocalyptic New York. I’m guessing this isn’t a sequel to The Pursuit of Happyness. Anyway, it sounds a lot like a zombie movie, and that more or less lands it on my list automatically. Three cheers for the return of the zombie movie as a commercially viable subgenre! Hip, hip, hoo–BRAINS! Hip, hip, hoo-BRAINS! Hip, hip, hoo-BRAINS! (Dec. 14)

National Treasure: Book of Secrets: Is it wrong to say that I liked the original National Treasure way more than the film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code? Here’s hoping that Nicholas Cage can keep his Nicholas Cage-ness in check long enough to make Book of Secrets another fun treasure hunt of a film. The MacGuffin this time around is a set of eighteen pages gone missing from John Wilkes Booth’s diary. I bet those are the pages where Booth writes about his secret crush on Mary Todd Lincoln. (Dec. 21)
 

So, what upcoming movies are you looking forward to?

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