Over break I watched a lot of Sober House with Dr. Drew (because I could) and watching him dealing with addiction seems a lot like a highly abusive relationship (partially because it is).
Especially in the realm of seeking help. The guy from that band who sang "Butterfly" kept using the phrase "So you're really giving up on me?"when talking to Dr. Drew.
and the response that validated the thought was “Well, this is the LAST time…”
Also I discovered the fine art of quilting.
Tight jeans and a v-neck in Illwaco, Washington usually go together like house plants and a can of raviolis, but I persevered.
I’ll explain:
Over the break I went to a quilt show with my family. It was mostly for my mother who digs the stitch. As I was walking around it was like trying to understand art before when my favorite artist was Norman Rockwell (he still is technically, but then again my favorite movie is still Ferris Beuller’s Day Off). Anyways after trying to intensely stare at this large compilation of fabrics I gave up and asked my mom the appeal and art of quilting.
To my surprise I was quite enlightened. Much like all other mediums there’s a lot of different techniques, with stitching, with pattern layouts, with whether they use a machine, the types of batting, etc.
So cut to me staring at quilts in a Elk’s Lodge type of building (with an eye for what I’m looking for) and taking a true appreciation for the art side by side with a majority of women over 60.
Also, there’s something to be said about the lack of snobbery. I would like one day to see a record store or an art museum curated strictly by 60-year-old women (negating their taste, but simply their approachability.)
Now I’ve just created a mental image of old ladies sitting outside of the fine arts building smoking cigarettes and wearing ironic sunglasses.
Also I tried to baptize myself in the Pacific Ocean, and it was highly unsuccessful.
(more to come as I remember)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Delilaaaaaaaaaah
Months back I was working a very very very very very very very long shift
Four hours patrolling on foot followed by another eight driving around campus.
This shift also started at 8pm.
A lot of weird shit congeals into thought when you watch the sun come up after being fatigued.
This was back during the holiday season, so the main things on the radio were npr holiday pieces and a straight sets of music on the local channels.
But before the shift to daylight there became one thing I haven’t heard in years: Delilah.
Years back my sister and I use to listen to this woman on the local soft rock station during the holiday season. Delilah was on all of the time, but during the November/December programming, she was forced (?) to play holiday hits.
A couple years ago, to our discontent, we discovered that apparently John Tesh took over, and Delilah was rendered useless to lull the masses to sleep with contemporary Sheryl Crow songs.
(Part of my despise with terrestrial radio comes with a large knowledge of its demographical appeasements)
ANYWAYS here I am barely awake operating a motor vehicle and all of the sudden I hear the familiar jingle of a bygone era “Deeeeeee-liiiiiiiiiiii-laaaaaaaaaaaah”.
Oh the familiar nostalgia! Delilah, you sultry woman with your love for the same Bing Crosby/David Bowie duet being repeated too many a time! How I missed you so!
I hear that same tone of voice I heard a long time ago announcing songs and reading off fan emails about uplifting stories of struggle overcome.
Well, apparently shit is different.
Now the problem is not change in format, but rather it has to do with clarification of her anonymity. Delilah is not who I think she was.
First off, I had no idea Delilah was a single mother with a troubled past husband. This doesn’t bother me. Rather I feel this demonstrates strength.
She tells many stories of her children (who it seems haven’t aged since the last time I heard her) and has quite a few children call in talking about what they want from Santa.
Her familiar nature seems the same until it take a total left turn.
What I didn’t realize about Delilah is that she is a raging Christian. Not like “I have my beliefs although they will not affect the literal way I frame my show”. It’s more like the opposite of that.
And every caller over the age of 18 is in a heterosexual relationship. I question either her call screening or her orientation of the show.
For about 15 minutes I seriously considered calling into the call screener as a straight man missing my girlfriend during work, and then when the switch to the actual Delilah came I would throw my best fake story in about how my boyfriend is in Seattle and how I miss him for the beginning of Hanukah… just to see if she actually knew how to handle the situation.
Now back to the Christian thing. She did this thing where she had the “subtle” tone in her voice that you’re going to burn in hell if you didn’t believe in Jesus as your personal savior.
She had one listener sent an email to her saying the following the story.
This woman is listening to Delilah after getting of the late shift of her place of business (I swear to god [ha!] every revelation story starts off this way) driving down this random highway thinking about her adherence to Agnosticism when she hears (wait for it, wait for it) a Faith Hill song about Jesus and Christmas. Suddenly as this song comes on she notices a farm coming up in her peripheral vision. As she approaches this farm on the highway she sees on the barn is an illuminated cross made out of Christmas lights. And this woman suddenly feels that something “higher up” has called to her with this faith, saying something like “well… I don’t know, I’m not positive but I think someone was speaking to me.
And then Delilah goes “Well, there’s something to think about.”
Then a really really old Christmas song.
Fuck you, Delilah.
Ok first thing:
I now know why Portland, Oregon no longer chooses Delilah for quality soft rock hits to lull you to sleep.
Second, when did Christmas become such an aggressively Christian celebration? Or has it?
I remember as a younger person I use to get very angry about news stories reporting a Christmas tree being taken down for freedom of religion reasons.
To a certain extent, I still do, but for different reasons. Christmas to me means nothing about accepting a personal savior or celebrating a new born king.
Christmas mean the following:
Hedonism
Guilt because of hedonism
Overcoming hedonism via giving
Satisfaction of overcoming hedonism
Drinking too much whiskey, watching It’s a Wonderful Life, and then passing out in your old bedroom.
Now, where has Christmas gone wrong?
Agenda.
Atheism is a growing trend in our society (not that I really adhere to much of anything these days). Make Chirstmas cool. Or rather, change the agenda. Make strictly a “home for the holidays/give to the needy” vibe.
Because as I sat there in that Dodge Colorado with little to do I realized that we hear so many Christmas classics because the new shit is much like the Republican Party, overly Christianized. Bring it back to its roots (and here I’m picturing something slightly Mad Men-esque). Everyone dresses in a shirt, gets church out of their system the night before, tosses a highball, and socializes while stuffing their craws with excessive amounts of starches. None of this really takes place.
I mean, Christmas as an adult never equates lots of fun with family. Rather the holiday entices a little bit of aggravation more than anything.
But at least we could try and sell it back to the gold standard (ok I promise this is the last political analogy). The music was catchier, less morale compass, and usually involved alcohol. Except “Santa Baby”. Holy god is that song awful.
So boil down Christmas: Alcohol, Family, Hedonism.
Religious undertones are killing Christmas music.
Four hours patrolling on foot followed by another eight driving around campus.
This shift also started at 8pm.
A lot of weird shit congeals into thought when you watch the sun come up after being fatigued.
This was back during the holiday season, so the main things on the radio were npr holiday pieces and a straight sets of music on the local channels.
But before the shift to daylight there became one thing I haven’t heard in years: Delilah.
Years back my sister and I use to listen to this woman on the local soft rock station during the holiday season. Delilah was on all of the time, but during the November/December programming, she was forced (?) to play holiday hits.
A couple years ago, to our discontent, we discovered that apparently John Tesh took over, and Delilah was rendered useless to lull the masses to sleep with contemporary Sheryl Crow songs.
(Part of my despise with terrestrial radio comes with a large knowledge of its demographical appeasements)
ANYWAYS here I am barely awake operating a motor vehicle and all of the sudden I hear the familiar jingle of a bygone era “Deeeeeee-liiiiiiiiiiii-laaaaaaaaaaaah”.
Oh the familiar nostalgia! Delilah, you sultry woman with your love for the same Bing Crosby/David Bowie duet being repeated too many a time! How I missed you so!
I hear that same tone of voice I heard a long time ago announcing songs and reading off fan emails about uplifting stories of struggle overcome.
Well, apparently shit is different.
Now the problem is not change in format, but rather it has to do with clarification of her anonymity. Delilah is not who I think she was.
First off, I had no idea Delilah was a single mother with a troubled past husband. This doesn’t bother me. Rather I feel this demonstrates strength.
She tells many stories of her children (who it seems haven’t aged since the last time I heard her) and has quite a few children call in talking about what they want from Santa.
Her familiar nature seems the same until it take a total left turn.
What I didn’t realize about Delilah is that she is a raging Christian. Not like “I have my beliefs although they will not affect the literal way I frame my show”. It’s more like the opposite of that.
And every caller over the age of 18 is in a heterosexual relationship. I question either her call screening or her orientation of the show.
For about 15 minutes I seriously considered calling into the call screener as a straight man missing my girlfriend during work, and then when the switch to the actual Delilah came I would throw my best fake story in about how my boyfriend is in Seattle and how I miss him for the beginning of Hanukah… just to see if she actually knew how to handle the situation.
Now back to the Christian thing. She did this thing where she had the “subtle” tone in her voice that you’re going to burn in hell if you didn’t believe in Jesus as your personal savior.
She had one listener sent an email to her saying the following the story.
This woman is listening to Delilah after getting of the late shift of her place of business (I swear to god [ha!] every revelation story starts off this way) driving down this random highway thinking about her adherence to Agnosticism when she hears (wait for it, wait for it) a Faith Hill song about Jesus and Christmas. Suddenly as this song comes on she notices a farm coming up in her peripheral vision. As she approaches this farm on the highway she sees on the barn is an illuminated cross made out of Christmas lights. And this woman suddenly feels that something “higher up” has called to her with this faith, saying something like “well… I don’t know, I’m not positive but I think someone was speaking to me.
And then Delilah goes “Well, there’s something to think about.”
Then a really really old Christmas song.
Fuck you, Delilah.
Ok first thing:
I now know why Portland, Oregon no longer chooses Delilah for quality soft rock hits to lull you to sleep.
Second, when did Christmas become such an aggressively Christian celebration? Or has it?
I remember as a younger person I use to get very angry about news stories reporting a Christmas tree being taken down for freedom of religion reasons.
To a certain extent, I still do, but for different reasons. Christmas to me means nothing about accepting a personal savior or celebrating a new born king.
Christmas mean the following:
Hedonism
Guilt because of hedonism
Overcoming hedonism via giving
Satisfaction of overcoming hedonism
Drinking too much whiskey, watching It’s a Wonderful Life, and then passing out in your old bedroom.
Now, where has Christmas gone wrong?
Agenda.
Atheism is a growing trend in our society (not that I really adhere to much of anything these days). Make Chirstmas cool. Or rather, change the agenda. Make strictly a “home for the holidays/give to the needy” vibe.
Because as I sat there in that Dodge Colorado with little to do I realized that we hear so many Christmas classics because the new shit is much like the Republican Party, overly Christianized. Bring it back to its roots (and here I’m picturing something slightly Mad Men-esque). Everyone dresses in a shirt, gets church out of their system the night before, tosses a highball, and socializes while stuffing their craws with excessive amounts of starches. None of this really takes place.
I mean, Christmas as an adult never equates lots of fun with family. Rather the holiday entices a little bit of aggravation more than anything.
But at least we could try and sell it back to the gold standard (ok I promise this is the last political analogy). The music was catchier, less morale compass, and usually involved alcohol. Except “Santa Baby”. Holy god is that song awful.
So boil down Christmas: Alcohol, Family, Hedonism.
Religious undertones are killing Christmas music.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
New She & Him Music Video
She & Him "In The Sun"
First off, this validates more the excitement I have for the new album. However, I also recognize that it's easy as fuck to make catchy pop... and seeing as they did it before I have a lot of confidence in them this time as well.
Second off, I really want to hate on Zooey Deschanel, but my best efforts seem to be rendered useless.
Finally, when did M. Ward start looking like Robert Downey Jr.?
Monday, March 8, 2010
Movies.
Starting off from youngest to oldest:
First off, Toy Story 3.
Nothing excites me more than raising my middle finger to children with the "back in my day" mentality. All these little Wall-E and Finding Nemo Disney kids have no idea what to expect when millions of young adults and college students invade their territory and drop some serious knowledge on them.
Tron Legacy. This brings out like no other my nerd side. I love Jeff Bridges (so topical!), and I'm glad to see him come back as the crazy, (most likely) stoned bastard he is to reprise the best remake this year. Nothing says you're slightly original by making a movie that ADDS to the first movie by having it be shinier.
Iron Man 2. I have never even seen the first one, but:
A. I love Robert Downey Jr.
B. I love Mickey Rourke looking very Mickey Rourke-esque.
C. What the fuck happened to Don Cheadle?
Robin Hood. Now what bothers me about this (and consequently intrigues me) is that the original concept for this movie was called "Nottingham". Crowe was suppose to play the Sheriff of Nottingham and the villain was Robin Hood. I'm not sure how that wouldn't have worked better but I'm interested to see how a slightly bloated Australian is going to play the hero was known to be nimble as a fox.
Finally Inception. Years ago a friend introduced me to Momento, and at the time I discredited. I look back now and realize that Christopher Nolan is truly the most original big budget man in Hollywood. To this moment now, I still have no fucking clue what this movie is about, but I'm faithful enough to believe that whatever this is, it will be fantastic.
Sorry about the wait, folks. Can I get you started with something to drink?
My sincerest apologies. I think a major part of owning a blog would be specifically... blogging.
The joy that not having to cite sources and check facts is one that has escaped me temporarily
...and by "temporarily" I mean "for two months".
Anyways as soon as I finish this paper about Merle Haggard's correlation with texts cited from Kent Ono and John Sloop's definition of vernacular discourse, I PROMISE to get back on the wagon.
I've been out for a while getting distracted grading papers and writing my own, but that is no excuse.
...and that also doesn't mean I've lost my ability to write in ways that masturbate my brain (i.e. critical thinking skills).
Some topics I'll be discussing very VERY soon are:
-I need to post some hedonistic trailers that make me feel like a 14-year-old (first and foremost). This one might turn into more.
-"The Unsolicited Defense of Sarah Palin's Handjob"
-"Deeeeeliiiiilaaaahh: The Forgotten Post"
-"A Response To Something I Wrote A Long Time Ago or 'Country Music: The Sequel'"
-"The Glorious Age of Debauchery"
-"Libertarian Thought vs. The Tea Party: A Slightly Critical Analysis"
I'll be good. I promise.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Oscar Thoughts
It's hard for me to rationalize Sandra Bullock winning anything, especially for a storyline that is soooooo fucked out and tacky. This is like Crash for soccer moms.
I've seen better pixar movies than Up. Wall-E blew my socks off. Up just blew me... wait.
< 
A Serious Man was a great movie, no doubt behind that statement, but there was so much deserving besides that movie. The acting was great, the subtlety fantastic, the loose parable very enjoyable. Come on, Coen Brothers. We know you are awesome, but pass the baton to Bigelow and Tarantino.
I still really need to see A Single Man. I'm surprised Tom Ford can make one movie can make it this far in a year. Serious props.
Speaking of which, what the fuck is with movies being made with stories of men in the 1960s and having similar plots and titles? ... AND GETTING OSCAR NOMINATIONS
Seriously though, I'm surprised Tom Ford gets an oscar nod this quickly.
Up In The Air- I think Jason Reitman could use a little more range, but at the same he is really climbing his own mountain. Clooney I think gave the best performance this year, and both supporting actresses really nailed there roles (hence, both of them getting nominations as well)
The Hurt Locker- The "ferociously suspenseful" is an understatement. I watched this because I was bored, and I finished it with my eyes wide open. Jeremy Renner (who got nominated) was a great lead, and with the editing, it was perfect and (pardon the cliche) completely nail-biting.
District 9- Best storyline. I was surprised the main character didn't get nominated because he hit the entire range from goofy and neurotic to frightened badass in the span of 2 hours. The palette cleanser of sci-fi movie.
Also:
AVATAR WAS NOT WORTHY OF AN OSCAR. Avatar was overly priced and the dialogue was absolutely awful. AWFUL.
< 
AND THIS ONE GETS THE FUCKING OSCAR NOD?!
A Serious Man was a great movie, no doubt behind that statement, but there was so much deserving besides that movie. The acting was great, the subtlety fantastic, the loose parable very enjoyable. Come on, Coen Brothers. We know you are awesome, but pass the baton to Bigelow and Tarantino.
I still really need to see A Single Man. I'm surprised Tom Ford can make one movie can make it this far in a year. Serious props.
Speaking of which, what the fuck is with movies being made with stories of men in the 1960s and having similar plots and titles? ... AND GETTING OSCAR NOMINATIONS
Seriously though, I'm surprised Tom Ford gets an oscar nod this quickly.
But if anyone saw Hunger last year, my god, how did it not get anything?! It was twice the movie any of these nominations are!
Clint Eastwood is a seriously overrated filmmaker (I'm referring to Invictus). Not actor-wise, but I've seen two of his "better movies" that he directed and they were borderline awful and tacky. Fuck Invictus, I'm done with your positive messages of hope movies, you are awful at all caveats.
Going back to motivational movies, as far as I'm concerned, all sports oriented postive message movies with little subtlety should have stopped production after Rudy. No oscars! Ever!
My nomination for best picture this year: Rudy
(start the campaign now)
Movies that deserve everything they get:
Inglourious Basterds - What was best about this was how much of a message Tarantino had about his own career and Hollywood. Half of the movie was gratuitous violence, and the other half was amazing dialogue.
Inglourious Basterds - What was best about this was how much of a message Tarantino had about his own career and Hollywood. Half of the movie was gratuitous violence, and the other half was amazing dialogue.
Up In The Air- I think Jason Reitman could use a little more range, but at the same he is really climbing his own mountain. Clooney I think gave the best performance this year, and both supporting actresses really nailed there roles (hence, both of them getting nominations as well)
In The Loop- (not only was this the funniest movie of last year, but the most overlooked. I really hope it get the best adapted screenplay).
The Hurt Locker- The "ferociously suspenseful" is an understatement. I watched this because I was bored, and I finished it with my eyes wide open. Jeremy Renner (who got nominated) was a great lead, and with the editing, it was perfect and (pardon the cliche) completely nail-biting.
District 9- Best storyline. I was surprised the main character didn't get nominated because he hit the entire range from goofy and neurotic to frightened badass in the span of 2 hours. The palette cleanser of sci-fi movie.
The Fantastic Mr. Fox- (also really funny, also better than Up. Bill Murray as a badger lawyer>floating house) I am not cussing you.
Also:
AVATAR WAS NOT WORTHY OF AN OSCAR. Avatar was overly priced and the dialogue was absolutely awful. AWFUL.
Okay, not totally awful. Overrated. The visuals, stunning. But there is no way that visuals cover bad dialogue and a played out storyline. $11 for a ticket and fucking goggles? No. NO.
Shitty editing, predicable story and too fucking long.
It also doesn't help that there's a whole blue people fetish going now. Thanks, James Cameron.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
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