Sunday, October 5, 2008
Laura Marling - Ghosts
Another new favorite. All these British girls sound like they are from the hills, I like.
Amy MacDonald - Wish for Something More
Amy MacDonald is one of my new favorites. Her music has the right mix of country, rock and pop.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
New Sedaris
I learned in W magazine, of all places, that David Sedaris has a new book coming out on June 3 entitled, When You are Engulfed in Flames. Chipper, I know. I'm so happy. I met him at a book signing for his last book, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and he was wonderful. He sat there signing books next to the door so that he could still smoke. He actually talked to everyone as he signed. We spoke about my working in a bookstore and Harry Potter. I can't wait to read this new offering and laugh, and then think about it later and laugh again. at an inappropriate time and place.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Movies
Freaks and Geeks - I finished the series and I'm sad. It sucks that it was only one season. I know I wouldn't have appreciated it when it was on, so why couldn't more other people have, shame on you all.
Avatar: The Last Airbender - I love this animated series but their schedule is so messed up that it's easier just to rent it.
Shoot 'Em Up - Combine Clive Owen's roles in Children of Men and Sin City and you get this movie. I didn't really like it.
In Good Company - It was funny, short and "real". Overall a decent film.
City of God - Woah! An abrasive film if there ever was one. I had to take a break from it. It was very good all said.
Instant
Murder, She Wrote - I'm almost done with season 1. It's a lot of Jessica Fletcher but she's so clever. My favorite episode title is Hooray for Homicide!
Auntie Mame - the 1958 version is quite lively and entertaining. If there is one lesson to take a way it would be to LIVE!
Avatar: The Last Airbender - I love this animated series but their schedule is so messed up that it's easier just to rent it.
Shoot 'Em Up - Combine Clive Owen's roles in Children of Men and Sin City and you get this movie. I didn't really like it.
In Good Company - It was funny, short and "real". Overall a decent film.
City of God - Woah! An abrasive film if there ever was one. I had to take a break from it. It was very good all said.
Instant
Murder, She Wrote - I'm almost done with season 1. It's a lot of Jessica Fletcher but she's so clever. My favorite episode title is Hooray for Homicide!
Auntie Mame - the 1958 version is quite lively and entertaining. If there is one lesson to take a way it would be to LIVE!
Summer Style
It'll soon be summer which means swimsuits. Granted here in Florida it's almost always swimsuit weather. Here are some options for men that aren't baggy, cumbersome board shorts. Many are retro in their cut and coloring but still feel fresh and fun. Personally, I find less fabric makes swimming much easier.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Invisible Shelf
I just love this and can't wait to do it myself. It's an Invisible Shelf and it's genius. The base book serves as the shelf holding the rest up. Going to a Friends of the Library sale or yard sale would work perfectly for finding the base book. Personally, I like the books I have so I don't want to use those. I'd pick out something intellectual, scientific, and with a bright cover. Going with a book that's smart but on a topic I'm not interested in would be best so I wouldn't regret partially destroying it.
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Viewing of The Return of Jezebel James
So, I didn't watch this show when it did premiere on Fox this winter, but they still have it up in their On Demand. I only saw this because I was looking to see if I had seen last week's episode of The Simpsons. Morbid curiosity drove me to watch it because it has Amy Sherma-Palladino (creator of Gilmore Girls, which I love), Parker Posey (to me, she's wooden, but those indie people seem to love her) and Lauren Ambrose (she was good on Six Feet Under) but the show died a quick, painful death on prime time. I had to see how possibly bad the show was. I watched all three aired episodes.
Verdict:
The Bad
1. Sherman-Palladino is not suited for the traditional, three camera sitcom. It should have been single camera.
2. Parker Posey saying Coco.
3. The fast paced, pop culture referenced dialogue.
4. The changing of Posey's house to the biggest co-op in NY.
5. The show's name comes from an imaginary friend of Coco's that's turned into a book.
The Good
1. Seeing Gilmore Girl regulars.
2. The fast paced, pop culture referenced dialogue.
3. No commercials tanks to Fox On Demand.
4. I laughed a few times.
5. I can't think of it.
So, I don't think it would have become appointment viewing, but I might have caught it on Lifetime as reruns, which would have been inevitable.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Greek Tomato Tart
Yum, I haven't done a recipe in a while. This one caught my attention, it seems that anything that has tomatoes and cheese gets my attention. So, here is a greek tomato tart that looks simple and delicious.
Movies
This week started as a crazy feminist revenge binge and ended with comedy.
The Brave One - Foster goes psycho. Pretty much the whole movie.
Hard Candy - Page goes crazy. These teenagers today, I don't know what's gotten into them.
Freaks and Geeks - A long cancelled tv show that my friends rave about. I like it, I have the next dvd coming.
The Chumscrubber - Again with these kids today. Bell was good, why isn't he in more movies. The rest of the cast is full of surprises, delightful ones.
Instant:
Dilbert - I watched the full first season, at times funny and then not.
Murder, She Wrote - The first episode which apparently was a movie. I never knew that she wasn't always a writer.
The Brave One - Foster goes psycho. Pretty much the whole movie.
Hard Candy - Page goes crazy. These teenagers today, I don't know what's gotten into them.
Freaks and Geeks - A long cancelled tv show that my friends rave about. I like it, I have the next dvd coming.
The Chumscrubber - Again with these kids today. Bell was good, why isn't he in more movies. The rest of the cast is full of surprises, delightful ones.
Instant:
Dilbert - I watched the full first season, at times funny and then not.
Murder, She Wrote - The first episode which apparently was a movie. I never knew that she wasn't always a writer.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Friday Movies
A long update....
for a long absence.
God Grew Tired of Us - It was okay, it seemed like a gloss over of the refugee's experience in America. I felt for their plight. They were Sudanese lost boys.
Brokeback Mountain - I rented this one right after Heath's death, which made it all the more heart breaking.
O Fantasma - Oh boy, quite interesting. A case study on the decent into madness or whatever running around a garbage dump in a latex suit qualifies as.
Far From Heaven - Very beautifully shot and Moore is amazing. It's frustrating to see people's "open-minded" responses to racism but it was so true.
Babel - This quite the integrated story and it was well done but I wouldn't watch it again even though it has Garcia and Blanchett in it.
Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix - I enjoyed it. I read the book a while ago, so I'm not sure what was left out because it covered most of what I could remember.
The Science of Sleep - It was different but a little further out there that I wanted to go. But Garcia was great.
Cars - I finally watched this Pixar gem and really liked it. It was much better than I thought it would be and there is a sequel on the way.
Inside Man - This one was quite good. Foster, Owen, Washington, and Captain Von Trapp team up for a fun suspense flick. I'd watch it again.
Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Blanchett does quite well but the film over all fails to live up to its predecessor and it has Owen in it also.
Wedding Crashers - I wanted something light and funny. It didn't disappoint and it didn't try to be more than it was.
Finding Neverland - A touching film that shows our societal norms hinder creativity and imagination. Depp and Winslet shine.
Thumbsucker - ehh, it had an interesting cast but on a whole it didn't so anything for me. Swinton I love and now I've seen a few films with the lead, Lou Taylor Pucci.
Blades of Glory - I got this one solely for Amy Poehler and Will Arnett, the married couple playing brother and sister. the rest of it was quite ehh, a few funny moments.
Breakfast on Pluto - It's okay. Murphy knows how to be fem, that's for sure. But they tended to mumble and I didn't quite follow the whole thing.
Jesus Camp - Scary, scary, scary. Basically how evangelicals breakdown kids and rebuild them to do their political/religious work.
I Could Never Be Your Woman - Sadly this was not Clueless in a mid-life crisis. It wasn't awful and Rudd and Pfeiffer do well in it. But it is lacking something.
Fast Food Nation - It's Sinclair's The Jungle for the modern age. It doesn't add anything that wasn't there a 100 years ago but it does have a pretty surprising ensemble cast.
Mysterious Skin - Gordon-Levitt has been picking some provocative roles and this one's out there. It's a strong story of a child's way of dealing with abuse. It's intense.
The Bourne Ultimatum - Another solid offering in the Bourne saga. Good fast paced action, but you have to pay attention unless all you want are chases.
Winter Passing - Daschanel is the only child of eccentric writers going back home to make some money off the remaining one. Ferrel in not his usual role which is a bonus. Over all could have been funnier, more emotional, darker, something stronger.
Spartan - Veronica Mars is in this one, only reason to rent it, but she isn't in it until the end. Otherwise it's just pseudo political thriller starring Kilmer. meh.
Enchanted - Yay! I really enjoyed it. I have been a Disney animation fan forever. This film has so many references that if I drank I would make it a game every time I spotted one.
Burnt Money - The fictionalized account of the last month of two bank robbers from Argentina that go out in a blaze of gunfire, drugs and lust/love. The film ends powerfully and it stuck with me for a long time.
Zodiac - A murderer is on the loose and he loves the media but no one ever catches him. That is until one cartoonist catches obsession fever. It's a bit long, but well acted and overall done.
Across The Universe - Oh Magic. It's like a long music video with a very loose plot based on a decade starring The Beatles songs. Beautiful and lovely voices and pretty pictures.
Wristcutters: A Love Story - I posted about this movie a few months back. It's not as good as it could be but enjoyable nonetheless. Plus, GOB is in it!
Now, Netflix also has an instant viewing feature which I have taken advantage of and those films are the following:
I'm Reed Fish - Quirky little film about the director making a film about his life in the movie butthe movie's about his life. There are three layers here, it kills time nicely.
Chalk - I mocumentary about high school teachers that I couldn't even finish.
The Great Happiness Space - A documentary about Japanese guys that's job is to make women happy and separate them from their hard earned money. I didn't finish this one either.
The Motorcycle Diaries - Interesting look at the beginning's of Che's life. But there are issues with showing his idealistic start without continuing to show the after mass of his ways.
The Ten - I wish it were funnier. There were a lot of cool people in it.
A bunch of Miss Marple Mysteries - I love Agatha Christie.
for a long absence.
God Grew Tired of Us - It was okay, it seemed like a gloss over of the refugee's experience in America. I felt for their plight. They were Sudanese lost boys.
Brokeback Mountain - I rented this one right after Heath's death, which made it all the more heart breaking.
O Fantasma - Oh boy, quite interesting. A case study on the decent into madness or whatever running around a garbage dump in a latex suit qualifies as.
Far From Heaven - Very beautifully shot and Moore is amazing. It's frustrating to see people's "open-minded" responses to racism but it was so true.
Babel - This quite the integrated story and it was well done but I wouldn't watch it again even though it has Garcia and Blanchett in it.
Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix - I enjoyed it. I read the book a while ago, so I'm not sure what was left out because it covered most of what I could remember.
The Science of Sleep - It was different but a little further out there that I wanted to go. But Garcia was great.
Cars - I finally watched this Pixar gem and really liked it. It was much better than I thought it would be and there is a sequel on the way.
Inside Man - This one was quite good. Foster, Owen, Washington, and Captain Von Trapp team up for a fun suspense flick. I'd watch it again.
Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Blanchett does quite well but the film over all fails to live up to its predecessor and it has Owen in it also.
Wedding Crashers - I wanted something light and funny. It didn't disappoint and it didn't try to be more than it was.
Finding Neverland - A touching film that shows our societal norms hinder creativity and imagination. Depp and Winslet shine.
Thumbsucker - ehh, it had an interesting cast but on a whole it didn't so anything for me. Swinton I love and now I've seen a few films with the lead, Lou Taylor Pucci.
Blades of Glory - I got this one solely for Amy Poehler and Will Arnett, the married couple playing brother and sister. the rest of it was quite ehh, a few funny moments.
Breakfast on Pluto - It's okay. Murphy knows how to be fem, that's for sure. But they tended to mumble and I didn't quite follow the whole thing.
Jesus Camp - Scary, scary, scary. Basically how evangelicals breakdown kids and rebuild them to do their political/religious work.
I Could Never Be Your Woman - Sadly this was not Clueless in a mid-life crisis. It wasn't awful and Rudd and Pfeiffer do well in it. But it is lacking something.
Fast Food Nation - It's Sinclair's The Jungle for the modern age. It doesn't add anything that wasn't there a 100 years ago but it does have a pretty surprising ensemble cast.
Mysterious Skin - Gordon-Levitt has been picking some provocative roles and this one's out there. It's a strong story of a child's way of dealing with abuse. It's intense.
The Bourne Ultimatum - Another solid offering in the Bourne saga. Good fast paced action, but you have to pay attention unless all you want are chases.
Winter Passing - Daschanel is the only child of eccentric writers going back home to make some money off the remaining one. Ferrel in not his usual role which is a bonus. Over all could have been funnier, more emotional, darker, something stronger.
Spartan - Veronica Mars is in this one, only reason to rent it, but she isn't in it until the end. Otherwise it's just pseudo political thriller starring Kilmer. meh.
Enchanted - Yay! I really enjoyed it. I have been a Disney animation fan forever. This film has so many references that if I drank I would make it a game every time I spotted one.
Burnt Money - The fictionalized account of the last month of two bank robbers from Argentina that go out in a blaze of gunfire, drugs and lust/love. The film ends powerfully and it stuck with me for a long time.
Zodiac - A murderer is on the loose and he loves the media but no one ever catches him. That is until one cartoonist catches obsession fever. It's a bit long, but well acted and overall done.
Across The Universe - Oh Magic. It's like a long music video with a very loose plot based on a decade starring The Beatles songs. Beautiful and lovely voices and pretty pictures.
Wristcutters: A Love Story - I posted about this movie a few months back. It's not as good as it could be but enjoyable nonetheless. Plus, GOB is in it!
Now, Netflix also has an instant viewing feature which I have taken advantage of and those films are the following:
I'm Reed Fish - Quirky little film about the director making a film about his life in the movie butthe movie's about his life. There are three layers here, it kills time nicely.
Chalk - I mocumentary about high school teachers that I couldn't even finish.
The Great Happiness Space - A documentary about Japanese guys that's job is to make women happy and separate them from their hard earned money. I didn't finish this one either.
The Motorcycle Diaries - Interesting look at the beginning's of Che's life. But there are issues with showing his idealistic start without continuing to show the after mass of his ways.
The Ten - I wish it were funnier. There were a lot of cool people in it.
A bunch of Miss Marple Mysteries - I love Agatha Christie.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
McBoing Boing
This is a fun and visually interesting cartoon with a story by Dr. Seuss and it even won an Oscar. The animation is innovative and still feels fresh, it makes today's cartoons look lazy. Enjoy.
Razorlight - In The Morning
Apparently I already know half their album because it is played at work but I came across this song and enjoyed it.
Monday, April 7, 2008
The Simpsons
Last night's episode has to be one of my favorites in recent memory. It can be found here for a limited time. Now apparently this episode first aired back on Jan. 27 this year, but obviously I didn't catch that. It's not on the Fox website right now but maybe soon. The Bart and Lisa bring up the fact that Marge and Homer are close to forty yet always say they had Bart right out of high school yet he's only ten. So Homer and Marge tell a little story about the nineties, it has Homer going from Boys II Men to Kurt Cobain, Marge with a Rachel hair cut while they live in a Melrose Place style apartment complex. There are cameos from Weird Al and Kurt Loder. I loved their jab at the current President Bush when they proclaim there can never be a worse president than one that would lie in a deposition in a civil case, never. While it totally ruins the continuity of The Simpson's universe and fails to even stay true to the nineties timeline.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Old Navy
I was pleasantly surprised by this Old Navy ad because of it's use of a dark black model as the central character. Lately fashion is lily white, especially with all the eastern European girls. Or if there is a black girl she still has Anglo features and light skin or lightened by photoshop. It is refreshing to see a different kind of girl in such a highly visible campaign.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Movies on a Friday.
Every week, every other week, whatever.
Nanny McPhee - It was magical, if a little formulaic. I enjoyed it.
Stardust - A sprawling magical epic. Hmm magical trend. Michelle Pfeiffer and Clair Danes were good. And Robert De Niro was fun and light.
I Know Who Killed Me - Um, Lohan, seriously? Was it a different script you read because this is crap. Plot holes the size of her leggings obsession. I'll chalk this one up to drug fueled choices.
God Grew Tired of Us - Documentary about the lost boys of Sudan. straight forward and not very insightful. Basic fish out of water in America and tragic back ground.
Nanny McPhee - It was magical, if a little formulaic. I enjoyed it.
Stardust - A sprawling magical epic. Hmm magical trend. Michelle Pfeiffer and Clair Danes were good. And Robert De Niro was fun and light.
I Know Who Killed Me - Um, Lohan, seriously? Was it a different script you read because this is crap. Plot holes the size of her leggings obsession. I'll chalk this one up to drug fueled choices.
God Grew Tired of Us - Documentary about the lost boys of Sudan. straight forward and not very insightful. Basic fish out of water in America and tragic back ground.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Pasta.
So, the other night we made a recipe from a very delicious looking recipe book. It was a linguini with anchovies, tomatoes, and black olives. We left out the anchovies and that may have been the down fall because it had little flavor when we actually ate it. We, also, accidentally dumped all the linguini on the floor. We improvised and used other long, skinny pastas. It needed a stronger flavor and a bit of a kick. Pictures coming soon, I swear.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tea Party Madness.
I attended a Tea Party in celebration of a friend's birthday this Sunday. I helped with some of the planning and preparations. I did the invitations with watercolor on the inside and the envolopes. We're quite tempted to start our own tea party company. We made an assortment of finger sandwiches for our edibles. Many of them had watercrest in them, which is not to be confused with water chestnuts (which are awful). I made brownies and these very delicious little open faced sandwiches. They had chicken, tomatoes, feta cheese, and black olives on top of a toasted slice of french bread. We had three teas, white, oolong, and a rose tea which was my favorite. It had a bit of a spice and was very warm. It all went very well and was quite yummy.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Thai Sprig Rolls
Last night we made Thai Spring Rolls from a recipe that I found on the Food Network site. We didn't quite follow it to the T, we didn't measure anything and we didn't have fennel. It came out pretty good, anyway. They had their own flavor due to the ginger, cilantro and mint. I would make the eggplant a larger presence if I were to do again. I'm recommending this to try. Pictures to come.
Britney Spears - Piece Of Me
Britney Spears - Piece Of Me. Okay, so she may be a hot mess and I'm pulling for her, but the girl can still make some damn catchy music.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Nice Bunny
I found this site, Nice Bunny, that has these really fun paper dolls/toys(?). I'm not quite sure they are technically but they are cool. They offer several designs to download and construct. I chose the green squidish octopus monster and it came out really well. I want to make some more and have a little army of them set up around me.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Movies this Week
Some catching up to do since I missed the holiday weeks.
Monster House - Interesting animation. It was done with the motion capture technology. I guess I understood the plot but it was odd.
Superbad - I really enjoyed this flick. It was a funny misadventure comedy. I would recommend it.
Disturbia - Much better than I expected. Sitting a foot from the screen in the dark with head phones made it even better.
The Aviator - Interesting study of a meltdown. I love Cate Blanchett.
The Simpsons Movie - It was enjoyable and didn't feel like they were trying to stretch out a half hour episode.
Waitres - Kari Russell was really good. The true story lies with what happened after shooting finished.
Locked Up - Not so good. An obviously British man trying to pass himself off as American was just one low point.
Futurama the Movie: Bender's Big Score - Not as good as The Simpsons Movie. It had a slightly expected plot twist that fits in with the theme of the show.
X2: X-Men United - I forgot that I had already seen this movie. I was still pretty good except I have serious issues with how the women are depicted verses the comics.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Long. Plus there was challenge after challenge and some plot/continuity issues. Depp was god as usual.
Notes on a Scandal - Both Dench and Blanchett were sublime. Very delicate telling of an obsesion.
28 Weeks Later - A retread of the original which was much better. I still don't understand why they would try to repopulate so soon after.
Monster House - Interesting animation. It was done with the motion capture technology. I guess I understood the plot but it was odd.
Superbad - I really enjoyed this flick. It was a funny misadventure comedy. I would recommend it.
Disturbia - Much better than I expected. Sitting a foot from the screen in the dark with head phones made it even better.
The Aviator - Interesting study of a meltdown. I love Cate Blanchett.
The Simpsons Movie - It was enjoyable and didn't feel like they were trying to stretch out a half hour episode.
Waitres - Kari Russell was really good. The true story lies with what happened after shooting finished.
Locked Up - Not so good. An obviously British man trying to pass himself off as American was just one low point.
Futurama the Movie: Bender's Big Score - Not as good as The Simpsons Movie. It had a slightly expected plot twist that fits in with the theme of the show.
X2: X-Men United - I forgot that I had already seen this movie. I was still pretty good except I have serious issues with how the women are depicted verses the comics.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Long. Plus there was challenge after challenge and some plot/continuity issues. Depp was god as usual.
Notes on a Scandal - Both Dench and Blanchett were sublime. Very delicate telling of an obsesion.
28 Weeks Later - A retread of the original which was much better. I still don't understand why they would try to repopulate so soon after.
Franz Ferdinand - Michael
Franz Ferdinand - Michael. Such a gville song. More than the memory, it's the attitude.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I Like You.
This Christmas I finally got I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris. I now regret buying it sooner. It is amazing and hilarious. I want to through all sorts of parties and be a regular salon host. The content ranges from very useful to absurd, but the absurd stuff is laugh out loud funny. I want to make the painters palette with the cupcakes as paint colors. And I am totally starting a party diary. In conclusion, buy the book. Oh and go to her website. Great.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Uggh. Why again?
I know I bitched about this before but Kate Hudson has appeared on the cover of another top fashion magazine, namely Vogue. Why this is is beyond me. She's a pretty girl but past that there's not much there. She's out promoting another rom-com of sorts with Matthew McConaughey so at least she has a reason to be on a cover unlike her earlier turn on Bazaar.
In great editorial news, Dazed and Confused has a Gem inspired shoot starring Bridget Hall. (via Fashionista.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Um, 2008.
It's a new year and with the new year comes all sorts of promises and goals. I can through out mine to the universe and maybe get some traction going.
Well, first off is to work on my life list of sorts. I've posted about it before but now I think this is a good a time as any to start working in earnest to achieve some of them. Also, I would like to travel more. And get my other site off the ground. Personally, I want to eat healthier and with more variety. And these are all possible. There are more floating around my head I am sure but this is a good start. See you out there.
Well, first off is to work on my life list of sorts. I've posted about it before but now I think this is a good a time as any to start working in earnest to achieve some of them. Also, I would like to travel more. And get my other site off the ground. Personally, I want to eat healthier and with more variety. And these are all possible. There are more floating around my head I am sure but this is a good start. See you out there.
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