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Emmy the Great's New Album

2010-07-28T05:25:00.001-07:00

Emmy the Great with Jeremy Warmesley

A most wonderful thing is presently in the making. That thing, is singer-songstress Emmy the Great's (previously written about here and here) new album. A more interesting thing (well, maybe not more interesting, but quite interesting) is how the album is being funded. Anyone wanting to help create the album can pledge an amount of money ranging from £8 to £500. Of course, it isn't that simple, she isn't simply asking for cash. In exchange for your pledge, you receive something in return for £10, you could get a postcard from every town on the tour (I really wanted this, but they were all gone before I pledged), £20 gets you a limited edition artwork poster or a signed CD and your name in the credits (all gone). If you have a bit more cash to splash, £100 gets you a songwriting workshop and £500 gets you a gig in your living room. At such times I wish I had more cash to splash. I decided on a signed album, pledgers only gig and poster totalling £60.

More information is available here. If you want to pledge, hurry, things are going quickly.

[Insert Buddy Holly Lyric Here]

2010-05-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

A quick post. This post has one objective really, to expose people to a little bit of Peggy Sue. I'm currently unable to go to sleep due to some form of inability to turn of my music and go to bed, presently Lazarus by Peggy Sue is gracing my ears. So, from me (but more accurately Peggy Sue and BrilliantlyDifferent on Soundcloud), to you, a splendiferous body of work by Peggy Sue.

Peggy Sue: A Body Of Work by brilliantlydifferent

You know who puts on a great live performance; Peggy Sue. Below are a series of pictures taken from Peggy Sue's gig at the Garage.

Yes, there was a person with a winter hat standing directly in front of me.

The Digital World of Free Music

2010-05-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

For years, people (namely record companies) have complained about the way in which technology has been “destroying” the music industry. This is not a new phenomena arising as a result of the Internet. Remember cassettes? At one point it was believed that people would stop buying music as they could record it off the radio. We all know this didn't happen, people continued buying records and cassettes, the only hindrance being the advent of CDs. Now, of course, we have the Internet. In a few minutes one could torrent someone's entire discography - I bet the record companies miss worrying about cassette tapes now.

Despite my opening, this post is not on the world of music piracy, far from it, but piracy does have some relation to what I am to focus on. When one thinks of free music via the internet, piracy is what comes to mind. However, there are many free sources of music on the Internet that are perfectly legal. The decision to do this post was made quite some time ago as a result of a discussion with one Williemina.

Last.fm

Last.fm is primarily an Internet radio station. Users create their own radio station consisting of their favourite artists, albums or songs. In addition to users’ own radio stations, it is possible to listen to the radio stations of other users, artist radio stations, a combined radio station of the those with similar music tastes (the neighbourhood) or music recommend by Last.fm based on prior music tastes. In addition to being an online radio site, an event planning site and to an extent, a social networking site, Last.fm is also a source of free downloadable music. Based on the music in your library, Last.fm recommends music to the user. One is not restricted solely to Last.fm's recommendations, it is possible to search the entire free music database. Through this service, I have become privy to such artists as Laura Hocking, Monkey Swallows the Universe and You, Me and Everyone we Know.

Daytrotter

A wonderful place to discover new music or hear music from artists you already like. Each week, Daytrotter (Horseshack recording studio, I recently learnt), record a series of session with different artists. Sessions are usually from independent artists but the variety is immense. The archives consist of sessions from anti-folk stars Adam Green and Jeffrey Lewis and the Junkyard, British folk musicians Noah and the Whale and Peggy Sue, as well as such artists as Colin Hay, Juliette Lewis, Vampire Weekend, Jakob Dylan, Joseph Arthur, The Low Anthem, Martha Wainwright, Tilly & the Wall, The National, The Hold Steady, Plain White T's, Tori Amos and so many more. I took to downloading music from artist's whose names I like leading the discovery of Mr. Manhattan, Hurray for the Riff-Raff, Japandroids, The Jealous Girlfriends, Lewis & Clark, Lymbyc Systym and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

http://www.daytrotter.com/

Lauren Lavernes' MPFrees

Lauren Laverne's great, not just because she's charming, funny, a great host and a looker, but because she bestows great music upon us through 6Music and provides free music via the 6Music blog. MPFree tracks come from a variety of different free track websites such as http://rcrdlbl.com/; through getting MPFrees, you can find even more free music. MPFrees of the past have included Fool's Day by Blur and Scribble by Underworld. Additionally, Fridays MPFree EPs come with downloadable album artwork such as this:

www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/laurenlaverne

Track In The Box

It's a very simple premise, everyday, you get sent a track to your (in)box. Simply potter over to Track in the Box, join the mailing list, and you'll receive a track the next day. You can listen to the track, and depending on how much you like it, download it, or dismiss it completely. Not all tracks are downloadable, this is a tad saddening as on one occasion I spent quite some time on a quest for a wonderful acoustic version of Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs featured on the site. However, many of the tracks are, giving you such great songs as my personal favourite, When the Night Comes in by I said Yes.

http://www.trackinthebox.co.uk/

iTunes

Probably the biggest music service I shall speak of. Every week, the iTunes music store makes available a free track, selected by Apple staff. With such a selection procedure, great variety is inevitable. Over time I have been privy to what I believe to be some rather dreadful songs such as LOL by Little Jackie but I count iTunes' song of the weeks responsible for my having been exposed to some of my favourite artists such as The Hold Steady, Emmy the Great and Slow Club.

Soundcloud

This is a website I have only recently been made aware of. It was brought to my attention as it was the host site for a free download of a body of work by Peggy Sue. Through Soundcloud, artists upload music that can be easily shared with others, as their slogan says - We Move Music. Anyone can use Soundcloud for distibution, as a result of this, some of the most independent of independent music can be found. A great deal of remixes can be found on Soundcloud also.

http://www.soundcloud.com/

A Purple Vagabond

The self-titled wordpress blog of one such Purple Vagabond. Updated fairly regularly, A Purple Vagabond features a hosts of tracks and mixtapes (with a particular emphasis on hip-hop) available for download. It's a wonderful source of new music, old music and familiar music with a twist. Due to it's being the blog of one music lover, it is immediately more personal reflecting a thorough enjoyment of the music featured on the site.

http://www.apurplevagabond.wordpress.com/

White Lies, Yellow Teeth

Presently around a month old with more posts than the sum of this year and last years' for this blog, it would be no deceit to say the White Lies, Yellow Teeth appears to be a pretty consistently updated blog. Like A Purple Vagabond, it is the blog of one person who enjoys music, conversely focusing on dubstep. Honestly, I never really thought much about dubstep and to an extent, ignored its existence. However, upon reading and listening to the tracks on White Lies, Yellow Teeth, I've concluded that I can dig it.

http://www.wlyt.blogspot.com/

The Hood Internet

The Hood Internet is a Chicagoan team that create a variety of mixtapes that mix Hip-hop tracks with a variety of different rock songs. All Hood Internet mixtapes are available from their website in almost any desired format including Soundcloud. Among my favourite tracks is Passion Pit vs Juvenile - Back That Sleepyhead Up, featured below in Soundcloud.

The Hood Internet - Back That Sleepyhead Up (Passion Pit x Juvenile) by hoodinternet

http://www.thehoodinternet.com/

I just realised that the beginning I seemed to making some form of argument with seemingly no conclusion. This is not the conclusion but what I do want to briefly state is that free music often results in the purchase of music. I don't mean that piracy increases music sales, obviously this in not the case, what I do mean is that the sites I have mentioned provide a means of exposing people to music by providing free music which, as a result, sparks an interest in the music provided resulting in record sales.

Thank you for reading.

The Hippety-Hoppity Brigade

2010-05-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

Old Skool Hip-Hop

My constant references to and overt admiration of the Folk genre could possibly lead to the assumption that I listen to nothing but, the folk. Not true. It's just, the folk calls to me now. Folk aside, there is a genre that I make almost no reference to whatsoever, hip-hop. I'm a fan of hip-hop, I'm not that well versed in hip-hop, but then again I'm not particularly well versed in any genre of music, I just know what I like. So, for a change, I thought I'd aggregate some of my favourite hip-hop songs. Spotify here.

Calling the Hippety Hoppety Brigade

You Got Me - The Roots (Featuring Erykah Badu and Eve)

Electric Relaxation - A Tribe Called Quest

I Love College - Asher Roth

Before I Let You Go - Blackstreet

Tha Crossroads - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

The People - Common

Encore - Jay-Z

Uncommon Valour: A Vietnam Story - Jedi Mind Tricks

Two Words - Kanye West (Featuring Mos Def, Freeway and The Harlem Boys Choir)

Lost Ones - Lauryn Hill

Before You Walk Out My Life - Monica

Mastermind - Nas

Everyone Nose - N.E.R.D

Bring the Noise - Public Enemy

It Takes Two - Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock

My Adidas - Run-DMC

Push It - Salt-N-Pepa

Fight the Power (Pts. 1 & 2) - The Isely Brothers

The Light - Common

Rapper's Delight - The Sugarhill Gang

Creep - TLC

Keep Ya Head Up - Tupac Shakur

For a more comprehensive exploration of hip-hop and a wide selection of music to sample, potter over to A Purple Vagabond.

*100 imaginary pounds goes to whoever knows what this is a reference to

I'll Cover You

2010-05-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Emmy the Great Performing "Fight for this Love" by Cheryl Cole at Union Chapel

There are few things I enjoy more then that. I was kicking myself for not going to Union Chapel to see that splendiferous performance, and I'm sure, many more.

My revisiting of that video made me think of the wonderful world of covers, good and bad. The above, I believe, fitting into the former category. So, once again, I have created a playlist of what I believe to be jolly good covers, ingeniously titles, jolly good covers (Much effort was put into not filling this with Cat Power songs). Spotify here, YouTube here, audio below.

Jolly Good Covers aka, I'll Cover You

A Message to You Rudy - The Specials

Monkey Man - Amy Winehouse

I'm Waiting For the Man - Belle & Sebastian

Not Fade Away - The Rolling Stones

I Found a Reason - Cat Power

Just Like a Woman - Charlotte Gainsbourg and Calexico

I Can't Explain - David Bowie

River - Dianne Reeves

Sous Le Ciel de Paris - Edith Piaf

Redemption Song - Anjelique Kidjo

Barbara Allen - Frank Turner

Brain Damage - Jeffrey Lewis and Laura Marling

Mr Bojangles - Nina Simone

Redemption Song - Joe Strummer and Johnny Cash

Somebody's Baby - Phantom Planet

Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) - Postal Service

Smile - Robert Downey Jr.

Killing Me Softly - The Fugees

Ring Them Bells - Sufjan Stevens

I Don't Like Mondays - Tori Amos

Louie, Louie - Toots & the Maytals

I Spy With my Spotify

2010-05-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

Headphone porn: The stuff dreams are made of

It's been a good day, well, other than taking an exam that I didn't understand particularly well. Today, I entered the world of Spotify. Thanks to For Folks Sake, I recieved an invitation last night and from the moment I got in from my exam to this very moment, I've been on Spotify. And what a wonderful piece of software it is. To commemorate this wonderful day, I've created what I belive to be a very appropriate playlist. No approriate, necessariliy in it's content, but appropriate in its being music I'm presently enjoying on Spotify. The playlist can be accessed from Spotify here, via YouTube here, and as audio files below. Unfortunately, not all the audio files are available below as there were some I simply could not obtain. Well, enjoy.

Eyeless in England (Covered in Canopies and Grapes)

Une Année Sans Lumière - Arcade Fire
Just Like a Woman - Bob Dylan
Radar Detector - Darwin Deez
Valentino - Diane Birch
Canopies and Grapes - Emmy the Great
Cosmic Love - Florence + the Machine
Barbara Allen - Frank Turner
Wishes and Stars - Harper Simon
When the Night Comes In - I Said Yes
Northern Line - Jamie T
Eyeless in Holloway - Johnny Flynn
Again - Karima Francis
Goodbye England (Covered in Snow) - Laura Marling
The Cave - Mumford and Sons
Let Your Love Grow Tall - Passion Pit
Watchman - Peggy Sue
Human of the Year - Regina Specktor
America - Simon & Garfunkle
Does This Mean You're Moving On? - The Airborne Toxic Event
Walking - The Dodos
Killer Parties - The Hold Steady
Ticket Taker - The Low Anthem
Long Forgotten Fairy-Tale - The Magnetic Fields

Putting the OK in Folk

2010-02-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

I love Josie Long. She's just so...lovely. This post, however, is not dedicated to Miss Long, uncharacteristically, it's about music. I'm sure you didn't see that coming. I've had quite the spell of writer's block recently, I seem to have lost the ability to write anything informative or interesting so I thought I'd stick to what I know best - the things I like. The Josie Long video is there for a reason...sort of. My original intention was to do one such post on books, but there are so many books on my reading list that I may want to include at some point. I'm in the process or reading Revolutionary Road which is rather wonderful thus far. Then, thought I'd one such list of albums, but so many of the artists I like have only released a few (or none in the case of Peggy Sue), so I put that idea aside. Eventually, I decided up scrapping the whole system and writing a bit about artists I'm fond of. So...the Josie Long video...completely redundant.

Peggy Sue

I remember when I first stumbled upon Peggy Sue, it was at the iTunes festival in 2008. I hadn't heard of anyone playing, but I thought I'd go along for the sake of it. Whilst watching their set, it was like they were performing for the first time, not due to lack of experience, but the sheer excitement they expressed and the joy they took in performing. They played what became some of my favourite Peggy Sue songs, among them was a song called The Ballad of Superman, about just how hard it is to be him. They also played a wonderful song named Pupils Blink which has remained one of my favourite Peggy Sue songs. I particularly love the melodion (it comes in around 6 seconds in), you very rarely hear those nowadays. It's not uncommon for them to use random things you'd find around the house as instruments, in a set they did for Marc Riley, instruments included a ukulele case and a broken washboard.

Peggy Sue are yet to release an album, their debut, Fossils and Other Phantoms will come out later this year. This is my favourite Peggy Sue track at the moment; from their Lover Gone EP, Lover Gone.

Emmy the Great

Emmy the Great is among the artists whom I became aware of primarily through iTunes' free song of the week. I'm certain that I would have come across her music eventually, but I have to thank iTunes for being the catalyst of this particular spot of fandom. The song was First Love, from her debut album, First Love. I could describe the song, but I think it would be better to post it instead. It pleases me that I got to see her live, she did a performance at Pure Grooves last Summer, it was one of the highlight of the season. She sounds just as good live as she does recorded, maybe even better. Songs I'd have to recommend are MIA, Dylan, We Almost Had a Baby and Canopies and Grapes.

Frank Turner

Reasons Not to be an Idiot, my introduction to Frank Turner. I downloaded this on iTunes, and the next day I bought the album (strangely, in Brighton). I love every track; among my favourites are I Knew Prufrock Before he Got Famous, Long Live the Queen, and Love Ire and Song. I particularly like Love Ire and Song, whenever I listen to it I imagine a group of friends intoxicated but sober enough speak clearly jauntily dancing and singing along to it.

My personal favourite, Romantic Fatigue.

Laura Marling

I came very close to dismissing Laura Marling as someone whose music I didn't enjoy. Never would I have imagined I would get as distressed at I presently am about securing tickets to see her. The first Laura Marling song I heard was Night Terror (via iTunes), to this day, I'm still not that big a fan of it. A year or so later, a friend of mine insisted that I listen to her her album Alas, I Cannot Swim. From Ghosts, the opening track, to Dora, the final one, I was in awe. It's a near perfect album. I await her new one, coming out next month. My favourite tracks on the album are Failure, You're no God and Your Only Doll (Dora). My favourite track in general doesn't actually appear on the album, and that track is New Romantic.

It's not my favourite track but somehow it's become my most played song in iTunes. It's quite entertaining, a collaboration between Laura Marling and Jeffrey Lewis doing a cover of Brain Damage by Eminem. Enjoy.

The Perks of Being

2009-11-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

Despite my having a degree to do, I seem to have a great deal of time on my hands. This isn’t the case for many people, just people such as myself who refuse to work in the evening. As a result of this, I find myself searching the internet aimlessly and usually finding something of note. Today I stumbled upon the above Youtube video. I have no particular investment in the person in the video or The Perks of Being a Wallflower (at least, not the same extent of the gentleman in the video). What I liked about the video, is what he speaks about. He doesn’t tell you to read the book or really attempt to sell the book to the viewer at all. What he does is speak freely about something he is passionate about, something that makes him feel. This, my beautiful readers (I say beautiful because everybody deserves to be reminded of their beauty every once and a while) is what this blog post shall focus on; things that illicit any emotion whether it is wonderful, awful, painful or terrifying because, feeling anything is magnificent. In the words of Mr Stephen Fry, “knowing how to feel is more important than how you feel. Deadness of soul is the only unpardonable crime”.

When I started writing this (a whole 200 words ago), I wasn’t too sure about what I was really going to focus on. The nature of feeling? What I like? What I’m passionate about? What other people are passionate about? What makes people feel? I’m still not too sure what I’m going to focus on, what I do know is that I would love to hear responses from whoever reads this. I would love to hear what makes you feel, how it makes you feel and if possible, why (if you know). You, of course don’t have to answer all of these questions, or any at all. But if you can, thank you.

Any reader of this blog (of which there are few, I have the stats) would know that I am quite the film fan. I place high importance on films and their ability to tell stories about the human condition and affect the human condition, because of this I guess it’s no surprise that I have quite a few films in mind when it comes to writing about what makes me feel. If I haven’t clarified it properly thus far (which I’m sure I haven’t), I want to make another attempt to describe what I mean by certain things making you feel. I don’t just mean watching a sad film that makes you cry, I mean something stimulating your emotional core and your person in general, more so than most other things that you are exposed to.

The first film that comes to mind when I think about films that have had a affect on me is something I watched initially when I was very young and still watch on a fairly regular basis now. That film is Stand by Me, it is centred on a group of 12-year old boys as they go on a journey to find the body of another child. They are close friends and each character has something about them that seems to appeal to my emotional core. Geordie is the main character; his brother passed away before the film starts and it is his relationship with his parents that seems to be the most striking. His father rejects him and his mother just seems to be broken; for the most part she doesn’t even seem to be aware of his existence. Chris is Geordie’s best friend, he comes from a family that everyone looks down upon and fails to see why he should make any effort to make their perception of him any different. Chris is the catalyst for one of the most touching moments in the film, a moment of pure selflessness; he tells Geordie that he and his friends aren’t good for him and if he wants what’s best for him, he should leave them behind. Such moments as that epitomise the William Blake quote, “He who binds himself to joy does the winged life destroy, But he who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternity’s sunrise”. Next we have Teddy, his Dad was crazy (as much as I hate to use that word, it’s the only one given) and hurt Teddy during an episode. What it fascinating about this relationship is that Teddy loves his father more than anything else in the world, he speaks of how he “stormed the beach at Normandy” and defends his father when others insult him. Vern, other being the one who finds out about the dead body, probably has the smallest back-story. However, this doesn’t make him any less interesting. He is very compassionate and probably the most innocent of the group. Stand by Me ends with the phrase, “I never had any friends like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?” This is a phrase I agree with completely, that’s not to say that any friends I’ve made since pre-adolescence are in some way inferior, it’s just that friends of a certain period of time and what a friendship actually consists of at a certain time can never be replicated.

As much as I think writing about the following film will make me seem unbelievably sentimental (although an element of sentimentality was necessary for this post),I can’t help but include it in this post. The film in question is Dolls, a rarely violence-free film from Japanese director, Takeshi Kitano. IMDB states the plot quite simply, “Three stories about never-ending love”, this synopsis is perfect, no more words are necessary. I wish to focus on one story in particular. Haruna is a popstar with a huge fan base. Following an accident Haruna stays out of the limelight as she doesn’t want any of her fans to see her bandaged face. Nukui, her biggest fan sacrifices his eyesight to be in the company of his idol. I understand that this story can seem quite troubling, Nukui appears to be very obsessive and Haruna quite vain, if this was to actually occur the majority would not see it as a beautiful thing. However, in the wonderful world of Takeshi Kitano’s Dolls where everything is beautiful and love is more than an emotion but a reason for being, this story is not only acceptable but magical.

Initially this was to be a single post, but I think this is deserving of a few more, partially because I don’t want to rush this or produce one long, eventually tedious post. This is the end of part one, be sure to come back for part 2 which shall hopefully include some Susan Beir.

An interesting aside, I have 2000 word essay to do and I’ve written 500 words of that in one week, I wrote this (over 1000 words) in less than an hour.

We Can Be Heroes, For More Than One Day

2009-11-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

Will drive them away
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be us
Just for one day
-David Bowie

In 1964, a young woman named Kitty Genovese was brutally murdered outside her home in Queens, New York. A minimum of 38 neighbors heard her screams for help, but not one intervened or called the police. The murder lasted for half an hour, meaning that there was enough time for the police to arrive and for Kitty Genovese's life to be saved. The explanation used for why this occurred is that of the "diffusion of responsibility". There were so many people that could have saved her, so no-one saved her. The multitude assumed that someone else could do it so they did nothing.

Apologies for such a negative opening (post Bowie), I just wanted to highlight something we have become increasing aware of over the years, I'm not speaking about terrible events happening (although this also applies), I'm speaking about a belief that human being don't help others. We are constantly told that others need help yet many do nothing - at least this is what we are told. The diffusion of responsibility was studied by Piliavin et al (1969), they found that the diffusion of responsibility did not occur; people are willing to help each other. We are not as selfish and uncaring as it often appears.

Earlier on I sat down to watch CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. It was a presented by Anderson Cooper and was a tribute to real life heroes; people who have gone out their way to improve the lives of others. It's not often that CNN tells us about the good people out there so it was a welcoming change. There were many nominations for the title of CNN Hero but the ceremony could only honour ten; although I'm sure the other heroes are surround by people who are aware of their heroism.

Efren Peñaflorida has, for 12 years worked toward educating children living on the streets on the Phillipines. Born into a poor family, he lived in a shanty near the city dump site. But he says he refused to allow his circumstances to define his future. With his Dynamic Teen Company, he has tried to give children an alternative to joining gangs by teaching them basic numeracy and literacy using a Pushcart Classroom.
A Hero: Efren Peñaflorida
The Dynamic Teen Company

Brad Blauser "Disabled children -- they're really the forgotten ones in this war...they are often not seen in society." An estimated one in seven Iraqi children ages 2 to 14 lives with a disability, according to UNICEF. Illnesses such as Spina bifida, palsy and polio leave them unable to walk. For the past four years, the Dallas, Texas, native has been providing hope to hundreds of disabled Iraqi children and their families through the distribution of pediatric wheelchairs. Blauser arrived in Iraq as a civilian contractor in 2004, but quit that job last year to devote himself full time to his program, without compensation.
A Hero: Brad Blauser
Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids

Derrick Tabb, wearing a gold chain and a baseball cap, doesn't look the part of a typical band teacher. But every weekday evening in the French Quarter, he beats out the rhythm on his music stand as students play their chosen instruments. In doing so, he gives them an alternative to New Orleans' rough streets. "I tell everyone I'm competing with the drug dealers," said Tabb, 34. His program, The Roots of Music, offers free tutoring, instruments and music education to more than 100 students.
A Hero: Derrick Tabb
The Roots of Music

Budi Soehardi is a 53-year-old Indonesian pilot living in Singapore, and his wife, Peggy, look after 47 children at the orphanage. They have a personal relationship with each one, and consider them part of their family. The couple named many of the children since they entered the orphanage as babies -- some of them tiny victims and refugees from the conflict in East Timor. Soehardi has three children of his own but says there is no difference between what he supplies for his biological children and those living at the orphanage. They all get clean living spaces, vaccinations, food, clothing and vitamins from the United States.
A Hero: Budi Soehardi
Roslin Orphanage

Roy Foster Whether in a vacant lot behind a supermarket or a small clearing off the highway, homeless vets aren't that hard to find: One in three homeless adults has served in the military, and more than 150,000 veterans nationwide are homeless on any given night, according to the Veterans Administration. Working with the sheriff's homeless outreach unit, Foster finds vets camped in tents or makeshift lean-tos, where he delivers a message: There's help for you if you want it. "For our heroes to be living in [these] conditions, it's totally unacceptable," said Foster.
A Hero: Roy Foster
Stand Down House

Jorge Munoz For more than four years, Munoz and his family have been feeding those in need seven nights a week, 365 days a year. To date, he estimates he's served more than 70,000 meals. Word of his mobile soup kitchen has spread, and people of all backgrounds and status now join the largely-Hispanic crowd surrounding his truck -- Egyptians, Chinese, Ethiopians, South Asians, white and black Americans and a British man who lost his job. "I'll help anyone who needs to eat. Just line up," Munoz says.
A Hero: Jorge Munoz
An Angel in Queens

Doc Hendley It's a seemingly average interaction, but Hendley is not your average bartender. As he pours wine in the United States, he's also helping to save thousands of lives on the other side of the world -- and he's tapped into his regulars to help. "[They] sit on the same stool, drink the same drink, pay the same tab every day. I felt like they really did want to be a part of something," Hendley says. "They just were waiting for somebody to bring that something to them." That something is Wine to Water, Hendley's organization that provides clean water to people in developing countries through funds raised at wine tasting events. Since 2004, Hendley has traveled to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Cambodia, working with local communities to build clean water wells and sanitation systems.
A Hero: Doc Hendley
Wine to Water

Andrea Ivory Every weekend in the spring and fall, she and her volunteers -- who include college students, senior citizens and suburban moms, all wearing matching T-shirts -- fan out across low-income communities in southern Florida, educating women about breast health. They especially seek out uninsured women age 35 and older, who statistics show are twice as likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, and thus more likely to die from the disease. For Ivory, comparing this work to a battle isn't overblown.
A Hero: Andrea Ivory
Florida Breast Health Initiative

Betty Makoni has fought for nearly a decade to protect her country's young girls from sexual abuse. And she's witnessed some of the worst cases of the myth in action. The youngest girl I ever came across was a day-old baby who was raped," said Makoni, 37. Through her Girl Child Network, Makoni has helped rescue 35,000 girls from abuse; thousands more have found an empowering community and a public forum in which to speak out.Makoni says nothing will end her fight for the rights of women and girls. "This is the job I have always wanted to do, because it gives me fulfillment. And in girls I see myself every day."
A Hero: Betty Makoni
The Girl Child Network

Jordan Thomas, 20, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, lost both of his legs in a boating accident in 2005. The top-of-the-line prosthetics Thomas was fitted with -- the ones that helped him return to the golf links -- cost about $24,000. He learned that many insurance plans cover only about $5,000. That's especially tough on child amputees, who will outgrow several limbs before adulthood. "I had no clue," he said. "It's one of those things, unless you're affected by it, you just don't know." Thomas knew he was lucky. With a financially stable family, he'll always be able to afford good legs. He asked his family to give a donation to help others, but ultimately, with their support, the teenager launched a fundraising foundation to provide life-changing prosthetics to children in need.The Jordan Thomas Foundation has raised more than $400,000 through bracelets, charity golf tournaments and cookouts. Some of that is paying for ongoing prosthetics for three children until they reach age 18.
A Hero: Jordan Thomas
Jordan Thomas Foundation

The above quote comes from the classic Bowie song, Heroes. It's not very often that I find faults in things Bowie says, but upon sitting down to watch CNN Heroes I have to disagree. I don't disagree that we can all be heroes (because we can), I disagree with the period of time we can be heroes for. We can all be heroes indefinitely.

"When people regard me as a hero, I always tell
them they should look inside them too because
I believe that there's a hero inside every one of us
a all we have is to just open our eyes wide and
feel what's going on, then let our
hearts be willing to accommodate the needy,
the desperate and the hopeless simply by
extending our hand to them, there you will unfold
the hero that is in you"
-Efren G. Peñaflorida, Jr.

We'll always have London

2009-09-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

That Stephen. Today I read yet another blog post from Mr Stephen Fry. I wouldn’t say it was one of my favourites, but it certainly wasn’t one of my least favourites. It seems overly simplistic dividing anything into my favourites and not favourites, but unfortunately this tends to be how I categorise so very much; films, music, pets. The truth is, almost anything written by Stephen Fry almost automatically becomes categorised as something among the greatest things I have read, not solely because I have read great deal of rubbish over the last 19 years, but because he is such a gifted writer. To further illustrate this, I direct you to his letter to his 16 year old self.

My intention for this post was not to further pontificate (I wrote pontificate?) about the splendiferous figure of astuteness and eloquence that is Mr Stephen Fry. Today, this evening would be more accurate, was a friend of mine(@Nat_Browning on Twitter)‘s farewell meal before she enters the hotbed of arrested development and necessary maturity that is university. There were tears, hysteria (false and exaggerated on my part), hugs and an underlying current of sadness. My question is this, why the sadness? Why the hysteria, false hysteria and tears? Which goodbyes necessitate the aforementioned reactions?

There are loads of different types of goodbyes; adios, au revoir, adeus, auf wiedersehen. Not ju

st those of the linguistic variety, but the very nature of the goodbye itself. There’s the simple goodbye, also known as the see you next time goodbye. It’s the kind of good bye that you say when believe it is almost certain that you’ll see the other person again. In this case you could be saying, “See you next time/tomorrow/later”. There’s the epic farewell, such as that of a young maiden saying farewell to her lover as he sails off into the distance where she is unsure if he’ll survive the journey. There’s the “giving away”; a father walking his child down the aisle into another stage of her life, the good bye is not to her, but his role as her primary male protector. Finally we have the more permanent of goodbyes, the kind of goodbye where people adorn black suits and it is certain that one person will not be able to bid anyone farewell. Surely, there are more goodbyes, I simply cannot be asked to list them all, and, I cannot think of them all.

So there we have it, a cross-section of goodbyes, the first would by no means warrant tears or any particularly strong emotions. The next, yeah, pretty much, what with the possibility of death n’ all. The next, probably, the father is in a sense giving his daughter away. The last, yes, what with the death n’ all. But where does the long absence as a result of going to university fall in this? It’s not quite see you next time, nor the epic farewell, it’s not the “giving her away” (as none of us own Miss @Nat_Browning) and it certainly isn’t the last one. I’d say it’s:

So does it warrant tears? It’s somewhere between a casual good bye and an indefinite one. Of course it does? Why wouldn’t it? It’s deserving of hugs, hysteria, tears, snot, sadness; the entire crying experience. But why no tears from yours truly? And why a whole blog post before coming to this conclusion. Maybe it’s because of my hermit ways. But that’s something for another blog post.

Television of Note: Qi

2009-02-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

I very rarely watch television shows on television anymore. Part of my reasoning for this is that there is so little that I wish to watch nowadays. Few of the shows that are generally topics of conversation interest me; I have very little interest in what Lauren is up to in The Hills, I am even less interested in the spin-off shows, I haven't the slightest idea about what is going on in Lost and I haven't ever voluntarily followed a soap opera.

My distaste for these shows does not mean that there is absolutely nothing that I consider to be good on television. There are few gems that are still in production but it can take a while to sift through the sea of drivel. One such television show is the BBC's Qi.

One the greatest elements of Qi is Stephen Fry as the host. For those of you who may not know who this outstanding gentleman is, Stephen Fry is a British comedian, author, writer, blogger and podcaster. I strongly recommend reading Stephen Fry’s blog; The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry, his podcast titled Stephen Fry’s Podgrams and generally everything else on StephenFry.com. Much of Fry’s early success was shared with Footlights friend and common collaborator, Hugh Laurie. Their most successful project were the BBC Sketch Show A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster. Fry later went on to star in Blackadder II.

Stephen Fry has also become quite the success in the film world appearing in such films as The Good Father, A Fish Called Wanda, V For Vendetta and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. In 2003 he made his directorial debut with Bright Young Things and in 2007 he wrote the screenplay for a remake of The Dam Busters for Peter Jackson. Most recently, Stephen fry travelled across all 50 (technically 46 and 4 commonwealths) American States for a 6 episode series for the BBC titled, Stephen Fry in America.

Now, enough about our Qi Master, Mr Fry and onto what Qi actually is. Qi is a British panel and quiz show that differs from you average quiz show in the way points are distributed. Points are not awarded for correct answers but for interesting answers. The most points are deducted for obvious but incorrect answers. In the words of Mr Fry:

"Now, the rules are simple. Scoring is my business. Points are given and points are taken away. They are taken away for answers which are both obvious and wrong, and they're given not so much for being correct, as for being interesting. Their level of interestingness is impartially determined by a demographically-selected customer service focus consultancy, broken down by age and sex - i.e. me. Because there is no-one more broken down by age and sex than me."

Each episode features four panellists, two to each side of Stephen Fry. There is one permanent panellist and that is Alan Davies who is always given the silliest buzzer and probably has the worst win:lose ratio out of all the contestants. Each season is allocated a letter (Season 1 was A and so on) and the theme of each episode begins with the letter for that season. The panel usually consists of comedians; regulars include Jo Brand, Phil Jupitus and Bill Bailey.

As I mentioned previously, the most points are deducted for obvious but incorrect answers. The majority of this occurs during the final round suitably named General Ignorance. In this round questions that appear simple are asked and obvious but incorrect answers are usually given. I have with me the Qi Book of General Ignorance and can confidently say that strawberries are not berries, Bangkok is not the capital of Thailand, Henry VIII only had 2 wives and there are only 46 states in America (which I’m sure Stephen Fry touched upon at some point during Stephen Fry in America). When an incorrect but obvious answer is given during the course of the show loud klaxons go off and the answer given is flashed on the two screens behind the panellists showing the obviousness of the answer.

Qi is one of the most interesting (haha, a play on the name of the show) television shows on at present. It is highly informative and gives great material for quizzes. In addition to this, the show is absolutely hilarious, partly because the panel is primarily made up of comedians.

Similar Shows: Never Mind the Buzzcocks, 8 out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, Have I got News for You

The Most Anticipated Films of 2009: Part 1

2009-01-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

2009 has come and of course, a year of brand spanking new films is upon us. This series of article is devoted to the films of 2009 that I am looking for. Chances are, there will be films that I will become aware during the course of the year, but for now, here is my “Films to See” list of 2009.

January

Che
Okay, it’s not necessarily a film that I want to see this year in the sense that I’ve already seen both parts (hence my calling it Che). Che is Steven Soderbergh’s 4 hour biopic about Che Guevara. As a whole, the films are okay, when divided Che is essentially one great film followed by one mediocre film. Che: Part 1 (the Argentine) is generally quite strong, it opens with Che Guevara at a press conference and then cuts to Che meeting Castro at a dinner party. The assumption (well, this was my assumption) is that the films is going to tell the tale of how Che went from the clean cut Argentine to the revolutionary leader in the grainy press footage. This isn’t the case, we see little of Che that isn’t full fledged Guerrilla Che Guevara, it would have been nice to see different parts of this person. So it’s not prefect, but the second half was significantly worse.

UK Release Date: 02/01/2009

Slumdog Millionaire
Another exception to the “Films I would like to see” list. I managed to see a preview of Slumdog Millionaire on Monday which was rather impressive. Danny Boyle is continuing to show his range; unlike most film-makers he appears to be able to dabble in everything. With 3 wins at the London Independent Film Festival, 4 Golden Globe Nominations and almost guaranteed Oscar nominations it’s clear that I’m not the only person who sees this as a masterpiece.

UK Release Date: 09/01/2009

The Wrestler
Around September, following the premier of The Wrester, it suddenly became one of the biggest films of the following months. Mickey Rourke plays Randy “the Ram” Robinson a retired wrestler as he makes a comeback and tried to form relationship with his daughter. The film is as much of a comeback for Mickey Rourke as it is Randy “the Ram” Robinson. The Wrestler has parted the way for many films this year including Iron Man 2.

UK Release Date: 16/01/2009

Frost/Nixon
Ron Howard’s follow-up to the Da Vinci Code premiered at the 2008 London Film Festival. It details the infamous interview between talk-show host David Frost and former United States president Richard Nixon. With elements of humour and a general sense of intensity Frost/Nixon looks like it will be on the whole, impressive, without the didacticism a film such as this could easily suffer from. Frank Langella, although not visually similar to Richard Nixon, becomes Nixon in his posture, present and of course, voice. Michael Sheen brings a nervousness similar to that of his performance in The Queen to his role as a young David Frost.

UK Release Date: 23/01/2009

Milk
Gus Van Sant tends to make films that are either loved or hated by their viewers. Some saw Paranoid Park as an engaging, complex teenage drama, whilst others saw it as dreary with a poor leading actor. Last days was seen by some as a thought provoking work of art whereas others saw it as generally unpleasant. Van Sant’s Psycho was on the whole seen as an unnecessary remake to a classic. However, Milk is getting the best reception of any of Gus Van Sant’s films since 1992’s Good Will Hunting. Playing California’s first openly gay public official Harvey Milk, Sean Penn appears to display a softness not often associated with the characters he plays. Milk is almost certain to get Oscar attention even if solely for Sean Penn’s performance.

UK Release Date: 23/01/2009

Rachel Getting Married
The very first thing I heard about Rachel Getting Married, was that Anne Hathaway may get Oscar attention for it. Since then, I’ve heard very little of it other than Anne Hathaway’s (and occasionally Rosemarie DeWitt’s) performance. Jonathan Demme’s latest work is not being praised for it’s direction, writing so much or cinematography, however, it is not being criticised for these things either. It appears that it will be a heavily character driven piece worthy of being seen for the performances.

2008 Commentary on the Year

2008-12-31T12:44:00.000-08:00

If you’re reading this, you have stumbled upon the very first This Blog has No Title Review of the Year. Okay, the first thing I should say is that it’s not really a review in the strictest sense. It's more of a commentary on the things I have in some way or another been privy to this year. Everything is divided into categories (how very organised) such as people, film and music. Without further ado, let the review/commentary begin.

Television

Six Feet Under
They’re like a family…with a funeral home
I think we all know that Six Feet Under didn’t begin in 2008, nor did it end in 2008. 2008 was however, the year I started (and technically finished) watching Six Feet Under. It amazes me how I never watched this gem of the silver screen earlier. Created by Alan Ball (of American Beauty fame), Six Feet Under tells the tale of the Fisher family who run an independent funeral home in Pasadena. Upon watching the first episode of Six Feet Under, one could guess that it came from the same mind of American Beauty. Aesthetically, they are similar and they both have a “behind the scenes in suburbia” theme. What I think is the strongest feature of Six Feet Under is how well developed each of the characters is. All of the characters are interesting and complex. They all have moments when they are likable and moments when they are not – like real human beings. Season 1 went into depth with each of the main characters and showed their relationship with the supporting characters. Season 2 however brought the supporting characters into the picture more telling us more about them and their motivation. Superb.

Arrested Development
You know, your average American male is in a perpetual state of adolescence, you know, arrested development.
Like Six Feet Under, 2008 was simply the year I watched Arrested Development. This mockumentary documents the life of the Bluth family. In the first episode Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), is called upon to look after him family and family business after his father is arrested and imprisoned. Arrested Development is a show that really suffers because of its timeslot. In the UK Arrested Development comes on in the very early hours of the morning on BBC2, it was only by chance that I came to watch it. Arrested Development is one of the funniest shows I have watched in a very long time; every episode can be quoted, the characters are the strangest and most abusing collection of people ever, the show is very well cast (Will Arnett, David Cross, Michael Cera) and the guest stars (Liza Minelli, Henry Winkler, Chalize Theron) are great.

Saturday Night Live
Causing “The SNL Effect” since 2007
This has to be one of the biggest years for Saturday Night Live. There are many who say it isn’t as good as it used to be, I wouldn’t know as I only started watching it this year. What I can say is that SNL has been in the spotlight more than usual in 2008. The SNL election coverage and political skits have attracted a large audience with good reason. They really did a good job. It has even been put forward that voters were influenced by Saturday Night Live. Hmmm, interesting.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Colbert’s got nothing on him
An increasing number of people watch The Daily Show as an alternative to the news. Why? Because it’s funny, informative and Jon Stewart is the definition of charisma. Unfortunately, if you’re in the UK, the Daily Show doesn’t provide much of your news and if you relied solely on it you’d know very little about current affairs. It’s sad that despite it’s awesomeness I have little more to say about the daily show. Oh well.

The Oscars
That was this year?
They came. They went. They were presented by Jon Stewart. More coverage is in the archives.

Honourable mentions: 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, Freaks and Geeks

People

Susan Beir
And they say there aren’t good female directors around
Susan Beir’s name is one that is often mentioned by the people of Simply Syndicated. They adore her; they think she’s a righteous dude. Susan Beir is the wonderful director of such films as Brothers and Open Hearts. This year Susan Beir made her English language debut with “Things we Lost in the Fire” starring Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro. This wasn’t considered to be her best and it was criticised by most critics familiar with herprevious work. This was my first foray into the cinema of Susan Bier and possibly because my eyes were unclouded by prior knowledge I thought it was great, largely because of Benico Del Toro’s performance. I later came to watch After the Wedding and Brothers, two breathtaking works, Brothers being the superior of the two.

Charlie Chaplin
The only tramp I wouldn’t flee from
I never thought I’d like silent films. I like good dialogue in films and this tends to be lacking from silent ones (obviously). One day I decided to watch City Lights, I can’t remember why, it’s possible that there was no identifiable reason. I watched City Lights, and it was surprisingly good, extremely good actually. But, what shocked me more than anything else was that it was hilarious. I never thought it would be anywhere near as entertaining was it was. A few days later I watched The Great Dictator, equally awesome. I then began a rather common course of action when something interests me. I began my quest to find out as much as possible about Charlie, instead of reading (like a sucker), I watched Chaplin (1992) starring Robert Downey Jr.; Charlie was a pretty cool guy.

Barack Obama
‘Cos I got a crush on Obama
There is no way I could write about the people of 2008 without mentioning the man of the year that is Barack Obama. Despite this, this paragraph will be quit brief. Barack is awesome, he is now the next president of the United States. The following video says more than I could.

Tina Fey
Like Sarah Palin, but superior in every way and not really like her
Tina Fey Tina Fey, what does one say? Previously the head writer on Saturday Night Live (yeah boi), Fey eventually went on to create her own TV series, 30 Rock. 30 Rock may or may not be based on her experiences at Saturday Night Live. In addition to this she wrote the screenplay for Mean Girls, arguably Lindsay Lohan’s best film to date, in 2004. Fey is a literary genius and I can only wait to see what 2009 has in store.

Joss Whedon
A cult king, well, not a cult cult
This guy is just amazing beyond belief. He co-wrote Toy Story, created Buffy the Vampire, Angel, Firefly and Serenity. He also had Dollhouse on the way which looks awesome. So, why the 2008 attention? Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. It’s exactly what it says on the tin, it’s a musical web series about one Dr Horrible. My watching Dr Horrible’s Sing Along Blog (more times than I’d care to mention) caused an overwhelming desire to watch “Once More with Feeling”, for the lay people, that is the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His resulted in me watching every single episode of Buffy and Angel. Upon doing this I realised what genius Buffy and Angel is, there are some things you don’t fully appreciate when you’re seven.

Music

Peggy Sue (and the Pirates/Pictures)
Oh Peggy Sue, I don’t know what to do
I first discovered Peggy Sue (going by Peggy Sue and the Pirates) at the London iTunes festival this summer. Three acts played, Peggy Sue, Ava Leigh and The Little Ones, out of the three Peggy Sue were the best. They hail from Brighton and they play in a sort of acoustic, anti-folk style. They are very original (you don’t hear enough melodeon in music nowadays) and generally fun to listen to. I recently downloaded some of their tracks from iTunes and ordered a CD of theirs. They make a new CD every month consisting of some of their old stuff, some of their new stuff and some things by other artists that they like.

Kimya Dawson
My Mom would say, I hope some day, you get paid for being Kimya Dawson
I found Kimya Dawson partially through Peggy Sue but primarily through the soundtrack to Juno. Kimya Dawson appears on 8 tracks on the Juno Soundtracks, 5 of which are solo tracks. Kimya Dawson is of the Anti-folk genre, a genre I had never heard of until I started listening to Kimya Dawson. Kimya Dawson doesn’t have the best vocals but what she makes is amazing. Her music is so very truthful and a joy to listen to.

Film

I’ve chosen not to speak about films of the year now as I have spent a great deal of blog space this year writing bout films I’ve seen.

Literature

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
I’m finding it very difficult to remember the books I’ve read. A few weeks ago I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, it was a very good read. Written in epistolary form, The Perk of Being a Wallflower tells the tale of Charlie over the course of a year as he writes letters to an unknown person.

Technology

The IFC News Podcast
My Movie Podcast that isn’t Movies You Should See
This is the only podcast that I presently listen to that I started listening to this year. The IFC News Podcast is presented by Matt Singer of IFC News and Alison Wilmore of the IFC blog. Each podcast has a different topic based on an IFC news item, for instance, Mickey Rourke makes a comeback in the Wrester and they do a podcast on Notable Big Screen Comebacks.
It’s usually interesting and often funny, Matt’s moment at the end of “The Killer _____ Movie” has to be listened to.

LoveFilm
Yes…yes I do
[At this point 2009 came, happy new year]LoveFilm is quite wonderful. For £9.99 a month, I can get a relatively large amount of films. From LoveFilm I have managed to see many films that I’ve always wanted to see. Good times.

The Student Room
No caps, no trainers
The Student Room is a resource I wish I discovered earlier. It’s a forum for students of all ages. It’s been a while since I’ve been an active member of a forum. The Student Room has been very helpful during my leaving university and re-applying process (which I realise I have not mentioned yet), it’s simply great. There are really helpful articles and even more helpful people. There are also these personal statement helpers who help you edit your personal statement.

And now, about me

University
It came and went
I was a student at City University for 8 weeks. During this time I became increasingly aware that I chose the wrong university. It really was my worst decision of the last few years. I have now left my university and plan to start afresh in September. My intention is to work during the year and to do some voluntary work. I shall then start university happy, not poor and possibly a better person.

Here's to 2008

Songs to Change a Life: Part 1

2008-12-26T19:24:00.000-08:00

There are countless list of “songs that will change your life”, this is no such list, I make no guarantee that this list has any cathartic properties or that any of these songs will affect the listener in any way. What I can say is that each of these songs has some significance to myself in some way. A sort of soundtrack to my life. I'd like to put these in chronological order of the point in my life where I heard them but I'm not Rob Gordon, I lack the ability to do this.

Fat Lip by Sum 41
I’d be lying if I said Fat Lip changed my outlook on life or had a profound impact on the way I lead my life. Fat Lip was simply the first song that I ever obtained myself. It was the first song that I didn’t, in a sense, share, with others in my family. Like many, my musical taste was initially defined by the music played in house, I live in a house of reggae, jazz, soul and R&B, these were the genres I was brought up on. Fat Lip fits into none of these genres and therefore none of the music defined as good by my family. It was the first stage in my own independent music development.

Favourite lyric: “I don't want to waste my time
become another casualty of society.
I'll never fall in line
Become another victim of your conformity
And back down.”

Why does it always Rain on Me? By Travis
I’m not the most cynical person but I do often have moments where I believe that everything is going wrong and that no-one is as troubled as I am. It happens to the best of us. Why does it always Rain on Me? represents this feeling, the dismal feeling that everyone else is happier that you are.

Favourite lyrics: “Even when the sun is shinning I can't avoid the lightning”

Drops of Jupiter by Train
Drops of Jupiter is one of the rare songs where I remember not when I first heard it, but when it gained significance. It tells the tale of someone who has left to find themselves or greener pastures and then returns. Upon leaving my secondary school where the majority of my friends were I almost immediately felt like I had left them and in doing so destroyed relationships with the people I was closest to. In Stand by Me (1986), the writer says “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?” I often think this will be true of my friends at the age of 15 (although, technically, I think these would be more or less the same people).

Favourite lyric: “Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back toward the milky way”

One Song Glory by Adam Pascal
During the course of my life I’ve wanted to take on many different occupations, lawyer, artist, writer and many more, each of which, at some point, involved creating something. This “something” would of course outlive me and me by mark on the world. This has not changed, I still feel the desire to leave something behind; I think this is a mortality thing. Ever when I no longer exist, part of me has to. Although I have almost nothing in common with Roger from Rent (I am not male, HIV Positive, a singer, a guitarist, an ex-junkie and my girlfriend didn’t commit suicide), I identify with one aspect of One Song Glory; creating this “one song”.

Favourite lyrics: “Find
Glory
In a song that rings true
Truth like a blazing fire
An eternal flame”

Sometimes you can’t make it on Your Own by U2
I’m not one for asking for help. Honestly, I hate it and my reluctance to get help accounts for a very large proportion of the problems I face. Sometimes I can’t make it on my own, despite my being fully aware of this, my actions never change.

Favourite Lyrics: “You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight”

End Titles by Thomas Newman (The Shawshank Redemption Soundtrack)
I think that part of enjoying this score is knowing the film in question and knowing how this particular score was used within the film. This score is present at many different parts of in the film, it is at the beginning, it is in the middle and it is at the end. It initially sounds sombre and depressing and eventually transforms into an uplifting piece. This reflects the life of the films main protagonist within the film; he goes from incarceration to freedom. This score makes me feel as though whatever awful things may be occurring, I have the ability to get through them.

Forever Young by Youth Group
I know Youth Group didn’t initially sing Forever Young, I simply prefer their version to the original (ooo, blasphemy). Within most us of is a desire to not grow up, Forever Young represents this perfectly.

Favourite Lyrics: “Forever young I want to be forever young,
Do you really want to live forever?”

L’Accordeoniste by Edith Piaf
When I went through what I call my Edith Piaf phase, I just listened to the music not really knowing what the songs translated to or what they meant. L’Accordeoniste sounded pleasant, the sort of song you’d do a jaunty dance to, unfortunately, it is not a pleasant song, ‘tis quite sad really. Learning what L’Accordeoniste was about caused it’s advancement onto this list. L’Accordeoniste is about a prostitute who falls in love with an accordion player who goes to war and doesn’t return. I don’t identify with the song but the way this saddening tale it told to a jaunty tune sticks with me.

Favourite lyrics: “Elle a envie de chanter
C'est physique
Tout son être est tendu
Son souffle est suspendu
C'est une vraie tordue de la musique”

This is the Greatest and Best Arguement in the World

2008-12-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

I'm not a fan of Dr Who, I never have been. I've always considered it to be inferior to most of the shows I watch. This belief of mine fuelled and debate with a friend of mine quite recently on Facebook. I think it's an alright read.

For the privacy of those involved, the name codes featured on the blogs of Rae Charles and Agent M/ Auntie Mina will be used. This argument is between myself (Super Saph) and Agent M/ Auntie Mina.

Super Saph: You were watching Dr Who?

Agent M: Yup

Super Saph: NERD ALERT! NERD ALERT!

Agent M: If you're gonna criticise Dr who, I'm gonna catch a case with you

Super Saph: Bring it!

Agent M: NERD ALERT? There is nothing nerdy about watching Dr who it is a very intellectual program. So u wanna start a war? Don't make me get the Dr's screw driver

Super S: Sorry, I laughed so hard I forgot to breath

Agent M: WHAT? Are you mocking me and Dr who? Buffy does not even measure up to Dr who. Buffy is below there while Dr who is wayyy up there (Context: a previous phone conversation featured me talking about the awesomeness that is Buffy)

Super Saph: You know what? I will watch the highest rated episode of Dr who and then write an ESSAY about why it is not better than the best episode of Buffy

Agent M: Fine, I know you would not write more than 6 words, Dr who is better than Buffy

Agent M's status update: Dr. Who was great ( I got a double bill) [Super Saph] please find it in your heart to STOP hating.

Super Saph: Oh please! How long have you been a Dr Who fan? I really didn't know this

Agent M: Since the middle of last year, but it wasn't as great as it is now, I got really into it the beginning of this year

Super Saph: Nerd! One of us! One of us! Gobble, gobble, one of us!

Agent M: I am not a nerd, NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In response to the status update

Super Saph: I think you should realise that I haven't said one bad thing about Dr Who. All I said saw that it's a nerdy show, that's not an insult, most shows that have developed cult status such as Dr Who, Star Trek, Buffy and Freak and Geeks have done so because of their nerd following, there's nothing wrong with that. On a side note, Dr Who pales in comparison to Star Trek, Star Trek, Buffy and Freaks and Geeks, Battlestar Galactica and most other cult shows - there's my insult

Agent M: It is SOOOO much better than those crappy shows you just mentioned. How can you say that it pales in comparison? At least Dr who has variety he is a time lord who travels through time those crappy ones always do the same thing over and over again. I mean don't the ppl of battle whatever get out of the spaceship for some air gosh. Anyway as I said Dr. Who is of great intelligence and i would love to one day become one of his accomplices (wow i should have written that in my personal statement)

The Bear: Ok sapphire

Agent M: And Saph, watching Dr Who does not make you a nerd. It makes you an interesting person. Watching battle star whatever on the other hand makes you the king or queen of Nerdom (new country)

E.G: Dr. Who is pooo

Agent M: E.G we are no longer friends loooooooooool

Bay Leaf: All the shows u mentioned are crap!! lmao!! Accept it! Write that on ur personal statement Mina lol!

E.G: Awwww mini, I'm sorry but it is the truth it is a boring old granny programme, sept my nanny does not even like it HAHAHAHAH, get in to PRISON BREAK, its on tonight 10.00 on sky one, its the BESTTTT WOOOOO, Love You MiNIE X X XX XX X X X X

Jimi: Dr who is wank, Heroes is the shit

Agent M: E.G prison break is dead now. I mean they are out of prison now so why is it still on? Wasn't the whole concept to get out of prison. We want a new show. Next, and trust me when i say your granny records it and watches it when u guys are not there.
Leanne kiss my arse, even tho your comment made me laugh.
Jimi, Heroes is the shit but dr who is not wank. YOU ARE!

Bay Leaf: The best shows of this century are Heroes and desperate housewives

Agent M: I bet all of you who are condemning Dr. Who would love a ride in his Tardis.

Super Saph: And now for my comeback;
Not one of the television shows I have mentioned does the same thing repeatedly unlike the "alien of the week" series Dr Who. This is something Star Trek used to do back in 1966, it has grown out of this since then. Dr Who however, is older than Star Trek and is yet to learn, what does that say? Back to the "same thing" issue, Battlestar Galactica had a complete change in the structure and subject of the show between the original series and the new one and there is a new theme and various story arcs between each season. Freaks and Geeks did something new with each episode (it's not a Sci-Fi show). Buffy is another show that constantly changed, the same thing never happened repeatedly. And, for the record, the people often get out of their ships in Star Trek and Star Trek: DS9 wasn’t even set on a ship. Watching a TV show, regardless of what it is (except QI of course), does not make you an interesting person. What is interesting is the extent to which you can analyse and find deeper meanings with television shows. You used Battlestar as an example so I'll go with that. Battlestar Galactica is not just about people in space, very few Sci-Fi shows are. Battlestar Galactica hosts a range of philosophical issues and when it boils down to it, it about religion and faith. Mina, the fact that you have taken what I have said so seriously, and have argued so much serves only to prove that you are indeed a nerd, get over it.

Bay Leaf: Sorry Mina, Sapphire kicked ur arse!! Lol

Agent M: You mean Buffy does not always fight vampires? Really Saph?.
Alien of the week. Yeah, because they are always trying to destroy the earth and Dr. who is always trying to save it. And he doesn't even get a thank - you from doing so.
Battlestar Galactica IS a show about ppl or aliens whatever in space. Every time I'm channel surfing they are always in the ship thingy controlling something. Philosophical issues like what: 'The controls are down, we are finally going to die'. Or 'We are heading in to an astroid belt and there's nothing we can do about it'. At least Dr. Who's Tardis locks on to the nearest center of gravity.
Maybe faith, but religion?
Dr. Who is such a good story. It shows how one man just wants to bring peace everywhere by fighting intergalactic forces that are evil. And he saves the Earth so many times.
AND I AM NOT A NERD (I have been called that this and last week due to various reasons and i'd like to say I so am not)

Agent M: Bay Leaf before you make your little comments read the next piece you cow monkey fish

Bay Leaf: she still won but it was close, u were funny though.

Agent M: Kiss my arse Bay Leaf. Ain't no competition anyway. its a matter of opinions

Bay Leaf: Well, sapp had a stronger opinion, Dr Who is 4 kids and grannys who don't know any better lol!

Super Saph: Mina, something is becoming increasingly clear to me and that is that YOU HAVE NEVER WATCHED ANY OF THE TV SHOWS I AM TAKING ABOUT! No Buffy doesn't just fight vampires:
Seasons 1 & 2-vampires and demons
Season 3- the mayor
Season 4- a kinematically redundant, bio-mechanical demonoid
Season 5- a god
Season 6- a witch (also serving as an exploration... Read More of addiction)
Season 7-the source of all evil
You have proved me right, I quote you, "Alien of the week. yeah. because they are always trying to destroy the earth and Dr. who is always trying to save it." This is highly simplistic - every show I mentioned is more complex than this, and the fact you haven't said that the Dr Who has any duality proves me right. Science fiction is not supposed to be simplistic, it always serves more than 1 purpose. Science fiction is an existential metaphor that allows us to tell stories about the human condition. Isaac Asimov once said, "Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinded critics and philosophers of today, but the core of science fiction, its essence, has become crucial to our salvation, if we are to be saved at all." Star Trek was made to confront issues surrounding racism, Battlestar was designed to talk about religion and terrorism, Buffy is technically about the trials an tribulations faced when growing up.
Mina, faith and religion go hand in hand. Battlestar Galactica is essentially about the opposing beliefs of monotheism and polytheism. Battlestar focuses on many issues such as what make us human and whether religion should be trusted or followed. Tell me, does Dr Who have any such issues? Also, there are NO aliens in Battlestar Galactica.
Seriously though Mina, have you watched any of the TV shows you are taking about?

Agent M: So who is Battlestar for? Ppl that don't have friends? Surely not coz saph watches it and she has friends so don't be ignorant, William watches Dr Who, Liradonna too.

Bay Leaf: WILL THIS EVER END??

Super Saph: Never!!!!!!!! This argument is going in my blog

Agent M: I see. But Dr. who does have such issues. like todays episode. A species divided into 2 that started fighting each other. they were created by the same being "the creator" but they still fight and they were trying to get to the temple to get the new world solution (long story) but there are such issues. And Dr Who's daughter even dies because of the beef (yes he did have a daughter).
If there not any aliens then the beings sure do look like aliens or is that star trek (excuse my ignorance).
Saph believe me when i say i have tried. Those half terms back in the day, when there was nothing to do during the day so you watch day time TV, Battlestar, star trek and buffy was on. I don't know if they we on during the same period but i have tried and then i get bored or disinterested (so i used to watch charmed, will and grace and maury instead hehehe)

Agent M: It is not an argument. it's a difference of opinions. Arguments make it sound like beef. we are just trying to say why our shows are great.

Super Saph: Hmmm, your example sounds like an analogy for conflict within mankind. Dr Who may actually have duality, touche. Give me more examples like that and perhaps I shall respect it more.
Really, there are no aliens in Battlestar.
Battlestar isn't daytime TV. It can't come on before the watershed. Can we conclude that you don't know what you're talking about, only joking. Can we conclude that as you have never managed to get through these shows, you're not really in the position to say certain things about them. You can't judge a show you've never watched, believe it or not, I've watched episodes of Dr Who, I wouldn't speak ill of it if I hadn't.
Is this the end of this chapter?

Agent M: Nope.
What is the point of watching the end of something you don't have interest in? If i lose interest in the middle of it there's no point in finishing it because there's gonna be the same outcome. It has to grip me from beginning throughout the middle and then to the end. So whats the point of wasting time when I could watch something else?
Oooo there was a Jane Austin episode. That was good, in fact they are going to show it 2moro again but I'm going to bed now. Because of this i have hardly done any learning (I did some while watching the good dr)

Agent M: Sorry did I say Jane Austin. I meant Agatha Christie!

Super Saph: As I said before, I can tell which episode would be the best for you to watch.
"what is the point of watching the end of something you don't have interest in." I'll answer that with the following "How can you judge something that you haven't seen" - This is what this argument has come down to. You cannot conclude that the shows I have mentioned are bad as you haven't watched them. Can you acknowledge this?

This concludes the argument thus far, jolly good stuff

November in Summary

2008-11-30T09:15:00.000-08:00

October

2008-10-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

To compensate for my not having written all month

A Bit of an Update

2008-09-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, a few moments ago, it occurred to me that I have a blog, several blogs to be more precise (but not of course, completely precise). So, I had a quick look at my last post which consisted of me saying I had started watching Battlestar Galactica, I expressed some mad Once Upon A Time In America love, some Crash dislike and some Dark Knight indifference. Now, to recap. I have managed to watch every episode of Battlestar Galactica, some more than once, I have the same feelings towards Once Upon a Time in America and Crash and I’m yet to watch The Dark Knight again.

I haven’t written for quite some time, one month and nine days to be exact. What the frak has happened since August 7th?

The IMDB war has ended, but do we care?
Nope, not really

Some of us may remember that around July/ August, there was a bit of a war going on. The Dark Knight fans and The Godfather fans fought a lengthy battle of mice and keyboards all try to get the favourite movie onto the number 1 spot on imdb’s top 250. As you may have noticed from the title, the war is now over. The Dark Knight remained at number one for quite some time but, as some of use predicted, it is number 1 no longer. The Dark Knight has trickled down to number 3, and I believe it will only fall further. However, evidence of the war remains. Initially, the top 3 films were, in order, The Godfather, The Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather: Part II. There’s been a bit of a switcheroo between The Godfather and The Shawshank Redemption, the damage from the war brought The Godfather’s rating down.

The keyboards were at a bit of a disadvantage

Saturday Night Live returns
Political sketches n’ all.

Saturday Night Live has returned from its Summer hiatus with some good stuff…and some not so good stuff. I opened, as we have come to expect, with a sketch about the upcoming election. Amy Poeler appeared as Hillary Cinton and surprisingly, Tina Fey played Alaska Governor and Republican vice-presidential nominee, Sarah Palin. The aesthetic similarities between these two had not occurred to me until I saw the sketch. I believe this calls for a split screen.

Palin, left, Fey, Right. Or am I messing with you?

I strongly suggest checking it out, ‘tis hilarious. That was part of the good stuff, now for the not to good stuff. The first episode back was hosted by American Olympic hero, Michael Phelps, lets just say, he’s not the best actor.

Dr Horrible and that gosh darn sing-along Blog
Is there nothing Joss Whedon can’t do?

A while ago, by a while I mean weeks ago, a web series named Dr Horribles’s Sing-Along Blog was a available to watch for free online. It was fantastic. I wouldn’t say it was the greatest internet creation since gmail but it was great for what it was. It told the fun story of Dr. Horrible, a less than terrifying villain who was trying to get into the Evil League of Evil (run by Bad Horse). All the while being impeded in his efforts by Captain Hammer (played by none other than Firefly’s Nathan Fillion) who had caught the eye of Dr. Horrible’s love interest, Penny. If you’re a fan of Whedon, particularly the humour found in Whedon’s creations, I’d say you’d enjoy it. Oh snap! Yeah…it’s not free online anymore, check if you like it on you tube and if you do, you can buy the episodes and the soundtrack on iTunes….or…go through other channels *cough* torrents *cough*.

Welcome to the Dollhouse
We've got fun 'n' games

Continuing with the Whedon theme, the trailer for Joss Whedon’s new TV series, Dollhouse. Rather actually write about it, like some kind of peasant, here’s the trailer. It looks good to me, but then again, I intentionally watch rubbish.

Trailer Daze
Phrase “borrowed” from the IFC news podcast

Apple trailers has released some goodies since I last wrote. I’m not sure if the Watchmen trailer adventure happened before or after I last wrote, but here’s the story. Empire Online basically said that they had the exclusive new Watchmen trailer and it would only be available at 5am on the site on this day in question. Losers such as myself actually woke up at 5am to watch the trailer and lo and behold, it was available on Apple trailers already. I watched it, downloaded it in HD and went back to sleep. Now…about the trailer. In my sleepiness, it looked like the best trailer I had ever seen. Hooooowever, in my awakened state, it wasn’t too great. The images in the film looked good, but on the whole, not the best trailer I’ve been privy to. Watching the trailer made me even more aware of how unfamiliar I am with the cast, which may turn out to be a good thing as I don’t have them typecast. The thing is, I recognised one of the cast member, and he played a rather interesting character in another film. The film in question was Hard Candy, and he played a paedophile…hopefully I’ll forget once the film comes out of his performance will be so awesome that he’ll make me forget. Watchmen is a comic (trade paperback if you want to be precise) that had a lot of complex story that is generally hard to tell, I can’t help but worry that a lot will be left out. Kevin Smith saw it and said it was great, but he also liked Star Wars episode 3.

Woah, Watchmen got loads of attention. Erm, I think I’ll just do a separate post for trailers. Yeah…

The (not so) Secret Life the American Teenager
How this is still being made, I don’t know, but keep it coming

Have you ever watched something knowing that it was absolutely awful? This is the relationship I have with the ABC “family drama”, The Secret Life of the American Teenager. I was just browsing…a website, and I stumbled upon The Secret Life of the American Teenager. The thing that caught my attention was Molly Ringwald’s name who I have seen since in anything made after, erm, 1986? So, I watched the first episode and what terrible goodness it was. The acting is atrocious, the characters are walking stereotypes and the story is just, blah. However, as it is so bad, I can’t help but watch it. This drama is one of the best comedies I watch at the moment.

Guess what it‘s about

Getting tired…

On a final note, additional things that have happened, of that I have become aware of are:
-Ingmar Bergman is awesome
-The Ice Bar is as cold as you think
-Tropic Thunder was not as funny as I expected
-Caribbean Ice Tea is so very tasty
-Ruby Blue is rubbish
-The Daily Show is the best way to spend 25 minutes

And…

When you want people to arrive at a particular time, tell them to arrive half an hour earlier

Once Upon A Time

2008-08-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I spent much of the day doing filing for my mother. I didn’t accomplish much, all I really did was put the papers I was filing into different piles, by the time I finished doing this I suddenly felt sick and didn’t do anymore. It dawned on me during the course of the day that I still hadn’t finished watching season three of Battlestar Galactica, I blame Virgin Media (never shall I forgive them). So, as I filed and sat on my living room floor thinking about how ill I felt, I started watching Battlestar again. For the life of me I couldn’t remember where I left off so I began from the first episode. I haven’t watched much Sci-Fi recently so it was good to get back to what I had been neglecting.

I lent my laptop to my mother in the evening and suddenly I was without anything to watch. I looked at my DVD shelf and not one thing appealed to me, I need more DVDs. I decided to go through all my recordable DVDs to see what I had recorded over the last few months and hadn’t gotten around to watching. It was then that I stumbled upon Once Upon a Time in America on a disc with My Beautiful Launderette. I’d taken my time to watch it largely due to the length, it’s 4 hours long. Anyway, for some reason I started watching it at 11pm. This is something I don’t usually do because of something I call, “The Godfather Effect”. This basically refers to something that happens to me when I watch films late at night, and it has happened to me most often when watching The Godfather. The Godfather never comes on before 10pm, so whenever I watch a 10pm showing I start to fall asleep by 11ish. I just can’t seem to help it.

Back to Once Upon a Time in America. I started watching it at 11 expecting to fall asleep by 12, this didn’t happen. After 3am I finished watching it and couldn’t believe 4 hours had passed. The story didn’t seem slow or boring, I was engaged throughout the whole film. I’m glad I saw the 4 hour version as apposed to the shorted version as I don’t see how it could be edited down. I’m sure the storyline must suffer quite a lot. All in all, I’d say it was great film, it has easily become one of my favourites. As soon as it finished, I wouldn’t have minded watching it again but that would have meant going to bed after 7 and I usually wake up around 8. I’m thinking of watching it again right now.

A few days ago I was talking to someone about Crash (the Paul Haggis one) and why I have problems with it. As I was explaining this, I decided that I should probably watch Crash again as it had been a while since I saw it. There was strong possibility that I made it worse in my head so my motivation was the unreliable nature of human memory. So, I watched Crash again. My opinion of it is no higher. It’s just so obvious in it’s exploration of problems in society, and human nature, I found it hard to watch. Apparently, loads of people are racist and there are many ways in which racism can be represented. Who knew? What I can commend Crash on is the performances, on the whole they’re very strong, but apart from that, blah.

I can’t believe I written so much but failed the write about the fact that I saw The Dark Knight last Friday. It was a good watch. “ONLY and good watch” said the internet. Damn right, I said only. The thing is, the theatre was packed, I had a really bad seat and when I see certain films with my sister I can’t help but see what her reaction is. So, it wasn’t the best viewing experience. I’m going to see it again this week with my brother, his seat was worse than mine, I’ll comment on it again then.

Goodbye Godfather, Hello Dark Knight?

2008-07-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

I never thought I'd see the day. Ever since I started using imdb so many moons ago, the top of the list had always housed The Godfather part 1. It was then followed by The Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather part 2. Today, I was randomly pondering whether The Dark Knight had gotten into the top 250 yet, not because I’d seen it and thought it was great (which I haven’t), but because there have been quite a few previews for it and with most films nowadays, as soon as they come out, they receive a surge of votes and end up in the top 250. This year this has been the case for Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Indy 4, Wall-E and many more. So, I went on imdb to check The Dark Knight’s position and my gosh, I saw something I’ve never seen before. The Godfather was not in the number one spot. The Dark Knight had topped imdb’s top 250.

The question is: Is this further evidence that imdb’s top 250 is not reliable and valid or Is The Dark Knight the greatest film of all time? At this time I cannot comment, I’m yet to see The Dark Knight, as mentioned previously, it isn’t in the running to be my favourite film due to my clown problem but it may still turn out be a great film. I’m yet to get over the shock of seeing The Godfather at number 2. Strange. What one needs to remember is that this is the initial reaction to the film, this may be the responses of all The Dark Knight fan boys who where going to give it 10 stars regardless of how good it was. Then again, Empire gave it five stars (out of five). Oooo, I feel so conflicted. There’s a strong chance that it will go down, like I said before, more than four other films from 2008 got into the top 250 when they came out, only two remain.

No Country For Old Tropical Robots (Can't say that's not original)

2008-07-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday the 19 February 2008, I went to see No Country for Old Men. As soon as I got home I wrote noted for a review on my white board and wrote a quick blog post about how amazing it was. It was not until today that I actually finished my review, 5 months after I started. I’ve even written other reviews since then, strange. Anyhoo my review is now available on Amateur Critic Reviews.

Around a week ago, I got an email from the Times about a free preview of Wall-E showing yesterday. I immediately signed up for 4 tickets (the maximum) as all the internet buzz about it got me quite excited. I first heard about it in my January issue of Empire, they did a showcase of the top films that would be coming out this year. I ignored it at this point, it failed to grab me. However, as soon as I started to see clips on the internet I was hooked. Anyhoo, it was great! I saw it with my brother, sister and cousin, I would go so far as to say that it is the best Pixar film so far. Unlike most Pixar films, there was a clear dark undercurrent allowing the film to work on 2 levels. I wrote a review of it too. I’ve certainly been busytoday.

A film I’ve mentioned previously is Tropic Thunder, a war movie farce starring Ben Stiller, jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. I’ve been following this online for months and have been wondering how I will manage to wait until September to see it. The solution, I won’t see it in September! They’re holding previews of it in August and I’ve made It my mission to se it. I presently have no cash, this will of course be rectified after a trip to the bank. The seats are selling fast so I may have to sort this out tomorrow. Here’s a nice Wall-E clip to take up some space, In mean. for your viewing pleasure.

On IMDB and Hancock

2008-07-06T14:16:00.001-07:00

Those people on imdb love to annoy me. Today I was insulted on imdb for the first time, well, technically it was a while ago but I only just returned to the board. It all started when the trailer for Adulthood came out. I considered the Kidulthood to be rather unrealistic and generally bad, but I decided to see whether the sequel would be better. Based on what I saw, I don’t think it is. Here’s the trailer in question.

This was the subject of a thread on imdb resulting in many people saying how great it looked and how good the film would be. I personally think the trailer was a bit long for a trailer. Who makes a 4 minute trailer? More importantly, how do does one make a 4 minute trailer without giving any details of the storyline. This is basically what followed all the Adulthood trailer love:

Bahometh: wow, looks terrible! i hope people who said it looks good dont really mean it.

I then responded with

SaphMB: You just made the most logical statement on this thread so far

I can support this claim as I believe the trailer looked awful. It started fine; the monologue looked like a good set up for the trailer and the film in general. However, after that, it is essentially a channel U music video. I didn’t notice that someone had responded to my post until today, here it is.

Legolased12: And you two are *beep* If you don't like this film then don't comment the board. People like you are mugs. Quick to complain about things and post negative comments online but if you actually see someone getting beaten you will just walk past and ignore it,and then complain about todays youth.

I had to respond to this. My thoughts as they were are expressed by my response.

SaphMB: Hmmm, okay then. Something you should be made aware of is the fact that the message boards on imdb are not just for those who want to compliment films but those who want to criticise them too. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, mine is based on my belief that the trailer does not look impressive. The monologue at the beginning looks like a great set-up but as soon as the monologue comes to an end , the trailer suddenly turns into a music video showcasing what garage now offers. Few elements of a story line are given and it’s bit too long to be a teaser trailer so this must be the theatrical one.

"People like you are mugs. Quick to complain about things and post negative comments online but if you actually see someone getting beaten you will just walk past and ignore it,and then complain about todays youth."

You have no reasoning to call me a mug or anything other than someone who did not like the trailer. My opinion of a trailer has nothing to do with what kind of person I am or what I would do in a situation where someone was being assaulted. As for complaining about today's youth, I am one of today's youth and I am constantly given reason. In London, there are many cases of children assaulting and killing others; some are reported, many are unreported. The problem is not that someone may walk past when someone is being assaulted, then problem is the fact that assault is so common in society today.

I hope Legolased12 sees that.

I saw Hancock today, wow, I watch some of the most mainstream films ever at the cinema. Oh well. Hancock; not that great, disappointing actually. My brother FELL ASLEEP, TWICE. This was my main source of entertainment as my brother snores, quite loudly actually. As a result of this, I decided to play a little game. I tried to see how long I could go without getting him to wake up meaning, how long would I allow the snoring to go on for. I allowed it to go on for a while but he woke himself up. I sent most of the text message I’ve sent this week during that film, I also listened to my iPod for a while. That’s how good Hancock was.

I think my may be growing tired of Will Smith’s humour. He’s essentially given to same type of jokes in most of the films he’s in; it gets old. What someone needs to do is give him a role that allows him to show greater range than we have previously seen. Jason Bateman was good, I’ve only really noticed him since I started watching Arrested Development; a jolly good watch. I’ve also be watching Six Feet Under. I watched 3 and a half seasons in 4 days. Evidence that the show is great and that there isn’t much to my life.

Leave civilisation and embrace nature?

2008-06-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

Today, I watched the Sean Penn film, Into the Wild. Essentially, it’s about a young man(Christopher McCandless later Alexander super tramp) who, tired of the hypocrisy and focus of material “things” around him, decides to give the $24,000 of his savings to charity, and travels to Alaska. This led to me to ponder, would I be willing to leave the civilised, concrete jungle of London, to travel without unnecessary possessions and live in the wilderness?

Why I wouldn’t
My immediate response would be no. I like films, I like music, I like my creature comforts. I appreciate what I have, and honestly, I’m not sure what I’d do without them. So many times if I’m felling low, indifferent, sad (or happy for that matter), I throw on a good DVD to enhance my mood. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen a film or how ludicrous the storyline may appear to be (yes, I accept that The Goonies has a ludicrous storyline) but if I’m feeling low, I like to watch something where I know everything will be alright even if life might not be. Plus, I like having a roof over my head and knowing where my next meal will come from.

Why I might consider it
Often, I wish I was a bit more free. I understand that there are many places on this planet that I am yet to explore or even hear about. I find it admirable that people go on quests and discover new things about the world as well as themselves. It’s exciting, that’s what it is. I lead a highly uneventful life, I nearly always know what is going to happen and it is because of that that a venture such as leaving my life behind stating anew is somewhat welcoming.

That’s it I guess.

Coming out of Shawshank

2008-06-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

I now know how Andy felt at the end of The Shawshank Redemption. I have left the prison that is full time education (well, for 3 months) and I got through the crap filled tunnel that is A-Levels. Yes I tells ya, I’m free. Okay, so maybe it’s not exactly the same as Shawshank, but I don’t think I could feel any better than I do right now.

See, I’m that happy, actually, that looks a bit scary. Anyhoo, I don’t know what to do with myself, my plan was to start looking for a job on Monday, but, my mother had other things in mind. You see, me being off from school means that there someone to make the house extra clean. That’s freedom for you. I’m sure when Andy got out he didn’t get to everything he wanted, come on, he was building a boat, now that’s hard work.

My last exam was on Thursday, Sociology. It was possibly the worst exam experience of this exam season, just when I thought it was going well. I’ve spent the last few days procrastination, actually, it’s probably not procrastinating when really have nothing to do. Let me rephrase that, I’ve spent the last few days enjoying my freedom. I’ve watched High Fidelity, Kiss Kiss bang Bang and Venus. I also watched Arrested Development and Oz, the prison show, not the musical. It turned out to be pretty good but some parts were just horrifying.

I’m meant to be going to see The Incredible Hulk today. If you, like me, can’t stand listening to the sounds of children laughing, gasping or making any other unnecessary noise during films, I strongly recommend seeing films on Sundays or before 12 on weekdays. I went to check the rating online (I say went like I got out of my seat) and, in turn, accidentally saw the Rotten Tomatoes fresh rating. It’s 64% fresh, that isn’t good. Despite this, I bet it’ll spend at least one day on imdb’s top 250. Empire gave it 3 stars, the same as Iron Man, let’s see whether it’s better or worse than it’s predecessor (by predecessor I mean the previous Marvel funded film, Iron Man). We’ll just have to wait and see.

Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na [Insert word here] Man!

2008-06-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday brought us the MTV Movie Awards of 2008 which I must say was a jolly good watch. The MTV Movie Awards are probably the only awards I’ve watched every year for like, the last 7 years. They’re always fun. There were two highly notable sketches this year, some were a bit blah, but these two were awesome. Mike Myers and Dana Carvey reprised their roles as Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar for sketch giving the top 10 porno names based on films of 2008. My intention was to provide a YouTube video of this, unfortunately, the video is no longer available. The other awesome sketch was a promotional video for Tropic Thunder; I found that one.

When they showed that on Monday, they missed quite a few bits of it, damn MTV. Oh well. Hehe, “It’ll do…until Dark Knight comes out”. It appears to be the consensus that Dark Knight will be better than Iron Man. This may turn out be true, but I know right now that that I personally will prefer Iron Man, I’ll probably only watch Dark Nigh once. My reasoning for this is the same reasoning for why I rarely watch Tim Burton’s Batman, I don’t; like clowns. They freak me out more than anything else and Batman confirms my theory; clowns are evil. Iron Man will be the more enjoyable film for me.

Speaking of the Dark Knight, I was watching Batman Begins, which I downloaded on iTunes. Yes, you can now download movies on iTunes. I feel this was geared towards people like me who aren’t bothered go out to rent films at Blockbusters and don’t want to receive random films that they may want to watch at some point through Love Film. Today, I felt like watching Batman Begins because honestly, I don’t remembered what happened. It’s taking much longer to download than I thought it would. I watched around an hour and a half of it while it was downloading but now, it needs to continue for a while. I never realised how good Cillian Murphy was, this may have been because I had no frame of reference for him when I watched Batman Begins initially. Ummm, I think I can go back to watching it now but before I go, here’s some thing everyone can enjoy, except maybe the Coulrophobics.

On Racism

2008-05-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

People entertain me so much these days. Today has been a relatively entertaining day in relation to people’s views on racism and I’ve concluded that some people are simply prejudiced or dare I say it, stupid.

Dispatches: In God’s Name
Channel 4 is one of my favourite television channels, not just because it shows some of my favourite American shows (ER, Scrubs ect) but because it also shows the fantastic show, Dispatches. Channel Four is the British TV channel that’s probably the most left field. One of the ways the difference between Channel 4 and other channels is expressed is through Dispatches where a various issues ignored by other channels and often the government are expressed.

The episode of Dispatches I just watched was not one of the hard-hitting, gritty stories about what’s really going on in society, it was not one of the episodes that points a finger at the government, what I consider it to be is an examination of a rising sub-culture. The focus of the episode was Christian fundamentalism. I say sub-culture because this is not representative of Christianity, most Christians are not like this. Some of these people really scare me. During the course of the show they indirectly stated that anyone that disagreed with them was evil. This means, as a result of my support for abortion, gay-marriage and acknowledgment of Islam (I’ll get back to that) I would pretty much be evil. The main thought that went through my head was, “this is none of their business”. I don’t understand why so many people believe that they have the right to attempt to change the lives of others.

Now, to the main reason why I felt the need to comment on this show. There was this man and in addition to protesting about Jerry Springer: The Opera, he, and a group of others took it upon themselves to protest about the opening of a Mosque in East London. They basically stated that Islam was not a religion, all Muslims are the same, they are not peaceful people, Allah is Satan and then proceeded to give thoughtless “explanations” as to why they thought they were right. All religions are based on faith, belief without proof, this, in turn means that no religion can be proved or disproved. No-one of any religion has the right to say that another is wrong.

Tropic Thunder
Now, you just read an account of what is definitely racism in modern day society. However, there are always those who blow issues waaaaaaaaay out of proportion. For those who haven’t seen the trailer for Tropic Thunder firstly, shame on you, and secondly, here it is:

Okay, fun wasn’t it. And yes, that really was Robert Downey Jr and this is also the “issue”. People have stated that Robert Downey Jr’s playing a character, playing a character who is black is racist. If anyone believes this, please, give me a logical explanation why. I mentioned a REAL account of racism previously, THIS, however, is foolishness, It’s not racism, it’s entertainment (I do understand that entertainment can be racist but this is not one of those cases). The strange thing is, this has happened in reverse on several occasions, White chicks (which committed sins against cinema for even existing) and various Eddie Murphy films. I just hope that people don’t take out their foolishness on Robert Downey Jr, it’s his year, don’t mess it up fools.

Let’s leave this on a fun note

Hehehe, Albino Shape-Shifting Lizard Bitches-Classic

Ooo, I just read this, it really doesn’t sound eloquent, drat. Oh yeah, where it says Dispatches: In God’s Name, I’m not being blasphemous, In God’s Name was the name of the episode of Dispatches.

Rocket+Car=Rocketcar

2008-05-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in a previous post that I’ve been watching Ally McBeal partially because it makes me feel saner. I also mentioned that I feel happy knowing that I’m not hallucinating. Yesterday, I got very worried that I was indeed hallucinating. I was sitting on the bus on my way to college and I could see a rocket coming into my view. It was a rocketcar! I kid you not. My first thought after thinking about the greatness I was seeing was that I must be hallucinating, come on, a rocketcar? I took a picture to clarify whether or not I saw what I though I saw. After getting some second opinions, It turned out I really did see a rocketcar. Look!

Yesterday was also my very last day of college, well, that’s what they say. We still have to go back for exams and leavers afternoon. Lets just say, my last lessons at college were on Friday. Regardless, I still think this deserves a…

People Getting Punched

2008-05-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

Ever just want to watch people get puched

...just before eating

...just before breaking AF1 rules!!!

Ever feel a bit...blah?

2008-05-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

It’s official. Exam season has begun. My first exam is tomorrow; if I had done better in my exams last year I wouldn’t be taking this one. You see, this is a re-take of my AS maths exam. I’ve tried reasonably hard to prepare for this, but, as usual, my efforts have gone unrewarded. Every practise paper I have taken thus far has given me a grade C or lower. It’s not that I expect to get an A in maths, but I just hope to get at least a B on the paper I’ve spent two years preparing for. My sister insists that my grades last year were good and that I have really high expectations of myself. She compares me to others that I have not done as well as myself. At these such times, a quote from William Faulkner springs to mind, “Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” It is these words that I try to live by, at least academically.

Today, I revised for around 7 hours (taking food and YouTube breaks) and during this time I tried not to be distracted by checking my e-mail. To avoid this, I didn’t open iGoogle…until 20 minutes ago. I don’t really care about horoscopes, I find it highly unlikely that 1/12 of the worlds population will have the same experiences on any day. Despite this, I have my horoscope on my iGoogle page, partially because the picture matches my iGoogle design. My horoscope caught my attention today, possibly because of the word, disillusionment. It said:

Your career goals may not be as in touch with reality as you think and you could face disillusionment if you try to hold on to them. Unfortunately, working harder won't turn a fantasy into something that's real. Take an objective look at what you are doing and consider whether or not it fits with a sensible plan.

I’m not sure the way these words should be taken. Does this mean, screw A levels, you’re not going to pass so stop trying OR do your frickin’ A-Levels, you’ll never be a film director OR, could it possibly mean, do SOMETHING with your life, this waiting for your calling just isn’t working. Oh the triple entendre.

As I mentioned previously, I have an exam tomorrow (technically two). At this point I should be nervous or scared in some way. Strange thing, I’m not. I’m beginning to think that I don’t care. It’s not that I’m prepared (which I’m not), I simply don’t care. (I smell a rant coming on). This is all rubbish, education should be one small aspect of ones life, at 18, it should not be the only thing I worry about. Every once and awhile I think about forgetting about all of this, pursuing something I enjoy. Right now, I think the most important thing about any occupation I take on in the future should be that I enjoy it. I don’t want to be a psychologist. I can’t help people with their problems, I stand by my belief that someone as messed up as myself does not have the right to tell other people that they need to be helped. I’ve been watching a lot of Ally McBeal recently, it’s a show that always leaves me feeling a bit saner. Right now, I feel better because I know that despite all the things that make my sanity somewhat questionable, at least I’m not hallucinating. Dear God I’m using a fictional character to determine my sanity.

I don’t think I’m any better that Rae Charles. Help.

Remember...Gap Adverts

2008-05-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

So, back to my Iron Man adventure. We went to the cinema on Monday to see our free film. The whole time my brother was speaking to the staff, I was just thinking that they had no proof that we had free tickets and they’d send us home. They did not. One of the members of staff just told the others that they didn’t need to see our tickets. I was a bit of a Jedi mind tricks moment.

What happened on Sunday: As I mentioned previously we were running 10 minutes late for the 5pm show. What appears to have happened was, we went into the show that started one hour before the one we thought we were going to see so we missed an hour or so of the four pm show. I didn’t enjoy the second showing as much as the first mainly because I felt quite ill. I ate a large amount of sweet popcorn and Pespsi. That was not a good idea.

Whilst at the cinema I saw one of the most awesome adverts I have ever been privy to so I thought that I’d dedicate this blog to some of my favourite adverts. Indeed.

This is the advert that I saw at the cinema. It basically tells the tale of me, every time I start to revise, I mean, when I try to get my stuff done.

This advert was one of the most impressive adverts I had ever seen. I made me want to learn how to dance (it soon wore off).

Who does better adverts that Gap? It saddens me that I don’t see gap adverts anymore so here’s a tribute to some of my favourites.

Just one of those days...Until...

2008-05-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

Today started off as one of those days, you know, you want to go back to sleep but you can’t, you want to eat but you’re strangely full, you want to work but you just have no motivation and, most importantly, you want to download your favourite podcast but it’s not in the feed yet. Or...maybe this is just me. After some computer time i finally hit the books and revised for my impending C4 (that’s core maths to the people smart enough not to choose maths A-Level) mock exam. My real exam is under 4 weeks away so technically I was revising for that too. Anyhoo, back to it being one of those days, I’ve been working in my kitchen as opposed to my bedroom for two reasons; 1) There is barely any natural light in my room which makes it a reasonably unpleasant place to work in, and 2) My desk is quite high; combine this with my being under average height and you get a reasonably uncomfortable work station. So I’m working in my kitchen, a communal area and naturally, I get interrupted by the family, over, and over, and over again. I completed 1 and a half modules, significantly less than I intended to. Now, let’s get to the interesting part of my day.

Around, four thirty my brother comes to the house, we’d planned to see Iron Man. He, of course did not check what time the film started and a quick internet search resulted in me dressing very quickly to get to the 5pm show. There’s no way I could have left my house in what I was wearing previously. I got up this morning and I had a strange desire to wear shorts, so I put on theses horridious (yeah, horridious-a hybrid of horrible and hideous) purple shorts and one of the baggiest t-shirts I own. This, is what I call, studying clothes.

Back to the cinema segment of this piece; I was ready at 4:50 giving us 10 minutes to get to the cinema. We got there at around 10 past 5. You’d expect us to see trailers when we got there right? Wrong. As we open the doors I see Tony Stark being rescued by the military. You don’t need to have seen the film to know that a whole load happened before that moment. We still watch the film (because, you know, it’s our fault) and it turned out to relatively awesome, I’ll speak about the film and express some mad Robert Downey Jr love later. As I got home I went straight to the computer to watch the 10 minutes of the film I missed (don’t get me wrong, I don’t condone watching films online). It turns out, we missed around half an hour of the film, 38 minutes and 21seconds to be exact. That means it was not our fault. My brother has gone to complain and hopefully get us some free tickets as compensation. Yeah Boi.

He just got back, apparently we’ve got free tickets for a screening tomorrow. Unfortunately, my brother appears to have no proof of this so I’ll just see what happens.

Okay, back to what I saw of Iron Man (and the RDJ love). Iron man is what I call a great start to a story that will (yeah, I said will) be even better. It’s an origins story and we all know that origins stories can be, well, crap (Hulk anyone?). It was a film that relied heavily on the performances and the interactions between the various characters. Luckily, the acting and chemistry was fantabulous (hybrid of fantastic and fabulous). There were some great moments between Robert “Cooler than nitro” Downey Jr and Jeff “The Dude” Bridges, between “Cool Hand” Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth “kinda growing on me” paltrow and between Robert “Got the cool” Downey Jr and Terrence “I’ve only seen you in Iron Man and Crash” Howard. I’m sensing a theme here, oh Yeah, Robert Downey Jr was Awesome (in the Bill and Ted sense). There were many Downey Jr-isms present and that added a drop of, I don’t know, liquid perfection to the film. Iron Man was not necessarily faultless in terms of story and progression, but what I can say is that the next instalment will be exceptional. Can I get a Yeah Boi?

On a final note, if you actually read this and trust me, at least in the movie sense, you’ll watch iron man and If you do, WATCH THE BIT AFTER THE CREDITS. Yeah boi, fan boys, Nick Fury is coming.

Ken and Boris and Brian and...Charlie?

2008-05-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

‘tis a very important day in London. The final segment, the important part of the Mayoral Election takes place today, well, until 10pm this evening. Today, I voted for the first time. Sure it’s not a general election, but it’s pretty damn important. I’ve decided not to disclose who I voted for to anyone, not even my dear readers, sorry, I’m just not willing to go into a long conversation defending myself and my opinions. You can at least know that I didn’t vote for the BNP. I’m sure that quite a few people think I voted for the Green Party (good old Sian), mainly because I’ve been saying vote Green for the last however many years. Oh yeah, I’ve turned 18 since I last wrote, hence the voting.

I went around one week without watching any films in full, it’s strange. There is barely any time to do anything these days. Right now I really should be working, but I just can’t bring myself to pick up a pen. I’ve been approaching most things with indifference, I’m not really the most fun person to be around right now. This is what A Levels do to people.

I watched the film Chaplin (1992) the other day. I’d taken to watching Charlie Chaplin films so I thought I’d learn a bit more about the man behind the tramp, not to mention, Robert Downey Jr is supercool. Anyhoo, despite not really bearing a physical resemblance to Chaplin (except maybe in relation to height) I never doubted that he was Chaplin. And, for an American, he pulled off a reasonably good British accent. My conclusion: not only is Robert Downey Jr supercool, he’s cooler than liquid nitrogen. So, I watched Chaplin, and it turned out to be a jolly good watch. Richard Attenborough is a pretty talented director.

Old Charlie was an interesting guy, and he made great films (based on what I have seen thus far). There’s scene from The Great Dictator (which cause a load of controversy at the time because people didn’t really see anything wrong with what the Nazis were doing), that almost anyone would enjoy. It’s hilarious, well , there are two scenes, have fun.

Waterworld, Happy-Go-Lucky and the week that was

2008-04-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

The time things actually occur in my life that are somewhat blog worthy, I’m not bothered to write in my blog. That’s so like me.

Saturday: Waterworld (Not the Kevin Costner Movie)
It’s Saturday morning and as usual, I tidy up my kitchen. My copy of A Room For Romeo Brass was delivered that morning so I was watching (but mainly listening to) it as I tidied up. My sister came downstairs and started to watch TV. I’m easily distracted, well, I like to deviate from what I’m meant to be doing, so I watched TV with her for about 40 minutes. I then went to continue with the kitchen. As I made my way there I heard the sound of water trickling, it was coming from out laundry room. I looked in there and what did I see? A whole wall and part of the ceiling was pouring down with water, my first response? “Krystal, there water coming from the light bulb!”, which it was. She immediately rang my brother because, come on, water+electricity=nothing good. It turns out that she left the bath running. Think about this. She came downstairs, some time later I watched TV with her for 40 minutes, all this time the bath was running.

My sister just kept panicking and for one of the first times on my life, I was the cool one. I assessed the situation and said what needed to be done. She asked me why I was so calm, I didn’t say this at the time but I think it’s because I was secure in the knowledge that it wasn’t my fault. Probably two hours later, we finished the superficial aspects of restoring the house. As a safety precaution, we didn’t turn on the electricity in the laundry room. My sister kept asking whether turning on any of the electricity (we’re talking about the whole house now) would cause an explosion. Feel free to correct me, but from the little knowledge of physics (GCSE Double Science) I have, I’m quite sure that’s not the reaction you would get from water and electricity. Water conducts electricity so I think you’re more likely to have a surge of electricity.

The house is okay now, the light fitting had to be removed but…that’s about it.

Wednesday: Happy-Go-Lucky

Being the film nerd I am (I’ve written that so many times), I’m subscribed to the mailing lists for all the picturehouses in London, and one on Brighton. A few weeks ago, I got an email about a preview for film called Happy-Go-Lucky with a Q&A with the director, Mike Leigh. This was very exciting to me because:
a) It’s a preview, I’ve never been to a preview before. I was going to go to a preview of Deathproof earlier in the year with a Q&A with Quentin Tarantino but, obviously, Deathproof was rated 18 (damn you BBFC) preventing me from seeing it.
b) Happy-Go-Lucky is a Film Four film. They tend to be quite good. I believe their flagship film last year was This Is England, and I’m trying my best not to go off on a tangent about how great that was. Read my review instead.
C) I had heard of it. I’d seen the adverts for it on Film Four. It didn’t look that great from the ads but then again, neither did This is England.

Anyhoo, Happy-Go-Lucky was great. I was in tears laughing but as it progressed the film became a bit more complex. Let’s just say, my reactions were like this.

I’ve haven’t achieved that much academically this week. I had one piece of work to do during the holidays which I haven’t even thought about starting. I plan to do it tomorrow. My brother fixed my bike, well, me gave me his, so I may ride it up to the library tomorrow. Let’s see if I do.

I downloaded a 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator (mainly so I could do pictures that resembled A Scanner Darkly), it’s been fun. It’s also allowed me to do my stick man doodles digitally. Good times.

Living Well is the best Revenge

2008-04-05T04:55:00.000-07:00

REM are back! A few days ago iTunes had a free download of their new video “Living Well is the Best Revenge” and it’s reasonable entertaining. It’s not the flashing lights and robots we’ve come to see from Kanye West videos, it simply one camera shooting as the band play the song in a car. Evidence that they always sound as they do when recorded.

It’s Bette Davis’ 100th birthday today. She’s mothers favourite actress. I heard on TCM that they’d be playing some of her films in cinemas this month as a celebration so I tried to find out where and when. Unfortunately. I found out today that they’re being played none other that today. It’s a bit short notice so it looks like I won’t be going. Oh well.

Ooo, I found an amazing game today. Well, it was one of Empire's timewasters of the week. It's called Boomstick.

A Nerd? Me?

2008-04-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

I should be writing an essay right now but I thought that if I got all my internet time out of the way now I might work a little later than usual.

Now, to the main topic. I was on the bus today and I couldn’t help but hear the conversation the people behind me were having. They were two boys in the year below me and they were talking intensely about Stargate SG-1. I couldn’t help but think about the magnitude of their nerdiness. I slowly began to be quite entertained by their conversation and added my own comments (in my head of course). The more they spoke, the more I agreed with them and I slowly came to the realisation-I’m like them. Yes, readers, I am…a nerd. I thought I’d get a second opinion so I went onto a site called Nerd Tests to see whether I was at the deep end and my gosh, I’m in the middle of the ocean and I can’t swim. I got:

So I got a third opinion

our 500 Point Nerdity Purity Test Results
You answered "yes" to 243 of 500 questions, making you 51.4% nerd pure; that is, you are 51.4% pure in the nerd domain (you have 48.6% nerd in you).
According to the scoring guide, your nerd experience level is: You refuse to live anywhere without pizza delivery
Your Weirdness Factor (AKA Uniqueness Factor) is 23%, based on a comparison of your test results with 52554 other submissions for this test.

The average purity for this test is 63.4%.

I then did the geek test

45.95661%

I shall now be proud of my Geekiness/ Nerdiness. It’s a full time job being one of us, one of us, gobble! Gobble!

The Dare

2008-04-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

I understand that many of the things I do aren’t really logical, for example, I’ve taken to burning my junk mail. I can’t explain why. Anyhoo, many people don’t seem to realise that some the things I do are fun for me even if other people don’t find then fun. I’ll start at the beginning.

I’m listening to Movies You Should See, you know, as you do, and the hosts were telling a story about when their car had broken down and had to call the AA. While the AA guy was fixing the car, they tried to take a picture of him without him realising. They then proceeded to dare the listeners to try to take a picture of their bus driver or equivalent on their next commute. As I was on my home from college yesterday, my bus and another were next each other. My bus driver recognised the other driver, stepped out of his bus driver section, opened the front door and had a conversation with him. It’s not just me, that’s strange isn’t it? Not just strange, it’s very dangerous. Upon seeing this, I remembered the dare. I tried to take a picture of the driver with my phone but missed.

From this point on, I knew my objective for the rest of the day. Whilst I was still on the same bus, someone sat opposite me. One word: Opportunity. I expanded the dare to include passengers. I got a great picture of him.

I take two buses home to I took another attempt at getting a picture of a bus driver. Problem; I live in London and I have an Oyster card. It takes me less than a second to touch my Oyster card against the reader so there’s not much time to get a picture of the driver. The result:

As my picture didn’t turn out so well, I extended my journey home. I took four extra buses home and I got these !

I also got a bobby on the beat.

Now, if you happen to be in one of these pictures, even though that’s quite unlikely, I shall remove it if you wish.

Hold on! I was telling a story! Back to why I was talking about the things I find fun. I found this picture taking experience very fun. As I was changing buses the first time, sent a message proposing the dare to most of the people in my address book. Many people where wondering why they should do such a thing and why I would even ask. Firstly: It‘s a dare. Secondly: It’s fun! No more reasoning is necessary. Not everything needs to be logical or make sense. A lot of fun can come from illogical actions (even if Spock wouldn't agree).

I'm Dreaming of a White...Easter?

2008-03-23T03:22:00.000-07:00

It's snowing. Snowing I tells ya! Every year, as Christmas approaches I start to ponder whether or not I'll get a White Christmas. And every year, I'm disappointed. However, I got snow this year. Not at Christmas, but at Easter. Still trying to say that global warming doesn’t exist? I have little more to say on the matter. Adieu.

More Blogging

2008-03-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

I stopped blogging on Original Pirate Photography some time ago because I wasn't really taking pictures anymore, I even deleted the blog. Recently, I opened the it again. This was the first tine I was really happy that I had Melting the Pot. I was able to retrieve the html codes of all the pictures so I didn't have to upload all of them again. Phew! Anyhoo, although I'm not really taking pictures anymore, I still edit and manipulate pictures so it's these that I put on Original Pirate Photography. Then came my ingenious idea for a new blog. I manipulate pictures using Gimp and a lot of the sites and tutorials for creating different effects are for Photoshop. So, I made a new blog on how to create different effects using Gimp. Tutorial 1: Creating that iPod ad effect. You made have noticed that I used this on my previous post (if you didn't, I don't mind, it's not like you've hurt my feelings of anything like that). Anyway, if you wish to learn how to do some snazziness using Gimp, check out Bring in the Gimp.

Mystery on the Ice

2008-03-16T03:48:00.000-07:00

I was running late, the rain poured down and steam prevented me from seeing through the windows of the double decker bus. "Alexandra Palace..." a monotonous voice said, it sounded like my destination so off the bus I came. I climbed the stairs to the palace and stood outside the doors. I then began to feel out of place. I was surrounded by people producing tobacco smoke and sporting ID chains. It was still raining so I was reluctant to leave the shelter of the palace's entrance too look around. Not wanting to be late, I finally looked around, as soon as I left the shelter I realised where I was. This was not the Ice Rink, it was the other side of the palace, the conference side.

I eventually found by party, in a queue with many younger than myself. As we queued, the rest or our party arrived. As we landed on the ice, someone proposed a game of tag, it's more than possible that the person was myself. This game was unlike any game of tag I had played, no-one knew who was "it". Solving the mystery was the focal point of our game so it got rather boring. I attempted to turn it into a noir mystery but no-one was up to it.

There were holes in the ice, holes in the ice. Holes that were out to get you humble narrator, and they succeed twice. Yes, twice I had bear the cold ice the rink floor. No, thrice. The third time I was pushed. I have my suspicions about who it was but even I could not be sure. After more skating and crazy antics we traided our blades for our shoes and my friends, Converse All Stars never felt so great.

I attempted to write that in noir style but it clearly didn't work out well. I seem to have lost my ability to write. Oh well. Rae Charles' slendiferious writin ability more than makes up for it.

A little tribute to the real noir, a great scene from the film noir, The Big Sleep. Gotta love Bogart.

Ouch my throat

2008-03-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

Ooooooo, I'm feeling quite ill at the moment. I started feeling dizzyy around halfway through the school day, I drank some water, ate a chocolate bar and a little while later I felt better. I got through my last lesson feeling fine until I got on the bus. Then I began. From the moment I got on the bus uo until now, I have felt ill in some way or another. My dizziness came back, theen went away. My breathing was a bit unsettled, then it went back to normal. Right now, my throat is killing me. It's quite uncomfortable, pain.

Due to my illness, I've only really watched films or movies since 2, this afternoon. First, Silence of the Lambs, something I've owned for a few weeks but haave never watched. It isn't remotely as scary as people make out and it is definately not a horror film (Just like Se7en). It was a jolly film though; that Anthony Hopkins. Then I watched The Goonies, best childrens films ever. Then Scrubs (yeah Boi), then 3rd Rock from the Sun. Good times. The most TV I have watched in a very long time.

Untitled Sapphire M.Brown Project

2008-03-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

I've got an idea for a film, well, several films but one has advanced more than the others. It's advanced more than most of the ideas I have then I don't follow through meaning that there is a possibility that I may actually make this. I've got the shot planned out and even a few members of the cast. This is so well organised I can't believe this is me writing. I can't say very much here-someone may steal my idea, I just can't have that. So, if there's anyone out there preferably in the London area and willing to work for free, send me a message.

I thought I'd also do a bit of a film recommendation. I'm currently watching Brick, It's rather amazing and that's not just because I love film-noir. Brick is great in almost every way. The performances thus far cannot be faulted Joseph Gordon-Levitt (that's right, Tommy from 3rd Rock From the Sun) is doing a fantastic job, I might not have recognised him had I not imdb'd his name. The story line is superb and the dialogue (oh my gosh the dialogue) is so very snappy, let's just say, it's so film-noir.

Overrated? I'll take Monster's Ball and raise you Titanic

2008-03-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I watched a film I haven’t seen in years; Monster’s Ball. I first watched it when I was eleven and I’ve come to realise that I really didn’t get it. The story is much more complex than it was in my head and generally much better than I remembered. The performances are great, Halle Berry really deserved her Oscar. It also serves as a tribute to Health Ledger, someone we lost way too soon. After being told, I knew that it was him in Monster’s Ball but had not recollection of him. Like most of the actors, he too was amazing. For some reason I remembered Billy Bob-Thornton’s character to more sinister than he actually was. All in all, it’s a very good film. Naturally, not everyone agrees.

The people at Premier decided one day to put out their list of the 20 most overrated films of all time. On this are some films that are far from overrated. To overrate something is to value it too highly and for many of the films on the list this is not the case. The reasons given for why Monsters Ball is overrated were:

Everyone loves seeing pretty people in desperate situations, but this
southern drama is so tragic, it's absurd. Pity Leticia Musgrove: First her
husband is executed. Then her son, who in addition to being saddled with being chubby, gets killed in a hit-and-run accident. Fortunately, Musgrove finds refuge in the arms of Hank, whose father is an alcoholic racist and whose son commits suicide.Enough! Maybe with a more plausible leading lady (say, Angela Bassett), this sobfest would have gained some credibility. But a few sweat stains and exposed breasts weren't enough to transform Halle Berry into an actress worthy of an Oscar.

So tragic, it’s absurd? More unbelievable things have happened in film. The tragedy depicted on screen is perfectly plausible and it is ab aspect of the story that partially explains why Hank and Leticia are drawn to each other (ever heard the term united by tragedy?). As I mentioned before, Halle Berry’s performance was Oscar worthy. The statement has the concept of why someone wins an Oscar the wrong way around. The Oscar is not given based on the actor/actress being Oscar worthy, it is based on whether the performance they gave (regardless of any previous performances) was so spectacular that that is could be classed as the best performance in that category of that year. Berry showed charter progression and real emotion. That, Premier, is why she won and deserved to win best actress. People are very quick to say that the sex scene is the biggest or most important part of the film. What I can say is at least it was relevant to the storyline unlike many scenes out there is movie-land. The scene shows transition; it marks a new chapter in the lives of the main protagonist and stylistically, it is impressive. They also need to remember that it Berry, not the film that many comment on, their reasoning reflects this.

Another film featured in the list was Clerks and here’s why:

Kevin Smith's Clerks is a little funny and a lot boring, just like Dante Hicks, the convenience store cashier it follows for one long, pointless day. This trifle's lame acting and anemic plot were celebrated for their street cred because the slackers among us could relate and the critics all wanted to seem cool. So, sure, a cornchip shark in a salsa sea is funny when you're drunk. But a movie shouldn't require beer goggles. And moving the camera occasionally orhiring unknown actors who can actually act doesn't cost any extra, even if you've only got $27 grand.

Clerks is not just known because slackers can relate to it. It is a film that most of the population can relate to. It relates to having to grown up, having to change for the better and the choice of whether to do what you want of what it technically best for you. Overrated, I think not, most of the world has not even heard of Clerks for them to hold it in high regard. The dialogue is funny and original, many need to remember that originality is becoming a rare commodity.

Forrest Gump? I kind of see where you’re coming from but I still disagree. Their reasoning:

Being There, done that—only not quite as well. Gump makes a big, sloppy show of adoring its puerile hero to the degree of adopting his idiotic notion that whatever life gives you—be it the growth of your Apple stock or the death of a spouse from AIDS—is like a chocolate bonbon. The film is just a short-bus joke wrapped in cloying nostalgia and faux empathy. Robin Wright Penn's Jenny is redeemed by marrying the pure Forrest, but the junkie whore still must die, a plot contrivance that reveals the film's misguided moralism.

Forrest Gump is a film that takes the audience through many of the biggest moments on history. The phrase “Life is like a box of chocolates” does not mean that everything is life is good and sweet, regardless of how dreadful it is. It simply means that life is a bit of a wild card, the event cannot be predicted. Jenny death, is relevant as a marker in history. It reflects the ongoing problem of diseases such as AIDs in the world. People are dying and for Jenny not die would be to condescend the audience. What I do think is that Forrest Gump is overrated to an extent (that’s not say that I don’t own it). I believe that Forrest Gump was given a huge amount of recognition at the time (I say at the time because Forrest Gump is not often listed as on of critics’ top films nowadays), it won a large amount of Oscars, some of which, it believe should have went to other films.

I’ve written more than I expected and I’m a bit too tired to write about more.

Premier's 20 Most Overrated Movies of All Time

Just Sayin' Stuff

2008-02-28T10:26:00.000-08:00

I reminisce about the times when half term was essentially extended play time. Nothing to worry about, wake up when I want, sleep as late as I want and so on. Last week was half term. I don’t feel rested, I barely do any lie-ins, it was like college-but at home. I was given 3 tasks to do; revise for a maths mock and write two essay. I thought logically about this and decided to finish the essays than do the revision. The essays took the whole week! I didn’t get to revise until after I returned to college and I think this will be reflected in my results. The test was today, I think I scraped 50%. Oh well, there’s next time (meaning the real exam).

I was motivated by this incident. I currently have no work to do so I decided to revise for the upcoming real exams. I actually got some revision done, then, I could work no more. I think my attention span is getting shorter and shorter. I played some Wii games then started to write. No, I tell a lie, I finally started writing my review for No Country For Old Men, then I lost inspiration and gave up. I think I’ll got and enjoy what I left of my day. Goodbye horses.

Virgin stole my Oscars

2008-02-25T06:30:00.000-08:00

We all know that yesterday (well, this morning if you live in the UK) was Oscar time. I, being the movie nerd I am sat up to watch it from one thirty. I set the recorder just in case I fell asleep. Okay, so I'm watching the Oscars Javier has won best supporting actor, the Coens have won best screenplay and I'm simply beaming. As the show goes on I type my summary article for Helium, that's dedication for you. Anyhoo, they're announcing the best cinematography (and Cameron Diaz can't pronounce it), I quickly write down that the expected winner is Roger Deakins and guess what happens. The TV says that the channel is off air. Damn you Virgin Media. I didn't get to see Daniel Day-Lewis or the Coens accept their Oscars. It’s not like Sky movies comes off air at 4 because, on Sky Movies Drama, The Departed was still on. Branson, my opinion of you isn’t getting any better.

Oscars Summary

The carpet's out, the stars made up and the winners pre-decided. That's right, the 80th Academy awards have finally come our way. We were unsure as to whether there would even be a ceremony; there was, and it was splendid. Each year, the ceremony gets bigger and this year was not exception.

Naturally, we open with a few jokes with our host, John Stewart. No topic was ignored he touched on the writer's strike, the election and the increasing darkness of the academy.

Achievement In Costume Design
Presented by Jennifer Garner the award had many impressive designers, the classic French work for Vie En La Rose, the period piece, Atonement. Alexandra Byrne won her first Oscar for Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Previously, Byrne had been nominated for Hamlet.

George Clooney gives us a short intro about notable moments in Oscar history showcasing a plethora of key moments. This is the first of many montages featured throughout the ceremony including a tribute to bad dreams (included solely as a joke of course).

Best Animated Feature
Anne Hathaway and Stave Carrel, naturally entertaining presented the award. It was the film everyone expected to win, Ratatouille by Brad Bird.

Achievement in Make-Up
And the award goes toNorbit, only joking. The Oscar was won for the amazing work put into La Vie En La Rose by Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald. It took great effort to convincing turn Marion Cotillard into Edith Piaf.

Achievement of Visual Effects
The award went to Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood for the Golden Compass.

Achievement in Art Direction
Many impressive works were in the category, the grim and fantastical Sweeny Todd, the classic, Atonement and the magical Golden Compass. The Oscar went to Dante Ferretti (Art Direction); Francesca Lo Schiavo (Set Decoration) for Sweeny Todd

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
The first acting award of the ceremony this was one of the awards everyone thought they knew the winner would be. The predictions were correct and Javier Bardem won his Oscar for his role as the psychopathic and terrifying Anton Chigurh. Included in his speech were a few phrases in Spanish for his mother.

Best Live Action Short Film
Presented by Owen Wilson was one of the lesser awards. The Oscar goes to Le Mozart Des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets) a tale about two crooks who take a young mute boy into their care.

Best Animated Short Film
The Oscar went to Peter and the Wolf by Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
This is most certainly one of the more unsure awards. Many had their eye on Cat Blanchette for I'm Not There. As predicted by the BAFTAs Tilda Swinton won the ward for her role in George Clooney's Michael Clayton.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
On of the awards that we weren't sure about the winner, the nominees all seemed to have an equal chance. The Coen Brothers took their first award for No Country For Old Men based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy.

Best Sound Editing
Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg took the award for best sound edition for the swift and cool, The Bourne Ultimatum

Achievement in Sound Mixing
Another sound award for the Bourne Ultimatum taken by Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis.

Best Actress in a Leading Role
This award was bit of a wildcard; the winner became less and less clear as time passed. Although the BAFTAs were right again, surprisingly, the award went to Marion Cotillard for her unrecognisable performance as Edith Piaf in La Vie En La Rose.

Achievement in Film Editing
Yet another award for the Bourne Ultimatum. Christopher Rouse won the award for achievement in film editing.

Best Foreign Language Film
The films within the foreign language category were more certainly not the most well-known foreign language films of the year. The award went to the Austrian film, The Counterfeiters set during World War Two.

Best Original Song
Although nominated for three of the five films with the best song category fail to win any awards for enchanted. The winners were for the song "Falling Slowly" in Once.

Achievement in Cinematography
There was a strong consensus that Roger Deakins would win the best cinematography for either The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford or No Country for Old Men. As they say, the best things come to those who wait and after 7 nominations Roger Deakins finally won the Oscar for No Country For Old Men.

Best Documentary Feature
For the dark documentary centred around an Afghan taxi driver beaten to death in U.S. military the award went to Alex Gibney and Eva Orner for Taxi to the Dark Side.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Guess. The award everyone was 99.99% sure about the winner. Shock, horror (!) Daniel Day Lewis wins his second Oscar for is powerful role as Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
As time went on, people gained more and more faith in Juno, an arguably small film. Like Sidney Lumet said about actors there are also no small films and the award deserving went to Diablo Cody, writer of Juno.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original Score)
The second academy award nomination for Dario Marianelli who won it for the grand score for Atonement.

Achievement in directing
The first directing team to win this coveted Oscar since 1961; the crowd goes wild as Joel and Ethan Coen received the award for No Country for Old Men.

Best motion picture of the year
The big one. A reward received by such films as In the Heat of the Night and The Godfather, the ultimate reward for any filmmaker. This was the fourth award of the evening for No Country For Old Men.

It was clearly No Country for Old Men's Night it received some of the most prestigious awards in the film industry. Not so lucky films were Atonement nominated for seven award and There Will Be Blood, nominated for eight awards. Each received one award.

Play or Fold

2008-02-23T04:58:00.000-08:00

Just sitting in my secondary office (the living room), watching the screen after winning a game solitaire, St Elmo's Fire plays in the background and pondering the meaning of life. Gotcha! Like I’d ponder such a thing, why waste time on a question that has no definitive answer. Everyone’s life has a different meaning and we have the choice to determine what that is. We blame life for dealing us a crappy set of cards when the chips are down, but when something great happens, we love to say how great our achievements were, we’re black jack kings, queens of poker, we weren’t just in the right place at the right time.

We nearly always continue to play. Hit me. Hit me. Hit me. Sure, the cards are chosen at random, but we have to choice to fold. And when we lose, then what?

Woah, that almost sounded wise

Counting to Sleep

2008-02-22T06:37:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed that I insalled these little counter things on my blogs to see if people are actually reading them and by golly they are! I'm in shock, I really thought I was talking to myself and occasioally, Rae Charles. I compared the amount of readers I get from all of my blogs and it appears that people read Amateur Critic Reviews the most, even nore than this. They'd rather read critcal analysis of works of art than me simply talking drivel? What is the world coming to. The website I went on to is very good, there's even a nifty option to see where my readers are from, this is the one from Amateur Critic Reviews simply because it's the most impressive:

"I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!"

MySpace, A Tale of Obsession

2008-02-21T06:28:00.000-08:00

This was travelling around Digg

I don't think I need to say anything

Oh my Coen Brothers

2008-02-19T12:14:00.000-08:00

Well I did it. I finally saw No Country For Old Men. It is a master piece and I would go so far as to say this it was effing awesome. Oh my gosh the lighting. Oh my gosh the sound. Oh my gosh the acting. Oh my gosh, that’s how it ended. Wow. I’m not too sure how to convey how great the film was in words. It is my intention to review it at some point, naturally, during the course of the film my little review points made into my head. I got home and put my white board to use. See below:
Roger Deakins is the king of cinematography. I just need to see Juno, There Will be Blood and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly to gauge what film, in my opinion, was the best picture of 2008. I know what you’re thinking-didn’t she write her Oscar predictions including best picture already? Damn right I did, but that is very easy to do without watching the films. I must say that watching No Country For Old Men has made it even harder to predict a winner. I don’t think I’ve given No Country… enough time so I will get back to it tomorrow. The sister want to use the computer.

Sitting on the chair in my room...wastin' time

2008-02-18T07:47:00.000-08:00

Okay, it the first day of half term, I intended to do so much today. Star off with some maths, do a bit of a sociology essay, then some psychology revision. I did some maths then sat in this chair to star typing the essay. I haven't even opened Microsoft Word. I'm meant to be going to the cinema at five to finally see No Country for Old Men. So, the day is practically gone. Shame on me.

I haven't really done nothing. I've written one blog (see below) and completelr re-vamped one of the other blogs (Amateur Critic Reviews ch-ch-ch-check it out). That took considerably longer than the re-vamping of this one.

Time to get ready. Goodbye Horses.

The Most Overrated Films of all Time

2008-02-18T05:42:00.000-08:00

Every year people throw quotes around like “the best film of all time”. Are they really? So many films get an overwhelming amount of credit for being great when they are in actuality, average. These are the films overrated films. I shall name a few of these such films, please don’t hunt me down.

Titanic

James Cameron’s deviation from the sci-fi genre is a film that many take great pleasure in. Its greatest strength is in something that James Cameron is great with, the aesthetic. The film is visually stunning; at no point does the audience not believe that they are on the Titanic. Unfortunately this strength does not outweigh the crushing disappointment that is the other aspects of the film. The focal point of the film is the love story between Jack and Rose, a story we have seen many times before; boy meets girl, they fall in love, they can’t be together but they try to be. So very unoriginal. This was the point in Leonardo DiCaprio’s career where he was often in films to make young girls swoon. His performance was acceptable but not tremendous. Kate Winslet is an amazing actress but Titanic is most certainly not her best performance. A combination of satisfactory acting, an okay storyline and an unoriginal love story line make Titanic a greatly overrated film.

High School Musical

What happened to this world? Disney’s live action musical took the world by storm prompting sequels and tours. My main question is, why? High School Musical is clearly a musical for children yet many attempt to dress it up as something more profound. The storyline is almost non-existent. From the beginning of the film to the end there is hardly any character progression and at no point is the emotional tone at a low. Like any musical, High School Musical is reliant on the songs; this is one of the biggest flaws. The songs are mediocre. The dance sequences are impressive and this is one of High School Musical’s saving graces, the choreography is amazing but does it cancel out the lack of storyline and tremendous amount of cheese, I think not.

Crash

Number 156 in imdb’s top 250, winner of the academy award for best picture, Crash. A film that at the time of it’s release and still is, depicted as an enigmatic story about an untouched subject. The story is not enigmatic at all, to be fair, it’s quite simple and to say it is complicated or enigmatic is to insult the audience. The untouched subject? Racism. Shocking isn’t it. A film about racism; never heard that one before. American History X, Do the Right Thing-aren’t they films about racism? So why did everyone make such a fuss about Crash, a film that pales in comparison to the named examples. Crash’s clear lack of originality and shocking amount of credence makes Crash one of the most overrated films of all time and the most overrated film of 2004.

Bring in the Gimp

2008-02-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

Now, back to my usual drivel. I changed my browser from Internet Explorer (crap) to Opera. I was going to go for Firefox but I prefer Opera more. And….I have no more drivel. Ooo, noticed the new layout? It took me 15 minutes to design the title image but an additional 20 minutes to get it to fit inside the frame thing. I ended up using Gimp (not the guy from Pulp Fiction) to simply shrink the image. Duh (!) Gimp is what I like to call free Photoshop. It’s got loads of the features of Photoshop and you can even download new brushes. I’ve only really succeeded in using it for reasonably simply tasks but I’ll continue to play with it and become a master, yeah boi.

Podcasts was it?

2008-02-17T08:57:00.000-08:00

Right...podcasts. Ahhh yes. On the last most I made a little promise to talk about podcasts in this post. Good on me.I think i'll start off by defining what a podcast is. A podcast, according to pcmag.com

can be defined as:

(iPOD broadCAST) An audio broadcast that has been converted to an MP3 file or other audio file format for playback in a digital music player or computer. The "pod" in podcast was coined from "iPod," the predominant portable, digital music player, and although podcasts are mostly verbal, they may contain music.

Many make the mistake of thinking that podcasts were invented by Apple for iPods and iTunes; this is not the case. Podcast were availiable online before iTunes put the little Podcast tab on its left hand menu. Apple was very smart and decided to name these little audio broadcast after the iPod and adopt Podcasts as their own. Pure Genius.

I listen to quite a few podcasts, I think I’ve mentioned some before. The main podcast that I listen to is Movies You Should See from the interdependent podcast network, Simply Syndicated. I stumbled upon MYSS back in my hardcore Star Trek days. I was on the Star Trek message boards every day, my whole life was Star Trek. (It sounds like I’m in an AA meeting well, STA Meeting). Anyhoo, the people of Simply Syndicated left a post on the Star Trek message boards about their Star Trek podcast, Make It So. Being the Trekkie I was, I went onto their website and listened to the two Make it So podcasts they had done so far, one of which was about swearing in Star Trek. It was hilarious, much better than Treks in Sci-Fi but I’ll get onto that later. As Make it So was so great, I listened to Movies You Should See. They had podcasts on quite a few movies I’d seen. Movies You Should See was even better than Make it So shock/horror. Due to the humour, I say humour but I mean comedy that may leave you aching from laughing so hard I wouldn’t suggest listening to Movies You Should See or Make it So in public.

Another podcast I listen to from the Simply Syndicated network is The Definitive Word. This features Will Tristram, an occasional guest on many Simply Syndicated shows, as he and his guests discuss the arts, society, popular culture and life in the 21st Century. There many intellectual debates such as “Top Ten Cartoon Ladies”. The Definitive Word is none other than perfection in audio form. Despite the example that I gave, it is possible to learn quite a bit (largely from the Hong Kong law episode) as well as have a good old laugh.

Or do you think that’s just bollocks, well, do you? Or do you think that’s just bollocks is yet another podcast from the Simply Syndicated team. It stars “Ranting” Richard Smith the tech wizz of the group as he, as you may have guessed, rants about any topic he wishes. Some, I must say, are close to my heart such as the nonsense that is Virgin Media (stealing my Sky One). If you want to have a rant, you can even send in an audio file of yourself ranting and be heard on the air. Great.

In my list of podcasts I have three more from the Simply Syndicated network but I don’t listen to two of them very much. The final Simply Syndicated podcast that I regularly listen to is Left Field Cinema. It’s highly dissimilar from Movies You Should See. Left Field Cinema is hosted by Mike Dawson, who reviews and analyses films whilst analysing the film-makers as well.

A podcast that I used to listen to but can’t really be bothered to listen to anymore is Treks in Sci-Fi. Each podcast the host, Rick A Dostie gives a detailed episode commentary on an episode of Star Trek. It’s not the most exiting podcast, that the main reason why I seem to have left it for the other podcasts.

The ultimate podcast for the Geeks out there is GeekNights with Rym and Scott. Geeknights is a late night show for geeks, featuring anime, comics, gaming, sci/tech, gadgetry, and general geekery New episodes every weeknight Monday through Thursday. (I kind of stole the description from iTunes). I’m not really into anime or know anything about the kind of board games to Rym and Scott play so I don’t subscribe to the main feed. Each day on GeekNight has a different theme, Monday is Science and Technology, Tuesday Gaming, Wednesday is Anime Manga Comics and Thursday is a bit random, they may talk about anything, and they do. As each day has a different theme they put each day in a separate feed so it’s possible to only download the things that you’re interested in. GeekNights is very entertaining, It’s most certainly worth a listen.

Any fans of Kevin Smith out there? If you’re really a fan you probably know that Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier have a podcast named Smodcast. If you don’t know who I’m talking about, Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier are the writer/director and producer of such films as Clerks, Mattrats and Dogma. If you like their humour, you’ll like Smodcast. It’s basically the two (occasionally with some guests) speaking about any topic with jokes throughout. Good Times.

Oscar? Who's Oscar?

2008-02-14T07:44:00.001-08:00

Oscar predictions (I wrote this ages ago)

The Oscars are on their way so and despite worries there they may be no ceremony the prediction have begun. Like any year, a handful of films have dominated the nominations. No Country for Old Men, the Cohen Brothers' new masterpiece has been nominated for a staggering 8 awards along with Paul Thomas Anderson's violent tale, There Will Be Blood. Representing British cinema, Atonement is out win seven awards including best picture. Will Atonement be as successful as The Queen, we'll have to wait and see.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Johnny Depp has always been one of the critics favourites and has now been nominated for his third Oscar. However, this year, the Oscar will probably go the Daniel Day-Lewis the recipient of one Oscar already. His performance as the ruthless business man, Daniel Plainview, in There Will Be Blood.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Javier Barden lost out on his first Oscar to Russell Crowe in 2000, but that will not be the case this year. It's no secret that his performance in No Country for Old men has impressed most it is most certainly his year.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
We always say that actors and actresses in comedy film fo not get the credit they deserve and many said that Ellen Page should be nominated for an Oscar for Juno but few thought it would actually happen. Unfortunately for Miss Page, the winner of the award look like it's going to be Cate Blanchett for her reprise of her role of Queen Elizabeth in Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Young Saoirse Ronan conveyed a believable and moving performance as Briony Tallis in Atonement. The combination of her young age and acting ability that is beyond her years that should win her this Oscar.

Best animated feature film of the year

Ratatouille is a film that has impressed the critics. There is little doubt that this well crafted story of a rat in a kitchen will win the Oscar.

Achievement in art direction

Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer appear to be Joe Wrights go-to team for Art Direction. Everyone loves the aesthetics of a period drama and this is why the Oscar for Achievement in Art Direction shall go to Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer.

Achievement in directing

This is the award that seems to have the Coens' names all over it. They have really struck back with No Country for Old Men and it look like it will win one of the Oscars that Fargo did not.

Best documentary feature

Michael Moore may be the one of the first documentary makers that spring to mind but it is unlikely that he will get his hands in this Oscar. Charles Ferguson's depiction of the war in Iraq appears to be the frontrunner for Best Documentary Feature.

Best foreign language film of the year

Representing Austria, The Counterfeiters (Flscher, Die) illustrates the huge counterfeiting operation set up by the Nazi's during the war. It is more than likely that The Counterfeiters Will clench this Oscar.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original Score)

Dario Marianelli's score for a Atonement is one of those scores that is perfect for the film in very way. As a freestanding piece and score alone Marianelli's composition is striking.

Best motion picture of the year

Ooo, the big one. No Country for Old Men and There Will be Blood are clearly the frontrunners. I honestly has no idea who will take this one.

Indeed

Procrastination and Daniel Day-Lewis

2008-02-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

I'm sure that many may have a noble and respectable reason why they blog. I have no such reason. I have had no work to do for the past few days BUT, as soon as I received a piece of work (which must say I've put off for some time) I've started to blog again. My blogging is a means of procrastination, good times. It would be a bit more impressive if I said things a bit wiser than I actually do. I'll say something really interesting at some point. The next blog will be on Podcasts-I promise. (damn, now it's down in electronic ink). Seriously, a really good blog next time. Anyhoo, befor the end of the day I need to somehow write a psychology essay, complete around one months worth of work and answer some trigonometry questions.

As you may have guessed from the blog title, this blog has something to do with Daniel Day-Lewis. Why? Because he's cooler than liquid nitrogen, that's why. Mr Day Lewis just won the BAFTA for best actor which he most certainly deserved. Daniel Day-Lewis doesn't get nearly enough credit as he deserves despite the fact (yes fact) that Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the best actors in Britain. So that's me, speaking of the greatness that is Daniel Day-Lewis. Could I say Daniel Day-Lewis any more?

Check out the new blog from Rae aka Rae Charles http://vodkachurchsatan.blogspot.com/. She's a psycho, really, meaning that her blogs a jolly good read.

Snoogins

I Give The Godfather 1 out of 10

2008-01-30T14:33:00.001-08:00

Being the movie nerd that I am, I spend a huge amount of time on imdb.com. Naturally I turn my attention to the message boards. Unfortunately, this is often a rather unpleasant experience. There is always someone who goes into a message board starts a thread with an ingenious name such as "This film is so rubbish" and then never returns. They give no justification for their comments, why? Because they probably have none. They're too simple minded to realise that they are watching a cinematic masterpiece (yes you imperfectpete from the Pan's Labyrinth Boards) .

A great thing you can do with imdb is look at the distribution of the ratings given by the users. 15533 people have rated The Godfather 1 out of 10. 1 out of 10? The Godfather? I am most certainly not the hugest fan of The Godfather but I can appreciate that it is a masterpiece. Few films are a 1 out of 10 except maybe Trees 2: The Root of All Evil (I'll get back to that).

I have the great honour of being a female under the age of of 18. This demographic seems to give out the most ridiculous ratings conceivable. The average rating of Rashômon for females under 18 is 2.7. Rashômon is a masterpiece and it is shocking that they cannot realise this. Many see subtitles and think "Oh no, it's foreign". Fools I tells ya!

Now, for your reading pleasure the plot synopsis for Trees 2: The Root of All Evil:
As Christmas approaches, Ranger Cody prepares to do battle with an army of carnivorous trees that may be from a special branch of the ominous National Forest Service.

Good Times

The Neurotic Intorvert

2008-01-27T09:37:00.000-08:00

Tsk Tsk Tsk, shame on me, not writing for a few days. I would try to write a huge amount to make up for it but I probably wouldn't succeed.

Onto the subject matter. I recently recied a rather interesting and strange piece of homework. I was given a test, the Eysenck Personality Test. It tests for introversion, Extroversion, Neuroticism and Stabiliy.

The score is determined by converting scores from a series of questions into numbers on the above scale. According to my test I am a Neurotic Introvert. To me, it sounds like the most unpleasant score to get. Apparently, I am moody, anxious, rigid, sober, pessimistic, reserved, unsociable and quiet-not pleasant at all.

There seems to be a rather common misconception as to what introversion is. It doesn't mean that you're shy and can't be around people. It means that your internal level of arousal is so high that you do not need to seek much external arousal. The Free Dictionary defines Neurotism as

A psychological state characterized by excessive anxiety or insecurity without
evidence of neurologic or other organic disease, sometimes accompanied by
defensive or immature behaviors. This term is no longer used in psychiatric
diagnosis.

Great.

Little Gold Men

2008-01-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

The Golden Globes have just gone by so naturally the peak of the awards season is coming our way. That’s right, the army of little gold men symbolising the most prestigious film awards, the Oscars. We are still unaware as to whether the ceremony will take place. The writers strike resulted in a press conference but could this be the same for the Oscars, they are by far more glamorous than the Golden Globes. So have suggest that cancelling the ceremony could cause the writers to lose the sympathy of their supporters. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

A we may have guessed, No Country for Old Men has been nominated for an immense number of awards. The Coen Brother’s new masterpiece has been nominated for an impressive 8 awards; Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Javier Barden), Achievement in Cinematography (Roger Deakins), Achievement in Directing (Joel and Ethan Coen), Achievement in Film Editing (Joel and Ethan Coen), Best Motion Picture of the Year, Achievement in Sound Editing (Craig Berkey), Achievement in Sound Mixing and Adapted Screenplay.

Representing great British Cinema, Atonement has been nominated for a still impressive seven awards including Best Picture. Unfortunate for some, Keira Knightley has not been nominated for best actress.

The rest of the nominations are as follows.

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.)
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War" (Universal)
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
Julie Christie in "Away from Her" (Lionsgate)
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
Laura Linney in "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
Ellen Page in "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" (The Weinstein Company)
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster" (Universal)
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

Best animated feature film of the year
Persepolis (Sony Pictures Classics): Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
Ratatouille (Walt Disney): Brad Bird
Surf's Up (Sony Pictures Releasing): Ash Brannon and Chris Buck

Achievement in art direction
American Gangster (Universal): Art Direction: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Beth A. Rubino
Atonement (Focus Features): Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
The Golden Compass (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Art Direction: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount): Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Art Direction: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson

Achievement in cinematography
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Warner Bros.): Roger Deakins
Atonement (Focus Features): Seamus McGarvey
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Janusz Kaminski
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Roger Deakins
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Robert Elswit

Achievement in costume design
Across the Universe (Sony Pictures Releasing) Albert Wolsky
Atonement (Focus Features) Jacqueline Durran
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Universal) Alexandra Byrne
La Vie en Rose (Picturehouse) Marit Allen
Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) Colleen Atwood

Achievement in directing
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Julian Schnabel
Juno (Fox Searchlight), Jason Reitman
Michael Clayton (Warner Bros.), Tony Gilroy
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Paul Thomas Anderson

Best documentary feature
No End in Sight (Magnolia Pictures) A Representational Pictures Production: Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience (The Documentary Group) A Documentary Group Production: Richard E. Robbins
Sicko (Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company) A Dog Eat Dog Films Production: Michael Moore and Meghan O'Hara
Taxi to the Dark Side (THINKFilm) An X-Ray Production: Alex Gibney and Eva Orner
War/Dance (THINKFilm) A Shine Global and Fine Films Production: Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine

Best documentary short subject
Freeheld A Lieutenant Films Production: Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth
La Corona (The Crown) A Runaway Films and Vega Films Production: Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega
Salim Baba A Ropa Vieja Films and Paradox Smoke Production: Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello
Sari's Mother (Cinema Guild) A Daylight Factory Production: James Longley

Achievement in film editing
The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal): Christopher Rouse
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Juliette Welfling
Into the Wild (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment): Jay Cassidy
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Roderick Jaynes
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Dylan Tichenor

Best foreign language film of the year
Beaufort Israel
The Counterfeiters Austria
Katyn Poland
Mongol Kazakhstan
12 Russia

Achievement in makeup
La Vie en Rose (Picturehouse) Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
Norbit (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount): Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Walt Disney): Ve Neill and Martin Samuel

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
Atonement (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
The Kite Runner (DreamWorks, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions, Distributed by Paramount Classics): Alberto Iglesias
Michael Clayton (Warner Bros.) James Newton Howard
Ratatouille (Walt Disney) Michael Giacchino
3:10 to Yuma (Lionsgate) Marco Beltrami

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
Falling Slowly from Once (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and: Marketa Irglova
Happy Working Song from Enchanted (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
Raise It Up from August Rush (Warner Bros.): Nominees to be determined
So Close from Enchanted (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
That's How You Know from Enchanted (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz

Best motion picture of the year
Atonement (Focus Features) A Working Title Production: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers
Juno (Fox Searchlight) A Dancing Elk Pictures, LLC Production: Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers
Michael Clayton (Warner Bros.) A Clayton Productions, LLC Production: Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production: Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production: JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers

Best animated short film
I Met the Walrus A Kids & Explosions Production: Josh Raskin
Madame Tutli-Putli (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski "Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)" (Premium Films) A BUF Compagnie Production Samuel Tourneux and Simon Vanesse
My Love (Moya Lyubov) (Channel One Russia) A Dago-Film Studio, Channel One Russia and Dentsu Tec Production Alexander Petrov
Peter & the Wolf (BreakThru Films) A BreakThru Films/Se-ma-for Studios Production Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman

Best live action short film
At Night A Zentropa Entertainments 10 Production: Christian E. Christiansen and Louise Vesth
Il Supplente (The Substitute) (Sky Cinema Italia) A Frame by Frame Italia Production: Andrea Jublin
Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets) (Premium Films) A Karé Production: Philippe Pollet-Villard
Tanghi Argentini (Premium Films) An Another Dimension of an Idea Production: Guido Thys and Anja Daelemans
The Tonto Woman A Knucklehead, Little Mo and Rose Hackney Barber Production: Daniel Barber and Matthew Brown

Achievement in sound editing
The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal): Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay
Ratatouille (Walt Disney): Randy Thom and Michael Silvers
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Matthew Wood
Transformers (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins

Achievement in sound mixing
The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal) Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland
Ratatouille (Walt Disney): Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kane
3:10 to Yuma (Lionsgate): Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe
Transformers (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin

Achievement in visual effects
The Golden Compass (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Walt Disney): John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier
Transformers (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier

Adapted screenplay
Atonement (Focus Features), Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
Away from Her (Lionsgate), Written by Sarah Polley
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

Original screenplay
Juno (Fox Searchlight), Written by Diablo Cody
Lars and the Real Girl (MGM), Written by Nancy Oliver
Michael Clayton (Warner Bros.), Written by Tony Gilroy
Ratatouille (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Brad Bird; Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
The Savages (Fox Searchlight), Written by Tamara Jenkins

Turn That Frown Upsidedown

2008-01-21T12:34:00.001-08:00

According to GMTV, it is the most depressing day of the year. It has been termed 'Blue Monday' by psychologists. Why is it the most depressing day of the year you ask? It was pretty dark when you woke up wasn't it? Remember the money you spent on Christmas? Remember that old habit you planned to give up on January 1st? Apparently, it is due to the financial problems caused by Christmas, breaking New Year's Resolutions, going back to work and awful weather that cause us to spend January 21st frowning.

Naturally Internet user, you don't need to face this alone. One very nice person concocted a website to help us all get through the day (of course they did). They outline 10 things that you can do to beat Blue Monday.

Try something new
Be creative, or learn something new to get your brain active and start thinking of new things instead of dwelling on the old.

Get physical
By changing your physical state, from a simple shoulder-shake at your desk to a full work-out at the gym, you can change the way you feel.

Contact a friend or relative
Get in touch with someone you have not heard from in a while; thinking of someone else takes your mind off you.

Take a break
Go somewhere different, whether it’s a coffee bar you have never been into, or a faraway luxury holiday; by changing your physical location, you change your perspective on the world.

Be nice to a stranger
Do a random act of kindness; doing good for others is the best form of self-satisfaction.

Help the planet
Be a good ancestor in some way; the planet will be here long after you are gone.

Pamper yourself
From a small indulgence to a luxury you have been promising yourself.

Plan something newWhether it’s planning a holiday for later in the year or deciding what to do at the weekend, looking forward to something new or different can be uplifting and refreshing.

Go to the beach
By turning a bit of your home or office into a beach you can pretend your somewhere relaxing and help us create world’s biggest beach party!

Share you thoughts
A problem shared is a problem halved. Visit the Blue Monday blog to see what ideas people have come up with for dealing with life’s little problems.

They all seem to be pretty reasonable suggestions, unfortunately I can't really try then out as most of my day has gone. That last one, tsk tsk tsk, shameless self promotion. So tacky. Check out my other blogs which are visible on the right hand column.

Films I Await: Things we lost in the Fire

2008-01-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

This is meant to be a general blog but I seem to find myself going back to films. They rule my life...with school.

Things we Lost in the Fire is Susan Bier's American debut. She impressed critics with her Dutch hits Open Hearts, Brothers and After the Wedding. Things We Lost in the Fire stars Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro and David Duchovny in a story about loss, reflection, addiction and hope. It was released in the US in October and since then it has received positive reviews. Unfortunately, it will not be released in the UK until February 1st.

Unlike other films I have awaited such as No Country for Old Men, my desire to watch Things we Lost in the Fire is not the result of the words and opinions of others. The trailer depicts a story that fails to succumb to the many cliches a story of it's nature could yield to. The film stars Halle berry who, over the years, has proved herself to be a more than capable actress. Benicio Del Toro is an actor who I have not seen a large number of performances from but who highly impressed me in 21 Grams. His performance couldsimply be described as believable. Such a partnership of great actor justifies the anticipation of Things we Lost in the Fire.

A Day of Procrasitination

2008-01-19T08:46:00.000-08:00

I have a report on value-free research due on Tuesday so it makes sense that I'd do a considerable amount of it today. I've had no such luck. I've written one paragraph, 147 words, disgraceful. Somehow, I've managed to edit every one of my blogs, create a new blog, watch the same film twice and eat what could easy be described as two lunches. I have not done my objectives for the day: the report, laundry, tidy my room or any revision. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

I've attempted not to go into my office which isn't hard as it's freezing cold in there but I did want my iTunes library. I've made one of these online playlists (Finetune Player), I must admit, It's rather rubbish. You can't add more that three songs from one artist? What kind of madness is that. I'm sure there's a logical reason but as you may have guessed, I haven't been acting logically today. I should get some work done.

Films You Love but Daren't Say You Do: Part I

2008-01-18T13:13:00.000-08:00

If you're familiar with my other blog (Amateur Critic Reviews) I generally focus on films that are generally considered to be impressive, or dare I say it ‘intellectual’. There are large number of films that many of us like to say we’ve see. These are your Citizen Kanes, Shawshank Redemptions and Godfathers. However, there are always those guilty pleasures. Films that aren’t regarded as particularly good films.

The first film, Rent. In 2005 Christopher Columbus of Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire fame, directed the musical, Rent, based on Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical. It details the lives of several Bohemian’s living in New York City’s East Village. Rent stars Anthony Rappp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel, Traci Thoms, Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Jesse L. Martin. The acting is rather impressive, as is the storyline in general. The greatest strength, as you may expect with a musical, is the songs. They are the kind of songs that make you feel better, and I am not one to turn down the opportunity to feel good.

Rent has one clear message: No Day But Today; living each day and embracing it as if it is your last. Good Times.