You think it makes you smart?

04.26.06

Song of the Day: Natalie Imbruglia - Left of the Middle

Apparently it's Turn Off Your TV Week, or some such nonsense like that. Some pop culture blog on Yahoo has cheekily reported on the event, and oodles of self-righteous commenters have chimed in. They say:

They haven't owned TVs in years!

They actually have Family Time!

They read books!

They have a life!

Several things amuse me about this. The first is the way these people all seem to think they're so much better than those of us who have the nerve to watch all the Violence! and Sex! and Drugs! on television. They're so morally superior because of their television-less life, yet not morally superior enough to recognize that it's not polite to openly insult people for their likes and dislikes.

Second, what's with this assumption that just because someone watches TV, he doesn't also read books, go outside, spend time with his family, and otherwise have a life? Maybe all these people gave up television because they were absolute clueless about how to find a nice balance to everything in the first place.

Third, almost every single comment on that blog entry is filled with the most atrocious grammar and spelling I've ever come across. It was painfully painful. If this demonstrates the intelligence of people who are championing getting rid of television, I think I'm going to choose not to listen to them. They all retort, "Turn off the television and pick up a book!" However, from their English skills, I'm willing to bet none of these people have picked up a book in the last, well, ever.

06:54 PM [link]

Music bits

04.25.06

Song of the Day: Natasha Bedingfield - Peace of Me

Best new song of the moment: Oakenfold's Faster Kill Pussycat, which features Brittany Murphy on the vocals. I have no idea what made Oakenfold decide to pick her, but he's definitely no dummy when it comes to making music.

Worst new song of the moment: Sean Paul's Temperature. I think his name is Sean Paul. I heard the song on the radio in LA and cringed the entire time, and now my ears get bombarded with it daily because it's in some cell phone commercial on TV. Everytime I hear it, all I can think is, "WTF is this?"

09:14 PM [link]

Bookish rant

04.18.06

Song of the Day: Saint Etienne - Pale Movie

I've been working my way through the books co-written by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child; some of them are techno-thrillers (like Michael Crichton, only better), and others are serial killer thrillers, and they're all some of the most addicting things I've ever read. The very best ones have FBI Agent Aloysius Pendergast in them, and he's one of the most memorable characters I've come across in a long time. I just finished their 10th book today; it's the second book of a trilogy, and the third part doesn't come out until May 30th.

Which is just KILLING me. I need to know how it ends, NOW. I have it preordered on Amazon, so hopefully they'll be swift in sending it to me.

In other bookish news, Jacqueline Carey is writing a new trilogy to follow up her Kushiel trilogy, which was the best thing that I have ever read, possibly ever. I'm apprehensive, however, because the two books she wrote after the Kushiel trilogy were panned by critics and readers as not being anywhere near what she created before. I'm worried that she's trying to recapture the glory by adding sequels where they aren't necessary. My fears are slightly alleviated by the fact that the new trilogy is from the point of view of the original herione's adopted son, and also because it's entirely probable that villainess Melisande Shahrizai would never have just complacently stayed under house arrest for the rest of her life.

Only time will tell; I think the first book in the new trilogy comes out in June.

11:28 PM [link]

Square dancing?

04.14.06

Song of the Day: Garbage - Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go)

Since the commercials are on five times an hour, I've gotta ask:

Does Old Navy really think square dancing is going to sell clothes? The absolutely asinine clap-and-twirl choreography coupled with the ugly peasanty brown clothes they're dancing in makes me want to steer clear of Old Navy until they get some sense knocked into them.

12:39 PM [link]

The Island

04.08.06

Song of the Day: The Flaming Lips - Fight Test

Scarlett Johansson used to annoy the crap out of me. I couldn't stand her and hoped that she'd quickly disappear from the limelight so I wouldn't have to see or hear about her anymore. Then I actually saw her in a movie (Match Point, which was absolutely stellar) and totally revised my opinion of her. I'm not sure what it was that made me dislike her, and I'm not sure what it was that made me change my mind, but after Match Point I was looking forward to seeing her onscreen again.

I saw her with Ewan McGregor (rowr) in The Island today, and while I wasn't expecting greatness since it was a Michael Bay movie, I actually ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I do wish that reviewers had been a little more tight-lipped about the plot so that I could have actually been surprised at certain turns in the story. It being Michael Bay, about a half hour of the 2 hour movie was spent blowing up cars on highways, and another half hour was of chase scenes in which things other than cars were being blown up, but under all the explosions there were some intriguing questions about science and ethics.

Plus, did I mention Ewan McGregor? Rowr.

10:13 PM [link]

Breast Cancer and Velvet Chain

04.06.06

Song of the Day: Nina Gordon - Now I Can Die

I'm interrupting my current blog apathy to tell you to give your money away.

Erika Amato, the lead singer of one of my favorite bands, Velvet Chain, is participating in the Los Angeles Revlon Run/Walk For Women. This 5k walk/run focuses on raising money for breast and ovarian cancer. Her personal fundraising goal is $1,000, and she's currently halfway there. According to their webpage, since 1993, the Revlon Run/Walk has provided 35 million to cancer research, counseling, and outreach programs, so click here to sponsor Erika and be a part of this cause. Because it's important, dammit.

04:08 PM [link]