Ultranormal

Category: entertainment

  • I’m back at work, and

    I’m back at work, and dang people, can you send more mail? Just between the first and third I received 100+ pieces of mail, mostly work related. How scary is that?

    Just a little update on LawverHappenings:

    1. Christmas was great. Max was adorable and everyone was laid back and had a good time. There were no fights, no major philosophic differences (that we discussed), no disasters, and everyone left smiling.

    2. As you can tell by my last post, I got Civ3 from my in-laws. It has yet to caused marital dischord, which is a major achievement.

    3. Mom got me The Best of Randy Newman. It’s most excellent.

    4. The record store in the mall is going out of business. We raided it and I picked up some really good stuff

      • Rhinocerose: Blissful French techno. Very groovy

      • Spring Heel Jack: Treader. I love his other stuff and didn’t even know about this album. It’s much better than the last one.

      • Amon Tobin: Supermodified. Oh yes, yes, yes, this is an amazing album. You’ve heard him on BMW and Coke commercials. Great rockin’ beats. Light Sunday Afternoon Industrial

      • Crash Test Dummies: Give Yourself a Hand. I was curious about this album before, but never went out and got it. It’s an interesting departure from the “Mmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm” stuff from their first two albums. I liked it. They mixed up the vocals, still had a couple songs that felt like their old stuff, but really left the park on the rest of the album. It’s a little dirty, but a fun listen.

      • David Byrne: Feelings. I love David Byrne. I was looking for Look Into the Eyeball, but this was the only one they had that I don’t. Excellent album. Goes from David Byrne’s normal wackiness to Country twang to techno-ey thumping without making your head spin. Awesome.

      • Memento the Soundtrack: There’s some really good stuff on this album by Moby, Thievery Corporation, Bjork, etc. Good stuff.

    5. We went to Home Depot yesterday and loaded up on shelving for our midget closet and various other places. I even bought super-strength drywall screws so I don’t repeat the “Great Sliding Shelve Debacle of 2000” again.

  • A Larry King Moment

    For my money, there isn’t a song that’s sexier than You Look Like Rain by Morphine.

  • Because I’m in a funk

    Because I’m in a funk and feeling sleepy, I present my
    Favorite Sad/Mellow Songs (song:artist):

    1. Teardrop: Massive Attack
    2. Weather Storm: Massive Attack
    3. Wish: Mephisto Odyssey
    4. In Spite of Me: Morphine
    5. The Night: Morphine
    6. Take Me With You: Morphine (sensing a Morphine theme here?)
    7. Gone for Good: Morphine
    8. Is Jesus Your Pal?: GusGus
    9. Anthem: GusGus
    10. Jayme Lynn: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
    11. Nothingness: Living Colour (only good song off their last album)
    12. She’s Already Made Up Her Mind: Lyle Lovett
    13. North Dakota: Lyle Lovett
    14. Family Reserve: Lyle Lovett (all off of Joshua Judges Ruth – what an excellent album)

    There are more. I forgot a lot of people, like Leonard Cohen, Randy Newman and Jeff Buckley. Leonard Cohen for writing Hallelujah and Jeff Buckley for singing it, and The Last Goodbye. Randy Newman for several songs, but mostly for one he played on Session at West 54th that he said hadn’t been recorded yet called, I Miss You. That song tore me up. And actually, it’s the last song on his new Best Of CD. I know what’s going in my stocking this year…

    There’s something about real sad songs, and movies, that I can’t shake. They can’t be stupid or fake. They can’t be Hallmark sappy. There has to be genuine, or at least the appearance of genuine pain behind it in order for it to work. Sad songs, like the Blues, make me happy. Sadness is life-affirming. Sadness means that you’re still kicking and will most likely be happy again. I don’t like constantly morose songs, or Goth depression. Real sadness in a song though is refreshing. You should try it.

  • My Britney problem — and

    My Britney problem — and yours – A great article from Salon about the pop princess and what she’s peddling. It’s a fascinating point of view. It makes it hard to think about having another kid. What if the baby’s a girl? It seems like such a herculean task to raise a girl today. I don’t know how I’d do. Raising a boy is pretty easy. They don’t discover girls until they’re 9 or 10, and even then, it’s in an ewww gross sort of way. Girls have it so much harder, and from an earlier age.

    I’ll have to remember to tell my “Hey, she’s a GIRL.” story sometime.

  • I give up. David Byrne

    I give up. David Byrne will always be cooler than me.

  • Cravings Jen wanted a hot

    Jen wanted a hot dog. I don’t know why. She went on and on about how she wanted a hot dog. It was 10:30 (in the middle of Iron Chef) and she wanted a hot dog. I reminded her that there’s a 7-11 right down the street, open 24 hours and chock full o’ meat tubes. She went so far as to do the glance around the room to see if her shoes were handy. She didn’t go get one, but being the nice husband that I am, I got her one yesterday. I’m swell.

    Iron Chef gave me a craving for sushi. I’ve now had sushi a grand total of twice in my life (both at the same place here in Sterling w/ the guys from work). Iron Chef on Saturday had the top sushi chef in Japan up against Iron Chef French. The sushi chef whipped up some unbelievable pieces. It was mouth/eye-watering.

    So, where do cravings come from? I remember when Jen was pregnant, the books said that pregnant-lady cravings usually indicate that you need whatever that thing provides. I don’t know that that’s true of us now. Who needs what hot dogs have in them other than a sewage treatment plant? It’s all a mystery. A mystery wrapped in a bun, with mustard and ketchup covered in chili.

  • For a super early teaser,

    For a super early teaser, the Star Wars Episode 2 trailer is very well done.

  • The Good Little Entertainment Consumer Report

    It was a fine weekend for consuming entertainment product. Here are the highs and lows of the weekend:

    • Game 7: Finally, the Yankee’s lose! I hate baseball. I really do. But, that doesn’t keep me from hating the Yankee’s. Plus, Arizona was there, and they deserve a champion in something other than college basketball. If we’re forced to watch the Cardinals every year, we can at least get ONE World Series. (too bad I don’t live there and could take the day off or something)
    • The Emmy’s: I thought they were a little overwrought, but it was great to see Peter MacNicol win for Ally McBeal. He’s the only real reason to watch that show anymore. He’s just groovy.
    • Band of Brothers: It ended much better than it began. They tied up loose ends, and we finally got to see who everyone was! It bothered me that they didn’t put their names next to the old guys in the little interview segments at the beginning. I understand it (what do you think I am, stupid?). If they put their names up, you’d know who survives!! Where’s the fun in that?
    • Fantasy Football: My whole team sucked this week. They really did. I didn’t start who I should have, and my QB was out on a bye. BUT, with one player each left (my kicker, his defense), I’m up by 13 points. I like my chances. If I win, it will put me alone at the top of the board with a crazy record of 7-1.
    • Serendipity: John Cusack, what the hell happened to you, man? This was a piece of crap with a capital S. It was trite, completely predictable, and if it weren’t for Jeremy Piven, and how unbelievably cute Kate Beckinsale was, this movie would have no redeeming values whatsoever. The worst part? Whenever they missed each other, I heard a cascade of female gasps from the audience. DUR, ladies, DUR!! Jeez… what a stupid movie.
    • The Crow: I took a late nap yesterday (I love Sundays), so wasn’t ready for bed when the game was over. So, I flipped over to Cinemax where I got to see most of The Crow. I still love this movie. It’s a little corny, but it’s dark, a little twisted and Michael Wincott is evil incarnate in it. That, and it rings a little too true with Brandon Lee’s death during filming. The end always gets me.

    There you have it, the weekly entertainment roundup. I left out Iron Chef, but you know how I feel about that show…

  • I had a great post

    I had a great post about our Pic-couch-nic today, but Blogger ate it. I’ll re-write it all later. Right now, it’s Better Off Dead, which I’ve never seen before. Yes, I know. I’m a deprived little man.

  • And so he doesn’t get

    And so he doesn’t get annoyed, I’ll post this great movie reply on MY site:

    In response to: “Who’s in charge?”

    I reply: “Well, Delmer, I believe it should be someone with the capacity for abstract thought.”

    I love that movie… (Oh Brother, Where Art Thou for the uninitiated).