Monday, March 31, 2008

He's the Wolverine, yeah the Wolverine...

Check out this guy's quest to draw one new Wolvie picture each day:
http://wolverinedaily.blogspot.com/ . If you're not a Wolverine fan, you should be!

Quote: Rich Cook on Programming Idiot-Proof Programs:
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning." - Rich Cook, author

(both found on http://www.neatorama.com/)

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Love, Hate, Love - the way I feel about the 80s

I really love the 80s, and everything associated with it - the Dukes of Hazard, Camaros & Firebirds, Different Strokes, the Rubik’s cube, Back to the Future, The Goonies, and of course the music. But in retrospect, I see so many things wrong with the 80s. Colors got really messed up in the 80s. All of a sudden we were bombarded by neon green, electric blue, hot pink, and fluorescent yellow. There is everything wrong with these unnatural colors. They should remain where they are found – primarily on tropical fish and on Easter eggs.

But hair is the main thing that was wrong with the 80s - the hairstyles are proof that bigger is NOT always better. Tight clothing is another thing wrong with the 80s. Seriously, we should criminalize tight clothing, especially if its worn skinny white guys in makeup!! Here are some pics I came across with some serious 80s hair and 80s fashion (hint - click the pics for the full view):

I really love Poison, but come on; this is such a gay picture. The hair, the make-up, the over the top clothes, come one! I still love their music, but why was this look ever cool?

Cinderella, another band I loved, and still do. But for real, did Cinderella really look this gay back when I liked them? I mean look at the guy on the right in the gay leopard print leotard. Nothing says ‘I’m tough and manly’ more than tight animal prints.


I don't know who these guys are, both this is seriously like a bad dream. I hope this is a joke. The guy on the left has, well, um, I think it’s a guitar. I guess he was trying to outdo Steve Vai or something. The guy in the middle, well he just took the bedazzling a tad too far. Mr. Metal Man on the right, where’s your shirt?


And if you think hair metal was the only culprit of bad hair, the new wave bands were just as guilty. There are some subtle differences, but height is still a factor. And is that Kylie Minogue on the lower right?

And just so that we don't think that the common American family was immune to hair disasters, check this out. This is so painful to look at. I feel like this is some weird joke picture or something. But they seriously think they look good. And that poor kid! I have no more words for this one.

Oh The 80s, oh how I love you, hate you and then love you some more!


Friday, March 28, 2008

balkan beat box???

My friend Rodger blogged about this band a couple of days ago (http://theinnercesspool.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-ish-music.html).

If you like Ozomatli ('Ozo-what-see!' you might be saying), or any other multicultural, multi-lingual musical artists (Celine Dion doesn't count, although Shakira probably does) you would like these guys:
http://www.balkanbeatbox.com/
http://www.myspace.com/balkanbeatbox

who's who? which group is Ozo and which is BBB?

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

newsflashes

The world's going to end this year
This guys says so and wrote a book about it. He's actually giving the book away, which makes perfect sense seeing that the world will end soon and we'll have no need for books or money: http://the-end.com/2008GodsFinalWitness/

Soulja Boy gets rocks thrown at his bus
BLOOMINGTON, IL-- 12-year-old boy was arrested and accused of throwing a rock through a hip-hop performer’s tour bus windshield Thursday night, police said.

Bloomington Police Lt. Pete Avery said the boy told officers, “I hate Soulja Boy.”

The boy threw the rock at the bus about 7:40 p.m. outside the Hampton Inn West, 906 Maple Hill Road, department spokesman Dave White said.
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/03/22/news/doc47e43e02deb00524014754.txt

Monday, March 24, 2008

What Christians and white people like - 2 funny lists

I came across this blog which led me to another blog which led me to a 3rd blog. The first one has a list called "stuff christians like..." Its based a on list that another guy posted called "stuff white people like". He posted the list, but the 3rd site has the full descriptions of the things white people like. This is funny (at least to me anyways).

They are funny, funnier that the TV put-downs I listed a few posts ago. Here are the blogs:
http://jesusneedsnewpr.blogspot.com/2008/03/stuff-christians-like.html
http://bigearcreations.blogspot.com/2008/03/stuff-white-people-like.html
See the original list with all the descriptions here:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

recommended reads

Here are 2 things I've read recently that I recommend, if you're into either sci fi or comics and have never read either one:

Watchmen by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons
Its the only graphic novel to appear on Time Magazine's 2005 list of "the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present."



The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
by Robert Heinlein
Wikipedia's description: a 1966 science fiction novel by American writer Robert A. Heinlein, about a lunar colony's revolt against rule from Earth. The novel expresses and discusses libertarian ideals in a speculative context.

Quote from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress: "At one time kings were anointed by Deity, so the problem was to see to it that Deity chose the right candidate. In this age the myth is 'the will of the people' ... but the problem changes only superficially." — Professor Bernardo de la Paz on the subject of choosing leaders.

Monday, March 17, 2008

my new favorite director

Danny Boyle - British director
Films I've seen - 28 Days Later, Sunshine, Trainspotting, & Millions

One of the main things I love about Boyle is that none of these films are alike. There is great variety and it seems to be something he strives for. The four films I listed are all extremely different. They are set in a variety of settings and deal with a variety of situations: Zombies and the end of the world; a space voyage; heroin addiction, friendship, and loyalty; greed and generosity. There are surreal moments in some of his films. There are terrifying moments in some. There are some extremely tender moments in some. He has great vision and seems to know when to add the right elements at the right moment.

So while his films may have some common elements or themes, but he's more than a one trick pony. I can contrast Boyle with another of my favorite directors, Quentin Tarantino. I love Taratino because he's a film fan a does movies that he likes. I love the stuff he makes, but in a way, you know what to expect from him. He's unpredictable , yet predictable at the same time.

So there you go. Those are some reasons why Danny Boyle is my new favorite director.

Quote from Danny Boyle:
"Once you've had anything like a hit in the movie business it's so easy to get lost. All these people are scuttling around trying to get you to make things, suggesting things and offering deals. The pressure of what to do next is horrible."

Boyle directing the kids in 'Millions'

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

some funny things

Funny Thing #1:
The other day Jo and Adelle and I went to the mall to get pictures made. That's not the funny thing. We had them done in the morning but I had to go back that afternoon to get them. As I was pulling out of my parking space this guy drives buy and honks his horn at me. He got my attention and I thought he might need help or directions. When I rolled down my window, he asked me if I wanted to buy "__". I thought at first that he said 'Weed', but he actually said "Wii", as in the Nintendo Wii game system. I said no thanks, I don't want one, rolled down my window and drove away.

That the first time I'm come across a rolling video game system merchant. Now, I don't want to just assume that he was trying to sell a stolen Wii, but that was one of the first things that went through my mind. Why else would he be trolling the mall parking lot looking for people to sell it to. Why not use Craigslist or even put an ad in the paper? Oh well, it was funny.


Funny Thing #2:
The UK magazine Radio Times compiled a list of the best TV put-downs. It covers the last 40 years from British and American TV. The BBC posted the list here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7264321.stm

Funny Thing #3:
A blog entry from a guy who tells about the first 14 birthday cakes of his life. Entitled "My Life in Frosting", this is a classic. There are pictures of all the cakes. His mom is a creative lady!
http://secretfunspot.blogspot.com/2007/01/my-life-in-frosting.html

Friday, March 7, 2008

an article I wish I'd written

Over on Christianity today's website there's an article called "The 8 Marks of a Robust Gospel: Reviving forgotten chapters in the story of redemption" by Scot McKnight (posted 2/29/2008 08:59AM)

This is a truly awesome article. I've thought about the ideas in it, but I never take the time to put many of my thoughts in order like this. Plus this guy has a catchy word - robust - that he builds his article around. Quite clever of him.

Monday, March 3, 2008

across the universe

This was one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. It was visually pleasing. The acting was very good. And the idea of using Beatles songs to help tell the story was brilliant. One of the main things I loved about this film was that they used songs I'd never heard before. I'm not a Beatles fan per se, so I am familiar with the big hits and that's about it. The filmmaker could have stuck to the familiar tunes, and many of them are in the film, but I appreciate the variety of songs and the fact that I'd never even heard most of them.

I can describe this film in two words: rich, beautiful. See it!!