Thursday, February 22, 2007
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
History Doesn't Repeat Itself, But It Rhymes...
Despite a question as to the extent of the actual Iranian involvement in the arming of insurgent forces in Iraq, the executive branch has made a proclamation, and his word stands. Executive power now rests not only in administrative and military affairs, but in foreign relations as well. As it should. Doesn't it make sense that the word of one man should hold that much power? Why should UN investigations, Iranian justification, or diplomatic proceedings have any bearing here?
Two things get me about this issue. For one, the executive branch is on the verge of igniting another conflict that may have even less to do with the War on Terror. There's a War on something, obviously. We're like a kid at recess saying, "Alright, I know you guys are playing a joke, just tell me what it is." For two, try this one on. Questionable Arms Sales, Foreign Insurgencies, Iran. Weird, I know.
Two things get me about this issue. For one, the executive branch is on the verge of igniting another conflict that may have even less to do with the War on Terror. There's a War on something, obviously. We're like a kid at recess saying, "Alright, I know you guys are playing a joke, just tell me what it is." For two, try this one on. Questionable Arms Sales, Foreign Insurgencies, Iran. Weird, I know.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Old Fuckers
"By the time Ms. Binford got around to describing a safe sexual act involving Saran Wrap, a woman shouted, 'Enough, already!'"
amazing
-mike
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
New Contributors!! See, it's not so hard...
Greetings From Down The Hall!
Oh, hi there! My name is Tom, but around here they call me Tommy Dynamite! Actually no, they don't, but that would totally be my wrestling moniker. Anyway, here's the deal, i've had this idea in my head for a while that i've wanted to start a blog...Mike beat me to this idea. Now i'm certainly not going to copy my dear friend/roommate Mike here and start my own, so i figure I could just be a regular contributor. This is only if permisson is granted of course but i'm quite charming so how can he resist :) You'll have to cut me some slack here at first. My writing the past few years has mostly consisted of structureless lyrics and half-assed (yet A worthy!) community college papers. What you can expect is my take on the sports, music, politics, movies, tv shows, pop culture etc. Don't take anything too seriously though. I'll try and keep things rather lighthearted which is probably a good thing considering how uptight and pretentious movie reviewers can be (kidding Mike!). Talk soon!
Thoughts by Tom.
Like most of the world I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Anna Nicole Smith. Not because of her death of course, but for the fact that the death of this dumb, vapid, and worthless faux celebrity has seemingly "captured the nation", as they say. Actually, I can't just get mad at America, there are a few other nations (i'm looking at you Britain) who are just as at fault. In fact, a German t.v. station reportedly spent over 500,000 dollars just for poorly shot footage, from about a mile away, of paramedics attempting to resuscitate this fat bitch. I guess i'm not suprised at all the attention this is getting but it's still frustrating to see this garbage get so much coverage, especially considering our country's current state of affairs. This is one of those things where I could just go on and on but then I suppose I would be just as guilty as those i'm ranting about. There really are more important matters to worry myself about anyway, like who i'm gonna vote for 600 plus days from now.
Oh, hi there! My name is Tom, but around here they call me Tommy Dynamite! Actually no, they don't, but that would totally be my wrestling moniker. Anyway, here's the deal, i've had this idea in my head for a while that i've wanted to start a blog...Mike beat me to this idea. Now i'm certainly not going to copy my dear friend/roommate Mike here and start my own, so i figure I could just be a regular contributor. This is only if permisson is granted of course but i'm quite charming so how can he resist :) You'll have to cut me some slack here at first. My writing the past few years has mostly consisted of structureless lyrics and half-assed (yet A worthy!) community college papers. What you can expect is my take on the sports, music, politics, movies, tv shows, pop culture etc. Don't take anything too seriously though. I'll try and keep things rather lighthearted which is probably a good thing considering how uptight and pretentious movie reviewers can be (kidding Mike!). Talk soon!
Thoughts by Tom.
Like most of the world I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Anna Nicole Smith. Not because of her death of course, but for the fact that the death of this dumb, vapid, and worthless faux celebrity has seemingly "captured the nation", as they say. Actually, I can't just get mad at America, there are a few other nations (i'm looking at you Britain) who are just as at fault. In fact, a German t.v. station reportedly spent over 500,000 dollars just for poorly shot footage, from about a mile away, of paramedics attempting to resuscitate this fat bitch. I guess i'm not suprised at all the attention this is getting but it's still frustrating to see this garbage get so much coverage, especially considering our country's current state of affairs. This is one of those things where I could just go on and on but then I suppose I would be just as guilty as those i'm ranting about. There really are more important matters to worry myself about anyway, like who i'm gonna vote for 600 plus days from now.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
I've been busy recording with the band, but here's a little story that I was thinking about...
A New Treasure.
In the early days of the phonograph, before the turn of the century and after Prussia was no longer a kingdom, there was a rich young Duke in a place called Brandenburg. His recent acquisition of a beautiful Italian bride was overshadowed in his eyes only by the acquisition of an American phonograph. It was a prototype, and had travelled a long distance to its present place in the Duke's drawing room. His bride was named Mariella, and had travelled a long distance from a tiny town in southern Italy called Matera. Her ambivalence toward the phonograph could only be overshadowed by her ambivalence toward her new husband.
The Duke's inability to soften Mariella's heart became known throughout the province. His interest in the phonograph was passionate, though, and it became a part of his days. He recorded interviews with friends, family, servants, even Mariella, and it was as if his curiosity could never be satisfied. During an interview with his mother, she gently suggested he somehow use the phonograph to make his wife happy. The Duke decided to take his treasure to Matera, in order to bring back to the girl some piece of her beloved homeland. Upon reaching the small town, his entourage was forced to camp in a nearby pasture while the Duke looked for a guide. Pulling a cart-load of firewood on the outskirts of the village, the Duke found a girl who strangely resembled Mariella, and convinced her in halting Italian to help find a suitable interview subject. An elderly matriarch was found, and back in cold Brandenburg, upon hearing the scratchy recording, Mariella's tears had never fallen in such desperate sadness.
A New Treasure.
In the early days of the phonograph, before the turn of the century and after Prussia was no longer a kingdom, there was a rich young Duke in a place called Brandenburg. His recent acquisition of a beautiful Italian bride was overshadowed in his eyes only by the acquisition of an American phonograph. It was a prototype, and had travelled a long distance to its present place in the Duke's drawing room. His bride was named Mariella, and had travelled a long distance from a tiny town in southern Italy called Matera. Her ambivalence toward the phonograph could only be overshadowed by her ambivalence toward her new husband.
The Duke's inability to soften Mariella's heart became known throughout the province. His interest in the phonograph was passionate, though, and it became a part of his days. He recorded interviews with friends, family, servants, even Mariella, and it was as if his curiosity could never be satisfied. During an interview with his mother, she gently suggested he somehow use the phonograph to make his wife happy. The Duke decided to take his treasure to Matera, in order to bring back to the girl some piece of her beloved homeland. Upon reaching the small town, his entourage was forced to camp in a nearby pasture while the Duke looked for a guide. Pulling a cart-load of firewood on the outskirts of the village, the Duke found a girl who strangely resembled Mariella, and convinced her in halting Italian to help find a suitable interview subject. An elderly matriarch was found, and back in cold Brandenburg, upon hearing the scratchy recording, Mariella's tears had never fallen in such desperate sadness.
Friday, February 9, 2007
The Ghost in Apartment Three
I awoke to the stove making strange noises. I thought it was the refrigerator, but soon realized it was in fact the stove. When I plugged in my amp I noticed an awful buzzing noise at steady intervals, much like the stove, though I didn't make the connection until later. Before the repair shop I contemplated phoning an ex-lover who knows about electronics, but I decided against it. Some hours later I realized the connection. It seems I have a ghost.
It went like this:
Ghost in apt 3
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It went like this:
Ghost in apt 3
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Thursday, February 8, 2007
Flags of our Fathers
Clint Eastwood's first draft of an attempted WWII revival nearly squirms in agony with every successive shell impact. A despondent Adam Beach plays private Ira Hayes, a man whose Native American origins, in the eyes of almost every character in the film, seem to justify the rejection of heroism and his consequently booze-soaked descent. If this project is Eastwood's take on Iraq, it's only fair to view private Hayes' struggle in parallel to that of today's minority soldiers. Eastwood's Republican leanings are quite public, as is his blunt hatred of colleague Michael Moore, but isn't he re-examining a point clearly made in 2004's Farenheit 9/11? The intangible cost of war is not only the ante of human life, but the inevitable isolation and exploitation of our lower classes. The three flag-raisers, in fact, represent each of the socio-economic echelons of American life respectively, and go on to represent the respective cost of war. i.e. The poor get poorer.
Whatever his take, a sobbing and impotent Hayes isn't much of a vehicle for commentary. Rather than drive home an all-too-important point, Eastwood drags us through the mire of weak-stomached melodrama in the face of an unspeakably terrible (and completely unrepresented) enemy. There are so many problems with this it makes me want to throw grenades. Since when is Clint Eastwood a pussy? "He was the best marine I ever knew..." says Hayes of Barry Pepper's Captain Strank. Perhaps it's because he was the only marine in the film that wasn't continually sobbing. Anyway... At least Eastwood's formal abilities shine through, despite some basic problems. He's created a balance between the physical challenge of going against a tenacious Japanese force, and going against an equally apathetic American public. It's a very interesting split, and although the heroes apparently don't get it (and do nothing if not complain about the latter struggle, one which in truth is perhaps the more important) it makes an interesting reminder to both sides of the political spectrum. Eastwood reminds us lefties that wars are perhaps a part of American life, but more importantly reminds Bush and Co. that once upon a time governments actually needed to drum up support for wars in order to finance them. Oh, how times have changed.
In spite of this informative balance, Eastwood's tale is still lacking. The American public has no voice, and the really interesting historical stuff never makes it to the surface. The story of American apathy toward WWII is actually pretty amazing. Likewise, we see nothing of the Japanese, and are left with only secondary accounts of their ferocity, creating demons in our imaginations and therefore pigeon-holing an entire ethnicity. Nice job, Clint.
Whatever his take, a sobbing and impotent Hayes isn't much of a vehicle for commentary. Rather than drive home an all-too-important point, Eastwood drags us through the mire of weak-stomached melodrama in the face of an unspeakably terrible (and completely unrepresented) enemy. There are so many problems with this it makes me want to throw grenades. Since when is Clint Eastwood a pussy? "He was the best marine I ever knew..." says Hayes of Barry Pepper's Captain Strank. Perhaps it's because he was the only marine in the film that wasn't continually sobbing. Anyway... At least Eastwood's formal abilities shine through, despite some basic problems. He's created a balance between the physical challenge of going against a tenacious Japanese force, and going against an equally apathetic American public. It's a very interesting split, and although the heroes apparently don't get it (and do nothing if not complain about the latter struggle, one which in truth is perhaps the more important) it makes an interesting reminder to both sides of the political spectrum. Eastwood reminds us lefties that wars are perhaps a part of American life, but more importantly reminds Bush and Co. that once upon a time governments actually needed to drum up support for wars in order to finance them. Oh, how times have changed.
In spite of this informative balance, Eastwood's tale is still lacking. The American public has no voice, and the really interesting historical stuff never makes it to the surface. The story of American apathy toward WWII is actually pretty amazing. Likewise, we see nothing of the Japanese, and are left with only secondary accounts of their ferocity, creating demons in our imaginations and therefore pigeon-holing an entire ethnicity. Nice job, Clint.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Welcome!
Hi Everyone!
Welcome to my bold foray into the world of blogging. I'll be updating this site as much as possible with various pieces of brilliance, but for now I've archived some movie reviews taken from my Myspace blog, although I seem to have the order of them reversed.
My inital idea for this blog is that it's a space for me, where I can put some thoughts out for mass consumption, but also it's a place for you, my friends, to leave comments, tirades, and send your own reviews of just about anything and I'll put them up.
Enjoy.
Welcome to my bold foray into the world of blogging. I'll be updating this site as much as possible with various pieces of brilliance, but for now I've archived some movie reviews taken from my Myspace blog, although I seem to have the order of them reversed.
My inital idea for this blog is that it's a space for me, where I can put some thoughts out for mass consumption, but also it's a place for you, my friends, to leave comments, tirades, and send your own reviews of just about anything and I'll put them up.
Enjoy.
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