Category: mixed media

all about me, blog on blog, mixed media, music musings, podcast, the catch-all-egory

introducing… the Atlanta POPcast

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I want to welcome you to the very first episode of the Atlanta POPcast!! I just recorded my first podcast this weekend, entitled the Atlanta POPcast, and the first episode of the show is officially up and live on the Georgia Podcast Network. This is a new venture for me, and hopefully, it will be something that I do fairly regularly, and will help me continue my quest in finding the best pop music there is out there; and then bring it to you.

In this podcast, I explore none other than the beast that is pop music. Far too much music is released all over the world every single week for one person to sift through and find the good stuff, and as someone that has had a hard time in the past, I know how it can be frustrating to be left with only a few good choices. I also find it frustrating to rely on sources like the radio, because often they pass of utter crap as pop, and we are expected to buy it; but sometimes, it is just too much to bear.

Since my insatiable appetite for music only grows with each passing day, I am constantly on the look out for good pop, stuff that can literally be music to my ears, and I often find some really great stuff (often with the help of friends). Additionally, I, being a giving and caring person that I am, really wanted an opportunity to share this great music that I find with others; because there is a good chance that if I had to search hard for it, many others haven’t yet heard it! That’s where this POPcast comes in!!

I will use this podcast as a forum to play clips of songs from the albums that I feel are worthy enough to present, so that you can get a better feel of an artist’s album; from someone who likes the CD, not just a music critic. I will be doing my best each episode to bring you a few different CDs, and hopefully, we can explore some great pop artists and albums together. If I turn one listener into a fan of some great pop, then I have accomplished my mission. There’s so much out there we are missing out on, and hopefully, this can at least bring a few more CDs to your collection.

So, go to the Georgia Podcast Network, download my POPcast, and check out what I have been spinning; you may find music you too will fall in love with!! I will also be sharing singles that are tearing up my ipod, because sometimes, we have to face it, not everyone can pull together a great record, and one song or two may be all they’ve got. But that won’t stop us from loving what they have, right?!!!

I hope you will go and check out this episode of my podcast, as well as continue to check back for future episodes. Feel free to give me some suggestions if you have a great pop band out there that you want people to hear about… I am always in the market for new tunes, and it may end up on the show! Let me know how you like my podcast, okay?

is it just me?, mixed media, that is so gay

that “gay” snickers ad

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I am sure that everyone has seen, or heard of, the Snickers “gay kiss” ad from the Superbowl. Most of what I heard about the ad, is the fact that many people thought it was funny. I for one, know that the people at the party I was at laughed hysterically when it aired, and I honestly thought it was at a minimum, pushing the boundaries of being completely anti-gay, even though I didn’t initially get upset about it. But, I am still wondering; what about that scenario is funny?

So, two straight men kiss accidentally, ala “Lady and the Tramp”. So what? Why is that funny? And why is it portrayed as something funny?

Now, while I wasn’t personally offended by the ad, I have to admit that I did get a little uncomfortable when everyone busted out laughing. Again, why is this so funny? I mean, they kissed accidentally, right? If it were a man and a woman, it wouldn’t have been anything to laugh at; which must mean that the reason it is funny, is because it is making fun of gay men. And what about when they feel it necessary to do something to assert their “manliness”, in essence, to prove to each other that, “hey, I’m not a fag”? This too must mean that the reason it is funny, is because gay men aren’t seen as manly; which again, is making fun of gay men.

I am pretty sure that if this scenario did happen in real life, and if those two men were as homo-scared as their characters indicated by their actions after their accidental kiss (ripping out chest hair to prove that they were “real men”), then things probably wouldn’t have been so funny to either of those men; and it would have potentially been upsetting to them. But why? It was an accident, not a full on sexual encounter! Now, I know that I can’t say how individual men should react to kissing another man, but it shouldn’t be something that is so queer and “wrong” that one would need to go so far as to “cover up” that action with another one, one that somehow “asserts” the fact that they are indeed, not gay. After all, just because the two men kissed, it doesn’t mean that they are instantly gay; and by ripping their chest hair out to prove to each other that they aren’t gay is both stupid (ouch!!!) and insensitive to gay men. It is acting out and furthering the belief that gay men aren’t really men.

Basically, what Snickers has done, is they have taken something innocent, such as an accidental kiss between two men, and used it to get a cheap laugh by making fun of gay men. Then, they went a step further, and reinforced the societal belief that being a gay man must mean that you are effeminate, or un-manly, because in order to “feel better” about their kiss, the men had to do something “manly” like rip out chest hair; instead of just ignore it and go on with life.

While the commercial itself was seemingly “innocent”, as I look back, I believe that it reinforces what a lot of people wrongly think about gay men, by showing that if two straight men were to kiss, that it would mean something other than just a kiss. They have shown that two men kissing is essentially something to laugh at, or something to make fun of. They have shown that if two straight men were to accidentally kiss, that they would need to assert the fact that they weren’t gay, by doing something “manly” to cover up their previous actions; which again, reinforces the belief that gay men aren’t really men at all. The more I think about the ad, the more I don’t like it, and honestly, I can see where people would be offended. I guess even more than that, I wonder why we, as a society, still cling to these covert anti-gay messages, and continually portray gay men in this light? All it does is encourage people to continue to make fun of gay people, which trickles down to children, who then use these stereotypes to seek out and torture gay kids. It’s a vicious cycle, one that uses “humor” to hurt a particular group of people.

So what do you think? Do you think that I am overreacting? Keep in mind that I am not trying to rant here, but I am trying to observe that yes, the ad was pretty anti-gay, and typical of a less than accepting society. I am saying that I see how people would be offended by something that seemed innocent to most; simply because it covertly reinforces the belief that gay men aren’t really men at all, and that kissing another man is wrong. Tell me what you think/thought about the ad! Were you offended? Do you see where the media continually makes fun of being gay?

Also, if you are interested in more thoughts on this ad, here’s a link to commecial closet, a website dedicated to GLBT portrayals in the media; they seem to agree with me.

mixed media, movie musings, music musings

some reviews for you to peruse

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A gloomy cold day calls for some music, movies, and a video game review! Let’s get started!

Katharine McPhee’s self titled album came out this week, and based off of two songs I had heard already, I was definitely curious to hear this one. I know a lot of people are fans of American Idol, and I know just as many are against the whole show “creating” music, but if there is one thing it can do, is find a great singer. Now, what happens to that singer varies… they can get good material and go with it, or they can fizzle and go nowhere. And it’s clear that it can be hit or miss, as the winner Taylor’s CD isn’t doing to well, as it is steadily falling (almost) off the charts, but fellow contestant Daughtry’s CD is in the top 10. So where does that leave us with the runner up from last year? Well, over all, her CD isn’t what I was expecting from her. Sure, there’s a fair number of ballads and whatnot, stuff that you would expect from am American Idol, but she really branched out with her interpretation of pop. There are several danceable tracks, and even some more edgy/hip-hop sounding stuff; much of it using the current Nelly Furtado/Fergie formula, but making it better, well, at least better than anything Fergie did. While I don’t think the CD is flawless, as there are a few songs I could just do without, it is definitely well produced, and quite enjoyable. If you liked her on the show, and you like pop, I recommend the CD, because she has a great voice, and they even picked a few surprises for her to sing; as well as a few good surprises. Stand outs for me include: Over It, Love Story, Open Toes, Each Other, and Ordinary World (which sounds a lot like it should have been/could have been a Delta Goodrem song). I would say that this is probably akin to a JoJo or Christina Aguilera type of pop, with some Delta Goodrem gems thrown in, so if that is your bag, pick this up! i’m glad I did! I would give it somewhere between four and five stars, but since I don’t do half marks, I will just give it the benefit of the doubt and round it up to a 5 ; because the good ones are really good, which in this case, makes up for the not so good ones.

Now, the next CD I want to talk about is pure sugary syrup poured into the shape of a CD, and hardened. I am talking about the debut disc from the Lebanese Brit known simply as MIKA. Basically, I heard a lot of buzz about MIKA’s upcoming album (released sometime in Feb) from the uber-pop blogs, and that much attention certainly made me sit up and take notice. And boy I am glad I did. Let me put it this way, MIKA is equivalent to taking the Scissor Sisters, The Jackson Five, and Elton John, mixing them together, while having Freddie Mercury sing the vocals. The result is super catchy sort of kitschy songs that are definitely feel good, and hearken a sound used by groups in the feel good pop business, like the Monkees. This is dance-rock-pop that is just as happy-go-lucky sappy as it gets. He definitely has a sound that isn’t too mainstream here in the states, but my guess, is that he will do quite well everywhere else. There are a few tracks that are more down to earth, and slightly more “serious” but the feeling of the CD stays pretty consistent throughout; this is a great pop album. If you are in a bad mood, I would put this one in and you would definitely be smiling in no time. Stand outs for me include: Grace Kelly (probably one of the catchiest songs EVER), Lollipop, Love Today (which sounds like a Scissor Sisters track, which, many of them do), Relax Take It Easy, Billy Brown (gay content! which makes me wonder about MIKA), Big Girls (You Are Beautiful) (which is definitely the “follow-up” to Fat Bottom Girls by Queen, if there ever was one), and Any Other World. Overall, this is just a fun CD to listen to, and I definitely recommend it. Too bad it’s an import… Oh well. I enjoyed this so much, and do every time I listen to it, that this one definitely deserves the full six out of six stars !!! This is one that I will definitely keep listening to, over and over.

Today’s movie review is for the new Jennifer Garner movie, Catch and Release. She hasn’t been in anything lately, and when I heard she was in this, I had to run out and see it. You see, she is my favorite actress, after all. Now, I didn’t read much about the movie, and I am honestly glad I didn’t. It has gotten rotten reviews, and most of the focus has been on the strange vehicle for this romantic comedy. It starts with a funeral, and it is pretty dark for the first part of the film, and then quickly, it shifts gears to become the romantic comedy it was destined to be. While there are a ton of surprises in this film, the story is pretty sincere, and goes places that not many “feel good, chick flicks” tend to go. They really explore what would happen if you lost a lover, and found out some not-so-sweet things about them after their death. It also looks at who you can count on, and who you should watch out for. Overall, I really liked the film, and I think I will have to see it again to truly appreciate it; mainly due to the surprises I vaguely mentioned. There was a lot of laugh out loud humor in the movie, and I thought that Jennifer Garner really carried the movie (not to say the others in the movie weren’t great). The only problem comes from how quickly people seemed to move on, or change, but considering that it was a 2 hour glimpse into the fictitious lives of characters, it is forgivable. Suspend a little bit of your belief about how relationships “should” work, and you should be okay. Only because of the quirks I asked you to suspend when watching it yourself, I give this 4 out of 6 stars ; it was still a pretty good movie.

Today’s last review focuses on our most recent video game purchase for the Wii. After our friend John brought over his copy of Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, I was convinced that we needed it for our own collection of games. Not because of the main game, of course, which is actually quite stupid; but for the mini games. This one boasts 50 different mini games, ranging from bowling, to darts, to ring toss, and so on. You can fly a bird, you can drive hover carts, and you can even slingshot monkey balls at balloons. Some of the games are pretty stupid and simplistic, but many of the ones I mentioned have been played over and over at my house. This is definitely a title to have when people are coming over… just make sure you have enough Wii-motes AND nun-chucks… some of the games require both; and some of those games are quite fun! Overall, I would give this game a 5 out of 6 stars . The only reason it doesn’t get all six, is because the main game is pretty much shit.

Whew! That was a lot to get out! Hope everyone stays warm today… even though, it really isn’t that cold. I hope to start reviewing more stuff for my blog, because I really enjoy doing it. I am also going to work on the CD and DVD review pages… stay tuned for that too!

"pointless", blog on blog, mixed media, the catch-all-egory

yay! it’s friday!

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So, I guess the randomness from the other day is infectious, because I seem to still be infected with it. So here we go:

  • I found out what it means to be Jewish today. No, I didn’t convert, I have a friend that is Jewish, and she helped me understand the “difference” between the religion and the ethnicity. It was cool to clarify something that I am sure a lot of people don’t know about unless it affects them personally. Needless to say, you can become Jewish if you convert, that’s the religion part. If you are born to a woman that is Jewish, you are Jewish by birth, whether you ascribe to the religion or not. Interesting! I love being an anthropologist sometimes… I should really use that more.
  • I have realized that I REALLY need to go on a diet. I am not saying that I am fat, so don’t even go there. But, regardless of that fact, I need to lose some weight; I want to be able to wear my summer clothes when it comes back around. I have started back at the gym, but I need to be more regular about it. I will go today. I will!
  • I am “done” with my half-sleeve tattoo, but decided that I would go forward with getting my ankle touched up; since that is why I went in the first place to talk with Russ. I am actually kind of excited to see what he can do with it, because it is a pretty plain tattoo, and it really needs some work. I am sure he will be able to come up with something great; he really isn’t capable of anything less than great.
  • I realize that I have some pretty great friends/family. Last night, two people helped me get over a bad day, and I am really appreciative of that. Others are going to hang tonight, and the fun should keep going strong. And, my cousin called today just to say hi and tell me she loves me. Sometimes, it really is those little things that help me make it, you know?
  • I have been obsessed with plug-ins lately. I mean, wordpress is 1000 times better than Movable Type (mainly because MT ate my blog), and there are of these nifty plug ins to keep me from going bonkers trying to re-write the chicken scratch that is PHP. I changed the default gravatars icon so that I don’t hate it. I might change it again though; I can’t seem to find a gravatars plug-in that is easy to set up, install, or change the options of (that is, without potentially fucking something up completely).
  • My musical momentum still seems to be steaming along; I keep finding great stuff. I will be doing a music podcast next week (as I mentioned before), and I can’t wait. Music really is a passion of mine.

Well, that’s about all, because after all, it is Friday. Oh, one final note: we got our DSL modem from Bellsouth, and are waiting to have a phone jack put in the office (Monday). We got $250 of rebates, and I can’t wait to tell Comcast to shove it up their ComcASS! I hope it will be an improvement, but I will certainly be blogging it whether it is, or isn’t. Have a good weekend, ya’ll!

mixed media, movie musings

two review tuesday

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So this weekend, I experienced two media phenomena that were too new and fresh not to review here on my blog. The result? You get a two review Tuesday! Woo hoo!

The first review today, is for the movie Children of Men. The premise of the movie, is a post apocalyptic future, in which Britain is the only country still standing; but not without consequence. In this future, all of the illegal and non-British citizens are being caged and hoarded in refugee camps, while life for everyone else is rough, mainly because of global fear of the end of humanity; as there haven’t been any new births worldwide for over 18 years. That fear and panic over the end of humanity leads to violence and chaos, including an increase of a government military presence, as well as the uprising of radical activist groups.

In the beginning of the movie, you start with the knowledge that baby Diego, the youngest person on the planet, has just been killed for refusing to sign an autograph. Saddened by his loss, the entire society is mourning, which leads to more violent outbursts by both activists and the government alike. Dealing with the harsh reality that he exists within this miserable and bleak world, Theo (Clive Owen), a former activist, continually struggles to get by in this daily routine, when he is contacted by his wife (Julianne Moore), who needs his assistance with her activist group. Her group needs his help getting a special person to something called the Human Project, a supposed safe haven for someone that is special like this woman. You quickly discover the reason this woman is special, it is because she is pregnant. They believe she may hold the key to saving humanity, and as a result, she is potentially the most important person in the world; and must be protected at all costs. The rest of the film is a wild roller coaster ride following Owen and the girl as they try to make their way out to sea, in order to meet a representative for the Human Project; who may or may not actually exist.

Let me start by saying that I was really not prepared for this movie. Mainly, because I wasn’t aware that many movies could be made in such a fashion that would have you so engaged that you would actually feel like you were watching a documentary instead of a fictional thriller. As you follow Owen on his protective mission, you see the most dire and horrid living conditions and witness actions by radicals and the government alike that make you thankful our society has not gotten as bad as this film shows us it could. The movie is violent, ultra-real, gripping, and very scary; mainly because what is portrayed is something that could potentially be our future if bad choices and violence escalate. It is a movie that should not be missed. This movie is like V for Vendetta, only with a much more volatile and violent society, and of course, the fear that comes with a lack of procreation fueling much of the violence. I highly recommend this movie, and as such, give it 5 our of 6 stars (). The only reason it doesn’t deserve the last star, is because I was a bit deflated by the ending; which I will not even hint about here. Go see it, you’ll be glad you did!! And the cinematography is crazy. Just crazy.

Now, the next peice of media I will review is a game for the Wii, specifically, Warioware Smooth Moves. While I admit I was probably a bit more excited about this game than I should have been (mainly because there haven’t been too many titles coming out lately that piqued my interest… or many at all for that matter), I was not so enthusiastic as to run out and buy it; although, I probably would have if Best Buy would have had it in stock on Friday (it was a moment of weakness combined with a balance on a gift card). Well, after renting the game on Sunday with some friends, I have to say that I am glad that I did NOT buy the game. While the game is definitely a lot of fun, the word randomness doesn’t even begin to describe the game play. There are highlights, like when they explain how to hold the Wii-mote for a mini-game (which is hilarious each and every time), but there are also low points, most of the games are over before you even figure out what you are doing. I didn’t have much time to go through all of the nuances of the game, so there may be parts of the game that I would enjoy, but simply do not know about. But, with that being said, the parts that we did get through proved that it was a very easy game to play, in fact, so easy, that we beat it a few hours after we rented it. Sure, it unlocked a few more gems, but overall, it was just more of the same. While it was fun to play with friends for a few hours, I definitely think I would lose interest in this game if I bought it, but it would definitely be fun to play a friend’s house, every now and then. Or, it would be fun just to rent it if I were bored, and friends were coming over. Overall, I would give it a 4 out of 6 stars (). Fun, random, but perhaps a little too random, and definitely not a game for those that are annoyed with rapid changes and ADHD fueled entertainment. Seriously, this one is all over the place. Also, and I know that this isn’t so much of a “good” or “bad” thing, but the game is definitely geared more towards children; but that doesn’t really take anything away from it.

civil rights, is it just me?, mixed media, venting, well?

shows like 24, the portrayal of Islam, and what we do with that

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I just read an article on CNN.com that kind of had me a little confused, and well, frustrated. See, apparently, since the premiere of this season’s anti-terrorism, action-thriller show 24, Muslim groups are speaking out that they are worried that the portrayal of Islamic fundamentalists will somehow prevent Americans from distinguishing fiction from reality; and as a result, profile all Muslims as terrorists (leading to more violence and hatred towards Muslims, based on those beliefs).

While I do understand the concerns of Muslims, mainly because they were (and still remain) such a targeted and singled out group because of American beliefs about 9/11, I find frustration in their doubt that Americans can distinguish reality and fiction. I feel this frustration, mainly because on the show (for those that watched it), they went out of their way to show how the racial profiling of Muslim people was both defamatory, and inconsistent with where the actual blame for the attacks should be placed. They went so far as to highlight one person working with a type of Muslim consulate standing up to the FBI, and even getting arrested, when they came in to cease records; stating how unconstitutional and wrong it was (incidentally, she is the president’s sister).

My frustration from the protests of the show come from the simple fact that not only is it very obvious the show is fiction (I mean, who doesn’t need to pee or ingest any food or water in 24 hours… seriously), but they (the show that is) have gone (in my opinion) above and beyond to prove that this type of profiling and finger pointing is not only wrong, but defamatory and dangerous for innocent people; even though the terrorists they are fighting this season are Muslim. Again, the show made it a main point to say that this type of profiling and grouping of blame to people who look or believe a certain way is wrong and dangerous.

Now you see, part of my issue, is that my frustration runs deeper than that. It is true that my frustration, in this instance, comes initially from the fact that people still get scared that the actions and beliefs of one fundamentalist extreme group (albeit fictional) would still potentially be spread to all people of similar skin tone, ethnicity, or religious belief. But my frustration grows when I think that some people will actually believe that, and in this case, believe it from a obviously fictional TV show.

I am a person that always tries to look for the best in people, but living in a country that still touts Muslims as terrorists, it is really hard to see good in people that can believe something like that. Additionally, I understand where the Muslim groups that are protesting the show are coming from, but I find that I am also frustrated with them for thinking we are unable to distinguish fact from fiction; and again, I am even more frustrated with those that can’t realize that what happens on a TV show isn’t real.

I really worry that if we are still living in a society and a time where there are people that gain such impression from television and media that it leads to racial/ethnic profiling, defamation of religious groups, and inability to distinguish reality from fiction, well, then I am really afraid of this society. I am afraid of a society that has seemingly allowed itself to become two-sided; those that perpetuate stereotypes (be it real or invented), and those that fear being labeled as a stereotype. I know what it is like to be a member of a highly hated group, and I know what that fear feels like when you think you could be harmed simply because of who you are believed to be; but I would like to believe that there could be a time where we could all stop having to live in that fear. I would like to believe that there is a time when these issues will not plague our society, and we can all stop profiling, and being profiled.

And in this particular instance (and other instances where this is the case), I would truly like to believe that we are already at a point where fictitious television programs have no influence in our ability to delineate these divisions, and stop stereotyping and finger pointing. Because, if TV is really that dangerous, we, as a society, have a hell of a long way to go to stop fear and hate amongst ourselves. And that, is enough to frustrate just about anyone, you know?

What do you think? Do you think that the show really does blur the lines so much that people will be confused? Or do you think that the Muslim groups are being a little too timid about a fictional TV show? Or do you think that they have reason to fear, because people in our society really are that ignorant and potentially hateful? Do you think that it is reasonable to expect people to be able to watch TV and NOT carry their impressions of a show and turn them into hatred or fear? What do you think?

[as always, the picture isn’t mine, it came from the internets]

all about me, hmm interesting, mixed media, that is so gay

go J.Hud!!1!!!1! and hanky panky (well, the talk of)

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So, basically, I have been going nuts over Dreamgirls for a while here on the blog, and last night, the Golden Globes recognized our girl Jennifer Hudson as the best supporting actress!! You go girl! I am so happy for her, because it was definitely not her time when she was voted off AI, and this just goes to show that sometimes, not winning doesn’t mean the end. I certainly hope she can parlay this into a successful career, because we need more people like her around!

You would think, though, like a good little queer, I would have been hosting a fabulous GG party last night to partake in the festivities and cheer on the aforementioned diva, but interestingly enough, we did have people over, but none of us watched TV. In fact, we all just hung out in the living room and talked. It was actually quite nice. It was like getting to know your friends, which is just interesting, because, well, we are all friends already, but sometimes you learn things about each other by talking (that’s right! No TV, talking, WTF?!?!111!!). It reminded me of when we waited all night outside Target for the Wii… same thing as last night, but there was more drinking last night, and it was not cold. And, well, we weren’t sitting outside a Target all night long.

What was interesting about last night, though, was that the conversation quickly made a turn when we decided to have a rousing game of “never have I ever…”. Needless to say, it was quite fun to see who had done what, and who hadn’t done it at all. I learned a lot about what goes on in some of my friend’s bedrooms, and what has gone on in public places as well. While it was fun, and definitely interesting, I have to say that I solidified something that I only sort of believed about myself: I am definitely a prude when it comes to sex. Most of my friends have done this, that, and the other, by themselves, with one, two, or three, and well, me, I just haven’t. Of course I have done the deed, but for the most part, I am pretty vanilla when it comes to hanky panky.

Now, I am not saying that there is a “requirement” to do more things sexually, or need to be more sexually “adventurous”, but I never went through the so-called “whore” phase when I came out, and as such, haven’t really done that much sexually (because supposedly, this is when most gay men reach a sexual awakening, and go, well, buck wild). Mostly, this is because of my thoughts on sex, a lot of which stems from my upbringing, where I didn’t learn anything about sex until I found it out on my own. Couple that with good old fashioned guilt about everything, and you have someone that thought for the longest time that sex before marriage was a big old sin that should never be committed. Sure, it may be a sin, but I really, really was against it. Thank goodness that I am not so weird about it any more, but I still can’t seem to shake that little “oh no! we couldn’t do that!!!” bird that sits on my shoulder, and to this day, I really don’t know where it came from (or why it won’t go away!). But I guess I can say this; I have been a careful boy. I am safe today as a result. That is a definite plus. But, I can’t help but feel like I may have missed out on some stuff. Now, I know it is never too late, but that little bird is still there, so I don’t know how much I will (if ever) do differently. Now, I am not fretting or anything, and it is definitely c’est la vie for sure, because it is, after all, just sex, but it was interesting to find out that my thoughts that I may be Prudence McPrude was actually a pretty spot on reality. It doesn’t change how much I think about sex, or how much I love looking at the mens, but it definitely curbs my actions. I guess you could say that I am definitely a think-before-you-act kinda guy… and maybe that isn’t SO bad.

"pointless", mixed media, the catch-all-egory

sunday observations

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Since today is Sunday, and, well, there really isn’t anything better to do than reflect and offer up some random observations, what better way to waste a little bit of time and blog it! So here you go… my Sunday observations.

— The song “With Every Heartbeat” by Kleerup feat. Robyn may be the perfect pop song. I can listen to it on repeat… for a long time. It is bloody perfect. So is Robyn’s “new” album. I hope it comes out in the US soon.
— Isn’t porn fun? Why is it so subversive to like it? Weird…
— I have this amazing ability to not want to do anything but sleep. I woke up yesterday at 3pm. I could seriously sleep 12 hours a day. Wouldn’t that be perfect?
— Baked spaghetti may be nature’s perfect food. Insanely delicious.
— We took a friend out last night for his birthday. He wanted to go to a sketchy bar, so we went. They found out it was his birthday, and gave him free drinks all night. Why doesn’t that ever happen to me?? Also, there is a point where free drinks turn into TOO many free drinks.
— Should I switch to Bellsouth (um, or it’s new name, AT&T, ugh) DSL? Comcast “high speed” still is random, at best.
— I hope 2007 is better than 2006. I wonder how to make sure of that?
— The only thing better than a 3 day weekend, is a 4 day weekend. Why can’t every weekend be 3 days? Seriously, let’s adopt the French way of work; a 30 hour work week! It would help with unemployment!
— I have been lucky in finding good, new music a lot, but I wonder where everyone else finds their music… So tell me.
— I have to caulk the living room today. Yuck. I don’t want to. I would rather just play Zelda. Anyone else want to come do it for me? See, James would do a messy job, so I pretty much have to do it. Oh well.
— I watched Lady in the Water recently. It got pretty piss-poor reviews, and I was pretty sure I would hate it because it is an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but I really liked it! It was really well done, and it was a really sweet story. Shock and awe. I also really liked the movie Crank, but mostly because of the hotness that is Jason Statham. I really love being surprised by movies.
— I am really attracted to big, hairy, bearded men. There’s no shame in my game. Last night at the bowling alley, there was such a guy. I took his picture. Several times. Yes.
— I am going to hopefully be doing a podcast in the near future about music. I am sort of excited about it. I hope it actually happens.
— Guitar Hero (I and II) and Wii Sports may be the best games ever. Seriously.
That’s about all I have right now… But I am sure some more stuff will pop up, and perhaps I will share it. For now, I am off for some pasta bake, and in a little while, caulking. Can’t wait for this project to be done so I can share some final photos! Hope everyone’s Sunday is great!

listen up!, mixed media, movie musings

10 movies I loved from 2006

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So, as promised, I have FINALLY gotten around to writing up my yearly favorite movies post… finally. Now, as with the CDs, my taste in movies tends to be all over the place and I am a sucker for a good comedy, blockbuster, or romantic comedy. These definitely shouldn’t be considered THE best movies of 2006, they are just the ones that I really loved, and was most excited about in 2006… and even through today (obviously, if I am writing about them again…). Also, as with the CD list, there is no real particular order; with the exception of the top movies… those were definitely my favorites out of the bunch. So, without too much more heeing and hawing, here’s the list:

Little Miss Sunshine

The whole family piles into the VW van to travel to California so awkward little Olive can compete in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant contest. Hilarity ensues. That’s pretty much what you need to know, oh yeah, and the fact that this movie is fucking hilarious. This is one of the best movies that came out in 2006 (in my opinion, it was probably THE best), so you have to see it, and you will enjoy it, because it is great. And funny. And really super great. Seriously. You will laugh at this movie, that is, unless you are completely soulless, and have no sense of humor. I know that is strong, but it is true, but if you are soulless, you probably don’t care anyway, because you are soulless.

V for Vendetta

Wow, wow, wow. This movie is so fantastic, it is hard to believe. Definitely the 1984 of 2006. It looks at what happens when a government takes control over its people under the guise of “protecting” them. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Fed up with the treatment he and others have received, V dresses as the famous Guy Fawkes, and promises to succeed where Guy had failed (in blowing up Parliament). This movie is not to be missed, especially because it is so scary that this is one possible outcome of the current political events that are currently occurring today. I for one hope not, but if it is, then I hope we have the courage to stand up and fight, just like V. Viva la revolution!

Superman Returns

I don’t care what anyone says; this is one of the best sequels I have seen, ever. I am a huge comic fan, and even more of a fan of well made comic movies. The action is top notch, the acting is great, and the story is awesome. They totally captured the vibe of the old Superman movies, while updating it at the same time. Brandon Routh is the perfect Superman. This is one of those movies that you can sit through the entire film, and maintain the sense of “wow” and captivation that a good movie should offer. I was greatly surprised, and definitely satisfied. I am very excited to see what comes with the next Superman movie; if it is anything like this one, it will be fantastic. I seriously loved this movie!

Dreamgirls

Shockingly, I really didn’t have really high hopes for Dreamgirls, other than the infamous performance of “And I Am Telling You…”. But, with that being said, each trailer made me a little more excited about the movie, and I was all hyped to go when I missed out on the chance Christmas day. I thought it would be okay to wait for rental, but everyone was gushing, and thankfully, a friend who had seen it agreed to go again. OH MY GOD. I was such an idiot for thinking anything other than, “this movie is going to be off the chain”; because it was. Jennifer Hudson is magical, and deserves every award they can throw at her. And, I left NOT hating Beyonce!! A twofer! Seriously, if you love musicals, this one is great!

X-men: X3 the Last Stand

Hands down, the best X-men movie of the franchise. Now, with that being said, I know that there are a ton of people that will completely disagree with me, but I don’t care. This was one of the first times I actually felt like they were the X-men, rather than Storm, Wolverine, Cyclops, etc. Also, making the Phoenix be the main storyline was the ultimate wet dream of anyone that is a fan of the X-men, so just having that in there (and doing it extremely well), was worth it for me. I certainly hope that this isn’t the last one, as the name suggests, because it is almost like they were just honing their craft. It definitely has a different feel than it did with Singer at the helm, but I didn’t feel enough of a difference (good or bad) to effect my thoughts on the movie. I know for one that I am keeping my fingers crossed for X4 and so on. There is so much more they could do with the X-men, and they were just getting started; and if any future ones are as good as this one, I am already on board.

Shortbus

While the movie was extremely controversial because of the use of actual sex acts, as opposed to simulated ones, this movie was extremely good. What you end up seeing is a bunch of people dealing with their sexual identities and needs in a way that may seem unconventional to many, which ends up causing them some problems when they try to fit the mold. What I took away from this, was a look at how sex and sexuality can define us and our relationships, and how different perspectives work for different people. It is also extremely funny, and well, there are lots of naked boys with big dicks in it. Come on now, you weren’t thinking that I was going to say, “you don’t notice the nudity that much”, did you? Silly kids… Just watch the movie already, it’s good, okay!

Tristan + Isolde

Passion, love, feeling, and of course, damn duty had to go and get in the way. The classic love story of Tristan, and Englishman, and Isolde, an Irish woman, torn between love, battle, duty, and tragedy. This is a fantastic love story that is not to be missed. If you are a fan of the story of Romeo and Juliet, you really have to check out this one, because you will definitely fall in love with this story. The movie is beautifully shot, and has lots of action for those that like that angle, while giving you lots of tender, wonderful love right there on the same screen. I absolutely fell in love with this movie, and was completely surprised with how much I liked it. This is a story of love, and as you will learn (or may already know), a life without love, truly is no life at all.

Imagine Me and You

Finally a cute and believable romantic comedy about two girls falling in love! Seriously, this is such a cute movie, and both girls are extremely, well, cute! It may not be the BEST film, but it is certainly light-hearted, and Rom-Com greatness. It is also nice to finally see gay movies come out that aren’t complete trash, and can actually portray a semblance of love. There is one thing that is kind of interesting; one of them is married, and chooses the girl over her man, but it is definitely sweet to see people follow their hearts, even if that means that it is too bad for the guy! Definitely to become a lesbian classic (at least for my friend Deb it will!)!

Underworld Evolution

This is a kick ass sequel to the first, and it can’t be denied that this movie kicks vampire and Lycan ass. If you liked the first, you will probably dig this one, but if not, steer clear; as I know a lot of you will see this on my list and think, “WTF?”. But, keep in mind, this is one of the types of movies I can really get into; mostly because they are just fun to watch, and deal with that vampire/occult/dark stuff that somehow seems to interest me like little else. It also doesn’t help that I LOVED the first one, and that the action and special effects are just great. Now, I can’t wait to see the third and final one! If this one is any indication of how it will be, then I am sure that it will be action packed and fun!

MI:III

Now, before you even go there, I know that Tom Cruise is in it, but, for me, that surprisingly doesn’t ruin this movie. It is very well made, with a great story, and it only gets stronger because it totally has JJ Abrams’ signature all over it; which is a really good thing. I love the story, the action, everything… it was exactly what I was looking for in a spy thriller. Probably one of the best things EVER, is that it has Felicity (Keri Russell) as a spy! Holy cow! That is where Abrams claims he came up with the idea for Alias (Felicity joins the CIA)! Totally full circle! What’s not to love there? Seriously though, this is definitely a great action film.

Honorable mentions (good movies, but not in the top of my list, you know?): The Devil Wears Prada (I haven’t seen it enough times, I think), My Super Ex-Girlfriend (Rom-Com + Action/Comic book movie = duane happy), Another Gay Movie (total spoofiness, but definitely funny) Inside Man (just not one I could watch over and over), American Dreamz (parts of it are laugh out loud hilarious) and Lucky Number Slevin (which is GREAT, but again not one I would watch over and over).

So there you have it! My movie list of 2006! Whew!! Now, tell me what you were digging in 2006!!! Here’s hoping there are a lot more movies that are lovable from 2007! Oh yeah, and as most always, these aren’t my pictures, and I don’t claim them to be, you know!

all about me, mixed media, near and dear

painting as therapy?

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Last night, we had some friends over, and all of them saw my paintings and commented on how much they liked them (again), as well as the ones that are currently deemed “works in progress”. They also all wanted paintings for their houses (I will be happy to oblige), and wanted to know why I wasn’t painting currently. It got me to thinking; painting is a creative outlet for me, and is something that I actually do get joy out of the finished product. I get the chance to feel creative, and produce something that I am proud of. So why am I not doing it? Well, the fact is, this is just another symptom of that crazy depression; you lose interest in or the ability to do things you once loved doing. One of the first things I sadly lost was my interest in music; but luckily, I have managed to gain that back with a vengeance. But not without a little push from within myself.

Perhaps that is what I need to get me painting again… a little push. I am going to try and finish some “in the works” paintings that I have lying around today. Hopefully, this will be what I need to successfully move me back into yet another thing I love to do that has sadly fallen prey to anhedonia. Now if I could only get rid of all of the depression… ah, one step at a time. Now I gotta go paint!

As for the living room painting… we got bogged down yesterday and were unable to finish, so we decided to clean up instead and wait on the finishing touches. I will take some pictures of the product in its current state, because it looks great as is, and post those probably tomorrow. When you see them, you will just have to imagine them completely finished, okay?

Also, here is a link to the paintings I currently have completed and put online. Let me know what you think!