GRAND CLOSED! RE-OPENED ELSEWHERE!

Picture

2006-11-22T10:17:00.000-08:00

2006-06-12T22:02:00.000-07:00

You Know So Well

NEW LOCATION

2005-07-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

THIS SITE HAS MOVED TO: grandopening-grandclosing.blogspot.com

emmys. . .obviously

2005-07-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

congratulations to the office special for getting emmy nominations for best made for television movie and best writing, miniseries or movie.

"She's Not Gonna Wear Shoes..."

2005-07-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

Shutterbugs futher proves that Aziz is a fucking bonafide genius. *Warning, the file is 15 megs.

Why "All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers and The Lost World: Jurassic Park Are Good

2005-07-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

It’s summer, which is the perfect time to mention to all you kids with discerning taste that The Lost World: Jurassic Park and “All These Thing’s That I’ve Done” by The Killers are both good. And they’re the same kind of good. They’re kind of good where everyone’s too high and mighty to like them. “The Killers?” your friend is likely to say with a sour expression, “They’re bullshit. They’re the kind of bullshit that’s been market researched up and down and all around and spoon-fed to suburban kids who don’t know any better.” Alright. Maybe it’s true. Maybe it is true that The Man knew a good thing when he heard it and made sure that shit was on the OC soundtrack volume whatever. Fine. It’s true. But it doesn’t make it bad. It makes you a snob if you haven’t given it a shot.

And while we’re at it let’s get to The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Admittedly this is not exactly a good movie, but that's missing the point. Of course it’s not a good movie. It’s about dinosaurs running amok – AGAIN. And of course it made a lot of money and of course it’s silly as fuck and of course you’re too good for it. Well, get over it. You’re missing out.

You did see The Lost World, I know you saw it back when it came out, and as you might remember, there’s a part where the tyrannosaurus escapes and runs loose in San Diego. It makes its way from the dock to the city by bursting through a sign that says something about US customs not allowing fruits, vegetables or animals across the boarder. This might be one of the trashiest moments I’ve seen in quite some time. No good movie should have something like that in it! But that’s why it’s actually good. See, there’s also a long action sequenced in which a pair of tyrannosaurs push the researchers’ vehicle halfway over a cliff. The vehicle teeters on the edge for upwards of five minutes. People fall and catch themselves an amazing number of times. Ridiculous. Spielberg can keep Schindler’s List and The Color Purple. He’s at his best when he puts aside his concerns about making an important movie and makes something as throwaway as The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

And, as I mentioned before, you and your fancy taste have also kept you from listening to The Killers. You’ve been busy listening to all the good music you can handle. I for one know that I have. But here’s the thing. In “All These Things That I’ve Done” Brandon Flowers, the lead singer, has such lyrics in store for you as, “I got soul/ but I’m not a soldier.” What the hell is that supposed to mean? I’ll tell you what it means. Nothing. Who cares what it means? It’s a great lyric. It’s so good. Think about it. Two things that sound the same, but make no sense when put together. Brilliant! Put you inhibitions aside, because the whole song is great. It starts slow. Then drums break in just after the 30-second mark. It picks up speed and Mr. Flowers belts out some nonsense about “doncha put me on the backburner.” Meanwhile the rest of the band steals their sound so ruthlessly that everyone from Television to The Strokes ought to feel taken advantage of. Amazing.

The Killers and The Lost World: Jurassic Park are what they are. Which is a good thing. Not to say good stuff isn’t good stuff too, but it’s only better if you allow yourself to appreciate this kind of thing too. So get over it. Or else I might have to bring Kelly Clarkson into this.

Please post a comment if...

2005-07-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

A) you read this blog on a quasi-daily/weekly basis

B) you are not: marc, aaron, chad, brendan, or keegan

I Could Dance All Night

2005-07-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

Somewhere between Jeff Mangum and Simon Finn...

Alec Ounsworth solo demo: Wings of Stone

What you should be listening to: In This Home On Ice

(Keegan, take notice of pic above, and be prepared.)

M.I.A. -> Apple Certified

2005-07-13T04:08:00.000-07:00

Don't we just love her? We are not alone!
(via stereogum.com)

longwave

2005-07-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

check out the first single from the new longwave album. brendan likes it quite a bit.

there's a fire

Mixed News

2005-07-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

Bad news: Robert Altman looks really old is stricken to some sort of wheelchair.

Good news: He's totally groping Lindsay Lohan.

dios

2005-07-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

you make me feel

Bucky Done Gone

2005-07-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

There is a new video for Bucky Done Gone up at the XL site. I must say, M.I.A. is still unbelievable, even though the live thing dissapointed. This video is outstanding for numerous reasons, the first being the hype girl freaking the fence like she's in some Marky Mark video, the second being M.I.A. being ridiculously hot, and the third being that this video completes a trifecta of kinda crap/kinda great videos.

Anonmymous Lawyer

2005-07-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

This blog Anonymous Lawyer is written by some cock, but he's kind of hilarious.

One of my favorite things to do is impose artficial deadlines on projects when I assign them to associates. Not only does it get the work done faster, but it reinforces the power hierarchy. I control your time, and whether I'm going to be kind about it or capricious is entirely up to me, and there's nothing you can do about it.

There's little better than the feeling I get when I track down an associate on Friday afternoon at 4:55 and throw a stack of paper at her, explaining the work has to be on my desk by Monday morning at the latest, and then on Monday, when she drops it off, thanking her and telling her you'll get back to her later in the week sometime, when you have a chance to read it.

Wasn't it urgent? Eh, everything's urgent and nothing's urgent. The magic is that the partners are the only ones who ever really know.

I mean, it's ugly, no fugly

2005-07-10T18:30:00.000-07:00

Go Fug Yourself has an entire profile dedicated to the ugly shit Jessica Simpson wears. Outstanding. Also, you gotta get a loud of Chloe Sevigny.

Overheard New York

2005-07-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

Yuppie: If we just let them kill the Jews we wouldn't have this problem. Then we could buy oil for $6 a barrel.

--A train

It gets better

2005-07-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

Even funnier, THIS AGENCY, specializes in booking Real World/Road Rules related cast members. Ridiculous. Next time Aaron Katz has a birthday, I want to book the entire Real World Paris cast to come and party it up, then Lionel Ritchies nephew or whatever can get really drunk and start fights. Perfick!

I mean, are you kidding me?

2005-07-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

I mean, can we be totally honest. Mallory from Real World Paris is ridiculously hot. Now she's some model in NY, but that's beside the point, she dated Ace. Which is outstanding and boggles the mind. Way to go Ace. There's some proof that alcoholic tendencies and a trunk full of funny hats can totally get you layed.

Mitch For This Evening

2005-07-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY EVENING

"The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how much I play, I'll never be as good a a wall. I played a wall once. They're relentless."

"I don't own a cell phone or a pager. I just hang around everyone I know, all the time. If someone wants to get a hold of me they just say "Mitch," and I say "What?" and turn my head slightly."

"I got into an argument with a girlfriend inside of a tent. That's a bad place for an argument, because I tried to walk out and slam the flap. How are you supposed to express your anger in this situation? Zipper it up real quick? 'Fuck You' ZIP!"

Mitch For This Evening

2005-07-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

"Rice is great when you're hungry and want 2,000 of something"

"I would imagine if you understood Morse code, a tap dancer would drive you crazy"

A Review of Elevator to the Gallows

2005-07-08T23:01:00.000-07:00

Alright, so, like, Louis Malle is supposed to be great, right? Am I crazy or is that what people say? Someone stop me if that’s not what people say, but if that is what people say then they must have lost their damn noodles. Now, I've only seen two of his films, but that’s enough to make me wonder what the hell is going on that anybody thinks this guy is great. I saw Zazie dans le Metro, a supposed masterpiece, a couple of years ago. I thought Zazie dans le Metro was a humorless and irritating piece of junk, but I was willing to let that be in the past. Last night Elevator to the Gallows was playing at the Landmark Sunshine in New York City. I was ready to give Louis another shot.

I’ll say this: Elevator to the Gallows is better than Zazie Dans la Metro. But not by much. We learn at the beginning of the film that a pair of lovers, played by Jeanne Moreau and Maurice Ronet, are plotting to kill the Moreau’s husband. Ronet is going to do it and he’s supposed to make it look like a suicide. Of course it gets botched and one complication leads to another.

Things do seem to start out on the right foot. The score is all Miles Davis, we’re seeing Paris of the 1950s in black and white, and there’s some pretty cool zooms as the lovers talk on the phone. At first I was so charmed by these nice accoutrements that I failed to notice sloppy filmmaking when I saw it.

As the film progressed I started to get wise. I started to notice glaring plot holes, murky (at best) character motivation, crappy sound design, and inept shot selection in several key scenes. I refuse to believe, as some might assert in response to my complaints, that this film is a victim of its era. I'm tired of people forgiving a film's shortcomings because of when it was made. I'll give a film a break in the case of pure lack of technology or film language, but hell, The Passion of Joan of Arc came out in 1928 and it's crafted better than 99% of films made today. So I'm not buying it. Elevator to the Gallows is bad filmmaking.

One of the problems is that Malle tries to balance a meditation on loneliness and desperation with a whole army of farfetched plot devices. At one moment we’re drifting through the streets of Paris as Moreau wanders around in a haze of existential gloom and in another we’re supposed to accept that Ronet would leave a camera filled to the brim with damning evidence on the seat of his running car while he goes to grab something he forgot.

Worse than the plot holes are characters who seem completely inhuman. We’re supposed to empathize with people who are so stupid, so rash, and so selfish that I can’t view them as anything more than slaves to the script and its need to move the plot forward. For example, a pair of characters steal a car in broad daylight, and not just any car, but a car that belongs to Ronet who works across the street and sees them every day. And why? Because, apparently, they just feel like it. And how? Well, see, Ronet left his car with the engine running. So they steal it and then they just feel like engaging in a high speed race with some German tourists. At this point I guess they figure why the hell not. You gotta do what you feel man, especially if doing it will help to contrive a totally ridiculous mix-up that will come into play later in the movie. What really perplexes me is that I think this story is ultimately supposed to be a human tragedy, but these people not only behave unsympathetically, they behave unlike any human over the age of five.

Yet another problem is haphazard camera direction. There are some moments of beautifully loose contemplative camerawork that reminds you that the French new wave is just around the corner, but for the most part the camera is either moving seemingly just for the hell of it, or else it is oddly static. And before anyone gets upset let me mention that I love (for example) Ozu’s camera direction, but trust me, this is not that kind of static. This is the kind of static that makes you feel like Malle couldn’t come up with anything better. The whole thing, now that I think of it, seems like Malle couldn’t come up with anything better and so he went with whatever he had.

All this adds up to a frustrating experience. That’s not to say there aren’t a couple good moments to be found in Elevator to the Gallows. The Miles Davis score is fantastic, if not used to its fullest potential. Some of the wanderings around Paris are interesting, and there is a moment or two where the actors break through the confines of the script. But it’s not worth it. The good parts just make it all the more maddening that this movie is so bad.

Grade: D+

-Aaron

live 8

2005-07-08T14:48:00.000-07:00

live 8 kind of came and went with little fanfare in my life. didn't watch it, didn't read much about it, despite the presence of a number of acts i would normally be interested in. well, mr. charlie dugan has hooked me up with a nice link that lets you download any performance you like in glorious quicktime. i am currently waiting for will smith's rendition of the fresh prince of bel-air theme song to finish downloading, as well as coldplay's fix you and dan aykroyd begging the crowd not to boo celine dion. go check it out.

live 8 list

Politics of Genius

2005-07-07T15:48:00.000-07:00

This kind of piggy backs on marc's post, but I feel like I should direct you to these clips of Ricky Gervais' stand-up Politics. You will literally crap yourself on the way to your job interview.

THAD COCKRELL LIVE!

2005-07-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

Thad Cockrell is coming back to NY, this time with Caitlin Cary to promote their amazing new album Begonias. They will be playing July 12th at 7:30pm at Joe's Pub.

Important Note

2005-07-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

I've been getting a lot of shit for my "top 15 list" lately. I urge you to see who is posting what, as now we have multiple contributers, and address the responsible parties. I, at no time, present nor past nor future, think AI is anything less than a steamy pile of doo doo.

Real Ultimate Ninja Power

2005-07-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

If you don't go to this site, I'm gonna flip out and kill you.

Quality TV = Quality Laughs = Quality Life

2005-07-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

Beauty and The Geek had their season finale last night, which, because I do not have TV, I could not see, but TVGASM has done an outstanding job of recapping the whole thing.

Another one

2005-07-07T05:51:00.000-07:00

I have yet another cousin, Amelia, as of this morning. Outstanding, I'm gonna open a day care.

Blazers beat Knicks 93-89

2005-07-06T22:16:00.000-07:00

The blazers beat the knicks today in the first day of summer league action, with Outlaw getting 32, Martell Webster getting 21 and Teflair barely missing a triple double. If that's not really reallly exciting, I don't know what is. Also, Reebok has a cool profile on Travis Oulaw.

Blazers Hire McMillan

2005-07-06T22:08:00.000-07:00

The blazers hired Nate McMillan. Excellent hire, amazing talent, bright bright future for Portland. Just looking at this summer's Reebok Summer League Roster shows how much upside every young player has.

George A. Romero's next...

2005-07-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

After the critical success of his latest "Land of the Dead" and what was thought to be his final addition to the zombie franchise, Romero has already begun pre-production on a new zombie film. This time, the undead will be real. Scary shit.

dictaphone's lament

2005-07-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

our friend will joines recently finished a music video he directed for a band called Tycho. the song is called "dictaphone's lament" and you can check out the video through the link below. it takes a minute to download. and to find out more about the band check out their official site

nice work will, david, kristina and everybody.

video

oh shit

2005-07-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

forget sandra day o'connor, this is the most troublesome thing in the news

It's a bird, it's a plane...NO! It's Sufjan!

2005-07-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

That's right. It's Sufjan Stevens back again with the offical? iffy release of his second state project album "Come on Feel the Illinoise". But, since most of us have already heard it in its entirety many times over, an exclusive NPR number called "The Lord God Bird" is available as a free download. This is a new track for the state of Arkansas (perhaps this will be the next one), and unsurprisingly, it's terrific! Why does every note this man touches turn to gold? Superman or no superman, click here to find out.

bush + bicycle = policeman in hospital

2005-07-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

yahoo news

Sometime in Summer 2005...Obviously!!

2005-07-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

For all your up-to-the-minute information on the latest show, called "Extras" by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant head here! There's a couple of trailers and video clips. I, for one, can't wait!

Come on, hilarious.

2005-07-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

Most Amazing Site Ever Made

2005-07-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

I Hate Horses

boooo!

2005-07-05T16:13:00.000-07:00

dan aykroyd; what a guy!"

Unbelievable

2005-07-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

Why Do All These Homosexuals Keep Sucking My Cock?

15 movies - #15

2005-07-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

Y Tu Mama Tambien

15 movies - #14

2005-07-02T12:39:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

You Can Count on Me

Keegan & Jude > Chad

2005-07-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

Keegan & Jude's Big One

i crashed the trailer

2005-07-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

stupid but funny

15 movies - #13

2005-07-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

Requiem for a Dream

Please Read The Following:

2005-07-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Bobby BROWN

Catfish the size of a bear

2005-06-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

Yikes

15 movies - #12

2005-06-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

Punch-Drunk Love

Terrifying!

2005-06-30T02:01:00.000-07:00

Let me just say this: 1) Tom Cruise - as of late, he may have gone off the deep end as a real human being, but as an actor, he's top notch, the real deal. 2) I just need to inform all to see this movie as soon as possible. It contains the greatest action (and might I say horror) sequence in the history of the cinema. It left me shaking and speechless.

My full review to follow tomorrow (along with several others, I imagine). In the meantime, for those of you looking for more where Spielberg came from, look no further and listen to the entire radio broadcast by Orson Welles of the H.G. Wells novel that originally shook the nation as well as an appealing interview between both Welles and Wells about the historical broadcast.

Both can be found here.

your welcome

2005-06-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

i turn my camera on

15 movies - #11

2005-06-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

In America

15 movies - #10

2005-06-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

sup

2005-06-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

sup
Originally uploaded by Marapect.

killing ladies.

Jude

2005-06-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

Jude
Originally uploaded by Marapect.

Seriously, look how passionate he is about the coffee.

Breakfast

2005-06-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

Breakfast
Originally uploaded by Marapect.

So, as we've established before, my nephew is a powerhouse. This specific morning we were enjoying a beautiful breakfast with the entire family at the hotel before I had to leave for my play. At this specific moment, Jude is contemplating how outstanding it's going to be once he can drink coffee.

if i think this is funny, am i an asshole?

2005-06-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

tom cruise (takes a minute)

15 movies - #9

2005-06-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

Elephant

Maggie Cheung

2005-06-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

Was offered a role in X2 (2003) but turned it down because "If I start making films like that, they won't be proud. I'd feel like I was cheating. And I don't want half the world, we have 1.3 billion people in China, to know I'm cheating. That matters to me. I have more pride than that."

15 movies - #8

2005-06-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

Dancer in the Dark

speaking of. . .

2005-06-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

can't get you out of my head

acoustic

2005-06-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

no surprises

15 movies - #7

2005-06-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

15 movies - #6

2005-06-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

Closer

saturday night at spaceland

2005-06-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

brendan and i went to spaceland last night to check out the heartless bastards. they came highly recommended to brendan, who had given their disc a listen and enjoyed, but it was all gonna be new to me. we got there way too early and wound up watching two bands play before them.

the first was the spores. not a fan.

the second was mother superior. i've just been perusing their website and it seems they are quite big in europe. they played their shit well, but it's not exactly my tastes. there are some free downloads on the site if you're interested in seeing for yourself.

the main act was what we came for.

as i said, i had never heard the heartless bastards before and so i have no concept of how their sound compares live to the cd. but, they were definitely more my speed than the two previous bands. if you don't know them, they are a three piece band that formed in cincinatti and are signed with fat possum records.

it may have been the juxtaposition with the previous bands, but i liked them quite a bit. the lead singer, erika, has a fantastic voice and the songs are quick, energetic bursts of pure rock 'n roll. they played fast and hard only stopping maybe three times to take a sip of water and ask how everyone was. if you want to find out more about them check out their site and see what rolling stone, entertainment weekly and others are all raving about. and check out the song below courtesy of that site as well.

New Resolution

15 movies - #5

2005-06-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

Before Sunset

The Coolest

2005-06-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

I think is outstanding that even though Shavlik Randolph declared early and was a total punk and injured the ENTIRE 3 years he was at Duke, Coach K offered to call NBA teams on his behalf to gaurantee he ended up somewhere in the draft. That's dope, even for a Blue Devil.

I Want My 111 Minutes Back: A Review of Princess Raccoon

2005-06-26T01:56:00.000-07:00

I just saw Princess Raccoon at the Asian Film Festival in New York. The gentleman who introduced the film congratulated the audience on their fine taste. “You could be at Herbie: Fully Loaded,” he said with a smug smile, “but instead you’re here to watch Seijun Suzuki’s Princess Raccoon.” The audience applauded and cheered. Well let me tell you, I would have rather watched Herbie: Fully Loaded twice in a row. Princess Raccoon, an allegedly whimsical musical based on Japanese folklore, easily qualifies for one of the ten worst films that I have ever seen. It is so wretched that its wretchedness actually makes me dislike other Seijun Suzuki films, which is quite a feat.

There is such a vast expanse of things wrong with Princess Raccoon that I hardly know where to start. Perhaps its worst faults are being both aggressively unintelligible and mind bogglingly monotonous. If the reels got mixed up or if half of them got lost in shipping the audience would not know the difference. If you don’t believe me I dare you to steal a print and have someone run the reels in random order. If you can tell me which one goes where I will give you every penny I have.

The first third of the film features a mishmash of scenes, songs (including a cringe inducing rap number), and images that don’t seem to be related in any way at all. Horribly integrated computer animation is thrown into the bargain, adding yet another brick to the immense, and rapidly growing, wall of incomprehensibility. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the writer wrote down any Japanese folklore that came to mind of on a bunch of note cards, stacked them up, shuffled them, dealt the cards out on a table, and then wrote the script according to their order.

About thirty-five minutes into the film some semblance of a plot arrives. Something about a shape-shifting raccoon princess (in human form) and a regular human falling in love. I hoped that this was a portent of the film being something other than a series of perplexing scenes, but no such luck. The film continues in the same absolutely baffling manner. I wish I had gotten out then, but I was trapped in the middle of a narrow row. In retrospect it would have been worth it.

I’m exhausted just thinking about the last couple of reels. I spent every moment hoping and praying that it would be over. Every big dolly move, swell in music, or scene that looked remotely like it was wrapping things up renewed my hopes that the credits were about to roll. For agonizing minute after agonizing minute it went on. And on and on and on. Finally, after dozens of false alarms, it cut to what I was sure must be an abstract pattern over which credits were about to appear. Then, in defiance of all reason, it cut to another scene. How could I forget? The completely unrelated subplot concerning a ninja being captured, urinated on, and boiled in a soup hadn’t been resolved.

I’m never going to get those 111 minutes back, but you can spare yourself the pain. Unless you want to taint your memory or future enjoyment of great Seijun Suzuki films like Youth of the Beast and Tokyo Drifter do not see Princess Raccoon. I would have rather spent my time vomiting.

Grade: Does not meet the criteria to receive a grade.

-Aaron

15 movies - #4

2005-06-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

The Beach

15 movies - #3

2005-06-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

All the Real Girls

Workout Video

2005-06-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

Pretty impressive workout video available for Gerald Green. I must say, he looks kind of incredible, just really really small.

Good Blazer Summary

2005-06-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

For a good run down of where we are at with things, check out what Hoops World has to offer in their informative summary.

15 movies - #2

2005-06-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence

Tom Cruise is frickin' balls to the walls crazy

2005-06-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

Lauer: It's very impressive to listen to you. Because clearly, you've done the homework. And you know the subject.

Cruise: And you should. And you should do that also. Because just knowing people who are on Ritalin isn't enough. You should be a little bit more responsible in knowing really —

Lauer: I'm not prescribing Ritalin, Tom. And I'm not asking anyone else to do it. I'm simply saying, I know some people who seem to have been helped by it.

Cruise: But you're saying this is a very important issue.

Lauer: I couldn't agree more.

Cruise: It's very — and you know what? You're here on the "Today" show.

Lauer: Right.

Cruise: And to talk about it in a way of saying, "Well, isn't it okay," and being reasonable about it when you don't know and I do, I think that you should be a little bit more responsible in knowing what it is.

Lauer: But —

Cruise: Because you communicate to people.

Lauer: But you're now telling me that your experiences with the people I know, which are zero, are more important than my experiences.

Cruise: What do you mean by that?

Lauer: You're telling me what's worked for people I know or hasn't worked for people I know. I'm telling you, I’ve lived with these people and they're better.

Cruise: So, you're advocating it.

Lauer: I am not. I'm telling you in their case, in their individual case, it worked. I am not gonna go out and say, "Get your kids on Ritalin. It's the cure-all and the end-all."

15 movies - #1

2005-06-24T13:08:00.000-07:00

15 movies from the first half of this decade that have kicked my ass and changed my life. presented in 15 parts in alphabetical order.

About a Boy

a certain kind of amazing

2005-06-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

Elizabethtown

Things I Drink

2005-06-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

Marc (my roommate, for those of you who don't know) made a great suggestion to me: Mixing lime and vanilla Coke. He hadn't tried it himself yet, but had a feeling that it might be good. Good fucking idea. It's great. You should try it yourself.

-Aaron

nouvelle vague

2005-06-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

maybe it's lame but i like it. nouvelle vague's self titled release is jazzy, bossa nova inspired covers of mostly 80's hits. my personal favorite is "i melt with you" but this one is available for free download.

guns of brixton

bullocks

2005-06-23T15:27:00.000-07:00

Chris Paul of Wake Forest

2005-06-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

On Nov. 15, 2002, Nathaniel Jones, Paul's grandfather and the first black owner of gas station in all of North Carolina, returned home from work and found five teenagers burglarizing his home. They taped Jones' mouth shut and tied his hands behind his back and beat him. He was left bleeding in his carport, where he died from a heart arrhythmia caused by the stress of the attack.

He was 61.

Five days later -- one day after the funeral -- Paul's West Forsyth High School team opened its season. Paul decided he would play, in honor of his grandfather, and vowed to score 61 points to match his grandfather's age.

Paul had never scored more than 39 points in a game, but late in the fourth quarter he found himself with 59 points. He drove the lane and hit a shot while being fouled.

Standing at the free throw line with 61 points, Paul took the ball from the referee, and instead of attempting the free throw, he threw the ball into the stands and walked off the court and into the arms of his family.

It's Just Rock n' Roll

2005-06-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of shit bands in the world, and there is all this talk about coldplay being the most important thing out there.
Last night Oasis awoke all of those foggy minds from the idiotic funk with a mind-blowing display of rock n' roll at a sold out Madison Square Garden. Tickets sold out within an hour on February 20th, and all those eager buyers sat jittering in their seats, as suddenly the lights dimmed and "Fuckin' In The Bushes" came onto the speakers. What followed was such a stellar and flawless presentation from brothers Gallagher and their newest chronies that it make hearts jump forth, hungry for what they had missed amid all the garage shit that had been bogging them down. As each song came, you could feel the collective love building and overflowing, people filling the world's most famous arena to what seemed the heavens. For this night, NY loved Oasis like it was '96, except for now it's '05 and we are starved for "the real thing" like never before. Oasis, for a good while was the greatest band on earth, and tonight, they showed why, and how they very well could be in the future. Liam and Noel tore through so many amazing songs and presented what, in my humble opinion, was the best show I've witnessed. The only competition left standing is the Oasis show I witnessed in Seattle in 1997 amidst "Morning Glory" and "Be Here Now" and u2's "Elevation" tour. I'm having a hard time matching words to feelings, I'll simply provide the setlist.

1) Fuckin' In The Bushes
2) Turn Up The Sun
3) Lyla
4) Love Like A Bomb
5) Bring It On Down
6) Morning Glory
7) Cigarettes & Alcohol
8) The Importance Of Being Idle (w/o Liam)
9) Little By Little (w/o Liam)
10) A Bell Will Ring
11) Live Forever
12) The Meaning Of Soul
13) Mucky Fingers
14) Champagne Supernova
15) Rock n' Roll Star
---off---
16) Songbird (acoustic)
17) Wonderwall (electric)
18) Don't Look Back In Anger (w/o Liam)
19) My Generation

use it

2005-06-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

another song from the new pornographers' upcoming cd has graced the net. i like it better than 'twin cinema'. thanks to stereogum for the heads up.

use it

So, So Depressing

2005-06-22T06:34:00.000-07:00

My mom often will just come up with really dark statements like "did you hear about that kid so and so who had his whatever whatever torn of by the thing-a-majig". Well, CNN has an article which is the equivalent to that. It's basically saying that there is a %70 chance that there will be a nuclear attack in the next decade. Sweet ass.

New Most Played

2005-06-22T05:39:00.000-07:00

Some of my most played have changed. As of today:

10) Aquellos Ojos Verdes Nat King cole 11 plays
9) Feel Good Inc Gorillaz 12 plays
8) Huddle Information The Go! Team 12 plays
7) Television Robyn Hitchcock 13 plays
6) Dirty Mouth Hot Hot Heat 13 plays
5) The Girl From Ipanema Astrud Gilberto 13 plays
4) John Wayne Gacy Jr Sufjan Stevens 15 plays
3) Yumeji's Theme In The Mood For Love 15 plays
2) The Predatory Wasp... Sufjan Stevens 18 plays
1) See You Soon Coldplay 27 plays

One Manu Show

2005-06-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

Somebody needs to notify Manu Ginobli that driving to the basket, ignoring all his open teammates and tossing the ball into 3 defenders is not any of the following: an actual play, a legitimate way to score with less than a minute left in a 5 point game that decides the championship, OR anything less than a cock-ass rookie move committed by somebody too big for their own britches.

Full Circle

2005-06-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

Your life comes full circle, you meet Noel Gallagher himself, the night before you are to attend his sold out show at Madison Square Garden. This is the man who wrote the music you learned guitar to, this is the man who was your idol growing up, this is the man who writes and drives your favorite band of all time. This is the man. And there he was. You met him. Full Circle.

outstanding

2005-06-21T15:34:00.000-07:00

check out this picture of nate robinson working out for paul allen and the blazer's management.

gravity

2005-06-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

all you itunes users out there should check out this week's free download. it's "gravity" by embrace, a song famously written by chris martin for coldplay but later given to his friends in this band, turning it into their first big hit in england in almost a decade.

gravity free download

Great Announcement

2005-06-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

We have joined forces with "Celebrating A New Suit" and "Things I Eat" and now plan to also have guest appearances by Brendan McFadden and Marc Ripper. Chad has, in fact, already posted, about Jamirgay no less, and so that is all very exciting. Now we are absolutely unstoppable.
Keegan

Oregon Forum

2005-06-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

EnglandDan in the blazer's forum has a quote regarding draft night that I think is pretty right on:

The blazers will have a series of what-ifs set up:

If Marvin and Bogut go #1 and #2 then ....
I think the order goes trade for top SG (Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Michael Redd), then trade with Charlotte for #5 and #13, then take offers from Utah or Toronto, then draft Gerald Green with the #3.

(don't) give hate a chance

2005-06-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

scenestars has linked up the new jamiroquai single and it is guaranteed to get you dancing. big time. get it quick before it's gone.

(don't) give hate a chance

No work ethic

2005-06-21T11:46:00.000-07:00

Great Article by Jim Beseda today in the Oregonian. As of 2pm today all early high school entrants into the draft must decide whether they want to partake, or return to college. If they decide to make themselves eligable for the draft, they are never allowed to play in college again. Ever. It's scary. Beseda quotes an NBA scout:

"Shavlik Randolph entered the draft because his father said he didn't want (Randolph) to sit on the bench at Duke," Blake said. "Is that ridiculous? What's he going to do? Start for L.A.? I like Shavlik, but, my goodness, he wanted to come out three years ago. He's not ready to play at the NBA level.

"I can understand a case like Randolph Morris. He went to Kentucky and found out it wasn't easy. Now he doesn't want to go to school and all of a sudden he's got his father and everyone around telling him, 'You're great.' And some agent is telling him he's going to get him a guaranteed contract in the first round or even in the second round, or else he can get him big money in Europe."

Much like I was mentioning last week, another example of youngs kids not working for what they want.

an inspiring meeting

2005-06-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends: OASIS

2005-06-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

I awoke this morning to realize I have made a gross mistep. My goal for this blog was to tell you about this that were outstanding. Well, there is something I need to tell you: Tomorrow night I am seeing... Oasis... on the floor... at a SOLD OUT... Madison Square Garden. And friends... that is so outstanding I cannot even begin to explain it. And there other this is, Don't Believe The Truth is great. It's no definately maybe, but it is a great rock record, and makes up one of maybe 3 quality summer records. Oasis is amazing, people are hating on them cause they think it's more deep to like coldplay, but I'm gonna tell you something, Oasis is still boss.

Just imagine it now... Madison Square Garden, sold out... lights go down... the beginning chords of "Lyla" strike up, lights come up, Liam stands center stage, hands behind his back, Noel in the corner, yelling something about how the audience is a bunch of "cunts" and should "come on." Priceless.

ONE TICKET TO OASIS(SOLD OUT, FLOOR): $50

ONE SUBWAY RIDE TO SHOW: $2 ($4 round trip)

LIAM TOSSING HIS TAMBORINE IN THE AIR WHILE SWIGGING A BEER AND FLIPPING ME OFF DURING "ROLL WITH IT": Priceless

god bless oasis, so many amazing memories

New Collective Bargaining Agreement

2005-06-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

The NBA and the Player's Association are on the cusp of solidifying a new CBA and therefore preventing a lockout. Very exciting.

Some highlights are:
-A 19 yr old age limit (therefore, unless in a unique circumstance, gauranteeing all players will complete atleast one year of college)

-A higher salary cap (making it easier to sign free agents and get rid of crap contracts)

-Now "super luxury tax" (for teams exceeding the cap)

-Only the first 2 years of rookie contracts are gauranteed, the rest are team options (so if you draft a bust of a player, you don't
have to commit for more than 2 years)

-All contracts would lose a year (so 8 year contracts become 7 I believe, it's either that or contracts from here forward can not exceed 7 years)

Hoops Hype, emphasis on hype

2005-06-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to send Ruben Patterson, the rights to Sergei Monia and the 3rd pick in the draft to the Utah Jazz for Gordan Giricek, Curtis Borchardt, Kirk Snyder and the 6th pick. What's not clear is if it's Borchardt AND Snyder or if it's Borchardt OR Snyder. Most likely both players will be needed in the deal to account for Patterson's trade kicker.

Thanks Nash

2005-06-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

"If they don't want to compete for the third pick in the draft, then it's hard for me to envision them competing 82 times a season."

Portland GM John Nash on Gerald Green, Chris Paul and Deron William demanding solo workouts.

Karma

2005-06-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

Acting like an asshole, deserves an asshole move in return.

Would Ya Believe....

2005-06-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

there is a website solely dedicated to celebrities eating.... well.... thanks to thighs wide shut.... there is... CELEBRITIES EATING

Blur

2005-06-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

Let it be said that I really, really love BLUR and yes, I agree that they are different without Graham, but not worse, and just as interesting. I think Graham was outstanding, but the path that he was exploring was more obvious than Damon's. Yes the struggle between the two was interesting, but to investigate the way entirely different cultures create sound, as compared to how older bands created sounds, is far more interesting. I love Graham, I think his solo records are unbearably bad, and I like loud/raunchy indie rock, and I'd love him to re-join Blur. But if it means having to wait for years for a new album, I'm not excited. Bloc Party is fucking retarded.

GRAND CLOSED! RE-OPENED ELSEWHERE!

Picture

NEW LOCATION

emmys. . .obviously

"She's Not Gonna Wear Shoes..."

Why "All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers and The Lost World: Jurassic Park Are Good

Please post a comment if...

I Could Dance All Night

M.I.A. -> Apple Certified

longwave

Mixed News

dios

Bucky Done Gone

Anonmymous Lawyer

I mean, it's ugly, no fugly

Overheard New York

It gets better

I mean, are you kidding me?

Mitch For This Evening

Mitch For This Evening

A Review of Elevator to the Gallows

live 8

Politics of Genius

THAD COCKRELL LIVE!

Important Note

Real Ultimate Ninja Power

Quality TV = Quality Laughs = Quality Life

Another one

Blazers beat Knicks 93-89

Blazers Hire McMillan

George A. Romero's next...

dictaphone's lament

oh shit

It's a bird, it's a plane...NO! It's Sufjan!

bush + bicycle = policeman in hospital

Sometime in Summer 2005...Obviously!!

Come on, hilarious.

Most Amazing Site Ever Made

boooo!

Unbelievable

15 movies - #15

15 movies - #14

Keegan & Jude > Chad

i crashed the trailer

15 movies - #13

Please Read The Following:

Catfish the size of a bear

15 movies - #12

Terrifying!

your welcome

15 movies - #11

15 movies - #10

sup

Jude

Breakfast

if i think this is funny, am i an asshole?

15 movies - #9

Maggie Cheung

15 movies - #8

speaking of. . .

acoustic

15 movies - #7

15 movies - #6

saturday night at spaceland

15 movies - #5

The Coolest

I Want My 111 Minutes Back: A Review of Princess Raccoon

15 movies - #4

15 movies - #3

Other Workout Videos

Workout Video

Good Blazer Summary

15 movies - #2

Tom Cruise is frickin' balls to the walls crazy

15 movies - #1

a certain kind of amazing

Things I Drink

nouvelle vague

bullocks

Chris Paul of Wake Forest