Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Quality of Life Index, June 24

The weather continues to impress beyond belief. (-3)

Tomorrow is supposed to be what? 80 & Sunny? (even)

The fact that I've just negated the possibility of that happening, by saying it's going to happen. (-1)

Dear person who stole my debit card number and charged a bunch of shit. I'm going to find you, and I will kill you. Liam Neeson style. You're an asshat. Sincerely, Me. (-5)

How about we all start a petition to just pave Central Square over, and turn it into an "expressway" of sorts, between the river and Harvard Square? Anybody? Anyone with me? (even)

No, really, Central Square has nothing going for it. Sorry, Middle East. Sorry, Wendy's. Sorry, half-naked guy that hangs out in front of Wendy's. (-2)

Re-watching Fringe, Season 1. (+3)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again now: Mmmm...Netflix... (+2)


.........................................
This Week's Total: (-7)
Last Week's Total: (+1)

Friday, June 19, 2009

Friday Music Special, June 19

"Don't Trust Me" - 3Oh!3
Not the real video. Not even really a song. Catchy as all hell. Will be sick to death of it by the time I'm done typing this.

Easily the slickest track he's come out with in a long time. If you thought him headlining Glastonbury was even the slightest bit off, you are wrong.

"One More Chance" - Bloc Party
I'll go ahead and call this the "It's Raining/It's Friday/I'm Working" anthem of the week.

"Audacity of Huge" - Simian Mobile Disco
I'm not sure what I'd do if I were out at a bar, and this song came on. But I'm fairly certain that I'd like it.

"Raindrops" - Basement Jaxx
Every few years I listen to one more song by these guys, and I'm always pleased. Though the thought of trying to power through an entire album of theirs makes me nervous.


...................................................
Speaking of Power:
"More Than A Feeling" - Scrubs Air Band
Yo. If they tour. I tour. You understand me?








Friday, June 12, 2009

Friday Music Special, June 12

"Vanished" - Crystal Castles
Though suffering from a ridiculously lame band name, they manage to make music that does not suck.

"Blue Skies" - Irving Berlin
Possibly the best recording of this song, ever. More than anything, this tune's presence on the FMS is a protest against the ridiculous antics of Mother Nature, over the past several days.

"Here's Looking At You Kid" - The Gaslight Anthem
I know, I know. Another Gaslight Anthem tune. Really, they're that good.

"Tripoli" - Pinback
A recommendation. Never heard of these guys before. Not sure I'll ever again, either. But this tune actually isn't so bad. Still - filler, not killer.

"Ode To Zach Braff" - SuperSecretProject
Outstanding.


................................................
"Sprach Zarathustra" - Richard Strauss
Yes. It's the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey.




Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Quality of Life Index, June 10

The weather. Get your act together, Mother Nature. (-3)

The way an ankle full of screws & steel feels in this weather. (-2)

The strange lack of pollen in the air right now. (+1)

The disconcerting feeling that having mentioned that, I will be assaulted by the aforementioned Mother, the next time I go outside. (even)

Safari 4, the iPhone 3G S, and all the other Apple goodness announced this week. (+2)

Preliminary thoughts on "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay", aka - the book I've always wanted to and should have read a long time ago. (+4)

People that say "latter", but write "ladder". (-4)

Thanks for negating the Apple goodness, Jerks. (even)

Netflix. Yes, I'm very late to the party. But daaaaaaamn. Good on you, Netflix. Fine Job. (+3)

.........................................
This Week's Total: (+1)
Last Week's Total: (-5)

Monday, June 08, 2009

Old School C.O'B.



PS - Keep up the good work, you crazy, lanky, bastard.

Friday, June 05, 2009

Friday Music Special, June 5

"15 to 20" - The Phenomenal Handclap Band
Ok. It really annoyed the heck out of me at first, too - but listen the whole way through. If you still hate it, no hard feelings. Promise.

"Red At Night" - The Gaslight Anthem
A gem of theirs from the previous album. This is what I've listened to every afternoon, before leaving work, everyday this week.

"Superman Returns" - John Ottman
Not certain I've ever put something like this up here, before. But Ottman really hit this out of the park, riding John Williams' coattails. This has been a comfort through much distress.

"When The Sun Goes Down" - Arctic Monkeys
These guys continue to impress beyond what you can expect from most bands. Good things.

"Waking Up In Vegas" - Katy Perry
What? I don't hate it, and neither should you.


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What Was Missing Last Week:
"Whoomp There It Is" - Tag Team
I will laugh if you know the words. I will sing them along with you. But I will laugh.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Quality of Life Index, June 3

Jerks. You know who you are. (-4)

People that stare. Who also should probably go under the "Jerks" category. (-3)

Rodney Harrison is retiring. Favre, take note. (even)

Final Draft 8. Say what you will, I dig the more "OS X'y" feel. And the scene navigator is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Sliced bread having been invented the previous winter. (+3)

Grades in. Not bad. Not bad at all. Mischief, managed. (even)

I'm not entirely certain what it is about the clear blue sky that makes me all kinds of happy, but it do. It really do. (+2)

But then again, pollen. (-1)

People that ask the same question over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over in hopes that the answer will change. I'll tell you what Newman told Redford: "It ain't gonna happen." Again, this should probably be filed under the first point. (-2)

Two Simpsons quotes, and one Harry Potter reference in this week's QoL Index. (even)

.........................................
This Week's Total: (-5)
Last Week's Total: (even)

Monday, June 01, 2009

Dear Dan Brown, et al.

What the hell is the matter with you people?

First off, Dan Brown. You wrote a good book. Did you even read the script that was used to make the movie? I mean, Da Vinci code was one thing - but for Angels & Demons I actually expected more. Really? No bald guy in a wheelchair at CERN? No Vittoria's Dad? Are you that busy counting your dollars that you couldn't write the damn script yourself?

Second, Ron Howard. You should just be embarrassed. Not in the way that Sean Penn should be embarrassed by everything he's done in the last ten years (both on and off the screen), but close. You had the cast, you had the locations, and you know you had an audience. But buddy boy, really. THAT much of what I'll call "exploratory conversation" was just insulting. And fire your editor.

Finally, Tom Hanks. I expect more of you, Sir. You are held in a rare, high regard, and you have disappointed. In Da Vinci Code, the only gripe I had with you was the haircut (a sentiment echoed by many many many others), but this time around even you could not save the slowly sinking ship that is Robert Langdon's latest cinematic foray. If and when Professor Langdon returns to the screen, for the love of pete: don't leave everything up to Opie.

See you in the funny papers.