A Fortnight's Delights

So it's a pretty good couple of weeks for movies. I haven't been to, or seen, as many as I'd have liked over the past several months, but if the next several weeks' releases are any indication, I'll soon have spandex and sci-fi and retconning galore to assuage me.

First up, naturally, is Wolverine Origins. The trailers have looked solid, thus far. And no. No I did not download the workprint that appeared all over the bit-torrent world some weeks back. The old me might have downloaded it, and ruined the cinema experience. But that was the old me. This new me is looking forward to a gigantic popcorn, a tub of cola, and an ass-grooved seat to park it in for at least two solid hours while I watch Dr. Cox's bane do his thing. Damn. That's good.

Next up is Star Trek. Originally, I was less than thrilled that this would be a prequel. Don't get me wrong. Classic Trek is fantastic. But I grew up with TNG airing new episodes every week, not Kirk and crew. Then there was the fact that Matt Damon turned down the lead as ol' James T. That hurt a bit, but Chris Pine seems about right, judging just from the TV spots I've seen. Pitch-perfect Zachary Quinto, spot-on Zoe Saldana, and all the rest (including you, Harold) all look their parts, and all have chops on some level. Plus there's the J.J. Abrams factor. Talk about the midas touch. All this, plus the fact that Michael Giacchino wrote the score makes me feel all tingly inside. I'm tempted to say "beam me up", but naaahhhh...

Now as for the following weeks, both Terminator and Angels & Demons are set to bow. The two of these are, right now, balancing each other out in terms of generating any warm and fuzzies. Here's hoping that Terminator (the movie) is better than Terminator (the tv show), and that Ron Howard had the good sense to cut Robert Langdon's hair. That euro-mullet isnt' the "demon", is it?

See you in the funny papers...

Quality of Life Index, April 29

The carelessness of others. (even)

When it directly affects you. (-3)

The forgotten box of chocolate Teddy Grahams I found in my desk, around 4:15 yesterday afternoon. (+4)

Semester wrapping up over the next few weeks. (+2)

The amount of writing to get done before the semester wraps up. (-1)

Classic Goldfinger (play "Forgiveness"). (+3)

Nicer weather. (+2)

Allergies. (-2)

The weather, overall. (even)

Lost's 100th episode is tonight. Can this really contribute to the quality of my life, even if the episode hasn't aired yet? Yes. Yes it can. (+5)


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This Week's Total: (+10)
Last Week's Total: (+6)

Quality of Life Index, April 22

People that ride their bikes on the sidewalk. (-3)

I swear. If one of you ass-hats either bumps into my one good leg, my one bad leg, my cane, or runs over my Nikes one more time, I will jam my exact replica Dr. Gregory House walking stick through your spokes and make you flip the frak over, you stupid stupid silly little people. (even)

Odds that I'll get bumped by one of the aforementioned ass-hats, later today. (even)

Department-wide lunch at work, free food. (+2)

Department-wide lunch at work, having to sit through it. (-1)

Department-wide lunch at work, overall. (+1)

Lost Season 5's continued ante-upping - including, but not limited to, the best episode title since "?": "Some Like It Hoth". Frakkin' fantastico. (+4)

Two uses of 'frak' in this post, thus far. (+2)

I heart Scrubs. There. I said it. (even)

Frak. (+1)

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This Week's Total: (+6)
Last Week's Total: (-1)

Ninja (Tries To) Rob Store. Really.

BOSTON -- A man dressed as a ninja with a sword tried robbing a convenience store and dry cleaners in Weymouth.

A man wearing a ski mask and carrying a sword walked into the Tedeschi convenience store at 1039 Main St. around 8 a.m. Monday, the Patriot Ledger reported.

A clerk told police the man was dressed like a ninja and was carrying a "ninja sword."

The man then left the store and went to nearby Galaxy Cleaners and demanded money, the paper reported.

The man left the cleaners without any money when the clerk could not open the cash register.

Police said they are looking for a man in his late 20s.(link)

Here's a police sketch of the Perp:

Friday Music Special, April 17

"Sound of Guns" - The Architects
If the dude from Rancid had a better voice, this is what he'd probably want to sound like. As it is, this tune is possibly the best self-aggrandizing thing I've heard in quite some time. Yay-yer.

"Know Your Enemy" - Green Day
New, from the guys that brought us Dookie...and then a bunch of other cal...something that doesn't suck harder than anything Metallica did post-Black Album.

"Sweet Child o' Mine" - Alex Cornish
Wow. I mean, wow. I thought I had heard every possible iteration of this song, and then this cover comes along and, well, just listen. Video linked to is a live version - if anyone can find the studio one, send it along.

"My Doorbell" - The White Stripes
Not a new song. Not too old a song, either. But a damn good one. And Jack White's hat is baller. Baller as all heck.

"Spanish Joint" - D'Angelo
What? I can't dig on something other than UK pop-topia for a minute? Damn.


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Tradition:
"Don't Sweat The Technique" - B Eric & Rakim
I'd like you to give a listen, nod your head in slow motion, and let out a long 'Yeeeeaaaahhhhhhhhh'.

Quality of Life Index, April 15

Turning tides. (+1)

Hiroshima Mon Amour. Really. You should go and see this movie right now. Especially since the WHOLE thing is on YouTube in nine 10-minute chunks. (+3)

People that still think the telephone and fax machine are better methods of office-communication than email. (-4)

The latest episode of 24. Jack. Enough with the crying. And you. For shame, Tony. (-2)

Michael Jackson's auction has been called off. (even)

Kutner killed himself?! Huh? (-2)

This guy: (+3)


.........................................
This Week's Total: (-1)
Last Week's Total: (+2)

Redemption?

It's about damn time.

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

Friday Music Special, April 10

"Tonight's Today" - Jack Penata
In the same way that driving at night with the windows down and sunroof open feels just about right when it's (supposed to be) springtime, so to does this slick beat and infectious riff. Plus the chorus is a tongue-twister and half. Or at least, I think it is.

"I'm Not Alone" - Calvin Harris
Ok, Calvin Harris. You and I need to talk. In one fell swoop, you've negated my ability to walk down the hall without hearing this song in the background, and also managed to re-affirm my unhealthy love of bedazzled glasses. Um. Thanks?

"Rubber Lover" - Marmaduke Duke
Not really a throwaway tune, but not entirely a keeper either. Like the opening credits of one of those 80's movies made during the late 90's.

"Embers" - Just Jack
Conversely, here we have a 2000's tune with a decidedly 80's video. I'm beginning to sense a thread running through the music special this week, though I'm entirely uncertain of what that thread is.

"Daniel" - Bat For Lashes
Easily my favorite track on this week's list. Something about it makes me feel fuzzy. And I like fuzzy.


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Final Thought:
"Don't Stop Me Now" - Queen
So help me, this is the best Friday anthem of all time. I'll inevitably change my mind at some point, but totally the 'current best Friday anthem of all time'.

A Once-Broken Blogger

It occurs to me that I should explain where the hell it is that I've been for the past several months. Among other things, I broke myself.

Submitted for the approval of The Midnight Society is the image above.

After roughly three-and-a-half months, I'm finally off the crutches, and have graduated to a severe limp and fairly baller cane.

There was also a time not unlike the whole Klingon Age of Ascension Ceremony, wherein the subject is "expected to express his or her most profound feelings while under...extreme duress".

Now you can ask about that whole thing, but - not really a soup question, is it?

;-)

Quality of Life Index, April 8

Back in the blogging game, even though you all thought that April Fool's post was actually a gag. (+2)

Finally. Finally. FINALLY off the crutches. (+5)

Stall-Talkers. You know who you are. And you should be ashamed of yourselves. (-3)

The fact that I'm still sort-of unable to get through a day without quoting the Yeah Yeah Yeahs tune mentioned in the last Friday Music Special. (even)

Lost Season 5, until last week. (-1)

Lost Season 5, after last week's episode (yes, the one that included the Back To The Future reference). (+4)

Even Numbers. (-1)

Unpaid late fees to the DMV, specifically the ones that the DMV NEVER notifies you about and that subsequently result in suspended licenses that can't be un-suspended until the following business day. (-4)

Getting pulled over on a Friday, at 5:04 pm, where Monday is the next business day. (-1)

The "Turtle Shoe Sex" video. No, really - it's SO not what you're thinking. (+1)

Sarvosh's Semantics Powered by Spice. (even)


...............................................
This Week's Total: (+2)
Last Week's Total: (n/a)

Friday Music Special, April 3

"Zero" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Thanks to this song, I'm unable to get through a single day without saying "get your leather on" at least thirteen times. Five of these are well-timed, three are only partially acceptable uses of the phrase, four are mumbled under my breath, and the last one is a bit like that kid who always starts the slow motion clap at the wrong moment in "Not Another Teen Movie".

"Skeleton Boy" - Friendly Fires
It comes in like a NES-Classic soundtrack, and goes out like a kitsch-pop version of "Freakbeat Phantom" (The Rascals). The middle is full of toe-tappy-goodness. Listen. Now.

"Revelry" - Kings of Leon
revelry |ˈrevəlrē| noun ( pl. -ries) (also revelries)
lively and noisy festivities, esp. when these involve drinking a large amount of alcohol : sounds of revelry issued into the night | as if you need a reason beyond this and the fact that it's a Kings of Leon track. | Tennessee never sounded so darned good.

"We Walk" - The Ting Tings
A softer, more sensitive Ting Tings track that pushe...aww...who are we kidding. They're still the best Target Commercial band ever to not have a track featured in a Target Commercial.

"No Time For Tears" - The Enemy
This song has made me unabashedly crank the speakers at my desk more times than I can count, over the past several weeks. I hope it does the same for you, and that your co-workers are as understanding of your zaniness as mine are.


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Punk In Drublic:
"Know How" - Young MC
Because it's Friday, and to paraphrase my grimiest of colleagues: one must keep dancin'

Are You There, Blog?

Oh, hi.

It's been a while. It's been too long a while, really. In the months since we last parleyed, I've been through hell but now I'm back again. And here's the pledge: thrice weekly. I know what you're thinking. It's an April Fool's thing. But no lie, here. Just love. Three times a week, from here on out.

It's Wednesday, and methinks an update to the Quality of Life Index is long-overdue:

Circles, patterns, cycles, rhythm, breaks and beats and lastly - soul. (+)

See you in the funny papers...