Friday Music Special, February 26, 2010

A little groove for a little give.
__________________________________________



1. Because they're awesome.
b. Because their Biography episode was the last thing I watched, last night.
__________________________________________



Don't know much about this band, but of the few tracks I've heard, this one stuck.
__________________________________________

Friday Music Special, February 19, 2010

Dance it out, suckas.

___________________________________________



I continue to absolutely adore this band. And you should too. If you don't, then The Machine will get angry. And you wouldn't like The Machine when it's angry.

___________________________________________



The sophomore slump may have dimmed these guys a bit - but overall, there new offering ("Contra") contains much of the same toe-tapping awesomeness and groove that their first major record did. Play on, boys. Play on.

Pedagogues & Broomsticks, Part 2

In this next installment of Pedagogues & Broomsticks (aka - the technological travails of Professors I've encountered along The Way), I'd like to detail the current scene. I sit, in class, watching no fewer than 5 educators trying to figure out how to get presentations from 3 different laptops, onto 2 very large screens. The 2 screens simulcast the same a/v feed, the 5 people will only present one at a time, and 2 pairs are sharing 1 laptop per pair. 3 laptops use VGA out. 1 uses DVI. 1 looks like it has an S-Video out.  Convoluted? Yes. Painful to watch? Even more so. Number of icons on one professors left-side docked Windows XP taskbar? The total of survivors from the Titanic might actually be a lower number. Me? I'm a big fan of the path of least resistance, and struggle to understand how something as simple as wiring a classroom for ease-of-use for the non-tech savvy Prof's can be made so disruptively arduous.

Call me crazy, but in today's higher education setting, it's seemingly imperative that educators (and students) maintain more than a passing awareness of how a/v stuffs operate. The old guard of overhead projectors with reusable transparencies is gone the way of the Sugar Daddy (the candy, not the old guy) - as in, you can still find it somewhere, but only in the most specialized of spots. So here's my plea to all of you "Technology is not my thing" types: reach down, grab your bootstraps, and pull. Hard.

And if your answer is no, then stop wasting everyone's time and make way.

Sergio! (Don Draper Does No Wrong, Pt.1)

Friday Music Special, February 5, 2010

"The Ol' Beggar's Bush" - Flogging Molly




At their usual pace, their usual charm, and their unendingly awesome style. Yes, I like The Pogues more, and understand why I should - but after all this time, Flogging Molly still makes me dinky stinky, and that's the key to a long-lasting relationship, right?
______________________________________________________

"Kinda Kinky" - Ursula 1000



I owe my discovery of this total crap-track (toe-tap worthy as it is) to the website of a dive-bar in Mission Hill. For the record, if you don't serve whisky, consider rebranding yourself as a cafe.
______________________________________________________

"Someone Like You" - Safetysuit



I don't really understand why these guys aren't more popular. They're certainly head-and-shoulders above much of the swimming-with-owls-and-dolphins-city nonsense that's out there right now, and seem fairly musically coherent. Kudos?

Pedagogues & Broomsticks

In a recent discussion with some cohorts far more technologically knowledgeable than myself, I mentioned some past technical difficulties with various Pedagogues who, for posterity's sake, I won't name. This got me thinking - I'm terribly tired of going to class and hearing my fellow humanistic brethren talk about how "technology is not their strong suit". Listen, bub - it ain't mine either, but I do - get it?

Let me paint a picture: first day of the first class of the last semester of classes before graduation. Professor X (no relation to the bald, psychic, Picard look-alike) frantically tries to get a laptop's video feed to pump through the magic jack on the wall and onto the big, beautiful screen. Simple, right? Not as simple as you'd hope. Now I'm no programmer. Not by ANY stretch. But listen - if you're going to use presentation materials, as just about EVERY faculty member does, nowadays - get your frakkin' act together. There is almost nothing that irritates me more than sitting in class, watching professors fumble through something that could (and SHOULD) be easily remedied by a training class, showing these brainiacs how to get their slides up on the screen. Stop wasting my time because you don't know how to do something, and clearly haven't bothered to learn.

Off to class now, we'll see how thing go today...

Milestones Passed & Coming Attractions

Along with the new year, comes the passing of a fairly significant milestone, pour moi. Some time ago, I had (what I think) is a fairly clever idea for a feature-length film. Now, finally, completed, the script stands proud at ~116 pages of (hopefully) narrative goodness. Though I'm almost sad to have finished it, looking at the completed work makes me feel the warm and fuzzies all the way over. Good, that.

Next up: Friday Music Special, the Redux

Coming Soon: A treatise on the absolute necessity of the Quality of Life Index

A New, New Year

Things resolved:

1. I am a writer. Of the things of which I'm certain, this is the most essential. Proven because despite a lack of validation, of justification - or publication - I keep doing it.

ii. It might not get better, but it certainly gets easier. A paraphrasing of some words of wisdom, pedagogically received.

c. When it doubt, take it out. True of so many editorial, and other more illicit, quandaries.


Ever mine, ever thine, ever ours...

-


PS: Dear "Lost" Writers, if after all is said and done, it's all in the Fat Guy's head, imma bring the mother*&#@ing ruckus.

AOTS Goodness

For their 1,000'th episode, the AOTS Powers-That-Be finally let Kevin get his greasy on. And it was good.

Video Game - E3 2009 - Attack of the Show

But then they pulled this. I call "Shenanigans".

Video Games - E3 2009 - Attack of the Show

See you in the funny papers...

Friday Music (Video) Special, July 10, 2009

Lost - The Break/Beat Remix


A ridiculously cool mix of the genius score.

The Armenian Crip-Walk

Admittedly not as funny if you don't know Armo music...but really, c'mon...it's still good.

Hercules:The Legendary Journeys (Bathroom Style)

Simply put, the best version of this song. Ever.

See you in the funny papers...

Quality of Life Index, July 1

It's coming. It's happening real soon. (+3)

Second monitor on desk makes watching podcasts at desk that much easier. (+2)

Stupid weather. (-2)

The sad level of articulation I've reached while discussing the weather, after over a month of grey, grey, rain, grey. (-1)

Glastonbury. Wow. (+3)

I will miss you, Michael. (even)

A strange penchant for craptastic dance music has overcome me, of late. The Friday Music Special is sure to be affected by all that cal this week. Sorry in advance. (-1)

Eeeehhhh...maybe an MJ tribute special will be in order. Thoughts? (even)

I can't wait for Snoop Dogg's iPhone app to become available. iFizzle. (+2)

.........................................
This Week's Total: (+6)
Last Week's Total: (-7)

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)

Leather Clad Lunatics!

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.

"Death of Autotune" - Jay-Z

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 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.

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)

Old School C.O'B.

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

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.


......................................................
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.

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)

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.