If you guys have some extra cash, try to donate to the Hurricane Katrina situation.

With the summer coming to a close it means the beginning of bad traffic and dark nights but also new and current television shows coming back.

What I'm looking forward to:
The Simpsons - Sept. 11
Arrested Development - Sept. 19
Prison Break - Aug. 29
Gilmore Girls - Sept. 13
The Office (US) - Sept. 20
Veronica Mars - Sept. 21

What others might be looking forward to:
Desperate Housewives - Sept. 25
Grey's Anatomy - Sept. 25
Family Guy - Sept. 11
House M.D. - Sept. 13
Lost - Sept. 21
Alias - Sept. 29
The O.C. - Sept. 8 (does anyone here watch this garbage though)

- I actually watched the first two eps of Prison Break and thought it was pretty good. We'll see how the series goes or if it will be cancelled.

(B) Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules (2005, ed. David Sedaris) Grade: B+
Collections of short stories read a bit like listening to a mix tape that a friend has made for you. It gives you some insight into what your friend enjoys and considers worthwhile. Sedaris titled this collection to compare himself to the “children” and those writers who are included here and have inspired him to “Hercules.” (He noted the plural/singular forms did not work, but it sounded better than Child Playing Before Statues of Herculai.) He also found that although he is considered to be a somewhat comic writer, he did not want the collection to solely be funny stories. And these stories do read along the spectrum of emotions. Some highlights: “Interpreter of Maladies,” “People Like That Are the Only People Here” and “Cosmopolitan.”

(O) Basquiat @ MOCA Grade: B+
On Friday I went to the 1st anniversary for Filter Mini and had a chance to enjoy the Basquiat exhibit as well as the other art galleries. I like Basquiat’s use of color and texture, and his ideas are still relevant today in instigating dialogue about consumerism, politics and the basic ills of society. But for the most part, it seemed his pieces were all v. similar, especially after viewing so many, and a bit ordinary. The standout was Joseph Kosuth’s Art as Idea as Idea, because it joins text and art, making a connection between the idea itself and the idea as art.

(G) Sunset Junction in Silverlake Grade: B
On Saturday I willed myself to withstand the heat to attend the Junction and am glad for doing so. The Walkmen impressed me (although I had seen them many years ago at the Troubadour but walked out before the end of their set). The frat-type boys in the crowd (who only recognized “The Rat”) did not. I particularly enjoyed the group of kids dancing in a corner. Music making people happy makes me happy. Rilo Kiley also was impressive but felt too short. And the only non-More Adventurous track was “Frug.” Granted, that was an unexpected number, but I still wish they varied their set list. They ended with the most obvious, “Portions for Foxes.”

So i guess i'll blog to my recent on-goings.

I have been to vegas 3 times recently with one more trip in 2 weeks...I am actually vegas-ed out, its quite tireseome especially driving there so much. The next time is for bowling so that will be fun. The bowling championship for our league is this coming Thursday. I'm somewhat nervous, I really want the trophy, but its gonna be had cause we have to give the other team 120 pins, yikes. I digress on that though, I went to the Grand Canyon last week and it was really nice. I had never been there before so I didn't know what to expect, but it was pretty amazing. We saw the IMAX movie, hiked around, saw different scenic points, all and all a nice trip. I don't know if i'd ever want to sit on a donkey for 8 hours to make it down to the bottom, but who knows.

Its almost NFL season, which for me, means sundays full of pacing back and forth, swearing and throwing things, ahh good times ahead...haha.

This question is for bleed like me and hedwig, recently a Dodger pitcher bet a bat boy that he couldn't drink a gallon of milk in less than an hour without throwing up, needless to say the bat boy lost the bet, my question is: Is this feat even possible? I was reading online and I don't think its is, but i wanted to get real medical answers. Yes I know I ponder useless information.

Looking forward to going to Hawaii, as pasty as i am, i think a little sun might be helpful. 3 more weeks for that. Time has been flying by lately, how is it almost September already? Seriously?

My coworker who has been an advisor for about 20 years is leaving in a month, kinda weird cause when anyone ever needs anything they go to her since she knows everything. I get her office which is cool, but its going to be different.

Waiting for the fall tv season to start sucks by the way. Arrested Development on at 12:30 on weeknights is pretty cool though. yeah i'm rambling i'll stop now.

Oh some quick movie revies since I haven't done this in a while:

40 Year Old Virgin: I give this movie a B+ its a good guy movie and pretty funny. They make fun of coldplay, that gets the extra + from me.

Wedding Crashers: This was one of the better surprises this summer, it made me laugh and fall in love with rachel mcadams for the time being. Motorboat.

Last Days: D (maybe lower) I think I am still watching this movie, its annoying, really really annoying. I had a feeling that Van Sant was going to attempt to make it way more artsy and preachy than it should be, and I was right. 30 minutes into the movie I was just waiting for him to go to the garden house, sorry to spoil it for you all.

Random thoughts:

- Apparently Fox News needs to do some fact checking. On August 7th, John Loftus, a former U.S. prosecutor, went on live television and claimed a terrorist lived in La Harba and proceeded to give out the address of the location. The disturbing fact was the terrorist had not lived there for three years and the information was outdated. However, the family who did live at the home got to experience the reaction of the announcement. Wow, Fox News keep up the terrible work. Addendum: The link might not work for some so sorry. Oh and you if you want some sweet merch.

- So all this talk about politics made me wonder who will run when 2008 rolls around and we could see one crappy president leave to be replaced by another. Well lo and behold I came across this blog which has devoted itself entirely to that question. Although upon closer inspection the guy who runs the site is from the UK so what does he really care who runs the US.

- Politics at work is terrible and annoying.

- A new guy started at my work and he sits right next to me. I already dislike him a lot. First he mutters under his breath while working, second he INSIST on talking to me even when it is quite obivious I am busy and third he use to be in real estate so he has the "salesman" way of talking which just gets under my skin. Can't you tell I love him?!?

- Why is it hot again?

- Why is gas so much now?

A note for the coffee-addicted who prefer Coffee Bean to Starbucks (because their large is 24 oz., unlike the puny 20 oz. venti). :) The frequent buyer Pink Cards at Coffee Bean will be discontinued after Oct. 16, because of mass counterfeiting that has cost the company millions. But a new plastic Pink Card is being tested in San Fran. Until they bring it to L.A., I will just have to work at becoming the customer of the month at Peet’s for that free coffee fix.

I don't intentionally write "fancy," but this should give everyone an idea of what I find amusing. (Oh, and the copy editors were all abuzz with confusion. Other Hollywood errors include Two Weeks Notice and Bridget Jones's Diary.) A cheer for pedants!

(M) Can't Buy Me Love (1980something). Grade: A
I looove this movie. That's love with three o's. Yeah, that's right. If you haven't seen it, the storyline goes like this: Dork (Patrick Dempsey) pays Cheerleader (some blonde chick of course) a 1000 bucks to be his girlfriend for a month so that he can gain popularity. Cheerleader falls for Dork, Dork doesn't know how to handle popularity and alienates his true friends, the secret comes out, and hilarity ensues (insert the cool crowd and muscular bully here). It's oh so very 80s and cheesy at times, but timeless in a way.

Oh yeah did I mention that Patrick Dempsey is hot??

(O) Catalina Island (8/20/05) Grade: A

I'm reposting my review, this time with a bit more detail. I suppose this is the result of reading Pigern's many fancy, analytical blogs. Mine sound so elementary. Why won't "I liked it" suffice as a review? Hehe.

Anyway, Cup O Noodles took me to Catalina for my bday because I've always wanted to go. The boat ride was about an hour long; Upon docking, we walked around, had lunch, and rented a golf cart and drove around the island. The guy at the golf cart stand gave us a map with a suggested route, and being the genius that I am, I had the idea to go opposite the route so that we'd be going against traffic. Uhh, yeah this doesn't work so much if some of the streets are one way. Ha! But Cup O Noodles and I had a great time navigating around the island. Afterward we rented one of those peddle boats and peddled around the harbor. And get this - the water is beautiful and clear, so very unlike typical Southern California water. Finished off with dinner and a nice stroll through the neighborhood, it was a good day. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to take a day trip somewhere.

(M) National Treasure. Grade: C

Before you diss...you have to watch the movie. This movie actually HAS a story line, which is refreshing. It's about how our Country's Founders hid a bunch of treasures in America and the only way to discover those treasures is to locate various clues around the world. And these clues aren't easy to find.... they are hidden! Gosh...our forefathers are geniuses! Anyway, while the whole concept of this movie is awesome...I must warn you about the acting job by Nicholas Cage. He doesn't show emotion when he acts. So, if you can tolerate his acting...you’ll love this movie for sure.

(O) Cup-O-Noodles Survey
I know a few people on here listen to Kevin and Bean in the morning. There is talk that Adam Corolla from Loveline may take over Howard Stern's morning DJ job here on the West Coast. Which would you choose to listen to, Kevin and Bean or Adam?

Stevie (Documentary - filmed around 1999) Grade: B
So what happens when your mom has you and she doesn't want you? What happens when you're a young boy shipped around to different foster homes? What happens when you're sexually abused in these foster homes? What happens when you get somebody from the "Big Brother" program come into your life and then leave you only to show up about 10 or more years later with a video camera to document your life and "catch up"? Well, watch this movie and find out.
Here are some hints... you get in toruble with the law A LOT. You have a mentally slow girlfriend who you don't hit because it didn;t work out with your last girlfriend that you used to smack around. You molest an 8 year old girl. You're at risk of being murdered in jail for it. You're mentallity doesn't pass the age of a young child. Though for all this disaster, there is something absolutely LOVABLE about Stevie. Maybe it's his child like behavior or big goofy look.
With trying to be there for his sister, allowing his life to be filmed only so he can have a connection again with his one time "Big Brother", and having a mom than abused and abandoned him trying to come back into his life, it's quite an interesting story. It's alos 2.5 hours long. One of the biggest highlights was when Stevie and his girlfriend were visiting a friend who is physically diasbled, and possibly mentally as well... her insight to life and relationships is extraordinary! Though this film is quite a downer in many areas, it also has a lot of life and heart in it. I really recommend viewing it.

For fans of Harry Potter - This is an actual picture my sister took in London. It's an homage to Harry Potter at King's Cross.

(TV) Laguna Beach (MTV) Grade: Too puzzled to grade fairly
I caught about 10 minutes of this show, so that might not sufficiently resolve my bewilderment as to why this TV series is rated No. 1 among the 18-24 crowd. There was no discernable dialogue except for a lot of seemingly hyper-active, very well-dressed, well-groomed teenagers exclaiming, Ohmygod! He is so cute! I love him! or variations on that. If there was an actual conversation, it went like this: People should totally get out of Laguna! Like I know! Dumbass! (That is all I can transcribe ... it was extremely dense and vacuous.)

(B) Summer Blonde (Adrian Tomine) Grade: A
I first encountered Tomine in the 2002 Best American Non-required Reading, which included his short story "Bomb Scare." Tomine has a talent for involving his reader (in a remarkably short amount of time) and then abrubtly ending his stories in unexpected ways. They read like a voyeuristic view into the lives of a few characters, but Tomine always leaves you guessing. The vignettes are thought-provoking and his illustrations are vivid. One of his most salient criticisms is for his typical, common characters (often outsiders or loners), but perhaps they only seem typical because people so easily identify a bit of themselves through them.

(B) Good Omens (Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett) Grade: B+
Who would have thought the Armageddon would be funny? Well, namely Gaiman and Pratchett in this very comical look at the war between Good and Evil. The sense of humor is self-referential, subtle and often footnoted, with amusing ironic bits such as naming the Antichrist Adam. A genuinely entertaining read for those who would like an alternative, frivolous take on the Left Behind series.

(M) Junebug (2005, June Morrison) Grade: B
I felt somewhat underwhelmed by this film. The tagline certainly is accurate: the blue states and red states do meet in this film about a Chicago-residing man and his cosmopolitan wife traveling to his hometown in North Carolina. I picked up on all the overarching themes of feeling like an outsider (even in your own family), attempts at human understanding and connection (despite cultural differences), et al. And the quiet moments in the film complimented the overall pace. But in the end, I just did not feel emotionally affected. The shining star is Amy Adams, who portrays a character so desperate in her need for affection and approval that you feel for her the most.

Random stuff:

Work is really stressful.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the gayest thing I've ever seen.
Wait, the Bring it On / Bring it on Again showings on USA are the gayest thing I've ever seen.
Or maybe I'm the gayest person I know for watching it.
(gay = lame, not trying to offend anyone!)
JKC loves Dashboard Confessional

Bring it!

Movies I'm interested in seeing (revision):

2046 - I saw and will put up a review
Junebug
Broken Flowers - Reviews have been lukewarm, I think I will just rent it.
Saint Ralph
The 40-Year Old Virgin - I will see this Friday :)
Pretty Persuasion - Reviews have been terrible for it so I'll pass.
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance - Reviews have been terrible for it so I'll pass.
El Crimen Perfecto

(M) Dark Days (Documentary) Grade: B-

(M) Dark Days (Documentary) Grade: B-
Want to watch the lives of a group of homeless New Yorkers who live in a tunnel next to a train track? They have built their own homes out of wood, have their own electricity, furniture, clothes, etc. Down in the tunnel you will watch what it's like for some of these people to live their lives outside of the norm of society. You'll also get into the history of why many of them are down here. A lot has to do with drug problems. They say probably 80% of the homeless people they know are on crack. You hear two brief sad stories of two of the people they follow around. One, a black woman whose children were burned to death. Her crack addiction probably stemmed out of the pain of that experience. Another horrible one is of a man who was in jail and while he was there somebody raped his 5 year old daughter, cut off one of her arms and legs and then set her face on fire. Anyway... it's not all sad stories, it mainly just shows what their life is like and the sense of community and family that these people create.
Towards the end Amtrak wants to kick them out of the tunnel and civil rights people get involved and gets the people Section 8 housing and everyone is more than overjoyed. For a group of people who seemed content and almost happy with the lifestyle they had, many reflect on they don't know how they ever lived that way and are greatful for a roof over their head.

Although my eternal love is always for the Cure I figured some people would be interested in Depeche Mode's new album cover Playing the Angel, release date October 18 (USA):

(B) Epileptic (David B.) Grade: A
Certainly one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read, this work won the French Alph’ Art award in 2000 for comics excellence. A memoir about his brother’s life-long battle with epilepsy, it discusses the ways in which his family tries to cope with the disease, his own struggles with how to help his older brother and the inner demons that possess him. The text on its own is interesting, but it’s David’s illustrations that truly depict the turmoil, anguish and difficulty one faces when confronting a loved one’s pain and being absolutely unable to do anything about it. How affecting? Well, I cried.

(B) A Long Way Down (Nick Hornby) Grade: C+
I’m surprised that this is only Hornby’s fourth novel, perhaps a telling indication of his already established place in the world of pop culture/popular fiction. But his latest is quite simply a difficult read, as he tackles the dark subject matter of suicide and fails to execute it successfully. In fact, reading Long Way felt more like reading the first draft than the completed piece. The plot travels in pointless, occasionally grating directions, the narrative is both disjointed (four-person narrative) and distractingly similar (often re-checked to remind myself who is speaking) and the most relevant criticism: I was never convinced that these characters were ever suicidal. Hornby’s last novel How to be Good was similarly difficult because it was near impossible to endear yourself to the characters, but I found it merely challenging rather than irritating. Although Washington Post gave Long Way moderate praise, I found this point the most precise: There’s a nagging sense that the characters are merely killing time (instead of themselves). I suggest killing time in more productive ways.

Why oh why does this always happen? The Fiery Furnaces perform at the Troubadour on Sept. 29. Great! I love them. But wait. The New Pornographers perform at the Henry Fonda that same night. Sigh.

Super Mario Brothers 3 (Original NES video game) Grade: A+
Dorkus and I have dug my nintendo out of the darkness and popped in this wonderful wonderful video game. It is glorious. It is marvelous. It is Mario and Luigi and they can get racoon tails and fly through the air and whistle their way to far away lands. Probably one of the best Nintendo games EVER!!!

Modern Girls (old 80's movie on VHS) Grade: C
I bought this movie because I heard it had a great soundtrack and was about club kids roaming LA in the 80's. Well, the 2nd part is correct. I was expecting bad, cheesy, wonderful in a way only an 80's movie can provide. I got some of it. It's not a horrible movie, but to me it didn't have that extra something that makes you want to run out and tell all your friends to go see it. The movie had that blonde woman from Sideways who gave the lame speech about the fragility of grapes and wine and all that B.S. from that gawd awful movie. In this movie she was the tramp, she lived with two friends one was a bitch and one was chasing after rock star Bruno X. The guy who played cool rock star Bruno X also played the role of dorky white guy who falls for the bitch but originally was attracted to the tramp and briefly was into the rockstar chaser. I guess the moral of that is go after anything that breathes and eventually somebody will respond.

Movies I'm interested in seeing:

2046 (I need to see it on the big screen)
Junebug
Broken Flowers
Saint Ralph (maybe)
The 40-Year Old Virgin
Pretty Persuasion
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (I guess they are re-releasing this)

I just added New Wave to my Netflicks' Friend's List. Within 2 seconds after I approved her as my friend, New Wave told me to remove National Treasure from my list. I personally heard that it was a good movie. So I'll have to blog about it after I watch it.

Oh yeah...can't wait to see the 40 year old virgin. Looks really funny.

(A) Plans (Aug. 30, Death Cab for Cutie) Grade: B
DCFC's fifth full-length plays like a Transatlanticism Pt. 2 of sorts. It is a lot more melodic, slower in pace and offers less catchy beats than You Have the Facts and Photo Album. But Plans is stronger overall than its predecessor (which I sincerely attempted to like yet couldn't ignore the over-production, the drawn-out sequences and the Velveeta cheese lyrics). Ben Gibbard doesn't stray too far from his typical excess sentimentality ("Someday You Will Be Loved"), but Plans offers up some winning lyrics ("Marching Bands of Manhattan") and a certain element of darkness ("I Will Follow You Into the Dark"). Plans might not win them new fans, but it should keep the old.

Side note: DCFC performs @ the Wiltern on Nov. 11. Granted, I missed their last performance there (the first time I missed seeing them in L.A. since 2000), but I will be there super early because the opening band is my new favorite obsession: Stars. Glee!

I did a count and as of today I'm up to 89 movies this year. Ha ha I'm so freaking sick it is awesome :) I wonder if I can reach 150 by the end of this year. Hmmmm I could make it.

X-Games XI 2005 - Grade: A
I saw three of these events:
(Thursday Night) Moto-X best Trick
(Saturday Day) Skateboard Vert Best Trick
(Saturday Day) BMX Vert Best Trick

This is my third year attending X-games. Moto-X best trick was an okay experience, I think Freestyle is much better, but the crap these idiots due is amazing. I think I'd have enjoyed it more if I didn't arrive 4 hours earlier than I needed to and didn't have to sit in the sun for 4 hours staring at the ground. That aside I saw some crzy men do crazy crap on motor bikes and of course watch them hurt themselves when they mess up.
Skateboard was great. This was the event I wanted to see most and these guys really are amazing that they do this kind of stuff on a skateboard. NOt much to say, but I am glad I went and as a bonus for going to Skateboard I got to see BMX which was actually more enjoyable than skateboarding. These guys are INSANE! They're all insane... skate, bike, moto, whatever. You guys are nuts and that's why I watch you do stuff I wouldn't even attempt in my sleep and drunk.

Scrabylon (2003, Documentary) Grade: D
Almost an hour long, and if you want to watch an ejoyable documentary about Scrabble and tournament scrabble and some of the interesting players, watch Word Wars because it's 300 times better than this documentary about Scrabble.

(M) Daughter From Danang (2002, Documentary) Grade: B
This was rather interesting. A vietnamese womans husband leaves her with her children and to fend for herself while he joins the communist side of the vietnamese soilders during the Vietnam war. The abandoned mother gets a job at a U.S. Military base and has sex with an officer in exchange for her to be able to feed her family. The woman becomes pregnant and 4 months into her pregnancy the U.S. soilder leaves. The mother who is considered a "whore" for sleeping with an American raises her family with this "half-breed". With public opinion of the U.S. involvement in the vietnam war very negative, the U.S. says they are bringing back a bunch of vietnamese orphans to provide a better life for them. Many of the children however are not orphans but are considered to be "attractive" vietnamese children and the parents are told there will be an open line of communication with their children and that they will return (parents of "half-breeds" give up their children because the Viet-Kong will kill any "half-breed" child). Of course, the U.S. doesn't hold up their claim

One child (the main woman of this documentary) decides to return to visit her Vietnamese family. She is married with children in the U.S. and though she has memories of her life in Vietnam she has been raised in America. The rest of the documentary documents this re-union and with cultural differences (especially in american perspective versus vietnamese perspective involving money and supporting your parents) the woman begins to regret ever coming to Vietnam.

It's really interesting and you do see the differences in lifestyles of Vietnamese verses Americans in lifestyle, living circumstances, perspectives on family and money values.

I personally really respected the way the Vietnamese who have little put so much on family and close ties with all their relatives who all live within proximety to each other and support each other, where as here in America sadly it's a country of personal isolation and a fend for yourself mentality. I'd recommend watching this documentary.

Peter Jennings died. How sad. I still remember when he anchored that 25-hour special for the 2000 New Year. He will be missed.

Sorry FTC :( How could I forget Thundercats?? That is some good shite. Oh and here's another one but I'm not sure how many people would like it:

- Office (US version) season 1 release date August 16th


- Six Feet Under season 4 release date August 23rd

an addendum to FTC a.k.a. new wave's post:
Thundercats, out this Tuesday.
yes!

(O) X Games (Staples Center, 8/6/05) Grade: A
I had never imagined myself actually attending the X Games, but it was really fun watching the best skate trick and best bike trick. And what made it more fun was the fact that it was inside and not in the sweltering heat.

(O) Some girl's upper back tattoo. (X Games, 8/6/05) Grade: F
Cup O Noodles and I were walking behind a girl who had something tattooed on her upper back. Upon closer inspection, it said in script: "Just live and breath. Try not to die again." Uhhhh. This is the part where the grammar snob in me makes fun of her for not spelling "breathe" correctly. Well, luckily, it's something that's easy to fix. Just add an E at the end of breath. But yeah, why don't people have their tattoos proofread? And how can someone die again?

(O) Moving in the 90 degree heat. Grade: F
It sucks. Period.

(O) Having your friends help you move. Grade: A
Best friends ever.

Here's some tv dvd news I dug up:

- Scrubs season 2 release date November 15th


- He-Man and the Masters of the Universe season 1 release date October 18th


- Arrested Development season 2 release date October 11th


- Simpsons season 6 release date August 16th
Apparently they are releasing season 6 to 10 with each character head though it is not confirmed.

(M) Wedding Crashers. (2005, David Dobkin) Grade: B

Thoughts: Funny stuff but nothing you haven't seen before. Any scene with Vince Vaughn and Isla Fisher were pretty classic but the whole Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams (who is amazingly beautiful) storyline just dragged. Oh and they didn't use Christopher Walken enough, how disappointing is that.

(M) Last Days. (2005, Gus Van Sant) Grade: C-

Thoughts: Watching this film feels like your last days, good grief. I think Gus Van Sant is trying to lose his fanbase and audience completely. Although the movie is "loosely" based on Kurt Cobain, I think it pretty much was an interpretation of what Kurt's last days were like. Some scenes of the film were so difficult to watch because NOTHING would happen. The only reason I did not give this movie a lower rating was due to a few and I mean a few good scenes and Kim Gordon's performance.

(M) Upside of Anger. (2005, Mike Binder) Grade: B+

Thoughts: Joan Allen can act. Her performance alone is worth watching this movie. Oh and how scary is this - Kevin Costner is not half bad either. When Terry Wolfmeyer (Joan Allen) "thinks" her husband has up and left her and their four daughters (Erika Christensen, Evan Rachel Wood, Keri Russell and Alicia Witt) for a younger woman she doesn't get sad ... she gets crazy angry. I say "thinks" because there is a twist ending which I'm not sure if I should hate or love but I'm leaning towards hate because I don't think it was needed.

(M) Bride and Prejudice. (2004, Gurinder Chadha) Grade: C+

Thoughts: I do not think I'm a big Bollywood fan. All the colors and singing and happiness scares me a bit. Bride and Prejudice is Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice but Bollywood style. Aishwarya Rai who plays Lalitha is beautiful and smart but has too much prejudice or was it pride to realize William Darcy (Martin Henderson) is the man for her. The ending is pretty obvious to us all but I did enjoy Naveen Andrews performance as Balraj Bingley just for comic value. Oh and the musical numbers were interesting.

(M) Mostly Martha. (2001, Sandra Nettelbeck) Grade: A-

Thoughts: A charming German film about an uptight chef whose world gets turned upside down when her sister dies and she has to take care of her 8-year old niece.

(M) Pane E Tulipani (Bread and Tulips). (2000, Silvio Soldini) Grade: C+

Thoughts: I think the film could have been better but the charm of it got lost in the translation. I'm sure I was missing key terms and phrases that would have worked if I understood Italian. It is still a nice little movie and I had this overwhelming desire to see Italy afterwards.

(M) The Nightmare Before Christmas. (1993, Henry Selick) Grade: B

Thoughts: Pretty strange/scary I have not seen this movie until now. I'm not sure why I never got around to it but yup ... just never did. The storyline isn't all that great but the entire movie is wonderful to look at. It is amazing that they created each of the figures by hand and shot the entire thing that way. The paitence and labor that went into that is impressive. I'm not super eager to see the Corpse Bride but I think it should be pretty good.

Surprised myself that it has been so long since I last wrote, so here goes:

(A) Set Yourself on Fire (March 8, Stars) Grade: A
Arts & Crafts has the best artists. This one namely.

(A) Underwater Cinematographer (July 12, The Most Serene Republic) Grade: A
Proving my point that Arts & Crafts (and Canada) is where it is all happening, Most Serene Republic boasts innovative song construction, impenetrable singing and delightful dialogue interspersed throughout. This Milton, Ontario-based band plays on all these eccentricities to full and surprisingly effective results. The album plays like a book--begins with a prologue, ends with an epilogue--and features such song titles as "The Protagonist Suddenly Realizes What He Must Do In The Middle Of Downtown Traffic" and "Where Cedar Nouns And Adverbs Walk." Stand-out track: "You're A Loose Cannon McArthur ... But You Get The Job Done," which features a "Wait!" "What?" "There's just one more thing..." introduction. I love it.

(A) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (June 28, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) Grade: A
Buzzzzzz band alert! Simple pop music seemingly ... but actually isn't. First, why would this Brooklyn band elect Alec Ounsworth to be their vocalist? One who commands such whinal nasality that it borders on painful? Perhaps because Alec can successfully convey an entire range of emotion in a simple "ahhhh" note. Add some delightful compositions (the bouncy introduction of "Over And Over Again Lost And Found") and amusing lyrics ("You look a bit like coffee/And you taste it" in "The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth") and that is the formula for the next big thing. It almost makes me want to, well, clap my hands and say, Yeah!

(A) The Weight is a Gift (Sept. 13, Nada Surf) Grade: B-
There is something to be said about writing in a direct manner. Those who can do so effectively, without hiding behind obscure lyrics, are admirable. Those who can't, on the other hand, often sound trite and overly simplistic. Nada Surf falls in that latter category. Not to say that these musicians aren't completely sincere in their messages. (I get the feeling Matthew Caws sings with complete sincerity.) But listening to such lines as, "To find someone you love/You got to be someone you love" in "Concrete Bed" or "Always love/Hate will get you every time" in "Always Love," connects with someone in junior high, doodling love notes in science class. Maybe Nada Surf should get back to that quirkiness they achieved in, dare I say it, "Popular."

(O) Sick (maybe with laryngitis). (2005, August) Grade: F
Thoughts: I'm not sure if I have laryngitis but I can't talk and if I can my voice is all hoarse and gross like I just smoked 10 packs of cigs in one sitting. Dang it my throat feels like burning and it hurts when I swallow. WTF.

(O) Work. (2004, August)Grade: F
Thoughts: I'm so super busy at work trying to finish all this shite up. Ugh. How depressing is this?? Last Thurs. I felt pretty sick so I went home and bascially slept for a day and half only to wake up on Sat. and drive into work to finish stuff I knew had to get done. WTF.

(O/TV) HBO On Demand/Six Feet Under. (2005, August)Grade: A/B

Thoughts: Okay I know I know Darth has been telling me I had this function on my cable box FOREVER. But do I listen ... nope. However since I've been sick I had nothing better to do so I decided to catch up on the eps of the final season of Six Feet Under. I've watched only 4 so far and find it alright at most. The characters are tiresome and I am glad the show is coming to an end. Although I was told by my old boss that last night's ep (which I'm like 5 or 6 eps from) is supposely really good. We'll see.