Go Hawks!!!

8:00 am is a bit early to be out and about on a Sunday, but considering the circumstances it was well worth it.
Thanks to Trisha Snyder, amatuer photographer, for taking the picture.

Sound Familiar

For those of us without parental support for tuition, this article and the reader reaction hits very close to home.

Bill and Napoleon

New Lips Soon

New Suggested Indiana Jones Titles

(remember Harrison Ford is getting old)

Indiana Jones and the Flatulent Demon
Indiana Jones and the Yearly Prostate Exam of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Curse of Incontinence
Indiana Jones and the Pelvis of Ramses
Indiana Jones and the Irritable Bowel Disease
Indiana Jones and the Crisis of the Colostomy Bag
Indiana Jones and the Disappearing Pension
Indiana Jones and the Last Hearing Aid Battery
Indiana Jones and the Tuesday Night Bridge Game.....OF DOOM
Indian Jones and the Golf Course of Eternity
Indiana Jones and the Quest to Get Those Damn Kids to Turn That Music Down!!!
Indiana Jones and the Mystical Walker of Moses
Indiana Jones and the Search for Ancient Egyptian Adult Diapers

Seattle "Issues"

Take a peak at the article from the Weekly. I'll be posting my comments/thoughts shortly.


Quick thoughts:
1. There is a reason people don't want you to smoke in front of them...it can kill em. Pretty simple really. People may have a right to smoke, but they don't have a right to kill others in the process. Get over it smokers!
2. Why does anyone care if someone you don't know gets a lap dance in a place they don't even visit? Only adults are allowed in strip clubs, so Seattle isn't protecting today's youth. I don't understand the problem here.
3. I love Rock Posters on power poles. Are power poles so attractive that we need to see every detail or their metal/wood glory? Nope.
4. Greg Nickels should concentrate more on exercising.

Good News for AD continues...

Ironically, the threatened show that's most likely to have a future is Arrested Development, which Fox is sending off with a four-episode blowout on Feb. 10 (opposite the Olympics opener on NBC; thanks a lot, Fox), but which is still in negotiation with ABC and Showtime for a possible pickup. While we cross our fingers for a resurrection of AD, will you be mourning any of these other shows, or are they getting while the getting is good?

The downside to the government tapping our phone lines

''You know how sometimes during wartime civil liberties can take a back seat to national security? Well, I got good news and bad news. The good news is this: No Japanese people are being sent into camps. The bad news is that time you got hammered and drunk-dialed your ex-girlfriend that's studying abroad and sang her that Wham! song that was your song, government's got that on tape.''
JON STEWART, ON THE DAILY SHOW

Half Acre Day Friday Jan 27th

Lets all get together and see HAD play on the 27th. It is a Friday. We can do this.
ROK

Letterman v. O'Reilly

Bill O'Reilly is the worst person in the world.

Top 90.3 from KEXP

The ONLY station that matters.

New Built To Spill

I have "Goin' Against Your Mind" on a couple of bootlegs and it is indeed a fantastic jam.

http://www.myspace.com/builttospill

Shawn Kemp

Bring him out of retirement.
I play hoops with Kemp's wife and she says he is really getting back in shape and laying off the mary jane.

Crash

This is a well-written and thought provoking article by Roger Ebert in defense of the movie Crash. He named it his favorite film of the year, however, it was also critcized and ridiculed from some critics as well.
I agree with Roger that the movie does attempt to show all sides of racism which, by the way, should not be just considered a "liberal" topic. Didn't Katrina remind us how far we have to go in this country to get past prejudice, inequality, and inequity?
A movie like Crash is important not only for it's entertainment value (which I felt was exceptional), but for its social impact as well.

I really recommend reading this article.
Trent

Karaoke

Chris gave Jolee a High-Tech Karaoke machine for Christmas.
Jolee and Friends give the world their voices!


















Jolee and Friends have a new CD coming out in March. Click pic for larger view.

Movie Reviews

OK, time to talk movies.
Here is my ratings system:
Full Price
Matinee
DVD
Don't bother

King Kong in Haiku:
King Kong is Too Long
but damn the action is strong
Watts needs Oscar Nod

I would trim about 30 min off of King Kong, however, it is still without a doubt worth seeing. Get rid of the Brontasaurus chase and the subplot with the young deckhand and his mentor and you are down to about 2:35 or so. The Ape seemed as real as Gollum the Evil One.
Analysis: Matinee with a large screen

Syriana
Did you like Traffic? If so, you will probably like Syriana as it was written by the same gentleman. Most of what takes placed is based on real events and when you leave the theater you will be even more skeptical of the US role in the World Oil business. Everyone talks about George Clooney giving a great performance, but I thought Matt Damon and Jeffrey Wright (also great in Broken Flowers this year) gave wonderfully layered performances as well.
Analysis:
Full Price

Munich
This is Steven Spielberg's best work in quite some time. However, I feel as if it would have been even better if it was edited down 10-15 minutes too. Length is great when it's needed (right, ladies?) but when you know you are watching filler it's a bit disappointing. That criticism aside, this is a very suspenseful and relevant film. Unlike Syriana, I have thought about the events in Munich almost every day since I have seen the film. No, it's not 100% accurate historically, but it doesn't claim to be either. What resonates is the feeling that the Middle East will be a quagmire until someone finally says "enough with the violence" and encourages diplomacy (possible? Maybe, maybe not). 'An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind simplifies the message a bit', but at the same time it's a close as I can come to describe what I think Spielberg is trying to say.
Analysis: Full Price

Rumor Has It
Rumor Has It you should see this movie. Sometimes Rumors are wrong. Great premise here with very poor execution.
Analysis: DVD rental only if you like romantic comedies that are light on the comedy part.

The Matador
Loved it. A very dark comedy with stong work from both Pierce Brosnon and Greg Kinnear. In fact, this might be the former 007's best work ever.
If you think the following line is funny I can guarantee you will like this movie:
Businessman Greg Kinner to Assassin Pierce Brosnon
Greg: "Are you serious?"
Brosnon "As serious as an erection problem"


Analysis: Full Price

Matador Is out In Seattle Now

I hope to catch The Matador this weekend. It could be the sleeper hit of the winter season.

Also, I have been meaning to post reviews/opinions/thoughts on all of the latest releases here on the site. I'll try to do that this weekend.
Many good movies. A few too many long movies. More later.

BRMC at Showbox in March

We are going for sure (once I buy tickets of course).

Happy New Year

This is called "Fun With Facial Hair 2006"












(click pic for larger view)