So many decisions to make, so little time.
1. Robot Chicken is perhaps the funniest and most unique show on television.
Just a heads up, some of the stuff in the show might be considered inappropriate.
Robot Chicken is a combination of all of those tiny jokes you find funny, the one-liners that make you chuckle and the silly situations that you conjure in your mind. All of this is done marvelously by actor Seth Green and "Other Guy" Matthew Senreich. Here's a clip, if you can watch it:
(More clips can be seen on their website, if you're interested. The link is further up, where it says "Robot Chicken".)
Yeah, it's animated. But it doesn't make a difference. Try watching an episode. The Star Wars episode is a classic, but there are plenty of others. It's on Adult Swim on Cartoon Network at whatever time, but I just watch them online.
2. I will be jumping on the Seattle Seahawks bandwagon next season.
4. Michael Jordan made Space Jam incredible.
Let me preface this by stating that Michael Jordan is, in every possible way, awesome.
Now, onto the movie. Jordan gave the movie a little something called "star power". With any other NBA star, the movie would've been worse off than with Jordan. MJ brings not only his unmatched basketball prowess, but also his genuine charisma and mo derate ac ting ability. Think of him as The Rock (or do we call him Dwayne Johnson, now?), minus the intimidating stare and a little friendlier.
Besides, who could forget Michael's Secret Stuff and the amazing comeback by the Looney Tunes, all set to the tune of "Space Jam" by the Quad City DJ's? I know I can't.
5. Nothing captures the story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter like Bob Dylan's song "Hurricane".
The story of Carter was/is a terrible consquence of American racism. The Wikipedia article is here, but I'll try to condense it for you.
Carter was a black professional boxer, who, in 1966, was convicted (along with a friend of his, John Artis) of the murder of a bartender and two customers at Lafayette Bar and Grill in Carter's hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. After the shooting (where the shooters were identified as two black males), Carter and Artis were pulled over. Carter had a pistol and a shotgun shell that matched those of the shooters, and his car was identifie d as the one at the scene.
Of course, there were about a million holes in the prosecutor's evidence, and racism was evident in the trial. My feelings on the story are best put by Bob:
"How can the life of such a man
Be in the palm of some fool's hand?
To see him obviously framed
Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game"
Now I'll let Bob clean up by doing what he does best: tell a story.
If that doesn't work for you, you can find the lyrics here.
6. Black Eyed Peas's "Where Is The Love?" is a classic song .
Whoops, wrong "Where Is The Love". I guess the question mark makes a difference.
As usual, it won't let me embed the song. So we'll have to make do. The video can be found here.
I usually dislike rap/pop music. Some rap, I enjoy, but it's rare, and I'll take in the occasional pop song (right now it's between Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" and Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold". And yes, I hate myself for it.).
But don't underestimate the ability of "Where Is The Love?" to pull you in if it hasn't already. The song does a phenomenal job of displaying several social issues in the U.S. today. I say "today" because these problems still exist. No, they have not disappeared since the song's release in 2003.
All told, though, the song is a plea for world peace, racial understanding, and, simply, love, with all of these cries for help captured expertly by the rapping of the Black Eyed Peas and the vocals of Justin Timberlake. Yes, he got his hooks into this song, too.
7. +44 is better than Angels & Airwaves.
Don't let me give you the wrong impression. I'm ecstatic over the reforming of Blink-182.
But +44's music is simply better. Tom Delonge seemed caught up in trying to be important and making an impact. Meanwhile, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker still acted like they were enjoying themselves. Their music wasn't as radical a departure from Blink-182's as Delonge's music was, but that's not the point. +44's music was catchy, occasionally fun, and emotional when it needed to be. Angels & Airwaves's music had a tendency to get lost in itself.
Oh, and it was kindof Delonge's fault that Blink-182 broke up in the first place. I understand he needed some rest, but still, if you're going to quit the band, tell the other members yourself rather than letting your manager tell them.
Yeah, it's animated. But it doesn't make a difference. Try watching an episode. The Star Wars episode is a classic, but there are plenty of others. It's on Adult Swim on Cartoon Network at whatever time, but I just watch them online.
2. I will be jumping on the Seattle Seahawks bandwagon next season.
Don't ask me why. I don't know. Maybe I just enjoyed watching them beat the Jets last year. Hasselbeck will be back. They drafted a few guys who are supposed to be good. That receiver fellow, T.J. Houshmanzadeh, is supposed to be good, and should make a nice target lining up opposite Deion Branch.
But really, with a new coach, it's entirely possible that the team will torpedo its season. At least they'll get another high draft pick if they do.
It also helps that I have a Seahawks jersey. It's Ricky Watters. He's retired.
3. Donald Faison is excellent in Scrubs, but is most captivating in Remember the Titans.
It also helps that I have a Seahawks jersey. It's Ricky Watters. He's retired.
3. Donald Faison is excellent in Scrubs, but is most captivating in Remember the Titans.
Don't get me wrong. I love Faison as Dr. Chris Turk. He's a funny guy, and I think he's hilarious in Scrubs. Furthermore, he occasionally provides that dose of "real" that brings the show back down to earth. Oh, and, uhhh, he always had a short cameo in Fall Out Boy's music video for their cover of Michael Jackson's "Beat It". He's in there at about the 1:10 mark.
That being said, he most tugs on the strings of the audience's heart in Remember the Titans. You might not even remember him in the movie. He plays running back Petey Jones, who converts to defense after realizing his penchant for fumbling. Early on in the season, he replaces Ryan Gosling (another favorite of mine. Go watch Half Nelson. Do it. Now. Trust me.), and becomes an every day player.
Wood Harris is also featured inThe Wire the movie as Baltimore drug dealer Avon Barksdale defensive star Julius Campbell.
Wood Harris is also featured in
However, partway through the season, Petey breaks down, and gives up his spot Alan Bosley (the guy Gosling plays). In the final game for a championship (I'm pretty sure it was the state level), Petey asks Coach Yoast (Will Patton) to put him in. Yoast refuses, saying Petey let the team down when they needed him.
But here it is. Bosley finds himself out of his league as the Titans are trailing, and asks Yoast to put Petey in. Yoast tells him that the only person who can give Petey Bosley's spot is Bosley himself. Bosley runs to Petey, and tells him he's in.
Petey's face lights up. He takes the field, making the hit on the other team's punt return. Next down (I think), and Petey's man catches the ball. Petey hits him. Fumble. Petey recovers. You hear coach Boone (Denzel Washington) shouting for him to hold onto the ball. Everybody piles on. Finally, when the players gradually all get off of him, Petey stands up, raising the football triumphantly into the air, after not only holding onto the ball for once, but after giving his team a chance to win the championship game.
And what do you think happens? They do.
(My storytelling may be a little off. I saw the ending a few days ago, so the final scene where Petey gets the ball for the team might not be exact.)
(My storytelling may be a little off. I saw the ending a few days ago, so the final scene where Petey gets the ball for the team might not be exact.)
4. Michael Jordan made Space Jam incredible.
Let me preface this by stating that Michael Jordan is, in every possible way, awesome.
Now, onto the movie. Jordan gave the movie a little something called "star power". With any other NBA star, the movie would've been worse off than with Jordan. MJ brings not only his unmatched basketball prowess, but also his genuine charisma and mo derate ac ting ability. Think of him as The Rock (or do we call him Dwayne Johnson, now?), minus the intimidating stare and a little friendlier.
Besides, who could forget Michael's Secret Stuff and the amazing comeback by the Looney Tunes, all set to the tune of "Space Jam" by the Quad City DJ's? I know I can't.
5. Nothing captures the story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter like Bob Dylan's song "Hurricane".
The story of Carter was/is a terrible consquence of American racism. The Wikipedia article is here, but I'll try to condense it for you.
Carter was a black professional boxer, who, in 1966, was convicted (along with a friend of his, John Artis) of the murder of a bartender and two customers at Lafayette Bar and Grill in Carter's hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. After the shooting (where the shooters were identified as two black males), Carter and Artis were pulled over. Carter had a pistol and a shotgun shell that matched those of the shooters, and his car was identifie d as the one at the scene.
Of course, there were about a million holes in the prosecutor's evidence, and racism was evident in the trial. My feelings on the story are best put by Bob:
"How can the life of such a man
Be in the palm of some fool's hand?
To see him obviously framed
Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game"
Now I'll let Bob clean up by doing what he does best: tell a story.
If that doesn't work for you, you can find the lyrics here.
6. Black Eyed Peas's "Where Is The Love?" is a classic song .
Whoops, wrong "Where Is The Love". I guess the question mark makes a difference.
As usual, it won't let me embed the song. So we'll have to make do. The video can be found here.
I usually dislike rap/pop music. Some rap, I enjoy, but it's rare, and I'll take in the occasional pop song (right now it's between Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" and Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold". And yes, I hate myself for it.).
But don't underestimate the ability of "Where Is The Love?" to pull you in if it hasn't already. The song does a phenomenal job of displaying several social issues in the U.S. today. I say "today" because these problems still exist. No, they have not disappeared since the song's release in 2003.
All told, though, the song is a plea for world peace, racial understanding, and, simply, love, with all of these cries for help captured expertly by the rapping of the Black Eyed Peas and the vocals of Justin Timberlake. Yes, he got his hooks into this song, too.
7. +44 is better than Angels & Airwaves.
Don't let me give you the wrong impression. I'm ecstatic over the reforming of Blink-182.
But +44's music is simply better. Tom Delonge seemed caught up in trying to be important and making an impact. Meanwhile, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker still acted like they were enjoying themselves. Their music wasn't as radical a departure from Blink-182's as Delonge's music was, but that's not the point. +44's music was catchy, occasionally fun, and emotional when it needed to be. Angels & Airwaves's music had a tendency to get lost in itself.
Oh, and it was kindof Delonge's fault that Blink-182 broke up in the first place. I understand he needed some rest, but still, if you're going to quit the band, tell the other members yourself rather than letting your manager tell them.
8. I should really go see the new X-Men and Star Trek movies while they're in theaters.
Yet I have this feeling that I may be too late...
9. Southland is a good show.
I do not watch a lot of television, but I can confidently say Southland was well worth my time. The show focuses on several policemen and detectives in Los Angeles. The show essentially follows different partners as they go through their routines and work through cases.
Instead of reciting the whole show, I'm simply going to state that the best pair to watch are Officer John Cooper, played by Michael Cudlitz, and Officer Ben Sherman, played by Benjamin McKenzie. Yes, the same Benjamin McKenzie who played Ryan Atwood in The O.C. Each officer has problems. Cooper has back pains, and must resort to drug dealers in order to get the medicine he needs. Sherman, meanwhile, often argues with his father, an d his new job as a policeman is something looked down upon by friends and family, given his parents' wealth.
Beyond that, though, Cooper and Sherman simply make a good team. Cudlitz as Cooper is sarcastic and realistic. Cooper is realistic about the state of the city and crime without being overly pessimistic. His methods are occasionally unorthodox, but at heart, he is a true policeman, and a good mentor for the rookie cop Sherman. Their relationship is tense; regardless, their patrols are always interesting and eventful, whether it's stopping a convenience store robbery or "divorcing" a couple with domestic abuse problems.
10. The Shiny Toy Guns cover of "Major Tom (Coming Home)" is phenomenal.
Note that this isn't David Bowie's "Major Tom". Rather, it's a cover of Peter Schilling's follow-up to the original, where the main character has been in some sort of accident in space, and is now presumably dying.
Really, though, good song.
Yet I have this feeling that I may be too late...
9. Southland is a good show.
I do not watch a lot of television, but I can confidently say Southland was well worth my time. The show focuses on several policemen and detectives in Los Angeles. The show essentially follows different partners as they go through their routines and work through cases.
Instead of reciting the whole show, I'm simply going to state that the best pair to watch are Officer John Cooper, played by Michael Cudlitz, and Officer Ben Sherman, played by Benjamin McKenzie. Yes, the same Benjamin McKenzie who played Ryan Atwood in The O.C. Each officer has problems. Cooper has back pains, and must resort to drug dealers in order to get the medicine he needs. Sherman, meanwhile, often argues with his father, an d his new job as a policeman is something looked down upon by friends and family, given his parents' wealth.
Beyond that, though, Cooper and Sherman simply make a good team. Cudlitz as Cooper is sarcastic and realistic. Cooper is realistic about the state of the city and crime without being overly pessimistic. His methods are occasionally unorthodox, but at heart, he is a true policeman, and a good mentor for the rookie cop Sherman. Their relationship is tense; regardless, their patrols are always interesting and eventful, whether it's stopping a convenience store robbery or "divorcing" a couple with domestic abuse problems.
10. The Shiny Toy Guns cover of "Major Tom (Coming Home)" is phenomenal.
Note that this isn't David Bowie's "Major Tom". Rather, it's a cover of Peter Schilling's follow-up to the original, where the main character has been in some sort of accident in space, and is now presumably dying.
Really, though, good song.
11. The Detroit Red Wings will win the Stanley Cup.
First off, I'd like to state I had this here prior to their Game 1 victory over the Penguins.
I'm still scared of the Pens. Crosby has improved on his performance from last year, and Malkin has played much better throughout the playoffs. That being said, Detroit lost no key pieces from last year, and actually added one from Pittsburgh in Marian Hossa.
Why will they win? The term "depth" is always emphasized in the playoffs. It means someone besides the team's best players can score. The Penguins have moderate depth; having Crosby and Malkin is pretty good depth in itself, but the rest of the offense can still do some damage.
That being said, Detroit is essentially another word for depth. Virtually everybody on the team can score, and the only thing preventing them is a lack of ice time. Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg are leading the way so far, while Dan Cleary has provided clutch goals and Valtteri Filppula, surprisingly, leads the team in assists.
All that, and the team hasn't even gotten Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa going yet.
First off, I'd like to state I had this here prior to their Game 1 victory over the Penguins.
Why will they win? The term "depth" is always emphasized in the playoffs. It means someone besides the team's best players can score. The Penguins have moderate depth; having Crosby and Malkin is pretty good depth in itself, but the rest of the offense can still do some damage.
That being said, Detroit is essentially another word for depth. Virtually everybody on the team can score, and the only thing preventing them is a lack of ice time. Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg are leading the way so far, while Dan Cleary has provided clutch goals and Valtteri Filppula, surprisingly, leads the team in assists.
All that, and the team hasn't even gotten Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa going yet.
12. Pandora is a phenomenal tool for finding new music similar to music you already like.
Here's the link.
The site's a little insane, and I mean that in a good way. You make a station by putting in a musical artist or song you already like. Pandora has already sorted every song in its database (there are a lot) by a massive variety of attributes and qualities. It then plays music similar to the artist/song you based your station off of.
Personally, I've used the website as a way to get into bands I've always been interested in but never listened to. Right now it's The Shins and the White Stripes.
Really, though, give the website a shot. You might be pleasantly surprised. There are other sites similar to Pandora, but Pandora could be the best/easiest to use.
13. "Brouhaha" is a funny word.
Say it to yourself.
"Brouhaha".
I just heard you chuckling.
In conclusion...
Here's a band I actually first heard on Pandora. I give you Iron & Wine's cover of "Such Great Heights", originally by The Postal Service.
-brett
Here's the link.
The site's a little insane, and I mean that in a good way. You make a station by putting in a musical artist or song you already like. Pandora has already sorted every song in its database (there are a lot) by a massive variety of attributes and qualities. It then plays music similar to the artist/song you based your station off of.
Personally, I've used the website as a way to get into bands I've always been interested in but never listened to. Right now it's The Shins and the White Stripes.
Really, though, give the website a shot. You might be pleasantly surprised. There are other sites similar to Pandora, but Pandora could be the best/easiest to use.
13. "Brouhaha" is a funny word.
Say it to yourself.
"Brouhaha".
I just heard you chuckling.
In conclusion...
Here's a band I actually first heard on Pandora. I give you Iron & Wine's cover of "Such Great Heights", originally by The Postal Service.
-brett
