Coolest dude in Rock & Roll

The Independent Film Channel has recently been showing The Who's rockumentary The Kids are Alright. I've long been an admirer of The Who, even though I think they formed either before I was born, or just shortly after. Anyways, as I watched it again, I realized that probably one of the coolest musicians in Rock has got to be John Entwistle. Whenever you see him playing the bass guitar, he's almost got this bored, or "I'm above this" or "I just want to play" look to him. Never really participating in any of the theatrical antics any of the other members are up to. Just playing the music, not bothered by any of it. And just look who he as to put up with; druggie & prankster Keith Moon, hippie Roger Daltry, and the artist (and sometime's Keith's partner in crime) Pete Townshend. Not getting sucked into any of that is amazingly impressive. Not to mention the smokin' bass guitar. I've always thought he always played that thing more like a lead guitar than a bass. In most of The Who songs not only does he help keep the beat, but often gets to play more melodic, and less rhythmic lines. I wouldn't be surprised if many of today's bass players like Les Claypool (from Primus), or Flea, or even koRn's Fieldy have been influenced by him.

(2004-12-16 11:58:10.0) // Permalink

Space Ghost on DVD!

As I was poking around on [adult swim] the other day looking to replace the Space Ghost cap I lost, I noticed that they have put together two volumes of Space Ghost Coast to Coast. And they even have a box set - Space Ghost DVD Duo. Now if only The Tick were available. Sadly, the cap I was looking for is no longer available, all they have now is this lame Trucker's cap. Although here's something funny. For grin's I sent [adult swim] and email asking the status of my beloved Space Ghost cap. Here's part of the reply I received. Check out what they suggest as an alternative. Boy those guys are funny even in email. Thank you for inquiring about the Space Ghost caps. I am sorry to report that these items have been discontinued and are no longer available. I sincerely apologize for any disappointment or inconvenience this may have caused you. If I may make a suggestion for a substitution of this product, I would recommend the Space Ghost Limited Edition Cel. The price of this item is $350.00. You can also visit our website at Cartoon Network and see the full array of products that we have to offer.

(2004-12-14 10:07:52.0) // Permalink

Digital Archive Project

A while ago I posted some thoughts on File Sharing to Preserve History. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon the Digital Archive Project, who's charter is "a meeting place on the web for television fans and tech enthusiasts dedicated to the digital preservation of our favorite shows." I haven't really looked at the site much, but its nice to know that others have the came concerns that I had thought about.

(2004-12-13 11:13:22.0) // Permalink

Ashlee Damage Control

I'm sure everyone's heard by now the lip-sync booboo Ashlee Simpson made on Saturday Night Live over the weekend. I think what's even more impressive is how quick her media team has gone on the offensive. So far I've heard about the following: At the end of SNL show, Jude Law and She apologize, and blame the band Her label Geffen Records blames a computer glitch that caused a recording of "Pieces of Me" to play Her manager/father then suggests that her acid reflux had made her hoarse She makes an appearance on MTV's TRL After her performance at Radio Music Awards, she appears with Carson Daly and joke over the incident She will appear on the Today show Tuesday Morning to talk about the incident Its amazing how much effort everyone is putting into this. Its sad to see really how much effort they are putting into this entirely synthesized pop-star when there are legitimate artists upon artists who are just begging for a chance. This is really just another example of the problem the Music Industry is in today. I guess her dad must really love her to help her out of this jam. Hmm... Or is it that her manager is a getting a little nervous at the potential loss of income. Hey wait a minute, dad and manager are one in the same, no?

(2004-10-25 22:58:21.0) // Permalink

Why is there not more on DVD?

I started filtering through the mass of VHS tapes I have, and found a couple of tapes of episodes of The Tick. The Tick has got to be one of the greatest cartoons of all time. There are so many memorable characters, and lines, its pretty hilarious. So, with aging but still capable Athlon XP 1800+ system and ATI 8500 All-In-Wonder card, I had it in my head that I would convert the episodes I have to DVD. I guess its kind of a hobby, which started out as trying to build a no-subscription Tivo type box (but that's another story.) Anyways, what I'm trying to get at is that I'm fairly familiar with the video editing and DVD creation process. After the better part of an hour I've got five episodes edited, and in the process of being converted. After which I thought, "Hmm, maybe I should double check that there is no DVD already available". Unfortunately there is none, so fortunately my work wasn't in vane. For those of you interested, you may want to fill out the Tick on DVD Petition. This got me thinking though. If I was able to edit the episodes I have so easily, on pretty mediocre hardware I might add, why aren't more productions like this available on DVD. I cannot imagine that the cost of sitting someone, even and intern for kr-ist sake, down in front of the master tapes, would be that outrageous. And we all know how cheap a DVD burner is now days. Sure, it could be for perceived lack of market, but there are nearly 10,000 signatures on the petition, who say that's wrong. Even a humble return on sales seems alot better than just having the episodes sitting in some Fox Cartoons vault somewhere. Oh well.

(2004-10-11 22:10:00.0) Comments [3] // Permalink

Video Game History

I saw this great show called The Video Game Revolution on KQED-HD last night about the history of the video game. Plenty of interviews with people like the founder of Atari, Nolan Bushnell and the Donkey Kong creator Shigeru Miyamoto. The accompanying web site is pretty interesting as well. And it was kind of fun to see all those game consoles and arcade games I played when I was a kid. I used love the Williams games. Defender and Robotron 2084 were it.

(2004-09-15 15:03:11.0) Comments [1] // Permalink

Aimee Mann

Anyone who's been to the Paul Masson Moutain Winery knows its a great place to go enjoy a glass of wine or two, and see a show overlooking the foothills of marvelous silicon valley. Over the weekend, we went to see Aimee Mann. Yes the Aimee Mann of 'til tuesday fame. It was actually a pretty good show. She's not doing the 'til tuesday thing anymore. We kind of thought, hey, we liked the soundtrack she laid out for Magnolia, so what the heck, lets give it a try. I always like it when artists talk to the crowd besides just play. She fired off a couple great digs a Tom Cruise -- apparently he was defending his religion, Scientology, and in some interview, when asked about it, his response was something whacky like "Bring It!" Course she added that there was an implied "Motherf----r!". "Scientology? Bring it, Motherf----r!". Anyways, as I sat there listening, I started thinking about Magnolia, and remembered that there are several digs about the movie in theGreatest Movie ever, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. I don't know what exactly transpired, but I believe writer/director Kevin Smith got into a flame war with some folks about the greatness of Magnolia, which apparently prompted him to poke fun in Jay and Silent Bob.

(2004-08-25 17:38:37.0) // Permalink

Jay and Silent Bob

Well we finally did it. Upgraded our audio-video system to the state of the art. Replaced our 14 year old, 19 inch JVC television with a Sharp Aquos 37" 16:9 LCD system. And of course, what did I have to check out first? Only the Greatest Movie of all time. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Ok, well its probably not the greatest, but it is definitely a very well done B movie. As Kevin Smith has always said about it, the biggest inside joke of all time. I don't know about that, I just find the characters so in your face, and such outlandish plot twists, how can you not find the movie incredibly hilarious. You just can't help but laugh, in an "oh my god, did he actually say that" kind of way, at practially every line Jay (Jason Mewes) has. So what if its all dick and fart jokes, sometimes its just funny. And there are so many cameos and top rate performances. Will Farrel's performance as Marshall Willenholly, as funny as he's ever done and working Jon Stewart as the straight man. Then you have Ben Afflick and Matt Damon who are pretty blatent about paying a favor back to Kevin Smith. Chris Rock as the director Chaka Luther King, I think they just turned on the cameras and let Chris go. And those are just a few. From the incredibly gorgeous Shannen Elizabeth & Eliza Dushku, to directors like Wes Craven, to movie stars and even TV personalities like Steve Kmetko & Jules Asner, I don't know how Kevin Smith managed to round up so many willing to make such a slap stick film. This is definitely a must-see film when you need one of those less Politically Correct nights. BONG!

(2004-08-18 10:50:35.0) Comments [3] // Permalink

Crazy about Shirley.

As I fired up ShoutCAST to find something to listen to while doing a little computing. Winamp pops up with one of my many Shirley Manson skins. And I realize, I still have something big for Shirley. I don't know what it is, cause if you really look close at her, she has sort of an odd looking face. But there's something about her that makes her gorgeous. That over-done make up, the eye-make up especially, is definitely part of it. Its kind of campy, but then it also has that "Don't mess with me, you don't know what you might get" sort of attitude. I really don't know anything about her, but that the look she portrays in photos is fascinating. You start to wonder what she is really like. If she's really as wild as her pictures make you think. And you start to daydream. And daydream. Ggaaaaaaaaa. And I can't forget to mention she's got a killer voice. A perfect fit for Garbage. Which, I might add is one of those bands that don't come around often. They were and are quite innovative. They managed combine both hard rock and electronica perfectly. A compelling beat, and a heavily discorded guitar sound. Incredible. But I digress. Back to daydreaming of Shirley.

(2004-08-11 22:38:06.0) Comments [1] // Permalink

Princess Ashlee Simpson

I feel really bad for the kids growing up today. Why. Because of artists like Ashlee Simpson and Britney Spears. They represent the worst in corporate commercialism. They are totally manufacturered entertainers. Made to make money for the fat cats at the RIAA, and recording companies. And that's why I feel bad. Today's youth is being spoon fed a mediocre reality of everything. Ashlee and Britney are just figureheads of this. Sure, britney has a great a**, she knows how to shake it, but her singing is so aweful. Come on kids, don't buy her music. Buy posters, hand bags, whatever, just not her music. And Ashlee is even worse. Riding on the coat tails of her sister Jessica's new found fame, totally manufacturered by their manager, or as they call them Daddy. Ashlee, for one, you father is taking advantage of you. For two, you can't sing. I've seen the show on MTV, trust me, you can't. And because you suck so bad, lets reward you with a number one album as your record gets released. Will we ever see innovative music again in the mainstream? I hope so, but I fear not.

(2004-08-11 17:11:27.0) Comments [5] // Permalink

Jessica is a Genius

I have been told that there is an article in the current issue of Vanity Fair, which states that Jessica Simpson's mother says Jessica has a IQ of 160. SFGate is running an article which explains this a little more. Boy I find this very hard to believe. Sure, back to the "Chicken of the Sea" problem. Wouldn't a genius have realized at the very least this is a metaphor, so what she was eating probably wasn't chicken? I guess all I can say is that if she is a genius, then she's also a very, very, very good actress. The stupidity she reveals is either genuine or an academy award performance.

(2004-07-22 08:44:51.0) Comments [3] // Permalink

Space Ghost Where Are You?

The Cartoon Network used to run a short 15 minute show called Space Ghost Coast to Coast for years, which I slowly became addicted to. It was quite an innovative show which combined animation with live action to produce a comical, quirky, even weird, talk show that was filled with non-sequiters, obscurities and sometimes conflict. I often wondered whether the celebrities that Space Ghost interviewed really knew how the final show would turn out. At any rate, the show seems to be gone now. I've looked for it for the last couple of months, but have not found it on the dial. I can't even seem to find it on the Cartoon Network web site anymore. Someone, please bring it back!

(2004-07-22 07:55:55.0) Comments [2] // Permalink

Ingrid is gone!

I just got around to watching the latest episode of Joe Schmo 2 I PVR'd and I just found out that Ingrid had been voted out! I can't believe it! Joe Schmo 2 is probably the most campy, over the top, crazy reality show I have seen so far. Not that I have seen alot of them, but this one is quite different because the whole premise of the show is that everyone is actors except for two poor unsuspecting schmo's, Ingrid and Tim, which everyone else is playing a trick on. But the "reality" they are creating is so over the top, is surprising that the schmo's have believed it. Or at least believed it as long as they have. Ingrid, however, sent the staff scrambling because she did figure it out. Which caused the staff to have to call an audible to figure out what to do about her. The last episode, they gave her a deal, they said she could become one of the actors and help in the prank, and she would be compensated if she went the distance. She went for it, so they brought in a new Jane schmo to replace her. I thought she was doing great, not to mention she's a bit of eye candy as well, but in this week's episode, she was given the heave-ho by the male suitor all the women are supposed to be courting. I'm so depressed. I haven't given up hope yet, though. As a teaser for next week's episode, they said someone was going to die. My hope is that one of the other women is going to die, perhaps Eleanor is going to get so fed up with not being able to spend any time with Austin the bachelor that she's going to kill herself. To keep things even then, maybe they'll bring Ingrid back. Cross your fingers!

(2004-07-16 11:03:48.0) Comments [2] // Permalink

Nick & Jessica

One of my guilty pleasures is watching "Newlyweds" on MTV. A reality show that chronicles the life of Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. I had alot of preconceptions as I watched. First off, Nick being a former member of 98 degrees, I really didn't care for him at all. Mainly because I'm not into boy bands. And of course Jessica, is well, Jessica. I figured the show was going to be about a couple of spoiled brats who didn't appreciate the extraordinary opportunity the are in. Well, I was half right. Nick, to my surprise, is quite a kind, understanding, patient and down to earth guy. Although I'm sure he has lots of money, he prefers to do many things himself, or with his brother. On the other hand, Jessica is either too simple or too sheltered, and she comes off as stupid and spoiled. Remember the tuna episode where Jessica didn't really know whether "The Chicken of the Sea" meant she was eating tuna or chicken?! Watching Nick try to comprehend Jessica's stupidity is just hilarious. I give them a couple more years before its all over.

(2004-07-13 10:28:00.0) // Permalink

ALF's Back!

If you haven't noticed, on the TV Land network, ALF is back. He has his own talk show, if you can believe it. Now I have never really been much of a fan of ALF, but I've always found it amusing that he keeps reappearing places, commercials, and such. And now he has his own show once again. And it appears that he even has the co-host of co-hosts with him Ed McMahon. He must have a great agent. :-)

(2004-07-12 13:02:11.0) Comments [1] // Permalink