Archive for July, 2008

| Newer Entries »

Hasselhoffian Recursion Cures Alzheimer’s*

[ Comments Off ]Posted on July 2, 2008 by admin in Lifestyle & Culture, Popular Media, Technology

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

At last, a remote for your remote.

As a friend fumbled for her reading glasses the other day, I made the tired joke about the paradox of needing glasses to find your glasses. She added that she’s always forgetting where she left the remote, and having to (gasp) walk across the room and manually change the channel. This is something I’m sure we’ve all experienced, but need experience no more! Thanks to products like the “Remote Buddy“, pictured at left, your fat American rear can spend more time on the sofa, and less time burning precious body fat as you frantically search for the remote. In fact, with these handy “finder” tools, you’ll never lose anything again. I could start rambling about remotes for the remote for the remote, but instead, let’s just take a look at the Hasselhoffian Recursion . It’s been a while.
*Sometimes a headline is just a headline.

Wouldn’t The Guy That DIDN’T Get Shot Down Be A Better Candidate?

[ Comments Off ]Posted on July 2, 2008 by admin in Politics

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

Speaking the truth isn’t always so useful. The Dems need to be a little more republican if they want to win in November.

Only in politics can someone state a simple truth like Wes Clark’s remark that getting shot down as a fighter pilot doesn’t qualify you to be president, and have it dominate the news cycle for days. What this really highlights, in my opinion, is the fact that the Democrats either don’t really care if they win in November, or they haven’t learned a bloody thing from the past eight or so years. Get a message, Dems, and stick to it. Here’s a link to the GOP Playbook (PDF), if you need a primer. The DailyKos even has a searchable web-page version. Get it together, Obamaniacs, get it together. Slate has an insightful piece, The Grunt vs. the Flyboy, that sheds some light on what might lead Wes Clark to wander into such a major message blunder.

Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

[ 1 Comment ]Posted on July 2, 2008 by admin in Music, Popular Media

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

By the time I learn to pronounce “Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust”, Sigur Rós will have released their next CD.

No, that headline is not some coding error. Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (which apparently means “With a buzz in our ears, we play endlessly”) is the new release from Sigur Rós, of Iceland. I’d heard of them, but this is the first recording I’ve listened to. And listened, and listened. The cover art is perfect; if this stuff doesn’t make you wanna get nekkid and play on the freeway, you need help. Apparently a lot of the tracks were recorded without dubbing, and the sheer freshy-freshness of the performances shine through. Don’t be fooled by the apparent simplicity of these tunes though; especially on tracks like “Gobbledigook”, they’re doing some whack stuff with meters and tricking you by using simplistic percussion lines. This recording is destined for some “Best Of” lists at the end of 2008.

Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

[ Comments Off ]Posted on July 1, 2008 by admin in Music

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

A review of Spoon’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga in less than 25 words.

A friend challenged me to take Pitchfork Media’s Top 50 of 2007 and review each artist in 25 words or less. I accepted. When the little Amazon gizmo loads below, take a listen for yourself.

Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Alt-rock 21st century Squeeze with less reverb.

| Newer Entries »