Musings of a Pop Culture Junkie

Playlist celebrations

2012-01-23T22:17:00.000-05:00

So I've been single for a while so Valentine's Day has become simply an excuse to spread all my favorite weirdo love songs from that year with people all like. And I say weirdo love songs because there are as many kinds of love as their are flavors of ice cream, so why should sappy romance get all the attention.

I'm goal is to beat my list from last year. Listen to it if you've got a Spotify account here. (Seriously, its free, just do it).

It's not very long but I totally used up a lot of my favorite songs so it's gonna be a tough one. But I look forward to the challenge.

I willingly accept all suggestions.

Other playlists I've created:

And End of the World Mix and one celebrating the month's of the year.

Let's all learn something about Quantum Theory

2012-01-23T18:43:00.000-05:00

Every country should have someone who can explain the beautiful mystery of the universe. The UK has Brian Cox, America has Neil Degrasse Tyson. I sure hope every other country has someone as well.

Did you know Norman Bates could sing?

2012-01-09T16:18:00.000-05:00

I sure didn't....

Singing Sondheim no less.

New Music: Hudson Taylor

2012-01-09T15:09:00.000-05:00

I discovered this duo all random-like and I absolutely adore them. And they've recently got themselves at full band, which I thought was a great idea but I didn't realize it would make them sound absolutely gorgeous:

They've been releasing songs on the Hudson Taylor channel pretty steadily of late and I can only hope that I don't have to wait too long for the album.

Why did my iPod think hearing this song was a good idea?

2011-12-12T23:40:00.000-05:00

I mean, it's a GREAT freakin' song, but its so unbelievably sad.

Excuse me while I cry.

Why I Love Twitter

2011-12-12T03:14:00.001-05:00

Thanks to this guy for compiling the madness.

We all matter...

2011-12-11T13:26:00.000-05:00

From An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Song Obsession of the Week

2011-12-09T20:09:00.000-05:00

And yeah, it's from the 'Dear John' soundtrack. Don't judge me.

Forgive my ignorant, American ways...

2011-12-09T17:52:00.000-05:00

But you have got to be kidding me.

Look, I know that different words have different meanings overseas, hell in different states even. Here in Maryland I live down the street from Poon Automotive, across town from a Koon's Ford dealership, and I can easily go to the market and pick up some ChiChi's salsa. But this is the funniest fucking thing I've seen in a while.

2011-12-08T13:35:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, I wish that I were taller.....

2011-12-08T02:38:00.001-05:00

I kick myself in the butt every day for not coming to see this girl, concert buddy or no, when she was in DC last Spring. If she deigns to come here again I'm going, come hell or high water.

The Five Year Engagement

2011-12-07T21:04:00.000-05:00

It's like 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' only with a functional relationship. Remember when romantic movies used to be about functional relationships?

I think we should call this land your grave.

2011-12-06T23:07:00.003-05:00

Kicking ass

2011-12-04T21:35:00.000-05:00

Christmas Is All Around

2011-11-27T22:26:00.000-05:00

I know it's just about Christmas when this little gem gets stuck in my head. I just love Bill Nighy, don't you?

*And this is probably my favorite bit of swearing in cinema history.

Breaking Dawn: Horror is born (Part One!)

2011-11-20T21:42:00.000-05:00

First of all, looking for an image of this movie to use as a header brought only horrific, photoshopped, fan-fictiony pictures of Bella and Edward doing it. Awkwardly. Seriously, no one needs to see shit like this.

A preface before the review begins. I've read the books, I think they are harmless brain-rot (brain-rot being a technical term describing a category of art that can successfully wipe the brain clean after a hard-days cerebral labor). All the feminist-y, social commentary baggage that has been applied to the series is all true but really, who cares. Most people who read these books/see these movies don't have the capacity to read all of that chauvinistic bullshit into the text. Bella is a cipher, a blank slate upon which all women can ascribe their own characteristics and she gets herself a hot boyfriend. It's the perfect kind of lady porn. When I first read them, I quite enjoyed the series but after that initial reading, the story does becomes thin to the point of thread bare and all the initial excitement is dulled to the point of banality.

And by all that I mean to say that I'm not an absolute hater of the series. But that in no way diminishes the fact that these movies are AWFUL. Just wretched. And they can't help but be anything else. When you're dealing with a fandom as rabid and crazy-pants as the Twilight fans, there is no way any director is allowed to change the plot, add characterization, make Bella and Edward something more than the controlled/controlling love struck-dumb couple that they are in Meyers' novels.

So while the story remains just awful, the acting and production has, luckily for all of us, improved quite a bit. Do these improvements help bring "Breaking Dawn" out of best-worst-movie territory? Thank god it does not.

All that matters is the plot, which stands as follows:

Wedding

Honeymoon Sex

Honeymoon montage

Pregnancy

PSA for dangers of anorexic via demon-baby pregnancy killing Bella from the inside out

Demon baby horror birth scene

Teenager falls in love with demon baby

Vampire

That's it. Oh wait, there is this hilarious scene where a pack of wolves are "talking" to each other with these hilariously dramatic Batman voices. But that's the gist.

You get to watch all of these events but they don't really matter because no one changes as a result. So really, the movie was mostly hilariously boring. There was some bad line delivery scattered throughout and the honeymoon sex was just really intrusive, and awkward to watch, and not at all enticing. The headboard smashing was particularly hilarious though. Generally, this is the kind of movie you want to watch drunk and shout things at with your friends. At the very least I know one thing to be true: the RiffTrax for Breaking Dawn Part 1 is going to be AMAZING.

STOPPER YOUR GAPING NOISE VOID WOMAN!!

2011-11-19T00:06:00.001-05:00

The funniest show on television, and America doesn't know it exists

2011-10-03T22:19:00.000-04:00

I can't tell you how obsessed I am with QI, the BBC quiz show that isn't really a quiz show. Hosted by the great and glorious Stephen Fry, a number of panelists, usually comedies, sit around talking about the great and glorious facts of the universe. I wake up in the morning, get a cup of coffee and watch an episode on YouTube (because apparently, it's too British for BBC America).

Star Wars French Ballet Disco. No Really. Ballet Disco.

2011-10-03T21:35:00.000-04:00

I've heard the Christmas Special was good, but this is so much better. So much worse, but soo much better.

I have a tumblr, 'cause that's what the cool kids are doing.

2011-10-02T20:39:00.000-04:00

Because I'm gonna try and make this blog something a twinge more substantial. And because it's so much easier to post random crap on Tumblr, I started one.

So check out arethouyetliving.tumblr.com.

It's going to be a mostly songs that pop into my head, quotations I stumble across, random internet ephemera etc etc.

Enjoy! Or not, whatever.

So its mostly heroine.

2011-10-01T23:48:00.000-04:00

Kids these days and their crazy new drugs (now, with ponies).

Where I've been

2011-09-30T02:11:00.000-04:00

Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Mopey emo stories. Internet therapy. Newsies. (Newsies makes everything better. No really! Try it, Batman sings and 'dances').

So yeah, its been a little......sporadic....of late.

But here's what I've liked in the last few.....months. I'm sorry people. Really.

Chameleon Circuit's new album "Still Got Legs" - Its Time Lord Rock people. The ultimate in nerd tunes about our favorite time lord.

Joe and Buzz on YouTube: This is a weekly show on YouTube that is the most hilarious couple of minutes of babbling between two dudes you can watch. Definitely worth the minimal amount of effort required.

Pottermore: I finally got my early entrance and I'm officially a Hufflepuff. Badger pride yo! And don't mock. Just because JK Rowling couldn't find the room to give details about the noble house of Helga Hufflepuff does not make us losers. Even douches like Justin Finch-Fletchley need to get sorted somewhere. (More on this later when its finally out of Beta).

Pictures of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward: The man is gorgeous but so so so in love with his wife.

Just look at the way he looks at her. Ugh. More here

The new Ryan Adams single "Lucky Now." Presale tickets for his show in Baltimore sold out in an hour. Color me bummed.

Hopefully this tides those few who actually read this blog over until I can update again. Until then, I'm gonna try to write my dissertation proposal. Be forewarned, I might start blogging about that so be kind.

Newsies ON BROADWAY (well, in New Jersey....but still awesome!)

2011-09-14T23:07:00.001-04:00

Holy crap people. This is evidence that the world is great and good.

Things I Wish I Could Be/Do, But Know I Never Will

2011-08-26T01:56:00.001-04:00

1. Have physical grace.
2. Find a balance between silent and overly enthusiastic at parties
3. Be mysterious with my facial expressions
4. Keep a cleaner house
5. Not feel the need to fill all silent space in a conversation with sound
6. Not assume that all the people I know think all the things I like are dumb and so don't share them
7. Be a woman of the world
8. Do brave things on my own volition instead of only when I'm forced
9. Not be embarrassed to sing around the house like I do when I'm alone when there are other people around.
10. Not have a list like this.

So beautiful and so so sad

2011-08-25T03:05:00.003-04:00

I love the StoryCorps videos. They're all such wonderful stories, all just ordinary memories of ordinary lives.

I love life. I really do.

God bless old movie advertising

2011-08-06T01:35:00.001-04:00

An evening of google searching lead me to this trailer. Its possibly the gayest pirate movie ever made. Behold, the short shorts, the fire, the randomly misplaced vaudeville number.

Who was worse?

2011-08-02T14:20:00.000-04:00

The cast of Brigadoon (1954) in all its "Scottish" glory

or

Dick Van Dyke as a "cockney" street performer in Mary Poppins

I have a serious crush on this kid.

2011-08-01T17:44:00.000-04:00

Now this is a life motto

2011-08-01T01:26:00.002-04:00

Poetry Break with ee cummings

2011-07-29T12:47:00.000-04:00

may i feel said he
(i'll squeal said she
just once said he)
it's fun said she

(may i touch said he

how much said she
a lot said he)
why not said she
(let's go said he
not too far said she
what' s too far said he
where you are said she)
may i stay said he
(which way said she
like this said he
if you kiss said she
may i move said he
is it love said she)
if you' re willing said he
(but you' re killing said she
but it's life said he
but your wife said she
now said he)
ow said she
(tiptop said he
don't stop said she
oh no said he)
go slow said she
(cccome? said he
ummm said she)
you' re divine-!said he
(you are mine said she)

Harry Potter, I'll always love it.

2011-07-15T21:25:00.000-04:00

It really was everything I could have wanted from the finale. I'll try to write more, right now it's just too fresh. But what I can say is this picture up there, exemplifies everything that is great and good about Deathly Hallows Part 2 and I'm very proud to say I was Mr. Longbottom's head cheerleader in my theatre, clapping loud and proud for my man Neville.

Why I hate the movie Cars

2011-07-13T23:20:00.000-04:00

It just doesn't make any sense.

Thanks again "Hijinks Ensue" for putting in words and pictures the nerd thoughts that I can never succinctly express.

My nerd heart is so sad

2011-07-07T22:21:00.000-04:00

Yes, I watched the livestream of the Harry Potter 7.2 premiere this afternoon, but I totally missed the end when Emma Watson broke down crying. I mean look at that picture. It just makes your heart go D'AWwww

More at pics and video at The Daily Mail

Is this the only reason why I'd see Fright Night?

2011-06-28T23:26:00.000-04:00

Hell yes it is.

I think I found a new favorite sailor song

2011-06-25T21:44:00.002-04:00

J

Can we make this an internet rule?

2011-06-22T14:19:00.000-04:00

Via [Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal]

I like your work JJ, but damn, the lens flare is kinda ridiculous.

2011-06-20T14:58:00.002-04:00

I love the Tonys

2011-06-13T22:30:00.000-04:00

Daniel Radcliffe is one hell of a hoofer:

Neil Patrick Harris is the man:

And 'The Book of Mormon' is pretty freakin' awesome:

The problem with saints.

2011-06-03T02:34:00.001-04:00

I don't know much about Neil Gaiman. I haven't read any of this books but I follow him on Twitter and he seems to be a charming kind of fellow. And really, any kind of person who can co-write and sing this little ditty is tops in my book

Grab the rest of the collaborative album he made with Amanda Palmer, Ben Folds and others here.

But he looks so.....normal?

2011-06-03T01:04:00.000-04:00

Pajiba posted a list of "10 Men You Never Want To See Without Facial Hair" and while the whole list is mind boggling, only one blew my mind.

Behold, Zack Galifianakis without his beard.

I am a wizard

2011-06-03T00:09:00.000-04:00

Why you ask?

Because yesterday I turned a batch of crappy homemade sweet potato fries.....

Not my picture, these probably taste fine

into sweet potato spice cake.

Now if only there was frosting.

For Jane by Charles Bukowski

2011-05-26T21:29:00.000-04:00

225 days under grass
and you know more than I.
they have long taken your blood,
you are a dry stick in a basket.
is this how it works?
in this room
the hours of love
still make shadows.

when you left
you took almost
everything.
I kneel in the nights
before tigers
that will not let me be.

what you were
will not happen again.
the tigers have found me
and I do not care.

- I just found this tonight and HO-LY CRAP, I think I'm gonna cry.

Frankenstein, A Review

2011-05-24T23:38:00.000-04:00

**God, this should have gone up a long time ago**

Have you ever seen a child learn to walk, sit up, use their fingers? There is something absolutely astounding about watching the physical manifestation of a human brain learning how to work.

Now imagine a grown man recreating such events.

Danny Boyle's theatrical production of Frankenstein for the National Theatre begins at the moment of creation. The creature, the work of a young medical student named Frankenstein bursts forth into the world shocked by the sensations of his body. Nerves make hands and feet twitch in fear and anticipation. What you see is a man slowly understanding that first he has a body, that that body can move, that arms can bend, that it can sit up, that legs can stand, and that forward motion provides a free sense of joy.

The creature, played in this particular production by Johnny Lee Miller, feels this followed soon after by the pain that would torment him as he is quickly abandoned by his creator, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, who is so shocked by his "success" that he runs away in fear.

The central focus of the play is on the creature and not the creator, and probably for good reason. For who has the more interesting story? The newly minted man or a newly minted god? Sure, there are ethical ramifications in the later, but really, that's been done.

While both of the lead actors are great, what I liked most was the dialogue. I couldn't help but take out a pen and write some of it down. Here are some of my favorites:

I am skilled in the art of assimilation. i have learned to hate, to debase, to murder. And I have learned from my master the greatest skill. I have learned to lie.

And so you make sport with my life?!

I am capable of logic. I will not hurt you, I want to have a dialogue, that is what men do.

[After being asked what love feels like] It feels like I have life bumbling up from inside of me, like my lungs are made of fire. My heart, a hammer.

While some of the supporting cast was weak, the play itself was a fantastic addition to the already impressive career of Danny Boyle.

Music for the end of the world

2011-05-17T22:29:00.001-04:00

So....the world is gonna end on Saturday. Well, not really. I mean, the rapture's a load of bollocks but still, any reason for a playlist.

Here is my list of music for the end of the world (In no particular order). Enjoy:

1. Hell - Squirrel Nut Zippers
2. Born Secular - Jenny Lewis
3. Airline To Heaven - Billy Bragg & Wilco
4. If I Ever Leave This World Alive - Flogging Molly
5. Rebel Side of Heaven - Langhorne Slim
6. Lake Of Fire - Nirvana
7. Calamity Song - The Decemberists
8. Until the End of the World - U2
9. Mad World - Michael Andrews
10. Too Close/On My Way To Heaven - Mavis Staples
11. I Have Friends In Holy Spaces - Panic At the Disco
12. All The Things That Go To Make Heaven and Earth - The New Pornographers
13. Devil Got My Woman - Skip James
14. This Will Be Our Year - The Zombies
15. End of the World Party - Medeski, Martin & Wood
16. Devil's Spoke - Laura Marling
17. The Secret Chord - The Sand Band
18. Damned to Hell - John Butler Trio
19. It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - R.E.M.
20. When The World Ends - Dave Matthews Band
21. Doing Time In Hell - Faraway Boys
22. How Shall I To Heaven Aspire? - Rock Plaza Central
23. In The End - The Like
24. Down To The River To Pray - Alison Krauss
25. The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance - Vampire Weekend
26. Spirit In the Sky - Jason Mraz
27. O Death - Ralph Stanley
28. Psalms 40:2 - The Mountain Goats

Enjoy [zip file]

***Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments****

I don't know how he does it.

2011-05-10T23:47:00.000-04:00

Glen Hansard "Say It To Me Now" from Patrick Glennon on Vimeo.

This could solve so many problems

2011-05-07T17:57:00.002-04:00

This is how my brain works.....

2011-05-03T23:41:00.001-04:00

I watch Glee.....

Where they sing covers of Fleetwood Mac songs from Rumours.......

Which makes me think of Hole's cover of "Gold Dust Woman".....

Which just makes me want to listen to this....

And I've been listening to Live Through This for the last hour.

Man, why couldn't Courtney Love just get her shit together, this was a great album.

Which has since lead me to watch old Nirvana music videos....

Then to wonder what ever happened to Francis Bean Cobain--daughter of the most effed up couple in American rock history.....

Only to discover that we share the same birthday.....

Honestly, you learn something new every day.

I don't usually get political but.....

2011-05-02T01:05:00.002-04:00

Thank you internet

2011-04-29T22:45:00.000-04:00

See more at Royal Wedding Girl

Don't know what I'm talking about? Go HERE

What happened when I watched this video in the computer lab.

2011-04-27T23:28:00.002-04:00

Mark: Katie?
Me: Yeah.
Mark: Are you watching a video of two guys singing in a van?
Me: Yes.
Mark: Okay, just checking.

Today I learned....

2011-04-27T01:11:00.002-04:00

Canadians (at least those in Toronto) buy their milk in bags:

What?! I'm completely bumfuzzled.

My church can't resurrect your dead hampster

2011-04-23T00:04:00.003-04:00

I have such a crush on George Watsky

Who likes the little little duckies in the pond?

2011-04-22T22:36:00.000-04:00

I do. I do. I do. A-chicka quack quack!

Five years later and I still love you Ze.

Watch the replay of "The Show" here

What if Lois Lane was 'His Girl Friday'

2011-04-21T20:43:00.001-04:00

I love you Kate Beaton. I really do.

Blatantly swiped from [Hark! A Vagrant]

This is just adorable.

2011-04-20T17:32:00.000-04:00

This delightful cover of The Chordettes' "Mister Sandman" is by Pomplamoose. It makes me want to take a walk in a park wearing something pretty.

I just....I can't....there are no words

2011-03-29T15:46:00.002-04:00

Excuse while I go find an oxygen tank.

Behold, the Geek Zodiac

2011-03-29T01:32:00.004-04:00

I have a brilliant friend (hello James) who took it upon himself to create for all us nerds a Zodiac all our own based on what he calls the "12 factions of geekdom." By birth year, one might be a Time Traveler, a Spy, a Wizard, or one of the Undead. Head over to Words That Fit to find your new Geek sign.

Me, I'm a treasure hunter. Born in the year 1983, "Adventurous, Cultured, Quick thinker; Greedy, Loner, Cavalier with laws/rules"

Lily by Ministry of Magic

2011-03-27T00:40:00.000-04:00

So I'm not one for Wizard Rock (wrock, ie Harry Potter music) but I can't get this out of my head.

Whovians!! We've got a prequel!

2011-03-26T19:09:00.001-04:00

Thanks kindly to other Canadian Cave of Cool reader Nick for the heads up.

UPDATE: Stupid BBC and their stupid regional restrictions.

I feel better now after The Mountain Goats @ The 9:30 Club

2011-03-26T02:43:00.006-04:00

And this song:

Oh and this, this helped a lot.

Oh and this too:

*During this song, I saw a man standing near me raise two fists and shout a lyric the sky. Any musician who can will a cry heavenwards out of an attendant has done his job

You know what sucks? Feeling like a failure.

2011-03-25T16:03:00.002-04:00

So I'm a political scientist. Well, I'm training to be a political scientist. Well, I study political science. Its confusing. My place in my chosen profession is confusing.

I study political institutions and the way that they matter in society. I try to understand the way that they operate in real life and the implications that occur as a result.

I do this with a lot of statistical modeling.

And my model just failed. It fucking failed so hard two days before I have to submit the paper to a conference in Chicago.

No joke, I googled the word 'despair' to find this image.

I'm stressing, and drinking, and trying to cobble together something that won't make me look retarded in front of other people. And I'm sending my frustration into the perpetual ether of the internet.

If you could, send happy thoughts toward my general direction. I'd really appreciate it.

UPDATE: So, after taking a day, reworking the model, going back to a previous methodology, soaking up your good vibes and praying to all that is good and holy, I managed to scrabble together two decent and not anywhere close to spectacular results. At this point, at least I have half a leg to stand on, which is good enough for me.

Sometimes, you've just got to kick it (really) old school

2011-03-23T18:25:00.000-04:00

My Prayer by The Platters (1956)

RIP Elizabeth Taylor

2011-03-23T11:04:00.000-04:00

Poor Superman

2011-03-23T03:17:00.001-04:00

Rewatching Battlestar Galactica

2011-03-20T16:29:00.002-04:00

Oh dear. Fat Apollo is fat

"Do you know where my eye is!?!?" <3

Truth or Fail: Superheroes

2011-03-20T01:36:00.001-04:00

I was a massive fail on this particular installment of YouTube gameshow Truth or Fail but I know a lot of you can one, kick my ass at this game and two, have a lot of fun with it. So have at it readers**.

**Fear not, when you click on the annotations it will take you to another video, but that's just how you get the the next round, so don't panic.

I don't care if everyone's already seen this, it's damn funny

2011-03-15T22:05:00.003-04:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

You saw yourself as Adam?

2011-02-24T13:37:00.002-05:00

Danny Boyle is directing a production of Frankenstein at The National Theatre in London. Sadly, since I don't live in London, I won't be able to see this live. But thanks to the National Theatre, a broadcasted filmed version is coming to the DC area and I've already got tickets!

The Internet Will Not Be Governed

2011-02-23T20:26:00.001-05:00

Taken from my Facebook wall and created by someone who realized very quickly how easy it is to manipulate Facebook's new page format.

A little context: Planned Parenthood is having its funding threatened by the new Congress. An "event" was created to support the organization leading to a political troll war. As is usually the case with anything even slightly political on the social network. Don't even look at the page for the US Constitution--its like walking into Tombstone when Wyatt Earp is off on vacation.

I'll spend the rest of my life bringing victory in...The Avett Brothers @ DAR

2011-02-22T20:04:00.001-05:00

The Avett Brothers put on one of the best concerts I've ever seen last Friday. My hands have never been so raw from clapping, my throat so shredded from singing.

UPDATE: Now with videos from the show I attended.

America's Musical History

2011-02-22T18:00:00.004-05:00

As Billboard celebrates its 1000th #1 single (Good job Lady Gaga), its often hard to understand just how much music has changed over the years. So its absolutely brilliant that ubu.com compiled this 5-second-a-piece montage of Number Ones from 1956 to 1992. Parts 1 and 2 are embedded below. This first one is 45 minutes long, the second about 28 minutes, but its a fantastic time capsule of pop culture and an amazing listen.

Five Seconds Of Every #1 Pop Single Part 1 by mjs538

Five Seconds Of Every #1 Pop Single Part 2 by mjs538

Via [Stereogum]

A few things I noticed:

The dominance of the Beatles become clearly evident but so is the give and take between them and The Beach Boys
The transition from the calmer 50s to the 60s revolution is not as drastic as I would have thought
"Mr. Tambourine Man" made it to #1 one, but Bob Dylan wasn't the one singing it.
It really is a mixed bag once you hit the late 60s.
Disco really wasn't as big a deal as history makes you believe.
We have never been immune to catchy, kitschy crap.

Life is still pretty boring on the moon colony

2011-02-17T03:48:00.001-05:00

[via]

A robot won Jeopardy today....

2011-02-16T23:01:00.002-05:00

Robots 1, Humans 0

Julia Nunes - The Debt

2011-02-15T15:33:00.001-05:00

So this has been on a loop on my iPod for about two hours.
&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;So this &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

UPDATE: In total, after living on my little white box for less than 2 days,
its been played 39 times.

Marcus Mumford you sing so sexy

2011-02-13T22:58:00.000-05:00

And don't worry about not winning that Best New Artist Grammy. You're better without it.

This is cute

2011-02-13T21:22:00.001-05:00

More valentines [via]

John Hamm, explaining the Butthole Surfers

2011-02-10T23:05:00.000-05:00

[Context, if you care]

I love Molly Lewis, and so should you

2011-02-10T11:07:00.002-05:00

[website]

[YouTube]

[Bandcamp]

All my friends are dead

2011-02-09T23:31:00.000-05:00

I like bizarre dark humor. And while The Bunny Suicides is probably my favorite of the messed up children's book genre, I came across this beauty while reading one of my literary tatttoo blogs (of all places). Behold, a sampling from All My Friends Are Dead by Avery Monson and Jory John:

View more of the random goodness here or go buy it.

Pop Culture Blind Spot: Ender's Game

2011-02-08T22:00:00.000-05:00

I've experienced a lot of pop culture, I know a lot about pop culture, I know what people ought to see--but haven't seen myself. So I'm gonna try to fix that. Welcome to my Pop Culture Blind Spot.

The Blind Spot: Ender's Game (1985) written by Orson Scott Card

My Excuse: I was never into Science Fiction as a kid, really even through college. I've since embraced it in movie and television form, but the books well... that was still a little much to take on. I had no idea where to begin or what kind of garbage I might find. Plus I really wanted to fit in so I stayed away from the genre fiction. An error I have since reversed.

Why now: After reading, and gushing about The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, I had enough people tell me I should read this if I was really looking for a disturbing piece of dystopia that was fucked up toward children. (I wasn't actually looking for a 'fucked up toward children' genre, I just think that friends of mine thought me ill informed when I said that The Hunger Games, and possibly Torchwood: Children of Earth, were the most heinous crimes against innocence ever created).

My take: Wow. Just....wow. This is the kind of book you could spend lifetimes trying to understand. I wouldn't be surprised if dissertations in literature are devoted to unravelling its complexity. This is a novel with strata. A surface level to satisfy a Cold War audience born on war games and the threat of nuclear holocaust, but with each succeeding level the whole philosophical structure of the narrative is turned inside-out and upside down. But I didn't really care about the battle sequences. While the whole structure of the Battle School is fun to read, the real kicker of this novel was the fact that I kept forgetting that these kids were kids. The fuckedupedness of the novel isn't blunt force trauma, its a psychological holocaust, for Ender and the reader.

Conclusion: I don't want to say much more because the experience of the book is best had blind. A friend of mine just whispered something reminiscent of a spoiler on my Facebook wall and he was soundly chastised. This is the kind of book that alters your world view and something changed in my brain. The weird thing though...I have no interest in reading the rest of the series. Even Speaker for the Dead, that takes on the rest of Ender's philosophical journey. I'm so afraid that the subsequent sequels would somehow tarnish the original greatness. Overall, I'm grateful to all my friends who told me to read it. It was such an amazing gift.

2011-02-08T19:52:00.000-05:00

[Newsweek]

The best (and really, only) way to watch the Twilight movies

2011-02-08T01:25:00.002-05:00

The people of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 are doing God's work.

[RiffTrax]

I saw zero minutes of the game

2011-02-07T00:38:00.000-05:00

But funny robots are funny.

Woo! Go Packers!

2011-02-02T22:48:00.000-05:00

10 vs 25 - A Les Mis Showdown

2011-01-31T22:43:00.001-05:00

The 10th Anniversary Concert

vs.

The 25th Anniversary Concert

Now which version kicked you right in the gut and which one made you say, "hmmm, is that a Jonas Brother?" Seriously, suck it Nick Jonas. Keep digging for that lower register, find a way to act with something more than your arms, and leave Les Mis to the big boys.

The Social Network

2011-01-31T18:42:00.000-05:00

Bought my copy of "The Social Network" on DVD and while the movie is a brilliantly streamlined piece of cinema and character, the DVD packaging is pretty damn gorgeous in its own right.

Graphic designer Paul Sahner took some pics for his blog. I hope he doesn't mind me using them:

How did they know

2011-01-30T16:22:00.000-05:00

It's as if the universe knew that I was planning to stay at home, reading with a hot cup of tea, a cozy pair of slippers and the radiator pinging away because my local PBS station is playing five hours of Anne of Green Gables then the last episode of Downton Abbey. I'm pretty much set for the day.

I hate snow

2011-01-28T15:02:00.001-05:00

I don't know why this is happening to me...maybe its delayed psychological effects from the snowpocalypse, snowmaggedon, and snowverkill blizzard of last year. But this year, we get a measly 6 inches on the ground and I am an anxiety-ridden mess. Yesterday I was blessed with a snow day but today, I had to get in my car, drive down the road, park at the University and meet with people. I was not looking forward to this AT ALL.

I feel like an idiot being so freaked out, but now when I see that stuff falling from the sky I see myself dying in my car.

Of course I made it back okay, but jesus, I'm really working hard at finding a happy place.

Alright, I'm listening....

2011-01-27T23:54:00.000-05:00

After the success of his genre-bending adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (which I loved), Seth Grahame-Smith created a pop culture monster. Suddenly, zombies, vampires, sea-monsters and all sorts of mythical creatures began to invade the classics, all the while silently ignoring the things that made Grahame-Smith's first cut at a pop novel so interesting----the faithful loving guidance of the source material it reassembled.

After the first blush of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I didn't want to look elsewhere. Why read a crappy rehash when the original was so good. I was so burned by the whole idea of fantasy remakes that I even avoided his next book, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, even though I love all things Lincoln, even if its weird. But this was just too much--a young Lincoln's life if changed forever when his mother is murdered by a vampire. Revenge plot ensues.

That is until I read on SlashFilm this afternoon that Benjamin Walker has been cast as the future 16th President. Suddenly, I'm intrigued.

Now it is entirely possible that this man has far too much swagger to play a young Lincoln, a man so frightfully dorky that he could barely will himself to talk to women. Having successfully starred as Andrew Jackson on Broadway, a man probably the antithesis of Lincoln's character and personality, I wonder if Walker can be nerdy enough for the role. Still, you have to admit, the man's got charisma. And if the reports on SlashFilm are correct, this isn't a B-movie in the works but "a very entertaining, epic history lesson....He has to be historically correct but with a few special weapons."

Like I said

2011-01-27T12:28:00.000-05:00

Best promos ever:

More people should love him

2011-01-27T01:03:00.000-05:00

(I want to) Burn You (down) - by Mike Doughty

The Conspirator

2011-01-26T20:42:00.000-05:00

I have been waiting a very long time to see footage from this movie. The spring can't come soon enough.

I'm yours and that's it, whatever

2011-01-23T21:17:00.000-05:00

This is one of the saddest songs ever written and when I see The Avett Brothers this February I hope they sing it and make me cry.

And I thought I'd be more productive this semester

2011-01-22T01:40:00.000-05:00

Angry Birds for Mac

Cello is INTENSE

2011-01-21T13:02:00.001-05:00

This exists

2011-01-21T02:11:00.004-05:00

And I want it.

UPDATE: The genius duo Rhett and Link had the brains to start a YouTube morning show in honor of our sprouty 16th president. Watch 'Good Morning Chia Lincoln' HERE.

Take that bitches!

2011-01-21T01:18:00.000-05:00

Today, I finished what may be the last (non-medical) exam of my life. I think I'll give myself a new title......

Hi, I'm Katie Kruger, (half)PhD

!!!!!!!!

Another reason to love Paul Gross

2011-01-18T18:52:00.000-05:00

Has anyone else seen this movie? Its amazing. Americans could never make a decent movie about World War One because we had nothing to do with it. We couldn't star as heros because we never suffered the kind of carnage and loss like the rest of the world did. President Wilson's policy of non-intervention kept us out of the fracas until 1917 with the war ending just under a year later. Honestly, it would be rather crass to even try.

But this, this is a tragic masterpiece that really demonstrates Canada's role not only at the battle of Passchendaele, but the absolute heroism it took to fight on behalf of a "mother country" that was so far away.

I don't know how well received this was in Canada but hopefully it got the praise it deserved. It can't believe I hadn't heard about it until only recently.

In honor of DCs first ice storm of the year

2011-01-18T12:17:00.000-05:00

January Hymn by The Decemberists

I started a new blog

2011-01-18T00:34:00.000-05:00

Mostly because I was sick of boring my friends on Facebook and putting musical randomness here so I present to you "The Music In My Head," a place where I put the tunes that roll through my head for no particular reason on display.

Its still a little new and rusty but take a gander.