Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Required Seasonal Reading
Are you at a sleep away camp?
Are there children in you cornfield?
Do you have Japanese children in you bathroom?
Does the sound of "ch...ch...ch...ah...ah...ah" follow you wherever you go?
Does music crescendo when you open a door?
Then you need this book.
Random Halloween Observations...
"The scariest thing in The Shining is when Shelley Duval finds Jack Nicholson's crazy writings"
"No, the scariest thing in The Shining is Shelley Duval."
Scary movie moment memories:
1. The Haunting: Not the remake with Catherine Zeta-Jones, but the original, black and white one. Never
underestimate creepy sound effects, atmosphere, and an eerie opening. For years, I had this vague memory as a kid of watching a b&w movie on tv where a woman was slowly climbing a staircase to hang herself. Stayed with me for a long time and finally figured out what that movie was when I was older. And I'm still filled with disappointment that they remade the movie into the horrible remake with CZJ...and the previws actually made it look good, darn it.
"No, the scariest thing in The Shining is Shelley Duval."
Scary movie moment memories:
1. The Haunting: Not the remake with Catherine Zeta-Jones, but the original, black and white one. Never
underestimate creepy sound effects, atmosphere, and an eerie opening. For years, I had this vague memory as a kid of watching a b&w movie on tv where a woman was slowly climbing a staircase to hang herself. Stayed with me for a long time and finally figured out what that movie was when I was older. And I'm still filled with disappointment that they remade the movie into the horrible remake with CZJ...and the previws actually made it look good, darn it.2. Poltergeist: First off - clowns are creepy period. In my grandmother's house was a painting of some clowns that hung in a bedroom. Lucky me, whenever we stayed the night, my sister and I got to share that bedroom. Creeeeeped me out! And then I saw this movie...to quote Bart Simpson, "Can't sleep...clowns'll eat me."
Secondly...eating chicken+mirror+maggots = me never wanting to eat chicken in the middle of the night for fear of face disintegration.
Secondly...eating chicken+mirror+maggots = me never wanting to eat chicken in the middle of the night for fear of face disintegration.
3. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: Nice movie. Cute songs. Candy = good! Wow, that factory sure looks neat! Look, you can get cream out of those mushroom tops! Hey, cool...it's a boat!Wait....
To quote the commentators from Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments - "Then the movie takes a HARD left turn!"
4. Nightmare on Elm Street (and various sequels) - Truth in advertising...I had nightmares alright.
5. Halloween: Yeah, nothing happens for the majority of the movie. Yes, she's an idiot for throwing the knife away...twice. And yes, PJ Soles as Linda is annoying, totally. But when Michael jumps on that car when escaping from the institution...I jumped...and screamed.
Man, Linda was annoying!
6.Jaws: My most favorite movie ever...loved it since I was eight years old. Dad popped it into the video cassette recorder, I got waaay up close to the TV...and jumped waaaay back when the head popped out of the whole in the boat!7. Alien and Aliens: Alien was the first movie I remember my Dad recorded off of TV via our brand new, top-loading, cutting edge VCR circa 1980/81. Remember how the title credit slowly fades in letter by letter? No wide screen movie on HBO that time...even at 4 or 5 I remember thinking, "lliel...that doesn't make sense!"
Aliens I was old enough to see in the theater with my mom...first movie I remember watching through my fingers.
Aliens I was old enough to see in the theater with my mom...first movie I remember watching through my fingers.
In conclusion, blood and gore may scare some people, but for more eeriness and foreboding creep me out more...and clowns, don't forget clowns.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Booksmith: It's a Small World After All
A nice article my friend wrote about the anniversary of Disney World's opening.
Booksmith: It's a Small World After All
Booksmith: It's a Small World After All
Who's the nerd now?
I just got Wil Wheaton's new book The Happiest Days of Our Lives (which is great, funny, and very entertaining btw). One of the chapters in the book is about how when he was a young boy,he took a trip to K-Mart and tried to decide which Star Wars toy to buy. After reading about his internal struggle over whether to save his money for the Millennium Falcon or to buy an action figure immediately for the sweet thrill of instant gratification (oh sweet, sweet instant gratification - itunes satisfies me too much in that department), it got me thinking of my brother's old Star Wars toys.
My younger brother was born in 1980 and I in 1976. While I was happy with my Barbies, he was happy with his Star Wars and He-Man action figures (he was also happy cutting, burning, drawing on, and generally mutilating my Barbies). He was only 3 when Return of the Jedi came out, so most of his toys were from that film but he had a few older Star Wars toys as well.
-I remember how even at 7 years old how I knew that A New Hope Han Solo's head looked nothing like Harrison Ford.
-I remember how the brown paint on Bousch (sp? whatever...not gonna look up the spelling) Leia's head had a rubbed out spot on the back.
-I remember the flimsy poncho on Endor Rebel Leia and how her helmet would never stay on.
-I remember my brother's Ewok village playset, Jabba's Palace and Jabba's creepy little....ummm, monkey?
-I remember his Darth Vader carrying case and how when you turned R2D2's head
a little antenna would pop-up.
-I remember Squid Guy, Skiff Guard Lando, and the cracking sound when you opened the X-Wing Fighter's wings by hand (I think you were really supposed to push R2's head but that detail is kind of fuzzy).
-I remember one of my Barbies had a red, satin dress.
Which list is longer?
My brother was the one who had a Darth Vader cake for his third birthday. My brother is the one who dressed up as Darth Vader (using Dad's black gardening gloves, a vampire cape, and a store bought Vader mask) for a couple of Halloweens.
But who has the re-release poster of A New Hope up in her apartment now? Who has the mini-lightsabers from Master Replica? Who freaked when her cat knocked over her "Leia as Boushh" (fine...I looked it up, happy?) bust? And who glued that statue back together?
And who called her father tonight and asked if he still had her brother's old Star Wars toys in the closet?
Well, I'll give you a hint...it wasn't my sister ;-)
My younger brother was born in 1980 and I in 1976. While I was happy with my Barbies, he was happy with his Star Wars and He-Man action figures (he was also happy cutting, burning, drawing on, and generally mutilating my Barbies). He was only 3 when Return of the Jedi came out, so most of his toys were from that film but he had a few older Star Wars toys as well.
-I remember how even at 7 years old how I knew that A New Hope Han Solo's head looked nothing like Harrison Ford.
-I remember how the brown paint on Bousch (sp? whatever...not gonna look up the spelling) Leia's head had a rubbed out spot on the back.
-I remember the flimsy poncho on Endor Rebel Leia and how her helmet would never stay on.
-I remember my brother's Ewok village playset, Jabba's Palace and Jabba's creepy little....ummm, monkey?
-I remember his Darth Vader carrying case and how when you turned R2D2's head
a little antenna would pop-up.
-I remember Squid Guy, Skiff Guard Lando, and the cracking sound when you opened the X-Wing Fighter's wings by hand (I think you were really supposed to push R2's head but that detail is kind of fuzzy).
-I remember one of my Barbies had a red, satin dress.
Which list is longer?
My brother was the one who had a Darth Vader cake for his third birthday. My brother is the one who dressed up as Darth Vader (using Dad's black gardening gloves, a vampire cape, and a store bought Vader mask) for a couple of Halloweens.
But who has the re-release poster of A New Hope up in her apartment now? Who has the mini-lightsabers from Master Replica? Who freaked when her cat knocked over her "Leia as Boushh" (fine...I looked it up, happy?) bust? And who glued that statue back together?
And who called her father tonight and asked if he still had her brother's old Star Wars toys in the closet?
Well, I'll give you a hint...it wasn't my sister ;-)
Evil Dead: The Musical - In Celebration of Halloween - 3 videos featuring songs from the show
Well, I was going to upoad the songs myself, but other people already did the work for me.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Drugs are bad, mmmmmmmmm'kay?
Talking to a 10 year old today....she said it was "Red Ribbon week" at school where the kids learn about drugs, why they are bad, and pledge to be "drug free".
She told me that drugs are bad "because they smell."
Ok?
So the lesson is, kids, don't do drugs because they smell.
Now I'm off to put on my gas mask and take my zoloft (with an advil chaser).
Monday, October 22, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
She goes up to 11...
For every Taylor Hicks of American Idol or Next Top Model on America's Next Top Model, occasionally an interesting, talented person becomes a little better known thanks to Reality TV. One that came to my attention some time ago was Storm Large on CBS's Rockstar (the one where Tommy Lee, that guy from Guns N' Roses and the drummer from Metallica tried to find a lead singer for their new "band"). Storm didn't win (which was probably good for her if the success of the "band" is anything to go by), but imo she was the most talented person on that program - she has a great voice, strong stage presence, and a terrific sense of humor. She's also the only one on that show whose music I'd be willing to actually pay money for (in fact I did...some of her stuff is on itunes - be sure to check it out). There are also different pages on the web that you can download some songs (including live performances). Here's a good one: http://www.stormdownloads.com/index.htm
Hey, anyone who can do a mashup of an Abba song and that one by Iron Butterfly (I'm not even gonna try and spell it) and make it sound good is pretty awesome! (SEE VIDEO ABOVE)
Hey, anyone who can do a mashup of an Abba song and that one by Iron Butterfly (I'm not even gonna try and spell it) and make it sound good is pretty awesome! (SEE VIDEO ABOVE)
Thursday, October 18, 2007
O Captain, My Captain
Sometimes I worry about this country, but I sense salvation is on the way...well, at least for South Carolina anyway.
I Miss the "Whammys"
Remember when you were a kid and you were home sick from school? Ok, you felt miserable, but there was entertaining tv on....it was the era of morning game shows! We had Sale of the Century, Concentration, Card Sharks, Press Your Luck (a favorite of mine - "NO WHAMMYS!!!), and The 25,000 Dollar Pyramid - which later became The 100,000 Dollar Pyramid ( damn inflation!).
Well, today I had off from work. Long story short...I just spent 5 minutes watching them talk about toilets on The View.
I weep for today's youth. I think I'm gonna flip over to see how Drew Carey's doing hosting The Price is Right.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Me and THEM
In the Ideal World:
Them: Hey, noticed on the schedule you e-mailed us on Monday that you had our meeting down for Wednesday. Just wanted you let you know that it's not on Wednesday but Tuesday.
Me: Well, thank you for letting me know my mistake. That's very thoughtful! Boy, I sure would feel like an idiot if I showed up on the wrong day... not to mention the hour drive I would have done for nothing.
Them: Yeah (sympathetic chuckle). No problem.
In the Real World:
Me: I'm here for the meeting!
Them: The meeting was yesterday.
Me: But...but I when I sent in my schedule...the schedule you insist on me sending you every week even when things don't usually change...I wrote in that the meeting was today. Didn't you notice?
Them: Yeah, we never really read those...
Fuck Them
Them: Hey, noticed on the schedule you e-mailed us on Monday that you had our meeting down for Wednesday. Just wanted you let you know that it's not on Wednesday but Tuesday.
Me: Well, thank you for letting me know my mistake. That's very thoughtful! Boy, I sure would feel like an idiot if I showed up on the wrong day... not to mention the hour drive I would have done for nothing.
Them: Yeah (sympathetic chuckle). No problem.
In the Real World:
Me: I'm here for the meeting!
Them: The meeting was yesterday.
Me: But...but I when I sent in my schedule...the schedule you insist on me sending you every week even when things don't usually change...I wrote in that the meeting was today. Didn't you notice?
Them: Yeah, we never really read those...
Fuck Them
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