The Sky is Falling

I am going to see 'Skyfall" tonight. I am looking forward to it, that is for sure. I have heard and seen some mixed reviews about this latest Bond Film. I have really enjoyed this last group of films. The actions sequences in "Casino Royale" were some of the best things that I have seen on film in a long time. The opening chase sequence is one that I have watched multiple times. That is a link to go watch it for yourself. If you haven't seen it. You should go watch it right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJubOZLpp4A

I realize that if I am hoping that this latest film is going to be as exhilarating as Casino Royale I am probably in trouble but I am having a hard time keeping my expectations down.

I will be back tomorrow to give you my thoughts. 

Surprise, Surprise....

Well, last night was very interesting...I honestly was not sure that Obama would win. But it happened and it seems to have happened without a bunch of accusations of widespread voter fraud from the right. So that is a good thing. I do not think that a lot is going to change on a national level since Congress is still the same.

I am sure the usual suspects will continue to ring the bells of doom and America will continue to roll along. Like it always has. Then four years from now there will be someone new to panic about on one side or the other. But until then lets remember we are all in this together and let's keep on rockin!! Because if we weren't free then why in the world would freaks like this be allowed on stage.

Monday

Today is another day. A Monday to be exact and not much has changed in the world. Now if you listen to some people then it seems like things will be changing tomorrow depending on who wins the American Presidential election. I think this is kind of what it boils down to for some people depending on who gets elected.




Or this





But really it doesn't matter who wins. Life will go on. The earth will continue to spin. The spice will continue to flow. Or in our cases the oil will continue to flow and that really is all that seems to matter.

But for myself I am going to keep on dancing.....

Monday Musings

When I go to the coffee shop, I usually am there for the most important reason and that is too drink coffee. But, I also enjoy saying hello to a few people and sitting quietly in my usual corner spot listening to all of Salems' movers and shakers talk about how important they are. I don't like to be super cynical about people but there are mornings where I want to just grab people by the scruff of their neck and shake them and say 'THE WORLD DOESN'T REVOLVE AROUND YOU!!!" 

But, I like the coffee here and I don't want to be kicked out so I do not do that. As I sat down today with my Americano and muffin I was a little leery because of the two, one much older and the other slightly older then me, gentlemen who were sitting nearby. As far as I am concerned those are the worst too sit by because they seem to feel like they know everything and there is always something to complain about. It just doesn't seem to matter too them. There could be money dropping from the sky and there would obviously be a better way to do it and they are the only ones that know how and people today are just lazy and blah and blah and blah...on and on and on. 

Anyone who knows me also knows that I am not a morning person and I do not do well until I have had my morning hook up. Until then I would really rather be left alone. I don't want to talk to you. I do not care to know who you are or how your day is going. I do not want to discuss the weather or politics or tell you what I am working on. I want to be left alone!! I am not your friend or buddy. You don't know me!! Leave me alone to nurse my addiction. Yes!! I realize I am dependent upon it too function!! NO THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME!! ...Oh I am sorry was I yelling.  (sigh) There are days when I long for the future so that I can put a privacy cone around myself and be able to sit in peace. That way I can watch people but their personal conversations do not intrude on my existence. To me that would be nice and peaceful. Then I can nod a greeting and make eye contact if I want too. But I also do not have to hear every little thing about whatever it is they have going on. 

Well, I seem to have lost my thread a little bit there. Wow, in the time that I was off writing away up there, those two men I was writing about earlier are still just talking away. So far their conversation has ranged from how expensive a refill is for coffee here to how rude people are today and how they do not talk to each other like they used too or listen to each other. Then it went to politics and finally it wrapped up with a little football talk. Ahhh finally they are gone. Good. Oh!! Yeah!! That is what got me started. One of the men looks over as I sat down with my Americano and muffin and was all "What you working on? Writing a novel?" How dare he ask a civil question of me? Can't he see that I am a junkie looking for a fix? I don't do small talk, Sir. Good day! I said good day. 

Thrown for a Loop by the Master

I went to see a couple of films in the last few days. On Sunday I went up to Bridgeport in Lake Oswego and watched the Paul Thomas Anderson film, "The Master". I am not really sure what to say about that, other then that it was an interesting experience.

The film itself is beautifully crafted and visually amazing. The story on the other hand is kind of aimless and pretty twisted. It is loosely the story of a lost and sad man who has no focus or direction in life. He has a serious drinking and anger problem and then one day he meets basically an L Ron Hubbard type of character. There are some definite similarities between the group that The Master runs and Scientology. But that really isn't the point and the story doesn't really focus on that as much as the relationship between the Jaquin Phoenix character and The Master who is played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I really think that both of these men will be nominated for best actor Oscars and honestly I think Phillip Seymour deserves to win. He just does an amazing job. I realize that this film in not for everyone but I liked this film and it deserves to be seen even if it is a little hard to watch at times. I think sometimes the best films are a little hard to watch and that is what makes them great because they invoke feelings and cause you to think about its effect on you.

Then last night I went to my usual Tuesday night $5 movie house Cinebarre and watched the "Looper". The science fiction film starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

 The bottom line, and it is hard to find a bottom line in a science fiction time travel film, I really, really enjoyed it. The future world that it is set in I found fascinating and very interesting. It wasn't set so far into the future that it was inaccessible for the viewer and because of that it wasn't dependent on a ton of special effects or computer blue screen effects. In fact, that aspect of it made me interested enough in things to want to find out about the world and the future in which the film is set. Why things were that way and what caused them. I like a film that doesn't feel the need to explain every little thing to me and in this case as one of the characters in the film said...we get into that and then we start diagramming things on the table with straws. It is enough to know the basics of the story. I am sure there are probably some logic gaps and things that the cine-phile might find annoying but I really found this too be an enjoyable film. The action sequences are well done and in such a way that the violence has an impact. That is something that I wish more directors did. In cinema, often less is more. I am being a little vague as too plot because it will be more fun for you if you are a little surprised by things. I say if you are looking for some science fiction and some action then go see this film. I think you will enjoy it.

Speech Has Consequences

I am tired right now. I am tired of all of the Presidential election news. I am tired of people talking like electing Obama to a second term is going to be the end of the world and America as we know it.

"Yea verily, when the Black Devil Barack Obama is re-elected, then truly the real death will come upon America. The Angel of Death with all of the powers of his evil Socialist Masters shall fall upon us. The Communist overlords shall stand atop the smoking ruins of our capital and true patriots shall weep as a Thousand years of darkness shall fall upon us." 

Well, maybe that won't happen. I don't know either way. What I do know for sure is that I made all of it up just now. I didn't read something or study something that made me think I could predict the future because really I also know that you can't predict the future. It is silly to even try. It also benefits no one for me to do so. Now one thing I could do is send out a letter that kind of vaguely predicts things and is geared to scare people and prey on their fears. Their fears may be religious based or they may just be coming out of sheer ignorance but maybe if I can pray on the fears I can get them to send my some money and line my pockets a little bit. I mean really, what harm can I cause? Who is really hurt? What is wrong with a few white lies or grey lies as it were. 

What follows is a letter that Focus on the Family sent out in 2008 just before the Presidential elections. There are 34 things that they say might happen. There is one that maybe happened and 33 others that did not at all. It is an amazing exercise in trying to spread baseless fear.

Focus on the Family letter



 I think people should think before they claim that Obama wants to destroy America. The people like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter. Words have consequences and people know that. During the last election as things began to wrap up and it looked more and more like Obama would win, I heard the same kind of talk about Bush. The liberal pundits and conspiracy theorists were sure that Bush was going to call a "State of Emergency" and suspend the election. That didn't happen. That the Republicans would use the electronic voting machines to change results. That didn't happen. America survived Bush and it will survive Obama and if Romney wins the election it will survive Romney. Life goes on.

 The only real difference this time around as far as propaganda goes is that there seems to me too be a lot more biblical speak that is being used to justify the accusations.  They know that the more inflamed they can make the populace the more money they can make. The more books they will sell and the higher their radio and television ratings will be. They don't care about us. I do not even think they care about America. They care about making money. They care about marketing and they care about getting fat on their propaganda while the rest of us shrivel away and get eaten up inside by stress and and anger and fear.

Ahhhhh, thanks for letting me vent folks. Deep breaths, Lance. Deep breaths. You guys be safe out there.

Cobwebs in the Brain

Sometimes Mondays are the hardest days to get moving. Today was one of those days. I made it out of bed but I had slept through my alarm and while my brain may have decided that I needed that extra sleep, I did not agree to that and I do not like it when my body and brain conspire against my wishes. I would much prefer it if I could only sleep a couple of hours a night. I know it is healthier for the body and the mind to get 8 hours or more of sleep a night but I never seem to make that anyway so why not break it down to 2 or 3. I wonder if I could train myself to subsist on that and how long it would be until I went mental from that. When I am feeling foggy on mornings like this one of the things I like to do is to listen to an upbeat song and that sometimes clears the cobwebs from the old noggin. Today was one of those days and I needed this song to get my going. The artist is a Korean gentleman name PSY and the song is super hot right now.

Coffee-shop Etiquette

So I had an interesting conversation with my father a few weeks ago. He had told me that sometimes he goes and gets a donut and then takes it too the coffeeshop to drink with his coffee. Now this particular coffeeshop has pastries but not donuts. There is a company in Salem called Great Harvest that does some really amazing breads and scones and muffins and cookies and they supply this coffeeshop with those tasty treats but they do not make donuts.

I told my dad that I didn't think it was correct to bring your own treats to a place that already has treats for you to purchase. I do not know store policy on this but it just feels wrong to me. Well today as I was beginning my morning job search and enjoying my super tasty Americano, I noticed a fellow come in wearing a suit and carrying a cup of Starbucks. Now, the perceived quality of Starbucks coffee aside, it really seemed like the wrong thing to me to carry in another companies coffee to drink in a coffeeshop that makes a totally different brand of coffee. I just do not understand why someone would do that.

To me it is like taking my Big Mac to Burger King. Who does that? Why would you do that? Are you that clueless about things? It just makes no sense to me. It probably bothers me more because of how much I love Broadway Coffeehouse  but I also know myself enough to know that if I was in another restaurant and the same thing happened I would be taken aback by it. It seems a real lack of common sense to me to not drink or eat from the place that you are meeting. They are kind enough to provide you a location and sometimes free wireless and other things. The least you can do is too purchase something from them. Because if you continue to not purchase things then it is quite possible that the place could go out of business and no one wants that.

So in closing please continue to patronize your local businesses and support your community. If you are in Salem then by all means give the Broadway Coffeehouse a try. If you like coffee you will not regret it. They serve Stumptown exclusively and that, my friends, is good coffee.

(Puts soapbox away) 

Blue Monday

Today isn't a "Blue Monday" but it is a groggy one and this song always gets me going. I love most of the music from the early 80's at least the early 80's new wave stuff. I hope you enjoy it as well.

$5 Movie Review

I went out last night and had my usual Tuesday night $5 movie experience at my local Cinebarre and as is the the norm, I enjoyed myself. I usually do and to be honest for $5 it is really going to have to be a bad experience and a horrible film for me not too. I know the Cinebarre experience is not for everybody but I have found that for me it works great and is a pretty inexpensive night out. Now if you buy a bunch of beer and eat and do not look at the price then, yes, you will soon lose all of the savings that you gained by going to the $5 movie in the first place. But that is on you and I not be held accountable for your choices!! I just won't be!!

So last night I went to see 'The Expendables 2' (Trailer below)

For me, the bottom line, and pretty much the litmus that I now measure all of my movie going experiences by at this point. I ENJOYED MYSELF. It was fun and I suspect that I may have even enjoyed it for $10 or more. Now, that being said, lets say I had gone in expecting some different kind of material maybe a darker grittier take on international relations and gun trafficking with perhaps an insightful look at the dangerous nuclear stockpiles laying dormant in some of the old Soviet Union countries. Two things. 1 I would have been foolish to have expected such a thing from this film and it would have been my fault for not paying attention to the trailer or having read anything about the film. 2. I would have been really disappointed because this was not that kind of film at all.

It was a film that really was made for fans of action adventure films and for anyone who had grown up in the 80's since it starred a majority of that decades top action stars. In this case being Stallone, Willis, Schwarzenegger and some other lesser lights as well. If you are a Merchant & Ivory fan this is not the film for you and you have wondered into the wrong theater. This is not a film for everyone but it does not need to be. It does exactly what it is supposed to do which is to blow stuff up and let you as the viewer blow off steam. It is just great popcorn movie fun. So if you are looking for a little escapist fun. Do yourself a favor and take next Tuesday evening and go watch this movie. 

The Doors

“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.”

― William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell


I am not really a fan of Oliver Stone at all. In fact I really think that the best thing he has ever done was to write the original 'Conan the Barbarian' film and pretty much everything else has been overwrought shite. But since I have Netflix and I find myself with a lot of time on my hands right now. I end up watching a lot of movies as I apply for jobs and as I work on my writing. This means that sometimes I watch things that I would not watch at other times in my life. One of those films which I watched just today was Oliver Stones' 'The Doors'.

I hate to say it, but, I like this film. Now I am not sure if that is because I like The Doors as a band. Because I really do. I love their music and in high school I spend a lot of time listening to just The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and Cream. So I really kind of immersed myself in their music and in the ideas of Jim Morrison. Now as I grew older I also began to realize that while I really enjoyed the music and liked his singing, as a person Jim Morrison was seriously flawed and had a serious drug and alcohol problem. In the movie it is really easy to get the impression that he is high or drunk almost all of the time so it is not a real shock that he died young. Though to be fair it seemed like a lot of those musicians from that time period were competing to see who could die the youngest and in the most extreme way or the saddest. (Look at that, I got sidetracked)

The other reason that I think I probably enjoy the film is because of the presence of Val Kilmer. While it is true that Kilmer has become somewhat of a sad joke now there was a time when he was arguably the biggest actor in the world. I really enjoyed his work in almost every film of his (Not Batman Forever) that I have ever seen pretty much regardless of the subject matter. Seeing him put on Jim Morrisons' skin is almost freaky because near as I can tell he almost becomes him. His method style of acting can become unnerving for the people around him because he almost becomes the role and when he is playing a dangerous or deranged character he goes all in and there does not seem to be a separation from  the stage to the real life.

I want to recommend a couple films of his for you to watch along with 'The Doors' film. The first is a film that I have talked about before .'Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang'

This film also stars Robert Downey Jr and I think is vastly underrated and kick started the comeback for RDJ. He is amazing and so is Valk Kilmer in this one. The other film is one called 'The Salton Sea'

He plays a drug addicted Jazz Musician in that one. Check them out and you will see a couple of really excellent performances. 

The Joy of Community

There is a little television show that has been my favorite thing on television for the last three years. Well, this last season it hit a little bit of a road block, in that, CBS decided to move their highly rated and very popular (because people like dumb things) 'Big Bang Theory' to the same time slot so that it could compete directly against 'Community'. This led to a further fall in the ratings and finally the network (NBC) fired the show creator and runner Dan Harmon and then moved the show to Friday nights.

As you can imagine this caused quite a stir among the fan base for the show. I am torn because while I feel a loyalty to Dan Harmon, I also really like the actors that are on the show and I want them to continue working and to continue to enjoy them playing the characters on the show. So I am hoping that the show will continue to be of good quality and enjoyable to me. Also I really should be happy because most shows that I like tend to get canceled within a year or two. I like to think that is because my taste is so refined and of such high quality that the rest of the common people just are not able to handle it.

Really though I am writing this post mainly as an excuse to post a couple of pictures of that cast that I really liked.

This was from an episode where Jeff Winger went undercover as a street Magician a Criss Angel type of character and Britta was his assistant. I found the whole thing highly amusing but what really surprised me was how attractive I found Britta in her costume. I had no idea that her look would work for me like it did. I also thought Jeff looked amazing which left me confused and slightly ashamed but I think that is really just because I was jealous of how he looked and really wish that I pull it off. That would be awesome. 

Have a good week folks. 

To Be Honest About Politics

This is really how I feel and I felt this way during the last election as well and the one before that. Sure I lean left. But I lean so far left that to be honest I am off of the scale of the typical Democrat and Republican and when the last few Presidential candidates are all rich guys who graduated from Harvard it is hard for me to think that the world is going to be ending if Obama or Romney is elected. We survived 8 years of Bush. We can survive 8 years of Obama and the world as a whole doesn't revolve around what happens in America as much as we would like to think it does. 

Time Travel

I just finished watching a fascinating little film called "Safety Not Guaranteed". Watch the trailer.

The film has been out for awhile and showing primarily in art houses so if you live in Portland you should be able to find it. It is also in Salem at Salem Cinema and I highly recommend going to see it if you have a chance. As well as just enjoying the film as a form of escapism it also made me think about time travel. Really about going back in time and the reasons to do so.

I think most of us have choices that we would rather have another chance to change. For some of us it might mean a chance to ask that lost love out or to fix a mistake we made. Some of us would just want to use the time to make some more money and to make their lives better. I can't imagine anyone going back in time to do anything but making their lives easier in some way. I mean, otherwise, what would be the point of it all. Sure you could go and observe things but why would you not want to fix things and right some wrongs. Sure you might mess up the time stream continuum but if you were the only one that knew it was messed up then who cares.

Disregard all of my amateur philosophizing and give this movie a shot. I imagine it will be out on Netflix soon but either in the theater or at home check it out. I think you well enjoy it.   

Free Flow

I am sitting in the coffee shop and wishing that I could collect my thoughts better in my head. If I could get them in some semblance of order who knows I might be able to write a book or something. I have bits and pieces of stories all over the place in their but nothing is built up enough for me to to even want to begin the process of trying to build a cohesive story. I am not even sure what that would actually look like.

I know that I enjoy writing when I do it. But often I do not have a reason to lay it all down on paper and if I do not have a reason then it feels to me like I am just blindly stumbling along without any real sense of direction and focus and I would prefer it if my writing had some sort of focus or goal to it. Maybe that is the problem and I just need to sit down and do more straight free writing and just get it out so that I can begin with a clean slate or have those fragments of ideas written down someplace and use that as a building block to begin from.

It would be really easy for me to just sit here and write an abusive and judgmental commentary about the people around me and the way they look and the way they act. It often seems like that is what blogging is for. But I would rather I not write like that. I would rather build something that people find interesting and enjoyable to read. I would love it if my writing caused and emotional reaction but not one of anger. That does not seem healthy at all. Though Lord knows the internet seems to thrive on just that thing. It really seems like hatred or anger drives traffic or button clicks and if you can touch the right emotion then people will light up your blog or article with all kinds of comments.

I wonder if there is even a place on the internet for the nice guy. It often seems that you have to be snarky or abusive and really that isn't me. It used to be. That is for sure. I am just not so enamored of the purity of my opinions anymore. I am willing to be wrong and am willing to listen to an idea when presented to me in a polite and respectful manner.

Like the Judge said in "Caddyshack" "The world needs ditch diggers too."

Wednesday Rant

I love the internet! There I said it. I am not ashamed of that either. I love what it can do for me. I love that I have instant access to information about pretty much anything and everything in the world. It lets me pursue any interest that pops into my head or track down any little tidbit about anything that I need to find and that I need to find right now.

But, there is a dark side of the internet that I am rapidly growing tired of. That is the fact that it is often just being used as a platform for people to throw out their ideas or opinions about things. Now I realize the irony of that since I use a blog to do the exact same thing. But it seems like more and more these websites and blogs use anger to drive their traffic. It rarely is that they enjoyed something and want to encourage others to give it a try. It is how much they hated something and hey lets all get together and make fun of it or talk about how lame it is. It is just traffic generated by hatred and angst and the breaking down of others and I am so tired of it.

I do not know that there is a lot that I can do about it other then to not add to their traffic and to not stoop down to the level of the commentators. I do find myself more and more calling people out when they make a comment that is asinine or just mean for meanness sake. What really winds me up is when people seemingly read an article and comment solely because they dislike or hate that topic. I see it often on newspaper articles concerning the Portland Timbers. There are people that hate Soccer, which is fine, but they purposely track down articles about Soccer or the Timbers and make comments about how much they hate Soccer. I just do not get that at all. I do not like the Portland Trailblazers or really Basketball in general but I have other things I can do then look for articles and complain about them. It is of no benefit to me at all to do that.

SO STOP IT FOLKS!! Let's all spread love instead.

Monday Morning Post Olympic Blues

Hey everybody, it is Monday and normally I do not ever have a 'case of the Mondays' but I am feeling a little groggy today so please bare with me.

I watched a couple of things this weekend. The first thing was the end of the Olympics in London. I normally do not watch much of the festival and ceremony stuff but I wanted to check out the closing ceremonies because the music portion of the even sounded like it could be pretty cool. I think overall it was a resounding success. If I had any complaints it would be more about how NBC handled the actual showing of the broadcast then the actual show itself. As usual, despite it being tape delayed, NBC dropped the ball. They really have become a horrible network.

The reason that I am harping on NBC is because along with the Olympics I watched a new sitcom offering of theirs called 'Animal Practice'. Now, do not get me wrong. I don't hate the show with the hate of a 1,000 burning sons. I also made a point to myself to watch it with an open mind. But honestly, in the 20 minutes that the show lasted. It was shown commercial free which was a nice move by NBC I thought. But, I laughed one time. ONCE. That is a horrible ratio. It is possible that since the show was laugh track free that I was confused and didn't notice the cues. But I doubt it. The jokes really fell flat for me and even the actors, three of whom I really like, did not work for me. The show is just plain and fine and is professionally done but it is so, boring and bland. There is literally nothing special about it at all and I guess if that is what NBC is looking for then mission accomplished. Well done.

I think I am going to enjoy following the reviews of the new shows on NBC this season because like the twitter hash tag says, this is going to be a year of epic #NBCFAIL

Scandinavian Festival

As most of you know, I live in the great and the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I think most of you know because the majority of my readers live here as well. I love it here and I honestly can't think of places that I would rather live. Though to honest I would, at some point in my life, like to live in Great Britain somewhere or in Sweden or Norway for a little while just to experience it.

So along those lines I went down to Junction City Oregon yesterday for the first day of the 52nd Annual Scandinavian Festival. The link really will give you far more information then I can about the event. But what I really wanted to tell you about was the pleasant nature of the small town atmosphere. I really did enjoy myself. Now it isn't like anything groundbreaking happened and I learned that I descend directly from the mighty Viking Eric the Red. But it was just a nice and pleasant day. The food was excellent and on a high note there was none of the oompa music that is so prevalent at Mt Angel and the Oktoberfest. I think that is basically because everything that Scandinavian's do is far better done and far more interesting then anything that a dirty German could accomplish.

I do have to address one particular food highlight for me and that is the Aebelskiver.

They are basically round balls of dough fried up in a specially made cast iron pan and people put jam on them. I am sure that there is some sort of official definition of them. But, all I know is that they are amazingly good and I wanted to eat a mound of them piled high on a plate with melted butter and powdered sugar dusted all over them.

To close out my blog post pandering to Scandinavians I will leave you with a few music videos showcasing some different types of music from that part of the world.

That was a more traditional number....

I like curling and metal but this one left me kind of speechless

Lastly the Icelandic band 'Of Monsters & Men" who I totally love. 

Job Hunt

Hey there loyal readers, I hope you are well. As you can see I am having a hard time getting back into the swing of things when it comes to blogging on a daily basis. I am back at my beloved Broadway Coffeehouse and trying to stay on top of things with a daily schedule so hopefully this is going to help me get onto more of a schedule as well as get me writing again.

The biggest obstacle for me right now is that I tend to write better when I am angry or righteously indignant about something. But I am working to move away from that. I really just do not care for how that sounds and honestly I am not convinced that my opinion is more valid or more important then anyone else and I would rather be able to have a conversation or debate about an issue then to shut them down with my anger or my sarcasm.

I think that I will go back to my music library and finish that exercise up. I really enjoyed sharing the music I like with people and I felt like a fair amount of you enjoyed it as well. So I hope you guys enjoy that and if anyone has any ideas for work please do not hesitate to send them my way. I am open to pretty much anything and everything. I also have a van now so I am more then willing to drive packages to Canada or anywhere else in the Americas. No questions asked!

Hook me up folks!!

Monday Musings

Well here goes nothing. It is Monday and I am trying to get back into kind of a normal schedule and do some daily writing about different things. But, as is usually my problem I am having a hard time narrowing down my subject matter. But, I think that today I would like to talk about the latest Batman movie.



I don't judge movies by the same criteria that I used too, I used to have a pretty smug attitude about movies and about my opinions of them. I am not sure if that was because I was working as a projectionist and had a pipedream that I was going to go to film school and be some sort of big shot director. Well, that didn't happen and now I watch movies and enjoy them for different reasons. I really just judge them by two different criteria.

1: What did it cost me to see the movie? 2: Did I enjoy the movie?

So I went to see 'Batman: The Dark Knight Rises' yesterday morning and it cost me $5 and really for $5 I will see pretty much anything except for the 'Saw' genre films. I think those types of films, 'Torture Porn' are uninteresting and have no place in cinema. That being said, other then those I will give most films a chance if they are going to cost me so little to see as far as money goes. But, even with the cost being so cheap I do not always enjoy those films.

But I found Batman to be amazing. I just really had a good time at the movies and for me that is really a big part of the whole experience for me. I will probably see this film again and pay more then $5 if that is what I have to pay to see it. I highly recommend it. If you are looking for a good summertime escapist film then you could do far worse then going to see 'The Dark Knight Rises'. It is a really, really fun and exciting film.

Also, full disclosure, I think I fell in love with Anne Hathaway as Selena Kyle AKA Catwoman. She really was amazing. So do yourself a favor and go watch this movie.

I'm Back

Hey everybody, I am back. I know it has been awhile but seeing as how I am in between contracts at work right now I thought I would start writing again. I am not sure what form this is going to take. I have a feeling that it is going to be mainly music and film review stuff along with a smattering of political commentary thrown in.

I hope the few readers that I may have left find it enjoyable and I hope I can pick up a few more along the way. To that end as I shall leave you with this little musical number by a band that I recently discovered. They are a neo-bluegrass book out of Minnesota called Trampled by Turtles. I hope you enjoy it.

More Music (Queen)

What better way to end the work week on this lovely sunny Friday, at least in Oregon, then to listen to a little QUEEN. This will be hard for me to narrow down but I hope you enjoy what I pick. I think will be going chronologically as well.

"Great King Rat" from their first album titled simply Queen in 1973



"Ogre Battle" from Queen II in 1974. Brian May does some amazing guitar work on this one as he did on every song.



"Stone Cold Crazy" from SHEER HEART ATTACK also released in 1974.



"'39" from A Night At The Opera released in 1975. An amazing acoustic guitar number.



"The Millionaire Waltz" from A Day at the Races released in 1976 and about Elton Johns manager at the time.



That is it for now and I think that on Monday I will finish out the rest of their discography they are too good of a band to skip any album.

More Music (PJ Harvey)

Hey, hey, hey it is Thursday and today we get to listen to some PJ Harvey. I own three of her albums and they are all pretty good. She was part of that movement that I have talked about before in the early to mid 90's of female singers and bands that included Belly, and Tori Amos, and Liz Phair. I pretty much enjoyed them all and in fact I saw PJ Harvey and Veruca Salt and I think Belly in concert at the Salem Amphitheater. The show stands out for me because Grant and I were pulling the shoes off of crowd surfers and throwing them at the stage manager. It was a fun show. But enough about me lets get to the music.

"Sheela-Na-Gig"



"To Bring You My Love"



"Down By The Water" I believe that this was her biggest hit. Or at least the one that the studio pushed the most.



"Death is not the end" (Nick Cave and PJ Harvey and others)A Bob Dylan cover

More Music (Pink Floyd)

I have 19 Pink Floyd albums. I am not at all sure how I can narrow this down to 3 or 4 videos but I shall do my best. I like Pink Floyd but I really did not become aware of them until after high school. I had gone over to a friends house and his older brother was watching "The Wall" and well my mind was blown and nothing was ever the same. Thank you Shane for the introduction to a band that I really enjoy.

"Jugband Blues" The last song Syd Barrett did with the band.



"Shine On You Crazy Diamond"



"Us and Them"



"Mother"



I could pick more but then we would be here all day.

More Music (Ozzy Osbourne)

Welcome to Tuesday and today we are back moving through my music collection and it is all about the master of metal himself Ozzy Osbourne. This is his solo work after he left Black Sabbath. I hope you enjoy today's ride on the...

"Crazy Train"



"Bark at the Moon"



"Flying High Again"



"Perry Mason"



I love Ozzy!! Even if old Ozzy is totally nuts. I still like his music. But let's close this out with some solo work by arguably the best guitarist that he ever had Randy Rhoades. Like all rock gods he died far to young.

More Music (President's Day)

Since today is President's Day we will take a break from our regular programming and throw up some songs with the name of a President in the title. I know, I know I am pretty amazing.

"Hail Columbia" This was played during George Washington's inauguration. Now it is used for the Vice President.



Well that turned out harder then I thought it would. How bout some patriotic songs instead? Good, no one objects.

"When Johnny Comes Marching Home"



"The Battle Hymn Of The Republic"



"The Marines' Hymn"

More Music (Operation Ivy)

Happy Friday and lets get fired up for the long weekend. Not for me but I know some of you are getting an extra day off. Today the band is the third wave almost fourth wave Ska/Punk, also known as ska-core, called Operation Ivy. They existed for only two years 1987 to 89 and had one studio album and were amazing. Anything that any of them did or will do in the future pales in comparison to what Operation Ivy laid down. I am talking directly to you Tim Armstrong. The rest of you just shut up and listen.

"Take Warning"



"Sound System"



"Bombshell"



"Healthy Body"



and one more bonus one by the DESCENDENTS mainly because I am feeling all punk rock!!

"Everything Sucks"



Okay two songs, "I don't Want To Grow Up"

More Music (No Doubt)

Good Thursday to everyone out there. Today the band is a band that I really enjoyed when they were at their heyday and I have heard that they are working on a new album. I am not sure if they will be going back to their ska roots or not with it. Some people have said that No Doubt and Gwen Stefani destroyed Ska. I do not think that is the case it isn't a bands fault if radio and the public latch on to a song or group and make it popular. The only band I think that would actively run away from such a thing is probably Fugazi and those guys are weird. So anyway lets give a listen to some early No Doubt and some of their more popular radio hits.

"Snakes" (Early, early stuff and not really much of a Ska sound at all.)



"Total Hate" (Early, early, early but this song has more of a Ska punk sound to it.)



"Just A Girl" (This song put them on the map. Now I could say that I am tired of it from listening to it so much. But that isn't the songs fault. It is a good pop Ska song and I totally can see why it made them famous.)



"Sunday Morning" (There are several very good songs on the Tragic Kingdom album. One interesting thing is that Gwen wrote most of this album while dealing with the breakup of her relationship with the band's bassist Tony Kanal. When this album broke big they toured all over the world playing breakup songs. I always felt kind of sorry for him.)((I also love Gwen's look in this video)



(End It On This)



"Hey Baby" (Their next album went a little more Reggae more Dancehall if you will. I liked it though)



"Rocksteady"

More Music (Nightwish)

Hello, one of the things that this project has done is made me realize how much of certain types of music that I have. Now I still feel that my taste in music is pretty eclectic but at the same time I have realized that I also have lots more of certain genres then others. One of those is heavy metal and within that genre I am heavily invested in the more epic power metal sub genre and this is one of those band and in some ways the best of those types of bands. They are Nightwish and they are from Finland.

"Over the Hills and Far Away" Their version of the Gary Moore classic.



"Wish I Had an Angel"



"Wishmaster" Live and Tarja's last performance with the band.

More Music (N's)

Hey everybody!! Well we are into the N's but I am just not feeling it today. So I am not sure what that means. I think I am going to give you one song from each of the first three artists in my N catagory. Natalie Imbruglia, Neil Diamond, and Neil Young. I only own one album from each of them and this just seems easier.

"Torn"



"Solitary Man"



"A Man Needs A Maid / Heat Of Gold" This is from a live performance in 1971 on the BBC. It blew me away. I had never seen it before.

More Music (My Chemical Romance)

Welcome to Monday everybody and today the band is My Chemical Romance. They are pretty emo and they remind me a little bit of Queen but that may just be the lead singers vocal stylings. I have only one of their albums called The Black Parade and it really feels like a concept album to me. It may sound funny to say but listening to them this morning has helped to clean the taste of the Grammys out of my mouth from last night. Though it was nice to see Adele win, the show itself was pretty lame and I am not convinced she needed or deserved to win album of the year. But anyway on the the vocal and rock operatic stylings of My Chemical Romance!!

"The End"



"The Sharpest Lives"



"Welcome To The Black Parade" This was the big hit off of this album and I really do like it. But, on a side note I am kind of a sucker for songs with marching band drums. I just can't help it.



"Mama"

More Music (Muse)

Today we get to take a quick look at the English prog rock band MUSE. Now, I enjoy their music. I think they are a little bit pretentious in real life and take themselves far to seriously. But then again who doesn't. I hope you enjoy the tunes and have an excellent Friday and an amazing weekend.

"Uprising" Probably their biggest hit to date.



"Starlight"



"Resistance"



"Knights Of Cydonia" I like this liver version a lot and I love how into it the crowd is.

More Music (Mumford & Sons)

I do not think that anything I write about this band is going to be a surprise to any of my regular readers. I have been posting their videos for awhile now and when I went to see them I posted some more live videos. But it is their turn on the list and here they are. Lets keep enjoying the music of Mumford & Sons. I hope you are looking forward to their next album as much as I am.

"The Enemy" (For Wuthering Heights)



"Roll Away Your Stone"



"White Blank Page"



"Home" They played this one in the concert. It was very good.



"Ghosts That We Knew" This is another new one and I think it will be the big hit off of the new album. You heard it here first folks!!

More Music (Moby)

In a refreshing palate cleanser from yesterdays band today we are listening to Techno artist Moby. I only have one album from 1999 and that is Play. Now I do not listen to a lot of Techo and most of the time this type of music, be it dubstep, or drum n' bass, or any of the other myriad of names that it goes under, gives me a headache but I like pretty much all the songs on this album. So I hope you enjoy it.

"Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad"



"Porcelain"



"Southside" ft. Gwen Stefani



"Bodyrock" There are some hot dancers in this video

More Music (Metallica)

There was a time in my life when I thought that this band was the best band in the world. They may have been. I do not know. I do know that they mattered intensely to me. Now they do not. Here is some songs. Yaay for Metallica











It saddens me because their first four albums were so good and then they met Bob Rock and it went downhill from there. Some would argue that the Black Album was the beginning of the end and others would argue that doing a double live album with the SanFrancisco Philharmonic was it. I think the whole mess with Napster also had something to do with it. I just know that I can barely listen to them anymore and their new stuff not at all.

More Music (Men At Work)

It is Monday and what better day then a Monday to highlight the great 980's band Men At Work. I have their first two albums Business as Usual and Cargo. I enjoy them both pretty regularly and in a little bit of Lance trivia the first album that I ever purchased was Cargo. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do and please feel free to comment and tell me that you liked the music or even if you didn't like it.

"Who Can It Be Now"



"People Just Love to Play With Words"



"Be Good Johnny"



Now, lets hear three from their second album.

"Dr. Heckyll and Mr. Jive"



"Overkill"



"It's A Mistake"

More Music (Meatloaf)

Ahhh today is a fun Friday. We are going to hear a few tracks from the classic 1977 album by Meatloaf called Bat Out of Hell. I hope you enjoy it and I hope that it brings a smile to your face like it does to mine. A little bit of trivia for you. The man who wrote and produced most of this album Jim Steinman also wrote the classic songs Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All"

"you took the words right out of my mouth (Hot Summer Night)"



"Heaven Can Wait"



"Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad"



Now some of you maybe saying, "But Lance, what about "Paradise By The Dashboard Light"?" The short answer is that the video for that is super long and most people have heard that song by now. But by all means look it up if you feel so motivated to do so. It is a great tale of a teenage tryst in the front seat of a car. It truly is a classic song. But I think I would be remiss at this time if I didn't play for you two other songs that I mentioned earlier, they are both classics and personal favorites of mine.

First up is the Australian duo AIR SUPPLY with "Making Love Out of Nothing At All"



Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart"

More Music (Manowar)

Well you folks are in for a real treat today. Some modern American metal the likes of which we are really only getting out of Europe these days. This band is called Manowar and they were formed in 1980 and came out of New York. It is hilariously epic and loves to sing about mythological subjects. I also love their album covers. Those are just plain amazing to look at. They are not big in America but like a lot of bands they are huge in Europe. I am going to do my best to choose carefully but some of these songs may have so swears. So do not say I didn't warn you.

"Return of the Warlord"



"The Fight For Freedom"




"Sons of Odin"




"The Gods Made Heavy Metal"

More Music (Madness)

That is the end of the letter L on the list and now we are on to M and today the artist of alphabetical order is the band Madness. I really enjoy their basically 2 Tone second wave ska sound and I challenge anyone who is having a bad day to listen to some Madness and not feel their spirits lift and their toes start to tap. I have basically a greatest hits compilation and I really enjoy it. I am really glad that they were on the list because it makes me feel like today is going to be a good day.

"Our House"



"Tomorrow's Just Another Day"



"It Must Be Love"



"Driving In My Car"

More Music (Lisa Loeb)

Happy, happy Tuesday. Today we get to hear a few songs from the one Lisa Loeb album that I have which is called Tails. This album is notable because it was the first that brought her nationwide fame and contained her first hit single the song "Stay" that was used by Ben Stiller in the Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder film "Reality Bites". Big surprise, I know, to my regular readers, to find out that I like a female singer-songwriter who plays guitar.

"It's Over"



"Do You Sleep?"



"Stay"

More Music (Led Zeppelin)

It is Monday and lets get the Led out. I like Led Zeppelin. I go in streaks where I listen to them a lot and sometimes I go months without hearing a song but when I do either in a movie or on the radio or when a friend plays them. I immediately remember why I enjoy them. Now I could throw up probably 30 songs. But I think I am just going to do three videos and they most likely be live ones. I have their entire discography. But I think I am just going to pick some that mean something to me on a more personal level.

"Immigrant Song" I listened to this song so much in high school on my Walkman. Yes I am that old. I flat wore this tape out.



"Misty Mountain Hop"



"Good Times Bad Times" This song, from the opening guitar and the drum beats signified an amazing new band and it was awesome.



I am going to give you one more song from Led Zeppelin III. The main reason being that for me I think III was their best album. I have probably linked this song more then any other song to various things but I love the song. It is "Broy-Y-Aur Stomp" and this version from the Earl's Court concert in 1975 is amazing.

More Music (Lana Del Rey)

I first heard this lady sing on Saturday Night Live a week ago and it was absolutely horrible. But a friend whose taste in music I trust recommended I listen to the whole album. So I did and wow. I really, really liked it. There were times where it even had an emotional impact on me. So I do not know what happened on SNL but if you get a chance after listening to what I play for you track it down and listen to the rest of it. I liked a lot.

"Born To Die" This is the first song off of the album and the video is a little artsy for my taste but the song is amazing. If you have to just close your eyes and listen to it.



"Video Games"



"Lucky Ones"

More Music (Australian Day)

I listen either National Public Radio (NPR) or KNRK on the way to work each morning and since today is apparently National Australian Day. (Don't ask me why. I have no idea.) KNRK played 8 songs from Australian bands or artists and I liked that idea so I am stealing it. These are in no particular order but they are bands that I like who are from Australia. So please enjoy them.

1. Men At Work: "Overkill"



2. Midnight Oil: "Forgotten Years"



3. INXS: "Mediate"



4. Crowded House: "Don't Dream It's Over"



5. Olivia Newton-John: "Physical"



6: Jet: "Cold Hard Bitch"



7: AC/DC: "Thunderstruck"



8: GOTYE: "Somebody That I Used To Know"



There you go. I hope you guys enjoyed this little bonus musical excursion.

More Music (Lady Gaga)

I know that some of my readers can't stand her. But I actually enjoy her music. Not always and not everyday but there are times when I like to listen to dance music and she works for me. I also think that minus all of the sonic affects and visual craziness she has a really good voice and plays the piano very well. I am still not sure how much is stage craft and how much is her but that really doesn't matter. That being said. You are only getting a couple of videos and they will be live ones because her videos are already all over YouTube.

"Born This Way" (Live on SNL)



"Judas (Live on SNL)"



This is a parody of "Bad Romance" and I found it actually pretty amusing. It is by a group called The Key of Awesome! there is a little bit of profanity so put those ear buds in kids.

More Music (Who wants a Kiss)

We are back at it and on this Monday morning the band that is kick starting the day is Kiss. This is the last band in the K's on my list and I have their first 4 albums and even though I am sure that Gene Simmons would sell his mother for a quick buck I really enjoy the music on these four. Kiss, Dressed To Kill, Destroyer, Love Gun are all solid rock and roll albums and they have some really good guitar and bass work in them as well. Kiss was just a solid band and the excelled at writing radio friendly songs especially in terms of time of songs. So any here you go..."The baddest band in the land!! KISSS!!!

"Strutter"



"Black Diamond"



"Rock Bottom"



"Rock N Roll All Night"



"God of Thunder" One of my favorite Kiss songs



"Beth" There are 4 or 5 amazing songs from Destroyer it is probably my favorite Kiss album.



"Christine Sixteen" I might be wrong but I think this song is about sex. I am not sure though.



"Plaster Caster" This is from Kiss Unplugged which was on MTV and is actually really a good concert.



I guess I like this band more then I thought I did. I hope at least some of you enjoy the music.

STOP SOPA

No posts from me today. I primarily use Youtube to find the music that I share with you guys. If SOPA passes I most likely will not be able to continue to do that. SOPA will effectively kill the internet and kill free speech.

MLK Day

I am taking a break from the list today because it is Martin Luther King day. We will jump back into the list feet first tomorrow. So, you may be asking, what are we going to be listening to today then. I am not sure. I will have to see what strikes as fun and interesting. Maybe I will just hit random on the old music player and throw up the first three or four songs that we get. Lets do it.

"A New World" Dark Moor



"Sound and Vision" David Bowie



"Movin' Out" Billy Joel

More Music (King Diamond)

Today is Friday and lets close out the week with some awesome Danish heavy metal from King Diamond. In 2006, Hit Parader magazine voted him the 85th greatest heavy metal vocalist of all time. I think I would put him higher on the list. I realize that this kind of music is not for everyone but you get what you pay for folks. So enjoy the head banging.

"Abigail"



"Arrival"



"Melissa"



"Welcome Home"

More Music (Kimbra)

As we move further into the K category in my collection we come across Kimbra. She is an artist from New Zealand and is featured prominently on the song by Gotye "Somebody That I Used To Know". So you have heard her here before. I enjoy her first and so far only album VOWS quite a bit. It is a little bit reminiscent of Florence and the Machine but also has some of the torch style of the late Amy Winehouse. I hope you enjoy listening to some of the tracks.

"Settle Down"



"Cameo Lover"




"Good Intent"

More Music (Katy Perry)

WE are done with the J's and now we move into the K's with our first artist being Katy Perry. Now I realize that this is just straight up bubble gum pop and make pretty liberal use of the autotuner and that she seems to be more known for her figure then her music. But I actually enjoy and like another big busted pop singer, she started out in the contemporary Christian music industry and had to go secular to achieve any success. I find that fascinating and whatever she is doing it is working as far as record sales go. There are times when I just like the mindlessness of pop music and her music fits the bill perfectly for me.

I also like that she actually makes music videos. Because I enjoy music videos.

"Waking Up In Vegas"




"Hot N Cold"



"Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)



"Firework"

More Music (Judas Priest)

Well we have reached the last of J's in my collection and it is one of the most hardest rocking bands in the land Judas Priest. Now, everything that I have in my collection is with Rob Halford because as far as I am concerned without Halford the band did not exist.

"Breaking The Law"



"Turbo Lover"



"Green Manalishi" The interesting thing for me about this song is that it is a cover of a much older Fleetwood Mac song.



"Love Bites"



KEEP ON ROCKIN!!!

More Music (Johnny Cash)

I could write pages and pages about this man. I love his music and I also respected him as being an honest individual about his problems in life and his faith. As he got older I feel that he ended life well and was a real example of how to die honorably and with dignity. I hope you enjoy his music as I will be posting songs from all across the spectrum of his career.

"It Was Jesus"



"If You Could Read My Mind"



"Sunday Morning Coming Down"



"Personal Jesus"



"God's Gonna Cut You Down"



Thanks for the music, Mr Cash.

More Music (Journey)

So here we are and we are going even more out of order because I am saving Johnny Cash until Monday. I have to much of his music and I need to devote more time this weekend to putting together a proper post for him. So today you get to hear a little Journey. I think most of you will enjoy it. These all come off of a Greatest Hits album that was released in 1988.

"Any Way You Want It"



"Faithfully"



"Send Her My Love"

More Music (Jim Croce)

On we go and today we get the pleasure of listening to a little bit of Jim Croce. I have his greatest hits album Photographs & Memories: His Greatest Hits it came out in 1974 and I basically enjoy all of the songs on it. I do have to be in the right kind of mood to listen to it but there are times for sure when it hits the correct "note" with me.

"Operator"



"Time in a bottle"



"Roller Derby Queen"



"I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song"

More Music (Jill Sobule)

The train keeps rolling and we are on to a solo artist named Jill Sobule and the one album of hers that I own named "Jill Sobule". It came out in 1995 and she was part of that girl rocker movement from that era but she never really caught on a big as say Juliana Hatfield or Liz Phair but I do enjoy this album and I really should see if she has released anything else. The big hit off of this album thanks in part to the quirky music video and it's place in the MTV rotation back when MTV played videos is I Kissed a Girl. She did it long before Katy Perry did.

"I Kissed a Girl"



"Karen by Night"



"Supermodel"



"Hot in here (Nelly)" Covered by Jill Sobule. A little bonus for you that I found. (NSFW language)

More Music (Jethro Tull)

Hey everybody, we are back. The holidays are over and hopefully I can get us back on some kind of reasonable schedule. So here we go according to the crazy music player next on the list is Jethro Tull.

Now I own their first 4 albums and a greatest hits collection and there are times when I really enjoy just listening to it all. They are the kind of band that was not really radio friendly. Their songs went on a little long and often they were part of a greater cycle but people still like them and they put on a great live show. So lets give them a listen shall we.

"Some Day the Sun Won't Shine" from their 1st album This Was released in 1968. So bluesy. I like it a lot.



"A New Day Yesterday" from their 2nd album Stand Up this is a live clip from 1970. I really get a kick out of it.






Now I will hit you with a couple of their big hits.

"Bungle in the Jungle"



"Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young to Die" This is a sad song but I like it so much. This is the extended version that is not usually played on the classic radio.