Live Action Simpsons

I don't think I've seen this before.

Voting for President

In 2000 Bush and Gore were asked about baseball's designated hitter rule. While Gore gave a long winded answer that never really answered the question, Bush gave a succinct response, "Never liked it never will." I hate to admit this but based primarily on the way they answered the designated hitter question I voted for Bush.

Having learned that having traditional baseball beliefs are inversely correlated to one's ability to lead a democratic superpower, I have changed my criteria for my vote for president. This year I will base my vote on the candidates' bodysurfing form.

Last week Obama demonstrated his form at Sandy Beach on Oahu. I'll wait until after McCain's appearance at The Wedge before I make my final decision.

Scent Weakly Too

Scent Weakly Too

The Scent Weakly Empire is getting bigger (or I'm just getting lazier). I've created and started posting some stuff on Scent Weakly Too. It's a Tumble log (or whatever they call it) and it's incredibly easy to use.

I'll use it primarily to post music and pictures, but who knows how it will evolve. I'm just having fun.

Twitter Mania

All the cool kids are doing it. On second thought, if it's just Jeff, Carly, and me perhaps it's a geek thing. If you do decide to take the plunge into the geek pool, you can start by following coachjeff, carlitalolitax, and chipotle.

Roommating

Roommating is yet another short format (< 5 min.) scripted internet series. While the writing and acting isn't exactly topnotch, several episodes are based on clever scenarios. My favorite show is episode 3 (below) in which one of the roommates gets mugged and they use their Wii to create a likeness of the mugger.

Field Trip: The Dark Knight

Last night we headed up to the IMAX theater in Miramesa to see this summer's must see blockbuster The Dark Knight. To begin I should say I'm not a cape and cowl guy at least I haven't been one since about 1966. Which is a bit of a problem because when you peel back the veneer of the movie - you've got a comic book movie.

The Dark Knight certainly has its pretentions to be bigger than its genre. It sermonizes incessantly about good and evil, and draws parallels with modern terrorism. But, in the end, I thought the movie sank under the weight of trying to be relevant.

I will say sights and sounds of the IMAX experience is well worth the price of admission. It occurred to me last night that going to the movies might be returning to its roots. Originally there would be a few big screen theaters around town. Then for economic reasons theaters became mega plexes with up to 30 much smaller screens per theater. Now that more and more people have large TVs there is less reason for people to pay to see a movie in the theater. IMAX is different. You can't get that experience at home. It might be time for theater operators to reduce the number of their screens so that they can increase their size.

Tennis Tourney '08

Padre Nation

The Nickster and I went to Petco last night where I confirmed that watching the Padres is better than oral surgery. I also tested my corollary theory that vicodin improves both experiences. Initial results are positive.

Highlights:

Tin Fish: Possibly the best pre-game spot in all of major league baseball.

Pinkberry: Not really a highlight. Overrated and overpriced.

Prince Fielder: The dude absolutely smoked his homerun,

Self Portraits

Check out Levi van Veluw's Self Portraits

Valium, Podcasts, Vicodin, and Coffee Ice Cream

So, yesterday I tested my theory that oral surgery was preferable to watching the Padres this season. To my surprise I discovered that I'd much rather watch Luke Carlin hit into double plays with the bases loaded than having some guy use power tools in my mouth. In fact it's not even close.

I did find a few things that made my Guantanamo experience survivable.

1) Valium - Good for setting the mood
2) iPod - Listening to podcasts worked better than music as I had to focus more.

And, afterwards vicodin and coffee ice cream do wonders for your soul.

Speaking of podcasts I'm relatively new the medium, but have found they're great for making commuting, travel, exercise, and even trips to the dentist slightly more bearable.

A few of my favorites.

Sound Opinions - Siskel and Ebert for indie music
This American Life - The NPR show
The Moth Podcast - Storytelling
ESPN: The BS Report - Bill Simmons and guests talk sports
MacBreak Weekly - Leo Laporte does a ton podcasts each week this is my favorite
NPR: All Songs Considered - Excellent music show

You can subscribe to all these shows on iTunes.

popote

Annie, SW's favorite graphic designer, and some of her friends have created an Etsy Shop selling handmade cards and other cool stuff. Go buy something!

popote

Obama Rolled

This is well done.

Twitter Going Mainstream?

It's been interesting to watch the evolution of how my kids communicate with their friends ouside of using a telephone. It's gone from email to AIM to MySpace comments to amalgam of texting, Facebook comments, and Facebook IM. Now that more and more kids are carrying smart phones I wouldn't be surprised to see Twitter enter the mix as it provides a nice bridge between the internet and mobile phones. If that happens it will also be interesting to see how millions of kids using Twitter affects Twitter.

Lights, Camera, Action

It's becoming clear that the web is the place to be for anyone aspiring to a film making career, before or behind the camera.

I was really impressed by the internet series Dr. Horrible and also The Guild, so I went searching for more interesting shows on the web. Not surprisingly there are many, here are a few noteworthy ones:

You Suck At Photo Shop Really funny and educational!

The Line The cast of SNL made this series on their summer vacation. It's better than 95% of the stuff on SNL.

Wainy Days The show has great production values reflecting a significant budget. It's a very Woody Allenesque comedy set in Brooklyn.

Tiki Bar TV One of the first series on the web. It's good silly fun and educational for aspiring bartenders

Almost all of the stuff produced for the web doesn't stand up very well to broadcast TV, but I have no doubt it's the best place to get your foot in the door for a movie/TV career.

I think I'm voting for Paris

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

Cadbury Chocolate

This is a very popular UK commercial for Cadbury Chocolate. Kinda cool.

Foto Viewer

Here's yet another way to share your Flickr photos online.

FotoViewr - Create your 3D photo gallery

Field Trip: The Hold Steady

I just returned from THS Casbah show. It's late so I'll make it short. Holy f bombin' shit. That is all (for now).

Update:

Bob Lefsetz wrote in his blog this week about concerts that transcend music:

I’ve been there, you’ve been there. Deep into the concert experience. When it’s no longer about stars on stage, but the music itself, how it makes you feel.

Music is a participatory sport. When done right, it’s not about watching, BUT BEING INVOLVED! That’s when you truly start to tingle. When the show is YOURS!

Lefetz could have been describing last night's Hold Steady concert.

Going in I knew this was going to be a great show after all THS is one the bands I'd follow around the country in a VW van if I could. But, last night was the perfect storm.

The Hold Steady is a great live band that plays with incredible energy and a joy that is truly infectious. The Casbah is a really small venue (a sign says it has a 132 person limit)so it was packed with passionate Hold Steady fans. Put those elements together and you get an experience that is far greater than the sum of its parts.

Best show of the year by far.

The Guild

As already noted I like Joss Whedon's web series Dr. Horrible a lot. It turns out that Felicia Day who plays Penny has her own web series called The Guild and it's pretty funny. You can see all ten episodes (they're short) on YouTube.

Here's the first one.



BTW, you can watch Dr. Horrible for free on Hulu. The link Dr. Horrible

John Mayer at Work

See more funny videos at Funny or Die