Weekend Open Thread - Playing Musical Chairs on the Internet

Submitted by tomsyl on Sat, 03/22/2008 - 2:28pm. Tags:

What to do in that spare half-hour or so when you're not obsessing about the trials and tribs of your Presidential hopeful? Listen to music on your computer while your two typing fingers uncramp, of course. And post random thoughts in this open thread.

The half-dozen megastudios that used to control the music distribution business have missed some seminal changes in how listeners pick and listen to their music. One is what I'll call heuristic internet radio stations - websites that attempt to determine your musical tastes and then select songs from artists you haven't heard of that match that style. Generally you vote the songs up or down, supposedly refining the model of your tastes. Whether that actually works is open to conjecture, but it's an enjoyable way to experience new music in a style that at least is more likely to hit the spot than the typical AOL Radio or Shoutcast stream. And all this for free; the sites make their money from banner ads that are easily ignored.

The best known of the genre is Slacker Radio; lately I've been trying out Pandora, which claims to have a sophisticated selection algorithm based on the intriguingly named Music Genome Project. Pandora founder Tim Westergren describes it this way:

On January 6, 2000 a group of musicians and music-loving technologists came together with the idea of creating the most comprehensive analysis of music ever.

Together we set out to capture the essence of music at the most fundamental level. We ended up assembling literally hundreds of musical attributes or "genes" into a very large Music Genome. Taken together these genes capture the unique and magical musical identity of a song - everything from melody, harmony and rhythm, to instrumentation, orchestration, arrangement, lyrics, and of course the rich world of singing and vocal harmony. It's not about what a band looks like, or what genre they supposedly belong to, or about who buys their records - it's about what each individual song sounds like.

Since we started back in 2000, we've carefully listened to the songs of tens of thousands of different artists - ranging from popular to obscure - and analyzed the musical qualities of each song one attribute at a time. This work continues each and every day as we endeavor to include all the great new stuff coming out of studios, clubs and garages around the world.

The process is simple: pick a song you like, which can be anything from the obscure Boards of Canada to something mainstream like Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs, and enter it. Pandora then creates a "station" and begins streaming music it thinks is similar to the song you picked. Give each song a thumbs-up or -down, and each successive selection should be closer to your original song or artist. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but it's still a fun way to broaden musical horizons.
--

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

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WE ARE CLIN-TON. VOTE FOR US. (#87453)
by Jordan on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 12:20pm


h/t Sully

--

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. -JH

( )
Funniest thing I read today (#87408)
by HankP on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 12:13am

Now a fixture at Department of Homeland Security science and technology conferences, SIGMA is a loosely affiliated group of science fiction writers who are offering pro bono advice to anyone in government who want their thoughts on how to protect the nation.

...

Among the group’s approximately 24 members is Larry Niven, the bestselling and award-winning author of such books as “Ringworld” and “Lucifer’s Hammer,” which he co-wrote with SIGMA member Jerry Pournelle.

Niven said a good way to help hospitals stem financial losses is to spread rumors in Spanish within the Latino community that emergency rooms are killing patients in order to harvest their organs for transplants.

“The problem [of hospitals going broke] is hugely exaggerated by illegal aliens who aren’t going to pay for anything anyway,” Niven said.

“Do you know how politically incorrect you are?” Pournelle asked.

“I know it may not be possible to use this solution, but it does work,” Niven replied.

...

The 45-minute panel discussion quickly deteriorated as federal, local and state homeland security officials, and at least one congressional aid, attempted to ask questions, which were largely ignored.

Instead the writers used their time to pontificate on a variety of tangentially related topics, including their past roles advising the government, predictions in their stories that have come to pass, the demise of the paperback book market, and low-cost launch into space.

David Brin, keeping on the topic of empowering citizens with mobile phone technology, delivered a self-described “rant” on the lack of funds being spent to support citizen reservists to back up the military, homeland security officials and first responders in times of crisis.

“It is impossible for you to succeed without us!” he shouted at the assembled officials, while banging his fist on the table and at one point jumping off his chair to wave a mobile phone in their faces.

...

These guys really need to get back to writing. There's a reason people think science fiction writers are a little odd.

--

I blame it all on the Internet

( )
Ok, that _is_ pretty damned funny! (#87441)
by Bernard Guerrero on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 11:32am

It sounds exactly the way I pictured a conference of SF writers talking about pretty nearly anything (including SF) would sound.

The best lines are:

The 45-minute panel discussion quickly deteriorated as federal, local and state homeland security officials, and at least one congressional aid, attempted to ask questions, which were largely ignored.

Instead the writers used their time to pontificate on a variety of tangentially related topics, including their past roles advising the government, predictions in their stories that have come to pass, the demise of the paperback book market, and low-cost launch into space.

--

The ultimate result of shielding man from the effects of folly is to people the world with fools. -Herbert Spencer

( | parent )
Yup (#87459)
by HankP on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 12:58pm

"Mr. Pournelle, what do you think the effect of advanced communications technologies will have on Homeland Security?"

"You know, back in '58 I was a consultant on the Dyna-Soar program, and ..."

--

I blame it all on the Internet

( | parent )
"A man's got to know his own linitations." (#87436)
by tomsyl on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 10:50am

Clint Eastwood, of course, in the third Dirty Harry movie.

Niven and Pournelle in particular are legends only in their own minds IMO. Niven's been coasting through life on the original Ringworld (Ringworm?) books, which had good concepts (stolen from Freeman Dyson IIRC) but have been far surpassed by the recent crop of Englis writers like Banks, Asher and Reynolds. Maybe he's feeling obsolete. Pournelle is simply a bloated, self-important hack.

Brin disappoints me. I'm not a fan of his writing style, but he is a genuine Cal Tech-educated scientist and some of that leaks into his novels. His website is all over the map in terms of quality and subject matter, but shows an interest in a wide variety of subjects, most of them science-related.

Remember that the scifi writers periodically give themselves awards that include the title "Grand Master." Sounds like what we call those checkers that have made it back and forth on the board twice.

--

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

( | parent )
Two Minute Drill For Gun-Grabbers (#87214)
by M Scott Eiland on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 9:11pm

DC's city leaders disgrace themselves.

--

( )
"The Comment Where Scott. . . (#87212)
by M Scott Eiland on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 8:54pm

. . .notices that GWB has come out on the losing side of a Supreme Court decision--and cheers at the news."

--

( )
Is that an emotional reaction (#87217)
by HankP on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 9:16pm

or do you actually think it's a good idea for the US to not honor its treaty obligations.

--

I blame it all on the Internet

( | parent )
There Are No Obligations. . . (#87218)
by M Scott Eiland on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 9:23pm

. . .arising from an unratified treaty--and it is not for the President to bypass the Senate's power to ratify (or refusal to do so) with executive orders. Period.

--

( | parent )
It is a ratified treaty (#87224)
by HankP on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 9:41pm

according to this. We pulled out of one of the optional protocols, but the treaty remains in effect.

--

I blame it all on the Internet

( | parent )
See #87225 (#87226)
by M Scott Eiland on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 9:43pm

Different reasoning, same result. Of course, my original reaction was more appropriate for discussions of the Kyoto Treaty.

--

( | parent )
That does open a can of worms (#87227)
by HankP on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 10:01pm

since a ratified treaty is the law of the land, how would it be enforced if a state violates its terms and Congress doesn't act? That does put the President in a bind, and doesn't do much for our ability to negotiate future treaties.

--

I blame it all on the Internet

( | parent )
It's Basically The Same Problem. . . (#87230)
by M Scott Eiland on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 10:21pm

. . .that the President has in getting the Senate to ratify treaties in the first place--all parties involved know that there are limits to the ability of any President to bind the United States via treaty. A treaty written in language that is self-executing is less likely to be ratified by the Senate, but will face less problems later on, since there will be no need to get enabling legislation through both Houses of Congress (or, for that matter, to deal with the possibility of a veto of enabling legislation by a later President hostile to the treaty).

--

( | parent )
I understand (#87236)
by HankP on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 10:49pm

but to tell the world that even though we've ratified a treaty we still might not enforce it is a bit much. I guess if you're against all treaties in principle it makes sense, but other than that it doesn't make much sense to me.

--

I blame it all on the Internet

( | parent )
Yeah, that sounds kinda like... (#87229)
by Punditus Maximus on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 10:17pm

...the Executive's job -- interpret the law until it becomes more thoroughly codified by Congress.

I mean, talk about your border conditions. But still.

--

It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.

( | parent )
Did I misread? (#87220)
by Punditus Maximus on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 9:27pm

I thought that the treaty was ratified, but that no enabling legislation had been passed, which wasn't precisely the same thing.

--

It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.

( | parent )
No, I Apparently Did (#87225)
by M Scott Eiland on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 9:41pm

However--upon having a bit longer to read the syllabus of the opinion (busy day today--got to work an hour and a half early and worked right through lunch)--I agree with the conclusion of the Court based on prior precedent that a treaty which is not "self-executing" by its own terms is not binding domestic law in the absence of enabling legislation.

Nice catch, PM, though ultimately the actual decision brings me to the same conclusion: GWB was poaching in the realm of both Congress and the Court in a way that interfered with their core functions. Of course, he's not the first President to do such a thing--let's not forget how Marbury v. Madison came to be in the first place--nor will he be the last.

--

( | parent )
Dinosaur Lured Mates With Giant Horns (#87134)
by Jordan on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:26pm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080324/sc_nm/mexico_dinosaur_dc

Must...not...make...off-color dinopuns...temptation...too strong....

--

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. -JH

( )
Digital photography advice wanted. (#87104)
by mmghosh on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 1:51pm

This is a query to all the people here who are into still photography - what is the best combination for photographing stills of small animals, say a large cat or medium-size dog, about 12-24 inches, indoors? I would be doing this from fairly close up - say 2 metres, using a digital camera with a flash on a tripod.

I tend to use DPReview to choose, but the advice I'm getting is too complex. I was planning to get a Canon EOS400D, but I am flexible about everything.

Also, because I use a MacBook, I'm looking at getting Aperture to manage the images. Good choice, bad choice?

( )
Wrong choice. (just to be contrary) (#87180)
by Zelig on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 7:16pm

I know the 400D extremely well, along with another half dozen Canon and other models of DSLRs. You don't need an SLR camera to get the pictures you've described.

Here's how I'd shoot what you're after:

- Rangefinder type camera w/a high megapixel count. Shoot loose. You're willing to invest in Aperture, so you will be cropping all your shots just for starters. The only problem w/non-SLRs is that you are stuck w/the lens that it came with, but the better Nikon, Fuji and Canon rangefinders have optics that matches or more likely exceeds the specs you need and that can be found on any of the "package" 400D lenses.

- Next, I'd be buying one or two external flashes that can be triggered by the camera. I'd also consider not using flashes at all, but instead standard 3-point lighting with quartz halogen fixtures.

- I'd likely do all of the shooting in the "remote shoot" mode. You run a USB cable from the computer running the camera's proprietary (free and cross-platform} software to the camera. You will be taking pictures either from the keyboard, the mouse or from a handheld wired or wireless remote to the camera.

- You see your results on a large monitor 1-4 seconds after you shoot the shot. (time dependent on size in bytes to be downloaded to the computer and the speed of the camera's processer. USB 2 or firewire.)

The cost would be about the same or less as buying a 400D but the results would be quicker to achieve and the shots would look better. If I were wedded to the idea of using a 400D, a damn fine camera, buy the body only and build your own kit. The first lens to consider would be the Canon L series 17-40mm zoom. This lens will kick the crap out of most Canon primes and zooms and all but the very best Nikon primes and zooms. However if you already own good Nikon glass, I'd buy a cheapo Nikon to Canon lens adapter for the body.

The lighting and the lens make the shot. Buying the 400D package will be more versatile for other shooting situations, but the cost and the bulk of the thing should also be considered.

--

Me: We! -- Ali

( | parent )
I didn't know you could use the mouse as a remote (#87253)
by mmghosh on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 12:58am

for the camera. That would be very convenient indeed. Does the software for that come included with the camera?

I have a range of Sigma lenses from my previous Canon EOS traditional print SLR, but nothing in the 17-40 range.

( | parent )
I just got a 400D for Christmas (#87160)
by HankP on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:53pm

I like it a lot, it's a very capable camera and does a very good job. I did not purchase it with the standard EF-S lens because I already have a Canon EOS film camera and I wanted to get lenses that were interchangeable between both the film and digital backs (EF lenses work with both, EF-S lenses only work with the digital back). I got the low end 50mm EF lens, while quite inexpensive it is very sharp. At 12 inches you may want to look into a macro lens.

Traveler is the go-to guy on photography, ask him next time he posts.

--

I blame it all on the Internet

( | parent )
I have a set of magnifiers rather than a macro (#87255)
by mmghosh on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:03am

which do the job for me for prints, and I use a ring flash for close shots. I'll look at the 50mm EF lens, thanks. I really like Zelig's idea of using the mouse on the Macbook as a remote - I have a bluetooth wireless mouse which is very unobtrusive.

( | parent )
We have one (#87135)
by Floater on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:32pm

The EOS400D that is. It's very nice (a big improvement over the first generation rebel) but I'm no photograpy expert so I don't know how it would compare to anything else that you have looked at.

( | parent )
What do you use it for? Do you use the lens that came with it? (#87138)
by mmghosh on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:36pm

( | parent )
Pretty much everything (#87140)
by Floater on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:44pm

with different lenses depending on application. We just bought the body since we already had a selection of lenses from the first gen Rebel. My opinion (admittedly amateur opinion) is that unless you're doing something really demanding the body should be fine. The lenses can really extend what you can do with it (but add a lot to the cost).

( | parent )
Jeez, maybe Hillary *is* a socialist (#86992)
by stillnotking on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 6:03pm

She gave a big speech on the economy today that contained this, um, memorable line:

We need a president who is ready on day one to be Commander-in-Chief of our economy.

I'm not sure which is more disturbing: the military analogy (these are becoming almost reflexive on Hillary's part as she realizes national security is her main selling point vs. Obama), or the socialist overtones. You're not running for President of Venezuela, Senator.

--

The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.

( )
In addition to having a great title (#86994)
by hobbesist on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 6:09pm

... this blog post over at The American Scene is both very smart, and nicely expresses the reason why, on occasion, I let myself get excited by the prospect of an Obama association.

--

Brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio.

( | parent )
'Tis not contrary to reason Dept. (#86953)
by stillnotking on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 2:59pm

IOZ reminds us of the context of arguments about war, in the aftermath of a bad breakup:

Now if this is how I feel after something so quotidian as a break-up; if I feel my frankly comfortable, untroubled life to be exploding into a thousand sorrows just because my lover and I reached an impasse that we couldn't negotiate together; if such bleakness, helplessness, and desperation as I've never felt in my life can come from something so insubstantial as having to buy new furniture or a new jacket because he's taking my favorites; if I am wracked by fear--real, true fear as I haven't felt since I was a child--about being alone for a while; then just how the f*** must it feel to be an Iraqi or an Afghani or a Palestinian? If it's bad to lose a lover in Pittsburgh, what must it be like to see your family killed, or your husband kidnapped, or your home destroyed in Baghdad?

--

The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.

( )
A very good point about human tragedy everywhere. The answers (#86963)
by mmghosh on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 4:34pm

must lie in our own humanity and never losing faith in common humanity to overcome these.

( | parent )
Also, in killing people we don't like. (#86969)
by Punditus Maximus on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 4:53pm

Many of them.

--

It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.

( | parent )
One always has the option to be a pacifist. (#87008)
by mmghosh on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 7:45pm

Which is what I try to be, personally. Although where I live it is getting to be more or less a dirty word.

( | parent )
Dictionaries are for eggheads! (#86948)
by stillnotking on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 1:41pm

A beautifully-headlined story in the Charlotte Observer (h/t Devilstower at DKos):

Foxx predicts doom with Dems in charge

Rep. Virginia Foxx says she believes God will judge people for sins of omission as well as commission, so the Banner Elk Republican had a message she couldn't keep to herself.

"You should fear for your country," Foxx told a gathering of members of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.

The Democratic majority in Congress has become "bolder and bolder" with tax dollars and the rules of the House, she told the business leaders at their annual Washington meeting.

"I am trying to scare you to death," she said.

After she left the room, a member of the Chamber joked about leading the group out to jump off a balcony.

Asked about her remarks later, Foxx said she was quite serious.

"I think what the Democrats are doing in terms of raising taxes and adopting the budget they are adopting should scare people in this country," said Foxx, whose district includes part of Iredell County. "We are going down the wrong road. We are spending money we don't have. We are raising taxes on hard-working Americans, and I'm very concerned about the direction they are taking this country."

She also defended comments she made to a local radio program, 3WC radio's "Focus on the Foothills," about Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois. Foxx said the presidential candidates "basically are socialists, he more than she."

"I believe they are socialists, and if you look at their platforms you will see their plan is to take money from part of the population and give it to other people in the population," she said later, referring to their universal health care plans.

"I don't know the dictionary definition of socialism, but most people would see that as socialism."

Well, let's hope your audience knows the dictionary definition of "idiot".

--

The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.

( )
Isn't she Redd Foxx's wife? (#86949)
by tomsyl on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 2:19pm

If so, I can kind of understand the doom-n-gloom predictions after all of that kinky, well, foot-tapping I guess.

--

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

( | parent )
Don't forget last.fm (#86845)
by otmar on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 2:34pm

Perfect for streaming music while working.

--

Dein Grundsatz war, z'erst überleg'n, / a Meinung hab'n, dahinterstehn / Niemals Gewalt, alles bereden / Aber auch ka Angst vor irgendwem -- STS

( )
D'oh! You Tube changes everything (#86819)
by Bill White on Sat, 03/22/2008 - 11:40pm


--

Fence post turtles -- They don't get up there by themselves, some moron had to put 'em there.

( )
Cool idea... (#86817)
by Wagster on Sat, 03/22/2008 - 11:22pm

I'll have to try it.

What would be optimal though is if I could get my iTunes library scanned and the station could determine my tastes that way.

--

More Wagster!

( )
here you go (#86851)
by Username on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 4:18pm

http://iscrobbler.sourceforge.net/

( | parent )
It's official (#86814)
by caleb on Sat, 03/22/2008 - 10:29pm

"to something mainstream like Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs, and enter it."

Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs?

Mainstream?

Yup.

I'm old.

I don't even konw if that's one band or two.

--

~At times like these I am reminded of the immortal words of Socrates when he said...."I drank what?"

( )
caleb, I guarantee Sam the Sham is way older than you (#86829)
by tomsyl on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 5:03am

He formed the Pharoahs in 1961; their only hit was the eminently forgettable "Wooly Bully" in '66. Of no import whatsoever; I just liked the name, and knew Hank would have a cow if I mentioned Smashing Pumpkins again. Oops.

--

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

( | parent )
Premature Officializing (#86911)
by caleb on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 10:53pm

I'm not out of it for being too old, but being too young.

hunh....

At least I saved a bunch of money on car insurance by switching to Geico.

--

~At times like these I am reminded of the immortal words of Socrates when he said...."I drank what?"

( | parent )
Out at the movies (no spoilers) (#86808)
by Soothsayer on Sat, 03/22/2008 - 9:24pm

Never Back Down - great character development, straightforward plot, an interesting look into the psychology of two underground MMA fighters (and a pro trainer), and, of course, quite a bit of fighting. There was one scene that I thought was particularly weak, but it only lasted a minute and the rest of the movie was very good. A-, a surprisingly good date night movie that got twelve thumbs up.

10,000 B.C. - Meh. Not a lot of anything, really. Not especially bad, but not especially good either. I would have been more interested if I had simply watched the History Channel. However, my co-rater does not agree, and gives the movie a B+.

--

"In large states public education will always be mediocre, for the same reason that in large kitchens the cooking is usually bad."~Nietzsche

( )
Who's seen Cloverfield? (#86831)
by tomsyl on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 5:08am

It just dropped out of sight after that great viral marketing campaign.

--

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

( | parent )
A decent film for what it was (#86839)
by Chuchundra on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 12:12pm

After a while the central conceit of the movie, that of a single, unedited videotape recovered from the wreckage, begins to wear pretty thin. There are plenty of scenes in the movie that make you wonder why or how Hud, our erstwhile cameraman, is filming something instead of concentrating on the dangerous task at hand, running away from the monster, etc.

There are some really nice shots in the movie that make the film worthwhile, although none of them really involve the monster. Sadly, the monster itself was pretty lackluster.

--

Guard, protect and cherish your land, for there is no afterlife for a place that started out as Heaven.

( | parent )
My concern is wobbly camera work (#86862)
by tomsyl on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 5:59pm

to give that supposed homemade movie feel. OK, I get it, but more than a few minutes gives me a headache. I found The Blair Witch Project unwatchable. Is that how Cloverfield is filmed?

--

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

( | parent )
Pretty much so, yes (#86865)
by Chuchundra on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 6:08pm

It's even worse in that regard than Blair Witch, so if you couldn't stand that, Cloverfield isn't the movie for you.

--

Guard, protect and cherish your land, for there is no afterlife for a place that started out as Heaven.

( | parent )
I really liked Blair Witch (#86866)
by Pranky on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 6:12pm

when I saw it in the theater. A couple years later a friend lent it to me on DVD, and I couldn't even finish it.

( | parent )
I also couldn't finish Blair Witch (#86877)
by Jay C on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 6:43pm

or didn't want to, anyway: maybe it's a generational thing: my wife and I both rate BWP at near-absolute-rock-bottom worst: yet we've heard from (mostly) younger viewers who were scared crapless by it... grumble, grumble: durn tasteless kids...

Anyway, you’ll be pleased to know that there IS a cable channel devoted principally to old horror movies and TV shows: it’s the Chiller Channel ; ‘tho you probably won’t be pleased to find out if your home satellite/cable system doesn’t carry it (as doesn’t, for some inexplicable reason, Time Warner Cable of Manhattan – the monopolistic b*st*rds).

Sci-Fi Channel also shows the occasional bad monster movie on weekend nites: We really like it that they also produce their own, contemporary B monster flicks: keeping alive a Hollywood (since moved to Canada) tradition of bad acting, lame plots and cheesy special-effects dating back to the early ‘50s. Classic!

( | parent )
some movies you just shouldn't watch twice (#86868)
by catchy on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 6:29pm

The suspense is what makes it worthwhile and you don't have that on a second viewing.

I would also guard against watching the Ernest series over. But that's more b/c they suck.

( | parent )
I'm still working on not seeing the Ernest movies (#86875)
by Jordan on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 6:40pm

the first time. Know what I mean, Vern?

--

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. -JH

( | parent )
And you think *you* have problems with Ernest? (#86904)
by tomsyl on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 8:19pm

Back in the day he did an endless series of "know what I mean, Vern?" commercials for a local bank. I'd rather watch a soap like "As The Stomach Turns" on endless loop.

--

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

( | parent )
Oh not to see those movies over for the very first time (#86888)
by catchy on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 7:11pm

I'll never forget:


http://youtube.com/watch?v=SYSlLERpZ_0

( | parent )
Too bad (#86840)
by Pranky on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 12:30pm

I had hopes that it would be good. It's on my Netflix queue. Wish there were better monster movies these days.

BTW, I think there should be a cable channel that only runs old horror and monster movies. My wife and I were in last weekend, and really the only thing I want to watch on a saturday night is a monster movie.

( | parent )
According To Its Wiki. . . (#86837)
by M Scott Eiland on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 11:46am

. . .it's grossed $153,000,000 worldwide and the DVD will be out on April 22nd.

--

( | parent )
DVD review (#86828)
by HankP on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 2:40am

for us older folk who don't get out as much ...

No spoilers here, either.

I Am Legend - Blah. If you like looking at Will Smith (and pretty much only Will Smith) for two hours, this is your movie. The plot is predictable and pedestrian, there's just nothing here that's unique or interesting in any way. Throw in horrible CGI and I found it a complete waste of time. C-

Atonement - Excellent directing, writing, acting and cinematography in the service of one of the most incredibly depressing stories I've ever seen. The acting is uniformly excellent, the historical realism seems accurate, the pacing and flashback/flashforwards are masterfully done, and the film is beautiful to look at. There are interesting comments about the British class system scattered throughout as well. Definitely worth watching, but it is certainly not the feel-good movie of the year. A

Southland Tales - What a mess. I wanted to like this movie, and it had so much going for it - actors playing roles against type, pop cultural references out the wazoo, a science fiction plot about apocalypse in the near future, criticism of the national security state, Phillip K. Dick references even including an actor who looks like PKD, rifts in the space-time continuum - and that's the problem, it's all too much. It's the first movie I can think of that was boring and hyperactive at the same time. There are a lot of good bits and pieces here, but they just don't add up to a good movie. An incredible technicolor failure. C

Michael Clayton - Excellent acting by Tilda Swinton (Oscar winner) and Tom Wilkinson (as always). George Clooney is not a great actor, but he's gotten much better and can hold his own. Slightly unbelievable plot in some places, but overall an interesting take on a midlife/moral crisis. B+

--

I blame it all on the Internet

( | parent )
not really a Clooney fan either (#86869)
by catchy on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 6:31pm

but I thought he was good in the movie. Especially the ending credits when he's in a taxicab and there's a several minute shot on his face. I was impressed.

( | parent )
Despite his politics, Clooney IMO is one of the best actors now (#86905)
by tomsyl on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 8:21pm

working - in the top ten male leads, anyway. Too bad he spends so much time directing obscure stuff instead of doing what he knows best.

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In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

( | parent )
Oh, I think he's a really interesting director... (#86909)
by Wagster on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 9:40pm

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is stylish (although it doesn't quite work) and Good Night and Good Luck is really solid. He might do great work one day.

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More Wagster!

( | parent )
Two movies for me this week (#86810)
by Chuchundra on Sat, 03/22/2008 - 9:36pm

Be Kind, Rewind: A fun and charming little film. Mos Def and Jack Black play video store clerks who re-make or "swede" popular films like Rush Hour 2 and Ghostbusters after their entire catalog is accidentally erased. It's not nearly as funny or zany as the trailers would lead you the believe, but more that a few laughs along the way. At its heart, it's a movie about stories and how we've ceded the telling of stories to Hollywood (sorry Harley) even though people might actually prefer to tell and watch their own.

The Bank Job: Based on the true story of the 1971 "walkie-talkie" bank heist in London, this is a fun little caper movie. Unfortunately, some of the 1970's era scene setting is more than a bit lacking. As an example, Jason Statham's close buzz cut and perpetual three day growth of beard looks far too modern for 1970's London and Visa/Mastercard stickers adorn the doors of several shops even though the Visa brand wasn't rolled out until 1976 and MasterCard was called MasterCharge until 1978. Still, it's a fun film, despite my nitpicking.

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Guard, protect and cherish your land, for there is no afterlife for a place that started out as Heaven.

( | parent )
I liked the Bank Job too (#87276)
by Sulla on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 10:04am

it approached overly conspiratorial territory, but it was still a fun film.

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"That Sam-I-am! That Sam-I-am! I do not like that Sam-I-am!"- Dr. Seuss

( | parent )
I used to like pandora and slacker (#86787)
by Platosearwax on Sat, 03/22/2008 - 5:36pm

until they cut me off for living in Norway. As far as I can tell, none of these types of places will allow me to listen.

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Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so. - Bertrand Russell

( )
They claim on the site it's a licensing issue, and that they're (#86830)
by tomsyl on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 5:05am

working on it. Maybe use a proxy site or a mirror so your URL doesn't give you away?

--

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

( | parent )
I like pandora and slacker (#86783)
by heet on Sat, 03/22/2008 - 3:42pm

Maybe slacker has a bit better selection. If you have too narrow a genre in pandora, you start repeating songs after a few hours...

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Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President. - Bruce Springsteen

( )
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