"Holding Hussein Accountable"
This will also be broadcast on C-SPAN.
Live video will be available here.
Attend in person if you can.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Nothing important here, just three little sentences to share.
I haven't touched my camera since the laptop died. I haven't listened to a podcast since then either.
On the other hand, I've been going to bed at a more decent hour lately.
On the other hand, I've been going to bed at a more decent hour lately.
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Clutch Moment Kid
After trying repeatedly and unsuccessfully to sink a small ball into a regulation height basketball goal this afternoon, my four year old chucked it up one last time as I told him we had to get back home and in from the cold.
Wouldn't you know, the darned thing was perfect. Nothin' but net. Two points. At the buzzer.
Wouldn't you know, the darned thing was perfect. Nothin' but net. Two points. At the buzzer.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
She got me.
I have this little song I sing to my daughter. It's very short and it goes like this: "Her name is Arianna and I love her so much."
I told you it was short.
Every once in a while, I shake it up and change the last part to "...and I love her 20%." She always laughs and corrects me and it's always big fun for us.
Except that today she looked up at me with a big grin as I was stirring her chocolate milk and said, "Daddy, I love you 20%."
It turns out that to hear that is 98% hilarious and cute, but 2% of it kind of stings. ;)
I told you it was short.
Every once in a while, I shake it up and change the last part to "...and I love her 20%." She always laughs and corrects me and it's always big fun for us.
Except that today she looked up at me with a big grin as I was stirring her chocolate milk and said, "Daddy, I love you 20%."
It turns out that to hear that is 98% hilarious and cute, but 2% of it kind of stings. ;)
Downtime Shuffle
I'm really missing writing on this blog in the soft, quiet hours after work. With no laptop now, it's just the library and the workplace and both frown on what I prefer as the perfect writing conditions: work pants off, t-shirt and boxer briefs on, and a nice beer at my side as my family sleeps just down the hallway.
Anyway, I'll follow in Holly's footsteps (who follows in others' footsteps) and do a quick peek into my iPod shuffle tonight.
Anyway, I'll follow in Holly's footsteps (who follows in others' footsteps) and do a quick peek into my iPod shuffle tonight.
- "Goodbye Mr. Blues" - Big Three Trio
- "On Our Way" - Christina Aguilera
- "Ain't No Other Man" - Christina Aguilera (Shuffle must like her.)
- "People My Age" - John Gorka (Oh, how I relate.)
- "Widow's Grove" - Tom Waits (I wondered when he'd pop up.)
- "Devil Weed and Me" - Area Code 615 (That's my step dad playing there.)
- "Partyup" - Prince
- "Right Now" - Van Halen
- "Here Comes The Sun" - Nina Simone
- "D'yer Mak'er" - Rockabye Baby (From a CD of Led Zep songs played as lullabies.)
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
It's all "Step Right Up" at the mall these days.
I did make one mistake last night. I got to Opry Mills early to buy my tickets for U2 3D just in case it was close to selling out. (Not even close.) With 45 minutes to kill, I decided to walk around the mall and see what had changed in the five or more years since I had been in there.
Ugh! It seemed that at every kiosk there was another wannabe carnival barker. Buy something for the pretty lady?, they'd be shouting had I been walking with my pretty lady and not alone. I'd have had a nicer time walking the circumference from the outside in last night's freezing temps.
The drive to Opry Mills had been so nice. Tom Waits' Blue Valentine playing on the CD player, the moon so full and so beautiful overhead... And here I was left saying "No Thank You" and "I'm Not Interested" over and over again and remembering why I hate malls. I don't want your 5-Minute-Massage. I don't need your Information-On-A-Great-Time-Share. And I sure don't want your Whatever-The-Hell-That-Is-You're-Selling.
Next time I'm early for a movie at the mall, remind me to wait in the car and listen to music instead. Or at least just get a beer somewhere.
Ugh! It seemed that at every kiosk there was another wannabe carnival barker. Buy something for the pretty lady?, they'd be shouting had I been walking with my pretty lady and not alone. I'd have had a nicer time walking the circumference from the outside in last night's freezing temps.
The drive to Opry Mills had been so nice. Tom Waits' Blue Valentine playing on the CD player, the moon so full and so beautiful overhead... And here I was left saying "No Thank You" and "I'm Not Interested" over and over again and remembering why I hate malls. I don't want your 5-Minute-Massage. I don't need your Information-On-A-Great-Time-Share. And I sure don't want your Whatever-The-Hell-That-Is-You're-Selling.
Next time I'm early for a movie at the mall, remind me to wait in the car and listen to music instead. Or at least just get a beer somewhere.
It's easily the best concert film I've ever seen.
I haven't got the time to really write about how awesome U2 3D was. Jen Chaney at Washington Post summed it up pretty well though.
Some excerpts:
"I have decided to refer to the in-my-face Bono as Hologram Bono. I expect that at some point during the movie he will say: 'Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.'"
"That dude four people back from the edge of the stage? I think he has the same cell phone I do."
"They're doing 'Sunday Bloody Sunday.' And Hologram Bono is not only in my face, he is looking right into my eyes. 'Wipe your tears away.' He is reaching toward my cheek. 'Wipe your tears away,' he sings again. My eyes are notably dry. I feel I have let down Hologram Bono."
"I always wondered what Larry Mullen Jr. keeps next to his drum kit. Now I know: A box of Kleenex and what appears to be a glass of Orangeade."
"It's official: 'Where the Streets Have No Name' is the greatest live song of all time. Okay, 'Born to Run' is a close second. But nothing -- NOTHING -- is better than that slow build in the beginning, then watching the entire crowd bounce in 3D."
I'll add this: There were no just-for-3D gimmicks in the film. While the geniuses at 3ality Digital Production made you feel as much like you were at the concert as possible, they successfully resisted any urges to "throw" anything from the screen at the audience. The only time I thought about moving my head back was when Bono reached out to "wipe my tears away." The rest of the time I just felt something between actually being at the show and having an out-of-body experience (when the cameras were above and behind the band).
I hope you go. It's that awesome.
Some excerpts:
"I have decided to refer to the in-my-face Bono as Hologram Bono. I expect that at some point during the movie he will say: 'Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.'"
"That dude four people back from the edge of the stage? I think he has the same cell phone I do."
"They're doing 'Sunday Bloody Sunday.' And Hologram Bono is not only in my face, he is looking right into my eyes. 'Wipe your tears away.' He is reaching toward my cheek. 'Wipe your tears away,' he sings again. My eyes are notably dry. I feel I have let down Hologram Bono."
"I always wondered what Larry Mullen Jr. keeps next to his drum kit. Now I know: A box of Kleenex and what appears to be a glass of Orangeade."
"It's official: 'Where the Streets Have No Name' is the greatest live song of all time. Okay, 'Born to Run' is a close second. But nothing -- NOTHING -- is better than that slow build in the beginning, then watching the entire crowd bounce in 3D."
I'll add this: There were no just-for-3D gimmicks in the film. While the geniuses at 3ality Digital Production made you feel as much like you were at the concert as possible, they successfully resisted any urges to "throw" anything from the screen at the audience. The only time I thought about moving my head back was when Bono reached out to "wipe my tears away." The rest of the time I just felt something between actually being at the show and having an out-of-body experience (when the cameras were above and behind the band).
I hope you go. It's that awesome.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
U2 3D at Nashville's Opry Mills IMAX
I'm giddy just thinking about this. (Check the glowing review in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.)
The not-yet-set-in-stone plan is to see it Thursday night at 9:30 PM. (Or maybe 5:00 PM.)
Anyone care to see with?
The not-yet-set-in-stone plan is to see it Thursday night at 9:30 PM. (Or maybe 5:00 PM.)
Anyone care to see with?
In Tom Waits news...
Tom performed four songs at the Bet Tzedek Legal Services benefit show last night.
- On The Nickel
- Innocent When You Dream
- Come On Up To The House
- Springtime
I don't know if I know "Springtime" or not. I'll have to look around for that.
Also, the late Heath Ledger was slated to star in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus along with Tom Waits who is playing the devil. Variety reports on the half-completed film.
Thanks to The Eyeball Kid for sharing the news.
Chinese Democracy
While I love that Nada Surf has joked about naming their new album Chinese Democracy just to piss off Axl, I'm really excited about any news of the completion of Axl Rose's decade long project.
I read today at MetalSucks.net that it's completed and it's just a matter of negotiations with Geffen. There have been rumors of the album being released as Radiohead's latest was, via the pay-what-you-like model. Those rumors are unsubstantiated and pretty much impossible. $13 million has already been spent recording the thing and no way will Geffen take that kind of risk on it.
What made me read twice was this: "Profit margin is higher on CDs than it is on digital tracks, so I can’t see the label agreeing to a digital-only or digital-first release."
That surprised me. I figured that the profit margin was always higher on a digital release than on a physical CD release what with all of the packaging and shipping and such. Shows what I know.
Anyway, I admit that as much as I despise Axl (take your pick on reasons he killed the band with his terrible ego), I think he's a great talent. Slash's wonderful autobiography makes many mentions of that fact. I'm ready to be wowed by Chinese Democracy.
I read today at MetalSucks.net that it's completed and it's just a matter of negotiations with Geffen. There have been rumors of the album being released as Radiohead's latest was, via the pay-what-you-like model. Those rumors are unsubstantiated and pretty much impossible. $13 million has already been spent recording the thing and no way will Geffen take that kind of risk on it.
What made me read twice was this: "Profit margin is higher on CDs than it is on digital tracks, so I can’t see the label agreeing to a digital-only or digital-first release."
That surprised me. I figured that the profit margin was always higher on a digital release than on a physical CD release what with all of the packaging and shipping and such. Shows what I know.
Anyway, I admit that as much as I despise Axl (take your pick on reasons he killed the band with his terrible ego), I think he's a great talent. Slash's wonderful autobiography makes many mentions of that fact. I'm ready to be wowed by Chinese Democracy.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
In other photography news...
For those of you with kids...
Got kids? If you'd like some great pictures taken of them, my older sister is taking her awesome photography skills to the professional level.
Where to click? Vickie Pewitt Photography. Her specialty is outdoor, natural light photography.
The shots on her page are simply amazing.
Where to click? Vickie Pewitt Photography. Her specialty is outdoor, natural light photography.
The shots on her page are simply amazing.
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