The Union

Have you seen this yet Joseph? It was one of the first things I watched on the PC right from Netflix. I can only assume you have but if not....

"Filmmaker Adam Scorgie explores the illegal marijuana industry in British Columbia, revealing how the international business is most likely more profitable than it would be if it was lawful in this enlightening documentary. Marijuana growers, law enforcement officials, physicians, politicians, criminologists, economists and celebrities -- including comedian Tommy Chong -- shed light on this topical subject in a series of compelling interviews."

Totally worth your time and makes you proud to be a smoker.

PS I got Toys tonight. I'm going to have a few drinks and a smoke before I watch it. I will return to this post tomorrow for my review...

deGrasse Tyson on Killer Asteroid on Path to Earth

Prologue: This post is only for the uber-geeks!

If you watch this video of Neil deGrasse Tyson discussing Apophis, an asteroid that would make a 3 mile deep whole in the Pacific that was 3 miles across off the coast of Santa Monica, be sure to watch the second video that I think shows the effect he is talking about (I think). It is a drop of water filmed at high speed, doing something you would never expect it to do. I just happened to see the second video back in November and instantly thought about it when he mentioned the multiples. It's almost fractal.





Edit: Somewhat similar.

Conan vs. Leno and NBC

I've always liked Conan and I've always really enjoyed and respected Leno for many things. Leno tours like crazy and doesn't charge much. He does it for the joy of working so much so that he would fly to Indiana for a grand opening of a factory to do a set - I helped prep the warehouse in high school. His humor is broad and enjoyable more than it is funny or awesome..... I'm not exactly sure where he stands on this whole NBC/Conan thing, but if he ends up accepting that job and bumping Conan I'm seriously through with the guy. I only watched his old Tonight Show when a guest I liked was on, but if this happens the way it looks and as NBC says - they will sit on Conan's contract for 3.5 years so he can't work anywhere else - I wouldn't piss on his gums if his teeth were on fire.

NBC has come out today and said that Conan is an "astounding failure" and "chicken-hearted and gutless.". Excuse me, but isn't Leno the failure for not getting ratings in his time-slot? Isn't NBC a failure for moving him in the first place? Who talks about a subordinate like that in the press?

At first I thought this was a ratings-driven feud, like the east coast vs. west coast feud in rap that generated extreme wealth for everyone involved, until I saw Conan's monologue. He's a good comedian, but he's also a terrible actor. Then today I saw a clip of Jimmy Kimmel sticking a knife in Leno over and over, twisting it, and then pulling out all the contents on Leno's own show. I have no respect for someone who would do what Leno may do, a company who would treat its employees like they are, or a station who ignores the public has clearly stated they want. If this goes down, do they really expect there to be an audience?

Want to see some broadcasting that rivals getting your teeth pulled?

Last Will

So I've went thru a lot of stuff with my grandma's stroke and I've found out how hard it is for people to find and deal with stuff when something suddenly happens to you. I'm writing letters to people I really care about and sealing them incase something tragic happens and leaving guidelines of what I want done with some of my junk (how did I get all this shit?). I'm also writing down that I don't want a service of any sort and rather have the money sent in donations to cover an educational loan I have with my uncle as cosigner (bc he would then be responsible). Then what to do if I'm on machines and then my body, when I'm done with it.

Is there anything I'm missing? I think I may put all my account information in one spot too. The likelihood of having to use this information is really rare, because of my age, so I'm not going to get it notarized or anything. No one will challenge it, but because I won't see a lawyer I don't know if I'm missing out on something.

Haiti

I'm actually kind of surprised that you guys haven't posted anything about this. Not that I'm dissapointed, but it seems like something you both (Indigo doesn't post) would be very interested. I only know that it happened and have only a slight understanding of what that island is like. The Dominican Republic looks like fucking Shangri La compared to Haiti from what I've heard from a friend (used to go to DR for business a lot). Also saw that some of the aid has been luted. I've seen several photos, but one seems a lot more powerful than the rest and I've only seen it once. I thought I might share it with you.


That is the presidential palace which was 3 floors last week. Symbolism is a powerful thing.

Kitty Christ

Funny or Sad?

Citizens Arrested for Practicing Domestic Surveillance

This is one of those articles that robs you of hope. I'm not sure if I'm the only person who's entire mood for the day can be affected by something like this, so I'm just going to do a click-thru.

Click here to go to Boston.com article on citizens being arrested for domestic surveillance.

Underwear Bomber Palestinian Connection

Here is a very interesting opinion piece from the Irish Times (of all places) that connects the dots that US government officials won’t between the underwear bomber, the suicide bomber who killed 7 CIA agents in Afghanistan on December 30 and the Israeli treatment, with US support, of Palestinians.

“It would be easy to dismiss Balawi’s suicide bombing as merely another round in the cycle of revenge between US and al-Qaeda. But clues to Abdulmutallab and Balawi’s motives are there if you search for them. There was a photograph of the solemn, baby-faced Abdulmutallab, wearing a red polar fleece at what appeared to be a London demonstration against the Israeli bombing of Gaza. One of Balawi’s brothers told the New York Times that Balawi was changed by the Israeli assault on Gaza, which killed 1,300 Palestinians.”

Part of me wishes our economy would completely collapse so that my tax dollars would not be used to support the US’s failed foreign policy.

Kerry/Jophus Movie Club

I thought we could start a new thread that was tagged so if we make suggestions we could find the posts easily when it came time to add to the queue. I never added the ones you suggested bc I just couldn't find them quickly. I'll make the Tab "*Movie Club." The asterix will put it at the top of the tag list on the right, I believe so it will be even easier than just having a tag.

The Messenger

Joseph I loved this movie. I saw your comments about the 30 minutes it could have done without. I said that exact thing last night after we watched it. Milla was VERY good. She was perfect for that part. Sometimes I wasn't sure if what was happening was real or a dream. It was very realistic, they just looked like they smelled. I couldn't help but get distracted by the women's head gear. I laughed when I first saw Faye Dunaway. It looked positively "Tim Burton".

Edit: That was incoherent....Joan of Arc is just a fascinating story and the movie helped make it more real. I was disappointed we didn't to see how the word spread about Joan, how she came to be known. She was a child with visions and boom she is on her way to see the Dauphin of France. I felt that was sacrificed for the action sequences, which were wonderful by the way. Joan's story is one of what the force of personality can do. What can be accomplished if you follow your passion. If it hadn't been a true story it would be difficult to believe that a woman could to what she did at that time. What a brutal period of history.

Edit II: I think Joseph wants to know what I think of how the movie was made. It was visually appealing and I hadn't expected, but liked, the dream/vision sequences. I really felt her desperation about her message. They kept up the action enough that, though the movie felt long, it wasn't painful. Milla was very believable and good job with the horse riding!! It was smart to put unexpected chuckles in. That gave it a human/realistic touch. The battle scenes were exciting and done well with just enough gore to show the horror of it all. I'm pretty sure Joan was tortured more than was shown and I'm glad they didn't go into that.

6th Sense

This dog felt the hurricane seconds before it happened.


Dog Senses Arcata Earthquake at News Station - Watch more Funny Videos

Global Warming Hoax Claims

I'm not sure if you've seen this argument, but right wingers are arguing that because everywhere has so much snow right now that this is evidence that global warming is false. We all know they are crazy and WE know that precipitation doesn't measure temperature, but to the nutjobs in the south 30 degrees with 3 feet of snow is colder than 30 degrees with 3 inches of snow. Living where I do, you have to know how weather works because we can't depend on forecasts - its sneaky here. I thought I'd tell you how global warming leads to more snow in areas like mine, so that you can be prepared to argue with an asshat.

The warmer and longer a summer is the warmer Lake Michigan gets. Then the lake takes much longer to freeze. When it gets cold, lets say -5 degrees like it was last week and the lake is like 45 degrees the moisture is sucked into the atmosphere crazy fast and builds massive storms that drop insane amounts of snow really quickly. The storms never stop building because there is an endless source of warm moisture (like a hurricane forming on the Atlantic). When the lake finally freezes, the phenominon isn't so bad, which is usually like the second or 3 week in February, after our annual blizzard. So just to repeat that again, the hotter the water gets in the summer, the more snow we get in the winter.

Click here to see what it looks like on the radar. If you imagine Lake Michigan as a penis, I live just to the east of the peehole.

Chicago Blues

I never got around to writing any more of those chicago posts, but this just came on my iTunes and wanted to share it with Kerry who seemed to have an affinity with blues. This is a born and raised Chicago musician. Then after that is the song about driving on LSD (Lake Shore Drive) in Chicago. Then the last one is one of our country's legends: Ramsey Lewis who is also full blooded Chicago and still active in the scene.

Declassified: Video of 1st H-Bomb Test

Ivy Mike was the first H Bomb test, it was exploded at 7.15 am local time on November 1st 1952. The mushroom cloud was 8 miles across and 27 miles high. The canopy was 100 miles wide. Radioactive mud fell out of the sky followed by heavy rain. 80 million tons of earth was vaporised. Mike was the first ever megaton yeild explosion.

More Sharing

If you need ambient music, this is a piece that is inspiring the hell out of me right now. It is instrumental and slightly manipulated, but I promise it is still music. It's just what I'd call minimalist contemporary composing. This band is excellent for relaxing, calming down, or thinking.

Art

I know it is probably hard to believe, but I LOVE paintings. Sculptures and performance art is good, but paintings.... They're just extra special. I want to be rich so I can buy all kinds of local art and travel to see artists. This artists name is Chrissy Angliker and if you like her you can see more here.

Question

Does anyone know of a film that was narrator and then came into the film later on - kind of like a surprise?

Bowie

I thought I would share my favorite Bowie song. It is a live cover, I don't think it made it onto a studio album. I'm only doing this because I have nothing to post and Lisa liked the last song. Does everyone knwo this song? It is the best song to get high and drive on old country windy (like you wind a jack in the box) road.

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin and Fox News: A marriage made in HELL!

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/sarah-palin-to-contribute-to-fox-news/?no_interstitial

I'm sure this will not surprise ANYONE. Imagine her, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, and the other blowhard liars on Fox under one roof - talk about leaky as hell.

Monday Morning Laugh

If you, like me, needed a good laugh this morning give this a view.

Why R.'s Win Elections

They know how to work the media.

Share a Song

This song was in the premier of Chuck and I fucking fell in love with it. I'm not good at describing music, only the level of passion I have for it. This is just one song, but it is on the level of Tori Amos and Paul Simon for me. I guess he is probably song writer too, but he is really good at storytelling. Here is an audio file of it and the lyrics are posted beneath. I think it starts getting good at 1:30 if that means anything to you. Do you like it? I'm not entirely sure of what kind of music you guys like the best.

I'm working on my backwards walk
Walking with no shoes or socks
And the time rewinds to the end of May
I wish we'd never met then met today

I'm working on my faults and cracks
Filling in the blanks and gaps
And when I write them out they don't make sense
I need you to pencil in the rest

I'm working on drawing a straight line
And I'll draw until I get one right
It's bold and dark, girl, can't you see?
I done drawn a line between you and me

I'm working on erasing you
I just don't have the proper tools
I get hammered, forget that you exist
There's no way I'm forgetting this

I'm working hard on walking out
Shoes keep sticking to the ground
My clothes won't let me close the door
These trousers seem to love your floor

I been working on my backwards walk
There's nowhere else for me to go
Except back to you just one last time
Say yes before I change my mind

Say yes before I
You're the shit and I'm knee deep in it
You're the shit and I'm knee deep in it
You're the shit and I'm knee deep in it
You're the shit and I'm knee deep in it

Elmo and Andrea Bocelli

This is just too cute and I had to share it with you. Love the very end!

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

New Tombs Found, Pyramids, Egypt

Fascinating - these tombs date back to 2500 BC and have just been found! Just goes to show we never stop discovering "new" or in this case "old" things.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100110/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_egypt_antiquities

Interesting

My grandma used to be a preacher and really involved in church. There was a church on Belmont in Chicago where Sam Kinison shot a whole thru the roof when junkies were taking money out of the collection. Like my grandma used to talk to his brothers and i remembered when he died, but I didn't know he was as famous as he was. I'm watching a documentary on him. It's just funny. I remember when he was suposed to be on tv one time and wasn't and my grandma was freaking out. i can't believe this is someone my grandma would care about, he is so crass. I'll bet my family has tapes and pictures of working with him before he went into comedy.