February 2008 Archives
February 27, 2008
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I should start a new website: johnmccainhastrickedamericaintolikinghim.com
I think I’ve figured out why I find the debates so boring.
Here are our two champions debating the finer points of how many people will get health insurance under their plans, but I, like way too many Americans don’t really have any faith either of them can actually accomplish anything.
They both have arguements (“unity” vs. “experience”) but they never spend any time on this issue during the actual debates: Washington is broken. How will you fix it?
February 26, 2008
Tomorrow at 1:05 PM, the Defending American League Champion Detroit Tigers1 will open Spring Training play against the New York Metropolitans. Many are expecting this to be a World Series preview.
Now, because we’re from Michigan and that’s what we do, this is a day that we think about Ernie Harwell and remember the famous way he opened every Tigers’ season:
For the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of the song of the birds has come,
And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.— Song of Solomon
Play Ball!
1. Because the Red Sox won the series last year, they don’t really need an ALCS to celebrate, so I have decided not to recognize their AL Pennant victory. Therefore, the 2006 AL Champs are still your defending American League Champions.
In honor of the Oscars this week, my screenwriter buddy Lane published his 25 favorite movies of 2007. (He picked Gone Baby Gone as his number 1.)
The whole list inspired me whip up a list of my own. In doing my research, I was kind of shocked to see that I had seen a whopping 52 2007 movies before this week. I guess I really like movies!
Todd’s 10 Best Movies of 2007
No Country for Old Men
I watched the whole movie on the edge of my seat. Yes, it’s dark and violent, but I’ve always thought that McCarthy’s best characters are the good guys. In this movie, Tommy Lee Jones shows us how in a world gone to hell, it take personal courage to try to do the right thing.The Darjeeling Limited
Wes Anderson’s best. Someday, I hope to watch a sunrise from a mountain in India. This movie makes you feel like that’s how life is supposed to work.Ratatouille
Just perfectly executed. This shouldn’t be consigned to any sort of cartoon ghetto.Hot Fuzz
Simultaneously a great action movie and a great send up of action movies.Live Free or Die Hard
So John McClain jumped from a truck to a fighter jet to the street. And the movie was actually good. God, I loved it.Juno
So I do think it’s kind of convenient that abortion is never really considered and that everything basically gets tied up in a neat little bow and everyone moves on with their lives. But this movie is just so charming, I can’t help but love it.3:10 to Yuma
An excellent companion to No Country for Old Men. Another honest man doing whatever it takes to do the right thing.Eastern Promises
Powerful and tense. Viggo shows his acting chops.Stardust
You know what? My mom, and my grandma, and I all loved it. I’m not ashamed. Robert DeNiro is great – great – as a cross dressing pirate.Smokin’ Aces
An absolutely rip-roaring good time. This was the year that action movies proved they could stand with just about anything in terms of fun and excitement at the movies. I choose to ignore the last 30 seconds, because they were dumb.
BONUS! Top 5 Movies That Made Me Boil With Rage
There Will Be Blood
Honestly, this movie was a joy to watch. But I can’t put it on the “best of” list because I just found the first two acts so disconnected from the last one. Plainview is ruthless and even violent. But he never seemed unhinged and evil until the last act. It just came out of nowhere.Atonement
First, she didn’t actually atone for anything. Second, we’re all supposed to think it’s OK because she wrote a nice story? It’s supposed to be thought-provoking, but it just turns out to be stupid.Transformers
So this was actually much better than I anticipated. But after yapping for 2 hours about how “There is no victory without sacrifice” and then pull the switcheroo in the final battle! What did anyone sacrifice!? The 10 bucks Megatron owed Prime?Death Proof
Actually, they should call it “Boring Proof” Tarantino is supposed to be better than this.Superbad
And they should call this one “SuperBoring” I just didn’t find it funny. My secret hunch is that’s because I am already this crude and hilarious with my buddies. I don’t need Judd Apatow to write dialogue for me.
BONUS BONUS! 5 2007 Movies I Still Really Want to See
- Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
- In the Valley of Elah
- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
- Gone Baby Gone
- Sweeney Todd
Hot Chip is known for blasting together a kazillion samples to make electronic dance music. But for this one, they slowed things down, added a piano track and created a much lighter vibe. Reminiscent of the best songs by Air and frankly, devastatingly beautiful. Enjoy.
February 25, 2008
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Withering analysis from Frank Rich. I think the idea that the Clinton campaign was all talk and no action is right on. You can’t just say you’re the nominee; you’ve got to work for it.
February 22, 2008
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See how much better it is when Hillary appeals to the best in us! I’m reminded of the slogan I first heard during the Dean days: “Vote your hopes, not our fears.” If only the whole campaign had been this inspiring.
The Oscars are Sunday and in celebration, I have decided to beat everyone in my very own Oscar Pick’Em pool. Instructions for entry are below.
The rules are the same as ever: Free donuts to the winner.
Remember, even though the Oscars are Sunday evening, the contest deadline is Sunday at 4:00 PM ET. I suggest you take advantage of your lazy Friday afternoon to compile gobs of research and to make your picks.
Also - feel free to invite whomever you want. The more, the merrier.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bowling alley to destroy and a milkshake to drink up.
OSCAR.COM “PREDICT THE WINNERS” GROUP INVITATION
Todd has invited you to play the Predict the Oscar Winners Sweepstakes at OSCAR.com. Think you can pick the winners?
You could be eligible win an absolutely stunning set of Kwiat diamond jewelry for yourself and a loved one, which will add some serious Hollywood-style glamour to your wardrobe.
So what’s to wait for? Make your picks today!
Log on to OSCAR.com, go to the Predict the Winners page, then join your group using the information below:
URL: http://predict.oscar.go.com/predict/frontpage
Group Name: Donutland Oscars
Group Password: custardfilled
Then tune in Sunday February 24, 2008 at 5PM PT/8PM ET to see if your predictions come true!
February 21, 2008
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Good stuff on this “experience” issue. Obama and Clinton both have plenty. The one with the seriously shady record is John “I’ve Tricked America into Liking Me” McCain.
February 20, 2008
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This would have been cool.
February 17, 2008
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Wow. Hillary, you might want to lay off the “Obama is just speeches and words” attack now.
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Great stiff from Frank Rich.
February 14, 2008
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oooo - This is good. So excited for the new album.
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oh I want this
February 13, 2008
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It’s a false choice.
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Good analysis.
February 12, 2008
So I’ve delayed this long enough. Here are my best albums of 2007.
- The National, Boxer
- Okkervil River, The Stage Names
- Band of Horses, Cease to Begin
- Weakerthans, Reunion Tour
- Radiohead, In Rainbows
- Bloc Party, A Weekend in the City
- Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight
- The Good, The Bad, and The Queen, The Good, The Bad, and The Queen
- The Rumble Strips, Girls and Weather
- Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
- Director, We Thrive on Big Cities
- The Twang, Love It When I Feel Like This
- Feist, The Reminder
BONUS! Here’s an Imeem playlist of the best songs from each of the best albums! Enjoy!
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Yes, Joe Buck really is this bad.
February 11, 2008
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Needless to say, I side with Kentucky.
February 10, 2008
I’ve been noticing for a while a Feist-led trend of female-infused indie rock really making waves. It’s largely delecate, but still strong. I told my buddy Adam on the phone today that these artists “kicked ass, but were still girly.”
Adam hadn’t heard a lot of these artists, so I put together the little playlist above for him to introduce some of my favorites. Enjoy.
February 6, 2008
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I don’t get this. I don’t feel like everyone is clamoring for GPS phones.
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This got some attention for all the praise Google is heaping on the iPhone. Remember, Android uses WebKit, too, so everything they build for iPhone works for Android too.
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Oh please let this be as incredible as it looks….
February 5, 2008
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This was hilarious.
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Krugman on the key differences on health care between Obama and Clinton. Clinton wins.
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I thought this was fascinating.
February 3, 2008
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Great rundown on how the Wings have stayed at the top of the league for 10 years. Originally published in USA Today.
February 1, 2008
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This cracked me up. Although it’ a little sad.
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I thought this new MT plugin was cool. Kind of a Facebook-style newsfeed for your blog. I might try to whip up a BTP version soon.
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A terrific morning routine.
