tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131307822024-03-13T01:23:35.627-03:00Quammy BlogQuammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-16731987931593553122009-01-14T12:37:00.012-04:002009-02-17T09:17:47.536-04:00I Come Not To Praise 2008, But To Bury It2008 is thankfully behind us now, but the specter of a "best-of" recap has been haunting me for the last few weeks. So I write this, not under duress, but with a sense of begrudging obligation. Hopefully, once I've gotten this out of my system, I can go back to not writing about other stuff. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Good Movies I Saw In Theatres</span><br />Rambo<br />Forgetting Sarah Marshall<br />Iron Man<br />The Dark Knight<br />Tropic Thunder<br /><br />2008 wasn't exactly a banner year for theatrical releases, but there were a few diamonds in the rough. The real winner of the year had to be <span style="font-style:italic;">The Dark Knight</span>. Despite all the hype and the haters, it was easily the best movie I saw in theatres over the course of the year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Crappy Movies I Saw In Theatres</span><br />Burn After Reading<br />Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull<br />Quantum of Solace<br />Righteous Kill<br /><br />I think, if nothing else, I'll probably remember the year in movies that was 2008 for its disappointments rather than its triumphs. The Coen Brothers' <span style="font-style:italic;">Burn After Reading</span> was especially disappointing, seeing as they made my favorite movie from 2007, <span style="font-style:italic;">No Country For Old Men</span>. And the less said about <span style="font-style:italic;">Kingdom of the Crystal Skull</span> and George Lucas' love for CGI monkeys, the better.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Albums I Bought</span><br />The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely<br />Elvis Costello - Momofuku<br />Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer<br />Beck - Modern Guilt<br />Matthew Good - Live at Massey Hall<br /><br />2008 wasn't a great year for music either. I try and keep up with new bands and new music from artists I already follow, but it just seemed that there wasn't much happening in music this past year. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Good Books I Read</span><br />"The Book of Other People" a short story collection edited by Zadie Smith<br />"The Watchmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons<br />"Diary" by Chuck Palahniuk<br />"Life, the Universe and Everything" by Douglas Adams<br />"Ham on Rye" by Charles Bukowski<br />"Mastering the Universe: He-Man and the Rise and Fall of a Billion-Dollar Idea" by Roger Sweet and David Wecker<br /><br />I would recommend any and all of the books listed above. I especially enjoyed Palahniuk's <span style="font-style:italic;">Diary</span> and Bukowski's <span style="font-style:italic;">Ham on Rye</span>.<br /><br />Ahh, I feel a little bit better now. I certainly hope 2009 has more to offer than 2008 did.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-65728452223013302342008-12-10T11:18:00.005-04:002008-12-10T12:02:01.419-04:00The Ackermansion is Closed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxv0lIj_92wI8qHAI7pL6coLp-MOqquxoOIfpNfwrjnEOwToX-6H7teva8n6_E83yLri5xOidjqUwZMI0yOUtHSPxNoW0UAnnGslwEQQXuVcD-R7r98pANz7tHElbNylZEf9k/s1600-h/Forrest_J_Ackerman.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxv0lIj_92wI8qHAI7pL6coLp-MOqquxoOIfpNfwrjnEOwToX-6H7teva8n6_E83yLri5xOidjqUwZMI0yOUtHSPxNoW0UAnnGslwEQQXuVcD-R7r98pANz7tHElbNylZEf9k/s320/Forrest_J_Ackerman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278191671318289602" /></a>Sad news kids, Forrest J. Ackerman, science fiction pioneer and grandfather of genre geekdom, passed away last week. Ackerman coined the term "Sci Fi" and was also the creator and editor of the Famous Monsters of Filmland (aka Famous Monsters) magazine. Ackerman's home (aka the Ackermansion) served as a museum for his vast collection of horror and science fiction memorabilia, allowing fans to see original movie props from the golden age of cinema through to the present.<br /><br />I first became aware of Mr. Ackerman (who was fondly called Uncle Forry by his fans) sometime in the mid-nineties, during the comic book/trading card/collectible boom. The Ackermansion and its staggering collection of books and props were frequently featured in a number of documentaries on collecting and/or classic genre films. For me, the Ackermansion was one of the holy grails of movie geek must-see locations. Sadly, I'll never get the chance to get a guided tour from the man himself. <br /><br />Ain't It Cool News has a few tribute pieces featured on their site. Some of which you can read <a href="http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39346">here</a> and <a href="http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39356">here</a>.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-15120746378906910232008-12-04T11:23:00.014-04:002008-12-04T15:42:01.466-04:00That's one surly Sasquatch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyw0R1GS_2p3Asd1C_KJoJEaQesY1mkOGThPM1EHZWl1N0Ma1aLoglI0469COoElPJMhSpF1XvB9mprB8gP2Nn_kNDD4mZ2YD5g15MhNxWtS0P6YCw1m0jIlUT9IQrJiw42kl/s1600-h/bigfoot_says.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyw0R1GS_2p3Asd1C_KJoJEaQesY1mkOGThPM1EHZWl1N0Ma1aLoglI0469COoElPJMhSpF1XvB9mprB8gP2Nn_kNDD4mZ2YD5g15MhNxWtS0P6YCw1m0jIlUT9IQrJiw42kl/s320/bigfoot_says.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275956222570451522" /></a>Hey Kids! Did you miss me?<br /><br />This blog has definitely proven to be a source of disappointments, but usually those disappointments were reserved for you, the reader. But now I've gone and disappointed myself. For the longest time, I took some pride in the fact that I had posted an entry at least once a month since I started this blog. Usually it was a blatant cop-out or a placeholder post, but dammit, it was better than nothing. So, it was especially disheartening for me to realize on Monday that I totally forgotten to pay literary lip service to this blog throughout the entire month of November.<br /><br />I suppose it could be worse. It's not like I was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/business/29walmart.html?_r=1">trampled to death by frantic shoppers</a>. I used to look forward to watching the news reports about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)">Black Friday</a>. Those short CNN clips that showed people scrambling and fighting one another in an attempt to be the first one through the doors at 5 am. Usually the insanity resulted in little more than some scrapes and bruises and surprised testimonials from the morons that waited all night in the cold so they could save $50 on a new TV. Like a black eye in a mosh pit, the violence and subhuman behavior was always seen as something simultaneously shocking and yet somehow inevitable. I say, next year, give those Wal-Mart greeters tasers.<br /><br />Speaking of things shocking yet inevitable, winter is upon us. I can't speak for everyone but here in the Maritimes the onset of winter is often viewed as an unprovoked personal attack. Every year Maritimers seem to greet the snow and dropping temperatures as if they were experiencing these meteorological phenomena for the first time. Some find themselves asking questions like, "why is it so damn cold?" "What the hell is this white stuff falling from the sky?" and "Why don't I know how to drive anymore?" I'm starting to think that all the vitamin D we soak up from the summer sun erases all the painful winter memories from our brains. <br /><br />And on the subject of dwindling grey matter, Roger Ebert recently wrote and interesting screed on his blog about <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2008/11/death_to_film_critics_long_liv.html">the death of formal film criticism</a>. Ebert cites the rise in celebrity culture as a major factor in the decline and slow death of print based film criticism. I'm inclined to agree with Ebert to some extent on this topic. A few years ago when I first started reading/using IMDB, their news feeds were mostly filled with stories about films and film productions. In the last year, I noticed that IMDB's news feeds have become almost exclusively concerned with celebrity culture. Who's dating whom, who made what faux pas and what they were wearing. As I said, I mostly have to agree with Ebert on this topic, but there is one facet of the decline of formal (ie. print based) film criticism that Ebert doesn't seem to take into consideration: the internet. The proliferation of blogs and movie based websites has made traditional print based film criticism almost unnecessary. The entire newspaper industry is likely feeling effects similar to those felt by the music and film industry. Traditional media outlets are losing ground every day to the internet. Why would someone want to pay for a copy of the Chicago Sun Times to read a Roger Ebert movie review, when that same review is available for free on his <a href="http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/">website</a>? I can't blame Ebert for decrying the death of print based film criticism, if all the newspapers fired all the critics he'd be out of a job (more or less). <br /><br />And finally on a marginally less dour note (no pun intended), I suggest that you all check out one of my new favorite websites <a href="http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/">Passive Aggressive Notes</a>. The site features a frequently updated collection of passive aggressive notes left for others (roommates, co-workers, customers, neighbors, etc.) If you've ever found a note on your door with a "helpful" suggestion from someone without enough backbone to actually confront you, then you'll enjoy this site.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-26370399505333559102008-10-27T16:46:00.005-03:002008-10-27T18:37:28.987-03:00My Apologies to Mr. Welles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvqR50WSWhxTlJDX8hkWE5Rn0YdzHsgq67dngiWhnBQaWYp2mAGoLwNOLeSkd3rvV9WHl-vzqsRQDR-wD8S32qBHdvaYOxxHeQ6EuhDrJfJpRexRzpCF7Llb-_FvoE6_ZIAfu/s1600-h/orson_says.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 184px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvqR50WSWhxTlJDX8hkWE5Rn0YdzHsgq67dngiWhnBQaWYp2mAGoLwNOLeSkd3rvV9WHl-vzqsRQDR-wD8S32qBHdvaYOxxHeQ6EuhDrJfJpRexRzpCF7Llb-_FvoE6_ZIAfu/s320/orson_says.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261922978644329138" /></a>Hey Kids,<br /><br />- The state of my pseudo-blog-project, <span style="font-style:italic;">My Year of Orson Welles</span>, has obviously gone into the crapper. While my pseudo-obsession with the works of Mr. Welles remains intact, I can't seem to get the motivation to watch and dissect any of his movies. I turned something I love into work, which never works out for me. I'm not ruling out possible future entries in the project, but I hope none of you readers are holding your breath.<br /><br />- With Halloween around the corner, I've felt the urge to buy and watch a plethora of horror movies. While watching the movies hasn't been difficult, I've found it hard to find horror movies in the usual retail locations. Even the dollar store took down all their Halloween stuff and starting putting up Christmas decorations last week.<br /><br />- The recent Canadian election resulted in another Conservative government. Don't blame me, I voted for the Christian Heritage Party. (No, I didn't.)<br /><br />- Ever since I took in my cat Whitey, I've been trying to get her to pull her own weight around the house. All she does is sleep all day. She hasn't looked for a job in months. Now, you might think I'm crazy for complaining about my unemployed cat, but if I were in Japan things would be different. Take for example, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tama_(cat)">Tama</a> the feline station master of a Japanese railway station.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yn1SL_oI168&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yn1SL_oI168&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />What do your pets do all day? Maybe it's time these freeloaders earned their keep. In these tough economic times pet labor might just be the solution we're looking for.<br /><br />- And finally, my new favorite YouTube clip, the literal version of A-Ha's "Take On Me" <br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8HE9OQ4FnkQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8HE9OQ4FnkQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Happy Halloween Boils and Ghouls!Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-18023354432853063902008-09-30T21:16:00.006-03:002008-09-30T21:57:31.823-03:00Empty Theatre<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx7y6Mv7J2jEHvO3DmWT7P9ooqKvzuiAx99fBYBmDYaQnYILEfy2r6YQp0r8GW6m37WAYXBUxZXuu8SrPdMcKAxPNDIHiSzrHQjnYmRWFn3DWLsffJIHB1shlzo7VjM0OWlqJ/s1600-h/empty.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx7y6Mv7J2jEHvO3DmWT7P9ooqKvzuiAx99fBYBmDYaQnYILEfy2r6YQp0r8GW6m37WAYXBUxZXuu8SrPdMcKAxPNDIHiSzrHQjnYmRWFn3DWLsffJIHB1shlzo7VjM0OWlqJ/s320/empty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251978832650894130" /></a>I went to the movies with my father earlier today. We went to see the Pacino/De Niro flick, <span style="font-style:italic;">Righteous Kill</span>. We were the only two people in the theatre. While the movie has been out for a little over two weeks now and it had not performed all too well at the box office, I did not expect to see it in an almost empty theatre. I've been to some sparsely attended screenings, but none quite as bad as this.<br /><br />As for the movie itself, it was nothing special. While the performances were all fine, the script was sorely lacking. I'm not usually the type who tries to figure out the big reveal well in advance of the final act, but I couldn't help but put all the pieces together before the first film reel changed over. It wasn't the biggest cinematic disappointment of 2008 (sadly, I'd give that title to <span style="font-style:italic;">Burn After Reading</span>) but it certainly was no highlight either.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-33986310850771942052008-08-12T11:23:00.005-03:002008-08-12T11:57:55.431-03:00You Tell 'Em, Wolfman!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHk6sDzqEhSVtT-YVBKv9Z41MqpG8LWEUMHhSte_ag6w_JCzEOr_OxlOKc-t3pm80mlgta7rE6PzygTG8YYECOOupUmd59_T29dIZLNFJ21HsNxvl5zMcb0MBikOBjcY5xgzC/s1600-h/wolfman_says.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHk6sDzqEhSVtT-YVBKv9Z41MqpG8LWEUMHhSte_ag6w_JCzEOr_OxlOKc-t3pm80mlgta7rE6PzygTG8YYECOOupUmd59_T29dIZLNFJ21HsNxvl5zMcb0MBikOBjcY5xgzC/s320/wolfman_says.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233637009028187442" /></a>Ah, summer. I'd apologize for the lack of updates and whatnot, but I'm not all that sorry. It's too nice out for me to be writing about Orson Welles and Chuck Norris. Also, it's too nice out for you to be reading this. But in the off chance that it's raining or September or something, here's yet another lame placeholder post.<br /><br />- <span style="font-style:italic;">My Year of Orson Welles</span> should return in September. I tried to slap together a post for July, but it just wasn't happening. I don't think many of you are actually reading and/or enjoying this blog project, but I'm gonna keep doing it regardless.<br /><br />- I did eventually see <span style="font-style:italic;">The Dark Knight</span> and it was good. Not quite #1 on IMDB good, but it probably was the best movie I've seen in theatres so far this year. <br /><br />- This week is Chester Race Week. Some of you might remember that this means seeing old friends, drinking too much, and hobnobbing with the rich and illiterate. I'm anticipating a hangover that should last me until sometime next week.<br /><br />- I went to the annual Sappy Records music festival in Sackville, NB again this year. It was a good time, despite the poor weather and proliferation of hipsters.<br /><br />- Probably the most important update though, is that I became an uncle for the first time last month. My sister in Ottawa had her first child, a bouncing baby boy named William. I'm proud to be an uncle, but more so I'm proud that my sister and her husband didn't give their kid a stupid name.<br /><br />And that's about it folks. See you soon, unless the sun is shining.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-45876919303221642842008-07-30T18:16:00.006-03:002008-12-10T19:10:57.883-04:00Boredom BunnyIt's after six and I'm still at work. On a normal day I'm supposed to get off at four. I am very bored. Here's a picture of a bunny.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMcjh3Yux3ofO8LrYFM1A-sEXRvY-SucyZLCVa4efZS-OEA1BOen6X52B8EK1ctoZOk61E5EADjZB8C9H4rh3RN7qUcur73jrXILPCIwpob2vzx44YQJchgAV4sx0TYgRBeci/s1600-h/BOREDOM.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMcjh3Yux3ofO8LrYFM1A-sEXRvY-SucyZLCVa4efZS-OEA1BOen6X52B8EK1ctoZOk61E5EADjZB8C9H4rh3RN7qUcur73jrXILPCIwpob2vzx44YQJchgAV4sx0TYgRBeci/s400/BOREDOM.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228919972354485810" /></a><br />Dammit Boredom Bunny, you know I can't go to the movies with all this overtime going on!Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-45939062451042134142008-07-28T18:24:00.007-03:002008-11-07T11:01:45.061-04:00Placeholder PostWow, summer is really killing my ever-waning urge to blog. Well, like the title of this post suggests, this is mostly a placeholder so I don't post back-to-back Orson Welles stuff.<br /><br />I stole the idea for this post from the <a href="http://www.avclub.com/content/blog/geeky_list_time_pick_an_album_for">Onion's AV Club</a>, I think they got it from somewhere else, but I don't care enough to do the research. Essentially, you're just supposed to pick an album for every year you were alive. I added the criteria that it had to be an album that I actually owned and that there would be no repeat artists on the list. This was not an easy list to get through. Though I often defend music from the 1980s, I had no idea I liked so few albums from that era.<br /><br />So here's my list:<br /><br />1981 - "Damaged" by Black Flag<br />1982 - "Combat Rock" by The Clash<br />1983 - "Speaking in Tongues" by Talking Heads<br />1984 - "Remission" by Skinny Puppy<br />1985 - "VU" by The Velvet Underground<br />1986 - "So" by Peter Gabriel<br />1987 - "Substance" by New Order<br />1988 - "I'm Your Man" by Leonard Cohen<br />1989 - "Doolittle" by Pixies<br />1990 - "Fear of a Black Planet" by Public Enemy<br />1991 - "Ten" by Pearl Jam<br />1992 - "Smeared" by Sloan<br />1993 - "Bargainville" by Moxy Früvous<br />1994 - "Mellow Gold" by Beck<br />1995 - "I Should Coco" by Supergrass<br />1996 - "This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About" by Modest Mouse<br />1997 - "OK Computer" by Radiohead<br />1998 - "In/Casino/Out" by At the Drive-In<br />1999 - "Beautiful Midnight" by Matthew Good Band<br />2000 - "Veni Vidi Vicious" by The Hives<br />2001 - "White Blood Cells" by The White Stripes<br />2002 - "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" by The Flaming Lips<br />2003 - "Fever to Tell" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs<br />2004 - "Franz Ferdinand" by Franz Ferdinand<br />2005 - "Illinois" by Sufjan Stevens<br />2006 - "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" by Arctic Monkeys<br />2007 - "Woke Myself Up" by Julie Doiron<br />2008 - "At Mount Zoomer" by Wolf ParadeQuammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-65179419053159525362008-06-28T13:51:00.031-03:002009-10-12T11:04:15.444-03:00My Year of Orson Welles - Cultural Archaeology<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8J0SmjaQX5ujzqP7do1wbt0fHeNV228U50cTWK4iR0mrIfwEMtHgstrzBahbHs7aYiGrNFA-MbH1op_hJ8oAInXbWPuJ4ic2ickws1IRBeA5A1haRp9FDXj6x-TVTBNIWr6rx/s1600-h/TouchOfEvil6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8J0SmjaQX5ujzqP7do1wbt0fHeNV228U50cTWK4iR0mrIfwEMtHgstrzBahbHs7aYiGrNFA-MbH1op_hJ8oAInXbWPuJ4ic2ickws1IRBeA5A1haRp9FDXj6x-TVTBNIWr6rx/s400/TouchOfEvil6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216995909184530946" /></a>When it comes to Orson Welles, I am an enthusiast but not an expert. I started this project as an excuse to delve into the man's life and legacy. Mostly, I wanted to see Welles' impact on film for myself. It was also my hope that I might encourage others to discover his works. Though I don't necessarily envy anyone approaching Welles' films for the first time. Despite having left behind a filmography that is celebrated by critics and historians, the preservation and availability of his works leaves much to be desired. <br /><br />A significant number of Welles' films are currently unavailable on DVD in North America. This is due in part because of Welles' later European period, in which some of his films were shot sporadically when he could find willing investors. The other significant factor comes in the form of Welles' daughter Beatrice. Beatrice Welles is notoriously protective of her late father's works. So much so that she has prevented the restoration and release of a number of his films.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwF-UIbMA0IQ7IXKZu9GKZoVVfzKi83gvI13lTg_jy2cUb3vUs-c3gJmURkCaQgwClt4OsCM41PS9KMaycYqaoRqxSnYtg1VBr_7hEgwj_9yGCl0Q9n8TvCKlrPOOccncCwHy/s1600-h/touchofevil1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwF-UIbMA0IQ7IXKZu9GKZoVVfzKi83gvI13lTg_jy2cUb3vUs-c3gJmURkCaQgwClt4OsCM41PS9KMaycYqaoRqxSnYtg1VBr_7hEgwj_9yGCl0Q9n8TvCKlrPOOccncCwHy/s320/touchofevil1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216997087098854770" /></a>Also, it must be noted that with the exception of <span style="font-style:italic;">Citizen Kane</span>, the majority of Welles' films were altered by the studios that released them. One such film is the subject of this post, 1958's <span style="font-style:italic;">Touch of Evil</span>, starring Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Touch of Evil</span> is essentially a film noir. A sparsely lit crime film with a dubious moral code. The story goes that Welles was originally hired only to play the main antagonist in the film, the iconic Police Captain Hank Quinlan. It was reportedly Heston who urged the studio to allow Welles to direct the film as well. At this point in Welles' career, the studios were not eager to have him behind the camera. There was concern that Welles would not be able to complete the film on time and on budget.<br /><br />It should therefore come as little surprise that the final cut of the film was taken away from Welles not long after he had completed principal photography. Having seen Welles' original cut, the studio (Universal International) hired another director to re-shoot and re-cut parts of the film. After seeing the studio cut of the film, Welles wrote a 58 page memo to Universal detailing how he felt the film should be edited and released. Universal did not take Welles' suggestions into consideration while editing the film. The studio cut would be the version of the film that was given a theatrical release in 1958, with a run time of approximately 98 minutes. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIPcfpYzTgw8QeQvvmprdW7uPRiLFcFbJnXdd36C0V_UcibHB7UTMBGzLQb8jTlOZChWUn1Gu_09kaeD0BSQ00-VrivSuRMci0E4kdzsNI2vnHOQ7hQBd_tAEg3W_yBMGDBbr/s1600-h/touchofevil2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIPcfpYzTgw8QeQvvmprdW7uPRiLFcFbJnXdd36C0V_UcibHB7UTMBGzLQb8jTlOZChWUn1Gu_09kaeD0BSQ00-VrivSuRMci0E4kdzsNI2vnHOQ7hQBd_tAEg3W_yBMGDBbr/s400/touchofevil2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216998436082759394" /></a>In the mid 1970s, Universal discovered that they had another version of the film in their vaults. This version, running approximately 108 minutes, still contained elements that had been re-shot after control of the film had been taken away from Welles. And despite being released on video as the "complete uncut version," it would be another two decades before a definitive version of the film was released.<br /><br />In 1998, the film was re-edited in accordance with the 58 page memo. This version, running 111 minutes, removes all sequences that were re-shot by the studio. This restored version is the only version of the film currently available on DVD. And while it remains the closest approximation of Welles' vision for the film, it must be noted that there are no copies in existence of Welles' original cut. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnjPLESPBpvEcHjneJogVmhaVoXxV8FvdWtDaX3sarYtl-soTMsxt6WE8Znt6ln6y-3y3_OFc7ocmEg0Wv6QY2q5aGmsySucpcNVZoaOmtCNz1uFozAkl1fK7KvWwIQX3ZEwg/s1600-h/TouchOfEvil5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnjPLESPBpvEcHjneJogVmhaVoXxV8FvdWtDaX3sarYtl-soTMsxt6WE8Znt6ln6y-3y3_OFc7ocmEg0Wv6QY2q5aGmsySucpcNVZoaOmtCNz1uFozAkl1fK7KvWwIQX3ZEwg/s400/TouchOfEvil5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217005057704053378" /></a>The film itself is celebrated for its opening sequence, a lengthy tracking shot of a bomb in the trunk of a car as it makes its way across the US/Mexico border. Easily one of the best scenes ever crafted by Welles, it is a masterpiece of choreography and camera work.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0nn1VO1HIPk&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0nn1VO1HIPk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />It's also interesting to note that while the film initially focuses on Heston's character, it eventually shifts towards Welles' character. Welles' performance as the Machiavellian Hank Quinlan is quite possibly one of his best. Welles' naturalistic acting style is not unlike the method acting of Marlon Brando during his peak years. And while it is difficult to take Charlton Heston serious as a Mexican, it is refreshing to see him portray a character that is somewhat subdued. Also in the film is Marlene Dietrich as Welles' gypsy confidante and a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo from Zsa Zsa Gabor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjp-AcLGfqGyp1tcudsdSoVIj2aCUbAoFqXwcm4FPTYS-SN2JJUY8EGBwaWL3gtc5ClFuTo2DKPt8-729galFiubNSzvKSxf0aG4xFM30nSH4A8Wb-NrNs0HgrXj1nUEN6so25/s1600-h/touchofevil3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjp-AcLGfqGyp1tcudsdSoVIj2aCUbAoFqXwcm4FPTYS-SN2JJUY8EGBwaWL3gtc5ClFuTo2DKPt8-729galFiubNSzvKSxf0aG4xFM30nSH4A8Wb-NrNs0HgrXj1nUEN6so25/s400/touchofevil3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216997754121207010" /></a>Perhaps one of the oddest aspects of the film is Welles' appearance. The character of Hank Quinlan is an obese man, having taken up junk food as a substitute for alcohol. To achieve this look, Welles' wore a substantial amount of padding and prosthetic makeup. It is somewhat ironic, considering his appearance in the film mirrors his appearance later in real life. In his later years, Welles weighed as much as 350 pounds.<br /><br />The restored cut of <span style="font-style:italic;">Touch of Evil</span> is available on DVD through Universal Studios.<br /><br />[Images taken from: <a href="http://infolab.stanford.edu/~prasanna/dmc/mexico/touchofevil.jpg">infolab.stanford.edu</a>, <a href="http://www.filmreference.com/images/sjff_01_img0501.jpg">www.filmreference.com</a>, <a href="http://www.cesta.cz/photos/tandt/film%20series%202006/touch%20of%20evil%2004_ok.jpg">www.cesta.cz</a>, <a href="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/moxievision/TouchOfEvil.jpg">tsutpen.blogspot.com</a>, and <a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/shawnlevy/TouchOfEvil2.jpg">blog.oregonlive.com</a>]Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-45785850672292170822008-06-23T16:50:00.009-03:002008-12-10T19:10:59.427-04:00George Carlin is Dead, Long Live George Carlin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CKlXGZtc4A-LhephyphenhyphensUPM03aTon2X7xkq69vypW35DO-FYnTr4iRkTndW0-ep5BXPPOM50HpF6URILgyBexcLRw_JO5HNlg6xLcQwvTZMGb6RA8uL_eSzqO3bEZOaOR5Nthb/s1600-h/George_Carlin.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CKlXGZtc4A-LhephyphenhyphensUPM03aTon2X7xkq69vypW35DO-FYnTr4iRkTndW0-ep5BXPPOM50HpF6URILgyBexcLRw_JO5HNlg6xLcQwvTZMGb6RA8uL_eSzqO3bEZOaOR5Nthb/s320/George_Carlin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215168723105222098" /></a>Sad new kids, George Carlin passed away yesterday. If you're reading this and you don't already know who George Carlin is, I feel bad for you. And I honestly mean that. There's not a whole lot I can say about George Carlin that hasn't been said already. The man was a genius and I'm proud to have a good number of his albums in my record collection. <br /><br />I'll leave you with one of my all-time favorite Carlin quotes:<br /><br /><blockquote>The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."</blockquote><br />Rest In Peace George. Thanks for trying to teach us all a little something.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-69150373659920187252008-06-21T10:31:00.007-03:002008-12-10T19:10:59.786-04:00Pick-a-nick Basket<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QY_baJe5UV9GxycyBKoDYf2qr1n3CNjomBXg1K6e-_Rc4uaGrU53OO-1yxl-x2o5TuhOmv4pkMb1t_hgH-qV6gmetdlwv47OKF8UHwacs_Q5qaP0u2rdXrJ8iLaNYrfwGKU7/s1600-h/black+bear.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QY_baJe5UV9GxycyBKoDYf2qr1n3CNjomBXg1K6e-_Rc4uaGrU53OO-1yxl-x2o5TuhOmv4pkMb1t_hgH-qV6gmetdlwv47OKF8UHwacs_Q5qaP0u2rdXrJ8iLaNYrfwGKU7/s200/black+bear.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214332819562872258" /></a>One of the things I like about my job is that no two days are the same. And since the landfill where I work is in the middle of nowhere, I get to see a good sampling of wildlife. Not everyone can push back from their desk, look out their window and see wild rabbits in the tall grass or eagles in the sky overhead. Being around nature usually has a calming effect on me, helping to dissolve some of the stress of the workday grind.<br /><br />I say "usually" because last week I had a nature encounter that wasn't exactly calming. It was near the end of the day and I went out to my car to put my lunch box away. When I turned to go back into the scale house, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a black bear. The bear (not pictured, as I had better things on my mind than amateur photography) had just come out of the woods a stone's throw away from me. <br /><br />The whole encounter may have lasted thirty seconds, but everything seemed to be moving at a snail's pace. I looked at the bear and the bear looked at me. Now, I have never encountered a bear before. Nor have I ever spoken with anyone with any previous bear encounter experience. I have however, as many of you know by now, seen a lot of movies. <br /><br />What I remembered at that moment was that, according to some movie I can't specifically recall, bears hate loud noises. So it was at this point that I started clapping my hands and yelling obscenities at the bear. At first, nothing happened. I had just enough time to consider that perhaps the information I had gleaned from the movie was incorrect and I was only pissing off said bear. And while statistically, the number of fatalities by black bear are quite low, its likely that few if any of these unfortunate individuals meet their demise clapping like idiots.<br /><br />Thankfully, within seconds, the bear turned and ran back into the woods. And thus ended my black bear encounter. And while the bear was seen around the landfill site a number of other times that week, it has not been seen in the last several days.<br /><br />So, if I'm not mistaken, the lesson here is: anyone who says that TV and movies can't teach you anything will likely be eaten by bears.<br /><br />[Picture stolen from <a href="http://www.voyageurquest.com/blog/black%20bear.JPG">www.voyageurquest.com</a>]Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-36176826251629571392008-05-31T19:27:00.006-03:002008-12-10T19:11:00.019-04:00Free iPod<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCXJ_o0OA3nk1behMTM18gc2xyzsWJ7qKTTCjC33PUp3QxM69VHWWXIwOJwkBGV86hM9NbLGYwOQYCfPb-PnduJJ9Jremxzsl7HH0Fn95S4JwgRkFET8P6CVerN3MWziumtn8/s1600-h/ipodtouch.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCXJ_o0OA3nk1behMTM18gc2xyzsWJ7qKTTCjC33PUp3QxM69VHWWXIwOJwkBGV86hM9NbLGYwOQYCfPb-PnduJJ9Jremxzsl7HH0Fn95S4JwgRkFET8P6CVerN3MWziumtn8/s200/ipodtouch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206673455136301106" /></a>I got a 16 gig iPod Touch yesterday for free. My father won it through a contest at the store where he works. This is my first iPod. I'd been thinking about getting one for the last year or two, but I could never justify spending the money on one. I've been messing around with mine a lot since I hooked it up and I have to say that it's a lot of fun. My only fear now is that I'll lose the darn thing and someone else will be enjoying all my Devo tracks.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-78463424890003780152008-05-06T18:47:00.029-03:002009-10-12T11:03:47.493-03:00My Year of Orson Welles - The Beginning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzqKW1MhYPizoLeT0MfIg3K-A_4ytLmZsnMGOA0ZSBHH70xQwZ97Hm63P8OjmFEPohaeWQm-ZO0l0xrhyphenhyphenS0KsRDDeFv8XYalhNt9rzzKuNHteqIz23TxIh-fF1kdcRRgUTSoc/s1600-h/Orson_Welles_1937.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzqKW1MhYPizoLeT0MfIg3K-A_4ytLmZsnMGOA0ZSBHH70xQwZ97Hm63P8OjmFEPohaeWQm-ZO0l0xrhyphenhyphenS0KsRDDeFv8XYalhNt9rzzKuNHteqIz23TxIh-fF1kdcRRgUTSoc/s200/Orson_Welles_1937.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197385275859550418" /></a>Today is Orson Welles' birthday, if he were still alive today he would be 93 years old. It is in the spirit of the occasion that I announce my first blog project, <strong>My Year of Orson Welles</strong>. It is my hope that through this project I will come to a greater appreciation and understanding of the film legend that was Orson Welles. Once a month, until this time next year, I will post an entry into this project detailing some element of Welles' work and legacy. I don't intend to go about this in a chronological order, instead I will post my thoughts on the works as I encounter them.<br /><br />I couldn't tell you when it was exactly that I became fascinated by Orson Welles. Though I do know that the infamy surrounding <em>Citizen Kane</em> and the legendary radio brodcast of <em>The War of the Worlds</em> was something I was aware of long before I ever encountered those works first hand. Certainly, my interest turned to a borderline obsession around four years ago when I saw <em>Citizen Kane</em> for the first time.<br /><br />While <em>Kane</em> is certainly the crown jewel of Welles' filmography, I'll save that for a future entry in this project. For this entry, I'd like to talk about Welles' adaptation of Franz Kafka's <em>The Trial</em>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveH60q_3eS4rCY3Yj-qdjq3nsaEMoziFqY2g-BDQBF5DWrjdBl_ThIdSq8IVj1sGwSyyP2S94r_iYmBuAjhdLQaE6DTAeJ8vSa0rQP2fVO5LQrPM3Ie1D_oj3lUqILGiiuVHf/s1600-h/trial2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveH60q_3eS4rCY3Yj-qdjq3nsaEMoziFqY2g-BDQBF5DWrjdBl_ThIdSq8IVj1sGwSyyP2S94r_iYmBuAjhdLQaE6DTAeJ8vSa0rQP2fVO5LQrPM3Ie1D_oj3lUqILGiiuVHf/s400/trial2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197399530856005922" /></a>Like <em>Citizen Kane</em>, this was one of the few films that Welles had complete control over. Welles' film career is repeatedly marked by studio interference and unauthorized alterations to his works. <em>The Trial</em>, would be one of the few occasions where Welles' was able to release a film as he intended it to be. <br /><br />Filmed in 1962 in an out-of-service Parisian railway station, <em>The Trial</em> is a loose adaptation of Kafka's work. The most striking aspect of the film are the visuals. Welles' places Josef K (as played by a post-<em>Psycho</em> Anthony Perkins) in contrast with either enormous buildings and vast expanses or tight corridors and cluttered rooms. With one surreal set piece opening onto another.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMadnYa8KcJffkyyCQWV6GcLvHH08PjSuwSX86zZnLS-Kxlw1PhvoueuzBnz4S9ouqJBjyDoGDLHQqz_i5i_IOJ-L4D3tu3oIWH4XAWO3K20a4xUc-lf2mRo4hFWgLy_v1Vj6k/s1600-h/trial5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMadnYa8KcJffkyyCQWV6GcLvHH08PjSuwSX86zZnLS-Kxlw1PhvoueuzBnz4S9ouqJBjyDoGDLHQqz_i5i_IOJ-L4D3tu3oIWH4XAWO3K20a4xUc-lf2mRo4hFWgLy_v1Vj6k/s400/trial5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197400256705478978" /></a>The film, apparently shot haphazardly and on the cheap, is poorly dubbed. Welle's provides the voices for a number of the characters himself, some more obviously than others. Welles' himself has only a brief part in the film, playing the role of the Advocate. Shown mostly lying in an obscenely ornate bed, Welles' delivers many of his lines without any expression on his face. In his closeups, it appears as if only his mouth is moving, the rest of his facial features seemingly carved in stone.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdXaM2xU4IAlq5BL8QBHQqVtjpdWa7p-pIhLDj5svnDzBmrKBYZAezgChHEgTIZCBqaLR_nzfjsAV5Pl5Fr63DIwWYHW93xe3x1fh9jdFJwmsEHeuPK2kaD7NX_Hbfk7F4AZy/s1600-h/trial4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdXaM2xU4IAlq5BL8QBHQqVtjpdWa7p-pIhLDj5svnDzBmrKBYZAezgChHEgTIZCBqaLR_nzfjsAV5Pl5Fr63DIwWYHW93xe3x1fh9jdFJwmsEHeuPK2kaD7NX_Hbfk7F4AZy/s400/trial4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197399917403062578" /></a>While watching <em>The Trial</em>, it's hard not to put together a mental list of films that may have inspired this work and films that undoubtably took inspiration from it. One could reasonably assume that Welles' took some inspiration from early German surrealist film makers like Fritz Lang. Also, the early shots of Josef K's office are not unlike those of Jack Lemmon's office in Billy Wilder's 1960 film <em>The Apartment</em>.<br /><br />Here is the intro to the film, narrated by Welles himself:<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SXA7RtM_GFY&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SXA7RtM_GFY&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><em>The Trial</em> has fallen into public domain and is widely available on a variety of budget releases. <br /><br />[Images taken from: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Welles">wikipedia</a> and <a href="http://www.paper-jam.co.uk/articles/the-twisted-beauty-of-the-trial">www.paper-jam.co.uk/</a>]Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-86683849719499459222008-04-22T17:50:00.002-03:002008-04-22T17:57:44.309-03:00How Did You Spend Your Weekend?If you haven't seen this already, it's security camera footage of a guy who gets stuck in an elevator for a little over 40 hours.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dxW36e6XMOY&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dxW36e6XMOY&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />I've always wondered what it would be like to be stuck in an elevator for an extended period of time. My concern is always what you'd have to do if you needed to go to the bathroom. Best I can tell, this guy just held it in for two days.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-36533439919793918482008-03-12T17:57:00.010-03:002008-12-10T19:11:01.153-04:00Random Memories From A TV-Addled Mind<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4vUstTLzTETtSuTzihwF3KOYuInemAZDh9P84EHUfVy6CEoyPo9rWUOkPYMF0rgOzq6xQx7pcT1zZA2uTfzg06UiWChuMuobOMHEifkw6u4KB7KIZZDg5ILsmJHch_6dH0R-/s1600-h/stantheman.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4vUstTLzTETtSuTzihwF3KOYuInemAZDh9P84EHUfVy6CEoyPo9rWUOkPYMF0rgOzq6xQx7pcT1zZA2uTfzg06UiWChuMuobOMHEifkw6u4KB7KIZZDg5ILsmJHch_6dH0R-/s200/stantheman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176964046773393090" /></a>My brain is a vast repository for useless pop culture knowledge. That's meant to be more of a confession than a boast. Though many geeks like me would take pride in their expansive internal databases, I'm convinced that these memories are probably taking up valuable real estate in my brain. I can only assume that most people fill up these same portions of the brain with important stuff like math, social skills and a sense of direction. <br /><br />It's hardly a curse though, it's always fun to blow someone's mind when you can help them piece together their own pop culture memories. It was recently that a friend came to me with a vague memory. It went a little something like this:<br /><br /><strong>Friend:</strong> Do you remember a show that had this guy and a dog, and they showed clips of Batman or something. I think his name was Stan the Man.<br /><strong>Me:</strong> You mean Switchback?<br /><strong>Friend:</strong> Maybe.<br /><br />It was indeed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switchback_%28CBC%29">Switchback</a>, a show I had not seen or thought about since it went off the air in the late eighties. Switchback was a youth oriented program on CBC. There were various versions of the program, each suited to their particular Canadian market. Stan the Man (pictured above) hosted the Halifax version with his trusty dog Rufus. My memories of the show consist of little more than glimpses of neon and puppets. I can remember, however, that the show was quite popular and it came as a shock to many when it was cancelled.<br /><br />After being reminded of the show, I tried to find as much info on it as I could. Sadly, I couldn't find any video clips and only a few pictures. There are several mentions of the show on various message boards. One common theme among those who remember the show was that Stan the Man was not a particularly genial person when the cameras weren't rolling. <br /><br />It was during my google quest for Switchback info that I came across the site <a href="http://www.tvarchive.ca/">TVArchive.ca</a>, which must have been lovingly crafted by pop culture geeks not unlike myself. The beauty of the site though is that it focuesses on Canadian programming. Meaning that shows like Switchback, Danger Bay and the Littlest Hobo have all been given some recognition.<br /><br />Here is a list of some of the countless Canadian made programs that TVArchive.ca brought back from the dark recesses of my brain:<br /><br />The Anti-Gravity Room<br />Camp Cariboo<br />Deke Wilson's Mini Mysteries<br />The Edison Twins<br />Harriet's Magic Hats<br />Maniac Mansion<br />My Secret Identity<br />Owl/TV<br />Puttnam's Prairie Emporium<br />Size Small<br />Squawk Box<br />Street Cents<br />Test Pattern<br />Today's Special<br />Under The Umbrella Tree<br />The Vacant Lot<br />Wok With Yan<br /><br />The downside of this memory affirming bit of nostalgia is that it has knocked loose a new variety of partial memories. Like the show where a cop's soul gets trapped in the body of his St. Bernard after a car accident and the dog ends up living with the cop's relatives who have a wacky neighbor who is a hair-obsessed TV weather man who suspects that there is something not quite right with the St. Bernard. I'm not kidding about that either, it was a cheesy sitcom wherein the dog (who could talk) would try to help out the family with their everday problems by dispensing advice and stupid pet tricks. God help me.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-10057804067015779212008-02-11T18:40:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:11:01.307-04:00Chief Brody and the Maritime Winter Blues<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypBa4svoWAey1Tsd_5JXMpKzWP7-sI5jskONOlSTBAwnzXes8ftztq2_DxKWiif49SQtbksnWw35sfXKm8zi-xsWnyNcT_KB6w5a7_RbflTS7g558UvXMCk_afg8PgvVFsqEP/s1600-h/roy_s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypBa4svoWAey1Tsd_5JXMpKzWP7-sI5jskONOlSTBAwnzXes8ftztq2_DxKWiif49SQtbksnWw35sfXKm8zi-xsWnyNcT_KB6w5a7_RbflTS7g558UvXMCk_afg8PgvVFsqEP/s200/roy_s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165859521163538546" /></a>A little bit of sad news here kiddos, veteran actor Roy Scheider has passed away at the age of 75. Scheider, best known for his role as Chief Brody in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073195/">Jaws</a>, died this past sunday at a hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. No official cause of death has been released. He will be missed.<br /><br />In other news: I'm friggin' sick of winter. So sick that I've put together a haiku to express my hatred of this awful season. Enjoy.<br /><br />Go to hell winter<br />You god damn son of a bitch<br />I hate shovelingQuammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-62463041974004408902008-01-06T14:56:00.000-04:002008-01-06T15:45:01.284-04:00A Late ListSeeing as 2008 hasn't yielded any milestones yet, here is a list of a few of my favorite movies/albums/books/websites of 2007.<br /><br /><strong>Best Movies I Saw In Theatres*</strong><br />3:10 To Yuma<br />American Gangster<br />Live Free or Die Hard<br />No Country For Old Men<br />The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford<br />The Kingdom<br />The Simpsons Movie<br /><br />*I like to go see movies in the theatre as often as possible. Downloading movies and the quick turnaround from big screen to DVD is making the in-theatre experience almost unnecessary, which is a shame. <br /><br /><strong>Great Albums I Bought*</strong><br />Albert Hammond Jr. - Yours to Keep<br />Arcade Fire - Neon Bible<br />Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare<br />Handsome Furs - Plague Park<br />The Hives - The Black and White Album<br />Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up<br />Matthew Good - Hospital Music<br />Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank<br />Patton Oswalt - Werewolves and Lollipops<br />Radiohead - In Rainbows**<br />Spaceblood - Spaceblood<br />Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover<br />The White Stripes - Icky Thump<br /><br />*I still buy CDs. The whole Napster revolution is several years old now. If you like an artist, I think you should support them. The downloader mindset of "sticking it to the man" and "stealing from the rich" is pretty selfish. Just because you can steal, doesn't always mean that you should.<br />**Yes, I sprung for the limited edition discbox set.<br /><br /><strong>The Books I Read*</strong><br />"Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser<br />"I Am America (And So Can You!)" by Stephen Colbert<br />"Invisible Monsters" by Chuck Palahniuk<br />"Into The Wild" by Jon Krakauer<br />"The Areas of My Expertise" by John Hodgman<br />"The Road" by Cormac McCarthy<br /><br />*I don't read a lot of new books. Nor do I read as much as I'd like. These are simply a few books that I can remember reading and enjoying over the course of last year.<br /><br /><strong>Best of the Web</strong><br /><a href="http://www.deadpit.com/">www.deadpit.com</a><br />An internet talk radio show devoted to horror movies. The show is hosted by two guys from Kentucky, Uncle Bill and the Creepy Kentuckian. Deadpit's combination of news, reviews, comedy and honesty make for a very entertaining show. I had all but given up on the horror genre before I found this show. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.quickstopentertainment.com/">SModcast</a><br />SModcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier of View Askew Films. Each podcast is an extended informal conversation between the hosts and occasional guests. If you're a fan of Kevin Smith's movies (ie: Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma, etc.) then you will enjoy this podcast.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPizzle1122">Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This?</a><br />American college students and their destructive microwave adventures.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yg8hWDXamPg&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yg8hWDXamPg&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Hopefully we can all look forward to a prosperous and enjoyable 2008.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-48467340751384412322007-12-23T19:45:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:11:01.462-04:00Holy Shit, It's Christmas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCZrrc4oRDgJ33TS-yDlno0LssNgSAnfzLrhCLRcvutbU9DjUAb8RFL4ft52Pm2mgXucbwYlWA1J3MdmeNUmmEFaJ6TRu1ZFNcsdo_lNrcEWc3ko0GSALrzyWOz9KU574lDBf/s1600-h/1333451905_0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCZrrc4oRDgJ33TS-yDlno0LssNgSAnfzLrhCLRcvutbU9DjUAb8RFL4ft52Pm2mgXucbwYlWA1J3MdmeNUmmEFaJ6TRu1ZFNcsdo_lNrcEWc3ko0GSALrzyWOz9KU574lDBf/s200/1333451905_0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147323484829220754" /></a>This month has gone by so fast. I had meant to get in some quality blogging by now, but I just never got around to it. It's been a good month for me, with the exception of the weather. We've gotten a lot of snow here lately, which has meant poor driving conditions and lots of shovelling. I can't wait for Spring, which sucks, seeing as Winter just started.<br /><br />For some reason, I've gotten a buttload of free booze this holiday season. I won a liquor basket (pictured) at my work Christmas party. It had some import tallboys, a bottle of rum, a bottle of wine, and a little bottle of champagne. I also managed to score a free case of beer from my grandfather. So far, all my holiday drinking has been done with free booze. Nothing wrong with that. Though I am currently nursing a hangover, courtesy of the aforementioned bottle of rum.<br /><br />I have to take a moment to thank <a href="http://shaunarama.blogspot.com/">Shauna</a> for the nice Christmas card she sent me. Whitey and I really appreciated the card, even though we're still cleaning up the glitter. All the best holiday wishes to you and yours. <br /><br />Anyways, I've got it in my mind to do a 2007 best-of post before the end of the year, so hopefully this won't be my last post before 2008. In the meantime, dear readers, stay safe and have a happy holiday.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-11875426262084425972007-11-30T21:20:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:11:01.614-04:00"I did everything by the seat of my pants."<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaPIPYA8f2d1H4sK9Mh_9KEvZ4oJVYjVdVnMUaABsn5_rhZncme4M0LGW6YO7Y8pFmw9ig5XqLTmDVVATstSvba1NYqkHUc6wzOeJdmaySwLlAhqFjy5zxq1Kupb7LPsLmISy/s1600-r/EvelK_stuntcycle.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxpEHdsLjfA3RfgmE7Ghm8gx9VWga362lFNqew5f29jxmctYYvzbp_fXf7-5jEZThz-97FDf9uiATkeB7bapUL25zUJEBkD1atJP2VgqggnbrNuYkWp_7iAUtPDkZNwKLo09n/s320/EvelK_stuntcycle.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138809433403666066" /></a>Evel Knievel died today at the age of 69. Knievel had been in the news recently after <a href="http://www.avclub.com/content/newswire/kanye_and_knievel_make_peace">ending a feud with rapper Kanye West</a>. Though I wasn't alive during Knievel's heyday as a motorcycle daredevil, the guy always fascinated me. I remember seeing an A&E Biography special on Knievel a number of years ago. While it detailed many of the triumphs and setbacks of his career, the part that always stuck with me was when Knievel took a baseball bat to an author who had written an unflattering book about him. Most people would have sued, Knievel put the guy in the hospital first and then threatened to sue. In the end, I'm not sure if you could accurately describe the man as having been brave or crazy, because it must have taken balls of steel and shit for brains to think jumping over a canyon in a rocket was a good idea.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-17250861787326237042007-11-21T19:32:00.001-04:002009-10-12T11:03:09.824-03:00Give The People What They Want<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-A78CCoeflMwej84XKMeP7ydauT0vd64PNHathE8tDB2mU8VvCKH93DbvKuY2LtatAKE6o-vURRylNfSUzokItWC_vgNc-jrnX1xho9qxTmENk9CoBSpnbJXxX-0tZWSQVOI/s1600-h/kirk_says.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-A78CCoeflMwej84XKMeP7ydauT0vd64PNHathE8tDB2mU8VvCKH93DbvKuY2LtatAKE6o-vURRylNfSUzokItWC_vgNc-jrnX1xho9qxTmENk9CoBSpnbJXxX-0tZWSQVOI/s320/kirk_says.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135450137535092002" /></a><br /><strong>Royal Flush</strong><br />A quick note for my fellow poker enthusiasts. I was playing some Texas Hold 'Em this past weekend with some friends when I got a royal flush. Best of all, I was able to pull some money out of my fellow players with it. God only knows if I'll ever get another royal flush, but at least I can say that I got one.<br /><br /><strong>Trailer Park Boys</strong><br />Good news for Trailer Park Boys fans. It seems as though the gang from Sunnyvale finished filming a special recently and they also have plans to make another movie. This news comes from Mr. Lahey himself, John Dunsworth.<br /><br /><strong>Sesame Street</strong><br />Recently, the folks behind Sesame Street have been releasing a DVD series called "Sesame Street: Old School." The series features shows and clips from the early years of the program. The funny part is that each DVD comes with a warning sticker suggesting to consumers that the "Old School" DVDs are intended for mature audiences only. Reasons for this apparently include: scenes of the Cookie Monster smoking a pipe and eating cookies, as well as Oscar the Grouch being too grouchy. The New York Times has a decent article about the depravity that was Sesame Street in the 1970s and you can read it <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/magazine/18wwln-medium-t.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin">here</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Celine Dion</strong><br />I'd tell you what I think about Celine Dion, but apparently you're not allowed to have any opinion about her in Nova Scotia. From the moment it was announced that Dion was scheduled to play a concert in the Halifax Commons next summer, the general sentiment was that the whole idea was a clusterfuck waiting to happen. So it was no surprise that within a few days Dion's people cancelled the show, citing the venue as being inadequte for their stage needs. With this, many Nova Scotians breathed a hearty sigh of relief. However, the other shoe dropped recently when Dion's husband/manager said in a press conference that the show was cancelled due to the negative comments from the press. Mr. Dion (who creeps the shit out of me) went on to name names. The brunt of the blame went to a columnist for the Halifax Daily News, one Mr. David Rodenhiser, and his column <a href="http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=78444&sc=93">Like her or not, it's good news</a>, which originally ran in the paper on November 8th. Had Mr. Dion bothered to read the piece, he would have seen that while Mr. Rodenhiser does not care for Celine's music, he saw the concert as being of benefit to the city of Halifax. It's unfortunate for Mr. Rodenhiser that he received so much criticism in the beginning for supporting the concert and now he's being scapegoated for its cancellation. Unfortunately this is becoming a trend for the city of Halifax, the populations vocally balks at the announcement of any major event and then they decry its cancellation.<br /><br /><strong>Movies</strong><br />As some of you might know, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is currently on strike. This means there will be no new episodes of the Daily Show or the Colbert Report in the near future. The effects of the WGA strike also seem to be making their way into the realm of movies. This means that, should the strike continue long enough, Hollywood will run out of new movie ideas. (Yes, I realize that some people think they ran out of ideas years ago, but let's move on, shall we...)<br /><br />So I am hereby throwing my hat into the ring, Hollywood. The following are some script ideas that you can buy from me should you run out of scripts. I can write the screenplay to any one of these ideas in a weekend for $100 and some Criterion Collection DVDs. Potential scripts include:<br /><br />- My Boss is a Werewolf<br />- The Mustache that Dripped Blood<br />- The Killer Cubicle, the workplace that gives deadlines a whole new meaning<br />- Samurai Crossing Guard<br />- When the Chips are Down, a heart-warming tale of gambling addiction<br />- The Mop that Killed<br />- Space Cheese<br />- William Shatner vs Your Car (90 minutes of Shatner smashing your car with a baseball bat)<br />- Death Net (it turns out that the internet gives you AIDS)<br />- Gumby Meets Al Gore<br />- Night of the Lobster (kinda like Night of the Living Dead but with lobsters)<br />- Mad Cow Disease: The Musical<br />- Zombie Lawyer, a comedy<br />- Clamatto, a documentary (seriously, what the hell were those guys thinking?)<br />- The Life and Times of John Wilkes Booth, an animated feature<br />- Monkey vs Shark<br /><br />All ideas are copyrights of Quammy Inc. The ball's in your court Hollywood.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-44873821622110137212007-10-06T11:31:00.001-03:002009-10-12T11:02:17.933-03:00Plate of Shrimp<blockquote>A lot o' people don't realize what's really going on. They view life as a bunch o' unconnected incidents 'n things. They don't realize that there's this, like, lattice o' coincidence that lays on top o' everything. Give you an example; show you what I mean: suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either. It's all part of a cosmic unconsciousness.</blockquote><br />That particular piece of pseudo-philosophy is from one of my favorite cult films, 1984's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087995/">Repo Man</a>. While I don't have much faith in the existence of a "cosmic unconsciousness," I still believe that there is some wisdom in that particular monologue.<br /> <br />Yesterday morning, a morning like most others, I was reading <a href="http://www.indiewire.com/movies/2007/10/hoop_dreams_top.html">an article</a> that was linked from IMDB's homepage. The article was little more than a best-of list concerning documentaries. At number two on the list was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096257/">The Thin Blue Line</a>, a documentary I had never heard of. <br /> <br />Later on in the day, I was reading <a href="http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/tony_kaye">an interview</a> on the Onion's AV Club with director Tony Kaye. In the interview, which was mostly concerned with a documentary that he had recently completed, he mentioned The Thin Blue Line. Having then heard mention of an unfamiliar documentary for the second time in a few hours, I went to wikipedia to find out more. <br /> <br />With that curiosity settled, I thought I would read a little bit about each of the other titles on the best-of list that I wasn't already familiar with. I was almost finished reading wikipedia's entry on the Rolling Stones documentary <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065780/">Gimme Shelter</a> when the very song for which the documentary was named happened to come on the radio.<br /> <br />Simple coincidences? Evidence of a cosmic unconsciousness? Either way, don't be surprised if someone mentions a plate of shrimp in the near future.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-14139821102608306582007-09-30T10:35:00.000-03:002007-09-30T10:52:18.889-03:00Ron James @ The Chester PlayhouseLast night I saw the Canadian comedian Ron James at the Chester Playhouse. He was doing a benefit for the Playhouse and also working out the kinks in some new material that he'll be recording soon for a TV special. His act was pretty funny, peppered here and there with nods to the locals. But what I enjoyed most about his set were the lengthy alliterative rants that would pop up on occasion.<br /><br />In case you don't know who Ron James is (perhaps you never tried to sit through and episode of Blackfly, simply because it was filmed in a town near you), the following is one of the few clips of his material that I found on Youtube. He did some of this same material in his set last night at the Playhouse.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zSWPZw8RDXw"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zSWPZw8RDXw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-10980675446649642212007-09-05T18:30:00.000-03:002007-09-05T18:35:09.335-03:00The Indie WestI just heard about this clip through the Onion's AV Club, so I thought I'd share it with all y'all. Essentially someone has taken clips from Sergio Leone's <em>Once Upon A Time In The West</em> and matched it to the Arcade Fire track "My Body Is A Cage." They mesh pretty well. I should mention, however, that the clip contains spoilers, so if you were planning on watching the movie (though I doubt you were) you might not want to check this out. Either way, enjoy.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Pyp34v6Lmcc"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Pyp34v6Lmcc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-10282325364535680042007-08-31T18:00:00.000-03:002007-09-01T13:17:33.745-03:00Driving MusicI start up my car on the way home from work today and I get probably the best set of songs that the local classic rock station has ever put back-to-back. As part of their long weekend top 104 album countdown, my homeward journey was backed by:<br /><br />"Band on the Run"<br />"Jet"<br />"Let Me Roll It"<br />and "Helen Wheels"<br /><br />Practically a Paul McCartney and Wings "best of." If only it could have been capped off with "Wonderful Christmastime." And while some of you may scoff at my delight in hearing a Wings mini-marathon, you have to realize that the station is more likely to play April Wine and Nickleback than anything else, so I'll take a small victory when I can get one.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13130782.post-23531163337079431602007-08-16T12:45:00.000-03:002007-08-16T13:03:58.949-03:00Where The Hell Did The Summer Go?Summer is over, sort of. It's officially Race Week here in Chester and that means, come Sunday morning, summer is over. Sure, it might still be nice out and you might still have some vacation time coming to you. But around these parts, the post-Race Week blues will be setting in and no one will be too interested in whooping it up.<br /><br />I've got to say though, that with minimal effort I managed to have a pretty good summer. I got to see two of my favorite bands in concert (the White Stripes and Eric's Trip), I got to visit with some family and good friends, I managed to pick up some cool records, and I saw a few good movies. So, all in all, I'm left with very little to complain about.<br /><br />So, while it's still warm enough to wear shorts, I'd advise you all to crack an ice cold beer, plunk your ass down in a lawn chair, light a roman candle, and enjoy the outdoors.Quammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140725955293431910noreply@blogger.com1