Mystery Train

Check out the film by the same name, by jim Jarmusch, featuring Joe Strummer of The Clash. As well as Steve Buscemi and Screamin Jay Hawkins, to name a few.

Elvis Presley/The Clash

For those who didn't know this.....

Therese

This is the clipper ship that my family came to America on. It is the "Therese." It is tattooed on my lower back. It is amazing.

Carpe Diem...!

I need to start seizing the day again! Life is too short...I have been watching it go by! I need to kick start my day every day. Get away from this horrible machine. And live. LIVE!

Videos that changed my life....

What is going on in the ocean....

Macropinna macrostoma (common name "barreleyes") can rotate its eyes to a vertical position; because its head is transparent, it can then see predators or prey above itself without moving its body!

First the jellyfish now this. Evolution is really stepping up a notch in the ocean.

Georgia on my mind....

I just watched Ray. Amazing.

Linear Algebra Elimination Method for Matrices (M.I.T.)

Linear Algebra w/ Matrices (M.I.T.)

Red Fang

WOW! I just stole this off of Jeff's blog, but man is this great. So Portland metal. Slow. Cheap beer. Beards. Pretty much sums up Portland's late twenty something scene. The drummer is the bartender at the Shanghai. When I drank, he always seemed nice. Or at least, the place was nice. Good music.
I'm glad the nerds win in the end......
I'm glad I don't drink anymore.

One of the most emotional videos I've ever seen....

CSNY - Down By The River (Buddy Miles)

Looks at those chops.....

Johnny Cash Show - Joni Mitchell

This is for Mike. Enjoy. I know that your a big fan.

I never do anything fun anymore....

...EVER! School is my biggest social outlet. Hmmm....kinda pathetic. I'm thinking about getting a dog. I need a companion. I'm thinking Chihuahua.

Muder City Devils TONITE (PORTLAND)

They are back. Reunited. I never saw them in they hay day. I may try and make it tonite. It's sold out. It is a must. Here is a classic about Mr. Pop. "Broken Glass." I hear Spencer, the singer, has a beard now.

Beastie Boys - "Humble Beginnings...."

This is great. B.E.A.S.T.I.E. - Boys Entering Anarchistic States Towards Internal Excellence.

Townes Van Zandt - Waiting around to die....

Austin's finest.

Sloop John B "I Want to Go Home" - Johnny Cash

Interesting JC version.

Sloop John B - Beach Boys

The famous single included on Pet Sounds, due to its success. I just wish Good Vibrations was on this album as well.
I can only call this music, or better put, arrangement and composition, beyond amazing. It's so rich. Nothing sounds like this era of the Beach Boys. Pet Sounds is so real. So emotional. Such rich harmonies and dense melodies. This vid is kinda funny.

Little know fact: this is a cover. Not an original. Wikipedia: It was originally a traditional West Indies folk song, possibly recorded earliest by The Weavers under the title "Wreck of the John B", the song taken from a collection by Carl Sandburg (1927)

Requiem for a Dream

So....after watching The Wrestler a few days ago and being thoroughly blown away. I realized I needed to watch Darren Aronfsky's early masterpiece Requiem for a Dream. This movie is legendary for being beyond memorable. And for good reason. But....as I write this all I can say is I'm speechless. It is so unbelievably hard hitting. It makes "addiction" look about as fun as medieval torture. I can't even write. I just feel numb right now. It is so effective. If you've never seen it, its one of the only movies I've ever seen where I just had to close my eyes and feel the pain of the film. It takes you places you don't want to go. It's truly horrific. Awful. And the message is so powerful. So, when I say his new film the Wrestler is amazing and human, what I mean to say, is its good but it is nothing compared to the epic horror reality of Requiem.

The theme song sums up the intensity and feel of the film. It is rare that a soundtrack can accomplish that, but when it does.....that's a perfect movie.

Disclaimer

I never mean to offend anyone with my blog. I realize that sometimes I need to be more sensitive about what I write and show in my blog. Sometimes I just rant a little, and thinks can come out wrong. I just hope that I don't offend anyone. I have a lot of family and good friends that read this blog, I think. So I will try to be more sensitive. Please comment, and keep me on my toes. Thank you.
Sincererly,
-me

The Immortal Jellyfish

So they've discovered, what they believe to be an immortal jellyfish. After reaching sexual maturation it reverts back to a polyp, its juvenile state, and then grows up all over again. Apparently they are spreading rapidly across the Earth's ocean. I've been saying for years now that jellyfish are aliens, and no one believes me, maybe now I'll get some respect. This is truly an interesting and bizarre development in science.

The Wrestler: Round and Round

WOW! So, I've been waiting to see the Wrestler and I finally saw it. It definitely lived up to its reputation and maybe then some. In fact it makes me wish I was a better writer, so I could properly convey my feelings about the movie. I love how Aronfsky chose to compare the parallel lives of wrestlers and strippers, with the movie's two main characters.
I could really relate to the main character's failed attempts in life. And the movie really showed Rourke's human side, even though in reality he is "the wrestler." In fact he has already been offered a WWC or whatever wrestling career offer, which will undoubtedly negate his Oscar possibilities. Nevertheless, he deserves it. I just hope he doesn't jump off the top ropes for his acceptance speech.
What else can I say. As a time piece it was amazing. Using 80's metal and all the modern backlash to that scene, like his boss's rude comments about sitting on guys faces and wearing tights. About a different era, a time when what was considered so masculine, is now viewed as intensely gay. Amazing how it just seems to change with the time. I would imagine that being feminine and emo as a high school boy now is what is considered masculine. Who knows? I'm too old. All I know is that, "The 80's were awesome, until that Cobain pussy!" Surely the quote of the flick.
What else do I say? I could probably watch it again right now. It was so raw, tender, and human. Few films are made like it anymore. It wasn't just Rocky or Karate Kid for wrestling, it was its own movie. My old roomate, Justin Wolfson, was Mickie Rourke's personal assistant (check the credits). He's going to have to write a book now. He has too. Justin, GET ON THAT! I'll do yer intro. If only I could write. DAMN! Back to math.

Academy Award Nominations

So, I finally checked out the Academy Award nominations and I have definitely have some comments to make. For one, they are all picks that are very relative to the times we are living in. Many of the movies are political in nature, such as Frost/Nixon, which for obvious reasons parallel 2008. Where as all the picks last year, such as No Country for Old Men, were all very violent, similar to the times. A few picks have really thrown me for a loop. One, I think its kinda sad to see both Angelina (sp?) Jolie and Brad Pitt nominated. I know America is obsessed with the "super couple," but does the Academy have to follow suit. Jolie does not deserve an Academy Award nomination EVER, I haven't seen the flick she's in, but I'm sure she can't possibly deserve it. This is the girl from Hackers, from Tomb Raider, this is not an actress. Next off, Robert Downey Jr for Tropic Thunder. Okay....I saw it. It was funny. Not hilariously funny, but funny enough. And I know the Academy hates comedies, but this pick just baffles me. Is the Academy trying to be up with the times, or just flat out racist. The role Robert Downey Jr plays in Tropic Thunder is a white man playing a black man. I'm sure if he wins this, it will be the greatest/most baffling acceptance speech EVER. Especially if he's high on cocaine, which he probably will be. Anyways...not too much else to put in. Milk I feel got picked, to represent the the current homosexual civil liberties fight in America. And Heath Ledger and Mickie Rourke got picked becuz they are fan favorites, and my personal favorites. I haven't even seen many of the movies that are up for awards, so I probably shouldn't even be writing anything. I feel bad about the Heath Ledger nomination. I think he was a person who was to emotional sensitive to play such a demented role. I think he went to close to the fire and got burned. I sincerely do.

Best Super Bowl Ad

I gotta say though...whatta game! I usually just watch the commercials, this time the game took the cake.