Hank Hates Us All

I recently started watching Californication on Showtime and find it ironically engrossing. The irony of the situation arises from the title character's own vehement hatred to blogging and the idea of the internet.

Hank, played by David Duchovny, is a writer trying desperately to write another book despite his many vices and lack of inspiration. Hank fights his fate as a "One hit wonder" author after his novel "God Hates Us All" becomes popular and is adapted into a crowd-pleasing, but literarily disappointing film.

His obstacles to writing are alcohol, casual sex, the fact that people are stupid (If Orwell was a bit more pissed when he wrote "Politics and the English Language"), and being away from his home city of New York (Think if Bukowski ever left L.A.). Despite his pitiful situation, Hank is a likable guy with some flaws. He is hateful, condescending, and irreverent, but seems like a fun guy to hang out with.

Duchovny plays the role well. You can believe he is an artist who is only identified with one thing and has come to resent the world in which he resides... The show is entertaining, albeit sexually gratuitous. It’s like the creator of the show really wanted to milk the fact that it is on Showtime rather than a basic network.

Definitely not for the chiddlins, but entertaining television.

Drop Box

What a cool program. I was just shown Dropbox by a friend (Chris of Wtair) and I must say that it is one of the coolest pieces of software I have ever seen. Essentially it is a glorified HTTP server, but it works much more smoothly than any other I have seen.

After downloading the program a folder appears on your desktop, but it isn't just any folder. This folder is a window to another world (or just the internet...)! Any file you put in the folder can be accessed from your personal page online, but apart from just uploading the file you can share the file.

Though it may not sound that impressive, using this program makes collaborating with someone much easier through the internet. Whenever I finish a small part of a collaborative project, I just toss it into the Dropbox folder and within seconds Chris (the other part of the project) can access it in the public folder on his desktop just as I can. Also pretty cool about Dropbox is that it works on both Windows and Macs (breaking all kinds of barriers!).

Currently this program is in beta stages with a folder size limit of just over 2 gigs. I assume once the project goes live it will cost money, but even at this early stage it seems worth lots.

~Mike


_\\//

Stay Classy, World!

Here is a post I found on the internet and think is both accurate and funny. The advice is mostly solid as I try to live most of the points mentioned. Give it a read if you feel so inclined.

How to Be Classy

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Being classy is not about being stuck up; it is about having style and taking care to be polite to others and to reflect a genuine interest in them. It is also about being confident in yourself. This article will teach you how to move through life with class and ease.

Steps

1. Choose your battles; choose your friends. Few battles are truly worth fighting. Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves (mentally disabled, animals, children, etc). Be wary of those who appear to enjoy bickering. If someone is rude to you, either ignore them completely (recommended) or, once you have completely calmed down and are thinking clearly, explain how you perceived their actions and work towards a resolution. Never stoop to their level, and do not be hasty. Surround yourself with positive, polite people who encourage and live your classy, intelligent lifestyle.
   
2. Choose your words. The classy individual listens more than they speak. Having a strong vocabulary is important, but do not use a word unless you are certain of its meaning. Use words to express yourself lucidly. Importantly, do not correct others when they use improper grammar. Differences in background, family life, and education cause people to speak differently, and often people use slang for effect. More than this, it is irritating and degrading to be corrected by a know-it-all. Do not insult, gossip, or slander. When necessary, voice your opinions appropriately and constructively. This encourages your audience to listen carefully when you speak.
   
3. Do not be a doormat. You must be courteous, but do not bend over backwards to please others. If you do, you may find yourself being taken advantage of in the future. Limit your time and availability and draw boundaries with others so that they are aware of your limits.
   
4. Break the stereotype shackles. More often than not, using labels in any way, whether to identify yourself or others, shows a lack of creativity, lethargic social skills, and a lack of careful observation. Give everyone respect and the benefit of the doubt.
   
5. Be assertive. Avoid passive-aggressive thinking; this is likely to trip you up eventually. Assertiveness demonstrates maturity, thoughtfulness, and confidence. Class requires balance, and assertiveness is a prime example of this concept.
   
6. Make sure your clothes fit well and that you are well groomed. Excellent presentation is half of the battle. Wear clothing and accessories which flatter your body and never wear anything you feel uncomfortable in. It is important to remember that modesty is key in earning the respect of others. A bit of cleavage may be fashionable, but true gentlemen will appreciate modesty more than exposure.
   
7. Avoid getting caught up in trends. There is nothing wrong with enjoying fashion or buying clothing you find attractive, but it is important to stay in control. Do not become a slave to fashion, or you may be regarded as foolish, "high maintenance", and/or shallow. The clothing you wear should enhance your personality, not create or alter it. This advice can be applied to many aspects of life in which you may feel pressured to "fit in."
   
8. Avoid desperate behavior like the plague. This is the kiss of death for the classy person. Only desperate times call for desperate measures. Take a deep breath, be strong, and move through the situation with elegance and grace. You will be the victor for it, no matter the outcome.
   
9. Seek wisdom. As difficult as it can be to heed the advice of those more experienced than yourself, it is a necessary step at times. No matter your age or ability, allow yourself to learn from the mistakes and victories of those older or more experienced than you. You will win their favor and be available to pass on your own wisdom or advice.
   
10. Be open to personal development. Do not berate yourself, but be receptive to constructive change. In our world, change is inevitable. Be a positive and flexible part of it and show others the way as well. Face life rather than burying your head in the sand and others will know instinctively that you are someone whose opinion counts.
    
11. Carefully consider tattoos and piercings. Let's face it: it is easy to judge by appearance. Therefore, take careful consideration when deciding if it is a good idea for you to get visible tattoos or body piercings. Even though a person’s outward appearance does not automatically show his or her inner qualities, appearances can reflect how a person is willing to be perceived by the world. Job opportunities may be limited by such an expression. Also keep in mind that although tattoos and piercings are expressions of individuality, they can be permanent or difficult (even costly) to remove. If you are in doubt about how a tattoo or piercing will impact you in the future, find another way to express yourself.
    
12. Be knowledgeable and aware. It is wise to become politically, culturally, and religiously aware. Even the most basic knowledge can save a person from embarrassment and awkwardness. If you know in advance that you will be spending time with someone of an unfamiliar background, it is a good idea to do more in-depth research to avoid embarrassing faux pas.
    

Warnings

• Changing your behavior may feel unnatural. If it does, remind yourself that you are a work in progress. A classy person is simply one who consistently exhibits classy behavior. Focus on your behavior and attitude rather than your feelings.
  
• If you slip up, forgive yourself, apologize to anyone who may have been hurt by your not-so-classy behavior, and continue on your way. That's classy!
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be Classy. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

The Slip

In another ridiculously cool, pirate-friendly, move, Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails have just released their new CD online... FOR FREE.

Nine Inch Nails has always talked the piracy talk, but now it appears they are finally walking the walk. Some would argue that their previous albums Ghosts were free, but as an entirely instrumental release, some felt a bit gypped. With this full release, we can assume that the band really means it this time.

As my friend pointed out you can't even pay for this release if you want to. Trent will not take your money. He evens encourages people to hand out the CD to strangers (like I will surely do). DL it now because there is no reason not to. A full review will come in time.

~Mike


_\\//

Narrow Stairs

I have never listened to Death Cab For Cutie before, and honestly the seemingly silly name was a deterring factor. I was recently handed a copy of their new album "Narrow Stairs" and I must say that I am impressed.

The album is very catchy and contains the kinds of songs that get stuck in your head all day. The album, as described by lead singer Ben Gibbard, is "creepy", "weird", and "more dissonant [than previous albums]". After listening extensively to the album I can confirm these statements, but also qualify them. It is the good weird and abrasive.

On first listening tracks like the introductory Bixby Canyon Bridge, the single I Will Possess Your Heart, and Grapevine Fires caught my attention. The slow and deliberate euphony of the premier track is mesmerizing. The calm melody gives way to intriguing lyrics and a powerful guitar riff.

The miasmatic bass and piano of the second track's extensive opening is equally enthralling. It remains calm and hypnotizing while exuding strong emotion and power. As long as the intro is (about 4 minutes) I never get bored listening to the entire 8 minute track. The somewhat creepy lyrics of the song are delivered flawlessly by Gibbard's unique voice and are framed by the precise drumwork of Jason McGerr.

The CD is full of memorable moments and endearing quirks. Gibbard was definitely accurate in his description of a slightly "creepy" and dissonant" album, but the idiosyncrasies work wholly in its favor. Narrow Stairs is an indisputable addition to my list of favourite albums. And as an added plus, the album art is absolutely fantastic. I recomend the album with confidence.

~Mike



_\\//

Welcome Back to Liberty City

Our first outing in the land of the free and the home of the impulsively violent can be remembered at best as clunky. GTA 3's controls were less than solid and more than annoying. I explicitly remember trying to shoot a man who was shooting me and killing EVERY SINGLE OTHER PERSON on the street before the auto-targeting locked on to him. Yes, it was groundbreaking and revolutionary, but I think people have a tendency to glorify the game a bit.

Rockstar has spared no expenditure of time or money for our second date with one Liberty City. Sure, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories could be counted as a second date, but I like to think of it as one of those group dates where our relationship never really advanced much. Grand Theft Auto 4 is, to put it simply, AWESOME!

Everything good about the past GTA games is there minus some fluff (who really needs a jetpack anyway?). There are cars, guns, missions, pedestrians, cops, helicopters, bikes, clothes, and even hookers!

One thing that GTA 4 has that has been sadly absent from other entries in the series is a deep and compelling protagonist. All the way back to the infancy of the series in the original Grand Theft Auto the protagonist has been little more than a faceless murder-machine. Rockstar seemed to try to remedy this a bit in San Andreas, but fell a bit short. As I am sure you have heard from innumerable sources, Niko Bellic is a the kind of guy you wouldn't mind hanging out with.

Niko has emotions! From the first murder you commit in Liberty City Niko expresses resentment of his actions. "I told myself I wouldn't kill anyone here." He says, as he watches a stabbed a bloodied drug dealer fall off a pier. These morals, as useless as they may seem to the majority of people who bought this game, do not impede the play process though. You can still massacre people to your heart's content.

It is hard to say anything about the game that hasn't already been said by IGN, Gamespot, or 1up. The game is great. If you have a 360 or a PS3 the odds are you already have it or plan on getting it soon. I recommend this course of action. You will likely be ostracized if you hold any sort of association with gamers and do not have this game. Take this as a warning!

Play the game. NOW

~Mike



_\\//

I am Happy to Have a Vampire Weekend

We interrupt this string of Nerdcore posts for an important Indie update...


I have lately been listening to some freakishly good music from a band with a freakishly cool name: Vampire Weekend. It would seem I missed the 'popular train', but apparently they achieved some minor internets fame. Regardless of my continuous string of tardiness, I will tell you about them.

When I heard this band I pictured a couple of guys from an urban area in Africa who liked the western sound and added their local flavour to make a symphony of awesome. When I looked up a picture of the band (and their history) I felt like an idiot.I found out that they are, not only shape-shifters pretending to look like some white kids from suburbia, but a couple of friends from Columbia university who are fantastic musicians.

Their debut CD, Vampire Weekend, starts with the almost Reggae sounding Mansard Roof. The exotic instruments found in the song further enhance the African vibe. With the almost-tribal sound of the instrumentals, it is funny to hear lyrics about colonial architecture and city life. The song itself is upbeat and fun, warranting a spot on my "favourite song" list.

Track two happens to be another of my favourites, which lends me to believe these Vampires know a thing or two about starting a CD right. Oxford Comma, as the second track is called, features more conventional instrumentals (with a few exotic sounds that I couldn't recognize) and some fun; using-songy, but intelligent lyrics. A fun song indeed.

A quick and punk-y bassline can be heard prominently in Track 3, A-Punk. The seemingly conventional sounds of the intro made me think that the African vibe was only meant to be in track 1, but once the vocals picked up, I caught the Souke vibe again.

I followed the Souke vibe to track 4 entitled Ape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. It features some great vocals (subdued at some points but quick transitions to more reggae shouting). I really like the laid-back nature of the song. It shows the range of the band that they can play such upbeat and fast songs like A-Punk and switch to slower, more heart-felt vocals. A credit to the band, though not one of my favourites.

Next is M79. The lyrics of the 5th track are great. The use of metaphor to describe New York are fantastically entertaining. This is another of my multitudinous favourite tracks off the album. The classical instruments make the song either sophisticated or satiric... I assume the latter, as the band seems anything but serious in their songs. It's hard to explain the mixture of classical background with African sounding Indie vocals, so instead I say... LISTEN!

The next song, Campus, makes me think that the band enjoys what they do. A quick bassline, reminiscent of A-Punk mixed with the everyday narrative of the song make for a fun but identifiable love story between a teacher and a student at university. Its either hilarious or sad, I can't tell which.

The next song, Bryn, and the one two tracks away (I Stand Corrected) where my two least favourite. Its hard to pick least favourites because they both have redeeming factors. The meaningful and deep lyrics and cello in the two songs (respectively) are nice, but against the other songs don't jump out at me. Similar is the sandwiched track, One, it's fun, but gets annoying as the track drags on.

Walcott, track 20, lends some story to the album and the name of the band/album. The band members say the name shares the same name as a film they made about a boy who has to go to slay vampires by order of an elder. The lyrics seem meaningless until hearing the story at which time they become funny and dragged me into the story. It is a good way to end the album.

Its a great album with a very fun sound. I recommend it highly and listen to it thoroughly. Pick it up anywhere that records are sold! or... something.

~Mike



_\\//

Nerdcore Could Rise Up

My last post was a short look at the Nerdcore scene. We looked at MC Hawking and Frontalot. I have been listening to a lot of the latter, but have begun to diversify to 2 other big nerdcore names. mc chris and MC Lars. Both have ups and downs and if you care.... keep reading

mc chris, arguably one of the biggest names in nerdcore, sounds like a 10 year old. The fact has to be acknowledged and now that we have, we can move on. His lyrics are rock solid and his flow is good too. The themes of his songs are based on the not-nerd topics of sex and drugs (that aint nerdcore!) but he attacks them with a very geeky diction. Though some of his songs might scare nerds who have never conversed with a female, they are still solid music. Additionally, the CD's of this MC are not just laden with hot tracks. If you are to buy (LOL) or download one of the chris' albums than you get a few skits as well. These skits range from the humorous to the really dumb, but they "break up the monotony" as mc chris says himself. Check him out most definitely.

MC Lars is next week, because I need more time to digest his stylings.

In other news I have started writing another story, but it may take away. It will end up being about a private eye and will hopefully be interesting. Even if you don't care, you could pretend to to make me feel good about myself.

~Mike


_\\//

MC Hates My Blog

While many have most likely never heard of Nerdcore, it is hard to deny that its a fast growing genre. I recently downloaded a compilation of Nerdcore music (which is a combination of hip hop and nerd themes, for those who don't know) and am enjoying it thoroughly. In the compilation downloaded are such artists as MC Frontalot, mc chris, MC Hawking, MC Lars, Beefy, Optimus Rhyme, and a few tracks by Baddd Spellah.

I usually hate rap and hip hop with few exceptions, but I am glad to say that the witty lyrics and fantastic nerd-based beats of the Nerdcore rappers listed above have redeemed my faith in the rap genre. If you think you could enjoy such a random genre and haven't seen it yet, I recommend you watch what is available of "Nerdcore For Life". It is a movie about the genre of nerdcore. TRAILER!



Possibly the most popular nerdcore rapper, MC Frontalot has been featured on Penny Arcade a few times and recently returned the favour with a track entitled "Penny Arcade Theme". He has a pretty extensive library with some great tracks, however some of his songs really suck. I would recomend select tracks off of both Nerdcore Rising and Nerdcore Hip Hop namely This Old Man, Nerdcore Rising, Penny Arcade Theme, Nerdcore Hip Hop, and Special Delivery for some political rapping.

MC Hawking is another great Nerdcore rapper (the famous physicist Stephen Hawking after he took up a rap career with DJ Doomsday). He raps about topics such as entropy, his extensive collection of degrees, and his hatred for "MIT Bitches". While rapping, Hawking uses Microsoft Sam text to voice program to overcome being mute (which gets kind of annoying after a while). While the computerized voice can get somewhat tiresome, hearing MC Hawking talk about being "crazy as fuck" or bitch-slapping punk motherfuckers. He spits on a few tracks with MC Frontalot like "Bitchslap" and Frontalot's "Nerdcore Rising". Check him out in measured doses to avoid being annoyed by the MS Sam voice.

Later this week I will review some other Nerdcore rappers for the masses. Nerdcore For Life.

~Mike

_\\//

Jump Off a Cliff

The scene is a normal one, not uncommon in the life of an everyday teenager. A group of teens sit in a room, looking for something to do. "Lets go to the movies!" Says one young soul. "The movies! What a great idea!" Echoes another "What should we see?". The first teen says to the other "What about Jumper. That looks exciting!"

Freeze frame.

At times like this it is imperative for one to think. "Should I really forsake IMDB's rating of 6 Stars out of 10? Maybe the movie isn't that great." You may then cast aside those preliminary thoughts with a cursory ponderanceand ponder "What do they know at IMDB? They are just a bunch of random people from the internet and that means they are automatically wrong."

Fine. I accept that you may think like that. If you didn't then that would mean you might actually take stock in what I have say, and a world were people listen to what I have to say scares the shit out of me.

With all this appraisal, I implore you to consider the point of view of some professionals like those at Rotten Tomatoes. "Their reviews of FOURTEEN percent probably come from their high-faloot'n point of view as artsy hippies." You say surrounded by your peers who nod in approval. "Those chumps at Rotten Tomatoes give everything a bad rating."

Whatever. Totally ignore these critics. Fine, but consider my opinion (lolz, yeah right. am-I-right?):

The movie was terrible. The ghost of a plot was swallowed up by the terrible acting and annoying characters that made themselves incessantly apparent throughout the film. Whenever I began to forget the ghastly shell of a film in favor of thoughts of how cool it would be to teleport like the people in the movie, the painfully caustic cast members grated against my last nerve.

It seems like they made a rough draft of a film and then meant to bring the reel to the test audience rather than the real audiences. The main character, played by Hayden Christiansen, has little to no character development throughout the film apart from an "everyman" characterization; and it seems the director decided to add an awkward love interest halfway through the film.

After watching the movie I am forced to think that Rachel Bilson auditioned for the role of "Nagging, whiny girlfriend who is moderately attractive, but NEVER shuts the hell up", and if that is the role for which she auditioned then she deserves the goddamn best actress Oscar nomination.

If you have 10 dollars and think it would be great to go see a movie... go see Juno or... rent a better movie. I think 3:10 to Yuma is out on DVD. See that fantastic film.

~Mike

_\\//

The Battlestar Cometh

While muddling through a multitude of topics to write about, I happened upon a life-changing commercial, a simple commercial, a commercial I wish I could fucking find on the internet. The commercial had a simple message. "Battlestar Galactica is coming." and its season 4 is coming soon. It comes in March.

As could be inferred by the name of this blog, I am a fan of Battlestar Galactica. I think it is a fantastic show that should have appeal to even those who dislike science fiction. The show is a dramatic and suspenseful masterpiece. I am proud to say that I converted a friend to the BSG faith.

If you, the reader, have any access to Battlestar Galactica DVDs or Mpegs or ANYTHING! I implore you to watch it or at least read my previous review of BSG. Since the posting of the last review some things have changed. You may notice that despite the hopes and prayers of sci-fi fans across the country, the newest season that was scheduled for release in December was pushed back 3 months due to the recently ended writers strike. Also, I have gone from a rather tentative fan of the series to a die-hard fan who values BSG on the same level as the much-revered Star Trek.

In this really... insubstantive update, I hope that I can divert your attention from my lack of writing with this shiny commercial!

Hey look over here!



Tune in to Battlestar Galactica on the Sci Fi channel this March for some of the best television entertainment I have seen in years.

~Mike

_\\//

I Promise!

I swear I will write again soon. Really!

In the mean-time, I just updated the RSS feed for my blog. If you subscribe you may want to re-subscribe. The feed should redirect, but I figure I'll mention it here in case it doesn't.

~Mike

_\\//

The Cinematic Masterpiece That is Cloverfield

Upon first hearing of Cloverfield, I was skeptical. The idea, though vague, seemed like something that could be kinda cool... or really shitty. As the release date for the movie steeped in mystery came closer, I unconsciously became more and more excited waiting for it. The movie had grabbed me ferociously without my knowledge and tossed me into the frenzy that is the hype-machine.

I found myself rooting through theories and prospects concerning the movie from what the monster looks like to why the film was titled "Cloverfield". But yesterday... yesterday the movie was released (I love midnight showings in crisp, clean DLP). It was one of the few films that I have ever anxiously awaited that lived up to my outlandishly high expectations.

The film was a masterpiece. As I am sure most of you know, the events of the film were seen through the eyes of a simple citizen of New York recording the happenings through a video camcorder. A party is interrupted by explosions that rock the city, and without giving away too much plot, hell breaks loose.

I would really hate to accidentally ruin the movie for you, so I will be brief on details. In short, the movie is a credit to the Kaiju genre (if it can be called that). I hope to see the monster celebrated on a scale of Godzilla. In fact... I would thoroughly enjoy to see the Cloverfield monster attempt to take over Japan with the two monster's locked in epic mortal combat for the fate of Japan.

Critics have been talking about how the movie is disrespectful to the memory of 9/11 Scott "Rudy Giuliani" Foundas of LA Weekly described the events in Cloverfield "cheap and opportunistic". Calling Cloverfield cheap and opportunistic in regards to the tragedy of 9/11 is like saying Godzilla is cheap and opportunistic, benefiting off of the sad memory of Hiroshima. The movie is simply unrelated to 9/11 and to draw the parallel, one must think any destruction of New York City cheap and opportunistic. People who over-analyze things piss me off.

The movie is quickly paced, uniquely and magnificently directed (the first person view was the perfect, neigh the ONLY way to show the movie), and acted... adequately. If I had any problems with the movie the mediocre acting would be one. Another would be the lack of character development. I believed that some of the characters could have become likable and endearing with time, but the 90 minute time limit on the movie constricted it shortly. Speaking of the time limit, though it furthered the idea of in-character watching, I just wanted more! Call me selfish, but I would have been ecstatic if the movie went on for another 90 minutes.

That being said... I don't know how well a direct sequel will do. The veil of shadow and uncertainty about the movie and the monster are gone. The freshness of the first person view is fading, and ... I mean... New York is already mangled... Will the monster move to another city or something? I find this conundrum similar to that of Portal. Do we REALLY want a sequel? .

In short... See Cloverfield... now...


I'll wait...




Seen it yet?


~Mike

_\\//