I've seen three of them

I've apaprently only seen three of the movies ominated for Oscars this year (I apparently spent more time with my family than I did with MGM, etc.):

Batman Begins (cinematography)
Star Wars Episode III (make-up)
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (costume design)

Excerpts from Hamas' Charter:"The Martyrs' Oath"

Hamas has apparently won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections in what is now being called Palestine. Why is this a big deal? To start with, because they are murderous bastards who have been behind most of the terrorist attacks in Israel. Here are two excerpts from Hamas' charter:

"Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious...The Movement is but one squadron that should be supported by more and more squadrons from this vast Arab and Islamic world, until the enemy is vanquished and Allah's victory is realised..."

"The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him salvation, has said: 'The Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslims, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him...'"

[Read the whole thing at The Jerusalem Post.]

Bling H20

Thanks, Devo, for showing us that you *can* have a campaign for bottled water that couples wit and subtle humor without resorting to a "lowest-common-denominator" approach.

And because I know you're probably dying to see the product in situ, here's the link.

Don't go solo.

It bothers me that so many great bands break up so that the lead singer can go solo. The music we fell in love with disappears as the singer attempts to prove he or she has "range." Some examples of folks who should've stuck with the band:

Bjork (The Sugarcubes)
Sting (The Police)
Paul McCartney (Wings) [Ha, ha]
Max Collins (Eve 6)
Gwen Stefani (No Doubt)
Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh (The Eagles)

I know you've got a list, too -- share it, won't you?

Why God Chose the Jews

Read Andrew Klavan's article in the California section of today's Los Angeles Times for a great op-ed piece on why Jews are the chosen people -- in essence, he casts anti-Semitism as an "early-warning system" for crazy people. That's why Jews are on this planet, he writes somewhat tongue-in-cheekily: people who claim the Jews are behind a worldwide conspiracy or killed Christ or run the banks or whatever are inevitably revealed as cranks, and we can use their early anti-Semitic ravings as warnings of potentially bigger trouble to come.

Shelly Winters, Star of "Pete's Dragon," Dies at 85

She was one wicked mother in "Pete's Dragon." And some other stuff, too.

[Source]

Star Wars Geeks Prepare:5-25-77 is coming!

Just watched a trailer for an awesome film -- 5-25-77. It's the story of a small-town geek obsessed with science fiction, and in particular the upcoming release of "Star Wars" on May 25, 1977 (hence the film's title).

I can remember dressing as Luke Skywalker for Halloween that year... hmm, I think it was Halloween. Well, I was five years old, so if I wore the outfit a little too much it can be forgiven. That said, I'm still a big fan of the series (even after seeing Episodes One, Two and Three), and I can't wait to see this movie.

The trailer's a big file (54mb), so I'm not hosting it, but you can see it here (just scroll down under the review of the film).

This is the home page for the movie, and this is something you may want after you watch the trailer.

Oh, and did I mention the movie was made on a Mac?

Larry David and Cowboys

Our buddy Rags mentioned in a comment that Larry David had recently written a piece on "Brokeback Mountain," and I just did, and it's great; here's an excerpt:

Somebody had to write this, and it might as well be me. I haven't seen "Brokeback Mountain," nor do I have any intention of seeing it. In fact, cowboys would have to lasso me, drag me into the theater and tie me to the seat, and even then I would make every effort to close my eyes and cover my ears.

And I love gay people. Hey, I've got gay acquaintances. Good acquaintances, who know they can call me anytime if they had my phone number. I'm for gay marriage, gay divorce, gay this and gay that. I just don't want to watch two straight men, alone on the prairie, fall in love and kiss and hug and hold hands and whatnot. That's all.

Is that so terrible? Does that mean I'm homophobic? And if I am, well, then that's too bad. Because you can call me any name you want, but I'm still not going to that movie.

Read the whole thing here, in The New York Times.

Recent Movies

Hollywood will rot on the windmills of Eternity
Hollywood whose movies stick in the throat of God
Yes Hollywood will get what it deserves.
Allen Ginsberg (1926 - 1997), poet

Movies I have seen recently:

Match Point – Excellent
Walk the Line – Excellent
Syriana – Wait for the DVD
Brokeback Mountain – Wait for the DVD
The Family Stone – Wait for the DVD
Good Night, and Good Luck -- Excellent

Making the Most of the New Year

The rose that all are praising
Is not the rose for me.
Thomas Haynes Bayly (1797 - 1839), writer

Welcome to a new year, big deal. We made it and we’ll make it again, according to life insurance actuaries. So far three days into 2006 and I don’t feel much like writing. I tend to write more frequently when I am content, and lately I’m anything but while trying to figure out the future. Where I’m I going to live? There may be an opportunity to move to the East Coast, if not, do I get a small place next to work or a place more affordable not far from where I am now? In either case, I will be looking for a place of my own by mid-February. This year will bring a number of changes that I hope I have the good sense and good luck to parlay into something positive.

So here is to all of us making the right choices for a happy, healthy and enjoyable New Year.