Linguistic Pet Peeves

Grammar patrol top three:

- "on accident"
- "anyways"
- saying "unsatisfied" when you mean "dissatisfied"

Grrr.

Hot Sauce Committee

It's nice to know that the Beasties are putting out a new rap album called Hot Sauce Committee, and it's also nice to know that they still kinda kick ass. You know, for old dudes:



Word.

I Wanna See Juliet's V

OMG, you got Lost in my 80s sci-fi mini-series! Juliet (and Scott Wolf, back from the dead) show up in a remake of V, yet another not-new idea from the Hollywood development executives who grew up in the 80s. This could be sweet. Looking forward to the Alf crossover on Melmac.

Screw You, Weather

Grrr.

Stone Gods

Because I am a grown-up that doesn't know what is going on anymore, I didn't realize that the Darkness had morphed into a new band called Stone Gods in the wake of their lead singer's departure. That dude was awesome, but man he must've had some real drug issues to screw up that gig. Stone Gods are not released in the US, and they sound a little too generic for my taste, but nice to know that those guys continue to rock. I saw the Darkness perform back in 2004 or whatever and it was one of the most dynamite rock shows that I've seen.

More Image Fun

Whee! So here's a little web app that lets you make Warhol-ish images. Not as robust as Obamicon...probably predates that one, by the looks of it. But still pretty fun, especially if you're Photoshop impaired like I am.

Something About History and Being Doomed to Repeat It

Here we go...Real Networks and the Hollywood studios go to court today over RealDVD. Check out the NPR report here. I totally understand the content holders' desire to protect their stuff, but seriously? Were these guys asleep the last ten years? You can't stop the bum rush. Gee, maybe if the studios figured out how to make a digital storefront for movies, and maximized their distribution deals with partners like Netflix, they won't end up like the record companies. Instead, that's EXACTLY where they are headed.

Sigh...

Kids Research

Here is an interesting NY Times article about Disney's marketing and research efforts surrounding Disney XD. Some people get prickly about the "Big Brother" aspect of media corporations doing this kind of research, but I don't see why it's weird for a company to want to gather information about its audience or consumer. I suppose there is an additional "creepy factor" when your consumers are kids. But what really gets my goat is that the "expert" that is profiled in this piece does not have any kids of her own. I find that hard to swallow. But whatevs!

Phew

It's a relief to learn that TNT, TBS and Cartoon Network are still securely in the top 10 of all cable networks. Damn that USA!!

Regarding Vampires and Other Cults

There's a very nice article in the recent New Yorker about vampires. The writer discusses the vampire myth in general, and how books like Bram Stoker's Dracula have maintained its popularity throughout the modern era. Truth is, since Stoker, vampires have enjoyed a cult following in fiction, movies, television, etc. In explaining cults of this type (there's a "culture" pun here that I am missing), the author, Joan Acocella, says that "cults often gather around powerful works of the second rank. Fans feel that they have to root for them."

I thought this was a great way to put it, explaining fandom very succinctly. I'll remember that one!

Thanks, Internet

Did I mention this was fun?

Obamicon

This is fun. Make your own "PROGRESS" poster in the Obama style at Obamicon.me. Warning: the site is a bit slow. Thanks to Eric for bringing this to my attention!

Cat-22 Fanart!

.: Calling Cat 22 :. by ~pollo-chan on deviantART

500th Post!

Yowza!

FYI, Intelligentsia

Well, the New Yorker has really beefed up its web offerings, including a complete digital version of the magazine every week. Too bad the user experience TOTALLY SUCKS ASS. Take that, snobs!

MC Flow - Incredible

Check out MC Flow's video for "Incredible" -- aw, yeah! Go, Abby!

RFTC Back From the Dead

Somehow, I missed this back in August: RFTC's All Systems Go, Vol. 3 on Vagrant Records. Just picked it up from Amazon. See? Speedo just won't die!!

Cream of Sum Yung Gai

OMG, this is awesome. Thanks to KJ for the head's up. There is nothing more to say, other than: hilarious!

Renaissance, Indeed!

Q-Tip has a new album out, entitled "The Renaissance" -- his first album since 1999's "Amplified", the initial solo outing released in the wake of Tribe's demise.

First of all, I was really excited to hear that Q-Tip had a new album out. But it got me to thinking about "Amplified" and a nagging question that has bugged me for almost a decade (seriously). To wit: why the heck was "Amplified" met with such a lukewarm reaction from both critics and fans? I still don't get it. I have listened to "Amplified" on and off since its release, and I still enjoy it to this day (despite the horrible -- HORRIBLE -- closing track with Korn).

The merits of "Amplified" are pretty clear to me: strong beats, smooth rhymes and two really awesome singles ("Breathe and Stop" and "Vivrant Thing"), but I think the album failed to meet expectations. (Once again, the Schwartz Theory of Media Consumption rears its head.) To be specific, I think fans and critics were expecting a Tribe album, and didn't get it. But that doesn't mean that "Amplified" was a failure.

I have a theory that Q-Tip just wanted to make a party record after Tribe imploded. "Amplified" is a simpler kind of album when you compare it to Tribe's stuff. Definitely poppy with slick production. Maybe without Phife to counter his rhymes, Q-Tip came across as rather flat. (Remember Chuck D's solo album?) Anyway, the point is that I like "Amplified" for what it is, and not what it isn't.

As for "The Renaissance" -- I have listened to it a number of times, and it's good. But not necessarily as good as "Amplified". I'm sure I'm in the minority opinion on that one. But there are people who agree:

From an Amazon user review of "Amplified":

i don't understand why this album's so undervalued...
yes, it may be far different from atcq albums, but is certainly a big part of 'him' anyway that still lives!

just loved it. n' still loving it :)

This got me to thinking further: are there other really good albums in my collection that just didn't resonate with critics and/or fans? I'm sure there are. I'll have to ponder that one.

The Search Is Over

Five words: Harvey Leeds - State of Shock. 'Nuff said.