I am looking for a dare-to-be-great situation

John Cusack turns 40 today.

I think in my 13-year old brain, that has great significance. Lloyd Dobbler is 40.

... I'll need some time with this. In the mean time, I direct you to the following: Being John Malkovitch, Grosse Pointe Blank, Better Off Dead, One Crazy Summer, Eight Men Out, The Journey of Natty Gann, Serendipity, High Fidelity, and, of course, Say Anything.

"Kickboxing. Sport of the future."

I'll need some time with this.

Newest four-issue mini series idea that should be dropped right now:

Okay, stay with me: Mad Max... on lawn mowers.

See, it's post-apocalyptic so people are growing their own food again, and farming is do-or-die. And these guys, they're giant combines for hire. They show up to town, barter for fuel and food, and thresh the corn. Except, you know, with bad guys.

...shut up. If you could see the imagery in my head you'd be on board. And issue three when they attach the blades to the guy and... fine. What do you got?

Texas style

If you're tired of crappy TV that makes you feel like you're not learning, may I suggest crappy TV that makes you feel like you're learning? Texas Ranch House is being re-run on our local PBS station, and it's a fine addition to the line-up of the "BLANK House" series.

This one had me cheering in the last episode, since the "antagonists" are so easy to dislike. Fairly straight ahead stuff: a family is the "ranch" family working with the "cowboys" in for three months in an 1800s style setting. The rancher has to deliver 200 head of cattle at the end of those three months and sell them for profit.

This version had lots of likable folks and stupid and funny. The show passes on a lot of PSBesque info and it's pretty entertaining. Any time I cheer at the TV and mock others it's gotta be a weiner, right?

In which we touch base again

It's been a week, blog. I can't believe how behind I am on you. I mean, what are you going to think about TV shows I like? About things I thought of and didn't follow through on?

I know, I know. There are plenty of entries started and stopped. You don't want any more of those half-hearted attempts, and neither do I. But I'm busy. And tired. So very tired. But also busy.

I owe you the story of the open house. I owe you the saga of the baby bird. And I owe you Memorial Day. And I'll get to all of them.

Soon.

New/Old Replacements TODAY

Blogger didn't want me to remind you earlier, but you can get new/"best of" The Replacements today.

Their hometown paper said: "The Replacements were a great band, but they weren't so great that their legacy can't be messed with. A decent new Replacements song recorded last December is a lot more fulfilling than yet another spin of "I Will Dare," no matter its magic."

And Entertainment Weekly said this: "... the first Replacements anthology to span their entire career still makes the point that few indie (or non-indie) rockers shredded their throats like Paul Westerberg, and few did so in the context of more poignant or uninhibited songs. Many, including the Goo Goo Dolls, ripped off their sound, but few approached their soul."

Here it is.

T-minus 1 day

One day till the new Replacements album streets. C'mon, you got Color Me Impressed (it's the Joey funeral song), I Will Dare, Skyway, Left of the Dial... plus two new songs.

Put away your Good Charlotte and your This Indie Band is Awesome And Has Messy Hair and listen to one of the most influential bands of the 80's. And then go buy Tim. And Pleased to Meet Me. And Let It Be.

Countdown to new Replacements

In two short days you can buy new/old Replacements. In stores. Online.

Do it. You know you're tired of your Brian McKnight and Christina Aguilera.

Net Neutrality

"The House voted on legislation yesterday that could determine the future of the internet and public access television in this country. In a vote of 321 to 101, the House voted to pass the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act, known as the COPE bill. This controversial telecommunications legislation would permit phone and cable companies to operate Internet and other digital communications service as private networks, free of policy safeguards or governmental oversight. The bill would effectively end what is known as “net neutrality” which is the concept that that everyone, everywhere, should have free, universal and non-discriminatory access to the Internet. The bill would also cut back the obligation of cable TV companies to devote channels to public access and fund the facilities to run them. And the COPE bill would replace local cable franchises with national franchises."

C'mon, really? It's this far? Really? Go here and get some info and get involved.

Get thee to the Googleplex

Two movies I want to see open on the same day, what a freakin' rarity:

Cars

A Prairie Home Companion

Ironic that one is a celebration of "fitting/not fitting in," a fish-out-of-water story told with the people making up the technology, and the other is the swan song of an older medium mixed with oral storytelling and song on its way out. John Lassatter is arguably moving into his prime helming Pixar and taking over Disney animation, endeavering to update Disney by returning to story. Robert Altman is 81, examining life and death, and working on a borrowed heart.

It's a good weekend to go to the movies.

Free swag! Woo hoo!

Dude, Mandy Amanos sister Kat just e-mailed me to say she's sending me a free comic.

Everything's comin' up Joey today! Take that IRS!

The One Where Paul Westerberg is in NewsWeek This Week

There's too much work and not enough time to read.

Go here and read an interview with Paul Westerberg where he reveals there are more songs recorded than on the new "best of" The Replacements album called Don't You Know Who I Think I Was? (you non-fans are buying this one, right? Because, well, you need it like you need air). Paul is also the coach of his sons baseball team, which is the coolest thing I've read all day. This article appears in the NewsWeek on stands now, and covers a lot of good territory in a short bit.

CNN.com ran a story about The Bangles and The 'mats that's worth a read too.

And, and, apparently The Old 97's make an appearance in The Break-Up. Sadly, I semi-want to see the movie now. They have a "best of" album coming out too, which you also need, unless, of course, you have their catalog.

What a frickin' great month for music.

1 minute of podcast fame

I made Cinecast baby! I mean Filmspotting! You may want to listen to the X-Men 3 review first, then the latest episode at about 26ish minutes in.

In your face Richmond and Baker! Who's the man dog now, Dogman?

Radio radio

I've been listening to podcasts for well over a year now, I guess. I just discovered a great new one today, so I thought I'd hit you with a few that I really dig:

TWIT As part of Leo Laporte's podcast empire, the anchor show with over a quarter million downloads per episode is still going strong. This McGalughlin Group of technology news and issues is what got me into podcasting, and it's still the show I look forward to the most. The other Radio Leo shows are great too, but this is the first.

Filmspotting Formerly Cinecast, recently renamed Filmspotting is where two guys talk about movies. Sam, the production manager for Ira Glass' This American Life, and Adam, a former film reviewer and college radio DJ, get together and offer reviews, prizes, and a top 5 list. Smart, literate, and usually pretty self-effacing, Cine...Filmspotting is a listen I always look forward to.

Wordballoon Emmy-nominated sports reporter John Siuntres talks comic books with a whole range of people makin' 'em. Insightful, loose, and smart conversation that deviates from comic talk to movies to art to TV. Wordballoon needs a website facelift, but it's a great show I always look forward to.


They Might Be Giants One of my favorite bands putting out FREE and rare tracks from their catalog. A great way to get your name out there, a great way to make me realize maybe I should buy more live shows...


KCRW's The Treatment Elvis does Hollywood. Elvis Mitchell interviews people in film, TV, books, and popular arts. I love the Elvis interviews, especially when it's a guest that excites him. He's like a Terry Gross, except just about movies and stuff, and you know, hip and a film critic and not a small white woman.

The Animation Podcast Animator Clay Kaytis wants to preserve, inspire, and educate animators and animation fans alike by interviewing current, past and future masters. I came away from his Glen Keane interview loving The Family Circus (Bill Keane is Glenn's dad). Each episode (they're pretty sporatic) is a gem.

Creative Screenwriting The show I just started listening to that prompted me for a quick link round up. It's Q & A sessions with screenwriters from actual movies that are in actual theaters. Informative, interesting, and filled with spoilers, I'm digging the two episodes I've heard.

Those are a few of the shows I like. If you have a computer you can listen to podcasts. iTunes is a free download and will let you subscribe to anything (most podcasts are 100% free) and Podcast Alley is a great place to look up shows.

Links for the linkless

I'm fighting a stupid summer cold by playing video games and watching the good X-Men movie.

In the interim, I encourage you to read the non-pro and pro links there to the side, with special attention to News from ME and Neil Gaiman's Journal. Both these guys have been typing away some interesting stuff lately, especially Gaiman.