June 28, 2005
Andrew Bird Strikes Back
Have I mentioned how much I love Andrew Bird?
I found a live performance online for anyone who wants to know.
Posted by Drew at 01:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 01, 2005
Two Awesome Sites
Postsecret: Dirty secrets sent to someone you don't even know. Pretty gutwrenching. Reminds me of the Apology Line on This American Life
Time Traveler Convention: Less depressing. General Silliness.
Posted by Drew at 09:20 PM | Comments (39) | TrackBack
March 15, 2005
Coletrane Video
This one's for you, Dan.
Posted by Drew at 07:31 PM | Comments (55) | TrackBack
February 26, 2005
King of all Oscar Prognostication Contests
Sure, other sites may have fancy little buttons you can click, or a loyal readership to which they can cater, but I see no reason why we at courtney5 can't have our own Oscar contest. Haven't seen the nominated movies? Great! Neither have I!
Also, unlike other contests, I see no reason to limit the catagories to the actual awards. I mean, you can do that anywhere. No, in this contest you can make a prediction on anything. Suggested categories: who has on the ugliest clothes? Who will make the dumbest speech? Who feels it nescessary to criticize the Bush administration? Will Chris Rock introduce Uma to Oprah? What about Keanue? Will Johnny Depp have to brush a tear from his eye when he loses? Will Annette Benning attack Hillary Swank? Isn't Hillary Swank a man anyway?
Now that's an Oscar contest!!
As a prize, everyone who enters will adknowledge the winner as the Supreme Champion of Oscar Pregnostication. The winner will be required to show his/her humility by buying all the other contestants drinks next time he/she sees them. Perhaps I will write you a poem.
Just put your guesses in the comments (I made a partial list of the categoties at the end of this post. Feel free to cut and paste.) Anyone who predicts "TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER HARDCORE GAY BESTIALITY VIIOX VIAGRA REFINANCE YOUR MORGAGE" will be deleted immediatly. (Anna, I'm looking in your direction . . .)
BEST PICTURE -
BEST ACTRESS -
BEST ACTOR -
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS -
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR -
BEST DIRECTOR -
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY -
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY -
BEST SET DRESSING -
DRUNKEST PERSON AT YOUR (OR ANY OTHER) OSCAR PARTY -
SUNNY / NOT SUNNY -
DUMBEST SPEECH -
SEGMENT WHERE AMERICA REFILLS ITS DRINKS -
LAST PERSON ON THAT LIST OF THE DEAD THEY ALWAYS SHOW -
Posted by Drew at 08:11 AM | Comments (56) | TrackBack
December 15, 2004
In Praise of: Johnny Tremain
Today was test day in class. I love test day. The kids all had to spend the period working silently, so I got to read a little. Rock on.
My book of choice was not my usual pick me up but rather that childhood favorite Johnny Tremain.
Allow me to be clear. This book rules. Reading it, I'm amused at how much it has shaped my impression of the American revolution. Really, I have no idea what Jefferson, Washington and Franklin were doing around that time, but damn, do I know that all the Sons of Liberty were raising hell around Faneuil Hall. I still have some trouble with the fact that Jonathan Lyte wasn't really a Tory merchant and the Boston Observer wasn't a real paper. (Or was it?)
I'm also a little surprised at how incredibly racist this book is. At one point Johnny tells a black maid that his horse is going to be commandeered.
"Whee! Don't know commandeer, but it sounds dreadful cruel to me!"Yikes. Read it anyway.
"It is a way to cook things," Johnny said soberly.
"My land, don't let them cook that pretty horse of yours."
It makes me want to move to overthrow the government and/or move to Boston. Let's take a quick look on Idealist for Boston area jobs . . . here we go . . . uh huh . . . yeah. Look out Che! We've a new revolutionary on our hands!
Posted by Drew at 09:24 PM | Comments (47) | TrackBack
December 14, 2004
The Elfin Guide
It being Christmas and all, I want to encourage all of you to listen to the greatest piece of radio ever made: This American Life's "Christmas and Commerce" episode. Not only does it have an almost-complete recording of David Sedaris's "Santaland Diaries" but aslo has "Christmas Freud" by David Rakoff.
Sure, I always love TAL, but this may well be the best episode ever.
Posted by Drew at 10:07 PM | Comments (54) | TrackBack
December 01, 2004
Santa can't object to you now!
Yes, tonight was the night to see the old claymation Rudolph movie. I watched it. It was fantastic. If you ignore the sweatshop conditions Santas imposes on his elves and raindeer. Not only do they not seem to get paid, but up until the end of the movie, they don't even have a dental plan! I mean jeeze.
Speaking of arctic conditions, my house is freezing (yes, it gets cold in Arkansas) and for various reasons we don't have heat until Friday. Boo.
Posted by Drew at 07:10 PM | Comments (58) | TrackBack
November 22, 2004
Listmania
Perhaps some of you heard that Rolling Stone published a list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Post-modern,-lists-are-meaningless Drew scoffs at the very idea of ranking songs according to "greatness." The Drew that doesn't suck to have at a party is just pissed off at where they put "Thunder Road." Here's the top of the list:
1. "Like a Rolling Stone," Bob Dylan
2. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," Rolling Stones
3. "Imagine," John Lennon
4. "What's Going On," Marvin Gaye
5. "Respect," Aretha Franklin
6. "Good Vibrations," Beach Boys
7. "Johnny B. Goode," Chuck Berry
8. "Hey Jude," Beatles
9. "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Nirvana
10. "What'd I Say," Ray Charles
And now the complaints (and a few just comments):
- Springsteen isn't in the top 10?! Insanity! ("Born to Run" - #21)
- We all love John Lennon, but is "Imagine" really the third best song ever written?
- Prince doesn't appear on the list until number 53? Oh, the horror!
- "Hey Jude" is so not the best Beatles song. Not even close. Most of Sgt. Pepper is better
- Hooray! They fit on Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" at 259. Good choice. That song is amazing.
- Eminem is on there twice? For "Stan" (#290)? Booooo!!!
- "Bittersweet Symphony" (#382)makes me want to throw up. Same for "I Believe I Can Fly" (#406) and "California Love" (#346.) Craptastic.
- How can they be so highbrow as to put on only one Billy Joel song ("Piano Man," #421) but so lowbrow as to put "Love Shack" at 243?
- Joni Mitchell's highest is #121 for "Both Sides Now." There are so many things wrong with that statement.
- Is "Satisfaction" (#2) really that great a song?
- "Do You Think I'm Sexy" by Rod Stewart is 301. The world has gone mad.
- Would it kill you to put on some Lyle Lovett?
On the plus side, looking through my CD collection I found an REM CD I've been looking for for the last four years. I'm pretty sure I openly accused an old roommate* of stealing it. Oops!
(* - don't worry; it was Casey!)
Posted by Drew at 10:12 PM | Comments (47) | TrackBack
November 14, 2004
Cloud Atlas
This book is so good. Good enough for me to add some extra O's.
This book is sooooooo good. You should read it.
Posted by Drew at 10:26 PM | Comments (55) | TrackBack
Hot or Not
Yesterday Hannah and I ventured to the big city. Over dinner, we decided that fashion magazines are unqualified to arbitrate what is cool and what isn't. Who is qualified? Us.
The list:
Hot:
sweaters from the early 80's
I [heart] Huckabees
Religious Progressives
running for cats
Memphis
Buffalo
bookclub(* - I might have added this one on my own)
The Polar Express (book)
Not:
Soundchecks
Making fun of tofu
The Polar Express (movie)
not having a lightbulb at your table in the restaurant
(Psst. Hannah, I forgot what else was on the list.)
Posted by Drew at 10:18 PM | Comments (56) | TrackBack
November 10, 2004
I hate The Polar Express
Of late, we've all gotten to hear a great deal about the magical world created by CGI in the new film The Polar Express. I have not seen this movie and yet I feel completely comfortable passing judgement on it: it is terrible.
"But, Drew," you say, "Even you, the worst, most evil person in the world (and suspected terrorist/communist) must understand that Christmas is a time for celebrating childhood and innocence! I hate you! You ruined Christmas!"
While I may have ruined Christmas in the past and will probably do so again in the future, I want to be very clear: that was because I was drunk, high and/or coked out of my mind, NOT because I don't love Christmas!
My complaint? Why, oh why, must they ruin that book?! I love that book! I know it's a little late to start complaining about the commercialization of the holidays, but is nothing sacred?! Build a Wal-mart in Bethlem, sure. Sell Dress-me-Up Jesus at Toys'R'Us, ok. But get your God damn CGI hands off of The Polar Express! And Tom Hanks!?! You think TOM HANKS is supposed to make me feel better!!??!! THAT ONLY MAKES IT WORSE!!! (see picture: Tom Hanks stained with the blood of children)
Let me put it bluntly: this Christmas horror makes me want to be Jewish. If you want me to remain a Christian in God's good and saving Grace, I encourage you to boycott this movie. Otherwise, it's dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, here I come
Posted by Drew at 08:45 PM | Comments (52) | TrackBack
October 19, 2004
YOU'RE KILLING ME!!
Sweet Jesus. Could the Red Sox make this any more painful? No, really, guys. Your wins don't hurt me enough. Try to up the stakes a little next time.
My God, people. Enough already.
Posted by Drew at 11:13 PM | Comments (58) | TrackBack
October 14, 2004
When life gets you down . . .
just reread the beginning of One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. At that time Macondo was a village of twenty adobe houses, built on the bank of a river of clear water that ran along a bed of polished stones, which were white and enormous, like prehistoric eggs. The world was so recent that many things lacked names, and in order to indicate them it was necessary to point. Every year during the month of March a family of ragged gypsies would set up their tents near the village, and with a great uproar of pipes and kettledrums they would display new inventions. First they brought the magnet. A heavy gypsy with an untamed beard and sparrow hands, who introduced himself as MelquÃades, put on a bold public demonstration of what he himself called the eighth wonder of the learned alchemists of Macedonia. He went from house to house dragging two metal ingots and everybody was amazed to see pots, pans, tongs, and braziers tumble down from their places and beams creak from the desperation of nails and screws trying to emerge, and even objects that had been lost for a long time appeared from where they had been searched for most and went dragging along in turbulent confusion behind Melquiades' magical irons. "Things have a life of their own," the gypsy proclaimed with a harsh accent. "It's simply a matter of waking up their souls."
Posted by Drew at 10:15 PM | Comments (60) | TrackBack
October 07, 2004
The Votes are In
Sure the Washington Post and Anthony Williams have endoresed the idea, but up until now, the true source of authority has remained silent. That time has ended.
I hereby declare: the new Washington Baseball team shall be named the "Grays." See the link above for the story (you non-DCers, you.)
Why should it be named the Grays? In honor of the great negro league champions? A nod to DC's predominatly black population? No, of course not. The name is just totally classy. None of this "Washington Wizards" crap for Drew! Alliteration is overrated! All the good teams are named after colors! Red Sox . . . Umm . . . Browns . . . Reds . . . ? Whatever. "Grays" is cooler than the other side of the pillow.
Anyway, I don't have a lot of brain power to devote to baseball. Right now I only know three things:
- The Red Sox rule!
- The Yankees suck!
- Beer at baseball games is foamy and delicious.
I'm willing to make it four if they get a good name. Otherwise, it's back to memorizing Belle and Sebastian lyrics for me!
Drew has spoken! Now, Sally, make it so!
Posted by Drew at 09:20 PM | Comments (75) | TrackBack
October 03, 2004
In Praise of High Fidelity
Today was a moderatly productive day that felt pretty crappy all the way through. I did a lot of sitting and working very slowly working, not least of all because I somehow messed up my neck in the shower by trying to rinse my hair (those of you who have heard the I-dislocated-my-shoulder-at-prom story know of my inate ability to hurt myself without actually undertaking any physical action whatsoever.
[Ed: Today's entry is boring, so it's going to continue after the jump.]
As it was approaching panic time, (every Sunday night includes panic time, even when there's very little to do) Kate and I decided to work in front of a movie: High Fidelity.
Let me be clear. This movie is great. I mean, really, really great. In fact, in the spirit of the movie, I would place it in my top five, all time favorite movie list.
I just love how realistic it is (that's the wrong word isn't it?) Things turn out ok, but it's not romanticized. Relationships are hard, and good, and dangerous, and the measure of whether or not it was worth it is entirely in ones own head and therefore likely to change at any time. Any movie can make you want to be in a relationship. It takes something really good to make you want to be in a disfunctional, tenuous relationship. It makes you want to get dumped and then drink yourself silly and puke on your shoes. Ok, maybe that's just me.
The soundtrack is also great. If anyone (especially someone in the M&B office) knows where my copy of it or my copy of the Beta Band's 3 EP's is, that person should let me know immediately.
OK that's all.
Posted by Drew at 10:24 PM | Comments (67) | TrackBack