omg omg omg HOME STRETCH.

So, as you've already probably heard by now, the Twilight movie is opening this Friday. I occurs to me that I may not have made my thoughts about this clear. I can't wait to see this movie. Although I won't actually be seeing it until Tuesday. But I am so excited.

There are several reasons for this, one being getting to see The Fountain Of Pure Gold in action. Another being that I will get to see the new Harry Potter trailer writ super large because it's being shown before it. Mostly though, I cannot wait because I am pretty sure that this is going to be the unintentional comedy of the year, and I cannot wait to MST3K that shit.

Actually, do you know what this movie is? This movie is The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the 21st century. I have been of this opinion for a while. It just lends itself too easily to such a treatment. A theater-full of people throwing glitter and opening up their rainbow umbrellas and yelling things at the screen. And recently, I discovered something that completely supports my theory: there's a local theater that does midnight showings of RHPS, and this week they are going to be showing a midnight premiere of Twilight instead. Amazing.

To conclude, here are some quotes from recent articles about how deeply creepy Twilight fans are:

-----
"But if you think Pattinson was the only 'Twilight' star earning shrieks last night, you may have chosen the wrong side in the 'Team Edward' vs. 'Team Jacob' battle. 'I think I'm dreaming, and I keep telling people to pinch me,' said an adrenaline-fueled Lautner, not yet 17 years old and already having fans twice his age throw themselves at him. "[An older woman] told me she was wearing 'Team Taylor' panties and [said], 'If you want, you can sign them.' Luckily, my publicist was there to save me!" "

NB: Taylor is the first name of the actor, not the character. Furthermore in the video of the interview, he said the woman was in her 40s.

-----
"Robert went on to tell a story about a group of girls who scratched their necks for him. "There were some girls who had scratched ... the side of their necks so [they were] freshly bleeding when they came up to get a signature. They were like, 'We did this for you.' I didn't know what to say. 'Um, thanks guys?'""

-----

And I don't know who this guy is, but, he's pretty amazing. I mean, except when he says that Robert Pattinson is a bad actor. I don't want this to be true, because we totally can't be bffs if that's true. I WILL LET YOU KNOW, THOUGH.

http://www.accesshollywood.com/mantz-rantz-twilight_video_838561

"It was so cheesy I got fat just watching the movie."

Book meme.

Because poor Caz cannot comment, and this was much better than the post I was going to make. Trust me. Please bear in mind that I am desperately ill and that's why this won't come out like I want it to.


Here's how it works: I list six book-related things about myself, then I tag six people, and they do the same. If they want to, of course.

1. I haven't read very many books. Sometimes I feel like a fraud for saying that I'm "reader" because ... I actually haven't read that many books. Or at any rate, I haven't read as many books as I think I should. When I was younger, I read books all the time. It's been years since I read like that, though. So the problem is, the amount I had read was really impressive when I was younger, but as my Age has gone up, the Number Of Books Read has leveled out a bit.

2. I'm more likely to read a book that I've already read than read a new book. I think the first and second item on this list might be related. Do you? I have this same problem with music. I want to find new things, but more often than not, I'll stick with something I already have and know. Most of the books I've read I've read more than once. Some books I've read ten times or more. I think this might have something to do with the fact that I have certain mannerisms from childhood that I've never grown out of. I'm still a picky eater. I still do that weird humming thing when I need to concentrate. I still like reading the same book over and over and over.

3. I really wish I could get some of my childhood books back. This is somewhat difficult because I don't remember what some of them were called. Like that one about the witches that I had my parents or my sister read to me even though I knew all the words and could read it myself. Pretty much all of them are out of print. The ones I'd like to find the most are "Aloysius Sebastian Mozart Mouse", "I Am A Mouse" (I liked books about mice, apparently), that gorgeous edition of "Heidi", and that big blue book of Greek and Roman Myths for Children.

4. I have different editions of the same books. I don't know why. Not even books I'm particularly fond of. I just seem to acquire books that I already have somewhere.

5. I don't read modern literature. Generally, because I break this rule all the time, I read books that are at least 30 years old. I figure that life is short, and there's a lot of books out there, so it's better to read one that's been tested by time and lots of student papers: There's a greater chance I'll like it. Plus, left to guess, I wind up reading things like "Twilight". And look what happened there.

6. My father told me this story about my grandmother. My grandmother had a lot of books. Shelves and shelves of books from "The Rubaiyat Of Omar Khayyam" to the Complete Works of Dickens to "To The Actor" to Shirley MacLaine's autobiography. Most of these books were thrown out by my mother when we moved. I've probably mentioned this before because I still haven't gotten over it and probably never will. Anyway, my father used to have conversations with my grandmother about some of the books she'd read. Then one day my mother told him ... she'd never actually read any of them. She would just read the first page and the last page, and the synopsis if there was one. And the hilarious thing is, I've totally done that, before I'd heard this story. I've totally had conversations about books I've never read.

So I was looking at the internet.

And I saw this piece of flair -- I'm not really sure where from -- that said something to the effect of, "Oh hey, Edward Cullen. Sure, I'd love to go out with you on November 21. I had a date with Harry Potter, but he canceled."

It was fairly amusing, so I'll admit that I laughed. And then I kind of cried. Because if this button were true to life, I would probably be busy leaving 50 messages on Harry Potter's voicemail. Why won't you return my calls, Harry? WE'RE MEANT TO BE. *sob*


Is that Draco in the bathroom? Hell yes it is. He should probably turn around 'cause he's 'bout to get cut. OMFG.

Heave and sigh.

At this point, I don't even know how I have any sinus tissue left to infect.

Robert Pattinson is an oracle of Truth.

I swear this man is like a never-ending fountain of pure gold.



I apologize for not keeping you up-to-date with all the stuff that's been going on with Twilight. To recap: It's been fucking batshit.

I don't even know anymore.

I realized some while back that my sarcastic voice sounds an awful lot like my regular voice. I don't mean that they're the same - they're separate and distinct, at least to my own ears. But then, everything I write in this blog seems lucid and detailed to me. So, you know. The point is, I understand why some people might not be able to tell when I'm using sarcasm and when I'm being completely serious, even if I think they should know. I guess it's the same as realizing that not everyone thinks the same way you do, even if you think they should.

In the same vein, I tend to think that pretty much everything written on the internet contains some degree of sarcasm. Unless it's on AOL or IMDb. As such, I tend to be floored if it turns out that sarcasm was not the intent. I mean, who the fuck would use the internet without their sarcasm filter on?

For example:
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h69/devils_angel_8187/c74bf753e8.jpg

"lol, fuck feminism. They take things to far."

"I totally agree. Its ridiculous to me! Its like I am Woman hear me roar! Women don't even know how to be women anymore. They try so hard to be a man and why I will never understand!"

"yeah, I mean I am glad we can vote and that we don't have to be house wives and be controlled by our men, but thanks to feminism we can now be drafted ( the likely hood of that ever happening is slim, but still) I don't think women should be president, police officers, or firefighters. I don't look down on anyone that is any of those things, but I just feel we are to emotional and not tough looking enough for those things. People take advantage of women cops all the time, because people see them as week..even if they aren't. I might get a lot of flack for saying this, but I don't really care."


I mean ... let's assume you're you. And the context of this conversation is a group of people that you generally understand not to be raging idiots, questionable grammar aside, and who generally have a sense of humor. (And incidentally, are women.) Would you naturally assume that this is hilarious sarcasm? Because let me tell you something, I would.

I would be wrong, though.

BUT.

What the fuck, California?

What the fuck?

omg omg omg omg omg omg omg,

OMG.

please please please please please please please.

ugh.


ETA:

Bert.

1987 - 2008

I saw Daniel Radcliffe naked.

If you were interested.

I mean, he was in a play.

I was going to say "I saw Harry Potter naked" but I didn't because I respect him as an actor.

I joined Ravelry.

You might have noticed this if I added you as a friend. I just went ahead and assumed we were friends! Also if I didn't add you it's because I couldn't find you through search. It doesn't mean I don't also assume that I am your friend.

Furthermore upon this matter, I need to make something for my sister for her birthday. My first impulse is to make her socks, because I love the fuck out of socks, and the making of them and because my sister doesn't have any nice socks. Unfortunately, though, there's a reason for this: my sister is disrespectful of anything that goes on her feet. Sigh.

So I'm thinking gloves. Or hat. Or matching gloves and hat. Oh my God, that would be adorable! But Jesus, I'm not a Rockefeller. Anyway. Ideas?

Yay!!

Jacob is recapping True Blood!

It took me several weeks to learn this because I ... haven't been to TWoP in a while. But this is enough to get me to like it again! Sometimes my affections are fickle. Oh man, I can't wait for him to start spouting vampire apologetics!

Oh, by the way, I've been watching True Blood. On the internet no less. It's okay, I don't expect you to be surprised.

Sarah Palin needs to stop winking at me.

You know the part where she started talking about plans to increase the VP's power in the legislative branch so that the VP can more effectively carry out the President's will?

I nearly had a heart attack.

Seriously, you guys, if John McCain wins, we are so fucked. So, so fucked.

Goddamn it, AOL.

I just got an email telling me that AOL Hometown FTP is being shut down on October 31. I still use that sometimes! And what am I going to do with all my wares? And what of all the xs that are going to appear everywhere I've used those pictures? I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

Um. Tell me what I should do. I don't feel well and I'm in no mood for thinking.

Ol' Spirituals.

So, I've been checking out some new music lately. I've discovered two artists that, on their own, probably wouldn't rate an entry, but together have enough coincidence that I think, "Hey, I should blog about this."

Functionally, musically, the two artists have little in common. But they do have two notable similarities: First, they both use the word "Spirit" in their band names. The first, out of the UK, is "The Duke Spirit". The second, out of (I think) California, is called "Delta Spirit" -- but that's as indicative of their sound as it is of their location. ... I don't really get what they were going for.

Anyway, the second thing they have in common is that I checked them out because they sound like music I already listen to, or, at least, their front-persons do.

The lead singer of The Duke Spirit sounds just like Milla Jovovich. Even though she isn't. I checked. The lead singer of Delta Spirit sounds just like Alex Greenwald, lead singer of Phantom Planet. I mean, with the voice breaks and everything. He's not, though. I checked.

The Duke Spirit is old-school moody rock. You know the kind that manages to sound angry and anesthetized at the same time? It works for them sometimes, but their big problem is one of my top musical peeves: many of their songs sound exactly the same. Ugh. Still, I granted 5 songs from their album "Neptune" for iPod status. I liked "The Step And The Walk" enough that I corrected the shoddy lyrics floating around the internet; that and "Wooden Heart" are my favorites.

Delta Spirit doesn't have that problem. All their songs on "Ode To Sunshine" sound pretty different, which is awesome, because apparently that's harder to accomplish than I thought. Their problem, though is in their lyrics. They seem to like singing about The State Of Things and unfortunately they aren't as poignant and affecting as they probably think they are. It's like they're trying to mix earnest 60s idealism with self-aware hipsterism, and it's just annoying. You'll hear them start going on about "this world" in pretty much every song. It's okay when they're laying down some solid rock to back it up, which they do on several songs (one such being "People C'mon"). But generally, just ... no. I also synched 5 of their songs up to the pod, though I was probably being generous, because three of those are really great. One of them is a song called "Trashcan," in which the percussion is provided by - wait for it - a trashcan.

And that's it for this episode.

Tim Burton did not direct HBP.

I'm confused too. And hating WB right now.

omg Luna

... huh

It may be that you, like me, assumed that you wouldn't find $10,000+ jewelry in a catalogue.

It turns out we just weren't getting the right catalogues.

Just so you know, I do have other interests!

And I could tell you about those interests! Like what books I'm reading and what things I discovered just today that involve rock bands or kettle-dyed yarn. (I totally still knit!)

But I know that change is scary, so we'll leave it for another day.

Now here's something about That Book Series, You Know The One!

I just found this, and I laughed until I was in excruciating pain. The only thing I could say for five minutes, in-between the wheezing and giggling was: "oh my Christ." In case you were having the slightest twinge of curiosity, I will now save you the trouble of finding out how the Twilight series ends, and what you reaction would be, had you experienced it firsthand: Click!

Things I say in real life, but not on the internet.

In recent times, I have discovered that there are certain words and phrases that I say all the time in spoken conversations, yet rarely use on the internet. I suppose they're kind of like verbal tics, only somewhat longer. Conversely, many of my written tics (I'm looking at you, "totally" and "awesome") rarely find their way into my lingual utterances. (I'm far more likely to say "fantastic.")

In fact, I think the only word I toss out equally in writing and speech is "necessarily." I don't know why I love that word so much, I just really, really do.

Anyway. A list!

nonsense - As in "What is this nonsense?" and "I can't deal with this nonsense right now." Or "This is a lot of nonsense."

business - I actually got this from some post Will made years ago about his "bidness". I reverted it back to proper form and have been unable to give up saying it since. Before I discovered "nonsense" it carried a lot of the pejorative weight I imbue there, but now it's a more general description of any neutral happening. "Once we finish with this business, we can go do something else."

good beans - I have no idea where I came up with this, but I generally use it in the sense that you would use "good egg" and/or "good deal." If someone is kind to you, it is appropriate to say, "Aww, you're good beans." If you are eating a delicious meal, it is appropriate to say, "This is some good beans!" Even if what you are eating is not, in fact, beans.

in life/sometimes in life - This is an interjection on the level of "shit happens." Even though it frustrates my mother, this phrase is never completed with what goes on sometimes in life, or even with an appropriate elliptical tail-off. It just is what it is. Hey, sometimes in life.

absolutement/absolutes - A way to express a concordance of feeling. Does it get a little annoying? Oh, absolutes! Can it sometimes come off a little sarcastic? Absolutement! But then, so can most everything I say.

b-nans, et al. - For some reason, I sometimes want to reduce words to no more than two syllables. This mood usually strikes when I'm talking about foodstuffs. B-nans, to-mates, po-tates, etc. Stress is usually on the first syllable. Sometimes it makes what I'm saying incomprehensible, since I'm usually doing it on the fly.

HP is srs bsns.

JK Rowling wins copyright case.

Yay!!! I know I haven't talked about this at all, but I am really really happy right now.

Fuck you, Steve Vander Ark. Fuck your classifications, and fuck your Peter Pan syndrome.

Something I never imagined saying, yet did.

"I am honest to God not shitting you about the time-traveling cannibal mermaids."

I've heard this one doesn't suck.

But I don't actually know, so don't hold me to that. If you know, fill me in.

Some random (though generally entertaining and enjoyable) people on the internet have recommended the Gemma Doyle series of books. I've heard of that before, but I'm not terribly familiar. Apparently it's about a boarding school for witches. A movie is in the works (of course). I've been assured that the quality is ridiculously superior that Those Works Which We Do Not Name.

I kind of want to read it.

My desire stems mostly from wanting to see how close it is to the Story I've Never Written. Which ... I realize isn't very specific. At present I have between 5-10 stories I've never written at various stages of brewing inside my head. But this one is different.

When I was about 6-10 I had a series of dreams that were, basically, about a boarding school for witches. It was in one part clearly based on my experiences in summer camp, in another part clearly based on watching The Worst Witch too many times, and in a final part composed of my subconscious's unknowable fathoms. (If I've ever blessed you with one of my dream transcripts, you know.)

Anyway, I had a whole bunch of dreams about this. I don't usually have repeat or sequel dreams, and I've never had a dream series go on for as long. A story developed and scenes happened and it was generally kind of awesome.

But, um. A boarding school where you learn witchcraft? Not exactly a novel novel concept. Even though my story was totally nothing like Harry Potter. It may be like this series, though. I don't know! We'll see. Maybe.

If you don't like it move to China.

But look at this first.

Fair warning.

It's harder than it used to be to find pictures of Robert Plant before he was unfortunate looking. It's depressing.

This is all true.

"It is likely it will succeed because Twilight stole that one hot actor that JK Rowling stupidly killed off in movie 4. Clear negligence of 12 year old girl theory. Dumb bitch."

Yeah, I lied. What of it?

On notice: Stephen Colbert.

I normally greatly enjoy The Colbert Report. I have an immense fondness for Mr. Colbert. However, last night, he was really pushing it.

First, he featured several spiders. Then, he interviewed Kevin Costner.

I could at least sort of watch the spider thing. At least they were encased in glass. Costner wasn't. My dazzle was highly chagrined, and I'm thinking about going to his house and giving him a pop in the nose.

PS. I know where Stephen Colbert lives.

PPS. I cannot stop saying "This chagrins my dazzle" and variations thereupon.

PPPS. I wouldn't really go to his house. Probably.

"Twilight means never having to say you're kidding."

Turns out that I don't have to formulate any actual thoughts, because other people have already done it for me.

This is what I've been saying the whole time!!
This basically explains what the last six months of my life have been like.

I mean, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. Not that I need you to be.

Guys, I'll get back to posting about my hair/misanthropy/love of Harry Potter/musical leanings/stuff that makes no sense to anyone but me real soon, I promise.

"There are no words for this."

So, as some of my more observant readers already know, on Saturday the latest book in The Worst Story Ever Told series (or, "It That Must Not Be Named" or, ... whatever) came out. And I acquired it forthwith and read it because the print is laced with crack and it's an incurable textually transmitted disease.

Holy crap it was so awful. I was completely unprepared for how awful it was, even though the rest of the series is already terrible, and I'd pretty much been wholly spoiled for it. I mean, it's been three days, and I still can't fully wrap my head around it.

First of all, Meyer takes a flying leap from just being a bad writer into bona fide batshit crazy territory. Secondly, the misogyny explodes and splatters everywhere. Speaking of exploding and splattering everywhere, there are bucket-loads of unexpected gore, which was so surprising and out of character that it read as farcical. And also gross. Also, there's even more mystical pedophilia and amped up dehumanization of indigenous peoples through the Magical Native trope. All your favorites and so much more.

Then there's about 400 pages of tension and OMG there will be huge problems and confrontations!!!1!!11111one!!@@1! And then ... everybody hugs it out, the end. Seriously.

On the plus side, this gives me some hope that the tide may be turning, and more people will realize and have no fear of admitting that the Empress is naked. The srs bsns fans are highly chagrined right now. There's a concerted effort at Amazon to get people who hated the book to return it, instead of, say, burning it, like they say they want to. Of course, there are also plenty of people still willing to give it five-star reviews with the admonition, "Who are we to judge her book??" So, maybe not.

And guys, as always if you want to read this mess just let me know I totally have the PDFs it's so freaking awesome I will be your literary crack dealer!!

Postscript: I BELIEVE IN NESSIE!!

Oh boy oh boy oh boy.

IT'S ON.

I don't know if I can handle this.

Oh, hey, Dumbledore!

Why so Gandalf?

(PS, you're gonna wanna click on that.)

You know what I like? Music.

Music is like the opposite of getting fourteen mosquito bites in an afternoon in which you didn't even leave the house. That is, it's a thing I greatly enjoy. It's also the opposite of falling down several stairs. Several brick stairs. In shorts. Onto concrete. Basically, it's a good time all around.

Depending on the music, of course. Some music is shit. Or some neutral substance.

Yes, both those things happened today.

So let's get this party started. For your mental clarity, I'm trying to select the album that I would have selected at that general point in time, not necessarily what I would choose now.


1983 - It's kind of a lie to include this as a year I was alive, actually. I was only around for 3 fifty-secondths of it. Boy this is off to a bad start.

1984 - Um. Going solely by Wikipedia's listings ... nothing, seriously.

1985 - ... Nothing.

1986 - All right, here's the thing, I spent my earliest years listening to a lot of ABBA, Johnny Cash, Celtic music, Zeppelin, and cassettes of Rainbow Brite or Sesame Street.

1987 - Out Of The Blue by Debbie Gibson. YES I JUST DID THAT.

1988 - New Jersey by Bon Jovi.

1989 - Like A Prayer by Madonna.

1990 - Wilson Phillips by Wilson Phillips. (Narrowly beating out NKOTB.)

1991 - Time Passes By by Kathy Mattea.

1992 - This year and the next are the years I became officially aware of popular music. So whereas the previous years I either had one clear choice, or was struggling to find something, I now have a Cambrian Explosion of options. That said, America's Least Wanted by Ugly Kid Joe.

1993 - Tuesday Night Music Club by Sheryl Crow. (The first CD I ever bought myself.)

1994 - Weezer (Blue Album) by Weezer.

1995 - New Beginning by Tracy Chapman.

1996 - Tidal by Fiona Apple.

1997 - Either/Or by Elliott Smith. (A bit of a cheat, because I didn't start listening to Elliott Smith until a few years later. However, the nearest competitors would be Erykah Badu, Savage Garden, or the Spice Girls, all of which would have been equally hedging on truthfulness. I spent half this year crippled, so I read a lot.)

1998 - If You Forget Me... by Devics.

1999 - Fly by The Dixie Chicks (This year was really slim for some reason. Maybe because everyone though we were going to die?)

2000 - Ghost Stories by Amanda Ghost.

2001 - The Tyranny Of Distance by Ted Leo And The Pharmacists.

2002 - Castaways And Cutouts by The Decemberists.

2003 - Transatlanticism by Death Cab For Cutie.

2004 - More Adventurous by Rilo Kiley.

2005 - The Mysterious Production Of Eggs by Andrew Bird.

2006 - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood by Neko Case.

2007 - Made Of Bricks by Kate Nash.

2008 - Stop Drop And Roll!!! by The Foxboro Hot Tubs.


On Jenny's blog, I said, "I'm interested to see the progression from endearingly overproduced to insufferably hipster." -- I think I've done my work here.

Better!

I am.

Yeah, I'm definitely a lot less happy today.

Because I think I'm having a kidney stone attack. Or appendicitis! Or a burst cyst! It's always so much fun to guess. But I'm pretty sure it's a kidney stone.

I've been downing water and tea since 8 o'clock this morning, very little of which is coming out of me in the approved way. Although I did have some mostly-water projectile vomit a little while ago, so that was really fun. I also have to wait another 2-ish hours before I can take more oxycodone, which will be fine until ... probably about half an hour from now.

Other than being doped up and in near-constant pain, I'm pretty much going about my day as normal. What the hell else am I gonna do, right? My mother stayed home today, so happily I have someone to take me to the emergency room, if that becomes the prudent choice of action.

Incidentally, in case you were wondering what was up yesterday, some epic, and eventually legendary shit was going down on the internet because of Comic Con. Or, its new name: Ear Rape '08.

In an effort to distract both myself and you, here's an interview with Robert Pattinson, star of the hot mess that is Twilight. I think it adequately captures why I'm officially obsessively in love with him now. That and the fact that he showed up to this thing high as a kite covered in hickies wearing clothes he stole from the set and monumentally disheveled hair. I know that doesn't sound like it follows, but to be honest, the dirtier he seems, the fewer inhibitions I feel.

I'm sorry.

I'm sure this will pass tomorrow. ... Sunday the latest. But right now? I love my new fandom more than I love all of you.

I'm sorry.

Seriously, though.

If this does not make you laugh, you might be dead inside.

I should probably give this its own tag category.

Maybe it is me.

Last week, between Doctor Who and this community I joined that I don't want to tell you about, I don't think I moved from the computer for maybe 72 hours. In lieu of trying to remember what meals I missed, let me just say: all of them.

But now? I just had a "the internet is so boring" moment.

My recent experience taught me that I don't necessarily want to revive the days when all I would do was sit in front of a high-volume community for hours on end. Even if it is consistently entertaining. For one thing, I have other shit to do. (Which, not that I didn't in high school, but ... eh ... not really ... eh ... I don't really now either ... eh.) Also I'm old now and I get thrown into crises about how my life is slipping away and is essentially over every other day. (Yeah, I know. I don't want to hear it. When was the last time you tried to break into an industry obsessed with youth and beauty?)

AND TODAY I'M ALREADY BORED WITH THE INTERNET.

I'm so bored I just blogged, basically. So, I'm going to go do some needlepoint and watch the Colbert Report and mull over all the responsibilities I'm shirking.

What is wrong with me?

That's it.

I have to download the rest of the Doctor Who series* 4 episodes.

Why?

Because right now I'm imagining that every single thing on the internet right now is about the finale and you can't convince me otherwise.

Annika's birthday is totally a spoiler, I'm sure of it. (P.S. Happy Birthday Annika.)

Well played, Warner Brothers. Well played.

I was thinking to myself just today that I was feeling rather, well ... over Harry Potter. I was even going to make a post about it!

And then the internet was like,

"Would you like some hi-res Half Blood Prince stills?"

And I was like, "YES."

It's why my speaking English is so good.

Why not? Filched from Annika.

I'll do a modified rules version:
1. Bold what you've read
2. Italicize what you plan on reading.

If you see an entry that's neither, feel free to tell me why I should read it.

This Particular List Of Books

1. Pride And Prejudice - Jane Austen
2. The Lord Of The Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
4. The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
5. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6. The Bible - Anonymous (I had a book of Bible stories for children when I was younger, and I've used it to look up answers to crossword puzzles, but that's about it.)
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë (Then I can have a discussion on whether it sucks or not!)
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
12. Tess Of The D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy (On the shelf.)
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller (Lost to the Book Holocaust.)
14. The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (Yay! Task complete.)
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. The Catcher In The Rye - J.D. Salinger
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens (I have the Complete Works of Dickens, so I plan to read them all at one point.)
24. War And Peace - Leo Tolstoy (I want to buy it, but I'm abysmally poor right now.)
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime And Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes Of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29. Alice In Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind In The Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
33. The Chronicles Of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
34. Emma - Jane Austen
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39. Memoirs Of A Geisha - Arthur Golden
40. Winnie The Pooh - A.A. Milne
41. Animal Farm - George Orwell (I didn't try to read this, but I tried to try.)
42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43. One Hundred Years Of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer For Owen Meaney - John Irving (On the shelf. Might as well.)
45. The Woman In White - Wilkie Collins
46. Anne Of Green Gables - Lucy Maud Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy (Caz says it's good.)
48. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49. Lord Of The Flies - William Golding
50. Atonement - Ian McEwan
51. Life Of Pi - Yann Martel
52. Dune - Frank Herbert (Kirk says it's good.)
53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54. Sense And Sensibility - Jane Austen
55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow Of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
59. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time - Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice And Men - John Steinbeck
62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65. Count Of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67. Jude The Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69. Midnight’s Children - Sir Salman Rushdie (I did read The Satanic Verses, though.)
70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville (I also want to read Billy Budd. Shout out to Mr. Holtzman!)
71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72. Dracula - Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses - James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows And Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal - Émile Zola
79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray (I love this freaking book.)
80. Possession - A.S. Byatt
81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84. The Remains Of The Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte’s Web - E.B. White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
89. Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
91. Heart Of Darkness - Joseph Conrad (Lost in the Book Holocaust.)
92. The Little Prince – Antoine de St. Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
94. Watership Down - Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy Of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl (I can't bitch about the movie until I've read the book. Probably.)
100. Les Misérables – Victor Hugo


Yes, I corrected the list for capitalization, completeness, and uniformity of style.

George Carlin died, you know?

I don't really want to talk about it. But I figured I'd mention it.

Diēs patrī.

I don't have enough titles in Latin.

Today is Father's Day! So, happy day to all of those reading who, um, is a father. To mark this occasion, I decided to make a list. Here is a list of ways I do/have referred to my father. (I wanted to say "Things I've Called My Father" but that sounds like it will include inappropriate things. It doesn't!)


Dada - I'm told that this was my first word.

Daddy - This is the primary way I address him. Really! I call him Daddy, even though I am not six. I've occasionally, briefly, considered using "Daddy" to talk about him to other people - because I think that sounds like it would be delightfully Southern. "Yes, Daddy always says ... " And then I could sip a mint julep on the veranda. I once tried compromising by saying "My Daddy," but that sounded too cloyingly precious, and I had to stop right away. As it is, the only person I will use simply "Daddy" around (besides him) is, naturally enough, my sister.

Father - This is my secondary means of address. I actually address him as "Father" almost half the time. You may have noticed that I skipped right over "Dad" - I never use that one. It would feel awkward and foreign, like something I'd say if I were angry and sarcastic. Total endearment or total formality. No in-betweens! This is also the way I will almost always refer to him when talking to other people. "My father ... etc." That's how most people do it, right?

Pater - I'm really pretentious, what can I say? He doesn't seem to mind. Plus, when said blithely and brightly, "Hey there, Pater!" it's really fun to say.

Weed - I'm not sure when this started, but around the time I was seven or eight, I was calling my father Weed pretty much exclusively. I'm given to understand that it's because he was always out in the yard, like a weed is. Not, ... y'know. It's sort of like how I came to call my very overweight aunt "Aunt Skinny" - it sounds really terrible, but there's actually a totally justified, non-horrible reason for it. I believe I stopped because I realized that it probably wasn't a good thing to call someone.

The Old Man - When I talk about him with my mother (and sometimes my sister), this is usually what I call him. Probably because that's how my mother would refer to him to me. (Well, when she was in a good mood. When she wasn't, she would call him "your father".) It works, because he's always been rather old in spirit. He was delighted when he turned 62 and could start getting senior discounts everywhere. Plus, you know, he's my old man.


I guess that's it! I thought there'd be more. The list for my mother is a lot longer and more colorful.

Now I'm going out to eat with my Daddy.

"When it's my time, then I will let you know."

Good news, everyone! I'm not a zombie anymore!

In case you missed the memo, the world ended, again, yesterday. I didn't do so well this year. Neither did the poor SPISH! Oh well. I think of it as being like, we were the stars from the original apocalypse, and we got called back for the sequel to lend it some gravitas, and then we got killed off for shock value, but it's okay because you know the third outing would totally blow and we'd feel lucky to not be involved with that mess anyway.

Anyway, in addition to BLITE, O(t)W! yesterday's post was also brought you by my listening to "The Pedestrian" by the Foxboro Hot Tubs on repeat, and by my playing five straight hours of Snood. Yeah, that game! Still! I have an unregistered version ($19.99? Pfft! I'm not made of money!) but for the day they were letting people try out all the registered features, so I finally got to die at Hexagon City. Good times.

Oh right, that song. I love that song! It's whence this entry's title comes as well as, incidentally, yesterday's. Yes, that was "It's my time to go." put through Babelfish in Zombie. I should point out that the title, and, like, five other words are the only things that I was intentionally trying to write. Any other things that turned into actual words, and the fact that I managed to name-drop God and Jaws is completely coincidental.

It was actually my hope that I would get more actual words in there. But unconsciously, you know? Like a Ouija board? Didn't really happen. But Pat paid me the best compliment ever. Finnegan's Wake as written by zombies was exactly what I was going for. I mean, it was clearly a lazier effort than last year, but there was some amount of story behind it.

Anyway, after the zombie invasion, I got my weekly dose of aliens and robots, and then I read some more crappy vampire fanfiction, so the panoply of monsters got fully rounded out.

I really wanted to make a post about the latest episode of Robots, but the output probably would have been nearly as insensate as my last post. It was so awesome. I was so impressed that I proselytized to several people afterwards. Really. Do you watch Robots? Have you seen Robots? You should. Do it. Yeah, those unfortunate developments from last year still happened, but ... it's good anyway.

I've been in a blogging mood lately, so hold your breath* for a slew of upcoming exciting** posts. ... Unless my mood changes, ... which it very well might.

*don't
**non-

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Y/Nay!!!

Today is National Iced Tea Day!!

... But I don't have any iced tea!

WHAT IS THIS UNCONSCIONABLE INJUSTICE?!

I was serious, you guys.

Issue the first.

This is an excerpt from the New York Times Magazine editorials page, May 25, 2008:
"When will we realize that it is equally important to raise girls to be sensitive, compassionate, smart individuals with intact values, not to mention healthy, intact knees."

There was another example I found in the Smithsonian Magazine, but I can't find it again and it's pissing me off. The NY Times! The Smithsonian! It's worse than I thought.

Issue the second.

Am I really the only person who's ever seen Felix the Cat: The Movie?

Aunt Rose.

My Aunt Rose died on Saturday night.

I wanted to write something out, to acknowledge this and say something about her, but after several attempts I've realized that it's not going to happen. I'm not okay about it. On one hand, she was nearly 96 years old (I mean 94 of course. She didn't want anyone to know how old she was, and even her obituary didn't know the truth. Keep it amongst yourselves.) On the other hand I love her and I'm not ready and it sucks. On a third hand, she's with my Uncle Joe and her children now. On a fourth hand ... I miss them, too. At some moments more than ever.


So for the past few days I've been hanging around with family members that, for one reason or another, I don't see very often. (For the sake of clarity I should note, unless it's my Aunt Rita, who is my father's sister, any time I mention an "Aunt" or an "Uncle", you should assume that it's one of my grandparents' siblings, and that they've been dead at least 15 years.) First, there's Aunt Rose's grandson and his children, who are around my age. My cousins and I have always had this weird sense of rivalry and dislike going on with them, and I really don't even know why. I know that it was handed down from our parents. I think it may be because my cousin Theresa was always a miserable pill all the time. But we liked Theresa, so, really, I don't get it. Truly, they've probably all turned out to be great people, and better people than my cousins at any rate. But I wouldn't even know how to start a conversation with them. The fact that we were crying over the same woman who had so touched our lives while we were standing on opposite sides of the room was interesting, to say the least. Oh, and the one that I had been thinking of as "the baby"? He's, like, sixteen now. The fuck.

Her granddaughter Roseanne was also there, and she's awesome. I used to play with her daughter Kelli when we were very small, but I couldn't talk to her. Literally. She's deaf.

Roseanne's siblings were not in attendance, and my cousin Suzanne was snubbed from the list of surviving family, so that's all you really need to know about that.

Then there were the relatives that I try to avoid because they all became Born Again Christians. I don't mean that I dislike them, but I try to avoid them. See, they're good people, and friendly to a fault, and because of their religious ethics and family values, they'll be first in line to help you if you, say, need to have your house repaired or need help getting out of bankruptcy. But they also sometimes send out Christmas cards with poems about the Judgment Day and how the unbelievers will burn in a lake of fire. Their sense of humor is also seriously lacking. How am I, to whom blasphemy is like a second native language, supposed to handle that? Also, they home-schooled all their children, reinforcing all the worst home-schooling stereotypes in the process. Thanks, guys. Except, I did get to see my cousin Nicole again, and she always seemed pretty sane. She went to school for massage therapy. I wouldn't mind seeing her again. I bet she's awesome.

Then there are my Aunt Rita's children, my lonely two first cousins. ... I don't even want to discuss them, really.

As I sort of expected, I had many relatives gushing that I look just like my grandmother (or, as most of them unsettlingly refer to her, "Aunt Gracie"), and recalling how beautiful she was. She was beautiful, but I don't look like her, and I don't know why they all think I do. I mean, I'm sure I resemble her a little; she is my grandmother. I do look a lot like my father. Of course, I also look a lot like my mother. It depends on which one I'm standing next to. I'd say I'm a fairly even mix, and I'd say my father is an even mix of his parents. So, by that account, I look about one-fourth like my grandmother ... and three-fourths not like her. Really, though, my grandmother had small, round eyes. My eyes are large and almond-shaped. My grandmother had a round nose. My nose comes to a point. My grandmother had an oval face. I have a square face. My grandmother had jet-black curly hair. My hair is chestnut-brown and wavy. Although it has been very humid lately, so it's been curlier. Anyway. I think they're just seeing what they want to see.

I also got to meet my Aunt Madeleine's two children, whom I don't think I've ever met before. Her daughter looks just the way I remember Aunt Madeleine looking. And she also looked a lot like Jenny. It was odd. She hadn't seen my father in some 20 years, so she made a great fresh audience for all the tragic stories of all his maladies. Which he regaled her with, incidentally, while they were both kneeling at the casket. Oh yes he did. My father, ladies and gentlemen.

My Aunt Rose had a brother named Nate that she was just crazy about. I never met him, as he died before I was born, but she talked about him all the time. His full name was Natale D'Amore, which in Italian means "Christmas of Love." Isn't that the best name you've ever heard? His four daughters were there. I'm sure I've never met them before, but they were very familiar to me because they all looked just like Stephanie. It was crazy. They all had similar eyes and noses, and they all had her hair and they all wore glasses. So for a few minutes I pretended that Stephanie was one of my cousins and it made me very happy.

There was one thing that my cousin Michael said to me (one thing that didn't make me want to hit him, anyway) that made me ponder. With Aunt Rose gone, with all the people that we've lost gone, our connection to those other people in that room has pretty much disappeared. Aunt Rose was, as my sister called her, "the last of the dinosaurs." ... I believe she meant it as a compliment. She was the last of all the old relatives, the ones the different branches had in common, the ones that made holiday dinners, the ones that connected everybody. I wondered, more than once, if I would ever see some of these people after this.

We had some adventures getting into the line for the cemetery. Of that cemetery: "Who's there?" I asked my mother. "Everyone," she replied. I saw my Aunt Madeleine and Uncle Neil and Aunt Mary. I saw a few cousins and many familiar names. I looked a little bit for my grandparents, but I didn't really look. As we were driving through, my mother teared up suddenly. I'm sure that's where my sister is. I've never been to a cemetery except when laying someone to rest. I've never felt the urge to go back. Aunt Rose was laid next to her husband, my Uncle Joe. They were married for 60 years, and she'd been without him for 18. They ran short on flowers, so I didn't get to place one. Before I left, I kissed his name with my fingertips.

Radio Update.

So, I've been listening to the radio when I drive in my car. Which I do now at least three days a week. My life is so on the edge, I know.

I have become very enamored of WRXP, 101.9, the erstwhile smooth jazz station. Now The Rock Experience!

Today I heard Death Cab For Cutie on the radio for the first time ever. That's right! First time ever. Also, the White Stripes. And! They played a U2 song that I don't think I've heard before, and it made me not hate U2 for a little while.

(About that, I don't actually hate U2. But have you noticed how everyone is all about U2 all of a sudden? And about how they're apparently the greatest band in the history of the world forever in the whole world? It's driving me crazy. Because - no. You're overdoing the praise. Having "In The Name Of Love" be the only song you ever play does not help. See also: Van Halen.)

The DJs actually talk about the music and concerts that they went to and stuff like that. BUT. Importantly, they do it quickly, keep it to around a minute, and then get back to playing music. Except today one of them was talking about his divorce, and it was really awkward.

Also, someone in that studio is in love with the song "Time To Pretend" by MGMT. I hear it all the freaking time. (My history with that song: I got it free off a music website and decided I didn't really care for it. Then, later, A. sent it to me along with another of their songs. Because he didn't know! The second song made the first one sound a lot better. Ugh. But! Now that I keep hearing it, I don't mind it. It's everywhere, though! Moonlight used a lyric for an episode title. Speaking of which - [single cold tear for Moonlight].)

Results of election leaked early?

I know I don't usually talk about politics, but I wanted to share this. I get my Latest Primary Results news from AOL.com, because it's easiest because that's where my email lives. I haven't checked any other news sources, so I don't know if this is an isolated incident - but I doubt it.

Today, Nebraska and West Virginia are holding their primaries. Clinton and Obama are battling it out in West Virginia! But it seems, when I checked at 7:15 this morning (don't ask), Obama had already been declared the winner in Nebraska, with 0% of precincts reporting.

The polls in Nebraska, incidentally, close at 9PM, CT.

Look, it's not that I doubt that Obama will win Nebraska. If that's what the indications are, fine. However, call me old-fashioned if you must, isn't it customary to actually hold the election before you tell the people who won it?

And another thing.

Don't rhetorical questions get question marks anymore? Where was I when this was apparently decided? Have you noticed this disturbing trend, which is to say, the deficiency of question marks? Am I overreacting?

Here are some observations about insignificant and unentertaining minutiae.

So, yesterday I engaged in some foreign activities. I listened to the radio. While I was driving. On the Parkway. I can't even tell you about the time I passed someone utilizing the left lane. COULD YOU HANDLE IT?

The radio station I was listening to was 101.9, which you may remember me mentioning was a hated smooth jazz station. But wait! It has changed, and is now WRXP: The Rock Experience. See what they did there? It's actually pretty good. As I was driving in my car (!) listening to the radio (!) I heard a song on this station that I've totally never heard before. (!) I was intrigued because it lifted a lyric from a Fleetwood Mac song: "When I talk to God I knew he'd understand/He said stick by me and I'll be your guiding hand." (The new rhythm of the line caused me to realize that I'd been mondegreening that as "I'll be your God in hand" - which, come on, that's a lot better.) Then, as I was listening, it suddenly occurred to me, "Wait a minute! Is this The Clash??"

Well, sort of. Turns out the song was "Why Do Men Fight?" a new single by Carbon/Silicon, a band comprised of Mick Jones of The Clash, and Tony James of Generation X. It's not bad. I bought it off iTunes.

In tangentially related news, I'd like to show you the Best Shirt Ever.

Speaking of new and exciting things: I just went through a drive-thru for the first time ever. Well, as a driver. Naturally. I mean, this is America. I've been to a few drive-up ATMs, so I figured I was ready for this bold next step. I went to McDonald's to get a big-ass thing of their new sweet tea. Sweet tea is exactly my brand of heroin [/hates Twilight]. And, just as I'd planned, they asked me if I wanted anything else, other than a beverage, and I was totally like, "Nope!" Just the tea, thanks! I managed it well, even gave exact change, but I still don't like anything that involves me reaching out of my car for things. I don't think it'd be so bad if it weren't for my congenital shortness.

And now, here are some vignettes of domestic envy:
- My Swiss neighbors have a Dyson. Not the purple one, the yellow one, but, a Dyson nonetheless. I still don't have one, and I still want one.
- My next-door neighbor has been going to the gym, and I think she's definitely skinnier than I am now. Also, her husband looks just like the Chief.

Oh, and apropos of having to go get that picture from IMDb, I've always thought Prince Caspian was a douchebag. Always.

Guys, I haven't decided what I'll be having for lunch yet, but I'll totally let you know!

Every pop song on the radio.

I'm sure, if you're reading this, that you've heard me say on at least one occasion that I have very strange dreams. As a rule, I have strange dreams. If you've ever seen Felix the Cat: The Movie -- like that. I once had a dream where I was five and co-ruled a medieval feudal society, and then I killed Jesus with a handful of toothpicks. Like that.

Lately, I have been having dreams that are not strange at all. They involve people that I know, discussing matters between us and doing things that we might logically do. They are the sort of dreams that I hear other people talk about, "I had a dream where so and so told me such and such."

The thing is, though, these ostensibly normal dreams are making me feel very strange and out of sorts. They make me feel like I suppose someone who usually has these sort of dreams would feel if they were suddenly being stalked and hunted through a department store and then found a vortex into negative space where they found their dead cat breathing fire. (For example.) The lack of abnormality in my subconscious is effectively surreal. My dreams are usually very clearly not reality, and they're easy to extract myself from once I awake. Now I'm having actual trouble sorting out what's real and what isn't, and what happened and what didn't.

I'm very confused. When I wake up in the morning I'm not sure if I've actually spoken to the person that I've dreamt about. Any time I dream about real people, I worry that the dream will wind up being prophetic, which has happened on occasion. Or maybe it already happened, I'm not sure. On the other hand, this may be an opportunity to work out while asleep the things I can't when I'm awake. See, it's always the case that we haven't really spoken. It just takes me a while to remember.

Post like you meme it.

Pat came up with this. And because it is great, I am promulgating it. Do it!

Steps:
1) Go to this site and you can find out what song was #1 (according to Billboard Magazine) on the US Charts on any particular week in history.

2) Look up your birthday.

3) List the #1 songs that have occurred on your birthday throughout the years you've been alive.

4) Cringe at how bad music was, and how bad it is now!


Thing:
1983 - "Say, Say, Say" by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
1984 - "Out of Touch" by Daryl Hall and John Oates
1985 - "Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister
1986 - "The Next Time I Fall" by Peter Cetera and Amy Grant
1987 - "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" by Belinda Carlisle (Hooray! I love this song!)
1988 - "Look Away" by Chicago
1989 - "We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel (And the number of times I heard this song around that time was ... a lot.)

1990 - "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)" by Stevie B (Umm. What?)
1991 - "Black Or White" by Michael Jackson (Yes.)
1992 - "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston
1993 - "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meat Loaf
1994 - "On Bended Knee" Boyz II Men
1995 - "One Sweet Day" Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
1996 - "Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton (My birthday is like the showcase for the Ultimate 90s Playlist)
1997 - "Something About The Way You Look Tonight/Candle In The Wind 1997" by Elton John (Really? Was there a medley I was unaware of?)
1998 - "I'm Your Angel" by Celine Dion and R. Kelly (If this were a list of "Songs I Hate With A Fiery Passion," this song would be at the top. Jesus Christ I hate this song so much.)
1999 - "Smooth" by Santana featuring Rob Thomas

2000 - "Independent Women Part I" by Destiny's Child (I'm surprised it's not still "Smooth," actually.)
2001 - "Family Affair" by Mary J. Blige
2002 - "Lose Yourself" by Eminem (Is this the one that won the Oscar? [It won the Oscar, right?] I've still never actually heard it except in clips.)
2003 - "Stand Up" by Ludacris featuring Shawna (Who and what now?)
2004 - "My Boo" by Usher and Alicia Keys (Hehehehehe. I haven't heard this one either, but that just sounds embarrasing.)
2005 - "Run It!" by Chris Brown (... Nope.)
2006 - "I Wanna Love You" by Akon featuring Snoop Dogg (Really?)
2007 - "No One" by Alicia Keys (This one I've totally heard.)

It's pretty craptastical. However, I have to say that the weirdest part was how many fucking years there were. Seriously! They just keep going! Especially towards the end there. There just keep being more years.

I watch television sometimes. UPDATED FOR MORE MEHNESS!

Really, considering how little television I watch, I've still seen a lot of television.

This has been going around like that funky sinus infection you had back in February.

1. Bold the shows you've watched every episode of
2. Italic the shows you've seen at least one episode of
Per Christine:
3. Strike every show you don't ever wish to see
4. Color those shows you'd like to take a look at someday, when you get around to it.


50. Quantum Leap (I think, but I was rather small at the time and don't remember anything about it.)
49. Prison Break
48. Veronica Mars
47. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
46. Sex & The City

45. Farscape
44. Cracker
43. Star Trek
42. Only Fools and Horses
41. Band of Brothers

40. Life on Mars
39. Monty Python's Flying Circus
38. Curb Your Enthusiasm (I hate this show.)
37. Star Trek: The Next Generation
36. Father Ted (One and a half, maybe?)

35. Alias
34. Frasier
33. CSI: Las Vegas
32. Babylon 5
31. Deadwood

30. Dexter
29. ER
28. Fawlty Towers
27. Six Feet Under
26. Red Dwarf

25. Futurama
24. Twin Peaks
23. The Office UK
22. The Shield
21. Angel

20. Blackadder
19. Scrubs
18. Arrested Development
17. South Park
16. Doctor Who (new version)

15. Heroes
14. Firefly
13. Battlestar Galactica (new version)
12. Family Guy
11. Seinfeld

10. Spaced
09. The X-Files
08. The Wire
07. Friends (I'm the only girl in the world who doesn't have this in bold, aren't I?)
06. 24

05. Lost
04. The West Wing
03. The Sopranos
02. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
01. The Simpsons

Addendum.

To my previous post.

I feel that it is necessary to clarify my position on the band Death Cab For Cutie. I do not dislike Death Cab For Cutie. I figured the fact that they appear not once, but twice, on the list of songs I listen to most often would have made that evident. Apparently not, though, guys! I like them and I listen to them often!

However.

On the whole, Death Cab For Cutie is rather ... morose and maudlin. If you've listened to them, you know, so don't even say anything. (I was using "emo" as a shorthand reference for this. I appreciate Stephanie's point that labels tend to impede your listening enjoyment. This is true. I wasn't really trying, though, to debate the merits, or lack thereof, of emo.) I felt that their over-representation on the list acted as an intensifier to the idea that my listening habits of late have been morose and maudlin. This is what my dismay was all about! It was not a commentary on the quality of the music. I was actually equally as upset that the only Decemberists song on the list was "The Engine Driver" - for the same reasons. And you know how much I like the Decemberists! And that song is great, but still. Still. Of course, the Decemberists are usually a bit more upbeat, so my reaction in that case was more, "Oh, this song." instead of "Oh, this band."

In conclusion, I like Death Cab For Cutie, and listen to them often. Sorry about any misunderstandings.

iPod introspection.

So, I've been spending a lot of time out of my house lately, which has led me to exploring some of the functions on my iPod. Turns out that iTunes will automatically compile a playlist of the songs that you listen to most often ... so that you can listen to them more often.

I checked out my list. And it was odd. It's not an entirely accurate system. Turns out that if you take a song off your iPod and then put it back on, it will reset the count. Ditto if you change the file name. Also, it counts a "play" as reaching the end of the track, and sometimes I will skip back to the beginning of a song if I want to hear it again, so songs with long fade outs are under-represented. And a whole bunch of other explanations and excuses.

Anyway, as it stands, these are the songs I've played the most, on my iPod:
Love Song To My Guru - Katell Keineg with The Floors
(Fair. I've listened to this a million times.)
That's All Right, Mama - Arthur Crudup
(Really? It's catchy, but this is a surprise showing.)
Pistol - Dustin Krensue
(Fair. I love this song.)
I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie
(Fair. Embarrassingly enough.)
Portions For Foxes - Rilo Kiley
(True story: I didn't like this song at all when I first heard it, and then something clicked, and I listened to it all the time.)
Challengers - The New Pornographers
(Neko Case sing so pretty.)
All That I Want - The Weepies
(I haven't listened to this since Christmastide. This list is out of date!)
Endless Sleep - Jody Reynolds
(Surprising!)
From Where I'm Standing - Schuyler Fisk
(Jenny's right, she has a really pretty voice.)
Freedom Is Only A Hippogriff Away - The Mudbloods
(The only Wizard Rock song on the list! Seriously though, this is an excellent song even if you don't know Harry Potter from a hole in the ground.)
All The Old Showstoppers - The New Pornographers
(Hee! I just talked about this! I suspect stuffed ballots.)
Backwater Blues - Dave Van Ronk
(Again, really? Then again, there was a playlist that I had to listen to for a while because I was MAKING A CD FOR SOMEONE, and this was on it.)
Someday You Will Be Loved - Death Cab For Cutie
(Oy. In my defense, this would make a great fan video that I'll never make.)
Hiding In Plain Sight - Lauren Hoffman
(I'm surprised she's not better represented - I listened to her A LOT a while back.)
We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives - Los Campesinos!
(Hee!)
Paperweight - Schuyler Fisk and ... some dude.
(No really, she sings pretty.)
Keep On The Sunny Side - The Whites
(Again, hee!)
Australia - The Shins
(Yup. Totally fair.)
I've Just Seen A Face - The Beatles
(Really?)
Both Hands - Ani DiFranco
(Utterly fair.)
Expectations - Belle And Sebastian
(Fair.)
The Engine Driver - The Decemberists
(I guess? Although I've listened to "Yankee Bayonet" so many more times, I think.)
1234 - Feist
(Really?)
So Long - Guster
(I guess so!)
Diggin' My Potatoes - Lonnie Donegan
(Hee! Hee! Hee!)


Um. So, geez. What this playlist tells me is that I'm really fucking maudlin. And that I may have the Blues. What the hell?

So, the first thing is, Umbridge is a Hufflepuff.

I had to go back and check on what Hufflepuff qualities actually are because, while this is a very clear thing in my head, "Because she is" probably isn't very convincing. Although, really, I've heard that you can convince plenty of people that something is true simply by saying it, so bear that in mind for the future.

Part of the reason that I think Umbridge is a Hufflepuff is that I don't think she fits in any other house. Or, to make this easier, I don't think she's a Slytherin. Intelligence fosters dissent and heroes break rules, so I'm crossing off Ravenclaw and Gryffindor before we start.

So, turns out that Hufflepuffs like the following things: Hard work, Fair Play, and Loyalty.

Hard Work - Can't tell me that lady's not hardworking. It may not be towards the right ends, but that's one motivated woman. Look at how fast she got those pamphlets and crap out!

Fair play - Um. Look over there! Actually, no. While on the surface it seems that Umbridge was unfair to everyone - she wasn't. She wanted everyone to play by the rules - her rules, but the rules nonetheless. If they did, they were rewarded. If they didn't, they were punished. She doesn't see her rules as being unreasonable, so this is her metric of fairness and she's actually very faithful to it.

Loyalty - This is where most of my argument lies. I always thought of Umbridge as representing the dark side of loyalty. She is unflinchingly loyal to the Ministry, its people, and its policies. In the podcast, they talked about the changes in the Ministry in the seventh book, and how they believed that Umbridge's acceptance of these very drastic changes was evidence of her ambition and disregard for everything else. I don't think that's true at all. First of all, the changes weren't that drastic. There was no official take-over of the Ministry. As far as anyone on the inside was concerned, the Ministry was continuing as it always had, having nothing to do with Voldemort or any outside forces whatsoever. Such a position would be either very naïve, or willfully blind, but I think that describes Umbridge perfectly. She is so blindly loyal to the Ministry that in the end, it doesn't actually matter what the Ministry is. It doesn't matter what its policies are, what its goals are, or what actions it carries out. Umbridge is pro Ministry, whatever that means.

I don't think that Umbridge is a particularly ambitious person, which is the same as saying that I don't think she's a Slytherin. It's hard to say, though, because at a certain point, hard work and ambition conflate and it's hard to tell them apart. But her biggest goal was to be a supporter. Her biggest goal was to be the most important team player there was. She didn't want to be a rock star, she wanted to be the president of the fan club. She never wanted to actually be in charge, because she needed validation from whoever was in charge that she had done a good job. Yeah, she grabbed up power left and right at Hogwarts, but only so that she could tell Cornelius Fudge all about it and have him pat her on the head.

The other important thing to note about Umbridge is that she's a bigot. Why is that important? It's important because Slytherins don't have the market cornered on bigotry. I think, in fact, that her expressed prejudice is conditional to that of the people around her. As far as we saw, she had no opinion on Muggle-borns at all until the Ministry decided to go after them. As we heard, the Ministry had a long-standing bad treatment of part-humans, which probably allowed her personal dislike to flourish. She was just taking the views of the day to their most extreme end. If the Ministry suddenly decided to take of the cause of house elf rights, she'd probably denounce Hermione for not being pro-active enough.

Furthermore, there's this perception that Hufflepuffs are always nice and friendly and accepting of everyone, but that's not true. I'm remembering that scene in Chamber of Secrets when all the Hufflepuffs are gossiping about Harry, and then when they catch him overhearing, they fully turn their backs on him. Hufflepuffs can be insular and hive-minded at the worst of times. When cornered, their loyalty is to their own group, to the exclusion of anyone who's not in that group. Umbridge, again, gives an extreme example of that in the way that she treats Harry and the other students: if you're not with her group, worse, if you're against her group, then she seriously does not even have the wherewithal to be concerned about you.


I think I'm out of examples. BUT SERIOUSLY, THOUGH.

A narrowly defined genre.

A while back, Annika wrote in her blog an entry that I thought was truly cool. Really! I'm still talking about it! I'm sad that it didn't get more replies.

Today I discovered that I have liked a narrowly defined genre of music without even realizing it. (Though, to be fair, the boy pointed this out to me about a month ago.) It turns out that if you write a song about St. John the Divine, I will probably like it and listen to it a lot. It also turns out that this applies to a lot more songs than you would suspect!

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - St. John the Divine (not technically a song about the man himself, for the most part)

Neko Case - John Saw That Number (even though she name drops John the Baptist, this song is actually about the guy who wrote Revelations)

Son House - John the Revelator (best bluesman ever)

The New Pornographers - All The Old Showstoppers (took me a while to discover this one, but there you go - same dude)

I'm sure there are more! I don't know what to make of this! Besides imaginary fanvids about Locke!

Guys, guys. Guess what this post is about!

This post is about Harry Potter. I know! It's been a couple months.

Also, I feel like I should mention (and, uh, apologize to the P@) that I won't be doing that thing where you summarize your life in six words. I just ... no. Sorry.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT HARRY POTTER.*

As I've mentioned a few times, I listen to Harry Potter podcasts. Specifically, I listen to PotterCast and MuggleCast. Caz knows what I'm talking about. Anyway, I decided recently that I'm going to stop listening to MuggleCast. I just can't take it anymore. The last episode I listened to (which may or may not be the last one they put out) the hosts mispronounced (because they were clearly completely unfamiliar with) no fewer than four words, and not terribly complex ones at that. For example, "truant." You've been to fucking high school, don't even give me that. (I mean, except for the one girl on the show, who was homeschooled, and who therefore never has any trouble with pronunciation or comprehension.) Also, they debated why the Weasley twins would use the code name "Rodent" for that thing they do. (Are there still spoilers?) Is it because they're ratting people out or something? The Weasley twins, people. That, plus the way they massacre Latin every other episode just really pushed me over the edge. And! They all seem to enjoy Twilight, unironically, and I just don't even know what to do with that.

Not that PotterCast doesn't have its moments of stupidity. And then there's Sue Upton and her whole obsession with Hufflepuff, which, when I'm paying attention, makes me want to stab myself in the eye. Just the one eye, though. However, even with some lapses, I find myself pretty consistently entertained by PotterCast. So I'm going to keep listening to that one. They really need to cut out the segment with all the chicks who can't read off a page, though. Cut it, or give them a few speech lessons or something. I can't even pay attention to what they're saying half the time; it's painful.

Um. What's my point here? One of the dangers of listening to podcasts is that it's like reading a message board where you're not registered and can't reply to anything. It's very frustrating sometimes when you've got the answer down and they're floundering all over the place trying come up with something. And then you yell and curse at the air in front of you. It's awkward. It's why I listen to podcasts in my room.

There are two things that I'd like to discuss today that I've been thinking about because of podcasts. Well, actually, I'd been thinking about them before podcasts, but the podcasts gave me the desire to talk about it because apparently I'm the only one who understands. And, naturally, my blog is the only place where I have that kind of platform. But that's okay, you guys like Harry Potter. Right? You guys still like Harry Potter? Guys?

Okay, Issue 1. This is the general issue, and it has to do with Sorting, and how people are sorted. There seems to be this ... fundamental misunderstanding about Sorting. A widespread fundamental misunderstanding, that leads to unnecessary consternation about things like, why is Hermione in Gryffindor if she's so smart? Should Snape have been sorted into Gryffindor if he did brave things? Is Luna really smart enough to be in Ravenclaw?

Here's the thing. On casual inspection, Sorting seems like it's one thing. If you're smart, you go in Ravenclaw. If you're brave, or a jerk, you go in Gryffindor. If you're evil, you go in Slytherin, and if you're D. none of the above, you go in Hufflepuff. But see, you have to wonder. JK Rowling makes this big deal about how it's not our abilities that define us, but our choices. It's a theme. So, it's weird, then, for her to have this system in place where people are labeled, separated, and therefore defined, according solely to their abilities.

A-ha! Here's the crux: people are not sorted based on their abilities. They're sorted based on their values. Loyalty, bravery, intelligence, ambition: which one do you place higher than the rest? That's what Sorting is. Yes, Hermione is smart, but she would be a Gryffindor no matter how smart she was because, as she explains in the very first book: there are more important things [than book smarts]. Snape would never be a Gryffindor, no matter how many brave things he did, because he didn't give a shit about bravery.

This also explains why families tend to wind up in the same house. Look at the Weasleys. All of them wound up in Gryffindor, despite the fact that they're all very very different people with different talents and goals. Why? Because their parents instilled them with the same values growing up. I mean, at least until the time they were eleven. Neville (I want to punch in the face everyone who says Neville should have been a Hufflepuff) was raised to believe that his parents were the ultimate standard, his parents who were very brave. He was never going to be anything other than a Gryffindor. Sirius wound up in a house where none of the rest of his family had ever been placed because his values went against theirs.

I mean, I'm right, aren't I? You see the logic in this, don't you? So why does no one else seem to get this? (I don't mean you people. I mean the Harry Potter people.) Why are they still trying to figure out what houses people would be in based on what they do?


Which brings us up to Issue 2. And this is no where near as long. A couple weeks ago PotterCast had a discussion on what house Dolores Umbridge would be in. And they gave arguments for three options. Which was hilarious to me because the house that they didn't even consider is the house that I always assumed she would be in: Umbridge is totally a Hufflepuff. Think about it. I mean, I'll explain further if anybody wants, but ... think about it.


*Oh, snap, looks like I did it anyway.

ISSUES.

For the past week or so, I have have been getting inundated with ideas to make fanvids for Twilight.

I will take this opportunity to remind you that:
1. I still can't make fanvids.
2. I loathe Twilight.

GAH!

Schadenfreude is love.

There are few things that make me angrier than people driving all crazy around my also envehicled personage. There's usually gesticulating.

However, today, I figured out what can make that anger immediately dissipate. It's the greatest thing in the world. It is watching the person who swerved to cut you off get pulled over.

Woo hoo!!

One less.

Today I went to my doctor to get the first of three injections of Gardasil, the vaccination against human papillomavirus and cervical cancer.

I know that for most of my readers, this is something of a non-issue. The vaccine is for ages 9 - 26, which many of you aren't. Also, it's for chicks, and some of you are dudes. But, if you do fall within that age bracket, and you have a cervix, I would recommend that you get the vaccine.

But Amy, that one or two of you could say, what if I'm in a committed monogamous relationship (or, you know, engaged) with someone that I already know won't give me HPV? Isn't that the way you get it? Isn't this, essentially, a vaccine for, um, sluts?

And to that I would say, no. It's not a statement about morality. It says nothing about who you are or what you intend. You can hem and haw about why you probably don't necessarily really actually "need" it, but, let's get real. It's about not getting cancer. I like to do a variety of things in my life to help ensure that I won't get cancer, and this is one of those things. Seriously, if you could get a shot in the arm that would guarantee that you wouldn't get at least one form of cancer ... why on earth wouldn't you?

[/The More You Know]

Because Pat has better ideas for blogging than I do.

Here’s what happened when I seek/scanned through the radio stations in my car. My car’s a little old, and the seeker only works up, not down. It stopped on a lot of stations that were just static, too, which I have included for thoroughness rather than prudence.

This list was transcribed starting at approximately 6:30 PM, after I arrived home from driving. Yes, when I arrived home. I should note that I only recently started listening to the radio, and even then only very tentatively. But I’ve also started driving a lot more, so it balances out. Still, though, I know very little about what’s on the radio. Just that it’s usually crap.

This took longer and is longer than I originally thought it was going to be.

87.7 – There’s a song playing that sounds like an extended dance remix of the Rolling Stones. Really? Oh, apparently this is a new song by Mick Jagger! And apparently this is “The Pulse of New York.”

88.3 – Jazz

89.3 – Static. Thanks, seek.

89.5 – A song is on. What is this? Slipknot? This sounds like Slipknot. Skip.

89.7 – Static.

89.9 – Jazz again, only this time with more sax. Ugh. I think the saxophone is the only instrument I really dislike.

90.1 – A song is playing. What is this, reggae? Hip-hop? Reggae hip-hop? Okay, apparently, this is “New York’s Cabbie Flavor.” I’M NOT KIDDING.

90.7 – A song is playing. Soft rock or something. Maybe emo. I can’t really make out the lyrics, so I’m giving this a skip.

91.1 – WFMU [Preset 1]. Here’s the deal with this station. I’ve recently been talking with Sarah from the WD, and she’s a real big fan of WFMU. My the boy also claims that he told me about it months ago, which may or may not be true. They’re an ad-less “freeform” music station. And they are frequented by Local-Boy-Made-Good Love of My Life, Ted Leo. Should be great! Unfortunately, most of the time I listen to it, someone is talking. And talking. You really have to cross your fingers to even hope to hear music, and then it’s pretty hit or miss. Right now, they’re playing some kind of world music that I have no hope of identifying. Skip.

91.5 – Some dude is talking about Hitler. Um, in a historical way. Not a Neo-Nazi way. Now he’s talking about German-American saboteurs? Tempting, but, no. Skip.

92.3 – K-Rock! [Preset 4] I find myself listening to K-Rock the most out of any station these days. Time was, they sucked big time. But now they have all these gimmicks that have made it both more musically satisfactory, and more entertaining (Pat would probably enjoy it). Like their “March Bracket Brawl” and how every Monday, they play listener-submitted playlists, exclusively. The weird side effect of this is that the station sounds like it’s being broadcast out of the 90s. I don’t mean that it sounds like they’re “playing 90s music”. It’s not like “The Best Mix of the 90s!” I mean that it sounds like radio sounded about a decade ago. It’s seriously like everything stopped updating after 1996. Not that that’s a bad thing. Right now the English dude is on. I don’t know who he is yet, but he sounds like a young Londoner transposed to Manhattan, and his name is Ian. So radio DJ is probably really what he’s best qualified for. He’s talking about … something. The Raconteurs’ new album, I believe. Oh! And now, as if to prove my point, they’re playing “Basket Case” by Green Day.

92.7 – Spanish music.

93.1 – More Spanish music.

93.9 – Some dude talking about our war expenditures. Oh wait, now they’re playing music. Oh, no, sorry, that was just their theme music. He’s now talking about something I’m too bored to listen to.

94.7 – Classical music. It’s choral right now.

95.5 – PLJ. This is my sister’s favorite radio station. They’re alright. They play new music, but the kind that’s just new and popular enough to make someone who was young in the 80s feel with it, but bland enough that they won’t get freaked out and alienated by it. Ahem.

96.3 – More classical music. And I think this is the station my clock radio is set to. Or maybe not any more. I have no idea what it’s set to, really. It used to be loud static. Woo boy, that’ll wake you up. Anyway, that was the King Arthur Suite by Elgar.

96.5 – Hip-hop, and ads! At the same time! Genius!

96.7 – More FM talk radio, but this time in Spanish.

97.1 – A song is playing. Won’t someone please show this poor fellow the way? Because the devil is trying to break him down. I don’t know what this song is, even though I probably ought to; I’ve heard it enough times. It was on the commercial for a movie that ran all the time a while back, but I forget which one.

97.5 – Dude. This sounds like reggae gospel. That’s fucking awesome!

97.9 – Some dude is speaking very loudly and emphatically in Spanish. … And now some more people are laughing very loudly and emphatically. (In Spanish?)

98.3 – Celine Dion is telling me that I was her strength when she was weak. I have no idea what this station is.

98.5 – Static.

98.7 – A commercial for PNC Bank. I have no idea what this station is.

98.9 – Static.

99.1 – I am being told that this is “Star 99.1.” What is this? OH!! This is Christian rock. Skip.

99.5 – Someone is talking about Halliburton and oil and today’s war protests. Now they have an audio clip of an 18-year-old girl who was picked up at one. Um, by the police, I mean. Lord. She should … not talk.

99.9 – There’s an ad for a record store on, ironically. Or maybe a club? I don’t know what this station is, but I have a feeling I won’t like it.

100.1 – static.

100.3 – Z100. My niece, who will be ten in May, loves Z100. It’s totally her favorite station. Z100 also used to be my favorite station … when I was ten. Then one day I decided that the music had just started to suck too much and I more or less gave up radio all together. Z100 was, and I believe still is, the biggest radio station in New York. However, I’ve recently wondered if it isn’t just the sort of enterprise that’s only cool if you’re ten. Right now, someone seems to be singing in Spanish? All I can make out is the word “marshmallows.” Skip.

100.5 – Static plus carry-over from Z100.

100.9 – More of the same. Told you they were big. They broadcast from the top of the Empire State Building.

101.1 – CBS FM. This used to be the station that my father listened to all the time, because they played “oldies” by which they meant doo wop. Then a few years ago, they redefined “oldies” to mean “the 70s.” I’m not sure what changes they’ve since undergone, but right now they’re playing "96 Tears" by Question Mark & the Mysterians.

101.3 – Static.

101.5 – I have no idea what station this is, but right now they’re having the traffic report. There’s lots of pockets of traffic on Westbound 80. And also lots of traffic in general. It’s been raining all day, you see. Oooh, an overturned tractor-trailer! … I’ve just now realized how many times I’ve heard that phrase in my life. Probably more than is seemly?

101.7 – Static.

101.9 – I feel sure that this is a real station of some sort, but I don’t know what it is, and right now they have a Jeep commercial on. Oh wait, that’s right. This is CD 101.9. They play smooth jazz. God bless Jeep.

102.1 – Static.

102.5 – More Spanish music, but far more peppy than the other ones!

102.7 – “Fresh” 102.7. This is the brand new “Fresh” light music station. As opposed to the old light music station that we’ll encounter later on in our program. Right now they’re playing commercials.

102.9 – Static.

103.1 – Staticy Bible talk!

103.5 – KTU, “The Beat Of New York”. Right now some chick from Brooklyn is OMGing over something. Oh, she’s going to St. Lucia, courtesy of the radio station. That’s certainly nice of them. … I believe we’ve all just witnessed the best thing about KTU. Let’s move on.

103.7 – Static.

104.1 – Static.

104.3 – Q104, “New York’s Only Classic Rock Station”. [Preset 2] Q104 is pretty much my default station. They tend to play the same songs over and over again, but at least I know them all. Unfortunately though, they’ve recently decided that Nirvana and Pearl Jam fall under the purview of classic rock, and I don’t truck with that bullshit. Also, not to tattle, but one time they played Nickelback. Hand to God. Anyway, right now they are playing the tail end of “Layla”, so of course now I’m thinking about Goodfellas.

104.5 – Static and bits of Layla.

104.7 – Calypso!

104.9 – Static.

105.1 – I don’t know what station this is, but right now they’re playing a Rachael Ray/Dunkin Donuts commercial, so I’m already biased against it. (NB: I don’t hate Rachael Ray because everyone else hates her. I hate her because she pops up everywhere just like Jaslene on America’s Next Top Model . JASLENE’d! That shit makes me crazy.)

105.5 – Fat bottomed girls make the rockin’ world go ‘round! Woo hoo! I have no idea what this station is! But I’d like to go inside soon, so I’m moving on!

105.9 – Ads in Spanish.

106.3 – A song is playing. About a girl named Carrie Ann? Not the Hollies song. Oh, maybe it’s “carry on”? The singer really wants me to carry on. Is this the Used? This sounds like the Used. Skip.

106.5 – Static.

106.7 – Lite FM. I’m not saying that to be deprecatory, that’s really the name of the station. This is the Old School Lite Station that “Fresh” is rebelling against. However, right now, David Bowie is entreating me to dance in my red shoes, so, advantage to the Old School.

107.1 – The Who are goin’ mobile!! I seriously have no idea what this station is! But maybe I’ll check it out again later.

107.5 – A Honda commercial.

107.9 – [Preset 6*] I recently discovered that this is “We Be 108**” (which must be their call letters), and it’s broadcast out of Connecticut. Connecticut!! They play “Connecticut’s Best Music Mix.” I don’t know if that’s true, but I preset them because one day when nothing else was on they were playing Love Shack. Sometimes it’s just that easy, people. I wouldn’t say that they play light music, but I wouldn’t say they play good music, either. Mostly, they play songs that I don’t hate. Like right now, when everyone else has commercials on, they are playing “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” I’m okay with that.

*You may have noticed that I have no presets at 3 or 5. … Deal with it.
** I find it interesting that both Pat’s and my stations at 107.9 tout themselves as “108.” Radio stations and horseshoes, eh?

Wtf?

Anthony Minghella is dead.

I feel like I should promise to post when people aren't dead. But seriously, what the fuck.