Pie. Pie. Pie. Pie. Pie. Pie. Pie.
posted by Gray at 12:02 PM | | link

Oh, and we should all pay tribute to one of the creators of several great inventions "For the kids!" [ link ]
posted by Gray at 2:54 AM | | link

An evening of fine cinema.

$1 American and an old gift certificate got me in the door at the Regal Mall of Georgia.for viewings of Insomnia and Undercover Brother. I return home and find Enter The Dragon playing on TCM. 2 a.m. brings Superman and Batman on Cartoon Network. Good stuff all around.
posted by Gray at 2:50 AM | | link

If anyone feels the need to work for P. "Puffy" Diddy Daddy Doo, there seems to be an opening in his organization. I guess he busted one too many champagne bottles over the head of the last intern? *Oooooooh!*

On a similar note, if you care to read a summary of my thoughts on "Popular music", please see the comment here.
posted by Gray at 3:39 PM | | link

A moment of silence, please, for the end of an era in snackfood history. I've just polished off what will probably my last ever bag of Spicy Quesadilla Tostitos. They don't make them anymore. Why not? Certainly, they're tasty, pleasing to the eye, and bite-sized, to boot, making for what some might call the perfect snack. Not perfect enough, is the message that Frito-Lay has sent in the form of heartless cancellation.

Considering the fact that they maintain two different histories of the product line on their site, I'm wondering if there just might be some foul play afoot up in Plano... A Pro-Cheese faction fighting tooth-and-nail against a more powerful Anti-Cheese cabal, perhaps? I rule nothing out... and I will not rest until a cheese-flavored Tostito remains on the shelves long enough to see more than one President in office.

Because of this loss, I must find comfort in one of these new bad-ass patriotic Little Debbies I found at Kroger. Little Debbie ALWAYS has a snack for me.



*pours a swig of CODE RED on the ground* This one's for you, Spicy Quesadilla. *pounds chest and throws out F-L hand symbol*
posted by Gray at 4:00 PM | | link

While I'm currently sitting in the #4 spot on that Nintendo poll, I was king of the hill at #1 earlier today. I realize this doesn't really matter much in the overall scheme of life, considering that I have no job and never learned to juggle or play hockey and I've only met ONE former President, but it's still fun to keep track of.

So CLICK! Click for me, my friends, acquaintances and total strangers!

(The girl in first place lists her favorite kind of music as "Popular music", for Pete's sake! What kind of answer is that? AN UNACCEPTABLE ONE, that's what kind it is.)
posted by Gray at 8:19 PM | | link

Our shuttles are grounded. I hope we don't have any surprise encounters with Texas-sized asteroids or evil serpent-themed terrorist organizations with their own space programs any time soon.

Vote Whitten!
posted by Gray at 3:17 PM | | link

Monster Garage joins the ranks of super cool mechanic shows (along with Junkyard Wars) that kids should be required to watch. Amazing creativity and ingenuity in action.
posted by Gray at 11:13 PM | | link

This is funny... I'm a finalist for the Nintendo Street Team. So, if any of you folks out there want me to win, you can go here and vote. It will give me something to do on the weekends and some extra ca$h with which to buy more fine Nintendo products!

update: It would seem that the webmonkeys at Nintendo underestimated the bandwidth needed to serve up a hundred Quicktimes a thousand times a day. The voting pages are down for the moment. I guess they'll have them back up sometime soon. Or it could all be a giant conspiracy by The Man to keep me off the Street Team. Hmmm...

another update: You can go vote again now. CLICK HERE to launch me towards victory.
posted by Gray at 11:22 AM | | link

Getting rained on while running to your car isn't an altogether bad thing when you've just been at the gym doing semi-painful exercises.
posted by Gray at 6:31 PM | | link

In passing by MTV, if I ever see the "Spankin' New" tag, I'm forced to pause and see who this new video might belong to. This time, it was Staind. Yeah, they're still making videos. Still letting Fred Durst direct them, too. Not the smartest cookies in the jar, I'm wagering.

Anyway... the point of this post. Billy Zane is in the video, which looks to be some sort of Sleepy Hollow ripoff with El Zane in a carriage getting all weepy for some reason. Probably still bitter that he never got to make The Phantom 2.

Now, you know I love Tombstone as much as the next sane person, but hiring Billy Zane to spruce up your Staind video is like putting a chrome exhaust cap on your Ford Festiva -- it may look slightly cool if you catch it from the right angle, but it certainly doesn't improve the performance.
posted by Gray at 11:34 PM | | link

In my about-to-happen Scale entry for Minority Report, I'm gonna bump the rating system up to 10 stars. This change inspired in part by Mr. Grauer over at Elastic Heart.
posted by Gray at 12:21 AM | | link

I have come home for the evening wearing my signed Run DMC t-shirt, and what's on the TV waiting for me? KRUSH GROOVE, that's what!

Despite the fact that "Tender Love" by the Force M.D.'s is playing in the background, Blair Underwood is puttin' his thang down quite effectively in this love scene. Also, Run DMC just had an argument over gettin' paid vs. chillin'. Gotta keep that one straight, yo.
posted by Gray at 11:50 PM | | link

Say what you will about the U.S. -- criticize our cars or our lack of interest in soccer or our love of Supersized Biggie Value Meals if you must -- but we've given the world The Shawshank Redemption, and that's a pretty damn fine contribution if you ask me.

...of course, after I type this, I realize that Darabont is from France.

I stand by my claim based on the talents of Messrs. Freeman, Robbins and King, however. U S A! U S A!

posted by Gray at 12:25 AM | | link

Hmm, Drew didn't like Windtalkers at all. That's too bad. I do enjoy a good John Woo flick. I guess I'll just watch my Hard Boiled DVD again and wait for Windtalkers to hit video.
posted by Gray at 2:04 AM | | link

Slow news day? No, not really. Just a slow blog day.

The coolest thing I saw today was probably the teaser trailer for Daredevil that was shown on E! this afternoon/evening. It looks like they're doing things right; I know the director is a huge fan of the comic, which is always a good thing when a movie is an adaptation of another medium.

I tell you what.
posted by Gray at 1:54 AM | | link

I'm surprised I haven't found this linked into any of the other usual places, but here goes...

Britney + NASCAR = Biggest Box Office Draw in Louisiana EVER.

Britney Spears may not be behind the wheel, but she’ll be part of an upcoming NASCAR movie. Spears will star as the daughter of a NASCAR team owner who helps a veteran driver regain his touch.

This should break all kinds of records in MS, AL, LA, SC, NC, TN, GA and possibly FL, where Brit was manufactured in a secret Disney underground cloning/stuffed animal manufacturing facility. This is also where she occasionally returns for any necessary 'upgrades.'
posted by Gray at 12:01 PM | | link

I knew that the radio industry is completely bought and sold by record companies (no, those songs don't get played because they're good), but this is just evil.

Consider this hypothetical situation: If a small label releases a single that becomes a runaway hit and is added to Top 40 stations across the country, almost overnight the fledgling record company would face a potentially fatal financial crush -- invoices for playlist adds from indies totaling nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Because of the established rules, even if the indies never even heard the song, let alone pitched it to programmers, the invoice would be sent out once the song was added to their stations. And if the label didn't pay promptly, indies could do their best to get the song yanked off the air.

[ From an article at Salon.com ]
posted by Gray at 11:15 PM | | link

The resume page is up and running. All comments/criticism are welcome and appreciated.
posted by Gray at 2:26 PM | | link

Attention all readers: If you don't want to get any productivity spilled on you, you'd better step back from the desk a few paces while you read. Fair warning.
posted by Gray at 11:50 AM | | link

Also, Space Ghost Coast To Coast episode 60, "Lawsuit," with guest (pre-surgery) Greta Van Susteren is one of the funniest things I have seen on a television.

"Moltar! Phone book...lawyer...EXTRAPOLATE!" -Tad Ghostal
posted by Gray at 12:46 AM | | link

Must remember to tell everyone who cares about the just-/about-to-be-released soundtrack to Rabbit-Proof Fence. More Peter Gabriel magic in the vein of Passion, I've heard.

Now that I've opened up the site linked above...it seems that theory is valid. It sounds wonderful so far. This has just moved pretty high up on my wish list. If I haven't mentioned it before, Passion is one of the greatest albums I own. Give it a listen, won't you?
posted by Gray at 12:35 AM | | link

Ugh. Just heard the heavy thud of the Sunday paper hitting the driveway.

Note to self: stop being an insomniac. Get job. Etc., etc.
posted by Gray at 4:28 AM | | link

Operation: Stay Up 'Til 4 a.m. Watching Monster's Ball has been completed successfully. Not necessarily a bad thing. I'm definitely going to have to track down some of this score by Asche and Spencer. It reminds me of the ambient, somewhat spooky parts of the Sling Blade soundtrack (which you should all own). No common talent between the two, as far as I can tell... just Billy Bob. Maybe he has a rider in his contract requiring that the soundtrack be appropriately eerie and/or emotional and feature no overused oldies. I know I would if I were famous.

As for the film, yes, I would agree that Ms. Berry did a very good job. I fear it's too late for any further analysis... and I'm not one to give away plot points, anyway. I do need to put some thought into what the significance of the title is. Yes, I know it was used in the film, but only once. If you can tell me how that ties into an overall theme, I'll send you a free Halle Berry nudie picture or something. (as if that matters after you've seen this movie)

Must sleep now. More words later.
posted by Gray at 4:21 AM | | link

Larry Hagman is about to take the stage on Conan, and I feel that I must point out that any man who can get Barbara Eden (in her prime, no less) to call him "Master" on a daily basis, then years later become an even bigger star and look like this:



...may officially claim the title of "peeeump."
posted by Gray at 1:20 AM | | link

Please watch this space for an enthralling, mind-altering new online resumé to appear very soon. I'm serious -- you'll want to hire me, even if you don't have a job for me. It'll be just that persuasive.

However, if you've already made such a decision, and wish to start sending me ca$h immediately, please email me now. Thank you.
posted by Gray at 2:33 PM | | link

Ted Nugent never ceases to amuse/amaze me. Whether it be through his rockin'-and-a-rollin' or with interviews like this one, he always delivers the entertainment.

Keep up the fight, Ted.
posted by Gray at 2:50 PM | | link

"Ceremonial Artillery: It's just not a motel without it." A new photo essay at Lileks. Go there now.
posted by Gray at 10:54 AM | | link

I can't believe I never made this connection before...

Bryce from "Max Headroom" grew up to be Tom (the visiting pre-frosh) in PCU. That, my friends, is a pair of great roles. Props to Chris Young.
posted by Gray at 10:44 PM | | link

Do you like frustration? Do you like monkeys? Do you like being frustrated by monkeys? If you answered 'yes' to these questions, I suggest you click this link.

And now, I gots to go wash some bird poop off some lawn furniture. BOO YAH!
posted by Gray at 2:48 PM | | link

You should all go buy DJ Shadow's new album now. Thank you, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
posted by Gray at 3:26 AM | | link

The first instance of On The Bricks vs. Downtown Rocks went down pretty smoovely, I thought. Robert and I hit the MARTA and got there in time for some food court sustenance and Jerry Cantrell's set. (always perfect grammar and perfect timing)

Hearing the opening notes of "Would?" still sends a chill down my spine.

We stayed around for a bit to hear some of Nickelback. Nickelback is pretty damn boring. They couldn't be helped... even by pyrotechnics. G-Love and Special Sauce busted out the freestyle action as we headed toward the train, and at least helped remove the unpleasant aftertaste of Nickelback before we departed.

Oh, and I saw a Segway in person. Two of them, even. Pictures, perhaps.
posted by Gray at 3:26 AM | | link

Great googly-moogly, it's hot outside. Lunch with the gang was nice; I always enjoy a dose of Rib Ranch goodness. Too bad I was sweating into my pork sammich, though. Could have been worse... at least there was shade and sweet tea.

I made it out of Buckhead around 3 p.m., just under the wire, no doubt.

For those of you not familiar with our fair city of Atlanta, here's a quick summary: 75 and 85 criss-cross the city. Not too bad, usually. 285 circles the city like a panopticon of traffic and scalding-hot asphalt; avoid this if at all possible. 400 branches north from 85 to deliver a huge number of suburbanites to their homes and rugrats through a single, narrow channel (similar to, yet altogether different from Hank Hill's urethra). That was my commute for a few years...the GA 400 March...er... Drive of Death, north, to the 'burbs. If you leave Buckhead anywhere between 4 and 7 p.m., you're probably going to do more braking than accelerating, and that's no fun at all in the June sun.

...the point of this bloated narrative being that I successfully dodged the wraith of traffic this afternoon, and made it home rather speedily. If you don't like traffic, here are your options: a) work near your home, b) work very flexible hours or c) get a flying car, a la Back To The Future II

posted by Gray at 4:29 PM | | link

Woo... nothing like having some Win2K files become corrupt for no apparent reason. Scratch one day of productivity.
posted by Gray at 1:21 AM | | link

I think I'm gonna make some changes.

We'll see how productive I can be while watching the season finale of The Shield...
posted by Gray at 10:03 PM | | link

"Holy CODFISH! Look at my feet!" - Bugs Bunny

June Bugs -- one little marathon of animation brings me so much joy.
posted by Gray at 3:12 PM | | link

Long, fun day of getting ready for company and then hanging out with said company. Derek and his friend Josie are here from NC for a concert that didn't happen. At least they got to eat ice cream with me at Bruster's tonight.

This afternoon, I stopped by the Buckhead Circuit City to try out for the Nintendo Street Team. I pledged my allegiance to Nintendo and hoped for the best.

I suppose some other things happened, but I'm not too inspired at the moment. I did find a new DJ Shadow single, however. The album comes out next week. BUY IT. Each and every one of you! This I command!
posted by Gray at 2:18 AM | | link