Sunday, December 28, 2008
doctor who
I was unimpressed by the Doctor Who Christmas special, "The New Doctor". It didn't have the emotional pull of last year's Xmas special, "Voyage of the Damned". Sure, the costumes were pretty and it made me all fuzzy inside that the Doctor was in 1851 London, but I felt there was no character development. whereas in last year's special, the Doctor and Astrid really had a connection and there was a motley ensemble of different characters with distinct personalities, this one just seemed dull to me. I mean, who am I to argue against watching David Tennant prance around in his spiffy suit being adorable, but really. I felt more connection and draw from pretty much every episode in Season 4 than from the Christmas special. I think it's because Russel T. Davis wrote and directed the Xmas special, and we all know Stephan Moffat is far his superior. I have watched the Season 4 finale, "Journey's End", several times. And, sap that I am, I always end up in tears. Especially when the Doctor reunites with Rose on the beach in Norway. But not for this special. For every past Christmas special, the Doctor has had to reconcile his grief over losing his most recent companion. Anyone remember how adorably sad he was in "The Runaway Bride" (I think that's what it's called). Donna's entire memory of the Doctor was just wiped, completely. He barely even flinches. He mentions her very briefly at te end of the episode, but I really felt he should have been mourning a bit more. All I can say is, I'm glad Stephen Moffat is taking the reigns from this point on, because it's a shame to have so much money and effort (and anticipation, on my part) spent upon such lackluster episodes.
jumping the bandwagon
So, I decided to begin blogging. Because I'm a poseur hipster fuck? Absolutely. No, also because I need an outlet for all my thoughts, interests and pursuits. I just watched all 22 parts of Trapped In The Closet for the first time, and I never fathomed I'd say this, but R. Kelly is a genius. It's got everything you could want: sex, guns, hos, drugs, mobsters, infidelity, secret gay affairs, secret gay affairs involving clergymen, pimps named PimpLicious, a mysterious entity entitled "The Package", and of course, midgets. The writing is wonderfully atrocious.... Also, did it ever occur to R. Kelly that "Trapped in the Closet" has an entirely different connotation for the lgbt community? LOLZ.
In other news, I just bough the new We Are Scientists record, Brain Thrust Mastery. Despite everything Abbey Ozanich might say, I find it quite nice. They're not breaking any stylistic conventions, but can anyone complain with some solid, peppy indie rock? Favorite tracks would include "After Hours" (no, not a Velvet Underground cover like I initially though). The video's adorable too, and directed by one of the guys in The Lonely Island who isn't Andy Sandberg. :Lethal Enforcer" and "Chick Lit" have a wistfullness with an angry bite. Most of the songs center around the fallout of ended relationships, or relationships in crisis. This is well illustrated on "Spoken For", the one slow-tempo track on the album. It's simoltaniously sweet and melancholy. We Are Scientists aren't groundbreaking, but they produce some good indie rock.
I've had the Black Kids album "Partie Traumatic" on my computer for awhile, thanks to ripping it from WBAR. I gave it a swift listen when I first got it, and wasn't all that impressed. But after a few more listens it's really growing on me. The hit, "I'm Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You" was all over college radio, American Apparel, and Urban Outfitters (latter two with much regret) this summer. As my friend Mitch says, Black Kids remind him of a poppier, updated Cure. And he might have something there. On other tracks, they have a unique call-and-response style between the male and female members of the band, almost reminiscent of 60's girl group stylings. Almost. Other picks are "I'm Making Eyes At You", "Hurricane Jane" "Love Me Already" and "Listen To Your Body Tonight" (the latter really explores this call-and-response technique).
So there was a copy of the NYTimes magazine section on our kitchen table this morning. Someone had folded the pages to mark a specific article, but had turned the magazine over to the other side. To my great amusement, there was a full-page ad which had a woman facing away from the camera, sitting on a beach. Mammoth text in boldface loomed over the picture, stating, "NOBODY TALKS ABOUT PAIN DURING INTERCOURSE". Really? And on what authority do they have this information? Teehee. In the same vein, I recently saw a TV commercial for an IUD. Seriously, people? The advertisers cautioned that it was for use by women who had either already had children or did not want any. WHy? Because IUD's cause infertility and can perf your uterus. Seriously. Older generations will recall the infaumous Dalcon Sheild of the 70's which caused many a perf'd uterus and infertile woman. Uhg. Just uhg. Seriously, where is the need for this when we have perfectly functional pills, rings, injections, and implants. And those are only the hormonal bc options available. Of course, our society (and the pharm companies) are more than willing to risk a woman's reproductive health AND have her bear the brunt of contraception. There's been talk for years of some sort of male birth control option (other than condoms, obviously) but I haven't heard anything about it recently. And honestly, I don't know any guys who would actually be willing to use it. Okay, my feminist rant is over.
Random: I'm coming back to NYC tomorrow. So for everyone I haven't seen this semester, you know what that means. If you're in the city or the tri-state area, I'm hunting you down.
In other news, I just bough the new We Are Scientists record, Brain Thrust Mastery. Despite everything Abbey Ozanich might say, I find it quite nice. They're not breaking any stylistic conventions, but can anyone complain with some solid, peppy indie rock? Favorite tracks would include "After Hours" (no, not a Velvet Underground cover like I initially though). The video's adorable too, and directed by one of the guys in The Lonely Island who isn't Andy Sandberg. :Lethal Enforcer" and "Chick Lit" have a wistfullness with an angry bite. Most of the songs center around the fallout of ended relationships, or relationships in crisis. This is well illustrated on "Spoken For", the one slow-tempo track on the album. It's simoltaniously sweet and melancholy. We Are Scientists aren't groundbreaking, but they produce some good indie rock.
I've had the Black Kids album "Partie Traumatic" on my computer for awhile, thanks to ripping it from WBAR. I gave it a swift listen when I first got it, and wasn't all that impressed. But after a few more listens it's really growing on me. The hit, "I'm Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You" was all over college radio, American Apparel, and Urban Outfitters (latter two with much regret) this summer. As my friend Mitch says, Black Kids remind him of a poppier, updated Cure. And he might have something there. On other tracks, they have a unique call-and-response style between the male and female members of the band, almost reminiscent of 60's girl group stylings. Almost. Other picks are "I'm Making Eyes At You", "Hurricane Jane" "Love Me Already" and "Listen To Your Body Tonight" (the latter really explores this call-and-response technique).
So there was a copy of the NYTimes magazine section on our kitchen table this morning. Someone had folded the pages to mark a specific article, but had turned the magazine over to the other side. To my great amusement, there was a full-page ad which had a woman facing away from the camera, sitting on a beach. Mammoth text in boldface loomed over the picture, stating, "NOBODY TALKS ABOUT PAIN DURING INTERCOURSE". Really? And on what authority do they have this information? Teehee. In the same vein, I recently saw a TV commercial for an IUD. Seriously, people? The advertisers cautioned that it was for use by women who had either already had children or did not want any. WHy? Because IUD's cause infertility and can perf your uterus. Seriously. Older generations will recall the infaumous Dalcon Sheild of the 70's which caused many a perf'd uterus and infertile woman. Uhg. Just uhg. Seriously, where is the need for this when we have perfectly functional pills, rings, injections, and implants. And those are only the hormonal bc options available. Of course, our society (and the pharm companies) are more than willing to risk a woman's reproductive health AND have her bear the brunt of contraception. There's been talk for years of some sort of male birth control option (other than condoms, obviously) but I haven't heard anything about it recently. And honestly, I don't know any guys who would actually be willing to use it. Okay, my feminist rant is over.
Random: I'm coming back to NYC tomorrow. So for everyone I haven't seen this semester, you know what that means. If you're in the city or the tri-state area, I'm hunting you down.
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