Meanderings'N'Musings

// zero and holding

2006-07-15T17:39:00.000-04:00

For this week's technology news I thought I'd do a little bragging on Mac OS X.

Yeah, I know, like I never do enough of that, right?

But really, though, this is worth applauding Apple for.

Symantec, the globally reknowned and respected leader in anti-virus software released information this week stating that as of today there are NO known viruses for Apple's Mac OS X operating system.

To quote, Symantec stated:

"Simply put, at the time of writing this article, there are no file-infecting viruses that can infect Mac OS X."

Many times family and friends don't quite "get it" when I tell them that Mac OS X is invulnerable to viruses online. But there it is, in black and white.

There are ZERO types of the kind of viruses, worms, bugs, spyware, etc. etc. that plague those who use Micro$oft's Windows operating system.

By comparison, at the last count, there was nearly 100,000 known types of viruses, etc. available for Windows.

If you're sick of Windows, here's a suggestion: get a Mac.

// stand still, look pretty

2006-07-04T00:04:00.000-04:00

Hmm. This will make my second music review in a row that features a country music act.

Perhaps I'm starting to like country music better than I thought?

Nah.

I just really like Michelle Branch.

And this Jessica Harp gal ain't half bad, neither.

Put 'em together and you got a pretty nice ... country music duo?

Yep, that's what The Wreckers are. Even though separately the pair are both pop singers, they decided to combine talents and release this country music offering.

What a combination of talent, too.

Michelle Branch's 2001 album, The Spirit Room is easily one of my favorite albums of this young century so far.

While I'm not as familar with her partner on this album - although I do know Jessica Harp is an Aquarius and that's always, always a good thing - her vocals on these songs are amazing. How amazing? Indistinguishable, for the most part, from her Grammy-winning friend.

If you're a Branch fan also, then you already know she strums a pretty mean guitar and is an incredible songwriter. In fact, she wrote her amazing hit song, Sweet Misery, when she was in high school. And I don't mean during high school age, either, I mean actually in high school, sitting in class.

She has an uncanny ability for songwriting.

Ya know how Wolverine's mutant ability is healing and Professor X's is telepathy?

Michelle Branch's mutant ability is songwriting. The girl's a freak of nature.

It should go wihout saying then, since Michelle co-wrote all these songs with Jessica Harp, that they're all quite solid.

My favorite of the bunch are, in no particular order: The Good Kind, Leave the Pieces, and One More Girl.

My favorite track on the album, though, is a composition entirely written by Jessica Harp alone: Tennessee. It's a beautiful ballad that has Michelle Branch-type lyrics stamped all over it, yet she didn't write it. Clearly these women are large influences on one another as well as good friends; which is how The Wreckers came into being.

Speaking of Tennessee: I highly suggest you watch this video:

It's an acoustic performance of Tennessee by The Wreckers.

Granted, these really aren't straight-up country music songs. They're a lot more like acoustic versions of pop songs. Which, being not-so-much a country music fan, is fine with me.

If you are a country fan, though, the lack of any pure type of country on the CD is likely to put you off. That's really the only "caution" label I would put on this album. Otherwise, it's really well done and it's really good music.

The Wreckers' latest single from this album, which you can also watch right there on You Tube, is called Leave the Pieces.

If you like what you see - and hear - then by all means run right out and grab the CD. It's well worth it.

Now, since I started off talking about how this was my second country music album review in a row I might as well tie the two together even more, right?

One More Girl by The Wreckers was penned by Patty Griffin who also wrote two songs on the previous Dixie Chicks album.

I love it when things come full circle like that; it's one of those "circle of life" kind of things...

// superman returns

2006-06-30T04:27:00.000-04:00

First, let me take care of a little business: I'll be heading out of town tomorrow and for most of the weekend. Therefore, this will most likely be the final post I write until after the upcoming holiday.

It's unfortunate it'll work out that way because the 2nd anniversary of Ramblings'n'Musings (and the first of this companion blog) will come and go without my getting to be very self-congratulatory over it.

Ah well.

That said, then, I wanted to write this post for all those of you who may be heading out to see Superman Returns over the weekend.

I always like to try and start at the beginning and this movie definitely begins with the original 1978 Superman film.

Already a lot has been said about Brandon Routh (Routh like "south") and his likeness to the late Christopher Reeve.

There's a very good reason for that: Superman Returns will pick up right where the '78 movie left off.

You'll hear and see lots of references to the '78 film such as:

The use of the legendary Marlon Brando's voice and image from the '78 film as Superman's father, Jor-El.

I'm a big-time Brando fan and having Brando back, for me, made a huge difference. Listening to Brando say, "They can be a great people, Kal-El, if they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you...my only son," chokes me up with emotion everytime I hear it.

And yes, I just recited that line from heart. I'm a fanboy, I know.

Also, there's the use of the great John Williams' original score from the '78 movie.

Would Jaws be Jaws without the...duh, duh...duh, duh...music we're so accustomed to associating it with? Of course not. Neither would Superman be Superman without John Williams' score. By the way, John Williams also wrote the score for Jaws, too.

You'll also hear the characters mention things they did in the original movie. You'll hear some lines repeated and carried over and even some story points from the first make their way into this one.

Of course, if you've never seen the first film, then don't worry because this movie is also a self-contained story so you won't be lost at all. You won't catch all the references, of course, but that's okay because you won't be confused either.

One of the other little surprises, for me at least, was seeing Parker Posey walk onscreen as Lex Luthor's girlfriend. I'm a gigantic fan of hers and I didn't realize she was in this movie until I saw her. It was a great surprise for me.

Speaking of Lex Luthor, Kevin Spacey brings a real meanness to the role. It's not a comedic performance in the exact same mold as Gene Hackman gave when playing Lex Luthor in the past. Granted, Spacey is still funny at times; but he's downright mean at others. It works well. Spacey is a great actor so he does a great job here, too.

As for Routh, he's an incredible Superman and a great Clark Kent. I know that sounds redundant but it's really not. In order to pull off the Superman-to-Clark Kent conversion with only a pair of glasses and a parting of the hair it's necessary to act like the noble Superman on one hand and then act like the nerdy Clark Kent on the other.

Routh does this well and also manages to get most of the biggest laughs in the whole movie. It's very reminiscent of the same type of thing Reeve did originally.

It's actually very eerie, in one sense, how this movie really does give one the feeling that Superman is back. The same Superman you knew and grew up with, for most of us at least, who grew up with Christopher Reeve's Superman.

Of course, the effects are spectacular. Aren't all the effects for movies spectacular anymore? That's a given it seems with Hollywood in the 21st century.

What manages to make this movie stand apart is not it's effects: quite the opposite, it's good old fashioned story telling that makes this movie stand out. It's a film with a lot of heart.

There's a lot of nostalgia and a lot of heart and a lot of emotion poured into this movie and it pours over on the audience, too. This is the first film I've seen in years where there was a palpable sense of quiet attention all around the theatre. People weren't talking. No one was fidgeting. No one was making trips to the bathrooms and concession stands. The theatre was packed and everyone in attendance sat there and watched and watched deeply, attentively.

When the film concluded everyone stood up and applauded and cheered.

Welcome back, Superman.

It was great.

I hope you all get the chance to go see it; especially those of you with fond memories of the 1978 classic.

Before I close, let me give you one little bit of information that will make you want to see this all the more if you're already planning to and might tip the scales if you're still trying to decide:

There is a MAJOR secret uncovered in this movie that, so far as I know, has NOT been leaked widely to the world. I read a lot and hit a lot of websites on the internet and I had read NOTHING about it before I saw the film.

Naturally, I'm not going to spoil it for you by telling you what it is, but it's a good one.

Just go see it. You won't be sorry you did. I promise.

Here are some links for Superman Returns:

Read the reviews for Superman Returns @ Rotten Tomatoes.

Visit the Official Website for Superman Returns.

// this week in history - 6.25 to 7.1

2006-06-28T23:40:00.000-04:00

Elvis Presley gave his final concert during this week: his final performance was on June 27, 1977 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana.

I'm not really an Elvis fan, so it's kind of odd that I would pick that event out of all the others for this week's historical post.

One thing my Dad and I seem to always come back to arguing over is about Elvis and The Beatles. He's a huge Elvis fan and I'm, of course, a huge Beatles fan. We constantly seem to, at least about once a year, get back to the old argument over who was bigger: Elvis or The Beatles.

What I always find so sad about Elvis' career is how he allowed others to totally manipulate him all his life; one in particular who was especially odious. Elvis was never free of the man who was the puppet master of his entire career, "Colonel" Tom Parker.

Exactly what he was a colonel of, I'm sure I have no idea. For the most part, Tom Parker was a con man. Unfortunately, he held the strings of one of the greatest phenomenons of all-time.

However big Elvis was, and is, pales in contrast to the Elvis that might have been had he of been free of the grasp of Tom Parker.

But The Beatles, now that's a different story altogether. No group of men ever marched to the beat of their own drum more so than the "Fab Four" from Liverpool.

The Beatles continue to be an enormeous influence, too. As does Elvis. But The Beatles are by far a more important influence because of the massive amount of creativity and uniqueness of the men in the band.

Elvis' influence is largely based on his ability as a performer.

Elvis wrote no music, played no instruments well and, for the most part - by his own admissions - was a mediocre piano player and poor guitarist. He left no impressionable legacy as an actor due to the fact that he partook soley of films that were competely laughable projects.

There is no Elvis composition to compare to Hey Jude nor film to compare to A Hard Day's Night - both landmarks in their own right.

In fact, if one were to take a poll among the top musicians, singers and performers in the music industry today (I'm sure many of you have seen such polls) of who the biggest influences on their careers are, I would be willing to guarantee you that the one common name among them all would be The Beatles.

As I often argue to my Dad: Elvis just entertained us, The Beatles inspired us.

I guess if you had to say who was bigger, it was The Beatles. But if you ask who could have been bigger, I suppose it was Elvis.

After all, Elvis did manage to accomplish all that he did with one arm tied behind his back.

Imagine what he could have done had he been set free to make his own decisions and guide his own career?

I guess that's why I'm remembering this anniversary on this post during this week.

While it's sad to remember the Elvis we knew gave his final concert this week, it's even sadder to know that their was an Elvis who we never knew that never took the stage at all.

// a funny thing happened on my way to this post

2006-06-25T14:15:00.000-04:00

Rather than tell you a story today, on Story Day, I'm going to instead tell you my favorite blonde joke.

I love blonde jokes.

For a couple of reasons, really, but mainly because blondes seem to be the last, lone bastion of stereotypes it's still okay to make fun of. You can't make fun of any religions, races, creeds or anything of that sort anymore because it's all taboo.

Thankfully, it's still okay to make fun of blondes. Although, I'm not sure why that is, really. My guess is it's because they don't get that we're making fun of them.

Anyway, on to the joke.

Here then, I present, Lance's Favorite Blonde Joke™ :

Two blondes are walking down the sidewalk one morning when one sees a compact lying on the ground. Stopping and bending over to pick it up, she opens the compact and gazes into the mirror.

"What is it?" the other asks.

"It's a picture of somebody," she responds while still gazing into the mirror.

"Who?" asks her friend.

"I'm not sure. But they look really familar..." she answers.

In annoyance her friend snatches the compact from her hand, "Let me see that!"

Gazing for herself into the mirror she scolds her friend by replying, "Oh, you idiot! That's me!"

// quickly catching up

2006-06-15T12:42:00.000-04:00

I realize now that I won't be able to write a review for every movie I see during the summer months.

I've noticed my movie-going quickly increases with the glut of movies that are released in the summer.

Already I've failed to mention several films I've seen recently, including some of the summer's biggest hits so far. Movies like:

RV.

X-Men 3: The Last Stand.

And most recently: Cars.

Instead of trying to go back and catch up on all of those reviews, I'm just going to press ahead. There's no point in dwelling in the past, now is there?

Besides, there's still so many movies ahead, like:

Superman Returns.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

And maybe the one I'm most looking forward to: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

Hopefully, I can be more diligent in posting movie reviews in the future.

I promise to try, anyway,

// the week in tech 6.3.06

2006-06-03T11:51:00.000-04:00

Tech news.

I haven't written one of these posts in awhile. It's time to crank one out.

The Wii (pronounced "we"), Nintendo's new video game system, has the tech industry buzzing.

A lot of the "experts" were scoffing until last month's Electronic Expo in Los Angeles where the Wii was a big, big hit.

Suddenly, no one's laughing anymore.

Personally, I thought the idea for the Wii's controller was strange, too. But then again, I thought Nintendo was nuts the first time someone handed me one of their controllers back in the 80's.

"Where's the joystick?" No joystick. Use the D-pad. "The D what?"

Well it didn't take long before joysticks were a thing of the past and every system had a controller with a D-pad. In fact, they all still do.

Knowing that Nintendo revolutionized the industry once with their idea for a controller, I wasn't going to write off the Wii's crazy-looking controller until I had one in my hands and got to see for myself whether or not it was a better, or worse, idea.

Apparently after everyone at E3 got their hands on the Wii controller last month they found out Nintendo was crazy after all.

Crazy like a fox.

Factor in the issue that the Wii is going to cost somewhere around the neighborhood of $250 bucks this Xmas, which is about half of what Micro$oft wants for their X-Box 360 and Sony for their PlayStation 3, and all of a sudden Nintendo is looking mighty good.

A unique, one-of-a-kind controller that offers a unique, one-of-a-kind gaming experience for half of what those other companies want.

Not bad.

No wonder everyone is talking about these guys.

// taking the long way (review)

2006-05-30T20:24:00.000-04:00

I suppose it's about time I got around to writing this after harping about the album and the situation for so long.

I'm sure by now many of you have read several reviews for the Dixie Chicks' latest album, Taking the Long Way.

It has garnered many fine reviews and has been called their best album by some.

After spending almost a week with it, I can tell you it's definitely an outstanding album. If we were grading on the A, B, C scale this is definitely an "A" album.

Especially for someone like me who isn't necessarily a fan of country music. In fact, the Dixie Chicks are the only country music act I have bought an album in the past 15 years or so.

Maybe longer.

I'd have to pull out the CD collection to check and, honestly, who ever listens to CDs anymore? Most of the new CDs I buy I never even listen to. Ever. I import them to iTunes and from there they go onto iPods and random playlists are burned and all the while the original CD stays tucked away in it's case. Most are spun one time - while importing them - and then are never spun again. Most CDs are archival records, a receipt you own to show you actually paid for your music.

But I digress...

You've probably already heard that this album has a lot of rock to it. And it does. A lot of power ballads, especially. There are some country-ish songs on it - and let's face it anything Natalie Maines sings is going to sound country, regardless of what it is. She has a completely country voice.

But a few songs, Easy Silence and I Hope in particular sound nothing like anything we have ever heard them perform before.

That said, you can probably now guess which songs are my favorite on the album.

Along with the previously released Not Ready to Make Nice, the songs Easy Silence, I Hope, Everybody Knows, Favorite Year and Baby Hold On have gotten the most plays in my iTunes Library and are all listed as four star songs.

For me, four stars are about as high as I go for "new" music, reserving five stars for the all-time great songs - like the Dixie Chicks' previous hit Landslide, for instance.

As for how politically charged the album is: very.

However, it's probably not what you might expect. There are no lyrics calling out President Bush or the White House or Exxon-Mobil or Halliburton or any "blood for oil" lyrics or any of the other cliche lyrics that might be rumbling through your head to expect to hear in a "political" song.

Which, I think, is exceptionally classy. You can make your point without making accusations or put downs and you can definitely make it without using cliches or doing the expected.

Lyrics like these on I Hope, I think, are exactly what needs to be said and these girls are definitely saying it in a spectacular way:

Sunday morning / heard the preacher say / "Thou shall not kill" / I don't wanna hear /nothin' else about killin' / And that it's God's will / Cuz our children are watching us / They put their trust in us / They're gonna be like us / So let's learn from our history / And do it differently

I could easily spill over into a whole separate tangent here about how the current administration has people in churches all over America praying for - actually on their knees praying - for a war. What, for any Christian, could be more UN-Christ-like? What a shame to them.

However, I'll do my best to stay on-topic.

Those are the kinds of "politically charged" lyrics you can expect. No name-calling. These gals might take the long way around, but they definitely take the higher road so far as name-calling is concerned.

So, to revisit my earlier musing about whether or not this is their best album ever - it will largely depend on your point of view.

It's definitely a first class album. An "A," a "10," a "homerun" however you prefer to describe it. But then again, so were their previous three.

Whether or not this album will be your favorite will be entirely up to you; but you'll definitely enjoy this one.

For the record, Taking the Long Way lands squarely on the top of my list. My favorite Dixie Chicks album, hands down. I'm not always incredibly adept at recognizing history in the making, but I think this album will be a landmark. In 10 or 20 years - assuming we've made it through the current mess and into that nebulous future - I think we'll look back at this album as a mile marker of where we were and the times we're living in. Like so many of those great albums of the 60's.

I couldn't recommend this one more highly.

Go get it and enjoy it. But above all, appreciate it.

This one came at a high price.

// I have to get to a library. fast.

2006-05-19T15:50:00.000-04:00

How can you not love a movie where the leading man delivers that line during a climatic moment and in a hurried, desperate and rushed tone?

Well, if you're an egghead like me, you can't.

I only just returned from seeing Dan Brown's multi-million-selling-novel-turned-motion-picture, The Da Vinci Code, and I can say that it's a really good film. Especially if you're a fan of the novel.

If you didn't like the book, then most likely you won't be seeing this movie anyway.

Although, I have heard of and read a few reports of people who didn't like the book, yet loved the movie. Roger Ebert admitted in his review to being such a person, but I doubt there will be many of those. Besides, we all know Roger Ebert is kind of weird anyway.

Irregardless...

My guess is most people didn't read the book based on religious and/or philosophical differences and therefore they won't see this film based on the same reasons.

For the rest of us, though, this is the movie we hoped we'd get to see.

It includes all the famous sights - both historical landmarks and precious works of art - that we wished we could see as we read the novel.

Tom Hanks is amazing.

Audrey Tautou is breathtaking.

Ian McKellen brings the perfect touch of humor and eccentricity to the character of Leigh Teabing that was in the novel.

And, surprisingly to me, practically everything that was in the novel is in the movie. Albeit in a condensed or perhaps slightly altered form. But it's there.

In fact, the film moves so quickly if you haven't read the book I HIGHLY suggest you do before you go see this or else you most likely won't be able to keep up. Even if you haven't read the book in a few years you might want to as well, just so you're not wondering, "was that in the novel?" all throughout the film.

The main complaint I have read from other reviewers is that the movie is too long: horsefeathers. I wonder if those people actually read this book?

The movie runs along at such a brisk pace that, again, if you haven't read the novel I doubt a novice could keep up.

It is a long movie, to be sure - well over 2 hours - but it is not too long nor is it ever boring.

The only slight I have for the film at all is that Hank's Robert Langdon seems to, on far too many occassions, play the opposite of the argument as the film's conscious. I was disappointed in that. I expected Hanks to deliver some of the movie's most controversial lines and heaviest hitters. Instead, he appears in some scenes to almost switch to the other side of the argument. Bummer.

Regardless, the film is spectacular.

Some of the only footage I have ever seen (outside of photographs, of course) of the gorgeous Castel Gandolfo is featured in the movie - although I'm quite sure the interior shots are set reproductions. I doubt the Vatican let the film makers anywhere near the actual Castel itself. Even so, the aerial and distance shots are incredible.

In short, if you liked the book, you'll like the movie. Go see it.

One last thing, though: Paul Bettany as Silas will freak you out.

Here are some links for The Da Vinci Code:

Read the reviews for The Da Vinci Code at Rotten Tomatoes.com.

Visit the official website for trailers and more at www.SoDarkTheConOfMan.com.

// today in history - may 11th

2006-05-11T15:58:00.000-04:00

Today is the day Oscar was born.

Well, kind of.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded on May 11, 1927.

However, it wasn't until 1929 that any awards were given, so Oscar didn't quite make his debut on this day.

He was conceived on May 11th, let's put it that way.

Through the years, many of Hollywood's top name actors, producers and directors have been members of the prestigious Academy.

Currently, there is no exception to that rule:

Tom Hanks is Vice President of the Academy.

The Board of Governors - to name only a few - consists of such talented and creative people as the outstanding and accomplished actress Kathy Bates, movie producer extraordinaire Kathleen Kennedy and Pixar's Chief Creative Executive, John Lasseter.

Needless to say, the Academy is in good hands. We can look forward to many, many outstanding events hosted by the Academy for years to come.

// a valiant effort

2006-05-07T21:45:00.000-04:00

Recently, thanks to the incredible invention that is eBay, I've been slowly re-building my comic collection of Valiant Comics.

Valiant Comics started up in 1990 and really only had a couple of good years before starting into a quick and steep decline that would lead to their eventual corporate death by 1999.

Probably most of you have never even heard of Valiant Comics or any of their characters.

For me, though, they were a real delight in the years from 1990 to 1993 or so. I really enjoyed their work as well as their attitude.

They were just a little company and doing something completely crazy: taking on the "big guys" of Marvel and DC Comics.

Marvel, of course, had popular and established characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men etc.

DC, likewise, was loaded with popular characters such as Superman and Batman.

Valiant had no established characters, really. They had the rights to a couple of creations from the early 1960's - like Magnus, Robot Fighter and Dr. Solar - but most of them were in no way memorable to comic book fans.

Saying, "Magnus" or "Solar" to comic book fans then would be no different in saying it to them now: most would simply respond with a quizzical, "Who?"

Plus, Valiant had to almost re-create those characters from scratch. But they were making their own way. They were not only inventing their own characters (which I loved) but also making comics that really made sense - at least "sense" in a comic book sort of way.

All of Valiant's characters, early on, lived in the real world. That is, the laws of science applied to them: physics, motion, gravity, etc. Any and all of the characters who could and did bend or rise above those scientific laws did so in a real world based on real world principles - the same as an airplane doesn't magically fly, but has means of propulsion defined by and ruled over by the laws of science, mathematics, etc.

I really loved all the hard work, thought and intelligence that went into making those comics.

They were great, great stories!

For a little while some of Valiant's comics were being bought and sold for hundreds of dollars.

Some of the best writers and artists in the field began to work with Valiant and write stories and render Valiant's characters in beautiful ways.

The incomparable Barry Windsor-Smith did a lot of his finest work for Valiant Comics.

Unfortunately, due to mismanagement, corporate greed and a number of other reasons, Valiant collapsed.

As the man who gave birth, life and vision to Valiant Comics, the artist, writer and Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, once said, "it was defeat snatched from the jaws of victory."

Instead of becoming a financial and cultural success like Marvel or DC, Valiant became a memory.

Now, most of those beautiful, awe-inspiring and wonderfully created comics can be picked up on website auctions, sales and eBay for practically nothing.

I've long hoped that perhaps Hollywood might lend Valiant fans a hand by securing the rights to one or several of their characters and making a motion picture based on them.

Perhaps it will happen. I hope so.

In the meantime there's some great sequential art laid out in these books for fans to still enjoy and think about what could have happened had Valiant succeeded.

It's been fun re-building my collection, too. I had, through the years, given away, lost and sold so many of my comics that only a few Valiant ones were left around the house. It's been fun collecting Valiant Comics again after all these years.

And hey, who knows, maybe if Hollywood ever does make X-O Manowar or Shadowman on the big screen maybe they'll be worth something - besides fond, nostalgic memories - once again.

// taking the long way (preview)

2006-05-03T00:12:00.000-04:00

May 23rd.

Just go ahead and circle that date on your calendar and reserve some time off to spend with your stereo.

That's the day the Dixie Chicks' new album will hit stores.

If we can judge by the quality of the stellar Not Ready to Make Nice pre-release single, (click the link above to hear the entire song on the Chicks' site) this album is going to be a whale of a comeback, of sorts, for the Dixie Chicks.

As of today, Not Ready to Make Nice has already climbed to #28 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart after only one week of it's release.

I say "comeback," however, because they are coming back from one of the most tumultuous periods between albums of perhaps any group ever.

Other than the time John Lennon said The Beatles were, "more popular than Jesus," I don't know of any group who's faced more heat and hatred than these three gals have over one, single statement.

In hindsight, "we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas," seems pretty mild compared to what a lot of people are saying about him now.

And don't even get me started on the irony that is, probably, the two most controversial statements in music history being about Jesus and George W. Bush.

We'll be here all night if I start harping on that one.

Nonetheless, the Dixie Chicks' example during that trial, though, will always inspire me. I can't say enough about how much I loved - absolutely loved - the bravery of these three girls to say what they believed and then stand behind it 100% in the face of such vile criticism and hatred.

However much I loved the Dixie Chicks before that whole fiasco, it doubled - or quadrupled! - afterwards.

But, I'm digressing...

I've mentioned my glowing endorsement for them before, such as when I posted about their song and video, but I wanted to make a this a "preview post" because of how much I'm looking forward to this new album.

I know, as a huge Dixie Chicks' fan, I'm not going to be disappointed. But, I think a lot of casual fans - and probably a lot of new fans - are going to be really pleased and impressed with this album as well.

I base that reasoning on the fact that I know how personal the ladies made this album.

When you've got a lot to say, from the heart, that you feel strongly and emotionally about...well, there's probably going to be a lot of good come from that.

Ergo I think this album may be one of their best ever.

Regardless, we'll find out May 23rd, so don't forget to circle those calendars.

// 2006 mtv movie awards

2006-04-30T16:13:00.000-04:00

Yea, I know it's not a story. But I haven't posted here in awhile and figured this was better than nothing.

You can now vote for your favorites for the 2006 MTV Movie Awards over on MTV.com.

Log in and choose your favorites!

// the week in tech 4.22.06

2006-04-22T17:00:00.000-04:00

I never write these often enough anymore.

I need to get back to work, I know.

Anyway, big news all week long in the tech community has been the on-going lawsuit between Apple Corp. and Apple Computer.

Apple Corp. is, of course, the production company founded by The Beatles in 1968.

Paul McCartney came up with the name as a play on words. Apple core, Apple Corp...clever, right?

Well The Beatles have sued Apple Computer for trademark infringement before on the name. The last time apparently Apple Computer signed an agreement to never use the name in connection to music, only to computers.

Apple Corp. now claims that iTunes and the iTunes Music store violates that agreement.

My favorite quote from the trial so far has been that of Apple Computer's Attorney Anthony Grabiner (mentioned in the article linked above) who said "even a moron in a hurry" could tell the difference between iTunes - an online music store - as opposed to Apple Corp., which is a record company.

"A moron in a hurry."

I like that one.

I think I'll use it again myself later on.

So far, though, no decision has come about as to who wins in this case.

A lot of folks (folks like myself, who are just voicing guessed opinions) think that perhaps Apple Computer might settle and come away with a mutually beneficial agreement.

Such as getting exclusive rights to sell The Beatles music - which is completely unavailable anywhere online as a legal download - through the iTunes Music Store.

Will it happen?

Will Apple settle with Apple?

Will Apple defeat Apple or will Apple prevail?

Since Apple sells Coldplay songs online will Apple sue Apple Martin for copyright infringement also?

Stay tuned!

// king kong

2006-03-28T22:11:00.000-05:00

Of course, the entire title of this film is actually, Peter Jackson's King Kong.

And boy is it ever.

The actual run time for this thing is three hours and eight minutes.

Consider, by comparison, that the original 1933 King Kong ran a mere one hour and forty minutes.

So this movie is by no means just a re-telling of the same story. Peter Jackson does stay true to the original concept (and especially the ending) of King Kong but he definitely filled a lot of time with story of his own.

If you're familar with Peter Jackson's work, then you're quite aware of his ability to stretch a story.

Peter Jackson could spend three hours telling you the story of why the chicken crossed the road.

Maybe that'll be his next project:

Peter Jackson's "Why the Chicken Crossed the Road".

He'd start off telling you the backstory of the road. How it came to be. How the chicken's father had wanted to cross the road, too ,when he was younger. How the chicken's mother wanted to see him succeed, but feared for his life knowing the dangers of crossing the road.

And on and on.

Granted, it's hard for me to pick on him too hard for making long movies because, in truth, I really do enjoy a good, long movie.

I find most movies are too short instead of too long.

So long as a movie doesn't drag and stays interesting to watch, I really prefer a longer movie as opposed to a shorter one.

Such is the case with Kong. It stays interesting to watch from start to finish.

And what a finish.

I don't think I can possibly spoil anything for anyone because the ending of King Kong has been in the public awareness for over 70 years now.

That said, we all know the moral of the story: beauty killed the beast.

With a tale like King Kong, though, I have found many have missed the overall moral point of the film. It can be easy to overlook a philosophical truth in a movie with a 25 foot gorilla.

You kinda have a hard time taking your eyes off the ape.

Obviously, even if some have missed the literal point of the film, it still somehow registers subconsciously or subliminally because the film has remained such a landmark for so long.

It's truly worth mentioning, though, so I'll sum it up as best I can:

All of us are born uncivilized and have only the base responses. We respond to hunger, pain, amusement, etc.

As we grow, we learn of art and music and literature and it's the beautiful things in life that quell the beast, the animalistic nature within us all.

The more civilized we become, the farther from animalistic we grow.

Of course, man is inherently far ahead of beast to begin with. But mankind, uneducated and unlearned, is far more beast-like than the civilized man is.

Therefore it is truly beauty - the beauty of and found in knowledge - that truly slays the beast.

It's a fine point to share with future generations:

The incredible, powerful, and gigantic king of beasts taken from his uncivilized world and being slain - not only in civilization - but on perhaps the greatest, most beautiful, symbolic monument to civilization ever created: New York's Empire State Building.

This film takes that incredible metaphor that we've loved for over half a century now - King Kong - and updates him quite nicely to share with those generations to come.

Well done, Mr. Jackson. Well done.

Check out some links for Peter Jackson's King Kong:

Read the reviews at Rotten Tomatoes.

Visit the official website.

// on pause

2006-03-28T00:09:00.000-05:00

I'm gonna hit the pause button on this post because there are quite a few movies I've seen recently and am still debating on which to write a review for.

There's also an, um, gorilla-sized movie releasing tomorrow that I want to see that I might just write about. I want to see it before I decide.

At any rate, the next post here will definitely be a movie review. I just haven't decided on which movie yet.

Patience, grasshoppers.

// today in history - march 23rd

2006-03-23T10:25:00.000-05:00

Today marks the first time in recorded history that "okay" was used in print.

In 1839, The Boston Morning Post used "okay" in an article as a purposeful misspelling of the term, "all correct."

For some reason, in the 1830s, there was some sort of fad going around where people liked to misspell words on purpose.

Ergo, "all correct" was making the rounds as, "oll korrekt." Sounds German doesn't it?

The kids were crazy in the 1830s, what can I tell you.

Anyway, there is some debate over what exactly the letters O.K. stand for. According to Wikipedia, no one knows for certain. However, okay, o.k., etc., is supposedly the most used word in the world due to it's acceptance into so many cultures. "Okay" is almost universally understood in all languages.

At any rate, happy birthday "OK."

That's the trivia lesson for today; now get out of here. And good luck not boring the next person who says, "Okay" to you to death by repeating this useless factoid.

// brandi carlile

2006-03-21T08:39:00.000-05:00

Awhile back I got an email asking me to post about Brandi Carlile.

I'm not one to blindly jump into things so naturally I like to take time to check things out before I write about them.

But I definitely wanted to make time to post about her and her music because I was really impressed with both.

Although, her name sort of sounded familar. I was pretty sure I had heard - or at least heard of - her before. I did some poking around in my iTunes library and, sure enough, there she was.

Brandi was the featured Discovery Download of the Week last September.

Her sound is part folk and part rock. A lot like a Sheryl Crow or Michelle Branch type of sound - not to draw comparisons, but just to give you an idea.

Of course, you can check out Brandi's catalog at the iTunes Music Store.

You can also see a couple videos of her on You Tube.

Check her out and see what you think.

Personally, I like the type of music she's doing and she breaks a lot of ground lyrically. She's an artist I'll definitely keep my eye on.

You also might want to check her official website (linked above) because she's currently on tour. She might be coming to your town soon.

Give her a listen and tell me what you think.

// howl's moving castle

2006-03-15T03:42:00.000-05:00

I dunno how many of you are familar with the work of Hayao Miyazaki, but let me tell you, he's incredible at what he does.

Some would call it anime (Japanese comic/cartoon/art) and others cartoons, but Miyazaki-san eschews either label on his work. One can hardly blame him. Most will instantly stereotype, or label, a film upon hearing such words connected to a work.

To do so greatly misjudges the phenomenal presentation and storytelling in Miyazaki-san's movies.

This latest effort is Howl's Moving Castle. It was recently nominated for best animated picture at the Academy Awards.

If you're a fan of animation or art I would highly suggest you pick this up and give it a view. Fans of animation, though, for the most part are already well familar with Miyazaki-san's work and gobbled this up as quickly as it was released.

But, it's also great if you've got kids or children in your family or are just a big kid yourself.

It's a wonderfully told story of a girl bewitched who takes up with a wizard (Howl) and his incredible, enchanted, moving castle. I won't spoil anymore details other than that because the movie takes so many surprising twists and turns you'll really want to experience them all for yourself.

The movie takes you away to another time and place that's so strange and yet so familar you're instantly reminded of all the great classics you ever saw when you were a kid. From The Wizard of Oz to everything in between and back again, this movie will feel like something you've seen in your dreams and remember from years ago - yet, it's all so brand new.

It's a marvelous blend of beautiful images and childhood imaginings that I'm certain everyone who sees it will really enjoy it.

Obviously, the film is a real visual treat, too. Again, fans of animation will really love this - and all of Miyazaki-san's work. He's a master storyteller and certainly a master of storytelling delivered in this gorgeous, animated fashion.

The movie is out now on DVD, so pick it up wherever you can and check it out.

I promise it'll blow you away.

Here are some links for Howl's Moving Castle:

Read the stellar reviews for Howl's Moving Castle at Rotten Tomatoes.

Vist the official website.

// a very short story

2006-03-11T22:12:00.000-05:00

I need a haircut.

Bad.

I generally try to refrain from cutting my hair (I like to wear it pretty short) in the winter time because I catch colds and flus supremely easy.

A lot of people notice I wear hats a lot and ask me if I like them.

You may have noticed that devilishly handsome picture I have in my profile and ask, "Pardon me, Luke Wilson -- err, Lance -- do you like wearing hats?"

Truth be told; I really don't. Actually, I never would wear a hat if it weren't for the simple fact that in winter I catch cold so easily if I leave my head uncovered when I'm out. It's kind of like wearing an undershirt: once you start, if you go without, you catch cold.

At any rate, it's been too long since my last haircut.

I'm starting to look like Greg Brady at his finest:

Ya know, of the myriad of jokes I can think of right now to make about that picture not a single one of them is actually fit to print. I shan't type any of them, then.

Anyway...

I just know that if I don't get a haircut soon this month is going to be a very Brady March.

// today in history - march 9th

2006-03-09T18:04:00.000-05:00

March 9th is a somewhat interesting date for American pop culture.

It's the anniversary of three very different products, by three very different sources. The three have reached such status in pop culture that they are instantly recognizable with just two syllables each:

Barbie.

U2.

Mustang.

In 1959, Mattel debuted the first Barbie.

On March 9, 1987 U2 released what is recognized by most as their greatest (some say the greatest) album ever - The Joshua Tree.

And on this same day in 1964 Ford Motor Company rolled the first Mustang off the assembly line.

An interesting trio, to be sure.

I suppose if we were playing that Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game someone could figure out what those all have in common with each other. And with Kevin Bacon, of course.

But we're not and so I'm not.

I'm only here to point out the trivial; not participate in it.

That said, I'll just conclude by sharing that I never would have imagined as I was driving my nieces to see Beauty Shop last year, in my Mustang, as we were all listening to I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, and they were showing me their new Barbie dolls, that they all shared the exact same birthday.

Beauty Shop...

...say...

...isn't Kevin Bacon in that one?

// date movie

2006-02-22T17:29:00.000-05:00

I saw this flick last night - and yea - it's as bad as the reviews for it say it is.

Basically, this is just one parody after another. A movie about other movies.

It just goes from one movie parody to another. Every scene exists solely to set up the next movie parody scene. In fact, most of them you can see coming a mile away before they even launch into them.

It's pretty bad.

What few scenes aren't directly lifted from another movie (which are few) make absolutely no sense on their own.

The perplexing part of all this for me was: why would you attempt to parody movies that are already comedies?

I could see making light of serious movies. Taking something from a love story and making fun of it. Which is what I thought this movie was going to be about, mostly. I knew going into the theatre that it had a lot of that type of thing in it. I knew it was basically making fun of other date movies. But, again, I was thinking they would parody serious movies.

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me to try and parody a comedy. I mean, it was funny once, what makes someone think just by doing it again will make it funny twice?

And personally, sight gags have never worked on me.

"Hey, here's a guy who looks like Owen Wilson!"

Uh huh. And?

"That's just it; doesn't he look like Owen Wilson? Isn't that funny?"

Uh. No.

Plus, I'm not a big fan of physical comedy, either. Just running around and stumbling and falling and acting like a clown. I think it's more silly than funny. Unless, of course, it's done in the right way, within the context of the picture or joke itself - then it can be funny. But just doing it for the sake of doing it, to me, isn't funny.

I much prefer humor that is based in (surprise!) dialogue. Lines. Joke delivery. Etcetera.

Anyways, avoid this movie at all costs.

Don't let the Napoleon Dynamite bit they show in the trailers talk you into going to see it (like it did me).

Stay home and stay far, far away from Date Movie

Alyson, we still love you, though, and we forgive you.

Here are some links for Date Movie:

Visit the official Date Movie website.

Read the reviews for Date Movie at Rotten Tomatoes.

// blogging 101

2006-02-12T16:15:00.000-05:00

Today's story will be pre-empted to bring you a lesson in blogging.

Hopefully this'll be helpful to someone out there.

In fact, I know it should because I've had enough people ask me about this or mention it to me. I've also read it on quite a few blogs, myself.

What I'm referring to is that one of the hardest parts of blogging, for some, is coming up with a title. They can never seem to think of anything.

I've even read several blog posts that start, "Well, I couldn't think of a title..."

So, if you've struggled with "title-block" yourself, here then is a little tip for you:

Write your post first.

If you sit there looking at Title: and can't think of anything - then just skip it. Write your entire post and then think, "Okay, what was the point of this post?" Hopefully, it had a point. If so, then that's your title.

If it was pointless, then consider the following:

A) Re-write it so that it actually has a point.

Or,

2) Just title it "Pointless."

Now, in the event that you should end up with a blog full of posts that are all titled, "Pointless Post 1," "Pointless Post 2," "Pointless Post 3," etc. and so forth, then you might wany to consider a creative writing class as well.

There you have it - simple, and easy. Hopefully it's helpful as well.

Have fun blogging!

// the day the music died

2006-02-03T18:24:00.000-05:00

I didn't get this posted yesterday, but as it works out it'll be posted on the actual day it happened.

Today is the 47th anniversary of the date of the Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Big Bopper plane crash.

Most of you are probably familar with the story. If not, the Wikipedia article above provides an excellent summary of what happened.

The loss of life in any plane crash is always a sobering reminder of how fragile life is. Sometimes even the smallest of things can alter the course of your life or, in the case of an accident, end it.

The loss of Buddy Holly in particular was huge for rock 'n roll music and it's fans.

So big that, almost half a century later, we're still talking about it.

At merely 22 years of age he had already established a catalog of hits that left a lasting legacy.

I have no doubt that, if he had of lived, Buddy Holly would have produced a library of both hit songs and influential music that would be nearly as big as The Beatles'.

Let's not forget that, even though he died at just 22, he nonetheless was among those that inspired The Beatles.

Again, in trying to put it into perspective, it was such a huge loss for music fans.

It's like trying to imagine that "Hey Jude" would never have the chance to be recorded.

If you get the chance today to listen to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens or the Big Bopper you might wanna take the chance to do so and remember not just the loss of these three influential artists, but also be reminded of how fragile our lives are.

The Apostle James wrote:

"Go now, you that say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city and continue there a year and buy and sell and get gain.' Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. For that you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

// mr. sunshine

2006-01-31T15:35:00.000-05:00

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then we might ask, "how many words would a sound be worth?"

At any rate, Country/Folk singer Lori McKenna's single, Mr. Sunshine is the Discovery Download of the Week at the iTMS.

And it's a good one.

So...

...there's no need for me to waste words typing a review.

Just give it a listen: