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General Entertainment

I can’t believe I’m saying this…

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…but lately I’ve been really thinking about a vacation from technology. Like, probably not to a cabin in the middle of the woods. I mean, that would basically be like going home. And I probably want electricity and running water. But just no phone. Like, I wouldn’t even take it with me. Certainly no computer. Probably not even any music (unless it was not attached to a device that could do anything but play music.)

I might go into withdrawal. That’s actually the only hang up I’m facing with putting this plan into action. The internet is like a sixth (and probably seventh) sense to me at this point. However, I am so completely saturated with gadgetry in my day to day existence that I crave waking up to only the sounds of the ocean or the rain or the birds. And a very quiet cup of coffee. And maybe even an actual newspaper.

We’ll see how this develops. Maybe I can find some ramshackle cottage in DE to spend a weekend at before summer is over?

How often do you go to the grocery store?

General Entertainment by

I signed myself up for Nielsen’s Homescan contraption the other day. I got wait-listed. However, when I’m not, I expect to have all sorts of nerdy fun scanning in the shit that I’m buying and then keeping track of just how strange the consumption habits really are when put on paper.

While I wait on a list, Nielsen has decided to send me “interesting” figures about “average” consumers. Today’s: the average consumer goes to the grocery store twice per week. This number is alarming for three reasons.

  1. I probably do actually do this.
  2. Most of the people doing this are probably driving to WalMart twice a week for junk food.
  3. Really, shouldn’t we be going to a market for fresh food every other day or even every day?

So, to the subject line: how often do you go to the grocery store?

Movie trailer roundup

General Entertainment, Movies by

Sometimes I think I like movie trailers better than movies. Chalk it up to the post-MTV attention span, the TRL-level of information consumption. Actually, don’t – I hated TRL for cutting off my favorite videos. No, it’s probably just the excitement of an unknown film, the snippets of a plot yet to be unfolded and the (usually) spotless editing techniques that build tension. In any case, here’s my current list of movies I’m excited for:

  • 2012 – Holy freaking yes! I doubt this is what the Mayans were getting at with their prophecies, but look at the plane flying out of a chasm of doom! Government arks? John Cusack? YES.
  • 500 Days of Summer – Okay, I’m not as excited about this one, but still. Zooey Deschanel is in it. Really, she could just stand on screen for two hours and stare and I’d probably still go to the theatre, plunk down $8 and come out loving it.
  • Herb and Dorothy – These are probably the most adorable people I’ve ever seen – and truly what I aspire to be in my old age. How they were affording so much art on their income is beyond my grasp, but thankfully they found a way.
  • Cold Souls – A new Being John Malkovich? I certainly hope so – this film looks trippy, quirky and almost detestable. I’ll probably love it.
  • The Road – Just the trailer makes me immensely uncomfortable. The actual movie is probably two hundred times more suspenseful. I’m not sure I’ll make it through, but I sure do want to try.
  • Moon – And then, of course, there’s this gem. With Sam Rockwell (Zaphod!) losing his shit as the only man on the moon. Beyond 2001 levels of creepiness. Hooray!

Honorable mention (will probably watch it, just have to find it:)

  • Yesterday Was a Lie – Scifi. Noir. Worked for Blade Runner, didn’t it? Amateur actors might bring this combination down, but I doubt it.

      • Update! How could I forget: District 9 – Peter Jackson puts his skills to use directing a movie about an alien refugee camp. Looks very BSG meets V.

Takeover: summertime mix

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Since my last mix came all the way back in March and was about a snowy day, I thought it would only be fair to make a brand new, summertime mix. And what says summer more than mysterious, prophesied takeovers from the skies? The Mayans had a pretty good handle on how to party in the heat and humidity, so let them be your guide to this 2012-influenced collection.

The Takeover: summertime mix tracklist:

  1. “New Star in the Sky (Chanson Pour Solal)” – Air
  2. “Starter” – The Cardigans
  3. “A New Sky” – The Presets
  4. “Cities Burning Down” – Howling Bells
  5. “We Are Electric” – Fischerspooner
  6. “People You Can Confuse” – Adult.
  7. “Overground” – Siouxsie & the Banshees
  8. “A Place to Hide” – White Lies
  9. “Intermission” – The Sugarplastic
  10. “Wasteland Nostalgia” – Ike Yoshihiro
  11. “Exotic Talk” – RJD2
  12. “Machine in the Ghost” – The Faint
  13. “Crush the Liberation” – The Juan Maclean
  14. “Robot Song” – Margaret Berger
  15. “Big Red Machine” – Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner

As always, limited time download here.

Download a high resolution PDF of the cover art to go with your download.

Watch: “Kids” by MGMT

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I totally overdid the chore-ing tonight and fell asleep on the couch around 11 while watching Monster Quest. Yeah, grandpa is lame. In any case, I’ve decided that I’d rather make a new mix instead of reviewing an album, so I’ll post that up tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy this triptastic video for “Kids” by MGMT.

Kids – Mgmt “Official video” from Bulch on Vimeo.

(How was there not already a video for this – it’s been played to fucking death!)

What to write about?

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I don’t really have anything interesting, witty or clever right now. It’s been orientation time for new students here at work and I had to play fill in Apple rep since Apple just didn’t feel like coming to our Tech Fair yesterday. Important realization: I could never sell computers for a living. Being charismatic and concerned for that many hours was exhausting.

I’m hoping to post an album review up this evening. We’ll see how motivated I am in a few hours.

A little love for the X3

Cars by

Kate’s whip of choice has been getting pummeled in magazine reviews of late. The X3 has been pitted against the current crop of tiny luxury SUVs in TopGear, Car and Automobile (though, really both Car and Automobile employed the same guy – Georg Kacher – to write their comparisons.) Everyone has been calling it harsh, austere, rough, unpolished and lethargic. Well, perhaps – but only when you compare it to cars designed as 2009 models. Remember, everyone, the X3 was a 2004 machine and things, as they do, change over five years. Yes, the Audi Q5 or Volvo XC60 are more refined beasts but they should be. The fact that the X3 is still a contender at all shows that BMW created a winner when it staked a claim to the ground these baby utes drive upon. Give the old girl some slack! The only complaint about Kate’s 3.0i spec 2005 I have is that it’s a bit neurotic in its character. You’d expect that from a BMW though right?

So, I was quite pleased to find that Car & Driver has rehashed the comparison test for American readers and has found that the BMW X3, while not the winner, is deserving of the #2 spot in its opinion. RESPECT.

I was so excited for a moment

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I received a delightful email a moment ago from Twitter, alerting me to something amazingly unexpected:

Bigfoot on Twitter

Naturally, my cryptid-minded self thought “Oh, sweet! Bigfoot researchers!” But, I soon realized that this particular team happens to race in the name of ‘squatches. Still, my disappointment was palpable.

In any case, hello to my new LeMons followers! Glad to make your Twitter-acquaintance.