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December 17, 2003

What a Crappy CD!

An amusing music industry parody site just in time for holiday gift giving.

Posted by Ms. Jen at 10:34 PM | TrackBack

December 12, 2003

The Adolescents

Orange County's #1 band, The Adolescents, will be playing a two night stint at Alex's Bar tongiht and tomorrow night. Here are the line-ups for both nights:

Fri. Dec. 12, 2003 - Adolescents, Speedealer, Pistol Grip, Drive by Smile, Supagroup - doors at 8pm.
Sat. Dec. 13, 2003 - Adolescents, The Crowd, The Stitches

For a good introduction to The Adolescents read Kevin Hillskemper's Tag-Along Adolescent.

And finally the OC Weekly's This Week....

This Week In Punk Pedigree - The Adolescents

Recently voted the No. 1 OC band of all-time by the Weekly’s writers and contributors, Fullerton’s Adolescents are not only responsible for one of the most attention-grabbing standout debut albums in the history of punk, but they’ve also become the default, knee-jerk answer to the oft-repeated, mantra-like statement "Nothing good ever comes out of Orange County."

Don’t think they don’t share a similar view, either: if there’s any negative aspect of OC life that didn’t get skewered on their self-titled debut, rest assured it was singled out in "O.C. Life" ("714 imbedded in your brain/Designer jeans and malls are all you’ll ever have to gain"), the standout song from lead guitarist Rikk Agnew’s subsequent solo album, All By Myself.

Subsequent lineups and releases may not have lived up to the Adolescents’ debut, but that doesn’t mean the band was overshadowed by anything else released at the time. And considering their sizable influence and pedigree (members formed or were founding members of D.I., Christian Death, 22 Jacks and Joyride, among others), it’s all the more impressive the band’s "classic" lineup (minus drummer Casey Royer) has recently begun playing reunion shows, sounding great, if not better, than the band’s early gigs. There are two back-to-back shows at Alex’s Bar this weekend, but if you must choose between the two, go Saturday, when the Crowd and the Stitches open.

The Adolescents play Alex’s Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, (562) 434-8292. Fri.-Sat., 10 p.m. $10. 21+.

—Warren Binder

Posted by Ms. Jen at 6:47 PM | TrackBack

A Very Petty Booka Xmas

Cute Japanese punk rock go-go cowgirls on the ukulele? What more could you ask for for Christmas? Petty Booka hits the west coast this month to spread a little holiday cheer. Hit up their website for dates/locations.

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December 11, 2003

Oddly Gifted

From the LA Times:

By Roy Rivenburg, Times Staff Writer

Don't insult your loved ones by giving them iPods, espresso machines or other lame holiday gifts. Use our handy shopping guide to ferret out this year's essential under-the-tree treats.

Moby-Dick: The action-figure industry continues to boom. The lineup of bendable dolls includes Sigmund Freud, Jesus, Ben Franklin, Cleopatra, Moses, a librarian, a coffee barista and Pope Innocent III, to name a few. But they all pale in comparison (figuratively speaking) with Dick, the Albino Bowler Action Figure. Sporting a large white Afro and a push-button-activated white bowling ball, he sells for $8.95 at http://www.mcphee.com .

Napa Big Gulp: At last, a wineglass big enough to hold an entire bottle of vino — so you can truthfully say "I only had one glass, officer." Stands nearly 13 inches tall. The Big Bold Red Glass is available for $99.95 at http://www.iwawine.com . A knockoff version goes for $13 at Britain's http://www.gobaz.com .

Mermania: Get your hands on a giant can of tuna and you'll be able to impersonate the Chicken of the Sea mermaid with Neiman Marcus' new $10,000 mermaid costume. The handcrafted urethane suit comes with its own repair kit, maintenance instructions and expert training on how to swim in it. Or, for mermaids on a budget, designer Thom Shouse — who dressed Daryl Hannah in "Splash" — rents mermaid costumes (for $1,000 to $1,500 per week), along with wigs, clamshell bras and life-size fake dolphins at his Web site, http://www.mermaid rentals.com. Sadly, there is no McRoskey mermaid mattress.

Luncheon Meat Underwear: What's the only thing better than Spam boxer shorts? How about glow-in-the-dark Spam boxer shorts. Decked with phosphorescent silk-screened Spam cans, these cotton briefs sell for $15 at http://www.spamgift.com .

As for stocking stuffers:

• Air fresheners that look and smell like strips of bacon, $4.99 at stupid.com.

• Air-conditioned computer mouse. Prevent sweaty palms with Nyko's Air Flo Mouse, which contains a built-in fan.

• His-and-her robots. A bargain at $400,000, these 6-foot-tall programmable slaves read poetry, serve drinks and even greet visitors at the front door and give them a ride to your den. From neimanmarcus.com.

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December 10, 2003

December 12th Film Releases

Hear any good pedophile jokes lately? Well, if they're not about Michael Jackson then they must be about the Catholic priesthood. (Don't worry; we Jews have the market cornered on guilt and mothers) On that note, let's get into this week's film recommendations- the Papacy, art, and love slightly past its prime.

1) The Statement
2) Girl with the Pearl Earring
3) Something's Got to Give

The dearth from last week is all but forgiven. Forgotten, never. But forgiven, almost. This week's crop of films is helpful in that regard. (I told you we had the market cornered on guilt)
Boys and girls we have a nice selection this week. Ranging from the asinine to the intellectual, there's something for everyone.

Something's Got to Give
Jack Nicholson suffers from acute Peter Pan syndrome. It’s a terrible disease, which makes those who have it unable to date women their own age (art imitates life). After suffering from a heart attack he must be cared for by his girlfriend's mother, Diane Keaton. Autumn/Autumn romance blooms and wilts in the process.
The dialogue is supposed to be worthwhile, making it a good candidate for my $10.

Stuck on You
The people who brought you the magic of Dumb and Dumber and Something About Mary bring you this next little gem - Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear play Siamese twins trying to make it big in Hollywood (I really wish they would stop recycling these plot lines).
If you're in the mood to laugh without the benefit of thought then this is the movie for you.

Love Don't Cost a Thing
A lackluster remake of a lackluster movie geared towards the prepubescent. It would even make JLo gag, and she starred in Gigli.

Girl with the Pearl Earring
Colin Firth (dreamy) and Scarlet Johansson star in this adaptation of the novel inspired by the Vermeer painting of the same name.
As an admirer of Vermeer's work and Colin Firth, this is certainly a film I plan to patron eventually. Maybe not while it’s in the theater, but certainly when it comes out on video.

The Statement
Michael Cane plays a French Nazi war criminal being hidden by the Catholic Church. He has lived a life of relative security and peace until an investigator (Tilda Swinton) learns of his whereabouts and decides to flush him out.
I can't even come up with a good joke for this one. All I can say is that it looks worthwhile and is the best candidate for my $10.

Posted by xx - Ms. Lauren - xx at 9:54 PM | TrackBack

Blogging at Work? It's a Good Thing!

The Promise and Pitfalls of Social Networking
Darwin (11/03) ; Boyd, Stowe

A Working Model managing director Stowe Boyd admits that he is "a strongly biased advocate" for social networking, and has no reservations about investors pouring early-stage capital into social networks. He says the Internet can deepen social networking--people's tendency to cluster into groups, exchange information and contacts, and hasten toward their personal objectives via interaction. The uptake of social networking solutions is being spurred by their promise of determining the optimal or fastest route to another person, whether one is selling something or simply looking to increase one's contacts. Boyd says the practical applications of social networking solutions face a number of hurdles, chief among them a lack of critical mass; a dearth of awareness about social networking's benefits is also a major hindrance, though Boyd thinks that rising startup budgets and extensive media coverage will soon overcome that obstacle. Social networking's "viral" bottom-up nature also works in its favor, but Boyd writes that a shortage of social network compatibility has resulted in a fragmented, patchwork market of myriad social networking solutions. Boyd argues, "We are stuck at the Beta-versus-VHS fork in the road, where some company (or a few at the most) will break out of the pack...and establish a de facto standard for social networking." Key to the adoption of social networking solutions is clear proof that they offer solid business payback, in comparison to their real-world counterparts. Boyd concludes that the last obstacle in the way of social networking products is their design as standalone systems that are isolated from information technologies businesses are already employing to manage business relationships or relationship-connected data.
(Link to original story or publication)

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AXF: fly away heart

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December 8, 2003

Mooneyes Xmas Show 2003

Sat, December 13, 2003
at:
STAR - Sherrif's Academy
11515 Colima
Whittier, CA 90605

Goofy Foots - 10:30AM
Hot Rod Trio - 12:00AM
Dynotones - 1:30PM

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December 7, 2003

Copyright Laws vs. Public Domain

Copywrong - Copyright laws are stifling art, but the public domain can save us

Artists steal. It's a well-known fact. Blues musicians built upon the tradition of other blues musicians playing on the same circuit, and rock musicians built upon their music in turn, sometimes appropriating wholesale their songs and styles. Writers, it's been said, choose from a limited number of plots and write the same story over and over, just tweaking the details. Nothing is entirely original, yet artists make original work out of the culture they're immersed in.

"Ain't nothing new under the sun," says rapper Phonte of emerging Durham hip-hop group Little Brother. "Everything's been done before. For the most part, in every art form, every innovation comes out of some form of imitation."

But culture as we know it is increasingly bound up in the very laws that are supposed to nurture it. Copyright law has gone from promoting creativity to hindering artistic expression, thanks in part to the efforts of a few giant corporations that are sitting on billions of dollars worth of intellectual property.

Posted by Ms. Jen at 2:50 PM | TrackBack

Heidi's Night of Beauty at the Viper Room

This Tuesday night, Dec. 9, 2003, the fabulous Ms. Heidi is holding her Heidi's Night of Beauty at the Viper Room in West Hollywood.

Here is Heidi's announcement:

Please come celebrate Heidi’s Night of Beauty at our new home The Viper Room Tuesday 12.09 for a spectacular night of Beauty, Boys, & Shooting Stars

All your HNOB faves— make-overs, martini-manicure special (The fab manicurist does eyebrow threading too), & Sherry the Hair Babe. Guest make-up artist Bella Beretta will fix your face, then rock your world with a dazzling burlesque performance fresh from Tease-O-Rama. Double dose of FREE TREATS courtesy of Urban Decay & Air Craft Cosmetics.

HNOB beauty stations will run from 7:30-9:30pm. Admission is free until 9pm w/the HNOB invite— so only forward to the worthy. Phantom Planet will hit at 10pm

Yours in beauty,

Heidi :)

View the Flyer

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The Rock & Roll Library

While surfing the 'net today, I found the Rock & Roll Library website.

The Rock & Roll Library (RRL) is a non-profit organization working to build the world's largest music information archive while promoting the use of popular music in education.

The unique mission of the RRL is to distinctly recognize the historical and cultural significance of popular music. Our education vision weaves popular music and culture into the fabric of educational curriculum.

Posted by Ms. Jen at 2:02 PM | TrackBack

December 4, 2003

December 5th Film Releases

Are you sure its Oscar season? Are you certain the holidays are almost upon us? I have my doubts. The reason for these doubts, you may ask, there are only four movies being released this week. This makes my job a whole lot easier, but it gives me a heavy heart in the process.
Where are you, good-movies? I know you're out there, but where?
(If you are a studio publicist or independent filmmaker with a film about to come out which is getting no press, e-mail me and I'll see what I can do.)
(If you are a studio publicist or independent filmmaker with a movie that you would actually like me to SEE before I review it, e-mail me and I'll see what I can do.)

$10 Candidates:
1) Last Samurai
2) The Two Towers
3) What Alice Found

Yes its true. I don't actually see these movies before I review them (my $10 is a very precious commodity and only goes to the most worthy of films). I read the synopsis, look at the cast and crew, and watch the trailer if possible. From there, I make my most educated guess as to its suitability for ridicule or recommendation. Usually ridicule.
Now my assessment of this week's films:

Last Samurai
This is the only actual Oscar contender for the week. That guy from Risky Business tries his hand at some real acting by playing a civil war vet with depression issues who is hired by the Japanese government to modernize their army and rid the country of samurais. Maverick gets captured by a samurai and learns to value their culture during his involuntary stay.
This is by far the healthiest candidate for my $10 (and it isn't even Manchurian).

Honey
A hip-hop dancer with a heart of gold tries to make it in the business on her own terms. Unless you're a die-hard Jessica Alba fan, go rent Flashdance or Fame. They're both classics that have withstood the test of time, which this film will not.

The Two Towers
This is just a re-release of the same film from last year. If you're one of those people who like to meet women on the Internet and plays Dungeons & Dragons on a regular basis, then you're going to see this again no matter what I say. So go, waste your $10, and cream yourself in anticipation for the last installment of the trilogy.

What Alice Found
A young small town girl with hopes of becoming a marine biologist hits the road to achieve her dreams. But, some dreams were meant to be crushed, so she gets picked up by a couple with an RV who drag her into the world of truck stop prostitution.
Truck stop prostitution? That's like being the janitor at Institute for the Digestion of Fiber. Your career path just can't get any worse.
This could suck, put the premise looks interesting.

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Fashion Goes Electric

Scheduled to hit the market before the end of the year, the No-Contact Jacket for Women is a joint effort of MIT industrial designer Adam Whiton and Yolita Nugent of Advanced Research Apparel. Delivering an 80,000 volt shock, the jacket is as fashionable as it is functional. The inital cost - around $1,000 - could cause some sticker shock, although mass-production would lower the cost significantly. I have carried a stun gun for several years and have often been irritated by it's bulkyness and un-ergonomic design (as a result of the larger charge - 250,000volts - it's about twice the size of most stun guns). Maybe I'll add this baby to my Christmas list this year... :-)

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