Programming Note

I’ll be in P-Town Thursday to Monday and will not have internet access.

xo

Blog Of The Day: Lamebook

Ok, don’t know how I missed this one but Lamebook re-posts Facebook’s best/worst moments. For example [click to enlarge]:

Or,

Basically it’s like “STFU, Parents” but doesn’t discriminate. 

More: Lambook.com

Thanks, Tom.

Glenn Beck: Obama Is Racist

Oh Glenn, will you please go away and STFU?!

Via JMG.

Blog Of The Day: Men Who Look Like Old Lesbians

Kevin Bacon

Paul McCartney

Leigh Foxx

But seriously, Paul McCartney has been freaking me out for years…

More: Men Who Look Like Old Lesbians

Thanks, Beth

My Current Desktop

Grand Central Terminal, taken after a stupid job interview in stupid Midtown.  At least I got a good pic out of it. Click pic to enlarge.

Opening Today: “In The Loop”

This movie somehow completely escaped me:

The Awl collected some choice reviews:

New York Daily News: “It would be a perfectly respectable use of this space to do nothing more than rave about the collected works of British television genius Armando Iannucci. However, then we wouldn’t have room to laud his first foray into film, which happens to be one of the sharpest satires in years.”

New York Times: “The plot is as intricate and elegant as a computer circuit board, though at times it looks more like a tangle of crossed wires. The short summary is that everybody betrays everybody else, that opportunism trumps idealism and that telling the truth is a matter of tactical calculation rather than ethical imperative…. The audience, meanwhile, is likely to die laughing. While ‘In the Loop’ is a highly disciplined inquiry into a very serious subject, it is also, line by filthy line, scene by chaotic scene, by far the funniest big-screen satire in recent memory.”

Boston Globe: “‘In the Loop’ is that rare film utterly without heroes; instead, it amasses a group of boobs, users, and charlatans on both sides of the Atlantic and asks us to recognize our duly elected and appointed officials. You’ll laugh until you bleed, or vice versa.”

Los Angeles Times: “Violently verbose and startlingly impolite, with shovelfuls of obscenities, “In the Loop” is the most savage, biting political satire on the big screen in years.”

And finally, the Guardian, noting the UK release of the DVD: “This is so far ahead of other current comedies that I had more laughs from the 27 minutes of deleted scenes than any other full-length movie this year.”

Sign me up!

More: Rotten Tomatoes (93%!) | Trailer Addict (Clips, additional trailers, and deleted scenes)

I Could Watch This All Day

HD video of the world’s second largest aquarium, Kuroshio Sea.

Via Towleroad.

Track-By-Track Review Of Whitney Houston’s New Album

Clay Cane at the BET blog “Entertainment Spotlight” has a brief track-by-track review of Whitney’s new album, as presented at a listening party last night (“the tracks are still being polished.”)

The review isn’t gushing but the reviewer was definitely impressed with what he heard:

Overall, the nine tracks that were played received a good response. The album definitely has the potential to be a hit.  For Whitney, there is no such thing as a “comeback” — icons “don’t call it a comeback,” they just jump back in the game whenever they are ready.  One thing I do know is no one should expect 1985 Whitney.  Artists evolve and it’s limiting when we trap performers in a particular box or era.  The best piece about the tracks is that Whit has some grit to her voice, her vocals are still strong but she doesn’t mind getting a bit nasty with it.  While the album isn’t finished, I believe folks will be pleasantly surprised.

His full review here.

The album, “I Look To You”, drops September 1.

Teaser Trailer: Tim Burton’s “Alice In Wonderland”

A tad too much CGI, in my opinion.

“Alice In Wonderland” will be released March 5, 2010.

Look-Alike Fail

Bill Maher Compares The Writings Of Sanford and Foley

HILARIOUS.

Via Joe. My. God.

Film Review: “The Way We Get By”

On Friday, I attended a screening for the documentary, “The Way We Get By.” As I mentioned before, the film focuses on three ‘troop greeters’ in Bangor, Maine.

As the eastern most American airport, Bangor International has become the de facto gateway to and from American for hundreds of thousands of US troops. This fact lead to a group of volunteers – veterans and otherwise – to band together to provide certain services to the returning (and departing) troops, like free cell phones to call their loved ones. Perhaps more valuable, however, is the mere presence of these volunteers in what would otherwise be an empty airport terminal.  The greeters clap, hug, and shake the hands of these servicemen and servicewomen as if they were their own grandchildren; the average age of the greeters and the average age of the troops evoke this relationship.

The film focuses on three greeters: Joan, Bill, and Jerry.  All are elderly and all live alone. Joan has two grandchildren soon headed to war and Bill is a veteran himself.

As we get to know our greeters, we are provided with vivid depictions of these individuals’ problems outside the airport. There are the myriad of health problems one would expect for someone in their 80s or 90s, financial problems, emotional challenges, and, perhaps the one condition that they all share: loneliness.

While you cannot deny the selflessness of Joan, Bill, and Jerry’s actions by objective standards – they greet these planes in rain, snow, and shine, day or night – the realities and challenges they face in their lives make their actions that much more admirable. It becomes clear, however, that while most volunteer work has a positive effect on the volunteer, the airport is a true lifeline for Joan, Bill, and Jerry.

Watching these individuals reflect on their lives, old age, war, morality, and death with such raw honesty is compelling and endearing and will prompt much more self-reflection than the average film. It is a beautiful story that needed to be told and is told well.

The film premiers as the IFC Center this Friday, July 17. I have word from the filmmakers that Joan, Bill, and Jerry will be in NYC for the opening weekend (17-19) and will attend Q & A’s as they are able to. Get tickets here.

Highly recommended.

More: Trailer | Website | NYT Review | NY Mag Review (Critic’s Pick) | Rotten Tomatoes (88%)

Handlebars Fail

You could have some real kinky times with that bike…

Preview Clip Of New Madonna Track!

The song is one of four tracks Madonna collaborated with Paul Oakenfold for, all of which will be on Madonna’s forthcoming greatest hits album. The below track, “Celebrate,” is set to hit radio July 28.

It’s unabashedly dance floor ready and I LOVE IT.

Via Boy Culture.

NY Post Pre-Reviews Mika’s New Album

Julian Broad just got his hands on some snippets from Mika’s new album, titled “We Are Golden” and due September 20 (should have been a summer album!), and he was mighty impressed:

To kick things off, the brilliant first single, also named “We Are Golden,” will begin to stream on Mika’s Web site on July 20. Not one to waste time, a video for the track, helmed by acclaimed Swedish director Jonas Akerlund, is also currently in being shot in the UK.

“We Are Golden” features the Andrae Crouch Gospel Choir (from Madonna’s “Like A Prayer”), defiant declarations of hope and a driving beat, while the floor-stomping song “Blame It On the Girls” begs for us to sing-along. The tracks “Rain” and “Dr. John” mix a 60s beach blanket bonanza with bona fide dance floor anthems, a lot like his hit “Relax” did in ‘07. Oh, and don’t worry, Mika-ballad babies, the tune “Toy Boy” will leave you weeping for tons more from this fella’. Tons more than this one lonely CD can offer.

The album was produced by Mika and Greg Wells (Katy Perry, P!nk) and features a cameo by Imogen Heap.

CAN. NOT. WAIT. FOR. THIS.

“Toy Boy” was released on the physical edition of the “Songs For Sorrow” EP, which I posted two tracks from here.

Listen to “Toy Boy”, set to a fan-made music video, after the jump.

Craigslist Ad Of The Day

The insecurity of the heterosexual (yes, I’m assuming) male knows no bounds.

Via BuzzFeed.

My Current Desktop

Westminster Abbey, London. Click pic to enlarge.

Blog Of The Day, No, Century

“STFU, Parents” is a blog that tracks and re-posts inappropriate Facebook status updates by parents, usually the self-righteous/oblivious/shouldn’t be using the internet types, and it’s absolutely fucking HILARIOUS.

Some of my faves:

Check out more at “STFU, Parents.”

Gratuitous Pics Of The Day

Soon-to-be G.I. Joe Channing Tatum in GQ:

And look. at. those. eyes.

Via Towleroad.

The Power Of Photoshop

In case you haven’t already learned the “don’t believe anything you see lesson”, check this:

(We all remember the Kim Kardashian fiasco, right?)

Thanks, Josh.

Introducing: La Roux

After a few EPs, British duo La Roux’s debut LP has finally landed and it’s some pretty damn good “synthpop.” Here are the LP’s strongest tracks, IMO:

Quicksand

Bulletproof

The US release date is set for September 29, a cruel four weeks after the UK release. If y’all like it, I’ll post some more tracks to hold you over in the meantime.

Enjoy!

More La Roux: Wiki | MySpace | Website

Baskin-Robbins: Redefining “Death By Chocolate”

To be fair, it does have 90% of your daily calcium allowance.

And check the ingredients!

Chocolate oreo ice cream (cream, nonfat milk, crispy crackle fudge (fudge [powdered sugar (sugar, cornstarch), peanut oil, cocoa processed with alkali, dextrose, nonfat dry milk, cocoa, salt, soy lecithin], crispy rice [rice, sugar, salt, high fructose corn syrup, malt flavoring]), oreo cookies (sugar, enriched flour, vegetable shortening (partially hydrogenated soybean oil), cocoa (processed with alkali), high fructose corn syrup, corn flour, whey, corn starch, baking soda, salt, soy lecithin (emulsifier), vanillin, chocolate), sugar, corn syrup, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), chocolate liquor (processed with alkali), whey, cellulose gum, mono and diglycerides, guar gum, carrageenan, polysorbate 80), milk, hot fudge sauce (sugar, corn syrup, water, partially hydrogenated coconut oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, cocoa (treated with alkali), nonfat milk solids, modified food starch, salt, sodium bicarbonate, potassium sorbate as preservative, natural and artificial flavors, lecithin, propyl paraben as preservative), oreo cookie pieces (sugar, enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate {vitamin b1}, riboflavin {vitamin b2}, folic acid), palm and/or high oleic canola and/or soybean oil, cocoa (processed with alkali), high fructose corn syrup, baking soda, cornstarch, salt, soy lecithin (emulsifier), vanillin – an artificial flavor, chocolate), chocolate coating (fractionated palm kernel oil, sugar, coconut oil, cocoa powder, cocoa (processed with alkali), soy lecithin, artificial flavor, salt), whipped cream topping (cream, milk, sugar, dextrose, nonfat dry milk, artificial flavor, mono & diglycerides, carrageenan, mixed tocopherols (vitamin e), to protect flavor, propellant: nitrous oxide).

Source via Slog.

Maybe Not So “Bird-Brained”

Opening Today: “Bruno”; “Humpday”; “The Hurt Locker”

After what seems like years of promotion, Bruno finally opens today and will surely spark many, many conversation among the gays and non-gays. I didn’t like Borat and I’ll probably also wait for Bruno to hit DVD instead of spending $12.50 on it. (More: NYT Review).

Humpday also sees a wide release today – you may remember my review from last week – and I highly recommend it: it’s a surefire win.

If you’re not in the mood for a comedy, definitely check out “The Hurt Locker“, which also opens wide today. While it’s set in the Iraq war, it is by no means an “Iraq war movie” (a genre I have little interest in). Great action, great suspense, and great film making.

Definitely a good weekend for movies.

Breaking News: Butt-Slapper Terrorizing Subway Passengers!

Serial Butt Slapper

WPIX-11 (“Yes, we have news”) is reporting that since June 19, a SERIAL BUTT SLAPPER – pause and repeat – A SERIAL BUTT SLAPPER has been terrorizing women while riding the subway near stations in Crown Heights.

According to reports, the women said, “Harder!” but the man refused to slap “harder.”

No, I kid.

Apparently this subtlety-challenged individual has been leaving hand prints on all sorts of ladies’ asses aged 19-44, to which I say: Ageist! Sexist! Homophobe! Spread the love, asshole!

Honestly, though, I think these women need to calm down a little.  Groping is the new flirtatious eye contact. Get with the ’00’s. If I didn’t routinely fondle strangers on the D-train at 4:00 AM on a Saturday, I wouldn’t have had half the meaningful 6-hour fuck parties relationships I’ve had.

These woman have been whining like they were kicked in the uterus or something so the police have said they’re working weally, weally hard on the case (yeah, right) but admit they haven’t made any arrests and THE BUTT SLAPPER IS STILL AT LARGE.

CUE SCARY MUSIC!

Gratuitous Pic Of The Day

In the ‘Hot Daddy’ category, Christopher Meloni is definitely up there with Jason Stratham and Bruce Willis.

Special Outdoor Screening Tomorrow: “The Way We Get By”

Josh pointed me to a special screening tomorrow for an indie documentary called “The Way We Get By.” The film follows a group of elderly Maine residents who greet troops departing to and returning from Iraq, no matter the time of day or night. When they are not shaking the hands of these strangers, however, they have their own problems to deal with and the movie quickly becomes “a moving, unsettling and compassionate story about aging, loneliness, war and mortality.”

The film has been getting some great early reviews and was awarded the Special Jury prize at Sundance.

The Rooftop Film Series will present the film tomorrow/Friday, July 10 at the Automotive High School lawn at 50 Bedford Avenue (at N. 13th) in Williamsburg. For only $9, you get the see the feature-length film, participate in an one-hour Q&A with the filmmakers, and attend a one-and-a-half hour open bar around the corner at Matchless (557 Manhattan Ave at Driggs).

All the details and a link to buy tickets here.

I’ll see you there!

PS: And the weather’s supposed to be perfect!  ;-)

Best Fetish Ever?

YouTube user Ralphmunic has 114 videos of him enjoying his fetish: riding on people’s shoulders (and occasionally doing the carrying). Some of the videos are taken in his apartment with not-tall-enough ceilings, some are taken in public, some he’s only wearing briefs, and some he’s wearing jeans.

Two things: A) There is a fetish for everything.  B) I’m so glad the internet brought these people together.

This one is pretty innocent:

…in the one after the jump, they never get up off the couch and Ralphmunic is basically fucking the back of the guys neck. Hmm…

New Daniel Merriweather Remix

The last time I posted about Daniel Merriweather, it was to share the AMAZING duet with Adele from his Mark Ronson-produced sophomore album, “Love and War.”

That track has still not been released as a single (WTF?!) but the album’s first single – which features an unexpected appearance by Wale, a member of hip hop’s so-called freshman class – has just been given the remix treatment by Gigamesh.

The remix is slightly sped-up and given a heavier beat. It’s a mild but welcomed tweak for anyone that doesn’t care for Daniel’s more mellow, R&B flavor.

Change (ft. Wale) (Gigamesh Remix)

Enjoy!

The Future Is Now

If you ever wondered why Apple is banking on software to set the iPhone apart from other smartphones, take a look at the new iPhone app “Nearest Tube.”

When you launch this app, the screen shows a live video feed of whatever’s in front of you, as if you were looking through the viewfinder of a camera, for example.  Except, superimposed over that video are arrows showing where and how far away the nearest Tube stations are (it was developed for the London Underground). As you turn your iPhone, the program adjusts and shows you other Tube stations, always organized by distance and color-coded to match the Tube line.

Dope. Dope. Dope.

Nearest Tube is currently waiting approval from the App Store. Via Gizmodo.