Things That Are Frightening

So I have to say that Paranormal Activity, which I saw this past weekend was exceptional.  It was not the scariest movie I have ever seen (though there were a couple of truly frightening scenes) but it was really well done.  The movie was just a great illustration of how a big budget has nothing to do with a good story and good storytelling.  It’s just a well executed (no pun intended) movie that is scary as hell if you allow yourself to suspend the natural skeptic that surfaces whenever you watch a “horror” film (or comedy for that matter).  I give it 4 out of 5 pumpkins.

The scariest movie I’ve seen this year is from Boston Dynamics.  5 out of 5 pumpkins for sure.

Some Days I Feel Like I Don’t Belong Here

New Music: The Temper Trap

Fresh out of Austrailia, The Temper Trap’s new album “Conditions” comes out on October 13th.  I hear so much in their sound:  U2, Maroon 5, Prince, Kings of Leon, The Bee Gees, Jamiroquai, and counting…   Going to see them at the Crocodile on the 17th!  Should be ridiculous.

Mike Blowers Knows All, Sees All

Years ago I walked into a living room at a house party while some people were watching a baseball game and casually said that the guy was going to hit a homerun on the next pitch.  The guy hit a homerun on the next pitch and the partygoers were thrown into a frenzy.  What they didn’t know was that I actually cannot see the future.  Mike Blowers, on the other hand, CAN see the future and apparently he sees it in tremendous detail.

Sarah Palin: Going Rogue

Today’s forecast:  Partly cloudy with a chance of patriotic zip-ups.  Looks comfy.  From the cover I would think the title is Going Broke, but I guess real mavericks use Olan Mills for all their mavericky avant garde cover art photo shoots.  It’s just how they roll.

This cover reminded me of a few other images of (somewhat) recent memory.  Thanks to Dan Savage at the Slog for the 40 yr old virgin idea.

 

I Have No Idea…

…why all of my posts now are about animals.  I’m sure my mother would say that it’s indicative of some sort of vitamin deficiency.

The Superior Species

One of my friends has been right on something for a long time. I just didn’t want to admit it.  He said that cats are better than dogs and being a long time dog owner/lover I wasn’t budging from my position….until now.

 

I like dogs…I like them a lot.  But over the years my growing annoyance with the species is their general lack of independence because at the end of the day they’re a pretty groveling, needy bunch who have a lot of self worth tied up in what their owners (and pretty much everyone else) thinks of them at every damn moment of every single day.  They are also in perpetual need of entertainment.  This is why over time most dog owners have the discussion “you know, we really should get another dog so Mr. Jankles has a friend to play with”.  The truth behind this conversation is that most dog owners simply get tired of having to entertain Mr. Jankles who, like Warren from Something About Mary, is pretty much retarded.  If dogs could speak they would say one of two phrases over and over.  1) Have you seen my ______ (baseball, stick, treat, poo, etc.) and 2)  hi “>hi “>hi “>hi “>hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi.  So the idea of bringing another canine simpleton in so the two can perpetually maul each other and smell each other’s bunsholes makes complete sense.  And I have to say that from what I’ve seen it’s a pretty effective tactic.

 

Cats, on the other hand, are pretty much way awesomer because they could give a crap what you think, in fact they would gladly crap on what you think if it displeased them.  This seems off putting at first but then you kind of love them for it.  What’s more is that they do really interesting things to entertain themselves.  Cats are always plotting for or against something. 

 

Cats are also wild as all hell.  Feline ownership comes with a looming “wildcard” that says no matter how many sweaters you put on Mr. Whiskers or how much fancy feast you feed him, Mr. Whiskers will never be fully domesticated.  The nicest show cat in the world will disappear on a whim and return to deliver fresh animal carcasses to your lawn and/or living room because sometimes Mr. Whiskers just has to rip something limb to limb and taste fresh blood.  The beast must hunt.   If that isn’t enough to make the point then you’ve never seen a cat just absolutely lose its mind because that primal moment is second to nothing in the animal kingdom.  Cats live in a generally dormant state that is committed to reserving all energy for the occasional explosion of bat-shit craziness. 

 

That was way too much to say that it took me a while…but I like cats more than dogs now.  It’s just a shame I’m allergic.

 

 

Shooting The Moon

You'll shoot yer eye out

Apparently, NASA will launch a spectacular mission to bomb the Moon tomorrow. Their LCROSS mission will blast off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying a missile that will blast a hole in the lunar surface at twice the speed of a bullet. The missile, a Centaur rocket, will be steered by a shepherding spacecraft that will guide it towards its target – a crater close to the Moon’s south pole. Scientists expect the blast to be so powerful that a huge plume of debris will be ejected.

Apparel By Courage Wolf

If the courage wolf were cubed and immortalized on a cotton tee, then that cotton tee was sold on Amazon and amazingly reviewed by over 1,000 people …this is how it would go down.  This is the holy trinity of wolfdom.  These wolves are the equivalent of Helen of Troy in the world of beast apparel.  Read through the whole link.  The images and reviews are comedy gold.

Behold...the wolves that launched a thousand reviews

 

Finally, A Break From Cat Posts

I was up rather late on Sunday night having some profound discussion on serious topics such as the procurement of wolf t-shirts when my friend, we’ll call him Jeffrey to cloak his identity, said one of the most profound things I’ve heard in a long time.  

• Jeffrey:  “The thing is, when I get my wolf t-shirt I don’t want it to be too tacky.” 
• Me:  (Silence)
• Me:  “You know there’s going to be a WOLF on your shirt right?”  (Hysterical Laughter)

In Jeffrey’s defense, and despite my laugh at his expense, I couldn’t agree more.  I’m pretty sure that everyone who has stood in the Goodwill store looking for that perfect wolf t-shirt has encountered the same fashion conundrum.  But fear not good sir for your fastidious approach to canine vestment will be rewarded!  In the meantime let the inspiring words of The Courage Wolf gird your loins.