Month: April 2009

Random 10 4/10

I assume by now you know how this works. Last week. This week:

  1. “Stay on the Ride” by Patty Griffin
    I might look like a little old man to you
  2. “Lotion” by Greenskeepers
    And when I’m done with that I’ll use your skull as a bowl
  3. “Clumsy” by Our Lady of Peace, guessed by Kim
    There’s nothing strange about this
  4. “Unmarked Helicopters” by Soul Coughing
    Here comes the noise it makes
  5. “Kingdom of Lies” by Folk Implosion
    There’s life outside these city walls
  6. “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield, guessed by Clayton
    Can I get away again tonight?
  7. “Pearly White” by Junkhouse
    I’m a guru zombie
  8. “Since I’ve Been Loving You” by Led Zeppelin
    I’m about to lose to my worried mind
  9. “If Not for You” by Bob Dylan, guessed by Occupant
    Babe, I couldn’t find the door
  10. “Not Alone Any More” by Traveling Wilburys, guessed by Kim
    You always said that I’d be back again

Good luck!

Thursday various

  • Billy Bob Thornton, the new Joaquin Phoenix? A fascinating yet painfully awkward interview with Thornton and his band on CBC Radio just goes from bad to worse — although host Jian Ghomeshi does a good job of trying to keep the whole thing afloat. I understand Thornton’s desire to be taken seriously as a musician, not as just some dilettante actor who thinks he can play, but he just comes across as a confused (or rather, stoned) jackass here. “Would you say that to Tom Petty?” he barks at one point, angry that he’s been asked if he’s always had a lifelong love for music. But you know, yes, an interviewer would ask that of Petty. If Tom Petty decided to become a serious actor — beyond starring as “himself” in The Postman, say — it would be perfectly valid to ask him about his music career, and to wonder how that’s influenced his acting or if acting was something he’s always loved. It wouldn’t be insulting, the way Thornton seems to think Ghomeshi is being here.

  • Gwenda Bond has an interesting discussion going on food in science fiction.

  • So apparently some Amazon customers are protesting e-books over $9.99. I’m not so sure that’s a fair price for all e-titles, but I do think pricing is the main thing keeping people away from e-books. (More so for the readers than the books; I personally love my e-book reader, but they’re a several-hundred-dollar investment right now. That’s enough to give anyone pause, even before these tough economic times.)

  • Oh great. Another re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz. I know it’s a well known and beloved classic, with some immediately recognizable archetypes at its core, but do we really need another new take on it?

  • And this review of the new Legends of Zork game just makes me sad:

    It’s honestly as though someone designed a micropayment system then awkwardly shoved a very crude game on top of it.

    I have many fond memories of failing to complete the original Zork and its sequels as a boy.

Wednesday various

  • Artistically minded? A fan of science fiction? Why not, then, design the new Hugo Award logo? The deadline is May 31.
  • There’s been a lot of talk recently about Dollhouse‘s chances for renewal. (It’s still by no means a perfect show, but I think I’d actually miss it now if it was gone.) But cast member Tahmoh Penikett obviously isn’t taking any chances of being out of work.
  • xkcd: Doing the math on ridiculous (but sort of sweet) ideas so you don’t have to.
  • I don’t know if you’ve heard the sad news about comics writer Len Wein, but it really is tragic. Basically, Wein (co-creator of such iconic characters as Swamp Thing and Wolverine) and his wife were burned out of house and home. Their beloved dog, Sheba, was also killed in the fire. (I think that’s the part that really gets to me — in no small part because I read the news the same day I stumbled across this old post about our old dog, Duncan, who thankfully died a relatively much more peaceful death.) The outpouring of condolences and support has been great to see.
  • Maybe the Weins (or you) could move into Robert Heinlein’s old house. It is on the market.
  • And rather than end on a down note, here (via Gerry Canavan), here’s “Kill Bill in One Minute and One Take”: