Postcards

No one writes checks any more with online banking. Who sends letters? And the most outdated method of communication: the postcard.

But I love them!

They tell me someone is thinking about me on their trip. That someone took the time to buy the card, write a clever note, buy a stamp, and find a mailbox to send it. Sure the postcards usually arrive long after the person has come home, but that’s not the point. Back when this type of card was essential, people looked forward to them. Now with things so instantaneous, we want an email or a (gads) an e-card. To me, that’s just lazy. I don’t want to schlep around a handheld devise on my vacation (phone or pad or otherwise). I want to unplug. And getting a postcard in the mail makes me green with envy that the person on the other end unplugged on their vacation too.

It must sound ironic that someone who posts on a blog finds such sentimental old-fashioned media so important. But I do.

This little gem from a friend in Kaua’i will live for weeks up on my refrigerator. I’ll smile every time I see it and think how lucky she was to get away from it all and she still managed to think of me... even for a moment.

Top 4 Songs with Marching Band

It's always interesting to me when a pop artist can use a unique instrument or sound to create something new. But you just don't hear enough marching band in pop music, now do you? I don't think so.

With the popularity of Fox's "Glee" and my own new found interest in the show, I came up with my list of Top 4 Songs with Marching Band. Why 4? Um, that's as many as I could think of. So here we go:

No. 4 - Gwen Stefani "Hollaback Girl"

Not exactly 100% marching band, but when I saw her in concert, she came out in drum major uniform to sing this song. So everytime I hear that bass beat, I think it's marching band bass drum! I wish my high school band was this cool.




No. 3 - Fleetwood Mac "Tusk"

They added marching band before marching band was cool! And they used the real deal, USC marching band. The Mac didn't use some electronic machine to SOUND like a band but put real players front and center. I think this camp version from 1980's Solid Gold TV show is just that, solid gold!




No. 2 - Missy E "We Run This"

The coolest, slickest, nastiest, smartest bitch on the scene, Missy E. Mind you, she only puts the bit of marching band at the end of the song. But I can feel it throughout.... left, right, left, right and sliiiide...

What better way to appreciate the glory of the song than with a bad high school dance practice done by chunky Midwest white bitches. Crank it ladies!




No. 1 - Madonna's "4 Minutes" the Glee Cast Version

I have to give the number one spot to this song, of course, since it is the reason for my post. I was sceptical about messing with Madge's hits since I'm a kid of the 80s and have seen her twice in concert ("Like a Virgin" tour and her cone bra is forever in my mind!).

But these kids really do the song justice. And whoever arranged it thinking to add marching band was quite clever. I couldn't find a video on YouTube from the actual show since Fox has yanked them all, but here's the song in it's entirety and a picture of 2 singers. Imagine a basketball court with full marching band and a gaggle of cheerleaders performing.

U2 360 on Blu-Ray: Delay?

Bono out. Tour postponed for a year. But what of their planned release of U2 360 on Blu-Ray?

The boys recorded the Rose Bowl concert from Oct 2009 and broadcast to YouTube. But that same concert was set to be released in 2010 on Blu-Ray. As the ultimate souvenir, I'm waiting with whetted chops.

Now a delay? Will I have to wait until 2011 to see the boys in hi-def? It's all about me and I want my concert!

"Hello, hello..." Here's a clip from the show. Bono's Spanish lesson is as good as any junior college Spanish class.

Lunch today

I went to my local mixed-Asian strip-mall place for lunch today. You know the type of place "teriyaki & donuts". Glad I had something new, bibimbap. Mmm, delicous tofu noodles, sprouts, chicken, et al. Here's a pic:

Thanks Rosie and Jim (my lunchtime companions)!

An Evening with John Waters

I had the pleasure of attending one of those fancy, schmansy speaker’s series last night, billed as an evening with John Waters. Yep, THAT John Waters.

(Here’s the pre-lecture article. Here's another article from the NY Times about his book. Go here)

The evening turned to NOT be fancy or even schmansy, but more of a coming together of your favorite kooks, outcasts, and lesbian neighbors all listening to your naughty uncle by the fire.




The set was simple, two chairs, one for the interviewer from the local newspaper and one for Mr. Waters. They enjoyed about an hour of Q & A. While I don’t think it was a scripted talk, I do believe there was some outline of how Mr. Waters would respond to questions.

Some of my favorite responses were about looking up to Johnny Mathis and having an obsession with the Manson women. And his detail of some of the more colorful characters from Baltimore was a hoot. When describing Zorro the Stripper, he said she would come out on stage already nude, give the audience the finger, and shout “What the fuck are you looking at?”

I’ve seen several of Mr. Waters’ movies and truthfully, didn’t find then all that funny. I think his set-up of the movies’ premise is more funny and when you hear him talk about the cast, they seem like loads of fun. I really wish I knew them. Then again, carnies aren’t a group I usually hang with on Saturday nights!

Here’s a bad pic I took with my phone. That’s Mr. Waters on the right.

Great night. Glad we went!

Aimee Mann

I still can't get the song "Voices Carry" out of my head from 1983, but just to cleanse the brain I've been listening to Aimee's song "Freeway" from her record "@#%&*! Smilers". (I like saying "fucking smilers"!).

What is underrated anyway? Aimee's been nominated for an Oscar and a Grammy and writes some of the sweetest, most haunting songs around. But whenever I mention her to anyone, they say, "who?" I guess she'll never been Madonna-esque, or Ga-Ga, but then again, I don't care.

Here's the "Freeway" song.



And in case you forgot "Voices Carry" (who could, really), here's a live version. I still giggle at all the stupid haircuts we wore.

U2 & Christina Aguilera postpone!

I know it's shallow and a bit selfish, but MAN, am I glad we saw U2 last year at the Rose Bowl, rather than planning on seeing them THIS year. I'm sure emergency back surgery is a serious thing and the postponement is warranted. OUCH! (PP announcement here) Imagine the fans, flying in from all over and now...no show. Ugh! Get better Bono and quick!

But X-tina? You're too busy to do on tour (go here)? Huh? Then why announce a tour? Yes, I would have gone had she come to my town, but this smells of low-ticket-sales-itis. Keep well, X-tina. Maybe next year, there will be more interest in your live show. And I mean that in a good way.

And yea, I'll be seeing her movie "Burlesque". I just hope it's not another "Glitter".

Dhani Tackles the Globe

I've been watching the latest season of "Dhani Tackles The Globe" on the Travel Channel and here's why you should too.

The host, Dhani Jones (pronounced D-HA-nee, not Danni like George Harrison's kid), is some football player. He apparently owns his own bow tie company too. Don't care about any of those. But he's a pretty darned good host: funny, engaging, and can play any sport on the planet (which is the theme of the show - learn a local sport in a week and play a match).

But the best part? Dhani is nearly naked at every chance he gets. Case in point, the Iceland episode (strong man competition):

Or the Croatia episode (water polo)...mmmm, Speedos....:


But the most outrageous to date? The Senegal episode. The sport is some form of wrestling and here, Dhani's trainer shows him how to keep his "bits" safe:

Oh yea. I'll keep watching!

"Revanche"

I watched a terrific Austrian's movie over the weekend called "Revanche". What made me choose the film was that it is in German. I'm trying to educate myself about German cinema. Yes, I know Austria isn't Germany, but close enough for me.

Really riviting piece and apparently nominated for an Oscar in 2009. The trailer is below (yes, there's naked boobies).

And here's what Mick LaSalle said in his review back in 2009. Go here.

I recommend it.