Hummana hummana hummana hummana hummana hummana.

Speed Racer First Look

Yes the third Matrix movie sucked big time, and yes the muy excellent V For Vendetta doesn't actually count (because they didn't direct it- and they ain't George Lucas), but damn does this sound kind of neat. We shall see.

Wow did you see that fella juggle that football out of bounds and get it called a touchdown by a corrupt administration trying to push forward the storyline of "another perfect season" even though the story involves an Evil Empire? For shame.

And the story continues (much to Mike Turico's obscene joy). Does this qualify as another blow to my faith in humanity? No. Somebody will get this motherfuckers and save the day. They have to.

Except the NFL is rooting for the goddmaned Evil Empire. Motherfuckers! And now Baltimore is shitting the bed. Aaaarrrrrgggh.

If you are in Buffalo and you are not rooting for Baltimore against New England than you are just wrong. Out of order. Come on now.

Another Strike Casualty

There's always some pain involved in a strike, and I've seen another show temporarily go under as a result of the (righteous) WGA donneybrook with the last Heroes of 2007 airing tonight (the first casualty of course being the writer heavy Office). Ah well, that's the way it goes... but we have to remain tough, and tough we shall be. At least the Heroes "finale" kicked serious ass in just about every way possible. Blood, guts, betrayal, cold blooded revenge, and death. It was good. I like I said- ah well.


Also, my HD jealousy is growing. Torchwood, Foo Fighters, NHL hockey, Monday Night Football- it's all ridiculous in HD. Of course I like my current digital (non HD) set up- I have the THX certified digital optical cables connecting my shit so it's not like it's all fuzzy and crummy. It's bright and crisp, but it doesn't have that HD depth and weird hypnotic effect. But I will resist.

Check out this bit that stuck with me from Bob Herbert's column from last week on the GOP debates:

I'll concede that it's difficult to have a thoughtful exploration of
complex issues in a format that allows a candidate just 90 seconds to answer.
But the Republicans, far more than the Democrats, go out of their way to present
themselves as 21st-century Rambos - a childish, cartoonish posture that solves
nothing and can easily lead to tragedy in a world that is in fact quite
dangerous.

Now ponder this depressing tidbit: Rambo hits theaters in January 2008.

Right on cue. Now that's a blow to my faith in humanity.

Proof Of An Eventual Satisfactory End To The Writer's Strike In The Near Future

And by satisfactory I mean that the writer's get everything they want (if I have to put up with ads when I watch The Office online somebody who created the thing ought to get paid something). But I digress. You want proof? I've got two words for you: AMERICAN GLADIATORS. And I have three more words for you: ON NETWORK TELEVISION. Coming to us this January.

And may Jebus have mercy on our souls.

And Also Let Me Gush

about the sheer genius of Torchwood creator and Doctor Who executive producer Russell T. Davies and the band of artistic wunderkind (wunderkinds?) who create this stuff for the BBC in Wales. It's become a TV cottage industry, this Doctor Who business, with it's weekly behind the scenes show (Doctor Who Confidential), it's adult spinoff* (Torchwood) and kid's show spinoff (The Sarah Jane Adventures), and even more impressive is the fact that they are all damned good, and they all work as entertaining and compelling TV**. How long they can keep it up is another story, but right now it is all good, and I can't wait for more of all of it.





* and I am talking adult. Cussing, shagging, nudity, it's got it all.

** including the kid's show, which is not available in the US except for YouTube videos that are sadly no longer available. How they get away with having 2 shows for families and 1 totally for adults all in the same overall melieu and written by many of the same writers is beyond me, but it seems to work, and that's all I need to know.

A Higher Level of TV

The first season (or series as they say in the UK) of Torchwood just wrapped up on BBCAmerica and all I can say is: GODDAMN! Like a lot of what's on BBCAmerica and the BBC mothership Torchwood came across like it's from a higher plan of existence; it's clearly derived from some of our finest American TV shows of the last 10 years (NYPD Blue, The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and worse a spin-off (of Doctor Who) but it utterly transcended it's derivitives and mother show to be something amazingly substantial and occasionally profound. It could be alternately fun and sexy and then dark and existential... all within one episode, and after it's initial 13 episode run you really feel like you've been on a satisfying journey into some of the more intersting dark places of human existence that left me wanting more. Which is good because the second season (series) of Torchwood starts in January and even better for you folks because you get to catch up on Torchwood with 2 reruns a week starting next Saturday, so get those Tivo's and VCR's ready. You will not be disappointed. There really isn't anything on TV like it.

The Least They Could Do

I don't who decided to sell tickets for the Ice Bowl Game online in blocks of 50 and thus screwed myself and many deserving Sabres fans out of face priced tickets to the game ($150 tickets for the nosebleeds? Fuck that! Those are Stanley Cup Final ticket prices!), but somebody did and I will hold a grudge against them in perpetuity. That doesn't mean that I won't enjoy the game however, and the Sabres have a great idea:

Fans will be able to watch the game (at the HSBC obviously) on the new HD
video scoreboard, while listening to the synched-up radio coverage of Sabres
broadcasters Rick Jeanneret and Harry Neale (fucking right!). The arena will
operate just like a regular home game, including game presentation elements and
Sabretooth. All arena concessions will be open throughout the game, as will the
Sabres Store. The unique game-day atmosphere will also include games for the
kids, and a Sabres Autographed Puck Surprise.

Tickets are $5, it's all for charity, and you get a Sabres alumi game for a warm-up. It's all bloody brilliant if you ask me.

ROB RAY BEATS FAN!

You gotta love Robbie Ray and this blast from the past.

Sunday Tea Leaf Readings

1) Just how doomed are the Republicans next year? So doomed that their top strategist has been reduced to hilariously half assed historical revisionism... so hilariously half assed that it crashed and burned on the FOX NEWS CHANNEL. Trying to pin the Iraq War (or as I call it, Bush's War) on Congressional Democrats? Jesus H. Christmas Karl, that's just sad, and profoundly desperate considering we're 11 months from Election Day. I'm just glad that somebody's watching Fox News so I don't have to.

2) While we're on the subject of the Iraq War as a political albatross you gotta check out Frank Rich's latest column, which takes a wry look at the seemingly obvious storylines being ignored by the political press and true believers alike...

Now that the Beltway establishment, jolted by the Iowa polls, is
frantically revising its premature blueprints for a Clinton coronation and
declaring, as Time’s inevitable cliché would have it, that Mr. Obama has “found his voice,” it’s worth looking at some campaign story lines that have been ignored so far. They tell us more than the hyped scenarios that have fallen apart. Indeed, they flip
the standard narrative of Campaign 2008 on its head: Were Mr. Obama to best Mrs. Clinton for the Democratic nomination, he may prove harder for the Republicans
to rally against and defeat than the all-powerful, battle-tested Clinton
machine.

The unspoken truth is that the Clinton machine is not being
battle-tested at all by the Democratic primary process. When Mrs.
Clinton accused John Edwards of “throwing mud” and “personally” attacking
her in a sharp policy exchange in one debate, the press didn’t challenge the
absurd hyperbole of her claim. In reality, neither Mr. Edwards nor any other
Democratic competitor will ever hit her with the real, personal mud being
stockpiled by the right. But if she’s getting a bye now, she will not from the
Republican standard-bearer, whoever he may be. Clinton-bashing is the last
shared article of faith (and last area of indisputable G.O.P. competence) that
could yet unite the fractured and dispirited conservative electorate.

Personally I've found it rather entertaining watching the media trying to shape the story (Hillary is unbeatable, Guiliani is a credible candidate, Thompson is Reaganeasque) independent of the numerous realities on the ground (that Hillary is utterly unelectable, Guiliani will be dragged down by his collection of closeted skeletons, Thompson is as Reaganesque as I am) with the exception of Frank, who seems to grasp the storylines even better than I do (ya see it's our abiding awareness and fascination with the popular culture that gives us an edge in this crucial area*...).


* Crucial because it's ALL about the story, a fact the Republicans have known this for some time.

In Hockeytown USA We Don't Like Anybody

You know you live in Hockeytown USA when pretty much every game is an occasion for getting together and last night was no exception, with my favorite part (in addition to the game itself and the beer) being a Socratic run thru of the NHL during the 1st intermission that ended with a decision that outside of Tampa Bay (John Torterella, Dopey Dave Andrychuck) and Calgary (strangely enough no beefs with them) we don't like anybody. It's the Sabres baby and nobody else.

We also agreed that it is rank heresy to be born and bred in WNY and root for the Boston Bruins and Miami Dolphins. Actually it's rank heresy to root for anybody other than your hometown teams, but it's exceptionally foul to root for those teams. And to be able to buy a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey at the Dick's at the Galleria Mall.

Like I said, in Hockeytown USA we don't like ANYBODY but OUR team.

Special thanks to our rowdy (ie passionate) away game fans who are among the least liked in the NHL.

The Killer Instinct

It's that extra factor that pushes you to finish your job on the ice/field. A hunger that can give you the edge to win and finish off an opponent, to drown them in the tub past the point of no return.

The killer instinct.

And the Sabres haven't had it near enough this season until perhaps last night when we drubbed the Hurricans 8-1. An exceptional performance, near perfect, with many, many players on the schnide getting goals that just might build some much needed confidence (and thus off the schnide) at an important time in the season. I will definitely be stocking up on Red Bull to watch this week's West Coast Swing.

I Couldn't Resist

Sure Rudy can say "it was Halloween!" but personally I don't think they celebrate Halloween in the Red States so this will most likely be real trouble for the erstwhile REPUBLICAN presidential candidate...

Right on Schedule

Come on now people! Did you actually think Rudy, with his batallion of closeted skeletons... did you really think he was a credible candidate for President? Ay yi yi people... all you have to do is actually talk to somebody from NYC about Rudy and see them laugh and nod their heads to know that this guy was off on a halfcocked kamikaze mission, and now that we're a little over a month from the caucaus and primary season we're all gonna find out why, probably every other day judging by the last few days. And we haven't even got to the inevitable constant YouTube videos of Rudy in drag yet!

I'd almost feel sorry for the Rudyites who are starting to realize that they've been wasting their time, but then again they're saps anyways so in the end it's good for them.

Trampled Underfoot - Led Zeppelin

This clip I just posted because it's fucking brilliant. Fonky!

10 days to the Zepp reunion show....

The Hammer of the Gods

I probably posted this before (years and years ago) but hell, I just picked up the remasterd and extended CD soundtrack to The Song Remains the Same, and it's fucking mightily appropriate. Crisply remasterd with 6 unreleased cuts of Zep hard rock brilliance. A must for any rock fans XMAS list.

Fun is Alive

Ah well. Fuck it. I'm bringing this, my favorite blog, back from the dead after 13 or so months. There was no point punishing my blog for what I posted on it, and after much soul searching I've decided to get back in the saddle. Fun believe it or not is not dead after all.

Please note: there will be no mention of my working life on this blog EVER. I know that might disappoint some folks (folks for and against me; the Buffalo News), but that is life, and even I occasionally learn from my mistakes.