Monday, March 23, 2009

Regarding This Red Eye Fox News Canada Fiasco



Here we go:
0:00-0:55 : Wow this is a horrendous, terrible, disgraceful, despicable, disgusting portrayal of our army and a slap in the face to the dead soldiers. NO IT ISN'T. Our army is pathetic. We're ranked 46 on a list of largest armies. And about our lost soldiers, a lot of them died because of shitty equipment. And the guy even points out our lack of tanks, which isn't a joke, it's true. People should be more outraged at how under funded the army is.

0:55-1:05 : I'm terrified of the U.S. invading us! Remember, ranked 46? U.S. is number 2, and we have more fresh water, oil and other resources than them.

1:05-1:20 : Doug Benson, 2006's Stoner of the Year (High Times Magazine) talks. Enough said.

1:20-1:32 : He has a point. But to be fair, countries like Ireland, Denmark and Norway don't have large armies either, and those countries are in former Hitler territory, so you'd think they'd know better. Also they shouldn't be talking considering even with their big army they got hit on 9-11 and tons of illegal immigrants are pouring into their country.

1:32- God I really don't like this guy so I really don't want to watch this...
1:32-1:55 : Arrogant stereotyping of Canada. We do have normal police. Christ even mounties don't where red most of the time. Oh good a nice lady is going to be fair to us.

1:55-2:40 : Please don't defend us again lady. First off let's straighten something out, Canada isn't "taking a year off". We're withdrawing our troops which was planned and decided by our government. Something your inept governments haven't done (yes both democrats and republicans) And then you throw in this Cold War era crap. "The Front Lines with Russia" what decade are you living in? The Cold War fear mongering is worse than anything.

2:40-3:13 : I wonder why Norway's government isn't whining about this? Maybe cause they have better crap to do then watch youtube videos of late night Fox news "comedy" talk shows?

3:15-3:30 : The first part makes sense, but then he just goes on and on. Is he talking about American forces? Canadian forces? Iraq? Afghanistan? Doesn't really make sense. Mostly conservative nonsense.

3:30-3:50 : The only thing you have to worry about for Mexico is when their army will be patrolling your streets. Just noticed something, isn't strange that our army is coming home, the U.S. is beefing up theirs overseas and we (Canada, US, Mexico) can use our armies in each others countries now?

3:50-4:00 : Wow is this a joke? Siesta gets point out as a stereotype but throwing mounties and cold don't bat an eye?

4:00-End : "Evildoers"? Enough said.

Monday, March 16, 2009

The Real Problem with the Music Industry

It ain't downloading. It's quality. No ones buying albums because there's nothing to buy! They just don't make music like they used to. I will show you a clear cut example. See how many future classics you can find in 2008:

2008 #1 on charts:
Low by Flo Rida?
Love in this Club by Usher?
Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis?
Touch My Body by Mariah Carey?
Lollipop by Lil Wayne?
Coldplay, whatever
I Kissed A Girl, a song no ones gonna give a shit about in a yea...oh wait we already don't give a shit
Disturbia by Rihanna?
Whatever You Like by T.I.?
So What by Pink?
Live Your Life by T.I. Featuring Rihanna?
Womanizer by Britney Spears??
and finally Single Ladies by Beyonce?

That's the best 2008 had to offer? What a joke! Let's look at 1978:

Some Beegees, Wings, Rolling Stones, Anne Murray Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer

How about 68?:
Beatles right off the bat, Simon and Garfunkel, The Doors, The Rascals, More Beatles, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross

This year is even WORSE!

We've got Just Dance by Lady Gaga?? My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson? Crack a Bottle by Dr. Dre, Eminem and 50 Cent? Right Round by Flo Rida? Fuck me who listens to this shit!?

Lets look at 1979 then shall we?:
Bee Gees, Chic, Rod Stewart, Gloria Gaynor's "I will Survive", Doobie Brothers, Blondie, Donna Summer, My Sharona by the Knacks, Michael Jackson, Eagles, Styx and a bit more Barbra Streisand.

How about 69 then?:
Marvin Gaye's "Heard it Through the Grapevine", Sly & The Family Stone, Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar", Temptations, More Beatles, Steam, Diana Ross and fucking Elvis!

I REST MY CASE.

P.S. I should also note you would have also had guys like Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Tom Petty, CCR, George Baker Selection, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Cream, David Bowie, and many other all making ground breaking music at that time too.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Movie Review: Watchmen

I loved the Watchmen. No I've never read the comic novel and probably won't, I'm kind of lazy, I've got 5 other books I still need to read. Also I think watching the movie gave me a clean slate. I don't like dabbing into different medias with the same subject. I haven't seen the Harry Potter movies, but loved the books, for example. Where do I start?

The Watchmen is sort of like Lost, there's the now time line, and there's a bunch of flashbacks. Basically there's an alternate history where during the 1930s a few people put on masks to fight crime. This eventually became outlawed and now most of the people live in hiding.

Patrick Wilson stars as the Nite Owl, a character who misses the old days, but mostly keeps to himself. Jackie Haley plays Rorschach, an angry guy who only wants to keep justice. He's probably the most entertaining of them all. Billie Crudup plays Dr. Manhattan, a person who works for the U.S. government as both a weapons and scientist, he is the only character with true powers. Malin Akerman (A Swedish-Canadian hottie!) plays Silk Spectre, who is romantically involved with Dr. Manhattan but feels them pulling apart. Adrian Veidt is played by Matthew Goode, he is the "smartest" man in the world. Finally Jeffery Dean Morgan plays the Comedian, who dies early on.

The movie revolves around who killed the Comedian and why? While most of the group don't care, Rorschach is trying to figure it out. The movie is very stylish, in almost a noir kind of way, but not. I really don't want to explain anymore, just know that there is nudity/sex and gore/violence. Definitly see this in theatres, there's no way a T.V. screen, no matter what size, can do this movie justice. Just don't bring the kiddies.

Acting: 10/10
Story: 10/10
Atmosphere: 10/10
Overall: 10/10
Rated: 18-A (ONT) R (USA)

P.S. Try and notice the staged/false flag terror plot in the movie!

Movie Review: Traitor

Traitor stars Don Cheadle as Samir, a Islamic man who has ties to the C.I.A. His handler, or boss, is Carter played by Jeff Daniels. Guy Pearce plays an F.B.I. agent who doesn't know this and is hunting Samir.

The tension is that Samir's father was killed by a car bomb as a child and it isn't known which side he's really on. Does he help the terrorists or save lives?

Just like in the last review I did, Body of Lies, there's a false flag terror attack committed by the good guys.

To me the movie was bland, again like Body of Lies, it just didn't drum up enough excitement. I liked Jeff Daniels in it but he doesn't play a role long enough. The story just seems boring, it's a lot like the Siege but without any of the material that made the Siege so interesting.

Acting: 8/10
Story: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Overall: 7.5/10
Rated: 18-A (ONT) R (USA)

P.S. The movie was written and produced by Steve Martin, which I thought was kind of strange

Movie Review: Body of Lies

Body of Lies stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a CIA agent Roger Ferris working in the Middle East. Russel Crowe is Ferris' boss Ed Hoffman. They're hunting a terrorist who might as well be Osama, Saddam, whatever.

Roger's plan to catch him gets screwed up and Roger becomes involved with a Jordanian women in the process. There's a lot of trickery between the terrorists, Jordanian intelligence and the C.I.A.

There's a lot of play, almost manipulative on the movies part. There are scenes where Hoffman is talking on a headset to Ferris, while dropping his daughter off at school. It gave a feel like "This is what we do to protect our children".

Not only that, but there's a false flag attack by the United States, posing as terrorists and blowing up a base in Turkey!

The movie comes of kind of bland but still kind of exciting, Leonardo is great but Crowe doesn't really have much character.

Acting: 8/10
Story: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7.5/10
Overall: 7.5/10
Rated: 14-A (ONT) R (USA)

P.S. Ridley Scott does a wonderful job directing.

Movie Review: Zack and Miri Make a Porno

First let me say that this movie does have a lot of nudity and sex. Okay moving on, Zack and Miri stars Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) and Elizabeth Banks (40-Year Old Virgin and Role Models). Who play basically a common-law couple who live together but don't actually admit to liking each other, or wanting to be a couple, only friends who've known each other since elementary school.

Zack and Miri are coming upon hard times, losing their utilities and working at low paying jobs. They get inspiration at a high school reunion to make a porno film. Using money from their friend played by Craig Robinson (Daryl on The Office). They begin to reach out and make sets, gather other actors and actually make their "dream" become a reality.

Now the movie actually does have a good moral and has something to say about relationships and love. That said, the movie features Seth Rogen's Knocked Up style, down to Earth humour. He's the every-man if you will. Overall Kevin Smith does a great job on direction and the movie is quite funny. Definetly worth it if you give it a chance.

Acting: 8.5/10
Story: 8.5/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Overall: 8.5/10
Rated: 18-A (ONT) R (USA)

P.S. Go Canada for using the original movie poster, none of that U.S. B.S.

Movie Review: Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Kevin James is easily one of my favourite comedic actors. I loved King of Queens, it was hilarious. He has a certain charm that other actors in his genre don't in my opinion.

Paul Blart is a mall cop. He patrols around the mall "helping" people, but wants to be a police officer but can't due to a condition he has. He also has a crush on mall worker Amy (played by Jayma Mays, best known for Red Eye and various T.V. roles such as House and Heroes). His family consists of his daughter and mother who want him to begin dating again (his wife left him after getting married).

It's Black Friday and robbers take over the mall and Paul has to defeat them. So basically it's a spoof off of the original Die Hard movies.

The movie is pretty witty and funny. There were some twists that I actually didn't see coming so that was surprising from a movie like this.

Acting: 8/10
Story: 8.5/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Overall: 8/10
Rated: PG (ONT) PG (USA)

P.S. Jayma Mays is hot!

Movie Review: Milk

Milk is based around the life of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician. It basically goes through his life in San Francisco, his ups and downs as well as his personal relationships.

A major character in the story is Dan White, who kills Milk in real life and in the movie. Basically there are disagreements between them and White goes crazy.

In the end though the movie almost makes you sympathize with White, because at times, Milk sort of comes off as an ass. I'm not trying to justify White but that's just the vibe the movie gave me anyway.

Overall Sean Penn is amazing as Milk, Josh Brolin plays White and does a great job. James Franco of Spiderman fame also does a good job. Overall the acting is really well done. I also enjoy the atmosphere. I don't know how but both Milk and Pursuit of Happyness do a really good job of San Fran from the past.

Acting: 9/10
Story: 8.5/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Overall: 9/10
Rated: 14-A (ONT) R (USA)

P.S. This is the first biography movie I think I've reviewed, and was kind of difficult, because everything happened, so there's not much to really elaborate on.

Movie Review: Gran Torino


Gran Torino has to have been my favourite movie of 2008, although there's a lot of contenders. Clint Eastwood is astounding. He's both menacing yet heartfelt and funny. Not to mention bad ass!

The basic plot is that Eastwood is Walt Kowalski, an elderly war veteran who just lost his wife. He feels disconnected from the rest of his family, dislikes Father Janovich (played by Christopher Carley who's great), the local vicar (or priest whatever) and basically hates everyone.

This include his neighbors who are Hmong. Their son Thao (Bee Lang) and daughter Sue Vang Lor (Ahney Her) are harassed by their cousin, who basically leads a local gang. They try and recruit Thao by getting him to steal Walt's Gran Torino, Thao's a bit of a weakling but Walt intervenes. Walt then takes Thao under his wing.

Sue is great as Thao's no nonsense sister who doesn't put up with Walt's sterotyping. The atmosphere was great capturing Detroit in the rough times it's going through. The ending is very satisfying and there's a ton of great humour.

Acting: 9.5/10
Story: 9.5/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Overall: 9.5/10
Rated: 14-A (ONT) R (USA)

P.S. I definitely recommend listening to the them song for the movie "Gran Torino" by Jamie Cullum, it's below, Clint Eastwood sings for the first minute or so.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Glenn Sacks nails the War

For years now I have known that the war in Afghanistan is bs. But this blog post by Glenn Sacks nails it. We shouldn't be there.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Crazyest Most Vivid Dream Ever

So I'm on a "vacation" similar to Curacao with my whole family. This time though it's in the Petrolia/sarnia area. I can't remember most of the dream so I'll get to the vivid part. We're on a bus going down a hill. I'm looking at a bunch of storm drains gushing out water, which I remember from something in a memory I have. Then I look ahead. We're going to fast. Our tires screech on the wet pavement, it's pouring out and we slide over and into a river. The water fills the bug lightening fast. I'm at the back and get pushed out either via the door or window. I see a bunch of people out too as I watch the bus sink to the river bottom. I go back to the surface and take my memory out of the camera, my sisters are already up there. Sarah gives Jen her camera and I follow suit placing my camera on the edge by the water with the memory chip on top of it. I dive again to look for anyone needing help. At first I think I'm not going to get very deep, but my breath sort of evens out. I find my cousin Ben, I examine him first to see if he needs help, then take him to the surface. I bring him into some house and put him onto a table and blow some air on him to resesitate him. I talk to him on MSN (while he's in front of me?) and we go to see the others. My grandpa says, have you seen grandma (jokingly because my grandma is right there). Everyones around the table talking. It ends and I wake up. Very vivid, especially the bus going into the river.

To Tweet or not to Tweet? That is the question.

Recently I came across this blog entry by John Derringer, a radio show host I listen to frequently. The article is about Twitter and how it's bad. Of course recently I started my on twitter account, so I'm going to try to analyze how and why twitter is relevant.

John says that twitter is for IM (instant messaging) and networking for social groups. But I disagree, in fact I'd say it would be a terrible use of twitter.
Twitter is a combination of pretty much every big internet social development of the past 5 years (except maybe Flickr and other photo sites). You have Facebook, which really started the "What are you doing?" thing. A dab of blogs and personal sites. IM or commenting. E-Mail and finally Messenger services such as MSN or Yahoo!. I think probably the most promising use of twitter is for news, much like RSS feeds.

Self-Importance? Not really, it's more just for fun. A time filler if you will. I post crap up for no reason, like "Watching T.V." I don't think anyone gives two sh!$s about it. Sure I like it when I get a follower but it's not an obsession (Most are just selling crap anyway). Now this is kind of hypocritical of a guy who has his own radio show and is complaining about this in his BLOG. What's the difference between a blog, or vlog (youtube channel) and posting on twitter. Nothing really.

People need to be more open. And I was one of those people before, back two years ago, I detested Facebook. "What a waste of time!" I thought, and now I'm glad I have facebook. So to the haters in the comments, you'll probably have twitter in a few years. (In fact I think I felt the same way about twitter too!)

Ironically, I found the Q107, John's station, already has a twitter and I'm now following it. As Chuck Berry would say "Goes to show you never can tell".

P.S. The title was pretty clever eh?