master of doin' it

what is this, a blog that just post videos? shhhh, i know, i know. but i loves to share that vids that i enjoy. so today, here's my latest find & share:

i grew up loving a variety of music, and was blessed with an older brother with good taste in music. i got to experience in brit music, college rock, and rap all before a lot of my peers. but metal, that was all my own. and i loved metallica. had the shirts, the music, everything i could get my hands on. for a class project we had to write a letter to someone famous, i chose them. i actually got a signed photo in return, which was awesome to junior high me. as an adult, i'm not as much into metal, but throw on an old metallica album and i'm there. i've also grown in my appreciation of music, especially funk, from the 70's. seriously, i think stevie wonder's songs in the key of life may be one of the best albums ever made. while i can't say i've listened to a lot of herbie hancock beyond rockit (that video scared the shit out of me as a kid), i enjoy this mashup and what he lays down on it. i think i may need to dig into his catalog a bit.

news reporter prank

pranks for all! so, what this really reminds me of is beauty pageant contestant answers. people put on the spot will try to answer about anything. and if they really don't know, they'll adlib. some of these adlibs are kinda funny and true, but others just, well, dumb.

shake weight prank

i don't mind pranks, especially when they're not making someone else look bad, or really at their expense. so, this shake weight prank works well for me. i mean, it's obvious what everyone is thinking, and their reactions are pretty normal. 'what is this guy doing on the street?' and then to see their reactions, and frequent laughter when they see the gag, i can appreciate it.

prometheus plot holes

and now for prometheus spoilers and plot holes, provided by red letter media i still enjoyed the movie, and wouldn't mind seeing it again, but some of the holes they point out are quite interesting.

prometheus review

this is just a brief review, mainly because i don't want to spoil the movie for anyone. so,we want to see prometheus today. i'm probably blogging about it too soon, because i'm still digesting the film. what i will say is that i liked the film. i'm not sure why people think it's going to be scary, because i didn't find that to be the case at all. really, i didn't even think that it was all that suspenseful either. it's an interesting story, to me, and i like how it was told. but what's got me wondering is why david does many of his actions. his actions seem malicious at times, and this doesn't make sense to me.

nba conference championships

so, i like basketball.  i mean, i like it enough to watch it occasionally.  there are teams i follow, and i would actually say i've been a bulls fan most of my life. (yes, i started like basketball and the bulls after they got jordan, but what kid my age didn't? so shut up.)  anyway, i haven't watched much basketball this post season, especially after derrick rose went down at the beginning of the playoffs due to injury. i was glad the bulls played scrappy and hung around in their series even though i figured they couldn't win without rose (& later noah).

but this week, as the nba moved into the conference championships, and it finally got interesting. the spurs went up 2-0 only to have the thunder figure them out.  the celtics looked verrrrrrrrrry tired and went down 0-2 to the heat, and have since stormed back.  i've actually watched the fourth quarters of each game five because the games were actually interesting, close, and mattered.

so, last night i was watching the celtics put it on the heat in quarter 4, and as they finished the game i was treated to this awesomeness:



"good job! good effort!"

how awesome is that kid yelling! it cracked me up last night, and it was no surprise to me that today it had taken off as an internet meme.  it's on the sports radio (i've heard it about a dozen times on this morning's jim rome), i'm sure espn is talking about it, and sports websites are running with it.  in these internet days, who knows how long "good job! good effort!" will last, but i love it.

btw, i continue to say kudos to the nba.  unlike most leagues, they love it for you to upload clips to youtube.  most sports leagues quickly take down clips you put up and claim the content.  that stops the spread of the product. stupid. the nba realizes that people putting it out there is good, it's free advert for them, and the product grows.

grilled chz - dinner review

went last night to check out this restaurant. i really enjoy grilled cheese sandwiches at home, and thought it would be nice to see the concoctions that there were making at this spot.

my wife ordered the double cream brie sandwich that came with turkey in it.  she enjoyed the sandwich and saved half for later.  (she may have made the mistake of leaving it in the frig, in which case it'll be my lunch!)  along with that, she had the tomato bisque, which was sorta weak. i mean, we both tasted it, and i didn't taste any difference from your average tomato soup (which they also have on the menu).

i had the borderbob, which is pepperjack with chili in it on a spicy potato bread.  very good tasting, nice spice to the sandwich.  i was actually a bit taken back because i often read descriptions and they claim to be spicy and this one actually was.  along with my combo i had the mac n cheese.  it was sorta bland.

i saw fries coming out on other orders & thought i'd add on a side of fries just to try them out as well.  they were darn good.  the size of an individual fry is close to steak fries, and they were well prepared - hot & cooked to the right firmness, which is somewhere between hard & mush - they hit it right.  very little salt on them, so if you want them salty you can control that, which is nice.

overall, we liked the sandwiches and fries.  the other sides we had were lackluster.  i'd go back again. for some, it may be a bit pricey but i didn't feel it was unreasonable.

the wire: the musical!

funny or die did something to help celebrate the 10 year anniversary of one of the best shows ever, the wire.  they made a musical parody trailer

The Wire: The Musical with Michael Kenneth Williams from Michael Kenneth Williams     

i love that they got a lot of the original cast to show up in play parts.  of course, nothing would be possible without omar (michael kenneth williams aka bkbmg) starring in it.  this doesn't surprise me as he is a trained dancer & choreographer, but it's fun to see his talents showcased.

and yes, snoop's part is ridiculous, strange, but i like it.  i wonder how her legal issues are going?

since it's the 10 year anniversary of the wire, other things have been happening on the web around the show.  many of the actors are on twitter, and so they've been tweeting about the show. (i personally follow omar, bunk, bubbles. i've seen twitter for slim charles & a few others.)  there is also a massive project starting.  Peter Honig is doing a breakdown of the show, writing multiple in depth posts on each episode.  Great idea, although it seems way more to keep up with than i'm willing.

me, i've just been watching the show via hbogo while i hit the elliptical.  nothing says gritty baltimore drug deals more than me working out.  i started there, but have also been watching episodes at home. it's hard to not just burn through episode after episode like some sort of burner bought from bubble's shopping cart.

UPDATE: david simon, creator of the wire, has seen it and loves it.

tetris the movie

forget battleshit, i might actually see this* bastardizing of something i once enjoyed.



well done, people.

*i realize this isn't real, but a parody trailer for a fake movie.

robert glasper experiment smells like teen spirit

rather interesting video of smells like teen spirit.



i don't know much about jazz hip hop fusion, but i'm almost willing to try it out while i paint.

cat drug problem?

look at your cat
it's clearly on drugs.

henry rollins inspires

eff yeah, henry rollins.

stak shak lunch review

a few weeks back, i'm not exactly sure when, i saw that a couple of new places had opened up along my drive to and from work.  one, a taco stand that used to be open years ago had new life breathed into it.  the other, a strange little building that i never really noticed until the new sign went up and lights were on.  this oddly shaped place: the stak shak.

today, i had the chance to drop in on the stak shak for some lunch.  they have a decent sized menu that is centered around the idea of sandwiches, hot dogs and more.  they have both hot and cold sandwiches, a variety of dogs, and some special offers as well.  the interior of the restaurant is pleasant, and has a "home-y" feel to it.

since it was my first time, and i knew i'd be writing about the meal, i wanted to try a few things.  i also hoped they had pastrami since i love pastrami, and it's something i've had all over and can compare.  they did have pastrami, which i ordered. you can get it on a variety of breads, and i went with sourdough.  i also love hot dogs, and so i ordered the western dog as well.  they have several drink options, some bottle, some not.  i went basic and had a bottled root beer.

i ate the dog first. the western dog comes with bbq sauce, shredded cheese and onions.  i should have ordered without the onions, as they're not a favorite of mine, but i was able to knock them off fairly easy and enjoy the dog.  the bbq sauce was a sweet bbq, and worked well with the cheese & dog.  the dog itself was an average dog, but fine.  the whole thing comes with a pickle side.  i liked the dog, and my only beef with it was the price.  all the dogs cost $5.50, which is a little more than they're worth in my opinion.

after devouring my dog, i went to the pastrami.  first, it's a cold pastrami sandwich, which i figured when i saw the menu.  i prefer hot pastrami to cold, but whatever. i chose the sourdough, which was a pretty good, thicker slices of sourdough.  they use a spicy mustard that i really loved.  it's one of those mustards that has the little seed balls in it. great flavor, really worked with the sandwich.  the meat itself was decent, lunch meat style pastrami with a fine flavor.  the lettuce was shredded, and i prefer leaf.  the pastrami sandwich costs $6.

overall, i thought the place was fine. the service was nice, and rather quick in filling orders.  the restaurant was comfortable to be in, and they do have free wifi.  i thought the food was good, not great, and it seems a little pricey, but not exorbitant.  for those that are inclined, you can all or fax in orders in advance.

stak shak
1950 e. divisadero
fresno, 93701
p:559.497.5101
f:550.497.5102
m-f, 7a -3p

cabin in the woods film review

it was a combination of friends going to a movie on a saturday afternoon coupled with a heat snap that sent us to watch the new release, cabin in the woods.  going into the film, i had very little idea about it. i had seen a preview, and it sorta looked like your stock slasher film – girls that will in all likelihood get nude and then die, people being brutally tortured and then dying, and a lone survivor.  it was unlikely that i would have gone and seen the film if the previous two conditions didn’t exist.  i actually felt that the movie was a remake of a previous film as it had the feeling of a 70’s b-flick and hollywood has been remaking the crap out of films of that genre.  so, i went in with little or no expectations.

side note – if you were initially headed out to lunch, then decided to join friends for a matinee, the movie theater is a bad place to actually eat a meal.  the options are fairly limited, and because they make so much on concessions, you’re going to spend a lot to get a little.  we knew this, and still did it.  oh well.

the movie centers around five college students who become a trapped, you guessed it, in a cabin in the woods.  i’m not giving anything away by mentioning plot points here because it’s right out in the open. honestly, in the first ten minutes or so you know the whole basis of the movie, the why things are going to happen. five college students have been selected because of their personalities and their youth. they will be sacrificed as a part of a ritual to appease something or someone greater in the world.

overall, i found the film to be pretty good. it’s no masterpiece, but it’s not supposed to be citizen kane. it’s a summer horror flick.  then again, it’s much more than that. while it does have the torture elements mentioned above, it has a lot of wit about it.  there is some decent dialog, and there were points that the whole theater were laughing at what was being said or was happening on screen. these were laughs that the writers intended, not just the comedy that slasher films can be.  there were also a few good “jump” moments that this type of film needs.

few random points: 

• i was pleasantly surprised that the characters didn’t just behave in stereotypical horror fashion. when they did, it was explained. so, yes, the football guy acts like a dumb jock at points, but it makes sense, and more so than any other typical horror film.
• i loved the references to other horror films. there were a lot of little winks and nods at other movies.  well done.  at some point i was trying to list all the references but it’s just too many. not in an overwhelming way, but there is a lot of little nods.
• i can’t say it was perfectly done, but the drug references were better handled than in a lot of movies. i know it’s a strange, small complaint, but it does bug me when people in films take drugs and behave in manners that are unlike actual drug reactions. think about it, how many times have you seen someone in a movie ingest weed in some manner, and then act completely unlike any of your stoner friends. not the case here, so kudos.

the final verdict – cabin in the woods is a fun film.  with movie prices as what they are, i don’t think you have to rush out and see this on a friday night, but maybe catch a matinee. definitely see it on dvd, netflix or cable.

not good, slash

i enjoy the jimmy kimmel show.  i think he's one of the funnier guys on tv, and i think he's the best in late night tv.  one other reason why i like kimmel is that he does a pretty good job of bringing on upcoming bands, or the new, interesting acts.

i had no pretense that slash would be new or upcoming. i mean, dude helped get guns n roses off the ground 25 years ago.  he's a legend, a great musician.  so, i was intrigued to hear his new band, to hear what was driving slash these days.



yawn.

i mean, really, that was not interesting at all.  it wasn't even good.  seriously, that sounds about as good as a cover band playing at sequoia brewing on a saturday night.

wall writers

graffiti. i have a love/hate idea about graffiti. there's a part of me that really enjoys good graf art, but there's the other part of me that thinks graf is mostly garbage, and usually is just destructive to the social environment.  then again, maybe a lot of graf pops up in areas that are already blighted and so to have an explosion of color brings new life.  if you see the wavering in this first paragraph, you should know that it continues on in my mind.

so, i came across this trailer for a movie about early graffiti.  it looks pretty interesting. 

   

i like the connection to the vandals.

victory vegas clutch cables suck

grrrrrr

above my fingers you see a broken clutch cable. let me rephrase that, another broken clutch cable. i have a 2006 victory vegas. i love that bike. it's fun, i've put 20,000 + miles on it. what i don't love is that in the 5 years that i've had it, i've broken 3 clutch cables. w.t.f.? it's not like a ride the clutch or anything stupid like that. seriously, i use the clutch when shifting, and that's it. when i'm at stop lights, i sit in neutral. and yet, i have had three frickin cables brake. two have broken at the connection to the handle, and this one popped down by the transmission. this leads me to believe that their cables are crap. but what can i do? it's not like there are alternate cables i could use (there aren't). victory makes crap clutch cables. i won't even get into their cheap rear brakes they use.

kids swede movies

so, i was sorta sad to see more people doing swedes, since our fresno boys @ dumb drum have made it so spectacular and it feels like a little bit of "our thing" (i say our like i've done one) is leaving us.  then again, i think they would like more people to do them and to have fun.  (i haven't asked.)

so, here is some kids sweding the fight with the black knight from monty python's holy grail



it seems they have several more, all using kids that don't know the scene/lines/movie and are given them as they go.

brick - restaurant review

i recently read about a new place opening downtown.  remember hero's? austin's? heroes?  well, in that seeming cursed spot a new restaurant has arrived.  it's called brick.  they're no longer a sports bar, instead trying to be a classier joint, with a grand piano, a fresh menu, and suggested upscale attire.  i didn't exactly know when or if i'd head down there, but a friend mentioned on facebook that tonight the restaurant was bringing in a concert pianist, so we headed down for some dinner.

now, this review can go a lot of ways.  and, i think the restaurant could go a lot of ways.  i'll keep it nice, but i'll also try not to pull any punches.

first of all, it looks very nice in there.  they haven't done a ton to change the decor, but it does feel cleaned up, sleek, and not just another sports bar.  they've talked about having classic movies going but i didn't see if they had one going tonight.  what i did notice is that they have tv's, and tonight i saw the food network on one and cnn on another.  honestly, if i think upscale, i don't think tv's.  really, i would pull all the tv's out if it were my place.  i just don't understand why so many places put tv's in restaurants now.

to the menu - they have a decent, smallish menu.  honestly, i appreciate that they have a limited menu instead of pages and pages of crap.  on the menu are a few salads, some wraps and burgers, some pizzas a chicken dish, a steak and a few other items.  however, i wouldn't say that the menu isn't all that upscale.  seems pretty basic to me, at least in writing, but it could still be presented and taste high quality/upscale.  i'm not sure if they have any sort of appetizers.  i didn't see any on the menu, other than soup, but our waitress asked if we wanted any starters, which confused us since we didn't see any, and hadn't been told about any.  the same thing happened with dessert - the waitress asked if we would like any, to which we asked what they had.  it seems that their dessert menu varies at each service, which is fine, but it does make it a little hard to order dessert if you have no idea what they might have.

tonight, i tried out the chicken under a brick and my wife had the spicy thai salmon salad.  i really liked my chicken.  it had a great flavor and seasoning to it.  it came with green beans & potatoes which were both good, but the potatoes were a tad greasy.  my wife's salad looked pretty good, and tasted decent, but she felt it could have been a bit better.  she liked the mix of the salad greens, but some of the items used in the description (cilantro, peanuts) were more of a garnish than actual ingredients integrated into the salad.  we didn't have any wine, but it seemed like they had a decent selection.  their coffee, however, was not good tasting. it tasted like it had been on a burner for a long time.

finally, the service.  this is the third restaurant i've been to at this location, and i've yet to see any of them do a good job on the initial point of service.  you enter, and it seems like you wait and wait for anyone to welcome you or seat you or anything.  still that way, which baffles me because it seems so basic to have someone welcoming patrons, making sure that people know that yes, you will be seated.  this seems to be falling on their wait staff, who is understandably doing something else (their jobs).  our particular waitress seemed pretty nice & helpful, but she also seemed a bit scattered at times.  we didn't see her after getting our meals until we were already done.  that's not terrible, but then again, i would've liked a refill on coffee.

so, would i go back?  probably.  i really do like the idea.  i enjoyed the piano in the background.  i liked my food, and wouldn't mind trying a few other things.

do i like miley?

okay, i feel like someone should just punch me repeatedly in the head right now.  why, you ask? well, i was catching up on my episodes of jimmy kimmel from the week, and on wednesday night miley cyrus was on the show.  and i liked it.



now, she is doing a bob dylan song, which means it is infinitely better written than any of the songs she has done before.
and, she is doing it country style, which means it won't be poppy screeching or auto-tuned nonsense.

honestly, at the start of the show i heard she was doing an album of dylan songs and thought that it would have to be terrrrrrrrrrrrrrible. right now, i'm not so sure.  if the other songs are like this, it could be worth picking up. furthermore, if she were to shift her career in this direction, she could possibly be a respectable artist.

god bless america

bobcat goldthwait has a new film out that looks sorta interesting.



on a real level, the idea of just killing anyone that annoys you is a bad idea, but on a cinematic level, i see how the idea could be sort of interesting.  then again, it also sounds a little bit like how this movie turned out.

monday haiku 2/6

uninspired ads
during super bowl left me
wanting less of them

baby hawk 3 on vinyl

vinyl. i loves it. there's something about putting a record on the turntable and letting it spin.  i've talked to several local musicians about trying to get a record done on vinyl, and it seems that cost is what always keeps it from getting done.

lovable fresno favorites rademacher is trying to make it happen.  instead of asking for carwash donations, they're trying to see if their fans will give a little bit so they can press the third installment of the baby hawk ep's onto vinyl & head on down to south by southwest.  so, why not give?


here's malcolm with a better sales pitch/oddly beautiful video



did i mention you can give?

also, check out the things in the sidebar at the link that you can get for donating.  i kinda wish i had a grand so i could decide what a rademacher song would be about.  then again, i'd also be happy if they'd play their song arguments for me.

burger?

i was thinking today, i haven't had a fast food burger since the beginning of november, probably the 1st or 2nd.  basically, when i didn't eat meat in november, it killed off my going to fast food.  since then, i just haven't really felt the desire.  i've had some fast food chicken (popeye's), and i've hit robertito's for a california burrito a couple of times, but no burgers. 

well, check that, i did have a double double from in n' out.  but, they're not fast food, right?  well, at least they're good fast food.

this all comes to mind because we received some carl's jr. coupons in the mail.  as i stared at them, i contemplated if any of the burgers were worth the money.  none seemed appealing at all.  i used to really enjoy a western bacon cheeseburger.  now, not even tempting.

weird.

my drunk kitchen vegan cheese cake

it don't get much better than this



so many hilarious quotes in there.

muppets strike back

kermit & piggy respond to fox news' take on their movie from a few weeks back

monday haiku 1/30

it's superbowl week
and i have no plans made yet
who has the party?

lefty's back!

ah, man, i missed this a few days back.  my friend chris has returned to blogging.  chris, along with his wife kelly, are the main parts behind the married gamers podcast.  chris was one of the first people i knew blogging at regular intervals, and he introduced us to podcasting and helped us get going.  anyway, he stopped blogging his personal blog several years ago.  but he has returned with new content.  i'm excited.

maybe blogging is making a comeback.

tower cafe

i loved tower dogs.  it was a sad day, for me, when it closed down.  however, i was excited to hear that something would take its place, and hoped it would be good.  that place: tower cafe.  this mainly is a review of dinner last night, but first let me throw out some details from a few stop ins i had previously had.

tower cafe, like tower dog before it, is open late.  many a time i found myself hitting up tower dog for a late night meal, and am happy that tower cafe is keeping that option available.  the have a simple hot dog, and that's cool.  but, what may be the death of me is their cheesy tots.  good gawd i love their tater tots covered in cheese sauce.  this is the perfect late night, salty post pub grub. i've also had the pulled pork sandwich and it was pretty decent.

anyway, last night the wife and i met two friends at tower cafe for some dinner.  we each ordered different items, so it was cool that we could talk about the different foods.  mike ordered the hot pastrami with fries and it looked delicious.  he said it tasted very good.  from where i was sitting, i could see the cook preparing the food, and so i got to watch him toast the bread, then melt a piece of cheese on it. the pastrami also had cheese melted on, creating layers of pastrami & cheese in the sandwich.  adam ordered the cheese burger & fries.  tower cafe does hand formed burger patties, which i think is a great idea.  they're well seasoned and adam was a fan of the burger.  heather ordered their turkey sandwich.  it was shredded turkey, which i thought was an interesting idea, as i expected sliced turkey.  the sandwich had a cranberry spread on it.  she enjoyed the sandwich well enough, but she's not a big fan of dark meat and so the mix of white & dark meat wasn't her favorite.  i ate the other half of the sandwich today and thought it tasted very good, even as cold leftovers.  all three ordered the regular fries, and i had a few as well, and they were tasty.  me, i went with the spicy cheeseburger.  i'm not sure what sort of spicy spread they put on the burger, but it was great.  very flavorful and spicy, but not too hot.  combined with a pepper jack cheese it tasted great.  i had the curly fries w/cheese sauce (they were out of tots - sad face) and dug them.  they would have been good even without the cheese.

the decor of the place is simple and clean. the staff was very friendly.  the food, all prepared after ordering came up quickly.

overall, we had a good time, and enjoyed our meals.  i definitely be back, and not just for the late night cheesy tots.

you're a creep, charlie brown

i love radiohead, and have always had a love for the song creep.  i remember how mind blowing the original was when it came out, and love the acoustic version on my iron lung. when it chimes in during the social network, i appreciated the cover, done by vega choir, and how it gave it a slightly creepier feel.

artist rob yulfo put together the song with clips from charlie brown episodes for a great effect.



also, thanks to laughing squid, where i saw the video first.

downtown hofbrau

i had heard that a new restaurant had opened downtown, and that it was a hofbrau. in my mind, i had memories of the old fresno hofbrau dancing about. rich sandwiches, beers, and such. this new space isn't quite that, and that's all right.

when you come in the door, you see the menu on the wall, as well as a sign board with daily specials. it looks like a pretty good menu, with classic choices. also, i thought the prices were pretty decent. i generally try to snap photos like this discreetly. i was trying, but one of the chefs saw me and asked why i was taking pictures. i explained that i liked reviewing restaurants and photos always help, especially of the menu. it was pretty cool because they chatted me up a bit about how i'd heard about the place, and introduced me to the member of their staff handling their web presence.

i ordered the pastrami hot plate. it comes with a good amount of pastrami & two sides. i got the baked beans and the stuffing. let me tell you about the food. the pastrami - i think i've finally found a place to get a good, solid pastrami sandwich. i liked the pastrami, served here on it's on. it had a good flavor & texture, and wasn't too salty. and, it had just the right amount of fat to it. i was able to easily slice it, and enjoyed the meal. the baked beans - these were great. seriously, i was blown away by these baked beans. great flavor. not too saucy. bits of bacon mixed in here and there. i actually think that i would go back and try other menu items just because of how much i liked the beans. the stuffing - these were not the business. in fact, i thought they were pretty bad. it had a very pasty texture and the flavor was just weird. i choose to get them with the turkey gravy (they also have beef gravy) and even that couldn't save the stuffing. i rarely don't finish sides unless i'm feeling stuffed. i was getting full, but there was no way i was finishing that stuffing. overall, i had a good experience and liked most of the food. i'll go back and try more menu items and some different sides. the person in front of me ordered mashed potatoes, and they looked pretty good.

a view of the restaurant.

welcome joy

so, i moved some of my sidebar stuff around.  basically, i took out the sports blog (see previous post) and moved adam up, since he's one of the so-called regular reads that actually posts.  i also added our friend joy to the sidebar.  she's new to blogging, but i had a good time reading her stuff today. it deals mainly with her experience doing a 60 day yoga challenge, which i think is pretty cool. i also hope she keeps blogging after the 60 days is over.

so, welcome, joy!

buh bye wide world of fresno sports

so, a while back i started a blog that was intended to be a fresno-centric view of sports.  i was tired of the crappy sports blog the bee had, and wanted to try my hand at a little sports writing.  i gathered a few friends, and launched the wide world of fresno sports (fresnosports.blogspot.com) and went at it.  we did some good stuff, but mostly it wasn't anything spectacular.

as time went on, i wrote less and less, and my co-writers became essentially non-existent.  as it is, there hasn't been a new post since last august.  what, no sports have happened since then?

so, i'm pulling the plug.  it's dead, so let's bury it.  i know there won't be any tears.

red tails trailer scare

as i wound down for the evening with some tv, i happened to see the trailer for a movie that i want to see.  i knew that it was coming up, and had heard some interesting drama about making the movie.  what movie am i talking about? red tails.  i mean, the story of the tuskegee airmen is inspiring, amazing, and should be told.  it needs to be told.  so, yes, when i heard that it was being made i was excited.  it's got a pretty solid cast of veteran actors.  when i heard that lucasfilm was doing it, and fronting a lot of money because they were having trouble finding backing, i thought even cooler.  good story, continued slight against the people it's about, sounds worth seeing.

and then i saw this trailer on tv.  now, the version i found on youtube is a low budge recording someone did and posted.  i couldn't actually find the version i saw tonight on the official pages, but it's on tv nonetheless



what the eff.  that trailer had me seriously scared about the quality of this movie.  frankly, a trailer like that makes me think the film was a a big, stanky turd.  anachronistic much?  i get that you may spice up a commercial to grab an audience.  and, depending on what you're advertising during, it may even really grab your target.  here's the thing: i was watching the daily show.  yes, that is a "younger" audience,  but i'm thinking that people that watch the daily show and its satirical take on american culture may be looking for something with more substance in a movie.  maybe like this:



then again, maybe everyone watching the daily show is stoned and the flashing colors and synth beats is just what they need to get them to see a movie about a rarely spoken of piece of american history.

take my recycling, please

i put out the trash and recycling a bit early today, and saw something different.

i mean, it's very normal for us to see people going through the recycle can, especially around dusk when a lot of the streets have their cans out. i've never seen someone pull up in their car and load most of my can into their trunk. crazy. honestly, i wouldn't have noticed if their radio wasn't so damn loud. it was louder than my tv.

taxi driver swede

i've enjoyed the whole sweding deal, and especially love that fresno is actually on the cutting edge with our swede fest.  today, i saw that michel gondry had done a swede of the movie taxi driver.




love that it's in french


love the use of color


love the cheese factor.  i especially like this because some criticize swedes for this.  but that's the beauty, they are supposed to be low budget, quirky films.

my dubstep kitchen

i've blogged my enjoyment for my drunk kitchen before, and now my dubstep kitchen has been unleashed on the world.



a-freakin-mazing


and for you pop fans, show me where you're noms at.

teen mania

this is a documentary, done by msnbc, about teen mania ministry.  now, i don't have any experience with teen mania and their honor camp, but when i was doing youth work i did help promote the local acquire the fire event rallys and attended at least one of their sales pitch event for pastors, to help sell them on the atf events.  the doc is 44 minutes, so you may want to watch it in sections, or break off some time to check it out.



to be honest, as i watch this doc, it frightens me.  it frightens me that i could have possibly sent a kid to this crap.  thankfully, i didn't.  this stuff that has nothing to do with Christianity, the love of Jesus, or living out the will of God.  it also really pisses me off how easily people get hooked in.  well intentioned, good Xian people being tricked into a dangerous situation.

now, i wouldn't necessarily say the atf events are a bad thing in themselves. i think you can experience God's presence at something like this.  i also think they can be very manipulative.  and the honor academy and their boot camp mentality seems very unbiblical to me.  seriously, what is that, navy seal training? how does that help you grow closer to God?

"the honor academy is not for everyone." - ron luce.  you know what, it's not for anyone.  it is a cult situation masked in Christianity.  luce's defense disgusts me because it's not an answer.  it's a spiritualized response that masks what is going on.  it blames those being abused for not being spiritual enough, or as Christlike as they should be.  the reality is that not everyone swallows the lie, and that sort of answer avoids what needs to be addressed.

30 days without meat

today is december 4th. i have officially gone thirty days without meat (i have had eggs & cheese).  and you know what, it was surprisingly easy.  i didn't have any withdrawl symptoms or strong cravings or any other imagined things.

what did i learn during these thirty days?

• well, there are meatless options at most places.  some of them are damn good, too.  
• fast food sucks.  okay, i'm sure most of us already know that, but it really does.  not eating meat helped me avoid fast food for a month.  yes, it's convenient, but it generally is low quality crap that i don't need in my belly.
• fresh & easy has an amazing vegetarian chili.  this stuff is seriously good, and i think i like it more than any other canned chili.
• apparently, there is meat in a lot of stuff.  it's cold, so we've been having more soup lately.  when you start looking at labels, you find that a lot of stuff will have bacon thrown in.
• i want to find a local farm that is doing quality, free range cattle.  if i'm going to eat meat, beef specifically, i'd like to know that it's fed right (grain fed) and not raised in horrible conditions.  this may take some time, and cost more, but i think it's worth it. (a friend gave me a link to page river bottom farm - a sanger farm doing just this)
• it would be good to get veggies from a csa.  just like the better raised beef, it would be good to support a local farmer, and buy seasonal vegetables.  i hear good things about the farmer's daughter csa.
• i've been thinking more about cooking, and want to experiment a bit more in the kitchen.  i've found some interesting recipes, and want to get some more cookware and try out new foods.  if i'm eating, it should be an enjoyable experience. sure, there will be quick, easy meals, but i'd rather they be the exception, rather than the rule.
• i really want to try this.

i wonder what i should try to give up next for thirty days?

diego's umbrello & the quiet americans

thursday night an intriguing little show hits audie's olympic.

local favs, and up and comers (as much as an up and comer group with all road tested, successful musicians can be) the quiet americans are taking the stage @ audie's.  i dig 'em a lot, and if you haven't seen them, you should.  and buy a cassette.

they'll be joined by a band named diego's umbrella.  i haven't heard of them, but apparently they have a bit of a name to them.  and, i like their sound, which sort of reminds me of a little more electric ska el olio wolof.

check some vids from diego's umbrella






okay, i definitely like the quiet americans better, but it should be an intriguing show.

lemur thanksgiving

i love the san francisco zoo. seriously, it's my favorite zoo.

thanks

at this time of year, of course we think of what we're thankful for.  i mean, it was thanksgiving yesterday.  so, i started thinking about what i am thankful for, from trivial to actually important.

1. family - here and abroad. i'm thankful for heather and all that she has to put up on a daily basis with me as her husband.  my mom has been enduring some change in life that i don't know i would go through as gracefully.  although it's at a distance, it's great watching my brother and sister raise their kids via facebook.  and, up close we get to see heather's brother & sister in law raise their twins.  good stuff.

2. friends - again, near and afar, it's good to see you all growing and changing as a part of our lives.  some settle down, others don't, and it's all good because it allows us to be different things at different times. and, we're excited to meet an addition or two to the friend group family.

3. pub quiz - dang right. every wednesday i have a blast as a part of the team doing pub quiz. some weeks it's stressful, or we get annoyed with people, and some weeks we really bone it on a question or three, but it's still a good time.  i would have never imagined when we started that we would average 100 people a week.

4. soccer on the television - the US men's and women's teams gave us plenty of good watching in the last calendar year.  arenal gives me fits, but i love tuning in, and the galaxy had the best record this season and won the mls cup.  good stuff.  and, it was great watching all these games with friends.

5. home - as i type this, i watch leaves falling from our tree onto the lawn i raked this morning. dang it! but, others don't have this luxury.  we enjoy our place, and are actually trying to get stuff done around the house.

6. work - i choose to work a few different jobs because the one or two i would really like aren't full time options.  but i'm glad to have freedom to teach subjects i really enjoy, and to coach students.  like any teacher, i have my share of complaints, but it's generally good, and steady, work.

7. art - dang it, i am such a rare painter that i wouldn't call myself an artist right now.  but, i still have a mural looming off in the distance, and when that gets going it'll really push me to do more and to make a bigger impact.

so, there are some things that i'm thankful for off of the top of my head.  what are one or two (or more) things that you're thankful for?

movember on the news

no meat november update - first thanksgiving

so, last sunday was our first family thanksgiving of the season.  i knew thanksgiving would take place this month, but with all the foods available, it's actually not that hard to avoid the meats.  what i hadn't accounted for was random meats.

this sunday, tri tip was there, along with turkey.  now, don't get me wrong, i like turkey.  i expected turkey.  i was ready to avoid turkey.  but tri tip?  dammit.  i held strong, and avoided the meat.

what this really makes me want for the remaining thanksgiving feasts i'll attend: people to step their game up on the mashed potatoes.  really, i've had a lot of weak, mushy, watery mashed potatoes in the last few years.  doesn't seem like it would be that hard to me.  we've made them at home during the years, and haven't had much problem.

mustache 11/16

mustache coming along nicely. thanks those who have donated.  see the link on the mustache post below if you'd like to donate.

no meat november

so, i haven't eaten meat in a little over a week.  it hasn't been difficult.  i mean, it's not like i was addicted to meat or anything.

there have been a few little snags. i knew that i was eating a bunch of fast food, but i didn't quite think about how frequently, and convenient, it was.  eating is requiring a little bit more planning.

another issue is that there is meat in a lot of things that i didn't think about.  we went out for thai food the other day. i knew i'd be okay on my meal because they have tofu as an option.  we ordered an appetizer, the money bags, which are these little delicious little fried deals. i knew they had potato and peas in them, but didn't know they also had chicken in them.  damn, those were out.

for some reason, i really want tacos.  this is a little odd to me, because it's not like i eat tacos regularly.  but i really want to have some asada tacos right now.  and , it seems like i notice taquerias more.

i have discovered some nice vegetarian options. for instance, bobby salazar's has a nice veggie burrito.  i think i prefer thai food without the chicken, shrimp or beef.

mustache update week 1

here's me looking slightly handsome, with a week's worth of whimsical mustache.  also, this picture looks very orange for some reason. (i think it's because i didn't use a flash.)

as i mentioned in the movember post, i'm a part of a local team, growing mustaches and trying to raise some $ and awareness about male health issues, particularly prostate cancer.  if you'd like to donate, you can click here.  i'd appreciate any support, but now pressure.

as the mustache thickens up a bit i intend to try some goofiness.  we'll see.

movember

so, along with everything else that i'm doing this november (no meat, paint more, blog more) i've also joined a team.  a mustache growing team.

last year, i grew a novembeard.  it was handsome.  this year, i'm taking part in movember.  movember is a movement trying to bring about awareness about prostate cancer and other male cancer issues.  from their website,

"Once registered at www.movember.com, men start Movember 1st clean shaven. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember. 



The Movember Effect: Awareness & Education, Survivorship, Research
The funds raised in the US support prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and our men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Together, the three channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programs in line with our strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research."

so, if you would like to, find my profile, it's under my name, and donate. any donations help and are appreciated.   or, you can donate to anyone on my team, team fresno.

questioning westboro baptist

i am not a fan of westboro baptist cult and their weird family. i remember hearing them frequently on adam carolla's radio show, and it always bugged me that these wackjobs were given any time or opportunity to spout their crap.  generally, i'd like to just ignore them.

however, sometimes comedy happens, and it's worth checking out.  brick stone, a fake personality that interviews people,  did an interview with some westboro folks in las vegas, and it's funny enough to share.  enjoy.

swede fest 8

good times to be had this saturday

swedefest returns, and it'll likely be packed since the avengers trailer swede done by the dumb drum has blown the eff up. should be a good time, and for those of you over 21, enjoy a beer. and, there will be tacos!

the god who loves justice

take 20 minutes, if you can, and hear a sermon that i wish was being preached more frequently



preach it!

happy halloween

565 pieces of candy. gonzo.

start time: 6:07
ran out of candy time: 8:20

i'm actually surprised it made it that long.

birthday month

getting older is what it is.  in fact, i really don't mind getting older, and don't get weirded out by numbers.  this thursday, i'll be turning 36 (oops, typed 37 first).  i'm going to use this day as a starting point for a couple of things.

the first thing i decided was to try being a vegetarian for a month.  i watched a few short videos recently about the meat industry, and it did bug me a little. one of them challenged people to try to be vegan for a month. i'm not going that far, but i did think that i could try to be a vegetarian.  for me, this is about discipline.  can i eat a little healthier, and a little less conveniently?  honestly, a large portion of my diet now is because i'll have limited time at meals, especially lunch. so, i'll eat a hot dog or two, or grab some fast food.  not so good for me. hey, i'm getting older, and the lbs don't just fall off any more.  now, i'm not totally becoming a vegetarian, as i'll actually be more of a ovo-lacto vegetarian, which means i'll be eating eggs & dairy. frankly, there's no way i'm giving up cheese, and i've yet to enjoy any of the faux cheeses i've tried.

the next thing i want to commit to is painting more.  man, i used to paint most days, and my art was coming along nicely. for whatever reason, i stopped, and really haven't painted much in over a year. i need to force myself to work on paintings every day. i won't say i'm committing to every day, but i do want to at least work on something four out of seven days in each week.

i think these are two pretty good challenges. hopefully, by december 4th i'll have stuck with them, and will be able to reflect back on the experience. i'm also going to try to blog frequently about the experience over the next month.

gone, baby, gone

do you remember this mural?

well, i hope you do, or that you have some photos of it because here's what it looks like now.

maybe this adds some credence to the fresnan's story about rumors of palominos closing.

UPDATE:
couple of things to add
- my friend adam actually texted me and let me know about the mural being painted over and i ran with the story.
- the bee has been working on the story since, and has dug up a lot of great info. see here and here. i don't advise you read the comments on the bee version of the story.

i'm interested to see how this continues to unfold, and a little discouraged by the tower district marketing committee.  also, when i begin my mural downtown for creative fresno, i've got a lot better idea of what needs to be spelled out in the contract.

red state review

months back, i remember hearing about kevin smith making a new film, and it was definitely floating under the radar.  it was called red state. it wasn't getting a ton of press, although it seemed to have buzz from the film festivals. i saw smith on talk shows, and he was pretty vague about what the movie exactly was.  he was asked about the political connection to the title, and he sorta played it down, and played up how this movie was sort of a horror film.  outside of those initial press junkets, i didn't hear much about the actual movie.

flash forward a few months, and the movie has had some limited release, and i'm pretty interested to see it.  today, netflix announced that red state was now streaming and so i popped it in our instant queue.  we decided to watch it tonight.

now, i'm not going to tell you much about the movie, because it seems that smith has worked to keep it sort of a secret, and i'll respect that and not put out a lot of detail in this review.  if you want to talk specifics in the comments here, i'm game.

here's what i will say: this movie is not compelling at all.  i didn't find it that well made.  i barely even found it interesting.  i kept waiting and waiting for the movie to take me somewhere different, and it never did.  maybe i'm expecting too much of kevin smith.  for the life of me, i can't figure out why this movie is being billed as a horror film.  it's not eery, it's not frightening, the only horror is that the scenario of the film could be real.  and heather pointed out how much you ham-fistedly coming through a few characters at the end of the film.  real novice level writing there.

watch this film if you want.  just don't invite me over.

installiday

today was a good day around the house.

• installed hand towel bar
• installed towel bar
• removed shower doors
• installed shower rod
• installed shower curtain

what will i get into tomorrow?  i don't know.  i doubt i'll install anything else.

gatorade hangover

um, yeah.

tom morello, this land is your land

i've had some interesting discussions about the occupy movement, and i'm still not sure i would say that i endorse it all, mainly because i don't know what the all is.  that's alright, i do love that americans are waking up to the class struggle that exists in our nation.  i hope people see the inequality in wages, the injustices going on in our government and society, and that change happens.

today, i saw this video of tom morello, of rage against the machine fame, playing arlo guthrie's "this land is our land."  pretty damn cool.



nice use of the people's microphone

straight outta dunwoody

so, this is a pretty humorous video about living in an atlanta suburb.  i really appreciate how well they copied straight outta compton with some very similar cadence and vocal tone.



i'm going to have to check out some more vids from dormtainment

rademacher, light fm - post art hop show

 

thursday night is a return to post art hop shows.  it's not at tokyo garden, like the good old days, but it's rademacher and light fm.

light fm, well, they're just about to go on tour with the smashing pumpkins.

rademacher, they're only releasing their latest ep.

be there. be.

hidden valley ranch taste test

so, this was my favorite sketch from this last weekend.



i'm not naming names, but this totally reminds me of a local business owner in some weird way

tower dogs is closing

from facebook today, "

I would like to start off by thanking everyone who supported TDogs. I am going to sell TDogs so I can move on to doing something I've always dreamed of doing. Its not that I don't love TDogs but it just isn't what I personally want to do anymore, so if you are interested or know someone who might be please call me.This could be a great opportunity for the right person or family. I would really like it to stay Tower Dogs, but I really can't control that. Today will be the last day we're open until after the Fair, not sure after that. Again thank you all for your support I'm so grateful."

 anybody wanna loan me some $? i've always wanted a hot dog stand.

bleed into one

over the past few years i've really gotten into watching documentaries.  i currently have a handful in my netflix queue, i have 2 on my dvr right now, and enjoy finding new ones on subjects i've learned about. the internets is good for that.

well, today the internets brought me bleed into one.  it's a documentary about Xian rock.



i will patiently wait for this documentary, since it says coming soon, but doesn't give a release date.  it looks pretty damn interesting, and it has a ton of good bands in it.  seriously.  p.o.d., mxpx, sixpence none the richer, phil keaggy, the prayer chain, zao, living sacrifice, u2, switchfoot, jars of clay, 77's, and the crucified (fresno represent!).  i grew up listening to these bands, among others, and so it will definitely take me back to my youth.  i'm just sad they don't have project 86 or sometime sunday listed, because then my heart would jump out of my body.

now, i can already tell that this documentary is coming at Xian music from a perspective i agree with, so i suppose we could say it's not a documentary in the truest, objective sense, but i'm okay with that.

the jacuzzi of comedy 9/25

This is going to be my moving away party.


Its turning out a little bigger than I planned at first.
Which is dope!

The evening will be hosted by:
Nicholas Nocketback
Featuring special musical guest:
JAY SMITH.

Also performing:
Gary Lee (Visalia, Ca)
and
Brandie Posey (Los Angeles, Ca)

I believe in you, Fresno.

-Boney

P.S. I'm moving to San Diego and I already miss you.
I'm going to see if I can work more on my stand up material
in some rooms around SD in order to grow more as a comic.

 

 

here's some additional info provided by the host, nick nocketback

"This Sunday, 8:30pm, well after thar guilty pleasure-church-is over, bring your devine ass down to Starline for comedy and a late nite-style show that'd make Conan rethink careers. Your host, me."

 

"It's been a long time. I shouldn't have left you...without a bunch of weird shit to think about later. LETS GET IN THE YACUZZI. This Sunday. Hosted by Nicholas Nocketback. Featuring yours truly."

 

"Starline, Sunday, September 25th, Eight Thirty PM...A smashingly, brilliant good time. Hot liquid magma jokes poured on your face like Bisquick. Nicholas Nocketback hosts The Late Nite Jacuzzi, Starring Boney Beezly as Ashton Kutcher in Patriot Act II, This Time it's Personal." 

  

"Be the first in your office to say "I was there, and for Christ's sake, was I drunk, laughing, and high from sniffing pills."  Nocketback hosts the Late Nite Jacuzzi, starring Boney Beezly--9/25/2011 (8:30)

 

"Come witness history: Nocketback hosts the Late Nite Jacuzzi, starring Boney Beezly. Be prepared for a Late Nite Show format, comedy from taint to taint, drink deals and crushed prescription pills. Starline, Sunday, September 25th, Seacrest, Out!"

 

Rarefrom Dubstep Throwdown

Come hear some of the newest in dubstep and nu jungle. Brought to you by bassfienz crew; valley vetran djs: hd4000 (dj odeed and dj wish), dj woody and dj orange are ready to shatter windows and make you wish you brought your inhaler.

friday night
10:30pm - saturday at 2:00am
 

Veni Vidi Vici

1116 N. Fulton St.

Fresno, California

frebby's 2011

i've been thinking about the frebby's this year for a while.  i wouldn't say that i've been thinking about it since last year's show, but i would say that i've followed it this year, and even went back and looked at some of the winners from last year.

when they announced tickets being on sale, i thought about whether or not i would like to attend this year.  to be completely honest and give full disclosure, i went last year because adam, carrie and i were nominated for fresno pub quiz.  i'm not exactly sure what category it was that we were nominated in (i think it was action or connection).  i'm not exactly sure who nominated us or how many nominations we received, but i know we (adam) did one.  i don't know how it was judged, or who won our category.  what i do know is that we didn't win.  and please believe me, i'm alright with that.  of course, i would have loved to won, but that's alright, you don't always win.  and, what we do @ pub quiz that i'm so proud of is our weekly event, and how we manage to decently interact with our attendees through the net, especially facebook.

last year, the event itself was fine.  adam and i bought tickets (i wonder if oscar nominees buy tickets?) and went to the award show at the downtown club.  they had a nice appetizer spread, and the bar was serving decently priced drinks.  we mingled with people, and i actually met a few local twitter folks i hadn't met in person.  i thought the keynote presentation was decent enough, but really, i was there to find out if we won.   i would imagine that is what all the nominees wanted to know.  anyway, after the event, we hung out for a little bit more and then took off. 

like i said before, the event was fine, but it's an awards ceremony.  i 've been to plenty of those through my academic and athletic careers.  i've won some, lost some, but in general, an awards show is only so fun in my opinion.  i don't know if i've ever met someone that said they just love to go to award shows, even if it's not connected to them at all.

so, when this year's event was announced, i decided that i probably wouldn't go.  when i heard the price of admission had gone up, i was less inclined and pretty sure i wasn't going.  since none of the stuff i do on the 'net were nominated, and i didn't nominate myself for the blog, podcast or pub quiz,  it pretty much sealed it that i wasn't going.

but something interesting happened today on twitter.  roque of dumbdrum.com asked via twitter, "@frebbyawards So besides the award show, what other things should people expect on Thursday? Trying to sell some coworkers on attending."  he also tweeted about how he was going, but again, was trying to convince new people to go.

rightly so, @frebbyawards replied, "@brodiemash the main focus is the awards, of course, but there will be fun booths to browse upstairs & an afterparty at @55Fulton."

@alisa_m, who works for paprika studios (who puts on the frebby's) also replied, "@brodiemash I would also add that it's a great way to get introduced to people heavily engaged online or in the business doing cool stuff."

being me, i stuck my nose in where it probably doesn't belong and asked "no dis intended, but can anyone not connected to frebbys give @brodiemash reasons why ppl should go?"

i received two responses.  the first, was from @abelopez and i'm only assuming that it was in reply to my question, "@edwardstewart *crickets chirping* (I'm getting a lot of use out of this today)" because it was pretty much right after.

the other was from someone who has a protected account, so i won't say who it was, but here's the tweet, "@edwardstewart @brodiemash good food, good presentation, great group of the most creative folks in time." - i'm assuming town was meant there at the end.


one of the other people behind paprika studios and the frebby's, james collier (whom we've had on the podcast, speaking about paprika & the frebbys)  replied, "beautiful - thanks (name redacted)."

james also tweeted, "@brodiemash I can only speak as someone connected to the event, but several of your peers were nominated"

i dunno, that answer just doesn't do it for me.  why would a non web designer go?  i mean, i can get good and network at a lot of events.  i mean, creative fresno has blenders every month, and has a bartender challenge, featuring my anonymous twitterer as one of the bartenders, tonight.  there is flyp, putting on events.  we have art hop.  the beehive consistently puts on great events were people can come, meet up with the creative/cool folks in town, and on and on.  why would i want to go to an awards show?

let's throw some more stuff into the mix:

• the fresno internets has their "cool kids."  the top blogs, the ones that get links on other blogs, the ones that either are the new hot shit or the tried and true cool ones.  i'm not bragging, but i was in that cool kids group.   i'd like to think that i still am to some extent, but i realize my blogging has gone to crap and i rarely do it, and our podcast takes off two or more months off between episodes.  not exactly the way to stay top of the heap.  to me, and this is only my opinion, there is a bit of "the cool kids of fresno's internets are going to be there, so you should be there."  i was listening to the fresnan on a recently episode of the dirty dowdy podcast, and they mentioned the frebbys, what it was and so on.  they were nominated, and going to the show.  but, they did bring up the "inner click" of the fresno interwebs: mike oz, the fresnan, james collier, travis sheridan - and how they (dirty dowdy) were outside of it.  furthering that, let's throw out another event that fresno internets cool kids routinely mock, including myself...
• fresno magazine's best of fresno event - in no way will i defend how they pick their winners.  i have no idea how their ridiculous winners.  then again, all we know about the frebbys is that they have a panel of judges that rate each nominee on a 1-10 scale looking @ creativy + innovation, effectiveness, & expertise.  most award ceremonies are pretty subjective, and i would imagine that fresno magazine has some criteria for their awards.  but, i will defend the event itself.  the best of fresno has a ton of food samples from legitimately top restaurants in town.  they have free wine samples from local vineyards.  they had free stella artois on tap the year i went.  but, i could say from my experience that the best of fresno event is, "great food & drinks, an awards presentation, and a ton of people.  some you'd want to talk to, some you wouldn't."  honestly, i had a better time at the best of fresno awards than at the frebby's.  that isn't said to knock the frebby's.  i just had a better time.

now, the frebby's and best of fresno are award ceremonies about two different things, although the best of fresno does have a web category.  the frebbys is more specific and focused on specific web categories, and that's good - since they're a web award show.   but i'm still left at a point wondering why anyone that isn't a web designer or a nominated group would go?  and again, this isn't intended as a slight against the frebby's or any people or group.  i'm just thinking out loud here, and trying to be thorough as i work through it.  and i just don't have an answer.

what do you think?

dj woody @ veni's

we'll see if they get a digital flyer done for this bad boy, but dj woody will be spinning dubstep and more over @ veni vidi vicci's this friday night. 

cover?  who knows. time? beats me.

all i know is that we'll be over there, bouncing to the wobble wobble fuzz.

naming?

if you were going to start a blog that was going to give reviews of restaurants, what would you call it?

larry david's rules for living

i'm really enjoying curb your enthusiasm this season, and always love to see larry's somewhat annoying takes on life.  well, someone put together a little video compiling those rules.

skrillex - first of the year

i've posted dubstep songs here before (although what do i know, maybe it's just electronica or something), and i'll probably do it again after this one. i really dug this song, and the video is freaking amazing.
Skrillex - First Of the Year (Equinox) from HK Corp on Vimeo.
so, what have we learned? don't mess with demonic little girls, especially if you're a pedophile.

marc maron on his wikipedia page

i really enjoy marc maron's wtf podcast. really, if you listen to podcasts and aren't listening to his, step your game up. here's marc maron breaking down his wikipedia page with wbez.

Marc Maron fact-checks his Wikipedia File with Justin Kaufmann from WBEZ on Vimeo.