Maybe you’ve heard of this, maybe you haven’t. You should have, because it can only make your life better:
Really how can you not love that? Carson Daly loves it, and YouTube even had a ZonDay celebration, with every video on the front page being some version of Chocolate Rain.
TayRoll!
Enjoy the works of Tay Zonday.
Zach Cullen F.C.C. Hands Google a Partial Victory→
What this means: the creation of an open-access wireless network might spell the end for the telecom monopolies (and Google’s entry into the telecom market). I like this little bit at the bottom:
“We don’t really have anything to say about this,” said Jeffrey Nelson, a spokesman for Verizon.
Translation: We’re screwed.
Bryan Klausmeyer Republicans Missing the Boat of the Future→
The Democrats have been willing to watch videos of Internet losers asking weird questions in poorly produced videos. Meanwhile the Republicans are demanding their questions be asked by grey-haired anchormen in well-produced stage settings. Mitt Romney asserts that answering questions from a snowman would be demeaning for a presidential candidate. No one told Mitt that after Watergate, Iran-Contra, throwing up on the Japanese, Blowjobs, and Pretzel-Choking/Mission-Accomplished, there’s no dignity left in the presidency. Maybe we can elect the snowmen? (Via Wonkette.)
Mark Elliot Cullen Ronson Remixes Dylan→
Listen to the first few seconds of Mark Ronson’s take on the Dylan song “Most Likely You’ll Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine”. For me it was a song that didn’t really stand out on Blonde on Blonde, probably less to do with its merits as a song and more to do with stiff competition from all the other burning tracks on that record. Ronson’s version adds a touch of soul with that great two-note horn riff, without sounding kitsch which is probably the biggest risk you take when you remix a forty year old track. Although I don’t find harmonicas grating, give me brass over harp any day. I’m a fan of this version and will be checking out Ronson’s work in the near future. Is it enough to make me want to drop $50 on yet another Dylan compilation? Well, that’s a different question… (Via Rock Daily.)
“Shine A Light”→
Martin Scorcese’s new rockumentary, Shine A Light, is apparently going to be released on September 21 in both regular and IMAX theaters. According to IMDb, the new documentary is a “career-spanning chronicle” of the Rolling Stones, and includes footage from their “A Bigger Bang” tour. This would, I believe, make it his third rockumentary (The Last Waltz and No Direction Home being the other two).
Bancrofts Back Dow Jones Sale to Murdoch→
The acquisition of The Journal, along with the planned introduction of the Fox business news channel by the News Corporation in October, makes Mr. Murdoch the most formidable figure in business news in the country.
Yeehaw. (Thanks to Jason.)
According to some crappy British rag, the Japanese are the most inventive country in the world. I’m guessing it’s because most of their patents are for robots that do meaningless tasks, like dancing or singing or riding little robot bicycles.
Ingmar Bergman Dies at 89→
Ingmar Bergman, the “poet with the camera” who is considered one of the greatest directors in motion picture history, died today on the small island of Faro where he lived on the Baltic coast of Sweden, Astrid Soderbergh Widding, president of The Ingmar Bergman Foundation, said. Bergman was 89.
Well, there goes one of my favorite directors. (Via Daring Fireball.)
Rage Against the Machine Process Dues, Kanye Sends a Message
Posted at 3:10 AM
Since Rage Against the Machine reformed this summer, they’ve made one national headline and thrilled fans, but they’ve failed to keep their promise of finishing the Bush Administration once and for all.
On April 29, during this rap-rock band’s reunion concert at the Coachella festival, Mr. De La Rocha gave a speech accusing the Bush administration of war crimes and said, “They should be hung and tried and shot.” (Hmm. In that order?) A clip found its way to the Fox News program “Hannity & Colmes,” which was not overstocked with Rage Against the Machine fans. The on-screen headline read, “Rock grp ‘Rage Against the Machine’ says Bush admin should be shot.”
Sean Hannity seemed to suggest that the Secret Service should be alerted. Ann Coulter, a guest, got in a good quip (“Has anybody checked in with a Flock of Seagulls to see what their position is on Bush?”), then delivered a final verdict, “They’re losers, their fans are losers, and there’s a lot of violence coming from the left wing.”
On Saturday night Mr. De La Rocha responded. He attacked the “fascist” Fox News pundits for “claiming that we said that the president should be assassinated.” As the crowd shouted its approval, he continued, “No: he should be brought to trial as a war criminal and hung and shot. That’s what we said.” Despite the insistence on due process, this still isn’t a position any mainstream politician would endorse. But that’s precisely the point: At a time when unimpeachable causes and pragmatic endorsements are the norm, it’s nice to be reminded that rock stars can get political without sounding like politicians.1
Due process?
A mass of promises
Begin to rupture
Like the pockets
Of the new world kings
Whatever that means… oh well, at least they’re as entertaining as the Police. Also, the New York Times’ Coachella quote contradicts the quote from this source. Is this an attempt by the New York Times to make Hannity’s secret service claims more credible by rewriting history? “Who controls the past now, controls the future,” to quote Rage Against the Machine, or maybe Orwell, or maybe Kane from Command and Conqeur? Anyway, at least the Times writer got to make a snide comment, which brings them one step closer to the blogosphere and Web 2.0.
In any case, I was reviewing Live Earth footage the other day (did anyone actually watch it?) and I came across a great guest spot Kanye (not from Command and Conquer) West did on Message in a Bottle by the aforementioned Police. I have got to say that it is some of the worst freestyling I’ve ever heard. I quote….
I’m sending a message in bottle
I said we need a new tomorrow
We need some new leaders to follow
and we need some new leaders to follow
I’m telling you everything that I know
Al Gore *** surely has my vote
And I’m gonna tell you this cuz I should
Sting, you and Police would be good in the hood
And put your hands in the air
and we’re gonna elect John for Mayor (John Mayer)
SO THROW YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR AND WAVE EM LIKE YOU JUST DON’T CARE!2
Reggae-Punk just isn’t conducive to Hip-Hop Flows.
- This Hip-Hop Future Looks Like Yesterday, New York Times, July 30, 2007. ↩
- Kanye West Ruins Live Earth, MalanDarras.com, July 8, 2007. ↩
Abe Agonises→
I think what’s been proven is that Shinzo Abe will never be as kakkoii (!!!) as Junichiro Koizumi.
Update: Abe’s LDP got owned today.
U.S. Set to Offer Huge Arms Deal to Saudi Arabia→
$20 billion in weaponry. Brilliant.
I just saw this movie tonight, so I figured I could safely recommend it now. Herzog is one of my favorite directors, and while this film certainly has its flaws and is only mediocre relative to the Herzog cinematic pantheon, I still think it’s worth seeing and mentioning on this blog, as it’s his first big, non-documentary film since Cobra Verde nearly two decades ago. Here’s a trailer for the movie (in case you haven’t seen one yet):
Man Calls 911 To Save Him From Police→
Usually I don’t post these sorts of things, but I can’t help but think what someone like Zizek might say about it… (Via 0015.)
Today’s lecture, titled “State of exception in todays world of affairs (From Guantanamo to Auschwitz),” is about Homo sacer:
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