Liz saying “Sharkfarts” on 30 Rock
Live Meatwad Christmas performance @ Criminal
Hangar steak + jalapeno mac & cheese @ PURE
LOST S1, D3 review w/ Melissa
Polenta pancakes @ Radial (BEST EVER?)
Made it out of Sand People enclave alive in KOTOR
Chicken pizza + a decent new Simpsons episode!

WEEKEND LOWLIGHTS

Working late Friday night
The Weather
Still behind on every project ever started
Had to come back to work today

NP :: The Bird and The Bee - “Diamond Dave”

Whatever the case, here’s a quick one.

Amusingly Appropriate Products I Heard Ads For While Listening To Conservative Talk Radio On XM During Drive Time:

Data backup software
Prostate care pills
Wang-enlargement pills (WITH free measuring device)
Hot flash treatment medication
Brandy! (the drink, not the fine girl)

The brandy really tickled me. That just doesn’t seem like something that needs to be advertised. You find a drink you like through word of mouth, or trial and error, and you stick with it. I guess if anyone knows their brandy, though, it’s someone who hosts a talk radio show (???).

I’m grasping at straws here, but I thought it was pretty funny. You couldn’t pick a beverage more closely associated with portly old guys smoking cigars in a secret back room if you tried!

Alright, back to the grind. Stay frosty, Internet.

2) Justin Townes Earle was opening for Dan Auerbach at the Variety, so I entered Criminal’s ticket drawing, and won! I’m a pretty vocal supporter of JTE, having seen him a couple of times in the past. He’s sort of a modern-day version of Hank Williams, I guess? Tall, skinny, country– the voice definitely sounds like Williams to me, but the vocal mannerisms that contribute to that impression are probably not accidental. Anyway, he’s a great song-storyteller, and I recommend. You should buy his EP, Yuma.

3) I’m only a casual fan of The Black Keys, and I never did get that album they made with Dangermouse, but I like their sound. Dan’s the guitarist of the duo (and the primary singer, I guess?) His band, The Fast Five, includes a member of My Morning Jacket and some Weird Beard in a Man With No Name poncho who played the bongos with two maracas in each hand (I think he might have been there mostly for show.) Distractions aside, this band sounds good together, and they know how to rock a set. I didn’t know a single song they played, but it all made the Variety rumble with pleasant frequencies. Approve! Nice use of lighting, too.

So, big thanks to Criminal Records!

Who have you seen perform lately? Were they good?

NP :: Cannibal Ox - “The F Word”

Anyway, at some point in the wee hours, I had a pretty elaborate dream. Very detailed. I seemed to be on location for a movie shoot– somewhere outdoors for much of the dream, but occaionally inside. I’m pretty sure it was one of the middle volumes of The Chronicles of Narnia, but I couldn’t tell you which one right now without a plot reminder. There were child actors running around, I think, and they all seemed to know me at least a little bit. I didn’t bother them too much though– kinda stayed out of their way.

Here’s the more interesting (to me) part– a couple of my favorite comic book creators were there, just hanging out. Yep. Brian Michael Bendis (who looks kind of like Michael Chiklis) and Mark Texiera (who looks like I don’t know what, as I’ve never seen the guy) were there for who knows what reason, and we were talkin’ comics. It was cool.

I specifically remember trying to think of what my favorite TEX book would be near the end of the dream– I guess I wanted to get something autographed before I left.

In conclusion, this is what happens when you spend all afternoon reading funny comics on the porch, and then eat dry shredded wheats and a fruit bar for supper, I guess?

How was your weekend? I went to a Mexican birthday party, and saw Big Trouble In Little China.

NP :: Silversun Pickups - “Sort Of”

Pretty big week so far– Ashley and friends visited, we ate some tasty foods, I finally got to try a Coke Freestyle machine (!), we saw U2 and Muse at the Georgia Dome, and I’ve even gotten some work done along the way. My place it a bit cleaner thanks to the threat of company, and I’ve almost got the computer situation figured out, I think.

OH, and we finally checked out The Biscuit Barn up by my mom’s place. As expected, they make some pretty tasty biscuits. Would eat again.

How goes your life, Internet?

NP :: Alice in Chains - “Got Me Wrong”

Not the greatest day ever, but I made it through.

Earlier in the week, I was expecting today to be CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION. I had a new computer on the way, you see. I’ve been scraping along on this ol’ Dell for nigh on six years now, and it’s time for an UPGRAYEDD.

I had recently asked one of my most hardware-savvy friends for system recs, and he sent me one– a suggested Dell and a pretty decent/cheap video card that would rock the games I wanted. I didn’t pay enough attention to the config before I hit PURCHASE, though, and realized too late that the card wouldn’t fit that PC. Awesome. Doubly awesome (not) because I’d shared the recommendation with a friend, and he’d ordered, too. Double-D’oh!

Well, boring story short, I found a video card that’ll work for friend, and I’m gonna just figure out an entire alternate system for myself (I refused shipment on my PC today). It’s no fun telling a friend that you guided them into a several hundred dollar mistake, though. I don’t recommend it.

Add all this stress to the fact that I didn’t get much to eat today during my 9+ hours at my desk, and ehhhh… not the best Thursday. I’ll recover, though.

- - -

Checked out Harry Shearer’s SILENT ECHO CHAMBER display at The Contemporary on the way home. Very amusing to stand and watch for 10 minutes or so. Eager to see him speak in a couple of weeks.

Well, at least I got a bit of exercise and a reasonably healthy dinner and some MUST SEE TV out of the evening.

Here’s to hopin’ to a good Friday.

Lots of time facing movie screens this weekend. Let’s see…

AVATAR Preview (16 minutes), 3D, FauxMAX - Cool, exciting, worth seeing on the big screen, I think. Will your mom care about it? No, she will not.

I Was A Teenage Werewolf - Amusing, old, all about REBELLION. “I am amused by fantasy, but I LIVE…by FACT.” Michael Landon did NOT like to be pushed around.

Inglourious Basterds - Me likey. Great, long scenes full of quality dialogue. Some action. Quite a bit of Nat-zee killin’. Pitt plays a highly amusing Tennessean. Make sure you bring your reading glasses.

Bonnie & Clyde - Still good, but not really a personal favorite. Hackman was very enthusiastic back then. Faye Dunaway was hhhhawwwttttt.

A Perfect Getaway - I only saw it because it was playing after B&C. It’s not great. Olyphant is great, but the movie, itself, is NOT great. Amusing writing at times, though. No boobies, for the record.

NP :: This American Life - “Returning to the Scene of the Crime”