The Ross Brothers, Bill and Turner, made this short film about our friend Doc and his girlfriend's experiences on the tv show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. The film follows Doc and his family in the moments leading up to the broadcast of the episode featuring him and his girlfriend.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Hey Man, Nice Shot #6
ANDREW BUSH
I find this collection of photographs by Andrew Bush called "Vector Portraits" fascinating. From 1989 to 1997 he photographed random people driving on the highways of Los Angeles and the Southwest. See the series here.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Last Friday At The Troubadour
HAYDEN
I'm not a huge singer/songwriter fan but there is something honest and dark that I really like about Hayden. He is from Toronto, Canada and even though he sells out show across his country i think he is sorely overlooked in America. I've been a fan for many years but this was my first chance to see him live. It was great. Imagine the deadpan comedian Stephen Wright singing songs that sound like Neil Young, Leonard Coen, and Sebadoh and you have Hayden.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Professional Stalkers Confronted
Paparazzi are scum and a society that demands their services scares me. I'm glad to see this video of surfers confronting paparazzi who were shooting Matthew McConaughey in Malibu this weekend. Thowing a man's camera in the ocean is a little too aggressive but then paparazzi are scum.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Hollywood Sign
Last night Shuf called me and told me I should come over because the Hollywood sign was lit up and they have a great view from their balcony. I've never seen it lit up before in the 5 years I have lived here. I guess they stopped lighting it some years ago. Seems like it should be lit up every night but it isn't. Maybe it was lit up last night for a movie production. Anyway, here is a pic I took.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
22 Years Ago Today
LEN BIAS DIES
I remember where I was when I first heard over the radio that Len Bias had died. I was riding with my dad in his Subaru turning onto Arendell St from 35th St in my hometown. I was completely shocked. The news still rings in my head as one of those moments in my life that you will always remember where you were when you heard.
Len Bias had just been drafted by the Boston Celtics after becoming a dominate force in the NCAA as a forward for the Maryland Terrapins. During his college career Bias was considered one of the most dynamic players in the nation. In fact, Bias was rated by some draft publications as the most complete forward ever to come out of college. Bias was compared by some with Michael Jordan, even though Jordan himself was only in his second professional season at the time Bias was drafted.
Bias returned to Maryland after the draft and celebrated at an off campus party. He took a dose of cocaine, which some say was his first time, and went into convulsions and died of a heart attack.
Len Bias was drafted right after the Celtics won the NBA Championship which would be their last one for 22 years until they won it again earlier this week. He was to be the new generation as the Larry Bird era was winding down. Had Bias played a full career with the Celtics then maybe Boston wouldn't have had to wait so long for a Championship.
One positive thing that came from his death is the message of the dangers of drugs. If cocaine can kill the mighty Len Bias then it can kill me. It is a philosophy I have followed since that day in the car with my dad.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Amazing Animated Graffiti
I came across this amazing video on Matt and Suzie's Avocado Photo blog and I had to share it with you.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Music Video #3
RADIOHEAD - All I Need
Another fan video of a Radiohead song using clips from the movie "Microcosmos".
Monday, June 16, 2008
John McCain is older than 91% of Americans
...and many other things that are listed on this blog that Justin Canada told me about last night.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Hey Man, Nice Shot #5
MIKE STIMPSON
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Music Video #2
ARCADE FIRE - My Body Is A Cage
This is an awesome fan made video which uses clips from the movie "Once Upon A Time In The West".
Sunday, June 8, 2008
500Kin365.org
My friend Lauren Fernandes started 500Kin365.org to help raise money for her friend Katie Reider who has a rare tumor. Katie was a promising singer/songwriter gaining popularity in the Midwest and just last year she was diagnosed with a rare tumor which has taken away her voice and her left eye. Lauren has put this website together to raise money for Katie's mounting medical expenses. Take a minute to learn her story and you can buy 9 of Katie's songs for $1. Visit the website here.
Katie before (2007) and after (2008) the tumor.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Music Video
HEALTH - "Heaven"
Health is a Los Angeles band I have grown to really like and their video uses footage from the Werner Herzog documentary "The Great Ecstasy of the Woodcarver Steiner".
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Top 10 Directors
These are the Top 10 Directors in my DVD collection by number of movies I own. (Directing only, not producing.)
1. Werner Herzog - 14
2. David Lynch - 6
3. Blake Edwards -6
4. Stanley Kubrick -5
5. Terry Gilliam - 5
6. Hal Needham - 5
7. Coen Brothers - 5
8. Quentin Tarantino - 4
9. Peter Jackson - 3
10. George Miller - 3
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Stub Stories #6
Last weekend I attended 2 great concerts, Beirut and Swervedriver.
BEIRUT
This was the second time I saw Beirut. My first time seeing them last year amazed me. I am a sucker for a band with horns and I haven't seen a finer example of the use of horns in a band since I saw James Brown. Markus Rutledge and I went to the Wiltern to see Beirut for our second time. Markus noted how the last time he saw Beirut was just before he left for Cambodia. He recently returned and this concert marked the end of that chapter in his life.
Beirut, headed by Zach Condon, was amazing again. Such a beautiful blend of European music all orchestrated by a 21 year old from New Mexico. During the show I had the thought that I hope at some point in his career that he does a very Herb Alpert style album, bringing instruments like trumpets back into commercial music which have been replaced by synthesizers and samples. I highly recommend that you listen to Beirut and see them whenever you get the chance.
Stub Stories #7
SWERVEDRIVER
Swervedriver just happens to be one of my favorite bands ever. Definitely in the top 3. Most people have never heard of them but they are huge for me. They were part of the British "shoegazer" movement of the early 90's. Learn more about them here.
In 1998 I had an art show opening at Lump Gallery in Raleigh, NC. I was showing a series of portraits. The opening just happened to be the same night as Swervedriver's show at the Cat's Cradle, 35 miles away in Chapel Hill. I had to go to the opening since I was part of the show so I did my time there and then bolted as soon as I could. Brian Simpson and I drove to Chapel Hill. We arrived at the club and we could hear that they were already playing. Made our way into the club and then a guitar strum and "Thank you, Goodnight." I was in disbelief. I had missed my favorite band. For some reason they were opening for a band called Hum. This was not right. It turned out to be Swervedriver's last tour of America and they broke up shortly after. I had seen them at least a couple times before but this turned out to be my last chance to see them and I was only able to see their last note.
Fortunately for me, many of my favorite bands from the 90's are reuniting like Polvo, My Bloody Valentine, and drumroll, Swervedriver. I bought my ticket as soon as it went on sale. Now I bought it through Ticketmaster and the ticket cost $18 but there were $14 and some change in fees. This seems to be the norm at Ticketmaster now and I would like to say FUCK YOU TICKETMASTER AND YOUR ASS RAPING FEES. The only option for the ticket was will call which isn't very convenient but I had to pay plenty of convenient charges. But enough of my ranting about those thieves.
Film School opened for Swervedriver and I found them to be a great new shoegazer style band. Tony Richter had recommended them to me so I made sure to catch them and I thought they did a great job opening.
Swervedriver came out and finally the disappointment of missing them in 1998 subsided. They are guitar heros to me. Swirling, crunchy, rich walls of sound. The audience showed much love to the band. Swervedriver could have played a couple more hours and I wouldn't have grown tired of watching them. I hope I get another chance to see them. At least I will sleep well knowing that if this was my last chance, I was there on time and saw the entire show.
Monday, June 2, 2008
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