Mimi Smartypants tells the World

Mimi’s is another blog I started reading years ago. Her style and format are completely unique and even though a little dated (code-wise), that too has become part of her style. Careful! You’ve been warned — if you visit the Smartypants blog, you’ll be trapped for hours. You’ll say, “just one more entry, then I’ll go to bed…” And then it’ll be 4 in the morning.

Her book is just like that. I’m currently half way through and that’s because I stayed up half the night unable to put it down. The book is candid and brilliantly humorous. She’ll make you laugh at things we shouldn’t (even if you feel guilty about it), because we’ve all commiserated about the same things and she words it such that you can’t help it. I haven’t laughed so hard while reading a book since the last David Sedaris collection.

In her blog, Mimi Smartypants has gone from single Chicago bar hopper to adoptive mother of Nora. Regardless, the wit remains. It really doesn’t matter what Mimi ruminates about — you’ll love it anyway and ask for more.

* but recall my warning.:)

My phone is better than your phone

The ol’ Razr finally died. A death that might have looked something like this. :) Anyway, on going to my online Cingular account to cash in on my insurance, I see I qualify for an upgrade. I just have to sell my soul to Cingular for another year.

After much deliberation and web hunting, I decided that the coolest of cool phones is the new AT&T Tilt 8925, otherwise known as the HTC Kaiser. read more »

Cloverfield - the Real Monster Revealed

I’ve been wanting to see Cloverfield since seeing the initial un-named trailer with the Statue of Liberty without her head. Finally this last weekend, Bryn and I went to see it while it was still on the big screen. Half the theater hated it and voiced that opinion loudly, (but half the theater was punk kids with ADD and no Ritalin.) I thought it was brilliant!

I can see how one would either love or hate this film, though. There’s not much gray area. The hand held filming style lends a certain credibility and realism to the movie, but it nearly gives you a headache and you’re constantly straining your neck to try and see what’s just off camera. So many times in my head, I was yelling, “Hold still dammit.” or “No! Effin’ A, go back to the monster!”.

Furthermore, no questions are answered. We never find out what the thing is, why it’s eating Manhattan, why you explode if bitten by the giant parasites, etc. We don’t find out if it dies in the end or even if our protagonists survive. People with mush-brains tend to hate that. They need everything spelled out and neatly buttoned up in their movies. I, for one, am the opposite. The more open ended the plot, the more your imagination can take over and create it’s own plausible scenarios. And the fact that the film didn’t provide any “experts” to tell us anything, the actual physics and back story are left up to us to ponder. Being the overly-analytical skeptic that I am, I really appreciate that.

Big warning — spoiler after the jump.
So if you haven’t seen the movie yet, do yourself a favor and wait until you do. Half the fun of the movie is that you never really get a good look at the beast. read more »

"Juno" Fulfills My Expectations and More

So I’ve finally seen Juno. Took long enough. As stated earlier, I’ve had it on my “must see” list for a while. So after ditching the NE scene, Kat and I caught the late night show down at the lagoon.

And it was as expected: delightful, witty, and cleverness galore. Everything I’d’ve wanted out of a Diablo Cody script. I especially loved all the little hometown references while we strained to recognize the various Minneapolis film locations. Reminiscent of Napolean Dynamite, Ghost World, Little Miss Sunshine, and Welcome to the Dollhouse, this film leaves us smirking at the multitude of repeatable lines. Here’re a few of my favorites:

• Juno MacGuff: [dog barking] God, Banana! Shut your freakin’ gob!
• Rollo: So what’s the prognosis, Fertile Myrtle? Minus or plus?
  Juno MacGuff: There it is. The little pink plus sign is so unholy.
  [shakes pregnancy tester]
  Rollo: That ain’t no Etch-A-Sketch. This is one doodle that can’t be un-did, Homeskillet.
• Juno MacGuff: I could like, have this baby and give it to someone who like totally needs it.
  Leah: You should look in the PennySaver.
  Juno MacGuff: They have ads for parents?
  Leah: Yeah! ‘Desperately Seeking Spawn.’
• Punk Receptionist: Would you like a free condom? They’re boysenberry.
  Juno MacGuff: No, thanks. I’m off sex right now.
  Punk Receptionist: My boyfriend wears them every time we have intercourse, it makes his junk smell like pie.
• Mac MacGuff: Next time I see that Bleeker kid I’m going to punch him in the wiener.
• Juno MacGuff: I’m just gonna go ahead an nip this thing in the bud. Cuz you know, they say pregnancy often leads to, you know…
  [brief pause]
  Juno MacGuff: …infants.

The Bitter Films Collection by Don Hertzfeldt

I recall when I saw Rejected for the first time back in 2003. It was the Rabbit who enlightened me and I immediately adored its brilliance and odd humor.

Don Hertzfeldt, (a year my junior), began scribbling the foundations for his films in high school. Now, since hitting the internet, his animated shorts have become as popular as Strongbad or other meme icons. Everyone is familiar with the lines, “My spoon is too big,” and “I am a banana.” And of course, it was out of this film, the whole idea of the crumpet was birthed.

That was 4 years ago. Now Bitter Films has released the collector’s edition set of Hertzfeldt’s work. I watched ‘em last night and it is awesome to see the films on the big screen. :) It’s brilliance all over again. And not just Rejected — the other films are just as witty and clever, not to mention the myriad of little vignettes interspersed throughout the DVD’s. There’s tons to explore as we journey into the rabbit-hole of Don’s mind. Get your set today!

And as if the films themselves weren’t enough, Hertzfeldt is quick to point out on one of the DVDs that “no computers were used in producing this film.” Each frame is stop-animation, photographed with the same camera that was used for “Charlie Brown’s Christmas”. The techniques and results are awesome. Quirky jitteryness overrides each movie and lends a unique style reminiscent of old Sesame Street shorts or early David Lynch cartoons.

Zojirushi makes happy rice and more!

I’m lovin’ my new rice maker. I eat a lot of it, so it’s more than handy to have a little machine in the corner that does all the work for me while I prepare other edibles.

The first job I gave it didn’t even involve rice — instead couscous was on the menu and I thought I’d see how it would fair with the wee pasta. While stew was brewing in the crockpot, I set up the new cooker with the following: read more »

The Real Reason the Queen Hated Snow

by Annette Marie Hyder

I’ve only met Annette via myspace a while ago, but I quickly became enamored with her word-smithing abilities. I’ve always been a fan of people skilled in writing (not being all that stellar myself) and Annette does not disappoint. Her website and blog are full of little poem tidbits that have blossomed from a mature and driven seed. Wonderful stuff.

Annette’s new book is no exception. It’s a collection of poems, stories, recipes, and other bits of goodness with a central theme of home-spun fairy tales and mythology. I especially enjoy the explanations accompanying most of the entries explaining some of the creative insight and thought behind the pieces. It’s a real look into the author’s mind and I’m pleased that she’s so open to share such intimate details with us.

The book also has a central theme focusing on feminism and the beauty that is woman in general. I like to think that we live in a modern world by now, but you’ll certainly agree that we still have a long way to go. Gender inequality and the extra struggle it entails bring out a strong voice of opinion in this collection, but not in an overpowering way. It’s subtle and secondary to the child-like charm each story and poem deliver.

I’m certainly glad to have my copy. Hurry up and buy yours today. Amazon currently only has 5 copies left while the publisher prints more.

The Wedge Co-op

I joined the Wedge today. And that makes me happy. I love the whole idea behind it. If you’re ignorant, a co-op means that one is part owner of the company. In other words, I’m now a stock holder of the Wedge grocery store. Okay — that sounds fancy and such, but in reality it really means I simply choose to pay more for my groceries and eat organically. Then, once a year in June, they send me a check of that year’s profit sharing. Last year it was ~$43.

So forget all that. What interests me is that the Wedge is certified organic. Think “year round Farmer’s Market”. If you’ve had the pleasure of having a steak from the local Farmer’s Market or bringing home a fresh basket of produce from such, you know what I’m talking about. It’s healthier, truer to a greener and more basic form of subsistence, and in some small way — better for the environment. (There’s so much less packaging and what exists is at least recyclable.) :) And it really does taste better. Try it and see sometime.

Although I sort of feel like my wallet was just raped, (I bought all the missing kitchen essentials today), I’m content in the knowledge that I again have a well stocked kitchen, that the money I paid for it goes to the small organic farmers filling the store, and back to me and the other members. Screw you — Cub Foods, Rainbow, Lunds, Byerly’s and others. Forget you — Super-Target and Super-Walmart and Sam’s Club. No more chemically enhanced, ultra-violet light grown, more paper and plastic than food wrapped items for me. I’ve always enjoyed spending an extra dollar on something knowing I’m helping to support the little man, the family business, and the independent. In a way it’s a little like a tip for the extra service entailed and it’s certainly money well spent.

And so I embrace my eco-friendly grocery world with open arms. I just don’t have the hipster glasses to go with it. (Although the tattoos and piercings help me blend in.) ;) And it goes well with my MPR membership, don’t ya think?

Bec Smith's "Blessing" -- CD Release Show

Album art by AlyssA Greening.
Photography by Amelia Clabots.

I haven’t touted a friends talents for awhile. And I have lots of talented friends. But Bec Smith shines out and has some amazing abilities. Piano, guitar, a great voice, and original songwriting creativity were drawn upon to bring us her new album, “Blessing”. Hear samples on her myspace page. She’s put a ton of sweat and tears into this one and the result shows how real effort pays off. Truly amazing, dear.

The album is officially released at tomorrow’s show at Clubhouse Jäger in the Warehouse District. Festivities start at 9pm. I’ll be there with Jen to get my album for $10, (autographed I anticipate.) :)

Bec’s good friend, Née Née, and the group The Autumn Leaves will open.

So be there and join in the fun. There’ll sure to be another goober-album on the event and you don’t wanna let people see you weren’t celebrating with us.

Black Sheep

Baaa…aaa…! Baaaaaaa!

After doing all the creature creation for “Lord of the Rings” and “King Kong” with Peter Jackson, the Weta Workshop needed something a little more serious. Good thing Jonathan King came along with Black Sheep. :) Although “Black Sheep” may not have a line as cool as Samuel L. Jackson’s in “Snakes on a Plane”, the sock-puppet and heads-on-sticks cheese factor well makes up for it. Honestly though, when the Weta folk get involved in a low-budget horror romp — why wouldn’t you want to see it?

Sock puppet or Space Herpe?

Our action starts with the little fella to the left who looks like a cross between a mutated muppet and the space herpe. After biting the hippy’s ear off, it bites another sheep and the trouble begins. Apparently, one bite transfers the evilness werewolf style and the sickness quickly spreads to the rest of the herd. Meanwhile, the hippy is busy turning into a sheep himself. Weresheep — yay! In the words of the mad scientist of the film, “It looks like we’ve finally achieved spontaneous cellular transfer.” Perfect — sounds like the “Island of Dr. Moreau” to me. (Sadly, a film not yet in my collection. read more »