Archive of November 2008
Kanye West’s “808s & Heartbreak” takes autotune to the next level. It’s as if Cher sung the whole of “Believe” in the warbly voice, and then released an album with every track like that. It’s pretty cool though. But that goes without saying, since it is Kanye!
27 November 2008 - 07:09 | Tags: music, kanyewest“Mock Trial With J. Reinhold” sung by William Hung and the Hung Jury. Slightly higher quality mp4 file available.
25 November 2008 - 07:07 | Tags: tv, arresteddevelopment
Two of the most beautiful people in the world, Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt, on the posters for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I read a quote suggesting that it was apt that these actors play the characters, since they both appear to get more attractive as they get older.
25 November 2008 - 05:33 | Tags: movie, benjaminbutton, bradpitt, cateblanchettGus Rancatore, whose Toscanini’s shop in Cambridge, Mass., is renowned as much for its deep-thinking clientele as for its sundaes, discovered long ago that catering to the technology-minded crowd could have unforeseen advantages. One day, two M.I.T. students who were “working in superconductors,” Mr. Rancatore said, took a good look at his ice cream machine, visible through his shop window, and were “distressed by the poor engineering.” So they took it back to their lab and transformed its inefficient gear-drive mechanism into a lean, mean, belt-driven machine. That was 23 years ago. “We still use the machine,” Mr. Rancatore said. “Another generation of M.I.T. engineers just tuned it up this summer.”
— New York Times article on science-related tourist stops in Boston.
Rumoured Arrested Development movie still rumoured
There have been rumours for years about an Arrested Development movie. The series ended with Maeby pitching one to Ron Howard. The former cast seem to have fun suggesting it will happen. Now, according to rumours that seem more substantial than other rumours, Fox Searchlight is going to make it. I can imagine Tobias thinking: “Oh, I can just taste those meaty leading man parts in my mouth.”
If the movie happens I really hope it will do something different, even if it means box office failure. Lots of the magic of Arrested Development was the way jokes built over multiple episodes, and even sometimes started building after the punchline had been delivered (to reward multiple viewings). I can’t see how that is possible in a movie, but it would be really interesting to see someone try. Throw out all the established conventions. After all, even if it means them taking a chubby, they should suck it up.
22 November 2008 - 22:20 | Tags: arresteddevelopmentMy boss is sending me abroad to do a presentation to an international client and I have always been intrigued by all things international. The women, the pancakes, the man of mystery…
— Michael Scott - Business Trip - S05 E07
Without a doubt, my new absolute favourite moment from Gossip Girl: in the most recent episode we learned that Dorota’s ringtone is Britney’s “I’m a slave 4 U”.
[Update: NYMag.com gives the ringtone +25. Rightly so!]
19 November 2008 - 21:21 | Tags: tv, gossipgirlYou gotta spend some time, love.
You gotta spend some time with me.
I know that you’ll find love.
I will possess your heart.
— Death Cab For Cutie - “I Will Possess Your Heart” from “Narrow Stairs”. I didn’t think much of the album when I first heard it, but now I love it.
Breaking news: It’s only the Australian iTunes store that considers Beyoncé to be possessed. The top image is from the US store, the bottom is from the Australian store. I should be an investigative reporter! I bring the big stories to the people.
Coming up next: why do they both think she is able to contort her body into impossible silhouettes?
19 November 2008 - 05:48 | Tags: music, beyonceBeyoncé - If I Were A Boy - from the new album.
18 November 2008 - 23:29 | Tags: music, beyonce, musicvideo