U2 ::: These Irish in America

RollingStone.com has come out with the Top 25 Music DVDs of All Time and our boys come in last. I have to admit I'm a tad surprised Rattle and Hum even made the cut considering all the supposedly bad reviews it got from the music press. But who makes these lists anyway? I'm sure they left out a good number of great ones, too. All the same, I think this is a good way to remind Bono that the cummerbund isn't really considered a cool stage prop.

Here's what RS said:

25. U2: Rattle and Hum (Paramount Pictures)

This was the 1980s answer to Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same: The world's biggest rock stars acting out their fantasies -- except instead of knights or wizards, U2 just wanted to be Americans. They rock out with B.B. King, visit Sun Studios in Memphis and play a rooftop gig in L.A. -- Bono even commands, "Edge, play the blues!" Sure, the Irish rovers get carried away with their reverence for the Elvis-Dylan-Hendrix tradition. But they live up to it with "All I Want Is You," possibly their finest song. (Although it was used even better in Reality Bites.)

Speaking of DVDs, the POPMart DVD isn't locally available yet. Wonder when the folks at Universal will come around to getting that stuff on the shelves. Watch out, you slackers. You don't want to spark the ire of a novice marketing student who thinks and feels like Merry and Pippin up on Treebeard's branches. (Shoulders?) This is the kind of thing that inspires madness. Like a dreadful 80s power ballad that just won't die.

Personal notes:

Hey, I've a few things I'm praying for but I constantly have to remind myself that before all that, I need to give thanks. I need to touch base with who I am and which questions matter. I do get the love after all.

SHRINK RAP ::: A General Wonderingment

I was a kid you were my dad
I didn't always understand
I wanted freedom you got mad
You were concerned I got upset
I didn't recognize you yet
And did you cry I know I did
When I lied to you
I didn't want to hurt you
I just never knew I did
You never told me that you loved me
I know you didn't know how
I guess that shows we're much the same
'Cause I love you too and until now
I've never said those words out loud
I hope you're proud
To be my dad...
What are your secrets, do you pray
Is there a god that shows your way
I wish I knew...
Do you have crazy fantasies
What happens in your dreams
I want to know...
I guess you'll always be a mystery to me
But you taught me how to value life
And what else do I need
I have a dad who watches over me

Dad by K's Choice.

FLAK ::: Messing with the Yin Wei

What's the logic behind removing establishments just because you had a falling out with your predecessor? There isn't one except you feel you need to be "the man". To you I have only one word: geezer.

You have that unquenchable thirst for vindication that even the innocuous are left scratching their heads from your scatterbrain antics.

Gawd, when will it end? Three more years of the "return of the Sith"? This is insane.

In other news, the Lambda Lambda Lambda fraternity just moved in next door to the office I work in. It will be interesting to see what kind of personalities and characters will show up at their doorstep every time they throw "parties". Also, I don't know if the two resident xenophobes, Anang Anay and Bokyong Blowfish, will turn congenial even with their bayfront view. They've been like moles in the hole for quite a while now, you see, and the sunlight rarely catches their eyes. Might make things worse. It's still possible, right?

So these are my new neighbors and I hope I never bump into them any time soon. Actually, I do cross paths with them in the hall at least once every (damn) day but they don't/can't see me. Happy about that. Long live anonymity.

There's this thing I've been terribly beleaguered with for the last month. It comes and goes as it pleases...I have no control over it. It creates a form of pseudo-depression that puts me on the brink of catatonia. There are whys and hows, sure, but I take them more as nuisances.

This post does not claim to possess any sense at all but it will serve its purpose one day when I am about to die and suddenly feel the urge to edit these blog entries.

P.S. Due to the pugnacious nature of this post, the possibility of a new entry after this one has now turned quite bleak.

SHRINK RAP ::: Cap Feathers

Queen's Dr. Brian May is probably how the media will start referring to him if all go as planned later this month. In any case, I'm taking this as my splut for coming up with godawful excuses as to why I haven't a post grad. Yet. It's not a big deal, I know, but my brain (I feel) is akin to an analog mouse. It can only work on a flat, upright surface to slide on. And that is really starting to be a pebble in my shoe.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: It Says 'a Bit'

The Bottom Line

You will find it rewarding to connect with people today and give a bit of yourself.

In Detail

There is an educational component to the advice you dole out to friends today -- passing on your hard-learned information is something you take seriously, and rightfully so. Is the idea of your being a teacher so far-fetched? Not really -- in some ways, you were born to be one. You have a natural patience, a gift for compassion, and a great memory. You will find it rewarding to connect with people today and give a little bit of yourself.

U2 ::: Providence

Psalm 40 (King James Version)

1I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Spent most of the past week viewing U2 concert DVDs and could not help noticing the slow-down in Bono's laps on the ramp over the years.

REEL TALK ::: Big Enough to Wear a Toque

Most people would not be inclined to dismiss Ratatouille as a waste of terrabytes specifically because it's a Pixar movie, for Pete's sake. But I just couldn't find it in me to be excited over this one when I first saw its trailer. So it's a rat and he can cook, very big deal. I was waiting to be intrigued by its chief human character and, as I had found out, that was not the way to go.

Here's how it starts: Linguini's a f*ck-up loser who can't keep a job. He shows up at Gousteau's, a faded glory type fine dining restaurant in Paris now also involved in mass-market microwavable 'cuisine', and gets hired as the garbage boy. Remy is a country rat who, after getting separated from his colony, found himself a privileged spot at a window that looks into Gousteau's kitchen. He also happens to know a thing or two about culinary arts and while he's not the snob his father dismisses him to be, he does strive to get a better way of life even if his family prefers the status quo.

We soon realize why this Linguini kid gets fired all the time as he clumsily knocks over a stock pot full of soup while mopping the kitchen floor. Scared out of his wits, he tries to cover up his crime by filling the pot with water and dumping all sorts of spices and ingredients into it before anyone notices. Remy was watching from his window and sees the disaster. He then rushes inside to stop bumblehead Linguini, who knew nothing about the cooking, from further murdering the recipe. Linguini catches Remy's deeds and traps the rat before he could escape. Just then, the chef throws a fit at Linguini for trying to interfere with the cooking. Nonetheless, Remy saves the soup and made it an instant hit for the restaurant that day. The two become friends and Remy becomes puppet master to Linguini who becomes the toast of the F & B press for resurrecting Gousteau's.

As I said earlier, the movie didn't ignite any desire in me to see it but I did and on opening day no less. Why? Because there was nothing better to do this morning.

Seriously, go see the movie and be impressed by Pixar's attention to detail...again. The backgrounds are so incredibly realistic you'd think they filmed on location in Paris and imposed the characters on the celluloid. The dialogue holds your attention (not just because they're talking in fake Fransh azens that are harder to make out), the rat is a pretty combination of pink and blue, Peter O'Toole isn't even on screen and I'm still amazed, the story has important values, and most vital of all, you learn about cooking. Another thing I just discovered is that, aside from Peter O'Toole, the movie features some of my favorite actors: Ian Holm (Bilbo from LOTR), Brad Garrett (from Everybody Loves Raymond), Will Arnett (from Arrested Development), John Ratzenberger (from Cheers) and Janeane Garofalo.

All those things make Ratatouille a good way to spend a couple of hours in the theatre. As long as you don't find yourself sharing it with mongrels like the Beverly Hillbillies who walked in, took over an entire row behind me, and started yelling at each other from opposite ends. They were really irritating and they didn't even have any children with them!

So try to go in at the first screening when there are fewer people with plastic bags which can and will ruin the experience for you. I mean I had to move from the stadium seats down to the floor. Thankfully, the elderly couple who sat behind me this time were sweet and discreet. I mean they would laugh at things but not like how the yetti slob earlier would as he chomped and bawled at every bit of slapstick he saw. This couple would remark quietly and succinctly. Sometimes the husband would explain something to the wife but they kept it short and clear. Makes me think of how I want my later years to be like but that's another story.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: Because Franz Said So

I saw this last Friday.