May 2005 Archives

David Lynch's Daily Weather Report

MAY 31, 2005

He is crazy, but awesome...but very crazy.

Quick Post link: http://www.davidlynch.com/dailyreport/

Posted in Quick Post at 9:12 pm.
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The Pint Lock

MAY 31, 2005

Keep your pesky roommates out (or yourself if you're dieting) of the ice cream

Quick Post link: http://store.benjerry.com/pintlock.html

Posted in Quick Post at 10:47 am.
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The Key to a Good Suspense Series

MAY 30, 2005

The final episode of Lost last week was seriously suspenseful. I thought it was a great cap to the season, but there wasn't enough resolution. After hopping on a few message boards, it seemed others were not at all happy with the finale. Most complained that none of the show's big questions were answered (what's down the hatch, what's up with those numbers, etc.), which seemed valid. Their grievances got me to think about the secret behind a suspense series -- the balance of opening and closing questions.

In regards to Lost, quite a few critics are wary about the show's ability to adequately answer the open questions. With so many big questions still up in the air, it leaves a lot of room for disappointment. More importantly, viewers will not be strung along forever. I'm happy to be a good audience member, oohing, aahing and hiding behind pillows when necessary, but if I don't find out more about the Others in the show soon, I'm gonna get bored. If I weren't lazy, I'd look at the +/- of questions that were opened and closed over the first season, but I'm willing to guess we're clearly in the positive.

Compare this show to 24, another highly successful suspense series. 24 manages to keep me on the edge of my seat every week for the last four season. Despite this, I'm able to let go for the summer even though Jack's status is less certain than ever before. As you might guess, I'm able to do this because most of the big questions this season were answered. Granted, the show is designed differently than Lost, which makes it easier to provide closure, but 24 manages their +/- differential much better.

For me, the key is opening big questions that don't require waiting until the end of the season. At the beginning of this season of 24, we were introduced to an Arab family who were the biggest focus of the show. Still, the entire family was gone before the midway point of the season. I don't think Lost does enough of that, which is why there were such high expectations for the season finale. Twenty-four hours of television is a lot and I think it's reasonable to expect some closure throughout the season.

The final factor in Lost's unfulfilling final episode was their guaranteed spot in next year's line-up. If the producers weren't sure if they'd have jobs next fall, there would have been more pressure to lower the +/-.

In the end, I'm going to give the show the benefit of the doubt. They've only finished one season and hopefully have many more to improve the balance. Of course, if I don't know what's down that hatch in the first few episodes of the next season, I ain't gonna be happy.

Posted in Music\TV\Film\Media at 3:37 pm.
2 Comments |

Linklater Gives Details on the Upcoming Fast Food Nation Project

MAY 27, 2005

Quick Post link: http://www.empireonline.co.uk/site/news/newsstory.asp?news_id=16829

Posted in Quick Post at 11:19 am.
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Wanna See the Eels With Me?

MAY 25, 2005

I'm gonna go pick up two tickets to see the Eels on June 30th at Town Hall. They're going to be touring with strings. Does anyone want to be that 2nd? Tickets will be $30.

Even if you can't make it, I would like to strongly recomend you pick up their new album, Blinking Lights and Other Revelations. E is a mad genius and this double album is pretty awesome. If you don't trust me, listen to Metacritic, who show it is the 9th best record of the year and the 82nd best since they started tracking reviews in 2000.

Posted in New York at 4:12 pm.
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An Open Letter to California Taqueria

MAY 24, 2005

Dear California Taqueria,

Your "Outrageous Burrito" used to be pretty good. It wasn't fantastic, but it filled me up and it helped me hit the $8 delivery minimum. Lately, it's been pretty crappy. About half of the mass is devoted to the tortilla and there's way too much sour cream. What's up with that?

Love,
Matty

p.s. Are you guys voting for Bo Bice?

Posted in Food at 10:05 pm.
3 Comments |

Happy Birthday, Cinema Ahh*Some!

MAY 24, 2005

Earlier this month, the film group I co-founded with my friend Jen, Cinema Ahh*Some, celebrated it's first birthday. We watched 15 films in our first year. Although I had fun at all of them, my favorite was Shaolin Soccer. We had a blast. If you head to the site, you can see everything else we saw.

We haven't taken over the world yet and we only have 4-7 people per week, but it's been a great experience. I've seen movies I wouldn't have found otherwise and made a few good friends.

If you want to join us for our second year of fun, you're more than welcome. Leave a comment here or head to the Cinema Ahh*Some about page for specific info. Also, if you have any suggestions for films, leave a comment on this post.

Posted in My Life at 5:12 pm.
1 Comment |

The Rolling Roadshow

MAY 23, 2005

A traveling movie theater showing films on the locations at which they were filmed [via Slashdot]

Quick Post link: http://www.originalalamo.com/rrs/frames.asp?b=/online_tix/sigs.asp?id=34

Posted in Quick Post at 11:46 pm.
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The Business of Insuring Movies

MAY 23, 2005

[via Gulfstream]

Quick Post link: http://slate.com/id/2119328/

Posted in Quick Post at 4:46 pm.
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Free Summerstage Concerts

MAY 18, 2005

Quick Post link: http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/index1.aspx?BD=18494

Posted in Quick Post at 8:24 pm.
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David Cross Sticks it to Pitchfork...on Pitchfork!

MAY 18, 2005

Quick Post link: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/features/artistlists/c/cross_david-05/

Posted in Quick Post at 3:00 pm.
1 Comment |

Dave Chapelle isn't Crazy

MAY 16, 2005

A Time magazine interview reveals he is in South Africa, but not in a mental institution

Quick Post link: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1061415,00.html

Posted in Quick Post at 3:31 pm.
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A Hamburger Today

MAY 16, 2005

An announcement! Over the last month, I have been helping to prepare and write for a new hamburger weblog entitled A Hamburger Today, from the makers of Slice. The weblog is lookin' pretty awesome and we already have some good reviews up there (Shake Shack, Island Burger, Blue 9). I'm happy that Adam allowed me to partake and even gave me the flashy title of Senior Editor. Hot Damn!

As a bonus, this will help excuse my lack of posting to this site. Well, AHT and another secret project that I will debut sometime in the next month or two.

What are you waiting for! Check out A Hamburger Today!

Posted in My Life, Technology\Web at 2:06 am.
1 Comment |

E! Online Reports That Arrested Development Was Picked Up for Two More Seasons

MAY 13, 2005

Thank the lord.

Quick Post link: http://www.eonline.com/Gossip/Kristin/Archive2005/050513.html

Posted in Quick Post at 6:43 pm.
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Woody Allen's Next Film, Match Point, is Apparently Really Good

MAY 13, 2005

Of course, this is coming from A.O. Scott, so take it with a grain of salt.

Quick Post link: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/movies/12cannes-scott01.html?

Posted in Quick Post at 2:21 pm.
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"Something" A photo at Positive Negative

MAY 13, 2005

Quick Post link: http://www.positive-negative.com/2005/05/13/something

Posted in Quick Post at 10:03 am.
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Speculation that Blockbuster Online Will Call it Quits

MAY 12, 2005

Quick Post link: http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=mtfh95934_2005-05-11_17-40-13_n11196309_newsml

Posted in Quick Post at 3:39 pm.
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Amazing Write-Up and Photos of 28 Course Tour at Alinea

MAY 12, 2005

The meal lasted 7.5 hours! [via kottke]

Quick Post link: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?s=8cf00bae8fd96d4fc4231d209f61734c&showtopic=66997&st=0

Posted in Quick Post at 12:03 pm.
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The Adidas Oddity

MAY 11, 2005

When a factory tests new designs, they use scrap materials to save money. This shoe was inspired by that.

Quick Post link: http://www.hypebeast.com/archives/2005/05/adidas_oddity.php

Posted in Quick Post at 4:40 pm.
4 Comments |

Next Generation Magazine is Coming Back

MAY 8, 2005

It'll only be online, but you can go to their homepage to be notified when the site goes live next month

Quick Post link: http://vgombud.blogspot.com/2005/05/exclusive-next-generation-is-coming.html

Posted in Quick Post at 5:22 pm.
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Bryant Park Movies Schedule for 2005

MAY 6, 2005

Quick Post link: http://www.bryantpark.org/calendar/film-festival.php

Posted in Quick Post at 11:32 pm.
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Good Interview with Ben Folds at Onion A.V. Club

MAY 6, 2005

It made me rethink my initial disdain for his new record

Quick Post link: http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4118

Posted in Quick Post at 11:48 am.
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A Call to NYC Sneakerfreaks

MAY 5, 2005

Is that a word? Does it matter? Anyway, does anyone want to go to Harlem with me this weekend to check out Atmos? It's a new sneaker store from Japan. Their original store is in Tokyo, and this new one looks pretty cool.

If anyone wants to go, drop a comment or an email.

Posted in My Life at 7:35 pm.
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Awesome Mockup of Portable Gamecube

MAY 5, 2005

Gimmie six!

Quick Post link: http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000463042337/

Posted in Quick Post at 11:39 am.
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A Bad Ebay Habit and a Lot of Crazy Gets You This

MAY 4, 2005

Quick Post link: http://www.randomthink.net/misc/ebay/

Posted in Quick Post at 5:46 pm.
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Stephen Colbert to Get Own Spin-Off Show

MAY 4, 2005

[via airbag]

Quick Post link: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/arts/television/04come.html?ex=1272859200&en=6c08458b36d1de64&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

Posted in Quick Post at 1:11 pm.
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Karen's (Cinecultist) Asian Film Starter-Pack

MAY 4, 2005

Five movies to get you started

Quick Post link: http://www.cinecultist.com/archives/000628.php

Posted in Quick Post at 11:49 am.
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Aesthetic Apparatus Solo Show at Foundation Gallery in Chicago from May 6-29

MAY 3, 2005

The AA boys do amazing concert posters. I'm just trying to find an excuse to go back to Chicago this month.

Quick Post link: http://www.foundation-gallery.org/

Posted in Quick Post at 10:07 pm.
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Spotlight Tips from Apple

MAY 3, 2005

There's stuff you'll want to know here

Quick Post link: http://www.apple.com/macosx/tips/spotlight.html

Posted in Quick Post at 11:12 am.
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Serious Nerdery on Friday

MAY 2, 2005

On Friday, I took part in the two mainstream nerd events in NYC. At 6pm, I waited in line for Tiger at the Apple Store. There were about 500 other geeks in line waiting to get in and the line kept growing after I entered. Although I didn't win anything from the scratch card they handed me, I did walk away with a shiny, new copy of Tiger.*

From there, I walked to a showing of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It was a ton of fun and I'll have a proper review soon.

The combination of these two made me feel like a proud nerd, even though I got a little ribbing from my girlfriend, which was probably deserved. That being said, I am not ashamed of my nerdery. I embrace it, and I suggest you embrace your inner-nerd as well. You'll thank me for it some day.

* On Saturday, I spent half of the day installing Tiger. It's pretty sweet so far. Spotlight is definitely making life better and Dashboard will awesome in a month or two, after people develop some more widgets.

Posted in My Life at 2:10 pm.
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