Apparently, a majority of Americans does or has the following things. I have struck the ones that do not apply.

Via Caltech Girl. Go wish her a happy first blog-day.

Posted by: JohnL at 08:55 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Buckethead and his perfidious minions have hosted a "prime" nineteenth Carnival of Music.

Go check it out, and be sure to review the many fine articles linked therein.

Some favorites:

• November Musings' er, musings, about Trent Reznor's background


• The ever-reliable Bart at The Well-Tempered Blog found this interesting toy piano.


• Lynn's submission of this online mandolin collection

Be sure to check the archive page to read earlier entries in the Carnival, to submit a post, or volunteer to host. Many thanks in advance to Elisa Camahort for hosting our 20th Carnival next week.

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Instapundit highlights a nice collection of old photos, developed from film found in antique cameras. Be sure to click the pictures on the main page to access the complete collection for each.

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Did you know that dictionary editors will include fake words to help them spot competitors that copy their entries wholesale? I didn't.

This story just makes the language geek in me feel all cuddly and warm. How cool to spend your time reading a dictionary and trying to find the fake word.

What? Why are you looking at me like that?

(Via BoingBoing).

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Funny how you'll buy things you normally wouldn't as long as it's not really your own money being spent. (This is such a basic human impulse that I'm surprised anyone would be surprised by bloated government spending).

I recently got a $10 iTunes gift certificate as well as an iTunes Music Store card good for 10 songs. As the result, I purchased the William Shatner spoken word collection entitled Has Been.

I never thought I would say this about a Shat album, but, well, GET THIS ALBUM. It is produced by one of my favorite contemporary musicians, pianist Ben Folds, and features such noted guests as Joe Jackson and Aimee Mann.

In particular, check out the song "Common People." It starts off with a great retro new-wave riff straight out of the late 70s/early 80s (high bass guitar, Vox/Farfisa organ bleeping), and Shatner sets the stage with an atypically restrained reading of these lyrics:

And it just gets better from there, with a strong punk/new wave vibe, a children's choir, Joe Jackson singing, and Shatner emoting as only he can.

Check it out. You won't regret it.

Update: I should note that "Common People" was originally written and recorded in 1995 by the UK band, Pulp, on their Different Class album.

Posted by: JohnL at 10:34 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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If you have iTunes installed on your computer, go to the Music Store and look in the lower left for the category Celebrity Playlists. Be sure to click "see all" to access all 180 of the lists.

The songs themselves are fun enough to check out. But even better are the comments that the list authors add to explain why they picked the songs on their lists. (It's very bloggy).

Turns out that Penn Jillette (a libertarian comedian whom I shamefully confused with Al Franken for many years) has a playlist. Number one on his list, Sie Glauben Nicht from Alban Berg's opera Lulu, made me laugh out loud for this commentary: "Sometimes you just got to listen to really depressing, 20th Century 12 tone music. If you start thinking that rock 'n roll got far out, listen to this and shut up."

I love it.

The playlists served their purpose, as I found and bought (using a 10-free-tunes code) a few new songs from the Blue Man Group's playlist.

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Patrick Hughes relates a fantASStically funny account of his colorectal health.

Via the Velociman.

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This meme started out at Jaquandor's, and is based on SF author John Scalzi's list of the 50 science fiction movies he considers to be the most significant in film history.

I've bolded the ones I've seen, italicized the ones I would like to see (or see again, where applicable), and placed a "Q" by the ones that are in my Netflix queue.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension! (Q) (I need to see this again, as I was in a Shiner Bock-influenced state of mind the first time I saw it in college)
Akira (I plan to see this someday, just to try and figure out what so many people I respect see in anime. My exposure to anime is limited to Speed Racer, Star Blazers, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh, so maybe I need to see the really good stuff to grok this bizarre sub-genre of SF).
Alien (A classic. I own it on DVD and enjoy watching it every now and then).
Aliens (The rare example of the sequel that is as good as its predecessor - the extended DVD cut is interesting, though not as tightly wound as the original theatrical cut).
Alphaville

Back to the Future
Blade Runner
Brazil
Bride of Frankenstein (Q)
Brother From Another Planet

A Clockwork Orange
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Contact
The Damned
Destination Moon (Q)

The Day The Earth Stood Still
Delicatessen
Escape From New York
ET: The Extraterrestrial
Flash Gordon: Space Soldiers (serial)

The Fly (1985 version)
Forbidden Planet (Q)
Ghost in the Shell (Q)
Gojira/Godzilla
The Incredibles

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 version)
Jurassic Park
Mad Max 2/The Road Warrior
The Matrix
Metropolis

On the Beach
Planet of the Apes (1968 version)
Robocop
Sleeper
Solaris (1972 version)

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Q)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
The Stepford Wives (I've seen both. The original outshines the remake).
Superman

Terminator 2: Judgement Day
The Thing From Another World
Things to Come
Tron
12 Monkeys

28 Days Later
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
2001: A Space Odyssey
La Voyage Dans la Lune
War of the Worlds (1953 version)

Man, 64%. That's not even a passing grade. I need to add some more of these to my queue.

Posted by: JohnL at 08:59 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 I, quite simply, CAN NOT BELIEVE that "Silent Running" isn't on that list, nor can I fathom why the second Terminator was judged more significant than the first. The James Cameron/Gale Ann Hurd combo of the original was absolutely incredible (When they were still married), and the fact that it was Cameron's "warm up" for "Aliens" (He used virtually the same crew for both, and wanted to get them working together before they tackled "Aliens")... I am simply stunned (And yes, I'm a hopless sci-fi geekoid).

Posted by: Hucbald at October 26, 2005 12:47 AM (t/tMv)

2 I own Silent Running. I would say it is significant primarily as an influence on the later-70s SF movies, including of course Star Wars. The sets, models, and drones were the high points of the movie. It hasn't aged well for me, though and I don't really miss it on this list (probably should be in the top 100, not top 50). I totally agree with you on the absence of Terminator in favor of T2. T2 was decent, but not as groundbreaking as the original.

Posted by: JohnL at October 26, 2005 08:05 AM (YVul2)

3 Nice blog John! Beth here. This old lady would include Altered States, THX1138, Logan's Run, A Boy and His Dog, Andromeda Strain, and cheesy Charleton Heston classics like Planet of the Apes (196 , and Omega Man. Not forgetting Dark City, Gattaca, The Time Machine, and AI: Artificial Intelligence. Worst List? Waterworld, Contact, Rollerball, Saturn 3 ....

Posted by: Beth Atkins at October 26, 2005 10:16 AM (tvvC8)

4 If you want to get a taste of anime past the TV variey you mentioned, I would recommend 'Ghost in the Shell' over 'Akira'. Ghost has a more plausable story line, beautiful animation and music, and strikes me as something that could have been written by Gibson.

Posted by: T at October 26, 2005 12:47 PM (nIxUW)

5 I second the recommendation of "Ghost in the Shell" over "Akira." The latter is spectacular toward the end, but the filmmakers tried to cram too much into it and it doesn't make much sense unless you've read the manga it's based on. GitS, on the other hand, is a well-made work of art. If still interested in anime after that, check out any of Miyazaki's movies through "Spirited Away." "Nausicaa" and perhaps "Castle in the Sky" qualify as science fiction, though they're not my favorites.

Posted by: Don at October 26, 2005 03:25 PM (zT4H3)

6 Hi Beth. Who you calling old? (That would make me old by association, so stop it!) Good additions. I would note that some are already on the list, and many are in Scalzi's book - The Rough Guide to Sci Fi Movies. Check out his website (linked in my post) and read some of the comments where he addresses the perceived omissions and slights. I have to argue about some of your "worst" selections, though. Not Waterworld, but the others. I remember Saturn 3 and have fond memories of Farrah Fawcett and a cool robot, but that's about all. Contact was actually quite good until the, you know, "contact." Then it devolved into a sort of "2001-lite." I watched Rollerball recently, and quite liked the soundtrack, as well as the prescient bloodsport/reality TV angle on things. Pamela Hensley (aka Princess Ardala) also features prominently in my leniency toward that movie. Thanks for commenting. You should do it more often!

Posted by: JohnL at October 26, 2005 05:57 PM (dYzx6)

7 T and Don, Thanks for the pointers. I have modified my list accordingly and will check out Ghost first.

Posted by: JohnL at October 26, 2005 05:57 PM (dYzx6)

8 Actually, I wouldn't recommend Akira at all to a beginner in the world of anime. Miyazaki is a much better introduction, but what a lot of Americans fail to grasp is that "anime" is only slightly narrower in description than "movie." Seriously, you can find anything you want in anime, some good, some very bizarre, and some pornographic. Check out Stephen Den Beste's Chizumatic site (http://denbeste.nu/Chizumatic/) for lots of reviews and descriptions of anime. Yes, USS Clueless' Den Beste. Oh, and Delicatessan is a marvelous flick. Think Terry Gilliam-esque, but in French, with a hero who plays the saw in a post-apocalyptic world.

Posted by: B. Durbin at November 09, 2005 12:07 AM (XDml5)

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Here's a fun little blog-toy based on Technorati info:

Anybody want to buy my blog?

(Blogshares currently undervalues me, by almost $40,000! Bah!)

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For the sake of N.Z. Bear's tracking system, I oppose the Miers nomination.

I've kept mum until now on the Miers nomination. I was initially underwhelmed, and my estimation of Miers' adequacy for the job continues to decline.

It was bad enough that she took a swipe at the Federalist society as being too political (while claiming the NAACP wasn't). Her few writing samples are simply banal. I would love to get a hold of a few of Judge Posner's thank you notes. I bet they're considerably better-written than the "Way Cool!" cards authored by Harriet.

Part of me hopes this is a setup to make Janice Rogers Brown look stellar by comparison. If so, then Miers is truly a team player for the most brilliant man she has ever known. But I really doubt it. This President is simply not an intellectual, and this decision bears the hallmarks of a "gut call" as opposed to a well-reasoned selection process.

For further thoughts, consult Jeff Goldstein (just click and scroll), whose opinions on this matter largely reflect my own.

Also, check out the intellectual firepower on the board of advisors to the new Americans for Better Justice, which was formed by conservatives who support the President, but oppose the Miers nomination.

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The Carnival of Music remains in hiatus until we can find someone to host it.

Meanwhile, you may recall that I highlighted the very cool ukulele-ist Jake Shimabukuro in the second Carnival of Music.

Well, INDCent Bill has linked to a very nice video of Jake covering the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Check it out.

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Which Food Network chef are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I don't know if that fits, as I've never seen Brown. The food "celebrities" I like best are Emeril, Jacques Pepin, Michael Chiarello, and of course Rachel Ray.

Posted by: JohnL at 10:47 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Check out this article on the new Silbermann/Bach-style pipe organ recently completed in Paris.

I have played both electromechanical and tracker (i.e., analog) organs and found the action of trackers to be more immediate and satisfying than the fly-by-wire organ consoles.

Via Lynn (at her nicely redesigned and renamed blog, A Sweet, Familiar Dissonance).

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I got back into Dallas late last night after a busy, productive, highly-educational, and fun legal education conference in Washington D.C.

While on the road, my Internet access was limited-to-non-existent, so today is the first chance I've had to post a recap of Saturday's blog meet in Old Town Alexandria.

I can't really add anything to what's already been said by Steve (Buckethead), Mike, Princess Cat, Rob, Ted, or Dawn, so go read their excellent accounts of the evening. Also, big thank you's go to Lysander for making time out of his extremely busy solo law practice (I understand your posting rate, now) to visit with us and to Princess Cat's friend Matt the non-blogger for being such a good sport in meeting up with a bunch of unfamiliar bloggers.

This was the first time I had ever met people in real life who were only "virtual" friends beforehand. It's nice to see the living people match up to their online personas. And it was especially nice to make the acquaintance of two bloggers who -- until now -- hadn't been on my blogroll (Steve and Dawn).

The one thing I can add to the previous accounts is pictures, which you can see in the extended entry. Unfortunately my group shot is very blurry (the waiter had trouble operating my camera), but the others came out really well. One of the other attendees also took one, so please let me know when you post it.
more...

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On the very small chance that any of my DC-based readers do not also read the Llama Butchers or A Swift Kick and a Band Aid, the aforementioned will be meeting with Rocket Jones, The Maximum Leader, yours truly (and a couple of extras) on Saturday night, October 15, in Old Town Alexandria at the Union Street Public House at 6:00 PM.

I am traveling to Washington for an in-house lawyer education conference taking place Monday through Wednesday. Whenever one of these boondoggles education opportunities arises, I try to travel a couple of days early for some sightseeing. Having gone to law school in DC, I am familiar with all the sights and know my way around. Union Street Pub was one of my wife's and my favorite places to go with our married friends back in law school, so I'm looking forward to returning and getting to know some of my virtual friends face-to-face.

If you want to meet up with us, head on down: we are calling ourselves the "Llama party" (no kidding).

Posted by: JohnL at 09:44 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 Sounds like fun, wish I could come. Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Or maybe, don't do anything I haven't done.

Posted by: owlish at October 13, 2005 10:53 PM (bJF7u)

2 As I said over on the LLamas site, I'll be there. Maybe I can get an answer to the question I've had all year: "Howinthehell can I do this and have time to blog?!?"

Posted by: Lysander at October 14, 2005 04:30 PM (ShW/G)

3 Owlish, no worries. I'll be good. Lysander, I can't speak for Rob (who blogs on Uncle Sam's time), but you have to be ready to sacrifice a couple hours of sleep a day to blog like I do. You can tell when I'm sleeping better when the frequency of posts declines! Look forward to meeting you tomorrow!

Posted by: JohnL at October 14, 2005 10:59 PM (dYzx6)

4 Problem #1: I'm two days late checking your blog. Bad Boyd! Problem #2: The sister-in-law is coming to visit, and while that might make me want to get out even more, it wouldn't be the smartest play 'round the homestead. Have fun!

Posted by: Boyd at October 15, 2005 04:25 PM (7lQ54)

5 John, great meeting you - and thanks for being the motivating force behind a great blogmeet.

Posted by: buckethead at October 17, 2005 02:55 PM (ztNrs)

6 Buckethead, It was great meeting you, too. I'm adding you to the blogroll. Just to make sure I read you. (Same with Dawn).

Posted by: JohnL at October 17, 2005 06:11 PM (J1nCk)

7 Ted always told me how fabulous you are; I absolutely, wholeheartedly concur. Thanks for organizing the meetup, and I look forward to checking in with you frequently.

Posted by: dawn at October 17, 2005 07:27 PM (Dh1V0)

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I love the video game Halo. I still spend a couple of hours a week playing different levels at the Legendary difficulty for fun. (Truth and Reconciliation is my favorite level right now).

Halo 2 wasn't bad either. It was great for multiplayer head-to-head, though the campaign game didn't do much for me (I think they overdid the "story" at the expense of the gameplay. And don't get me started about being forced to play as a Covenant Elite).

And, in a sure indication of terminal geek-hood, I actually bought and read the three novelizations of the game. The two books by Eric Nylund were actually quite entertaining (especially since I had negative expectations for them). The Dietz book - a play-by-play retelling of the game's plot - wasn't so good.

Well, now it looks like they are going to make a movie based on Halo (to coincide with the launch of Halo 3). More interestingly, Peter Jackson (of Lord of the Rings fame, or infamy) will direct the venture use his Weta production facilities in Wellington, New Zealand where the film will also be shot. Alex Garland (not Eric Nylund) did the script, though I hope that they referred to some of the novels for backstory and plots.

I am looking forward to this. It's long past time for a movie based on a videogame to be successfully done.

(Hat tip: SFSignal).

Posted by: JohnL at 11:12 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 And after the Doom movie hits the theatres, it will still be long past time for a movie based on a videogame to be successfully done.

Posted by: owlish at October 13, 2005 09:00 AM (bJF7u)

2 Acttually there's nothing been said that Jackson will **direct**. In fact the story you link to says: "A director and cast are expected to be named in coming weeks." More than likely he'll be executive producer.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at October 13, 2005 06:30 PM (jc70B)

3 Fred, good observation. That was sloppy reading and summarizing on my part.

Posted by: JohnL at October 13, 2005 08:53 PM (dYzx6)

4 What? You didn't like "Super Mario Brothers"?

Posted by: thomas at October 16, 2005 10:40 PM (ABzpy)

5 Holy Cow, that was a bad movie. Not the alltime worst movie ever, but in the running. Double Dragon was pretty bad, too.

Posted by: owlish at October 24, 2005 12:36 AM (rzugH)

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Devin Hurd is this week's host for the Carnival of Music, now in its 18th installment.

I continue to be amazed and entertained by the breadth of musical subjects, from discussions of microtonal music to Jessica Simpson videos. Keep up the good work, people!

We don't yet have hosts for the next several weeks. I would like to point out that our last Music Carnival in October will fall on Hallowe'en. I'm certain someone would like to solicit and publish some posts about spooky music through the ages... Anyone? Anyone?

Volunteer to host or send your submissions for the next Carnival here. Use The Conservative Cat's handy online submission form here. And check out the archives here.

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America's first swept-wing multi-engine jet bomber, the Boeing B-47 Stratojet:

Rocket-assisted takeoff:

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OK, Joe tagged me with this meme several days ago. This one took some thought.

The source of the meme, Dan at Searchlight Crusade, explains his concept thus:

So what are ten eight of my political "big things"? Check them out beyond the fold...
more...

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Doh! I forgot to highlight the day -- on October 1, this blog turned two.

Here's my first post, tentatively typed into the old Blogger interface back on October 1, 2003:

So, what kind of tapestry have I woven over the past two years? Would you like to see some new threads make their way into the pattern? Let me know in email or comments.

Thank you especially to my regular readers. I hope to keep y'all coming back.

Posted by: JohnL at 09:53 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 From one "weaver" to another, congratulations, and many happy returns.

Posted by: Chan S. at October 04, 2005 10:01 AM (7kycG)

2 Happy Blogaversary!

Posted by: owlish at October 04, 2005 03:01 PM (bJF7u)

3 Congrats!

Posted by: Ted at October 04, 2005 04:22 PM (+OVgL)

4 congrats... and many more!

Posted by: Princess Cat at October 04, 2005 09:35 PM (D6/0a)

5 Many congrats - Yip! Yip! Yip!

Posted by: Robert the Llama Butcher at October 05, 2005 08:56 AM (IkTb7)

6 May you never delete!

Posted by: lemuel kolkava at October 06, 2005 09:32 AM (aOCIX)

7 Congrats! You're doing good, it's why I come around and read.

Posted by: Eric at October 10, 2005 12:22 AM (Oc3Xt)

8 Many Happy Returns on the day as Pooh Bear would say. Hehehe, that rhymes. Your tapestry is pretty cool, very varied. Ooh, with some nice aircraft and sci-fi babe cheesecake thrown in. Keep up the good work.

Posted by: Rhianna at October 11, 2005 03:04 AM (Ah21Y)

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