nothing good. nothing fresh. i promise. since January 2001

DANCER IN THE DARK

finally saw this flick last night. and it was amazing. Lars Von Trier completely made up for Breaking the Waves with this movie. Bjork was incredible in her role (who knew?!) and her songs were enchanting.
posted by Say It Loud at 10:12 AM

GERMANS SWILLING LESS BEER

did this article actually say diet coke and internet cafe in the same sentence? apparently beer consumption's down 4 gallons per person from 1970. Achtung.
posted by Say It Loud at 10:07 AM

THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT MACK

Doc laid ten big starfish out on a shelf, and he set up a line of eight glass dishes half filled with sea water. Although he was inclined to carelessness in his living arrangements his laboratory technique was immaculate. The making of the embryo series gave him pleasure. He had done it hundreds of time before, and he felt a safety in the known thing --no speculation here. He did certain things and certain other things followed. There is comfort in routine.

His old life came back to him --a plateau of contentment with small peaks of excitement but none of the jagged pain of original thinking, none of the loneliness of invention. His phonograph played softly, played the safe and certain fugues of Bach, clear as equations. As he worked, a benign feeling came over him. He liked himself again as he once had; liked himself as a person, the way he might like anyone else. The self-hatred which poisons so many people and which had been irritating him was gone for the time. The top voice of his mind sang peacefulness and order, and the raucous middle voice was gentle; it mumbled and snarled but it could not be heard. The lowest voice of all was silent, dreaming of a warm safe sea.

-- from Sweet Thursday, by John Steinbeck
posted by Say It Loud at 11:19 AM

MY COMPANY IS DRAINING AWAY

at lunch today we were brainstorming about what today's announcement would be. possibilities included AOL's purchase of us, etc. Instead it looks like more layoffs are on the horizon. Big surprise.
posted by Say It Loud at 2:26 PM

MY SECRET OBSESSION WITH REAL WORLD

realworldblows has some nice stuff about how RW-Chicago is getting heckled by denizens of the city. there's also a hilarious page on the 100 Reasons Julie (RW-New Orleans) Sucks. My favorite is #54: "For burning into my skull the scene where she first meets David in RWNO: the camera closes in on them both bobbing their heads at each other, screaming, 'Tiiiiiiight!' What foreshadowing of the horror to come! "

posted by Say It Loud at 4:51 PM

MIME AFTER MIME

shockwave video parody of cyndi lauper's time after time.
posted by Say It Loud at 2:11 PM

COOL LOGIC GAME

5 people, a lamp, a crevasse, and 30 seconds to get across.
posted by Say It Loud at 2:31 PM

WHITE STRIPED

saw the stripes last night at GAMH... it was a rockin show that far surpassed the Fillmore show a few months ago. between drinks at the Edinbergh Castle beforehand and bourbon at the show, I was dropping shot glasses on the floor and spewing bubble gum in people's hair and pasting stickers all over the White Stripes van in my drunken state. Found out via hand-distributed flyers that Grandaddy's giving a free show at the Justin Herman Plaza on Thursday 5:30p. Cool. My week is (gasp!) turning out to be socially full! Tuesday foosball matchup at 12th avenue, Wednesday tequila night at Tommy's, Thursday Grandaddy goodness prior to the Giants game, Friday kilowatt nastiness. I won't have time to watch reality tv, thank god.
posted by Say It Loud at 5:01 PM

ELMORE LEONARD ON WRITING

10 rules of writing. If it sounds like writing, rewrite it.
posted by Say It Loud at 10:29 AM

BUSH OVERSEAS BALLOT HUBBUB

nytimes conducted a 6 month investigation into Bush's pressure tactics of accepting dubious military overseas ballots and rejecting civilian ballots or those ballots from constituents of Gore-carried counties.
posted by Say It Loud at 10:17 AM

ENERGY

how much energy does it take to run your tv? fridge? alarm clock? check it out.
posted by Say It Loud at 8:02 PM

GOTH CAR

super-ultra-freaky-cool goth car.
posted by Say It Loud at 2:12 PM

MY NOTES FROM THIS MORNING'S TOTALLY UNNECESSARY MEETING

focusing on the small blue patch of sky visible in the upper corner of the window, mesmerized by the constant stream of cars headed on and off the bay bridge- speeding metal spreading in both directions & glinting in the sun. Returning to admire the blue amidst gray clouds, a realm of peace. Inside, an hour stretches into two as 30 people strain to understand the presenter's accent (Indian) and message (vague yet hurried). Every 2 weeks these meetings take place to assuage our managers' goals of team knowledge sharing or some other term for 'being on the same page.' No one in this room understands what he is trying to say. Something in my soul rises up to reject this massive waste of time.
posted by Say It Loud at 2:10 PM

AHHHHHHHHH MEXICO

green clear warm water, hot white sand, reefs full of hammerhead & other less recognizable fish, sea kayaking, sun burning, meals and drinks on the beach and lots of practice of my espanol. i can close my eyes and transport myself back to a spot i was in less than a week ago. cabo pulmo.
posted by Say It Loud at 7:27 PM