Random News Round-up

Local News: California is considering banning black cars to reduce carbon emissions. Interesting idea.

Absurd News: Residents’ associations in the UK are installing pink lighting to highlight teenagers’ acne in order drive them away from the area

Useful News: How to Fake a Clean House

Entertainment: Green Day + The Guy Who Wrote "Spring Awakening" = American Idiot the Musical. I don't have a good feeling about this.

Office News: My love for Manchester Orchestra knows no bounds. If that's not a good enough reason to check them out, then how about this: Rainn Wilson loves Manchester Orchestra.

Personal News: Teaching my first class went well today. It was a lot of fun, even though I was bummed there was no projector so my powerpoint was for nothing.

Marketing News: Asher Roth of "I Love College" fame is going to have the first 1,000-5,000 copies of his debut album wrapped in clear joint paper, so you can smoke it.

Celebrity News: Weird facts about Nic Cage if you are interested

Spring Break!

Happy Spring Break!

I'm spending the week in Washington D.C. to visit my buddy Andrey and see some sights. What is everyone else (that's still in school at least) up to?

Now that you have some free time on your hands, I thought I'd share some random stuff I've come across:

Most of you already know I am not a big sports fan, so it is tough for me to really get into March Madness. However, this is something I can get behind:

March Madness: The 2012 Republican Primaries

Everyone love's "Stronger" whether it was the original Daft Punk or the Kanye West version. Now go crazy with it.

Links to the 99 Things You Should Have Already Seen on the Internet

Watch Prank War 7: The Half Million Dollar Shot on CollegeHumor

After not going to very many concerts last quarter, I decided to step it up again. I bought tickets the other day to see The Get Up Kids do a special pre-festival reunion show at the Troubadour April 3rd. I never really got into the influential band until after they broke up. Now's my chance at my favorite venue. 

Today I also bought tickets to see instrumental band Explosions in the Sky, but I have to wait unitl June to see them at the Hollywood Palladium. I've never been there before so it should be an interesting experience (and very different from The Get Up Kids). You may know them for writing the score for the Friday Night Lights film. Explosions in the Sky also makes great study music and I hear their live shows are akin to a religious experience for music fans.  

A Video Game and a Music Video

There is a Japanese video game called RapeLay. It is simply a "rape simulator." Horrifying and fascinating (once you read about the cultural backdrop in Japan). Ok, mostly just horrifying and saddening. Read about the game if you are so inclined. I hope my friend Anna is being careful on those trains!

A sad story must be balanced with something awesome. Enjoy the new Manchester Orchestra music video that was just released less than half an hour ago.

Manchester Orchestra - The Only One

Upcoming Films: Blockbuster Edition

Films I am getting excited about: 

Terminator Salvation - May 21, 2009

As sad and hilarious as Christian Bale's tirade was, I have come to respect him quite a bit as an actor. He's starred in so many great movies (my personal favorites include Newsies, The Prestige, and The Dark Knight) and now he is starring in Terminator Salvation. I wish more action stars took the approach he did with this film:

“Christian Bale was McG's first choice to play John Conner, whom he calls "the most credible action star in the world right now." McG offered Bale the part while he was shooting "The Dark Knight," and he initially turned it down. Bale told McG that if he could refine the script to the point where it could be read on stage without any special effects and still be a compelling story, he would agree to star in it...To that end, McG brought Jonathan Nolan on board to rewrite the script. Nolan is the brother of director Christopher Nolan, and they collaborated on the screenplays for "The Prestige" and "The Dark Knight."”

Up - May 29

Because Pixar never fails.

Inglorious Bastards - August 21

Tarantino and Brad Pitt in a WWII film. Should be sweet.

Star Trek - May 8

Wolverine - May 1

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - July 17

 

Public Enemies - July 1

 

Transformers 2 - June 24

New Month = New Music

It's officially a new month, so I decided to make a short playlist of some music I've been listening to. This time I limited myself to only 13 songs, but will hopefully be making these more frequently. I guess I was inspired to make another playlist because two of my most anticipated albums leaked today: Cursive and Kevin Devine.