August 30, 2004
Food Review - Whotsits
My sweetheart, knowing the pain and agony I was going through with my craving for Cheetos was a sweetheart (hence the name) and bought me some Whotsits, which are apparently the UK equivalent.
Having tried a small bag last night, while watching 'Cheers' on TV, I decided that this would a good review.
Whotsits Vs. Cheetos:
| Whotsits | Cheetos |
| Texture: puffy only | puffy and crunch |
| Taste: cheesy, with a slight tang | Ultra Cheesey, Comes in super hot flavour also |
| Fingerlicking: Little to no dust on fingers | Dust everywhere, nails orange. Does not work well when wearing black trousers |
| Result: Satisfying but leads to want of crunchy version | Always the cheesiest. Dusty fingers is a problem, but for kids, that's half the fun of eating cheetos |
| Winner: push |
And there you have it. The Whotsits v. Cheetos competition you've all been waiting for.
And now I'm off to find something interesting and non-freakish to review.
Posted by calima at 10:48 AM
August 27, 2004
Dolf Lundgren Wins Long, Courageous Battle Against Fame
Fame intrigues people. More importantly, famous people intrigue people. The Onion takes an interesting perspecive on this facet of our society.
With a thick slice of cheese, Dolf Lundgren is described as a man with a disease. This disease is called fame. It tells a tale of how Mr. Lungren found this disease and how he's come to terms with his affliction. Most importatnly, it tells about who this man was before fame came into his life.
Who knew that Dolph wasn't his real name? Who knew that the man was well on his way to becoming an incredible scientist with an education from the Royal Academy of Technology, the University of Washington, The University of Sydney with a Masters of Chemical Engineering, and MIT? Who knew that this accented actor has an IQ of 160? Who knew that this man not only looked good, but was smart and was a real person to boot?
I found it interesting that the article made a point to mention that the general public didn't seem to care about what lay beyond the actor persona. "It didn't help that the public never understood the complications of his fame," [Chazz] Palminteri said. "They didn't care that a normal life was at stake." They were content to perpetuate this fame disease.
It was only when Mr. Lundgren took part in a series of B-movies that his fame waned. The article portends that this was a calculated move in effort to regain his private, normal life back. It seems to have worked too.
Most people don't seem to realize what fame costs celebrities. They don't see the real person behind that fame. I know few actors, and celebrities in general, who get into their field to be famous. They're just trying to make a living doing what they love to do, just like the rest of us "normal" types. Most famous people want to be treated like "normal" types too. They want to go to the grocery and the mall and to the zoo just like the rest of us.
I give this article a 4 out of 5 stars.
Posted by dustbuffalo at 04:31 PM
Music Review- Barricades and Brickwalls
Kasey Chambers is a young singer out of Australia. Officially, her genre is considered ‘alternative country’ but really, its hard to put a name to her music. Her music appeals to a wide variety, from my country-avoiding fiancé to my eleven-year-old daughter, all the way down to my mom, who is something of a country purist. I first heard of her a couple years ago and after being haunted by her quirky voice, I broke down and bought one of her CDs, “Barricades and Brickwalls” and I’m so happy I did. First, let’s talk about her voice. When I first heard her, I thought she was very young, 14 at the most but as you listen to her music, the intensity and passion of her voice and her words, you realize she’s not as young as she initially sounded (she’s in her mid-twenties).
Lyrics aside for a moment, Kasey sings as if she is really enjoying what she’s doing, as if she is putting her heart and soul into her music. Because of this, you really feel the music. Put yourself into an empty room, close your eyes and put on this CD and experience her sadness when she sings of missing her hometown or not being pretty enough.
Lyrically, Kasey Chambers is a wonder. At times (on the song “Crossfire”, for example), her lyrics are challenging, often prompting my fiancé to admit, “I have no idea what she’s talking about.” But at other times (such as “Not Pretty Enough” or “A Little Bit Lonesome”) her lyrics are simple and haunting, putting passion into everyday feelings. To her credit, all thirteen of the songs on the album were written by Kasey herself.
As for genre, “Barricades and Brickwalls” is hard to pin down. Some of the songs, such as “A Little Bit Lonesome” and “Not Pretty Enough” have a very country bluegrass feel while Kasey rocks out a bit on “Crossfire” and the title track. “Nullarbor Song”, which Kasey penned in honor of the Nullarbor Plains in Australia, has a very Loreena McKennitt feel to it.
I give “Barricades and Brickwalls” 5 out of 5 stars.
Posted by bitka at 02:46 PM
Music Review - Spider-man Score
For the superheros in film, there is one man who writes the soundtrack to accompany their story. That man, is Danny Elfman.
Elfman, who made a name for himself with the inception of Batman (directed by Tim Burton), has become well known for composing a theme for each superhero. Contrary to other composers out there, all of the characters in the film have their own theme. Not just our hero.
Example: Batman Returns. Theme for Batman, theme for Catwoman, and yet another theme for Penguin. If there was a theme for poor Alfred, I wouldn't be surprised.
So, the question is: Can Elfman establish a fresh new theme for yet another superhero?
The answer, of course, is 'yes'. But it appears that Elfman's learned a thing or two since his stint on Batman. His themes for each character: a slow moving violin, backed up by piano and solo flute for Mary Jane. Tender strings for moments with Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Hard brass and dueling basslines for Goblin.
In addition to his multi-themed score, Elfman has branched out a bit from the Batman era and implemented more percussion and more synthesizers. Being from a classical school, I don't think that synthesizers have any place in a score, and I assume that Elfman would agree. However, he uses them so subtly, that rather than drawing attention from the orchestra, they add to it.
The percussive heartbeat of the main theme rouses the senses...a sense of excitement, pride. The recipe for a good hero soundtrack.
Mr Elfman does it again! Revamping the Spider-man score for Spider-man 2...but that's another review for another time.
5 o'o 5
Posted by calima at 11:02 AM
August 26, 2004
White Chicks
I watched this movie with the same mind frame that I watch every Wayan's family invention, mild trepidation. You never know wether you are going to laugh your ass off, or if you are going to leave saying, "It was funny, but not as good as I hoped."
Well, thankfully, I laughed my ass off.
Shawn and Marlon Wayans co-star as brothers Marcus, and Kevin Copeland who work for the FBI. They mess up an assignment, and are in the doghouse. To get back in the good graces of their chief, they take an undesireable job escorting snobbish, racist, and spoiled heiresses to the Hamptons. Theoretically, it should be an easy assignment. It of course, goes awry, leaving Marcus and Kevin to do what anyone would do in that situation.... go undercover and dress like white chicks and try to 'act white' all weekend.
The comedy was well paced. The plot was good. But, I give it 4 out of 5 possible stars. There were a few times that they tried too hard to make a 'life lesson'. I almost thought it was a joke that the soundtrack started sounding 'serious'. I kept waiting for a punch line that wasn't there.
Shawn and Marlon put in very good performances as their characters learn how painful beauty can be.
The best performance comes from Terry Crews. He absolutely shined and carried a great deal of the comedic weight in this movie.
I would go see this movie again just to pick up what I missed while I was laughing.
Posted by hawkie at 05:35 PM