Come on and love me, baby

My favorite Band That Is Not Famous But Should Be is about to release a new album, and I am giddy with excitement. J-Roddy Walston and the Business is the improvised explosive device of live bands, a veritable feast for the senses. (At one point, they had a keytar/trombone player, but he has since retired.) They combine rock, ragtime, Americana, Vaudeville, punk and general awesomeness to create a sound unlike any I've heard elsewhere. While a bit of that charisma is lost in the studio versions of their songs, the band still puts out a kick ass product.

Know them. Love them.

I AM OVER THIS FUCKING WEEK

After being bedridden for three days with a fever and sore throat, I emerged from the haze to find that my car won't start. Likely a battery or alternator problem, the mechanic says. Also, he says I seem to be leaking fluid. Well, not me, but my car's radiator. Great. I am done with this week.

So, I'm beginning to shop for another car -- one that won't cost $1,500 a year to maintain.
Thus far the only two cars that have piqued my interest are the Nissan Versa hatchback and the Mazda3 hatchback. Anyone have any insight on those particular vehicles?

Sniff. Cough. Ow.

I am sick. Again. I'm getting tired of this but still haven't worked up the cajones to talk to my boss about my ridiculously bad schedule that has me working day shifts and overnight shifts all in the same week. After all, this is what I signed up for when I accepted the job, right? Fuck.
Anyway, I wanted to post a scene from an early Cosby Show where Cliff tells Rudy that the reason she doesn't feel well is because the germs inside of her want to party. But despite many hours of searching, I can't find that a video clip from "Rudy's Sick" on the Interweb.
Anybody want to throw the sick-o a bone?

from Watership Down to Bedknobs and Broomsticks

The NY Times site has posted a really cool seven-minute documentary where actors talk about the first movie that they remember seeing. Enjoy!

What a short, mediocre trip it's been

I suppose it was inevitable, especially after last week's less-than-stellar "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" episode. I had high hopes that Aaron Sorkin would pull it out and surprise us all with a mind-blowing show.
But it seems NBC is putting The Big Show that Couldn't on hiatus. I guess I need to find a new obsession. Sigh.

Where have you been all my life?

I am in serious trouble. M&Ms just came out with a dark chocolate version. And if you are thinking to yourself, "Mmmm. That sounds good!" then you are abso-fucking-lutely right. It's just as heavenly as you might imagine.

In completely other news, I just learned that hospitals once used the African clawed frog for pregnancy tests. Now I know why there are so many frogs with plus and minus signs on their backs.

Are you ready for a shuffle?

No? Well, you'll get over it.
My iPod's shuffle feature has been loving the Belle & Sebastian lately. We'll see what today brings.

1. "Nothing Compares 2 U," Prince
2. "Don't Let Me Down," The Beatles
3. "Section 1 (Have a Day/Celebratory)," The Polyphonic Spree
4. "9027 Km," OK Go
5. "Baby, You're a Rich Man," The Beatles
6. "Tanga, Rumba," The Afro Cuban All Stars
7. "White Shadows," Cold Play
8. "Buggin'," The Flaming Lips
9. "Outta Mind (Outta Sight)," Wilco
10. "A Bad Note," OutKast

This could go one of about 16 ways

In an attempt to save "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" from what seemed like certain death, the brilliant Aaron Sorkin seems to have strayed a bit. He's abandoned the television-show-about-a-television-show concept and gone straight for the drippy romance crap that TV audiences apparently crave. Being a hopeless romantic, I am not entirely opposed to this notion. But, Christ on a cracker, Aaron! THREE romances? Is that really necessary? And only one of them is remotely interesting -- the budding cuteness between office Brit/writer Lucy and funny man Tom. I'm bored with the Jordan-Danny romance already, and could you please for the love of all that's holy just give the Matt-Harriet thing a rest?

Thank God the man has kept undercurrents of actual issues in the script. Fabled network NBS is gearing up for a fight with the FCC over First Amendment rights, and Jordan continues to struggle to keep reality TV off her airwaves. And we've not seen a resurfacing of reporter Martha O'Dell in a while. That could make for some interesting it's-all-the-media's-fault fodder. The one saving grace of the show has been -- in true Sorkin fashion -- the use of music to highlight key moments. The Christmas episode with the Tipitina's jazz band playing "O Holy Night" was UNREAL, and this week's episode used my favorite Pretenders song, "2,000 Miles."

In truth, I cannot predict where Sorkin is going with all of this silliness. He's got great characters and unlimited potential, but he's just not hit his stride yet. I'm hoping it happens quickly, because I hear the fat lady warming up her vocal chords.
Let's pick it up a bit, Aaron. I'm counting on you.

I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen.

The more men I meet, the more the truth becomes apparent: Lloyd Dobler is the guy for me.