Will Farrell for President

I found this today, and it's super funny.

See more Will Ferrell videos at Funny or Die

I've been in a really Ferrell-esque mood lately. In most of his movies, Will operates as an overgrown child, or at best a misdirected frat boy. And I love it. What comes off as simple, trite jokes morphs into crazy hilarious, gut-wrenching humor that's just funny. I'm really looking forward to the release of Step Brothers, but I'll have to wait until I get back from England in order to see it...unless they have a similar release date in the UK. Regardless, here's a great interview with Ferrell, John C. Riley, and Adam McKay (director and co-writer of the film) via NPR. Conducting the interview is Terri Gross, probably the best interviewer since the late great Tim Russert. Enjoy.

England Looming

Wow, my trip to England is a week away. I'm really excited. I could care less about the typical tourist-y sights, I just want to take in the culture. I want to listen to their accents and guess what part of the isles they are from.

I'm keeping a notebook and a camera with me at all times, so as to chronicle my escapades. It's going to be awesome.

In other news, I just found a fantastic cover album of the Footloose soundtrack. You can hear a snippet here. The entire album is available for listening from Doveman (the artist)'s website here. The covers have a dark inception as the artist dedicated the pieces to Jenny, the half sister of his best friend. Very sweet, I know.

The covers feature slow piano piano, an ocassional drum beat, both lead by vocals sounding similar to James Blunt. While the pieces are slow and at times gut-wrenching, the entire project is an illuminating take on 80s pop. Take a listen, you won't be sorry.

Another Take on 'The Dark Knight'

Here, NPR's Bob Mondello says the same thing I just posted yesterday, only Mondello is a much better writer. Check it out.

This is both disturbing and funny...

The Dark Knight Fulfills its Quest

The latest installment in the Batman franchise The Dark Knight is arguably the best action film since 1989's Die Hard. Christopher Nolan's latest super hero story expertly combines tight action sequences, cat and mouse games, ensemble casting, and psychological enthrallment to create a high octane film that's actually pretty smart.



At the heart of the film's brilliance are not the tight, invigorating performances of Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, et al., but rather great writing. Running 2 hours and 20 minutes, the film has no dull moments as gripping action scenes alternate with bone chilling dialogue that is mentally and emotionally captivating.

Of course, the acting is superb, and the ensemble construction of the story allows every character to shine, from Michael Caine's enigmatic and mouthy Alfred to Ledger's creepy face-painted Joker. This movie is a no holds barred excellent film and has quite a few nominations headed its way.

Some Stuff I found in the News

Guantanamo Bay is pretty much an ugly phrase these days, apart from its presence in the latest Harold and Kumar movie, but the place got an upside a while back when due process was granted to its detainees.

In the past, GB has been a sort of dumping ground for war criminals and civilians alike. Until recently, habeas corpus (evidence that a crime has been committed) was optional and torture was the norm. The recent granting of due process wherein detainees will have rights to lawyers and trials will hopefully put an end to torture and the bad rap the US is getting worldwide.

I really don't know what to make of this video release NPR reported on. Omar Khadr, now a 21-year-old detainee at GB was arrested at the age of 15 for supposedly throwing a grenade at an American soldier. He also happens to be the son of a Pakistani member of Al-Queda and has met Osama bin Laden.

Here is a great summation of the facts and implications as reported on by NPR

I reccommend listening/reading this article first, then head over to youtube.com to watch a video released by Khadr's lawyers. While watching the video, however, keep in mind that this is an edited piece that was compiled from about 7.4 hours of video GB officials released to Khadr's lawyers. The video has obviously been spliced together from the hours of tape, but nonetheless the scenes are still compelling. Watch it here.

From POV, I'd like to see some other footage, apart from this, and also would like to know what has happened to Khadr outside the questioning room, you know, in his cell(s) and such. I have long been opposed to the unlawful containment of these detainees and the torture that obviously takes place within the walls of GB. Torture itself is wrong, inhumane, and generally not worth its effort in evidence (just google Irish prisoners of war to see the historical inadequacies of torture). On a more personal note, with a brother in the service and international karma, I'd hate to think that my little buddy would become a POW and be subjected to endless torture by a vengeful and malicious al-Queda guard.

Let me know what you think.

Open Up!

So, my little brother went to basic training today. I said goodbye to him yesterday, right before I came back to school, well work, actually, since it's summer.

Generally, I like a good solitary drive. I'd take them more often if it were for my car's dependence on foreign oil, but what are you gonna do? A long drive is the perfect opportunity to just think. I don't do nearly enough of just thinking, what with television, books, video games, and the internet always around to distract me. Thinking, non-distractedly is a lost art, and if I could harness it correctly, then I would be a more well-developed individual. The key, I think is to go deep, not just think about what clothes I have to wear, what chores I have to do once I get home, or anything like that. Instead, to think about the biggies, the meaning of life, my relationship with God, God Himself, love, angst, the future, you know all that stuff.

Well, you know me, always a sucker, but not willing to admit to it, I love listening to those sappy love songs on those adult contemporary radio stations. It was one of those idiotic, cheesily lyricized songs that made me start crying. Gosh, it was horrible. And you know what I did? Yep, I tried to think logically about why I was crying. Of course it's obvious that I flippin miss my little brother. I don't really need a reason other than that, but I tried to make myself find one. But yeah, I'm sad.

So, not a bit deal, right? I guess not. I'm sad because someone in my family will be out of reach for a long, long while, and I am really busted up about that. I'm going to be a little selfish and say that I'm happy that I'm sad because that means that I am not selfish. Does that make sense? It illustrates that I'm not just an anonymous pod on a solitary walk to an unknown destination. I am connected to someone else, to other people. And for the funk I've been in the past few months, it's just the reassurance I have been waiting for