For your viewing pleasure, The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra performing Hey Ya and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain doing Smells Like Teen Spirit...
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Confessions of a trash TV watcher
I think im becoming an addict for MTV style reality shows after watching the entire Newport Harbor Marathon on Sunday. If you aren't familiar with Newport Harbour - its the new Laguna Beach - and if that doesnt help, its basically rich american teens hanging out and dealing with their 'dramas'. Its so awful that its addictive. Also last night I ended up watching the new one - The Life of Ryan, which is about some pro-skateboarder (who I clearly should have heard of judging by all the people asking for autographs) and about his 'dramas' with his parents break up/his break up with his girlfriend etc etc. Rivetting stuff.
But as classy as these are - they still don't beat the uber-reality series - The Girls of the Playboy Mansion. I often wonder what their parents must think. I mean imagine those awkward catch up conversations - "oh so what is Holly doing these days?" "oh you know..... uh this and that".
These shows are kind of like car crashes - you can't look away - and its almost as though the enjoyment is in the cringing.
Also, on a completely different topic - its turns out that blow up dolls are too heavy to float when inflated with helium...
But as classy as these are - they still don't beat the uber-reality series - The Girls of the Playboy Mansion. I often wonder what their parents must think. I mean imagine those awkward catch up conversations - "oh so what is Holly doing these days?" "oh you know..... uh this and that".
These shows are kind of like car crashes - you can't look away - and its almost as though the enjoyment is in the cringing.
Also, on a completely different topic - its turns out that blow up dolls are too heavy to float when inflated with helium...
Monday, January 28, 2008
Ch ch ch ch changes
Well Obama picked up the all important South Carolina primary - thrashing Hill dog by 28 points!
Next up is Florida - which doesnt count for the Dems, and all eyes will be on the Republicans as this is Giuliani's first race. Giuliani has taken a huge gamble by opting to enter the race so late in the day - but if he can pull off an impressive win then he will be on track.
Anyway check out the video below - its pretty well done.
Next up is Florida - which doesnt count for the Dems, and all eyes will be on the Republicans as this is Giuliani's first race. Giuliani has taken a huge gamble by opting to enter the race so late in the day - but if he can pull off an impressive win then he will be on track.
Anyway check out the video below - its pretty well done.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
A goth's wet dream
Went and saw the latest Tim Burton/Johnny Depp collaboration - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street this afternoon.It's Burton's first live action musical (not forgetting a Nightmare before Christmas) but don't expect "the hills are alive with the sound of music" as this is probably Burton's darkest feature yet.
It's the sort of film that you will either love, or hate. It's very graphic - but hilarious at the same time.
Burton stylistically borrows from Baz Luhrman a bit too in his presentation of London - its very reminiscent of Luhrman's Paris in Moulin Rouge. Depp and Helena Bonham Carter obviously dominate, with Depp often sounding almost like Bowie at times, but there are great turns by Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen as Pirelli the Italian barber.
So if you loved Burton's other films, chances are even though this is darker, you will love it. But it's certainly not for the squeamish and it may very well put you off shaving for life!
It's the sort of film that you will either love, or hate. It's very graphic - but hilarious at the same time.
Burton stylistically borrows from Baz Luhrman a bit too in his presentation of London - its very reminiscent of Luhrman's Paris in Moulin Rouge. Depp and Helena Bonham Carter obviously dominate, with Depp often sounding almost like Bowie at times, but there are great turns by Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen as Pirelli the Italian barber.
So if you loved Burton's other films, chances are even though this is darker, you will love it. But it's certainly not for the squeamish and it may very well put you off shaving for life!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Turns out that Megatron's a dealer
Looks like the Autobots have finally got one over the Decpticonz. From Stuff on Friday
Friday, 25 January 2008
Megatron admits importing drugs
An unemployed man of no fixed abode pleaded guilty in Wellington District Court today to importing LSD and Ecstasy.
Judge Denys Barry remanded Megatron Eardley-Wilmot in custody for sentencing in the High Court on February 22.
The offences were committed between 2003 and 2005.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Larry + Barack = Greatest Combination ever!
Not only has Barack Obama blown apart Clinton's 'sure win' (a late November poll showed 72 per cent of americans believed she would win) with his strong showing in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, but he has also picked the endorsement I would value highest.
Larry David has endorsed Obama and is answering phones etc and encouraging college students to vote for him. How cool is that?
Anyway South Carolina and Nevada are next up for the Dems. Apparently 50 per cent of Democrat voters in SC are black - so in (incredibly generalised) theory that should play well for Obama... mind you I expect a similar ratio are women...
Still having been written off by many early in the piece, its undeniable something is happening in the US, and Obama is riding wave the likes of which we haven't seen since Bobby Kennedy in '68 and Reagan in the '80s.
Larry David has endorsed Obama and is answering phones etc and encouraging college students to vote for him. How cool is that?
Anyway South Carolina and Nevada are next up for the Dems. Apparently 50 per cent of Democrat voters in SC are black - so in (incredibly generalised) theory that should play well for Obama... mind you I expect a similar ratio are women...
Still having been written off by many early in the piece, its undeniable something is happening in the US, and Obama is riding wave the likes of which we haven't seen since Bobby Kennedy in '68 and Reagan in the '80s.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The ICC are Monkeys
I say good on India for not taking the Australian cricket team/ICC crap lying down.
For years international umpires have had an odd fascination with sending 50/50 decisions Australia's way more often than not - but this latest series has taken the cake. Rahul Dravid was not out in the second innings, and I strongly question whether Sourav Ganguly's nick to the slips carried to Michael Clarke - let alone all the other disgraceful calls earlier in the test.
But I especially find suspending Harbhajan Singh for three matches for allegedly calling Andrew Symonds a "monkey", outrageous. The daft thing is - had Harbhajan called him a fucking cunt - there would be no suspension, but because monkey is a 'racist' slur he gets suspended. Either ban all sledging - or let it be on the field. But anyway, without getting too deep into hate-speech laws etc, amazingly the stump microphones apparently pick up their conversation, including Symonds' supposed reaction - yet you can't hear Harbhajan say the word monkey once. Further, one of the greatest batsmen ever, Sachin Tendulkar, who was also batting at the time, backs up Harbhajan's denials that he even said it. The umpires (not that you could exactly trust them anyway!) also didn't hear anything.
However, Tendulkar's testimony was dismissed by the ICC in favour of the 'evidence' provided by Australian captain, Ricky Ponting and Vice Captain Adam Gilchrist. Why is their evidence so much more convincing than a recording of the conversation and the testimony of two umpires and Sachin Tendulkar?? Clearly Ponting and Gilchrist are both are very sensitive and aware of racial taunts after years of abuse on the tough streets of Hobart and Perth and could just sense the tirade of racist abuse from Harbhajan??
I think not. This was bullshit gamesmanship on their part in an attempt to blunt the attack of one of the worlds best spinners. I say shame on Ponting for cheapening the game - this series should have been a battle of the titans of the world game - a celebration of cricket if you will. Instead Ponting has been so desperate to win and bring the Indian side down, that he has brought the great game into disrepute.
Anyway, hopefully India are using their time well, practicing all those cuss words the ICC find acceptable!
PS. Does anyone think Wisden or say the MCC will release a book of acceptable sledges?? Id love one!
For years international umpires have had an odd fascination with sending 50/50 decisions Australia's way more often than not - but this latest series has taken the cake. Rahul Dravid was not out in the second innings, and I strongly question whether Sourav Ganguly's nick to the slips carried to Michael Clarke - let alone all the other disgraceful calls earlier in the test.
But I especially find suspending Harbhajan Singh for three matches for allegedly calling Andrew Symonds a "monkey", outrageous. The daft thing is - had Harbhajan called him a fucking cunt - there would be no suspension, but because monkey is a 'racist' slur he gets suspended. Either ban all sledging - or let it be on the field. But anyway, without getting too deep into hate-speech laws etc, amazingly the stump microphones apparently pick up their conversation, including Symonds' supposed reaction - yet you can't hear Harbhajan say the word monkey once. Further, one of the greatest batsmen ever, Sachin Tendulkar, who was also batting at the time, backs up Harbhajan's denials that he even said it. The umpires (not that you could exactly trust them anyway!) also didn't hear anything.
However, Tendulkar's testimony was dismissed by the ICC in favour of the 'evidence' provided by Australian captain, Ricky Ponting and Vice Captain Adam Gilchrist. Why is their evidence so much more convincing than a recording of the conversation and the testimony of two umpires and Sachin Tendulkar?? Clearly Ponting and Gilchrist are both are very sensitive and aware of racial taunts after years of abuse on the tough streets of Hobart and Perth and could just sense the tirade of racist abuse from Harbhajan??
I think not. This was bullshit gamesmanship on their part in an attempt to blunt the attack of one of the worlds best spinners. I say shame on Ponting for cheapening the game - this series should have been a battle of the titans of the world game - a celebration of cricket if you will. Instead Ponting has been so desperate to win and bring the Indian side down, that he has brought the great game into disrepute.
Anyway, hopefully India are using their time well, practicing all those cuss words the ICC find acceptable!
PS. Does anyone think Wisden or say the MCC will release a book of acceptable sledges?? Id love one!
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