Long Overdue!

I'm back! Although I never really left, just got a new computer with a keyboard that doesn't really work, and makes typing really painstaking and annoying. I came accross an article today "the worst album covers of the decade" and I had to post a comparison.

First MC Hammers "Look Look Look" Album Cover





And now...Doctor Who.


I assume this will lead to some reslly awesome crossovers. Or some really terrible fanfic.

...a tropical heatwave!

Today Emilie pointed out that it is day 12 of the heatwave. I don't know if that's right but it sure feels like it. I would just like to point out that I never complained about the rainy, cool July we had - therefore it's unfair that I'm this hot.

BRING BACK THE COLD SUMMER!

Favourite Songs: Musicals

I'm not sure if this is nerdier or less nerdy than my classical music list. But here we go! Favourite songs from musicals (many of which I haven't actually seen) and my favourite performers of said songs.

1. With One Look - From Sunset Boulevard (performed by Petula Clark)


2. Sunset Boulevard - From Sunset Boulevard (performed by John Barrowman)


3. Sweet Transvestite - From Rocky Horror - Anthony Stewart Head


4. Ya Got Trouble - The Music Man - Robert Preston


5. On The Rise - Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog - Neil Patrick Harris and Felicia Day

Really anything from Dr. Horrible, it's so hard to pick one.

6. Wig in a Box - Hedwig and the Angry Inch - John Cameron Mitchell

Sad that he's prettier than me.

7. At The Opera Tonight - Repo: The Genetic Opera - Anthony Head, Alexa Vega, Sarah Brightman, Paul Sorvino, Bill Mosley, Ogre, Paris Hilton et al.

Favourite Songs: Classical

My lists of favourite music tends to rotate a lot. Not only favourite songs, but favourite genres as well. Lately I've been listening to a lot of Classical again, it's soooo good! Here are some of my favourite (lesser known pieces).

1. The Castle (#4 Bydlo) from Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky



2. First Suite in Eflat for Military Band - Gustav Holst



3. English Folk Song Suite (Seventeen Come Sunday) - Raiph Vaughn Williams


4. Symphony #1 (Titan) - Mvt 3 - Gustav Mahler



5. Finlandia - Jean Sibelius

TV Shows You Should Invest Time in

Do you have a lengthy recovery coming up? Last year when I had my numerous eye surgeries I used my down time to catch up on TV. Since then I've used various "downtimes" (that on is in quotes because it wasn't really downtime, it was time when I didn't feel like doing anything producttive) to rent/buy/borrow DVDs of entire TV series and watch the whole thing in a couple of sittings. I can't believe I used to watch TV week to week like a savage! Anyway below is a list of my favourite TV shows to watch marathon style.

1. Lost (Seasons so far 5, hours of investment about 76)
As my sister says this "is a lot of show". It's not the type you can watch out of order, or sporadically, so if you've got a lot of time on your hands, and you're able to pay attention for a while this is a great series. Highly addictive as most of the episodes end in a WTF cliffhanger. I can't imagine having to wait months to find out what was in that hatch!



2. Life on Mars (UK) (Seasons 2, hours of investment 16)
Unlike the US version the original series is fantastic! Creative and dark, but funny and quotable as well. Phillip Glenister and John Simm are a perfect match. The DVDs are finally coming out in region one this summer. Do yourself a favour and check it out. I loved this series so much I bought the region 2 DVDs to watch on my sisters laptop.



3. Mad Men (Seasons so far 2, hours of investment about 25)
Slow moving but so worth it! It's not the most action packed show, but it sure looks nice. The characters are interesting and multidimensional, and the subtlety in the writing is superb. Each episode looks like a mini movie, and costs about as much to make.



4. Arrested Development (Seasons 3, hours of investment about 27)
If you haven't watched this show yet then you're missing out. Probably the cleverist sitcom of all time, I can watch it again and again and never get tired of it. Watch the first few episodes in order, but once you get a feel for the characters you can bounce around without losing much.

July is List Month!

Apparently the first week of July is list week for the Toronto Star. Since I don't blog every day (or every month for that matter -- sheesh), I've decided to celebrate list week all July! Awesome Sauce!

Today's list --
Real Side Effects as stated in the commercial for Lyrica (an anticonvulsant/neuropathic pain treatment)

* Dizziness
* Drowsiness
* Coordination problems
* Weight gain
* Dry mouth
* Infections
* Headaches
* Accidental injury
* Shakiness (tremors)
* Memory loss, problems concentrating, or slow thinking
* Constipation
* Speech problems
* Weakness
* Increased appetite
* Problems walking
* Twitching
* A spinning sensation
* Chest pain
* Gas
* Unexplained pleasant or happy feelings
* Vomiting
* Back pain
* Bladder control problems
* Flu-like symptoms (such as body aches and chills)
* Low blood sugar
* Nervousness
* Fatigue
* Feeling abnormal or drunk
* Sinus infections
* Joint pain
* Muscle spasms.
* Signs of congestive heart failure, including difficulty breathing and water retention or swelling (especially in the hands, legs, or feet)
* Unusual bruising or bleeding
* An irregular heart rhythm
* Any vision changes, including blurred vision or double vision
* A need to take more Lyrica than prescribed, especially if you think you may be dependent or addicted to Lyrica
* Unexplained muscle pain or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever and fatigue
* Anxiety or confusion
* Signs of an allergic reaction, including unexplained rash, hives, itching, and unexplained swelling
* Suicidal thinking or behavior
* Sensitivity to the sun
* A stiff neck
* Hangovers
* Canker sores
* Anemia
* Hiccups
* Hair loss
* Dry skin
* Dry eyes
* Taste changes
* Kidney stones
* Menstrual problems.




yikes.

Sounds of Summer

Even before I read Melinda's playlist post I was planning on doing my own. When you drive as much as I do (about 250+ KM a week) you plow through playlists pretty quickly. I'm really fond of the one I have now thanks to a few of my own simple rules.

1. Never put the same artist on twice (unless the songs sound very different -- which is pretty much never).
2. Keep all songs under 5 minutes. My attention span seems to run out at about three and a half minutes but if its a great song I'll listen to up to four but after that I'm usually bored.
3. Try to mix up genres and tempos and styles.
4. Put at least two mellow songs on back to back - this will be a good place to start the CD if you're driving in the early morning or evening, and don't want to get too pumped up.
5. Make sure you put on songs you like. This seems obvious -- but many times I've put on songs I didn't really know, but liked the band. Bad idea, you'll just keep skipping to the next song.

With this in mind here is my current playlist.

1. The Mending of the Gown - Sunset Rubdown (from Random Spirit Lover, released 2007)

2. Major Tom (Coming Home) - Peter Schilling (Error in the System, 1983)

3. Breakthru - Queen (The Miracle, 1989)

4. Lipgloss - Pulp (His & Hers, 1994)

5. When Doves Cry - Prince (Purple Rain, 1984)

6. Decision/Indecision - Atomic Rooster (In Hearing Of, 1971)

7. Wonderful, Wonderful - Johnny Mathis (Wonderful, Wonderful, 1957)

8. F.E.A.R - Ian Brown (Music Of The Spheres, 2001)

9. Voo Doo Child - Rogue Traders (Here Come the Drums, 2005)

10. Happy Hour - The Housemartins (London 0 Hull 4, 1986)

11. Thrill Seeker - The Divine Comedy (Fin de Sièclem, 1988)

12. J.Lo vs K.Co vs. S.Wo - Lenlow (Independent, 2004 click here for website)
{Mash up Between Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box; Nirvana - The Man Who Sold the World; Stevie Wonder - Superstition; J-Lo - Jenny from the Block }

13. Brand New Day - Neil Patrick Harris (Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog Soundtrack, 2009)

14. Photocorners - The Lovely Feathers (Hind Hind Legs, 2006)

15. Gamma Ray - Beck (Modern Guilt, 2008)

16. Mongoloid - Devo (Q. Are We Not Devo? A. We Are Devo! 1977)

17. Lessons Learned from Rocky I to Rocky III (Handcream for a Generation, 2002)

18. Sabotage - Beastie Boys (Ill Communication, 1994)

19. Time to Pretend - MGMT (Oracular Spectacular, 2008)


That's all for now folks. I expect I'll be sick of these songs come July.