michael giles typing

Moving

2011-02-09T21:06:00.000-05:00

Putting this operation over at wordpress. Main reason is the ease of mobile updating over there. I could never get blogger to correctly get my mobile up 7 running for updates. There's still some quirks and appearance things that need to get sorted over there, but it should be up & running soon enough, methinks.

NEW SITE HERE

Periscopicity

2011-02-08T13:20:00.000-05:00

Today's Google drawing is a pretty cool periscope. Check it.

Bandwagon Time

2011-02-02T00:12:00.000-05:00

I'm not exactly a basketball fan, but when the Buckeyes are number one, well, I cant resist.

Helvetica

2011-02-01T00:36:00.000-05:00

Just checked out the flick Helvetica on netflix instaview. A really interesting look at one of the most ubiquitous fonts around us today. It traces it's history in the 50s and 60s and shows how it helped inspire a lot of differing design movements and counter-movements. I'll be honest I don't understand much about typography, but I do know when I see something that's right. But I get the feeling that perhaps a bit of simplicity never hurt anyone.

sydney van orden

If you have any interest in visual language/culture I highly recommend watching it. Plus it has a pretty wickedly good soundtrack. Mostly rock/indie instrumental type of stuff but it really hits the spot aurally.

Quotes

2011-01-24T22:10:00.001-05:00

I need a quote for a project at school. With some messaging assistance from Kaper I have it down a few good ones. However I am open to other suggestions. Any one have any favorite quotes?

"Shyness is nice, but shyness can stop you" -The Smiths

"I would go out tonight, but I haven't got a stitch to wear" -The Smiths

"No I never met anyone quite like you before" -New Order

You can see a quick visual mock up for the posters here.

Some additional endeavors

2011-01-23T11:25:00.001-05:00

My friend Jarred Elrod is the professor in my typography and design courses at PSCC. Getting past the initial weirdness of having a dude you drink brews and see movies with being your teacher, and more importantly the pressure of doing good work for someone whose work you respect so much, I think it will be a good semester.

One of the things that Jarred requires is a blog upon which to share ideas and images and stuff. Basically a lot like this blog, but he insists on an all new blog for the classes. (Yeah that bastard is already letting power go to his head.) Nonetheless you may like to see what I put over there in terms of ideas on images and (maybe) design. Although there may be less direct music links over there, I promise to keep the level of cursing up to the standards you have come to expect here on Michael Giles Typing.

The name of the blog is michael tries to design and you can find it by clicking on the previous link.

Standard Fare

2011-01-18T14:24:00.002-05:00

I think I'm in love with this song.

Sk8 Sk8 Sk8

2011-01-09T18:20:00.000-05:00

Being laid up in bed for a few days leaves you with a lot of time. I have of course been spending it researching the metaphysical ramifications of our digital culture and how it thereby impacts the new designations of person/personhood.

Wait... what?!? No I been playing Mario Wii, watching Netflix and fucking around on the internet.

Check the awesome intro from Vision's awesome skate video, Psycho Skate.

So this is the new year...

2011-01-08T15:56:00.000-05:00

Hello friends. It's 2011 and all's well. Except for that dumb knee surgery. Once I'm all healed up I intend to take up running as I have Warrior Dash coming up soon. I also will get a gold coast cruiser skateboard or perhaps a psycho stick and live my life like I was 15. Good times indeed.

All of this was really just an excuse to give you this pearl:

Linda Carter is making me tingly in the pants.

Don't Talk to me about Heroes

2010-10-22T15:20:00.000-04:00

I have joined the smart phone revolution! As per usual about two and a half years late, but I am here nonetheless. The weird thing is that Kaper actually beat me to a new technology. I must be slipping in my old age. That kid was still listening to cassettes till 2003....

I have purchased an HTC Hero and will soon be twittering and tumblring and (perhaps) facebooking and four square dancing all over the internets face!

Hell yeah bhuoy! Smart phones make skynet possible! Come with me if you want to live, sukkas!

Here's some great tunes mofos!

Self Portrait

2010-10-03T13:53:00.000-04:00

One of my classes has us do a silly and mostly pointless blog. I will not link to it as it is shite. One of the assignments was to take a self portrait. A rather weird assignment as we live in an age of self obsessed fame whores who live their lives on facebook. I initially thought I'd give the duck face in the bathroom mirror throwing up a fake gang sign in the bathroom mirror... perhaps even adding in the wifebeater, but I decided against that. Here is my entry. Perfunctory, I know.

That Giles guy is kinda lazy....

2010-09-18T16:52:00.002-04:00

So I haven't been around these interwebs in a while and I'm sure you have been devestated by my absence. But I assure you the time away has been well spent. Maybe not well spent but at least busy. I'm not sure I am finding the new course of study worthwhile, but I won't make any massive decisions until I let it go for more than 3 weeks.

But if you are curious as to what I've been doing looky here:

What ya think?

T-Minus 2 weeks (Give or take)

2010-08-17T16:15:00.000-04:00

So in about 2 weeks I will be a very busy boy. As has been a general trope in my life every few years, I am going back to school. I will be pursuing an A.S. in web design at Pellissippi State. It seems I decided to take this step backwards in my educational trajectory, but I've never been that good at planning. So on top of taking 12 hours at Pellissippi I will also be teaching at least 6 hours at Roane State and working 30 hours at AAA. I hope to also try to at least get a few things done in the studio while I'm at it, so I suppose I wil see no one till at least December.

As has been the pattern around here of late the updates will likely be few and far between, but if I get some cool images done in my new computer classes I may give you a taste of what I am doing.

Kisses.

STURRRRR-GISSSSSS!!!

2010-08-11T12:50:00.000-04:00

I've been to Sturgis, and quite frankly the town's a bit of a dump. It exists mainly for the the Motorcycle Rally. But damn I wish I was there this week.

(AP Photo/Steve McEnroe)

That's right bitches! Pee-Wee Herman is at Sturgis! I love South Dakota now more than ever.

Krossed Out (Totally)

2010-08-05T13:51:00.000-04:00

This morning I was extremely unfocused and in a sleep trance. You see the small dog woke me up at 2 in the morning which then caused me to get the riot act from the wife. So at 2 in the morning I had to take both dogs out to do their business. The wife then woke me up at 6 to help to give the small dog it's medication. Then the big dog woke my ass up at 8:30 wanting to go out.

This is where the story gets... weird. So I get up to take the dog out and I stumble to find some shorts and my glasses. If it was the middle of the night I'd just be out there in my boxers, but as the sun was up and there was a possibility of neighbors going off to work I felt it best to defer to societal norms of propriety. As I am taking the dog out I am simultaneously attempting to adjust the shorts but something seems awry. So as I peer down in my slumber I notice that the shorts are on backwards. Yep I am Totally Krossed Out!

So with that in mind I bring you....

Hello.

2010-08-03T16:05:00.000-04:00

I can think of only one way to reboot this blog.

KITTIES!!!

Where ya been at?

2010-06-25T13:35:00.001-04:00

Well I have spent some of my time working (the new job is going fine, thanks.), some of my time working out (yeah, I'm getting Yuge!), but mostly I have been watching the World Cup.

It's been a bit of a wonky cup with some big teams faltering (Germany, England, and Spain) and with two huge casualties so far (Italy and Cote d'Ivoire are on their way home) and one complete and utter flame out (France).

But thank god we have now been exposed to the rhythmic beauty that is the vuvuzela, a sound I hope to hear emanating from stadia worldwide for everything from NFL to swim meets. I actually kinda like the incessant drone of South Africa's favorite plastic horn, though I was apprehensive at first I am rather enjoying them, perhaps the vuvuzela is actually a South African mind control device that is being used to enslave the entire world.....

And though I have been completely uninspired by players constant bitching about the new World Cup ball (it's the same bullshit every four years) they seem to finally be on to something.

Oh and YouTube has now added a vuvuzela button to their vids..... Check it.

Focus

2010-06-07T12:26:00.002-04:00

Beginning Friday this will likely be a World Cup only blog for about a month. So if you're interested in how I feel about North Korea's play in the group phase, come back on Friday.

That being the case I thought I'd share some music before then. Though this is still soccer related as the song by the band Focus is the soundtrack to Nike's epic World Cup ad. Nonetheless, this is some pretty crazy shit. I'd never heard of these Dutch guys, but wow are they amazingly crazy. I may need to make a trip to the Disc Exchange when I get my first paycheck from the new job.

Soccer Ads

2010-05-25T12:03:00.001-04:00

Have you heard of this whole World Cup thing? Looks to be a pretty big deal. Over at the Huff Post they have a compendium of some of the best ads for the World Cup from this year as well as World Cups past. Below is the new one from Nike. I must admit it's pretty damn brilliant to have Rooney living in a trailer park, not to mention the brilliant casting for the Cristiano Ronaldo* movie.

*Or as my wife likes to call him, "The man I will leave you for."

New Images

2010-05-20T21:21:00.000-04:00

Playing around with my new photoshop program lead me back to some of the images from my honeymoon. So here are the fruits of my labor.

P.S. No I'm not dead....

Artistic License

2010-05-03T23:22:00.000-04:00

I'm Hungry

2010-05-03T17:25:00.000-04:00

Do you ever just get really hungry but you're unsure of what you should eat? This is a quandry that I find myself in more and more. You see, for all intensive porpoises, I am a house husband and am generally in charge of keeping the house mostly clean, and have dinner on the table when my Sugar Momma Bread Winner gets home. I tell you now fans of MGT, this an be a rather daunting affair. How can I possibly do all of this work and still find time for a solid 13 hours of web surfing? More importantly, what the fuck should I make for dinner?

Luckily the internet has solved that problem.

Telephone from Afghanistan

2010-04-30T13:22:00.002-04:00

I simply wish that Lady Gaga was as good as our brave soldiers.

The Tandem Bike

2010-04-24T16:17:00.001-04:00

Apparently a couple of players for Gimansia y Esgrima La Plata, an Argentine soccer team, completed a wicked double bicycle kick for a goal. I think that Poynter and I will start practicing this foor the beginning of our indoor soccer playoffs.

(Note: the highlight only lasts for 1 minute, then we have a strange cartoon.)

Gimnasia Vs. Boca @ Yahoo! Video

Guru - RIP

2010-04-20T14:52:00.000-04:00

Guru founder of Gang Starr and the melder of Jazz and Hip Hop passed of cancer.

Super Spy Dreams Come True

2010-04-20T10:58:00.001-04:00

You know you dreamed about it as a kid. The watch phone you would use to keep in touch with headquarters as you raced to save the planet and save Samantha Micelli from the grip of the commies. Well apparently it has finally come out. Thanks LG.

Not to worry Sam! I'm on my way in my MASK helicopter/motorbike!

Musics

2010-04-16T08:36:00.002-04:00

I don't know how often you click on over to the "Actually, Records" link to the left, but if you don't do it too often then you need to get the hell off of this website. Okay, perhaps that is a bit harsh but you should definitely check it over every once in a while. It's a great little label from Chicago and they have a stable of pretty amazing artists. I just got wind of this new video from one of their emails and thought I'd share. It's by XYZR_KX (pronounced scissor kicks) and it is an awesome one man band.

Trailer Tuesday

2010-04-13T19:57:00.000-04:00

Today on Trailer Tuesday (yes that thing still exists) we present the new Angelina Jolie trash cinema flick, Salt. For a chick so engaged with human rights and making the world a better place she sur does some whack shit. (Tomb Raider anyone?)

Does anyone else think the tag line for this should be: Angelina Jolie is Jason Bourne...

Shyness is nice

2010-04-10T09:56:00.000-04:00

...but shyness will stop you, because it's biological?

So apparently my brain is wired to make me quiet and introverted . All those years spent looking at others and burying my head in drawings were a product just my (overly?) sensitive brain. I was never going to win coolest guy in school, I was never going to win coolest guy in the room. Hell I've had a contest to find the coolest guy in the car when I drive alone, and even I voted for Kaper , and that guy was no where near my Crossville! But I suppose that my nature pretty much was to be this way. Sometimes it's just not that easy being green.

via you might find yourself, braidsbraided

New favorite blog?

2010-04-10T09:34:00.000-04:00

Perhaps....

For all of my friends, especially Scotty.

2010-03-31T11:25:00.000-04:00

Recap

2010-03-22T17:46:00.000-04:00

So it's been a while since I've posted on this site, and I don't want my many many fans to think that I am missing. I haven't been up to much, hence the lack of posts. As a small recap, I started soccer and it is a bitch! Super hard, and let's face it, I am completely out of shape. But it has been so much fun, that I am getting jacked for tomorrow nights game.

I have received many a rejection letter from places of employment and am starting to debate what is next for me in life. I am considering many options from giving it a few more years, to going back to school, to working the corners on Magnolia. But nothing has been decided so I have not much else to add on that.

I also have an art show coming up in May and the drawing should be done soon.

So yeah, I'm still around and chilling and watching lots of basketball. More to come at some point soon.

Chillin' like a Villain

2010-03-12T16:11:00.001-05:00

Evan Turner gets March Madness well and truly underway in my book.

I always thought SAT meant Saturday afternoon test....

2010-03-10T10:51:00.001-05:00

Corey Haim was found dead last night in California. They are calling it an overdose, which should surprise absolutely no one. I liked the Corey's, one or both were in many of my fondest movie memories of my youth. RIP duder.

Trailer Tuesday

2010-03-09T11:17:00.000-05:00

Today we have another in a litany of movies examining the tropes of superherodom and deconstructing them to our real world. Previously I had mentioned Kick Ass, but today I bring you Defendor .

It looks like this type of movie is getting ready to pull a Fonzie and get onto some water skis wearing a leather jacket, so you can be forgiven for writing this off as a waste of digital storage space and a possibly bad comedy. And you may perhaps be correct. But I give this flick a pass for the participation of one Mr. Woody Harrelson. Mr. Harrelson is quickly reestablishing himself in my list of movie stars I love. Seeing him galavant around in last year's Zombieland and the so god-awful it was kinda fun 2012, I cannot help but be intrigued by this flick. Add to that his parody of Christian Bale as Batman, and you can mark me down for it.

Ain't it a gas being poor...

2010-03-04T20:52:00.000-05:00

As I was looking at the Big Ears 10 page I came upon a realization. I'm in my 30's and cannot afford to see rock shows. Sigh.

Looks like no St. Vincent or Vampire Weekend for me.

Yeah, that masters degree is really paying for itself...

Practice?

2010-03-03T13:37:00.001-05:00

Recently I have joined an indoor soccer team through my studio, Mighty Mud. Poynter has also joined up, and we intend to be the best soccer team this side of Victory!

But one thing everyone needs to remember about playing the game, any game, is this:

God damn! I love me some A.I.

Trailer Tuesday

2010-03-02T21:06:00.000-05:00

So today's movie is a boy comedy about the dork getting the hottie, She's Out of My League (I was gonna link the official site, but it's a "Are you hot or not" train-wreck). I will admit that I was/am a bit hesitant about this flick. I am even more ambivalent now that I saw the official site. These kind of Man/Boy Gross Out Sex farce's are all the rage since Mr. Apatow hit the scene, and whereas I am an un-avowed fan of these comedies, I know that they can be terrible. Plus the line between great and piece of crap is sooooo fine that it's almost hard to tell what went wrong. Why is The 40 Year Old Virgin funny, and sweet, and gross, and perfect, whilst Knocked Up is just stupid, for most of the same reasons? Eh, what can you do?

I think this flick could be shit, but the more I see the trailer the more I start to get convinced. I will probably give this potential turd, a gander.

"This song is about..."

2010-02-26T13:56:00.002-05:00

Skeletonwitch put on a great show on Wednesday night. The guys are tight and vicious on their instruments. The crowd loved the show from the get go and were really into the tunes. A small group took the opportunity to start a small pit, which I avoided as I am no longer 19. For some strange reason they switched the show from the Cider House to the Valarium. The Cider House holds about 300 people whereas the Valarium holds about 2500. That would be awesome if there were 1500 tickets sold, but there were only about 150 people at the show.

Regardless we had a great time and the boys came back to the house after the show for grilled chicken, bratwurst, and Four Loko. I'd never really hung out much with the other guys in the band, so it was great to get to know all the boys. It was also great to catch up with Chance and Nate.

"This song is about Say-Taaaaaaan!"

Get cha Metal on....

2010-02-24T15:52:00.000-05:00

Tonight my boys from Athens hit town in the form of Skeletonwitch. They are playing at The Cider House. How will I be spending my evening, you ask?

Check it:

Now the only question that remains is which shirt should I wear? The Lady Gaga or the Death Cab for Cutie tee?

Trailer Tuesday

2010-02-23T22:23:00.001-05:00

Hot Tub Time machine . Could this be the stupidest name for a movie... ever? Perhaps, but it is not as lame as the website's url. Regardless this actually looks like a fucking riot of a flick. Or a goddamned train wreck. I think that the fact that it can go in any direction actually makes seeing this a top priority. Beyond the meta-factor of having John Cusack going back in time to the 80's (perhaps due to the lack of any good roles since High Fidelity) but we also have Darryl from "The Office" and the Funny Bald Dude from "The Daily Show". Yes. I am sold.

Gettin Lucky in Kentucky?

2010-02-23T22:08:00.001-05:00

Until 2 years or so ago I'd never thought about Kentucky except as a place I drove through to go someplace else, and as a place to which I considered applying for grad school for a split second (but really, who wants to go to a basketball school? ). Then I met Shawn Poynter , and I reconsidered my position on Kentucky; now don't completely dismiss the state, I merely mostly dismiss the state.

But then I read this fine ditty in Salon and I must say that the Commonwealth is pretty hardcore. Please Kentucky, get rid of the pledge to have not taken part in a duel away from the oath of office, so that I can be your governor. Unfortunately the throw-down I had with Kaper involving Nun-chuks at 10 paces currently precludes me from taking my rightful place as the resident at the East lawn of the Capitol, at the end of Capital Avenue.

Get these Mother Effing Snakes...

2010-02-22T14:20:00.000-05:00

...Out of this Mother Effing Swamp!

So in an effort to stop McClane's worst nightmare from finally coming to fruition, the state of Florida is apparently opening up a hunting season for all the invasive pythons running around the Everglades. As you may well know, people have let their erstwhile pets loose, or they have escaped leading to an abundance of feral snakes all around the region. Leading to many many images such as this:

So get your guns, crossbows, bolos, and any other implements of destruction and head on down to south Florida and go get ya some.

You know what I hate?

2010-02-19T10:42:00.004-05:00

You know what I hate?

Owning a fucking house. How the shit did I become responsible for a whole building? I can barely keep my dumb ass employed.

"What brings about such vitriol at the notion of the basic American dream, Michael?" I hear you saying in a perplexed state.

One may think that it is the fact that upon owning a home one is tied down to one town so long as the market works against you. Or that perhaps the idea of ownership of land is anathema to a communal form of existence wherein property and commodities are shared amongst all in the community.

But alas one would be wrong to think that these are the reasons I hate to own a home. No. It comes down to the fact that some idiot fucking birds have decided to make the dryer duct their place of residence. If the fuckers paid rent I may be more amenable to their current living situations, but as it stands I have to figure a way to get them the hell out of there as well as try to clean the duct. And as you all know my employment situation being precarious at best, paying some company who knows how much to do it for me is likely not in the picture. So I am stuck and in a lurch, and it all comes down to being the homeowner. Oh to be able to call the landlord and have them come and take care of it. But no, it's all up to me.

Who's got two thumbs and is pissed as shit at birds?

THIS GUY!

Fun with Captcha

2010-02-19T10:33:00.003-05:00

I'm sure you've all seen these before, and sometimes they make for some fun times. A recent one as I posted on The Tirade.

Is this the term for more than on Utah-ian in the room?

(Insert Drum Effect Here)

Trailer Tuesday

2010-02-16T13:07:00.005-05:00

Today's movie is a Danish Flick called Terribly Happy. This thing looks like a standard type of flick where the sophisticated urbanite (as a vehicle for the audience) goes out and is confronted with the strangeness of the rural peoples.

"Wow. I can't believe these people and I live in the same universe, let alone the same country!"

But shit. It looks to be fucking gorgeous. Also seems to be done with a really claustrophobic style that even the vast Danish countryside can't set free. I would like to see this, though being the fact that I live in a, as my wife would say, provincial shithole, I don't think we'll be catching this at the local multiplex. But c'mon Regal Downtown West, make a liar out of me!

Even if they don't play it here I can just wait for the inevitable Hollywood remake. Maybe Michael Bay is looking for a new Megan Fox vehicle?

Whoops. Actually the original director is remaking the Hollywood version.

Bad Restaurant Names

2010-02-10T19:16:00.005-05:00

Through the vastness of the interconnectivity that the interwebs afford us I stumbled onto this site. I really wish we had some crazy restaurant names here in Knoxville. I believe I would become a regular at an establishment called "Spotted Dick" or "Fuk Mi". Alas the strangest thing we have (as far as I know) is The Crown & Goose, which is way overpriced for my budgetary constraints. Maybe the folks at The Wigsphere will start to find some cool names around time....

Though to be honest I have been to a few buffets around town that fit this description...

Conundrum

2010-02-09T01:17:00.003-05:00

What's worse than coming home from the gym and being tired and sweaty?

Coming home from the gym and being tired and sweaty and having no soap with which to shower.

Luckily I found a small bar of Super 8 Motel soap. I believe I will need to get myself over to Target tomorrow and pick some up. I'm already fat and bald, there's no point in being stinky as well!

Will this be Kaper?

2010-02-08T14:29:00.004-05:00

I happen to think that this is exactly what Kaper's daughter's wedding will be like.

Burn Notice

2010-02-05T20:42:00.003-05:00

Anyone else watch this show? Pretty ridiculous and shit but man it's fun. Kinda like a poor man's Jason Bourne with a how-to manual. Plus let's face the fact, nearly anything that involves Bruce Campbell is worth watching.

Trailer Tuesday

2010-02-02T15:18:00.007-05:00

Today we have one from the people involved in The Departed. It's the new one with Leo DiCaprio & directed by Marty Scorsese. This one seems to be very much in the supernatural(?) thriller vein. Check it:

This flick seems to be garnering a lot of pub. People (the wife) seem to be really keen on seeing this thing. To be honest I can't be fucking bothered with this thing. Looks to me like a supernatural(?) thriller. Yep. I find that shit boring. Plus they keep on and on with talking about how it's a reunion of The Departed folks, which I think was one of the most overrated movies of the last decade. Does anyone even remember what the hell that movie was about? I sure as hell don't as I was pretty bored throughout the whole thing. Much the way I will be bored with this flick when Chrystal either rents it, or drags me to the theatre.

Opryland

2010-01-28T19:28:00.009-05:00

Chrystal was sent on a business trip to Nashville this week and was put up at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Besides the history in the name Opryland (and the giggle inducing name Gaylord) the hotel is a wonder of modern engineering. And of American excess.

It covers about 9 acres of covered real estate and is basically a world onto itself. There are 3 different arboretums which have carefully landscaped flora. There is a river, a waterfall, a replica of a plantation home that serves as a steakhouse! What!? Yeah, rivers, plantation homes, and pure craziness! Not to mention the huge indoor pool, rotating bar, Fuse nightclub, and 60 foot palm trees.

I could go on and on and on, about the amazing things we saw, but that could get boring. Nonetheless the place was a weird other world. I actually felt that I was somewhere else, and not 180 miles west of Knoxville. It seemed like everyone there was in vacation mode, which I guess they all kind of were, but I felt that I was no longer in Tennessee. Maybe it felt like Canada? I'm not sure but the fact that we were in side, but somehow outside, made the experience completely surreal.

In a lot of ways the extravagance of it all is everything I hate. I guess it's easy to look at the situation in Haiti, and so many other places in the world, and try to compare them to the hugeness that is the Gaylord Opryland, and therefore make some sort of judgement on the American value structure, but that can get a bit ideological. And when you are in that womb of crazy excess you simply have to enjoy it. Did I mention I dropped huge bank in one night? Well I did.

Originally I was to stay for Tuesday & Wednesday night, but her conference was finished one day early so I was only able to stay for one night. But it was a pretty wondrous experience: romantic fountains, beers, and my girl. Perfection.

Not to be gauche, but did I mention that these are $200 a night rooms? And did I mention we stayed there for free? Bonus!

Trailer Tuesday

2010-01-19T15:48:00.001-05:00

Not Safe For Work, yo. You've been warned.

Looks totally dumb but funny. Plus big ups for a fat Val Kilmer and Kristen Wiig.

Haiti/Credit Card Flap

2010-01-16T10:33:00.003-05:00

Today (or maybe yesterday) I received one of the usual emails I get from MoveOn.org. The crux of the matter said this:

As the tragedy in Haiti unfolds, Americans are generously donating millions of dollars to aid organizations.

But when Americans donate to charity with their credit cards, the credit card companies get rich. In some cases they keep 3% of the donation as a "transaction fee," even though that's far more than it costs them to process the donation.

Now friends, you may or may not know that I am by no means some sort of uber-capitalist, and in fact it's quite safe to say that I would fall squarely on the socialist end of most, if not all, political discussions. But even to me, this seems like a huge ado about nothing. At the end of the day these companies (no saints mind you, and I speak from experience having worked for 7 years at one of the major ones) still have a business to run. You know who else has a business to run? The Red Cross. No one is up in arms that a percentage of donations given to the Red Cross goes to paying for servers for their website, or to pay for their employees salaries.

Get over it folks every transaction you make with a credit card involves a transaction fee, whether that is a charitable contribution or the purchase of a "Screw Kiffin" t-shirt. Really MoveOn.org, lets move on* and focus on really important issues like healthcare reform and getting a public option for everyone.

Also if you have the means please consider a donation to Haiti via the Red Cross. You can go to their website or simply text "Haiti" to 90999 and a $10 charge will appear on your phone bill that goes wholly to the Red Cross. They have collected $10 million thus far via text. I just texted my donation.

*Sorry but you knew that lame pun was coming and I simply cannot resist a lame pun....

Surf-tastic

2010-01-13T19:27:00.000-05:00

Biggest Wave Ever Caught.

Letter from the Athletic Director

2010-01-13T18:23:00.003-05:00

Okay, this will be my last post on the matter. Mostly. At least until we hire someone I do not approve of.

Dear Vol Fans,

As you’ve heard Coach Kiffin resigned last night as our head football coach. While this does come at an inopportune time, remember that we are still Tennessee. Tennessee Football has been around for more than 113 seasons. We’ve been winning games for a long time and will continue to win games for a long time to come. It’s a special place, rich in football tradition. The University of Tennessee is among the top 10 winningest programs in college football, has six National Championships, 13 SEC Championships and has tremendous student-athletes that have and are representing us well.

We have already begun a search for the new head football coach of the Tennessee Volunteers and we’ll complete this process as quickly as possible to put the right person in place to lead our great football program forward in the months and years ahead.

Kippy Brown, who has been a critical piece of our success in years past, will serve as interim head coach until this process is completed. Please be patient and know that we are giving our all for Tennessee and there is a bright future ahead of us.

Go Vols!

Mike Hamilton
Men’s Athletics Director
University of Tennessee

I'll quibble about the 6 national championships, there's only 2 in our cupboard by my count, but let's not split hairs during this time of upheaval. I vote for Will Muschamp from Texas, or maybe keep Kippy Brown. I think he had a great press conference today.

Okay let's talk about movies and such.

The Rock at UT [Updated]

2010-01-12T23:10:00.006-05:00

For more info go here, here, or here.

[Update] The students on the way to bid Mr. Kiffin adieu.

[UPDATE (NSFW)]: So the Kiffin fiasco gets better & better. Below is the video reaction from Greene County. Lots and lots of cursing.

Trailer Tuesday

2010-01-12T18:55:00.004-05:00

Well, I thought I'd start a bit of a tradition here and post a cool, interesting, stupid, weird or whatever trailer on Tuesdays. You know just to keep you coming back at least once a week.

Today I'm putting up The Karate Kid. The new flick with Jackie Chan and Will Smith's kid. Um...did we really need to remake this movie? Isn't the original already iconic what with the crane kick and the bad ass Cobra Kai? Plus at least the original was about, oh I don't know, karate! The name implies a specific martial art, but considering the new story is set in China and the Mr. Miyagi character is played by Jackie Chan, shouldn't this be called The Kung Fu Kid? Seriously. What the shit, Hollywood?

As a side note, there is apparently a real Cobra Kai that specializes in MMA. I hope they sweep the leg....

Crazy

2010-01-12T00:23:00.003-05:00

Apparently the Aztecs weren't the only one's into mass killings and eating peoples. There's evidence in Germany that there was mass cannibalism happening. Pretty crazy shit.

Goooooool!! Oh...wait.

2010-01-11T13:23:00.001-05:00

After that great run down the wing I was hoping for a better shot....

Leprechauns

2010-01-11T08:26:00.002-05:00

Okay not to hate on Alabama (I've seen reports with idiots from Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, also in Australia) but this is too great to resist.

The best has to be the amateur sketch....

The Movie Heisman

2010-01-10T13:56:00.004-05:00

Some friends and I have decided to find the consensus best movie of the past decade. For this we've instituted a points system that mimics the Heisman voting. We're having everyone submit their 5 favorite films and rating them from 1-5. Then each film gets a point based on their position (5 pts for #1, 4 pts for #2, 3 points for #3, etc). At the end we hope to have a consensus #1 film.

Okay so this likely won't make everyone happy, but I think we'll have a movie that is really great and that everyone can at least like. But getting together with friends, having some drinks, and watching a movie is fun all around.

What pictures would you pick?

Here is my ballot. You will notice that it's slightly different from my Top 25 post.

1. Lost in Translation

2. Kill Bill

3. Punch Drunk Love

4. The Dark Knight

5. Amelie

What's worse than SEC Fan?

2010-01-08T12:41:00.005-05:00

What's worse than SEC Fan? Alabama Fan. (Followed closely by Gator Fan).

SEC Fan is a completely lost individual that lives by the triumphs of others.

"What you're most hated rival won a game against someone and you cheer for them?"

Fuck that, mate. As an Ohio State fan I hope Michigan loses every game they ever play. And as a Tennessee fan I also hope that Bama & Florida never taste victory for a millenia. But SEC fan lives such a parochial life that they actually barrack for their foes!

But worst amongst SEC fans is Bama Fan. Alabama has been cheating for 60 years. Alabama has been irrelevant for nearly 15 years. Yet Bama Fan gets on sports radio here in Knoxville and goes ballistic with their rhetoric and historical revisionism.

Historical revisionism you say? Yes. Historical Revisionism. The much vaunted Bear Bryant won 6 championships, and someone else won 1 in 1992. That, by any count, is 7 national championships. That, by any count, is an awesome number. Amongst the best in the land. Something to be truly proud of. But that is not enough for the yokels from Tuscaloosa. No they claimed 12, yes TWELVE, championships! Now of course with Alabama's victory over Texas in Pasadena, I expect that Bama Fan will claim they now have 14 national championships. Wait, we like round numbers, so let's make it a cool 15, shall we. So congrats Alabama, on your 17th national championship.

Kudos to ESPN for having the integrity to call it correctly:

In case you can't see that:

A Rose Bowl by any other name...

2010-01-07T14:28:00.004-05:00

Have I ever mentioned that I attended The Ohio State University and love The Buckeyes? Yeah I thought that I had. Well in case you somehow missed it The Ohio State beat Oregon to claim the 2010 Rose Bowl. If you did miss it Kaper has posted an awesome compilation video of the grandeur and majesty that is Ohio State Football. Go check it here.

Rush Music

2010-01-07T13:45:00.004-05:00

No not the band Rush. I mean the gym I belong to. Today they were playing a lot of old tunes. Bush, T.Rex, Guns 'N Roses, and the ever wonderful Boys II Men were all played over the speakers and on the television. Needless to say I was a very happy dude walking on the treadmill. Then they had to go an absolutely ruin the bitch by playing the Jonas Bros. At that point I promptly turned my attention to CNN.

And is it just me or is Shawn Stockman really Kevin Garnett?

I've never seen them in the same room. Have you?

Stop Avatar!

2010-01-07T01:11:00.003-05:00

Avatar kinda blew me away. The story is a basic sci-fi plot. Interesting, but hardly groundbreaking. But the effects. Wow. What effects! However I didn't realize that we needed to stop this thing as it makes you a homophobe! Really! Check out this link.

I promise to only watch it four more times... I don't want my lefty credentials to be revoked.

'Merica!

2010-01-07T00:14:00.002-05:00

I didn't know that Lee Greenwood quarterbacked Iowa!

The Biggest Loser

2010-01-05T20:40:00.002-05:00

I've never watched The Biggest Loser on TV. And I would never watch it, except that a friend of my wife's sister is on it this season. So though the show is pretty exploitative and leaning very far in the direction of fat porn, I will be watching and cheering on Ashley & Sherry.

Hit Girl

2010-01-05T13:42:00.005-05:00

I first read about this today at Amy's Robot. As I write this all I know of this flick is that it seems to be called Kick Ass & Nick Cage is in it. Also that after watching this red band trailer [NSFW-maybe, lotsa cursing], your mind may be as fucking melted as mine. Ridiculous action, foul mouthed kids, mass killings....seems just about right to me. If this movie is half as entertaining as that one minute and 16-ish seconds of the trailer, then we have the first awesome shit of 2010.

Opening Friday

2010-01-05T02:29:00.003-05:00

Friday January 8, 2010.
Reception of the Arts & Culture Alliance's National Juried Exhibition starring me. Well it's really more of an ensemble thing, but you get the picture.

2010

2010-01-04T23:24:00.002-05:00

2010 is here. I have started a workout program & intend to be more diligent on the Weight Watchers. Perhaps 2010 will finally be the year of a smaller Mike? With any luck it'll be the year of an employed Mike.....

MGT's Definitive Bests of the Aughts: Movies

2009-12-30T15:49:00.001-05:00

The end of the year leads for many top 10 lists. End of decades lead to expanded lists over a 10 year period. There are lot's of other lists out there including The McClane Tirade, The Times of London (Who have been overachievers and given us 100), Amy's Robot (Scroll down to Nov. 24), and you are sure to see many many more. But here at MGT we only really care about ourselves, so we are here to present you with The Definitive Best of the Aughts in Movies. A listing of the 25 best movies made when taking a sample of the best critics across the nation that were born in February, posses an MFA in painting and drawing, grew up in Ohio, and have the first name of Michael. And also the last name of Giles. With that sort of critical star power this list simply cannot fail to become referred to in posterity as the most important list, ever.

In actuality these movies are mainly the one's that I really liked. There are quite of few visually stunning films not included, and many great performances completely ignored. Some of these are funny, some are cool, some are awesome, but the list is mine and I stand by it. For the most part. These movies are the one's that for some reason or another made an impact and I watch and think about even to this day. They are not in a hard order, meaning that while as a general rule no. 1 I liked more than no. 25, the difference between no. 3 and no. 4 is more fluid. (Does that make sense?)

Michael Giles Typing's Definitive Best of the Aughts: Movies

25. Wall-E,

Andrew Stanton 2008

A typically visually wonderful release from Pixar that really pushed the envelope for animated films. The dark mood and subject matter were not you're typical children fare. The fact that the first part of the feature are silent is not your typical movie fare, regardless of genre (silent films, obviously excepted). The melding of a message, comedy, and dramatic elements were perfectly combined to make this movie one of the most stunning of the decade. One wonders how it would have fared if the Academy hadn't ghettoized animated films with their own category. Could Wall-E have captured the Best Picture Oscar?

24. V for Vendetta,

James McTeigue 2005
Alan Moore is quite simply one of the finest writer of comics of the last 30 years. Though he has generally distanced himself from the cinematic adaptations, his story lines translate very well in the visual medium. V for Vendetta is one such amazing adaptation. Extremely intelligent, extremely well spoken, and extremely kick ass. The story of a democratic society falling into totalitarianism is especially poignant in a post 9/11 world (never forget), and the fact that the studio somehow didn't shy away from having the hero be labeled a terrorist is just short of miraculous.

23. Minority Report,

Steven Speilberg 2002

A stunning piece of sci-fi filmmaking! The near future world is rendered flawlessly. It's not a a completely revamped world where everything we're familiar with is razed in deference to a smooth metal polished world. There are buildings from our time, and even our past still extant. The story (based upon something written by Phillip K. Dick) is a great exploration on the notion of guilt and our actions. Can we be guilty for our thoughts? And if we can find a way to prevent future crimes, and that gives us a safer world, should we give up our ideas of freedom of speech for just such a safe world? Amazing thought sequences there...

22. Gangs of New York,

Martin Scorsese 2002

Scorsese seemingly gets a lot of flack for this flick. People have laughed at its depiction of the Irish immigrants as building the country. But these people fail to realize that he happened to use the Irish as a stand in for all the peoples that have immigrated to this country (this blogger, included). The vast panorama of the film is luscious in it's dinginess, and the story of vengeance is straightforward but handled competently. What set this story apart for me was the acting. Di Caprio, Broadbent, and to a lesser extent Diaz are great in their roles, but it is the cobbler Daniel Day-Lewis that gives his usual tour-de-force. His Bill the Butcher is quite simply cunning, evil, charming, and brutal. He is, in my estimation, one of the top 5 movie villains in history! Bill the Butcher!

21. Old School,

Todd Phillips 2003

What can you say about a movie like Old School? Will Ferrell playing the bumbling funny man, Vince Vaughn playing the smart ass (surprise surprise), and Luke Wilson doing his funny straight man routine. All elements that we've grown accustomed to during the last 15 years, but it was done to a pitch perfect effect here. To the best of my knowledge, it's the first of the R rated guy comedies to hit it big. It was a clear indication that comedies were no longer going to held to the PG-13 constraints and let the stars curse, and let us stunted man-boys see boobies. Put your earmuffs on kiddies, the guys are gonna talk. Cock. Balls.

20. Wedding Crashers,

David Dobkin 2005

Another raunchy comedy from the aughts. However this was one that threw us a bit of curve. It started out as a story of boys behaving badly, but it turned into a rom-com! Okay, not totally a rom-com but it did turn into a story of boy chasing girl. It turns sacharrine at the end, and can't quite keep up the frenetic pace of it's first act, but even when it becomes more conventional it keeps the comedy clicking.

19. About a Boy,

Chris Weitz 2002

This story of a stunted man-boy and a stunted boy is quite possibly on of the sweetest stories I've ever seen. Based on the a novel by Nick Hornby it takes the novel's dual narration and shows us how these two people converge on each other and connect. But the story doesn't just focus on them, but also the story of how when we start relationships with people we also become involved in their families. It's the story of how Will and Marcus' world slowly expands outward to include Fiona and Rachel and move on from there. Add to that the brilliant music by Badly Drawn Boy and you have one of the most amazing films of the decade.

18. Elf,

John Favreau 2003

A Christmas classic. Do I need to say more about this? It's a movie you should watch every year at least once.

17. Evolution,

Ivan Reitman 2001

I saw this movie on DVD and not in the theatre. It didn't seem to hit with audiences, but when I saw it, I really can't explain why. The special effects are not as well done as LOTR but they are convincing enough. But it's really the story that kills me here. The comedy is so amazingly funny that even though I've literally seen this movie at least 30 times, I laugh everytime. Orlando jones and David Duchovny have a rapport that seems to have been built over years of friendship. Sean William Scott and Julianne Moore are at their comic best and great supporting roles by (a huge) Ethan Suplee and always brilliant Dan Akroyd round out the brilliance of this film. Oh, and it's directed by Ivan Reitman. Yeah great stuff.

16. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,

Garth Jennings 2005

This film has it's flaws. Part of the story telling can be arcane if you are not, like me, a devotee of Mr. Douglas Adams. But as I am a devotee, I highly enjoyed the film. The characters are brought to life fantastically by the cast. Sam Rockwell as Zaphod is almost channelling George W. Bush, Martin Freeman brings his everyman persona to Arthur, and Mos Def as Ford Prefect is simply perfect. The lovely Zooey Deschanel brings an indie hotness to Trillian that was missing from the books, but is more than welcome in my estimation. And lets not give short shrift to Alan Rickman's voice over as Marvin the Paranoid Android. His comedic timing is on point as ever. The comedy is typically dry (it is an adaptation of of a British work, after all) and I think that this was the reason for it's lukewarm reception here in the states. But I figure that the readers of MGT are more intelligent than your average septic tank so I assume you will enjoy this flick.

15. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,

Michel Gondry 2004

What is love? Can we simply ignore love? These are the questions in this movie. Probably one of the most romantic films on this list list, if not movies in general. The visuals are stunning and innovative, and mostly low-fi. But that what you'd expect from enfant terrible M. Gondry. The attempt by Joel to retain his memories are exasperating and heart breaking. When his mind has been completely erased and he sees Clementine again....

What is love?

Can we really ignore love?

14. Up,

Pete Doctor 2009

An animated adult movie. That what this actually is. It's not the story of the little kid, he is only there to keep the old man grounded (pun only slightly intended). It is really a story of growing old, growing weary, growing sad, and growing happy again. The first 5 minutes where we get a silent capsule of Carl and Ellie's life, it's ups and downs, is so wonderful that words will not do it justice. The scene where we learn of their inability to have children is as heart wrenching as any 90 minute drama focusing solely on that topic. Yes we get some children's movie comedy, we get some action/adventure, and the old hero has to come up big in the end as he fights his nemesis, but these are needed to move the plot. Nonetheless it shows us the range of the folks at Pixar.

13. The Royal Tenenbaums,

Wes Anderson 2001

A movie that is seemingly required of anyone in my social circle. But in reality, this movie cannot be ignored. It sets up the Andersonian universe to perfection. The slightly washed out color pallette, the intricate attention paid to shot construction, the use of "just off" musical selections, are all the hallmarks of what would be redefined as "quirk" during the decade. More than any other recent director, Anderson, set a personal vision which he would adhere too (perhaps to disasterous extreme, ie. The Darjeeling Limited). Nonetheless Tennenbaums is the high-water mark of his ouevre.

12. Y Tu Mama Tambien,

Alfonso Cuaron 2001

What would the teen road-trip sex romp look like if it was not filmed in the USA? A lot like this movie. It becomes sexy not sexual, funny in the actions not in the set-up gags, and real not a throwaway fantasy. The story of two rich kids on a journey with an older woman to the beach reveals a lot more than we expect. It sheds a light on Mexican society, it's dichotomies and irrationalities. It sheds a light on the fleeting nature of relationships and on how those are affected by sex. It sheds a light in the nature of mortality, and on how we deal with it.

11. Superbad,

Greg Mottola 2007

The teen sex romp is back! Nerds trying their best to get laid, being as foul-mouthed as is humanly possible. Sounds like fun. But the story here is really the love story between Evan and Seth. Not Brokeback Mountain love, but love nonetheless. The look they give each other at the end as their escalators, and perhaps their lives go in different directions is both tender, sad, joyous, and uplifting at once.

"I'm a senior now, they should be licking my ball sack!"

-Seth

10. The Bourne Identity/Supremacy/Ultimatum,

Doug Liman 2002, Paul Greengrass 2004 & 2007

Wait? you can't pick a whole set of movies as one entry?

Really, dick? Last I checked this is Michael Giles Typing? And I'm Michael Fucking Giles! I will do as I please.....

Yeah these flicks were some of my favorite action movies of the decade, and ever. Matt Damon brings his acting chops to the role so that we get a sense of the emotion(!) in the character of Jason Bourne. Yeah, emotion... Not your typical action movie.

If I had to pick one of the three, I pick The Bourne Supremacy.

9. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,

Adam McKay 2006

Will Ferrell being Will Ferrell. Doing his schtick much as like in Anchorman yet this movie somehow feels better to me. The story seems more fleshed out and the addition of John C. Reilly to riff with makes this to me the epitome of Mr. Ferrell's work during the decade.

"I'm just a big hairy American winning machine, you know?"

-Ricky Bobby

8. The Watchmen,

Zack Snyder 2009

Allan Moore strikes again. The great thing about this film is how it takes the superhero mythos and extrapolates it into a more "real" world. Yet it's a real world that has been altered because of the existence of superheroes. We get a world where nixon has won 4 terms of office and the USA is on the verge of war with the Soviet Union. We get images and ideas of metaphysics and the notion of right. Can a truly dastardly act be considered moral? What is man's responsibility to do right? Is it absolute? And on top of all this we get some serious ass kicking by costumed heroes.

7. Bridget Jones' Diary,

Sharon Maguire 2001

How did Renee Zellwegger not win the Oscar for this? The story of the plucky outsider attempting to navigate the dating waters of her 30's. Every part of the film is absolutely brilliant. The audacity of the situations only made more hilarious by Bridget Jones' attempts to traverse them.

6. Punch Drunk Love,

Paul Thomas Anderson 2002

Ultimately this is the story of depression and anxiety and fear. Barry is constantly held down by his sisters' badgering, his attempts to fit in, and his inability to relate to anyone, let alone women. The film is claustrophobic and disquieting at nearly every moment. Being the one looking in at the world, the one that is never taken at face value, this is a study of that person. Adam Sandler gives the performance of his life in this picture and I had hoped for more from him after this.

5. Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain,

Jean-Pierre Jeunet 2001

Fantasy. Beauty. Serendipity (of sorts). All of these words play out in the fairy tale that is Amelie. Whereas PT Anderson's Barry Egan takes out his loneliness with rage (see #6), Amelie Poulain takes her loneliness and uses it as way to surreptitiously do good for the people that live in her neighborhood. She sees beauty and wonder in the world, and imparts that on others. Will she herself ever find the happiness and love she is giving to others? The movie is, afterall, about her fabulous destiny....

4. The Harry Potter Saga,

2001-Present

Yep, another saga.

The universe of Harry Potter is a fantastic and wonderous and dangerous place. The story of these children growing up and learning to deal with their powers and all the evils that lurk around the corner are simply engrossing. The films are also really well made visual catalogs that bring this world to life. Some of the early CGI wasn't as great as we came to expect during the decade, but even these films were otherwise visually stunning. The story of young Harry has become one of the great biographies of our times.

If I had to pick the best, it's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban.

3. The Dark Knight,

Christopher Nolan 2008

The best superhero movie. Ever. A title long held by Superman and for a short time held by Spider-Man 2, but this movie came out and took the category based on the increasingly vivid world of Gotham City and the appearance of the scariest villain in all of filmdom, The Joker. How can any villain (be it Darth Vader, Lord Voldemort, or SPECTRE) be any scarier than The Joker. A man that is happy just to see the world burn. A man not after power or money or glory, but only after destruction? As played by Heath Ledger he becomes a cunning, psychotic, and brutal killer. A man with the same disrespect for the law as Batman, but none of the morality. Is the Two-Face plot taken a bit far? It's debatable, but the overarching story is wonderous.

2. Lost in Translation,

Sofia Coppola 2003

The most beautiful movie I've ever seen in my life. Are the leads in love? Or are they attracted only because of their situation? Does it matter when you are running through Plinko parlors and singing karaoke on the 30th story of a downtown Tokyo building? The story is as much about Bob and Charlotte, as it is about them both in Tokyo. The city itself becomes this colossal bright and exciting character. It is loud and constant and (to a westerner) strange. Yet it's the world that has brought these two characters out from their life and into a new fantasy world. But fantasy it is, as eventually Bob leaves Tokyo and Charlotte to go back to his world. that final touching scene where he whispers in her ear still brings chills to this day.

In all honesty this is my favorite movie ever. Yes it is strange that it is only the second best movie of the decade, but I never said I was rational.

1. Kill Bill,

Quentin Tarantino 2003-04

Mr. Tarantino does it again. Is this a triumph of style over substance? Probably. But when style is this stylish it's hard to ignore. Taking the lore of a revenge saga the story is a fairly by the numbers situation. But QT can never leave it that simple. He plays with the timeframes, skipping forward and backwards in the story telling and with flashbacks. The filming is filled with homages to Kung Fu films, Westerns, Cop Procedurals, and on and on and on. The movie shifts back and forth from color and black and white, from gore to fantasy violence, from realism to impossibility. It is simply a filmmaking tour de force, of which only one filmmaker is capable. that being, of course, Quentin Tarantino.

Honorable Mentions

Garden State (Zach Braff, 2004), Where The Wild Things Are (Spike Jonze, 2009), Spider-Man 2 (Sam Raimi, 2004), There Will Be Blood (PT Anderson, 2007), Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, 2009), 24 Hour Party People (Michael Winterbottom, 2002), Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly, 2001), Amorres Perros (Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, 2000), School of Rock (Richard Linklatter, 2003), Avatar (James Cameron, 2009), Pan's Labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro, 2006), The Incredibles (Brad Bird, 2004), Children of Men (Alfonso Cuaron, 2006), Let the Right One In (Tomas Alfredsson, 2008), The Hangover (Todd Phillips, 2009), Son of Rambow (Garth Jennings, 2007), Borat (Larry Charles, 2006) Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004)

Worst Design: Posters

2009-12-30T14:47:00.004-05:00

A great post at Jordan Gray Creative about the worst movie posters of the decade. There's a great selection ranging from the ridiculous, to the offensive, to the requisite "font fetishism" that most designers seem to have.

[UPDATE: Via our good friend McClane in the comments is a link for some of the best posters of the decade. (click here)]

Year in Pictures

2009-12-28T17:44:00.004-05:00

Our creative and social force, Dale Mackey, has completed a compendium of photographs taken throughout the year. "Wait, isn't that just a facebook album?" I hear you say. Well it is not because she has put it all together to music.

You'd almost think these people are actually fashionable, instead of huge dorks. Well McClane, Poynter and I are huge dorks and count ourselves lucky to even be in the background of the pictures, let alone part of the group.

Wedding Photos

2009-12-21T13:41:00.005-05:00

I had posted some images on my facebook page a while back, but I have been playing around with the images again of late. Chrystal wanted to give some pictures go the family for the holidays so I had some cleaning up and photoshopping on the pics. I am not very good with photoshop, and using 7.0 puts me at a disadvantage. (Anyone wanna trade for a more recent version? I have paintings...)

Here are a few of the results.

These first ones are the ones I made to put in those multi frames for Chrystal's Granny & Parents.

Her folks wanted some B&W shots so I did that as well.

I also tried to give a couple of shots a bit of a "vintage" look so we can hang in the house. (Yeah we've been married for 5 months and have not yet put up any pictures, what of it nerd?)

Laff/Kry

2009-12-21T13:31:00.004-05:00

I'm really not sure if I should laugh or cry. It's funny... because it's true.

Dilbert from 12/21/2009

Merry Life Day!

2009-12-19T13:39:00.004-05:00

Holy Ton Ton Shit! How the hell have I never seen this? A Star Wars Holiday Special? Granted I must've been only 4 when it aired and not living in this country, but still... How did it take me till my 30's to know about this? Probably because it's terrible! But hey, at least there's no Jar Jar Binks!!!

My Little Run Run Runaway....

2009-12-18T14:02:00.005-05:00

The Runaways bio-pic. Maybe after this I'll forgive Kristen Stewart for the whole Twilight shite-o-rama.

Bike Knoxville

2009-12-18T12:23:00.003-05:00

I generally have a love/HATE relationship with the lil' town of Knoxville. And I suppose it's a general feeling of malaise about most things in life.

I've met some amazing people here in Knoxville, and most of them promptly moved away after graduation. But I have found myself with another fantastic group of friends who seem more likely to stick around, so that is good. Nonetheless there are some strange wonderful things about this town. Ice skating in Market Square, First Fridays, and the Christmas Parade are but a few examples.

Regardless there are some crazy things that happen in this town many of which are looked at, and discussed by the folks over at The Wigsphere. Unfortunately for me, I find out about these things mostly after the fact, so I can only look on in wonder at the good times other people are having.

One such event was a weird bike ride organized by the Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program called the Tour de Lights. Seems a lot of folks organized a ride throughout downtown neighborhoods to see the lights and spread Christmas cheer. Seems like lots of fun was had by all and if I had known about it I (maybe?) would have participated.

So keep your eyes open Knoxvillains, you don't know when the next bit of Knoxville quirk will hit your neighborhood (unless you live in West Knoxville and you know exactly when Knoxville quirk will strike: never.)

Best of McClane

2009-12-16T10:34:00.004-05:00

In case you haven't mosied on over to the left, you should check out McClane's Best of the Decade undertaking. He lists his top 25 movies of the last 10 years. I thought for sure he'd find a way to put Friday the 13th in there, but he should an amazing amount of restraint for once.

This is something I've thought of doing but am unsure if I really want to take such a thing on. I know in the past I have posted on favorite films but have as of yet to undertake a full on Best of list. On the one hand these are totally imprecise measurements of artistic or cinematic undertakings. They can be tedious and utterly self-indulgent. But sometimes they are fun.

Sigh.

What say you dear reader?
Should I attempt to match McClane?
And most importantly, will you also list your bests?

Phones and Guns

2009-12-15T10:32:00.007-05:00

I got 99 problems, and my phone is one.

I currently have an LG Rumor phone, and I was extremely smitten with the thing when I first bought it. I am, in fact, still quite smitten with it, unfortunately it is starting to give me some technical issues. If you are not familiar with the phone, it has a slide out qwerty keyboard for more efficient texting. This feature was one of the main reasons that I purchased the phone as I have become a bit of a texting fiend. (My texting has diminished considerably since I fazed facebook from my life, but that is a discussion for another day....) Now my phone tends to blink out when I type and it will inexplicably, and usually inconveniently, lose power and turn off. Assuring of course that at those exact moments my parents will call me from Venezuela. I will assume that this issue has much to do with the constant sliding of the keyboard and some sort of wire mix up, or nano-technological bots unable to replace bio-neurons, or a vacuum tube having been blown. Regardless the phone is on the fritz (that is, I believe, the technical term).

So I have become much more enamored than ever before with reading websites about all the new fancy phones out on the market. This is mostly a passing fancy as most of the people reading this blog know my financial situatin is precarious at best, and the purchase of a new phone is most likely at least a year away. As a rule I have ruled out the purchase of an iPhone. Though I am a mac convert and love love love their aesthetic and computers, I have heard sufficient horror stories on the lack of service for the core function (namely: phone calls) that I don't want to go that route. The fact that it would also require me to change phone providers is also a negative. So I believe that I have come upon the best solution and have decided that at some point I will adopt a Droid phone.

I first saw this system when Michelle and Frank came to visit over the summer. It absolutley blew my mind! They were able to listen to pandora stream on their phone, make phone calls, and get google maps real time! It was a veritable smorgasbord of options all in the palm of your hand. The only drawback that I have seen to the droid phones on Sprint is that the cameras on those phones is not up to par with the iPhone. (Check out my friend Ben's iPhone pics here to see why I would love that 5mp camera)But then again when I finally am able to afford one of those fancy doodads, perhaps they will all be 5mp's......

Hold ya gun up!

There is an interesting (I don't wanna say funny because it begins with the story of someone getting killed by cops) story in Slate about why people hold their guns to the side when they want to be street. I personally hold my gun upside down, but I'm gangster like that.....

Comics

2009-12-08T23:16:00.003-05:00

So Quiet Adventure has finally uploaded a new panel. Seriously what the hell is wrong with those cats over there?

Marriage Protection

2009-12-02T13:52:00.002-05:00

We all know how the anti-gay marriage bigots torpedoed people's rights in California last year. They were all over the television railing against the evils of gay marriage and how it destroyed the sanctity of marriage. Well it's time that California truly defended marriage!

Enter John Marcotte!

A true hero for marriage making an effort to ban divorce! After all, what better way to defend marriage than to make it permanent? There's a pretty awesome website for his movement where you can buy one of these shirts.

The truth about Tigers and Vikings

2009-12-02T01:11:00.001-05:00

This is cross posted from the disjointedness blog.

The above is a fantastic clip from a Taiwanese television news(?) program regarding Tiger-gate. The stories have been all over the news and the tabloids about the specific sequence of events when Tiger Woods got into a car accident. The stories have been fast and furious about mistresses and domestic violence, none of which has been proven in any way. Nonetheless the news report above seems to be very clear on the sequence of events. I will admit that I don not in any way shape or form understand any form of Chinese, but the images speak for themselves.

I find it quite compelling how quickly such a fairly high quality animation was created for the report. I think this can really alter our perceptions on news stories in the future. If we are shown what actions have taken place, how could we not believe those actions? Many people in the culture are already seemingly pre-disposed to believing everything that they are told by the media, when they are completely removed from even using our imaginations and shown the action, that will completely obliterate whatever facet of free will they may have. Perhaps any facet of free will any of us has.

Insert Black Sabbath reference here....

2009-12-01T00:43:00.003-05:00

Much love to the Tirade for the link to the new Iron Man image.

The Movies

2009-11-30T23:32:00.002-05:00

Initially I was just gonna put that video up, cos, well. Cos it is crazy. But then I started to think about the fact that I haven't really been going to the movies. The last movie I saw was the debacle that is New Moon. (Yeah fuck you guys.) There are a few things that I missed this year which I really wanted to see. A Serious Man, (500) Days of Summer (though I think that this would end up really saccharine and faux-hipster), Big Fan (apparently Patton Oswalt destroyed acting while filming this), and Antichrist (though this may be same kind of tediousness von Trier is oh so famous for, I have an interest) are some of the films that really interested me. Though I did watch Star Trek, The Watchmen, and Zombieland. So the year hasn't been a total bust but it could've been much better.

I suppose I'll link the trailers for the flicks I haven't seen for your enjoyment.

"Let's sit down and you be by my side I got your popcorn I know what else you like."
-Bangs

The Prisoner

2009-11-24T12:06:00.004-05:00

Hey all I posted a piece which is a review/reflection of AMC's reimagining of The Prisoner. You can go and see it at the disjointedness blog if ya interested.

The Hot Chick '12!

2009-11-23T22:00:00.006-05:00

I realize that these interviews are edited to show a specific kind of person, and a specific viewpoint. I also realize that if you put cameras in a more liberal audience you will also find idiots (if I was put on the spot I may pull a blank). But damn. These people are spewing words they heard on the radio. They have no idea what the words mean at all! I love the fact that these people had no idea whatsoever what Sarah Palin's policies were, but were still intent on making her the most powerful person on the planet!

(Sorry for the video quality, it's choppy on my computer, but the audio comes through very well).

(Also, yes I am very embarrassed that these interviews were conducted in my home area of Columbus).

I know that Dennis Miller is right, I am only interested in Mrs. Palin cos of hot sex!

DIY

2009-11-23T16:36:00.001-05:00

Not trying to steal any of Ms. Mackey's DIY thunder, but I read this on Roger Ebert's blog. Some directions on making your own iron-on t-shirts.

Drawings/Painting

2009-11-20T16:59:00.004-05:00

Earlier I posted a quote from Frida Kahlo and some images. I saw that quote off of Utrecht's Twitter feed and it got me to thinking of a few things I've done recently. So I thought I'd share these images. Comments and death threats, as always, are much appreciated.

National Juried Show

2009-11-20T14:04:00.001-05:00

Mirror Lake

2009-11-20T11:36:00.003-05:00

A rather incoherent video of students jumping in Mirror Lake at The Ohio State University in anticipation of the Greatest Rivalry in the history of the world. (Alabama-Auburn? Boring. Real Madrid-FC Barcelona? Quaint. Roman Empire-Carthage? Wake me when it's over.) The kids as usual braved the cold (probably low 40s high 30s) and the likely-hood of urine in the water to show those idiots up north how we do it in Ohio!

Yes, as I mentioned above the video is kind of incoherent, but it's really kind of beautiful. The lights and flashes make a nice abstract image.

BTW- I'm starting to get a bit worried about The Game tomorrow. RichRod is on the hot seat, the team is on a losing streak, they need to win to maybe salvage a bowl game, and they are playing in Ann Arbor, all of this adds up to those fucking Wolverines ruining my season. I am on upset alert, and I hope that Tressel has these boys focused and ready to go. I simply couldn't stand it if we lose this game.

Quote

2009-11-20T10:48:00.005-05:00

"I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best."
-Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo, The Little Deer, 1946

Frida Kahlo, Las dos Fridas, 1939

Frida Kahlo, The Broken Column, 1944

Catch Up

2009-11-19T17:35:00.005-05:00

So hey, Mike Giles, here. I haven't put much info up here lately so I thought I'd drop all of my reader(s) a line.

This is for all you single ladies...

MICHIGAN WEEK, BITCHES!

2009-11-16T12:58:00.003-05:00

Today marks the beginning of the best week in the college football calendar. When the Buckeyes prepare to face off against the most vile and evil force since the destruction of the second Death Star.

BRING IT ON YOU WOLVERINE FUCKS!!!!

Oh, the Buckeyes will be trotting out in Ann Arbor in retro inspired uniforms. You can see some images here. They are actually really cool.

Another Shout Out

2009-11-13T11:40:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure how often people peruse the links on the left hand side, but I do believe they need to do it much more often.

But right now I would like to specifically send a shout out to the blog called Kaper. On that blog we have had a couple of entries detailing the making of homemade cider. Not just apple cider, but booze filled, get'cha on ya ass, ooh me head will hurt tomorrow cider! There are instructions, ideas, and even directions to a home brew enthusiasts store for those of us living in the Knoxville area. If I had any semblance of a proper income, you can believe I would be making my own cider, as it stands I will have to wait till I arrive in Columbus for the holidays to sample to product.

Mmmmm.... Cider.

Proper Colonial Cider

I don't know if anyone caught this story back in September on Slate, but there was a write up on cider. This is a great read because it really gives us a small snapshot on how different the country was back in the good ole days. (How would the far righters fare in a land where alcohol is consumed by everyone, including children as a matter of course?) But it also talks about the resurgence of cider houses. The best are still in the UK, but there are a few in the US. Alas they are still rather regionalized, and the one listed in the story that allows internet purchases cannot ship to Tennessee due to the state's ridiculous alcohol laws. Still a good read.

Friday the 13th

2009-11-13T11:12:00.004-05:00

Today is the 13th of the month on a Friday. There is a long history of superstition attached to this date, and you can get much more information on it here. I remember when I was but a lad kids at school would talk about Friday the 13th and all the crazy spooky things that would happen, and it kind of weirded me out. When i asked my parents about it they had no idea what the hell I was talking about, for as you will find here (Spanish) the date of bad luck in Latin America is traditionally Tuesday the 13th. Since then I have not put much stock into the whole notion of a day of bad luck as it seemed that it was all just a culturally specific superstition (okay I wasn't breaking cultural differences quite so subtly back then, but I got the general gist of the matter.) Also as I was not permitted to watch R rated movies, I was never really able to participate in the early 80's horror classics of the Friday the 13th movies.

Luckily for all of us here at MGT central our good friend Matt McClane's only true interest in the world is Friday the 13th and its many many sequels. The man has based his entire existence upon Jason Vorhees, campfires, Crystal Lake and murder. He has gone so far as to write an extensive (or is it exhausting) chronology of the series and you can find it here. I, personally, have only made it through about a third of that entry, but I do believe it fits its description as "...best chronology ever!"

And as today is Friday the 13th, no one should be surprised at the new entry by Mr. McClane regarding the movie. He has been so kind as to include several tribute videos as well as a rare video blog on his favorite subject. You would be remiss, dear reader, to not immediately go over there now and see how this date is to be properly celebrated,

How 'bout dem Vols?

2009-11-13T00:37:00.004-05:00

I'm sure by now everyone has heard about the trio of Frosh UT players arrested for armed robbery. If you haven't then you can get additional info here, here, or here.

I'm not going to get into the idiocy of these guys, but really how do you try to rob someone for what at best would be a few dollars, when in 2 more years you can go to the league? But whatever.

What I think is amazing is how WVLT got video so quickly of the arrest of the players! Seriously, did a WVLT cameraman happen to be walking out of the Mellow Mushroom at 1 a.m. and happen to see three Vols? That's just crazy lucky! And perhaps the funniest (for lack of a better word) part is that these idiots were wearing their UT athletic gear! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I guess the fact that your 6-4 and solid isn't enough to let everyone know you play for the team, no you also have to wear your gear during an armed robbery.

The video is below and kinda interesting. Once again, kudos to WVLT.

Dictionaraoke

2009-11-12T10:50:00.002-05:00

Playing around on the now defunct Art Gallery of Knoxville's website I found a fantastic link to Dictionaraoke. You don't know what that is you say? Well neither did I. (Here's the wikipedia entry.

Basically they've used the audio files from online dictionary's pronunciation guides to redo various songs. The stilted digital voice is basically doing the singing for the songs. How amazingly awesome is that!

I think it pushes the boundary and further blurs that line between man and machine. The computer is being used to supplant our voices to make music. This is all still very DIY and is not really meant to replace us. (I'm sure there are some self-congratulatory scientists finding ways to really replace us for customer seervice callers and the such, not realizing they are actually allowing Skynet or the Matrix war to happen; but that is a post for another day.) But I feel like this use of these existing files really plays with our preconceived notions of what a song is. What singing is. It starts to beg the question of what is a pleasing voice. Is it the kids in Glee? Or a combination of digital sounds? Afterall, these pronunciation guides are meant to portray a pleasing voice as well.

Update on past contests

2009-11-12T10:16:00.003-05:00

As many know there was a contest a few weeks back for which there were fantastic and amazing prizes. The main prize would consist of a drawn picture from a movie. In this case it was to be Big Trouble in Little China, the classic action/adventure by John Carpenter. This was very exciting to me as I had (I believed) recently purchased said film and would have lots of fun making a drawing from the movie.

Unsurprisingly, a thorough search throughout my home has found no indications that this film has ever actually been in my collection. Either I never bought it and thought that the late night G4 viewing was a DVD, or I have somehow lost it. I will wager that it is the latter as I am also missing several other DVD's that I am 100% sure I have purchased, but that is a story for another day. But I am glad to say (Mr. McClane will likely be even glad-er) that I have just now purchased a used copy from some place in Texas and in 5-7 days will be able to start drawing.

Hold tight my friends! Art will soon be on it's way!