Beyoncé

According to the internets (which are always true, right?), Beyoncé Knowles attended the same high school as me (for a while). Obviously a bit after my time, though.

Speaking of school, this one time, at band camp... Actually, I was never in Band; I won a trophy in Math Club once though :-) For someone so unmusical, I currently own three instruments, four if you count the saw in the garage.

Bozeman Blog-B-Q ?

Any interest out here for a blog-b-q -- a get-together in BBQ format? I think the great weather (warm but not too warm) we're currently having will hold for a few more weeks.

I think shish-kabobs would be great.

Smackdown

The other day, in McDonald's, a young boy thought I was a pro wrestling "Smackdown Artist."

I've also been mistaken for :
1) the (soon-to-be former) BHS basketball coach (who has the same name as me), and
2) the (former) MSU football coach.

Smart students

Students from Montana State win materials handling design competition

Friday cat blogging

Why I Blog

(Note: I was tagged by Patia).

I blog because writing helps me clarify my mind - about life in Bozeman, books, movies, etc. I find blogging to be much less introspective than keeping a journal - you'll never read any stories of angst or emotional turmoil or romantic tales of bachelorhood on this blog.

I've met some interesting people via blogs, both online and in real-life. That never happens when you just write in a personal (paper) journal.

Most of the photos I post are aggressively non-artistic on purpose (yeah, right - it's all on purpose...)

I don't blog much on politics or current events. It's not that I'm apathetic - I'm just not interested in writing about such topics.

I try to be open-minded when I read other blogs. I think blogging, for many people (especially young people) is another way to "try on" ideas.


(P.S. - I "maintain" four other blogs...)

Review: Soon I Will Be Invincible

Soon I Will Be Invincible is a mainstream novel about super-villains and super-heroes. I thought it was good, if a bit long. If you liked The Incredibles, you might like this story.

I mostly agree with this NY Times review.

I had a pretty good comic book collection as a boy. I "inherited" some comic books from a sister's boyfriend. And, in keeping with the "Comic Book Social Contract", I eventually gave all mine away.

MSU tv ad

(I'm sure there's a UM ad on youtube, if you just look for it ;-)

Double Feature: Boot to the Head

I heard these via Dr. Demento:

1. Ti Kwan Leep

2. Last will and testament

Review: Superbad

Superfunny - a movie about male bravado, humiliation, self-confidence, and separation anxiety. Also: alcohol-fueled parties and anatomical illustrations. The movie is raunchy (mostly verbally), but not in the sniggering, misogynistic, stupid way such movies were back when I was a teenager.

Read a couple of of reviews before you go: Variety, Rolling Stone.

The movie is rated "R", so maybe we'll be spared criticism from prigs who prefer movies that glorify torture and murder.

Friday cat blogging

(Meara eventually caught the mouse later that night)

Elvis - 30 years ago today

I was eating at a Whataburger in Texas when I learned that The King had just died.

Fun with Photoshop

iwanexsudio.com

Select "portfolio", then click on one of the photographs. Mouse over the photo to see before/after.

Review: Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen's novel Water for Elephants is about romance, and the circus, though not necessarily about the romance of the circus. I thought it was a nice, quick Summer read. Fair warning: don't read this book if you dislike happy endings.





Here are some semi-random circus & carnival links:
1. Ringling, Montana (near Bozeman) was named after one of the famous Ringling Brothers.
2. Memoirs of a Sword Swallower is my favorite book about life in a carnival sideshow.
3. The Ringling Museum is worth a visit if you're ever near Sarasota FL. (I visited the museum during Spring Break many years ago.)
4. Circus Peanuts - a classic from The Straight Dope. (Bonus: kraut juice.)
5. The movie Freaks has a pretty scary ending (I have the DVD).

Review: Kim

I recently re-read Kipling's Kim, and I think I've discovered how best to enjoy it. First, recognize that Kipling thought British rule was beneficial, or at least indifferent, compared to rule by other colonizing nations. Second, do not approach the book as "social realism" - that's a fast way to spoil it. Most important, think of the book as a means of getting into Kipling's head - to understand his understanding of British India, and of adventurous boyhood.

In my younger days, I would have said to just consider the story as being set in an alternate universe. Now, I think using that method to suspend disbelief has too many disadvantages.


Note: Besides being a great adventure story, Kim is also considered part of the Western Canon.

Review: Rush Hour 3

One of Jackie Chan's weakest movies (note: I'm a big Chan fan - I have a half dozen of his movies on DVD).

I found Chris Tucker's character to be particularly unsympathetic (is assholish a word?).

On the plus side, the movie did have an attractive bald woman, and an interesting statistic (34%) ;-)

Friday cat blogging: Sleepy Time

Keep honking...

I saw an unlikely pair of stickers on a car in Bozeman today:

1. Keep honking... I'm reloading
2. Christian fish with WWJD (who wants jelly donuts?)

strange voice

The narrator of this video has a very strange voice. Kinda interesting, but I'm sure it would become annoying over a long weekend.

to be or not to be?

Note: the icy-hot Julia Stiles plays Ophelia in Hamlet (2000).

Another Note: You can see a well-acted scene from Hamlet -- just search YouTube for Cat Head Theater.

"On a stick" - 59 ways

Review: Bourne Ultimatum

I really enjoyed the Bourne Ultimatum (I also enjoyed the previous two Bourne movies).

Julia Stiles and Joan Allen both have larger parts in this installment. This is nice because, besides being good actors, they are hot-hot-hot. (Yes that's a technical term ;-)

All three movies used versions of Moby's "Extreme Ways" for the end credits.

Friday cat blogging