The Epidemic Spreads.

Wow, I didn't know it was this bad.  I've previously commented on Hollywood's current bout of remakeitis.  But I didn't realise that there are apparently some 75 remakes and reboots currently in production or development.  Most of those listed are movies, but a few are TV series.  Some really leave me scratching my head, like the remakes of David Cronenberg's The Brood and Videodrome.  Cronenberg's vision is rather personal, so it's hard to see the point of someone else attempting it.  Others, like proposed new Daredevil and Fantastic Four movies, are apparently little more than attempts to make sure someone else doesn't end up with the rights to the properties.  And is anyone really clamouring for a remake of Drop Dead Fred?  Of course someone actually managed to convince the studio bosses that a new version of Red Dawn was a good idea, despite the premise being even more ridiculous than it was way back in 1984, so Drop Dead Fred isn't much of a leap.  But it seems to me that they're missing some opportunities.  I'm sure the rights to the Ma and Pa Kettle franchise are available for very cheap.  Hmmm, any aspiring Spielberg want to team up with me and give it a shot?

March Ends With A Kaboom?

March is just about over, but you could be forgiven if you thought it was the end of April or even May today in Saskatoon.  The temperature reached something like 17 degrees Celcius, a temperature not normally found in March.  Even funnier is that tonight's forecast actually calls for the possibility of thundershowers.  In March.  I don't think I've ever seen a forecast like that before, although I think I did actually see a streak of lightning in Winter some years ago.

In For A Penny.

There has been talk in Canada in recent years, as with other countries, of getting rid of our smallest currency denomination.  In Canada it's the penny.  A fellow I saw today might not be too happy with that if it does happen.  I went into a local Co Op gas station to cash in a lottery ticket.  The guy ahead of me was paying for $5.60 in gas with a bunch of dimes and pennies.  I arrived after it was all spread out on the counter, so I have no idea what the story behind this was.  I was surprised, as I would have thought the clerk would have told him they can't do transactions for that amount with small coins like that.  I'm sure whoever does the tally on the cash drawer tonight will be having some fun, unless of course they've been making sure to give out lots of dimes in change today.

Teh Gud Newz Accordin To Ceiling Cat.

How did I miss this?  December saw the publication of what could be the most important religious book ever published:  Lolcat Bible: In Teh Beginnin Ceiling Cat Maded Teh Skiez an Da Urfs N Stuffs  Now the story of Ceiling Cat and His many works can be read by all. It was translated by Martin Grondin and other members of the LOLcat Bible Translation Project.  I'm sure they made Ceiling Cat very happy, and He will lay plenty of cheeseburgers upon them.

There Should Be More.

During my travels today I walked past a little girl name Oprah.  Thinking about it I'm surprised I've never run across one before. Given how influental Ms. Winfrey is you'd think a lot of little girls would have been named Oprah over the last decade or so.  If they have been there apparently aren't many in Saskatoon.

Jack Bauer For President?

It wasn't all that many years ago that you would hear a lot of talk about Arnold Schwarzenegger possibly running for the US Presidency.  There was a little problem with the idea, namely that the office of President is limited by the US Constitution to only those born as US citizens, which of course the Austrian former bodybuilder and actor isn't.  But it was felt that his popularity would be enough to generate support for the passing of a Constitutional amendment to overturn that prohibition.

But I get the impression that a lot of that talk has faded away in the last few years.  No doubt this has to do with him becoming Governor of California and actually having to govern someplace.  Not to mention that he didn't turn out to be the hardcore right wing Republican some thought he would be.  Given the decline in such interest I wonder if we won't eventually see some folks wanting Kiefer Sutherland to run for political office, including eventually the Presidency.  After all he's spent the last 8 years being the poster boy for the fantasy of being able to kick the ass of terrorists, no questions asked and no tactics forbidden, as the star of 24, just as Schwarzenegger tended to fulfill that role during the height of his movie career.  So as people are wont to do there might be those who conflate Jack Bauer's persona with Sutherland's and figure he'll be the next Ronald Reagan if he's elected.

 Like Arnie a Constitutional amendment would be needed to allow this, since Sutherland was born in the UK to Canadian parents.  But also like the "Governator" I suspect that if he ever did become a US politician a lot of people would be disappointed because he wouldn't behave like Jack Bauer. 

Know What A Chav Is?

Then you may find this eBay car auction amusing.  Frankly I'm surprised someone didn't get it pulled for the tone of it. 

Some Questions Shouldn't Be Answered.

A good example is why I got a hit today for "gueguen porn" from someone in Turkey.  While I'm not hideous I doubt anyone other than an actual sex partner of mine would want to see naked pictures of me.

Today's Cassette, March 17, 2010.

Today's entry was cassette number 2 from the Orb's 1993 album Live 93.  Yep, it was a 2 cassette release in that format, and not the only double cassette album I own, the other being Bitches Brew by Miles Davis.  Live 93 isn't exactly the most high fidelity cassette release, or at least my copy isn't, but I think this fits quite well with the music on the album.

From The Mouths Of Cats.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The statement in this picture is all too often so very true.

Addenda:  Yes, the edge is cut off.  Rather appropriate given the intent of the caption.

A Question For Idiots.

What is it that makes you stick your head out the window of a moving vehicle to shout at a random pedestrian you're passing by? 

Three From Japan. One From Japan.

Since I haven't run across anything I wanted to write about the last few days, here's some stuff from YouTube for you to watch.



First up we have the Plastics on Japanese TV in 1979, being interviewed and performing "Top Secret Man."  For many North Americans their first exposure to Japanese rock music was seeing the promo video for this song played on a 1982 episode of SCTV.  Unfortunately the segment also had Dave Thomas in yellowface.  Naughty!  The actual music starts at 1:44, and is in stereo to boot!



Next is Hikashu, performing what is probably  their best known tune, "Pike."  Supposedly this song was orignally written for American guitar band the Ventures, who have always been enormously popular in Japan.  Hikashu frontman Koichi Makigami decided that Hikashu might as well do a vocal version, and it appeared on their 1980 album Natsu, which I actually own a copy of.  The Ventures version appeared on their 1980 album Chameleon.



Behind door number 3 we have two songs from P Model, led by guitarist/vocalist Susumu Hirasawa.  Hirasawa formed P Model in 1979 out of the members of his previous progressive rock band Mandrake.  One of the things I find amusing about the late '80s and early '90s P Model footage found on YouTube is the antics of keyboardist Hikaru Kotobuki.  He's always making faces, rolling his eyes, and in general acting like he'd rather be someplace else.  Yet he would spend a half decade as P Model keyboardist, which would seem to indicate he wasn't too unhappy.



Finally, I'll be a smartypants and finish with one from Japan.  The British group Japan, that is.  This is from the classic British pop TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test.  Guesting along with Japan is Masami Tsuchiya of the Japanese group Ippu Do, who played guitar with them on what would prove to be their farewell tour backing the album Tin Drum, which "The Art of Parties" was the opening track for. 

Long Time Running.

I can only wonder what this bill I entered nearly five years ago has been doing.  Did it get stuck in a drawer or something?  When the current issue of fives was released there was talk the banks were going to pull the 2002 series fairly quickly, so this one apparently escaped that.  Then again I saw someone using a 1986 issue "bird" five a week or two back, so even older bills survive.

What Is That Thing?

Have you seen the TV ad for the Titan Peeler?  If so, could you tell me what the hell that thing that looks like a giant erect penis is?  Seriously, how the hell did that get past the standards and practices guys?

(No, I don't cook much in the way of veggies.  Why do you ask?)

Gas In Saskatoon, March 5, 2010.

It has literally been a month since I've done one of these, the last one appearing on February5th.  Gas in Saskatoon is currently 101.9 cents a litre.

The Funny Webpages.

I was trying to remember when the last time I looked at a newspaper comic page was.  I haven't a clue, so I suspect it's been years.  It seems the only time I look at an actual newspaper comic strip is when James Nicoll has one of his occasional posts on For Better Or Worse and links to someplace featuring one of the strips.  On the other hand of late I have been reading certain webcomics:

Questionable Content, which seems to be one of the big bigs of the genre given that creator Jeph Jacques apparently makes a reasonable living doing it.  Most webcomics aren't that successful.  It's interesting to compare the very first strip with his current output.  He sure has come a long way artwise.

Penny and Aggie, which at first glance is likely to make you think of Archie.  I'm sure this was part of the intent of its creators, writer T. Campbell and artist Giselle Lagace.  They in fact in its early days hoped to get it syndicated via the traditional newspaper route.  This didn't happen, and in the end was probably better for the comic artistically, not to mention the problems currently being felt by the newspaper biz in the US.  The artwork is currently done by Jason Waltrip, as Lagace wanted to concentrate on other projects such as her sex romp Menage a 3(some content NSFW).  Waltrip and Campbell have had a long collaboration on the series Fans.

Out At Home is a relative newcomer that I've latched on to.  The series revolves around the misadventures of former baseball great Herman Beckett and his family. "More money than sense" is an easy way to describe Herman.   It's Herman's daughter Kate that's probably my favourite thing about the series.  Then there's her friend Penny, who has a secret that ended up being revealed at rather an interesting point in the real world.

Finally there's Toilet Genie.  A dog named Skittlez is granted 3 wishes by a genie chained to a toilet, with not entirely expected results.  A really distinctive art style to be found here, which is what got my interest, although I'm not sure whether I find Skittlez's...transformed appearance attractive or disturbing.  Depends on the panel I guess.

Don't Listen To Your Father, Jane.

As you've probably heard by now Jim Carrey's daughter Jane has given birth to a son, Jackson.  I can only hope that she won't take his advice on vaccination when the time comes.  Since getting involved with actress Jenny McCarthy Carrey has come to share her opposition to vaccinating children.  McCarthy blames vaccination for her son Evan being autistic.  Unfortunately far too many people have fallen for this idea, despite there being no convincing evidence vaccines cause autism.  So an obvious worry is that Carrey will try and get Jane not to vaccinate the little guy when the time comes.  Hopefully she'll have more common sense than her father.

Today's Cassettes, March 1, 2010.

It's been a long time since I've done one of these, so here's a two for one shot.  In the trusty Sanyo not a Walkman tonight were:

Usah Di-Tanya, Usah Di-Chari by Malaysian singer Zaleha Hamid.  This is apparently a compilation.  It's been a long time since I've listened to this one, so I was surprised at the unintended distortion on some of the cuts on side one.  The vocals and some other stuff on here might make you think of Indian film music.  Lots of funky combo organ and sax playing as well.  Ms. Hamid was quite the cutie back in the '60s as can be seen via the cover shot.

Super Tophit 6 by Pumpuang Duanjan.  No doubt about this one being a comp.  She was a highly successful singer of Thai luk thung music, but died at the young age of 31 in 1992.  Most of what's on here is mid tempo ballad stuff but I still quite like it.  Of course speaking no Thai it's entirely her singing that has an effect on me, not the lyrical content of the songs.  This stuff is frequently refered to in English as Thai country music, and in a few places you can almost hear a direct connection, while in other places you might find yourself comparing it to Mexican music given the tempos and the use of horns.