8tracks.com

I came across an interesting website last night; it's called 8tracks.

The concept is simple: user-created playlists that anyone can browse and stream from their computer.  The argument: musical mixes that are "handcrafted" by human beings are more enjoyable than sites like Pandora.

After a little exploring I'll admit that 8tracks makes a compelling argument.  Sure, finding music that'll satisfy your mood might be a little less intuitive than Pandora, but I get the feeling that I'm more likely to find new music this way—and for me, knowing that another person took the time to "craft" what I'm hearing does make it more fun.

I signed up for free and played with their very simple, straightforward music uploader.  In no time I had DJ-ed together a broken-hearted-love-scorned-revenge mix that I've embedded below:



I don't know how much I'll personally use 8tracks to create awesome playlists like this one, but I'm looking forward to substituting this website for my usual dose of internet radio.

Check them out: http://8tracks.com

Chilly Down

Don't got no problems
Ain't got no suitcase
Ain't got no clothes to worry about
Ain't got no real estate or jewelry or gold mines to hang me up

Happy 25th birthday to Labyrinth! Jim Henson's classic fantasy adventure was released on June 27, 1986.

Is it me, or have good family movies gone by the wayside in the world of CGI? Not that computer-drawn cartoons don't have the potential—they certainly do. But the big-screen adventures of my childhood seem to have a whimsical quality, and a humanity, that's been lost. (See Exhibits A, B, C)

Also: Slashfilm posted an hour long documentary on the making of Labyrinth in celebration of the film's quarter-century.

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This blog post is dedicated to mom, the most enthusiastic Jim Henson fan I know.

Proud.

Less than an hour after New York became the sixth and largest State to legalize marriage equality:

The Human Rights Campaign is not the only organization whose brave advocacy made this achievement possible, but their work was certainly invaluable in this long struggle. You can learn more about their contributions to the New York marriage equality law here.

If this is a cause you care to support financially, consider donating to HRC.

If you are one of the many people who would like to help improve the lives of LGBT Americans, but who can't spare any money, there are lots of easy and free ways of contributing.

Fashion Victim

Kelsey spent all afternoon trying on cute outfits to wear at her new job (she starts on Monday—I'm so proud of her!). Poor thing didn't pace herself very well. Wore herself right out!

Here's the aftermath:

Squirrels

Walgreens

I swear this is a real shelf in the local Walgreens.

IMPROV ACTIVITY: Act out a story that involves a thumb stabilizer, generic tampons, a candle with the image of Pope John Paul II, some discount lube, and dish soap. (Extra points if the story features these items in this order!)

TRAILER: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

This came out a couple of weeks ago. It's the trailer for director David Fincher's film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I think it's possibly one of the best movie trailers I've ever seen.

Being a huge fan of the novel (first in the Millennium trilogy), I've been anxiously awaiting a preview for the American remake—which comes on the heels of the successful (and highly enjoyable) Swedish adaptation trilogy. I have no idea what it's like to watch this if you didn't spend a month of your recent life devouring Stieg Larsson's 1,500 page masterpiece on the New York City subway, as I did (although I'm not the only one). All I can say is that I'm terribly impressed by what I see here. Every time I watch this I catch something I didn't notice before. It's a testament to the book's lasting impact (and to the film's apparent fidelity) that one can immediately recognize scenes, locales, and characters from the vivid snapshots that strobe over Trent Reznor and Karen O's insane cover of Immigrant Song.

I'm obviously reserving judgment on the actual movie. The thematic centerpiece of Tattoo, and really of the whole trilogy, is a very frank discussion about violence against women—of the invisibility of crimes like abduction and rape. In fact, the book's original Swedish title is Män som hatar kvinnor, which roughly translates to "men who hate women." I'm not convinced that an American audience will necessarily flock to the theaters to see a "rape movie." And I'm not convinced that Hollywood is willing to sacrifice what might be a guaranteed tentpole flick in order to make a less profitable, but more honest, movie.

That said, if ever there was an American director up to the task, it's David Fincher, who isn't exactly known for shying away from the violent and disturbing. (He made this movie. Oh yeah, and this one.) The fact that the trailer has already dubbed Tattoo the "feel bad movie of Christmas" bodes well (I guess?).

I hope you consider reading Stieg Larsson's books. They're quite good. Buy the first one here, and try to read it before Christmas!

FACT: Owls are terrifying

Kelsey thinks owls are cute.

On the contrary, I don't think I have ever seen something so chilling.

Incidentally, you can download a high-quality video of this horror show from the company who did the slow motion photography. You know, so you can show it to small children who have wronged you.

20 Snacks That Will Make You Miss The 90s

Gushers! WarHeads! DunkAroos!

http://bit.ly/buzzfeed-90s-snacks

90s Snack Food Survey

How do you stack your Lunchables? Meat on top of cheese, or cheese on top of meat?

Hasselback Potatoes

Tonight we had Hasselback Potatoes, a Swedish variation on the more familiar baked tuber.

Delicious.

Recipe (adapted from Seasaltwithfood)

• 2 potatoes
• 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
• olive oil
• butter
• Kosher salt
• pepper
• Parmesan cheese
• sour cream

Rinse potatoes well. Cut thin slices across potatoes, but don't cut all the way through. Insert garlic between slits. Drizzle with olive oil. Scatter butter on top of potatoes. Season with a pinch of Kosher salt and pepper.

Bake at 425˚F for approx. 50 minutes, until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Ten minutes before finished, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. (Some recipes call for bread crumbs at this point, too.) Serve with sour cream if desired.

Paperweight

Today I got my beautiful Texas A&M paperweight in the mail. I don't know how I missed this when I was actually a student there, but when I saw Kelsey's '10 version I realized I was way too petty and jealous to not have one of my own.

Are you an Aggie with a desk in need of a face lift? Call Time Works Unlimited, Inc. at (979) 690-1368, and you can order one of these in the year of your choice for only $30.

Reboot

As we all know, reboots are very fashionable right now (I'm most excited about this one), so I thought I would jump on that bandwagon and restart my blog.

Stay tuned.