Song of the Week #53: Radiohead – These Are My Twisted Words
This is Radiohead's new song that is currently being provided FREE on their website.
Lyrics:
These are my twisted words
When I feel you still walking
I know I should not look down
But I’m so sick of just talking
When are you coming back?
I just can’t handle it
When are you coming back?
I just can’t handle it
When are you coming back?
I just can’t stand it
I just can’t handle it
Entourage Season 6 Episode 8: The Sorkin Notes
Oh man, the conflict between Andrew Klein, Ari Gold, and Marlo Klein was hilarious and was the main focus of the episode. The bit with Vince and Co. installing security was a little over the top but that photo of the stalker screams, "I'm a crazy creep!" It's good to see E taking a stand and realizing by himself that he has to stop screwing up relationships.
The song at the end credits is a nice change of pace from the rap songs in the past few episodes. It is Yeasayer - "Sunrise".
It all started with a stumble
And I get old and I get humble
The sky cracked a million ways
Making me blind
And as the trees grew higher and higher
And the fish began to fly
I went and stole some wings
And thought why can't I
Get in the sunrise
I want to get in the sunrise
Put the world upon your shoulder
I'll stay young while I watch everyone getting older
You can take a million years
Out of my head
But I'm starting to lose my place
In the circles that I trace
And if I let go only then
Will my face
Get in the sunrise
I want to get in the sunrise
Bonds
No, not the awful Naruto movie. =P
As September rolls around, I'm sure you've noticed the changes that goes along with post-grad. Some may be good, and some you may think is bad. But nonetheless, it is inevitable.
It takes a great deal of effort to get on my bad side. In times of great need, just know I'm totally willing to be on the next bus over - even if distance has led to some ice building up. And I'm certain there are others who think the same way. In any case, you'd have to have done something really unconscionable for me to throw it all away.
I, too, remember the good old days like they were yesterday, but to move forward we musn't cling to them. It doesn't mean I up and forget all our history, however.
Even as life takes us to separate places, in this day and age of technology, you know where to find me. I hope I'm not naive in saying all this... but I'm sure it won't be difficult to break the ice that's built up and start where we left off.
Friends of the heart and friends of the road, good luck and Godspeed.
Fallout 3 – Blowing Up Megaton
This is the first video I have ever uploaded to Youtube. I uploaded it way back in May to demonstrate the surprising capabilities of my Asus N10J-A1 netbook.
Having since finished the final DLC pack for Fallout 3, "Mothership Zeta", I figure it's about time I posted the video I made here and comment (read: not write up a full review) on how awesome the game was for me despite playing on a netbook.
This game is truly deserving of the Game of the Year designation. The atmosphere of a nuclear wasteland in Washington, D.C. and its surrounding area was very chilling and believably possible. I get a little (just a little) antsy sometimes over the past few months hearing about the situations in North Korea and Iran and what would happen if nuclear weapons fell into the wrong hands. It would be naive to think such a bleak future is an absolute impossibility.
The world in Fallout 3 is lawless and paints a grim picture of humanity's struggle to survive. Voice acting is top-notch and perfectly captures the emotions of fear, anger, and hopelessness. Every single line of dialogue has a voice, you never have to read a line of dialogue like in the old-school RPGs. It amazing how much work was put into voice acting in this game.
Gameplay and graphics are superb. You literally can do anything you want in this game from being a messiah to humanity to a complete scourge of humanity and everything in between. I love the VATS sequences and their epic slow-motion goodness as you blow some raiders up or vaporize someone with a laser beam.
The video above shows my character blowing up Megaton, a small town of people struggling to survive, with a once-fizzled nuke. My first playthrough of the game is as a male Asian that I tried to make as close to my likeness as possible, with a focus on sneaking long-range critical attacks, and good karma all the way. Now for my second play-through as a complete and total ass to everyone I meet.
Entourage Season 6 Episode 7: No More Drama
E starts his new job and has to deal with a douchebag rival manager, "Mr 24/7". "Uncomfortable" is an understatement; rather, Mr. 24/7 will make you want to give him a hard right hook.
Drama's storyline develops further with him revealing much of his character's shortcomings and him getting saved from getting killed off on his TV show.
Vince and Turtle freak out as some weirdo steals their underwear after a break & enter incident overnight. They first opt for some handguns but are way in over their heads when it comes to aiming and shooting them, which may be a subtle social commentary on gun access in the US.
Overall, the highlight of the show was Bob Saget and his ridiculous demands before he is willing to take on a manager.
The song at the end credits is N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton. Wish they'd make a song choice as good as The Verve's The Lucky Man in the season premiere. There's been too much hip-hop and rap lately and some variety would be nice.
Anyway, here is a Youtube video to the song:
Song of the Week #52: Miho Fukuhara – Let it Out
SOTW #52 eh? Well, it's already been 2-3 weeks over the one-year-old mark. I skipped some weeks I guess during my exam periods. Anyway...
To give this song a listen, open the music player in the above Flash animation.
This is the second song for the ending credits of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (which is my new favourite anime, by the way). This single is to be released on September 9th, 2009 but the promotional video (PV) is being aired right now. The song in the music player is the PV-rip version from Youtube.
I can't post the lyrics to it because I can't type Japanese on here. And I think it's pointless to post the Romanji anyway. So here is a Youtube link to the PV:
Entourage Season 6 Episode 6: Murphy’s Lie
Again, short write-up cause it's a hellish busy week again for me.
Eric messes up a relationship again, as usual. Geez, the guy never learns. It seems to be a recurring theme this season: don't lie to your woman.
Just when I thought Drama was having another one of his paranoid fits, it turns out he was right on the money. Now, he's screwed. It's kill or be killed (by the writers), hahaha.
Vince's role has really taken a back seat these past few episodes. All he's done is screw girls. Uhh, grats? It does provide some funny moments.
The song at the end credits this time is: The Dutchess and the Duke - Reservoir Park
Free mp3 on this page here: http://www.spinner.ca/2008/07/20/the-dutchess-and-the-duke-reservoir-park-free-mp3-of-the-da/
Lyrics:
Well I barely woke this morning on the cold ground by the sea.
And I opened up my eyes and those black clouds are all I see.
And I wonder if someone's up there,
If the black clouds can see me,
And the clouds keep rolling on in
The supersonic jet plane taking people everywhere.
Well, i wish that i could go there, I wish I could be somewhere.
But i know I'm still right here,
And I know here is still nowhere,
And the clouds keep rolling on in.
Well tell me, what am I gonna do?
Tell me, what am I gonna do?
To make it clear.
So I can get my head straight,
I can see the sun.
Well I went down to have my fortune told.
Well I went to see the gypsy to have my fortune told.
She said "You ain't got no future, you ain't never growing old,"
And the clouds keep rolling on in.
Well, how many times have I defied the cold clutches of death?
And how many times have I stopped short from taking that last step?
And every time I've tried to hurt you, I have only hurt hurt myself,
And the clouds keep rolling on in.
Well tell me, what am I gonna do?
Tell me, what am I gonna do?
To make it clear,
Well I can't get my head straight,
I can't see the sun.
Tell me, what am I gonna do?
So I can see,
So i can be the same as everyone.
Well, I hear them whisper,
Pounding, pounding in my head until it all sounds the same.
If I don't see the sun soon then I know I'll go insane.
And if this is where I belong,
Well how long will I remain?
And the clouds keep rolling on in.
Well tell me, what am I gonna do?
Tell me, what am I gonna do?
To make it clear,
Well I can't get my head straight,
I can't see the sun.
Tell me, what am I gonna do?
So I can see,
So I can be the same, the same as everyone.
Tell me, what am I gonna do?
'Cause I can't see
And I can't be the same, the same as everyone.
Like it was Yesterday
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7
It's not about intelligence; it's about determination.
My time in New Orleans was short but the experiences I will carry for a lifetime. If they endured such hardship and retained such bright spirits, so must I. I must keep moving forward.
As the Atlantic Hurricane season has just begun, I pray for your safety. Predictions call for a lower number of hurricanes this year, but that says nothing about their intensity. Be safe!
Song of the Week #51: Phoenix – 1901
This song was e-mailed to me by a close friend. After giving it a couple of listens, it is catchy and it grows on you. At least, it did for me. Haha.
Phoenix is a French alternative rock band and "1901" is their first single from their 2009 album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
Lyrics:
Counting all different ideas drifting away
Past and present they don't matter
Now the future's sorted out
Watch her moving in elliptical patterns
Think it's not what you say
What you say is way too complicated
For a minute thought I couldn't tell how to fall out
It's twenty seconds till the last call
You're going hey hey hey hey hey hey
Lie down you know it's easy
Like we did it over summer long
And I'll be anything you ask and more
You're going hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
It's not a miracle we needed
No I wouldn't let you think so
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it
Girlfriend, oh your girlfriend is drifting away
Past and present 1855 -1901 †
Watch them built up a meteor tower
Think it's not gonna stay anyway
Think it's overrated
For a minute thought I couldn't tell how to fall out
It's twenty seconds till the last call
You're going hey hey hey hey hey hey
Lie down you know it's easy
Like we did it over summer long
And I'll be anything you ask and more
You're going hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
It's not a miracle we needed
No I wouldn't let you think so
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it
District 9 – “Armond White is a Troll”
On Roger Ebert's personal blog, he calls Armond White a troll. This weekend, White was the first to post a rotten "review" - if you can call his writing that - of District 9 after 49 other critics have posted favorable reviews about the film. When I saw the meter drop to 98% after being 100% for so long, I knew it had to be him. Since then, his review has garnered 575+ comments (even after removing comments of physical harm and racism, this has to be a new record for him). With 575+ comments and Roger Ebert writing about him, I think this issue with White is reaching critical mass and it's time Rotten Tomatoes did something.
On Thursday night I posted in entry in defense of Armond White's review of "District 9." Overnight I received reader comments causing me to rethink that entry, in particular this eye-popping link supplied by Wes Lawson. I realized I had to withdraw my overall defense of White. I was not familiar enough with his work. It is baffling to me that a critic could praise "Transformers 2" but not "Synecdoche, NY." Or "Death Race" but not "There Will be Blood." I am forced to conclude that White is, as charged, a troll. A smart and knowing one, but a troll. My defense of his specific review of "District 9" still stands.
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
I agree completely. Ebert's original defense of Armond White was retracted when his case fell apart upon closer examination of White's reviews. If you don't know who White is, he is the guy who posts rotten reviews to popular and critically-acclaimed films on Rottentomatoes.com.
Yes, I am feeding the troll by writing this post. Yes, so did any of those who commented. But counting such reviews from a contrarian whose sole intention is to gain publicity by playing the game of "me against the world" only serves to discredit the Tomatometer. For as long as this guy is allowed to be factored into the Tomatometer, no popular movie no matter how much of a masterpiece it is will ever get a fair chance at 100%. This is especially true for Pixar's films who in the past has successfully achieved this.
How can someone not like The Wrestler, Up, The Dark Knight, Star Trek, Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, and all movies of the Harry Potter series but at the same time give Transformers 2, Dance Flick, Termination Salvation, Transporter 3, and Confessions of a Shopoholic positive reviews? I mean, some films are indisputably better than another within the same genre; this guy deliberately picks the one that is worse. He agrees with the meter 50% of the time but often times, when he does agree with the meter is when the movie is foreign or limited release (case in point: You, the Living, which caused Ebert to say "WTF?").
Rotten Tomatoes is a site for film critics who actually review the films they have seen. Armond White does not review films but plays the Tomatometer and everyone for his own publicity and probably for the New York Press, which probably no New Yorker reads. I hope the owners of Rotten Tomatoes realize that White is hurting the site's credibility, and thus, their bottom line.
The following is the image that caused Ebert to retract his defense of Armond White:
(Image by Wes Lawson)
As for me seeing the film, which I have yet to do, I plan on it being the next time I hit the theatres. 
