Don't Forget To Set Your Alarm

Was Heath Ledger's Joker Inspired By Tom Waits?

That's what a lot of folks are saying.  And, if you watch any interview with Tom Waits filmed between 1976 and 1981, you would understand why.

Here is just one clip from YouTube (there are dozens of them).  It's of Waits as a guest on the Don Lane Show in 1981.  It only takes a few seconds before your mind is blown.



It really bothers me how everyone was laughing at him.  I guess people tend to mock what they don't understand.

Bye Bye Bye, Bitch...

The series finale of 'Breaking Bad' aired last night.  I didn't see it.  I'm still in the middle of season 1 on Netflix.

Last week, Jimmy Fallon and crew put together the perfect send off for the show....in my opinion, at least.

Quote Of The Day

"I shall stomp on all those who oppose me.
The stomping shall be swift.
The stomping shall be painful.
And I shall show no mercy 
in all of my stomping.
AMEN."

In 1997, I bought a sticker at Hot Topic with this quote on it.  I've held onto it for nearly 14 years.  It finally lost all of its "sticky".  

Benedict Cumberbatch

Every single time I hear his name....

'In Utero' Turns 20

Nirvana's 'In Utero' was released September 13, 1993.  It's hard to believe that I've been listening to this album longer than I haven't.  I had purchased it for the first time shortly after my 18th birthday.

I've always enjoyed listening to 'In Utero' more than 'Nevermind'.  To me, it has always sounded more refined.  The band matured greatly in the short time between the two albums.  I wonder sometimes what would have been possible had they had a chance to continue recording.



DGC Records issued the 20th Anniversary version of the album, yesterday.  It includes three CDs and a DVD, featuring the original mix of the album, along with a remix, demos, and live tracks.  I've been listening to it for the last hour or so.  If you're a Nirvana fan, I recommend it.

Stuck

I have a lot of things on my mind.  For the last week, my brain has been running at the speed of light.  There hasn't been a single moment when I've been able to relax.

I just don't know how to spit it out.  The words aren't coming to me.

When they do, hold on to your fucking hat.  It's going to be a wild ride.

Huh? Wha... I Dont...

Here is a photo taken on the red carpet at last night's Emmy awards.

That is 'Mad Men's' Christina Hendricks, and her husband, Geoffrey Arend  the window licker from 'Super Troopers'.

I don't get it.

Let this be a lesson, kids.  Karma is real, and it's fucking amazing.

Headline Of The Day

More info here.

Overcome

Within 48 hours of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, documentarians Camera Planet pieced together footage taken from the site, which had already come to be known as "Ground Zero".  They submitted the video to VH1, with Live's 'Overcome' as a backing track.  The network aired it without hesitation, before receiving clearance from the band or its label.  The following message would scroll along the bottom of the screen:

"HOW TO HELP:  TO DONATE MONEY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS OF TUESDAY'S ATTACKS:  UNITED WAY (THEN A PHONE NUMBER)...AMERICAN RED CROSS (THEN A PHONE NUMBER)...SALVATION ARMY (PHONE NUMBER)...CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA (PHONE NUMBER)"

When Ed Kowalczyk, Live's frontman and 'Overcome's songwriter, saw the video later in the week, he eagerly gave MTV Networks permission to use the song.  In fact, the footage was later re-edited and became part the track's "official" video.




It seemed as if the video played every ten minutes, like clockwork, on every single music video channel on cable television.  In the week immediately following September 11th, I must have seen it over a hundred times.  The video has become one of my strongest memories.

It has been 12 years, and I still can't wrap my head around it sometimes.  It's so surreal....

Tweet Of The Day

 

Hassan Rouhani was elected President of Iran in May.  Many people believed that his landslide win was a result of a cultural change in the nation; rejecting the ultra-conservative policies of Ahmadinejad.

Is Iran truly starting to become a more progressive nation in the Middle East?  Or, is this a preventative measure, essentially telling Israel that they don't want to be bombed?

Either way....this is nothing but a positive development in the region.

GIF Of The Day - Bob Had Bitch Tits

Fifty Years, And Still Dreaming

August 28, 1963 was a turning point in American history.  A speech given by an Alabama preacher turned activist, eloquently articulated the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans. That, 'my little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color or their skin, but by the content of their character'.

Over the years, I have heard a number of different stories of how that iconic speech came about.  Some say that Dr. King's prepared remarks had blown away from the podium in the afternoon wind.  Others claim that a woman in the front of the crowd shouted, "Tell them about the dream", referring to a sermon given in Detroit earlier in the year.  One thing is certain:  The majority of King's sixteen minutes on stage were ad-libbed.




On the surface, it may appear that in 50 years, King's dream has been realized.  But, look closer.

When authorities are faced with the necessity of listing an offense as a "hate crime", we are still dreaming.  When politicians rush through so-called "voter ID laws", in order to make voting more difficult for minority voters, we are still dreaming.  When African-Americans make up only 13% of the general population, but account for 40% of our nation's prison population, we are still dreaming.

So long as the United States has over 1,000 active hate groups, our dream will not come true.  So long as political pundits and commentators are able to make a living, shamelessly race baiting and fear mongering, our dream will never come true.  So long as police are given authority to "stop and frisk" a person, simply for the crime of looking suspicious not being white, we are still dreaming.

It's difficult not to take a "glass half empty" look at civil rights and race relations.  Yes, in 50 years, we have taken many steps forward.  But, at times, it's almost as if we've taken twice as many back.

The Greatest Thing To Ever Happen To The Internet...(this afternoon)

Transcript Of 'Beware Of Human Apostates'

In case you were interested in reading....

Audio recording is available here.