May 8, 2003

The Big Project at work is now over...mostly. I have a little more time to post to the site and a little more time to breathe. Last night, I got a solid tens hours of sleep, catching up on an early morning at work as well as several longs days before.

Nina and Bridget

I was watching Point of No Return tonight and wondering "What was Luc Besson thinking, letting John Badham do what he did to Besson's story?" It hurts my eyes to watch that movie – Bridget Fonda or not. It is far more pleasant to walk into another room from the television and just listen. Maggie's favorite musician is Nina Simone and the soundtrack is liberally sprinkled with Simone's voice. It made me sad thinking how much Simone's singing out-matches what's on the screen. It makes me even sadder to think that Nina Simone left us a few weeks ago.

PBS Rules

Okay, so the first issue of Warrior Challenge was a little wimpy. However, PBS came back with a vengeance tonight. Frontline's story on Wall Street in the '90s got my blood boiling. The series on race afterwards did a good job in revealing how the federal government viewed race during the last century. Unfortunately, the web site for the latter series isn't as compelling, but does have a few good sections. I don't know why so many people design websites with the assumption that people go online to play games. I go online to get information - even if it is information that amuses me.

May 5, 2003

Did you miss Manor House? For true grit and historical accuracy, you may prefer Warrior Challenge on PBS this Tuesday.

The New Pornography

Playboy held a poll where you can pick the Sexiest Woman in Indie Rock [it's Playboy, son – don't click on this from work]. The nominators are two clerks from Reckless Records in Chicago – as you click on each musician's bio, the two of them have little comments about each artist. (Chicago records store clerks making obsessive lists of obscure artists – wasn't than done already in High Fidelity?) Still the list is interesting, ranging from the down-home Neko Case to the brainy Caithlin De Marrais to the quixotic Cat Power to plain-ole'-badass Amber Valentine.

On one hand, the whole thing seems a little exploitative; of the ones that I recognize, all of the women are solid musicians. On the other, maybe some of these artists and their bands will get some new listeners; frat boys buy CD's too, ya know. However, it appears to be a sad grab by Playboy for some sense of demographic – as if men who like to look at pictures of naked women wasn't a large enough demographic. Not that I'm a regular reader, but didn't Playboy have a woman WWE star on its cover recently? So is Playboy on the high road or the low road? When are they going to start publishing health tips like Maxxim?

If you're wondering who won, it was Neko Case. If you're wondering why Liz Phair isn't on the list, you're too old.

Local News

Earthquake in Charlottesville?

Okay, it was a little out of town. Still, an earthquake? Apparently, while uncommon, Central Virginia does have them.

Baby Falcons Still Downtown

For two Sundays the Times Dispatch has covered the peregrine falcons nesting in downtown Richmond. Apparently, one of the youngsters from two years ago has returned to his home town to start a family.