Canadian Steampunk from 1978

Note the Calgarian steampunk skirt-lifter. Fantastic!

For Ricardo

Ricardo Montalban. 1920-2009

What I am: iPod Meme

They say one's music collection says a lot about a person. Sorting one's music collection by song title is something a non-OCD person would not do before the digital age. Now, with the predominance of the mp3 format, one can do this readily and it creates an interesting piece of self-discovery poetry.

Mine is a tale of love, loss and lycanthropy.

I'm a Boy
I'm a Mason Now
I'm a werewolf baby
I'm beginning to see the light
I'm free
I'm gonna crawl
I'm having a party
I'm not down
I'm only sleeping
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm telling Tim
I'm tore down
I'm your Man
I'm your moon
I've got the world on a string
I've seen the land beyond
I am a rock
I am stretched on your grave
I am the Highway
I am the Walrus
I can't explain
I can't quit you baby
I can see for miles
I did my best
I don't care about you
I feel it all
I fought the law
I get lonesome
I had my chance
I hate California
I hate the TV
I hear you calling
I just don't know what to do with myself
I just wanna have something to do
I know you
I love myself today
I need to be loved
I only want to be with you
I saw her standing there
I wanna be like you
I wanna be sedated
I wanna be your boyfriend
I wanna live
I want something more
I want to be the boy to warm your mother's heart
I want to conquer the world
I want to tell you
I want you
I will survive
I won't lie down


Who are you?

Year in Review: 2008 Films

Once again I list the best films from the past year. That is to say, I list the only new films I see in a given year and lament that I haven't seen more. Notable films I missed include the X-files film, and Hellboy 2. These were on my "must see" list, which is now the "must rent" list. Every year I try to see more films, but still average about one a month.

Presented in viewing order:

• Be Kind Rewind
• The Spiderwick Chronicles
• Iron Man
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• The Incredible Hulk
• Get Smart
• Wall-e
• Dark Knight
• Star Wars: Clone Wars

It felt like a really good year for blockbuster summer movies, with many solid franchise films. Most films listed here are huge successes, that have garnered enough ink and publicity and more fauning praise from me will do little to boost their appeal.

On the other end, however "Be Kind Rewind" is a really fine, underrated film by Michel Gondry. I hope the rental/iTunes/Netflix market gives this film the exposure and acclaim it deserves.

Previous Year's Film lists

• 2007
• 2006