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What happened to Borders? [24 Jul 2008|11:55pm]
[ mood | annoyed ]

In relation to my last post, aside from being a collector of PHYSICAL media, I tend to actually enjoy shopping at retail stores as opposed to buying things online. I'm into immediate gratification. I hate buying something and then not having it show up for over a week...

When you're a fan of indie & foreign films like me, it used to be a guarantee that you could find what you were looking for at Borders. I was really excited when they built one about 5 minutes from my apartment over in Crestview Hills. Yes, it is more expensive (almost every movie is priced at full retail), but they always send coupons and have an good customer rewards program. My attitude has always been that I am willing to pay the extra $5 because I know I can go there and find what I'm looking for AND it's a premium price over waiting for something to come that I would otherwise have to order online. Unfortunately, the chain has been experiencing financial troubles and that means that guaranteed stock of the more obscure titles just isn't there anymore.

This week I went in to find three titles that had been released that even a year ago I can guarantee you would have been on the shelf for street date:

*The André Téchiné Collection (specially priced 3-disc collection from Lionsgate w/ Hôtel des Amériques, J'embrasse pas, Ma saison préférée and Les Roseaux sauvages)
*"Dirty Money" aka Un Flic (final film from Jean-Pierre Melville w/ Catherine Deneuve & Alain Delon)
*"Pete Kelly's Blues" (1955 jazz flick directed by Dragnet's Jack Webb making its dvd debut. Stars Janet Leigh, Peggy Lee, and my girl Ella Fitzgerald)

Not ONE of these titles was in stock at my Borders and if their computer system is to believed, none of them were at any area stores either. Now, these are things I would never expect to find at Best Buy (although they might have Pete Kelly's Blues), but I used to EXPECT them at Borders. I just don't think they're using all their money on the biggest movies and leaving the things that might not sell behind.

Seems like a vicious cycle to me. I'm going to stop frequenting the store and spending money there if I can't ever find what I'm looking for!

This all probably makes me a dinosaur.

MAYBE it's just that the Borders @ Crestview Hills sucks because when I was at the Dayton Mall one last weekend I saw a lot of movies I never have seen at my local store...

7 comments|post comment

is there a method to my madness? [24 Jul 2008|11:16pm]
[ mood | intrigued ]

Some people are stunned by my media collection. I do my best to build a library of movies and music that I enjoy, but I know that is not everybody's cup of tea.

This really goes for both my film and music collections, but I like to have things on hand for reference or playback at any given moment. With the dvd market becoming so oversaturated and shrinking every month, more and more titles are going out of print. Just as many new ones get released, but rights issues with indie films keep a lot of titles out of circulation for extended periods of time.

Lately, Sony, MGM, and Paramount have discontinued a tremendous number of titles. Most of the time, there is no advance warning that the movies are going to become unavailable...they just go one day and then their value instantly skyrockets on the secondary market.

My biggest curiosity this month is the disappearance of 2 stellar Wim Wenders flicks. Both "Wings Of Desire" and "Paris, Texas" (released by MGM and Fox respectively) have become unavailable. Luckily I own both of these titles already, but I am curious if their rights have expired naturally or if there is something afoot like Criterion releases.

Pretty much every foreign title that Paramount Classics/Vantage has released recently went out of print. This is why I buy so many titles used when they get pulled off the new release wall at Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. I probably would not have paid full price for "Apres Vous", "Love Me If You Dare", or "The Man On The Train", but it's possible that those will NOT come back into print domestically and I got those very affordably.

Paramount has been licensing really random titles that have never been on dvd before to Legend Films. I did notice on ebay, however, that some old Paramount titles are released by Lionsgate in Canada on double feature dvd's. I may have to order the one with "Crazy People" and "Best Defense"! "Crazy People" is one of those guilty pleasure movies that I never bought when they released it and now I want because it's out of print.

I also hear that Sony's out of print titles may be headed towards a secondary distributor. Most of the 1990's output from Sony Pictures Classics has recently been withdrawn from circulation.

I found this on Video Business (edited for highlights):
In January, Sony signed a deal with Hewlett-Packard to make smaller films from its library available through DVD manufacturing-on-demand, making it the first studio to enter the MOD business.

Terms of the deal, announced today by both companies, were not disclosed. Sony said it is still reviewing which titles will be offered through MOD, but said it’s possible some deeper catalog titles that have never made it to DVD because of low demand will get a release.

HP estimates that of the 70,000 movie and other types of content released on DVD, only a small percentage is actually in circulation, something that it hopes to remedy with its MOD business. The company estimates the industry loses $500 million each year in sales due to product being unavailable when a consumer tries to purchase it online.

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that was some scary shit [20 Jul 2008|07:45pm]
[ mood | FUCK ME ]

Whoa, we just had a crazy summer storm roll through and it really scared the shit out of me. When I got home from Dayton, it was sunny & humid and I was listening to some of the new vinyl I bought today. I was thinking about running to the grocery when I heard what sounded like pouring rain hitting my patio door. I was confused because it was so summery when I got home.

I went over and opened my blinds and it was going insane outside. The tree in front of my apartment balcony was bending over and it was pouring rain and the winds were blowing strong. Right about then, the TV went to an Emergency Broadcast System message that said TORNADO WARNING -- Boone & Kenton County. The sirens here in Florence never went off, so I wasn't too freaked out...

I turned on the local news and saw the radar and it was basically ALL RED headed towards my apartment. They were saying that they didn't know if there was full rotation. I had pillows, blankets, and was getting ready to jump in my fucking hall closet bitches!!! They kept saying that there was a warning but didn't seem like there were any actual tornados touching down.

The temperature just dropped from 91 degrees to 68 with this storm...They just said that over 2500 homes in Boone County are without power right now because of trees that came down. It has died down here now at my place, but it is eerily calm right now and still looks creepy. There is a LOT of lightening still, so I am hoping we don't lose power.

Looks like the worst is way over for me, but Alexandria is getting hit hard. Some of the other places have gotten 1 INCH HAIL falling, but we just had the strong winds, lightning, and the rain. They just said possible funnel clouds in Burlington, which is pretty close.

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"What About Your Friends" remix [20 Jul 2008|07:02pm]
How have I never heard this before in my life? The Extended Remix of TLC's "What About Your Friends" features a very young OUTKAST rapping! I just wiki'd that shit and apparently it was their first appearance after being signed to LaFace. Shiiiiiiiiiiiiit.
3 comments|post comment

Vinyl Finds @ HPB [20 Jul 2008|05:56pm]
[ mood | excited ]
[ music | Apollonia 6 "Sex Shooter (Long Version)" ]

I headed to Dayton today to meet up with my Mom, Meg, Eli, Paige and Aunt Elaine. I went a little early to get rid of some magazines, cd's, and dvd's at Half Price Books. This was pretty much total bottom of the barrel stuff but I figured I'd get some gas money. Only got $40 for it...and I spent $35. So much for filling the gas tank!

Seriously though, I couldn't leave these records behind. An old DJ must have sold off his collection there and they were packed with 80's & 90's 12" singles -- mostly hip-hop stuff. It was difficult to decide what to buy and what to leave behind, but I ended up with some amazing shit.

*MARY J. BLIGE "What's The 411?" - mint condition full-length vinyl. This HAD to be mismarked because the sleeve and album are like new and it's the entire record. (98 cents)
*TECHNOTRONIC "Pump Up The Jam" -- remix 12" (98 cents)
*CHAKA KHAN "I Feel For You" -- extended 12" (98 cents)
*HEAVY D AND THE BOYZ "Now That We Found Love" -- remix 12" (98 cents)
*TLC "What About Your Friends" -- remix 12" (98 cents)
*QUEEN LATIFAH "U.N.I.T.Y." -- remix 12". One of the mixes is called the BIG TITTY MIX. I couldn't make that shit up. (98 cents)
*QUEEN LATIFAH "Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here" -- original remix promo 12" ($1.98)
*DEEE-LITE "Runaway/Rubber Lover" -- remix 12" (98 cents)
*SOUL II SOUL "Keep On Movin" -- remix 12" (98 cents)
*ENGIMA "Sadeness part 1" -- remix 12" (98 cents)
*THE TIME "The Bird (remix)/My Drawers" -- white label promo 12" (98 cents)
*PRINCE "Raspberry Beret" -- extended 12". I couldn't remember if I had this already or not, so I had to buy it. I have the mixes on cd, but I couldn't resist. ($1.98)
*DEPECHE MODE "Strangelove/Nothing" -- remix 12" ($3.98)
*A TRIBE CALLED QUEST "Award Tour" -- promo 12" ($4.98)

Now the only thing I overpaid for (because I misread the sticker) was an original picture sleeve 12" single for APOLLONIA 6's "Sex Shooter." I thought it was sealed in the package and I thought it said $5.98 so I put it in my stack. It ended up being $9.98 but I just got it anyway because it was in good shape and I figured I would never see it again.

I am outrageously pleased with these finds. Some of the things I DIDN'T BUY (but really wanted to) included the original 12" singles for Snoop's "Gin & Juice", Dr. Dre's "Nothing But A G Thang", and Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa." They were trying to charge $9.98 for all of those though and I couldn't quite justify those, although it would have been fun to drop "Big Poppa" at the Stand.

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"The Dark Knight" [19 Jul 2008|01:51am]
[ mood | impressed ]

x-posted from the WOXY boards with additional thoughts to be added later...


FIRST OF ALL, I cannot recommend that Cincinnati folks see the movie in IMAX here and this is why: the only IMAX screen in Cincinnati (at Showcase Springdale) SUCKS. It isn't setup like a regular IMAX screen -- it's formatted for "Hollywood" movies. The big deal about "The Dark Knight" is that Nolan shot about 20 minutes of the movies with IMAX cameras, so the regular film is supposed to be cropped in a 2.35:1 letterbox on the IMAX screen and then the picture busts open vertically for those action sequences on the large SQUARE format IMAX screens that traditionally exist.

Here in Cincinnati, the screen is pretty much presented in a 2.35 'scope frame, so we didn't get the extra impact of the IMAX shots because the 'square' image (which should have popped up to 1.44:1 or so) is matted off rectangularly for traditional widescreen films. I don't think this should really qualify as IMAX. Yes, they have the projectors, but they aren't screening things properly.

PLUS, I have never in my life seen so many bugs and dirt get into the projection gate of a movie. There was shit moving around on the screen constantly...totally distracting. They charge a premium to watch the IMAX movies and then the presentation (at this particular theatre) is WORSE than if I would have seen it in 35mm.

The next time I see it, I think I'll check it out digitally...

ABOUT THE MOVIE ITSELF:
This was the first time in a long time for me where the audience burst into applause during the film and then again when the end credits began to roll. There's something oddly special about that when it's genuine.

For all the hype, the movie did not disappoint for me. It didn't feel as long as it was and the revolving storylines kept me on the edge of my seat.

It's almost like shouting into an echo chamber at this point, but Ledger really is remarkable (and I've never been a huge fan of him as an actor). AND even though it's not a flashy role, Maggie G is 10,000 times better than Katie Holmes was in the last movie.

Major props have to be given to Chris Nolan for reviving a franchise smashed to fucking pieces and trampled on by Joel Schumacher. Both of his takes on "The Dark Knight" have been everything a conflicted superhero film should be. He's not afraid to keep the story mercifully dark but also show the humanity in Bruce Wayne.

There are very few mainstream movies I would see more than once in the theatre, but I look forward to catching this one again.

I will say that the best thing about the IMAX theatre is the sound system. The surround mix was OUT OF CONTROL.

18 comments|post comment

shake it to the ground [18 Jul 2008|02:13pm]
[ mood | excited ]

Give it the fuck up for Turntable Lab.

The second that I read about the Diplo/Santogold "Top Ranking" mix cd on Wednesday, I went to the Turntable Lab website and ordered that shit (along with the DJ Blaqstarr remixes for "Shake It To The Ground" single and a blue vinyl 7" for Hot Chip's "One Pure Thought"). I was a little peeved initially when I saw that they only offer UPS shipping, but I went ahead and ordered that shit. It was Wednesday afternoon at like 3pm or something.

Well, my order must have gone out immediately because I just got it delivered today. I was hoping, but not expecting, the package would arrive for the weekend...but you just never know with that shit.

I cannot wait to listen to this mix.

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CONGRATS! [17 Jul 2008|09:12am]
[ mood | proud ]

Well, the lawyers must have done a lot of dancing...but it's finally official. I'm very excited for my Spinto boys. "Moonwink" is, without question, one of the year's finest releases and now everyone will have a chance to hear it. I was beginning to get nervous that if they didn't get this finalized soon that a release this fall would be impossible.

Thomas -- you didn't tell me that fucking TCHAD BLAKE worked on the record. No wonder it sounds so goddamn good.


Yes the rumors are true... The Spinto Band is very excited to announce that it has partnered up with Park the Van Records for the release of its long-awaited full-length, Moonwink, out October 7 and available in CD, vinyl (w/CD), and Digital (w/bonus tracks) formats. As PTV preps for the album's release, the band is busy gearing up for a July residency at Brooklyn, NY's favorite bocce hall Union Hall starting this Thurs. July 17. Listen to tracks from the album at myspace.com/thespintoband.

It’s been 3 years since The Spinto Band burst onto the rock world with its infectious indie-pop masterworks on Nice and Nicely Done (Bar-None Records). But it hasn’t been a quiet 3 years. In that period of time, The Spinto Band has expanded its reach throughout the World with releases on Virgin UK, an appearance on Later… With Jools Holland, a performance at Fuji Rock in Japan, tours supporting Rilo Kiley, the Arctic Monkeys, Art Brut, the Strokes, Dr. Dog, and many more, including opening up for the Flaming Lips at SXSW!

After constant touring and the worldwide release of their acclaimed album Nice and Nicely Done, The Spinto Band found themselves eager to record new material. The band took it upon themselves to oversee the assembly of their next album. After half a year of rehearsing, arranging, demoing and perfecting the songs that would sculpt Moonwink, the band personally contacted Producer / Engineer Dave Trumfio (Wilco, Built To Spill, Billy Bragg, Mates of State) and Mixing Engineer Tchad Blake (Tom Waits, Los Lobos, Cibo Matto, Paul Simon). After hearing the band's striking new songs, the two recording veterans were excited to work with the bright young composers, and plans were soon hatched to begin work on the band's second major release.

The band first ventured to North East Los Angeles where they spent five weeks recording with Trumfio in a converted sweatshop. Then, with the fruits of their labor in hand, they traversed the ocean and arrived in a small English village where, amid cow pastures and skid pan racetracks, Tchad Blake lent his sonic expertise to the mixing process. With Moonwink complete The Spinto Band was once again ready to dazzle listeners with their skewed approach to song-craft.

The new recordings fortify The Spinto Band's ability to interlace rich, textured guitars, unconventional orchestration and multiple-part vocal harmonies into exciting new avenues of indie-pop. The music is at once outlandish, kinetic and luminous, while still restrained in a way that pays homage to the classic pop song, bringing to mind a contemporary coagulum of, Bacharach, Beatles, Berlin, and Bowie.

The signing of the Spinto Band has been on the "to-do" list for Park the Van for quite some time, and everyone at PTV is ecstatic to have them as part of the family.

The Spinto Band Residency:
Thurs Jul 17 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
Sat Jul 19 Arden, DE - Arden Music Festival
Thurs Jul 24 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
Thurs Jul 31 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
Thurs Aug 7 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall

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I <3 Jancee [16 Jul 2008|07:48pm]
[ mood | ecstatic ]

I am very excited that Jancee Dunn is releasing a new book at the end of the month! She is following up her terrific memoir "But Enough About Me" with a novel called "Don't You Forget About Me."

It still makes me sad that I am the only person on Facebook with Jancee Dunn listed in my interests. There have to be some other bitches out there who looked forward to watching her breaks on MTV2...you know back when that channel had a fucking personality and showed good videos? It's almost hard to remember those days now, but I assure you that she was a big part of it.

I still can't believe that I don't know anybody who knows her. I mean really...I have Kim Deal and Thurston Moore's phone numbers but I can't get introduced to Jancee Dunn? MAKE IT HAPPEN PEOPLE.

Not much else to report. Crafted a killer episode of Xtrabeats today at work, got my hair cut, made some grilled cheese for dinner, and am now counting down for "Project Runway"!

Friday night I'm meeting up with the D8N crew for "The Dark Knight" in IMAX at the Showcase Springdale and I've got lunch with Mom, Meg, and Paige on Sunday. Outside of that, I've got a project to work on Saturday and a stack of movies to catch up on. Really looking forward to the Brazilian flick The Year My Parents Went On Vacation. I missed it when it played in Cincy...

FINALLY, if any of you are big Joy Division fans, I encourage you to check out our WOXY blog The Futurist before 5pm EST on Friday to get registered to win an amazing prize package:

http://woxy.lala.com/blog/2008/07/14/joy-division-prize-package-giveaway/

7 comments|post comment

"Baraka" in high definition! [15 Jul 2008|10:27pm]
[ mood | excited ]

In an announcement that I would not have expected anytime soon, MPI is going to release Ron Fricke's "Baraka" on Blu-ray on October 28th. It was shot in 70mm which has far greater resolution than HD, so as long as they transfer it properly, it should look pretty amazing. That is a dvd that I will gladly upgrade.

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lots to do [12 Jul 2008|11:25am]
[ mood | productive ]

My apartment currently looks like a tornado ran through it, so I really need to get to cleaning. I think that The Bloodsugars are going to crash here tonight after their show at The Comet, so it needs to be slightly more presentable than it is now. I am in no mood for cleaning, but it has to be done. Shouldn't take me too long...

I have to run in to the station today because I fucked up the playlist for Xtrabeats last night in the automation system and need to fix it before it re-airs this evening. Somehow I paired the 1st hour of this weekend's show with the 2nd hour of a previous episode. I know exactly what happened (I had made a spelling error in the file so I deleted it from the playlist, went to fix it, and then I think that the cursor was on the wrong file when I clicked it the 2nd time, but I didn't notice). Ah, good times. ANYWAY, since I have to go in anyway, I might do a little prep work for New Tunes Tuesday because we're going to have 2 bands in on Monday and there will be little time to get anything else done.

After I catch up a bit, I'm going to meet Kelly at Shake It Records and then we're eating at The Comet before The Bloodsugars show. I hope there is a new Salsa Of The Month. Last time I was there it was some weird cucumber salsa. I tried it, but it wasn't my thing.

Outside of that, not much is going on. I am trying to decide on what kind of car I'm going to get. There are so many decisions to be made and most of them will be predicated on what I can really afford. I don't want to spend my entire raise on a car payment (because my insurance is going to rise considerably over what I pay now for a shitty old car). Leasing is also still on the table, but I think I would rather own if I can make it work.

I think the only cars that I will consider getting to take advantage of my Dad's GM discount are in the Saturn family. My mom has a Vue and I really like the new models, but I may look at some of their other cars that get better gas mileage than those. If I don't fit or like any of those, I'll probably be looking at Toyotas or Nissans, much to my father's dismay.

Hopefully, by this time next month I'll be sans Buick...

7 comments|post comment

is this to get people licking stamps again? [11 Jul 2008|01:46pm]
[ mood | confused ]

http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&productId=37051&langId=-1

I've now gotten two items in the mail this week with the new tropical fruits postcard stamps on them. I hadn't seen the other fruits that look more normal, but I've gotten Guava and Papaya (one on a postcard, one added to a package) and they're both very, um, vaginal.

I thought I was crazy at first (and GRANTED I am not an expert in this area), but I showed them around the office and everybody laughed out loud.

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ONN: How To Pretend You Give A Shit About The Election [10 Jul 2008|11:36pm]
[ mood | amused ]

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the last seduction [09 Jul 2008|10:12pm]
John Dahl's 1994 flick "The Last Seduction" is on HDNet Movies right now. I've never seen it look so good.

Here in the U.S. it originally aired on HBO before being picked up by October Films and it has never been released here in widescreen on dvd. I used to think it was shot 1.33:1, but it is airing on HDNet in a gorgeous 16X9 transfer. The initial logo said "Grenada International" so maybe this HD source is from overseas? Looks like the UK dvd is 16X9.

This needs to get a proper dvd release stateside...
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the sunrise knight? [08 Jul 2008|10:45pm]
[ mood | excited ]

I have an IMAX ticket for Friday the 18th bitches! That shit is CRAZY that the entire first week's worth of IMAX showings in NYC are already sold out.


edited news story from The New York Times:

In a frenzy, fans have bought so many late-night tickets for the July 18 opening of the next Batman movie that theaters in places like San Diego, Chicago, and even Eagan, Minn., are scheduling 6 a.m. screenings for those who can’t get in at midnight or 3 in the morning.

Movie theaters have sometimes opened their doors at odd hours for their most highly anticipated films, say, an entry in the “Star Wars” series, and midnight shows have become part of the summer blockbuster ritual.

But all-night sellouts far in advance of an opening have come only with the near ubiquity of online ticket sales. Fandango.com, for instance, reports well over 1,500 wee-hour showings for “The Dark Knight” in theaters that typically do not open their doors before about 10 a.m.

About 38 percent of ticket buyers polled by Fandango said in a recent survey that they intended to take some or all of July 18 off to see “The Dark Knight.”

Viewers seeking Imax screenings may have to wait. All of the first week’s showings at Lincoln Square are sold out, except for some 6 a.m. screenings, Whit Clay, an Imax spokesman, said.

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feelin' good [08 Jul 2008|08:22pm]
[ mood | tired ]
[ music | Fleetwood Mac "Second Hand News" ]

Catching up on my journal reading tonight and I trust that most of you had a good holiday weekend. I had a very nice & relaxed time myself. I caught up on movie watching (went to see "Wanted" and "Wall-E"), got sucked in to some ridiculous things on cable (watched ALL of Rodney Dangerfield's classic "Back To School" simply because it was on in high def), and spent Sunday night at The Stand with Stacey.

The best part of going over to Sunday Spunday night is digging through my collection and trying to figure out what I want to take with me each week to play. I always end up taking WAY too much stuff, but I have a great time.

This week I spun:

Ella Fitzgerald "Too Darn Hot"
Cut Chemist "The Garden"
Luscious Jackson "City Song (Supernatural Mix)"
A Tribe Called Quest VS Sir Piers & Si Ashton "Bonita Applebum (Curious House Mix)"
De La Soul "Me, Myself And I (Badmarsh & Shri Club Mix edit)"
Deee-Lite VS Hollertronix "Groove Is In The Dick"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Gold Lion (Diplo Mix)"
New Order "Fine Time"
Daft Punk "Technologic (Peaches No Logic Remix)"

Some drunken ho came over at the beginning and said "Um, ELLA is cool and everything, but it's my friend's birthday and we want to daaaaaaance." I gave her a look of disdain and said "we'll get there." I fucking DID get there and those bitches didn't dance once. I had a rough time on Monday because I was really tired from being out so late. I'm probably going to have to stick to my plan of only going every other week.

Today was really a great day at work. My air shift was rockin' and I had a lovely time with The Bloodsugars. Their Lounge Act sounded really good, they impressed me a lot. I liked their EP, but the live session really won me over. Planning on checking out their show on Saturday night at The Comet (and eating a big ass burrito). Anybody want to come with?

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doh! [06 Jul 2008|04:10pm]
[ mood | annoyed ]

In all my years of dvd buying this is a first.

I went to Best Buy this afternoon because Zack tipped me off to the fact that they are selling all 6 seasons of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM for $16.99. I have 1-5, but never had bought the 6th season, so I wanted to get it at that price (which is 50% off I believe).

I picked it up and came home. When I opened the package, it was EMPTY inside. There are slots for 2 dvd's, but no discs!!! I got what appeared to be the last copy on the display of Season 6, so I am not even trying to go back over there right now. Luckily, I saw this before throwing away the receipt.

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ugh pt 2 [04 Jul 2008|01:52pm]
Whoa -- they just had a photo finish. The two leaders tied with FIFTY NINE hot dogs and they are about to have a FIVE DOG EAT OFF.

This is brilliant.

My question is, what in the fuck do you do with yourself after you've eaten 64 hot dogs in less than an hour? Wait, on second thought, I don't want to know.
7 comments|post comment

ugh [04 Jul 2008|01:44pm]
[ mood | grossed out ]

The (93rd annual) Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island is currently on ESPN in HIGH DEFINITION. I don't think I've ever seen anything more disgusting then the close ups in this event. I will say that the "play by play" is pretty hysterical.

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the gay golden arches? [03 Jul 2008|07:44pm]
[ mood | indifferent ]

The nutters over at the American Family Association called a boycott of McDonald's today. Apparently the fast food chain joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Of Commerce and made a $20,000 donation to the group. Now, they are urging their conservative members to stop eating there. They say that their boycott is because McDonald's refuses to be neutral in the cultural war over homosexuality.

I seem to recall that they called a similar boycott on Wal-Mart after they joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Of Commerce in 2006. I have to wonder if that boycott had any effect on Wally World whatsoever (it did get the company to stop donating money to outside gay groups, but they continue to promote diversity among their employees).

Groups like the AFA have lost a lot of influence over the years, but I still want protection from their followers...

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