The Bestest pt. 3

Movies:

District 9: I had high hopes for this one when I first heard about the premise. Refugee aliens living amongst the human population in South Africa. This with an indictment of mans inhumanity towards ‘man’. I had no idea that I would be pulled into the heartwarming resonant and human-centric opus that is ‘D9’. Not to mention, it is a powerful well-crafted action movie. ‘D9’ is yet another example of using computer FX to enhance rather then to trump story and character. It blended the real with the fantastic and is pure artistic ambition. Sidenote: Blomkamp was going to direct the Halo movie before it got scrapped. Makes you wonder how awesome ‘Halo’ would‘ve/could’ve been.

Star Trek: Anyone who knows me knows that Star Wars KILLS Star Trek on pretty much every level. I have never been a ‘Trekkie’ or avid Trek watcher because I grew up on the monomyth that Lucas spun. That being said, JJ Abrahams’ reimaging of Star Trek pretty much KILLS every Star Wars film/TV show/spinoff except for ‘Empire’ and the animated Clone Wars by Tartakovsky. He made me care about a universe that I could give two ISHTS about before. ‘Trek’ was a warp speed, manic and entertaining ride. I cannot wait to see where the second entry of this new series goes. Kahn anyone?

Up: I’ll say it...If you didn’t tear up from the first ten minutes into “UP’ then you really have no heart. Pixar delivers a gem of a story about human bonds remembered and new ones forged, and never for one moment does it seems insincere or contrived. It’s almost an annual tradition that Pixar has a ‘movie of the year’ contender and ‘Up’ may be one of their best.

Avatar: Shock and awe and they way movies are made will never be the same. Sure, he used a tried and true storyline but as with anything it its what you DO with it that matters. I think Cameron gets a lot of flack for the way he crafts his magic. A couple of things 1) He still knows how to spend money wisely ($500 milly…high risk/higher reward) and 2) We need people to dream big. We need people to ignite their imaginations of what can and should be. Still…the movie runs a little long at times but this is the reason you go to the movies.

Inglourious Basterds: I picked up the Bluray on this when it came out a couple of weeks ago (missed it in theatres…I know, what was I thinking?). A dynamic pop artifact of vengeful fantasy. Scenes like the showdown in the tavern and the movie-premiere finale are inspired and alluring. At the end of ‘Basterds’ Raine says “I think this just be my masterpeice’ as far as Taratino goes I would agree.

Honorable mentions:

Fantastic Mr Fox, Black Dynamite, Watchmen, Where The Wild Things Are, Zombieland, Coraline, Food Inc.

2010 look ahead:

Iron Man 2:Don Cheadle as War Machine!!! I’m there opening day.

Inception: The trailer doesn’t make much sense; neither do the few leaked plot details. Which makes this Nolan film about “architecture of the mind” a must see.

Tron Legacy: Flynn is back, the film is written by LOST scribes Horowitz & Kitsis and Daft Punk on the score. Oh yeah, it’s in 3D as well.

Others…Kick Ass, Alice In Wonderland, Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time, Shutter Island, The Wolfman.

The Bestest pt. 2

As we continue on...

Music (Hip Hop/Rap):

Royce ‘Street Hop’: Lyrics and skill saturate this LP. Could have been a classic among classics if he would have trimmed the song count down. I say this about almost every artist so it’s not really a knock. ‘Dinner Time’, ‘Count For Nothing’ & ‘Something 2 Ride 2’ are standouts. If you are a fan of that boom bap sound this is your huckleberry.

Clipse ‘Til The Casket Drops’: Another title for this…the worlds best duo and the enduring mystery of how commercial success eludes them. A heavyweight CD that has the natural “coke rap”, metaphors and wordplay. Will this LP be the tipping point for them? Time will tell. Some of the production is MEH. Nonetheless, another stripe upon the arm baby!

Tanya Morgan ‘Brooklynati’: As authentic as it gets. It is almost an alternate universe of what it once was and will be. Lyrically witty with that cohesive backdrop of music and all of it works. Plus, I haven’t heard skits this good since ‘De La Soul Is Dead’.

Pac Div ‘Church League Champions’: To me Pac Div is a more aggressive Tribe Called Quest (that’s a compliment). ‘Church League’ is a mixtape that feels like album (another compliment). It seems like I had ‘Mayor’ in rotation for like two months or so. I can’t put my finger on why these guys are so dope, they just ARE. Find and download this already if you haven’t. The LP should be incredible!

Jay-Z ‘Blueprint 3’: I will never be able to stop apologizing to the likes of Ebones, Point Blank, Facts, etc on why I never really got Jay-Z until the Black Album. Since then (and before then) he has dropped #1 hit LP after LP. His commercial success is one thing; his ability to EMCEE and WRITE is something else. When all is said and done, he might be the best ever. Some of the production and guests (I’m looking at you Young Jeezy!) on BP3 are MEH to me. The first five tracks are INCREDIBLE & “Already Home’ will never, ever be deleted off of my Ipod. To those who think he is “Too Old” or “In The Way’…save it. Hip Hop needs to raise its game and make music that matters. Jay-Z is the ambassador of Hip Hop, deal with it.

Honorable mentions:

Wale ‘Attention Deficit’, J Dilla ‘J Stay Paid’, Slaughterhouse ‘Slaughterhouse’.

2010 look ahead:

Dr Dre ‘Detox’

Pac Div ‘Grown Kid Syndrome’

Styles Of Beyond ‘Reseda Beach’

Reflection Eternal “Revolutions Per Minute”

Black Milk ‘Album Of The Year’


Games:

Uncharted 2: The killer APP of 2009. The most complete, polished adventure game that is a MUST OWN if you have the PS3. It really is a ‘movie style’ tale that must be experienced. A definition of a genre.

Batman Arkham Asylum: The best Batman game EVER made and possibly the best-licensed game of its kind. Everything you could ever want from Bat baby. It oozes love for the source material and feels like it is part of the Batman cannon.

Dragon Age Origins: Bioware builds on each RPG they put out consistently looking for ways to make their games better. It is filled with choices to make, cities to visit, dungeons to crawl, NPCs to interact with, booty to find, quests to complete and callings to master. +20 MAGE!

Honorable mentions: Ratchet And Clank: A Crack In Time, INfamous, Dragons Lair & Space Ace (Iphone) & Zenonia (Iphone).

2010 look ahead:

Mass Effect 2, God Of War 3, Heavy Rain and Bioshock 2…ALL of these should be in rotation!

The Bestest pt. 1

Welcome back to The Bestest (A.K.A.the year in review ’09). It was the year of the earth ox. The oxen was plentiful providing some important movies, Inter-tube moments, def music and visions of future. Keep in mind, everything I list here is 1) I.M.O and 2) things I have seen, listened too, experienced, played, etc. And so it begins…

Comic(s):

Invincible Iron Man (Marvel Comics)
Matt Fraction/Salvador Larroca

The best comic of 2009 and the best story arch with “Worlds Most Wanted”

Tony Stark has been ousted from his government position and is now on the run from the law. A surprising change of direction for Iron Man, as the man who was charged with upholding the law has the tables turned on him. How far will he go to evade capture? Are his actions justified, or is he compromising the very ideals that he fought for during Marvel's "Civil War" event? Fraction continues to use giant Marvel crossover events as a springboard for exciting and fun stories. Fraction's madness, fast pace, and heart beneath the cool keeps me engaged like few can.

TV:

LOST: Season five is my second favorite season of LOST. Flashbacks, flash forwards…flashes through time. From 70’s Dharma to ‘The Life And Death Of Jeremy Bentham’ time travel was a key component to the direction the show is/was headed. By the season finale, I was getting nosebleeds. 2010 gives us the last act in this supernatural/sci fi amalgam…the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning? (see what I did there?). I will be a sad monkey when this is over.

The Venture Brothers: You would think a cartoon that parodies many 70’s/80’s cartoons would get tired after awhile. No worries…it’s as funny, awkward and clever as ever. Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer have even created some plotlines that can be followed and you even start to care about some of the characters. Season four is INSANE!

Dexter: I got caught up on ‘Dexter’ in 2009 (I burned through the first three seasons of the show over the summer). As he says ‘Paradox personified’ …it’s hard not to like Dexter and love the show. I am waiting for the DVD’s of season four and have tried to remain MOSTLY spoiler free (damn you twitter!). I am really drawn to the Chuck Palahnuikesque’ inner dialog of our hero. Miguel Prada was EPIC.

Honorable mentions: The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack, Weeds & Fringe.

2010 look ahead:

List season 6, Dexter season 4 dvd's, Fringe season 2 dvd's & Venture Brothers season 4 dvd's.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow...

That's right! Thursday the 17th...Numbs & UD with some other smashing locals. I'm also in the studio tomorrow...busy times on the grind.

Twenty Ten

It's single digit temps here in the SLC! Damn cold. I mean...damn, damn cold. No, that photo isn't of Salt City. It's of NYC. I'm sure it's cold there as well. Shanty called me a week ago and explained of a bird phenom he witnessed. I thought it might have resembled that picture. Or another image that could have mirrored that one. I'm working on my 'best of 2009' post now and thought this entry here could let you in in something that will be super awesome in the 2010 musically.

Gunnar, DJ Shanty and myself are working on an eight song EP that will be done and released April 2010. All the production will be handled by Shanty on his Nintendo DS (ain't no BSing). Gunner and I will be on mic control. Thus project has no name But already has three songs in the works, crazy. So I'm thinking you should name it. Email, text me, call me, kick me a name or phrase...whatever. Its all about you, you and you!

Peace, DAG!

Ps...the new Numbs project and my solo jawn will both drop in twenty ten as well. Seasons Greedos!

-- Post From My iPhone

Americano Noir?

Where have I been? It seems like my mind, body & soul has been hijacked by Massive Dynamics. But like you, I'm above all the magic and mysticism. Ok, I've just been really, really busy. No excuse, I know...as with time: never trust something you cannot measure.

I moved into my first house with E & K. There are still many jenga like structures in the garage that need unpacking like dragons need slaying (more on that later).

K spearheaded this whole thing. Kudos to her for her ways to improve US. Much love!

Roo was right 'free to move about in the backyard' and it's a great feeling. The home ownership thing is off with a bang.

The others that have consumed my life recently:

Music: I finished 7 solo songs/mixes, numbs has 16 tracks in the can, I want to finish a ds disc with Shanty & Gunz for the April Record day & RM completed a Roller Derby anthem.

Kid: 1 term of 3rd grade is over, she is nine now and wants 'cottonball skin'? So yeah, she's doing well.

Games: I hate/love this time of year. Way too many goodies appeal to my sweet tooth of gaming. I picked up the new Ratchet, Uncharted 2 & Dragon Age. This should keep me busy until the summer! Geez.

Work: I might apply for the 'supernatural world building' position. Maybe not.

I think my auto is almost done. We will talk some more shortly as I promise not to be away so long again...I leave you with this. The Americano drips with humorlessly self aware noir.

Drink up- Dago!

Ps. Numbs are playing in the Pro next week. Come on out and par-tay!

-- Post From My iPhone

Elektra is nine!

If a child is to keep her inborn sense of wonder, she needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with her the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.

Thanks for sharing with me, kiddo! I love you.

Detect

 

You are a detective.
Your mission is to document and observe the world around you.
As if you’ve never seen it before.
Take notes.
Collect things you find on your travels.
Document findings.
Notice patterns.
Copy. Trace.
Focus on one thing at a time.
Record what you are drawn to.

FLASHBACK

Haiku Reviews

 

Zombieland
A Thrilling Zom Com
Laughs & Blood Flow Thick & Fast
Gonzo Horror Tale

Capitalism: A Love Story
A Cry To Action
A Challenging Call To Arms
Popcorn & Pitchforks

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
Funny Food For Thought
A Grand Tale Of Frankenfood
Fighting Gummi Bears

10/09 GOALS!

 

Numbs:
Dangerous
Funk Butter
How It is
Everybody
*In the immortal words of Cube “So you better run away, duck and hide out”…not sure what that has to do with Numbs and finishing BLANK, but it does!

Self:
Finish the following songs...
Angel Dust
The Storm Before the Calm
Death Stars
Fancy Pajama Club
*I have two AP sessions in October and possibly one more in November. After this I should be over half way done with the DAGO LP.

24 Hour/Gym:
Hit the gym at least four times a week
*Again, I missed once this month. I just have to keep at the cardio and the potsie should disappear. Or evaporate? Do fat cells do that?

The Balance:
One Kelli date per week.
*If we have our sanity after moving in October we should be on our way!
Keep the 3rd grader going with her studies and well being Sunday thru Wednesday each week
*Elektra gets frustrated at times with the homework. I want her to keep her curiosity about learning…so she keeps learning her whole life.
Work my three shifts each weekend and try to come up with new perspectives and insight for the business
*It’s been comfy. Like Salt Lake is comfy.
Read at least one book over the month
*I finished Y the last man (vol 4 safe word). Now I’m working on “Breakfast Of Champions” by Vonnegut. Count Chocula? Dope book.
Try NOT to eat out as much
*Since I will be Subject 11 in a mere week. I have been on a LOW FAT diet with some occasional splurges. However, I have been paying attention to the guidelines and I’m on track.
Take 15 minutes out of each day to sit in silence and reflect
*I’m trying to stay as close to the edge without going over. The scenery is amazing.

Intergalactic Crime Fighting 101

Chills Down The Spine!

As They Are

 

What does the world look like to you? Ideas of how things could be and should be...as opposed to how they actually are.

LOST the saturday morning cartoon

 

I hope that this isn't a spoiler for season six. Actually, now that I think about it, I hope it is. I was always wondering how they'd wrap up all of the various plots. This picture has put my fears to rest. All it's missing is the Hurley Bird.

ABC move on making LOST a Saturday morning cartoon, with this fan as head artist. MUST HAVE!

I need that white medication...

Now that the 801 is cooling off I really need some of that white MEDICATION. That POW POW brah.

Gamer

When the homework is done...she transforms into, Gamer! No sequel, no equals!!!

Appletraple (tm)

Elektra started a new comic last night.

An excerpt: shock shreiking and a bear running for mayor...

I need more!!!

Get your game on!

 

Is it too soon?

I have never have been or ever will be a DRUDGE fan (sorry CONS!) and Matt Drudge is on some BULLISHT! Bill maher was right yet again. Best part of this link is what I would say at least half of Utah...ah EFF it, half of our scarred nation believes...

"But the important thing to remember is that Barack Obama is black, and there are angry black people, and they will beat you and steal your healthcare and shove this fucking tennis ball down your fucking throat and the negs are rising."


http://gawker.com/5359886/matt-drudges-angry-black-people-obsession

None of us are islands...

 

What is “Immortality”?

"Immortality" might be really frustrating.

"Immortality"...there is no destination. There is only the journey. An endless journey. Does an endless journey have any meaning without a destination?

Death is not a "destination". Death is not a place or a thing. It is the absence of something…life.

Life is an end in itself. It does not serve any 'higher purpose'. It is its own meaning.

Life has the meaning, the valuation, you give it. If it has no meaning for you, that is your doing and your failure.

The meaning of it all is me, I, we, you and yours.

The singular consciousness experiencing the universe.

Rediscover what it means to be alive in a world where nothing is perfect, and everything is impermanent.

Novel Idea

It has a great script. It also has a great novelization of the movie. Do you like sequels as much as I do?

(today, rocking the Holden Kimono zip hoodie...thanks K!)

Bruce Willis, the realest?

Is the Medium the message or the Media?

 

I heard this morning that Disney bought Marvel.

Do we really need a Deadpool/Goofy crossover?

I would love a KILLER Iron Man ride but not at the expense of the Golden Age & Silver Age Marvel to disappear into some "vault.

Here Lies Marvel Comics
Killed By A Mouse

I’m mixed on this…

Someone once said that a lightbulb was a device of pure information carrying. That by its very nature and existence, it transmits a fundamental change in the human consciousness and our conscious process.

I also once read that we, as individuals can only really know and care about 160 people. So I wonder , how many of those 160 people I know and care about are TV/Movie/Comic Book characters?

Lets all amuse ourselves to death…

Peace, DAG!

Numbs:
Funk Butter
How It is
Everybody
*We need to rock these freebie tracks in honor of Main Source (“Breaking Atoms” is so DOPE!!!)

Self:
Finish the following songs...
Angel Dust
The Storm Before the Calm
Death Stars
*I’m only going in on Thursday September 3rd…I need to move on this. October is going to be a HOT month.

24 Hour/Gym:
Hit the gym at least four times a week
*I missed once this month. My supernovas wreck the treadmill like a zombie vigilante.

The Balance:
One Kelli date per week.
*She is my River Tam…
Keep the 3rd grader going with her studies and well being Sunday thru Wednesday each week
*She’s back and better than ever. We need to incorporate Canyon Rim into an existing ride.
Work my three shifts each weekend and try to come up with new perspectives and insight for the business
*Speaking of rides...I deserve a good “Dedicated” ride. I do.
Read at least one book over the month
*”The Graveyard Book” was inspiring. Must...Read...Again.
Try NOT to eat out as much
*My fast food eating has been consolidated. Not sure what this means for access to content. Or the contents in my stomach.
Take 15 minutes out of each day to sit in silence and reflect
*It has been approved by the antitrust committee.

(The picture is the LOGO of my fantasy football team, Salt City Capos. Thanks ROO! I’m killing it this season)

3rd grade!

Kiddo, you inspire me. Learn, unlearn and relearn this year. Expand that open mind and turn mirrors into windows...I'm so proud of you.

Supernova

I ran my first mile in my Supernovas yesterday...10mins 38secs. Not too bad for an old guy like me. I told the clerk at the SLC running co that I had been training in Shelltoes. He gave me a look of disbelief mixed with bullisht.

Dharma 80's style

VB's! season 4

.25 sense!

I'm at the Gateway with Elektra. Summer vacation is almost over...clean up on aisle two.

Choose Your Own...

The Numbs session got pushed to tomorrow so...Elektra and myself decided to Frontrunner it to Dogden. I love not driving, love it. I wonder what adventure awaits us...

(Elektra just finished 'Mystery Of The Maya' on the train. Turns out, she digs the C.Y.O.A. Books...if you decide to join the mission, turn to page 62)

SLC 2nd Annual Zombie Walk

Brains!!!

Fall Games

While alot of hot properties have gotten pushed back until 2010...there are a bunch of great titles coming out in the fall (winter?) this year. I threw down some preorder cash on 'Arkham' (comes out on Aug 25th) and all of these look superfresh...

-Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (9/15)
-Alpha Protocol (10/6)
-Ratchet & Clank, A.C.I.T. (10/27)
-Assassins Creed 2 (11/11)
-Dragon Age Origins (Nov?)
-Mass Effect 2 (Dec?)

Head explodes! So many games!

Peace, DAG!

Salt Lake San Diego

Blast from the past. Last night made me feel like I was at Lalapolooza circa '96. I don't know if it was the enviroment, catching up with old friends or the music but damn it was a blast.

Big ups to Ben and Ray for pulling me thru the crowd.

Bigger ups to K with the sweet hook up on the laminates and the free beers! Loves...

08/09 Goals

 

I've got some LOFTY biz to accomplish this month...and I'm not talking about my initiation into R.O.A.C.H.

Remember, you can't "go" bad if you were bad to begin with.

Peace, DAG!

Numbs:
Funk Butter
How It is
Everybody
The Way Of The Gun- last, last verse!
*The top three tracks on here are extras. Maybe we should record over these with featured guests and release them on the interwebs as FREEBIES.

Self:
Finish the following songs...
Angel Dust
The Storm Before the Calm
Death Stars
*I have set September 2nd and 3rd as the next A.P. sessions. Stoked!

24 Hour/Gym:
Hit the gym at least four times a week
*I missed like a week and a half in July (I was on vacation, geez). I came back feeling roly poly. I’m on track again.

The Balance:
One Kelli date per week.
*Forever now…
Keep the 2nd grader (Err, 3rd grader) going with her studies and well being Sunday thru Wednesday each week
*In three weeks she will be in 3rd grade. Limitations live only in our minds.
Work my three shifts each weekend and try to come up with new perspectives and insight for the business
*I LOVE taking time off at work. Even if I only do it once or twice a year (I still have over 110 hours of vacation to use).
Read at least one book over the month
*”Fate Of The Jedi: Outcast” was a mixed bag of cannon.
Try NOT to eat out as much
*The eats on the vacation were scrumptious.
Take 15 minutes out of each day to sit in silence and reflect
*Leading towards a better position.

Another Killer APP

Another KILLER APP for the Iphone 3GS...shooting a VIDEO?

Soon-to-be-dated genre standbys

 

Desire to escape from the world with your television negates all social and political commentary in all forms of literature, ever. This is not a particularly productive avenue of conversation…some of us ARE interested in the effective use of discourse in our fiction, and your and your family's aversion to it appears to be idiosyncratic…

I need new Nightmares…

The King

...I'll be willing to swing with fry sauce and my onion rings.

The Way Of The Gun

I just layed the ILL verse, Dag. Yo word, it's the ILL verse, Dag...Who's house!

Touch a cloud

Today Elektra asked me if I have ever touched a cloud. I told her...not yet. She replied, that would be awesome.

You're always you, that doesn't change. You're always changing and there's nothing you can do about it.

(Elektra, the sand architect @ Liberty Park, today)