Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Sometimes The Packaging Needs It's Own Warning Label

Someone who knows me all too well got me this for Christmas:



I know, I know...who thought that was a good idea? But nevermind that, I'm leaving it in the packaging until I discover it's true destiny. Speaking of the packaging, can we discuss this? My first clue that something was amiss is right on the front. "For Ages 6 And Up." WHO IN GOD'S NAME WOULD PUT THIS IN THE HANDS OF A 6 YEAR OLD? People who hate that child's parents, that's who.

But that was just the beginning...then I turned it over.




Things start out straightforward enough: Hold upright. Do not shake. Press down firmly on cap. 
Good, clear directions.

Then it starts to get iffy.

Let your favorite team know you're rooting for them. Use while biking, jogging, camping.

A) Are those 2 stand alone statements or one strange statement? Maybe if you did less biking, jogging and camping on the sidelines of your favorite sport, less airhorn would be needed.

B) Why would you use this while camping? To scare bears away? To announce to your fellow campers "HEY! HEY! I veered off the trail to look at a bunny and got lost"? This is why I don't camp.

C) I don't know which is funnier, the idea of a a biker using this or a jogger using it to announce their presence to people in their way. Can't you just jog around them? I might take up jogging if it's airhorn sanctioned. (Stop laughing.)

Fits in purse, briefcase and glove compartment. Police Department recommended.
Attracts attention and is easy to use.

Generic Police Department recommended eh? I take this to mean I will not get in any sort of trouble should I choose to use it on annoying coworkers or fellow public transportation riders. Even if it's just to call them out on offenses. "HOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNK! PENALTY! ILLEGAL DOUBLE SEAT USAGE" "HOOOOOONNNNNK! PENALTY! OVERSIZED BACKPACK LEFT ON DURING RUSH HOUR AND ALL UP IN MY PERSONAL SPACE" "HOOOOOONNNNNK! GET YOUR OWN DAMN TONER CARTRIDGE"



So, thank you generous friend for my airhorn. Just imagine the fun once I open it.



Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Worst. Toy. Ever.

Things that make you go "hmmm"...and "wait, you're serious?" I find this right up on the top of that list.  Three words: Joan. Jett. Barbie. 




Three more words: What. The. Fuck.

At what point did someone think making one of the foremost female rockers, the "godmother of punk" into a BARBIE DOLL? I'm guessing it's someone who heard Britney Spears version of "I Love Rock 'n" Roll" while watching "Crossroad" (let's not dwell on how I know that). The same person probably wrote this copy:

Have you ever said (or sung) "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"? If so, you're gonna love this doll! An acclaimed guitarist and one of the greatest leading ladies of rock, Joan Jett is a legendary singer and songwriter. Featuring her look and rock 'n' roll spirit, the Joan Jett Barbie Doll is part of the Ladies of the '80s collection and a must-have for her many fans! Includes doll and guitar, and stands approximately 11 1/2-inches tall.

The warning labels make for far more interesting copy:

WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
Ok, I can see that, little shoes and accessories.


WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-Toy contains a small ball. Not for children under 3 years.
Wait. What? Where is there a small ball? PLEASE PLEASE let it come with a tiny ball gag! Now we're talking authenticity!


At least they didn't give Joan-doll Barbie's usual mythical proportions. Although something tells me the real Joan Jett would find THAT amusing.


However, it must be said...I think the Cyndi Lauper doll is pretty fantastic.




HER copy brings the giggles (and SCREAMS possibly drunk copywriter):
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun"… especially Cyndi Lauper! Cyndi is one of the foremost female singer/songwriters who left her mark on pop culture, and this Cyndi Lauper Barbie Doll really displays the popular singer's trend-setting fashion sense and spunk. She's part of the Barbie Ladies of the '80s collection. Have some fun of your own as you gaze admiringly at her "Time After Time"! Stands about 11 1/2-inches tall.

I want it for the hair alone. What can I say, I'm a mystery wrapper in an enigma coated with God knows what.

Both dolls can be found at http://www.entertainmentearth.com/ in the Barbie "Ladies of the 80's" collection. I DO have a birthday coming up. Just saying.




Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Kewl Yule

The 2,498,823rd time hearing "All I Want For Christmas (Is You)" have you feeling anything BUT jolly?
Try some of these slightly-off-the-radar holiday tunes!




"Come On Santa " - The Raveonettes
Still about the jiggly man in red, but dreamier, cooler

"The First Noel/Mary Mary" - Sarah McLachlan
McLachlan takes a traditional song and mixes it up with a world sound and a bluesy chaser

"The Twelve Pains Of Christmas" - Bob Rivers
Arguably the best of all River's Christmas parodies, a classic.
FINE! YOU'RE SO SMART YOU RIG UP THE LIGHTS!

"Nuttin For Christmas" - Sugarland
Fun fact: Sugarland replaced all the names in the song with names of fellow Country singers

"What Christmas Means To Me" - Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder magic + Christmas magic = Awwwwwesome

"Funky, Funky Xmas" - New Kids On The Block
It's like the holiday cheese ball. You don't think you want it, but you'll eat it up!

"My Grown Up Christmas List" - Kelly Clarkson
Beautiful message...ok fine, I just wanted a Kelly Clarkson song

"Auld Lang Syne (Artist Medley)" - Sara Bareilles, Jim Bianco, Cary Brothers, Buddy, Holly Conlan, Marie Digby, Katie Herzig, Jesca Hoop, Laura Jansen, Tim Jones, Greg Laswell, Lenka, Anya Marina, Jonah Matranga, Ingrid Michaelson, Meiko, Joshua Radin, and Butch Walker
Haunting, gorgeous and features everyone under the sun


"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" - The Pretenders
My #1 fave Christmas song and who's cooler than the Pretenders?

"Underneath The Mistletoe" - Blondfire
I found this holiday EP by accident on  iTunes and I'm absolutely in love with it. Sweet & catchy

"Winter Wonderland" - Kate Havnevik
Listening to this version while actually walking in the snow is a sublime life experience

"Last Christmas" - Jimmy Eat World
I can't knock the original Wham version, but Jimmy Eat World hips it up a bit

"Christmas Piglet" - Presidents Of The United States of America
Just makes me laugh and shake like a bowl full of jelly


Hopefully these and some heavily spiked 'nog will get you through.


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

I Should Have Packed A Change Of Pants

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse will hit IMAX screens as well as conventional theaters on June 30th, 2010!



SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Several stories of RPattz? YES PLEASE! That in addition to the sleeping bag scene and GOD WILLING the infamous leg hitch...things just got a little more interesting!

That release would be 202 days from now for those playing along at home.






Tuesday, December 8, 2009

It's Going To Be A Long, Cold, Glee-less Winter



I'm thrilled Glee is a success and was picked up for a full season. I really am. However with this joy comes first the pain of a needed break to film the second half of the season. This means tomorrow is the last episode UNTIL APRIL.

I wrote a haiku to express my torment:

What? No Glee for months?
Drama queen within tells me
Just curl up and die.




Thursday, December 3, 2009

What's Gonna Work? TEEEAAAMWORK!

'Twilight' stars join forces to negotiate contracts :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bill Zwecker



The holy Twi-nity sticks together. WEEE! Other reasons this is awesome, deals were already inked previously for 4 movies, meaning Breaking Dawn will almost certainly be TWO films (necessitating a contract for a 5th movie.)


HIGH FIVE!



Or not. Way to leave a girl hanging.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

World AIDS Day

Today I need to take a break from my usual snarkfest. December 1st is World AIDS Day. I first became involved with AIDS charities and movement when I was in high school and became a teen trainer for Stop AIDS. I've met amazing people, some still with us, some not...and World AIDS Day for me remains a day to reflect on how far we've come and how far there still is to run in this race. HIV is both preventable and treatable. It's no longer a death sentence here in the U.S. but for the infected in Africa, where the majority of new cases of HIV in the world still occur, those who can't access or afford treatment, the prognosis is far darker.

A few facts from Join Red:

  • 10% of the world’s pop is in Africa yet she's home to 67% of all HIV cases.
  • It costs around 40 cents a day for the 2 pills that are needed to help keep someone with HIV alive.
  • 33mm people in world have HIV. 22mm live in Africa.
HIV is treatable, not curable. There is still much to be done domestically and around the globe. Advances. Discoveries.

How you can help, today, without even trying:

Buy a handcrafted beverage at any participating Starbucks and they will donate $0.05 per drink to the Global Fund To Fight AIDS in Africa

Purchase anything from this GAP collection and half the profits go to the Global Fund To Fight AIDS

Go Red this holiday season: check out this list of Product RED gift items

facebook.com/joinred
twitter.com/joinred
http://www.joinred.com/



image property of the Keith Haring Estate





Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Sigh.

I don't want to be a creeper. I've withheld all comments on the matter, even when my brain has started creaking under the weight of them. Because of previous events, I feel even a little protective of him.

But.

I'm human. A human female who's mind spends the better part of the day in the gutter anyway. So this effort will go a lot more smoothly IF YOU STOP. PUTTING. THINGS. LIKE. THIS. IN. FRONT. OF. MY. EYEBALLS!!!!!!!!





Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go say the rosary and cry now.

Monday, November 23, 2009

I Open Every Door Expecting An Intervention

Between last Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Friday at 5 p.m., I saw New Moon 3 times. Somehow it doesn't seem as scary now that several days have passed without seeing it. Don't get it twisted though, I know I'll falter and go back.

To better cope, I've tried to shift my focus to Eclipse's release, which I expect the media blitz to start for any day now. I've added a countdown clock to my page. Yes, I really did.

It's good to have goals.


Actually, I could probably use this:

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Yep. I Saw It.

I have seen the promised land known as New Moon. I bought tickets to see it opening night but the gods smiled upon me and saw fit to give me screening passes to see it a full night early. Those same gods were clearly shining on me when I got the chance to grab a seat in the theater before the masses were let up (lesson: it's good to know people). I plopped myself in the middle of lower row, ensconsing my self in ooey gooey vamp wolf goodness. Now, if you've read the books, you clearly know the premise of the movie and any spoilers going in and after the media onslaught, who DOESN'T know Jacob turns into a wolf? There's a good reason for that though. Now, having seen New Moon, the movie can really be summed up in three words: Oh hai Jacob!

New Moon is Jacob's story and the movie is Taylor Lautner's to run away with and he does just that. I admit the first few passes through the book I hated Jacob. I thought he was whiny, annoying and just plain in the way of my beloved Edward and Bella. Twilight, the movie, started to change that. I reread the books with more sympathy for Jacob. If there were any lingering hard feelings, New Moon dispels them. Taylor Lautner's Jacob is extremely likable and funny. The entire movie had more funny moments than I expected, but more on that later. The first time Jacob appears on screen (fully clothed), the reaction was audible and far stronger than I expected. And then there is the rest of Jacob. The physically changed Jacob. Yes, it's awkward to think about Taylor Lautner only being 17 but...DAMN. I'll leave it at that but there were a whole lot of slackjawed women (and a few men, let's be honest) in the audience. Jacob and Bella's interactions are the best part of this movie. Yes, Edward and Bella up the steamy kiss level a few notches, but Bella and Jacob are easy together. It makes it that much easier to feel Jacob's frustration. To the point where a woman in front of me yelled "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM" at Bella during one scene. All in all, I can't imagine anyone BUT Taylor Lautner as Jacob.

The special effects also surprised me in that they were better than I expected. The scenes with the wolves actually made me jump several times. Although it could also be my standards were lowered so far by Twilight and actors being yanked around on strings that I am not seeing things clearly but I think they were actually good. Maybe.  Let's say yes.

The secondary characters like Charlie, Jessica and Mike are featured far less in New Moon, but they get some of the better lines in the movie. Their characters act as a further mood lightener for what could have been one heck of an emo-fest. The Volturi also bring something new to the Twi-table. Made up of arguably the best actors of the bunch, the Volturi manage to convey more by saying less. Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning are deliciously evil.

All the Team Edward TwiHards don't have to worry, this isn't Edward's movie but even though his absence is the key to this story, you get enough RPattz magic sprinkled in to keep you satisfied. You're might also want to bring a cool beverage for a few of the kissing scenes, because they do not disappoint. Whew! The lack of a reaction to Edward's emergence from the clocktower surprised me though. Jacob got a bigger audience cheer by far. I'm curious to see if that changes tonight.

Then there is the end. Oh, the end. I will not spoil anything but I'll say they make it impossible to NOT want to see Eclipse immediately. Cinematic blue balls. That's all I'll say. Some folks hated it, I LOVED it and can't wait to watch everyone else watch it tonight.

Speaking of hate...I have heard from a few people that were disappointed in the movie. Everyone seems to have a scene or line they wish had made it but to those that want the book translated word for word, scene for scene, you've got to let it go. A 600+ page book just can not be made into a 2 hour movie, they've got to keep it moving. Edward and Bella staring at each other over a table might equal fantastic tension in the book but watching them stare at each other for 20 minutes real time would make even the TwiHardiest crack. If I want to watch people stare at each other, I'll watch The Hills.

There you go, just my thoughts on the matter. I can't wait to see it again tonight...and maybe I'll see you there. Don't throw things at me.


Remember Me Trailer. Oh Yes.


Remember Me



Trailer Park | MySpace Video

We get to watch Rob slam things around AND nekkid? I'm in. Sign me up. Good God yes.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Wordle: Like Crack, But Socially Acceptable

I am blaming twitter and @jbomb11 for introducing me to Wordle I've been sucked in. OOH OOH but look what I made for you from the words in my blog!




Fine, maybe it's the web equivilant of a pencil holder made from popsicle sticks I made you for Mother's Day but I think it's neat, so take a page from my mom's handbook and say thank you, gush over it a little and I'll be on to the next thing. She knows what she's doing, she's been dealing with me for years.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Here Is My New Moon Premiere Coverage

I'm here at the New Moon Premiere blah blah red carpet coverage blah blah asking Kristen blah blah asking Rob blah blah Taylor blah blah questions blah blah Robsten? Eclipse? Screaming fans blah blah, it's crazy! What about Breaking Dawn? Yadda yadda yadda and so on.

See. I don't even have to be there.


I wish I could watch all the coverage simultaneously because I would create a new drinking game where I had to take a drink every time any of the cast members were asked the same question and 2 drinks every time an extraneous cast member was asked about Rob or Kristen. I figure before they even all got in to the theater I'd be passed out until I can see the movie for myself on Wednesday.

11/16/09 Earworms

Everyone else is posting about vampires, so I'd rather post about music. So there. Nyah.

This week in the "try it, you'll like it" bin:

Rogue Wave - "Harmonium"
Heavy on the instrumentals, makes you just want to ride off into the sunset

Serena Ryder - "All For Love"
This song is just begging to be a love theme on one of the CW's lineup

Norah Jones - "Man Of The Hour"
"It's him or me, that's what he said, but I can't choose between a vegan and a pothead. So I chose you because you're sweet and you give me lots of lovin' and you eat meat" Love it. It gets better when you realize what she's really singing about.

A Fine Frenzy - "Electric Twist"
I've said it before, I love a clap along song.

Mutemath - "Lost Year"
I can't get enough of Mutemath's latest cd, "Armistice". I think I've earwormed nearly every track so far.

Cross Canadian Ragweed - "My Chances"
More acoustic and melodic than I'm used to out of CCR, almost a Billy Joel feel to it, but it works

The Epilogues - "Hurting You"
If you like Meese and Mutemath, you're just about guaranteed to like The Epilogues. I can't believe these guys are unsigned.

Blur - "Tender"
The "13" cd was recently resurrected on my iPod, I forgot how much I adore this song, all 7+ minutes of it


"Oh Crap" Addendum: So I realized I had actually started another list before this one. So I might as well tack it on here. Because where one is good, twenty seven is always better

Tesla - "Love Song"
"Five Man Acoustical Jam" always brings me back to my rocker girl days. I want to put on my thigh high boots and leggings and flick a lighter.

Will Hoge - "Even If It Breaks Your Heart"
Which is exactly what this song does, breaks my heart "Keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart"

Jon McLaughlin - "Beautiful Disaster"
I've had this promo cd sitting around forever and finally ripped it in to my iTunes on a whim and I adore this song "she would trade anything for happy ever after"

Passion Pit - "Moth's Wings"
Just discovering Passion Pit, I love the very distintive vocals and BIG production on this song. Another movie-like song. I have more imaginary soundtracks than most movie houses.

ABBA - "The Winner Takes It All"
This song caught me in a sentimental moment. I love ABBA. Don't judge.

Allie Moss - Corner
Soft vocals, reminiscent of A Fine Frenzy. Pretty song and sometimes I just like a pretty song.

The All American Rejects - "I Wanna"
It might not make me cool, but The All American Rejects make damn catchy pop rock songs

Adele - "That's It, I Quit, I'm Moving On"
Adele is perfectly suited for covering a blues track, and done acoustically like this, it's perfection


Ok, that's it. For now. Maybe. Who knows.





Friday, November 13, 2009

A Twi-Morsel


I know, I know, I know...I've been quiet. I just go back to from Nashville and honestly I'm so wound up about seeing New Moon next week, I haven't been posting every time one of the TwiKids pops up because it would be a full time job and frankly there are a lot of people that do it better.

HOWEVER, this was just brought to my attention, thanks to Twilight Saga News, allegedly (from the lips of Summit themselves, but still, never know 100% until it happens) a teaser trailer for Eclipse will be showing before New Moon.

GAME ON!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Nashville: Prepare Thyself!

It will be quiet around these parts for the next few days...I'm off to Nashville for CMA Week! (ok, a portion of CMA week, but who's counting)


I tend to end up in the strangest places, so you never know what I might find blogworthy down there. But if you miss me too much, I'll be tweeting all I can (@Bashville) and all the best stuff goes to my personal twitter ;) I also have a tendency to live tweet award shows too, so you never know!

Wish me luck! Pray for the city of Nashville.

(PS...TEAM TAYLOR FOR ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR!)

Friday, November 6, 2009

Friday TwiHard Report: New Moon Musical Spoilers


In this world, there are music people and non music people. Non music people might like music but can mostly take it or leave it. For music people, music is as much a part of daily life as food, water or even air for the most enthusiastic diehards. I consider myself one of the music people…in case you haven’t noticed by the amount I blog about it. For this reason, the soundtrack to New Moon was every bit as important to me as the movie itself. The Twilight Saga films are doing an excellent job of using music as an integral part of the films, as crucial to setting the mood as the sets and lighting and while New Moon is not yet out in theaters, the soundtrack has been out since mid October. I imagine there were many other musical TwiHards out there that couldn’t wait to immerse themselves in the new music and let’s be honest, obsess, over the various tracks’ part in the movie.

If you were lucky enough to catch a peek of the full Edward/Bella breakup scene before it was pulled, it was revealed that Bon Iver & St. Vincent’s “Rosyln” is the backing track for that wrenching scene but so far, no other clips have offered any more than snippets of the score. That is until I read Ann Donahue’s article in the 10/31/09 issue of Billboard magazine, “’New Moon’ Rising”.

In the article, Donahue offers several tempting, spoiler-ish morsels:

“In considering the second single “Two contenders for the next single slot are Lykke Li’s ‘Possiblilty,’ which is the longest musical take in the movie and played over a pivotal scene in the film as Bella pines for Edward…”

In reference to the New Moon score composer Alexandre Desplat’s “The Meadow” : “There is a central love theme for Bella and Edward, but Chris (Weitz) felt that we didn’t want to put that out front because in the film Bella and Edward are separated through much of it,” Desplat says. “You don’t hear that theme in its full treatment until the end of the movie. For the soundtrack album it’s an arrangement of that melody but just for the piano.”

Finally, from New Moon director Chris Weitz: “The one song that does play in full during the film, he says, is (Thom) Yorke’s “Hearing Damage,” which underscores a fight scene.

Spoiler or not, it makes me all the more eager to see how all the tracks correspond with scenes in the movie. Thankfully, I am just under a week away from seeing just that.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Pardon The Interruption

Ahem. SQUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!



That said, back to faking being an adult-type person. Please try to control your chuckles and keep your eyerolling to a minimum.


Tuesday, November 3, 2009

You Thought I Was Exaggerating

I'm not. They're after me.


No...just...No

Over the last week or so, I've received several emails from various stores and newsletters touting denim leggings as the hot new thing. No...really. Have you seen these?



This is one of those instances when I feel like the fashion powers-that-be are sitting around on thrones on  Fashion Island dreaming up new, fresh levels of hell to unleash upon us. "Shoulder pads? No...saving those for next year, how about bringing acid wash back...maybe tightrolling? WAIT! IT'S GENIUS! ACID WASHED DENIM LEGGINGS!" 

They are so ugly, so impossible to wear, it's diabolical.  I was just starting to make my peace with regular leggings and you guys go and spring these on me. I just can't do it. I can't let my friends do it. I dare say I can't even allow my enemies to do it, if only because I would still have to SEE them.

If you are going to try and triple dog dare the world in to wearing these, can you spare some of the bleach from all the acid washing and apply it directly to my eyes?

Sunday, November 1, 2009

On The 8th Day, He Created Rob

Just as I was starting to fret about having nothing to blog about because I've been so distracted the past few days that all the info I had went stale, the heavens parted and tiny cherubs slid down a sunbeam and delivered the new issue of Vanity Fair and His most perfect creation, Rob...



I will only post one, and push you over to Thinking of Rob for the rest of the untagged glory since I am in no way responsible for this thin slice of heaven and TOB presented them so nicely.

It seems fitting that these would appear, almost miraculously, on a Sunday since they take my ass to church and make me fall to my knees and give a prayer of thanks:

Dear God, on behalf of my sisters and brothers (who are also sisters), thank you for giving our eyes, if not our loins, the gift of Rob Pattinson. Heavenly high five on this one.
Amen.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

I'll Take "Things That Are LAME" For $400, Alex

Last night at the Rosemont Theatre, there was a several story high banner for a limited engagement...with this exact picture:



OMG PONIES!!!1!  Matthew Morrison from Glee!

Oh...but wait...he's not actually IN the touring cast. What? Where does it say that on this ad? That's right...it doesn't.

Do you know what that is?



That's crap.


Dear Kelly,

Thank you for an utterly amazing show in Chicago last night and for being one of the coolest, most down to earth artists I've ever met. Also, thank you for rocking the Patsy Cline like no one else...




(not from the show last night, but almost exactly the same thing but better quality)

If I should ever marry, you have a standing invite to sing this at my reception. In the meantime, let's go drink some margaritas and watch Glee.

xoxo, you're future BFF,

Liz

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

IT'S KELLY CLARKSON DAY!!



And I've decorated for the occasion! I wish a very happy Clarkson Day to you and yours! May today be the day Kelly realizes she's my bff and we sit down to a hilarious discussion about Edward Cullen over a few margaritas. Anything is possible on Clarkson Day.

While I'm busy jumping up and down, clutching my friends and screaming along with the songs, anyone at home and bored can watch the Scream Awards on Spike tonight.
Let me know if I missed anything SINCE I'VE BEEN GONE!

Heh. Kelly Clarkson Day. Woot!


Monday, October 26, 2009

10/26/09 Earworms

Yikes, I just realized I've been remiss in posting my earworms, which are usually what I've thrown into my on the go playlist that week, and my current list is threatening to swallow me whole!

"Bad Guy" - Mindy Smith
"Am I just someone you call when you need someone to keep" & "You tell me that I'm crazy, you tell me that I've lost my mind but you're the one behind the wheel, driving me across that line" seal the deal with me on this song
"Wiggley Fingers" - Patty Griffin
I just rediscovered Griffin's "Flaming Red" cd. I firmly believe it's a must have
"You're Gonna Want Me" - Shane Dwight
Momma loves a little dirty blues
"The Royal We" - Silversun Pickups
This might be the earwormiest of them all, I've developing a serious music crush on Silversun Pickups, they sound different enough to stand out but familiar enough to be completely addictive
"Drive" - Gary Go
One of the best covers I've heard in a long time, Gary Go elevates The Cars tune to a beautiful new level
"Fearless" - Taylor Swift
You may have noticed I love Taylor. This is my current favorite off her disc of the same name. Just makes me smile
"Clockwork" - Mutemath
Mutemath (Mute Math? I still don't know) was introduced to me through the Twilight soundtrack, but their latest cd "Armistice" is fantasti. I air drum with this song, sad but true
"I Shall Believe" - Sheryl Crow
Another oldie buy goodie, still a little haunting, still extremely sexy
"Boom" - Anjulie
Great combo of slinky and danceable that makes it perfect music to get ready to
"Friends" - Band of Skulls
Exactly why I was so excited when I first learned BOS was going to be included on the New Moon soundtrack, I love them and can't wait for everyone else to love them. My fave song on the soundtrack (at least today)
"Junebug" - Robert Francis
Perfect driving with the windows down song, even if it's too cold to do that anymore
"Beautiful Is Gone" - The Ruse
The only band to ever randomly start following me on twitter that I found I really really love. I don't understand how this isn't a #1 song.
"Through & Through & Through" - Joel Plaskett
Kind of retro, late 70's feel makes it a lazy Sunday song
"Happy Ending" - Mika
I admit, I make up elaborate movie scenes in my head to this song on the el in the morning
"Feeling Good" - Muse
What Adam Lambert was aiming for when he did this song on American Idol

Monday TwiHard Report


Eclipse filming is a wrap and New Moon is rapidly approaching (huzzah!)

The media meltdown for New Moon is starting to bubble, so far the holy Twinity has been booked for the Today show and Regis & Kelly (hopefully Reeg has learned Kristen's name by now) but Ellen may have scored the crown jewel...booking Rob Pattinson all by his lonesome. Let's see if he brings the whole family back to sit in the audience again.

If you somehow missed the new "Save Her" spot...here you go!




Have I mentioned lately I'm excited? I am...a little...I hope I don't piddle on the rug.

Those kids at Summit know the second New Moon premieres, the Eclipse onslaught begins in earnest. So via the @twilight twitter acct, they treated us to the title treatment for Eclipse:




Ooooh ominous! Well, as ominous as a few words can be, but I like it, it's a start! There is going to be a LOT of time to fill before Eclipse hits theaters in Summer of '10. New Moon was somewhat balanced with Eclipse filming tidbits (and the uberstalking of it's cast), but if they don't film Breaking Dawn in whatever way they're going to do, it's going to be a long dry winter.

Whenever, and however they approach Breaking Dawn, it would be nice if the cast didn't have to hideout...most notably Rob & Kristen nee Robsten.  My friend Tracy (@rosenfie) but together her first video about just that topic. Pretty damn good for a first shot!  :)


Thursday, October 22, 2009

Thursday TwiHard Report

The hits just keep on coming! Yahoo has posted a new fight scene with the Volturi, when Edward intervenes to save Bella. I don't care what anyone says, this makes me want to see the movie MORE not LESS! (The thumbnail links to the video since they've disable embedding.)


New Moon - Volturi fighting scene @ Yahoo! Video


Bad. Ass.


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Never Fails

Signs of life! Right after I say nothing is going on. Of course.

From the Twilight twitter page (which you should be following, see post below) -
The first #NewMoon TV spot called "Event" will debut tonight on Access Hollywood and will be available online on Fandango!!

I'm assuming it will appear on the Fandango New Moon fansite so if you want to see more, check it out...if you're holding out for the full monty, Godspeed to you.

UPDATED: Link directly to the new spot on Fandango here.

Wednesday TwiHard Report

It's quiet. A little too quiet. *cricket chirp*

It's Catherine Hardwicke's birthday.

When @Twilight reaches 200,000 followers on twitter, they'll share the Eclipse title graphic with us.

That's it. That's all I could scrape up and the @Twilight story is actually a few days old. Not a promo pic, not a still, not a clip...nothing.

Has anyone checked Summit's pulse today? I'm worried. Might be time for a well being check.

On stand-by until something worthwhile pops up. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.


Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Tuesday TwiHard Report

Yep, I totally edited this to just make it the post du jour. Why? Because I can!

Jacob haters be damned, this gave me a serious case of the giddies. Now if only Alex Meraz would stop making me love him via twitter so I could concentrate on my hatred of Paul, we'd be all good.




The clip is now available for download through the new iTunes Twilight store

Do Regis & Kelly have magic booking fairies? They must because they pulled this off, via their twitter account: @Regis_and_Kelly EXCLUSIVE! New Moon's Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson & Taylor Lautner on our show Nov18,19,&20!

A) Having one on each day certainly hints that they'll be doing so much press that all three can't be spared at the same time, no surprise there. Have caffeine and cigarettes, will travel.
B) Does this mean I'm going to have to watch Regis & Kelly? THREE TIMES? *groan* If I must.

I love the smell of media blitz in the morning!

Pssst only 252 days until Eclipse is allegedly released, just in case that New Moon count was getting old.

Twitter, You're Killing Me Smalls

Twitter has been up and down all morning, with a heavy emphasis on the down, and I know when I try to sleep tonight this is all I will see:




Rather than pull my hair out, I've channeled my frustration into a more creative outlet, composing poetic odes to the Twitter Fail Whale!

Do you like haikus?

Colors meant to sooth.
Sweet birdy smiles mislead me.
Alas, so much fail.

Perhaps you prefer limericks?

There once was a giant white whale
With aid of some birds, through the air he did sail
He seemed harmless enough, but when the going got tough
His presence meant nothing but FAIL


If this continues I may be forced to tackle iambic pentameter. Let's pray it doesn't come to that.


Sunday, October 18, 2009

Twi-Slacker Report

Yep. Been a few days. Maybe I was feeling a little Twired (bad as I think that was?) or maybe still reeling from post-Lautner contact, whatever...I slacked. But I promise you haven't missed out on anything too earth shattering.

Most important news, the New Moon soundtrack is out!!! And IMHO, AWESOME! I've had a new favorite song every day so far. The only track I really dislike is the Editors song, dude's voice creeps me out, but to each their own. Yes, it's a whole lot of emo, but hey, that's New Moon. The collection of music on the soundtrack does a great job of capturing the emotion of reading New Moon, making me even more excited to see the movie, if that's at all possible. Even those outside the Twi cult should check out this soundtrack as a collection of some very interesting up and coming bands. While you're at it, check out more from Band of Skulls, a personal favorite.

Though it's very much putting-the-cart-in-front-of-the-horse, will Muse be back for a third time with the Eclipse soundtrack? MTV has posted a new interview with Muse's Dominic Howard, discussing their history with Eclipse's director David Slade and being a part of the world of Twilight. Check out the interview and a great write up at Eclipsemovie.org

I hate getting too texty. So, how about a New Moon promo pic of the FULL wolf pack, including Jacob?




The first rule of Wolf Pack is never talk about Wolf Pack, but apparently the second rule is to only wear dark neutrals. Anyhoo, still pretty hot.

Whilst in the wolfy vein, the Spike TV Scream Awards taped this weekend, and while I won't give spoilers to anyone hell bent on watching and being surprised (good luck with that) Mr. Taylor Lautner WAS on hand.  Several fan sites have reported however that the New Moon clip presented was NOT new. However, there could still be a different clip inserted for the actual airing, to avoid leaks. Those movie execs can be crafty little monkeys. See for yourself when the Scream Awards air on Spike on 10/27.

Jumping on the Twi-merch cash wagon, Nordstrom has introduced their own line of New Moon clothing and merch. To sweeten the pot, Nordstrom is offering tickets to private advance screenings of New Moon with every $50 purchase from their collection. $50 seems pretty steep to me, but you do get bragging rights for seeing it first.  The merch is toned down considerably from it's Hot Topic counterparts, most of it being less overt and more wearable by anyone over the age of 12. Many of the t-shirts are actually pretty cute, like this "Dear Alice" shirt:




Cute right? But then there are a few pieces, that while not awful, I can't for the life of me figure out what they have to do with New Moon, or anything Twilight related for that matter. This tunic being the perfect example:



Do the Cullens have their own tartan I'm not aware of? Is this reminiscent of something Bella wears in the movie we just don't know about yet? (With that many ruffles I highly doubt it.) Is it a wink and a nod to all the plaid sported off set by Rob Pattinson? I have no answers for you. Not one.

Finally there is a special New Moon issue of People magazine on stands now. It is chock full of pretty pictures from New Moon and it's even prettier stars and this gem, the first still from Eclipse. With the release of New Moon just about a month away, it's good to prepare for the fervor and speculation to swing Eclipse's way.




God, I could stare at that profile all the live long day. Now please go buy the magazine so I don't get in trouble for using the picture, because I'd really miss seeing it if they made me take it down.


Thursday, October 15, 2009

The Tweet-A-Band Name Experiment

I don't know about you but if I here any more wild speculation about Balloon Boy I'm going to start dry heaving, so to focus my attention elsewhere, I decided to put together a list of 10 new band names using only words contained in tweets in my timeline.  The results were better than expected. Here they are in no particular order (and the tweeter they can be credited to):

1. Creature Shop (@hensoncompany)
2. Love Blazers (@anewmode)
3. mind=blown (@Syds)
4. Tranny Storm (@chicagoist)
5. HODGMAN (@hodgman)
6. Pick A Season Schizo (@CarolineTimm)
7. Four Star Review (@hughhefner)
8. My Biggest, Saddest Regret (@heypopsugar)
9. Lincoln Log School (@Ginger_Swan)
10. cockatoo (@DanWarp)


I KNEW I should have held out and sold this method on late night infomercials. Damn. My loss is your gain.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Public Service Announcement


Friends Don't Let Friends Wear Crappy Fabrics



This message brought to you by the Velour Prevention League.


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

We Now Return You To Our Regular Programming

I clearly understand that anything I blog about after this point, with the exception of Rob Pattinson picking me up at Trader Joe's, is going to be a serious let down after the last post. I will try to fall into something else exciting just as soon as I can, but in the meantime let's soldier on.


Summit has (finally) created their own twitter account, @twilight! Promising inside info and exclusive twitpics, we followers have already been treated to pics of Chris Weitz at the sound mixing board, a new New Moon still, and we've learned New Moon has a run time of 2 hours and 10 minutes.  What this says to me as the owner of tickets to the 12:45 am showing of New Moon, I'm very glad I took the next day off of work.

They also shared today that the New Moon Soundtrack, originally due out next Tuesday, 11/20 (ACTUALLY, I thought it was originally due out today and moved back, but I digress), will be released this Friday, 11/16 "due to overwhelming demand." "Due to overwhelming demand" seems to mean "oops this was leaked" but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth? Don't illegally download the music, pony up for the legit cd. Musicians have to eat too. And every penny raised helps the "Bring Chris Weitz Back To Direct Breaking Dawn" fund! I made that last part up but it certainly can't hurt can it?

Finally, my new BFF Taylor Lautner will be presenting at the 2009 Scream Awards that I still won't be watching because I'll be geeking out at Kelly Clarkson. Watching or not, you can still take a minute to vote for Twilight for their Scream Award noms and while you're in the voting spirit, Vote For The Twilight Soundtrack for the American Music Awards Soundtrack of the Year.


BTW Rob, if you're reading this...I tend to linger in the wine section, see you there.



Monday, October 12, 2009

She Dances...er...Sits..With Wolves

The universe is a strange and wonderful thing and life is random. There is no other way I can explain how I can go from this on Friday:


















To this on Saturday:




That would be the Taylor Swift concert in Chicago this past Saturday night, and yes, that would be Taylor Lautner sitting thatclose to me. Here is how that came to be...

I actually saw Taylor about 20 seconds after getting there Sat night. My friends and I were walking through catering to get to a backstage room and my friend just whispered "look left" and there was Taylor at the catering table right next to us. I just smiled and we kept on walking.  A little later while we were just hanging out talking to Taylor Swift's mom and he walked in to the room.  He was chatting and taking pictures with the daughters of some co-workers and getting up in the middle of a conversation would be the pinacle of rudeness, so again, smile and go on.

We were fortunate enough to watch the concert from the soundboard so we were standing in the little fenced off area towards the front waiting for the show to start, when Taylor walked in the arena with T. Swift's mom. I don't have the proper words to describe the shrieking roar that ensued. I don't even know how it spread THAT fast that it was him, considering he couldn't have been more than 2 feet in the door before everyone was screaming.  T. Swift's mom walked in to the soundboard area with him, and he moved to the middle towards the back by himself, the singular focus of every pair of eyeballs in the place. He just stood and smiled. The lights went out shortly after and the show started. My friends and I stayed towards the front, dancing and singing, because...well...we love Taylor Swift! Taylor just stood quietly by himself and watched the show.  About midway through the show, T Swift (it gets really hard to write this out with the Taylor/Taylor thing, bear with me) comes out to a little stage in the soundboard area and sings a few songs.  They bring some people down to sit on a big rug next to the stage to watch it. That's where I thought we were going. I was wrong.  Here is where I smell a little conspiracy amongst Mama Swift and my friends, but however it came to be, I am grateful. Mama Swift pulled us over to sit on the other side of the little stage. I was literally grabbed by the shoulder and placed next to Taylor to sit, one of my friends was placed on the other side of him.  When the lights came up as T. Swift ran up on to the smaller stage, it was blinding. I'm pretty sure I'm still seeing spots from all the flashbulbs. My friend looks at Taylor and says "thanks for getting me on everyone's facebook page tomorrow" and I asked, "so, is this just a normal day for you?" (Way less creepy than "hey I was eating cake off your face yesterday") He half smiled and replied "yeah, kind of." We then introduced ourselves, and he, quite adorably, introduced himself right back "hi! I'm Taylor" and shook our hands. 

Taylor for the most part just watched T Swift, singing along and bobbing his head along like the rest of us, occasionally looking down at his feet. I saw him glance over quickly when I pulled out my phone, but once he saw I was just taking pics of T.Swift he relaxed and went back to singing along. (note: great sigh of relief that just a day prior, I'd taken the RPattz screensaver off my phone). The most poignant part of the night for me came while T. Swift sang "Fifteen". The song just lays me out on a good day, but the combination of missing my own 15 year (gulp) reunion for this and who I ended up next to to watch the song, had me choking back the sobs because there was no way..NO WAY...I was going to cry in front of Taylor Lautner. So girls out there, high school sucks...but hang in there, go do your own thing...it's just an annoying blip on your life's radar! As you see it can get sooooooooooo much better from there!

After T Swift finishes "Fifteen" she has to get back up to the main stage, but not before doing lightening fast drive by huggings of everyone around the small stage. (Seriously she hugs you and tells you she loves you, do you SEE why I adore the kid?) She hugged me, and then of course, hugs Taylor. It was all very sweet.

After T. Swift made it back up to the main stage, we just stayed where we were and continued to watch the show. It was around that point that I realized that thousands of people in the arena had pictures of Taylor and me, but I didn't have a picture of Taylor and me. I still felt bad approaching him when he was not there in any sort of professional capacity, but he had hung back where we were standing and my friend pointed out he was sitting right behind us just fiddling with his phone.  I asked if he would mind taking an actual picture with me and he jumped right up, big smile, "no, not at all!" Which resulted in:




I thanked him then winked and said I'd leave him be now and he put his arm back around me and said "aww! No, you've been so nice!"  As if he hadn't won me over already, that did it.  I went back to my friends and we continued with our singing and dancing.  He sort of hung near us, but continued to watch on his own. It was hard, seeing him by himself and feeling like we should try and engage him, but also knowing that he probably rarely gets time to himself.  So we just left him to his own thing. During the big finale, Mama Swift and security just quietly got him out of the area.

We saw him a little later during T. Swift's aftershow T- Party, where she meets with a bunch of fans pulled from the audience during the show. He followed T. Swift in and took pictures and chatted with every fan she did. I was impressed with him. It was never secretive that he was there, and he took the time with as many fans as he could.  Overall, my impression of Taylor was that for the mania he's going through, as young as he is, how NORMAL he comes across. Actually, I don't even know if normal is the right word, since I have to say he handled himself far better, and much sweeter, than any 17 year boys I remember. He's a good kid, and obviously surrounding himself with other good kids.  I really wish him the very best.

Please excuse the rambling nature of this, after fighting technology yesterday, I was just trying to get the whole experience out while it was still fairly fresh.  I'll leave you with this very random youtube video of "the hug" and my silly very blonde head.









If there is a lesson in all of this, it's to always dress much cuter than you feel like dressing for shows because you never know when you will end up in a zillion pictures.

All still photos property of this blog owner, please credit if you use them...or just ask!

Friday, October 9, 2009

10/09/10 Earworms

Fall always brings about a little moodiness to my musical taste, maybe it has something to do with Halloween coming or just my reluctance to let go of summer. The exception to this is my continuing obsession with Cobra Starship. It's becoming a problem.

Bulletproof – La Roux
I listen to this once and I hum it for hours


Satellite Heart – Anya Marina
Kills me, the desire for the rest of the New Moon soundtrack rolls off me in waves

Dead Sound – The Raveonettes
Trippy retro sound, absolutely addictive

Relator – Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
Again with the "who knew I liked ScoJo"

Show Love – Hollis Brown
Happy 70's Southern rock feel

Nice Guys Finish Last – Cobra Starship
Shake what your momma gave you

Hot Mess – Cobra Starship
Then shake it some more

Don’t Say Goodbye – The Veronicas (feat. Tania Doko)
Sucked me in from "All cried out..."

My Body’s A Zombie For You – Dead Man’s Bones
This doesn't sound like anything else I own, that's why I like it

Cold Fame – Band of Skulls
If you like Kings of Leon, odds are excellent you will dig this

Sometime Around Midnight (Acoustic Version) – The Airborne Toxic Event
I've worn this song out. It's the new "Mr. Brightside" as far as I'm concerned

Torch – Alanis Morissette
You can taste the Ryan Reynolds breakup heartbreak. This entire cd is outstanding.


Check 'em out!

Who Doesn't Want RPattz For Their Birthday?

With frosting no less!  Mmmm.





Whatever, being an adult is overrated anyway.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

TwiHards Stick Together

Rather than the usual Twi-post today, I'd rather plead the case of some fellow Twi-Hards.  Some of you may have seen posts and ads for a Rob Pattinson dvd collection called "Robsessed". Some of you may also know that there was already a ROBsessed blog in place long before this dvd ever existed. It was bad enough that Revolver Entertainment jacked the URL that ROBsessed had been working on aquiring, but they are now highjacking the blog entirely. They are using material directly from ROBsessed and several other Twi-tweeters (@RPLife @CarinaOlsen)  and making it look like they are writing FOR Revolver Entertainment. This is NOT TRUE. The material is being STOLEN from the creators. Revolver Entertainment is cashing in on Rob's fame, while ROBsessed work purely for the love of doing it. These girls work really hard for the benefit of all Twilight/Rob Pattinson fans and are deserving of more than a little loyalty. Frankly most days I wouldn't have a whole hell of a lot to show you without them. I will not post a link to the dvd site in question, as I don't want to give these asshats one more click, and I ask anyone that may have been thinking about purchasing this to spend your money elsewhere.  Stand up for the little guy. Trust me, follow @ROBsessedblog and http://www.robsessedpattinson.com/ and you will have no need for the dvd anyway. These Twiladies are ON it and will give you your fix DAILY.

Read all about it, in their own words: http://www.robsessedpattinson.com/2009/10/robsessed-dvd-and-revolver.html

If you want to do one better, email usa@revolvergroup.com and voice your opinion. Try not to use phrases like "suck it" and "pound sand", no matter how tempting. You can also leave a comment on the Amazon page for the dvd. (Ooh, crafty, I like it)

We now return you to your regularly scheduled reading.

UPDATE: Per @ROBsessedblog The #RevolverEntertainmentSucks losers are back online.They removed our content and went back to just selling their bullshit DVD.THANK YOU!!

YAY! Good to hear it!

Please, I'm Begging You!


This picture has now been emailed to me three times under the guise of "oh look at the cute baby pygmy hippo!" People. This is not cute. This is the stuff of my nightmares. Puppies are cute. Babies are cute. This....this is menacing bath toy that leaves you with an uneasy feeling and comes to life at night, hides under your bed and gnaws the flesh off your feet as you place them on the floor. :::shudder:::

Please stick to emailing me LOLcats.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

"Meet Me On The Equinox" - Death Cab For Cutie

It's up! Nothing really new in terms of footage but seeing the scenes set to the music...I love it and it makes me excited all over again. Not to mention this song grows on me by leaps and bounds every time I hear it. And that ending...crafty bastards.

Wednesday TwiHard Report

The video for Death Cab For Cutie's "Meet Me On The Equinox", the first single from the New Moon soundtrack, debuts tonight at 7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern on MTV and MTV.com. While DCFC couldn't swing getting Rob Pattinson in the video in new footage, the video (peek below) does splice together some of the more sob-worthy movie bits we've see. Curious to see if anything we HAVEN'T seen makes the final video.




Wednesday seems like a good day for video day, so I'll throw in another clip just because it gave me a case of the smirks. Peter Facinelli describes what he thinks was the funniest moment on the set of New Moon. A) Peter is so damn cute (as is Jackson "#2" Rathbone.) B) Imagining a befuddled Rob makes me grin like an idiot. C) Imagining Rob always makes me grin like an idiot. D) I grin like an idiot a lot and that must be creepy.



Thanks to TwilightGuy.com and www.robsessedpattinson.com for the video.