Wii Zapper with Links Crossbow Training
I'm a sucker for the Wii. Twenty bucks for a game accesory and a game...gee I wonder why it's outselling xBox and PS3's!
Amazon Kindle
Let me explain something to you Amazon: you can't tell people this will do for books what the iPod did to music and then put a $399 price tag on it! It's a great concept, but people just don't read like they used to, so you can't expect them to fork out that kind of money. People just don't care about books that much! Sad, but true. Cut the price in half, add some more (like a full Internet browswer) and we'll be in business!
iPhone
I'm not a fan of the iPhone. It's expensive and not that pretty. But I like it because it has touch! I like it because all the phone companies are going to start rolling out models real soon with the touch concept in mind.
The Year of GPS
GPS's have been around for years. This year, however, it seemed to be the year that price caught up wtih the consumer, and it became the 'it' present at Christmas. I got one last year, and don't leave home with out it. If you don't have one, get one, you will be amazed!
Showing posts with label Best of 2007. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best of 2007. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Best & Worst Concerts of 2007
Bob Dylan - Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa CA (July 26, 2007)
Seeing Bob Dylan perform isn't really a concert as much as it is an experience. I posted a short video below...it would have been more, but security was cracking down on everyone trying to get a crappy video of the bard performing (I kid you not, they literally passed in front of people smoking pot, looked at the pot, and kept on walking to tell people to put their cameras away!). I've seen him play twice and both times have been amazing.
The Shins - Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles CA (April 15, 2007)
I could brag for a day about how awesome the Orpheum Theatre is (FYI, it's an old vaudeville theatre that's been around since the hey days of Hollywood), but I won't. More often then not concerts seem to be a group of people singing, but not really caring about what they sing. The Shins appeared to actually want to be there performing.
Seeing Bob Dylan perform isn't really a concert as much as it is an experience. I posted a short video below...it would have been more, but security was cracking down on everyone trying to get a crappy video of the bard performing (I kid you not, they literally passed in front of people smoking pot, looked at the pot, and kept on walking to tell people to put their cameras away!). I've seen him play twice and both times have been amazing.
The Shins - Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles CA (April 15, 2007)
I could brag for a day about how awesome the Orpheum Theatre is (FYI, it's an old vaudeville theatre that's been around since the hey days of Hollywood), but I won't. More often then not concerts seem to be a group of people singing, but not really caring about what they sing. The Shins appeared to actually want to be there performing.
Muse - The Forum, Inglewood CA (April 10, 2007)
I hadn't even heard about Muse until earlier last year when my fiance turned me on to them. There records are good, but you haven't seen anything until you see them live. I have never gone to a concert with so much energy and audience response.
Wolfmother - The Gove of Anaheim, Anaheim CA (May 9, 2007)
If you want to see a concert with awesome guitar solos, look no further then this band! Lyrically they are lousy, but man can they rock out!
The Arcade Fire - Greek Theatre, Los Angeles CA (May 29, 2007)
Nothing beats watching a great concert in the fresh open airs of Los Angeles, CA! This is another great band to check out live...if, for nothing else, to watch how they each change instruments throughout the concert.
Nothing beats watching a great concert in the fresh open airs of Los Angeles, CA! This is another great band to check out live...if, for nothing else, to watch how they each change instruments throughout the concert.
Honorable Mentions
Mirah - Troubadour, West Hollywood CA (February 10, 2007)
Cold War Kids - Echoplex, Echo Park, Los Angeles CA (June 12, 2007)
Sonic Youth - Greek Theater, Los Angeles CA (July 20, 2007)
The Zombies - Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim CA (March 17, 2007)
Sunset Rubdown - Troubadour, Hollywood CA (April 24, 2007)
Dishonorable Mentions
Cold War Kids - Wiltern, Los Angeles CA (11/23/07). I think this is one of the best new bands out there, but let's face it...they absolutely sucked at this show! They appeared drunk at times, were not in sync with one another, seemed tired, and just did not seem like they wanted to be there.
Collective Soul - Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA (October 15, 2007). I have been the biggest closet fan of Collective Soul since the 90s. When my job offered free tickets to see them, I couldn't pass it up. It's hard to complain when the tickets were free, but they were pretty sad. The leader singer was a pretty boy who had the biggest ego I have ever seen attached to the singer of a band that is not popular anymore. It's not that they were bad...they just weren't good.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Favorite Movies of the Year
Once
There's no happy ending, there's no great plot, there's no spectacular dialog; and that's why it's such a beautiful and intimate movie...it feels like life. And the soundtrack is also awesome!
I'm Not There
I'm still trying to figure out what the heck this movie was about. I left the theater confused, and I'm still confused. But I still, strangely, enjoyed it. It's like a Dylan song. You can enjoy it on so many different levels. And like a Dylan song, if you look at it as a whole it may sound good, but it's still a puzzle waiting to be solved. I'll be solving this for quite some time.
Children of Men
How has Alvin and the freakin' Chipmunks made nearly 100 million dollars, and this movie only made 35? This movie was not only the one of the best of the year, it is one of the best movies of all time! Everything about it cried greatness...from the acting, to the cinemotraphy, to the camera angles. If all movies were this good, I might actually go to the theater more then once every three or four months and see them.
Bourne Ultimatum
Is it really over! Please tell me it's not so! There's so many more places to go.
Ladrón que roba a ladrón
All I knew about this movie going in was it had been called the Mexican Ocean's 11. If that doesn't sell you, then probably nothing else I say well. This movie had it all! Romance, charm, wit, mystery, suspense, and a crazy Mexican infomercial star!
There's no happy ending, there's no great plot, there's no spectacular dialog; and that's why it's such a beautiful and intimate movie...it feels like life. And the soundtrack is also awesome!
I'm Not There
I'm still trying to figure out what the heck this movie was about. I left the theater confused, and I'm still confused. But I still, strangely, enjoyed it. It's like a Dylan song. You can enjoy it on so many different levels. And like a Dylan song, if you look at it as a whole it may sound good, but it's still a puzzle waiting to be solved. I'll be solving this for quite some time.
Children of Men
How has Alvin and the freakin' Chipmunks made nearly 100 million dollars, and this movie only made 35? This movie was not only the one of the best of the year, it is one of the best movies of all time! Everything about it cried greatness...from the acting, to the cinemotraphy, to the camera angles. If all movies were this good, I might actually go to the theater more then once every three or four months and see them.
Bourne Ultimatum
Is it really over! Please tell me it's not so! There's so many more places to go.
Ladrón que roba a ladrón
All I knew about this movie going in was it had been called the Mexican Ocean's 11. If that doesn't sell you, then probably nothing else I say well. This movie had it all! Romance, charm, wit, mystery, suspense, and a crazy Mexican infomercial star!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Favorite Books of the Year
I Am Legend (Richard Matheson)
I'll admit I had never given this book much thought until I saw the trailer for the movie. It's a great quick read. I love how it begins in medias res, and then slowly, very slowly, tells the reader how the world came to be this way. I kept reading because I wanted to see what happened next, but also to see what happened fist.
Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality (Rob Bell)
It wasn't as good as Bell's first effort Velvit Elvis, but it is still a great read. I love Bell because he has a way of bringing me closer to God spiritually. Too often Christian books spend too much time talking about Jesus and the cross. Great things that I'm thankful for, but that doesn't really make me feel close to God (just loved by God). Bell is the Billy Graham of my generation, and I hope he can keep it up.
Restless Pilgrim: The Spiritual Jorney of Bob Dylan (Scott Marshall and Marcia Ford)
This book had one of the worse binding jobs I've ever seen (it literally was falling apart not even 100 pages into it, and I had a new copy). Binding aside, it was a fascinating read. The author presents the facts, and lets the reader believe what they want about that whole "Christian" thing.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J.K. Rowling)
Rowlings has always hinted at the fact that Harry could very well die; when he lived I was sort of disapointed. Killing off someone like that takes guts. I think one reason I enjoyed the book so much was because someone put a bootleg copy of it on the Internet the week before (which I downloaded and partially read). How many other books are bootlegged on the Internet (hint: none).
Dwelling Places (Vinita Hampton Wright)
I've been reading Wright sense her first book, Grace at Bender Springs. She was good then, but she's great now. Her novels are great because the find such whose themes in such little things. It is rich in characters, lush in storytelling, and filled with words that sway poetically at times on the page.
I'll admit I had never given this book much thought until I saw the trailer for the movie. It's a great quick read. I love how it begins in medias res, and then slowly, very slowly, tells the reader how the world came to be this way. I kept reading because I wanted to see what happened next, but also to see what happened fist.
Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality (Rob Bell)
It wasn't as good as Bell's first effort Velvit Elvis, but it is still a great read. I love Bell because he has a way of bringing me closer to God spiritually. Too often Christian books spend too much time talking about Jesus and the cross. Great things that I'm thankful for, but that doesn't really make me feel close to God (just loved by God). Bell is the Billy Graham of my generation, and I hope he can keep it up.
Restless Pilgrim: The Spiritual Jorney of Bob Dylan (Scott Marshall and Marcia Ford)
This book had one of the worse binding jobs I've ever seen (it literally was falling apart not even 100 pages into it, and I had a new copy). Binding aside, it was a fascinating read. The author presents the facts, and lets the reader believe what they want about that whole "Christian" thing.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J.K. Rowling)
Rowlings has always hinted at the fact that Harry could very well die; when he lived I was sort of disapointed. Killing off someone like that takes guts. I think one reason I enjoyed the book so much was because someone put a bootleg copy of it on the Internet the week before (which I downloaded and partially read). How many other books are bootlegged on the Internet (hint: none).
Dwelling Places (Vinita Hampton Wright)
I've been reading Wright sense her first book, Grace at Bender Springs. She was good then, but she's great now. Her novels are great because the find such whose themes in such little things. It is rich in characters, lush in storytelling, and filled with words that sway poetically at times on the page.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Favorite TV Shows of the Year
The Office
I had my doubts when I heard they were bringing another BBC show to America (look what we did to couplings!), but this show keeps getting better with each season. I was a little disappointed when Jim and Pam got together, and thought it was the kiss of death, but, so far, it remains on top of its game.
Flight of the Conchords
I don't know why this show is so funny. It just is. It's like Spinal Tap meets Napoleon Dynamite each week, and comes out with some of the most pointless material ever put on TV! But it's still good!
Extras
I can't believe season two was the last one! Who ends a show this good this son? Oh wait, the same guy who ended the original BBC Office at its peak...Ricky Gervais. I thought season one was better, but this season two was still better then pretty much anything else on TV (which, sadly, isn't saying much)
30 Rock
I'll put anything that has an episode with Seinfeld in my top five.
The Soup
Forget David Spade and his sorry attempt to poke fun of celebrity news; nothing beats this show on E! If Jon Stewart did a show that did nothing put made fun of TV shows, then this is what it would look like!
I had my doubts when I heard they were bringing another BBC show to America (look what we did to couplings!), but this show keeps getting better with each season. I was a little disappointed when Jim and Pam got together, and thought it was the kiss of death, but, so far, it remains on top of its game.
Flight of the Conchords
I don't know why this show is so funny. It just is. It's like Spinal Tap meets Napoleon Dynamite each week, and comes out with some of the most pointless material ever put on TV! But it's still good!
Extras
I can't believe season two was the last one! Who ends a show this good this son? Oh wait, the same guy who ended the original BBC Office at its peak...Ricky Gervais. I thought season one was better, but this season two was still better then pretty much anything else on TV (which, sadly, isn't saying much)
30 Rock
I'll put anything that has an episode with Seinfeld in my top five.
The Soup
Forget David Spade and his sorry attempt to poke fun of celebrity news; nothing beats this show on E! If Jon Stewart did a show that did nothing put made fun of TV shows, then this is what it would look like!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Favorite Albums of the Year
There is no better way to start the new year then to think about what was good about last year. In no order here are my favorite albums of the year.
Neon Bible (Arcade Fire)
I liked this album a lot more before William Butler, the bassist, flirted with my fiance before a concert at the Greek.
Once Soundtrack
I knew nothing about the Frames when I saw once, so this was kind of like the surprise of the year for me. I haven't heard a performer with so much emotion in his voice in quite some time. When he signs about loving someone, I actually sort of believe him.
Because of the Times (Kings of Leon)
I saw these guys open for Dylan at the Forum, and I thought they sounded like crap; they played some stuff from this record that hadn't been released, and I wanted to vomit. What a year did for these guys, because when they finally did cut it on a record it sounded awesome! This is what good old fashion rock and roll should be!
Sing Song (Little Ones)
It's a 2006 disc, but it's new to me. I didn't expect much from this band when I saw them open for the Cold War Kids at a 826 benefit concert at Spaceland. I dare say they stole the show, and gave a performance that was incredible. This is a short disc; I can't wait to see what they do on a longer record.
Icky Thump (White Stripes)
I would have liked this CD a whole lot more if I had been given the chance to see them perform it live, but, alas, Meg had to be allegedly sick, and the tour was cancelled. Still this band and this record remain on my list if, for nothing else, the bagpipes on St. Andrew!
Neon Bible (Arcade Fire)
I liked this album a lot more before William Butler, the bassist, flirted with my fiance before a concert at the Greek.
Once Soundtrack
I knew nothing about the Frames when I saw once, so this was kind of like the surprise of the year for me. I haven't heard a performer with so much emotion in his voice in quite some time. When he signs about loving someone, I actually sort of believe him.
Because of the Times (Kings of Leon)
I saw these guys open for Dylan at the Forum, and I thought they sounded like crap; they played some stuff from this record that hadn't been released, and I wanted to vomit. What a year did for these guys, because when they finally did cut it on a record it sounded awesome! This is what good old fashion rock and roll should be!
Sing Song (Little Ones)
It's a 2006 disc, but it's new to me. I didn't expect much from this band when I saw them open for the Cold War Kids at a 826 benefit concert at Spaceland. I dare say they stole the show, and gave a performance that was incredible. This is a short disc; I can't wait to see what they do on a longer record.
Icky Thump (White Stripes)
I would have liked this CD a whole lot more if I had been given the chance to see them perform it live, but, alas, Meg had to be allegedly sick, and the tour was cancelled. Still this band and this record remain on my list if, for nothing else, the bagpipes on St. Andrew!
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