Inland Empire: Trailer

I couldn't help but put this out there - David Lynch's latest film. Not only am I a huge fan, but was born and raised in the area from which the film gets its name.

Update:
I'll be heading to LA on December 22nd - check back by the 27th to read my review of the movie. Also, I've created a list of Movies That Will Get you Laid that includes this and other movies that will...get you laid.
Enjoy!

The effects of MCOM 72: A change in Media Consumption

Within the past seven months, I've quit a nice paying job, kissed LA goodbye, been laid off and started a blog. The blog, not surprisingly, has been one of the highlights of my first semester at SJSU. I admit, I didn't expect much when I was enrolling for MCOM 72, or any of my other courses in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, however, that is no longer the case. With the blog and the guidance of some really terrific professors, I can say that the media I now consume is much more rich and substantial.


In September, I told you that I consumed Craigslist, Paula Deen's Home Cooking, Flaunt and stolen music - and all with food. Most of that still holds true, especially the food part. However, I can say that in addition to those listed, I am now a huge fan of gossip blogs. Thanks to Lilly, who directed me to Pink Is the New Blog, I have been feasting on the tastiest of celebrity dish. Spurred on to find others like it, I came across Go Fug Yourself, The Defamer and Jossip (all listed under "Chisme" in my blogroll - Spanish slang for gossip for you gringos).


In addition to blogs, I have also become an avid reader. This is in part to Mitch Berman, creative writing professor at SJSU. He introduced myself and about 15 other students to Neil Gaiman and since then, I've been devouring his books left and right. If you were one of the fortunate ones to hear Neil read in November then you know of the spell this man has cast upon us - he's just fucking brilliant, and rather attractive, I might add.

One of the things that has changed since that initial blog, is that I no longer steal music. That's right, Limewire is no-longer a part of my routine. After the class discussions we had on the music industry, I felt a bit dirty for ripping music, particularly, from musicians who probably make far less money than I do. To compensate for this, I've started an account with Rhapsody where I can stream music, on my desktop and throughout my house. I was initially skeptical that they would not have many of the musicians that I love - The Rentals, Figurine, Peaches, Antony and the Johnsons, and Kraftwerk. To my surprise, they do - and so much more! Well worth the $9.99/month.

Another change in my consumption occured with my viewing habits. I underestimated the amount of time I would need to put into going to a university - and like most college students, found myself constantly unable to watch my favorite shows. Thankfully, I am now a subscriber to TiVo, which has changed my viewing habits so that the television now revolves around my schedule - I never have to miss Medium or Project Runway now!

My subscription to Netflix has also changed my consumption of movies. Growing up in LA, you take for granted all the opportunities to watch some really great films. It wasn't until I moved to San Jose that I felt completely out of the loop. This is where Netflix has really helped out, because now, I can just log onto Netflix.com, and place movies in my que, even before they're released.

Since enrolling in MCOM 72, I am beginning to understand the media machine. It is much more than just TV, Film and Radio - New Media is rapidly changing the way that we recieve and process information, and this course is a perfect example of how it is doing just that. As far as continuing to blog - I'll be playing with a few ideas in the next few weeks as to the direction I would like to take it in.

At this time I'd like to point out two classmates whose blogs I have really enjoyed reading. First, Kelley Lugea. Her insights are always enlightening and her writing fresh, clear and concise. Secondly, Amir Masood. He's got a knack for wit, dry humor and has a clever approach to writing. I've had an opportunity to work with both of these individuals on group projects - they have what it takes and I encourage them and the rest of you to keep on pushing your talents - GO SJSU!

Liam Sullivan is a god(dess)

If you don't know who Liam Sullivan is, then chances are you know him by his alter ego, Kelly - bad drag, shoes obsessed, txt message broke-up, muffin baking comedian from Los Angeles. When I first stumbled upon his/hers myspace profile several months ago, I wanted to quickly dismiss s(him) as another Jeffree Fecking Star. However, just when I thought that Kelly was on the outs, I hear the news that Liam Sullivan is actually filming a sitcom for VH1 called "I Hate My Thirties." Prompted by the news I quickly searched, and not hard nor long I might add, and came across a plethora of work done by Liam Sullivan. My favorites would include "Muffins," "Love Letters," and "Text Message Breakup" (if you don't mind cartoon children lip-synching, you can actually hear a new song/parody called "Let Me Borrow that Top").

So what makes Liam Sullivan so damn funny? For starters, he taps into the quarks about ourselves, people we know and people we want nothing to do with. His knack for poking fun at situations we've all been in make his work so accessible that even your grandmother can get a good laugh. Let me not forget his taste for the dramatic - I mean really, those wigs are pretty awesome.

What surprises me is that Liam Sullivan was virtually a nobody until the video for "Shoes" started to be passed around on YouTube and Myspace a little over a year ago. Well much has changed since then, his album, which was released in August 2006, has hovered in the Top Ten Comedy Songs amongst iTunes buyers and he has single handedly coined the word "Betch." Perhaps it's time for you and I got get on the YouTube band-wagon, that is if you haven't done so already - you never know, we might just be the next Kelly, Betch!

Connecting the CoCo Puffs

Two weeks ago, Ofcom, an independant regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, announced that all junk food ads aired during TV programs targeted at children 16 years and under will be banned at the end of January 2007. It's estimated that the ban will reduce ad revenue by £39 Million annually. What might this have to do with American audiences you ask? Well, as millions starve in 3rd world countries, Western Nations have been fighting a losing battle against childhood obesity, and in response, the AAP, American Association of Pediatrics, demands cuts in children-targeted advertising, including junk food in their recent medical journal.
Though few believe that the AAP's demands will be met, it's something to consider. Some of my most fond memories of waking up on Saturday mornings involved quoting for verbatum "Leggo of my Eggo," "Don't push me, push a push pop," and my personal favorite, "I want a pop, pop, pop. Shhhhhhasta!". Could you imagine a world void of junk food ads? Heaven forbid! However, the chances of these ads disappearing in the near future are a reality we have to face as children continue to burst at the seams. Personally, I feel that targeting advertisers is a terrific ploy to scapegoat an industry already hated by many Americans, but fails to address the real problem of the ever evolving difficulties of parenting in a media saturated world.
So the next time you see your favorite Coco Puffs ad, I recommend you pull out a blank VHS (remember those) and record it, because it just may not be around tomorrow.

YouTube of the Day

Pope Benedict XVI is so L.A.

I love me a good movie. I love Jesus too, but the two don't really go hand-in-hand. So you could imagine how far my jaw dropped when I found out that The Nativity Story, New Line Cinema's depiction of the birth of Jesus Christ, was premiered at The Vatican last sunday. The 7,000 in attendance witnessed history as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church sponsored the event, it's first ever movie premiere.
Now, there is just something wrong about the world's most powerful religious organization endorsing a movie, in particular, one that comes from a studio that produced such films as The Texas Chainsaw Masacre and The Wedding Crashers. Ever since Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, Hollywood has been jumping on the religious bandwagon - simply put, because there be gold in dem' mines. Yet, what I can't understand, is how naive The Vatican is. Do they not realize how they are now a puppet for the Hollywood machine? True, the movie will undoubtedly stir up a religious fever and may draw viewers of the film into Catholic Churches, but the chances of the movie really saving a soul or even getting a patron to drop a dollar in the collection cup seems far reached. I do have to give it up to the marketing team over at New Line, however - because with this endorsement, they pretty much paid for the $65 million it took to give birth to baby Jesus on the silver screen.
I suppose it's only a matter of time before The Vatican puts out it's own movies and Pope Benedict XVI is up for an Oscar - all dolled up in Armani