Prairie Home Companion

The film starts with magical potential and is strong but ultimately doesn't maintain the momentum it initiates. However, it is definitely worth seeing. Strong, but not great. I think this is one of those films (like many of Robert Altman's?) that will improve dramatically with repeated viewings. I plan to watch it again to see if that's true.

First Day of Summer

Took this at about 9 in the morning yesterday, the summer solstice. Cape Cod is beautiful. That's the Atlantic Ocean in the distance.

Bumper sticker seen today

"Does my fat ass make my ass look fat?"

You should buy...

...this recommended old tune for the day. C'mon, it's only 99 cents. And it's a masterpiece.
Folk Song by Bongwater

The Da Vinci Code

Check out this funny review in the NYT. I haven't seen the film yet but, "almost inconceivably", I want to after laughing out loud at A.O. Scott's gems like:

"The Da Vinci Code," ... is one of the few screen versions of a book that may take longer to watch than to read.

When a cryptographer and a symbologist get together, it usually ends in tears.

If I ever have twins or French poodles, I'm calling them Bezu and Teabing for sure.

Our Decider-in-chief on the FMA

From Newsweek, draw your own conclusions about whether his motives are 1. pure or 2. riddled with vengeful, careless, opportunistic hypocrisy. Money quote:

Though Bush himself has publicly embraced the amendment, he never seemed to care enough to press the matter. One of his old friends told NEWSWEEK that same-sex marriage barely registers on the president's moral radar. "I think it was purely political. I don't think he gives a s--t about it. He never talks about this stuff," said the friend, who requested anonymity to discuss his private conversations with Bush.

More good radio

I probably sound like a shill for XM satellite radio but that's what I've got. Another good hour of weekly programming is Tom Petty's Buried Treasure, description below. My XM2go allows me to record programming so I taped this at 4AM and am now listening at my convenience.

NP: Bob Dylan, "You Gotta Serve Somebody" > The Byrds, "Wasn't Born to Follow"

Each week from his Los Angeles home, Rock-and-Roll Hall-of-Famer Tom Petty takes his place as XM Radio's raconteur and on-air host par excellence.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, Heartbreakers ringleader, Traveling Wilbury, and rock legend will pull together a set of little-known musical delights and classic tracks alike — many vintage, each a treasure.

It is an hour of radio magic woven together with Petty's articulate and passionate take on his first love: the music.

Hey, you Bill Maher fans

His internet show, Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher, debuted yesterday. It's about 35 minutes and claims to be the first episodic webcast. Of course, there are prominent links to the products discussed but I think that is helpful. Reminds me of the concept of interactive TV from a few years ago. Corporate sponsors (UPS, Cingular) are also there but what's so different (or wrong) about that compared to TV?

Check it out.
Show Contents
1: Bill Maher Monologue
2: Dean Koontz Interview
3: Interview with Ward Serrill and Darnellia Russell
4: UPS Special Delivery with Steve Schirripa
5: Dixie Chicks Performance and Interview
6: Show Conclusion

iPod progress

Sorry if I seemed obsessed with my iPod but with 4700+ songs loaded I am exploring nooks and crannies of my CD collection I haven't heard in a while. I must say that my taste in music is superb. :) I've been on one continuous shuffle play since my vacation started May 14 and I'm about 850 songs into it. At this rate I still have about 2 months left without changing or touching a thing. It's like listening to the greatest radio station.

NP: X, "New World" live from "Live at the Whiskey A Go-Go" (one of my favorite live albums of all time)

Monkey business...and more

Genome sequencing allows a detailed look back in time that supplements and possibly surpasses the fossil record. This short piece in the NYT is a fascinating look at both evolution and the power of technology.

"No, the remarkable fact is not what our ancestors did five million years ago, but that we can find out about it by scrutinizing our genes.

Bit by bit, our ability to penetrate the mists of time is improving. At first, using only single genes, we began to reconstruct patterns of human migration. Then it became possible to examine small stretches of DNA, like the Y chromosome (passed from father to son). The immense sexual success of Genghis Khan is witnessed by the large number of men today who have his Y chromosome. Now that we can sequence whole genomes, we are undertaking investigations of far greater scope to reconstruct our ancient history and that of other organisms.

...we can examine evolution with a sophistication and subtlety that, even 10 years ago, we could only dream of.