One thing I haven’t discussed around here much lately is podcasts.  I haven’t gone cold turkey, but I’m limited, by choice & ancient MP3 player, in the capacity as to when I can listen to them anymore.  I tend not to have them running when my husband is home, we’re usually listening to Pandora then.  The only exception to the rule is Piggy Moto and that’s because he’s in it…. Then again, so am I.

So, now that I have a day off and there’s only 3 kittehs in the house with me, its time to open up iTunes and dust off the podcasts.  So I’m playing catch up today with the hope of getting some new articles written up for you all.

What am I listening to today?

New World Orders
UltraCreatives
Obsidian
Infected
Nocturnal
Chasing the Bard
Starkeeper
Metamor City
…and anything else I’ve missed, which I’m sure is a lot.

It’s a long list and I’m hoping to get through it all today.  We’ll see what we see.  I may save Starkeeper for when Sloane’s home with me, Star Wars nut that he is.

In the meantime, if you have a bit of time to waste, I’ll point you back to the list above.  Anything off of it is a winner.

For now, I’m going to enjoy my day off from answering phones.

Last week’s question asked:

Of the films staring David Duchovny which came closest to spoofing his roll as Fox Mulder in the X-Files?

The answer was Evolution, which is probably one of my absolute favorite films when I need a corny pick me up comedy. Special thanks to jundar and Cynthia for for posting their answers and adding some extra trivia as well. Congratulations to everyone who answered correctly.

Your question this week is:

In what movie did Heath Ledger play a deceptive squire dancing to David Bowie?

1. 10 Things I Hate About You
2. A Knight’s Tale
3. Brokeback Mountain
4. The Brothers Grimm

There’s your trivia dose for the week. Think you have the answer, leave it in the comments. Remember, just because IMdB is available doesn’t mean you should use it.    I’ll post the answer with next week’s question.

If you’re actually on site you’re seeing a new little section on TWW in the sidebars.  A little thing called In Demand.  For the moment it has a small Wanted poster and one single vote to get General Siglerisomo in Austin on his Contagious book tour.  Yeah, the vote is mine.

Simply put I’d like to see him back in Texas, Austin by preference, but I’ll travel where I have to.  So lets get few votes going, and even if you don’t want to bring him to Austin, vote, so you too can have Scott Sigler in your face.

By now the news of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince being pushed back until next summer has been received and raged at. The rumors of Radcliffe appearing nude in Deathly Hallows have been drooled over and mocked/enjoyed (no I won’t say which side I’m on for that rumor). And the loyal Potter fans make due with what is available to feed their lusts for all things Hogwarts.

I could go on for pages about the books and films, which would likely bore you all to tears. The fact that I am a happy fan girl of the HP universe still surprises me, as I attempted to avoid the books at all cost. It took a good friend, also a kindergarten teacher to tell me about the books and open my eyes to them. I still drug my feet and didn’t really get into it until I went to see Sorcerer’s Stone after having been awake for over 24 hours. Needless to say I didn’t understand what I was seeing so it was finally time to get the books.

The phrase, “instantly addicted” comes to mind, as I devoured the first book. Since the printing of book four, (Goblet of Fire), I’ve had every subsequent HP novel in my hands on the day of release. I’ve also had them taken from me so I would sleep and was handed tissues when I was crying (Thank gods for a tolerant husband).

JK Rowling created an enduring and endearing universe when she brought Harry Potter to life. The characters, even the owl Hedwig, strike notes of familiarity with many of the readers and everyone has their favorite (McGonagall) hero and most hated villain (Umbridge). What I enjoy most about Rowling’s work is that it inspired children and adults alike to read.

Many of the people who have grown up with, or just enjoyed, the books have moved on to something called “Twilight” but I’m sure their memories of Hogwarts and Quidditch will remain with them always. I know that the whimsically bound books have a place honor on my shelf, and I’m ready to get my hands on the Beetle the Bard book. I hope Rowling will continue to entertain us all through the ages with these timeless books.

Please share your thoughts and opinions about Harry and his world in the comments.

Sloane sent me this link this morning, think I’ve slept most the day away so I’m just now getting a look at it.  Laughing one’s ample rear off while being plauged by a sore throat is not pleasent, but the signs are funny.

Enjoy.

Last week’s question asked:

What world renowned musician played Feyd-Rautha in 1984’s Dune?

The answer was Sting, and boy howdy did he do a steller job with the material he was given.  Special thanks to Tony and Ed for for posting their answers and giving me more reasons to see Manhunter. Congratulations to everyone who answered correctly.

Your question this week is:

Of the films staring David Duchovny which came closest to spoofing his roll as Fox Mulder in the X-Files?

1. Playing God
2. Zoolander
3. House of D
4. Evolution

There’s your trivia dose for the week. Think you have the answer, leave it in the comments. Remember, just because IMdB is available doesn’t mean you should use it.    I’ll post the answer with next week’s question.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  Who’s not heard of this movie, right?  it’s supposed to be one of the Anthem Movies of the Gay / Transsexual community.  And, from everything *I’d* heard about it, I was expecting something along the lines of the notorious Pink Flamingos or Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Or maybe a mishmash of the two..

Man, was I ever misled!

If you’ve not seen it, and your experience has been anything like mine, you’ve been told all about the significance of “The Angry Inch”  and you’re probably expecting a climactic, end-of-movie, expose shot where we are treated to a view of nasty, scarred, chopped-off dude-tube.  Well – thank ALL that is good and wholesome – we are spared that.  This movie is, in fact, quite compelling and interesting.  Moving, even.

In the beginning, I was hesitant – turned-off, even.  I wasn’t expecting a rock opera, and I was even less prepared for an awkward, washed-up artist rock opera.  Much LESS was I expecting a molestation-life-story, washed-up, awkward.. You get the idea.  I stuck through the opening scene, though, and am very glad I did.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the story of a (wo)man who’s life just .. sucked.  Left and right she’s made the wrong decision – trying to force herself into a mold that just never fit her.  She’s fighting through the story to take revenge on the man who broke her heart, while unwittingly dragging everyone around her through the bowels of Hell.

I couldn’t really pity her, though.  Because she’s making every decision that’s screwing her and everyone else over.  She’s doing it all to herself.  On the other hand, she always seems to fall right behind the eight ball at every turn.  From the very beginning, even as a little boy, she seemed pre-destined to a life of disappointment and yearning.  I loved her; I hated her.  And in the end, in a sort of happy-yet-sad way, (s)he got what was coming to her.  For better AND for worse.

Okay, I’ve just noticed that I’m jumping between Paranthetical and trans – gender references.  This is intentional, because throughout the movie, Hedwig is facing gender and sexuality issues.  To be blunt, Hedwig is not a man trying to be a woman, or a woman trapped in a man’s body.  Hedwig is a person who was ultimately tricked into being castrated and neutered.  I just don’t want to call hedwig “it”, because even though she’s a bitch, she did deserve better.

Anyway.  Fantastic movie.  Just enough emotion to open the eyes, and just enough comedy to keep the film from being depressing.  Andrea Martin, by the way, did a phenomenal job of being lovable, sleazy and uplifting all at the same time.  After the editors cuts, her part lost a LOT of it’s Mercutio quality, but she was still just a great counterpoint to the stress and drama of the movie.

As for the music.  DON’T  BE PUT OFF BY THE FIRST SONG!!!!  The rest are pretty damn cool.  They each tell a story while retaining a stand-alone quality.  Unlike so many musicals, where each song is almost too script-referential to add to your .mp3 playlist, each tune in Hedwig is self-contained and has plenty of meaning and significance in its own right.

Who can enjoy this movie?  Hmm.  I guess anyone with an open mind, really.  It’s a story – a drama, a romance, a comedy.  You don’t have to be into the whole “Transgender Thing” to appreciate it, but if you’re turned off by anything that’s not straight, narrow, conservative and “normal” then, well, you’ll wanna go ahead and avoid this one.

It’s about one messed up soul and the fight for love – love of another and love of the self.  And in the end, it’s found in one form or another.

That’s a great way to sum up this movie…

“In one form or another.”

Rating:

The following is a guest post by Repentant Soul.

G is for Guest Post, G is for Goblins, G is for “Gosh, when is the next update?”

These words are commonly overheard from anyone who has found the gem of a webcomic called “Goblins: A life through their eyes.” For any who are a die hard gamer, have ever played any table top Dungeons and Dragons game, or known those that did; this story is for you. Let me be the first to state, that this is by far, hands down, one of the best and most enjoyable webcomics that is out there currently. Unfortunately, with popularity comes downfall. There are some drawbacks to it, which will be discussed as well.

We start the story with a young, low level paladin, on the run in a forest. We do not know what this character’s antagonist is, at least right off, however, our curiosity is soon satiated with the second strip and we find that goblins, those hated, low level nemeses of many an adventuring party, are the cause for all the hoo-hah.

The strip then goes forth to explain that goblins are people too. Though primarily used as NPCs (Non-Player Characters) and antagonist nuggets of experience points (XP), they have their own society, their own lives, and are just like you and me. That is, until a party arrives to “wipe out the evil” in the forest, namely, the goblins.

The trouble and hilarity ensues and without giving away too much of the story, eventually the party is beaten back, but not without substantial loss to the goblin population. The few that are left, vow to put an end to goblin suffering everywhere, and decide to become players/adventurers themselves.

I won’t go and give away any spoilers from this point on. The story progresses following the brave, intrepid party of goblin adventurers and forms really well written character concepts and ideas. The plots are well thought out and executed, and the artwork is really well done for a webcomic. Each story arc is followed through and segways well within the story. The humor is planned and delivered in such a way that a reader can often miss the innuendos if not paying attention.

So, yeah, read it. Love it. The strip starts in black and white, but soon switches over to full color panels. It’s a quick read, and quite enjoyable…. Until…..

Yeah… the downside now…

While the strip has progressed quite a ways now, the downside is, it takes FOR-FREAKING-EVER for it to update. Not sure if the artist and author is simply busy with life, just likes making sure that his content is that good, or just is.. well…. Slow.  He does write for another comic that seems to take most of his time, Tempts Fate 9. But, it just doesn’t really add up how long it takes the site to update with a new strip. On average, it’s about once every three weeks, though it has gone longer in the past. It’s annoying, it really is, and many of the readers would like to see nothing more than the full attention brought to the strip; however.. it is not to be.

Either way, the strip is well worth the read and check out, even if you don’t want to keep up with the slow-paced updates. The laughs that abound, and the jokes that are cracked, are sure to be enjoyed by anyone who has ever been opposite of… Goblins.