The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony on VH1

I sat down and watched just about all of this last night as this was one of the most all-around classes being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you get a chance to watch this keep an eye out for:

- Percey Sledge - This man just ooozed love during his speech.
- Bruce Springsteen's speech inducting U2 into the R&R Hall of Fame. If you aren't a fan of Bruce Springsteen or have never seen him live, this man is a master storyteller and this speech alone is one of the best I've ever heard him tell.
- Bono's 'playful' tearing a new asshole of the Music industry in that their focus on artists today are not for the long haul but for the short term. Bono then said that if U2 came into the music business today, they would have lost their record contract after their second album. (Bono is 100% on this money on this assessment)
- The Pretenders - A lesson in persistence and doing what you love regardless of what happens to you or your band.

If you get a chance to watch this, it's worth watching from beginning to end.

Monotony Eradication Project - Fund raiser #1 - Adult ADD Education Fundraising

This one for me is more of a long term goal for me as the logistics of what I really would like to do is a monumental undertaking.

Basically, my goal is to raise money for Adult ADD education as:

1) People with ADD are one of the most misunderstood, persecuted, and harassed groups of people in this country especially in the areas of the workplace and law enforcement. There are more areas than the workplace and law enforcement but in my research and talking with other Adults with ADD these 'areas' are the two biggest problems that need improvement.

2) People with ADD, when the general population are educated and not acting like Neanderthal bigots (in some more extreme cases. I'm currently researching a book about an extreme case taking place in the greater Seattle area), are probably the most valuable asset that a company/organization can have. If some people simply took the time to educate themselves about Adults with ADD and leverage the information in a positive manner, some companies would be able to leverage an asset that could take their company to another level.

This is probably one of my newest and greatest passions as there are a large group of people in this country that are completely misunderstood and incorrectly classified by people who don't have the education, tools or know how to make decisions about Adults with ADD.

My goal in this endeavour is to provide the tools and resources for people to empower and educate themselves to make the correct decisions regarding Adults with ADD.

What I would like to do is organize a walk a thon from Seattle to Los Angeles (or Vice Versa) to raise money for Adult ADD Education.

I'm basing this on a fund raiser I participated in when I attended the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. Every year when the UW football team played Washington State University (WSU) in the 'Apple Cup' our Fraternity (Kappa Sigma) chapters at the UW and WSU would participate in the Run Against Cancer by running the game ball across the state. So if the game was at WSU the UW chapter would get the 'game ball' from the UW Coach and begin running the ball across the state to WSU in Pullman, WA. We would meet the WSU Kappa Sigma Chapter reps in Wenatchee WA, and they would run the ball the rest of the way to Pullman.

My idea is gathering whomever wants to participate begin a walk or bike ride (I haven't decided) from Seattle non-stop to Los Angeles to raise awareness of Adult ADD and how ADD, in some cases, is the new Bigotry of the new Century.

However, the more practical, at this time, approach is to work up to this goal by starting small and working to this point by organizing a 24 hour walk-a-thon around a track or some closed course and have corporate sponsored teams participate to see who can walk the most for a trophy or bragging rights for the coming year.

Anyhoo, this is still on the drawing board as the Seattle to LA fund raising option isn't impossible to organize but the logistics required to get something like this up and running is going to take some serious research first.

Rental Suggestions for the weekend!

From time to time I'll be posting Movie rental suggestions as I consider myself a hellatious movie snob. I can't stand the current crap that's in production at the moment.

For example, there's yet another 'make a movie out of a TV show' in the works. This time it's the TV show 'Bewitched' Starring Nicole Kidman and Will Farrell (Say it ain’t so Will!!!). Also, the 'Ring 2' is hitting theaters soon. This movie is a sequel of a friggin remake of a Japanese movie.

Can you say 'scraping the bottom of the barrel'?

Anyhoo, consider me your savior in the sense that with my suggestion posts, I'll save you from wasting your time and money on the piles of crap that were given financing to be made for your viewing pleasure. Hopefully you can keep these suggestions in the back of your mind when you wade through in your local Video Rental store.


I'll put up at least two to three suggestions every week or so and every once in a while I'll post my choice for the 'Steaming pile of crap' Award. This 'award' is basically a film I believe is simply just a waste of your time and money. I assume no responsibility if you go ahead and watch the films I place in this category.

One other suggestion that will be posted on a periodical basis is a Featured movie industry 'player'.

I'm leaving this a very general topic as there are many 'players' in the film industry (actors, directors, cinematographers, etc) that really have never gotten the exposure they deserve or you all never knew about.

I start this series with actor Jeffery Wright below. The reason why I chose Jeffery Wright for this post is that he falls into the category of Actors that attach themselves to REALLY great movies. Jeffery has branched out and played the same role over and over again. Like every movie that Denzel Washington has made, movies that Jeffery Wright has made are ones that you can't go wrong with at the video store.


Anyhoo, here's my Rental suggestions for the weekend


Comedy Selection of the Week - UHF

A little known film that's REALLY frigging funny but never got the exposure it deserved. It's not very often that a clean comedy can pass my high standards but this movie is so goofy it's awesome. If memory serves, one of the reasons why this film didn't do so good in the theaters is that it was released on the same weekend as 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' and got buried in all of the Indy hype. Also, this movie features a young Michael Richards (Kramer for you Seinfeld), Fran Dresher, and former Saturday Night Live cast member Victoria Jackson in hilarious supporting roles. Don't let the fact that this movie was written by and starring parody master 'Weird Al' Yankovic shy you away from renting this film. By the time you .finish this film you'll be yelling 'STOOOOPID!!!....YOU'RE SOOO SUUPID!!!' for weeks on end.

Artsy/Fartsy Selection of the Week - Dingo

Jazz Legend Miles Davis stars in a supporting role of this French/Australian production of a film about taking a chance and following your dreams. This is one of those rare gems that never got much exposure in the US but is a great film regardless.

Feature Actor of the Week - Jeffery Wright

You can check out his body of work here.

Basquait

Is the story of Artist Jean Michael Basquait who went from nothing to being discovered by Andy Warhol (Played amazingly in this film by David Bowie). According to the New York Times, he was basically the James Dean of the New York Art world before his death in 1988 at age 27.

This is a very well casted and crafted film and definitely one of the crown jewels in Jeffery Wright's Career. This movie also stars Benicio Del Toro, Claire Forlani, David Bowie, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, Willem Dafoe, Parker Posey, and Courtney Love.



The 'Steaming Pile of Crap' Award for the week

::drum roll::

Charlie's Angels - Full Throttle

I almost gave this to the movie 'Chicago'...I'll save this one for a rainy day. If there ever was a recent example of not only how not to write or direct a movie but a reason to never let Charlie's Angel's Director McG film another movie again, Charlie’s Angels - Full Throttle is the movie for you! Stay away from this flick. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed Drew Barrymore and the other Angels shaking their asses during the 'Pussycat Dolls' number (the part where they were stealing the Irish mobster's keys and ID badge) but the movie looked like it was edited together with scotch tape in less than 20 minutes. Also, what was the purpose of having Crispin Glover in the film? His role served no purpose in the plot development and outcome of the film.

For those of you who had the chance to see this film did you notice that the exterior of the ’orphanage' is actually the Playboy Mansion?

Cool Web Site of the Week - WWOZ - A Kick ass New Orleans Jazz internet radio station

This is probably the best Jazz radio station on the internet hands down. New Orleans is renound for being a cultural melting pot and WWOZ reflects the flavor and tastes of the City through some killer music.

Check out the rest of the site and support the station (as it's a public station) if you like it!

Here's the link to WWOZ!

Monotony Eradication Project - Event #1 - moe.

One of my favorite bands, moe., is doing a quick west coast tour before heading to Japan for a set of dates. If you're a fan of music (real music not the crap pop that's being peddled on the streets today) this is a MUST attend event! If moe. comes to your neck of the woods go and check them out!!

They mainly have an East Coast following and always put on GREAT shows when they come to town. I'm definitely heading to this show if I can pull together the cash in time as this show will more than likely sell out (if it hasn't already.

One other thing to note is that moe. allows the taping and trading of their live shows as long as you don't sell it for a profit.

moe. Tour dates
---------------------

Fri 04/01/05 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium
Sat 04/02/05 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium
Thu 04/07/05 Seattle, WA Showbox
Sat 04/09/05 Eugene, OR McDonald Theatre
Wed 04/20/05 Osaka, JPN Shinsaibashi Club Quattro
Fri 04/22/05 Nagoya, JPN Club Quattro
Sat 04/23/05 Tokyo, JPN Liquid Room
Sun 04/24/05 Yokohama, JPN Bay Hall

Monotony Eradication Project - Mission #1 - Ferngobbin

Ferngobbin? What the hell is ferngobbin?

This is something I learned to do in the mountains of Marin County, California. I was on a road trip to see the Grateful Dead's year end shows (before Jerry Garcia died) in Oakland and was staying at a friend's house in Marin County. Anyhoo, one day we went into the hills and he taught me the fine art of ferngobbin'. Ferngobbin is basically downhill skiing without the snow, skis, or other types of ski related equipments. What I plan to do, since the snowfall in the Washington State area are at all time record CRAP levels, is to find a great place to go ferngobbin.

Step # 1 of this part of the Monotony Eradication Project is reconnaissance for a great ferngobbing place.

Non PC Web Site of the Week - The Archived Dysfunctional Family Circus

This site is an oldie but goodie.

http://www.medmeta.dyndns.org/dfc/index.cgi-list=1.htm

Basically the website is dedicated to the trashing (tashing is TOO kind of a word) of the classic newspaper cartoon "The Family Circus". This site was one of the most, if not the most popular web site on the internet at it's peak. How the site worked was that the web master posted a picture of a Family Circus Cartoon to the web site and the public posted what they thought were the best and most 'creative' (for lack of a better sugar coated term) captions to the given cartoon.

Here's the kicker, at the time the site was operational and at it's peak, Family Circus creator Bil Keane gave the site his blessing.

That was until...

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,21853,00.html

Check out Submission # 1 - this page sets the tone for the rest of the site.

Ozzfest Lineup announced

According to Pollstar.com Ozzfest 2005 has been announced. All you metalheads will probably dig this lineup as three huge artists in the Metal vein will be headlining (Sabbath, Maiden, and Rob Zombie).

I personally am a musician and grew up listening to Bassist Steve Harris of Iron Maiden and was simply amazed at the sounds he could get from his bass.

Headliners include:

Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Rob Zombie, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Black Label Society

Second Stage Acts Include:

As I Lay Dying, Mastodon, The Haunted, In Flames, Arch Enemy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Bury Your Dead, Soilwork, Trivium, It Dies Today, A Dozen Furies

I'm not going but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Welcome to the Monotony Eradication Project!

Well, this is the first post of my newest blog dedicated to the goal of the complete and utter eradication of monotony and boredom in my life. My goal is to provide entertainment and other sources of amusement for all of you through the posting of a wide array of entertainment related topics.

Some of the example topics that I would post are:

- Experiments - Does TrimSpa really work?
- Reviews - Movie, music, and other entertainment related activities.
- New things I want to try on my free time.
- Essays, opinions and other things that I like or really piss me off.
- Anything else I think that may be worthy of posting on this site.

What I plan on doing won't be in the Jackass vein (like Steve-O stapling his nuts to his leg or piercing his ass cheeks together) but I do plan to push the envelope in a more productive, manner.

Also, I don't plan on pushing politics or other opinions (that aren't dedicated to the eradication of monotomy) on this blog, one goal of this blog is to provide a manner for all of youz to escape life for but a brief time and my other goal is to provide an outlet for those millions of you who suffer from terminal 'Boring and Mundane Disorder'...you know who you are!!!!


Stay tuned....