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If you’re having a bit of a bad hair day, or just need a pick me up to help you get through your day, I have an excellent suggestion.

As I’ve recently noted, one of my favourite film clips of recent times (and indeed a favourite song) is 1234 by Feist.

So go to iTunes store and download the videoclip (A$2.59), and bliss out for 3 minutes or so. Seriously, it is cheaper than a can of Red Bull, better for you and will make you feel happier. I promise.

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Now playing: Ben Folds Five - Kate
via FoxyTunes

If you spend time at a desk, and are a Star Wars fan, check this out.

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Now playing: Powderfinger - D.A.F.
via FoxyTunes

Boing Boing pointed me towards an article in the Smithsonian Magazine written by Steve Martin.

It is really an entertaining and interesting read.

I’ve always been a fan - his movies Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Three Amigos! rate highly in the comedic education of my youth. I’ve often dropped one of his lines into job interviews in the past, and I’ve always felt good because when I’ve deadpanned “All I’ve ever wanted was an honest week’s pay for an honest day’s work” no one ever batted an eyelid. Which probably explains why those particular bosses were boring jerks.

Seriously, go read the article now. Enjoy.

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Now playing: Stranglers - No More Heroes
via FoxyTunes

I had an awesome day last Sunday.

Jules organised a surprise day out, and after lunch at her place, she took me to the Andy Warhol exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art here in Brisbane. I really enjoyed it. I had wanted to go - although I’m not an expert on his work, I’ve admired the simplicity and accessibility of much of Warhol’s work. There is something for everyone there, and I think even casual art fans will enjoy it.

After taking out time at the Gallery, and catching up with some friends for coffee, we went had had an early tea - fish and chips in the park. Nice! This was followed by a visit to the Moonlight Cinema. And what movie was showing? Only my favourite movie of all time, “The Blues Brothers“.

Awesome!

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Now playing: Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind
via FoxyTunes

In my last post, I added a bonus link for the Top 25 Video Clips for 2007, according to Readers of Rolling Stone magazine. I hadn’t seen them all at that point, but now I have, and here are my thoughts on the ones I liked, and a few besides, in no particular order.

#2 Feist, performing “1, 2, 3, 4″ - Very catchy pop ditty; very uplifting. The simple single shot concept works superbly, the colours work extremely well, and the choreography was perfect for the song, and well-performed.

#3 Modest Mouse, performing “Dashboard” - Another great song from Modest Mouse, and a fanciful, funny and engaging clip.

#9 Bat For Lashes, performing “What’s a Girl To Do” - A slightly dark video, it seemed to me like it would fit into a David Lynch film. Loved the BMX’s, but I found the giant bunnies riding them scary. The song could really grow on me.

#21 Jill Scott, performing “Hate on Me” - I love the voice Ms. Scott possesses - she builds it up, and rips it down, and does it always right on time. A good clip that really suits the message of the song. Soulful and Funky.

#20 Battles, performing “Atlas” - One of the strangest songs, and best videos. The revolving room is a cool concept. A very unique sound, but I think I like it. I would like to hear more of them. The wah-wah vocals are far out!

#15 The Go! Team, performing “Grip Like Vice” - A clever title, wicked beats, high energy vocals and something to say makes this one of my favourite songs on the list. The fact it has a very cool video just added to my enjoyment.

#16 Tool, performing “Vicarious” - Ummm, this could ruin your day. Another brutally agonised song from Tool. It uses real news foootage, and takes segments from other music video’s. I recognised a few, but only know by name the part from the “Come to Daddy” video by Aphex Twin (that video is itself a scary thing). The combination of these elements and some other confronting footage makes this a powerful, powerful video clip that is very, very depressing, but is pretty much spot on with what it is trying to say.

All in all, I wasn’t that impressed with most of the clips. While I love a really good music video, I still firmly believe that if the song sucks to start with, nothing you can do with a video camera is going to improve the end result.

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Now playing: Nena - 99 Luffballons
via FoxyTunes

My brother Ben sent me a link he thought I would enjoy reading. He was right. It was this article in the LA Weekly, which is an article about and an interview with Mark Mothersbaugh. Best known as one of the key members of seminal new-wave band Devo, he has led a very interesting career path. Along the way, he has had the opportunity to work with one of my absolute favourite directors Wes Anderson. He also got to work on Pee-Wee Herman’s TV show.

Worth a read if you’re interested in what the guys from Devo are doing now, if you admire intelligent modern art, or if you want an insight into how creative and artistic people can make a good living with their craft.

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Now playing: The White Stripes - There’s No Home For You Here
via FoxyTunes

How can he pushers of DRM honestly expect people to suck up their crap? This story of getting seriously inconvenienced by Google Video’s DRM terms is utterly ridiculous!

And by the way, so much for not being evil, Larry and Sergey…

[Update 23/08/07] Google have offered a better arrangement to fix this problem. It still doesn’t change the fact that DRM sucks, though.

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Now playing: Custard - Nice Bird
via FoxyTunes

dg asks who would play each of us if there was a movie about ourselves.

I’m still thinking about who would play me - I’m open to suggestions (here we go…).

When I was younger, I’d occasionally get a comparison to Jim Carrey, but I really don’t see it. Perhaps it had more to do with my expressions, rather than looks.

I think Edward Norton could play Ben. Maybe, Ed Norton’s and Steve Buscemi’s lovechild would be perfect for Ben! Not the exact looks, but it just seems right anyway.

So, what about you? Who do you look like? Who would play you in a movie about you? An exercise in vanity perhaps, but fun nonetheless.

My brother linked to this funny clip on YouTube. I work in sales, so I can relate to this, although when I showed my friend Simon, who is a Horticulturist and trade assistant, he didn’t really get it at all. I guess it needs context to be relevant…

Mark Cuban has a great article on why he thinks YouTube is going to be in yesterdays news very soon. I love YouTube, as evidenced by my constant linking to it. So I would love to argue the point with him, but what he is saying seems to make sense.

Hopefully the folks at YouTube can pull a rabbit out of their hat so they can keep providing the service they do currently.

[Update] It looks like Mark Cuban is on to something - Universal Music has their eyes on Myspace and YouTube.