Blogging From Bed
A few things to mention while I slip in and out of consciousness due to this ridiculous cold that I’ve caught.
The situation in Kenya remains precarious. Both Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga have agreed to begin negotiations, so let’s hope it leads to something substantial.
In Afghanistan, the Upper House of Parliament is supporting the death sentence of a journalist for blasphemy (the distribution of an article insulting to Islam). During last night’s State Of The Union address, President Bush went out of his way to paint Afghanistan as a budding democracy full of hope and new possibilities. It shouldn’t be overlooked that this is the very same democratic government that is supporting the death of this journalist based on religious grounds. It seems eerily familiar with regards to the actions of another Afghan group, doesn’t it?
In the US, while the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the second time in nine days in an attempt to avoid a recession, both Rudy Giuliani (R) and John Edwards (D) have both dropped out of the Presidential race. Their departures signal what will probably be the last two withdrawals before Super Tuesday.
The second half of the Winograd report was released today and it looks like Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is going to politically survive its implications.
Some 100,000 Liverpool FC supporters from around the world are launching a bid to buy back the club from its current American owners – and good on them for it.
From Tom Engelhardt comes Looking Up: Normalizing Air War from Guernica to Arab Jabour.
And lastly, US Attorney General Michael Mukasey reminds us why he’s the perfect man for the job – the inability to actually suggest that he doesn’t think it would be appropriate for him to “pass definitive judgement” on the legality of waterboarding.
I Have A New Favourite Band
I realize that I’m late to the party, but last night I finally got my hands on the first season of the Flight Of The Conchords (site hasn’t been updated since June of 2006).
In my opinion the show is utterly brilliant, but what is even more brilliant is the music produced for it. While it might be comedy based, the writing is, in truth, outstanding – that is, those songs that are original and not based on the songs of others (such as their parody of West End Girls).
There’s just something about the show’s entire situation and how it’s conveyed by the primary characters that is extremely refreshing to me.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I haven’t seen the whole season, but the show is indeed brilliant.
You’re sick almost as often as me, take some multivitamins or something!!
I especially like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT5AQIlmM0I&feature=related
January 30th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Buh-bye Rudy…
Flight of the Conchords - I love Mel… a true #1 fan.
The IT Crowd is another gem. There is supposed to be an Americanized version… seems original ideas are passe.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Flight of the Conchords rocks. And they’ve announced plans for a second season.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I’ve never understood the appeal to FotC for some reason. Though I also found the 2 episodes of American Dad that I watched to be heavy handed and uninspired.
As for Afghanistan, from what I’ve seen human rights abuse isn’t necessarily fundamentally bad, it’s only bad when it’s out of our control.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Cool, I’m glad you got a chance to see FotC. I hope they can keep things as fun and entertaining in season two.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Yeah matt! Join the club!
PS. “i had a budgie but it died”
you’ll know what it means in a day or two haha
January 30th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Oh man, Jemaine’s second verse in “Hiphopapotamus vs. the Rhymenoceros” has some sick rhymes hahaha
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BoWfambAi6A
Those two are hilarious
January 30th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
a) There were supposed to be two appeals (whatever that counts for) for the journalist. At least around here, people have been writing letters to our politicians, and to Afghanistan. I can only hope there’s something left of that process.
b) Matt, you and Flight of the Conchords are side by side on my iPod. I really enjoyed Bus Driver’s Song this morning.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
man, fotc is probably my favourite folk-comedic duo in the world.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
“US Attorney General Michael Mukasey refused Wednesday to define waterboarding as illegal torture, even while admitting that if he underwent the interrogation technique that he would “feel” it is torture.”
What?! No, seriously, what?
Okay. Clearly I am too sick (yeah, me too… it’s going around, I guess) to be reading this stuff, as it’s just not making any sense. Bah.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
thats funny, my co-worker has been bombarding me with flight of the conchords on You Tube for the past few days. They are quite talented I must say.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I hate it when I’m late to da partae… no fair… I have never heard of this show before….
t
January 30th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
The show is wonderful because of the totally deadpan, neutral manner in which it’s delivered. Apparently they’ve been signed for a second season that’ll be coming out on HBO or something at some point.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
“Both Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga have agreed to begin negotiations, so let’s hope it leads to something substantial.”
All that we can do it hope. But I don’t think Odinga will be happy unless he is in power. He is looking for either:
a) re-vote
b) power sharing (which most likely wouldn’t work)
c) constitutional reform leading to re-election
I think someone really wants their way.
There is going to be hard feelings either way.
All of this because the Luo’s are upset the the Kikuyu’s (a minority) are at 2/3 on the political power list…
What is the death toll at??? 850 lives…. :(
January 30th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
“Some 100,000 Liverpool FC supporters from around the world are launching a bid to buy back the club from its current American owners – and good on them for it.”
You know, I was reading this and suprised to see that despite looking to purchasing the club, they still want to move Anfield. My friend at work is super pissed about the idea of knocking it down and I got the impression that the rest of the fans felt the same way. I’ll have to ask him about it the next time I see him.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:49 am
I remember seeing the DVD for sale while I was traveling in November. It looked interesting but hadn’t gotten around to getting it. Maybe I should. I caught a few clips of them on youtube. :D
January 31st, 2008 at 4:59 am
P.S.
Hope you feel better soon! Colds suck. :-p
January 31st, 2008 at 5:06 am
RE: Flight of the Conchords.
I love the ‘Bowie in Space’ song. I actually prefer the live on stage versions of their songs to the show. Something about an audience laughing when I am makes me enjoy it more.
But the show is very bright and original, and worth watching!
January 31st, 2008 at 6:02 am
This post me me go and watch some Conchords on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR2L98gobTQ
There’s my favorite clip!
January 31st, 2008 at 6:03 am
[quote comment="40412"]Oh man, Jemaine’s second verse in “Hiphopapotamus vs. the Rhymenoceros” has some sick rhymes hahaha
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BoWfambAi6A
Those two are hilarious[/quote]
That was the funniest thing I have ever heard in my life. Thank you.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:19 am
Also
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY8jaGs7xJ0&feature=related
lol
January 31st, 2008 at 6:20 am
Also
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY8jaGs7xJ0&feature=related
LOL
January 31st, 2008 at 7:32 am
I’ve been reading some of the blogs here http://www.wildlifedirect.org/blogsList.php - which are more about endangered animals in Africa and elsewhere, but if the fighting is going on, it affects everyone.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:19 am
love conchords. end up watching that one and roaring while keeping my wife awake late at night. “Who’s the Boom King? I’m the Boom King!!!”
she thinks i’m a nutter but that show is brilliant. the other show from HBO that we absolutely loved was John From Cincinnati. i believe they aren’t going to do another season, but that is one of the dumbest moves they’ve done. the show is amazing…
January 31st, 2008 at 9:55 am
get better soon squire
January 31st, 2008 at 4:53 pm
murray is absolutely awesome… so is mel. i watched the season for the second time last week and you really pick up on the small things. the shirts that bret and mel wear, the random comments from murray that are hilarious.
“rumours. no, it’s all true.”
“what are the chances of running into you here? 1 of 1.”
it’s awesome. the conchords have an album coming out with all of the series songs re-worked…. it’s supposed to be out within the next couple months i think.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Agreed, the Flight of the Conchords is just so excellent. You can check out their older stand up stuff on Youtube as well… it’s interesting to see the progression of their ideas from live stand up to a TV format.
Hmmm, I wonder what a show along the same line starring Matt’s life would look like? I think it would have to be directed by the Cohen brothers and maybe co-star Jim Cummins the braineater as Matt’s creative nemesis.
I’d watch.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I’ve never seen an episode of Flight of The Conchords (I’ll check it out on YouTube)
Cable is too expensive let alone paying extra for HBO.
I only use my TV for movies, and pretty soon I’m gonna unplug the damn thing, throw it out, and just use the computer. Nothing is on except dumb reality shows and useless FOX news. Thank You PBS.
Don’t worry too much about getting sick Matt, in Canada the Health insurance is affordable and everyone has it! (unlike the states where 47 million of us are left to fend for ourselves!)
Your being sick might have to do with the fact that’s F-ing cold in Canada. Get well Soon.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:18 am
Re: Flight of the Conchords……Thanks for this!! I watched a few of the posted links and I’m laughing my head off this morning!
I’m going to try and get my hands on season 1 now b/c this stuff’s right up my alley!!
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
flight of the conchords is halarious the humans r dead :D lol
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
dude that’s awesome that you’re into FOTC :D
iv been into them for like a year now and followed the series as it aired.
i was so thrilled when it came out on dvd xD
the album is upposedly due out april 22nd. should be pretty sick :)
you should check out “Eagle vs. Shark” which just came out on dvd.
its a movie from New Zealand that was in select theatres this summer that Jemaine Clement starred in and its REALLY good. really lol.
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:56 pm
“its business time”
I’ve heard alot about those guys. a nice side note to throw in a serious blog