Absolute Critic

Jeffrey Anderson said it best: I'm sure many cineastes had the same reaction to this week's box office list: cinema is now officially dead. The day Jackass: Number Two -- isn't it clever how the title is a reference to fecal matter? -- becomes the most popular film in America is the day each of us ought to give up and become plumbers. I'm talking all film critics, as well as Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, David Cronenberg, Steven Spielberg, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Wong Kar-wai, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Charlie Kaufman, etc. Throw in the towel, guys. It's over. It doesn't matter anymore. I'll meet you at the bar, and I'm buying the first round.

Pickle me 'ead

Some say Oasis and The Stone Roses created Britpop. Some say they destroyed it. The brothers Gallagher and Ian Brown became legends given their infamous behavior and their unwillingness to remain mainstream in the eyes of their fans. They were irreverent and broke the mold from all accounts for the new generation of rockers to come. In comes Kasabian, the new lads on the block. Guitarist/singer Sergio Pizzorno and singer Tom Meighan have already been touted as the new team Gallagher and the ones to fear. My special friend and I caught their act this week at a local cabaret club, this being the second time they've performed at this venue. They played to a crowd that were obviously die hard fans and thankfully, they delivered the goods well beyond anyone's expectations. Tom definitely knows how to ignite a crowd and engage them in such a way that you instantly feel a strong connection. This band clearly loves all who support them. This is one of the first times ever we have heard a show that sounded better live than it does on the cd. As my special friend put it, it makes the recorded versions sound boring.

Milk and Cookies

It seems that there was a popular predecessor to South Park's Mr. Hanky.
Ugo Ugo Ruga, a Japanese children's television show were the first creators of a lovable little character called Dr. Shit.
Yep, that's right, he's a piece of poop in a toilet. The Japanese toy company, Kubrick, came out with a plush toy and it sold like crazy. The title of the show: "ugo ugo ruga", which was an anagram "gou gou garu", actually means: go go girl. The TV show looked like it was for children. But clearly was intended for adults.
(Japan's Kubrick Toys are so avant-guard, they are also responsible for creating limited edition collector dolls of the Sex Pistols).