Distraction 186: Pirate Radio aka The Boat That Rocked

This trailer kind of sucks because it makes it sound as though the movie is about some American dude saving rock n roll in the UK, and it's not.   That said, this movie is wonderful! 


Depending on where you are in the world, it's either called "Pirate Radio" or "The Boat That Rocked."   Rhys Darby steals the show and is second only to the soundtrack.

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Distraction 185: Wuthering Heights

I'm currently reading "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte, that lady painted up there.  I'm about 1/3 of the way into it & this is my favorite passage so far:

"He took a seat opposite Catherine, who kept her gaze fixed on him as if she feared he would vanish were she to remove it.  He did not raise his to her often:  a quick glance now and then sufficed; but it flashed back, each time more confidently, the undisguised delight he drank from hers.  They were too much absorbed in their mutual joy to suffer embarrassment."

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Distraction 183: The Revival of Authentic Flips, Fizzes, Ades, Yips, Floats, Malts, Rickeys and Cows

Yesterday's New York Times featured an article about some new olde time soda fountains popping up across the country.  Though none were mentioned, there has to be one somewhere around the Bay Area.  Anyone?  Anyone?

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Distraction 182: Macaque Self-Portraits

Macaque borrows photographer's camera to take self-portraits


"To capture the perfect wildlife image, you usually have to be in exactly the right place at precisely the right time.


But in this instance, David Slater wasn’t there at all and he still got a result.


Visiting a national park in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, award-winning photographer Mr Slater left his camera unattended for a while.


It soon attracted the attention of an inquisitive female from a local group of crested black macaque monkeys, known for their intelligence and dexterity.


Fascinated by her reflection in the lens, she then somehow managed to start the camera. The upshot: A splendid self-portrait."


Read & see more here.


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Distraction 181: Gorillaz - "Superfast Jellyfish"

If you get the chance to check out Gorillaz live, DO IT!


They were in the Bay Area last year, the night before Halloween and it was one of the best shows I've ever been to.




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Distraction 180: The World's First Tickling Spa

Make your reservations now!  The world's first tickling spa is now open in Spain.  I'm not sure if it's meant to relax or torture.

As I was imagining what the place must be like, Tex Avery's "Shhhh!" popped into mind; about a poor jittery man just trying to relax, despite the crazy folk in the room next door.  It's based off of "The Laughing Record #1," originally from Okeh records, but can also be found on the cd "Only in America" from Arf! Arf! Productions.

Distraction 179: Panique au Village

Panique au Village (A Town Called Panic) is a GREAT and very silly stop-motion animation film currently available streaming via Netflix.  




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Distraction 178: Sulic & Hauser

It's not often that the terms "bad ass" and "celloists" are used together in the same sentence, but Sulic & Hauser are some BAD ASS CELLOISTS!!!






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Distraction 177: Green With Envy Trailer [HD]

Ooooh, can't wait!  Can't wait!  Can't wait!






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Distraction 176: Fair Today

"Pardon me... Have you seen my little boy?"

All of the puns and the timing make it hard to believe that Tex Avery wasn't involved somehow.  This cartoon is so similar to Avery's "House of Tomorrow" and "Car of Tomorrow."  Walter Lantz is great too though.

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Distraction 175: Oldest Art in Americas

The first teaser I saw about this said something like "The oldest art in America has been found in Florida" to which I was wondering "which America; north, south, both?!"


Leave it to National Geographic to properly specify it by simply adding an 's'; the above image is the oldest art in Americas found to date.


Read more here.




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Distraction 174: Stefon

Do you know who Stefon is?
Saturday Night Live - Weekend Update - Stefon - Video - NBC.com


A bunch of silly websites have popped up where you can create your own Stefon club promo.  Here are a couple:
Stefon Mad Libs
The Stefonator!






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Distraction 173: Run-D.M.C. - "It's Tricky"

Not much is more fun than singing along to this with a 6 year old.






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Distraction 172: The Death Set - "Can You Seen Straight?"

I've always been a sucker for power pop punk songs, and this is no exception.  La-la-love it!


It's slightly reminiscent of "Ca Plane Pour Moi" (but this video is way better and I suspect won't look nearly as dated 20 years from now).




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Distraction 171: Breakfast at Tiffany's

I've read the book and heard the song, but have yet to see the movie!  Below are some of my favorite lines from the book.

"Oh, you get used to anything," I said, annoyed with myself, for actually I was proud of the place.

"I don't.  I'll never get used to anything.  Anybody that does, they might as well be dead."

"It may be normal, darling; but I'd rather be natural."

"Never love a wild thing, Mr. Bell," Holly advised him.  "That was Doc's mistake.  He was always lugging home wild things...  But you can't give your heart to a wild thing:  the more you do, the stronger they get.  Until they're strong enough to run into the woods.  Or fly into a tree.  Then a taller tree.  Then the sky.  That's how you'll end up, Mr. Bell.  If you let yourself love a wild thing.  You'll end up looking at the sky...  Good luck:  and believe me dearest Doc-  it's better to look at the sky than live there.  Such an empty place; so vague.  Just a country where thunder goes and things disappear."

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Distraction 170: The Suicide Machines - "Sometimes I Don´t Mind"

Aw, a song for the doggies... and the ages!  :)

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Distraction 169: Chris Isaak - "Wicked Game"

Eee-yow!  Still one of the sexiest songs/videos ever.




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Distraction 168: Chewing Gum Art

Ben Wilson paints gobs of bubble gum stuck to sidewalks in the UK.  Check out a small gallery of his work here.

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Distraction 167: Asobi Seksu - "Trails"

I stumbled on Asobi Seksu a few years ago while putting together a list of songs with titles featuring the days of the week.  I couldn't think of a "Thursday" so on a whim searched for it on iTunes.  Sure enough, there it was.  




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Distraction 166: Geocaching

Geocaching is a treasure hunting game where you use a GPS to hide & seek containers with other participants.


Owings Memorial Grove (aka Redwood Gulch), off Hwy 1 is the location of a geocache spot... but I didn't know that until after I spent the afternoon climbing the waterfall.  Regardless of missing out on treasure, there was a ton of great nature-made monkey bars to play on.




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