Michael Blowhard writes:

Dear Blowhards --

* A new whatcha-ma-thingee that Google has just unveiled in Beta seems like it might prove to be a paradigm-buster. Here's a Poynter Online description of Google's new free video-hosting service. Here's the service itself.

* Chloe Sevigne performed a film history-making act upon Vincent Gallo in "The Brown Bunny." (I blogged about this memorable scene here.) Asked about the film recently, she says, "I feel like we're in such conservative times and it's just atrocious. It's funny too because Vincent Gallo and I are two of the most conservative people I know and for us to make this movie, is very odd." She also tells the interviewer that she's hoping to get married soon. Actors: gotta love 'em, at least when you aren't feeling like killing 'em.

* Thanks to visitor Matt Madsen, who turned up a New Scientist piece reporting that "Silver cars are much less likely to be involved in a serious crash than cars of other colours."

* Yahmdallah wins -- hands-down -- this week's award for Gonzo Cultureblogging. First he delivers a daring posting in praise of John Denver and Phil Collins. He follows up with a damn-the-torpedoes screed explaining why he couldn't care less about sports. Great line: "Win what?"

* Unlikely I'll be stealing too many dance moves from this guy. Some people are just too good.

Best,

Michael

Michael,
I haven't read that it's ever happened, but I guess everything is possible so I'd be very careful how hard you push that tongue into your cheek. It may just push a hole straight through. I read both of Yahmdallah's pieces, including the comments. I then searched through his blog hoping to see that piece about "Johnathan Livingstone Seagull" being the best book in the 70's not to garner a Pulitzer, without any luck.

Gonzo Cultureblogging? Mr Thompson is spinning and laughing in his grave.

Posted by: DarkoV on April 14, 2005 8:13 PM

DarkoV -- I hope my tone wasn't off: I enjoyed Yahmdallah's postings and hope other people get a kick out of them too. I think it's great when someone goes out on a limb, takes a position that others will instantly find laughable, and then does a good job of arguing it. I thought Yahmdallah did exactly that. Gonzo not in the sense of competing-with-other-hipsters, but in the sense of "taking a chance of getting laughed at," and "making yourself vulnerable." And good for him.

Posted by: Michael Blowhard on April 14, 2005 8:18 PM

I think both John Denver and Phil Collins DESERVE to be defended. And, no, not Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I knew Denver became un-hip...but did Phil Collins? I missed that entirely. "Invisible Touch" and "Can't Stop Loving You" are two of my favorites. Sorry--but remember---I liked Norman Rockwell and John Singer Sargent for years when THEY were un-hip, and the world seems to be rediscovering them. I stuck with navy blue when lime green came in, and now navy is hip again. Stick with me, I'm ahead of the curve. Maybe "A Little More Love" by Olivia Newton-John or "The Spy Who Loved Me" by Carly Simon will hit the airwaves again soon. :)

Posted by: annette on April 15, 2005 12:23 PM

1) Interesting article on car colors that pretty completely refutes my assertion about silver. I still won't buy a silver car, but now the reasons seem be rather less rational than I usually try for. Oh well, a foolish consistency and all that.

2) I agree with Yahmdallah about the value of once overplayed, now unhip music. Specifically, I think that John Denver is one of the great singers of the last century. My five-year-old seems to agree; in an experience similar to that mentioned by Yahmdallah, he specifically asked for a replay of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" on a recent road trip.

More broadly, I'd say that popularity (and it's attendant air play) is a pretty good (not perfect, but pretty good) proxy for quality. Lest I be thought hypocritical, I've made this argument for things I despise.

On the other hand, part of the John Denver work I like was when he was singing with the Chad Mitchell Trio, and I like Blue Oyster Cult's "Godzilla" too, so feel free to consider that in your evaluations of my opinions.

Posted by: Doug Sundseth on April 15, 2005 4:51 PM

When the kids were younger and we had them bound safely, like a boa around a meal, in their car seats, they exercised wisdom beyond their years. We, as parental units, failed to catch on until much later.
Figuring that their lack of physical freedom in the back seats of the car was directly tied to the two grownups free in the front, they came up with a devious plan to make our trip as miserable they felt theirs was.
"We want to hear some music!"
O.k. What?
"Our favorites...and the best singers in the whole wide earth."
Let's hear it..

Raffi
Mr. Denver
Mr. Chapin
Cathy (fink) & Marcy (Marxer)
Taj (Mahal)

Those were some miserable rides. Luckily they grew up and took Mr. Mahal along with them. The others? They left them in the back seat with their car seats.

Posted by: DarkoV on April 15, 2005 5:13 PM

Toots & The Maytals version of "(Take Me Home) Country Roads" is pretty killer.

Posted by: joe 0 on April 15, 2005 5:43 PM

The Chad Mitchell Trio! I haven't thought of them in years. Wonder whether I'd still love them as I did as an adolescent . . .

Posted by: missgrundy on April 16, 2005 11:38 AM






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