u2roolz

Yes, I saw this and got all excited. But not too excited, since we're approaching the final season premiere.

One episode coming up is titled Ab Aeterno.

Here's a brief list of who's been added to the growing roster of characters. (from DarkUFO the best Lost site)

"Hiroyuki Sanada, a popular Japanese actor who worked with Matthew Fox in Speed Racer, has been cast as a character named Dogen. (New Lost Philosopher Reference Alert! Dogen Zenji was a fabled Zen Buddhist teacher.)

John Hawkes (Deadwood) has been cast as Lennon, whose name has me humming ''Imagine'' while painfully recalling that time in high school when I took a test about Russian history and I got docked one full grade for consistently misspelling ''Lenin'' as ''Lennon.'' Damn the corrupting mind virus that is the Beatles!

Other familiar faces/names scheduled to appear this season: Sheila Kelley (L.A. Law, Sisters)

and William Atherton, the always-entertaining character actor who specializes in playing... well, a--holes."

My own commentary: I really think Atherton, best known as the Ghostbusters dude "Yes it's true. This man has no dick.", will be playing Alvar Hanso. He looks similar to the guy that played Hanso in the Lost viral videos from Season 1 or 2.

WOW!!! Have the Coen Bros. NEVER missed a beat?!

I just came back from this and I'm going to dig around on here. I remember seeing a small discussion either in this thread or somewhere else.

But yeah they love to put their lead character through misery.

Edit: Found it! I'm wondering if mpolak, beltmann, & myself all laughed at the same scene? Did it involve a character in a canoe?

Anyways, I like beltmann's point that he made. I wonder if he has any more thoughts on the film. My friends seem to be avoiding these types of films lately. Not sure why? Between this and The Box, I'm pretty upset that I didn't see it with anyone. I can only discuss it on here or read IMDB.

Was the purpose of this thread a trap?

You know so we can add more pages to "The Greatest Feuds In VC History".

All of today's talk reminds me a lot of John Cusack's movie that was in limited release in 2008.

Have you heard of War, Inc. ?

"A political satire set in Turaqistan, a country occupied by an American private corporation run by a former US Vice-President. In an effort to monopolize the opportunities the war-torn nation offers, the corporation's CEO hires a troubled hit man, to kill a Middle East oil minister. Now, struggling with his own growing demons, the assassin must pose as the corporation's Trade Show Producer in order to pull off this latest hit, while maintaining his cover by organizing the high-profile wedding of Yonica Babyyeah an outrageous Middle Eastern pop star, and keeping a sexy left wing reporter in check."

It's definitely worth a rental. I own it and I managed to see it twice in theaters. There's one scene that is completely unnerving.

Basically, it says that the same company that sells the people of Turaqistan prosthetic limbs is also the same company responsible for bombing the shit out of them.

Plus, you can't go wrong with Dan Ayrkroyd as a Dick Cheney clone.

shabba rich, that's exactly my interpretation. Great summary.

 

 

 

I can add this: I think the title refers to one not being able to define oneself without others - that it is community that makes us who we are. The lines "Now everybody�s feeling all alone/Can�t tell you who I am" say to me that without community it's difficult to know who we are as individuals because we have no mirror with which to see ourselves. In the modern age there's danger of losing community in the hectic pace of life ("I believe in locomotion"), but at the same time new toys like cell phones actually work to connect people so we can share our stories even if we're not actually with someone we know. We're thankful for what little shred of communal connection we have left, for otherwise we'd lose everything, even ourselves.

 

Great song.

OK. I'm digging up a 2 year old thread. Pretty much to give credit to this analysis above. Also, to throw out something else out there.

In another thread I mentioned that I'm reading No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre. I couldn't help but think about the idea in the play that there were no mirrors at all.

That is and can be hell to almost anyone.

Some talking points from the play. Honestly brought to you by Spark Notes. (Hey, I did actually read it. I found it easier to copy and paste)

Since there are no mirrors, Garcin must decide if Inez is right or what he thinks himself is right. In this case, Garcin believes Inez rather than his own judgment. He lets her define his essence, or personal characteristics, and thus, in Sartre's definition, has "bad faith."

Estelle does not think that she exists unless she looks in a mirror, seeing herself as others do. She does not trust her own judgment. She instead relies on an external object to both create her essence and verify her existence. When Inez pretends to be her "mirror" and says Estelle has a pimple on her face, Estelle's bad faith causes her to accept someone else literally creating her essence.

Inez can't stand Garcin looking at her because she thinks that he is automatically judging her. Since she thinks that is her own role, she accuses him of "stealing" her face. Garcin's mere existence thus reduces Inez's feelings of autonomy.

Sartre believed that human consciousness was free to choose its own character or essence but must also assume responsibility for this freedom. Estelle is unable to do this, asking Inez to be her mirror so she can create Estelle's essence for her. Inez revels in her power, even telling Estelle she has a pimple when she really doesn't. As for Inez, she refuses to let other people define her essence. She claims that she is always "painfully conscious" of herself.

Edit: I'm reading the lyrics. I'm debating to put certain lyrics on here to further show my angle.

But this line sticks out like a sore thumb:

"No feelings I can see

I trust no emotion"

Did you see Southland Tales? Fun flick.

 

Edit: I was somewhat confused by the stray bracket and/or I'm a moron.

Yeah, I think I didn't notice it when I posted that. (the stray bracket that is)

Yes, I did see it. 2 years to the day today.

One of my favorites of all time. The graphic novel helps to understand some more of what's going on.

Or this could read: What was more confusing the stray bracket or Southland Tales?

]Some or most of this may seem crazy to some, but I'm going to research it later on. Anyone familiar with this type of energy (the tides not wireless)?

Bear with me. Let me explain that yes this does come from a movie, but it is quite interesting. The concept at least.

OK. This comes from Southland Tales directed by Richard Kelly.

"The term fluid karma is used to refer to two things in the movie. First, it refers to an "organic compound" that the Treer company discovered while drilling off the coast of Israel, which exists under the Earth's mantle, and circles the world like a "serpent." Second, fluid karma is the name used by Treer for the "hydroelectric energy field" produced by their Utopia tidal generators. As the movie explains, the compound is being used by the Baron to power his energy plants, hence the energy field produced is named after it."

Richard Kelly stated in his interview with EMPIRE Magazine...

"The idea of wireless electricity and tides being a source of energy, and there being a potentially world-altering energy source under the ocean, is based on real scientific theory. Many people think wireless electricity is the thing that could rescue us from our dilemma as we reach the end of the petroleum era. Tide power, and the wireless transmission of electricity, are scientific realities. "

Ocean Energy Systems

I wonder what the OP thinks about 2012. I'm not meaning that to sound derogatory. I'm curious how much stock to put into scientists' claims on such events.

For me, I tend to go and look at all of the 2012 scenarios. Even the New Age ones. I find them all to be quite fascinating and there's even some hard science to back it up.

When it comes to global warming, I can't help but see a few agendas here and there. We're all obviously looking out for our best benefits. But there's way too much going on to say that we can truly change the course of our planet. Let's go for it, but we may not truly see the benefits in our lifetime. We need to believe in our good intentions.

I think that was on due to the re-make. I didn't see any of the re-make though. The Prisoner was recently re-made also.

 

I have always liked The Outer Limits better than The Twilight Zone (from a sci-fi point of view).

I really like the V tv show remake. It's quite imaginative and uses our fears of terrorism as a good starting point for the show's paranoia.

I think the original V was on Syfy a few weeks ago. I'd like to see that at some point. I remember it when I was little. The lizard aliens freaked me out.

I missed The Prisoner mini-series. I DVRed the 1st night and then I had scheduling conflicts on my DVR for nights 2 & 3. LOL

I think they're playing that on Sunday nights now at 10p.m. (I missed it again. Damn!)

I really want to start a thread about The Box. I feel that that was one of the best films of this year. Also, I think I'm the only person that saw it out of my friends.

I haven't seen the 80s episode it was based on "Button, Button", but I really would like to track it down.

Having had GA tickets in the past, I can safely say that that can be a great pain in the neck.

You can encounter waiting in the rain until the show begins or burn in the sweltering heat.

Plus, not to mention dealing with all U2 yahoos eyeing everyone making sure no one steals their spot if they go to the rest room (read: porta potty).

Granted, some people are cool in the line. But keep in mind it can be quite a taxing effort on your part to wait in a GA line all day and then have energy to stand up during a show.

If you pack a cooler, you need to go run and bring it out to the car before show time. Although, I heard in some European cities it was ok to bring in a small cooler.

If you pack light, you're kind of screwed when that 3rd bottle of water is done by 3p.m.

Sure, it is all worth it to see them once in this GA scenario. But there's a lot of folks who can do this on the whole freaking tour. Not me. I'm hypoglycemic.

Good Luck.

Facebook Blamed for Benefits Loss

BROMONT, Quebec (Nov. 22) -- A Canadian woman on long-term sick leave for depression says she lost her benefits because her insurance agent found photos of her on Facebook in which she appeared to be having fun.

Nathalie Blanchard has been on leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Quebec, for the last year.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Saturday she was diagnosed with major depression and was receiving monthly sick-leave benefits from insurance giant Manulife.

But the payments dried up this fall and when Blanchard called Manulife, she says she was told she was available to work because of Facebook.

She said her insurance agent described several pictures Blanchard posted on Facebook, including ones showing her having a good time at a Chippendales bar show, at her birthday party and on a sunny holiday.

Blanchard said Manulife told her it's evidence she is no longer depressed. She's fighting to get her benefits reinstated and says her lawyer is exploring what the next step should be.

Blanchard told the CBC that on her doctor's advice, she tried to have fun, including nights out at her local bar with friends and short getaways to sun destinations, as a way to forget her problems.

Manulife wouldn't comment on Blanchard's case, but did say they would not deny or terminate a claim solely based on information published on Web sites such as Facebook.

Facebook Story

Edit: (My own .02 cents. I love these types of stories. With my background in communication media (concentration in film), we studied lots of similar cases in Comm Law & Ethics.)(My comments below)

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It does raise some interesting questions like: Is her facebook page private or public? If it was private did she accept a friend request from her insurance agent? Was she posting these photos with the intent to show loved ones that she was trying to "have fun"? Do these photos REALLY mean that's she no longer depressed? LOL. Before facebook would you have to have this person followed around for clues as to her depression? Would you hire a mustachioed private eye to break into her house to look for such lascivious photos?

I love those stories about college football recruiters making fake myspace/facebook pages, usually as a beautiful woman, to do background checks on potential students/players. According to an ESPN Sports Center that I watched, it is pretty common place nowadays.

Using Search Engines for Businesses

Fake Pages & Sports Recruiting

It almost always elicits the same response from those potential students/players: my PRIVACY is being broken.

Recently, I think, something that someone posted on Twitter or Facebook got them into hot water with a company. The company was going to sue because of what they said online.

All of this is fascinating because where do you draw the line? Is one person's opinion going to really take down/taint your company? How many people are friends/followers of that person? How many of them will agree with their position? Are we to take facebook and twitter at the same level as the mainstream press?

Ultimately, has technology forever blurred the line between privacy and publicity? Are we being punished for our own narcissism? Is one person's narcissism another's yearn for human connection?

I wanted to dip my toe into this discussion:

I think, at least in my eyes and mind, a lot of the amazement is not really about the followers or people.

It's really a question on the how or why or what caused them to think that way. That's more fascinating.

The idea that certain or some people can buy into an ideology through a giant media machine.

I've studied communication media in college (which explains my current lack of employment ) and it's always amazed me by what people consider to be real or factual.

Or how it is really a form of certain attempts at mind control or rather mind/idea forming.

There may be some who say "well, are you blaming the people who buy into it?" That's tough because I'm not sure there's enough of a grass roots movement to find and seek out un-biased news.

It requires a lot of leg work.

Of course, one can find great irony that we are talking about a woman and a black man. Isn't it interesting that through the media most of our opinions have changed on these specific groups?

A woman and a person of color were told that they couldn't have the same rights as others (pretty much white men ) Some people agreed with that. Certain shows on television backed that up with certain stereotypes, maybe there were a few subversive examples. I can't think of any.

And then a cultural revolution took place. Since I was not around at that time, I can only look back at the images and newspaper clippings to see what happened. My question is: Was that a result of the way the media presented equal rights? Or was there a grass roots movement first and then the media had to present this and change the public opinion? So which came first? I guess the point that I'm trying to make here is this. Were the people aware of their own mistreatment despite the way the media would have them think otherwise? I'd like to think so.

So what's really changed since then? Where do we point our collective judgmental finger at? Jon & Kate & The Octo Mom or Balloon Boy? Hey, they provide great distractions. They also show horrible abuses of a little nice invention called television. Are some of us satisfied by getting a grab bag of political ideas from certain major news networks? Are the political blueprints of each party catered to a specific group of people? What I mean is: would certain people feel a certain way on certain issues without stuff being shoved down their throats. Is one party a result of their certain demographic? Or is one demographic a result of their certain party that they follow?

Television Is The Drug Of The Nation

I was just at Bull Moose Records and saw A.M. for $18.88. I didn't pick it up because I don't collect vinyl yet.

My dad owns a Crossley that came in handy when I bought the You Never Know/Unlikely Japan single.

Check out the link if you wish.

They also have a huge used vinyl section. Lots of cool stuff.

Stores are in Portsmouth, NH and Salem, NH. Plus, more in Maine.

Have they ever played 'No Way'? I've always loved that song and would think that it would translate well live. I believe they had done Brain of J at one time or another over the years, which is another rocking tune!

 

 

Have they ever played 'No Way'? I've always loved that song and would think that it would translate well live. I believe they had done Brain of J at one time or another over the years, which is another rocking tune!

WOW!? Do you have ESP or what?!

I went looking for info and here's what I found. I knew that they may have tried it around the 98 Yield Tour at least once or twice.

Times Played 7

DATE LOCATION VENUE

Tue Nov 17, 2009 Adelaide, Australia Adelaide Oval

Wed Oct 28, 2009 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wachovia Spectrum Arena

Fri Sep 25, 2009 Vancouver, BC GM Place

Tue Sep 22, 2009 Seattle, Washington Key Arena

Pearl Jam - No Way

Mon Sep 07, 1998 Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach Amphitheatre

Tue Sep 01, 1998 Atlanta, Georgia Lakewood Amphitheatre

Tue Aug 25, 1998 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Star Lake Amphitheater

LOL. They just started playing it recently. I had no idea. NO WAY indeed.

Brain Of J used to get played a lot in the past.

I wanted to throw out there that I saw My Morning Jacket open for Doves in 2002 when no one knew who they were.

My friend and I got up close. It was as the Avalon in Boston, MA. It was weird to see a singer with his hair completely covering his face.

We wondered if Cousin It had shown up and stolen the lead singer.

Great show! I've also seen them open up for Wilco (obviously) in 2005 at Agganis Arena in Boston. Another great show. Then a 3rd time in between. Something tells me that they opened for Foo Fighters. And Pete Yorn was also on the bill? It seems a bit odd for those 3 to be on the same bill.

I'd like to throw 2 names into the ring. I'm sure they won't be met with such enthusiasm. While I have admired every name on the list, I noticed a lot of the stuff seemed a bit depressing. Which can be good.

Muse - One of the best live shows I have seen. They really bring something new and different to arena rock, yet something very familiar.

They have 4 great albums out this decade.

Origin Of Symmetry

Absolution

Black Holes & Revelations

The Resistance

The Killers - It fascinates me that a band can jump between Top 40, Modern Rock, Adult Contemporary, etc. and still bring in people that are Goths, scenesters, hipsters, etc. I still can't classify what they are. They don't really sound like anything else. I can see the comparisons to The Cure or Duran Duran and Depeche Mode. But they still have their own sound. Plus, Brandon Flowers is one hell of a showman. People always talk about Chris Martin. Well, when I see him it looks like he's always seeking approval and unsure of himself. Flowers has this confidence and assurance and niceness to him that echoes Bono in the early 80s. Check out the recently released Live At The Royal Albert Hall for evidence. I've seen them live (another one of the best) and the crowd really gets into it and so did I. Oh, and it was refreshing to hear saxophone solos again. It's one thing that's been missing since the 80s.

Once again these 2 bands are sort of options for the other stuff listed. To mix things up.

Just giving folks a friendly reminder to do an Easter Egg Hunt for PBS's Austin City Limits featuring Pearl Jam beginning tomorrow at 7p.m.

Check your local listings indeed. I looked at the Boston and NH affiliates and it is not on at all this week. If anyone can find it in these areas let me know.

Otherwise, enjoy the show.

Thanks

Hello,

I was watching the Colbert Report rerun this afternoon and Elvis Costello was on.

Some good news:

1. A 4 disc set for Season 1 (12 episodes) has already been released. It actually came out last Tuesday the 10th. I'm not sure if there's any extras. The following link has little info besides price. I had 0 idea that it came out.

Spectacle Season 1 DVD

2. Season 2 begins on Wednesday December 9. I assumed it would be mid-to-late January.

Expect to see these guests this season. (there's not one particular guest confirmed for episode 1.)

Bono & The Edge

Bruce Springsteen

Sheryl Crow

Lyle Lovett

John Prine

Ron Sexsmith

Neko Case

Jesse Winchester

Ray LaMontagne

Nick Lowe

Levon Helm

Richard Thompson

Allen Toussaint

Official Season 2 Blurb

Another great place to get tickets for cheap is the U2 Interference Message Boards. There was a lot of supply this past fall and not enough demand. Lots of good tickets went cheap.

I can't give you the link just yet, since it's down due to hackers.

Just search for U2 Interference > Message Board > What Do You Want? What Do You Have?

Ok. First, I want to say something that happened to me at the Foxboro show in MA that I saw in Sept. People were standing in the back of every row. Pretty much about 20 people at each entrance to go down to the floor. So if you paid $30 for a ticket, take your time getting to your seat. You may be able to hang out by the concession area on the concourse. I don't know why there were no ushers or security? Anyways, the view was excellent. I ended up standing with these people and I had a seat kiddie-corner facing the soundboard. I completely understand the idiocy of people having to stand if their view from heaven wasn't great. But I say take advantage of your "cheap" ticket and stand.

Auctioneer, I hope you read this. I'm not sure if it was like this at every stadium. But if it is like this in Seattle then go for it. It puts you at eye level with the band and the screen.

Edit: Oh yeah, after typing all of this about U2 I did something that has never happened to me before. I freakin' bit my tongue while eating. It freaked me out. For a second I really thought that Bono had special powers.

I almost forgot to add the most important thing on here. Take a look.

"It’s confirmed: U2 will play Montreal on July 16.

The band will perform on the polo field at the Montreal Hippodrome, kicking in $3 million for the construction of a temporary open-air stadium to fit 60,000 to 80,000 people.

It is the only date for which U2 is not performing in a pre-existing stadium, not to mention fronting the cost of building one."

Read the rest here - U2 Montreal 2010

Some more points before my mind goes blank:

I sometimes state that I have my U2roolz screen name as a sign of who I once was. I mean I spend most of my time on here. I think that speaks volumes. Ever since I saw Wilco in 2003 at Boston's Fleet Pavillion, it all clicked for me. Under a different lense, I thought this is the band that I've been looking for. MUSICIANS making amazing music and still creating an AMAZING live show. Not from zillions of screens and a McDonald's Arch and Bono talking for 10 minutes about poverty in Africa. Wilco was and is the real deal for me. I still love U2 but in a weird way now. Maybe like that ex-girlfriend that got into your head good and comes back every 4 years and blows you away, but still lets you down and leaves a void. That sense of being left behind. I respect the decision to go away for 4 years, but it seems like that's all part of the plan/scheme to make them the big deal every time they come back.

Oh. U2 released 3 albums this decade. Depending on if you want to believe that 2000 was the 1st year in this decade. All That You Can't Leave Behind in 2000. I think all of the hits on this record sound better live. Especially, the Bono and Edge acoustic version of Stuck In A Moment. Elevation works live and isn't that great on there. There's a handful of tunes that work - In A Little Whlle, Wild Honey, When I Look At The World, and Kite all sound great though on the album.

Atomic Bomb I enjoyed at the time. Over the years the same thing started happening. The live versions trumped what was recorded. I can agree with people if they say that this was forced.

No Line, in my opinion, was their best record of this decade. It's too bad that they matched it with a stadium tour.

For the record and the judge and jury: I haven't bought any of the new U2 rereleases. I passed on The Unforgettable Fire to pick up R.E.M.'s 39 songs live instead. And that paid off in dividends. I also haven't picked up their 1st 3 remastered. Money is tight and like I said a lot of that stuff was and/or should have been on the Complete "Box Set" from iTunes. So I feel a bit cheated, but it seems almost scripted now. I don't let it sting. I'll buy them at some point.

Ending here: I don't know if meeting Jeff has swayed my overall opinion on the band. I was very gracious to have met this man a few times in such short a time period. I feel more connection to this band. Fuck. Even the HQ emails seem more sincere than the U2.com ones looking for $50 to sign up for a membership to get a day early crack at tickets.

That is all.

(Edit: LOL. This all sounds very Oprah or Dr. Phil)