On the streets I'm a legend. In my hood I'm a star.

I look forward to Crossover dying a quick death this weekend, if only because I won't have to see the TV spots with that annoying song in it anymore. Ugh.

As for The Wicker Man, even though I'm pretty fed up with Hollywood's increasing penchant for remaking EVERY film that ever existed, I'm intrigued. I had discovered the original earlier this year and enjoyed it immensely. I'm curious as to how its legacy will be crapped on (and if they'll Hollywoodize the ending). Plus, I really dig Nicolas Cage. But I'll likely catch it on video...or cable.

Micahpalooza '06: The Aftermath

G. Love wailing on his harmonica.

The G. Love & Special Sauce concert was excellent. Their performance was great and was only enhanced by the fun people watching (LOTS of hippies and stoners). A cover of "Gin and Juice" was among the highlights. With a few songs left in the encore, the security guy waived my 10 year old nephew and me into the VIP area - we were right in front of the stage. Good times.

Speaking of hippies, here's my brother twirling...


Truckin'.

Many good meals over the weekend: crab cakes at the Boathouse with the fam, copious amounts of meat at the Ipanema Grill* with spydrz and herodotus, and a firey poo poo platter at Tiki-Tiki with my surrogate family (that'd be shamrock's mom and sister). Paging Dr. Funk of Tahiti...

Thanks to everyone for making my second 29th birthday very special. Let's hope I live until next August.

*An inspiration for a new MW feature, yet to be revealed.

Micahpalooza '06: G. Love show

He'll be kicking some rhymes for the summertime tonight.

Micahpalooza '06 continues tonight with the G. Love and Special Sauce show at Innsbrook. If they play "Cold Beverage" I'll be extra happy.

Anyone else going?

Micahpalooza '06: It begins

Today is the beginning of the second (or is it the thirty-first?) annual Micahpalooza. Compared to last year's Vegas jaunt, this'll be a fairly low-key, mostly family-centered affair. Por exemplo: today's events thus far have been working a half day, buying a city sticker for my car and watching "The Cosby Show" (Cliff's birthday episode - it's kismet!). Then I'm going to continue my progress on "The Simpsons: Hit and Run" until dinner with the fam tonight*. The only other definite thing on the itenerary is the G. Love & Special Sauce concert tomorrow night with my brother (and whoever else wants to go).

Speaking of birthdays, I want to apologize to anyone whose birthday I've forgotten this summer. I brought my PDA - which stores all of my friends' birthdays - with me down to VA, intending to transfer the info to my laptop. But I let the battery die and so I have to sync it up with my desktop...which is in Ohio.

*I was going to get a state inspection for my car so I can be totally legal, but I ain't going to wait around at an auto shop for who knows how long on my most special day.

Have a holly jolly August

Okay, I admit it: I broke out the Christmas music on my iPod today. Usually, I'll wait until early November* to do so, but for some reason I got a hankering to be festive. Maybe it's because I'm sick of the heat. Maybe it's because my office is FREEZING. I dunno. But it was only a few songs. I am not a freak.

*Those Christmas CDs I send out take some time to compile, okay?

Micah World Top 25

Here they are, the top 25 songs burning up my iPod (as of 8.21.06):

1. "Oliver's Army" - Elvis Costello
2. "Knock Yourself Out" - Jon Brion
3. "Nine Million Bicycles" - Katie Melua
4. "Just Like Heaven" - Katie Melua
5. "How To Be Dead" - Snow Patrol
6. "Mr. Bad Example" - Warren Zevon
7. "Jesusland" - Ben Folds
8. "More Than a Feeling" - Boston
9. "Touchdown Turnaround (Don't Give Up On Me)" - Hellogoodbye
10. "You Are What You Love" - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
11. "She Must Think I Like Poetry" - Robbie Fulks
12. "Adrenaline!" - The Roots
13. "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too" - Say Anything
14. "All The Pretty Girls Leave Town" - Tim Easton
15. "88 Lines About 44 Women" - The Nails
16. "Someday" - Anya Marina
17. "Good Weekend" - Art Brut
18. "Lua" - Bright Eyes
19. "Christmas Vacation" - Descendents
20. "Two Pink Lines" - Eric Church
21. "Hung Up On You" - Fountains of Wayne
22. "Yours and Mine" - Fountains of Wayne
23. "Bad Things" - Jace Everett
24. "Rabbit Fur Coat" - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
25. "Handle With Care" - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins

A bit of a shake-up from the last chart, since I've been listening to a lot of music on my iPod (in addition to the regular podcasts).

This is crazy.

Gnarls Biggie. Exactly what you'd think it is: a (free downloadable) album of Notorious B.I.G. rhymes over Gnarls Barkley music.

I think there's been a mistake...

Well, I'm a Virginia resident (again). Yet, this is the driver's license that I received:


At least I'll get some food out of it.

Guess I shouldn't have greeted the DMV drone with "hey, baby, I like it raaaaaaaaw."

Hot Dog! We've got a wiener!

After sifting through all of the entries, I have selected IMMUSH to represent my automobile and, thus, myself. For those not in the know, it is a reference to a derogatory comment the University of Richmond's outgoing president made about alumni and current UR students (see posts here and here). I figured it would provide a chuckle to Richmond area motorists, as well as make a statement. And I can't wait to drive and park around campus for basketball games. Congratulations to Shamrock - I owe him a (fast food) meal.

Runners up were: RBNSHL, SGAHKY, IKOABD, SXFARM and UR 98. Thanks to all who provided entries. At least you didn't have to spend 3.5 hours at the DMV like I did today.

IMMUSH will remain on my Jetta until I think of some awesome arcane Simpsons reference that can be parsed down to six characters. Or maybe not, since I am in no rush to relive today's experience.

This is not a "Snakes on a Plane" post

And I think that I'm the only blogger not posting about it. It's sad that a movie can become played out before it's even released*.

*I know it's out now, but I've been thinking that for a while now.

License plate contest is still open

We're in the waning hours of the contest. Any more entries? Post 'em!

Crush of the Week: Christina Aguilera

At the risk of contracting VD just by making this selection, this week's Crush is Christina Aguilera. I definitely dig her new look.


I feel dirrty.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I bought her Back to Basics double album...and I'm quite digging it (production work by DJ Premier helps a lot). It could've been pared down to one disc, though. But "Ain't No Other Man" is my jam, kid.

"Dominos, biotch!"

Tonight's episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" ("Dennis and Dee Get a New Dad") is the season finale. Hopefully, it won't be the series finale. It's followed by the episode that started it all - "The Gang Gets Racist".

Requiem for Lt. Steve

R.I.P. Bruno Kirby, 1949-2006.



Hope you got to keep the wagon wheel coffee table ("BABY FISH MOUTH!").

Contest: create my new license plate

Hi, folks. Sorry I've been scarce for the past few days. To shorten the commute to my temp assignment, I've been crashing at my sister's house* - and the wireless signal that I've been piggybacking off of is extremely weak. Which makes blogging painful. But I'm planning on returning home tomorrow evening (why? I miss getting mail), so I'll respond to comments and post more stuff then. In the meantime, I've got a contest for you...

Create Micah's License Plate


Surprisingly, this plate is not taken.

In order to avoid paying for an Ohio car registration for another year, I need to switch all of my stuff over to Virginia before my birthday (*cough*August 24th*cough*), so I'm planning on spending this Saturday at the DMV (or "Satan's Asshole", as Dane Cook refers to it). I want to get the sweet University of Richmond Spider plates, but the trouble is that "JMBLYA" is taken here in the Old Dominion. So I need to put something else on there.

This is where you come in. Think of something to put on my plates, using six characters or less. You can check the availability of your entries here. Just throw your ideas at me. One of them just might stick.

Here's a chance to impact my daily life, perplex/amuse/piss off some motorists, and show off your creativity.

The prize? Besides my undying gratitude...I dunno. Maybe I'll compile a mix CD for you. And/or take you out to eat if I ever get a real job (airfare to Richmond not included). We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

I don't want to be stuck with a random sequence of letters and numbers. Get crackin'!

*Though, with the $2 in tolls I pay each day, the dollar amount of gas I save is probably negligible.

Quick movie reviews: "Ricky Bobby", etc.

"Dear little 8 lb. 6 oz. baby Jesus..."

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby: Funny, but it ain't no Anchorman. The dinner table scene is priceless, though. And Alig G was a trip. Actually, the whole supporting cast were great (although some - like Andy Richter - were completely underused). It just wasn't as out there as the Ron Burgundy movie. One credit: you don't have to be a NASCAR fan to get the humor (which is good for me, as I hate the "sport").

Superman Returns: Being a Man of Steel fan, I really wanted to love this. I liked the film, but it just didn't wow me. I miss Christopher Reeve. Then there's my mom's five word review: "Lois Lane is a tramp."

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: Again, I just wasn't wowed. Overly long, pointless action scenes, Orlando Bloom. Here's hoping the third one will be better.

Lady in the Water: Not all that great, even though Paul Giamatti did a fine job. M. Night, get over yourself.

Guess this summer's movie slate is ending up being pretty lackluster.

DVD Pick
Wolf Creek: I borrowed this from my brother and watched it last night. The first hour really drags (seriously, nothing happens), but it picks up in the last 30 minutes or so. The bad guy was quite menacing and the women (British birds, baby) were attractive. Beware the kindness of strangers.

"Three-quarters of a major is a lot bigger than a whole minor."

Yep, it is "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" time again. Tonight's new episode ("Charlie Goes America All Over Everybody's Ass") sounds like a winner: "Dennis and Mac make a decision to take away all rules concerning moral and behavioral etiquette at Paddy's after an argument about the Constitution." It's followed by an episode from last season ("Charlie Gets Molested").

BTW, I found a place that sells Paddy's Irish Pub shirts. Sweet!

EDIT:
Mac: "New Orleans really had it figured out...well except for the levees"
Dennis: "And the evacuation plan."

Ha!

Sorry, Commonwealth of Virginia. I change my ways for no one.

Like with everything else, I blame Britney.

This is one of the billboards that I see on my way home from work (apparently, this PSA campaign is nothing new). Think tax dollars will be spent on a "Don't be such a slut" awareness project?

Crushes of the Week: Ricky Bobby's women

This week's Crushes are actresses Leslie Bibb and Amy Adams, both of whom star in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.



Bibb gets bonus points for being a one-time Richmonder AND having the sense to leave UVA after one semester, while Adams looked pretty damn cute in the movie (yeah, glasses).

The TV edit of "Pulp Fiction" allows me to enjoy the film on a whole new level

As spydrz said, it must've taken them forever to edit the movie.

"English, little sucker. Do you speak it?"

"What happened here was a miracle and I want you to kinda acknowledge it."

"Sewer rat may taste like pumpkin pie but I wouldn't know because I wouldn't eat the mother hubbard."

"We'd have to be talking about one charming mighty friendly pig."

"Anyone of you friggin' punks move and I'll execute every one of you, my friends."

"Yolanda, he ain't gonna do a dog-gone unauthorized thing."

If you don't have access to the TV edit, you can always check out the movie performed in 30 seconds by bunnies.

Big squid update

Last year I blogged about Japanese researchers photographing the elusive giant squid. Well, tonight the Discovery Channel aired a special about their find. This is a belated TV alert, but they are reairing it again at midnight.

I am a domestic god

This house...is CLEAN!

I dig the beach and all...

An estimated 200,000 people crowded the Chinese resort of Quindao.

...but this does not look enjoyable whatsoever. Silly Communists!

Credit due: Relevant Magazine

"It's Mega Maid. She's gone from suck to blow."

Today I was charged by my mother to go out and buy her a new vacuum cleaner - the Dyson DC14 Animal, to be specific.


It certainly does suck.

It looks like Prince and George Lucas collaborated on the design, but it's really cool. I picked a great day to buy it: it was on sale AND it is tax-free week in VA AND there's a promotion that also included a Black and Decker Automotive Hand Vac AND I had a coupon for triple Best Buy Reward Zone points.

I'm going to be a vacuuming fool tonight. Au revoir, dog hair.

"I will smash your face into a jelly!"

Tonight is "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" night. Two episodes again: "The Gang Runs for Office" (new) and "The Gang Finds a Dead Guy". Discuss.

EDIT to add the exchange of the night:

Frank: A woman in politics is like a donkey doing calculus.
Sweet Dee: There are plenty of amazing women in politics.
Frank: Name one.
Sweet Dee: Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Frank: Awful.
Sweet Dee: How is she awful?
Frank: Hates freedom.

Classic.