December 20, 2005 Archive

Music

• New Album Releases, Week of 12-20-2005

  News in Music — by Al Barger — on Dec 20, 2005

• Everything I Need To Know About Men And Women, I Learned From The Hit Songs Of 2005

  2005 was a watershed year with regard to how pop lyrics have enlightened us about the differences between men and women. Here are the highlights.

  Opinion in Music — by Junichi Semitsu — on Dec 20, 2005

• CD Review: Jam On This! The Best of Newcleus

  No school like the old school...

  Review in Music — by Murphy — on Dec 20, 2005

• CD Review: Marley’s Ghost- Spooked

  Marley’s Ghost is certainly one of those rare gems that don’t have the following or distribution they deserve.

  Review in Music — by Larry Sakin — on Dec 20, 2005

• CD Review: 30 Seconds to Mars - A Beautiful Lie

  30 Seconds to Mars is the brainchild of Jared Leto; another Hollywood actor that wants to be a rockstar. But wait, this is their second album, so they can’t be that bad. Right?

  Review in Music — by George Dionne — on Dec 20, 2005

• CD Review – Amy Lavere - This World Is Not My Home

  On January 17, Amy Lavere's Debut album, This World Is Not My Home will hit the shelves.

  Review in Music — by Connie Phillips — on Dec 20, 2005

• Single Review: Lindsay Lohan "Confessions Of A Broken Heart (Daughter To Father)"

  Lindsay Lohan grapples with her dad abandoning her in the soapy "Confessions Of A Broken Heart (Daughter To Father)."

  Review in Music — by Pam Avoledo — on Dec 20, 2005

• CD Review: The Kingsbury Manx - The Fast Rise and Fall of the South

  The Kingsbury Manx never strum a single misplaced chord or sing even one ill-advised note.

  Review in Music — by Jackson Smith — on Dec 20, 2005

• CD Review: Coming On Strong by Hot Chip

  This album sounds silly and odd at first but gets better upon further listening.

  Review in Music — by Sterfish — on Dec 20, 2005

Video

• DVD Review: Cronicas

  Exotic Latin American locales and a compelling performance from John Leguizamo can't quite overcome this thriller's sluggish story.

  Review in Video — by Mike Cullinan — on Dec 20, 2005

• Box Office Update for 12/16-12/18: King Kong

  News in Video — by Chris Beaumont — on Dec 20, 2005

• DVD Pick of the Week for 12/20: Serenity

  News in Video — by Chris Beaumont — on Dec 20, 2005

• Of Monsters and Myths: Colonial Representations in King Kong (1933)

  An analysis of the 1933 original.

  Opinion in Video — by Bryan McKay — on Dec 20, 2005

• Eight Great Uses of Holiday Music in (mostly) Holiday Movies

  Slice for slice, here's this Season's "Great 8".

  Opinion in Video — by Tiffany Leigh — on Dec 20, 2005

• Movie Review: The Aristocrats - The Worst Film of 2005

  Why every single major film critic got it wrong.

  Review in Video — by Don Baiocchi — on Dec 20, 2005

• Movie Review: Freddy vs Jason

  An R-rated gore-fest full of nothing more than cheap scares and T&A.

  Review in Video — by Brandon Valentine — on Dec 20, 2005

• DVD Review: Serenity

  The Serenity universe is dusty and messy, peopled by thieves, prostitutes, suck-ups, disgruntled veterans, and garden variety assholes.

  Review in Video — by Jon Sobel — on Dec 20, 2005

• Miami Vice's Second Season: The Apogee of the 1980s

  Miami Vice's second season represented the apex of 1980s' pop culture. And it's now out on pristine DVD.

  Review in Video — by Ed Driscoll — on Dec 20, 2005

• TV Review: Once Upon a Mattress

  It started out as an off-Broadway musical...

  Review in Video — by Murphy — on Dec 20, 2005

Books

• Book Review: Condensed Knowledge by Will Pearson, Editor

  A book of trivia, with attitude.

  Review in Books — by W.E. Wallo — on Dec 20, 2005

• Book Review: Memoirs of a Geisha - A Portrait of the Film

  A beautiful book that captures the visual majesty of the film.

  Review in Books — by W.E. Wallo — on Dec 20, 2005

• Book Review: The Grace That Keeps this World by Tom Bailey

  Tragedy and loss are powerfully portrayed in this novel about a father's desire to instill a legacy in his sons.

  Review in Books — by W.E. Wallo — on Dec 20, 2005

• The Golem's Eye (Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2) by Jonathan Stroud

  Review in Books — by Deano — on Dec 20, 2005

• Silver and Gold

  Here are two recommendations for a literary place to stand while your world moves.

  Opinion in Books — by Lyz Baranowski — on Dec 20, 2005

Culture

• Culture: Vanity & A Tribute to Crazy Aunt I.

  I hate to admit to being vain at all because it has so many and only negative qualities that one thinks

  Opinion in Culture — by Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti — on Dec 20, 2005

• Food for Thought: Cookies and Calm

  Part 2: Rushed? Still have gifts to buy? Save time, money and hassle - bake presents this year.

  News in Culture — by Natalie Davis — on Dec 20, 2005

• Culture: A Moment in Time

  It's hard to capture the moment of any given moment in a single snapshot, and yet this shot, to me, captures everything about my most recent foray to NYC.

  Opinion in Culture — by Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti — on Dec 20, 2005

• 14 Truly Evil Companies

  Are you supporting an Evil company? Shame, shame!

  Opinion in Culture — by T Stoddart — on Dec 20, 2005

• How To Build A Sandbox With Wheels For Easier Ostrich Travel

  Opinion in Culture — by Murphy — on Dec 20, 2005

• JMC Communities and Sembler Co. Partner To Launch Beach Drive Luxury Condo Project Worthy of King Kong Climb

  If King Kong were ever in Florida's St. Petersburg area, this is the condo he would choose to climb.

  Opinion in Culture — by Mr. Real Estate — on Dec 20, 2005

• Double Scorpio Mom: Astrology-Based Advice

  Opinion in Culture — by Elsa — on Dec 20, 2005

• Day By Day for December 20, 2005

  Chris Muir's excellent Day By Day cartoon, for December 20, 2005

  Satire in Culture — by Chris Muir — on Dec 20, 2005

• True Crime Update 12/20/05

  New details on Jeffrey MacDonald murders. Yawn. Congress finally dealing with murdered Americans on cruise ships, in foreign countries.

  Opinion in Culture — by Patfish — on Dec 20, 2005

Politics

• Rethinking the Border Wall With Mexico, Call It a "Welcome Wall"

  Mexico's President, Vicente Fox, has called American plans to extend the security fence along the Mexican border, "Shameful." According to BBC News, Fox condemned the proposal saying it is too focused on securing the border and does not acknowledge the "enormous contribution" that Mexican workers make to the US economy. Perhaps Presidente Fox has a point.

  Satire in Politics — by Bird of Paradise — on Dec 20, 2005

• Impeach President Bush!

  President Bush has pulled one too many tricks. Time to send this man packing back to Texas.

  Satire in Politics — by Patfish — on Dec 20, 2005

• The Blood is the Life: Why the NYC Transit Strike Is a Killer

  New Yorkers depend on mass transit; the buses and subways are the life blood of the city.

  Opinion in Politics — by Victor Lana — on Dec 20, 2005

• Spying Scandal Questions

  President Bush claims the domestic scandal hurts national secuirty. Really, it's his own job security at stake.

  Opinion in Politics — by Terry Turner — on Dec 20, 2005

• MTA vs. TWU: A Battle of Greed

  When two organizations clutch their greed tight and fail to work together, the metropolis they serve shall suffer.

  Opinion in Politics — by Mark Sahm — on Dec 20, 2005

• Robertson Calls Evolution A "Cultish Religion"

  Don't be surprised if the televangelist soon predicts disaster will strike scientists who believe in evolution.

  News in Politics — by David R. Mark — on Dec 20, 2005

• Conservatives Spin that Bush Circumvented FISA Because of Arduous Paperwork; Facts Suggest Otherwise

  FISA warrants can be issued 72 hours after surveillance is completed.

  News in Politics — by David R. Mark — on Dec 20, 2005

Gaming

• Xbox Review: Project - Snowblind

  Project: Snowblind began life as a title that existed in the Deus Ex franchise, but has turned into something different.

  Review in Gaming — by Scott C. Smith — on Dec 20, 2005

• Gaming Boobs Need Help

  Video game boobs need tweaking.

  Opinion in Gaming — by Cara de Pescado — on Dec 20, 2005

• Xbox Review: Batman Begins

  Batman Begins - a good game? It was bound to happen someday...

  Review in Gaming — by Aaron Auzins — on Dec 20, 2005

Sports

• Fiesta Bowl Gets Awkward: OSU Hawk Dates ND Quinn's Sister

  Laura Quinn's boyfriend is ready to tackle her brother, the quarterback for Notre Dame. Not weird at all!

  News in Sports — by Matthew T. Sussman — on Dec 20, 2005

• Sophomore Class Has Top Guards

  Going over seven potential NBA guards that are sophomores.

  News in Sports — by Dan McGowan — on Dec 20, 2005

• Time To Defend My Controversial Jason Grilli Stance

  One teensy comment in the far reaches of the blogosphere prompts a Detroit Tiger's father to respond.

  Opinion in Sports — by Matthew T. Sussman — on Dec 20, 2005

Sci/Tech

• Blogcritics.org on Subject2Discussion: It's Eric Berlin!

  It's Tuesday, so it's time for Subject2Discussion, this week with Eric Berlin!

  News in Sci/Tech — by Phillip Winn — on Dec 20, 2005

• The Science of Sugar Converted to Great Gift Giving

  Want to give something sweet to your sweetie? Here are some random notes from a workshop on candy-making given by professional chefs.

  Review in Sci/Tech — by Purple Tigress — on Dec 20, 2005

• Betrayed By Media Pundits

  The continued refusal to allow for voices of dissent to be heard, and for contrasting opinions to be held, does not make for a healthy society

  Opinion in Sci/Tech — by Richard Marcus — on Dec 20, 2005