2010 Ramble Awards

2009
2008

Favorites in Movies

Favorite Film: Monsters vs. Aliens
Why?: Tough call. Absolutely loved Inglourious Basterds. Saw Hangover, Star Trek and District 9 twice each. And yeah, Up and Coraline were technically better animated movies but this lfick was so fun its become one of my go-to videos to watch. Seen it at least three times since boot-er, DVD.


Favorite Performance by an Actor: Chrisoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterd
Why?: That opening scene in Tarantino's latest is just killer. Waltz literally waltzes his way through this movie in villainous style as the Jew Hunter.


Favorite Performance by an Actress: Melanie Laurent for Inglourious Basterd
Why?: Most of the best female performances are on TV or in smaller films. So, since I missed a bunch of those films cause they didn't seem interesting, Melanie was the only real choice. Okay, Zoe Saldana(Star Trek, Avatar) was close but Melanie's performance as a Jewish woman in hiding in France was so strong I'm sad she has not gotten too many Supporting Noms from award shows.


Favorite Director: Neill Blomkamp
Why?: Thought I was going Tarantino? So did I but I decided with Blomkamp because District 9 was a visual treat. Not as technical and future-bending as Avatar sure, but he handles the performances, settings, and effects so damn well that this film is one of my all time fav sci-fi flicks.


Favorites in TV

Favorite TV Series: Sons of Anarchy
Why?: That second season exploded from the first episode and burned the competition. Intense work.


Favorite Performance by an Actor: Neil Patrick Harris for How I Met Your Mother
Why?: How I Met Your Mothers a good comedy but NPH makes it better. Well, most the other cast is good to but without Harris, this show would've been canceled long ago.


Favorite Performance by an Actress: Katey Sagal for Sons of Anarchy
Why?: That last scene in Season 1, episode 1 and than the next couple episodes. Sagal is awesome.


Favorite Episode of the Year: The Ring-South Park
Why?: I knew it was a South Park episode. yeah, Sons was a better season overall butt he good episodes of South Park just killed. This one revolving around Purity Rings, Jonas Bros. and a foul mouthed Mickey Mouse was genius. Plus it has a hilarious ending that's a touch nostalgic for us long time South Park fans. Interestingly, Margaritaville episode won the Emmy this year for animated episode. That one was awesome.


Favorites in Comics

Favorite Ongoing Series: Empowered
Why?: This category is, in general, ongoing series. Traditional comics, OGN series, and manga. Topping this year in Empowered because volume 5 dealt with the circumstances at the end of volume 4 beautifully and sped to a draamtic conclusion that shocked me.


Favorite Writer: Adam Warren for Empowered
Why?: Not too many comic writers doing multiple books I like. Technically none at all. Sorry Geoff Johns. So I went with Empowered's writer artist Adam Warren.


Favorite Artist/Art Team: JH Williams III & Dave Stewart for Batwoman in Detective Comics
Why?: JH Williams killed ever issue. One of my fav artists on top of his game. He and writer Greg Rucka made this one of my fav superhero books this year. Williams design work and ability to shift his style to fit the mood is what makes him great. Plus the wonderful coloring of Dave Stewart. Can't forget him.


Favorite Collected Edition: The Life & Times of Martha Washinton in the 21st Century
Why?: Despite not being my fav Frank Miller or Dave Gibbons work, it is a good book made even more impressive in this single over sized omnibus with extras galore. Where the hell were all these specials on Frank Millers Ronin Absolute edition over at DC. Dark Horse kicked this one into gear with so much cool stuff. I got the 99 dollar hardcore. I hear there's a 30 dollar omnibus coming soon. The story of poor black girl who becomes a soldier and freedom fighter is just a good kick in the ass of dull comics.


Favorite Novel

Favorite Novel I Read in 2009: The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
Why?: I checked out the paperback of The Girl with the Dragon tattoo expecting it to be over rated. That thing kidnapped me. This book, is so much mroe awesome. The second part of the Millennium trilogy about a financial reporter Mikael Blomkvist and the hacker chick Lisbeth Salander finds the duo tied up with a murder leading to Lisbeth. Its up to them to clear her name, though they are doing it separately.


Favorites in Music


Video is NSFW

Favorite Artist/Band: Kabuto the Pyhton
Why?: Despite my reservations about a rapper under a V for Venddeta mask, KTP kicked ass on the Parsletongue mixtape which I still bump sixmonths later. Plus several diss tracks, several guests verses, and collections of unsued, unreleased or older material-2009 was the year of the Python. His flow is just mean and fun. Thats a cool combination.


Favorite Album: Parsletongue Mixtape by Kabuto the Python
Why?: Despite it being too long with too much random filler, the meat of the album kills. From Saigons of Thump to the cool ass-kicking High School Musical(that has practically nothing to do with the movie other than two small references). Plus that Margret Thatcher sample for a middle verse in Open Season is just awesome.


Favorite Song: Bottoms Up by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
Why?: Death threat switched between evil and funky so the album had mixed results. But this sexy, funky, and slightly evil track is a gem. One of my fav all time TKK songs.

In case you are wondering, Chikara Pro Wrestling, fav wrestling company. Mike Quackenbush fav wrestler. Team FIST bes tag team. Team uppercut vs. Masters of 1000 Holds best match at King of Trio's Night 2. All Chikara.

Edit: If the spelling and grammers off, its because the auto spell/grammer thingee isn't working right.

Music Review: Sinister Six-Invasion of the Mic Snatchers

Music Review: Sinister Six-Invasion of the Mic Snatchers
Like free music? Like hip hop? Like geek/nerd references? Hop over to this page and download the free album by a collection of nerdcore hip-hop artists who come together to collaborate as the Sinister Six. Lead by MadHatter and featuring YTCracker, Zealous1, Benjamin Bear, Chester, and MC Loki. Over a year in the making, Invasion of the Mic Snatchers has bee plagued with delays but now its here with a slight line up change. The albums concept is essentially casts the six as villains taking over the world. It features 10 songs, several skits/interludes, and a track with fellow nerdcore artists shouting out Sin 6 and plugging themselves.

The album opens with a narration that sets the tune and the first track out is guest, Ranger, on Herald which invokes memories Silver Surfers arrival to announce Galactus. Make Way is up next with the true band introduction, though this was originally released a year ago with two other rappers who left for various reasons. Truth be told, I like the original slightly better because of ShelShockers catchy verse but its a fun track. The band really gets together next up with Break Down. I definitely like Deeper and Roll the Dice. HQ is a fun track with the Six taking you through their headquarters and the MC Skeletor guest lines bring a smile to my face. I need more MC Skeletor in my life. My favorite track is On the Hunt because it's done exclusively by my three favorite rappers on the project, YTCracker, Benjamin Bear and MadHatter.

On the down side, I wish there were a couple more tracks involved. While the skits do set the mood and push the story forward(especially Cleverfield which is based on Cloverfield.), I wouldn't have mind a few less. Tear it Up, with guest TyT, is a good song but I wish there was more of an epic ending. Though MadHatters final verse is great. Pledge of Allegiance is interesting, and at times very amusing, but its no something I'd replay often.

Despite this criticisms, this is a fun record. Benjamin Bear was my MVP through out killing every time out. YTCracker and MadHatter were awesome. Zealous1, who I normally feel indifferent to, did a damn fine job. When he came on Break Down I was like-WOW! I was indifferent towards MC Loki and Chester I have mixed feelings on. His lyrics are geeky good but I'm not sure I like his flow. The beats throughout, mostly by MadHatter, were cool. Fun, energetic, and matching the tones of the songs.

It's free, download it. Or go to the page and download Deeper, Roll the Dice, HQ, and Duck Hunt.

Grade 8/10

So, Dumbledore is Gay.../Former Fat Boys(It's a Post That Segues Into Another Post)

I don't care either way. Seeing as I never picked up on any of this nor will I be able to really associate any scenes in the book as clues to his homosexuality. So I have to agree, on some level, with what the Former Fat Boys had to say in regards to this.

You know what, no, he isn't. This isn't rooted in any kind of homophobia, but since the release of Deathly Hallows JK Rowling has been serving up the most retarded backstories and future-stories to her characters that anyone could imagine. The books were nearly flawless and were a wonderful read, but come on JK put it in the book. I've seen write-ups quoting passages that supposedly point to the fact that he's gay and, frankly, I just don't see it. His relationship with Gellet, as described in the book, was simply a friendship. If JK wished to “out” Dumbledore then why in the world didn't she? She tied up every other realistic question in the end of Deathly Hallows, why not that question.

Was Slughorn gay too? Or Moody? Or any other number of characters who's sexual orientation wasn't discussed in the book? I don't care one way or the other, but the let literature stand. Why does there need to be a discussion of everyone's sexuality and why is it the defining characteristic of so much in our society.

If Dumbledore was gay, then why not weave it CONVINCINGLY into the story, especially if one of your goals (as is obvious from reading the books) to preach tolerance? Why not bite the bullet and be brave enough to stand up for it in the text. Frankly I think its cowardly what she did. She knew that the story would rate in the US where we're, admittedly, a little bit backwards about some of this stuff. Frankly, I enjoyed that in the books her lessons on inequality were masked by the Harry Potter Universe. Ie, instead of black/white/tan/yellow/red/brown race related stuff or Christians vs. Muslims vs. Jews it was Muggles vs. Pure Bloods. That vagueness provided for an excellent ability to take the lessons in the text and apply them to anything our world.

She's tainting the books with all the post book crap she's dishing about her characters and while I don't care one way or the other if Dumbledore is gay, I maintain that based on the books...he isn't and that JK is tarnishing the legacy of the books by revealing so much information about her characters that wasn't covered in her narrative.

I wouldn't go as far as say tarnishing the legacy of the books. Or saying JK was scared to do it in the book. But I really have no interest in these post-series reveals. But hey, if him being gay is a win for the Gay Community-then who am I to hate? Go gays.

On another, got their album. 6 bucks for 19 tracks of fun, player/party style nerdcore hip hop music. Even if he's a dirty republican. Kidding. I do sort of agree in part with MisMoshs point that celebrities talking about the war, politics, etc. do tend to unjustly make all republicans look evil and that some of them let their bias cloud their views so they can't be impartial. But still, Daily Show rocks.

Oh, here's some stupid/silly videos.










"Anything else Carl?"
I've got four chapters of one weird prose story done and the prologue of another done. Weird.

(Not So)Evil Music I Enjoy: MC Frontalot

Don't feel like writing too much. Basics is he's white guy, mid-thirties, raps about comics, card games, goth chicks, computers, and porn in a hip-hop subgenre he named back in 200o called nerdcore. Oh, and of course Star Wars. Very entertaining stuff. he has two albums out and if you hope over to his website you can download old demo tracks and various remixes. Yeah!

I discovered Frontalot when I discovered the genre of nerdcore. First with mc chris, thanks to one of his songs in the credits of a Sealab 2021 episode, and wikipedia explaining information on him. I ordered Frontalots first CD after I downloaded some tracks. His latest album, Secrets From the Future, is one of my two favorite records this year. Right along with former Sister Machine Gun alumni Chris Randall's solo blues album. Weird.


Nerdcore Rising Documentary Trailer


Which MC Is That? Vid(don't adjust set, it starts with the small box)


Goth Girls Live


Bizzaro Genius Baby Live

Good Year For Music?

The first new album I bought in 2007 was Skinny Puppy's latest Mythmaker and with it I've come to like this incarnation of Skinny Puppy more then their stuff before their initial break up. Then I picked up former Sister Machine Gun main man Chris Randall's first solo album, Devil His Due. Switching from his industrial/alternative rock stuff to a straight up blues album that I'm enjoying. KoRns first release of the year, an Mtv Unplugged disc, was far better then I expected it to be. They have a new studio album in September.

Now we got Nine Inch Nails new album Year Zero coming out soon and the leaked tracks and new music video(posted below) have made me hyped for its April release. Finally My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult has given word of their newest release Filthiest Show in Town will drop in April as well. Plus nerdcore rapper MC Frontalot is recording his new disc Secrets From the Future. Also Queens of the Stone Age are set for a new release in June. Supposedly in spring another Pigface release too. Word going around Ministry will release their final album this year. Their last record, Rio Grande Blood, was tough to get into at first but I like more now. Also Mindless Self Indulgence and PIG have mentioned new albums in the works which has me hyped.

My one time favorite band KMFDM also plans a release this year. To see I'm uninterested would be an understatement. I hate you Sascha Koneitzko.

NIN-Survivalism