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the odessa staircase Season seven of the Amazing Race debuted last night and naturally I was there to see it. For me watching Americans running around the world hasn't lost its appeal yet. Even with the cameras there, I think some of their reactions to what they see in these other countries is very real. America is one spoiled country and if one never leaves its borders that doesn't become apparent. Plus the teams often go to places where I have either been or want to go in the future. The combination of those things makes it worthwhile viewing as far as I am concerned. Others probably don't see it that way. With so many teams in the beginning, it's hard to get a real feel for any of the people. The pack needs to be thinned slightly before I can pick a favorite. Now having made that comment it was sad to see the two hillbillies get eliminated first. Both of them had some great one liners through the course of the leg. Another highlight on television yesterday was the late night talk show crowd. I thought that they gave an interesting cross section of musical guests. First, on Conan O'Brien there was Slipknot with their unique brand of what I like to call horror metal that I don't quite fully understand. What is with the masks anyway? Is that meant to threaten? I know someone at work who likes the music so maybe he can shed some light on what the band is trying to do. Personally I see it as silly rather than frightening. I also see my indifference to this style of music as another sign that I am getting old. What is the point of angry music anyway? Are there that many unhappy people in the world? Then again there is always a new crop of adolescent boys ready to cling to something that will bother their parents. So instead of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Metallica, the disenfranchised can throw their fists in the air at Slipknot. Immediately after Conan ended, Carson Daly had Tori Amos performing Sleeps with Butterflies from her new album The Beekeeper. I doubt that one could choose two acts as far apart on the musical spectrum. ... Years ago when I was still in high school, I saw this special with Laurie Anderson on PBS. She had inserted herself into this black and white footage and was commenting on the action. At the time I had no idea why these soldiers were walking in a row down this wide staircase shooting people as they descended. Sometime afterwards I learned that this was in fact a sampled clip from Sergei Eisenstein's famous propaganda film Battleship Potemkin. Today I was able to see the entire movie for the very first time and liked it. A movie that is eighty years old has a certain power behind it no matter the message it may or may not give the viewer. ... Shortly before noon today, my doorbell rang and I was happy. The new computer that I had bought with Christmas money had arrived. No. I didn't place the order last year. I just didn't know what I wanted to get with the money. Now I can say that I am proud owner of an Apple Mac Mini. |