SYP Says

Best Songs of 2007: Week 8/20-8/27: If You Want Me from Once Soundtrack

"If You Want Me" from the movie soundtrack to Once

The 2007 Sundance Film winner, Once, shot for only $160,000, has become a bit of a phenomenon. The recently released romance is an indie Irish musical in which the two leads are musicians (Czech Republic–born Markéta Irglová and The Frames frontman Glen Hansard) and the songs are smoothly woven into the storyline. The soundtrack is beautiful and haunting--this from someone who hates 99% of all musicals. Seriously. Can't stand them.

Marketa Irglova & Glen Hansard perform "If You Want Me" live in Tempe, AZ at the Valley Art Theater after the premiere of Once on 5/14/07.

Things I've Learned

I've learned a lot since I moved from NYC to Southern Oregon. Here are just a few. Hope you find them useful. I've had to learn them the hard way.

1. The size of a man's truck is inversely proportional to his confidence level.
2. The size of a woman's truck is inversely proportional to her driving skill.
3. Don't trust anyone with fuzzy dice hanging from his/her rearview mirror.
4. If an eating establishment claims it is a "Family Restaurant," avoid at all costs!
5. "White City" is called that for a reason.

Best Songs of 2007: Weeks 7/30-8/20: Rest My Chemistry by Interpol

"Rest My Chemistry" by Interpol 

Interpol's latest album took 3 years to make, but was worth the wait (kind of like this post which is JUSt a bit overdue--tsk tsk). I've heard the band members aren't the best of friends but it doesn't seem to affect their post-punk tunes which are as rhythmic, yet dour as ever. This one's a particular fave of mine from Our Love to Admire.

Live from Lollapalooza. Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois. August 4th, 2007

Pocket Calling

"Pocket calling" aka "ass calling" is a phenomenon in which you accidentally dial someone when the device is supposed to be safely secure in your pocket, purse, what-have-you. This random act of connectedness usually results in laughter, embarrassment, awkwardness, confusion, or some combination thereof.

Particularly amusing is who the device ends up ringing and what the circumstance. A friend of mine's Blackberry for a while seemed to have a particular love for the President of his company--always calling him late at night or on weekends. Another person I know picked up his phone only to hear a friend greet his girlfriend after not having seen her for some time (do I need to say more?). I've had people I hadn't spoken to in months call me from parties. And I've accidentally dialed business acquaintances over the weekend or late at night. Another friend had a private conversation with a peer of his about an employee. Little did he know he had ass called another employee who got to listen to the entire meeting on voicemail. 

My Blackberry seems to have evolved into another being entirely, as it's now dialing people on its own *even when it's not in my pocket*. The other day I had the Blackberry sitting on my desk. I didn't touch it in any way, yet it all of a sudden rang someone I very rarely call. I happened to look over at my phone and noticed it said "Connected." Very confused, I picked it up:

"Hello?"

"Hi...you called?

"Huh?"

"You called me? I'm in the airport, but thought something might be wrong."

"No...I actually didn't call you. Sorry..."

"So...you pocket called me???"

Oops. Locking your screen, of course, supposedly prevents this faux pas from happening, but I don't always remember to do it, besides which it doesn't always seem to work. At least this humanizes technology. There's something good to be said for that.