Why Youtube and the Doors Suck

Recently Youtube blocked the sound on one of our home movies, "Karate Kids vs. Army of Darkness", due to a little 36 second snippet of the song “Break On Through” by the Doors as the Karate Kids runs through a graveyard.

Now it’s no secret that the certain surviving members of the Doors and their leaches are a bunch of whiny little bitches, especially John Densmore, the parents and estates of Jim Morrison and his wife Pamela Courson, and their representation.

At least Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger still want to have some fun and play some music.

The Doors’ legal interactions have been well documented through the forty or so years since they recorded this song, or any other. (If you really feel so inclined, google “doors” and “legal” and watch all the page choices pop up.)

But seriously, complaining because the home movie of a couple kids has your old song in it? They should be happy to be remembered, and for any possible exposure to their dated material.

Anyway, Youtube, without any direct email or message notification, suspended ALL the sound on our video “Karate Kids vs. Army of Darkness” due to a complaint by the Doors’ representation WMG. They made the weak “offer” of swapping one of their licensed crap audio songs into the video, but it would only attach to the beginning of the movie, and wipe out all other dialog and sound effects, too.

Two brief points to consider:

1.) If there was no copyright infringement on youtube, about 40% percent of the total content on that site would be gone.
2.) This was a non-commercial home movie by a couple of kids that wanted to share it in an easy venue with family and friends. If there are any side commercials on its page, they were put there by youtube’s choice. Frankly, I don’t want to see promotions for “Paul Blart, Mall Cop”, or any equally artistic endeavors bumping down the information box on our videos.

We have now reloaded the whole movie, again, with the Doors song removed, and a brief improvisation by Nick on the electric guitar in its place.

I apologize to anyone who tried to view it in its original entirety, only to have it spoiled due to the legal whining or others. (I wish I had staff on retainer to scour the internet for possible violations of my content. Instead I’m actually working.)

If you did have any problem trying to view our movie before, please give it another try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RinsyhZoPPE

Nostalgia, Part 37

Maybe it’s just me.

The economy is in the stinker, heating costs are up, my hours at work are down. With an impending birthday maybe I’m feeling a little nostalgic.

Remember the “good old days” when having an Oriental (not “Asian”, they were the “good old days” after all) houseboy wasn’t gay?

Like the Green Hornet or Inspector Clouseau.












Or maybe that only works in the non-gay sense if your sidekick’s name is Kato.

No, wait. The Kato thing doesn’t work for O.J.



And speaking of O.J.:


When exactly was the last time I ate corn? About three weeks ago? I just had the big “plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh, what a relief it is”, and there it is. Was that an evacuation or an eviction? (Rimshot plays in the background)

Why Basset Brewery?

This is the name of our personal youtube production company. Usually we include this little video clip in our home movies. It’s our oldest basset hound, Freckles, sneaking some of my Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

I discovered he likes it after he knocked over the recycling bucket and starting licking a bottle of it. He doesn’t show any interest in any other brands, but he does indeed like Sierra Nevada.

Maybe it’s the Cascade hops--or he just likes sneaking a few slippery licks before Daddy comes back and unknowingly takes a sip.

Obama vs. "Heroes"

Tonight was the concluding episode of Season 3 of "Heroes". In a preview of the fourth season "The Fugitives", Senator Nathan Petrelli is seen successfully pitching a plan to round up all the super-powered to an African American President, who wholeheartedly agrees to his capture and internment plans.

See? I told you Obama would be a problem! But did you listen?

Before that particular scene had ended, I made several quick predictions for the upcoming season, including two that was confirmed by the brief promo for the coming season.

1.) The Heroes would become the hunted. (confirmed)
2.) The Heroes, and other extraordinarily powered individuals, would be rounded up and sent to a Guantanimo-type facility. (confirmed)
3.) They would be forced to work together to escape.
4.) The facility will be run by a cruel, meglo-maniac.
5.) Some sort of world-threatening event will be thwarted by the Heroes, allowing them a substantially favorable view in the eyes of the public, and Executive clemency.

This will all play like some sort of lame Marvel Civil War variant.

As sure as there will be a new dog in the White House (her name will be Michelle Obama) you know I'm right.

http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/

Happy 4th of July!

After I bought a smoke grenade for a future video, my kids asked me why we don't do fireworks. This is why:



Now be a good American and go out drink a few beers, eat some hot dogs, and blow something up.

What Superhero Are You?

Now you can find out. Try this quiz and let me know how you fared in the comment section:


Superhero Quiz by QuizRocket.com Funny Quizzes!
MySpace Quizzes | Stupid Test | Fun Quizes.

You vs. the Zombies

Zombies. Love 'em, hate 'em, just don't let them eat your brains.

How would you fare in a zombie outbreak? We'd all like to think we'd be head-choppin', brain-blastin' heroes like Ash in the "Evil Dead" movies, but would you really rate any higher than "lunch"?

To get an idea of your actual chances for survival, check out the site for Max Brooks, author of "The Zombie Survival Guide" and its companion book "World War Z"(I highly recommend both) and click on the "Calculate Risk" button.




World War Z

My Future 2nd Wife

I think I just found my future second wife:

Truth Be Told: Sarcasm Is an Evolutionary Skill

Neurophysiologist Katherine Rankin at the University of California, San Francisco, has recently discovered that sarcasm, which is both positively funny and negatively nasty, plays an important part in human social interaction.

According to Dr. Rankin, if you don't get sarcasm, you probably have some damage to your parahippocampal gyrus which is located in the right brain. People with dementia, or head injuries in that area, often lose the ability to pick up on sarcasm, and so they don’t respond in a socially appropriate ways.

Or perhaps more correctly, certain managers at my work either aren't as evolutionarily developed as myself or have brain damage (a popular opinion among my co-workers).



Sarcasm Seen as Evolutionary Survival Skill | LiveScience

Did J.K. Rowlings Rip Off Harry Potter Character?

Did J.K. Rowlings rip off the B-movie "Troll" in creating her Harry Potter character?

Granted the most over-rated writer of the millenial generation has more money than the queen, and a legion of lawyers to boot, so it'll be a no contest bout.

However, according to IMDB.com, this 1986 crap/camp film prominently features characters named Harry Potter Jr. and Sr., and "The hero of this film is a boy named Harry Potter and he is surrounded by a fantasy world of witches, wizards and magic - eleven years before J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels swept the publishing world."

Maybe she could settle out of court by selling her golden toilet paper holder and giving the proceeds to the original writer and director.



Harry Potty

Ali Lohan: Troll's New Girl? - Marc Malkin - E! Online

Troll (1986)

What's My Father Doing in Italy?

An Italian man dragged his ex-girlfriend out of a pub in Genoa, shoved her into a car and took her to his home where he made her iron and wash dishes after threatening her on Monday.

The man, who was apparently furious at his ex-girlfriend for leaving him, was arrested on charges of kidnapping, police said.

No smart ass comments on this one, just a lesson for all you women out there.


Police artist sketch of the suspect.

Guy kidnaps ex-girlfriend to get ironing done - Yahoo! News

It's All Fun & Games Until Someone Loses An Eye

Thongs for the Memories . . .

Macrida Patterson, 52, is suing lingerie-maker Victoria's Secret, claiming she was injured by one of the company's defective thongs.

She claims she was attempting to try on the thong when a decorative metallic piece flew off the garment and struck her in the eye. She further states that the injury caused her permanent corneal damage, and that she had to miss several days of work to get it treated.

Her attorney said the injury will affect Patterson for the rest of her life.

Victoria's Secret requested to examine the underwear that caused the injury, but Patterson's attorney denied the request.

I don't know what's more appalling here--the shoddy workmanship of Victoria's ass flossers, the fact that her attorney "denied" VS's request for evidence examination (that's a clue to her credibility), or that they let people try on thongs . . . Eeewwwwwww!

Woman Sues Victoria's Secret Over Thong Injury | Southland and California News | News And Video | KTLA - Los Angeles CW Source | Covering Los Angeles News and Entertainment and showing the hottest LA Video | KTLA The CW | Where LA Lives

Lost Chicago Album

Various articles today are promoting the release of the "lost" Chicago album "Stone of Sisyphus" from 1993.

It seems that more and more old bands are suddenly releasing "lost" albums.

Exactly how does one lose something like a recording session? Granted, I have T-shirts I haven't worn in years in the bottom drawer of my dresser, but I think I'd remember the location of something like a collaborative creative project.

But that's just me.

CHICAGO - CHICAGO'S `LOST' ALBUM RELEASED AFTER 15 YEARS

Where Will It Lead, Part 1

With global shortages on staples such as grains, wheat, milk, (and even corn, due to the corrupt ethanol and Mid-American corn lobbyists) and prices being driven ever further due to higher oil-driven transportation costs, where will it all lead?

Is California Ripping Off the Simpsons?

I saw this headline earlier--"California economy boosted by gay marriage bonanza".

The story starts out:

"California's economy is poised for a multi-million-dollar windfall as same-sex marriages get underway here Monday, with the tourist sector eyeing a bonanza as gays and lesbians flock to the state to tie the knot.

Analysts say that a mini-industry will sprout up as California prepares to become the only US state that will allow gays and lesbians from outside the region to get hitched on its soil. Massachusetts, the only other US state to allow same-sex marriage, forbids non-residents from exchanging vows there.

That fact leaves California free to monopolize the same-sex wedding market."

(It continues on and on:)

"Spending by resident same-sex couples on their weddings and by out-of-state couples ... will boost California's economy by over 683.6 million dollars in direct spending over the next three years," the UCLA study reported, adding that the new industry would create around 2,100 new jobs."

(Not quite the cure for the recession we were all hoping for . . .)

"With all its sights and attractions -- and a heritage of tolerance -- gay-friendly Los Angeles will soon be the perfect gay and lesbian wedding destination," Los Angeles tourist office declared on its official website."

(Well, Hooray for Hollywood!)

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

How about Season 16, Episode 10 of "The Simpsons" entitled "There's Something About Marrying"!

You know, the one where Homer makes a lot of fast dough ("Mmmmm, fast dough") for marrying gays, and just about anyone to anything.

I think Matt Groening should sue.



Contributing sources:
California economy boosted by gay marriage bonanza - Yahoo! News

There's Something About Marrying - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That Old Black Magic

Facing mounting pressure since their come-from-behind defeat by the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the NBA finals, Kobe "I am not a rapist" Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers decided to get some needed practice.

Bryant, yet another basketball media whore and gangsta idol to millions, has been experiencing some trepidation regarding his Bostonian rivals.

After (self-) reporting that he spent much of the past two days reading a Harry Potter book to his daughters, he commented "It was awesome," he said. "He (Harry Potter, boy wizard and another over-exposed product of over-paid publicists) had more problems dealing with Voldemort than what we have dealing with the media and the Celtics."

Although the comparison between the Celtics and Voldemort is strange, the more perplexing notion is that Kobe can read.

Stick to faking a moving car jump, chump . . .

YouTube - Kobe Bryant Car Jump Exposed!

Celtics in Finals clinchers - BostonHerald.com


"Here I sit broken hearted, tried to . . ."

Dog Facts

Did you know that only dogs and humans have prostates?

This and 23 other fun-filled dog facts can be found at:

25 Crazy Factoids You Never Knew About Dogs at Luv My Pet Blog

(By the way, basset hounds can swim. Just very poorly and they sink quickly.)

What Did You Do On Your Summer Vacation?

Japander:n.,& v.t. 1. a western star who uses his or her fame to make large sums of money in a short time by advertising products in Japan that they would probably never use. ~er (see synecure, prostitute) 2. to make an ass of oneself in Japanese media.

Ever wonder what stars do on their time off of their regular gig? Why soak up big paychecks for Japanese product endorsements, of course!

The Japanese are infaturated with American pop culture, and, unlike here where you actually have to own a particular brand or product you endorse, over there all you silly round eyes have to do is say your lines phonetically and pick up your check on the way back to the airport.

Check out this site for all sorts of fun and lidiculous (I mean ridiculous) celebrity shilling:

Japander.com

Humor Helper

Jokes not funny enough?

Or perhaps you just need to annoy the wife?

Try "Instant Rimshot"!

Follow the link below, and just press the big red button at the end of your punchline or witicism!

You'll be glad you did!

Instant Rimshot

In Case You're Keeping Track

Last month I complained about spending $48 for less than 15 gallons of gas.

Just now we paid $63.00 for 16.89 gallons . . .


"It felt like that pump nozzle was lower . . ."