W i r e B o y

Miniature Tigers gently roar into your ears

EIGHT TR@CKS

My iPod overfloweth with new stuff from Duncan Sheik, Lenka and Beautiful Small Machines, but the CD I'm really digging is The Miniature Tigers' "Tell It To The Volcano."

I caught this band several days ago when they opened for Lenka at The Independent. This Phoenix band has a catchy acoustic pop sound that has a couple of nice flavors: a little Keane, a dash of Deathcab, a teensy taste of New Order, and just a whiff of The Kinks (the Tigers' singer cited them as an influence when my girlfriend and I asked him). I'd also say they share Weezer's sense of whimsy.

It's all about the 'Benjamin,' baby

FLICK IMPRE55ION

Got to finally see David Fincher's "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button," which I found to be satisfying, like a nice slow-cooked home meal. The narrative gimmick, though a gimmick, works well in this romantic epic that doubly serves as a meditation on time, memory and aging. Special kudos to the F/X team, especially for scenes from Benjamin's early years as an "old" man.

I dunno, everyone keeps invoking "Forrest Gump" when referencing this film (same screenwriter, Eric Roth). Me: With Ben Button being raised by black adoptive mother, I kept thinking "The Jerk."

Don't hate the playa, hate the Gaeta

LIVE-BLOG

"Battlestar Galactica," Season 4.5, Episode 2

Recap plays: Cally's dead, Earth's sucky, Adama's pissy.

Opening scene: Adama in a shitty bunk. Why does the admiral get a shitty bunk? And he uses a regular toothbrush? They can make a Cylon that looks human, but they can't have decent Oral B electric toothbrushes? Shame on you, colonial dental engineers.

Prenatal care for Six. How kind. Saul just figured out the dead ex he murdered was The Final Cylon -- and suddenly he's bonding with his baby's mama. I need a drink.

Wait, Galen waltzes into ER like he's just some old fleet member? Hey everyone? Remember, he just revealed himself as some secret skin-job, hello?

OK, I see. This is the one where Zarek gets to be a pissy prick again.

Great plan: Rebel Cylons join the fleet, hunt for a new planet. Gaeta gets to the point: "What's the catch?" Touche, Felix. Not bad for a third-string character with a peg leg.

Poker: Face-Off

Yay! Alissa advanced! She's at another table playing ... against my brother Drew. Oh boy...

Doh! Drew got elminated. So did Alissa. She made 19th out of 30 players...

Poker!

Alissa prepares to slay...  

Live-blogging from Cache Creek Casino. I'm not allowed in the poker area to cheer Alissa, so i'm forced to peek from outside. Pit boss squirt already told me "No photos." Poop on him.

Tackiest. Anti-abortion. Ad. Ever.

OK, maybe not ever. Maybe just this month.

What a day!

Boy, that was something to witness, wasn't it?

I was too busy working but obviously I absorbed the inaugural news all day long. I won't get all chatty about it but I would like to point out a couple highlights and low points:

The Obamas were poised, classy and well-spoken. His inaugural address was inspiring, their clothes impeccable, their graciousness a welcome change from the previous eight years.

Powerpuff Monday!

This Tuesday, we celebrate the end of the Bush 2.0 Era and the inauguration of Barack Obama. But before that, on Monday, we mark the tenth anniversary of the Cartoon Network debut of ... THE POWERPUFF GIRLS!

Yes, it's been a whole decade since the wonderful, little super-powered trio from the city of Townsville entered our collective pop-culture consciousness. Cartoon Network is celebrating with a broadcast marathon. Praise be unto Bubbles, Blossom and Buttercup...

The Final Cylon revealed

"Battlestar Galactica" fans, here is the 12th and final Cylon...

JUST FRAKKIN' TELL US ALREADY!

LIVE-BLOG

"Battlestar Galactica," Season 4.5, Episode 1

Finally, the new episodes are here! I feel like Steven Martin in the gas station scene in "The Jerk." The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!

OK, T-minus 3 hours 'til Sci Fi Channels broadcasts the season opener. I baked my special lasagna -- or in honor of tonight -- Cy-sagna or La-Cylon-gna. I got my bottle of Smoking Loon chardonnay. Fire up the FTL, prepare to jump...

Meanwhile, enjoy a few awesome BSG fan theories for appetizers. I especially like" The Earth Is The First Colony" theory.

Holy crap! Random BSG Theory #1: The Final Cylon is ... BOXEY! Think about it. He shows up at the end of the 2003 mini-series, pops up in the 3rd episode of Season 1 -- then nothing. He's gone. As Rorschach would say, "Hurm." (Note: Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks this, except, hee hee, I was joking.)

But seriously, folks... I got friends in time zones east of me who already are warning me to prepare to be blown away. One pal simply text-messaged "FRACK!" (I'll forgive the misspelling.)