Missed Connections

I've found a pretty awesome blog to combines romance, hilarity and art in pictures that sum up the very idea of modern romance. Yes, it's that good.
Missed Connections (by Sophie Blacknall) is a blog that puts into pictures those entries from 'Missed Collections' columns in newspapers.
Now, I'm pretty sure this 'Missed Connections' business is a purely American thing. People in the UK don't seem to be all that in to 'love-at-first-sight'- around my area, the column would pretty much read: 'I was the rural-looking lass, and you were the farmer in the tweed jacket. I caught you admiring my mighty fine melons- they've won prizes at the Country Fair, y'know'. Not that I'm saying romance is dead around here- afterall, I'm currently dating a boy who I used to check out as I walked past him everyday after college for about three months. Yeh, I know, it's a pretty cute story.
So, lets all celebrate the secret romantic inside all of us, with entries such as 'Hairy Bearded Swimmer' (above):
we were both swimming around 5-6 in astoria pool. we ended up walking the same direction in the park for a while but didn't talk. i wish i had said hi...so i figured i would on here. worth a shot.

And I'm sure you all know how fond I am of beardy men. Also, I notice, alot of the entries are about chance meetings on the tube (such as 'Red Book, Blue Book' above)- so, I thought I should share with you my favorite song about love at first sight on the tube, 'Poppy Bird' by Bromhead's Jacket- check it out below:

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Quick Update

I'm afraid things aren't going to pick up on the post front just yet- just as I'm starting to settle back into the computer chair, I get a message.
My Fileden account (where I keep all the music on the blog) has been suspended, due to recent inactivity.
You see what a bitch that is, considering this is a music and all.
So, I'm slowly re-upping all of my music to a new account, but you will have to bear with me- this will require alot of time and patience- and my posting may suffer because of it.
I'll try and get this whole pilaver cleared up as quickly as I can, but bear with me please.

However, if there's a particular song you're dying to hear, if you drop me a bell, and I'll put it to the top of my pile. Aren't I good to you?

See you soon,
Eileen Read More......

Mean/Funny Things to Do To Your Pets

Are you, like me, one of these people who think people who dress their pets up are really stupid, but would secretly find it hilarious to dress your own pet up? Is that a yes? I thought so.
The solution: don't do it to your own pet, just laugh at other peoples'! If you find dressed-up pets as awesome as I do, check this out:

GLAMOURPUSS BY JULIE JACKSONCats! In wigs! It's INSPIRED!
Julie Jakcson started putting wigs on her poor, suffering cat as a means to relieve stress/boredom. Fast foreword to the present day, where 'Kitty Wigs', as it has come to be known, is a global phenomenon (apparently), and now has its own book. 'Glamourpuss' is said to be a collection '60 stylish portraits showcasing furry models in the most fetching custom-made cat wigs ever created.' Riight. Nevertheless, it's kinda funny. Read more here >>>

MINOU PITOU DOG COATSThe perfect way to optimize dog-outfit-hilarity- dress them up as a dinosaur!
Little else can be really be said about the sheer wondrous-ness of Minou Pitou outifts. I mean, where else can you find a costume that makes your dog look like the victim of a brutal zombie attack? I love dogs, I love zombies, I love dinosaurs. Combine all three, and you get an idea of just how awesome this store is. Visit it here >>>

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10 Songs of the Week

I'm getting worse and worse for posting, though not through choice. I've only been back at college for a week, and I'm already bogged down with essays and reading lists and all sorts. I guess this is sort of one of those years where I have to work, lest I risk messing up my future.
Ho hum, enough with the negative stuff- how have you all been? All slowly getting back into the swing of things after the holidays, I suspect. I'm having a bit of a musical week, by which I'm meaning to shitloads of music, not that I'm rockin' out to the Sound of Music, or anything. So, I thought it would be nice to share with you what's goin' on musically with me as of late:

THE WHO, 'BABA O' RILEY'
'Who's Next' has easily one of the best album covers of all time, and is one of the best albums of all time as well. Baba O'Riley is very, very high up on my list of ultimate tracks to play air guitar to alone in my bedroom. The Who also provide all of the theme tunes for CSI, and I do love a good bit of CSI.

MARIANA'S TRENCH, 'ACADIA' I just remembered the guitar solo on 'Acadia' reminds me of 'Baba O' Riley', for some strange reason. I still don't think 'Masterpiece Theatre' is a patch on 'Fix Me', but they're still seem like a pretty cool bunch of dudes, so ho hum.

ALEXISONFIRE, ANYTHING, EVERYTHING, JUST GIVE ME ALEXISONFIRE QUICK!
(BUT MAINLY 'THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD')
I'm going to see them in concert in October! Win! I also like to imagine what would happen if Alexisonfire and Marianas Trench got into some Canadian-rock-band-battle-to-the-death. Alexisonfire would easily win- it would be a bit of a massacre, actually. Any member of Alexisonfire could snap the rather effeminate Josh Ramsay (lead singer of MT) like a twig. No offence to Josh- he just seems like he'd benefit from a good square meal.

CITY AND COLOUR, 'AS MUCH AS I EVER COULD'
My Alexisonfire binge just sort of merged into a City and Colour binge. I think I gravely underestimated 'As Much As I Ever Could' in particular.

THE CURE, 'JUST LIKE HEAVEN'
Ooh, I love The Cure. It is a pity that all decent bands from England have been and gone, though. Our music scene is a little lacking in comparison at the moment.

NEKO CASE, 'PRISON GIRLS'
'Middle Cyclone', the album this song is from is easily my favorite of the albums that I reviewed on Song by Song. All of the songs are also alot of fun to sing along to, particularly 'People Got a Lotta Nerve'- on the count of three, 'I'm a man-man-man, man-man-man-eater!'

THE BEATLES, 'PAPERBACK WRITER'
You may notice an old-English-band theme to my current musical taste. I don't know, maybe I'm going to patriotic. For some reason, there's this massive taboo about people listening to '1'- what, just because it's basically a compilation of their famous songs, I'm not allowed to listen to it?

BAT FOR LASHES, 'MOON AND MOON'
Since viewing her performance at the Mercury Prize Awards, I can't stop listening to her. Her strangely hypnotic voice gets me every time.

AS CITIES BURN, 'PETTY'
Still my album of the year thus far. Truly stunning. Enough said.

JOY DIVISION, 'LOVE WILL TEAR US APART'
A truly immense song. Have you watched 'Control', the biopic about them? That too is immense, and so visually beautiful. Go buy it, now.

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10 Film Love Interests Who Aren't Utterly Loathsome

So, I was watching 'I Love You, Man', and I was shocked. Not so much by the film itself (it's as awesome as people say it is, by the way), but because of the fact that Paul Rudd's betrothed, Rashida Jones, was actually watchable. A love interest that isn't vapid and painful to watch, you shriek in horror? I know!
Everytime I watch a film these days, particularly a comedy, the girl is just a pretty face with absolutely nothing behind the smile. All I'm asking for is a little personality, for chrissakes!
So, I got to thinking, there has to be other love interests in films who aren't completely vile, right? Well, it just so happens I've found a list of ten of them- and it wasn't easy kids. So, in no particular order:

1. Rashida Jones as Zooey Rice, 'I Love You, Man'
The character of Zooey pretty rad- she owns her own shop, has crazy friends, and is totally cool with her fiancee spending times chillin' with the guys. At the same time, she seems to have some genuine personality, which a lot of love interests lack.

2. Missi Pyle as Fran, 'Dodgeball'
This minx who can kill a man with a dodgeball captures the heart of Owen, from rival dodgeball team, Average Joe's. Thus begins a tragic love story, in the style 'Romeo and Juliet', with our conflicted, star-crossed lovers trying to contend with their emotions. A true love story for our time, kids.

3. Amy Smart as Tracy Faucet, 'Rat Race'
You can never say Tracy Faucet doesn't have personality- mainly because she might kill you if you did. She does nearly kill her ex-boyfriend by chasing him with a helicopter afterall.

4. Rupert Everett as Camilla Fritton, 'St Trinian's'
Headmistress of an anarchic school for girls, Camilla Fritton is an English Rose who knows what she wants- and what she wants is Geoffrey Thwaites, as played by Colin Firth. Miaow.

5. Rachel Blanchard and Christina Moore as Flower and Butterfly, 'Without a Paddle'
Because, really, who wouldn't want these crazy, hairy, hippy chicks who live in a tree and pelt bad guys with faeces?

6. Julia Stiles as Becky, 'A Guy Thing'
A carefree spirit who can't hold down a job or a man, with a crazy ex-boyfriend who assaults any guy who comes near her, and who accidentally ends up in bed with her cousin's fiancee (but not in the way you're thinking of)- you don't get much more awesome than Becky. Julia Stiles as Katarina in '10 Things I Hate About You' was also a consideration, but, of course, she's not the love interest- Heath Ledger is.

7. Jennifer Morrison as Jamie, 'Grind'
Nearly every other girl in this film is a skater groupie played by a Playboy Bunny, so Jennifer Morrison is a breath of fresh air. She's not in this film as a random lay, oh no- her character can actually skate! I also quite like the girl who steals their van- good looks and criminal genius is a pretty good combination.

8. Tia Carrere as Cassandra, 'Wayne's World'
She doesn't just fall for the first guy who walks her way- indeed, Wayne actually had to learn Cantonese to woo her. Plus, she can really wail.

9. Aubrey Plaza as Daisy, 'Funny People'
She's a chick comedian, legitimately funny and she has an awesome fringe (or 'bangs', if you're American). Need I say anymore?

10. Julianne Moore as Maude, 'The Big Lebowski'
My favorite straight-talking alternative artist. I don't know whether or not 'love interest' is quite the right word for Maude, but she sleeps with the main character, so what the Hell.
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Remix Wednesday: Basic Space

It's remix time, bitches! Chica-chica-yeah!

This week's offering at the altar of funk comes courtesy of a little-known unsigned UK act called Astronomer. Little may be know of these shadowy figures, but what we can glean is that they are very, very good at remixes. They've reworked everything from Micachu to Metronomy- but my personal favorite has to be their version of 'Basic Space' by The XX.

Now, The XX are bloody everywhere at the moment- I completely appear to have missed to bandwagon on this one. However, I managed to catch them on late-night Reading coverage, and I think I'm becoming hooked to their lazy, dream-pop sound. Take a listen for yourselves below:

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August: A Memoir

Sorry I've been so inactive for the past few weeks- it seems like its been one thing after another. As soon as I get back home and am ready to do some blogging, the bloody computer gets a virus! And a mean one, as well-so, my computer's pretty much out-of-bounds, so I've been forced to use my brothers laptop. However, all of the stuff I wanted to share with you guys is still on my computer, so I'm a little restricted as to what I can do.

Enough about me, anyway- lets talk about August. It's flown by, hasn't it? It seems like only yesterday everyone was celebrating 6 weeks of holiday, and now we're all headed back to school/college/wherever. So, lets look back at the good times with August: a memoir.

Movie of the Month: Funny PeopleYou know I haven't frequented a cinema all that often this month when 'Funny People' is my movie pick. It's the only film I've gone and seen this month- and only because it was on a date. With films such as 'The Time Traveller's Wife' and 'My Sister's Keeper' topping the bill, I've been feeling a little uninspired.
Still, this movie has divided critics straight through the middle- some see it as a sprawling and ambitious look into how peoples' live are altered by terminal disease, others see it as 146 minutes of nothing. I must say, I'm with the former- I was initially sceptical about an Adam Sandler movie. He has his moments (Little Nicky), but alot of his films are throwaway and unmemorable. Yet, in this comedy-drama, in which he plays a comedian facing death, he genuinely put in a solid performance. Although I agree with the critics that say not alot happens in this film, I think it is important to show that just because your life may be drawing to a close, you may not necessarily get that blockbuster ending that people in Hollywood films often receive. I also liked the different parts of the film- the comedian roommates dynamic, the family that Sandler's character basically sets out to destroy, the unlikely friendship that arises between Sandler and his assistant, Seth Rogen. If obvious laughs, ridiculously perfect endings and non-stop action, this film isn't for you. But if you're content with a slower pace, I seriously suggest you check this film out.

Album of the Month: 'Humbug' by Arctic MonkeysNow, anyone who comes to this blog for the first time and gets a face full of Arctic Monkeys is going to assume one thing- I'm an indie nerk. Well, I'm not- and I'm not a massive Arctic Monkeys fan either. But just hear me out- this is not your average indie album. It's a got a dark, gothic, psych-rock edge and is practically oozing with kinky S&M sexual undertones. Yeh, seriously. You should check this baby out. Still not convinced? Read my song-by-song commentary here.

Playlist of the Month: MapsSince this month's playlist is saved on my broken computer (Gah!), you might as well savour this one, since I don't know how long it'll be until I can get the next one on t'internet. This playlist is all about holiday locations- from Paris to Beijing, London to California. Listen to it in the right sidebar now, or click here for the full track list.

My Favorite Posts of This MonthHere is the line-up of my favorite goings on during August here at the Sinema:
Top 10 Sexiest Celebrities With Glasses- Because everyone loves a good bespectacled beauty. If people with glasses don't tickle your pickle, there's also a bunch of music as well.
Bytes From Cyberspace: The Superhero Edition- Finally, I share a little snippet of my comic-book dorkiness with you. Featuring all the latest trends in superhero-related literature, music and fashion.
5 Songs From Soundtracks- Like movies? Like music? Well, I've combined the two together in some sort of crazy hybrid. Check it out.

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