Aimee Mann: "Invisible Ink"

The Nada Surf concert fuckin rocked. Opening were "The People" and "Sondre Lerche." Lerche is Norweigan and incredible. You all must download his stuff RIGHTNOW. Not as good as a live rendition of "Bushmeat" but what are you gonna do?

Have you looked into this business of gift baskets for Hollywood awards presenters? Its insane. At the Screen Actor's Guild awards in a few weeks -- not even one of the majors, a union award -- the presenter's gift basket will include: Phillips MP3 Player, Altec Lansing Surround Sound Audio System, tickets to the Indy 500, stays at the Waldorf Towers in NY and the Wyndham Bel Age in LA AND A WEEKLONG GETAWAY AT THE RANCHITO RESORT IN PATAGONIA, CHILE!!! all wrapped in a Wilson's leather suitcase Chile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you kidding me? All for walking on stage and reciting lines. Granted you have to be famous, but they're the last people that need handouts. And most presenters are also nominees, and most nominees are repeat offenders, so its like this small exclusive club that every March gets these ridiculous freebies. I know the Golden Globes basket had, among other things, a free spa treatment in Arizona. This shit's expensive. Ah, I need to get to a point where I can be a presenter at an awards show. That's all I want. Well, not all.

How 'bout this man in Texas that is accused of abusing his stepson by whipping the bou with a car antenna and forcing the 11-year-old to sleep in a doghouse? Apparently, TX has gone from executing all the Mexicans they can get their hands on to an eye-for-an-eye treatment: the man cut a deal where his punishment is to spend 30 consecutive nights in a doghouse. It is unclear whether or not he is allowed a phone in the doghouse. I'm not kidding. Check it out at www.thesmokinggun.com. This world is whacked.

Tonight I watched the new reality show on ABC, "Profiles" about troops overseas. It was like a documentary sponsored by and with complete cooperation with the DOD. Rumsfeld never made a better decision. This is incredible. To see these real men and women in their duties puts humanity with the news stories. Seeing the environment, the people, the soldiers talking to one-armed Taliban leaders, is all incredible. WOW. Check it out next Thursday at 7 on ABC. Never thought I'd be promoting ABC because normally it sucks ass, but this (and The Mole) is something I can stand behind.

Cindy and I saw "Talk to Her" last night. Now it was my first Almodovar movie, and I was underwhelmed. There were parts I liked and thought were funny, but the movie left me with an uneasy feeling. I know that was its intention, but I am not one of those to applaud a movie that makes me uncomfortable simply because it was supposed to. If I feel uneasy, its a bad thing. I laughed really really hard when a receptionist answered the phone, recognized the caller as her close friend and when asked "what's going on?" replied: "I just took an elephant-sized dump." Do women actually talk like that with each other. God, I hope not. Anyway, I didn't like "Talk to Her" nearly as much as "Y Tu Mama Tambien," which I ranked #2 as my best of the year. Anyone who wants a copy of that list, let me know.

Well, that's it for tonight. I really can't think of what else I wanted to say here, since the beer has killed important brain cells that lead to memory. Emily, that's what I believe and want to believe so don't counter me with all your brainy knowledge. Emily Ralph that is.

Night.