The Wright Stuff

Richard Wright, a founder member of Pink Floyd, has died at the age of 65 after battling cancer, his spokesman said.

Wright played the keyboard with the legendary band and wrote music in classic albums such as Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here.

[source]

The soft saultry synth sounds of Richard Wright's creation are forever etched on my mind in songs such as "Us And Them" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond".

When I was in high school, trying to survive through the heavy metal hair bands of the 80's, I searched for a band that was mellower and more mature. I'd just gotten into Rush at the time and when I heard their instrumental epic "La Villa Strangiato" and the middle part with a low bass pad by Geddy and Alex Lifeson's building and wailing guitar, I thought, "Well this certainly kicks ass!" Then my drummer friend had me watch a Pink Floyd video, "Momentary Lapse of Reason", I thought he was on to something here. Mellow progressive music would then forever be a part of my life, leading me to love Yes, and hearing Floyd's influence in Dream Theater, The Flower Kings, and so many other bands.

I do remember Floyd from way back when The Wall came out but musically, I wasn't totally into it. That all changed when "The Division Bell" came out in '93. An absolute masterpiece of an album... dark, dynamic, and full. Wright's piano on "High Hopes" is simple yet remarkable. He sang on "Wearing The Inside Out" adding that true British accent to the band.

In 1994 when I saw them live at Commonwealth Stadium here in Edmonton, Alberta, is still to this day, the greatest concert I have ever seen or heard. It was more than that. It was an experience.

Anyway, Mr. Wright, as a keyboard player myself, thank you for having shared your gift to the world, and making an impact on my life.

Joe Biden for Veep!

As a libertarian conservative Canadian who is a fan of Obama (not that I don't dislike McCain), I was hoping he'd choose Biden.

Biden is to the right of Obama, but left of McCain.

I think Biden is "biden" his words when he said that Obama was unfit in that debate and the McCain campaign did an excellent job in pointing that out with the TV ad. Perfect actually.

But I also think Biden's been mighty impressed with how well Obama's campaign is run. I'm not sure if Biden will fit into the dynamic campaign as much as a lesser known veep choice, but I think he can tow the line.

Overall, I think Americans aren't choosing the lesser of two evils here but could certainly live with either candidate as president.

The Iraq debate is pretty much over as it appears US troops, for the most part, will be out of there in a few years anyway.

Obama choice in Biden really comes down to who can best serve as president if need be, and Joe Biden has the foreign policy know-how and experience to step in better than most.

I watched Biden closely over his run for the candidacy and was impressed with his opinions on Iraq and the whole region how he recognizes that there are essentially three nations within Iraq, caused by the British drawing odd borders for countries like that, Jordan, and Syria.

Anyway, the issue now is similar to 1992... "It's the economy stupid" and McCain has admitted that he doesn't know much about economics.

With a 7 trillion dollar debt, rumours of defaulting on that, millions of lost jobs, housing credit crisis, and a bloated gov't, the Bush hangover has begun.

It still comes down to which economic ideology and plan will the American people buy into this time?

Soprano's Finale

I finally bought Season Six Part II of the Sopranos last week and watched it all in a week in great anticipation of the finale. I was lucky to avoid the spoils when many of my friends saw it. Earmuffs!

So my take on the last scene?

The guy who goes into the washroom simply goes into the washroom. Oh my, AJ, Carmella, and Tony all eat an onion ring whole. "Don't Stop Believin'" is playing instead of "Any Way You Want It". "Remember the good times," AJ remarks. Tony agrees. Meadow runs across the street and opens the diner front door, the door bells ring, Tony looks up at her, just as he did with everyone else who walked in except the African American guys, and the screen goes blank at "Don't Stop".

People have concluded many things:

• The guy in the washroom comes out and shoots Tony in the side of the head and so just before Tony looked up at Meadow in shock just as she came through the door and the bells rang. But we don't hear anything from AJ or Carmella.
• The trucker and guy who went into the washroom are FBI dudes and he gets arrested. Tony mentions that Carlo flipped and is going to testify, so this evidence could have been used against Tony to indite him.
  
• The African American guys were either the same ones that shot Bobby in the eye, that shot up the crack house, or that shot Tony.
  

My conclusion?

Nothing happens. In all the moments in the episode when you get that uneasy feeling that someone is going to get shot, i.e. Bobby at the hobby shop, Silvio and Patsy running out of the Bing, Phil saying bye bye to his grandkids, all had that suspense, it just doesn't happen with Tony in this scene.

And that's that. Fuggedaboudit.

Top 100 TV shows of last 25 years

Now this list is more like it. Ones I highlighted in green are ones I watch(ed).

But wait, where the heck is "Cheers" and "Night Court"? Ah, another crap list.

1. The Simpsons, Fox, 1989-present
2 The Sopranos, HBO (1999-2007)
3 Seinfeld, NBC (1989-98)
4 The X-Files, Fox (1993-2002)
5 Sex and the City, HBO (1998-2004)
6 Survivor, CBS (2000-present)
7 The Cosby Show, NBC (1984-92)
8 Lost, ABC (2004-present)
9 Friends, NBC (1994-2004)
10 Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The WB (1997-2001); UPN (2001-03)
11 The Wire, HBO (2002-08)
12 South Park, Comedy Central (1997-present)
13 Freaks and Geeks, NBC (1999-2000)
14 The Daily Show, Comedy Central (1996-present)
15 The Oprah Winfrey Show, Syndicated (1986-present)
16 Arrested Development, Fox (2003-06)
17 The Office (U.K. version), BBC2 (2001-03)
18 American Idol, Fox (2002-present)
19 ER, NBC (1994-present)
20 Beverly Hills, 90210, Fox (1990-2000)
21 Roseanne, ABC (1988-97)
22 The Real World, MTV (1992-present)
23 The West Wing, NBC (1999-2006)
24 Star Trek: The Next Generation, Syndication (1987-94)
25 Miami Vice, NBC (1984-89)
26 Chappelle's Show, Comedy Central (2003-06)
27 Law & Order, NBC (1990-present)
28 The Larry Sanders Show, HBO (1992-98)
29 The Shield, FX (2002-present)
30 Late Show With David Letterman, CBS (1993-present)
31 The Civil War, PBS (1990)
32 Gilmore Girls, The WB (2000-06), The CW (2006-07)
33 My So-Called Life, ABC (1994-95)
34 24, Fox (2001-present)
35 CSI, CBS (2000-present)
36 thirtysomething, ABC (1987-91)
38 Beavis and Butt-head, MTV (1993-97)
39 Six Feet Under, HBO (2001-05)
40 Mr. Show, (HBO, 1995-98)
41 Frasier, NBC (1993-2004)
42 L.A. Law, NBC (1986-94)
43 Late Night With Conan O'Brien, NBC (1993-present)
44 Jeopardy!, Syndicated (1984-present)
45 Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO (2000-present)
46 Homicide: Life on the Street, NBC (1993-99)
47 30 Rock, NBC (2006-present)
48 Ally McBeal, Fox (1997-2002)
49 Twin Peaks, ABC (1990-91)
50 Baywatch, NBC (1989-90), Syndicated (1991-2001)
51. Melrose Place, Fox (1992-99)
52. Felicity, The WB (1998-2002)
53. Will & Grace, NBC (1998-2006)
54. Moonlighting, ABC (1985-89)
55. Pee-wee's Playhouse, CBS (1986-90)
56. Desperate Housewives, ABC (2004-present)
57. The Amazing Race, CBS (2001-present)
58. The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, NBC (1992-present)
59. Battlestar Galactica, Sci Fi (2003-2008)
60. Xena: Warrior Princess, Syndicated (1995-2001)
61. The Office (U.S.), NBC (2005-present)
62. House, Fox (2004-present)
63. Mystery Science Theater 3000, Comedy Central (1989-96), Sci Fi (1997-99)
64. The Osbournes, MTV (2002-05)
65. Family Guy, Fox (1999-2002, 2005-present)
66. Grey’s Anatomy, ABC (2005-present)
67. Planet Earth, Discovery Channel (2007)
68. Jackass, MTV (2000-02)
69. The Colbert Report, Comedy Central (2005-present)
70. Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS (1996-2005)
71. Friday Night Lights, NBC (2006-present)
72. NewsRadio, NBC (1995-99)
73. Oz, HBO (1997-2003)
74. Wiseguy, CBS (1987-90)
75. Project Runway, Bravo (2004-present)
76. In Living Color, Fox (1990-94)
77. The Golden Girls, NBC (1985-92)
78. I'll Fly Away, NBC (1991-93)
79. The Comeback, HBO (2005)
80. King of the Hill, Fox (1997-present)
81. Murphy Brown, CBS (1988-98)
82. The Hills, MTV (2006-present)
83. Absolutely Fabulous, BBC2 (1992), BBC1 (1994-2004)
84. Northern Exposure, CBS (1990-95)
85. The Kids in the Hall, HBO (1989-92), CBS (1992-95)
86. Prime Suspect, ITV (1991-2006)
87. Deadwood, HBO (2004-06)
88. Malcolm in the Middle, Fox (2000-06)
89. SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeon (1999-present)
90. Dawson's Creek, The WB (1998-2003)
91. Mad Men, AMC (2007-present)
92. The Ben Stiller Show, Fox (1992-93)
93. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Bravo (2003-07)
94. Married...With Children, Fox (1987-97)
95. Designing Women, CBS (1986-93)
96. The Arsenio Hall Show, Syndicated (1989-94)
97. Party of Five, Fox (1994-2000)
98. MacGyver, ABC (1985-92)
99. The Bachelor, ABC (2002-present)
100. Saved by the Bell, NBC (1989-93)

Prince William

So apparently Prince William likes rock music. Good for him. Here's what bands he likes from other countries:

Australia: AC/DC. Good! Can't get anymore pure rock than that.
U.S.A.: Bon Jovi. well, ok, not bad, but there's better.
Canada: Nickelback. fuck. The Prince needs a flogging.

Now I don't want him as my king or on my money. Especially the nickel.

The supposed top 100 movies of the last 25 years

Entertainment Weekly (weakly?) has posted it's top 100 movies of the last 25 years (1983 - 2008).

This is the stupidest list I've ever seen.

No Shawshank Redemption, which many people I talk to believe it's one of the greatest movies of the last 25 years.

And where's The Game? Braveheart? Volver?

Stupid list.