This new trailer for Iron Man is the best I’ve ever seen for a superhero movie. Hopefully the movie lives up to even half of what this trailer promises. I have high hopes. Robert Downey Jr. looks like he may be a fantastic Tony Stark. And I have faith in director Jon Favreau. He also directed Elf, one of the best comedies this decade.
This is a preview of a new physics game in development. It just won an award from the Independent Games Festival. I love these simple and thoughtful games that use computing and technology to challenge you in ways that other modes of interaction could never achieve.
In the same vein, I just finished playing Portal, which is a great twist on the first person shooter mode of gaming mixed with a puzzle game. And the pay off at the end is priceless (caution: contains spoilers). Portal is included in Valve’s The Orange Box, a great value for any computer gamer.
It is still early in the year, but I can confidently predict that Tift Merritt’s new album Another Country will be on my 2008 best of list. She has a great roots sound and an amazingly engaging voice. Her first two albums were very good as well.
So neat and relatively simple.
I can’t help but think that Tiger Woods – half black and half Asian, masterful at his craft and with the media, interloper into the great white sport, inspiration for multitudes around the world – has helped pave a road that Obama is now cruising. People saw Tiger as a black athlete who was articulate, cultured, educated and immensely talented. And they now they just see Tiger. Maybe that is helping America see Obama primarily through the lens of his abilities and not his race.
Obama’s landslide in Iowa last night was historic.
America’s next leader needs to inspire this country to fight against the damaging red/blue divisions and the overpowering lobbyists. We have serious issues overseas, and serious issues at home. I’m not sure who I’ll vote for in November, but it will likely be the Democratic candidate. Obama has my attention.
Feist (Leslie Feist) is a Canadian singer/songwriter whose infectious song “1234” is used on the Apple Video iPod commercial. Take a look at the whole video, it will bring a smile 🙂
One of the best parts of this time of year is “best of” lists. I love finding new music from these lists. So here are two fun lists of best of lists. Careful, you might not be very productive if you venture on:
Largehearted Boy: 2007 Year-End Online Music Lists
Fimoculous: Best of lists for lots of things
Here are a few of my favorites from this year:
The Avett Brothers – Emotionalism
Josh Rouse – Country Mouse, City House
Feist – The Reminder
Jason Ibell – Sirens of the Ditch
Iron and Wine – The Shepherds Dog
Neil Young – Chrome Dreams II
Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger
Son Volt – The Search
Steve Earle – Washington Square Serenade
Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter – Like, Love, Lust & The Open Halls Of The Soul
Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Band Of Horses – Cease To Begin
Our little Sam took his first steps yesterday! I’ll post some video soon.
