Merry Christmas

RIP, Captain Beefheart

I almost forgot. Don Van Vliet died three days ago, at 69, from multiple sclerosis. He may be dead, but he sure wasn't weird. Musically irrelevant celebrities the world over mourn our loss by listening to Kandy Korn until their minds are fully blown.

Christmas Viewing

A Charlie Brown Christmas was on TV this morning. I somehow got through the whole thing one more time. It was pretty messy, though. Why does it make me more emotional every year? Am I basically just referencing memories of emotion at this point, rather than actually being made to feel something more honestly by the content? Maybe, because Linus's reading of Luke seems to hit me harder than anything else, and I don't even believe that stuff. However, if you can take belief out of the equation, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" is a pretty valid and potent sentiment, I have to admit.

So, everyone needs to see Tron: Legacy over the holidays. It's so cool, and exactly what science fiction is supposed to be like, at least from the point of view of someone whose sci-fi experience is mostly from the '70s and early '80s. Feels like Logan's Run and Bladerunner and, of course, the original Tron. The Vangelis-y music by Daft Punk is at least half of what's so great about it. And it's in 3D! Watch out when Jeff Bridges' creepily youthified face moves forward on the z-axis. Yikes!

In case there's any question...

I do NOT want one of these creepy things for Christmas. Thanks.

Welcome, Percy!

And congratulations, Tom & Jenny!