Harper doesn't like Canadian . . .

. . . news.*


KITTEH NEEDS LOLCAT CAPTION CONTEST. KTHXBI

Prime Minister Stephen Harper apparently doesn't like to read Canadian news. In fact, he does the most anti-Canadian thing most Canadians can dream of: he reads -- *GASP!* -- American news. Apparently, he likes to read about American politics as more of a hobby.

I'll defend him here; I don't think he needs to read Canadian news. See, usually that means he's in there somewhere, and he probably doesn't want to see his face plastered everywhere with negative and speculative captions jabbing the reader's attention. Hey, I wouldn't want to see that, either.

The other point is he's the freaking prime minister. Dude has more aides than American rednecks could count with a calculator. They tell him everything he needs to know, and don't waste his time with what (they tell him) he doesn't need to know. He's gotta be pretty busy if he's helping to run the country, even if it is little ole Canada (zing!).

One other reason this doesn't surprise me: most Canadians I know who are interested in politics spend most of their time analyzing American politics. Face it, they're more interesting by nature: bipartisan politics mean crazies on BOTH sides! Compromise, functionality, and productivity with multiple parties and executive forces? Pshh. That's for squares.

But, really, Canadians only pay attention to Canadian news because it affects them, but for fun, dynamic American politics are where it's at. People may suggest Harper should read Canadian news, but like I said, his aides do that for him. He can choose whatever hobbies he prefers. If those include studying American politics, than he's doing justice to the sweater vests he wears.

This post doesn't save Palin from my scoffing attacks at her for not being able to name a single new source she "reads." Journalism major, my extremity.









*On this blog, I rarely cite my sources just because I can (although if you ever ask, I'll post the website/link to newspaper where I found it; I don't make this stuff up).

Adam Lambert's new song suffers the American Idol curse

I heard Adam was going to work with Lady Gaga's producers on his album. On American Idol, this guy was the king of reinvention. Even when he wasn't re-creating something, his stylistic choices, vocal arrangements, and in-the-moment performances made him more memorable than Kris What's-His-Name. Remember when he blew your socks off with the KISS performance?


(Pardon the quality, but it's the best I could find. Somebody needs to tell the 12-year-olds who upload American Idol videos to stop recording them from a video camera.)

Well, unfortunately, none of that glitzy style has transcended into his solo work. I present to you the mess that is his first single, "Time for Miracles."



The arrangements are predictable, the theme is unoriginal, the lyrics are just one cliche after another, and the whole song is blase. Even Adam seems bored when he sings it. There needed to at least be more moments for him to belt out his signature screams.

Lambert isn't a songwriter; he's a song makeover artist.

Witness: vintage Adam Lambert in "Crazy" -- and it means something when I say he sounds good on it, because I'm a huge Gnarls Barkley fan



and: "Ring of Fire" -- not his original concept for the rearrangement, but still something new


Here's my point. Adam Lambert needs to be given a distinctively jarring track. Then, let him take the reins on vocal post-production. Have some creative writers pen lyrics that mean something -- or maybe even don't mean anything, but leave listeners scratching their heads wondering what they could mean -- and Lambert's inspiration will follow. If you give him the dry, lifelessly generic songs that could be David Cook's or Daughtry's latest radio-friendly dud, he won't do much to the song. Hopefully, his other songs will be Lady Gaga-influenced poppers with funky synth beats and clever hooks, and he can fill in the gaps with his Freddie Mercury voice. Now is no time to be humble; if he doesn't take some risks, he'll fall under the American Idol curse until he's just another once-been.

This looks like fun

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Seth Rogen: The Green Hornet

Seth Rogen -- the (usually) likeable stoner with a rumbling voice from the Judd Apatow movies -- is starring in the title role in the 2010 film adaptation of The Green Hornet. The story of Britt Reid's alter ego originated in a 1930s radio show about a newspaper publisher by day, badass crime-fighter by night, and has since spawned several (unknown to me) TV series and comic books.

The thing that struck me about this tidbit was Seth Rogen as a superhero. Um, really? The quintessential slacker is taking on a superhero role?

At any rate, I doubt he'll fail. Since the character is relatively unknown, there are no expectations on how the Green Hornet should act, think, talk, or move. His mannerisms are up for interpretation, meaning Rogen can take whatever feel he wants to the role. As far as avoiding typical superhero movie failures, Rogen should be in the clear. Now, the producers only have to worry about the regular movie woes, i.e. trying to make it entertaining and not make it, you know, suckish.

Granted, Rogen can do whatever the hell he wants with the role; he's also one of the screenplay writers. Also involved in the project: Cameron Diaz as the token chick (yawn). The director, Michel Gondry, won an Oscar for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.