OBSCURE: I just had an idea!

How about...a toothbrush, but out the end of the handle is a hose, which goes over your tap...then when you turn it on, bam! High pressure water cleaning power on your teeth like a dentist gerni. With the recent addition of fluoride to the water and the recent lack of drought, what could be a more perfect way to keep the chompers clean and have an excuse to leave the tap running.

The origins of this idea? Doing a google search for 'brisbane send in ten trip savers for a rebate', since they're unusable after 1st January and I have plenty from 2 years ago with 3 trips on. Page 5 of the results had an entry for 'aqua blast toothbrush' (which actually links to a dodgy 'omg you are infected with 10 billion viruses!!!' site) and the rest is obscure history.

Games: Sh*t, F*ckers, Scr*bble

Lady buys Scrabble game for angry looking child's DS. DS wins games using fruity language. People laugh.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1092613/Mothers-fury-Nintendo-Scrabble-game-taught-son-swear-words.html

Igno-rant: Scooter twats

Well, it isn't an excuse any more. Petrol's dropped below 90c a litre, so all the blouse wearing, latte swilling, CBD dwelling, mr biggles imitation helmet wearing brown nosers who jumped on the back of the scooter bandwagon can get the fuck off with only their pathetic excuse for protective gear to save them.

Which makes what I saw this morning all the more interesting!

Well not really. Just another twat on a scooter, but with particularly twatty characteristics.

1. Like a beacon of stupidity, a tuft of blue hair poking out from beneath the 5 square inches of coverage the skull cap helmet provided.
2. The navigaton system of this douche had evidently been pulled out of a particularly retarded fly, and dropped into the headspace of this guy. It was a tight squeeze. He was slaloming through peak hour cars like an infantile child pretending to be a plane.

I did not care to hang around to observe more, the traffic was bad enough without the inevitable swarm of ambulances this guy was going to attract.

OBSCURE: Single player frisbee

I just went outside for lunch and was treated to an extremely sad site; a grown man playing frisbee by himself.

I was very tempted to take a photo but I thought it might be rude...

Igno-Rant: Andre Reeeeeeeuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

I guess I’m not in the target demographic for Andre Reeeuuuuuu the violin virtuoso currently touring Australia who played to a packed Suncorp Stadium last night. Full to the brim with geriatrics who were no doubt horrified by the ensuing thunder storm. But what I really can’t understand is where does this target demographic come from? And how did it get so big!? Surely those interested in classical music are not going to go along and pay to see some commercialised pompous git whose name can only be pronounced if you are a member of the living dead or have severe Down syndrome play covers! So who are these massive crowds? Old people with no idea is my guess…

I did get some enjoyment out of his visit however. Last night the final episode of Shaun Micallef’s Newstopia was dedicated to “Inspektor Herring”, the parody of a Russian, English subtitled spy movie (/Inspector Rex?). The story culminated in the highly celebrated death of Andre Reeeeeeuuuuuu. You can see the whole episode online for a limited time on the SBS website (http://www.sbs.com.au/television#).

Music: USB = U Stupid Bastards

Certain albums are set to be released on DDA USB sticks identified with a little tag. Upon using the stick for the first time it is activated by a security code with the tracks then available as MP3 or WAV.

Personally I still buy CD's (and records...) and refuse to download albums but I have to say, if I only had a choice of USB or download it would be straight to iTunes...

And look at the band they use for publicity!! Rubbish!!

Games: GH v RB v ZP v HK

With the decision between your pretend plastic guitar game of choice being currently relevant to Australia (and nowhere else) Yahtzee pretty much hits the nail on the head in my opinion. He usually does.

See Escapist Magazine:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/452-Guitar-Hero-World-Tour

I went with Guitar Hero, with plans of importing the Rock Band 2 disc only. It's all about the drums.

OBSCURE: Army tear gases small children...says sorry but!

Comedy gold, when a training exercise goes wrong. What a, quote, 'wretched' thing to happen.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24717302-1248,00.html

Next time Johnny throws sand in Jimmy's eyes it'll feel like a comparitive spongebath.

Games: x - BOX - 360?

After a 360 this Christmas? Try not to get this one...

Igno-Rant: Metrosexual Rock

I couldn't help noticing while watching the recently released Powderchair/Silverfinger/(Insert corporate bullshit combination phrase here) DVD's, that words can't convey just how manufactured these bands are in this current era. It wasn't always like this. Silverchair had a brilliant debut. Frogstomp is still one of the classic yardstone albums in my book, but after watching them on this double feature with Powderfinger...it really shows how much of a formula they're made to. All I can put it down to is the money. Being endebtted to the record companies, who consequently give them the 'recipe', and them not having the youthful vigour anymore to have a difference of opinion from the establishment.

Key points to take away from below - that vest, the dirty sanchez, that haircut, with some tats thrown on in a feeble attempt to bring some bad boy attitude back in the mix. Guilty on all charges.

Maybe I'm not giving them enough credit, but it all felt very forced. The getting the audience to sing, and I nearly punched Daniel Johns face on the screen when he was pimping channel V...in a LIVE DVD!!!! I really hope this doesn't catch on. I mean, Powderfinger - the schoolboy haircuts, the almost-full dinner suit attire...surely if you're rocking out and giving a half decent energetic performance for you fans paying their hard earned coffers,, you're in no position to have a pristine crop up top and a spiffy jacket and not even work up a sweat?! What makes it even worse is that these sentiments were echoed by several music buffs I know who attended the Big Day Out which Silverchair were playing at this year...and they described exactly the same get-the-audience-involved bullshit that just didn't work because DJ looked and acted like a wanker.

The feelings may be exacerbated from recently aquiring Van Halen's groundbreaking album, 1984. I know a lot of people don't take hair metal seriously. But they were real performers. Showmen no less. They had the simplest riffs, it was hardly groundbreaking technically - but was totally conducive to their stellar stage antics, fireworks, costumes and scissor kicks. They put on a SHOW on stage. And the songs were solid enough to stand up on their own two feet on an album.

Instead of looking like a bunch of guys on their way to a posh restaurant who took a wrong turn because the sat nav played up.

After all this Daniel Johns and dinner suit 'rock' wankery, we should refocus on a band that is doing it hard, keeping it real, raw, and still have an identity. This band is Dead Letter Circus. Brisbane locals, their shows are an energetic frenzy EVERY time.




You can see the reality pouring off.



If you get a chance, CHECK these guys out - they are a natural energy boost.

Things my iPhone saw this week

Ladybugs, cricket and a giant crayfish

Music: Weekly round-up

• The Who: Announced an Australian tour for March next year! Is it worth going just to see Pete and The Dalt? Hell yes it is!!


• Bloc Party: Currently in Australia with a new album, also they are shit.


• Ryan Adams & The Cardinals: Touring in January


• First line up of 2009 V Festival announced: Includes The Killers, Snow Patrol, Kaiser Chiefs, Elbow, Duffy (Who the hell is that?), Louis XIV, The Do, Tame Impala, The Temper Trap and Canyons.

Wow! What a let down! A festival that has played host to The Smashing Pumpkins, The Pixies, The New York Dolls and other awesomeness now gets… The Killers. Wow, just, wow.

• Brisbane gig of the week: Not too much on this weekend, maybe Die! Die! Die! At the Zoo on Saturday 29/11.

Daz

Games: Plamestation 3?

Nothing beats a good rant, whether it be igno-rant or informed…-rant. Anyway plenty have severely ranted on the topic of the unreliability of the current generation of consoles, mainly referring to the 360 with its burning ring of fire. I have my chance to weigh in to the debate with my PS3 calling it quits yesterday. With a problem that seems to be Sony’s version of red ring the poor machine is no longer able to read any discs. So, like seemingly everyone before me am I pissed off and disgusted at the shoddy construction of our leading gaming manufacturers? Simply, no… I’m thoroughly impressed. My PS3 is in fact out of warranty yet Sony will be replacing the console with a refurbished console free of charge, I believe Micro$oft does the same thing, and to me this is just really good business. Now I just have to figure out what to do with myself whilst I wait for the replacement… Learn a language? Read a book? Make pornography? Dust off the Wii… hehe, no.

Daz

Games: Australia fears F.E.A.R 2

And the winner of the latest game refused classification in Australia this year is… F.E.A.R 2! Congratulations!

Daz

Cinema: A Tiny Amount of Comforting (Quantum of Solace)

I don’t think many will argue that blondie Daniel Craig has had a pretty good start at being James Bond, Casino Royale was certainly a hell of a starting point. So how does the follow up rate? Well Jason Bourne would be proud.

Quantum of Solace is the 22nd James Bond film and a direct sequel to Casino Royale. The story picks up where Casino Royale left off, with a pissed off Bond and Mr White the Quantum agent in the boot of his car. From here we jump between about 73 countries with very little explanation and some awesome but extremely hard to follow fight scenes. Everything looks great and the action is hectic and enjoyable but for the entire movie I was waiting for more. You see I was waiting for a James Bond movie, you know, with gadgets and humour and impersonal sex. Maybe I would have been better off going in to this, not knowing this was supposed to be a Bond movie and just enjoying the ride? Overall, it’s well worth a look (it’s not like you aren’t going to see it anyway) but just don’t get too annoyed when Camille just gets out of the car. I’m pretty sure I heard the audience think “take your clothes off you ungrateful witch!” Personally I am hoping that this was a “joining film” of sorts, that tells of the revenge sought by Bond and Camille and sets up for a deeper look into Quantum and a “Bondier” experience in the next one.

Daz