Slices of Fried Gold - 10/14/08

Another week, another set of recommendations from me. This week I have two things I'm massively late on and another something that I'm sure anyone who reads this regularly is likely absolutely sick of hearing. No less, here are my recs for the week.

Music: Ratatat

Anything and everything Ratatat. Almost entirely instrumental, pretty much entirely fantastic as well. If you're the type who doesn't enjoy beat oriented electronic music, this isn't likely for you. Looking for deep lyrics? You don't get any lyrics here.

However, if you're looking for wondrously layered soundscapes, amalgamations of many electronic sounds, and actual panther roars in your music...well, have I got some music for you to listen to.

They drop some fat (phat?) beats here, and whether you want to listen to 2008 release LP3, 2006 release Classics, or 2004's self titled affair, you're going to get some damn fine music. Also, yes, I am rather late to this party. But it's cool, I'm making up for lost time quickly.

Books: Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis

Warren Ellis is my favorite comic writer. Well, to be fair, it's probably a tie between him and Brian K. Vaughan. Both dabble in extracurricular activities however, with BKV being a top writer for Lost and Ellis working the occasional prose based novel as well.

This is Ellis' first release, and I'm only a little ways in but I love it all the same. It captures the high concept plots he always brings to the table, the vulgarity of Transmetropolitan, and the new wave, sci-fi anglings on political situations that he so often injects into his writings.

In short, this novel is about an extremely down on his luck private eye, hired by the government to essentially restart America by finding the second, secret Constitution that's been lost somewhere in the underworld. Pretty bizarre, but so far? Hilarious, and extremely well written. Like I'd expect from Ellis, any day of the week.

TV: How I Met Your Mother season 4

I don't know if I've mentioned this yet, but I kind of like this show. So far, the season has been as good as ever, somehow making hysterical episodes out of the following concepts: hatred of New Jersey, picking up women in an old man costume, Regis Philbin, the world's greatest burger, interventions, Canadian alter egos that only come out when plastered, renaissance faires, not seeing Star Wars, and taking orders from bears.

This show can make a joke out of anything. It's proven it this season, plus it maintains its ability to be touching without laying on the sap too thick. That's a hard line to walk, but they walk it well.

Plus, Barney Stinson maintains his position as the single funniest character on television. You were robbed of an Emmy NPH. Jeremy Piven cannot hold a candle to you.

America's Favorite Cougar?

Tina vs. Sarah

As per usual, I'm here to ask the hard questions. With Tina Fey's impersonation of Sarah Palin sinking in with the American public and the McCain/Palin tickets numbers dropping precipitiously, only one question is on the mind of this blogger: is this the single biggest cougar overlap in the history of America? Are we seeing modern day cougar history with this momentous occasion?

It's a fair question, and one that needs to be prefaced with a story. My good friends Colver and Lorna purchased a Christmas present for me after a couple of run-ins with cougars (also known as attractive older women who happen to be interested in younger men - not to be confused with their opposite number, the puma, which is an unattractive older woman who is interested in younger men). That present?

My Christmas present

The present was a t-shirt that was akin to the design above, except much darker. No less, it identified myself as a cougar hunter, which is hilarious and untrue, but I wore it with pride no less. I swear, they hunt me.

My point is, I think this shirt qualifies me as an aficionado on all things cougar related. Thus the question - is this the single greatest cougar overlap in the history of America? I say yes. I'd say Sarah Palin and Tina Fey, in some order, may be our top two cougar candidates in this great country, and Fey portraying Palin simply overloads the cougar scale to some sort of "queen of the jungle" levels. Even with the economic crisis and the uncertainty in the upcoming presidential election, I can say unequivocally one thing.

It's never been a better time to be a young man in America. We're in the midst of some sort of cougar renaissance. Bask it in America.

Note: I'd take Fey over Palin any day. Nerds are always better than hockey moms in my book.

Failure to Count

I'm working on this major project right now where I had to get a variety of codes set up for our front lines to be able to offer the product to customers, proof copy and advertisements that were being put out, design a coupon as a handout at point of sale, deal with processes for getting the customer from point A to point B and ending up with their services, and getting every detail out to the front lines without generating a ton of questions.

And I did it.

No problem.

I mean, come on. I've got skills, son (as per usual, saying this exactly like Martin Lawrence in my head).

My opposite number with the business my company is working with calls me up after the project is ready to launch asking how many total coupons I delivered to him. I printed 1,012 two part carbonless coupons, so I said it's easy, I'll count mine and let him know how many I have - that will give him his number.

Except I forgot one major detail.

I suck at count.

It's kind of unbelievable that I can do nearly everything that is brought to my desk, but when presented with the simple concept of counting coupons, I get pretty much dominated. I blame the fact I nearly constantly am thinking of other things, which is why I'm really good at multitasking, but a great reason for why I'm terrible at counting. No less, I lost count roughly 76 times (roughly because I lost count of how many times I lost count) and it took me way too long, until I finally estimated the number as 212 and called the guy back.

Estimation is way easier than counting. Underrated as well, if you ask me.