tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71517332024-03-14T14:48:51.165-04:00Obiter DictumWoman's virtue is man's greatest invention --- Cornelia Otis SkinnerRobin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.comBlogger1777125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-65032860253492231422010-03-14T19:36:00.002-04:002010-03-14T19:39:08.827-04:00I think this blog needs a new nameIt has almost been a year since I've been here. Can you believe that? Most people have probably looooong since stopped checking this space. The only thing that makes me feel a little better is that most of the people that I used to link to haven't updated their blogs since around the same time. <br /><br />So, I changed the template. It had been orange and white for almost six years. It was time for a change, no? And, as much as I would like to change the name, I think it still fits. After all, it isn't like the conversation is going to go highbrow in this space. I would never do that to you. Maybe a change of color is good for now.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-69173732843677375842009-06-08T10:26:00.001-04:002009-06-08T10:26:59.549-04:00Shout It Out for Your Library!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/Zc3wMrnQCZU' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/Zc3wMrnQCZU'/></object></p><p>What they said, and more. </p></div>Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-31432101708153656632009-06-06T15:40:00.003-04:002009-06-06T15:41:32.074-04:00Oh yeahI completely spaced the fact that my blog is now 5 years old! I know I don't post here as I should, but I still think that is pretty exciting. That's longer than some marriages last! Of course, the blog is a lot easier to get along with since the conversations are pretty much one way......<br /><br />Anyway, Happy Blogiversary (albeit late) to me!Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-28233533848278543502009-06-06T15:37:00.003-04:002009-06-06T15:39:22.702-04:00Busy Busy BusyStudying for the bar. Yes, again. I'm kind of glad I skipped it in Feb. I seem to have more time now, although I'm still working. Yes, full time. How else do you pay rent? Or buy food? Or buy books.....I'm addicted to all these things, so I must keep working<br /><br />But, studying seems easier this time around. I don't have all those other demands on my time that I had LAST summer. I should be able to find an extra 3 points this time around so I don't have to do this again.<br /><br />What have you all been up to?Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-75666714014528012092009-04-20T22:43:00.002-04:002009-04-20T22:48:59.779-04:00My eyes hurtI saw Crank 2 or whatever, Crank reloaded? Crank 2: electric boogaloo? <br /><br />What the subtitle is, it should have been disaster. Seriously, I wasn't expecting the great American masterpiece or anything. It's Crank. I didn't see the first one, but I heard enough about it to know it was an action type movie, lots of running and chasing and crashing and shooting and t&a (because that's what the boys like) and Jason S without his shirt (because that's what <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span> like) Great. <br /><br />This movie was not even saved by Jason. It was terrible. It was horrible. It was Herrible. Torrible? Yeah, it was that freaking bad.<br /><br /><br />Sunday, I saw State of Play. I would have liked to have seen the British version so I would have something to compare it to. Bottom line: Russell Crowe is a heck of an actor. Like him or hate him, you can't take that from the guy. Rachel McAdams more than held her own opposite him. Helen Mirren cracked me up. Ben Affleck. Well, he's been knocked in the past for his acting (or lack thereof.) Acting alongside RC probably didn't help. BUT, I do think that directing Gone Baby Gone helped him become a better actor. He seemed better to me. Robin Wright Penn was pretty good too.<br /><br />It was a 50% weekend, cinematically speaking.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-40741033109412013182009-04-13T10:25:00.001-04:002009-04-13T10:27:12.198-04:00WellI think it may have been post 50 degrees over the weekend. The strange thing was that while Indy was cloudy and cool, Illinois was bright, sunny and warm. I think it was trying to entice me back, honestly. Because, of course, you know the weather is ALL about me.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-64989139940057391492009-04-10T09:20:00.002-04:002009-04-10T09:23:46.493-04:00Easter at 50+50+ degrees, that is. I'm hoping that is the case in Northern Illinois this weekend. Or "Upper Illinois" as I like to call it. I think I'm on the only one which would make me, officially, a dork. Please, act surprised. <br /><br />I'm bringing a coat just in case, but Weather Channel <span style="font-style: italic;">promises </span>that it will be in the 50s. Let's hope that is the case. I couldn't bear April snow. I really, really could not. <br /><br />I don't anticipate internet access so Happy Easter folks! Have a good weekend.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-19766377682248056672009-04-08T19:01:00.002-04:002009-04-08T19:09:03.356-04:00I have not!Who said I disappeared off the face of the earth?! That is NOT true. Where have I been? Well.....um.....<a href="http://unpaged.blogspot.com">over here</a> some and.....<a href="http://twitter.com/Tuphlos">over here</a> some and at work. I kept meaning to post over here, I really did. I've had lots to say, actually! I've seen movies (Race to Witch Mountain, Duplicity, Taken and Fast and Furious!) I've been out and about. Hell, I've even been mentioned in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/books/08roma.html?_r=2">New York FREAKING Times! </a>(and can I just say how COOL that is? I love pimping books and libraries) <br /><br />But I missed ya'll! So, I hope to be back soon......and then I'll be gone to study for the bar. I'm sure all of you want to hear about that, though, right? Nothing is more entertaining than a whining blog. Come on.....<br /><br />What have YOU been up to?Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-85613933475702362982009-03-19T11:05:00.001-04:002009-03-19T11:05:54.656-04:00Seriously<a href="http://baracksteleprompter.blogspot.com/">Cracking me up.</a>Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-20010064916823590642009-03-08T14:59:00.002-04:002009-03-08T14:59:49.165-04:00I don't care<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrzaFGUfBw-t9q0WcobzGTnMgk44VzcImIssjnXKr43yfJLt2zHoUktd8HrkInrvj45njW9gXqu6amDNvoLYypkWpriyCDi97ZytmzxGWv_sL-mXW68HS5A_IJHGNzdSY2D-RPA/s1600-h/ds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310893640763276114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrzaFGUfBw-t9q0WcobzGTnMgk44VzcImIssjnXKr43yfJLt2zHoUktd8HrkInrvj45njW9gXqu6amDNvoLYypkWpriyCDi97ZytmzxGWv_sL-mXW68HS5A_IJHGNzdSY2D-RPA/s400/ds.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>what this book is about. The cover is just wrong. </div>Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-33897189443317241402009-03-05T10:13:00.000-05:002009-03-05T10:14:21.378-05:00is it just meOr does the new Arbys "Roast Burger" look EXCEPTIONALLY gross. <br /><br />I'm an Arbys fan, don't get me wrong. But........yuck. <br /><br /><br />Yuck.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-25469708578377043672009-02-26T15:49:00.002-05:002009-02-26T15:51:19.608-05:00Rainy Days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0eV_vI7AxVRRQYm22ILscdnqLYvDi98542l_AiHLWf1ltCAcg3DhfHqSNWkg7KtfSD0ZALqBqhNO3TcjEHZrP8z7-Klt6GQJMpgpNTIOGZBbiB9u2DvzsETlBRTAemT2NAIMAw/s1600-h/mf.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307211316298671938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0eV_vI7AxVRRQYm22ILscdnqLYvDi98542l_AiHLWf1ltCAcg3DhfHqSNWkg7KtfSD0ZALqBqhNO3TcjEHZrP8z7-Klt6GQJMpgpNTIOGZBbiB9u2DvzsETlBRTAemT2NAIMAw/s400/mf.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Are perfect for Sting's <em>Mercury Falling</em></div>Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-92219783002925529872009-02-23T16:06:00.000-05:002009-02-23T16:07:36.643-05:00Can I just say.....As much as I liked The Dark Knight, I liked it even MORE on the Imax. If you have a chance, and you're so inclined, I recommend seeing it while it is here on the big screen. It really is like a different film. I noticed so much more than I did the first time I watched it. I'm not going to tell you this is Citizen Kane or anything, but it really was very good.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-90634176279761298012009-02-13T14:34:00.005-05:002009-02-13T14:54:47.827-05:00The Dark Knight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkqH_gdBPefb9dFXrDB70bNlXrQGLBPp5KVwT0I9NkTZq51NyYGJv5vc96jxDnoKxyU9Y3Q5x88oHqOC_aEX2lSz4TfEdOlcoopfAO7w98EBpCEWb-88OpQjKkth6rEo83CtqhA/s1600-h/dk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkqH_gdBPefb9dFXrDB70bNlXrQGLBPp5KVwT0I9NkTZq51NyYGJv5vc96jxDnoKxyU9Y3Q5x88oHqOC_aEX2lSz4TfEdOlcoopfAO7w98EBpCEWb-88OpQjKkth6rEo83CtqhA/s320/dk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302370764203099890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />First of all, I'm a huge Batman fan. No, not the campy Adam West version. I missed out on that whole era, sad but true. But, reading the graphic novels is a big reason why I like my movies, books and tv shows dark dark dark. During the 80s/90s, many comic books took a dark turn and weren't all that happy go lucky, cheery fluff reading that many non-readers automatically associate with comics. It is that environment that created things like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spawn_%28comics%29">Spawn </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spawn_%28comics%29">Preacher</a>.....and countless others. Anyway, so I'm an addict. And, I'll pretty much see any comic related movie out there (with a few exceptions. I'm still an Iron Man holdout.)<br /><br />So, the Batman movies have been up and down. The Dark Knight was way, way up. Christian Bale is so incredibly good as Bruce Wayne. Lots of people were okay as Batman, but you need both halves, or it doesn't work. Bale does Bruce and that is the hardest part. And, for as much as the Batman villains are mostly the dominant force, this movie seemed to achieve a real balance. I think Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent/Two-Face is getting a raw deal in the recognition department. He was also fantastic. Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman rarely miss in anything, and certainly don't in this. I also appreciated Maggie Gyllenhaal tremendously, although my actress of the year award (for the things I've seen.....which hasn't been much) still goes to Jennifer Ehle in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482572/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pride and Glory</span></a>. It has been months, she had a small part, and I'm STILL thinking about it. Yes, she really was that good. <br /><br />Anyway, so if you're late (like me) and you haven't seen it yet, check out The Dark Knight. Heath Ledger was also fantastic, but you've heard all of that before, I'm sure. <br /><br />And, this movie completely blew me away in Blu Ray. I was a skeptic, seeing only marginal improvement in some films, before this. Now I am a true blu believer.....at least for now. We'll see if I can find something else that looks as jaw droppingly stunning as this did.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-9424369063753967982009-02-01T09:29:00.002-05:002009-02-01T09:32:17.784-05:00It feels wrong.....but I couldn't care less about the Superbowl. There hasn't been much of a Superbowl atmosphere for one thing. And, I don't care about the teams. If pressed, I guess I would pick Steelers over Cardinals......even though the Cards are more the hometown team since they started out in Chicago. (I think I have that right.) But, I just don't care. I may not even watch. I'm not even excited about the commercials. <br /><br />Happy Sunday!Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-36293450665764461182009-01-21T16:28:00.003-05:002009-01-21T16:31:27.813-05:00Photojournalists rock!I'm sure <strike>Sam</strike> Joe the <strike>unlicensed</strike> plumber, wait.....campaigner.......wait.......foreign correspondent...... could have taken MUCH better pictures.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/the_inauguration_of_president.html">From the Boston Globe</a><br /><br /><br />Hooray for Journalists!Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-56517483542169450642009-01-20T10:33:00.001-05:002009-01-20T10:37:38.076-05:00I love Charlie GibsonI know there is supposed to be something profound said here, but why give ya'll something new? It isn't like you've gotten that here before. <br /><br />Watching Inauguration coverage, I have come to the conclusion that, while I love MSNBC, I can't quit Charlie, Diane and George. Charlie isn't Peter Jennings, and you know <a href="http://tuphlos.blogspot.com/2005/08/shock-before-bed.html">how I felt about him</a>, but he is a worthy successor.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-35413232209773837922008-12-31T14:37:00.002-05:002008-12-31T14:39:25.423-05:00Wow end of 08 already?Seemed to just fly by. Here's hoping that 2009 is better for everyone than 2008 was. I would say that the national and international news couldn't get any more bleak, but that would just be asking for trouble!<br /><br />Happy NewYear, everybody!Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-26191628325544604672008-12-19T09:25:00.002-05:002008-12-19T09:28:34.963-05:00Every yearin American Studies (a 2 hour AP English & History combined class for high school juniors) there was an assignment to unmask "Deep Throat". I'm not sure how many years they gave the assignment, or what they did once he decided to unmask himself. I guessed Spiro Agnew. I don't know why. I don't know if anyone ever got it right, I'm sure someone did over the years. It's just a shame that the assignment can't be done anymore.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-69853492350359716462008-12-14T13:13:00.003-05:002008-12-14T13:24:12.136-05:00HiHas it really been a month? How times flies when you're not doing anything! I have learned that I don't do "free time" very well. Besides looking for a new job, (and doing my current job) I haven't done anything constructive over the last 40 days. <br /><br />On the job front: I think my official stats are: I've turned down one job and two interview requests. I've been turned down for two jobs and one potential job is no more due to budget cutbacks at the University. I'm glad I have a job right now, or else I might be really concerned! The search continues. One of my good friends was recently let go from her University job because of budget issues. Scary stuff.<br /><br />In the meantime, before I was a librarian......or a lawyer.....or a resident of Indiana.....I was a musician. So, to take up some of my free time, I'm going back to music. Music lessons right now because I could definitely use music lessons. Then we'll see. That should be enough to keep me out of trouble right now. <br /><br />What's new with all of you?Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-46347161654034414082008-12-14T12:59:00.003-05:002008-12-14T13:13:09.437-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogqRQDjn-cNAsdQA15VOWAAW-czpskxmMIJumnzJ52cIJmAggcnUBxf8oCjutYz60nRTHYeCymaa8ZOPpB-eoQzW1S-UYo0Q0RyMv7OPHwNc-PnlJfH4YAjnMps2zgLEVUZ-J4A/s1600-h/hp.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279710335409598370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogqRQDjn-cNAsdQA15VOWAAW-czpskxmMIJumnzJ52cIJmAggcnUBxf8oCjutYz60nRTHYeCymaa8ZOPpB-eoQzW1S-UYo0Q0RyMv7OPHwNc-PnlJfH4YAjnMps2zgLEVUZ-J4A/s320/hp.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>"He knew what he was doing when he gave me the Deluminator, didn't he? He -- well," Ron's ears turned bright red and he became engrossed in a tuft of grass at his feet, which he prodded with his toe, "he must've known I'd run out on you."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>"No," Harry corrected him. "He must've known you'd always want to come back." </div>Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-43953525551287156102008-11-03T13:44:00.001-05:002008-11-03T13:44:26.486-05:00Why Would Anyone Want to Stop You From Voting?<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/Az6hil8l15I' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/Az6hil8l15I'/></object></p></div>Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-89510986338696222732008-10-27T10:15:00.001-04:002008-10-27T10:15:15.978-04:00Defiance - Trailer #1 <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/-J4mN-W-p0A' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/-J4mN-W-p0A'/></object></p><p>Someone decided to put Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber in a movie together.<br /><br />I love you, whoever you are. I really, really do. </p></div>Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-28026227134939751702008-10-25T16:08:00.003-04:002008-10-25T16:30:22.186-04:00Review: Pride and Glory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGrriHfIvqBWi2E9b4C74LDWADfcHLFf68DRCuYJKhZ51p5pcq5ldSGQbvVK5Kgc3-m3_MOQBLwXBVMfbdQsWDhsaLItWitIC2CpnPkudNQ01DJTPOiPTn4DgqTWsCyZtUu9LsA/s1600-h/pg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGrriHfIvqBWi2E9b4C74LDWADfcHLFf68DRCuYJKhZ51p5pcq5ldSGQbvVK5Kgc3-m3_MOQBLwXBVMfbdQsWDhsaLItWitIC2CpnPkudNQ01DJTPOiPTn4DgqTWsCyZtUu9LsA/s320/pg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261186371281738002" border="0" /></a><br />I am an unapologetic, unflinching, shameless Colin Farrell fan. That's what you need to know before reading anything else. So, jump off the train here if that is a problem. I'm also a crazy Noah Emmerich fan, and wow was he outstanding.<br /><br />Great. So, once again, I am at odds with <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/prideandglory">Metacritic</a>. I don't think there were trite and worn plot points. Well, okay, the ending was a telegraphed punch, I'll grant that one. But some things were not spelled out in great detail. In some ways, it was your typical cop/family drama. If you have watched tv or seen movies over the past 15 to 20, you know how these things go. There is a formula. What sets them apart is how they move within that formula. <br /><br />The acting was spectacular. You'll hear all about Ed and Colin, of course. They were really good. Jon Voight reminded people that he was Jon Voight, and not just Angelina's daddy. But, Noah and Jennifer Ehle really stole this movie away from the bigger named stars. Truly. You will come away from this movie remembering their performances, especially Ehle. She was beautiful and haunting and heartbreaking. I'm sure this film isn't "artistic" enough to be nominated for anything come Oscar time, but she should definitely get a supporting actress nod. Yeah, she was that good. And I can't say enough about Noah's performance. I don't know why he isn't used more. Maybe it is his choice. If so, he's a selfish bastard! He needs to work more. This movie is set up as Ed vs. Colin, but Noah is the heart of both the family part of this drama, and the cop part. <br /><br />It is "just another cop movie" and it isn't. I think this might be one of those movies where people will be thinking about it long after they leave the theater.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7151733.post-36056658762307236072008-10-19T13:17:00.006-04:002008-10-19T13:52:04.113-04:00Media-ocrityI haven't really been neglecting my blog, really......okay, I have. I admit it. I've been spending more time over on Unpaged because, really, I love books. There, I said it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anyway, back to music cd and movie reviews.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Hudson/dp/B0019T9FL6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1224436910&sr=8-1">Jennifer Hudson</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258916658373657666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBCjaTOi2rBA7KP7OVz6HKzcHfKwOOZTlECvi-ix8FpdTequC15K_tWj3PEyNzQT9KLnJ892mtw43lVLU6sRV9RUUhoNdrX5XumgBQ8qiKmyhG-z_XG3oTbANqw2IcRHE3onBOw/s320/jhud.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />LOVE this CD. I wasn't a big J-Hud fan when she was on American Idol. It wasn't that I disliked her singing, I thought she was incredible. I just liked others more. All that said, this is a really great CD. It reminds me a lot of an Angie Stone cd. Very much R&B and not the crap that has tried to pass itself off as R&B over the last <strike>decade</strike> few years. I hope it does well just so others will follow in her footsteps and get back to what sounds good.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Block-New-Kids/dp/B001CISXEY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1224437367&sr=1-2">The Block</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7_BMhwNLkmGZriGCH6tN297k4qnbYOFk4S72_chIJnAjyvKcOBkwTprs6-p6ZBdeJ4pRipNb8ROcYenIVgR92Wqu-EA0T0tPv3dT-2YBOsnaUOKMDgYHmV5_QEo1DNEnSJ62FQ/s1600-h/nkotb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258918622628648690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7_BMhwNLkmGZriGCH6tN297k4qnbYOFk4S72_chIJnAjyvKcOBkwTprs6-p6ZBdeJ4pRipNb8ROcYenIVgR92Wqu-EA0T0tPv3dT-2YBOsnaUOKMDgYHmV5_QEo1DNEnSJ62FQ/s320/nkotb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I was a huge fan and I'm probably still a huge fan. I didn't love this CD. If I were grading it, I would give it a solid B. It was a little too overproduced for me. Now, I know a lot of people say things like "overproduced" and no one ever knows what the hell that means. For me, it means that instead of listening to a group, I'm hearing all the slick bells and whistles of the studio, and if I can hear it with my novice ears, it is overproduced. Probably one of my favorite CDs over the past few years has been <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chariot-Gavin-DeGraw/dp/B00009V8Z9/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1224437775&sr=8-4">Gavin DeGraw's </a>debut cd. <a href="http://tuphlos.blogspot.com/2004/08/gavin-degraw.html">I know I've mentioned </a>it on here a few times. That is my concept of the opposite of overproduction. It's just music. That's what I think is missing from this CD.</p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-War-Ghost-Whitey-Ford/dp/B001DOBH4K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1224437858&sr=1-1">Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford</a></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YR1YfiH_uRZmOWpaSPH3BlojUYPAW2GHnhW_0rAM1Ehoz1UdOIieDwYFU7a8mKvLcm6wpD0mmfPUDrZB1K6EEeU2utHwzfjPri439wZPyAbTaxFjR3cvFV0N9fhKQDAvbztXuA/s1600-h/everlast.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258920752119065458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YR1YfiH_uRZmOWpaSPH3BlojUYPAW2GHnhW_0rAM1Ehoz1UdOIieDwYFU7a8mKvLcm6wpD0mmfPUDrZB1K6EEeU2utHwzfjPri439wZPyAbTaxFjR3cvFV0N9fhKQDAvbztXuA/s320/everlast.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I can, in no way, shape or form, be objective about Everlast. Ya'll know that already though, right? I have loved everything he's done. This CD is pretty good. I was already familiar with the <em>Letters Home from the Garden of Stone</em> song, and I still love it. The rest of the cd is pretty dark, but that should come as no surprise to anyone who has listened to him post House of Pain. This is not a CD you want to listen to if you're wanting to be cheered up. </p><br /><p>Eagle Eye</p><br /><p></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_aCNbuVJ72Gi1IcnwFy7wXIowm9mJxzMUMgHAJRPXIlTpiE2SVeOZPP1GZN3CGtX-S3L9HYgh2zD-MYMwsMT0oqTxQW2FQNeY4BPxMv9MDHusspB5EObRU6LJq4KfbApq-jg1g/s1600-h/ee.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258923366113068690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_aCNbuVJ72Gi1IcnwFy7wXIowm9mJxzMUMgHAJRPXIlTpiE2SVeOZPP1GZN3CGtX-S3L9HYgh2zD-MYMwsMT0oqTxQW2FQNeY4BPxMv9MDHusspB5EObRU6LJq4KfbApq-jg1g/s320/ee.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />You know, the <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/eagleeye?q=eagle%20eye">critics really didn't like this movie</a>. I thought it was fun. Was it plausible? Who knows. Probably not, but then who (in 1960) thought we would have been walking on the moon by the end of the decade? I wasn't crazy about Shia before I saw this movie. I liked him a lot more afterward. I'm a huge Michelle Monaghan fan after watching <em>Gone, Baby Gone</em>. I think the critics should have been nicer to this film. It was better than most of the schlock passing for movies these days.Robin Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569145434953695561noreply@blogger.com0