Nerds and Activists Unite!! Boycott Arizona!!!

This blog has been primarily a source for all things Nerdlinger-related, and what's more Nerdy and complex than fucked up Politics? Just a quick rant against the racist and illegitement Anti-Immigration law that was just passed Arizona, which would require all Arizona Police Officers to stop, question and determine the immigration status of any supposed "mexican person" they see walking down the street. I don't even know where to start bashing this insane legistlation! We must do everything in our power to help sway the state to outlaw the bill! Fortunately, public outcry has been so great, there are already massive lawsuits and protests underway around the country including strategies for Boycotting the entire State of Arizona. We must put pressure on the state government to show that this type of ignorance and intolerance is not acceptable. I have many friends in Arizona and my heart goes out to all of them who will have to unfairly defend themselves against ignorant Police interrogations until this is settled.

Its Really Happening!! MC CHRIS Twin Peaks Tribute Song!!

By now everyone must be somewhat familiar or suspicious of my massive Twin Peaks obsession. Its my comfort show. Im a nerd for most everything David Lynch, but Twin Peaks holds a special place for me. I've sat through the seasons a billion goddamn times and it keeps getting better every time I see it! I know it by and love it with all my heart. Perhaps this means there will have to be a full Peaks blog entry to come in the near future... Anyway, being a complete nerd myself is it any surprise that one of my favorite names in Hip Hop is MC CHRIS? Ive been a fan of his for years and even saw him when he came up to a sparsely attended show at a crappy brewery up here in the north coast. Well now there are two reasons to celebrate.

1. ON April 1st. MC CHRIS added a song to his website. Its a full on tribute to Twin Peaks. I don't think I need to elaborate on how long I've wanted this to happen and how excited I am. Not his greatest song, but definitely up there for me. Amazing!

2. MC CHRIS has just released a new full length record MC CHRIS GOES TO HELL, which continues the sketches and themes from his last album MC CHRIS IS DEAD. HELL actually compiles three short EPs that were previously released as PART 6 part 1, 2 and 3 (666 get it), plus some extras. As with all MC CHRIS albums, the lyrics remain very clever and solid throughout, but what always makes or brakes the songs, for me personally, are the beats and the music. The production has definitely changed since his the days of Fettes Vett and now take on a smoother more club/dance vibe, vocal tuner in full effect and these are the songs I like surprisingly. Or they go the exact opposite direction with glitched out computer distorted beats that don't really work for me. And like all his albums, there are some songs that are good but not great, and then there are the sparkly diamonds that make every MC CHRIS record worth owning. Plus the sketches on the album are almost better than the music. They are obviously improvised and extremely hilarious. In short, even though I already own PART 6 Parts 1 2 and 3 already, Im going to get this record for the few extra songs, all of which Im sure will be entertaining, but one or two of which Im hoping will make me smile and remember why I love MC CHRIS in the first place; hilarious nerd rhymes over pure melody.

Interesting Stuff Over At Warrenellis.com

Found an interesting trailer for an upcoming documentary called "THE OTHERS" at Warrenellis.com, home of the English comic book author, novelist, scriptwriter, reporter. Tons of great random factoids and interesting stories from around the world that may have slipped through the cracks. THE OTHERS is the first documentary project from ResistNetwork and is examines the lethal implications of the massive wall being constructed along the U.S./Mexico boarder.

check out more at Warrenellis.com and Resistnetwork.com

Brazil! And The Genius Of Terry Gilliam

Last night I had the pleasure of attending an early showing of Gilliam's 1985 classic BRAZIL, an appropriately Monty Python inspired comedy/drama set in an all too familiar buracratic distopia where secret police burst into your home in the middle of Christmas eve night and dissapear your husband while asking you to sign the receipt in return. Like so many tales before it BRAZIL echos the same critiques of capitalism and conformity that were caught on film in METROPOLIS (1927) and the same themes of militarization shown in THE BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN (1925). There is even an homage to the famous Potemkin scene in which police are marching down the staircase and massacring citizens. Think 1984 or BRAVE NEW WORLD or our own present day reality for that matter mixed with the HUDSUCKER PROXY, captured in the iconic and bizzare Gilliam wide-angle style and you get an amazingly funny and thought provoking film that is appropriately beautiful and horrificly unsettling. And like many of the classics which it resembles it will leave you very satisfied yet disturbed at how not so far from reality this absurd tale really is.

Cooper Watches Yet Another Amazing UK Comedy Series!!

'Ello Everyone. Dale Cooper here with a quick review of yet another brilliant show from the UK, "BLACK BOOKS". This is another gem co-written by Graham Linehan, the jolly genius who almost single handedly wrote and directed some other hilarious shows, THE IT CROWD and FATHER TED. This time we focus on a depressed bookstore owner, played by Dylan Moran (Sean of the Dead, Run Fat Boy Run) who would much rather kick out his customers and drink than actually sell anything. Bill Baily and Tamsin Greig round out the small cast as his new accountant and a neighboring shop owner respectively, and the combination seems very similar in pace and humor to the very Seinfeld influenced IT CROWD. Very simple sets, a small, neurotic cast and simple situations that eventually build and collide in extremely clever ways. As someone who was not a Huge fan of the Seinfeld phenomena, to admit that you like not one but two! shows that are self-admittedly styled in the same fashion, makes me wonder what it was that i didn't like in that Sitcom versus why I fell in love with these UK Series. I think i just plain like the british cast better. Even though BLACK BOOKS and THE IT CROWD are very reminisent of US sitcoms, there is a lower-budget charm and a subtle, clever delivery of humor that is uniquely its own. Check it out for yourself. Full episodes can be easily tracked down over our scandalous internet movie sites, such as Tv links etc...

Dale Cooper Says: Stop What Your Doing And Watch These Shows Now!!!

Here are some great British comedies, a few of which are already becoming fairly popular over here. These particular few are the genius-brain-babies of Matthew Holness, Richard Ayoade and Matt Berry!

GARTH MARENGHI'S DARKPLACE
This is fake documentary of sorts, focusing on a controversial 1980s TV series about non other than, Garth Marenghi (Matthew Holness): Doctor, Author, Dreamweaver etc.. Complete with shitty film quality, hilarious overdubs for one character and interviews with the original fictitious cast, including Producer and novice actor, Dean Learner (Richard Ayoade).

MAN TO MAN WITH DEAN LEARNER
Dean Learner, fictitious Producer of Darkplace, chit chatting in his "Mansionette"
"...Live from his luxury penthouse apartment in London's glittering East End, Dean Learner Club Owner, Entrepreneur, and Publisher of high-class gentleman's magazines, invites you to join him for an exclusive Man to Man!"

SNUFFBOX WITH MATT BERRY AND RICH FULCHER
Truly one of the strangest comedy series that I've seen, but still a super funny variety show from exuberant genius Matt Berry and casually cuss spewing American, Rich Fulcher. Matt comes from a long line of affluent hangmen, and is content to sit swilling whiskey in the gentleman's club with Rich. Sounds odd and simple enough, then enter the time traveling door, the repeating theme song and other extremely random sketches in which Matt basically screws Rich over repeatedly in terribly hilarious ways and what's left is something of a loosely coherent stream of sketches..a...snuff..box...of sorts? What can I say? Its hard to describe, but a really interesting look into the twisted genius of Matt Berry, who seems to be in every single one of these shows.

I'm Making My Lunch!!! Sandwiches Time 99.9FM 1st Show Success!!! Podcast Up Friday 4/2

Last night marked my official return to the Pirate airwaves and what nerdfest it was, clocking in at just under 4 hours! I just couldn't stop spinning and sampling and the next thing i knew it was 1am. I was ecstatic, anxious and frustrated, under-prepared over-caffeinated, trying not to spill my tasty beverage while struggling to find the next record to throw on next because the lame sample I cued up wasn't the right one and it's come to an unforeseen dramatic pause in the movie and its been the equivalent of dead air for the better part of a minute, all the while praying that the CD I cued up isn't thrashed too bad to play. I was so happy. I missed the radio so goddamn much. Thanks to Red Rasta (RIP Downbeat) for showing me the ropes and helping me record this travesty for future humiliation when its finally podcasted. This first episode of Sandwiches Time will be uploaded soon over at Specialagent-Dalecooper.podomatic.com! Its a long name but its worth the finger work I swear. Just follow the link in the sidebar, but i must warn you, there's nothing there yet. This episode will be up by tomorrow and if all goes according to my master plan, there will be a new show podcast every week and world domination will come soon aft....maybe I shouldn't mention the latter part....

Just a quick note: Free Radio Santa Cruz aka FreakRadio celebrated their 15 year anniversary last night. Check out the story on the Indybay news feed.