Riot = Not Quiet

I am so behind the times. Seriously, what is the deal with MySpace and why is it so popular? Everywhere I turn now, I see "check out their MySpace page." Lucky for me I discovered Pop Candy, so that I can keep up with the world.

Update on my Scottish posting below: I seem to be inundated with Scottish references lately. I just bought a book called This Is Edinburgh, which was first published in 1961 and has the cutest illustrations. Here is an excerpt: "You take a plane to Edinburgh airport, or a train to Waverly Station--where the wind takes you up Waverly steps directly to Princes Street. ...Here is the Grassmarket, which is neither market nor grass." And I just picked up a copy of Public House, an anthology of random fiction and essays that were generated at The Edinburgh Castle Pub. And I don't think I ever mentioned it, but there is an as-yet-to-be-seen (by me anyway) bagpiper that plays every weekend at the office near my house. Lovely.

Jenny Lewis, or The Toys ‘R’ Us Kid Who Grew Up and Became a Rock Star
This isn’t really so much a tribute to Jenny Lewis as it is an excuse for me to take a trip down my own memory lane, which is riddled with stops in the video rental store of my mind. Let’s take the wayback machine to the land of 80’s movies and recall how this cute redhead starred in Troop Beverly Hills (also starring Carla Gugino, Kelli Martin, and the girl who played Margo on Punky Brewster*) and The Wizard (also starring Fred Savage and Christian Slater!). So I knew of this actress and I recognized her when she was in that retro Toys ‘R’ Us commercial. And then I forgot about her. And suddenly it turns out she’s been the lead singer of a band called Rilo Kiley, a band I really know nothing about except for its occasional mention on The Gilmore Girls. And now she has this solo album out, which is getting great reviews. So you go, redheaded 80’s movie actress girl!
*Speaking of Soleil Moon Frye, did anyone ever see the made-for-TV movie with her and Paul Reiser and Mimi Rogers, the girlfriend in Gung Ho?

Recently Watched
Flightplan
A History of Violence
Cold Mountain (I am hard-pressed to name an actor who isn't in this movie)

Recently Read
Cheat and Charmer by Elizabeth Frank
The Circus in Winter by Cathy Day

"It's Shite Being Scottish!"

Who knew today was National Tartan Day? I stumbled across this bit of triva completely by accident (but that is the case with all the triva I acquire). According to the official website,
"Scottish-Americans have contributed mightily to the fields of the arts, science, politics, law, and more. Today, over eleven million Americans claim Scottish and Scotch-Irish roots -- making them the eighth largest ethnic group in the United States. These are the people and accomplishments that are honored on National Tartan Day, April 6th."

Because there are so many Scottish folks living in America, the poor lonely lads in Scotland have had to outsource for dates: www.dateahotscot.com

I don't know how accurate it is, but an article in Salon.com reports that a recent European survey has named Scotland the worst small country to live in. And in related news, the UK government has confirmed an outbreak of the bird flu in Scotland. Those poor bastards.

Random thought of the day
I don’t know why this is stuck in my head, but does anyone else remember reading the poem "The Highwayman" in high school?
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight, over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding- riding-riding-
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.