Director: Shane Carruth
Starring: Shane Carruth, David Sullivan
Running Time: 77 Minutes
How I Found It: Independent Film Channel
Released: May 2005
Josh’s Rating: 9/10 or 1/10 (will be explained later)***

“I can tell you with certainty what I did that night, when it was my turn, but I think it would do little good. Because what the world remembers, the actuality, the last revision, is what counts, apparently. Slowly and methodically, we reverse-engineered a perfect moment. We took from our surroundings what was needed…and made of it something more.”

Working from their garage, Aaron and Abe are two engineers working on a machine that will make them rich. The original idea was to create an anti-gravity device, but after tweaking a few settings, they create something they don’t fully understand, when they accidentally discover a form of time travel. Leave an object in the box, and it will experience over 1000 times the amount of time that it was inside, looping over and over again from the time the machine was turned on until the time it is turned off.

But what if the object in the box was smart and could exit when the loop was back at the beginning? Using mathematical equations, the two men figure out the exact entrance and exit points and decide to climb in and see what happens. At first, they only travel from the evening to the morning, and manipulate the stock market. They then decide to get adventurous with their trips, manipulating their “doubles” and trying to change events in the past to affect their futures. In the end, we’re not sure how many times each man traveled into the past, what the normal timeline should look like, or even if these men are themselves or their doubles.

You’re going to feel like an outsider watching this movie. Filled with technical jargon, the characters are a lot smarter than you and I and tend to talk fast with big words and interrupt each other frequently. It can get a little frustrating at times, but that’s the point. Even these geniuses don’t fully understand what they’ve created: “Look, I’m not going to pretend I know anything about paradoxes, or what follows them. It must work itself out, somehow. I can imagine now way in which this thing could be considered anywhere remotely close to safe. All I know is I spent six hours in there and I’m still alive…You still want to do it?”

Shane Carruth is a mathematician and former engineer who completed this movie on a $7,000 budget. Most of the film was shot in his garage, and his actors were mostly family and friends. He played the part of Aaron because he couldn’t find someone who could play the part and make the technical dialogue sound authentic.

***Primer is not for everyone. If you’re looking for a rainy Sunday afternoon movie to relax with, pick something else. If you’re looking for a fun Friday night flick to watch with your friends, pick something else. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking, discussion-invoking mind-f**k of a film – this is the one for you.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Independent Movie Review: Primer

Related posts:

1. Independent Movie Review: Big Fan
2. Why You Should See (500) Days of Summer
3. Week 15 NFL Preview Review

Each week, the bartenders will be asked a very vague and general question about a random topic. We’d all like to THINK we’re experts on everything and that we live interesting lives, but the fact is we’re all a bunch of normal people with our own opinions. And let us you’re your answer in the comments!

Bartender: Jaime
Dream Job: Entertainment Mogul

I would have to say that my dream job would be that of an entertainment mogul like Oprah. I want to be the next Oprah! Oprah gets to host her own show about topics that she finds extremely fascinating and gets to meet people that actually inspire her. Not only that, but she gets paid a lot of money to do it! Having her own talk show has led to other endeavors like owning a magazine, becoming an investor in movies like Precious, and also doing a great deal of charity work for those in need. Her job is flexible, gives her freedom and she controls her own schedule. She has the power to change people’s lives by covering the topics that she covers and she also has so much respect in the industry. I would love to be able to have that kind of job where you wake up every day and know that you are going to inspire people, not to mention get a nice paycheck to travel the world!

Bartender: Joshy C.
Dream Job: Movie Director/Writer/Producer

I have always loved movies. From cheesy, gory horror flicks to low-budget independent films to big-budget megafilms, I love reading about every detail that went in to making a movie and analyzing the story and dialogue that is in it. A year after I graduated from college, I wrote, filmed, directed, edited, and produced a 15-minute short that won first prize in my college’s film festival. (If you’re interested, you can see it here: YouTube – A Case for Betrayal Part 1 and YouTube – A Case for Betrayal Part 2). My lifelong dream is to make a movie that makes it into a well-known film festival. I have “Screen-writing For Dummies” on my bookshelf and a few scripts half-written, so look out for me in the credits.

Bartender: Jonnie
Dream Job: Restaurant Chef

My dream job has always been to be a chef at pretty much any restaurant where I have creative freedom to add new and exotic dishes to the menu. Growing up I used to watch almost every cooking show that our “basic cable”, old wooden television set had to offer; plus I’d watch my mom and the ladies at our church cook wonderfully unique and traditional meals for the whole church family to enjoy…and we enjoyed the hard work immensely. My other dream job would have to be a foreign relations linguistics consultant working in Washington DC. Very different from culinary arts, I know. Ever since I went on a missions trip to Virginia and stopped in Washington, DC to visit the monuments, I have always day-dreamed about working for the government in some way. I do enjoy learning about different cultures and traveling but once I realized that I barely understand my own language and I’m prone to getting lost almost everywhere I roam, my dream was abruptly grounded. But no matter what line of work I find myself in, the advice my Dad always gave me was to find what you enjoy about the job you’re
in now, because no job is perfect.

Bartender: Katrina
Dream Job: Professional Organizer

I find such pleasure in making order out of chaos. Some people cry at a messy closet, I giggle with glee as I find a way for that closet to look fabulous. I love the feeling of standing back and looking at a finished masterpiece – everything in its place, everything easily found when needed. No more purchasing the same thing twice because you can’t find the first one. Beyond closets, I do e-mail inboxes, to do lists, and shared drives for any business I work for!

Bartender: Kyle Jones
Dream Job: Craft-Brewery Owner

There is no greater American tradition than the practice of commandeering traditions from the countries of our ancestors, and reinventing them in what can only be described as “The American Way”. American beer was once a term that brought a snicker to the faces of Europeans. Grain rations during WWII and the industrial revolution completely changed the way beer was brewed in the states. Flavorful ales gave way to light lagers and pilsners, malted barley was more and more supplemented with rice and other grains, and hops became a footnote–simply a way to tone down the subtle sweetness of the fermented sugars. But in a sort of cultural revival, the craft brewery has made a comeback in the last decade and a half or so, challenging the once-accepted view that the American taste for brew had simply changed with the times. There are hundreds of micro and craft breweries in the country today, the best of which make some of the most distinct and flavorful beers in the world. I have always loved to sample different beers–especially those of small American craft breweries–and the older I get, the more I find myself interested in the practice of brewing. Today, it is a billion-dollar industry, and one which I would love to have a stake in someday.

Bartender: Austin
Dream Job: Voice of the Red Sox

My dream job would be to be the radio voice of the Boston Red Sox. What other job would pay you to spend 162 days a year learning about, watching and openly rooting for the sports team you love? For me, there’s nothing better than a summer night at the ballpark to take in all the action going on around me–I have to be dragged away from the game even if they’re losing 11-0 in the ninth inning. Many people complain that the baseball season is too long (which is an argument that I believe has some merit), but there’s no denying–because there are games almost every day for six months–that a baseball team can grow on you unlike any other in professional sports. The three (sometimes longer) hours a night, plus pre-game and post-game routines, would never get old, because, as the old saying goes, “No two games are ever the same.” I would prefer working radio to TV as I believe that radio allows for so much more creativity to work its way into the announcing process, and that the announcer gets the privilege of painting the picture of that night’s game as the action unfolds. So move over, Joe Castiglione– I’m coming.

If you’d like to submit a question for the bartender, contact Joshy C at cortinajd1@gmail.com.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

What is Your Dream Job?

No related posts.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Independent Movie Review: Layer Cake

Related posts:

1. Independent Movie Review: Big Fan
2. Why You Should See (500) Days of Summer

Each week, the bartenders will be asked a very vague and general question about a random topic. We’d all like to THINK we’re experts on everything and that we live interesting lives, but the fact is we’re all a bunch of normal people with our own opinions. If you don’t like our answers, let us know in the comment section.

Bartender: Jaime
Favorite Place: St. Regis – Bora Bora

I absolutely love to travel and explore new places, but I have to say that my favorite place in the world is Bora Bora. I went there with my husband for our honeymoon and stayed at the St. Regis. It was breathtaking and reminded me of a postcard come to life. The entire vibe of the island was centered on decadence and relaxation. Clear blue waters, beautiful sunsets, and a villa above the water made for a fantastic trip in a magical place. The best part was the fact that we traveled there in November- we felt like we had the whole resort to ourselves. The food was incredible, the people were so friendly, and the scenery couldn’t be beat! It was absolutely paradise. We can’t wait to go back!

Bartender: Joshy C.
Favorite Place: The Mountain Hostel – Gimmelwald, Switzerland

Everyone who has been to the Mountain Hostel will say the same thing as they leave: “If Heaven isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, send me back to Gimmelwald.” The village of about 130 people is accessible only by a cable car. With no TV, newspapers, or even a food store, Gimmelwald is a place to get to know the friendly locals, hike (of course), and enjoy the company of the other travelers who will always say their stay was too short. Hike during the day, enjoy a communal dinner, and drink with your new friends at night before waking up and starting it all over again. I traveled here in the middle of a 3-week backpacking tour with college friends and have been dying to go back ever since.

Bartender: Jonnie
Favorite Place: St. Mary’s Church: Virgin Gorda

My absolutely favorite place in the world is St. Mary’s church in Virgin Gorda located in the British Virgin Islands. My church youth group in high school would always go on a missions trip every other year and help the local churches by doing “hard manual labor”. The island is known for the giant boulders outlining the coasts and was named “Fat Virgin” by the Spanish, who discovered the area, to describe their first impressions of the surroundings. There is a spot in particular that I always retreat to in my mind, which is known (by my youth group) as “The Thinking Rock”. It was simply one single boulder in the back yard of St. Marys church over looking the ocean. A very peaceful and serene getaway, I spent a lot of time thinking, praying, and talking with my brother on that rock. I wouldn’t trade anything for those memories.

Bartender: Katrina
Favorite Place: Brugge, Belgium

My favorite place in the world is Brugge, Belgium. I spent my 20th birthday there with a friend, and it was an experience like no other. After a crazy trip there (getting lost in Lille, France, thinking we were in Belgium) my friend and I spent the weekend in Brussels, but on my birthday we traveled outside the city to Brugge. Called the Venice of the north because of all its canals, it is absolutely beautiful. Uniquely, the canals silted over many years ago, and, as a result, are completely tactically useless and were untouched by WWII, so the architecture is all original. Additionally, it has a small town feel, since it is actually a very small town. The Belgian beer, waffles and chocolate are just the icing on the cake!

Bartender: Kyle
Favorite Place: Makena Beach – Maui, Hawaii

As I’ve stated in previous posts, I am one of the lucky Americans to have grown up with family in Hawaii. My Aunt, Uncle, and cousins live on Maui. There is a natural beauty to the place that makes you step back to admire the fact that something so colorful and serene occurs naturally. From the rain forest jungles of the West Maui Mountains, to the gigantic Haleakala crater — an ash-dune dormant volcano crater at more than 10,000 ft. where you can hike and look down from above the clouds at paradise — on Maui, your “favorite” place is relative. If I had to pick, it would be Makena beach. A short five minute drive up the coastline from the Four Seasons, and the tourist-chic resort town of Wailea you’ll find Makena beach inconspicuously tucked into the lava rock and coral. Also known as “Big Beach,” it’s renowned for its crystal clear topaz waters and surreal view of Molokini, a submerged volcanic crater with a rim that peeks slightly over the ocean surface to form a tiny horse shoe shaped island. Something else you’ll find at Makena beach: locals. Preserved as a state park, there are no ritzy resorts to clutter the natural beauty of this beach. It is Hawaiian beauty in its purest sense. Un-manicured, as if to let nature do its thing and awe you.

Bartender: Taylor Pratt
Favorite Place: Long Lake – Traverse City, Michigan

For over 50 years my family has had beachfront property on Long Lake in Traverse City, MI. We have two beautiful cottages up there where our family gathers each summer. I’ve been going up there at least once a year my entire life, and it hands down is my favorite place to be. You just can’t beat the atmosphere my family has created up there. August is my favorite time to go. The weather is about 75 degrees and sunny just about every day, and the lake has warmed up. Not to mention that the lake is almost entirely vacant from the other cottage-owners. It’s as if we have it all to ourselves. My family and I spend the days swimming, boating, skiing, tubing, sunbathing and just spending quality time together. For the most part we’re all disconnected from the world and are focusing on what matters most: family. Now that my wife and I live in Austin, TX away from our families this place has become even more important to me. I can’t imagine what it would be like not to have the cottages in my life. As soon as you step into them for the first time each summer, you take a deep breath and are instantly hit with over 20 years of memories. From the markings on the door frame that kept track of how tall we all have grown, to the breath-taking sunsets, no other place can even compare to Long Lake.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

What is Your Favorite Place in the World?

Related posts:

1. Wedding Tips – The Church
2. My Life as a Country Song – Some Beach, Blake Shelton

Shakira is hot. Ridiculously hot. There, I got that out of the way. I think she’s very cool too. She spent a semester taking classes at UCLA in disguise so she wouldn’t be treated differently by professors and other students. It’s refreshing to see a celebrity act like a normal person. But when it comes to her song She Wolf…Let’s skip the preamble and get right into the lyrics, shall we?

I’ll start with the chorus:

- “There’s a she wolf in your closet, Open up and set her free. There’s a she wolf in your closet, Let it out so it can breathe.”

I actually like the chorus to this song, because it makes sense. Unless she’s being literal here, and there is an actual wolf locked in her closet. Then it’s animal abuse. But most likely she’s speaking of the primal part of her that she keeps trapped inside and she wishes she could just go crazy sometimes. In a Rolling Stone interview, Shakira had this to say about her song: “‘She Wolf’ came to me very mysteriously. I was in the studio in a bad mood that day, then I got inspired and went to a corner and I wrote the lyrics and the melody in 10 minutes. The image of the she wolf just came to my head, and when I least expected it, I was howling and panting.”

Now I can’t get the image of Shakira howling and panting out of my head. Great. But I’ll force myself to continue. I don’t think she’s telling the truth about writing it in 10 minutes, and here is why:

- “A domesticated girl that’s all you ask of me, Darling it is no joke, this is lycanthropy”

Lycanthropy?? Shakira scores points here for excellent use of a thesaurus and a clever use of a 4-sylable word, but who thinks of Lycanthropy off the top of their head? For anyone who doesn’t have a dictionary laying around or who isn’t a huge nerd, Lycanthropy is the ability of a human to undergo transformation into a wolf. Somehow, I don’t think Shakira, whose first language is Spanish, would have learned that in her English classes.

- “I’m starting to feel just a little abused like a coffee machine in an office”

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner for Worst Metaphor Found In A Song. Moving on…

- “To locate the single men, I got on me a special radar”

I appreciate Shakira’s morality in this statement. She’s not gonna be a home-wrecker. She wants to find a single guy, not a married one. Good for you Shakira, because I’m sure there are about a million married guys who would swallow their wedding rings for a chance with you. But really, a radar to locate single men? And a SPECIAL radar at that?? Wow…

- “And the Fire Department Hotline in case I get in trouble later”

Good for you, Shakira, for being responsible. But then in the same Rolling Stone interview, she says:

- “‘It’s like a more animalistic side of you, a more primitive side … an animal person in a way, So when you understand these things you forgive yourself every time you screw up, you say, It wasn’t me, that was the she wolf … that was the animal in me, that wasn’t me, I have nothing to do with that”.

So while Shakira might be responsible enough to keep the fire department on notice in case things get too crazy, she has absolutely no accountability for her actions.

If you ask me, this song adds up to one very long visit to prison or the psych ward. Try telling a cop, “It wasn’t me, it was the wolf inside me!” I don’t care how hot you are. Maybe you’ll try howling and panting too. But in the end, you’re gonna end up in a straightjacket.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

The Worst Song I’ve Ever Heard…So Far: Shakira – She Wolf

Related posts:

1. The Worst Song I’ve Ever Heard…So Far
2. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Nov. 18 edition
3. My Life as a Country Song – Some Beach, Blake Shelton

Each week, the bartenders will be asked a very vague and general question about a random topic. We’d all like to THINK we’re experts on everything and that we live interesting lives, but the fact is we’re all a bunch of normal people with our own opinions. If you don’t like our answers, let us know in the comment section.

Bartender: Jaime
Strangest Food: Bacon-Chocolate Candy Bar, Olive Oil Ice Cream
Location: Italy

I would have to say that it is a toss up between a chocolate candy bar with bacon in it or olive oil ice cream. I am a huge fan of bacon and a huge fan of chocolate, but not together. There is a kind of candy bar that is sold in Austin and one day I decided to try it. How bad could it be mixing bacon and chocolate together? While the candy bar was not terrible, it was definitely an acquired taste. I couldn’t get over the fact that I was eating bacon covered in chocolate! On the other hand, when I tried olive oil ice cream in Italy it was delicious! The restaurant was known for this particular ice cream so I figured that I could at least give it a shot. Olive oil is not something you picture in ice cream because we are so used to ice cream being sweet, but it was good. I definitely couldn’t have a big serving, but I was glad that I tried it!

Bartender: Joshy C.
Strangest Food: Haggis
Location: Scotland

I’m gonna start with what haggis is so you can get the taste in your mouth. Sheep’s pluck (heart, liver, lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, mutton fat, spices and salt, mixed with beef stock, and simmered in the animal’s stomach for a few hours. Think of a fat, smelly sausage and when you ask what is in it, they tell you, “You wouldn’t eat it if you knew.” Haggis was a way to use all the parts of the animal. I gotta say, I’m not a huge fan, and can’t see how anyone would eat haggis on a regular basis. But then again, I’m not a Scotsman.

Bartender: Jonnie
Strangest Food: Chocolate Covered Honey Bees, Fried Frog Legs, Grilled Gator, Goat Burgers*
Location: Florida

I enjoy engaging in food adventures whenever and however the opportunity presents itself. However, when I was in middle school, I unknowingly, partook in eating chocolate covered honey bees; once I was told what unholy winged thing was in my mouth I almost attacked the woman who tricked me into trying the insect. I do not recommend them. Another food I wouldn’t recommend would be fried frog legs; they taste like fishy chicken (it was an unnatural experience). Other out of the ordinary foods I’ve tested are grilled Gator meat and goat burgers. I was at a church function in my hometown of Plantation, Florida enjoying what I thought was the best chicken appetizer I’d had in awhile until someone came up to me and asked how I liked the Gator. I was surprised yet intrigued. The goat burger experience spawned from a strange tradition from my youth group in high school; every two years we would go on a missions trip to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, we’d visit a restaurant on the beach called Stanley’s which used their own goats to assemble the burgers. It was satisfying but only acceptable in the islands because everything tastes better when you’re starving and sun scorched. All of these foods were an uncommon addition to my culinary history but the most disturbing would definitely be the chocolate covered honey bees, because it not only grossed me out but the experience instantly enraged an otherwise peaceful individual.

Bartender: Katrina
Strangest Food: Bangers and Mash
Location: England

As a child, I was as picky as you could get when it came to food. When I became an adult I experimented more with food, but my experimenting involved things like vegetables and fish – nothing very exciting. I am ashamed to say that as a 25 year old having visited ten foreign countries that the strangest thing I’ve ever eaten was Bangers and Mash in England. And Bangers and Mash is only strange because of it’s name – it’s sausage and mashed potatoes. I know, I’m super boring. I really should go out and eat something crazy soon.

Bartender: Kyle
Strangest Food: Fried Alligator, Boudin Sausage, Chitlins
Location: Louisiana

When you’ve lived in Louisiana for any extended length of time, pinpointing the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten can be difficult. There were some that I loved–fried alligator is phenomenal. And then there were some that I just wasn’t man enough to try–nutria, a Louisiana bayou backwoods-delicacy, is a rodent the size of a dog that you will find on the menu at some off the beaten path establishments. I never could muster up the courage. But as for the strangest thing I’ve ever eaten, it has to be boudin sausage and chitlins. Boudin (pronounced “boo-dan”), I can only guess was the result of a sausage maker’s boredom. It is usually a natural sausage casing stuffed with rice, Cajun seasonings, pork sausage, and God only knows what else. It all comes together to form something uniquely…interesting. Chitlins are fried pork intestines, and they taste like fried pork intestines. On a weekend trip to my friend’s hometown while in college in Louisiana, we stopped off for some local fare. She ordered for me, and we agreed that I wouldn’t ask what it was until after I’d tried it, an agreement that I would urge everyone to avoid if you ever find yourself with locals on the bayou.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

What is the Strangest Food You’ve Ever Eaten?

Related posts:

1. Behind the Taste

Director: Chris Gorak
Starring: Rory Cochrane and Mary McCormack
Running Time: 95 Minutes
How I Found It: On-Demand
Released: September 2006
Josh’s Rating: 8/10

“We interrupt your regular programming for a KDHP emergency news brief. This is Neil Simmons reporting from KDHP’s Pasadena studios. Multiple explosive devices were detonated simultaneously across downtown LA moments ago.”

Those were the words that came over the radio hours after Brad kissed his wife, Lexi, goodbye as she left for work that morning. He runs outside and sees smoke pouring out of the city. He gets in his car, desperate to find his wife, but is stopped by road blocks and trigger-happy police officers.

The news reports advise everyone to stay in their homes and to seal all windows and doors with plastic. The bombs contained biological and chemical elements that are extremely dangerous if inhaled. As ash started to fall from the sky, Brad had to make the hard decision to close himself off from the outside world. But the real decision comes when Lexi returns to the house the next day. Does he let her in, and risk contaminating his environment? Or leave her outside to die alone?

Right At Your Door will grip you from the moment it begins. From the desperation we see in Brad trying to find his wife, to the chaos that ensues from the terror attack, there is no calm until Brad seals himself in the house with his neighbor’s gardener. When his wife returns, we see the anguish in the decision Brad makes to leave her in the dangerous elements outside.

It’s not until they are separated by a sheet of plastic that these two people really get to know each other. In what seems like Lexi’s final hours or days alive, they connect on a deeper level than they ever had while trying to avoid the military patrols whose intentions are unknown. In the end, we find out who used their time wisest.

This movie will appeal to any movie fan, not only independent film lovers. It won the Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006 and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Independent Movie Review: Right At Your Door

Related posts:

1. Independent Movie Review: Big Fan
2. Why You Should See (500) Days of Summer

Each week, the bartenders will be asked a very vague and general question about a random topic. We’d all like to THINK we’re experts on everything, but the fact is we’re all a bunch of normal people with our own opinions. If you don’t like our answers, let us know in the comment section.

Bartender: Joshy C.
Born in: 1984
Movie: Back to the Future
Released in: 1985

“Why don’t you make like a tree, and get the hell out of here.” While this movie is probably not meant to be watched by the too young because of some language, my parents tell me I would watch this movie at least once a week when I was a kid. I remember being mesmerized by the fast pace and awesome soundtrack, and probably watched the two sequels as often as the original. This is one that has stood up to the test of time and I’ll be playing for my own kids someday (when they are a little older than 5 years old, so they won’t be calling me a Butthead.)

Bartender: Taylor Pratt
Born in: 1983
Movie: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Released in: 1990

When I was growing up the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon was THE thing to be watching. I would always pretend to be Donatello while my brother was Leonardo and we’d fight crime in the basement. When this movie came out we were floored and fell in love with it and its sequels! Ninja, ninja RAP!

Bartender: Kyle
Born in: 1983
Movie: Hook
Released in: 1991

Ru-fi-ooooooooooooooooooooo. With an all-star cast and crew in this early 90’s family blockbuster, director Steven Spielberg took on the childhood classic, and lended it some modern storyline twists. This time around, the work-obsessed, aging, Robin Williams plays Peter Banning, who can’t find time for family or fairytales. But throughout the story, he must reconnect with his childhood to save his family and the fantasy land he once refused to believe in. Growing up in a family of four with two brothers close in age when this movies was released, it didn’t take long for the brothers to become the lost boys, and the yard to become Neverland. My brother and I will still break this one out at times. I will definitely be passing this one on to my kids when they get a little older. Bangerang! (Oh God, I am a loser).

Bartender: Jaime Parker
Born in: 1984
Movie: Annie
Released in: 1982

This is such a hard choice because I have always been such a movie fanatic. When I was little I loved every movie from the Disney princess movies to The Goonies. BUT if I had to choose, I would say that Annie was one of my top favorites as a child. I loved the story and probably watched it 100 times. A plucky orphan girl, Annie is chosen to live with the richest man in the city, Mr. Warbucks. At first, he only wants to ‘adopt’ for a week as a publicity stunt, but soon Annie wins his heart and he adopts her for real. The story is heartwarming and the music was so catchy that I was singing along every time. Who doesn’t love the song “Tomorrow”? Not to mention some fabulous performances by Carol Burnett (Miss Hannigan) and Albert Finney (Daddy Oliver Warbucks). Annie was one of those movies that the whole family enjoyed and could watch together.

Bartender: Katrina
Born in: 1985
Movie: The Adventures of Milo and Otis
Released in: 1986 in Japanese and 1989 in English

As a small child I thought this movie was called “My Little Notice.” It was not, but it was a huge staple of my childhood. This movie is about a cat and a dog who are best friends and go on many adventures. There are no humans in the movie, but supporting characters are a fox, a pig, a turtle, and many others. I actually have a copy of the movie and watched it in preparation for this. I have determined it is still a fantastic movie (minus the rather graphic dog and cat birth scenes, a little more than I wanted to see). I plan on giving a copy to my animal loving niece!

Bartender: Jenny Trotter
Born in: 1981
Movie: Alice in Wonderland (Disney animated version)
Released in: 1951

I just remember sitting with my sister on the floor in the living room of our house in California, beach towels spread out, having a picnic of McDonald’s chicken nugget Happy Meals and watching this movie over and over again. We had an old copy, recorded off of the Disney channel, which we wore out completely. Still to this day that is one of my favorite movies

Bartender: Jonnie Urban
Born in: 1987
Movie: Wizard of Oz
Released in: 1939

My favorite movies growing up were the ones that I watched the most; usually after coming home from climbing trees, fishing, playing parking lot baseball, and of course swimming in the neighborhood pool (sometimes all in the same day). Homeward Bound, The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, and of course Aladin were my idea of the perfect early evening accompaniment to such a taxing afternoon. I reveled in the heartwarming stories of romance and adventure found in almost all Disney movies while enjoying my crust-less PB&J with a glass of freshly made chocolate milk, compliments of my doting parents. But my all time favorite childhood movie would have to be The Wizard of Oz because I still watch it in childlike awe about once a month. It reminds me of the first time I sat down with my family to watch how Dorethy longed for her family so much that she never gave up in her pursuit of her verson of “home”. Beautiful message and one-of-a-kind music and style.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

What is Your Favorite Movie from Your Childhood

Related posts:

1. Independent Movie Review: Big Fan
2. Why You Should See (500) Days of Summer
3. Avatar: Enough with the Criticism

Each week, the bartenders will be asked a very vague and general question about a random topic. We’d all like to THINK we’re experts on everything, but the fact is we’re all a bunch of normal people with our own opinions. If you don’t like our answers, let us know in the comment section (especially Jonnie for not giving a real answer).

Bartender: Joshy C.
Favorite Song: Tonight, Tonight by the Smashing Pumpkins
Release Date: 1996

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was the first CD I ever purchased when I was 13 years old and I got my first DiscMan. You remember those, right? You had to hold them really still or else they’d skip like crazy. This is pre-iPod, for all you young people out there. Anyways, this song has been my favorite since I first heard it. A heavy metal band by their nature, the Smashing Pumpkins ditched their electric guitars and incorporated such a unique orchestral soundtrack that if it weren’t for Billy Corgan’s whiny-sounding vocals, you wouldn’t recognize the band. Not to be outdone, the music video for Tonight, Tonight, based on the 1902 silent film A Trip To The Moon, has won critical acclaim and is still considered one of the greatest music videos of all time.

Bartender: Jaime Parker
Favorite Song: Karma Police by Radiohead
Release Date: 1997

I remember being in the mist of the extreme pop music craze in the mid-90’s. I was obsessed. After all, Ace of Base was coolest tape to have in my fourth grade class. I remember hearing Radiohead’s “Karma Police” (from 1997’s Ok Computer) and thinking that it was the greatest song that I had ever heard. It was haunting, it was beautiful and I wanted to listen to it a million times over again. To this day, it is still a song that I can listen to and never get tired of. Radiohead came up with the title because they used to joke between one another that they would call “the karma police” on them if they did something wrong. No matter how many times I listen to it, I can always find something new in the lyrics.

Bartender: Taylor Pratt
Favorite Song: Dizzy (Acoustic Version) by Jimmy Eat World
Release Date: 2007

In my opinion, the acoustic version of Jimmy Eat World’s “Dizzy” is one of the best songs ever written. I have to specify the acoustic version because it has slightly different lyrics than the normal version. I think Dizzy is a song that everyone can relate to. The lyrics are so poetic and tell the story of a guy and girl who are in love with each other, but they haven’t come out and said it. The girl in the song is hesitant to do so because she has been hurt before, but the guy is tired of being lead on. My favorite line in the song is a question that almost every relationship starts with. It’s the butterfly feelings you get when you like someone. The question is, “do you hear the conversation we talk around?” On the last verse you can really hear the passion in both the lyrics and vocals. Hands down my favorite song.

Bartender: Katrina
Favorite Song: Effington, Ben Folds
Release Date: 2008

When this question was first posed I had no idea what my answer would be – then I saw Ben Folds play with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this past Saturday and I found my answer. Folds was on his way to a gig once when he passed the town of Effingham. He thought it was Effington, and he wrote a song about it. One of my favorite things about Ben Folds is that he is a great pianist with an AMAZING sarcastic sense of humor, and this song fits that bill perfectly. Maybe I should start a new Effing life in Effington!

Bartender: Kyle Jones
Favorite Song: Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World — by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (not kidding, really his name)
Release Date: 1993

OK, so this might sound like a stretch for the best song in the past 15 years (not to mention that it wasn’t actually released in the past 15 years), but hear me out on this one. I think the true watermark of a great song shouldn’t just be judged on how it sounds. The measure of a great song to me comes in the intangibles. How does it make you feel when you hear it? What memories does it evoke? What picture is burned into your head that is so intimately connected with the sound that you can’t disconnect the two? I chose this medley of two American classics in authentic Hawaiian style for the memories. Isreal or “IZ” as he’s known in his native Hawaii, is a cultural icon in the state. I am one of the lucky people in this country to have grown up with family in HI, and I have been fortunate enough to have visited several times. Some of my fondest memories take me back to the islands. I chose this song because of the way it transports me. In the first few gentle strums of the ukulele, I can smell the hibiscus. The cool ocean breeze blows across Makena Beach, past my cheeks and up the slopes of Haleakala. The sun sets over Lahaina Bay, and I am there. As for the fact that it wasn’t released in the last 15 years…well, it was re-released on a hits compilation in 2001. If that’s not good enough, I plea no contest.

Bartender: Jonnie
Favorite Song: See Below…

Asking someone like me what their favorite song would be is like asking who your favorite family member is or what’s your favorite dessert? Too many possibilities come to mind. There is something to admire about so many songs, I find it impossible to even pick just one genre let alone one artist. My favorites rang from Bryan Adams’ Everything I do, OAR’s Black Rock and I Feel Home, Selina’s Dreaming of you or Biddi Biddi Bom Bom, to Etta James, Aretha Franklin and countless church hymns. Added to my insanely long list would be any Alicia Keys and Rob Thomas songs, and Shaggy, yes even many country songs old and new, Ella Fitgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and of course Michael Bubble and Harry Conick Jr. oh and Diana Krall. But my first cassette tape was Big Willie Style by Will Smith and my first CD’s were The Spice Girls and 98 Degrees and they will always hold a spot in my heart. In conclusion, I can’t choose. At the end of the day, my favorite song is whatever I’m in the mood for and what speaks to me at that specific moment.

If you’d like to submit a question for the bartender, contact Joshy C at cortinajd1@gmail.com.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

What is the Best Song from the Past 15 Years?

Related posts:

1. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Nov. 25 edition
2. My Life as a Country Song – Songs About Me, Trace Adkins
3. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Nov. 18 edition

Josh: Well Taylor, instead of sitting on a beach, or laying out in the sun on my cruise ship, I’m stuck in Pittsburgh because the storm of the century just HAPPENED to hit 12 hours before my flight left. I don’t know what’s worse, missing the cruise, or hearing everyone’s opinion on how I should have flown out early, or met up with them at a later port, or driven to another airport, etc. Like I didn’t do everything I possibly could have to get out of this frozen hell…

Taylor: At least you didn’t throw the game losing interception with 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter. There’s something to be happy about!

Josh: At least I didn’t lose power! My street was snowed in so I couldn’t go anywhere, but thankfully I have awesome friends who felt bad for me and braved the snow to join me in my kick-ass basement home theatre to watch the Super Bowl. For the third year in a row, we were treated to a gem. Not as dramatic as the past two, but there was no doubt we were watching the two best teams duke it out.

Taylor: And let’s not forget who, in the end, was the person who picked the correct Super Bowl champ. Although you do deserve props for correctly predicting the Colts to go to the Super Bowl at the beginning of it all. Great game, my two favorite moments were seeing Tracy Porter’s pick six, and of course all of the camera time Brees and his son received. After a slow first half, this game was exciting from the moment the Saints started the second half with an onside kick.

Josh: What a ballsy move by Sean Payton that was. The announcers all loved it of course, but only because it worked. Had it failed, they would have RIPPED him to shreds for making such a risky call.

Taylor: Let’s talk about next season and our early predictions for Super Bowl XLV. I don’t want to be a homer (I am a huge Pittsburgh sports fan), but a healthy Pittsburgh Steelers look like a logical choice for the AFC. I also see the Colts still in the mix. As for the NFC, I don’t see how you can count the Saints out, but I actually like the Cowboys to finally get their shit together. How about you?

Josh: I don’t know about Pittsburgh. Their offensive line is bad, they have no running game, Casey Hampton is a free agent, the secondary is a mess, Hines Ward isn’t getting younger, Polamalu is always injured…should I go on? The AFC North is getting better and better, while the Steelers might be at that point where they’re gonna have to rebuild a little. They are still a force, but there are too many question marks to pick them for the AFC. I’m thinking out of the box here, but with the way the Titans played under Vince Young in the second half of the season, they might be the team to beat next year. As for the NFC, your guess is as good as mine. I would say the Vikings, but (and I know I’ve said this before) I’m not sure if Favre comes back he can get it done one more time. I think if Atlanta can stay healthy, they’re going to be a force.

Taylor: The lack of a running game in Pittsburgh was due to the playcalling, in my opinion. Plus Mendenhall rushed for over 1,000 yards and is really coming into his own. If Polamalu can stay healthy and they retain Hampton, they’ll look a lot like the team that started 6-2 last year. Love your pick of the Titans. They are really a difficult team to figure out. They’re either amazing or a catastrophe. I refuse to say number 4’s name. I’m sick of him. He should retire and the Vikings should trade for McNabb.

Josh: I’m with you on the McNabb trade. Perfect fit for the Vikings right now, and I think would make the Vikings the favorites.

Well Taylor, it’s been a good season. It’s been fun debating. I’m sure we’ll be back after the draft in April, and again during the 2010 preseason. Until then, Tipping Glass readers, farewell, and do what you can to survive these seven football-less months.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Super Bowl XLIV Recap and 2010 Preview

Related posts:

1. Who Will Win the Super Bowl?
2. Should the Colts Coast and the Saints Sleep?
3. Week 10 NFL Preview