My top three favorite bands of all time would be
1. The Clash,
2. XTC,
3. New Order
After that there is a big jumble of artists which I enjoy including Bob Marley, David Bowie, REM, The B 52's, U2, The Cure, Depeche Mode, John Denver, Nirvana, No Doubt, Midnight Oil, Bob Mould, Bad Religion, Ani Difranco, Garbage, and many more.
For another taste of extremely eclectic music you can listen to the Shuffle Function show on KMSU radio. It airs from 6-8 AM Central Time each weekday, plus Thursday evenings. You can listen online, and the station has a lot of other great programming as well. You can also see previous playlists from Shuffle Function at their blog.
I am also a big movie fan, although I can't afford to see many movies in the theatres anymore. My favorite movies of all time are probably:
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
- Monty Python's Life of Brian
- The original Star Wars (Episode 4: A New Hope)
- Alien
- Army of Darkness
There are always a few movies looming on the horizon that have the potential to be great. Unfortunately, they often do not live up to their hype. However, here are some of the upcoming movies which I am particularly looking forward to:
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King Kong Peter Jackson - the man who successfully brought The Lord of the Rings movies to life - is currently filming the remake of this classic adventure. The website provides a unique behind-the-scenes look at the process of making a movie as well. The movie will arrive in late 2005.
- Serenity This one is written and directed by Joss Whedon - the man who created "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" - and is based on his short-lived TV series "Firefly." Joss is an amazing writer which is what puts this film on my list.
- Ain't It Cool News As mentioned above, this is the home of true geeks who love film, especially science fiction, comics, anime, etc. They always seem to have links to the latest news, photos, and trailers.
- Dark Horizons Another great site for news, posters, trailers, box office results, and more.
- Upcoming Movies An excellent site for previews of what's coming up next week, next month, or next year. You can search by title or release date or search for specific actors opr directors.
I am also a big reader.
My favorite author of all time is probably Robert A Heinlein. His novel "Stranger in a Strange Land" has often been called the bible of the 60's counterculture. At the very least, the book certainly influenced many people, myself included. It is about a human being, Valentine Michael Smith, raised by Martians who returns to Earth and finds himself very out of place. As Michael learns about humanity we learn a lot about ourselves and our potential to be better people. Most of Henlein's stories are very thought provoking as well as entertaining which is what makes him so popular and well-respected.
Right now I'm very excited about the work of George R.R. Martin. He is writing an epic fantasy series entitled "A Song of Ice and Fire." The long-awaited fourth book, "A Feast For Crows" will be published in the US on November 8, 2005. The books are filled with complex, fascinating characters who are trying to find their way in a world filled with political and supernatural intrigue.
If you're not yet familiar with the series, check out this spoiler-free review of the first book, "A Game of Thrones." Highly recommended.
Then once you've read the books, check out the Song of Ice and Fire message boards to connect with other fans and speculate on the future of these fascinating characters.
Of course, I'm also a huge fan of J.R.R.Tolkien whose "Lord of The Rings" trilogy sets the standard for all other fantasy novels. Peter Jackson's recent award-winning movie adaptations did a fine job of telling the story, but if you haven't read the books yet you owe it to yourself to do so.
I am also a huge fan of Robert Anton Wilson. He has written a mind-boggling selection of fiction and non-fiction which all helps to stretch your understanding of reality. See my Great Thinkers page for more.
Other favorite authors include Harlan Ellison, Orson Scott Card, H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and dozens more.
I must also mention J. Michael Straczynski creator and writer of the TV series "Babylon 5" as well as novels, short stories and other TV work including "The Twilight Zone."
Another great writer known mostly for his TV work is Joss Whedon. He is the creator of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and "Firefly" which is coming to the big screen soon as Serenity. He is also writing and directing "Wonder Woman" for a 2007 theatrical release.
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