If anyone cares, these are only my thoughts, impressions, and stuff that interests me. If ya got something to add, feel free!

I've got this broken down into three categories: Full Frontal Assault, Hitting the Flanks, and Propaganda....

Here we go...


PROPAGANDA
Some things really haven't embedded themselves into my life quite as much as others, and some, in this category, are just things that I've noticed. David Beckham coming to LA is one of these. The sport of soccer (I'm American, sorry, deal with it) has really just started to peak my interest. I watched quite a bit of the World Cup last year - being unemployed helped - but I'm interested in the Beckham story for two reasons: I want to see if it helps more Americans embrace this sport at all, and secondly, I want to see if any crowds in LA (or elsewhere) break out into cheers of "VINDALOO!"

HITTING THE FLANKS
There are some things that just sneak up when you're not looking. Christian Bale is a great actor, and it took me quite a few films to realize he was from the other side of the pond. Iron Maiden, Led Zepplin, and Ozzy Osborne are all from the Kingdom, and this is well known, but since they're all primarily Gods of Rock, it still sometimes makes you (or, ya know, me) go 'whoa, forgot that for a spell." These are the ones that are weakening the fortifications using stealth and screaming guitars (as stuff).

FULL FRONTAL.......ASSAULT (get your minds outta the gutter)
These are the things that have fully infiltrated my life. Movies, Music, Books, all the things that I enjoy during time when I'm not working (and sometimes when I am).

Books & Authors: Karen Traviss is one of my newer favorite Brit authors, but one who's been around a while is Neil Gaiman. A great comic writer, I love this man's novels. If anyone is looking for something non-SW related to read, I suggest you go out and get American Gods. Actually, no, I INSIST you go get this book.....go....I'll wait....

Music: There's a ton of British music out here in the US, but there's some that just strike deep. For one, Vindaloo! It's a fun song, it's great to play loud in the car, and best of all, my 4 year old son knows almost all the words! The other big one I'm into right now is Bond, the string quartet (ok, two of them are Aussies, but come on, it's really the same thing, right? ). This music is just simply addictive. Classical music with a dance house backtrack. It's hard to beat it in my book. Again, another big plus is my son enjoys it almost as much as I do (and my wife can stand it in heavier doses, unlike the aforementioned Vindaloo).

Movies: This is the category that led me to this whole post to begin with. I just watched Casino Royale last night (and anyone who said Craig can't be Bond can bugger off!), but the Bond films aren't where the invasion is coming from. Dog Soldiers is one of these. As a huge werewolf fan, I love this film. It's not the best movie ever, but it is a decent horror flick. 28 Days Later is another, and the cast is brilliant, too. Cillian Murphy is just too cool for words (he's Irish, not British, but it's part of the Kingdom, right?). But there's a little film that's changed my life....or, at least, makes me laugh every time. That film? Shaun of the Dead! The Romantic Comedy....with Zombies, stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Now, let me say, Brit comedy has always been hit or miss with me. Benny Hill? Nah. Monty Python...eh, some good (movies and a few sketches), some not so much. But this movie has me laughing nearly from start to finish. Now these two (along with writer/director Edgar Wright again) have a film coming called Hot Fuzz. Can. Not. Wait.

So, that's my (scaled back, believe it or not) impression of those things the Brits and their minions (Irish and Aussie) are sending this way to try and take back the colonies. I know the real goal is just to get control of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, but they're OURS, I tell ya!

Thanks for putting up with me....

**A few links that may be of interest:

Shaun of the Dead

Hot Fuzz

Bond (Not James, but still hot chicks)

My favorite Vindaloo video