Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween, Bitches!
I'm not really celebrating it this year, but my original plan was to go as a Trustafarian. If you're looking for a last-minute costume, it's PERFECT! Seriously, all you need are some fake dreads, an intricate knowledge of well-known Bob Marley songs that aren't even true reggae, access to your parents' accounts in order to pay for ganja and do nothing but play Halo 2, and obtain a fake degree from Brown University! Here's an example!
Read This Column from Nicolas Kristof
Uh-oh! It's another mainstream media opinion column! Even worse, it comes from the "New York Times" (or its long-time nickname, the "Gray Lady," which is the nickname used when conservatives aren't referring to it as Pravda 2.0.) Nicolas Kristof writes about the subconscious effect of race on this presidential campaign, basing his column on two psychological studies performed during the past year. He even links to two sites that specialize in testing each individual's own unconscious biases, and I would encourage all of you to take both tests.
Of course, if you'd rather depend upon your evangelical preacher, your tent revival leader, or a blog even less well-known than mine to gather information about a choice as important as whom to elect for the next four years as president, ignore me. I'm simply providing the column, and attempting to point out that when people call Obama "foreign," "not like us," or "Muslim" (not true, by the way), it could very well be a manifestation of a subconscious form of racism. I know that's controversial and an emotional subject, but pretending that race is not a factor in this election is absurd. It is, quite simply, the huge elephant in the room that could very well mean that the latest polling numbers in favor of Obama are not quite as accurate as they seem.
Nicolas Kristof, by the way? Is not some radical Bolshevik. He's a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and a well-respected journalist trusted by both sides of the political aisle.
Anyway, here's Kristof's column from Wednesday:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/opinion/30kristof.html?em
Of course, if you'd rather depend upon your evangelical preacher, your tent revival leader, or a blog even less well-known than mine to gather information about a choice as important as whom to elect for the next four years as president, ignore me. I'm simply providing the column, and attempting to point out that when people call Obama "foreign," "not like us," or "Muslim" (not true, by the way), it could very well be a manifestation of a subconscious form of racism. I know that's controversial and an emotional subject, but pretending that race is not a factor in this election is absurd. It is, quite simply, the huge elephant in the room that could very well mean that the latest polling numbers in favor of Obama are not quite as accurate as they seem.
Nicolas Kristof, by the way? Is not some radical Bolshevik. He's a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and a well-respected journalist trusted by both sides of the political aisle.
Anyway, here's Kristof's column from Wednesday:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/opinion/30kristof.html?em
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sherlock Holmes
Robert Downey Jr. is an excellent choice to make the new Sherlock Holmes movie. He's looking a little too James Bond-ian, "shaken, not stirred" in the above picture, but I think he's going to be great in next summer's film.Hopefully, director Guy Ritchie can get a quickie divorce from that Botoxed nightmare, completely discontinue Kabballah, get a prescription for Adderall to control his herky-jerky camera movements that impress no one, and make a decent film out of an iconic character. Good luck!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Bishop Allen's "The Broken String" -- Simply A Great Album
I know this was released in 2007, but Bishop Allen's "The Broken String" deserves a great deal of credit for being one of the best albums of the last two to three years. It's like taking Wilco's album "Being There" and the self-titled debut album from Ben Folds, mixing the two into a blender, and producing a unique album that plays more like a greatest-hits album, rather than your typical album with ecstatic highs and inexplicable, disappointing lows. Bishop Allen's debut album in 2003 was impressive, but this one takes their melodic abilities to new heights.
Each of the twelve songs, from the pop glory of "Click Click Click Click" to "Rain," which makes you want to get up and dance due to its quick, frenetic beat, will not leave you disappointed.
Maybe the biggest influence on Bishop Allen's second album has been Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy," a song of which I retain mixed feelings. After all, any song whose lyrics begin with "I remember when I lost my mind, and there was something so special about that day," brings up a plethora of emotions for myself, and for most of us. Even two years after its release, "Crazy" is probably the defining song of the decade, proving that you can combine hip-hop beats with a bittersweet melody about falling in love and not being able to control your emotions and feelings, whether you want to or not.
Bishop Allen's strength is much like Barkley's "Crazy," taking each song and applying a sense of universal appeal to it. The eclectic mix available on this sophomore album is all the more impressive, since so many bands crash and burn from the pressure of releasing a second album.
I highly suggest you pick up this album and recommend it to every one of your friends. You won't be sorry.
Each of the twelve songs, from the pop glory of "Click Click Click Click" to "Rain," which makes you want to get up and dance due to its quick, frenetic beat, will not leave you disappointed.
Maybe the biggest influence on Bishop Allen's second album has been Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy," a song of which I retain mixed feelings. After all, any song whose lyrics begin with "I remember when I lost my mind, and there was something so special about that day," brings up a plethora of emotions for myself, and for most of us. Even two years after its release, "Crazy" is probably the defining song of the decade, proving that you can combine hip-hop beats with a bittersweet melody about falling in love and not being able to control your emotions and feelings, whether you want to or not.
Bishop Allen's strength is much like Barkley's "Crazy," taking each song and applying a sense of universal appeal to it. The eclectic mix available on this sophomore album is all the more impressive, since so many bands crash and burn from the pressure of releasing a second album.
I highly suggest you pick up this album and recommend it to every one of your friends. You won't be sorry.
Great Recession: The Playlist
I was going to make this the Great Depression 2.0 playlist, but it looks like (at least, for the next several hours) that we're not nose-diving directly into a horrifying ecomonic depression. BUT:
Recessions deserve playlists of excellent music. Here are eight songs that will either cheer you up when you have a mounting stack of bills in front of you, or...depress you. Here goes:
1. It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) -- R.E.M. This one is pretty obvious and needs no explanation.
2. Fast Car -- Tracy Chapman. OK, this is literally one of the most depressing songs I think I've ever heard (all about "getting out of this poor town in a fast car that we can't afford") but it's pretty much a sign of the times for a certain part of our population, no?
3. You Got The Music in You -- New Radicals. If this song doesn't scream "1997" I don't know what does (especially the lines about "Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson, Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson," which incidentally sounds like the worst fashion shoot ever). However, it just might cheer you up.
4. Don't Stop Believin' -- Journey. Seriously the cheesiest song ever (and quite possibly ruined by the finale of "The Sopranos") but it might do the trick?
5. What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love and Understanding? -- Elvis Costello. This song will cheer you up any time of the day or night
6. God Only Knows -- Beach Boys. From the "Pet Sounds" album which was their best one, and even if you're going poor, if you have someone whom you love, this is a great song to remind you of that.
7. Cities in Dust -- Siouxie and the Banshees. An old song from the '80s, but seriously, this band had a major influence on practically every major current band (if you listen to a Killers album and don't hear the influence, you're probably deaf). Also, it's about cities lying in dust, which might happen if the stock market tumbles any faster
8. Plainsong -- The Cure. This song is practically instant lithium, it will put you in a very good state of mind.
OK, I'm done. Feel free to leave comments with (better) songs to cheer us all up during the recession.
Recessions deserve playlists of excellent music. Here are eight songs that will either cheer you up when you have a mounting stack of bills in front of you, or...depress you. Here goes:
1. It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) -- R.E.M. This one is pretty obvious and needs no explanation.
2. Fast Car -- Tracy Chapman. OK, this is literally one of the most depressing songs I think I've ever heard (all about "getting out of this poor town in a fast car that we can't afford") but it's pretty much a sign of the times for a certain part of our population, no?
3. You Got The Music in You -- New Radicals. If this song doesn't scream "1997" I don't know what does (especially the lines about "Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson, Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson," which incidentally sounds like the worst fashion shoot ever). However, it just might cheer you up.
4. Don't Stop Believin' -- Journey. Seriously the cheesiest song ever (and quite possibly ruined by the finale of "The Sopranos") but it might do the trick?
5. What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love and Understanding? -- Elvis Costello. This song will cheer you up any time of the day or night
6. God Only Knows -- Beach Boys. From the "Pet Sounds" album which was their best one, and even if you're going poor, if you have someone whom you love, this is a great song to remind you of that.
7. Cities in Dust -- Siouxie and the Banshees. An old song from the '80s, but seriously, this band had a major influence on practically every major current band (if you listen to a Killers album and don't hear the influence, you're probably deaf). Also, it's about cities lying in dust, which might happen if the stock market tumbles any faster
8. Plainsong -- The Cure. This song is practically instant lithium, it will put you in a very good state of mind.
OK, I'm done. Feel free to leave comments with (better) songs to cheer us all up during the recession.
Sarah Palin is The Biggest Disappointment to Hit the Streets Since Julia Roberts' Pre-Makeover Character in "Pretty Woman"
Although most of you think I am a slave, beholden to every phrase uttered by the mainstream media (MSM!) and Democratic celebrities like Alec Baldwin, I blame the MSM for events of the past week.
Even though the polls show a different story, I still feel McCain can pull out a victory on the 4th. If he pulls a last-minute surprise and announces that he will only serve one term in office, I think he has a legitimate chance of turning around his numbers and ekeing out a very, very close victory based upon the results of 5-7 swing states. Of course, I do not want this to happen, but for the media to ignore it as a potential possibility is simply incompetent.
The mainstream media clearly disagrees with my assessment. Due to the fact that they have absolutely no story to fill the massive amount of cable news time allotted to this political season (Joe the Mister Clean Plumber has worn out his welcome), the MSM has now focused on stories like "Is Sarah Palin a Diva in Disguise?" (no, I swear to God, that was the lead headline on Chris Matthews last night). Worse, they keep perpetuating this fantasy that Palin will run (and win!) the presidential election in 2012. I'm not the biggest John McCain fan, but can we just let the election play out before we anoint Palin as the Republican party's inevitable nominee four years from now? Isn't that extremely premature?
I could use this forum to make fun of Palin, but she does a fairly decent job of that herself. I will say this: Sarah Palin is an ambitious politician. They don't make politicians who become governors (even in states with smaller populations like Alaska) if those politicians are meek, and have no political goals of their own. Palin was not plucked out of the sky; she has been using a PR firm and a well-known Washington law firm to further her interests since she was elected as Alaska's governor. I wouldn't go so far as to say that she was jockeying for the VP position, but she is not a wilting flower, either. She may believe that dinosaurs and humans roamed the earth together 6,000 years ago, but she also wants a political future beyond the "Hockey Mom of Alaska" tagline.
So please, mainstream media: for this last week, let's focus on the swing states that will determine THIS election, and less on whether Palin is a "bitch" or "diva" or "wolf in sheep's clothing." I don't particularly like Palin's policies, but for God's sake, just focus on the fundamentals of the election and less on Caribou Barbie.
Even though the polls show a different story, I still feel McCain can pull out a victory on the 4th. If he pulls a last-minute surprise and announces that he will only serve one term in office, I think he has a legitimate chance of turning around his numbers and ekeing out a very, very close victory based upon the results of 5-7 swing states. Of course, I do not want this to happen, but for the media to ignore it as a potential possibility is simply incompetent.
The mainstream media clearly disagrees with my assessment. Due to the fact that they have absolutely no story to fill the massive amount of cable news time allotted to this political season (Joe the Mister Clean Plumber has worn out his welcome), the MSM has now focused on stories like "Is Sarah Palin a Diva in Disguise?" (no, I swear to God, that was the lead headline on Chris Matthews last night). Worse, they keep perpetuating this fantasy that Palin will run (and win!) the presidential election in 2012. I'm not the biggest John McCain fan, but can we just let the election play out before we anoint Palin as the Republican party's inevitable nominee four years from now? Isn't that extremely premature?
I could use this forum to make fun of Palin, but she does a fairly decent job of that herself. I will say this: Sarah Palin is an ambitious politician. They don't make politicians who become governors (even in states with smaller populations like Alaska) if those politicians are meek, and have no political goals of their own. Palin was not plucked out of the sky; she has been using a PR firm and a well-known Washington law firm to further her interests since she was elected as Alaska's governor. I wouldn't go so far as to say that she was jockeying for the VP position, but she is not a wilting flower, either. She may believe that dinosaurs and humans roamed the earth together 6,000 years ago, but she also wants a political future beyond the "Hockey Mom of Alaska" tagline.
So please, mainstream media: for this last week, let's focus on the swing states that will determine THIS election, and less on whether Palin is a "bitch" or "diva" or "wolf in sheep's clothing." I don't particularly like Palin's policies, but for God's sake, just focus on the fundamentals of the election and less on Caribou Barbie.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Mission Statement
First of all, I find self-involved blogs to be the downfall of journalism, literary pursuits, and the best qualities of the last great American heroes (i.e., the ability to keep a stiff upper lip and a stern demeanor at all times.) Real men don't spill every detail of their personal lives onto a web page. Paul Newman would have scoffed at the idea. I promise not to do too much talking about my personal life.
My blog will primarily focus on politics, the economy, the horrifying mistakes of celebrity fashion, the latest movie and music reviews (only decent bands and movies, no Hollywood tripe), and books that I like and recommend. Being that I'm also a total smart-ass, expect mean diatribes on the absurd. Billy Ocean, I'm looking in your direction.
I make the following correction: my blog will only approach personal issues when I have a hilarious story to divulge about the dysfunctional, Southern, three-generations-too-late group I call my family. I promise to use fake names, and to try not to embarrass everyone involved beyond comprehension. I won't regale you with the best stories of the fam -- those are to be saved for later.
Tomorrow's blog post will include reviews of the new Bishop Allen and TV on the Radio albums, and political analysis on how McCain could still pull this out -- God help us all, except (of course) for the former Lehman Brothers CEO who made $500 million between 2000 and 2007, and paid a miniscule amount of taxes on that gargantuan amount of money. I also plan on debunking this ridiculous nonsense about "Palin 2012," which is the dumbest idea I've heard since she was put up as VP in the first goddamn place.
Oh, and this is the ugliest dress I've ever seen. You have to love "Gossip Girl" for going all out, and managing to create a complete fantasy world during the current recession. Our last recession had Cobain, heroin, angry and defiant music, and the insane ramblings of Courtney Love. I guess I'm left to assume that this recession will have Carrie Bradshaw dressing up in 13 "Sex and the City" movie sequels in endless pairs of $800 shoes, which is not exactly culturally sensitive to those who cannot afford food, but okay.
Incidentally, Blake Lively looks like she'd rather be anywhere than in the lights of the paparazzi while wearing what amounts to a full-length lime in the following picture. Even worse, this looks like a prom dress Molly Ringwald would have thrown up on after a panic attack in 1986 when they didn't even have the good Xanax or Klonopin to sufficietly calm her down. Thank God the pharmaceutical industry has stepped it up a notch, so we can avoid these accidents:
My blog will primarily focus on politics, the economy, the horrifying mistakes of celebrity fashion, the latest movie and music reviews (only decent bands and movies, no Hollywood tripe), and books that I like and recommend. Being that I'm also a total smart-ass, expect mean diatribes on the absurd. Billy Ocean, I'm looking in your direction.
I make the following correction: my blog will only approach personal issues when I have a hilarious story to divulge about the dysfunctional, Southern, three-generations-too-late group I call my family. I promise to use fake names, and to try not to embarrass everyone involved beyond comprehension. I won't regale you with the best stories of the fam -- those are to be saved for later.
Tomorrow's blog post will include reviews of the new Bishop Allen and TV on the Radio albums, and political analysis on how McCain could still pull this out -- God help us all, except (of course) for the former Lehman Brothers CEO who made $500 million between 2000 and 2007, and paid a miniscule amount of taxes on that gargantuan amount of money. I also plan on debunking this ridiculous nonsense about "Palin 2012," which is the dumbest idea I've heard since she was put up as VP in the first goddamn place.
Oh, and this is the ugliest dress I've ever seen. You have to love "Gossip Girl" for going all out, and managing to create a complete fantasy world during the current recession. Our last recession had Cobain, heroin, angry and defiant music, and the insane ramblings of Courtney Love. I guess I'm left to assume that this recession will have Carrie Bradshaw dressing up in 13 "Sex and the City" movie sequels in endless pairs of $800 shoes, which is not exactly culturally sensitive to those who cannot afford food, but okay.
Incidentally, Blake Lively looks like she'd rather be anywhere than in the lights of the paparazzi while wearing what amounts to a full-length lime in the following picture. Even worse, this looks like a prom dress Molly Ringwald would have thrown up on after a panic attack in 1986 when they didn't even have the good Xanax or Klonopin to sufficietly calm her down. Thank God the pharmaceutical industry has stepped it up a notch, so we can avoid these accidents:
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