It's only been a week since Obama spent his first full day as the most powerful man in the world, and I am almost disgusted (okay not so much disgusted as mildly annoyed) at the seemingly public outcry over how much change has actually come to our country.
I mean, give the guy a break. He already said that we were gonna be looking forward to some shitty times ahead in his inaugural speech, so could at least wait at least a month or two before we start complaining?
But when the headlines on hyper-metro-male-version-of-cosmo magazine Details (don't ask me why I know this...I think my roommate has a subscription) read "Is the Economy Pissing You Off?" and "Can You Still Afford Your Girlfriend?" and "Growing The Perfct Layoff Beard," I suppose everyone's really starting to feel the pinch.
"i remember you said you were gonna throw up and we totally didn't take you seriously and you totally did and we were bewildered."
-PV
1/27/09
I have not seen the sun in two days...
...because being scheduled for work from 6am to 6pm sucks. Don't worry, I won't go into the details of why I am working these extra hours so not to bore you with the mundane-ness of the nature of what I'm doing. I mean, unless you really want to hear about it (believe me, it's not that exciting and there's 93% chance of disappointment upon hearing it).
On the bright side, I'll have a very very happy paycheck. On the downside...it's 12 hours a day! Everyday (except Sunday) until Saturday, February 7th!
But beyond that, I just wanted to share with the world (in case you hadn't already discovered it) an addition to the evergrowing list of mashups of Jay-Z and everyone else.
Jaydiohead. Minty Fresh Beats. A mashup of one of my favorite groups and a rapper who I'll admit I did not listen much to as a child.
This is one of the better mashup albums I've heard, and there doesn't seem to be any weak tracks or mashups that didn't make sense. It's worth a listen.
"I've had 6 wives, and currently on my 7th. But I know I've lived my life, and I have no regrets. Well, except for all the money I lost."
-AR
On the bright side, I'll have a very very happy paycheck. On the downside...it's 12 hours a day! Everyday (except Sunday) until Saturday, February 7th!
But beyond that, I just wanted to share with the world (in case you hadn't already discovered it) an addition to the evergrowing list of mashups of Jay-Z and everyone else.
Jaydiohead. Minty Fresh Beats. A mashup of one of my favorite groups and a rapper who I'll admit I did not listen much to as a child.
This is one of the better mashup albums I've heard, and there doesn't seem to be any weak tracks or mashups that didn't make sense. It's worth a listen.
"I've had 6 wives, and currently on my 7th. But I know I've lived my life, and I have no regrets. Well, except for all the money I lost."
-AR
1/25/09
#1 On My Charts Part 4
It's been a while since I've done a music post, and as I struggle to find subjects worth writing on now that I've gotten over the post graduation blues/panics and the elections are over. So today, I will foray into the realm of Rock 1990 to Today, and R&B and Slow Jams.
First up - Rock 1990 to Today
#1 on My Charts Pt. 4 - Rock 1990-Today
VH1’s been showing “The 100 Greatest Rock Songs” a lot lately. I figure I better get in on this while the subject is still hot. That, and I particularly like this stuff because a lot of it is just so timeless. There are countless numbers of sub-genres within rock, and years down the line, a lot of it will still sound fresh to me. So why did I choose pre-1990? Well that’s the decade from which I get a lot of the music I enjoy, and the 90s was a big decade for rock. The popularity of 80s punk was beginning to wane, the grunge era was beginning to enjoy mainstream success, nu metal was born, and the sound of synthesizers was suddenly not that cool. But I digress. Onto the music.
Keane – Sunshine
There’s just some dreamy character to this track. It’s a nice lighthearted tune that’ll make you feel like gliding across the horizon.
Death Cab for Cutie – Tiny Vessels
Not a huge fan of this particular group, but its somber feel underlying the storytelling of the track gives me something to relate to.
Something Corporate – Good News
I think it was the piano backing of this track that initially attracted me to it. One of the few modern punk tracks I can tolerate.
Elliot Smith – Shooting Star
Rest In Peace, Elliot Smith. You still shred a mean guitar, posthumously.
Sublime – Summertime
Another song on this ever-growing list of my favorites that has been influenced by the musical “Porgy and Bess.”
Bloodhound Gang – I Hope You Die
I’m convinced that if the Bloodhound Gang had followed up by making a music video for this song instead of that really crappy song “Mope” right after the success and popularity of “The Bad Touch,” they would have enjoyed more mainstream success.
Metallica – No Leaf Clover
A collaboration of this iconic group and the London Symphony Orchestra? Amazing.
Nirvana – Lithium
Nirvana pretty much brought the grunge to the mainstream, and though “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is often praised as their greatest contribution to music, I like this track a lot more.
Foo Fighters – Times Like These
Still my favorite Foo Fighters track (and there are a lot of them that I do like).
Nine Inch Nails – We’re In This Together Now
In terms of how the rest of Nine Inch Nails’ stuff sounds like, this is relatively tame. Still a good track though.
Korn – Thoughtless
Say what you will, Korn is still the king of the nu-metal genre. How much more angsty can you get?
The Mars Volta – The Widow
These guys take concept based albums to a new level. Dream Theater’s still my favorite prog-rock group, but these guys hold their own fairly well too.
Slipknot – Wait and Bleed
A relic from my teenage angst stage in life, I put this song on the list mostly for sentimental reasons.
Weezer – Pink Triangle
Ooh, it was tough to choose a single favorite Weezer track. But after careful deliberation, this is the track I’ll never get tired of (but I’d put all of Pinkerton on the list if I could).
Dream Theater – As I Am
These Berklee educated musicians take progressive rock to a new level. My absolute favorite band for a few years, their work has given me a benchmark to base musicality on.
---
R&B and Slow Jams
# 1 on My Charts - Pt. 4 - Slow Jams and R&B
If there was one genre I grew up with and like just as much as the previously mentioned, its R&B and Slow Jams. Whenever I need a good love song, or if I need tracks that are a little more chilled out, I turn here. I mean, I can’t always be hippin and hoppin or rockin out. A lot of this stuff I’ve been listening to ever since I became musically aware, and I can always find the right song that’ll tug on your heartstrings just the right way. It doesn’t have to always be about love, breakups, and sex, (but it helps). Bonus for being a soulful track with a cool beat.
Musiq – Half Crazy
Musiq is one of my favorite R&B artists. Formerly Musiq Soulchild, he dropped the second part of his name because he felt he “hadn’t mastered his craft yet.” Musiq embodies everything I enjoy about slow jams: that it doesn’t have to be about love and sex, we can just kick it, and I miss what we had as friends before.
The Roots – You Got Me
Yeah the Roots are a hip hop group, but this is more of an R&B track than anything and I’ve seen em live; these guys are the epitome of what a music group should encompass. The Roots are legit, and whenever they do this track live, it’s truly art.
Maxwell – Softly
Who doesn’t like a little bit of Maxwell to just chill to? If I could somehow someday learn to sing, I’d want my voice to be just like Maxwell’s. On this track.
Blackstreet – No Diggety
Another classic track produced by none other than the great Dr. Dre
John Legend – It Don’t Have to Change
I like a lot of John Legend tracks. But of all of them, I think this one has the most heart.
Robin Thicke – Complicated
I remember seeing Robin Thicke open up for John Legend a few years back. I’ll admit, I didn’t know who the hell he was at the time, but after a few listen-thrus of his albums, I think I’ve grown to like this guy’s work. This is arguably his best track. Who doesn’t wish they could be less complicated?
Wyclef Jean – 911
Somone please call 911, The alleged assalaint, Is my lover, And she shot me through my soul – classic lines
Shai – If I Ever Fall In Love
As a middle schooler, this was everyone’s favorite track to play on their CD players at lunchtime.
Lauryn Hill – Everything Is Everything
Say what you will about Lauryn Hill’s ability to sing, I still think this track is cool. And did anyone else notice I featured another member of The Fugees on this list?
Faith Evans – Can’t Believe
When I wasn’t wallowing in teenage angst, I was wallowing in petty middle school romance, augmented by tracks like this. Still a favorite of mine, this used to be my anthem.
Boyz 2 Men – Thank You
Boyz 2 Men has the accolade of being one of the few boy bands who have substance and talent. Nobody harmonizes like Motown Philly, and this track exemplifies their talents, without getting lost in the background instrumentals.
Carl Thomas – Wish I Never Met Her
In addition to having one of the smoothest beats ever to grace a slow jam (which is even more awesome when you learn it on piano), this song is really inexplicably sad.
Brian McKnight – Love of My Life
This track has often been deemed the song in which it sounds like someone has a hold of Brian McKnight’s balls. I say, you try and sing a whole song falsetto.
BellBivDevoe – Poison
With one of the sickest beats out there, I knew this song became timeless when it was featured on Scrubs:
Next time: Classical Overtures
"will someone sign me off please? I wanna get out of here!"
-as heard over the loud speaker at Ralph's
First up - Rock 1990 to Today
#1 on My Charts Pt. 4 - Rock 1990-Today
VH1’s been showing “The 100 Greatest Rock Songs” a lot lately. I figure I better get in on this while the subject is still hot. That, and I particularly like this stuff because a lot of it is just so timeless. There are countless numbers of sub-genres within rock, and years down the line, a lot of it will still sound fresh to me. So why did I choose pre-1990? Well that’s the decade from which I get a lot of the music I enjoy, and the 90s was a big decade for rock. The popularity of 80s punk was beginning to wane, the grunge era was beginning to enjoy mainstream success, nu metal was born, and the sound of synthesizers was suddenly not that cool. But I digress. Onto the music.
Keane – Sunshine
There’s just some dreamy character to this track. It’s a nice lighthearted tune that’ll make you feel like gliding across the horizon.
Death Cab for Cutie – Tiny Vessels
Not a huge fan of this particular group, but its somber feel underlying the storytelling of the track gives me something to relate to.
Something Corporate – Good News
I think it was the piano backing of this track that initially attracted me to it. One of the few modern punk tracks I can tolerate.
Elliot Smith – Shooting Star
Rest In Peace, Elliot Smith. You still shred a mean guitar, posthumously.
Sublime – Summertime
Another song on this ever-growing list of my favorites that has been influenced by the musical “Porgy and Bess.”
Bloodhound Gang – I Hope You Die
I’m convinced that if the Bloodhound Gang had followed up by making a music video for this song instead of that really crappy song “Mope” right after the success and popularity of “The Bad Touch,” they would have enjoyed more mainstream success.
Metallica – No Leaf Clover
A collaboration of this iconic group and the London Symphony Orchestra? Amazing.
Nirvana – Lithium
Nirvana pretty much brought the grunge to the mainstream, and though “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is often praised as their greatest contribution to music, I like this track a lot more.
Foo Fighters – Times Like These
Still my favorite Foo Fighters track (and there are a lot of them that I do like).
Nine Inch Nails – We’re In This Together Now
In terms of how the rest of Nine Inch Nails’ stuff sounds like, this is relatively tame. Still a good track though.
Korn – Thoughtless
Say what you will, Korn is still the king of the nu-metal genre. How much more angsty can you get?
The Mars Volta – The Widow
These guys take concept based albums to a new level. Dream Theater’s still my favorite prog-rock group, but these guys hold their own fairly well too.
Slipknot – Wait and Bleed
A relic from my teenage angst stage in life, I put this song on the list mostly for sentimental reasons.
Weezer – Pink Triangle
Ooh, it was tough to choose a single favorite Weezer track. But after careful deliberation, this is the track I’ll never get tired of (but I’d put all of Pinkerton on the list if I could).
Dream Theater – As I Am
These Berklee educated musicians take progressive rock to a new level. My absolute favorite band for a few years, their work has given me a benchmark to base musicality on.
---
R&B and Slow Jams
# 1 on My Charts - Pt. 4 - Slow Jams and R&B
If there was one genre I grew up with and like just as much as the previously mentioned, its R&B and Slow Jams. Whenever I need a good love song, or if I need tracks that are a little more chilled out, I turn here. I mean, I can’t always be hippin and hoppin or rockin out. A lot of this stuff I’ve been listening to ever since I became musically aware, and I can always find the right song that’ll tug on your heartstrings just the right way. It doesn’t have to always be about love, breakups, and sex, (but it helps). Bonus for being a soulful track with a cool beat.
Musiq – Half Crazy
Musiq is one of my favorite R&B artists. Formerly Musiq Soulchild, he dropped the second part of his name because he felt he “hadn’t mastered his craft yet.” Musiq embodies everything I enjoy about slow jams: that it doesn’t have to be about love and sex, we can just kick it, and I miss what we had as friends before.
The Roots – You Got Me
Yeah the Roots are a hip hop group, but this is more of an R&B track than anything and I’ve seen em live; these guys are the epitome of what a music group should encompass. The Roots are legit, and whenever they do this track live, it’s truly art.
Maxwell – Softly
Who doesn’t like a little bit of Maxwell to just chill to? If I could somehow someday learn to sing, I’d want my voice to be just like Maxwell’s. On this track.
Blackstreet – No Diggety
Another classic track produced by none other than the great Dr. Dre
John Legend – It Don’t Have to Change
I like a lot of John Legend tracks. But of all of them, I think this one has the most heart.
Robin Thicke – Complicated
I remember seeing Robin Thicke open up for John Legend a few years back. I’ll admit, I didn’t know who the hell he was at the time, but after a few listen-thrus of his albums, I think I’ve grown to like this guy’s work. This is arguably his best track. Who doesn’t wish they could be less complicated?
Wyclef Jean – 911
Somone please call 911, The alleged assalaint, Is my lover, And she shot me through my soul – classic lines
Shai – If I Ever Fall In Love
As a middle schooler, this was everyone’s favorite track to play on their CD players at lunchtime.
Lauryn Hill – Everything Is Everything
Say what you will about Lauryn Hill’s ability to sing, I still think this track is cool. And did anyone else notice I featured another member of The Fugees on this list?
Faith Evans – Can’t Believe
When I wasn’t wallowing in teenage angst, I was wallowing in petty middle school romance, augmented by tracks like this. Still a favorite of mine, this used to be my anthem.
Boyz 2 Men – Thank You
Boyz 2 Men has the accolade of being one of the few boy bands who have substance and talent. Nobody harmonizes like Motown Philly, and this track exemplifies their talents, without getting lost in the background instrumentals.
Carl Thomas – Wish I Never Met Her
In addition to having one of the smoothest beats ever to grace a slow jam (which is even more awesome when you learn it on piano), this song is really inexplicably sad.
Brian McKnight – Love of My Life
This track has often been deemed the song in which it sounds like someone has a hold of Brian McKnight’s balls. I say, you try and sing a whole song falsetto.
BellBivDevoe – Poison
With one of the sickest beats out there, I knew this song became timeless when it was featured on Scrubs:
Next time: Classical Overtures
"will someone sign me off please? I wanna get out of here!"
-as heard over the loud speaker at Ralph's
1/22/09
well that took longer than I thought it would
After 3 nights of searching for the right blogger template that would suit my taste (and believe me, there are alot of sites) , I have finally decided upon this minimalist template you see here. I also decided to go in a different direction in term of the logo this time around (it doesn't involve pumpkins and/or beer!)
That's all I wanted to draw your attention to.
"This is Riverside? This sucks."
-KV
ps...(the post title - that's what she said )
That's all I wanted to draw your attention to.
"This is Riverside? This sucks."
-KV
ps...(the post title - that's what she said )
1/20/09
In celebration of this momentous day
...Sgt. Obama's Hopeful Heart Club Band
"black people arent the only-people who have crazy sex you know "
-YK
1/19/09
16 things you probably didn't know about me
recently posted on facebook as well...
---
And I quote:
"Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 16 people to be tagged . You have to tag the person who tagged you."
Since I've received both the "16" and "25" variations of this note, I figured I'll mix it up. 25 people have been tagged, 16 things have been said.
1)I really dislike chain letters and the fact that I have to limit tagging 25 people in these notes makes me feel as if I'm playing favorites, which makes me feel uncomfortable.But everyone's favorite subject is themselves, and I'm really no different.
2)My prized posessions are my external hard drives which contain all my pictures and my music.
3)In relation to #2, I have been carrying around a camera around with me in my pocket wherever I go for the past 8 years. As such, I've been able to capture most of the more important events and people in my life on camera. Besides, you never know what you'll run into that you'll want to take a picture of.
4)Also in relation to #2, I take music seriously. Whenever people ask me what kind of music I like, I usually give an answer like "pretty much everything." As lame as an answer that is, it's actually true. Look through my music collection and you'll find everything from Franz Schubert to Radiohead to Chuck Mangione to Billy Joel to Souls of Mischief to Luna Sea to Muse to NWA to Rachmaninoff to Foo Fighters to Tower of Power to Beastie Boys to Enigma to Nas to Fatboy Slim to Screaming Jay Hawkins...
5)I wrote the book on hosting and throwing parties in college. Seriously. Here it is: http://markwidaq.blogspot.com/2008/04/art-of-throwing-party.html
6)I can quote the Simpsons verbatim from Seasons 1-10. And sometimes it really annoys my friends.
7)I took piano lessons for 12 years, practiced jazz for 4 years, and traveled to Japan with my band. But I never said I was any good.
8)I'm not an alcoholic, I'm a wine and beer aficionado.
9)My nicknames have actual backgrounds:
1-"Mark with a Q" originated at some student group function my first year in college. People were filling out nametags for us, and when asked if my name was spelled with a "K" or a "C," I said "Q! My parents wanted me to be unique." Ever since then, when given a chance to introduce myself via nametag, it's always "Mark with a Q." It thoroughly confuses people.
2-"Solo" originated from a situation at Access Control. After I responded to a fire alarm, my boss wanted to clarify who it was that did so. Not sure of the name that was given to him, he assumed first it was my coworker Mara. She told him it wasn't her, and that it was Mark who responded. Problem was, there were two Marks who worked, Mark Solomon and Mark Hipol. Someone told him it was probably the Mark that worked in Hedrick. Problem was, both Marks worked in Hedrick. So someone suggested it was Mark who was Filipino. Problem was, we were both Filipino. So after emailing us both, and we clarifying the confusion, my boss told us this: "Yeah...your nickname will now be 'solo' and other Mark is now known as 'nipple' to keep things straight." And it's stuck ever since then.
3-"Markie," sometimes spelled "Marky": its origins are really unknown, but apparently it's popular to use when it's used as a term of endearment or if you're trying to make fun of me.
10)I have a collection of original short film works (read: stupid videos) such as "The Marktrix," "Humble Pi," and various parodies of commercials. I plan to release it all on DVD soon. Or whenever I'm not feeling lazy.
11)I've been described as a 'serial monogamist.' ...Whatever the hell that means.
12)I don't get mad often, and I try to avoid it normally. So if you ever see me pissed, I'm pissed.
13)Sarcasm and puns are second nature, so don't take me too seriously and please laugh at my crappy jokes
14)Like many others, I can control my burps and burp the ABC's. Unlike many others, I can also burp Earth Wind and Fire's "Reasons"
15)I can pass the whole getting rich and successful thing in life as long as I'm remembered for something. Preferably something positive.
16)Apparently I bake a mean banana bread.
"I am in respectful awe of #14"
-CK
---
And I quote:
"Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 16 people to be tagged . You have to tag the person who tagged you."
Since I've received both the "16" and "25" variations of this note, I figured I'll mix it up. 25 people have been tagged, 16 things have been said.
1)I really dislike chain letters and the fact that I have to limit tagging 25 people in these notes makes me feel as if I'm playing favorites, which makes me feel uncomfortable.But everyone's favorite subject is themselves, and I'm really no different.
2)My prized posessions are my external hard drives which contain all my pictures and my music.
3)In relation to #2, I have been carrying around a camera around with me in my pocket wherever I go for the past 8 years. As such, I've been able to capture most of the more important events and people in my life on camera. Besides, you never know what you'll run into that you'll want to take a picture of.
4)Also in relation to #2, I take music seriously. Whenever people ask me what kind of music I like, I usually give an answer like "pretty much everything." As lame as an answer that is, it's actually true. Look through my music collection and you'll find everything from Franz Schubert to Radiohead to Chuck Mangione to Billy Joel to Souls of Mischief to Luna Sea to Muse to NWA to Rachmaninoff to Foo Fighters to Tower of Power to Beastie Boys to Enigma to Nas to Fatboy Slim to Screaming Jay Hawkins...
5)I wrote the book on hosting and throwing parties in college. Seriously. Here it is: http://markwidaq.blogspot.com/2008/04/art-of-throwing-party.html
6)I can quote the Simpsons verbatim from Seasons 1-10. And sometimes it really annoys my friends.
7)I took piano lessons for 12 years, practiced jazz for 4 years, and traveled to Japan with my band. But I never said I was any good.
8)I'm not an alcoholic, I'm a wine and beer aficionado.
9)My nicknames have actual backgrounds:
1-"Mark with a Q" originated at some student group function my first year in college. People were filling out nametags for us, and when asked if my name was spelled with a "K" or a "C," I said "Q! My parents wanted me to be unique." Ever since then, when given a chance to introduce myself via nametag, it's always "Mark with a Q." It thoroughly confuses people.
2-"Solo" originated from a situation at Access Control. After I responded to a fire alarm, my boss wanted to clarify who it was that did so. Not sure of the name that was given to him, he assumed first it was my coworker Mara. She told him it wasn't her, and that it was Mark who responded. Problem was, there were two Marks who worked, Mark Solomon and Mark Hipol. Someone told him it was probably the Mark that worked in Hedrick. Problem was, both Marks worked in Hedrick. So someone suggested it was Mark who was Filipino. Problem was, we were both Filipino. So after emailing us both, and we clarifying the confusion, my boss told us this: "Yeah...your nickname will now be 'solo' and other Mark is now known as 'nipple' to keep things straight." And it's stuck ever since then.
3-"Markie," sometimes spelled "Marky": its origins are really unknown, but apparently it's popular to use when it's used as a term of endearment or if you're trying to make fun of me.
10)I have a collection of original short film works (read: stupid videos) such as "The Marktrix," "Humble Pi," and various parodies of commercials. I plan to release it all on DVD soon. Or whenever I'm not feeling lazy.
11)I've been described as a 'serial monogamist.' ...Whatever the hell that means.
12)I don't get mad often, and I try to avoid it normally. So if you ever see me pissed, I'm pissed.
13)Sarcasm and puns are second nature, so don't take me too seriously and please laugh at my crappy jokes
14)Like many others, I can control my burps and burp the ABC's. Unlike many others, I can also burp Earth Wind and Fire's "Reasons"
15)I can pass the whole getting rich and successful thing in life as long as I'm remembered for something. Preferably something positive.
16)Apparently I bake a mean banana bread.
"I am in respectful awe of #14"
-CK
1/18/09
I appreciate the creativity of others, but...
I mean, imagine how hard it would be to try and write songs with words that rhyme with "Clinton" or "McCain."
In the words of Jon Stewart, he's like that bike wrapped in wrapping paper under the Christmas tree. You know what it is...why can't we just open it now? Can he just be our president already?
"once during truth or dare, we had someone make out with herself in the mirror. that was awesome."
-FS
1/11/09
My Annual Strange News Post
When I can't find anything of any particular significance to write about, I usually just scour the news for whatever interesting topic pops up. Today...
Mr. Lennon here would like to remind everyone to donate to the cause of One Laptop Per Child. Though I understand that John Lennon was a firm believer of the imagination's ability to change the world, I hardly believe that he ever said the word "laptop," let alone know what a laptop is. You may be a non-profit organization with a commendable cause, but this falls under the sick notion of exploiting the spirit of a dead entertainer to further a fundraising effort or business enterprise. Shame on you, One Laptop Per Child.
Worst part? Yoko Ono approves of this.
---
According to an American academic, rap battles originated in medieval Scottish pubs.
Say what?
Yes, Professor Ferenc Szasz's research has established a theory that the first "rap battles" occurred in medieval pubs in the form of "flyting," in which two performers entertain the audience by trading elaborate insults in verse and form. Scottish slave owners took the tradition to the United States, where it was adopted by slaves and eventually evolved into the form we know and love today.
He says:"The Scots have a lengthy tradition of flyting - intense verbal jousting, often laced with vulgarity, that is similar to the dozens that one finds among contemporary inner-city African-American youth. Both cultures accord high marks to satire. The skilled use of satire takes this verbal jousting to its ultimate level - one step short of a fist fight."
Interesting point, Professor. I decided to put my own research into this, and have excerpted a modern rap battle, and a popular flyting contest from medieval times. The similarities are all there, including a form, a rhyming scheme, and references to popular culture (of their times, of course.)
First, take an excerpt from one of the battles as portrayed by Eminem in the popular 2002 movie, 8 Mile:
[Lotto]
...I feel bad I gotta murder that dude from leave it to beaver.
I used to like that show now you got me in fight back mode.
But oh well if you gotta go ... then you gotta go.
I hate to do this. I would love for this shit to last.
So I’ll take pictures of my rear end so you won’t forget my ass.
And all is well that ends ok.
So I’ll this shit with a ... fuck you but have a nice day!
[B-Rabbit]
Ward I think you were a little hard on the Beaver.
So was Eddie Haskel, Wally and Ms. Cleaver.
This guy keeps screamin hes paranoid.
Quick someone get his ass another steroid!
Blah-de-bee-bee, blah blah blah-be-dee-, blooh-blah.
I didn’t hear a word you said ... hippity-hoo blah.
Is that a tank top or a new bra?
Look Snoop Dogg has got a fucking boob job!...
And here, I take an excerpt from The Flyting of Dumbar and Kennedie, a popular and well documented flyte, circa some time in the 1300s:
[Quod Dunbar to Kennedy]
Bot wondir laith wer I to be ane baird,
Flyting to use richt gritly I eschame;
For it is nowthir wynning nor rewaird,
Bot tinsale baith of honour and of fame,
Incres of sorrow, sklander, and evill name;
Yit mycht thay be sa bald, in thair bakbytting,
To gar me ryme and rais the feynd with flytting,
And throw all cuntreis and kinrikis thame proclame.
[Quod Kennedy to Dumbar]
Dirtin Dumbar, quhome on blawis thow thy boist?
Pretendand the to wryte sic skaldit skrowis;
Ramowd rebald, thow fall doun att the roist,
My laureat lettres at the and I lowis;
Mandrag, mymmerkin, maid maister bot in mows,
Thrys scheild trumpir with ane threid bait goun,
Say _Deo mercy_, or I cry the doun,
And leif thy ryming, rebald, and thy rowis.
We sure have come a long way since then.
---
This article is a bit old, but I am proud to have my hometown be featured on an article on a news network that is featured and read all around the world. In October, BBC Science and Environment News declared the Hayward Fault to be the 'world's most dangerous fault.'
And might I clarify that 'most dangerous fault' indicates that the fault is considered dangerous because of the fact that the probability of the Hayward fault producing a large earthquake in the next 30 years is high coupled with the fault running through a major urban area, not the crime rate associated with the city, is what makes it the most 'dangerous,' as my friend originally thought.
Anyways...Would you look at that? They've got a picture of our City Hall on the page.
I'm almost proud to have my humble town be featured on a major news network, and even more proud that I found the article through digg.
"I totally thought that was a penis on my McDonald's bag, but it was really a chess piece"
-KE
Mr. Lennon here would like to remind everyone to donate to the cause of One Laptop Per Child. Though I understand that John Lennon was a firm believer of the imagination's ability to change the world, I hardly believe that he ever said the word "laptop," let alone know what a laptop is. You may be a non-profit organization with a commendable cause, but this falls under the sick notion of exploiting the spirit of a dead entertainer to further a fundraising effort or business enterprise. Shame on you, One Laptop Per Child.
Worst part? Yoko Ono approves of this.
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According to an American academic, rap battles originated in medieval Scottish pubs.
Say what?
Yes, Professor Ferenc Szasz's research has established a theory that the first "rap battles" occurred in medieval pubs in the form of "flyting," in which two performers entertain the audience by trading elaborate insults in verse and form. Scottish slave owners took the tradition to the United States, where it was adopted by slaves and eventually evolved into the form we know and love today.
He says:"The Scots have a lengthy tradition of flyting - intense verbal jousting, often laced with vulgarity, that is similar to the dozens that one finds among contemporary inner-city African-American youth. Both cultures accord high marks to satire. The skilled use of satire takes this verbal jousting to its ultimate level - one step short of a fist fight."
Interesting point, Professor. I decided to put my own research into this, and have excerpted a modern rap battle, and a popular flyting contest from medieval times. The similarities are all there, including a form, a rhyming scheme, and references to popular culture (of their times, of course.)
First, take an excerpt from one of the battles as portrayed by Eminem in the popular 2002 movie, 8 Mile:
[Lotto]
...I feel bad I gotta murder that dude from leave it to beaver.
I used to like that show now you got me in fight back mode.
But oh well if you gotta go ... then you gotta go.
I hate to do this. I would love for this shit to last.
So I’ll take pictures of my rear end so you won’t forget my ass.
And all is well that ends ok.
So I’ll this shit with a ... fuck you but have a nice day!
[B-Rabbit]
Ward I think you were a little hard on the Beaver.
So was Eddie Haskel, Wally and Ms. Cleaver.
This guy keeps screamin hes paranoid.
Quick someone get his ass another steroid!
Blah-de-bee-bee, blah blah blah-be-dee-, blooh-blah.
I didn’t hear a word you said ... hippity-hoo blah.
Is that a tank top or a new bra?
Look Snoop Dogg has got a fucking boob job!...
And here, I take an excerpt from The Flyting of Dumbar and Kennedie, a popular and well documented flyte, circa some time in the 1300s:
[Quod Dunbar to Kennedy]
Bot wondir laith wer I to be ane baird,
Flyting to use richt gritly I eschame;
For it is nowthir wynning nor rewaird,
Bot tinsale baith of honour and of fame,
Incres of sorrow, sklander, and evill name;
Yit mycht thay be sa bald, in thair bakbytting,
To gar me ryme and rais the feynd with flytting,
And throw all cuntreis and kinrikis thame proclame.
[Quod Kennedy to Dumbar]
Dirtin Dumbar, quhome on blawis thow thy boist?
Pretendand the to wryte sic skaldit skrowis;
Ramowd rebald, thow fall doun att the roist,
My laureat lettres at the and I lowis;
Mandrag, mymmerkin, maid maister bot in mows,
Thrys scheild trumpir with ane threid bait goun,
Say _Deo mercy_, or I cry the doun,
And leif thy ryming, rebald, and thy rowis.
We sure have come a long way since then.
---
This article is a bit old, but I am proud to have my hometown be featured on an article on a news network that is featured and read all around the world. In October, BBC Science and Environment News declared the Hayward Fault to be the 'world's most dangerous fault.'
And might I clarify that 'most dangerous fault' indicates that the fault is considered dangerous because of the fact that the probability of the Hayward fault producing a large earthquake in the next 30 years is high coupled with the fault running through a major urban area, not the crime rate associated with the city, is what makes it the most 'dangerous,' as my friend originally thought.
Anyways...Would you look at that? They've got a picture of our City Hall on the page.
I'm almost proud to have my humble town be featured on a major news network, and even more proud that I found the article through digg.
"I totally thought that was a penis on my McDonald's bag, but it was really a chess piece"
-KE
1/2/09
More Sopaipillas Please!
The end of my 2008 brought me on yet another trip, this time into the heart of Mexico to one of its finest dining experiences.
By that, I mean the heart of Denver, and by finest dining experiences, I mean Casa Bonita.
For those of you unfamiliar with Casa Bonita and our inspiration for driving 2200 miles through 5 states to get there, please go to http://www.southparkstudios.com/ and find the full episode on season 7, “Casa Bonita.” Then you’ll understand.
So what is Casa Bonita? It’s been described as the “Disneyland of all Mexican Restaurants.” And it really was. Not only can you get fed there, you’ll get entertained. There were 3 floors of excitement, chock full of cliff divers, mariachi bands, arcades, caricature artists, and best of all, all you can eat sopaipillas!
Actually, I think if anybody could describe the euphoric feeling that results from a visit to Casa Bonita, it would probably be these paid actors whose video was on repeat while we waited 45 minutes in line to get in:
So as you can see, that alone was enough to encourage us to go on a pilgrimage to see a Mexican restaurant three states over. We had actually been planning for weeks, and calculated routes, driving times, and costs plenty of times over. We rented a car, booked the motels, and before we knew it, we were on our way:
Of course it wasn’t going to be a short and easy drive. The first half of the trip took us through the great states of Nevada, Arizona (briefly), and Utah, where the majority of landscape looked like something from Fargo:
Along the way, we discovered that gas is considerably cheaper in other states, even if towns are in the middle of nowhere, Mormons are the nicest people in the world, you probably shouldn’t drive faster than 50mph on black ice, and they sure like their Arby’s out in the mountain west and southwestern states. 1,028 miles and 31 hours later, we finally reached that beloved restaurant. Smack dab in the middle of a suburban shopping center, nudged between a Wal-Mart, a Hollywood Video, and a Dollar Tree, we found the establishment to be the tallest building for miles (downtown Denver was only about 5 miles away, but that’s still miles). It stood out as the largest and most decorative building in the area, it was lit up by spotlights, and there seemed to be an aura emanating from structure itself. And best of all, it was exactly like they animated it on South Park:
Actually, a lot of things were exactly as the show described. Listen as Cartman sings his praises of Casa Bonita, and watch as we experience the same:
The restaurant was so much like the show, it was almost scary. It was as if Matt Stone and Trey Parker had actually been the restaurant. Several times. As promised, there were cliff divers, mariachi bands, and the infamous Black Bart’s Cave.
I of course ordered the all you can eat deluxe beef dinner, which seemed to consist of microwave enchiladas and cheap tacos. But it was damn good. But I suppose anything is damn good if the only meals we had prior was McDonald’s and the chips and brownies we brought along in the car with us.
You raise the flag up when you want more food!
And what’s an experience at any Mexican restaurant without a mariachi band singing happy birthday to you?
With the rental car place demanding the Mazda back in a couple of days, we unfortunately had to end our tenure in Denver after a short 15 hours. Deciding to take a different route back to avoid the New Year’s Eve traffic heading into Las Vegas, we instead decided to drive 1200 miles through New Mexico and more of Arizona, rightfully deciding after some fireworks purchases and crappy pizza that there is absolutely no reason to ever visit Albuquerque. Well, except for maybe, Las Vegas, NM:
After countless hours on the road, hundreds of dollars spent on gas and food, and only a fraction of time spent at our actual destination, would I say it was worth it? In the words of Eric Cartman: Totally.
But really, what really made this trip worthwhile was while on our way out of Denver, we picked up the Ronco Rotisserie. The moment we got back to LA, we picked up some Cornish game hens and set it and forget it:
Happy 2009, everyone!
“could you get me a crappy souvenir from every state you stop by?”
-BM
By that, I mean the heart of Denver, and by finest dining experiences, I mean Casa Bonita.
For those of you unfamiliar with Casa Bonita and our inspiration for driving 2200 miles through 5 states to get there, please go to http://www.southparkstudios.com/ and find the full episode on season 7, “Casa Bonita.” Then you’ll understand.
So what is Casa Bonita? It’s been described as the “Disneyland of all Mexican Restaurants.” And it really was. Not only can you get fed there, you’ll get entertained. There were 3 floors of excitement, chock full of cliff divers, mariachi bands, arcades, caricature artists, and best of all, all you can eat sopaipillas!
Actually, I think if anybody could describe the euphoric feeling that results from a visit to Casa Bonita, it would probably be these paid actors whose video was on repeat while we waited 45 minutes in line to get in:
So as you can see, that alone was enough to encourage us to go on a pilgrimage to see a Mexican restaurant three states over. We had actually been planning for weeks, and calculated routes, driving times, and costs plenty of times over. We rented a car, booked the motels, and before we knew it, we were on our way:
Of course it wasn’t going to be a short and easy drive. The first half of the trip took us through the great states of Nevada, Arizona (briefly), and Utah, where the majority of landscape looked like something from Fargo:
Along the way, we discovered that gas is considerably cheaper in other states, even if towns are in the middle of nowhere, Mormons are the nicest people in the world, you probably shouldn’t drive faster than 50mph on black ice, and they sure like their Arby’s out in the mountain west and southwestern states. 1,028 miles and 31 hours later, we finally reached that beloved restaurant. Smack dab in the middle of a suburban shopping center, nudged between a Wal-Mart, a Hollywood Video, and a Dollar Tree, we found the establishment to be the tallest building for miles (downtown Denver was only about 5 miles away, but that’s still miles). It stood out as the largest and most decorative building in the area, it was lit up by spotlights, and there seemed to be an aura emanating from structure itself. And best of all, it was exactly like they animated it on South Park:
Actually, a lot of things were exactly as the show described. Listen as Cartman sings his praises of Casa Bonita, and watch as we experience the same:
The restaurant was so much like the show, it was almost scary. It was as if Matt Stone and Trey Parker had actually been the restaurant. Several times. As promised, there were cliff divers, mariachi bands, and the infamous Black Bart’s Cave.
I of course ordered the all you can eat deluxe beef dinner, which seemed to consist of microwave enchiladas and cheap tacos. But it was damn good. But I suppose anything is damn good if the only meals we had prior was McDonald’s and the chips and brownies we brought along in the car with us.
You raise the flag up when you want more food!
And what’s an experience at any Mexican restaurant without a mariachi band singing happy birthday to you?
With the rental car place demanding the Mazda back in a couple of days, we unfortunately had to end our tenure in Denver after a short 15 hours. Deciding to take a different route back to avoid the New Year’s Eve traffic heading into Las Vegas, we instead decided to drive 1200 miles through New Mexico and more of Arizona, rightfully deciding after some fireworks purchases and crappy pizza that there is absolutely no reason to ever visit Albuquerque. Well, except for maybe, Las Vegas, NM:
After countless hours on the road, hundreds of dollars spent on gas and food, and only a fraction of time spent at our actual destination, would I say it was worth it? In the words of Eric Cartman: Totally.
But really, what really made this trip worthwhile was while on our way out of Denver, we picked up the Ronco Rotisserie. The moment we got back to LA, we picked up some Cornish game hens and set it and forget it:
Happy 2009, everyone!
“could you get me a crappy souvenir from every state you stop by?”
-BM
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