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Monday, May 29, 2006
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Monday, May 22, 2006
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Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Ok, I've never been a big fan of rap and hip hop. While I've never gotten too terribly deep into the genre, there was a time I had to admit that there were some artists that were simply brilliant -- NWA, Public Enemy, Snoop, the Death Row Records days at their height. At the moment, I still think Missy Elliot is incredibly talented. Beyond that, however, the music industry has basically sucked any sort of life out of the style. That's not to say that there aren't people out there who have something to say, but by and large, I can't help wonder how bad things can get before people wake up and say, "Goddamn, this is awful?"
Example #1 (above) - Simon Rex - the gay porn boy turned MTV VJ attempts to showcase his lyrical... uh... skills? It was so bad that I couldn't even make it past 5 or 6
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Now, rap/hip hop have been in a pretty bad state before -- remember Vanilla Ice and Gerardo? The difference, I think is that hip hop hadn't really made it into mainstream culture at that point -- in many ways, the cheese factor helped introduce the genre into the mainstream. Now you can't go out in an evening without some suburban straight girl asking you to play that annoying Usher song with the phone ringing.
Back in the late 70s, Disco had made its way out of obscurity and onto the main stage, where the record industry basically ripped anything positive out of the style and put out a load of crappy music that really only used the style of disco. By that point, the public was fed up and the Death to Disco movement swept through the nation.
Will history repeat itself? I'm not sure we're quite at that point yet, but I think we're well on our way.
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With guys like this, I'd agree!
Good Italian Beef!
(OMG, Gerard Butler looks so freakin hot I can hardly stand it!)
Monday, May 15, 2006
I filled in at my friend's company today, which left me a little time for reading, as things at the office are always slow. With all the recent controversy over The DaVinci Code, I figured I might as well read the book -- if the Church says it wants to use legal action to stop the movie, its on my must read list. So, I picked up a copy at lunch and finished reading it a little while ago. I found the experience to be akin to seeing Blair Witch after all the buzz died down: What is all the commotion about?
Ok, the book moves quickly (I read it in a few hours) but I was startled by just how unoriginal it was. Essentially, you've got National Treasure except its set in Paris as opposed to D.C./Boston and swap Tom Hanks for Nicholas Cage... and National Treasure had the tres cute Justin Bartha. We've also already heard the whole "Jesus and Mary Magdalene were doin' the nasty" idea and its hardly a secret that the Church replaced the meanings to countless pagan symbols.
So I ask the question again: Why all the fuss?
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So I ask the question again: Why all the fuss?
Friday, May 12, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006
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In response to the USA Today article, Bush stated that, "our efforts are focused on links to al Qaeda and their known affiliates." Perhaps its just me, but Bush has little credibility on this (or any other issue). Previously, the media revealed that the Bush Administration had authorized the NSA to conduct wiretaps on people within the US without a court order and has resisted any sort of oversight by either Congress or the Justice Department. Despite Bush's reassurances that our rights are being protected, this is the Administration that spied on vegans and gay rights protesters under the guise of national security.
Karl Rove is said to focusing on describing a "nightmare" scenario if Democrats win the upcoming election. Well, Karl, don't bother because we're living the nightmare.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
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I know you guys have been waiting a long time for this, but I have VERY good news! Seasons 1 & 2 of the Facts of Life are about to be released on DVD! Yes, I fondly remember Mrs. Garrett and those sassy kids -- Blair, Tootie, Natalie and Jo. Before I had ever heard the word "lesbian," there was Jo. I'm hardly the first one to say it -- I remember Margaret Cho talking about the sexual tension between Jo and Blair...
Ah, the good ol' days of Norman Lear. All In The Family, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, One Day At A Time... While Lear didn't create the Facts of Life, apparently he is responsible for Mindy Cohn, who played Natalie on the show. You can't underestimate the positive impact Norman Lear has had on television.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Thursday, May 04, 2006
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Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Ok, I haven't had much to say over the past few days -- really trying to turn up the heat on the whole job search & career thing. Not much movement in the romantic area, which is frustrating, I'll admit. Anyway, nothing quite a video of a "straight" guy wetting down his briefs to show off his package to brighten your day.