echeblog

Monday, May 29, 2006

Break

Hey guys! I know I've been quiet lately. Just been taking a little break from the blogging world. I'll be back soon!

Monday, May 22, 2006

Time to Say Goodbye

Before you guys read too much into the title of this entry -- the blog isn't going anywhere! Rather, this past week we said goodbye to two long running TV shows -- Will & Grace and Charmed. As much as I'd like to get all nostalgic about both finales, I can't deny that the clock had struck midnight and it was time for both shows to call it quits. I had lost interest in Will & Grace for most of this season -- even though I knew it was the last season, it just never held my interest. And on Charmed, even though I caught just about every episode this season, things had really gone down hill.

I wasn't watching much TV lately, now Will & Grace and Charmed are gone. That raises two important questions -- 1) Is there any reason to watch NBC anymore? and 2) Do I really need to own a TV these days?

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

How Long Before Rap Collapses?


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 seconds into it. Example #2 - I was watching MTV last night and discovered that Jamie Kennedy has a new surreality show about him wanting to become a rapper. Now my guess is that the core element of this show is based on irony, but it sort of proves my point.

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.

Marc's Midweek '300' Beef Haiku

They say, "When in Rome..."
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

Hidden Meaning?

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?

Friday, May 12, 2006

That Lawn Is PERFECT!


Thanks to Doug at Here Now for the pic!

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Hear No Evil?

USA Today is reporting that the NSA has created a database of phone call records with the help of AT&T, Verizon & Bell South. Apparently, the NSA's goal is "to create a database of every call ever made" within the nation's borders. Customers of AT&T, Verizon & Bell South have the details of their phone calls turned over to the NSA, despite that the vast majority of the public is suspected of nothing more severe than intense dislike of President Bush.

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

Marc's Midweek X-Men Beef Haiku

Though someone asked me:
"Have you seen Superman's bulge?"
Colossus has beef!

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Facts of Life!

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the FACTS OF LIFE...

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...

Some will also remember a very young George Clooney made some appearances on the show as well. I've never been a big George Clooney fan, actually, but I figured it was worth mentioning.

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

Fraternities Are So Gay!

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Spin Cycle

A helpful bit of advice for you at laundry time -- It is preferable to remove one's cellular phones or other electronic devices from one's clothes prior to washing them. That is all.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Marc's Midweek Mansploitation Veal Haiku


"Really, I am straight!"
He explained, showing his abs
and manicured pubes.

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Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Blue Monday


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.