Let's face it, 2012 sucked. There's no other way to say it. For a number of reasons (that I don't have the patience or time to explain) this year has, quite possibly, been the worst ever. In regards to technology and world events, this year brought us a number of amazing moments. For better or for worse, the morning brings us an opportunity to start over and try to make the world around us a better place.
By the way, I thought this was incredibly interesting. At the :58 mark, when they're doing a search for "for a change", "Stop SOPA" comes up in the search results.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Mashup Monday - Year End Movie Edition
I usually share the year-end "Filmographies" of Gen Ip. This year, I think Matt Shapiro has done a much better job at capturing the emotion of this year's films. This is five minutes and fifty two seconds of brilliant editing work. Enjoy.
Mashup Monday - End Of The Year Edition
Every December, YouTube is bombarded with year-end pop music mashups. This is one of the better ones. I particularly liked it because, as the video plays, the bottom of the screen lists what tracks are being mixed. I can't say that I'm familiar with some of the songs in the video. I certainly can't say that I'm a fan of some of them, either. However, I can say that Daniel Kim has done a spectacular job.
In case you lost count, there were 55 tracks in eight minutes.
In case you lost count, there were 55 tracks in eight minutes.
We're Expecting.....
...the coming Apocalypse.
TMZ reported this morning, that Kim Kardashian is pregnant...with Kanye West's baby. It seems that the Mayans were about six months off.
Poor kid's going to be nothing but ass and teeth. Seven pounds three ounces of uncontrolled ego.
"But when you get on, he leave yo ass for a white girl...."
TMZ reported this morning, that Kim Kardashian is pregnant...with Kanye West's baby. It seems that the Mayans were about six months off.
Poor kid's going to be nothing but ass and teeth. Seven pounds three ounces of uncontrolled ego.
"But when you get on, he leave yo ass for a white girl...."
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Copyright Criminals
I've been having a difficult time getting back into the swing of things. I've really been wanting to write. I haven't done so in more than two months. It has become very hard to get motivated. So, I thought a good way to get my feet wet again would be by doing one of my old standbys...a mashup post.
I couldn't sleep last night, so I watched a short documentary on Netflix. Copyright Criminals took a look at the prevalence of sampling in today's music. More than anything, it asked the question, "Are DJs/samplers musicians?" "Does their work require talent?"
You had some people, mostly on the legal side of the issue, say that DJs and hip hop artists are talentless hacks. They're either not talented enough, or creative enough, to come up with their own material.
Interesting fact: Rick James sold 3 million copies of his Super Freak single. MC Hammer sampled Super Freak in You Can't Touch This. Hammer sold 10 million copies of his single.
Some artists argue that many jazz and funk tunes sampled in hip hop's heyday comprised of beats or trumpet hits that were, for the most part, improvised. The drummer or trumpet player was usually a studio musician that was paid a flat fee to record a backing track. They didn't receive any songwriting credit or any royalties from the track. If they're sampling a trumpet hit from a James Brown tune, why should they have to pay Brown's estate to get permission to use a part of the song he had nothing to do with?
One person in the film likened sampling/mashups to what Andy Warhol did with his work. He took copyrighted photos and painted over them. He took trademarked packaging and painted them on canvas. The world agrees today that he was a genius.
The documentary specifically brought up the case of Danger Mouse's Grey Album. If you've never heard of The Grey Album, Danger Mouse (the second half of Gnarls Barkley) mixed the vocals of Jay-Z's Black Album with music from The Beatles White Album. The result was legendary.
Danger Mouse never had any intention on releasing the album for commercial sale. As soon as he started distributing it on the internet, EMI, The Beatles music publisher, immediately sent a cease and desist. The original artists never filed a complaint. In fact, Jay-Z's label has never said a word about the album. The Grey Album became the most downloaded and widely distributed album of 2004. Had EMI been willing to play nice, everyone involved could have made a lot of money.
Another artist featured in the film was the duo Eclectic Method. Watch this and tell me, "Is this talent or technology at work?" There's a segment at 5:52, where they put a beat together using the swings of a sword. It's pretty badass.
One of my favorite videos is of a mashup done by a 15-year-old French kid. He mashes together 39 of his favorite songs in a matter of three-and-a-half minutes. Can you even figure out all 39 songs he sampled? Even if you could, are the samples recognizable to where anyone listening to it could say, "He ripped off _____."? Considering standard costs related to gaining permission from record labels, this tune could possibly cost $4 million or more in legal fees. Is he stealing the artistic creations of someone else, or has this kid created a completely new piece of art?
I couldn't sleep last night, so I watched a short documentary on Netflix. Copyright Criminals took a look at the prevalence of sampling in today's music. More than anything, it asked the question, "Are DJs/samplers musicians?" "Does their work require talent?"
You had some people, mostly on the legal side of the issue, say that DJs and hip hop artists are talentless hacks. They're either not talented enough, or creative enough, to come up with their own material.
Interesting fact: Rick James sold 3 million copies of his Super Freak single. MC Hammer sampled Super Freak in You Can't Touch This. Hammer sold 10 million copies of his single.
Some artists argue that many jazz and funk tunes sampled in hip hop's heyday comprised of beats or trumpet hits that were, for the most part, improvised. The drummer or trumpet player was usually a studio musician that was paid a flat fee to record a backing track. They didn't receive any songwriting credit or any royalties from the track. If they're sampling a trumpet hit from a James Brown tune, why should they have to pay Brown's estate to get permission to use a part of the song he had nothing to do with?
One person in the film likened sampling/mashups to what Andy Warhol did with his work. He took copyrighted photos and painted over them. He took trademarked packaging and painted them on canvas. The world agrees today that he was a genius.
The documentary specifically brought up the case of Danger Mouse's Grey Album. If you've never heard of The Grey Album, Danger Mouse (the second half of Gnarls Barkley) mixed the vocals of Jay-Z's Black Album with music from The Beatles White Album. The result was legendary.
Danger Mouse never had any intention on releasing the album for commercial sale. As soon as he started distributing it on the internet, EMI, The Beatles music publisher, immediately sent a cease and desist. The original artists never filed a complaint. In fact, Jay-Z's label has never said a word about the album. The Grey Album became the most downloaded and widely distributed album of 2004. Had EMI been willing to play nice, everyone involved could have made a lot of money.
Another artist featured in the film was the duo Eclectic Method. Watch this and tell me, "Is this talent or technology at work?" There's a segment at 5:52, where they put a beat together using the swings of a sword. It's pretty badass.
One of my favorite videos is of a mashup done by a 15-year-old French kid. He mashes together 39 of his favorite songs in a matter of three-and-a-half minutes. Can you even figure out all 39 songs he sampled? Even if you could, are the samples recognizable to where anyone listening to it could say, "He ripped off _____."? Considering standard costs related to gaining permission from record labels, this tune could possibly cost $4 million or more in legal fees. Is he stealing the artistic creations of someone else, or has this kid created a completely new piece of art?
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Sunday Comics
Did you know that the account of Jacob wrestling with an angel was the inspiration for 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid'?
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Long Time No See
I feel like I've failed my site.
This is the first blog post I've written in over a month. And, fuck has it been a crazy month. While on my gluten free diet, my health started to deteriorate. The returning symptoms were primarily neurological in nature. Pain, asymmetrical numbness, but very little issues when it comes to my digestive system. I thought that maybe I would introduce gluten back into my diet, and see if I was truly gluten intolerant, or if it was merely a coincidence.
After eating gluten continuously for the last two weeks, I have noticed an occasional stomach issue. The biggest difference I can tell is psychologically. I am much more stressed out and depressed now than what I was before.
Last week, I saw an allergist. They did a series of tests for food allergies. Of the 82 foods I was tested for, I was allergic to none. Not allergic in the least to wheat, barley, oats, malt, or rice. The doctor wants to do another blood test for Celiac, but is saying that it will almost definitely come back negative. It is extremely rare for someone to be allergic to gluten, without having even a hint of another food allergy. I had a number of vials of blood taken to be tested for every auto-immune disease under the sun. I am scheduled to see my doctor tomorrow for the results. I don't know what makes me more nervous, finding out that I have an auto-immune disorder, or hearing that I'm fine.
In other recent news, I have been putting a number of hours into the animal rescue. It's easily the most rewarding thing I've ever done. I love helping these little guys find homes. There are days when it is extremely stressful, though. Not because of the dogs, or the work that I do. But, because of some of the cunts that I have to deal with, and the drama they tend to create. If we could only boot some of the egos and the arrogance from the group, life would be much easier. As it is, there are some days when it's not even worth trying.
I'm tired. It's as simple as that. I'm going to try to schedule out my life, as I have been neglecting some of the things that are very important to me. Dedicate so much time per week to my site. So much to helping my friends with their adoption blog. So much toward my political activism. So much to my family. And, so much to the rescue. It all sounds great in theory. It will be interesting to see how the logistics work themselves out.
This is the first blog post I've written in over a month. And, fuck has it been a crazy month. While on my gluten free diet, my health started to deteriorate. The returning symptoms were primarily neurological in nature. Pain, asymmetrical numbness, but very little issues when it comes to my digestive system. I thought that maybe I would introduce gluten back into my diet, and see if I was truly gluten intolerant, or if it was merely a coincidence.
After eating gluten continuously for the last two weeks, I have noticed an occasional stomach issue. The biggest difference I can tell is psychologically. I am much more stressed out and depressed now than what I was before.
Last week, I saw an allergist. They did a series of tests for food allergies. Of the 82 foods I was tested for, I was allergic to none. Not allergic in the least to wheat, barley, oats, malt, or rice. The doctor wants to do another blood test for Celiac, but is saying that it will almost definitely come back negative. It is extremely rare for someone to be allergic to gluten, without having even a hint of another food allergy. I had a number of vials of blood taken to be tested for every auto-immune disease under the sun. I am scheduled to see my doctor tomorrow for the results. I don't know what makes me more nervous, finding out that I have an auto-immune disorder, or hearing that I'm fine.
In other recent news, I have been putting a number of hours into the animal rescue. It's easily the most rewarding thing I've ever done. I love helping these little guys find homes. There are days when it is extremely stressful, though. Not because of the dogs, or the work that I do. But, because of some of the cunts that I have to deal with, and the drama they tend to create. If we could only boot some of the egos and the arrogance from the group, life would be much easier. As it is, there are some days when it's not even worth trying.
I'm tired. It's as simple as that. I'm going to try to schedule out my life, as I have been neglecting some of the things that are very important to me. Dedicate so much time per week to my site. So much to helping my friends with their adoption blog. So much toward my political activism. So much to my family. And, so much to the rescue. It all sounds great in theory. It will be interesting to see how the logistics work themselves out.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Fireworks: Give Us The Finale Only!
Last night, the three of us drove up to a mall parking lot in Tempe to see the fireworks. We then walked to a bridge that crossed Tempe Town Lake. The show was approximately a mile away at Tempe Beach Park. For standing on a sidewalk, we had a pretty great view.
The show lasted about 35 minutes. Honestly, it sort of dragged on. Jessi and I joked that it would bring so much more bang for the buck (sorry for the pun) if they used the same amount of fireworks, but in a 10 minute production. "Better yet," Jessi said, "wouldn't it be awesome if they just lit everything at the same time?"
For some reason, I envisioned it much like the fireworks scene from Coneheads.
Well...IT HAPPENED.
Last night in San Diego, a computer malfunction caused every firework to light simultaneously. The result wasn't as epic as I had imagined, (I'm sure there weren't any sunburns inflicted) but it was pretty damn cool.
I love the crowd reaction. You could tell they were thinking, "If that's the opening salvo, I can't imagine what the finale looks like." I thoroughly encourage you to watch other videos of the event on YouTube. Kids are crying. Every car alarm in the Bay area was going off. It's hilarious.
Talk about a once in a lifetime occurrence. If it was up to me, every fireworks show would be this majestic. Could you imagine this over Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland every night?
The show lasted about 35 minutes. Honestly, it sort of dragged on. Jessi and I joked that it would bring so much more bang for the buck (sorry for the pun) if they used the same amount of fireworks, but in a 10 minute production. "Better yet," Jessi said, "wouldn't it be awesome if they just lit everything at the same time?"
For some reason, I envisioned it much like the fireworks scene from Coneheads.
Well...IT HAPPENED.
Last night in San Diego, a computer malfunction caused every firework to light simultaneously. The result wasn't as epic as I had imagined, (I'm sure there weren't any sunburns inflicted) but it was pretty damn cool.
I love the crowd reaction. You could tell they were thinking, "If that's the opening salvo, I can't imagine what the finale looks like." I thoroughly encourage you to watch other videos of the event on YouTube. Kids are crying. Every car alarm in the Bay area was going off. It's hilarious.
Talk about a once in a lifetime occurrence. If it was up to me, every fireworks show would be this majestic. Could you imagine this over Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland every night?
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Happy Independence Day
I'll leave you tonight with one of my all time favorite performances. Filmed before game 2 of the 2001 World Series.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Meet Joey
Two weeks ago, I started volunteering for a local dog rescue. Ohana Animal Rescue pulls dogs from the county shelter that are on the euthanasia list. At that point, foster parents will rehabilitate them, and make them available for adoption. Ohana has adoption events three times per week at a Phoenix area Petsmart. Starting next week, we'll be holding adoption events at a second Petsmart location.
We started fostering Joey last Friday. He's a six-month-old wire haired Jack Russell terrier. He's a sweetheart. We absolutely adore him. In just the last three days, he's almost entirely housebroken. (He pooped on the carpet this morning, but it was right by the patio door.) Poor guy has an upper respiratory infection, so he's barking like a sea lion.
As I was on my laptop last night, he jumped onto the couch and set his head on my shoulder. Thought it was the perfect opportunity to get him on webcam.
We started fostering Joey last Friday. He's a six-month-old wire haired Jack Russell terrier. He's a sweetheart. We absolutely adore him. In just the last three days, he's almost entirely housebroken. (He pooped on the carpet this morning, but it was right by the patio door.) Poor guy has an upper respiratory infection, so he's barking like a sea lion.
As I was on my laptop last night, he jumped onto the couch and set his head on my shoulder. Thought it was the perfect opportunity to get him on webcam.
Monday, July 2, 2012
An Epic Mashup Monday
To be perfectly honest, I had no intention whatsoever to create a Mashup Monday post this week. Then, I accidentally stumbled upon Go Home Productions most recent track, which happened to debut today.
I have never heard anything like it. Something so seamless. So...flawless. It's one of the greatest tunes I have ever had the good fortune to hear. So, without further adieu, I present (I Am The) Trampoline (To The Other Side).
I have never heard anything like it. Something so seamless. So...flawless. It's one of the greatest tunes I have ever had the good fortune to hear. So, without further adieu, I present (I Am The) Trampoline (To The Other Side).
Feel Good Video Of The Day
This is the latest advertisement for Coca Cola. I've been debating whether to share it or not. It is truly a heartwarming video, but ultimately, it's to push a soda. In any event, this clip helped me to regain a little bit of faith in the human race.
Best JW Baptism EVER
The following video popped up on YouTube a couple of weeks ago. There is no information as to where or when it was taken, but I'm assuming it was during one of this year's district conventions. Thanks to Chris Fugue for adding Yakety Sax to the video. It makes it all the more enjoyable.
Now, why haven't any of us thought about doing that before? Gotta get wet to be part of their silly club. Makes sense that you have to get wet to get out. Rinse off all of the brainwashing.
Now, why haven't any of us thought about doing that before? Gotta get wet to be part of their silly club. Makes sense that you have to get wet to get out. Rinse off all of the brainwashing.
300
THIS.....IS.....AWESOME!!!!!
Tomorrow will be six weeks since I started a gluten free diet. In that time, I have lost 22 pounds. When I weighed myself this morning, I came in at 300.
Today is the first time in my adult life, 22 years to be exact, that I have been at this weight. The last time was during my sophomore year of high school in 1990. It's crazy to think that very soon, within the next day or so, the digital scale will have the number 2 as the first digit of my weight. I have never seen that before.
This is really hard to believe. And, all because of gluten. Wow...
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
How Dubstep Sounds To Adults (Video)
I laughed hysterically when I saw this. I must say, the guy is spot on...
Monday, June 25, 2012
My Fourth "Twitch Day"
On June 25, 2009, I was officially diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome. Since then, every June 25th has been deemed my annual "Twitch Day".
Life has undergone so many changes since I started exhibiting symptoms of TS. If not for Tourette's, I wouldn't have started writing. 1,149 posts later, I'm still at it. Granted, it's not as often as I would like to publish. As I have been feeling better, I've been spending less and less time online. But, nearly 1,200 blog posts is quite an accomplishment (for my ADHD ass, anyway).
Because of Tourette's, I am also currently on Social Security Disability. I'm making less than half of what I did, working technical support for Verizon Wireless, but we get by. Some months, it requires one hell of a juggling act to make ends meet. But, if it weren't for TS, I wouldn't have become a stay-at-home dad. I would likely be working 10-12 hours a day, and my little girl would spend most of her week in daycare. There is nothing better than sitting on the couch, having her walk into the living room, staggering and sleepy eyed, and getting the first hug of the day. I am so incredibly lucky to be able to stay home, do some chores around the house, and spend time with my baby.
In the last 4-6 weeks, I have doubted the possibility that I have Tourette's Syndrome. Since starting on a gluten free diet, my tics have all but disappeared. Up until today, I have only had one tic in the last month. I have read in a couple of places that, for unknown reasons, Tourette's and Celiac disease tend to go hand in hand. Anecdotal evidence suggests that if you have Tourette's Syndrome, odds are you have some type of gluten intolerance.
So far today, I have been ticking like mad. They're complex tics, meaning that I'm having motor tics and vocal tics simultaneously. My "go to" tic has always been where my head cocks back violently, and I, well, bark.
I have been stressed out today, and I didn't sleep very well last night. Pair that with the fact that I'm exerting myself more and more each day (physically speaking), and I tend to overdo it. I forget that, just six weeks ago, I couldn't walk. Now, I'm spending more quality time with my daughter. I'm doing dishes, and laundry, vacuuming, and taking out the trash every day. I've started to add some type of physical activity to my day. I have also stepped up my volunteer work in recent weeks. I have to remember, "baby steps". I need to pace myself, so that I don't die from exhaustion before the end of the month.
I thought my Tourette's had completely gone away with the start of the gluten free diet. Turns out, I was wrong. It's no big deal. I can handle this.
I've said it before...the twitching, the stuttering and jerking and shouting have all become part of who I am. To be honest, I can't picture myself without it anymore.
I am Twitch, as much as I am Adam.
Life has undergone so many changes since I started exhibiting symptoms of TS. If not for Tourette's, I wouldn't have started writing. 1,149 posts later, I'm still at it. Granted, it's not as often as I would like to publish. As I have been feeling better, I've been spending less and less time online. But, nearly 1,200 blog posts is quite an accomplishment (for my ADHD ass, anyway).
Because of Tourette's, I am also currently on Social Security Disability. I'm making less than half of what I did, working technical support for Verizon Wireless, but we get by. Some months, it requires one hell of a juggling act to make ends meet. But, if it weren't for TS, I wouldn't have become a stay-at-home dad. I would likely be working 10-12 hours a day, and my little girl would spend most of her week in daycare. There is nothing better than sitting on the couch, having her walk into the living room, staggering and sleepy eyed, and getting the first hug of the day. I am so incredibly lucky to be able to stay home, do some chores around the house, and spend time with my baby.
In the last 4-6 weeks, I have doubted the possibility that I have Tourette's Syndrome. Since starting on a gluten free diet, my tics have all but disappeared. Up until today, I have only had one tic in the last month. I have read in a couple of places that, for unknown reasons, Tourette's and Celiac disease tend to go hand in hand. Anecdotal evidence suggests that if you have Tourette's Syndrome, odds are you have some type of gluten intolerance.
So far today, I have been ticking like mad. They're complex tics, meaning that I'm having motor tics and vocal tics simultaneously. My "go to" tic has always been where my head cocks back violently, and I, well, bark.
I have been stressed out today, and I didn't sleep very well last night. Pair that with the fact that I'm exerting myself more and more each day (physically speaking), and I tend to overdo it. I forget that, just six weeks ago, I couldn't walk. Now, I'm spending more quality time with my daughter. I'm doing dishes, and laundry, vacuuming, and taking out the trash every day. I've started to add some type of physical activity to my day. I have also stepped up my volunteer work in recent weeks. I have to remember, "baby steps". I need to pace myself, so that I don't die from exhaustion before the end of the month.
I thought my Tourette's had completely gone away with the start of the gluten free diet. Turns out, I was wrong. It's no big deal. I can handle this.
I've said it before...the twitching, the stuttering and jerking and shouting have all become part of who I am. To be honest, I can't picture myself without it anymore.
I am Twitch, as much as I am Adam.
'All You Need Is Love' Turns 45
On June 25, 1967, The Beatles recorded their masterpiece, All You Need is Love, in front of a live studio audience. The track was also recorded with the world in attendance. Their recording session was the first ever live, worldwide satellite broadcast.
It's fascinating to watch. Enjoy...
It's fascinating to watch. Enjoy...
Mashup Monday - Party Rock In The Cantina
If you are anything like me, you think that LMFAO is an insult to music. I guess it's a matter of not what you know, but who you know. The group is comprised of the brother and son of Barry Gordy, the head of Motown.
In any event, someone brilliantly edited mesh of their Party Rock video, with the audio from the Mos Eisley Cantina scene in Star Wars. Hilarious.
In any event, someone brilliantly edited mesh of their Party Rock video, with the audio from the Mos Eisley Cantina scene in Star Wars. Hilarious.
Feel Good Video Of The Day
Today's video is of Jake Bouma. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, and visited his oncologist on June 22, after four rounds of chemotherapy.
Isn't science fucking awesome?
Isn't science fucking awesome?
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Sunday Comics
Only the Bible would consider someone that nearly slit his kid's throat because of voices in his head a good father. Happy Father's Day, everyone.
Father Of Mine
Father's Day has always given me mixed emotions. In the last four years, the day has taken on a much brighter tone than it used to, now that I'm a father myself. Otherwise, it has always been sort of a "What's the point?" kind of holiday.
My father (and his father before him) were of the "sperm donor that never went away" variety. I have no real memories of my dad, other than seeing him, night after night, lounging in the living room: His beer belly hanging over cheap gym shorts. His only interaction or interest in me was to discipline me. The only thing he taught me in life was to NOT be like him with my children.
So, this song is for you, pop. Go fuck yourself....
My father (and his father before him) were of the "sperm donor that never went away" variety. I have no real memories of my dad, other than seeing him, night after night, lounging in the living room: His beer belly hanging over cheap gym shorts. His only interaction or interest in me was to discipline me. The only thing he taught me in life was to NOT be like him with my children.
So, this song is for you, pop. Go fuck yourself....
Feel Good Video Of The Day
I found this late Thursday night. Surfing the internet. Trying to sleep.
When I showed it to Jessi, she almost wet the bed, she was laughing so hard.
SAIL!!!
When I showed it to Jessi, she almost wet the bed, she was laughing so hard.
SAIL!!!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Feel Good Video Of The Day
Just when you've given up all hope in the human race, a video clip comes along to restore your faith in humanity.
The clip shows a Detroit firefighter pulling two unconscious pit bulls out of a burning house. Instead of turning to fight the fire, he takes of his oxygen mask and successfully uses it to resuscitate the dogs. It's nice to know that there are still good people in this world.
The clip is from a documentary film project called Burn . It follows a fire company on the East side of Detroit over the course of a year. I have seen a number of clips from the film over the last year, and, in every sense of the word, these men and women are heroes. This is a documentary that needs to be seen. If you can contribute to Burn's funding, please make a donation on their website.
Here is a preview of the yet to be completed film:
The clip shows a Detroit firefighter pulling two unconscious pit bulls out of a burning house. Instead of turning to fight the fire, he takes of his oxygen mask and successfully uses it to resuscitate the dogs. It's nice to know that there are still good people in this world.
The clip is from a documentary film project called Burn . It follows a fire company on the East side of Detroit over the course of a year. I have seen a number of clips from the film over the last year, and, in every sense of the word, these men and women are heroes. This is a documentary that needs to be seen. If you can contribute to Burn's funding, please make a donation on their website.
Here is a preview of the yet to be completed film:
Monday, June 11, 2012
Mashup Monday - Annie Lennox Edition
Today, I found a phenomenal mashup on YouTube. It's a couple of years old, but well worth a listen. When Lennox released The Annie Lennox Collection in 2009, she commissioned DJ Earworm to mashup a few of her tunes together. The result is a track titled Backwards/Forwards. I especially like the portion of the song that combines No More I Love Yous, Walking On Broken Glass, and Why together. Enjoy.
Headline Of The Day
"Tiger Woods...Is an Idiot."
The above headline appeared on TMZ this afternoon. The article contained no words, simply a photo of Tiger's ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, in a bikini.
The above headline appeared on TMZ this afternoon. The article contained no words, simply a photo of Tiger's ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, in a bikini.
Yeah. He's an idiot...
What You Can Accomplish When You Feel Good
This is the cleanest our apartment has been since we moved in in December. Last Thursday, we moved furniture and unpacked a stack of boxes and totes that were untouched from the time we got here.
I have vacuumed twice since then. At the moment, I am bored as all hell, because there isn't anything for me to do around here. Load the washer. Wait an hour. Transfer it to the dryer. Repeat.
Lately, it seems like I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to the site. First, I can't think of anything to write about. Secondly, I have sort of forgotten how to write. I have never written while in a good mood. It's very strange.
My activism has suffered as well. It's not that I'm no longer interested in the issues. It's that I'm not angry anymore. Not angry enough to raise hell about it, at least. I am much more of a positive person than I ever thought I was.
Who would have thought that being healthy and happy would pose problems? Guess I need to find a new hobby.....or a job.
Video Diary - Four Weeks Gluten Free
Hey everyone.
Thought I would record a quick video to document my progress. I've recently discovered that I'm also lactose intolerant and that my neurological symptoms return when I ingest MSG.
It has been 27 days since I started on my gluten free regimen. So far, I've lost 18 lbs. I'm a couple of pounds shy of my goal for the month, but I'm in better physical and psychological shape than I have ever been. As I feel better, I have been increasing the amount of exercise I do each day. That can only help more. Wish me luck.
Warning: NSFW (Language)
Thought I would record a quick video to document my progress. I've recently discovered that I'm also lactose intolerant and that my neurological symptoms return when I ingest MSG.
It has been 27 days since I started on my gluten free regimen. So far, I've lost 18 lbs. I'm a couple of pounds shy of my goal for the month, but I'm in better physical and psychological shape than I have ever been. As I feel better, I have been increasing the amount of exercise I do each day. That can only help more. Wish me luck.
Warning: NSFW (Language)
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Feel Good Video Of The Day
Today's video made me smile from ear to ear. It's a game of hide and seek, but from the point of view of the two-year-old that's playing with their dad. Awesome perspective. I've been thinking about getting one of the GoPro HD cameras for Christmas this year. It would be fun to mount one of those to my daughter's bike helmet, and set her loose on the playground.
Photo Of The Day
Until you realize what it is, today's picture sort of takes you by surprise. The photo is of a skull of a child, with the outer layer of bone removed. By removing the outer layer, we're able to see how adult teeth grow in the body, while the "baby" teeth work their way out. It's quite fascinating.
Why 'Mrs. Doubtfire' Would Never Work With Today's Audiences
This trailer is obviously a re-cut. But, when you think about it, the reality of the film isn't that far off.
Asshole Of The Week
Our asshole of the week comes courtesy of one of my Facebook pages, Sluts For Obama 2012. On June 6th, we received the following comment from gentleman and scholar, David Roach:
Don't forget to vote this year, people. Honey is voting. So are hundreds of thousands of like-minded Honeys like him.
Apparently, he thinks Michelle Obama is the President of the United States. So, I guess you have to take what he says with a grain of salt. In fact, from this point forward, I'm going to refer to David "The Cock" Roach, and other trolls like him, as "Honey". As in, "Oh, Honey".
Example:
Don't forget to vote this year, people. Honey is voting. So are hundreds of thousands of like-minded Honeys like him.
Church Sign Of The Day
I haven't posted a church sign photo in some time. In fact, I think this may be the first "Church Sign of the Day" post in 2012. This one is just so over the top, I had to share. Behold:
Apparently, neither does grammar or spelling...
Sunday Comics
See? Jesus would approve of me downloading Game of Thrones. Yeah. Religious freedom and such.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
NEVER Judge A Book By It's Cover (Video)
A lesson of sorts played out during last night's America's Got Talent. A 19-year-old goth kid by the name of Andrew De Leon took the stage. Almost immediately, you could tell that the judges (as well as the audience) had made up their mind. His performance not only changed minds, but possibly a couple of hearts.
Prometheus In Construction Paper (Video)
Travis Betz created a brilliant remake of the Prometheus trailer, using only paper. I cannot imagine how long it took to build and film. It's almost as if you made a pop-up book for a movie. Very cool.
As a reference point, here is the original trailer. I have to admit, watching the paper version made me spot snippets that I didn't notice before.
As a reference point, here is the original trailer. I have to admit, watching the paper version made me spot snippets that I didn't notice before.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
"Gopher Tuna"
In 1935, Carl Orff wrote O Fortuna as part of his choral masterpiece Carmina Burana. It's one of my favorite classical pieces. I've been lucky enough to see a performance of the piece live.
Until I was in my mid-20s, I had no idea what the name of the tune was. I simply called it the "BAMP BAMP BAMP BAMP song". It took another decade before I had any clue as to the lyrics.
It appears as if I'm not the only one. Someone posted a video of O Fortuna's misheard lyrics. It's hilarious, partially because they're dead on.
Until I was in my mid-20s, I had no idea what the name of the tune was. I simply called it the "BAMP BAMP BAMP BAMP song". It took another decade before I had any clue as to the lyrics.
It appears as if I'm not the only one. Someone posted a video of O Fortuna's misheard lyrics. It's hilarious, partially because they're dead on.
Let's Define "Traditional Marriage"
If you want to get technical about it, "traditional marriage" is between a man and his rib.
Now, that's what I can an institution...
Monday, June 4, 2012
Photo Of The Day
Each one of the blue dots is a zip code, in which someone contributed $200 or more to President Obama's campaign in 2008, but haven't donated in this election cycle. The darker the dot, the more people in that zip code that have yet to re-up.
In '08, more than 550,000 people donated at least $200 to Obama's campaign. So far this year, 88% of those donors, or 537,806 people have not made another $200 commitment.
One thing is abundantly clear. While Obama may very well be elected to a second term, the level of passion and excitement about the presidential election has plummeted.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Feel Good Video Of The Day
Who doesn't like penguins? Penguins were what brought my wife and I together. They're pretty fucking awesome.
Now, what's better than penguins? Penguins and LASER POINTERS!!!
Now, what's better than penguins? Penguins and LASER POINTERS!!!
Gallup: 78% Of Americans Ignorant
Sorry, folks. I can't think of a more tactful way to say it.
In a recent Gallup poll, 1,012 people were asked about their views about the origin and development of the human species. 46% said that man was created by god, in their present form, less than 10,000 years ago. Another 32% believe that we have evolved over the course of many millennia, but with god guiding the process. Only 15% of those interviewed believed in evolution, in it's scientific meaning.
I don't get it...
In a recent Gallup poll, 1,012 people were asked about their views about the origin and development of the human species. 46% said that man was created by god, in their present form, less than 10,000 years ago. Another 32% believe that we have evolved over the course of many millennia, but with god guiding the process. Only 15% of those interviewed believed in evolution, in it's scientific meaning.
I don't get it...
Is Your PC THIS Dirty?
This almost looks like it could be a deleted scene from 'Hoarders'.
There's a sticker on the side of the tower that says "4/97". I wonder if April of 1997 was the last time it was opened. Certainly seems like 15 years of dust and cat hair. Ewwww.
There's a sticker on the side of the tower that says "4/97". I wonder if April of 1997 was the last time it was opened. Certainly seems like 15 years of dust and cat hair. Ewwww.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Feel Good Video Of The Day
No better way to start your weekend than a pug singing the 'Batman' theme...
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Feel Good Video Of The Day
Since we're on the subject of 'Les Mis', I thought I would share this clip. It's of Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel of 'How I Met Your Mother' on the now defunct 'Megan Mullally Show'. They're singing 'Confrontation'. Hilarious.
Trailer: Les Miserables
With Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, and Anne Hathaway as Fatine, 'Les Miserables' is in theaters on December 14th.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Toddler Sings 'Ain't No Homos Gonna Make It To Heaven' In Church
And the congregation goes wild! Standing ovation!
This interesting little ditty was unearthed yesterday by Goodlawd. It shows a little boy, not any older than four, on stage with his father. He starts singing,
Note: Please do not flag the video as offensive on YouTube. It needs to remain up and playing, so that the nation and the world can see the hate being preached at this church. It disgusts me as much as it does you. Possibly more so. But, people need to be aware as to what is going on in their neighborhoods.
Shortly after the Goodlawd's post gained attention from a number of other bloggers, most notably Joe My God, the video was removed from YouTube for violating their guidelines on hate speech. Fortunately, someone had the sense to mirror the video on DailyMotion. A mirror of the video surfaced on YouTube this morning. Today, the clip has gone semi-viral, after being picked up by Buzzfeed and TMZ.
The church where this disturbing performance took place has been identified as the Apostolic Truth Tabernacle in Greensburg, Indiana. Coincidentally (or not), Greensburg is the community of 11,492 people where Billy Lucas lived. Remember Billy Lucas? He was the 15-year-old high school freshman that committed suicide on September 9, 2010, after being bullied at school for being gay. His suicide inspired Dan Savage to create the It Gets Better Project later that year.
If you would like to give your two cents on the matter, the church's phone number is 812-662-8224. You can also send them a message online on their "Contact Us" page. Also, please feel free to call Head Pastor Jeff Sangl. His cell phone number is 317-979-8684. His home number is 765-525-9488.
This interesting little ditty was unearthed yesterday by Goodlawd. It shows a little boy, not any older than four, on stage with his father. He starts singing,
"The Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong.
The Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong.
Romans one, twenty six and twenty seven;
Ain’t no homos gonna make it to Heaven."
Note: Please do not flag the video as offensive on YouTube. It needs to remain up and playing, so that the nation and the world can see the hate being preached at this church. It disgusts me as much as it does you. Possibly more so. But, people need to be aware as to what is going on in their neighborhoods.
Shortly after the Goodlawd's post gained attention from a number of other bloggers, most notably Joe My God, the video was removed from YouTube for violating their guidelines on hate speech. Fortunately, someone had the sense to mirror the video on DailyMotion. A mirror of the video surfaced on YouTube this morning. Today, the clip has gone semi-viral, after being picked up by Buzzfeed and TMZ.
The church where this disturbing performance took place has been identified as the Apostolic Truth Tabernacle in Greensburg, Indiana. Coincidentally (or not), Greensburg is the community of 11,492 people where Billy Lucas lived. Remember Billy Lucas? He was the 15-year-old high school freshman that committed suicide on September 9, 2010, after being bullied at school for being gay. His suicide inspired Dan Savage to create the It Gets Better Project later that year.
The church released a statement on their website's homepage, which reads,
Doesn't sound much like an apology to me. Does it to you? They're basically saying, "It is what it is"."The Pastor and members of Apostolic Truth Tabernacle do not condone, teach, or practice hate of any person for any reason. We believe and hope that every person can find true Bible salvation and the mercy and grace of God in their lives. We are a strong advocate of the family unit according to the teachings and precepts found in the Holy Bible. We believe the Holy Bible is the Divinely-inspired Word of God and we will continue to uphold and preach that which is found in scripture."
If you would like to give your two cents on the matter, the church's phone number is 812-662-8224. You can also send them a message online on their "Contact Us" page. Also, please feel free to call Head Pastor Jeff Sangl. His cell phone number is 317-979-8684. His home number is 765-525-9488.
Feel Good Video Of The Day
Sophia Grace and Rosie are the first kids to visit Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure. Is there anything cuter on television? I love Sophia Grace's impression of Mater. Hilarious.
Spellbinding (Video)
I could put this on a loop, and fall asleep to this every night. More riveting than 'Twilight'.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
A Change Of Pace
I was telling the wifey earlier tonight that I have ZERO desire to continue my political activism anymore. The fire is gone. I think that for the last few years, I've been channeling my anger and depression into something else, instead of incessantly complaining. Politics and religion were easy targets.
Now...I'm happy for the first time in my life. This feeling may be short lived, but I don't have the ability to criticize or be snarky like I used to. Hell, for the last two days, I've posted a "Feel Good Video of the Day" on my site. That's not like me. 'The Twitch' has been nothing but doom and gloom since it started nearly three years ago.
I'm tired of being the asshole that constantly rains on everyone else's parade. It's not something that I would like to be known for.
That being said, some changes are coming to the site. As you may have already noticed, the header at the top of the page has already been changed. "You met me at a very strange time in my life" is quite fitting. Those of you that have been following me for a while haven't had a chance to get to know the real me. I thought I had forgotten who that person was, myself. I used to tell people that I wasn't really a pessimist. I was a "realist". Let's face it. I was an asshole. Plain and simple. But, could you blame me?
This is like writing for the first time, all over again. I don't know where to start or how to do this. I just know that I want to create something that my wife enjoys reading. She stopped reading my site long ago, because my posts did nothing but depress her.
While I still may write the occasional post about politics, religion, or some bigot out there in the world, I'm not going to harp on it. The update will be written because "this needs to be seen", instead of "take a look at this asshole".
Bear with me. This is going to be a learning experience for all of us.
Video Diary - Two Weeks Gluten Free
I have been gluten free for 14 days now. The difference in the way I feel is unbelievable. I will post details later (hopefully tomorrow), but I wanted to record a short video to show the improvement in my psychological state and tone of voice.
My wife hates these video diaries for a number of reasons. The lighting sucks. The audio isn't all that good. I say "um" a lot...and I tend to ramble. She's right....about everything. Sorry.
Update: 34 "um"s in four minutes and twenty seconds. If you were playing the "Adam Says Um" drinking game, you'd be dead. :)
My wife hates these video diaries for a number of reasons. The lighting sucks. The audio isn't all that good. I say "um" a lot...and I tend to ramble. She's right....about everything. Sorry.
Update: 34 "um"s in four minutes and twenty seconds. If you were playing the "Adam Says Um" drinking game, you'd be dead. :)
Quiz: Count The Body Mods
This is a photo of Joeltron, one of Australia's leading body modification artists. There practically isn't a piercing or modification that he hasn't personally tried on himself.
Photo courtesy of BME
Microdermals in his forehead. Subdermals implanted under his eye. Stretched labret and septum. Then, the pièce de résistance: A stretched ear lobe, going through a cheek piercing, and being held by a forked tongue.
If my memory serves me correctly, Joeltron was the first person in the world to have his eyeball tattooed. It is still considered an extremely rare and dangerous place to get ink (you can easily go blind), but it looks like it's turned out well.
Photo courtesy of BME
Feel Good Video Of The Day
Last Wednesday, May 23rd, Isaac proposed to Amy in one of the most creative and romantic ways possible. The proposal seems to have included half of the residents of Portland, Oregon. Set to Bruno Mars' 'Marry You', it's one of the most touching videos I have seen in a long time.
If you're one of the three people in the world that haven't seen this video yet (It already has nearly 6.1 million views), check it out...
"Dancing Jews"?!? Seriously?!? LMAO.
If you're one of the three people in the world that haven't seen this video yet (It already has nearly 6.1 million views), check it out...
"Dancing Jews"?!? Seriously?!? LMAO.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Feel Good Video Of The Day
You may want to favorite this one. It always seems to get me out of a funk.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Insane Bike Race Must Be Seen To Be Believed (Video)
The Valparaiso Cerro Abajo (or Downhill) in Chile is easily the craziest thing I have ever seen. It would be comparable to a downhill skiing event, but with copious amounts of crack and Red Bull. You may want to sit down before you watch this...
I need a Xanax....
I need a Xanax....
The OMGWTF Headline Of The Day
Police now believe the suspect suffered a "cocaine psychosis". I'm calling zombie."Naked man killed by Police near MacArthur Causeway was ‘eating’ face off victim"
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Donna Summer - Gone At 63
Numerous media outlets are reporting the passing of musician Donna Summer this morning. She died at the age of 63, after a long, private battle with cancer.
Summer was the Queen of Disco. Hell, she was the very definition of the genre. Speaking for myself, I was never much of a fan of disco myself, but I always liked her songs. She was one of the rare singers in this world that could effortlessly convey emotion. When it comes to the disco era, that was hard to come by.
My favorite Donna Summer song, hands down, was 'On The Radio'. From a very young age, the song affected me. It still does.
On a side note, I'll share my fondest Donna Summer memory. When I used to work as a strip club DJ, I made it a tradition to play Summer's 'Last Dance' at the end of each night. Typically, songs in a strip club are limited to two-and-a-half minutes or less. It maximizes the rotation of dancers, and prevents one from spending too much time giving a lapdance to someone that's skeeving them out. I would play 'Last Dance' in it's entirety....all eight minutes and ten seconds of it. Needless to say, I pissed a lot of women off. The regulars loved it. Some would get in the habit of waiting for a lapdance until 1:45AM. Eventually, it got to the point where all of the dancers would mysteriously wander back into the dressing room for the last half hour of the night. My "tradition" didn't last long.
Summer was the Queen of Disco. Hell, she was the very definition of the genre. Speaking for myself, I was never much of a fan of disco myself, but I always liked her songs. She was one of the rare singers in this world that could effortlessly convey emotion. When it comes to the disco era, that was hard to come by.
My favorite Donna Summer song, hands down, was 'On The Radio'. From a very young age, the song affected me. It still does.
On a side note, I'll share my fondest Donna Summer memory. When I used to work as a strip club DJ, I made it a tradition to play Summer's 'Last Dance' at the end of each night. Typically, songs in a strip club are limited to two-and-a-half minutes or less. It maximizes the rotation of dancers, and prevents one from spending too much time giving a lapdance to someone that's skeeving them out. I would play 'Last Dance' in it's entirety....all eight minutes and ten seconds of it. Needless to say, I pissed a lot of women off. The regulars loved it. Some would get in the habit of waiting for a lapdance until 1:45AM. Eventually, it got to the point where all of the dancers would mysteriously wander back into the dressing room for the last half hour of the night. My "tradition" didn't last long.
Everything That's Wrong With America, In One Two Minute Video
Your 20 helpings of fried fish wasn't enough for you, so you had to call the police and start protesting?
We have become a nation of fat assholes, who think that they deserve the fucking world. Stop whining like a little bitch and eat a salad.
Video Diary - Episode One
I'm starting to believe that all of my medical/neurological issues may be caused by Celiac disease. So, I recently started myself on a gluten free diet. I thought it would be interesting to begin a video diary to document my progress.
Please excuse the poor quality of the video. It's the first time I have used this webcam. I'm still working out the bugs. Also, the constant itching of my nose is a Tourette's thing (in case you were wondering).
Please excuse the poor quality of the video. It's the first time I have used this webcam. I'm still working out the bugs. Also, the constant itching of my nose is a Tourette's thing (in case you were wondering).
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
A Video For 'Somebody That I Used To Know' That's Worth Watching
Personally, I find this one much more entertaining than the official video released by Gotye. It features two six-year-old kids singing along to the song in the backseat of a car. It's surprisingly stirring. Take a look:
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
"Please Don't Go. We'll Eat You Up. We Love You So."
Earlier today, Maurice Sendak passed away, at the age of 83. Sendak was the author of the ever-popular children's book 'Where The Wild Things Are'.
As a child, I was never allowed to read the book. I don't know why. Many times, random things would be forbidden, for reasons unknown to me. Maybe my mother thought that the "wild things" were demonic. She thought that of everything else, so why not this?
I read 'Where The Wild Things Are' to my daughter a couple of years ago. It was the first time either of us had seen the story. It was one of the most heartwarming experiences of my lifetime. At the age of 34, I found the book to be profoundly influential. I am glad that I got to know Sendak's work and am able to pass it on to my children.
In this 2010 interview, Sendak reflects upon his life. It's incredibly touching and insightful. He lived a full life, and had very few, if any, regrets.
It's sad to see him go. The world is a better place for knowing him.
"Please don't go. We'll eat you up. We love you so."
Thank you, Maurice.
As a child, I was never allowed to read the book. I don't know why. Many times, random things would be forbidden, for reasons unknown to me. Maybe my mother thought that the "wild things" were demonic. She thought that of everything else, so why not this?
I read 'Where The Wild Things Are' to my daughter a couple of years ago. It was the first time either of us had seen the story. It was one of the most heartwarming experiences of my lifetime. At the age of 34, I found the book to be profoundly influential. I am glad that I got to know Sendak's work and am able to pass it on to my children.
In this 2010 interview, Sendak reflects upon his life. It's incredibly touching and insightful. He lived a full life, and had very few, if any, regrets.
It's sad to see him go. The world is a better place for knowing him.
"Please don't go. We'll eat you up. We love you so."
Thank you, Maurice.
Monday, April 30, 2012
'Prometheus' Looking More Like A True 'Alien' Prequel (Video)
Warning: Rampant speculation, and possible spoilers ahead.
Director Ridley Scott has said, over and over again, that the film is not a prequel, but an entirely different story altogether. But, as more promotional materials are released, it's getting increasingly difficult to believe him.
We know that Guy Pearce has a cameo as Peter Weyland of Weyland Corp, the predecessor of the mega-corporation Weyland-Yutani. Weyland-Yutani was the fictional manufacturer of practically everything in the 'Aliens' series.
We know that Michael Fassbender plays David, an android developed by Weyland Corp. David is an early model of the 'Ash' and 'Bishop' models seen in the first two Aliens films.
We know that the mysterious "space jockey" from the original 1979 film will be in 'Prometheus'.
You can see the head of a "jockey" on the table at 1:47 in the trailer below. We also see their ship in both movies...
Now, take a look at the new 'Prometheus' trailer released today in the UK.
Now, excuse me while I really geek out on this:
In previous trailers, we have seen momentary snippets that suggested the presence of a "facehugger".
There's this...
Director Ridley Scott has said, over and over again, that the film is not a prequel, but an entirely different story altogether. But, as more promotional materials are released, it's getting increasingly difficult to believe him.
We know that Guy Pearce has a cameo as Peter Weyland of Weyland Corp, the predecessor of the mega-corporation Weyland-Yutani. Weyland-Yutani was the fictional manufacturer of practically everything in the 'Aliens' series.
We know that Michael Fassbender plays David, an android developed by Weyland Corp. David is an early model of the 'Ash' and 'Bishop' models seen in the first two Aliens films.
We know that the mysterious "space jockey" from the original 1979 film will be in 'Prometheus'.
 | |||||||||||||
| "Space Jockey", circa 1979. |
 |
| "Space Jokey", as seen in 'Prometheus'. |
Now, take a look at the new 'Prometheus' trailer released today in the UK.
Now, excuse me while I really geek out on this:
In previous trailers, we have seen momentary snippets that suggested the presence of a "facehugger".
There's this...
And, if you've been paying attention, you can assume it's the same character in this scene...
 |
| Are they trying to remove it from her face? |
The most recent trailer shows the same sequence, except for this time, the creature has been blurred out. You can hear her pleading, "Get it out of me" at 2:28. We also know from previous trailers that there's some sort of acid "incident".
Same unfortunate dude...
There appear to be eggs...
They're much more cylindrical than what we're used to from previous films, but, from what we know of the Alien mythology, the facehuggers and the eggs assume traits of the species they infect. Perhaps the original facehugger is the creature seen at 1:44 in the trailer.
If 'Prometheus' has eggs and facehuggers, where are the xenomorphs?
Did we get our first glimpse of it at 2:25? At 2:26, you can see what appears to be a crew member, picking up someone and throwing them across the loading bay. Could it possibly be the same crew member seen in previous trailers, disfigured and leaping?
 | |
Oh, and let's not forget the slime...
That has become synonymous with "They're toast now.".
I cannot see how this film is anything less than a direct prequel to the 'Alien' franchise. How all of these pieces fit together, I don't know. I look forward to finding out.
Can you imagine seeing this in IMAX 3D? Holy hell.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
"Can We All Just Get Along?"
It's hard to imagine, but it has been twenty years since the Los Angeles riots. On April 29, 1992, a jury acquitted four officers in the beating of Rodney King. In the six days that followed, 54 people died, more than 2,000 were injured, and 1,100 buildings were destroyed.
I remember seeing footage of the King beating. I also remember seeing footage of Reginald Denny getting beaten on the first day of the riots. As a teenager without cable television in the house, I didn't realize at the time how the riots essentially shut down the entire L.A. area. Flights were cancelled at LAX. Mail delivery ceased. U.S. Marines were brought into the city to restore order.
Sadly, in twenty years, not much has changed. Police officers around the country continue to assault minority suspects. Law enforcement organizations proudly tout their success in racially targeting one group over another. Bigotry and racism are not only the seen in discussions of today's political issues, they're widely encouraged by modern pundits. As a society, we're more divided than we have ever been..in my lifetime, at least.
Two decades later I have to wonder, "Can we all just get along"?
I remember seeing footage of the King beating. I also remember seeing footage of Reginald Denny getting beaten on the first day of the riots. As a teenager without cable television in the house, I didn't realize at the time how the riots essentially shut down the entire L.A. area. Flights were cancelled at LAX. Mail delivery ceased. U.S. Marines were brought into the city to restore order.
Sadly, in twenty years, not much has changed. Police officers around the country continue to assault minority suspects. Law enforcement organizations proudly tout their success in racially targeting one group over another. Bigotry and racism are not only the seen in discussions of today's political issues, they're widely encouraged by modern pundits. As a society, we're more divided than we have ever been..in my lifetime, at least.
Two decades later I have to wonder, "Can we all just get along"?
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Your Daily Affirmation
I guarantee...your day was better than this donkey's.
But, OMG...wouldn't they have the cutest babies?
But, OMG...wouldn't they have the cutest babies?
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A Quick Word Regarding Comments
Over the course of the last two or three weeks, I have received more than a dozen comments; comments that I have chosen not to publish.
Every time I receive an email, telling me that I have a pending comment, I get excited. By and large, I love reading your input. I especially like hearing from my regular commenters. (Thanks Casey, Rachel, and Kate.)
I realize that it's considered "poor blogging etiquette" to delete any comment from my site. Honestly, I'm really not concerned with "etiquette". What does concern me is the outright propaganda that people regularly try to post on my page.
More often than not, the crazies come out of the woodwork when I write something about Jehovah's Witnesses. I get more responses regarding my post about Jay-Z and JWs than anything else. Comments tend to fall into two categories: Crazy conspiracy theorists that think that Jay-Z (along with George W. Bush and President Obama) are part of some secret society called "The Illuminati", or Witness readers offering Bible studies and instructions on how to obtain a New World Translation Bible.
Your comments and opinions are not welcome here.
Neither are those from ex-JW nutjobs. I'm talking to you Danny Haszard. You spam dozens of websites a day with the same cut-and-paste comment about blood transfusions. Your two comments have remained unchanged, word for word, for years. In fact, 80% of the news alerts I receive from Google are from comments you've plastered on unrelated articles. Don't bother leaving half-assed comments to further your own personal vendetta. They'll never see the light of day.
If you do not fit into any of the three categories above, I look forward to hearing from you.
Every time I receive an email, telling me that I have a pending comment, I get excited. By and large, I love reading your input. I especially like hearing from my regular commenters. (Thanks Casey, Rachel, and Kate.)
I realize that it's considered "poor blogging etiquette" to delete any comment from my site. Honestly, I'm really not concerned with "etiquette". What does concern me is the outright propaganda that people regularly try to post on my page.
More often than not, the crazies come out of the woodwork when I write something about Jehovah's Witnesses. I get more responses regarding my post about Jay-Z and JWs than anything else. Comments tend to fall into two categories: Crazy conspiracy theorists that think that Jay-Z (along with George W. Bush and President Obama) are part of some secret society called "The Illuminati", or Witness readers offering Bible studies and instructions on how to obtain a New World Translation Bible.
Your comments and opinions are not welcome here.
Neither are those from ex-JW nutjobs. I'm talking to you Danny Haszard. You spam dozens of websites a day with the same cut-and-paste comment about blood transfusions. Your two comments have remained unchanged, word for word, for years. In fact, 80% of the news alerts I receive from Google are from comments you've plastered on unrelated articles. Don't bother leaving half-assed comments to further your own personal vendetta. They'll never see the light of day.
If you do not fit into any of the three categories above, I look forward to hearing from you.
Mashup Monday - Check The Testimony
I've been on an activism kick lately. Today's mashup speaks to my militant side. From Dey One, this is a mix of Rage Against The Machine's 'Testify', with the Beastie Boys' 'Check It Out'. I really dig the additions to the video.
Goddamn, I miss seeing Zack de la Rocha in the public eye.
Goddamn, I miss seeing Zack de la Rocha in the public eye.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Mashup Monday Featuring The Bee Gees
Over the weekend, news outlets reported that Robin Gibb was close to death. He's currently in a coma, with pneumonia, and doctors estimate that he only has days to live.
That being said, I thought it was appropriate to feature some of his music in this week's Mashup Monday post.
First up is one of the coolest, most enjoyable pairings I've ever heard. I promise you: You'll want this one on your iPod. From Lobterdust, it's 'Stayin' Hot', a mashup of 'Stayin' Alive' and 'Hot In Here' by Nelly. (I can't remember how he spells "Herr"..or "Heere". Whatever.)
Next up is one of my favorites, seamlessly matching 'Stayin' Alive', with Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick In The Wall'. The editing on the video is fucking BRILLIANT. Enjoy this one by Wax Audio, called 'Stayin' Alive In The Wall'.
Now I'm going to have 'Stayin' Alive' stuck in my head for days. Goddamn it.
That being said, I thought it was appropriate to feature some of his music in this week's Mashup Monday post.
First up is one of the coolest, most enjoyable pairings I've ever heard. I promise you: You'll want this one on your iPod. From Lobterdust, it's 'Stayin' Hot', a mashup of 'Stayin' Alive' and 'Hot In Here' by Nelly. (I can't remember how he spells "Herr"..or "Heere". Whatever.)
Next up is one of my favorites, seamlessly matching 'Stayin' Alive', with Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick In The Wall'. The editing on the video is fucking BRILLIANT. Enjoy this one by Wax Audio, called 'Stayin' Alive In The Wall'.
Now I'm going to have 'Stayin' Alive' stuck in my head for days. Goddamn it.
Monday, April 16, 2012
2Pac Performs At Coachella?
You read that correctly. Tupac Shakur performed last night at the Coachella Music Festival.
Sunday night's headliners were Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. When the festival lineup was announced, I thought it was an odd addition. Coachella is generally known as an outdoor hipster convention. I mean, last week saw the reunion of Mazzy Star. The headlining acts on Saturday were Radiohead, Bon Iver, and The Shins.
Last night's set featured a half dozen guests, which could have very easily had sets of their own. There were rumors that Nate Dogg would be performing in the form of a hologram. I don't think anyone expected Pac.
I have watched this clip 7 or 8 times today. Every time I see it, I get chills. It's just....watch:
Oh, language is NSFW. Duh.
Interacting with the crowd and with Snoop? Obviously, Tupac was computer generated. He was killed 16 years ago. It's not like he could do a Mariah. The company responsible for the hologram did such a good job, the result was dumbfounding. The hologram even had his mannerisms down. It was like he was there....alive again.
It never ceases to amaze me what is possible with technology. Think about it. If they can bring back one of rap's most beloved artists, what's next? Video conferencing with holograms? Maybe the ability to introduce your children to relatives that are no longer here? Who knows...
I'm crossing my fingers that The Beatles will be headlining Coachella next year. That would be cool.
Sunday night's headliners were Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. When the festival lineup was announced, I thought it was an odd addition. Coachella is generally known as an outdoor hipster convention. I mean, last week saw the reunion of Mazzy Star. The headlining acts on Saturday were Radiohead, Bon Iver, and The Shins.
Last night's set featured a half dozen guests, which could have very easily had sets of their own. There were rumors that Nate Dogg would be performing in the form of a hologram. I don't think anyone expected Pac.
I have watched this clip 7 or 8 times today. Every time I see it, I get chills. It's just....watch:
Oh, language is NSFW. Duh.
Interacting with the crowd and with Snoop? Obviously, Tupac was computer generated. He was killed 16 years ago. It's not like he could do a Mariah. The company responsible for the hologram did such a good job, the result was dumbfounding. The hologram even had his mannerisms down. It was like he was there....alive again.
It never ceases to amaze me what is possible with technology. Think about it. If they can bring back one of rap's most beloved artists, what's next? Video conferencing with holograms? Maybe the ability to introduce your children to relatives that are no longer here? Who knows...
I'm crossing my fingers that The Beatles will be headlining Coachella next year. That would be cool.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
100,000 Hits
Wow.
At the moment, 'The Twitch' is at 100,200 hits. Unbelievable.
It took two years and seven days to make it to the 50,000 mark. To hit 100k, it only took another six months and 22 days. Incredible.
Granted, I'm still considered a "small fry" in the blogging world. There are a couple of blogs that I follow that get 1.8 to 2.1 million hits a month. But, for a disabled stay-at-home dad, 10,000 hits a month is pretty fucking good. I'll certainly take it.
Thank you all for stopping by. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing.
And, in case you weren't aware, I recently started a Facebook page for 'The Twitch Online'. Feel free to "Like" me. Please continue leaving your comments and messages. I thoroughly enjoy reading them.
Thanks again, everyone. This is just...wow.
p.s. Thanks to the members of BabyCenter.com for pushing me over the top. :)
At the moment, 'The Twitch' is at 100,200 hits. Unbelievable.
It took two years and seven days to make it to the 50,000 mark. To hit 100k, it only took another six months and 22 days. Incredible.
Granted, I'm still considered a "small fry" in the blogging world. There are a couple of blogs that I follow that get 1.8 to 2.1 million hits a month. But, for a disabled stay-at-home dad, 10,000 hits a month is pretty fucking good. I'll certainly take it.
Thank you all for stopping by. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing.
And, in case you weren't aware, I recently started a Facebook page for 'The Twitch Online'. Feel free to "Like" me. Please continue leaving your comments and messages. I thoroughly enjoy reading them.
Thanks again, everyone. This is just...wow.
p.s. Thanks to the members of BabyCenter.com for pushing me over the top. :)
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Remembering Kurt
Note: I usually don't make a habit of reposting my articles. In this case, I couldn't think of the words to better describe my feelings about one of my idols. A couple of minor edits have been made, but essentially, this post remains unchanged from last year.
Eighteen years ago today, Kurt Cobain was found dead in his Seattle home, the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
For my generation, it was our "John Lennon moment". A voice for everything that was inside of us, as fucked up as that voice was, had unexpectedly left. Looking back, maybe not so unexpectedly.
Eighteen years ago today, Kurt Cobain was found dead in his Seattle home, the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Long before his death, Courtney and Kurt were media fodder for their heroin use. No one knew the true depths of Kurt's addiction until years later, when the biographies and the VH1 'Behind The Music' specials would air. At the time, we knew nothing of the multiple overdoses or failed suicide attempts. We saw a rock star, and someone who acted, in public, the way that we would think a disenfranchised, brooding musician with a "fuck it" attitude should act.
Unless you were the most ardent of Nirvana fans, you likely knew very little of Cobain's undiagnosed stomach problems. Few outside his inner circle discussed details that he could very rarely, even when sober, keep any food down. Or, how he often would use heroin as a way of alleviating unbearable stomach pain. This later led to untreated depression and body dysmorphic disorder, as a result of his gaunt appearance. He essentially became a poster boy for being troubled and suicidal, and the world let him end it.
Within months of his death, the death of grunge followed. Vedder, Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, and the rest of the megastars from the Seattle area from the early 90s, had become monumentally ineffectual. The following couple of years saw the emergence and popularity of the "imitator" bands like Bush, Silverchair, and Stone Temple Pilots, but, for the most part, the remainder of the decade showed a complete 180 in the public's taste in music. Listeners now preferred jam bands and hippie rock; a trend that would continue until the early part of the next decade.
In October of 2002, after a lawsuit was settled between the remaining members of Nirvana and the heroin and Oxy laced Yoko Ono of our generation, Courtney Love, an agreement was made to release a locked away final Nirvana single. 'You Know You're Right' had it's original vocals and lead guitar recorded in studio by Cobain just 10 weeks before his death. Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl later came in and recorded their roles. Eight and a half years after Kurt Cobain's suicide, and after the demise of the "Seattle sound", the song debuted at number one on the rock charts. Frankly, it sounded ahead of anything on the radio at that time.....in 2002.
So, what of Kurt's legacy? What legacy? In 2007, VH1 called 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' the "Greatest Song of the 90s". It was two places ahead of the Backstreet Boys' 'I Want It That Way' (#3), and five spots ahead of Sir Mix-A-Lot's 'Baby Got Back' (#6).
Kurt became a playable character in the video game 'Guitar Hero 5'. Once you unlock him as a character, though, he sings not only the Nirvana songs, but all of the other songs on the game as well. So, if you've ever wanted to see an animated Kurt Cobain sing No Doubt, Coldplay, or Stevie Wonder, this may be the game for you.
Unlike Yoko, Courtney Love hasn't done much to preserve Kurt's legacy. In the eighteen years since his death, the world has more to remember Courtney Love about than her husband. She has focused more attention on her acting career, her music career, and trying to keep her name out of the tabloids. Then again, Kurt wasn't John Lennon. Kurt was damaged, perhaps beyond the point of repair. He wasn't preaching peace and love and "Imagine", he chanted "I'm not gonna crack". Regrettably, he did.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Still The Greatest
Muhammad Ali threw out the first pitch yesterday at the Marlins' home opener in Miami. Truly heartbreaking.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
"Do This In Remembrance Of Me"
Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, I didn't get to celebrate SHIT! No Christmas. Trick or treating wasn't allowed. No birthdays. Fuck, I wasn't even able to buy my mom a Mother's Day card. My childhood sucked. I tried to explain to everyone that, "You don't need to have a holiday to get toys or presents. We get presents all the time." That was an fucking lie.
The one "holiday" that we did celebrate as Witnesses was "The Memorial of Christ's Death" or "The Memorial", as we all called it. Imagine the strange looks you get telling that to your classmates when you're in the first grade. The Memorial is a reenactment of sorts, of the Last Supper. It coincides, supposedly, with the date on the Jewish calendar of Nisan 14, the day way back in the year 33 A.D., that Jesus and all of his drinking buddies hung out one last time.
| Dramatic reenactment |
 |
| He totally drank the wine... |
I tried to explain all of this to my wife once. The Nisan 14 thing, how it's related to the Israelites in Egypt, the 10 plagues, the bread and the wine, how it has to happen after sundown, 144,000, etc. She just looked at me like this:
| Wha? |
I'll be honest...I never understood the "logic" either. Never wanted to. At least the Witnesses believed that the bread and the wine were symbolic. Based upon the Catholic way of thinking, you were taking part in cannibalism during each communion.
Do you think Jesus would have ever guessed that, 2,000 years later, millions of people would be reenacting his night in the champagne room? I don't think so.
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