Youtube user amrobi314 (Anna) uploaded this video of herself signing Cee-Lo's 'Fuck You' about a month ago. Since then, it's become an internet sensation. She chose the song to sign for her college sign language, or ASL, class. No word on what she got for a grade. The class seemed to like her presentation.
You know, I've always wondered how you sign "gold digger".
Monday, January 24, 2011
Filmography 2010
With the Academy Award nominations coming out tomorrow morning, I thought it would be fun to post one of my favorite viral videos in recent months. 'Filmography 2010' compiles clips from 270, yes 270, theatrical releases from 2010 edited together into a six minute and three second clip. The video is edited together so beautifully and seamlessly, that even the bad movies looked like they were worth seeing.
The filmmaker? A young, female, aspiring filmmaker that goes by the name of Genrocks. Her Youtube channel has a number of trailer re-edits on it. My favorite: The "sexy" trailer for 'The Watchmen'. Pretty funny. Enjoy 'Filmography 2010'. It's fucking brilliant.
Looking at her Youtube channel, I love her take on 'Fight Club'. From a girl's perspective, making it an alternate music video for Britney Spears' 'Circus'. It's not my taste in music, but it's incredibly smart:
The filmmaker? A young, female, aspiring filmmaker that goes by the name of Genrocks. Her Youtube channel has a number of trailer re-edits on it. My favorite: The "sexy" trailer for 'The Watchmen'. Pretty funny. Enjoy 'Filmography 2010'. It's fucking brilliant.
Looking at her Youtube channel, I love her take on 'Fight Club'. From a girl's perspective, making it an alternate music video for Britney Spears' 'Circus'. It's not my taste in music, but it's incredibly smart:
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Does Jay-Z Have A Jehovah's Witness Connection?
*Please note: None of the following conclusions have been substantiated. They are theories based upon information known about a particular individual.
There have been a number of things that I have noticed about Jay-Z in the last couple of years that has led me to wonder, "At one point or another, he had to have been a Jehovah's Witness." He had to have been raised in the organization, had an aunt that took him door to door on Saturday mornings, or something. Whatever the case, I have come across too many things about the world's most famous rapper that could simply be considered a coincidence.
First, his moniker...Hova. If he wanted to announce himself as "the God of the rap game", why would he use a name that practically no one was familiar with. Unless, it was a name that HE was familiar with.
Jay-Z was part of the original Murder Inc., which included Ja Rule and DMX, both of which were widely known being raised as Jehovah's Witnesses.
In Jay's 2006 album, Reasonable Doubt, his lyrics take an interesting turn on the track 'D'evils'. Check out these lines:
Later in 2006, Jay-Z made a cameo appearance in Johnny Cash's posthumous video for 'God's Gonna Cut You Down'. In the video, Jay is briefly seen sitting in the back of a limousine reading a Bible. The camera pans onto the pages of the Bible for only a second or so. I can tell you from my years of going door to door with the very same Bible that it is a leather bound New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures aka a Jehovah's Witness Bible. You can't buy one in a store. The only way to get one is to get order one directly from a Kingdom Hall. You can see the shot for yourself at the 33 second mark.
Lastly, Hova has been investing millions of dollars in the same neighborhood that the Witnesses used to control their worldwide preaching empire from. In fact, he has recently been looking at the penthouse of what used to be a massive printing facility at 1 Main Street in Brooklyn. The building was sold years ago, and renovated into condominiums. The penthouse, which used to be the clock tower, is currently selling for $25 million. Residents call it the "Doomsday Clock", because the previous tenants were always preaching about the end of the world.
Update 1/28/2011: I received a comment last night from "Anonymous", stating that the person in the Johnny Cash video holding the Witness Bible was not Jay-Z, but was, in fact, actor Terrance Howard. After doing some online research on the video, it seems that they are correct. Jay-Z appears much later in the video. Even though I know now that it's Mr. Howard in that part of the clip, it still looks like Jay to me. Terrance usually has his hair cut much shorter than that.
"Anonymous" also pointed me to an NPR article that was done on Terrance back in May of 2007. I remember reading it when it came out. It talks about his desire to become a Jehovah's Witness, if only he could quit smoking. It says in part:
There have been a number of things that I have noticed about Jay-Z in the last couple of years that has led me to wonder, "At one point or another, he had to have been a Jehovah's Witness." He had to have been raised in the organization, had an aunt that took him door to door on Saturday mornings, or something. Whatever the case, I have come across too many things about the world's most famous rapper that could simply be considered a coincidence.
First, his moniker...Hova. If he wanted to announce himself as "the God of the rap game", why would he use a name that practically no one was familiar with. Unless, it was a name that HE was familiar with.
Jay-Z was part of the original Murder Inc., which included Ja Rule and DMX, both of which were widely known being raised as Jehovah's Witnesses.
In Jay's 2006 album, Reasonable Doubt, his lyrics take an interesting turn on the track 'D'evils'. Check out these lines:
"Dear God, I wonder can you save me?
Secret society, tryin' to keep they eye on me....
Stop screamin' you know the demon said it's best to die
And even if Jehovah Witness, bet he'll never testify.."Now in JW terms, "society" is what they often call the headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses in Brooklyn, NY. It could just be a coincidence, or he could be speaking in Witness terms here. I don't know. It would be interesting for someone to ask him and actually get his take on this track sometime.
Later in 2006, Jay-Z made a cameo appearance in Johnny Cash's posthumous video for 'God's Gonna Cut You Down'. In the video, Jay is briefly seen sitting in the back of a limousine reading a Bible. The camera pans onto the pages of the Bible for only a second or so. I can tell you from my years of going door to door with the very same Bible that it is a leather bound New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures aka a Jehovah's Witness Bible. You can't buy one in a store. The only way to get one is to get order one directly from a Kingdom Hall. You can see the shot for yourself at the 33 second mark.
Johnny Cash God's Gonna Cut You Down. Watch more top selected videos about: God'sgonna cut yuo down, Johnny Cash
Lastly, Hova has been investing millions of dollars in the same neighborhood that the Witnesses used to control their worldwide preaching empire from. In fact, he has recently been looking at the penthouse of what used to be a massive printing facility at 1 Main Street in Brooklyn. The building was sold years ago, and renovated into condominiums. The penthouse, which used to be the clock tower, is currently selling for $25 million. Residents call it the "Doomsday Clock", because the previous tenants were always preaching about the end of the world.
My wife asked me today, "If you were raised a Witness, and you left the religion, why on Earth would you pay $25 million to live in a place that used to be part of the headquarters of a religion you hate?" Well, if I had the money, it would be one big "Fuck you". It would be a huge symbolic statement to say that they have no control over my life anymore.
Maybe this is all coincidence. Maybe it isn't Maybe he was raised as a JW. Maybe he wasn't. He's never said on the record either way. No one has ever asked. I know one thing. If he was, he isn't now, and that is why I love him.
Update 1/28/2011: I received a comment last night from "Anonymous", stating that the person in the Johnny Cash video holding the Witness Bible was not Jay-Z, but was, in fact, actor Terrance Howard. After doing some online research on the video, it seems that they are correct. Jay-Z appears much later in the video. Even though I know now that it's Mr. Howard in that part of the clip, it still looks like Jay to me. Terrance usually has his hair cut much shorter than that.
"Anonymous" also pointed me to an NPR article that was done on Terrance back in May of 2007. I remember reading it when it came out. It talks about his desire to become a Jehovah's Witness, if only he could quit smoking. It says in part:
"I came across [Jehovah's Witnesses] and, like most people, I was told that when we heard the Witnesses or saw them walking up the street, you would immediately shut the curtains and act like nobody was home, and I always wondered about that."
Howard later embarked on his own exploration of the faith. As a young adult, he began to embrace the principles of the religion.
Now, 17 years later and with a Hollywood career that continues to ascend, he's very open about one ongoing personal conflict: his faith.
"I'm like most people in the world. I'm a little selfish in what I want. I like doing my thing, my way," the actor says. "In my heart, I wanted to be a Witness. If it wasn't for the smoking of cigarrettes and all ... I would be a Witness."
The actor has yet to trade his spiritual aspirations for his professional ones. But he plans to pursue his desire to become an active Jehovah's Witness.
"Sometimes it takes awhile to be able to qualify. You have to qualify to run in the race. I'm exercising," he says.So while most celebrities have fled the religion in their youth, I guess it can still be an attraction to some in adulthood. Thank you to "Anonymous" for pointing out my error, whoever you are. It was a simple case of mistaken identity. I hope you understand.
Congressional Teabaggers Proposing Elimination Of Federal Arts Funding
A group of Tea Party backed conservatives, called the Republican Study Committee, revealed a plan Thursday to cut the Federal funding for the arts down to zero. The group, led by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, introduced the Spending Reduction Act of 2011. In it, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities would be entirely cut off, "saving" approximately $167.5 million a year. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting would likely also be axed, "saving an additional $445 million annually. The proposal would be expected to reduce federal spending by $2.5 trillion dollars over the next decade.
Currently, the Federal investment helps employ 5.7 people nationwide.
via Huffington Post
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Breaking News: Rush Limbaugh Is An Asshole
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Rush Limbaugh Speaks Chinese | ||||
| ||||
OK. Maybe it's not so much "news" as it is fact.
Lady Gaga - Scheiße (Remix)
This remix premiered at Thierry Mugler's menswear show in Paris, Wednesday. The track is on Gaga's album, 'Born This Way'. The album is due in stores in May. The show looked amazing, BTW.
Brittana Is On!!
Earlier this season on Glee, we caught Brittany and Santana making out in lieu of some male companionship. Well folks, I'm pleased to say, later this season we will be introduced to television's newest LGBT couple, "Brittana". According to a Tweet last night from Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk:
Glee has been revolutionary in introducing America to LGBT actors and issues. They've tackled anti-gay bullying at a time when gay youths needed it most. It's awesome to see that they're introducing bi/lesbian female character issues to the show to speak to the female fans that they have to. I couldn't applaud them more.
Thank you Grilled Cheesus!
A Year Of Beard
A video making the circles on today's blogs caught my attention. It's of this guy, Ricky Coates, not shaving for a year straight, and taking a picture a day in the mirror for 365 consecutive days. It's interesting to see how quickly his beard takes shape. I've been growing mine for four months now, and all mine seems to have done is curl up under itself. It's starting to look Amishy (is that a word). At the end of the year, ol' Matisyahu invited some friends over to help him shave it all off. Take a look.
Bisexual Men Are...
- Bisexual men are rare and lovely jewels
Not nearly so rare as you might think, it's just safer for them to remain closeted in a world where they're vilified from all sides, misunderstood, have disease blamed on them unjustly, and are then assumed to be rare.
But like all humans: Many of them are lovely jewels.
via kittyfarts
Friday, January 21, 2011
Keith Olbermann Fired From MSNBC
Without warning or notice, Olbermann informed his viewers in his closing remarks just moments ago, that today would be his last 'Countdown'. Is it coincidental that this comes at the end of the same week as NBC's merger with Comcast. I don't think so. Is Maddow next? Here are Keith's closing comments:
Encouraging Words From Harvey
All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.
- Harvey Milk
via pramlattaships
Tom Hardy Cast As Latest Batman Villain
Casting news from Hollywood yesterday, as Warner Brothers made an announcement regarding the final film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. The smashing Tom Hardy has been cast to play Bane in the new movie.
For those unfamiliar with Batman history, Bane is a villain with unparalleled strength and intelligence. Depending on the artist that is drawing the comic, he has been drawn between 6 and a half to 8 foot tall and 350 to 500 pounds. All muscle. Bane is famous for "breaking the bat". He broke Batman's spine and made him a paraplegic. Is this how Christopher Nolan is going to end the Dark Night trilogy? It will be interesting to find out.
Nolan is not a fan of CGI, so I imagine Mr. Hardy is in a gym as we speak trying to gain some mass. He has done it before. In 2007, to play notorious UK criminal and prisoner Charles Bronson , he bulked up so much he became almost unrecognizable. The film was praised worldwide by critics, but flopped at the box office. (I've had it in my Instant Netflix queue for a month, but haven't gotten around to see it yet.)
The Dark Knight Rises is set to be released next summer. Oh, and Anne Hathaway was cast as Catwoman.
For those unfamiliar with Batman history, Bane is a villain with unparalleled strength and intelligence. Depending on the artist that is drawing the comic, he has been drawn between 6 and a half to 8 foot tall and 350 to 500 pounds. All muscle. Bane is famous for "breaking the bat". He broke Batman's spine and made him a paraplegic. Is this how Christopher Nolan is going to end the Dark Night trilogy? It will be interesting to find out.
Nolan is not a fan of CGI, so I imagine Mr. Hardy is in a gym as we speak trying to gain some mass. He has done it before. In 2007, to play notorious UK criminal and prisoner Charles Bronson , he bulked up so much he became almost unrecognizable. The film was praised worldwide by critics, but flopped at the box office. (I've had it in my Instant Netflix queue for a month, but haven't gotten around to see it yet.)
The Dark Knight Rises is set to be released next summer. Oh, and Anne Hathaway was cast as Catwoman.
Pink - 'Fuckin' Perfect'
I usually talk about anti-gay bullying on this blog, but this video is a sobering reminder of the thousands of teens that are bullied every day for other reasons. I was bullied and beat up more for being overweight than what I ever was for my sexuality or religion. Kids can be so cruel.
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