Goliath Vs. David Plane Collision At JFK

In this instance, Goliath clearly won.  Last night at JFK International Airport, an Airbus A380-800, the largest commercial airplane ever constructed, was taxiing down the runway when it came into contact with a CRJ-700.  Here's the result:



To put things into perspective, the A380 has a wingspan of almost 262 feet, and weighs over 1.3 million pounds fully fueled.  Depending on the seat configuration, it can hold up to 853 passengers.  The CRJ-700, on the other hand, weighs less than 72,000 when fueled and loaded.  The passengers and crew on the Airbus probably didn't even realize that they had struck the other plane.  The 70 people on the Comair regional flight, on the other hand, were tossed like a toy.  It's like a monster truck clipping a kid's Big Wheel.

Benicio Del Toro Knocks Up Kimberly Stewart

In "TMZ is having a field day" news of the day, it appears that Paris Hilton's former BFF is pregnant.  No, not Nicole Ritchie, the one that isn't famous.  Kimberly Stewart, daughter of Rod Stewart, is expecting.  Academy Award winner Benicio del Toro is the father.

In a statement released, surprisingly, by 'Life and Style' magazine, and not by representatives of either party said,

"Life & Style can confirm exclusively that Kimberly Stewart, the daughter of rocker Rod Stewart, is pregnant with actor Benicio del Toro's baby, a rep for Benicio confirms. "Kimberly is pregnant. Benicio is the father and is very supportive," Benicio's rep, Robin Baum, tells Life & Style exclusively. "Although they are not a couple, they are looking forward to the arrival of the baby." Benicio, 44, is best known for winning an Academy Award for his role in Traffic in 2001. Kimberly was most recently linked to actors Jude Law and Rhys Ifans, and in 2005 Kimberly was engaged to then-Laguna Beach star Talan Torriero, who was seven years younger than her."

Translation of the statement from Benicio's rep: "We ran into each other backstage at the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards.  We didn't even have dinner.  I can't believe this is happening to me.  I am entering rehab in the morning."

For those of you unfamiliar with Stewart, it's not surprising.  Her Wikipedia bio lists her as an "actress, model, and fashion designer", but she is essentially a D-list version of a Kardashian or a Hilton (daddy's rich, but I want to party).  A staple on the red carpet a couple of years ago, the following clip is what she is most famous for.



In 2005, Stewart had her breast implants removed, autographed them, and gave them to ex-boyfriend Jack Osbourne.  She was also romantically liked, at one time, to Puddle of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin, after he had broken up with her father's ex-wife/her stepmother Rachel Hunter.  That's one classy lady.

On the list of socialites/reality TV stars to be connected romantically to, the socially acceptable list is as follows:

Any Kardashian Sister
Paris Hilton
Lindsay Lohan
Nicole Ritchie
Snooki
Spencer Pratt
Gary Busey
The Situation
Flavor Flav
Girl on "Rock of Love Bus"
Kimberly Stewart

Benicio del Toro's credibility has taken such a hit, that he has moved from movie roles to the stage.  He can be seen next month in a dinner theatre presentation of 'Death of a Salesman', in Dayton, Ohio.

In other news, Sir Anthony Hopkins has been romantically linked to Puddin', from the first season of 'Flavor of Love'.

National Anthem Fail

Yet again, another rock star washed up, 80s singer/third rate tequila purveyor was caught butchering the National Anthem.  This time, it was former Van Halen front man Sammy Hagar, with some help from guitar god (yet, I can't put my finger on a single tune of his), Joe Satriani.



Why is Sammy walking around so much?  Doesn't he realize you don't do the "shoulder rub with the guitar player" thing during 'The Star Spangled Banner'?  Rock rules stipulate that move cannot be made during any performance post-1987, unless it is in the form of a music video, and both the singer and guitarist are bare chested.

David Lee Roth Gary Cherone doesn't look so stup...nevermind.  If there's an up side, at least Sammy didn't yell "Cabo Wabo" at the end.

Impressive Cover Of Pixies' 'Where Is My Mind?'

I first saw this video a couple of weeks ago and was blown away.  It's from a British beatboxer that goes by the name of "Petebox".  He's been on the scene in the UK for a few years, mostly doing covers and live drum 'n' bass demonstrations.  It appears as though he's starting to branch out and try his hand at some covers with an acoustic guitar.  He's using a loop pedal that can be picked up used for anywhere from $100 to $150 at your local Guitar Center.  My brain can't even think on this many layers simultaneously, musically speaking.

Cop Pepper Sprays Baby Squirrel...I'm Not Kidding

This video was taken Wednesday by a student at Kimbrough Middle School, in Mesquite, Texas.  The video shows an officer macing a baby squirrel.  You can hear students on the video screaming and pleading for the officer not to do it.



I guess that's how they do things in Texas.  The squirrel was later arrested on terrorism charges.

Remembering Kurt

Seventeen years ago yesterday, Kurt Cobain was found dead in his Seattle home; the victim of a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.  

Kurt with daughter, Frances Bean

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.  

Long before his death, Courtney and Kurt were media fodder when it came to 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 the details surrounding the facts that he could very rarely, even when sober, keep any food down.  Or, how he often would use heroin as a way of self medicating to alleviate 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 the grunge genre 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 seventeen years since his death, the world has more to remember Courtney Love about than her husband.  She has focused more 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.

Umm, Bitter?

This sign was seen on the doors of a Borders bookstore in Chicago, Illinois, over the weekend.  As many of you know, they are currently in the process of closing 200 stores, or approximately 30% of their locations, nationwide.  This is, in part, due to the fact that they are no longer able to compete with online giants such as Amazon.com, or even BN.com (Barnes & Noble).

For the record, Amazon technically does have restrooms.  I pee while on Amazon.com all the time, and I don't get the disapproving looks from others like I get from the customers at Borders.

Think Seriously Before Reserving A Domain Name

Sure, these websites sounded good on paper, but when you add a www on the front, a .com on the end, and no spaces in the middle, it becomes something wholly inappropriate in the minds of even the most virginal of minds.  All of the sites below are safe for work.  It brings to light an important caveat:  before settling on a domain name,  think it over.  Share it with your friends.  Show it to your perverted brother in law.  Get your coworkers opinions.  Otherwise, you might just end up with SpeedoFart.com, instead of SpeedOfArt.com.

Fuck Families. Leave 'The King's Speech' Alone

I am truly disgusted that they've re-edited the language out of 'The King's Speech' to make it more "family friendly".  It's a "docu"-drama, the docu part meaning documentary.

I heard that Speilberg is re-releasing a new family friendly, G rated version of 'Schindler's List' to be released this summer.  This time around, Hitler and the Nazi's browbeat and give stern, disapproving looks to 6 million Jews instead of putting them in concentration camps and killing them.

Oh, and Oliver Stone announced that he's releasing a PG rated version of 'Platoon', where Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Willem Dafoe go to Vietnam and pass out cupcakes to all of the Vietnamese soldiers.  It took three years of CGI work to make it happen, but now his vision can be seen by the entire family.

Do movies that are somewhat "historically based" HAVE to necessarily be family friendly?  Yes, 'The King's Speech' won the Oscar for Best Picture, but part of that was because of it's honesty.  Part of that honesty was the things that made it an R rated movie.

As the parent of a two year old, let me say, "Fuck families.  Leave 'The King's Speech alone."

I'm Taking Some Time Off From My Blog

It has been a rough March.  Since the 7th, I have been in the hospital a total of 4 times, spending more than two weeks in a hospital room.  I have spent approximately 10 hours inside of an MRI tube.  I've had 3 CT scans, an EEG, 2 EKGs, an EMG, a myleogram, and a spinal tap.  I was in the hospital last night because I had pain in my spine so bad that I couldn't swallow or breathe without my spine hurting.  I was given two shots of morphine and  it did nothing.  They sent me home in the same amount of pain that I walked in with.

I'm going to have to go back to the hospital, tomorrow.  I'm having complications from the spinal tap.  I'm running a fever and have a migraine that gets worse when I sit up or stand up.  The radiology department at the hospital says I need to get a "blood patch" to relieve my migraine.

I haven't been able to walk for three weeks.  My symptoms are getting progressively worse by the day.  I have had a loss of bowel control off and on for the last two weeks now.  My upper body is so week, I can't lift a two pound weight.  I have a constant pain that goes from my tail bone, up my spine, and out my arms to my fingertips.  My arms are so sore and weak that I can't cut food with a fork or sign my own name with a pen.

All tests have come back negative.  I have no nerve damage.  No brain damage.  I don't have Multiple Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's Disease.  I don't have Guillain-Barre Syndrome.  All blood tests and lab results on my spinal fluid come back normal.  Mayo Clinic sent me home saying there was nothing wrong with me, and now, my neurologist, the doctor who was my biggest advocate, has given up on me.  I have nowhere to go.

I have been spending 24/7 lying on my back in bed lately.  I am in too much pain to even lean up to look at my computer, or turn over on my side to type.  I don't have the energy to keep up at the moment.  My brain is so fried right now between pain meds (which don't work) and pain, and all the other bullshit at the moment that I have to deal with right now, I don't have the ability to focus on the blog the way that I used to.

You may see the occasional fluff piece about a music video or just a simple picture with a one or two sentence intro, but what used to take me 15 minutes to write is now taking me over two hours.  Words that used to come quickly to me, I have to look up on thesaurus.com.  I used to write because it was an escape for me.  Now, it has become grueling.  By the time I have an article written, the subject isn't in the news anymore.

I'll try writing again when I start feeling better.  Thank you all for keeping up with the page and with the updates.  I'll be back. 

Mash Up Monday - Belated Tuesday Posting Edition ***MUST SEE***

I wasn't able to get around to posting this last night.  Under normal circumstances, I would have just waited until next week to post again.  These aren't normal circumstances.

Last week, I did a "Mashup Monday" post from a new artist named SpareElbowSkin.  He has only been on the scene for a few weeks, but his first mashup, a mix of Goldfrapp's 'A&E' and Snow Patrol's 'Chasing Cars', was quite impressive.  Last week, he released another mashup.

I have been chomping at the bit to post it.  It is easily...EASILY, one of the best mashups I have ever heard.  In my opinion, it is the best mashup since Norwegian Recycling's September track, 'Miracles'.  In many ways, though, it's better.

Mashups today have become a conglomeration of tracks that come together to a point that you almost have to pick them apart with a microscope and a pair of tweezers.  "I think I hear such and such's beat."  Or, "Wait.  Did you just hear Jay-Z?  I think I heard Jay-Z just then.  Rewind it."  When a DJ is mixing as many as 16 tracks together in a matter of three and a half minutes, it shows both the apex of talent and lunacy.

S.E.S. is different.  He sticks to two tracks.  He doesn't try to make his mashup "dance-able".  In fact, he sticks to tracks that you normally wouldn't think of mixing together.  This week's mix is a mashup of Adele's 'Rolling In The Deep' with Snow Patrol's 'Set The Fire To The Third Bar'.

Since Adele released her latest album, '21', about a month ago, I have heard literally dozens of mashups involving 'Rolling In The Deep'.  Some good.  Some...well....um..yeah, no.  Some of the better ones have been mixed with The Rolling Stones, Britney Spears, and even Gnarls Barkley.  When I saw the song that S.E.S. had selected to pair up with Adele on this mix, my first thought was, "You've got to be kidding me.  There's no way in a million years that this will work.  For the beats to even match up he's going to have to slow her voice down considerably.  It's going to sound horrible."

Boy, was I wrong.  When Adele's voice comes in, it gave me goosebumps.  The mix is one of the most haunting songs I have ever heard.  And that is what I quickly learned about SpareElbowSkin.  He has an appreciation for the music that other DJs don't.  That's what sets him apart from other artists.  He creates his mashups while still keeping the emotion, the heart, of the music in tact.  That is something that has been lost over the years with everyone else.  Their goal is to make something that sounds cool, or to make something with a cool beat.  SpareElbowSkin does it for the love of the song.  He's a fan.  He's not putting these two songs together simply because he thinks they would sound good together, but because he's a fan of Snow Patrol and of Adele.  He's showing his respect for the artists and their music.

If you need further proof, he even re-edited the video so that it was in 2.39:1 format, just so it would look nicer on screen.  Enjoy 'Rolling In The Third Bar'.

Happy Birthday, Lady Gaga

How could I not let the day go by without wishing Gaga a Happy 25th?  Having such a prolific career in such a short amount of time, she'll be remembered as one of the most poignant and controversial artists of all time.  In just three years, Gaga has not only become an identity, but a brand.

Having accomplished much more by the age of 25 than Madonna could have ever imagined, (Madonna had only released her first album a month before her 25th birthday) Lady Gaga has already gone on to win 5 Grammys, 18 MTV Awards, and countless Billboard awards.  Not to mention, as of August 2010, selling 51 million singles, and over 15 million albums.

She is also one of the most unselfish people in the music industry, becoming one very creative philanthropist.  Just within the last 18 months, she has had a hand in raising over $160 million for AIDS research, raising money for PETA, and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan.  She's a vocal, very vocal, advocate for LGBT rights, and, some may say, has done more for the cause than many politicians in Washington.

'Born This Way' has really grown on me over the last couple of weeks, but the video has this 3 minute intro that is just to strange, even for my tastes.  Instead, I'm going to play my favorite Gaga video to date, 'Bad Romance'.  In my opinion, it's the perfect dance song.  You can't get any better.  Enjoy, and Happy Birthday, Gaga.

When Did The World Become Such Crybaby Pussies?

Americans have long had a tradition of being spineless jellyfish, when it comes to ridiculous laws that have been placed on the books in the name of "safety".  Officials tend to have the best of intentions and take things a bit too far.  Last week, it seems, the city council in Whitehorse, Australia, has taken a page out of the "How To Make Ludicrous Laws That Make Toddlers Cry" handbook from the Americans.

The local city council has deemed these children as "vandals".  That's right, "vandals".  They draw little fishes and stick figures out of chalk in front of the local Nunawading Cafe in the mornings.  It's not like Banksy is doing stencil work on the walls outside, or anything.

Sally White, the owner of the Cafe, said that an inspector had visited them, saying that they had received a complaint, and that the artwork had to stop.  The issue centers on a council law that deems it an offense to "destroy, damage, foul, interfere or deface anything located in or on the municipal place or road".  They said it also breached local anti-graffiti laws.


The mayor visited the Cafe last week after mounting pressure, saying that he would like to reverse the council's decision, but in the end, it was a safety issue.  WHA?  A safety issue?  According to White, 

"The mayor said they would like to issue us a permit but can't because it raises health and safety issues, in case somebody fell over a child on the footpath or into the street," she said.

The mayor is legitimately afraid that an adult, an adult, will not see a three or four year old on the sidewalk, trip over them, fall into the street, and get hit by an oncoming vehicle.  Then again, the city council of Whitehorse, Australia, is not aware that sidewalk chalk can be removed by simply applying a water hose to the offending fishies.

What have we come to as a world?  Have we really become such pussies that we're afraid of sidewalk chalk and toddlers?  Are those kids threatening to you?  Do you see in any way how they could pose a danger to the community?

I don't fucking get it.  I really don't.

 

'Captain America: The First Avenger' - Official Trailer

When I was a kid, Captain America was my least favorite super hero.  I thought he was lame.  After all, all he had was a shield.  He didn't have any real super powers.  At least Batman had some pretty cool toys.

Based upon the following trailer, I was off by a long shot.  Captain America kicked Nazi ass.  The special effects in the preview alone are pretty impressive.  From what I've read, the movie's animators used the same creative process to show the before and after "transformation" into America the same way that the stages of Benjamin Button's life was animated.

The movie, starring Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, and Hugo Weaving, opens July 22.  It looks very promising.

Jacob Lusk: The One To Beat On 'American Idol'

As someone who gave up on 'American Idol' a few seasons ago, I had little faith in this season as a whole.  I must say though, I am impressed.  I have become an avid viewer for the first time since, perhaps, season two.  Not only has the switcharoo at the judges panel been a refreshing change, but I can actually count 5 or 6 singers out of the top 10 that have a legitimate chance of walking away with the whole thing.  And, believe it or not, if those 5 or 6 singers released a CD today, I would go out and buy it.

That being said, tonight, in my humble opinion, I saw the best 'Idol' performance by far of the season, and possibly the most memorable since Adam Lambert's Season 8 performance of 'Mad World'.  This week was "Motown Week", and Jacob Lusk sang Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's 'You're All I Need To Get By'.  I must admit, when the season started, I didn't like Jacob that much.  I think it's because he didn't show his full potential until "Hollywood Week".  He was really holding himself back.

When Lusk comes out of his shell, watch out.  He's like a freight train with a microphone.  Nothing can stop this man.  He has a glorious voice....yes, I said glorious, and he isn't afraid to release it.  He reminds me of a young Luther Vandross, but not as reserved.  His voice has much more power behind it, with more vibrato.  And Jacob isn't afraid to be a diva.  Just look at how he gets into this song.  He's one part Luther, one part Diana Ross, and one part all Jacob Lusk.  I love this guy.  Just watch:



Whether he ends up being an "American Idol" or not, he has a long and successful music career ahead of him.  How could he not?  I think we're finally seeing the end of this program as a "karaoke contest", and having it come back to it's roots as a talent competition, like it was intended to be.  The first season had Kelly Clarkson, who ended up being a mildly successful artist outside of the show.  Then year after year they churned out crap after crap, to the point where 'Idol' stopped giving the winner of the season an original song to sing.  Last year's winner recorded a cover of a U2 song as their single.  I'm not kidding.

Maybe this year we're seeing 'Idol's Renaissance period.