JDC FALL RELAUNCH! You've been warned...
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
0 The Challenge: Rivals II Preview
A new season of The Challenge, debuted this week. Subtitled "Rivals II," this new season looks like it is going to be as awesome if not more awesomer than previous seasons. The trailer for the season is amazing:
5. Heather & Cara Maria. I'm not really sure who Heather is. I can't remember her from previous seasons. A quick google search she appears to be athletic enough. Really, who Heather is doesn't matter, cause Cara Maria is my girl and has to appear on this list. Cara Maria never fails to disappoint. She's everything you want in contestant, crazy, crazy, crazy and a bit of athleticism.
I'm really hoping Cara Maria brings home the crown this year, but I'm sure she won't.
Get More:
The Challenge (Season 24), Full Episodes
As TJ would say, the trailer killed it. It's so intense. Some big time quotes, "I hate this kid. I hate the ground he walks on," "I just feel like some of these people here are just like absolutely pure evil" and "Let's just win this money and then we can go back to hating each other." I'm so hyped for the season. Big time on big time on big time. By the way, if you want to know why they are rivals, wikipedia has you covered: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Challenge:_Rivals_II So I figured what better way to celebrate the debut of Rivals II by having a top 5 countdown of teams most likely to win it all.
5. Heather & Cara Maria. I'm not really sure who Heather is. I can't remember her from previous seasons. A quick google search she appears to be athletic enough. Really, who Heather is doesn't matter, cause Cara Maria is my girl and has to appear on this list. Cara Maria never fails to disappoint. She's everything you want in contestant, crazy, crazy, crazy and a bit of athleticism.
I'm really hoping Cara Maria brings home the crown this year, but I'm sure she won't.
4. LeRoy & Ty. LeRoy, a newer competitor, has always been solid in Challenge with some great athletic prowess. However, LeRoy is more of the more normal competitors, which is never a good thing in The Challenge. Ty is a Challenge veteran, who has a lot of crazy in him and is an awesome athlete.
You'd think two great athletes like LeRoy and Ty would be ranked higher, but I'll never be able to fully trust Ty after he gave up again Brandon.
I I never like quitters. Once a quitter always a quitter right?
I I never like quitters. Once a quitter always a quitter right?
3. CT & Wes: CT is an animal. Ct is insane. Wes is an animal. Wes is insane. Both are bros who love being bros. Both are challenge legends. Both are great competitors. I'd have them 1, but I'm afraid that they might end up fighting each other and getting kicked off the show.
Lesson: Never take money from CT's pocked.
2. Emily & Paula. Both are veterans of The Challenge with a history of success. Paula might damn near be 40 years old but she's a wily veteran who gets it done when it counts. Plus, talking about Paula let's me include one of my favorite Challenge related clips.
And although Emily doesn't understand simple concepts like racism (i.e., wearing black face) but Emily is dominant when it comes to physical challenges. Bonus, people on YouTube make creepy videos about Emily.
Bottom line: Emily & Paula are going to be really hard to beat.
2. Emily & Paula. Both are veterans of The Challenge with a history of success. Paula might damn near be 40 years old but she's a wily veteran who gets it done when it counts. Plus, talking about Paula let's me include one of my favorite Challenge related clips.
1. Frank & Johnny Bananas. Frank last season was the Aaron Trout of The Challenge. The guy had an epic rookie season and absolutely controlled the entire season. Rookies aren't supposed to be that good. Rookies are supposed to be the first people voted out. But Frank wouldn't let that happen. Frank has the intensity and craziness that makes him a great challenge competitor. Just watch him in action:
And Johnny Bananas is Johnny Bananas. He's a legend. He's probably the most successful competitor ever on the challenge. He is the M.J. of The Challenge. Always fear Johnny Bananas. As he says in the trailer "All is fair in love, war and challenges."
Friday, June 21, 2013
0 5 for Friday, June 21st
Another Friday and another 5 for Friday. This 5 for Friday is happening on the first day of Summer and you couldn't ask for a nicer day in the Burgh. So in honor of Summer here are the top 5 Will Smith (why Will Smith? Because I think he's awesome. So awesome that I sang Gettin' Jiggy Wit It in my high school English class to earn extra credit once) Summer movies of all-time..
5. Men in Black III... a solid rebound for the Men in Black franchise after the pretty bad Men in Black II. Although, it loses points because Will Smith didn't sing a song for it. Pit-Bull is no Will Smith and that song he had for the movie was horrible.
4. I, Robot... an underrated sci-fi flick and a solid Summer movie that keeps you entertained.
3. Bad Boys II... No one does explosions and car chases better than Michael Bay and the interaction between Martin Lawrence and Will Smith is great.
2. Men in Black... yet another entertaining summer movie with lots of laughs and big special effects. A great Summer movie.
1. Independence Day...is a masterpiece of masterpieces. It has some of Will Smith's greatest one liners such as "Welcome to Earth" and "I've got to get me one of these." It seriously doesn't get much better than this. ID4 is the perfect Summer movie with plenty of action, explosions, special effects and aliens.
Y'all have a great weekend and enjoy the start of Summer!
5. Men in Black III... a solid rebound for the Men in Black franchise after the pretty bad Men in Black II. Although, it loses points because Will Smith didn't sing a song for it. Pit-Bull is no Will Smith and that song he had for the movie was horrible.
4. I, Robot... an underrated sci-fi flick and a solid Summer movie that keeps you entertained.
3. Bad Boys II... No one does explosions and car chases better than Michael Bay and the interaction between Martin Lawrence and Will Smith is great.
2. Men in Black... yet another entertaining summer movie with lots of laughs and big special effects. A great Summer movie.
1. Independence Day...is a masterpiece of masterpieces. It has some of Will Smith's greatest one liners such as "Welcome to Earth" and "I've got to get me one of these." It seriously doesn't get much better than this. ID4 is the perfect Summer movie with plenty of action, explosions, special effects and aliens.
Y'all have a great weekend and enjoy the start of Summer!
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
0 5,000 Posts
The JDC has reached 5,000 posts, so I'd like to thank all of our loyal readers. I'm not sure if 5,000 is a lot but it is better than 0 readers. There is going to be lots of content coming straight at you including a review of Kanye's insane album, a ranking of the top conspiracy theories of all time and a long brewing essay on why Hipsters rule the world. Also, if anyone has any requests on future posts, email me at jamiedixoncider@gmail.com.
Thanks again for all the reading!
Thanks again for all the reading!
Friday, June 7, 2013
0 5 for Friday, June 7
Another Friday means another 5 for Friday. In honor of Lonely Island, the group with Andy Samberg that was behind all of the awesome SNL digital shorts, releasing another album this upcoming Tuesday, this 5 for Friday is the top 5 Lonely Island music videos. Their performance of their new song Semicolon1 with Alanis Morissette is pretty decent.
Highlights:
Did I do that; Urkle.
Yo Angela who's the boss; Merkle.
A comma and a f&*king dot; semicolon.
You acting all Macchio; Ralph.
But I'll eat all you cats; Alf.
A nice and ironic performance by the Lonely Island with a little help from Alanis
Now onto the top 5...
5. Natalie's Rap
Highlights:
What you want Natalie? To drink and fight.
What you need Natalie? To f%*k all night.
All the kids looking up to me can suck my dick.
Okay, I have to admit this song probably doesn't belong, but I don't care at all. I love Natalie. I'd do anything for Natalie. She's on the top of my celeb list. Basically, she's so Big Time. And it's awesome seeing her be the complete opposite of your expectations of her. It's like the super awesome Chappel Show Skit with Wayne Brady. So yeah the song isn't the greatest. However, Natalie is the greatest, which means she's on the list. It's my blog and I'll do what I want.
4. I'm On a Boat
Highlights:
I got my swim trunks and my flippy floppies.
Believe me when I say I f*&ked a mermaid.
The beginning of the video is awesome and is classic Lonely Island.. It looks like Andy is going to pick the rest of Lonely Island to go on a free boat ride but then the camera pans to T-Pain and the ridiculousness starts. Over-the-top and ridiculous. That's how Lonely Island rolls.
3. Jack Sparrow
Highlights:
From the day he was born, he yearned for adventure.
Old Captain Jack giving them what for.
He's the pauper of the surf.
The jester of Tortuga.
But is Davy Jones' locker what lies in store?
Michael Bolton, the king of soft rock ballads + Random Movie References+ Lonely Island = Big Time. I'm going to like anything with Michael Bolton. I'm pretty sure listening to How Can We Be Lovers way too many times while drunk in college brainwashed me to like Michael Bolton. Michael Bolton is the king of soft rock ballads. Serious question though, how can two people be lovers when they can't even be friends?2
2. Motherlover
Highlights:
What time is it dog? It's time for switch-a-roo.
Cause I'm a motherlover. Your a motherlover. We should f*&k each other's mothers.
Cause every mother's day needs a mother's night.
If doing it is worng, then I don't wanna be right.
It would be my honor to be your new step-father.
I debated between Motherlover and Dick in A Box and both certainly are great. But I like Motherlover better because it just sounds better. Either way, both songs are great in the Lonely Island way.
1. I Just Had Sex
Highlights:
She could be my wife. That good? The best 30 seconds of my life.
I think she might have been a racist. Doesn't matter had sex. She put a bag on my head. Still counts.
Simply the best of the best. No explanation needed. Honestly, I think Akon could sing any kind of lyric and it would sound great.
1If you want to be a grammar nerd and want to know how to correctly use a semicolon, then check out this great explanation: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon
2 I couldn't talk about Michael Bolton without asking.
Did I do that; Urkle.
Yo Angela who's the boss; Merkle.
A comma and a f&*king dot; semicolon.
You acting all Macchio; Ralph.
But I'll eat all you cats; Alf.
A nice and ironic performance by the Lonely Island with a little help from Alanis
Now onto the top 5...
5. Natalie's Rap
Highlights:
What you want Natalie? To drink and fight.
What you need Natalie? To f%*k all night.
All the kids looking up to me can suck my dick.
Okay, I have to admit this song probably doesn't belong, but I don't care at all. I love Natalie. I'd do anything for Natalie. She's on the top of my celeb list. Basically, she's so Big Time. And it's awesome seeing her be the complete opposite of your expectations of her. It's like the super awesome Chappel Show Skit with Wayne Brady. So yeah the song isn't the greatest. However, Natalie is the greatest, which means she's on the list. It's my blog and I'll do what I want.
4. I'm On a Boat
Highlights:
I got my swim trunks and my flippy floppies.
Believe me when I say I f*&ked a mermaid.
The beginning of the video is awesome and is classic Lonely Island.. It looks like Andy is going to pick the rest of Lonely Island to go on a free boat ride but then the camera pans to T-Pain and the ridiculousness starts. Over-the-top and ridiculous. That's how Lonely Island rolls.
3. Jack Sparrow
Highlights:
From the day he was born, he yearned for adventure.
Old Captain Jack giving them what for.
He's the pauper of the surf.
The jester of Tortuga.
But is Davy Jones' locker what lies in store?
Michael Bolton, the king of soft rock ballads + Random Movie References+ Lonely Island = Big Time. I'm going to like anything with Michael Bolton. I'm pretty sure listening to How Can We Be Lovers way too many times while drunk in college brainwashed me to like Michael Bolton. Michael Bolton is the king of soft rock ballads. Serious question though, how can two people be lovers when they can't even be friends?2
2. Motherlover
Highlights:
What time is it dog? It's time for switch-a-roo.
Cause I'm a motherlover. Your a motherlover. We should f*&k each other's mothers.
Cause every mother's day needs a mother's night.
If doing it is worng, then I don't wanna be right.
It would be my honor to be your new step-father.
I debated between Motherlover and Dick in A Box and both certainly are great. But I like Motherlover better because it just sounds better. Either way, both songs are great in the Lonely Island way.
1. I Just Had Sex
She could be my wife. That good? The best 30 seconds of my life.
I think she might have been a racist. Doesn't matter had sex. She put a bag on my head. Still counts.
Simply the best of the best. No explanation needed. Honestly, I think Akon could sing any kind of lyric and it would sound great.
1If you want to be a grammar nerd and want to know how to correctly use a semicolon, then check out this great explanation: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon
2 I couldn't talk about Michael Bolton without asking.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
0 Big Time Reccomendation: DVR Jeopardy
What do you get when you combine the greatest TV game show with one of the greatest invention of modern times? A perfect 15 minutes of entertainment. When I first added Jeopardy to the DVR, I'm pretty sure my roommate thought, "Huh? Typical Marty. Adding pointless stuff to the DVR." But even she will tell you how awesome DVR'ing Jeopardy is. Seriously, everyone loves yelling out answers at home and everyone loves learning random facts. I've probably been doing it for over 20 years since first starting with my Dad. Quick tip for you, if the category has something to do with American generals from the 20th century, MacArthur will be an answer. Trust me, it happens.
Anyways, a streamlined episode of Jeopardy without the commercials just feels right. Just when the game is getting into a flow, there is that first commercial break followed by the very awkward interactions between Alex and the contestants. With a DVR you can skip the commercials and only have a minor break with the awkward interactions. I warn you though, do not be tempted to skip the awkward interactions. The awkward interactions are awesome and should never be skipped. Where else can you see smart and nerdy people try to be interesting with really weird stories? Off the top of my head, there was the lady who collected WNBA merchandise and had her whole apartment decorated with it. It's also awesome, when the contestant talks about what kind of science they are doing and Alex asks a follow-up question. I'm pretty sure the entire time Alex is thinking, "Shut up nerd! I have no idea what any of this jibber jabber means." Another benefit when using a DVR with Jeopardy is that you can pause and rewind to catch the reactions to contestants. It's always funny seeing one contestant be a bit too bitter when another contestant gets a Double Jeopardy.
Speaking of contestants, having a DVR means I never get to miss an episode when a contestant is on a run or one of the semi-finals in a Tournament. This means I got to see every performance of the following three contestants who were awesome in their own ways:
1. Leonard: High School Champ. He was down huge after day one of the finals and came roaring back. The most ridiculous part was that he wrote,
2. Colby: Teacher's Champion and Tournament of Champions Champ. Colby has some of the most ridiculous facial expressions ever. He had an epic run and just crushed his competition. Bonus, if you Google "Colby Jeopardy" some of the top results are the cockiest Jeopardy player ever and Colby's Degeneration X "Suck it" Victory move.
3. Drew: 8 day champion who earned only $138,000 with major luck and grinding. He started off as annoying but ended up awesome. Maybe it was his constant guessing at questions that he had no idea the correct answer was but still somehow got it right or the fact that I'm pretty sure he missed the final Jeopardy question three days in a row but still won. Yep, Drew was awesome.
Finally, now since I've watched a ton of Jeopardy for months straight, I now have an extra amount of random knowledge to throw out there. Learning really can be fun. Finally, since I have seen enough of Final Jeopardy, I now know the right amount each contestant should have wagered, which means I can go on a mini-rant whenever a contestant messes up. Take last night's episode, first place had about 21K, second place had 20K and third place had nearly nothing. In this case, the only way second place wins is if first place misses the question. There is no reason for second place to bet anything. However, what does second place do? Risk all of his money, gets it wrong and because first place also go it wrong, third place wins with a measly 6K. Come on now contestants, math isn't that hard.
See what all you have missed out on by not DVR'ing Jeopardy? A Big Time amount of entertainment, on entertainment, on entertainment. So when you get home, be sure to add a season pass for Jeopardy to your DVR, you won't regret it.
Anyways, a streamlined episode of Jeopardy without the commercials just feels right. Just when the game is getting into a flow, there is that first commercial break followed by the very awkward interactions between Alex and the contestants. With a DVR you can skip the commercials and only have a minor break with the awkward interactions. I warn you though, do not be tempted to skip the awkward interactions. The awkward interactions are awesome and should never be skipped. Where else can you see smart and nerdy people try to be interesting with really weird stories? Off the top of my head, there was the lady who collected WNBA merchandise and had her whole apartment decorated with it. It's also awesome, when the contestant talks about what kind of science they are doing and Alex asks a follow-up question. I'm pretty sure the entire time Alex is thinking, "Shut up nerd! I have no idea what any of this jibber jabber means." Another benefit when using a DVR with Jeopardy is that you can pause and rewind to catch the reactions to contestants. It's always funny seeing one contestant be a bit too bitter when another contestant gets a Double Jeopardy.
Speaking of contestants, having a DVR means I never get to miss an episode when a contestant is on a run or one of the semi-finals in a Tournament. This means I got to see every performance of the following three contestants who were awesome in their own ways:
1. Leonard: High School Champ. He was down huge after day one of the finals and came roaring back. The most ridiculous part was that he wrote,
2. Colby: Teacher's Champion and Tournament of Champions Champ. Colby has some of the most ridiculous facial expressions ever. He had an epic run and just crushed his competition. Bonus, if you Google "Colby Jeopardy" some of the top results are the cockiest Jeopardy player ever and Colby's Degeneration X "Suck it" Victory move.
3. Drew: 8 day champion who earned only $138,000 with major luck and grinding. He started off as annoying but ended up awesome. Maybe it was his constant guessing at questions that he had no idea the correct answer was but still somehow got it right or the fact that I'm pretty sure he missed the final Jeopardy question three days in a row but still won. Yep, Drew was awesome.
Finally, now since I've watched a ton of Jeopardy for months straight, I now have an extra amount of random knowledge to throw out there. Learning really can be fun. Finally, since I have seen enough of Final Jeopardy, I now know the right amount each contestant should have wagered, which means I can go on a mini-rant whenever a contestant messes up. Take last night's episode, first place had about 21K, second place had 20K and third place had nearly nothing. In this case, the only way second place wins is if first place misses the question. There is no reason for second place to bet anything. However, what does second place do? Risk all of his money, gets it wrong and because first place also go it wrong, third place wins with a measly 6K. Come on now contestants, math isn't that hard.
See what all you have missed out on by not DVR'ing Jeopardy? A Big Time amount of entertainment, on entertainment, on entertainment. So when you get home, be sure to add a season pass for Jeopardy to your DVR, you won't regret it.
Friday, May 31, 2013
0 Breakdown: New Slaves and Black Skinheads
In case you missed it, Kanye West recently performed two songs off his new album at SNL. With how much I love Kanye, I couldn't let two new songs be release without doing a breakdown. Before I get to the breakdown, I have to say, his idea to premier New Slaves by broadcasting it on buildings across the world was so Big Time. Who needs the media when you can create your own premier? Now onto the actual songs.
First, New Slaves...
My momma was raised in an era when clean water was only served to the fairer skin
You know Kanye doesn't care what the public thinks about him when he starts off one of his first singles off his new album with a reference to segregation.1
You see it's broke nigga racism that's that "Don't touch anything in the store" and this rich nigga racism that's that "Come here, please buy more."
Money changes everything but does it really change anything?
You see it's leaders and there's followers but I'd rather be a prick (dick) than a swallower
For SNL he changed the lyric to prick from dick. So FCC, prick is okay but dick is too far? And niggas is okay? Sounds about right. But this is perfect summary of Kanye by Kanye. He will always pick being an asshole over doing what people say he should do.
They throwing hate at me want me to stay at ease f*&k you and your corporations y'all niggas can't control me
Corporations run the world but they don't run Kanye.
I'm going Bobby Boucher
Only Kanye would throw in a reference to cinematic feat that is Waterboy after talking about not being able to be controlled.
I know that pussy ain't free
No one, even Ye, get's pussy for free.
You niggas pussy, ain't me
So all you other rappers who don't actually say what you think, you are the real pussies.
Y'all throwing contracts at me. You know that niggas can't read. Throw 'em some Mayback keys"
Exploiting of others, fun times.
F*&k it, c'est la vie
I too like to end conversations about depressing and unchanging subjects with c'est la vie. For example, when talking about how ridiculously corrupt money has made politics I will end the conversation by saying, "Well money controls everything. Nothing we can do about it. C'est la vie."
Y'all niggas can't fuck with Ye I'll move my family out the country so you can't see what I stay so go grad the reporters so I can smash their recorders
Kanye loves his privacy.3 If I was famous, I'd smash the paparazzi too. They are horrible human beings profiting on the ridiculous celebrity culture we have.
Like the New World Order Meanwhile the DEA teamed up with CCA they trying lock niggas up they tryna make new slaves see that's that privately owned prisons get your piece today they prolly all in the Hamptons braggin' 'bout what they made
I love me a good conspiracy theory. And this is a good one from Kanye. The CCA is a company that manages more than 60 prisons. The CCA pays lots of its inmates below minimum wage for many different jobs. The CCA also likes to get contracts that guarantee prison occupancy rates at 90%. So basically Kanye is saying the drug war is designed to keep the prisons filled with low wage workers. The Drug War is complete BS. Waste so much time and money over drugs. And it does seem really strange to me that the CCA gets contracts guaranteeing prisons will be filled. Shouldn't we be working to make prisons as empty as possible? Also, why are prisons ever privately owned? It makes no sense to me. So maybe Kanye is onto something, but then again I love me a good conspiracy theory.
F*&k you and your Hampton house I'll f*&k your Hampton spouse came on her Hampton blouse and in her Hampton mouth
Hey all all you rich dudes in the Hamptons, the scary Kanye West is coming for your wives.
Y'all bout to turn shit up I'm 'bout to tear shit down I'm 'bout to air shit out now what the f*&k they gonna say now?
Kanye is going to say things as he sees them and you can't do anything about it. Yep, that's Kanye for you.
Second, Black Skinhead...4
For my theme song my leather black jeans on my by any means on pardon I'm getting my scream on
Leather black jeans seem like an appropriate thing to wear during a theme song. By the way, thanks for being so courteous about your impending screams that we are going to have to listen to.
They see a black man with a white woman at the top floor they gone come to kill King Kong
A black man couldn't marry a white woman until the 60s in some states in America.
Middle America packed in came to see me in my black skin
I was one of those middle Americans who pay to see his black skin. His concerts are awesome and are worthy every penny.
My homey was number one draft pick they still burned his jersey in Akron
LeBron James shout out. If LeBron James hadn't been such a dick about his decision, then I really doubt any of the anger happens. No one burned anything in Pittsburgh when Barry Bonds left.
Like them black kids in Chiraq bitch
One of the facts that I learned while writing this entry, Chicago is sometimes called Chiraq by black kids in Chicago due to the high murder rate. Fun times right?
So follow me up cause this shit's about to go down I'm doin' 500, I'm outta control now but there's nowhere to go, no and there's no way to slow down runnin' out of time - moving fast so just close your eyes and then enjoy this crash
Kanye thinks he's hit a creative zone and that you are going to want to come along with him for the ride even including the crash.
So that's the lyrics. As songs, I like New Slaves better than Black Skinheads. It definitely takes a while to get used to the primal screaming on Black Skinheads. But a lot of Kanye West songs take multiple listens to really like. I didn't like 808s and Heartbreaks until after a bunch of listens. Now I love his auto-tuned break up album. Overall, both songs are pretty over the top filled with over-the-top and controversial statements and Kanye being Kanye. But would you expect anything less from Kanye at this point? I know I don't and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't wait for the whole album to see what else Kanye West has in store for us.
1I know a lot of people hate Kanye. But there is a lot to appreciate about Kanye as an artist. He could have easily released album after album that sounded like one of his earlier albums such as Late Registration and he would have been really successful. However, he doesn't do that because that's not who he is. He says true to himself regardless of his haters. You gotta at least respect him for that. I have a lot more to say about Kanye that I'm going to save for a much longer post.
2L.L. Cool J and that country singer dude would not approve of this song.
3So you ask, why is Kanye with Kim K.? I have no idea. It makes no sense. Kanye loves privacy. Kim has no idea what privacy means. I guess you really can't pick who you fall in love with.
4 I made the breakdown of Black Skinhead shorter because I felt that I had already rambled on way too long. Think of it as an early weekend present to you, my loyal reader.
First, New Slaves...
My momma was raised in an era when clean water was only served to the fairer skin
You know Kanye doesn't care what the public thinks about him when he starts off one of his first singles off his new album with a reference to segregation.1
You see it's broke nigga racism that's that "Don't touch anything in the store" and this rich nigga racism that's that "Come here, please buy more."
Money changes everything but does it really change anything?
You see it's leaders and there's followers but I'd rather be a prick (dick) than a swallower
For SNL he changed the lyric to prick from dick. So FCC, prick is okay but dick is too far? And niggas is okay? Sounds about right. But this is perfect summary of Kanye by Kanye. He will always pick being an asshole over doing what people say he should do.
They throwing hate at me want me to stay at ease f*&k you and your corporations y'all niggas can't control me
Corporations run the world but they don't run Kanye.
I'm going Bobby Boucher
Only Kanye would throw in a reference to cinematic feat that is Waterboy after talking about not being able to be controlled.
I know that pussy ain't free
No one, even Ye, get's pussy for free.
You niggas pussy, ain't me
So all you other rappers who don't actually say what you think, you are the real pussies.
Y'all throwing contracts at me. You know that niggas can't read. Throw 'em some Mayback keys"
Exploiting of others, fun times.
F*&k it, c'est la vie
I too like to end conversations about depressing and unchanging subjects with c'est la vie. For example, when talking about how ridiculously corrupt money has made politics I will end the conversation by saying, "Well money controls everything. Nothing we can do about it. C'est la vie."
Y'all niggas can't fuck with Ye I'll move my family out the country so you can't see what I stay so go grad the reporters so I can smash their recorders
Kanye loves his privacy.3 If I was famous, I'd smash the paparazzi too. They are horrible human beings profiting on the ridiculous celebrity culture we have.
Like the New World Order Meanwhile the DEA teamed up with CCA they trying lock niggas up they tryna make new slaves see that's that privately owned prisons get your piece today they prolly all in the Hamptons braggin' 'bout what they made
I love me a good conspiracy theory. And this is a good one from Kanye. The CCA is a company that manages more than 60 prisons. The CCA pays lots of its inmates below minimum wage for many different jobs. The CCA also likes to get contracts that guarantee prison occupancy rates at 90%. So basically Kanye is saying the drug war is designed to keep the prisons filled with low wage workers. The Drug War is complete BS. Waste so much time and money over drugs. And it does seem really strange to me that the CCA gets contracts guaranteeing prisons will be filled. Shouldn't we be working to make prisons as empty as possible? Also, why are prisons ever privately owned? It makes no sense to me. So maybe Kanye is onto something, but then again I love me a good conspiracy theory.
F*&k you and your Hampton house I'll f*&k your Hampton spouse came on her Hampton blouse and in her Hampton mouth
Hey all all you rich dudes in the Hamptons, the scary Kanye West is coming for your wives.
Y'all bout to turn shit up I'm 'bout to tear shit down I'm 'bout to air shit out now what the f*&k they gonna say now?
Kanye is going to say things as he sees them and you can't do anything about it. Yep, that's Kanye for you.
Second, Black Skinhead...4
For my theme song my leather black jeans on my by any means on pardon I'm getting my scream on
Leather black jeans seem like an appropriate thing to wear during a theme song. By the way, thanks for being so courteous about your impending screams that we are going to have to listen to.
They see a black man with a white woman at the top floor they gone come to kill King Kong
A black man couldn't marry a white woman until the 60s in some states in America.
Middle America packed in came to see me in my black skin
I was one of those middle Americans who pay to see his black skin. His concerts are awesome and are worthy every penny.
My homey was number one draft pick they still burned his jersey in Akron
LeBron James shout out. If LeBron James hadn't been such a dick about his decision, then I really doubt any of the anger happens. No one burned anything in Pittsburgh when Barry Bonds left.
Like them black kids in Chiraq bitch
One of the facts that I learned while writing this entry, Chicago is sometimes called Chiraq by black kids in Chicago due to the high murder rate. Fun times right?
So follow me up cause this shit's about to go down I'm doin' 500, I'm outta control now but there's nowhere to go, no and there's no way to slow down runnin' out of time - moving fast so just close your eyes and then enjoy this crash
Kanye thinks he's hit a creative zone and that you are going to want to come along with him for the ride even including the crash.
So that's the lyrics. As songs, I like New Slaves better than Black Skinheads. It definitely takes a while to get used to the primal screaming on Black Skinheads. But a lot of Kanye West songs take multiple listens to really like. I didn't like 808s and Heartbreaks until after a bunch of listens. Now I love his auto-tuned break up album. Overall, both songs are pretty over the top filled with over-the-top and controversial statements and Kanye being Kanye. But would you expect anything less from Kanye at this point? I know I don't and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't wait for the whole album to see what else Kanye West has in store for us.
1I know a lot of people hate Kanye. But there is a lot to appreciate about Kanye as an artist. He could have easily released album after album that sounded like one of his earlier albums such as Late Registration and he would have been really successful. However, he doesn't do that because that's not who he is. He says true to himself regardless of his haters. You gotta at least respect him for that. I have a lot more to say about Kanye that I'm going to save for a much longer post.
2L.L. Cool J and that country singer dude would not approve of this song.
3So you ask, why is Kanye with Kim K.? I have no idea. It makes no sense. Kanye loves privacy. Kim has no idea what privacy means. I guess you really can't pick who you fall in love with.
4 I made the breakdown of Black Skinhead shorter because I felt that I had already rambled on way too long. Think of it as an early weekend present to you, my loyal reader.
Friday, May 24, 2013
0 5 for Friday, Memorial Day Weekend
A new 5 for Friday... Are you just imagining a new post on JDC? No, you aren't. Here we are with some brand new thoughts. Seriously, the lack of posts by me in the recent few weeks is pretty lame. I'm really going to try to get better. Although, I think I've said that the last few sporadic posts on here. But if I keep on saying it, then it will come true one of these times right? Now let's get onto the ever so random 5 thoughts from me.
1. Bucco fever. I think I'm starting to get a case of Bucco fever. They keep winning. Not sure how. But they do. This last homestand they hit about .200 and still ended up 8-2. That's what winners do, find a way to win no matter what. Hopefully, I'll be writing about Bucco fever come October. So Let's go Bucs!
2. Happy Endings being cancelled is so lame. Happy Endings was one of the funniest TV shows going but it was cancelled. I don't get how it can be cancelled while tons of other horrible shows are renewed. And the networks wonder why people don't watch as much. I got the answer... It's cause you cancel good shows while keeping crap. If you stick with a good show and keep it on one night instead of moving it to Fridays the viewers will come. So stop canceling good shows TV execs.
3. Wallpaper removal ain't that bad. In my new house thee is a good bit of wallpaper and everyone said that it would be such a pain to get down. However, I (with some help from my brother and cousin) was able to get the wallpaper down in my bedroom in less than 4 hours. The way people talk about wallpaper you would have thought it would take me days for a room. There are two possible explanations for the discrepancy either my wallpaper is easy or people are too dramatic. I'm leaning towards the latter. So don't be afraid of wallpaper cause getting rid of it ain't that hard.
4. Apple keyboards suck. So I'm typing this blog post on my iPad and it sucks. I feel like I'm a grandma sending an email by hunting and pecking on keys. And it's not just the iPad. I've had an iPhone for the past year almost and I still make mistakes typing. And the autocorrect is always correcting things in the wrong way. When I had my droid phone I could swype texts fast and accurately. It also didn't randomly change "to" to "TI" (maybe someone at Apple loves the Atlanta based rapper TI?). But now it's like I'm in the Stone Age. Why is it so bad? I have no idea. But why the heck can't I pick what kind of keyboard. If I want to swype to type, let me swype Apple. This is why Apple is losing its mojo. It treats all consumers like they are 5 years old. I want options but I get no options. All I know is that my next phone will be a droid. So does anyone want to trade me a S4 or HTC one for an iPhone 5?
5. Holiday Weekends are Big Time. Extra long weekends are awesome (they feel even longer when it means you won't be in the office again until next Thursday but not many people can have that great of a schedule like I do). They give you more time to relax. And when it's a weekend like Memorial Day weekend, it means there are fun events to go to like cookouts and parties. I think we need more holidays so that we can have more long weekends. So, I'm looking at you Barry O, make it happen.
Everyone have a great Memorial Day weekend!
1. Bucco fever. I think I'm starting to get a case of Bucco fever. They keep winning. Not sure how. But they do. This last homestand they hit about .200 and still ended up 8-2. That's what winners do, find a way to win no matter what. Hopefully, I'll be writing about Bucco fever come October. So Let's go Bucs!
2. Happy Endings being cancelled is so lame. Happy Endings was one of the funniest TV shows going but it was cancelled. I don't get how it can be cancelled while tons of other horrible shows are renewed. And the networks wonder why people don't watch as much. I got the answer... It's cause you cancel good shows while keeping crap. If you stick with a good show and keep it on one night instead of moving it to Fridays the viewers will come. So stop canceling good shows TV execs.
3. Wallpaper removal ain't that bad. In my new house thee is a good bit of wallpaper and everyone said that it would be such a pain to get down. However, I (with some help from my brother and cousin) was able to get the wallpaper down in my bedroom in less than 4 hours. The way people talk about wallpaper you would have thought it would take me days for a room. There are two possible explanations for the discrepancy either my wallpaper is easy or people are too dramatic. I'm leaning towards the latter. So don't be afraid of wallpaper cause getting rid of it ain't that hard.
4. Apple keyboards suck. So I'm typing this blog post on my iPad and it sucks. I feel like I'm a grandma sending an email by hunting and pecking on keys. And it's not just the iPad. I've had an iPhone for the past year almost and I still make mistakes typing. And the autocorrect is always correcting things in the wrong way. When I had my droid phone I could swype texts fast and accurately. It also didn't randomly change "to" to "TI" (maybe someone at Apple loves the Atlanta based rapper TI?). But now it's like I'm in the Stone Age. Why is it so bad? I have no idea. But why the heck can't I pick what kind of keyboard. If I want to swype to type, let me swype Apple. This is why Apple is losing its mojo. It treats all consumers like they are 5 years old. I want options but I get no options. All I know is that my next phone will be a droid. So does anyone want to trade me a S4 or HTC one for an iPhone 5?
5. Holiday Weekends are Big Time. Extra long weekends are awesome (they feel even longer when it means you won't be in the office again until next Thursday but not many people can have that great of a schedule like I do). They give you more time to relax. And when it's a weekend like Memorial Day weekend, it means there are fun events to go to like cookouts and parties. I think we need more holidays so that we can have more long weekends. So, I'm looking at you Barry O, make it happen.
Everyone have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
0 Sorry for the Absence & Big Time Hype Rankings
Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I ran into house buying hell the past couple weeks that ended up being a complete and utter time suck. Just problems on problems on problems. Bright side, I'm in my house and I have something to go on a really long and hopefully enjoyable rant. That more detailed post about all of my trials and tribulations involving buying my house will be coming soon I promise.
But completely unrelated to house buying, I'm launching a new feature called Marty's Big Time Hype Rankings, the place where I tell you what upcoming things that I think are going to be mind blowing and worth getting excited about...
5. Great Gatsby. I love the book and the movie looked like it was going to be really awesome. But initial reviews are mixed. Still I'm excited and it still could end up being pretty decent. Uh oh, looks like some diminishing Big Time here.
4. The Return of Franklin and Bash. The best bro lawyers return on June 19th. Can't get better than a show filled with bros, partying and lawyers. More than a month away so the hype is simmering. Now that's some simmering Big Time.
3. Star Trek Into Darkness. J.J. Abrams is big time. The first Star Trek movie is big time. And the sequel is out next week. Big Time for sure.
2. Game of Thrones Season 3 episode 9. Episode 9 is where the crazy awesome stuff usually happens in Game of Thrones. Episode 9 is almost here, which is beyond Big Time.
1. Kanye's first new single from his new album. All Kanye albums are awesome, and his first single is supposed to debut on SNL next weekend. Talk about the most Big Time.
But completely unrelated to house buying, I'm launching a new feature called Marty's Big Time Hype Rankings, the place where I tell you what upcoming things that I think are going to be mind blowing and worth getting excited about...
5. Great Gatsby. I love the book and the movie looked like it was going to be really awesome. But initial reviews are mixed. Still I'm excited and it still could end up being pretty decent. Uh oh, looks like some diminishing Big Time here.
4. The Return of Franklin and Bash. The best bro lawyers return on June 19th. Can't get better than a show filled with bros, partying and lawyers. More than a month away so the hype is simmering. Now that's some simmering Big Time.
3. Star Trek Into Darkness. J.J. Abrams is big time. The first Star Trek movie is big time. And the sequel is out next week. Big Time for sure.
2. Game of Thrones Season 3 episode 9. Episode 9 is where the crazy awesome stuff usually happens in Game of Thrones. Episode 9 is almost here, which is beyond Big Time.
1. Kanye's first new single from his new album. All Kanye albums are awesome, and his first single is supposed to debut on SNL next weekend. Talk about the most Big Time.
Friday, April 19, 2013
0 5 for Friday, April 19th
Here's another 5 for Friday, coming straight at you from beautiful and rainy Shadyside...
1. Buying a house can really suck. Last week, I said buying a house is expensive. I forgot to leave out the part that it can really suck. I learned on Wednesday that the super late appraisal didn't go well, which means I'm stuck scrambling for another mortgage. And it also means that I might be homeless come May 1st. Seriously, people didn't do their jobs and now I'm left in limbo and totally stressed out. The sad part of the whole situation is that I purposely made closing in 60 days in order to avoid ever getting stressed out over having to make quick decisions. To anyone buying a house, make sure you pester everyone, don't just assume people will do their jobs and make sure you pick a good mortgage person. But yeah, house you better be worth it because it has really sucked buying you.
2. Daft Punk is big time. Daft Punk has a new single out called "Get Lucky" and it is awesome. I haven't been able to stop listening to it since it dropped. There is no way you can't like this song. Daft Punk is awesome, and Pharrell, one of the coolest people out there, is awesome with the vocals. By the way Daft Punk has not one, but TWO songs on Kanye's new album, When asked about the songs in Rolling Stone they said Kanye was "screaming primally" and "It was very raw: he was rapping – kind of screaming primally, actually." I have no idea what that actually means but it sounds awesome. Time to listen to "Get Lucky" again. Yep, Daft Punk you guys are pretty big time.
3. NBA Playoffs are back!!! The best playoffs in all of sports are returning this weekend and I can't wait. Why are they the best? Because you get to watch the highest and best basketball in the whole world. Spare me the college basketball is better nonsense. I'm a huge Pitt fan, but college basketball is over-coached with many inexperienced players. NBA playoff basketball is on whole other level. You have the best athletes in the world battling every night making big plays, hitting big shots and getting big stops. Don't be a hater, watch and enjoy. NBA playoffs, I can't wait to watch ya!
4. The Senate is worthless. A gun bill failed to pass the Senate because it was filibustered. You gotta love the filibuster rules in the senate, 59 senators agree to a bill but the bill can't pass because a minority says no. Completely and totally ridiculous. And guess what you don't even have to filibuster to filibuster. Back in the day if you wanted to filibuster you had to talk to whole time. So if you wanted to filibuster a gun control bill you'd have to stand in front of the Senate and go on whatever rant you pleased. Instead, Senators can just say they are going to filibuster without actually doing any real filibustering. If you want to block a gun bill that over 80% of Americans agree with, stand up, show your face and let people really see that you are blocking the bill. Don't just hide behind a ridiculous rule. And Democrats in the Senate who voted against the bill, you guys are the worst. You voted against it because you were afraid of not getting reelected. Your job as a Senator is to do what's best for the country and not to just get reelected. A lot of the nonsense in politics would be eliminated if there were term limits. Ugh, DEEP BREATHS... I have to continue this rant later, it's 5 for Friday, not 4 for Friday with one really long rant. So Senate you along with your stupid filibuster rules are completely worthless, so take your filibuster rules and shove
5. Boston Bombing. Two guys decide to inflict horror on countless people. Words cannot describe how horrible the bombers are. FUCK you and anyone else who will stoop to such heinous levels.
1. Buying a house can really suck. Last week, I said buying a house is expensive. I forgot to leave out the part that it can really suck. I learned on Wednesday that the super late appraisal didn't go well, which means I'm stuck scrambling for another mortgage. And it also means that I might be homeless come May 1st. Seriously, people didn't do their jobs and now I'm left in limbo and totally stressed out. The sad part of the whole situation is that I purposely made closing in 60 days in order to avoid ever getting stressed out over having to make quick decisions. To anyone buying a house, make sure you pester everyone, don't just assume people will do their jobs and make sure you pick a good mortgage person. But yeah, house you better be worth it because it has really sucked buying you.
2. Daft Punk is big time. Daft Punk has a new single out called "Get Lucky" and it is awesome. I haven't been able to stop listening to it since it dropped. There is no way you can't like this song. Daft Punk is awesome, and Pharrell, one of the coolest people out there, is awesome with the vocals. By the way Daft Punk has not one, but TWO songs on Kanye's new album, When asked about the songs in Rolling Stone they said Kanye was "screaming primally" and "It was very raw: he was rapping – kind of screaming primally, actually." I have no idea what that actually means but it sounds awesome. Time to listen to "Get Lucky" again. Yep, Daft Punk you guys are pretty big time.
3. NBA Playoffs are back!!! The best playoffs in all of sports are returning this weekend and I can't wait. Why are they the best? Because you get to watch the highest and best basketball in the whole world. Spare me the college basketball is better nonsense. I'm a huge Pitt fan, but college basketball is over-coached with many inexperienced players. NBA playoff basketball is on whole other level. You have the best athletes in the world battling every night making big plays, hitting big shots and getting big stops. Don't be a hater, watch and enjoy. NBA playoffs, I can't wait to watch ya!
4. The Senate is worthless. A gun bill failed to pass the Senate because it was filibustered. You gotta love the filibuster rules in the senate, 59 senators agree to a bill but the bill can't pass because a minority says no. Completely and totally ridiculous. And guess what you don't even have to filibuster to filibuster. Back in the day if you wanted to filibuster you had to talk to whole time. So if you wanted to filibuster a gun control bill you'd have to stand in front of the Senate and go on whatever rant you pleased. Instead, Senators can just say they are going to filibuster without actually doing any real filibustering. If you want to block a gun bill that over 80% of Americans agree with, stand up, show your face and let people really see that you are blocking the bill. Don't just hide behind a ridiculous rule. And Democrats in the Senate who voted against the bill, you guys are the worst. You voted against it because you were afraid of not getting reelected. Your job as a Senator is to do what's best for the country and not to just get reelected. A lot of the nonsense in politics would be eliminated if there were term limits. Ugh, DEEP BREATHS... I have to continue this rant later, it's 5 for Friday, not 4 for Friday with one really long rant. So Senate you along with your stupid filibuster rules are completely worthless, so take your filibuster rules and shove
5. Boston Bombing. Two guys decide to inflict horror on countless people. Words cannot describe how horrible the bombers are. FUCK you and anyone else who will stoop to such heinous levels.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
1 Facebook is terrible
There is no good way to put it. Facebook has become an awful thing, an albatross around people's necks. Five years ago, Facebook was great. You could creep on people's spring break pictures, watch people have a meltdown in real time or see who got fat or bald (or both) since high school.
But Facebook has changed. Now, you are bombarded with people sharing random nonsense that you don't care about. You see a million pictures of other people's babies (side note: I don't give a shit about your two month old, random person who I had class with 6 years ago, unless you are posing them in puerile pictures). People feel the need to air their dirty laundry or their backwards ass social views or get in a Facebook fight about something. I don't care about your engagement proposal or the 250 photos from your wedding. People lurk on Facebook, just waiting for someone to upload a status or picture so they can like or comment on it. Facebook is full of modern day chain letters (for example, people posting some piece of nonsense about veterans or this sick baby) which flood your feed. Facebook has also turned from a place full of teenagers and 20-somethings into baby boomer central. The Caps Lock Key is in full effect and old people have no sense of internet etiquette. My girlfriend will talk about a person and describe something happening in their life, and when I ask how she knows about this, Facebook is the answer. Facebook has replaced actual social contact and communication.
For these, and other reasons, I have stopped using Facebook for myself. I don't wish people happy birthday, I don't comment on statuses, I don't like photos. My only Facebook connection is a page I created for the dog, where I upload pictures from his point of view and try to be creative.
But Facebook has changed. Now, you are bombarded with people sharing random nonsense that you don't care about. You see a million pictures of other people's babies (side note: I don't give a shit about your two month old, random person who I had class with 6 years ago, unless you are posing them in puerile pictures). People feel the need to air their dirty laundry or their backwards ass social views or get in a Facebook fight about something. I don't care about your engagement proposal or the 250 photos from your wedding. People lurk on Facebook, just waiting for someone to upload a status or picture so they can like or comment on it. Facebook is full of modern day chain letters (for example, people posting some piece of nonsense about veterans or this sick baby) which flood your feed. Facebook has also turned from a place full of teenagers and 20-somethings into baby boomer central. The Caps Lock Key is in full effect and old people have no sense of internet etiquette. My girlfriend will talk about a person and describe something happening in their life, and when I ask how she knows about this, Facebook is the answer. Facebook has replaced actual social contact and communication.
For these, and other reasons, I have stopped using Facebook for myself. I don't wish people happy birthday, I don't comment on statuses, I don't like photos. My only Facebook connection is a page I created for the dog, where I upload pictures from his point of view and try to be creative.
Friday, April 12, 2013
0 5 for Friday, April the 12th
Seriously, this will be regular feature. I just had to missed last Friday's because I was en route to a bachelor party in beautiful Kentucky that was filled with tons of beers, bros and bourbon. Anyways excuses aside here are 5 random things racking my always random brain...
1. Elysium is going to be the movie of the Summer. In case you missed it, the trailer for Elysium dropped this week and it looks amazing:
The movie is directed by Neil Blomkamp who directed District 9 a great movie that one day in the distant future will be mentioned in the best of movies discussion. I'm also a fan of Matt Damon who is always solid. For whatever reason, I love all movies and books with a dystopian future, which it sure looks like I will get plenty of in the movie. By the way the effects also look pretty awesome. So mark it down, Elysium will be big time and it will be THE movie of the Summer.
2. Obama, your budget sucks and you drives me crazy. I have a love/hate relationship with you, President Obama. I love the fact that you aren't a soul crushing conservative crazy person BUT I don't like a lot of stuff you do. Take the budget you just proposed, it includes a chained-CPI, which from what I read is basically a cut in Social Security. After releasing the budget, you then said the chained-CPI wasn't your idea but it was a Republican idea. If it's not your idea, then why include it in YOUR budget. When you are negotiating with someone, you say what you want, the other side says what you want and then you make deals. By including it in your budget, you claim ownership to the issue. Republicans are getting attack ads ready to say how you are taking money from seniors. I mean technically you are right that it isn't your idea but how didn't you learn from 2010 when you announced a "cut" in Medicare that was originally a Republican idea. Heck, Paul Ryan who basically invented the idea tried to use it in the last election against you. I mean come on, how can you act surprised that it is happening again. You really need to learn how to negotiate better. By the way, Social Security has no business being cut by you since you are supposed to be a Democrat. If anything you should be expanding it. Also, what is your deal you just listen to Ronald Reagan cause even he knew that Social Security doesn't contribute to the deficit. I'm just glad that it looks like a lot of the progressive good guys like Senator Elizabeth Warren aren't going to let this Social Security cut nonsense go through. You are a Democrat, start acting like one. So Barry Obama, your budget sucks and stop driving me crazy.
3. Mineo's is the best pizza in the Burgh. I just had Mineo's last night and it was fantastic as always. I don't care what other people say, Mineo's always delivers great taste. So if you want some tasty Za, go to Mineo's it is the best.
4. Time really does fly the older you get. I remember years ago when I was in Elementary school, I once complained to my Uncle about how slow school is. He responded that I shouldn't be complaining about that because time moves faster and faster the older you get. I'm pretty sure I thought he was crazy at the time. But he was absolutely 100% correct.1 I can't believe that it is already the middle of April of 2013. I've been out of law school for over 5 years, which just seems crazy to me. Before I know it, it will be my 31st birthday and I swear I just turned 30. Where the heck has all the time gone? Ugh, I'm getting old way too fast. So time, I really wish you would slow down.
5. Buying a house is expensive. I'm about to close on my first house Larryville and costs keep on piling up.2 It's not just the list of fees like title insurance or inspection, it's stuff like furniture or paint or appliances Going from a small apartment to be big house is a huge chance. There is just so much more space to fill up. But what is awesome is that I can do anything I want to it. If I want to rip down a wall, I can do that. If I want to change floors, I can do that. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. Also another benefit, I know I won't be moving next year. My streak of 7 straight years of moving is about to end. So house I know you are going to be awesome, I just wish you would stop costing me so much money.
1There is even some research that supports the idea that we perceive time differently as we age. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120709-does-life-speed-up-as-you-age
2Full disclosure: by "my first house" I mean the house my roommate and I are buying and living happily in together. Whenever you see the house, she will be the reason why it looks so cool.
1. Elysium is going to be the movie of the Summer. In case you missed it, the trailer for Elysium dropped this week and it looks amazing:
2. Obama, your budget sucks and you drives me crazy. I have a love/hate relationship with you, President Obama. I love the fact that you aren't a soul crushing conservative crazy person BUT I don't like a lot of stuff you do. Take the budget you just proposed, it includes a chained-CPI, which from what I read is basically a cut in Social Security. After releasing the budget, you then said the chained-CPI wasn't your idea but it was a Republican idea. If it's not your idea, then why include it in YOUR budget. When you are negotiating with someone, you say what you want, the other side says what you want and then you make deals. By including it in your budget, you claim ownership to the issue. Republicans are getting attack ads ready to say how you are taking money from seniors. I mean technically you are right that it isn't your idea but how didn't you learn from 2010 when you announced a "cut" in Medicare that was originally a Republican idea. Heck, Paul Ryan who basically invented the idea tried to use it in the last election against you. I mean come on, how can you act surprised that it is happening again. You really need to learn how to negotiate better. By the way, Social Security has no business being cut by you since you are supposed to be a Democrat. If anything you should be expanding it. Also, what is your deal you just listen to Ronald Reagan cause even he knew that Social Security doesn't contribute to the deficit. I'm just glad that it looks like a lot of the progressive good guys like Senator Elizabeth Warren aren't going to let this Social Security cut nonsense go through. You are a Democrat, start acting like one. So Barry Obama, your budget sucks and stop driving me crazy.
3. Mineo's is the best pizza in the Burgh. I just had Mineo's last night and it was fantastic as always. I don't care what other people say, Mineo's always delivers great taste. So if you want some tasty Za, go to Mineo's it is the best.
4. Time really does fly the older you get. I remember years ago when I was in Elementary school, I once complained to my Uncle about how slow school is. He responded that I shouldn't be complaining about that because time moves faster and faster the older you get. I'm pretty sure I thought he was crazy at the time. But he was absolutely 100% correct.1 I can't believe that it is already the middle of April of 2013. I've been out of law school for over 5 years, which just seems crazy to me. Before I know it, it will be my 31st birthday and I swear I just turned 30. Where the heck has all the time gone? Ugh, I'm getting old way too fast. So time, I really wish you would slow down.
5. Buying a house is expensive. I'm about to close on my first house Larryville and costs keep on piling up.2 It's not just the list of fees like title insurance or inspection, it's stuff like furniture or paint or appliances Going from a small apartment to be big house is a huge chance. There is just so much more space to fill up. But what is awesome is that I can do anything I want to it. If I want to rip down a wall, I can do that. If I want to change floors, I can do that. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. Also another benefit, I know I won't be moving next year. My streak of 7 straight years of moving is about to end. So house I know you are going to be awesome, I just wish you would stop costing me so much money.
1There is even some research that supports the idea that we perceive time differently as we age. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120709-does-life-speed-up-as-you-age
2Full disclosure: by "my first house" I mean the house my roommate and I are buying and living happily in together. Whenever you see the house, she will be the reason why it looks so cool.
Monday, April 8, 2013
0 The Accidental Horribleness of Accidental Racist
A song as ridiculous as Accidental Racist, deserves a special breakdown.
Sean: Tell me you saw the Brad Paisley/ L.L. Cool J song...
Marty: All I can say is wow. I can’t believe that this is an actual song. It is bad on soooo many levels. It is bad on an intelligence level, bad on a common sense level, bad on a this is nonsense level and most importantly bad on a musical level.
Sean: April Fool’s Day was a week ago. People pulled pranks, told tall tales and exaggerated things. I told one of my friends that I got engaged. Lindsay Lohan tweeted out (a day late, naturally) that she was pregnant. Those are the kind of hi-jinks you expect on April Fool’s Day. Today is a week from April Fool’s Day. If you say something now, you mean it. If you release a song starring a country singer and a rap “artist” (artist gets air quotes because LL Cool J hasn’t released a commercially successful album in quite some time and is more well known for acting on NCIS) and call this song “Accidental Racist” you are being serious.
Marty: It really could be an April Fool’s day joke. I mean how many rappers did Brad Paisley get turned down by before he got to L.L. Cool J? It would have to be at least double digits. Or maybe Brad Paisley is a huge NCIS fan and L.L. Cool J is the only rapper that he knows of.
Sean: The song is, quite simply, a train wreck. Brad Paisley starts by talking about how wearing a Confederate flag isn’t offensive; it shows his love for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Not to be obtuse, Brad, but why not just wear a Lynyrd Skynyrd shirt? That would seem a more appropriate way to showcase your Skynyrd adoration. The song continues with this understated line “Just a proud rebel son with an 'ol can of worms”. That’s like calling 300 years of outright slavery followed by 100 years of institutionalized slavery a hiccup (also, people claiming southern pride forget that black people also lived in the south. I doubt they feel the same type of southern pride). Oh wait, that’s exactly what that is.
The LL Cool J lines are incredible. I mean the dictionary definition of incredible: So implausible as to elicit disbelief.
Marty: There is no way that a Confederate flag isn’t offensive. And that’s just how it is. I’m a white dude and I’m offended whenever I see some idiot with that flag on their truck. Southern pride is just code word for being allowed to be racist. Is there Northern pride? Is there Western pride? Is there South-West pride? No. So why the hell is there Southern pride? The only thing that the South has different from the rest of America is that they fought an entire war so that they could continue to have slaves. A war, which last time I checked you lost. Yep, that flag that gives you so much pride is a flag of a bunch of big, huge losers who were also traitors. Yeah, that sure sounds like something to be proud of. The Confederate flag is tied to racism and hate just as much as a Nazi-Swastika is tied to racism and hate. If someone said that they were wearing a Nazi-Swastika because they are for German pride and not because they hate anything, you’d say they were crazy. So Brad Paisley, you are crazy.
Take a look at a few lines from LL Cool J’s rap:
“I wish you understood
What the world is really like when you're livin' in the hood”
Sean: Hood is a colloquialism for neighborhood. Everyone lives in one.
Marty: Way to go L.L. Cool J keep on perpetuating the stereotype that all black people live in the ‘hood.
“Just because my pants are saggin' doesn't mean I'm up to no good
You should try to get to know me, I really wish you would”
Sean: Sagging pants. Is this the 90’s?
Marty: Ha, so spot on. Kanye would never allow himself to be seen looking sloppy with sagging pants. Looking like a hipster is what’s in. Besides when do you think was the last time that L.L. Cool J sagged his pants 1993?
“Now my chains are gold but I'm still misunderstood
I wasn't there when Sherman's March turned the south into firewood”
Sean: Nice little slavery metaphor there.
Marty: Hey L.L. why was General Sherman even in the South? Because the South decided to fight a Civil War. What was General Sherman supposed to do? Play nice and hope the South realized they needed to be reasonable and would stop fighting the North? I’m sure that would have worked.
“I'd love to buy you a beer, conversate and clear the air
But I see that red flag and I think you wish I wasn't here”
Sean: Well you don’t have to think that. If you opened a book you would know that the Confederate flag is a throwback to the Civil War, when blacks were property, not people.
Marty: Exactly.
And how about when they go back and forth, L.L. equates a do-rag with a Confederate flag (yeah those two things are soooo similar) and gold chains to iron chains (so according to L.L. as long as you let him wear some gold he’ll forgive you for that whole little slavery thing). L.L. Cool J also calls himself a black Yankee. When was the last time that someone from the North seriously referred to himself as a Yankee? L.L. saved the best in the back and forth for last: “RIP Robert E. Lee but I’ve gotta thank Abraham Lincoln for freeing me, know what I mean” I’m so glad you are thanking Abraham Lincoln for freeing you L.L. I’m waiting for a mash up of a Jewish rapper with a neo-Nazi. RIP Hitler but I gotta thank FDR for keeping me alive, know what I mean?
Sean: I don’t really know what else there is to say about this song. It seems like a clear cry for help or attention for LL Cool J. It may be good for him temporarily, but his CBS NCIS overlords do not like controversy and controversy this will cause. No one will care about Paisley because, quite frankly, country music has a reputation for being close minded and conservative. This isn’t fair, but life’s not fair.
Marty: I really don’t understand why L.L. Cool J ever decided to do this song. He has to be really wealthy right? I don’t see how making really bad music and making excuses for racists is a good career move. And Brad Paisley you say the past is the past and you want to move on. How about you stop wearing a flag that represents the past? I think that would be a really good start. By the way you aren’t being accidental when you wear the Confederate flag full knowing that a lot of people associate it was racism. It’s called being purposefully racist. L.L. and Brad if you are going to go with the whole controversial song gimmick how about you actually make a good song and not this train wreck of a mess that really shouldn’t even be called music. All I can do is SMDH about all this nonsense.
Monday, April 1, 2013
0 Pranks on Pranks on Pranks
Who doesn't love a good April Fools' Day prank? I certainly love them. I think my first April Fools' Day prank was a 6-year-old me putting Pop Rocks on my Grandfather's spaghetti. He had no idea what hit him. In honor of April Fools' Day, I've come up with a list of some of the best pranks on the web. I feel as if I'm very well versed in most pranks on the web because I was once got in a Youtube Vortex where I probably spent 3 hours watching pranks. In no particular order, here are some of my favorites:
1. No one wants to wake up next to really freaky dude with a beard...
2. Will she say yes?
3. Great revenge from the guy who was pranked in the proposal prank...
4. This is just straight up cruel...
5. Best way to wake up ever...
1. No one wants to wake up next to really freaky dude with a beard...
3. Great revenge from the guy who was pranked in the proposal prank...
Friday, March 29, 2013
0 5 for Friday
I'm starting a new feature on the JDC, 5 random thoughts coming straight at you every Friday...
There you have it 5 random thoughts that were more random rants for Friday. Everyone, have a great Easter weekend!
1. Path might be pretty cool, but I'm not 100% sold on it.
So I started using Path which is a Facebook alternative that limits you to around 150 friends. The app on the iPhone is really slick and reminds me of BBM. You can share locations, pictures, songs, thoughts and so on with your real friends and not that one person you randomly met as a friend of a friend of a friend that always posts the most annoying things. It's nice that when I get a notification from the app it means that there is something that I actually want to read and not being invited to play some random game by a friends from 10th grade. Will this app actually take off? I have no idea. But the more alternatives to Facebook the bestter. Monopolies are never good unless you are actually playing the game of Monopoly. I suggest everyone at least give Path the old college try. Worst case scenario, you don't like it at all and you delete it. It never hurts to try something new.
2. The Voice has been upgraded.
The Voice is my third favorite reality TV show behind The Challenge (by far the best and soon to be America's next great sport) and the Bachelor (nothing gets better than rooting for a girl on your team to make out with the bachelor or cry). I'm not sure but for whatever reason I can't get enough of this blind singing competition. The show is even better now that they kicked off the train wreck that is Christina Aguilera and the overwhelming creepiness that is Cee Lo and replaced them with Usher and Shakira. It's been such a huge upgrade. Urrrrsher is Urrrrsher, it would be awesome to spend a night partying with him. And Shakira's broken English provides an awesome level of unintentional humor, especially when she is trying to talk a country singer onto her team. Finally, I gotta mention Carson Daly. Next time you watch, if you watch, be sure to watch Carson Daly's reactions when he is hanging out with the contestants family. They are so over-the-top animated that I think the bro actually really cares or he's the best actor that know one knows is actually an actor.1 As always in life, cool and unintentionally funny is always better than train wrecks and creepiness.
3. Pitt is Pitt.
As many of you read, I posted a great ode to Pitt basketball last Thursday proclaiming my love of Pitt and admitting how crazy I was for always believing in them. I realize that my actual bracket was really wrong but my underlying point that Pitt fans like myself always believe no matter how ridiculous it is to believe was spot on. Until about 5 minutes left in the game last week, I thought Pitt was going to pull it out. I always think they are going to pull it out even though they usually don't. I'm not exactly sure what happened in that game. The team definitely played tight but it doesn't make sense that Woodall an experience 5th year senior would have the worst game of his career then. Talk about a terrible way to go out. Tray was a very solid Pitt guy he deserved to go out in a better way. I'll remember Tray for one of the best quotes ever. After making a game winning shot, someone asked him if he was afraid when he took the shot, he replied "scared money don't make money." So spot on for basketball and anything in life, if you are afraid to take a chance you are never going to succeed. But anyways, back to Pitt basketball. I was going to do a review of the season and what went wrong. However, I don't think there was much to say. Basically, Pitt overachieved this year while starting two freshman and playing a senior PG tons of minutes who was better suited to be a 6-man off the bench who brings instant offense and not carry the entire team. Dixon over coached the team too. He was way too worried about rebounding and defense and let the offense suffer. When the team was at it's best during the season, it was when the team was running and scoring at ton. Overall, the season was a success because the team bounced back from horrible year before and the young guys like Adams played a lot and got better. There is a lot of talk about how Dixon is a bad big game coach, but I'm not sure how accurate that is. Quite a few of Pitt's losses have been to teams that made the Final 4. So for the most part Pitt is losing to really good teams. Should they have wins against a couple of those teams? Absolutely. But they aren't losing to scrubs. Also, a lot of the times the team really overachieves during the regular season so their end record while good isn't reflective of the actual talent level of the team. You need talent to win. Dixon seems to have recognized that he needs better talent and Pitt's recruiting has been better lately. Although, it all really is pretty irrelevant because Dixon is here for the long haul. Hopefully, he keeps on getting better and improving his coaching style. This is why I didn't do a dedicated post about Pitt basketball, I knew it would just turn into a bunch of random rambling. Oh well, Hail to Pitt!
4. I'm worried for Jimmy Fallon.
I love Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He brings lots of originality, lots of randomness and lots of SNL quality skits to a late night show. Bonus, his house band is the Roots which are beyond amazing. But I'm worried for Jimmy because it was just announce that he's taking over for Jay Leno next year. I just don't see the people who watch Jay Leno, older people who love dumb skits like reading of headlines, get into the randomness of Fallon which includes twitter hashtags, wheel of carpet samples, beer pong with celebrity guests and so on. I can just imagine my Grandma turning on Fallon at 11:35 and just SMDH'ing the whole time and being beyond confused. However, if he changes his show to try to get that broader audience, then he loses the very thing that makes him worth watching. Basically, he's going to have to walk a very fine line, which is really hard to do. So Jimmy, I'm worried for you.
5. Equality is Equality.
During the past week there was an equality day, where almost everyone on Facebook showed support of equality by putting up an equal sign.2 I say almost everyone because there were some people who were against it and ranted about everyone else imposing liberal views or some B.S. Someone even argued about how horrible it was that liberals stop him from using g&y and f&g.3 Seriously bro? You are mad about not being able to use derogatory terms. What's next? Are you going to be mad that you can't use the n-word or are you going to be mad that you can't call someone someone a see-you-next-tuesday? Seriously, if someone offends a lot of people you shouldn't do it. It's not being liberal or anything like that. It's called being a human being and being courteous. But back to marriage equality, it makes no sense to be against allowing two bros or two chicks from getting married. You are just letting two people get the same legal rights that a woman and man are entitled to when they get married. But you say ohhh God hates them and God loves me don't impose your views on me? Letting someone enter into a legal contract, which is what marriage is, doesn't effect your gay-hating self. No one is making you go to their weddings or making you have weddings in your church or making you not be hateful anymore. And spare me the sanctity of marriage nonsense, straight people ruined marriage a long time ago. And don't go busting out a slippery slope argument that oh you let them get married then before you know it a man will be marrying a horse. Slippery slope arguments are beyond lazy and they are always used when you are on the wrong side of an argument. I'm sure people used those arguments to try to stop interracial marriage. Bottom line, it's the 21st century and people should start acting like it is the 21st century.
There you have it 5 random thoughts that were more random rants for Friday. Everyone, have a great Easter weekend!
1 I spent a good 15 minutes looking for a GIF of his reactions, but they don't seem to exist. Seems like a pretty big internet fail to me. Come on internet you have to be better than that.
2 I didn't put up an equal sign because I'm lazy and I don't like doing trendy things on Facebook.
3 I know I say both but I really wish that I didn't. I honestly have nothing but love for everyone. I'm just so used to saying it that I don't think that I do. I'm going to make an effort to try to eliminate the terms. If I could eliminate pop from my vocab, then I certainly eliminate words that people think are hateful.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
0 Yep... that sucked...
The joys of being a Pitt fan... But we will get them next year. As always Hail to Pitt.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
2 March Loves Driving Pitt fans to Madness
Way back in November in one of my first blog posts, I predicted Pitt would make the Final Four based on the that Pitt had the following: 1. a veteran PG, 2. top freshman that were ready to make impacts, 3. Plenty of depth off the bench and 4. a coach that knows how to win. Looking back I was pretty accurate cause Tray Woodall was Tray Woodall in a good way, Steven Adams was not quite lottery level but James Robinson was better than even I imagined, Pitt plays 10 deep although Trey Zeigler hasn't been who I thought he'd be and Dixon is Dixon in a Dixon way. And contrary to what the seeding says, Pitt had a really good regular season. All the advanced metrics such as KenPom.com and teamrankings.com have Pitt as a top team in the nation. Stats such as offensive and defensive deficiency may seem stupid to some, but these new stats do a great job at predicting success come tournament time and I really like Pitt's chances in the tournament. Shocking right?
However, if you talk to most Pitt "fans," you'll hear a bunch of doom and gloom and how Pitt will be lucky to even beat Wichita St. on Thursday. Do you realize the last time Pitt lost to a team as bad as Wichita St. was on January 5th at Rutgers. Since then here are Pitt's losses, Marquette in OT, at Louisville, at Marquette and Syracuse in the Big East Tournament (I'm not counting the ND game because Pitt hasn't played ND well in the last 5 games making ND games enigmas that I have blocked out in my mind). In 3 of those 4 losses, including on the road against the number one overall seed Louisville, if Pitt shoots half-way decent from the line they win. Pitt is basically a few made free throws away from being on a 15-2 tear to end the season. Mind you, I realize free throws are a part of the game and are important, but the point I'm making is that Pitt is a really good team that can beat any team in the nation. Thinking that Pitt would be lucky to beat Wichita St., runs contrary to Pitt's actual performance. I think this all relates back to many Pitt fans thinking Jamie Dixon isn't that great of a coach. I cannot tell you how many times I have read on Pitt blogs (yes, I'm really lame and I read Pitt blogs and post on Pitt blogs) about how Dixon can't coach and he should be replaced by Sean Miller. Really, I think all of this talk is beyond ridiculous. The lack of tournament success sucks. Nonetheless, Jamie Dixon wins 20 games every year and essentially makes the tournament every year. Besides, I'd rather have really good regular seasons and heartbreaking tournament losses with players I've watched grow from SMH 24-7 to straight baller (i.e., Brad Wannamaker), than a Final Four with a bunch of 1 and done players. I could go on forever and forever with this rant. Basically, Pitt is a really good team with a really good coach. This Pitt team can beat any team in the nation. Haters keep on hating, cause that's what you do.
So here's my eternally optimistic Pitt fan bracket:
 |
| March has Clearly Driven Me to Madness |
Some highlights in my imaginary world where Pitt wins titles year after year:
- On Pitt's road to the title, they cruise back Wichita state, upset Gonzaga a team who hasn't played anyone good since January with brute force, vanquish a similar K-State team, beat hometown hero Sean Miller, redeem the close loss at Louisville and finally get revenge against Tom Crean after the heartbreaking tournament loss against Marquette in 2003 in a game that featured Dwayne Wade becoming Dwayne Wade and Donatas Zavackas.
- VCU goes on a tear in the tournament as always and makes the Final Four because Shaka Smart is such a big time coach.
- Butler and Indiana have an epic showdown for the hearts and minds of their state in the Elite 8.
- Karma catches up to the biggest bro of them all, Marshall Henderson from Ole Miss, and they don't even win a game. Really I just wanted an excuse to show this awesome GIF...
Am I constantly blinded by my Pitt love? Yes. Are chances high that I will see another tough loss this March? Yes. Is it more likely than not that my bracket is going to be completely horrible? Yes. Do I care at all? No. I'm a Pitt fan, I bleed blue and gold and no matter what I'm always going to pick them to win it all. And when Pitt finally does break through it will be all the sweeter because I was with them the entire time through all the ups and downs, the great wins and the bad losses, the many missed free throws, the big shots and the big misses and the inexplicable fouls. That's why we are fans of sports and that's why March always has Madness.
1 Iraq reflections
It's been 10 years since the U.S. invaded Iraq. I was a junior in college and my biggest concern in late 2002 and early 2003 was where was I going to go for Spring Break. I have always been aware of American foreign policy, but I generally have found myself to be indifferent (this applies to much of my life). I remember people talking about the war, vaguely, but my biggest concerns were with partying and studying. College can be a cocoon and part of the cocoon is a tendency to be very self absorbed. Rarely did you leave campus to venture out into the world. Everything you needed was in the self contained bubble. The one memory that sticks out was hanging out at my roommate's house over spring break in rural Ohio (exciting, I know) and talking about his friend who was in the Marines. I really did not know what was going to happen, but I also didn't pay attention to the lead up to war.
The one thing that has stuck with me was the lack of questioning and the almost blood-lust of people champing at the bit to go to war. If you were against the war, you were against America. There was no long term plan, there was no plan at all beyond invade and let things figure themselves out. When more details came out, about no-bid contracts for a company the Vice President used to work for, about pillaging of Iraqi art museums, of growing guerrilla warfare, of private security contracts and billions of dollars thrown around to spend on another country's infrastructure (never mind the crumbling one at home), of 100,000+ Iraqi civilians wantonly and indiscriminately killed and no sign of weapons of mass destruction, it really made you question why we invaded another sovereign country in the first place. The biggest problem I think, is the lack of remorse or regret or introspection about the lead-up to war, the actual ground war, and its aftermath whose effects are still being felt. People don't want to talk about it or dwell on the past, they want to move on. But, to paraphrase Santayana, those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. If you don't acknowledge mistakes, they will happen again.
The one thing that has stuck with me was the lack of questioning and the almost blood-lust of people champing at the bit to go to war. If you were against the war, you were against America. There was no long term plan, there was no plan at all beyond invade and let things figure themselves out. When more details came out, about no-bid contracts for a company the Vice President used to work for, about pillaging of Iraqi art museums, of growing guerrilla warfare, of private security contracts and billions of dollars thrown around to spend on another country's infrastructure (never mind the crumbling one at home), of 100,000+ Iraqi civilians wantonly and indiscriminately killed and no sign of weapons of mass destruction, it really made you question why we invaded another sovereign country in the first place. The biggest problem I think, is the lack of remorse or regret or introspection about the lead-up to war, the actual ground war, and its aftermath whose effects are still being felt. People don't want to talk about it or dwell on the past, they want to move on. But, to paraphrase Santayana, those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. If you don't acknowledge mistakes, they will happen again.
Monday, March 18, 2013
0 Blogging update
So I looking back over the past couple of weeks and blogging appears to have fallen by the wayside. With the Bachelor no longer on, a weekly staple has vanished. Additionally, with increasing demands of work combined with work guilt for writing non-work material on the clock, the only time to write is after hours. This can be difficult because the last thing I usually want to do after spending 8+ hours staring at a computer is to spend even more time staring at the computer. Finally, it's tough to write about something unless you are really interested in it. Writing about 6 year old movies is alright, but half the time I barely remember the movie. So, with that being said, I am going to try to write a little bit each day in the afternoon or evening about something pertinent or funny or relevant or stupid and then try to build on that.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
1 Best Movies of 2006
Back with yet another thrilling discussion of the top movies of a year in the 2000s. As always, feel free to add to discussion in the comments below...
Marty:
For me, three movies standout for best of 2006. Children of Men, Pan's Labyrinth and The Departed. All three are great in their own individual ways. If I had to rank them, it would go like this:
3. Pan's Labryinth. Guillermo del Toro created a fantastic fantasy world that was parallel to the real world. Just top notch film making.
2. The Departed. Scorsese + gangster movie = Always awesome. Matt Damon undercover as a cop and Leonardo DiCaprio undercover as a gangster.
1. Children of Men. An outstanding piece of film making and science fiction at it's best. Set in the year 2027 in a world where people can no longer have babies. It really forces you to think of how society would fall apart if there was no hope for the future. Hope of the future is what society is based on. Alfonso Curaon did a fantastic job at creating a world in the future that felt way too real. Some of the scenes are beyond impressive and filled with tons of tension. I absolutely love his use of long shots (http://vimeo.com/41218073). I'm always a fan of longer shots no matter the movie. Hitchcock used only 10 takes for the movie Rope and he probably would have used less if he wasn't limited by the length of reels at the time. And the opening scene of Curaon's new film Gravity is supposed to be 17 minutes long, which could be really epic. I think longer shots just give movies a different feel. Constant cutting can make a film schizophrenic at times. Besides the technical aspects, Children of Men is filled with great performances by actors such as Clive Owen and Michael Caine. So Children of Men, a modern sci-fi classic, is my choice for best movie of 2006.
Sean:
I can get on board with Children of Men. I think Departed was overrated, because of Scorcese, and it was definitely ham handed at times. Pan's Labryinth was a good movie and one of those where you could put as much or as little in and get the same amount out of it. You could read very deeply into it or just take it at face value and roll with it. I would add to your list the following: Casino Royale. The relaunching of the Bond series with Daniel Craig. A darker take on the Bond films, very well made and well acted. The Last King of Scotland. Looking at the interplay between a Scottish doctor and Idi Amin, this would probably be my other choice for best movie of 2006. Little Miss Sunshine basically relaunched the quirky indie film genre, or at the least reinvigorated it. I think Alan Arkin steals the shoe as the foul mouthed grandfather, but overall an entertaining and likable movie.
Ed F.:
2006 was a pretty good year, and once again, I am unable to choose a single favorite. That being said, for the sake of unanimity, I too can get on board with Children of Men. It’s a great movie and one that I revisit often, although it’s not necessarily the main story that I find most interesting. Curaon’s directorial vision is so perfectly translated to the screen that I find myself just looking at what’s going on in the background and on the periphery of his futuristic London. I agree with Marty on the effectiveness of the extended takes.
Other movies I think are worth mentioning:
Casino Royale: Skyfall is great and worthy of all the attention it has received, but Casino Royale is still Craig’s best go at Bond, in my opinion.
Inside Man: Spike Lee, Denzel, and the most ingenious bank robbery I can imagine. I’m convinced it could actually work.
Nacho Libre: This might be my favorite comedy of all time.
The Fountain: A hugely ambitious project that suffered long production delays and massive budget cuts. Definitely one of the most original movies of 2006, and one that is worth watching again every so often. It’s my favorite Darren Aronofsky movie, as much for what it could have been as for what it is in actuality.
Babel: This movie is a gut-punch. 2006 was a great year for Mexican filmmakers.
Rescue Dawn: Werner Herzog cannot make a movie isn’t worth watching. Even his most massive failures are immensely interesting. Rescue Dawn, however, is no failure. The action is tense and the jungle locations are amazing. Christian Bale is fantastic. I tend to view his stint as Bruce Wayne as his sort-of performance baseline, so when I see him in roles like this and The Fighter I’m always impressed.
Miami Vice: I am a huge Michael Mann fan and a huge fan of the original series. I’ll never forget something my brother said when this movie came out: "There’s a fine line between being cool and being a douchebag." Colin Farrrell and Jamie Fox as Crockett and Tubbs walk that line. Anyway, it’s a great movie with a great look. Very underrated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
