The Metronome


[So,] I was catching up on So You Think You Can Dance Wednesday night. The last one I saw there were 14 dancers left and tonight they are down to 8. The first routine was amazing and it really made me feel bad for missing the other episodes. I can always go back and watch them on the DVR.

Dominic had a weak partner and first routine which really sucked for him. He has quite the competition with Danny who has come a very long way. I like his style but Dom is a little more versatile and will be sure to win, he just needs to pick the right partner. The other dancers aren't half bad either, but the judges are annoying as crap.

The days at work are getting longer, I should start going in later in order to balance things out. I'm very thankful for my position and the new Canon copier [ImageRunner] in the paper room. Its fantastic, you don't eeeven know. I want one in my living room. Maybe not. . .it probably costs about $3k.

Dateline is evil. Their latest investigation, To Catch An I-Jacker is ridiculus. They left iPods on benches, cars. . .anywhere someone can find them and what did people do? They picked them up and either sold, used, or gave them away. Then the Dateline guy tracked the iPods down and had a hidden camera interview with the 'innocent' people who ended up with them. What happened to 'Finders Keepers'? If I 'found' an iPod I'm not sure what I'd do with it.

Maybe fill it up with Laura Veirs, who I am rediscovering, Autolux, Kennedy, Nada Surf, September, and the entire catalog of Chin Up Chin Up. Dare I say...Chin Up Chin Up is becoming my favorite band of ever?


Chopsticks & Tea Cups

The Grand Scheme of Things


I was entertained by the YouTube Democratic Presidential Debate Monday night. I loved the platform and it also further advanced my support of Senator John Edwards. While I don't personally agree with him on every issue, such as Same-Sex Marriage, I think Edwards is the best candidate. The Senator from North Carolina has the best and most creative ideas to combat the obstacles that everyday people face, like college tuition, minimum wage, healthcare, and environmentalism.

A smile appeared when Hilary described herself as a Modern Progressive and not Liberal. I loved that. I agree with much of what Biden, Dodd, and Richardson stated and it was pleasing to hear everyone's concern about Darfur. Barack was boring as usual and uses more 'uh's than I do when I'm improvising the BS at work. I dont think he is the least bit qualified.

Its a long shot, but my dream line up would be a Gore/Edwards ticket. That would be the most diplomatic and dynamic administration. I'd begin to have a positive feel of the future of the States. As it stands now, if I had children, I would probably move my family to another country, maybe Japan. Its a shame.

I really have a weak spot for women's issues and healthcare. This is where John Edwards brings it all home. Universal Healthcare and Women's Rights are his central points. I love women and its unfortunate that they are often overlooked when it comes to simple civil rights like equal pay and such. For the elderly and as well as those in poverty and some of the working class even, healthcare is difficult and almost impossible to obtain. Why?

I was hoping there was more conversation on immigration and less on religion. I was talking with an almost-friend about how politicians use their religious beliefs, mainly Christianity, to make decisions and in turn laws such as abortion and Same-Sex Marriage. And again, I agree with John Edwards as he states that personal faith beliefs should never enter politics. I disagree with Edawards on his comment on Hilary's jacket, it was nice I think.

I'm falling behind on So You Think You Can Dance. I have about 4 episodes line up on my DVR and I can't get to them yet.

G-Love and Special Sauce will be doing a show here soon. I'm going. The Shins are catchy, I'm becoming a liker of them.

The Knowledge, The Movement II

Is it responsible if one is aware of an issue or would like change but does not take action for a desired result? Such as a slow leak in a tire, a dead end career, a crappy relationship? Homelessness (here in Atlanta), AIDS, Healthcare, Immigration, Darfur?

Some citizens of The States only concern themselves with the politics of Iraq and more recently, the price of petro. Some may even go as far as immigration. Independent and Progressive are not only the genres of music and movies that suit my tastes, Independent and Progressive also pertain to my political and religious views. I'm definitely not a Republican and maybe not a Democrat. I'm not Conservative because I'm tolerant of basically everything and I'm not sure if I have enough in my accounts to be considered Liberal.

I somehow missed The Democratic Debate last night and caught the final remarks of The Republican Debate this evening. It was. . .shocking. I could not believe what I was seeing. The acts, the promises that will not be fulfilled, the unabashed shameless politics. Not to mention their views on issues such as immigration. Scary.

Mitt Romney looks the part. He's the smoothest criminal of them all. He kept alluding to Reagan and the future. When asked of immigration and the Spanish language being assimilated into America, (he runs campaign ads en Espanol) he says 'of course, I want their votes' and he somehow came to the subject of Asia's population and that we should look towards the future selling our products to them. ?. He's going to play Monopoly with America. The uberCapitalist. I have no issue with his religion. I was reading a book by Malcolm Gladwell, Blink, and he spoke of the Warren G. Harding Effect. Harding was the worst president ever. . .second worst after W. The thing that got him elected was his look.

Giuliani may be confused. He is running to be the President of The United States of America. It seems he is running for Mayor of The District of Columbia. Saying 'I turned around New York and if you elect me, I will turn Washington around too.'

The most shocking tidbits came from the Toms. Tommy Thompson said once that Miami is like a third world country. Miami is by far not poor city. I believe he was alluding to the cultural make up of the city with Hispanics/Latinos. Thompson goes on to say that Spanish should not be used as a language in The States and we must 'preserve' (which was an ongoing message in this Republican Debate for some reason. Like 'preserving' the Confederate Flag. It shows the intolerance of the Red Party) the English language because it 'holds us together'.

Tom Tancredo, a Paleoconservatist (sounds like cavemen) who believe that non Europeans should not be allowed to immigrate to The States, legally or illegally. He said tonight that at one point in the future, we have to be ready to stop all immigration in order to assimilate current immigrants to the American culture. Of course this means all non Europeans. 'Preservation' also came up in his comments.

Yes, people think like this in America. These are the same Americans who travel to different countries and do not take an effort to learn any part of the language or traditions in order to be respectful. This attitude of entitlement is not attractive and it alienates us all. They are the people who have a huge problem with the 1 second it takes to press a button for English.

Assimilation is how the African names and languages were taken away from the slaves. Assimilation is why Christianity is the only truly accepted religion and it's values are sort of a 'ride or die' law in The State. We sure did assimilate the Native Americans very well.

Assimilation should be the merging of cultures not forcing your views and customs onto another culture. Diversity is key to Progression! The Conservative White Americans and their politics are becoming a non-issue and they now find themselves begging and pleading for their own preservation. . .get the formaldehyde its time for their mummification.

John McCain, who I think is a double-agent Democrat, had the most sense of them all. On the language issue, his response was, 'Spanish was spoken in my state (Arizona) before we got there'. He also stated that we must give Hispanics/Latinos credit. Just look at the names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Visit Iraq and look in the eyes of the Hispanic/Latino men and women who are serving this country and tell them that their language will be abolished.

The White Stripes are not Americans but they have a stance on the immigration policy. In Icky Thump their newest single (I'm addicted to the song) they make a statement that White Americans are immigrants also. That is very true. Their video is subtitled in Spanish and it shows Jack walking across the Mexico border where they are building The Great Wall of Mexico. Stephen Colbert suggests we build a moat and fill it with alligators. Sarcasm.

One last subject. The term 'Islamic Terrorist' was used in The Republican Debate but not in The Democratic Debate. All terrorists are not Islamic and all followers of Islam are not terrorists. Just like all Republicans aren't racist. . .right?

And this Jabroni with TB that flew around the world. If he was a few shades darker he would be Clockwork Oranged to Guantanamo Bay.

The Knowledge, The Movement I


A few years ago I ceased listening to Hip-Hop as it was becoming an annoying fodder to my ears. If I so wished to become a purveyor of narcotics, survive in the prison system, or spend currency irresponsibly, Hip-Hop was becoming The Idiot's Guide To.

It is not my intention to couple every Hip-Hop act into this description because there are or could be some positive artists who participate in this form of music and represent the meaning well. In my experience though, this genre is overrun with just the opposite. It is prevalent in the violence, the degradation and abuse of women, and the lost youth of today as this is becoming their perspective and/or reality of their future and life.

Nas, who is arguably one of the greatest Hip-Hop artists, released Hip Hop Is Dead in 2006. There are no longer messages and the wordplay and creativity is in decline as the use of derogatory terms is utterly ridiculous and shameful, while the number of new ways to look like an ass dances are in surplus. Its embarrassing to witness .

While browsing through XM Radio I fell on XMU while there was a 30 minute Underground Hip-Hop session playing. One of the first songs was rap veteran KRS-One along with Marley Marl with Hip-Hop Lives. I was completely blown away. KRS-One states Hip is being knowledgeable and the Hop is the movement.

With that being said, I'm not back in the fold of Hip-Hop, KRS-One's definition referring to the knowledge and the movement only sparked my mind to think of all of the double meanings. I must pose the following question while changing the pace of this post. Is it responsible if one is aware of an issue or would like change but does not take action for a desired result? Such as a slow leak in a tire, a dead end career, a crappy relationship? Homelessness (here in Atlanta), AIDS, Healthcare, Immigration, Darfur?

continued

The Anesthetic Never Set In And I'm Wondering Where The Apathy And Urgency Is That I Phone In.

You know what I think. Here is my conspiracy theory...I think (for now) that drug companies or pharmaceutical manufacturers like Pfizer and Merk make drugs without an initial need or market. Then doctors and psychiatrists begin to diagnose patients and prescribe the medication in conformity. Capitalists.

Think about it, I estimate 80% of the people I interact with are on some type of medication and I myself have been asked/persuaded to seek these 'restorative agents'. What did people do in 1950 when there wasn't an abundance of prescription medicine? I figure they bought some elixir from some dude with some mustache standing on some soapbox trying to make some money. He thrives on hypochondriacs, is this what our pharmaceutical manufacturers doing? Maybe its just advancement of technology and science is getting stronger. I'd like to believe that.

I'm not against meds because they do great things for people, but I know God didn't screw up while make our generation. Why are there so many f'ing commercials for sleep aids and anti-depressants. I mean...a commercial for prescription medication with a checklist of symptoms to tell your doctor you are experiencing. 'If you feel blank, have trouble blank...' so on and so on.

Take it a day at a time.