Thursday, September 22, 2005
Cheap Thrill #5,439,987:
I am an avid listener of sports talk radio and now that I have an am/fm radio in my office, I mix that with my ipod playlists, and random CDs on the computer. Anyway, I've been listening to sports talk since 2001 when I first started working because all the driving I had to do was more entertaining with random babble about the warriors, the giants, the a's, etc.
One time, I got an email returned by Rod Brooks when 1050 was still the ticket. I asked him about his thoughts on the upcoming warriors draft. I thought Steve Logan would be a good pick. Obviously, the W's thought so also - but, uh - Logan didn't. Ass. Anyway, I've sent over random emails since then and the Rodfather's snubbed me. It's okay, my emails sucked.
Today, Gary Radnich of KRON and KNBR fame is covering our "haterade lists" - the announcers/sports writers we really dislike. My list consisted of:
(from my actual email:)
"1) Skip Bayless - I don't think he really believes much of what he says. He flaps
his gums just to hear himself.
2) Sean Salisbury - his "insights" aren't uh... insightful at all
3) Jim Rome - dead air. card flickin. his fake tough talk. (I can listen to him
sometimes though.)
4) TIM GREEN - when he did Niner games you could tell he didn't know what the hell
he was talking about. He also could've been the guy who, on EVERY telecast, would
remind us that Chuck Levy was "possibly" the fastest guy on the team."
So, just tapping away at work, my email was read! YEAH! I'm popular. J/K
My ultimate goal: to get one of my emails commented on by The Sports Guy, Bill Simmons
If you want entertaining sports writing that's not TOO sports heavy, then check him out. I have legitimate laugh-out-loud moments. Sidesplitting. Raucous entertainment. What else do movie critics say about comedies?
Monday, September 19, 2005
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Go AGS! Part 2: The links.
GO! AGS! GO! AGS!
One of the best sporting events I've ever viewed.. AND I was there when it happened. We always see the crazy upsets in college football - as the last play happens and the HUGE underdog beats the powerhouse, the fans pour onto the field, chaos happens, and the goal posts fall. That didn't happen tonight. Not the medlam, anyway. At least, not from crazy fans.
During my drives to work, I noticed a billboard off of 101N showing the Stanford Football schedule. The first home game: Sep. 17 versus UC Davis. I thought, "shit, that would be cool. Stanford's not so good. UC Davis is transitioning up to Division I. LIkelihood of an upset: not so great, but it would be fun anyway."
So it happened. A bunch of us went to the game mainly to have some fun, hoping that our pride for our hokey ass school wouldn't leave us too embarrassed at the end of the game. I watched last week's Aggie loss to Portland State. It didn't look good. Then I saw that Stanford scored a lot. It looked worse. But, it was all for fun, right?
We found complimentary tickets online somehow. We had a whole mess of them printed. Anyway, we entered the stadium mid 1st quarter. Davis was down 0-3. There were A LOT of Blue and Gold in the stadium. A LOT - and not just in the visitor's section. The first big play we saw was a sack on the Stanford quarterback. Through the first half, the Ags actually were outgaining the Cardinal. Davis even had a chance to tie the game, but the kicker missed a field goal. Not that big of a deal. Stanford wasn't moving the ball so well. They were still in striking distance.
Then, Davis made a huge play at the 1 yard line. The cornerback intercepted a throw at the 1 and Stanford's best drive of the night got stopped. Inexplicably, Davis' coach got cute and called a SPREAD pass play on 1st down in their end zone that led to a sack, fumble, fumble recovery, touchdown by Stanford. 10-0. Still not too bad, but still not so good either.
2nd Quarter. Davis was moving the ball from their side of the field and then there was another fumble. Recovery by Stanford. Run back for a touchdown. Now it was 17-0 and I'm starting to worry. Maybe we were gonna have to call it a short night.
A few drives later, the Davis punter kicks a low line drive that gets over the returner's head and flops out of his hands. Davis recovers the ball on the Stanford 7 (I think). A few plays later, the Aggies scored 17-7. We were yelling, "No Shutout!" In a sense, that felt good enough.
Halftime. It was cold and we thought there was no way Stanford would allow anymore of the nonsense to continue. We were still thinking there was still a slaughter awaiting on the other end of the halftime show.
Stanford's first drive in the second half ended with a fumble deep in their own end. A few plays later, the Aggies scored. 17-14. Oh shit, the game was on.
After that, the Aggie defense was locked in. THere were so many runs stuffed at the line and so many hurries for the quarterback. Stanford really had nothing working in the second half except for the lead. Meanwhile, the Aggies put on drives. They put on enough drives to attempt TWO MORE field goals. Both were missed despite very makeable distances.
At around 4:15 left in the game, the Aggies had Stanford stopped for a 3rd and long. On that play, a pass to the middle was contended and knocked down. Apparantly, there was defensive pass interference. The Safety may hve arrived a hair too soon. Nonetheless, the penalty didn't hurt too bad and around 2:49 left, the Aggies had the chance for the upset with this final drive.
Here is the sequence of the last drive from Yahoo Sports:
1st-10, UCD28 2:49 J. Grant incomplete pass to the left
[oh damn!]
2nd-10, UCD28 2:36 J. Grant passed to B. Rice down the middle for 12 yard gain
[clutch! gave the team some momentum. we really started to believe!]
1st-10, UCD40 2:36 J. Grant passed to R. Smith to the left for 17 yard gain
["Blaze" turned the corners on the "run after catch". Good play. We were getting PUMPED!]
1st-10, STAN43 2:00 J. Grant rushed up the middle for 9 yard gain
[Jon Grant made so many clutch runs and throws. Solid QB. We were feeling it!]
2nd-1, STAN34 1:30 J. Grant rushed to the right for 3 yard gain
[Another clutch play!]
1st-10, STAN31 1:30 J. Grant incomplete pass to the right
[shit. Please don't bring out the kicker!]
2nd-10, STAN31 1:30 J. Grant passed to N. Doris to the left for 6 yard gain
[shit. Please don't bring out the kicker!]
3rd-4, STAN25 1:00 J. Grant passed to T. Kays to the left for 19 yard gain
[HOLY CRAP! Kays' catch was incredible. GAME BREAKING Catch in the middle. It was a bit behind him and he finally caught the ball while he was falling. Incredible play. Kays IS the UCD gamebreaker! HOLY SHIT, WE'RE 1st AND GOAL!!!]
1st-6, STAN6 0:38 J. Grant rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain
[Oh no, please don't bring out the kicker! Please don't throw an out for an interception return all the way!]
2nd-3, STAN3 0:20 J. Grant incomplete pass to the right
[WHen they called a Timeout here, I felt a bit more relieved. Time out done. I was Nervous yet so excited! PLEASE! NO KICKER!]
3rd-3, STAN3 0:12 J. Grant passed to R. Smith to the right for 3 yard touchdown.
[OH MY GOD! OH MY FRICKIN GOODNESS!!! I started running around on the bleachers around me out pure exhilaration, surprise, and joy! I think we were all in shock. The air got knocked the fuck out of the Stanford faithful. I'm still smiling!]
That was such a great game. Seeing the Davis peeps, the aggie pack, the band-uh. Man, I should've done this in college! Either way, this was a great way to start watching more of my alma mater. 20-17, UC Davis, Div-I, AA transitional defeats DIv-I, Pac-10 Major. Oh my god. I'm still frickin smiling!
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Big thanks to Neckface the Asthmatic and Fishdogg for letting me be a guest and allowing me to wax poetic/scientific for a few on their Confundable Willows Radio Show!
It's amazing being around creative people just like it is to be around dope ass social workers. It always pushes your game to another level - or at least your energy. I didn't have any intentions to do much on the air rather than just bullshit it, but we actually had some good discussion about the music industry, stereotypes, racial barriers, etc. It was a lot of fun and a whole bunch of strawberry cake.
Here's the info:
(8pm - 10pm PST) - Wednesdays starting Sept 21. 2005
The Confundable Willows Radio Show
Neckface the Asthmatic and Fishdogg bringing you an ecclectic selection of music, interviews, and spoken word from the Asian / Pacific Islander community. Appreciate your roots and join our creative arts revolution!!
The Confundable Willows Radio Show Homepage
contact: cfw@sidewok.com
myspace.com/confundablewillows
Instant Message: SidewokWillows
>> rebroadcast all day Mondays < <
CFW is part of Sidewok.com
Check them out. They're all cool peeps and their shows are cool too!
Friday, September 02, 2005
thanks for to the Voodoogasm for the link:
Note the face
Thursday, September 01, 2005
untitled
It’s unreasonable
For you to call what I say treasonable
Because what is truly evil
Is you and the wall of fire standing between your back
And heaven.
Your days of seven aren’t names dedicated to
Planets and celestial bodies elevated who
In their spatial accord represented humanity
More than a so-called man of God who sees
The words of the Bible – the same Bible I grew up with
But I never learned the teachings you confuse us with.
You are the essence of brimstone and hellfire
So hateful and envious
You make the devil blush.
You are no man, no complex life-form,
But a single-celled organism, a single-self-organizing
A firestorm of death with calloused finger tips
With no prints – because in essence you don’t exist.
Like verbal kint.
The greatest trick that evil played
Was to make us look the other way
Even when our eyes would stay
Focused with precision on a sunny day.
But I see through the fasad,
Passed the naïve bravado,
You who has hijacked our flag and our senses
In your rhetoric of swindling staccato,
God and fear. We are hated because of our God and their fear,
Because of our white stars and red stripes
Because of our baseball and apple pie,
Because of our huge malls and blue eyes,
Because your terror alert on blue is already too high.
Just last night the cops and nurses kept busy,
Bullets grazed houses and trees but not far enough away from a kidney,
Five different times the streets heard guns get popped,
Why was it the youngest who had to get got.
Families cried in the sands last night,
In the desert and the playground they felt the plight
harmonious in painful yearning for peace,
But instead he promises that his agenda will not cease.
When the terror alert is red on the streets,
Who’s lifestyle are they killing to defeat?
When we ask these questions, we are silenced in few seconds,
Like puppets we repent in the mantra you repeat.
In the mantra we repeat.
Like puppets we retreat.
Katrina Relief
Just a general warning: If you are going to donate, please go with established organizations as well as make sure your donations are directed specifically towards Katrina relief.
Also, if you don't want to donate money or if you want to donate more than money, here's one way:
A food bank in Louisiana (http://www.foodbanknla.org) is coordinating all donations of food, clothing, and personal grooming items (tootpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc.) for the entire region. They specify the best type of food to send is something that is ready to eat, like canned chili. No microwave, no stovetop. And, of course, canned or boxed is better, and they won't accept anything home-made.
Ship stuff here:
Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana
2307 Texas Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71103
You can phone them at 318-678-2400, or e-mail to info@foodbanknla.org (mailto:info@foodbanknla.org)
I should be asleep. Why is that my damn opening line so many damn times?
Online play poker is the worst. I think there are always uncanny amounts of 5 card hands. The ratio is off for huge hands. That's in my opinion. I can't play straight. I'm always trying to sniff out bluffs - but, I forget, play poker is a fisher's paradise. Also guilty of that myself.
I bought the Kanye cd. And, I got what I expected. I think it's hard to measure the beats over wack lyrics and wack delivery. Everyone wants to and seems to be creaming over the production, but I'm not sold. What is production without the emceeing? If it were just an instrumental cd, I'd be loving it. But instead, it's a a bunch of nice beats and sounds accompanied by almost the same "song". Content when there is any sort of real content changes - but the SONGs are the same. People might disagree that there is a lot of content on there, and to a point there is some Kanye, like in College Dropout, touched upon themes. "It All Falls Down" and "Gold Digger" cover the same theme. What I don't get is that Kanye spits on "bitches" for being money hungry (especially pointing out Black females) but he quantifies his status with glorification of wealth. I get that he was broke as many people are - and when you have money, it's wonderful to show that you're not broke anymore. I get it. But why dog on women for the same attitude he has? Sexist? Okay, Mr. Activist/"Unsigned Hype" Emcee of the century. That's a great attitude to have.
When Jay spit on the Diamonds remix, the beats came alive. Even Game's conspicuously invisible hook brought out the charm of the beat. Common. Solid. Nas. Solid. Kanye? You know how you go play pick-up ball all the time with friends and there's one guy who comes in the Jordans with matching shorts, dri-fit shirt, and wrist band? Most of the time, that guy sucks, right? But since you're all just there for the love of it - or the exercise - no one says anything. "Nah man, just let him play. No need for drama. Just ball." Well, that's what all the artists around Kanye are doing. Why? Because the man can produce and he can make them millions. It's like - Diddy wants to have a wack ass mohawk and scratch my cuts with his pubes? Aiight. Just get me those platinum front teeth, baby!
I was freestyling in my head - just Kanye like rhymes.
It went like this man, this can,
I ran to the beach to get me a big tan,
but the prosecu-shan
wasn't hav-an that man,
all I know is that they be chillen
like the grey goose in a ice cream building,
you a broke ass with no skill yo
I once got a prescription from doc. manibo,
I need yo brains on my skeleton
the beat is magnificent, rockafella gold like
caramel cinnamon,
but that just be so ridiculoso
I wag my finger like I was Deke Mutumbo,
And now I say a word, with a little bit GROWL,
I would stay her, but I still wanna see HOW
Can I burn a DVD with the program NEROW
You can call me clark because I'm planet's daily HEROW.
Then throw in some random "conscious" lines, and then repeate for 19 songs.
The "Roses" song regarding his grandmother and the ridiculous health care-insurance situation we have in the U.S. was touching and poignant. The Hey Mama song was nice but got killed with Corny ass jokes and Corny ass rhyme schemes.
Has music regressed so far that we'll DROOL over a C-grade album (5 of 5 on production, 1 of 5 on lyrics/delivery. 6 0f 10. Woah, that's actually a D-grade album)?
The "hip hop head" will love some Kanye but clown on Game for wearing a rag and starting beef? At least the man can match a rhyme with concepts with wit (and a lot of ass kissing) to finely crafted beats. If you continue to sleep - Kanye, Timbaland (I can't believe I'm admitting to liking a timbo beat), Just Blaze, and others killed some of the production (in a great way). The best beats on that album are definitely not Dre's. That should tell you something. Anyway, I digress. So Kanye's hip hop and Game's not. Hmm. Game would never get outshined by Diddy or Nelly. I couldn't say the same thing about Kanye.
Yeah, yeah. I know he's a producer before an emcee. BUT, I really don't think HE knows that. Remember the Jordan-plastered ball player? Let's say he can set the meanest screens. But instead, he runs around trying to break down defenders with handles like Antawn Jamison. Know your role, baby.
Maybe I've crossed that threshold where nothing beyond that point could ever resonate in my ear and soul as classic. I mean, there's NO BEAT ever that could match Come Clean or MCs Act Like They Don't Know by DJ Premier. Those are classic beats to me. They'll rattle my nervous system forever. Kanye's beats? Flashes in the murky pan. That's my take. They're good for today. Maybe tomorrow. But they're not 5-years-down-the-line "AWW SHIT, that's the DOPEST BEAT EVER [STILL]". Not for me at least.
Felt 2, A Tribute to Lisa Bonet. Lyrics and emceeing by Slug and Murs. Beats by Ant. Get that shit. Or use your karaoke machine or whatever-downloadable-music-editor to remove the lyrics. Ahh, good idea, John. Any tips?
BTW, I'll write a more "professional" review of the CD after I give it a few more listens. AND, I'll link it up.
Nerdworld stuff:
Humberto Ramos, artist known for Crimson, Young Justice, Impulse, X-Nation 2099, and most recently Spectacular Spider-man, has teamed up again with Paul Jenkins (who wrote the two arcs that Ramos drew for Spec. Spider-man) on another religious-based mini called "Revelations". Ramos spent a good 3 years doing Crimson which basically is a clumping of various Catholic mythology and I guess Occult/Vampire stuff. I loved it. Ramos, who is sort of a love him/ hate him type artist, has continually stretched the weirdness of his Western-Anime fusion style and the inking on the new joint adds a lot of character. I haven't read it yet, but when I'm done, I'll review it, either here or on Livin' Proof.
