pt.2 on CT's war on MASS is coming i guess, im lazy.
anyways i was driving home from work today and i heard a ACOUSTIC GUITAR RECREATION OF EAZY-E's BOYZ In DA HOOD! This was on Radio 104.1 the subject of the previous post.
I really enjoyed the cover, but at the same time I thought it was pretty ridiculous. I understand it is ironic and funny to have a rock version of one of the most HARDCORE GANGSTER RAP songs EVER but it just feels weird to me that white boys being derogatory and violent and misogynistic is alright and acceptable but not the rap music it is based on. Of course, it is completely justifiable that the radio station chose to play this cover song and not the original because it was MUCH MORE in tune with it's rock format. Still, it adds to the weirdness i feel in regards to station 104.1's treatment of rap music described in the post below.
Here is the cover version of the song: I'm sure you can find the real version on youtube too. Both are really good songs, I kind of enjoy this acoustic cover, all weirdness aside.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Connecticut Declares War on Mass. Pt.1
Okay, I was going to make a big deal about this story but I really think I don't know enough about the people involved to risk embellishing it ways that make it untrue to what really happened.
Back in the 1980s, Hartford had still not fallen as far into the gutter as it is situated right now. It was a time when we were still the insurance capital of the world and not Gotham city without a Batman. These two guys were working at the DECD in Hartford: Stuart Fitzpatrick (who i work with now) and this guy Tim. They were both coming out of UCONN (Tim a year older than Stuart) and were in their mid twenties in mid level positions. The DECD basically works under the Governors office and for the State of CT so they were a part of the executive branch of CT's state government.
Anyways one Friday night in 1986 these guys went down to a bar and had a couple drinks, apparently they were not wasted just a little juiced. Tim convinced Stuart that they should go back into the DECD and pull pranks on their coworkers. Stuart was very reulctant but Tim refused to take no as an anwser. Apparently he had been doing such things by himself some Friday nights and wanted Stuart in on the action. Tim's previous forways were much more minor but tonight the plan was to switch the exact composition of desks so one persons desk would suddenly be on another persons desk. Pretty stupid right, I guess even back in the 80s CT wasn't the most poppingest place to get down tonight.
Anyways, what really changed everything that night was that Tim found (aka jimmy opened their bosses drawer) the Governor's Seal. With that seal (and things have been changed now) you could basically make any press release/policy memo/proclamation and it would be official policy as far as the executive branch is legally able to make such policy. Now the argument is still ongoing on who first proposed the idea of what to do with the seal, Stuart maintains it was Tim's idea because he felt Mass deserved it after what the Red Sox (aka Buckner) did and that he wanted no part in the Seal. They composed a executive order proclaiming war on Massachusetts, thinking it was hilarious while they were doing it. Tim stamped the Governor's Seal on it and Stuart when as far as to put it in an envelope and write the address of the Governors office in Boston, all in a friendly game of oneupmanship to see who could take this prank to the brink and who would pull back first. However, they weren't stupid enough to send it because they would have got fired real quick, they just left it on Stuart's desk, in a letter tray with the intent of showing it to everyone in the office on Monday.
However, the story doesn't end there.
Part 2 will be up soon, this is way too much writing. blog posts should not be this long.
Back in the 1980s, Hartford had still not fallen as far into the gutter as it is situated right now. It was a time when we were still the insurance capital of the world and not Gotham city without a Batman. These two guys were working at the DECD in Hartford: Stuart Fitzpatrick (who i work with now) and this guy Tim. They were both coming out of UCONN (Tim a year older than Stuart) and were in their mid twenties in mid level positions. The DECD basically works under the Governors office and for the State of CT so they were a part of the executive branch of CT's state government.
Anyways one Friday night in 1986 these guys went down to a bar and had a couple drinks, apparently they were not wasted just a little juiced. Tim convinced Stuart that they should go back into the DECD and pull pranks on their coworkers. Stuart was very reulctant but Tim refused to take no as an anwser. Apparently he had been doing such things by himself some Friday nights and wanted Stuart in on the action. Tim's previous forways were much more minor but tonight the plan was to switch the exact composition of desks so one persons desk would suddenly be on another persons desk. Pretty stupid right, I guess even back in the 80s CT wasn't the most poppingest place to get down tonight.
Anyways, what really changed everything that night was that Tim found (aka jimmy opened their bosses drawer) the Governor's Seal. With that seal (and things have been changed now) you could basically make any press release/policy memo/proclamation and it would be official policy as far as the executive branch is legally able to make such policy. Now the argument is still ongoing on who first proposed the idea of what to do with the seal, Stuart maintains it was Tim's idea because he felt Mass deserved it after what the Red Sox (aka Buckner) did and that he wanted no part in the Seal. They composed a executive order proclaiming war on Massachusetts, thinking it was hilarious while they were doing it. Tim stamped the Governor's Seal on it and Stuart when as far as to put it in an envelope and write the address of the Governors office in Boston, all in a friendly game of oneupmanship to see who could take this prank to the brink and who would pull back first. However, they weren't stupid enough to send it because they would have got fired real quick, they just left it on Stuart's desk, in a letter tray with the intent of showing it to everyone in the office on Monday.
However, the story doesn't end there.
Part 2 will be up soon, this is way too much writing. blog posts should not be this long.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Is This Radio Racism?
104.1 is my new favorite radio station of the summer, along with hot 93.7 and the local NPR at 90.5 it is what i listen to when i'm driving too and from work or anywhere in between (take that you metro riding, hoof striding city dwellers!). It plays a variety of rockish music, mostly milder and alternative rock from the 80s, 90s, and of more recent times. Basically, most of the time, it plays good music.
Now this station is definitely a rock station but for some reason they play an abnormal amount of Beastie Boys, which is really the only rap they play. I know some people may think Beastie Boys are not strictly rap, but they mostly are. Almost all of their songs have hip hop drums even if some of their songs have electric guitar backing. I always thought it was weird that they played Beastie Boys, an all white rap group, and not Run DMC which is a very similar sounding all black rap group (if I was more educated on the subject and could confirm with fact my suspicions I would say that the Beastie Boys just straight up jacked Run DMC's style). However, I assuaged those fears by saying to myself that while the Beastie Boys were VERY similar to Run DMC they had a softer edge to their songs and more of a party attitude which could explain why they were played by 104.1 In addition, I had known the station to play one black artist in semi-regular rotation: Bob Marley. On top of that, I'm not positive but I think i remember them playing some Gorillaz songs WAYYY back a few months ago that included Obie Trice and De La Soul on feature spots. So no biggie right? This radio station is not racist....
That is until a couple nights ago when I heard them play "Jump Around" by House of Pain. This song is by an all white rap group from the early 1990s that definitley tries to mimic the hard edge, heavy bragging rhymes of other black rappers from the same period. The song, while catchy, can definitely get annoying and there are many songs from black hip hop artists that should be getting play on this station if "Jump Around" gets played. To be sure, the station doesn't play "Jump Around" or any rap all that often but still, if they think the style of rapping in "Jump Around" which is filled with anti cop and pro violence messages is okay to play and they play Beastie Boys all the time then they should definitley be playing Run DMC. I listen to the station constantly and I am totally disatisfied with their selection of hip hop.
I know this is a very minor disagreement, I still listen to 104.1 and enjoy their music but it's weird and selective choice of hip hop music does bug me. I always am bothered when they play the Beastie Boys, whose songs are usually good, because it reminds me that they give no spins to black rappers but white seems to be okay.
PEACEEE, NANNNDHISHHHhhhhhHH
Now this station is definitely a rock station but for some reason they play an abnormal amount of Beastie Boys, which is really the only rap they play. I know some people may think Beastie Boys are not strictly rap, but they mostly are. Almost all of their songs have hip hop drums even if some of their songs have electric guitar backing. I always thought it was weird that they played Beastie Boys, an all white rap group, and not Run DMC which is a very similar sounding all black rap group (if I was more educated on the subject and could confirm with fact my suspicions I would say that the Beastie Boys just straight up jacked Run DMC's style). However, I assuaged those fears by saying to myself that while the Beastie Boys were VERY similar to Run DMC they had a softer edge to their songs and more of a party attitude which could explain why they were played by 104.1 In addition, I had known the station to play one black artist in semi-regular rotation: Bob Marley. On top of that, I'm not positive but I think i remember them playing some Gorillaz songs WAYYY back a few months ago that included Obie Trice and De La Soul on feature spots. So no biggie right? This radio station is not racist....
That is until a couple nights ago when I heard them play "Jump Around" by House of Pain. This song is by an all white rap group from the early 1990s that definitley tries to mimic the hard edge, heavy bragging rhymes of other black rappers from the same period. The song, while catchy, can definitely get annoying and there are many songs from black hip hop artists that should be getting play on this station if "Jump Around" gets played. To be sure, the station doesn't play "Jump Around" or any rap all that often but still, if they think the style of rapping in "Jump Around" which is filled with anti cop and pro violence messages is okay to play and they play Beastie Boys all the time then they should definitley be playing Run DMC. I listen to the station constantly and I am totally disatisfied with their selection of hip hop.
I know this is a very minor disagreement, I still listen to 104.1 and enjoy their music but it's weird and selective choice of hip hop music does bug me. I always am bothered when they play the Beastie Boys, whose songs are usually good, because it reminds me that they give no spins to black rappers but white seems to be okay.
PEACEEE, NANNNDHISHHHhhhhhHH
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
MMMmmmm Soft Serve Ice Cream
I always had an affinity for soft-serve ice cream. Soft Serve is just so creamy and cold and it feels good to slush around in your mouth before swallowing in a pleasurable gulp. As a kid, it was great fun choosing from the many different flavors and toppings and styles to create a perfect soft serve mix. I definitely enjoy soft serve more than its hard counterpart. Regular ice cream is a lot colder when it hits your mouth and it sucks when your ice cream gets freezer burned. Well, I guess regular ice cream has an advantage in that almost no one has the equipment to make soft serve at home. In anycase, soft serve is apparently surging as a fine cuisine treat or so the New York Times would have you believe. I found this article interesting. If you like reading about food while hungry at work, or want to learn more about everyone's favorite delicious summertime treat THEN CLICK HERE.
Also, the post about CT's war with MA in 1986 is coming up real soon, I talked to the guy who told me the story and got it in a lot more detail but I'm not really supposed to talk about it so I'll have to change some names and some inconsequential details.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
WOOOOOOW
wow, this may be the coolest thing ever. At last weeks DECD picnic this guy I work with told me an amazing story. In 1986 Connecticut actually declared war on Massachusetts. It seriousley is the most amazing story, it may take me a couple of posts to tell the whole thing though. stay tuned im too busy right now to delve deep. peaceeeeeeeee
Sunday, July 20, 2008
What To Reveal While Marketing a Movie?
Warning: while not a review, the below might contain many immediate and explicit spoilers for the movie "Batman: The Dark Knight"
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When I first watched the new movie "The Dark Knight" I had no idea that Harvey Dent would turn into Two-Face midway through. I mean, I had considered the possibility. But, because of the marketing for the movie I had seen, I thought it was more likely they were setting him up as the villain for the third film. It was then a thrilling surprise for me when his Two Face persona became an integral part of the movie and I agree with the film makers that he added a much needed character development arch to "The Dark Knight".
After watching the film I felt compelled to go back and watch all the trailers I had deliberately chosen not to watch. You see, as some people know, once I decide I am going to watch a film I usually choose to not learn anything new about it. I do this because I believe that a movie becomes more enjoyable as more of it is discovered organically and not known before hand. In this case, the very first trailer was enough for me to decide I would watch this movie and I tried to stop watching any of the newer trailers.
I was surprised to see in the new trailers a very revealing 2 second clip of Harvey Dent with half his face being soaked in flammable gasoline. This basically let everyone know that Harvey would become Two Face. If I had seen it, it really would have made the movie less enjoyable for me. My first impressions after watching the movie was that the movie studio had struck a great balance in the way it marketed the film. I believed by not showing too much of Harvey Dent and focusing on the joker they enticed everyone to see the movie with Heath Ledgers sadistic and twisted performance while not revealing too much of the story.
I bet many producers and movie studio executives have an enormous stake in the success of their 100 million plus budget summer movies. It is no secret that most of these movies make (or lose) the majority of their investment back during the opening weekend. In addition, a lot of other decisions about a movies future financial success is decided by the considerable buzz generated by an impressive opening weekend. This includes merchandising, future dvd orders and dvd rental figures.
In light of all this, I guess the movie producers didn't care that much about holding back what happened to Harvey Dent because they probably knew it wouldn't stop people from seeing the film. If anything, it might have made people more excited. In addition, the obsessively dedicated fans of Batman (I am not one of those people) might have discovered this by themselves. However, what made me excited was the mystery around Harvey Dent. I could not tell while watching the film if he could be trusted and what they were going to do regarding his eventual transformation into Two Face. By revealing it, the movie studio has shown, in my mind, that I am correct in trying to avoid information about a movie. Most of the time movie studios can't be trusted in making sure all the surprises and crucial plot turns are left out of trailers and advertisements. I'm happy that I didn't see any of the newer trailers for The Dark Knight, it made the film that much more epic and enjoyable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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When I first watched the new movie "The Dark Knight" I had no idea that Harvey Dent would turn into Two-Face midway through. I mean, I had considered the possibility. But, because of the marketing for the movie I had seen, I thought it was more likely they were setting him up as the villain for the third film. It was then a thrilling surprise for me when his Two Face persona became an integral part of the movie and I agree with the film makers that he added a much needed character development arch to "The Dark Knight".
After watching the film I felt compelled to go back and watch all the trailers I had deliberately chosen not to watch. You see, as some people know, once I decide I am going to watch a film I usually choose to not learn anything new about it. I do this because I believe that a movie becomes more enjoyable as more of it is discovered organically and not known before hand. In this case, the very first trailer was enough for me to decide I would watch this movie and I tried to stop watching any of the newer trailers.
I was surprised to see in the new trailers a very revealing 2 second clip of Harvey Dent with half his face being soaked in flammable gasoline. This basically let everyone know that Harvey would become Two Face. If I had seen it, it really would have made the movie less enjoyable for me. My first impressions after watching the movie was that the movie studio had struck a great balance in the way it marketed the film. I believed by not showing too much of Harvey Dent and focusing on the joker they enticed everyone to see the movie with Heath Ledgers sadistic and twisted performance while not revealing too much of the story.
I bet many producers and movie studio executives have an enormous stake in the success of their 100 million plus budget summer movies. It is no secret that most of these movies make (or lose) the majority of their investment back during the opening weekend. In addition, a lot of other decisions about a movies future financial success is decided by the considerable buzz generated by an impressive opening weekend. This includes merchandising, future dvd orders and dvd rental figures.
In light of all this, I guess the movie producers didn't care that much about holding back what happened to Harvey Dent because they probably knew it wouldn't stop people from seeing the film. If anything, it might have made people more excited. In addition, the obsessively dedicated fans of Batman (I am not one of those people) might have discovered this by themselves. However, what made me excited was the mystery around Harvey Dent. I could not tell while watching the film if he could be trusted and what they were going to do regarding his eventual transformation into Two Face. By revealing it, the movie studio has shown, in my mind, that I am correct in trying to avoid information about a movie. Most of the time movie studios can't be trusted in making sure all the surprises and crucial plot turns are left out of trailers and advertisements. I'm happy that I didn't see any of the newer trailers for The Dark Knight, it made the film that much more epic and enjoyable.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Reader
Tonight after dinner, I ate a piece of left over cake from my parents 25th anniversary party. It has left me feeling a little too full for any evening exercise. Instead I wish to stretch out my sore, contracted muscles whose state is courtesy of yesterdays basketballing. However, I feel like I also need to stimulate my mind, in fact, stretching would be incredibly boring without any kind of mental activity. Also, I can't be left to my own thoughts, they can't be trusted (see: pressure washer incident). What I really want to do is read this new article at NewYorker.com about Obama. However, I can't adequately stretch and read this article at the same time. What I really would need is someone to read the whole 15 page article out loud for me as I stretch. I realized when I thought this how ridiculous that would be, hiring someone to read articles out loud for you as you do other things. However, I really would like to both stretch and be read to at the same time. I guess being extremely rich or having a caring girlfriend/wife would really come in handy right now. I really would feel bad making someone do such a task anyways, unless they too were interested in reading said article. In any case, I have neither read nor stretched but instead have written this blog post to explain my feelings to you, whoever you are, now reading this.
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