Shuffle It Up Vol. 1

Five songs from the shufffle

1) Push On f/ Anthony Hamilton - Nappy Roots
2) Love Is... - Common
3) The Circle - The Juggaknots
4) Ohhhhhhh - Vast Aire
5) February Stars - Foo Fighters

Proverbs 15:32

He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

Can We Really Call It a Failure

Screwing up on health care reform (thus far - and by the way, this is a whole different debate and will not be covered at this time)

Failing to fully vet nominations

Confusing decisions on Afghanistan

The list could continue (I'm sure, I just have been overwhelmed with school and work lately and haven't been checking in-depth. Nor do I have the time or interest in keeping a running list. Also, I have a crappy memory and I'm tired), but seriously, can the Olympic Committee's choice of Rio de Janeiro really be viewed as Obama's failure?

I mean, last I checked, the committee has the ultimate decision. And when's the last time the Olympics were in South America? Last I checked, there are a lot more places on earth than just America. And American's had its fair share of times as Olympic host.

Also, he kind of had to show up to lobby for the Olympics. Basically every other major head of state was out lobbying for their country - it would look funny if he stayed at home.

Really, he may have failed in some other respects, but don't blame Obama because he couldn't convince the Olympic Committee that Chicago was the best choice.

David Byrne and Brian Eno - Life is Long

I've been truly fascinated by this song since it came out. Half of me feels that it has an adult-contemporary-genre-like sound and there's something almost obnoxious about the melody. But the other half of me just enjoys the sound for whatever it may be. At the very least, it's a pleasant song.

Transplants - DJ DJ

Something like 5 years after the fact, I finally appreciate the Transplants in some capacity. I had the CD and I could never get through the whole thing. Then I ripped it when I was home during Spring Break and I'm suddenly listening to it again. Weird how things work out like that.

Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1

Funeral still ranks as one of my favorite albums of all time. Even the snobs at Pitchfork agree that it's the second best album released since 2000.



Probably the best opening track to an album that I've ever heard.

More Reasons David Simon is Amazing

I just came across an excerpt from Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets.

The editors apparently thought his observations and writings were astute. Can't say I'd dare to disagree.

The Real Question Is:

Where do you get a half-baseball helmet?


via Ball Don't Lie

Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind f/ Alicia Keys

The keys in this beat are so so ill.

And Alicia Keys hits the notes to perfection.



Something about this gets me every time I blast it when coming home from the library at midnight. Dark and quiet, it's downtown Houston. And something seems so magical about it.

Signs the Economy is Sucking

Macy's

Hertz

Goodyear

CBS

What do they all have in common? They're big name companies, and are just four of a longer list of companies not doing so well. And when I say "not doing so well," I mean possibly going bankrupt.

Check the list out here.