My Winter Reading

I bought Bill Simmons' Book of Basketball to read over Christmas break. Apparently (and thankfully) it can save my life. I am going back to Stockton after all.



via dimemag

(3) Things I'm Embarassed Are On My iPod

There's some obscure music on my iPod. But then again, there's some embarrassing stuff. So far, I've narrowed it to at least three things I'd be embarrassed to play if I had guests in my car.

1) Sweet Home Alabama - Lynard Skynard: while it's a "classic" song, they had some other good ones. And this one is quite played out, at least if you're asking me. If I really want to hear this song, I'll just duck into a bar near closing time. I'm sure some jackass played this on the jukebox; they always do.

2) Since You've Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson: my college roommate asked me to download this album. I generally didn't mind doing him favors, cause he drove me around everywhere and we were (and still are) great friends. I deleted all of the songs off of my computer immediately after giving him the files - except this song. He and I used to sing along in high-pitched voices to this song. That was classic, classic times. Hilarious. But come on, it's Kelly Clarkson. And it's on my iPod....

3) All of the Third Eye Blind Cover song bands: Third Eye Blind (or 3EB as their fans intimately refer to them) is one of those awful guilty pleasures. They're just...not that great. I mean, it's not like listening to Nickelback or anything like that, but it's dangerously close. Anyway, I once downloaded a Third Eye Blind discography. And with it came an album called "Third Eye Blind Covers." It's about as lame as it sounds. There's a band called "Rockapella" that covers "Semi Charmed Life." And yes, it's an A Capella band. Covering Semi Charmed Life. And that's just lame.

The Hangover - Stu's Song

What do tigers dream of, when they take a little tiger snooze?
Do they dream of mauling zebras, or Hallie Berry in her Catwoman Suit.
Well don't you worried your pretty striped head, we're gonna get you back to Tyson's and your cozy tiger bed.
And then we're gonna find our best friend Doug
And then we're gonna give him a best-friend hug.
Doug, Doug, ohhhh Doug Dougy Dougy Doug Doug
But if he's been murdered by crystal meth tweekers, well then we're $h*t out of luck.

Best.moviesong.ever

Thelonius Monk - In Walked Bud

Al Franken With the Fire

Comedian-turned-Senator rips on a lady who somehow claims that moving to a European-based system (i.e. France or Germany) would result in more bankruptcies.

The Constitution Was Not Incorporated Against Louisiana

Despite Loving v. Virginia being announced forty-two years ago, which struck down laws placing restrictions on race-based restrictions for marriage one Justice of the Peace in Louisiana has decided to go rogue and deny a marriage license to an interracial couple. "Why?" you ask? Well because of stereotypes and careful research conducted via informal survey.

Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

That makes perfect sense. Cause it doesn't matter what the Fourteenth Amendment said. Or that pesky Supreme Court. I'm sure they didn't ask what black and white people thought about interracial relationships. No, I trust this guy. He seems reliable and reasonable. And not racist at all. In fact, he says he's not racist.

“I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way,” Bardwell said Thursday. “I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else.”

You read that?! "[P]iles and piles..." no way the dude is racist. They can use his bathroom. I know that I invite pretty much anyone in my house. But I'm certainly most selective about who uses my bathrooms. Acquaintances are forced to go in the bushes outside.

via Houston Chronicle

France > Pirates

France > Pirates
Although France is the rump of many remarks about being weak, girlie, or just generally soft, they still outmatch Somali Pirates.

The crew of La Somme, a 160-metre (525-foot) command vessel and fuel tanker, easily saw off the brazen night-time assault by lightly armed fighters on two lightweight skiffs and captured five pirates, a spokesman said.

"The pirates, who because of the darkness took the French ship for a commercial vessel, were on board two vessels and opened fire with Kalashnikovs," Admiral Christophe Prazuck said in Paris.

La Somme is the French command vessel in the Indian Ocean, overseeing French air, sea and land forces fighting Somali pirates and hunting terrorists under the banner of the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom.

Officers on the ship have directed commando operations to free French hostages in the hands of Somali pirates.

The pirates tried to flee when they realised their mistake but were pursued by French forces who, after an hour-long chase, caught one of the skiffs, Prazuck said.

So, in summation: the French Navy can beat a bunch of mildly armed Somali Pirates. Way to go France. Still amazing that it was you who helped us win the revolutionary war.

This Just in, CNN: Retarded

I've grown to loathe major networks more and more. Particularly because they produce material such as the following, which has no bearing on the actual news. It's sad that this is passed off as "reporting" and that people are getting paid to do this crap.

Bad Astronaut - Jessica's Suicice (Demo Version)

Unfortunately I couldn't dig up the original version (which is dope).

Joey Cape is by far one of the best, and most overlooked, vocalists I can think of. Lagwaggon and Bad Astronaut rank amongst some of the best indie bands that still somehow exist under the radar (although Bad Astronaut is, I believe, on an indefinite hiatus after the suicide of one of the members - which, is of no relation to this song).

I-Ran

Three miles today. I hadn't run since before NOLA, which, if you're keeping score, that was one week before Labor day more or less. Being busy does that to you. Man, it was awesome. I was tired, my lungs hurt at times, I cramped. But it was amazing.

Can't wait for tomorrow.