March 2010
1 post
Evil...
Genius.
January 2010
4 posts
Salsa
I wonder why you never see Pace Picante Sauce commercials anymore.
Ah Shucks
One big happy family…
Top 10 Songs of the 00s
Ms. Jackson - OutKast
Also the decade’s greatest video to feature a singing owl.
Top 10 Songs of the 00s
Umbrella - Rihanna ft. Jay-Z
Best song about an umbrella in 41 years (Bus Stop, Hollies, 1966).
Top 10 Songs of the 00s
Missed The Boat - Modest Mouse
I love Modest Mouse. Since they totally sold out at least.
December 2009
10 posts
Top 10 Songs of the 00s
Holiday - Green Day
Green Day topping Dookie with a 2004 concept album? Yeah, we all pretty much saw that one coming.
Top 10 Songs of the 00s
Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
Despite her protests, Jessie putting both this, and the original Postal Service version, in her top 10 is cheating…
And unnecessary given the obvious superiority of the Iron & Wine version. It’s rare, but sometimes cover versions do improve on originals.
Top 10 Songs of the 00s
The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani featuring Akon
I think Akon was featured on fully half of the songs released this decade, but this is the best. The “eee-oohs” get stuck in your head and, eventually, make you want to kill yourself. But in a good way.
Top 10 Songs of the 00s
Fell In Love With a Girl - White Stripes
You know the White Stripes are good when they make this list with a song that doesn’t even bother with a chorus.
Top 10 Songs of the 00s
Last Nite - The Strokes
For a few brief moments, the world had another Velvet Underground on its hands.
Top 10 Songs of the 00s
All These Things I’ve Done - The Killers
Not only is this the greatest song ever to prominently feature the term “back burner” in the chorus, the video has a midget, a donkey, and sluts (their word, not mine) with boomerangs. What’s not to love?
Top 10 Songs of the 00s
Music, like the rest of the world, is getting worse, but there was enough good stuff over the last decade to come up with a top 10 list, and it seemed like a good way both to force myself to blog a bit more while I’m on vacation, and to sucker Jessie into an argument. :) So, in no particular order…
Jesus, Etc. - Wilco
“You were right about the stars - each one is a setting...
Tiger Woods
Usually I’m not all that into celebrity gossip, but I have to admit this Tiger Woods scandal has kept me interested. Especially since you can dance to it.
November 2009
1 post
WashU...
popped up on one of the blogs I follow today. Unfortunately, it was for shutting down what sounds to have been a colorful memorial to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall. Link is here:
http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2009/11/wash-u-shuts-down-freedom-memorial-on-20-year-anniversary-of-end-of-communism-it-was-too-offensive-video/
Not sure where the Young Americans for Liberty were a...
October 2009
1 post
2016
I had mixed feelings about Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics, so Friday’s announcement that the games were going to Rio were kind of a non-event for me. Loved the CNN coverage though:
September 2009
5 posts
Beatles Remastered
I never envied the engineers tasked with remastering the Beatles catalogue, because I couldn’t imagine the amount of pressure there must have been to somehow make the greatest music of all time sound better, while simultaneously ensuring it sounded exactly the same.
But after, ahem, acquiring both the stereo and mono remasters last week, I’m happy to report they’ve generally...
Gangsta Pop
I’m not sure how I feel about Dr. Dre doing a Dr. Pepper commercial.
Sky From Back Yard
I apologize to both of my readers that my blogging has been downright Van Benthuysian lately, but I’ve seemed to have caught a string of days where I’ve either been traveling, in bed with back problems, working way too much, or enjoying days that were just too nice to be inside blogging. I’ll try to get back into a better rhythm as fall approaches.
August 2009
4 posts
Segway
Paul Graham:
The Segway hasn’t delivered on its initial promise, to put it mildly. There are several reasons why, but one is that people don’t want to be seen riding them. Someone riding a Segway looks like a dork.
While its difficult to argue that point, and its hard to imagine a scenario where a segway would get everyday use, I have to say that riding one around downtown Chicago...
Batman Politics
Frank J Fleming: “There is a major difference between Obama and the Joker… the scope of Obama’s destruction is much bigger.”
July 2009
3 posts
Yet ANOTHER Good Thing About Swearing...
It mitigates pain:
A study by Keele University researchers found volunteers who cursed at will could endure pain nearly 50% longer than civil-tongued peers.
Luckily, ABC News is on the scene to clear up any misperceptions….
June 2009
9 posts
Smooth Criminal
Replacing yesterday’s audio of “Smooth Criminal” with the video.
The gangster lean at 7:15 in bad ass-ist dance move ever.
The King is Dead
I was born 20 years to the day after Michael Jackson. His Thriller album was the first “grown up” record I ever owned (I had dance contests to it with the neighbor girls, and the song “Thriller” scared the shit out me). On January 5, 1996, I dueted with Charlie on “Billie Jean” during Virtual Einstein’s initial recording session, and when I first laid...
Busted
You know, a $100 fine from the Department of Public Safety, or even the Department of Transportation, for failing to come to a complete stop before making a right-hand turn on red is one thing… But a $100 ticket from the City of Chicago Department of Revenue? That’s irritating.
Frigging cameras.
(Dig my man’s hat though.)
(Note: added photos instead of links. I guess the...
Should probably mention....
that my cell phone is dead. Kaput. Numbsville. Audi 5. So if I’m not returning calls, its because I haven’t been getting em. Sorry.
Gotta love AT&T. 2 year contract comes with free phone that has 17 month life span.
In breaking Cap'n Crunch news...
Justice has been served.
JH in Large Tub in New House
May 2009
7 posts
Au Revoir Eastlake Terrace
We shall remember you. And remember you fondly.
Pleasantville
It was a technicolor type of day in Rogers Park this afternoon…
April 2009
4 posts
New Jack Swing
“My Prerogative” made him a superstar, and I preferred ”Humpin’ Around” at the time, but it seems clear in hindsight that “Good Enough” was Bobby Brown’s artistic peak. Whether you like him or not, you have to respect the “can do” attitude and work ethic espoused in this song. What a role model!
Actually, it seems like actually saying...
Phil Spector...
looks like a man ligitimately surprised at his guilty verdict.
“Be My Baby” remains one of the Top 10 songs of all time, however.
Holy Sh*t!
I think we bought a house today. Isn’t she purty?
Proverbially Speaking...
In the space of about 90 minutes today, we looked at a house in a neighborhood where the grass was literally greener on the other side of the fence, then went to dinner, where Jessie literally bit off more than she could chew.
My life is so cliché.
Just noticed...
I’ve been blogging for one year as of today.
I won’t list each of you individually, but thanks for sticking with me dear readers. I sort of figured I’d have given this up by now, like this guy.