Champagne Socialist

What did I predict? HAHA

2006-09-09T21:04:00.000-07:00

Well well, what did I towards the beginning of the season? I believe I said that the Red Sox were NOT going to make the playoffs this year. With their hilarious 10-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals today (pushing them 10 games behind the Yanks in the AL East), I'm going to pat myself on the shoulder and say "well done!" Even without Matsui and Sheffield for most of the season, and with Cano out for fairly lengthy periods of time, the Yankees still were able to stay within reach of the Red Sox, and with the addition of Abreu, they finally were able to get to the top.

The Red Sox are all whining now about their injured players. Minus Jon Lester who has cancer (luckily it's very curable so I'm happy about that), they can't talk about their bad luck. The Yankees haven't had 2/3 of their original starting outfield, and yet they were able to manage through the injuries.

What was Theo Epstein doing at the trade deadline this year? Not making a move for anyone really hurt the Red Sox. Cashman once again wasn't afraid to make the deal, and Abreu certainly has proven to be a huge addition to the ballclub. Lidle has made some quality starts as well, and Craig Wilson has given the Yankees some pop when they need it in the lineup, not to mention he can play several different positions in the field as well.

I'm looking forward to the postseason this year. I really believe there's no one in the AL right now who can take the Yankees. The Mets are the only team that worry me at the moment. And even if the Yankees lose in the 1st round, at least I'll have satisfaction knowing that the dirty disgusting Red Sox did indeed miss out on the postseason.

GO YANKEES!

Back again

2006-08-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

After close to a month's rest from blogging (it really is quite strenuous and demands a lot of mental and physical energy), I'm back on. Just wanted to congratulate the Yankees on having a 2-game lead over the Red Sux, and for going out and making some deals before the trade deadline. Abreu and Lidle will definitely help!

What a dumbass!

2006-07-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Last night's World Cup Final was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Watching Zidane (in his final match IN OVERTIME) inexplicably head-butt the Italian defender was too much to take. Is Zidane really too much of a wuss to punch a guy? I guess so. The French once again showed their inability to succeed on the world stage without the aid of others, such as the U.S.A or the U.K. Italy couldn't even beat ETHIOPIA and they lost miserably in WWII, yet they were able to beat the French. (Yeah, I know, it's not the most accurate comparison, but it's my blog and I'll do whatever I damn well please)

The French also use a bunch of players from their colonies for the national team. A bunch of French players were crying after the game, and it wasn't because they lost. It's because they knew that they'd once again be deported back to their colonies for another four years before the Cup comes back around.

Van de Velde's British Open meltdown? Mickelson's U.S. Open choke? Chris Webber's NCAA Final time-out? Greg Norman's final day Masters descent? Buckner's Blooper? None of them compare to Zissou's head-butt yesterday. Thanks Zinedine, for making me laugh. And you're now a national hero in Italy. Mile Grazie Zinedine!

Yankees Mid-Season Report

2006-07-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

Well, the Yanks aren't where I hoped they'd be at this point, but I'm confident that by the end of the season, they'll be AL East Division Champs once again. They've managed to stay only three or four games back of Boston WITHOUT Matsui, Sheff, Jeter (at times) and Cano. As well, there have been several horrific outings for Yankee starting pitchers, mostly by Wright or Chacon, and a few by the Big Unit. With all this in consideration, three games back is not really bad at all.

I think they need to give Wright and Chacon a few more starts to see if they get in a grove, and if not, they need to trade for a pitcher or bring one up from AAA Columbus, because otherwise the team won't be able to really get on a run. Moose has been great so far, a true ace. I've been surprised by how well Wang has pitched also. Besides his most recent outing, he's given the Yankees solid innings at the least in his starts. So the Yanks get on these 2-3 game winning streaks, but then Wright or Chacon has a horrendous outing and the momentum from the winning streak is gone. Cashman needs to address this (I'm sure he realizes it already though). I'm confident Big Unit will bring down his E.R.A this second half as well.

Fans also really need to stop booing A-Rod. This is a player who, by the end of his career (barring injuries), will go down as the greatest player ever. True, he has a huge salary and I don't think anyone (especially a pro athlete) deserves that much money, but if anyone in baseball does, it's A-Rod. He's the reigning AL MVP. He's in a "slump" this year (like a Tiger Woods slump), but he'll bounce back this second half. I hope the Yankees P.R staff and the New York media encourage the fans to stop booing him so much. Yeah, it's New York and the fans are intense, but he's trying hard. It'll be the fan's loss if he ends up leaving. I know he'll stay though, and the fans will stop with the booing.

Damon's been solid, but I hope he can kick up his average a bit. Jeter, as always, is more than dependable, and comes through whenever the Yankees need him to. He's a true captain. Cano's all-star selection itself speaks for the kind of season he's had. Posada's been swinging the bat great. Giambi's got the home-run swing back, and I hope he can bump up his average as well to the kind of average he had during his MVP season in Oakland. Hopefully, we'll get at least Matsui or Sheff back relatively soon (preferably both), and then add a 27th World Series banner.

Rants, Gripes and Thoughts

2006-06-30T05:47:00.000-07:00

-Antonin Scalia is BY FAR my favorite justice. I like him for the same reason I like Don Rumsfeld: they both are no-nonsense and don't take crap from anyone. Plus, Scalia just looks cool.
-When will the Red Sox start losing?! This has to stop now.
-Yankees fans need to stop booing A-Rod. What the hell are they trying to do?
-Larry Bird better be right about this new draft pick.
-How do the French get to be in such a bad group in the 1st round of World Cup play, and the U.S. has to be put in the hardest? It's because the whole world hates the idea of the U.S. succeeding. To be honest, our great president has also helped in increasing animosity towards us around the world.
-How the hell is the second son from the Brady Bunch engaged to such a hot young model?
-Speaking of the Brady Bunch, here are the top 5 WORST television shows of all time:
1) The O.C.
2) The Brady Bunch
3) The Partridge Family (well, besides Danny Bonaduce. He's great)
4) American Idol
5) The Real World
-Did the Brady dad, Robert Reed, die? I believe he was gay and died from AIDS, but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe that was the 1st Darrin from Bewitched (Dick York)

More horses need to be made into glue

2006-06-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

I was going to have dinner in downtown Indy last night, and I was held up TWICE by a horse-drawn carriage. Now I love the way downtown Indianapolis has improved these past few years. It's wonderful being down there. If only they would get rid of the horse carriages.

Seriously, what the hell are you going to see taking a carriage ride in Indianapolis? The World's Largest Christmas Tree (which isn't even a real tree. I really don't understand how you can call a monument with lights a tree)? St.Elmo? RCA Dome? I can understand taking a carriage ride in NYC Central Park. I've done that, and it's enjoyable. Or maybe down the Champs-Elysees or the English countryside. But downtown Indianapolis? I don't think so.

I'm a patient person. Nonetheless, I refuse to miss three straight traffic lights just because a damn horse can't move fast enough. They either need to give the carriage drivers whips and spurs to give the horse more giddy-up, or, better yet, just get horses off the streets and on the fast lane to the Fast-Tac glue assembly line. This isn't Mongolia. We're not nomads here. Cars are how we get around nowadays. I think that public recognition (like a key to the city or something) should accompany anyone who "accidentaly" runs over a horse downtown.

I don't like horses. I get sick of people saying how beautiful they are. The only way I would find them to be beautiful is if they were filling up an Elmer's Glue bottle, or on a platter with some vegetables or something and helping to feed starving children. I've never eaten a horse, but I can't imagine it'd be much worse than beef or veal. Man, Barbaro's damn lucky I don't own him.

American Arrogance

2006-06-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

Although I was certainly pulling for the U.S. team to win yesterday and make the next round of the World Cup, I also realized that their loss could be very productive. Ever since President Bush took office, arrogance has been swirling all over the country. We basically went it alone in Iraq, and we really haven't shown any desire to collaborate with or even welcome other of our allied nations and their opinions, unless of course, we have something substantial to gain from it (like at the present moment, Bush is trying to get support for the Iraq War as he finally realizes that at the present moment, the outlook doesn't look good).

We think we're the best, that we're more important than other nations because we're the most influential, and thus that entitles us to do whatever the hell we want. We think we're invinsible, we can't be beat (a la Bush's famous "Bring It On" slogan). Well, yesterday Ghana certainly brought it, and our team didn't respond. True, this is soccer, a sport that's not popular, but we still should have been able to get a win against a tiny African nation. Stories like Ghana's are why I enjoy watching the World Cup because I love seeing little, impoverished African countries with not much else to look forward to rally behind their team and knock off the world's most powerful nations.

Recent U.S. performances in basketball and baseball international competition have been pathetic as well. We got beat by Puerto Rico in the Olympics, an island so small I couldn't fit both feet on it. And like it or not, we're basically getting beat by the Iraqi insurgency right now (especially after we're were told that we could expect a quick and relatively easy victory).

I love my country. I do think it's the greatest nation on the face of the earth, and most of us agree. But when proud patriotism turns into arrogant and ignorant extremist nationalism, problems arise. President Bill Clinton has said," There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed with what's right with America." I couldn't agree more. We need to teach our fellow citizens in this country that patriotism is a beautiful thing, but we can't let it overshadow the fact that as a member of the global community, we must adhere to the standards of everyone else. God doesn't just bless America, he blesses every single nation on earth, no matter how much we might disagree with how that other nation acts. So in closing, I'm glad we got beat by Ghana. Maybe now our arrogance in this country will mellow.

Ozzie Guillen was wrong, but Jay Mariotti is annoying as hell

2006-06-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen called Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti a f------ fag. Guillen has often had a problem of speaking before thinking about the consequences of his words.

In today's ridiculously politically correct world, and with smut-hungry journalists and newspapers looking for a story, Guillen's comments have understandably made front page news. I don't know Ozzie Guillen as a person, but as a manager, I like him (even though I'm not fond of the White Sox). That doesn't excuse him from publicly using the words he did. I think he should be given a 2-3 game suspension because he does need to learn that in this country, those kind of comments don't fly.

However, Jay Mariotti is a nasal dumbkrauft. I can't watch "Around the Horn" on ESPN anymore because I know that he'll most likely be on it. The guy probably couldn't play sports as a kid, and now he's become a sportswriter so he can get his revenge on all the guys who were more athletic than he was. He never has anything positive to say about anyone. It's always about how stupid such and such player is, or how bone-headed of a decision some manager made. Jay, we can all be Monday Morning quarterbacks, but the majority of us don't choose to be, because it annoys the hell out of people.

I'm not saying Mariotti can't be critical, but he needs to mix in some at least neutral stories and opinions. I wish they'd just get rid of all the regulars on "Around the Horn" besides Woody Paige, and revamp it with GOOD sportswriters such as my personal favorite Frank Deford, and guys like Mike Luprica and Mitch Albom. To not seem sexist, I'd enjoy seeing Christine Brennan on the show as well. She's also a wonderful and talented columnist.

I wish Mariotti would just shut-up. Guillen's mouth needs to be watched at times, but I can see why he'd be annoyed with nasal Mariotti. Calling him a fag was completely unacceptable, however.

LET'S IMPEACH NEIL YOUNG!

2006-06-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

Many people around the world love the music of Neil Young, the old grungy Canadian rocker. I don't.

Neil Young's latest album is full of newly written protest songs, mainly directed at President Bush and the U.S. Government. Now I don't have any problem whatsoever with protest songs. Bob Marley is one of my favorite artist. And while I don't like Bob Dylan's voice that much, his lyrics are more profound than any other artist. The Clash, next to the Who, are my favorite band and Joe Strummer made protest songs cool.

But Neil Young is different. Neil Young is Canadian. And he's singing songs directed at President Bush and the U.S. government. Now true, Bob Marley was Jamaican, and the Clash were English, but their songs were either directed at their own governments or to the world in general. Clash songs like "Guns of Brixton" and "London Calling" dealt with domestic issues in London and its urban area. Bob Marley sang about his Jamaican ghetto home Trench Town, and was greatly involved with the presidential election in the late 70's between Edward P. Seaga and Michael Manley (he was even shot for his involvement.)

Yes, Neil Young has children who are American citizens. But he's not. And until he decides to become one, I don't want to listen to any American protest song he writes. I do not agree with the majority of what Bush and our current government is doing. But Canada has its own problems as well. So Young first needs to sing about how his bacon got burnt, or how the NHL was on strike, or on the uber-high living prices in Vancouver before he should attempt to talk about impeaching my president.

Neil Young was also voted the #2 best living songwriter by Paste Magazine, after Bob Dylan. What a load of b.s. How can you put Paul McCartney, or Pete Townshend BEHIND grungy, dirty Neil Young. BOY GEORGE should be in front of Neil Young. Hell, MILLI VANILLI should be placed in front of Neil Young. "Let's Impeach the President"? How bout, "Let's Impeach Neil Young". What a disgusting Canuck he is.

U.S. vs. Italy: The American team regains my respect, and I realize why Italy lost WWII.

2006-06-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

The U.S.-Italy match this past Saturday was one to remember. A nine-man U.S. squad was able to hold off a 10-man Italian squad, which was one of the best in the world. After losing Mastroeni and Pope to red cards (the referee was high on cocaine and had no idea what he was doing) the U.S. was still able to rally and show true grit, preserving a tie and keeping their hopes alive for the next round.

The refs sucked. There's no other way to put it. It was funny though watching Bruce Arena's expressions on the sideline after ridiculous calls had been made. If I could draw, I would write a comic book and use him and his expressions for my main character.

One more thing: THE ITALIANS ARE WUSSES! I expected to see some Mussolini-esque chest-bumping, grunts, and macho swagger from the former Axis Fascists. Instead, they would whine on the ground after every foul, looking as if they were in labor and about to undergo a cesarean section. I don't know how many times an Italian player was carried out on a strecher only to walk by himself and come back in the game seconds later. I guess this is why they lost to the Ethiopians in WWII. And almost all the Italian players had long, feminine hair. My mom has more than enough lipstick, and I'm sure she could lend them a few for their next game if they really wanna get gussied up. Just let me know Coach Lippi. I'd give you my phone number, but this is a public blog, and after watching Dateline NBC's programs on internet molestors and pedophiles, there's no way I'm posting it. Thank God those freaks were able to be put to justice. ("Freaks" here refers to both the internet pedophiles and the Italians in WWII)

I suggest the Italians get Donatella Versace to desing their uniforms from now on. I think then they'd feel more free and comfortable, as I feel that right now their feminine nature is being forcibly suppressed by the uber-macho FIFA and Italian Futbol Federation.

Go Away!

2006-06-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not feeling at all creative today, so I'm just going to make the following list: Enjoy!

PEOPLE I WISH WOULD JUST FALL OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH AND LEAVE US ALL ALONE:
-Ann Coulter (only one word to describe her. it starts with a b and ends with an -itch.)
-Ted Kennedy (he's writing a children's book. Only Adolf Hiter would be less qualified to write a book for children).
-John McCain (political maverick my ass! He's just positioning himself for his 2008 presidential campaign)
-Bill Frist (I've lost all respect I once had for this once-noble and principled doctor)
-Bud Selig (You've ruined baseball enough Bud. How dare yous suspend Randy Johson for 5 games?! Just retire already)
-Hugo Chavez (He's no revolutionary. He's just a greedy Latin pig who uses our country to gain power and influence.)
-Harry Belafonte (Yes our gov't has problems....MAJOR problems. But comparing its Homeland Security Dept to the German Gestapo, who routinely exectued Jews in Nazi Germany, is immature and careless.
-Bill O'Reilly (I'd rather listen to Rush Limbaugh than have to hear this disgusting creature spew racist and bigoted propaganda)
-Al Franken (Dude, just shut up already. Stick to comedy)
-Bob Kravitz (one of the only sportswriters I absolutely can't stand to read. He's just arrogant, holier-than-thou, and cynical, which can be funny at times, but gets old after the first COUPLE HUNDRED columns.)
-The Boston Red Sox (because they are Satan's team)
-Rev.Fred Phelps (how does someone like this get ordained by a Christian church?)
-Hilary Clinton (merely for the fact that if she becomes president, dresses will be prohibited and all women will have to wear pantsuits, which for the most part, are FAR less attractive.)
-Ben Roethlisberger (I wish he couldn't play football anymore so that he'd have more time to reflect and be thankful for being alive. Football should seem so insignificant to him now.)
-The U.S. soccer team (now if the beat the Italians, they'll be off this list)
-Donald Trump

U.S. Soccer Team Proves Worth to World

2006-06-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

Well, what a great showing the U.S. soccer team put on yesterday at the World Cup! Seriously though, how the hell were we ranked #5 in the world? What have we ever won of importance in soccer? We got completely pummeled by the Czechs and it looks like we'll probably get creamed by the Italians as well. At least we've beat both of them in wars. That's all that really matters in the end, isn't it?

Billy Preston

2006-06-07T09:20:00.000-07:00

Today's post is simply to pay homage and remember the gifts of Billy Preston, who died yesterday.

RIP BILLY "The Fifth Beatle"

Median artwork

2006-05-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

It's nice to be back from Europe. I had a great time, but I love getting back home. Anyway, last night I went to dinner w/my parents for my dad's birthday, and going down to Broad Ripple on College Ave. right after the White River Bridge and Park Tudor, there is that stupid sculpture in the road median. I'm sorry, but that's just not art. It's like a giant yellow Gumby. This sculpture, along with the following, are things which I do NOT consider art. Art is a masterpiece painting. Throwing a bunch of metal together, getting strung out and throwing paint and other liquids around over it is asylum-worthy, BUT NOT ART.

Art is NOT:
-any work by Jackson Pollack. I feel sorry for the man. He was an alcoholic and Ed Harris is one of my favorite actors. But Pollock was no artist. Anyone can throw paint on a wall.
-the majority of works from the Weimar period in Germany.
-Yoko Ono's works
-artwork in road medians
-Andy Warhol

The following IS art (and masterpiece art at that):
Any work of Mapplethorpes. What a genious!

out for 2 week

2006-05-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

I will be out of comission for two weeks starting today. So if any of you look forward to reading my blog every day, I apologize. I'll be sure to post a new message when I return.

Starbucks, Mussolini and Ethiopia

2006-05-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

Why are there so many Starbucks? There are three different Starbucks within a 2-mile radius of my house! It's amazing how many people are willing to pay $6 or more dollars for coffee! This is ridiculous. I can't stand going into a Starbucks. I hate their little trendy ways, like the names they use for the different sizes of cups. Of course simply using sizes such as small, medium and large would be too bland and dare I say, even gauche. Hence, they refer to their three sizes as tall, grande and venti. I'd received a few Starbucks gift cards for my graduation last year, and I went in a couple of days ago to get some sort of a beverage. I asked for a medium coffee. The reply: "Sorry sir, that's not one of our sizes. Our sizes our listed above." I looked at the sizes, scoffed sarcastically under my breath, and answered, "I'll have a grande coffee." The three or four little artsy-fartsy nerds working behind the counter all giggled together. I had made perhaps the gravest of grave Starbuckian faux-paxs. In my down to earth Hoosier accent, I had erroneously pronounced grande as "gran-day". The little pests informed me that "it's actually pronounced "grohn-day". I'm sorry, I didn't know that when I walked into a Starbucks I was expected to act and speak as if I was a French bigot with my thumb under my nose and a baguette up my backside.

The little wiesel gave me my coffee. I went to sit down, where I was to behold yet another startling surprise. The other patrons weren't drinking coffee. They were drinking whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles which happened to be lightly laced with a slight trace of a coffee-like substance. I always thought that a cat hair-stylist would be the worst job for me, at least until I saw all this whipped cream. I now know that the absolute worst occupation for me would be working behind the counter at Starbucks, having to lightly and ever so delicately dust the beverages with those cute little adorable chocolate-mocha sprinkles and make puffy, light whipped cream. I think I would go postal within a week.

And what the hell is "venti"? Seriously, what is SOOOO wrong with just calling it large. Or even extra-large, jumbo, gigantic, or some other name I, as a normal American, would recognize. But no, at Starbucks, we must be different and trendy. You're just a square if you don't get what we're talking about. "Venti" is Italian. And no offense to Italians (I love their women, food, and music) but we defeated them in WWII, thus I think we have earned the right to call our drink sizes by their ENGLISH/AMERICAN names. I am NOT going to refer to drink sizes in a language whose people were completely embarrassed by the humble Ethiopians in an attempt to invade them. The Ethiopians and Emperor Haile Selaisse were not pathetic. That's not what I'm suggesting. I'm just saying that as much as Mussolini glorified Italy's strength, power and influence in the world, he should have been able to successfully invade a smaller country.

Venti? Grohn-day? No thanks, I'll stick with my large, small, regular, medium, XX large and juniors. Starbucks can take their little trendy phrases and place them somewhere which would not be appropriate to refer to in a public blog. Folger's and Maxell House unite! Stop the spread of Starbuckianism before it rules us all!

Jim kisses Pam!!! "The Office" Season Finale

2006-05-14T11:04:00.000-07:00

What a way to end this season of "The Office"! Jim finally told Pam that he's in love with her, and he kissed her! Now we all have to wait the whole summer before the next season begins! Hopefully, Jim and Pam will end up together and she'll break off her engagement to that dumbkraft Roy. Who knows. But it was great to watch.

Papelbon, Godzilla, and a Gay Comedian

2006-05-11T23:13:00.000-07:00

Yes the Yankees lost tonight. But what was up with Jonathan Papelbon (I really don't care if I've mispelled the name) celebrating like I would if Paul Lynde came back from the dead? It's not even the midpoint of the season yet. It's one game. On second thought, maybe he should be celebrating, because the BoSox aren't making the playoffs this year. Nah, they'll be watching the Yankees win it all from the sidelines.

Matsui is injured. NO GODZILLA FOR THREE MONTHS!!!! Hopefully the Yankees will be able to cope.

Yankees win 9-3....and why "Big Papi" can't win the MVP.

2006-05-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

Great game last night for the Yankees. It's the mark of a champion when a team can come back after a bad loss and win convincingly the next day. A-Rod has finally started to get on a roll, which is bad news for other teams.

Last year's race for AL MVP between A-Rod and David "Big Papi" Ortiz (am I the only one who thinks Big Papi is a rather homoerotic name?) was not even close in my opinion. True, I am biased because the Yanks are my favorite team. But seriously, Ortiz DOES NOT PLAY DEFENSE! He can be a fat slug all he wants, because he needs no stamina whatsoever. Rodriguez, on the other hand, plays arguably the hardest position in baseball: third base. Hard-hit balls rocket down the third base line, and you have to have incredibly fast reflexes to play the position well. He's won the gold glove multiple times as well. And third base isn't even his original position. He was a great shortstop before coming over to New York, where he volunteered to switch to third as the Yankees already had a great shortstop, Derek Jeter.

Some Ortiz-sympathizers may argue that pitchers don't play the whole game either. True, but it takes a hell of a lot more stamina to pitch 75-100 mph pitches through several innings than it does to bat. I'm not saying batting is easy. I still believe hitting a baseball in the major leagues is the hardest thing to do in all of sports. But it's a question of eye-hand coordination, not physical.

Ortiz is a great hitter, but until he gets up from the bench and joins his team in the field, he should never even be considered for MVP.

Top 25 Greatest Songwriters of All-Time

2006-05-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

The top 25 Greatest Songwriters or Songwriting Teams are, in order,:
1) John Lennon/Paul McCartney (The Beatles): A no-brainer for number one. Bands from that point on had to write their own songs to have any sort of success. Obviously, this partnership was the main reason for the Beatles success.
2) Pete Townshend (The Who): The most underrated songwriter. Many still don't realize the true impact of "Tommy". The fact that he was talented enough to not only write great songs, but fit them into a story and a plot must be appreciated. Plus, he's my favorite guitarist of my favorite band.
3) Joe Strummer/Mick Jones (The Clash): Also an overlooked duo. Strummer's powerful lyrics combined with Jones's hard, pulsing chords made it impossible for people to ignore listening to them.
4) Bob Dylan: I'm not crazy about his voice or even his music, but I can admit that he is one of the greatest poets of the past century.
5) Bob Marley: He put reggae music on the map. The greatest protest singer in history. Died far too young.
6) Chuck Berry: The founder of the rock n' roll sound. That's enough right there.
7) Mick Jagger/Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones): I can't stand the Rolling Stones. But the fact that they have millions of fans worldwide to this day says something about the popularity of their songs, which this duo has written.
8) Jim Morrison (The Doors): If not for his early death, he'd surely be higher on this list.
9) Brian Wilson: Soaring harmonies and an unmatched skill for composition (just see Pet Sounds) made him one of the greatest.
10) Robert Plant/Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin): Ultimate hard-rock songwriters. Incorporated several different styles.
(The Rest of the Best)
11) Ray Davies (The Kinks)
12) Johnny Cash
13) Noel Gallagher (Oasis)
14) Kris Kristofferson
15) Marvin Gaye
16) Charles Ridenour a.k.a Chuck D (Public Enemy)
17) John Lennon (solo)
18) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. (U2)
19) Don Henley/Glenn Frey (The Eagles)
20) Roy Orbison
21) Sting (The Police)
22) Paul Weller (The Jam)
23) James Taylor
24) Jim Croce
25) Jacques Brel

The Top 25 Greatest Albums Of All-Time (must purchase!!!!)

2006-05-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

The 25 Greatest Albums of All-Time are (in order, with commentary on the top 5):

1)"London Calling" (The Clash): The only album I've ever listened to (out of thousands and thousands) that does not have even mediocre song on it. Every single song on the album is amazing. The pinnacle of the Strummer/Jones partnership.
2)"Who's Next" ( The Who): Townshend's original project, Lifehouse, was too ambitious, but this album which came out of the failed project was the greatest album of the 70s. My absolute favorite song of any genre is on this album, "Won't Get Fooled Again".
3) "Revolver" (The Beatles): Solid throughout. Harrison shows his own talents at songwriting, a nice addition to the already solid Lennon-McCartney songs.
4) "A Love Supreme" (John Coltrane): Absolutely beautiful and spiritual album from the greatest Jazz saxophonist ever. A triumph in every sense of the word.
5) "Exodus" (Bob Marley and the Wailers): Time magazine voted this album the greatest of the 20th century. Songs like "One Love", "Three Little Birds", and "So Much Things To Say" help make it the greatest reggae album of all time.
Numbers 6-25 don't have commentaries. That would take too long.
6) "Pet Sounds" (The Beach Boys)
7) "Rubber Soul" (The Beatles)
8) "Plastic Ono Band" (John Lennon)
9) "Live at Folsom Prison" (Johnny Cash)
10) "What's Going On?" (Marvin Gaye)
11) "Tommy" (The Who)
12) "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" (Public Enemy)
13) "Live at San Quentin" (Johnny Cash)
14) "The Joshua Tree" (U2)
15) "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" (David Bowie)
16) "Magical Mystery Tour" (The Beatles)
17) "Their Greatest Hits: 1971-1975" (The Eagles)
18) "The Beatles (White Album)" (The Beatles)
19) "The Clash" (The Clash)
20) "Burnin" (Bob Marley and the Wailers"
21) "Quadrophenia" (The Who)
22) "Kinks" (The Kinks)
23) "All Things Must Pass" (George Harrison)
24) "Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" (The Beatles)
25) "Imagine" (John Lennon)

Congrats on win #1000 Joe!

2006-05-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

The Yankees win today in Texas marked the 1,000th victory for Joe Torre as Yankee manager. When he took the position in 1995, the Yankees were, to say it kindly ,lackluster. One year later, however, he took the Yankees to the World Series and defeated the favored Atlanta Braves.

He won three more championships in the 90s. No manager in the game today has even come close to the amount of success Joe Torre has had. Yes, he has had some fantastic players on his teams. But sometimes those superstar teams are the hardest ones to manage and succeed. Look at the Lakers w/Kobe, Shaq, GP and Karl Malone. What a disaster that was! Something must be said for Torre's gift of managing.

Congrats Joe on number 1000!!! And by the end of October, you'll have a World Series ring for each finger!

ps: RED SOX SUCK!

A Kennedy in Rehab? Why am I not surprised

2006-05-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

Some interesting news today: Sen.Ted Kennedy's son, a congressman from Rhode Island, has announced that he's entering rehab. He was in a car crash a couple of days ago, and blamed the crash on pain killers. Hmmm, who else was a famous pill popper? Ah yes, like uncle like nephew! Uncle JFK sure knew how to consume all sorts of pills and invigorating substances while he was in the Oval Office. And good old Dad has had plenty of experience dealing with the law (like the time he got drunk and drove into a lake, killing his female companion).

I can't stand the Kennedys! Granted, they've had their share of bad luck. Several tragic deaths. JFK's legacy though is kept honorable today only because he died young. He was not a great president, and people would have found out in time about all of his different affairs with underage girls, questionable substances, etc. Oh, and how he and his brother both got a little too intimate with Marilyn Monroe and then had had enough and decided to kill her.

Joseph Kennedy, the father of JFK, was a crooked, spoiled, anti-semetic, dishonest, and dishonorable man. He made his fortune bootlegging during the Prohibition period. He cheated on his wife and bragged about it. He lied about his upbringing, saying he was an underprivileged boy who had to work his way up to success, but in reality, his father was one of the most influential and wealthy men in Boston.

I'm sick of the Kennedy's ability to avoid all the horrible things they've done by hiding behind their good looks and tragedies. JFK Jr, JFK, RFK, Michael....all died far too young and it's very tragic. But these tragic deaths can't hide the fact that the Kennedy family has been full of crooked and dishonest men. It's disgusting as far as I'm concerned.

If I was GM of the Pacers...

2006-05-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

I just returned from the Pacers game tonight...which turned out to be their last game of the season. Like last year, what started out as a very promising season ended up in disappointment, largely because of Ron Artest. I made a mistake in thinking Artest would be a changed man this season. He wasn't. It was also disappointing not to have Peja for most of the playoffs, since he was the guy we got for Artest in the first place.

Here's some suggestions/predictions/etc for next season:
-Get rid of Jamaal Tinsley. Get rid of Jamaal Tinsley. Get rid of Jamaal Tinsley: Anthony Johnson has proven that he can play and more importantly run the team efficiently. Tinsley has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career, but that's not enough. We need consistency at point, and Tinsley doesn't give us that.
-Play Jasikevicius more: Sarunas played very well for most of the regular season, and then for some reason, Carlisle stopped playing him as much. Yes, Sarunas struggled these final few games, but anyone would if they're not seeing consistent playing time. He's our best shooter, and he needs to have AT LEAST 15 minutes each night.
-Cherish Danny Granger and protect him with your life!: This guy is a special talent, and the Pacers's future success depends on him.
-Change the offense: Besides the end of this season, I like Coach Carlisle. But we need to change the offense. The slowed-down, half-court offense has not worked well enough. I'm not saying we need to become a fast-break team. But something needs to change.

Moussaui gets life in prison

2006-05-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to see that just a couple of hours ago Zacarias Moussaui was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 9/11 attacks. Many wanted to see him get the death penalty, and until recently, I would have agreed with these people. But as a Christian with a pretty firm pro-life stance, it just wouldn't make sense for me to wish for the death of another, no matter how terrible his acts were.

Forgiveness is perhaps Jesus's most important teaching. I don't have any direct relations to any of the 9/11 victims, and I'm sure some of their family members are sore and wished Moussaui would have gotten capital punishment. I sympathize with them, and I really can't imagine what it'd be like to be in their position.

I just really can't see any benefit which could come from sending Moussaui to die. It satisfies our need for revenge, which to me is disgusting. If someone can prove to me that killing a murderer can bring back the victims or make up for their absence, let me know. Until then, I'll hold firm to my current view. I can't see how someone like President Bush can be such a strong advocate of the death penalty, and yet call himself a devout Christian. Neither do I understand pro-lifers who advocate for the death penalty, and likeise, pro-choicers who oppose the death penalty. It just doesn't make any sense. Revenge can be an extremely powerful emotion, but as a Christian, I think it's critical that this vice does not inhibit one from making a Christian decision.

This is one of the few serious posts I'll have on the blog, but I just wanted to comment on it.

Where has the great pop ballad gone?

2006-05-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

Listening to the Beatles yesterday, I couldn't help but realize that there is no great pop balladeer or melody writer in today's music (tell me James Blunt is and I'm liable to smash your face unrecognizable!). Joking aside, it's really kind of disheartening. Paul McCartney was the ultimate pop balladeer. "Blackbird" is pleasantly haunting with just his guitar and smooth voice. "Let It Be" is one of the most well-known Beatles tunes. But my favorite of all is "The Long And Winding Road". The combo of his voice, the lyrics and the violins is simply stunning. McCartney's Beach Boy counterpart Brian Wilson was just as good of a balladeer, except with his mulitiple problems, his career has not been as successful. "Pet Sounds" however, is the ulitmate ballad album. Wilson had (and still does) an uncanny ability to arrange and compose the most beautiful pop ballads. They weren't cheesy either; they were very introspective.

I doubt we'll ever see the likes of a McCartney or Wilson again. Noel Gallagher of Oasis wrote a few great ballads, but he steers his band into an electric rock direction most of the time. I hope I get proven wrong. Our music today desperately needs a balladeer.

Gays make the most addictive music

2006-05-02T21:22:00.000-07:00

I have long held firm to my belief that homosexuals make the most addictive music. Regardless of your views on homosexuality, you'd have to make me a strong case to convince me that gay people don't have an innane talent to make catchy, addictive music. Consider some of the following examples (which are just a few of many)
-Wham! (The 80's duo of George Michael and that other guy Andrew Ridgley: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is perhaps the most addictive song ever! The music video is great, with George wearing multi-colored spandex shorts, gloves, and a shirt that says "Choose life" (who knew George was an anti-abortion activist?)
-Boy George and the Culture Club: If it wasn't for George's unfortunate dabbling in heroin and cocaine among other things, this group might very well be putting out hits still today. "Karma Chameleon" and it's subtle, discrete innuendo along with the amazing music made them a household name. The notorious trumpet intro in "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" is one of the most recognizable intros of any song, and the mellow, melancholic introspection that are "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" make me cry every time I hear it. (well, not really, but at least the song's catchy).
-Queen: I'm sorry, but I just can't agree with music critics who rate this band as one of the all-time greats. I just can't take a band starring a yellow jumpsuited Freddy Mercury seriously. That being said, they made a few catchy tunes. "Radio Ga-ga" is great, and everyone recognizes the famous bass line from John Deacon's "Another One Bites The Dust". There's also the anthemic "We Will Rock You". Yet, I must add that "We Are The Champions" is perhaps the most annoying song I've ever heard, and I wouldn't be disheartened at all if I never had the priviledge of hearing it ever again. Queen wasn't a serious, influential band. They were just a great gay band.
-Petshop Boys: One of my favorites. "West-End Girls" and "Opportunities" are surprisingly deep in their lyrics. Of course, the tunes are catchy as well.
-Devo: I'm not sure if they're gay, but I really hope they are, because that's the only excuse I can find for their questionable attire and queer-like music videos. Everyone knows "Whip It" from the first note.
-Gary Glitter: Not only is he gay, but a pedophile as well. Thank God he's in prison, where ALL pedophiles belong. That being said, his "Rock and Roll Pt.2" is the anthem at all sports stadiums everywhere.
-Soft Cell: "Tainted Love" was revolutionary in the emergence of the 80's synth-pop sound. You can tell by their voices that they're flaming gay. And British.
-Kraftwerk: One of the most underrated bands of all time. Their influence on future bands can't be ignored. I count them as gay merely because of their album photo for the cover of "Man Machine" where all the members are wearing red lipstick and slicked back, feminine hair. "Neon Lights" is my favorite of theirs, with "The Robots" coming in at a close second, followed by "Trans-Europe Express".
-A Flock of Seagulls: How can they NOT be gay? "I Ran (So Far Away)" is one of the songs I used to pump myself up after a hard day or when I'm feeling down. (not really). But it's gay, and it's addictive, so it's on this list.
-Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Their video for "Relax" was banned in the U.S. and for good reason. It's disgusting, and would make Sodom and Gomorrah look like Salt Lake City. But the song's got a great beat and gets everyone dancing. Just don't try and listen to the lyrics. They'll disgust you (unless you're a promiscuous, club-hopping homosexual, then I'm sure you'll enjoy it).
-Rip Taylor: Not a singer, a comedian. But he sings a song on the intro to his webpage www.riptaylor.com, so he makes the list.
-Europop in general: If I was an acid-popping, cocaine-snorting, leather pant-wearing man, I would be in Europe right now club-hopping with the rest of the boys to all the great addictive Europop hits. But since I'm not, I just settle for listening to them in my room. It's good enough, and it's less likely I'll die from AIDS, a drug overdose, etc.

Thanks for reading. Until next time.

Some Miscellaneous Rants

2006-05-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

A few random thoughts:
-Why is Senator Ted Kennedy on the Senate-Judiciary committee? It disturbed me that someone who killed a woman because he drove drunk can question a U.S. Supreme Court Candidate on morals and law-related issues.
-I wish most of the musicians of today would just shut-up, especially Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, Kelly Clarkson, James Blunt and The Shins.
-Why the hell don't the Pacers play Jasikevicius more?! Johnson's been playing great at point, but Carlisle needs to give Jasikevicius more playing time off the bench. He provides a spark everytime he comes in, plus he's a crowd favorite. Tinsley also needs to leave. He's had 5 years to prove himself, and besides occasional flashes of promise, he's just been an out-of-shape, non-chalant, brick-shooting waste of a roster space.
-Who the hell does George Clooney think he is? Good Night and Good Luck was a good movie, but like Springsteen, he needs to realize that he's an actor, and no more. Leave the humanitarian stuff to the humanitarians. It's a cheap way to try and get attention and praise, George. And your Oscar acceptance speech this year was pathetic.
-Why did Paul Lynde have to die? We need his comedy more than ever today. Luckily, Rip Taylor is still alive and doing great. www.riptaylor.com
-The Who are going on tour this year!
-What the hell was up with the Texans passing up Reggie Bush in the first round?! If nothing else, they needed to pick Bush to gain fan support and attendance after a pathetic season last year. Mario Williams will not do that. Williams padded his sacks up last year in blow-out wins at NC State as well. Reggie Bush is a player that comes around about once every 7-10 years, and the Texans will dearly pay for this. Mark my word: The Saints WILL make the play-offs this year, and actually advance in them as well. GM Charlie Casserly has written his own death warrant in Houston.
-No, I don't feel comfortable allowing Iran and its psychopath president to continue on with their nuclear program. Yet it does feel strange that we, who have nuclear weapons, can tell others not to build them. There was that famous answer Bush or one of his aides gave when a reporter asked why they support Israel having a nuclear program and not Iran: "Because Israel is a non-Arab state surrounded by hostile Arab nations". (for those of you who don't know, Iran, though Muslim, is NOT an Arab state, and has faced it's fair share of hostility from its neighbors as well).

Yankees will prevail

2006-05-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

So the Yankees lost tonight to their disgusting arch-rival, the Red Sox. Besides the fact that it spoiled Johnny Damon's return to (over-rated and run-down) Fenway Park, I'm not really worried. Damon's bat is finally hot, Giambi's back to his MVP form, Jeter's hitting .400 and A-Rod will pick up in no time. Hideki's in a bit of a slump, but he'll snap out of it too. Good news as well that Sheff's collision with Hillenbrand over the weekend vs. the Jays isn't serious.

Pitching-wise, Moose has been fantastic, with one of the lowest E.R.A.'s in the game right now. The Big Unit always intimidates opposing batters, Chacon's put together consecutive good outings, and Wang pitched a decent game tonight despite the loss. The big loss this year is Flash Gordon at set-up. Hopefully Farnsworth can pick up the slack, and as always, if the Yankees have the lead in the 8th, the game's over, because Mariano is money and in, my opinion, the most dominating player of his generation.

And if any BoSox fans wanna get into an argument, two words: Twenty-Six. Trust me, the Boss isn't going to let another year pass without a World Series title. The Sox won't even make the playoffs, as they're only the 3rd best team in the AL East as the Jays have grabbed the 2-spot.

And for all those Cubs fans who say this is the year, keep telling yourself that. You've been saying that for almost a century, and we all know what's happened. I really believe Sosa will curse the Cubs just like the Babe cursed the BoSox.

Go Yankees!!!

political turn-around

2006-05-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

In just one year at college, I've drastically changed my political views. I came into Wabash as a pretty staunch conservative. But now, at year's end, I'm a champagne socialist. Lenin made a lot of sense after reading him last night. I've always said Marx was crazy, but he did point out that there is injustice among classes in the world, and nowhere is this injustice more prevalent than in our country today. I think Marxism is stupid and impractical, but Lenin's NEP makes sense. Conservatives in this country worry too much about issues like gay marriage. I'm not a vocal supporter of gay marriage. But it's not one of the more important issues today.

I wouldn't really call myself a liberal though. I'm pro-life (except in extreme circumstances) and I hate their economic policy. I do wish Clinton was back in office, but he really didn't control the economy, just like Reagan really didn't in his years when the economy was booming. People need to understand that the president really has no control over our economy. We really need a third political party in this country.

Sick of Springsteen

2006-05-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

I'm getting real sick of Bruce Springsteen. He's one of several musicians today who feels like he has to give his political opinion on everything. He's part of the reason I was turned off by the democrats in 2004. I get insulted when someone like him tells me how to vote. Plus, he hasn't done a hardcore electric album in a while. Devils and Dust was pretty good, but the new one of Pete Seeger songs? Come on Bruce! Pete Seeger?! Get back to your "Born to Run" roots, and stop it with this acoustic crap. You're no Bob Dylan or Johnny Cash.