Hey

Start your own revolution!!!

-The Dude

D'OH

It turns out Al Queda is a threat to American Safety again. Did I wake up in 2002?

My ass burns...does that mean anything?

GFY

The Ultimate Top Five Begins

This weeks Podcast by Bill Simmons is freaking awesome. His conversation will the great Marv Albert, and subsequent discussion with his homie about the awful start to the season by the Yanks, certainly made up for that lame discussion last week with Alton from the Real World.

YesSSS!!!!


Now on to the reason for this post. I was asked last week by a student who the five greatest rock and roll bands of all time were. I was torn.Normally I explode into my list. Based on my IPOD data, I consider the best rock and roll bands ever to be RATM, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, U2, and Tool by simple rate of airplay. Clearly there is a generational and genre bias at play here.

Now I consider my opinions to be profound, but I no longer consider myself a ego maniac. The situation in class became a moral quandry. Do I promote the groups I promote, or as a teacher, provide an objective view with the addendum that it really all depends on each person to create their own list. I was objective, kinda.

The list I told the kids was the following,
1.The Beatles
2.The Rolling Stones
3.Led Zeppelin
4.Pink Floyd
5.U2

I told them any objective person would need to have the top two, but after that it would ultimately boil down to personal taste. I chose to look at what is the overall perception amonsgt music folks who write for Rolling Stone, Blender, Spin, and ughhh..MTV.com Over the coming weeks I will expand on my decision and explore these five bands, trying to decipher the five greatest songs from each band.

However, first a few thoughts on the list.

A.Yes, the list has a European Bias. For whatever the reason, the British Isles have taken a musical form born in America (Rock and Roll) and created the most imaginative possibilities for its progression as an art form.

B. Yes, there is a Gender Bias. Beyond a few bands here or there, men have dominated rock and roll. As a male, and despite being raised my a single mother, I have been far more prone to being influenced by men then women when it has come to music. I currently have 680 songs on my IPod. Only 1 song is a song that is sung by a women. It is just impossible for me to put Heart or The Go-Go's over any of these bands.

C.No, the two greatest American band of all time, Rage Against The Machine and The Doors did not make the list. I had to be objective, and that meant putting my own tastes to the side as much as possible.

D. Yes, the inclusion of U2 is controversial. The students were down right pissed off about it, like I had slaughtered their pets before their eyes. (The only area of life my students have shown any consistent sophistication is in the their concepts on the world of music. It is a great uniter of populations.) However, if you can name a band that has dominated the music world more then U2 over the past 27 years, please tell me. It was also essential to include a band whose career has spanned the 80's and 90's. While watered down by more lame music acts and the horrors of the commercialization that made Britney Spears a Superstar, these decades were still filled with profound music by rock and roll bands that transcended the music world and came to symbolize the lives and issues that affected people during that generation. No band of the past 27 years has done this better then U2.

Until next time, this is that freaky beatnik The Prez saying, catch you on the flipside you cool cats.....

The GOP Blues

Fred Dalton Thompson....Law and Order wind bag....potential candidate for President in 2008.

Fred Thompson’s main claim to fame is being as an actor/politician. Now GOP strategists are trying to remake this oafish sloth into a Reagan-esque charismatic man of the common people.

I am a bit disgusted by the whole charade. The country needs leaders, not more fake grandstanding on behalf of people who see that control is slipping from their cold dieing hands. What's next, Bo Derek as Secretary of Education?

Fred Thompson is riding the wave of a bizarre campaign by Fox News and other conservative media outlets to find a “true conservative “. It shows just how desperate the GOP is at the moment. It is like having a kazoo solo in the middle of a depressing song about madness.

If this guy ends up President, he will make President Bush look like FDR. This is the guy who routinely said he did not like how much work was involved in being a Senator. Can you imagine him as the POTUS? A Fred Dalton Thompson presidency hurts America. Lazy Presidents rely on military action instead of the effort required to be a true statesmen. However, a Thompson run could further damage the GOP, which is fine. I’m torn…..

Anyway..Its good to be back

Strength and Honor.....

The Year in Review

The tenuous life of the Prez has taken a few twists and turns in recent weeks. As he continues to be tempted by the existence of the Powerball Lottery and the Travel Channel, along with the bizarre escapist mindset it creates, it is time for the May version of the The Best of 2007.

As in the past, these are the opinions of just one man…albeit a particular tough talkin’, intellectually stimulated, piece of man meat.

Best Rock Duo of the Year
Local H
No other duo really matters…..really…Anyone else is just an imitator…even that group from D-Town….with that virtuoso guitarist and shitty drummer….yeah that one.

Best Album of the Year
1.The Nightwatchman-One Man Revolution……pure genius.
2.Nine Inch Nails-Year Zero…..Rezner in all his pessimistic glory. Like all of the past albums, A crazy combination of Thom Yorke’s solo stuff and Metallica’s energy.
3.John Mellencamp-Freedom’s Road….Did you know, this is Ouuurrrrrrr Counnnntryyyy
4.Arcade Fire-Neon Bible……..For everyone’s inner indie rock vagina monologue.

Waiting on Radiohead, Metallica, GnR, Dr.Dre, Velvet Revolver….making the list above practically useless. Sorry.

Best Film
1.The 300-You know I loved the trailers, and the film lived up the intensity of the hype. No clip needed. You have seen them all.
2.Blades of Glory-The second in the Will Ferrall sports trilogy was good. Better then the first.
3.The Grindhouse- Tarentino and Rodriguez…enough said.

Best Politician
1.Ron Paul-The Republican X factor?
2.Hillary Clinton-Kicking Ass and taking names, and unifying Republicans everywhere...
3.Obama-has gained one name status. Now he needs an issue...
4.Mitt Romney-The old man parties flip-flopper. But what about that Smile!
5. Chris Dodd- Won the 1st democratic debate in many people’s eyes, but has the most ground to make up..

Worst Fantasy Baseball picks so far
1.Chris Carpenter-Ouch!
2.Mark Texeria- Mr.Tex should have been called Mr.Juice.
3.BJ Ryan-Ouch!
4.Dice K and Ervin Santana-Don’t believe the hype?
5.Jason Giambi-Because cheaters should never be cheered. Has anyone been more forgotten in the Steroids Scandal then the Giambino? I blame the media and it’s NY bias. Then we wonder how ESPN can do reports on people thinking the Anti-Berry Bonds crowd is racist.


Best News of the Year
1.Randy Moss traded to New England-It makes me smile every time I think about it.
2.Rage Against the Machine Reunites-An electric performance at Coachella '07. Its time for more! Those guys are the Mick and Keith of progressive musical activism.
3.Mavericks Lose! Mavericks Lose!- The longer Stephen Jackson's season is extended the greater the chances of a "Stephen Jackson Moment"

Remember kids…This land is your land

NFL Draft Day One

The eleven hour marathon day one of the 2007 NFL Draft drilled home a consistent point, to paraphrase Lupica, "No One Knows Anything". As the Prez wallows in self pity, at least he didn't lose out on 20 million bucks in four hours like Brady Quinn.

The Patriots
In the past six years the peeps have learned to not question Belichick and Peoli when it comes to evaluating talent. That said, I would grade day one with a C. We had two number ones (24, 28) and an number three (91). The selection of combo safety Brian Meriweather came with questions less about his versitility then about his suspect character. Does the player help at a much needed position, certainly. However, by trading pick 28 to the Niners for next years number one and a pick in round four (110) this year. They then traded pick 91 to the Raiders for a 3rd rounder in 2008.

My major problem with trading pick 28 is that:
A. We need young linebackers, and there were a few of high interest that were available. (Puzluzney, Harris)
B. There is no guarentee the Niner's round one pick will be a complete score. The niners are an up can coming team. The team of my youth, they appear to be stocking a group of young talent as the cheap ass owners hold the city hostage over the building of new stadium. That pick could be as low as a top 15 pick, but the Niners could be a playoff team if the loss of Norv Turner is just a blip on the development of Alex Smith( who should have a healthy Vernon Davis all season.)

.....The Patriots just traded a round four pick for Randy Moss. We still need young LB's,but I renounce everything I just said.

Clearly, no one knows anything...especially me.

In Belichick and Peoli we trust....

Finally,

Its is August 24th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things are about to change.... I got my copy via Itunes.