My New Year's Eve 2009

In the heyday of his youth, the Blog used to dj New Year’s Eve parties; one night I dj’ed five hours in a row without a break (and for the curious, the spirits were served to me so I would not have to leave the deck). How times change. Tonight, in lieu of the 16th Street Mall festivities or the 11th and Lincoln Arby’s festivities (I wonder if the police are barking up the wrong tree; perhaps the gangs were dueling over the last roast beef sandwich instead of E-40), I took my son to Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo. What better way to remind one’s self of what 2008 represented than a trip to the Pachyderm House? Happy New Year to everyone!!!

Gone With the Wind

It was almost like the Wizard of Oz, but in this case, the Wizard of Odd, as hurricane-force wind gusts blew the entire city of Brighton into Kansas (and the eagle to Arkansas). No word on whether the city transformed from black-and-white to technicolor after the dislocation. Also no word as to whether The Dark Side of the Moon was playing in the background or what happened to the Judy Garland groupies. Kansas officials refuse to comment, but there are rumors that they are working around the clock to construct a wind-turbine to send Brighton back to Colorado (or some other state). Brighton residents were equally dismayed becuase they could no longer utter their favorite saying, "You're not in Kansas anymore."

Club Vinyl -- $20 Cover, Open Bar, and Free Shootings

Intersting details are arising from the investigation into the fatal shooting of five people outside Club Vinyl early Saturday morning. One, I discovered that the Arbys is actually open at 2 am. Two, the police and City Council are trying to place some blame on E-40, the rapper who performed that night, saying he tends to attract rival gangs. How do they know this? Did they conduct a study of all the venues he has played? Three, E-40’s moniker refers to the fact he is 41 (presumably he came up with it when he was 40; in which case it should now be E-41). The “E” apparently refers to his first name, Earl. Certainly one thing we should blame this guy for is his lame rap moniker. No one gets it. WD-40 would have been a better choice. Or even French Vanilla Ice.

This is what the soon-to-be-defunct Rocky had to say:

The rapper, originally from Vallejo, Calif., is 41 and on his MySpace page, boasts he's a "rap innovator, a business-savvy tycoon and one of the music industries most consistent success stories."
His raps are varied - a track called Earl urges youths not just to dream of being athletes or entertainers but to become lawyers as well.
However, he also raps about being a drug dealer and a pimp and has a track, Pole, as an homage to strippers.

Apparently his message encouraging law as a profession got lost in the translation. Or perhaps the shooters thought he was encouraging them to get to know the legal system and/or hire lawyers.

I will keep you posted regarding further developments.

I finally moved past . . .

. . . the stunning picture of Jennifer Aniston on the cover of GQ to actually read the article. It turns out she might have been the dumper in the initial break-up with John Mayer. And it is nothing to do with the fact that he is a playah. Apparently he likes to kiss and tell in his blog and that irked the very private Jen. But they are back together trying to sort these issues out. She had not heard any of his songs, including Your Body is a Wonderland (he was smart to keep the "your" nondescript), prior to meeting him. I guess she was living under a rock.

Did I tell you . . .

That LiLo is also loves Ladyhawke (not in the same sense that she loves Samantha Ronson; then again who knows). Here is what she had to say as she takes a break from recording her new album/hangin' in da clubs:

more music!!!!!!!!

i love this group.
i was actually searching on itunes not too long ago and was getting the album for "the black ghosts" and saw Ladyhawke on the same page. mixture of 80s pop/new wave and i'm pretty much obsessed with their entire vibe.

check out: my delirium, magic, and paris is burning.

whole record is dope but those are my personal favorites so far... hope to hear more from them!!

lots of love
LL

 

Abstinence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

From today's Washington Post:

Teenagers who pledge to remain virgins until marriage are just as likely to have premarital sex as those who do not promise abstinence and are significantly less likely to use condoms and other forms of birth control when they do, according to a study released today.

The new analysis of data from a large federal survey found that more than half of youths became sexually active before marriage regardless of whether they had taken a "virginity pledge," but that the percentage who took precautions against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases was 10 points lower for pledgers than for non-pledgers.

"Taking a pledge doesn't seem to make any difference at all in any sexual behavior," said Janet E. Rosenbaum of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, whose report appears in the January issue of the journal Pediatrics. "But it does seem to make a difference in condom use and other forms of birth control that is quite striking."

Does this mean that The Jonas Brothers actually may be getting jiggy with it?

Movies of the Year, Part I

This is going to take a while mainly because I have not seen many of the contenders. But I have one that I know will be near the top of the list, if not the top of the list – Slumdog Millionaire. Danny Boyle, the man who gave us Trainspotting, manages to morph into a Bollywood director. But the songs and the dancing get lost in transit. What does arrive is a movie that one could deem staggeringly linear but with many detours along the way. While it eschews many of the standard Bollywood elements it does capture its essence, a man and woman in love facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles with tragedy or joy being equally likely outcomes or perhaps even co-existent outcomes. The narrative style is original beyond compare, and the insight into the New India culture and the widening rich/poor gap, as well as the caste structure morphing into a mafia culture, are some of the many gems this movie so generously offers. And, oh yes, a song and dance finally arrives.

Tracks of the Year

Use Somebody, Kings of Leon: It took me a while, years, in fact, after seeing them open for R.E.M., to get them; but they got me with this song, and I suspect they reined in many others as well.

I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You, Black Kids: Hands down, the best song title of the year; this is the song The Cure hoped to craft to remain relevant, but their failure resigns them to the role of "influence."

My Delirium, Ladyhawke: She could have arguably occupied five spots in this list, but that would not make it fun, would it? Her delirium becomes my delirium.

Time to Pretend, MGMT: They probably could have taken the other five spots. This song is the one that introduced me to them, and it was the freshest, and most subtly retro, sound of the year.

Love In This Club, Usher featuring Lil Wayne – I saw Usher open for Janet a few years ago, and hated every song he did. That trend continued until this song. Totally incendiary.

Paper Planes, M.I.A. – This song kept resurrecting fueled by appearances on the Pineapple Express and Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. Its distorted advocacy yielded to its Clash-like tunefulness.

Work, Kelly Rowland: A run-of-the-mill dance song until the Freemasons got their hands on it and transformed it into a floor-filler extraordinaire.

Great DJ/That's Not My Name, The Ting Tings: It is impossible for me to differentiate between these two songs that demonstrate the versatility of this one man/one woman band. Plus they made it on Yo Gabba Gabba.

I Will Possess Your Heart, Death Cab for Cutie: After following him on this epic eight minute voyage, you know he can possess anything. Haunting in the manner Disintegration was.

Carry Feelings, South Rakkas Crew – Gangster dancehall that's original; a rare feat indeed.

Disturbia, Rihanna: The hits keep rolling for the songstress whose future is so bright she needs an umbrella.

Forever, Chris Brown: He showed that he is more than Rihanna's boy toy. A worthy successor to JT.

Life in a Northern Town, Sugarland: They countrify an 80s classic and elicit even deeper hues from the song.

Miracle Cure, Blank & Jones: Any song featuring a member of New Order automatically makes this list.

Sentimental Heart, She & Him: Dare I say that Zooey does a better job than Scarlett at the actress/singer thing? OK, I said it.

4 Minutes, Madonna & Friends: I don't know how they did it; but they saved it; what it is, I don't know.

Epic Love Song, Does It Offend You, Yeah?: Simply epic.

Just for Tonight, One Night Only: Takes the 80s song template, perfects it, and destroys the template.

Wow, Kylie Minogue: A world without Kylie is a world without sun; glad to have her back.

Unusual You, Brit – I am not kidding about this one. Her wisdom and depth will surprise you.

Albums of the Year

Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke: A magical elixir that fuses Fleetwood Mac, Blondie, and a mid-20s artiste who has an incredibly keen insight on modern life coupled with infectious grooves.

MGMT – Oracular Spectacular: These guys from Brooklyn manage to do the impossible – unite Pink Floyd fans and dance mavens into contemplative whirling dervishes.

Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours : I saw them at the Larimer Lounge where they stole the show from The Black Kids; Depeche Mode without the pontification; not that I needed to be convinced, but the sinewy dancing of one of the women attending the concert sealed the deal; this band raptures and enraptures.

Hercules and Love Affair -- Hercules and Love Affair: An album where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Not sure what I mean by that, but when I know, I will let you know.

Kate Nash – Made of Bricks: Only a 2008 album in the US, but that is our reality. She rose to the top of the class of the wave of UK Sirens.

Florence and the Machines – I am not sure if their album has even been completed, but if it contains the two singles from 2008, it will be one of the albums of the decade.

Paul Weller, 22 Dreams: Over 30 years of music, touching virtually every genre; I don't know how he does it, but I am glad he continues doing it.

Rihanna, Good Girl Gone Bad: Six hits kept this album in the charts year round.

Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend: Not necessarily my cup of tea genre-wise, but a very accomplished debut, and they do hail from one of my alma maters.

Sigur Ros, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust: Move past the Icelandic lyrics you can never hope to understand and focus on the magical, mystical sounds.

The Ting Tings, We Started Nothing: Their album's sound is all the more amazing considering it is just a duo.

 

Is Circus this decade’s Sgt. Pepper?

The rave reviews keep pouring in for Circus, Brit's epic new album. Here is what famed singer and music connoisseur, Lindsay Lohan, had to say:

i feel like Britney Spears is an amazing talent, and she has gone through a lot, (just as i have) in the public eye.. which is not necessarily a bad thing.. It teaches young girls and boys that there are certain things in life that you should not let get in the way of your dreams and accomplishments. also that you need to take care of yourself before anyone else, and i mean anyone and everyone else. because at the end of the day, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and see who you really are. stripped of all the distractions in life. so YAY Britney for just being you and still following through with your dreams. i know i am a bit late in writing about this record since it came out already, but better late than never!!!! :)

She recommends:

check out:
unusual you
phonography
if you seek amy-look at the title and listen to the chorus carefully ;)
shattered glass
blur

I did not look at the title and listen to the chorus, or the song, so I am not sure what the big discovery is.

Here is another review, from K Fed:

Brit's new album is the jam on my toast. I like to listen to muzak versions of the songs and create my own lyrics and dance moves. So buy the album now so I can get more alimony!

OK, I made that last review up.

Congrats to Gonzaga

Congratulations to Gonzaga for playing such a tight exhibition game against the Portland Trailblazers. They kept it close and lost by only seven points, 77-70. It was gutsy of them to schedule a NBA team exhibition during their season. Oh, wait. They did not play the NBA Portland team. They played Portland State, a Big Sky team. Not heard much about them? Well that could be due to the fact that they only reinstated basketball in 1997 and have never beaten a ranked team besides the Zags. To their credit, Portland St. did give the powerhouse MEAC team, Hampton, a run for their money until falling in overtime. Looks like a long drop from No. 4 for the Zags.

Breaking News . . .

. . . from MTV.

Lauren and Heidi take the first step to a possible reconciliation in Hills Season Ten by talking. They both miss each other but can't take the steps to fully bridge the gap.


And the next Real World will be in Brooklyn. And one of the cast members is Mormon. I can't wait.

The Greenest Band

Kudos to The Pussycat Dolls. I was just watching them on The Hills Aftershow and they are by far the band that goes the extra mile for conservation by using the minimum amount possible for their outfits. They also help conserve energy for sound systems by lip synching.

The Heated Bidding

For those of you waiting by the edge of your seat to find out what the final bid will be on Scarlett's mucus -- with six hours left -- the bidding stands at $4050.

Invesco Needs a Roof

I was at the coldest game ever at Invesco, and all I can ask is why me? I don’t like either the Bills or Broncos but I was appreciative of my friend’s offer to attend the game. Of course, I accepted the offer two weeks ago when I would not have suspected the arctic tundra I would face. We were supposed to eat lunch at a bar before the game, but it was closed so we headed to the stadium. As a result we were there in Section 537, Row 27, one hour before the game started. Luckily we were on the sunny side, but since it was the winter solstice this was the sun at its weakest. Once halftime rolled around, the cold was penetrating all my lines of defense (much like the Bills offense did in the second half to the Broncos lines of defense). In the third quarter, while intrigued by the Bills suddenly turning into the 60s Green Bay Packers, I was hoping one team would get far ahead enough that we could leave early. By the 4th quarter, I realized that I would not be so lucky so I headed to the Men’s Room. It was heavenly; one of the few places in Invesco, particularly on the 5th level with heat. At that point I wished the Men’s Room was like the Ladies Room in plush hotels (not that I have ever been in one) where they have a lounge area. I would have gladly lounged in the Men’s Room for the rest of the game. But I went back and endured the long 4th quarter that comes with both teams passing in a tight game. Finally Stokley drops the desperation 4th down pass in the end zone and we can begin the long trek back to the car. The return of my extremities to a normal temperature would take much longer.

I think the time has come for a roof over Invesco. Given the Broncos woeful record at home we can throw out the notion that the natural elements given them some sort of advantage. Either put in a roof or don't stop the clock for anything.

For Those Who Love, Have Ever Loved, Or Hope to Love Again

This is what it is all about. Of course, I had to use The OC as the soundtrack. WARNING: There is a Strip Scrabble scene in the video.

I just want to see you
When you’re all alone
I just want to catch you if I can
I just want to be there
When the morning light explodes
On your face it radiates
I can’t escape
I love you till the end

I just want to tell you nothing
You don’t want to hear
All I want is for you to say
Why don’t you just take me
Where I’ve never been before
I know you want to hear me
Catch my breath
I love you till the end

I just want to be there
When were caught in the rain
I just want to see you laugh not cry
I just want to feel you
When the night puts on its cloak
I’m lost for words don’t tell me
All I can say
I love you till the end

Scarlett's Snot is Priceless

I was watching the Tonight Show and Scarlett Johannson was on promoting The Spirit. She had a cold which she claims she got from Samuel Jackson and she said she kind of felt like it was valuable -- a celebrity cold. So Jay suggested she blow her nose into a Kleenex and they would put it on eBay. Said blowing resulted not only in a deposit of a lot of snot (her words), but also on lipstick. It is currently on eBay and the current high bid is $1025.

This is the eBay description:

During her 12/17/08 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Scarlett Johansson blamed her cold on The Spirit co-star Samuel L. Jackson, saying she caught it from him. She believed that for this reason her cold had some "value." During her appearance on The Tonight Show, she blew her nose into a tissue provided by Jay Leno. All proceeds of this sale will benefit USA Harvest, the charity of Scarlett Johansson's choice.

Best.English.Actress.(Current)

Truly amazing in Atonement.

Best.Canadian.Export.Ever.

I can't wait for the new season of 24.

Best.Stocking.Stuffer.Ever.

In the ultimate example of an advertising campaign that's ripe for the internet, Burger King Holdings (NYSE: BKC) started selling Flame, a $3.99 perfume for men that smells like -- wait for it -- a flame-broiled hamburger. And an informal Boston Herald survey reveals that the scent of a burger appeals to some people.
Burger King, which sells Flame through Rickey's, a New York City retailer, and at firemeetsdesire.com, bills Flame as "a new men's body spray: the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat." Unbelievably, some who have sniffed this concoction find it appealing.


But wouldn't it just be easier to take your date to Burger King? I guess the fear there is that she may jump the counter and attack the Whopper chef.

The Golden Fox Returns II

The documentary is perhaps one of the most powerful and riveting methods of communicating social, political and/or historical messages. Consider The Civil War by Ken Burns, Michael Moore’s missives, or Hearts and Minds, on the Vietnam War. I had the opportunity to watch such a consciousness-raising and attitude-altering documentary --- Britney: For the Record. I was one of the many that had written off Brit at the start of the year after the incident at her house, the Dr. Phil intervention, and dating that photographer. But the documentary showed a Britney revitalized in spirit and body, but at the same time still vulnerable. We see her doing what she does best: dancing, shopping, and running from the paparazzi. But she also revealed some of her inner fears. Instead of disgust, it made me want to give her a big hug and tell her everything will be ok. And it will be. The appearance at the Madonna concert, her new album, and stunning videos demonstrate unequivocally that the Brit is back; and what a better world it is because of that. It would be a crime if Britney: For the Record fails to win the Oscar for Best Documentary.

The Golden Fox Returns I

I was returning to Denver Thanksgiving Sunday on a flight from Indianapolis when, lo and behold, who do I run into at the terminal – The Golden Fox. Admittedly she did look a bit lost as DIA is nothing like the GV. But other than that she looked her sporty self with a Victroinox windbreaker (I wonder if she has the matching luggage) and being the devoted student of the law that she is – a law textbook and a study outline. While many of us would plunge into the latest best seller, she was reading case law. Let me just say I was brimming with pride. It almost made up for the fact that she had blown me off for much of the semester failing to stay in contact unlike the other interns, and not providing any good fodder for the Blog. She has promised to “hang” over winter break so maybe we can get some stories out of that. By the way, this is the second time I have bumped into her in a location filled with thousands of people. The last time was at Coors Field where she was being squired by that guy who flew her down to Belize (which apparently is the new hot spot – so we will give her some trend points for that one).

A Run for Hope

This morning I stood out for about 90 minutes in zero degree weather (with the wind it felt like -18 degrees). Why? I was manning a water stand for 100 runners participating in the Shell’s Bells Run to Recovery. It was in honor of one of the assistants at my son’s school, Shelly.

Early in 2008, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. A couple surgeries and rounds of chemo later, she has found herself at MD Anderson in a clinical research trial - experimental treatment not covered by insurance. The treatment alone has an estimated cost of $75,000 over the next 3 months. So her family and friends organized this run to raise money for the treatment. Unfortunately they missed the warm weather by a day, but that did not deter the participants and volunteers. And Shelly showed up as well; a shell of her former self, but still with a fighting spirit.

For those who think our health care system is adequate; it is. It is adequate if you never have cancer, a heart attack, MS, birth defects, disabilities. But if you have a serious disease, or God forbid, a rare disease (Shelly has an extremely rare form of ovarian cancer), the right to life, the right to keep fighting for your life, comes at an unfathomable cost. Today’s run probably will not cover the full cost of the treatment so Shelly and her family will likely have to continue to find other sources. So as their beloved fights for her life, her family’s ability to console and support has to be balanced by their ability to fundraise.

So next time you think about substantive reform to our health care system, think what if I was faced with finding hundreds of thousands of dollars to give a loved one a chance to live. There surely must be a better way; but only if we dare.

Best.Use.Of.A.Necktie.Ever.

Although I must say the tie is a bit conservative.

The Lankan Little Prince

In honor of my 200th post, I thought I would finally clue you in as to the title of my blog (yes, I am sure you have been anxiously waiting on the edge of your seat for this one). But first a trip back to my high school years (yes, I am a brave soul). In high school, I was told that I am like two characters in literature. Normally I would brush such things off especially since one of the people making the comparison was my AP English teacher who used to like to imbibe during the day and at one point asked me to handle the grading of some of her classes (but I do digress). As you can probably surmise, one of the characters was The Little Prince, hence the Lankan Little Prince since I am from Lanka. For those of you who have not read this classic nugget of literature, it was penned by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Here is a brief analysis from a critic on the character of The Little Prince:

The Little Prince is the main character and protagonist of the novel. The book is the story of his search for answers about what is important in life. The Little Prince has always lived on a distant star, Asteroid B-612. One day a new flower grows up on his planet. He finds the plant to be lovely and believes it is one of a kind in the universe; as a result, he believes himself to be a rich man, the owner of a unique and valuable treasure. He nurtures and cares for the flower, making sure that no harm comes to it. Unfortunately, the flower also believes herself to be beautiful and unique. Because of her vanity, she exaggerates about herself more and more. Finally, the Little Prince can stand her bragging no more. He decides to leave his star to get away from the flower and to travel to various planets, seeking the answers to life.
Before he arrives on earth, the Little Prince visits five planets. On each of them he learns a new lesson. For example, from the switchman he learns that it is crazy to rush forward through life, never happy with the place where one finds himself. From the businessman, he learns that most wealthy people are too busy counting their assets to appreciate and enjoy life. From the geographer, he learns that facts and figures often hide the real meaning of life.

Finally, the Prince reaches planet Earth and finds himself in a desert. The first creature he meets is a snake, who promises that he can send the Little Prince back to his star when he is ready. The Prince never forgets the snake’s promise and later returns to the creature to seek his assistance. The Little Prince then meets a fox who teaches him the most important lesson of all: one cannot really see with one’s eye; instead one must feel with one’s heart in order to understand the true meaning of things. Because of the fox, the Little Prince begins to understand the he really loves his flower and needs to return to his star to take care of her.
Next the Little Prince meets the narrator, whose airplane has crashed in the desert. The two of them become friends, and the Little Prince tells him about his travels to the other planets and what he has learned from each of them. He also tells him what he has learned from the fox. The narrator is charmed by the Little Prince because of his sincerity, truthfulness, and child-like innocence and purity. He feels that the Prince has actually “tamed” him, just as the Prince tamed the fox. When he realizes that the Little Prince is going home, the narrator is greatly saddened, knowing he will miss his friend.

Before the Prince is bitten by the snake and returns to his star, he gives the narrator one last direction. He tells him to look up at the stars and imagine them laughing; then he is to think about the Little Prince and their friendship.

I will leave it for you to decide the aptness of the comparison. As for the other character, I will save that for my 250th post.

The Cutting Edge

As you know, the Blog likes to keep its readers ahead of the curve on the latest style trends. The accompanying picture demonstrates what is sure to be the hottest hairstyle for 2009 and beyond. It is a type of faux mohawk/mullet hybrid so I will call it the “MulletHawk”. The best thing about it is its unisex nature, so ladies feel free to sport this trendy “do” as well.