March 2006 Archives

So sorry about the week of absence. Once again, I must blame the full-time job. I suppose there are some of us that just shouldn't work full time, it keeps us from doing important things, like writing regular posts. So, without further ado I would like to talk about memory - what a great transition.

This subject seems to be coming up in me head with the utmost frequency. Either it is a reminder that my short term memory is terrible (yes, I know, but it isn't the drugs y'all, even when I was little the short-term memory was crap - unless I was doing drugs then?) even with little mundane tasks or people reminding me of things/times gone by. Pictured is a long-standing memory that Dale and I share, a late night in Athens, probably after imbibing mass amounts of Crown, which revealed a singing Owl that wanted to sing jazzy tunes - please understand ma and pa owl - it's in my soul.

As for my research on the Internets, well it revealed some interesting studies, so take some time and read, won't you?

Craik and Lockhart (1972) argued that the concept of rehearsal alone is not sufficient to account for long-term memory. Rehearsal is a kind of processing but it is not very deep. Craik and Lockhart believed that it is the

Three South African women, whose father wrote "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," have won a six-year battle for royalties in a landmark case that could affect musicians worldwide. How about that for a starter? Yep, I remember reading about this year's ago, one of those stories you hear about someone who creates sumpin', only to die penniless in a gutter. I hate this damn song, always have, but that doesn't mean my main maing Soloman Linda shouldn't have gotten his loot.

No one is saying how many millions will go to the daughters of the late composer, who died in poverty from a curable kidney disease in 1962 at age 53. But the family's settlement with New York-based Abilene Music, which gives Linda's heirs 25 percent of past and future royalties, has broad implications. It means that other creators of songs that were initially good and will be played to death will have their royalties given to the rightful person, the songwriter. Just think how much Lion King on Ice has made off a song with the same notoriety as Kum Ba Yah. Jesus.

And so it goes. Speaking of original work that someday will mean millions to the C$ empire, here is a re-posting of the "Ting Bu Dongs" and "Leche" this is your last chance to download this for free. Snag it.

I have just concluded day six of my day job and there are many thoughts running through my mind. The first being how damn tired I am. I know many of you that have not strayed from the 9 to 5 work world like yours truly are probably having a good laugh right now. Go ahead, you deserve it because I am truly impressed with your ability to tow the line. It sucks getting tired at 9:15, but makes sense because by now I have been awake 16 hours.

Yet, I am still making this entry after finishing my other freelance stuff and the clock ticks. What's more, I know I am hardly alone. In fact, the statistics are rather amazing - gotta love the Internets. Here are just some of the lovely effects of sleep deprivation.

Recent studies have shown that Americans sleep an average of 7 hours each night rather than the 8 hours recommended by sleep experts. Over time, this lack of sleep, can have serious effects on health and relationships. It may even be deadly. Deadly. I know you don't want to mess with a grumpy C$ in the morning.

What are the effects of sleep deprivation?

It isn't clear why we need sleep, but we do know that sleep is as important as food and water. Some experts think sleep helps the brain recharge its energy and store memories for the long term. Sleep also seems to help the body fight off infection. On the other hand, too much sleep can be as harmful as too little. Recent studies have shown that adults who get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night live longer and are less likely to get heart disease than those who sleep less or more.

So there you go. Prolly a bunch of crap y'all already know, but I would like to hear your sleep comments. I would also love to know how your nightly getting-to-sleep rituals, so share, won't you?

In honor of sleepytime, let's listen to one of my favorite bands of all time - Drink Me. Here is "Insomnia" because it is so fitting and "Grant's Tomb" simply because I love the song.

Sweet dreams you crazy kids.

So only have two days under my belt back in the real world and I am already tired at 9:51 p.m. Pretty pathetic me thinks, but what can you do?

Still, things could be worse, I could have been Miss Deaf Texas...wow. Kind of saw and apparently, didn't hear, that one coming. Anyway, such is this macabre, facile and strikingly poetic game we call life. As my glorious Tiger Lillies tell us, the crack of doom is coming soon.

Also, I have to recommend a movie,(other than Unleashed, Thunder) go see/rent The Killing directed by Stanley Kubrick. Sheer genius, just the dialog alone makes it fantastic. My best description would have to be old-timey-fast-speak with a huge dose of sarcasm on top, framed around a caper filmed in black and white like only Kubrick can...'yeah, see, that about sums it up, so don't be given' me any more lip about my description, see?'

Anyway, how about some isht off of Outernational Sound y'all? This disc roks so run out and buy it - I'll give you a little taste right hrrr with Breakestra doing "Cramp Your Style" and the Gimmicks doing "Ya Ma La."

So, the Academy decided to give the Oscar to Crash. As Dr. Bone so eloquently argued, I also question if it was truly the best film of 2006. Sure, it tried to tackle the race issue in the good 'ol US of A, a topic we need to address if any progress will be made.

But, we also can't forget that Crash is a movie and it is supposed to entertain and inform. The story has to come alive and sadly, regardless of the star power that the movie obviously had, it fell short.

I am not saying that the film is not worth seeing, but as Dr. Bone said, it beats you over the head that there is racism in the US, but what else does it say?

As I recently learned from Delores McCain, however, it ain't about the folks in Hollywood or Washington - it's about us. You see, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Ms. McCain and learn about her life and times as a black woman growing up in the 60's and where she sees herself and the civil rights movement today. Now, that my friends, is eye opening and real.

And Delores, as I have learned is her way, boils things down in simple terms. Basically, it's up to us y'all. We determine our world and how positive it can be. The only thing holding us back is ourselves and if we truly learned this lesson, movies like Crash would be a thing of history. If you have the time, please read about Delores here.

Of course, all this said, what would Dr. Bone write about and what would Linwood argue about if we didn't have Crash?

Anyway, let us rok some muzak and it will be good. Here is "People in the City" by Air - fantastic - and "Bad News" by Lyrics Born - listen close to the lyrics, my man is fluid as all hell and he has some incredibly true isht to say...'got to keep perspective on the past and future and laugh.' Damn that's simple and yet, so good.

This was simply too good to leave in the comment section. I didn't ger Juice's permission to post this, so I will probably be on her isht list as well...

'What a timely post, music and racial tension - this has been my past week. At work on Monday I was accused of making a mockery out of black people b/c I have a Snoop Dogg figurine on my desk and I was asked to remove it. Anyone who knows me knows I love Snoop, that's why I have it, making a mockery never even crossed my mind (it's been sitting on my desk for a year and a half). I've refused to remove it, as Dale sometimes says, "they've messed w/ the wrong bitch." So my strategy has been not to go on the defensive, its too outlandish to warrant that. I've been on the offensive, being quite the squeeky wheel. When I started my protest I was told two absurd things: "Why can't you be the bigger person and remove it?" and my favorite "We'd hate for you to be thought of as a trouble maker here." Both of which have only fueled my fire. I think the true misconception is that the little white girl can't like rap/hip-hop so she must be making a joke about it.'

Dale, I know Juice must be the wind beneath your wings. It definitely warms my heart to know she is out there in cube-land wreaking havoc. Based on her and Snoop's greatness, let's rok "Gin and Juice" because it is so apropos and "GZ and Hustlas" because Juice definitely is a G.

Juice, stay up, playa.

As the Bone Machine told ya, the Oscars are this week people. Oscar seems to be another word for popularity contest, but still I am always fascinated who the "Academy" awards and why. To try and prepare for said popularity contest, Dr. Bone has been trying to watch the nominated films to make his own judgements - I have participated in this tuneup and I have my own theories.

First, "Hustle and Flow" should win best picture simply because it shows the power of music to bond and free desperate people out of desperate situations. And it's about hip-hop. I also think that Terrence Howard should win the Oscar for best actor as he seems to channel the street-hustla pimp he portrays in H&F.

Still, I hear that Keith Ledger does a hell of a job as a suppressed gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain" but I haven't seen his performance to verify. On the girls side, I haven't seen one of the movies that the nominees starred in, so I don't know who the hell to vote for - just like an election. Might have to go with the Keira Knightley chicky 'cause I liked her in "Bend it Like Beckham."

Best film ain't much easier, we've got "Brokeback", "Crash" (see the Bone Machine's review), "Capote", "Munich" and "Good Night And Good Luck". Sheesh. I haven't seen any of these so who the hell knows - any input that any of you want to donate, please feel free. If "Unleashed" were released in 2005, I know it would get Thunder's vote.

And for the documentary award, well, don't even get me started because "Grizzly Man" wasn't even nominated. What a huge pile of crap that is, denying the crazy and deranged Timmy Treadwell was a snub I will never forvgive.

Anyway, I was cruising the newsgroups and found two new electronic gems off of Ministry of Sound Chillout Sessions Vol. 7. Here is Green Velvet doing "Dank" - this one will get in your head - and Andr