The story behind the ball drop and New Years at Times Square

www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-kelly/the-times-square-ball-dro_b_803034.html

Pop Culture Translator

Go to this link:
www.poptranslator.com

It gives a literal translation of music by System of a Down, 50 Cent and Sean Paul, as well as translations for Gollum, Brad Pitt in "Snatch" and the classic Ozzy ramblings.

Preach It Em

Segways: The New Segway to Obesity

Now that I have started working downtown again, I've noticed a new tour company that has taken effect: segway tours. I mean, really...as if the Diva Duck wasn't bad enough; but that's another topic all together. We all knew that a transportation device that would alleviate the horrible pain of walking, like the segway, was going to be invented, and of course utilized. If someone tried to ride a segway through the sidewalks of a busy city, like New York City- their mission may not be as favorable as planned.
I feel that the reason over a quarter (2007 stat, obesity.org) of America's population is obese is because no one wants to do physical activity anymore...no shit, sherlock, yea I know. But really, it seems so much more convenient to take the elevator and/or escalator than the stairs or to take a cab or drive a few blocks than walk it. Especially here in downtown West Palm Beach, because it is such a small downtown area, one would expect to see more people walking. I can understand the security and cops using them to save energy for when they actually need it, but really get a bike, bro. In my opinion, these segways are just another excuse for us not to do anything and make this "tough life" that we currently live in much more bareable and easier. Like building pyramids was just as hard without electricity or something.

Healthily Yours.

PS. And I leave you with this:

Over 50 years of Japanese concept cars

I stumbled upon this website that actually put together a list of over 50 Japanese concept cars; this really puts the progression Japan has made and gives justification to how technologically advanced they are. Also, check out the website www.pinktentacle.com, they have some interesting things from the other side of the world.

http://pinktentacle.com/2010/09/photos-50-years-of-japanese-concept-cars/

Sweet Zep Sesh

REMEMBER, BE GREEN!

An Abstract View of Winnie the Pooh

I always knew those Disney kooks were on drugs!

IMPROV EVERYWHERE

Sex sells...hot dogs?

Lately, I have noticed the increasing number of female run hot dog stands throughout West Palm Beach. The girls wear short black shorts, pink tank tops while working at portable hot dog stands. Call me a feminist, if you will, but I don't understand why girls need to be used to sell a hot dog. If an individual wants a hot dog, I don't think it really matters who is selling it to them--especially if they are desperate enough to get one from a portable hot dog stand that's ordinarily placed at gas stations. I mean could the concept of cute young girls selling phallic-like fast food really work? Apparently so. We all know that sex sells in America, as well as all over the world. I'm sure that their clientele consists mainly of men with jobs that leave them constantly on the move, therefore forcing them to get something quick and easy. So why not stop at the hot dog stand with hot chicks? I understand the concept and I respect any business that is successful. But what I don't understand is why would ANY girl want to subject themselves to a job like this? You wear bear-minimum clothing, selling phallic foods to working men, and not to mention you are in the hot, South Florida sun during the summer time. I just don't understand why they wouldn't want to work in a restaurant, I'm sure it's more lucrative anyway. The same concept, but different company, is also spreading throughout the Hobe Sound area. The founder, James Larson, stated, "With the laws and the hassles, we're not going topless...but they'll be wearing short shorts and real tight revealing t-shirts and they'll all look hot. Our clientele is 90 percent men. We have truckers, golfers, pool cleaners, so it's something a little extra for them." Damn those "laws and hassles" representing respect; I see a discrimination lawsuit in his future. I would like to leave the reader with a concept known as "the erotic," introduced by Audre Lorde in her essay: "Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power." And by erotic, Lorde doesn't mean something that is sexually stimulating. Instead, Lorde is implying that every woman has that urge within herself to be herself, which is the erotic of her soul. Lorde wrote,"We have been warned against it all out lives by the male world, which values this depth of feeling enough to keep women around in order to exercise it in the service of men, but which dears this same depth too much to examine the possibilities of it within themselves... But pornography is a direct denial of the power of the erotic, for it represents the suppression of true feeling. Pornography emphasizes sensation without feeling. The erotic is a measure between the beginnings of our sense of self and the chaos of our strongest feelings. It is an internal sense of satisfaction to which, once we have experienced it, we know we can aspire. For having experienced the fullness of this depth of feeling and recognizing its power, in honor and self-respect we can require no less of ourselves."
Just sayin, girls

Stick Figure

Stick Figure is a reggae band that combines the sounds of roots reggae and dub to create an amazing quality of reggae music. The singer and founder of the band, Scott Woodruff, is actually from Massachusetts. He moved to SoCal with reggae on his mind and found two other band members, from there they created Stick Figure. Here are a few of their songs that I consider some of the best. The song "Double You" is also an excellent song, but I couldn't find a video for it online. You may as well just start downloading all of their songs because they are definitely a necessity to any music library.

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I'll tell you why there are whores...

Growing up I attended a Christian Academy and lived in a suburban neighborhood, away from any harm or anything that could possibly infect my mind. And this wasn't just the intention of my parents, but of every other parent that sent their kids to a tuition-based school and lived a middle+ class lifestyle. With their children attending church every week, playing sports and listening to the popular culture genre of music in the 90's, life seemed almost untouchable. The parents could sleep at night knowing that their children weren't effected by the "rough & cruel" world outside the life they've set up for their kids. We know how the pattern goes with music, the kids love it and the parents just don't get it-it's an endless cycle. Music has always been about love, life and an array of emotions. However, once we move into the 60's era, music that is more encompassed around drug usage and sexual innuendo starts to become the central focus for the popular culture genre. As we pass through the decades, music continuously gets more vulgar. I know, way to state the obvious, but then parents wonder where they went wrong. I think that the media has a huge impact on children, especially when children are still in the developmental stages of their lives. I grew up listening to bands such as Hanson, N*Snyc, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Doors, etc. However, I knew a lot of girls that were crazy about the Backstreet Boys, girls literally cried at the thought of this generic 5-member boy band. I found this song by them, well I'll let you read the lyrics:
________________________________________

"We've Got It Goin On"

Everybody groove to the music
Everybody jam

We've been waiting so long
Just can't hold it back no more
Creepin' up and down now
It's time for me to let it go
If you really wanna see
What we can do for you
Send the crazy wildin' static
Sing it

Jam on 'cause Backstreet's got it
Come on now everybody
We've go it goin' on for years

Well I'm creepin' up on your left
Straight up funky when I get with you
I get ruthless when I get wet
Keep the party packed in my corner
Tough like granite to keep the crowd hype
Get up on this just to get right
What you want is what you're gonna get
Backstreet's got the special effects, uh

If you really wanna see
What we can do for you
I'll send a crazy wildin' static

We've got it goin' on for years

We've been waiting so long
Just can't hold it back no more
Creepin' up and down now
It's time for me to let it go

We've got it going on
Everybody groove to the music
Everybody jam

We've been waiting so long
Just can't hold it back no more
Creepin' up and down now
It's time for me to let it go
If you really wanna see
What we can do for you
Send the crazy wildin' static
Sing it

Jam on 'cause Backstreet's got it
Come on now everybody
We've go it goin' on for years

Well I'm creepin' up on your left
Straight up funky when I get with you
I get ruthless when I get wet
Keep the party packed in my corner
Tough like granite to keep the crowd hype
Get up on this just to get right
What you want is what you're gonna get
Backstreet's got the special effects, uh

If you really wanna see
What we can do for you
I'll send a crazy wildin' static

We've got it goin' on for years

We've been waiting so long
Just can't hold it back no more
Creepin' up and down now
It's time for me to let it go

We've got it going on
_________________________________________

Creepy, right? If anyone was to read this ten years after being a fan, I'm sure they would be in shock. Maybe I'm biased because my mind is stuck in the gutter, but I think if anyone read this they would think twice about letting their preadolescent girls listen to this. But girls, and even boys, listen to this music at a stage where their mind is like a sponge--absorbing any and everything around them. It's almost as if the media set up this sort of conditioning to prepare the youth for the future, because we all know sex sells. And if they want sex to sell, they have to prepare kids to be ready for such a sacred activity to be considered casual, so why not start when they're young. I know people have already discovered this, obviously I'm not the first. But a few days ago someone pointed out to me the lyrics to this song and it just really caught me by surprise. Really, the Backstreet Boys? I expect this from Britney being a "slave for you" or Christina's wanting "to be rubbed the right way." And I'm sure if I did my research other bands during that time were just as bad. I mean there was Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alanis Morisette, Counting Crows, etc. also but that music is intended for older kids and adults to listen to, not kids still in elementary school. However, I must admit I did have all of those cd's by the fifth grade. I guess we all just get stuck in this constant brainwash, just in different genres and in different ways. Either way, there is no escaping the media and there is no way of hiding your family from it either, they've already taken over.

Self-Criticism

In the midst of my insomnia, I stumbled upon some poems and short stories that I had written while I was in high school and in college. When I was in high school, I was a member of the Literary Magazine so my poetry was constantly being published for the school (of which no one ever purchased, but that's besides the fact). What I noticed, however, is how interesting it is to compare something one wrote five+ years ago with what they have currently written. Let me show you what I mean. This is poetry from high school, as amateur as it is, just work with me here:

"What Shouldn't Be Taken"

My pores leak hazardous fumes of uncertainty

Which can't be healthy for anyone's dignity.

I never know which way is right,

So I always find myself in a fight.

Hope battles it's way through, yet cannot succeed;

Because I am still living in the insane life I don't need.

Life may be the path less chosen

And everything in the past is left frozen.

Only something I can't imagine must be in the way,

Because I still haven't had a single good day.

One day to make the sunshine brighter

And one day to make the horizons seem wider.

Once lady luck has made her calling,

Maybe then I might stop tripping and falling.

There was never time for someone to help me off the floor,

Or for someone to change how my life is a bore.

__________________________________

Do you see what I mean? Anyone would think, this girl seems a little suicidal but I was by no means contemplating death at any time. I don't even know what I am referring to in these poems, I had nothing to be miserable about growing up. It looks like another case of mislead, suburban youth. Here's another one, this one is a little more simple which gives it even more of that amateur element:

"My Mistake"

Tossed in time,

Lost my mind.

Constant silence,

View the violence.

Tears so unbecoming,

I just want to be something.

Turned the wrong way,

Wasted another day.

Kisses with no meaning,

This heart just needs cleaning.

Mistaken lovers,

Played by jokers.

I wanted to lose my hate,

Because it only leads to fate.

___________________________

It's so interesting to look back on this and wonder why no one was concerned. When my teacher, peers, and even my parents would read them I would get constructive criticism but more on the structure of the poem not on the topic of the poem. I guess there is some beauty in misery-it always finds itself in literature. Notice how, also, both poems are written in couplets (AA BB CC DD ...), that rhyme scheme really gives the poems a dry tone because it doesn't have any surprises in the rhyme scheme, the reader knows exactly what to expect. Now here is something I had to write for my Creative Writing class at FAU a few semesters ago:

"Lost in Translation"

Indignation seeps out my pores;

I feel like I'll never know you.

We can't discuss life or the meaning of it,

but you're so full of history and of culture-

through you I'd know myself more.

I look at you in your leathered and weathered state

wondering where the time went

and how the love is still here.

There's no more room for rings on your trunk,

these next few years will pass too soon.

I still look up to you,

And keep you close to my heart--

Your strength, happiness, and compassion lights up the room;

we tried so hard to understand each other

instead we lived vicariously through family.

The smell of coffee, espresso melts my heart.

The sound of music, salsa and mamba solidify my soul.

The taste of love, the sweetness of sugar cane.

Even though we could never speak,

Our love will always keep us close.

______________________________________

I actually love this poem, it goes so deep with me. I wrote it about my grandfather, my dad's dad. He is from Cuba and only knows "hi" and "bye" in Spanish and I was never taught Spanish or acquired the language from the multiple Spanish classes I took in high school and college. I know he is so full of history and probably has some pretty wild stories about living in Cuba, working with Fidel and then once Fidel began his Communist regime, trying to overthrow Fidel. I know words in Spanish so I can make out what he says, because at age 91 you're going to forget that your grandchildren don't speak the same language as you. But anyway, enough about the background of the poem and on to criticizing myself. This poem is actually written with more of a sense of maturity; maybe I'm biased because I wrote it recently. There is no rhyme scheme in this poem, it's completely free verse but once the reader gets to lines 16-19 the tone of the poem is shifted with the introduction of three of the five senses: smell, sound and taste. The smell of coffee-because they are constantly drinking espresso or making it. The sound of music-during family gatherings we would always play spanish music, that is probably one of the few genres of music that can actually touch my soul. And the taste of love-he used to work in the sugar cane fields from when he first moved here up until he retired and would always bring some for us.

Here is one more poem that I had to write for the same Creative Writing Class:

"Love Six Feet Under"

Sitting on the beach, searching my mind's caves

I think of all the times we shared,

that are now lost in the sapphire waves.

Our friends and family told us to slow down,

but who behaves. They only told us cause they cared,

but they will never know, as they remain searching my mind's caves.

They chased us down, with what we thought were insignificant saves.

But we left them behind, we left them scared;

So we tried to find happiness in the sapphire waves.

We thought that everyone misbehaves;

We left them in shock, we left them impaired.

And we never understood, trying to search their mind's caves.

Excitement is what everyone craves

now and then. Too bad no one ever comes prepared,

so we left our problems drowning in the sapphire waves.

Now our love lies with you in the graves,

Any other love wasn't as declared.

Now I'm stuck here searching my mind's caves

for all our memories now gone in the sapphire waves.

_______________________________________

This is a villanelle poem, it isn't hard to write but it is definitely one of the more challenging styles to write. It's written with five tercets and a quatrain at the end with a specific rhyme scheme that goes ABAB. However the writer has to be conscious of making sure they use the same words, in this case "caves" and "waves" in the correct lines. This poem has no real relation to any personal experience, I was referring to the generic young, hormonal lust-filled couple. They were in a rebellious and infatuate relationship but went too far off the deep end and one died. But the maturity level definitely stands out throughout the course of my writing, which is expected from any writer, especially one as young as myself (only being 23). It's just interesting to see different works of my own writing laid out before me and compare it to more recent works. I'm not saying the poems that I have currently written are impeccable, but there is definitely proof of improvement. Who knows, maybe in ten years I'll be published somewhere. Maybe I'll even do this blog the honors of discussing my short story sometime, mehh...you can buy it when it's published.