First off, I've uploaded some new shit to my Pics folder from the Addeo Freakout, an annual blowout in Bridgeport, CT that my friend Mike and his brothers have thrown the last 7 years. 3 bands, tons of beer and sheer craziness. Enjoy. 
Second, thanks to all of those who offered kind words and encouragement to my last post. Not really feeling better or worse, but I'm working on making improvements, so I appreciate your support.
Third, here are some of my recent thoughts:
1.) I didn't watch the Belmont, but I'm rather glad that Smarty Jones didn't win (except that his owner always looks like he's about to keel over whether the horse won or not). The reason I'm glad is because I hate how things get hyped beyond belief. This horse was being compared to every great horse that ever lived... BEFORE HE WON THE BELMONT AND THE TRIPLE CROWN! Oops! God, I hate that. People are doing the same thing with the Lakers over the Pistons (granted, I think the Lakers will win, too). I remember a few years ago when Sergio Garcia battled Tiger Woods at the PGA to a memorable finish (Woods won, but remember the image of Sergio blindly blasting himself out of the rough and then sprinting up the fairway and doing that goofy leap to see where his ball landed?) The press was so desperate to annoint a rival to Woods that they hyped the hell out of that kid. And to what? He never became a rival to Woods, did he? That kind of shit drives me nuts.
2.) Did you see the little boy faint during the national spelling bee? Then he comes to, gets up and spells the word correctly? Funny stuff, but I watched a little of this, and it was incredibly unsettling. The pressure on these kids is enormous. I think it's great to see intelligence get publicity as opposed to athletic prowess, but don't for a second think that the reason ESPN broadcasts this isn't because of our bloodlust for competition. It really isn't to celebrate intelligence. I felt sorry for these kids; the looks on their little faces was of sheer terror.
3.) I just dropped $100 on the WindowsXP upgrade for my crappy, old Compaq computer. $100 I couldn't afford, but my computer has been operating so fucked up lately that I figured I might as well upgrade the system from Windows98. The problem is I CAN'T INSTALL THE FUCKING THING BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE ON MY STUPID HARD DRIVE! God damn it! Computers and software have become so fucking bloated that you can't do anything without it gobbling up, like, 3 Gigabytes. Makes me sick. I admit that I'm about the most computer illiterate person on the planet, but even when I try to do the right thing, I get bitch-slapped.
4.) Method Man and Redman have a new sitcom coming out on Fox this month called Method & Red. And it looks AWFUL. First, have you ever heard any of the music these two "rapper" have put out? I never have. Not once. Second, and most importantly, it looks like it's dredging up every stereotype and cliche involving African-Americans you can think of. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. This isn't Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock, who skewer sterotypes with biting social commentary, which I love. This shit just looks stupid. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Fox is recycling and updating old Amos 'n Andy scripts for this crap. I know I've ranted about race before, and if it makes you uncomfortable, I apologize. Not everyone wants to hear that kind of ranting, hell, I don't always want to hear that kind of ranting. But, I've always prided myself on not easily falling into categorization or stereotypes. I love and play ice hockey; I also love rap and hip-hop. I've voted for lots of Republicans over the years; but I'm staunchly pro-choice and liberal over a lot of social issues. I thought OJ was guilty, but I don't think Kobe is. I love metal/punk/rock, and I believe in the death penalty. What I'm trying to say -- rather incoherently -- is that I hate to see stereotypes continue. So, just say no to Method & Red.
That's it for now. Later.
Second, thanks to all of those who offered kind words and encouragement to my last post. Not really feeling better or worse, but I'm working on making improvements, so I appreciate your support.
Third, here are some of my recent thoughts:
1.) I didn't watch the Belmont, but I'm rather glad that Smarty Jones didn't win (except that his owner always looks like he's about to keel over whether the horse won or not). The reason I'm glad is because I hate how things get hyped beyond belief. This horse was being compared to every great horse that ever lived... BEFORE HE WON THE BELMONT AND THE TRIPLE CROWN! Oops! God, I hate that. People are doing the same thing with the Lakers over the Pistons (granted, I think the Lakers will win, too). I remember a few years ago when Sergio Garcia battled Tiger Woods at the PGA to a memorable finish (Woods won, but remember the image of Sergio blindly blasting himself out of the rough and then sprinting up the fairway and doing that goofy leap to see where his ball landed?) The press was so desperate to annoint a rival to Woods that they hyped the hell out of that kid. And to what? He never became a rival to Woods, did he? That kind of shit drives me nuts.
2.) Did you see the little boy faint during the national spelling bee? Then he comes to, gets up and spells the word correctly? Funny stuff, but I watched a little of this, and it was incredibly unsettling. The pressure on these kids is enormous. I think it's great to see intelligence get publicity as opposed to athletic prowess, but don't for a second think that the reason ESPN broadcasts this isn't because of our bloodlust for competition. It really isn't to celebrate intelligence. I felt sorry for these kids; the looks on their little faces was of sheer terror.
3.) I just dropped $100 on the WindowsXP upgrade for my crappy, old Compaq computer. $100 I couldn't afford, but my computer has been operating so fucked up lately that I figured I might as well upgrade the system from Windows98. The problem is I CAN'T INSTALL THE FUCKING THING BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE ON MY STUPID HARD DRIVE! God damn it! Computers and software have become so fucking bloated that you can't do anything without it gobbling up, like, 3 Gigabytes. Makes me sick. I admit that I'm about the most computer illiterate person on the planet, but even when I try to do the right thing, I get bitch-slapped.
4.) Method Man and Redman have a new sitcom coming out on Fox this month called Method & Red. And it looks AWFUL. First, have you ever heard any of the music these two "rapper" have put out? I never have. Not once. Second, and most importantly, it looks like it's dredging up every stereotype and cliche involving African-Americans you can think of. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. This isn't Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock, who skewer sterotypes with biting social commentary, which I love. This shit just looks stupid. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Fox is recycling and updating old Amos 'n Andy scripts for this crap. I know I've ranted about race before, and if it makes you uncomfortable, I apologize. Not everyone wants to hear that kind of ranting, hell, I don't always want to hear that kind of ranting. But, I've always prided myself on not easily falling into categorization or stereotypes. I love and play ice hockey; I also love rap and hip-hop. I've voted for lots of Republicans over the years; but I'm staunchly pro-choice and liberal over a lot of social issues. I thought OJ was guilty, but I don't think Kobe is. I love metal/punk/rock, and I believe in the death penalty. What I'm trying to say -- rather incoherently -- is that I hate to see stereotypes continue. So, just say no to Method & Red.
That's it for now. Later.
VIEW 10 of 10 COMMENTS
1. What's odd is that the media never mentioned one little bit of information: three years ago there was some disease that killed off something like 90% of the foals in Kentucky, i.e. Smarty Jones' competition. It's not that he's a great horse (he's a bit better than average), it's that his competition is poor in comparison to good years. Consider him the horse racing equivalent of Larry Holmes. In some ways it's why the media desperately wants a rival for Tiger. It's difficult to sell someone no matter how great they are unless they're either a) a headcase who creates interest themselves (like Tyson), or b) have good competition of equal or close to equal skill (like Ali's Fraizer and Foreman). I do agree it gets annoying listening to the media hyping whatever is currently happening as "they greatest thing ever," but it's something that's only going to get worse.
2. Sad to say, but even the contest itself isn't about intelligence. It's about memory. All too often people believe a good memory and intelligence are the same thing. The smartest guy I know has a horrible memory, but he worked in a think tank for seven years.
3. Yowch. Sounds like you should be trying to learn Linux.
4. Is it just me, or does Method Man look a hell of a lot like Kenyon Martin? The show does look horrible and seems to pander to virtually every stereotype. Surprised they didn't do a watermelon gag, though I suspect that'll turn up in sweeps or something.
mwahahaha!!