tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10367156574290756432024-03-13T14:47:05.846-04:00Lollipops and Crispslollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.comBlogger379125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-67356686583322890782012-01-25T18:09:00.003-05:002012-01-25T18:10:02.718-05:00Cheez-Its Jump the Shark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59Aw35MMX-uJtaymLCC-98qwLyB-hRkAMr1yZssnMGhEVnpFMrs8TzhhigPvwutFG3tPE5XVzxd4AiHYINC9uvLRB7ksnHI6o2ID2AZH5tXonSu9pQAGtM3NRS3mi2RhD_OsDj-c9u28/s1600/280px-Cheez-It-Crackers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59Aw35MMX-uJtaymLCC-98qwLyB-hRkAMr1yZssnMGhEVnpFMrs8TzhhigPvwutFG3tPE5XVzxd4AiHYINC9uvLRB7ksnHI6o2ID2AZH5tXonSu9pQAGtM3NRS3mi2RhD_OsDj-c9u28/s1600/280px-Cheez-It-Crackers.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I am well aware that patience is not my strong suit, but when it comes to my favorite things, I can usually exercise some restraint, but no more. I can no longer sit idly by as Cheez-It rolls out insipid flavor after flavor and dilutes their whole brand. I have loved Cheez-Its above all other cheese-centric snacks, but after trying their newest "Mozzarella" incarnation, I took their experiments as a cry for help, and decided to stage this intervention. After putting all varieties into my flavor algorithm, I have devised a clear/concise list of winning products, and those that should be cut entirely, salvaging the Cheez-it name and saving considerable supermarket shelf space.<br />
<br />
<b>KEEPERS</b><br />
<br />
<b>Original Cheez-Its</b> - The OG Cheez-its are perfect in every way, although there can be severe shifts in quality on a bag to bag basis (trust me on this). Aerodynamic hole, crimped ends for grip, generous salt sprinkle. These are the elements of a well-thought out snack, and the reason why Cheez-It has towered over pale imitators like the apocryphal Cheese Nips.<br />
<br />
<b>Pepper Jack - </b>This recent introduction to the family was a fiery breath of fresh air, and proof that the folks at Cheez-It are not completely devoid of innovation after all. Improving upon the bizarre "Tabasco" flavored Cheez-Its, this creative venture offered a more nuanced heat, with a unique, irresistible flavor profile. They gave me hope that Cheez-It may still have something left in the tank.<br />
<br />
<b>White Cheddar - </b>When it comes to the "dusted" genus of Cheez-Its, I have serious apprehensions. While the powdered cheese adheres to the cracker admirably, I have a sneaking suspicion that Cheez-It uses this cheap flavor powder to eschew making a quality cracker beneath the pandemonium on the surface. It all feels a bit gimmicky, and to top it off, after eating a few of these, your fingers become completely lacquered in the dust, forcing you to excuse yourself to wash your hands, or lick them like a psychopath. White Cheddar are the exception. The cracker beneath the explosive dance party on the outside has a tang and a sharpness to it that other varieties lack, and the cheese powder they use has addictive properties rivaled only by crystal meth. <br />
<br />
<b>FORGET 'EM</b><br />
<br />
<b>'Hot and Spicy' AKA 'Tabasco' </b>- These have always been the black sheep of the Cheez-It line, and with the emergence of Pepper Jack, their surfaces are no longer needed. Please exit stage left, and never come back.<br />
<br />
<b>Party Mix! - </b>GTFO. Chex Mix has done it better, and will continue to do it better. Cut your losses, and stop barking up the Party Mix tree. People that eat Chex Mix are NOT your target demo. I AM YOUR TARGET DEMO.<br />
<br />
<b>Reduced Fat - </b>Listen ladies. You eat far worse things than Cheez-Its on a daily basis. I've seen it. Practice moderation and you'll be fine. Do NOT buy these cardboard frauds to save 20 calories a serving. You will lose your Cheez-It privileges. I will make sure of it.<br />
<br />
<b>BIG Cheez-Its -</b> The biggest head scratcher of the lot. Perhaps they were intimidated by larger snacks and this was their attempt to branch into the chip game. Whatever the inspiration, the recipe did not scale up well. Someone in their QC department needs a stern talking to.<br />
<br />
<b>FLAVOR BLASTED! (Baby Swiss, Cheddar Jack, Colby, Four Cheese, Parmesan, Nacho Cheese, Mozzarella) - </b>As I alluded to earlier, this is the new trend in cheese snacks, and it has to stop. If I want to be covered in cheese particles, I'll buy some Jax. Don't come up with new flavors by extruding dried cheese matter and slathering it on a sad square of dough. These cheeses are terrible, and the reason you have resorted to "blasting" it on crackers is because they aren't good enough to carry a cracker flavor on their own. You can't cover weakness with a flavor blast. If you can't do it right Cheez-It, don't do it at all.<br />
<br />
With all this being said, I remain hopeful that Cheez-it can get their groove back. In fact, I'm going to extend an olive branch right here and now by giving them a head start on an amazing new flavor they have forsaken all these years:<br />
<br />
GOUDA.<br />
<br />
<br />
Get to work.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-36102764556492244282012-01-08T20:31:00.002-05:002012-01-08T20:31:50.775-05:00Best Films of 2011I know this list is a bit tardy, but believe me when I say I've spent much of 2012 scrambling to see 2011 films that are just now getting a wider release. As a result, my Top 10 list has undergone some serious reshuffling in the past week, but I can finally say I've seen <i>almost </i>everything I intended to see, and can begin to shape them into some sort of order. First, here's a list of well-reviewed movies that I haven't had a chance to see yet, in case you feel their omission is a tragedy:<br />
<br />
<br />
Shame<br />
Take Shelter<br />
The Skin I Live In<br />
Uncle Bonmee<br />
A Separation<br />
Carnage<br />
Margaret<br />
The Guard<br />
Attack the Block<br />
War Horse<br />
A Dangerous Method<br />
<br />
Not too many, even though it looks like a lot on the page. I'm sure some of them are top-notch, but like I said, I had to play movie triage recently, and sadly, these didn't make the cut. Next, I have my most overrated film of the year. This film has been fawned over by critics much of the year, and pops up on a number "Best Of" lists, but didn't manage to stir up anything substantial for me:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrJgmi6WBSgwYon50WcDEH2dCceoXOBTVZYsXTxW6c9ykYkft5OR6kfx_HQ_lXZenV6x9oCiq8W7cqf7cRwnnXn7UAeHWrLCo9-8WR6HV-tW3DRkwZElQWQ3Ug2ol0Y49GRn41E6owAk/s1600/MV5BMTM0MzQzMjUxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzgyNjg0NA%2540%2540._V1._SY317_CR1%252C0%252C214%252C317_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrJgmi6WBSgwYon50WcDEH2dCceoXOBTVZYsXTxW6c9ykYkft5OR6kfx_HQ_lXZenV6x9oCiq8W7cqf7cRwnnXn7UAeHWrLCo9-8WR6HV-tW3DRkwZElQWQ3Ug2ol0Y49GRn41E6owAk/s1600/MV5BMTM0MzQzMjUxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzgyNjg0NA%2540%2540._V1._SY317_CR1%252C0%252C214%252C317_.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
With that out of the way, I'd like to move on to my honorable mentions. As I've whittled my list down to 10 movies, several fantastic films had to be snubbed, and I wanted to take a minute to give these second 10 their due. If you have a couple hours free, you could do a lot worse than choosing any of these.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4F1lRwrnVUK-tkbUGG5SGO7aMDLtuqj8MgA6JGwYADl__ZF7EbA2Jortyhy_iHreKwTcYDZh1_1Z-hCzGl8LfHVktefOM-W8vMdLr8WmRPFV8Alou5s2J2ySJVx6nK9gOuX6pnWaWDk/s1600/super-8-poster8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4F1lRwrnVUK-tkbUGG5SGO7aMDLtuqj8MgA6JGwYADl__ZF7EbA2Jortyhy_iHreKwTcYDZh1_1Z-hCzGl8LfHVktefOM-W8vMdLr8WmRPFV8Alou5s2J2ySJVx6nK9gOuX6pnWaWDk/s320/super-8-poster8.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGA7tiCdnqoQpMnIUQOwI0kYZ_T68E4J8gm6QlZ7Ym8a5Lt52JivnnDtFVHqUMs8rhtTzBw9mIXWbx87u5Byr49gLeVOxhaLMDwRmWeDf5X07XKsJCCiyWcQU0zUggXZDjje95Qx-Z6g/s1600/bridesmaids-movie-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGA7tiCdnqoQpMnIUQOwI0kYZ_T68E4J8gm6QlZ7Ym8a5Lt52JivnnDtFVHqUMs8rhtTzBw9mIXWbx87u5Byr49gLeVOxhaLMDwRmWeDf5X07XKsJCCiyWcQU0zUggXZDjje95Qx-Z6g/s320/bridesmaids-movie-poster.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k-V1ciuZbwE3bB5ibsaUwxQaJC7ug8LYXYI3VBWY_RQWLdjk1f3o1CEfqmOrQ5Dp-2nonHMl76_auG4jxXCK9hG-n_tBr7lXCUbOFx7VqW_Cs2gJIfJ6VWgZv2G6QytPHqC77nQKsEs/s1600/martha-marcy-may-marlene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k-V1ciuZbwE3bB5ibsaUwxQaJC7ug8LYXYI3VBWY_RQWLdjk1f3o1CEfqmOrQ5Dp-2nonHMl76_auG4jxXCK9hG-n_tBr7lXCUbOFx7VqW_Cs2gJIfJ6VWgZv2G6QytPHqC77nQKsEs/s320/martha-marcy-may-marlene.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHLg4st0aOqzRw-EBKNDjvkMhC67JVCG_Ya8wCQdkI3v1g0a2bonOfKAnIa3SfEDO7ax7mWt_n5Atlurpxa11odYAWtNBi_EF0XJCt2mq3T1EiTYlJHVVEhOhBO1cpm1kAiI1TTylVqs/s1600/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-teaser-poster-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHLg4st0aOqzRw-EBKNDjvkMhC67JVCG_Ya8wCQdkI3v1g0a2bonOfKAnIa3SfEDO7ax7mWt_n5Atlurpxa11odYAWtNBi_EF0XJCt2mq3T1EiTYlJHVVEhOhBO1cpm1kAiI1TTylVqs/s320/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-teaser-poster-01.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IN_AsQREOAZiVnIMaTqdghDHtrnRywTZYTpa8K_tVPeFgWsjrQs9odiXTgyrjaiJU90gU0VHCaftIEqqL4YJEuZevve3PeUo83L5ZtqkpCZlcLXCfsnp_Nl5cnuN2OJJq7Xoz9gBeNQ/s1600/220px-Win_Win_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IN_AsQREOAZiVnIMaTqdghDHtrnRywTZYTpa8K_tVPeFgWsjrQs9odiXTgyrjaiJU90gU0VHCaftIEqqL4YJEuZevve3PeUo83L5ZtqkpCZlcLXCfsnp_Nl5cnuN2OJJq7Xoz9gBeNQ/s320/220px-Win_Win_Poster.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABAm0ui62ebSleJQkXKnCJJiZ-aLZ7EnqZNCoGsptexcYG6IB_J28BHFydOC8LWYFd1ByLEFX-JcyDa1Jo0WFPOCikXPBgACrD43V1gG6o7r1Ba5YqZQnHWNnP-KGwcY8o7qUVs1o0r0/s1600/220px-Bellflower_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABAm0ui62ebSleJQkXKnCJJiZ-aLZ7EnqZNCoGsptexcYG6IB_J28BHFydOC8LWYFd1ByLEFX-JcyDa1Jo0WFPOCikXPBgACrD43V1gG6o7r1Ba5YqZQnHWNnP-KGwcY8o7qUVs1o0r0/s320/220px-Bellflower_Poster.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTl-4HwNY0K3MI_lQxnUsJm71msttV8JzxQSjkmHaiNKDoDCkeQF4_yws_HP7RJhjuOAjN47uMavfhuUvXzJo3ZcSrFk43KGgTt_4TnALLcrC_K-F57OUVk7sHzyBiI9PWzZA3T0rkHY/s1600/tabloid_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTl-4HwNY0K3MI_lQxnUsJm71msttV8JzxQSjkmHaiNKDoDCkeQF4_yws_HP7RJhjuOAjN47uMavfhuUvXzJo3ZcSrFk43KGgTt_4TnALLcrC_K-F57OUVk7sHzyBiI9PWzZA3T0rkHY/s320/tabloid_poster.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eqktom4GjM9vmVpx6fx40aP8sR6ZCJhU1JfiJJccUPD-9BNF5hqzFpNjyyfOfeYT0AegsIlhCfNGZQ-9D884jERCeXXWViAU9Fpqz3fjNAdiD-Fqq6YC6E9NIaMXOGzXkTWbDAD8vO8/s1600/hugo-movie-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eqktom4GjM9vmVpx6fx40aP8sR6ZCJhU1JfiJJccUPD-9BNF5hqzFpNjyyfOfeYT0AegsIlhCfNGZQ-9D884jERCeXXWViAU9Fpqz3fjNAdiD-Fqq6YC6E9NIaMXOGzXkTWbDAD8vO8/s320/hugo-movie-poster.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQZoHcjjEOxACqFNm4qd8JTVqX7ilyfxJSUGl6RvpD_JljHH-0h1UTDy3OmJ-gwlnJR310K6jnAx2d0Rh46Z4xcQ4TPjuanhK5v6njStVLLICgRJMAYW7wKagd0H3y8Snktd09YmIpBg/s1600/215px-Horrible_Bosses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQZoHcjjEOxACqFNm4qd8JTVqX7ilyfxJSUGl6RvpD_JljHH-0h1UTDy3OmJ-gwlnJR310K6jnAx2d0Rh46Z4xcQ4TPjuanhK5v6njStVLLICgRJMAYW7wKagd0H3y8Snktd09YmIpBg/s1600/215px-Horrible_Bosses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLkwEfxcuHl-L2Qtkx-p44s-ctZhu6l5FKC7T6nlvYdfq1TpsEa1sel2NkXNCOn7AY2__EKKE_8I-cpqPVIrhWqgAj58KB5Uas5AbueV5ap3SkYxT35utjRUHtURSMJk6ZsmetWYzo4c/s1600/melancholia-film-2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLkwEfxcuHl-L2Qtkx-p44s-ctZhu6l5FKC7T6nlvYdfq1TpsEa1sel2NkXNCOn7AY2__EKKE_8I-cpqPVIrhWqgAj58KB5Uas5AbueV5ap3SkYxT35utjRUHtURSMJk6ZsmetWYzo4c/s320/melancholia-film-2011.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Phew. So there's that. Now it's time for the Top 10. I'm going to spare you any commentary on the choices, as most of them have been analyzed to death, and I would scarcely have anything to add to the conversation. With that disclaimer, here goes:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>10. Midnight In Paris</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9LdAu13xkquFnjc93GTcTCU2FewNzb2rdxOg47OG2CDaoxIvAvyOKzaaHQaleYskCuve9A5zuuxSXSjOBon1KSMPqQBV5bU1Z3kuOqzmsfy3dupZVwPOhB6yHsKvbUVg1RC71B_fiUg/s1600/MV5BMTM4NjY1MDQwMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTI3Njg3NA%2540%2540._V1._SY317_CR0%252C0%252C214%252C317_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9LdAu13xkquFnjc93GTcTCU2FewNzb2rdxOg47OG2CDaoxIvAvyOKzaaHQaleYskCuve9A5zuuxSXSjOBon1KSMPqQBV5bU1Z3kuOqzmsfy3dupZVwPOhB6yHsKvbUVg1RC71B_fiUg/s1600/MV5BMTM4NjY1MDQwMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTI3Njg3NA%2540%2540._V1._SY317_CR0%252C0%252C214%252C317_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>9. The Interrupters </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia1PMxeKD_TN27fDY87rOqJJ-jO5uO2AOygy_kQvmN6cdoxEkMJTT8ysXJIY5wCscqN-7uO4W6vibjwHjPbST4lT0vvcLMB8nm0rd8Z9uVE7LK2b9jTye1gaZIRcgKN5UDkmuGoMQ4XM/s1600/the-interrupters-dvd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia1PMxeKD_TN27fDY87rOqJJ-jO5uO2AOygy_kQvmN6cdoxEkMJTT8ysXJIY5wCscqN-7uO4W6vibjwHjPbST4lT0vvcLMB8nm0rd8Z9uVE7LK2b9jTye1gaZIRcgKN5UDkmuGoMQ4XM/s320/the-interrupters-dvd.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>8. X-Men: First Class</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QnD8qLpR4P4VJGnNTyXlYdUlnGlWQuxSdS8QWruyuy363fT6DJRHkQQ0BHdn3wTdEo6fWLgBTVPE2ppulcXqqRzLwrZxu1LG_BjHgry0riMKIf6GTyeP9CX4GXxxl9cScX8oP5LN3WA/s1600/X-men+First+Class+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QnD8qLpR4P4VJGnNTyXlYdUlnGlWQuxSdS8QWruyuy363fT6DJRHkQQ0BHdn3wTdEo6fWLgBTVPE2ppulcXqqRzLwrZxu1LG_BjHgry0riMKIf6GTyeP9CX4GXxxl9cScX8oP5LN3WA/s320/X-men+First+Class+%25282%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>7. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkizIIo5AjjkZWmALCtI0Ghyphenhyphen1GtQKAOPilM6lGRPxEaoMYmVJg7j9x8jhsPxsPKbY89WkFSF7M9UoM2j7Z0KAtLqc3HVdXeWj_YnkCnWBCtp4b3tvV0JxMkAZyD52HYft_KGVIpKmVSn4/s1600/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-movie-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkizIIo5AjjkZWmALCtI0Ghyphenhyphen1GtQKAOPilM6lGRPxEaoMYmVJg7j9x8jhsPxsPKbY89WkFSF7M9UoM2j7Z0KAtLqc3HVdXeWj_YnkCnWBCtp4b3tvV0JxMkAZyD52HYft_KGVIpKmVSn4/s320/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-movie-poster.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>6. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO0iGdJbbeunBuxyJHmA__8Wojse49v3CEBWBmOk4gM34aXdDkw2snFUklUfhAC2kLTGI4Ub6lrkAInqMhO-DhUY0WyN_FH2gjLV2Y_4wfNfBAMR-CkAWygA3tx9230kHvvSaiD0ZloM/s1600/Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Spy-Film-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO0iGdJbbeunBuxyJHmA__8Wojse49v3CEBWBmOk4gM34aXdDkw2snFUklUfhAC2kLTGI4Ub6lrkAInqMhO-DhUY0WyN_FH2gjLV2Y_4wfNfBAMR-CkAWygA3tx9230kHvvSaiD0ZloM/s320/Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Spy-Film-Poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>5. Drive</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0yCiQAmbe_TvwlJu0z03tzTEI8xX-j3-RLOPqViXFYRX5Le9luYx3nn9wAxSMpC_Ne9iwi52wW9TtCXXJMmCxtmMH_X9F8uUjMMpVyUkRghNBnU9jopacIcOgtz9o5RyALBI911pdmk/s1600/drive-movie-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0yCiQAmbe_TvwlJu0z03tzTEI8xX-j3-RLOPqViXFYRX5Le9luYx3nn9wAxSMpC_Ne9iwi52wW9TtCXXJMmCxtmMH_X9F8uUjMMpVyUkRghNBnU9jopacIcOgtz9o5RyALBI911pdmk/s320/drive-movie-poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>4. Buck</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsH1_Ur67SfHeC1O1VUw_8TF_1VgI9T9zgla0XUDaGzGv4U9J6LHHQ0N__Q4pCvKlVhcT_9saWmMITk9ktBYaihjB_Z1R-RX6Apv1tsTmmxCY7Y-uQlmslgjQiPrFjFQPFrA3OnowEh8/s1600/buck_poster2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsH1_Ur67SfHeC1O1VUw_8TF_1VgI9T9zgla0XUDaGzGv4U9J6LHHQ0N__Q4pCvKlVhcT_9saWmMITk9ktBYaihjB_Z1R-RX6Apv1tsTmmxCY7Y-uQlmslgjQiPrFjFQPFrA3OnowEh8/s320/buck_poster2.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>3. Margin Call</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcCcHCYl-dpjTqNWm3GxKYdTlfPPsJxE5QPBEYwh0fcqk6g2pn3jSBtJPKhLQ7QGJcFl9roPg1MoQOD-zCmE8Lyg5JyLGwUfHl-pfGmBTkcBCG0oe8n8y-RTX8VJvV8RZ1BjGvLJPACI/s1600/Margin-Call-movie-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcCcHCYl-dpjTqNWm3GxKYdTlfPPsJxE5QPBEYwh0fcqk6g2pn3jSBtJPKhLQ7QGJcFl9roPg1MoQOD-zCmE8Lyg5JyLGwUfHl-pfGmBTkcBCG0oe8n8y-RTX8VJvV8RZ1BjGvLJPACI/s320/Margin-Call-movie-poster.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>2. Warrior</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2TZdsauNA4IRDmhBOpuKvT3xIsEsiBCMgyZpkvfNjODui7YCXHDanxU_2OGHmJrelkN20O1fkNfpd2Y-msJi9_p89ZIBnxy0klAAmZEl9ah2SqVf2qk_uGkFBQq22LPCGL1Cd0HTTpE/s1600/Warrior+New+Sexy+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2TZdsauNA4IRDmhBOpuKvT3xIsEsiBCMgyZpkvfNjODui7YCXHDanxU_2OGHmJrelkN20O1fkNfpd2Y-msJi9_p89ZIBnxy0klAAmZEl9ah2SqVf2qk_uGkFBQq22LPCGL1Cd0HTTpE/s320/Warrior+New+Sexy+Poster.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>1. The Tree of Life</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9wSnPUA88TcdMK3eICJU2mEAPrdFunlk4JANXyMfOZEKr8oVqxm8SHx22oC0XUCbDTZPzPJd4pCD4vh11N11PnJVXnIrpkpg3K8oQjnqINDu8-Is142TKKWohyphenhyphen3xkH2laxsS6K-_vdE/s1600/The_Tree_of_Life_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9wSnPUA88TcdMK3eICJU2mEAPrdFunlk4JANXyMfOZEKr8oVqxm8SHx22oC0XUCbDTZPzPJd4pCD4vh11N11PnJVXnIrpkpg3K8oQjnqINDu8-Is142TKKWohyphenhyphen3xkH2laxsS6K-_vdE/s320/The_Tree_of_Life_9.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And there you have it. My Top 10 (er, 20), of 2011. A good mix of genres represented, a good year for movies overall. It's no 2007, but I'll take it. If you haven't had a chance to see some of these, do your darndest to make time in your schedule. You'll be glad you did.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-33631702683651258642011-12-29T20:50:00.005-05:002011-12-29T20:50:46.824-05:00The Clock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKDJ_GBAj5c/Tv0W63t8wXI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/LKi_-RARwcQ/s1600/2011-02-07-Christian2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKDJ_GBAj5c/Tv0W63t8wXI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/LKi_-RARwcQ/s320/2011-02-07-Christian2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Imagine if Girl Talk's Greg Gillis, the "Maestro of the Mashup", applied his superhuman ability to films, dovetailing and rearranging clips to create a massive tribute to cinema. Now imagine that instead of making it the length of a typical LP (40 minutes or so), it was 24 hours long, and instead of a few hundred samples, it featured 10,000 (roughly) snippets meticulously threaded together. You would probably call this a staggeringly ambitious project. Now what if I told you that the entire "mashup", takes place in real time; that is, when your watch strikes 4, the clocks on the screen also strike four. When you start to get hungry around 6:37, the clips on the screen show people sitting down to dinner at precisely 6:37. That is what you can expect when you pull up a seat to watch Christian Marclay's "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clock_(2010)">The Clock</a>" at the MFA.<br />
<br />
Perhaps I'm not explaining it well. Take a minute to view <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8svkK7d7sY">this clip</a> to get a better idea of the incredible detail of this piece. And believe me when I say that the clip is woefully inadequate at expressing what makes the project so enthralling. Simply stitching the clips together would be a gargantuan effort, but Marclay was not satisfied with this simplistic endeavor. He constantly teases at certain scenes, just as a master DJ plays a tiny piece of a pop song minutes before he segues into it. While I watched it from 5:30 to 7 tonight, I was first confused when he showed Napoleon Dynamite in a van for no apparent reason, only to feel foolish 15 minutes later when Napoleon stood in a field looking at his watch waiting for Pedro to pull up. Certain films, like 1960's "The Time Machine" are the perfect tongue-in-cheek material, yet manage to pop up several times on their own merits, as George demonstrates the instrument to his friends over the course of a meeting.<br />
<br />
The entire piece works on so many levels, it's a wonder no one had ever thought of it before. You can play "Name that Movie" with friends as films gallop by, you can sit back and enjoy as legend after legend flickers upon the screen (in my 90 minute session I saw nearly every movie star in film history*), or you can treat it like an actual film, as there is real drama and comedy in the film pairings and chosen scenes. People walking out of frame in one scene will be matched with people walking into a room in another. A knock at the door in one film will be answered in the next. When the clock nears the top of the hour, the loud music swells and the clips take on the gravitas that films usually do when time is running out for our hero. And of course, the complete work itself is an astute commentary on time and how we are both enslaved and liberated by it. It will inevitably mean different things to every person, but its net effect will be no less profound. <br />
<br />
This blog post has gone on much longer than I expected, but such is my enthusiasm for this effort. If you have a chance to see it at the MFA, please do so before it leaves the city on December 31st. You won't regret it.<br />
<br />
<br />
* Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, Johnny Depp, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Sean Penn, Robert Deniro, Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Humphrey Bogart, Orson Welles, etclollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-40997198712266474372011-12-19T18:44:00.001-05:002011-12-19T18:44:07.078-05:00Top 20 Songs of the YearWhy Hello There. Thanks for dropping by. Grab an agreeable beverage, pull up that Snuggie, and cuddle up for my favorite songs of the year. I'll try and keep commentary to a minimum here, and just get to business. There were many wonderful songs this year, of which I have plucked twenty to share with you. I am confident there will be some familiar characters, but probably a great many unfamiliar choices, of which I implore you to give a listen and keep an open mind. I listen to a lot of music, but the more I listen to, the more I learn that a great song is a great song, regardless of any real or imagined barriers that have kept them out of your ear.<br />
<br />
Honorable Mentions:<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/3J6MkqtnuB4">Das Racist - Booty In The Air</a><br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/EfnGHRVCik0">Other Lives - Tamer Animals </a><br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/UKewfKCCMKg">Wale - Chain Music</a><br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/yWP4bI37mCE">Wilco - Art of Almost</a><br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/5HGgni1nGGY">Wu Lyf - We Bros</a><br />
<br />
20. Radiohead - The Daily Mail<br />
<br />
Say what you will about "King Of Limbs", Radiohead's 8th studio album. Failed experiment? Brilliantly dense gem? No matter, as they saved their best song of the year for a December "single" release. Whether it didn't fit on King of Limbs or just wasn't ready, it's a fantastic tune that captures the dark atmosphere and flexible melodies that made Hail to the Thief such a disturbing listen. <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0kRnA8BLrCg" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
19. Cults - You Know What I Mean<br />
<br />
Cults have surfed their own buzz to a contract with Columbia Records and a BNM crowning by Pitchfork. Their tight, gorgeous songs serve as brief time capsules that trigger an avalanche of grainy imagery and black and white photos. Who knows if people will tire of this nostalgia, but this song will never wear out its welcome on my iPod.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lcId8t9c4cc" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
18. Justice - Helix<br />
<br />
Justice's sophomore album was full of disappointments, but what salvaged their rock experiment and gave fans hope for the future was this wonderfully energetic diddy. Using the briefest of samples and an intoxicating guitar part, "Helix" was as much fun as anything on their debut.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bhAr-Xj9j4E" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
17. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ6zr6kCPj8">LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem</a><br />
<br />
I don't need to link this song, or even say anything about it, but I will. For those of you who think it is a terrible, manufactured, obnoxious excuse for a song, I am here to tell you that you aren't THAT old, and that you can still have fun. It was the song of the summer in my humble opinion, and still elicits a few instinctive shuffles before I can get a hold of myself. <br />
<br />
16. Childish Gambino - Freaks and Geeks<br />
<br />
The Gambino backlash is here. Camp has sold over 100,000 copies, Pitchfork dismissed his album with withering ferocity, and Community is on the ropes. Donald has always said he thrives on criticism and has dealt with haters every step of the way. I hope he keeps that hoodie pulled tight and ignores everything else, because this song is still amazing.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/otPxoVQiIGo" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
15. Lykke Li - Sadness is a Blessing<br />
<br />
Something happened to Lykke Li. She was a cute, precocious girl who danced her way into your heart three years ago, in 2011, she developed a prickly side, one that eschewed her playfulness for a heart-to-heart. Sadness is a Blessing is as powerful as it is entrancing, and the video is a perfect compliment to the sentiments contained therein.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xu-b3u5jDiU" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
14. The Weeknd - The Morning<br />
<br />
The Weeknd came out of absolutely nowhere (well, Toronto) to release two of the strongest R&B records of the year (for FREE). This 23 year old went from cooing into his laptop to getting hooks on Drake's album in 6 months, and he shows no sign of letting up, with even more albums set for release in early 2012. The Morning is the first song I heard of him, and the one that made everyone sit up and take notice.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jxzn5C4Dmuk" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
13. Jessica Lea Mayfield - Blue Skies Again<br />
<br />
People who lament the lack of "good" country/folk music these days, need look no further than Jessica Lea Mayfield. Seeing her live cemented her remarkable talent and stage presence. She sings in a feathery twang with wisdom well beyond her years. I can't wait to hear what she does next.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_gZ9YWcJKzg" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
12. Florence and the Machine - What the Water Gave Me<br />
<br />
Florence snuck up on me. I heard rumblings about her, but never made an effort to connect the dots until her sophomore album started collecting accolades and became undeniable. I'm glad I gave in to her charms. While I like "Shake it Out", some of her songs dance dangerously close to Sarah McLachlain territory. "What the Water Gave Me" is the perfect amalgam of her reining in her voice and the band picking up the slack.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YiFQ_cPFOSs" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
11. Cut Copy - Take Me Over<br />
<br />
I loved Cut Copy's "In Ghost Colours" more than I can express in a sentence, so I approached their newest release Zonoscope with trepidation, fearing they would try to shake things up dramatically and make fans run back to their first album. Thankfully, Zonoscope did none of that, as demonstrated by the masterful spring and build of "Take Me Over".<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IobDug0Ht1g" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
10. Architecture in Helsinki - Contact High<br />
<br />
Architecture in Helsinki have yet to cobble together a GREAT album, but they can always be counted on for a few fantastic singles, and 2011 was no exception. "Contact High" and its hilarious is one of their strongest songs, and hypnotizing live. The more songs that keep Kellie on the keyboard and her voice in the background, the better.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s9qhv-XY4Ig" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
9. Glass Candy - Warm in the Winter<br />
I know very little about Glass Candy. I listened to some of their other music after falling in love with this song, and nothing grabbed me like this song. Usually, song titles are pretty dumb. They are just a snippet from a lyric in the song that people can yell out at a concert. But "Warm in the Winter" is something else entirely. It is the perfect descriptor for this song. I can see myself listening to it driving in the snow, or by the fire, and it was my go-to running song all year whenever I was feeling droopy. It never failed to warm me up and bring a dumb smile to my face. There's a version with lyrics and a purely instrumental. I prefer the latter.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Utlq6Uhto5Q" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
8. St. Vincent - Cruel<br />
St. Vincent had herself a very nice year, and although I can't say that I loved all of "Strange Mercy", I could not deny the brilliance of "Cruel". She has a stellar voice, and this song is the ideal stage for it.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Itt0rALeHE8" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
7. Youth Lagoon - Seventeen<br />
I just wrote about this song a <a href="http://pinatavalentines.blogspot.com/2011/10/on-repeat-youth-lagoon-seventeen.html">few weeks ago</a>, but it is still as devastating and inspiring as ever.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b4_x063rhX4" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
6. The Rapture - How Deep Is Your Love?<br />
<br />
The Rapture, like many buzzbands of yore (ahem, Strokes, ahem), spent 2011 trying to get their groove back, or at the very least a bit of that precious buzz. Well they did a pretty stellar job on their debut single, a jangling hand-clapper that was the first of MANY songs to invoke the saxophone this year. So what if the chorus sounds a little too much like "The Thong Song?".<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jTIKffFPFv0" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
5. Lil Wayne - 6 foot, 7 foot<br />
<br />
As the biggest Wayne apologist I know (recently I've been seriously considering getting a YMCMB vanity plate), I was a little nervous at Wayne's prospects fresh out of the pen, so imagine my relief when I heard 6 foot, 7 foot for the first time. I can only liken it to the feeling you get when your plane lands safely. I know Wayne has been hit-or-miss the rest of the year, but at least this song proved to me that the old Wayne is still in there somewhere.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/v9GPWx9D-1U" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
4. Adele - Turning Tables<br />
<br />
I <a href="http://pinatavalentines.blogspot.com/2011/03/on-repeat-adele-turning-tables.html">wrote about this song</a> a while ago also, and while Someone Like You and Rolling In The Deep were massive hits, I still think this is her strongest song to date. Riveting and chilling, Adele is a talent unlike any other.<br />
<br />
3. Drake - Headlines<br />
<br />
Drake's "Take Care" improved on his debut album in every possible way. He handed off the singing to the capable The Weeknd, and focused his energy on his lyrics, evolving so fast and so completely that any prior criticism of him no longer stuck. Those who dismissed him were forced to take a second look. They found a far more calculating and intelligent rapper than they expected, all of these new found skills evident on the amazing "Headlines".<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zi8FoOUbtak" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
2. Bon Iver - Holocene<br />
<br />
I am happy for Bon Iver. He has a humility that few artists have. Sometimes it gets him into trouble (See Grammy comments), but mostly it keeps him honest and earnestly trying to improve. With his second album he has shaken off his Kanye-glow and his cabin-in-the-woods mythology, and finally it seems as though he has earned himself a clean slate. Holocene is a wallop of a song, and needs no introduction if you've ventured outside your rock.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TWcyIpul8OE" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
1. M83 - Midnight City<br />
<br />
Yes. I am aware that this is the exact same #1 song as chosen by the tastemakers at Pitchfork.com, and I am perfectly ok with that. It is a song that transcends pretension and turned up noses and sneers from jaded hipsters. It is a lit firecracker that brought all the mopes and pessimists on to the dance floor. The album itself is huge and nearly collapses under its own weight, but this song is enough to set it on the right course and give it a hearty boost.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dX3k_QDnzHE" width="640"></iframe>lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-9003834482492965842011-12-14T17:36:00.003-05:002011-12-14T18:20:15.135-05:002011 in BooksI'm excited to start squeezing out Year-End Lists, as it likely means I am done with finals and have the time/mental fortitude to list out some of my favorite things (No Oprah). I thought I'd start the festivities off with a list of the books I read this year, roughly categorized. Not counting textbooks, I read 15 books this year. Not a banner year, but I'm sure I missed a few and really shifted into high gear over the last couple months. After taking a while to get into the groove, picking up my Nook has developed into a satisfying habit that is in many ways better than paper and ink. Without further ado:<br />
<br />
<b>BEST</b>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pale-King-David-Foster-Wallace/dp/0316074233/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323902341&sr=8-1">The Pale King</a> - David Foster Wallace, 560p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY5NwqFbi8yH9fybV8t2A6khWA0gtWpjBN7tuhWjPZFewDQgf4Rgl9IL-kq17ZxeuoD4yYgSLCMHg7Wh3nK9IaemokZAl3yXo_Mh4K668k7jAJm-w9qxyKkOcnEB5HjSpHR-azcyQEZ4/s1600/The_Pale_King.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY5NwqFbi8yH9fybV8t2A6khWA0gtWpjBN7tuhWjPZFewDQgf4Rgl9IL-kq17ZxeuoD4yYgSLCMHg7Wh3nK9IaemokZAl3yXo_Mh4K668k7jAJm-w9qxyKkOcnEB5HjSpHR-azcyQEZ4/s1600/The_Pale_King.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Feynman-Adventures-Curious-Character/dp/0393061329/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323902419&sr=1-1">Classic Feynman</a> - Richard Feynman, 528p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-V1lo7s8-8gT0v5Yj7xdpAsKLqcTf6tJ9kbKu_PdaYPjY79QcMN9rkxpH1DLTjwNlvNg60agfQ8iHoqjp-lS0IPV00k_joweng61zVNF3FaDzzVnGw5xqzOolLQjC1l_RvW0uUK_L_s/s1600/classic_feynman.large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-V1lo7s8-8gT0v5Yj7xdpAsKLqcTf6tJ9kbKu_PdaYPjY79QcMN9rkxpH1DLTjwNlvNg60agfQ8iHoqjp-lS0IPV00k_joweng61zVNF3FaDzzVnGw5xqzOolLQjC1l_RvW0uUK_L_s/s320/classic_feynman.large.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />
TBC #32 - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Corrections-Novel-Recent-Picador-Highlights/dp/B0013TFBLU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323903467&sr=1-1">The Corrections</a>- Jonathan Franzen, 576p<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiB8Jf1wWqKW88Czy_EhgCggHTTF9p2HmKivO_CnxMFzV0T2nepdhCnMLwmLwRAfGQ5hBdScwFk0DsjJp-1hE8QkuH50p4G6y9z25JjTk2qD_b5tsMKm1vT64ZqCCvP1krt_mi93NkYM/s1600/200px-Thecorrectionscvr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiB8Jf1wWqKW88Czy_EhgCggHTTF9p2HmKivO_CnxMFzV0T2nepdhCnMLwmLwRAfGQ5hBdScwFk0DsjJp-1hE8QkuH50p4G6y9z25JjTk2qD_b5tsMKm1vT64ZqCCvP1krt_mi93NkYM/s1600/200px-Thecorrectionscvr.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Great:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Although-Course-You-Becoming-Yourself/dp/030759243X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323902498&sr=1-1">Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself</a> - David Lipsky, 352p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQXPu_kbd-Vda6KrhX3J8tJeIfuXMDD6JV27RFPew2OSzAx8Za7o8c8kWSQJv0xRrDMbkDzlOV_eqREUCjLkWkPfEV3uSkrHRddk1TaFKMUrBkSLk9pGC-glK4NI2I3Q2Yq8zrYk0eV8/s1600/6a00e5523026f588340133ee47c421970b-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQXPu_kbd-Vda6KrhX3J8tJeIfuXMDD6JV27RFPew2OSzAx8Za7o8c8kWSQJv0xRrDMbkDzlOV_eqREUCjLkWkPfEV3uSkrHRddk1TaFKMUrBkSLk9pGC-glK4NI2I3Q2Yq8zrYk0eV8/s320/6a00e5523026f588340133ee47c421970b-800wi.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Tattoo-Movie-Vintage-Lizard/dp/0307949486/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323902612&sr=1-1">The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo</a> - Stieg Larsson, 672p<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZN9KJ_u8s5gpWDsSrQdSQc6zdN265w6fnqXalbe5a0smdabfBQSeIFSuhBSnIc0M2ovR8BZwDP8yocHcNidUtwT1-6W9rliaA0ALJojoIB3BlwTRKfJPy1qhr3GE2i9o_B-Qd1dgCEk/s1600/the_girl_with_the_dragon_tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZN9KJ_u8s5gpWDsSrQdSQc6zdN265w6fnqXalbe5a0smdabfBQSeIFSuhBSnIc0M2ovR8BZwDP8yocHcNidUtwT1-6W9rliaA0ALJojoIB3BlwTRKfJPy1qhr3GE2i9o_B-Qd1dgCEk/s320/the_girl_with_the_dragon_tattoo.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323902724&sr=1-1">Steve Jobs</a>- Walter Isaacson, 656p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1vZ4vmE5Ll-g0lXcw85siI8PGM863LPfcoQbsvJaorc2kbZ1shoX_DQIcpfeK_9zJ77Vrd6-l_XP71UXzaJTE0IOHBD_VKMhyOL4_iIk8-faPF0C4k21mqyI-DdTMFPQNEAhdN8PQGk/s1600/steve-jobs-biography-walter-isaacson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1vZ4vmE5Ll-g0lXcw85siI8PGM863LPfcoQbsvJaorc2kbZ1shoX_DQIcpfeK_9zJ77Vrd6-l_XP71UXzaJTE0IOHBD_VKMhyOL4_iIk8-faPF0C4k21mqyI-DdTMFPQNEAhdN8PQGk/s320/steve-jobs-biography-walter-isaacson.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
TBC #27 - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Dorian-Gray-Oscar-Wilde/dp/1452896283/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323902942&sr=1-2">The Picture of Dorian Gray</a> - Oscar Wilde, 178p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHY6TLtvgo1dl4Dz5lr8Emso_IIk3VGgy6O5nUBKbpU-w5nGYL5ULE9m8pT0MkrBi3DHw1oS6zlphEz_VEGR9bza_hSIax0ph1a61-jY539ZK_yakcAt8PUwUf6_i1Z6kOc3UtocnxUAE/s1600/dorian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHY6TLtvgo1dl4Dz5lr8Emso_IIk3VGgy6O5nUBKbpU-w5nGYL5ULE9m8pT0MkrBi3DHw1oS6zlphEz_VEGR9bza_hSIax0ph1a61-jY539ZK_yakcAt8PUwUf6_i1Z6kOc3UtocnxUAE/s320/dorian.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
TBC #29 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_Androids_Dream_of_Electric_Sheep%3F">Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?</a> - Philip K. Dick, 210p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2KZlZr3oG9dNT7Vc7lNlePCR0uxtpH6ARWiFG8QkBSkTuezkWb-2OuTyZyhNkars1fkV5Id5Gq1zgfbU6GQpqDjwS0OvCzEuvbJpYpH-p6H651MY9ZV77KV4-wGXXrf0DrdhxD-7upw/s1600/doandroidsdreamdick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2KZlZr3oG9dNT7Vc7lNlePCR0uxtpH6ARWiFG8QkBSkTuezkWb-2OuTyZyhNkars1fkV5Id5Gq1zgfbU6GQpqDjwS0OvCzEuvbJpYpH-p6H651MY9ZV77KV4-wGXXrf0DrdhxD-7upw/s320/doandroidsdreamdick.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moneyball-Michael-Lewis/dp/0393338398/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323903912&sr=1-1">Moneyball</a> - Michael Lewis, 317p</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvO_N_gyHgf1pUVrpxDA60DkOYbQkhiUP-0c5qkT9XL7D454Io2-LRTJ99Pi7ehlJ7ymi_q-h59mBcia_63PjDwZO9j7fOnqBZhmhKa-L9mM3lhVu-bjho4kUZ1NUbezXFxau6qsYuJ0/s1600/moneyballcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvO_N_gyHgf1pUVrpxDA60DkOYbQkhiUP-0c5qkT9XL7D454Io2-LRTJ99Pi7ehlJ7ymi_q-h59mBcia_63PjDwZO9j7fOnqBZhmhKa-L9mM3lhVu-bjho4kUZ1NUbezXFxau6qsYuJ0/s320/moneyballcover.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Awake-Dark-Best-Roger-Ebert/dp/0226182010/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323904055&sr=1-1">Awake In The Dark</a> - Roger Ebert, 512p</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FdUe1zkM6yCvsGeFvFEVxIEvKcoT4pXtZb75ayeR7yY0h03_z4G1-ISGzviDqCnrQO7h60ONly79Y1-ohgMS2J4w4mEtpOJ6eg3O7eNnTxTAlGbTLW6likDjyeifIYqxy1-gJh_78Sc/s1600/awake-in-the-dark-roger-ebert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FdUe1zkM6yCvsGeFvFEVxIEvKcoT4pXtZb75ayeR7yY0h03_z4G1-ISGzviDqCnrQO7h60ONly79Y1-ohgMS2J4w4mEtpOJ6eg3O7eNnTxTAlGbTLW6likDjyeifIYqxy1-gJh_78Sc/s320/awake-in-the-dark-roger-ebert.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Spy-George/dp/0143119788/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323904253&sr=1-1">Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy</a> - John Le' Carre, 400p<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVFh4e4eN50-l5_eZCprEv2Y_B1Hfh53VJnoALzuS_dwAwdgFqidv2Yhd6W1_xtdUFx2zGRZWBMcGgJvN4RUdN0e0z8b10EQH9i0IETMMY8QCu6fFGyD2tJHa7f6sRunx36IsmpTO8kI/s1600/JohnLeCarre_TinkerTailorSoldierSpy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVFh4e4eN50-l5_eZCprEv2Y_B1Hfh53VJnoALzuS_dwAwdgFqidv2Yhd6W1_xtdUFx2zGRZWBMcGgJvN4RUdN0e0z8b10EQH9i0IETMMY8QCu6fFGyD2tJHa7f6sRunx36IsmpTO8kI/s320/JohnLeCarre_TinkerTailorSoldierSpy1.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>GOOD</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
TBC #33 - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mao-II-Novel-Don-DeLillo/dp/0140152741/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323903630&sr=1-1">Mao II</a> - Don Delillo, 256p<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RKC5UQxATL-uT1s1lRYDb3vtPu5CThkgM3PJLDk6J12eHKo3cVCnkZ8-Zmx12BvY0he_Fi0PvK11zRwkjlHVYHXfoC8muZ9bwIUCPZO9433-FeAklpeDn86_QMm6r566NSHQ7tScoYM/s1600/mao_ii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RKC5UQxATL-uT1s1lRYDb3vtPu5CThkgM3PJLDk6J12eHKo3cVCnkZ8-Zmx12BvY0he_Fi0PvK11zRwkjlHVYHXfoC8muZ9bwIUCPZO9433-FeAklpeDn86_QMm6r566NSHQ7tScoYM/s1600/mao_ii.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Itself-Memoir-Roger-Ebert/dp/0446584975/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323903997&sr=1-1">Life Itself</a> - Roger Ebert, 448p<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugugeG-ekSJOBfynCmH9jo9Mvq_SWec7nPZLExeLB-3osaxRzv1dFFIPNBcVUPxTwTn_yhEJ-9CbATgi_LTAcOwYrRU0rjf-12fG0irtyqGm8pBkHhCc6P2cjkz0uy8OvcQ55kTCkRVE/s1600/life_itself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugugeG-ekSJOBfynCmH9jo9Mvq_SWec7nPZLExeLB-3osaxRzv1dFFIPNBcVUPxTwTn_yhEJ-9CbATgi_LTAcOwYrRU0rjf-12fG0irtyqGm8pBkHhCc6P2cjkz0uy8OvcQ55kTCkRVE/s320/life_itself.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>MEH</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
TBC #28 - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/King-Lear-Folger-Library-Shakespeare/dp/074348276X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323903034&sr=1-2">King Lear</a> - Shakespeare, 384p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0lB54-lkZNID9wjCromE9Gw6tleG65l7qG4LhuI2tvk4pENalQ2U1ShC14qCXVgDceL-riGlhz4z56imzU97zn86za_ATXRjWc7xb3NGiJxMhxa2n6rBhVwMDAxTnfJjJtae7LeT_jE/s1600/9302011_king-lear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0lB54-lkZNID9wjCromE9Gw6tleG65l7qG4LhuI2tvk4pENalQ2U1ShC14qCXVgDceL-riGlhz4z56imzU97zn86za_ATXRjWc7xb3NGiJxMhxa2n6rBhVwMDAxTnfJjJtae7LeT_jE/s320/9302011_king-lear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Looking good, Gandalf ;)<br />
<br />
TBC #35 - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wind-Carlos-Ruiz-Zaf%C3%B3n/dp/0143034901/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323903533&sr=1-1">Shadow Of The Wind</a> - Carlos Ruiz Zafon, 487p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQknoksZ_UWCVSMDyxoJwrCneyi_mU6L0WNjNFU3QdYufp6BdF5uFdFVjOKNChRIiQwNXrjP31W2pwRxmJ9wXEXYQi0oGIAE06Dh4v-8Ug34JLwqurv-un7HUsmMIfFXQaucIXOQLNAk/s1600/175px-TheShadowOfTheWind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQknoksZ_UWCVSMDyxoJwrCneyi_mU6L0WNjNFU3QdYufp6BdF5uFdFVjOKNChRIiQwNXrjP31W2pwRxmJ9wXEXYQi0oGIAE06Dh4v-8Ug34JLwqurv-un7HUsmMIfFXQaucIXOQLNAk/s1600/175px-TheShadowOfTheWind.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
TBC #36 - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Life-Henrietta-Lacks/dp/1400052181/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323903709&sr=1-1">The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks</a> - Rebecca Skloot, 400p<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlVZNiGrqktecStgG2dEuhkG_Y0AYBr6nbJEsE4v08Kw3oxSdYHJJWdos8N8rsy034eZohLLU0TPOV5Za5ZJ4m9kj5usJ0kG937JJdVFAtzpmA_LpLyiXg59-9bFXfWOIv4rHW87XawI/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlVZNiGrqktecStgG2dEuhkG_Y0AYBr6nbJEsE4v08Kw3oxSdYHJJWdos8N8rsy034eZohLLU0TPOV5Za5ZJ4m9kj5usJ0kG937JJdVFAtzpmA_LpLyiXg59-9bFXfWOIv4rHW87XawI/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>BAD</b><br />
<br />
TBC #30 - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Autobiography-L-Member/dp/0802141447/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323903374&sr=1-2">Monster</a> - Sanyika Shakur, 400p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59kfg4U2xfx_T6y5najvESm8A0o1BmM3L9F52gkR_5dLnp_GhFMoTCKW1mywqu5Jb1rithhveFrrZ_7zwmI9o8QAZoerYfapA0s5AD3rfUrAW9Py_7a2uEn125R3u5Qi2dAxNHZbeR2w/s1600/Monster-9780802141446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59kfg4U2xfx_T6y5najvESm8A0o1BmM3L9F52gkR_5dLnp_GhFMoTCKW1mywqu5Jb1rithhveFrrZ_7zwmI9o8QAZoerYfapA0s5AD3rfUrAW9Py_7a2uEn125R3u5Qi2dAxNHZbeR2w/s320/Monster-9780802141446.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>DID NOT FINISH</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
The Satanic Verses - Salman Rushdie<br />
Sex At Dawn - Christopher Ryan<br />
Common Ground - J. Anthony Lukas<br />
American Prometheus - Kai Bird<br />
The Art of Fielding - Chad Harbach<br />
Ernest Hemingway - The Sun Also Rises<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm sure I forgot a few of them, but these are the books I could come up with after a cursory look around my room and my Nook. Some Great, Some Meh. Some I didn't finish for one reason or another. Doesn't seem like much when you cram it all into a blog post, but it shakes out to 7,336 pages all told, or 20 pages/day. Not staggering, but better than I would have expected, all things considered.<br />
<br />
What have you read this year? Anything great? Any overlaps? Please share in the comments, I'm always itching for something new to read. Adieu!<br />
<br />lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-6374065704757433192011-11-30T19:59:00.001-05:002011-11-30T21:01:59.737-05:00LuckI will concede that this blog has hit a bit of a rough patch. Aside from a handful of photos one week and an ill-conceived rant the next, I've hit a bit of a wall. I have attempted to eschew music reviews, as I am keenly aware that no one reads them and I'm trying to avoid movie reviews so I can get it all out of my system at the end of the year when I come up with some sort of hierarchy. In one of my first entries, I confessed that this blog existed more as a means for me to express opinions more articulately than I otherwise may have, and should be read as a journal more than a manifesto. I still feel that way, but I wouldn't be linking the entries if it was an entirely solitary pursuit. What I'm saying is; the blogging will be probably be sporadic, and on my terms. This entry will address luck.<br />
<br />
I've stopped reading the Oppenheimer biography 'American Prometheus' because it was excruciatingly slow and dry, and entirely too detailed. For Oppenheimer scholars, it may be fascinating to read the minutes of every meeting he ever attended, but I couldn't take any more. Instead, I moved laterally to 'Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself", a 300-page "conversation" between Rolling Stone writer David Lipsky and the late David Foster Wallace in 1996, just as Wallace was finishing his book tour for Infinite Jest and wrestling with his sudden celebrity. While I have only read 'A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again', 'The Pale King', and only made a small dent in Infinite Jest, I consider myself to be a big DFW fan. I hold his <a href="http://pinatavalentines.blogspot.com/2011/03/david-foster-wallace.html">Commencement speech</a> near and dear, and am saddened when I realize his output is finite, and some day I will have no new DFW material to read.<br />
<br />
What I have been struck by most in Lipsky's book is the humility that DFW has in the wake of the fervor that Infinite Jest produced, and how he dismisses compliments and finds the accolades "scary", in that they are only raising expectations for his next book to unreachable heights. He was a brilliant man, and one who refused to view art with one iota of pretension, instead using it as a means to tease out fundamental, universal truths. He was not one to roll his eyes at cliche, so long as it was effective and not insulting, unabashedly enjoying old country music due to the very deep material it contained, regardless of the surface subject matter. I won't get into all of his intricacies, but it gave me a profound level of respect for him on a different level than I had before. Maybe it's because I see some of myself in him when he discusses his twenties, and it scares me when I consider how his life ended. One of the most devastating passages involves Wallace explaining how incredibly lucky he is, in spite of everything, to be doing what he enjoys. While not an edgy topic, I considered the same, and decided to quantify how lucky I really am to try and visualize it a bit better. So that's what I did. Below are the odds for each of the following characteristics, provided the above is true (for the most part).<br />
<br />
These numbers are courtesy of the most recent US Census (<a href="http://www.census.gov/">www.census.gov</a>)<br />
<br />
Note: I am not saying any of these attributes are <i>better </i>than the alternatives.<br />
<br />
US Citizen: 1 in 22<br />
Male: 1 in 2<br />
White: 1 in 1.5<br />
Middle Class: 1 in 2<br />
Non-Divorced Household: 1 in 2<br />
High School Graduate: 1 in 1.2
<br />
Bachelor's Degree: 1 in 2.5<br />
Master's Degree (knock on wood): 1 in 4<br />
No Debt: 1 in 4
<br />
Full Time Job: 1 in 1 (Low unemployment rate for MS graduates)<br />
Less than 20 minutes commute to work: 1 in 3<br />
Healthy: 1 in 3 (guess factoring in obesity and all other fatal/chronic diseases)<br />
Good Looking: 1 in 3<br />
Full Head of Hair: 1 in 2<br />
Winning Smile: 1 in 4<br />
Well Read: 1 in 5<br />
Charming: 1 in 3<br />
<br />
Total: 1 in 41 million (in all seriousness, more like one in 115,000 if you ignore the frivolous things at the end)<br />
<br />
Puts things in perspective a bit, doesn't it? And who knows how far off some of those estimations were.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-49243400283619843012011-11-22T20:56:00.001-05:002011-11-22T21:02:18.904-05:00Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84AWDlvKg7yI9L02lSkWnWOQ6DznFlflUSwaholQkB1Ry4Rz30RECd3rWHx5_5ugFIDnIu-0s4ygWgp2fFbWzKYqzod2SHDL1ZQcMykFVb5BSNut9cJSy0ceLSBqN8gY-NZ7fqAeRUss/s1600/P1080340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84AWDlvKg7yI9L02lSkWnWOQ6DznFlflUSwaholQkB1Ry4Rz30RECd3rWHx5_5ugFIDnIu-0s4ygWgp2fFbWzKYqzod2SHDL1ZQcMykFVb5BSNut9cJSy0ceLSBqN8gY-NZ7fqAeRUss/s320/P1080340.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduVLp0ON1OhQn-hA8Skrp6cn1-5Lji4L42c2_yW-wN-DEknIyaovuCZaEfhgDAUyzQdhyIMLdEUnKgNBj6OUfOVtuCUwMlUe7gktbyUDOPm4q_f5QEXq2KaOzZKu-XluuaaVnmgXem0o/s1600/P1080354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduVLp0ON1OhQn-hA8Skrp6cn1-5Lji4L42c2_yW-wN-DEknIyaovuCZaEfhgDAUyzQdhyIMLdEUnKgNBj6OUfOVtuCUwMlUe7gktbyUDOPm4q_f5QEXq2KaOzZKu-XluuaaVnmgXem0o/s320/P1080354.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQt5oNga8zMv11CQBWjsL95h2K1l7B4lpJd8_FOH7W_CupqCt0XEJD84xdqP7ATdgyW6SKxb3B0yQG1p_qYr9Ze5-YO1qtdrDj3xJaLz26B3E977rgCaCSDJOzrEpYQ_hbAp862dnUoKU/s1600/P1080355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQt5oNga8zMv11CQBWjsL95h2K1l7B4lpJd8_FOH7W_CupqCt0XEJD84xdqP7ATdgyW6SKxb3B0yQG1p_qYr9Ze5-YO1qtdrDj3xJaLz26B3E977rgCaCSDJOzrEpYQ_hbAp862dnUoKU/s320/P1080355.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Q0cSQO-1ueeql1yncuOhSgNOe1AiKrQ7LHW1SaiPO_08fXqDkG1S-_QLX4wf9UWVg95uiNaEGsO9SXCKbKltIF_PMe17jDgSKONA4EkQbMpK3TEM5EVWklq-BA9wXHVwnOHa4mxy6A8/s1600/P1080380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Q0cSQO-1ueeql1yncuOhSgNOe1AiKrQ7LHW1SaiPO_08fXqDkG1S-_QLX4wf9UWVg95uiNaEGsO9SXCKbKltIF_PMe17jDgSKONA4EkQbMpK3TEM5EVWklq-BA9wXHVwnOHa4mxy6A8/s320/P1080380.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUFbHNNe6Y11cAzrqjFd_1qKzJ_Ea6dkEFhMg7hGI1CCPQKgaQtMj_WQtA0N0CBqsynYI8B3Y1G7Q5onkHbmr2z_I4qSRQyQs-oD6VNLMXYyoDiRib1FtxzUjnuJZsfQ7I8GR0nxDnPs/s1600/P1080421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUFbHNNe6Y11cAzrqjFd_1qKzJ_Ea6dkEFhMg7hGI1CCPQKgaQtMj_WQtA0N0CBqsynYI8B3Y1G7Q5onkHbmr2z_I4qSRQyQs-oD6VNLMXYyoDiRib1FtxzUjnuJZsfQ7I8GR0nxDnPs/s320/P1080421.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-9246514895971331902011-11-20T13:46:00.001-05:002011-11-20T15:03:56.338-05:00LegacyThe term "Legacy" is one that carries both gravity and pretension. It's something I've been chewing on a lot lately after reading Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography and tackling a Richard Feynman collection after. Now in the throes of the J. Robert Oppenheimer bio American Prometheus, the concept of legacy and what it means has become quite fascinating. Steve Jobs created revolutionary products that delivered intuitive computers for normal consumers, but was a notorious asshole who routinely berated his coworkers, swindled his friends and was often too busy/callous to spend quality time with his family. Steve Jobs often fretted about his legacy, but at the end of the day he chose to be worshiped by millions of strangers than revered in his own family.<br />
<br />
Feynman was a different character entirely. He possessed the same ferocious curiosity of Jobs, but his curiosity was not limited to a specific discipline like computing or design. He embraced everything with the zeal that few of us can muster for even our most interesting pursuits. He planned a trip to Brazil, so he taught himself Portuguese and became immersed in the culture, picking up the drums in his spare time and soon mastering them. When he worked at Los Alamos on the Manhattan Project, he taught himself lock-picking and spent hours mastering the craft and learning new tricks. He was a kind and gentle and nurturing influence on his students at Cal-Tech and was equally patient and beloved by the scientific community at large. He became interested in hallucinations but was reticent to indulge in drugs, so he spent many hours in sensory deprivation chambers to satisfy these questions. He made landmark Biology observations and even became popular enough as an artist to warrant an exhibit under his pseudonym "Ofey". He had two children from a long marriage to his third wife (his first died of TB and second divorced him), and proved that genius need not be a ticket to a solitary life.<br />
<br />
For the rest of us, does the word "legacy" even apply? Does it even matter? Some could effectively argue that concerning yourself over how you will be remembered is a pointless pursuit, and I would not disagree. But the fact of the matter is that life is an end sum game, and having a nice legacy is a validation of a life well-lived, even if your memory dissolves quickly. What's interesting is how these legacies can change over time, and how your life can be distilled into a sterile paragraph that scrubs away any complexity or dimension. Watching Boardwalk Empire, I was struck by a portrayal of a KKK member as a family man. When you have the KKK on your resume, it doesn't matter that you were a doting husband or a wonderful father or that "things were different back then", your legacy is sealed. Perhaps those who are fighting tooth and nail to defend marriage from a "liberal assault" will enjoy a similar fate in twenty years and they try to explain themselves to their grandchildren who simply dismiss them as an old bigot.<br />
<br />
There is so much unhappiness in the world today, that most people can only cope with it by channeling it into frustration and impatience that only serves to propagate the problem. It is exceedingly difficult, but we would all be better served if we understood that everyone is struggling in some way, and that their actions are their response to this. This sentiment is better expressed in David Foster Wallace's commencement speech, but it's something I try to come back to when I am close to boiling. Perhaps legacy is an inappropriate motivator to get someone to treat others with respect, but if it gives you a moments pause before you beep your horn or spout profanity, maybe it's not such a bad thing.lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-24706030541154832322011-11-06T19:00:00.002-05:002011-11-06T19:00:49.956-05:00Hip Hop Onomatopeias<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaBhGAMhSPRATQl9v4A0pvqii1G_-vfN30xvaSytTrpWU9IU9_T-CDuKteEDRdR7PcBK7r99iXuMaQBymCNPEf63lD5eDTStGiKjhc3MzRaqOcrede__g7D-EWiUgBLRK5WYeygWEPKs/s1600/1238445450Rk481A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaBhGAMhSPRATQl9v4A0pvqii1G_-vfN30xvaSytTrpWU9IU9_T-CDuKteEDRdR7PcBK7r99iXuMaQBymCNPEf63lD5eDTStGiKjhc3MzRaqOcrede__g7D-EWiUgBLRK5WYeygWEPKs/s320/1238445450Rk481A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm not sure when rappers decided seeing their name in the credits wasn't satisfying anymore, but my best guess is sometime around 2009, or when the king of hip-hop onomatopeias himself, Gucci Mane arrived on the scene. His music was equally playful and bizarre, with a healthy dose of danger for good measure, but what kept his music fun were his hilarious sound effects that ended every verse and filled every gap in the beat. Never one for discretion, Gucci had no less than THREE sounds that he dispensed with ruthless precision. There was the declarative "BRR!" that announced his presence, in case the listener was unaware, the affirmative "S'gucci!" (an assumed contraction of "It's Gucci!") to confirm what you had already suspected, and finally, the concilliatory "Aye", a goofy shoulder-shrug to explain away everything that preceded it. These days, EVERYONE has a trademark sound effect that they sprinkle on everything they touch, a little rap fairy dust to make the song a hit. These effects range from endearing to obnoxious, but trust me, they are all completely unnecessary. For your reading pleasure, I've organized them into categories so you can identify these artists by their alter egos.<br />
<br />
<u>CLASSIC</u><br />
<b>Shaggy</b><br />
Sounds: "Huh" "Yeah" Assorted near-grunts<br />
Example: Mr. Lover<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UBsgdl1W0vg" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
I guess if we're splitting hairs, Shaggy might be the first one to do this with these sounds you can only make by clenching your buttcheeks (try it, you'll see) but he is neither relevant nor a rapper so I'm not about to give him credit for anything.<br />
<br />
<b>Jay-Z</b><br />
Sounds: Heavy breathing, strange gasps, generic "Ungh"<br />
Example: Otis<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BoEKWtgJQAU" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Jay-Z has been around long enough to know when something is a passing fad (hello Autotune) or worthy of his attention, but even HOVA himself can't help but get in on the sound effect action. Jay-Z's delivery has always been breathless, like he just ran 12 blocks to deliver this verse, but in recent years he's sounded even more out of breath, and he's developed a strange "GASP!" that he drops randomly like he just woke up from a bad dream. Of course he still has his tried and true "ungh" to fall back in a pinch. <br />
<br />
<b>Lil Wayne</b><br />
Sounds: Lighter spark, random laughter<br />
Example: Entire "Sorry 4 The Wait" mixtape<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lgcBdtNnt14" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
Lil Wayne is deranged. In the best possible way. He has the most fun of any rapper, from skateboarding until 4AM after shows or spending absurd amount of money on a diamond encrusted grill to showcase his winning smile. It only makes sense that his sound effect share his sense of humor. Nearly every song he releases opens with the spark of a light and Mr. Carter taking a deep breath of "something", followed by a few unintelligible mumbles and his first verse. Inside the verses themselves, Wayne giggles and chuckles yet somehow manages to stay on the beat, and once his verses are complete, he unleashes a maniacal laugh of a mental patient. It would be troubling if it weren't so fun.<br />
<br />
<u>INTIMIDATING</u><br />
<br />
<b>Kanye West</b><br />
Sound: "Eh?"<br />
Example: Who Gon Stop Me?<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RC1JcGf0xK0" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
Since Kanye emerged from the Taylor Swift controversy, he has had a swagger that is unmatched in hip-hop, which is saying something. He has always had an edge to him, but on Watch the Throne, he ends almost every verse with an "Eh?", sounding a lot like the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujLt4GqMdF8&feature=related">meow of a confused cat</a>, but also like something <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsqJFIJ5lLs">Maximus would say</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Rick Ross</b><br />
Sound: The bark of an obese dog<br />
Example: John<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3fumBcKC6RE" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Rick Ross is a big guy, I don't think anyone will argue that, but he doesn't need to make it THAT easy. His trademark is a bark. The deep, hearty woof of a morbidly obese dog waiting for his dinner. Perhaps this is an apt sound for Ross, since he just spent a music video in a wheelchair and had two strokes on a flight, but to my ears it is a cry for help. That doesn't mean I'm not terrified of him.<br />
<br />
<u>ANNOYING</u><br />
<u><br /></u><br />
<b>Pusha T</b><br />
Sound: "Yeccghh"<br />
Example: Any song from the past two years<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YbBuxzh-fMg" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Pusha T is half of Clipse. Maybe that doesn't mean anything to you, but it does to me. It mostly means he doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. Especially with something as annoying as his sound effect of choice, an obnoxious "YECCGHH" that is distracting. No one wants to visualize someone retching over a toilet in the middle of a song. He's been hanging out with Kanye lately, so maybe he put him up to it, but he needs to stay strong and stick to rapping. <br />
<br />
<b>Jadakiss</b><br />
Sound: "He-heh!"<br />
Example: It's Good<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TKkCZEf7Hl0" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
I had a hard time spelling out Jadakiss' phrase, not because I couldn't remember it but because it is so obnoxious I can't bring myself to listen to it and figure out exactly how to spell it phonetically. Imagine if the Wicked Witch of the West sucked on a helium balloon and then was tickled. That's pretty much what you can expect. I've never been a fan of Jadakiss, and his recent output has not endeared him any further, with his raspy cackle and moronic verses. Rappers don't retire (See Jay-Z), but Jadakiss should make an exception and hang it up.lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-73857242368619562462011-10-31T20:46:00.000-04:002011-10-31T20:46:34.589-04:00Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MbtPCsNQxjyDEHCM57fPHEJjjvvZztkmO1-6YipaN9WeWVCgWo9LMsfJ5AROkR_a5eWPEBVSKtNVMAXLpmCcurF-eKmsHhxcIIz_DKaIexboZFyKTtK2ZzBiAProj7_DJ2zottlrm9Y/s1600/P1080103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MbtPCsNQxjyDEHCM57fPHEJjjvvZztkmO1-6YipaN9WeWVCgWo9LMsfJ5AROkR_a5eWPEBVSKtNVMAXLpmCcurF-eKmsHhxcIIz_DKaIexboZFyKTtK2ZzBiAProj7_DJ2zottlrm9Y/s320/P1080103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjO6QCt12_sISeeR0KDA03baOkl_EBDeW4-mLGqFCsOrirTYvxjGgln8wwvOVICFK9nFB-nyuOKXbM5PpT1SNRiX2-CxVfjEKGSY4tGuFqR1OodanM2V2RGYPHMtEwYZ0899lEe-ewGjE/s1600/P1080120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjO6QCt12_sISeeR0KDA03baOkl_EBDeW4-mLGqFCsOrirTYvxjGgln8wwvOVICFK9nFB-nyuOKXbM5PpT1SNRiX2-CxVfjEKGSY4tGuFqR1OodanM2V2RGYPHMtEwYZ0899lEe-ewGjE/s320/P1080120.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMgnCsc9QjGFqJv3PEP43hXdSRGblgz_bhnxWpkKTTowUje53vy19wivEEMKO7jOrVRACWmpirYymrw7dgi5Jwnsm7ihcm1fyQ87K2L_kF26pvwtnW4Dum8E_EyzVwfUXJoRZdU2Ahws/s1600/P1080127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMgnCsc9QjGFqJv3PEP43hXdSRGblgz_bhnxWpkKTTowUje53vy19wivEEMKO7jOrVRACWmpirYymrw7dgi5Jwnsm7ihcm1fyQ87K2L_kF26pvwtnW4Dum8E_EyzVwfUXJoRZdU2Ahws/s320/P1080127.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZtTKfz_z1SBnsHUJY4KSOElGFtiGTLOIMOYsW0NVWqkifF2xh4bhW8J-XOcEkXS5VPwa-xRUM2BrBiMVYG8I_2m3pdRPNpwMqWHy0Ip7-njExmpLM__7tooOaxwfaW-ATtupFjvgRbk/s1600/P1080142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZtTKfz_z1SBnsHUJY4KSOElGFtiGTLOIMOYsW0NVWqkifF2xh4bhW8J-XOcEkXS5VPwa-xRUM2BrBiMVYG8I_2m3pdRPNpwMqWHy0Ip7-njExmpLM__7tooOaxwfaW-ATtupFjvgRbk/s320/P1080142.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNTaZz_1ZbNMFshq2T04z5cgIAnQl9esrJj1-8zYhfig9rQNOSN1tmwXTT8XxgRL_rmZnqU7Pmg2He2MR7_B08p_Su15Atv8AULBzYx0LqwczbNmP9xVZEBFDj-uADp8O_tP4dsHdqjs/s1600/P1080144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNTaZz_1ZbNMFshq2T04z5cgIAnQl9esrJj1-8zYhfig9rQNOSN1tmwXTT8XxgRL_rmZnqU7Pmg2He2MR7_B08p_Su15Atv8AULBzYx0LqwczbNmP9xVZEBFDj-uADp8O_tP4dsHdqjs/s320/P1080144.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMG3iZwcXb0Kw-hpYLYaKk56XaQvNBeA1OwRrNUW9TpuYcjWz3m6kxBgt4IIabJRObmIZtSxk51KJtbCaQY7ba9k8K31oImG-ic-mvdhsccAfOgTbyOdFOllwWZFl-vjGlipdDoXBTZU/s1600/P1080186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMG3iZwcXb0Kw-hpYLYaKk56XaQvNBeA1OwRrNUW9TpuYcjWz3m6kxBgt4IIabJRObmIZtSxk51KJtbCaQY7ba9k8K31oImG-ic-mvdhsccAfOgTbyOdFOllwWZFl-vjGlipdDoXBTZU/s320/P1080186.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYyA_KRdDbnuYLNDbMJ6kti0RmYUka-QdLUAwvDfZUB_4yyqxUK0iWyWI7qJIGiBBXbqbGPUL8CywEHpZ7IzkiOJ7QvWHLIXVnp4Wd74e7yAMD9KZLvMu5xthznX85RqxLFFvVIYPfHs/s1600/P1080197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYyA_KRdDbnuYLNDbMJ6kti0RmYUka-QdLUAwvDfZUB_4yyqxUK0iWyWI7qJIGiBBXbqbGPUL8CywEHpZ7IzkiOJ7QvWHLIXVnp4Wd74e7yAMD9KZLvMu5xthznX85RqxLFFvVIYPfHs/s320/P1080197.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIWqRpEUC6CO3Of0HH3SnXRuFxxegvfFyCI2GkzZsORYsck4jXygNszOewdPKQ_w2hx1d7J5wdos7J-X-G6-OPEIc-BP5-OkT8wyq2JEn4zMU0vGcOUsuOOm37xBwDwg536dze9tLWJM/s1600/P1080208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIWqRpEUC6CO3Of0HH3SnXRuFxxegvfFyCI2GkzZsORYsck4jXygNszOewdPKQ_w2hx1d7J5wdos7J-X-G6-OPEIc-BP5-OkT8wyq2JEn4zMU0vGcOUsuOOm37xBwDwg536dze9tLWJM/s320/P1080208.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<br />lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-43791241009601023042011-10-29T13:27:00.000-04:002011-10-29T13:27:04.815-04:00On Repeat: Youth Lagoon - Seventeen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit965IZycrB36OVLGFBUlEd9126s0qTHkunQVJrrBeEX_Bgc4Z1KiycQ2kQ8DBvT-xW7ublMD35hF-uV2NgrUT_1BRuqs-8tB2JsMKOqq7iKD91bZ0nR120DXpZpr0e5yWc6fU55yZej8/s1600/YOUTH_LAGOON_YEAR_HIBERNATION.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit965IZycrB36OVLGFBUlEd9126s0qTHkunQVJrrBeEX_Bgc4Z1KiycQ2kQ8DBvT-xW7ublMD35hF-uV2NgrUT_1BRuqs-8tB2JsMKOqq7iKD91bZ0nR120DXpZpr0e5yWc6fU55yZej8/s320/YOUTH_LAGOON_YEAR_HIBERNATION.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Youth Lagoon is the moniker for 17 year-old Trevor Powers of Boise, Idaho. Nearly a year ago, I compiled a list of the <a href="http://pinatavalentines.blogspot.com/2011/01/indie-usa.html">best Indie artists from every state</a>. At the time, Idaho was the dominion of the fantastic Built to Spill, but after listening to Youth Lagoon non-stop for the past month, the winds of change have come. For all the flack that Pitchfork gets for being pretentious tastemakers, without their <a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15873-the-year-of-hibernation/">rousing endorsement</a>, Youth Lagoon would have likely remained in Idaho obscurity. Instead, they are on a US tour and getting the recognition they deserve in the wake of one of the strongest debut albums in recent memory.<br />
<br />
Trevor Powers sings with a gorgeous, broken falsetto, registering barely above a whisper but somehow drawing strength from this fragility. At seventeen years old, most kids have little on their radar beyond college applications and the opposite sex, yet Trevor possesses a maturity and wisdom that is enviable to anyone. The song "Seventeen" is the best example of this powerful resonance, opening with an innocuous memories of swimming and hunting snakes, yet despairing the "nothing" that surrounds him. Before you have time to roll your eyes at this sentiment, he unleashes another epiphanic memory that brings chills and a lump in the throat, "When I was seventeen, my mother said to me, "Don't stop imagining, the day that you do is the day that you die."" After that line knocks you on your ass, the rest of the song is irrelevant as you've already decided you're going to listen to it again. Say what you will about teenagers these days, but perhaps they're a bit smarter than they let on.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b4_x063rhX4" width="640"></iframe>lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-24009661150904023672011-10-26T21:53:00.003-04:002011-10-26T21:53:53.173-04:00Raleigh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJSYJ97XCP7XjNZieXC9UDA0nngiiYAkhWIEWBTxRE42nzWlQjm4lz4WiqUGVBUDpjEFpZkSt8wRbz2HaJ3PWlfPJPF7VsSGmFb9V0zviAvvJKMmcmed-h04wTVxVc4cZgjPRkRj4WnI/s1600/P1070433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJSYJ97XCP7XjNZieXC9UDA0nngiiYAkhWIEWBTxRE42nzWlQjm4lz4WiqUGVBUDpjEFpZkSt8wRbz2HaJ3PWlfPJPF7VsSGmFb9V0zviAvvJKMmcmed-h04wTVxVc4cZgjPRkRj4WnI/s320/P1070433.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvPac3WNzYBmix1fUymKhKWelzpdXHBahiMsyM6rUCP61mdJj3VWtbU8OG3HlA8qSCe82m3UYfBFv2maCjUOLfUUn3iVXPUdza9_4R0ToFxwuF5Zx_hi8wyEUDJt_rECskwCHbTgZEVQ/s1600/P1070506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvPac3WNzYBmix1fUymKhKWelzpdXHBahiMsyM6rUCP61mdJj3VWtbU8OG3HlA8qSCe82m3UYfBFv2maCjUOLfUUn3iVXPUdza9_4R0ToFxwuF5Zx_hi8wyEUDJt_rECskwCHbTgZEVQ/s320/P1070506.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3gfGWMbafbc7NGWeqFWL6kxq5ws6QXBVOnhB2vnfgQBN5ZZRZX5H1wbuOkdWRX3VbuTnJCR50Eg3EStBWa_jNStNGdefjWFXU1sspBzvEYJE0Xue-Jnonoe0dQXlkdOxFcRWHBKBQzo/s1600/P1070516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3gfGWMbafbc7NGWeqFWL6kxq5ws6QXBVOnhB2vnfgQBN5ZZRZX5H1wbuOkdWRX3VbuTnJCR50Eg3EStBWa_jNStNGdefjWFXU1sspBzvEYJE0Xue-Jnonoe0dQXlkdOxFcRWHBKBQzo/s320/P1070516.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYmqUaqgDJXI4_D_NlUnV8iawrBhmoV4SVUwwj1Czi2ovjqjYo5ClXjuFgd2RjdO11fPYcP0cKzZoRv11AZgqs7Q39NFCdWYEtRvgHMjUTwr9TZ7d4Q0PhLpVCXD0ozd9iGJxI3F5E0E/s1600/P1070530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYmqUaqgDJXI4_D_NlUnV8iawrBhmoV4SVUwwj1Czi2ovjqjYo5ClXjuFgd2RjdO11fPYcP0cKzZoRv11AZgqs7Q39NFCdWYEtRvgHMjUTwr9TZ7d4Q0PhLpVCXD0ozd9iGJxI3F5E0E/s320/P1070530.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv0xTOCYhRg0AMvCH8JsP04A8MgcWF1mqpYBK1If8z1mE4O1sEVmJzYFjMrE8s72HLL3axXDWyqRqYIJ46nvaJVOE06rkAbl2e2wVkwatrLvveO2npO40wX3gdEOLxHkXUkHasruvAXQ/s1600/P1070637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv0xTOCYhRg0AMvCH8JsP04A8MgcWF1mqpYBK1If8z1mE4O1sEVmJzYFjMrE8s72HLL3axXDWyqRqYIJ46nvaJVOE06rkAbl2e2wVkwatrLvveO2npO40wX3gdEOLxHkXUkHasruvAXQ/s320/P1070637.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QEAR8mw7iz9SGirFbYEfwcIoOWGSeFAgoZ8yb_37W3xS7yUzVNOZYue7haZhUTjS0uT0knlLwuRVKyaxKgT1GDFpldaVyAaTY6Y2kx-GnhXGyjTUIX8kKqGsqz4wHi7DCNbT_S8xYww/s1600/P1070682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QEAR8mw7iz9SGirFbYEfwcIoOWGSeFAgoZ8yb_37W3xS7yUzVNOZYue7haZhUTjS0uT0knlLwuRVKyaxKgT1GDFpldaVyAaTY6Y2kx-GnhXGyjTUIX8kKqGsqz4wHi7DCNbT_S8xYww/s320/P1070682.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_uNRZto9PimXJu-piyNQxPhoI3yFKt7LFE7KW_9XZjgOE3COPrkqsLnUEdHRCb-mw3jPu825tCGjypX7JXMLDF72MUuk_4AfGOWI8W-Og-9_vczHcOoyBNXPBGCLhNOJxO0udNWQRcY/s1600/P1070685-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_uNRZto9PimXJu-piyNQxPhoI3yFKt7LFE7KW_9XZjgOE3COPrkqsLnUEdHRCb-mw3jPu825tCGjypX7JXMLDF72MUuk_4AfGOWI8W-Og-9_vczHcOoyBNXPBGCLhNOJxO0udNWQRcY/s320/P1070685-2.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5_DeN8jO58_nDyCCbSl-jp9yZtk1RsSbQNmFwu44ioESeqr_TtkOIH3H7IVakfxe2OZssC1oQOdUIbb6yV6hixbntLFiqUb0KcH1dmsPvA1GsT4v987IXFArQjOXUmfvk6oHId4jby0/s1600/P1070691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5_DeN8jO58_nDyCCbSl-jp9yZtk1RsSbQNmFwu44ioESeqr_TtkOIH3H7IVakfxe2OZssC1oQOdUIbb6yV6hixbntLFiqUb0KcH1dmsPvA1GsT4v987IXFArQjOXUmfvk6oHId4jby0/s320/P1070691.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vZnl9o-IQ4PSjkVd0GF8vm5MUlJcTdUefxnQzT6IXAQ4Gc4wTZ61RhE9TAmKOcJXV9Rw5MAGjKViJRPRC853_I-TeUhNNejYjHOwK70aQAnkNulOUNZT6cmgEqDz142doxY44J6-Rmw/s1600/P1070701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vZnl9o-IQ4PSjkVd0GF8vm5MUlJcTdUefxnQzT6IXAQ4Gc4wTZ61RhE9TAmKOcJXV9Rw5MAGjKViJRPRC853_I-TeUhNNejYjHOwK70aQAnkNulOUNZT6cmgEqDz142doxY44J6-Rmw/s320/P1070701.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0T8Ew4t2_9yhlGYS_I45FknfaHaBsmW4yteE0oypoQz9g7rZyiRRHeeqmYN7acKKiksCuShp6krMS23MFVpgbLWct-aKakm9a38j-t_a-OAL3Io81waAhde3ZGh29JI1ePlpjLKyj7U/s1600/P1070703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0T8Ew4t2_9yhlGYS_I45FknfaHaBsmW4yteE0oypoQz9g7rZyiRRHeeqmYN7acKKiksCuShp6krMS23MFVpgbLWct-aKakm9a38j-t_a-OAL3Io81waAhde3ZGh29JI1ePlpjLKyj7U/s320/P1070703.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4gwXAeQnGBexcKzlM5-Cdk7wb7Sub_q48UAdVoWFl4PJ26-Wse9cs7jPWHq8jZz04BV4heuj4wqfrdv067LKSAyzR_grNbo9rX6uvE5XTIzkl1hfEJh4iaQg94gAznVqvbKFQ08kSBc/s1600/P1070705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4gwXAeQnGBexcKzlM5-Cdk7wb7Sub_q48UAdVoWFl4PJ26-Wse9cs7jPWHq8jZz04BV4heuj4wqfrdv067LKSAyzR_grNbo9rX6uvE5XTIzkl1hfEJh4iaQg94gAznVqvbKFQ08kSBc/s320/P1070705.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyH0KejxhkUqLBMi6Mmv5nsQsGze_NiDJ9zpaWV_84e6WEkVTzGEwRJCnS29yUn27lAN4hfOhIYl7ozxezoGMhHkPjb2ww0XQq1edX1toGTr8iwUVDCde1LvRG22b_JuM-ZHas-Pb4-bY/s1600/P1070725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyH0KejxhkUqLBMi6Mmv5nsQsGze_NiDJ9zpaWV_84e6WEkVTzGEwRJCnS29yUn27lAN4hfOhIYl7ozxezoGMhHkPjb2ww0XQq1edX1toGTr8iwUVDCde1LvRG22b_JuM-ZHas-Pb4-bY/s320/P1070725.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U0eN-yKJND4m_AVekWs8bNi8-Ep8odRB9ekah1B9JsDjMzyihhjiUgR4HKpcokbaR3URdW7H6BNOtYLwLIOOAszArc9dbDhAfA0PRBRzE3Hl2Q9VPW77i7d_U4u3p9Kxu-M0yRAW3Os/s1600/P1070738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U0eN-yKJND4m_AVekWs8bNi8-Ep8odRB9ekah1B9JsDjMzyihhjiUgR4HKpcokbaR3URdW7H6BNOtYLwLIOOAszArc9dbDhAfA0PRBRzE3Hl2Q9VPW77i7d_U4u3p9Kxu-M0yRAW3Os/s320/P1070738.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIcvUDtVdbAU3Q67WQZOiX8vD4gCOX1A8ut6y8DHzGH7IiFDaWvsI6WahvNW2xpkA41qAt5ejX6WkwPg5Rk9i2IezjSqSVubeoaSrTQLYABQPfByNptyTJBqui5czzOiGT9SVx06XTSk/s1600/P1070771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIcvUDtVdbAU3Q67WQZOiX8vD4gCOX1A8ut6y8DHzGH7IiFDaWvsI6WahvNW2xpkA41qAt5ejX6WkwPg5Rk9i2IezjSqSVubeoaSrTQLYABQPfByNptyTJBqui5czzOiGT9SVx06XTSk/s320/P1070771.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbDMDMweGOSwAYHUB2ZOoeezZqlVoQCt156oRokkgcPVgcz5ml5MAPUOLXr5I-OoXvsB0CRR-0cOUDK5uBsXNWdFxyQRDDDEGZ4426AhWS5jHhWZycrscQZaozWOgEtRo9LNYNWciwzc/s1600/P1070807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbDMDMweGOSwAYHUB2ZOoeezZqlVoQCt156oRokkgcPVgcz5ml5MAPUOLXr5I-OoXvsB0CRR-0cOUDK5uBsXNWdFxyQRDDDEGZ4426AhWS5jHhWZycrscQZaozWOgEtRo9LNYNWciwzc/s320/P1070807.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6IelqErm62DwbpILDmnbrr8KmxHVSP7UeaW23J9qjtBuQxm-p2Svl3QwdB55tq1p4u1k8OeqQ-u_ouHK0tBXiFauPa5zUJV1fnppzXmxuRCNdEusFmDsrgh_ZGYMi5bmUDgN_-2F_TA/s1600/P1070810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6IelqErm62DwbpILDmnbrr8KmxHVSP7UeaW23J9qjtBuQxm-p2Svl3QwdB55tq1p4u1k8OeqQ-u_ouHK0tBXiFauPa5zUJV1fnppzXmxuRCNdEusFmDsrgh_ZGYMi5bmUDgN_-2F_TA/s320/P1070810.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLg67guTlqXeoJanFUu2-2ndkmBoGNaFYJdDc-_E-06-o05QkdjfWR052hFm58qlzZS_Vs0pv5XxKkRZ1viQQmEF0WyYfG4bZSBSzpstMJPUuXO8zwnM5I8V8fupjZQEdEyEtn4kXPBc/s1600/P1070840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLg67guTlqXeoJanFUu2-2ndkmBoGNaFYJdDc-_E-06-o05QkdjfWR052hFm58qlzZS_Vs0pv5XxKkRZ1viQQmEF0WyYfG4bZSBSzpstMJPUuXO8zwnM5I8V8fupjZQEdEyEtn4kXPBc/s320/P1070840.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-26zwh1o1w2jwShA9Yk1bjBDs2sft6yZWi2Hjs9fJB2ZI_MqDBJiWNy0gJKufsnzOMQVbIyE8ALyGINAoiyFml7e3dzbVu4bKaXToTe9AfJUl5Qe9V5ASfs47k-tmMIxbWNC7aWfmzm4/s1600/P1070846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-26zwh1o1w2jwShA9Yk1bjBDs2sft6yZWi2Hjs9fJB2ZI_MqDBJiWNy0gJKufsnzOMQVbIyE8ALyGINAoiyFml7e3dzbVu4bKaXToTe9AfJUl5Qe9V5ASfs47k-tmMIxbWNC7aWfmzm4/s320/P1070846.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1f4u1aykuM7KjHoNh2-VfLW6uwbOdpMyE2dacFI6FiYjlP33pNv65sAiUkkPDbsSR0f2rVp3I_5DzpQx2jQLWBLL69AJwi6I33R81Rr2RCCqBm0o7j4WQyMnFQTRqHChO5cFMlyUXy70/s1600/P1070880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1f4u1aykuM7KjHoNh2-VfLW6uwbOdpMyE2dacFI6FiYjlP33pNv65sAiUkkPDbsSR0f2rVp3I_5DzpQx2jQLWBLL69AJwi6I33R81Rr2RCCqBm0o7j4WQyMnFQTRqHChO5cFMlyUXy70/s320/P1070880.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNvVn392COkWLmgldGkqiQ7YILHL13d2T5l6FQ8CeJzwAcOmnzouTPbk9mRYj0nJnP5SC5axSVsS588Umgn22AIOe8RLqIOqwkdcMqpe9qZPw5Sp9NNYwLelE-ZVOoiViBQDlQtsLKvQ/s1600/P1070882-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNvVn392COkWLmgldGkqiQ7YILHL13d2T5l6FQ8CeJzwAcOmnzouTPbk9mRYj0nJnP5SC5axSVsS588Umgn22AIOe8RLqIOqwkdcMqpe9qZPw5Sp9NNYwLelE-ZVOoiViBQDlQtsLKvQ/s320/P1070882-2.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1Hw3Ipg4f60fEeXTmKeWufN08oFdn2heh1e6QiXBMll595jCQwNzp3jqYDBqD99UnTTRJwP87NTEaGJH3pct-EPQFT1cUFdLUVvr1nnRuB9r-JVjlTWvsJPs9cJ7POa9JX6_ab_vhLM/s1600/P1070896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1Hw3Ipg4f60fEeXTmKeWufN08oFdn2heh1e6QiXBMll595jCQwNzp3jqYDBqD99UnTTRJwP87NTEaGJH3pct-EPQFT1cUFdLUVvr1nnRuB9r-JVjlTWvsJPs9cJ7POa9JX6_ab_vhLM/s320/P1070896.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfSKE_XeLyP5T6D9Ks2OODh5lqJIP3ttKEAE8UviG8OnkiD-BtfRBVPsrtyDlNbffs6-F4s4KX76tHa3iOTHvjT3uZmL8YAQZsKmy11tXtQ0QbMooBnxI4Ci8Vdel0M-Bh-nqUisZeS4/s1600/P1070914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfSKE_XeLyP5T6D9Ks2OODh5lqJIP3ttKEAE8UviG8OnkiD-BtfRBVPsrtyDlNbffs6-F4s4KX76tHa3iOTHvjT3uZmL8YAQZsKmy11tXtQ0QbMooBnxI4Ci8Vdel0M-Bh-nqUisZeS4/s320/P1070914.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWZ6MkaKcQc63w68FG3CS2cqkDwmOeiB8ISZTKhNNUUDgqZfgX2in_8NHOI6jaLuNsnQKvKHzkgblcro3P9B8f9huxAe6_-IonSpR1R_wRHzXh8iNyQKCwh5hJCyI7naokPV4_We4Go4/s1600/P1070919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWZ6MkaKcQc63w68FG3CS2cqkDwmOeiB8ISZTKhNNUUDgqZfgX2in_8NHOI6jaLuNsnQKvKHzkgblcro3P9B8f9huxAe6_-IonSpR1R_wRHzXh8iNyQKCwh5hJCyI7naokPV4_We4Go4/s320/P1070919.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLzGgBZP1B4qaH8n5P6Ebmz1eO2Dx_LhoiVb9TbTRzdl5KepO1WQd3ry5g8cvckQIj8KApDuIVTNzJr5sAEdWvv91TC_ukIN00_eEJVkp7w-U3LxKflRo3_2nwsMuYJgNDlEE6cqWau0/s1600/P1070924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLzGgBZP1B4qaH8n5P6Ebmz1eO2Dx_LhoiVb9TbTRzdl5KepO1WQd3ry5g8cvckQIj8KApDuIVTNzJr5sAEdWvv91TC_ukIN00_eEJVkp7w-U3LxKflRo3_2nwsMuYJgNDlEE6cqWau0/s320/P1070924.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN-ZHLibtidKZmycXzJJgau9uAdRa7muRyRuZnJ-Pk1zECHfTTNlloNBm3VGjFTfaaeCQBuYw2Of53Ihmx56ipxs8NUBMaS_v6-N-CAZJ52JQWO1LA3RHv9tHC-uFZuhkjWDRij67RKw/s1600/P1070930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN-ZHLibtidKZmycXzJJgau9uAdRa7muRyRuZnJ-Pk1zECHfTTNlloNBm3VGjFTfaaeCQBuYw2Of53Ihmx56ipxs8NUBMaS_v6-N-CAZJ52JQWO1LA3RHv9tHC-uFZuhkjWDRij67RKw/s320/P1070930.jpg" width="188" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJ9a30ei6Rg1CT8BfFqoqJTB-OF90uKpkIYIbZZc1KUE8oIAtOep2VpaJswvKPJrfEJRaqn5nBwFVEq7q2TaGuEns-_f5BP4MmOKUvoGOo1outJGIEUb4sDd6946VpszAf-u1yktA4Gg/s1600/P1070940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJ9a30ei6Rg1CT8BfFqoqJTB-OF90uKpkIYIbZZc1KUE8oIAtOep2VpaJswvKPJrfEJRaqn5nBwFVEq7q2TaGuEns-_f5BP4MmOKUvoGOo1outJGIEUb4sDd6946VpszAf-u1yktA4Gg/s320/P1070940.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2cZXlVsy6YNfCChSd9yCFqKCpSqTDKZZ5mlsD9ydZpU5F9hKWjSpay4MH_W_MCRP5_GVVUL3XNjLzzN7uxAQZqQJkiRISEjP68WVr27ixdcgRYqUJkZgdWje9UqBZA73p_xDcQcwQl8/s1600/P1070952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2cZXlVsy6YNfCChSd9yCFqKCpSqTDKZZ5mlsD9ydZpU5F9hKWjSpay4MH_W_MCRP5_GVVUL3XNjLzzN7uxAQZqQJkiRISEjP68WVr27ixdcgRYqUJkZgdWje9UqBZA73p_xDcQcwQl8/s320/P1070952.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwD9xk8oedJctD2x6LZQXIUr7siCY9aBbhHgUwJkx6V4nncmZm6QtUwsWNRC99lgG6jXTN3dhvnyY0xI0Vomxiq7ZK_YPXsitqjC__MZ1QPm6DbMO13_gx_1HF4_PGiW0UDvUUIJvf_Y/s1600/P1070955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwD9xk8oedJctD2x6LZQXIUr7siCY9aBbhHgUwJkx6V4nncmZm6QtUwsWNRC99lgG6jXTN3dhvnyY0xI0Vomxiq7ZK_YPXsitqjC__MZ1QPm6DbMO13_gx_1HF4_PGiW0UDvUUIJvf_Y/s320/P1070955.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1NCN28mQnGT3StRH8njnNNFYJldC2ICNxyRkhM4okyXJDACjhHu_u1fi7uiO4W2m9nHvcPYZ5GyA1Uf__7qwRC3jNlMegOmgDYe3uB8PKz_EJfKRgTmMRit-1waDJT44k99AOrIPrs0/s1600/P1070959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1NCN28mQnGT3StRH8njnNNFYJldC2ICNxyRkhM4okyXJDACjhHu_u1fi7uiO4W2m9nHvcPYZ5GyA1Uf__7qwRC3jNlMegOmgDYe3uB8PKz_EJfKRgTmMRit-1waDJT44k99AOrIPrs0/s320/P1070959.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q8voT_y0CiNWUyLmYyVOtNRT74nuLLgtGfyZP9OGh8MZBrgbp7AQopwm5g3Owpg_joNWGnsLCSKbQhnOzGIbTj7lsBH89dciiBlvO_2zL5j-s7u48gerN1kQZeXQO8m4MPI5PD4UEYc/s1600/P1070960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q8voT_y0CiNWUyLmYyVOtNRT74nuLLgtGfyZP9OGh8MZBrgbp7AQopwm5g3Owpg_joNWGnsLCSKbQhnOzGIbTj7lsBH89dciiBlvO_2zL5j-s7u48gerN1kQZeXQO8m4MPI5PD4UEYc/s320/P1070960.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRUsTZ7uoWNPMxTCvTmc893NTQVI5fyPFCY7mcrsba56GhjLqfw6SBAic93plh7LTv6WgKBUXMx0qlXGfoogBjkRnQigWesng9_MT6w6I7xk8NzF3NMEFxqv-Kh0klt41mOg5cdj3R3I/s1600/P1080049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRUsTZ7uoWNPMxTCvTmc893NTQVI5fyPFCY7mcrsba56GhjLqfw6SBAic93plh7LTv6WgKBUXMx0qlXGfoogBjkRnQigWesng9_MT6w6I7xk8NzF3NMEFxqv-Kh0klt41mOg5cdj3R3I/s320/P1080049.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_Wr8CZ6xF5RarXS5ddE4zzrFZtZDDlXiNLxxaLEgQsDHTa7GUSjnmBikVCCQI7U_2GHD3yQOkiEGKN72Ymih7wo9yKkg2TS8poI6jLVRqSpKLQlA7PG71Gi8ZWISuWfpgAqBIzAuZ2Y/s1600/P1080052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_Wr8CZ6xF5RarXS5ddE4zzrFZtZDDlXiNLxxaLEgQsDHTa7GUSjnmBikVCCQI7U_2GHD3yQOkiEGKN72Ymih7wo9yKkg2TS8poI6jLVRqSpKLQlA7PG71Gi8ZWISuWfpgAqBIzAuZ2Y/s320/P1080052.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4n_C_o9piHHJtfPPRM3YMfR_9D_obm1zx9Wn3gVlDZE4jKOadCSqX4uhxRFE_E4fC1MWIRxOKpDiikLVPy90NhD4UB3568PHBFspN9mP47EkzScpzt_o1waYZAIKC-HZh2axPaMynFU/s1600/P1080061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4n_C_o9piHHJtfPPRM3YMfR_9D_obm1zx9Wn3gVlDZE4jKOadCSqX4uhxRFE_E4fC1MWIRxOKpDiikLVPy90NhD4UB3568PHBFspN9mP47EkzScpzt_o1waYZAIKC-HZh2axPaMynFU/s320/P1080061.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQAlT-8L5WHKHjZVmHv4MNyIlsMYvNj9XG5yE-_QbEds9nYhSOV0Iajece7ZxjZyBgWZaRBrleCyR7pzU99ytoS4Gyh_8CLIQzvVJChCXM_7pVJblr61DCKhM86jqbIwdjgZRGgkoxFk/s1600/P1080067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQAlT-8L5WHKHjZVmHv4MNyIlsMYvNj9XG5yE-_QbEds9nYhSOV0Iajece7ZxjZyBgWZaRBrleCyR7pzU99ytoS4Gyh_8CLIQzvVJChCXM_7pVJblr61DCKhM86jqbIwdjgZRGgkoxFk/s320/P1080067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-53201969561509497042011-10-18T18:00:00.003-04:002011-10-18T18:00:58.055-04:00List: Halloween Candy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLjNKo7Sg4DeOiK6T9cSiBfA4EZQHYR2N_q0fN2BoVLaB6zgufGKLe34rbceenZoRHCthnBiJAFV1ffuzt2wRO3yWSx2xCXFdtHurI9R7v0ZFFEppjHmYoKFdTvSOFFRVB_14ymcaiq8/s1600/funny-school-practical-joke-toilet-paper-trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLjNKo7Sg4DeOiK6T9cSiBfA4EZQHYR2N_q0fN2BoVLaB6zgufGKLe34rbceenZoRHCthnBiJAFV1ffuzt2wRO3yWSx2xCXFdtHurI9R7v0ZFFEppjHmYoKFdTvSOFFRVB_14ymcaiq8/s320/funny-school-practical-joke-toilet-paper-trees.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Halloween is fast-approaching. Most of you are focusing most of your energy on finding a funny, topical, and of course whorish costume to masquerade about in this year, but I'd like to take a moment to implore you to not skimp on Halloween candy, especially if you'd like your domicile to remain TP free. To aid in this process and keep you up on the coolest candy kids are eating this year (that sounds creepy), I've compiled this handy list of acceptable and unacceptable Halloween candy for 2011. You have been warned.<br />
<br />
<b>ACCEPTABLE:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfZeDhqV8TO2VBP4kkUq0aMfvlrAn9z5h8cLJbXDpIIqFN4m9duPCR7wafXk0RqyFfpQyRHEK6pRHNM7an1v2zmOYOzYZ0vth0XAumPR2l7fMq9Plr_coKHuE22gE7OJej752vflZ968/s1600/Reeses-Pumpkins1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfZeDhqV8TO2VBP4kkUq0aMfvlrAn9z5h8cLJbXDpIIqFN4m9duPCR7wafXk0RqyFfpQyRHEK6pRHNM7an1v2zmOYOzYZ0vth0XAumPR2l7fMq9Plr_coKHuE22gE7OJej752vflZ968/s320/Reeses-Pumpkins1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Reese's Peanut Butter Shapes</b>: Every Holiday Reese's trots out a festive-shaped peanut butter cup. Bad News: they aren't fooling anyone. Good News: they are still peanut-butter cups. Although they seem to have a smaller chocolate to peanut butter ratio than normal cups (unlike the minis, whose C/PB ratio is too high), making them more susceptible to quick melting and dryness. I have suspicions that Reese's has been fiddling with the packaging/size of the cups, but until I have more conclusive evidence, I will give them a pass.<br />
<br />
<b>UNACCEPTABLE:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc65Ae3n6c6f9HMkiqFnOKKm1tT9m2IsoF57MssRXHUZW_rLr38-q43FQkIB-E_x7iHOBApm9yzBavePCPs9yR7pgHF-mOmsCyqMXl5dmvDUs_YhFgyvFnEejflR6yZUHyowCoXjm2mk/s1600/assorted-marshmallow-peanut__19797_zoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc65Ae3n6c6f9HMkiqFnOKKm1tT9m2IsoF57MssRXHUZW_rLr38-q43FQkIB-E_x7iHOBApm9yzBavePCPs9yR7pgHF-mOmsCyqMXl5dmvDUs_YhFgyvFnEejflR6yZUHyowCoXjm2mk/s320/assorted-marshmallow-peanut__19797_zoom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Marshmallow Circus Peanuts</b>: I have a feeling that the same piece of work who came up with Peeps also came up with these turds, after a bad LSD trip or some Opiate-induced hallucination. Surely there was a time and a place in history where this terrible candy elicited cheers from children (the Great Depression?), but today it is a sign of disrespect.<br />
<br />
<b>ACCEPTABLE:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn286aaqzA9p4WMS8HVKIh1us8POyyJBt8Z2ctdqKiNak3fr2dUFCpANGF7ds-1sthZ3_yt5xS8KTZmar2epSB2_pJumuWBelMjEtuTYUb_gwgvD20eEhJGZjezAQf4ZoeRaueaksiOYA/s1600/Candy+Bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn286aaqzA9p4WMS8HVKIh1us8POyyJBt8Z2ctdqKiNak3fr2dUFCpANGF7ds-1sthZ3_yt5xS8KTZmar2epSB2_pJumuWBelMjEtuTYUb_gwgvD20eEhJGZjezAQf4ZoeRaueaksiOYA/s320/Candy+Bars.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Entire Candy Bars: </b>Listen up. Someone on your street needs to bite the bullet and be the one to give out whole candy bars. Why don't you buy yourself some goodwill with your neighbors and take it upon yourself? Consider it an investment. Who knows, maybe they have a snowblower and will be able to pay back the favor in January.<br />
<br />
<b>UNACCEPTABLE:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pXdQOQrF6Dg0LuOl7gi0kp9_YJV61InnKGsHXs3Bgc9F0QQxJFJNyDKc0s1jn6vSI2rhH6FmZZcNLSErP-vtK8vtJuRcKt3l-idggUwdMsxYk0wxMCIV2KU-Sl2Fnn-fmh5JpUzO-jQ/s1600/Peanut-Butter-Kisses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pXdQOQrF6Dg0LuOl7gi0kp9_YJV61InnKGsHXs3Bgc9F0QQxJFJNyDKc0s1jn6vSI2rhH6FmZZcNLSErP-vtK8vtJuRcKt3l-idggUwdMsxYk0wxMCIV2KU-Sl2Fnn-fmh5JpUzO-jQ/s320/Peanut-Butter-Kisses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Peanut Butter Taffy, Mary Jane, Bit-O-Honey: </b>I grouped all of these old-timey candies together, because they are equally shitty, and deserve each other. Even if they tasted good (they don't), it wouldn't matter since at least 80% of them have undergone some sort of mitosis and oozed out of their wrapper in transit. Unacceptable. If I can see the candy, I assume it has been tampered with, and I give it to my sister.<br />
<br />
<b>ACCEPTABLE:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qPhtK-jbdEViLtge4LhUGd67TQCeRrH2VIWOwnVTwVg5F9Qg1Na5YGMs9SY1N3NoxWhtL-XsDCGuFcOG24ZZo21L8EL15W09qKPhtD7RCbioG4fdFgQqxqUUxlJ94mIcSASktTn7uRQ/s1600/e8bcd020196e515e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qPhtK-jbdEViLtge4LhUGd67TQCeRrH2VIWOwnVTwVg5F9Qg1Na5YGMs9SY1N3NoxWhtL-XsDCGuFcOG24ZZo21L8EL15W09qKPhtD7RCbioG4fdFgQqxqUUxlJ94mIcSASktTn7uRQ/s1600/e8bcd020196e515e.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Sour Patch Kids/Skittles/Swedish Fish: </b>Non-chocolate candies are perfectly acceptable Halloween candies. They are ideal palate cleansers between the aforementioned chocolate cavalcade and what they lack in decadence, they make up for by being delightfully sour. Also, some morons even PREFER these candies, which make them fantastic bargaining chips for MORE CHOCOLATE.<br />
<br />
<b>UNACCEPTABLE:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x4zgXf7Agaes23fKgO_hJ9ekkkCPht9eSUpBnd1jo9z0Dc3Vha3HFSF-QH43h298C4_YkDKLWBdnjFz1WX4AuwLmrEEi-87fk7f-QpuealZks3RHKiSp8nXEOYy1d-Cf187ffTaZAL0/s1600/almond-joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x4zgXf7Agaes23fKgO_hJ9ekkkCPht9eSUpBnd1jo9z0Dc3Vha3HFSF-QH43h298C4_YkDKLWBdnjFz1WX4AuwLmrEEi-87fk7f-QpuealZks3RHKiSp8nXEOYy1d-Cf187ffTaZAL0/s320/almond-joy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Anything with Coconut: </b>Throw me to the wolves if you want, but Coconut is a terrible food in any circumstances and is a crime in a candy. Who likes to chew on wax-covered grass that tastes like suntan lotion? People who claim to like coconut do so because they think it makes them seem exotic. If I were trapped on a deserted island, I would eat my hand before I cracked open a coconut.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b>ACCEPTABLE:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeadQ6cllHO_lD3A_4puZhwr1KQAd2IZiyshRPqii8JEhAWkl1Z4Xr60fjCayBUjkKPQa19N6K8T7selPQh6DcgHO8GSsOomi5zsp9Q-c8wV5bzM86LlAzkmYMm2CPB0AGdlmT9BbQ4mI/s1600/lindt+milk+choc+truffle+ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeadQ6cllHO_lD3A_4puZhwr1KQAd2IZiyshRPqii8JEhAWkl1Z4Xr60fjCayBUjkKPQa19N6K8T7selPQh6DcgHO8GSsOomi5zsp9Q-c8wV5bzM86LlAzkmYMm2CPB0AGdlmT9BbQ4mI/s320/lindt+milk+choc+truffle+ball.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<b>Lindt Truffles: </b>Never in my life have I seen a house give out Lindt candies on Halloween, but they certainly should. One could argue that it is a waste of money buying such fancy candy on little gremlins who will eat it to fast to appreciate it, but I disagree. If I had received a Lindt truffle on Halloween, I surely would have approached it apprehensively (since it is wrapped eerily like the peanut-butter taffy), but once I popped it in my mouth and cracked the outer shell, I am convinced it would have blown my mind in such a way that it would have changed my entire life's trajectory. Do it for the children. <br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>UNACCEPTABLE:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gKqMc4sW7rYoNYgbDVPEtpOFoT4TbNqGPwGTWaM3Fl_qqJpoOXl1mDjR0tn82f27TPRApdRfySAy7t6eGFArYTvOKB0bj3EA7PfUyIskhyhLTzCrz6EArLPQqzAhF7K4qHHN2DbIXXo/s1600/sc00570330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gKqMc4sW7rYoNYgbDVPEtpOFoT4TbNqGPwGTWaM3Fl_qqJpoOXl1mDjR0tn82f27TPRApdRfySAy7t6eGFArYTvOKB0bj3EA7PfUyIskhyhLTzCrz6EArLPQqzAhF7K4qHHN2DbIXXo/s320/sc00570330.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Black Licorice anything: </b>When you give a child licorice, you are giving it to their parents. No one under 40 eats this candy. Perhaps something happens to one's sense of taste when they enter middle age, I don't know. They are the diversion candy you throw to your parents when they ask "How'd you do?" so they don't start snooping around and take something good.<br />
<br />
<b>ACCEPTABLE:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzP1c4BhGAeldeelgGHyfY_mhvsh9YV-JUm08aXsTnPFFa-x9Cox0IndKJx4rttUc3jnt8DHiQAF1seya6iuTy8bHjtN4-vus40Cc6vlGtQcXKWeU7riRNoUwJqyNt1AZRxVIkMxvkV8/s1600/pay+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzP1c4BhGAeldeelgGHyfY_mhvsh9YV-JUm08aXsTnPFFa-x9Cox0IndKJx4rttUc3jnt8DHiQAF1seya6iuTy8bHjtN4-vus40Cc6vlGtQcXKWeU7riRNoUwJqyNt1AZRxVIkMxvkV8/s320/pay+day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Payday: </b>Payday are an amazing candy. I don't even care if its a mini one, they are the perfect blend of salty and sweet. Salty peanuts, satisfying caramel. Miles better than anything with 'nougat', which must be German for 'sawdust'. Why no one else seems to appreciate them, I will never comprehend.<br />
<br />
<b>UNACCEPTABLE</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpV_NoHJ04Z2JA-dddEul3_pxv-gcJzir0dgLKDJEnYm0R-dZP0ypYkYqytcSLbvbIvbl6e4a3c9ODyiGY6JEJ00zM0cSeR_RmWn9M5gcNo5eZiFaaM7mSHSbxYHRmhy1jj14mThxHak/s1600/759350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpV_NoHJ04Z2JA-dddEul3_pxv-gcJzir0dgLKDJEnYm0R-dZP0ypYkYqytcSLbvbIvbl6e4a3c9ODyiGY6JEJ00zM0cSeR_RmWn9M5gcNo5eZiFaaM7mSHSbxYHRmhy1jj14mThxHak/s1600/759350.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Smarties/Tootsie Rolls/Dum Dum Pops/Anything else that comes in a bag with them: </b>Grandmothers keep these candy companies in business. Some misplaced nostalgia keeps them coming back to the "FUN PACK" of assorted candies, which sounds good on paper, but in reality is a collection of misfit candies with zero redeeming qualities. These candies should only be sold to banks and only from November-September. <br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>DON'T BOTHER</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWJa1_VwDl8tNW2pcH_XgLzgjK19rv9o3TSGwAupbgpuI1kS3AooFw7hQx-zqhtU_VDmGfTi7eeLdWszFNqw3heuTXivO0T9JlnvXtKWPePgc2_u6uPLkWZxy9RyCYu3LZcu9vpPASoM/s1600/halloween+goodie+bags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWJa1_VwDl8tNW2pcH_XgLzgjK19rv9o3TSGwAupbgpuI1kS3AooFw7hQx-zqhtU_VDmGfTi7eeLdWszFNqw3heuTXivO0T9JlnvXtKWPePgc2_u6uPLkWZxy9RyCYu3LZcu9vpPASoM/s320/halloween+goodie+bags.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Little goodie-bags: </b>Anyone with the time/energy to make 100 goodie bags for strange children is one of two things: a psychopath under house arrest, or a nutritious nutcase looking for a clever way to disguise their crappy candy. When I was little, there was a nice old couple who lived up the street from us who ALWAYS made PERSONALIZED bags for every kid in the neighborhood (small town), and before my friends and I went to the good houses, my parents made me stop by. Every year I thanked them graciously, and then proceeded to groan at the apple sauce, granola bars, and foil-covered nickels they had packed for me. Not a good way to start out the night. Keep your nutrition out of my Halloween, I want candy.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><br /></b>lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-28075423712980594332011-10-11T22:32:00.001-04:002011-10-12T08:43:51.719-04:00Simple Pleasures<div><p>Reddit had a thread about <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/l88rw/what_are_your_top_3_simple_pleasures_in_life/">Top 3 Simple Pleasures</a>, which got me thinking about subject myself and trying to make my own list. Narrowing it to three was inconceivable, so instead I decided to take the reins off completely and expand it into a blog post. Behold, my favorite 'Simple Pleasures'</p>
<p>-Finding something you thought was lost forever<br>
-Handing in a test you just aced<br>
-A cool fall breeze on your face while nestled under the blankets<br>
-Spooning<br>
-Ice cold glass of water after a run<br>
-Passing cars stuck in traffic on my bike<br>
-Running to the perfect song<br>
-Laughing until you cry<br>
-Coffee and a warm savory scone<br>
-That 4th or 5th listen to a new song when you realize you love it<br>
-A really good movie trailer (like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la53nY41c9M">this</a>, or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-PqqifyjA">this</a>)<br>
-Morning pee<br>
-Having a picture miraculously come out well<br>
-Giving a present<br>
-Opening a present<br>
-Finishing a Sudoku<br>
-When you get a password right on your last try<br>
-When water stuck in your ear from swimming finally comes out<br>
-Typing really fast without making a mistake<br>
-Catching the bus, BARELY<br>
-Petting an agreeable cat/dog<br>
-Cracking my knuckles<br>
-The brief respite in nausea after you throw up<br>
-Saying "I Love You"<br>
-Getting your hair washed at the barber/salon<br>
-When that jerk on the opposing team serves the ball into the net.<br></p>
<p>What are yours?</p>
</div>lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-91759050175729027702011-10-09T13:49:00.002-04:002011-10-09T13:49:33.115-04:00#Occupy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhug2QOgm0C95bDcKAvS_kwGsqdXJEPJBhHOq9DAZnT0X-LSxhOJrlE1RhYhM2zz9b0hTxIQeBhyMVgMAjmWK0Pl_zggFsA3seCTQh9dCuw9VsSfXsVDaS6Nxqb5G9mGFeLVhJi96wCxmQ/s1600/P1070045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhug2QOgm0C95bDcKAvS_kwGsqdXJEPJBhHOq9DAZnT0X-LSxhOJrlE1RhYhM2zz9b0hTxIQeBhyMVgMAjmWK0Pl_zggFsA3seCTQh9dCuw9VsSfXsVDaS6Nxqb5G9mGFeLVhJi96wCxmQ/s320/P1070045.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEEYe_MbLvTy3tVUClhHwzU6Ogc135Sl3M8_vEQTQ-h_Hq5DVf5UMZt7nMa1kVBXpOJDsDsnS7YtJTH-W58apPNW61b2TDXp4GmvYx9ttNZPtycU89NxlFvZnA1bYyyPjfSjs3t7isXo/s1600/P1070046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEEYe_MbLvTy3tVUClhHwzU6Ogc135Sl3M8_vEQTQ-h_Hq5DVf5UMZt7nMa1kVBXpOJDsDsnS7YtJTH-W58apPNW61b2TDXp4GmvYx9ttNZPtycU89NxlFvZnA1bYyyPjfSjs3t7isXo/s320/P1070046.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnI9WtM2quGVnTa8Iae00El9QmAbgt924pUTH6Sl37yVcjA39Q87B7L4tMgD_ekSMBxKqmisIGC-ILtO5t4_a1K2EvzXupFIy7bBVmkexQGQ9uRry_6QpBgemQOO3oKe2hYZRYhSqehQ/s1600/P1070049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnI9WtM2quGVnTa8Iae00El9QmAbgt924pUTH6Sl37yVcjA39Q87B7L4tMgD_ekSMBxKqmisIGC-ILtO5t4_a1K2EvzXupFIy7bBVmkexQGQ9uRry_6QpBgemQOO3oKe2hYZRYhSqehQ/s320/P1070049.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX03v45xj32Y3of9XXMjwJ7errv26GtlpA9tzqmbXGPlWTJlrdbKwqODaZE0_ViFAPIgnCJSMSSS1EMY8lPW49UDyOC3A6rTzOc44CCDg2b9PJu2okDBVqbDCg3q9yMEn7lRSqFn20J40/s1600/P1070054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX03v45xj32Y3of9XXMjwJ7errv26GtlpA9tzqmbXGPlWTJlrdbKwqODaZE0_ViFAPIgnCJSMSSS1EMY8lPW49UDyOC3A6rTzOc44CCDg2b9PJu2okDBVqbDCg3q9yMEn7lRSqFn20J40/s320/P1070054.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTP5vHY9uUouQTsa3ZH8nge6_sQ3ENJ3Gotdlpk6mA2AiKZmpZ9HiHF6ldVoCuuOhaF5d-CmVLvJn4J0V1XQkydg5w1N7axDxBBx-bv0bCIX-UpTddSrEjfOOaTsyLlQejIzGb7xbIW8U/s1600/P1070057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTP5vHY9uUouQTsa3ZH8nge6_sQ3ENJ3Gotdlpk6mA2AiKZmpZ9HiHF6ldVoCuuOhaF5d-CmVLvJn4J0V1XQkydg5w1N7axDxBBx-bv0bCIX-UpTddSrEjfOOaTsyLlQejIzGb7xbIW8U/s320/P1070057.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qvpqbvEUz_S6mq7ce5Pc3-QOpOxthN6FTlgnybiObS3ylbW9W_4D6ycrUm0LNS47pydRSDL_pzoBLfw96kHuRe0sXbr2bB9sen5Nd6XubQPdZENoLcFx4ab26TJKAA0AtSAn_A16PE8/s1600/P1070061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qvpqbvEUz_S6mq7ce5Pc3-QOpOxthN6FTlgnybiObS3ylbW9W_4D6ycrUm0LNS47pydRSDL_pzoBLfw96kHuRe0sXbr2bB9sen5Nd6XubQPdZENoLcFx4ab26TJKAA0AtSAn_A16PE8/s320/P1070061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOlahGyTFQ70ncjzEPoJlIbzCiyayfkt8eagF5jNL45JHzjOGkMek100H6H4oDiwKgH8WBw2XXKpaGEKSsJwloCiWYGMP4mB2DuxmYuGO4oKk_a5vBjqVbnDRWFjqTzeQWsM1ur-Z_oU/s1600/P1070069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOlahGyTFQ70ncjzEPoJlIbzCiyayfkt8eagF5jNL45JHzjOGkMek100H6H4oDiwKgH8WBw2XXKpaGEKSsJwloCiWYGMP4mB2DuxmYuGO4oKk_a5vBjqVbnDRWFjqTzeQWsM1ur-Z_oU/s320/P1070069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K58GoUeD5vJxw3O88G0gOI7MvCMkWOi9k6En8QUWr9yqp8yC2Zfazfqg1eSatvMYIOHqQ1MkqtVg0nl4rdIz9_65q7_3fwhIITjFuZGp9SjD5U3MWHAvTiqO53pcl6AcUQGOd3Rhdj0/s1600/P1070070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K58GoUeD5vJxw3O88G0gOI7MvCMkWOi9k6En8QUWr9yqp8yC2Zfazfqg1eSatvMYIOHqQ1MkqtVg0nl4rdIz9_65q7_3fwhIITjFuZGp9SjD5U3MWHAvTiqO53pcl6AcUQGOd3Rhdj0/s320/P1070070.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkunMzirOupXxWnzvh68gP_fJ9D_r4XmQ8DdzTuQx5O-qImW-zR5rJJbOFMlohUbHLii1bkSgrmdOdVoOFWa_aWsa-9S7cr1KZDHXvmfQzB3MFQviM8FFyLtMCOZzPGe1tQvAvp_TvQQ/s1600/P1070098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkunMzirOupXxWnzvh68gP_fJ9D_r4XmQ8DdzTuQx5O-qImW-zR5rJJbOFMlohUbHLii1bkSgrmdOdVoOFWa_aWsa-9S7cr1KZDHXvmfQzB3MFQviM8FFyLtMCOZzPGe1tQvAvp_TvQQ/s320/P1070098.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LQShShHSraxL4xURreVaNtMFZsxf3G82_hBGltCwFIi2vfSdq_cR5B_N9kriB-o1_eECtZg1zDUyU_8YAm9pxHNGqIxzxyrhZNFBvJlq66dCElAbQLnKZO-Fbr-6FJerRdF09Yg8Ves/s1600/P1070135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LQShShHSraxL4xURreVaNtMFZsxf3G82_hBGltCwFIi2vfSdq_cR5B_N9kriB-o1_eECtZg1zDUyU_8YAm9pxHNGqIxzxyrhZNFBvJlq66dCElAbQLnKZO-Fbr-6FJerRdF09Yg8Ves/s320/P1070135.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hTKKgPjbYCPaIMPiEiU9WnK_IesvQN-T89JE2H1YKLxIwx9IZEP3EIRIVL0BS4sXqkGXvhIYmWFMyg5WNNxFVi1GgxzenPuG8OlsgT_LUpxTaZQ-saFgYDK_cl432o8T35kmPm_4Ykc/s1600/P1070144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hTKKgPjbYCPaIMPiEiU9WnK_IesvQN-T89JE2H1YKLxIwx9IZEP3EIRIVL0BS4sXqkGXvhIYmWFMyg5WNNxFVi1GgxzenPuG8OlsgT_LUpxTaZQ-saFgYDK_cl432o8T35kmPm_4Ykc/s320/P1070144.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlFrhOQotvPICfuV4CaplmVPjgUj-WiyfAVlcE58aSsJQSddW66VWGyfwpjzVy0lY-Y_ER4g0ZEmVabUP0xohDqUMOeCS_CjBplGf04-6nsHxVEfQcjLiNhZ2wdRjjlOg43xJv_2XCac/s1600/P1070218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlFrhOQotvPICfuV4CaplmVPjgUj-WiyfAVlcE58aSsJQSddW66VWGyfwpjzVy0lY-Y_ER4g0ZEmVabUP0xohDqUMOeCS_CjBplGf04-6nsHxVEfQcjLiNhZ2wdRjjlOg43xJv_2XCac/s320/P1070218.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LpN1Z-FrwpC7JA6D21Wky-nZWh-V4Zi1uujJ7j6-C3rT6l2pEFmVT15h39rDSb385Ikl-6upf4Q8VE9Bj7SfD4A4llGzIBQD_y3RXYt6h-1ECi2k0Q1E6VmZOI351o-BGOzHDr8A7kI/s1600/P1070260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LpN1Z-FrwpC7JA6D21Wky-nZWh-V4Zi1uujJ7j6-C3rT6l2pEFmVT15h39rDSb385Ikl-6upf4Q8VE9Bj7SfD4A4llGzIBQD_y3RXYt6h-1ECi2k0Q1E6VmZOI351o-BGOzHDr8A7kI/s320/P1070260.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_sDym36gFYLZPHC_15cb9N0m2aGd1jjIXWm_bncyrqhfcoBPaa7Z0Ae_3TUMLJsAtKdv7LBnpQDBaVS6if3Zp2gRAsKJ-dpidNGs-O2egKNnLB0C4ubfwqj3nYAcWXvqPxlT9oTRlVc/s1600/P1070267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_sDym36gFYLZPHC_15cb9N0m2aGd1jjIXWm_bncyrqhfcoBPaa7Z0Ae_3TUMLJsAtKdv7LBnpQDBaVS6if3Zp2gRAsKJ-dpidNGs-O2egKNnLB0C4ubfwqj3nYAcWXvqPxlT9oTRlVc/s320/P1070267.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-44798058281175282672011-10-02T18:17:00.002-04:002011-10-02T18:21:54.244-04:00List: ApplesThis time of year, when leaves start to clump on the ground and the air has a certain bite, folks devastated by the closed beaches decide that driving out to the country to indulge a migrant-worker fantasy is the next best thing. Shoes get soaked in the dewy grass, denim knees sport muddy splotches, and sticky apple remnants cover every inch of exposed skin. I will concede that these apples are delicious. They are juicy. They are devoid of pesticides and that artificial shine you see in the produce section. There are no bruises or unsightly spots (aside from the occasional insect). But even with these things in its favor, even the most fanatical apple fan has no use for a bushel of apples. An ex-girlfriend of mine had a gorgeous orchard in her front yard and every October she invited college friends to fill baskets of apples and obliterate them in a sadistic cider press. When the carnage dissipated, everyone had a gallon of tasty cider to take home! It was a nice ritual, but inevitably these milk jugs would spill all over the backseat or ferment in the back of the fridge until an unsuspecting roommate discovered the disturbingly swollen container sometime in Mid-December. Apple picking is for the dogs I say. If you want fresh apples, go to your local Farmer's market not the orchard; but if you must go, allow me direct you towards the apples worth your time.<br />
<br />
There are three factors that go into making a good apple: flavor, texture, and shelf-life. You will see on this list, that a sacrifice in any one of these categories can have devastating consequences for an apple.<br />
<br />
<u><b>WORST</b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2HvNQ7i4NAwpdrchQ2q96Pxtu_h6wh8haDSqOXI5ISPmUuFreFBjg4BN_V4s8jGkgnza4HT8c1TJKJiYwkUmlT74i0pGEdfEcJjUwsyJqJzTgBYfuMaBPfjD8LLeOV1wgKaVS-Tukeo/s1600/red_delicious_apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2HvNQ7i4NAwpdrchQ2q96Pxtu_h6wh8haDSqOXI5ISPmUuFreFBjg4BN_V4s8jGkgnza4HT8c1TJKJiYwkUmlT74i0pGEdfEcJjUwsyJqJzTgBYfuMaBPfjD8LLeOV1wgKaVS-Tukeo/s320/red_delicious_apple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Red Delicious - Red Delicious are the worst apples on earth, which is ironic, since they are often the apples brown-nosing children give to their teachers on the first day of school. If I was a teacher and I received a red delicious, the kid responsible would get a giant F and the apple back. Red delicious have zero redeeming qualities. Even at their freshest, they are mealy and flavorless. They have a bizarre, narrow shape that makes them exhausting to eat and tears up your gums in the process. I know they look tantalizing (come to think of it, I think they were the apple in Snow White too), but trust me, if you buy a bushel of these, you will regret it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo8pdRnjABAEV_rsZ3GHTUr4cws1mfILDEJBPSjFi600N5HZU0T7qqKcRA07ahd5StymqW9N1Q2RJm3hnUVCJ5oZpseXkxKihka6MgslTOWBcSD3KZcn1W7BgQIcehf05e_gaS6lQgq4/s1600/granny-smith-apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo8pdRnjABAEV_rsZ3GHTUr4cws1mfILDEJBPSjFi600N5HZU0T7qqKcRA07ahd5StymqW9N1Q2RJm3hnUVCJ5oZpseXkxKihka6MgslTOWBcSD3KZcn1W7BgQIcehf05e_gaS6lQgq4/s320/granny-smith-apple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Granny Smith- I don't know Mrs. Smith, but she has a lot to learn about apples. They get high marks for shelf-life, but beyond that, I don't know a person on earth who prefers Granny Smith. They are grape-like in their inconsistency, tart one day and sweet the next. I have enough things to worry about. I have many a troubling childhood memory of my mom bringing my slices of them for snack before I knew any better. Now I do.<br />
<br />
<b><u>MEH</u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bBmFv6RFC1Tvz9oHeXM2cLyB6VerYUCMlKWihftZL-Pfs47vlPghUyyrzalKgteiVTs2aEz56l5QsD-IkYZbxunseQbYtZLo7UrEsQQgt1jjAC9akfN-OBjuNswavcNYtbWIB1FaWqU/s1600/goldendelicious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bBmFv6RFC1Tvz9oHeXM2cLyB6VerYUCMlKWihftZL-Pfs47vlPghUyyrzalKgteiVTs2aEz56l5QsD-IkYZbxunseQbYtZLo7UrEsQQgt1jjAC9akfN-OBjuNswavcNYtbWIB1FaWqU/s1600/goldendelicious.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Golden Delicious- The similarities to Red Delicious end at the name. Golden Delicious have a much sweeter flavor and firmer texture than Red Delicious, but have a sensitive pear-like skin that makes them susceptible to unsightly bruises which can quickly turn to mush. Buyer Beware! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oml7Eb4RPGsIQ5m7iau-Gkx1BhDC74OUb3t8ynwYaUEIMos02lIEUyLWwS-ee6GsJq_QhboX-GNTet8i7jE_NGM4cEsXI6VPqMTmmeUsLso0fCDl3W6tBdAiYVorz3F6zya9BggYCNw/s1600/mcintoshApple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oml7Eb4RPGsIQ5m7iau-Gkx1BhDC74OUb3t8ynwYaUEIMos02lIEUyLWwS-ee6GsJq_QhboX-GNTet8i7jE_NGM4cEsXI6VPqMTmmeUsLso0fCDl3W6tBdAiYVorz3F6zya9BggYCNw/s320/mcintoshApple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
McIntosh- McIntosh apples are trendy and expensive. Sorry, but that joke was right in my sweet spot. Speaking of sweet spots, McIntosh apples are a common breed in New England orchards, and right off the tree, they are tough to beat. They are incredibly juicy and their flesh has a satisfying snap to it. Unfortunately, off the tree they rapidly lose their flavor and develop a waxy texture that makes them tough to stomach. Not bad in a pinch, but hit or miss.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifq6-t9qmnpRqn2BBXchmn9f2Iyei9igqwclF3a8uyeO-XCI1hFcVVkXgfbDC86dIufHCYmL2jUpQaoZ1CnPLSA_bAlAxpXSGhVYpq5HCxC6E0AxyMuH0DIKEKKmR9n_Uce3vhItLOxp0/s1600/gala-apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifq6-t9qmnpRqn2BBXchmn9f2Iyei9igqwclF3a8uyeO-XCI1hFcVVkXgfbDC86dIufHCYmL2jUpQaoZ1CnPLSA_bAlAxpXSGhVYpq5HCxC6E0AxyMuH0DIKEKKmR9n_Uce3vhItLOxp0/s320/gala-apple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Gala/Braeburn- I lump these together in the interest of time. They are both formidable apples, with good taste and a satisfying texture. They also last a long time in my refrigerator, which is a huge plus.<br />
<br />
<b><u>KING APPLES</u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRZi2NCmko-AUIlqhi_EBrVhfN6UXvGS06_RpGcFHXgYRx17ZvI_WhBkORZgyonY4NnxXq3P3zjmQtdo2CBR5u1mlfkKlGwhoLnclC9M9erqOovv7AbzX9WKSXP4IuvlzLi1DKcTiPUQ/s1600/10748319-fuji-apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRZi2NCmko-AUIlqhi_EBrVhfN6UXvGS06_RpGcFHXgYRx17ZvI_WhBkORZgyonY4NnxXq3P3zjmQtdo2CBR5u1mlfkKlGwhoLnclC9M9erqOovv7AbzX9WKSXP4IuvlzLi1DKcTiPUQ/s320/10748319-fuji-apple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Fuji - Fuji apples are wonderfully consistent and flavorful. They are huge and sweet and have a thick skin that protects them from bruising and keeps them fresh. They originated in Japan, but have recently been cultivated in the US enough to become the 4th most popular apple in America since their introduction in the 1980s. Wikipedia claims that they can stay fresh for up to a year under refrigeration, which blows my mind and gives them a special place in my heart.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIOiE41NsK14n_08j-0PUhGXonYTMxc4o5YixzVHaDtPotbajXoPPslifF7c4Xwj9UwHFkfwixXS40cJmChYHl0rOZ8hxeIY0SF_SXl2Op9vQiD6D0QPSWzTFAKyqW9GOFhEjRqHbMnc/s1600/jazzapples2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIOiE41NsK14n_08j-0PUhGXonYTMxc4o5YixzVHaDtPotbajXoPPslifF7c4Xwj9UwHFkfwixXS40cJmChYHl0rOZ8hxeIY0SF_SXl2Op9vQiD6D0QPSWzTFAKyqW9GOFhEjRqHbMnc/s320/jazzapples2.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<br />
Jazz- Jazz apples are tasty and much more fun than their namesake. Why they are called Jazz is beyond me, it doesn't exactly incite excitement or curiosity, which is unfortunate, because they rule. They are a combination of Gala and Braeburn apples developed in New Zealand and enjoys the best attributes of both. They are quite small (I usually buy the 2lb bag at TJs), but this makes them ideal for quick snacking and inexpensive to boot. Those Kiwis know apples.<br />
<br />
<b><u>BEST</u></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV5qqJslJX1JVMxZQuL4fjGiOehNQ-B_JY5GcIRvrAqTEjRQEJPZ3F07PmDZb_2kfOuS4_dHXzqi34EtRE5PmIxuuPX5c6tHaYIafNIVb1b5NQBwhswd57r0JqbUtrnQrZu8jm3Nq-Rc/s1600/bk-bottom-final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV5qqJslJX1JVMxZQuL4fjGiOehNQ-B_JY5GcIRvrAqTEjRQEJPZ3F07PmDZb_2kfOuS4_dHXzqi34EtRE5PmIxuuPX5c6tHaYIafNIVb1b5NQBwhswd57r0JqbUtrnQrZu8jm3Nq-Rc/s320/bk-bottom-final.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
Pink Lady - Pink Lady is not the dainty fruit you might expect, nor do they bear any resemblance to a popular liquor/beer/lemonade concoction. Pink Lady apples are the reason I stop in the produce section at all. They are a perfect apple, and my one and only. Always fresh and crisp, sweet but not saccharine, firm and hearty, they are a gold medal apple. They are owned by a company named "Cripps" which is named after some Australian dude who developed them in the 1970s. This copyright is said to keep the quality extremely high, which I believe wholeheartedly, as I've never had a bad one. They take an extremely long time to grow, and are only cultivated in hot climates, but good things come to those who wait. Once I see these come in stock at TJs, I can barely contain my excitement. Sadly, I haven't seen them for nearly a month, but I will keep looking because when you love something like I love Pink Lady's you never give up. lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-62879174497657072062011-09-26T21:47:00.002-04:002011-09-26T21:47:51.789-04:00Schneider Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg-1s-7YU2WO4PdPbpUeuCW8_rwySv_0AQhO9fBu7-5bLZI6k1-82eouVeya_DAnlAH3AuhZv1k5X5AjKMCYPL8-JeFms3rseczkvlSZ-J78Fgnr7qHnyfNcb46tVUC_rh8UO7m2pusg/s1600/P1060461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg-1s-7YU2WO4PdPbpUeuCW8_rwySv_0AQhO9fBu7-5bLZI6k1-82eouVeya_DAnlAH3AuhZv1k5X5AjKMCYPL8-JeFms3rseczkvlSZ-J78Fgnr7qHnyfNcb46tVUC_rh8UO7m2pusg/s320/P1060461.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLv3jQ_H_vsoPwS1QukgTlruqS-EyaI4q8vm9BZZACOstbybePqHC6l-HWFtR6foJc-E9kh4DkVmmrQxi-i8jAsfcknAf2QRUmvSqlRTCpSKW3gACsB0cFeO2qGjsCjYo6EtABSpa1L10/s1600/P1060469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLv3jQ_H_vsoPwS1QukgTlruqS-EyaI4q8vm9BZZACOstbybePqHC6l-HWFtR6foJc-E9kh4DkVmmrQxi-i8jAsfcknAf2QRUmvSqlRTCpSKW3gACsB0cFeO2qGjsCjYo6EtABSpa1L10/s320/P1060469.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8r6KkPWXa1qoNDuW-jFtyTb4DLzTx3vTMlDJewoMB7YJUsxWNgvIoKtitUQys4ZSnbdIlf4MAmVSVIqzvQGyyOOB5F9yUhhBmXhmRT5g2_KNWmIPahQnZqCKSqas6-1aL4H74NZy5_s/s1600/P1060472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8r6KkPWXa1qoNDuW-jFtyTb4DLzTx3vTMlDJewoMB7YJUsxWNgvIoKtitUQys4ZSnbdIlf4MAmVSVIqzvQGyyOOB5F9yUhhBmXhmRT5g2_KNWmIPahQnZqCKSqas6-1aL4H74NZy5_s/s320/P1060472.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-spLReGzit_pf1KtXGdeufZXMLAArz9ajLWMk6ZsFzjv-TuTwd-J6WUryOiMyrCLf3C99QyLzLaYs-D-0751ax6ABuYa_vnf55hXa-sokcI6epZlN9vlQxz1nOyWJDsfeqoZdnfRFqY/s1600/P1060488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-spLReGzit_pf1KtXGdeufZXMLAArz9ajLWMk6ZsFzjv-TuTwd-J6WUryOiMyrCLf3C99QyLzLaYs-D-0751ax6ABuYa_vnf55hXa-sokcI6epZlN9vlQxz1nOyWJDsfeqoZdnfRFqY/s320/P1060488.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzaIQnImLP0ZY584JOBEF1nCQ8_jcGXYsk8CN6kISwl0YpvvO0djIO2vPSHeOLhf9BxQpaUZul0_6UbUhWmd-K1VCx6ua2qYRnb5K1kt20wWwW2L15-FnjhU2loS2W3l1lQ2XVApaI1k/s1600/P1060491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzaIQnImLP0ZY584JOBEF1nCQ8_jcGXYsk8CN6kISwl0YpvvO0djIO2vPSHeOLhf9BxQpaUZul0_6UbUhWmd-K1VCx6ua2qYRnb5K1kt20wWwW2L15-FnjhU2loS2W3l1lQ2XVApaI1k/s320/P1060491.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-1B8xvetqBb0Uldjyw4EeXFceLG8bXkMPFFY1wVWxM1cugVzQWAL-wWesgbW8aVw1Ejk8dycwAqJZJ8iE1RBLdhI0Tdl26gSZrxA5bOxlu4nIdwRrDYeCkpJiOexTeuqff1y2vWZTUo/s1600/P1060503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-1B8xvetqBb0Uldjyw4EeXFceLG8bXkMPFFY1wVWxM1cugVzQWAL-wWesgbW8aVw1Ejk8dycwAqJZJ8iE1RBLdhI0Tdl26gSZrxA5bOxlu4nIdwRrDYeCkpJiOexTeuqff1y2vWZTUo/s320/P1060503.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrVlIz94pEELmuTp6Y10SVuf_WDyv3wWXCt0pjnT8lWo8C-wFvOQAgfL4DGLTqIiZeDJqddpX-X6ETrRXkfa0nY19wM8TRfbBaC6WJdR9XOwAfK9NW29cYFBNOFN3jjJxZi1rBMX6I_k/s1600/P1060504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrVlIz94pEELmuTp6Y10SVuf_WDyv3wWXCt0pjnT8lWo8C-wFvOQAgfL4DGLTqIiZeDJqddpX-X6ETrRXkfa0nY19wM8TRfbBaC6WJdR9XOwAfK9NW29cYFBNOFN3jjJxZi1rBMX6I_k/s320/P1060504.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd2AM8LT7CEnkWMkJ7onykO0ORpFYiNhVgI9_Li66yCejOKbqhGf5IOLuLWsPBmiZRD59RP2Olwd4P9qtZMvN_6_9y_JKxE_zm7nIeUlcF1vfxoshNZa84FquK1POgDTTYu-G3PF4KmE/s1600/P1060527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd2AM8LT7CEnkWMkJ7onykO0ORpFYiNhVgI9_Li66yCejOKbqhGf5IOLuLWsPBmiZRD59RP2Olwd4P9qtZMvN_6_9y_JKxE_zm7nIeUlcF1vfxoshNZa84FquK1POgDTTYu-G3PF4KmE/s320/P1060527.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1Wtu4M-nqq7_cHVSVdVYYpI1ckh2VKhu20tsV3lb6uHFJMm2vsW8aL0iyfupSrYkQI1D6HU9xIgpRGQ1hA1iXoXK-TUBGOlcerOPJXzgT9O61HPIb4gQiRvloWq4oWZf7G0qe1gfazw/s1600/P1060536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1Wtu4M-nqq7_cHVSVdVYYpI1ckh2VKhu20tsV3lb6uHFJMm2vsW8aL0iyfupSrYkQI1D6HU9xIgpRGQ1hA1iXoXK-TUBGOlcerOPJXzgT9O61HPIb4gQiRvloWq4oWZf7G0qe1gfazw/s320/P1060536.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpN1gHWja52fimgvlpulr1nTZQZ6JkADEzeVeGjncL4bIrq2IlmlxC2f8H9b8C7dm2BcSUpCihgRZgEfrfJFFJl-nE7novKFwsJO62vFRDFCAVjNbNz_9JWcx4hJsLYKKRf6JPNZOHEI/s1600/P1060541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpN1gHWja52fimgvlpulr1nTZQZ6JkADEzeVeGjncL4bIrq2IlmlxC2f8H9b8C7dm2BcSUpCihgRZgEfrfJFFJl-nE7novKFwsJO62vFRDFCAVjNbNz_9JWcx4hJsLYKKRf6JPNZOHEI/s320/P1060541.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQgK5T4-mluKiMtzs9Ik1OV3E78EV_kXzlcHeMypgZPAxo8pecZjZEreIWGuE6b-6Wmz2cc6JynHWqEoGTtgBUDczoLczAHbDSJu7CsX23lTnROfUjw5_UhwmoCH9KsvP2YAmGeeDCo0/s1600/P1060552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQgK5T4-mluKiMtzs9Ik1OV3E78EV_kXzlcHeMypgZPAxo8pecZjZEreIWGuE6b-6Wmz2cc6JynHWqEoGTtgBUDczoLczAHbDSJu7CsX23lTnROfUjw5_UhwmoCH9KsvP2YAmGeeDCo0/s320/P1060552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcIQc9mSaLwaj0offJlUtAP_bxWbL2D5VxVWJ9su6hPx4zmABafh5CJewIdPZv7CTqiWwvMD_OkGbHq_V9wmjCWxIQ4fmToR_a6lnW3lGrcx-sbF12LGmko4RGAmBNGLktifJPSyVoGE/s1600/P1060555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcIQc9mSaLwaj0offJlUtAP_bxWbL2D5VxVWJ9su6hPx4zmABafh5CJewIdPZv7CTqiWwvMD_OkGbHq_V9wmjCWxIQ4fmToR_a6lnW3lGrcx-sbF12LGmko4RGAmBNGLktifJPSyVoGE/s320/P1060555.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydLng_Dc2nIlnobULVmx-FAXh45CwNz9nvR1OY7A0Tdv2I2aYvBwJMrlYm0xv92SPZCOdhzvcsnn9ck2egHKTOMkLEWiWUoN0MCiLH9JwQ9zqxEjqwPplyzPNZIW01Zw_aOgX9wXI7Jk/s1600/P1060562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydLng_Dc2nIlnobULVmx-FAXh45CwNz9nvR1OY7A0Tdv2I2aYvBwJMrlYm0xv92SPZCOdhzvcsnn9ck2egHKTOMkLEWiWUoN0MCiLH9JwQ9zqxEjqwPplyzPNZIW01Zw_aOgX9wXI7Jk/s320/P1060562.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycA1EpMQDNBlTNS6yh4wK0ZOZSfVMg-XcPcN9ZbjFIxdudap_n4d2R7AawQi48yez4lNkK1MBmyn1oLLNgRoau0uVMKwmTBEMmRAZx76ULmL9hOpqVfDB-hE3pDxgMFUpj2hygnBnJ-Y/s1600/P1060577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycA1EpMQDNBlTNS6yh4wK0ZOZSfVMg-XcPcN9ZbjFIxdudap_n4d2R7AawQi48yez4lNkK1MBmyn1oLLNgRoau0uVMKwmTBEMmRAZx76ULmL9hOpqVfDB-hE3pDxgMFUpj2hygnBnJ-Y/s320/P1060577.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsScrPdBBCSvDzGOkv9qUS-U7Wg2bupcxcLr5GUkR_3K3gzt5xc0TfRSo4lZsdEkutd0h4xKRHYdAJa7fx4DHm5X42VWVPUdDAmjmMACwAjscdbTginolEdvs9lSNiRQNx_MQ-gMEcyc/s1600/P1060590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsScrPdBBCSvDzGOkv9qUS-U7Wg2bupcxcLr5GUkR_3K3gzt5xc0TfRSo4lZsdEkutd0h4xKRHYdAJa7fx4DHm5X42VWVPUdDAmjmMACwAjscdbTginolEdvs9lSNiRQNx_MQ-gMEcyc/s320/P1060590.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidt_MIjHezWPWhp4ivgw0OXCjoGRGNbWc6vBRhBIQn_aSzCuwdLpnfURYlVtDKgoQohMkVbV3z9HiUR638bnMu10hZGCXW7oThZj5JjrlKXoddsyvebDyRjZAaPglOQahpuUMFRMkFyBg/s1600/P1060596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidt_MIjHezWPWhp4ivgw0OXCjoGRGNbWc6vBRhBIQn_aSzCuwdLpnfURYlVtDKgoQohMkVbV3z9HiUR638bnMu10hZGCXW7oThZj5JjrlKXoddsyvebDyRjZAaPglOQahpuUMFRMkFyBg/s320/P1060596.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVU9ElEKK-ZSeYMXVExamEBpR9esqdN7hd1XoEVplG0PMuNJC-XuP5GhpsWc7VVGQLQXlKV4qcGYWbo_3iR9ikzAcvM7U1yL_2aq3EsqhyphenhyphenT_GHx8rJFBa3eAi4CHXaOU6GIk4ywzl52w/s1600/P1060603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVU9ElEKK-ZSeYMXVExamEBpR9esqdN7hd1XoEVplG0PMuNJC-XuP5GhpsWc7VVGQLQXlKV4qcGYWbo_3iR9ikzAcvM7U1yL_2aq3EsqhyphenhyphenT_GHx8rJFBa3eAi4CHXaOU6GIk4ywzl52w/s320/P1060603.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Uo_lhEVIhzCiuchyZZvICnvAURL-wUUEhS-md4mX_2tCLNd42I-RmgOAzgystZhCuH9l6bdEm-5HQimGuKBmshUu81Bt8BWOV9FPE_z-Km-QzsqAdKox7AQE5hXwx61igKE-6bvddwU/s1600/P1060612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Uo_lhEVIhzCiuchyZZvICnvAURL-wUUEhS-md4mX_2tCLNd42I-RmgOAzgystZhCuH9l6bdEm-5HQimGuKBmshUu81Bt8BWOV9FPE_z-Km-QzsqAdKox7AQE5hXwx61igKE-6bvddwU/s320/P1060612.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-cNjwWpyFfCPYC7WL7_K9xUfNiWnJmAtbeIdsDI6lCa6xGxFETSnqjaTHMtDbamksDFIfbvI4ybIqPbNq16QS4nWeq-hdMgJbQopEC46OY6q03nmKbL4AJAM1UkAHFlwmr2Xhl9l4rk/s1600/P1060642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-cNjwWpyFfCPYC7WL7_K9xUfNiWnJmAtbeIdsDI6lCa6xGxFETSnqjaTHMtDbamksDFIfbvI4ybIqPbNq16QS4nWeq-hdMgJbQopEC46OY6q03nmKbL4AJAM1UkAHFlwmr2Xhl9l4rk/s320/P1060642.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6JB5806GimZQj8ME_zXalGP67rpAHJQJ6FUDha-wTHQq80L7HRSsZ2ev-FlrpcY485W2_Uu3CS9Ks1U4MSOok9GuNXN26I7eKnG1_QUqN9oZ0Z3W50CBZyep2mwYs_dRb7YfP2up4OM/s1600/P1060691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6JB5806GimZQj8ME_zXalGP67rpAHJQJ6FUDha-wTHQq80L7HRSsZ2ev-FlrpcY485W2_Uu3CS9Ks1U4MSOok9GuNXN26I7eKnG1_QUqN9oZ0Z3W50CBZyep2mwYs_dRb7YfP2up4OM/s320/P1060691.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD2tDAfIVg3OAK7l4RVFQtpRpeQaxvvhfUwxl97D2p1AtOpwXiBTVqr1t55rI0wS-IFHmMKsLfbxDWM4dFP2GsTuipHKGVbLUnS2fiRf8UW1KbtICSljV3_UzR5b8RSUOaIStYVCw5ns/s1600/P1060710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD2tDAfIVg3OAK7l4RVFQtpRpeQaxvvhfUwxl97D2p1AtOpwXiBTVqr1t55rI0wS-IFHmMKsLfbxDWM4dFP2GsTuipHKGVbLUnS2fiRf8UW1KbtICSljV3_UzR5b8RSUOaIStYVCw5ns/s320/P1060710.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaGpA-czaeBmqCFptB1DyuB8gF6li6ibKyD8zpYh1K6aNPNOQSsMAKLYPV9L6VdQsURER_GKuvKqZh8MbT2o8rgOkuiSZwr8DveFyY90-2Y5a28bgXgBmiWJShSlf9rvfwO4kaNpTJUA/s1600/P1060723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaGpA-czaeBmqCFptB1DyuB8gF6li6ibKyD8zpYh1K6aNPNOQSsMAKLYPV9L6VdQsURER_GKuvKqZh8MbT2o8rgOkuiSZwr8DveFyY90-2Y5a28bgXgBmiWJShSlf9rvfwO4kaNpTJUA/s320/P1060723.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuMirkO3unu6kASGMD4KBsPrGIMzsBxSKpNQ2Iqtjp9pLOaovWTjDlYjjALHsgpJr0i_2UQEQ7jSqBVtSjuhTKzLcQ0v2nED5hYCGbEzWKfEAEh6XaiMvByalV4Di7yHAYmjY-5mBU5k/s1600/P1060729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuMirkO3unu6kASGMD4KBsPrGIMzsBxSKpNQ2Iqtjp9pLOaovWTjDlYjjALHsgpJr0i_2UQEQ7jSqBVtSjuhTKzLcQ0v2nED5hYCGbEzWKfEAEh6XaiMvByalV4Di7yHAYmjY-5mBU5k/s320/P1060729.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpWkTtFidiZejSm_IkzDxj-x5ufR_hZpUwfEVZwtLydCK3ARkIOIpdwYewGh4uj6AC3gUGx8QB6EMDCiAuk6RvuSnrtU006aoAnN8jRCH4q8vTGkFDDCYbEmZZSLDyGNEBdVxW37TzF0/s1600/P1060740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpWkTtFidiZejSm_IkzDxj-x5ufR_hZpUwfEVZwtLydCK3ARkIOIpdwYewGh4uj6AC3gUGx8QB6EMDCiAuk6RvuSnrtU006aoAnN8jRCH4q8vTGkFDDCYbEmZZSLDyGNEBdVxW37TzF0/s320/P1060740.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtK8FTyA2SpxrFDtQ_m0_Q2REBZ_wJ-koIGUzdjJptImi_WS1ELURTJS891ND4I4g6tJDrv9KZxx2VHrfdMiqXNPVLK2S6e-zGAeTNYDLpE-EygkYq5eBVQOGYBoFphjhvye8Q3VOJYyE/s1600/P1060754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtK8FTyA2SpxrFDtQ_m0_Q2REBZ_wJ-koIGUzdjJptImi_WS1ELURTJS891ND4I4g6tJDrv9KZxx2VHrfdMiqXNPVLK2S6e-zGAeTNYDLpE-EygkYq5eBVQOGYBoFphjhvye8Q3VOJYyE/s320/P1060754.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwJZYb4U6nVAB2SQEqFnxXBow8EhuL-CWDzAbVe-56BCPaXNesFbiDjso3OCch9trnvd0EhyphenhyphenLAdg703NLheuE0bPrh0RYtxHSlEzI6r_cDk6X24Vlsw6peG39sVEBZzyhQnztQldo3pQ/s1600/P1060796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwJZYb4U6nVAB2SQEqFnxXBow8EhuL-CWDzAbVe-56BCPaXNesFbiDjso3OCch9trnvd0EhyphenhyphenLAdg703NLheuE0bPrh0RYtxHSlEzI6r_cDk6X24Vlsw6peG39sVEBZzyhQnztQldo3pQ/s320/P1060796.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0IJlF1stz43_6fWX2vv81dKxqImUDeQ340UvlQvERho9uD4Uz6dsa_UafuyaJy763ukyNuLhN9hUHgIK_sgRKB1vGhZTDfV9F-63Lyy9hqAE6JxLLbWBd2AP-V9h0f_Qv56gNnT1IfE/s1600/P1060798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0IJlF1stz43_6fWX2vv81dKxqImUDeQ340UvlQvERho9uD4Uz6dsa_UafuyaJy763ukyNuLhN9hUHgIK_sgRKB1vGhZTDfV9F-63Lyy9hqAE6JxLLbWBd2AP-V9h0f_Qv56gNnT1IfE/s320/P1060798.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgC8NKOIIAgS10LXi_OxHAGjg5QnGxREWXO0R3ugRNq3HHVYvyRt7r9f9pu-cHMN2A2GHrSIxZuEichg7wRw6sffB0NCWdap_t3s8oUKBMO8J_qGk3Clx2LMAWW7KZBDDPUqZUlk0-M4/s1600/P1060811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgC8NKOIIAgS10LXi_OxHAGjg5QnGxREWXO0R3ugRNq3HHVYvyRt7r9f9pu-cHMN2A2GHrSIxZuEichg7wRw6sffB0NCWdap_t3s8oUKBMO8J_qGk3Clx2LMAWW7KZBDDPUqZUlk0-M4/s320/P1060811.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnLmbxFl9XJc6I0fpoEj6xDCrRP1HYMXMDCe-Sr5g-AYOyVsLjaT8RCvWW1Xrx8MWgTCgiSlb0Q5fWVhzXFCw54Ryo08_ulFofd-ANlFy6JtP8vLJg5Wr3N77Re-7qvSVJv2noBATZoU/s1600/P1060861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnLmbxFl9XJc6I0fpoEj6xDCrRP1HYMXMDCe-Sr5g-AYOyVsLjaT8RCvWW1Xrx8MWgTCgiSlb0Q5fWVhzXFCw54Ryo08_ulFofd-ANlFy6JtP8vLJg5Wr3N77Re-7qvSVJv2noBATZoU/s320/P1060861.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gS1O90gzwe3Op-dFXF7B8l3fPhVDyiLCML9q0Ydlx8RsOVi_th3gyytJe83F06bGeJTupWk5CSmegVVER1rCbdheCbUj1pXpSjgxKqLPAS2ecfm4SkJ2MAAEawURNWSVSX2KHFmCF7c/s1600/P1060869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gS1O90gzwe3Op-dFXF7B8l3fPhVDyiLCML9q0Ydlx8RsOVi_th3gyytJe83F06bGeJTupWk5CSmegVVER1rCbdheCbUj1pXpSjgxKqLPAS2ecfm4SkJ2MAAEawURNWSVSX2KHFmCF7c/s320/P1060869.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IjRpN8UFQkc4FUwYCas-_T8QPOuojkBsn72-i-7hjlgTgH2miTno9w9e8Cj4GBuaQczHg9S8R0FqbdlSTae5Hc1MdIjEdmziXy7wC8jxa0kbe6L_dXlQ0sa0mZQgGtl7DPAMrUJ5reI/s1600/P1060891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IjRpN8UFQkc4FUwYCas-_T8QPOuojkBsn72-i-7hjlgTgH2miTno9w9e8Cj4GBuaQczHg9S8R0FqbdlSTae5Hc1MdIjEdmziXy7wC8jxa0kbe6L_dXlQ0sa0mZQgGtl7DPAMrUJ5reI/s320/P1060891.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXLJTi1JFOYYjYhGeBCa_ao9IYhVrDv588YYeU7toZ2ufFOrOlAUmXdjA0pyyTQ8Z2j1bEivzS1_2WPO1bLaTM4uBfn6J1gI2XbtImHnYSVdpN48Srq4vJB_RldW5NqOFtp3aEh4yOkE/s1600/P1060900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXLJTi1JFOYYjYhGeBCa_ao9IYhVrDv588YYeU7toZ2ufFOrOlAUmXdjA0pyyTQ8Z2j1bEivzS1_2WPO1bLaTM4uBfn6J1gI2XbtImHnYSVdpN48Srq4vJB_RldW5NqOFtp3aEh4yOkE/s320/P1060900.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02ZA-qgL5YUGfehTfN1Qi9lc83PB0nUJJ2SH1AKrcHkzWFFK-SNgrGaGrmhq5ix5M7rUq_RmBeTCqcFtlpTEu5ihpKdAkSHQsutAlDdHDNPtuJfhFDPmJubVq8-OklTO82phUKCv99io/s1600/P1060916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02ZA-qgL5YUGfehTfN1Qi9lc83PB0nUJJ2SH1AKrcHkzWFFK-SNgrGaGrmhq5ix5M7rUq_RmBeTCqcFtlpTEu5ihpKdAkSHQsutAlDdHDNPtuJfhFDPmJubVq8-OklTO82phUKCv99io/s320/P1060916.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RKmEYApOsBz8qMUshtB8jmOPXqECbXe4jomgxr-cq8IIzbdn2vZtQcX2n2RRt_pepYT3irchbTz_SB0YmFnR6pJPlJbkFZvuTwCDFSu4uO08YpFMPb_TSR7ODDrSU8DAk4bKd3ogo2A/s1600/P1060919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RKmEYApOsBz8qMUshtB8jmOPXqECbXe4jomgxr-cq8IIzbdn2vZtQcX2n2RRt_pepYT3irchbTz_SB0YmFnR6pJPlJbkFZvuTwCDFSu4uO08YpFMPb_TSR7ODDrSU8DAk4bKd3ogo2A/s320/P1060919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHx1SKzOyZV2dc10VCCy-HZdCzUqhm6HKZ40yOoQfANVUBfgyj6CU49gHR4wk1KTbb8ukBqcB27sqtv3zNBYsIzfmDWOvFc5BpjcbGTB6bo04Cnwtt44uhi_UuJ-OQq320x8sSXHV9wk/s1600/P1060940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHx1SKzOyZV2dc10VCCy-HZdCzUqhm6HKZ40yOoQfANVUBfgyj6CU49gHR4wk1KTbb8ukBqcB27sqtv3zNBYsIzfmDWOvFc5BpjcbGTB6bo04Cnwtt44uhi_UuJ-OQq320x8sSXHV9wk/s320/P1060940.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4scsriqxTYf2sgvEaTHaT_UflNqfAfuoqCROkxdhWijtbIj1vwb5jpXMxkF3yImc4sMJUGJdB-7EvYeoeag7DKQQwoXz_l-CAMSJN1HdFv_rvEn-_3kFtX3AArRG1COeC-0MX4bz4Jw/s1600/P1060955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4scsriqxTYf2sgvEaTHaT_UflNqfAfuoqCROkxdhWijtbIj1vwb5jpXMxkF3yImc4sMJUGJdB-7EvYeoeag7DKQQwoXz_l-CAMSJN1HdFv_rvEn-_3kFtX3AArRG1COeC-0MX4bz4Jw/s320/P1060955.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0gMgexuBXHISo3HCmMWvVcff4Vxnp_Lyzvm2xw6w6HEGijEBlA-bKAeRT3TgI1C1fv9rDPB5DNBAwQWGETpqqOfReFzk2AGcyR0-W7Fw395AhL7wiKFyBo89L_nK7iq91w-2vH37jlY/s1600/P1060971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0gMgexuBXHISo3HCmMWvVcff4Vxnp_Lyzvm2xw6w6HEGijEBlA-bKAeRT3TgI1C1fv9rDPB5DNBAwQWGETpqqOfReFzk2AGcyR0-W7Fw395AhL7wiKFyBo89L_nK7iq91w-2vH37jlY/s320/P1060971.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweNdlYDU7v2e6R0-67PSLdpkwk3Ioa7UzyoM0LhUGM2VhFyR0xvyN1VFA49bZDPefUe89GzLvk_UeCR0zCwT4UtQW4S6qdStjzco1qtBzggL72LXZlvJTbICRLvzbyt7S4Nd1nO-SEMw/s1600/P1060997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweNdlYDU7v2e6R0-67PSLdpkwk3Ioa7UzyoM0LhUGM2VhFyR0xvyN1VFA49bZDPefUe89GzLvk_UeCR0zCwT4UtQW4S6qdStjzco1qtBzggL72LXZlvJTbICRLvzbyt7S4Nd1nO-SEMw/s320/P1060997.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLHP2UaBuzdpoFRyX973jv5RunUtIJ0FC7lcRh3YdewxxHMkZpXoPbAGGRoqOSKST4g4wv39w_z4WqwmQKBd748DOYiQ4rjIytWoilgFBSoXpHE41gb6N4V8DDFvYtHRnq_e2H7byDYg/s1600/P1070028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLHP2UaBuzdpoFRyX973jv5RunUtIJ0FC7lcRh3YdewxxHMkZpXoPbAGGRoqOSKST4g4wv39w_z4WqwmQKBd748DOYiQ4rjIytWoilgFBSoXpHE41gb6N4V8DDFvYtHRnq_e2H7byDYg/s320/P1070028.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-80009315853996029892011-09-22T21:38:00.002-04:002011-09-22T21:38:07.831-04:00CYHSY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX8vvP5tgvBAWUwBkSk53xLpo5Nerxqx-QU7P8OSR3diUv3aVE10G8h5byNq5UBn9EtnYzNfLiW3PHCx_AE1DMzd-rr7I96gUYK1TEtN50E5b_IGrJojcmJJW8Gx1Bs77jDKbX6Kp9go/s1600/P1060354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX8vvP5tgvBAWUwBkSk53xLpo5Nerxqx-QU7P8OSR3diUv3aVE10G8h5byNq5UBn9EtnYzNfLiW3PHCx_AE1DMzd-rr7I96gUYK1TEtN50E5b_IGrJojcmJJW8Gx1Bs77jDKbX6Kp9go/s320/P1060354.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9_kEd4Oz7xYDY4B_F_hoAUxTMmkSJchY_i-c21ctzzdiG-5gqPx1TAaK6l3PJ8vrJaIC3UIZBiXnnaRueBEPpWBjFL1RYNs2taEtTDz0DJxJYtuHc1su8RQ45qebDINh8Hq6tWRpE8I/s1600/P1060360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9_kEd4Oz7xYDY4B_F_hoAUxTMmkSJchY_i-c21ctzzdiG-5gqPx1TAaK6l3PJ8vrJaIC3UIZBiXnnaRueBEPpWBjFL1RYNs2taEtTDz0DJxJYtuHc1su8RQ45qebDINh8Hq6tWRpE8I/s320/P1060360.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BjnCEJQlRfyiV5AXnnX0PpR8V4BGOcQKTA9o0gdnPXsuLk-ogyHtkbIa8E3RJRzlfKNoVAb2C2na88G-_1j-LKyrqPILOOQ2PlLbUkjv_RzOUQO9ycYvk7eHbqANjhg7wvEP2mL06jY/s1600/P1060388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BjnCEJQlRfyiV5AXnnX0PpR8V4BGOcQKTA9o0gdnPXsuLk-ogyHtkbIa8E3RJRzlfKNoVAb2C2na88G-_1j-LKyrqPILOOQ2PlLbUkjv_RzOUQO9ycYvk7eHbqANjhg7wvEP2mL06jY/s320/P1060388.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-8709613393040706412011-09-20T18:19:00.000-04:002011-09-20T18:19:09.050-04:00Review: Drive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGQZaWwLF1ZYY47YgRackuFck8lUH1ZxQ18XkeCUjd2kibrfrPqp7uoSmPajD5Z6CI-97u6d0wv6Ga7_iJ9_BPlAlwV6rYiKHLWeFWs4ikKLfUMnM6MeMFd_x87WQO5shPnG-7ut9S6c/s1600/drive-movie-poster-ryan-gosling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGQZaWwLF1ZYY47YgRackuFck8lUH1ZxQ18XkeCUjd2kibrfrPqp7uoSmPajD5Z6CI-97u6d0wv6Ga7_iJ9_BPlAlwV6rYiKHLWeFWs4ikKLfUMnM6MeMFd_x87WQO5shPnG-7ut9S6c/s400/drive-movie-poster-ryan-gosling.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>As Summer ends in Late August, and movie studios hemorrhage terrible films from the bottom of their scrap heap, an interesting transition starts happening. A subtle industry shift from blockbusters to Oscar-worthy films, as if to atone for the terrible movies you've had to stomach in recent weeks. Gone are the 3D and Superheroes, dispatched in favor of stories with plot and characters. It's a beautiful thing to behold. Lately, I've had the pleasure of seeing Contagion (a gripping thriller for nerds and public alike, if a bit fluffy) and Warrior (incredible from start to finish, despite my preconceived notions to the contary). On Friday, I enjoyed one of my most anticipated Fall films: Drive, starring Ryan Gosling.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>The premise of the film is simple. Ryan Gosling is a stunt-driver who moonlights as a getaway driver in LA. He knows the streets of LA the way you know your tiny hometown, the extent of which is clear from the very first sequence. He has a samurai-like quality to him that other reviewers have latched on to, a principled stoicism that is interesting to watch and impressive to pull off. As the film progressed, I started to draw other similarities, albeit tangentially to another retro-chic car-lustful film; Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof. </div><div><br />
</div><div>While the protagonists could not be more different; Kurt Russell as the raving, psychopathic 'Stuntman Mike' contrasts pretty vividly with Goslings reserved intensity, the two films start equally slowly, before gradually reaching a steady burn that turns to a raging boil in the final act. Both films also rely heavily on music to maintain a mood, Drive leaning heavily on synthesizers and 80's effects, while Tarantino and company stick to AM Rock and Roll playlists. Both share a penchant for shocking, brutal violence and exhilarating chase scenes that go to great lengths to put you inside the car. It is in telling the story that the two films begin to take different paths. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The first thing I noticed in Drive was the director Refn's unapologetic use of silence, not only from Gosling himself, but even in scenes he isn't a part of. Scenes between Albert Brooks and his goons, or Carey Mulligan and her young son are slow in nearly every sense of the word, utilizing slow-motion, slow camera pans and little dialogue, yet they manage to hold our attention. Apart from being just plain cool to see two characters leer at each other across a room or gaze wordlessly into each others eyes, it serves to infuse these scenes with an intensity that makes the bursts of action seem more potent (I know I almost fell out of my chair the first time a gun was fired). It is in these scenes that weaker actors and weaker directors would be tempted to fall into more traditional storytelling, with the false fear that audiences wouldn't have the patience for a more thoughtful heist/car/love story. Thankfully, Gosling and Refn are completely committed to the tone and pacing of this film, and our patience in them is rewarded in the end. </div><div><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eAc23x2JJG0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<div><br />
</div>lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-56406476413307585172011-09-18T15:48:00.000-04:002011-09-18T15:48:53.412-04:00EDU: Changing Your Watch BatteryAs a lover of <a href="http://pinatavalentines.blogspot.com/2010/09/watches.html">watch finery</a>, I knew this day was inevitable. In recent months, my watch collection had slowly dwindled until only the solar-powered remained. The others had succumbed long ago to the limitations of their lithium hearts, and were collecting dust on bureau. Last week, I purchased <a href="http://www.amazon.com/16-PCS-Watch-Tool-Kit/dp/B000T9VK56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316371878&sr=8-1">this</a> inexpensive watch tool kit from Amazon, with the hopes that I could avoid the hassle and expense of spending an afternoon at the jeweler. I was tired of spending half the price of my watch every other year, just to keep it ticking. I'm not sure if this was a symptom of my frugality or impatience, but enough was enough. I set aside most of the morning Saturday to tackle this project, and am happy to report that after two hours and $24, all of my watches are back in circulation.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOazUTb4ezrQ85tpvKGObiJMQFsiE0dZK0g6gkirgRK4B7CHfQQpixtnk_7ZWZ1cn1dUu3DOKjedHcIljNK4jzBd6exudaedxgSZ-bUhnHo6OmNP_P57Wc7Zl0ilZKAVhi5XUwMDqTPs0/s1600/P1060083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOazUTb4ezrQ85tpvKGObiJMQFsiE0dZK0g6gkirgRK4B7CHfQQpixtnk_7ZWZ1cn1dUu3DOKjedHcIljNK4jzBd6exudaedxgSZ-bUhnHo6OmNP_P57Wc7Zl0ilZKAVhi5XUwMDqTPs0/s320/P1060083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here is an excerpt of the watches. There were six in total, spanning 4 brands and three different cover fastening mechanisms.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6col7tRTNHzGrZU9Z0RQQ7sjfed7dXO_TYrN1DOQbgWJ-1qIykEyP47R9lezLufg6YBBRhkcgPG-lKURUZT4cfkOWzPFHPBtrr3cFzljjZHfQwewIXYakuad0TA_vqKrP1_XsYQBNiI/s1600/P1060100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6col7tRTNHzGrZU9Z0RQQ7sjfed7dXO_TYrN1DOQbgWJ-1qIykEyP47R9lezLufg6YBBRhkcgPG-lKURUZT4cfkOWzPFHPBtrr3cFzljjZHfQwewIXYakuad0TA_vqKrP1_XsYQBNiI/s320/P1060100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here are the tools laid out on my patio. Tweezers, pliers, screwdrivers, hammer, flat metal knife, and some strange torture devices. If I can't change their batteries, I can at least make them talk.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpO0UoT62mKEhNibGCKSwxShlVsvX31q3n_JNHbZF0Y9BbqiL3AUN1ACZkkYaoZ_LtDw74EVFlFkNebHC7GSRu2z1NY_KY3RAZhjVozZ0KFgnKx-vA68M3ZM1FIErzUuaeeBuIKlsHCY/s1600/P1060113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpO0UoT62mKEhNibGCKSwxShlVsvX31q3n_JNHbZF0Y9BbqiL3AUN1ACZkkYaoZ_LtDw74EVFlFkNebHC7GSRu2z1NY_KY3RAZhjVozZ0KFgnKx-vA68M3ZM1FIErzUuaeeBuIKlsHCY/s320/P1060113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This tool, as I later learned, is for removing pins from a watchband, and not as a means to "get Medieval" on these watches. As I loathe watches with metal bands, I had no use for it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoVP0cFwLcfYhf21eXGlb-1Ghsc9mOLSevOxBKlCqbCw3swIpgWU5L1A2jHEj59-vgKEC_LBA7J4tcEKNHYdpiBlaqJXDugKYq7k1C3I_ZSS9dyJTu6NKJZN-HWHi3gCrok0HEal4ToA/s1600/P1060139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoVP0cFwLcfYhf21eXGlb-1Ghsc9mOLSevOxBKlCqbCw3swIpgWU5L1A2jHEj59-vgKEC_LBA7J4tcEKNHYdpiBlaqJXDugKYq7k1C3I_ZSS9dyJTu6NKJZN-HWHi3gCrok0HEal4ToA/s320/P1060139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Now THIS sexy number, actually has a valuable use. It's perfectly suited for removing the cases of "screw-back" watches, of which my Puma is. Simply adjusting the pins to fit the diameter of your watch, align the little pins into the indentations, and twist counterclockwise. This went quite smoothly and I was bursting with pride.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6UYCMUUflnpjm9SQgrBQGjYWOGfi9I58HykXbucva4SFbiRUPNApKYrQCwgKwyVQ4kZtZ0kMYSDATdRMEyiCJDPQVNfgJg-vH26pfokTU1Eu7RnhoQE7GzFzcUeRl2cvi7o6VmZUeuQ/s1600/P1060152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6UYCMUUflnpjm9SQgrBQGjYWOGfi9I58HykXbucva4SFbiRUPNApKYrQCwgKwyVQ4kZtZ0kMYSDATdRMEyiCJDPQVNfgJg-vH26pfokTU1Eu7RnhoQE7GzFzcUeRl2cvi7o6VmZUeuQ/s320/P1060152.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here is the money shot. A look at the gorgeous innards and intricacies housed within a watch. I don't know what does what, but the battery was easy enough to find and remove. I tried not to touch anything else, and set it aside while I went to work on the rest.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqMJcy3HCqgkiPVsoSKEvn0v1r1M3FT-zFbiTKPQoIIy1yrna7O6bhfRpYVa1VFg66EAQFJJksQ-s_GWzMlAXrVMk9XcuASocmQSvX3Vy_eWysmjtsNs6psKBb3hsIAwA9rCVE4aBAKg/s1600/P1060158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqMJcy3HCqgkiPVsoSKEvn0v1r1M3FT-zFbiTKPQoIIy1yrna7O6bhfRpYVa1VFg66EAQFJJksQ-s_GWzMlAXrVMk9XcuASocmQSvX3Vy_eWysmjtsNs6psKBb3hsIAwA9rCVE4aBAKg/s320/P1060158.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I should have added something to use for scale here, but this battery was SMALL. I'm glad I brought out a paper towel and put everything small into a baggy immediately, or I surely would have lost something important. I did not however, keep track of which battery went to which watch, an oversight we will return to shortly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTJDZHFVGEv9JjEQh2tFa0aNyHFmNgQU5rRKz6kafwVfTLv5-7ZREVshxSMvpRRM_M47MJEVpmESYDVJDY07Y2T7b0_y_rvNGoJe3P9ZS9nL4xwuOaxP2FSwZ7Ij3aZWAJ_4__SbmnDI/s1600/P1060166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTJDZHFVGEv9JjEQh2tFa0aNyHFmNgQU5rRKz6kafwVfTLv5-7ZREVshxSMvpRRM_M47MJEVpmESYDVJDY07Y2T7b0_y_rvNGoJe3P9ZS9nL4xwuOaxP2FSwZ7Ij3aZWAJ_4__SbmnDI/s320/P1060166.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Two of these watches had simple screw-backs, which were easy to handle with the included micro Phillips screwdriver. It took a little bit of pressure and care to make sure I didn't strip anything, but they were no match for me. Interestingly, this tiny Timex watch contained the biggest battery by far, for reasons I still don't understand. In fact, every watch I opened had a different sized battery, which made tracking them all down afterwards quite an adventure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYSu47dQrOVypLmWhVInWk0LRJbRQGAc7Vi43CJbdpjYYT5Qp-jpzef3amtxXQU5I-CE9sJNRCHWXk_AomTOdqm8sTkIwCeM4UuEzKo8t9VNUXo_D0LZr72pp4Aj8wGhoBxUEFGc_wU8/s1600/P1060196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYSu47dQrOVypLmWhVInWk0LRJbRQGAc7Vi43CJbdpjYYT5Qp-jpzef3amtxXQU5I-CE9sJNRCHWXk_AomTOdqm8sTkIwCeM4UuEzKo8t9VNUXo_D0LZr72pp4Aj8wGhoBxUEFGc_wU8/s320/P1060196.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The final three watches (two Skagens and a Lucien Piccard), were, to put it tactfully, huge bitches. They all had pressure fit watch backs, which were firmly sealed and had only the slightest of lips for a tool to slip in and pop the cover off. This problem was compounded by the fact that the tool kit case knife wasn't nearly thin enough to fit. Perhaps I could shuck a loose Oyster with it, but there was no way it would open these watches. In an act of desperation (there was no way I was leaving these three watches behind after coming so far), I found a nifty tool in the kitchen that did the trick.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6w_ZdwPs7BrzmkBzPzwzpx9RhjFiIE7oc8dAyyCpOuiPLt_lJ16bNo323eazoxj11nX7xF1pxcZq3Hm204bLEmwpmc2NgmRuNsUVS2zmSiGCexy-x_TcV6hNWek7nUUiiA85yIOTvK-U/s1600/P1060198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6w_ZdwPs7BrzmkBzPzwzpx9RhjFiIE7oc8dAyyCpOuiPLt_lJ16bNo323eazoxj11nX7xF1pxcZq3Hm204bLEmwpmc2NgmRuNsUVS2zmSiGCexy-x_TcV6hNWek7nUUiiA85yIOTvK-U/s320/P1060198.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
With this little bugger, I was able to get my "pry" on. If I am reincarnated as a squirrel, I think I'll be ok.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjui4lNMI4L0Kw0Zs9PE-rIH6-NejGibvGC2EDMsVCBtRYFz6CexpKRIUxIiNWVXa3VQNVgVmZSav1zKcunAXfkytplkobot0c2IkRk11rNFbx9vsbCreUZ7565tImWKp1H5nn1SdYWM/s1600/P1060211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjui4lNMI4L0Kw0Zs9PE-rIH6-NejGibvGC2EDMsVCBtRYFz6CexpKRIUxIiNWVXa3VQNVgVmZSav1zKcunAXfkytplkobot0c2IkRk11rNFbx9vsbCreUZ7565tImWKp1H5nn1SdYWM/s320/P1060211.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Cut to six watches left open on the operating table while I ran down to Walgreens with my baggy of batteries. They had ONE. -$5. I then walked further to the hardware store to take in their battery collection. Good selection. Four more batteries acquired. -$18.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ihv2OEWAwbv7zvRNkn4j7CnVeJa6hf7DNhtAM5offd9p1j-M9a4a9WMrTVRv80ya0Cc80aiaF1e8GTdQS4X0FoPYyTW2-rXyUp-bwAJ7q6MtQtjaCJ_R7OP6UhO3AAyg-rsoNhgrCSg/s1600/P1060227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ihv2OEWAwbv7zvRNkn4j7CnVeJa6hf7DNhtAM5offd9p1j-M9a4a9WMrTVRv80ya0Cc80aiaF1e8GTdQS4X0FoPYyTW2-rXyUp-bwAJ7q6MtQtjaCJ_R7OP6UhO3AAyg-rsoNhgrCSg/s320/P1060227.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Before I spent anymore time leaving my watches as prey for curious birds, I would run back home and install what I had found so far, and figure out the final one later. I also wanted to check that the batteries actually worked, specifically two from the hardware store that looked to be from the 90's. I asked the cashier if they were still good, and he claimed that they only started putting expiration dates on them this year. With limited options, I took my chances. Sure enough, both of these batteries were dead. I brought them back to the store for a refund. +$9. So close, yet so far. Miraculously, as I started checking convenience stores (desperate, I know), a lady pointed me in the direction of a neighborhood jeweler, who would surely sell me batteries. After getting into this whole mess to avoid the jeweler, I was tickled that I would be crawling back there, but at least I would salvage some pride by not asking them to install them for me. As luck would have it, they had each of my three remaining batteries, and only charged my $10 for the set. I should have gone here in the first place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2DBkhzqsovqqGUvWcQqaIIUjqbB737G6cjtNqcp8VVcW8wqDTKcPGptpFeZH9lDupNenNY50aPoglMZtnk6FUlyTV9rpIjeXJIsAWZ1oDiiefV04YRRstblwCB2PUkO_6juRZu8g9b8/s1600/P1060244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2DBkhzqsovqqGUvWcQqaIIUjqbB737G6cjtNqcp8VVcW8wqDTKcPGptpFeZH9lDupNenNY50aPoglMZtnk6FUlyTV9rpIjeXJIsAWZ1oDiiefV04YRRstblwCB2PUkO_6juRZu8g9b8/s320/P1060244.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
They looked like robot aspirin, but they worked just fine. It took a little while to size up which battery fit where, and get the backs back on (goddamn pressure backs again), but the ticking symphony was a wonderful reward for my hard work. All in all, I learned a LOT, didn't break anything, and saved $50. DO IT. lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-81925505786109356982011-09-14T19:35:00.000-04:002011-09-14T19:35:31.754-04:00On Repeat: Das Racist - Michael Jackson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYs0C6sIoge65bKaOmdshF2IsuXMbTo3xW_cBYIJMuXMc4TrbDU9rrxFz41EjGRAadT0hc99b5bHSAJ-Di0qTqgm4cmSnU4YPSthm802qUYaw3t_fBGAIlyz8HLRQoluiGTxgpQf_tBs/s1600/das-racist-relax1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYs0C6sIoge65bKaOmdshF2IsuXMbTo3xW_cBYIJMuXMc4TrbDU9rrxFz41EjGRAadT0hc99b5bHSAJ-Di0qTqgm4cmSnU4YPSthm802qUYaw3t_fBGAIlyz8HLRQoluiGTxgpQf_tBs/s320/das-racist-relax1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Liking Das Racist is a lot like flirting with a pretty girl. On a superficial level, everything seems peachy. They are everything you like with a sharp sense of humor to boot. The more time you spend around them, the deeper drawn in you become, yet there's still a part of you with your hand trembling over the red 'ABORT' button, resisting full-blown devotion. Why? Because despite this infatuation, there remains a very real possibility that this is all a huge joke and the girl will retreat giggling to her group of friends, leaving you to feel like a complete idiot.<br />
<br />
Das Racist grabbed my attention with the incredible "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell" a couple years ago (has it been THAT long?), and I was curious to see what they would do next, knowing absolutely nothing about the group itself. They have followed up their single with two quality mixtapes, that only furthered the "are they serious?" questions. You see, Das Racist are three Middle Eastern looking gentlemen, who dress ridiculously and rap with a hyperliterate style that you would dismiss as satire if it weren't so impressive. So are Das Racist goofy clones of 'The Lonely Island', or are they a hip-hop phenomenon primed for stardom? No one wants to be the last one in on a joke, but after hearing their debut album <i><u>Relax</u></i>, and hearing what they do on legitimate beats, I'm ready to go all in. Das Racist are fantastic. If you have any interest in hip-hop or even artists with a sense of humor, you owe it to yourself to check them out. Amazing songs like "Girl", "Michael Jackson" and "Booty in the Air" would have any rapper salivating to get a swing at, but they are all property of Das Racist, and I wouldn't have it any other way.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nc__3nsfxwA" width="640"></iframe>lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-47055646658099812622011-09-06T21:02:00.001-04:002011-09-06T22:08:59.329-04:00Must Have Android Apps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDAt8mBp16ShnkN1iDlsJI7TaCIODENGSzycdFdRMZmR5vt-Bf_gC05DcrzFFrdo1faO_1l426nyeDsYMEyG1zx4XPB9ysO7LcWgqwZfAWtIKZsO7r9h5DopFNYBJYSo72BidkCG1BJ8/s1600/nexus_s_4g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDAt8mBp16ShnkN1iDlsJI7TaCIODENGSzycdFdRMZmR5vt-Bf_gC05DcrzFFrdo1faO_1l426nyeDsYMEyG1zx4XPB9ysO7LcWgqwZfAWtIKZsO7r9h5DopFNYBJYSo72BidkCG1BJ8/s320/nexus_s_4g.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br />
Just over a month ago, I joined the smartphone club. It wasn't that I was putting it off exactly, it's just that there was something about a contract. My network carrier, Sprint, had me on the hook for two years with a phone that made RAZRs look trendy and sleek. I'm fine with simplicity, and after enduring 24 months with a Touch Pro 2 (phone-that-shall-not-be-named), I was seriously entertaining the idea of getting a bare bones phone, and leaving the other gadgetry for the birds. But there was one smartphone function I could not live without and forced my hand: GPS. I couldn't care less about cameras and gyrometers and apps (or so I thought), but having access to Google Maps at all times was too crucial to forgo. So I ran the numbers and got me a gorgeous Nexus S 4g and things are super. The Nexus S 4g runs the Android operating system, so I had access to all of those Apps and proceeded to go a little App crazy. After a few weeks, the really valuable ones tended to rise to the top and crappier ones tended to collect dust on my SD card. I'm here to share the best of the lot so that you might not waste your time and bandwidth downloading, installing and deleting worthless Apps. If you have an iPhone, these are probably available in some capacity through iTunes. If you don't have a smartphone at all, please proceed to the nearest exit.<br />
<br />
Apps:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FRd7jQH__T0dKBPTzr6hDkAjuLPobbnnOfZzBsZ26NdW1yXhGGUEVgv238ETzmDdFcyfrGIeFVQFD5Lkk1hD_MnATWgKiHoCbCdoJVNCViGg8p4xZz6KpkWA1LwPsTnmzsZOC5riyUY/s1600/Amazon_Appstore.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FRd7jQH__T0dKBPTzr6hDkAjuLPobbnnOfZzBsZ26NdW1yXhGGUEVgv238ETzmDdFcyfrGIeFVQFD5Lkk1hD_MnATWgKiHoCbCdoJVNCViGg8p4xZz6KpkWA1LwPsTnmzsZOC5riyUY/s1600/Amazon_Appstore.jpeg" /></a></div><b>Amazon App Store -</b>The Amazon App Store App is fantastic for two reasons: first, they offer a free Paid App every day, sometimes crappy, usually awesome and second, they offer many popular Apps for a much lower price than the Android store. Additionally, if you download something from them and need to reset your phone, they'll all be there waiting for you when you log in again, which is more than I can say for the Android store (they only save the Apps you purchase).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbslJwWoKQuG-V9q-_KIkqEiH4KOg8PYYxopzCmoWneE17_3spScXF91g6-Y2DnlvOMkz8SLtCk3Lm2mVRqOcDEghqoYHRpyvCe4gZa4cT-1rvAXa1QWnpVY0Yl7ELhGKh3QBRjTbEH0/s1600/05-allrecipes-iphone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbslJwWoKQuG-V9q-_KIkqEiH4KOg8PYYxopzCmoWneE17_3spScXF91g6-Y2DnlvOMkz8SLtCk3Lm2mVRqOcDEghqoYHRpyvCe4gZa4cT-1rvAXa1QWnpVY0Yl7ELhGKh3QBRjTbEH0/s320/05-allrecipes-iphone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Allrecipes- </b>Allrecipes.com is one of my favorite websites, so it's only fitting that their App is just as wonderful. In addition to having many of the sites recipes searchable in a mobile format (MUCH more intuitive and easier to read on a phone), they also offer a "Dinner Spinner" that asks you to plug in some basic information and will spit out recipes that fit your criteria. It's generally pretty good, although it couldn't find me any pork beverages :(<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQyrg9H2-icmefiZluFQM9hOQkpUO_jd74Sh0HZBCfviK3AGPr7hLs52GWTcX3XEabpNC-BvwgW_bs86pHIWQIWBZfvEDcoSg_Y5b3x2mMYUwN5P4x5kNuLtu-xwUyV1gXn1JTwzcH6U/s1600/audiogalaxy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQyrg9H2-icmefiZluFQM9hOQkpUO_jd74Sh0HZBCfviK3AGPr7hLs52GWTcX3XEabpNC-BvwgW_bs86pHIWQIWBZfvEDcoSg_Y5b3x2mMYUwN5P4x5kNuLtu-xwUyV1gXn1JTwzcH6U/s200/audiogalaxy.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<b>Audiogalaxy- </b>Audiogalaxy is a great alternative to the "cloud". You simply download the app and download the desktop application on your home computer, link up your music library, and voila! As long as your computer is on and the app is open on it, you will be able to stream your entire music library to your phone seamlessly. Much faster than uploading everything to a 3rd party (Google, Amazon) while protecting your privacy at the same time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUzIMs9RzzJnEOK5inKp3Mrg6CqFPFy1yDtlKoZJ7c0SDD9UKWazRUZuG6nM3JRsWCbEwjwaNtdfC8ywSZtZNe8JyTFaE4sXxRKboXoy6_9BDIDlCAnJE9godgvEbePncm0YayWdVhrA/s1600/beyondpod-android-420x340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUzIMs9RzzJnEOK5inKp3Mrg6CqFPFy1yDtlKoZJ7c0SDD9UKWazRUZuG6nM3JRsWCbEwjwaNtdfC8ywSZtZNe8JyTFaE4sXxRKboXoy6_9BDIDlCAnJE9godgvEbePncm0YayWdVhrA/s320/beyondpod-android-420x340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>BeyondPod - </b>This is my go-to podcast App, and has saved me the needlessly complicated process of finding/downloading/syncing in iTunes I used to deal with. You simply search for Podcasts you like, subscribe, and they are automatically updated every day and can be downloaded or streamed for your listening pleasure. you can mark them as read or pause and pick back up where you left off at a later time, all within the App itself. In the free version you have to manually download/refresh the podcasts, but even this is INFINITELY easier than the iTunes mess.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC3K_if3hJg08ZSEQ6ENZd59HxP9ZQV_CBIYN4Tt9A6ZvvcJfj0zHz417NSwIsL9d1YtL8W8-B0oZmEb6CoWPc1T-9wyL4d8nWMhSBuQAYPZiZg0wtD3kJRAvqFIuzzQhwZi1W_yEKfY/s1600/2585-1-craigslist-mobile-for-ipad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC3K_if3hJg08ZSEQ6ENZd59HxP9ZQV_CBIYN4Tt9A6ZvvcJfj0zHz417NSwIsL9d1YtL8W8-B0oZmEb6CoWPc1T-9wyL4d8nWMhSBuQAYPZiZg0wtD3kJRAvqFIuzzQhwZi1W_yEKfY/s1600/2585-1-craigslist-mobile-for-ipad.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Craigslist </b>- This may not be valuable for many of ya'll, but lately this App has been a godsend. Instead of searching the Craigslist swamp for Kitchen Islands, the App allows you to specify everything within the App, whether you have a maximum price or want to avoid listings without photos. The BEST part is that once you have your list of results, the Craigslist will tell you how old the listings are (to the MINUTE) and show the picture alongside the listing title. Rather than having to open up interesting ads into tabs until your browser self-destructs, you can instantly tell if that coffee table is a piece of shit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDebWM6u1JKzvva1WC2z029fDTbz8BbvwPZ5E45QeIawFMq9ZyDbD515ovebWM0_G_OZKv9fBe_ZwArxn8yIOjlKjOtsJu9cL2Hj5lhyhh4q6N6QhCIrQNU5ghbf_IYyj4rYaIuRh8AE/s1600/Dolphin-HD-Android-160x160.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDebWM6u1JKzvva1WC2z029fDTbz8BbvwPZ5E45QeIawFMq9ZyDbD515ovebWM0_G_OZKv9fBe_ZwArxn8yIOjlKjOtsJu9cL2Hj5lhyhh4q6N6QhCIrQNU5ghbf_IYyj4rYaIuRh8AE/s1600/Dolphin-HD-Android-160x160.png" /></a></div><b>Dolphin HD-</b> By far the best web browser for Android phones. Fast and simple, but with enough add-ons to make your head spin. Allows you to open links in new tabs, save bookmarks to your homepage, and even store passwords securely. As close to a real browser experience as you'll find on a phone.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCAp8sQO-rOwi4Nc3qXCaIG0SjJJpwtFc-fE0iUPTdZH_pzHV0z-SCvsA3Faw9Rf5ziQIF-nAvrSff2YEcp-gqOm04a7pdsi8yzg4PkShugWZsDbqO_4zvKCaDWJ-ZR1RotD2kWpSA-I/s1600/evernoteicon256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCAp8sQO-rOwi4Nc3qXCaIG0SjJJpwtFc-fE0iUPTdZH_pzHV0z-SCvsA3Faw9Rf5ziQIF-nAvrSff2YEcp-gqOm04a7pdsi8yzg4PkShugWZsDbqO_4zvKCaDWJ-ZR1RotD2kWpSA-I/s200/evernoteicon256.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<b>Evernote - </b>Great way to take/share notes on your phone and automatically syncs them to your online account for reviewing later. Many more features I haven't even tried yet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcedqB2gQrfSp5dBh8_n-kYLzNbL4OuDAXfHSUZY2sRY0-iLbt6ypeO-2BtpLeDCvvs5e4Kn038YuvnD6cdLuX_u0Bsf1Pa8yGpbzbISwrEpaSv2m6DhoUqY8tqhIRD0DoE2GuYxtLK0/s1600/260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcedqB2gQrfSp5dBh8_n-kYLzNbL4OuDAXfHSUZY2sRY0-iLbt6ypeO-2BtpLeDCvvs5e4Kn038YuvnD6cdLuX_u0Bsf1Pa8yGpbzbISwrEpaSv2m6DhoUqY8tqhIRD0DoE2GuYxtLK0/s1600/260.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Instant Heart Rate - </b>This app is just cool. Somehow, by holding your finger up to the camera, this app calculates your heart rate with impressive accuracy. The science behind it sounds legit, so I feel comfortable sharing it, though please consult a trained professional instead of your telephone if you are experiencing heart trouble.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmwTlBAu-L27oOJapd18-nf3rW2Dm-HIDW0wtvJdju9ZeKOF-a2bjTyog7qBMeW48ZDvt2ahRwKRXML1FTqi2QdB4B_viY8hfne1Ki25mD8Vn6uYlRG2JPJCBvaj9y8LI3ITyXM7rNbk/s1600/google-reader-app-for-android.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmwTlBAu-L27oOJapd18-nf3rW2Dm-HIDW0wtvJdju9ZeKOF-a2bjTyog7qBMeW48ZDvt2ahRwKRXML1FTqi2QdB4B_viY8hfne1Ki25mD8Vn6uYlRG2JPJCBvaj9y8LI3ITyXM7rNbk/s320/google-reader-app-for-android.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Google Reader - </b>A great way to browse Google reader on the go. Nearly as functional as the site itself, albeit in a smaller package. Can share, star and like items as well as click on links to be directed to the full page. Everything it needs to be.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLrUP4alunYwVbETKcXWjI57mvzMXpCRdo5B0WxSr1SCUZRnBsDFqtR0Ya36hkLkEi8tFBZ_Uq2DYTiCDW_ulbimpU4xwrB5zZJfvNctasCYQOp41trAwfglMAL6QkBrHLInIBkBiGPQ/s1600/Google-to-bring-the-Google-Voice-app-to-the-Xoom-and-Honeycomb-OS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLrUP4alunYwVbETKcXWjI57mvzMXpCRdo5B0WxSr1SCUZRnBsDFqtR0Ya36hkLkEi8tFBZ_Uq2DYTiCDW_ulbimpU4xwrB5zZJfvNctasCYQOp41trAwfglMAL6QkBrHLInIBkBiGPQ/s1600/Google-to-bring-the-Google-Voice-app-to-the-Xoom-and-Honeycomb-OS1.jpg" /></a></div><b>Google Voice -</b> Google Voice is priceless because you never have to listen to another voicemail again. Well, you'll probably still have to listen to it again, because Google's speech to text needs some work, but still, not only does it transcribe every voicemail for you, it saves them for you, regardless of what happens to your phone. It also does the same for text messages, which is nice and also terrifying.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfQZTjRdf0-UtBouVjC-zdmlavAlTB3UT6sxAN0i2bQPjHW6Bkpeh8Bek0lE22i76KOxlUu6dQCCpGFyYp4POe6K6AHvyXHgh8kfM1Tr8JYy5MPLoY5IHN3PE3fFF43EAN6Yc2Gx7IHI/s1600/Mint_Finance_Android_App.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfQZTjRdf0-UtBouVjC-zdmlavAlTB3UT6sxAN0i2bQPjHW6Bkpeh8Bek0lE22i76KOxlUu6dQCCpGFyYp4POe6K6AHvyXHgh8kfM1Tr8JYy5MPLoY5IHN3PE3fFF43EAN6Yc2Gx7IHI/s320/Mint_Finance_Android_App.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Mint - </b>Mint.com is the best money management tool on earth, and the mobile able only improves it, allowing you to check account balances, set budgets and tag purchases on your phone. It is great peace of mind to have everything in one central location, and to receive emails if you go over budget or have any suspicious charges.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAJPNtur5TCG6hohRbhsp3S2uwENCiQTRM3DDcvGxAFHWdYe3kge5oFF8oX2o5pSD2OgM4k5Qi41ZSsIq-A2BfTBQGg43Gd5QC0DGe3UlfBwPGkLpZLXVfmSKLbrnRIpmpE66_gf5d18/s1600/11189sn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAJPNtur5TCG6hohRbhsp3S2uwENCiQTRM3DDcvGxAFHWdYe3kge5oFF8oX2o5pSD2OgM4k5Qi41ZSsIq-A2BfTBQGg43Gd5QC0DGe3UlfBwPGkLpZLXVfmSKLbrnRIpmpE66_gf5d18/s1600/11189sn.png" /></a></div><br />
<b>Movies</b> - On the surface, movies is a standard theater locator/showtime app, but on the inside, it is closely linked with the premier movie review website, Rottentomatoes.com. Thus, whenever you view/search for a movie in Movies, you will see its tomatometer score and a list of links to reviews from top critics. By far the best way to find out if a movie is worth your time, even more so than IMDB.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysAP3TeL-Xsut9Ftcp74RES1yMlz2Xcf43ntGVOpQuwQrrjnxkvg6FXLmCZrk3EB2_D-IgWfB3diGMVovrGnNbUftNlW63e6OopusnjnRTOja9B5YBSz8RL3-mEIi1i1b15Hsd_S0n9I/s1600/netflix-app-ipad-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysAP3TeL-Xsut9Ftcp74RES1yMlz2Xcf43ntGVOpQuwQrrjnxkvg6FXLmCZrk3EB2_D-IgWfB3diGMVovrGnNbUftNlW63e6OopusnjnRTOja9B5YBSz8RL3-mEIi1i1b15Hsd_S0n9I/s1600/netflix-app-ipad-2.png" /></a></div><br />
<b>Netflix - </b>Without the streaming functionality, the Netflix app would be little more than a way to view and edit your Queue on the fly, but since streaming was activated on most Android devices, this App has become invaluable and pushed me over the edge to become a Netflix subscriber.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVFLdQKLriBK-tZZ0MxvQfZ1GzopBb5VS0IFQU0GP8AdzXKuC5GtpPNC9pWqelPxnydpjW1Fa9-n_TWGBwYUzIuXeGm8kNBQBKE9s1HlVlVMJKWxpFl1E2fDgmT4EX2T4e_kxeSKT22Q/s1600/Image.aspx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVFLdQKLriBK-tZZ0MxvQfZ1GzopBb5VS0IFQU0GP8AdzXKuC5GtpPNC9pWqelPxnydpjW1Fa9-n_TWGBwYUzIuXeGm8kNBQBKE9s1HlVlVMJKWxpFl1E2fDgmT4EX2T4e_kxeSKT22Q/s320/Image.aspx" width="320" /></a></div><b>Old Time Radio- </b>And now for something completely different. This app holds thousands of old radio programs, from The Green Hornet to The Lone Ranger, and all completely free. It's neat to hear the old series in their original format and most have held up well, and show you a glimpse of the power radio once had.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnLNQaqVdrgKnMv-cgxGuhuIYksrp42jq3zwAXuFrGBDp7rLGIUzZx_Gje9kvDW2x3yA9iLc7BOBmGFQQJkuFHztnNecqRi1gYvuAZuJDM-3L-09WSe6ZKzuS9AJixNOl4jVv6X_qgP4/s1600/touiteurpremium-android-170929.320x480.1268165120.41271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnLNQaqVdrgKnMv-cgxGuhuIYksrp42jq3zwAXuFrGBDp7rLGIUzZx_Gje9kvDW2x3yA9iLc7BOBmGFQQJkuFHztnNecqRi1gYvuAZuJDM-3L-09WSe6ZKzuS9AJixNOl4jVv6X_qgP4/s320/touiteurpremium-android-170929.320x480.1268165120.41271.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<b>Plume - </b>If you use Twitter, do yourself a favor and download Plume. I tried a few other Twitter apps, but this one blows them all away in simplicity and features. Updates frequently, makes it extremely easy to follow, retweet and mention people as well as click on tweeted links. It even saves your spot if you close the App and reopen it at a later time, something extremely useful that you don't realize you need until you have it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzZg9GokD-U44I6vnsnrtVz0ba6BRu7OrqW7HESe870dCiFtdKaKT9rl7ahl52No0yl74Ds79NuVhk6xtUG1baOeCDkpKH2hNf1BIliX8EbyH0JrKdyQSjD3vxTyYfjmAaOTcQKe70vg/s1600/read-it-later-android-app.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzZg9GokD-U44I6vnsnrtVz0ba6BRu7OrqW7HESe870dCiFtdKaKT9rl7ahl52No0yl74Ds79NuVhk6xtUG1baOeCDkpKH2hNf1BIliX8EbyH0JrKdyQSjD3vxTyYfjmAaOTcQKe70vg/s320/read-it-later-android-app.jpeg" width="192" /></a></div><b>Read it Later - </b>A mobile version of the popular browser plug-in that allows you to "save" webpages (articles) to read when you have more time. I know I've tagged tons of articles using this to read when I'm on a bus or subway or just feeling like a long, satisfying read. It perfectly syncs saved pages from your browser also.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQriMwg_h409vNOqDQQKdAKJPOQ6xkCxxZc7IrGmhykSm4gEcLLa8bA09FRcbR3dTO70jcjTr4wjMBug9mVWKSgOmSN_hWYE8ca1C9YK92cfVZQrlGhCBm-OIMOVZdUebg2oIcueorVM/s1600/Starbucks-Android-App.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQriMwg_h409vNOqDQQKdAKJPOQ6xkCxxZc7IrGmhykSm4gEcLLa8bA09FRcbR3dTO70jcjTr4wjMBug9mVWKSgOmSN_hWYE8ca1C9YK92cfVZQrlGhCBm-OIMOVZdUebg2oIcueorVM/s320/Starbucks-Android-App.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Starbucks - </b>This app is a double-edged sword. Using it, your phone can generate a unique bar code for the barista to scan at Starbucks and instantly withdraw money from your Gold Card account. You can easily see how many rewards you have earned and set up a minimum balance, below which Starbucks will automatically initiate a withdrawal from your bank account.<br />
Pro: Makes buying coffee easy.<br />
Con: Makes buying coffee TOO easy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FrHVjGDwWg0IJmg8mnsUqxJ2Y-LAV2ecR2z6Spn8G135FVUBCAMuhQvnX_UuS11vGPW5NFDXEo8WU4eHHpj2WabeVY0Lz8KV1VFidv437IBITGCzj2JAWu5fL0BR_d_ieuwwefpmb1M/s1600/swype.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FrHVjGDwWg0IJmg8mnsUqxJ2Y-LAV2ecR2z6Spn8G135FVUBCAMuhQvnX_UuS11vGPW5NFDXEo8WU4eHHpj2WabeVY0Lz8KV1VFidv437IBITGCzj2JAWu5fL0BR_d_ieuwwefpmb1M/s320/swype.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />
<b>Swype - </b>Before Swype, I used SwiftKey, which was an admirable improvement from the stock Android keyboard, in that it viewed your texts and emails and understood your habits and vocabulary, but still relied on the old 'hunt and peck' style of texting. Swype obliterates Swiftkey. It is insanely fast, and somehow gets better the longer and more complicated words get. Sometimes it can get hung up with pronouns, etc, but after a quick addition to the dictionary, it is right back up to speed. The newest version allows you to easily select all and cut/paste from within Swype, making it all the more valuable. Give it a try and you will never go back.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_HXe9hDTTZ1NXElNqfgDPLzuHx1ZI4bR60o549NLA2ahdgUZYzPMePjQH8qlI2L-UnJlSwcMZzRGEY4IonSLysmNbhQwWkRXP0xzdzOLOHl2skzSxFsEo5zGhPgPlTLied9GpXRSRXU/s1600/wheres-my-droid1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_HXe9hDTTZ1NXElNqfgDPLzuHx1ZI4bR60o549NLA2ahdgUZYzPMePjQH8qlI2L-UnJlSwcMZzRGEY4IonSLysmNbhQwWkRXP0xzdzOLOHl2skzSxFsEo5zGhPgPlTLied9GpXRSRXU/s1600/wheres-my-droid1.jpg" /></a></div><b>Where's My Droid? - </b>A precious App that kicks into action when you need it most, Where's My Droid? is activated by a "trigger" word, that can do anything from Ring loudly for 5 minutes when you lose your phone in the couch, to email you GPS coordinates when your phone is stolen. Don't say I didn't warn you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwZi_jF8ohQdbRxBlYgg6E7q8ifcrcMcC83Tj48RjhO_PApqDr9UhKBGMTbUoCH2UXsMFRRTFHM5ES46OkhL-IavBNGOkHiT4Qts227eTpMquNQeq_qkTYRxLM7gL8WJ1rc0FejrqbZI/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwZi_jF8ohQdbRxBlYgg6E7q8ifcrcMcC83Tj48RjhO_PApqDr9UhKBGMTbUoCH2UXsMFRRTFHM5ES46OkhL-IavBNGOkHiT4Qts227eTpMquNQeq_qkTYRxLM7gL8WJ1rc0FejrqbZI/s320/13.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><b>WootWatcher - </b>A great way to check all Woot and Woot-affiliated websites every day, and automatically alerts you to new listings and Wootoffs. Extremely easy to toggle between listings and buy using the App. Almost TOO easy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIRA2xkeOimhcK5CQCXPfLfDAgpQJxqzb0Qwy9iZZg3RGLTqE3OEMQ6203NknhjeJmgB-nlIXM5HUK5z13_ZeeDsJknLljcTBD9UJgQjzCch0eQvA2PUaxTaB2iI2HcNv_sIZLlQJ7O8/s1600/Yelp-app.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIRA2xkeOimhcK5CQCXPfLfDAgpQJxqzb0Qwy9iZZg3RGLTqE3OEMQ6203NknhjeJmgB-nlIXM5HUK5z13_ZeeDsJknLljcTBD9UJgQjzCch0eQvA2PUaxTaB2iI2HcNv_sIZLlQJ7O8/s320/Yelp-app.png" width="320" /></a></div><b>Yelp - </b>A mobile version of the de facto rating website. Better in many ways than the website in that it automatically detects your location and recommends restaurants/shops. Allows you to filter by price and proximity as well as view recommended dishes and organize reviews in a myriad of ways. A great way to discover a new town or just to try something new close to home.<br />
<br />
Phew. This post was a lot longer than I thought it would be. Stay tuned for a second Game-centric App post in the near future.lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-65995073734373979262011-09-01T17:39:00.000-04:002011-09-01T17:39:12.590-04:00Old Song Review: Dion - Runaround Sue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqHiaAN1Ema755LaC5sE70VI7x_vjr9OS60_VqUnV0kf9JWDX8KaSGaUiuGH-gta_7WdT-HlwQZu8QqHJlzXOnhcZ_slRPR2_2O06FkUztmlN4XMuiuwJlUWRYjJLNylW3wGZzYT5VMo/s1600/114746653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqHiaAN1Ema755LaC5sE70VI7x_vjr9OS60_VqUnV0kf9JWDX8KaSGaUiuGH-gta_7WdT-HlwQZu8QqHJlzXOnhcZ_slRPR2_2O06FkUztmlN4XMuiuwJlUWRYjJLNylW3wGZzYT5VMo/s320/114746653.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I've been on a bit of a Doo-Wop kick lately. And by bit, I mean almost listening almost exclusively after being devastated by the Lil Wayne's mediocre Carter IV and having exhausted most other decade stations on my XM Radio (60's on 6, etc). I curiously turned the dial to 50's on 5, expecting to hear Buddy Holly, and was pleased to hear music that was much more varied and exciting than I anticipated. I've always associated the 60's with Rock and Roll music and the 40's with big band era sounds, and had generally assumed that the 50's were an wasteland of Americana, with Buddy Holly and Woody Guthrie the notable exceptions. As luck would have it, Doo-Wop music, the precursor to Motown and Rock and Roll as we know it, came to be in the 50's.<br />
<br />
Doo-wop music revolved around sophisticated four-part harmonies, complete with a booming baritone to lay down the bass notes and an energetic alto to handle the higher octaves. Often with little insrument accompaniment, Doo-wop style evolved from the barbershop quartets of the 1940's and instead relied on the singers to mimic the instruments themselves. It wasn't until later in the decade that strings and drums became<br />
regular players and the genre truly took off, gaining the name "doo-wop" after the song "In The Still of the Night" by The Five Satins used a "doo-wop doo-wah" refrain in 1956.<br />
<br />
Dion and the Belmonts were a huge group in the late 50's and early 60's, before frontman Dion Dimucci entered rehab for heroin addiction in 1960 and embarked on a solo career. His first hit of this solo career was a little number called "Runaround Sue" that I can't get enough of and falls neatly into the second of two categories of doo-wop, which are as follows:<br />
<br />
1. Pining/Lusting - Singer dramatically pines for girl, expresses undying love if only she acknowledged his desperate gaze. Some of these songs approach a <a href="http://www.alexross.com/forscent.jpg">Pepe Le Pew</a> level of harassment.<br />
<br />
Example: The Four Seasons - Sherry<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AapxXRlsdwA" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
2. Devastation/Heartbroken - Singer is dumped/discovers disturbing information about lover which causes pain and agony.<br />
<br />
Example: Dion - Runaround Sue<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="25" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ao2L-mBtuvw" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
Seriously, that's pretty much how they break down, with about 80% in the first category. But the second category is where the most memorable songs are found. There's only so many ways you can express your undying devotion, but any number of creative ways that you can be cheated on or otherwise disgraced.<br />
<br />
In Dion's case, he finds out that his girlfriend is a ho. In those days, they called her a "runaround", but today we call that a ho. Pretty racy subject matter for a pop song 50 years ago, but I suppose infidelity never goes out of style.lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-78874272575199380602011-08-25T20:09:00.002-04:002011-08-25T20:11:49.275-04:00Kanye West, Jay-Z - Watch the Throne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpWrLFijfCSLISG7EJpk1MFQA4Q5R33k8eahl7YDe0PO78r5b4Kdx__TboONfRxwcUhMZtFhpZzJG0_2AGHZJjmMDLCB7EX24xyiPSUoQTMw3wTlcfrT-Hz1JRxhDBoI9wV0YUlVHPMU/s1600/Watch-The-Throne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpWrLFijfCSLISG7EJpk1MFQA4Q5R33k8eahl7YDe0PO78r5b4Kdx__TboONfRxwcUhMZtFhpZzJG0_2AGHZJjmMDLCB7EX24xyiPSUoQTMw3wTlcfrT-Hz1JRxhDBoI9wV0YUlVHPMU/s320/Watch-The-Throne.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Unlike films, listening to music is an intensely personal experience, and one whose impact varies significantly with environment and context. Listening to an album in your car is a completely different experience than enjoying it through your headphones, and to this effect, very few albums have the excitement and honesty to be played in both these places. It should come as no surprise that Watch the Throne sounds pretty good in traffic, but you might be surprised to hear that it also excels at my desk through my iPod.<br />
<br />
In fact, I would go so far to say that in order to properly evaluate the album, you need to listen to it in both contexts. When I first got a hold of WTT, I threw on my Nano on the way out the door and listened to it five times at work, marveling at the amazing beats but feeling a little turned off by the heavy content. Too many songs laid on the religious and black power undertones way too thick, and I found myself over-analyzing all of the lyrics as a result. After a week or so, I had already cherry-picked my favorite songs and shoehorned them into my Running Mix and was perfectly content to never listen to the other songs again. It wasn't until I saw the "Otis" video that I realized I was overlooking a critical element of WTT that changed the entire album for me.<br />
<br />
The Spike Jonze directed video for 'Otis' is genius in its simplicity, perfectly capturing the absolutely astounding luxury-filled lives that Kanye and Jay lead, but also highlighting how much darn FUN they have. Sure they are taking blowtorches and saws to a $350,000 car, and they have 4 supermodels sliding around in the backseat, but beyond that, they seem like otherwise normal guys having an incredible time. They giggle, they pose goofily for the camera, they hang off one another like brothers do when dad takes the video camera out. Sure their car spits flames and they seem to have a private track for donuts, but the whole thing isn't far removed from the best friends in <a href="http://pinatavalentines.blogspot.com/2011/05/iff-boston-2011-final-installment.html">Bellflower</a> who created their own fire-breathing monster in 'Medusa' on a considerably tighter budget. The Otis video underlined the magic that sparked the album in the first place; that Kanye and Jay-Z have nothing to prove to anyone, and whatever came out of their partnership had to capture that 'fun' before all else.<br />
<br />
I still think that there are some heavy themes on WTT, but they no longer detract from the experience as a whole, feeling instead like inevitable topics. Maybe if they had slipped in a few guest verses, they never would have mined such dark material, but there's something pretty special about a 16-song album with absolutely zero hip-hop features. That sort of thing just doesn't happen anymore, and goes to show you the creative excitement these two are able to draw out of one another. What Kanye first announced as a 5-song EP, and no fan ever took seriously, actually came out AND didn't embarrass any of the parties involved. That is an impressive feat.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BoEKWtgJQAU" width="640"></iframe>lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036715657429075643.post-18827756321701554182011-08-23T20:21:00.000-04:002011-08-23T20:21:23.157-04:00Restaurant Week: Meritage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMKL_hxAE0EPrEe9_CpgHvy8Ew_2rkoj548cqgXDgyAu7eGgFN9Kngdj88o7UGUpKy-ehbz7XX8wQC8hulSt9hbsh4fRzGcFHmTdS567KPXO-pW8tkVub5zB09uI-kor_Lbh4c861NTQ/s1600/ggEzrhGN50.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMKL_hxAE0EPrEe9_CpgHvy8Ew_2rkoj548cqgXDgyAu7eGgFN9Kngdj88o7UGUpKy-ehbz7XX8wQC8hulSt9hbsh4fRzGcFHmTdS567KPXO-pW8tkVub5zB09uI-kor_Lbh4c861NTQ/s320/ggEzrhGN50.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
For those of you from more suburban areas, Restaurant Week is an event where the fanciest of the fancy restaurants open their doors to us common folk and offer three course meals for a mere 33 dollars. Of course, with "suggested" wine pairings and "recommended" side dishes or glazes or other tomfoolery that you feel obligated to splurge on since you are nearly robbing the place blind paying only $33. Many who frequent restaurant week do so with serious reservations and research, knowing that the experience is very much a mixed bag. I know I personally check Yelp a few days into Restaurant week to see what people are saying before I make my reservation. I have had absolutely rapturous meals (Smith and Wollensky) and wholly disappointing meals (Harvest) during restaurant week, and though $33 is a small price to pay for the experience, you still want to feel like you are getting your moneys worth.<br />
<br />
This year, I had my eyes set squarely on the creme de la creme, one of the most esteemed restaurants in Boston: Meritage. Located within the Boston Harbor Hotel, it is a gorgeous place that Zagat calls "romantic", "chic", offering "exquisite harbor views" and "beautiful taste symphonies". Seriously. With a glowing recommendation like that, I leapt at the first reservation I could find. Planning it as a surprise for my date, I tried to sneakily use Google Maps on my phone while also confidently leading the way, but when your restaurant is inside of a hotel, you can only get so far before you need to whisper to a doorman. We were seated just before 7pm, just in time to see the some of the last light drain out of the harbor (the sun set behind us, who knew?).<br />
<br />
We were quickly presented restaurant week menus, and urged to try either of the two wine pairings our waiter assured us were fantastic deals. He was a dour man of average build, for whom restaurant week was probably at best a nuisance and at worst a sacrilege. We resisted his charms on the wine, placed our orders, and drank in the views. I shouldn't have to tell you, but Restaurant Week is MADE for Filet Mignon. In fact, if I see a restaurant that doesn't have steak on its RW menu, I promptly excommunicate it from competition. This reflex was only further ingrained after having some weird ham slab entree at Harvest two years ago. So needless to say, MT and I both enjoyed the filet...eventually.<br />
<br />
The thing about these fancy restaurants are, is regardless of how you are dressed and present yourself, you can't help but feel that something is "giving you away". This is especially acute when you begin to feel miffed or disappointed. For example, shortly after placing our orders, we were each given three different pieces of bread. Once was a traditional dinner roll, plump and fluffy, which MT attacked with reckless abandon. Another was a meager slice of cinnamon raisin bread, cut from a loaf that was surely sat on. The final roll was a crusty, porous bread that was everything I could ever ask for. We were also given a heaping dish of whipped butter with a huge cursive <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">M</span></i></b> emblazoned across it, to remind us where we were. Admittedly, it was a cute touch that really brought home the fact that this place was really insanely fancy. I don't know how else to put it. Unfortunately, after we ate this bread, we waited a good 40 minutes before the first course showed up. Being unaccustomed to restaurants of this stature, I gave them the benefit of the doubt and told myself that they were surely following the advice of their resident gastroenterologist and giving our stomachs ample time to handle those complex carbohydrates. It wasn't until other tables started getting their food in a timely fashion that I started to feel hungry/grumpy. I blame MT, since she claimed to have seen our waiter, appetizers in hand, turn around and head back into the kitchen after emerging and seeing her with bread left on her plate. Why he didn't just come back in 5 minutes is beyond me, but we waited patiently.<br />
<br />
When it comes to appetizers at these places, you are probably better off rolling a dice than trying to visualize what you are actually going to get. MT ordered a Salmon, Avocado and Creme Fraiche dish that looked a bit like a slightly more unstable leaning tower of Pisa above leafy brambles. Not what I would have expected from the description, but upon further review, it explicitly mentions the word "tower" so I suppose I should hold my tongue. I had spinach and shallot ravioli, which were pretty tasty, although the "wrapper-style" ravioli was a bit gummy. After another forty minutes, the main-course showed up and I was grateful. Not grateful enough apparently, as the waiter deemed it necessary to hover above me "waiting for his thank you" (his words) before excusing himself. Perhaps this turn of phrase simply came out incorrectly (he was French, but seemed more Spanish, and neither of us were convinced either accent was real), but I was a tad offended that he needed an expression of gratitude before we would let us enjoy our meal. Perhaps the wait staff is trained not to leave the table until everyone is satisfied with their food, but like I said, the word choice was unfortunate. With that being said, the filet was fantastic, as were the steamed carrots, whipped potatoes and potato "chip" (I use that term loosely).<br />
<br />
MT and I decided to go our separate ways for dessert, with she opting for the chocolate tasting plate, while I chose the artisan cheeses. It felt like my duty to order the cheeses after enduring some heckling from my cheese post. I'm happy to report that all of the cheeses were delicious and unique. Maybe it's because cheeses are so often served as appetizers, but I rarely give their flavor and texture as much attention as I should. But when it's being served as dessert, and your girlfriend is eating some chocolate/caramel/pretzel cup, you get to know the cheese pretty intimately. The fontina was especially fantastic, soft and exploding with flavor, that I didn't expect. It tasted like distilled macaroni and cheese, and I mean that in the best possible way. The double-Gloucester was also great, and CM is right, it did taste a lot like cheddar, though with a bit of a sweet finish to it. The gouda was my least favorite, but MT loved it, so go figure. The chocolates were good also, but I've never been a big dessert guy, so I only tried a couple. All in all, the meal was quite good, though ranking in the middle of the road as far as Restaurant Week experiences go, mostly due to the off-putting waiter and the agonizing wait times.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
lollipopsandcrispshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07089467906011377222noreply@blogger.com1