a blog about a lot of things

Recently started back listening to entire albums. It's cause they can fit onto the new phone. Didn't listen to much. So it's a limited sample size. Even more limited cause I usually check Pitchfork, NME and Rolling Stone a lot. But how else am I gonna find bands like Yuck and The Weeknd? Not on local radio, for sure. 15. Fucked Up - David Comes to Life why: A rock opera about a love story set in 1970's and 1980's England. Winning concept. But even if you forget the concept, the energy and excitement of the music is enough to make this album an excellent listen. 14. Yuck - Yuck why: Easy to listen to, a total throwback to the early 90's guitar rock. All the fans of the shoegazing era will be impressed.Loud and quiet alternating guitar effects give the high tech mixed with melody vibe. 13. Jay-Z/ Kanye West - Watch The Throne why: A very eclectic album, each track is something else altogether. Kanye's superior musical ability with Jay's exceptional lyr...

I was thinking about going to see Coldplay live. And then, following from that, I was thinking of what songs I'd want to hear most (if I got to control the setlist). This is that list. -Usually on the Viva La Vida Tour they did around 25 songs. So that's the number I'm going with. In order of Album release, not order to be played in From Parachutes 1. Yellow 2. Shiver From A Rush of Blood to the Head 3. The Scientist 4. God Put a Smile Upon Your Face 5. Clocks 6.Warning Sign 7. A Rush of Blood to the Head From X&Y 8. What If 9.Fix You 10.A Message 11. The Hardest Part 12.Swallowed in the Sea From Viva La Vida 13. 42 14. Lost ! 15. Lovers in Japan 16. Viva La Vida 17. Violet Hill From Mylo Xyloto 18.Hurts Like Heaven 19. Charlie Brown 20. Paradise 21. Don't Let it Break Your Heart 22. Us Against The World Encore Set: 23. Wedding Bells ( Non-Album ) 24.Amsterdam ( from A Rush of Blood to the Head) 25. Glass of Water ( From Prospekt's March EP)

There are some books you can read in one sitting. The ones you don't feel like putting down and you can't wait to get back to. I'm not including novel series in this, because those are a whole other thing and if I did I'd be forced to fill the list with Ian Fleming and Tom Clancy Novels. I'm going with books published after 1960 as well. I'm only allowing books I managed to finish in a week. Only novels, no short stories and poetry, memoirs, non-fiction etc in no particular order : 15. Portnoy's Complaint - Phillip Roth - 1969 - USA Quick Summary: Comedy, sexual frustration and self-consciousness. Portnoy's Complaint is one long monologue to a therapist about different stages of his life. This could get depressing but thankfully his life is hilarious. 14. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro - 1989 - UK Quick Summary: Mostly flashbacks of a butler from the time preceding World War II, in which his master was heavily involved in appeasement. The inte...

I don't really rate bands unless they're great in concert. So I'm making a list of who I want to see in concert. Only rules are they must be still together and still touring (have had a tour in the last five years or one upcoming). Unusually, this list is in order. I'm not giving too much justification. Just one live video of the band. 15. Adele http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c753SCmy614 14. Muse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ggNOb2oFn8 13. Arcade Fire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtbrY6QrgPw 12.Mumford and Sons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsjo15AgTaU 11. The Kooks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iffz77kial4 10. Andrea Bocelli http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcrfvP11Hbo 9.The Cure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkeDzUVq1BM 8. John Mayer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJzGtzGydtQ 7.Eric Clapton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtLhPeLB9bA 6. Elton John http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EtCrHBq7Ds 5. U2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWBKBkEJQRk 4. Snow Patrol http://www...

penne con funghi/ pasta pomodoroi (variation) – Pasta with mushrooms and tomatoes pasta 1. Boil water till rolling boil 2. Throw in pack of Barilla penne pasta 3. Add salt to taste( maybe a teaspoon) 4. Add a few drops of olive oil 5. Stir occasionally 6. When pasta floats to top, give it 3 minutes 7. Remove, strain and douse with cold water. Mushrooms 1. Dice one large onion 2. Sautee in olive oil (don’t fry till it gets brown, allow some crispness to remain) with basil and oregano 3. Fry two cloves of (grated) garlic together with the onions. 4. Add in chopped mushrooms (and possibly tofu, if desired). 5. Add dried bell peppers and paprika. 6. Allow mushrooms to fry 7. Lower heat to med-low 8. Add half can of Hunt’s diced tomatoes (or dice tomatoes yourself?) 9. Add parmesan cheese (grated) to taste Finale 1. Combine pasta and mushrooms in large pot on med-low heat ...

The (potential) Impact of Real Madrid on Youth Development in Germany The success story of youth development in Germany is evident from one glance at last year’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Thomas Müller finished the tournament with five goals and three assists and was awarded the Golden Boot to go along with his Best Young Player award. Mezut Ö zil and Sami Khedira impressed enough at the World Cup to secure multimillion dollar moves to Real Madrid. They aren’t the only stories but they do stand out. Another fact that stands out is that these players are all under twenty-five. How does Real Madrid have anything to do with the German youth? Right now, there’s not that much. But Real have shown interest in Nuri Sahin and if the rumors are to be believed the deal is done. Sahin, though German born, is a Turkish international and his form has no impact on the German National Team. But he plays for current Bundesliga champions, Borussia Dortmund; who have five current German intern...

So there's this thing called the 30 day song challenge. ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/30-Day-Song-Challenge/120874111270003?sk=app_4949752878 ) . I decided to edit it up and see if it works for books. It worked somewhat with only minor slips. So I figured I'd give it a second try and see what happens. Original :day 01 - your favorite song Edited as : day 01 - your favorite poem (This isn't set, it varies a lot ) - Do not go gentle into the good night - Dylan Thomas http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-good-night/ day 02 - your least favorite song Edited as : day 02 - Your least favorite poem - The Lady of Shallot - Lord Alfred Tennyson http://charon.sfsu.edu/tennyson/tennlady.html day 03 - a song that makes you happy Edited as : day 03 - a poem that makes you happy - A Silly Poem - Spike Milligan http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-silly-poem/ day 04 - a song that makes you sad Edited as : day 04 - a poem that makes you sad - A Dream...

So I'm really a big fan of repeats, i.e. I don't care to go the save places more than once. But obviously there are exceptions. So I'm making a list of places I wouldn't mind going to again. This list is, unusually, a definitive one. It's in order and set. Hopefully I'll never go to anywhere I've ever been already for a vacation unless it's on this list. 10. New York City Why: Really? it's New York City. It isn't a go-once place. There's a lot still to see. Concert in Central Park. Poetry Slams. Eat at Le Bernadin. New Year's at Times Square. Catch a Broadway show (not a musical). Go check out the Met. Play some street basketball (and probably get owned). The list goes on and on. First Thing to do: Get down to the Brooklyn bridge and have pizza at Grimaldi's. 9. Tobago Why: Bit of a cheat because it's not a city. Technically still the same country but who says you can't have a vacation without needing a passport (if you live ...

40. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik -1991-USA Why: The start of the departure from heavy noise that characterized the band previously. Expansion of the themes too, withe 'Under the Bride' showing that RHCP could do serious songs as well as the fun stuff. Example Tracks: Suck My Kiss, Under The Bridge 39. Santana - Supernatural -1999- USA Why: It was the first album I'd heard that had a guest artist on every song. So it was like listening to a playlist. Not the best work Santana has ever done (I like the 70's and 80's stuff) but it was a creative concept that he's been carrying forward ever since. Example Tracks : Maria Maria, Smooth 38. Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West -1997 -USA Why: The best indie album of the 90's probably. Awesome overdriven guitars as a backdrop to polarizing themes of overconfidence and vulnerability; the country and the city. The worries of the disenfranchised youth is all over this album. Example Tracks: Hea...

30. The Prodigy - The Fat of the Land -1997 -USA Why: Probably the best album from The Prodigy.Heavy use of samples, which was innovate for the time, and at that time the band were the leaders in electronic/dance music. There's enough rock in it to appeal to a mass audience (of rock listeners) and that caused enough buying to send electronica mainstream. Example Tracks: Breathe, Firestarter, Smack My Bitch Up 29. Weezer -Weezer(the blue album) -1994 -USA Why: Geek rock. The only people singing about love songs that weren't thoroughly depressing in the grunge early 90's. Not that they didn't channel that heartbreak-emo vibe, they just didn't sound like they didn't. Because they had the melodic ideal. Example Tracks: Buddy Holly,Say It Ain't So 28. Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible -1994 -Wales Why: A bit of depression and anxiety, a bit of anti-right-wing totalitarianism and overall concern about the bleak state of the world. It's a work of genius ...

20. The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin -1999-USA why: Years later and the band is still getting props for it, so much that they played it in its entirety in July. basically established that lush soundscape that you associate with The Flaming Lips now. It has the twofold effect of complex music with simple lyrics so it never tries to confuse you. It's always completely listen-able. Example Tracks : Race for the Prize, Waiting for a Superman 19. Nas -Illmatic -1994- USA why: The debut and still the best Nas album. The beats are great, yeah, but Nas has the best, most brilliant lyrics and at the time was the closest thing to poetry that you got from a rap artist. Lyrical content that depicts accurately his world while being able to see it and not get sucked in. Example Tracks: Life's a Bitch, The World is Yours 18. Massive Attack - Blue Lines -1991 -England why: The first trip hop album ever. That whole electronic, dub, hip hop and soul merging could only be good. Total soul mu...

So there's this thing called the 30 day song challenge. (https://www.facebook.com/pages/30-Day-Song-Challenge/120874111270003?ref=ts#!/pages/30-Day-Song-Challenge/120874111270003?sk=app_4949752878) . And it's pretty awesome. So, me being me, I decided to edit it up and see if it works for books/poetry. Most work with only minor tweaking. Results as follows. My list, my picks. As always. I'll try to use books in front of poetry, mostly cause I expect to give poems their own list. Original :day 01 - your favorite song Edited as : day 01 - your favorite book (This isn't set, it varies a lot) - Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie day 02 - your least favorite song Edited as : day 02 - Your least favorite book - Finnegan's Wake - James Joyce day 03 - a song that makes you happy Edited as : day 03 - a book that makes you happy - Goodbye, Mr. Chips - James Hilton day 04 - a song that makes you sad Edited as : day 04 - a book that makes you sad - The Road - Corma...

In case you aren't aware, I'm a big Bruce Springsteen fan. I was wondering if I got to pick, what songs I'd like to hear at a concert. So this is that playlist Criteria: Bruce usually does about 25 songs and a 2 song encore. So that's the format of the list. Only one cover song is allowed. From The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle 1. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) From Born to Run 2. Born to Run 3. Thunder Road 4.She's The One 5.Jungleland From Darkness on The Edge of Town 6. Adam Raised a Cain 7.Racing in The Street 8. The Promised Land 9. Prove it All Night 10. Darkness on the Edge of Town From The River 11. Hungry Heart 12.The River From Nebraska 13. Nebraska 14. Johnny 99 From Born in the USA 15 I'm on Fire 16. Dancing in The Dark From The Ghost of Tom Joad 17. Youngstown 18. The Ghost Of Tom Joad From The Rising 19. The Rising 20.Waiting on a Sunny Day From Magic 21. Long Walk Home From Working on a Dream 22. Working on a Dream From The Promise...

Bucket List - A list of things to do before you die. 27 is getting a lot closer than it used to be. So just in case I take after Jimi Hendrix or Jim Morrison, time to edit the bucket list. The Travel Bucket List Idea is easy. Take a regional zone and find ten places I'd like to see before I die, or to re-visit in some cases. It's my list so I call the zones. It isn't always going to be cities, though mostly yes. For small countries I think the entire country can be considered. As in, I can't call all of Russia in one trip but I can call all of French Polynesia. I think if one spot in the country/region can be gotten to in a 2.5 hour flight or less, it counts as one trip territory eg. Czech Republic and Slovakia. And also justify(explain?) why there. Maybe pictures too. here's the easiest start because South America is closest. 5. Buenos Aires, Argentina - Argentina again, and I don't even like their football team much. 'The Paris of South Americ...