Midnight ice running came about as a necessity.
I was training at the time to go to Marine Corps OCS, something which now seems a further away dream than other somewhat preposterous goals of mine (but I intend on completing them anyway). It was the winter of 09/10, a particularly wet and snowy winter, and i still needed to run regularly to both keep in shape and keep my 3 mile run time down. Sidewalks were unreliably shoveled, and roads were too lined with snowbanks to share with cars during the day.
Now that I look back upon it, the first midnight ice run was actually before any snow came that winter. I had the idea that running in the freezing cold would toughen me up, make me stronger in ways more than running itself could. So I went out in the same kind of gear I would wear in the heat of the afternoon in summertime. The skies were clear (which at nighttime actually makes it darker) and all the stars were shining prominently. Anyways, I was freezing, not even the increased body heat of rigorous activity could keep me warm -- and then I guess about 2 miles in I noticed I tore my calf (again) and had to walk the rest of the way home, making me even colder. But the initial run high coupled with the freezing temperatures (making a nice burning sensation in the lungs each breath) and the prominent stars -- it was a magic feeling. And then as I was limping home I got pulled over by a cop, probably suspecting a dude running around in his shorts at 1am in 30 degree weather was tweaking.
Due to the injury incurred (a fatigue injury, not an accidental), that was my last run for a while, but they quickly became a fixture in that winter, for the aforementioned reasons. I adapted better to the colder running environs of nighttime, getting warmer running clothes and the like, but the mystical quality of that first one never really faded.
I was still mostly alone on those roads, no outside noises, just my thoughts and my music were with me. I could run through schools too, as there were no students upon which to trespass.
Physically, in addition to the regular benefits of regular running, midnight ice running worked more muscles in the leg (having to always be on one's toes, shifting quickly laterally, hopping and jumping around ice patches, running through and over snow patches and banks) and eyesight and mental discipline (always looking for ice patches, which can come into the field of vision at the last second, and other obstacles, most efficient routes to get around everything).
If running on a treadmill is a too perfect form of running, midnight ice running makes regular road running look like running on a track.
-- Knuttel
Showing posts with label silver surfer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label silver surfer. Show all posts
12.28.2010
Net Neutrality or Something or Other
It looks like I was planning on writing something on the "net neutrality" law that passed about a week ago, but it was like a week ago, so I'll just put up the shit ton of links i procured in preparation, then maybe write a little something.
TV's future: FCC decisions on Internet access, Comcast-NBC merger approaching
FCC set to enact new net neutrality rules
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/obama-fcc-caves-on-net-ne_b_799435.html
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/12/fcc-rule/
And so it goes...
Clearly there do need to be some rules in place. While the vast openness of the Internet is it's strength, without ANY regulation, it can quickly turn into a madhouse of spam, viruses, and unsavory material. However, favoring the companies which supply the internet itself seems to be one of the dumbest ways to go about it (an alternative though, I cannot think of). I do like the example of what will happen to Netflix, now that comcast can kill the bandwidth dealing specifically with streaming it in favor of their own on demand videos.
By giving control to the gatekeepers, they do in fact keep things under control. By giving control to the gatekeepers, they give unilateral control to the Internet providers. By giving control to the gatekeepers, an entire market is compromised and colluded. By giving control to the gatekeepers, the creativity and ingenuity of the Internet may be reduced to the trickle speed given to off-market sites.
I guess we'll see how this plays out. I don't think anyone was expecting true net neutrality in any case.
-- Knuttel
TV's future: FCC decisions on Internet access, Comcast-NBC merger approaching
FCC set to enact new net neutrality rules
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/obama-fcc-caves-on-net-ne_b_799435.html
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/12/fcc-rule/
And so it goes...
Clearly there do need to be some rules in place. While the vast openness of the Internet is it's strength, without ANY regulation, it can quickly turn into a madhouse of spam, viruses, and unsavory material. However, favoring the companies which supply the internet itself seems to be one of the dumbest ways to go about it (an alternative though, I cannot think of). I do like the example of what will happen to Netflix, now that comcast can kill the bandwidth dealing specifically with streaming it in favor of their own on demand videos.
By giving control to the gatekeepers, they do in fact keep things under control. By giving control to the gatekeepers, they give unilateral control to the Internet providers. By giving control to the gatekeepers, an entire market is compromised and colluded. By giving control to the gatekeepers, the creativity and ingenuity of the Internet may be reduced to the trickle speed given to off-market sites.
I guess we'll see how this plays out. I don't think anyone was expecting true net neutrality in any case.
-- Knuttel
9.10.2010
Sleep
So, I went to a bitchin concert Tuesday night.
Sleep has reunited for a fall 2010 tour. They broke up in 1997 after they had difficulty getting their album Dopesmoker released. It was made up of one hour long song. They tried again by cutting 8 minutes off, dividing it into sections, rewriting some of the words, and calling it Jerusalem. Both ended up being released in some way after the break up. They are mostly known for their landmark doom metal album Sleep's Holy Mountain, featuring sludgey Black Sabbath tinged riffs. After the break up, bassist/vocalist Al Cisneros and drummer Chris Hakius formed doom/tibetan chant outfit Om, and guitarist Matt Pike formed sludge metal group High on Fire. They have reunited for a few one off shows since the breakup.
Anyways, I found out about the show that morning, and decided I had to go. This was, after all, one of the two defining doom metal bands of the 90's (the other being Kyuss).
Opening was Iron Man. I was aware of this band, but not of the fact they still existed. When I first saw them on the billing, I thought it was merely a different band that had stolen the name, or some other copyright infringement of some kind. Anyways, they weren't bad. The singer reminded me of what Jack Black would be like at 50 if he had never made it as an actor.
Next on stage was A Storm of Light. They were a post-metal band from Brooklyn, so -- hipster noise metal. They were definitely the loudest on stage by volume. Interesting fact -- the band's frontman is the art/visual director for Neurosis.
Finally, what I was waiting for -- Sleep. They took the stage and just rocked the fuck out. No frills, just awesome riffage, awesome jamming, really just whole lots of awesome going all the way around. It's a unique experience going to a doom metal show, compared to other types of metal. Most metal shows would require or facilitate some form of aggression or moshing or something of that nature. Doom metal shows, on the other hand, if done right, just create a vibe, and everyone in the room is just feeling it.
This is a band that requires further listening.
-- Knuttel
Sleep has reunited for a fall 2010 tour. They broke up in 1997 after they had difficulty getting their album Dopesmoker released. It was made up of one hour long song. They tried again by cutting 8 minutes off, dividing it into sections, rewriting some of the words, and calling it Jerusalem. Both ended up being released in some way after the break up. They are mostly known for their landmark doom metal album Sleep's Holy Mountain, featuring sludgey Black Sabbath tinged riffs. After the break up, bassist/vocalist Al Cisneros and drummer Chris Hakius formed doom/tibetan chant outfit Om, and guitarist Matt Pike formed sludge metal group High on Fire. They have reunited for a few one off shows since the breakup.
Anyways, I found out about the show that morning, and decided I had to go. This was, after all, one of the two defining doom metal bands of the 90's (the other being Kyuss).
Opening was Iron Man. I was aware of this band, but not of the fact they still existed. When I first saw them on the billing, I thought it was merely a different band that had stolen the name, or some other copyright infringement of some kind. Anyways, they weren't bad. The singer reminded me of what Jack Black would be like at 50 if he had never made it as an actor.
Next on stage was A Storm of Light. They were a post-metal band from Brooklyn, so -- hipster noise metal. They were definitely the loudest on stage by volume. Interesting fact -- the band's frontman is the art/visual director for Neurosis.
Finally, what I was waiting for -- Sleep. They took the stage and just rocked the fuck out. No frills, just awesome riffage, awesome jamming, really just whole lots of awesome going all the way around. It's a unique experience going to a doom metal show, compared to other types of metal. Most metal shows would require or facilitate some form of aggression or moshing or something of that nature. Doom metal shows, on the other hand, if done right, just create a vibe, and everyone in the room is just feeling it.
This is a band that requires further listening.
-- Knuttel
9.03.2010
Taco Burgers
The taco burgers were created within a day or two of the first attempt at the salsa.
You may see, however, that this post is well after...
For that reason, even though they were a monstrous hit, I cannot give the specific recipe for the taco burgers. I can only give some key ingredients, and the background story, the inspiration.
It all began when I was watching a Totino's pizza rolls commercial, the one where they are eating the taco flavored pizza rolls, and the one kid takes a bit and exclains, "My pizza tastes like tacos!" Anyway, I took this to heart. If a faceless paste drunk/little kid food company can make one food taste like another, why can't us?
So I began with the obvious, to make one classic ground beef dish taste like another ground beef dish.
Basically I had to reconcile a few key differences. Tacos remain in ground-esque form and are placed in a tortilla of some kind. Hamburgers are formed into patties and placed inside buns.
I, therefore, had to make tacos that could be formed into patties and placed inside buns, if I in fact wanted this hamburger to taste like a taco.
To use a taco kit would be wasteful. I had no intention of using the pre-packaged tortillas, was going to make my own salsa, and would have liked more control over the seasoning process. This also eliminated the possibility of getting a packet of taco seasoning. Not to mention with the size of the event where these would be unveiled, I'd have to do some maths as far as how many and a half packets to use. Plus those things are loaded with unneeded salt (though I think I did use a fair share of salt in mine).
So there was step one. Make my own taco mix. Really, it's not so hard. Just get some chili powder, ground cayenne pepper, paprika, and perhaps most importantly, cumin (I guess those actually all are chili powders...). This is where I ran into another issue -- no chili powder in the house.
I had heard of this Mexican Grocery store near me, on Street road, in like Bensalem or something, so I go there, figuring I can find some good stuff. Digression -- This is the most dice place known to man. It is only like two aisles, YET THEY LITERALLY HAD EVERYTHING. In fact here is where I'd link their website if they had one. Anyways, I spend a lot of time browsing the store and all, and of course the store owners don't know any English, so they're trying to get me to move along, but neither of us understand each other. Really, it was kind of humorous. Anyways, I grab some bitchin' chili powder (with like a hint of lime in it, so dice), and I see in the bean section they got some re-fried black beans. At most of our gringo stores, I only ever see regular red/brown re-fried beans. Eu-fucking-reka. Black beans would make this thing just killer. The color of black beans would more closely resemble cooked beef than the brighter red/brown of other re-fried beans. I could blend this in perfectly, and those who don't notice the bean would only notice it tasting more taco-ish, those who do would appreciate the subtle touch.
I put a few other usual hamburger spices in (Worcestershire sauce, etc, you know the drill), make up the patties, and voila.
The only caveat I have is the beans may have affected their structure a little negatively. If one is not careful when flipping or moving these as they cook, they can, and will, crumble.
I have no pictures cos We ate them all.
You may see, however, that this post is well after...
For that reason, even though they were a monstrous hit, I cannot give the specific recipe for the taco burgers. I can only give some key ingredients, and the background story, the inspiration.
It all began when I was watching a Totino's pizza rolls commercial, the one where they are eating the taco flavored pizza rolls, and the one kid takes a bit and exclains, "My pizza tastes like tacos!" Anyway, I took this to heart. If a faceless paste drunk/little kid food company can make one food taste like another, why can't us?
So I began with the obvious, to make one classic ground beef dish taste like another ground beef dish.
Basically I had to reconcile a few key differences. Tacos remain in ground-esque form and are placed in a tortilla of some kind. Hamburgers are formed into patties and placed inside buns.
I, therefore, had to make tacos that could be formed into patties and placed inside buns, if I in fact wanted this hamburger to taste like a taco.
To use a taco kit would be wasteful. I had no intention of using the pre-packaged tortillas, was going to make my own salsa, and would have liked more control over the seasoning process. This also eliminated the possibility of getting a packet of taco seasoning. Not to mention with the size of the event where these would be unveiled, I'd have to do some maths as far as how many and a half packets to use. Plus those things are loaded with unneeded salt (though I think I did use a fair share of salt in mine).
So there was step one. Make my own taco mix. Really, it's not so hard. Just get some chili powder, ground cayenne pepper, paprika, and perhaps most importantly, cumin (I guess those actually all are chili powders...). This is where I ran into another issue -- no chili powder in the house.
I had heard of this Mexican Grocery store near me, on Street road, in like Bensalem or something, so I go there, figuring I can find some good stuff. Digression -- This is the most dice place known to man. It is only like two aisles, YET THEY LITERALLY HAD EVERYTHING. In fact here is where I'd link their website if they had one. Anyways, I spend a lot of time browsing the store and all, and of course the store owners don't know any English, so they're trying to get me to move along, but neither of us understand each other. Really, it was kind of humorous. Anyways, I grab some bitchin' chili powder (with like a hint of lime in it, so dice), and I see in the bean section they got some re-fried black beans. At most of our gringo stores, I only ever see regular red/brown re-fried beans. Eu-fucking-reka. Black beans would make this thing just killer. The color of black beans would more closely resemble cooked beef than the brighter red/brown of other re-fried beans. I could blend this in perfectly, and those who don't notice the bean would only notice it tasting more taco-ish, those who do would appreciate the subtle touch.
I put a few other usual hamburger spices in (Worcestershire sauce, etc, you know the drill), make up the patties, and voila.
The only caveat I have is the beans may have affected their structure a little negatively. If one is not careful when flipping or moving these as they cook, they can, and will, crumble.
I have no pictures cos We ate them all.
8.14.2010
The Knuttel attempts to make salsa
Hey, look, it's been over a month since I last posted. Whaddya know. Whatevs, working out shit and junk, guess some of it's cleared up. Some has become murkier.
Regardless, my garden has been spitting out a shitton (it's an actual measurement) of hot peppers, so I made myself a nice big batch of salsa.
Ingredients:
-Shitton Cayenne Peppers (green or red, doesn't really matter, in fact cayenne is simply a marker for the kind of peppers I've been producing)
-Pint of Jersey Tomatoes
-4 Large Bell Peppers (I used green, but etc etc)
-1 Vidalia Onion (added sweetness)
-4 - 5 cloves of garlic
-Olive oil
-2 Cans of Tomato Paste
-Lemon Juice
-Salt
-Pepper
-Powdered Cayenne Pepper
-Chili Pepper Flakes
-Chili Powder (I used this bitchin lime flavored one I got at the Mexican grocery store)
-Oregano
-Thyme
-Thai Basil
Step 1:
Roast or Broil tomatoes and all peppers (chili and bell). You can do this by placing them over a grill, but if you don't feel like setting up the grill for this short step, just pop them in the oven at a 500 degree broil. Don't worry about burning, as the skin will get peeled off, but keep turning them to make sure of an even cook. Like 5-10 minutes a side should be good.
Step 2:
Remove skins of tomatoes and peppers. The skins of these fruits often get in the way of getting a proper salsa texture, so removing them is highly recommended. To do this immediately, take fruit out of heat element and throw in a pool of ice water. Remove skins by rubbing it to get it loose and pulling away.
Step 3:
Dice peppers and onion. Pull apart tomato (this should be fairly easy without the skin). Throw in blender/food processor (though be careful not to liquefy it, you still want to be able to identify the ingredients)
Step 4:
Chop garlic and put in a pot with enough olive oil to cover the whole bottom. Throw some salt, pepper, pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and chili powder in there too. Keep it moving, cos burnt garlic tastes like ass. Put the burner on high heat.
Step 5:
Put Pepper, onion, and tomato mixture into pot. Drop heat to low. Add Tomato Paste. Cover and let simmer for x time. Keep it moving.
Step 6:
Add herbs (thyme, oregano, thai basil (thai basil has a little bit of a spicier kick to it, i think, and is slightly better suited for this kind of thing than regular sweet basil, though sweet basil should work fine)) and lemon juice. Stir.
Step 7:
Check for taste and adjust accordingly (salt, pepper, etc). Cover back up and let simmer for like half an hour or an hour or so until you get the thickness you want (tomato acts as a thickening agent, see). Keep stirring.
Step 8:
Take off heat and let cool. Put in dishes and junk. Eat.
I only have a picture of it mid-cook, so, let's just say, it's pretty damn awesome. The only thing I can think of is maybe it would work better with only 1 can of tomato paste. I dunno, I guess I can try that out later. It's got a nice little hint of citrusy, some good tomato texture, and the heat is good but not overpowering, has staying power too (like any good heat should).
Next up, the Knuttel attempts to make "taco burgers" (burgers that taste like tacos)
-- Knuttel
Regardless, my garden has been spitting out a shitton (it's an actual measurement) of hot peppers, so I made myself a nice big batch of salsa.
Ingredients:
-Shitton Cayenne Peppers (green or red, doesn't really matter, in fact cayenne is simply a marker for the kind of peppers I've been producing)
-Pint of Jersey Tomatoes
-4 Large Bell Peppers (I used green, but etc etc)
-1 Vidalia Onion (added sweetness)
-4 - 5 cloves of garlic
-Olive oil
-2 Cans of Tomato Paste
-Lemon Juice
-Salt
-Pepper
-Powdered Cayenne Pepper
-Chili Pepper Flakes
-Chili Powder (I used this bitchin lime flavored one I got at the Mexican grocery store)
-Oregano
-Thyme
-Thai Basil
Step 1:
Roast or Broil tomatoes and all peppers (chili and bell). You can do this by placing them over a grill, but if you don't feel like setting up the grill for this short step, just pop them in the oven at a 500 degree broil. Don't worry about burning, as the skin will get peeled off, but keep turning them to make sure of an even cook. Like 5-10 minutes a side should be good.
Step 2:
Remove skins of tomatoes and peppers. The skins of these fruits often get in the way of getting a proper salsa texture, so removing them is highly recommended. To do this immediately, take fruit out of heat element and throw in a pool of ice water. Remove skins by rubbing it to get it loose and pulling away.
Step 3:
Dice peppers and onion. Pull apart tomato (this should be fairly easy without the skin). Throw in blender/food processor (though be careful not to liquefy it, you still want to be able to identify the ingredients)
Step 4:
Chop garlic and put in a pot with enough olive oil to cover the whole bottom. Throw some salt, pepper, pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and chili powder in there too. Keep it moving, cos burnt garlic tastes like ass. Put the burner on high heat.
Step 5:
Put Pepper, onion, and tomato mixture into pot. Drop heat to low. Add Tomato Paste. Cover and let simmer for x time. Keep it moving.
Step 6:
Add herbs (thyme, oregano, thai basil (thai basil has a little bit of a spicier kick to it, i think, and is slightly better suited for this kind of thing than regular sweet basil, though sweet basil should work fine)) and lemon juice. Stir.
Step 7:
Check for taste and adjust accordingly (salt, pepper, etc). Cover back up and let simmer for like half an hour or an hour or so until you get the thickness you want (tomato acts as a thickening agent, see). Keep stirring.
Step 8:
Take off heat and let cool. Put in dishes and junk. Eat.
I only have a picture of it mid-cook, so, let's just say, it's pretty damn awesome. The only thing I can think of is maybe it would work better with only 1 can of tomato paste. I dunno, I guess I can try that out later. It's got a nice little hint of citrusy, some good tomato texture, and the heat is good but not overpowering, has staying power too (like any good heat should).
Next up, the Knuttel attempts to make "taco burgers" (burgers that taste like tacos)
-- Knuttel
5.27.2010
ESPN and BCS in bed
Yes, it is true. I do believe that I have written of their partnership in the past, and may have even commented on the "pro-bcs" commentary during the "national championship" as a definite downside.
But now, in what can only be called the off-season, ESPN's College Football live takes shots at bcs naysayers.
Boise State's President outright slammed the bcs in a recent statement. Attacking the notion that "every game counts", he states:
"But how do Boise State’s games count under the BCS when four of the past six years we went undefeated in the regular season, and yet never even came close to having an opportunity to compete for the national championship? How did all of those games, and all of those perfect records, count under the BCS? In fact, in two of those four undefeated regular seasons, Boise State was foreclosed from even playing in a major bowl."
The statement was also wrapped around revenue issues, showing how the Mountain West and WAC (the conference which Boise State is in) have higher TV Ratings, higher rankings, and higher game attendances than the ACC and Big East, yet the ACC and Big East receive 19 Mil in Bowl revenues yearly, The Mountain West and WAC getting 9 mil if they make the big bowls.
This made headlines on College Football live, and instead of having at least a reasonable discussion about the pros and cons of either situation (with or without the bcs), they simply take turns bashing the idea that there could be anything resembling a national champion without the bcs, and come to the conclusion that the President of Boise State must be a lunatic.
Before ESPN, and its family of networks (actually the ABC/Disney family of networks) got their hands on a big portion of the bcs pie, they never made a huge deal about the "awesomeness" that is the bcs, and how we would all be wandering nomads in the desert without its brilliance, guidance, and wisdom. Sure, they were invested in the bowl system, but it wasn't uncommon for commentators to say "hey, maybe the champion should be decided through a playoff, but hey, there's no reason we have to get rid of this great bowl system we have."
They could at least get half way there.
Now they are miles away. The only way this could seemingly get fixed is if legal action is taken. I don't want that to have to happen, because the people who won't read about how bad the bcs really is, are the people who only watch ESPN for their sports news, are the people hate government intervention of any kind (save for their welfare checks). So naturally, they will assume the bcs was given to us by God, and his prophet, Lee Corso, and the government is trying to take away all that is holy in college sports.
Come on, this isn't Europe! We don't have a series of tiered leagues, with a points system tied to relegations and promotions. We don't decide who the winner of a league is by points total at the end of the year (the NHL has the President's trophy, but the winner of that definitely does not always win the Stanley Cup). And perhaps most importantly, we don't have an over-reaching Police State watching our every move and locking us away when we say something benignly offensive to the regime.
Fuck the Queen.
See, say it along with me. It's liberating. And it's American.
Why can't there be a civil debate about how we should go about replacing the bcs (cos anyone with half a brain could tell you having the bcs would be a wrong move)?
http://news.boisestate.edu/blog/2010/05/25/statement-of-boise-state-university-president-robert-kustra-regarding-bcs-revenue-discrimination/
-- Knuttel
But now, in what can only be called the off-season, ESPN's College Football live takes shots at bcs naysayers.
Boise State's President outright slammed the bcs in a recent statement. Attacking the notion that "every game counts", he states:
"But how do Boise State’s games count under the BCS when four of the past six years we went undefeated in the regular season, and yet never even came close to having an opportunity to compete for the national championship? How did all of those games, and all of those perfect records, count under the BCS? In fact, in two of those four undefeated regular seasons, Boise State was foreclosed from even playing in a major bowl."
The statement was also wrapped around revenue issues, showing how the Mountain West and WAC (the conference which Boise State is in) have higher TV Ratings, higher rankings, and higher game attendances than the ACC and Big East, yet the ACC and Big East receive 19 Mil in Bowl revenues yearly, The Mountain West and WAC getting 9 mil if they make the big bowls.
This made headlines on College Football live, and instead of having at least a reasonable discussion about the pros and cons of either situation (with or without the bcs), they simply take turns bashing the idea that there could be anything resembling a national champion without the bcs, and come to the conclusion that the President of Boise State must be a lunatic.
Before ESPN, and its family of networks (actually the ABC/Disney family of networks) got their hands on a big portion of the bcs pie, they never made a huge deal about the "awesomeness" that is the bcs, and how we would all be wandering nomads in the desert without its brilliance, guidance, and wisdom. Sure, they were invested in the bowl system, but it wasn't uncommon for commentators to say "hey, maybe the champion should be decided through a playoff, but hey, there's no reason we have to get rid of this great bowl system we have."
They could at least get half way there.
Now they are miles away. The only way this could seemingly get fixed is if legal action is taken. I don't want that to have to happen, because the people who won't read about how bad the bcs really is, are the people who only watch ESPN for their sports news, are the people hate government intervention of any kind (save for their welfare checks). So naturally, they will assume the bcs was given to us by God, and his prophet, Lee Corso, and the government is trying to take away all that is holy in college sports.
Come on, this isn't Europe! We don't have a series of tiered leagues, with a points system tied to relegations and promotions. We don't decide who the winner of a league is by points total at the end of the year (the NHL has the President's trophy, but the winner of that definitely does not always win the Stanley Cup). And perhaps most importantly, we don't have an over-reaching Police State watching our every move and locking us away when we say something benignly offensive to the regime.
Fuck the Queen.
See, say it along with me. It's liberating. And it's American.
Why can't there be a civil debate about how we should go about replacing the bcs (cos anyone with half a brain could tell you having the bcs would be a wrong move)?
http://news.boisestate.edu/blog/2010/05/25/statement-of-boise-state-university-president-robert-kustra-regarding-bcs-revenue-discrimination/
-- Knuttel
3.27.2010
Champions League Quarter Preview
Now, let's take a break from the NCAA March Madness tournament, as march is winding down. I bring to you, from the other side of the ocean, SOCCER -- specifically the Champions League.
Champions League is like their equivalent to Major League Baseball -- it has the best teams from one region (MLB - North America, CL - Europe) from one sport (MLB - baseball, CL - soccer), all from different countries (MLB - USA, Canada, the south; CL - France, Italy, England, Spain, Germany, Russia, etc).
And now for my completely unbiased preview of upcoming Champions League play
Shit yeah, motherfucker
Anyways.
The games are played in pairs - one home and one away for each team. Winning both games guarantees advancing. If both games tie or end with one win/one loss, then goals are added up. The team with more goals advances. If that doesn't do the trick, then away goals count for more, and the team that scored more away advances. IF that doesn't declare a winner, then they play overtime or something in the last game.
Matchups are as follows:
Olympique Lyon vs Bordeuax
Bayern Munich vs Manchester United
Arsenal vs Barcelona
Internazionale Milan vs CSKA Moscow
Naturally, we all know Lyon is going to advance like a truck (a renault truck?) past oblivious Bordeaux. That's a given. What's not given, though, is why UEFA (the european soccer FIFA or whatever) decided to pit these two against eachother. Clearly UEFA is afraid of the dominance that is Ligue 1, and they are scared of France dominating the world of soccer, much like Zinedine Zidane dominated the belly of Marco Materazzi. By pairing these two teams against eachother, UEFA doesn't have to worry about 2 French teams being left in the semi-finals, and then 2 French teams facing off for the title. This way, they can nip it in the bud, deal with one at a time, divide and conquer.
I'm onto your games UEFA.
Bayern Munich vs Manchester United
This would be interesting if it were FC Shalke 04 vs Manchester City, but alas we're given these two teams instead. And it's not like they even have all their awesome players -- Ollie Khan, Lothar Matthaus, Christiano Ronaldo, George Best -- ALL GONE. All moved to the greener pastures of other, better, teams or retirement; or in the case of George Best, the green beneath him is simply his own vomit.
Arsenal vs Barcelona
Arsenal is an interesting story in that despite having the only undefeated team in the modern history of the English Premier League, they managed to remain completely irrelevant. This is also in addition to the fact that they are essentially London's team (yeah, I know London has like 20 teams, but only Chelsea recently actually plays dece). Yep. Irrelavent despite being from the capital city of the country who claims to have invented the sport (though to be fair, I think the English would claim invention of the potato if you gave them the chance). But alas I stray, point being, best player on that undefeated team is currently on Barcelona, who happen to be reigning Champions League Champions (sounds a bit redundent, hey I know, Europe isn't really known for refinement and culture). This best player (from Arsenal, he's probably not the best on Barcelona, at least not at this point in time) -- Thierry Henry, longtime legend of French soccer, who gloriously single handedly defeated Ireland to qualify France for the 2010 World Cup. Just saying.
Internazionale vs Moscow
The other team from Milan, the team that manages to not be more Evil than AC Milan (by holding scum like Marco Materazzi on the roster) faces down this years eastern europe cinderella story (fuck, I thought this was soccer, not basketball). Personally, I was looking forward to a Turkish team holding that title this year, or maybe even Olympiakos from Greece. Sparta Praha also would've been pretty dice, but they just haven't been the same since the fall of the Soviet Union. Anyways, of all the games, this is probably the one I am least likely to watch.
Predictions are for suckers and psychics (read:suckers)
-- Knuttel
Champions League is like their equivalent to Major League Baseball -- it has the best teams from one region (MLB - North America, CL - Europe) from one sport (MLB - baseball, CL - soccer), all from different countries (MLB - USA, Canada, the south; CL - France, Italy, England, Spain, Germany, Russia, etc).
And now for my completely unbiased preview of upcoming Champions League play
Shit yeah, motherfucker
Anyways.
The games are played in pairs - one home and one away for each team. Winning both games guarantees advancing. If both games tie or end with one win/one loss, then goals are added up. The team with more goals advances. If that doesn't do the trick, then away goals count for more, and the team that scored more away advances. IF that doesn't declare a winner, then they play overtime or something in the last game.
Matchups are as follows:
Olympique Lyon vs Bordeuax
Bayern Munich vs Manchester United
Arsenal vs Barcelona
Internazionale Milan vs CSKA Moscow
Naturally, we all know Lyon is going to advance like a truck (a renault truck?) past oblivious Bordeaux. That's a given. What's not given, though, is why UEFA (the european soccer FIFA or whatever) decided to pit these two against eachother. Clearly UEFA is afraid of the dominance that is Ligue 1, and they are scared of France dominating the world of soccer, much like Zinedine Zidane dominated the belly of Marco Materazzi. By pairing these two teams against eachother, UEFA doesn't have to worry about 2 French teams being left in the semi-finals, and then 2 French teams facing off for the title. This way, they can nip it in the bud, deal with one at a time, divide and conquer.
I'm onto your games UEFA.
Bayern Munich vs Manchester United
This would be interesting if it were FC Shalke 04 vs Manchester City, but alas we're given these two teams instead. And it's not like they even have all their awesome players -- Ollie Khan, Lothar Matthaus, Christiano Ronaldo, George Best -- ALL GONE. All moved to the greener pastures of other, better, teams or retirement; or in the case of George Best, the green beneath him is simply his own vomit.
Arsenal vs Barcelona
Arsenal is an interesting story in that despite having the only undefeated team in the modern history of the English Premier League, they managed to remain completely irrelevant. This is also in addition to the fact that they are essentially London's team (yeah, I know London has like 20 teams, but only Chelsea recently actually plays dece). Yep. Irrelavent despite being from the capital city of the country who claims to have invented the sport (though to be fair, I think the English would claim invention of the potato if you gave them the chance). But alas I stray, point being, best player on that undefeated team is currently on Barcelona, who happen to be reigning Champions League Champions (sounds a bit redundent, hey I know, Europe isn't really known for refinement and culture). This best player (from Arsenal, he's probably not the best on Barcelona, at least not at this point in time) -- Thierry Henry, longtime legend of French soccer, who gloriously single handedly defeated Ireland to qualify France for the 2010 World Cup. Just saying.
Internazionale vs Moscow
The other team from Milan, the team that manages to not be more Evil than AC Milan (by holding scum like Marco Materazzi on the roster) faces down this years eastern europe cinderella story (fuck, I thought this was soccer, not basketball). Personally, I was looking forward to a Turkish team holding that title this year, or maybe even Olympiakos from Greece. Sparta Praha also would've been pretty dice, but they just haven't been the same since the fall of the Soviet Union. Anyways, of all the games, this is probably the one I am least likely to watch.
Predictions are for suckers and psychics (read:suckers)
-- Knuttel
3.12.2010
13
Subtitled: my own trek, or, the king's highway
or even simply, the 13s (thirteens). grammar's such a fickle thing anyway.
So there it lay, most of one of my recent travels. This particular travel took me into Center City, and the next day into the furthest reaches of what I would consider suburbia. My launching location to each of these being in the heart of suburbia, Levittown. In order to make the trip appear as a single line, i had to approximate around the launch/center point. Besides, why would I be so stupid as to reveal my actual address to the interwebz so willy nilly?
The purpose of this is of no importance to the casual reader as well, let's just call it a wild goose chase. If you know, well you know, and if you don't, well whatevs.
Let's just call this a juxtaposition piece. One minute I am in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia; I board the el (which is at this juncture, de-elevated, that is to say, underground), about 5-10 minutes later I am above ground (elevated, finally) and travelling through North and North East Philadelphia to arrive at the Frankford Transportation Center I guess about 15 minutes after that. The rest is all driving down Frankford Ave/Bristol Pike (route 13), and later on, down 213 and 413 to reach Richboro, a bucolic and open outer suburb.
It's just an interesting experience, watching the buildings and concrete slowly peel away for trees and grass.
That being said, I, Knuttel, am decreeing the border of North East and Far North East Philadelphia not to be Cottman Ave, but rather to be Pennypack creek. And while I'm on it, why can't the city's main source of public transportation, and really the only one (not counting the slow and overpriced regional rail) capable of launching one far distances, reach even Cottman Ave? It falls around 20 blocks short of it!! Academy and Grant, fine, whatevs, they're kinda far out from Center City, but Cottman is a major Philadelphia road, and it is not easily accessed by the incredibly under built civic transportation structure of the nation's fifth largest metropolitan area. To put this in contrast, the other end of the Market/Frankford line actually ends outside the city limits.
Alas, I digress.
The border shall be set at Pennypack because it actually does act as a border. Cottman attracts growth both ways towards it. After Pennypack, there really isn't that much of a difference in the outlay of the land until maybe as far as Croydon, at least through most of Bensalem. In fact, the border between Philadelphia and Bucks County can pass you by if you don't pay attention to it, and before you know it, the road you're on is no longer Frankford ave, but Bristol Pike.
Once one arrives in Levittown "proper" (simply to differentiate from Croydon), it is painfully obvious one is in the suburbs. This is also on purpose, it was John Levitt's plan all along. It has the side effect of halting the city merger of Trenton to Philadelphia, as Trenton's growth southward doesn't extend so much in it's own state, but rather across the river and into Morrisville. As Levittown is much smaller than it once was, population-wise, this actually turns into a benefit, as Levittown merely looks like a suburban wasteland, rather than an industrial one.
Heading back out again, things are mostly similar until one reaches the area of the Oxford Valley mall and the highways that surround it. It really is funny how things change on the other side of the tracks (in this case, actual tracks from the R3 line, as well as highways I-95 and Route 1).
Once the line is breached, gray gives way to green (and given time of year, that is kinda significant, as trees aren't in bloom yet). First one must go through Langhorne, which always felt a little strange to me. It just seems a little too developed to be that heavily forested. Anyways, getting past that, things really open up.
I dunno, maybe it's just a little hard to express, but imagine within an hour going from claustrophobic skycraping city to wide open fields. It plays with your senses a little bit, that's for certain.
and now for music.
isn't this the goal?
-- Knuttel
or even simply, the 13s (thirteens). grammar's such a fickle thing anyway.
So there it lay, most of one of my recent travels. This particular travel took me into Center City, and the next day into the furthest reaches of what I would consider suburbia. My launching location to each of these being in the heart of suburbia, Levittown. In order to make the trip appear as a single line, i had to approximate around the launch/center point. Besides, why would I be so stupid as to reveal my actual address to the interwebz so willy nilly?
The purpose of this is of no importance to the casual reader as well, let's just call it a wild goose chase. If you know, well you know, and if you don't, well whatevs.
Let's just call this a juxtaposition piece. One minute I am in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia; I board the el (which is at this juncture, de-elevated, that is to say, underground), about 5-10 minutes later I am above ground (elevated, finally) and travelling through North and North East Philadelphia to arrive at the Frankford Transportation Center I guess about 15 minutes after that. The rest is all driving down Frankford Ave/Bristol Pike (route 13), and later on, down 213 and 413 to reach Richboro, a bucolic and open outer suburb.
It's just an interesting experience, watching the buildings and concrete slowly peel away for trees and grass.
That being said, I, Knuttel, am decreeing the border of North East and Far North East Philadelphia not to be Cottman Ave, but rather to be Pennypack creek. And while I'm on it, why can't the city's main source of public transportation, and really the only one (not counting the slow and overpriced regional rail) capable of launching one far distances, reach even Cottman Ave? It falls around 20 blocks short of it!! Academy and Grant, fine, whatevs, they're kinda far out from Center City, but Cottman is a major Philadelphia road, and it is not easily accessed by the incredibly under built civic transportation structure of the nation's fifth largest metropolitan area. To put this in contrast, the other end of the Market/Frankford line actually ends outside the city limits.
Alas, I digress.
The border shall be set at Pennypack because it actually does act as a border. Cottman attracts growth both ways towards it. After Pennypack, there really isn't that much of a difference in the outlay of the land until maybe as far as Croydon, at least through most of Bensalem. In fact, the border between Philadelphia and Bucks County can pass you by if you don't pay attention to it, and before you know it, the road you're on is no longer Frankford ave, but Bristol Pike.
Once one arrives in Levittown "proper" (simply to differentiate from Croydon), it is painfully obvious one is in the suburbs. This is also on purpose, it was John Levitt's plan all along. It has the side effect of halting the city merger of Trenton to Philadelphia, as Trenton's growth southward doesn't extend so much in it's own state, but rather across the river and into Morrisville. As Levittown is much smaller than it once was, population-wise, this actually turns into a benefit, as Levittown merely looks like a suburban wasteland, rather than an industrial one.
Heading back out again, things are mostly similar until one reaches the area of the Oxford Valley mall and the highways that surround it. It really is funny how things change on the other side of the tracks (in this case, actual tracks from the R3 line, as well as highways I-95 and Route 1).
Once the line is breached, gray gives way to green (and given time of year, that is kinda significant, as trees aren't in bloom yet). First one must go through Langhorne, which always felt a little strange to me. It just seems a little too developed to be that heavily forested. Anyways, getting past that, things really open up.
I dunno, maybe it's just a little hard to express, but imagine within an hour going from claustrophobic skycraping city to wide open fields. It plays with your senses a little bit, that's for certain.
and now for music.
isn't this the goal?
-- Knuttel
3.08.2010
Film: The Final Frontier
So I recently took it upon myself to watch the first six "Star Trek" movies, you know the ones that starred the cast from TOS (the original series). Seven featured Kirk, and maybe a few others, but that was a handoff, largely dominated by the cast of TNG (the next generation).
god that sounds nerdy.
Moving on.
I skipped 1 cos it sucks. Oh noes, an alien probe?! Oh wait, the V'ger is really the Voyager space probe? Let me mind meld with it! Expendable captain, please sacrifice yourself for it.
Moving on.
Star Trek 2 is awesome. The Wrath Of Khan is basically a pirate movie in space, and is such an awesome movie, it should have legitimately been considered for many "real" awards, but alas it was both a sequel and sci fi. Plus, who could say no to Ricardo Montalban? One of the greatest lines in all of moviedom (well actually one, followed by the other.) Must see.
Classic.
Star Trek 3. There's not much to love, but there's also not much to hate. Oh wait, where did Kirstey Alley go? Irrelevant. Cheeseburger habits are demanding on the paycheck. Anyways, who knew Christopher Lloyd would get his break as a Klingon? FUN FACT: Christopher Lloyd's character in The Search For Spock has the same name as his character from Santa Buddies (so no, it's not a nod to A Christmas Carol (Kruge and Cruge), it's a nod to Star Trek).
Star Trek 4. Widely regarded as the Star Trek non-Star Trek fans like, it's ok. It also serves as one of the cornerstones of my knowledge of aquatic life, along with Free Willie, Jaws, and Moby Dick. The plot mainly revolves around stealing whales from the mom from "Seventh Heaven". Oh, I should mention they travelled back in time for this to happen, to San Francisco of the 1980s. Highlights include Scotty talking into a computer mouse and Chekov asking for "nuclear wessels". The funniest part is The Journey Home is really a reworking of Star Trek 1, in the larger general plot (unknown space probe travels through the galaxy and destroys a bunch of stuff, except this time it sounds like its trying to communicate with whales). To top it off, the overt political message about whale hunting comes off as tacked on. Whatevs, gotta nuke something.
Star Trek 5. For what it's worth, it's not awful. It basically is everything you'd expect Star Trek to be. Crazy Prophet takes over the Enterprise, turns out to be Spock's half brother, and wants to go to the center of the galaxy to find god.
I wish I was making that up. All things said, The Final Frontier was about as good as it could be, especially with Shatner directing it.
Star Trek 6. A whodunit in space, with waaaaaaay too much Shakespeare, for space. You mean you've never read Hamlet in its original Klignon? Also, it turns out it was the slutty one from "sex and the city" who ruined everything for everyone. Highlights include seeing Christopher Plummer and the dad from "that 70s show" as Klignons. Also the Undiscovered Country doesn't actually exist. It's just a mediocre metaphor for the future. The only highlight is a scene where Shatner fights a shapeshifter who shifted into Shatner. Shatner fighting Shatner. It's almost as good as Shatner fighting the Gorn in "The Arena".
So yeah. Not a waste of time. Just watch 2, 3, and 4 (which happen directly consecutively, and thus kinda make up a trilogy, though 5 happens not long after that.....). I recommend avoiding 1 and 6 at all costs though.
-- Knuttel
maybe later I'll do 7-10. 8 is the only one I can really say if it's good or not (and it's awesome, perhaps better than 2). Why did they never make a movie with the DS9 cast? Whatevs.
god that sounds nerdy.
Moving on.
I skipped 1 cos it sucks. Oh noes, an alien probe?! Oh wait, the V'ger is really the Voyager space probe? Let me mind meld with it! Expendable captain, please sacrifice yourself for it.
Moving on.
Star Trek 2 is awesome. The Wrath Of Khan is basically a pirate movie in space, and is such an awesome movie, it should have legitimately been considered for many "real" awards, but alas it was both a sequel and sci fi. Plus, who could say no to Ricardo Montalban? One of the greatest lines in all of moviedom (well actually one, followed by the other.) Must see.
Classic.
Star Trek 3. There's not much to love, but there's also not much to hate. Oh wait, where did Kirstey Alley go? Irrelevant. Cheeseburger habits are demanding on the paycheck. Anyways, who knew Christopher Lloyd would get his break as a Klingon? FUN FACT: Christopher Lloyd's character in The Search For Spock has the same name as his character from Santa Buddies (so no, it's not a nod to A Christmas Carol (Kruge and Cruge), it's a nod to Star Trek).
Star Trek 4. Widely regarded as the Star Trek non-Star Trek fans like, it's ok. It also serves as one of the cornerstones of my knowledge of aquatic life, along with Free Willie, Jaws, and Moby Dick. The plot mainly revolves around stealing whales from the mom from "Seventh Heaven". Oh, I should mention they travelled back in time for this to happen, to San Francisco of the 1980s. Highlights include Scotty talking into a computer mouse and Chekov asking for "nuclear wessels". The funniest part is The Journey Home is really a reworking of Star Trek 1, in the larger general plot (unknown space probe travels through the galaxy and destroys a bunch of stuff, except this time it sounds like its trying to communicate with whales). To top it off, the overt political message about whale hunting comes off as tacked on. Whatevs, gotta nuke something.
Star Trek 5. For what it's worth, it's not awful. It basically is everything you'd expect Star Trek to be. Crazy Prophet takes over the Enterprise, turns out to be Spock's half brother, and wants to go to the center of the galaxy to find god.
I wish I was making that up. All things said, The Final Frontier was about as good as it could be, especially with Shatner directing it.
Star Trek 6. A whodunit in space, with waaaaaaay too much Shakespeare, for space. You mean you've never read Hamlet in its original Klignon? Also, it turns out it was the slutty one from "sex and the city" who ruined everything for everyone. Highlights include seeing Christopher Plummer and the dad from "that 70s show" as Klignons. Also the Undiscovered Country doesn't actually exist. It's just a mediocre metaphor for the future. The only highlight is a scene where Shatner fights a shapeshifter who shifted into Shatner. Shatner fighting Shatner. It's almost as good as Shatner fighting the Gorn in "The Arena".
So yeah. Not a waste of time. Just watch 2, 3, and 4 (which happen directly consecutively, and thus kinda make up a trilogy, though 5 happens not long after that.....). I recommend avoiding 1 and 6 at all costs though.
-- Knuttel
maybe later I'll do 7-10. 8 is the only one I can really say if it's good or not (and it's awesome, perhaps better than 2). Why did they never make a movie with the DS9 cast? Whatevs.
1.10.2010
Non-Knuttel Poetry Time!!
This unit of time's entry is brought to us by Mastodon (under the presumptive influence of it's drummer, Brann Dailor)
Oblivion -- from Crack the Skye
I flew beyond the sun before it was time
burning all the gold that held me inside my shell
waiting for you to pull me back in
i almost had the world in my sight
lost love . bright eyes, fading . faster than stars falling
how can I tell you that I failed?
Falling from grace cause I've been away too long
leaving you behind with my lonesome song
now I'm lost in oblivion
I tried to burrow a hole into the ground
breaking all the fingers and the nails from my hand
the eyes of a child see no wrong
ignorant bliss, impending doom
Lost love . bright eyes, fading . faster than stars falling
how can I tell you that I failed?
Falling from grace cause I've been away too long
leaving you behind with my lonesome song
now I'm lost in
falling from grace cause I've been away too long
leaving you behind with my lonesome song
now I'm lost in oblivion
and now the video for reference
enjoy the three part harmonies as well
-- Knuttel
Oblivion -- from Crack the Skye
I flew beyond the sun before it was time
burning all the gold that held me inside my shell
waiting for you to pull me back in
i almost had the world in my sight
lost love . bright eyes, fading . faster than stars falling
how can I tell you that I failed?
Falling from grace cause I've been away too long
leaving you behind with my lonesome song
now I'm lost in oblivion
I tried to burrow a hole into the ground
breaking all the fingers and the nails from my hand
the eyes of a child see no wrong
ignorant bliss, impending doom
Lost love . bright eyes, fading . faster than stars falling
how can I tell you that I failed?
Falling from grace cause I've been away too long
leaving you behind with my lonesome song
now I'm lost in
falling from grace cause I've been away too long
leaving you behind with my lonesome song
now I'm lost in oblivion
and now the video for reference
enjoy the three part harmonies as well
-- Knuttel
11.29.2009
Knuttel poetry break
So for some incredibly inexplicable reason I decided to pick poetry back up. I know, I know, poetry goes on the other blog, but whatevs, that one's obsolete, forever tied to an obsolete email address (my psu account).
I never really was a fan of editing poetry, so here's the night's first attempt.
working title -- wrapped and bound (it really, really is a working title)
Upon the streets
I walk
Into the darkness
Until we meet
I sulk
Inside this sweetness
And when the day comes, forever madness
Fates have been judged by all we haven’t done
The setting sun
It sinks
Into its ashes
The rising moon
Shall glow
Inside the hollow
The hollow of the hallowed night is right
It burns inside our empty chambers now
We cannot be filled
We cannot be filled
The heavy are slow
The full cannot move
-- Knuttel
and for some real amusement, space cowboy
soon should be a post on the current state of college football
I never really was a fan of editing poetry, so here's the night's first attempt.
working title -- wrapped and bound (it really, really is a working title)
Upon the streets
I walk
Into the darkness
Until we meet
I sulk
Inside this sweetness
And when the day comes, forever madness
Fates have been judged by all we haven’t done
The setting sun
It sinks
Into its ashes
The rising moon
Shall glow
Inside the hollow
The hollow of the hallowed night is right
It burns inside our empty chambers now
We cannot be filled
We cannot be filled
The heavy are slow
The full cannot move
-- Knuttel
and for some real amusement, space cowboy
soon should be a post on the current state of college football
5.27.2009
The Starship has left earth
Jefferson Starship is the image of washed up and datedness.
I recently had the "pleasure" of seeing them play a free show at the AC boardwalk. Thank god it was free.
Only one member remains from when the band was called "Jefferson Airplane" and only one other is from the original Jefferson Starship days of the mid-70s. Grace Slick apparently retired sometime around the late 80s, early 90s; leaving arguably the most identifiable member of the group out (especially to those who are not hardcore followers). In her stead, a washed up blues singer has filled the space. Her claim to fame thus far is playing Janis Joplin in a musical biography of the singer. Writer's note: She was born in 1969, according to wikipedia, meaning she was hardly even conscious for all of this stuff. The lead guitarist looked like a 60 year old sonic the hedgehog, at least the haircut. He's only been with the band since the mid 90s. Same goes for the keyboardist (who also plays bass synth, replacing the awesome need of having an actual bassist on stage, for shame). The drummer has been with the band maybe a year or two.
Maybe the show wouldn't have been so bad if they weren't so insistant on playing new material, including a folk song about Barrack Obama (San Francisco Liberals haven't done any of those yet, have they?")
Did black cargo pants come back in style? Were they ever in style?
Is Jefferson Starship the soundtrack to the daily life of a casino security guard?
How many packs of cigarettes can the lone original member smoke within a set/show?
Has the old starship member ever gotten off his seemingly decade long acid trip?
If they're anarchists then why do they support Barrack Obama, not only one in favor of institutions, but of creating new ones and making existing ones larger?
Are people still oblivious to the fact that "White Rabbit" is about drugs?
Why did the chick singer keep playing "solo" stuff?
Why didn't they play "we built this city (on rock and roll)"?
Much like the number of licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop (3), the world may never know the answers to these questions.
-- Knuttel
I recently had the "pleasure" of seeing them play a free show at the AC boardwalk. Thank god it was free.
Only one member remains from when the band was called "Jefferson Airplane" and only one other is from the original Jefferson Starship days of the mid-70s. Grace Slick apparently retired sometime around the late 80s, early 90s; leaving arguably the most identifiable member of the group out (especially to those who are not hardcore followers). In her stead, a washed up blues singer has filled the space. Her claim to fame thus far is playing Janis Joplin in a musical biography of the singer. Writer's note: She was born in 1969, according to wikipedia, meaning she was hardly even conscious for all of this stuff. The lead guitarist looked like a 60 year old sonic the hedgehog, at least the haircut. He's only been with the band since the mid 90s. Same goes for the keyboardist (who also plays bass synth, replacing the awesome need of having an actual bassist on stage, for shame). The drummer has been with the band maybe a year or two.
Maybe the show wouldn't have been so bad if they weren't so insistant on playing new material, including a folk song about Barrack Obama (San Francisco Liberals haven't done any of those yet, have they?")
Did black cargo pants come back in style? Were they ever in style?
Is Jefferson Starship the soundtrack to the daily life of a casino security guard?
How many packs of cigarettes can the lone original member smoke within a set/show?
Has the old starship member ever gotten off his seemingly decade long acid trip?
If they're anarchists then why do they support Barrack Obama, not only one in favor of institutions, but of creating new ones and making existing ones larger?
Are people still oblivious to the fact that "White Rabbit" is about drugs?
Why did the chick singer keep playing "solo" stuff?
Why didn't they play "we built this city (on rock and roll)"?
Much like the number of licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop (3), the world may never know the answers to these questions.
-- Knuttel
2.11.2009
Breaking News: Coldplay Sucks More Than We Thought
Apparently Coldplay doesn't even bother to write it's own hit singles anymore.
Yes, that's right, the horribly anti-climactic "Viva la Vida" has been plagiarized from a work done by the great Joe Satriani.
Yes, the Joe Satriani.
While his music has never been very popular in anything remotely mainstream, he has long been a favorite of many musicians, rooted in solid fundamentals and ridiculously technical performances.
He has also been the teacher to just about every relevant guitarist of the past 25 years.
-Kirk Hammet (Metallica)
-Larry "Ler" LaLonde (Primus)
-Steve Vai (solo, David Lee Roth, Frank Zappa)
-Marty Friedman (Megadeth)
-Alex Skolnick (Testament)
-Kevin Cadogan (3rd Eye Blind)
-Rick Hunolt (Exodus)
Plus, he pretty much thinks he's the Silver Surfer; therefore his awesomeness should not be questioned.
The track that Coldplay stole is off Satriani's 2004 Album, Is There Love in Space?, and is called "If I Could Fly".
It's not really enough that they stole one part of the song, which is often passable. They stole the progression and lead from both the verse and the chorus. Just replace Satch's guitar with Chris Martin's whiny vocals.
I could go on and on and on about this, but I'll just show the evidence instead.
Fuck You, Chris Martin
Stop Killing Music
-- Knuttel
Yes, that's right, the horribly anti-climactic "Viva la Vida" has been plagiarized from a work done by the great Joe Satriani.
Yes, the Joe Satriani.
While his music has never been very popular in anything remotely mainstream, he has long been a favorite of many musicians, rooted in solid fundamentals and ridiculously technical performances.
He has also been the teacher to just about every relevant guitarist of the past 25 years.
-Kirk Hammet (Metallica)
-Larry "Ler" LaLonde (Primus)
-Steve Vai (solo, David Lee Roth, Frank Zappa)
-Marty Friedman (Megadeth)
-Alex Skolnick (Testament)
-Kevin Cadogan (3rd Eye Blind)
-Rick Hunolt (Exodus)
Plus, he pretty much thinks he's the Silver Surfer; therefore his awesomeness should not be questioned.
The track that Coldplay stole is off Satriani's 2004 Album, Is There Love in Space?, and is called "If I Could Fly".
It's not really enough that they stole one part of the song, which is often passable. They stole the progression and lead from both the verse and the chorus. Just replace Satch's guitar with Chris Martin's whiny vocals.
I could go on and on and on about this, but I'll just show the evidence instead.
Fuck You, Chris Martin
Stop Killing Music
-- Knuttel
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