Overheard

Woman at BBQ: So then he came over and was like, 'dont go anywhere yet we need a double penetration picture'.

10 More Months - and then who knows what the hell is going to happen.

10 more months (32 weeks of class) and then I will be donezo with school! Ugg I can't wait. What I am even more excited about is moving. Finally having an apartment that I can decorate again. I have so much crap I would love to put up on the walls of the hotel but it is not allowed unfortunately- so a lot of it is in storage. Plus, moving forces you to really decide whether or not you want to keep something. I actually enjoying going through my stuff, taking inventory and deciding whether or not its worth packing. I usually feel accomplished tht I can load must of my belongs into a 93 Chrysler Concorde. Speaking of which what will become of Victoria this time next year (yes my car has a name). I can always give her to my brother if I decide move out of state.
I really wonder where the heck I will be one year from now. Will I have a job? Will I be happy with my options? Should be interesting.
Oh well, there is a bunch of time between now and then I am going to focus on enjoying what I have here and now. Two more weeks and then I move back into my apartment and then one more week until I start training. Let the games begin.

Overheard at USC and George Carlin

So I am stealing this from the "Overheard" websites.
Staff member after observing a lost student in the hall way."International student looking for the International Student Office. The unibrow is a dead giveaway.

Speaking of things overheard at USC. George Carlin's first ever HBO special was at USC. It was the first of a record 14 HBO specials. Along with his predecessor Lenny Bruce, and contemporary Richard Pryor, Carlin greatly influenced the comedy landscaped. He managed to be popular culture and counter culture all at the same time. An unbelievable comedian who could find the absurdity and contradictions in any little thing. We willmiss George for his insight and his humor. My biggest regret is that last year he performed in LA and I told myself "I'll catch him next time". I'm an idiot, and the great thing is I am sure Mr. Carlin would have agreed. Even better he probably would have considered me an ignorant asshole. "Kid with all the drugs and heart surgeries I have been through your ass better get those tickets now," he would have said. He would have been right too, as George so often was.

The very existence of flame throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done. - George Carlin

My grandfather would say: "I'm going upstairs to fuck your grandmother". He was an honest man, and he wasn't going to bullshit a four-year-old. - George Carlin

Jamie Lidell

Look out for Jamie Lidell. He probably wont be a huge hit in the U.S. but expect some catchy songs over the next few years.

Yay! Cookie Monster and a rebuttal...

The Cookie Monster just appeared on The Colbert Report. I feel like a little kid again! Cookie, cookie, cookie!!!

Also to you nat sayers who say, "nay you can't declare the start of summer based on temperature. Summer starts June 21st". I say this is America and I can say summer starts when it gets too hot. If you dont like it you can go back to Russia you big communists. No calendar is going to tell me when summer starts. Oh, and by the way, I just moved Christmas to August - take that!

I Love L.A. (just not the fans)

So last night the Boston Celtics dominated and, quite frankly, embarrassed the Los Angeles Lakers. But it wasn't just the Celtics players who dominated their L.A. counterparts. The Boston fans put L.A. fans to shame. During the three games in L.A. the L.A. media criticized the fans for not being passonate or vocal enough. They sat on their hands in game 3 and then just watched the Lakers lose a 20 point lead in the second half without making hardly a noise. Even though I was rooting for the Celtics I didnt want to believe it. LA fans have always gotten that wrap. They aren't passionate enough. They show up late and leave early. They go to the game to be seen, not to watch the game. The last crisiticism is especially directed at Laker fans and many believe it is the reason for the blackout policy at the Staples center. The lights on the crowd are darkened during games in order to discourage fans from texting and using their cell phones.
Well I didnt want to believe it. But when you compare the crowd from last night in Boston to any L.A. fans during that three game stretch, well, thee simply is no comparison. Boston fans are better. First, more Boston fans were dressed in the home teams gear. Second, the Boston fans were in the game the ENTIRE time. Rising to their feet, chanting "defense", "MVP", and "Beat LA". But those things are routine. Any fans can do that. LA fans chant "MVP" for Kobe. they call out "defense" and they respond to "Beat LA" with "Boston Sucks". What seperates Boston, and most other fans, from LA fans (note I am not just talking about the Laker fans) is creativity.
I dont think I have heard a creative chant at an LA sporting event since... well... errr... ever! Seriously. I cant think of one. On the other hand Other fans know how to get under the skin of opposing fans and players - but in a cool and creative way. For example, Last night late in the 3rd quarter Kobe went to the foul line. Spontaneously the crowd at the Garden erupted in a "Your Not Jordan" chant. Pure genuis. I couldnt believe it. What a great way to get into the guys head. Was it a crude chant? No. Was it rude. Not really. It was just a clever way of reminding Kobe that he is not Michael Jordan (as if being down 30 points wasnt reminder enough). Think that was enough? Nope. At the start of the fourth quarter Kobe sat on the bench. Guess who noticed? Boston fans. "Where is Kobe"? The asked in unision filling the arena with their noise. It was nuts. The line works on two levels. First it is a taunting gesture, "where is Kobe I thought he was a competitor - why is he not playing?" wink wink nudge nudge. On the flip side it was a clear insult to Bryant's very normal and average performance in the Finals. "Where is Kobe"? Getting shut down by the Celtics D could have been a good answer.
Point being Boston fans, Chicago fans, New York fans they know how to get down and nasty in a very cerebral taunting way. LA fans - well we just chat "'Insert Name Here' sucks". Its true. Or some drunk a-hole will throw something. Those are the typical responses.
Its a shame it is. But it is the reputation LA fans have - and God knows we have earned it.

Summer Is Here

Its official. I am officially considering today the start of summer. Why today you ask? Because it is 96 freaking degrees! and we haven't even hit the high of 98 yet. God do i hate the valley. Living in the valley is like deciding to live in the sweltering armpit of L.A. But this will be my 12th valley summer in the last 15 year so I am kind of used to it. 

What I am still not used to is my mother's philosophy about using the air conditioner. Just a quick bit of context here - my father is in the air conditioning business. The man loved having central air. My mother on the other hand treats the air conditioner like a necessary evil. 

I understand not turning it on if it only 80-85 degrees outside - i get that, i really do. but if its near, or over 90 my mother will say, "open the windows." It drives me nuts! There is no breeze during a summer in the valley. NONE. Worse then that, our house has an awkward rectangular shape that keeps this phantom air from flowing through the house. 

So what happens next? Well like on a day like today my mother will call and say something like, "mijo go ahead and put the air conditioner on just make sure to set it to 86 degrees." Not kidding. She just called to tell me that. She might has well have said, i heard the temperature is at 'torture' go ahead and set the air conditioner to 'uncomfortable'.

Well done mom, thats why I love you.

Game 6 tonight - think green, think defense, think championship, think Celtics!

Wall.E

Just saw a new commerical for the movie Wall.E and what was the song laying in the background? Do You Wanna Dance by the Ramones. Simply awesome. I will watch Wall.E just based on that. By the way does anyone else think that Wall.E looks like Johnny Five from Short Circuit (just shorter)?

oh and by the way...CELTIC PRIDE!!!

Friday The 13th and Tim Russert

Think that I am not aware it is Friday the 13th. I became very aware when i locked myself out of my car. Twice. After having the locksmith unlock the door I was told that I had to pay 125 dollars. I proceeded to close the door... with the keys still inside. The guy looked at me asked me if I wanted it opened I said, "yea, of course". He then proceeded to open the door again and said, "well that will be 250". I thought he was kidding. I was wrong. This ass actually charged me twice. I hate Friday the 13th.

On a really sad not though Tim Russert, host of Meet the Person and the Washington Bureau Chief for NBC died earlier today. To me Russert was always an honest, intelligent ad humble man who covered politics the way they should be. In an age of technology I will always remember him covering the 2000 Gore v Bush election and explaining the electoral vote breakdown, not with a computer, not with an onscreen graphic, nor with a crazy touch screen but with simple dry erase board. There was just something special about taking something so complicated and watching it being broken down in a very simple way with very simple tools. Just man's brain, a marker and a dry erase board. Tim Russert was only 58 years old.

Car scare and movie recommendation

It is 11:15am on a Wednesday and I just had a major scare with my car. Less than minute away from my parent’s home the car (Victoria is her name) started to make an awful noise. At first I thought the tire had flattened and I was riding on my rim. My friends will know that I am familiar with that scenario. I quickly parked the car and jumped out. The tires were fine. I figured that something was wrong with the transmission the engine. Turns out that the car alarm speaker had simply disconnected and gotten stuck. My step dad and I pulled it out and that was that. Doesn’t seem like a big deal but when you realize that I am living off my credit card right now you can imagine how stressed out I was that I was going to have to spend a pretty penny on my car.
I also have a quick recommendation for all of ya. If you can find it rent a movie called Young at Heart. It is a documentary about retirees (people ranging 70-90) who sing pop songs from bands like the Ramones and Coldplay. I haven’t even seen it but I am so convinced of its greatness that I will recommend it to you anyway.


I would also like to add – Go Celtics!!!

Weezer Review...

So,
One of my top five bands of all time has released the third self titled album. Weezer's (Red Album) is such a cool album. To be honest it is a real strange album because it feels like two albums in one. The first six songs exude a rockstar confidence and bravado that we have never heard before. For those who don't know River's is a huuuuuuge kiss fan and for the first time inhis career he has embraced the over the top alpha male hyper sexual rock star persona embodied by his favorite band.If their last album (MAKE BELIEVE) sounded like a bunch of sad journal entires and apology letters than The Red Album is an abashed celebration and declaration that Rivers and Weezer in general are done worrying and apologizing. The second half of the album (the last four songs) features some songs not written NOR performed by Rivers. This is a huge departure from the past where Mr. Cuomo obsessed about controlling nearly every aspect of the band.

Check out Weezer's Myspace to hear both the single Pork and Beans and the unbelievable Greatest Man Who Ever Lived.

The Cure...and lots of other stuff

Woohooo! The show last night was freaking awesome. The Cure played 3 hours and had 3 freaking encores. I thought they were done after they ended the second encore with Killing An Arab (which in case you dont know, the song is an entire refrence to Albert Camus' book THE STRANGER; hence the lyrics "I'm just a stranger/Killing an Arab". But within a minute and a half of them walking off stage for the second time Robert Smith and the boys were back out there and played for about another 15 minutes. Simply amazing the amont of energy The Cure can evoke especially when it is easy to stigmatize them as a goth band. I think a lot of us forget that The Cure were originally more on the punk side of the music genre before carving out their own musical niche in rock history. Anyway, three hours, a small venue and a great performance. I had a great time. I will post video on here soon.

On a side note, as I was driving home last night from the show I looked out through the passenger seat window and saw downtown L.A. shinning with all it's lights and thought, "how sad is it that I wont be around to see the 'new' L.A." I am pretty positive that a year from now I will be taking a cue from the Ramone's second album and "Leave Home". The chances of me finding a job here will be slim and so I have come to embrace the idea of leaving L.A. I will more than likely leave not only L.A. and southern California but the state as well. It kind of bums me out that I wont be around when the new L.A. Live is finished or that I wont be able to see if the new Light Rail system gets more people to use public transportation. I am even bummed that I wont be able to see the new USC Activities Center be completed. Oh well, you can't have your cake and eat it too. I will be gone for a few years and see what the rest of the country has to offer and maybe someday I will come back out to California and settle down. At least that is the plan.

Oh and did I mention GO CELTICS! Thats right, as much as I love L.A. I HATE the Lakers. My uncle who has been the biggest influence on my sporting life, along with my grandfather, is a huge Celtics fan so i grew up rooting for the dying dynasty of Bird, Parish and Machale. So I have suffered for my entire life as a Celtc fan but now I have something to root for. Especially considering how annoying many Laker fans are. Seriously, what is the point of putting a Laker flag on your car. I dont care if you like the Lakers and I am unimpressed by your putting it up on your car. Now if you lived in Boston and put up a Lakers flag that is a different story all together. That makes sense - it would be an outward sign of defiance. But thats not what this is. Even worse who are all these bandwagon Laker fans? Were we these flags that last few years? Hell, where were these flags as late as this April? Nowhere. It is crap like this that give L.A. the rep of being a town of plastic phonies who follow trends. Thats right Laker fan - I BLAME YOU! Hopefully in two weeks the pride of Beantown will be hoisting their 17th championship trophy. This one is for Red!