If You Like This...

Another Monday... another night class.  And yet again I find myself paying absolutely no attention.  But really it's not my fault.  How do you keep a senior focused on school a month from graduation? It's impossible.  So since I have 3 hours to kill I thought I'd get another blog entry in.  I've been stuck in the 90's for the past couple weeks (as you probably noticed by the last 2 posts), but I've gotten out of that phase for you sake today.

As I've mentioned before.... I feel a responsibility to bring awesome new things to people's attention even if they don't find the same things very awesome at all.  So I tried to make some comparisons to help you along the way....without further ado i give you "If you like this.... you HAVE TO try that." 

If you like...TV

then you HAVE TO try... TIVO

Any TV fan has to have a Tivo/DVR in this day and age.  I mean who actually has time to watch shows at 7 or 8 at night anymore? I highly suggest investing in this magical device for only about 15 bucks a month.  You get way more channels (especially high def ones) including movie channels like HBO.  The only downside isthat you'll become significantly less productive in every other aspect of life.... especially when that Harry Potter marathon is on.

If you like... The Office

then you HAVE TO try... Community 

Sticking with the TV theme... Community is a show that hasn't taken off quite like Office did, but is every bit as hilarious.  Both shows are on NBC's current Thursday night lineup.  Community is kind of the community college version of the Office.  It's about quirky, unusual study group and the rediculous things they get into at Glendale Community College.  Noteable characters - Joel McHale from The Soup and the ever-classy Chevy Chase.  Now that you have a DVR just get a season pass and you're set!

If you like... Modern Family

then you HAVE TO try...Parenthood

Okay I'm 100% in love with these two shows. Both are about modern day families living unrealistically close to each other sharing all the joys and disappointments of everyday life.  While Modern Family is a based more as a comedy than Parenthood, sometimes the overwhelming realism of Parenthood will make you laugh just as hard as you realise "Oh my god, this is my family."  Both shows are full of hilarious, tear-jerking, and sometimes insanely awkward moments.... and you shouldn't be missing out.

If you like... Nicholas Sparks

then you HAVE TO try... Ian McEwan

Nicholas Sparks fans... meet Ian McEwan. Can't get enough of the Notebook? Try reading McEwan's Atonement or Amsterdam. Both are wildly interesting and filled with drama and action.  Atonement was also recently made into a movie starring James McAvoy, Keira Knightley who i also love. So if you are interested but too lazy.... you can just go rent the movie. 

If you like... Rihanna

then you HAVE TO try... Jessie J

Okay so this is my new favorite artist, thanks to the BackBeats cover. She reminds me of Rihanna a little bit.  (Coincidently she also announced at a concert that she has a crush on Rihanna.... whatever, idk)  More importantly, Jessie J hails from England and she's starting to make waves here in the US as well.  She just released her debut album "Who You Are".  You may have heard her with BoB in "Price Tag" which has been a huge single here in the US.... but two of her best songs (in my opinion) can be found below.... neither of these are the official versions, but I actually like the live performance videos better. They show how talented she really is...not to mention versatile.  Check it out....

 

If you like... Guitar, even just a little bit 

 

then you HAVE TO try... Kaki King

I don't care who you are.... this is cool.  This girl is definitely weird, but I love her music.  If you like this video... which is pretty much a series of crazy fingerstyle fret tapping which is kind of amazing.... check out her other stuff though... you might like it even better.

If you like... Ice Cream 

then you HAVE TO try... Fro Yo

Ever since I had PeachWave frozen yogurt last year i have been in love.  I don't know anyone who's tried and doesn't like fro-yo (the cool kids term for frozen yogurt).  Seriously next time you want some ice cream hit up the closest TCBY, Pinkberry, Lemon Tree, or whatever and get some of this stuff.  It's taking the country by storm, i swear.  You can kind them anywhere these days. The best are the self serve places where you only pay by weight at the end.  Just like ice cream, fro-yo comes in tons of flavors... so if you're feeling chocolate peanut butter.... go for it.  Or maybe you want strawberry cheescake? it doesn't matter :) you can have either... or both!

 Well that's about it.... you're welcome :)

The Good Old Days

I had such a good time reminiscing on all the great toys of the 90's that I just had to keep living in the past and look into the TV shows.

So remember when Nickelodeon and Disney had the greatest shows ever.... before they sold out and started making crap like Hannah Montana?  Well I do.  The best part about these 90's and early 2000 shows is probably the theme songs.... so I did a little looking and found these. Feel free to sing along... I did. 

Sister Sister - Ah Tia and Tamara Mowry how you made me wish I had a twin.... or that I was black! Great show :)

CatDog 

Doug- though I would have preferred if the show was called Patty Mayonnaise because honestly that's the greatest name I've ever heard.  

Hey Arnold - and the best episode "Stoop Kid"

RocketPower - We are riders on a mission.... probably my favorite theme song.

Are You Afraid of the Dark and Goosebumps - How great were these shows?! I remember the rating was Y-7 and I told my sisters they weren't allowed to watch it unless I was with them because I was 7 and old enough to supervise.  

Legends of the Hidden Temple - I think every child dreamed of being on this show and was frustrated by the constant lack of physical ability and intelligence of the kids they actually chose to be on the show.  I mean really... how hard is it to stack the 3 piece totem pole?

All That / The Amanda Show - The children's SNL... This was one of my favorite segments- Ask Ashley. 

Even Stevens - Remember when these two weren't hot? Yeah me too.... unfortunately for Beans puberty didn't really help all that much.

Recess - Favorite after school show by far!

Lloyd In Space - Made me want to live in outer space so bad!

Lizzie McGuire - But lets be honest the show should have been called Gordo.... he was the real star.

In addition to the tv shows I loved, I couldn't leave out a list of the best movies Nickolodeon and Disney cranked out... 

Johnny Tsunami

Zenon - Can we all agree that Protazoa was a musical genius? 

Smart House

Luck of the Irish 

Brink - During the rollerblade craze of our childhood this little number came out and made us all think we could be pro skaters... besides how could you not love this face? 

90's Toys That Rocked My World

So I'm not that old, but it seems like a lot of the things I loved when I was little aren't even around anymore! So for those of you who were also children of the 90's I've compiled a little list of things I miss from my childhood and would potentially be interested in buying/finding/ using again without shame.... can't believe we're already 11 years out from the decade of greatness:( but seriously these toys were the best ever no matter what anyone else says... hope you enjoy...

N64 - Are you serious? Of course this is #1.  I wish I still had mine because I would play it.  Best thing Nintendo ever did.  Old favorites - Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., Every Tony Hawk Pro Skater Game, 1080 Snowboarding, Legend of Zelda ( not the 2nd one though... it sucked), Mario Golf, and obviously Mario Party

Sit and Spin - This was never a good idea.... but I would totally do it again right now.  

Beanie Babies  - Don't act like you didn't have these.... I had like 200 in my room. Remember when they said they were "collectibles" and they'd be worth money someday... well the massive containers collecting dust in my basement tell me that's not remotely true.

Tomagachi/ Gia Pet- these were so cool until they died like a day later.... stupid... i had like 10  of them though. 

Cabbage Patch Kids - wow this takes me way back.  I couldn't leave for daycare until I said goodbye to Charlie every morning and sat him in the window to watch me drive away. 

Easy Bake Oven - how great were these!?! until i burnt myself and was able to eat the entire cake in 2 bites.... ugh.

Light Bright - I have nothing bad to say about this amazing toy. i freakin loved this. 

Gak - how genius was Nickelodeon on this one... all these complex toys and all we really wanted to play with was this crap so our parents had to buy it :) 

Legos - omg... legos may have been the love of my life.  I had so many sets ... my favorite was the castle one where I had my own little wars and locked away prisoners! Did I mention I was a boy when I was little???

YoYo - What else do i need to say but "shoot the moon" and "walk the dog"? And you were nobody unless you had a Duncan...

Moon Shoes - at one point in my life i wanted these so bad... i never got them. Now i understand why my mom said no. 

Slip and Slide - The best "worst idea ever".  Seriously every person that's ever tried this has gotten hurt in some way.  

 

Trolls - WEIRD!!!!! I loved Trolls.  I once had a dream that a Troll like the one below but 7 ft. tall was trying to break into my house... ever since then they really creep me out. 

Hot Wheels  - I had so many of these little suckers.  They were so awesome!

Pez - in elementary school you were defined by your pez dispenser.... i had this one... clearly l was very popular.

Pogs - "Stack em, Slam, em, Collect em All! "one of the greatest 90's fads.  I think there was actually a game with these, but lets be honest no one really cared... its was all about the holograms baby.  

Stretch armstrong - how great was this toy?!? If you didn't have a stretch armstrong your parents must not have loved you.  

Don't wake Daddy - One of the best games ever invented.  Something about it seems kind of wrong though..... why is waking daddy seen as such a horrible thing? If you never played it.... let me know because I'm thinking about buying a new one.  

Guess Who - Is yours a girl? Standard first question... if you had to answer yes then you are definitely going to lose.  Girls were so underrepresented in 90's games.

Dream Phone - Best sleepover game ever.... until people discovered that they could actually call real life boys and talk to them and not a computer phone.  Still, I always knew I had a good catch when he wasn't at the mall...

Despite the amazing games and toys we played with, we can't ignore the total failures.  Here are a couple toys/ games that I will always and forever hate... 

perfection/bop it/ operation - stressful and timed games with loud buzzers were the WORST.  Perfection really pissed me off all the time.  Seriously what a rediculous game... or how about bop it.... I said twist it and i totally twisted it and it still ended my game.... stupid. 

mousetrap - i'm sure this would have been fun if i wasn't always missing one of the bajillion pieces necessary to set up the game.  

Well I know its not an exhastive list... so i apologize if I forgot your favorite game ever.... let me know and I can always add it.  Unless it was a stupid game like Sorry... in that case I'm not adding it because no one wants to remember a game where kids first learned cruel sarcasm"SORRY!!!" You just won don't pretend like you're sorry you a-hole.  

I feel like I need to do a follow up blog about tv shows... maybe tomorrow if i decide not to do my homework again.  If you have any good ideas let me know.... In the meantime I'm gonna go find an N64 to play with.  

Pa Pa Pa Paws UP!

On St. Patricks Day I went with my sister to see Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour in Omaha.   Here are a few of the videos we took of the concert.  Sorry for any shakiness.... its hard to dance, sing your lungs out, and still hold a camera straight :)

Opening of the show - lead into Dance in the Dark

Lady Gaga talks about the sweet success of her single Born This Way and makes fun of all the drunk people on St. Patricks Day.

Born This Way - Piano Only - Definitely one of my favorite parts of the concert.  If nothing else you have to respect what a great artist and singer she in this video. 

Teeth - One of my favorite Lady Gaga songs.  Wearing the famous blood soaked outfit and all...

Alejandro what else can I say but "Paws Up Little Monsters"

Paparazzi - This was another of my favorites... the whole fame monster in the background really took this one to another level of crazy.  I felt like I was at a broadway show or something.  Oh Lady Gaga.

The first Encore - Bad Romance - Amazing performance. Such a great concert.

Born This Way Dance Version - The Final Song and 2nd Encore-  I've never heard a crowd go so insane in my life.... I was also going insane with everyone else.  There was so much to capture we had to take 2 videos... enjoy.


Needless to say I had an amazing time.  Here is my sister and I getting all Gaga-ed up for St. Patty's day.

Musical Soapbox

I feel like I’ve read about and heard a lot of inspirational things lately… It got me thinking about the power of inspiration, motivation, and hope.  Now I don’t want to get all sappy on you… not my style Jk… but I thought about what inspires me the most, and I realized that what inspires me most is the exact same thing that inspires most people in the world but in completely different ways.  This is a crazy concept… and obvi I love crazy concepts so that’s what I’m gonna blab about today. So what am I talking about?

Music

Well duh.  Everyone is inspired by music.   If you’re not inspired by music you suck… joking. But really you’d have to be dead to not be moved by music at all.  Why? Well depending on whether you’re the audience or the artist there are many reasons

1.   1.   Music is an outlet to express and feel emotion in a completely isolated but social way.  What do I mean? Emotions are universal… everyone knows what it is to feel love, loss, fear, hope, inspiration.  Emotions are universally felt, but many people don’t express them to others whether this is a voluntary or involuntary choice.  Musicians express emotion better than anyone in the most organic, raw way possible…. Through their voice and body (playing an instrument).  When you listen to music, you are invited to share universal emotions in a completely personalized way.  Without saying a word or interacting with a single person you can fully indulge in any emotion via music.

2.     

    2.   Music is a source of immense power to create something from nothing.   You literally have the ability to fill silence with whatever you want.  I would never say I’m a musician, but I love the guitar and it really is true that when words aren’t enough music can complete what you are trying to say in a magical way.  Yes I said magical…. deal with it.    When you compose a verse, a riff, a piano piece, or whatever, it’s the same as writing a story.  There is a story behind it, no matter how deep or compulsory it is.  The song is a journey, a means of transporting you somewhere else. However, unlike some traditional stories, there aren’t limits to the meaning.  The music blooms into a different journey for every person that hears it.  No two stories are the same.  This is my favorite part about music.  I love to listen to someone sing a song or play an instrument with such passion and think…. What are they thinking about? What story has this song taken them into? Okay I realize that sounds creepy but you got to admit, music is unlike anything else in the way is permeates into everyone differently. 

3   3.  Music creates an amazing connection between audience and artist.  As a listener you most likely have never met the artists you listen to…. But don’t they seem to know you better than anyone else?  Because of the universality of music, music can create that eerie and overwhelming feeling that this artist has revealed to the world emotions or thoughts you guard so tightly that no other person even knows you have.  Have you ever heard lyrics that gave you paralyzing shot of self-consciousness? “This is me!” “Surely everyone can see that this is exactly what I’m feeling.” Well relax…. No one knows this song is a mirror into your mind or probably even cares.  This is the beauty and power of music.  However, when we have these moments its only natural that as humans we try to create an emotional bond with something in order to share the moment.  Despite what we think, no one really wants to share powerful moments alone…. So what do we do? We create a connection between the artist and us.  This is why people are so passionate about musicians they like… it’s because it’s an emotional/personal/defensive subject.  Does this explain Kanye’s outburst at the VMA’s? Was he just so emotional about what Beyonce’s song did to him that he had to go defend her? Ha… no he’s just an idiot.  But I think you get the point.   

There are undoubtedly other explanations for why music moves us and inspires us so much, but I don’t feel like thinking anymore.  So what’s the best kind of music? 

 When you don’t hear instruments or voices at all.  What?!? Let me finish yo…  The best kind of music is when you don’t hear music…. its when you experience pure passion and the music literally sounds like life and feelings not just words and sounds.  It’s when you see someone making music and radiant colors are literally forming out of the sound, or when you can’t even sit still because music is running through your veins so forcefully.  The crazy thing is that while the feeling is the same…. Different genres of music do this for different people. I don’t get rap or country for that matter… but I know that many people don’t get my music.  I guess it doesn’t really matter.  The universal end we all find justifies our various means, in a way.  

Obviously I’m pretty passionate about the subject as are many people.  Here a couple videos of songs that inspire me.  Maybe they’ll do the same for you…. Or maybe you should go listen to your Justin Bieber cd instead, whatever. 

K'Naan Wavin Flag - South Africa World Cup Song.... a pretty cool video too.

You knew you weren't going to get a music blog from me without seeing a video like this... Streetcorner Symphony and the other 3 finalist groups cover Coldplay's Fix You in the show's finale number. 

Joshua Radin and Ingrid Michaelson are amazing on their own, but nothing beats this collaboration.  Sky is definitely one of the greatest and most beautiful songs out there. 

It was really hard to pick just one Boyce Avenue song to post. Here they cover Bruno Mars' Gerenade in a really interesting way.  I love all their stuff and they have an awesome YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/boyceavenue so check it out.  

Okay I’ll get off my musical soapbox now…

My Hiatus

So I haven't been able to write a new entry in a few weeks.  The main reason for this is that I still don't have a computer.  Apple ended up charging way more than I expected, so at this point I'm thinking I might as well just get a new one.  However,  I don't really have money to just buy a computer at this point... so we'll see when that all gets figured out!  The other reason I haven't been posting is because I have been on spring break the last 10 days.  I'm sure there will be a good post regarding Panama City spring break in the coming days.... but for now I'll just say I didn't spend much of my time doing anything but living the lazy beach life.  It was a great senior spring break trip, and now it's time to power through the last 8 weeks of my college career.

So, the short of it is that I haven't had time to document this crazy exciting lifestyle of mine recently, but I'll be sure to step up my game on the homestretch.  I feel like a hypocrite because I always complain about TV hiatus breaks in the winter and in March before sweeps, yet here I am doing it with my blog :) See I really am a TV nerd. Anyway, a lot can happen in 2 months, and hopefully some of it will be post-worthy. For now I'll just give you a short preview of the two most exciting things coming up this week.

1. Most importantly Thursday is St. Patricks day and I will be living it up at the Lady Gaga concert all night.  this is by far the most exciting part of my week.

2. Coming in at a close second is the massive amount of schoolwork professors dumped on us after spring break this year.  I'll be reading a bajillion case studies and writing even more useless reflection papers over the next two weeks. Thankfully, 9 weeks from today I'll be a college graduate with nothing to worry about but real life from then on.

I've been told that real life is much harder than college, that I should stretch my 3 years out much longer.  Maybe I'm just ignorant and young, and don't get me wrong I've loved college, but I'm so ready to be done.   I'll really miss my friends here, but for the most part I won't miss college student, Omaha and the bs that goes along with classes.  I'm ready to live on my own doing a job I love and hang out with new people.  But.... that's living in the future.  I'm going to do all I can to enjoy these last days as a college kid.  If anything actually exciting happens.... you'll be the first to know.  If nothing exciting happens... well then my posts are about to get even more boring.