2009 September Archive
The most stolen song in music history
here is an interesting clip compiling the many songs that have been written to the tune of Journey’s “Don’t stop believing”
don’t believe me?
Barack Obama Cursing–Real Audio!
Muahaha! I bet you came into this blog post just expecting to see a couple of audio clips…
Incorrect!
Not only do you get to hear our president say humorous curse words, but you also get a new dance tune to jam to. Throw it on your playlist for your next party and watch the hilarity ensue.
So here it is, a remix by your very own Nicky P, featuring Stevie Wonder, some random news anchor, and the president of the united states! Just click the link below and when the next window pops up, click “obama-breakdown” again.
[audio:obama-breakdown.mp3]
>>–nicky p–<<
Finlandia Vodka Review
So I was at ye olde Ralph’s yesterday going on what you laymen might call a “Beer Run.” We picked up three grande bottles of Foxhorn wine (delectable by the way…but that is for a different review) and a thirty pack of Tecate, but still had one slot left in our adult beverage roster.
Obviously we had to bring some heavy hitter to the party. With beer and wine you can relax and kick back, but we were looking to really get bacchanalian this night. After some deliberation we realized that, of all the hard liquors, vodka was offensive to the fewest people. Ahh but there was the matter of the budget! We had only 13 dollars left to spend, and a serious choice to be made.
Popov or “Prestige” (I use that term very lightly) vodka is the cheapest of the bunch. The king of the bottom shelf, it is infamous for its almost sulfuric-acid-like burn and aftertaste similar to what fear and despair must taste like if they could be distilled through a strainer of nuclear waste and general sewage.
Needless to say, we weren’t that desperate.
Searching for a middling brand–we’re no Grey Goose afficionados here–we came upon Skyy (is it two y’s? I dunno who cares, really) and Asbolut. They both slightly exceeded our price range, sadly.
The decision continued to be delayed until my hunting eyes fell upon a foreign bottle that I’d never seen before. Upon the label the word “Finlandia” was emblazoned in elegant script. Using my keen intuition and analytical skills, I determined that this vodka was from Finland.
I know, right?
Because I’d never tried it before, I figured its purchase would have to come with a blog review. So here we are!
After getting back to the apartment and icing it for a bit in the freezer, we were ready for the moment of truth. The first shot went down my gullet, and my initial impression was…”JESUS this tastes like ass!” However, don’t let that discourage you, curious shopper; you must realize that most hard alcohol, except for the top shelf stuff, makes me think that very same thought. This was an expected turn of events.
Happily enough, what was missing from the experience was both the feeling of acidic flames in my esophagus and the aftertaste from hell. That’s two advantages over Popov already! This may have been because we were chasing it with organic Mango juice from Trader Joes, though…
Anyway there it is. If you’re in the mood to get your potato on for a bargain, go for the Finlandia. I believe it was only 8.99 at Ralph’s.
Drink on my friends!
–nicky p–
Hope and Fear
the sky is falling
the world is ending
the time is nigh
there are two kinds of people in the world.
those who will destroy that which they believe will soon be destroyed anyway,
and those who preserve, because they have hope for a future.
which of the two are you?
which of the two do you want to be?
is your nature destructive,
or must you see and observe for yourself?
hope can destroy, though not for anyone else but who has it.
a martyrdom, you choose, with hope
for your disappointments from hope are your own,
and you must bear the pain alone.
the destroyers, they share it all…
their pain, their frustration
their greed and selfishness
with everyone who has to live in their wake…
but hey, do they know any better?
they believe there is no tomorrow.
Thoughts on Budget Cuts
Ah, September. Time of dying trees, mysteriously persistent heat, and uhh….there was something else I forgot…
Oh, yeah. School.
So I’m back at the good old University of California Los Angeles and there’s lots of fun to be had all around. Unless you’re a teacher, or an administrator. I dunno if you’ve heard, but our state is run by The Governator. And he doesn’t believe in giving money to support education.
You know, the last thread that keeps our society from ripping itself apart. No big deal.
Anyhow, in my first class, English 4W, we were discussing this same issue. The professor passed around a copy of an e-mail that I will reproduce for you here. All the identifying information was removed.
“I am aware that some of you have received notice about a walkout planned for Thursday, September 24, the first day of classes. I am sympathetic with the feelings of frustration that many faculty members have with respect to the furlough program [in which teachers are forced to take days off without pay]. Nevertheless, I must remind everyone that the beginning of the quarter is an important day for our students, many of whom are concerned about their enrollment status in their classes. Accordingly, it is my responsibility to inform you that we expect all Thursday classes and sections to meet as scheduled.”
We discussed this e-mail in depth…the speaker’s choice of words, his/her formality and apparent dismissive attitude. To me it was a futile sort of vibe. But it’s only their “responsibility” to inform us…they “must remind us.” So I guess you can’t fully blame them. In the last 5 minutes our professor asked us to write a poem about what we felt about the e-mail…it was one of those strange moments where thoughts pour out as if from a dam exploded.
It’s not much, but I thought I’d share it:
Futility is easy
when you’re straddled at the top
between mute responsibility
and something you must stop.
But when the bullshit hits the fan
who’s to say what’s right or wrong?
Who’s to see through ambiguities
and actually get things done?
The answer’s lying suffocated,
tied in thick red tape–
the victim just a student
who never wanted to escape.
–nicky p–
