The Monday Morning Mix-Up: A Jazzy/Rocky/Country-Folky Edition

Well, this week there was a three way tie! And instead of breaking the tie this week, I decided, since many of these are my favorites, to put all three into the Mix-Up! One of them will have four songs, and I haven't decided which one yet...that will be a bonus! Anyways, here it is, the Mixed Up, Monday Morning Mix Up:

Jimmy Buffett

• Only Time Will Tell (from the album Banana Wind)
• Delaney Talks to Statues (from the album Fruitcake) - Very pretty song, somewhat family oriented...sweet song, very beachy!
  
• Conky Tonkin' (from the album License to Chill, featuring Clint Black) - Such a great song with so many great references for us Miami (some of them many people will know, like the loacations) folk! Lets list them all: South Beach, US1, Key Largo, Dadeland Mall, and Key West.
  

Queen

• Somebody to Love (from the album A Day At The Races) - I know this might be mildly sac religious but, this song almost sounds something that Disney would of come up with! I like the song, but it is kinda cheesy!
  
• Mother Love (from the album Made In Heaven)
  
• Headlong (from the album Queen Rocks)

Diana Krall

• Exactly Like You (from the album From This Moment On)
• Frim Fram Sauce (from the album All For You) - One of my favorite Diana cover songs (originally performed by the Nat King Cole Trio). It's a fun, cool, jazz song that is fun to sing along too!
  

Harry Connick, Jr.

• He Is, They Are (from the album Blue Light Red Light)
• A Spoonful of Sugar (from the album Songs I Heard) - This is one of my all time favorite albums! It is Harry singing all the songs you might remember from when you were a kid! He does songs from Mary Poppins, Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Sound of Music, Annie, and others. It is a great CD! And of course, this song is great too!
  

The Week-End Wrap & Review: The Two Week In Waiting Edition (Part II)

So it has been a long while since I have done a week-end wrap up. So there is somethings to catch up on, but nothing to major. So here it is...

What I Saw: Over the past few weeks, I have been watching many different things between TV and Movies! Lets see, I saw I Am Legend with Will Smith. It was a good movie, lots of action and high octane. However, I had two issues with the movie: (1) it seemed as though we have seen this movie before and (2) the "zombie" creatures could of been computer created a little better than they were. I also watched Syndey White, which was a cute high-school/teenager romantic comedy. It was silly, but entertaining. I also watched the first season of The X-Files. I remember when this show started on television, and my mom would watch it weekly. I never really got into it back then, but now I love it! Working on Season 2 now!

What I Heard: Been listening to the Beatles lately...well ever since American Idol had their contestants singing the songs. Speaking of American Idol, that is something else I have been watching...my favorites are Brooke White and David Cook! I have also been listening to Reba McEntire and her latest album, Duets. I am really excited because I have tickets to go see her at the Hard Rock Live in April!

What I Read: Right now I am completely involved in Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is just so unabashingly honest and sincere that you want to read more and more. So hopefully I will finish that in the next week.

So that is it! Let me know what everyone out there has been up to this week?

I Cannot Make This Stuff Up!

So, while reading the Washington Post online, I have stumbled onto another "fantastically" wonderful article talking about John McCain's daughter Meghan. It seems she is trying to show everyone she is not the stereotypical blonde, and she has this to say:

"Because I love shoes, and who doesn't want to know what kind of shoes Dr. Kissinger wears?"

and

"I'm so sick of being called dumb because I like, you know, movies and music and fashion."

I can't make this stuff up!

What The???

So everyday I read through the news at various online news sites. I check many of them throughout the day to remain abreast on what is going on. Well, earlier today I went to CNN to see the daily news when up above the site, with a red background was a Breaking News bullitin, that read, and I kid you not:

Non-Nuclear Ballistic Missile Parts Sent to Taiwan by Mistake

Okay, who's getting fired or resigning over this one?

The Monday Morning Mix-Up: Soundtracks Galore

Well, this week there was more votes (Yay!)! Which means there was a little competition, and the winner this week are songs from soundtracks! So, here we go!

• Camellia (sung by Bette Midler, from the soundtrack to The Rose)
• Work It Out (sung by Beyonce, from the soundtrack to Austin Powers: Goldmember)
• Leaving on a Jet Plane (sung by Chantal Kreviazuk, from the soundtrack to Armageddon)
• You're The Top (sung by Cole Porter, from the soundtrack to De-Lovely)
• Mack the Knife (sung by Kevin Spacey, from the soundtrack to Beyond The Sea)
• Razzle Dazzle (sung by Richard Gere, from the soundtrack to Chicago)
• Science Fiction/Double Feature (sung by Richard O'Brien, from the soundtrack to Rocky Horror Picture Show)
• Old Plank Road (sung by Robin & Linda Williams, from the soundtrack to A Prairie Home Companion)
• Murder He Says (sung by Tori Amos, from the soundtrack to Mona Lisa Smile)
• My Generation (sung by The Who, from the soundtrack to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me)

Okay, so it kinda turned into a mix of soundtracks and cover songs, but thats the way the iTunes wanted it! Don't forget to vote for next weeks Mix-Up and offer suggestions!

So Long, Farewell...

So, last year both Troyboy and Hilda kept talking about a little show called Jericho! How great it is, you have to watch it. Well, I finally got the Season 1 DVD's and went through them all in about 4 days! After Season 1, the show was cancelled, and because of fan support brought back for another season.

I've watched all of Season 2 and the final episode airs on Tuesday night. Well it looks like it will be the FINAL final episode!

(article taken from USA Today, Friday March 22)

Nuts!: 'Jericho' canceled again

This just in: Despite the efforts of devoted fans and its groundbreaking resurrection from the dead, CBS has decided that Jericho will be no longer. Producers have been told that the season finale will air Tuesday, with an ending that will give fans some closure, but not the cliffhanger that was anticipated. Can fans save the show again? How many more nuts will it take this time to keep the show on the air? Maybe upgrade to macadamia nuts? Get more details on the show's cancellation.

UPDATE: CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler has issued a statement. In a nutshell, the show is over.

"The March 25th episode of Jericho will be the series finale. Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more. We thank an engaged and spirited fan base for keeping the show alive this long, and an outstanding team of producers, cast and crew that went through creative hoops to deliver a compelling, high quality second season. We have no regrets bringing the show back for a second try. We listened to our viewers, gave the series an opportunity to grow, and the producers put a great story on the screen. We're proud of everyone's efforts."

Throwing My Hat Into The Ring

Well, since many of my blogging friends have shifted focus into politics, I feel iI might as well get my opinion heard! Now, since this campaign has started I had flip-flopped my views and favorable candidates more times than John Kerry in Congress! There were many candidates on both party lines that I have like, some that I have disliked, and some that have no business running (Mr. Nader)!

So, you might be asking now, who is your choice for the Democratic nominee? Well, I am so glad you asked, because, my choice is not the "usual 24 year olds choice" in that I favor Hilary Clinton! After researching much of what she has done and the committees that she has worked on I feel that she is best suited at this time to be the next president. She seems as though she has the power needed and the gumption to get this country back to where it needs to be.

Now, I do like Obama. I think he is a wonderful man, an exquisite speaker, and will make an exceptional president...in 8 years! I have always enjoyed hearing this man speak, and yesterday's race inspired speech was no different. However, I believe that the introduction of race as a major point in this election could be what brings him down. Since this has occurred, his 14 point lead over Clinton has dwindled to 3 points, statistically insignificant. And today, it is being reported that Senator Clinton has a 7 point lead over Obama, something that while it was recorded prior to his March 18 speech, did not change after the speech.

Initially, I felt that the race issue was actually in Obama's favor. In America it seems as though we are more willing and accepting of being called sexist, and therefore more people would willingly attack Hilary Clinton's character as a woman. However, we are still extremely afraid of being called racist, and therefore there were no attacks to Obama's character (weather or not there is call for it).

Another idea that has irked me, is that it seems Obama was constantly saying that the election results were not about race, even though many time exit polls showed it was. In Mississippi 91% of African-Americans voted for Obama, and 72% of Caucasians voted for Clinton! If that is not a racially divided election, then what is?

Finally, is the newest of the Obama issues. Recently, his church and Reverend have been in the news, for issues and things that have been said. Now, I greatly respect Obama for the ways in which he has handled this issue. I think it was commendable that rather than attacking the messenger of these words he attacked the message that they bring. On the other hand, these comments that have been made, have not been a one time thing. In fact, this Reverend is known for some of the controversy he has stirred up in the past. In fact, many of the sermons that contained these "controversial" messages, is available as a DVD sold at the church. However, can you honestly tell me that after 20 years of going to this church, of being a member, being married by this Reverend, and having your children baptized by this Reverend, that you don't subscribe to some of what he has to say?

Take this example, I am a member of Toastmasters International. I joined to improve my oral communication skills and I have been a member for almost 5 years now. If I were to say that all of my oral communication skills and improvements were not due to this organization and denounce Toastmasters, I would be lying. There are things that are learned and followed from that program, just like there are things that are learned and followed from years in church. Now, I am not calling Senator Obama a lier, I am just saying that it is hard to believe that by denouncing Reverend Wright, the Senator does not still subscribe to the beliefs and doctrines that he has listened to in church for 20 years.

Please let me know your feelings on this subject!

A Question to the Blogging Masses

As everyone should know Senators Barak Obama and Hilary Clinton are both running for the Democratic nomination for the office of President of the United States of America. This is an exciting time for our country, a woman and a man of color are the possible candidates! Could it be that our country has finally accepted both of these "minorities" into power playing roles?

Up until now I have always thought that Senator Obama's race has helped him to a point. It seems as though in this country, comedians, late night talk show hosts, and everyday people have no problem being called sexist. However, there is a much greater fear of being called a racist. So while Leno and Letterman can comment on Senator Clinton's sex or even Senator McCain's age, the do not touch anything relating to the character of Senator Obama.

I recently read a couple of my blogging friends posts about events that have happened over the past week, in relation to Senator Obama and race. I wrote a fairly long post in response to their posts as well as detailing my view on the situation, but I too have fallen into the category of being feared to be called racist, even though I don't attack Senator Obama's character but rather his possible beliefs.

So here is my question to you bloggers out there, how is that as a country we have gone so far as to have an African-American as the current leading candidate, but are still afraid to criticize him because of skin color? Isn't it the criticism that helps people to grow?

Star Gazing (previously known as Star Struck or Star Struck: The Borrowed Edition)

So, like my good friend TroyBoy I have decided to follow the advice of Sari and view the Sveedish blog put up by Eva! It is truly a great blog and if you have a chance go over and visit. It's fun, it's silly, and it has ramblings about her little boy, who she affectionately (I am assuming) calls Boog!

Well, she recently put up a post about the celebrities that she has met throughout her life, and since TroyBoy decided to "borrow" it, I figured I would do the same, just rename it as well! So here it goes, my Star Gazing Experiences!

1. Dave Barry - I have met Dave Barry at various times throughout my years here in Miami. He is a local celebrity in the way that, he lives locally, even though he is famous nationally! Anyways, I have had the chance to talk to him at book signings, the International Book Fair, and at his world nationally renowned Herald Hunt! Oh, and most of the times that I have met him he "claims" to remember me!

2. Jo Dee Messina - The country superstar is by far my favorite country singer! Jo Dee Messina has so much energy and such a variety of music that she performs, you never ever ever get bored. So the last time she was in town (doing a post Marlin game concert) I got tickets as well as a meet & greet pass and got to meet her, get autographs, and a picture! Very much a highlight! (See picture below)
3. Chuck Palahniuk - Chuck (we're on a first name basis) is my absolute favorite author. He is creative, dimented, and hysterical! He is most famous for writing Fight Club, but has written so many other books as well. On his tour for his most recent book, Rant, is where I had the opportunity to meet him. He was so kind, and did a reading of other works of his (non-published) that kept everyone entertained. (Of course all while throwing Moose Heads and rubber chickens into the audience for correct trivia answers). Mrs. Pheasantly Fascinating actually went with me to this even and took a picture of me and Chuck...

4. Sylvester Stallone - When I was very young (maybe eight) I did the Old Cutler Hike here in Miami with Cub Scouts. The hike goes from the Freedom Torch at Bayfront Park all the way into South Miami. On the trail, there were a couple of us who were talking and fell behind a little. While we were walking, just outside of the Grove (Sly's home at the time) a car drove by, and asked what everyone was walking for. We quickly recognized Mr. Stallone, and told him about it. He wished us luck and drove off.

5. Anderson Cooper - Last summer Anderson Cooper was in town doing a book signing and a short talk. He is so charismatic and normal that it is amazing. You would have thought that being up close to seeing everything that happened after the Tsunami in the South Pacific and then Katrina in New Orleans and Mississippi would have bittered someone, but not Anderson, he seems stronger from it. My dad and I went to listen to him, and when we got to meet him, my dad's only question was, what did he tell his stylist on how to cut his hair! (Side note: My father has a magazine cover with Anderson on it that he brings to the barber to cut his hair similar!)

6. Isabelle Allende - This was a weeknight seminar that the Miami International Book Fair put on a couple years ago. Mrs. Allende talked about her wide variety of books (House of the Spirits, Ines of My Soul, Zorro) and answered questions. Then she went and signed books for hours and hours, talking and conversing with everyone!

7. Rosie O'Donnell - Again, a book signing, for her first book Find Me. It wasn't really a meeting. It was more of a hello, signed book, shook hand, said have a nice day, or night. But still, it was really neat. And let me tell you something else, when Rosie has a book signing, there are some real interesting people who come out of the woodworks! (Present company excluded)

8. Buddy Guy - I got to meet Mr.Guy (sounds so anonymous doesn't it) on a plane from Miami to Tallahassee. He was a very very nice guy, willing to tell me all about growing up in Louisiana and moving to Chicago. He was playing a few gigs at one of the jazz bars in Tallahassee. I couldn't go as I was with other family up there, but he was on my plane up to Tallahassee one other time as well! He's my buddy!

9. O.J. Simpson - I have actually met this guy a few times over the years (that he willingly went outside the house here in Miami). He used to shop at my Publix as well as frequent the local Irish Tavern (that happens to be next to the said Publix). Anyways, it looks doubtful that I will be seeing him anytime soon!

I guess that's all the celebrities and famous people that I can think of! If I think of other's I'll post it separately. So who would I still like to meet? Well: Stephen King, Gregory Maguire, John Connolly to name a few! Who would you like to meet?

The Monday Morning Mix-Up: The Madonna Edition

Well, once again, a record vote and a unanimous decision! Thats right, another week of just one single lonely vote! The theme to the poll this week was Hall of Famers, with John Mellencamp and Madonna being inducted last week, REM last year, and Blondie in 2006. Well that one singular vote went to the ever evolving Madonna! So here it goes:

• Die Another Day (from the album American Life) - The song that possibly started the whole dance floor phase of Madonna! A good song, a decent Bond song!
  
• Beautiful Stranger (from the soundtrack to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me) - A great retro style song! What was even better was seeing the video for the song!
  
• Bedtime Story (from the album Bedtime Stories)
• Like It Or Not (from the album Confessions on a Dance Floor) - A great beat to this song! This is a great contemporary album that seems to have completely rejuvenated Madonna into a new generation!
  
• Vogue (from the album I'm Breathless) - A classic Madonna song! Who doesn't know most of the words to this song!
  
• Love Song (from the album Like a Prayer) - It's early Madonna! So different from current Madonna, but still good. (Even though it seems there is a reason this wasn't a single!)
  
• Think of Me (from the album Madonna) - Even more classic, from her very first album!
  
• Don't Tell Me (from the album Music) - Probably one of my top two Madonna albums (the other being Ray of Light) and this song is great! I remember listening to this song the first time and thinking there was something wrong with the CD because it sounds as though it is skipping in the beginning!
  
• Swim (from the album Ray of Light) - My favorite Madonna album! From beginning to end it has a flow about it that just keeps you entranced!
  
• La Isla Bonita (from the album True Blue) - A very fun, very Florida-esque song!

Well that is is for this weeks mix up! Please send me suggestions for future voting selections!

Yeah, Right

So I just stumbled across this headline at Billboard's website:

Hanson Gets Serious On Tour

How serious can three young guys who once sang Mmm Bop get? Not very serious if you ask me!

The Movie Quote Meme

I got this thanks to Hilda at The Mind Wobbles! So have fun guessing the movies! The directions are below! If you would like to play along just, let me know!

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDB and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them on your blog for everyone to guess in the comments.
4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.

GUESSERS: NO Googling/using IMDB search functions. I mean, you can cheat if you want, but that's no fun? One movie guess per human allowed in the comments.

1. We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be? Dead Poets Society (TroyBoy)
   
2. It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something. Crash (Hilda)
   
3. I bet she gives great helmet. Spaceballs (Dawn)
   
4. Christian, you may see me only as a drunken, vice-ridden gnome whose friends are just pimps and girls from the brothels. But I know about art and love, if only because I long for it with every fiber of my being. Moulin Rouge (Hilda)
   
5. ...and then there was the time he walked up to this group of tourists and they were petrified because A they were obviously lost, and B had probably never spoken to a drag queen before in their lives... and he... she just offered to escort them out of Alphabet City... and then she let them take a picture with her and then she said she'd help 'em find the Circle Line... Rent (Hilda)
6. [singing] There's children throwing snowballs / instead of throwing heads / they're busy building toys / and absolutely no one's dead! The Nightmare Before Christmas (Dawn)
   
7. I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. Monty Python & The Holy Grail (Dawn)
   
8. There's a time when a man needs to fight and a time when he needs to accept that his destiny's lost, the ship has sailed and that only a fool will continue. The truth is I've always been a fool.
9. Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got? The Wizard of Oz (Dawn)
   
10. First of all, Papa Smurf didn't create Smurfette. Gargamel did. She was sent in as Gargamel's evil spy with the intention of destroying the Smurf village. But the overwhelming goodness of the Smurf way of life transformed her. And as for the whole gang-bang scenario, it just couldn't happen. Smurfs are asexual. They don't even have... reproductive organs under those little, white pants. It's just so illogical, you know, about being a Smurf. You know, what's the point of living... if you don't have a dick? Donnie Darko (Eva)
    

Have fun everyone! I will let you know when one is answered!

The Monday Morning Mix-Up: The Neil Diamond Edition

Well it was a record turnout in the voting booth this week! And it was also unanimous this week as to who walked away as the Mix-Up winner... now this might not seem as big of a feat as many of you are thinking. You see, the record turnout was a record low...only 1 person voted, therefore the lucky winner had 100% of the votes...and the winner was Neil Diamond! All these songs have come from (1) The Essential Neil Diamond (2) Three Chord Opera (3) 12 Songs. So, here it is the Neil Diamond Mix:

• Solitary Man - A classic (as though most of these aren't!)
  
• Red, Red Wine - So, now here is my question, did Neil Diamond cover UB40 or did UB40 cover Neil Diamond, because until now I had never heard this version. Update: I now know, that Neil Diamond is the genius behind this song!
  
• I Am...I Said - It is a good song! Love the references throughout, "Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of being a king?"
  
• He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
  
• Brother Love's Salvation Show - A good song, even though it sounds like something that Eddie would of sung in Rocky Horror Picture Show! Update: Sorry, the words were mixed up in my head! Title of the song is fixed!
  
• September Morn
  
• You Are The Best Part Of Me - I am beginning to think that Neil Diamond doesn't like Saturday Nights, he seems to reference them, in negative ways in many songs!
  
• A Mission of Love - Very old fashioned, Elvis, Big Band, style! A great message, in a nicely refreshing song!
  
• Save Me A Saturday Night - A nice song, but slow, and again another depressing Saturday Night!
  
• We - My absolute favorite Neil Diamond song! It is from his latest CD 12 Songs, and it is just such a light song with so much meaning!

Well that is it for this week! So please please please vote for next week! You have the opportunity to choose the music!

The Monday Morning Mix-Up: The Dixie Chicks Edition

You voted for it, so here it is, the Dixie Chicks version of the Monday Morning Mix-Up! Just a quick note, at the 2007 Grammy Awards, the Dixie Chicks became one of the very few who won all three top Grammy Awards. "Not Ready to Make Nice" won Song of the Year and Record of the Year, and Taking The Long Way won Album of the Year...all of which was extremely deserving!

• Sin Wagon (from the album Fly) - A great upbeat number about everything that isn't supposed to be allowed...like "a little mattress dancing"
  
• Truth No. 2 (from the album Home)
• You Can't Hurry Love (from the Runaway Bride soundtrack) - A great version of this song, that is actually rather poppy than country.
  
• I Hope (from the album Taking The Long Way) - There is not a single song on this album that does has no meaning to it! Everything is simply fantastic!
  
• Wide Open Spaces (from the album Wide Open Spaces) - The song that started it all! Three girls from Texas...who would of thought?
  
• Top Of The World (from the album Home)
• Easy Silence (from the album Taking The Long Way) - Another great song from their defining album!
  
• Cowboy Take Me Away (from the albums Fly & Top of the World Live)
• Goodbye Earl (from the album Fly) - Because Earl Had To Die!
  
• Long Time Gone (from the albums Home & Top of the World Live)

Also, don't forget to vote on next weeks selection, and leave suggestions of possible Mix-Ups in the future!

The Week-End Wrap & Review: The Two Week In Waiting Edition

Well it has been at least two weeks since I have done a weekly update! Now there is method to my madness...you see, a review wouldn't be very entertaining (I am assuming that it is entertaining to begin with) without anything to review...but instead now I have much to review, so lets begin:

What I Saw: Let's start with the most recent movie that I have watched, No Country For Old Men. Yes, this is the same film that just won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars two weeks ago! Now, while I was watching the movie, I had many questions and various things going through my mind...mostly trying to figure out the protagonist from the antagonist. By the end of the movie, I was just kinda blah about it, but upon reading some interesting interpretations, I want to give the movie a second shot, maybe watch it again. I also watched Enchanted. The latest Disney movie, was well...exactly that, a Disney movie! I think the most violence in the entire movie, was an evil henchman trying to throw a chipmunk into a pizza burner (but failing). However, it was still a good movie...just a lot of fluff!

What I Heard: What haven't I heard this week. I have still been playing the new Dolly Parton album, Backwoods Barbie, which has been getting fantastic reviews. I have also gone a bit retro this week and the car CD player has been playing James Taylor's Greatest Hits! I love my James Taylor! So much so, that does anyone want to go on a road-trip to see him in Atlanta at the end of May? (It's the closest he is coming to Miami)

What I Read: Nothing! These past two weeks have been filled with absolutely no reading...mostly because work has actually been busy! Who would of thought?

Well, that is the review for now...lots of movie info, some music, and no books!