Word Of The Year
The 2006 word of the year is "plutoed," chosen by the American Dialect Society in their meeting last Friday.
The word means to be "demote or devalue someone or something," which is in accordance with the big news in October 2006 of Pluto's demotion from planet to "less-than-planet" in the solar system.
The runner up was "climate canary," which is "a species whose poor health or declining numbers hint at a larger environmental catastrophe on the horizon."
At least Pluto got some recognition this year. Instead of being recognized for its hip, "rebellious" orbit, it got shot down to a "has been" and a "dwarf planet."
It got plutoed.
Friday, January 5, 2007
Society has gotten slightly better.
Country Music on the Decline
What really strikes me are the gross misinterpretation of the statistics. So CD sales in general have been down (due to the rising popularity of personal mp3 and media players,) but that doesn't detract from the fact that there were 400,000 less country music albums sold in 2006 than in 2005.
The really gross part is the attribution of great artists of 2006 to the country genre in general. The #2 band listed is Johnny Cash (the only good person able to be labeled "country.") This is obviously due to the wonderful movie Walk The Line, including soundtrack and DVD sales, and obviously box sets and past albums by Johnny Cash. It really has nothing to do with whether he's "country" or not.
What's my gripe with country? Everything. It isn't good music. And music isn't just music. Following a distinct sound and pattern in all the theory and structure of your attempt at music isn't music. And following patterns is what country is.
One time at work, when the radio was turned on, a country song came on. I politely asked my coworker the band who made the song. The reply?
"Keith Urban" (with a very puzzled look on their face, as if I should have known.)
I'm sorry, coworker, but it sounds like any other country singer. And the very basic chord progressions and drum tracks sounded like any other country band.
And ballads for lyrics is like putting a golf ball in a blender. Stupid.
Here's to a successful year at making the country music industry slightly less successful. Hopefully we as a nation can do better in 07'.
/rant.
What really strikes me are the gross misinterpretation of the statistics. So CD sales in general have been down (due to the rising popularity of personal mp3 and media players,) but that doesn't detract from the fact that there were 400,000 less country music albums sold in 2006 than in 2005.
The really gross part is the attribution of great artists of 2006 to the country genre in general. The #2 band listed is Johnny Cash (the only good person able to be labeled "country.") This is obviously due to the wonderful movie Walk The Line, including soundtrack and DVD sales, and obviously box sets and past albums by Johnny Cash. It really has nothing to do with whether he's "country" or not.
What's my gripe with country? Everything. It isn't good music. And music isn't just music. Following a distinct sound and pattern in all the theory and structure of your attempt at music isn't music. And following patterns is what country is.
One time at work, when the radio was turned on, a country song came on. I politely asked my coworker the band who made the song. The reply?
"Keith Urban" (with a very puzzled look on their face, as if I should have known.)
I'm sorry, coworker, but it sounds like any other country singer. And the very basic chord progressions and drum tracks sounded like any other country band.
And ballads for lyrics is like putting a golf ball in a blender. Stupid.
Here's to a successful year at making the country music industry slightly less successful. Hopefully we as a nation can do better in 07'.
/rant.
This is the kind of logic we pay taxes for.
Activity In Video Games Fights Obesity
This makes me want to buy a Nintendo Wii. How about you? How revolutionary, you can enjoy your video games while getting a form of exercise!
Except it's not revolutionary. The technology is, to a small extent. But motion-sensing technology, even in video games, has been around for a LONG time.
And video games that gives you a work out have been around for nearly 20 years, too.
Nintendo Power Pad
Yep, I have one of these, too. And after racing my girlfriend for nearly ten minutes, I was out of breath. And for as old as it is (1988) it is extremely durable.
And it also was the precursor for the infamous dance pad for the game Dance Dance Revolution.
How revolutionary. A video game that gives you exercise. Sure, the power pad worked your feet, but the Wii really puts you in the game, using your entire body, especially hands and arms.
Castmaster
Motion-sensing video games. Again. Except this one probably won't make you break a sweat.
It seems that everyone and their uncle has been making a big hairy deal about the Nintendo Wii and how it "puts you in the game." Now we get unnecessary releases about how it can make you lose weight? While we're at it, why don't we pull out a lighter and amaze ourselves that we can make fire?
Don't get me wrong, I definitely am interested in getting one, but not anytime soon. I like my games sitting, and my fingers flying, and that's all I need.
This makes me want to buy a Nintendo Wii. How about you? How revolutionary, you can enjoy your video games while getting a form of exercise!
Except it's not revolutionary. The technology is, to a small extent. But motion-sensing technology, even in video games, has been around for a LONG time.
And video games that gives you a work out have been around for nearly 20 years, too.
Nintendo Power Pad
Yep, I have one of these, too. And after racing my girlfriend for nearly ten minutes, I was out of breath. And for as old as it is (1988) it is extremely durable.
And it also was the precursor for the infamous dance pad for the game Dance Dance Revolution.
How revolutionary. A video game that gives you exercise. Sure, the power pad worked your feet, but the Wii really puts you in the game, using your entire body, especially hands and arms.
Castmaster
Motion-sensing video games. Again. Except this one probably won't make you break a sweat.
It seems that everyone and their uncle has been making a big hairy deal about the Nintendo Wii and how it "puts you in the game." Now we get unnecessary releases about how it can make you lose weight? While we're at it, why don't we pull out a lighter and amaze ourselves that we can make fire?
Don't get me wrong, I definitely am interested in getting one, but not anytime soon. I like my games sitting, and my fingers flying, and that's all I need.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Zap, You're Cliche!
Out With The Old
To me, this is long overdue.
Sometimes buzz words like these can be a strong indicator of pseudo-intellectuality. Let's face it, many people (it's OK to generalize here) use large and "harder" words to tout their intellect. Some take it to a new level, and even screw up those words. Enter the current Commander-In-Chief.
I really enjoy "strategy" being on this list. Not only is it a commonly used word throughout society, but it is one of the most basic words to represent its own concept.
Perhaps "brainstorming" would be more suitable for the list. What word is more basic and common than "strategy" for that concept? I can't think of any, at least not now.
You could possibly go with "think," but that goes along a different wavelength.
To me, this is long overdue.
Sometimes buzz words like these can be a strong indicator of pseudo-intellectuality. Let's face it, many people (it's OK to generalize here) use large and "harder" words to tout their intellect. Some take it to a new level, and even screw up those words. Enter the current Commander-In-Chief.
I really enjoy "strategy" being on this list. Not only is it a commonly used word throughout society, but it is one of the most basic words to represent its own concept.
Perhaps "brainstorming" would be more suitable for the list. What word is more basic and common than "strategy" for that concept? I can't think of any, at least not now.
You could possibly go with "think," but that goes along a different wavelength.
The Tides of Change?
DraftObama.org, an organization dedicated to the publicizing and encouragement of presidential run by Senator Barack Obama announced that it is launching a national group named "Independents for Obama" yesterday.
How easy is it to love Barack Obama? Just google his name for his political career, and you'll see he's on the right side of every line.
I'm definitely not a Democrat. I'm pretty much a skeptic. But if I'm not mistaken, the two most wanted Democrats in office are the Clinton-lady, and Obama.
I smell a different breeze blowing. Could it be that the next president of the United States isn't a wealthy, land-owning, white male? The democrats won congress. Did they win over the people?
So now this organization created a group, pretty early on, that shows growing support for Obama by independents as well. What intrigues me is that this group was made separate from the parent organization.
I guess it would be too good to see different parties actually banding together for once. Seems odd that the group was even made at all. At least from a moral and logical standpoint. Obviously it sparks more support for Obama.
Either way, more people are hopping on the Barack Obama bandwagon. It'll be an interesting two years ahead of us.
How easy is it to love Barack Obama? Just google his name for his political career, and you'll see he's on the right side of every line.
I'm definitely not a Democrat. I'm pretty much a skeptic. But if I'm not mistaken, the two most wanted Democrats in office are the Clinton-lady, and Obama.
I smell a different breeze blowing. Could it be that the next president of the United States isn't a wealthy, land-owning, white male? The democrats won congress. Did they win over the people?
So now this organization created a group, pretty early on, that shows growing support for Obama by independents as well. What intrigues me is that this group was made separate from the parent organization.
I guess it would be too good to see different parties actually banding together for once. Seems odd that the group was even made at all. At least from a moral and logical standpoint. Obviously it sparks more support for Obama.
Either way, more people are hopping on the Barack Obama bandwagon. It'll be an interesting two years ahead of us.
Monday, January 1, 2007
Favre to return. Quit fussing.
Okay, people. He'll come back.
Quit worrying.
Lately there's been a lot of speculation as to whether Brett Favre, current Green Bay Packers quarterback, would be returning for another season.
Here's your answer (still unofficial):
Quit worrying.
Lately there's been a lot of speculation as to whether Brett Favre, current Green Bay Packers quarterback, would be returning for another season.
Here's your answer (still unofficial):
He'll be back.
So he had a few tears, big deal. Here's a fact for you; he's only a few touchdowns away from beating that ultimate record that Dan Marino set years ago: the career high in touchdown passes.
That's huge. He ended this season just under that record, and would definitely beat it if he came back.
Some say that this doesn't, and won't, factor into his decision.
That's huge. He ended this season just under that record, and would definitely beat it if he came back.
Some say that this doesn't, and won't, factor into his decision.
That's a lie. I mean, COME ON.
He'll come back. No one in their right mind would end a career so close to a golden record. So quit whining.
Mike out.
He'll come back. No one in their right mind would end a career so close to a golden record. So quit whining.
Mike out.
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