This is my outlet, an opportunity for me to just rant and rave about things that interest me or things that upset me. Everything that is life, my daily grind, food, music, movies, stuff, food, ideas, etc...
My last blog go me thinking a lot about the mind and how it works, I know each person would respond differently to what I am about to propose. I'm going to 'google' a phrase, and go to the first results, and see where that leads me. Before I begin I would like to point out the scientific research community is NOT in support of this and I am responsible for any outcome that may ensue here on out.
Random Phrase: 'Random Thoughts'
1st Google Result: www.randomthoughts.ws Page Entry: "Jealous of what."
On Your Marks
GO!!!!
When I hear the work 'Jealous' the first this that comes to mind is the song 'Hey Jealousy' by the Gin Blossoms. In that song there is a line, 'we could drive around this town, and let the cops chase us around'. Given I have never been chased by cops, I have spent time just driving around. One memory is back in my high-school days when we would hang out at 'Neon Lyons' and then go TP someone. A few of us would throw toilet paper all over Joan's house, while Mark would be in his little white truck with the bed open, and engine on....it was inevitable that someone would come out, we would bolt to the truck and take off before we could be identified. And these were my church friends...classic. (/br>
This one time I was out with another friend from school, let's call him Mason. A friend of ours was moving away and we through we would give them a send off with TP. It was S.O.P. (Standard Operating Procedure) for this kind of activity, except for two small details.
This was is Clayton, CA. Small town with bored cops.
Our friends dad was a prominent figure in that city, and not a fan of exterior decorating.
We were teenagers, what did we care, right? Right?
Just as we were about to fling the tp into the trees a cop pulls up. You know TPing someone's home is an art. It not some Frat prank where you just toss paper wherever. Great care should be used, with an artistic flare. I learned how to properly TP a house from my parents. How many people out there can say that?
Have you ever been sitting at a table with a group of people and find yourselves talking about some random topic like the "size of duck footprints in the snow". During that conversation, have you ever stopped to think what got you there? It's the middle of May and a group of grown adults is in a deep conversation about the shoe size of a mallard who obviously lost his way and forgot to fly south for the winter. Maybe it went something like this....
While eating dinner you noticed the vibrations in the glass of water everytime someone 'bumped' the table. This was obviously an impact tremor. "Woooosh", you can see and hear Dr. Ian Malcolm talk about impact tremors and his 'Chaos Theory' that we all learned about back in 1993. Of course now that you are all on the topic of Jurassic Park, footprints would seem like a logical direction, however that would be too simplistic. "Woooosh" You focus on the word Chaos, which produces images of Captain Chaos, the alter ego of Victor Prinzim from the movie Cannonball Run. Played by the lovable Dom DeLuise, Captain Chaos was a classic super hero from a split personality. This movie had an extensive cast from Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Dean Martin, Terry Bradshaw, Jackie Chan, Jamie Farr, etc, etc. "Woooosh"
You know Weird Al has a song that mentions Jamie Farr. "And soon I was abducted by some aliens from space Who kinda looked like Jamie Farr" (1:37 you'll hear and see the reference)
I've always been a fan of Mr. Yankovik. The guy has been doing music for over 30 years, and no sign of stopping. He's covered the best, and also done a lot of originals. On his more recent albums he makes a point of putting one song that is at least 10 minutes long...that is a great feat of musical aptitude...even if it's about nothing, except going to the drive-thru, where his wife wanted a chicken sandwich instead of a cheeseburger, that's just crazy talk.
"Woooosh"
The other day I say a chicken crossing the road, no seriously, it was over on Pine and Locust Grove...oh wait, that may have been a duck.
"Woooosh"
Dude, that last snow storm a few months ago, I saw duck foot prints on my drive way....
There may have been a few variations in there, but this all happens in a split second, and that is how my mind works. Now there could be variations in there, say, I could have opted from Jamie Farr and leaned toward Jackie Chan, which could have left me wanting some Dim Sum.
We never know where the mind leads us, so just sit back and enjoy the ride. But please remember to leave breadcrumbs so you can find your way back.
-Brian
(no ducks were injured in the making of this blog)
"...and I believe with all of my heart that it is a contributing factor to our Juvenile delinquency of today. I ah hundred percent believe it. Why I believe that is because I know how it feels when you sing it. I know what it does to you. And I-I know the evil feeling that you feel when you sing it. I know the-the lost position you get into, and the beat... well ah, if you talk to the average teenager of today and you ask them what it is about Rock and Roll music that they like and the first thing they'll say is the beat, the beat, the beat." -- Elvis Presley
The first time I heard this quote was part of an into to an old album/record/tape/CD I used to listen to. I believe the artist was Dime Store Prophets, but I don't remember the song it was attached to. It was 'the beat, the beat, the beat' that caught my attention and ran through my head constantly. It got me thinking a lot about society and what songs say to people. I love a song that has a good beat, a great hook and something that is memorable. (ie, you find yourself humming the melody without even knowing it) At the same time, it's a bit scary when you actually see the words you are trying to sing but fumble through what we can.
A good example of this is when I auditioned for the Retreads last year, we played the song Semi-Charmed by 'Third Eye Blind'. I knew how the song went, but I only knew half the lyrics (if that) from listening to it on the radio. It's a very catchy song, has an upbeat melody and a great hook, what's not to like? Of course the words go by very fast, when you slow them down, or actually read them, it's a very dark song dealing with Meth Addiction.
I won't go into much detail, but here's one line from the song...what do you think it means?
The sky was gold, it was rose I was taking sips of it through my nose And I wish I could get back there, someplace back there Smiling in the pictures you would take Doing crystal meth, will lift you up until you break It won't stop, I won't come down I keep stock with the tick-tock rhythm, I bump for the drop And then I bumped up, I took the hit that I was given Then I bumped again, then I bumped again
Perhaps drug hallucinations from cocaine mixed with Meth, a drug high that eventually crashes, so keep taking more and more resulting in heart palpitations or arrhythmia, but take another 'hit' and keep your high anyways...of course that's just one opinion. It could mean something completely different.
I would advise you to keep your overhead down; avoid a major drug habit; play everyday, and take it in front of other people. They need to hear it, and you need them to hear it.
--James Taylor
I figure the counter to Semi-Charmed Life would have to be James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend". Since James Taylor is classfied as a folk singer, this song lacks the upbeat rhythm and hooks that Semi has. The Lyrics in this song are inspiring, and encouraging, especially considering how cruel or unfair the world can be sometimes. In most cases, no one is ever completely alone. If you are reading this, then I hope you know that I am your friend, and may not come knocking on your door, but will do what I can to help. I know I have a few friends who will do the same.
If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds and that old north wind should begin to blow Keep your head together and call my name out loud now and soon I'll be knocking upon your door. You just call out my name and you know where ever I am I'll come running to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall all you got to do is call and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Please don't get me wrong, I would have loved to have Semi-Charmed in my old band's line up, but it just didn't sound right so we dropped it. With my new band, Jack's Roommate, this song isn't even on our radar, but neither is James Taylor. It's the audience that the songs are geared towards. I find it a bit disturbing when I see girls under 10 singing Kate Perry, don't you?
I'ma get your heart racing in my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
Let me put your hands on my in my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
***Shudder***
Lyrics and meaning aside, the true heart of any song is the rhythm, which makes me understand why Elvis said what he did. It is the pulse, that makes a song move. That uncontrollable drive that makes you unconsciously tap your toe, or get up and dance. It provides an emotional effect. And rhythm does not just mean drums...
Back in my High School days our drum line entered several Winter Percussion Ensembles and did really good. For me the most memorable section was when we used no instruments and just our hands. Clapping in various ways to create different pitches and rhythms. It definitely turned a few heads....kind of like these guys below
I guess all I'm trying to say is...."I HATE SAUERKRAUT"!
speaking of which...here is a true musical genius...
-Brian
"People are flowers. Music is water. Musicians are the hose."
-- Carlos Santana
....you're headed towards the bathroom, and you have about 8-10 feet before you get to the door, which swings in (that means you push it)...you've been here before so you know it's a multiple stall/urinal type, the door won't be locked. As you approach you see the door open up and someone walks out. There are different scenarios to this event, sometimes they will hold the door for you to enter, and sometimes they- won't.
Today I experienced the latter, the door was not held, as I was still the previously mentioned 8-10 feet away.
I had options on what to do, everyday we all have choices and we live with the consequences, whatever they may be. This day and this choice was no different.
continue at the same pace, because of the exiting party there could be an awkward moment where you may need to take evasive action to avoid collision. The door will not fully close, and you'll be able to enter with less force to open the door.
slow down to give a wide birth to the exiting party, this will usually cause them to take evasive action to avoid collision considering the location of the doorway. This may result in the door fully closing which will require you to open it fully to enter.
increase speed to catch the door before it closes, this may allow you to squeeze through the doorway without having to touch the door (Lord knows how much bacteria is on there) Considering your surroundings, this may be a dorky move.
Take caution as someone may be exiting the Ladies room at the same time, this can cause a major incident.
So having these three options, I took several factors into account. Who was exiting, how much time did I have, with the sudden rush of speed use more energy then it would take to push open the door? This got me thinking which way was more efficient. Force vs inertia. wind resistance, the weight of the door, the weight of me...my current velocity...what to make for dinner...
...I really hate math....
so I ended up with option three, and did a little hop through the door...no one was injured
If anyone can tell me the correct calculation to determine the answers to these kind of questions, I'd appreciate it.
