Blog is a Mix Tape

literary meme

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:27:18 -0800

RPM, I'm calling your name-check of me in the post a tag, so here we go:

Instructions:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag 5 different people.

People's Movements, People's Press: The Journalism of Social Justice Movements

Bob Ostertag

Among the Special Forces people Barry had noticed was Master Sergeant Donald Duncan, who left the Green Berets in September 1965 and wrote "The Whole Thing Was a Lie" for the radical Ramparts magazine in February 1966.
On March 8, 1965, the first U.S. combat troops arrived in South Vietnam. Just three months later, Special Forces Lieutenant Richard R. Steinke refused a direct order into a combat zone because of his opposition to the war.

I'll tag Scooter Kitty.

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last.fm says...

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:58:39 -0800

Top Artists this Week (see more)

18 Nov 2007 – 25 Nov 2007

1	OutKast	17
1	Jay-Z	17
3	Feist	15
4	Madlib	12
5	4hero	10
6	De La Soul	8
7	Band of Horses	6
8	Justice	5
8	Iron & Wine	5
8	Little Brother	5

The album that has been dominating my life the past 2 weeks has been Jay-Z's American Gangster. While, it doesn't really hold onto the idea of being a concept album throughout, the 70s soul & funk can't be denied and Hova is having fun here. My favorite track, Party Life, has a great hook and the rhymes are hella clever. Although, I always enjoy when the Jigga-man gets mackadocious. I'm still amazed that this is mostly Diddy production (and, RPM, I haven't forgotten about sending you my extra copy).

Outkast gets top billing off of me re-finding Aquemini (which I still believe is their finest album). The title track bubbled up on Shuffle one day and I immediately jumped to the full length. I suggest you do the same.

Most of the rest of the list (Madlib, Little Brother, and De La Soul excluded as they regularly bubble up in my weekly spins) is the result of me starting to focus in what I think are the best albums and songs from the year. I know what tops my list -- the artists behind #s 1 and 2 are both in my top ten here -- while Justice remains controversial in my head.

I haven't been exceptionally happy with my last.fm recommendations of late but these two recent additions to my library are highlights:

A Window

The Radio Dept.

Red Wine, Success!

Cold War Kids

This week, last.fm says Magneta Lane and Bugge Wesseltoft. Bugge is already a good choice as he's connected to Beady Belle (who I haven't listened to nearly enough of) but what I really think Last.fm wants me to listen to is a Brazilian Love Affair.

Or, maybe just have one.

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5 Word Challenge: Powers

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:28:38 -0800

This is how it works: you get 5 words and with these 5 words you have to write an entry. The words might or might not be related. You decide how to combine them, and how long your entry will be. You tag your entry with 5wordchallenge and whatever other tags you like. Finally, you put the words in bold.

This challenge: pickle, fireplace, audacious, street, surprise

Martin stood at the corner waiting for the light to change.

He thought of nothing in particular as he was bumped from behind, his sandwich tumbling to the ground. He looked back in disgust as he leaned down to pick it up when he heard the wet sliding of something crushed under foot. He turned his gaze towards the ground and saw a trail of green goo beneath the shoe of the man who had accidentally jostled him.

"My pickle," he said.

"Excuse me," the man replied.

"Dude, you destroyed my pickle."

"I what?"

"My pickle. My lunch. You killed it."

The man, Norman Rose, adjusted his glasses. Beads of sweat appeared on his brow. Martin noticed his fear, puffed out his chest, and got louder.

"What are you going to do about my lunch?"

"Your lunch," Norman repeated. He reached into his messenger bag. "I've got some nuts."

"Nuts?! How about I roast your nuts in my fireplace?"

Martin stepped towards Norman so that they were face to face. Norman, flustered and afraid, sneezed uncontrollably. He watched, as if in horrific slow motion, as spittle and snot covered the angry man's mug.

Martin jumped back with a start as if he had been shot. Wiping his face down with his hand, his blood boiled. He grabbed Norman by the collar and tossed him into the street.

Someone else on the corner said matter-of-factly, "Bus."

Norman turned towards the bus as it beat down on him. No sense of surprise crossed his features. He put both hands on his belt buckle and closed his eyes. He wasn't afraid.

Martin leaped out to grab him but it was too late. The bus went through Norman.

Except it didn't. Norman went through it. It must have only taken a few seconds but it felt like an eternity. He opened his eyes as he phased through the front of the giant vehicle. He could feel it slow, but not quickly enough to avoid him, as he slid down the aisle. He was barely solid and the bus was still on the move so most inside didn't see him. A little girl holding her mother's hand did, though, and he winked. She smiled and waved. He would've waved back but he didn't dare remove his hands from his belt.

And just like that, he was on the street again, now behind the bus instead of in front. It worked, he thought, the belt worked! He looked up, trying to think of what he would tell the crowd that had seen his amazing feat but no one was paying attention to him. They were at the front of the bus staring at the man who he had just fought with instead of at him who had controlled his molecules with the touch of a clothing accessory.

Martin wasn't nearly as audacious.

He was dead.

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Meme Wednesday: My Life Soundtrack

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:54:43 -0800

Via RPM.

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
1. Open your library* (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool - first songs only

Opening Credits - Lightworks, J Dilla aka Jay Dee

"What is the magic that makes one's eyes sparkle and gleam, light up the skies?"

Waking Up - Can You Believe, Robin Thicke

"Can you believe it when all that you've got is doubt and no one to pull you out? Your heart is slowing down but can you believe it?"

First Day of School - One Arm Break, Zero 7

Falling in Love - Forget the Past, Charles Webster

"We'll get there. I just know it."

Fight Song - Thursday, The Futureheads

"It's 24 hours since we've had this curse so find it in your hearts to pity us."

Breaking Up - Glittering Clouds (Locusts), Imogen Heap

"I'm not always like this. It's something I become. A terrible weakness in my nature, in my blood. Save me, oh, save me. Save me from myself before I hurt somebody else again."

Prom - Together Someday, Hepcat

"I'm tired of playing these games and if you really feel the same let's stop right now and cut to the chase because I know that we'll be together someday."

Life is Good - Always There (David Morales Remix), Incognito

"Such a good feeling that's where I want to be. Locked in your prison of total ecstasy."

Mental Breakdown - Breathe Me, Sia

"Help, I have done it again. I have been here many times before. Hurt myself again, today. And the worst part is there's no one else to blame."

Driving - Honest (Jazzanova Remix), Nuspirit Helsinki

"Remember the good times (Good Times!) ? The melody?"

Flashback - B.B.D. (I Thought it was me), Bell Biv Devoe

"Yo! I love being a bachelor. Ricky said, "Yo that girls a good catch for ya." She and I choose to cruise in my love boat. My water bed kept us afloat. I had to prove my manhood. Show her that the B-I-V was damn good. Understood? But I never got my boat rocked like that before. Yo!"

Getting Back Together - Unbreakable (MTV Unplugged), Alicia Keys

"We could fight like Ike & Tina or give back like Bill & Camille. Be rich like Oprah & Steadman or instead struggle like Flo & James Evans."

Wedding - Hello, It's Me, John Legend

"It's important to me that you know that you are free cuz I never want to make you change."

Paying the Dues - Sparkle City, Shuggie Otis

"Sun is up and greets with a grin. Letting me know that I was in. Go outside with a smile on my face. Jump in my car and leave this place. I heard all the news. There is no offer that I wouldn't refuse. Now comes the time when I need to run. Sorry, people, but I'm not the one!"

The Night Before the War - Verbal Clap, De La Soul

"Let's go beat for beat and rhyme for rhyme (put all things aside)."

Final Battle - Take it Back, Skillz

"Alright, listen up, I'ma put it in perspective. I'm the best since me. I got the right to be selective."

Moment of Triumph - Keep it Country, Soulpatrol

Death Scene - Around The World, Daft Punk

"Around the world, around the world..."

Funeral Song - Down the Hillside, Jose Gonzalez

End Credits - Third Rock, Pure Essence

*I used my Recently Played playlist which features the 1145 different songs I've listened to in the last month.

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Meme Wednesday: Book Meme

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:55:15 -0800

This is an oldie but a goodie and I was tagged by Smokler a few days ago, so let's do this:

1.Grab the book closest to you

America's Report Card: A Novel

2. Open to page 123, go down to the fifth sentence

Done.

3. Post the text of next 3 sentences on your blog

The office was on Cicero Avenue, right around the corner from Pompeii Inn -- walking distance, really, but Charlie drove. It was dark, and Charlie was a stranger to the area. Besides, this was Al Capone territory.