Category: general news

Stuff having to do with the news in general.

Best of Stand-Up

smackyjackjackLeave a comment

This past weekend, while I was sick, I spent a lot of my time sleeping and watching movies. I also revisited some of my favorite stand-up comics. While I’m here, why not make a list of them?

If there has to be a number one spot, it would obviously go to George Carlin. Carlin is by far the funniest and most political of all stand-up comics. His shows changed the way people thought about comedy, and he certainly brought it to some new extremes.

Some new comedians that I’ve found recently are the panel hosts on 8 out of 10 cats, an English TV show. Jimmy Carr, the host, makes his living off of offending people. What’s so beautiful about it is how well he does it. I kind of think of him as a new and really adult Eddie Canter, because most of his jokes are one liners, and he looks like he belongs in the 20’s. I wish I could put a video up of him, but I’d be hard pressed to find one I could post without offending someone.

Someone whose stand-up I can post, however, is Jon Richardson. Most of Richardson’s comedy revolves around him having low-level OCD. It doesn’t sound funny, but the tiniest things bother him. He manages to make a bit about how he mispronounces “An Onion”, and makes it really funny. Plus, his bit at the end about watching a man eat an apple is gold.

He does swear in this, children, so cover your ears.

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And we’re back!

callmemaybe32Leave a comment

Well, Saturday marked the first day of the 2012-2013 NHL season, well I guess the 2013 season at least.

It was a long and frustrating lockout, but the teams are back lacing up the skates and getting out on the ice.

I witnessed a moment in history that will only happen once, and that was watching my beloved Los Angeles Kings raise their first Stanley Cup banner up into the rafters at Staples Center.

While watching the captains of the team skate the flag out to center ice I started to feel something.

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Timeflies

callmemaybe32Leave a comment

I recently came across a musical group called Timeflies.

I was drawn in by a rap that I found while studying for finals called “Adderall and Redbull,” that raps about staying up late studying for finals.

I thought that the vocalist Cal had extreme talent in his vocals and his ability to rap.

The song featured above was a freestyle on a track previously made by another artist.

To have the ability to freestyle is something I wish I had, but it is extremely difficult and takes great talent.

He shows his great freestyle ability in a cover of Ke$ha‘s “Die Young.”

In this song he has his friends write down random topics on which to rap about.

He gets the basket while in the booth and makes great music out of it.

Cal and Rez have only been around as Timeflies since 2010 but are growing in fame with the great music they are producing.

Most of the songs feature an electronic track with great vocals and raw raps.

The song “Turn it Up” features a more electric/dubstep ish style.

The groups ability to merge genres is something that they have been credited with since performing in high school and college bands.

His album “The Scotch Tape” can be found by clicking on the link.

Hope you enjoy the music

Finals-Honestly, kill me now

backinphillyLeave a comment

So now the end is near huh? The semester is ending and people are cramming like some hung over college kid for the bar exam. It’s chaos on the hill, and really it all begs the question, “Who are we kidding?”

There’s no way in hell that this weekend is enough to prepare a student for an exam based on an entire semester’s information. People think that studying this hard for an exam is going to help them.

I’ve got news for all of you. You’re better off not studying at all at this point rather than try and cram. You’re just going to confuse yourself with facts. There IS such a thing as too much studying.

Some guys have been holed up in their rooms this weekend in order to study, only coming out to use the bathroom. They even bring their books in the bathroom to study some more.

Dude, seriously you’re not gonna learn anymore by taking your textbook into the bathroom. Give yourself a minute and a half to use the toilet and go back if u wanna.

I just don’t get the obsession to study like a maniac.

My roommate just told me a saying that his region of China lives by.

“If you have a small test, have a little fun. If you have a big test, have a lot of fun.”

Words of Wisdom from OVS.

Everyone just needs some time off.

F.I.N.A.L.S.

callmemaybe32Leave a comment

It is that dreaded time of year again, finals. 

After a full semester of work all I have to show for it is a bunch of pieces of crumpled papers in the bottom of my backpack and the ink my teacher puts on my test telling me how I did in their class this semester.

This time is stressful for all, and I try to not get caught up in the stress, but there is just no way around it.

Honestly, most finals for me aren’t too hard.

Math? Easy.

Science? Easy.

English? Easy

History? No sir.

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The Last Gasp (?)

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Justice Scalia knew this day would come.

The coming years will mark the end of the grumpy-old-socially-conservative-white-male political system.

States have already begun legalizing Marijuana for not only medicinal use, but also recreational use. Not to mention the “radical idea” of letting gay people marry has come around to existence in many states as well.

The nation has a restless youth that not only wants but needs to make a difference. Using new media such as secure chat rooms, tor and other encrypted ways of communicating, the population of America can be seen making a difference. The most obvious of these recent restless movements was the Occupy protests which sparked a symbol of rebellion all around the world.

The population is upset, and there’s going to be a difference.

Right?

I mean, it’s not like we haven’t seen this before. In the 60’s and 70’s everyone was pumped up about making a difference, and some WAS made, but a few short years after that the still angry and energized youth was given Ronald Reagan, the exact opposite of what they wanted. Then, there were a couple of Bushes, and we all know how that turned out. Even in other countries this has happened throughout history. In Russia, a change was very badly needed so the people turned to Lenin. Before long they had Stalin.

Now, this country is most certainly not headed towards a Stalin-esque type leader, but you get my point.

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Does Creationism Have a Place in Public School?

smackyjackjack1 Comment

No.

Tsk tsk

And when I saw that headline on the LATimes here, I was very befuddled. Since I don’t feel like writing a several page long essay trying to tap into the small brains of creationists, I’ll try to do so in a few short paragraphs.

Let’s begin with a couple of little things called facts. Facts are what you teach children in school. Children do not need their heads filled with hearsay or so called “faith-based facts” that rely on gut instincts. Children need to know what is actually true, because information is power, and the more knowledge you have, the better your short time on Earth here is going to be.

And secondly, let’s remember how you are supposed to make logical conclusions. You are supposed to form a hypothesis (well done religion, you make it this far), and then gather as much proof and evidence (this is where ol’ God loses it) to back up your hypothesis. This is how the great scientists and thinkers of time have always done it, and how it should be taught. Scientists, atheists, anti-theists and evolutionists understand that to understand the world you must have proofs for your beliefs. It is the creationists who need to supply proof for what they believe. Science has been doing this for years and years. It baffles me how something so blatantly false and fabricated as religion and creationism can be even thought about for curriculum in schools.  Once some proof other than some burnt toast comes forth for religious beliefs, I’ll stick with the side that supplies the logic.

Boom.

The Blog is Snowing!!

callmemaybe32Leave a comment

Hello folks, I haven’t talked to you in a bit.

I hopped on WordPress to see what was going on and to see what people have been saying on here only to find that the blog was snowing.

There are little white dots sprinkling down on the homepage banner and down through the blogs and pictures.

If it is just mine I will be a little bit worried, but I swear the blog is snowing.

Merry Christmas!

HO! HO! HO!

Birds Gettin’ It Goin’ Again

backinphillyLeave a comment

Well, the Eagles looked pretty good again tonight. I’m very pleasently surprised to see new quarterback Nick Foles play with a LOT of poise in the pocket tonight. He’s made a lot of smart plays and really looks like a seasoned veteran tonight. I wouldn’t change a whole lot that has gone on. The team looks pretty solid. The offensive line is holding their own against a Cowboys defense that doesn’t rush the quarterback all that much, but keep in mind that DeMarcus Ware is still on that defense.

You are never safe on offense with THAT guy on the defense coming to find you.

The Eagles defense looks weak once again. It’s a disgrace. Tonight, however, the problem isn’t Nnamdi Asomugha or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The problem with the passing defense is the zone defense calls and the safeties Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman. These two are complete garbage. To be honest, I’m in complete shock that Coleman has a job. He doesn’t look to be good enough to play for a Pop Warner team. He goes for the big hits and 9 times out of 10 he misses. He’s a disgrace. I’m not as hard on Allen. He has played well for a long time but is completely overshadowed by the disgusting play of Coleman. Kurt Coleman is a big guy but at this point, I’d rather have Gary Coleman over Kurt.

No, there’s no relation.

While the outcome was not a victory, there were some highlights.

Minus his fumble resulting in a Dallas touchdown, Bryce Brown had a flawless night in LeSean McCoy’s absence. We now know that we have two running backs worth playing and third option, Dion Lewis, that could be used in specific situations. We knew coming into the season that the running back core was going to be deep. But we were never certain as to how well Bryce was going to play.

So far so good for the rookie.

Another big play was when another rookie, Damaris Johnson, took a punt all the way to the house. A 98 yard return from a rookie is something I haven’t seen the Eagles do since DeSean’s rookie season.

It was a good night for the most part. Only thing missing was the win. But we will get back at it next year. I only have to bare through four more Eagles games.

Hopefully, next season will be without that fat sack o’ losses we call Andy Reid.

2012 Youth Filmmakers Competition

smackyjackjackLeave a comment

This is it folks!

All of the entries for the 2012 Youth Filmmakers Competition in Ojai have been judged and the winners have been decided.

The films range from from zombie-thrillers to real life documentaries about citizens in Ojai.

For the last several months students from junior-high and up have been working on films to be submitted to the competition, all hoping to win one of the three cash prizes ($500, $400 and $300).

The films are being shown on the 9th of December at the Ojai Playhouse. All of the films submitted will be screened, and the winners will be announced on the same day. Along with the three cash prizes, an audience choice award will also be given.

This is a great opportunity to see the works of the young people of Ojai. I suggest everyone comes down and checks it out!