Sunday, November 10, 2013

Humanity, as told by Google Trends

I challenged my friend Kevin to find a person with a single jump larger than the 2008 Obama jump on Google trends.

He won. Here are some interesting results (click through if you can't see the embedded graph):



1. Michael Jackson's death > Obama.
2. Everyone Googled Sarah Palin during the 2008 election. She nearly eclipsed Britney's peak searchitude during Brit's 2006 divorce/meltdown.
3. Miley Cyrus twerking was more search-worthy than Obama's reelection.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Work Bitch: Grad School Edition.

You wanna graduation
You wanna dissertation
You wanna real vacation*
You better work, bitch

You wanna two bed condo
Sip wine from Carmignano
Look hot in a purple poncho
You better work, bitch

You wanna live nicer
Work a nine to fiver
Party with your adviser
You better work, bitch

(*meaning not at your parents' house.)

PS. Thanks to my grad school friends who helped out with this.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Aladdin Gyrocery: Magical Gyros

Aladdin Gyrocery
The Ave & 42nd-ish
7/10 on my bangin' scale

Having lived or worked in the U-District for 5 years, I can say with confidence that the lamb gyro at Aladdin Gyrocery is among the U-District's best fare.

The gyro meat is deliciously spiced, and the yogurt sauce is quite tasty, too. They don't skimp on salad toppings (iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, red onion), either. A combo meal ($7.50) includes a gyro, a soda, and your choice of fries, rice, or salad. I usually choose the rice because the yellow rice is delish.

The falafel pita is also a decent bet, but not quite as good as the gyro.

Lamb Gyro Combo: Lamb Gyro, rice with yogurt sauce, and soda ($7.50)
Expect to wait several minutes for your order. They grill everything up after you order. At least this way everything always comes out super warm!

No need to ask a genie for a place to get a halfway decent meal in the U-District, just head over to Aladdin Gyrocery.


Aladdin Gyrocery on Urbanspoon

"The Fosters" is "7th Heaven" for Lesbians

This week Netflix recommended I watch its new release "The Fosters."

To decide if I should watch it, I asked myself three questions:
1) Do I want to watch an ABC Family show about lesbians?
2) Do I want to risk watching a show with such a lame name ("The Fosters" is the family name, reflects the fact that the couple are foster parents, AND I hope may be a reference to Jodie Foster.....)?
3) Does anyone want to watch a show executive produced by JLo?

Obviously, my answers to all three were a resounding "YES!" Four days later, I've finished all 10 episodes. What can I say about this show? It is definitely "7th Heaven" for lesbians.

Here's the basic plot: Two super-lesbimoms have a bajillion kids, and teen/family drama ensues.

Warning: There will be some minor plot giveaways below.

Stef Foster and Lena Adams = Eric and Annie Camden
I guess the moms have to be like Eric and Annie because they are the parents. They have five kids... like the original cast of "7th Heaven!" Stef is a police officer, and Lena is a vice principal at a fancy charter school. Neither are a minister, but their actions preach since they have no discernible character flaws. Although they are given a ton of crazy conflicts, they always seem to have the best possible reaction to everything. Lesbimoms are the best type of moms!

Brandon Foster = Matt Camden
Brandon is the oldest brother (like Matt), and is Stef's biological son from a previous marriage. He generally has his shit together (also like Matt), and therefore is rather boring.

Callie Jacob = Mary Camden
Callie is new to the family as a foster child. She's around Brandon's age, maybe 16 or 17? I almost chose Jesus (below) to be Mary, but Callie has more issues, so she gets the cake. Multiple dark horses/forbidden loves like her (like Mary aka Jessica Biel!), she just came out of juvie (didn't Mary get arrested at some point?), and has generally had the hardest time of all the kids (MARY).

Jesus Foster = Lucy Camden
Jesus is the 15-year-old adoptive son of Stef and Lena, and is Mariana's twin brother. He's the hot dude with ADD, who can get any popular girl he wants (Lucy had a lot of boyfriends and was popular). Too bad he likes Mariana's best friend!

Mariana Foster = Simon Camden
Mariana is the twin sister of Jesus. She doesn't have a ton of friends (sorry, but no one likes you, Simon), and she gives her biological mom money when she asks her for it (Bank of Simon).

Jude Jacob = Ruthie Camden
At 12, Jude is the youngest (foster) kid, and is therefore the most like Ruthie. He's cute, doesn't talk bad about anyone, and gets bullied at school.

Family Lessons = Family Lessons
The family lessons are at the heart of this show, as they were in "7th Heaven."  What's refreshing is that the morals are more like what I'd personally want to hear. We learn about teen contraception, gay marriage, religion and gays, bullying in school, undocumented immigrants, alcoholism, and rape.

If you were still wondering if "The Fosters" really is "7th Heaven" for lesbians, take a look at who officiated their wedding....

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

We Survived Mariano Rivera Bobblehead Night: A True Story

My mother is a huge Yankee fan (for example, she claims she is partially responsible for getting Andy Pettitte to come out of retirement... but that is another story), so last night my parents went to Yankee Stadium to get Mariano Rivera bobbleheads.

The following is a real-life account of what happened:
We are going to get t-shirts that say "We survived Mariano Rivera Bobblehead Night"

G__ and I each invested 4 hours of our lives in acquiring our Mariano Rivera Bobbleheads. It was nearly life-threatening at times. :) G__ got there early, and though he was on a civilized line, there was a crush to the gates when they were opened 45 MINUTES LATE, because the Yankees were trying to figure out how to break it to the crowd that the BOBBLEHEADS HAD NOT ARRIVED! I staked that out early and sat on a bench away from the fray. I was resigned not to get a bobblehead (or should I say a voucher, at that point. The truck that was bringing the bobble heads to the Stadium broke down in New Jersey). While I sat and talked to a lady who came from MINNESOTA and had rented a week in a house in the BRONX IN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE STADIUM, in order to get a bobble head, I realized that there was a "will call" line and right next to it a line to get right into the stadium, without the crush, so I ambled in there and got my voucher.

Later, during the game (which was horrible in many ways), the bobbleheads arrived and they announced that they could be picked up in ONE SPOT in the stadium, until one half hour after the game. Everyone went some time between the 4th and 6th innings and it resulted in a line that snaked thru the bowels of the stadium, through the basement, up the ramps to the top deck, back down and out the Gate 2 where the vouchers could be redeemed. People were selling their places on line, their vouchers and likewise, offering to buy vouchers. I wanted the crowd to start chanting "Mariano" from the depths of the stadium, so it would reverberate out on the field, but I could not get the crowd to go along with me. They were so defeated. People are such lambs. There were Yankee intern-type people in suits assigned to patrol the line, but they were powerless to help. It was obvious to anyone on line, that they should have had several different locations to pick up the bobbleheads and maybe one of them should have been outside...maybe the merchandise was too precious to allow out on the Bronx streets.

And finally, despite the fact that the head DOES NOT BOBBLE, someone has already posted it on ebay for $250.

And now, the moment we've all been waiting for...

September 24, 2013 Mariano Rivera bobblehead

Thursday, September 5, 2013

I Always Wanted A Boat Friend...

Center for Wooden Boats
Free Rides Sundays
9/10 on my bangin' scale.

 ... Now that friend is a steam launch named Puffin. She's a bit of a cougar (she was originally built in 1906), but that only makes her all the more alluring.

If you're wondering about the FREE Sunday sails at the Center for Wooden Boats, here's the down low:
  • You have to get there before 10am to sign up at 10. According to a volunteer at the Center, a good time to get there is around 9:15am on sunny summer weekends. She also suggested coming in October, when summertime crowds start to die down.
  • If you want a sailboat, make sure you get there earlier than we did. My group of 3 arrived at 9:55, which was cutting it a bit close for signups. By the time we got inside, all of the sail boats were taken... but that was OK, since we really wanted to ride Puffin
  • Come back at your assigned time (we got a 1pm time slot) to get lifejackets and board your boat.
  • Enjoy a 45 minute ride past Lake Union houseboats (yes, you'll see the house from "Sleepless in Seattle"), Gas Works Park, and various drunken boat parties (weather permitting).

Center for Wooden Boats dock

Now, about my steamy journey aboard the Puffin. I know I'm biased (at the time of writing she's the only boat I've boarded at the CWB), but I'd have to say this boat has to be the best at the Center. How many times in your life do you have the opportunity to ride a tiny, early 1900s steam boat? Three volunteer crew members attended to steering and feeding the Puffin (her boiler is hungry), while we lounged around tooting her horn.

Our volunteer captain posing with the Puffin's boiler

Forge ahead, Puffin!

I would highly recommend for all Seattleites to go to Free Sunday "Sails" at CWB. And at least twice. Do it. It's Cheap. Cheap. Cheap.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Journaling in the 90s.

I found my elementary through middle school journal the other day. I love that I am exactly the same as I was when I was eight years old. Also, current events/fads are great.


1. Written in 1994 (8 years old). Trapper Keepers, Lion King, and TEN PENCILS.



2.  Written in 1995 (8 years old). I can't believe someone does not like math.



 3. Written in 1999 (13 years old). I can write in cursive. I had an unreadable pink milky pen, which I used to talk about "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace."



4. Written in 1999 (13 years old). I got an A. I played softball. The Knicks were good that year (Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson)!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

The Spurs Lost, so let's turn to the commentary of Game 7...

"Bosh is not able to get off of Duncan's body to be able to help on the penetration."

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

All Coming Back to Me

This never occurred to me before, but...is Celine Dion's hit "All Coming Back to Me Now" about her fond memories of being molested at age 12 by her future husband?

Via Wikipedia:
Dion first met her husband and manager, Rene Angelil in 1980, when she was 12 and he was 38, after she and her mother sent him a demo tape of a song they had written. They began a relationship in 1987, and became engaged in 1991.

 And the lyrics include gems such as:
There were moments of gold
and there were flashes of light.
There were things I'd never do again
but then they'd always seemed right.
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than any laws allow
Baby, baby...
MORE THAN ANY LAWS ALLOW???????

Monday, May 20, 2013

Gossip Game: S01E08 Recap

In episode 8 (the season finale??) of "The Gossip Game," we get up close and personal with FCB. FCB originated from an interview by KFoxx, where she called Angela Yee "fake," Sharon Carpenter "conceited," and Vivian Billings a "bitch." The trio reappropriated the words, and thus FCB was born.

Meanwhile, Ms. Drama meets up with Star, who wants her as his show's new gossip girl. He decides the best way to propose this situation would be to take out some condoms to show he really means business. OMFG, srriusly? Star really knows how to work the ladies.

Later Ms. Drama invites Sharon to her studio to "hash out" their differences. If you recall, Sharon kicked Drama out of her birthday party last episode since Ms. Drama decided to start some drama at Sharon's party. If anyone has an excellent memory, Ms. Drama apparently also previously called Sharon a "come up ho." You might have guessed that this doesn't end too well. The two end up in an argument. Sharon Carpenter notes that the two were trying to sit down and "have a woman to woman conversation," but it was more like "woman to warthog." Seems like Sharon thinks Ms. Drama lacks a certain appeal

Angela sets Viv up with a job interview with DJ prostyle at Power 105 ("Viv is my project," she announces). She completes the 2 minute interview on camera. If that's really how it went down, I can't imagine she got the job. She agrees, "I was a little nervous, so I don't know if I got the job."

Meanwhile, JasFly decides KFoxx should throw an event to cozy up to the blogging community. She gets the OK from KFoxx's boss, Ebro. The party happens, and surprise! The whole cast shows. Kim Osorio is "shocked" that KFoxx called the other cast members fake, conceited, and bitchy. JasFly calls out KFoxx for not supporting women of color in the industry, while throwing shade Ms. Drama's way. 

Angela shows up with Sharon and Viv. Angela's happy drunk and shouts, "I got bitch Billings on my right, conceited Carpenter on my left..."

"And fake Yee in the middle," counters Sharon. FCB has arrived. Angela gets in a fight with Peter Rosenberg because she allegedly sent a text about him trying to get with her while he was with his fiancee. Who cares? Only KFoxx. To show how little FCB cares, Angela proclaims, "You know what I want to do right now? Go to a real party." With that (and a little trouble getting over one step on the way out), FCB is gone. 

My personal favorite scene of the episode occurs last, as usual in reality TV shows. KFoxx decides to meet up with Angela at some benches in the middle of a sidewalk to talk about their issues. KFoxx informs Angela that she will stand because she is wearing jeans that won't allow her to sit. The rest of the scene proceeds with KFoxx standing, and Angela sitting. Hilarious. KFoxx is still pissed that Vivian spread a rumour about her and Maino, and decides it's Angela's fault that Vivian wrote the blog post. Angela, referencing Hamlet, believes KFoxx "doth protesteth too much." Clearly the two don't see eye to eye, except for the fact that Angela "need[s] a manual" on how to act. Angela really wants to read said manual: "Can you write the manual, and I'll read it?" She thinks it would be great for young girls!

The episode ends with short life updates by each cast member (this is the finale). None are particularly interesting, except for Viv's. She admits she probably didn't get the job at Power 105 because she hadn't heard back. Then she goes to the tattoo shop with Kayden, her trans son, to get a tat with only the letter "K." She's on the way to acceptance, even if she isn't all the way there. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Gossip Game: S01E07 Recap

Episode 7 of "The Gossip Game" was all about branding and associating with the right people.

Kim Osorio wants to work on her brand, but feels overwhelmed because she has to spend so much time working for "The Source." She seeks advice from Kino, who's sick, and therefore has a license to act like an asshole in front of the kids. While Kim is working from home, the kids are getting in her grill, and she feels frustrated. Kino gets the kids to sing a lovely song, "Daddy's nice. Mommy's mean." Also, he asked Kim ten times for a glass of orange juice, and he still hasn't gotten one. Sounds like Kim really does have an extra kid.

Later in the episode, he appears to have gotten over his illness, and is slightly more helpful. She wants to focus on her brand (I still don't get what this means!), but she'd be getting rid of a lot of income, and she's comfortable right now. There's no time for a job and creating a brand. Kino says that if she were his client, he'd look at her resume and say she's a star. He'd advise her to cut out any work that isn't getting her to where she wants to be. Realizing he looks like an actual, loving husband at this point, he adds, then "I'd try to have sex with you."

Viv wants to repair her image by talking things out with Steph Lova. Things don't go so well, and Steph Lova resorts to insults: "Get your ass a gym membership, bitch." Viv realizes the whole fight was provoked by her cousin, Star, so she decides she won't do his show anymore. When she informs him of this, he basically responds by saying he'd rather be drinking than talking to her right now.

KFoxx decides to start hanging out with JasFly and Ms. Drama (separately). She plans to work with JasFly. She takes on a mentorship role for the sad, friendless Ms. Drama. Both JasFly and Ms. Drama like KFoxx's recent interview about the media's portrayal of light skinned women over dark skinned women. JasFly likes to say she "doesn't fall into any categories," but KFoxx tells her she's dark skinned, whether she admits it or not. KFoxx tries to get JasFly and Ms. Drama to reconcile twice, but neither attempt works. Instead, JasFly tells Ms. Drama that she has no "genuity," which Ms. Drama notes "does not exist in the dictionary."

Finally, Sharon has a birthday party, and everyone but Ms. Drama is invited. That doesn't matter, though, because now that KFoxx and Ms. Drama are BFFs, Ms. Drama comes as KFoxx's plus one. Ms. Drama decides it would be cool to call Sharon "delusional" at her birthday party, so Sharon asks Angela to ask Ms. Drama to leave. How second grade. Ms. Drama leaves slowly, waving to everyone as she walks out. Ms. Drama proclaims--in an empty stairwell--that it is her and KFoxx versus the mean girls.

Seattle Supersonics, Capitol Hill, and the essence of the hoopster.

Last night, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, I attended a concert of a lifetime. Hoopsters united in possibly the most hoopster event ever, a rally to bring back the 5 years gone Seattle SuperSonics. The "Bring Our Sonics Back" concert was held at Neumo's, and featured Seattle rappers like Geo of the Blue Scholars, Nacho Picasso, and Sam Lachow.

For those of you who don't follow this stuff, the Sonics got sold to some guy who brought them to OKC, and now Seattle is hoping to get the Sacramento Kings (unlikely, IMO) to bring back the Sonics.
Decal distributed at last night's Bring Our Sonics Back concert.

H to the Oopster. What is more hoopster than cheering for a team that hasn't even existed since 2008? Imagine this: a full-to-capacity Neumo's crowd wearing the green and yellow of an extinct NBA team (Neumos is in the heart of Cap Hill, hipster-town USA), comparing jerseys (Durant rookie jersey?), cheering on Shawn Kemp (of the Sonics 1989-1997... he kicked off the party), and screaming along to Geo of the Blue Scholars' rap about Sonics players from the 90s and early 00s (hipster rap + basketball = hoopster).



Throughout the night, performers updated the crowd on the score of the OKC vs Memphis game. As Memphis rallied late in the game, the crowd's reaction was mixed. Cheers for ousting the team that was stolen from Seattle, but boos for beating the team that is really still the Sonics.

As one man in front of me proclaimed, "It's like if my wife got kidnapped by pirates. I would still love her, even if she were kidnapped."

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The Gossip Game: S01E06 Recap


There was absolutely no narrative in episode 6 of The Gossip Game. This is most likely horrible editing, since you can make a story out of anything… but it can’t be helped by the fact that the women on the show have their own lives and barely ever talk to each other. It’s no “Basketball Wives.” Here, the women actually have jobs, so even if they’re forced to hang out together, it happens rarely.

Vivian tells Kim Osorio that Steph Lova said that Kim walked in on her husband, Kino, with another woman. (This is the definition of gossip. What a game it is.) Kim informs Kino of this piece of gossip, which is completely unfounded, and he advises her to “check the bitch.” However, Kim is 10-15 years out of a good fight, and she doesn’t like “check[ing] bitches because you get in a fight and your boobs are all like aah ahh.” Kino and Kim eventually confront Steph, and basically nothing happens.

Sharon is dating her ex, Garland. (Is it just me, or is Garland a really gay name?) Sharon and Angela go on a double date, and Angela decides to grill Garland on why he broke up with Sharon before, etc. Nothing interesting happens as a result.

Ms. Drama meets with Star, and he says he will do an interview with her if he gets some “intimate time” in return. What a gross, gross man. This is on TV. She ignores him and says she would be good at interviewing this a-hole because “I am Ms. Drama, and I will read a bitch.” (I think Ms. Drama loves her some Rupaul’s Drag Race.) Ms. Drama then interviews Star, and the interview is boring.

Viv wants to get a tattoo of four hearts with one of her kids’ names at the center of each one. She wants to put Kadeshia instead of Kayden to represent her trans son, because that is the name she chose. Kayden is pissed. Viv meets with Kim Osorio to talk about it, and Kim is confused, “but when you talk about your daughter, you talk about her as a girl.” Viv cries. To Viv, Kayden will always be Kadeshia, but she doesn’t want to disrespect her child. Sounds like she needs a book. Something along the lines of Different Daughters (see: Portlandia), but for trans kids and not from the 1980s. A tattoo for a fully grown woman is the most real part of this episode.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Gossip Game: S01E05 Recap

Just in time for the Jason Collins story, we have the LGBT-themed episode. Yay.

Apparently Viv got kicked off of some chick named Steph Lova's show because... Steph Lova was smelling Viv's pants? WTF. There is no way I could make this up. So, basically, Steph Lova goes all apeshit because she is not gay. HOW DARE SOMEONE CALL HER GAY. (Sounds like she's closeted. Who else is that homophobic in NYC? Come on.) Then she proceeds to tell her listeners that Viv would know about teh gayz because Viv's daughter is gay.

OH NO SHE DIDN'T.

Viv has a heartfelt talk with her kid, Kayden, who reveals that he's actually trans, and is transitioning from female to male. He just wants to look to everyone else what he feels like inside. She just wants to check the bitch who talked about someone birthed from her cooch. There is a lot of crying and hugging, and in the words of Kayden, "this feels stupid." Stupid emotional, that is. Made me tear up.

Viv plots her revenge. First, she contemplates posting on her blog about how gay big old gay Steph Lova is. The show films her typing under the headline "Steph Lova loves talking about innocent kids." Finally, Viv confronts Steph Lova in person. They exchange some heated words, Viv spits on Steph Lova, and the two have to be physically separated when that escalates to near violence. The episode ends with Viv being dragged off camera by a security guard. But not before she gets the last say, "You're mad at my daughter cause she's proud to be gay, and you're still [bleep]ing hiding in the closet, you desperate ho!"

PS. Click the "Cornify" button (on the right). Click it again. Once more.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Bar Cotto: Snacking, Italian-Style

Bar Cotto
15th Ave near E Madison St.
8/10 on my bangin' scale

Bar Cotto just opened up this winter, so on a visit to Central Cinema, I decided to stop in to try it out. I'm glad I did.

Bar Cotto features salumi, or as I call them, fancy Italian cold cuts. I'd like to say I'm fairly familiar with salumi, since my Italian grandmother always served some assortment of sliced meats ("I got them to cut it paper thin," she'd remark) as appetizers at any family gathering. Just like at Grandma's, we were served family style. Unlike Grandma's, which is 60s-tastic and full of tchotchkes, Bar Cotto has a clean, modern feel.

We asked for the chef's selection of three salumi ($18), and were served generous portions of prosciutto di San Daniele (better than the usual prosciutto di parma, IMO), mortadella (one of my grandmother's favorites, which is just fancy baloney), and some kind of peppery sausage (my personal favorite of the bunch. I don't remember the name... my grandmother is allergic to peppercorns (!), so I couldn't identify it by sight). We ordered the torta fritta ($3), which were just little fried dough balls, and were instructed to wrap the meat around them. Fun!

3 salumi for $18 with torta fritta.

The happy hour deals (4-6 pm) were great-- $3 for beer, $6 for house wine selections, $5 for veggie dishes, and $8 for pizzas. We tried a pizza with fennel sausage and rapini ($8), which was really effing good. The crust was thin and very crisp, the sausage was flavorful, and the pizza wasn't too greasy.

Happy hour deal - $8 pizza with sausage, rapini, mozzarella, tomato

We also tried the artichokes with mint, pecorino, and breadcrumbs ($9). It was a cold antipasto, and was probably the least memorable of the meal. That having been said, the breadcrumbs were big and crisp, and made the dish much better than a typical, limp artichoke antipasto.

Bar Cotto on Urbanspoon


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Gossip Game: S01E04 Recap

Ms. Drama, Kim Osorio, and Ciara win this episode.

I couldn't bring myself to care about the other women this episode. Vivian tells the world K Foxx slept with Maino, and K Foxx says this never happened. Who cares? Sharon Carpenter argues with JasFly because Sharon thinks she's the shit (she's done reporting for CNN, CBS, and BBC). Can someone tell me why Sharon's reporting for a hip-hop blog now? Makes no sense. Angela Yee is not present for the majority of the episode.

Meanwhile, Ms. Drama has a "quick kiki" with her friend Casey at his favorite gay bar. Who cares WTF they are talking about. They are essentially the only customers in a gay bar in NYC--which means it must be like 10am--and the bartender is only wearing his tightie yellow-ies. Pour up. Drank. Ms. Drama wins because she can just drank with her friend at 10am.

Kim Osorio wins because she doesn't have time to waste on this fucking reality show. She's clearly gotta get some filming in, but she has an important meeting with DJ Khaled. Solution? She tells JasFly to come in the car with her on the way to see DJ Khaled. First I thought JasFly was gonna tag along at the meeting, but it soon became evident that JasFly was just coming for the car ride. JasFly, I have to be in the car for like half an hour, and since I'm the editor of The Source, that's the only time I can schedule for you. OK? OKAYYY.

Ciara also wins because I actually remember her song, which was played during the episode. Remember Ciara? Whose last big hit was "1, 2 Step" featuring Missy Elliot back in 2004? Who is trying to have a comeback so is therefore on Nicki Minaj's latest album? Behold "Got Me Good," which apparently was released as a digital single last year:



Her style in the video is Janet Jackson meets early 00s Britney. The chorus also invites comparison to Khia's "My Neck, My Back" (and clearly loses).

Monday, April 22, 2013

Stopping all the moneyz

I think newspapers furloughed their photographers to show their solidarity with government employees.

Front page on the New York Times website.

Front page on the Washington Post website.


Oh, also, they are cutting a lot of research funding. Hey, remember when research was the best thing this country had going for it in terms of healthcare? Now it will just be expensive and old technology!

Saturday, April 20, 2013

The Gossip Game Recap: S01E03

Sorry this recap is late; I was busy recovering from some pointless exam for grad school.

As heavily advertised in previous clips, Kim Osorio's husband asks if they can have a threesome. Kim says no, so Kino, being ever the asshole, decides to complain about it on a double date with Viv and her husband. Kim gets pretty embarrassed because they are not actual friends (in case you missed the memo, the whole point of this type of reality show is to throw together people who have never interacted/will not get along in order to see the drama that ensues). Kim later introduces Kino to an inflatable girlfriend to say that's the only kind of threesome he is going to get. She tells him the whole thing makes her feel insecure, and he (insincerely, IMO) apologizes, telling her she is all he needs in this world.

On the flip side, Sharon Carpenter refuses to date. When Angela Yee sets her up with some actor from the Wire (no, Sharon, you are not the only person who's "never seen an episode of the Wire," there's also me), she constantly checks her watch, and then walks out when he's not there after 15 minutes. She doesn't have time to spare from her job (this week, she's interviewing Biggie's daughter, Tianna Wallace), and he just wasted like an hour of her time. Punctuality is key. I can relate.

Ms. Drama decides she's going to completely change her image by taking photos for a gentlemen's magazine. She hosts an event for said photos. The only problem is, she doesn't come off as sexy, according to the new resident mean girls clique, Sharon Carpenter and Angela Yee. (Don't worry, I love Mean Girls.) One photo, which Angie dubs, "the stepping out one," is particularly un-sexy (see the photo @ 1:50 into the video):





This photo is so bad, it forces Angie and Sharon to wonder if Ms. Drama has ever had sex. It reminds me a bit of this moment from RuPaul's Drag Race:



However, Ms. Drama will not be made fun of at her event. She recaptures the spotlight when she gives a ridiculous speech, which includes gems such as, "People come in your life, and they go out with the wind. They are seasonal." Her speech is so entertaining, K Foxx comments on how entertaining it is, thus leaving us reeling in the meta-ness that is reality TV.

The episode ends with a verbal spat between Ms. Drama and JasFly. Ms. Drama concludes with a monologue, because she wanted to yell at JasFly, not argue with her.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

GWU in the news.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/feature/wp/2013/04/11/the-education-issue-george-washington-university-fights-its-rich-kid-reputation/

In response to this article, Shobs writes:

I think this is the best piece of reporting that the Washington Post has released since Watergate. 

since

this article hits the highlights-- the hole on 23rd street, urban tanning, New Jersey, VIP tables, luxury cars, GWorld, expensive parent-funded off-campus apartments, army of skanks.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Gossip Game: S01E02 Recap

Can a reality show perpetuate and address stereotypes? Can black women hold their own in the world of hip-hop despite being portrayed as stereotypically catty bitches?

First, K Foxx is the sole woman (out of a group of four) on the Hot 97 morning show. On air, her (male) boss implies that she got her job by sleeping around. K Foxx gets angry after the show, yelling at her boss, and calling him a "chauvinistic pig." She contends he's sullied her name when he knows that's not how she got her job, since he hired her. He contends that it was a joke in good fun, and that she is asking for special treatment because she is a woman. Oh yes, he went to that argument. Moral: women in hip-hop face sexism, while screaming at their boss!

I must say that this is something that has always pissed me off about morning shows. There is always a room full of dudes who all say annoying, sexist shit and get off with only a "come on, guys" from the token woman on the show. That is one reason why I loved "the Ladies Room," which was hosted by two (!!) women on the old Movin 92.5. Suffice it to say, that show was canceled. I guess the annoying, sexist shit sells better.

Second, Vivian and Ms. Drama continue their motiveless feud. They fight twice in public (once at Angela's bowling birthday party... yay for bowling parties!), and once in private. A reality show featuring professional black women is also featuring fighting. Two of the other women on the show say they were "embarrassed" by the fight (JasFly and Angela). Kim Osorio feels inclined to defend herself by saying that women in hip-hop generally have more credentials than men, because they had to work harder to get there. Moral: women in hip-hop get into fights, while having to constantly apologize for them!

In the episode, Kim Osorio beautifully sums up the conundrum of this show. She notes that the fight between Vivian and Ms. Drama at a public event is "unprofessional... but at the same time, I will say I am guilty of being entertained."

Sunday, April 7, 2013

I'm going to Southern Italy this May

I immediately thought of Jay-Z's shout out to the Amalfi Coast in "Upgrade U." 



Jay-Z's reference is at 3:04.

Does this mean I'll be visiting Cuba next?

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Lil Wayne in Nicki Minaj's "High School" Video

Everyone's mentioning the "steamy" sex scene, but nobody noticed he's rocking the hobo-chic look with the old man's fisher hat and nondescript, ill-fitting shirt.

Lil Wayne's fashion statement in Nicki Minaj's "High School" video.


Also, this video is pretty bad.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Gossip Game: S01E01 Recap


This episode airs on VH1 at 9pm on April 1, but is currently available on VH1.com. Don't read on if you haven't watched and you don't want spoilers!

Team Yee: Angela Yee on a billboard in Times Square

From the get-go the show is framed as Hot 97 vs. Power 105. K Foxx vs. Angela Yee. The geezers of hip-hop versus the up-and-comings. Clearly, I will be Team Yee.

Who's in this show?

K Foxx: Hot 97 morning show DJ. Hot 97 has been the top hip-hop station for years and years, but it's being contested by Power 105. In this episode: Clearly has it in for Angela Yee. Incites crazy ramblings from Funk Master Flex (a DJ coworker).

Angela Yee: Power 105 morning show DJ who parties a ton and talks to everyone (except K Foxx). In this episode: Has always been a fan of Kendrick Lamar. Drunken happiness at a blogger thank-you event that she is hosting. Blocks a fight with her poufy dress.

Kim Osorio: Editor-in-chief of the Source magazine. In this episode: Has an asshole for a husband. Balances a hardcore job with kids and an asshole husband. Wants to start a women in hip-hop round-table.

Sharon Carpenter: Hip-hop journalist. In this episode: Meets with Macy Gray. (Macy Gray is still doing stuff??) Is an attractive female, so people don't take her seriously. Gets a self-help book from Russell Simmons, written by Russell Simmons. Works with nerds/lesbinerds.

Vivian: Blogger who nobody (except for Angela Yee) knows about. In this episode: Stirs the pot with juicy/"ratchet" gossip . Has kids, and works in a hospital 9-5. Gets in a fight for no apparent reason with Miss Drama in front of Kim Osorio and Angela Yee. Way to get your career going.

Miss Drama: Internet radio DJ. In this episode: Is crazy. Gets in a fight (see above) with Vivian. Has a random rapper use the words octopus, hyperbole, and mushroom in a horrible freestyle.

Jasfly: Some kind of writer. In this episode: Creates some minor drama by getting K Foxx and Angela Yee to simultaneously do an interview with her .

From episode one, my favorites are clearly Angela Yee (out of necessity) and Sharon Carpenter. Can't wait for more!


Thursday, February 28, 2013

Seattle Bucket List

Still in progress! Suggestions welcomed.

Restaurants I still want to try:
  • Sutra, Wallingford
  • Cantinetta, Wallingford
  • Salumi, Downtown
  • Senor Moose Cafe, Ballard
  • Marination Station
  • Il Corvo, Pioneer Square
  • Rachel's Ginger Beer, Downtown
  • Cafe Besalu, Ballard
  • Art of the Table, Wallingford
  • Matt's in the Market, Downtown
  • Dinette, Capitol Hill?
  • Mamnoon, Capitol Hill

Things to do in Seattle:
  • A burlesque show
  • Urban hiking in Queen Anne (http://www.queenanneview.com/tag/sunset-magazine/, http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=172255)
  • Center for Wooden Boats (Free rides Sundays)
  • Georgetown, Seattle
  • Paddleboarding because EVERYONE here does it.
  • Roller derby (http://ratcityrollergirls.com/).
  • Chihuly Glass @ Seattle Center
  • Discovery Park 
  • Play Hackey Sack 
  • Carkeek Park during salmon spawning 
  • Columbia Tower Starbucks
  • Seattle Pinball museum
  • Concert at the Neptune <-dance neptune="" show="" strike="">
  • A football game
  • Concert at the Crocodile
  • The arctic building - 700 3rd Ave, Seattle WA
  • Cycle Saloon? But... beer. 
  • Soundgarden at NOAA
  • Freeway Park (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=312)
  • Frye Art Museum (http://fryemuseum.org/)
  • Bonsai Collection (http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/Company/Bonsai)
  • Seward Park
  • Silent movie night @ Paramount

Things to do outside Seattle:
  • Lake Chelan
  • Idaho
  • Montana
  • Boeing tour 
  • Outback Kangaroo Farm
  • Rainier (wildflowers??)
  • Mount St Helens
  • Mount Baker
  • Sasquatch music festival (this is clearly not going to happen)
  • Local produce + Music == so Seattle. (http://krecs.com/helsingjunction/)
  • Crater Lake, OR
  • North Cascades Hwy
  • Wolf Haven 
  • Dungeness Spit
  • Portland Trailblazers game

Thursday, February 21, 2013

South Campus Center, Upper Floor, Tables on the West Side

Overall Rating: 8/10

Atmosphere: 7/10 - Nice view of the water, but it's in a dimly lit area. Two person tables that were formerly booth seats occupied by sleepy people on campus.
Chairs: 7/10 - Padded, decent back support.
Natural Light: 7/10 - There are windows next to each two person table, but they have some kind of weird tinting, so it's not usually that bright.
Electrical Outlets: 10/10 - Outlet at each table.

Other Notes: Tables are often available in the afternoon, after lunch. This place would be perfect (it's usually pretty quiet, and you get to sit on the water), but there are often conferences in the South Campus Center. These conferences are sometimes accompanied by shrieking participants during coffee breaks.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Foster Business Library Group Study Rooms

Overall Rating: 8/10

Atmosphere: 6/10 - Private rooms (reservations online), each with an LCD screen and whiteboard. Floor to ceiling windows into the library let in natural light from the library's giant skylight.
Chairs: 7/10 - Padded, decent back support.
Natural Light: 7/10 - Even though it doesn't have a window to the outside, there is lots of natural light from the skylight.
Electrical Outlets: 10/10 - Multiple outlets in each private room.

Other Notes: This is in one of the new business school buildings on north campus. I fully expect this library and its study rooms to start getting more popular once more people find out about this place. The very best room is study room #9. It is big, it's on the lower level, and has awesome chairs. #10 is also good, since it has the same chairs, is also on the lower level, but is smaller. One bad thing: rooms 1-8 are on the upper floor of the library, which means you have to go across the library, down a flight of stairs, across the library again, and then up more stairs to get to the bathroom.

HUB, near Freshens Juice Bar

Overall Rating: 6/10

Atmosphere: 5/10 - Vending machines, smoothie bar, windows on 3 sides.
Quietness: 4/10 - This is a social setting, but is fairly quiet before 10:30, when the lunch/study crowd starts piling in.
Chairs: 6/10 - Plastic, but good back support b/c it's the kind that can bend back a few inches.
Natural Light: 9/10 - Room surrounded by floor to ceiling windows on three sides, but the eco-friendly window shields that go up in the day often block a lot of the direct sunlight.
Electrical Outlets: 3/10 - Have to get one of the three tables next to outlets in the SW corner of the room.

Other notes: Get here before 9:30 if you want a chance at one of the three tables with an outlet. Get here before 9:15 if you want one for sure. Undergrads are either asleep or in class before 9:15.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Health Sciences Library, Bottom Floor, NW corner

Overall Rating: 7/10

Atmosphere: 5/10 - Library with windows. Surrounded by the medical dummies.
Quietness: 7/10 - No talking in this area.
Chairs: 7/10 - Quite comfortable. Mesh back, padded seat. A bit too short for the table.
Natural Light: 7/10 - Large windows at the end of the room.
Electrical Outlets: 8/10 - Available at most tables.

Other notes: I hadn't been in here since they redid the study areas. The new chairs, tables, and additional electrical outlets really make this place better. Plus, they dealt with the heater so it isn't 58 degrees anymore.

Seattle Team wins US Curling Nationals

Fifty or so curlers showed up at the RAM (a WA bar chain) to cheer on the team. Imagine the looks on the other patrons' faces. They thought they were being punk'd.



Odegaard Group Study Rooms

Overall Rating: 6/10

Atmosphere: 3/10 - Interior, private rooms. Reservations available online.
Quietness: 4/10 - There is construction throughout Odegaard (2013).
Chairs: 8/10 - Good back support, adjustable height.
Natural Light: 0/10 - Interior rooms.
Electrical Outlets: 10/10- Available in the room.

Other notes: If it weren't for the construction, this place would be great, mostly because of the chairs.

Allen Library South, "1st Floor" (By any US metric, it would be called the 2nd floor)

Overall Rating: 5/10

Atmosphere: 5/10 - Library with big windows.

Quietness: 7/10 - Library area with minimal talking.
Chairs: 2/10 - Made of wood. Bad back support. Hard seat.
Natural Light: 10/10 - Light on all four sides, where the tables are.
Electrical Outlets: 8/10 - Available at most tables.

Other notes: Best in the early morning, before the undergrads get there.


Suzzallo Reading Room

Overall Rating: 4/10

Atmosphere: 7/10 - Cool room.
Quietness: 8/10 - No one talks. Lots of traffic, though.
Chairs: 2/10 - Made of wood. Bad back support. Hard seat.
Natural Light: 4/10 - Natural light only through stained glass that are too high to reach the tables.
Electrical Outlets: 0/10 - Not available.

Other notes: The chairs will make your back hurt, and you can't plug in your laptop.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Catfish

Nev and Max chronicle the world of interweb dating--computer dating has moved past the random number generators in "Statistics with Probability" (Shorack, unpublished)--in "Catfish: The TV show."

This show is definitely addictive. Teens creeping on sorority girls (duh!), fake revenge pages (wow...), and love that blossoms no matter who the person turns out to be (aww).

I realize this show has been on MTV for a while now (they're up to their 9th episode), but I didn't hear about it until my cousin mentioned it this Christmas eve. So... watch up, and be ready to laugh, cry, express yourself.


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

US Curling : Women's Challenge Round

This weekend (1/18-1/20) at Seattle's Granite Curling Club:

14 US Women's teams compete for 6 slots to the 2013 National Championships. The top two teams at this year's US National Championships will then qualify for the 2014 US Olympic Trials.
www.curlingseattle.org

 

Who wants to go and watch my bitchez curl it out?


Sunday, January 13, 2013

JT + Jay-Z

It's no sexyback.Was this JT's wedding song?

http://countdown.justintimberlake.com/

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy 2013

Did anyone notice some potential Illuminati influence at last night's time square ball drop?

BEYONCE IS WATCHING YOU.



Alternatively, she is reminding you about her song countdown, which a creative young boy copied for one of my personal favorite youtube vids of the year: