Stop the Nirvana lovefest, please

Vh1 had another idiotic special: "Top 100 songs of the 90s". Vh1 hasn't played music since 1999, instead they have LAME specials like "Top 100 One-Hit Wonders" or "Top Ten Celebrity Meltdowns". Anyways, this list (as you may have guessed) had Nirvana's Smell Like Teen Spirit at number one. Like I didn't see that one coming. It was a really good song back in the day; it was much better than most of the crap coming out in the early 90s. In fact, I have no complaints for most of their songs. They were notable rock songs chock full of catchy, simple riffs. The two biggest misconceptions about Nirvana is that 1) they were revolutionary and 2) Kurt Cobain was a 90s John Lennon.

Nirvana was basically a punk revival band. They followed the underproduced, stripped-bare model of the Sex Pistols and Stooges. But they took their biggest cues from the Pixies. The whole loud-soft-loud dynamic came from the Pixies and even if Kurt admitted that "smells like teen spirit" was a homage to their style. They brought the style back in an era of overproduced songs. That was a significant event in the early 90s, but it wasn't a one-of-a-kind thing at all.

Second, Kurt Cobain was nowhere close to a John Lennon. John Lennon was an activist and musician who transcended his time. Kurt Cobain was apathetic, in contrast. He would never write a song like "imagine" because he wasn't an idealistic man. He was more of an anarchist, if anything.

Third, Kurt was NOT one of the greatest guitar players ever. I see his inclusion in non-guitar magazines and it makes me sick. Basically, his guitar solos fell into two categories: following the melody of the song note for note or playing a dyssynchronous fuzzed-out mess. His rhythm parts were solid, but unexceptional. Nothing wrong with that because that was kind of the point of grunge music: straightforward and devoid of fluff. In short, he wasn't in the same ballpark as Jimmy Page or Eddie Van Halen, which is just fine.

Huckabee scares me

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/10/huckabee.aids/index.html

wow. Bear in mind, this was in 1992 after Magic Johnson found out he had HIV and we had established that HIV was not a gay disease. Maybe I could excuse him if he said this in 1982, not '92. Suddenly I've gone from indifference to actively not wanting him as president....

Proving my point

So I wasn't expecting the deluge of comments from the previous post. Sorry (genuinely) for misstating the facts about the NBA championships, but the rest of the points are still valid. It's funny how those comments just prove my point about classless Boston fans and also the problem of micro-racism in this country, to which I alluded to in a previous post. I was born in England (not Bangladesh or Pakistan as one person said), you NEW England people. Your guys' region got your namesake from the country I was born in.

Plus, it's SPORTS! If my team wins, it makes me happy. But it isn't life or death and I'm not going to fling racist remarks at people if my team loses. Plus, I like how people are criticizing my English on a blog, which is supposed to be a stream of consciousness activity anyways, not a college paper. I have a higher SAT verbal or SAT Writing score than 99% of the people in this country. Again, you're looking at the color of my skin and passing judgment. The moment people said something prejudiced; you people lost and I won.

Funnier still, some people did not read the entirety of the post. I do a fair amount of patting Boston on the back. For example, I LAUD Tom Brady. I don't diss him at all, you idiots. Furthermore, I say that the Patriots going undefeated is a GOOD thing for football.

So I'll concede I made a mistake on the celtics thing, but all you hate-mongerers lost your credibility, not me. That's all I'm going to say on the matter because I'm not going to waste my time on you cretins.

As an addendum, the only critique that's allowed is one that is intelligent and doesn't involve cursing people out and flaming. This is my blog, and I set the rules here. If you can't adhere to that rule, then you forfeit the right to post; it's that simple. Because 10 people failed those criteria I set out, the Boston topic is closed for discussion.

Here's another solution for you thickheaded morons: DON'T READ MY BLOG if you think the topics are dorky and/or random. The title of the blog says it's about random, weird stuff so you have no right to complain in that regard.

Curse you, Ravens! and why Boston should shut up

Dammit! I was hoping the Dolphins would go 0-16. No offense to Miami fans, but I think that lifelong infamy is a way sexier storyline than unprecedented dominance a la the Patriots. I wanted to be able to tell my kids that I witnessed the worst of the worst. The ultimate stinkers. Unfortunately, the Ravens took pity on the Dolphins and choked hard as hell. So fuck you Kyle Boller and co.

The other big storyline this year: the dominance of the Pats. They have 2 games left in their bid to go undefeated. I'm largely indifferent (partly because I'm from Indiana). I don't have a huge beef with Tom Brady. Most Hoosiers reflex answer to Tom Brady is "he's gay". I can appreciate the guy though. He came from nowhere: a 6th round draft pick to win 3 Super Bowls (and probably a 4th this year). And if you were that good-looking of a guy then you'd be spitting game at supermodels and actresses too. Belichick, however, is a classless prick who deserves all that shit. All things considered, I think the Patriots going undefeated is a good thing.

Speaking of teams on a roll. The New England region is having a sports renaissance of sorts. The Celtics are the best team in the NBA and will probably make the Finals because the East sucks. The Red Sox just won the World Series..again. Good for you guys, but that doesn't mean I have to share your enthusiasm and "be happy" for you. Why? Because I'm not from the frozen tundra that is New England. Big surprise: the world doesn't revolve around Boston or your sports teams. The whole Boston love-fest is off-putting for the rest of us and we don't need major media and douchebag fans trumpeting their successes. Coincidentally, Bill Simmons of espn falls into both of the aforementioned categories. I really hate that guy. He uses Page 2 on the site as a tribute for Boston and its sports teams on....every....single.....column. He should be deposed for biased journalism. It's totally unprofessional.

So here's something for New Englanders to chew on despite your recent teams's success. And yes, I'm looking at you Bill Simmons:

1) Even if the Patriots do win the Super Bowl this year and go undefeated, the whole Spygate thing will always be mentioned in the same breath in the history books. I don't deny that other teams do it, but they got caught. The rules book is clear: it's cheating. It won't invalidate a Super Bowl win, but it will certainly taint some of the legacy of the year.

2) The Celtics will probably make it out of the East playoffs easy, but I think they won't win more than one title, if any. The team beyond the Big Three is thin. Also those players are all on the wrong side of 30. Before long, they'll become more injury-prone and then Danny Ainge will realize he traded away all his young prospects and draft picks.

Plus, you won't get any closer to catching the Lakers' record 16 championships for atleast another generation.

3) Red Sox congrats on finally breaking the curse and getting another championship. Too bad you can't buy your fans and organization some class. or a razor. Plus, I hate to remind you: the Yankees still have 2 dozen more titles than you guys.

Here's a great site I found:

http://kissmesuzy.blogspot.com/2007/10/ksk-guide-to-being-insufferable-hole-s.html

In appreciation of Apple

Given the recent strides Apple has made this year in cornering the digital music realm, increasingly gaining prominence in the personal computer market, and the launch of the iphone, I thought it appropriate to write a laudatory post for Apple, the company that will go down as owning the year 2007. What a year for Steve Jobs really. He should be patting himself on the back. The ipod has always been a must-have, but this year finally the computers have also been selling like hotcakes. Apple stock is now worth more than Dell's partly because of this fact. The new OS, Leopard, can run the Mac OS and Windows, so now there really is no excuse to not own an Apple. My MacBook has never given me problems since I got it in the summer of 2006. My Vaio, in comparison, was nothing but trouble from day one. The only real compelling reason to stay with PCs is if you're a hardcore gamer, which I am not.

I remember my very first Apple computer. Back in 1993 when we moved to America. It was a Performa 630C. The first time I logged on the Internet was on that 32 MB beast. I rocked Carmen Sandiego on that thing. I've been an Apple fan from the first time I moved to America.

And yes, I'll admit it, my very first purchase with my first check from work was the iphone. It's almost perfect. It can't match Blackberries in terms of sheer software packed in there, but I prefer it because of the simplicity of the interface and the intuitiveness of the applications. 8 gigs for music and photos, oh yes. And the touchscreen is not only easy to use, but by not having bulky plastic buttons there is a lot of space freed up for surfing the web and checking emails. Those designers know what they're doing; they're so in tune with the user. The only addition I would have liked is a movie recorder, but it's not that big of a deal.

Apple made some bad business decisions in the past, but hopefully they continue this recent run of success because Windows needs the pressure of a competitor. Within the last few years, Microsoft and PC makers like Dell and Sony have really been resting on their laurels. Vista blew up in Microsoft's face and lately Dell's computers have become less reliable and have lagged in customer service (once their forte). Vaio comes packed with cool software, but the hardware itself leaves something to be desired, as I found out with my last computer.

So I wonder how Apple will outdo themselves in the coming year. How can they?

Babes of the week: MILF edition

I'm bored...all my friends are already back home for the holidays and I'm stuck here for another week. Ironic ain't it? In a city like Chicago, I have NOTHING to do. I guess this proves the adage that the city can often be the loneliest of places....

Anyways, I was compelled to do another "babes" of the week segment, with a focus on older ladies aka MILFs. For some reason, this week has been rife with milf sightings on tv, in the paper, or any other form of media. So here's my salute in list form:

1) Ann Curry



Yes, I'm an old man already because I watch the Today Show on NBC every morning. It's always on when I'm eating breakfast, and I only have local channels anyways so the options are not exactly great. Anyways, I'll admit it to the world: I have a mini-crush on Ann Curry. She's a good-looking, slim, and vaguely ethnic older woman. She has a sexy voice too. And get this: SHE'S 50 YEARS OLD! How does that happen? Some women just age extremely well I suppose. Meredith Viera, one of the co-hosts, isn't bad, but she pales in comparison to Ann Curry. Plus, there's just something about a girl in a peacoat that drives me crazy...don't ask me why.



2) Sheila E.

Prince be damned, sometimes Sheila E. was the best musician on stage when they played together. I just watched "Next Great American Band" and she looked GOOD. She must be pushing 50 too, but she still looks like a million bucks. All women should have bodies like hers in their 40s and 50s. A girl who can play a "guy" instrument like drums, guitar, and bass is always hot too.

3) Angie Harmon

She's really not that old, but I'll include her anyways. She has a nice smile and a slim body. Always a plus. She's absolutely stunning in that new show of hers.

4) Salma Hayek

Again not that old, only 40 some years old. But hot damn. She has wonderful....assets. Look at the pic, nuff said.



I just noticed that all the women I picked are somewhat ethnic. It seems that ethnic women age better in general. Who knows why that's the case, let's just all admire these babes of the week.

Crappercrombie

I've mentioned this before in a previous post, but I'd like to make it more explicit: Abercrombie and Fitch sucks. The first ,and last, time I stepped inside a store was when I was 14 or 15. And even then, I had the gumption to know what millions of kids my age didn't know: the clothes are low-quality and overpriced. Why do they sell jeans with holes in them already? I can buy a pair and use a razor myself if I was compelled. Everything is worn and tattered when you buy it, what's the point? When you buy something new, it should look new. I just don't get it. Please someone tell me.

What's with the ads too? Am I supposed to be coaxed into buying clothes from nude models? Those ads are disturbing.

More disturbing is their history of discrimination of minorities. Their ads make it clear: they are marketing to a white prepster audience. That's ok, though incompatible with a society that is one-third minority. But then they use that to market shirts that advertise Asian laundromats. These shirts say "Two Wongs make it white!" and other racially insensitive remarks. This is supposed to be a national, publicly traded company, bear in mind. Oh, and then what about how they put minority employees in the stockroom rather than let them be on the floor? Abercrombie got sued for that a few years ago apparently, though I guess I shouldn't be too surprised from this socially irresponsible company.

I thought I should spell it out because a lot of people ask me "Seriously, why do you hate Abercrombie so much?". I wouldn't dislike them so much if all they did was make crappy clothes, but I have a legitimate, ethical reason for not liking them as well. If I ever set foot again in one of their stores or *gasp* spend a dollar there, I may seriously self-implode.

The Heart's a wonderful thing

The heart is the only organ that exists in a literal and figurative sense (except for the ass, but let me continue this more romanticized allegory). It's the bellwether of our bodies and simultaneously the seat of our emotions. Not only does it spread that life-giving blood, but those emotions and feelings that make us uniquely human spring forth from it as well.

The more I've studied the heart this year, the more in awe I become. It's so incredibly complex, but the way it acts is so logical and precise. Like clockwork, it contracts and delivers that blood day and night. The conduction system is so in sync with the contractile aspects of the heart; it just amazes me.

Plus, it takes so much abuse and can keep on ticking. I thought about this yesterday: I just cut open a rat, blood was everywhere. Immediately, the rat's body goes into respiratory throes, as ischemia takes hold. Next I distend the aorta and cut it. Then I take it out of the cavity with surgical, but imprecise cuts. I throw it in this solution which is essentially just sugars and salts. Next, I attach the aorta to this glass cannula and perfuse it with an artificial solution that is just dextrose, albumin, potassium, and sodium salts. And barring infrequent tachycardia, it keeps beating! Thank God our hearts are so hardy and can take this kind of abuse. Why appease our stomachs with fatty foods and risk our heart's well-being? What good does that no-good organ do? I think we have our priorities wrong and take our hearts for granted.

When we can't help it, such as in congestive heart failure, the heart finds a way to be as viable as it can be until things start going south. Remarkably, the beginning stages of heart failure can be construed as a good thing. Our heart muscle gets bigger, the same thing happens in marathon runners. But then the stress of all that beating takes over and the heart can't take it anymore.

As nerdy as this may sound, I love studying this stuff. I genuinely do. I'm glad I picked this over my second choice: the kidneys. Blech!

Implicit Racism or ignorance?

So I read this RedEye article today. And yes, I occasionally read the RedEye because it's free and there's a lot of pissing away time in the lab. Anyways, the cover article discussed a phenomenon called "micro-racism", which is when individuals unintentionally do prejudiced things. For example, when a person. For example, asking a black person "so how was it like being raised by a single mom?" is a type of assumptive racism, according to this article. On the whole, I agreed with much of what the RedEye journalist had to say except I would argue that most of "micro-racism" isn't as much about racism, but about ignorance due to living in a bubble of an environment. A bubble being a location where not too many ideas or people migrate in or out, a place in stasis. A great example of a bubble would be the town my parents settled in about 8-9 years ago: Vincennes in Southern Indiana.

I think a lot of people got the wrong impression about me back then. Some (ok, a lot of) people thought I was this standoffish, somewhat intense kid. The truth is that, more often, it was because I felt out of place. Part of it was because of an immense cultural gap, just discounting race. Here's a rundown:

I was born and raised in England, then moved to Cleveland, where I spent my seminal moments as a kid. Cleveland, I still consider, my true home after all these years. I remember when we first moved from the industrial North to rural Indiana. I had never really seen a real farm other than through driving in Pennsylvania and upstate New York on the way to Canada. It was a shock to see tractors and John Deere stuff and stalks of corn as far as the eye can see. Another thing that I couldn't wrap my mind around were the accents of people. This was the very first time I had an encounter with Southern-ish accents. Drawling of syllables, etc. I thought it was the strangest thing in the world. I remember thinking "Where the hell am I?"

This doesn't mean that Hoosiers aren't nice people. On the whole, they are much more pleasant than Clevelanders and Chicagoans. Though it's not like people in Cleveland and CHicago are jackasses like in the East Coast, rather people in Indiana go out of their way to be friendly, which is a nice change.

However, the one thing I absolutely HATED about Southern Indiana hearkens back to that article I read about. Implicit racism manifested in ignorance. It wasn't intentional, but ANNOYING to have to deal with. It's these sorts of things that I have yet to encounter in Chicago, that are all so prevalent back home. So here are the stupidest comments/questions you'll get in Hoosierland:

1) "Where are you from?"

How I should answer this question, but I'm too nice to say it: "I'm from here, but more importantly where are you from? Germany? France? Italy?"

2) "Your English is very good!"

How I should answer this question, but I'm too nice to say it: "Thank you. Yours however could use some work. Perhaps you could increase your vocabulary and get rid of that annoying drawl and you'd be an acceptable orator like me."

3) Do you know English?

How I should answer this question, but I'm too nice to say it: "Well if I didn't know English I wouldn't be able to tell you right now that you, my friend, are a Dumbass with a capital D."

4) Are you related to (insert random Indian person)?

How I should answer this question, but I'm too nice to say it: "No, but I can see why you'd ask me that question. I just assume that all you people here are related to each other because I'm the only one coming from a fresh gene pool around here."

5) Go back to your own country/where you were born!

How I should answer this question, but I'm too nice to say it: "Well, England's pretty far away for me. Plus, if I did, then who the hell is going to be your future doctor/lawyer/high-roller earning buku bucks and contributing to this economy, while you're working at the local gas station?"

6) Stay with your own kind! (eg. - eyeing a white girl)

How I should answer this question, but I'm too nice to say it: "It isn't my fault that I'm better-looking than you. Here's some advice: Don't marry your second cousin and maybe your kids won't have buckteeth and a round, featureless face like yourself."

Other than the last few questions, most of these questions are innocuous. But that doesn't mean I get tired of answering them in an inoffensive way. Or that I don't want to slap somebody. So who knows what's the real culprit: actual racism or utter ignorance? I'd like to believe the latter. If people are fine with the bubble, why perturb it? That's the beauty of moving out of Vincennes, I suppose...

Candidate Rundown

Less than a year until the elections! *crickets chirping* Yes, the fact that every election season starts earlier and earlier has led to an unprecedented level of election burnout. Political pundits are running out of worthwhile questions to ask so they're resorting to asking "What tv shows do you like?" Which is a stupid question anyways because we all know that politicians are robots and therefore do not watch television. Anyways, here's an election guide for all you people out there, detailing you with the relevant candidates and who you should vote for...

Dems - Ah, the party of liberalism, taxing, and Kennedy; the trifecta. I'll almost certainly be voting Democrat this election and I'll say this: if a Dem does not win this time, it's time to move to Canada. Seriously, just give up if you can't win in an environment where Bush and the neocons are pissing away their political capital. I'd be happy with living in Vancouver, the smell of cannabis will help wake me up in the mornings...


1) Hillary Clinton - The unofficial frontrunner though her lead is dwindling. She comes off as strident in her speeches and a little bit of a hardass. I can't make out if her frontrunner status is because of her or because of having some guy named Bill as her husband. People already have strong opinions about her, so I'm unsure of her ability to win new votes. I think her being female is immaterial; she'll get the votes.

Pros:
-She's a real take-charge politician
-Experienced
-Bill would be First Lady

Cons:
-Most people already have already made up their minds on her
-Though people mistakenly think she would be the first female elected president, she, in fact, has a penis


2) Barack Obama - The man from Chi-town gets my respect, even if he was a prof at U of C (boo!). What an orator and personality. His inexperience shows, however, in the debates, but who cares. Americans don't care about policy issues; they just want a guy who looks and sounds presidential. I have my reservations, but he's my choice. He may not be "black enough" but that doesn't matter because he has enough mainstream appeal to trump that deficiency.

Pros:
-Dynamic speaker
-Good-looking guy
-Would bring the crucial Oprah-watcher vote

Cons:
-Not "black" enough apparently
-Would bring Oprah one step closer to becoming the Earth's overlord

3) John Edwards - The guy comes off as a slimeball to me. And his speeches are so blase. "Poor....blah blah blah....poverty....yadda yadda yadda....average American". I could be his speechwriter easily. I think his time is done. He's gone stale

Pros:
-Young candidate
-cares about poverty

Cons:
-seems to forget that he lives in a multi-million dollar mansion in Carolina
-has a wife dying from cancer and is out campaigning

4) Who cares about everyone else...they don't have a chance in hell. Kucinich gets some points for being an elf of a man and somehow bagging a smoking hot wife.

GOP - The party of rich, white men has candidates which are coincidentally rich, white men. Most of these candidates seem to get that Bush is as toxic as a radioactive waste dump so they're distancing themselves from him. Smart decision guys.

1) Rudy Giulani - I think it says a lot when the frontrunner for the nomination is a pro-choice multiple divorcee. It shows you how much the Republicans need a winner. Rudy is riding the 9/11 wave to the nomination unless...

Pros:
-the least conservative of the Republicans
-snappy dresser

Cons:
-apparently being conservative is important for the GOP, who knew
-would bring an annoying New Yorker accent to the White House

2) Mike Huckabee gets in the way. Mike who? This guy came out of nowhere (arkansas). But then again so did this one guy back in '92. Can't remember his name. Huckabee reminds me of Bush before 9/11: an aw-shucks social conservative who'd be happy to just twiddle his thumbs and run out an unremarkable 4 years. What we wouldn't give if Bush stayed that way, huh?

Pros:
-Pretty down-to-earth guy
-Lost all that weight. No-one wants a fat president. I'm looking at you Taft!

Cons:
-Huckabee would be the least-presidential sounding last name in the history of America
-he's a Bible beater

3) Mitt Romney - aka bald-faced liar. He's the epitome of a slimy political tool. Changes his views so he can get the nomination. If he was running as he is now, no way in hell Massachusetts elects this guy. I genuinely dislike Mitt Romney.

Pros:
-NONE at all

Cons:
-Hair was combed with a fork
-Flip-flops on issues
-99% of Americans don't even know what a Mormon is or what he believes, why would they vote for one?

4) Again, no-one else has a chance. John McCain is like Mr. Wilson in Dennis the Menace and Ron Paul, who is like a 1930s conservative, is at the wrong place at the wrong time as far as the GOP is concerned

There's my election rundown...now go back to your enlightening interview about John McCain talking about being a Vietnam POW for the 1,070,956th time.

at peace...

Nice, relaxing weekends are the best. My parents came up and other than requisite shopping on Michigan and partaking in some Chicago-style pizza, we just chilled and talked. It's those unhurried moments that can be the best sometimes.

Hot Topic owned by Gap?

The moment I saw a story about Hot Topic on cnnmoney.com and saw that the store is owned by GAP, I thought it blog-worthy. So that store that claims to appeal to emo kids, goth kids, and other pseudo-counter cultures is OWNED by the definition of a mainstream clothing company? Wow, you can't make this shit up. So everytime a mallgoth buys that pair of black trousers with a chain motif, it's almost like they're buying khaki pants? That has to be the funniest piece of news I've ever heard.

Here's the problem with purported counter-cultures. By the time they become sufficiently big, they are basically waiting to be corporatized. It happened with punk rock, and it was bound to happen with Hot Topic. Hot Topic doesn't make this information very easy to find, atleast if google results are to be trusted as a confirmation. There should be mass rallies outside Hot Topics spreading this news.

How can a self-respecting goth shop there knowing the money ultimately goes to irritating ads? But then again, I've never heard a more convincing argument to be goth other than "because I can" so I suppose it's all a moot point. Here's a new slogan then for the store

Hot Topic: dressing people who have the disposable income to pretend that they don't, all while enabling GAP to make more cargo shorts

France is on fire--literally

Some of my more conservative acquaintances accuse me of being overly critical of America; this could not be further from the truth. I am thankful everyday that I live in this country. I just believe that there are numerous things that this country can improve on. Number one on that list is getting rid of Bush and his coterie, discussed in a previous post. Despite these failings, I can be just as thankful that I do not live in France, a country riddled with serious problems. France recently elected a new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who has promised to put France back to work and make it,economically speaking, more like Britain and America. If you've been paying attention to the news in the last month, you can see that the only thing he's been successful in is being the overseer of Paris riots and railroad strikes.

Actually, that may not be a fair assertion to make. It's not Sarkozy's fault really. I applaud him for going up against decades of bloated "cradle to grave" programs and other quasi-socialist ideas that have made France a difficult place to conduct business, namely the 35 hr. workweek. These are ideas ingrained in the French consciousness; they have become as quintessentially French as a croissant and the Eiffel Tower. It's going to take him his entire presidency and beyond for France to even consider repealing some of their state-funded programs.

The 35 hour workweek, in particular, is crippling. In experiment weeks, I easily work twice that amount. There's no way a company based in France can be globally competitive with that kind of law. It encourages laziness and cuts down incentive. This is why the best and brightest of France have actually moved to the UK in recent years. Also, 6 weeks of vacation is a bit excessive. Us Americans get by on 2 weeks and in those 2 weeks we still answer our emails and have our attached to the hip Blackberries. It can't be that hard if "stupid Americans" can get by on working longer hours and having less vacation time.

In urban areas of France, unemployment reaches almost 10 percent. Think about that for a second. The US average is 4-5%. Our lawmakers freak out if it reaches 6%. To put this into perspective: inner-city Detroit has around 10 percent unemployment. So there are swaths of France with unemployment rates similar to Detroit, recently named the Top Most Dangerous City in America. If high unemployment is correlative with other "urban" problems, then France is in big trouble.

Although there are major economic problems, social problems in France may trump those in severity. Ask pre-1960s America how marginalization of minorities worked out for them. Not so good, I hear. France in the coming decades will be more Muslim than native French, which is a problem because France has systematically ignored the minority population. Instead of engaging and integrating them, Turks, Algerians, Moroccans, etc. have had to live in barrios and working-class neighborhoods. This is a recipe for social unrest, which is what has happened in the last few years. Riots will become more frequent if they don't address this problem. It may be too late because the Muslim population is large enough such that they would have to make significant cultural concessions. Does France think the hijab ban or ban to call to prayers will last? They're kidding themselves. The social unrest is going to breed terrorist groups just like with Londonistan. They're stuck because they refused to engage the immigrant groups, the number one rule with immigrants.

It's a shame to see France devolve into its current state. I really admire French high culture. The paintings of Monet and Cezanne and the innumerable artists in that country since the end of the Roman empire have enriched the world. The French Revolution was a necessary, albeit bloody, moment in history. There would be no such thing as populism without that fountainhead movement. Hell, there would be no America without France, a fact I remind France-hater, Bush-lover friends. For all its faults, France has contributed much to the world. That's why you gotta cheer France on.

Babes of the week

Once upon a time, Hollywood women had class. It was a simpler time devoid of tabloid photographers and vag flashing. Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly...need I go on? Try as they might, the actresses today just cannot equal the elegance of those women. The only Hollywood actress I can think that comes close is Keira Knightley, and she's British. There's been a push to emphasize girls with freakish proportions over actual acting ability, and as I mentioned before, class. For example, jessica Simpson is an example of too much. Too much breasts, too much legs. But also of too little ( eg. brainpower).

Part of the problem may be because I'm not a big fan of the stereotypical American babe: blond hair, blue eyes, big boobs, racehorse legs, etc. I just don't get the obsession with blondes. The only blonde I can think of that stopped me in my tracks and made me say "wow, she is gorgeous" is Gwen Stefani. On the whole, I prefer darker hair and more Mediterranean, ethnic features.

So what can a 20 something do with his need for unrealistic pining? Go abroad of course. Hence I present to you two hotties abroad. The first is Amrita Rao, an underrated Bollywood actress. Sure, these actresses can't act, but when I saw her in Main Hoon Na, I almost fell over. This might sound weird, but I liked her better as the tomboy. She was quirkier and more raw, which is sexy as hell to me.

The second babe is Mylene Jampanoi, a French actress. She has a penchant for being nude in her films, which works for me, but if you've seen her in interviews you can see that she just exudes classiness. She's absolutely gorgeous as well, but unfortunately she's married. And guess what? To an Indian actor! That makes me happy when the brown man succeeds, often we're the butt of so many jokes while the women win beauty pageants like they're a peewee hockey league. She's half Japanese and half French too, which is obviously a recipe for hotness. That's why she is currently my desktop picture and the wallpaper on my iphone.

So please enjoy these grade A certified babes of the week.

BRILLIANT article

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/12/bush200712?currentPage=1

After reading this article, I printed it out and put it on my wall. I've always had a fascination with economics since taking classes at NU and this article systematically tells you the consequences of Bush's spendthrifting ways and dunderheaded economic policies. Since when did conservatives become so "liberal" with regards to spending government money? Atleast liberals have the good sense to raise taxes instead of spending money that doesn't exist.

Probably one of the most poignant points in this article is the mention of the weak dollar. In itself it is not necessarily a bad thing. It makes goods cheaper relative to Europe, which means Europeans come here and buy thousands of dollars of goods and help retailers. However, when people on the forex market have such a poor opinion on the validity of our currency because of our president and the state of affairs in our country, it's hardly a good thing. It's a symbol of economic malaise.

Another point that especially stuck out is how the government has been borrowing the past six years to help consumers keep up their own consumption. Where should that money have gone? Oh I don't know, maybe infrastructure, education, fixing Medicare and Social Security...but it's not like we're lagging behind in brain capital, had oodles of natural disasters and bridges falling, and a looming crisis with baby boomers getting older and older, right?

Anyways, read the whole thing, it makes you feel enlightened afterward and gives you rational reasons to want Bush out of office.