Where Were You When the Iraq War Started?

From Wikipedia:

Shock and awe, technically known as rapid dominance, is a military doctrine based on the use of overwhelming power, dominant battlefield awareness, dominant maneuvers, and spectacular displays of force to paralyze an adversary's perception of the battlefield and destroy its will to fight.

Can you believe the Iraq War began combat in March 2003? Doesn't that seem like forever ago? I remember watching CNN from Tokyo, Japan when "Shock and Awe" was in shocking display. I was on spring break of my junior year of college, shocked myself that we were actually bombing Baghdad.

Tonight President Obama declared the combat missions in Iraq over - without really declaring victory or "mission accomplished."

The Treehouse

I helped produce this short comedy skit with some hilarious pals of mine, Paul and Lucia. One day they're going to be big stars!

Shit, I tried to embed the video, but it's too wide... Here's the linkage...

Blogvestments: Long Live Preppies

Domestic Manufacturing and sexy ads. Appears American Apparel missed one too many Investment club meetings.

Read about it here.

"Hipsters are from a certain time period. The stereotype of a hipster is not something people aspire to anymore. Do you want to be a hipster? Nobody wants to be a hipster," says CEO Dov Charney to the Village Voice.

Blognology: the Interwebs Competition

There's an interesting concept in the world of Internet usage called "net neutrality," which basically means no restrictions be placed on the ability for one to be able to access and use the Internet (by an Internet Provider). This may change with two giant companies plotting to dictate your ability to access the internet. Ironically, this stems from (1) an inability for someone to govern this freedom and (2) advertising models.

Some NYT articles about it:

2010/08/05/
2010/08/10/
2010/08/12/
2010/08/14/

A joint blog post about it:

JointPolicyProposalforanOpenInternet

The Armpit Collection XXXIV: Black, Saint, Sinner

Charles Mingus is relentless in what he does. His music contains a ferocity and intensity that is unmatched. Nowhere have I been more attracted to stoking chaos in the midst of intellectual forms. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is his most accomplished work. And you can also enjoy him here.

1. Track A - Solo Dancer (6:20)
Stop! Look! And Listen, Sinner Jim Whitney!

2. Track B - Duet Solo Dancers (6:25)
Hearts' Beat and Shades in Physical Embraces

3. Track C - Group Dancers (7:00)
(Soul Fusion) Freewoman and Oh, This Freedom's Slave Cries

4. Mode D - Trio and Group Dancers (17:52)
Stop! Look! And Sing Songs of Revolutions!

Mode E - Single Solos and Group Dance
Saint and Sinner Join in Merriment on Battle Front

Mode F - Group and Solo Dance
Of Love, Pain, and Passioned Revolt, then Farewell, My Beloved, 'til It's Freedom Day

Taken from the extensive liner notes:

"Last and least is me. Mingus. I wrote the music for dancing and listening." - Charles Mingus

"To me this particular composition contains Mr. Mingus' personal and also a social message. He feels intensively. He tries to tell people he is in great pain and anguish because he loves. He cannot accept that he is alone, all by himself; he wants to love and be loved. His music is a call for acceptance, respect, love, understanding, fellowship, freedom - a plea to change the evil in man and to end hatred. The titles of this composition suggest the plight of the black man and a plea to the white man to be aware. " - Doctor Pollock (his psychologist)

Two Albums Bought Yesterday

Arcade Fire "The Suburbs"

The Black Crowes "Croweology"

Ryan Xilliams

"...a continuing series of unflattering photographs of myself."

My good friend and yours, Ryan Williams, takes us through his weird, wondrous, and wild (not to mention highly amusing) online observations in his blog, Ryan Xilliams. A decent part of his full-time job is trolling around the 'net in search of bizarreness, so it only makes sense for him to have an electronic dumping ground to share his found treasure. Enjoy!

On a side note, Ryan's improv comedy team, DREAMBOAT!, recently went toe to toe and defeated 23 other teams in the 2010 Del Close Marathon Indie Team Cagematch Tournament! Ayyy-Ohhh!