Simone now has 19 posts (including a post that essentially amounted to her reposting my Sizzler toast recipe…)
Ben has 26 posts. All of them original.
I have 50. I’m going away for the long weekend though – so I suspect the others to put on a bit of a lead (remembering that I’m now on 0 after knocking over the 50 post handicap).
Month: June 2009
Blog Off: Update
Crunch decision
There are dumb lawsuits and then there’s this law suit…
On May 21, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California dismissed a complaint filed by a woman who said she had purchased “Cap’n Crunch with Crunchberries” because she believed “crunchberries” were real fruit. The plaintiff, Janine Sugawara, alleged that she had only recently learned to her dismay that said “berries” were in fact simply brightly-colored cereal balls, and that although the product did contain some strawberry fruit concentrate, it was not otherwise redeemed by fruit. “
It would seem there’s a legal precedent with a case involving “Froot Loops”…
The judge put the plaintiff in her place:
This Court is not aware of, nor has Plaintiff alleged the existence of, any actual fruit referred to as a “crunchberry.” Furthermore, the “Crunchberries” depicted on the [box] are round, crunchy, brightly-colored cereal balls, and the [box] clearly states both that the Product contains “sweetened corn & oat cereal” and that the cereal is “enlarged to show texture.”
Missing baby found in Sandwich
That would have been an incredibly fun headline to write… Especially because it’s actually not as bad as it sounds.
The story is a little sad – as any stories where children live in broken and violent homes. But not as disturbing as the picture that pops into one’s head…
“Police say John Fielding was drunk and had assaulted the infant’s mother before he sped off with his daughter. A short time later, Fielding was found in Sandwich, MA.”
That’s got to win points for misleading people…
Crap Sound 2
Wow. So I stirred up a hornets nest of angry female commenters (and one male), eager to defend U2’s honour.
And I regret nothing.
I thought about it, and for a while I decided that I was being harsh, that it’s wrong to judge people on the basis of their musical taste. But then I decided that’s exactly what I do. I am unapologetically prejudiced when it comes to Music. That’s why I own a T-Shirt that says “I hate the bands you like” and another that says “you have bad taste in music”… In fact. If you like U2 you should go to this site. Consider it an online support group.
I measure people – and how much I have in common with them – by what’s on their CD shelf, iPod, DVD rack or book shelf. And why shouldn’t I. You no doubt judge me on things equally superficial.
Will I not love you on that basis? No. Robyn had some Christian music CDs when we started dating – and some equally embarrassing music, and I have the Backstreet Boys as a musical skeleton in my closet. I still love her (and she me), though we disagree.
For those not reading the comments here’s some of what went down (well, what I said… other people can make their own points known in the comments – or on their own blogs)…
“Understanding that something is a subjective taste should not stop me objecting to the subjective taste of others.
I don’t like modern fashion – should I not be allowed to voice my opinion on that? Besides, I see providing all these alternative bands as a public service to my readers.
I wonder too, if the label “alternative” could just be applied to “those bands not trying to be U2″.”
Here are the things I’ve actually said about U2 (in the comments on other posts):
- “If you listen to U2 your musical taste is boring and your (clef) palate undefined.”
- “This article pretty much sums up why I don’t like U2 ”
- “They’re also not very good. Musically or lyrically. In my opinion. They are champions of inoffensive blandness.”
- “I’m happy for you to like U2. I’m sure you have reasons. I don’t like U2.”
- “It’s where I write my opinion. On things. Like U2. And how they should retire. They used to be cool. Now they’re old men. ”
- “I wonder too, if the label “alternative” could just be applied to “those bands not trying to be U2″.”
- “Why listen to one band that tries to appeal to every aspect of musicallity and becomes middle of the road when you can embrace diversity which lets you appreciate the whole road, bit by bit?”
- “There’s six bands in a list of five bands that I find more sonically pleasurable than U2″
- “Bono’s public Christianity makes him a bit of a sacred cow. But I don’t like to criticise things without offering solutions here are 5 bands that are better than U2. In my opinion”
Stylised Sarcasm
Interesting idea. I’m going to recode my website so that when I am being sarcastic I can use HTML and CSS to indicate it. Sarcasm will, when I’m ready to launch it, come out in blue. Or something.
Someone suggested that a Sarcasm tag be included in the next HTML standard.
Wikipedia in real life
Wikipedia is massive. This massive (according to this visualisation)… this would be a hard copy to carry.
Sound of Music
I’ve been on a bit of a sound wave this morning – with my earlier posts – and the slightly more heated than anticipated comments on my anti-U2 post. I’m not surprised. Bono’s public Christianity makes him a bit of a sacred cow.
But I don’t like to criticise things without offering solutions here are 5 bands that are better than U2. In my opinion*…
- Radiohead – both Coldplay and U2 wish they were as politically aware and musically diverse as Radiohead – incidentally – Radiohead are apparently recording a new album.
- Muse – another British band with less people and more musical talent (and a greater talent per capita ratio) than U2.
- Gomez – They are to alt.Country what the muppets are to puppetry. Defining. Actually they’re incredibly difficult to pigeon hole.
- Athlete – For those of you who like U2 because they’re easy listening try Athlete, or Death Cab for Cutie – both equally compelling in sound but less self-righteously musically annoying.
- Augie March – not only are they Australian, intelligent, poetic, they’re “easy listening” without being middle of the road inoffensive babble.
There’s six bands in a list of five bands that I find more sonically pleasurable than U2. Here are 10 more that fit that category off the top of my head (or out of my iPod – which does contain a bit of U2 – early U2, back when the Edge didn’t look like the kind of guy you’d keep your children away from at public parks).
If you like saccharine music and just can’t help yourself – why not listen to Dave Matthews, or Simon and Garfunkel…
- Smashing Pumpkins
- Weezer
- Architecture in Helsinki
- Blur
- Oasis
- Cake
- Custard
- The Dandy Warhols
- Placebo
- The Panics
Those are just the bands – there are plenty of solo artists or balladeers who write nice, sweet music who are infinitely more compelling than a 50 year old who petulantly refuses to remove his sunglasses. I won’t list them. I think I’ve made my point. Why listen to one band that tries to appeal to every aspect of musicality and becomes middle of the road when you can embrace diversity which lets you appreciate the whole road, bit by bit.
That is all.
*I’m not sure this needs to be said on a blog. That’s kind of the point.
Crap sound
You like iPods? Me too. iPods are so awesome we all have to wonder how we lived without them. You can take them everywhere. But keeping them in your pocket while you’re going about your “business” can be a hazard – it’s far too easy to drop electronic items in the toilet. Here’s something that will help.
Sweet sound
Perhaps you like your music sugar coated (2 U2 posts in 2 days?). Perhaps you like crisp sound. Perhaps you like Eminem. If any of these options could in any way be stretched to include you – then have I got a product for you…
That’s right. M&M headphones. That are actually for sale. And with the exchange rate being what it is you’ve got no excuse not to buy a bundle… from bookofjoe.
Super Conan Bros
Conan O’Brien has taken over Jay Leno’s slot on American television. Which I think is great. He’s much funnier – though no Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert. Anyway, it seems his set designer is a geek.
Not you too?
This article pretty much sums up why I don’t like U2 (and Coldplay for that matter).
U2 have long been so ubiquitous that their music has threatened to lose all meaning – for me, it happened around 1988 – but of late, they have truly excelled themselves. Some questions: when Bono is photographed going to church in New York with Blair, what does that do the idea of rock as The Other? Is their slide heartening proof that, after years of handwringing about music becoming so pan-generational and pro-establishment it had lost all meaning, there may actually be a point where the great unwashed realise a group stands for absolutely nothing, and recoil? If so, watch out Coldplay.
Are you a U2 fan? Are you offended by such snobbery?
Original flavour
I don’t have much to say about the Origin. Six things in fact.
- Despite what Greg Inglis might like to believe – you can’t actually help what state you’re from – so bagging out losing fans on the basis of their “state of origin” seems pretty silly. Especially when your state is too dumb to maintain its “Smart State” slogan as fair and reasonable advertising. It’s not all about football people…
- Kurt Gidley is overrated.
- The Queensland Team’s dynasty will not last past next year – I predict their stars will be lured to Rugby, the UK and retirement.
- The New South Wales selectors should be put out to pasture – half backs should be creative, full backs fast, and wingers nimble footed.
- Queensland were better on the night.
- Phil Gould is universally annoying – every tackle last night was “an Origin tackle” – he’d have you believe that only the impressive ones fit that bill… And “out Origined” in the context of a State of Origin match just means “outplayed”… and motivational “pump up the audience” speeches before kick off only work for players, or if you don’t look like a walking cauliflower.
Ooh, Aah
Eric Cantona is, for a Manchester United fan, about the closest thing you can get to perfection. He left the game on his own terms – years before many would argue that he should have – and now he’s an actor. And his latest film, where he plays himself, is getting rave reviews. Here’s the trailer and a couple of other pieces of Cantona magic…
Here he is killing the devil…
Here he is umpiring in Nike’s awesome “cage fight” football commercial…
Here’s why he’s regarded so highly…
And here’s the bit where he kicks a Crystal Palace fan in the head…