Matisyahu, Hasidic Reggae, Mon

So I breifly saw this guy mentioned on Best Week Ever, I think in The Sizzler. Anyway, he's a Hasidic Jew Reggae Singer/Rapper/Beat Box. So you'd think that'd be funny right?

Wrong! He's actually really good. Seriously, he's good. Take a look. AND all the songs I found were live in concert--no studio effects to hide behind! So here's what I suggest:

1. Go to his site on MTV.com and watch his full length music video. It's three minutes of your life you'll enjoy.

2. Go to heavy.com where you can stream the full album. Click on the brown link in the middle of the page, above the "#1 Sumosonic". I recommend listening to the Beat Box track (along with the others).

3. Research about him at his website hasidicreggae.com

4. Buy his CD at Amazon.com. It's only $10. Seriously folks, represent.

Sorry Ladies, Conjugal Visits Not Allowed

Alright, this weekend Drew and I watched an E! True Hollywood Story Investigates show called “Love Behind Bars.” Just the title on the TV Guide Channel sparked my interest. Here’s the lowdown. I guess it’s common for nationally reported mass murders, many with life-sentences, to have people fall in love with them and contact them through letters and telephone. Some feel sorry for them and give support. Some believe they’re innocent and try to help. One lady got semi-brainwashed over the phone with a mass murderer and attempted to commit a copycat crime so that her man on the inside could be proven innocent (if the crimes were still being committed while he is behind bars)! Luckily she failed and then snapped out of it, but was sentenced for premeditated attempted murder! I wonder if she ever met the mass murderer she was trying to help on the inside.

Anyways, if you want to contact a prisoner here are a couple of them to look at:

Sandra from LA, convicted of transporting controlled substances, set for release in 2010, she enjoys art and literature.

Sherry from Sutter County, convicted of battery, 37 years old and looking to marry, she like computers, water sports, and candle lit dinners.

Lastly, Gregory from Dayton Ohio, he’s 23, likes traveling and a multitude of sports, incarcerated for robbery, goes by the nickname “DaPrince.”

Ancient History

So I found out today that some of my cereal boxes are obsolete. That the information on that two-year-old Rice-O-Roni is incorrect. That sugar isn't one of the food groups. And that I need to change the lyrics to my "Food Rap."

As of this week, there is no more Food Pyramid. There are now, like, twelve or something. And your Personalized Pyramid Plan is dependant upon the information you enter into their site: age, gender, exercise.

It's cool! They even have a special section where you can track your actual food calorie intake and physical activity. Or it least, it would be cool, but when you click on that link, the service is unavailable. I like the idea and effort though.

Crap it's 11:57PM and I only have 3 minutes to get in 3 more servings of vegetables and 2 serving of fruit. And one milk. Dang it, hold on. Day one, and I've already dishonored my Personalized Pyramid Plan, or my "Triple-P" as I like to call it.



So I was watching Making The Band 3 on MTV, and I realized a weird, possibly intentional similarity on these reality shows. It seems that these shows must require that at least one contestant has a parent who is on their deathbed or is fighting cancer (examples off the top of my head: Patty- Making the Band 3, mom is dying; Sarah- Real World Philly, mom is currently fighting cancer and is in keimo; Girl (name unknown) on America's Next Top Model, friend died... i'm sure there's more examples).

This might not be a new trend, but I'm just now noticing it, seems like 3 or 4 just this week! I'm starting to think that the casting agents on the show are looking for people with situations like this. If nothing happens, no biggie, they still have that person in the house or on the show. But if their tragedy happened, ie mom dies, then instant drama. The more I type, the more I think this is true. And that just seems wrong.

Ice Capades

Do you remember the 2002 Winter Olympics? I do. And if you are like me, you were introduced to a previously unknown sport that unified and entertained every member of your household for a solid two weeks.

You talked about this sport with your friends. You explained the rules about scoring to your sister. You boasted how yes, it was silly, but you were sure you could easily make the Olympic team if you wanted, or at least take State. You might have even referred to this sport (and I use the term “sport” loosely) as Canadian Bowling, Frozen Shuffleboard, or That Rock Sliding Thing with the Sweepers with Brooms.

So tonight I went curling for the first time. And let me tell you something, it was all I hoped for and more. I met Portland’s own Evergreen Curling Club at the glorious Lloyd Center Mall Skating rink for and hour and a half of curling and sweeping education. No, there weren’t any ice skaters practicing routines while we played, but that could be a sport of its own, like dodgeball-skating-curling or something.

Anyway, they had teams playing their final league game on three of the courts and the club president taught us on the fourth court. We learned how to throw the stone, sweep the ice as the stone was moving, and play the game. Us rookies who didn’t have special curling shoe instead used duct tape on the bottom of one shoe for sliding when releasing the stone and when sweeping the moving stone. And a thing about sweeping- it warms up the ice a fraction of a degree and helps the stone both go farther and curve less. It has nothing to do with cleaning debris or smoothing the ice, like I had assumed.

The curling club members were all normal people or nerds. Not everyone was athletic, but everyone seemed to be having fun. All and all, I had a good time, and it only cost $5. Sadly, curling season is over until September. I need to get three buddies to form a team with me. We can make some real kick ass t-shirts.

A child is born...

And he shall be named "Blog."