I love to give my opinion even when people don’t want to hear it. This is one outlet where I can say what ever I want without interruption. So what ever pop’s into my head is likely to show up. If I’m not talking to myself, which is a very good possibility, let me know what you think.
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I'm just spending a quiet afternoon in the computer room listening to music, unwinding after a Sunday shift at work. I started to think about some the old songs that I used to love and started searching for them. I'm curious to see how they have held up over time. I'm guessing 'cause I listened to a lot of music in the 80's that some aren't going to be as good as I remember.
So lets go back and start in 1987. The song is Boom Boom Boom by Paul Lekakis. I don't think I ever saw a video for this song, but I do remember hearing for the first time at Astrolab. Astrolab was a dance bar for teenagers where no alcohol was served. It was alright, it had a great light show, and played lots of great music. I didn't have all that much fun, it was a bit intimidating.
So here is a live performance of Boom Boom Boom. I don't remember him being so gay.
I don't want call him a one hit wonder, but here is the 20th anniversary video of Boom Boom Boom.
Surprise, surprise Paul has a new video called "I need a vacation". Its a little bit catchy, but the chorus is just bad.
Who the hell says they need to go on a vacay....
Anyway back to the music.
A bit out of order.
Here's Shannon with Let the music play.
Next in line is the boy band that started it all.
New Kids on Block.
I was lucky enough to see them in concert here in Ottawa twice. The first time was with my brother who was about 14 at the time. He still claims that I scarred him for life when I made him attend the first concert with me. A concert with 10,000 screaming girls, I don't know how that scarred him....
The second show I went with my best friends sister. Hey I had a great time.
I found the ticket stubs the other day.
Been to a concert lately, check out the prices for these tickets. Notice the rain or shine on the second stub. It was during the Ex in August and it poured for about four hours before the show, everyone was soaked, but I still had a great time.
Here is "The Right Stuff" the song that started it all for the New Kids On The Block.
Another thing I love is Super Mario....all the way back to the original. Were not far off from the release of the next game in the mega-franchise, Super Mario Galaxy. I'm going to keep an open mind because there has not been a game by Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario, that I have not loved. I hope that he takes advantage of the Wii and all that potential.
Here is the latest game trailer.
Mario has certainly has come along way from his beginnings way back in 1981. Here is Mario's first apperance on the video game screen.
He doesn't look bad for 26.
The person playing the game isn't a pretty good player too.
I love anything Madonna. Here is her new commercial for H&M Clothing. Just because she hasn't made enough money yet Madonna has designed some clothing. Its a bit odd the first time round, but after a couple of viewings I see the charm. Check out the H&M web site the Madonna collection has some fantastic graphics.
Just as Julius Caesar was warned "beware the ides of March" so should we all. Just for clarification the ides of March actually falls on March 15th each year. The date that we all need to watch is March 19th. That is the day that Harper and his merry band of zealots bring down there budget. Its also most likely the day that Harper will engineer the fall of his government. Make not mistake, Harper will be the one behind any election call, he and the fanatics will blame it on the Liberals or maybe the NDP, but with the latest poll results in his favor, he wants an election now. Harper needs and wants a majority government so that he can radically change our country without the checks that a minority government provides. Its also not surprising that the Liberals have slipped slightly in the polls recently. After the bombardment of conservative attack ads that the party started showing recently. If these election type ads are not a sign of an election I don't know what is. Remember the outrage that the conservatives displayed when the Liberals showed there own attack ads during the last election, where's that outrage now? I guess it's different when the shoe's on the other foot. What a bunch of hypocrites. I thought conservatives where fiscally responsible? I can only imagine the millions spent on these commercials, some airing during the Super Bowl and American Idol two of the most expensive advertising slots on television. I think what frustrates me the most about the conservative party is the fact that they try to distance themselves from George Bush and the Republican party in the United States. Let me preface my comments with the following. I have traveled through a fair amount of the United States and have always enjoyed the time spent there. I have never had any negative experiences, and found Americans to be a very nice and helpful people. That said, there is a big difference between the American people and the American government. Harper is up in arms over the recent defeat of the extension of two anti-terror laws. One of the clauses in question allowed are government to detain any Canadian (you or I) for 3 days with only the suspicion of being involved in terrorist activities. This law was enacted by the Liberal part shortly after 9/11 and they were wise enough to included a clause that called for the expiry of the law if it was not ratified by Parliament every five years. I think that was quite a brilliant addition. For those of you who remember the political climate shortly after 9/11 it was terrifying. This law and similar ones enacted in the US were knee jerk reactions to a new perceived reality, but after five years and some sober second thought.... The Liberal party realizes that there is no need for this infringement on our basic human rights as Canadians and with the help of other opposition parties voted to allow this law to expire. You maybe wondering what brought on this rant. That is if your still reading, as this is one of the longest posts I have done lately. It's all because of Ann Coulter. Many of you may not recognize the name Ann Coulter,and if you don't your lucky she is a vile hateful woman who spreads her bigotry across the US and Canada. On Friday she was a speaker at Conservative Political Action Conference a meeting for most of the Republican hopefuls running for their parties nomination for President and she was her normal vile self.
As vile as she is, I expect it from her. The most disturbing part of this video is the crowds response. The laughing and clapping from the audience is quite terrifying and demonstrates the hate that conservatives are capable of. The fact that this woman constantly spews hatred and bigoted comments comes as no surprise, what does come as a surprise is that the Republican party invited her to speak knowing what she stands for. Of course on Monday all the Republicans running for President will come out denouncing her hate speech, and how she doesn't speak for them, yet they still invite her to talk at some of there most important gatherings. Actions speak louder than words. Stephen Harper is a good friend of George Bush and the Republican party. Just keep this video in mind even while Stephen Harper tries to distance himself from George Bush and the Republicans in the next election because they share the same values. Gerard Kennedy said it best:
"I want to beat Stephen Harper because I think his vision for Canada is a dangerous one, and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could do it. The Conservatives have taken a page from the Republican playbook, working to divide this country and rule with fear."source
Divide the country and rule by fear....sounds like the last year of Politics in Canada doesn't it. Think twice before you cast your next vote.
Mark and I are just wrapping up our winter vacation this weekend. It was a very nice week spent around the house with our friends from Brockville. I spoke of these friends before in a previous rant about Gay Marriage. Read about it here.
Guess what, there is going to be a wedding. Our good friends have decided to tie the knot. It seems like they were just waiting for the Federal Government to get thier act in order and finally legalize everything before the laddies legalized their relationship. It is expected to happen sometime this year, most likely over the summer. I will keep you updated on the progress. I can't wait, it will be the first legal same-sex wedding that I have attended. While we were talking about it during their visit, I started to bug Mark about when it might happen for us. It wasn't really fair for me to do this considering he celebrated his big four oh this past weekend, but let's just say he shocked the hell out of me with his comments.
More on that later.
Right now its time to focus on the ladies from Brockville. We're very happy for them and they are a perfect example of why gay and lesbian couples should be afforded the same rights as everyone else.
Finally a new song from Avril that doesn't sound like every other song she has ever sung. It's called Girlfriend..... h'mm I wonder is she trying to appeal to the gays with that title? How long before Canadian radio plays the crap out of this one.
What more can be said about poor Brittany....not much. I hope that here return visit to rehab will stick this time. Like they say "third time is the charm".
As the week comes to an end I felt the need to talk about American Idol. I'm not going to start posting regularly on Idol even though I'm completely addicted to the show, but an occasional update can't hurt. The season has started off as usual, me arguing with Mark about whether or not we are going to watch the show together live or if I'm going to watch it later on the PVR. I will give him credit, Mark sat through most of the "bad" auditions with little or not complaints. Now were up to the good parts of the show, the live performances. I want to start with the new "scandal" and get it out of the way. Mostly because I can't stand the woman. I don't know what it is the rubs me the wrong way about her, but I have not liked her from the moment she stepped on stage. Maybe because I went to school with an Antonella and I don't have fond memories of her, or it could be something else, I just don't know. I will post some links to some pictures that have surfaced of Antonella Barba and you can decide for yourself if she should be sent packing. Even though I can't wait to see here get voted off the show, I don't think anything justifies her "friends" selling pictures of her now that she's a bit of a celebrity. Needless to say these are not pictures of Antonella feeding the homeless or helping blind people cross the street. These links are NSFW. (I just learned what NSFW means....Not Safe For Work. That's your fact for the day.) IDontLikeYouInThatWay
Now back to the more interesting parts of the show. I have too early favourites that I would like to share one of the girls and one of the boys.
Here are their first live performances.
Up first Lakisha Jones.
Lakisha is trying to become the next American Idol for her three year old daughter. I think that she is going to go far in this competition. This is her idol journey so far.
You can tell a singer is great when you get goosebumps from their performance. I have also heard a rumor that Jennifer Hudson former American Idol loser and Academy Award nominee is going to sing this on the Oscar telecast on Sunday, she is going to have to sing the crap out of it to compete with this woman.
Now from the guys side there is Blake Lewis.
I like this one. He seems to be a performer in the true sense of the word. This is another one to watch.
Here is Blake's group performance in Hollywood. Just because I want to show it.
