Does the Internet Byte?

2008. It has officially been half of a century since the Advanced Research Projects Agency devised a simple and complex and fascinating and dangerous and accessible and virtual sort of technology: The World Wide Waste of Time. Er, I mean.. the Internet!

Let me be succinct, it's actually been 50 spankings since the US government initiated the research of newer technologies. I doubt that in 1958 the ARPA's malnourished MIT super-grad whipped together a baby version of Firefox, wrapped it swaddling clothes and gifted it to the military in exchange for his freedom...

I mean, should we sing it a happy birthday or something? It's older than me but I suppose that doesn't mean its none the wiser... To me, the Web is sort of nightmare-ish. Here's why:

-Anyone can find anyone on the Internet.
-People (meaning businesses, agencies, IRS, CIA, FBI, etc, etc...) can monitor what you do on the Internet.
-There's no legitimate excuse anymore for disappearing for a few desperately needed personal days, avoiding your acquaintances, employers, or that character you gave your name/number to last night who won't leave you alone today and who bears a striking resemblance to this. I say with confidence that most Americans have access to a computer with browsing capability or own a cell phone with Internet access. (Yes, I've seen homeless people with cell phones, I've seen tweenagers with Blackberries!)

It's ridiculous! There's just no privacy anymore. The government created it, techies perfected it, and now I think we have a festering monster on our hands. Everyone everywhere can do anything online: from paying your Gap credit card bill to X-core biatching your sister's ex out via Facebook wall post. Ouch!

I think I have a rather ambivalent relationship with the online realm:

I LOVE IT
I use Google multiple times per day, I do most of my networking online, I can watch all the vids and listen to all of the music I want--Coldplay's Viva La Vida is streaming here, by the by.

I HATE IT
I'm online WAY too much. I'm hopelessly addicted to social networking and I begin to chew on my nails if I don't check my email tri-daily.

What is wrong with me?! Am I the only one feeling this way? I want my mantra to be "less is more," but how can I even think to utter those words if I spend half of my time online?

Speaking of the Web (as if I was talking about anything different in this monster blog), pretty soon, Google won't just be Google. I remember watching a movie in my freshman journalism class about big dot coms joining forces with other companies (i.e. Google merging with Amazon) to create a behemoth of an enterprise: GOOGLEZON.

GOOGLEZON (I have to capitalize every letter in order for you to begin to wrap your mind around its vastness), I believe, can be Wiki'd (thank you, Web). Alas, I found it! Not like it was hard to find online or anything... According to Wikipedia,

GOOGLEZON is a fictional company created when Google merged with Amazon.com in the popular flash movie EPIC 2014, released in November 2004. As the story goes, Google, having consolidated all of its services into the Google Grid – a, 'universal platform that provides a functionally limitless amount of storage space and bandwidth to store and share media of all kinds' – and Amazon.com, with its, "social recommendation engine" and, 'huge commercial infrastructure' combine forces to battle with Microsoft and its fictional Newsbotster. This leads to the 'News Wars of 2010', which are, 'notable for the fact that no actual news organizations take part'. GOOGLEZON triumphs and unleashes EPIC (Evolving Personalized Information Construct), a universal, personalized news submission and distribution system that is so popular it effectively puts the fourth estate out of business.

I'm sure many of you know more about the ever present GOOGLEZON than I do. I'm often left in the dark with the latest high-tech discoveries, even if they are big jokes. (I still think that Snake game on the old skool Nokia phones is genius. Pathetic, I know.)

But I digress. Let's trot back to the the Web's big birthday dealio. I cannot lie, it's incredible what the right (and wrong) people can do with technology after five decades of advancement. After all, the Internet gave way to many talented people (paging, Diablo Cody). A few duds managed to find their way out of the Internet, too but I'm not even going to dignify their names in text. And true, I wouldn't be sitting here bloggin' away right now, either. The Internet has done some good for us, but who knows what the future will hold...

So I got to thinking about perils of i-research, e-communication and the like last night when I paid a little visit to a pro-liberty website. It was an exposé site of sorts--the kind of site that le gov doesn't want you know about. As I was clicking from link to link, Brian, my boyfriend, told me I'd better watch out.

"You're on a list now," he said. And he's probably right. Like I said before, the government birthed this bad boy; they've likely got their hands on every binary digit floating around out there!! I wonder if some secret government website monitoring agency has read this already. Patriot Act, anyone?

Monkeys! I feel like I have to monitor my every move now. (Note to self: donate 1/3 of time and money to the United States Government to save face.)

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, sad birthday, Internet, you scare the bejesus out of me.

--Adios babies, Kathleen.

P.S. If you want to read more on the 50th Anniversary of the Internet, you can read the Vanity Fair article, which I found here. It's nine pages. Enjoy! Also, I would like to know what YOU think. So, what do you think? Let me know below.

Style has meandered its way into the Heartland

I am no Prada, no Carrie Bradshaw, and certainly no supermodel, but I know style when I see it. And I see it here. Iowa City, by means of acting as a magnet of people from all over the country and the world, has a definitive fashion sensibility. Directly affected by weather and culture, Iowa City sidewalks are adorned with style that reflects the UI population and the community of the town. And so being new to the DI staff, and being a young duck eager to get my hands dirty with initiative and ideals, I suggested (and the staff warmly accepted and encouraged) a weekly column profiling someone who's fashion I believe is not only inventive and awe-worthy, but that is also tres Iowa City. This weeks first victim:

Frannie Owens, 22, Art student, Graduating this summer – picture taken on Washington St.

Do you have a style mantra or something that directs your dress?
If it’s clean, I’ll wear it.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
My Cheap Monday raw denim pants.

Do you shop in Iowa City ever?
No. Online.

The interview was brief (she was in the middle of many errands she told me), but I love the look. Lots of prints and ideas are connected by a similar color scheme that is succinct and cohesive. The look is feminine and utilitarian and it works.

So, there it is. Comments, suggestions, and praises (if you could be so kind) to this baby-of-a-column would be so very greatly appreciated. Look for Frannie's printed profile this Thursday in 80 Hours.

Peace out, mes petits fashionistas.
--A

Gimme Cover

I am sorry I am not sorry that I always begin my posts with a lolcat. Personally, I just don't get people who don't get it. Whatevsies. On to the fun!

I set aside my blog about "Top 10 songs for the Deluge of 2008" to think about something a little more pertinent to my interests. Also I am sick of trying to figure out how to get out of Iowa City from my apartment without drowning. It's hopeless. So I promised a list of best covers a few months back, and I've been hoarding them ever since, scoping out top 100 lists and friends' iTunes for weeks. It's been a long and arduous task, but I am committed to this list. (I wish I could also make a list of my favorite songs that have been covered. "Zombie" by the Cranberries would be right at the top.) These aren't the best. These are just my faves. I promised. I delivered. Bam kazow in yo teeth.


Hot covers (for a hot humid muggy mosquito day):

1. Bamboo Banga, M.I.A. (Modern Lovers cover, seriously doctored to cool status)
2. Tainted Love, Marilyn Manson (Ed Cobb cover covered/made famous by Soft Cell and many others)
3. Exit Music (for a film), Vampire Weekend (Radiohead cover, duh. I'm not a VW fan in general (probably one of the few admitting it) but this is a sick cover. They managed to screw up the 2:50 swell. i.d.i.o.t.s. oh well.)
4. Personal Jesus, Marilyn Manson (Depeche Mode cover, also see Johnny Cash's version. glorious.)
5. I Am The Walrus, Bono and the Secret Machines (Beatles cover)
6. Teardrop, Jose Gonzalez (Massive Attack cover)
7. I Want Candy, White Williams (This is single handedly the most covered song in the history of music, according to me. oh wellz, because this one's still got my vote)
8. The Man Who Sold The World, Nirvana (David Bowie cover)
9. Sweet Dreams, Marilyn Manson (Eurythmics cover. I know it looks like I listen to a lot of Marilyn, but these are the only 3 songs I have by him. I promise.)
10. Seven Nation Army, The Flaming Lips (White Stripes cover! sirens galore! weeeeee!)
11. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Cat Power (Rolling Stones cover. Cat Power's album The Covers Record is phenomenal in general.)
12. All Along the Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan cover. Everyone covers this one as well.)
13. Born to Run, K-OS (Bruce Springsteen cover)
14. Dear Prudence, Siouxsie and the Banshees (Beatles cover)
15. God Only Knows, Petra Haden (Beach Boys cover)
16. Higher Ground, Red Hot Chili Peppers (Stevie Wonder cover)
17. Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez (The Knife cover. Jose has the Midas touch. I kid you not.)
18. I Think We're Alone, Girls Aloud (Tommy James and the Shondells cover)
19. The Chauffeur, Deftones (Duran Duran cover. This is such an amazing b-side.)
20. World in My Eyes, The Cure (Depeche Mode cover)
21. Within You Without You, Sonic Youth (Beatles cover)
22. Superstar, Sonic Youth (Carpenters cover. I realize it is impossible to match Karen Carpenter's glassy voice, but this is a fine fine cover- also on the Juno soundtrack.)
23. Psycho Killer, James Hall (Talking Heads cover)
24. Because the Night, 10000 Maniacs (Patti Smith cover. incredible how much their voices sound alike!)
25. Love will Tear us Apart, Susanna the Magical Orchestra (Joy Division cover. again, hard to beat, but it gets the originality points.)

Bam kazow in Yo Teeth. Feel free to leave a nasty comment about some awesome cover I left out of my list.

Stay Hot. Be Cool.
Ann

P.S. Best lyric of the week? Young Jeezy, "Put On"
"Passenger's a redbone, her weeve look like some curly fries /
Inside fish sticks, outside tartar sauce /
Pocket full of celery, imagine what she tellin me /
Blowin on asparagus, the realest shit I ever smoked /
Ridin to that Trap or Die, the realest shit I ever wrote /
They know I got that broccoli, so I keep that glock with me."
bahahahahahahahahhhhhhhh

playlist for finals week

Dear Arts staff, who keeps writing posts without signing them? You are so sly.

Here it is: the top 10 tracks spinning this week on the macbook. Quick, Rob, gimme some good tunez for finals week.

10. North American Scum- LCD Soundsystem
9. Creator- Santogold (aka the next MIA)
8. Sunfair- Creeper Lagoon
7. Watch My Feet- Dude & Nem (Jarrett's pick of the semester. don't watch me, watch my feet!)


6. Shut Up and Let Me Go- The Ting Tangs (shamelessly swiped from an iPod commercial. Goodbye, indie cred, goodbye.)
5. The Chauffeur- Deftones (Duran Duran cover)
4. Computer Camp Love- Datarock
3. What Is Love- Haddaway. This song is why 1993 was such a great year. Baby don't hurt me.


2. Puppets- Atmosphere (this album is 100% wicked awesome)
1. Who You Gonna Run To?- Solid Gold


No other set of 10 songs could describe me quite so well right now. This is me on May 14, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. OH crap. Portuguese final. like. now.

-ANN

Netflix changed my life

Five reasons why Netflix is the best thing that ever happened to me:

1. Countless selection of foreign films (and helpful descriptions of them) not available at Blockbuster.

2. Unlimited watch-instantly viewing, which translates into watching The Office pretty much all the time.

3. My parents pay for it.

4. No late fees, so my parents don't get mad about having to pay for that, too.

5. They mail it right to me so I don't have to get out of my pajamas for an entire weekend (except to go to meeting).

Wow...I'm a living, breathing advertisement.

Upclose Q&A with Visiting Author, Keith Gessen

Keith Gessen’s just published his first novel, “All the Sad Literary Men” after nearly five years of workshopping, backburning and writing, writing, writing.



The Russian-born, 33-year-old, interchangeable novelist slash journalist, has hit the road, and hard traveling to Iowa City’s Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St., for his eighth reading tonight, May 5, at 7 p.m.

DI reporter Brigid Marshall caught the Harvard and Syracuse University-educated author in between Chicago and Iowa City, to pump the East Coast-native with questions.

BM: So, what is it really like to transition from writing for magazines and newspapers to having your first novel, out and published?
KG: It’s a real experience. But it’s still pretty early, and so far it’s been read, kind of, only by the reviewers. And the reviews of the book is kind of interesting, but after a while they all kind of start saying the same things as the first one.

BM: So how many places have you stopped at to promote the book?
KG: Seven cities down and seven more to go — There have really been a lot of stops.

BM: Now that you’ve had your first book published, do you think you’re going to stick just with novels or are you going to continue with N+1 and writing for other publications?
KG: There’s still some thing I want to do journalistically. [Writing] is something I’ve always wanted to do. I studied the history of literature [at Harvard] and, well, I didn’t do the newspaper. After graduation I refused to get a job and just worked odd jobs and wrote stories.

BM: When did you decide to go back to school and write the book?
KG: After a few years of [writing book reviews], I decided to go do the MFA program at Syracuse…I’ve never really liked being in school very much…The workshop is very useful for starting out and working out some of the problems in your fiction, but at some point you just have to forget about all those people. A good more than half of it went through a workshop environment.

BM: What was the most challenging, or difficult part of the book?
KG: Starting it was hard. It took me a while to figure out the voice. I went through sort of a lot of stories indicative of other writers’ work…Yeah, it took me a while to write this story. And when I was trying to finish it. I was writing about these three guys that messed up their lives, and I had to finish their stories. I could see how things would play out in their lives.

BM: Do you relate to your characters at all? Often authors’ first work of fiction has that tendency to be made of parts of their own life.
KG: They’re all kind of versions of me. They’re kind of these creative, goofier versions of me. I’m very sympathetic to them even though they’re not me completely.

BM: What part of the book are you going to read? Is there a particular passage that lends itself to certain audiences?
KG: It depends; I’ve been reading different things, like when I’m in New York reading I read a passage from one of the sections that takes place in New York. Some parts are a bit more straightforward and stick well. A lot of the book is set in contemporary life and deals with problems in contemporary life…it’s not quite literary in away. In the best readings people have responded to it being about contemporary issues like dating and being in your twenties, not having any money.

BM: So, what would you say, not to be cliché, but what would you say is the point, or “life lesson” of the book?
KG: I’m not uncomfortable with it having a life lesson. I think it’s totally fine for fiction to be moral. I think fiction ought to be. I believe in it. It’s about guys who are not necessarily bad guys, you’re not supposed to think if them as monsters, and yet, they hurt the people around them and mess up their lives because of their intellectual confusion, and this misinterpretation of what it means to be an intellectual, thinking person. It’s a field guide. In a way it’s kind of a journey to that. It might serve as a warning.

BM: What do you want audiences to take away from it?
KG: I wanted it to be as honest as possible about this stage, about what it means to be in your 20s in Boston, New York, and not have any money — what it’s like to go through and have various relationships. I wanted it to be as honest as I could make it, which meant not exaggerating how bad these guys were.

BM: With this honesty and it being fiction, while the characters are in some ways you, do you ever find yourself wanting to fall into nonfiction?
KG: Fiction is not doing as much of the lives of these people and just fictionalizing them. I made them more interesting than me, than my life. With fiction, paradoxically you can be more honest, partly because there’s a fiction in the fiction. If this were a memoir I’d be tempted to justify myself. You can be harder on the characters, and it can be darker. For the moment, I’m staying with fiction.

BM: Who are you aiming your audience to be at this reading?
KG: I hope students come because this is a book for young people who are about to launch themselves out into the world.

I Missed the Good Part, Then I Realized

I'm here to add even more evidence to the heaping pile of reasons why I'm not a hipster. I'm not even hip. Stop reading if you're anyone whose image of me as cool will forever be tarnished by even more proof that I couldn't get into a club if I founded it. Who's ready for a hot plate o' nerd?




I like Coldplay.

Scratch that, I LOVE Coldplay. In honor of the band's newest single, "Violet Hill," which drops today and is available as a free download (taking yet another page from Radiohead's book?), I'm going to share my fixation with the band.

I think Chris Martin is hot, his high falsetto is mesmerizing, his piano parts breathtaking, and the band's soft-piano-rock is deep. Is it wimp-rock, like so many have said? Maybe. But is it substantial? Definitely. Coldplay is the future of pop music. The group is holding the pop-rock banner higher than anyone, and doing it with more talent, better songwriting, and more appeal than any of its peers. I also can't hate any band that is socially active and politically aware (I'll save that diatribe for a U2- or R.E.M.- related post, though).

Not only do I have two Coldplay posters in my room, I have seen the band live. I spent my sophomore year of high school drowning in the sorrow and exquisite pain of A Rush of Blood to the Head, the British quartet's second album. Who knew tragedy could be made more personal through Martin's honey-drenched voice?

It is simply too difficult to name my favorite Coldplay songs because the group's sound is so versatile. Instead of having a distinct sound and only working within that parameter (Dave Matthews, I'm looking at you), or experimenting with everything and not excelling at anything, Coldplay merges its signature stylings with creative musical leaps.

While Coldplay can do it all, the ballads are what make the band. There, the musical talent crosses with Martin's uncanny ability to marry emotion with pitch-perfect diction, and leaves fans' psyches leveled after a listen. Listening to Coldplay is like an enema for the soul.

Everyone who has seen Wedding Crashers knows about the whispering romance of "Sparks," which is one of the best non-overt love songs of this decade, but heartbreak, regret, and repentance are where the band hits its heights. No Coldplay song has been more therapeutic for this listener than "Warning Sign," which also serves as the score for a crucial plot point in a forgettable film called The Last Kiss. There's nothing better than Martin's high-pitched voice, like a canary's song. He pulls every ounce of sadness into this song and out of the listener, and while I don't know exactly what he's singing about, I know I've been there. From the first time I heard this song, I connected with it more deeply than any Coldplay song before or since. I never used to believe in regret, but "Warning Sign" showed me I was full of it. This is one song everyone should hear.



I love The O.C. but its use of "Fix You" during Caleb Nichol's death definitely diminishes the song in my book. "Swallowed In the Sea" is a much more suitable sad song. It is sad and alternately triumphant, celebratory and painful, and it's Coldplay's mastery of paradoxes that sets it apart from its artificially deep peers, putting it into a class with legends like U2 and yes, R.E.M. Coldplay is all about a different kind of love, an unconventional, darker yet more resonant love, which makes it all the more engaging, and this song is a great example of that idea.



There's nothing sadder than an accident, and Coldplay taps into this with "Trouble," a song which serves as the score for episodes of MTV's "True Life." This song will break your soul as you sympathize (or maybe even empathize) with Martin's plight. It's martyrdom at its most modest, complete with piano accompaniment.



As far as the rockier songs go, Coldplay peaked early with secret-love anthem "Shiver." The second track on the band's debut, Parachutes, the tune captures that Cady Heron-esque feeling of being in love with someone you just can't have, or just can't muster the words to tell. Many great songs have been written about long lost loves, forbidden love, and love from afar, but very few truly great songs encapsulate all three, exemplifying that feeling of loving someone completely while they have no clue how you feel. From that moment on, Martin established himself as a magnetic personality, so sensitive and such a chameleon. He is able to inhabit an emotion and convey it expertly, genuinely, and then launch into another mood. Like the great lyricists before him, he gives names to feelings listeners don't yet know they feel.




I'll be the first to admit, the near-identical chord progressions in louder Coldplay singles "Clocks" and "Speed Of Sound" are less than imaginative when juxtaposed, but both are still great songs. I prefer "Speed of Sound," even though "Clocks" is the song that made me fall in love with the band. "Speed of Sound" is more driving, more forceful, and more energetic. It is the sound of a confident band, something listeners weren't used to when the single was released off of the band's most recent album, 2005's X&Y. Yet "Clocks" has one of my favorite lyrics of the last ten years: "Am I part of the cure, or am I part of the disease?" Martin scores again. Decide for yourself.

"Clocks"



"Speed of Sound"



"In My Place" wins as Coldplay's most emotional song of the drum-heavy set. Not since the Police's "Message in a Bottle" has a song of such isolation felt so inclusive. The longing and loneliness in Martin's voice could draw tears from the driest ducts. Only Coldplay could make something so depressing into a hit single. Plus, Will Champion's drumming is the caramel center in this chocolate truffle of a song. The song would be fine without it, but the unexpected strength of the drumming takes it from (to quote Spinal Tap) 10 to 11. Martin's lyrics are vague and highly relatable, as it seems only British songwriters like Morrissey and Thom Yorke can do(though Michael Stipe is the exception to the rule).



Every great band is capable of at least one great unabashed Beatles' reference. Coldplay's comes in the form of "Everything's Not Lost." With its singalong vibe and happy-go-lucky lyrics, Coldplay tries optimism on for size and finds it fits well, if only on this occasion. Even Coldplay, as solemn and over-thought as much of its music is, can still tilt a chin-up and turn a frown upside down. This song is a sweet attempt at finding a softer side of life, bathed in yellow light and butterflies (or maybe just not covered in complete gray). This is Coldplay's "Everybody Hurts," and Michael Stipe must be proud.



Never ones to shy away from politics, Coldplay confronted the issues of the day in an obvious way on "A Rush of Blood to the Head." The result is a stark look at human nature and power-grabbing, serving as almost a warning against senseless violence. Maybe the most disturbing Coldplay track, it is one that stays with listeners for a long time, tonally creating a post-apocalyptic setting. The song was so dark it was used as the theme for the third season of "Six Feet Under."



Coldplay's new album is said to be a departure from the band's earlier work. Let's hope the new single and new album live up to the great legacy the band has already built. Three albums deep and the band has already placed itself in the upper-echelons of the music world. Not so bad for a group nagged by its detractors for being a U2 rip-off.

-Meryn, who wants to be Gwyneth Paltrow every day.

i'll trade my left foot for the flying car

Let's talk about Kevin Smith.

When I was in high school, I, like many people, considered myself very cutting-edge and cool to be able to quote the New Jersey trilogy (Clerks., Mallrats, Chasing Amy) at the drop of a hat. So much profanity! So many gratuitous sexual references!

These days, I consider myself a bit more on the objective side, but I'll be the first to admit that I'll always be a bit biased on the pro-View Askew productions side. I still love Clerks. as much as I did, though I no longer dream of being able to drop a ridic amount of money to order and ship this shirt to me.

In recent years, it's become harder and harder to justify my generally positive sentiments toward Mr. Smith. Beginning with Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, his career decisions have been...questionable, to put it politely. When a Smith-phile such as myself momentarily forgets that she even saw Clerks II (hey, in my defense, Smith's own website seems to want to pretend like it, along with 2004's syrupy Jersey Girl, never even happened), you know that something has gone awry. Not only this, but he's somehow veered into "supporting comic relief" roles, acting in movie that he himself didn't even pen. I mean, not that I begrudge a comic geek as vocal as Smith the chance to act in the Daredevil movie, but his acting skills have always been touch-and-go, and reading lines that he didn't write has just never worked well for him.

Okay.

All that being said, am I wrong for getting a little bit excited at the prospect of Silent Bob getting back on track?


Meet the newest View Askew production, titled, as you may have guessed, Zack and Miri Make A Porno.

The plot follows two friends who, nearly broke, decide to turn to the adult film industry as a way to make money fast. As one could guess, the uber-romantic vibes of shooting porn lead them to realize they might actually be harboring feelings for each other.

No disrespect meant to Seth Rogan, but as you can see, the casting follows the Smith tradition of having gorgeous leading ladies ultimately hooking up with...less than stellar-looking leading men. (Ben Affleck aside, I suppose.) Fingers crossed that this doesn't end up mirroring the uptight-girl/childlike-man dynamic of Rogan's last starring outing, Knocked Up.

Call me a hopeless optimist, but I'm getting good feelings from this one. As we've got several months until it's release, God knows when we'll get a trailer released, but the talent pool is good, and Smith has had a good two years to recharge the creative batteries. Along with this, Smith's following project is, believe it or not, a horror movie called...wait for it...Red State. I can get on board with that.

so much fun I might puke!

well hello again everyone!!!!!!!!!!!! Ann here!!! legitimately the only Arts staff member still blogging.

I am just going to interject (interrupting myself...HAHA! I'm sooooooo kooky and funny.) and say that April has been probably one of the best months all year. For several reasons:
#1 WEATHER. I am so excited to wear fashionable clothing again. not to mention how pumped I am to start using fake tanner again. my legs just scream orange.
#2 WORKLOAD. Nothing like seeing people actually do their homework on the weekends. All of us nerds are having a good chuckle over this one...suckers.
#3 BLOGS. So many awesome lolcats lately.
#4 SPRING METABOLISM. Is there no greater gift? Nothing like having the metabolism of a middle school boy! whew I tell ya. I ate a whole pan of brownies to myself, hopped on a scale, and what do you know. I LOST weight. Loving it.
#5 MUSIC. I have stumbled across so much good tunage lately that I just can't help but share it with all our friendly readers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!! "taco", if you're out there, this list is for you and your unruly disposition and your cheerful comments on the DI website! :):):):):):) loves it!!!!!!!! cheer up friend! you're about to peep my iTunes!!!

note: If I see one more person pepper a facebook wall post with too many smiley faces, I will barf.

1. "I Am The Walrus"- Bono and the Secret Machines (blasting it just for you, Jon Gold.)
2. "Blazing Arrow"- Blackalicious
3. "Hard Sun"- Eddie Vedder
4. "My Friend the Sleepwalker (The Cowbell Song)- Am Syndicate
5. "Black Thumbnail"- Kings of Leon
6. "Glass Danse"- The Faint
7. "Electric Feel"- Mgmt
8. "Retreat! Retreat!"- 65daysofstatic
9. "The Equaliser"- Clinic
10. "Ready for the Floor"- Hot Chip
11. "When the Lights Go Out"- The Black Keys
12. "Situations"- Del tha Funky Homosapien
13. "New York State of Mind"- Nas
14. "I Go Blind"- Hootie and the Blowfish (Go ahead, judge me. It's times like this I can justify how much I'm not a hipster, even though I do have exquisite musical taste.)
15. "Turn Into"- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
16. "Black Cat"- Ladytron
17. "Alice"- Moby (O.M.G. I haven't heard Moby kick this much musical tush since "Play". I want to rave naked. Moby has really pulled out all the guns for his latest release. He's baaaack.)
18. "Somewhere a Clock is Ticking"- Snow Patrol
19. "Within You Without You"- Sonic Youth (I'm also compiling a mind-blowing covers playlist. check back soon.)
20. "Make Love F*ck War"- Moby feat. Public Enemy (how have I not found this gem yet? how? how? power to the people because the people want peace.)
21. "Bottoms Up"- Keke Palmer (IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT YOURSELF YOU WILL FIND THIS SONG ASAP. NEW DANCE ANTHEM, FO SHO. YOU KNOW YOU HOT, SO LET EVERYBODY KNOW.) (http://youtube.com/watch?v=JGDj4dTBWrQ)
There you have it ladies and lads. A glimpse into my mind, and the only thing I have cultivated all month. actually that is an exaggeration but this April playlist owns. It's the best one I've ever made.
Sidenote: I finally saw Juno. I don't know how I feel about it. I liked it I guess. I guess. I'm sort of on the fence about it. Some of her lines were so fakely delivered. Whatevsies. Pregnancy sounds awful. shudder.

welp folks there you have it! so much springtime fun I might get sick! summer is going to rulezsies! btw that polygamy thing down in Texas makes me queasy. And that fact that ol' Hil just won Pennsylvania produces a similar gag reflex. not to toot my own horn, but I'm going go jump on my bed and listen to my playlist again and try to restore my pure glee/euphoria.

-Ann

FAIL

well shalom, friendly Arts Blog world!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!1!!!
As anyone who knows me will attest, I am an avid LOLcats aficionado. My profile picture on facebook is an LOLSquirrel, I email the best LOLcats to my grandmother/sister/dad/friends/editors at all hours of the day, and I check the website hourly (with more frequency/seriousness than I check gmail) for updates.

Point in case. Alright, well as more of the world adopts LOLcats, my pretentiousness is starting to flair up and feel a bit uptight. Since I assume that frat-tastic Chads and their bros just can't appreciate squirrel humor the same way a Gets-It can, and since everyone knows about LOLcats now, I needed to find something else. No worries, I don't believe in "discovering" new things, so you can put your Hipster Nation red flags away and get ready for a new obsession. I am all about the love and sharing here. Thus my search began and ended rather quickly. I tried LOLjocks, but I don't get enough sports references for it to click (sorry, Hothan). I was stumbling aimlessly and deliriously around the internet (probably hopped up on DayQuil) for more laughable fun when I hit the goldmine:
The FailBlog.
OMG we have a winner.
This, friendly arts blog world, this is the reason we have the internet. Excuse me while I try to keep my pubescent snickering to myself. So legit. Go check it out, http://failblog.wordpress.com/ .

-Ann, who now walks around consistently chuckling to herself and muttering "fail"