MusicFromOrion

bluegrass

First off, if you at all enjoy anything I am doing here, please "like" me on facebook.  The button is located in the upper right of this blog for your convenience.  It takes about 2 seconds of your time, and its appreciated.  On top of that, feel free to comment.  I will always make an effort to respond to you. 

Secondly, please click here for a list of Bluegrass remakes of popular songs you may know.  Single Ladies?  check.  Katy Perry?  Check. 

Lastly, if you have a second check out my previous 2 friday mixtapes. They are eclectic, but I figure we all profit from the variety.  Another one is coming tomorrow. 

P.S.  This is not the way to break up with someone. 

proof of citizenship

some perspective . . .

First off - I am sure you don't think you make enough money.  Who really does?

So, click here to get a little perspective.  

Secondly, I need some help.  I have spent some time debating how I am going to laugh in texts, chats, etc.  Or, at least, express laughter.  Believe it or not, these are sometimes the silly little things I dwell on.  We all play mind games, and this is one of mine.  Its borderline OCD, but hey, its a living. (not really, just seemed cool to type "its a living").  Without further ado, here is what I am mulling over:

LOL - Seriously, how often do you laugh out loud at a text or email or whatever.  I would say pretty infrequently.  So, already, this is completely disingenuous. 

LMFAO - I tell you what, if I ever laugh so hard that my ass falls off, I will not have time to text this to you.  I would be rushing to the hospital.  Come to think of it, how does your ass come off anyway?  Are you losing buttcheeks, or are we referring to the inner works?

HA! - This to me sounds like you are trying to scare someone. 

Hehe - this seems to be turning into common chat vernacular as the new "lol."  Hehe implies a snicker to me.  It makes me think of the greasy-faced kid in high school that really had no friends.  He would pick his nose without checking who was looking - you know the kid.  And, although he was never included in conversations, he would eavesdrop anyway, and when something funny was said, he would give the old "hehe." 

So, I am here to propose a new one:  IRNTFBIHAAAAIWYTLMSIAGTPTTWYSWRSCAFAIWYTEMCOLIAMOH

Standing for:

It's really not that funny but I have an approval addiction and I want you to like me so I am going to pretend to think what you said was really somewhat clever and funny and I want you to envision me chortling out loud in a moment of hilarity.   

Do you think it will catch on?

Trust falls, and graping . . .

I thought your day could use a little comedy.

First, if you are not watching tosh.0, you should be.  He introduced us to surprise trust falls.  His audience sent some in.  Here is the fruits of their labor.

Tosh.0
Viewer Surprise Trust Falls
www.comedycentral.com
Web Redemption 2 Girls, 1 Cup Reaction Demi Moore Picture

And here were Daniel's

Tosh.0
Surprise Trust Falls
www.comedycentral.com
Web Redemption 2 Girls, 1 Cup Reaction Demi Moore Picture

Also, here is one of the more funny videos I have seen it a while. Kudos to my buddy eric for the find.

Free music

Here

Immigration, poptarts, and your friday mixtape . . .

The legislation in Arizona is deplorable.  Its a pretty safe bet that you enjoy the freedoms of America because your ancestors illegally immigrated here.  Whereas I do believe we need to monitor this situation in a better way, we cannot go around profiling anyone with a tan.  If we continue to pass this legislation I believe we should immediately remove the statue of liberty.  Because, in reality, its false advertising.

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free?

Why is it, that we as Americans feel we own this land or this country?  I don't think land belongs to anyone, save God, and if land can be owned, we stole it.  Its just one of those entitlement things I suppose.  Living in America is no longer a privilege - we want to market it, put it in a box, and only give it to those we find "deserving."  Oh how far we have come . . . 

Some more on the immigration issue, written a few weeks ago here

Still not a compelling argument supporting Jimmy John's or unfrosted poptarts. . .

Musical you should be listening to:

And here is a youtube video, featuring your favorite (or least favorite) glee star . . .

And last but not least, your friday mixtape

Friday Mix tape

So, here is an adventure - I have put together a collection of 15 songs for you, to brighten your Friday.  Give it a listen.  Is this worth my effort?  Please let me know

Why are you so obsessed?

So, the Boy Scouts are finally giving out a badge for what I spent the majority of my cub scout meetings doing?  Playing Video Games.

Which reminds me of a life lesson I once learned in boy scouts:  It has nothing to do with survival skills or anything.  A kid in our troop was having a birthday party.  And he told every single cub scout that he wanted the slimer action figure from Ghostbusters.  Guess what?  The kid literally opened about 10 presents, and every single one of them was a slimer action figure, and as I recall, I don't think anyone had a receipt.  Play time at his house was probably not all that much fun.  You could stage an all out slimer assault on your GI Joe's, but after about five minutes I am sure this got old.  What did this teach me?  1.  Be careful what you wish for.  2.  Obsessing is bad.  3.  Slimer, no matter how bad ass, loses his coolness factor in multiples of 5.

Someone please explain to me the appeal of Jimmy John's.  I like to call them Jimmy Napkin's.  Their bread tastes a lot like compressed napkins - and excuse my inner fat kid (outer), but why do they actually remove some of the bread?  Ridiculous, and crappy.  But they are fast.  And what's with the "free smells" sign?  Arrogant bastards - what is so appealing about smelling a sandwich?  Is it supposed to bring back memories of when I was a kid at the lunch table and I would sit for hours and savor the smell of my ham sandwich that mom so neatly packed in a sandwich bag?  Oh how I treasure those memories . . . sigh

I have not watched one minute of American Idol, and I think I am better for it.  I do hear a lot of people championing Crystal Bowersox, and I guess we champion her because she is talented and not the traditional definition of "hollywood hot"?  Then, we go out and still buy the "Black Eyed Peas" latest cd (or likely illegally download it) and try to pretend Fergie is attractive?

This is a great article on the 10 classic albums that accidentally have ruined music in their own way

This video should make your day

Beer you should be drinking: Founder's Red Rye PA.  Its about the richest color red you have ever seen in a beer.  Just excellent.  From Founder's: Serious hop bitterness along with unyielding grapefruit bouquet from the Amarillo dry-hop. Balanced with the malty richness of four varieties of imported Belgian caramel malts. Pours a spectacular crimson with a creamy tan head. A generous addition of rye malt accentuates a spicy crisp finish.

Your daily listening:

A musical about a dysfunctional family dealing with the infant death of their first son. A father who is trying to keep the family together.  A mother who wrestles with depression.  A daughter who feels invisible.  And the son, whose memory haunts every member of the family.  Filled with excellent social commentary about the inexactness of psychopharmocolgy and dealing with depression - and, oh yeah, an amazing soundtrack filled with even better singing.  Check out this performance from the Tonys.  The young man is the spirit, if you will, of the son. 

So I am just going to throw a bunch of crap on the wall, and see what sticks - your comments are appreciated.

And so it is . . .

its been a long time since I have blogged . . . yada yada - and then I could sling a bunch of BS excuses.  I won't do that here.

You know, if the worst thing that is ever said about you or that you can complain about, is that people took advantage of your kindness, you have lived a pretty good life.  Ticky-Tacky score keeping is one of the worst things we can do to each other.  I am no saint, and I may not monetarily keep score, but I certainly keep score in other areas.  Why do we not see this as wrong?  I believe society as a whole has us believing we deserve something -  and we feel its up to us to get our own.  This, in my opinion, should be the difference between a secular and sacred worldview.  Unfortunately, often, its just the opposite.  Christianity, and many other "religions" are often trying to posture themselves in the world, instead of living by the principles they claim to possess.  Selflessness is difficult, almost impossible really.  If you commit yourself to being a giving and selfless person, often, after a few days or weeks you start to believe that behavior entitles you to something.  A christian might think, why isn't God rewarding me?  Kharma may also be the excuse in other world views.  The truth is, the reward is the gift itself.  Doing good simply feels good.  So, you are a giving person and no one ever gives back to you?  We should be so lucky.  What a world it could be if we all lived to outscore each other with our kindness and generosity.  This is score-keeping I could believe in.

You know what I like?  2 digit addresses.  Random I know, but they really fire me up. 

My buddy and I were talking the other day, and he brought up a point from John Maxwell that really blew my mind.  To summarize, the more someone knows you, the more they should like you and the more interesting you should become.  I think this is a wonderful way to live.  My life should have depth, and interest.  Over time, the more people know you, the more they can cut through all your BS, and if, over time, people learn to like and love you more, I think this is a good indication of the caliber of person you are.  Trick is, we need to be constantly improving ourselves so we fit this mold.

If I ever get to 180lbs (unlikely) - I am going to wear one of these tank tops (undershirts) - you can count on it - not because I think it looks good per se, but its a silly little goal. 

I have posted this on facebook before, but I need to do it again.  Is Nickelback the worst band ever?

So, here is some mandatory listening:

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

The Black Keys - Attack & Release

St. Vincent - Actor

Portugal the Man - American Ghetto

Explain to me again the appeal of an unfrosted pop-tart? 

Okay, here is a confession - its bad enough that I am watching Dancing with the Stars (although Chad OchoCinco is really my only reason) - but now, I am vehemently rooting against Nicole Scherzinger

For all you beer lover's out there:  Dogfish Head World Wide Stout is one of the best stout's I have ever had.  That said, let me issue you a caution - its 18% ABV.  This is crucial knowledge to have before you consume more than 1 pint.  Oh, the cautionary tale I could tell you . . .

Drinking of beer: I am trying to decide my favorite breweries - Dogfish Head, Founder's and Bell's are currently in the running - any other thoughts?

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

"When I get honest, I admit that I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt, I hope and get discouraged, I love and I hate, I feel bad about feeling good, I feel guilty about not feeling guilty. I am trusting and suspicious. I am honest and still play games. Aristotle said I am a rational animal; I say I am an angel with an incredible capacity for beer." - Brennan Manning

Thank you Brennan, for summing up my faith so well . . .

Who knew?

Enterprise will get you laid? Have you seen this commercial?