Michael Bay, you be trippin!

After watching the biblically bad Crank 2: High Voltage, I was hoping for some redemption from Transformers 2. I should have known better.

There were a few interesting stand outs, but not all necessarily in a good way. Perhaps the most questionable were the addition of two new autobots, Skids and Mudflap. These characters are based on 2 chevy compacts. They also speak jive, are always causing a ruckus, admit they can't read and one has a gold tooth.

Apparently, I was not the only one to notice the dubious racial overtones.

And you thought Jar Jar Binks was racist. Damn Michael Bay, you really raised the racism bar son! What do you have in store for Transformers 3? A watermelon that transforms into a bucket of chicken?

Greetings from down unda!

G'day mates! The first 24 hours in the land down under did not disappoint, well except for learning that we just missed Ben Folds at the opera house.

We spent the bulk of the first day hoofing it around town in a zombie-like post 14 hour flight jet lag daze. We did get to see a couple of traditionally cool sights, including the harbor bridge, the opera house and the Sydney tower.

We also saw a few things that probably aren't considered cool by most standard, but I found interesting.

Example #1.

These neo-el camino's run rampant on Sydney's streets.

They seem to also have a bit of a fetish for turkish delight. They sell it everywhere. Unfortunately, they like to keep it real, and by keep it real, I mean make it with rosewater, which just doesn't do it for my western palette.

I found a record shop near by which offers classes in scratching. I am trying to schedule a lesson before we head out.

We took a trip to Manly beach, which if I ever come back to Sydney, will plan to stay there (Sydney is cool, but Manly beach is more laid back and has the most terrifically terrible souvenir stores one can imagine...In one shop I saw an infant wifebeater with a picture of soundwave on it for $3).

I'd write more, but we are off to a walking pub tour. Should be interesting! I will write more later.

Yet another reason technology > you

Let not ye pets be left behind alone

This is kind of awesome.

The original meets the remix.

Jimmy's Ride PPT Remix

Paper Towels!

MBP

What happens when you drop Jay-Z and Radiohead into a blender?

This.

And it is delightful.

Wagon Mafia!

Nothing runs like a Cena?!?!?!?!??!

Interesting to see WWE superstar John Cena's latest look which seems to crib heavily the colors and style of none other than John Deere.

Cena's not shy from borrowing from other logos. Just see the comparison to his HLA shirt and the now defunct AWA logo...

Now, I get why he would repurpose the AWA logo, given it is old school wrestling and he is a wrestler and he is all about respect and old skool and all that jazz, but what is the dealio with John Deere?

I mean c'mon, that is totally out of left field.

Don't get me wrong, I love me some John Deere after doing a near weekly battle with the belts on my dad's JD lawn tractor, but can't help but wonder what Cena's connection is. He ain't no farmer, that's for damn sure. I suppose he might be making a play to the blue collar fans or maybe he just likes the color green.

I love it when a plug comes together

Well in a few short days, Hamm-solo and crew embark on the BABE rally.

In true entrepreneurial spirit, he is gonna try and flip that pig in the big easy (translation--sell the van to recoup purchase price and investment).

In a vain attempt to build buzz, I sent the following to Q93, New Orlean's mad crazy hip hop hook up....


What's up Q93 crew!

I just wanted to send a shout out all the way from the nation's capital, (DC in the hizouse! what what!) drop some knowledge on an upcoming event, and see if you might be able to hook a friend up!

So check this out, next week the 2009 BABE rally kicks off.

What's that, you ask?

It's a rally style race from the Big Apple to Big Easy (thus the BABE accronym). The rally runs M-F, starting in Staten Island and ending in the super fine city of New Orleans. It's an event that is open to pretty much anyone regardless of driving skill.

There is, however, one devastatingly twisted stipulation.

The car you field for the rally can cost no more that $500.

Yes, $500.

That's right, not much more that a playstation. It is essentially a Burt Reynolds movie with straight hoopties (Sir Mix Alot would certainly approve in a motor in the back of the honda kind of way).

For safety reasons, it must me registered and insured, but that is about all. So don't be alarmed when on Friday, the city's hooptie population experiences a slight spike. Now you know why.

So now that I have the shout out, and 411 on the event laid out, I wanted to share a small request. I have a good friend participating in the event and he is looking for a loving home for his van once they arrive.

This van is no ordinary creep box on wheels however. It is a rolling tribute to the A-team that has been painstakingly replicated with about 2 hours of work, a couple of cans of spray paint and a case of mexican beer.

It is hott.

Yes hot with 2 t's. And it can be had for a steal, asking price of just under 1 large (not bad for a road worthy vehicle that is bound to attract props with its hella-fine candy paint job). We put a listing on craigslist.

Any chance you could ask you listeners to take a look?

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/cto/1195065317.html

Thank you in advance for you consideration.

Things I have not done in a long time...

1) Worked out with 225 pounds (ouch)

2) Written on this blog

3) Bought an actual CD

Mainly thanks to #3 I have something worthwhile to share for #2.


Today I stumbled across an interesting CD which for some unknown reason has flown under my radar for nearly half a year.


I discovered said CD while searching for remixes on youtube and saw that Pete Rock did a Johnny Cash remix and true to the mecca soul brother's standards it was pretty swank. Even more impressive was the remix of Belshazzar by machine drum (see video below).





If you listen closely, you can here hints of a track I nearly forgot about until I stumbled across my case of mixtapes in my parents attic, God Lives Underwater's "From your mouth."


A quick listen and you can't help but think the same producer must be behind both of these tracks. I wonder if they would mash-up well together. Perhaps I will give that a shot this weekend.


Anyhow back to the Johnny Cash Remix album. I bought it at Best Buy before realizing it was also available on I-tunes. That's fine, I actually like having the CD and liner notes to get details on the producers of the album and individual contributors.


The reviews on Itunes are dismal. Nearly 300 ratings, and the average is 1.5 stars. Yikes!

Interestingly, the driving force behind the album was none other than Snoop Dogg (who has a track on the CD) and Johnny Cash's son, John Carter Cash. And while many commenters think the remixes are borderline blasphemy, John Carter Cash has this to say...


"My father made his stead by defying the expected & accepted way of things. He set the standard at the same time. He would have loved this remix record. While it stays true to the original recordings, the cd touches on undiscovered ground. This is what my father was about, staying true to tradition, while creating groundbreaking new music."


Knowing what I know about the man in black and the character I believe he was, I am inclined to agree with this.


I certainly love and respect the original work, but also love that other artists from all different walks of life continue to embrace his work and pay tribute in the form of their own remixes.


The album is no where near without having fault or some questionnable versions, but that is all good and fine. Like most things in life, and the man in black himself, the postive aspects do far more too offset the associated transgressions and the net result is the rare album I am not only proud to own, but actually made the trek to the store to buy.

Fred

For when you want that bum wine look, but not that bum wine feel, reach for FRED, spring water in a bottle that looks like a flask of mad dog or cheap vodka.

I picked some up while on a trip to Dinosaurland to celebrate KG's 30th...

Vrooooom! Wagon Mafia in action!

Dear Santa (part II)....

I'd also like a case of these.

And you thought the Nacho Cheese Fountain was gross...

How about a Chili fountain?

Chili Fountain

Dear Santa...

Send this!

To fully appreciate the transformation...

Before -- Old and Busted:

After -- New Hotness:

I love it when a plan comes together!

I am positively AMAZED at what a few beers, some spray paint, and a saturday afternoon can produce.

Sadly, I am unable to participate in the BABE Rally 2009, but was more than glad to lend a hand to team sweatbox and giving vanaroonie a new coat honoring the A-Team.

The end result is a virtual mona lisa on wheels...

The van looks good. Good enough to make George Peppard Gizz in His Pants.