Chi-CityChica

I absolutely adore this band The Temper Trap, they originally hail from Melbourne, Australia and are good example of why I love Indie rock. The lovely mix of atmospheric sounds consistent in their music just makes it easy to listen to, for me anyway.

The lead singer, Dougie Mandagi, has a voice I can’t quite describe but I find myself completely obsessed with his sound. And yes although they’ve been around for a little while, reaching more recent fame in 2008, I only just discovered them thanks to the movie 500 Days of Summer. That soundtrack is awesome as a whole, but The Sweet Disposition, a Temper Trap song is what really grabbed me. I love, adore and can’t get enough of that song. Also adoring more every day is the song Love Lost. I’m sure I’ll discover more about this band that I like and I’ll overplay all my favorites.

Of course that’s how I am with music, I drown myself in it, play it over and over, then I move on to the next piece/band who brings forth emotion in me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I don’t have my favorite bands or genres, or that I stop listening to a song all together. I just can’t allow music to become too played out on my iPod, there’s so much more to discover.

This is likely the reason I detest most Top 40/today’s hits on the radio. The same damn 15 songs over and over. GAH! I like discovering new things with my music, new emotions. And it’s always something to go back to and reminisce the first time you heard it, bringing back that happy/sad/whatever state you were in. It’s what’s so great about music.

Take a look at a video for Sweet Disposition here:

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Can someone PLEASE tell me how this man got a job in journalism? I mean the fact that he resides over at the ridiculous MSNBC which seems to be where all the lunies broadcast from must be some indication. But seriously, how has this man gotten away with one stupid, idiotic comment after another without ever being called out on it by his own liberal media? I mean it’s embarrassing for them, shouldn’t they have shunned this guy off the air by now?

He literally makes no sense when he opens his mouth or he comes off as some kind of “fan boy” for Obama. You’d think we were listening/watching some youtube video of teenage girls gaga-ing over the Jonas Brothers. That’s how perceptive his commentary is to me, seriously.

See one article on the all the ridiculousness here with this transcript below:
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FOXNews.com -1/28/2010

-’I Forgot He Was Black’: Chris Matthews Under Fire for Comment About Obama-

MSNBC host Chris Matthews is under fire for commenting on air that President Obama has done so much to heal racial divides that “I forgot he was black” as he watched Obama’s first State of the Union address Wednesday night.

Matthews, who appeared on the cable network shortly after the speech, said of the president:

“I was trying to think about who he was tonight. And uh, it’s interesting. He is post-racial, by all appearances. You know, I forgot he was black tonight for an hour….

“I was watching, I said, ‘wait a minute!’ He’s an African-American guy in front of a bunch of other white people and there he is president of the United States and we’ve completely forgotten that tonight — completely forgotten it!”

Click here to watch the video.

Matthews’ remarks came as he was praising the president for working to heal racial divides and for delivering a State of the Union address that he described as “profound” and “so in tune with so many problems and aspects of American life.”

But the “I forgot he was black” remark quickly set the blogosphere on fire, as hundreds of viewers questioned the meaning and implications of Matthews’ words.

“For his idiotic racist comment last night, will Chris Matthews be flogged and pilloried like Imus was?” tweeted “Shoehead.”

“When I 1st heard what Chris Matthews said I thought maybe Pres Obama just looked extremely light-skinned 4 some reason,” tweeted “QueenMelmendi.”

Brent Bozell, founder and president of the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog organization, said the remarks reveal a prejudice on Matthews’ part.

“What Chris Matthews is saying is that he doesn’t believe African-Americans are capable of giving speeches like that.”

He said Matthews’ remarks “show the absolute contradiction in the liberal argument on color. They purport to want a color-blind society, but are absolutely fixated on doing just the opposite. [Matthews] can’t see Barack Obama as being qualified, because he’s Barack Obama. He sees him through a lens of being black.”

An MSNBC spokeswoman did not reply to a request for comment.

Controversial remarks are not new to Matthews. The on-air host was roundly criticized for calling West Point cadets “the enemy camp” when Obama spoke at the U.S. Military Academy in December.

Matthews also was criticized for saying he “felt this thrill going up my leg” after listening to Obama speak during the presidential primary campaign.
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Well I feel nauseated in my stomach whenever Matthews speaks, so there.

-Sarah

This is basically awesome! Enough said.

I’ve always found myself drawn to the stories of those who fight or have fought for our country. I watch all the war movies, I’ve read many books, and I became obsessed with the mini-series Band of Brothers, watching it over and over. My father and I have often shared this same passion or interest. It is our history, it is pride, and it is part of what makes America what she is…our devotion to the life God gave us, freedom, liberty and justice for all.

I think one of the reasons it always tugs at my heart strings or evokes this warm feeling of pride is that I am in awe of them. I am in awe over their ability to offer themselves unselfishly at the feet of our country, to put everything on the line, their lives, their futures, and all because they truly believe and have a passion for what they are here to do for our country. They are strong yet they feel everything. The military of the World War era were mind blowingly devoted to the cause, strong but never afraid to show their emotion and love for fellow troops. I swear I’ve never seen so many grown men cry than those who mention the loss and pride they felt while fighting in World War 2. But I never judge them; I just become more in awe of them.

I once toyed with the idea of joining the army when I was younger. (This might make many who know me laugh) but the truth was I was lost and unsure about the future but I knew I had all this passion inside me and I thought I could direct it in that way, and what a way really. It never actualized into anything (again no shocker for those who know me). But the passion I felt for the cause and the pride for our country and those who’ve fought, bled, and suffered has remained strong.

By the standard portrayed of the younger generations today, I shouldn’t be so preoccupied by this portion of our history. I’ve never personally fought in a war, I wasn’t alive for World War 1 or 2, or even Vietnam. But I value the history of what this country has gone through and how it affects us today.

Yes we do have a war going on now, but by today’s media standards I shouldn’t feel any pride about this war as was displayed during World War 2, because the media tries to tell us it’s an unnecessary and unjust war. Some in the media or our society say America is wrong and we push our views on people. Oh, how dare we try to push Freedom onto people, how dare we try to use our power and numbers to try and help others, including those who are oppressed, being terrorized and murdered in the streets? Something is off about this view. If running to other countries aid at the expense of our own American lives and dollars is selfish, well than I must live in an alternate reality or apparently should have been born in the more patriotic era of the 1930s.

As I think about the troops today and how our world has changed, it’s not just the world, it’s us here in America specifically, we’ve changed.

We live in a different place, where Christianity is now seen by some as a new form of a terror threat, where everything and everyone is way too concerned about political correctness, so concerned they ignore the bloody (literally) signs of homegrown terrorism at one of its very own Army Bases!! Christianity is challenged, torn down, made fun of and seen in an unfavorable light more than any other religion by our media. No one wants to question or judge other religions, especially Muslim for fear of offending anyone. Yes a very LARGE percent of Muslims are NOT extremists, but does that mean they should never be examined when examples warrant it? We as Christians certainly aren’t getting a free pass in the media, how come it’s ok to throw us under the bus on a daily basis?

13 people lost their lives this month to terrorism on our soil, 12 people who serve our country along with one civilian. It wasn’t just a crime; in mine and many others opinions this was an attack, a form of terrorism. No matter how this administration or media tries to spin this, just look at the growing amount of evidence, and from the very mouth of the attacker himself (screaming: ”Allah, Akbar” as he opened fire, which is what terrorists say before blowing themselves and others up!) this was a form of a terrorist act on our country. It’s the first successful attack since September 11th. Yes on a smaller scale, but 13 lives or 3000 lives, it’s still lives lost at the hands of Islamic terrorism.

I fear it won’t be the last with this growing lack of support for whether our country should amp up its defense system. We get deeper and deeper in debt, spending money on the wrong things and in the mean time our defense system is weakened. We are going back to a pre-911 mentality and it scares the living shit out of me. Our current President touts around the world on his never ending apology tour, making America look weak and adopting appeasement tactics. That’s not our country, we are not weak, we are not submissive; we are strong and mighty. We help those in need first before any other countries do, we accept people of all races and religions, we believe in equality (well maybe not for long…us poor Christians, but at least we have God on our side!) we have freedom of speech (well wait, now that’s being challenged too). Do you see where I am going with this? We are straying too far from how are country was built, we are at risk of becoming too controlled by our government and appearing weak to our enemies.

This will not stand, our fathers, grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers did not fight, bleed, suffer, sacrifice, cry, and mourn for so many back in the World Wars only to have us falter now. It’s an abomination to their memories and hard work. We owe all that serve our nation our greatest gratitude every day, not just today.

I originally wrote this poem 7 years ago on the first anniversary of September 11th. I’ve since been posting it on whatever blog, email or site I’m using at the time as a reminder, to myself, friends or anyone really. It’s become a habit for me, a habit I’ll try to never break. Because I will never stop remembering, I won’t forget that day. I know so many go on with their lives, it’s in the past, they choose not to delve into whatever emotions were stirred up that day. I choose to revisit them, whether by re-posting this little poem or by watching a documentary that day. I feel it honors those that lost their lives, even in just some small little way.

Everyone take the time, even if for just one small moment to remember what was lost that day, what changed and how our country was never the same again. Also remember the courage, the faith, the heroes and goodness that was displayed that day as well. God bless us all. So here’s the poem, once more:

Remember

One year passes.
Heaviness still lies beneath the change.
Cold ashes still wreak of sorrow.
Though thoughts have rested some, hearts
still beat wildly over broken memories.
Goodbyes too powerful to speak aloud.
Believe in the endless burning for all the
lost, innocent souls.
Do not release those images into the night.
Remember.

Sarah M. Hetland

UPDATE: also check out this beautiful and emotional website dedicated to those who died on United 93. I can’t believe I’ve never seen this before:

http://unitedheroes.com/

Ok, there are just no words to explain or understand what strange hidden agenda this Levi Johnston character has and what he’s all about since breaking away from the Palin family. The kid’s got some serious case of the “I need my 10 minutes of fame-itis” and this latest bit of news is just down right disturbing. I feel for Sarah Palin’s daughter that she so unfortunately pro-created with such a clueless douche-bag. You live and learn from your mistakes I guess. But unfortunately for the Palin family there lives/business keeps getting splashed across the headlines like standard Hollywood trash gossip. I wonder how much this kid’s getting paid to help destroy the Palin family, and at the expense of his young son.

Disgusting.

Kathy Griffin’s Date Night With Bristol Palin’s Ex Fiance
Monday , August 10, 2009

By Hollie McKay

Kathy Griffin Has Lovey Dovey Date Night With Bristol Palin’s Former Fiancé Levi Johnston

Could the Teen Choice Awards have gotten any more bizarre?

Controversial comedian Kathy Griffin certainly lived up to her kooky reputation by bringing none other than the fame-hungry Levi Johnston to Sunday evening’s taping of the FOX Teen Choice Awards at Hollywood’s Universal Studios.

Griffin and Bristol Palin’s former fiance and baby daddy walked hand-in-hand down the red carpet to a sea of surprised expressions.

Despite the 29-year age gap between the two, Johnston seemed particularly smitten and was overheard gushing about how “beautiful” Griffin looked for the occasion. But that’s about all he was able to say — it appeared as though he’d been instructed to keep his mouth closed and instead Griffin did all the talking. Their date night continued inside the theater as the two flirted and laughed side-by-side throughout the show.

A source close to the 19-year-old Johnston told Tarts that he’s loving the “Hollywood life” and his own future reality show isn’t out of the question …

Totally random and unimportant, but this made me stop my tedious and monontonous work of the day and laugh out loud.

Voice mail heard when I was calling radio station contacts today:

“Hello…you have reached my pocket…it is very dark in here…if you would like anything to happen, perhaps you should speak after the tone.”

Hahaha, don’t know why but that just cracked me up. And strangest of all it was for a voice mail to a station manager, very strange indeed.

Just for fun today and for all those who grew up in the ’90s and used to watch Saturday Morning cartoons and Saved By The Bell…
This bit is sooo funny.
I say YES to a reunion:

OK Chicago Tribune … really??! This was posted on chicagotribune.com tonight with a series of fist bump photos to follow….(sigh). There are no words:

The bump heard ’round the world

It’s been a year since then-candidate gave wife Michelle a hug, kiss and a playful jab on the band before taking the stage in St. Paul, Minnesota. Fans of the fist bump have informally declared June 3 “National Fist Bump Day and have invented a website to support it — nationalfistbumpday.com.

Go to this link to see the said photos: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-090603-obama-fist-bump-pictures,0,4733887.photogallery

Who are these people that have created this website and the unofficial holiday?!… come on! Everyone sing along… “Give us the whole razzle dazzle….razzle dazzle them…”

I had the pleasure of observing the most adorable little 3 yr old girl on the train with her Grandmother today.
I was lost in my own thought, drowning out the train world with my iPod when this little ball of excitement sat in front of me. It wasn’t long before I realized this was her first train ride (at least of this kind) ever and she was loving every minute of it. She was perched on her chair, brown, pony tailed hair swinging, as she clapped, squealed, pointed, laughed and smiled like it was the greatest thing in the world. She was pointing out every detail and those she didn’t notice her Grandma made sure she did.

I couldn’t help smiling back as she turned over to me and said, “ooh another bump!” as the train wobbled like it usually does. I found myself thinking how odd, this little moment is something of amazement to a child, yet I look at it as something to endure on a daily basis. The simplicity of youth.

Needless to say she instantly brightened my mood, once she realized she got my attention she kept turning back to say things, “We’re going all the way to the end,” she squealed. “And Mommy can’t see us.” I laughed out loud at that and the Grandmother laughed to. She ended up asking me a couple questions about where the train was headed and I obliged. Obviously they were just out for a joy ride, a fun day with grandma. She looked thrilled to be getting to experience this “first” moment with her Granddaughter and confirmed to me that is was her first train ride.

As I got up to get off at my stop the little girl squealed again and only momentarily looked sad as she saw I was leaving, I said, “my stop, have fun,” and she waved and went back to enjoying the fun ,exclaiming, “only 4 more stops,” repeating what Grandma said.

Thank you little girl for brightening my already bright day, since it’s my half day at work and the weather is perfect.