tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33630400930929910792024-03-05T19:02:09.888-05:00Good Evening and Here's What's New...For more info visit:
<a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/comedy.html">The Latest News Headlines</a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-58978004867835233752017-05-18T13:21:00.001-04:002017-05-19T16:13:29.346-04:00Protect Eddie Vedder<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52DyF0sBpWrg2-6ClrKSw9MtcAEVRIHESxCiGYJNafLJVc02OG_Fu8ca-xhlGsLpni8gUme9W-_8lf-cu8-ZB2TEq20zcTgBBs_3opvCjoTBIxMLXkeankgDtQ2Veh5qZcbb6qFmvN_6l/s640/blogger-image-257610092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="grunge rock legends singer Kurt Cobain Nirvana Layne Staley Alice In Chains Scott Weiland Stone Temple Pilots Chris Cornell Soundgarden Eddie Vedder Pearl Jam" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52DyF0sBpWrg2-6ClrKSw9MtcAEVRIHESxCiGYJNafLJVc02OG_Fu8ca-xhlGsLpni8gUme9W-_8lf-cu8-ZB2TEq20zcTgBBs_3opvCjoTBIxMLXkeankgDtQ2Veh5qZcbb6qFmvN_6l/s400/blogger-image-257610092.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Please tell me someone is keeping an eye on Eddie Vedder. I don't want the guy on a plane, in a car, or near anything sharp. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">...he's all we have left. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">There were 5 distinct voices that created grunge rock. They created a new genre. They sang about what we were going through. They were the voice of the group of kids that were half Gen-X and not quite Millennial. Their music spoke to us in raspy, guttural west-coast accents and we listened. Their sounds were distorted, but the message was clear. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Soundgarden, Nirvana, Alice In Chains, STP, and Pearl Jam. These bands were the last real rock bands. They had melody, rhythm, guitar solos, and vocal harmony. They were sad but beautiful, angst-ridden but deeply moving. They were inspired by classic rock sounds and structures but full of new ideas. I told my Dad in 1992 that one day you'll hear Pearl Jam and Nirvana on classic rock radio stations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">I was right. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">The passing of Chris Cornell marks the 4th legendary grunge vocalist to leave this world #TooSoon. Perhaps we should've seen it coming with songs like "Pretty Noose," "Like Suicide," and "Blow Up the Outside World," but art can come from dark places. </span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Cornell literally wore a noose in a music video for his last solo album. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">A clearer cry for help could not be possible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was the first in 1994 at 27 years of age. He was on top of the world and fans were devastated. The official cause of death is suicide but Unsolved Mysteries and Private Eye Tom Grant believe otherwise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">The second was Layne Staley of Alice In Chains in 2002 at the age of 34. Band mate Sean Kinney described his death as the "longest suicide" he'd ever seen. The last 4 years of his life were spent reclusively with heavy drug use. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Our third loss was Scott Weiland of the Stone Temple Pilots in 2015 at age 48. He had a record of drug use and arrests, but seemed to be doing better. He had just put out a new solo record called Blaster, added vocals to a new band called Art of Anarchy, and then died on tour from a combination of cocaine and prescription drugs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Chris Cornell was as popular as ever. His latest solo album was a reflective and grown up collection of mostly-acoustic songs about life and love. He had gotten sober in 2002, and said that during the Soundgarden reunion tours the Jack Daniels and beer bottles were "just not there." The band was headlining every major festival this summer. Then he commits suicide at the age of 52, leaving behind a wife and three children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">There's something about creative people. Perhaps they are more sensitive than the rest of us. They have the ability to capture the raw feelings most of us feel and put them into words. They experience all of life, the highs and lows. These guys sang with power and heart and you can feel what they are feeling when you listen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Apparently their talent comes at a personal cost. I think Robin Williams would agree. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Some say it's just music. They're just people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">...but there's so much more to it than that. These people created something that means the world to us. These songs were there for us during our worst day, our best day, our first kiss... and everything in between. They're an old friend. Now they're </span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">gone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam is the only grunge rocker left. He seems to be in good health. Let's hope it stays that way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Our parents' generation still has Paul McCartney. They still have all of The Rolling Stones, somehow. They still have Frampton. The closest they could get to understanding how the grunge generation feels right now is probably John Lennon, who died in 1980 at the age of 40. You cannot help but feel like a piece of your own life has been extinguished. We will never know what the next song might have been. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">In my collection, I have all of Cornell's solo albums, Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Audioslave, and dozens of songs he contributed to with other artists. I'm gonna play each of these songs all the way through and enjoy the heart and soul he poured into every note... and hope not to do the same for Pearl Jam anytime soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><a href="https://twitter.com/comicjohnpowers">@ComicJohnPowers</a></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-45879227132741966392017-03-01T08:30:00.000-05:002017-03-01T08:30:08.894-05:00#FonelessFebruary<div style="color: rgb(69 , 69 , 69); font-family: ".sf ui text"; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">I've decided to go phoneless for the month of February. Not just "I'm not gonna check Facebook as often," but completely phoneless. It will be powerless, literally and figuratively. It will be turned off and lying in a junk drawer, because that's where it belongs. Several factors prompted this experiment. </span></div>
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<li style="color: rgb(69 , 69 , 69); font-family: ".sf ui text"; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">We used to not have them. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when we did not have email or social media or attention-hogging apps and games in our pockets at all times. They beg for your attention and steal valuable time away from loved ones, friends, and other recreational activities. I'd like to go back to a simpler time, if only for a month. I'd like to look around instead of down. I'd like to see birds and dogs and trees instead of the same ol' glowing screen. </span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(69 , 69 , 69); font-family: ".sf ui text"; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">We may be addicted. Can you do it? We rely so heavily on these things that going a single day without a phone is a challenge. When anything has that type of control over your daily behaviors you may want to reconsider its place in your life. Do we own our phones, or do our phones own us?</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(69 , 69 , 69); font-family: ".sf ui text"; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">There's nothing good on. I'm getting very tired of hearing about politics and which of my friends agree with which side. It used to be fun to see whose band was playing this weekend or which of my college roommates is getting married. Social media has become a dumping-ground for all of our opinions and whatever anyone else shares that we relate to. I don't think I will miss being bombarded with advertising or articles about the latest health craze. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">More than anything, I want to remember a time when I was truly free. Free to daydream or to be fully present in a conversation. Free to listen to music while driving without being interrupted by a text message. Free to live life without distraction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Let the record show I am a daily Facebook voyeur and Twitterer with a large following on both due to my former life as a Standup Comedian. I've got 18,000+ Twitter followers, some of whom expressed that they would miss me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">I'm excited about this experiment and hopeful that it will become a yearly event where for 28 days I remind myself that there's more to life than getting a new high score on Angry Birds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">______________________________</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">So... after 28 days without Facebook or Twitter (my wife convinced me that phone calls and texts were a necessity, but I deleted all social media apps), there are several things worth mentioning. </span></div>
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<li style="color: rgb(69 , 69 , 69); font-family: ".sf ui text"; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">I don't miss Facebook at all. It's amazing to me how suddenly and all-encompassingly this social media network snuck into the daily habits of 79% of Americans. I don't miss the political posts (the ones I agree with or not), and I don't miss the daily musings of people I am not close to. I'm trying to think about what I miss about Facebook. I guess seeing pictures of family and friends in other states is a big one, but people who knew I was doing this made it a point to text me pictures and keep in touch without Facebook. I returned to over 60 notifications and 7 messages. Also, on a daily basis after 2 weeks or so, Facebook sent me daily reminders to log in and see what I was missing. It felt good disobeying them. </span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(69 , 69 , 69); font-family: ".sf ui text"; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Twitter was harder for me to step away from than Facebook. I really enjoy sharing witty jokes in 140 characters, and I actually wrote a few down to share sometime in march ("Can whomever is writing the replacement to #Obamacare please include “$10 co-pay for PCP, $20 co-pay for specialist” #MakeCopaysGreatAgain"). Twitter is also my go-to for news and it took some getting used to not having that app to scroll through. I returned to 114 notifications. </span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(69 , 69 , 69); font-family: ".sf ui text"; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">I don't feel like I </span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">actually </span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">missed anything. This past month I've felt very calm and even though I was not socially connected I felt more connected to the universe. This past weekend we took canoes down the St. Johns River and marveled in the beauty of nature. We saw turtles and birds and ducks. I've actually been less inclined to watch the news on TV this month at all. I have no idea where the latest shooting happened. I have no idea what the latest political protest is about... and frankly I don't care. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">They say it takes 21 days to form or to overcome an addiction. It seems I was not addicted to Facebook or Twitter because it's day 28 and I feel fine. I went from being a 10+ times per day user on each to 0, and it didn't hurt. There were several times that I wished I had the option, but those moments passed with little to no impact. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">#FonelessFebruary felt good. I plan to do it again next year and I'd encourage you to do the same regardless of how often you use social media. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Obviously I realize I'm posting this on social media. I'm not blind to the benefits of the interweb. It can be a great way to market yourself and reach a huge audience. It can also be a time suck. Like anything else, moderation is key. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-4520835386458884132016-07-08T15:53:00.001-04:002016-07-11T09:46:39.994-04:00Not Every Life Matters<br>
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 16px;">The Black Lives Matter movement evokes the question, "Do black lives matter?" The group, in its name, is saying yes, but that is their response to the question. Asking that question may be helpful in understanding the present conflict. It also leads to other questions. Does every individual life matter? Are each of us special and interesting? Do we all have a place and purpose? </span><br>
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The answer is... no. </div>
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Let's take the race thing away for a moment. I am not writing this to prove that black lives do not matter. The racial tension in America is palpable, but black people are not uniquely unimportant. People of every skin tone are susceptible to meaninglessness. </div>
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There are huge numbers of people out there whose lives do not matter. Take a look at any random street in any large city and you will see people whose lives do not matter. <br><br></div><div style="font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 16px;">
You don't have to look far to see drug dealers, drug users, pimps, prostitutes, and other examples of humans who are not making a positive impact on the community. The good of the society as a whole does not rely on these people being alive. </div>
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I know what you're thinking, 'those are degenerates, they don't count.' That's not true. If every life matters than everyone counts. These people are lives that do not matter. There may come a time when they clean up, get born again, and turn it all around... at that point they might matter more, but in their current state they matter not. </div>
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For the sake of your counterpoint, I will also bring into the argument the likes of loners and cat-ladies. The guy who watches the same horror movies over and over every night and who has nothing in his life besides a few hours spent selling cigarettes at a gas station. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Perhaps he makes a few customers smile when they come in. </span>The woman who has more cats than friends; living in a litter-covered house and completely giving up on lint brushes. She matters to her cats. Well, maybe not. Cats don't really care. Either way, neither of these people matter much to society as a whole. </div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">How do we decide whether or not something matters? Well, that is largely subjective. I am not a fan of basketball, so it does not matter to me who the Knicks are playing, or if they win or lose. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When people hold up sign that say "Black Lives Matter" or "All Lives Matter," I would urge you to disagree. It's about numbers. The more our population grows the less significant each human life becomes. There was a time in human history that every member of a village made a contribution and had value. They all mattered. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Let's say there are 4 people living in a village. Each of their lives count for 25% of the whole. If one of those people dies, leaving the village at 75% output, the other 3 would each need to contribute 8.33% more to compensate. They would pick up an extra task to compensate for the loss of the fourth person. That person's life mattered to the other three people, because that person's efforts were necessary to the daily survival of that community. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSkkgwdp4XOlC1zJOseQe0L7KBoAbPaLP10gWxeFaVQZzstGAjlcgEjbM_tqoSCvECN0Hp7HCF1C67NjbX0gbY00CasEuaUcaSvaQTTlXRJZH2GHkJSWtW9TKuyt6pksIsxALzq4k1uQ2/s1600/Not+All+Lives+Matter+Black+White+Cops+Shooting+Shoot+Kill+Harmony+Live+Life+Love+Together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Not All Lives Matter Black White Cops Shooting Shoot Kill Harmony Live Life Love Together" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSkkgwdp4XOlC1zJOseQe0L7KBoAbPaLP10gWxeFaVQZzstGAjlcgEjbM_tqoSCvECN0Hp7HCF1C67NjbX0gbY00CasEuaUcaSvaQTTlXRJZH2GHkJSWtW9TKuyt6pksIsxALzq4k1uQ2/s400/Not+All+Lives+Matter+Black+White+Cops+Shooting+Shoot+Kill+Harmony+Live+Life+Love+Together.jpg" title="Not All Lives Matter Black White Cops Shooting Shoot Kill Harmony Live Life Love Together" width="400"></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As of March, 2016, there are 7,400,000,000 people in the world. That means each life counts for 0.000000001% of the whole. That's a very low individual contribution. It would take 1,850,000,000 of us to amount to 25%. That's 500 million more people than are currently living in China. If the entire population of China died tomorrow the entire world would certainly feel the effects. If one person died tomorrow, the only people impacted would be those who cared about that one person. </span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There are certainly spectrums of importance. I think we can agree that the life of a doctor who specializes in heart disease or a scientist working on a cure for cancer are undoubtedly more substantial than a loner or a cat lady. You simply cannot argue that the lives of some people matter more than the lives of others. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As George Orwell put it in Animal Farm, "All pigs are equal... but some pigs are more equal than others." Some of us matter very much. Some of us do not matter at all. Corporate downsizing has proven that it does not matter if a company has 500 employees or 200 employees. The same work will get done. Even the loss of someone as profound as Robin Williams only impacts us for a week or two. There will never be a sequel to Mrs. Doubtfire. What does it matter?</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 16px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 16px;">
It is up to each one of us to make our lives matter. They do not matter on their own. It is not the body but the soul that gives us value and determines who we are. It is not the color of our skin but the content of our character. We each need to define what is important to us. We need to do good things and choose the right paths. If you want your life to matter, pick a cause to champion, build a great career, or cultivate a healthy family life. If your life matters to the people you spend your time with then you have succeeded in adding value to society. </div>
<div style="font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 16px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 16px;">
...only then will your life matter. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-47114981233827046982016-01-03T19:54:00.001-05:002016-01-04T06:59:45.326-05:00Facebook is Listening<br />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2666"> <img alt="Background App Refresh Facebook Mobile Runs Listens Mic Microphone Terms of Service Use Update Agreement Hears Conversation You Talking Private Privacy Spy Creepy Confirms Stores Data" border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CwDOb23Oc8uCL1oqir3uYenQ4_GMB5fK8zuiAEkMOkJs3NPXCSCVT1PyHsUe0bsq8hwK_sm3TIqdIEFOehfxrTwwCCyS4D_AJYG4Be9orUYnjEbTo221UNeH9sMXz0pZlq69y8TH_qXI/s400/Background+App+Refresh+Facebook+Mobile+Runs+Listens+Mic+Microphone+Terms+of+Service+Use+Update+Agreement+Hears+Conversation+You+Talking+Private+Privacy+Spy+Creepy+Confirms+Stores+Data.jpg" title="" width="400" /></span><br />
<br />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2666">So... Facebook
is listening to your conversations. There's no fancy or poetic way of saying
it. Those 'terms of service' agreements you acknowledged when you
downloaded the app updates gave Facebook access to your phone's camera
and microphone (as well as pictures, video, call log, and contacts).
There is literal proof that this is happening. I'll tell you my
firsthand experience, but try it for yourself and be prepared to be
scared. </span><br />
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2665">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2628">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq1A88bD1kXmk5DbZzUTEhrVGf38s62c_Auk0mFEEs3H5OOcP9KafWBrfoWwd7lxx3qoQGzQ97gxD7FJfgrnsIykHMFVGrTiTqSHkjlZ5kV6OsOmhPcpCjDAeTWgA7Z7HsHdUt9uUYg6c/s1600/Background+App+Refresh+Facebook+Mobile+Runs+Listens+Mic+Microphone+Terms+of+Service+Use+Update+Agreement+Hears+Conversation+You+Talking+Private+Privacy+Spy+Creepy+Confirms+Stores+Record+Data.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Background App Refresh Facebook Mobile Runs Listens Mic Microphone Terms of Service Use Update Agreement Hears Conversation You Talking Private Privacy Spy Creepy Confirms Stores Record Data" border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq1A88bD1kXmk5DbZzUTEhrVGf38s62c_Auk0mFEEs3H5OOcP9KafWBrfoWwd7lxx3qoQGzQ97gxD7FJfgrnsIykHMFVGrTiTqSHkjlZ5kV6OsOmhPcpCjDAeTWgA7Z7HsHdUt9uUYg6c/s320/Background+App+Refresh+Facebook+Mobile+Runs+Listens+Mic+Microphone+Terms+of+Service+Use+Update+Agreement+Hears+Conversation+You+Talking+Private+Privacy+Spy+Creepy+Confirms+Stores+Record+Data.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2628">
My
wife and I were having a conversation with my brother and his wife
about ADD. One of us suggested that perhaps it is a condition caused by lazy
parenting, and that some attention and restrictions could make a child
more patient and well-behaved... another idea was that perhaps all children struggle with a
short attention span. Either way, someone noted, there are better solutions than medication. </div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2631">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2632">
Minutes later my wife opened the Facebook app on her phone and saw an article on ADD and the over-medication of children. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2633">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2643">
Coincidence? Maybe. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2644">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2645">
Later
that night we get on the subject of dentistry. I explained my "dentists
are quacks" theory and we slowly moved to discussions about fluoride
and Tom's organic toothpaste. Finally, my brother made the point that
Neanderthals did just fine without ever seeing a dentist. That's a very
far-out topic and the last thing we would expect... happened. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2646">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2647">
My wife opened her Facebook app to find an article suggestion about prehistoric dentistry. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2648">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2649">
Still not convinced? Ok. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2650">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2651">
We
explained this phenomenon to my parents and my Dad couldn't resist
testing our hypothesis. After we told him Facebook is listing for
keywords in conversations he leaned close to my Mom's phone and started
describing how much he wanted a new Jaguar. "You know, I am really in
the market for a new Jaguar, I just don't know where to get one." </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2652">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2653">
Seconds
later my Mom looked at her phone and sure enough the very first
"article" Facebook suggested was an ad for a Jaguar dealership. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2654">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2655">
...we all know that terms you search in Google are tracked and categorized (in case you murder someone and recently did a search for axes and the best place to hide a body). We have come to accept that the things we type into a computer are no longer private. <br />
<br />
However, we have not intentionally signed up for this flagrant invasion of our privacy through our phones' microphones and cameras. Conversations that we have with other humans should be private unless we are aware that they are being recorded. Most of us have no idea that our phones are listening in on our private exchanges with loved ones and trusted companions. We have a right to know that social media companies are tracking our interests and opinions based on the things we say... while the app is not even running. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2655">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2655">
Turning off the "Background App Refresh" button is no longer an option. I have not updated my Facebook app since version 29, but my wife has version 46. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyo_7jpUempgAGtQaoZEM6mHLo-j3WQ6fFghpFPuaMFjq_WqeDHI4mgDQ58R4dtLIyMuj3zeQGsZ2e8SJKsMxrqOuht2kDHlBWN-02Y77_KL0DhwRN959iCmGz1KuCDolV6y3xiCONve7/s1600/Background+App+Refresh+Facebook+Mobile+Runs+Listens+Mic+Microphone+Terms+of+Service+Use+Update+Agreement+Hears+Conversation+You+Talking+Private+Privacy+Spy+Creepy+Confirms+Stores+Data.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxyOCWkBKWqINvEjsAu3l6hug4OBlxybhtu9ZRmawVlaXn9M6Ph7kDHBFtQg6H9bpl_Dbo82MvNXMSwoJgmA9XHp3hXKdVhKVeAc5aTGQrgeueDxVU6JPwESQ-RN8OkMbdPDayLT5nISy/s1600/Background+App+Refresh+Facebook+Mobile+Runs+Listens+Mic+Microphone+Terms+of+Service+Use+Update+Agreement+Hears+Conversation+You+Talking+Private+Privacy+Spy+Creepy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Background App Refresh Facebook Mobile Runs Listens Mic Microphone Terms of Service Use Update Agreement Hears Conversation You Talking Private Privacy Spy Creepy" border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxyOCWkBKWqINvEjsAu3l6hug4OBlxybhtu9ZRmawVlaXn9M6Ph7kDHBFtQg6H9bpl_Dbo82MvNXMSwoJgmA9XHp3hXKdVhKVeAc5aTGQrgeueDxVU6JPwESQ-RN8OkMbdPDayLT5nISy/s320/Background+App+Refresh+Facebook+Mobile+Runs+Listens+Mic+Microphone+Terms+of+Service+Use+Update+Agreement+Hears+Conversation+You+Talking+Private+Privacy+Spy+Creepy.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
As you can see, she does not have the option to shut off Background App Refresh on her phone. It is "greyed out." That leads me to believe that Facebook is running anytime it wants, and can access the microphone, camera, or any other feature... anytime at all.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451840155916_2655">
<br />
... but what are we going to do about it? Log off? Use Safari instead of the app? We are so addicted to social media that we have little recourse. We want to see our friends without calling them. We want to see our families without getting on a plane. The price of this convenience is our privacy, and we are paying dearly.<br />
<br />
The only thing that can stop an irresponsible company from taking advantage of people is a massive shift in perspective. The people need to choose not to allow this to happen by deleting the app or turning off their phones.<br />
<br />
... hey, it worked with MySpace!<br /><br /><br />
<a href="http://johnjpowers.com/facebook.html">Watch 'Facebook': A parody by John Powers</a><br />
<script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><br />
<br />
<br />
* it should be noted, this is not the first article to address the breach of privacy in the Facebook terms of service. Various news media have tried and failed to save us from ourselves. Here are several other sources that address this topic...<br />
<br />
This article is on Facebook Messenger permissions:<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-fiorella/the-insidiousness-of-face_b_4365645.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-fiorella/the-insidiousness-of-face_b_4365645.html</a><br />
<br />
This article poses the question, then quotes Facebook saying it's a myth:<br />
<a href="http://www.webpronews.com/facebook-listens-2015-02/">http://www.webpronews.com/facebook-listens-2015-02/</a><br />
<br />
This article covers Facebook identifying songs:<br />
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facebooks-new-feature-creeped-out-users-2014-6">http://www.businessinsider.com/facebooks-new-feature-creeped-out-users-2014-6 </a><br />
<br />
International Business thinks we will get used to the privacy invasion:<br />
<a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/facebook-microphone-update-electronic-surveillance-experts-react-smartphone-mic-data-1589575">http://www.ibtimes.com/facebook-microphone-update-electronic-surveillance-experts-react-smartphone-mic-data-1589575</a><br />
<br />
Facebook got this article to correct itself and remove the word "eavesdropping":<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/22/facebook-wants-to-listen-in-on-what-youre-doing/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/22/facebook-wants-to-listen-in-on-what-youre-doing/</a><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-31636434598953845382015-07-02T13:55:00.001-04:002015-07-07T08:29:24.295-04:00Fourth of July PlaylistMy wife and I are having family over to celebrate the 4th of July. I decided to put together a playlist for our iPod Nano, which will be docked outside for our listening pleasure. Before looking at the list below, you should know that I am a patriotic person... to a degree. I'm a believer in the ideals established by the founders of this country. This list was my attempt to have a larger and more comprehensive list than any of those I found online.<br />
<br />
Any song in my collection that had the words "July 4th, Freedom, Star, United, America, Country..." all made it on to the list. Some are more patriotic than others, but they all have implications that relate to our country and various opinions of it... Here goes:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/"><img alt="American Flag Old Glory July 4th of Freedom United Songs Playlist Music" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPWTrwIaX77InqWkPEXDfM9XQ9Q0D2hDIShsFF8utPh6EQMoNu5LplQgy34kVv1fX4MLrvoguVMB8uTu7x3K4GrA98yswygEalKS1w_XPJtr3Wgh0aEqGu_1l5zgTt2zJ0MBdyvPaYoDf/s320/AmericanFlag.jpg" title="American Flag Old Glory July 4th of Freedom United Songs Playlist Music" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
All Star - Smash Mouth<br />
America - Neil Diamond<br />
America - Paul Simon<br />
American Baby - Dave Matthews<br />
American Cliche - Filter<br />
American Eulogy - Green Day<br />
American Gigolo - Weezer<br />
American Girl - Tom Petty<br />
American Girls - Counting Crows<br />
American Girls - Weezer<br />
American Idiot - Green Day<br />
American Idiot - Richard Cheese<br />
American Life - Primus<br />
American Man - Velvet Revolver<br />
American Music - The Hold Steady<br />
American Pie - Don McLean<br />
American Psycho - Eminem & Cypress Hill<br />
American Witch - Rob Zombie<br />
American Woman - The Guess Who<br />
American Woman - Lenny Kravitz<br />
Americana - Offspring<br />
Awakening Americans - Alanis Morissette<br />
Cry Freedom - Dave Matthews<br />
Cumbersome - Seven Mary Three<br />
<div>
(off their American Standard album!)<br />
Falling Stars - Serj Tankian<br />
February Stars - Foo Fighters</div>
<div>
First Night - The Hold Steady<br />
Flagpole Sitter - Harvey Danger<br />
For God and Country - Smashing Pumpkins<br />
Freedom - Jimi Hendrix<br />
Freedom - Paul McCartney<br />
Freedom - Rage Against the Machine<br />
Geek U.S.A. - Smashing Pumpkins<br />
Hurt - Johnny Cash </div>
<div>
(off his American IV album!) <br />
I'm Afraid of Americans - David Bowie<br />
Last of the American Girls - Green Day<br />
Let Freedom Ring - The Nightwatchman<br />
Living in America - James Brown<br />
Lump - The Presidents of the United States<br />
Omaha - Counting Crows <br />
Peaches - The Presidents of the United States<br />
Road Trippin' - Red Hot Chili Peppers <br />
Rockin' in the Free World - Neil Young<br />
Saturday in the Park - Chicago<br />
Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes<br />
Shooting Star - Puddle of Mudd<br />
Solidarity Forever - The Nightwatchman<br />
Song from an American Movie - Everclear<br />
Star Spangled Banner - Jimi Hendrix<br />
Starz - Smashing Pumpkins<br />
Surf Wax America - Weezer<br />
Swing, Swing - The All-American Rejects<br />
This is Not America - David Bowie<br />
This Land is Your Land - Counting Crows<br />
This Land is Your Land - The Nightwatchman<br />
United States - Smashing Pumpkins<br />
We're an American Band - Rob Zombie<br />
White America - Eminem<br />
Young American - David Bowie<br />
40oz to Freedom - Sublime<br />
4th of July - Soundgarden<br />
<br />
<br />
... you're welcome.<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-42727553995228854502015-01-07T11:44:00.000-05:002015-01-09T08:43:03.190-05:00Mayor de Blasio Bans NYPD Guns<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBewgxzm0klDaG8a2NkVZr2VZaAX7AG24-psC5tq9O7gkckIfUCnHFTUraheBpfkfkhGUCQf6Sz91LPMeqThKtUsi5W47SqtcBWvrwpTniYAYIFpHr4LlLLo1QD0AMDRvyYD9jJ5SBU_TM/s1600/anti-gun+mayor+bill+de+blasio+jumps+high+nypd+police+cops+nyc+new+york+killed+sharpton+obama+supporter+city+laws+gay+pride+hitler+nazi+salute+heil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="anti-gun mayor bill de blasio jumps high nypd police cops nyc new york killed sharpton obama supporter city laws gay pride hitler nazi salute heil" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBewgxzm0klDaG8a2NkVZr2VZaAX7AG24-psC5tq9O7gkckIfUCnHFTUraheBpfkfkhGUCQf6Sz91LPMeqThKtUsi5W47SqtcBWvrwpTniYAYIFpHr4LlLLo1QD0AMDRvyYD9jJ5SBU_TM/s1600/anti-gun+mayor+bill+de+blasio+jumps+high+nypd+police+cops+nyc+new+york+killed+sharpton+obama+supporter+city+laws+gay+pride+hitler+nazi+salute+heil.jpg" height="213" title="anti-gun mayor bill de blasio jumps high nypd police cops nyc new york killed sharpton obama supporter city laws gay pride hitler nazi salute heil" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mayor warmly greets the large Jewish population of NYC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In a shocking move late yesterday evening New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued an order that New York Police Department officers are to be stripped of their firearms.<br />
The new policy will go into effect the first day of next month and will be a city-wide mandate. It says that officers are no longer authorized to carry guns in public. They are also no longer authorized to receive firearm training. The only place officers may still carry a gun is safely within the walls of the Police Station. Henceforth, the NYPD must use tasers and pepper spray in all situations. In his brief statement, the Mayor expressed that, "... without guns, cops are less likely to shoot anyone." There will be some exceptions to the new anti-gun policy which will include high-profile city events and security detail. The Mayor's own bodyguards will still carry firearms with live rounds. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy62G8FeAYjuS5BSE1yITG_L66ZFN-pS5qLMeWxB8iifehhq9SYBOMAtm6iQfhoGQR0MgcFlznQ6z1XZC86NzTgUGAvmpvC5hEfyA_HdzlD66EY02quxfJejsD0VFvI1kb_ClNIrSfqx52/s1600/anti-gun+mayor+bill+de+blasio+jumps+high+nypd+police+cops+killed+sharpton+obama+supporter+laws+nyc+new+york+city+west+indian+day+parade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="anti-gun mayor bill de blasio jumps high nypd police cops killed sharpton obama supporter laws nyc new york city west indian day parade" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy62G8FeAYjuS5BSE1yITG_L66ZFN-pS5qLMeWxB8iifehhq9SYBOMAtm6iQfhoGQR0MgcFlznQ6z1XZC86NzTgUGAvmpvC5hEfyA_HdzlD66EY02quxfJejsD0VFvI1kb_ClNIrSfqx52/s1600/anti-gun+mayor+bill+de+blasio+jumps+high+nypd+police+cops+killed+sharpton+obama+supporter+laws+nyc+new+york+city+west+indian+day+parade.jpg" height="213" title="anti-gun mayor bill de blasio jumps high nypd police cops killed sharpton obama supporter laws nyc new york city west indian day parade" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">de Blasio being levitated by the power of anti-police sentiment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A long-time opponent of stop and frisk, de Blasio has spoken out against the NYPD on several occasions. The most recent was following the grand jury decision not to indict NYPD officer Daniel Panteleo in the death of Eric Garner. De Blasio said that he and his wife Chirlane McCray had many conversations with their mixed-race son about taking "special care in any encounters he has with the police officers who are there to protect him." The statement was criticized as being antagonistic and aligning with anti-police sentiment expressed by the likes of instigator Rev. Al Sharpton. In that crucial moment in history, the Mayor did not stand up for the people who protect his city. He instead took the side of a man selling counterfeit cigarettes. On December 20, two officers were assassinated in their patrol car. The shooter made it clear this was revenge. The NYPD feels that the Mayor is at least partially responsible for rousing anti-police sentiment. Officers responded by turning their backs on the Mayor during his eulogies of the two police officers. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YKENUZCrTtV65sMSKWnZbf959dkheHahhxQo0Vatt1_VnXq6G3SZujz8jua0bPyrLg_nwlHMujoRC31iGfTLKri33AyCSQ7lcprB5XIYKA7cF3bSSkSjJXgdiEuQsx3LJiIGe7Rj1JKQ/s1600/anti-gun+mayor+bill+de+blasio+jumps+high+nypd+police+cops+nyc+new+york+killed+sharpton+obama+supporter+city+laws+gay+pride+west+indian+day+parade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="anti-gun mayor bill de blasio jumps high nypd police cops nyc new york killed sharpton obama supporter city laws gay pride west indian day parade" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YKENUZCrTtV65sMSKWnZbf959dkheHahhxQo0Vatt1_VnXq6G3SZujz8jua0bPyrLg_nwlHMujoRC31iGfTLKri33AyCSQ7lcprB5XIYKA7cF3bSSkSjJXgdiEuQsx3LJiIGe7Rj1JKQ/s1600/anti-gun+mayor+bill+de+blasio+jumps+high+nypd+police+cops+nyc+new+york+killed+sharpton+obama+supporter+city+laws+gay+pride+west+indian+day+parade.jpg" height="266" title="anti-gun mayor bill de blasio jumps high nypd police cops nyc new york killed sharpton obama supporter city laws gay pride west indian day parade" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayor de Blasio showing support for Gay Pride Day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Boston-born Police Commissioner Bill Bratton has been guarded in his responses to these events, obviously because de Blasio appointed him, and is technically his boss. Bratton was quoted (in his thick Boston accent) as saying, "It matters not what your boss decrees, it is your duty to smile and nod until it's time to punch out and go home." The NYPD have not been so guarded, however, with many officers claiming a direct correlation between the actions of the Mayor and the resulting officer deaths. They have also turned their backs on petty crimes that are designed to bring a tax profit to the city. These crimes (summonses, parking violations) are not hurting any humans, and are mostly in place to keep officers busy meeting quotas. The police are still responding as usual to serious, life-threatening situations. <br />
<br />
We cannot help but wonder how quick they will be to respond without a firearm.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">* Disclaimer: This article is a joke. It is meant for amusement and should in no way be considered an actual report. None of the statements quoted in this article are real (except in paragraph two). De Blasio has not taken officers guns away... yet. The point of this article is to take what is currently happening to the next level as a warning of things to come if serious changes are not made in the very near future. The author has family and friends in the NYPD and has nothing but respect for our men and women in blue. The author has very little respect for politicians.</span><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's a music video about NYC... Empire State of Meh</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-66948950904767894222015-01-05T11:45:00.004-05:002015-07-06T10:24:58.815-04:00Paul McCartney is Number Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vdFWnsRH8pssA0bm7HPI02rQlPmDiV6Uc5ZGWBiqLuJo6c_YinjwEa7GH8dGRgHZUfg1bYo9ggUtAKzq_lcVytl_JCyqf3KKfLJFTBmH_S1etGBCyM65gGmaapZSUJy-kD4qlx4icm4L/s1600/Sir+Paul+McCartney+Hofner+Bass+Beatles+Number+One+Hit+Hits+John+Lennon+Died+1980+Single+Kanye+West+Only+One+Solo+Wings+George+Harrison+Ringo+Star+Liverpool+Is+Biggest+Hoax+Faul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sir Paul McCartney Hofner Bass Beatles Number One Hit Hits John Lennon Died 1980 Single Kanye West Only One Solo Wings George Harrison Ringo Star Liverpool Is Biggest Hoax Faul" border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vdFWnsRH8pssA0bm7HPI02rQlPmDiV6Uc5ZGWBiqLuJo6c_YinjwEa7GH8dGRgHZUfg1bYo9ggUtAKzq_lcVytl_JCyqf3KKfLJFTBmH_S1etGBCyM65gGmaapZSUJy-kD4qlx4icm4L/s400/Sir+Paul+McCartney+Hofner+Bass+Beatles+Number+One+Hit+Hits+John+Lennon+Died+1980+Single+Kanye+West+Only+One+Solo+Wings+George+Harrison+Ringo+Star+Liverpool+Is+Biggest+Hoax+Faul.jpg" title="Sir Paul McCartney Hofner Bass Beatles Number One Hit Hits John Lennon Died 1980 Single Kanye West Only One Solo Wings George Harrison Ringo Star Liverpool Is Biggest Hoax Faul" width="400" /></a></div>
Here's a list of number one songs written by Paul McCartney...<br />
<br />
1963 She Loves You<br />
1964 I Want to Hold Your Hand<br />
1964 Can't Buy Me Love<br />
1964 Love Me Do<br />
1964 A Hard Day's Night<br />
1964 I Feel Fine<br />
1965 Help!<br />
1965 Yesterday<br />
1965 Ticket to Ride<br />
1965 Eight Days a Week<br />
1966 We Can Work it Out<br />
1966 Paperback Writer<br />
1967 Penny Lane<br />
1967 All You Need is Love<br />
1967 Hello Goodbye<br />
1968 Hey Jude<br />
1969 Come Together/Something *<br />
1969 Get Back<br />
1970 Let it Be<br />
1970 The Long and Winding Road/For You Blue *<br />
1971 Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey *<br />
1973 My Love<br />
1974 Band on the Run<br />
1975 Listen to What the Man Said<br />
1976 Silly Love Songs<br />
1978 With a Little Luck<br />
1980 Coming Up<br />
1982 Ebony and Ivory<br />
1983 Say Say Say<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">* Released as a double A-side single</span><br />
<br />
There you have it.<br />
Paul McCartney's Number 1 hits according to the Billboard Top 100.<br />
<br />
The argument can be made that Paul McCartney has not had a number one hit (by himself) since the death of his long-time writing partner. That's not to say that Lennon was instrumental in McCartney's post-Beatles hits. Seven of the songs above (1971-1980) were written by Paul and had nothing to do with John whatsoever... but once John was no longer living, Paul stopped topping the charts.<br />
<br />
John Lennon was shot and killed on December 8, 1980. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebony_and_Ivory">Ebony and Ivory</a> was a number one hit in 1982, but it was written by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Say_Say_Say">Say Say Say</a> was a number one hit in 1983, but it was written with a very popular artist at the time named Michael Jackson.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N2hP2-36PE50VlRoApHL_Heuc8uHvVv0L7f8IFwNLFhF-9A33PSmCdUV0U1cWExlntDn4s_VdTZCJ9gctsTc4HPYPDvv0CbhD3zrcpPUbMERo28DE2o5pUhP1Ca6g9NafT9kNAUHk1K7/s1600/Sir+Paul+McCartney+Hofner+Bass+Beatles+Number+One+Hit+Hits+John+Lennon+Died+1980+Single+Kanye+West+Only+One+Solo+Wings+George+Harrison+Ringo+Star+Liverpool+Is+Biggest+Hoax+Faul+Rooftop+Session+Apple+Last+Concert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sir Paul McCartney Hofner Bass Beatles Number One Hit Hits John Lennon Died 1980 Single Kanye West Only One Solo Wings George Harrison Ringo Star Liverpool Is Biggest Hoax Faul Rooftop Session Apple Last Concert" border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N2hP2-36PE50VlRoApHL_Heuc8uHvVv0L7f8IFwNLFhF-9A33PSmCdUV0U1cWExlntDn4s_VdTZCJ9gctsTc4HPYPDvv0CbhD3zrcpPUbMERo28DE2o5pUhP1Ca6g9NafT9kNAUHk1K7/s400/Sir+Paul+McCartney+Hofner+Bass+Beatles+Number+One+Hit+Hits+John+Lennon+Died+1980+Single+Kanye+West+Only+One+Solo+Wings+George+Harrison+Ringo+Star+Liverpool+Is+Biggest+Hoax+Faul+Rooftop+Session+Apple+Last+Concert.jpg" title="Sir Paul McCartney Hofner Bass Beatles Number One Hit Hits John Lennon Died 1980 Single Kanye West Only One Solo Wings George Harrison Ringo Star Liverpool Is Biggest Hoax Faul Rooftop Session Apple Last Concert" width="400" /></a></div>
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In 2012 McCartney teamed up with one of the biggest names in music, Dave Grohl, to record <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cut_Me_Some_Slack">Cut Me Some Slack</a>. Many Nirvana fans would never have guessed that Paul McCartney would be the next man to front a Dave Grohl/Krist Novoselic band. The song was featured on the Sound City soundtrack and performed live for the 12/12/12 Hurricane Sandy benefit concert. It won a Grammy for Best Rock Song in 2014, but failed to top the charts.<br />
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The year is now 2015 and Paul McCartney just released a song with Kanye West, called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_One_%28Kanye_West_song%29">Only One</a>. It would be an incredible feat if Sir Paul could grab one more number one hit with an icon of modern culture. The song has been described by Kim Kardashian her favorite Kanye song yet, and it is already number one on the UK charts. If Only One hits number one, it would be 32 years between number one hits for Paul McCartney. That would be a historical feat.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-48390566143818145542014-10-24T00:23:00.004-04:002014-10-24T00:31:35.289-04:00Obamacare Does Not Cover Ebola<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xSxke1zSkTl1Qd6DaxyPRNSuyLUbGU7VKSI7AeyKLtr0dpmH6-3y0NafnGLPtkjCrvv77vEkOYZWHE8da0fgLUM9Tv6Lzua-2BmVqYoZS2BDC-mxjduiROwL2GllbUb4Hl04_5r6frfL/s1600/faces+of+ebola+in+america.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="thomas eric duncan nina pham amber vinson craig spencer doctor nurse liberian ebola patient chronic virus condition spread contagious new york city dallas texas hospital america united states west africa" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xSxke1zSkTl1Qd6DaxyPRNSuyLUbGU7VKSI7AeyKLtr0dpmH6-3y0NafnGLPtkjCrvv77vEkOYZWHE8da0fgLUM9Tv6Lzua-2BmVqYoZS2BDC-mxjduiROwL2GllbUb4Hl04_5r6frfL/s1600/faces+of+ebola+in+america.jpg" height="240" title="thomas eric duncan nina pham amber vinson craig spencer doctor nurse liberian ebola patient chronic virus condition spread contagious new york city dallas texas hospital america united states west africa" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In a shocking turn of events, several Americans have recently contracted the Ebola virus. The virus has been ravaging the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea since December of 2013.
It is estimated that 5,000 people have died in those countries. Several cases have now been identified in the United States. The most documented case is Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian immigrant who brought the virus to Dallas. Nurses Nina Pham and Amber Vinson both contracted Ebola while caring for Duncan. Journalist Ashoka Mukpo contracted Ebola while covering the
outbreak in Africa for NBC News, and Craig Spencer of "Doctors Without Borders" just checked in to Bellvue Hospital in New York City with Ebola.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for these people... the Affordable Care Act does not cover treatment of the Ebola virus. Here is an excerpt from the law that lists the pre-existing "chronic conditions" that are not covered under the new plans. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4z-wS0kdMEmwy7KkkwrfDA-QvGQ71D1W5M_yK5J_KLbtl5OuyUjNQKtc8pwV2TVNvGXDrrELm5RJDvkn4-Hq8Jy1DqNSKsk9tl13V1JWllBtv7qZDmDZjQNVQi6acOY6F-8Bm1-1-HxD/s1600/obamacare+conditions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="obamacare affordable care act text excerpt thomas eric duncan nina pham amber vinson craig spencer doctor nurse liberian ebola patient chronic virus condition spread contagious new york city dallas texas hospital america united states west africa" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4z-wS0kdMEmwy7KkkwrfDA-QvGQ71D1W5M_yK5J_KLbtl5OuyUjNQKtc8pwV2TVNvGXDrrELm5RJDvkn4-Hq8Jy1DqNSKsk9tl13V1JWllBtv7qZDmDZjQNVQi6acOY6F-8Bm1-1-HxD/s1600/obamacare+conditions.jpg" height="489" title="obamacare affordable care act text excerpt thomas eric duncan nina pham amber vinson craig spencer doctor nurse liberian ebola patient chronic virus condition spread contagious new york city dallas texas hospital america united states west africa" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Nobody is sure what to make of Ebola in the United States. Several cases seem to have been eradicated, but many people remain skeptical and concerned. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) seems to have underestimated the precautions necessary to stop the spread of the virus. In an effort to avoid a public panic, they instead created a great mistrust of their agency. Most Americans are convinced the disease can spread when someone coughs or sneezes, and it is clear that healthcare professionals are more at risk than the general public. Regardless of how contagious the virus can be, getting care will prove to be an issue.<br />
<br />
John Powers<br />
Contributing Reporter<br />
<a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/">http://www.johnjpowers.com</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-91769045635165039512014-04-04T07:16:00.000-04:002014-04-25T10:06:39.728-04:00Nirvana: 20 Years Later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMxuf0eUd5DHmIm29i3qFW1rYOLyGH1ys7Tn4YgX2jW9n0mCXB_rWXmmWO52H6tepf8V8Q56-NMLuALCbGcSpv-qME3kyOI8Y1QAtwEicNQjmQvoBFlYOQ5awW2DWybPID4BO_3vgn6pc/s1600/nirvana_smile_smiley_face_tongue_eyes_xed_out_kurt_cobain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="nirvana smiley face kurt cobain 20 year anniversary dave grohl foo fighters death suck krist novoselic pat smear grunge smells like teen spirit" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMxuf0eUd5DHmIm29i3qFW1rYOLyGH1ys7Tn4YgX2jW9n0mCXB_rWXmmWO52H6tepf8V8Q56-NMLuALCbGcSpv-qME3kyOI8Y1QAtwEicNQjmQvoBFlYOQ5awW2DWybPID4BO_3vgn6pc/s1600/nirvana_smile_smiley_face_tongue_eyes_xed_out_kurt_cobain.jpg" height="200" title="Nirvana Smiley Face" width="195" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Who better to write about the legacy of Nirvana than a 30-something who lived through it all? Everyone over 30 remembers feeling sad and disappointed when they heard that Kurt was dead, but only the real fans remember the whole story. The quiet guy with the sarcastic smile on the cover of every magazine. The one who didn't want to be famous who was lifted to the very peak of stardom in a very short period of time. Kurt Cobain was Nirvana. He was the spokesman of the 90's. Every high school across the nation tried to create a mosh pit at their school dance. Every kid who felt disenfranchised and ignored by the mainstream had someone they could identify with who felt exactly like they did. The legacy that Nirvana left behind is undeniable, but there are several things that most articles have left out.</span><br />
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<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Kurt Cobain Didn't Want to be a Star</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br />Cobain didn't take interviews seriously. He realized it wasn't about him. He made the music and tried to let it speak for itself. He gave sarcastic Lennon-esque answers that turned an interview into a mockery. He wore old, comfortable sweaters and t-shirts with punk rock logos on them. He was just a dude. He left the serious rock and roll superstar stuff to Axel Rose. In an interview with Kurt Loder on MTV, Cobain described an run-in with Rose where he and Courtney Love asked if Axel would be their child's godfather and Axel Rose tried to pick a fight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rose was the iconic stereotypical rock front-man. The leather pants, the bandana, shit, even the band was named after him. Guns N' Roses might as well have been called Axel Rose and The Other Guys (who happened to be pretty damn good musicians). Nirvana was the complete opposite. They were not decked out in flashy outfits or gimmicky face makeup. They were themselves and they were fine with it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have read Cobain's journal. I didn't want to, but I had to. The guy didn't want fame. He intentionally misspelled his own name on their first album Bleach, in letters, and in the monkey photo courtesy on the Nevermind album art (Kurdt Kobain). The guy didn't want to be a star. He wanted people to listen to his music. He didn't want fame and fortune. He wanted to share his music with as many people as possible and he detested mainstream conformity. Everything about pop culture sickened him. </span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. His Talent Was Not Manufactured </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The guy had talent. Real talent. There was no such thing as American Idol. In the 90's, you had to start in the garage and practice and write songs and then play shows and build an audience. Cobain had something inside him that made people react. He had soul. His haunting voice conveyed his personal struggle with each strained note. I still get the chills when I listen to Where Did You Sleep Last Night. He was not the best guitarist in the world, but he was an innovator. He spent years knee-deep in Melvins cassettes and had a deep respect for the musicians that came before him. His enthusiam was undeniable. The guy suffered from an unidentifiable stomach virus and was in nearly constant pain... and anyone listening to him sing could feel that pain. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. There Was a Message</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone knows the anti-conformity tagline of Smells Like Teen Spirit (namely, 'f*** what they expect, do what you want!'), but there was more than that. Cobain was a deep thinker and his lyrics were a passive (and at times sarcastic) fight against inequity and established norms. He was a self-identified feminist, having witnessed the oppression of female friends and identifying a culture of women being put down. Been a Son addressed the burden of being born female. Nirvana covered the classic folk song Ain't it a Shame which mocks hypocrisy in the redneck culture. The lyric "...what else could I say, everyone is gay," in All Apologies was way ahead of its time, bringing the LGBT civil rights movement into the spotlight before there was a movement or a spotlight. Nobody pulled off sarcasm in song quite like Cobain. He was actually not forever in dept to your priceless advice. He was not apologetic at all. He was exactly who he meant to be and didn't give a damn who didn't agree. He preached a message of acceptance and being yourself above all else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Foo Fighters will never be Nirvana is because there is no passion. Dave Grohl is arguably one of the greatest musicians alive and his skill and versitility are always impressive... but he has nothing to say. Nirvana inspired a generation. The Foo Fighters have released more than twice as many albums but they are still not in the same league as Nirvana. Times Like These and Everlong are their most well-known songs and yet both could be described as generic love songs. They have no depth or meaning. They are literal songs to be taken at face value. The reason the Foo Fighters got radio play is because of how special Nirvana was, but Grohl has yet to acknowledge his previous band in any noticable way. I saw the Foo Fighters play at MSG on the 20th anniversary of the Nevermind album release, and although </span><span style="font-size: large;">Krist Novoselic joined them on stage, he played an accordian instead of a bass and they did a Foo Fighters song and not a single track off of Nevermind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Grohl embraced the celebrity that Nirvana rejected. He learned how to sell out. You'll see Dave Grohl at every benefit and award show and presidential banquet because he has learned the art of kissing ass and staying bland and mainstream enough to fit in with pop culture. There is nothing personal or real in any of the Foo Fighters lyrics and although they inspire a wistful reminiscence they fail to inspire the same energy that Nirvana did.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. They're All Greatest Hits</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kurt Cobain grew up in an era without iTunes. There was a single release, typically with an interesting b-side, but every track on the album had to be just as good as the last or you would run the risk of people using the fast forward button and having their tape spin out of the casing and all over the ground. He did not believe in releasing a greatest hits album. He thought it was unfair for fans to have to pay for another album and get a bunch of song they already had. In 2002 a new Nirvana album titled Nirvana was released. It was exactly what Cobain did not want... a collection of previously released songs, with one new track to lure loyal fans into a purchase. Another greatest hits compilation was released in 2010, this one called Icon, because Courtney Love still has bills to pay. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nirvana didn't expect to change the world. They were not trying to go viral on YouTube or get as many Twitter followers as possible. They did not take themselves too seriously and it came across in their music (and their music videos). Kurt Cobain's first demo was titled, "Fecal Matter," and although it wasn't shit, it showed that he was aware that it was raw and unrefined music. This playful attitude made the band seem real. Just a couple of good friend laughing and joking and making some kick-ass rock and roll. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's incredible that it's been 20 years since he died. Most people my age probably felt old when 20 years had passed since Nevermind was released. It's a not-so-subtle reminder of our own mortality and yet this is a band that shaped our youth. Their songs inspired us and let us jump and scream and rebel and lash out and more importantly than anything else... they made us feel understood. It does not go without saying that Nirvana has enriched the lives of millions of young people that grew up in the 90's and the music continues to reach new generations of music lovers even 20 years later. I look forward to one day sharing Nirvana with my kids when they start to question authority and feel isolated in the strange world that is teenagedom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">- John Powers<br /><a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/">http://www.johnjpowers.com</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KYQm37fMz0MaM0-TfOQBoMr1yHfwSYxJ1LWoituV4A9VK2lHdE9nHdFssDl71bK1BLJk1PoDvQXHVscijsUpr2Zogsm0kC3akQM4ZZvtjjgg2Hs9jRXOp2-o_X4dzoo8hSWagmjAzXcQ/s1600/kurt_cobain_gun_mouth_dead_20_year_anniversary_nirvana_grunge_smells_like_teen_spirit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="nirvana smiley face kurt cobain 20 year anniversary dave grohl foo fighters death suck krist novoselic pat smear grunge smells like teen spirit" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KYQm37fMz0MaM0-TfOQBoMr1yHfwSYxJ1LWoituV4A9VK2lHdE9nHdFssDl71bK1BLJk1PoDvQXHVscijsUpr2Zogsm0kC3akQM4ZZvtjjgg2Hs9jRXOp2-o_X4dzoo8hSWagmjAzXcQ/s1600/kurt_cobain_gun_mouth_dead_20_year_anniversary_nirvana_grunge_smells_like_teen_spirit.jpg" height="194" title="Kurt Cobain with Gun" width="200" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-83955617390249307422014-02-12T09:04:00.001-05:002015-08-23T23:02:35.237-04:00Subway Yoga Mat Sandwich™<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iU2XeePp9ZdQyAaupYbZhGiWM6BJbhdn9DG9ZhNefofBZW_YoxvMdW43kSLjbnNi3u33e2-Jtrl7R5PWbm7ypnQExzXh487Ex3-kZq-brBQIwjmbuBRdgeuh1o9T7gvv4aO3StWGviv3/s1600/subway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Comic John Powers Jared Fogle Subway Yoga Mat Sandwich" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iU2XeePp9ZdQyAaupYbZhGiWM6BJbhdn9DG9ZhNefofBZW_YoxvMdW43kSLjbnNi3u33e2-Jtrl7R5PWbm7ypnQExzXh487Ex3-kZq-brBQIwjmbuBRdgeuh1o9T7gvv4aO3StWGviv3/s1600/subway.jpg" height="246" title="Comic John Powers with Jared Fogle at Subway" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comic John Powers with Jared, the Subway Guy<br><br></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Ever since Subway unveiled it's Yoga Mat Sandwich™ sales at the fast-food sub shop have plummeted. It seems that suddenly people care more about their health then they do about getting fast food at a decent price. Above is a picture of Jared (the Subway Guy) Fogle and myself at a Subway restaurant on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It was a busy lunchtime hour but Jared and I were the only ones indulging in the tasty Subway cuisine. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Subway has long stood behind the catchphrase "Eat Fresh," suggesting that they provide fresh ingredients and a healthier alternative to the Big Mac, the Whopper and Taco Bell mystery meat. They even teamed up with Olympian Michael Phelps in an attempt to appeal to athletes and stoners alike. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br>Some people were shocked to find that the bread at subway actually contains the same ingredients as a yoga mat. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Kristen Delfonte of Brooklyn said, "I can't believe it. The bread always smells so fake and rubbery when I walk past the store. It's just a complete shock to find out there's </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="st">azodicarbonamide </span>in there."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Robert Erlens was astounded to learn that adding Chipotle Mayo adds 500 calories. "I was astounded to learn that adding Chipotle Mayo adds 500 calories. They say it's less calories than other fast food joints... yeah, if you order a plain 6-inch with no cheese! Who does that?! When I order a foot-long sub, I want it to have the works! I'm talking double-meat, double cheese, and a bunch of soggy peppers and pickles and stuff!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A woman in line who asked not to be identified ordered a 6-inch Italian. Right after she said that, Jared tapped her on the shoulder and winked. When we caught up with him after the incident he replied, "It's actually 4 and a half inches."</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0H30O7hwEa9tWfFK6XV-SeTpjb5XNiwVgSW-uVwdktzEp8GDwNGTUrhgKaPo3mim3bmkDy5JxjNPA_EpkcIIOg5pDZJcZv9qqPO3GrMTPZWxe2byypV-4JkcWmIcFGQvslUlgmuX4zhCi/s1600/subwayYogaMatSandwich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Comic John Powers Jared Fogle Subway Yoga Mat Sandwich" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0H30O7hwEa9tWfFK6XV-SeTpjb5XNiwVgSW-uVwdktzEp8GDwNGTUrhgKaPo3mim3bmkDy5JxjNPA_EpkcIIOg5pDZJcZv9qqPO3GrMTPZWxe2byypV-4JkcWmIcFGQvslUlgmuX4zhCi/s1600/subwayYogaMatSandwich.jpg" height="228" title="The All-New Yoga Mat Sandwich™ at Subway" width="320"></a><br></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yoga Mat Sandwich™ at Subway<br><br><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">No matter how big it is, people are not happy that Subway bread is not simply made of yeast and flour. The chemicals and additives in our fast food may keep it fresh longer, bake the bread higher, or make the french fries tastier, but we no longer care about any of that. Gone are the days when the consumer will blindly gobble whatever is available in a 2-mile radius of their office. We demand more than artificial rubber yoga mat bread. We want a healthy sandwich, prepared fresh, with real ingredients. <br><br></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">...and no, we don't want it "toatsted."</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br>Namaste.<br>- John Powers<br><a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/">http://www.johnjpowers.com</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-63433638264986813252014-02-05T22:21:00.001-05:002014-02-06T11:51:21.555-05:00Putin Withdraws From Olympics<br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpb6e8eEqg-DOQwwBoh90zu0mpJKmzVodKVxtWrW6ZOSaK68To0nTSygzcsDX4KcPwEnnglAbl06bzkv6aXFQGhS-BZ1F5jXlAP8194Sbpxqwck51ruFoVjydEaB-fA5OQoaWdGsrRf-U/s1600/gayPutin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Gay Vladimir Putin Russia Sochi Olympics 2014 Ban Arrest People Kill Stray Dogs" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpb6e8eEqg-DOQwwBoh90zu0mpJKmzVodKVxtWrW6ZOSaK68To0nTSygzcsDX4KcPwEnnglAbl06bzkv6aXFQGhS-BZ1F5jXlAP8194Sbpxqwck51ruFoVjydEaB-fA5OQoaWdGsrRf-U/s1600/gayPutin2.jpg" height="240" title="Gay Vladimir Putin" width="320"></a>Russian President Vladimir Putin announced today that he will not be attending the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. After nearly a year of attempting to block homosexual athletes from participating and gay fans from attending (with threats of arrest and other persecution), the president has decided that as a gay man himself, it would be massively hypocritical to show up at the Olympics.<br>
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Mr. Putin, like many homosexuals, was afraid to come out amidst such anti-gay sentiment is his own government. He stayed in the closet and used blatant homophobia as a shield to protect himself from unwanted bullying and criticisms. Finally, his secret became too much to bear and he decided to come out. We here in America applaud Mr. Putin for his courage and honesty. The announcement was followed by a liberating bare-chested horseback ride. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJH7mN4oSm1CD2wFIHaaEKxJA4ZBSOZNhDU_krUZGZ_-MUZF53meFAr-yv9isDxsQTwP21e7CiVX7QoioiNyJmLIixm04zJtBzPhElq4fwLiPMVn8rxdQO8ZwFKYAdVpb0TtQQkXJiXxO/s1600/GayPutin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Gay Vladimir Putin Russia Sochi Olympics 2014 Ban Arrest People Kill Stray Dogs" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJH7mN4oSm1CD2wFIHaaEKxJA4ZBSOZNhDU_krUZGZ_-MUZF53meFAr-yv9isDxsQTwP21e7CiVX7QoioiNyJmLIixm04zJtBzPhElq4fwLiPMVn8rxdQO8ZwFKYAdVpb0TtQQkXJiXxO/s1600/GayPutin.jpg" height="240" title="Gay Vladimir Putin" width="320"></a>His official press release read, "<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-indent: 24px;">We are not forbidding anything. Anything goes. There is no punishment for such kinds of relations. To paraphrase Maclemore & Lewis, 'he keeps me warm.' We want everyone with strange and unusual sexual impulses to </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-indent: 24px;">feel relaxed and calm, but leave children alone please."</span></div>
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When asked how it felt to hide his sexuality for so long, Mr. Putin replied, <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-indent: 24px;">"What, are we supposed to follow along like obedient lapdogs, towards whatever consequences await? We have our own traditions, our own culture. We have respect for all of our international partners and ask that they also respect our own traditions and culture." Once off-camera, the Russian president picked up his pink martini and gingerly sucked the beverage through a thin blue straw. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-indent: 24px;">When asked how he felt about the president's statements, esteemed Russian boxer Drago simply replied, "I will break him."</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-indent: 24px;">Security has already been a concern with many fearing there will be a terrorist attack at the Sochi Olympic Games. There have also been reports of the local government killing stray dogs. Things are very queer in Russia, but one thing is for sure, it is a comfort to know that the President will hold himself to the same standards as the athletes the entire world will be watching. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-36791559765037527932014-02-05T22:07:00.000-05:002014-02-28T12:46:24.631-05:00ConEd Disturbs Gramercy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What sounds like gunshots are currently exploding outside of Gramercy Row apartments on 22nd street between Lexington and Third Avenue in Manhattan, New York. As you can see by the videotape, a Baruch security guard is standing idly by and doing nothing about the jarring noise. Every seven seconds (nearly exactly) you can hear a sound like a gunshot going off coming from a Con Edison work site. The electric company has been doing underground work in this spot for many months and it appears the site was not properly secured for water damage. The recent snowfall seems to have penetrated the metal plates covering the site and caused an underground electrical issue resulting in an explosion every seven seconds. What you are hearing in the video is actual audio from the scene. Although we are not certain at this time whether or not this is a dangerous area, it is currently roped off with "FIRE LINE DO NOT CROSS" tape, and anyone passing by is certain to be startled by the abrupt noise.<br>
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We will have more for you as this story develops.<div><br></div><div>* update: As of 9:15am on Thursday, February 7th, Con Edison trucks have closed down the street and have removed the metal plates to fix the issue. </div><div><br>
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John Powers<br>
Local Reporter<br>
<a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/">http://www.johnjpowers.com</a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9r9n5Y4_BivKY7U-C5v4NX0fZ-gbI7-Kp4yx8a3Gy52WEKPGB6y0Cl8rXZAUBBFPtDuKPP_gPKUuZevgiuhab3KvNsybBTk2xCjCot2LKCttONzaiwq_PmHeGhUvSLzrxu7HiDbdeJvP/s640/blogger-image--2049837698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9r9n5Y4_BivKY7U-C5v4NX0fZ-gbI7-Kp4yx8a3Gy52WEKPGB6y0Cl8rXZAUBBFPtDuKPP_gPKUuZevgiuhab3KvNsybBTk2xCjCot2LKCttONzaiwq_PmHeGhUvSLzrxu7HiDbdeJvP/s640/blogger-image--2049837698.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85jREv51sGXvDHUn8kahUwOf08pajcMbY3nvY6umndmqllAUjF0rBZ0AEi3qDpw2_7_7xS7fQfqEfB5NFYRZSMNRg18WFdYykN8KmHxuQiC6ced7rQXGvZs7RrHrmbIcTtwPQY7slArZz/s640/blogger-image-340821911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85jREv51sGXvDHUn8kahUwOf08pajcMbY3nvY6umndmqllAUjF0rBZ0AEi3qDpw2_7_7xS7fQfqEfB5NFYRZSMNRg18WFdYykN8KmHxuQiC6ced7rQXGvZs7RrHrmbIcTtwPQY7slArZz/s640/blogger-image-340821911.jpg"></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-39876372319334726882014-01-02T10:48:00.001-05:002014-01-02T10:50:04.962-05:00Day 2: ResolutionToday is January 2nd, which means day 2 without a cigarette. There are millions of people around the world telling themselves that they can do it this time. Day 2 came quick and soon it will be day 3. I don't really need to smoke, but I really want to. <div>All around the world quitters are giving in today. They are making excuses for going back to their addiction. They are saying, "resolutions are stupid anyway," and, "I'll quit when I'm damn ready," and, "it was a good idea but we all know it's not gonna happen." </div><div>My resolution is resolute. My mind is made up. This time is for real. I'll just drink more. I'll chew gum. I already bought 4 bags of sunflower seeds. That will get me through the weekend. I don't feel too bad. I really want a cigarette but I don't really need one. My friend Peter is going outside now. He didn't bother with a quitting resolution. He knows it's bullshit. I could bum a butt from him and feel that familiar tingle in no time. </div><div>...but I won't. I don't need it. Already the poison is draining from my pores and leaving my system. By the end of the week I will be breathing better and feeling healthier. All I need is a month. It's cold outside anyhow. If I can last a month this time will be the last. This time is for real and I am no longer a smoker. </div><div>I'm a quitter. </div><div>...but nobody likes a quitter. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-57120460988083018932013-12-18T14:34:00.001-05:002013-12-18T14:34:21.595-05:00Celebrity for a DayWell, my article went viral.<br />
Great. Now I can check that off my list.<br />
<br />
The reporter from the New York Post nearly orgasmed when I assured him it was true. The reporter from Metro NY said, "I wish 100,000 people saw something I wrote." My article was discussed on <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/gullible-new-yorkers-fall-for-citi-bike-built-in-spy-camera-joke/" target="_blank">Inhabitat</a> and <a href="http://gothamist.com/2013/07/30/no_citi_bikes_are_not_equipped_with.php" target="_blank">Gothamist</a>. Mayor Bloomberg and Ray Kelly both publicly dismissed my article, and even the New York City Department of Transportation had to make a statement on their Facebook page (below) to clear up any confusion. Over 250,000 saw it. It was really a wild couple of days.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVz1Rhxvd3LUMcDqLWvZ6xrhl_qE1iFYzEAT6e8cplFjgoLPGnOr0EubFoYygZ3Jz9v8pUSyI_bXajxdJkqk-76mKqwL_EH3Pw-0aKebZbuQGU2OXvasPeDyXI3iqI_2pbO49nMWnYwA3O/s1600/john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVz1Rhxvd3LUMcDqLWvZ6xrhl_qE1iFYzEAT6e8cplFjgoLPGnOr0EubFoYygZ3Jz9v8pUSyI_bXajxdJkqk-76mKqwL_EH3Pw-0aKebZbuQGU2OXvasPeDyXI3iqI_2pbO49nMWnYwA3O/s1600/john.jpg" /></a></div>
... but nothing in my life has changed. I did not make any money off of this. I did not get a gig writing for the Onion. Edward Snowden did not call me. I will not be on Letterman tonight. Yet it feels good that so many people reacted to an idea that I came up with. It wasn't a hoax. It was a not-so-far-fetched story based on an exaggeration of reality. It was a clever idea and feasible enough that quite a few people thought it was real. I now know the secret of going viral. Where do I go from here? Hopefully someone will realize that social media prowess is powerful and find a way to turn one of the hardest-working comedians in New York City into a media cash cow. At the very least I will laugh anytime I see a Citi Bike. I'll always have this moment in time to look back on and feel good about the fact that what I wrote had an impact on people.<br />
<br />
I was talking about it with a friend on the bus and a woman turned around and said, "are you guys talking about the cameras on the CitiBikes? My friend in Albuquerque told me about that..." I laughed for about an hour. <br />
<br />
Here are a few of my favorite posts...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWJ5UqiCTlfCLFyPH3dQXKCJxpppvpSgUeUN1b9H0vUITVlsSICUqilpQzY9keofDJ7rEW7UHseKOBsvVJnLFm2INmUPGOR7Jx8_G3zdRXVTbjLiMVpR7_9BCamMxea4MlH9ZeSr01yxy/s1600/CitiBike+Tweets+DOT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) on Comic John Powers' CitiBike Hoax" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWJ5UqiCTlfCLFyPH3dQXKCJxpppvpSgUeUN1b9H0vUITVlsSICUqilpQzY9keofDJ7rEW7UHseKOBsvVJnLFm2INmUPGOR7Jx8_G3zdRXVTbjLiMVpR7_9BCamMxea4MlH9ZeSr01yxy/s400/CitiBike+Tweets+DOT.png" title="New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) on Comic John Powers' CitiBike Hoax" width="397" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3-ajqkbqiICxF3v7ePd5pIpJgisknpoollBkFeP_PfmjeY9L5zU7eZAefZaRMa1q4oH0y6eOnw3ckqoUNQP_v27HRUMcp9EpidRcyBFGTNsQwr3uL5CsAex_nMbz7IOZKH51lBxSWW29/s1600/CitiBike+Tweets+Snowden.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Comic John Powers compared to Edward Snowden (NSA)" border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3-ajqkbqiICxF3v7ePd5pIpJgisknpoollBkFeP_PfmjeY9L5zU7eZAefZaRMa1q4oH0y6eOnw3ckqoUNQP_v27HRUMcp9EpidRcyBFGTNsQwr3uL5CsAex_nMbz7IOZKH51lBxSWW29/s400/CitiBike+Tweets+Snowden.png" title="Comic John Powers compared to Edward Snowden (NSA)" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8BOfjrXKbpefst885iiYV6rPqEmQ5Vjb0HiGHxXMXyHvvN8uj2tvEwK7tunzHqQzYDBrwUSBkROUbCqpwgHlWMgqmAHMEdyevQqRDxK0WJ5NVVHX8n_OitrBk1bwD7li7akD90uvtQR6/s1600/CitiBike+Tweets+poles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="CitiBike poles definitely has cameras" border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8BOfjrXKbpefst885iiYV6rPqEmQ5Vjb0HiGHxXMXyHvvN8uj2tvEwK7tunzHqQzYDBrwUSBkROUbCqpwgHlWMgqmAHMEdyevQqRDxK0WJ5NVVHX8n_OitrBk1bwD7li7akD90uvtQR6/s400/CitiBike+Tweets+poles.png" title="CitiBike poles definitely has cameras" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-61690891470129482812013-11-27T13:17:00.000-05:002013-11-28T00:15:38.010-05:00Cigarette "Flickers" Terrorizing ManhattanAn apparent follow-up craze to the "Knockout Game," has finally arrived in the Big Apple. Pedestrians in New York City have recently taken to flicking cigarettes at people walking by. These butt-snipers are now being referred to as "Flickers." Reports of "Flicking" have spread throughout the five boroughs. It seems there is no clear motive for the attacks. Instead of discarding a cigarette butt in the proper receptacles or adding to the litter in the streets, these assailants take a lit cigarette and flick it at an unsuspecting passerby. The Flickers seem to attack indiscriminately and even haphazardly.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7aMuZce9MR8vOw9EemNUQhWIHw93Qj82hSlG8bHmTIdgKc2_oaNp44NH5YZd7mV0kNnYAbrw4KBtui6XEg-l6SNPRIfie67ay1Dl099pU6r6VBA3xLpymTg7EdEo4fEzrYmI01VGKN_l/s1600/flickingcigarette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Cigarette "Flicker" (Flicking smoked butts at pedestrians)" border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7aMuZce9MR8vOw9EemNUQhWIHw93Qj82hSlG8bHmTIdgKc2_oaNp44NH5YZd7mV0kNnYAbrw4KBtui6XEg-l6SNPRIfie67ay1Dl099pU6r6VBA3xLpymTg7EdEo4fEzrYmI01VGKN_l/s320/flickingcigarette.jpg" title="Cigarette "Flicker" (Flicking smoked butts at pedestrians) Knockout Game" width="320"></a></div>
They appear to be ordinary smokers, about to finish a cigarette, but then it flies your way. Attacks range from point-blank range at 2 feet to an impressive 10-foot fling by highly skilled Flickers. There is no pattern to the type of cigarettes being flicked either. It seems like these sidewalk terrorists are seeking to punish the city that has shunned them. A report filed by one Flicker (who refused to be identified) informed this reporter that, "(Mayor) Bloomberg has done everything in his power to make this city uninhabitable for smokers. We can't smoke in bars or parks but we can still smoke in the streets and if I see the Mayor I'm going to flick my Newport right at him."<br>
<br>
At least 25 people have been targeted by Flickers in the past several months. Anita, a 24-year old fashion student living in Tribeca, claims to have been the victim of a Flicker last Friday night around 2am. When I asked about the encounter she told me,<br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I was walking down 2nd avenue and a guy walking towards me was smoking. As he approached he took one last drag from his cigarette and then flicked it right at me. It landed in the hood of my jacket. I had to take my jacket off and find the damn thing. My friends were laughing hysterically. I wasn't hurt, but it left a pretty serious burn mark."</blockquote>
While clearly not as serious as being punched from behind, cigarette Flicking poses a very serious danger to pedestrians. A lit cigarette is a fire hazard and should be disposed of properly. Human hair is highly flammable, as is most clothing and millions of cigarettes are consumed daily in Manhattan alone. There is not much that can be done about this problem, but local police are aware of the situation. Mayor-Elect Bill De Blasio had this to say, "We always knew smokers were terrible people. It doesn't surprise me at all that these Flickers think they can get away with hurting innocent people."<br>
<br>
New York has been the target of several violent trends, the latest being the Knockout Game. It has many people looking over their shoulders. Well, the next time you walk past someone smoking... make sure to give them space. If they are done with their smoke it just may come your way. You will probably not end up in a hospital but you may have to purchase a new scarf.<br>
<br>
- <a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/">John Powers</a><br>
<br>
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<br>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-9886380012206240832013-09-20T14:32:00.001-04:002015-01-08T11:43:18.296-05:00Fukushima Meltdown: No Accident<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ43A-1PWuuIp_dvB5PWzKtPsSdBvtleqAH8wcmETfyyJe7t5mq13AVL1vtn0I6NbX7GLkdf7GM3f3XZhDzKaH2JRN2eRZRF1JWBljjroXonr4qxGWz9vA3xkh8243wiXAZZ-0JJAlm85_/s1600/japan+fukishima+nuclear+meltdown+incident+radiation+radioactive+debris+fallout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ43A-1PWuuIp_dvB5PWzKtPsSdBvtleqAH8wcmETfyyJe7t5mq13AVL1vtn0I6NbX7GLkdf7GM3f3XZhDzKaH2JRN2eRZRF1JWBljjroXonr4qxGWz9vA3xkh8243wiXAZZ-0JJAlm85_/s200/japan+fukishima+nuclear+meltdown+incident+radiation+radioactive+debris+fallout.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Workers at Fukushima<br />
Nuclear Plant Site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
New reports are being released daily on the ongoing spread of radioactive water from the Fukushima meltdown site. That is to be expected with a disaster of this magnitude. There has been one report that is far more disturbing to the general public. According to a senior ministry adviser in Japan the meltdown at Fukushima was not an accident. An anonymous source who requested not to be identified has alleged that Suga Yoshihide addressed this catastrophe several months before the meltdown. His comments have been described as shocking and appalling. Since the incident, Mr. Yoshihide has been named Japan's Minister of Comprehensive Policy Coordination for Revival from Nuclear Accident at Fukushima. This new ministry position has been created to handle the fallout of the nuclear incident, both figurative and literal. His alleged statement was made in or around October of 2010. Here is a translated version of the statement:<br />
<blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvkyzVz80vPHG9jYlN7zENxWUThR4PDGNSg310Fw_fiDVRGtNOBBA5dziqNFLwNm4LlIR8qo_Y6dOy5oy3Z-4NJA5OIulQqsHJQ2zgzVYsCsJBQzQZzejtHuuuRKF7Zfz3TkcLbaBG0xo/s1600/IAEA_02810461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
"The entire world laughed at Japan. They thought they got us good and that was the end. It was just the beginning. The entire world will pay for what happened to Japan in August of 1945. The time has come for Japan to laugh. There will not be a single place on earth safe from the radiation that we will unleash on the world."</blockquote>
More than 60 years have passed since the end of World War II and most had thought there would be no further attacks, yet few remember just how much hatred existed at the time. The code name of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima was, "Little Boy," and "Fat Man," was dropped on Nagasaki. These names have long been considered an insult to Japanese people.The thought that Japan has taken it's vengeance on the world is disturbing but not far-fetched. Japan has a long history of prideful empires and military stratagem. <br />
<br />
Nobou Tanaka, former Executive Director of the International Energy Agency said, "This was going to happen sooner or later... Japan does not forget," prompting many to question why it had not been prevented. If we knew that Japan would eventually want to retaliate for the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki we might have guessed this nuclear catastrophe was coming. Mr. Tanaka went on to say, "The situation was obviously beyond one company's ability to control. The
issue is who will pay for it: Tepco's customers in the form of rate
hike or the nation in the form of tax money?" Many of us believe the whole world will pay for it, in quality of life and lifespan.<br />
<br />
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzō Abe has not been reached for comment. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfc6tnf5iZ_J7xo_1SjbWiQ5CNdSjG7fhq1drOo6oUP8cyinfU9CfVxDkQBv8ENggQZRr-pLcopRWPsFhH6J2j2OyhqAus9G406-d-u4RFK3S08_LHYs4z6iSdu6TocpWPikztgzOBP9G/s1600/Simulation_of_Debris_from_March_11_2011_Japan_tsunami.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfc6tnf5iZ_J7xo_1SjbWiQ5CNdSjG7fhq1drOo6oUP8cyinfU9CfVxDkQBv8ENggQZRr-pLcopRWPsFhH6J2j2OyhqAus9G406-d-u4RFK3S08_LHYs4z6iSdu6TocpWPikztgzOBP9G/s320/Simulation_of_Debris_from_March_11_2011_Japan_tsunami.gif" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Projected path of nuclear debris.<br />
Courtesy: <a href="http://iprc.soest.hawaii.edu/research/research.php" target="_blank">International Pacific Research Center</a><br />
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</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-73459715168706651462013-09-10T14:41:00.003-04:002015-08-24T09:46:39.395-04:00Pigeons Addicted to Nicotine<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuulpGZzzmpa1sPZABpK4fEV63I1b2F3zDIerZyt5MhSp7AuGSoCkxpGSjqG1aFu03e6tvCC7rq6dYSGGlreptTMTqmUTYJj-zRXQIHKiCz1Bj0wkVYRXKV3ikJRiuNlspkMuKRtZxbH6/s1600/bird2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="manhattan bird nyc pigeon nicotine chemical addiction smoking cigarette new york city" border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuulpGZzzmpa1sPZABpK4fEV63I1b2F3zDIerZyt5MhSp7AuGSoCkxpGSjqG1aFu03e6tvCC7rq6dYSGGlreptTMTqmUTYJj-zRXQIHKiCz1Bj0wkVYRXKV3ikJRiuNlspkMuKRtZxbH6/s200/bird2.jpg" title="manhattan bird nyc pigeon nicotine chemical addiction smoking cigarette new york city" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York City Pigeon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A recent study proves that pigeons in New York City are addicted to nicotine. How is this possible? Pigeons don't smoke. Based on the assumption that pigeons in the city consume copious amounts of nicotine in discarded cigarette butts, this study set out to prove that the birds were hooked on the chemicals in the cigarettes. Sure enough, the study found that, "most pigeons in New York City take in the same amount of nicotine each day as a human who smokes an entire pack of cigarettes."<br>
<br>
The study focused on a group of 100 pigeons collected proportionally from each of the five boroughs. The birds ranged in size and age but were all native residents of New York City. The study was conducted between March and July of 2013. The non-invasive procedure involved collecting and analyzing the nicotine levels in the pigeons' blood samples as well as the visual confirmation of filter particles in their feces. They were found to contain paper and filling derived from Marlboro, Camel, Newport, Parliament, and American Spirit cigarettes. The study went on to explain,<br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We immediately noticed a large majority of the pigeons display external signs of chemical addiction. They are often found standing in a group outside of a building. They twitch often and look around with sharp turns of the head. They have anti-social tendencies and are quick to fly when confronted. Their breath smells terrible and they leave droppings everywhere they go. After thorough research we have proven that 98% of pigeons in New York City are hooked on nicotine. Each of the birds in the study reek of smoke and are constantly fidgeting and adjusting their wings. We have also observed the hoarse, raspy mating calls of these nicotine-addicted birds."</blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wqlW5yJE-bY3UPQSSfRN6Bd8dAp0IekZr_AmJNsAGuBYtlYv6UABv6X7Yt8pK9fqtbBo-iJ5U_c0X9nNLKM9XM-TPux3HvhMLSPKVzguSuqGGE3KdrYr88_bNApjF-3Pvv1bc_AkHZ3Q/s1600/bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="china mynah bird smoking cigarette addicted smoke butt" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wqlW5yJE-bY3UPQSSfRN6Bd8dAp0IekZr_AmJNsAGuBYtlYv6UABv6X7Yt8pK9fqtbBo-iJ5U_c0X9nNLKM9XM-TPux3HvhMLSPKVzguSuqGGE3KdrYr88_bNApjF-3Pvv1bc_AkHZ3Q/s200/bird.jpg" title="china mynah bird smoking cigarette addicted smoke butt" width="143"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese Mynah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cigarettes are the most littered item in Manhattan. Although the city has strict policies against littering and frequent trash collection it seems there is little that can be done for this unfortunate situation. New York City spends approximately $500,000 annually on the disposal of cigarettes. Regardless of policy and cleanliness it seems the birds will find a way to get their fix. This is hardly a new phenomenon. There was a <a href="http://news.oneindia.in/2009/07/27/meetthe-mynah-bird-that-is-addicted-tosmoking.html" target="_blank">Mynah in China</a> several years ago that would request a cigarette every morning after seeing it's owner light up.<br>
<br>The Mayor has started a new program to help these city birds break their addiction. If you notice a pigeon displaying signs of nicotine addiction call 311 to report it and get it the help it needs.<br>
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* March, 2013 artcile: <a href="http://blog.savesfbay.org/2013/03/are-butts-the-new-bottles-ny-proposes-cigarette-butt-redemption-program/" target="_blank">Are Butts the New Bottles?</a> <br>
<br>
<br>
- John Powers<br>
<a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/">http://www.johnjpowers.com</a><br>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UOCLchwkrhk" width="560"></iframe> <br>
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<br>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-40117939301408864292013-07-31T09:10:00.000-04:002013-08-20T17:23:20.859-04:00Citi Bike Surveillance "Hoax"<br />
I'm not a reporter.<br />
<br />
The guy who called from the New York Post was a reporter. His name was Matt Nestel. He questioned me for 20 minutes about my <a href="http://johnjpowers.blogspot.com/2013/07/citi-bike-latest-nyc-surveillance.html" target="_blank">CitiBike Surveillance article</a> and then he and his boss went outside to take a bike apart. He called back to beg for an exclusive, insisting that I agree to let him break the story. When I said not to write the story, he asked if I was trying to protect my identity like Edward Snowden from the NSA. Metro NY also reached out to me and <a href="http://gothamist.com/2013/07/30/no_citi_bikes_are_not_equipped_with.php" target="_blank">Gothamist</a> got in on the action with an article that did not prove my story true or false. In one day, more than 125,000 people saw this article. Thousands hit
the retweet button before realizing the site they were looking at was not a
legitimate news source.<br />
<br />
I can't help but question modern reporting. Less than 50 years ago there was one nightly report that covered all of that day's stories. Today the 24-hour news cycle has people glued to their technology looking for the latest. Everything is breaking news. Go ahead, check. Flip on any news channel right now and there will be a bright red flashing ticker on the bottom of the screen with some crap that doesn't have any impact on your life.<br />
<br />
This article was satire, along the same lines as the Onion and the
Chive. Nobody minds when they put out an article like this because they
are known to be fake news. If anyone bothered to look at any of my other
posts they would've seen I'm a comedian. I didn't attempt to hide that.<br />
<br />
...but I'm not just a comedian. I'm a New Yorker and I share many of the privacy concerns people expressed after reading this article. It's scary to think how easy it would be for the City of New
York to unroll this type of surveillance program. Although Citi Bike is annoying to pedestrians and taxis, it is not the real problem. The real problem is we have a mayor who wants to control everything and a mayoral candidate who can't stop texting <a href="http://johnjpowers.blogspot.com/2013/05/weiner-comics-wet-dream.html" target="_blank">pictures of his genitals</a>. <br />
<br />
People said my article was not funny. I agree. It wasn't meant to be funny. It's scary. The NSA is monitoring my every move and Google is
showing me ads for dildos because I recently bought a vibrating massage
chair. The people in charge don't give a damn about the 99% and the peasants are not shocked that there might be a secret spy program.<br />
<br />
Are there two secret, hidden, mini spy cameras on all the bikes? Maybe. There are definitely tracking devices of some kind. Some guy commented that he assembled the bikes and didn't see anything that looked like a camera. Maybe they put the cameras in on his day off. Or maybe instead of looking at the bikes you should all look inside yourselves. Stop looking at the internet and start look at your families. Look for a deeper meaning that you won't find on any news channel.<br />
<br />
... go for a nice, long bike ride.<br />
<br />
- John Powers<br />
<a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/">http://www.johnjpowers.com</a><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UOCLchwkrhk" width="560"></iframe> <br />
<br />
<br />
© 2013 - All rights reservedAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-21012999677499869322013-07-27T16:51:00.000-04:002013-07-30T23:16:53.678-04:00Empire State of Meh (Empire State of Mind parody)<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Empire State of Mind is one of the greatest songs ever
written about New York City and arguably an anthem for our generation. Since
New York is the greatest city in the world it's only fitting that the greatest
artists of our time would pay homage to the Big Apple. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
are both at the top of their game and this song is an epic tribute that
glorifies all the best aspects of NYC.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">... but they didn't touch on the downsides. When you are as
wealthy as Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, New York City is a great place to be. If you
are a struggling artist, a small-time stock broker, or a hipster hanging out in
Zuccotti Park for Occupy... the City can be a tough place to get by. There are
rats and homeless people on every corner, Mayor Bloomberg wants to control your
soda portions and your breast milk, and the rent is too damn high.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This was an ambitious project to take on. A good friend of
mine told me, "Don't touch it... but if you're going to do it, do it
right." After he saw the finished product he admitted that I did it right.
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Each of the five boroughs are mentioned in this parody
(Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx) as well as a few of
our major sports teams (the Mets, Yankees and Giants). This parody talks about
what life is like in New York City for the majority of us trying to make it...
and no song about the Tri-State area would be complete without a Snooki
reference. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I tried to make the music video as close as possible to the
original. Jay-Z does a lot of strange hand movements and both he and Alicia
switch outfits several times. Watch his first... then watch mine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Take a look. Let me know what you think.<br /> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- John Powers <span style="font-size: small;">(</span><a href="http://youtu.be/UOCLchwkrhk">http://youtu.be/UOCLchwkrhk</a>)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-43297580646706541212013-07-26T18:01:00.000-04:002014-08-08T23:34:27.333-04:00Nothing as Good as it Was<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GLl0MdM56WEybDx3oQfgihX68LFKR5YfW8t2NsaqFra1nfs31eS4QDC4j4RKMyaQ8PH8CiVx9cdsqhtxKpJar0w5w1WmJ0JYOJ1l9v7SzYmV6H73If6yvdGKobRW0vM3gBgLJ9vATmhd/s1600/batman-1989-the-joker-heath-ledger-dark-knight-remake-christian-bale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="batman-1989-the-joker-heath-ledger-dark-knight-remake-christian-bale" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GLl0MdM56WEybDx3oQfgihX68LFKR5YfW8t2NsaqFra1nfs31eS4QDC4j4RKMyaQ8PH8CiVx9cdsqhtxKpJar0w5w1WmJ0JYOJ1l9v7SzYmV6H73If6yvdGKobRW0vM3gBgLJ9vATmhd/s320/batman-1989-the-joker-heath-ledger-dark-knight-remake-christian-bale.jpg" height="160" title="batman-1989-the-joker-heath-ledger-dark-knight-remake-christian-bale" width="320" /></a>The reason why everyone is currently making remakes (Superman, Ninja Turtles, Spider Man, Willy Wonka, Transformers, Batman...) is that people have run out of original ideas. We live in the digital age and we can access some of the greatest stories ever told. Batman chasing the Joker never gets old. It just gets a facelift. It gets new actors, better wardrobe, and fancier special effects. There is something to be said for exposing a new generation to these
characters. It will never be the same as
when we were young... but at least it's still similar. We are not the target market. It's for our kids. We are supposed to recognize the characters and
expose our kids to it... even though it's not as good as the original.
It's new. It's popular. It's good enough.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdEbac_HpEOSvg2tnUZMVdPxzSV0pOZEvDJqCywdBcx7Q4EQBbTYhGfbVHyTVx1_UzGDMjCra_3oDCidf0DYBTcsKD1CSaU-jE6tOfdzTsqFaC844aRm1q0jQNmaQOm4ePnutf1y8Nfat/s1600/spiderman-world-trade-center-wtc-amazing-goggles-2-remake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="spiderman-world-trade-center-wtc-reflection-amazing-goggles-2-remake" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdEbac_HpEOSvg2tnUZMVdPxzSV0pOZEvDJqCywdBcx7Q4EQBbTYhGfbVHyTVx1_UzGDMjCra_3oDCidf0DYBTcsKD1CSaU-jE6tOfdzTsqFaC844aRm1q0jQNmaQOm4ePnutf1y8Nfat/s320/spiderman-world-trade-center-wtc-amazing-goggles-2-remake.jpg" height="160" title="spiderman-world-trade-center-wtc-reflection-amazing-goggles-2-remake" width="320" /></a>I'm watching Norm MacDonald's new podcast show on youtube and it's freakin' terrible. He's sitting with Kevin Nealon and I'm expecting it to be as funny as Saturday Night Live was in 1992... but it's just garbage. These are two of my all-time favorite comedians. The entire reason I'm watching is because I used to think those guys were hilarious on Weekend Update. Now they are two old guys talking about golf scores and reminiscing about the good old days. It's sad but it makes me think... there must be a reason they were fantastic 20 years ago but not anymore. It might be because they are older now. Maybe they have lost their edge. Maybe they are out of touch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tJrSS3md3WUb3fJb7mQQ38vzT3zBQKBXAWSwXr9JOEgbAg1X_Yy5c4RA3MQrRTvkPlurgN_PdbtcyVZ7yDRN9Blo5r6qtkAc8XrIncqxIfmIqv5MFo3n5JW3SsAvE4p4YxmmgAlv8OTe/s1600/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-april-80s-90s-new-remake-splinter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-april-80s-90s-new-remake-splinter" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tJrSS3md3WUb3fJb7mQQ38vzT3zBQKBXAWSwXr9JOEgbAg1X_Yy5c4RA3MQrRTvkPlurgN_PdbtcyVZ7yDRN9Blo5r6qtkAc8XrIncqxIfmIqv5MFo3n5JW3SsAvE4p4YxmmgAlv8OTe/s320/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-april-80s-90s-new-remake-splinter.jpg" height="160" title="teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-april-80s-90s-new-remake-splinter" width="320" /></a>... but it's also because I'm older now. Every new experience is compared to over 30 years of other experiences. I'm no longer the target market. Nothing will ever impress me again. The industry knows that and they are not trying to pitch new ideas to me. I'm set in my ways. They need the blood of the young, so they're targeting kids presently in high school and college.<br />
<br />
Between the ages of 15-25 humans are learning and growing. We are taking in new information and there's nothing to compare it to so it blows our mind.The first time I heard Nirvana I was like, "holy shit, this is incredible." Twenty years later I'm a better guitarist than Kurt Cobain ever was. He was an incredible entertainer and his angst was real... but he wasn't a great musician. There is potential for much better music to be made.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQewOm5vs5HbUoFAxuD4uZ2eDXqhQgDvvbAUDZaKztOZjDPDNb3cSnwoYLCrvgPcddHDXXkz5xQ9RzWL-2w9YHckk-CvJO1AmG8fMB3SaEbKk6qANofJj5HRDe177AtniNsQ0fGdImWfe/s1600/willy-wonka-charlie-chocolate-gene-wilder-johnny-depp-burton-remake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="willy-wonka-charlie-chocolate-gene-wilder-johnny-depp-burton-remake" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQewOm5vs5HbUoFAxuD4uZ2eDXqhQgDvvbAUDZaKztOZjDPDNb3cSnwoYLCrvgPcddHDXXkz5xQ9RzWL-2w9YHckk-CvJO1AmG8fMB3SaEbKk6qANofJj5HRDe177AtniNsQ0fGdImWfe/s320/willy-wonka-charlie-chocolate-gene-wilder-johnny-depp-burton-remake.jpg" height="160" title="willy-wonka-charlie-chocolate-gene-wilder-johnny-depp-burton-remake" width="320" /></a>... yet none of today's bands sound as good to me in comparison. The latest Foo Fighters is not half as good as their first two albums. It's not because Dave Grohl has become a bad musician. It's because I am no longer open to new things. It's the reason my generation's parents are still into the Beatles and the Rolling Stones... whatever you are into during your pivotal development years ends up being the soundtrack of your life. Once every 6 months or so I'll hear a song that is decent, not great, but decent. I'll download the latest Alice in Chains or Red Hot Chili Peppers record... but they're really just not the same. I shouldn't expect it to be. Layne Staley is dead and John Frusciante is pursuing a solo career. It's just not what it used to be. There will never be another album as good as "Dirt" or "Blood Sugar Sex Magik."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRzWm94M8MWLzQO6bYbQuTNHtQ8lau70bMPtTQI4NmTDile_iZVn5EvCq0OImp7lZbN3X1NB-QfNIAz4cxmxu2A08Jl9EHsCk7LijJ7teMIo-Smc3YYkvHRLN1QNOiMSgUh2TsHShRHt-/s1600/henry-cavill-superman-christopher-reeve-reeves-george-remake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="henry-cavill-superman-christopher-reeve-reeves-george-remake" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRzWm94M8MWLzQO6bYbQuTNHtQ8lau70bMPtTQI4NmTDile_iZVn5EvCq0OImp7lZbN3X1NB-QfNIAz4cxmxu2A08Jl9EHsCk7LijJ7teMIo-Smc3YYkvHRLN1QNOiMSgUh2TsHShRHt-/s320/henry-cavill-superman-christopher-reeve-reeves-george-remake.jpg" height="160" title="henry-cavill-superman-christopher-reeve-reeves-george-remake" width="320" /></a><br />
Even Saturday Night Live isn't as funny as it used to be. I can't even watch it. I interned there back in 2001 and wondered why Fred Armison was even allowed in the building. He's funny looking but even that isn't enough to make me laugh. The kids on the show now are just terrible. Part of me thinks, "Ah, Lorne lost his touch," but it's more than just that. I grew up with Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, and Phil Hartman. They were masters of their craft and nothing can compare. The cast on the show now can't even improv. The writers seem completely out of touch with reality. They are not even funny people. <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="288" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://www.hulu.com/embed.html?eid=nrfuoa4k58bfhw4fwjdwow" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="512"></iframe><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidykeO0zRpI1-CRdRvd2Qtf6Xt4yQ183zfYjlQVxl5tc-tBWC5t9d1VcUiAQG4FhrJB8zSxs7zo3g91aEXAtBmI6AM10vunWSwB9RNhMLrV7kaahxEE6x1pNF6w7bc2Uiba-NurrTs1kE4/s1600/transformers-80s-cartoon-animated-remake-movie-2-3-cg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="transformers-80s-cartoon-animated-remake-movie-2-3-cg" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidykeO0zRpI1-CRdRvd2Qtf6Xt4yQ183zfYjlQVxl5tc-tBWC5t9d1VcUiAQG4FhrJB8zSxs7zo3g91aEXAtBmI6AM10vunWSwB9RNhMLrV7kaahxEE6x1pNF6w7bc2Uiba-NurrTs1kE4/s320/transformers-80s-cartoon-animated-remake-movie-2-3-cg.jpg" height="160" title="transformers-80s-cartoon-animated-remake-movie-2-3-cg" width="320" /></a>Then I stop and think. It's a matter of changing perspective. People 10 or 15 years older than me probably said the same thing 10 or 15 years ago. They probably thought Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell were crap. They said, "ah, they're no Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray or Chevy Chase that's for sure!" <br />
<br />
They probably thought the Stone Temple Pilots were terrible and yearned for the days of Pink Floyd and the Grateful Dead... or Metallica and Guns and Roses depending on what year you graduated from high school. Either way it's about what you were exposed to when you were open to new things and looking for something in the world to relate to. There will be 50-somethings in 20 years singing Baby Got Back and Black Hole Sun.<br />
<br />
At least we can all agree the new Transformer movies sucked.<br />
<br />
- John Powers<br />
<a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/">johnjpowers.com</a><br />
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© 2013 - All rights reserved<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-58640749608113643292013-07-22T15:14:00.000-04:002018-07-14T15:30:07.308-04:00Willy Wonka Poetry References<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Gene Wilder was one of the greatest
comedic actors of all time. At the age of 80, he made a rare public appearance in NYC
to say that the remake of Wonka was "an insult." Kudos. What many people
don't realize is that many of Wonka lines are lifted from
famous literary sources. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I'd like to explore the originals.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEYcxkOrBIQ1JDAruF1516929hYHZObp9y0idrNSSSuzAMDuILw2ZP7hNRCjzwbNDhYi2qHdJo9RENGJ9M7PPuq-CEgiVBJBWlCi9u14UtWH31a7LjEAdXic5ohtIunrSn75DGEKSa_wV/s1600/charlie_and_the_chocolate_factory_willy_wonka_gene_wilder_1920x1080_wallpaper_Wallpaper_2560x1440_sarcastic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="charlie_and_the_chocolate_factory_willy_wonka_gene_wilder_1920x1080_wallpaper_2560x1440_sarcastic" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEYcxkOrBIQ1JDAruF1516929hYHZObp9y0idrNSSSuzAMDuILw2ZP7hNRCjzwbNDhYi2qHdJo9RENGJ9M7PPuq-CEgiVBJBWlCi9u14UtWH31a7LjEAdXic5ohtIunrSn75DGEKSa_wV/s400/charlie_and_the_chocolate_factory_willy_wonka_gene_wilder_1920x1080_wallpaper_Wallpaper_2560x1440_sarcastic.jpg" title="charlie_and_the_chocolate_factory_willy_wonka_gene_wilder_1920x1080_wallpaper_2560x1440_sarcastic" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">"Up the airy mountain,</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">Down the rushy glen,</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">We daren't go a-hunting</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">For fear of little men."</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...the strange knife-pedler)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Take from William Allingham's,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">"The Fairies"<br /><br />Up the airy mountain,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Down the rushy glen,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We daren't go a-hunting</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For fear of little men;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Wee folk, good folk,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Trooping altogether;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Green jacket, red cap,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">And white owls' feather!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Down along the rocky shore</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Some make their home,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">They live on crispy pancakes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Of yellow tide-foam;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Some in the reeds</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Of the black mountain lake</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">With frogs for their watch-dogs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">All night awake.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"<span style="color: black;">99...44... 100 percent pure<span style="color: #134f5c;">"</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...the factory door combination)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Taken from the title of Ogden Nash's,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Home, 99 44/100% Sweet Home"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Home is heaven and orgies are vile,<br />
But I like an orgy, once in a while. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-small;">"</span><span style="font-size: small;">You should never, never doubt </span></b></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>what nobody is sure about<span style="color: #134f5c;">"</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...in the shrinking hallway)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...from Hilaire Belloc's</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"The Microbe"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #134f5c; line-height: 1.26em; word-spacing: -0.01em;">The Microbe is so very small</span></span></div>
<div class="pl ff0" style="color: #134f5c; left: 6.6em; line-height: 1.26em; text-align: center; top: 29.29em; word-spacing: -0.01em;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
You cannot make him out at all,<br />
But many sanguine people hope<br />
To see him through a microscope.<br />
His jointed tongue that lies beneath<br />
A hundred curious rows of teeth;<br />
His seven tufted tails with lots<br />
Of lovely pink and purple spots,<br />
On each of which a pattern stands,<br />
Composed of forty separate bands;<br />
His eyebrows of a tender green;<br />
All these have never yet been seen--<br />
But Scientists, who ought to know<span style="left: -0.07em; margin-right: -0.07em;">,</span><br />
Assure us that they must be so...</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ff2" style="color: #134f5c; left: 6.72em; text-align: center; top: 48.02em; word-spacing: -0.02em;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Oh! let us never, never doubt </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What nobody is sure about!</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-small;">"</span><span style="font-size: small;">Is it my soul that calls me by my name?</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-small;">"</span></b><br />
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(spoken in the "Fun-house" room)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...was originally used in the epic play,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Shakespeare's, "Romeo and Juliet"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Romeo: It is my soul that calls upon my name:<br />
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,<br />
Like softest music to attending ears!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"<span style="color: black;">The suspense is terrible, I hope it will last<span style="color: #134f5c;">"</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...whilst Augustus is stuck in the tube)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...from Oscar Wilde's,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"The importance of Being Earnest"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cecily: </b>Uncle Jack seems strangely agitated.<br /><b>Chasuble</b>: Your guardian has a very emotional nature.</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lady Bracknell</b>: This noise is extremely unpleasant. </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It sounds as if he was having an argument. </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I dislike arguments of any kind. </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They are always vulgar, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and often convincing.</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chasuble</b>: [Looking up.] It has stopped now. </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">[The noise is redoubled.]</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lady Bracknell</b>: I wish he would arrive at some conclusion.</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gwendolen</b>: This suspense is terrible. I hope it will last. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">"</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">All I ask is a tall ship </span></b></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">and a star to sail her by</span><span style="font-size: small;">"</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(uttered just before the wild boat ride)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...was from John Masefield's </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">poem, "Sea Fever." </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I must go down to the seas again, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">to the lonely sea and the sky, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, <br />
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, <br />
And a gray mist on the sea's face, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and a gray dawn breaking. </span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
I must go down to the seas again, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">for the call of the running tide <br />
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; <br />
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, <br />
And the flung spray and the blown spume, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and the sea-gulls crying. </span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
I must go down to the seas again, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">to the vagrant gypsy life, <br />
To the gull's way and the whale's way, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">where the wind's like a whetted knife; <br />
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, <br />
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over. </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">"</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Round the world and home again,</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">that's the sailor's way!</span>"</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...on the creepy boat)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...was from William Allingham's,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Homeward Bound"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Head the ship for England! </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Shake out every sail! <br />
Blithe leap the billows, <br />
Merry sings the gale. <br />
Captain, work the reckoning; <br />
How many knots a day? - <br />
Round the world and home again, <br />
That's the sailor's way!</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We've traded with the Yankees, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Brazilians and Chinese; <br />
We've laughed with dusky beauties <br />
In the shade of tall palm trees; <br />
Across the line and Gulf-Stream <br />
Round by Table Bay - <br />
Everywhere and home again, <br />
That's the sailor's way!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Nightly stands the North Star </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Higher on our bow; <br />
Straight we run for England; <br />
Our thoughts are in it now. <br />
Jolly time with friends on shore <br />
When we've drawn our pay; - <br />
All about and home again, <br />
That's the sailor's way!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Tom will to his parents; </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Jack will to his dear; <br />
Joe to wife and children; <br />
Bob to pipes and beer; <br />
Dicky to the dancing-room, <br />
to hear the fiddles play; - <br />
Round the world and home again, <br />
That's the sailor's way! </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-small;">"</span><span style="font-size: small;">A small step for mankind, </span></b></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>but a giant step for us<span style="color: #134f5c;">"</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...getting off the boat)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Quoting Neil Armstrong's</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">moon landing statement.</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One small step for man,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">one giant leap for mankind.</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">"</span><span style="font-size: small;">In springtime, the only pretty ring time,</span></b><br />
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>birds sing hey ding... a ding, a ding,</b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">sweet lovers love the springtime</span>"</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...in Inventing Room)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...from Shakespeare's,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"As You Like It"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey-nonny-no, </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
These pretty country folks would lie </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
In springtime, the only pretty ring time, </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
When birds do sing, Hey ding a ding, ding. </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Sweet lovers love the spring. </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
This carol they began that hour, </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey hey-nonny-no, </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
How that a life was but a flower </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
In springtime, the only pretty ring time, </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
When birds do sing, Hey ding a ding, ding. </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Sweet lovers love the spring. </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
And therefore take the present time, </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey hey-nonny-no, </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
For love is crownèd with the prime </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
In springtime, the only pretty ring time, </span></div>
<div class="original-line">
<span style="font-size: small;">
When birds do sing, Hey ding a ding, ding. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
Sweet lovers love the spring.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">"</span><span style="color: black;">Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker<span style="color: #134f5c;">"</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...when ingredients "butterscotch"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and "buttergin" are in question)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...from Ogden Nash's,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Reflections on Ice Breaking"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Candy is dandy,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">but liquor is quicker.</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Candy is dandy,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">but pot is not. </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">* the "pot is not" was added in 1968</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"<span style="color: black;">Button, button, who's got the button?</span>"</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(Attempting to start the gum-meal machine)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">...from Verna Meads Surer's children's song.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
But-ton, but-ton, who has the but-ton? </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Oh, where can it be?<br />
I have to find it, I have to find it, If I could on-ly<br />
John-ny holds his hands so tight, Ma-ry will not tell,<br />
Jim-my looks as though he might, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They're hid-ing it so well<br />
But-ton, but-ton, who has the but-ton? </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Oh, where can it be?</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"<span style="color: black;">Where is fancy bred,<br />
in the heart or in the head?</span>"</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...after Violet rolls away)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...from Shakespeare's,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Merchant of Venice"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Verse 1</b><br />
Tell me where is fancy bred, {he}<br />
Or in the heart, or in the head?<br />
How begot, how nourishèd? [nour-ish-ed]<br />
Reply, reply.<br />
It is engender’d in the eyes, {she}<br />
With gazing fed;<br />
and fancy dies, and fancy dies {together}<br />
In the cradle where it lies.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chorus</b><br />
Let us all ring fancy’s knell; {he}<br />
I’ll begin it, --ding, dong, bell.<br />
Let us all ring fancy’s knell;<br />
I’ll begin it, --ding, dong, bell.<br />
Ding, dong, bell. {together}</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
(Harp /Strings Interlude)</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Verse 2</b><br />
Tell me where is fancy bred, {she}<br />
Or in the heart or in the head?<br />
How begot, how nourishèd?<br />
Reply, reply.<br />
It is engender’d in the eyes, {he}<br />
With gazing fed; (fancy dies) {she}<br />
and fancy dies, and fancy dies {together}<br />
In the cradle where it lies.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chorus 2</b><br />
Let us all ring (let us all ring) {he & she alternating}<br />
fancy’s knell; (ring fancy’s knell) </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’ll begin it, --ding, dong, bell.<br />
Let us all ring (let us all ring) fancy’s knell; </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(ring fancy’s knell)<br />
I’ll begin it, --ding, dong, bell.<br />
Ding, dong, bell.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Coda</b><br />
Ding, dong, ding, dong, ding, dong, bell.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"<span style="color: black;">We are the music-makers,</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">and the dreamers of dreams</span>"</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(Wonka's response Veruca's Snozzberry)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...from Arthur O'Shaughnessy's, "Ode"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We are the music makers, </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
And we are the dreamer of dreams, <br />
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, <br />
And sitting by desolate streams; <br />
World-losers and world-forsakers, <br />
On whom the pale moon gleams: <br />
Yet we are the movers and shakers <br />
Of the world for ever, it seems. </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">With wonderful deathless ditties, <br />
We build up the world's great cities, <br />
And out of a fabulous story <br />
We fashion an empire's glory: <br />
One man with a dream, at pleasure, <br />
Shall go forth and conquer a crown; <br />
And three with a new song's measure <br />
Can trample an empire down. </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We, in the ages lying <br />
In the buried past of earth, <br />
Built Nineveh with our sighing, <br />
And Babel itself with our mirth; <br />
And o'erthrew them with prophesying <br />
To the old of the new world's worth; <br />
For each age is a dream that is dying, <br />
Or one that is coming to birth. </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A breath of our inspiration, <br />
Is the life of each generation. <br />
A wondrous thing of our dreaming, <br />
Unearthly, impossible seeming- <br />
The soldier, the king, and the peasant <br />
Are working together in one, <br />
Till our dream shall become their present, <br />
And their work in the world be done. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They had no vision amazing <br />
Of the goodly house they are raising. <br />
They had no divine foreshowing <br />
Of the land to which they are going: <br />
But on one man's soul it hath broke, <br />
A light that doth not depart <br />
And his look, or a word he hath spoken, <br />
Wrought flame in another man's heart. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And therefore today is thrilling, <br />
With a past day's late fulfilling. <br />
And the multitudes are enlisted <br />
In the faith that their fathers resisted, <br />
And, scorning the dream of tomorrow, <br />
Are bringing to pass, as they may, <br />
In the world, for it's joy or it's sorrow, <br />
The dream that was scorned yesterday. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But we, with our dreaming and singing, <br />
Ceaseless and sorrowless we! <br />
The glory about us clinging <br />
Of the glorious futures we see, <br />
Our souls with high music ringing; <br />
O men! It must ever be <br />
That we dwell, in our dreaming and singing, <br />
A little apart from ye. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For we are afar with the dawning <br />
And the suns that are not yet high, <br />
And out of the infinite morning <br />
Intrepid you hear us cry- <br />
How, spite of your human scorning, <br />
Once more God's future draws nigh, <br />
And already goes forth the warning <br />
That ye of the past must die. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Great hail! we cry to the corners <br />
From the dazzling unknown shore; <br />
Bring us hither your sun and your summers, <br />
And renew our world as of yore; <br />
You shall teach us your song's new numbers, <br />
And things that we dreamt not before; <br />
Yea, in spite of a dreamer who slumbers, <br />
And a singer who sings no more.</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"<span style="color: black;">Bubbles, bubbles everywhere,<br />
but not a drop to drink...</span>"</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(Introducing "Fizzy-lifting drinks")</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Day after day, day after day,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
As idle as a painted ship</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Upon a painted ocean.</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Water, water, everywhere,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
And all the boards did shrink;</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Water, water, everywhere,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Nor any drop to drink. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">"</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">A thing of beauty is a joy forever</span><span style="font-size: small;">"</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(referring to the Wonkamobile)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...was from John Keates' poem,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Endymion: A Poetic Romance"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Its loveliness increases; it will never<br />
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep<br />
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep<br />
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.<br />
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing<br />
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,<br />
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth<br />
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,<br />
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways<br />
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,<br />
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall<br />
From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,<br />
Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon<br />
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils<br />
With the green world they live in; and clear rills<br />
That for themselves a cooling covert make<br />
'Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake,<br />
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:<br />
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms<br />
We have imagined for the mighty dead;<br />
All lovely tales that we have heard or read:<br />
An endless fountain of immortal drink,<br />
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Nor do we merely feel these essences<br />
For one short hour; no, even as the trees<br />
That whisper round a temple become soon<br />
Dear as the temple's self, so does the moon,<br />
The passion poesy, glories infinite,<br />
Haunt us till they become a cheering light<br />
Unto our souls, and bound to us so fast<br />
That, whether there be shine or gloom o'ercast,<br />
They always must be with us, or we die.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Therefore, 'tis with full happiness that I<br />
Will trace the story of Endymion.<br />
The very music of the name has gone<br />
Into my being, and each pleasant scene<br />
Is growing fresh before me as the green<br />
Of our own valleys: so I will begin<br />
Now while I cannot hear the city's din;<br />
Now while the early budders are just new,<br />
And run in mazes of the youngest hue<br />
About old forests; while the willow trails<br />
Its delicate amber; and the dairy pails<br />
Bring home increase of milk. And, as the year<br />
Grows lush in juicy stalks, I'll smoothly steer<br />
My little boat, for many quiet hours,<br />
With streams that deepen freshly into bowers.<br />
Many and many a verse I hope to write,<br />
Before the daisies, vermeil rimmed and white,<br />
Hide in deep herbage; and ere yet the bees<br />
Hum about globes of clover and sweet peas,<br />
I must be near the middle of my story.<br />
O may no wintry season, bare and hoary,<br />
See it half finished: but let Autumn bold,<br />
With universal tinge of sober gold,<br />
Be all about me when I make an end!<br />
And now at once, adventuresome, I send<br />
My herald thought into a wilderness:<br />
There let its trumpet blow, and quickly dress<br />
My uncertain path with green, that I may speed<br />
Easily onward, thorough flowers and weed.</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-small;">"</span><span style="font-size: small;">Parting is such sweet sorrow</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-small;">"</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;">
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...as Mrs. Teevee is carried away)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...also from Shakespeare's,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span>"Romeo and Juliet"</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
JULIET<br />
Good Night, Good night! P</span><span style="font-size: small;">arting is such sweet sorrow,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">that I shall say good night till it be morrow.</span> </div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>"<span style="color: black;">So shines a good deed</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">in a weary world</span>"</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(...after Charlie leaves the</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Gobstopper on his desk)</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...also from Shakespeare's,</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Merchant of Venice"</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
PORTIA <br />
That light we see is burning in my hall.<br />
How far that little candle throws his beams!<br />
So shines a good deed in a naughty world.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
NERISSA <br />
When the moon shone, we did not see the candle.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
PORTIA <br />
So doth the greater glory dim the less:<br />
A substitute shines brightly as a king<br />
Unto the king be by, and then his state<br />
Empties itself, as doth an inland brook<br />
Into the main of waters. Music! hark!</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
NERISSA <br />
It is your music, madam, of the house.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
PORTIA <br />
Nothing is good, I see, without respect:<br />
Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
NERISSA <br />
Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
PORTIA <br />
The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark,<br />
When neither is attended, and I think<br />
The nightingale, if she should sing by day,<br />
When every goose is cackling, would be thought<br />
No better a musician than the wren.<br />
How many things by season season'd are<br />
To their right praise and true perfection!<br />
Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion<br />
And would not be awaked.</span></div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
</div>
<div style="color: #134f5c;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">...that does it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A complete guide to</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Willy Wonka quotes and</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">their original contexts.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Whew.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Please let me know if I forgot any!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/" target="_blank">- John Powers</a></span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">© 2013 - All rights reserved</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-4738245995629810352013-07-12T14:27:00.000-04:002015-08-01T17:31:07.769-04:00Citi Bike - The Latest NYC Surveillance<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">By <a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/" target="_blank">John Powers</a></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLP65IkCDr3uF0qVrsjI7w-go5ao-ZloAGTrq57xHGjXVmw6SKfu73mfkssW3O_TPFnmWVmUN0n4NSjszCUMstRFg-WjYKn2PFax0o1teCSMvnA0TqssAikC8-wEPn1ylGeZwr3h2sxNp/s1600/Citi+Bike+Double+Mini+Spy+Camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Citi Bike Mini Spy Cameras Secret Hidden Surveillance" border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLP65IkCDr3uF0qVrsjI7w-go5ao-ZloAGTrq57xHGjXVmw6SKfu73mfkssW3O_TPFnmWVmUN0n4NSjszCUMstRFg-WjYKn2PFax0o1teCSMvnA0TqssAikC8-wEPn1ylGeZwr3h2sxNp/s320/Citi+Bike+Double+Mini+Spy+Camera.jpg" title="Citi Bike Mini Spy Cameras Surveillance" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The latest in NYC surveillance is revealed</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It comes as no surprise that Citi Bike is watching you and everything around your bike via hidden spy cameras.<br /><br />After narrowly avoiding being hit by a taxi cab the bike I was riding fell and the "Citi Bike" facade on the front shattered. Underneath were two tiny video cameras. One camera appears to point up at the rider while the second faces outward and grabs continuous video of everything the bike passes. The cameras are very small and appear to be made by Sony (see image). They are similar in appearance to those used on hidden camera TV shows, but this is the first time that live streaming motion video surveillance has been used in a major metropolitan city. This extensive program is another way that New York City is keeping track of its residents and events.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This mini hidden surveillance camera has a point of view angle of every corner of Manhattan at nearly any time of day. When reached for comment, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was quoted as saying, "You wait, in five years the technology is getting better. There will be cameras everyplace whether you like it or not." Mayor Bloomberg has come under fire in recent years for being the driving force behind the ban of cigarettes in public spaces, the attempted soda ban, and the controversial drone program currently being implemented in New York City by the NYPD. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUo0mtrtDriIrIdyI8kx5PkBVPnt-3u9dD_dT8EJ7y0ohQZjJra0qksjLv6CcCZCEhjxW-OFgyV5wykYl7znRRl9zJt0h-vdBmZjCPDjkpIanZ5SKzY5Y49lFctuWTLTCE_clXbu0k0JY/s1600/Citi+Bike+Mini+Spy+Cameras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Citi Bike Hidden Mini Spy Cameras" border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUo0mtrtDriIrIdyI8kx5PkBVPnt-3u9dD_dT8EJ7y0ohQZjJra0qksjLv6CcCZCEhjxW-OFgyV5wykYl7znRRl9zJt0h-vdBmZjCPDjkpIanZ5SKzY5Y49lFctuWTLTCE_clXbu0k0JY/s400/Citi+Bike+Mini+Spy+Cameras.jpg" title="Citi Bike Hidden Mini Spy Cameras" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A look at Citi Bike features, including "Spy Cameras"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Citizens are told not to worry about these cameras. Their purpose is not to spy on people or to make petty arrests for marijuana usage. New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly released this statement on the Citi Bike surveillance cameras:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"They (the cameras) will not hurt you or get you in any trouble of any kind. The only people who should worry are the ones on the corner dealing drugs and committing crimes. The vigilance of New York City is unmatched and the technology that it takes to bring criminals to justice has just caught up."</span><br />
<br /></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regardless of intent, people have a right to know that these cameras exist and are being used to capture everything the bike passes and record images of every person who sits on a Citi Bike. With this in mind, I have decided to go back to my old Trek bike. It might get stolen, but at least I'm the only one who rides it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- John Powers</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">© 2013 - All rights reserved</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-75423641374982799362013-06-12T13:47:00.000-04:002013-08-05T14:54:49.028-04:00Apple Behind Samsung Galaxy to Avoid Monopoly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHTL8tRT-I43QotrgeI8tlTCjSRDMeUj_Ci3g3fp_yHa1Fn91cW9a4vXQK0zd0qI_JmdFYF6mQD_veF_CKB6u6tiar3fn5T22RsVqrXMOD_4cn4jjsL4ufUDfkzFJGfznYUM5fWe1Gafq/s1600/apple_iphone_5_6_s_mac_ipod_ipad_front_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="apple_iphone_5_6_s_mac_ipod_ipad_front_back_rumor_preorder" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHTL8tRT-I43QotrgeI8tlTCjSRDMeUj_Ci3g3fp_yHa1Fn91cW9a4vXQK0zd0qI_JmdFYF6mQD_veF_CKB6u6tiar3fn5T22RsVqrXMOD_4cn4jjsL4ufUDfkzFJGfznYUM5fWe1Gafq/s200/apple_iphone_5_6_s_mac_ipod_ipad_front_back.jpg" title="apple_iphone_5_6_s_mac_ipod_ipad_front_back_rumor_preorder" width="159" /></a>According to a recent leak, Apple is financing and marketing the Samsung Galaxy to avoid having a complete monopoly on the smart phone industry. Upon it's release, the iPhone 5 was nearly impossible to get. If you had not pre-ordered months in advance there was no way to get one within 3 months of its release. Samsung was giving the Galaxy 4 away for free without a contract. The Galaxy boasts better features and a larger screen, but the iPhone is more stable and efficient. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPvWcP6u0-AJaRDJFfcnTKh_LtpAFVlSt_xNhOI2ChIr6mM9A4jD1YdG7wtfHGbkY83T362kuoK3T0AQ2XvKWrlX5pv7a8NZdaAt7Dd4jBar33zEHbyTpcehcz7tAZqUzr6HmdQpiWSRo/s1600/samsung_galaxy_4_3_phone_front_back_sprint_att_verizon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="samsung_galaxy_4_3_phone_front_back_sprint_att_verizon" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPvWcP6u0-AJaRDJFfcnTKh_LtpAFVlSt_xNhOI2ChIr6mM9A4jD1YdG7wtfHGbkY83T362kuoK3T0AQ2XvKWrlX5pv7a8NZdaAt7Dd4jBar33zEHbyTpcehcz7tAZqUzr6HmdQpiWSRo/s200/samsung_galaxy_4_3_phone_front_back_sprint_att_verizon.jpg" title="samsung_galaxy_4_3_phone_front_back_sprint_att_verizon" width="159" /></a>The differences are subtle but one thing is certain... nobody really <i>wants </i>a Galaxy. Left to the open market the iPhone would be the only smartphone available. It is clearly the best product ever invented and there is no better way to play Angry Birds. The lack of competition would bring scrutiny upon the parent company and draw unnecessary questions about price and procedure (see: <a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/" target="_blank">suicide safety nets</a>). Apple is aware of this and has decided to fund advertising campaigns and supplemental price reductions for their struggling competitor. <br />
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Let's face it... the Galaxy doesn't even look as cool. It's like... blue or something. The iPhone is black and slate. Slate isn't even a real color. That's about as cool as it gets. The Galaxy has a bigger screen, but it's sloppy design is bulky and round. The iPhone design is sharp and slim and straight. Which would you rather be... bulky and round or slim and straight?<br />
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If you needed any more evidence that this report is based on fact... google search "apple." The only thing that comes up is iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac products. In contrast when you google search "galaxy," you get pictures of the cosmos, the stars and sky... and a small option up top that says 'did you mean the phone?' It begs the question, "which company really owns the world?"<br />
<br />
The forbidden fruit has won.<br />
Apple is no longer something we eat, but something that eats us.<br />
<br />
John Powers<br />
<a href="http://www.johnjpowers.com/" target="_blank">Contributing Reporter</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">© 2013 - All rights reserved</span><br />
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<iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="200" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6534875.8291;sz=200x200;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463511;pid=1251703;usg=AFHzDLtSqYSoOMKjrkDVwjwp0gVs9ktW_Q;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fproduct%252Fprd-1251703%252Fincipio-feather-iphone-5-cell-phone-case.jsp%253Fpfx%253Dpfx_shopcompare%2526cid%253Dshopping3;pubid=585567;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F1251703_Obsidian_Black%3Fwid%3D600%26hei%3D600%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=200;height=200" vspace="0" width="200"></iframe><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="200" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6534875.8289;sz=200x200;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463511;pid=1202137;usg=AFHzDLs-bDVUg2oqvCTUWlxTrFGLbpyO_w;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fproduct%252Fprd-1202137%252Fincipio-ngp-samsung-galaxy-s-iii-cell-phone-case.jsp%253Fpfx%253Dpfx_shopcompare%2526cid%253Dshopping3;pubid=585567;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F1202137_Black%3Fwid%3D600%26hei%3D600%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=200;height=200" vspace="0" width="200"></iframe><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="200" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6534875.8290;sz=200x200;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463511;pid=1252085;usg=AFHzDLuqVEIEuJ2Zi6iuqJDw9S-G24bFow;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fproduct%252Fprd-1252085%252Fincipio-feather-shine-iphone-5-cell-phone-case.jsp%253Fpfx%253Dpfx_shopcompare%2526cid%253Dshopping3;pubid=585567;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F1252085_Titanium_Silver%3Fwid%3D600%26hei%3D600%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=200;height=200" vspace="0" width="200"></iframe><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-68635083270571126892013-05-22T15:54:00.002-04:002013-07-31T10:03:43.874-04:00Weiner: A Comic's Wet Dream<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">What could be better than a guy named Weiner running for Mayor of New York City? How about a sexual texter who takes selfie pics</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">at the gym or pictures of his bulging jockeysand then sends them to young girls on the Internet?!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Onle1jqR_6sLK9oWeGC8RjTKQPfmmsm57DQcPQGxTgvomW3hGw28Gw8QT6GJ5MIaraxzKVuVHTMx_7qh1ILlRZOkXzd3X-_akHY5jt2-xsUaOHhnjxGujFinkqVMZnqorKNGmitoj0F8/s1600/anthony_weiner_penis_picture_photo_twitter_sext_naked_nude_dick_pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="anthony weiner sexting pics sext nude mayor nyc dick pic carlos danger" border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Onle1jqR_6sLK9oWeGC8RjTKQPfmmsm57DQcPQGxTgvomW3hGw28Gw8QT6GJ5MIaraxzKVuVHTMx_7qh1ILlRZOkXzd3X-_akHY5jt2-xsUaOHhnjxGujFinkqVMZnqorKNGmitoj0F8/s400/anthony_weiner_penis_picture_photo_twitter_sext_naked_nude_dick_pic.jpg" title="anthony weiner sexting pics sext nude mayor nyc dick pic carlos danger" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's amazing. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Carlos Danger" just can't stop himself from sending </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Weiner pics to women half his age. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotgeCz13H1MDcS_1cUUuliLbqf6PeASh14KlZpxT2-WBLVi-lUQ-K3COfmsv_eQehxYuV6JtwjN2U16XAFLtrG5AKBWIzik4rFufqSvHYNuefOA6SY7daZ6JvC4_1wFGjRiOroudVt8Kf/s1600/anthony+weiner+penis+dick+pic+carlos+danger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="anthony weiner sexting pics sext nude mayor nyc dick pic carlos danger" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotgeCz13H1MDcS_1cUUuliLbqf6PeASh14KlZpxT2-WBLVi-lUQ-K3COfmsv_eQehxYuV6JtwjN2U16XAFLtrG5AKBWIzik4rFufqSvHYNuefOA6SY7daZ6JvC4_1wFGjRiOroudVt8Kf/s400/anthony+weiner+penis+dick+pic+carlos+danger.jpg" title="anthony weiner sexting pics sext nude mayor nyc dick pic carlos danger" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The hotdog, Oscar Mayor Weiner jokes write themselves.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAahNBgsVqEcpB14-pGBACa6Qr85jUuKYIEZl64s8_pTrwRl5gCP0siu9rAZ5vcgwYATEYo0nwHCl0rLB0_S91lWL3Frdtp4AgVnJNiANPfIRgp7HmD8bxYT-9K0xmVCXb2vxX2TSX8oA/s1600/1325179143-anthony_weiner_penis_picture_photo_twitter_sext_naked_nude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm sure you'll also hear plenty of innuendo... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This guy Weiner is <span style="font-size: large;">a real</span> dick! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Weiner has had a long, hard life<span style="font-size: large;">.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nobody knows how to finish a job like Weiner. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Weiner is in and out of meetings and back in again. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll bet he's got the balls to handle New York City.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mayor Weiner will come at issues with force. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Weiner never st<span style="font-size: large;">eps till he's about to spew.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span>It's clear that Anthony is the cock of the walk.<br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Wein<span style="font-size: large;">er works harder than any other politic<span style="font-size: large;">ian.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you want something done right, get a Weiner. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Weiner will take NYC from behind and thrust it into center.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">...stuff like that.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In a<span style="font-size: large;">ll honestly there's no way</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">that he <span style="font-size: large;">could possibly do worse than Bloomber<span style="font-size: large;">g.<br />As long as he doesn't <span style="font-size: large;">tell people what to drink<span style="font-size: large;">,</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">including babies and bre<span style="font-size: large;">ast milk,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">then I think he'll be ok. </span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12516322099973885243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363040093092991079.post-42281271443030074962013-04-14T16:34:00.000-04:002013-07-25T09:52:54.260-04:00Turn the TV off<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI';"><span style="font-size: large;">It's easy to talk about Glee, Louie, Big Bang Theory, the New York Yankees, Dancing with the Stars, The Housewives of (insert city here), Celebrity Apprentice, Family Guy, Game of Thrones, and American Idol. I like them too... but those are big league programs. Major television networks decided that enough people will watch those and make them lots of money in advertising revenue. There's a reason Disney still exists. Mickey Mouse is losing more than he's earning these days but he bought ESPN, Pixar, and ABC. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI';"><span style="font-size: large;">Some suit in an office that overlooks the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree decides what millions of people will watch each season. It's not about entertainment. It's not about making your life better. It's not about spreading positivity. It's not about making the world a better place. It's about money. It's about that guy buying a new Jaguar and sending his kids to an expensive private school. It's about the parent company getting enough ad sales revenue. It's a distraction. It's about keeping your eyes on your TV instead of your family. It's about looking into a black screen instead of looking around you, or inside yourself. We live in a culture that is decided for us. We feel involved when we vote someone off a show but every 100,000 text messages is a million dollars for the phone company. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Art is a choice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Choose to support local art. </span></div>
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