RIVERSIDE: Fire hydrant decorated as movie minion

One more reason to love the WorldWide Web. Even if some periodical refuses to print my letter to the editor, I can just publish it here. Case in point: this sorry-ass excuse for minion-making that was reported by the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

RIVERSIDE: Fire hydrant decorated as movie minion

I think we can all agree that this looks more like a "crazy chicken" or a badly abused friar in blue. 

The following is my previously unpublished letter to the Press-Enterprise, as well as the photos that I attached.

Chicks Banging Drums

Not a euphemism. And no, there's no missing 'mer' in the title. These are two of my favorite videos featuring female drummers. Interestingly enough, both are covers, though the styles are distinctly different, but I find both of them to be excellent.

With no further ado, and for your consideration, I present Meytal Cohen (covering "Metalingus" by Alter Bridge), and Scarlett Stevens (covering Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" as a member of San Cisco): 

[Editorial Note: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation requires that you click the link and watch the following video at the YouTube site, for some silly reason. It's not a dead link—just so you know.]

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I've Always Wondered if this Ever Happens in Real Life

I guess so.

San Bernardino Man Killed by Gun in his Waistband

Welcome to the Second Great Depression, a Comedy in Three Parts—Part I, Reality v Fiction, or How Laziness is Destroying our Minds

Occasionally, I'm forced to slam people's barely functioning brains into the plate glass window that I like to call reality. It's not something I want to do, or particularly enjoy, but as Dave Grohl famously sang, "This is a call."

What often comes of such action is the accusation that I'm somehow a pessimist, mostly because I'm not willing to let a feel-good story get in the way of facts and critical reasoning. Or perhaps because I'm unwilling to let others, often with suspect motives, do my thinking for me, spoon-feeding questionable facts as truth. Or finally, it may be because I have so little respect for established "authorities" that I'm always skeptical of information, regardless of its supposed source.

I fail to see how any of that is pessimistic. I'd rather be skeptical than a sycophant for supposed authorities who render truth on high, blind to their motives, which often run counter to those of the public at large.

Bear with me, if you will—this play will ultimately come back 'round to its opening scene (but not until Part III).

More after the jump.

Uh Oh, More Minions

What's that expression? A picture is worth a thousand words?

A Video No Right-Thinking Educator or Establishment Politico Wants Your Children To See

"Jimmy Iovine" is the more musically topical choice, but this one has a better beat and a better overall flow. It also reminds me, quite often, of Nelly's "Greed, Hate, Envy." Though it sounds like the songs have a similar message, they are almost opposites, owing, presumably, to different backgrounds and experiences. 

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Anonymous, Redux

Yes, I know, you were cheated when you got no info about Anonymous in a previous post. To right this wrong, I submit this, gentle reader:

(enjoy)

 

More Minions, More Minions!!!

Hey, it's not our fault that the municipality decided to use the colors yellow and purple for its irrigation covers. Coincidence? Well, as a senile old judge in San Diego County, on the verge of departing this mortal coil due to severe overstaying-his-welcome-ness and simply being old as a prehistoric rock, once told me, there's no such thing as coincidence. So there—that proves it once and for all. What? Pics? Oh, that's right—here you go (even more of them after the jump):

I Wish I Had Come Up With This

Not really, this is completely boring. But I do wish sometimes that my name were Van; that would be rather cool. Or that I had come up with the website www.tharptraderfest.com. Instead, I just have the site www.gesucksballs.com. Oh well.

New Music Review - Sonia Rao

Sonia Rao's new EP, Los Angeles Part I. Release shows coming up soon in LA, SF and NYC.

Review of new Sonia Rao EP

Somewhere, a Tree (a willow, I suppose) Weeps for Its Fallen Brethren, Senselessly Sent to Woodchippers in the Pursuit of Targeted Consumer Loyalty Marketing by CVS/pharmacy

Hey, I'm no tree hugger, but this is going way too far.

Not only that, CVS, but I do not appreciate the $3.50 like-cash coupon that's included. That is because I realize you previously overpriced my purchases by that amount, in order to now give me a coupon.

Be like Albertsons--do away with the loyalty program, and offer the most competitive prices you can. Your targeted marketing sucks anyway; I rarely buy, or would even consider, the products for which you've given me coupons.

The evidence: 

At right, the receipt. At left, the carnage that is added.

And lest you think this is an isolated incident, behold el ditto maximus:

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