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Malbela, which is the Esperanto word for ugly (literally translated, "unpretty"), is the weblog of Robert Mungo. A webdesigner, a college student, an international man of mystery... except for the "international" and "mystery" parts. Find out more...

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« July 2004 | Main | September 2004 »

MTV Video Music Awards go south, proceed to go south

What was wrong with the VMAs this year? They headed to Miami this year, and apparently left everyone who had an ounce of talent or access to the script back in New York.

There's huge stretches with no music and no crowd cheering. No one seems to know where they're supposed to stand. When someone's mic is up, there is no other sound. Everything is done in either rainbow stripes or in silver & blue. Frankly, it's almost as if their theme is 'Apple, circa 1999'. I'm not speaking just for myself here, I was IMed by a friend who asked if I thought that the designers for the show had gotten high & started talking about how much they loved Steve Jobs.

I gave up when Jet won best Rock video and MTV didn't even bother to play their song while they came to the stage.

And who's idea was it for Marc Anthony to introduce Kanye West while standing directly in front of P. Diddy? That's just mean, dude.

By the way, I love that P. Diddy's site features a HUGE broken image.

<moveable type="text/css">

I had a few moments this weekend, and have spent the last couple of hours editing the images & stylesheets for the Moveable Type install for Malbela. It's now a lovely mix of blacks & oranges, rather than MT's standard Blue, Green, & white.

Maybe I should do my homework...

And what title has Bush won lately?

(well, I guess he gets to be a comic book character.)

Spam Spam Baked Beans & Spam.

It's very hard to write 500+ words about spam. I'm still only at 432.

Kerry gets caught!

Oh My God! Kerry totally got caught using a photo on a book that mocks Iwo Jima by not looking anything like the Iwo Jima photo!

Isn't funny that that usually pro-copyright conservatives think it's ok to put an entire book online as long as it benefits them politically?

Should we even go into the fact that an upside American flag isn't an insult to the flag, but rather an international distress signal (And one that probably doesn't work for the British). Kerry was only a contributer to the book, he didn't choose the cover design, he doesn't own rights to it... obviously this is a conspiracy.

But the Bush camp has problems too... Bush was totally caught reenacting that scene from Firestarter.

UPDATE: Entire Bush camp caught in Resevoir Dogs Re-enactment Blunder!

(links & images via Metafilter)

Charlotte

I just got this from Ana, who designed the Keystone magazine last semester. It's sad how much is true:

• Charlotte is composed mostly of one street. It just bears MANY different names. For example, Wendover is the same as Runnymede, is the same as Woodlawn, is the same as Billy Graham, is the same as Sugar Creek, is the same as Eastway, is the same as Wendover.
• All directions will most certainly include the following phrase: "...when you come to the corner of Queens and Queens."
• Sharon Road has no beginning and no end and is not to be confused with Sharon Road West, Sharon Road East, Sharon View, Sharon Lakes, Sharon Amity, Sharon Hills, Sharon Terrace, Sharon Harbor, Sharon Lane, etc.
• Charlotteans only know their way to work and their way home. If you ask anyone for directions, make sure that they are from out of town.
• The 8:00 a.m. rush hour is from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The 5:00 p.m. rush hour is from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning and lasts through 2:00 a.m. Saturday.
• Reversible lanes are not understood by anybody, especially those of us who live here. Stay out of them unless you are looking for a head-on collision.
• The falling of one raindrop causes all drivers to immediately forget all traffic rules. So will daylight savings time, a girl applying eyeshadow in the next car, the man shaving and talking on his cell phone at the same time, or a flat tire three lanes over.
• If a single snowflake falls, the city is paralyzed for three days and it's on all the channels as a news flash every 15 minutes for a month. All the grocery stores will be sold out of milk, bread, bottled water, toilet paper, and beer if there is a remote chance of snow, and if it does snow, people will be on every street corner selling "I survived the blizzard" t-shirts.
• It is always Smog Alert Day.
• Street construction is a way of life and a permanent form of entertainment, especially when a water line is tapped and Charlotte's version of Old Faithful erupts. Construction crews aren't doing their job properly unless they close down all lanes except one during rush hour.
• I-485 is our equivalent of the Autobahn. You will rarely see a semi-truck on I-485, because even the truck drivers are intimidated by the oversized SUV-wielding housewives racing home after a grueling day at the salon or the tennis match to meet their children at the school bus, coming home from the college prep preschool.
• The pollen count is off the national scale for unhealthy which starts at 120. Charlotte is usually in the 2,000 to 4,000 range, and all roads, vehicles, houses, etc. are yellow from March 28th to July 15th. If you have any allergies, you will die.

GMail Jackpot

Anyone else seem to have hit the Gmail jackpot lately? I've gotten 7 invites to hand out now. It's probably because of the huge surge in email I've gotten from my online classes this semester.

I may give a few over to Gmail4Troops, but I'll probably have a couple left over. Leave a comment if you want one.

JFK in 04: John Kerry visits CPCC

See... when I said we got close to John Kerry, I wasn't kidding.

It was a pretty interesting experience and very different than when President Bush spoke. The Bush speech seemed almost confrontational because of the way the audience was arranged.

At Bush's speech, The stage was filled with friends, major local party players, and invited guests. The stage (brought in for Bush) was also rather high above the audience. This gave the appearance of two groups clashing. It didn't help that Bush stands behind the podium, clutching it as if it's the only thing keeping him upright.

Kerry didn't have a large podium as Bush did, and spent little time behind it. His stage was a small platform in the center of The Grady Cole Center. About 700 guests surrounded him. He was introduced by Jim Hunt, a former governor of North Carolina, and by former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt. Dr. Zeiss, president of CPCC, also introduced him, but from what I understand, he wasn't originally supposed to. Kerry didn't seem to pleased with the way things were going, at least according to this picture that Matt took.

You see the silver thing peeking over Zeiss' shoulder? That's my camera. I told you I was directly behind the podium!

As I said, Bush mainly stands in one spot when he speaks, but Kerry moves around. Bush also uses a full podium, while Kerry uses little more than a stand. Now, this could simply be because of their positions. Bush is president after all and I'm sure the podium has some sort of build in protection. Of course, it could (more likely) be he's not quite as good a speaker as Kerry. Kerry moved around the stage, working the entire audience. He didn't forget those of use behind him like many speakers who work 'in the round' would. He also was rather funny, making jokes to lighten the mood.

He swears he's trying to help job growth in North Carolina, after all he's trying to give John Edwards a promotion. He also mentioned that Emma Claire, Edwards' Daughter, was for the Kerry campagin even though Barbie is running this year.

When he was finished, 700 people attempted to meet him. I wasn't planning on getting as close to him as I did. I climbed on a chair to get a photo (with Matt right behind me) and suddenly there he was. about 3 foot away! I reached out my hand and he grabbed it and shook my hand. I was giddy all afternoon. I kept saying that Matt would be the one to go all TRL on Kerry and it ended up being me!

After the speech we all headed back to the Student Life area and tried to find ourselves on TV. Everyone was hungry so I made grilled cheese. And then we all tried to figure out how to take a nap with no one noticing.

I say I'll post more pictures in the gallery later. I mean, I have 140 pictures of John Kerry's ass after all. I say he wears briefs. Mary-Beth votes for boxers. Your thoughts? Take it to the comments!

Oh... before we go, how about some shirts for the Liberal Hipster or the Conservative Hipster?

Oh, and did I mention that before the speech that the local Fox News affiliate hounded Amanda, trying to get me on the phone for a comment. I love saying 'No Comment', especially when Fox is involved.

I touched him! I touched him!

More later (with pictures)... but I shook Senator Kerry's hand!

Dry

May I just say that the ending to Augusten Burroughs' Dry is just about depressing.

It was great.

"Thank you for calling OnStar..."

Jason Kottke posted a link to an piece about OnStar over at The Morning News.

Customer: I’m…umm…27, and still a virgin.

OnStar: How old are you really, sir?

Customer: Twenty-nine?

OnStar: Sir?

Customer: Thirty-six.

OnStar: [partially off mike] Holy shit!

Luckily for us, we never had to actually worry about getting heard saying stuff like that on mic since there were 3 mute buttons, or more properly called "Cough" buttons, within easy reach.

I can't remember most of the 10 minute ramble I did while enrolling vehicles but I do remember the greeting at least.

Thank you for calling OnStar. This is Robert speaking. How can I help you today, __________________. *pause* And are you the dealer or the new owner of this vehicle?

Now, if they were the dealer it was easy. The dealers knew the speeches as well as we did, and we could ask them a couple of questions, put them on hold and activate the car. Then we could come back and ask if they wanted personal calling (GM's Cell Phone Feature) for the customer.

Now... if it were the customer, it'd be a little different...

Congratulations on your new *color* *vehicle model*, *customer name*. [Begin 10 minute tirade about OnStar and how it'll change your life.]

All this for a analog cellphone the size a cinder block buried in your trunk.

I think the most fun I had was enrolling a Cadillac Fleetwood Hearse. I'm hoping he doesn't need directions to the cemetery.

Blogging for credit!

Farhad has decided that blogging will be our extra credit project in in ITN140. So everyone should leave comments telling him to give me lots of extra credit.

Remember: lots of extra credit.

I'll post links to all the other students' sites when I learn their URLs!

---

ITN140 Weblogs

• September Snow belongs to Deanna Lynn


• William's Blog

Due next monday.

Read lessons one thru six and 38.

ouch?

Bjork's Olympic Theme, Oceania, Lyrics

Bjork, she of the swan dress, was set to open the olympics tonight. I didn't get a chance to see NBC's coverage, but from what I understand they talked over her and then finally broke to commercial before the song was done.

You know, the theme for this year's Olympics.

who would want to hear that?

Here are the lyrics, as far as I can tell from watching the video over and over, for those who care:

Oceania

Bjork, from the upcoming album "Medulla"

One breath away
from Mother Oceania
Your nimble feet make prints 
in my sands

you have done 
good for yourselves since 
you left my wet embrace
and crawled ashore

Every Boy 
Is a snake 
Is a lily
Every pearl 
is a lynx
is a girl

Sweet like harmony
made into flesh
Oh, you dance by my side
children sublime

you show me continents
I see the islands
you count the centuries
I blink my eyes

Hawks and Sparrows
race in my waters
stingrays are floating
across the sky

little ones
my sons and my daughters
Oh, your sweat is salty
I am why
I am why
I am why
Your sweat is salty
I am why
I am why
I am why.

You can watch the video at the special Medulla site.

Please ignore this picture.

Cruisin mos espa in my delorian...

Normally this would just a side bar item, but MC Chris has re-released his first album in MP3 format for free online!

Yes, everyone's favorite Nerdcore rapper is giving away his first album for free! I'm sorry, but this is an appropriate time to say 'w00t!'.
MC Chris is Hesh on Sealab 2021 and appeared as MC Pee Pants on Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

And yes... 'Life's A Bitch and I'm her Pimp' is the album that featured 'Fett's Vett'. God I love this album.

Excuse me while I go geek out.

Ipod Whoredom Part Deux: Return of the Ipod Contests!

Ok... here's something that hopefully won't start a flame war in the comments! A bunch of contests to win Ipods! Everyone wants an iPod... unless they're a commie! or a hippie. Or a Commie Hippie!

I've personally entered almost all of these contests. Almost all because I haven't entered the ones intended for Canadian Residents for obvious reasons. Lauren has already won a FlipStand, an iTrip, and a glow-in-the-dark iSkin Mini! Congrats Lauren! Now if I could just win something.

Here's a list of iPod contests, grouped by the number of times you can enter. If you win something, leave a comment and let us know!

Single Entry:

• I Love Country: 20GB iPod Sweeps
• Andrew Carlton: iPod Mini
• Trio TV 'Sounds Like Texas': 40GB or Mini
• Counting Crows: 15GB iPod
• Christine Evans: one of 3 Minis - Will automatically add you to mailing list with no optout/in
• Victory Records/Taking Back Sunday: Mini preloaded with new TBS album

Daily Entry:

• TV Guide 'Hot Star Gadgets': One of Ten Minis
• Doritos/Chronic Future: 20GB iPod
• Candystand/Monster Cable: iPod Mini, Apple eMac, Panasonic Home Theater, & Panasonic 3.2 Megapixel Digital Camera and accessories
• Vachon/Jos. Louis: 15GB iPod (Canada Only!)
• Focus Daily Contacts: 15GB iPod & 30 Songs from iTMS
• Woman's Day/Sony Music: Mini & 60 CDs
• FUSE/The Hives: iPod Mini

(edit aug 12: the hives answer is apparently 'E')

Unlimited Entry:

• Hot Topic/Paris,Texas: iPod Mini or $500 Gift Card - Requires setting up free account with Hot Topic to log in.

Other:

• Buzztone/Warped Tour/Vans/Moments In Grace: G4 Laptop or one of 3 Minis - Limited to 500 Entries, but each entry requires an email address referral!

Also: I'm considering starting a site that will be a clearing house for iPod contests... what do you guys think?

'Terror Suspect' arrested in Charlotte

Oh Wow. On July 20th, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police stopped & questioned this man, Kamran Shaikh, a native of Pakistan.

He was videotaping landmarks uptown, including Wachovia Center, Hearst Tower, and the Bank Of America headquarters.

When arrested, Shaikh also had videotapes of other cities in the Southeastern US. Also included were videotapes of Atlanta , New Orleans, and a few sites in Texas.

Very scary, my friends.

If it proves to be something, I guess we'll need to thank Charlotte-Mecklenburg's Racist Police Force! Yay Profiling! Oh, and CMPD, thanks for not letting us know until August 10th that you picked up a terror suspect on July 20th. and that was sarcasm

Elsewhere:
Charlotte Observer
WSOC Coverage

How to... Manage your time wisely...

I know it's 4am, but I slept late today and now I'm up and active and finishing the paper.

Perhaps I should feel silly that it's 4am and I'm working hard on finishing something I've spent a month on. Especially since I just edited an article on Time Management.

Maybe I should read it...

Just a thought.

A brand new look

I've been working on the paper and my website all day, switching back and forth. Finally the website is nearly done, and I'm also nearing total completion of the paper.

Damn it's a lot of work.

I know that it looks very October-y, but lately orange and black has been my favorite color combination. Heck... I even made a desktop featuring the raven. Feel free to use it.

The new site uses Server Side Includes and the miniblog is back! Look for the fotoblog to return too.

I'll be uploading some pictures from the App State trip later this evening.