Lady Gaga? More like Lady What the.....

Hello, friends. Just wanted to report that despite the lack of work being put into this blog, I am, in fact, still alive. And something has come to my attention that I have to write about. And that something, or rather somebody is Lady Gaga.

I wouldn't say I am a fan of Lady Gaga, but I don't necessarily hate her either. She has some tracks on radio that get in your head and they stay there. That is a credit to her and her writers. But the thing that has made her more like able in my eyes is the fact that there seems to be talent there. She went to NYU's Tisch School for the Arts. I would assume you need some sort of talent (or money) to get into a place like that. And that's what puts her above your Spears or Perry. Because for those women it's about looks before music.

But after watching some of Lady Gaga's concert on HBO the other night, I have a different opinion. Before it was just apathy towards her. I could care less. But now, when I think of Lady Gaga I just think of a pre-packaged product that has in effect sold-out. Don't get me wrong, I realized she was packaged long before. But watching just a half hour of her concert drove that nail home.

Her sets are extremely theatrical which is cool if you like that sort of thing. But for me it comes off as creepy. Carrying around a big light stick that looks like a penis? Creepy. Singing songs while wearing a Freddy Krueger glove and simulating masturbation? Creepier. Asking New York City to get on their feet and raise their hands if they have a giant cock? Creepiest.

The show was song after song with little talking points in between. Gaga would talk soft for a few lines and THEN YELL THE REST OF HER LINES AND ADD "ARE YOU WITH ME NEW YORK CITTTAAAY." It got old fast. And I understand she is a big advocate for gay and transgender rights. And I think it's great and admirable for someone of her stature to be so public with her thoughts. But she just kept mention how people get bullied and picked on and made fun of. And at some point I just wanted her to say something positive instead of all the bad things that have happened.

Not sure if I have a real point here. Though I was stunned to see all the parents walking into the arena with their children during the rolling credits. I wouldn't take my 9 year-old daughter to that kind of concert. And Gaga cemented my thoughts by dropping every expletive in the book, which (shocker) don't appear in her radio-friendly songs.

Ultimately, I would like to see stars like this with obvious talent do what they do best. And for Lady Gaga, I think that would be to play the piano and sing all her songs a cappella. Sadly, I am in the minority. But I think less is more, and in her case, it would mean a lot more to be a little less dramatic.

I second that statement....

Sat down this morning and read through the ol' BollBlog and enjoyed myself as usual. Great point were made in the realm of sports (as expected) and got me thinking about the Brewers/Cubs rivalry. I have a post from about a year ago or so that touches on most of the same stuff, but it's a good refresher here.

Being a Cubs fan and living in Wisconsin means that most of your chances to see the team will come at Miller Park. I preface everything by saying that I don't hate the Brewers at all, and ultimately I think that is the problem. If I did, it would be easier to accept the current state of the "rivalry." But I don't. I love Miller Park. It's a fantastic venue with a really good atmosphere. All the attendants I have encountered were friendly and helpful. I have attended games in the past where the Brewers were playing the Reds, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Giants, and Braves. Each and every time I was in just regular clothes because you can't were apparel for a team that's not playing. It's just really bad form. And then in my years I've attended probably 10 Brewers/Cubs games at Miller Park. And the minute you put that Cubs hat on, everything flips.

I've gone to Brewers/Cubs games with my friends, my wife, and my family, and nearly each time I am embarrassed to be there. People drink, they start yelling at each other and soon that gets even worse. I have seen people thrown out, beaten up, and escorted away by police. It's just not a great feeling to be there. Best game I went to was about 5 years ago on a Wednesday afternoon, because people were not all jacked up due to it being the middle of the week. I wish they were all like that.

My last trip there was a year ago when I got a pair of tickets from work. It was a Friday night game and I went with my Dad. We had good seats sat down and took in the usual ribbing. Nothing a grown person can't handle. For eight innings the experience was fantastic. We were sitting next to some people in Brewers garb who were nice and chatting with us, and ultimately held our same viewpoint. We are there to have fun and be entertained. No different than going to a movie or a casino. And then the bottom of the eigth came. Cubs were leading 3-2, and Ryan Braun absolutely killed a 2-run bomb, leading me to say "Wow, that was crushed." As this is happening a guy in front of us gives me the double barreled salute for no real reason. Hoffman comes in, building shakes, 3 k's and we are on our way out the building.

Brewers fans are happy, I'm not but whatever. We get to the parking lot and there is chaos everywhere because the person who designed the parking lots wore a blindfold and threw darts. And as we get in our car, three drunk guys see I'm wearing a Cubs hats and come over and sit on my vehicle. They will not move because I'm a Cubs fan and apparently this is what they do. Eventually security guards come over (never seen it before in the parking lots) and we are on our way. I don't realy have a moral to the story, but I haven't been back to Miller Park.

I just wished the Cubs and Brewers didn't act as rivals. More often than not, both franchises are irrelevant. Brewers fans yell "1908" at Cubs fans, and they respond with "Where's your championship?" All in all it's an exercise in futility. I just want people to start thinking and acting better. Good natured ribbing is fun. Yelling "Hot Garbage" every time somebody strikes out is funny. But I don't think I would take my kids to the ballpark. And considering some Dodger fans beat a Giants fan into a coma earlier this season, I think it's high time fans start looking at themselves. Because it is their decision to be the better guy. And if that happens, a game that is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, might actually become more fun and more enjoyable.

The Return...

I realize that I do not write in here very often, but I've decided that the reason for that is I tend to write when I am upset with something or in a ranting and raving mode. Luckily for my psyche and overall mental health, I haven't felt the need to do that for awhile. Well kids, that time has ended. And it's no surprise the topic that makes me end my long blogence (that's blog-silence for those not adept in the world of made up words). And that topic is non other than America's worst band of all-time, Nickleback.

I honestly don't know where to start with these fellows. I really don't know much about them in a band sense. The only thing I know is that stupid ad-naseum story of how their name came to be. It's so hilarious. I worked at a coffee shop and would always be giving nickels back to customers. Good thing he didn't name the band after the services he provided outside of the coffeshop, otherwise we would be graced with a band called The Blowies. Since their inception, Nickelback has rubbed me the wrong way. Might be the whiny lyrics. Might be the long hair. Might be the fact they are from Canada. Or it might be their level of success, which just astounds me.

My hatred of the band reached a boiling point in college when Jeffrey Boll and myself had an internship at The Hog in Janesville. It was a turd of an experience, but we did come away with something that summer. And that was the understanding that dirty townies across Southern Wisconsin loved Nickleback. They cranked it at the bar appearnaces and it seemed to be the only thing they listened too. This is when my Nickleback hatred changed from, can choke down listening to a song in the car to, punctured my own ear drums with toothpicks.

And the Hog brings us to the latest debacle of Nickleback. The Hog produced a rock bracket off for March Madness this year. I happened across it one day and thought I would take a look. It was as I expected with 1 seeds being AC/DC, Metallica, Van Halen, and Led Zeppelin. Not exactly my cup of tea musically, but I can understand the seedings. The more I looked at the bracket, the more I was surprised that they didn't have a whole lot of new bands in their rankings. And if they did, they were really low seeds. For example, Disturbed was a 15, The Offspring (vomits) were a 16. And then I looked closer. And saw that Nickleback had been ranked a 4. Take that in for a second. This bracket was supposed to represent the 64 best rock bands of all time, meaning they had put Nickleback on a line that could be anywhere from 12th best to 16th best of all time. They pitted them against Whitesnake, and thankfully in the fan voting Whitesnake advanced. But seriously, a 4 seed? No band formed in the last 20 years was a 9 seed or higher, until Nickleback at a 4. I don't have many other words to explain this awfulness other than townies love Nickelback.

And for Jeffrey. I noticed on the hog's website that our former "boss" was not on the air any more. I took that to mean she didn't work with the company at all anymore. And that means the makeup industry in Janesville has taken a big financial hit. I believe she used a caulk gun and trowel as an applicator in the morning.

Getting Down to Brass Tacks...

Yeah, that whole upkeep on the blog thing is not going so hot. Lots of things going on in the world and I'm not quite sure how to interpret them. The whole Wisconsin thing is frustrating. I feel even worse, because now that I do not live there anymore it doesn't have a direct effect on me. I have a wife who is becoming a teacher and side with the teachers (and other state employees) on the issue. I don't think it's good business to take over as Governor and immediately piss off most of your employee's. I do think they should have to pay for parts of benefits and pension, but also think that they should be given breaks because what they do does serve the public. And I also think it doesn't bode well for people who would have gone into public sector jobs. Why would you want to if the leader of your state has no respect for your position.

On the other hand, I can see the reason for making the change. I just think the Governor is doing it all wrong. I have always thought the tax bracket thing was garbage. Probably because I have always fallen in the lowest bracket. I personally believe that everyone, regardless of wealth, just gets taxed the same. Whether you make 10,000 a year or a million a year, you pay the same. Seems easy enough, why can't we make it work. Taxes are a way of life, and I honestly think they would be better served to use them in a way that people understand. Just tell us we are getting taxed 5 percent on everything. Easy. Done. When it gets hiked to 6 percent let me know, and I will be okay with that too. You know why? Because I liked my teachers and police officers. And I have no problem with them getting yearly raises. Sure knows they do a hell of a lot more for the public than I do.

As the Other Foot Falls....

It may not be much, but I feel as though I am maturing into an adult. Whether that be getting married, keeping down a steady job, or paying bills, I am essentially an adult. But I had a realization this past week that may show the lengths of that maturation. My first realization was when I was discussing with the wife and we stumbled upon sports. I was once told that the only reason people have pets, is so that the pet can bring a little extra joy into the owners lives. That's essentially what sports is. People identify with a player or team and then revel in the success of said players and team. And I have come to the conclusion that people who are centered around their pets are less weird and creepy than people who define themselves with sports. At least a pet is a tangible thing. You can come home and pet the dog or brush the cat. They will respond and show affection towards you and you get that good feeling. sports teams can't do that. Sure, teams can supply that feeling but it is very rare. Every year 4 of the 120 major sports franchises will win a championship. That means 3% of people who follow sports end the season on a good note. Not good odds my friends.

So now on to my grumblings about Bears/Packers. I was consigned to the fact before the game that no matter the outcome I would be happy. Sure my happiness would have been about 100 points higher had Chicago pulled it out, but happy non-the-less. The game actually played out like I expected. I expected the teams to play poorly and have multiple mistakes each, and ultimately being decided by the latest mistake in terms of time left in the game. (That would be your BJ Raji house run for 6) All in all, I can cheer for the Packers in the Super Bowl. Will I enjoy that? Not particularly, but I follow conference lines and will always root for the NFC representative. I don't think the Packers should be favored as they are right now, but then again, what do I truly know.

I do have huge issues with people questioning Jay Cutler's heart and toughness. He went out with a knee injury and did not return, and people have labeled him a quitter. Not quite understanding that logic. Guy played all year behind a sieve, took nearly 200 shots, and suffered a concussion. Played all but one game in a league where only 12 qb's started all games for their team. So seriously people, stop questioning his toughness.

If there is one thing I learned from playing and then covering sports, it is the notion that you do not question a player when he is injured. People are different. Every body is different. They are built to handle things differently, in different doses, and different impacts. So questioning him is ridiculous

The part that really bugs me, is the fact that since Cutler is not the "Alpha Male" personality, he gets ripped. People just expect quarterbacks to talk to the media, give thoughtful answers, and focus on only football. He doesn't do those things, so he gets killed and thrown under the bus. I assure you, had he stayed in the game thrown 3 picks, and then after the game we heard about the injury, he would get killed. People would ask why he kept himself in the game and being reckless. So the dude can't win.

I just hope we as a people can realize that people are different. They are not robots. There is not always a black/white, cut and dry way to do things. All things said, he got his team to an NFC Championship in a year when they should have won a max of 6 games. I appreciate the toughness and heart it takes for a team to over-achieve. I can only hope people realize how foolish they have been in this situation. Will Cutler get people to apologize to him? Probably not. And that's the worst part. Blind assumptions being thrown around. And when it comes down to it, it is just football.

Very Sad...

This was my feeling over the weekend as I was watching news footage from Arizona over the shooting and killing of 6 people at a grocery store. It seems as though things like this always happen far away, but still hits you in the heart. I watched the coverage and was dumbfounded. It was not a campaign rally. It was a mock meeting at a grocery store. As it stands six are dead including a nine year old girl. She was born on September 11th, 2011, and then died like this 9 years later. And her grand father was a World series winning manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. Bizarre coincidences that make the story even more chilling.

The part I find particularly unnerving is America's search to place blame. When something terrible happens we as a people need some justification to make us feel better. It must be violent movies, or heavy metal music, or the Grand Theft Auto game, they will say. Those that fall far to each political side will blame each other. And yes, I realize that finding blame brings some sort of closure. But in instances like this, finger pointing and blaming is the worst possible thing you can do. Trying to find blame only gives, those deranged enough to commit an act like this, an out. I have no idea what strikes someone to commit such acts. Whether that be the shootings at Columbine or people who try to smuggle things on planes. It is impossible to pinpoint their motivation or so-called breaking point. But to place blame on a particular item is ridiculous and counter productive. Why don't we take a look at how we do things, and figure out how we can do good in the community? If we focused on that, at that elementary level, maybe we could nip things like this in the bud.

Right before posting this I finished reading a story about the Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas and their plans of picketing the funeral. You have probably heard of them doing things like this in the past. They picket funerals of soldiers from over seas, and funerals of open homosexuals who have died. And they essentially blame their deaths on America's loss of God in their life and this being his way to respond to us as a people. Well, come to find out the Arizona legislature has swung into action and actually made it a misdemeanor for anyone to picket within 300 feet of the funeral. Now I am all for freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, but a big thumbs up to the legislature for passing this. We as a country are grieving a senseless act of violence against over 30 individuals that have either died or are injured. Those 30 could have done great good for their community, and now we will never know for some. And it would have been an absolute atrocity for an outside group, regardless of belief, to hijack this remembrance.

Finally, both sides of the political spectrum have come together to create something good and actually useful. Hopefully, we can re-examine the way we do things in this country and put our best foot forward. Because trying to find blame just runs us in circles. And leaves us open to this kind of thing happening again.

Ring Ding Dong.....

What's going on kids? That's right no posts in two months is turning me into Lane Kimble. Hell, who are we kidding, I would need to go 9 months between posts to be that guy. Well I am back, and certainly not better than ever. For post number 100 I decided to just say I plan on posting more. I truly enjoy writing, even if the things I talk about are the same. So with that I give my resolution to post a little more often for 2011. Or at least January.

Main reason the posting fell off in November and December is that my life was swept up with the seasonality. There was Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, and then new years. And, oh yeah, I decided to get married in the middle of all those things. So I basically got my first feeling of what every year from here on out will be. All out chaos for about a 45 day period. I figure it won't be as stressful because the wedding is done, and though that leaves an anniversary, there will not be nearly as much work that needs to be done.

I want to say thank you to everyone who helped with the wedding and made it possible. We hit our bumps and problems, but all in all, it was still better than I had expected it to be. We had a great ceremony, fun picture time, and if I must say a pretty BA reception. I've never been to another wedding where there was a choreographed version of Bye, Bye, Bye by the wedding party. That in itself makes ours number 1.

Special thanks go out to my groomsmen because they were awesome. And they get special thanks because I know from time to time they peruse the blog and do a little reading. They were fantastic and helped keep me in check all day long. It was a great time and hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.

Well, that's about it for the wedding talk. I will be posting more, though I'm sure it will revolve around sports, movies, TV shows, and penis jokes. Hey, stick with what you know. That's what I always say....