12 posts tagged “challenge”
As per the rules of my new challenge with Waldo I'm due another post today. So as I watch the Jaguars in their attempt to knock off the still undefeated Patriots it is time to figure out what on earth to post about.
I got my grades back today for my first trimester. I was really pleased with them. I even got one A, which at Mars Hill means 97 or higher. Exciting and unexpected. Classes begin again for me on Thursday so hopefully I can use these grades as momentum to carry me forward into my new classes.
In addition to my attempt to read 50 books this year I'm also trying to watch 100 movies. It seemed I never got the chance to watch movies last year. This saddened me because film is a significant medium for me on a number of levels. It would appear however that 100 movies will be far too low as I'm already at ten for the year. The tenth came in the form of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet St. It was certainly a unique film-going experience. Adding to the novelty of it all was that throughout the film, in the back of my mind, was the reality that on Broadway it was Angela Lansbury who played the role of Helena Bonham Carter's mad, human pie making villain.
It certainly isn't for the squeamish, and it is far from the feel good fare of Juno as there is no redemption to be found throughout. Yet I still found it well worth the price of admission for its unique flare, the strong performances, the great music, and the fact that it was another perfect vehicle for Tim Burton's twisted genius.
Last Tuesday marked the release of two huge CDs that would, due to their perceived genre similarities, go head to head to see who would be the king of said perceived genre. The two CDs, for those who don't know, were Graduation by Kanye West, and Curtis by 50 Cent. Now I would argue for an understanding of the difference between the genre of the two, but for the sake of clarity I'll forgo that at the moment.
In leading up to the release of the two CDs some inevitable verbal sparring began between the two 'emcees.' 50 Cent went so far as to proclaim that if Kanye sold more albums than him on September 11th he, 50 Cent, would retire from releasing his own material forever. Originally 50's remarks seemed to indicate that if he was outsold by Kanye on opening day he would retire, then he changed his tune to indicate overall sales of the two CDs, and now that Kanye's sales lead has moved into 6 figures 50 Cent has stepped back from the ledge altogether. The meaning is that we will inevitably be afflicted with more socially irresponsible, creatively lacking tripe from rap's favorite waste of space.
Many are tired of Kanye as well. He was once the genius who inspired Hip Hop fans with the hope that artists like Common, Talib Kweli and Mos Def would hit the mainstream with more force and replace the trash that fills the airwaves with original, creative, positive messages that also have legitimate musical merit. Kanye fulfilled these hopes to a large degree, but at a high cost. His tantrums upon losing awards are now the stuff of legend, his contradictions that once pointed toward the genius of paradox and the contradictions that exist in all of us have now seemed to degenerate into what often looks like blatant hypocrisy, and we can only hope that he just has some growing up to do (no small feat when you're on top of the world). While I still pull for Kanye, especially as a producer (he is largely responsible for the brilliance of Common's latest album), I relate to the frustrations held by many. Yet regardless of the frustration, the comparison between Kan and 50 is still heavily favorable toward Kanye. With this in mind I urge everyone on the fence to head out and buy Graduation. While sadly I can no longer urge such on the grounds that we might rid the world once and for all of 50 Cent, at least we can add to the humiliation he so rightly deserves for the damage he's done to African American culture, Hip Hop culture, and larger American culture, just to name a few. Not to mention, for all his personal foibles Kanye's creative talent is still widely acknowledged as he breaks down walls between race, class, and genre (for more on this there are many articles to read, most recently the cover story for the most recent issue of Paste Magazine).
It is with all of that in mind that I decided to offer up another late installment of Clip of the Week with the music video for Kanye's 'Stronger' off of Graduation. Enjoy:
Well, just a quick post to appease the challenge. Spent the day watching the playoffs at my mom's with everyone.
At the moment the dogs are scared because of all the elated screaming that took place when Romo dropped the field goal snap... That. Game. Was. Awesome.
And now to bed, to get my rest for more football tomorrow.
This week, I thought it might be fitting to honor the mortal enemy whose existence prompted my introduction into the VOX world, and whose challenge is probably what prompted this blog theme in the first place. So here, for your reading pleasure, is an account of the life (thus far) of Waldo Nelsonsonton.
John Wesley Nelsonsonton was born in 1983 on a warm September morning in the dance hall of a socialist commune, just outside of Lincoln, Nebraska. The fact that he was named for the English preacher and religious reformer was actually a drug induced accident. His parents, in an acid induced haze, had actually intended to name him after another famous John; rather than the founder of Methodism, they meant for his name to honor a comedic actor best known for his role on 'Three's Company,' an American sitcom famous for it's physical humor and sexual innuendo. Thus it can be argued that in light of the wishes of his parents, we might more accurately refer to our subject as John Ritter Nelsonsonton.
John's parents would pay for their unfortunate drug habit in that their son more closely resembled his given name than his intended name. He was known around the commune much more for his religious devotion and uncanny ability to create small cells of believers who methodically went about their spiritual observance, than for his comic timing. Being atheists, with an abiding love of broad humor, this disappointed them terribly.
Excelling in school in all subjects but Math, he would have graduated at the head of his class. I say 'would have' because the school at the commune didn't give out letter grades, but instead gave out colors to correspond to the mood of their students. Being terribly frustrated at the absurdity of such a system, John was frequently evaluated with the color black and dropped out of school at the age of 16.
After dropping out, John held his head high. He moved to the nearby kingdom of Hyrule, where he saved Zelda, the kidnapped princess of the realm. The rescue led to a torrid love affair between the two, ultimately resulting in a tumultuous celebrity marriage that ended after only 4 months. During the divorce, John successfully sued for half the kingdom of Hyrule, only to lose it a year later after being indicted for tax fraud.
Having learned his lesson about trying to cheat your government, John decided it was high time he went to college. It was then, during his freshman year, that he would receive the nickname 'Waldo' that we all know him by now. The nickname was given to him by friends, this due to a combination of his fondness for horizontally striped red and white shirts, and his proclivity and adept ability to blend in to large crowds in order to avoid unwanted attention. As you all know, the nickname stuck.
It was soon after he'd adopted this new nickname that I came upon Waldo. The two of us became fast friends, only to have a bitter falling out my senior year (his junior year) due to an argument about the fairness of pudding being segregated based on color, or flavor. The two of us didn't talk for three and a half years until recently when Waldo approached me with a challenge to a blogging battle of wits. I believe that both of us hope, deep down inside, that while being brought on by our intense competitive natures, this challenge will reopen the lines of communication and thus resurrect our friendship. One can only hope.
After graduating from college with a degree in Quantum Physics (and a minor in Marine Biology), Waldo moved to California where he lives to this day. He's written a number of books, including Love the Waldo Way: How to Get Any Girl to Fall in Love With You In Four Hours, Personal Finance and You: How Illegal Pirating is Actually the Best Way To Have All You Want and Still Invest in Your Future, and Fallen From Grace: My Story of Sinking From Hero of Hyrule to World Class Laughingstock and How to Stop it From Happening to You!
He currently lives in Sacramento, California, with his second wife, Margaret, and their two children Mario and Lopez.
*If you have any questions about the life of John Wesley [Waldo] Ritter Nelsonsonton, please feel free to contact me or in January, buy my book, to be released by TotallyReal Books - In The Shadow of Greatness: The Real Story of My Doomed Friendship With Waldo Nelsonsonton Because I Was Simply Far Too Awesome.
I don't have very much time to write at the moment, I just had to get in here and make a post before midnight so that I could keep up with the challenge. In the next day or so I plan to share my thoughts about Casino Royale, for now just know I liked it and if you like James Bond you should definitely see it, if not you very well might enjoy it anyway as I did.
Sorry for the TOTALLY lame post today, I was at a surprise birthday party for my friend Tom earlier in the day and now my brother and his girlfriend are home for the weekend so we are spending time with them, leaving no time for posting. I know that no one cares about that, but there, I told you anyway.
Have a great Saturday night!
I don't have too much posting energy today. Thanks to the lovely insomnia I didn't fall asleep until 6 this morning, although luckily I didn't have work today. I just hope that I will be able to sleep tonight so that work won't suck tomorrow. My schedule isn't really all that healthy right now, which wasn't helped by the fact that I spent several hours last night playing Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. The lack of self-discipline strikes again.
Anyway, I hope everyone is having a good Wednesday and I will try to make a more readable blog entry tomorrow.
It would seem that, due to my lack of self discipline, accountability is my only hope of ever getting anything accomplished. My best laid plans stand up about as well as a sand castle in a typhoon when I am left to my own devices. This realization might help me, that is if I can find enough self discipline to find people to hold me accountable when something needs to get done.
I'd like to run more frequently and work out, in the 2 months I've wanted to do this I've gone for a run twice and worked out a total of zero times. I worked out pretty frequently my first two years of college. It was great! I had more energy, I noticed results quickly... but that was when I had my roommate Dave to keep me going every other day. Then, the days I couldn't go with Dave, I was able to go with my friends Brian and (none other than) Waldo Nelsonsonton. Since leaving their sphere of influence I have NEVER gotten on a regular routine again. I assure you, that is one example among many.
This whole accountability thing came to mind due to this challenge with Waldo. I probably wouldn't be blogging anywhere near every day if it weren't for Waldo taking it upon himself to keep both of us engaged in some sort of 'battle to the death' involving the frequency of our entries. As a bonus, his blog has even inspired me to consider being more fiscally responsible. This is thanks to his 'Personal Finance Fridays,' the latest installment of which can be seen here.
So hats off to you Mr. Nelsonsonton for knowing exactly what the Dr. ordered when it comes to me being a more disciplined blogger. I must admit, while you are clearly one of my five favorite people on the planet, I hadn't thought of you as such a powerful influence for good in my life, but the two examples listed here indicate the truth of that, the proof is in the pudding.
Today, I don't have much time to post. I need to head over to my mom's house to drop off the puppies, then it is off to Geneseo. 5 hours is a long car ride, but I think I am in the mood for one of those today so it works out. I have to remember not to forget the tickets... that would be bad after 5 hours of driving.
Ben Folds is closer than ever now, this will be my 3rd time seeing him in concert and if he holds true to form tonight will be quite enjoyable. We heard he is coming back to the City soon so perhaps we will try to find some tickets to that as well... life sure does have its moments.
Anyway, that's all for today... Waldo has been held at bay for just a bit longer.
Mmmmmmm, Wednesday November 8th. Tis a wonderful day in the world of Scott Small.
First off, we have the reality that Waldo and I have completed a full week of our challenge. Each of us has been posting on consecutive days since the start of November. Waldo actually started posting consecutively before the start of November, but we hadn't started the challenge yet, so that doesn't count.
However, the better news is that Emily and I will head down to the city tonight for a Switchfoot concert @ Irving Plaza. Perhaps I will come upon some more concert magic as I did in times past, or, as is more likely, perhaps I will just enjoy a great concert. This, coupled with the Ben Folds concert Emily and I will be taking in Saturday with Tom and Bryanne and this is quite the week. It's the little things in life..
Not too much to say today. I'm afraid I'm a bit under the weather. (Does anyone know where that saying comes from? What does that even mean? Fill me in if you happen to know.)
Emily and I were supposed to go to the city today to spend some time with Tim and Laura, although it turns out it wasn't in the cards. Instead I woke up today feeling even worse than I did yesterday, so here I sit, trapped in my apartment. If I didn't feel like garbage I would probably be pretty bored right now, as it would turn out Manhattan is more fun than the apartment complex.
I will probably spend the day watching television shows on DVD, with perhaps a break at 7 to watch the Knicks/Hawks game. Only time will tell as to what remarkable adventures I will embark on without leaving my couch.
I hope you are feeling better than I am.
