WHAT PASSES FOR 'EMPTY THOUGHTS' FOR ME

HIP HOP MONDAY!


Remembering the original 'Get Fresh Tour', sponsored by Swatch Watch (did anyone else 'switch to Swatch'?) that was headlined by Run-DMC and Whodini, the Fat Boys was one of the bands that were also on the tour.


They were the 'clown rappers' of their day, often making light of their own expanding waistlines. Sadly, one of the trio passed at 28 due to complications related to his weight. But before that, the band released several chart hits and enjoyed notoriety due to their ability to make self effacing and humour laden music.


Of all their songs, this was my favourite. It is a high energy song for me as well as a lot of fun. Not going to make a '... in my day, THIS was real hip hop' rant here. This is simply a fun song that I love to listen to, still. Especially the very beginning of it!



SPARTAN

A Val Kilmer vehicle that I think was under appreciated. It was written by David Mamet, who has tapped into a language that is uniquely his. Somehow, everyone talks tough and it makes me think of the way that film noir character's are supposed to speak. Quick and sharp patter and left handed compliments to someone else and their qualities.


Anywho, it popped into my mind as I watched the State-Minnesota game. I wonder why they don't call themselves the 'Golden Gophers' anymore. Watching State play, they really embody the toughness of a coach who was raised in a town called 'Iron Mountain'.

They get every teams best shot during conference play. Sunday was no different as the Gophers seemed to have saved the game of their season for the good guys. They were more athletic and were hungry to the point of being ravenous. It was hard to watch, because I didn't want to watch them go down. But I hung in, because I knew that they were going to hang in the game, too.


`We had to grind through that whole game,'' Lucas said. ``We kept telling our guys that we can get this win. Just be smart and that's what we did.''

Kalin Lucas is anomaly as 'the best player for his team'. He doesn't demand the ball or really get on his teammates. He still tries to place his skills in the context of what is best for the team. But sometimes your best player needs to be your best player. Sometimes, you are only going to go as far as that person is going to take you.


Trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half, he begin to take over and make plays. Meanwhile, they locked down on defense and did what State does. And that is, they make plays at 'winning time'.


It wasn't until the last couple of minutes that the Spartans even held any lead in the ball game. They made it stand up by keeping Minnesota from scoring in the last 14 seconds where a basket would have won the game. The kind of composure that they displayed to chip away at a big lead against a team who was playing at a high level, is the kind of confidence that I would like to emulate. Especially now, slogging thru whatever I am slogging thru right now.





THE WORD FOR THE DAY - DYSTOPIA




One of the things about folks that wonder about the Cheney-Bush administration's actions after 9-11, is they benefited defense contractors and companies that are linked to either one of those cats or friends of theirs. Now, with freedom teetering in the balance, we have the Supreme Court's recent decision to allow for corporate contributions to political campaigns.



Imagining a future where a truly enlightened political movement were to began to flourish, how could it avoid gov't intervention and infiltration? Should that magically occur, how would they be able to afford a campaign to have their voice heard?



News is already diseminated thru a few corporations... in fact, as is most media. So the thought that 'they' are telling us what to do is not as fair fetched as you've been told...


...by corporate media!