Christmas Song

An old favorite here on Simsisms, here is one of our favorite Christmas themed songs, from the twisted mind of Tom Waits.

Back with some tunes

What I'm Listening to Lately

I haven't updated the blog lately as I've been posting most things to my tumblr account. I prefer tumblr and think it is generally a better platform for blogging and just easier to work with than Blogger. I'd intended to do all future blogging on tumblr, but that account has pretty much become exclusively dedicated to things financial or bankruptcy related. I've decided to go back to posting on Simsisms to use it for my rantings and musings on all things non-bankruptcy. I still recommend keeping up with the tumblr account as I try to keep the links educational and worth the time to read

Today's entry is dedicated to spreading the word on some of the tunes that I've been kicking around my ipod lately. Some of them are old, some of them are new, and all told the represent an eclectic mix that should have something for everyone.

Watch Your Step - Ted Hawkins

I don't know how a huge blues hound like myself never heard of this guy until recently, but he's freaking amazing. Not quite the blues, not quite folk, 100% awesome. I think the most compelling singers are the ones who can captivate a room with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and a unique voice. Guys like Neil Young, Bob Dylan are always going to find room on my play list ahead of pop acts with ninety people in them. A wise man once said all a real songwriter needs are three chords and the truth; Hawkins is in that great tradition and his voice just feels authentic.

Out of the Blue - Julian Casablancas

Lead singer of The Strokes, I like this song as much as anything that has come out of that group. It's just so freaking catchy. Youtube took down the clip of him playing this on Fallon's show backed up by the roots, which sucks because it was actually better than the studio version of the song. You are on notice NBC. Stop preventing people from seeing your product! There's a reason why no one watches your network anymore.

Lake Michigan - Rogue Wave

It's official, I am a sucker for mid 00's indie music. I make no apologies. Less famous than Eyes, but still good.

You Still Hurt Me - William Fitzsimmons

What's that? Why yes, I am currently obsessed with the modern revival of acoustic music with folk leanings. What's your point?

Madder Red - Yeasayer

From acoustic folk, to weird and progressive. I've loved Yeasayer for a while, and they scored major points with their latest release by having the official video for this song star Kristen Bell, whom I am completely in love with. I will even become a vegetarian if she will marry me. If anyone knows her send her my way.

The Cave - Mumford and Sons

I actually prefer Little Lion Man but I'm posting this because there's no swearing in this song. Still a great song and it contains one of my favorite sadly underused musical elements: the acoustic guitar in a crazy alternate tuning. Not used nearly enough in music today and Mumford and Sons uses it frequently. How can you not love that? People should write more songs in open d tuning.

The Gardner - The Tallest Man on Earth

I've posted this song before, but dangit, I still love it. Who knew that the next Bob Dylan was some malnourished Swedish dude? Anyone posting anything likening him to Sigur Ros will be shot.

The Smiths - Girlfriend in a Coma

This song gets about as dark as you can and still remain subtle. Darkly comic and at the same time more disturbing than anything today's inked up, pierced out emo kids can try and put out.

Tumblr

I've opened up a new blog on tumblr. So far I'm liking it, it may take the place of this blog, but I am undecided. In the meantime, check out my intellectual flatulence at bkbastard.tumblr.com

Terra Cotta Hope

Awhile ago I made a post where if you gave me a title, I would write the movie. Basically, hollywood movies are so formulaic that anyone could write them, you just get a title, pick a genre, and throw in a few cliche's. Roll camera and boom, you have yourself a blockbuster movie. So today's movie is terra Cotta Hope.

Terra Cotta Hope is a coming of age story, it stars Dakota Fanning, or someone in that vein. Now, Dakota is a troubled teen, see. Not too troubled, cause audiences don't like their protagonists to be bulemic, or to be obsessed with cutting on themselves. But Dakota is starting to get into trouble, she mouths off to her single mom, and gets busted smoking pot or shoplifting twinkies or something. Dakota has an angry confrontation with Mom, played by Tea Leoni where she says she doesn't think her life will go anywhere and she has no hope of anything good in her life.

So, to deal with the unruly teen, she is shipped off to live with Grandma in the Rural town of Terra Cotta, famous for its dairies and small town living. Dakota is forced to help grandma, who's played by Betty White, by doing chores, which she does with a major attitude at first, but then throughout the movie she learns to love. Dakota gets to know the goofy characters from around the town, and develops a crush on neighborhood boy, played by whatever that kid's name is from the Sparkly- Vampire movie. Not the Vampire, the other kid. The one who's not gay. I forget his name. So, Dakota and Not-Vampire fall in love, through the magic of roping cattle or something, and she's learning to like the town and appreciate the value of hard work and time with Grandma. But, the evil bank/real estate developer, played by Kevin Pollack, wants grandma to sell the property, so they can put up a new resort or highway, or something that sounds evil and greedy which audience members would no-doubt use, but can still project hatred towards without feeling hypocritical. But Grandma won't sell because no matter how much they offer, it can't match the value of the memories she's made at her home. Finally, the stress of the situation causes grandma to collapse, and she's unconscious in the hospital.

Dakota's mom flies back to Terra Cotta, the small town she spent her whole life swearing she'd never go back to. And with grandma unconscious, and mom worried about how they will pay the medical bills, Mom agrees to sign over the house to the evil banker. Dakota will be crying and want to give up, but then Not-gay-vampire will tell her that if she really loves Terra Cotta, then she should just go tell her mom how she feels. Just as mom is about to sign over the deed, which will inexplicably take place in the hospital (how she has legal authority to do this will be explained in passing somehow), Dakota will make a heart warming speech about how the house can't be sold, and will tell all about how her time in Terra Cotta has taken her off the path of being a crack whore and shown her that life is good. Mom is impressed with all the not-crack whoriness of Dakota and says they won't sell, just then, Grandma wakes up echoes everyones sentiments of not selling. Evil banker dude goes away mad. Grandma and Mom hug, and Dakota and Not Vampire dude kiss. Roll Credits.

30?

Greetings Blog-followers. Apologies for the lengthy absence (No, Michelle, I haven't forgotten about Terra Cotta Hope, The plot is complete in my mind, I just haven't had a chance to put it down on paper, but you'll love it). The purpose for this post is to solicit ideas for what I should do for my 30th birthday. It occurs to me that I have no clue what I did for my 20th birthday, and I figure I ought to mark this occasion. So, shoot me a text, email, IM, facebook message, or post in the comments section on what I should do for my 30th birthday.

In honor of LT leaving San Diego

I'll write the movie soon, but first, to commemorate LT leaving San Diego, here's a video which I simply cannot watch enough times.

New Feature

Time for a new feature at simsisms. This one is called, Brad Writes the Movie. All you have to do is give me the title, and I will write the movie pitch, complete with all the hollywood cliches you know and love. Post a title below, or tell me in person. I'll pick one and make up the movie on the spot.

Judge Alex

You gotta love Alex Kozinski. Said the judge in this recent appellate ruling from USA v. Lemus:

"The panel goes to considerable lengths to approve a fishing expedition by four police officers inside Lemus’s home after he was arrested just outside it. The opinion misapplies Supreme Court precedent, conflicts with our own case law and is contrary to the great weight of authority in the other circuits. It is also the only case I know of, in any jurisdiction covered by the Fourth Amendment, where invasion of the home has been approved based on no showing whatsoever. Nada. Gar nichts. Rien du tout. Bupkes.

Did I mention that this was an entry into somebody’s home, the place where the protections of the Fourth Amendment are supposedly at their zenith?"

Thanks Alex!

Credit Cards

Great link on why credit cards will keep you in debt forever

http://www.cracked.com/funny-4179-credit-cards/

Bringing some swagger back to Vegas

For those of you who don't know, Las Vegas is in a bit of a depression. Housing prices in this town have fallen over 50%, the official unemployment rate is around 13%, but the estimates for the actual unemployment are somewhere around 1 in 5. There are no big commercial construction projects left now that City Center is completed, and things are looking mighty bleak for Vegas.

It wasn't always this way. Las Vegas used to be synonymous with a never ending party. In the halcyon days of this town, the Nations greatest entertainers used this as their playground. These guys used to be the image you thought of when you thought of Vegas:

Now Vegas the image of Vegas is more akin to this:

As for celebrities, mostly they come here to embarass themselves or to be seen at nightclubs, rather than give positive entertainment.

I love Vegas, I can't stand to see my once proud city reduced to a punchline. That's why I'm committed to bringing Vegas back its swagger, back its cachet, back its dignity. I'm committed to treating Vegas like we're back in those Rat Pack days where infectious enthusiasm and upbeat entertainment reigned. To kick it off, I'm sending out the call to everyone going to the Robindale Valentine's Dinner to "Rat Pack" it up. You don't have to wear a Tux, but dress to impress. Dress like you're gonna go out and have a good time, like these guys would:

We may not have the Rat Pack, but we're gonna make our own modern offshoot. We'll call it the Frat Pack, or the Brad Pack, or the Mormon Mafia, or something. But we're going to dedicate ourselves to having a good time and finding upbeat ways to entertain ourselves!

10 Things to Look Forward to 2010

1. The Final Season of Lost

That's right, after 5 years of mind blowing exposition we are finally going to find out what the crap is going on with that crazy island. We're going to find out what happened when Juliet hit the bomb, if the Universe course corrects itself, who is impersonating John Locke, and whether Jack's man of Science or John's man of Faith was right. Get your TiVo set!

2. World Cup Soccer

Yes! Watchable soccer! Fanatical devotion to your favorite team, trash talking, waking up early to watch games. I love it. Don't lie, you are excited for this too! I might have to buy a big screen just to watch this.

3. No more sports heroes left to disappoint.

That's right, everyone who could embarass and tarnish their legacy already has! It's safe to watch sports again and root for people and not worry that stuff in their personal life will surface that will make you feel bad for rooting for them. Tiger Woods? His legacy is toast. Michael Jordan? We already found out he's a colossally self important jerk and all his teammates hated him, and he pretty much torched his legacy with his hall of fame speech. Andre Agassi copped to being a huge meth user. Every baseball player you ever loved has pretty much been shown to have used steroids. There is no one left to disappoint you! It can only go up from here!

4. iPad!

Oh yes, am geeking out. Apple is coming out with a tablet computer and it is going to be expensive awesome! It'll work as an eReader, computer, and all-around sweet toy.

5. Elections

That's right, mid term elections! Whether you are a democrat or republican, you get a chance to make your voice heard! The good news is many of the tired incumbents who have been there for years are retiring rather than lose an election. That means NEW BLOOD! No matter which side wins you will get a change! 2010!

6. A-Team!

I'm sure that there will be better movies in 2010, but there is no movie I am looking forward to as much as the A-Team. My favorite show as a kid. I used to run around pretending that I was John "Hannibal" Smith and that I was jumping in slo-mo onto a bad guy. Here's to reliving your childhood!

7. Arrested Development Movie!

It's finally going forward. The funniest show of the last decade is going to be the smartest comedy movie of this decade. Can't wait to see it!

8. Global Warming will make the winter short!

If you believe in Global Warming, then smile. At least this winter will be short and we will have an awesome spring where you can go out running, and hiking, and kayaking! How is that not exciting!? If you don't believe in Global Warming, then smile! The world is not slowly dying, which means more time to go out running, hiking, and kayaking! How is that not exciting!? Either way, we win in 2010, weather-wise.

9. USC Branded as the cheaters we all knew they were!

And they lost Pete Carroll! The basketball program has voluntarily undertaken sanctions for its cheating with OJ Mayo. The football program will probably get hit with sanctions for all the stuff with Reggie Bush. Pete Carroll is off to the frigid wasteland of Seattle, a team so terrible that Mike Holmgren couldn't make them work (they should've won that superbowl. Not winning it is a testament to the futility of rooting for the Seahawks). Pete will get fired after a couple years, and he'll go wind up in some other college program. In the meantime, UCLA can become the dominant L.A. football team they were meant to be.

10. Rampant Snoopy Dancing as people make the world a better place.

That's right, people everywhere are committing to make the world a better place by making themselves a better member of the human race. Goals are being set and if we all encourage and help each other, goals will be achieved! We can make change happen! 2010!

20 in 2010!

I've decided that 2010 is the year of making the world a better place. I'm going to be better, and I'm going to motivate the people around me to be better. I've already established 10 things I'm going to do as far as personal goals. That's well and good, but 2010 is not just about making yourself better, it's about making the world a better place, one good deed at a time. To that end, I am issuing a challenge. I'm challenging myself, and anyone else who believes that you can make a difference and make the world a better place, to commit to doing 20 amazingly good deeds in 2010. They don't have to be large, but they have to be meaningful. 20 good deeds. That's a little less than 2 a month. This is completely doable. I want everyone to post a similar challenge on their blog, and to commit to blogging about a good deed. You don't have to blog on every good deed, I know that some people don't make 20 blob posts a year, but it would be nice if you did post a description of as many good deeds as time and circumstances will allow. Remember, 2010 is our year. We're not going to elect someone to change the world, we're not going to hope someone else will do it. We are going to change the world through our own positive thoughts, words, and deeds. That is what 2010 is all about. Are you with me?

10 things in 2010!

Someone pointed out to me that it is not enough to simply make a goal to be possessed with the relentless spirit of contagious optimism, that I actually should make specific goals for what I will do to make 2010 amazing. Here are some of the things I'm proposing to accomplish in 2010: The Year of the Snoopy dance!

1) Pay off my car

Ideally, I will have this done by my birthday. This is important to me, because after this the only debt I have in my life is my student loans. Granted, that debt is the size of a small mortgage, but still. I want to kick debt out of my life. I don't want to spend my life a slave to my creditors! Slavery is not in harmony with 2o10!

2) Argue and win a major case.

Selfish ego oriented goal!

3) Go Paintballing.

4) Swim a cumulative total of 200 miles.

Since I swam a cumulative total of 2 this past year, I have my work cut out for me. Time to tear up that rotator cuff.

5) Read the Book of Mormon 2X

6) Rediscover my abs!

7) Take a yoga class.

Why must my favorite Yoga Instructor teach way over in Henderson? I may have to take up martial arts instead.

8) Rediscover recreational reading.

9) Open a Roth IRA

10) File 300 cases in a month.

This last one probably means nothing to anyone, but I want to achieve this because my firm has never done it and I want to make some history! (Plus they'll pay me scads of cash if we hit 300)

2010!

Welcome 2010. I'm glad to meet you. Let's dance.

The last decade saw terrorism, partisanship, cynicism, and a host of other things good and bad.

2010, this the year that we are going make into what we want. Change will happen because we will make it happen. Out with the bad, the negative, that which drags us down. 2010 will be different. 2010 will be positive. There will be down moments, sure. There always are. For how would we appreciate the good times of 2010 without the bad. But this year, the good will overshadow the bad. The Light will shine through the darkness. Hold your head up high, world. Lift those feet high, put your nose to the sky. It's the year of the SNOOPY DANCE! The dance of relentless optimism!