One Hit Wonders of the 2000s (Part 12)

What's this stuff I see outside my window this morning as I wake up?

Is that God's dandruff? (Sorry, couldn't resist).

Yes, it's snow! In late February! In Vancouver! With exclamation marks!! I can't stop!!!

Somebody please stop me!!!!!

Whew! Thank you. Just like a broken record.

No, I don't mean annoying as hell. I mean stuck on one thing.

Really, you wound me when you say things like that. I get enough abuse from my interns.

And it's even worse on my birthday!

Since you're being so mean to me, I guess I'll just start with today's episode. Yes, that's right, it's time for this week's edition of the one-hit wonders of the 2000s! Hopefully with less rap, but I'm beginning to lose hope.

As usual, you can find the list I'm taking these from here.

Will it help if I ask you nicely not to look at the list before I'm done?

Here we go!

1) Panjabi MC: "Beware of the Boys (Mundian to Bach Ke)" (#33) (May 17, 2003)


Panjabi Mc - Mundian To Bach Ke
Uploaded by homhom. - Explore more music videos.

Does the music in this song sound kind of familiar? If you listen really closely, you'll hear the Knight Rider theme in there.

For those of you too young to know, that was a TV show from the 80s with a talking car.

For those of you from the future, TV is a device that broadcast video programming to the masses. It even survived this.

But may not survive this.

We shall mourn. And try to find something else to do with our time.

Like writing bad blogs!

Oh, the song? It's kind of exotic and fun, but not something I'd listen to every day.

2) Wayne Wonder: "No Letting Go" (#11) (May 31, 2003)



Well, at least it looks like he's not going to get laid in this video...

whoops...should have watched longer.

Good lord, though. She could look like she's a little more into it. What, did she learn from Chris Isaak's girl?

Put some emotion into it!

Seriously, they all look like they'd rather be someplace else.

C'mon, Wayne! I don't need these high school flashbacks here.

3) Floetry: "Say Yes" (#24) (June 14, 2003)



(Yay, Vevo!!!)

"You make me so...so...so...." WHAT???? WHAT DOES HE MAKE YOU FEEL?????

I don't know why they wouldn't finish. It's not like the kids out there would understand what the ladies mean.

If I'm reading that right, of course...

Which I think I am. Because I've got that kind of radar.

(Thanks to Teebean)

It can scope out innuendo at 500 yards.

It also attracts the chicks, but that's just a side benefit.

4) Bone Crusher: "Never Scared" (#26) (June 21, 2003)



(language warning)

I think my head's going to explode like the one that Crusher's talking about in the song.

"Thank you for lining up today. Will anybody who doesn't suck please step forward? Not so fast, Crusher."

5) Korn: "Did My Time" (#38) (August 9, 2003)



(Yay, Vevo!!!)

The saving grace of this video?

Angelina Jolie (the song's from the movie Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life and she's in the video too).

The saving grace of this song? Let me think...

Ummm....it ends? Eventually?

6) Lumidee: "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" (#3) (August 16, 2003)



I have no idea which version of this song went to #3.

It's got a pretty good beat. It's almost bouncing me off my chair.

However, everything else?

But you know what your mom always said about not having anything nice to say.

Stupid interns!! It was only supposed to cover my mouth!

7) Thalia: "I Want You" (#22) (August 23, 2003)


Thalia & Joe - I Want You
Uploaded by lachula. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Gotta love a girl who knows what she wants and tells you!

She's smoking-hot, but the voice? Let's just say "Thank God for audio processing" (Yeah, like I should talk).

Then again, if she's singing to some guy, I can't imagine him actually listening to her voice, anyway, so maybe it's a win-win.

And Fat Joe? Well, you're making Thalia sound good, so I'm sure she thanks you for that.

And there you have it! We're half-way through 2003, and I'm getting depressed. Who knew there'd be a new resurgence of Rap?

Oh, Britney Spears, where are you when I need you?

Ok, actually, I never need you. But thank you for coming anyway. I seem to be having trouble hunting down good music.

But I shall persevere!

Until next time, when we wrap up 2003, I shall bid you adieu. Time for me to start my Sunday.



I hate those damned seagulls. They're evil.



One Hit Wonders of the 2000s
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21
Part 22
Part 23
Part 24
Part 25
Part 26
Part 27
Part 28
Part 29
Part 30
Part 31

Podcast stuff - Episode 6 of Radio EPLT!

Yet another chance to hear my scratchy voice (or dulcet tones, depending on your mindset), episode 6 of Radio EPLT is now live! It posted yesterday, *and* on time.

It's a bit shorter than normal (just over 45 minutes), but it still sounds pretty good. We have both an interview about our Home Economics cohort coming up as well as a discussion about gaming and Education.

We had a lot of fun recording (i.e. we kept messing up), but I think it sounds pretty good now that all of that stuff is out of there.

Please take a listen and let me know what you think.

And I mean that...we're not getting any mail, and we're getting lonely. :)

And if you haven't listened to the last episode yet, why not?

The Wii gets a little saucy - Western Society collapses

The Nintendo Wii, that family gaming platform extraordinaire, is becoming a bit more...spicy.

As is the Playstation Move, but I don't care about that. Nobody's buying it.

Ubisoft has just released a trailer for a "flirty and fun" (my quotes, not a quote from the actual press release) game called We Dare.

This is the look on my face after I got done with it.

Yes, it was that awful.

In the immortal words of kids everywhere, "Ewwwwwww, gross! Try this!"



I never thought I would say this, but "hey, playing the Wii could lead to a foursome!"

If you're a bunch of losers or something.

To quote Game Informer:

"Basically, We Dare has you performing the exact same dumb minigames as in countless other Wii titles, except this time it's supposed to be naughty because you, like, put the Wii remote in your pants or something."

Yes, if that sounds bad, that's because it is.

The game's scheduled to be released in Europe. With a 12+ rating. That's right. For ages 12 and up.

Just imagine that, you Moms out there.

Hide your Wii! Or don't let them play unsupervised.

I don't think this game is the end of society as we know it (despite the title), but I do think this is hilariously bad and silly, and I can't see *anybody* enjoying this.

Except maybe for your next Key Party.

(h/t: Games Radar)

Edit #1 (2/26/11): Apparently, this video may be unplayable in the States, or something. If you read the comments, you'll see that one of my American friends couldn't play it, but at the time of this edit, I can still play it here in Canada. She said that the Game Informer video still works, so check it out there if it won't play for you!

Edit #2 (3/11/11): Changed the video, so hopefully it can now be viewed by all

One Hit Wonders of the 2000s (Part 11)

It's another sunny morning in Vancouver, something that's rarer than something that's really rare.

And that's rare!!

Ok, let's check stock to make sure I'm ready for this post.

Beer?

Check. (Well, hellooooooo, ladies....)

Ahem! Sorry.

Chocolate-covered nuts?

Check.

Comedic ability?

Damn, where is it! I know it's here somewhere....

Must have left it in my other coat. Oh well, as usual, I'll have to carry on.

Welcome to this week's edition of the one-hit wonders of the 2000! We're smoking into 2003 (and by that, I mean going really fast, not literally smoking)

Hopefully this will be a better year than 2002 was. It can't get much worse.

As usual, you can find the list I'm taking these from here.

Sure, go ahead and look. I double-dog dare you!

Wait, don't!!!!

Damn, too late.

Here we go!

1) Lasgo: "Something" (#35) (February 1, 2003)



I sense something funky and dancy here...yes, I just made up a word.

Stupid kid and his remote-control car! There's *one* person there on the sidewalk, and you hit her? Or are you hitting *on* her? Hmmmmmm...some kids start early, I guess. I sense a meet-cute coming up.

Can't beat the hook-up at the Post Office box, can you? I know that's where I used to go to meet chicks.

This Belgian trio (was the lead singer the only one in the video?) has been hot in Europe for years, but this is the only song that (barely) made it over here in the States. Not quite sure why that is, but maybe the synthesizer knows...

Nah, he doesn't look like he knows much.

2) Aaron Lines: "You Can't Hide Beautiful" (#38) (February 15, 2003)



Another Country intruder!!! Man the breeches!!!

(Thanks to Rajputi Fashion)

Ummm, I mean breaches.

This song actually has a great message, but it would have helped amplify it if they hadn't actually brought in a very good-looking woman to be his girlfriend/wife.

And why are the other women laughing around the beach fire as he's singing this? Is it that funny? Or am I completely missing the message of this song?

The song's not a bad one overall. The video...well, let's just say that it doesn't quite match the words to the song.

Or I could just be out to lunch.

No! I mean....stupid interns, always getting the pictures wrong.

3) Smilez and Southstar: "Tell Me" (#28) (March 8, 2003)



Next, please!

Sir, I said "next, please." Please move along.

Because you suck, that's why. Now, please leave before I get angry. And you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.

Thank you.

4) t.A.T.u: "All the Things She Said" (#20) (March 15, 2003)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Ok, now I remember this song. Vaguely.

This is the controversial young Russian duo who appeared to be lesbians, but apparently their music was *for* lesbians, and their Russian manager kept trying to create scandals with them rather than actually managing their careers.

Gee, I don't know where they'd pick up that image...

Anyway, over in the States, they seemed to get more press for the controversies and apparent titillation rather than for their music.

Which is kind of sad because, like their music or hate it, they should be judged on their musical talents.

This serious moment brought to you by "Serious Face"

the brand whose motto is "Didn't your mom ever tell you your face will freeze like that?"

5) Norah Jones: "Don't Know Why" (#30) (March 15, 2003)



(Yay, Vevo!)

It's artists like Norah Jones that really makes me hate this whole "Top 40" thing. Jones has only hit it once in her career? Yet she's very successful at what she does, and I could listen to her at any time, day or night.

This is a gorgeous song, and Jones has an awesome voice. There is nothing to joke about in this one. The video's even great. When you've got a hot woman with the voice of an angel, why not just shoot her singing and playing the piano?

Sounds like a winning plan to me.

For those of you unfamiliar with Jones, here's a couple more.



This was on the Love, Actually soundtrack, and gets the torch-singer vibe just right. Sorry, doesn't appear to be a video of it, sadly. Great cover of this song.


Norah Jones - Come Away with me
Uploaded by Mdkart. - Explore more music videos.

And then there's "Come Away With Me," which I would have thought would be a bigger hit, but oh well.

Enjoy.

6) Vivian Green: "Emotional Rollercoaster" (#39) (March 29, 2003)



(Yay, Vevo!)

This song is enjoyable, but just kind of ordinary. Almost like comfort food. Green's got a great voice, don't get me wrong. She performs it wonderfully. It's just not moving me for some reason.

It's almost like I'm an immovable object or something.

Oh, well. It's not a knock against Green. Maybe I just need a happy pill.

See? All better now.

7) Amanda Perez: "Angel" (#20) (May 3, 2003)



A sad song, and really nothing to make fun of, unfortunately. Well, unfortunately for me, anyway. Why all these sad songs on something that's supposed to be a comedy?

I think somebody just doesn't want me stretching my comedic chops.

Either that, or they want me to shut up.

That could be too.

And there you have it! Week 1 of 2003! I have to say it's been much better so far.

Hopefully there won't be too many bumps in the road of 2003 goodness.

Other than that one, anyway.

Join us next week when we go through the offices here at One-Hit Wonders Inc and decide who should be fired next.

(Thanks to the Government of South Australia)

That's always a blast.

They look so innocent, too.

Anyway, until next week, it's time to start my day! I have to go test some weaponry.



Yeah, it's going to be one of those days.



One Hit Wonders of the 2000s
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21
Part 22
Part 23
Part 24
Part 25
Part 26
Part 27
Part 28
Part 29
Part 30
Part 31

Book Review - Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl

Today's book entry is yet another double feature.

I first saw Lis Wiehl on Fox News, as a regular guest on the O'Reilly Factor (I believe she was also his "sidekick" on his radio show). She has always come across as highly intelligent, a great prosecutor, and all of that good stuff.

I will refrain from mentioning her hotness (whoops! Too late).

Anyway, Face of Betrayal was the first book in the "Triple Threat" series of books, written with April Henry, about a federal prosecutor, an FBI agent, and a TV reporter, all of whom are friends and work together to solve crimes.

It's actually quite an interesting concept, and I was intrigued, but not intrigued enough to go out and buy it.


Then the second book, Hand of Fate, came out, and showed up on the Curled Up With a Good Book list of books to review. Despite being the second book, I snapped it up. And wasn't that impressed. But I'll talk about that in a minute.

Face of Betrayal recently showed up on the list, and since I had read the second, I thought I'd give it a try. And it was so much better! I couldn't believe it. Not only that, but I think I understand what Wiehl's trying to do with the series now, so the second book has bumped up marginally from where it was before.

The first book introduces the whole concept of the Triple Threat. However, since I reviewed them out of order, let me introduce them out of order.

First, from my review of Hand of Fate:

"Jim Fate is a huge talk-radio success, syndicated in over 100 markets. He's opinionated, brusque, able to talk over anybody who's trying to argue with him (consider him a cross between Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Nancy Grace). Many people have a beef with him, and one of those people has killed him with a dangerous poison gas attack. In the ensuing panic, downtown Portland is evacuated, and the three women who make up the "Triple Threat" club - FBI Agent Nicole Hedges, Federal Prosecutor Allison Pierce and Crime Reporter Cassidy Shaw - are each affected by the situation in unique ways. Afterward, they have to team up to figure out just who hated Fate enough to kill him.

Hand of Fate is a fairly short book (around 300 pages), and it’s very disjointed. In most series, the character development comes out of the characters' reactions to the main plot, or perhaps within a subplot regarding something minor. In this book, some major events occur simply for the purposes of character development and have nothing to do with the main story. The entire Sarin gas scare at the beginning of the book ends up being mainly a character-development vehicle for these three women, and that's almost a third of the book."

As you can see, I wasn't that impressed, with the character development completely unrelated to the plot and seeming to just take up space in the novel. It was an interesting story, but too many issues marred my enjoyment of the book.

Now that I've read Face of Betrayal, it makes a bit more sense.

"One of the hazards of reading a continuing series out of order (not a trilogy that tells one story, but a series that involves the same characters in different stories) is that you may misinterpret what an author is trying to accomplish with the series. I discovered this after reading Face of Betrayal, the first "Triple Threat" novel by Lis Wiehl. The second book, Hand of Fate, employed tons of character development that had nothing to do with the main plot of the novel. After reading the first book, it's obvious that Wiehl is using this series both to present thrillers to the reader as well as exploring the characters she has created (it says "with April Henry," but it seems that Wiehl has done most of the plot and character work). Thankfully, Wiehl did a much better job of integrating everything thematically in Face of Betrayal, leaving the reader with a great book.

Katie Converse is a Senate page home in Portland for Christmas break. Everything seems perfect for the, at least publicly. When she disappears, though, seedy details of her life beyond the public image start to surface. A domineering mother, an anonymous blog of her time as a page that seems to indicate a relationship with a certain senator, an unhappy life - all provide conflicting signals as to who may have abducted her. Or killed her. FBI agent Nicole Hedges, federal prosecutor Allison Pearce and reporter Cassiday Shaw (the "Triple Threat" of the series) combine resources to figure out not only what happened but who did it as well."

The first book is well-worth a read. The second one not nearly so much, but it is better than I had originally thought, not that I understand Wiehl's motivation.

I hope another book comes out so we can see more of the three ladies. They have intriguing stories, and it will be interesting to see what Wiehl does with them.

And check out the reviews! Let me know what you think.

Taking Twitter Too Seriously

In honour of my good friend Evette's return to Twitter today after a very long absence, a Twitter post!

Ok, actually, I was considering doing this one anyway, but it's posted today to honour her...

Remember yesterday's post about the Robocop statue in Detroit?

It turns out that it's very possible that this started out as a joke that took off. The mayor of Detroit, Dave Bing, as asked on Twitter about the Robocop statue. Was it a joke? I've heard differing reports on this.

Whatever the case may be, Mayor Bing took it seriously, and denied that Detroit public funds would be used for this statue.

(that just sounds so weird, especially if this were the Mayor Bing in question)

The whole thing took off from there, resulting in the news story that my post was about.

This is a cautionary tale about putting *too* much stock in Twitter, or pretty much anything else on the web, without multiple confirmations.

Erroneous celebrity death notifications have gone flying around the Twitter-sphere more often than Taylor Swift changes clothes in one of her concerts. Mistaken news items have also been propagated heavily before corrections have to be issued.

Twitter is an excellent place to stay informed because the news can be so instantaneous. It's also very hard to censor, which is why it did so fabulously during the Iranian protests of 2009, and why Egypt moved very quickly to block all Internet access during the recent protests (they didn't want the same thing happening).

But you do have to be careful. Don't believe everything you read, especially if it sounds too strange to be true. Really, why would the Canucks trade Ryan Kesler, one of their best players, for a depth defenseman like Ian White? But that rumour was flying around Twitter yesterday until the Canucks GM squashed it...via Twitter, actually. (Yes, he has his own account).

And if you're a public official, you might want to step back and think a minute if you get what seems like an outrageous question. Is this a serious question? Maybe direct message them (you can do that if they're following you) and see if it really is serious?

As with any other function of the Internet, it always pays to be careful. Hoaxes abound (keeping Snopes.com in business); stupidity and ignorance can run rampant.

It's also an excellent tool. So don't let these warnings keep you away from trying it.

Just be aware.

Which is good advice no matter what you're talking about.

Yet Another Pleasantly Disturbed Thursday

Ever wonder how old sayings become old sayings? And what they might mean? Who came up with them and why?

How much wood would a wooodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

So you're saying a woodchuck can't chuck wood? If so, why was he named a woodchuck? Is it really a woodcharles shortened?

And if it can't chuck wood, then why would anybody care how much it could chuck? Who thought of this?

Was it some friar looking out the window of the monastery in the 1400s, watching some frolicking woodchucks, who suddenly slapped his head and wondered "God, why am I doing this?" Ummm...I mean, "I wonder how much wood they could chuck if they were able to chuck wood rather than frolic?"

And why are they frolicking?

Do they know something we don't know?

Animals can sense natural disasters, you know. Like earthquakes, maybe tornadoes, or the arrival of Justin Bieber.

Maybe they're frolicking because the Apocalypse is coming soon?

Needless to say, when it didn't come, that monastery was shut down for inflaming the masses, but that's another story.

"Inflame." There's another word that I don't understand where it came from. "He was inflamed with jealousy." Did it start out with somebody literally catching on fire? And if so, why was somebody coming up with a new word rather than putting him out?

It's seriously a conundrum.

What's even more of a conundrum is where "conundrum" came from. Who creates this stuff? And how do they come up with them? It's not like a planet, or a sea, or a baseball team, where you just name it after the guy who discovered it.

Or the gal. I'm not sexist.

I think the guy who came up with "conundrum" should have been trying to figure out his conundrum rather than coming up for a word to call it.

You know?

And this is why you should really keep my mind occupied.

Or I might start trying to figure out who came up with "occupied."

This is yet another entry in the Pleasantly Disturbed Thursdays tradition started by Duane Scott over at his blog, though he didn't post one today, whining about some test or something like that (just kidding, Duane! Love ya!).

Instead, it's being hosted by his friend Helen, over at Random Musings. Head on over and check out the rest of the insanity.

My break with Sci-Fi nerds

Those of you who know me know that I'm a big science fiction fan, almost to the point of being a nerd about it. ("Almost?" - The Peanut Gallery)

In fact, I'm a big defender of those of us who like the genre, against those who would look down on us and think less of us because of what we like. Remember how much of our current technology has its roots in old Star Trek episodes?

But there comes a point when they go too far, and I have to abandon them.

Those fans in Detroit have reached that point.

According to the Ogemaw County Herald (h/t: Deborah Mann on Twitter), fans of Robocop were up in arms when Detroit mayor Dave Bing stated that the city would not put up money for a Robocop statue in Detroit.

While the article is written tongue-in-cheek (and hence, there's nothing really quote-worthy in it), the controversy was real. Fans were truly upset.

Yes, the cost of the statue would be relatively small. But in this day and age of public deficits, with governments (city, state, and federal) bleeding money right and left, can a statue of Robocop really be justified?

These people who were upset really need to get their head out of the alternate universe they're in and pay attention to the real world.

Thankfully, according to DetroitNews.com, fundraising efforts have raised enough money for the statue.

In addition to the public financing stupidity, there were other reasons for debating whether this statue should be created:

"It has since generated national media attention and substantial debate within Detroit between those who believe a statue is fun and could be a tourist attraction and those who believe it is silly idea at best and condescending reminder of the city's crime problems at worst."

Those are all good reasons not to publicly do it too.

I'm glad they were able to raise the funds privately. I think it is a cool idea, though not one that I would personally contribute money to.

And as Jerry Paffendorf, the person who spearheaded the campaign to raise funds, said:

"If people can raise money for something like RoboCop, then they can do it for their neighborhoods or their schools"

Hear hear, Mr. Paffendorf. Let's hope that others will jump on that particular bandwagon.

One Hit Wonders of the 2000s (Part 10)

Hey look! The rain has stopped!

Wait. That's just the picture I put up in the window to make me feel better. Never mind.

Sexy guy, though.

Will the flowers come out soon? Will it turn from grey to green?

As I look out my window, I see that we don't grow flowers in Vancouver.

We grow buildings.

(Not Vancouver, but a reasonable facsimile)

Big, strong, narrow buildings that reach to the sky and...well, never mind.

Anyway, you know what time it is? No, not the time to fling the cat over the balcony.

Though she does deserve it.

No, it's time for this week's one-hit wonder extravaganza!!!! We're finishing up 2002. Yes, you heard that right. Finishing up the year when we just started it last week.

What a lame year!

As usual, you can see the list I'm taking these from here. But don't go looking to get ahead of me!

I've coated the next few years with a fast-acting poison that will cause you to turn into this.

Whoops! That's from my Match.com ad. I meant this.

Here we go!

1) Default: Wasting My Time (#13) (June 8, 2002)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Hey! They're in the watch! That is so cool. What a cool use of the time motif! Actually, no it's not, but it's a nice try, though.

If she's waiting for you, though, you may want to get out of her watch and actually, you know, talk to her. Unless you're scared or something.

"Honey, I was going to meet you. I swear!!!! But then I had to break up a fight in Central Park, and it just got ugly."

"Well, maybe not *that* ugly"

Awwww...we have a happy ending.

This is actually a pretty good song, but a rather lame video.

2) Jimmy Eat World: "The Middle" (#5) (June 22, 2002)



(Yay, Vevo!)

My Guitar Hero song! Or was it Rock Band? Evette can probably tell me. I had no idea the video was so risque, though!

"Hey, nobody told me it was a costume party....wow, I'm lame"

"Nothing says privacy like an empty refrigerator!!! The cold has other good effects too..."

Yet another pretty cool rock song from the early 2000s. Nice guitar work, nice panties...I mean, percussion...and great bras...I mean bravery for all of those dancing around in their underwear!

All around win-win for Jimmy. Though really, eating the world? Diet much, Jimmy?

3) Dirty Vegas: "Days Go By" (#14) (June 29, 2002)



Wow, that's an empty street...why can't Vancouver be like that when I'm trying to get around?

Ok, it's official. The Rat Race has officially driven us all crazy.

They should have gotten Christopher Walken for this video...

Let me get this straight. He was dating this girl, but he just couldn't stop dancing, so she finally left him? Is that the serious story in this video? I'm not the most intelligent guy out there (actually, I'm being modest...I'm SuperBrain), but...

Huh???

The song's got a nice beat, but I am completely boggled about the video.

Nice dancing, though.

I guess. If you're into that sort of thing.

4) Big Tymers: "Still Fly" (#11) (July 20, 2002)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Oooooooo rap!!!!!

And bad rap, too....

Turn it off! Before I lose it!!!

Wow. That was therapeutic...

5) Irv Gotti presents The Inc: "Down 4 U" (#6) (August 3, 2002)

Skipped because I can't find a video I know is the right one.

Besides, it looks like it's a rap song.

So...

6) DJ Sammy and Yanou featuring Do: "Heaven" (#5) (August 10, 2002)



Oh! A remix of *this* song!!!

She's no Bryan Adams, but I'll take her. Not so sure about this revamp of the song, though. Does it really need a dance remix? I guess if I was out at a club it might be cool. Of course, it's probably not even played there anymore, so never mind.

Damn! It's too bad I just realized that. I was all set to go.

Ladies, you missed out. Sorry.

7) Tracy Byrd: "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo" (#26) (September 21, 2002)



It wouldn't be the early 2000s without a Country song! But at least there's a video...

So let me get this straight. We have beer goggles regarding women at bars, and we have Jose Cuervo Hearing Aids for bad music turning good? Got it.

This video looks like it cost $30 to make.

Where have all the odes to alcohol gone? This is another classic one in that vein, though after 10 rounds, I think he'd be doing much more than looking wasted.

I think this is more likely to be him.

Then again, when a hot girl beckons, you force yourself to get up off the floor! And...well, have your buddies drag you along with her.

8) Nappy Roots: "Po' Folks" (#21) (November 9, 2002)


Nappy Roots - Po' Folks
Uploaded by AtlanticRecords. - See the latest featured music videos.

(Embedding Disable on Youtube? BS!!!)

No rap for weeks, and then three in one episode? What is this?

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue...

But I got better.

And there you have it! 2002 goes out the biggest whimper since the one emitted by me when I accidentally got one of Brett Favre's texts.

This was a pathetic year for one-hit wonders, and one can only hope that somebody came around and whipped them into shape.

Well, not *quite* like that, as I don't think it would have the right effect. But you get the picture.

So be with us next week when we'll usher in 2003 with a bit more aplomb than we left this year with.

And there might be cake as well.

But don't count on it.

It's time to start my day.



Stupid pigs. LET THEM STARVE!!!!



One Hit Wonders of the 2000s
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21
Part 22
Part 23
Part 24
Part 25
Part 26
Part 27
Part 28
Part 29
Part 30
Part 31

Book Review - The Left-Handed Dollar by Loren D. Estleman

We've now come to the end of Book Week here on Dave's Buttoned-Up Mind, and this time we get out of the SF field and head into the Hard Boiled detective novel genre.

My wife has been a big fan of Loren D. Estleman since before I married her. I think we've got all of his books.

So when I saw his latest book, The Left-Handed Dollar, on the list of books to review for Curled Up With a Good Book, I knew I had to have it.

Because I'm a good husband that way.

Estleman, among other things, writes about a gumshoe detective named Amos Walker. Based in Detroit, he has a lot of the typical detective tropes. He has an ambiguous relationship with the police (they can't decide if they like him or want to lock him up), he has his own little office where he conducts business, a beat-up car, and he has kind of an aversion to technology (though he does now use a cell phone).

He's a really interesting character, and I may have to read some of the other books my wife has if I ever get a free moment.

Anyway, here's the description of this particular book, from my review:

"The Left-Handed Dollar is another in the long series of books about private detective and Detroit native Amos Walker. He's been hired by a crafty lawyer, Lucille Lattermore (known as "Lefty Lucy"), to clear the name of noted mobster Joey "Ballistic" Ballista. Unfortunately for Amos, the crime he's been asked to clear him of is the bombing (and maiming) of his best friend, investigative reporter Barry Stackpole. That could cause problems. So could the fact that former witnesses and potential snitches are dropping like flies around him."

This is a classic novel, not in the "best novel in the world!" sense, but in the way that it's just like many of the old detective novels.

And that's definitely a good thing.

Check out the review and let me know what you think!

Podcast stuff - Episode 5 of Radio EPLT!

Yes, it's yet another episode that brings the UBC Faculty of Education (or at least our own little part of it) to you.

Or, you can say it brings my voice to you, whichever is more likely to get you to listen.

Episode 5 was posted yesterday (believe it or not, actually on time!)

We're back to normal audio quality this time, as both the podcast itself as well as the interview were recorded in our normal manner.

I also think it sounds better because I was a bit better prepared this time.

Anyway, subjects of the podcast include one of the courses that our office is offering, as well as a discussion of the potential pitfalls of K-12 teachers being on Facebook and what they have to watch out for.

Plus an Xbox joke!

So please take a listen. I'd love to hear what you think. And send an email to us! We may even read it on the air.

Book Review - Gauntlgrym by R.A. Salvatore

Welcome to Day 4 of Book Week here on Dave's Buttoned-Up Mind!

We've moving into the home stretch, and today's entry is the last SF entry of the bunch. So my friends and readers who are not SF fans can pay more attention tomorrow.

Today's book is Gauntlgrym by R.A. Salvatore, another in the author's ongoing Drizzt Do'Urden series about the dark elf warrior. It takes place in the Forgotten Realms universe of the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game.

I've always kind of liked Salvatore's writing, though it's never wowed me. Unlike yesterday's book, Salvatore's main strength is his action writing. You can almost see the choreography of his fight scenes as you're reading. The characters aren't necessarily bad, but they can be kind of wooden sometimes. That doesn't necessarily apply to Drizzt, who has been through many adventures (though I haven't read them all). But some of Salvatore's incidental characters would have to work hard to gain a second dimension, much less a third.

Gauntlgrym is the first book in the "Neverwinter" series, so it looks like even more major changes are in the works in the life of Drizzt.

From the review:

"Decades have passed since two of Drizzt’s longtime companions (one of whom was also his wife) crossed into Death’s realm, and both he and the Dwarf King Bruenor Battlehammer are growing restless. Bruenor has decided to give up the throne and go on a quest to find the fabled Dwarven kingdom of Gauntlgrym with his old friend Drizzt by his side. Elves and Dwarves being very long-lived, they no longer feel the lust for life that marked their younger years, the passage of old friends taking a great toll on them. But other forces are at work, also looking for Gauntlgrym and the natural force that inhabits it. Will Bruenor and Drizzt find it before the evil is unleashed? And will Drizzt continue to lose himself in battle lust, no longer caring what happens to him after the long, lonely years he’s spent?"

Salvatore's books are always a fun read, but they're not always that gripping. That's even more so this time, as decades pass just within this book itself.

This book is pretty much for D&D fans as well as Salvatore fans.

I'm not sure the writing quality is up to attracting any readers who aren't interested in that genre.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing.