Cesar Menendez

Spoiler Alert

2010-10-07T08:45:00.000-07:00

My Thoughts on Brad Pitt:

2009-12-17T16:18:00.000-08:00

Organic Food: Not Healthier than Regular?

2009-08-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

Organic food isn't healthier than processed food, item to item. It's just more expensive. That's what CNN says. From the article:

Researchers looked at 50,000 studies conducted over 50 years — and found no significant differences in the foods. They focused on a wide range of crops and livestock raised and marketed under organic standards.

I suppose that could mean one of a few things:

This entire study is just propaganda from Big Food, carefully calibrated as a response to Food Inc. Having worked in PR, this wouldn't surprise me.
The study is legit, but ignores the environmental impacts of non-organic foods.
The study is legit, and we should stop spending nearly 2x on organic foods.

Maybe there's a compromise: buy from farmer's markets/local producers when you can, but go to the largemart foodcorp store when you can't. Who knows. How do you buy groceries, dear blog reader?

True.

2009-06-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Lessons on Humility from Kanye West. . . Wait, Kanye West?

2009-04-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

Is it the economy? Maturity? Not sure the reason really, but Kanye seems to have mellowed out. In response to this roasting from the guys at South Park -

he said:

SOUTH PARK MURDERED ME LAST NIGHT AND IT'S PRETTY FUNNY. . . I JUST WANNA BE A DOPER PERSON WHICH STARTS WITH ME NOT ALWAYS TELLING PEOPLE HOW DOPE I THINK I AM. I NEED TO JUST GET PAST MYSELF. DROP THE BRAVADO AND JUST MAKE DOPE PRODUCT. (sic)

Wow. As a huge fan of humility, I'm amazed. And I should know, I'm, like, the best at being humble.

I Really Do Love April Fool's

2009-03-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

Leave it to The Economist to strike first this April Fool's day: Announcing Econoland. Apparently, The Economist is branching out into a them park. From the article:

Among the thrilling experiences Econoland will offer are:

The currency high-roller: Float like a butterfly with the euro and drop like a stone with the pound! Chamber of horrors: Tremble at the wailing of distressed debt! Fiscal fantasyland: Watch the economy shrivel before your very eyes as you struggle to stop growth falling! Bankrupt Britain: Pit your wits against the government as you try to sink sterling and bring the country to its knees! The Severe Contest: Try your strength against a bear market!

Hilarious.

Of course, whenever anyone quotes the economist, I have a reaction like the second guy in this story.

Three Basic Truths from George Will

2009-03-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

Having a lot of free time, I watch a lot of TV. Like a lot. But don't worry, dear blog reader, I only watch shows of great cultural or analytical merit. Like reruns of the X-Men cartoon.

Anyways, one of the shows I watch is This Week with George Stephanopoulos. The main reason I watch is this guy:
(Conservative thinker George Will. Sure, he's "the other side," but you gotta respect his giant mind).

This week, Mr. Will laid out a few truths, as part of his commentary on the epic hip hop battle between a zany basic cable entertainer and an insightful market analyst: Jim Cramer and John Stewart, respectively.

In the segment, George Will lays out three wise precepts, reposted here:

Never play poker against a man named Slim.
Never buy a rolex from a man who's out of breath.
Never take financial advice from a man who's shouting at you.

So there you have it. Sound advice, yeah?

The Bald Man is Watching You

2009-03-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

For the last few years in Seattle, I've been seeing this bit of street art. Does anyone know anything about it?

(watching *me,* bald man? watching me?)

Who Makes a Joke about watching the watchmen? I do!

2009-03-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

Me, and the rest of the internet, that is.

By the way, I didn't think the movie was that good. And I wish Rorschach would let go of my pinky.

Makes it hard to type.

New Music Friday - Seventy-Eighth Edition

2009-02-20T17:57:00.000-08:00

Blog, I missed you. Did you miss me?

Back from Cali (vacation) and ready to post a fresh batch of free, legal mp3s for your listening enjoyment. Ok, let's get into it:

First up this week, Stereogum has a remix from French dance superstars Justice.
Put on your dancing shoes and head to Arjan Writes, for a Colin Munroe remix
ZuneTracks celebrates the music from my favorite show, Chuck - check it out here. Artists like Blitzen Trapper, Teddybears and more. Wow. Just, wow. (Another cliche? Maybe)
Ok, listen up. Here's a band to watch out for this year - White Lies. Sweet - My Old Kentucky Blog has an mp3, as well as a remix.
Hey, you know what I like? Rock music. Check out two tracks from The Submarines and two from The Morning Benders - over at Chromewaves.
Enjoy a free mp3 from KY rockers These United States over at You Ain't No Picasso.
And we'll close out the week with some hip hop - Shawty Lo feat. Trey Songz & Lil Wayne, over at Notes from a Different Kitchen.

Ok, enjoy the music and have a safe weekend everybody!

New Music Friday - Seventy-Seventh Edition

2009-02-13T13:08:00.000-08:00

It's time, it's time, dear blog reader, for another exciting edition of New Music Friday! Ready to get to this week's free music?

okletsgo

First up this week, Natasha from MOKB posts up a handful of tracks from one of my favorites: Blitzen Trapper, as well as an interview!
Gorillavsbear serves up some lo-fi sounds from Toronto's Little Girls.
And hey: if you're looking for a 1-stop shop for all music sxsw, check out the lineup, with dozens of MP3s to check out. Just look for the ♪ symbol. Enjoy!
Like a cake filled with pies, this Bat for Lashes cover of The Cure's a forest is full of delight. Fuelfriends via Stereogum
music for robots posts an MP3 from Gui Boratto, describing the album as "Parts echo the rubbery bass of new order, others have the echoy distance of radiohead." What's not to like?
Do you like Radiohead? Me too. Check out this track from Home Video, over at Scissorkick.
And last but certainly not not-awesome, check out new hip hop from Wale, at You Ain't no Picasso.

Ok, enjoy the free MP3s and have a rocking weekend everybody!

"Whenever You Get Sad, Stop Being Sad and Be Awesome Instead"

2009-02-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

so true:

Here Are The Nominees in the Category of Tired Expressions in 2009

2009-02-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hey, the internet, are you noticing certain phrases getting used a lot? Some of these I think are humorous. Others annoying. So without further ado, here are my nominees for 2009 overused expressions. Best of all: this year - everyone's a winner!

At the top of the list, the incredulous "Really? Really?" As in, "you're telling me that my favorite expressions are lame? Really?" Really.
In the number two spot, the overuse of the phrase "literally." As in, "this work is literally groundbreaking." Are you actually breaking the ground, like with a shovel? No? Ok, let's move on.
Using myself/yourself as a synonym for me/you. As in, "there are three parties in this conference, including yourself." Not only does it sound pretentious, it brings the added frustration of being grammatically incorrect. Use myself (the reflexive) when you're both the subject and the object of the sentence. As in, "If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance and I'll be dancing with myself." More on that here.
The term organic when not used in chemistry or USDA-certified products (soap, food, shampoo). As in way too many to mention.
Hella. You might not think it's common. But talk to someone under the age of 20. You'll find that hella is alive and well(a).
Lists in facebook that start with 25. If you're on facebook, then you know what I mean. If you're not, then consider yourself spared. Granted, this list of 25 is not exactly an expression. But I'll still include it on the naughty list. Oh and by the way, you know who else feels this way? Time.
"_____ we can believe in." In 2008 our now-president used it to great effect. Now, it's such a cliche. Like the expression, "it's such a cliche."
"I'm over (it)." Or "I am so over it." As in "I am so over Kanye." Hey, you're over it? Guess what? So am I. Forever.

Ok! That's it(?) What do you think, dear blog reader? Did I leave any out? I'm sure there are more. Any you're not ready to give up yet? Drop a comment!

On a personal note, I admit to using cliches, just different ones. Like the high five. Or using the word sweet, which made a prominent list of cliches - in 2007. But what can I say - awesome is still awesome in my book. It works for me. Whatever's clever. So don't throw me under the bus. Seriously. Ok, I'll stop.

And lastly, I want to say congratulations on ending the expression fo shizzle, my n*zzle. Glad to see that's over. I mean. Fo' shizzle? ~~Really? Really?~~

New Music Friday: The Return

2009-02-06T08:05:00.001-08:00

What's up, the internet -

Back in action after a few weeks off. Back when I was writing for 'insider, I had a little Friday tradition: find cool, free and legal music on the web. Then link to it, all in one post. Pretty straightforward. And, pretty awesome. Well, the internet, I think it's time to bring that back. So ready for some free music to load up to your **** or your ****? Thought so.

okletsgo

First up this week, Brooklyn Vegan has two sweet tracks: one from Radio Moscow, and one from Dead Man
Next, this Diplo/Mad Decent Remix of a Marlena Shaw track is, well Mad Decent - CNet, via zunetracks
To quote my buddy Eddie, this next band is full of win: Suckers. (via 'stereogum)
What's better than a link with one or two tracks? A link with six tracks. Well, voila from our buddies at selective service.
Hey, you know who I like? The Voyeurs. You should too. Get an MP3 at Rockinsider.
My Old Kentucky Blog has three, count-em-three track from Indianapolis Indie (indy indie) rock group Everything Now. And if you are Dodge and are reading this: hello, you are cool.
Music for Robots has a track from Fridge, which "builds and builds to crushing kinetic heights." Cool.
After standing up for his/their questionable fashion sense, You Ain't No Picasso posts a track from Of Montreal.
And last but certainly not-not awesome: Superdrag Rock Cleveland

Ok, enjoy the free music and have a great weekend everybody!

Welcome

2009-01-23T05:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome, the internet, to my very special blogsite. You are special too.

Thanks for visiting. In this site, I'm going to talk about stuff that interest me on a personal level: music, technology, culture, faith, sneakers, beer, gaming. Not necessarily in that order.

You know, being let go from a job is never great, but I'm hopeful that good things will come out of this. I'm hoping that the first good thing is this site.