Reasons to celebrate

Before Friday, I have to write a book review and a 5-page paper on Teotihuacan influence on the Classic Maya, give a Spanish presentation on Borges, and prepare for a Spanish as a Second Language exam. Even so, there are still reasons to celebrate being alive on this wacky planet, such that it is.

a) The video for Lady Gaga's new single. While not as good as that of "Paparazzi," it may or may not feature Lady Gaga being sold as a sex slave to Russians in a pristine white environment that looks like a mental hospital/the set of THX-1138. And that's enough for me, even if she is ripping off Madonna.

b) The beginning of "America's Next Great Pundit," the Washington Post's new plan to ruin their integrity after the salon scheme. It's like reality TV for people like me! I am disappointed by the lack of white supremacists on the cast, though. And I would be lying if I said I didn't wish I had applied, although I think being an Ivy Leaguer would not go nearly as far in a pundritry competition as it appears to do in America's Next Top Model.

c) Imogen Heap's cover of "Thriller". Possibly even more epic than the video of Filipino prisoners doing the dance to the aforementioned song.

I can't decide which is most epic. Back to talud-tablero architecture.

The One Meme that Must Never Die

Look, Pavement, I'm really happy for you, but the Pixies had one of the BEST reunion tours ever. The BEST.

Look, Joe Wilson and Glenn Beck, I'm really happy that you both think you can act like a doofus on national television, but Bill O'Reilley was doing that WAY before you both were. WAAY before.

Look, H1N1, I'm really impressed by the way you're scaring the crap out of everyone, but the 1918 pandemic was the most deadly influenza strain in modern history. THE MOST DEADLY.

Look, Kanye and Taylor, I'm really amazed by your little spat, but the ending of Lady Gaga's performance was the most amazing* thing about the VMAs. Seriously. She looked like a piece of meat.

*And by amazing, I mean terrifying.

dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun DUN dun dun dun dun dun dun

If you're at all familiar with classical music, you may understand the title of this brief post, and be interested in checking out Google's homepage today! I posted about it on LOLbums, my other not-so-frequently updated blog. Reviving LOLbums (existential question: can you call it reviving a blog if there was only one post? hmmm...) is one of my goals this summer, along with applying for the Fulbright and Marshall scholarships, freelancing, exercising, playing my horn, curing cancer, and stopping the Earth from spinning on its access. At the moment, my activities more closely resemble playing with peanut sauce, going for long runs and getting lost, doing occasional research, and calling alums for money (hey, it's a legit job!) but let's not dwell on that.

Yes, this really is a police photo of Stravinsky! He was arrested in Boston in 1940 while conducting his arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner. Apparently he had broken an archaic law which made the reharmonization of the national anthem illegal. Methinks they just didn't like the arrangement, though. But who knows-- those policemen could have been classically trained!

That's Gotta Hurt

I know, I know. I haven't really posted since I got back to school. It really wasn't my intention to snub the miniscule readership of this blog. At least it doesn't hurt as much as crotch-crashing into a camera on national television, though.


LOLbums, the collaborative music blog I started with the lovely and snarkful Eva Kurtz-Nelson, is up and running. And it actually has content now! You can read my post about the Boss' Superbowl hijinks and the status of aging rockstars, and then add it to your blogroll. DO IT. You can always use another form of procrastination, you know.

I'll post an update soon with beginning o' the semester thoughts soon. Also, watch for the return of "Adrienne Attempts to Write for Every Publication that Ever Existed!" Until then, be safe, and don't even attempt to toss your guitar at an unsuspecting roadie.