The the

So I noticed when generating URLs, blogger.com ignores "the" and "a" and other useless words. I was curious what would happen with a post titled much like this one. I certainly cannot wait to find out!

There was also a band named The The. I believe they were formed before the internet, but how stupid do they feel? Go ahead, try to Google them, I dare you.

Of course you can. You could do something like band "the the" or perhaps-well no, that's pretty much your only option. It does return pertinent results, by the way, Wikipedia being the first. Google should buy Wikipedia. I mean, 90% of the time when I google something, the first result is a wiki article anyway. They should totally do it. The babies would be awesome.

So anyway, time to find out what the URL to this entry will be. The suspense is killing me!!!

The Shadow Proves the Sunshine

This is a hybrid post. It's a video, but no lyrics. There's an actual post...

I was checking out some of Jon Foreman's solo stuff (which is brilliant, by the way) and ended up at his myspace site. Well, in the comments I noticed some girl saying how much they sounded like Coldplay. I immediately threw up on my keyboard. The two bands do sound alike. A LOT. But Jon and Switchfoot released their first album in 97. It was called Legend of Chin and it's amazing. You should get it. Now. Right now. Coldplay apparently released their first full length album in 2000. But let's be realistic, nobody ever heard of them until a couple years ago. If you say otherwise you're a filthy liar. The point is, THE GUY FROM COLDPLAY SOUNDS LIKE JON FOREMAN!!!

And as for the video I embeded... Wow. I mean, if you don't love this song, there is absolutely no reason for you to continue living. I'm all for diversity among people and their tastes, but if you don't like Switchfoot, I hate you. I hate you and I hope you die in a fire. A very hot fire.

Jon sang part of this song lying on his back singing through the soundboard of a piano.

Remember, the dark times in our lives are what remind us that the light exists. The shadow proves the sunshine.

This post was brought to you by Gillette... apparently. The best a man can get.

Edit: Apparently Switchfoot and Coldplay sound NOTHING alike. I had my bands wrong. The Fray. The guy from the Fray sounds EXACTLY like Jon Foreman. Chuck disagrees, but he's a dirty hooker so what does he know.

Sibilant Engorgement

Spoiler alert! Sibilant Engorgement is just an anagram for "interesting blog name". Not only was "The Blarg" overused, it was under-extraordinary! Sibilant Engorgement sounds so much more full of crap.

More than that, I really think it fits the theme of my blog. I think if I had to describe the problems in society with only one word, that word would be "excess". More money, more rights, more freedom, more, more, more. Too much of a good thing... you know.

The oil painting to the left was done by Mandy Sand. Not only does he have an awesome name, he was born in Bucharest in 1932. I think the piece really summarizes what I'm trying to say here... if I only had a dollar for every time I saw a man dressed like that walking around stepping on naked women with golden orbs hovering around randomly... I swear.

So anyway, this post is obviously completely bogus. I just felt I needed something to mark the changing of the name. Good times.

Monkey see, monkey do

I hate bad news. I hate hearing about school shootings, drive by's and other horrendous acts of violence and random atrocities. I always thought they had a negative impact on society. Until today, I couldn't really prove it. I'm sure you've all heard about the shootings in a mall in some state that I can't remember (mainly because I don't want to). The suicide note is quoted as ending with "At least now I'll be famous". I couldn't help but laugh out loud (and cry inside) at the situation. By reporting his name (which they did) and everything about him, they were granting his wish.

In Johnny Cash's song "Streets Of Loredo" the dying cowboy, when asking a passerby to write to his mother, begs that he not "mention his name and his name will pass on".

I think the general consensus in the media is that they have a responsibility to report EVERYTHING. I obviously disagree. What good could possibly come from talking about someone killing 8 people in a mall, let alone telling us his name and why he says he did it? I'm guessing most people would argue that the main benefit of covering such events is "awareness". Okay, so I'm at the mall tomorrow. I'm "aware" that a couple days ago some guy went on a rampage and started shooting people in a mall. Now, if someone walks into my mall while I'm there and starts shooting at me, what good is that awareness going to do me?

This is the first instance I ever recall where the admitted motive is "to be famous". The key word is "admitted". Even if this is the only guy that EVER killed a bunch of people because he thought it would make him famous (consciously or otherwise), what if that motive wouldn't have existed? What if we didn't hear about every grizzly, disgusting and gruesome massacre in the world every morning on our way to work? What if they wouldn't have given his name, or said where he was from? What if news stations weren't like that gossiping coworker that constantly has to prove he has knowledge you don't? I think 8 people would have left a shopping mall and went back to their lives and loved ones.

"Ignoring it won't make it go away!" you say... Well, we could at least give it a try, says I. Acknowledging it sure hasn't helped.