ADDENDUM:

After going on a run and listening to some songs on my iPod, I realized that I forgot a few fantastic examples of hip-hop samples and their original counterparts. I would also like to add that the majority of my research comes from a series of youtube videos from DJ Funktual. So thank you, Mr. Funktual, and keep groovin'! 

Without further ado, my faves ... again!

-"Nothin' But a G Thang," Dr. Dre samples "I Want'a do Something Freaky," Leon Haywood.

I honestly can't believe I forgot this one, because this is an iconic hip-hop song off of an iconic hip-hop album. Props to Dre and co. for taking a smooth, slow jam, tweaking it and inserting it into a chill West Coast rap song. Ahead of their time. WARNING: Leon Haywood's version is a little raunchy. It was the '70s, folks!

-"Regulate," Warren G. samples "I Keep Forgettin'," Michael McDonald.

This was the subject of a viral internet video series called "Yacht Rock." Basically, some fellow 20-somethings (who were also fascinated by the culture of their Baby Boomer parents) wanted to chronicle (and spoof) the inception and popularity of the late '70s, early '80s soft rock. Think later Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins, and more obscure bands like Ambrosia and Firefall. The 2 tracks mentioned up here are both ... well .. smooth. I'm still amazed a hip-hop song can be that smooth, yet talk about gang violence. Well done, Mr. G!

-"Still Not a Playa," Big Pun samples "A Little Bit of Love," Brenda Russell

I admire how Big Pun turned a pretty tame '80s jam into a hip hop song about being a "playa." Also, listen for the gratuitous "Uptown Baby" lyric. The only drawback to this sampling (in my eyes at least) is his lack of variety. I would have liked to hear him incorporate more of the song in his sample, because the two are so blatantly different.

-"It was a Good Day," Ice Cube, samples "Footsteps in the Dark," Isley Brothers.

The Brothers Isley are in the same position as Sly and the Family Stone when it comes to hip-hop samples: they are the "go to" artists, because they have amazing grooves, hooks, breakbeats, etc. embedded in their songs. It's like a theoretical smorgasbord with every 5- minute track (sometimes more, if you count parts 1 AND 2). I like this example because the rhymes seem to mesh with the groove ("didn't have to use my AK - today was a good day") ...

-"Hypnotize" by Notorious B.I.G. samples "Rise," Herb Alpert. 

This hip-hop/original song combo gets the award for, "Cheesiest original song turned into hottest hip-hop beat." If I had to name the grandaddy of Yacht Rock, this instrumental would definitely be in my top 5. For an added bonus, the Youtube video is PRICELESS. Just take a gander: awkward white people, dancing on the beach, offbeat clapping and gratuitous camera flashes. But then, at 3:15 - there it is! The primary sample for Biggie Smalls!

-"Summertime," DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince samples "Summer Madness," Kool and the Gang.

These guys integrated the sample so well, they actually mention it in their lyrics, too ("this is the Fresh Prince's new definition of Summer Madness"). And who wouldn't? It lends itself wonderfully to rap lyrics. They also added a little backup singing, which also would have sounded great (and applicable) in the original.

That's all I got for now. But I'm sure I'll be writing a Part 3 soon, once I find a great record store in town. :) In the meantime, if you guys have any hip-hop song you want to stump me with, bring it on, folks!

Turning over a new leaf .. or, one that sounds really familiar

One of my least favorite songs, of any genre, is "Come With Me" by Sean "Puffy" Combs (is it just Diddy now? P. Diddy? No clue). It came out back in the late '90s for the movie "Godzilla," and it doesn't take a music prodigy to figure out that he blatantly ripped off Led Zeppelin's song Kashmir . Also, I hate how he included a really good Isley Brothers song at the beginning of the music video. Blasphemy!

Now, I'm not morally opposed to hip-hop artists sampling music from other sources, but if you are going to do it, at least try to make it your own. The above video bothers me on many levels, especially since Diddy (or Puffy) tried to legitimize this song by inviting Jimmy Page to play that famous guitar riff. If you ask me, it made things even worse, because now he's just trying too hard and embarrassing himself.

Exhibit B: the "Making the Band" shows. Did you know, that last week, Diddy (Puffy... P. Diddy), broke up Danity Kane, his hand-picked girl group formulated from 2 previous seasons of the show? After 3 years of Diddy (Puffy ... etc.) training these fame-hungry, slightly talented girls for success that only he knows how, he dumps 2 of them. After a modest top 40 hit.

OMG.

Aside from Diddy's (Puffy's ... oh, screw it. You know who I mean) musical flaws, it brings up a really interesting argument: at some point, even when a new artist thinks he is the most clever, original artist on the scene, he probably gets influences from somewhere or someone. Eventually, those influences materialize themselves into becoming derivative, because over time, there is a slim chance that an artist is 100 percent original, 100 percent of the time.

So, the question is: is "originality" totally original? Or is it just re-packaging?  And, if it is re-packaging, how do you "sample" something while making it your own?

I became really interested in this subject after I decided to turn over a new leaf in my personal life. 3 weeks ago, I left my job and my life in Connecticut to pursue happiness, enlightenment, and a graduate degree in New York. I didn't have an actual plan when I moved here, but I had the desire and a semblance of a plan. Oh, and free rent thanks to my parents. 

After the first couple of weeks, I (rightfully so) went through a host of emotions. I had no regrets about the location change, but I was nervous about everything that I suddenly had to do. I left a job that "looked good on paper," and friends who I loved ..  and all of a sudden I had no income, nowhere I had to be, and no one I had to answer to (thanks to Mom and Dad's trip to Europe, no one was even at our apartment). 

Sounds great, right? Liberating, yes? And it was. But after living my entire life, up to this point, with "structure," and then having absolutely no structure, it was also extremely overwhelming.

My big problem? I wasn't "making it my own." I had all of these "original" and wonderful ideas (ie, I'm gonna join a chorale! Take improv classes! Be a yoga instructor! Train for a marathon! Get a freelance job!), but I had no clue how to reel them in and make the best of the situation. It wasn't as if I was naming things that were completely out of character; if there were resources in Connecticut for me (or if I had the desire to research them), I would have done a few of the aforementioned things. But that wasn't what I wanted to do with my time there. 

So now, I'm repackaging myself, because you can never truly "change" what you like to do and who you are. But at the same time, I'm turning over a new leaf, learning from my mistakes, acknowledging my flaws, and tapping into that "originality" I know is there somewhere. Being stuck in a rut in your 20s is a depressing reality, and sometimes it takes guts to dig yourself out. 

But to be "drastic" just for the sake of being drastic? Doing something and not making it your own? Well, then you'd be trying too hard. Like our friend Diddy/Puffy/P. Combs.

And, while we're on the subject, here are a few of my best examples of hip-hop samples (with the original song), in no particular order:

-G-Unit, "Wanna Get to Know Ya," samples "Come Live With Me," Marvin Gaye.

The only thing they stole was the "hook" in the song. Other than that, both versions are vastly different. I also appreciate the fact that they didn't speed up the track, or Marvin's voice, because you really shouldn't bastardize a Marvin Gaye song like that.

-Alicia Keys, "You Don't Know My Name," samples "Let Me Prove My Love to You," The Main Ingredient. 

The great thing about these two tracks are the vocals. The lead singer for the Main Ingredient, Cuba Gooding, Sr. (yes, he is Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Omar Gooding's dad), expertly walks that fine line between raw emotion and subtle, smooth passion. And Alicia Keys? She just kills it. 

-Jay-Z, "Party Life" samples "Get into the Party Life," Little Beaver. 

Jay-Z has the uncanny talent of sampling to not only further his own abilities as a rapper, but to also showcase the musicianship of the artists that he samples from. Where Diddy just rips off with no regard, you can tell that Jay-Z listens to the track, thinks about how to use it, and laces his rhymes throughout, in an effort to create a new sound from and old standby. Honorable mention: "Girls, Girls, Girls," from Tom Brock's "I Love You More and More."

Honorable Mention #2: "Feelin' It," from Ahmad Jamal's "Pastures."

-Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, "Uptown Baby" samples "Black Cow," Steely Dan.

The original is from Steely Dan's album "Aja" - quite possibly their best. I'm not sure if they realized it at the time, but this hook was meant for hip-hop.

-Notorious B.I.G., "Big Poppa" samples The Isley Brothers, "Between the Sheets."

You know that song I mentioned earlier? The one in the "Come With Me" video? Well, there's a reason Puffy put it in there. Because his boy, Notorious B.I.G., sampled from it a few years earlier. The difference here is that Biggie's rhymes, and his smooth persona, are far superior to Mr. Combs.

-The Sugarhill Gang, "Rapper's Delight," samples "Good Times," Chic. 

Because there's nothing like the original.

From the Vault: "Next Stop: Life"

Right around this time 2 years ago, I took my last exam (I think it was Intro to Sociology) and began what was, quite possibly, one of the best weeks of my life: Senior Week. If there was one time I could name where I truly thought I "had it all," it was during this time. So, naturally, I wrote a very poignant, very "emo" journal entry about what it felt like to leave all of that behind and actually graduate. Read at your own risk; it's a doozy! But hopefully, it will spark a little retrospection.

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I can't get over how anti-climactic everything has been lately.



Four years of happiness. Of pain. Of love. Of late nights, too much caffeine and certain events I want to relive, either for better or for worse. 



And where am I now? In a freezing cold hotel room, drinking a Michelob Ultra, somewhere in Erlanger, Kentucky. My diploma is in my backpack.



There's no one else in this room with me. I look out the window, and I see a barage of cars and trucks whizzing by on the highway. I'm just one person--one speck of life in this new and daunting world that has recently been opened to me. "Go get 'em?" I don't know. It might be harder than I think, especially when other people are whizzing by me.



Considering I just went through the most amazing and trying experience of my young life, now I'm experiencing everything the outside world will most definitely present before me. Normalcy. Loneliness.



My father loves the drive from Chicago to Winston-Salem, and it's not because of the scenery, or the fine dining establishments that mark our journey. It's because, for those 13 hours, he tells me about life. About the REAL world, and why success--and failure--are just two parts of the whole.



"You've just completed something incredible, Joy. Your future is wide open! Next stop: Life."



But wait: Isn't my life back in Evanston? Aren't we speeding away from that "life" I once had? Every mile we traveled reminded me of a time when I sped away from Winston-Salem. Back then, I *didn't* look in the rear-view mirror. 



I can't count the number of times I did that today. I watched as the Sears Tower faded into nothing. All of a sudden, I was in the middle of I-65, looking at farmland. Then, I lost the signal to 97.1 The Drive.



Just like that.



When I was 18, my brother said to me that college will be the fastest four years in your life. I didn't believe him. Similarly, a friend of Elaine's mom mentioned that, when raising kids (another huge milestone), the days go slowly but the years go fast. 



I never really understood until now. I think back to all those times I sat in my room and watched as the world went by me. It was fine, though. I knew I didn't have to keep up with it. I was safe in the cocoon of school, friends and activities.



What's my cocoon now? I don't know. Maybe it's my job in Hartford. It might be Joe or my family members that will be within driving distance. 

Or maybe, it will be completely up to me. 

My grandfather, who died when I began my Northwestern journey, always used to urge his kids and grandkids to "make their own party." I only hope I can muster up the strength to take his advice.



My beer is now lukewarm; there's condensation on the bottle, and the back label is peeling off. The room isn't as cold. And the highway is not as busy as it once was.



I guess that's something else I have to get used to. As much as I loved the fast-paced life I had back in Evanston, everything, whether it be good or bad, eventually....stops.

My best "Sports" moment

**The following is inspired by this, written by a good friend and fellow 20-something.***

It doesn't happen often, but every now and again you have those moments - when it seems as though you have reached your physical and spiritual apex. The stars align, time slows down and it seems as though God himself is looking down on you and saying, "Way to go, kid." Whether you hear the Rocky theme song during all of this is a personal preference. But needless to say, it would be applicable.

For me personally, these rare yet special "sports moments" usually happened when I reached a personal goal. No, I was not one of those kids who "led her team to victory," simply because I was really shy around my fellow peers (which is somewhat true of my personality today), and because I was a little too introspective for my own good. So when I set a goal for myself, I would put no less than 110 percent of my efforts into achieving it (again, a trait of my personality that still holds true today). Often times, I'd get burned. But sometimes, I wouldn't. I'd create my own moment.

My best moments usually happened at summer camp. For 6 years, I went to Camp Greystone, an all-girls, Christian camp located in the mountains of North Carolina. It wasn't the religious talk that made me go back year after year - it was the fact that I could literally try anything - and I usually did. One of the camp directors called me a "Renaissance Woman," because I would sign up for everything from water skiing to rock climbing to judo to radio broadcasting (yes, we had our own radio station. WGRY 89.1 FM). But the one thing I knew how to do pretty well before I went there was horseback riding.

I started to ride when I was about 9 years old. I got pretty far ultimately, and can canter/jump horses if the opportunity presents itself today. I did well in my riding lessons back at home, but for some reason, whenever I got to camp, I'd run into road blocks and would never reach any of my goals.

One year, as I was trying to jump over a foot-high jump, my right foot slipped out of my stirrup and I fell over. Another year, I was cantering around the ring and my horse was throwing a fit the entire way (almost leading to a full-out tiff with another horse). And one year, I came in last place in the horse show, failed a "get to the next level equestrian proficiency" test, and had my left foot CRUSHED by a horse hoof.

So when it came time to pick my activities during my final year at camp, I decided to try something a little different: Western-style horseback riding. I never really tried Western before, but I heard that it was, in a lot of ways, more fun and relaxed than English (which I guess goes without saying). The class was exclusively trail riding as well. There's something truly beautiful about bonding with a big animal whilst bonding with nature. So, I was excited.

I got to my first class, and was greeted by 3 very enthusiastic, bubbly British women. Unfortunately, their names escape me, but their impact on my life definitely hasn't. It was almost as if we were good friends who happened to take our horses out on a trail. And the trails we would ride were absolutely breathtaking. Once we took a trail overlooking Lake Edith (the lake that our camp was on), and the Blue Ridge Mountains were in the background. We stared at the scenery for a good 10 minutes before pressing on.

But there was one thing that I just couldn't do: canter on my horse. Now, I had no trouble doing that when I was riding English, but Western is a different beast. For example, when you "trot" in English style, you "post" - lift out of the saddle periodically, matching the gait of the horse. If you don't post, you just kind of bounce around willy-nilly (and eventually fall off). In Western, however, the saddle is basically constructed like a lounge chair, so there is no need to post. Instructors tell you to "melt in the saddle," which is just a fancy way of saying, "hang on!!!" But every time I tried to do that, I'd bounce like crazy, loose my cool, and bring the horse back to a brisk walk. Since cantering is a faster gait than trotting, I never got that far.

To make matters worse, I was the only one in my class that couldn't break a trot. There would be points on the trail when everyone else would canter away from me, and I'd have to walk over to them with one of my instructors. It was one of those times when I felt inadequate and out-of-place. So, I said to myself, "Joy, you are going to canter by the time this course is done!!!"

Fast forward to the last day of class. We go on a different trail, up one of the bigger mountains near camp. It was a very wooded trail, which made it tough to see to the left and right. The 8 other people who were in my class were ahead of me, and there was one instructor in the front, one in the middle, and one in the back, behind me. 

Then, all of a sudden, I hear a british accent echoing amongst the trees: "Alright girls! Let's canter! Follow me!" 

Uh oh. Time for me to rally.

The people before me speed off, one by one. The last two people before me turn around and say, "Come on Joy!! You got this! Go for it!!"

Everyone else chimes in. "GO JOY! Go for it!! You're ready for this - you can DO this!!"

Then, I hear my instructor behind me. "Just take it easy, Joy. Put him in a trot, then work your way up to a canter. You can do it! You're ready!"

I take a deep breath, adjust the dirt-stained Yankees cap on my head, and squeeze my heels into the horse's belly. He picks up his gait....faster walk....faster walk....brisk walk....trot....

I'm bouncing in my seat like crazy, and at this point, I knew I had 2 options: continue to bounce uncomfortably, and make my way down the now-deserted narrow dirt path...or, I can "hang on" and canter the rest of the way.

I took door number 2. I squeezed my heels together and made a clicking sound with my tongue. The horse automatically got it, and all of a sudden, I was cantering.

The wind was whipping past me, and the trees that enveloped me were flying by to the point where all I was seeing was green blurs. I was tensing up, too - I was holding onto the reins for dear life, and for a split second I shifted in my saddle to the point where I thought I was going to fall sideways.

But then, the greatest thing happened. I readjusted, and let go. I let out a big sigh, closed my eyes, and savored this thing I just accomplished, this moment I just created.

And then, as if on cue, the skies opened up and it started to rain. My horse instinctively slowed back down to a trot and made his way to my classmates and instructors.

I was met with congratulations. "YOU DID IT!" "Joy that was great" "Great job! We knew you could do it!!"

I smiled and thanked them all before we continued down the trail, in the poring rain. My Yankees cap was soaked right through, but it didn't matter. I was singing showtunes in the middle of a forest, after completing something I never thought I'd do.

And I guess that's the greatest thing about having a "sports" moment: once you muster the strength to know what you want, you gotta just hang on.

Riding Backwards

Whenever I get on a train, whether it be the Metro-North, LIRR, Subway, Chicago El, Metra, DC's Metro, etc., I ALWAYS have this tendency of picking a seat that faces the wrong way. Seriously. It doesn't matter if I'm the first person on the train, either. Recently, when I boarded the Metro-North at Grand Central, I was literally the 10th person in line. I got on, thought about it for a while, and sat down in a seat which I thought would be facing forward, in the direction the train was going. No dice. I was riding backwards for an hour and a half.

This little anecdote is actually a very well-intentioned segue into discussing the careers (or lack thereof) of us typical 20-somethings. Throughout the years, it seems as if "finding a career" has become a lot more open-ended. This can be a good thing or a bad thing.

Case in point: Our grandparents' generation (affectionately coined "The Greatest Generation" by Tom Brokaw). These were strong-willed, self-sufficient folks who had no problem sacrificing their lives for their country and their livelihoods for their families. But I guess that's what happens when you encounter 2 World Wars, mass genocide and a catastrophic economic depression.

So when faced with the challenge of returning back to "normalcy" after World War II, many of them settled in Levittowns all over the US, and the men dutifully went to work. What did they do? Anything, really. White-collar jobs were a dime a dozen back then (even though blue-collar jobs were on the rise as well. Hey, the economy was booming people!).

There was also this underlying feeling of conformity. The Interstate Highway Act got rid of leisurely Sunday morning drives, McCarthy, resolute in catching the "big bad Communists," starting looking at anyone crooked if they had a "v" somewhere in their last name, and the average American was sucked into a world of consumerism, white picket fences and Leave it to Beaver.

But there were three things that offered a glimpse into some sort of counterculture (which would later be beaten into the mainstream by their children, the dreaded Baby Boomers): The first was the book (and later the movie) "Peyton Place." It was a story about the lives of people in a seemingly picturesque town in Maine. But, as with many stories about "seemingly picturesque" towns and lifestyles, there was an underbelly of intolerance, sexual violence, and murder. The second came in the form of the book - "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit," about a man who adopted that white-collar lifestyle. Trouble was, he was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome thanks to his service in World War II. He later turns down a lucrative position so that he can spend more time with his family. And then, there was this:

Fast-forward about 20 years later, when the "Greatest Generation" was outnumbered by their rebellious, self-promoting children, the Baby Boomers. The Boomers, fresh off the high they got from hearing about the triumphs of their parents, were hell bent on changing the world. Just look in any history book; between 1968 and 1980, it seems as if everyone was protesting something: Vietnam, race relations, women's rights, the Environment, inflation, Nixon - the list goes on. Did they actually accomplish anything, or did they just whine about it? Yes and no.

Thanks to the Boomers (ie, our parents), traditional social mores were altered, and the best part about all of that included the changes in the workplace, especially for women. Women began to take charge of their careers, and stepped into executive and creative roles. One example? Cathie Black, the president of Hearst magazines, and author of Basic Black. In an industry perpetuated by grit, smoke and testosterone, she climbed the corporate ladder as an ad sales representative. She is known as the woman who made USA Today the extremely successful paper that it is today (not the most high-brow paper, but it's the one publication that everyone gets at hotels). I guess you could say that the Boomers "paved the way" for us. Which is a good thing.

The bad thing? Our generation is, unfortunately, left with the consequences. Since our parents were open-minded themselves, they taught us to be the same way. "You can do anything you want!" they used to tell us (or, if you didn't hear that, you instinctively knew that, save for financial implications, you could, feasibly, do anything you wanted). Now, how is that a bad thing? We expect not only freedom, but perfection.

Much like our parents, we tend to whine a lot. Why can't I get that great job? Why can't I get more responsibility? Why can't I figure out what I want to do with my life, and why is it hindering me from being happy in the meantime? What is the "path" I should take? Basically, we have a lot of unanswered questions, anxieties, and doubts. Personally, I feel as if these doubts are hindering me from doing well at my current job; and, because I'm a perfectionist (that goes without saying), I find it difficult to gain any perspective. Yeah, my ideas have a general theme (writing and moving pictures), but that can fall into a lot of categories (TV news, TV entertainment, on-air promotions, film school, screenwriting, advertising, etc).

So here's the question: why do we all feel like we're taking 2 steps back, when we're supposed to be taking 2 steps forward? When will we stop "riding backwards" and start making progress? Does anyone really make any kind of progress in their 20's, or is it all supposed to lead to something extraordinary?

I guess we're going to have to adopt something else that our parents never fully adopted: patience. Or, at least the knowledge that we don't always have to make the "right" move. Being right all the time is overrated anyway; I'd much rather take risks, make mistakes and learn from them.

Now if only I can learn how to ride forwards on a train. I'm starting to get seasick.

Nerdy TV from our Formidable Years: #1: "The X-Files"

This next post is the first in a series, based on nerdy or semi-nerdy TV from our childhood, teenage-hood, or college-age...hood. As with many other pop culture avenues, my knowledge is pretty limiting, and I feel as if I could only comment accurately on a selective amount of shows or topics. That being said...if there is anyone who would like to contribute, now is the time! If you were a big fan of some TV show that has either had a cultural impact or has sustained the test of time, send your thoughts on over!

-------

It was late May in 1998, and I was flipping through the channels. I came across a promo for a show that I knew existed, but never really watched with any consistency:

"Tonight: A special Friday X-Files....Mulder and Scully fight vampires in a small Texas town...(cut to Mulder, putting his arm around Scully), 'Don't say I never did nothin' for ye!!' "

I remember thinking, hmm...that sounds interesting. Plus I've always been a fan of shows with either, A: a funny or clever storyline, B: high production value, and C: unresolved sexual tension between two main characters. So I checked out the episode in question - "Bad Blood" - and I was instantly hooked. The best scene? Mulder, doped up on knockout pills, sings the theme song to "Shaft:"

It turned out that I came in at the exact right time, because that summer, something very rare happened: a TV series, while it was still on the air, was being turned into a movie! The X-Files: Fight the Future was coming out on June 19, and I decided to drag three of my friends to the premiere. The film only helped to solidify my mild obsession with the show, despite the fact I didn't dress up like many of my contemporaries at the theater. Both the stars of the show, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson were knee-deep in the media frenzy surrounding the film, appearing on such quality shows like Saturday Night Live and the Rosie O'Donnell show. Then, of course, there's stuff like this:

Apparently, I'm not alone here. There has been a very vibrant, enthusiastic and spirited fan base ever since the show's inception in 1993. Fans lovingly call themselves "X-Philes," and there is even a distinction between philosophies. For example:

-A "Shipper:" someone who believes that Mulder and Scully belong together and wanted them to get together at some point in the series. A typical fan website would look something like this. Notice the many "collages," which are screen shots of some tender moments throughout the series. There are also a lot of cheesy fan-produced YouTube videos out there these days; this one is my favorite.

Since I pretty much identified myself as a "shipper," I can tell you from experience that people in this category live and die by every interaction between the two main characters. Every touch, look, and word is scrutinized, analyzed and expounded upon. When the show was still on the air, the "scenes from next week's show" usually got a feverish, screaming response ("did you SEE that?!?! What the hell does THAT mean??!"). Then we'd have to wait AN ENTIRE WEEK for the resolution, where we would either be pleasantly surprised or horribly disappointed.

-A "NoRoMo:" Title says it all. These are the REAL nerds of the X-Files subculture (as if the rest of us weren't nerdy already). These are the folks who don't believe in ANY romantic interaction between Mulder and Scully. They are the folks that spend their weekends at X-Files conventions, dress up like/identify themselves with their favorite characters, and tell others that it would "ruin the show" if they got together. They are also the people who know the most about the so-called "mythology" plot line (if you need an explanation of said "mythology," I might not be the person to do it. All you need to know is, there was this alien race, this virus in the form of a "black oil," and a group of men in the U.S. government who wanted to keep all of it a secret, whilst getting ready for the impending "alien colonization of Earth." I'm tapped after that unfortunately). I won't include an example of their websites, because they are usually boring and whiney. But, I digress...

And now, us "X-Philes" find ourselves coming out of the woodwork yet again, for the latest big-screen installment: "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" (which, if you ask me is a bit of a cop-out. That was a blatant rip-off of this, plus one of the most quoted lines in the show):

A good childhood friend of mine, who has been more vigilant about keeping up with the X-Phile community, sends me updates, links and pictures from time to time. Here are some of the greatest hits:

Jan. 16: 

"THEY'RE BACK, BABY!" http://i.usatoday.net/life/_photos/2008/01/17/xfilesx-large.jpg

"PS--What is with her coat?!  And those pants!? Scully wouldn't be caught dead in those pants.  Where are the sexy outfits of S7?!"

Feb. 24: 

X-Phile friend: did you ever see the warewolf pictures that were going around?

Me: No!!!

X-Phile friend: ok well there was this picture of CC and this giant wolf head thing, i dunno. but anyway, so it was like "this has been leaked! it's the monster!" but then it was like "oh jk they leaked that on purpose, it's fake" "no, it's not!" so who knows

March 5:

X-Phile Friend:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/angeldarkness99/25419_X_FilesKiss_018_122_1152lo-1.jpg

RING. TOTALLY.

March 7: 

OMGAAAHHHHHHHHH STALKER KISSING VIDEO! http://www.flynetonline.com/2008/03/mulder-scully-kiss/

Now that we've both come back to our late 90's obsession, I'm realizing one very important fact from all of this: This wasn't just a TV show to a lot of people - it was our generation's version of  "Star Trek." The series has been off the air for the better part of 7 years, and it is STILL drawing a large cult audience. My friend once told me about a conversation she had with a co-worker..and without prompting, she made an obscure Mulder and Scully reference. Despite the objections about the final season, David Duchovny's Prima Donna tendencies and the way the series ended, people are still getting behind this show and the upcoming film. Yes, maybe I'm biased, but it certainly qualifies as a TV show from our formidable years.

Even Bree Sharp agrees. David Duchovny, why won't you love me?

The "Eye Acting" of Raven Symone and other "Tween" phenomenon

There comes a point in anyone's life when he/she is characterized as "out of touch." What I want to know is, when exactly does that happen?

My friend from high school and I talk about this all the time. About 2 years ago she said, "Do you realize that people who were born in the '90s will be starting COLLEGE??" I nearly fell off my chair back then, and it still boggles my mind to this day. I was definitely alive and kickin' it back in the early '90s, so the thought of these younger people maturing before my eyes is a concept that I'm not quite sure I want to accept.

Case in point: today's trends for the "Tweens" - roughly the 9-to-15-year-old demographic. Networks like Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel have blocks of programming dedicated to this audience, and some of these stars have really hit it big (despite some marginal talent). Like Raven Symone, "Cosby Show" alum and star of the show "That's So Raven" on the Disney Channel. Here she is in her earlier years:

After an observant comment from a co-worker, I noticed something - she definitely tends to overact a little on her new show, and it usually comes in the form of wide-eyed reactions or extreme facial expressions:

Before writing it off as an isolated incident, I "dug" a little deeper. Another culprit of this kitschy school of acting is "Drake and Josh" on Nickelodeon:

(ED's Note: "Josh" on this show - whose real name is Josh Peck - was a childhood friend of mine...up until he became the amazing Thespian that he is today).

The "pies de resistance?" Hillary Duff and Miley Cyrus, who have both made a fortune from their music-inspired TV shows, "Lizzie Maguire" and "Hanna Montana:"



(I'd also like some clarification on something: Is Hannah Montana the name of Miley's character on TV, or is that just her alter-ego on stage? If so, what's the name of her actual character on the show? Is it Miley Cyrus? Is it Miley-something else? Is there another Hannah involved? I'd really like to know).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember any shows that we grew up with being this contrived. Now, there are the occasional exceptions, but generally speaking, it would be tough to characterize "Ren and Stimpy," "The Adventures of Pete and Pete," or "Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers" that way. Another show that often gets overlooked is "Garfield and Friends."

It was written by Mark Evanier, and his writing style inspired other great shows like "Animaniacs" and "Pinky and the Brain." Some of the best ones feature John Arbuckle's exploits with the opposite sex.

The humor was dry, sarcastic and sophisticated to the point where even adults could watch these shows and get a lot out of them. The only things I can remotely compare them to are the slew of Pixar movies (Toy Story being the first), and other similar movies like Shrek. They are aimed at kids, but oftentimes the adults walk away liking the movie more. For the "Tween" demographic, this is a little less common - just watch TEEENick, the Disney Channel, or ABC Family. I mean, "America's Prom Queen?" Seriously?

So the younger generations are now required to either sit through or sift through some really bad stuff. Unfortunately, the standard has been lowered - even since we were their age - and it's just one sign of our impending maturity. Are we ready for this disconnect? In some ways, yes. But as with a lot of things, we're straddling this gray area between complete maturity and college-age sensibility.

Well, at least we don't over emote. Much. 

Have a Talk with God

DISCLAIMER: The following is pretty subjective and extremely one-sided. It's based on general observations and personal experience. Any comments, questions, etc. are fully appreciated.

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I did something that I haven't done in years. I went to church.

I actually showered, dressed nicely, and found my way to St. Partick-St. Anthony church in downtown Hartford. When I was growing up, the prospect of going to Sunday mass was tedious and boring. But for a host of reasons, I was actually looking forward to it this time.

If you're Catholic/Christian (as I am), you are probably aware that this time in the calendar is Lent (or, the 40 days before Easter, culminating with Holy Week). Technically it is the most important time on the calendar - despite the fact that Christmas is filled with cookies, presents, Santa, and...stuff like this.

Now, I'm not dissing Christmas, because it's the one time a year that people have to really spend time with their families (whether that's good, bad or neutral is up to you). But Lent, Easter and the like are, at least for Christians, a rebirth of sorts. Jesus was betrayed, crucified, buried, and rose from the dead miraculously. He was able to start over, so what's stopping us from at least trying to do the same?

This weekend, however, Father Steve mentioned something eerily familiar to not only our 20-something generation, but to the Baby Boomers - the generation who coddled and raised most of us.

"As Catholics we've been raised in this negative view of our faith," he said. "We keep forgetting the blessings God gives us, and instead we think, 'oh, well if I tell more than 6 lies, I'm going to hell.'"

And it makes sense, at least for our parents' generation. The Catholic Church was even more stodgy and rigid than it already is. Traditionalists who grew up in that time remember hearing about the differences between "venal" and "mortal" sins. Venal sins are somewhat minor - like forgetting to say your prayers every night or something. But a mortal sin? Forget it. If you skip mass one week, tell a white lie another week, and then steal a candy bar from the local drug store, you, my friend, are on an express elevator to H-E-double hockey sticks. And since our parents were listening to mass in Latin (this was before the Vatican II Conference), the chances of them actually building some sort of positive relationship with God was slim. A lot of people bought into it and accepted their faith, thanks to outside forces like the Vietnam War, gas prices and the Sexual Revolution (although I always thought it could have been the popularity of "Joanie Loves Chachi"). But the majority? They just couldn't connect, and they couldn't relate to any of it. So, they left.

So, us 20-somethings, the offspring of the original "lost" generation, are faced with the same challenges. It seems as though there is no gray area when it comes to spirituality - either you are a "holy roller" or you classify yourself as agnostic/atheist. Even if someone still identifies him or herself as a certain denomination, does it necessarily mean that he/she attends church? Is it possible to attend church on a semi-regular basis without being branded as an Evangelist? I suppose that's something our generation might have to define. Additionally (just like Father Steve said), it's important to think of spirituality as something "positive" - especially if you come from a traditional Judeo-Christian background. All my life, thanks to the Baby Boomer influences around me, I was told to ask God for forgiveness for everything that I may or may not have done. Forgot to clean your room? Better pray about it. Talked back to your parents? That'll cost you. Skipped a class or two? Time to go to confession. Now, I'm not sitting here saying that people shouldn't be accountable for their actions, but after a while, it does put an emphasis on the wrong things.

So here's the challenge to my fellow 20-somethings: gaining perspective is never a bad thing. If you choose to do it through religion (whether it be the one you were raised with or another, completely different one), that's good too. Then maybe we can fight this trend of religious negativity - or at least learn to believe in something outside ourselves.

"Your 20's are a blur"

Greetings and salutations!

So, I was sitting in my cube today, thinking about things (as I usually do from time to time). All of a sudden, it occurred to me: I spend an inordinate amount of time talking, discussing, lamenting, and pontificating about this time -  this transient, 20-something, post-college period. Now, most of us still need to "figure it all out," despite the fact that college was supposed to offer us enlightenment, stability, Buddha-esque clarity, etc. Well, for most of us, that didn't happen. Why? We were still under the thumbs of our parents. A good number of us were still on their bank accounts. Is that really the best way to "find yourself?" Not hardly. Not when you still have no responsibilities.

So, with that being said, I'd like to think that this blog is for all of those fellow 20-somethings, who are being as introspective as I have seemed to become. Here, we can discuss, and debate, and lament about the state of our lives, and the plight of our generation. Or, we can just post ridiculous YouTube clips. :P The sky is truly the limit! Since I am a big TV nerd, I probably will talk about that industry. Have any funny stories about your job? Send them along/comment here!

So, Twentysomethings, I believe it's time to light this candle. I leave you with this - words of wisdom from Mr. Billy Crystal: