Meh

Clearly, I need to stop scheduling posts before they're finished. 

Elliptical Contest Standings Update

Through seven rounds:

Ericka - 11
Tex - 5
Birgit - 2
Nikki Haley - 0

There are five rounds remaining, with three points per round.  So the U.S. Ambassador to the UN still has a chance, as does anybody else who hasn't scored yet.  

An Elliptical Contest: Round Seven

For this round, I want your Mt. Rushmores. But instead of dead presidents, please pick four Americans who were not President. Living or dead is acceptable.  Please include a brief explanation of why you chose each person.

Three points for a valid entry.

Deadline: July 8

The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic: A Review

 

She's a talented writer.  But the problems start with the title itself.  As Hopper admits, it's not even true.  The highest profile piece in the collection seems to be Hopper piggy-backing on the work of a man.  Two of the back cover blurbs are from subjects of her articles.  She was employed by another.  She also worked for Pitchfork, which presents more ethical problems (see: R. Kelly).  She seems more interested in making bank off feminist credentials than actually earning those credentials.  Perhaps the saddest part is that she has enough skill as a writer to make it on her merits.  

"It's a song of failure.  It's realizing that sometimes the best you've got to give isn't much of anything at all."  (re: Van Morrison's "T.B. Sheets")
- "I Have a Strange Relationship with Music"

"I want it. I need it. Because all these records, they give me a language to decipher just how fucked I am. Because there is a void in my guts which can only be filled by songs."
- "I Have a Strange Relationship with Music"

"Emo's yearning doesn't connect it with women - it omits them."
- "Emo: Where the Girls Aren't"

"I've never seen a woman so naturally give less of a fuck."  (re: Anya Davidson, of Coughs)
- "Viva La Filthy Noise! Coughs' Secret Passage"

"A lot of art, great art, is made by despicable people." - Jim DeRogatis
- "Conversation with Jim DeRogatis Regarding R. Kelly"

"So we're not talking about rock star misbehavior, which men or women can do.  We're talking about predatory behavior.  Their lives were ruined." - DeRogatis
- "Conversation with Jim DeRogatis Regarding R. Kelly"
 

"She's playing it like a rebel, but she's simply being who we've goaded her to be."
- "Miley Cyrus / Bangerz"
 
   

An Elliptical Contest: Round Six

June is GBT Pride Month.

In a strange coincidence, round six is all about famous peeps of the g, b, or t persuasion.

Identify the people in the pics. First with a perfect score earns three points. If no perfect score, the first entrant with the most right gets the points.

Deadline: June 15

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April Recap

I only read 4 books in April.









I participated in the A to Z Challenge again.  Tried to double dip, with mixed results.

Cruised Earth Fair one weekend and Art Walk the following weekend.  Bought Britt a birthday gift at the latter, so I'm prepared for September. :)

The madre visited.

Received a free book from Australian Erin, as well as a bookshelf animal. First, I thought it was a kangaroo. But it's tailless, so then I thought it's a koala. But the face really looks like a kangaroo, so maybe they just left the tail off for kicks and giggles.  The book is the first one above. I liked it, but it's not for everybody. 

Couldn't get the wrapper off a plastic egg full of candy, so I used the cork screw part of a Swiss army knife. It worked, but I kind of sliced my hand open.

Nobody entered Round Four of my contest.  I guess nobody wanted to dye eggs pretty colors. :(

The NFL draft happened. Now I need something else to pointlessly obsess over to fill the void.

Anyway, if you're interested in visiting Australian Erin:

http://texerin-in-sydneyland.blogspot.com.au/
  

An Elliptical Contest: Round Five

 
It's Kentucky Derby time. So place your bets.

Pick one horse. 

Win - 3 points
Place - 2 points
Show - 1 point

Long-shot Bonus: One additional point for a top-3 finish.  Long-shot will be defined as a horse with 20-1 odds or longer. 

Bets are due by 3:30 PM Pacific Time, Saturday. 

If you're of legal age: