Mark it Zero, Dude

Well last night was our big Big Lebowski lecture than Shannon, Marty and I did for our postmodern film class. Of course, the technology went fucking haywire and we had to spend a good 15 minutes fixing the computer so it would play the DVD, but what are you gonna do? We had people read scenes from the movie in front of class and it killed, it was great. Seeing my professor read out Walter's lines about the rug pissers made my night.

Sports

If you hadn't noticed, I'm still on top of the Music Blogger Fantasy Football League. And I just locked up a playoff spot. Bring it, bitches.

Are the Colts unfairly rigging the crowd noise for home games? Or is it just the crowd chanting "Dodge! Dodge! Dodge!"

Big Ben has a lot of work to do this weekend against C-Palmer and the boys in orange.

News

Clark Griswald eat your heart out.

HigherEd reports on "Demystifying the Intellectual Work of Grad Students":

• “You’re going to have to get a real job sooner or later,” one friend told me. Am I not “really” working? Am I not writing assignments, preparing presentations, or reviewing literature? What makes a job “real”? Maybe it’s regular pay, or regular hours or business attire. Another friend referred to me as being on a “perpetual vacation.” Who goes on vacation with 150 student essays to mark and 25-page chapters due monthly? My father-in-law called me a “professional student.” Don’t professionals get paid handsomely?

Michael Berube posts on Blog Against Racism Day.

Noam Chomsky is the shit, and since the US executed its 1000th person yesterday, perhaps today is a good day to bring up a man like Chomsky. Chomsky, a renowned linguist and political activist, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 7, 1928. In 1955, he received his Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania; he conducted much of the related research at Harvard University between 1951 and 1955. Since completion of his graduate work, Chomsky has taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he has held the Ferrari P. Ward Chair of Modern Language and Linguistics since 1965. Among his many accomplishments, he is most famous for his work on generative grammar, which developed from his interest in modern logic and mathematical foundations.

Chomsky has had a long involvement in political activism, generally leaning towards a socialist and anarchist perspective. He became known for his opposition to the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War during the late 1960's. In 1969, he published a book of essays, "American Power and the New Mandarins," which is considered to be one of the most substantial arguments ever against U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

His subsequent written works and lectures continue to expose the hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy and the detrimental role of large corporations and the mainstream media.

Noam Chomsky - "Historical Significance of 9-11"
Noam Chomsky - "The Problems With Iraq"
Noam Chomsky - "U.S. Prisons"

Music


It's finally here: Paris Hilton, the musician.

Head on over to Irresponsible Journalism to pick up a whole bunch of Surfjan Stevens Christmas music, just in time for this indielicious holiday.

Also, Surfjan in the news.

Featured Artist: Sublime

Everyone had the one freshman house party band, you know, the one where the song would come on and you go "Awww shit!" and quick fill up your beer so you can find some equally unsober freshman chick who just might possibly want to ride your bumper for the next 4 minutes. For me, it was "The Thong Song," as sad as that is, but hey, I always danced with my hot friend Jessie (who just so happened to look a little like Britney Spears, but dirtier) during it, so I can't complain. Next to that song however was anything by Sublime. I spent a good two years of my college life drinking out of a keg at my friend Tone Loc's house and listening to Sublime. What a great way to spend two years.

Sublime - "Down in Mississippi"
Sublime - "No Woman No Cry"
Sublime - "Santeria"
Sublime - "Summertime"
Sublime - "Wrong Way"
Sublime - "Caress Me Down"
Sublime - "Date Rape"
Sublime - "What I've Got"


On that same note, I've never been a fan of rap music, but growing up no matter which party you went to you were bound to hear some 2Pac, or as we white-ass Northern Wisconsin boys like to call him, Tube Sock. Yes, I know, we're clever. Anyways, with all the snow and plummeting temperatures, what better weekend than this to kick back with some OG's, a couple 40's and some shorties and listen to some Pac:

2Pac - "I Ain't Mad Atcha"
2Pac - "Hit Em Up"

Last but not least, some holiday cheer from Wesley Willis...

Bonus: Wesley Willis - "Gingerbread Knocked Me Out"
Bonus: Wesley Willis - "Kris Kringle Was a Car Thief"