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November 3, 2008
The Pony Track's Drivin' Spicy
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
October 31, 2008
When Geraldo Rivera Dies I Will Think Of Bob Dylan
First off I should note that the last two words in this post are the same last two words in my very first post. I guess you could say that the more things change the more they stay the same. Except I hate that phrase, and it makes no sense. It's mad herbish when people say things that are contradictions because they think they sound wise or Asian, as if being wise or Asian is all that. Let me tell you, it's not. Second off, I should note that the title of this post is true. Back in August I rolled to a Dylan show in Prospect Park and he brought the fire with like nineteen t's. The entire affair was aided by the fact that I sat next to Geraldo Rivera's mustache, which was attached to Geraldo Rivera himself. Look, this is how we do. We're BadmintonStamps. Now for the rest of my life, whenever I think about Geraldo Rivera I'm going to think about that moment I had getting high with his mustache and listening to Dylan catch a groove and rock the city. Thankfully whenever I think of Dylan I won't necessarily think about Geraldo. It doesn't work both ways. But I digress. Now that SkinnySlim is dead I wonder what will I think about when I look back on my time with BadmintonStamps. I bet it'll be the memories of writing a song, asking famous people ridiculous questions, rewriting history, putting on some shows, and blowing all of our ad money on Radiohead and Jay-Z concerts and drugs and booze and Jim's cheesesteaks. And of course I'm going to think about my partner in crime, the unimpeachable Philabuster, now riding solo. I gotta say we brought the fire with like ninety nine nineteen t's. I realize some of you may still be a lil' bit slack jawed over that whole "SkinnySlim is dead" thing. It may even be appropriate to say, "SkinnySlim is dead, long live SkinnySlim", except, you know, the whole Asian/wise contradiction bullshit we previously discussed. But yes, this will be my last post for BadmintonStamps. The time has come, what with the abhorrent lack of writing over the last several months and the whole me gaining so much weight that people I meet now think the name SkinnySlim is sarcastic. Plus, in this simple paragraph I have been racist, wrong, mind blindingly funny, boughetto, cooler than you, cooler than your grandfather who is cooler than you, cooler than my grandfather who is cooler than your grandfather no doubt, long winded, self indulgent, used the "blank with blank number of t's" phrase and dropped too many commas. This basically covers everything I have ever done for BadmintonStamps. So, what else is there to say except keep it real and keep fucking. I leave you with seven songs that I love more than titties, or at least seven songs that could rival titties. Really, these are some of my favorites, and I love sharing them with all of you. I thank you guys for wasting your time reading my musings. It's meant the world to me, or at least it's meant that I could get dope seats to see Radiohead and Jay-Z. And so, this is it. No joke.
Download: Bob Dylan - "Alberta #2"
Download: Stereolab - "Check And Double Check"
Download: Notorious B.I.G. - "Kick In The Door"
Download: Massive Attack - "Protection"
Download: Velvet Underground - "Stephanie Says"
Download: Guided By Voices - "Game Of Pricks"
Download: Louis Armstrong - "I Can't Give You Anything But Love"
October 30, 2008
Thursday Photo Essay
Liberty Bell > Cowbell
(Photo Credit)
Download: Phil Pratt All Stars - "Victory"
July 28, 2008
Our Bad: BadmintonStamps Corrections/Retractions
In regards to the following item on MGMT which appeared in the July 25th weekend preview:
The live show has received some spotty reviews in its earlier iterations, but the dudes have had enough time to work out the kinks by now, so don't you even worry.
MGMT are, in fact, a truly horrific live act. One of the worst ever witnessed by this blogger. Worse then Fred Armisen. Deep and sincere apologies to anyone who was swayed into spending their hard-earned money or valuable time on this show as a result of the errant post.
Download: Feist - "So Sorry"
The Pony Track Never Makes Its Move Too Soon
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: Quite Village - "Too High To Move"
July 25, 2008
Start With A Concert, End With A Ball This Weekend In Philly
Friday night, you've got options aplenty. Celeburock duo She & Him are at the Trocadero, bringing the simple country song stylings of Zooey Deschanel to the masses. Cute stuff, though you'd be hard pressed to convince me this is genuine Friday night material. Could somebody please tape the show so I can watch it next Tuesday?
MGMT are back in town at the StaR5 Ballroom, featuring a wacky quotient much more appropriate for weekend fare. The live show has received some spotty reviews in its earlier iterations, but the dudes have had enough time to work out the kinks by now, so don't you even worry. Along for the ride is Kuroma, a new quietly quirky project from ex-Whigs front man turned MGMT supporting cast member Hank Sullivant.
And don't pretend like you forgot about Making Time. Tonight's go-around features live action from the UK's Friendly Fires (pic'd). "Updated version of Tom Vek" fits snugly enough for those who need a label going in. Probably not the greatest band in history, and you probably won't care when you're still dancing your ass off anyway.
Saturday night, Bleached Black at Medusa Lounge, solid as ever.
Bowlin' on a Sunday is THE way to prepare for the work week ahead. And when a certain gent by the name of Steven Bloodbath is soundtracking your 7-10 splits, there's really no reason not to head up and give the ol'
Download: She & Him - "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
Download: MGMT - "Indie Rokkers"
Download: Kuroma - "Alexander Martin"
Download: Friendly Fires - "Paris"
July 10, 2008
Thursday Photo Esssay
Look, They Gotta Go
Download: Primal Scream - "Kill All Hippies"
July 9, 2008
Yes, I Know, They Believe In Aliens And Have Cultish Tendencies
I got a Scientologist's back. I don't have Scientology's back, cause that shit is crazy, but if you're some herb that's into Scientology, I'm not hating on you. What I'm saying is, lay off Tom Cruise and Beck. I always hear people going around hating on Tom Cruise and Beck because they are Scientologists. Admittedly Tom Cruise deserves some hate. But not because he's a Scientologist. Hating people for their religious beliefs is so last World War. And the last World War is, frankly, played out. We've all seen a lifetime's worth of the holocaust and "we're the most wondrous gang of ragtag yet brave young men that have ever walked the earth" soldier flicks. But even beyond the passe aspects, I'm just sick of this religious persecution, even for something as wackadoodle and arguably sinister as Scientology. People act like they're the religion it's okay to hate. Not the Jews. Who blow people up. Or the Muslims. Who blow people up, sometimes even just for drawing pictures of their God. Or the Catholics. Their religious leaders raped communities full of little boys. And they also blow people up, too, by the way. But that doesn't mean I'm going to ostracize a Catholic individual because he's Catholic. No sir, I got too much love in my heart. And that love in my heart stems from my religion, Keeping It Realogy. I think all of those Scientologist haters should take heed of the basic tenant of my heavenly religion: don't hate the player, hate the game.
Download: Junior M.A.F.I.A. - "Player's Anthem" (feat. Notorious B.I.G.)
Download: Beck - "Feather In Your Cap"
July 8, 2008
Coldplay Is Not A Ragtag Eighteenth-Century Militia
One blogger's opinion, but making insipid lifestyle music which mimics both the startling intellectual depth of Radiohead and the anthemic universal grandeur of U2 while failing to fully achieve either does not, in itself, constitute selling out. Allowing your label's stylists to clothe you as though you were extras in the the Cleveland Community Playhouse's latest run of Les Miserables, however, does very much so. And I'm by no means questioning the place of costumes in rock. It's awesome how Clinic always wear surgical masks, or how Man Man regularly don the indian face paints, or how Feist always dresses up as my sexy future baby momma. They're performers, after all. But suspension of disbelief can only go so far, as that restraining order from Feist's lawyers repeatedly reminds me. I mean, who's the genius that expects me to mistake these whining limey herbs for war-grizzled vets? My short list of things that would look more convincing in army garb includes Joey Fatone, my 75-year old grandmother, that dude in Deerhunter, a soft-serve ice cream machine, and several models of chia head. Not to mention, this dress has already been worn out, so to speak, by a band of Coldplay's countrymen: British Sea Power. Their subtle naval twist on the military get-up - as well as their inclination to rock the fuck out - makes for a seriously ballsy rock package. Coldplay may not be castrated yet, but the band of brothers is clearly devoid of seamen.
Download: British Sea Power - "Remember Me"
July 7, 2008
The Pony Track Will Wait For Something More
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: The Boy Least Likely To - "Faith"
June 24, 2008
Haiku Review: Love Is All @ The Bowery Ballroom, 6/17/08
Bjorn, Sven. Bjorn, and Sven
and a hot keebler elf chick
rock the whole damn spot
Download: Love Is All - "Spinning and Scratching"
You Can't Get On His System Cause His System Is The Solar
Earlier this month, Lil Wayne faced the hype machine and dropped the ridiculously anticipated Carter III into your local Virgin Megastore or iTunes outlet. It is a triumph, and if it isn't a masterpiece, it's pretty damn close. Coming on like a combination of Usher, Sly Stone, Prince, Jay-Z, Weird Al Yankovich, Radiohead and 50 Cent, Weezy is in full control and as focused as he will ever be. First off, you know we're in luck when Kayne drops three beats and doesn't utter a single word. Then there's the album version of #1 hit "Lollipop". I'm stunned in a Tim Russert death way at how good the album version of "Lollipop" is. I called the radio version "Pink Floyd pop music". It was hyperbole. Calling the album version Pink Floyd pop music is just unnecessary flattery of Roger Waters. There's also a Diddy imitiation. There's five legit pop hits. There's talk of Mr. Clean with hair. And Orville Redenbacher. It's a rap album, so it's not all perfect. "Tie My Hands", the Katrina song, features a strong Weezy performance but is mauled by the trite singing of Alan Thicke's son, who claims to work in the corner store and have problems, problems. Instead of making me contemplate the tragedy of the hurricane, it instead makes me contemplate physically hurting Alan Thicke's son. This track, along with the overwrought, oversung, and over pussy filled "Playing With Fire" are the only missteps. Unless you classify the 9 minute "song" where Wayne goes off spoken rambling word style on Al Sharpton as a misstep. I sure don't. But the imperfections are in part why Carter III is such a success, especially in the current stale, safe hip hop environment. Weezy goes for it so hard, in so many different directions, that there's bound to be at least one song you don't like. For me it's the Thicke song, for you it might be the "I'm fucking a female police officer" song or the "I'm a Martian" banger. But it's that ambition in sound, lyrics, and concept that make great musical art and even better rock stars. Right now, at this moment, there are very few artistic statements as strong and satisfying as The Carter III and there is no bigger rock star than Lil Wayne.
Download: Lil Wayne - "Mr. Carter" (feat. Jay Z)
Download: Lil Wayne - "La La" (feat. Brisco and Busta Rhymes)
June 23, 2008
Welcome Back
We'll dispense with the long-winded and fantastical excuse for the radio silence, and simply say that after three long years of slaving over a hot keyboard non-stop, the 'Samps boys wanted a blog vacation. There was no point trying to prepare you for our brief absence, since you would've still lost your shit in the end. Better to just rip off the band-aid, throw you in the deep end, and let you find your own way home. But we're back. And boy, did we have fun. SkinnySlim's adventures included no less than shooting a movie in New York City, climbing the Pyramids, and going on lion safari in Africa. Or maybe he just rented The Bucket List through Netflix. I honestly can't remember. For my part, I indulged in a number of pursuits, hobbies, trifles, and inanities from which those enchanting blog muses would otherwise typically divert me. In the coming days, I look forward to sharing the minutia of these events with you, our loyal readers and vicarious livers, as well as getting back to our regularly scheduled keeping of all things real.
The Pony Track Would Like To Take It All Back
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: No Age - "Eraser"
June 3, 2008
To Is For Counting
You know when you say, "Hey", and people respond, "Hey is for horses"? These people are assholes. They're also factually incorrect. Hey is an interjection used to attract attention or to express surprise, appreciation, wonder, or pleasure. Hay is that crap horses eat. So hey isn't for horses, it's for exclaiming. And furthermore, hey is much more commonly used than hay. So really it makes more sense that when people say, "I'm so hungry I could eat a pile of hay" to respond, "Hey is for attracting attention or expressing surprise, appreciation, wonder, or pleasure." Although that would be a pretty dick thing to do too.
Download: Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces - "Hey Mr D.J."
Download: Elliot Smith - "Needle in the Hay"
May 20, 2008
If A Student Graduates In A Forest, Does Anybody Care?
When I graduated High School, I...wait, that's right, I never graduated high school. That shit is for sellouts. As everybody from Hillary Clinton to the corner bum (soon to be one in the same) will tell you, getting an education is lame and means you are not a real American. Also, apparently, being black means you're not a real American and don't work hard. Which means that even though I never graduated high school, I still can't be a real American. Which is fine, because like High School and working hard, America is for sellouts. Now, if I had graduated High School, it would have been quite the spectacle. First of all, I would be the only person getting a diploma. Because no one can share the stage with SkinnySlim. Well, no one except Philabuster, and his parents made him sell out and get a high school diploma back when he was in high school. There would also be a bunch of prestigious special guests to honor me. I'm talking big time names, like the governor of my state. No one in history would ever have a graduation like that. Then I find out this dude from Montana was the only kid to graduate from his high school, and the governor had nothing better to do than show up and give a commencement speech? Damn, what a bunch of sellouts.
Download: Silver Jews - "Advice to Graduate"
Download: Cheap Trick - "Daddy Should Have Stayed In High School"
May 19, 2008
The Pony Track Doesn't Care Whose House It Is
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: Talking Heads - "Once In A Lifetime"
May 14, 2008
In Rotation: Spins For Life
Here's a quick look at the mp3s spinning on SkinnySlim's record player this month.
Breeders - Mountain Battles
Mountain Battles sounds like a bruise. It's an effect achieved by the Breeders unorthodox recording method, which consists of stealing ZZ Top's instruments, using a subterranean desert cave as a studio, and covering your speakers with Vaseline.
The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
How the fuck hell did this band get so good? Oh right, Jack White is in them. I wasn't a big fan of the first record, but oh my sweetness. It's beer and sweat juicy modern rock that may not reinvent the wheel, but it sure as hellfire puts a hot shiny new rim on that wheel. "Carolina Drama" may be White's finest moment, but you'll have to cop the record to hear that one. Instead enjoy a typical strong cut below, plus one that Tenacious D would slay nineteen dragons to have written.
Various Artists - Funky Nassau: The Compass Point Story 1980-1986
This is a superfantasticfunkalicious comp of songs recorded at Chris Blackwell's Compass Point Studio. Features such ridiculous 80s jams that even if you don't do cocaine, you'll think this shit is on point.
Lil Wayne - "Lollipop" (Remix)
Pink Floyd pop music. I've never heard the autotune used like us indeed.
Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow And Blue
This is a good new band. Thank you for being a good new band, Born Ruffians. I hope your future releases will be even better than this album, your charming and lovely debut.
Download: Breeders - "German Studies"
Download: The Raconteurs - "Many Shades of Black"
Download: Gwen Guthrie - "Padlock" (Larry Levan Mix)
Download: Lil Wayne - "Lollipop" (Remix)
Download: Born Ruffians - "Foxes Mate For Life"
Download: Born Ruffians - "Little Garcon"
May 13, 2008
Why Our Parties Are Awesome
We'd like to thank everybody who came out to the Barbary last Friday night for totally free music, booze, dancing, pretzels, and assorted other awesomeness. Epic doesn't even begin to start to prepare to describe, as you probably know. If you don't, the pictures tell the tale, and there's plenty of 'em thanks to SL Philly and Dan Murphy. Indeed, the photos illustrate concretely just a few of the reasons why there ain't no party like a Badminton party.
1) Stage Dancing - Hands in the air are all fine and well. But to truly rock the party, you need an environment where people can literally step their game up. Throw your hands in the air up there, my fine fellows. And revel in it.
2) Connexions - We won't know the full damage for another nine months, but there were at least 37 verifiable, brand new, never before thought of hookups that materialized straight out of the ether, and most were between really, really good looking people.
3) Twofers - Some showed up wearing a classic double-fisted look. Others went for the more provocative, fashion-forward stack. When the 'Stamps throws a party, the only thing that's out of style is moderation.
3a) Guts - Events with free booze can easily turn some people's unbound exuberance into a serious party-foul pitfall that complicates the lives of all in attendance. But we made it through a solid five hours without a single dreaded vomity corner or KO'd bathroom. We give some credit to the natural absorbency of soft pretzels and wide availability of public sidewalks, but the rest to our guests' iron wills and steadfast livers.
4) Sunglasses - At night? Nuts. Fuckin' nuts.
5) Balls - Thunderheist leading lady Isis was mad sick when she rolled into town, and she, along with the dudes from Black Ghosts and Time Machine, had been through a truly abysmal 24 hours of travel, but the entire entourage sacked up and performed with the sort of gusto and pizzaz most acts usually reserve for the next night's show in New York. You know exactly what I'm talking about.
Additional gratitude goes out to our pals at Vice and Colt 45 for helping pull the whole shebang together. For the rest of you, get some sleep, take your vitamins, and don't forget to stretch, 'cause we'll be doing it all over again on Friday, June 6th, with another spectacular (and Philly-centric!) line-up.
Download: Black Ghosts - "Let's Get Physical"
May 12, 2008
Tonight: Ringo Never, Pete Best Forever!
The dashing young lad with the very not-mop top at right is renowned condom arsonist and legendary "Fifth Beatle" Pete Best. He's playing the M Room this evening, which in a depressingly succinct way answers the question of "What ever happenned to that guy?" better than any tawdry, long-winded VH1 bio ever could. So is the recipient of rock's most infamous pink slip still bitter? Four decades later, he says no. Through gritted teeth, we imagine, but a long over-due pay day of several million dollars must take at least some of the edge off. To prove there are no hard feelings, he'll be performing a 90-minute set of his former employers' biggest hits. What's more, there's an opening set from 'Stamps faves The Major Leagues, kickstarters of the Templemania currently sweeping through your favorite rock club. Twist and shout your little keester off, but for goodness sake, please don't push your filthy Preludin here. Pete Best is fueled by Sparks.
Download: The Beatles - "It Won't Be Long"
I believe it was Churchill who said that when it comes to war, you gotta have good weapons, better soldiers, and the best propaganda. Either it was Churchill or I just made it up. But no matter, it's true nonetheless. There is no better example of Churchill's point than the famed Fried Egg Civil War of 1993. The fierce conflict pitted Over Easy against its ideological nemesis, Over Hard. Propaganda was in full effect. Over Easy fired the first salvo, releasing their wildly popular slogan, "Life's Hard: Take It Easy." Over Hard hit back the only way they could. Hard. They countered with the slogan, "Over Hard. These Eggs Don't Run." Not to be outdone, Over Easy shot back with, "Life's Hard: Why you want your eggs to be hard too? It's seems excessive, to be frank." Needless to say, this slogan bombed harder than the egg bombs Over Hard was pummeling the Over Easy home base with. The combination of their stunning loss in the propaganda battle and the constant barrage of hard eggs being thrown at them by other hard eggs seemed damning. But Over Easy insisted it would not be over that easy. They released one of the most stunning advertisements in wartime history. Some called it slander. Others cited the old Churchill idiom, "All is fair in love and war." The ad stated, "Over Hard...Not as hard as you think they are." While still wordy, it was the image that shook up the world. The ads showed a photograph of a limp Over Hard fried egg gorging itself on Viagra and Cialis. Hard insisted the photo was doctored. Easy claimed the only thing that was doctored was Hard's hardness. Over Medium, which had sat out the war as a consciousness objector, knew it was the only hope for bringing peace to the fried egg world. In a passionate speech before the United Egg Council, Over Medium pleaded with the two rivals to come together, lest they all be done in by the new alliance of Scrambled and Poached that was threatening the entire U.E.C. community. Thankfully both Over Easy and Over Hard listened to reason and settled their differences, although the scars of their infamous propaganda campaign will never truly heal.
Download: The Beastie Boys - "Egg Man"
The Pony Track Is The Stuff Of Myth
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
April 30, 2008
Mosh Martyr
We've all been there. You're in the audience of indie rock concert X, standing on the fringe of that shifting no-man's land where the passive observers meet the movers, shakers, and jump-up-and-downers. You suck it up and deal with the occasional jostle, which you realize is fair trade-off for being so close to the stage. Then the moshing starts. You're too busy protecting your face to enjoy the show, and your arms are tired from shoving sweaty dudes back into other sweaty dudes. But how do you stop the moshy menace? I'll tell you how. Push a girl over. Now please understand that, on the whole, Philabuster is a man who treats a lady in strictly chivalrous fashion. I open her car door, point out broken glass on the sidewalk, and always share my largess, if you know what I mean. But the moshing situation demands that chivalry go right out window. Nobody will care if the shirtless goon in the middle of the throng falls and splits his skull open. To the contrary, all that does is feed the frenzy. But if the short redhead gal on the fringe of the pack - the one that's huddling with her two friends just trying to stay out of the way - trips and scrapes her elbow, everything comes to a dead stop. Previously silent bystanders begin to actively chastise the offender. Adjacent moshers reign it in. Often, even the band will take an interest, inquiring suggestively between songs whether everybody's ok down there. So, next time you're standing there, and an innocent girl gets thrust backwards toward you by the lurching crowd, resist your more gentlemanly impulses and let her drop like a sack of flour, safe in the knowledge that a greater good is being served. You'll both be enjoying the memories of a subsequently mosh-free concert long after her bruises have faded away.
Download: Prefuse 73 - "It's Crowded" (ft. Claudia Deheza)
Download: Franz Ferdinand - "The Fallen"
April 29, 2008
BadmintonStamps Presents: Black Ghosts, Thunderheist, Dave P & Time Machine
Ever since we Pony Tracked "Some Way Through This" last year, we've been trying to get Black Ghosts to throw down proper in Phildadelphia. On Friday, May 9th, the trying will stop, and the freaking the fuck out will begin. BadmintonStamps is proud to announce the first of four totally free parties that is going to make your summer hotter, cheaper, and maltier than ever before. It's going down at The Barbary just two Fridays from now, and will feature the first-ever Philly performance by London's Black Ghosts, as well as a live set from Montreal's 8-bit ghetto blasters Thunderheist and disc jockery from Dave P and Time Machine. Besides the free show, you also get free Colt 45 from 9-11PM, and free soft pretzels all night long. The word crazygonuts was invented for situations like this, people. All you need to do is RSVP online, then show up at 9PM and do what comes naturally. It goes without saying that space will be limited, so the best advice we can give you right now is to RSVP at the site thusly linked (type "BadmintonStamps" in the box labeled "affiliation"). Once the party's full, it's full, so don't delay. To recap, that's...
Free music,
Free booze,
Free pretzels,
On a Friday night.
We'd say it's extraordinary, but honestly, this is just how we roll. See ya there, Philly.
Download: Black Ghosts - "I Want Nothing" (Extended Mix)
Download: Thunderheist - "Suenos Dolces"
Not Free Tibet
It's been forty years since the social revolutions of 1968. Anniversaries and commemorations are in full effect, celebrating the free sex, free drugs, and free police beatings. One thing that wasn't free in 1968 was the protest paraphanalia. Whether it be a black wristband, a tie dyed American flag, or guns that shoot flowers, 1968 was the heyday of the protest industry. But today ain't like the good ol' days when there were riots in the streets every day. Protest is a perfect profit opportunity, but the industry went into decline in the 70s and hit a full-fledged recession ever since do-it-yourself effigies came into fashion in 1980s Iran. Mom and pop protest shops have been on death's door with no reprieve on the horizon. Enter that ingenious little manufacturing machine known as China (editor's note: badmintonstamps is banned in China). The Chinese know that when you don't have a market, you create one. So they decided they needed to drum up some protest. Now, protesting is illegal in China, so they had to drum up protest outside of the country. And what better way to create an international protest phenomenon than by killing Tibetan monks. It's a simple plan. Murder monks, let international protesters get riled up, make "free Tibet" flags in your factories, watch the money pile up. That's right, kiddos, the Chinese Government made your "Free Tibet" flag. Looks like the joke's on you, hippie. That should teach you to stop caring about dead monks, and teach all of us an important economic lesson.
Download: Sonic Youth - "Teenage Riot"
April 28, 2008
Ticket Giveaway: Tokyo Police Club @ First Unitarian
We'd be excited enough just to have "Fuckin' Nuts" alums and generally rad dudes Tokyo Police Club back in town performing tonight at the church basement. But the pot has been massively sweetened by the fact they're touring in support of their debut LP Elephant Shell, easily one of the year's best albums so far, and a fixture in the Badminton HQ stereo for nearly a month on now. Like audio tapas, the record's eleven bite-sized morsels of rock are gone before you know it, but sport hooks big and bold enough to leave you more than satisfied. So, in the spirit of the album's brevity, we've got a pair of tickets to give away lightning round-style, to the very first person who e-mails email@example.com with their name and the subject heading "IN DA CLUB". Bingo! Bango!
Download: Tokyo Police Club - "Tessellate"
The Pony Track Ain't Ready For The Apocalypse
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
April 21, 2008
The Girlfriend Track Gets Hitched
The Girlfriend Track is song that SkinnySlim deems sexy for a lady to feel. We're talking about songs where, if my girl said "Yo, turn this up", I would be turned on.
I never mess with another man's woman, except of course if he's a Red Sox fan. But that doesn't mean I can't fantasize. This moral law (the not messing with another man's woman) is a Sam Malone creed. Sam believes you can do whatever you want, to whomever and with whoever you want, as long as it's consensual and it's not with another man's woman. Ironically, on Cheers, Sam Malone was an ex-Red Sox, which means I would mess with his women. Plus they were stupidly hot. Oh, did I mention I'll mess with another man's woman if she's stupidly hot? But that's fair. Trust me from experience that, if you date a stupidly hot woman, you have to know that every man will try to make a move on her, even if they're related to her. This is the cross to bear when you're with a stupidly hot woman, and stupidly hot women will judge you by how cool and nonchalant you react to this onslaught of sleazy pass making. But back to the taken women. There is something so delectably nasty sexy about a woman in a committed relationship, wheeling around her baby stroller or carrying groceries home for that evening's supper, who gives me that longing, even pleading, smile as she passes by on the street. I would never, but I want to always. Big Joe Turner feels what I'm saying, and let's be honest, all those ladies with rings 'round their fingers feel what Big Joe Turner and I are bringing.
Download: Big Joe Turner - "Married Woman"
April 14, 2008
The Pony Track Spills Chills
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: Deee-Lite - "Groove Is In The Heart"
April 10, 2008
Thursday Photo Esssay
(Photo Credit)
Download: Tokyo Police Club - "Listen To The Math"
Thursday Photo Esssay
To The City!
Download: The Breeders - "Istanbul"
April 8, 2008
In The End There Was Light
As our regular readers know, SkinnySlim is only in it for the money. And nowadays, there's one word that's synonymous with money: prequels. "Prequels," you ask, "what are those?" Yeah, I didn't know either. Apparently a prequel is when there's a successful movie or book and then someone writes a new, lamer story about what happened before the movie or book began. "Oh, like a sequel!" Well, sort of. Except my understanding is that a sequel tells the lamer story of what happens after the movie or book ended, not what happened before it began. Thusly, the story that happens after the movie or book begins or before it ends is simply called the quel. But the beauty of prequels is that you can just take an existing success and exploit it for your own pocketbook/agenda. Some guy named George Lucas did this to those kickass Star Wars movies, and he ended up making millions even though he clearly had none of the talent of the guys who created the originals. Now the truth is, the same thing applies with a sequel. See the Beverly Hills Cop/Lethal Weapon films for evidence. But here's the rub. They already made a sequel to the most successful story of all time. It's called the New Testament. But they ain't ever made a prequel. That's where SkinnySlim comes in. That's right, I'm prequelling the Bible. What was this God character up to before the whole Earth thing? Crazy shit, that's what. Dude was on a whole different tip. Lots of dragons, lots of flying giraffes, lots of erkimats. What are erkimats? Crazy shit, that's what. Crazy prequel shit, in fact. See, with a prequel you can make up whatever nonsense you want, as long as it ends at the beginning of the hit story you're capitalizing on. I bet you didn't know God was into macrame before Earth. He made a whole planet out macrame. He even made an erkimat out of macrame. But in the end everything went dark. Very dark. And God was confused and lost, mostly because it was so dark that he couldn't find his way around. And then God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. The end
April 7, 2008
Tonight: A Little Q&A
Ignore the description on the Khyber calendar, 'cause all deacdes are fair game this evening. Awesome prizes abound for winners and losers, though the prizes for the winners are a little awesomer. And really, when you get to spend Monday night flashing your music trivia muscle like a peacock in heat, aren't we all winners?
Haiku Review: Les Savy Fav @ The TLA, 4/5/08
Roaming through the crowd,
"I'm more naked with clothes on."
Chaperones upstairs.
Haiku Review: Handsome Furs @ North Star Bar, 4/4/08
US Customs tale:
"Yeah, the anal rape was wierd."
That's legal tender.
Download: Handsome Furs - "Sing! Captain"
The Pony Track Is All Love
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: Bill Withers - "Lovely Day"
April 4, 2008
Get Right Sunday Night
We can all agree that, for the most part, Sunday nights kinda suck. No good parties, not that you'd want to go anyway, what with the next day being Monday and all. You're tired, you're broke, and you've already seen this week's [insert HBO series here]. Sometimes it's even raining. The situation is, if we may be so bold, poopy. But April of 2008 is gonna change all that. Every Sunday night this month, our pals Greyhounds will be performing in residency at The Khyber, along with a rotating cast of other local faves, bringing that Philly rock good like a Philly band should. What's more, each one of the shows is TOTALLY FREE, so you can break the bank elsewhere, safe in the knowledge that a little rock and roll lovin' at weekend's close won't cost you a dime. We're talkin' E-Street energy, Jam moxie, Libertine recklessness - all, as they say, gratis. Expect fun times, cheap drinks, special surprises, and the thrill of living the Sunday night life you always thought was just beyond your grasp.
This week's residency kick-off features an undercard with The Neighborhood Choir and Major Leagues, two acts that the 'Stamps is so jazzed about, we're actually helping them release a split vinyl 7" later this year. Birth of a label, you ask? We like to think of it more as a progressive social movement, but we'll go with whatever fits. The Neighborhood Choir craft roomy shamble-rock that's as understated as it is catchy. The Major Leagues? They had us at "Montel Jordan". It's a stone-cold fox of a line-up, and there's no point in putting off your complete infatuation with all three of these bands any longer. Which is all a very roundabout way of saying: we'll see ya Sunday night.
This Weekend In Philly Is Ka-Ray-Zee
Your Friday night is mercifully straightforward. Handsome Furs finally make up for last fall's Khyber cancellation with a show at North Star. For those not knowing, basically, the rock star half of Wolf Parade has ditched the loud whiny dude half in favor of a sexy lady who knows how to keep her mouth shut and drop beats half. Wholly awesome.
More specifically, for example, you've got Les Savy Fav's (pic'd) first Philly show since 2003 at the TLA. It's virtually impossible to describe what their shows are like, but just to make sure everybody knows what they're in for, think part Making Time, part Burning Man, and part Eyes Wide Shut. Seriously, I still have a mask from the last time I saw them. A mask!
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Earlier on Saturday, put on your "College" t-shirt and head over to the Human BBQ at Pi-Lam. No better way to kick off the day than a Brown Recluse Sings brunch, plus a smattering of other bands foreign and domestic.
Ok, back to nite time. If I didn't have tix for the Fav, I'd definitely fer sure be at Johnny Brenda's catching the French Kicks. Or at North Star for the long overdue return of sentimental 'Stamps faves Ambulance Ltd. Or puttin' the dance back in my pants at the April installment of Hurrah down at Medusa Lounge. Totally.
Oh shit, and Ladyfingers is back in town, too! The badass of bluegrass is bringing his punkabilly revival to the Old Swedes Church, of all places. And what's this? An after party at For Pete's Sake? With FREE BEER??? Yup, Philadephia Brewing Company is steppin' up their game and lubricating everyone who has the good sense to buy a ticket. People, this is officially not optional.
Sunday night super awesome rock info forthcoming...
Download: Handsome Furs - "Cannot Get Started"
Download: Les Savy Fav - "One Way Widow"
Download: Ambulance Ltd. - "Heavy Lifting"
Download: Ladyfingers - "It Ain't Mine"
April 2, 2008
Also, We Can Teleport
I know what you're thinking. You checked Badminton last night before bed, but the site remained frustratingly stagnant since last Wednesday. When you return today, presto! Several more days' worth of posts have appeared, as if by magic. Actually, it's just another case of Google dishing out some good old everyday inspiration. Yesterday, they introduced Custom Time, a new Gmail feature that allows users to backdate e-mails they send to others, retroactively meeting deadlines and remembering birthdays that have long since passed. It didn't take long to conclude that we, too, could utilize this sort of temporal chicanery, and effectively cover up a week's worth of laziness with a few well-placed HTML brackets. And just like that, you've got plenty of hot fresh 'Stampsness for the perusing that you had somehow failed to notice until just now. Seriously, how'd you miss all that? Of course, the news that Custom Time Gmail was but a clever April Fools hoax came as something of a disappointment, and we briefly thought about taking the backdated posts down. But, when we stepped back just a bit, a larger picture emerged. We realized that we had accomplished the sort of fraud in earnest that even a company as powerful as Google could only offer in jest, and decided to leave the content untouched, testimony to our newfound mastery of time and e-space.
Download: Cody Chesnutt - "When I Find Time"
April 1, 2008
What Black People Like
There's this website that's become very popular. It features observations on what white people like. I believe that is in fact what it's called. Little did I know that the guy who writes it is white. Which is bullshit. It takes no balls to make observations about your own race. However, it takes three balls to make observations about another race. Which is what I've got. Three balls. So what do black people like? Entry number one: Tyler Perry. Entry number two: Red Lobster. Look, I got a million of these. This is my fucking hobby. They trick out their railings. "What?" Yes, they trick out their railings. Here's a photo my boy took in Bed Stuy. That's right, I have a staff working on this. They also like bad rock music. I've read countless interviews with rappers where they're all like, "I bet you didn't know I like rock music." Then they play either Linkin Park, Panic At The Disco, or John Mayer. Black people, especially black rappers, are really into John Mayer. How about R. Kelly? There are millions of people who love R. Kelly. Me and the dude at the end of the Ignition Remix video are the only white guys who love R. Kelly. There's also Pepsi, Barack Obama, Nextels. You know, those "adult" walkie talkies. If I'm sitting next to you on the bus, I'd much rather hear both ends of the conversation than just your side. It's considerate. In the end, like my balls, the points here are three. One is that white dudes should give it up already. Two is I spend way too much time thinking about black people. And three, even with the Red Lobster and John Mayer, these black people are on point and should be pretty damn proud.
Download: Heptones - "Message From A Black Man"
Download: James Brown - "Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud"
Download: Run DMC - "Proud To Be Black"
March 31, 2008
The Name's Track. Pony Track.
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: Soul Brothers - "007"
March 27, 2008
Thursday Photo Esssay
Take It Outside Boys
(Photo Credit)
Download: Wire - "Outdoor Miner"
Thursday Photo Esssay
Blood Sport
(Photo Credit)
Download: Free Blood - "Grumpy"
March 26, 2008
A Penny Linked Is A Penny Earned
Say goodbye to The Tweeter Center, and hello to "The Sus". In these uncertain economic times, it's really comforting to see our nation's banks making such savvy investments.
Meanwhile, has anybody else noticed how Brooklyn Vegan has been sporting a
Indiana label Secretly Canadian has struck a deal with Philly's War On Drugs. Their presence on the roster next to bands like Bodies Of Water and The Impossible Shapes should ensure the label's dominance in the "incredibly mediochre" niche market for at least the remainder of the decade.
Is "grof" Wilmingtonian for "jawn"? The answer may or may not lie buried under layers of silly string, diet cola, toilet paper, confetti, and deli mustard. The Spinto Band whet apetites for their forthcoming EP, Moonwink, with this slow-n-messy-motion music video for brand new song "Summer Grof".
Haiku Review: Sons And Daughters @ Johnny Brenda's, 3/23/08
Swayin' side to side.
Where'd you find that bass player -
Robert Palmer's dreams?
Download: Sons And Daughters - "The Bell"
March 25, 2008
Play Ball
(Photo Credit)
At six o'clock this the morning EST, The World Champion Boston Red Sox began the defense of their title in World Champion form, winning an extra innings, come from behind twice, MLB season-opening affair in front of a sold-out Tokyo Dome crowd of 55,000 in Japan. Baseball's back, Manny's limber, and all's right with the world.
You may now go on about your regularly scheduled Tuesday.
Download: Little Barrie - "Just Wanna Play"
March 24, 2008
We Are The BadmintonStamps
Regular reader and Chronikill co-rapper Zerox One is always complaining to me about how, unlike rappers, rockers don't ever identify themselves in their songs. He's like, "I really need these bands to be like, 'It's Stone Temple Pilots' somewhere in the song so I know it's not Pearl Jam or whatever." Thankfully there are some rock bands that have heeded your words. Well, they've mostly heeded your words before you uttered them, but the point is that words were heeded and band names dropped. Here's a select list of tunes where the artists had the thoughtfulness to tell you who the hell they are.
Download: The Pipettes - "We Are The Pipettes"
Download: Bad Company - "Bad Company"
Download: Big Star - "O My Soul"
Download: Hot Chip - "The Warning"
Download: The Monkees - "Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees"
The Pony Track Goes Out At Night
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: Born Ruffians - "I Need A Life"
March 20, 2008
Thursday Photo Esssay
Just Another Manic Maundy
(Photo Credit)
Download: Wilco - "Jesus, Etc."
Thursday Photo Esssay
Rose Is Gangsta
Blinds Are Like Regulars Now
The New York State Executive Mansion has been home to state's Governors since 1875, and the revolving door of residents have always updated the mansion to suit their particular needs. Teddy Roosevelt added a gym because he was an exercise nut. Franklin Roosevelt added a pool because his gimpy polio body couldn't handle Teddy's old school workout machinery. Alfred E. Smith (pic'd), meanwhile, oversaw the construction of a zoo, alledgedly on account of his strong beastiality fetish. Now, David Paterson has joined this distinguished list. As the state's first blind governor, Paterson has overseen the outfitting of the house with a new, state-of-the-art Voice Identification System on all of the mansion's furnishings. As the contractor's compelling sales video clearly demonstrates, this handy upgrade will make sure that the new Governor doesn't accidentaly walk into a pull-up bar, fall into the pool, or fuck a peacock.
Download: Plush - "So Blind"
Download: The Hives - "Statecontrol"
March 19, 2008
The Girlfriend Track...The Movie
The Girlfriend Track is song that SkinnySlim deems sexy for a lady to feel. We're talking about songs where, if my girl said "Yo, turn this up", I would be turned on.
If you want to get down with SkinnySlim, there are certain tests you must pass. These tests can be physical. I require someone skinny and slim who is also strong enough to be my woman. These tests can be intellectual. I require someone who is smart enough to know at least the basics of history, science, and maths. These tests can be demeaning. I will tightly cover your naked body in saran wrap and, using a sharpie, circle any excess fat. Not that I mind excess fat, it's just important for me to have a woman who will let me do something that awful to them. Look, I'm a sick bastard. And I'm worth it. But of all of my tests, my favorite has got to be the one of the cinematic variety. See, there are five films that my girlfriend must appreciate. If she doesn't like them, it's a complete deal breaker. The films are: Tootsie, Lola, Trouble In Paradise, Days of Heaven, and Spinal Tap. Of all of these glorious movies, the one that is the most important for my lady to appreciate is the Tap. If you can't enjoy Spinal Tap, then no matter how amazing you look or how smart you may be, you ain't tapping this ass. Because the girl who can't appreciate a song about big bottoms is the girl who's never going to get the chance to appreciate me pointing out her big bottom while it's covered in sharpie-marked saran wrap.
Download: Queen - "Fat Bottomed Girls"
Download: Spinal Tap - "Big Bottom"
March 17, 2008
Oh, Where Will The Pony Track Sleep Tonight?
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: The Zutons - "Havana Gang Brawl"
March 14, 2008
The War Between The States
Due to the chaos and clusterfuckishness of the Democratic primary race, Michigan and Florida have been all over the news the last several weeks. Of course, this is not the first time the two States have been linked. The following BadmintonStamps post, which originally appeared in June of 2006, chronicles the contentious relationship between these two peninsulas:
Whoever said, "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words won't hurt me", never read about the Great Michigan/Florida War of 1835. The brouhaha began when Governor Stevens T. Mason changed Michigan's state motto to "If You Seek a Pleasant Peninsula, Look Around." This prompted Florida, brimming with peninsula pride, to change their motto from "The Fountain of Youth" to "Fuck Michigan". The State Legislature of Michigan then proposed the new motto, "Michigan: An Erect Penis, As Opposed to the Flaccid Penis Florida Has On." The resolution was narrowly defeated after the Michigan Grammar Police convinced voters that State mottoes cannot end in a preposition. But the dye was cast and War was declared. The States' armies met in the neutral ground of Tennessee. Not pleased at hosting the battle, Tennessee changed their motto to "Peninsulas Are For Gays". This led the (then) nation-state of Fire Island to declare war on Tennessee, deploying an army of flamboyantly clad soldiers to the South. Instead of fighting, these warriors sauntered around the State, snapping their fingers dramatically while whispering, "Fire", as if they were in a Bob Fosse musical (which, in fact, many were). The surprising tactic caught all parties off guard, a truce was declared, and peace between the North and South has remained ever since.
Download: Michigan And Smiley - "Nice Up The Dance"
Download: Lightnin' Hopkins - "Goin' Back To Florida"
March 13, 2008
Thursday Photo Esssay
Don't Mess With My Ducktail
Download: Joe Clay - "Don't Mess With My Ducktail"
Thursday Photo Esssay
You're So Deep Out On The Lawn
(Photo Credit)
Download: I Monster - "A Simple Song About Snow"
Boo Hoo
Shocking. That's the only way to describe the contents of today's New York Times article introducing the world to MySpace whore/actual whore Ashley Alexandra Dupre. The big news, of course, has nothing to do with the biographical minutiae of Ashley's childhood or journey into hookerdom. What has the world - and especially the music world - abuzz is the Times' surprising and controversial stance on "boo", a slang term the article's authors boldly label "dated". The claim that "boo" is so five minutes ago riled the feathers of many current Top 40 artists who still regularly employ the term, especially Chris Brown, who goes so far as to rhyme it with itself prominently in the opening bars of his most recent hit. "It's the 'orange' of the 21st century," said an exasperated Brown. "Seriously, how else am I supposed to finish that couplet?" Pop star objections not withstanding, the gravity of the article's indictment is ultimately a damning burden, and plans are already in the works to officially retire the term alongside reliable but out-moded stalwarts "bling" and "jiggy".
Download: Chris Brown - "With You"
Download: Devo - "Peek-A-Boo"
Lip Service
I got a tattoo. Years in the contemplating, I finally went out and did it. And as you all know, when SkinnySlim does something, he doesn't fuck around. He goes full throttle. That's why I got an inner lip tattoo. Actually, I got two inner lip tattoos. One has an arrow pointing towards my throat, with the word "Food" below it. The other has an arrow pointing away from my mouth with the word "Brilliance" below it. Cause, you see, food goes in and brilliance comes out. Problem is, the tattoo artist didn't share my skills with the brilliance, and he reversed the order. So now I have "Brilliance" pointing towards my mouth and "Food" pointing away from it. Which would mean food would go out and brilliance would come in. Since I don't want to spend the rest of my days eating my words and vomiting, I am in a bit of a jam. At first I tried biting my lip like this dude, but I've since resigned myself to the fact that I'm going to have to save up for laser lip tatt removal. Until then, I think I've found another temporary solution. All I can say, is thank god for these.
Download: The Go-Gos - "Our Lips Are Sealed"
March 11, 2008
Haiku Review: Lightspeed Champion @ World Cafe Live, 3/7/08 (Free At Noon)
What's up with the hat?
Fine tunes, but seriously -
What's up with the hat?
March 10, 2008
The Pony Track's Got A Big Chain Round It's Neck Like Off The Amistad
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
March 7, 2008
Link Madness
How many gimmicks can the local music media coax out March Madness? As the owl in the Tootsie Pop commercial would say, "let's find out!" Up first, the Philly Rock Shootout, a battle-less battle of the bands sponsored by City Paper and Y-Rock. Question is, who was asleep at the switch for CityPaper during their "draft"? If you take a look at Y-Rock's half the bracket, it's pretty obvious they're winning it by a landslide . That said, 'Stamps would love a YMD cinderella story.
In other Y-Rockness, the station is inviting Penn students to be DJs for a day. Post your Shins marathon jokes in the comments.
The birth of beef? Philadanco complains about the crowd its cross-street neighbor, music venue Philafunk, is drawing to the 'hood. L&I shows up at 11:55 last Friday night and orders the venue to cease operations, citing a litany of minor code violations such as insufficiently flame-retardant curtains and insufficiently slidey bathroom door locks. Not cited: insufficiently entertaining line-ups. So, yeah, this news doesn't really affect any of your plans.
Download: Bobby Brown - "I Must Be Born"
March 6, 2008
Thursday Photo Esssay
Hand Eye Coordination
(Photo Credit)
Download: Bullette - "Your Eyes Have It"
Thursday Photo Esssay
Cool House
(Read More)
Download: James Brown - "Come On In This House"
Kiss The Mediocre Cook
I do many things very well, and I do other things not at all. Example of the former: dancing. Example of the latter: driving. Then there are those things I do, but not particularly well. An example here would be wrapping presents. A final category in the Things SkinnySlim Does/Doesn't Do list would be things I do well, but not particularly sexy. An example here would be cooking. I'm not a sexy cook. Sexy with the lovemaking, sexy with the music selections, not sexy with the food. Oh, I'll cook for you. I'll make you a little pasta with pesto or a nice pork chop with rosemary. It's going to be clean, cooked thoroughly, not poisonous, and, well, fine. But I don't give food life. I don't infuse it with any, as they say in France, "jennooze say kwa." Which is fine. Because you can't be sexy at everything. George Clooney? He's not sexy at everything. Probably most things, but not everything. And those damncrazy hot ladies he rolls with want him even more because of this. See, those one or two non-sexy attributes give him, and me, a little bit of something I like to call "adorability". Sexy all the time is intimidating, inhuman. But a combination of sexy and adorable, well, it's damn near unstoppable.
Download: Stone Roses - "I Wanna Be Adored"
March 5, 2008
Supershirts Vs Superblouses
Philly's master of records Shawn Ryan has teamed up with Philly's master of party flyers Peter Dragontail to form Philly's newest master of remixes, a project they're calling Superprince. No website or myspace presence yet. Just one extended afro-pop edit and a logo that we're pretty sure is just unambiguous enough to land them on The Purple One's to-sue list.
March 3, 2008
The Moustache That Makes You Cool
Last week, I put forth a well thought out and fundamentally sound argument for why Jewish people should dress like Hitler with a day-glo moustache. The piece ended with the sentance "So see you tomorrow Hitlers, and remember, the salute is still offensive." Well, it seems that somewhere along the path of me writing this sentiment on my Brother P-Touch and it being sent through the interlocking messenger tubes known as the Internet, the meaning got lost in translation. Because tomorrow (read: "the following day") you (read: "The Jews") were not dressed as Hitler (read: "Hitler"). Which was a bit of a fucking problem, Jews. Cause I was dressed like Hitler, day-glo moustache and all. Which led to a bit of an embarrasing situation, being that I was the only person walking around New York dressed like Hitler in a day-glo moustache. Look Jews, you guys are all lawyers. Do you see a disclaimer on this site saying, "For entertainment purposes only"? No, you don't. The only claim this site makes is that we are "The Blog That Makes You Cool." Which is true. But only if you do what we say. And trust me, dressing like Hitler with a day-glo moustache is cool. Or it can be, if more than one of us does it. So shape up heebs; this is your, or should I say our, last chance. Tomorrow. Hitler. Day-glo. Be there.
Download: The Cool Kids - "Action Figures"
The Pony Track Knows What You Mean
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: Mountain - "Mississippi Queen"
February 28, 2008
This Is Not A YMD Giveaway
So I had big plans for this Friday night. I was gonna get crunk like how I'm prone to do on Friday nights, head over to The Barbary, and catch a live set from The Yah Mos Def as they celebrate the release of their debut full-length album, which was released earlier this month. The album in question is pretty fucking awesome, truth be told. If you liked that Shocking Pinks record, but wished it were full of white-hot hip hop instead of repetitious indie whining, then welcome to paradise, stranger. Trouble is, I ain't in Philly. Nowhere close. So you can imagine the dilema. But I figure, there's no reason why the two guest list spots that would've been taken up by me and whoever I thought was cool/promiscuous enough to bring with me should go to waste. So shoot an e-mail with your proper name and the subject "FROM EAST FALLS TO THESE BALLS" to email@example.com. One lucky winner gets themselves and a +1 through the door free of charge, as well as your very own copy of Excuse Me, This Is The Yah Mos Def to have, hold, and taunt others with. Do it like whoa.
Download: The Yah Mos Def - "New Direction"
Download: The Yah Mos Def - "Stockton To Malone"
Thursday Photo Esssay
Robots Are The Best
(Photo Credit)
Download: Futureheads - "Robot" (Slow Version)
Thursday Photo Esssay
A Slow And Painful Death
(Photo Credit)
Download: Radiohead - "Go Slowly"
February 27, 2008
Asians Should Talk Like Mickey Rooney
It's truly amazing how young African Americans were able to co-opt the N word, the most vile term used against them, and turn it into a term of affection that only they can use. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade and flipping the switch pretty damn hard. "Hey racist white bastards, remember how you used to call us nigger? Well now you can't. Only we can. And we'll do it when we're hanging out and having fun." I really do believe it is one of the greatest things ever. That's why half-jew SkinnySlim (hey, half-blacks can say the n word) is going to do for looking like Hitler what blacks did for saying the N word. From this day forth, only Jews can dress like Hitler. And Jews, you really should dress like Hitler. I mean, screw that dude for real. Talk about this guy's nightmare. I'm like, "Hey Hitler in 1939, not only will you lose this war and commit suicide like a little bitch, but in the future the very much alive Jewish race run around, cocky as hell, and dress up like you. But no one else can do it. Germans, they can't dress up like you. Only Jews." But Jews have to put a twist on the Hitler look just like Blacks transformed nigger to nigga. That's why the moustache is always gotta be a bright day-glo color. Why? Cause we can, and no one can do anything about it. So see you tomorrow Hitlers, and remember, the salute is still offensive.
Download: X-Ray Spex - "The Day The World Turned Day-Glo"
Download: Dr. Dre - "Some L.A. Niggaz"
February 26, 2008
Haiku Review: Adam Arcuragi @ The Ethical Society, 2/21/08
Rittenhouse hushes
for alt-country story time.
Don't wake the neighbors.
Download: Adam Arcuragi - "Delicate"
The Pony Track Is Comin' At Your First Thing Tuesday Morning
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: 'Til Tuesday - "Voices Carry"
February 21, 2008
Welcome Back
We all needed to take a couple years off, but it's been long enough and SkinnySlim says it's now okay to listen to "Hey Ya!" again.
Download: Outkast - "Hey Ya!"
Good Links Gone Bad
Rihanna sings "Umbrella" backed by Klaxons inside a huge laser pyramid. And I ask you, what's not to like?
The New Republic's got a blog, and our own SkinnySlim dropped some serious polititical science on it this past Monday. Check out his inspired juxtaposition of presidential hopefuls Clinton and Obama to rappers Cam'ron and Jay-Z. It's way more insightful than all these PC/Mac comparisons, and even trumps my own Swiffer/Swiffer Wet analogy.
Live Nation announces the return of Spoon to Philadelphia, demonstrates their poor understanding of the word "intimate".
Tonight, GANG go for gold in the Philly Sound Clash finals. They're up against five other acts, although as recipients of our official endorsement last month, they must be considered the prohibitive favorites. Head over to World Cafe Live for the free coronation.
Also tonight, Adam Arcuragi, who has the distinction of being pretty much the only "singer/songwriter dude" we ever talk about here on the 'Stamps, has a quaint little EP release party at the Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square. $10 gets you entry AND a copy of Helmikuu, a 12" slab of vinyl whose connection to all this is, at present, still not entirely clear.
February 20, 2008
Maroon 5 Should Not Travel Together
I was thinking about that guy from Blind Melon who died a whiles back. I believe his name was Shannon Hoon. This guy was doomed from the start. Why? Because of his name. Hoon. It rhymes too perfectly with "soon". As in, "Shannon Hoon, gone too soon." Kid just didn't have a chance. Of course the same "name fate" met Who drummer and Gone Too Soon Club charter member Keith Moon. Sure, you say it was the drugs that got 'em. But how do you explain the long lives of drug addict rock stars "Built to Last" Slash and "Never Gonna Stop" Iggy Pop? You don't, that's how. And if you think it's only the -oon names that'll get you, think again. The Died Far Too Young is another club no one wants to be a part of. Which does not bode well American Idol goofball doofus William Hung. I'm going to pray for you Willie-boy, so hang in there and make sure to unplug the hair dryer before you start badly singing in the shower.
Download: Blind Melon - "No Rain"
Download: The Who - "Heaven And Hell" (Live)
February 18, 2008
The Pony Track Opens Up
Comin' atcha first thing every Monday morning, it's The Pony Track, a super-fantastic short distance dedication to BadmintonStamps Collective founding member and internationally renown symbol for musical excellence Aaron "Pony" Child. No fancy links, no clever write-ups, 'cause these awesome songs don't need no splainin'. So c'mon, ride the pony!
Download: Lucas - "Lucas With The Lid Off"
February 14, 2008
Thursday Photo Esssay
Who Loves Ya, Baby?
(Photo Credit)
Download: Little Barrie - "Love You"
Thursday Photo Esssay
Download: Rev. Sister Mary Nelson - "Judgement"
You Definitely Want Fries With That
For a lot of bands, remixes are kind of like value meals. Yeah, sometimes you just want the burger, but it's always nice to know you can add a shake if you feel like it. Take the latest single from London's The Crimea. It's a rambling, day-dreamy piece of pop ideal for lounging on the beach or working over a really good piece of chewing gum. Nothin' wrong with that. But what if, like me, you're talented enough (and crazy enough) to dance and chew gum at the same time? Your beat needs have suddenly changed, and there are lot of bands out there that simply won't accomadate you. Those of you who've tried to breakdance to Jose Gonzalez know what I'm talking about. But The Crimea are nothing if not courteous, and if you want a tune that's boogie-minded, they're gonna give you more options than a choose-your-own adventure book. The Beatcave Remix of "Loop A Loop", a BadmintonStamps exclusive, is just one of ten different versions the band has made available through blogs they've personally selected. We're thrilled to be participating in the roll-out, and encourage everyone to supersize their computer's Crimea folder for just a few clicks more.
I Didn't Even Give Him A Dollar
It's difficult for SkinnySlim to treat those around me with respect, because I am so much better than everyone else. This is especially true with anyone who works in the service industry. Take, for example, bathroom attendants. If I'm going to give a guy a buck to watch me piss, I'm going to make him work for it. Last night, as I dined on mutton and more mutton, I had to relieve myself. I went into the bathroom, did my deed, and then insisted the bathroom attendant shake off any excess urine from my penis. What the hell else is he there for, to pump out cheap moisturizer cream? The one exception in the service industry is bartenders. You gotta show these guys and girls some love. That's why I always try to keep the bartender in mind when I pick songs on the jukebox. I know they hear the same goddamn seven songs over and over again, and they are probably in no mood to listen to "Sweet Home Alabama" or "You Shook Me All Night Long" again. So I make sure to go for the album tracks, the non-cliched tunes (like the two great ones below). Because while I normally don't mind pissing off, or on, those who serve me, bartenders are too risky to mess with. Sure, waiters can spit in my food and cab drivers can take me the long way, but bartenders can mix me a weak drink. In the face of such a horror, I must bite my lip and try to give 'em what they want.
Download: The Bar-Kays - "Song And Dance"
Download: Nirvana - "Territorial Pissings"


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The new all-season Versado LX II* is an update to the H-, V-, W- and Y-speed rated Versado LX. The Versado LX II is a more eco-friendly touring tire for today's high-end luxury sedans and coupes, offering improved fuel economy and long tread life, without compromising performance.
*Only available in H-, V-, W- and Y-speed ratings.
Asymmetric, Non-Directional Tread Design
Larger Contact Patch on Outside Tread
Higher Sipe Density on Inside Tread
Silent Wall™ Technology
Multi-Wave Sipes

subset: commoncrawl


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Home > Hotels
> Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Travel is About Bringing People Together
It's about bringing conversation back to the travel experience. Creating connections that seal deals. Forming new bonds or rekindling old friendships. Sheraton creates opportunities to connect - to home, to colleagues, and to friends, both old and new.
The Little Things Matter
Like being welcomed by team members who greet the morning with exactly what you wanted but didn't need to ask: the morning paper, coffee and a warm hello. Or simply being able to open the door to the most comfortable room you've seen in weeks and collapsing into a much-needed catnap.
And the Big Things, Too
Recognizing that travel brings people together, we're on a mission to bring conversation back to the travel experience.
The Link@SheratonSM Experienced with Microsoft
The Link@Sheraton is the connectivity hub of our lobby experience, allowing guests to work, relax, socialize or grab a snack. As the connectivity hub of our lobby, guests can surf the Web, watch a game with friends, borrow a magazine or newspaper, or even send a video postcard to friends and family.
Sheraton Fitness Programmed by Core Performance
Travel and fitness go hand in hand. The Sheraton fitness program was created in partnership with world-renowned personal training experts Core Performance to keep guests at their peak at all times. You can take part in state-of-the-art fitness centers, specialized in-room and restaurant dining options, a custom website with online fitness programs and more. Staying fit has never been easier.
Sheraton Resorts
Our collection of over 60 resorts is scattered around the world in exciting and inspiring destinations. Whether you're looking for a peaceful, relaxing vacation or a fun-filled family getaway, our breathtaking resorts provide the perfect setting to make new memories.
Sheraton Club Level
Sheraton Club offers guests the chance to upgrade to a higher level of comfort and convenience. When they step up to the Club, they discover their own place to be more productive, catch up with friends, enjoy complimentary breakfast or help themselves to a snack throughout the day.
As you search for accommodation at our hotels you will notice that we offer different room types, Club rooms are often listed as one of the available room types. Be sure to look for "Club Floor" in the Room Features description to book a Club level room.
Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed
The Sheraton Sweet SleeperTM Bed is found in each of our guest rooms and is comprised of luxurious sheets, a deluxe duvet, a selection of feather down and hypoallergenic pillows, and a custom Sealy mattress.
You can enjoy the comfort of Sheraton's Sweet Sleeper Bed in your own home. Order the complete Sweet Sleeper Bed for a restful night's sleep, every night.
Travel Is About Connection
What families and individuals dream of - being away from home without being apart, beds that make dreams better, being surrounded by people who share a sense of adventure - is what we strive for with every detail.
Sheraton. Life is better when shared.
Make a Reservation at Sheraton
Find rooms and rates at Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. Or, if you prefer, call 800-325-3535 in the United States or Canada, or contact one of our Worldwide Reservations Offices.
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts


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Surfers claim their waves. This guy claimed all of Long Beach — then drove his Nissan into the surf.
An unidentified driver was spotted driving his Nissan Maxima into the Pacific Ocean Friday after shouting "this is my beach" and his social security number as he cruised around the shore, the Contra Costa Times reported.
After the man drove the car 4-feet the ocean, he bailed out and continued to swim deeper into the water, according to reports. The man was then apprehended by lifeguards and held until the police arrived.
"The beach was crowded. Fortunately, no one was hurt," Long Beach Fire Captain Rich Brandt told the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
A backhole tow truck eventually towed the car out of the water. The unknown man was uninjured and was being held for psychological evaluation, according to reports.


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Ivory Coast
major macro economic indicators
|2016 (f)
|2017 (f)
|GDP growth (%)
|Inflation (yearly average) (%)
|Budget balance (% GDP)
|Current account balance (% GDP)
|Public debt (% GDP)
(e) Estimate (f) Forecast
- Diversification: hydrocarbons, ores and agricultural resources (world's leading cocoa producer)
- Infrastructure undergoing modernisation
- Improved business climate and governance
- Strengthening political stability
- Economy dependent on weather conditions and movements in the price of cocoa, the country's main export product
- Gaps still to be filled in the management of public finances, infrastructure and business climate, despite progress made
- Slow progress on national reconciliation
Risk assessment
Growth still driven by major public works, improved business climate and political normalisation
Growth remained healthy in 2016 buoyed by ongoing major public works to repair infrastructure under the 2nd National Development Plan (2016-2020), the improved business climate and enhanced political stability. These factors, underpinning investment, broadly counterbalanced the negative impact on tourism of the Grand-Bassam beach resort attack in March 2016. Furthermore, guaranteed prices for farmers, the introduction of universal health cover and wage rises continued to drive private consumption in an environment of contained inflation. Activity is expected to remain vigorous in 2017, sustained by continued efforts brought to infrastructure developments, greater investment in agriculture and housing alongside still robust private consumption. As to the country's flagship product, cocoa, the harvest begun in October 2016 looks promising, after a poor mid-crop in the spring, due to the impact of El Niňo. However, cocoa prices have plummeted since summer 2016, below 2000 US dollars/tonne (in New York) in February 2017 for the first time since 2011, due to the stagnation in world demand and ample inventories. It is worth noting that, as a result of the fall in world prices, defaults on export contracts covering 350 000 tonnes of cocoa have been recorded. Production for the 2016/2017 season is expected to grow less rapidly than initially planned.In this context, the Coffee and Cocoa Council of Ivory Coast is seeking to boost prices by suspending forward sales ahead of the 2017-2018 crop. Meanwhile, although steadily declining, hydrocarbon production could recover in the years to come thanks to the discovery of new fields and planned investments.
Growth remains exposed to commodity price fluctuations and is still constrained by outdated infrastructure. However, the economic recovery since the end of the post-electoral crisis has helped raise the population's living standards and stimulate internal consumption. To maintain strong growth, it looks as if it will be necessary to develop the manufacturing export sector (by increasing investment in human capital and reducing the obstacles to cross-border trade), to reduce income inequalities and avoid implementing a pro-cyclical budget policy.
Fiscal and current account deficits which are tending to widen
The current account deficit is tending to widen reflecting strong imports associated with investments. Cocoa exports have dipped slightly since reaching a peak in 2015, while oil exports have for several years been on an uninterrupted downward trend. Both products still account for half of sales abroad. The decline in cocoa prices, which started in the summer of 2016 and further continued in the first quarter of 2017, should weigh on export revenues.Unlike the trade balance, the invisibles balance is in deficit. Foreign direct investments and external borrowing help to finance most of the current account deficit.
The fiscal deficit deepened in 2016, because of increased spending including expenditure on security, health and education. In order to maintain the sustainability of the public debt, attained since the debt relief granted to the country in 2012 under the HIPC/MDR initiatives, the authorities and the IMF have agreed that the public deficit should converge towards the WAEMU norm of 3% of GDP by 2019. This will require enhanced revenue collection and containment of current spending. Steps to address budget risks from struggling public-sector companies are planned. In addition, an agreement has been reached on the stages for accelerating the restructuring of banks and state-owned enterprises. Nevertheless, with the decline in cocoa prices, it is unlikely that the revenues target for 2017 will be achieved. The bonuses given to the mutineers in January 2017, coupled with concessions from the government granted to civil servants' unions in order to appease social unrest and to end three weeks of strikes (also in January), should weigh on the budget deficit as well. As a result, the budget balance is expected to deteriorate in 2017. Plus, the issue of the stock of public servants' wages arrears remains unresolved and could degrade further the 2017 budget.
Strengthened political stability but weakened by a tense social climate
The October 2015 presidential election led smoothly to the re-election of the outgoing President Alassane Ouattara for a five-year term, which allowed the country to finally turn the page on the violence which had bloodied the country after the 2010 presidential election. Nevertheless, some on the opposition called for a boycott, citing loyalty to former President Gbagbo (currently being tried by the International Criminal Court). The Head of State secured adoption of a new constitution by referendum at the end of October 2016, which provides for the creation of a post of Vice-president and of a Senate and eliminates the concept of Ivorian nationality by clarifying the conditions for eligibility for the office of president.
The uncontested victory of the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP - 167 seats out of 255), a coalition of five political parties, to the legislative elections of December 2016 should enable President Ouattara to pursue the reforms that supported the Ivorian growth over the past five years.
Nevertheless, the reconciliation between the Ivorians has not been achieved yet. The 2016 referendum and legislative elections weres boycotted by the opposition and the voters turnout were low. In addition, the coalition might struggle to unite behind a single candidate after Alassane Ouattara ends his second and last term in 2020. Moreover, young people and the poor strata of the urban population are gaining little benefit from economic growth. The lack of jobs, the inadequate quality of public services and perceived corruption could still fuel social tensions. Strikes in the civil service in January 2017, which were reinstated by a part of the trade unions two months later, illustrate the tense social climate. The mutinies that erupted in January 2017 within the Ivorian army in order to claim bonuses alter the image of the Ivorian recovery and reminds that the healing of the social fabric is not yet acquired.
Last update: April 2017


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Lawrie, offense showing positive signs
By Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com
The Blue Jays entered play on Sunday averaging just three runs per game over their previous four contests. Through the first four innings on Sunday the club was shut out before erupting for 12 runs over the next four frames.
It was an important turnaround which came at the end of a six-game road trip that saw the club go 3-3.
"Considering how the series started, and more importantly how Game 3 started, to see our guys respond as they did [was important]," Blue Jays manager John Farrell said. "We swung the bat, I thought, exceptionally well from the fifth inning on, a little bit more of an all-field approach that allowed us to bunch a number of hits together.
"It was just good to see them go out, I almost want to say have some fun, but have some production and swing the bat with a little bit more looseness."
One player in particular that saw a jump in production against Atlanta veteran reliever Livan Hernandez was Brett Lawrie. Toronto's third baseman snapped an 0-for-17 skid with a single and two-run homer.
It was Lawrie's first home run of the month, and the second-year player continues to search for the stroke that made him one of the club's most feared hitters during his brief stint in Toronto last season.
"He gave himself a chance to not be as over-aggressive in the box," Farrell said. "I think when he gets over-amped up a little bit, you see him kind of lunge. He'll get some balls deep in the strike zone that he's fouled off. When his timing's been a little bit more consistent, his point of contact is up front. And I think that was the case yesterday, where he just wasn't trying to make things happen too much."
Toronto needs to see more than stats from Lind
TORONTO -- Adam Lind has enjoyed a hot month with the bat for Triple-A Las Vegas, but the overall numbers are going to be just one factor in how quickly he gets back to the Major Leagues.
Lind, who was optioned to the Minors on May 17, was given a list of things that needed to be improved upon before he could return to Toronto, according to manager John Farrell.
The club wanted to see an improvement in Lind's ability to attack left-handed pitching, and a lack of conditioning also appears to have played a large role in his demotion.
"I think there was a need to regain the bat speed that he has shown previous, and I think, at times, showed that it had been less than while he was here," Farrell said. "Whether that was because of overall physical conditioning, we saw some limitations to his range at first base.
"Those were things that were outlined clearly to him, and it wasn't going to be a batting average that got him back here."
Farrell was then asked to clarify whether Lind was out of shape during the first six weeks of the season in Toronto.
"There were some things that took away from his range, and we felt like it reduced the bat speed," the second-year manager responded.
Lind began the season as the Blue Jays' cleanup hitter but never quite found his stride. The native of Indiana hit just .186 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 34 games before being sent to Triple-A.
While with the 51s, Lind appears to have turned things around by posting a .405 average with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 21 games. Those numbers can be deceiving, though, considering they occurred in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
Lind has battled back problems for the past year, but according to Farrell, that didn't play a role in his overall fitness level this season.
"He had been cleared for all of that because he had been doing his core stabilization religiously," Farrell said. "That was never an issue."
Bautista keeping pace on AL All-Star ballot
TORONTO -- Jose Bautista remained among the league leaders for outfielders when the latest results of fan balloting for this year's All-Star Game in Kansas City were revealed on Monday afternoon.
Bautista is currently ranked fourth for American League outfielders with 1,357,784 votes. He trails Texas' Josh Hamilton (3,833,504), New York's Curtis Granderson (2,033,239) and Texas' Nelson Cruz (1,398,534).
The 31-year-old Bautista would need to finish in the top three in order to guarantee him a spot on this year's AL squad. Bautista entered play on Monday with five homers in his past eight games, and he was hitting .230 with 17 home runs and 44 RBIs on the season.
Last year, Bautista set a Major League Baseball record for most fan votes received by one player. He finished with 7,454,753, surpassing the previous high mark of 6,069,688, set by Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr. in 1994.
Edwin Encarnacion fell out of the top five for AL designated hitters in the latest round of balloting despite a strong first third of the season. Encarnacion entered play on Monday against the Nationals ranked first among DH's in home runs (17) and RBIs (44), while sitting behind Boston's David Ortiz in average (.290) and OPS (.937).
Encarnacion was ranked fifth last week but is not included in the top five after the latest round. Ortiz (1,758,369), Texas' Michael Young (1,396,802) and New York's Raul Ibanez (752,884) account for the top three.
Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via your mobile device -- using the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until Thursday, June 28, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Fans can also once again participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league who they would most like to see participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby. The 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby -- part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day -- will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 9.
The 2012 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 1, on the 2012 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2012 All-Star Game Final Vote on MLB.com.
And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
The 2012 All-Star Game will be played at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Tuesday, July 10. Come to MLB.com for extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
The 83rd All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and Sirius XM also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com or royals.com/asg.
Other Blue Jays that are not listed in the top five at their respective positions but receiving consideration for the All-Star Game include shortstop Yunel Escobar, third baseman Brett Lawrie, center fielder Colby Rasmus and catcher J.P. Arencibia.
Blue Jays ink top pick Davis, 21 others
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays officially came to terms with first-round Draft pick D.J. Davis on Monday afternoon. The 17-year-old outfielder was signed along with 21 other Blue Jays Draftees.
A source told MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo that Davis agreed to a bonus of $1.75 million. The assigned pick value for the No. 17 selection, when Davis was taken, is $2 million.
Davis spent this past season with Stone County High School in Wiggins, Miss., where he made a name for himself with an ability to hit for gap power while also possessing blistering speed on the basepaths.
"I bring speed, solid hitting, and I'm an all-around player," said Davis, who compared his game to that of Atlanta's Michael Bourn.
"I'm basically a line-drive hitter, and I try to keep the balls down on the ground if I can. I've got some pop, I'm kind of sneaky though."
Davis hit .373 (25-for-67) with four doubles, seven homers and 27 RBIs in 26 games for the Tomcats this season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the recommended slot value was $2 million.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder is the son of Wayne Davis, who spent four years in the Blue Jays' Minor League system. The elder Davis hit .223 with 48 home runs and 165 RBIs over that span and had some words of advice for his son about the Toronto organization.
"He has been a big influence on my game," D.J. Davis said. "He's told me everything he knows, and I've kept working with him throughout my career.
"He said that [the Blue Jays are] a good organization to be with. Work hard and they're going to teach you everyting you want to know about the game."
The Blue Jays have now reached an agreement with 11 of their picks taken in the first 10 rounds of the Draft. The only three who remain unsigned are right-hander Marcus Stroman (22nd overall), left-hander Matt Smoral (compensation round) and right-hander Chase DeJong (2nd round).
Smoral indicated to MLB.com last week that he intended to sign with the Blue Jays and was close to an official agreement, while DeJong told MLB.com he was "95 percent" sure he would sign a deal instead of going to play NCAA baseball.
Toronto also reached an agreement with seven non-drafted free-agent pitchers. Right-handers Justin James (Ave Maria University), Justin D'Alessando (University of America), Robert Joseph Brosnahan (University of Michigan), Charles Ghysels (Truett McConnell College), Tim Nicolas Brechbuehler (Louisburg Community College), and left-handers Kyle Anderson (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) and Joseph Spano (University of Notre Dame) all signed.
Gregor Chisholm is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, North of the Border, and follow him on Twitter @gregorMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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YES !! Turnover ! Its overtime
Wow...just wow!!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
JR Smith has more game winners this season than Lebron James.
Humility is a virtue and pride is a vice.
HAHA ! I thought it was going into OT ! I forgot we had JR Smith !
hehe ! Go Knicks ! Great win with many great players out ! Wins like these ones turns a good season into a great Season !
Seriously what an amazing bloody shot that was by Smith !


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Reviews, reviews, reviews...
FreakScore is a weighted average of all aggregated professional and user review scores.
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This product has a FreakScore of 5.0
out of 10 based on 81 scores.
3.5 inch LCD & Dual Direction GUI - The dual image display
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Best Price at Amazon


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Prevalence of L.intracellularis on Farms (AAEP 2011)
- Feb 5, 2012
- Topics:
L. intracellularis infection is most commonly seen in weanlings.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse
If someone had said "equine proliferative enteropathy" 10 years ago, chances are most horse breeders would have shrugged their shoulders and paid little mind. Today, however, many breeders are mindful of this still-emerging young horse disease caused by the Lawsonia intracellularis bacteria. Researchers have made great strides in comprehending many facets of the disease. Recently, a team from the University of Kentucky, using a newly developed assay, took several steps forward in understanding L. intracellularis' environmental prevalence on certain horse farms compared to its seroprevalence (presence of positive serum antibodies) in horses residing on those farms. Allen Page, DVM, a PhD candidate at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center, presented the findings during a presentation at the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Texas.
Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) has been reported worldwide and is gaining prevalence in the United States. L. intracellularis invades intestinal crypt cells, primarily in the small intestine, and causes thickening of the intestinal lining. This thickening leads to clinical signs such as anorexia, weight loss, reduced daily weight gain, fever, lethargy, depression, peripheral/ventral edema (fluid swelling), and sometimes colic and diarrhea. Reduced daily weight gain and weight loss can be a costly problem for many Thoroughbred breeders, as smaller foals tend to bring lower prices at auction. The current lack of definitive diagnostic tests is another frustration for breeders and veterinarians alike.
Recently, Page and a team of researchers developed a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test that detects antibodies to L. intracellularis—the first serologic assay able to detect the antibodies and, thus, L. intracellularis exposure. Using this test, the team evaluated the seroprevalence of L. intracellularis among 337 Thoroughbred foals and weanlings residing on 25 Central Kentucky farms.
"Case information from the three years preceding the study was used to classify farms as having no prior recent history of EPE, a suspected history of EPE, or a confirmed history of EPE," he explained. Then, from August 2010 to January or February 2011 (the study officially ended in January, but some farms opted to have foals tested in February as well), the research team collected monthly serum samples from the aforementioned foals, testing them for L. intracellularis-specific antibodies.
Upon reviewing the findings, Page and his colleagues found an overall seroprevalence of 68%, with seroprevalence levels on individual farms ranging from 14-100%. Page was quick to point out that the overall seroprevalence of 68% isn't likely representative of the Central Kentucky Thoroughbred population, due to the large number of previously affected farms included in the study. Other key findings included:
- All farm populations had evidence of L. intracellularis exposure, regardless of whether they had logged previous cases of EPE;
- On average, the L. intracellularis seroprevalence was significantly lower on farms with no history of EPE cases than on those with confirmed or suspected EPE cases; and
- Horses residing on farms with no history of EPE cases tended to have lower L. intracellularis antibody levels.
"Using an ELISA to detect serum antibodies to L. intracellularis from young horses on numerous farms, seroprevalences corresponded well with past history of EPE cases," Page concluded. "The data presented here suggests that lower environmental burdens of L. intracellularis result in fewer horses being exposed to the bacterium and less antigenic stimulation (promoting an immune response) per exposure."
The findings in the study correlated well with EPE diagnoses made by local veterinarians, Page added.
With the development of the first serologic test to identify the presence of L. intracellularis antibodies, Page et al. have found a way to measure exposure to the causative bacteria. His study also revealed that while all farms included had evidence of L. intracellularis in the environment, the seroprevalence of the bacteria in horses residing on those farms ranged from 14-100%. Further research is needed to find a possible explanation for the farm-to-farm difference in L. intracellularis seroprevalence.
About the Author
Erica Larson, News Editor
Erica Larson, news editor, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.
Related Content
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R. equi in Foals
Supportive Care for Foals with Pharyngeal Dysfunction
Patella Infections in Foals Require Prompt Care (AAEP 2011)
Monitoring and Preventing EPE on Endemic Farms (AAEP 2011)
Behavioral Differences Between Colts and Fillies Examined
Developmental Dental Disorders in Horses
Managing Deciduous Teeth in Young Horses
Researchers Examine One-Sided Imprint Training
Weaning Stress and Nutritional Influences
POLL: Checking for Gastric Ulcers


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The Founder Institute runs Founder Hotseat Webinars to allow aspiring founders from across the globe to get live feedback on their startup ideas from top Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.
In the clip below, Jason Calacanis critiques a Melbourne-based entrepreneur pitching AUUG, a musical device that attaches to mobile devices. Jason advises the founder to simplify his pitch in a visual manner, and also discusses the inherent risk in any music-related business.
Jason Calacanis is the Founder and CEO of Inside.com, Founder of the Launch Festival, Host of This Week in Startups, and a top angel investor.
Check out the clip below, and if you are raising a seed round, also be sure to check out the Founder Showcase. Applications to the free pitch competition are due soon, and past contestants have raised over $130 million.
(Memorizing image via Shutterstock)