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OMG – this is my new favorite song! I heart Bret and Jemaine! And the best part is that you can buy this song on iTunes! Hooray!

Posted via email from bigepaz is eileen

Rockhopper Penguin by su neko (suneko)

Question/Thought of the day from Plinky: Pick a wild animal to keep as a pet.

I’ve always wanted a penguin. If I had one I would give it a designated cold room, buy a crap load of fish and constantly visit winter destinations. Thus, changing my lifestyle completely leading me to lose my brown coloring. Maybe it’s not so great of an idea after all.

His name would be Murray.

I am an Ox and I have to admit that a lot of what I read below is true in that general sense. So I guess if you want to understand me, read below:

The Ox of Chinese Astrology is no bull in a china shop. Steadfast and solid, this powerful Sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. Oxen tend to be plodding and methodical; they approach projects in the step-by-step manner that serves them best, and they never lose sight of their goal. They are tireless workers who are detail-oriented and believe in doing things right the first time.

The world may perceive Oxen as being far too serious or incapable of loosening up. This sturdy sort is less than social by nature and tends to become introverted in a crowd. To make things worse, they can’t be bothered with what other people think and prefer to do what makes them feel best. Behind that calm facade, though, lives an Ox who can feel hurt, lonely and unable to connect with others. Friends and family are a great source of comfort to this beast, even if they don’t always understand what makes the Ox tick. As a lover, friend, family member or housemate, the Ox makes a wonderfully strong, tender and affectionate companion who is protective and always reliable.

Out in the world, though, Oxen tend to be stubborn, dogmatic, my-way-or-the-highway kind of people who have no concept of when to back down. Oxen don’t care to be pushed, especially since they think they’re the good guys of the Chinese Zodiac. There is some truth to that theory, since the Ox is smart, trustworthy, caring and honorable. If you need honest, steady and unbiased advice, call on the Ox.

A good lesson for mighty Oxen is to strive to overcome a judgmental nature that keeps them from getting close to others. If they can learn to value their own good qualities, they’ll have more room in their hearts to invite others in.

Source: Astrology.com

But what cracks me up is this website that says I would be “a good surgeon, general, or hairdresser“. Who knew generals and hairdressers had anything in common?

Bye Bush!

From the New York Times

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Do you know all the U.S. Presidents — in order?

Jonathan Coulton’s original version is slightly edited to reflect the recent election – yay! Thought this was appropriate to post since inauguration day is just around the corner.

It’s funny, I remember right before the holidays a few of us at Revision3 tried to name all the Presidents. We put the names up on the white board in the conference room, and with maybe 6 of us trying we got 70% of the names. We certainly didn’t get every president in order.

The Presidents from Eileen on Vimeo.

This was recorded last night at the Great American Music Hall, and while it was the second take it was a good one. Enjoy!

Posted via email from bigepaz is eileen

This was on the last Digg Reel Show, but it’s so adorable that I wanted to post it here (mostly for me). The music is so catchy!

Rat Loves Cat – The most popular videos are a click away

You love it, or you hate it. But let’s face it. the Beast is back! Randy, Paula, Simon, Ryan and new judge Kara. I’m talking of course, American Idol.

Me? I love it. I love a good competition, especially a good karaoke competition. Most of all, it’s another avenue for me to devour music.

I believe this show is my greatest guilty pleasure and I feel like I’m admitting a drug addiction. I’ve watched every year since Miss Kelly Clarkson took the crown. I vote by text for my favorite singers. I read fan blogs. I know, I am an insane freak.

What can I say, I’m one of those suckers who sings in the car, sometimes in the shower, sometimes in one of my rooms with headphones cranked up on high. I’m not any good, but music moves me to burst out in song once in a while.

Seriously, who doesn’t at one point in their life want to be a musician? My idol growing up was Olivia Newton-John. You have no idea how many times I’ve watched Xanadu. I wanted to be in an all-girl band like the Go’Go’s or the Bangles. I secretly wanted hair like Suzanne Hoffs, but wanted to rock out on the guitar like Jane Wiedlin. Yeah, that was a fantasy of mine, but the kids on this show might actually *be* the next Olivia Newton-John or rock out in a band like the Go-Go’s

When I go to Karaoke, I scream with glee when I hear someone interpret “Call Me” with the same tone as Deborah Harry. I drop my jaw when I hear someone sound like Robert Plant. And yes, I have been known to grab the mic myself to sing with subtle applause shortly after my song ends.

I’m sensing you are starting to understand why I love this show.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

This year we were introduced to the newest judge, songwriter Kara DioGuardi. She’s penned tunes for Idols like Kelly Clarkson, David Cook, and Carrie Underwood. In my opinion, she’s a welcome addition to a show that seems to have run its course. Her challenge to “Bikini Girl” is probably the water cooler talk of the day. Listen closely. Oh yeah, she did call that girl a bitch.

Feel free to hate on the industry that manufactures pop stars and chews them out as soon as they no longer sell copies of J-14 or Seventeen. Plus, the show is cheesy. Come on, Neil Diamond and Andrew Lloyd Webber theme nights? Honestly, it funny to watch the kids on the show struggle and admit they have never heard a Beatles song, till they were forced to sing one. Still, more power to you if you can walk away and not watch a single episode.

Seriously, there are a lot of things wrong about the show. I don’t disagree that there are phony moments, and the title is rather smug. For some, it perpetuates celebrity worship when there are firefighters, doctors, and teachers that deserve more attention.

So why bother?

Still, within the beast of the show are real stories, and real people, just trying to make something of themselves, doing something that they love – singing and playing music. Sometimes I envy that, although I would never want to subject you to my version of “Eye of the Tiger” — even though that happened on New Years Eve as I sang lead while playing Rock Band.

Yeah, there’s the “Bikini Girl” looking for attention, but then there’s a family man, trying to change his life and stop working on a dangerous an oil rig.

Yeah, there are enough tone deaf singers that could shatter the Sistine Chapel while auditioning. Still, there’s always that one singer who sings from the heart. Watch at the end when Seacrest tries to give him a high-five. Classic.

And yeah, even I’m tired of the same “Paula vs. Simon” and is “Paula drinking again” shtick, but there’s always the singers who break out from their own comfort zone. Do I believe she didn’t tell her bandmates about auditioning? Hmmm, I’m not so sure, but I still think she’s got a good voice.

(I would have embedded videos, but Fox is super anal about content on YouTube. Lame.)

I’m about to break out the sap here, but those are the stories and singers I watch out for. They may not win American Idol, and maybe they are better off not winning. But they are the people that I root for, people that I want to see succeed. That’s why I bother watching this beast of a show. And dammit, it’s entertaining!

US Capitol ready for Obama

Originally uploaded by ekai

Are you ready?

What a beautiful shot from Eddie Codel. Lucky him and anyone else who will be there on that historic day.

I’ll be watching. I’m getting chills thinking about it.